The Syriac World, In Search of a Forgotten Christianity A little over a century ago, in his 1920 encyclical Principi Apostolorum Petro, Pope Benedict XV declared the 4th century poet, theologian, and writer, Saint Ephrem the Syrian, the Deacon of Edessa, to be a Doctor of the Church, a high and rare honor of the universal church. The 24th person so recognized since the Middle Ages, Saint Ephrem, was the first who did not come from the Western (Latin) Church or Eastern (Greek) Church. He was a speaker of Syriac and wrote exclusively in that language. In his encyclical, the pope mentioned the many clerics and bishops who encouraged him to take this step, especially the patriarchs of the Maronite, Chaldean, and Syriac Catholic churches, all spiritual descendants of Saint Ephrem. Ephrem and many others are the subject of a recent book, The Syriac World, by French researchers Francoise Briquel Chatonnet and Muriel Debie, both scholars of Syriac, as is Jeffrey Haines, who translated the book from French into English. It is an essential book, superbly researched and illustrated, introducing Western audiences to the ancient riches of the Syriac Christian heritage--a heritage that one great scholar has called "the third lung" of Christendom, after Greek and Latin. The 'Syriac World' (some prefer the term Assyrian or Aramean) is the ethnic and religious community that grew out of the Syriac language and Christianity in Late Antiquity--Syriac being a branch of Aramaic, the lingua franca of most of the Middle East in the centuries before the coming of Christ. This status was retained for centuries, until Syriac was displaced by Arabic with the triumph of Islam. The roots of Syriac especially look to Edessa (the modern city of Urfa in Turkey), the city of Saint Ephrem. From there, as much as from nearby Antioch and more distant Jerusalem, and from the peregrinations of Saint Paul, "Christianity, an Asiatic religion," spread both east and west. The Syriac world became a largely Christian one, best understood in a group of often contending, fissiparous religious bodies, which were often in conflict with their counterparts in Constantinople and Rome: the (Assyrian) Church of the East (disparagingly called the Nestorian Church); the Syrian Orthodox Church (sometimes called the Jacobite Church); various Indian branches of these churches; and related church bodies using Syriac and in communion with the pope in Rome, such as the Maronite Catholic, Chaldean Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankaran churches. Today, all of these churches have diaspora communities in the West, which are sometimes larger and richer than the original communities from where they sprang in the East. One of The Syriac World's many advantages is that it includes blocks of translated texts from many of the great Syriac writers, so that they can be read in their own voices as it were: Ephrem the Syrian, Patriarch Timothy I, Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Jacob of Serugh, Theodore Abu Qurra, Bar Hebraeus, and many others. There are also the writings of others, from Marco Polo to 19th-century Protestant missionaries, commenting on what they saw among the Syriac Christians. It is a remarkable achievement to have been able to intelligibly condense more than two millennia of Syriac Christian civilization into 231 pages. A West that is often obsessed by Islam would do well to remember that "Syriac Christians played a central role in the translation movement" in Baghdad as part of what is called the Abbasid Renaissance. It is no surprise that such renowned scholars as Peter Brown, Philip Jenkins, and Sebastian Brock praised this book, for it is a much-needed improvement as a single-volume work, replacing Professor William Wright's 1894 Short History of Syriac Literature. The book's one failing is that there is only so much that can be squeezed into 231 pages, and the entire 20th and 21st centuries are covered in the last five pages of the book. We are actually living through a renaissance in Syriac Christian studies. An amazing online reference portal (www.syriaca.org) provides access to all sorts of scholarly resources. Publishing houses like Gorgias Press have brought back into print a wealth of obscure and hard to find older works. And there have been many new works that treat some aspects of the story that the authors of The Syriac World seek to tell. In 2006, Gorgias Press published David Gaunt's Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia During World War I, an important study of the Assyrian resistance to genocide in the Tur Abdin, Hakkari, and Urmia regions. Oxford University Press followed up in 2016 with Joseph Yacoub's Year of the Sword, a new history of the Assyrian Christian genocide. In 2016, Adam H. Becker wrote on the fateful encounter between American missionaries and the Eastern Syriac Christians in Revival and Awakening: American Evangelical Missionaries and the Origins of Assyrian Nationalism. The long and complex history of the Assyrian Church of the East has been well served with two massive new volumes in recent years, David Wilmshurst's The Martyred Church (2011) and Christoph Baumer's lavish The Church of the East, an Illustrated History of Assyrian Christianity (2016). The history of the Syrian Orthodox Church has been enriched by Philip Wood's The Imam of the Christians (2021), an excellent study of the 9th century Patriarch Dionysius of Tel-Mahre. And we must mention a different book with the same title as that under review here, The Syriac World from 2020, an outstanding, massive work edited by Daniel King of Cardiff University, which is much more comprehensive than the Briquel Chatonnet and Debie work under review--but, at 896 pages, more than four times as long. As a student of the Christian East, I have followed this subject for decades, and I have tremendous respect for all of the aforementioned scholars. I also had the good fortune of doing research and documenting the Assyrian Christian communities along the Khabur River in northeast Syria when I served as an American diplomat in that unhappy country during the 1990s. Having no Syriac, I communicated with my interlocutors in Arabic. Little did I know that the bucolic farming communities that I visited would later be cruelly uprooted in a massive terrorist attack by the so-called Islamic State in February 2015. These Assyrian Christians had lived for centuries in the Hakkari Mountains of what is now southeast Turkey. In 1915, they were massacred by the Turks and fought a fighting retreat to Urmia, in Iran, where they found momentary safety behind Tsarist Russian lines, only to have to flee once again after Russia's exit from the war. They eventually found sanctuary in British-ruled Iraq, but in 1933 they had to flee again, from the newly independent, nationalist Iraq to the safety of French Mandate Syria. If I have any criticism of this new book and the other important works I've mentioned on Syriac Christians, it is that they have not yet mined the very real drama and contemporary history that these communities have lived in recent decades. The 1915 genocide has been documented, but the story of the surviving communities that were uprooted and driven into exile in the late 20th and early 21st centuries is still to be published. The story of Turkey's Tur Abdin region, heavily populated by Syriac Christians until the 1970s and caught between the twin fires of Kurdish rebels and Turkish counterinsurgency, is yet to be fully told. The same is true of the history of Syriac Christian fighters (many from Tur Abdin) fighting in the ranks of the Lebanese Forces during the Lebanese Civil War. Some of these men are still alive. The past decade has been a true Calvary for Syriac Christians in their ancient homelands in the Middle East. In 2010, the Islamic State perpetrated one of its worst massacres in a Syriac Catholic church in Baghdad, carried out during Holy Mass on All Saints' Eve. The American invasion of Iraq, in 2003, unleashed hell on the country's Christian community, most of whom were of Syriac (either Assyrian, Chaldean, Syrian Orthodox, or Syriac Catholic) origin. This targeting of Christians continued after the Americans left Iraq in 2011. In June 2014, the ancient Christian community in Mosul--most of whom belong to the Syriac churches--was expelled by the Islamic State. In August of that year, it was the turn of the Syriac Christian villages on the Nineveh Plain, as entire towns fled the onslaught of ISIS. 2015 began with an ISIS raid targeting Assyrian villagers on the Khabur in Syria. The raiders blew up churches, tore down crosses, and took hundreds of hostages who were eventually ransomed by the diaspora Assyrian community. In August of 2015, in southern Syria, ISIS succeeded in overrunning Al-Qaryatayn, a Sunni Muslim town with a significant Syrian Orthodox Christian community. The nearby Syriac Catholic shrine of Saint Elian of Emesa, a pilgrimage site for both Christians and Muslims going back more than a thousand years, was smashed to bits by ISIS, which, of course, filmed and disseminated their religious vandalism. 2016 saw ISIS pushed back from Mosul and from the Nineveh Plains. Mosul's Christian community does not seem to have recovered from its expulsion and may never come back. About half the population of the Syriac Christian villages of the Nineveh Plain have returned and have since struggled to rebuild their lives in the face of poverty, unemployment, and insecurity--the latter now caused by Iranian-backed Shia militias instead of Salafi Jihadists. Small, striving Syriac communities struggle to survive in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Intolerance and instability in the Muslim East mean that it is often very tempting to flee to the West. The much more powerful and extensive (Syriac-adjacent) Maronite community in Lebanon--Lebanon's president and army commanders still have to be Maronites--is under unprecedented economic, political, and military pressure. Many Christians are fleeing. Lebanon seems like the last bastion of this ancient ethnic and religious polity, and it hangs by a thread. Larger communities flourish in India, but these are ethnic Indians who were historically products of the evangelization of Syriac Christians, not Syriac speakers themselves. Lebanon aside, if survival is possible, it may be elsewhere. When two Syriac Christian fighters, allied to the Kurds, were killed in a Turkish drone strike in March 2024, memorial services for them were held in Syriac churches across Europe--in the transplanted Syriac communities that have developed in the diaspora. There are now more people in Europe who are of Syriac Christian origin with roots in Turkey's Tur Abdin than there are in Turkey itself. There are more Americans with roots in the Iraqi Chaldean village of Telkayf than there are inhabitants in that actual village. And in an exotic repeat of the Syriac churches' missionary past, thousands--some say several hundred thousand--of formerly Catholic Mayan Indian peasants in Guatemala are now members of the Archdiocese of Central America of the Syrian Orthodox Church. But this was less missionary work than the absorption of a charismatic community that had already split and been excommunicated from the Roman Church in 2006. Whatever these Europeans, Americans, or Guatemalans are or shall be, they will not be native speakers of Syriac. But they may be spiritual children of a rich--and all too often forgotten--heritage of the universal church. The Syriac World introduces Western readers to the ancient riches of the Syriac Christian heritage. Alberto M. Fernandez is a former U.S. diplomat and Vice President of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) in Washington, D.C. Zimbabwean president vows to continue reforms to enhance public sector efficiency Xinhua) 13:30, March 16, 2024 HARARE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday vowed to continue implementing reforms to enhance public sector efficiency. The government will continue to play a central role in deepening the implementation of the public sector reform agenda, said Mnangagwa on the occasion of the signing of performance contracts for the 2024 fiscal year by government ministers, heads of public entities, local authorities and other senior government officials. "Government will, therefore, continue with the reform agenda until our public sector institutions, systems and processes have reached maximum efficiencies, which are commensurate with the service delivery demands and expectations of the people. These must always guarantee that no one and no place is left behind," said Mnangagwa. He said despite a number of government ministers and other senior officials receiving awards for their commendable performance last year, overall performance across the public sector "is not to my expectation." "This demands that we all roll up our sleeves and work harder to deliver a higher quality of life for our people and realize our optimal economic potential," he said. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka was pronounced the best-performing government minister for 2023 for the second year running, while Amon Murwira, minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, was adjudged the runner-up. Since the introduction of performance contracts for senior public sector officials in 2021, there has been notable progress in the utilization and institutionalization of the instrument across the public sector, said the president. "This will ensure that government ministries, departments and agencies are accordingly guided to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe," he said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) Ukraine launched a series of long-range drones against targets in Russia on Tuesday, according to Russian officials who reported at least two oil facilities had been struck during an attack across eight regions in Russia. Soldiers that Kyiv officials claim are Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine have reported to have crossed the border into Russia, as they have periodically done throughout the war. Russia claims it had fought back against attempted incursions, but it was not possible to verify the claims of either side, and any substantial reports of border fighting remain unclear. Propaganda is a common war theme, and the alleged incursions reported are occasionally the subject of claims and counterclaims. One Ukrainian drone is believed to have hit an oil refinery and exploded into flames in the Nizhny Novgorod region, according to regional governor Gleb Nikitin and reported by The Associated Press. The Novgorod region is located about 775 kilometers (480 miles) from the Ukraine border. A drone was also shot down in Moscow, said Sergei Sobyanin, the city's mayor. Despite blocking the hit and shooting down the drone well south of the city center, it was exceptionally close to Zhukovsky Airport. The airport is one of Moscow's four international airports. Another drone hit an oil depot in Oryol, 116 kilometers (95 miles) from Ukraine. The strikes are just another display of Ukraine's expanding capabilities in domestic drone technology and its forward approach in taking the war over to Russia, especially after Kremlin forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Ukraine was developing a weapon of war that could target 700 kilometers (400 miles) away without openly referencing drones. An increase in sea drones has been released into the Black Sea by Ukraine, where it claims to have sunk Russian warships. Kyiv forces expect more military aid from Ukraine's Western allies but currently struggle against a more equipped Russian army that shows no signs of holding back. However, Zelensky reveals that Russian advances have slowed down as the battlefield situation is much better now than where it was in previous months. "We had some difficulties due to the lack of artillery shells, long-range weapons, sky blocking, and the high density of Russian drones," Zelenskyy said in an interview with France's BFM TV and Le Monde published late Monday on the Ukrainian presidential website. Ukrainian fighters sought to cross into Tetkino, a town on the border of Russia's Kursk region, claims Governor Roman Starovoit. "There was an attempt by a sabotage and reconnaissance group to break through. There was a shooting battle, but there was no breakthrough," he said in a video message on Telegram. Four attacks in what the Russian Defense Ministry called Ukrainian sabotage were driven back into Tetkino. The representative of Ukraine's intelligence agency, Andrii Yusov, told Ukrainska Pravda that the military groups are made up of Russian citizens. "On the territory of the Russian Federation, they operate completely autonomously and independently," he said. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 16 March 2024 19:15 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Representatives from CICA Member States, the Kazakhstan Chairmanship, and the CICA Secretariat gathered for the CICA Senior Officials Committee (SOC) meeting to discuss various matters including the upcoming 2024-2026 CICA Chairmanship, the progress of the Road Map for CICA Transformation (RMT), the establishment of a Partnership Network of Leading Universities of CICA Member States, future collaborations with other international organizations, and other priorities outlined by the Chairmanship, Azernews reports. The Kazakhstan Chairmanship provided updates on the advancements made and presented plans for the implementation of the CICA RMT, emphasizing a structured and results-driven approach to the organization's transformation. During the meeting, the SOC engaged in detailed discussions on four out of the eight clusters of the RMT, particularly focusing on elements of a prospective charter of CICA. Member States paved the way for elaborating the charter as a culmination of the transformation process. Additionally, new areas of cooperation within the organization and updates to its Rules of Procedure were deliberated. The issue of the next CICA Chairmanship was thoroughly considered, leading the SOC to recommend to the CICA Ministerial Council the adoption of Azerbaijan as the Chair for the years 2024-2026 through a silence procedure. Furthermore, the SOC approved a draft Memorandum on the Establishment of a Partnership Network of Leading Universities of CICA Member States for adoption by the Ministerial Council. This network aims to facilitate cooperation among educational institutions, academic exchanges, and joint research projects across Asia. Updates on the ongoing work related to key initiatives outlined at the Sixth CICA Summit in October 2022 were also provided by the Chairmanship. Discussions included initiatives such as organizing the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders of CICA Member States, institutionalizing the CICA Finance Summit, and establishing a CICA Council for Sustainable Connectivity. Volunteerism was underscored as relevant, and the initiative to share national policies, strategies, research, and best practices on volunteerism through the CICA website was welcomed. The SOC also reviewed the draft annual action plan of the CICA Think Tank Forum for 2024, highlighting the importance of fostering effective intellectual collaboration among think tanks and research institutions of Member States. In efforts to enhance synergies with other international organizations, the SOC approved the establishment of partnership relations between CICA and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay presented a financial report of the CICA Secretariat for 2023, receiving appreciation from Member States for his effective management of financial resources throughout the year. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 17:10 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has discussed issues arising from the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) with UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner, who is visiting Azerbaijan to participate in the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports, citing a source in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The source said that the meeting between Bayramov and Steiner also discussed the agenda of cooperation within the UNDP, current perspectives, and the regional situation in the post-conflict period. "Bayramov, speaking about the positive results of long-term cooperation between the UNDP and Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of continuing the existing partnership. The minister mentioned that in addition to completing the required organizational steps, our nation is actively participating in meaningful negotiating procedures with different parties in order to successfully chair COP29. This pertains to the preparatory work for the conference. Speaking of the post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building initiatives that our nation undertook, the minister pointed out that the lives and health of our people, as well as the ongoing reconstruction efforts, are in danger due to Armenia's widespread mining of our territories and its refusal to provide information about areas that have been mined. It was stressed how important it is to organize global mining activities. Steiner noted that Azerbaijan has demonstrated excellent growth, and that the UNDP places a high priority on tackling the threat posed by mines, including talks about potential initiatives in this regard. In addition, Steiner expressed his admiration for Azerbaijan's stance and strategy as the chair of COP29a nation well-known for its abundance of hydrocarbon resourcesand expressed his wishes for the country's success in this role. Other topics of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting," the source added. To note, the decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023. On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 18:49 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Azerbaijan has been a target for cyber attacks for many years, the country's Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samir Mammadov said during the panel session themed "Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and a New Security Paradigm in the Cyber Warfare Epoch" within the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports. Mammadov emphasized that relevant departments have intensified their efforts to enhance cybersecurity. However, with the rapid pace of digital advancement, existing cybersecurity measures struggle to keep up. He noted the escalating frequency of cyber attacks worldwide, underscoring the pressing need for specialized professionals in this field. Azerbaijan, like many others, faces significant challenges in this regard. Mammadov stressed the necessity of developing more adaptable and accessible cybersecurity strategies, as well as joining international treaties and agreements to mitigate the risk of cyber warfare. The XI Global Baku Forum, attended by representatives from numerous countries and prestigious international organizations, is facilitating discussions on various global issues, including cybersecurity challenges, climate change, and geopolitical tensions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAzw 16 March 2024 20:11 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The re-election of Ilham Aliyev as President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is an indicator of people's trust in him, former Deputy Prime Minister of Romania Ana Birchall said during the panel session themed "Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and a New Security Paradigm in the Cyber Warfare Epoch" within the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports. Birchall emphasized that Aliyev's victory underscores the widespread support for his government's policies. She highlighted Azerbaijan's success in countering attempts to use energy as a geopolitical weapon, attributing this achievement to regional energy cooperation facilitated by Azerbaijan. The presidential election, held on February 7, 2024, resulted in Aliyev securing 92.12 percent of the votes, as announced by the Central Election Commission on February 11. The XI Global Baku Forum, attended by representatives from numerous countries and international organizations, serves as a platform for discussing various global challenges and opportunities, including cybersecurity, climate change, and geopolitical stability. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 18:17 (UTC+04:00) President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf held a meeting with Espen Mehlum, the Head of Energy Transition Intelligence and Regional Acceleration, and Renee van Heusden, the Head of Oil & Gas Industry, both representing the World Economic Forum, Azernews reports. During the meeting, discussions centered around SOCAR's transformation from an oil and gas company to an international energy entity, as well as the strategic goals outlined in its Corporate Strategy until 2035. The importance of agreements signed between SOCAR and international partner companies, along with collaborative initiatives in this regard, were also highlighted. It was emphasized with confidence that Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29 will play a significant role in addressing climate change. The meeting also explored opportunities for expanding cooperation between SOCAR and the World Economic Forum, with a focus on decarbonisation, Net Zero initiatives, methane emission reduction, digitalization, and sustainable upstream projects. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 19:36 (UTC+04:00) Fatime Letifova Read more The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on March 13, 2024, on "Closer ties between the EU and Armenia and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia" is the first sign of how this institution will turn Pashinyan's government into a tool in the fight against Russia. Currently, Armenia has entered into such an abstract game that even it is powerless to overcome it. According to Armenia, alliance with Europe and the West is the only way to be safe from and fully protected from foreign influence. However, the world experience and what happened in Ukraine have already shown the results of counting on the West. Pashinyan, who relied on the West's empty promises and caused Putin's aggression, is willingly or unwillingly have to obey the orders of the European Union. The EU undoubtedly aims to indirectly suppress Russia's position in the region, not to protect the benefits of Armenia. This scenario, in fact, cannot be considered new at all. If we look at the events that have taken place in the world under the influence of the European Union before, it is enough to look not far away, but in the north, at the war between Ukraine and Russia, which has been going on for over a couple of years. A few years ago, some European countries pledged to include Ukraine in the Union and called for being against to Russia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the eve of the war with Russia, petitioned the European Union and expressed his wish to join the EU. The petition, addressed on February 28, 2022, was answered on June 23, which resulted in granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union. This decision was actually intended to annoy Russia rather than benefit Ukraine. Because similar events took place in the recent history of neighbouring Georgia. Europe has never been involved in direct war. It mission is to send its victims to hell by getting them illusioned through a picture of heaven. For example, French President Emmanuel Macron had recently launched a new initiative saying that NATO member states could have sent troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. So what happened? The reaction of the leaders of the European Union member states to his proposal was quite harsh - Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Sweden and others said no to what Macron said, and even called the 'boldly acting' president crazy. That proves that the West's intentions are not to stand by a country which actually needs help, but to pursue its own interests. At the same time, clauses claiming that the presence of the Russian military in Armenian lands worries the European Parliament and hinders the "observation" mission are also reflected in the resolution. Let us recall that in Prague on October 6, 2022, Azerbaijan agreed to the deployment of an EU monitoring mission to Armenia, hoping that it would help the process of normalising relations between Baku and Yerevan. However, despite the clearly defined parameters and objectives of the mission agreed upon at the highest level, the monitoring mission's activities have been accompanied by serious deviations from the agreements reached in Prague due to the biased approach of some EU member states. It should be noted that the biased policy of some European countries towards Azerbaijan is not only in the political realm. For example, a model of the SOM-B1 missile purchased by Azerbaijan from Turkiye was demonstrated during a parade in Azerbaijan in 2018. This missile is Turkiye's first cruise missile. Moreover, we also know that the SOM missiles powered by the TR40 turbo-active engine are a product of the French company Safran. In that case, France took the advantage and created problems for the export of missiles to Turkiye and prevented the export to Azerbaijan. While France does not see any problem in selling hundreds of weapons of its own production to Armenia, it is clearly hypocrisy that one detail of the missile produced in Turkiye is an excuse for not selling the weapon to Azerbaijan. But France's biased policy is not new towards Azerbaijan, as we have seen plenty of such events in the history. Another Turkish-made weapon, the T-155 FIRTINA self-propelled artillery unit was planned to use some systems of the German-made howitzer "PzH 2000" on the prototype, but the German Federal Security Council also imposed a ban on the export of this weapon. At the end howitzer was sold to Azerbaijan with products purchased from the South Korean company Samsung Techwin. Many European countries not only sell weapons to Armenia, but also hinder Azerbaijan's trade. For Armenia, this looks like a partnership with a naive view. Thus, the Pashinyan government believes in these lies, and is taking the country down into the abyss as well as causing a huge threat for the future of the South Caucasus. The West on the other hand, continues its policy of creating tension in the South Caucasus. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 17:56 (UTC+04:00) Kazakhstan's Bereke Bank has announced its decision to discontinue accepting payments made with MIR cards, Azernews reports. The statement from Bereke Bank states, "Bereke Bank hereby announces the cessation of its collaboration with Russia's National Payment Card System (RNPCS) MIR. As of March 17, 2024, customers will no longer be able to make non-cash payments using MIR cards at Bereke Bank's POS terminals." It is emphasized that transactions using VISA, MASTERCARD, and UnionPay cards will continue to be fully operational at Bereke Bank's POS terminals. Additionally, Kazakhstan's Freedom Bank had previously suspended P2P (person-to-person) transfers involving Russian MIR payment cards. "Freedom Bank regrets to inform its customers that P2P transfers to or from MIR cards are no longer supported," the bank stated. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 17:36 (UTC+04:00) Uzbekistan and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) have engaged in discussions regarding potential areas for bilateral collaboration, encompassing irrigation, agriculture, energy, and social development, Azernews reports. The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan disclosed that these matters were deliberated during a meeting between Bobur Khodjaev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, and a delegation headed by Bito Yoshibumi, the leader of JICA's representation in Uzbekistan. Moreover, they explored additional potential avenues for cooperation, including initiatives related to the "green" economy, investments in human capital, and public-private partnership endeavors in various sectors. The parties also explored the feasibility of accessing technical assistance from JICA to bolster industrial policy and study international best practices. Concluding the meeting, they expressed their willingness to sustain active dialogue within the established areas of cooperation. JICA, established in 1974, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the development of other countries through technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise. It collaborates with over 160 nations, offering assistance in diverse fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, and human resource development in partner countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 23:18 (UTC+04:00) Kazakhstan has agreed not to impose restrictions or bans on products from Kyrgyzstan, despite earlier proposals by the Kazakh government due to concerns about the quality of goods from Kyrgyzstan, Azernews reports. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the agreement was reached following consultations with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration. Following the consultations, the parties agreed to jointly implement a series of measures aimed at preventing the issuance of "gray certificates." The complete digitization of the conformity assessment processes (certification and declaration) from application submission to document issuance is one of these measures. Other measures include strengthening the obligations and requirements for laboratories, supervisory authorities, certification experts, and conformity assessment bodies. The government of Kazakhstan put out a draft resolution earlier this month for public comment with the intention of outlawing goods permitted in Kyrgyzstan. Concerns concerning the issuance of conformity assessment documents (also known as "gray certificates") in Kyrgyzstan without following the correct procedures or carrying out tests were brought up in the resolution's explanatory note. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Open Armsthe aid ship carrying 200 tons of aid from Cyprusapproached the coast of Gaza on Friday, March 15, to bring assistance and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the strip five months into the Israel-Hamas War. The ship, manned by the Spanish aid group Proactiva Open Arms, left Cyprus on Tuesday (Mar. 12) and has been towing a barge filled with food sent by World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. The Associated Press reported that by Friday morning local time, the ship was visible off the coast of Gaza. Israel has been pressured to allow more aid to Gaza as the war continues in the Palestinian enclave. Of late, the United States has joined other countries in airdropping supplies in northern Gaza and has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Read Also: Ramadan Dawns on Gaza's Desperate Struggle with Ceasefire, Hunger Crisis, Delayed Aid Relief More Aid on the Way However, aid groups said that airdrops and sea shipments were far less efficient in delivering the massive amounts of aid needed in Gaza. Instead, they suggested that Israel should guarantee safe corridors for truck convoys after land deliveries became nearly impossible because of military restrictions, protests by hostage families, ongoing hostilities, and the breakdown of order after the Hamas-run police force largely vanished from the streets. Earlier this week, Israel allowed six aid trucks to enter northern Gaza directly, which was a step aid groups were calling for. World Central Kitchen spokesperson Linda Roth said that since the war began, the organization has served 32 million meals in its 65 kitchens in Gaza. The aid included rice, flour, lentils, beans, tuna, and canned meat. The group planned to distribute the food in the north of the strip, which was hugely devastated in the early months of the war. Meanwhile, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said that a second vessel loaded with more aid would sail to Gaza once the supplies from the first ship had been offloaded and distributed. However, he did not specify the departure date, saying that it would depend, in part, on whether the Open Arms delivery went smoothly. Related Article: Hope on the Horizon: Open Arms Aid Ship Finally Sets Sail for Gaza @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An official government advisory panel has finally said the quiet part out loud. Pushing so-called "climate justice" really means restrictions on our freedom. "Climate justice" is a term often bandied about by the Biden regime. The Ethics Council, a body created by German law to advise the government and others on how to adjust to actions deemed necessary to fight "climate change" has issued an opinion saying that restrictions on freedom by government may be required. "If one's own exercise of freedom interferes in an unjust manner with the freedom and welfare of others or of future generations, the authorities may intervene with restrictions on freedom," the council declared. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-ethics-council-restricting-freedoms-may-be-necessary-to-fight-climate-change/ This validates the warning issued over a decade ago by Dr. Vaclav Klaus, who is a former Czech Republic prime minister and president, who warned that climate alarmism is "a budding totalitarian ideology that is the greatest threat to freedom, democracy, and prosperity in the world today." Legal advice after car hit by construction debris: No issue with making claim Advice comes after social media video showed car being hit by object in Newtownabbey Watch: Shocking moment construction ball comes through car window in Belfast Flavia Gouveia Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 09:00 Making a claim if you are hit by debris from a construction site should be straightforward, a legal expert has said. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney has called for a new tax on share buybacks by large companies (Aaron Chown/PA) The Liberal Democrats have called for a new tax on share buybacks by large companies as the party holds its spring conference in York. Sarah Olney, the Lib Dem Treasury spokeswoman, used her speech on Saturday to set out the plan to follow Joe Bidens example and impose a 4% levy on the share buybacks by FTSE 100 firms. The measure could raise around 2 billion annually for public services and investment in green industries, the party said. Critics say buybacks when a company purchases its own shares are used to inflate share prices and come at the expense of spending on investment. The US president introduced a 1% tax on share buybacks of US-listed companies in 2022 and has now proposed to raise it to 4%. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: Large corporations from fossil fuel giants to banks are making huge profits off the back of families facing soaring energy bills, mortgage payments and food prices. It is only fair that we ask these companies to pay more in tax. This new levy would not just raise much-needed money for public services, it would encourage investment, help create jobs and boost growth including in the green industries of the future. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The 2 billion the policy could raise is close to what the Labour Party said its plan to tax non-doms could have brought in, before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt deprived Sir Keir Starmers party of that funding by adopting the measure in his Budget. In her speech, Ms Olney said: Some of the biggest and most profitable companies in the world are listed on the London Stock Exchange. And every year, these same companies spend tens of billions of pounds doing nothing more than buying back their own shares. Every pound spent inflating share prices is a pound that could have been spent productively. And at a time when the UK is near the bottom of the table for business investment amongst major economies, thats a problem. And its an even bigger problem for our fight against climate change. If were going to achieve net zero, we need big corporations to channel serious investment in energy efficiency, green technologies and clean energy. But too many put their share price above the good of our planet. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is expecting to make gains across the so-called Tory blue wall (Stefan Rousseau/PA) She pointed to oil giant BP, which she said spent less than 1 billion of its 11 billion profit last year investing in low carbon energy and more than 5 billion buying back its own shares. In the last two years, share buyback programmes from the hundred biggest firms on the Stock Exchange reached record highs, exceeding 50 billion a year. Just think what our economy could have achieved if this money was spent on productive investment think of the progress we could have made on the green transition. Lets put a 4% tax on share buybacks to incentivise proper business investment, spur economic growth and raise funds fairly for our public services to the tune of 2 billion a year. Lets take bold action to supercharge green investment and break the cycle of Conservative stagnation and recession. Ms Olney also attacked Mr Hunts Budget, saying that even after his changes to national insurance, he is raising taxes to their highest level in the post-war era. She added: And its not just that hes putting up taxes during a cost-of-living crisis. Its that hes doing it in the most unfair way possible with a stealth tax that keeps income tax thresholds frozen, dragging millions of people on low pay into income tax for the first time. Layla Moran, the only MP of Palestinian heritage, addressed the Israel-Hamas war in her spring conference speech (James Manning/PA) Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran, who is of British-Palestinian descent, said in her speech that the Israeli governments assault on Gaza has gone beyond the pale. She called for sanctions on violent Israeli settlers to be extended to anyone who enables the insidious settler movement, the lawyers, the accountants, the businesses. She said: If they support illegal activity, they shouldnt be allowed in the UK and if their money is flowing through our economy, we should go after it. No longer can acting with impunity go without consequence. Ms Moran also accused the Tories of fanning flames of antisemitism and Islamophobia in the UK, saying the Lib Dems reject their false dichotomy of standing either with the hostages and against Hamas, or with the Palestinians and against Benjamin Netanyahus government. Elsewhere, the Lib Dems passed a new policy calling for key sporting events such as Premier League matches, Six Nations Rugby, Ryder Cup and the Ashes to be legally shown on free-to-air TV channels. (PA Graphics) The party is using the gathering to prepare for a further push into blue wall seats traditional Conservative strongholds ahead of the general election. The party won 11 seats at the 2019 general election but have since gained formerly Conservative constituencies across southern England in a series of by-elections. These have included Chesham and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, Frome in Somerset, Tiverton and Honiton in Devon, and North Shropshire. But some polls suggest the far-right Reform UK party has overtaken the Lib Dems in popularity across the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week ruled out holding an election on May 2 to coincide with local elections, having previously indicated he will send the country to the polls in the latter half of 2024. Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy discuss their new film about the upper-class English woman who joined a rogue IRA unit and what they think motivated her On April 24, 1974, an IRA unit forced their way into Russborough House in Co Wicklow, subdued Sir Alfred and Lady Beit and their staff and absconded with 19 paintings valued at upwards of IR8m. They sent a ransom note demanding IR500,000 and the release of two hunger-striking IRA prisoners for the safe return of the artworks. Gardai began a nationwide hunt for the gang. One of their members was Rose Dugdale, who had also tried to bomb an RUC station in a stolen helicopter. She was not your average IRA recruit in fact, she wasnt even Irish. An Oxford graduate and former debutante who grew up on a vast estate in Devon, she got involved in revolutionary politics in the late 1960s and joined the IRA after watching reports of Bloody Sunday. Not surprisingly, she became a tabloid sensation on both sides of the Irish Sea, and her exploits at Russborough are the focus of a new film from Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy. The couple, born and bred in Dublin but based in the UK since the 1990s, operate as the Desperate Optimists, and have produced some memorable films over the years, from Helen and Mister John to Rose Plays Julie and The Future Tense. In the latter documentary, as they playfully considered a possible return to live in Ireland, the couple scouted locations for a proposed film about Dugdale. Here it is, and in Baltimore, Imogen Poots gives a wonderfully elliptical portrayal of the high-born firebrand as she lives through the most dramatic moments of her life. What drew them to Dugdales story? It was a very complex time in Irish and British history, Molloy says, and here was a character who is very much an anomaly; this English heiress who ended up in Ireland doing these things and fighting for the cause in a really committed way. Committed with a capital C always wanting to prove herself and underline the fact that she was a true believer. She is tricky, Lawlor says. Shes very slippery as a character. From what weve heard and read she was incredibly charismatic like at Oxford university, her gang was the one you wanted to be in. And I imagine there were various iterations of her. Shes changing and pivoting, growing and adapting, so by the time we reach Russborough she grows into this performative person with a fake French accent. It wasnt the first time shed done that either, so shes quite theatrical. Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy. Photo: Simon Lazewski Baltimore moves fluidly back and forth in Dugdales life, interspersing glimpses of her activist days in London and a failed attempt to rob her parents home with the raid on Russborough and its febrile aftermath, as she and her associates went to ground in Co Cork. I dont think it comes across as a biopic, Lawlor says, and thats not what we wanted to do, but if youre doing a biopic and doing this in a chronological order, youre going to go through it at a particular tempo. But if you want to go from idea to idea, you will inevitably end up with a really abrasive film, and we kind of wanted something hard. Its a bit of a challenge, Molloy adds, because people often want to settle into a story, and into whats happening with how things are moving forward. And here, we do pull people in different directions: we know its kind of risky but we hope that it works. Dugdale has died at the age of 83 but was still alive during production were they tempted to contact her? No interest at all, Lawlor says, and it was curious because someone gave out to us at a festival screening, and they were saying How dare you you didnt even get her permission, and were going, No, but nobody asked the Queen for her permission before they made The Crown! Two books have come out at the same time as we were working on our script, Molloy adds, but before that, there wasnt a huge amount written that we could access, so we were searching for stuff. There were bits of video footage like the Beits being interviewed the morning after the raid, and then about 10 or 12 years ago a short film was made by TG4 called Mna an IRA, and there was an interview with her, and so we heard her speak. This was years later say it was 10 years ago, so shes in her 70s, and shes had plenty of time to reflect on what she did, and so it was very interesting to hear her talk about her memories of what she did, and then her real certainty that she doesnt have any regrets. And the other thing that she said was that the Strabane bombing attempt was one of the most exciting days of her life. She enjoyed the moment, so we thought, OK, this is a great key to her as a person. Thats all you need, Lawlor adds. And she had all these kind of regrets too, Molloy says, that she could never be the mother she needed to be she didnt feel very maternal and so we kind of felt wed heard her speak. You dont actually have to love the character or hate them, you just have to find them interesting up to a point, but what we really want you to do is to find the ideas that circulate around them fascinating Poots captures Dugdales quicksilver energy brilliantly, particularly during the Russborough scenes, when she is in the thick of an unfolding crisis and seems to be enjoying it hugely. We got really lucky with Imogen, Molloy says. I think Imogen, because this is set in the 1970s, she saw her very much as a kind of punk spirit, theres something refined about her, a bit like Imogen too, shes a bit posh, Lawlor says. But theres also something a little bit punk about Imogen, a little bit wild, shes a very funny person. I dont know if Rose Dugdale was particularly funny. I imagine she probably was. You dont actually have to love the character or hate them, he adds, you just have to find them interesting up to a point, but what we really want you to do is to find the ideas that circulate around them fascinating. Theres something about the 60s and the 70s that Rose came out of, that we can draw connections with today. The temper of the times was quite fragile, and it gave way to a certain level of militancy and activism. Rose Dugdale certainly wasnt alone in that. I guess a more clear connection might be somebody like [German terrorist] Ulrike Meinhof, quite middle class. Or Weather Underground in America, Molloy says. At that time there were lots of different political factions that were fuelled by youthful idealism. And then she comes over here, Lawlor says, and it didnt start with that level of militancy and violence. But it accrues like everything, it gathers, it goes somewhere, but theres always something about that person which is questioning, unsettled. Why? Who knows? She empathised with certain struggles. But with her its never static, it keeps changing. Until she landed really, Molloy adds. And you know they say that Bloody Sunday kick-started a recruitment drive for the IRA well, Im sure that people werent expecting somebody like Rose Dugdale to turn up. And thats one thing we have read about her. She herself absolutely cites Bloody Sunday, watching the scenes from Bloody Sunday on the television, as the moment when she thought, This is what I need to do. She was definitely looking for something, a cause, she tried different things, and then she found it. Rose Dugdale. Photo: Bob Aylott/Daily Mail/Shutterstock And once Dugdale joined the IRA, her commitment to that cause was total. In January 1974, she and an IRA gang that included Eddie Gallagher hijacked a helicopter in Donegal and flew it to Strabane, where they dropped bombs in milk churns on a RUC station. The devices did not explode. After Russborough an operation that had not been sanctioned by the IRAs army council the gang hid out in a rented house in Glandore. Dugdale was found near there, on May 4th, 1974, and all 19 paintings were recovered. In the film, she doesnt seem too unhappy when the gardai finally catch her. I think that was a win-win situation for her, Molloy says. Having made the film, did Joe and Christine reach a conclusion in terms of Rose, and how they felt about her? Theres something amateur, isnt there? Lawlor says. She certainly is very bright, theres no question about that. I dont know, Molloy says. I always warm to people who are fighting the fight, whatever theyre fighting for, and who are drawn to situations where there is injustice, and I think thats really what drove her. And then we get into the really tricky area of: by what means are you choosing to fight, whose life are you willing to take and how are you going to do that? There are things that happened, terrible atrocities on both sides, and thats hard to weigh up, so I think the whole thing is very complicated. But I still admire someone who looks at injustice and wants to do something about it. She was in a rogue unit, she concludes, so what they were doing hadnt even been sanctioned. They just went solo, they were impatient; they wanted things to happen. Baltimore opens in cinemas on March 22 Dan Wootton apologises to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard for contributing to heartache (Gemma Gravett/GB News/PA) Former GB News presenter Dan Wootton has apologised to actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard for contributing to their heartache after an 2018 article in The Sun. New Zealand-born Wootton became embroiled in a legal battle with Johnny Depp over the article while he was the newspapers executive editor. The Pirates of the Caribbean star filed a libel claim against News Group Newspapers the owner of The Sun and a judge later ruled the content of the article was proven to be substantially true. 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 Speaking in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wootton apologised to the pair and his former employers. I dont know what happened between Johnny and Amber and, frankly, it was not my business to interfere, he said. I greatly regret that I ever did. So today Im sorry to both Johnny and Amber for contributing to their heartache. And to The Sun and its brilliant legal team for putting them in an unenviable position, too. Sometimes its only hitting rock bottom that allows you to re-evaluate decisions youve made in the past and Ive had the privilege to do that over the past few years and know I am a better journalist as a result. Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following the final day of hearings in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its former executive editor,Dan Wootton (Yui Mok, PA) In January 2021, Wootton announced he would be leaving his job as executive editor at The Sun, where he had previously edited the papers Bizarre column. He worked as a presenter on GB News on his show Dan Wootton Tonight, before he was suspended from the channel following comments made by actor Laurence Fox on his programme about Ava Evans, the political correspondent for online news site Joe. Wootton apologised after the show aired, saying: I want to reiterate my regret over last nights exchange with Laurence on GB News. He later left the station after media watchdog Ofcom found the comments made on the show broke broadcasting rules and started his own independent news channel. (Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NYPD officers are seen behind police tape in a New York City subway station. The Brooklyn District Attorney will not prosecute a New York City subway rider who shot another man aboard a packed rush-hour train during an argument, according to a report. "Yesterday's shooting inside a crowded subway car was shocking and deeply upsetting," spokesman Oren Yaniv said in a statement, NBC 4 New York reported. "The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing but, at this stage, evidence of self-defense precludes us from filing any criminal charges against the shooter." Police described the 36-year-old wounded man as the "aggressor" who pulled the gun in the altercation on the A train. The 32-year-old man he was arguing with was able to grab the weapon and shoot the older man as the train approached the Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop around 4:45 p.m. as commuters in the packed train scrambled for cover. Michael Kemper, the chief of transit for the NYPD, said that the alleged shooter was cooperating with detectives. He said the incident appeared to begin when the 36-year-old confronted the other man and pulled the pistol, leading to a scuffle between the two men. The older man was struck once in the head and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. The shooting comes amid a series of high-profile crimes in the subway system, including a 29-year-old woman who lost both of her feet after she was shoved in front of an oncoming train at the Fulton Street station last Saturday. That occurred just days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announed that she would be sending National Guard troops and State Police to patrol in the subway to protect commuters. "These brazen heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated," Hochul said at the announcement. This is a developing story. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Louise Walsh, the artist behind one of Belfasts most well-known public sculptures, reflects on the artworks controversial past and the media furore surrounding it While the general public will have seen The Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker the bronze statue of two women that stands proudly outside Europa Bus Centre on Great Victoria Station they may be unfamiliar with the artworks controversial history. Today the Cork-born visual artist behind it, Louise Walsh, is participating in a discussion about the artwork, as part of Belfasts Imagine! festival. By Louises own admission, the story behind the statue is complicated, because it went on over a period of time and there were a lot of moving parts. In summary, after Louise completed her MFA in sculpture at the University of Ulster in 1986, the young graduate, along with other artists, was invited to submit a proposal for a piece of public art in connection with Blackstaff Square which was undergoing redevelopment. At the time Belfast City Council wanted statue design that depicted sex workers to reflect the history of nearby Amelia Street as a red-light district. Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker The young feminist artist was unhappy with this simplistic and offensive take on prostitution and was more interested in exploring the inequalities that affect many womens experiences of work. The council provided a drawing as an example a design that Louise catagorises as a characture. Louise instead decided to come up a two-person sculpture design that embedded statistics, text and symbolic object, focusing on the gender pay imbalance and the fact that full-time mothers were not paid at all. Her intention was to draw attention to the contribution of womens work to society and emphasise how often female labour is uncelebrated and taken for granted. In the 1980s, that area of Belfast had residents working in numerous types of employment, including at the linen factories. What ensued then was a bizarre media and sectarian-based controversy around the sculpture. My sculpture was a response to try and claw back respect for womens representation in a public realm, Louise explains. I was trying as an artist to show a more respectful and dignified but also kind of critical of society positioning of women, in a situation where people have asked me to make caricatures of prostitutes. Delighted to have won the commission, Louise made a small-scale model of the artwork and a paper dossier with details of the objects that would be attached to the sculpture, such as typewriters, a dummy, clothes pegs, and segments of text in relation to the percentage of women working in low paying jobs, amongst other items. It was in the Department of the Environment and it gets comical somebody had thrown a stone and broken into the DoE offices and this brick had hit the model sculpture, so my model was very damaged and the dossier was with it, Louise recalls. A gentleman called Frank Millar, an independent Unionist councillor... he was obviously contacted. There was a bit of consternation on the idea of prostitute sculpture going around in the background somewhere in the DoE office. And the next thing he went on telly, on BBC News, and in the newspapers saying that he had heard there was a monument to prostitution going up and he was against it, and hed been shown it and he thought it was an awful old thing. And he was told it had breasts, but he couldnt be sure because he hadnt had glasses on at the time. The artist's newspaper clippings from the News Letter 1989 A newspaper article quoted Millar as saying his eyesight wasnt so good. There was a kind of a media push on it, there was a lot of activity, them contacting me, explains Louise. Newspaper headlines from that period included: Vice Girls Statue Is Given The Red Light! in the Daily Mirror; Bust-Up Over Red Light Statue in the News Letter; Shady Ladies Earn Praise in the News Letter; Miss Paisley and SF Join Forces Over Statues in the Belfast Telegraph; and Floozie Sculpture Upsets City Fathers in The Sunday Press. So then, a big media furore comes, and weve got your lovely newspaper with Belfast has no heart for tarts with a picture of me underneath, Louise says. I wanted to defend my work, so when Frank Millar broke it and everyone started clamouring, it was like it was my idea. Everyone was going: Your one from the south has come up and shes making a monument to prostitutes. There was all these offensive misogynistic headlines: Bust Up With Statue. It was just awful, and I was only 26, not exactly as green as grass, but I didnt really understand the sectarian politics either. So I invited everybody my idea was, Ill invite all the politicians into my studio. I had a studio on the lower Ormeau Road up over a shop. So Rhonda Paisley came, because she was an artist and she had studied art. Rhonda and Sammy Wilson and other people came into my studio. It was an artists studio and I had life drawings. I wasnt clued into how you manage PR at all, but I did put out a press statement saying itd be great if Mr Millar would refrain from commenting on the quality of work without his glasses on, and half the population do have breasts, but they were covered. The artist's newspaper clippings from Scotland on Sunday 1989 While Louise garnered support from some politicians, others condemned it, and in the end the Belfast City Council banned the artwork from publicly owned property. It was subsequently recommissioned by a private developer and sited at the entrance to the Europa Bus Station in 1992 where it stands today. What happened was Rhonda Paisley was very supportive and very interesting and really cool actually, and I was able to show her the brief Id got, Louise says. Id showed other people that brief, but they were still, I think, really suspicious of me. I think what was being missed was it wasnt my idea. It can be seen as prostitution if you want, but actually the work is about this [wider societal issue] and prostitution comes into it around the economic necessity of women not having enough money. Rhonda Paisley got castigated by the media because she was supporting the sculpture and Sinn Fein was supporting the sculpture. Rhonda and Sinn Fein join forces over statue was a Belfast Telegraph heading with a picture of me, Lily Fitzsimons and Rhonda Paisley. Louise recalls getting a phone call from the late Ian Paisley, who she explains, told her he understood the moral grounds of her work, but indicated he would still be voting no as the whole situation had become too degraded. He said: And have they paid you for your work? and they hadnt. And he said well, and he rang me back two days later again, and said theyll pay you now, young lady. At the time, Louise said the debate about the artwork was the longest debate in the history of Belfast City Council. Following the ban, Louise was relieved when The Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker was erected in 1992. Im really glad it exists now, she says. I think its a very positive outcome for the city and I hope for women, and it appears that its loved. Sculptor Louise Walsh with Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker For more on The Monument to the Unknown Woman Worker, visit www.louisewalshartist.com An author from Co Tyrone has said she is approaching the news of her cancer diagnosis in the same way she teaches others to approach writing a book one step at a time. Emma Heatherington was informed last week by doctors that she has blood cancer most likely, Multiple Myeloma. It often affects several areas of the body, such as the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs, and is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. The Donaghmore woman, whose 16th book will be released later this year, said her health concerns started with heavy dizziness and severe pain in her chest bone, which has all been ongoing over the last year. I was putting the dizziness down to vertigo, and the chest pains down to a new mattress. because I couldnt put it down to anything else, she told the Belfast Telegraph. Five weeks ago, I had another really bad bout of dizziness and heaviness. Thats what brought me to hospital and I was taken in for a suspected stroke. That trip to A&E at Craigavon hospital led to the discovery of a lesion [area of abnormal or damaged tissue] on my skull bone. Whilst there were no signs of a stroke, the doctor whom Emma praised as being on the ball noted that sometimes when were looking for one thing, we discover something else. From there, Emma explained that everything started happening very, very quickly. The writer was sent for multiple scans and blood tests, but last Friday results came back to show that she had more lesions, leading medics to make the call that she has blood cancer. Multiple Myeloma is incurable, but it is treatable and manageable. A lot of people live with it for a long time, rather than die from it. Thats a bit of a double-edged sword, Emma continued. The aim is to put a patient into remission and to try and keep them there for as long as possible before it comes back. People live a new normal a fairly decent quality of life in between, but to get to that stage of remission will require months and months of treatment for me. Im going on a massive journey, with fairly invasive treatment, but the good thing with Multiple Myeloma is that research and developments have come on leaps and bounds. To get this 20 years ago wouldnt be good, but now the outlook is that bit more positive. Its normally a cancer that hits men in their 60s or older, but its quite unusual for a woman in her 40s like Emma to have it. She added: The ironic thing is that this is a blood cancer that attacks your bone, and Ive never broken a bone in my life, not even a wee finger! As she is considered young to have it, with no other health issues or genetic history hanging over her, all those around Emma are confident that she will be able to come out the other side. Emma Heatherington with her family However, that doesnt make this revelation any easier for the novelist, but she is determined to attack the future with a positive mental attitude. This is alien to me. I feel like Im speaking a foreign language talking about cancer treatments and hospital appointments it really is like stepping into a completely different world, she said. I am scared I think it would be inhuman if you werent scared. But, I look around and see other people living with cancer coming out the other side of it, ringing the bell, getting back to work I saw an elderly lady when I was having my bone marrow biopsy [on Monday]. This biopsy involves a doctor using a large needle to suck out bone marrow, often from the patients hip bone, and it can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for some. Emma said: Believe me, its not a pleasant experience. But, when I looked at this older lady in her 80s who had to have the procedure done, I thought, if she can do it, I can do it too. I got my eyes opened in the hospital, because I saw other people getting treatment, and its all almost just part of their new daily routines. I noticed a fella doing a bit of business, talking to one of his clients on the phone, and that gave me great hope. People are running families and businesses, living with this, and I will find a routine. The Tyrone native has received thousands of well wishes, cards and flowers, since sharing her health news on social media. E. L. James, the author of the worldwide famous Fifty Shades franchise also sent her a message of support, as did Graeme Clark from the band Wet Wet Wet (her teen idols). Emmas latest romantic release, This Christmas, reached number one in multiple categories in the Amazon Kindle charts, following its initial launch last autumn. This Christmas - Emma Heatherington's latest romance book It also ranked second place in the Irish book charts and stayed in the top 10 for eight weeks. Her next project Maybe Next Christmas will hit shelves this autumn, and she already has another work in progress for next year. The esteemed writer and mum-of-five is also due to speak at an upcoming charity event and is set to speak at the Ballyscullion Book Festival in May. She hasnt cancelled any engagements yet, and hopes she wont have to and as long as she has her brain space, laptop and journal in hand, writing will continue to be her sanctuary. Emma added: Everything in life, you break it down one baby step at a time, and thats all I can do, and its all my family can do at the moment. We are going to take it as it comes. A Border Force officer talks to a lorry driver at the Department of Agricultural, Environment and Rural Affairs facility on Duncrue Street near Belfast Harbour (Niall Carson/PA) Thousands of checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain under Windsor Framework regulations are taking place every month, figures show. Under the Windsor Framework checks are required on some goods coming into the region from across the Irish Sea. While the deal to restore Stormont may have removed routine checks on goods from Great Britain moving into Northern Ireland with the intention to stay there, some inspections and paperwork are still required. Last October the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS) replaced the existing Scheme for Temporary Agrifood Movements into NI (STAMNI). Under the STAMNI, in January of last year 5,948 documentary and container seal checks were carried out on goods coming into Northern Ireland from GB, as well as 159 identification checks. In January this year, under the newer NIRMS scheme, 6,095 documentary and seal checks were carried out, in addition to 592 identification checks and 13 post-movement assurance checks. Between February 1 and February 22 the latest figures available 4,584 documentary and seal checks took place, as well as 471 identification checks and six post-movement assurance checks. TUV leader Jim Allister said the figures very clearly establish that there has been no diminution of checks under either the Windsor Framework or the Donaldson Deal, despite the contrary promises in respect of both. The rigour of the Irish Sea border continues unabated. This, of course, is because the cause of the checks, namely NIs subjection to the EU Customs Code, is untouched by both (the Framework) and the Donaldson Deal, he said. It is this Customs Code which decrees GB a foreign country whose goods must be checked coming into the EU territory, which NI is deemed to be under the unaltered Protocol. Earlier this week it emerged that permanent post-Brexit border inspection posts in Northern Ireland could cost up to 192.3m. Since January 2021 checks on goods have been taking place at temporary facilities at NI ports, while permanent posts are currently under construction. The cost of these posts emerged after a House of Lords question tabled by Ulster Unionist peer Lord Empey. The construction of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Inspection Facilities in Northern Ireland is supported by an agreed business case which provides a funding envelope of up to a maximum of 192.3 million, Lord Douglas-Miller, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said. This figure is just an envelope and is not guaranteed as the department always aspires to come in under budget. Lord Empey said he was genuinely shocked at the revelation of the huge cost. How anybody can say with a straight face that the border in the Irish Sea is gone, escapes me. Its all spin and doing serious damage to the credibility of those making such claims, he added. Earlier this year Sir Jeffrey said the deal which restored Stormont removed restrictions on goods coming into NI from GB. Zero checks, zero customs paperwork on goods moving within the United Kingdom, he said. That takes away the border within the UK between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and that is something thats very important. A pioneering Japanese arts organisation is helping people with physical disabilities and mental ill-health in the north-west to learn new skills and enjoy a sense of community. Derry-based Foyle Obon is leading the way in the development and delivery of Japanese arts in Northern Ireland. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, it started in 2014 when a small group of dedicated people came together to use Japanese arts as a force for good in post-conflict Northern Ireland. It aims to harness the transformative power of Japanese Taiko drumming for mental and physical wellbeing. The Foyle Obon Japanese Festival is understood to be the only Obon festival in Europe and the only place in Northern Ireland where you can get good Kakigori shaved ice dessert. Participants from diverse backgrounds, including those with physical disabilities and mental health issues, joined Foyle Obons weekly taiko drumming classes. Over the past 10 years, Foyle Obon has been dedicated to enhancing mental and physical wellbeing through the infectious rhythms and captivating, inclusive practice of taiko drumming. Taiko drumming, a dynamic and socially engaging art form, has proven to be a powerful catalyst for positive change. The inherent social and interactive nature of taiko drumming contributes to its effectiveness in positively impacting physical health, relieving stress, increasing focus, and building confidence. Foyle Obons commitment to teaching taiko is grounded in four principles that extend beyond learning rhythms it is a dedication to bringing ones best self, fostering community, and owning ones voice. In a ground-breaking initiative, Foyle Obon secured funding in 2022 through the Department of Healths Mental Health Fund to collaborate with Ulster University. The partnership aimed to explore and evaluate the impact of a long-term program of regular taiko drumming classes, coupled with participation in a local community arts festival, on mental health and wellbeing post-Covid pandemic. The collaboration resulted in an academic research report led by Dr Grainne McAnee from Ulster University. Read more De La Salle edge battle of Belfast with Grosvenor to lift U16 Schools Cup Foyle Obon artistic director and Taiko teacher Fiona Umetsu encapsulated the spirit of the project, stating: We play together, we respect each other, we have fun together, we create safe spaces together, we trust each other, we listen to each other, and we share the taiko love and joy. Advocating for the recognition of arts as a valuable form of prevention and early intervention, the Arts Council of NI emphasises the essential role arts and culture play in supporting well-being, recovery, and addressing major health and social care challenges. The inclusive and supportive environment created by these sessions became a safety net for individuals, offering a sense of belonging, skill development, self-challenge, and enjoyment. Notably, participants showcased their newfound skills as a team during the annual Foyle Obon Festival in May 2023, fostering community engagement. One participant said: Taiko, and the values that come with it have a host of benefits not just physically but emotionally for people with mental health problems, it is a few hours a week where my mind literally calms. The culmination of this project will be celebrated with the official launch of the research report on March 26 at a special event at St Columbs Park House. NIs prison population at highest since the Troubles Number of prisoners set to hit 2,000 by end of the year a 34% increase in three years Prison overcrowding...PA file photo dated 07/11/2003 of a cell in Bush House wing at Maghaberry Prison, County Antrim. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday January 24, 2007. The Government was accused of "criminal negligence" today as judges and magistrates were urged to jail only the most dangerous and persistent criminals in a bid to ease overcrowding. See PA story POLITICS Prisons. Photo Credit should read: Paul Faith/PA Wire...A Allison Morris Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 08:30 Northern Irelands prison population is set to break the 2,000 mark by the end of the year the highest it has been since the Troubles. Records on 1994 tragedy contain personal info relating to third-party individuals Sealed files relating to the 1994 Mull of Kintyre helicopter crash cannot be released as it would be in breach of individuals data protection rights, a Government minister has said. Protesters at the black shamrock demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge in Dublin (David Young/PA) Pro-Palestinian campaigners held aloft black shamrocks in Dublin as they protested against Irish politicians due to take part in a traditional St Patricks Day ceremony in the White House. The demonstration saw activists line both banks of the River Liffey at the landmark HaPenny Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It was staged ahead of the St Patricks event in Washington DC on Sunday when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present US President Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock to celebrate the Irish patron saint. The demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge on Dublins River Liffey (David Young/PA) Senior politicians from both sides of the Irish border will be at the annual event in the White House. Activists denounced their planned attendance during the vocal and colourful protest back in Dublin. They insisted they should be boycotting the ceremony due to the USs continued support of Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza. As well as displaying black shamrocks, campaigners waved Irish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans supportive of Palestine and critical of the US administration. Other demonstrators boarded boats that moved up and down the Liffey during the protest, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said: The black shamrock is our symbol of resistance and declaration that Ireland Stands with Palestine, that we support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We have been consistently demanding that no Irish politician should be meeting or sharing shamrocks with the Biden administration while the Palestinians in Gaza are being slaughtered with US weapons and funding. Aine Hayden from the IPSC handed leaflets to passing members of the public during the visual demonstration. Aine Hayden from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (David Young/PA) Im here because my heart is completely shattered and broken looking at this genocide thats been taking place for nearly six months now, she told the PA news agency. For the 13,000 children whove been blown to pieces and the many more thousands that are still under the rubble yet to be found. For the two children every day who lose a limb. Every day two children lose one or both legs, for the 25,000 orphans who who are left with no family and the fact that theyre (the Israeli military) targeting ambulances, hospitals, theyre targeting the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) food aid centres. They took out the last one the other day. Theyre targeting starving people who are queuing, waiting for a bag of flour, and theyre shooting and bombing them. Weve never seen the like of this outrage, this is barbarity, and it needs to stop. We need a permanent ceasefire now. Activists across six countries have co-ordinated climate protests against new North Sea oil and gas extraction. Protesters in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are demonstrating as part of the North Sea Fossil Free campaign, according to a statement by Extinction Rebellion (XR) Scotland. In Aberdeen, protesters displayed banners outside the offices of oil and gas companies Equinor and Ithaca which read North Sea Fossil Free, Stop Rosebank and Sea Knows No Borders. Activists demanded an end to new North Sea oil and gas extraction (Extinction Rebellion Scotland/PA) Activists also unfurled banners at Lerwick Harbour in Shetland and, at a location on the Moray Firth inlet, XR Forres organised performances from the oil slicks performance troupe. In the Netherlands, XR and Scientists Rebellion blocked main access roads to Shells Pernis refinery near Rotterdam. Activists from civil disobedience movement Ende Gelande blocked access to the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in the industrial port of Brunsbuttel, in northern Germany, demanding an immediate stop to imports of LNG. XR Norway blocked the main entrance on land to the Rafnes Petroleum Refinery, with more activists said to be making their way into the security zone with a boat. In Sweden, XR protesters blocked the road to the oil harbour in Gothenburg. XR Scotland said: These countries are interconnected through the exploitation of their shared waters, while the effects of these harmful initiatives are affecting the climate far beyond this northern corner of the world. The North Sea countries are branding themselves as leading countries within the green transition, all the while allowing global companies like Equinor, Shell and Total Energies to open new oil and gas fields. Northern Europes oil and gas addiction is not only creating an ecological crisis in our own backyards, we are also fuelling and profiting from the global climate crisis with no regard for people in the most affected areas, the group added. XR UK thanked protesters who took action on Saturday. A spokesperson said: Going full steam ahead with New North Sea oil and gas is a sure fire route to the worst climate scenarios. For too long, the UK, Norway and other North Sea countries have avoided scrutiny for their oil drilling plans as the emissions are not included in their national inventories. All countries should align their drilling plans with the Paris Agreement now. We thank everyone who has taken action today in defence of a liveable planet. Vaughan Gething has been elected as the next Welsh Labour leader and will become the new first minister of Wales. Mr Gething beat his only rival, the education minister Jeremy Miles, when the results of the Welsh Labour leadership election were declared on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know about him. Jeremy Miles stood against Mr Gething (David Mirzoeff/PA) Mr Gething has been involved in politics from a young age, having joined the Labour Party at 17 to help campaign in the 1992 elections. He has been a Member of the Senedd (MS) since 2011, and has sat in the cabinet since 2016. He rose to prominence as health minister throughout the Covid pandemic, a post he held from 2016 to 2021. He is currently serving as Minister for the Economy, a post he has held since May 2021. Mr Gething was born in Zambia in 1974, where his father, a Welsh vet from Ogmore-by-Sea in Glamorgan, met his mother, a chicken farmer. He has spoken openly about his experiences of prejudice and said in his campaign material he does not want anyone in Wales to feel that way. When he was two, his family moved to Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, where his father was due to start a new job, but the offer was withdrawn when he arrived with a black family. After his father lost his job in Abergavenny, the family moved to Dorset in England, and he later studied law at Aberystwyth University. He unsuccessfully stood for the Mid and West Wales seat at the first National Assembly elections in 1999, before becoming councillor for the Butetown area of Cardiff in 2004. He stood for the Senedd elections again in 2011, when he successfully took the Cardiff South and Penarth Seat. This is the second time he has run for the top job, having stood in 2018 against Mark Drakeford. A Medford Jet Centre worker walks under a United Boeing 737-824 that landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport from San Francisco with a missing panel(Andy Atkinson/Rogue Valley Times/AP) A Boeing 737-800 arrived at its destination in southern Oregon with a missing panel on Friday after flying from San Francisco, according to officials the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10.20am and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director Amber Judd said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, she said, and none was found. Ms Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United Airlines spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year. United Airlines has operated it since November 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Boeing said it would defer comment to United about the carriers fleet and operations. In January, a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair, just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in south west Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalised, officials said. A digital display with arrivals times, lists LATAM Airlines flight LA800 as cancelled at the international airport in Santiago, Chile. At least 50 people were injured by what officials described as a strong movement on the Chilean plane traveling from Sydney to Auckland (AP) On Friday, Boeing recommended airlines inspect the cockpit seats the next time they perform maintenance on their 787s Dreamliner jets after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane flying to New Zealand. The company described its advisory as a precautionary measure. It noted that the investigation into what happened during Mondays LATAM Airlines flight between Australia and New Zealand was continuing and referred questions about potential findings to investigating authorities. Passengers reported that when the Dreamliner dropped without warning, people not wearing seatbelts were tossed from their seats and into the cabin ceiling and aisles. The plane later landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled. About 50 people were injured, according to emergency crews in Auckland. The man who is thought to be responsible for the tragic deaths of a mother serving in the National Guard and her 11-year-old daughter is anticipated to be returned to Massachusetts to answer for the charges against him. According to an update from the Worcester District Attorney's Office, Dejan Belnavis has made an appearance in a San Diego, California courtroom on Friday. He submitted a waiver of extradition, which paves the way for his return to Massachusetts. Worcester Shooting Suspect Waives Extradition Dejan Belnavis, 27, was captured by authorities near the San Diego Zoo after a thorough investigation and the use of advanced law enforcement technology. Belnavis was arrested on Monday in relation to the devastating fatalities of Chasity Nunez, 27, and her 11-year-old daughter Zella in Worcester last week. Interim Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier expressed satisfaction with the use of advanced technology in locating the suspect, stating, "We were able to basically pinpoint where he was going to be." Belnavis, along with Karel Mangual, is accused of approaching the car where Nunez and her daughter were seated and opening fire, resulting in fatal injuries to both victims. The arrest of Belnavis has brought relief to the grieving family, as noted by Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty. Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early made public his plans to bring Belnavis back to Massachusetts for trial on murder charges. In latest news, Mangual, the second suspect, has already faced charges of armed assault and carrying a firearm without a license in relation to the shooting incident. According to reports, it is expected that the charges against Mangual will be elevated to murder. Read Also: Powerful Snow Storm Spawns Tornadoes in Central US Chasity Nunez, Daughter Zella's Death Chasity Nunez, a former member of the Connecticut Army National Guard, had served for four years as a patient administration specialist, earning several honors for her dedicated service. Major Dave Pytlik, commander of the Connecticut National Guard's 142nd Medical Company, praised Nunez's character, highlighting her social nature and commitment to duty. Expressions of grief and disbelief have flooded in from the community, with city officials and residents mourning the loss of Chasity and Zella Nunez. A joint statement from city leaders emphasized that such violence has no place in Worcester, pledging solidarity with the affected families. Worcester City Councilor Khrystian King, who was acquainted with the Nunez family, lamented the tragic turn of events, labeling it a "deeply, deeply dark day for our city." Tyrae Sims, a relative of Chasity Nunez, described her as a devoted mother and spoke fondly of Zella's resilience despite her challenges. Zella, who was born premature and legally blind, was remembered for her joyful disposition and loving nature. Residents in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred were taken aback and saddened, emphasizing the usually calm and family-friendly ambiance. An image of the murder scene showed a depressing collection of evidence markers, acting as a chilling reminder of exactly what happened. Related Article: California Beauty Store Worker Beaten Close to Death By Robbers Now Needs a New Heart to Live, Father Says @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Chicago River is dyed green for St Patricks Day (WLS ABC 7 Chicago via AP) People across the United States have celebrated their Irish heritage at several major St Patricks Day parades on Saturday. They are marking the holiday a day early at events that included a big anniversary in Savannah, Georgia, and honoured a pioneering female business leader as grand marshal in New York. The annual parade took place in New York (AP) The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and was popularised largely by Irish Catholic immigrants. While St Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved up from Sunday, a day of worship for the Christian faithful. The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations (AP) Manhattans St Patricks Day Parade, which dates to 1762 14 years before the US Declaration of Independence is one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. Megan Stransky of Houston and two relatives planned a Broadway weekend to coincide with the parade, seeing it as a prime opportunity to remember their familys Irish roots and the traditions that helped shape their upbringing. Bagpipers march along Fifth Avenue during the St Patricks Day Parade (AP) The event did not disappoint. There is no comparison to any other parade or city that Ive been to, Ms Stransky marvelled, as she took in the bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents and more. The grand marshal, Irish-born Heineken USA chief executive Maggie Timoney, is the first female head of a major US beer company. State Police march along Fifth Avenue in New York City (AP) At a pre-parade reception at New Yorks mayoral residence, Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hailed the recognition for Timoney and noted some other causes for celebrating Irish American links this year, including Irish actor Cillian Murphys best actor Oscar win last weekend. New York City has multiple parades on various dates around its five boroughs including, on Sunday, the first St Patricks Day parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island. A kayaker floats on the Chicago River (AP) Mayor Eric Adams last month announced the plan for the new, privately organised celebration, arranged after a local group had asked for years to join the boroughs decades-old parade. That longstanding event, which does not allow groups to march under LGBTQ+ banners, happened earlier this month. The Manhattan parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups and symbols in 2015, after decades of protests, legal challenges and boycotts by some politicians. Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, left, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, march during the city parade (AP) Ahead of Chicagos parade, thousands of people many decked out in green with beers in hand gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green. Organisers say the tradition, started by the union, uses an environmentally friendly powder once used to check pipes for leaks. Celebrations were moved to Saturday in many US cities (AP) In Savannah, Georgia, organisers expected a historic crowd to participate in the parade, which started in 1824. Ahead of the bicentennial, Georgias oldest city had nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend. The people who purchased apartments at Victoria Square in Belfast bought into the dream of the new Northern Ireland but now find themselves trapped in a living nightmare, let down by the Stormont Executive that was going to change this place for the better for everyone. The future of DUP big hitters could now lie in Jim Allisters hands Robinson, Wilson and Shannon at risk if TUV splits unionist vote Party leader Jim Allister at the annual TUV conference at the Ross Park Hotel on Saturday Suzanne Breen Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 18:30 The biggest unionist party might be ceili dancing and playing camogie, but a smaller one is rigidly remaining on a traditional route. Lawyers expected to lodge no-bill applications in the near future Lawyers for nine alleged dissident republican terrorists arrested after the Denis McFadden sting are to argue the charges should be withdrawn. Barristers for the defendants told Downpatrick Crown Court on Friday the arguments would be lodged in the coming days. Of all the accused, only Gary Hayden will not be lodging similar claims. The defendants charged over the covert recordings include husband and wife David (52) and Sharon Jordan (49), from Cappagh Road in Dungannon, and 53-year-old Kevin Barry Murphy, from Altowen Park in Coalisland. Murphy and David Jordan are said to have identified themselves as the New IRA chief of staff and chair. They were arrested after MI5 bugged meetings at properties near Sixmilecross and Omagh in February and July 2020. Those in attendance are said to have discussed targets, weaponry, finances, recruitment and the possibility of launching a economic bombing campaign and cyber attacks. They also explored the possibility of developing a relationship with a foreign regime hostile to the UK. David and Sharon Jordan With the exception of 66-year-old Dr Issam Bassalat, a Palestinian GP from Telford Road in Edinburgh, each of the accused are charged with directing terrorism, membership of the IRA, conspiring to direct terrorism, possessing articles for a terrorist purpose namely, a Saoradh strategy document and preparation of terrorist acts. Dr Bassalat is charged with preparing terrorist acts by attending a meeting of the IRA executive in Gortin, as well as meeting the chair and chief of staff of the IRA in Brussels, Edinburgh and Lebanon, and with addressing a meeting in support of the IRA. In court on Friday, a judge told the defence barristers that he wanted to deal with the no-bill applications before the summer break. He also said he would review the case and set a timetable for the hearings on May 17. Shutterstock.com The devil is sly and malicious, with hopes of destroying your relationship with God. Fear is one of the devils most effective weapons used to stifle believers. In scripture, Satan and demons often involved themselves with spiritual darkness, deception, and death. They thrive in these environments. The devil is also a trickster and can invoke fear by getting you to believe things about God that arent true. The devil wants you to stress about things outside of your control so that you dont rely on Christ, the One who strengthens. He wants you to be so fearful that you will rely on the enemy, the One who will do everything to make you doubt all forms of joy and happiness. He wants you confused, anxious, even angry about your life circumstances so that you will and eventually become distant from God and rely on your understanding. The devil also wants to trick you into believing the Bible is a collection of myths, hoping that you will doubt Gods Word and even His existence. He also wants you to believe that the Bible, written nearly 3500 years ago, is no longer relevant in our modern world because it was written so long ago. Yet, Gods Word is real and has real significance. More than 40 different writers wrote it over 2000 years with remarkable consistency. It explains life and the human experience in a way no other book has or ever will. Another thing the devil will do is find your most vulnerable points and use those to attack you. Isaiah writes, even the youths shall faint and be weary. Young men shall feel exhausted, but waiting on God renews their strength and displays godly wisdom, for there is an empowerment in waiting, resting, and relying upon God and not ourselves. When were fearful, were often frustrated, which is when the devil will swoop in. During a spiritual attack, the enemy uses various circumstances to repress the mind and bring great frustration. When you are under siege, you may find yourself feeling on edge, anxious, or agitated. In these moments, a simple conversation with your partner or friend can turn into an explosive argument, and a simple thought in your head can take you down a roller coaster of negative emotions. You may also find yourself saying things that are out of character or not feeling quite like yourself. The devil also attacks us when were alone because he knows we are most vulnerable when others arent around us. He also thinks this is when were at our weakest point. The Bible tells us, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). He knew Jesus was alone, and he tempted him. The devil can detect when youre feeling alone. In these moments of the attack, he wants you to believe that youre all alone. When you feel like the devil wont leave you alone, its important to remember that God is with you! While many Christians fear the devil, we shouldnt because we have power in Christ. Second Corinthians 5:17 tells us, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are free through the waters of baptism, our lives begin anew. When we live our lives for Jesus, our lives are completely transformed. If you are living your life without fear of the devil, you trust Jesus in all that you do. You think about the decisions you make based on your commitments to Christ and your faith. If you know a decision you may make isnt reflecting the faith walk youre on, you will steer away. You give yourself to Jesus and Jesus alone and are happy when you do things pleasing to Him. A life without fear of the devil also includes a strong prayer life. When we commit ourselves to prayer, we confess our troubles, our longings, and our praises. We lift prayers of concern, and also of thanksgiving. Having an active prayer life is an indicator that youre living your life for Christ. When you actively reach out to Him, it reflects how meaningful God is in your everyday life. First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. Prayer doesnt always have to be you sitting alone in a room, with your eyes closed and your hands crossed. Prayer can happen anywhere you are. If youre constantly in dialogue with God, we are fully committed to the responses and promises our Heavenly Father offers. If you are part of the body of Christ, then be assured the devil is going to try to destroy you. While everything cant be blamed on the devil, many things are a result of his work, and its important to know when he is working in our own lives. If we are not on guard, he has the power to destroy us and separate us from our Heavenly Father. There is nothing he would love more. Yet, when we are protected and guarded, we have the power to push back at any of his attacks and live without fear of him. Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. (Photo : Indiana State Police) Dejuane Ludie Anderson was arrested on Thursday in California two years after the body of her 5-year-old son, Cairo, was discovered in Indiana. A mother was arrested nearly two years after her 5-year-old son's body was found inside a suitcase near an Indiana highway, according to reports. Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 38, was arrested Thursday in Arcadia, Calif., on a warrant issued in October 2022 in connection to the death of her son, Cairo Jordan, NBC News reported. A mushroom hunter found the boy's body in a suitcase covered in Las Vegas stickers in April 2022. "It's still a sorrowful, a somber moment in the investigation," Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said at a news conference. "But it's a thing we've looked forward to and anticipated for almost two years now." A Washington County, Indiana, judge issued the arrest warrant for Anderson in 2022 on charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, the report said. A warrant was also issued for Dawn Coleman. While Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, Anderson remained free. Huls said a state police detective "received information from a concerned citizen" that led to Anderson's arrest in California. Anderson was being held in a Los Angeles jail and is expected to be extradited back to Indiana. Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police said, citing the autopsy. The community paid for his funeral and gravesite in Indiana, Huls said. "There's still flowers to this day that are placed at his gravesite, and people praying for him and his family," Huls said. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. The cemetery wall at the corner of Routes 7A and 313 in Arlington. At one time, the area at this corner is where a set of stocks and a public notice board were located in Arlington. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (Photo : Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 26: A member of the public looks at a wall displaying pictures of people still held hostage in Gaza, on October 26, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Negotiations toward a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza are expected to resume in Qatar as soon as Sunday, Egyptian officials reportedly said Saturday. Both sides have recently taken steps toward reigniting the talks for the first time since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan earlier this month, the Associated Press reported, citing two Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. There had been hopes to reach a six-week truce before the start of Ramadan, but Hamas refused to accept a deal that didn't include a permanent cease-fire, a concession Israel refused to offer. Israel's war against Hamas began on Oct. 7 when the terror group launched a surprise attack on Israel, indiscriminately killing some 1,200 people and abducting about 240 hostages back to Gaza. Israel responded with a large-scale air and land campaign aimed at rooting Hamas out of Gaza. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 31,000 people have been killed in Gaza. Civilians represent the majority of those killed in both cases. Hamas recently presented mediators with a new, three-phase proposal that would include an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and, ultimately a permanent cease-fire. Under the first phase, Hamas would release 35 hostages - including women, the ill and older people - in exchange for some 350 prisoners held hostage by Israel, according to the AP. The exchange would occur during a six-week cease-fire. Hamas would also swap at least five female Israeli soldiers in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners, while Israel would loosen its hold on two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Gazans return to the strip's north, and allow greater flow of humanitarian aid. The second phase would bring a permanent cease-fire, plus the exchange of those Israeli soldiers still held hostage for more Palestinian prisoners. And in the third phase, Hamas would return the bodies of those who died in their captivity in exchange for Israel lifting its blockade of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal "unrealistic," according to the AP, but nevertheless agreed to send negotiators to Qatar. Despite long-running talks, the sides have remained at odds over the prospect of a lasting cease-fire. Hamas has continued to insist on one, while Israel has refused to put one on the table. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jane Iredale is the founder of Iredale Cosmetics, a company she started in 1994 which brought the mineral makeup line jane iredale to the aesthetic industry. She was the first to supply this industry with a line of makeup that had skin care benefits, and a pioneer in clean beauty. Gene Carr: The story I would like to tell is about you as a corporate visionary in an area known as corporate social responsibility where companies are focused on giving back to the community. Jane Iredale: The company has always wanted to make a difference. When we started, I thought that if the company contributed to its community and took care of its employees, that we could accomplish that. Its hard to make a difference on a big scale. As a small company in a small community, I feel the only difference that you can make that is really effective and long-lasting is locally. And that's where we've concentrated our efforts. For example, we do a lot with women's organizations and organizations where it's not easy to fundraise. The arts are glamorous and give people a lot of satisfaction, but donating to the Humane Society, for instance, doesn't get your name in lights! Gene: And you have been very involved in local farming as well. What is The Eagles Eye series about? Its about putting a spotlight on creative and entrepreneurial folks throughout the Berkshires. In his introduction to The Eagles Eye, host and entrepreneur Gene Carr explains: The Berkshires are a fascinating place to live not only the natural beauty and the cultural resources and the restaurants, but the people who live here among us are some of the most interesting in the world. Each episode is thanks to Gene Carr and the talented production team on the show Charlette Media Productions, which includes Richard Bradway and Ellen Gorman. Each interview comes to you in two ways. First is the video interview with the episodes guest; to watch it, use your phones camera to scan the QR code or visit berkshireeagle.com. The second way is what you can read below, an abridged version of the question-and-answer interview between Carr and his guests. Jane: It started with making our parking lot available to the Great Barrington Farmers Market, and that turned out to be an absolutely wonderful decision as it has become a community meeting place for all ages. I'm a great believer in fresh local food. I think it's the best medicine you can have, and I want it to be available to everybody. In the process, I got to know farmers and their stories, and realized farming is really difficult, not just because of how hard they work, but because of the cost of the land. So I have this extreme view that I think farmers shouldn't have to pay for their land. If we can buy land, deed it to the Community Land Trust who then leases it to the farmer for usually 98 years at no cost, it solves an enormous problem. The farmers own the buildings and any improvements they make to the land, but the land itself always stays as farmland in perpetuity owned by the Land Trust. Gene: And you essentially spearheaded an effort just up the road here in Great Barrington? Right? Jane: Yes, we are working with Off the Shelf Farm. They've always had a wonderful stand at the farmers market where they make the best egg sandwiches ever! Now they've been able to consolidate their business at the farm we purchased, and the State of Massachusetts has just given them a sizable grant to put up a barn and a greenhouse that will house 3,000 chickens. If they hadnt had a permanent home, they wouldnt have had the grant. Gene: Are there other areas of interest that you have in supporting this community that we haven't talked about? Jane: The big one, of course, is workforce housing. I want to see Great Barrington thrive, and that means making sure that people of all economic levels can live here and not be traveling hours to get to a job as a waiter where they can barely cover their rent. Gene: Well, one of the benefits of this interview is to get the word out around this issue of workforce housing, which is not unique to Great Barrington. This is pervasive across the country. But these problems get solved by people who just pick themselves up and say, 'well, we're just going to have to solve this!' Now to circle back to kind of where we started, weve been talking about how a business can be a force for good. Companies that feel their responsibility is to contribute in some way are ones that actually have more engaged employees and thrive and the company just works better. Jane: When they do studies on this, they find that money is not by any means the first thing that people want when they look for a job. They want to feel supported, feel they're contributing. And in the end, I think that's what most people want, fulfilment and to know they're leaving something positive. I feel honestly, deeply that you are only as strong as your weakest link, and that's what drives us and always has. Brattleboro, Vt., officials were sent scrambling on Friday to find beds for people being discharged from the state's housing voucher program after a surprise announcement from the governor's office that saw the town named as a site for a regional shelter instead of Bennington, Vt. Berkshire Allergy Care on South Street in Pittsfield. The practice and two others in the state owned by Dr. Thomas Edwards is the victim of a ransomware cyberattack on the company that processes medical insurance claims and makes payments. The clinics haven't been paid for nearly a month. An invasive pest that attacks hemlocks got a big boost from the record warm winter and that's bad news for the forest This is Kevin OHaras 40th St. Patricks Day column for The Eagle. Visit his website at thedonkeyman.com . Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. He reported from Russia for eight years and from Ukraine for six years. (Photo : Middletown Police Department) Police in suburban Philadelphia are searching for Andre Gordon who is suspected of killing three people in Bucks County, Pa., Saturday morning. Police say he carjacked and vehicle and has been tracked to a home in Trenton, N.J. Police in suburban Philadelphia are searching for a gunman who allegedly shot three people before carjacking a vehicle and fleeing to New Jersey, according to police and reports. Law enforcement authorities identified the suspect as 26-year-old Andre Gordon, who remains at large. Gordon was "tracked to his home" in Trenton, and a SWAT team from the Trenton Police Department responded, NBC News reported. Falls Township police in Bucks County issued a "shelter in place" order while the search for Gordon was underway. It has since been lifted. The mayhem began around 8:52 a.m. when Falls Township police responded to calls for a shooting at Levittown. Gordon allegedly shot two people at a residence, NBC News reported. From there, police said Gordon fatally shot a third person at another residence in Levittown. Shortly after, around 9:13 a.m., an armed Gordon allegedly carjacked a driver in the parking lot of a Dollar Store in nearby Morrisville. The driver was uninjured, the report said. Police believe Gordon knew the three victims. He is described a 6-foot-1, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and could be in possession of more weapons. The vehicle he carjacked is a 2016 gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate and a "Namaste" sticker on the right bumper.Gordon is believed to be homeless with ties to Trenton. This is a developing story. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Fewer Americans moved in 2022, according to the latest census data, but of those who did, 1 in 5 moved to a different state. Population growth has returned to pre-pandemic norms; Southern states continued to record influxes in population, while the Northeast saw the biggest drops, particularly in New York and Pennsylvania. These trends largely continued into last year, according to United Van Lines' annual movers study. States with the most inbound moves in 2023 were Vermont, Washington D.C., South Carolina, and Arkansas, which moved up 14 spots from the year before. Stacker compiled a list of states sending the most people to Montana using data from the Census Bureau. States are ranked by the number of people who moved to Montana from a different state in 2022. Keep reading to find out which states sent the most people to Montana. #25. New Mexico Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 582 people moved to Montana from New Mexico in 2022, making up 1.21% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #24 most common state for people moving away from New Mexico #24. Hawaii Canva - 612 people moved to Montana from Hawaii in 2022, making up 1.27% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #25 most common state for people moving away from Hawaii #23. Illinois Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 617 people moved to Montana from Illinois in 2022, making up 1.28% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #41 most common state for people moving away from Illinois #22. Nebraska Katherine Welles // Shutterstock - 675 people moved to Montana from Nebraska in 2022, making up 1.40% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #20 most common state for people moving away from Nebraska #21. Indiana Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 693 people moved to Montana from Indiana in 2022, making up 1.44% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #30 most common state for people moving away from Indiana #20. Tennessee Kevin Ruck // Shutterstock - 719 people moved to Montana from Tennessee in 2022, making up 1.49% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #33 most common state for people moving away from Tennessee #19. Louisiana Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 857 people moved to Montana from Louisiana in 2022, making up 1.78% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #26 most common state for people moving away from Louisiana #18. Oklahoma Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 938 people moved to Montana from Oklahoma in 2022, making up 1.95% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #20 most common state for people moving away from Oklahoma #17. Wyoming LBill45 // Shutterstock - 1,011 people moved to Montana from Wyoming in 2022, making up 2.10% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #10 most common state for people moving away from Wyoming #16. Missouri TommyBrison // Shutterstock - 1,092 people moved to Montana from Missouri in 2022, making up 2.27% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #31 most common state for people moving away from Missouri #15. Ohio Canva - 1,095 people moved to Montana from Ohio in 2022, making up 2.27% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #30 most common state for people moving away from Ohio #14. Minnesota Canva - 1,234 people moved to Montana from Minnesota in 2022, making up 2.56% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #29 most common state for people moving away from Minnesota #13. Nevada randy andy // Shutterstock - 1,281 people moved to Montana from Nevada in 2022, making up 2.66% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #24 most common state for people moving away from Nevada #12. Texas Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 1,357 people moved to Montana from Texas in 2022, making up 2.82% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #44 most common state for people moving away from Texas #11. Wisconsin Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock - 1,436 people moved to Montana from Wisconsin in 2022, making up 2.98% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #21 most common state for people moving away from Wisconsin #10. North Carolina Sharkshock // Shutterstock - 1,507 people moved to Montana from North Carolina in 2022, making up 3.13% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #33 most common state for people moving away from North Carolina #9. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock - 1,540 people moved to Montana from North Dakota in 2022, making up 3.20% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #4 most common state for people moving away from North Dakota #8. Florida Mia2you // Shutterstock - 1,993 people moved to Montana from Florida in 2022, making up 4.14% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #40 most common state for people moving away from Florida #7. Idaho Charles Knowles // Shutterstock - 2,244 people moved to Montana from Idaho in 2022, making up 4.66% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #9 most common state for people moving away from Idaho #6. Arizona Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 2,415 people moved to Montana from Arizona in 2022, making up 5.01% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #28 most common state for people moving away from Arizona #5. Utah Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 2,570 people moved to Montana from Utah in 2022, making up 5.34% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #12 most common state for people moving away from Utah #4. Colorado Canva - 3,440 people moved to Montana from Colorado in 2022, making up 7.14% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #26 most common state for people moving away from Colorado #3. Oregon Sean Pavone // Shutterstock - 3,691 people moved to Montana from Oregon in 2022, making up 7.66% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #9 most common state for people moving away from Oregon #2. California Marek Masik // Shutterstock - 4,660 people moved to Montana from California in 2022, making up 9.68% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #36 most common state for people moving away from California #1. Washington Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock - 5,225 people moved to Montana from Washington in 2022, making up 10.85% of new residents that moved from another state -- It was the #12 most common state for people moving away from Washington This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states. (Photo : SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP via Getty Images) Swimmers and fishermen are seen on May 5, 2017 at Imperial Beach, California, which has long been contaminated by raw sewage from two nearby plants. The shoreline of an oceanfront California city has been strewn with raw sewage from two treatment plants along the U.S.-Mexico border for years, closing the local beach, raising serious health concerns and bringing a pervasive stench "akin to being trapped in a portable toilet," according to a report. The putrid problem in Imperial Beach, a city of some 26,000 people about 10 miles south of San Diego, isn't new, with concerns about contamination from the nearby Tijuana River dating back nearly a century, according to CBS News. But it does seem to be worsening. Over the last five years, some 100 billion tons of raw sewage have flowed from the river and to the city's coast, bringing a host of environmental and health hazards, the outlet reported. Researchers from San Diego State University's School of Public Health called the condition a "public health crisis" in issuing a report last month that noted the presence of heavy metals, toxins and bacteria including E. coli in the water. "It's the worst smell," local Shannon Johnson told CBS. "It gets into your lungs. It gets into your clothes. It's disgusting." The stench stems from two nearby wastewater plants, one on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border. One, the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, sits in San Diego County but was built in the 1990s to accommodate sewage from Baja California, Mexico. But the Mexican state's growing population has left the plant struggling to keep pace, and the facility is underprepared to withstand extreme weather, CBS reported. Mexico recently committed a cumulative $83 million to updating that facility and the other, Tijuana's San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant. That's in addition to investments made with U.S. tax dollars. The contamination has led to the city's beach being closed for over 700 consecutive days, as of CBS' Saturday report. Johnson said that her children, ages 9 and 10, attend school near the city's river valley, where the smell can be particularly overpowering. "They're like, 'Why is it so smelly? Is it safe?'" Johnson told CBS. "I'm like, yeah, I guess so. What am I supposed to tell them?" Many of Johnson's neighbors are asking the same questions. In a batch of letters compiled by another fed-up local, Marvel Harrison, to implore local lawmakers for help, one resident said the odor was "akin to being trapped in a portable toilet." The inescapable smell has left some, like Harrison, thinking about pulling up stakes. "I find myself looking at other places we might be able to live," Harrison, 67, told CBS. "And that's really disheartening given that this is where and how we wanted to be in retirement." @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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 Ben Shephard has thanked well-wishers for sending him lovely messages during his first week of hosting This Morning alongside Cat Deeley. The duo helmed their first show together on Monday as they officially took over the reins from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who both left the ITV morning programme last year. Advertisement To mark the new chapter, Shephard shared a selection of photos to social media of him chatting and laughing with Deeley while presenting the show. Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland featured in one of the pictures as the veteran musicians were among the first celebrity guests to join them on the sofa. Alongside the post, he said he had been looking at images and noticed he and Deeley had done a lot of laughing and of course had some delicious food. Advertisement Advertisement Im now fasting over the weekend to make room for more next week!!, he added. Thank you for all your lovely messages. See you Monday I hope! Deeley commented on the post saying it had been so fun and that while he fasted she was trying out a steak recipe inspired by chef Donal Skehan who had been on the show during the week. Shephards former Good Morning Britain co-star Susanna Reid was among those to offer their congratulations as she wrote: Fabulous week well done you & @catdeeley. Advertisement The previous day, Deeley had thanked the team at This Morning for an incredible first week and praised Shephard for being the perfect co-pilot on this already joyous new journey. She shared the comments alongside a grid of photos of her and Shephard presenting together. Shephard is known for fronting the ITV quiz show Tipping Point and previously co-hosting ITV1s breakfast show Good Morning Britain (GMB). He left GMB in February in order to front This Morning, which he has previously presented as a replacement for Schofield. Deeley rose to fame as a presenter of Saturday morning ITV childrens programme SM:TV Live alongside Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and its spin-off music programme CD:UK, with Willoughby. Advertisement She is also known for hosting ITVs Stars In Their Eyes, the BBCs Fame Academy and American competition show So You Think You Can Dance, which she presented for more than a decade. Last year, This Morning saw a rotation of presenters on the famous sofa, including Deeley who hosted alongside Rylan Clark in November. Schofield left ITV in May 2023 and was dropped by his talent agency after admitting to an unwise but not illegal relationship with a younger male colleague. In October, Willoughby left the show, saying she had made the decision for me and my family. Pro-Palestinian campaigners held aloft black shamrocks in Dublin as they protested against Irish politicians due to take part in a traditional St Patricks Day ceremony in the White House. The demonstration saw activists line both banks of the River Liffey at the landmark HaPenny Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Advertisement It was staged ahead of the St Patricks event in Washington DC on Sunday when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present US president Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock to celebrate the Irish patron saint. The demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge on Dublins River Liffey (David Young/PA) Senior politicians from both sides of the Border will be at the annual event in the White House. Advertisement Activists denounced their planned attendance during the vocal and colourful protest back in Dublin. They insisted they should be boycotting the ceremony due to the USs continued support of Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza. Advertisement As well as displaying black shamrocks, campaigners waved Irish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans supportive of Palestine and critical of the US administration. Other demonstrators boarded boats that moved up and down the Liffey during the protest, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). Advertisement IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said: The black shamrock is our symbol of resistance and declaration that Ireland Stands with Palestine, that we support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We have been consistently demanding that no Irish politician should be meeting or sharing shamrocks with the Biden administration while the Palestinians in Gaza are being slaughtered with US weapons and funding. Aine Hayden from the IPSC handed leaflets to passing members of the public during the visual demonstration. Advertisement Aine Hayden from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (David Young/PA) Ireland White House St Patrick's Day visit: Shamrock cerem... Read More Im here because my heart is completely shattered and broken looking at this genocide thats been taking place for nearly six months now, she told the PA news agency. For the 13,000 children whove been blown to pieces and the many more thousands that are still under the rubble yet to be found. For the two children every day who lose a limb. Every day two children lose one or both legs, for the 25,000 orphans who who are left with no family and the fact that theyre (the Israeli military) targeting ambulances, hospitals, theyre targeting the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) food aid centres. They took out the last one the other day. Theyre targeting starving people who are queuing, waiting for a bag of flour, and theyre shooting and bombing them. Weve never seen the like of this outrage, this is barbarity, and it needs to stop. We need a permanent ceasefire now. Ten men remain in custody this morning over an investigation into a suspected drug smuggling operation off west Cork. Gardai are trying to trace the mothership which they believe was intending to offload a large consignment of drugs. Advertisement An articulated lorry, an RIB and a camper van were seized, along with mobile phones, electronic devices and computers. The Irish Examiner reports the operation was an attempt to smuggle in up to two tonnes of cocaine, by Dutch and Iranian crime bosses and possibly involving Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Sources told the Irish Examiner that Ireland is seen as a point of least resistance into the European market for crime gangs. "Ireland is being assessed by them as the point of least resistance due to the publicity over the last year and more about the lack of naval resources patrolling Irish-controlled waters. Hence they are coming this way. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's White House meeting with US president Joe Biden, an attempted drug smuggling operation off the Cork coast, and asylum seekers living in tents in Dublin, are all among the stories that feature on Saturday's front pages. The Irish Times leads with Mr Biden telling Mr Varadkar the US is "pressing hard" for a ceasefire in Gaza. Advertisement The Irish Examiner leads with an attempted drug smuggling operation off the Cork coast. The Irish Independent leads with a story on the 'tent city' of homeless asylum seekers in Dublin, and an empty hotel that could house refugees in New Ross, Co Wexford. Advertisement The Echo leads with a story on Cork's St Patrick's Day festivities. Advertisement The Irish Sun leads with Celebrity Big Brother contestant Louis Walsh opening up on his cancer battle. Advertisement Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/FcZ6tkjqeQ The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) March 16, 2024 Advertisement The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story on a planned crackdown on junk food advertising. For all the big news and sport, pick up a copy of Saturday's Irish Daily Mail pic.twitter.com/hSpxARfPpa The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) March 15, 2024 Advertisement The drug smuggling operation in Cork also makes the front page of The Herald. In the North, the Belfast Telegraph reports the TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice) party will join forces with right-wing Reform UK. Secret talks over a political leadership challenge and the weekend closure of the M25 feature among a variety of stories on the front pages of Saturdays UK newspapers. The Daily Mail says Tory MPs from the right have held secret talks with moderates about replacing Rishi Sunak with Penny Mordaunt as prime minister. MAIL EXCLUSIVE: Plot to crown Mordaunt as PM #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/gFGFYzVdzl Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 15, 2024 The Guardian relays calls from GP and health worker unions who have called on Conservative donor Frank Hester to lose NHS contracts as his comments about MP Diane Abbott breach its fit and proper person test. Advertisement GUARDIAN: Calls for Tory donor in race row to lose NHS contracts #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/WUpGwaj7tK Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 15, 2024 The Independent says Ms Abbott was offered the Labour whip back but refused as she would have to undergo antisemitism training. The Daily Express leads with UK chancellor Jeremy Hunts olive branch to pensioners, responding to criticism that they were neglected in the Budget. The Sun reports on the closure of the M25 and how it will affect the filming of Hollywood star Tom Cruises Mission Impossible movie. On tomorrow's front page: Megastar Tom Cruise has hired choppers so Mission: Impossible cast and crew can dodge the chaos of a full motorway closure this weekendhttps://t.co/I2MRHNP7NR pic.twitter.com/nJxaudRlUC The Sun (@TheSun) March 15, 2024 The i weekend says thousands of Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat food delivery rider accounts are being traded on the black market. I WEEKEND: Deliveroo and Uber Eats backdoor to UK illegal migration #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/W1TBBsKTVT Advertisement Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 15, 2024 The Daily Mirror reports on a British womans last hope as she faces the death penalty in Bali. The Daily Telegraph says the UK minister for veterans affairs Johnny Mercer is facing prison after he refused to name Special Forces whistleblowers who raised concerns about alleged unlawful killings of Afghans. The front page of today's Daily Telegraph: 'Mercer faces jail threat over Afghan inquiry'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/iaA6ueX0qI The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 16, 2024 The Times carries calls from Lord Sewell who said the Church of Englands 1 billion slavery reparation fund is almost like bribery. Social media app TikTok has hit $16 billion in revenue, according to the FT Weekend. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Saturday 16 March https://t.co/uoAXDLhfwm pic.twitter.com/r4lze0mSyG Financial Times (@FT) March 15, 2024 And the Daily Star runs with a story on the mystery of the rampant beavers in Cornwall. Advertisement The New York Times leads with a story on the Georgia election interference case against former US president Donald Trump, where a judge has ruled Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis can stay on in the case. However, she must remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before the case can proceed. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will meet US president Joe Biden for the official St Patrick's Day shamrock ceremony in Washington DC on Sunday. This year's St Patrick Day meetings were split, so Mr Varadkar met Mr Biden for bilateral meetings at the White House on Friday, while the traditional US House speaker's lunch took place at the US Capitol. Advertisement He will meet the president again on Sunday for the shamrock ceremony. So where did the traditions start? Dr Brian Murphy is a lecturer in Communications and Modern Irish History at TU Dublin He spoke to BreakingNews.ie about the tradition of Irish White House visits for St Patrick's Day, and how they started. Advertisement He explained that you have to look back to the end of World War Two for the visit's origins. Eamon de Valera infamously offered condolences to Germany after the death of Adolf Hitler, and Dr Murphy said "the way that was portrayed in American newspapers didn't do a lot for Ireland's popularity in the US". Advertisement Relations were already strained as the US had taken a dim view of Ireland's policy of neutrality during World War Two. "After the war, the attitude in the US State Department was to treat Ireland with a cool breeze. That was the case until the early 1950s." Sean T O'Kelly was elected president of Ireland in 1945, just after the end of World War Two, and he was determined to improve Irish-American relations. Advertisement Dr Murphy, who is currently writing a book about O'Kelly, explained that his desire to secure an official invitation to the US is where the origins of the shamrock ceremony can be traced back to. "During his first term, a number of approaches were made for the US to invite president O'Kelly for an official visit. None of those attempts were successful. The cool breeze was still there. "In 1952, John Hearne was the Irish ambassador to the US. Hearne and O'Kelly cooked up a scheme where on St Patrick's Day 1952, in an attempt to thaw the US-Ireland relationship, Hearne arrived at the White House on St Patrick's Day 1952 with a bowl of Shamrocks that said 'happy St Patrick's Day with compliments of the president of Ireland'. "When Hearne arrived, president Harry Truman was actually on holiday in Keywest in Florida. Truman eventually saw them and replied with a telegram to president O'Kelly wishing him well, thanking him for the shamrocks, and speaking about good relations between Ireland and the United States. Advertisement Advertisement "O'Kelly saw that as a boost to his efforts for an invitation. Every year after that, the Irish ambassador would arrive to the White House with a bowl of shamrocks." President of Ireland Sean T O'Kelly pictured on May 20th, 1954. Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images In 1956, John A Costello became the first taoiseach to deliver the shamrocks personally to a US president, Dwight Eisenhower. "It then reverted to the ambassadors and O'Kelly was running out of time as his second term was to end in 1959. Advertisement "Eventually, the efforts paid off, and he was invited to the United States and arrived in March 1959, the day before St Patrick's Day. O'Kelly had a great eye for publicity and there's a great photograph after he got off the plane in Washington. Eisenhower was there to greet him and O'Kelly walked down the plane steps, greeted Eisenhower, and pinned the shamrocks on to Eisenhower's lapel. "O'Kelly addressed the US Congress the following day." Dr Murphy, who is a director of the Kennedy Summer School, said Irish ambassador Tom Kiernan played an important role in St Patrick's Day ceremonies during John F Kennedy's presidency. The visit was now an official scheduled one, and Kiernan sought to play up to JFK's interest in Ireland with "pieces of Irish genealogy along with the traditional shamrocks". Advertisement "One year he gave Kennedy a treaty that had been signed by the O'Kennedy tribe in medieval Ireland. "He was trying to encourage Kennedy's interest in Ireland and this, on behalf of the Sean Lemass government, paved the way for JFK's visit in 1963. That was despite his own advisers telling him he had all the Irish-American votes already, and that he would be left open to accusations of a pleasure trip. "The shamrock ceremony continued after Kennedy with Lyndon B Johnson, who was conscious of Kennedy's legacy in keeping the shamrock ceremony going, although possibly without the same enthusiasm." US president John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) with Taoiseach Sean Lemass (1899 - 1971) at the US Embassy in Dublin during his visit to Ireland, June 1963. Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Dr Murphy said Richard Nixon added his own stamp to the St Patrick's Day visit, using it to make policy announcements. "One year Nixon announced his new ambassador to Ireland, and another to tell the US press he was visiting Ireland in 1970. That visit wasn't well-received and there were protests because of the Vietnam War." The ceremonies were all carried out by ambassadors, with the exceptions of O'Kelly and Costello, until the 1980s when it became an annual event where the taoiseach visits Washington DC. "Garret FitzGerald was the first to start visiting every year between 1982 and 1987. "He was trying to influence Ronald Reagan to get involved with Northern Ireland. Reagan did take some interest in Northern Ireland. The difficulty was he saw the special relationship between the US and UK as more important, and he had a strong bond with Margaret Thatcher." Advertisement The US House speaker's lunch was then added to the St Patrick's Day schedule. While there are often criticisms of the taoisigh's visits, and calls for boycotts, Dr Murphy feels the access given to Ireland is "extraordinary". "What's extraordinary is the speaker's lunch and White House shamrock ceremony, the access for a small country like Ireland. It's almost a cliche, but countries 100 times our size would give their right arm diplomatically for that access. "We have a standing date in the US president's calendar every year. No other country has that. "The US president has two scheduled visits to the Capitol every year, the State of the Union address and the speaker's lunch on St Patrick's Day for the taoiseach." He said FitzGerald and then Charlie Haughey sought to use that access to highlight peace initiatives for Northern Ireland, the undocumented Irish in the US, and Irish-American economic and trade links. "Reagan once joked that St Patrick died in 461, and you could only rely on the Irish to keep that wake going for another 1,500 years. You're kind of going 'OK, this is all shamrocks and shillelaghs' but beyond that, and sometimes in politics there has to be something for everyone, presidents signalling their Irish roots, but it also allows our government access to the highest level of global politics and to raise issues of concern for Ireland." Advertisement Dr Murphy said the St Patrick's Day visit "really took off" after Bill Clinton was elected president in 1993. "St Patrick's Day really took off in the Bill Clinton era with his interest in the peace process. Clinton understood the power of soft diplomacy. Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, and Bertie Ahern during the Clinton era saw the ceremony become a much bigger and more open event. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (L) delivers a speech after presenting US president Bill Clinton with a gift of shamrocks on March 17th, 1999. "Clinton was extending the invite beyond the taoiseach's entourage to all of the players in the Northern Ireland peace process. Big banquets in the White House took place, people from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland were invited and Clinton's key message in the addresses were 'you must get it done, you must make the leap for peace'." Under George W Bush, he said this was "scaled back a bit", but "still much bigger than the pre-Cinton era". "Barack Obama kept it going, he got a lot out of the discovery of his Irish roots. He turned the White House fountain green, mirroring the river in his home city of Chicago. "Brian Cowen was there in 2009 and 2010 when the economic recession was kicking in. Obama then visited Ireland, by which stage Enda Kenny is taoiseach." The election of Donald Trump led to calls for Kenny to boycott the visit. Taoiseach Enda Kenny presents US president Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks during the annual presentation ceremony at the White House. "Kenny was under a bit of pressure when Donald Trump was elected. There was a school of thought that given some of the things Trump had said during his election campaign, on his first St Patrick's Day, the taoiseach shouldn't go. "Kenny decided, as did Leo Varadkar his successor, that this is incredible access for Ireland. No matter who the White House incumbent is, we should be there. There was also the risk of losing the slot for good. "Taoisigh have also had the chance to appraise Trump and his successor Joe Biden about things we may not be comfortable with, in terms of the Irish-American relationship." Dr Murphy added: "Micheal Martin was particularly unfortunate as he was named taoiseach at the height of the pandemic. The Government was determined to keep up the tradition, so a virtual shamrock ceremony took place in 2020, and in 2021 he tested positive for Covid while in Washington, so he had to take part in a virtual ceremony again." I think it would be a major diplomatic own goal to let it go. There had been calls for Leo Varadkar to boycott the visit over US support of Israel as the bombardment of Gaza continues. However, Dr Murphy argued that it was better to keep the tradition going and raise these issues with Mr Biden in person. "This St Patrick's Day there has been some noises that the Taoiseach shouldn't go over Biden's stance on Israel and Gaza. However, Leo Varadkar has made his views known on why Ireland should go. He's said he will not lecture Biden about US support of Israel, but I've no doubt he will raise our concerns. "I think it would be a major diplomatic own goal to let it go." Stalled talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to restart in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders joined the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Advertisement International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that would not lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians perform the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Fatima Shbair/AP) The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. The first stage would be a six-week ceasefire that would include the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people being held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Advertisement Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Nearly one in three children under two years old in the isolated north are suffering acute malnutrition, the UN childrens agency Unicef reported on Friday. In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Those talks were expected to resume on Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Advertisement Mr Netanyahus government has rejected calls for a permanent ceasefire, insisting it must first fulfil its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Mr Netanyahus office also said on Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The United States and other countries have warned such an operation could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there. Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel began attacking Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza. Mr Netanyahus office said the Rafah operation would involve the evacuation of the civilian population, but did not give details or a timetable. The military said on Wednesday it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday: We have to see a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion. Advertisement We have not seen such a plan, he said. Israels offensive in Gaza has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the United Nations. A Boeing 737-800 arrived at its destination in southern Oregon with a missing panel on Friday after flying from San Francisco, according to officials the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10.20am and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. Advertisement The airports director Amber Judd said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, she said, and none was found. Advertisement Ms Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. Advertisement After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United Airlines spokesperson said. Advertisement Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year. United Airlines has operated it since November 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Advertisement Boeing said it would defer comment to United about the carriers fleet and operations. In January, a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair, just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in south west Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. Advertisement The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. Advertisement On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalised, officials said. A digital display with arrivals times, lists LATAM Airlines flight LA800 as cancelled at the international airport in Santiago, Chile. At least 50 people were injured by what officials described as a strong movement on the Chilean plane traveling from Sydney to Auckland (AP) On Friday, Boeing recommended airlines inspect the cockpit seats the next time they perform maintenance on their 787s Dreamliner jets after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane flying to New Zealand. The company described its advisory as a precautionary measure. It noted that the investigation into what happened during Mondays LATAM Airlines flight between Australia and New Zealand was continuing and referred questions about potential findings to investigating authorities. Passengers reported that when the Dreamliner dropped without warning, people not wearing seatbelts were tossed from their seats and into the cabin ceiling and aisles. The plane later landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled. About 50 people were injured, according to emergency crews in Auckland. Three people have been killed after gunfire erupted in a suburban Philadelphia township, forcing cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade and shutting down a childrens theme park, authorities said. Middletown Township police said there were confirmed shootings in the neighbouring Falls Township in Eastern Pennsylvania that resulted in several gunshot victims. Advertisement Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for the area, warning residents to stay in their homes and lock their doors. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement One local elected official who was briefed by police said characterised the shootings as domestic. Jeffry Dence, chairman of Falls Township board of supervisors, said the suspect went to two locations in the township and shot a number of victims, including three who died. Advertisement The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and drove to Trenton, Mr Dence said. Middletown Township police said a 26-year-old suspect was identified and has ties to addresses in Bucks and Trenton, and while believed to be currently homeless, he stays in Trenton primarily. Shaun Murphy, who lives in the Falls Township community of Levittown, said he was headed to the parade when he saw that the road had been blocked. Advertisement Three people are said to have been killed (AP) Mr Murphy said: All the neighbours were outside wondering what was going on and then we got the notice about shelter in place. I did see ambulances coming up the street earlier without their sirens on, Murphy said. My neighbours were just outside with me last night, and we were just saying how great of a town and how great of a neighbourhood it is. Pennsylvania state governor Josh Shapiro said in social media posts that he has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement agencies. Advertisement Advertisement US representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican who represents Bucks County, said in social media posts that there had been a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township. He said he was in touch with law enforcement officials as they pursue the suspect. Police said Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice, and the areas Target store and other businesses chose to close as well. (Photo : FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) A For Sale sign is posted in front of a home for sale in San Marino, California on September 6, 2023. It now costs more than $106,000 for the average U.S. homebuyer to comfortably afford a home, according to a recently released study - up 80% from less than five years ago. But while the typical monthly mortgage payment has nearly doubled since Jan. 2020 to $2,188, wages have not kept pace, according to Zillow. In 2020, it cost a household about $59,000 to comfortably afford - that is, without spending more than 30% of its income on a 10% mortgage - monthly payments, the study found. The median U.S. household income at the time was about $66,000, meaning that a majority of American households could afford to own a home. But as home costs have surged, it now costs about $106,500 to comfortably afford a home, well above the estimated household income of $81,000, according to Zillow. The real estate site looked at metro areas across the U.S. to determine which required the highest and lowest incomes to comfortably afford a home. On the high end, seven markets broke the $200,000 mark. They include four in California: San Jose ($454,296), San Francisco ($339,864), Los Angeles ($279,250) and San Diego ($273,613). The other three were Seattle ($213,984), the New York City metro area ($213,615) and Boston ($205,253). And in Florida, four metro markets cleared the $100,000 mark, local outlet NBC6 reported, citing Florida-centric Zillow data. They are: Miami ($151,163), Orlando ($121,418), Tampa ($116,329) and Jacksonville ($109,271). On the low end, five metro areas came in under the $75,000 line: Pittsburgh ($58,232), Memphis ($69,976), Cleveland ($70,810), New Orleans ($74,048) and Birmingham ($74,338). As prices outpace pay, homebuyers have increasingly turned to co-buying with friends or relatives, considering long-distance moves to less expensive markets, and prioritizing the ability to rent out part of their home for extra cash, according to Zillow. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A suspect has barricaded himself in a home in New Jersey and is holding hostages after allegedly shooting three people dead in suburban Philadelphia. The Saturday morning shooting in Falls Township in eastern Pennsylvania forced the cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade and shut down a childrens theme park. Advertisement Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for the area for several hours, but it was cancelled by early afternoon. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr, killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings that stretched into two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township in the morning, Bucks County district attorney Jennifer Schorn said. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d Advertisement Advertisement Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024 Officials said they could not yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference. Advertisement After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a car park, Gordon holed up in a home in nearby Trenton, New Jersey, authorities said. By mid-afternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out. The homes residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said. Ms Schorn said Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Advertisement Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said. She said Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were present. The victims mother was bludgeoned with a rifle, Ms Schorn said. Police said the injured woman is expected to recover. Advertisement Ms Schorn said that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in Morristown, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who was not harmed. From there, officials said, Gordon drove to the home in Trenton. Middletown Township police said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks and Trenton and stays in Trenton primarily. Advertisement Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said in social media posts that he has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement agencies. Police said Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice, and the areas Target store and other businesses chose to close as well. People across the United States have celebrated their Irish heritage at several major St Patricks Day parades on Saturday. They are marking the holiday a day early at events that included a big anniversary in Savannah, Georgia, and honoured a pioneering female business leader as grand marshal in New York. Advertisement The annual parade took place in New York (AP) The holiday was largely popularised in the US by Irish immigrants. Many parades were moved to Saturday, a day ahead of St Patricks Day. Advertisement The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations (AP) Manhattans St Patricks Day Parade, which dates to 1762 14 years before the US Declaration of Independence is one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. Megan Stransky of Houston and two relatives planned a Broadway weekend to coincide with the parade, seeing it as a prime opportunity to remember their familys Irish roots and the traditions that helped shape their upbringing. Advertisement Advertisement Bagpipers march along Fifth Avenue during the St Patricks Day Parade (AP) The event did not disappoint. There is no comparison to any other parade or city that Ive been to, Ms Stransky marvelled, as she took in the bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents and more. The grand marshal, Irish-born Heineken USA chief executive Maggie Timoney, is the first female head of a major US beer company. Advertisement State Police march along Fifth Avenue in New York City (AP) At a pre-parade reception at New Yorks mayoral residence, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hailed the recognition for Timoney and noted some other causes for celebrating Irish American links this year, including Cillian Murphys best actor Oscar win last weekend. New York City has multiple parades on various dates around its five boroughs including, on Sunday, the first St Patricks Day parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island. Advertisement A kayaker floats on the Chicago River (AP) Mayor Eric Adams last month announced the plan for the new, privately organised celebration, arranged after a local group had asked for years to join the boroughs decades-old parade. That longstanding event, which does not allow groups to march under LGBTQ+ banners, happened earlier this month. The Manhattan parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups and symbols in 2015, after decades of protests, legal challenges and boycotts by some politicians. Attorney General of New York, Letitia James (left) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, march during the city parade (AP) Ahead of Chicagos parade, thousands of people, many decked out in green with beers in hand, gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green. Advertisement Organisers say the tradition, started by the union, uses an environmentally friendly powder once used to check pipes for leaks. Celebrations were moved to Saturday in many US cities (AP) In Savannah, Georgia, organisers expected a historic crowd to participate in the parade, which started in 1824. Ahead of the bicentennial, Georgias oldest city had nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend. Iveth Luna - "Right On Time" | Red Street Records March 15, 2024 Nashville, TN Red Street Records Iveth Luna kicks off New Music Friday with the release of her brand new single, Right On Time (stream HERE) alongside accompanying music video (watch HERE), available everywhere today. Delivered through a colorful, upbeat storyline, the new song encourages listeners to trust in Gods perfect timing because Hes always right on time. Iveth shares, Right on time is so special to me because I have experienced both sides of the coin when it comes to worrying about my future. Whether I find myself rushing and striving for the next thing or having anxiety over the next phase in life, I want to remind my soul of all the times God has been faithful to me in His perfect timing. This song reminds our hearts to have confidence in Gods timing and plan because of His perfect track record. I may not always be on time, but I can trust that God always is. Written by Iveth, Carl Cartee and AJ Pruis and produced by Pruis, Right On Time shares a message for every listener with a chorus that sings, Every every every time Todays release of Right On Time/ A Tiempo follows Iveths 2023 debut EP Just Like Jesus, a first-time GMA Dove Awards presenter appearance and nomination as a writer on Consumed By Fires Goodbye Ole Me and kicks off a run of Spring and Summer tour dates starting April 2024. Fans can see Iveth LIVE opening for artists like Micah Tyler and Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North. To see Iveth Luna in a city near you, visit https://www.ivethluna.com/. Im not promising that I can protect Lismore from the 2022 flood, Vaze says. No one can do it and if someone is saying that, I dont know what that is based on. But, if you ask, can we reduce the impact? I hope the answer is yes. Loading Vaze is recognised as one of Australias best in the study of water, particularly its distribution, movement, and properties in natural and man-made environments. He graduated with a bachelors degree in India, obtained a masters in Ireland, and was awarded a PhD in Melbourne before becoming a senior principal research scientist at the CSIRO. Now his team is mapping the entire Northern Rivers to first build a detailed hydrodynamic model of the Richmond and Wilsons rivers catchment. From this model of water in motion, he will reproduce at hourly intervals what happened in 2022 across the entire catchment, when the flood reached 14.37 metres in Lismore, two metres above historic records. From there, they will test how three to five scenarios may have mitigated the impact of that disaster, upstream and downstream, with the results and potential options presented in mid-2026. Nothing on this scale of ambition, or with this level of detail, has been attempted in Australia before. Measures being bandied around by a hopeful community to reduce the risks include more permanent relocation of residents, flood levees, detention/retention basins in the upper catchment, bypass channels and massive revegetation programs. To be truthful, there are probably hundreds of suggestions. Historically, around 97 per cent of disaster funding is spent on response and recovery, leaving just over 3 per cent spent on disaster risk reduction nationwide, according to a 2014 Productivity Commission report. The 2022 Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland disaster cost $9.6 billion. Credit: Getty However, following a rolling series of catastrophic floods and fires nationwide, state and federal governments are shifting their thinking. In the Northern Rivers, the costs are mounting, not just for residents and businesses, but for taxpayers, insurers and banks, anyone with a direct stake in the fallout of a natural disaster. The 2022 floods that swept through the Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland cost $9.6 billion, according to the global reinsurance company Munich Re. In Lismore alone, the council estimates the cost to rebuild will be around $1 billion. Four of the previous biggest Lismore floods 1954, 1974, 1989 and 2017 cost more than $10 billion in repair and recovery costs to taxpayers, businesses and residents, research by Macquarie University Risk Frontiers and SGS Economics/Deloitte for Suncorp Insurance found. Planes have crisscrossed the region collecting data for digital elevation models. For Vaze and his team, their task is to understand everything about these floods, conceived in an unholy union between topography and rainfall, before they can offer any chance of succour. For 14 months, light aircraft have been criss-crossing the entire Northern Rivers region, and firing focussed laser beams tens of thousands pulses a second into the landscape below. The time it takes for a pulse to strike an object and return to the sensor onboard the aircraft gives precise co-ordinates latitude, longitude, and elevation to generate three-dimensional representations of the surface and its features, mapping 32,000 square kilometres of landscape down to the square metre. The aircraft flew at the regulated altitude approved by the Air Traffic Control in the region. Whether marijuana farmers in the hillsides around Nimbin and Mullumbimby approved of the flights is unknown. Boats with sonar equipment also trawled the Richmond/Wilson river systems to collect information on the waterways width and depth. Remote-controlled aquatic robots were used to navigate the smaller streams and harder to access areas in the upper catchment. Using the collected data, the CSIRO team is constructing a detailed hydrodynamic model for the Richmond and Wilson rivers catchment. Boats with sonar equipment collect super-accurate information to inform the CSIROs hydrodynamic model. Credit: National Emergency Management Agency ( The whole 7000 square kilometres of the catchment will be represented by about seven to 10 million triangular connected elements. Once you get seven to 10 million elements, its a pretty complex model. From this model, they aim to recreate the 2022 flood, and examine the flows in the waterways: the velocities, the depths, and when and where banks were broken, leading to inundation. They will know what impact a certain amount of rainfall falling in a certain part of the catchment has on the waterways leading to the sea. Once this model is ready, the CSIRO wants to determine the effect of different mitigation options or interventions on these flows: holding them back, slowing them down or changing course through bypasses or channels. Remote-controlled aquatic robots are used to navigate the smaller streams and harder to access areas in the upper catchments of the Northern Rivers, The three to five scenarios for testing will be developed in consultation with the National Emergency Management Agency and key stakeholders in the Northern Rivers region in the second half of 2025. The CSIRO and NEMA teams are closely working together on the project, with the seven councils, NSW state government agencies and community members sharing available data and on-ground knowledge. It is widely viewed that the proposed interventions will neither be small nor inexpensive. Vaze warns that the 2022 flood were the largest floods ever recorded in the region and so there are no simple solutions. A series of detention/retention basins to hold back or slow down the flow of floodwater in the upper catchment, for example, could cost potentially hundreds of millions of dollars, and generate environmental controversy. We will provide the science, right? But this decision needs to be made by the state and federal governments because they decide the policy, they decide the funding, he says. We will be able to quantify how much you can reduce the impact. Once I have the model, I can tell them that, and then its a case of whats acceptable to the community and to politicians and people who fund these things. A solution - even partial - to the Lismore flood problem will not be modest or easy. Credit: Elise Derwin Federal Nationals MP for Page Kevin Hogan drove the establishment of the CSIRO mitigation initiative under the former Morrison government. He believes the CSIRO is an independent arbiter that can bring warring parties together to help chart a course for the future of Lismore. He warns that the community is already bruised and impatient following arguments, false starts and delays over rehousing flood victims and needs to regain hope about its economic future. We need a commitment from the federal government and the NSW government to back the findings of the CSIRO research, without any delays to starting, he says. Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt says he regards the CSIRO work as a blueprint for future mitigation investment. He says the government will need time to consider the recommendations, but they will not be put on the backburner. An image taken during the capture of modelling data by plane above the Richmomd River mouth. Watt says mitigation projects nationwide will require many billions of dollars, with some requiring a commitment from all sides of politics over many terms of government, adding he hopes the private sector will play a bigger role too. Im also very conscious that there are high expectations from the community about what will come from this study, and itll be governments responsibility to deliver on the recommendations, he says. I want to be careful to manage expectations about how quickly we can get some of these things done, about how much money will be available because, of course, you know, unfortunately, the Northern Rivers is not the only part of Australia that faces significant disaster risk into the future, and there will be other communities that we need to invest in as well. Loading But I do think that theres a wide recognition that the Northern Rivers has unique characteristics that make it worth worthy of investment. Vaze is continuing his work at the Canberra laboratory and is aware, from personal meetings with flood victims and Northern Rivers representatives, that community pressure and expectations are building. Its a tricky and difficult job [emotionally]. I have seen what the community has gone through, he says. I remember the first time I interacted with the community, we ran stakeholder engagements with them. Police on Saturday removed more than 30 Extinction Rebellion protesters from a busy CBD intersection after dozens held a sit-in outside Flinders Street Station, blocking trams and cars. About 300 protesters had marched from Treasury Gardens, according to estimates from police on the ground, arriving at the station around 4.15pm. Police remove an Extinction Rebellion protester after a sit-in outside Flinders Street Station on Saturday afternoon. Credit: Ashleigh McMillan Rally organisers warned those who didnt want to get arrested to leave the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets. Police said 32 people remained on the road and sat in a circle, blocking traffic. Public order response officers then removed the protesters one by one. Some demonstrators had to be carried by police. Promoting fear in the community is not appropriate, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as the government prepares for a critical High Court hearing next month which would decide if more detainees should be released into the community. The Albanese government is bracing for years of upheaval rippling from Novembers landmark High Court ruling overturning indefinite detention, as it charges the board that reviews visa conditions to consider any new issues arising from legal uncertainties about immigration detention. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says promotion of fear is not appropriate. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Speaking from Magill in South Australia on Saturday morning, Albanese sought to downplay the possibility of more detainees being released. The governments putting in place appropriate community safety measures. They are being put in place monitoring is occurring, were doing everything that we can, as I said, this is something the government had to respond to and what isnt appropriate is a promotion of fear in the community, Albanese told Sevens Sunrise. LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says he is humbled Brisbane residents have chosen him to continue as Lord Mayor. But Schrinner has questioned the Electoral Commission of Queenslands performance, noting the disappointing slow count and long queues at booths. While we expect to retain a majority in Council, unfortunately many wards remain either too close to call or not enough votes have been counted, he said in a statement. Like me, I am sure many residents are disappointed at the slow count as well as the long queues and shortage of staff and ballot papers that occurred at many booths. The Electoral Commission of Queenslands performance will need to be further considered once the counting is finished. Schrinner is expected to meet with the party faithful at an election night party within moments, but is not expected to deliver an official speech. Trump will not assist a democracy under invasion by an autocracy. He will not support a friendly nation against a US enemy. He will not observe a nations fundamental right under the UN Charter to be free from the use of force against its territorial integrity or political independence. In sum, he will not defend liberty, even at no risk to the US itself. Because we are not talking about a US military intervention to save Ukraine. No one is advocating that the US go to war against Russia. We are talking about money. Trump is not even prepared to continue financial support to Ukraine. When Britains Neville Chamberlain notoriously claimed that hed achieved peace with honour by appeasing Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill retorted: You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour, and you will have war. Trump isnt even asked to commit to war. He has a choice between dishonour and giving aid. He chooses dishonour. Not to avoid war, not even to save money. The money is not a genuine concern. We know that because, while he likes to talk like a scrooge about American taxpayers money, in office he was a spendthrift, even before COVID. Under Trump, the US national debt grew by $US8 trillion. He took national debt as a proportion of the US economy to its highest since World War II. Hes not planning to abandon Ukraine to save American money but to gratify a brutal dictator and avowed American enemy. Vladimir Putin. Trumps original Boss Bro. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump at the White House in 2019. Credit: AP Trumps preternatural affinity with Putin is well established though poorly grasped. Remember when Putin fired the first volley of cruise missiles into Kyiv, Trump responded by declaring it genius. At the same time, Trump has a history of antagonism to Ukraine because he suspected it was concealing some dubious dealings of Bidens son. Two of Trumps former advisers have tried to explain his Boss Bro-mance. My theory on why he likes the dictators so much is thats who he is, retired US general John Kelly and former chief of staff for Trump postulated in an interview with Jim Sciutto of CNN. He looked at Putin and Xi and that nutcase in North Korea as people who were like him in terms of being a tough guy. John Bolton, former national security adviser to Trump, has a similar explanation: He views himself as a big guy. He likes dealing with other big guys, and big guys like [President Recep] Erdogan in Turkey get to put people in jail, and you dont have to ask anybodys permission. He kind of likes that. Trump views himself as a big guy. He likes dealing with other big guys like Vladimir Putin, according to John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Trump. Credit: AP Are Americans alert to the fact that their alternative leader is so ready to sell out the very values by which they have defined themselves for generations? Merely to pander to Putin? In his State of the Union address this week, Joe Biden tried to sound the klaxon as loudly as possible. His opening words: In January 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation. And 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 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 an 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. Loading Is Biden going over the top by invoking Hitler? There are two relevant comparisons. First is that Putin, like Hitler, is a danger to the security of the continent. If he prevails in Ukraine, there are reasons to expect that he will continue his military drive into Europe. Certainly, Sweden and Finland think so. Thats why theyve abandoned long traditions of neutrality and joined NATO. But if Trump is president once more, will NATO still function? Trump said recently that if NATO members didnt contribute a satisfactory yet unspecified amount of military spending, hed encourage the Russians to do whatever the hell they want. John Bolton draws the obvious conclusion: NATO would be in real jeopardy. Second is that Trump himself is said to have invoked Hitler in his pantheon of Boss Bros. According to Kelly in his Sciutto interview: He said, Well, but Hitler did some good things. I said, Well, what? And he said, Well, [Hitler] rebuilt the economy. But what did he do with that rebuilt economy? He turned it against his own people and against the world. And I said, Sir, you can never say anything good about the guy. Nothing. According to Kelly, Trump also envied Hitlers hold on senior Nazi officers: When I pointed out to him the German generals ... in fact tried to assassinate him a few times, and he didnt know that. He truly believed, when he brought us generals in, that we would be loyal, that we would do anything he wanted us to do. Trump didnt deny Kellys claims but in 2021 a spokesperson said Trump denied praising Hitler. Loading Trump displayed the same set of instincts this week in the American debate about whether to ban TikTok. In office, Trump wanted to ban the Chinese-owned app as a threat to US national security. But now that the US House of Representatives has voted to ban TikTok, Trump has reversed his position. Why? Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, Trump says. In other words, hed rather gratify a foreign rival than allow an American business a chance to expand its market share. Again, why? Because he claims that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg tried to interfere in the 2020 US election in favour of Biden. Trump loves to invoke American patriotism. Make America Great Again and America First, for example. But these are just posturings. When it comes to a choice between the US national interest and Trumps personal interests, America loses. In truth, he has no conception of an American interest, only one of his own immediate interests. Hed rather aid US enemies than friends so long as it suited his personal fetishes and appetites. This does not make him a tough guy or a big guy. It makes him weak. US allies and friends around the world, including Australia, must not expect a weak figure like Trump to defend them. And we cant vote in American elections. Our only option is to prepare for a world with autocrats rampant and America absent. Churchill might have counselled: It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required. Peter Hartcher is international editor. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Adams is among the commercial property owners in the historic Houston neighborhood who are frustrated by the recent revival of the Montrose Management District, which went dormant in 2018. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, who co-owns the studio and gallery along with her husband, is among the commercial property owners in the historic Houston neighborhood who are frustrated by the recent revival of the Montrose Management District, which went dormant in 2018. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, who co-owns the gallery and studio along with her husband, is among the commercial property owners in the historic Houston neighborhood who are frustrated by the recent revival of the Montrose Management District, which went dormant in 2018. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Foelber Pottery Gallery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Judy Adams, who co-owns the gallery and studio along with her husband, is among the commercial property owners in the historic Houston neighborhood who are frustrated by the recent revival of the Montrose Management District, which went dormant in 2018. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Judy Adams, owner of Foelber Pottery in the neighborhood of Montrose, open since 1979, is photographed looking at one of her art pieces hung on the walls of the Foelber Pottery Gallery on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Houston. Adams is among the commercial property owners in the historic Houston neighborhood who are frustrated by the recent revival of the Montrose Management District, which went dormant in 2018. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Judy Adams, who co-owns Foelber Pottery at 706 Richmond with her husband, says she's been "through thick and thin" in Montrose since the studio and gallery space opened in 1979. And now, a new challenge: Adams recently received an unsigned, undated missive, addressed generically, with a return address listed as a P.O. box: "It is with great regard and hope for the future of Montrose that we present to you the reintroduction of the Montrose Management District." "If I didnt know what was going on, because Im involved, I would think this was a joke," Adams said. "Everyone is just so furious and frustrated." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Montrose Management District is back, revived in December after years of dysfunction and legal wrangling led to it going dormant in 2018. And its plans to tax commercial property owners has angered some longtime small-business owners in the historic Houston neighborhood. "All of us were stunned," said Pat Greer, who has been serving homemade vegan cuisine at her restaurant, Pat Greer's Kitchen at 412 W. Clay since 2005. "This is a real slap in the face." Daphne Scarborough, owner of the Brass Maiden, a custom metal fabricator at 2016 Richmond, said she worked against the creation of a Montrose Management District in 2011 and has been consistently unimpressed by its management as well as its services. "It is taxation without representation," Scarborough said. "They dont have anything to offer our businesses. We wouldnt run our business the way they run the district. They do absolutely nothing." THE END: Montrose Management District votes to dissolve Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city of Houston includes a number of management districts funded by taxes on commercial property owners, with revenues used to supplement standard municipal services such as landscaping, public safety and sidewalk maintenance. As an economic development tool, they are conceptually similar to Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, in which a portion of property tax revenues collected in the zone are used for new projects within its borders. Some Houston neighborhoods have both: Montrose, for example, has a TIRZ created in 2015. When the Montrose Management District board voted to disband, commercial property owners who opposed it believed they'd unburdened themselves. "I was there the day it was dissolved," Adams said. "We all cheered. It was great. And since then, it's been wonderful." But Alan Bernstein, a spokesperson for the district, says the district never went away. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Discussions with property owners about reactivating the district have been taking place since not long after its dormancy began," said Bernstein, who is also director of communications for Hawes Hill and Associates, an economic development agency that works with a number of Houston's management districts. "Major developers that are relatively new to the scene stated their support for resumption of services, as did city government officials." Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who was inaugurated in January, did not respond to a request for comment on the revival of the district. The new iteration of the district aims to be relatively streamlined, focused on essential tasks and allocating 60% of its budget to public safety. Its new service and assessment plan stipulates that the tax rate will drop to 9 cents per $100 of property value from 12 cents. The values are determined by the Harris County Appraisal District. And property values in Montrose and other Houston neighborhoods have risen significantly since the district went dormant. The assessments will be levied against commercial property owners rather than small-business owners, many of whom own the properties in which they operate, Bernstein said. Residential complexes with 25 or fewer units will be exempt, as will mixed-use properties where the business portion is less than 40 percent of the total valuation. The midrise and high-rise properties that have popped up in Montrose in recent years will pay assessments based on the valuation of four floors of the complex, not the entire building. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The district has not yet begun providing services, Bernstein said. The board plans to hold a retreat to discuss its operations and procedures on April 3 at Cafe Brasil at 2604 Dunlavy; the meeting will be public, but no public comments will be taken. The board is awaiting city approval on nominations to fill six vacant board seats, he said, There are several active board members, including Dimitri Fetokakis, owner of Niko Niko's, the Greek restaurant at 2520 Montrose Blvd., who also served on the district's board during its previous iteration. That wasn't always a pleasant experience, he acknowledged, given the tension the management district caused among his longtime neighbors. Still, he agreed to serve again after being approached several years ago. He said the district's functions are necessary given concerns of some over public safety and trash. In addition, he said, maintenance of projects being pursued by the Montrose TIRZ will likely fall on the management district. But Fetokakis isn't oblivious to the concerns of his fellow business owners about the district's revival. "I get it," he said. "Everybodys like, 'I already pay my taxes. Why isnt the city doing this?' Well, in reality, its not happening, so now what?" Advertisement Article continues below this ad "Montrose has always been that eclectic place in Houston, but that doesnt mean that we have to not take care of it," Fetokakis continued. "We have to make sure its clean. We have to make sure its safe, as much as we can. We have all these bike trails in the middle of the street that are all crooked, and missing poles and things like that. Well, guess whos going to have to take care of that?" He said that the revived district's board plans to do more to address the "disconnect" the community experienced last time: "We obviously need to do a better job in communicating." Many commercial property and small-business owners remain unpersuaded. About two dozen residents and business owners gathered for a meeting at Cafe Brasil this week, Adams and Greer said, where many focused on what they said was underwhelming services, even as the assessments took a bite out of their margins. Not all full-time working royals of the British Monarchy have police protection that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry demand. (Photo: Henry Nicholls/File Photo/REUTERS) In a shocking allegation, New Zealand-British journalist Dan Wootton has accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of "collaborating" with the British media outlet Byline Times to "take down" the renegade royal couple's critics. Wootton, a former executive editor of The Sun, claimed that he was at the "top" of Prince Harry's alleged list of media enemies. "I have learned the disgraced Duke has cultivated a private working relationship with Byline Times to pursue one goal," Wootton charged on Thursday. "Taking down his enemies in the British media. It's no surprise to know that I was top of that list." Wootton alleged that Prince Harry and Byline Times "targeted" him after he reported on "woke warrior" Meghan Markle and a series of rumors and controversies surrounding the Duchess of Sussex, including her allegedly sour relationships with the late Queen Elizabeth and the currently embattled Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. According to Wootton, Harry and Meghan "used every possible tactic" to "shut [him] up," including enlisting the help of high-profile individuals such as writer Omid Scobie and comedian James Corden. "They made complaints to the newspaper regulator IPSO, leaned on other royals to complain about me to my editor, unleashed their odd looking little attack dog Omid Scobie, turned former celebrity acquaintances like James Corden against me, threatened to file a lawsuit falsely claiming I'd broken the law while reporting on them, and brazenly attacked me in public," Wootton claimed. The full shocking story atpic.twitter.com/rpTrE9dR8K How Prince Harry was involved in my sick takedown by a convicted criminal at Byline Times and why the British MSM gave in to those dark forces.The full shocking story at https://t.co/Puyv9xE64h Dan Wootton (@danwootton) March 14, 2024 In a shocking revelation, Wootton also alleged that Prince Harry was preparing to sit down for a bombshell tell-all interview with Byline Times, an interview that the two parties "spent months negotiating" before the Duke of Sussex agreed. "It's astonishing that the fifth in line to the throne would be considering talking to such a disgraceful publication that is totally unregulated and reliant on convicted criminals for some of its reportage," Wootton said. "Unless, of course, they had been conducting his dirty work." Wootton concluded his diatribe by accusing the royal couple of "silencing" other reporters and outlets, including journalist Piers Morgan and the powerhouse outlet Daily Mail. "Harry collaborating with the Byline Times against his media critics matters," Wootton said. "Even though the Sussexes are now on the outer of the Royal Family, it shows the power of the British establishment to neuter and silence critical voices." In a related development, Wootton himself has been suspended from his position as a presenter at British broadcaster GB News over "misogynistic" comments made by a guest, Laurence Fox, on his show. Wootton apologized for not immediately challenging Fox's offensive remarks about female journalist Ava Evans, who expressed feeling "physically sick" in response to the comments, according to Newsweek. GB News launched an investigation into the incident on September 27, and Wootton's suspension has removed a major and regular critic of Harry and Meghan from public debate, at least temporarily. The network also suspended Fox and apologized to Evans. Interestingly, Piers Morgan, who has often spoken out against what he considers to be "woke" values, condemned Fox's comments, calling him a "disgusting piece of misogynist trash" and praising Evans as a "very talented journalist and delightful person." The U.K. television regulator Ofcom is currently investigating the incident, and the outcome may not bode well for Wootton, who has already acknowledged he should have done more to challenge Fox's remarks. In a previous ruling involving Piers Morgan's comments about Meghan Markle on Good Morning Britain, Ofcom exonerated the show because other guests challenged Morgan's views, setting a precedent that may not favor Wootton in this case. As the public backlash over misogyny continues and the investigation into Wootton's alleged collaboration with Byline Times unfolds, the complex dynamics between the royal couple, their critics, and the British media establishment remain in the spotlight. The outcome of these controversies could have significant implications for the future of public discourse surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. U.S. President Joe Biden is taking heavy fire from Donald Trump and the Republicans. (Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein) The Group of Seven (G7) nations, comprising the world's major democracies, has issued a stark warning to Iran regarding the potential transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. In a united stance, the United States alongside its G7 allies, including France, Japan, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, expressed grave concerns over reports that Tehran might be contemplating such a move. This comes in the wake of Iran's prior supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia, which have been employed in continuous attacks against civilians in Ukraine. The G7's statement emphasized the readiness of its members to take "new and significant measures" against Iran should the missile transfer proceed, although specific actions were not outlined. These measures could potentially include sanctions, with one option being the suspension of Iran Air flights to European cities, signaling a severe response to any escalation in Iran's support for Russia's military efforts in Ukraine. This warning aligns with reports that Iran had negotiated with Moscow to send hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia, a claim Tehran denies. Despite the absence of concrete evidence of such a transfer, G7 nations are keen to preempt any actions that would further fuel the conflict in Ukraine. The statement highlights the alliance's commitment to a coordinated response to deter Tehran from bolstering Russia's arsenal, amidst increasing ties between Moscow and other adversaries of the U.S., such as North Korea. Iran's potential benefits from the transfer are also under scrutiny, with Tehran seeking Russian military equipment worth billions of dollars, enhancing its threat to the Middle East and U.S. interests. In response to initial reports, Iran's mission to the United Nations emphasized its moral stance against fueling the war through weapon transactions, despite no legal barriers to ballistic missile sales. The G7's firm stance follows a series of aggressive U.S. actions in response to Iran's belligerent behavior, including support for militias attacking U.S. bases and alleged cyber attacks on American infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the serious and united concern among European and American countries regarding the potential missile transfer, reaffirming their resolve to address it if necessary. Amidst these geopolitical tensions, the G7, under Italy's chairmanship, and the European Union are contemplating additional measures against Iran for arming Russia. The potential provision of ballistic missiles by Iran to Russia would mark a significant escalation in support for Moscow's war efforts, contravening international law and the United Nations Charter. As the global community watches closely, the outcome of these warnings and the potential for further sanctions against Iran could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader stability of international relations. Russia already has nuclear weapon systems in the Baltic Sea. (Photo: KCNA via REUTERS) In a devastating attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Russian missiles struck civilian infrastructure on Friday, killing at least 20 people and injuring scores of others. The assault, which occurred on the first day of Russia's carefully choreographed presidential elections, has been described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "despicable act of cowardice" and the deadliest attack on Odesa since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. According to Ukrainian officials, the Russian forces employed a tactic known as a "double tap" strike, in which a second missile hit emergency service personnel who had rushed to the scene of the initial attack. Maryna Averina, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service in Odesa, told CNN, "First responders arrived at the site of the strike and immediately began to extinguish the fire, clearing the rubble and searching for victims. And then there was a second missile strike." Among the casualties were eight rescuers, including 25-year-old Denys Kolesnikov, who worked at a fire station in Odesa. The attacks left at least 73 people injured, including seven emergency services personnel, according to Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. Maria Slisovska, a 50-year-old resident living near the site of the strike, recounted her harrowing experience: "At first our windows were still intact. Then about five minutes later there was a second blast. The ceilings were damaged. In the kitchen, plaster fell from the ceilings. Thank God my mom wasn't in the kitchen at that moment." 20 people were killed. A double-tap attack is an attack in which a second missile strikes the same location as the first one, but 15-30 minutes later in order to kill rescue workers Just a reminder that Russia executed a double-tap ballistic missile attack against Odesa today.20 people were killed.A double-tap attack is an attack in which a second missile strikes the same location as the first one, but 15-30 minutes later in order to kill rescue workers pic.twitter.com/YnJUkGjgvB Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) March 15, 2024 President Zelensky, in his evening address, condemned the strikes and vowed that Ukraine's Defense Forces would "do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response." He also noted that the search for survivors under the rubble was ongoing. The attack on Odesa, a crucial port for Ukraine's grain exports and a major base for its navy, follows months of Russian strikes that have caused extensive damage to the city. Just last week, a Russian missile exploded a few hundred meters away from a convoy carrying Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by Russian forces. In response to the latest attack, Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko sent his condolences to the families of those killed and wounded, while Denise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, condemned the strike as "utterly unacceptable." The tragedy in Odesa has once again underscored the urgent need for enhanced air defense systems in Ukraine. While the capital, Kyiv, is relatively well protected by the US-made Patriot system, not all Ukrainian cities enjoy the same level of shielding. Zelensky has made repeated pleas to his allies for more air defenses in the wake of such attacks. The strikes on Odesa come amidst an uptick in attacks on Russia's border regions, as Ukrainian forces seek to push back against Russian advances in the area. The head of Ukraine's army, Oleksandr Syrsky, stated that Russia had launched a wave of attacks to try to advance further in the Avdiivka area, just north of Donetsk. As the war in Ukraine continues to claim innocent lives and cause widespread destruction, the international community has once again been reminded of the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The attack on Odesa serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing hostilities and the importance of holding those responsible for such atrocities accountable. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House in Washington, U.S. August 3, 2021. (Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst) Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the White House is reportedly deliberating its course of action should Israel proceed with a military offensive in Rafah, defying explicit cautions from President Joe Biden against such actions without a viable plan to safeguard Palestinian civilians. This development has sparked concerns within the administration and among congressional Democrats, who fear President Biden's appeals may be disregarded, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the United States on the global stage. Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed frustration over the situation, noting, "Time and again, President Biden calls upon the Netanyahu government to take certain actions, and for the most part, time and again, Netanyahu ignores the president of the United States." As Israel edges closer to initiating an incursion into Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, the Biden administration has set a March 24 deadline for Israel to provide assurances that its use of American weapons complies with international law. The U.S. has contemplated various responses, including the potential withholding or delay of military sales to Israel, signaling a shift in the longstanding alliance between the two nations. Top U.S. officials have yet to receive concrete plans from Israel regarding the proposed military operation in Rafah, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval. The U.S. has advised Israel against a large-scale military operation, recommending smaller, targeted counterterrorism missions instead. The National Security Council emphasized the importance of prioritizing civilian protection, stating, "We have been clear about the need to prioritize civilian protection." This stance comes as Netanyahu's government deepens ties with other U.S. adversaries and seeks new sources of military hardware. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's recent call for new elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu has added another layer of complexity to the U.S.-Israel relationship. President Biden described Schumer's speech as "good," underscoring the shared sentiments among many Americans regarding the situation. The potential Israeli offensive in Rafah has drawn widespread criticism from international actors, including the United States and the Netherlands. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for a clear and implementable plan from Israel that ensures civilian safety, while the Dutch foreign minister, Hanke Slot, called for Israel to refrain from such an offensive, citing concerns over a humanitarian catastrophe. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Jagan Chapagain, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, describing it as "beyond catastrophic." The healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, and civilians face unprecedented levels of suffering. Amid these developments, the arrival of the first aid vessel in Gaza, operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms, marks a potential opening for more assistance via maritime corridors. However, humanitarian organizations continue to advocate for the opening of more land border crossings to facilitate the efficient delivery of aid to the region. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, with the actions of the Israeli government and the response of the U.S. administration poised to shape the future of the region and the nature of U.S.-Israel relations. The Election Commission's (EC's) poll schedule for the 2024 General Elections, announced on Saturday, will last six days longer than its 2019 schedule. The number of actual polling days was seven in 2019 and remains the same for the 2024 polls. However, at 81 days, from the EC's announcing of the schedule today to counting votes on June 4, the 2024 polls will last six more days than the 2019 polls. The EC announced the 2019 polls on March 10 and counted the votes on May 23, a span of 75 days (inclusive of both days). In 2014, the entire process, with the poll dates announced on March 5 and counting on May 16, spanned 73 days. For the 2024 polls, the EC will hold single-phase elections in 22 states and UTs (Union territories), just as in 2019. Watch: Lok Sabha elections 2024 dates, full schedule phase wise Just as in 2019, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal will vote in each of the seven phases. ALSO READ: Lok Sabha elections: Polling to be held in 7 phases, result on June 4 The poll schedule from five years ago differs in that the EC will hold polling in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in five phases in 2024. In 2019, when Ladakh was part of the state, the EC conducted the elections in J&K in four phases. The other departure from five years ago is the EC's conduct of elections in Maharashtra. In 2019, the EC conducted the polls for Maharashtra's 48 seats in four phases. In 2024, the state will witness a five-phased election. In the context of the ethnic violence in Manipur, the EC will conduct the polling in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat over two phases, on May 19 and 26. Polling for the Inner Manipur seat will take place in one phase on May 19. Of the country's more significant urban centres, the seats in Mumbai will have their polling on May 20, Delhi on May 25, Kolkata on June 1, Chennai on April 19 and Bangalore on May 26. The General Election to elect the 18th Lok Sabha will take place over seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4, the EC announced on Saturday. It also announced the polling dates for elections to the legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. The EC announced dates for bypolls to 26 assembly seats across 13 seats, including six seats in the Himachal Pradesh assembly, because the six sitting Congress legislators who voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections on February 27 were disqualified. ALSO READ: General Election 2024: Here's what it will take to elect 18th Lok Sabha Of the 26, the EC announced polling for the Karnal assembly seat in Haryana, which has fallen vacant with the resignation of former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. These 26 assembly seats will go to the polls alongside the polling for the respective Lok Sabha seats they fall within. The elections to the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly will take place later, and not with the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference in the national capital. Six of the seven phases of polling will be held either at the end of the week or on a Monday. The elections will be held on April 19 and 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1. Four of the seven phases are scheduled at the end of a week April 19 and 26 are Fridays, and May 25 and June 1 are Saturdays. Two of the phases fall on Mondays May 13 and 20. The third phase, on May 7, is on a Tuesday. The CEC urged people to exercise their vote and not go on leave. Last year, for the Karnataka Assembly polls, the EC had scheduled the polling day in the middle of the week, on May 10, 2023, a Wednesday, to ensure a better turnout in the urban areas. The voter turnout in the urban areas of Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, remained poor. The EC has taken steps with its campaign of 'no voter to be left behind' to increase voter turnout, which was 67.4 per cent in 2019, a marginal increase over 2014's 66.44 per cent. In 2014, the counting of votes took place on May 16, with the new council of ministers taking the oath of office on May 26. In 2019, the counting of votes was on May 23, and the council of ministers took the oath of office on May 30. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the full budget for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha on July 5. However, the PM indicated at the last meeting of his council of ministers that the full Budget for FY 24-25 could be tabled in June. The total electorate, as of January 1, 2024, is 968.8 million, compared to 911.9 million in 2019. Of the 968.8 million voters, 497 million are men and 471 million are women. Over 18.4 million electors are in the 18-19 years age group, constituting 1.89 per cent of total electors. Of the total first-time voters, 8.53 million are women. Kumar said the gender ratio of the electoral rolls has improved to 948 from 928 in 2019, and 12 states/UTs have an elector gender ratio better than 1000. There are 197.4 million voters in the age group of 20 to 29. ALSO READ: Model Code of Conduct kicks in as election schedule announced: What is it? The number of electors enrolled as 'third gender' is 48,044, up from 39075 five years back. According to the EC, 118,439 overseas electors have been enrolled in the current electoral rolls. There were 99,844 overseas electors in 2019. The EC said there are 1,908,194 service electors on the electoral rolls. In 2019, the number of service electors was 1,800,388, an increase of 107,806. As of March 10, as many as 8,187,999 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 218,442 electors above 100 years on the electoral rolls. The EC said there has been a 1.19 per cent increase in the number of polling stations in the last five years, which will number 1,048,202 in 2024. There will be 5.5 million electronic voting machines used. The 2024 Lok Sabha polls will have a revised ceiling for election expenses. According to the revised ceilings, which were revised in 2022, the maximum limit of election expenses for a Lok Sabha constituency is Rs 95 lakh per candidate for all states except Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim. For these three States, it is Rs 75 lakh per candidate. For UTs, the maximum limit for Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir is Rs 95 lakh per candidate and Rs 75 lakh per candidate for other UTs. In Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the limit of expenses for assembly Constituencies is Rs 40 lakh per candidate, and in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, it is Rs 28 lakh per candidate. The CEC said there had been an "exponential increase" in seizures in the assembly elections held in 2022-23 compared to 2017-18. In Rajasthan, Rs 704 crore of seizures took place in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly polls, an increase of 951 per cent over 2018. Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and other states witnessed similar increases in seizures. India has slammed Pakistan and described it as a broken record that remains stagnant while the world progresses after Islamabad's envoy here made references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Citizenship Amendment Act during remarks to the UN General Assembly. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said this while responding to comments made by Pakistan's Ambassador Munir Akram during the plenary meeting on Friday where the resolution Measures to combat Islamophobia', introduced by Pakistan, was adopted by the 193-member UN General Assembly. "One final point concerns a delegation (and its remarks) that, much like a broken record, remains sadly stagnant while the world progresses, she said. Akram made references to the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as well as to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Kamboj said it is unfortunate indeed to witness this delegation's limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so, when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership perhaps not the forte of this delegation. Kamboj delivered a statement in explanation of India's position during the adoption of the resolution on 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' at the UNGA. The General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 115 nations voting in favour, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the UK. Asserting that Maldives is not a small nation, President Mohamed Muizzu has said that the steps taken by his government to ensure the Indian Ocean island nation's security on its own should not concern any "external parties". The pro-China Maldivian leader's comments came days after the first batch of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter gifted by India left the island nation after Muizzu stepped up his anti-India rhetoric. Muizzu had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 military personnel from the island nation soon after he assumed office in November last year. India has agreed to replace the military personnel with civilians and continue the operations of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided to the country for humanitarian and medical evacuation services. Muizzu's latest comments came while while speaking at a ceremony to launch the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a press release by the President's Office said on Friday. Asserting that Maldives isn't a small nation, Muizzu said the country is capable of monitoring its jurisdiction. "Maldives is an independent and sovereign nation and that surveillance of the Maldives' jurisdiction should not concern any external parties," he said, without naming any country. He "affirmed the importance of the Maldives navigating its course towards self-reliance and remaining an independent and sovereign nation in every aspect," the press release said. Muizzu said that Maldives' independence and sovereignty "must be in the common interest of the entire populace, despite varying ideologies". He added that this would not impede the Maldives' close relations with all countries. Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, has affirmed that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present inside his country after May 10. He rode to power last year on an anti-India stance, and within hours of taking oath, demanded India to remove its personnel from the strategically located archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Muizzu announced new initiatives to strengthen the Maldives' military capabilities at the ceremony. An initiative to mobilise resources to recondition neglected military resources and bring them up to a standard for military use and public service was launched, the press release said. Meanwhile, Maldivian defence minister Ghassan Maumoon said that the launch of the Maldives National Defence Force Air Corps has shocked enemies and friends. Ghassan said the role of defence forces and the strategies of war have changed in the modern world, adding that armies are now dependent on technology and tactics are used to reduce risk to lives. "It is a sophisticated technology platform used in developed countries in the world. At the same time, it is a weapon with firepower that can take defensive manoeuvres to defend the country's sovereignty while focusing on surveillance and search and rescue," he was quoted as saying by Adhdhu.com, a news portal. Ghassan said the tide of war has changed in the world resulting in decreasing attempts to invade or occupy another country. However, he claimed that powerful countries now try to influence the sovereignty of other countries. "By openly saying that we have the right to live in an independent and sovereign Maldives and by openly saying that Maldivians have the right to stand on their own feet, working with courage to quickly upgrade the ranks of the Maldivian military and the goal achieved through that has shocked enemies and friends," he said. The Chief of Defence Force Lt. Gen. Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef said that the military capabilities of the MNDF have greatly increased with the launch of the MNDF Air Corps and the use of drones. In the 4000 years of independent Maldives, today is a historic day as the Air Corps has been inaugurated for the first time to defend the country by air, conduct search operations and assist fishermen and vessels in maritime incidents," he said. At least 20 people have been confirmed dead in a devastating Russian missile strike that ravaged the Ukrainian city of Odesa, leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction, CNN reported. Scores more have been injured in the attack, marking the deadliest assault on the Black Sea port city since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion, CNN reported. The harrowing ordeal unfolded early Friday morning (local time) when a Russian missile, aimed at civilian infrastructure, tore through Odesa's urban fabric. The initial strike caused chaos and carnage, claiming the lives of innocent civilians and injuring many others. However, the horror didn't end there. In a sinister turn of events, emergency service personnel, rushing to aid the victims, found themselves ensnared in a second strike - a tactic ominously referred to as a "double tap," a cruel hallmark of Russia's tactics in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a CNN report. "This is the first time a double attack has happened in Odesa region," remarked Maryna Averina, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service in Odesa, conveying the shock and disbelief at the unprecedented escalation of violence. "First responders arrived at the site of the strike and immediately began to extinguish the fire, clearing the rubble and searching for victims. And then there was a second missile strike," Averina recounted, underscoring the ruthlessness of the assailants. Tragically, the second strike claimed the lives of eight rescuers, including Denys Kolesnikov, a 25-year-old firefighter whose selfless dedication cost him his life. The strikes occurred against the backdrop of Russia's orchestrated presidential elections, where President Vladimir Putin seeks an extended tenure in power. The timing underscores the callous disregard for human life exhibited by the perpetrators, as reported by CNN. As the toll of casualties continues to rise, with at least 73 people reported injured, including emergency service personnel, the resilience of Odesa's inhabitants shines through amidst the devastation. Maria Slisovska, a local resident who witnessed the horror firsthand, recounted the terrifying moments as the missiles struck. "At first our windows were still intact. Then about five minutes later there was a second blast. The ceilings were damaged... And then there was a strike after the paramedics arrived. The guys were dead. There were people covered in blood. We are now clearing the glass," Slisovska shared, her words painting a vivid picture of the chaos and despair gripping the city. In a televised address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a "despicable act of cowardice," vowing a resolute response against the perpetrators. "Our Defence Forces will do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response," Zelenskyy declared, his words resonating with a nation reeling from the horrors of war. Amidst the grief and anguish, condolences poured in from across the globe, with Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko extending sympathies to the bereaved families and Denise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, condemning the heinous attack. Odesa, a strategic hub for Ukraine's grain exports and naval operations, has endured relentless assaults in recent months, exacerbating the suffering of its resilient populace. The brazen attack serves as a stark reminder of the grim reality of war, as world leaders grapple with the escalating crisis in Ukraine. Last week's close call, where a missile struck perilously close to President Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, underscores the precariousness of the situation. In the aftermath of the strike, Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international support, emphasising the urgent need for enhanced air defences to protect civilian populations, CNN reported. Chinese firm donates equipment to support Ghanaian hospital's efforts to treat diabetes Xinhua) 14:00, March 16, 2024 ACCRA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical company on Thursday donated an assortment of medical equipment to the LEKMA Hospital in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to support its efforts to treat complications caused by diabetes. Weigao Medical Ghana Limited donated ultra-modern equipment to enable the hospital to set up a center to treat diabetic foot and chronic wounds mainly caused by diabetes. Akua Gyimah-Asante, medical superintendent of the hospital, who received the equipment on behalf of the hospital, lauded the Chinese company for its thoughtfulness in seeking to bring relief to the patients who seek treatment at the hospital. Gyimah-Asante said treatment for diabetes wounds is quite challenging, so the equipment and support from the Chinese medical company would go a long way in helping the hospital develop capacity in that area. "The donation of these (pieces of) equipment will help us build capacity in their use and also give us some skills and knowledge in wound management," she added. Gyimah-Asante also expressed gratitude to the 12th batch of the China medical team based in the hospital for their efforts to organize this donation and their immense contributions toward overall improved outcomes at the hospital. "Their overall performance has been outstanding. I would like to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to them for their hard work, commitment, and dedication," she said. The medical team, consisting of 11 Chinese medical specialists in various fields from osteology to ophthalmology, was dispatched by Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital in south China last March. Donating the equipment on behalf of the Chinese company, Qu Hongying, the director of the Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, said the medical team treated more than 10,000 local patients over the past year and established close bonds with locals. "We look forward to more exchanges and cooperation with the LEKMA Hospital in the future to help it improve its medical services," Qu added. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) Justice Smith stars as Aren and David Alan Grier stars as Roger in writer/director Kobi Libiis 'The American Society of Magical Negroes.'. Focus Features/Courtesy of Focus Features Here are the major films opening in theaters and on streaming this week. 'The American Society of Magical Negroes' In this satiric comedy-drama, a young man (Justice Smith) finds himself recruited into an organization of Black people whose entire existence is devoted to making the lives of whites easier. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. Mark Wahlberg as Michael in 'Arthur The King.' Carlos Rodriguez/Carlos Rodriguez/Lionsgate 'Arthur the King' An adventure racer (Mark Wahlberg) discovers a stray dog is his best partner in a big, make-or-break race. Simu Liu co-stars. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday throughout Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Bastar' Hindi-language action/war drama from India set during the early 20th century's Bastar rebellion in Chattisgarh. Unrated. Opens Friday at AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond, Cinemark Katy, Katy. Celebrating 21 Savage Birthday in Underground Atlanta on October 23, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia during Freaknik. Photo by Prince Williams/Wireima/WireImage 'Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told' Advertisement Article continues below this ad Documentary chronicles the birth and death of Freaknik, the Atlanta HBCU-based street party that became a massive, controversial annual event. Unrated. Begins streaming March 21 on Hulu. 'French Cancan' The 1955 classic comedy-musical from French filmmaker Jean Renoir about a washerwoman who becomes a star at the Moulin Rouge. Unrated. Screens at 7 p.m. Friday at 14 Pews, Houston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Irish Wish' Lindsay Lohan and Jane Seymour star in this romantic-comedy in which the boyfriend of a woman named Maddie gets engaged to her best friend. Maddie then decides to be her friend's bridesmaid. Rated TV-G. Begins streaming Friday on Netflix. 'Jatt Nuu Chudail Takri' Punjabi-language romantic-comedy from India. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unrated. Opens Friday at Cinemark Memorial City, Houston; Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond. 'Knox Goes Away' Michael Keaton directs and stars in this drama which a contract killer is dealing with encroaching dementia as well as trying to his estranged adult son. Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. This image released by A24 shows Katy OBrian in a scene from "Love Lies Bleeding." Anna Kooris/Associated Press 'Love Lies Bleeding' Rose Glass, director of the acclaimed "Saint Maud," returns with a drama about female bodybuilders starring Kristen Stewart, Dave Franco and Anna Baryshnikov. Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'Lucia' 1968 Cuban film that traces the lives of three women named Lucia from the Cuban war for independence to the 1960s. Unrated. Screens 7 p.m. Saturday at 14 Pews, Houston. 'One Life' Biographical historical drama about Nicholas Winton, a stock broker in London during WWII who rescued several hundred children fro Czechoslovakia. Anthony Hopkins, Lena Olin and Johnny Flynn star. Rated PG. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'Pastor's Kid' Marketed as a "Christina art house" film, this drama is about a young woman wrestling with faith, abuse and religious hypocrisy. Rated R. Opens Friday at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land. 'The Prank' Rita Moreno is receiving kudos for her performance as a teacher in this comedic-thriller in which students falsely accuse her of murder on social media. Rated R. Opens Friday at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston. 'Premalu' Romantic comedy from India about a guy trying to decide between two girlfriends. Unrated. Opens Friday at Cinemark Missouri City, Missouri City. Regina King as Shirley Chisholm in 'Shirley.'. Glen Wilson/Netflix 'Shirley' Regina King takes on the role of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress who also ran for president in 1972. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday at iPic; begin streaming March 22 on Netflix. 'Snack Shack' Comedy set in the '90s about two friends who run the snack bar at the local swimming pool. Rated R. Opens Friday throughout Houston. 'Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour' The concert film comes to streaming. Rated PG-13. Begins streaming March 14 on Disney+. 'Uproar' This New Zealand comedy stars Julian Dennison who made a big impression in the cult hit "Hunt for the Wilderpeople." This time around, he's a Maori high school student in 1981 dealing with bullying as the country is convulsed by the tour of the apartheid-era South African rugby team. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday at AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; AMC Katy 20, Katy. 'Yodha' Hindi-language action-thriller from India about an off-duty soldier who has to defeat hijackers on a flight and somehow save passengers after the engines fail. Busy guy., Unrated. Opens Friday throughout Houston. Timex Group India Timex Group India Ltd designs (TGIL), manufactures, and markets innovative timepieces, and is part of Timex Group which is a privately held company headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut with multiple operating units and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As one of the leading watch brands in India, TGIL has a vast range of licensed brands like Guess, Guess Collection, Versace, Philip Plein, Plein Sport, and Nautica. It retails via 5000 offline trade stores and key online portals and marketplaces. TGIL currently operates over 40 exclusive franchise stores with the premium watch retail brand Just Watches and under the brand name Timex World. HCC nursing students Dolly Caballero, seated, and Krystal Dickerson work in a training lab in this 2004 Hearst Media file photo." Buster Dean/Houston Chronicle HCC nursing students Richard Kimmel, left, and Natoya Frederick work in a training lab in this 2004 Hearst Media file photo." Buster Dean/Houston Chronicle The Houston Community College HCC Main building in midtown, shown in this file photo. HCC shuttered its associate's degree program for students working to become registered nurses in December, following several years of substandard passing rates on the professions licensure exam. Mark Mulligan, Staff / Houston Chronicle The Houston Community College System plans to reopen its associates degree program for students working to become registered nurses after a closure prompted by several years of substandard passing rates on the professions licensure exam. HCC has made some leadership changes since the program shuttered in late December, including placing a new administrator in charge of Coleman College, which housed the degree. No new students can enroll as the school revamps the associates degree, although its 76 current students can complete their studies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad College officials confirmed that they will reapply for state accreditation in 2025, following a mandatory year of reassessment and internal fixes. Our goal is to come back stronger, HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said in a news release. These changes will strengthen HCCs ability to grow our healthcare programs and connect with healthcare organizations both locally and across the region. They demonstrate our commitment to excellence and reassures the community that we are actively engaged in promoting the success of the institution and those whom we serve. Nursing programs need approval from the Texas Board of Nursing to operate in the state, and first-year test-takers of the National Council Licensure Examination-RN must obtain 80% passing rates for their programs to remain in good standing with the accreditation agency. Sanctions occur each year programs fail to hit the mark, with withdrawal of a program occurring after the fourth year. The associates degree program voluntarily closed once it became clear that its students would not meet an 80% first-time passing rate on the exam once again, according to documents provided by the board. Rates had plummeted in recent years, starting at 93% in 2018 and dropping to 77% in 2020 the same year that the school saw an influx in associates degree in nursing candidates taking the exam, according to board data. The rates then dropped further, to 56% in 2021 and to 49% in 2022. The board placed the program on a conditionally approved status last year and hasnt accepted new students since that time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nursing accreditation is separate from institutional accreditation, with state nursing authorities that generally give the programs the OK to operate, said Larry Schall, president of the New England Commission of Higher Education. And some programs have additional accreditation from national organizations, although HCC did not. Most schools officials dont worry about the process and view it as an opportunity to assess what they are doing well, Schall said. Accreditation, whether its institutional accreditation or program accreditation, is sort of a badge of quality, he said. The standards are designed to be basic, said Steve Sheeley, a higher education consultant and former senior vice president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an institutional accreditor. But he compared the process to HVAC maintenance repairs are easier and cheaper if the owner is on top of it, and it gets harder once they fall behind. Theyre not particularly onerous, Sheeley said. They can be if the organization gets caught up in other things and stops paying attention. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Closures stemming from accreditation issues, especially in health care, can ensure quality for the general public, he said. Honestly, we would all like our health care professionals to meet minimum standards, Sheeley said. Its too important for somebody whos dealing with life-and-death matters. An HCC internal report submitted to the state nursing board in 2021 identified some factors that may have contributed to the drops in passing rates. Among them were changes in an admission process that limited faculty input on the selection of students, as well as faculty and staff employment not accommodating student enrollment. Student grading policies needed further expansion, and faculty and staff needed to work toward consistency in program planning, testing practices and new faculty orientation, according to a 2023 board document. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The programs closure comes after 45 years of operations. HCC announced several changes afterward, including shifting Norma Perez, the schools Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Instructional Services, to serve as interim administrator in charge of Coleman College. Former college President Phillip Nicotera will now serve as special assistant to the chancellor to focus on long-term goals, according to a news release. Tyrone P. Sharp, program director since August 2019, will remain in his position. HCCs vocational nursing program also remains in full standing with the Texas Board of Nursing. Ford Fisher, the HCC systems chancellor, said that the associates program will work in the next year to strengthen its curriculum alignment with the licensure exam. The decision was a difficult one, HCC officials said, as the state is amid a crisis-level nursing shortage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Modified On Mar 19, 2024 11:04 PM By Ansh for Ford Endeavour If the full-size Ford SUV were to return, heres how it (in its Australian spec) compares to its age-old Toyota rival There is a lot of active speculation around the return of the Ford Endeavour to India, thanks to certain patent filings and spy shots. While there is no official comment to add some legitimacy to the rumours, there is certainly a lot of interest around the full-size American SUV. If we assume that the Ford Endeavour might actually come back, it would be resuming its rivalry with Indias top-selling big SUV, the Toyota Fortuner. Lets see how the current generation of the SUV, known in international markets as the Ford Everest, compares to the Toyota model: Size Dimensions Ford Endeavour Toyota Fortuner Difference Length 4,914 mm 4,795 mm + 119 mm Width 2,207 mm 1,855 mm + 352 mm Height 1,842 mm 1,835 mm + 7 mm Wheelbase 2,900 mm 2,745 mm + 155 mm Ground Clearance 230 mm 220 mm + 10 mm * Dimensions of Australian-spec Ford Everest have been taken The Ford Endeavour is ahead of the Fortuner in all parameters. It is larger, taller, wider and has more ground clearance as well. This not only gives it an edge when it comes to off-roading, but being longer and wider also allows it to have more room inside the cabin, making it slightly more spacious. Powertrain Options Specifications Ford Endeavour Toyota Fortuner Engine 2-litre Bi-turbo diesel 3-litre V6 turbo diesel 2.7-litre petrol 2.8-litre diesel Power 209 PS 250 PS 166 PS 204 PS Torque 500 Nm 600 Nm 245 Nm 500 Nm Transmission 10-speed AT 10-speed AT 5-speed MT 6-speed MT/ 6-speed AT Drivetrain RWD/4WD 4WD RWD RWD/4WD In the Australian market, the Endeavour (Everest) is available with two diesel engine options, both paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. A four-wheel-drive (4WD) setup is available with both the engines. The smaller engine matches the Fortuners diesel unit in performance, while the bigger V6 Ford diesel engine has an extra 46 PS and 100 Nm to offer. Also Read: Tesla India Launch Timeline Accelerates With New EV Policy For Reduced Import Tariffs The Toyota Fortuner on the other hand gets the choice of both petrol and diesel engines with both manual and automatic transmissions, but it only gets a 4WD setup with its diesel engine. In other international markets, Ford does offer the Endeavour (Everest) with turbo-petrol engines too, but Indian buyers would likely not be as interested in those options. Hence, we have not mentioned those engine options here. Features In terms of features, the 2024 Endeavour (Australia-spec) is far ahead of the current India-spec Fortuner. It gets a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 12.4-inch digital drivers display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone charger, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, 10-way power adjustable driver seat with memory function, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 12-speaker B&O sound system. As for the Fortuner, it only gets an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control, 11-speaker JBL sound system, and ventilated front seats. It misses out on features like a fully digital drivers display, heated front seats, wireless connectivity, and a sunroof. Also Read: Lexus LM Launched In India, Prices Start From Rs 2 Crore One thing to note is that the last iteration of Ford Endeavour in India was also well equipped and had features better than the Fortuner, like a powered tailgate, 8-way powered driver and front passenger seats, active noise cancellation, and a panoramic sunroof. Safety Even in passenger safety, the Endeavour (Australia-spec) takes the lead. It comes with 9 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all passengers, dynamic stability control (DSC), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), auto headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera. It also gets ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, and park assist. The Toyota Fortuner in India comes with 7 airbags, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control, brake assist, and hill assist. It misses out on a 360-degree camera and does not get any ADAS features. Price Ex-showroom Price Ford Endeavour (converted from AUD to INR) Toyota Fortuner Rs 29.4 lakh to Rs 43.27 lakh Rs 33.43 lakh to Rs 51.44 lakh The prices mentioned above are for the Australian-spec Ford Everest and if it is launched in India, it will be more expensive due to the import taxes. Even if Ford went to the lengths of restarting Indian operations for local assembly, there would be added costs passed on to buyers. However, to stay in the competition, Ford will have to price the Endeavour in the same ballpark as the Fortuner, i.e., around Rs 50 lakh (ex-showroom). Also Read: Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 Dates Revealed Would you be interested in seeing the Ford Endeavour return to India? What do you think would be the ideal engine option and price point? Let us know in the comments. Read More on : Toyota Fortuner on road price Los Angeles real-time vfx studio Beyond-FX has been acquired by Singapore-based video gaming giant Virtuos, which is looking to expand its portfolio to include real-time vfx, an increasingly sought-after skillset that demands a blend of artistry and technical finesse. Beyond was founded in 2015 by Keith Guerrette, who will continue to lead the studio as general manager. Guerrette is an artist-executive whose vfx credits include work on blockbuster games such as The Last of Us and Uncharted. He is also the founder of realtimevfx.com, an online community where vfx artists exchange ideas and advice. In a release, Guerrette said: Well continue delivering groundbreaking work and fostering exceptional relationships with clients around the world, leveraging Virtuos global expertise and network of talented studios. Whats even more exciting is our shared vision with Virtuos of shaping the future of co-development in gaming. In collaboration with Virtuos passionate teams, Beyond-FX will help define a new industry standard focused on providing quality services through strong partnerships, efficiency through flexible collaboration, and the creation of great games by pushing the artistic boundaries of whats possible in game engines. The L.A.-based outfit currently employs 39 real-time vfx professionals. The company has done vfx work for more than 100 video games, including Legends of Runeterra: Empires of the Ascended (pictured at top) Mortal Kombat 1, Valorant, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, God of War, and Rocket League. Launched in 2004, Virtuos is one of the worlds largest independent video game developers and operates offices in Asia, North America, and Europe. The company employs more than 3,700 full-time workers globally and has worked on more than 1,500 games, including AAA franchises such as Tomb Raider, Horizon, Halo, Ratchet and Clank, Devil May Cry, Demons Souls, and Call of Duty. Virtuos North American regional director said: Keith and his team are undisputedly passionate about their craft and like us, are heavily invested in education and developing new technologies. Together with Beyond-FX, our teams at Counterpunch, and Virtuos Montreal, we look forward to expanding and deepening the services we offer to our valued partners in North America, our largest market to date. We expect to see more games industry deals like the Beyond acquisition in the near future, as real-time vfx becomes a larger part of game development. In a Linkedin article published last year, accomplished animation, live-action, and video game vfx artists Dushyant Kashyap went into great detail to explain the increasing importance of vfx in the video games industry: 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. Blaize Benson reacts after his steer was named grand champion during the Junior Market Steer Selection at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Blaize Benson reacts after his steer was named grand champion during the Junior Market Steer Selection at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Madelyn Schickedanz reacts after her steer was named reserve grand champion during the Junior Market Steer Selection at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Blaize Benson reacts after his steer was named grand champion during the Junior Market Steer Selection at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Blaize Benson reacts after his steer was named grand champion during the Junior Market Steer Selection at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Stadium, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Although he had been competing since he was in the 3rd grade, 15-year-old Blaize Benson said he couldn't help but feel really nervous as he showed his steer, Woozy, to a packed NRG Stadium Friday night. "I try not to think about that stuff," Benson, of San Angelo, said. "Because that's where mistakes happen." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Benson's worries would disappear after the Simmental steer was named the 2024 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Grand Champion Junior Market Steer. It had been six years since he showed at RodeoHouston a family effort that would pay off. As Benson exited the stadium floor achieving what he set out to do for the evening he was embraced by his father, who said showing cattle is a "family deal." "It's not all shining moments," said father Bryan Benson, fighting back tears. "There's a lot of stressful moments. But that's life. And you grow up and can't explain it. It somehow is in your blood and you love it ... we go out everyday and we go out to the barn. And we talk about life, talk about the cattle. And that's what we're doing. We have this project to make them better. But in this project, those animals actually make us better and closer." Just like his son, Bryan Benson had worked closely with his father showing cattle, said mom Chelsie Benson. "It's a family effort," she said, sharing the same emotions as her husband. "He works really hard. My husband works really hard. We all just kind of pick up pieces and we have a lot of people that help us, too." Advertisement Article continues below this ad For Blaize Benson, it's like a dream come true for Woozy to be named the winner. "I've dreamed of this ever since I touched my first show calf," he said. Last year, a pure white Charolais cross steer by the name of "King" was named the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Grand Champion Junior Market Steer. King was showed by then-17-year-old Stiles Patin. Madelyn Schickedanz, 18, also got to finish her final year on a strong note after her steer "TJ" was named the Reserve Grand Champion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It feels incredible," the Perryton resident said. "She puts in a lot of hard work," said her father, Jason Schickedanz. "She loves this industry. She loves showing cattle. That's what she wants to do. When she graduates, she wants to go to veterinary school and specialize in show cattle genetics." The cattle are expected to be auctioned off on Saturday. In 2022, the winning steer, "Vanilla Ice," broke RodeoHouston records by selling for $1 million. Money earned will go toward the winners' college fund as well as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund. The Lantern memory care wing at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton Assisted Living and Memory Care has limited apartments available and often has a waiting list.Officials said, "The need for memory care and dementia care services across the United States has been growing. According to the Alzheimers Associations 2023 annual Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures report, there is a projected increase in Alzheimers cases of 16.7 percent in Tennessee between 2020 and 2025."With the increase in dementia comes a greater need for clinical care and support for families of individuals facing a recent diagnosis.The demand has grown for secure and dementia-friendly residences where these individuals can find coordinated care tailored for their stage of disease, as well as meaningful interactions and activities suited to their needs, interests and abilities."For all these reasons, the Morning Pointe of East Hamilton campus is about to expand the local Alzheimers and dementia care options, adding a new, free-standing Alzheimers/memory care community next door to the current building, which will transition to assisted living only. Together, the campus will offer a continuum of care for seniors with varying needs."Expected to open in early 2025, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimers Center of Excellence at East Hamilton is located at 1775 Generations Way in Ooltewah, just off East Brainerd Road by the new Publix Super Market at the Shops at Enclave.The Lantern will be a single-level building with 60 apartments. It will encompass two levels of care under one roof Lamplight for early stages of Alzheimers and other dementias, and Lantern for the more advanced stages. Residents can engage at a level of activity and care that provides the right amount of mental stimulation without being either underchallenged or overwhelmed. Care staff will be specially trained on the different stages of Alzheimers anddementia and how to care for each residents needs with compassion and comfort.Memory care programming will include the Best Friends Approach, Teepa Snows Positive Approach to Care, Meaningful Day purposeful programming, music therapy, art therapy and cuddle therapy. There will also be a strong focus on clinical care with physical and occupational therapies, life enrichment and wellness offerings and intergenerational activities.In addition, residents will benefit from Morning Pointes Farm to Table program with local, farm-fresh andseasonal ingredients.The Lantern will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m. Several local dignitaries and Alzheimers representatives will celebrate the role The Lantern will play in serving the memory care needs of the greater community. Speakers will include Morning Pointe Senior Living Co-founders Greg A. Vital (president of the company) and Franklin Farrow (CEO), as well as Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Hamilton County Commissioner Chair for District 10 Jeff Eversole, Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander, Tennessee StateRepresentative for District 30 Esther Helton and Manager of Programs and Education for the Alzheimers Association Amy French.In addition, the East Hamilton High School Choir will provide the opening song, and the schools JROTC will lead out in a flag ceremony and pledge of allegiance.We are seeing an increased need for memory care services and support in our country and in our state, and now is the right time to expand our East Hamilton campus to rise to meet that need, said Mr. Vital. We are looking forward to serving more families right here in the greater Chattanooga area and supporting them on their journey with Alzheimers and dementia. An officer told members of the Jasmine Pace family who had been carrying out their own investigation of their missing daughter, "You've done some great stuff, but we're on it," according to body cam video played in court on Friday. It turned out that the 22-year-old Ms. Pace had been stabbed 60 times and her body stuffed into a suitcase that was dumped along Suck Creek Road. Jason Chen, her boyfriend at the time, is charged with her killing. However, the defense is seeking to get Chen off by saying much of the evidence should be thrown out, including that collected by the family when they broke into Chen's apartment at Frazier and Tremont several different times. The family said they carried out their own investigation when on call missing persons investigator Samansela Blount would not come out after the victim's car was located by the family at the parking lot of the Signal View Apartments. Officer McKenzie Pierre, who responded to the Mountain Creek Road location, told the family that he would notify the missing persons detective, but they might not come out at the early hour. The body cam video showed him utter an expletive when he saw who was on duty that night. He then muted the audio on the body cam. He said that was commonly done, though it was not according to protocol. He said of the missing persons investigator, "I just don't enjoy talking to her, period." Officer Pierre then returned to the family with the audio still muted, and he said he told them the missing persons detective would not be coming out. The family then proceeded to the Chen apartment, where they got in several times, allegedly knocking and the door swung open and also using a credit card to slip into the key area. On the subsequent occasions, after they had conferred with officers in the hallway and the police left, they took some of Chen's electronic equipment with them. Catrina Pace had told Officer Pierre that, several days after she could not reach her daughter on the phone, she had gone to Verizon and they agreed to put her information on a different phone. That enabled her to access her My Chevy app and locate her Chevrolet Equinox. Pace family members told police that Jasmine had no ties to Mountain Creek Road and it was an odd place for her car to be left. Using the phone, Ms. Pace found that Jasmine had talked to Chen for 71 minutes on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, prior to leaving home at 11:27 p.m. and arriving at his apartment at 110 Tremont St. at 11:43 p.m. She said Jasmine met Chen online in May of 2022 and had taken a trip to Chicago with him, but the family had never met him. Not long after arriving at Tremont, Jasmine's phone went silent, and her banking account and social media accounts were changed out, Ms. Pace said. She said Jasmine never turned off her phone and always stayed in close contact with them. She said she called Chen and he told her he had not talked with Jasmine for some time, though the phone records said differently. Ms. Pace said some messages began coming from Jasmine's phone, including one saying she was leaving for a week with a girlfriend to go to South Carolina. Ms. Pace said the girlfriend, who was from Kentucky, denied any such trip. A "pornographic" photo of Jasmine was posted on her Facebook page. Family members said it was a picture from much earlier. They said Jasmine was very modest and would never have posted the photo. Ms. Pace said just after Jasmine's car was found, she noticed that early on Wednesday morning Jasmine had sent her a "pin" giving her location at the Chen apartment building. Told an investigator would not be coming out that night, the Pace family arranged to have Jasmine's car towed to their residence. Her father, Travis Pace, said they were careful not to go inside of the vehicle. The group of them also headed out to 110 Tremont to see if Jasmine was there. They were able to get security to provide them video of Jasmine arriving at the Tremont parking garage. The Pace sleuths earlier had gathered security footage from the Signal View Apartments. According to the body cam videos played in court, they began knocking on doors in the early morning asking if anyone knew Chen. They found a resident in a stairwell who said Chen parked next to him, but lived on the second floor. The family said they knocked on unit 212 and a couple there invited them all in. The couple said early Wednesday morning they heard the cry of a female in distress coming from Chen's 210 apartment next door. They said it lasted about 10 seconds and was so notable that the man wrote down the exact time - 2:15 a.m. Ms. Pace told patrol officers that the time of the scream was three minutes before the "pin" was sent to her by Jasmine. The next door neighbor also said, "We sat here for 30 seconds debating whether we should call somebody. In hindsight, we should have." The man said they were constantly bothered by loud music from the Chen apartment. He said they went on a trip that Friday morning and, when they returned, there was not a sound coming from the apartment. Several of the Paces then went into the Chen apartment, where they immediately noticed Jasmine's driver's license and credit cards on a table near the front door. Ms. Pace told arriving officers that she had been getting messages from various individuals saying that Chen had been in trouble at UTC where he was a student and claims that he had been fired from two jobs for alleged identity theft. Arriving officers at Tremont were told by another officer, "You need to make sure that they are not digging around in that dude's apartment." Two of the officers then made a three-minute search of the apartment, not finding anyone. One of the arriving officers said he noted that Jasmine's father seemed to be getting exasperated concerning police help, so he pulled him aside to "listen to his side of the story." The patrol officer told Travis Pace, "I can't imagine the lengths I would go to if it was my daughter." The officer told the Pace family, "It was phenomenal that you were able to track them down here." He said, "Kudos to you." Travis Pace on the body cam told the patrol officers that an investigator was needed to check out several things in the case, including talking with two individuals who had gotten messages from Jasmine's phone and helping examine Jasmine's car. Jarrod Justice, who was the officer in charge of the call, told the family, "You've done some great stuff, but we're on it." He also recommended the family consider hiring a private detective. He agreed to again try to contact investigator Blount, though he said, "I'm pretty sure I know what she's going to say." He said, "I can't mandate that she come. I can't make her." Officer Justice called his sergeant, who suggested that they have the dispatcher wake investigator Blount up on the Thanksgiving weekend early morning. The dispatcher told Officer Justice that the missing persons investigator was awaiting his call. He called, told her about the case, and she declined to come out. As the three patrol officers were leaving 110 Tremont one said, "There's a lot of weird stuff going on here. There's no question it's suspicious." Officer Justice said he wrote up a report, which was to be transferred to missing persons. But he said the next day he found the matter had been shifted to the homicide division. The letter writer argues life was simpler when we had a common enemy to unite us. wildpixel/Getty Images/iStockphoto No common enemy Regarding Disastrous: A shaken Texas House prepares for rightward shift after record GOP primary upsets, (March 7): Life was simpler when we had the Soviet Union to kick around. And we never knew how good we had it. For almost 50 years we could direct all of our ire toward the Soviets and communism. Everything that was wrong with the world could somehow be tracked to the greatest evil in the world: the Soviet Union. And we spent all our energy, time and money focused on how to eliminate it. We lost our focus when the Berlin Wall fell. The one thing we could all agree on was gone. We no longer had our common bad guy. And weve not been able to find another ultimate baddie outside our borders. Unfortunately, our political leaders have now substituted the other team as someone for us to belittle, to fear, to hate. Now all of the worlds wrongs are the fault of the radical Liberals, the ultra-conservatives, the Democraps and the Re-puke-licans. They tell us about it every minute of every hour of every day. If it worked in Nazi Germany, why wouldnt it work here? Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unfortunately these new villains, those people who are now ruining our lives, live next door and down the street rather than on the far side of the world. Sure, its really easy to point at them as the source of all our problems but it makes life here a mess. And its going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. History tells us that. Gene Fisseler, Houston Brave dissidents Regarding Pussy Riot founder: Putin, fascinating? No. Hes boring. Boring! (Opinion), (March 8): Not in a long time have I been as touched by an op-ed in the Chronicle as I have been by Nadya Tolokonnikovas. I share her same disbelief and frustration with how very visible Americans in politics and the media deem putin (I take her lead in not capitalizing the p) a worthy subject of admiration. The world just witnessed the agonizing death of Alexei Navalny, who was imprisoned because he sought to challenge putins dictatorship. He was a citizen who fought to keep alive the dream of a Russia where the people had an equal voice in their government. Whether conservative or liberal, no American should countenance the cruel and unjust way that putin treats his opponents. I support her plea to the press and television media to focus on the stories of the courageous Russians who continue to fight against dictatorship, risking imprisonment and death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Politics is a rough game all over the world. The recent results in the Texas primaries are good examples. But imagine if our governor and lieutenant governor, with the help of the attorney general, made sure those lawmakers who opposed their agenda were imprisoned, exiled to the bug-and-snake-infested swamps of East Texas, and left there to perish. Even though I am horrified by many of the results of our primaries, I recognize that Texans actually chose to vote for these people over more capable candidates. When bad things happen in those districts, they have only themselves to blame. Fortunately, there still exist many courageous legislators who will continue to oppose the heavy-handed agendas of this states governor and his allies. Like the brave Russian dissidents spoken of in Tolokonnikovas op-ed, we need to hear more about them. Alice Lively, Houston Abbotts hypocrisy Regarding Gov. Greg Abbott calls for 'consequences' for 264,000 suspended Houston police cases, (March 8): Yet again extreme irony raises its ugly head via Gov. Greg Abbotts outrage over the suspending of police investigations by Houston Police Department. The governor specifically cites thousands of sexual assault victims when calling for imposing consequences for the lapse by law enforcement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Is this not the same governor who signed into law a ban on abortion without exception for rape or incest and who, when questioned about the adverse impact of the law upon those victims, vowed to eliminate rape in the state of Texas? Cue the law-and-order cohort, largely the same folks who sport Blue Lives Matter bumper stickers in response to demands for police reform, to use this unacceptable situation as political fodder to blame our blue city for failure to keep citizens safe. Dianne Pasquali, Houston Other options Regarding Jasmine needed an abortion. She called us. (Opinion), (March 10): Jasmine, who needed an abortion, had several options never mentioned in the article by the abortion advocate. She could have had her baby and placed it into the arms of an infertile couple who would love and cherish it. Some months previously she could have used birth control, or abstained from unprotected sex, and avoided the whole issue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sometimes a woman, facing health issues or fetal anomaly, really has no choice, but for women like Jasmine, I believe there are always choices. Harry E. Ward, 94, passed away on March 14, 2024. He was born to the late Harry and Myrtle (Billings) Ward, October 11, 1929. Harry served in the United States Marines during the Korean War and received the Korean Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. In his past time he loved writing poems and fishing. Harry was a character who made everyone he met laugh and brightened everyones day. He worked for many years for Ohio Steel Foundry as a cutter-grinder. In his retired years he volunteered in his church community and helped when and where he was needed. Harry will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Harry was preceded in death by his parents, his late wives, Anna Marie (Lucchesi) Ward and Mary Lou (Agin) Ward, son, Michael E. Ward, brothers, Richard H. Ward and Harmer L. Ward, sisters, Marcella Klinger, Carolyn Keith and Mary Ward. He is survived by his daughters, Jean A. Salyers, Vickie (Larry) Lott and Rosie (Jim Fair) Wells and Jawn (Jim) Hale, sons, Jim (Tami) Ward and Dave (Brandy) Ward, 16 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. A special thank you to Soddy Daisy Health Care for all they did for Dad. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Hassan Cemetery in Ohio. Arrangements entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 531-3975 "Demand for retail centers at attractive cap rates with leasing upside is as strong as ever as evidenced by this closing our 10th shopping center sale this year, said Zach Taylor. Mr. Taylor, senior managing director in Marcus & Millichaps Atlanta office, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a Tennessee-based developer. Jody McKibben, Marcus & Millichaps Broker of Record in Tennessee, assisted in closing the transaction. Brainerd Market Center is located at 480 Greenway Drive, situated between Interstate-75 and Road 64, which sees approximately 160,000 vehicles per day. As one of the busiest shopping centers within a five-mile radius with more than 1.5 million annual visits, the property is currently 80% occupied with a mix of national, regional, and local tenants, with the average tenant tenure of 14 years. The property is adjacent to East Gate Town Center and accompanying retail and business parks, which total two million square feet of retail and office space and are only two miles from Chattanooga Airport. The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday presented its Technology Strategic Plan for Tennessees judicial system. The plan, developed by the Court System Information Technology Oversight Committee, outlines the design and implementation of a unified technology strategy for Tennessees judicial system. Technology is essential to providing Tennesseans with the court system they need and deserve, said Chief Justice Holly Kirby. Bravo to the Technology Oversight Committee for its thorough and thoughtful work. We look forward to partnering with the Governor and the General Assembly to move the judicial branch of our State forward. The Committee, headed by Justice Sarah Campbell, has included a variety of stakeholders and participants in Tennessees judicial system to provide meaningful input on both the challenges and opportunities technology presents. It is the Committees hope that the plan will launch Tennessees judicial system into a new technological era--one in which the effective and efficient use of technology will improve access to justice, enhance court operations, and increase public trust and confidence in the judiciary, said Justice Campbell. Specifically, the Technology Strategic Plan lists the following goals for Tennessees judicial system: Design, implement, and sustain a unified technology strategy Build understanding and trust among user groups and other stakeholders Establish a data strategy Establish minimum technology standards Deploy scalable technology solutions to promote justice and increase confidence Moving forward, the Committee will work collaboratively with the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to collect detailed information from stakeholders as concrete action steps are developed for each goal. To ensure trust and confidence in the court system continues, we must avail ourselves of the advances in technology that make our courts more accessible and transparent, said AOC Director Michelle Long. Adopting new technology and modernizing the court system will serve all who depend on the efficiency and effectiveness of our court system. The Committee was established in June 2023 by the Tennessee Supreme Court and includes general sessions judges, trial judges, appellate judges, and court clerks, as well as the Director and Chief Technology Officer of the AOC. The Technology Strategic Plan is the culmination of careful deliberation, research, and in-the-trenches experiences in courtrooms and clerks offices across the state. To read more about the plan and view the list of Committee Members click here. McDonald Farm has time and time again harbored historic events. In light of the current efforts to preserve McDonald Farm, what better time than now to spread awareness of its historic value. With a nagging urge to scream the stories that echo throughout Sale Creek from the ridgelines into Chattanooga. Today is the day that I succumb, starting with the day its corn rows filled with anticipation, as the noise of empty canteens clattered against bayonets and belt buckles. With the Federal Armys tails tucked in a full retreat following the devastating defeat at Chickamauga. Confederate General Braxton Bragg failed to seize the opportunity to pursue the Army of the Cumberland into the Tennessee River Valley. Allowing General Rosecrans to immediately assume command of the Chattanooga fortifications, previously made by Bragg. The southern forces then get intelligence that the boys in blue only had enough rations to stretch a week. So instead of making a ballsy charge into the weakened federal forces, Bragg chose to enact the siege of Chattanooga, taking up positions along the outskirts of the city (Lookout Mountain, Orchard Knob, Missionary Ridge). Against the recommendations of fellow commanders such as James Longstreet, who saw an opportunity to rid the volunteer state of its federal chokehold by eliminating the Army of the Cumberland before reinforcements arrived. Bragg wasnt one for such maneuvers, but recognized the need to sever the Unions trickle of supplies coming through Waldens Ridge. The plan was to send Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler with the combined forces of his bitter rival Nathan Bedford Forrest across the Tennessee river to hinder communications and ultimately halt the federal operations of Sequatchie Valley. On Sept. 30, 1863, Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, along with his subordinates Col. John Scott, Col. George Hodge, Brig. Gen. Davison, and 4,000 God fearing men crossed the Tennessee River, bound for Waldens Ridge. Two days later, the butternut brigade traveled into Sequatchie Valley within a few miles of McDonald Farm along one of the Graysville/Dayton Mountain roads. By this time the Federal Army had learned of General Wheelers river crossing and immediately gave orders to increase patrols and send reinforcements to Andersons Crossroads, in the event of an engagement involving the Union supply chain. Shortly after, Brigadier George Crook, along with Col. Edward McCook were in pursuit. At this time, conditions in Chattanooga couldnt be much worse. The supply trickle mainly consisted of provisions, even though they needed much more. If you had any food at all, it was the equivalent of one quarter ration. Diseases were ravaging the army, having nothing to eat, nothing to cover up with, and boots that looked more like sandals; it took a toll on ones immune system. To add to Rosecrans skeleton soldiers, it was estimated that the army didnt have enough munitions to fight for more than three days. So the imminent threat of Wheeler's Cavalry proved to be rather high on the list of things to worry about. At 3 a.m. on Oct. 3, Wheeler and his Cavalry depart from the crest of Waldens Ridge for the six-mile ride into battle. Lighting the dark valley floor with their .36 caliber colts, a rude awakening for any Billy Yank. The raid was a success, signaled by the crippling sounds of exploding munition wagons, a firework display that marked the beginning of darker days for Chattanooga. The destruction of their only supply chain sparked a fire underneath the command of the Army of the Cumberland. Holding on to Chattanooga was starting to look like a lost cause to many, including General Rosecrans. While he investigated evacuation plans, others were searching for alternatives. With plenty of supply less wagons to go around, a plan was devised, a twist on the scorched-earth strategy that involved much less... scorching. The idea was to wring northern Hamilton County of all its resources, eyes were now set upon the northern river valley. Soldiers who had previously encountered the lush crops of Sale Creek farmers like the McDonald Clan, were now calling on their memory to serve as a compass for their empty stomachs. Alexander Jones, who was leasing 40 acres from James McDonald, recalled the day Col. Robert Minty added his name to the list of high-ranking federal soldiers that saw Sale Creek to be a fit home. In a claim to the US government in 1872, Mr. Jones told the tale of when his livelihood was ripped away from him. Col. Minty came upon McDonald Farm, as he did to many Sale Creek homesteads. Awoken by the clamoring of men, Alexander came to see his livestock slaughtered and skeletons (resembling Union Soldiers) throwing his bounty of corn, hay, and oats into wagons. This uprooted the Jones household, as he owed Mr. McDonald one third of his corn as rent. According to Alexander, Col. Mintys command were encamped on the place in which I lived. The soldiers left the landscape bare, nothing but one sheep to tie the family over. As Minty settled in, detachments from many brigades flooded into Sale Creek. Laying claim to everything the land had to offer. Leaving McDonald Farm with little, and Sale Creek with less. The community was now as starved as Chattanooga. Just as Rosecrans was gearing toward an evacuation order, supplies arrived. Not from a train, not from D.C, but from Sale Creek. From the labor of the McDonald Clan and its community, names such as Gray, Coulter, Elsea, Jones, Patterson, and Spivey. All saviors of the Federal position in Chattanooga. These supplies gave D.C time to replace the deluded General Rosecrans with someone more capable. Preventing the Confederate capture of one of the largest rail hubs in the south. A testimony from James E. Johnson of the 5th Tenn Infantry to Mr. Elsea, regarding the seizure of his livelihood on McDonald Farm. First week of October 1863. The federal army at Chattanooga depended on the north side of the river for supplies and I understood that Rosecrans was compelled to evacuate Chattanooga but for the supplies we attained. A testimony from Lewis Coleman of the 3rd Tenn Infantry to the estate of Mr. Gray, regarding the seizure of his property down the road from McDonald Farm. The regiment to which I belonged to, arrived in Chattanooga just after the Battle of Chickamauga, and I knew that the army was in _____ a ________ condition. The rebels had cut off our supplies. The rebels occupied Lookout Mountain and communications were cut off with the Army. For several days we had scarcely anything to eat, I heard officers in Chattanooga frequently remark that if it had not been for the Tennessee River Valley, Chattanooga would have had to been evacuated, but that the supplies from the north side of the river (Sale Creek) spared Chattanooga from evacuation. There are countless stories like this that permeate the property. Little events with large influence scattered throughout history. We can all take something from these stories, let them resonate with aspects of our lives. After all, this is American heritage, this is Tennessee heritage, this is your heritage. Mason Montague Eslinger McDonald Family descendant Hamilton Countys first chief operating officer, David Roddy, spoke to the Civitan Club on Friday. Instead of giving a prepared talk, he fielded questions from the audience, who asked about immigration, the slow but steady legalization of marijuana, and how county partnerships can help overcome barriers to employment. Mr. Roddy retired from the Chattanooga Police Department after serving 26 years, his last four as chief of police. He served as a consultant to the Wamp administration from 2022 but was named to his new role in August 2023, my 2.0 life, he said. The countys Health Department, Public Works and General Services report to Mr. Roddy. He aims to streamline and simplify these county operations, including highways, real property, emergency management and alternative courts, among other things. As the legalization of marijuana expands, Mr. Roddy said, enforcement of driving under the influence of the drug gets complicated. Each Delta 8, Delta 9 and THC compound is absorbed by the body differently, and faster or slower depending on the method of ingestion, he said. All traces leave the body faster than those of alcohol, he said, meaning marijuana wont register in the blood test of someone who causes a wreck while high. Were nowhere near there, he said, of being able to enforce legal consumption of marijuana. The curve is also financial, he said. A police friend in Canada said legalization of marijuana there rendered obsolete overnight all canine units. Dogs dont differentiate between drugs, they just indicate that one on a long list is present. Police may be searching for a legal drug, which violates a persons right against unreasonable searches and seizures, he said. He said U.S. governments can learn from foreign ones who have already legalized, but the process is long and compounded by different justice systems. We need science. We need examples. We need precedent, Mr. Roddy said. One member of the audience asked if Chattanoogans would be notified if plane loads of immigrants were arriving at the airport from U.S. border towns. Another said he assumes Chattanooga has a proportionate number of migrants for a city its size but that he doesnt ever see them. Mr. Roddy didnt answer those two questions, but he did point out that one cannot recognize migrants by sight. Do we want to talk about things I can step out here and find in 10 minutes? he said, listing crime, poor living conditions, economic instability. What can you see? he asked. He said local programs do well caring for migrants. Theres a ton of support here, he said. They are supported regardless of what their status is. Thats how we treat each other as humans. Mr. Roddy said Hamilton County is nearing 2,000 nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 status, a high number which stretches thin the areas volunteers, grants, donations and other resources. All of that reaches a ceiling, he said. Were trying to eat an elephant as ants. People with disabilities, language barriers, low income, drug or jail history may all need transportation, but they may not need five nonprofits to get it, he said. As chief operating officer, Mr. Roddy said he wants to cultivate nonprofits that deal with specific needs, no matter the reason, he said. Line people up to work on barriers regardless of genesis, he said. A Georgia state senator from Dade County has been perpetually banned from the state House floor and anteroom after disparaging remarks he made about the late House Speaker David Ralston. While other legislators were praising Speaker Ralston and unveiling his portrait, Senator Colton Moore said, "This body is about to memorialize, in my opinion, one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders that we are ever going to see in my lifetime." House Speaker Jon Burns responded by saying the 53rd District senator would be forever banned from going on the House floor. Speaker Burns said Senator Moore had "impugned the integrity of our dear friend, and we all know that his remarks are not true." Senator Moore was the only nay vote against naming a building at the University of North Georgia in honor of Speaker Ralston. Senator Moore and a group of other legislators earlier were critical of Speaker Ralston, a defense attorney, for using "legislative leave" some 900 times to delay court cases. Senator Moore told the Rome Tribune that he stands by his remarks and said he has no reason to go on the House side of the Capitol. Senator Moore, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, is currently up for re-election. Angela Pence of Chickamauga is also running in the Republican primary. 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 In 2009, a NASA researcher named Mark Kozubal had been leading a team of scientists tasked with the challenge of studying the extreme environment of Yellowstone National Park. The park is known for its steam vents and hot springs filled with harsh, acidic water. If the scientists could find life in such an inhospitable area, the research could be crucial for space missions. Kozubal encountered microbes thriving in the water of a hot spring. He immediately scooped up a sample and sent it to the laboratory for further examination. It wasnt the first time a microbe had been found at Yellowstone. In 1966, scientists found a bug that was tolerant of the heat. It was called Thermus aquaticus and became the basis for PCR tests. Initially, Kozubal believed that the microbe he discovered could become a new biodiesel source. However, at the time, gas was cheap in the United States, so it wouldve been difficult to compete with that. Since the microbe came from the fungus family, Thomas Jones, former president of a packaging company, suggested they create food from it. They launched the Chicago-based food company Natures Fynd in May 2018. It took them 18 months before they could generate a product that actually resembled food. During the process, they worked with the microbe Fusarium str. Yellowstone and invented a technique called liquid-air surface fermentation that helped them replicate how the organism behaved in nature. Kozubal and Jonas placed a cell of the fungus in water and fed it with sugar to make it grow. It multiplied within a few hours, and they sped up the process with a bioreactor. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. This 35-year-old mans wife, 33, inherited significant money from her dads large estate after he passed away. During the conversation about the inheritance, she explained that the money could only go to blood relatives. Because of this stipulation, only his wife and their two kids (a 13-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son) were allowed money from the inheritance. He and his family live in North Dakota, and he earns $52,000 per year in property management. Unfortunately, he despises his job because he has to drive everywhere to speak with angry tenants. His boss is cheap, so tenants often experience problems in their apartments. He is the one to whom tenants vent their grievances, and its exhausting. His wifes job is in accounts payable, and she earns $32,000 per year. She also cant stand her job because theres no room for advancement. Plus, her work is dull. However, his wife wanted to prove to her father that she was a responsible adult, so she stayed in her position over the years. When his wifes father passed away, she inherited a five-bedroom home in a different state, and she wouldnt have to pay a mortgage on it. The house is in an extremely high-cost city, close to a private college. The majority of the students who attend this school attended private high schools on the East Coast. His wife began renting each of the bedrooms to college students, earning about $6,000 per month. The rest of her inheritance is locked in a trust paying $15,000 monthly. Living in North Dakota, the approximately $252,000 she gets is more than enough to live well. However, I feel my wife has been unfair with how shes handled the money, he said. Immediately after his wife started earning money from renting out the house she inherited, she rented a BMW. Then, she stopped cooking meals at home and began ordering food daily. Since he has high cholesterol, he cant eat food from many of the places she orders from, and she doesnt usually keep enough leftovers for him, anyway. While he acknowledged that the inheritance money is only meant for his wife and their children, its upsetting that when hes made more money than his wife, he didnt spend irresponsibly, but his wife does. She hoards all her new money. She puts her inheritance disbursements and rent income into accounts under her name, and meanwhile, our day job incomes kept going into joint bank accounts. That would make sense, but then she quit her job out of the blue last week, he explained. Last week, his wife told him she looked at her 50-year-old boss and realized she didnt have the energy to continue working until she was in her 50s like her boss. She hoped to spend time on her photography hobby, but she didnt plan to make money doing it. Then, his wife resigned from her position. He believes she resigned because she earned over $250,000 by doing little work. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Now that the House of Representatives voted to pass the bill that bans TikTok, the decision has moved on to the Senate. As the bill is taking its final steps to become law, TikTok continues to call on its users to fight against the ban. TikTok Asks Users for Help Again Legislators are so close to achieving their ultimate goal, and that is to ban TikTok in the US. The Senate is now the last obstacle to jump through before that happens, especially since US President Joe Biden already said that he would sign the bill into law. With the turnout, TikTok is once again rallying support from its users. US users received another in-app message, saying that they can use their voice to protect the community they love. This time, it is a more direct approach. As shown by Engadget, The notification now comes with a call button, one that will ask the users their zip code so that they may contact the Senator in their state. "Tell you Senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban. #KeepTikTok." Just above the call button, the messages also said that the vote of the House of Representatives impacts 170 million Americans, and that if the Senate votes "the future of creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down." This already comes as the second message that asks users to protest against the ban. Before the House even signed the bill, TikTok pushed a notification with a lengthier message, asking users to help the company stop the looming ban. TikTok may already be in trouble for sending out the messages that pull users to their side. Lawmakers accused the company of interfering with the process since it resulted in Congressional offices being overwhelmed with calls. The amount of effort that the company is making to prevent the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" is likely more about protecting the business, given what the company will face when the bill does become law. Read Also: TikTok Ban and the US Government: A Case of Restrictions, State Control, and Espionage Fears TikTok's Choices When the Ban Bill is Passed There's an option for TikTok to avoid being banned, but it won't exactly be easy for both parties. The US government said that the only way TikTok could continue its operations in the US was if at least the US portion of the company was divested. This solves the security concern over a China-based company handling US user data. However, there are a lot of problems that could arise with the sale. For one, TikTok is already a very popular app, which means that its valuation is already tens of billions of dollars. Other than the sale, it's also not clear how much of TikTok would be sold off. If it's only the US business, then the complication might be with how the app will communicate with the other parts of the company, all of which will still be under ByteDance. Related: TikTok's Divestiture Could Face Difficulties if the Ban Bill is Passed Into Law This woman has 15 years of experience working with kids in a variety of different places. Shes worked with kids in schools, in daycares, and in homes. Shes held roles as a respite worker, an in-home behavior technician, a teachers assistant, a camp counselor, and a substitute teacher. To be fair, shes happy that in this day and age, society has a heightened awareness of mental health issues as well as neurodivergent behaviors. But that being said, she has watched as things have spiraled out of control along with this. What she means is that shes tired of seeing moms and dads blame their bad parenting on their children having ADHD. I have seen children as young as 4 on mood stabilizers. I have seen [bad] parenting be excused because of ADHD, she explained. The amount of excuses, denial, and enabling behavior is too high! People blame iPad kids, but parents are just as bad on their devices. I have been at the park and kids desperately trying to get their parents attention, and they are slushy zombie scrolling. I know mental health problems exist, but to what extent are we just making [awful] humans because of low involvement and [terrible] parenting? She thinks ADHD has just become a very convenient way for parents to bow out of actually having to parent. Shes sick of standing by and seeing parents use ADHD to their advantage instead of doing whats right for their children. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News DJ Black Coffee says near-death experience led him to Christ: 'A second chance' South African award-winning songwriter, DJ and record producer Nkosinathi Maphumulo has narrated his near-death experience in South America that contributed to his decision to follow Jesus. In an interview with Kaya FM presenter Thabo Mokwele, Maphumulo, who is better known by his stage name DJ Black Coffee, said that an airplane accident on his way to Argentina made him seriously rethink his life decisions. Black Coffee suffered multiple injuries after his plane made a hard landing in Uruguay on his way to Mar del Plata Airport in Argentina in mid-January. The DJ got a chartered flight from Brazil where he had performed in various clubs, but the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital. 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 put on my headphones and took a nap, but I was woken up by what seemed like a dream or nightmare. The plane was shaking extremely violently. I fell on the floor and I still had my headphones. There was a gospel song playing, and there was this song playing 'hallelujah, hallelujah' in a loop, and the loop kept getting higher and higher. It felt like a choir or these angels were singing to save me at that moment," said Black Coffee. He was rushed to hospital where he stayed for a week to recover from a five-hour surgery to correct his upper spinal cord. The accident and its aftermath changed Black Coffee's perspective on life and his destiny, he said. "I saw my life ending. I wasn't even praying to be alive, I was just praying to get to Heaven. I was like, 'Don't lock me out, God'. I don't want to be on the other side. I feel like I have been given a second chance," Black Coffee told Kaya FM. The incident, however significant, did not lead to an immediate repentance. Existential questions kept prodding in his heart and mind weeks after he was discharged from the hospital and back home in South Africa. He felt like something was missing despite the near-death experience, and he turned to Pastor Kabelo Mabalane for answers. If anyone had an idea of what Black Coffee was going through, it would be Pastor Mabalane, he said. The respected former musician has inspired and supported a number of artists that have turned to Jesus. Having left a life of stardom and addiction, Mabalane had his own Damascus-experience two decades ago and can relate with the nagging feeling of "having everything but feeling empty." "I felt like I needed to be prayed for. So I called Kabelo and I told him how I was feeling. He came to the house and he gave me a perspective of life and faith that I never knew existed," added Black Coffee, who invited his friend to the house to hear what Pastor Mabalane had to say. "After he shared a Scripture, he asked, 'Gentlemen, are you ready to receive Christ as your savior?'" he recounted. Black Coffee said his first reaction was to resist the invite because of the perception he had of believers. He told Mabalane: "Most of the people that say they are saved are mean people, judgmental and corrupt. I told him that I don't want to be in the shoes where people look at me and wait for me to fall. He told me, 'that's not how it works.'" The pastor then patiently explained the gift of salvation through faith and not works, emphasizing that Jesus had already paid the price of our sins. Mabalane emphasized that salvation is not for the perfect but a journey towards perfection through the help of God. "He told us that 'the first thing you need to do to walk this journey is to put Jesus in your heart' and that's when I accepted the call," said Black Coffee. Part of what convinced him to surrender to Christ was the feeling that despite having achieved his life goals award-winning artist, playing in the world's biggest music clubs and at festivals and acquiring fame and wealth he still felt there was something else that was missing. As a musician, he produced nine studio albums since 1994 and won several awards including 4 DJ awards and one Grammy Award. "I love challenges. I love starting something and excelling in it. I cannot wait to excel in this journey. It's going to take a while but I am embracing the journey. I know I am going to walk, fall, run, stumble but I want to keep walking right," he said. This article was originally published by Christian Daily International. Home News Cuba returns to hardline tactics as over 600 religious freedom violations tallied in 2023 The crackdown on religious freedom continues in Cuba following July 2021 protests as a new persecution watchdog report tallies 622 documented religious freedom violations in 2023 amid a return to "hardline tactics." The Caribbean island maintained a high level of incidents similar to the 657 cases reported in 2022 and maintained a significant increase from the 272 cases reported in 2021 by the United Kingdom-based organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide. CSW's March 2024 report titled "Repression and resistance a return to hardline tactics" highlights repressive legislation and systematic human rights violations that have impacted religious leaders and congregations across various faiths, including Afro-Cuban groups, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestants and Roman Catholics. 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 communist Cuban government, following the protests on July 11, 2021, intensified its repressive measures, targeting religious groups and leaders with increasingly harsh legislation. Both registered and unregistered religious associations are subjected to intrusive surveillance, repeated interrogations and threats aimed at stifling their religious activities. "The government continued to be particularly focused on targeting religious leaders and individuals who offered spiritual or material support to families of political prisoners," the report states. "Religious leaders and their congregations who attempted to respond to humanitarian needs, which have become increasingly acute in many parts of the island, were harassed, fined, and, in many cases, saw the aid they were attempting to distribute confiscated." Among the several rights violations highlighted in the report were religious leaders being threatened and pressured to expel family members of political prisoners from their congregations as part of a "policy of social isolation." Political prisoners were denied religious visits or the right to receive religious materials. Children were subjected to verbal abuse at school "because of their religious beliefs." Leaders of unregistered religious groups faced harassment, threats and fines. "Those considered by the government to be dissidents were repeatedly and systematically blocked from attending religious services, usually through short term arbitrary detention," the report adds. "The emigration wave showed no sign of diminishing, with many of those who left Cuba citing threats of imprisonment and loss of custody of their children to the State." The report says that religious leaders and congregations that offer support to families of political prisoners or engage in humanitarian efforts have encountered significant obstacles that have severely impacted their ability to serve the community's needs. Unregistered religious groups have borne the brunt of the government's tactics, facing regular harassment and threats of fines. "I told them that I belong to a Christian, not a counter-revolutionary church. I am a believer in God and a follower of Christ. I do not belong to a counter-revolutionary alliance, but an alliance-building unity among pastors who support one another in order to serve, with greater excellence, the Cuban island," an unnamed religious leader told CSW researchers. "I told them that they can do with me whatever they want, but I will not stop attending church. I will give the same treatment to Christians of any denomination, as I would to any citizen, communist or not. I told them that if they want to take away my rights for having provided services, or going to church, so be it." The government's strategy extends beyond mere repression, using social isolation and short-term arbitrary detention, which has led to a notable emigration wave as Cubans flee the island, citing threats of imprisonment and coercive measures against their families. The July 2021 protests marked a significant moment in the nation's recent history, as thousands of Cubans took to the streets in various cities to express their frustration with the government's handling of the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of political freedoms. Sparked by critical shortages of food, medicine and other essentials, along with prolonged power outages, the demonstrations were among the largest and most widespread on the island in decades. Protestors chanted slogans like "Freedom!" and "Down with the dictatorship!" facing strong responses from the government, which deployed police and military forces to quell the unrest. In Cuba, the government is the primary persecutor of Christians, viewing any potential rival to the Cuba Communist Party, including the Christian faith, as a threat, reports the watchdog Open Doors. Church leaders or believers who criticize human rights abuses or political corruption risk interrogation, arrest, smear campaigns and imprisonment. Churches must register to operate legally, but the government may deny or ignore these applications, forcing churches to function illicitly and risk closure or penalties like fines and property confiscation. Even registered churches face intense scrutiny and monitoring, with infiltration by regime sympathizers or state security agents. According to CSW, Cuba created a new government Department for Attention to Religious Institutions and Fraternal Groups in 2022. But religious leaders told CSW that most "business continues to be conducted by the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (CCP), which maintains a consistently antagonistic relationship with religious groups." While churches in Cuba can hold services, government tolerance can abruptly end if a leader or member is perceived as anti-government, according to Open Doors. Those leading unregistered churches or openly challenging the regime are especially vulnerable to persecution. Recommendations for the Cuban government include amending the constitution and legal frameworks to enhance protections for freedom of religion or belief, ratifying international human rights treaties and ceasing the harassment and threats against religious leaders and human rights advocates. CSW urged international bodies to monitor the situation closely, hold the Cuban government accountable for its actions and support the Cuban civil society and religious groups facing persecution. Cuba is listed by the U.S. State Department as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom. This list also includes some of the world's worst human rights abusers, including but not limited to China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea and Burma. In December, the World Council of Churches General Secretary Rev. Prof. Jerry Pillay met with Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel and praised Cuba's religious freedom, citing meetings with the Presbyterian Church in Cuba and other churches. His comments were criticized by religious freedom advocates, including Teo Babun, president and CEO of Outreach Aid to the Americas. "It troubles me that it seems your visit, apparently closely orchestrated by the Cuban government, has failed to provide you an accurate understanding of the state of the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief in Cuba," Babun wrote in a letter. "Worse, we are seeing that the Cuban government is using your visit, and specifically your statements celebrating religious freedom in Cuba, to bolster its absurd claim that Cubans do enjoy this fundamental freedom." Home News Parents fear 10-year-old kidnapped daughter sold to sex traffickers LAHORE, Pakistan The Christian parents of a 10-year-old girl in Pakistan who was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam last month fear she could be sold to sex traffickers, sources said. A month after Laiba Suhail was abducted from her home in Chak 233-RB Ikhlaq Town, Faisalabad District, Punjab Province on Feb. 12 by four non-Muslims at the behest of a Muslim, Shaukat Shah, officials have refused to prosecute, said her father, Suhail Masih. Shah is well-known in the area for forcibly converting children to Islam under duress, coercing them to file court statements that they willfully converted and later taking them from shelter homes on the pretext of giving them religious education, Masih said. 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 A court sent his daughter to a womens shelter at her request after police on Feb. 15 informed Masih that she had filed an application claiming she had converted to Islam. Masih said that he has learned that Shah has taken custody of her from the shelter. This is Shahs modus operandi, Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. No one knows what happens to his victims after they are handed to him. We fear that he and his accomplices are involved in sex trafficking, and they sell these minor girls when they see that the families are in no position to pursue the matter further in courts. He lamented that the Roshan Wala Police Station has not taken action to recover his daughter despite the familys registration of an abduction case against Shah. On Feb. 15, police informed us that an application had been filed by Laiba in the court of a magistrate in which she had claimed that she had converted to Islam of her own free will after being impressed with Islamic teachings, Masih said. We immediately went to the court where we saw our minor daughter surrounded by several policemen. We were not allowed to talk to her despite our repeated requests. The police later presented her before the magistrate where she reportedly repeated the contents of the application. She also sought to be sent to the Dar Ul Aman [womens shelter], which the magistrate admitted. Masih said that the family looked on helplessly as Shah and police took his daughter to the shelter. We could not do anything after Laibas statement before the court, which I believe was extracted under duress, he said. We were not given any opportunity to ask her under what circumstances she was forced to give this statement. Masih questioned how a 10-year-old girl could convert to Islam willingly when she did not even have basic education, let alone a religious one. It is a blatant lie that my daughter has changed her faith willingly, he said. Whatever little religious education she has is from the churchs Sunday school. She has had no interaction with Muslims, because she used to stay at home all day long to take care of me and her mother. Masih, a member of the Church of Pakistan, is crippled in both legs, and neither he nor his wife are able to work due to health problems, he said. Christian attorney Sumera Shafique told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that the impoverished family should immediately file a motion with the high court for the recovery of Laiba. The family has yet to find an attorney to help them. Laibas case is yet another example of how Sharia [Islamic law] is invoked to undermine the age of a minor, Shafique said. In her statement before the magistrate, the girl claimed that shes an adult, but her official birth document states her age is 10 years and two months. The attorney has recovered several Christian children who were victims of forced conversion and forced marriages, including Maira Shahbaz, who was kidnapped and forcibly converted in 2020. Shafique said she regretted that victim families, who are often illiterate and poor, are used by local activists for their own self-interests, which damages the cases and results in prolonged delays in recovery of abducted girls. The victim families should immediately seek legal help instead of turning to touts who are focused only on making money from their plight, she said. In this case, a month has passed, but the family has reportedly not been able to meet their daughter even once. A habeas corpus petition must be filed immediately in the Lahore High Court, she said. The child is hardly 10 years old, and I believe the high court will take her conversion matter very seriously, she said, adding that timely legal intervention could help save the girl from further sexual exploitation. Masih said four non-Muslims working for Shah Irfan Masih, Khurram Masih, Aneeqa Masih and Grace Masih abducted Laiba from his home around midnight while the family was asleep. After my daughters abduction, we came to know that this gang was also involved in several other incidents of abduction and forced conversions of minor Christian girls in Faisalabad, he said. They have managed to evade legal action due to the influence of Shaukat Shah, who is notorious for carrying out religious conversions of minor girls. The 55-year-old Christian said his oldest son, who is 25, is a daily wage laborer who is the sole breadwinner for the family. Laiba is the youngest of his three children and was born 12 years after his second child. I had to pull Laiba out of school early on because we were not able to afford her education due to our meagre financial resources, he said. Masih said he is determined to rescue his daughter at all costs. I appeal to the Christian leadership to step forward and help me in saving my minor daughter, he said. Shes just a child who has fallen victim to these predators masking themselves as religious leaders. 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. Home News Support for LGBT discriminaton protections, gay marriage declines amid a 'growing divide' Support for nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Americans and same-sex marriage has slipped compared to previous years, even as a new survey suggests the overwhelming majority of the American public remains supportive of both ideas. The Public Religion Research Institute released its 2023 American Values Atlas on Tuesday. The survey, which was conducted between March 9 and Dec. 7, 2023, was based on the responses of 22,465 adults in the United States. The margin of error was +/-0.82 percentage points. "Our survey shows that support for LGBTQ rights has dipped slightly from 2022 to 2023, although the vast majority of Americans continue to endorse anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans and the right of same-sex couples to marry," PRRI CEO Melissa Deckman said in a statement. 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 growing partisan divide on these issues show the effect of the continuous use of LGBTQ identity and LGBTQ rights as a wedge issue in our nation's culture wars." Overall, the survey measured support for "laws that would protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations, and housing" at 76% in 2023, dropping from the 80% recorded in 2022 but higher than the 71% measured in 2015. Based on partisan affiliation, support for nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Americans is highest among Democrats (89%), followed by independents (78%). The survey finds that most Republicans (59%) also support such protections. Support for such measures, as surveyed by PRRI, has decreased by 7 percentage points among Republicans from 2022 to 2023. In 2016, 61% of Republicans expressed support for LGBT nondiscrimination protections. Two-thirds (66%) of Republicans supported LGBT nondiscrimination protections in 2022. Support for such policies declined by 4 percentage points among independents in the last year, down from 82% in 2022. The survey also finds that opposition to "allowing small business owners to refuse service" to LGBT individuals "based on their religious beliefs" dropped 5 percentage points in the past year from 65% in 2022 to 60% in 2023. In 2015, 59% of Americans opposed what the survey described as "religiously based service refusals." Broken down by partisan affiliation, 82% of Democrats opposed allowing religious business owners to decline services to LGBT people in certain circumstances as did 60% of independents and 34% of Republicans. Measured at 59% in 2015, opposition to "religiously based service refusals" rose throughout the past decade to a high of 66% in 2021 before decreasing to 60% in 2023. Similarly, opposition to religious exemptions to LGBT nondiscrimination laws among Democrats registered at 74% in 2015, increasing to 86% in 2022. Opposition to "religiously based service refusals" has remained the minority opinion among Republicans, dropping from 40% in 2015. Additionally, support for same-sex marriage has dipped from 69% last year to 67% in 2023. Despite the drop compared to the previous year, the percentage of Americans who favor same-sex marriage is substantially higher than the 54% recorded in 2014. Most Democrats have consistently approved of same-sex marriage throughout the past decade, jumping from 65% in 2014. Same-sex marriage also received majority support from independents in both 2014 (54%) and 2023 (67%). Although support for same-sex marriage among Republicans has risen above the 35% measured in 2014, less than half of Republicans support allowing same-sex couples to marry in 2023 (47%). Views on LGBT-related issues differed based on religious denomination. Unitarians and Universalists expressed the highest level of support for LGBT nondiscrimination in 2023 (93%), followed by other Christian denominations (88%), the religiously unaffiliated (86%), Buddhists (83%), Jews (81%), other Catholics of Color (80%), adherents to other non-Christian religions (80%), Hispanic Catholics (78%), Mormons (78%), white mainline Protestants (77%), black Protestants (77%) and white Catholics (77%). Majorities of Hindus (74%), other Protestants of color (72%), orthodox Christians (69%), Hispanic Protestants (61%), white Evangelical Protestants (56%) and Muslims (56%) also favored LGBT nondiscrimination protections. Jehovah's Witnesses were the only denomination where less than half of adherents surveyed (40%) favored LGBT nondiscrimination laws. David Closson, the director of the Center for Biblical Worldview at the Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, responded to the findings in an interview with The Christian Post. "Whenever you look at a poll like this, you look at a survey, the way questions are asked are really important," he said. "And based on the way they've defined nondiscrimination laws as just protecting people ... I don't know many people, including Evangelical Christians, Bible-believing, Gospel-believing Christians, who would oppose it based on the way nondiscrimination is defined." Closson suggested that "if nondiscrimination were defined along the lines of legislation currently being proposed in Congress such as the Equality Act and the full implications of that were to be understood, it would be really, really different." The Equality Act proposes amending Title IV of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which governs the nondiscrimination provision regarding federal funds. Religious freedom advocacy groups have voiced concern about the bill's impact on religious institutions and Christian businesses that uphold traditional Christian teachings on sexuality and marriage. Closson said the Equality Act would force "Christian seminaries, Christian colleges and universities" to violate their deeply held beliefs on gender and sexuality. He also believes some support among Christians for nondiscrimination protections for LGBT individuals can be attributed to a lack of biblical worldview. Research conducted by his organization in conjunction with pollster George Barna found that only 6% of Christians have a biblical worldview based on responses to questions about their beliefs and practices. "We're in the middle of a kind of a moral sexual revolution right now that is gaining velocity it seems almost daily," Closson said. "With the decline in Americans who identify as Christian combined with the ... rise in those who are religiously unaffiliated, we are increasingly in a post-Christian world that doesn't understand basic doctrine, particularly Christian sexual ethics." The PRRI survey found that religious exemptions to nondiscrimination laws received majority opposition from Unitarians and Universalists (85%), Hindus (77%), the religiously unaffiliated (74%), other Catholics of Color (71%), Jews (71%), Hispanic Catholics (70%), black Protestants (68%), Buddhists (68%), other non-Christians (67%), Muslims (58%), white Catholics (57%), white mainline Protestants (57%) and Orthodox Christians (54%). Half of Hispanic Protestants (50%) opposed "religiously based service refusals." Meanwhile, less than half of other Protestants of color (49%), Jehovah's Witnesses (45%), Mormons (41%) and white Evangelical Protestants (30%) opposed such laws. Support for same-sex marriage was highest among the religiously unaffiliated (86%), Buddhists (82%), Jews (80%), other Catholics of color (75%), white mainline Protestants (74%), white Catholics (73%) and Hispanic Catholics (68%). Roughly half of black Protestants (52%) and half of other Protestants of color (50%) favored same-sex marriage, while less than half of Mormons (47%), Hispanic Protestants (44%), Muslims (40%), white Evangelical Protestants (37%) and Jehovah's Witnesses (18%) said the same. Home News United Methodist Church Council of Bishops calls for ceasefire in Gaza The United Methodist Church is calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, citing the humanitarian crisis that has hit the Gaza Strip since the conflict began last October. The UMC Council of Bishops released a statement Thursday calling for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza and pledge our prayers and commitment to work for a durable peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and all in the region. The ability of aid organizations to attend to the critical needs of the victims of this prolonged war has also been sharply limited by the lack of meaningful negotiations, stated the bishops. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe It is estimated that 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced, their homes and communities destroyed. The United Nations estimates that more than half a million people are living under catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation. The bishops contend that the current military strategy of the Israeli government, supported by U.S. weapons transfers and aid, will only lead to the destruction of the entire Gaza Strip, an unconscionable death toll that grows daily, the perpetuation of one of the worlds longest conflicts, and the proliferation of increased enmity between Israelis and Palestinians. The lack of a true cease-fire after more than five months of this deadly conflict compels us to raise our voices now, the UMC leaders added. We pledge our prayers and commitment to work for a durable peace, an end to the violence and the release of the hostages. On Oct. 7, the Islamic terrorist group Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 240 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza with the aim of eradicating Hamas and securing the release of the hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry states that over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The Gaza Health Ministry's figures don't distinguish between armed militants and unarmed civilians. While Hamas' death toll figures have been cited by media and advocates accusing Israel of genocidal actions, some commentators have expressed skepticism concerning the authenticity of figures provided by Hamas. In late February, Israel Defense Forces said at least 12,000 Hamas fighters have been killed since the war began. Israel has maintained throughout the war that its fighters do the best they can to avoid civilian casualties in a complex urban environment in which Hamas has been accused of using civilians as human shields. "Not only do official Palestinian death counts fail to differentiate soldiers from children, but Hamas also blames all deaths on Israel even if caused by Hamas own misfired rockets, accidental explosions, deliberate killings, or internal battles," wrote Abraham Wyner, a professor of statistics and data science at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in a recent piece for the Jewish news magazine Tablet. "One group of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health compared Hamas reports to data on UNRWA workers. They argued that because the death rates were approximately similar, Hamas numbers must not be inflated. But their argument relied on a crucial and unverified assumption: that UNRWA workers are not disproportionately more likely to be killed than the general population. That premise exploded when it was uncovered that a sizable fraction of UNRWA workers are affiliated with Hamas. Some were even exposed as having participated in the Oct. 7 massacre itself." The violence in Gaza has led many Christian denominations and organizations in the United States to call for a permanent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. Earlier this month, for example, the Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sent a letter to President Joe Biden imploring him to do everything in your power to bring an end to the current suffering and lay the foundation for lasting peace with justice. We mourn the loss of 1,200 precious lives in Israel on Oct. 7 by the actions of Hamas and the trauma for those 250 others who were taken hostage. We mourn the loss of over 30,000 precious lives in Gaza including tens of thousands of women and children who have died in Israels military action since then, the ELCA bishops stated. Too many have suffered. Too many lives have been lost. Strong U.S. leadership is needed to help bring a comprehensive permanent cease-fire, an end to the occupation and lasting peace. Others have argued that a ceasefire would benefit Hamas and other terrorist groups based in the Gaza Strip, who have not hidden their desire to destroy the nation of Israel. Last month, the United States vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that it would be counterproductive. The U.S. proposed its own draft ceasefire resolution to the U.N. Security Council calling for a "temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable based on the formula of all hostages being released, and calls for lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale." "Demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace. Instead, it could extend the fighting between Hamas and Israel," stated U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, as quoted by Reuters. In a background press call last week, a senior Biden administration official claimed that Hamas is holding up negotiations for a six-week ceasefire deal by refusing to release a certain number of vulnerable hostages. A senior Israeli defense official said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post last week that Hamas has been stealing aid supplies Israel and other countries have sent to Gaza and selling them for more than their worth on the black market. Home News Biden calls for end to discrimination after 'nonbinary' Nex Benedict's death ruled suicide 'Nonbinary and transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know' President Joe Biden issued an extensive statement Thursday calling for an end to discrimination following an autopsy report that found self-identified nonbinary 16-year-old Nex Benedict died by suicide. Benedict, a biologically female student at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma, made headlines last month after the White House and Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joined LGBT groups in drawing attention to her death on Feb. 8, which occurred a day after she claimed to have fought with three girls in the school bathroom. "Nex Benedict, a kid who just wanted to be accepted, should still be here with us today," Biden said in his statement. "Nonbinary and transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know. But nobody should have to be brave just to be themselves." 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, who noted that first lady Jill Biden was also "heartbroken" by Benedict's death, went on to say that in her memory, Americans should work to address the "suicide crisis impacting too many nonbinary and transgender children." "Bullying is hurtful and cruel, and no one should face the bullying that Nex did," he said. On Feb. 8, Benedict's grandmother Sue, who served as her legal guardian, called 911 reporting a head injury. In a police video at the hospital that was later released, Benedict claimed that she poured water on three girls in the bathroom after they made fun of her for the way she dressed. The next day, Benedict was rushed to the hospital, where she died. The Education Department subsequently announced on March 1 that it was investigating the school district for allegedly failing to respond to "sex-based harassment." An autopsy report released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office found that Benedict died by suicide via a toxic level of pharmaceutical drugs. "From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the result of suicide, Owasso Police Department Lt. Nick Boatman said. However, investigators did not wish to confirm that information without the final results being presented by the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office." Hundreds marched at the Oklahoma state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday in Benedict's honor, according to local ABC affiliate KOCO News. Oklahoma is among the states that prohibit trans procedures for minors and bans students from using bathrooms that don't align with their biological sex. Some politicians used Benedict's situation as a springboard to suggest that state laws segregating school bathrooms according to biological sex led to her death. "Nex Benedicts death from a brutal assault in their high school bathroom is outrageous and heartbreaking," former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted. "The anti-trans fervor fueled by extreme Republicans across the country is having deadly consequences for our children. We must stand up against anti-trans hate." Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also weighed in. "The killing of Nex Benedict is gut-wrenching and underscores the danger of extremists who are dehumanizing kids with anti-trans hate in Oklahoma and across the country," Warren tweeted. "Every student should feel safe at school and supported for who they are. Nex deserves justice." Home News Body of late-term baby found in pond, police search for mother: 'Deeply tragic situation' The body of a late-term unborn baby was found lifeless in a pond in a Virginia neighborhood earlier this week. A Loudoun County resident discovered the baby's body, and the police are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward. The Leesburg Public Information Office said emergency services arrived later at the scene, and the baby was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia for an autopsy. "This is a deeply tragic situation," Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat said. "We urge anyone with information to come forward, not just for the sake of the investigation, but also to ensure that those in need are provided appropriate medical attention and services." 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 Leesburg Police Department urged anyone with information about the case to come forward, promising to protect confidentiality and handle any tips with the utmost discretion. A spokesperson for the Leesburg Police Department told The Christian Post on Friday that authorities haven't yet identified the deceased baby's mother and had no further updates to share publicly. In response to this tragic case, Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy at Students for Life of America and its sister organization, Students for Life Action, highlighted the groups Standing With You initiative that helps connect pregnant women to free resources. While we don't know the details of this case, other than tragic headlines, we hope that mothers know about Safe Haven laws and other supportive services that exist to help pregnant and parenting mothers. No one needs to be alone in moments of crisis, Hamrick told CP on Friday. According to Virginias Safe Haven laws, a parent can surrender an infant who is 30 days old or younger at a designated Safe Haven location without the threat of criminal prosecution or civil liability. The designated Safe Haven locations in Virginia include a hospital that provides 24-hour emergency services, an Emergency Medical Services agency, or a newborn safety device operated by a hospital or EMS. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, named by Pope Francis as the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, encouraged prayer in response to the news of the deceased unborn baby. The bishop also cited resources such as the Gabriel Network and Catholic Charities, which offer assistance to pregnant women in need. It is with great sorrow that I learned today of the unsettling discovery of the body of an unborn baby described by police as a late-term fetus, found in a pond in Leesburg, Burbidge said in a Wednesday statement. The Diocese of Arlington has made it known that we are willing to assist with the proper burial and committal of the remains. I urge the faithful of the diocese and all people of goodwill to join me in prayer for the child's mother and for anyone involved in this incident, he added. Last year, three firemen with the Knoxville Fire Department recovered a baby from the state of Tennessees first safe haven baby box. The firefighters recovered the baby after midnight and called an ambulance to transport the infant to a nearby hospital. In an interview with CP, Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks of the Knoxville Fire Department said the states safe haven laws allow parents who might feel as if theyre in a crisis to ensure their child receives proper care. Our goal at the end of the day is to save lives, Wilbanks said. And we never want to be called out to a scene where there has been a child disposed of in a dumpster; thats hard to even think about or consider. But what you have to think about is the mom or dad was in a crisis situation and had nowhere to turn. Home Opinion Glenn Youngkin sabotages his GOP future with same-sex marriage support If Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) had his eyes on higher office, his decision Friday almost certainly put those dreams out of reach. To the shock of voters across the Commonwealth, Youngkin, who campaigned as a born-again Christian and spent many a Sunday in sanctuaries like Cornerstone Chapels, committed the ultimate betrayal signing a same-sex marriage bill that was not only completely unnecessary but a stinging rebuke of conservative values. The move, announced in a Friday afternoon news dump to avoid attention, was called symbolic by even LGBT activists since the Supreme Courts Obergefell ruling and Congresss Respect for Marriage Act already grant the rights supposedly reaffirmed here. Youngkins decision was even more astounding considering that hed already panned the need for such legislation two years ago. In Virginia, we actually do protect marriage, he told Face the Nation viewers in 2022. Thats the law in Virginia, and therefore, as governor of Virginia, we protect same-sex marriage. People had no reason to suspect that the governors opinions had changed, since as recently as last Wednesday, Youngkin hadnt taken a public position on the proposal. And yet, in what local reporters are calling a surprising twist, the homegrown governor inked his name to the law, which essentially says that marriage licenses must be given to any two people seeking a lawful marriage regardless of gender, race or sex and that Virginia will recognize such marriages as valid. 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 His office pathetically tried to explain away the move as a defense of religious freedom. The bill adds First Amendment protections to the code of Virginia, Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez claimed apparently forgetting that the First Amendment already applies to the state. Not to mention that one of its most famous residents, Thomas Jefferson, actually drafted the basis for that constitutional framework with his groundbreaking Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom a point of state pride that Youngkin has willingly undermined. While the governors staff cheered the bills conscience rights for pastors, it offers no such shield for bakers, photographers, teachers, web designers, adoption agencies, Christian schools, and so many others. A few throwaway sentences clarifying that ministers wont be forced to perform actual wedding ceremonies do nothing to resolve the hammer this legislation takes to everyday people. It doesnt protect the worker who doesnt want to be forced to celebrate LGBT Pride. Its not going to help the parent who says, I dont want my children indoctrinated with this radical curriculum. Thanks to Governor Younkin, anyone who believes in marriage as human history defines it is a sitting duck a prime target for persecution, marginalization, and even civil action. The most outrageous part of it all is that Youngkin had no reason to consider this proposal in the first place. He threw away his conservative credentials for what is ultimately a Democratic messaging bill. As most legal experts have already explained, the Virginia Constitution supersedes state laws like this one, and it ironically defines marriage as voters did in their 2006 amendment: as the union of a man and woman. This law doesnt change that. Its moot the second a Supreme Court decides to overturn Obergefell, which would reset every state to its constitution. The reality is, same-sex marriage is functionally happening in Virginia, Family Foundation President Victoria Cobb pointed out on Washington Watch Monday, not by the will of the people, but by a court decision. But this is really a bill that was [the Democrats] effort to codify same-sex marriage, to get it into our code so that it is written down somewhere. As for the so-called religious liberty components, theyre a fig leaf, she insisted. It excludes a whole host of everyday people who arent working in a church or clerks office. Worse, she adds, this law suggests that sex and gender are different, the fallout of which could be disastrous for girls sports, privacy, public bathrooms, and education. That has tremendous implications, Cobb warned. So what, exactly, was the point? Maybe Youngkin believed, as so many misguided Republicans have, that surrendering on marriage will somehow prove his tolerance. But as other party officials have learned too late thats a gross political miscalculation. Why? Because there is no winning with LGBT activists. Sure, therell be some public back-slapping and maybe a few days respite from the medias criticism, but a single capitulation will never be enough to satisfy an insatiable mob. At the end of the day, whatever Youngkin thinks hes gained from this treason is nothing compared to what hes lost with his base: trust. I voted for Glenn Youngkin, Family Research Councils Meg Kilgannon told The Washington Stand, but I didnt vote for this. Setting aside the religious arguments for a moment, she explained, on a practical and political level, the signing of this bill is a total fail. The Democratic Party is seeking to define the rules of engagement for GOP governors by creating this situation for Governor Youngkin. When he signs a bill like this, it sets a precedent for other Republican elected officials that it is okay to capitulate maybe even necessary to bow to LGBTQ+ lobbying groups. FRCs Quena Gonzalez was equally frustrated by Youngkins duplicity. One of the most disappointing aspects of working in public policy is when we see our supposed allies fail to understand that the ongoing push to enshrine sexual identity politics in law will inevitably diminish the dignity of the very people who are the supposed beneficiaries. It will also diminish the liberty of people of goodwill who simply cannot go along with the fashionable fiction of sexual identity politics, he told TWS. As for the governors flimsy explanation, Gonzalez isnt fooled. No amount of supposed religious liberty carve-outs can cure the cancer of injecting sexual identity politics into the law. Enshrining sexual orientation and/or gender identity into the law undermines the law because it denies reality. Conservatives, unfortunately, have a lot of recent experience being stabbed in the back by Republicans. From Mike Pence throwing Hoosiers under the bus over religious freedom in 2015 to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) killing bills to protect kids from gender mutilation, GOP careers have been made and broken on the backs of marriage and sexuality. More than a year after the vote, Republican members of Congress are still being censured by state parties for siding with the far-Lefts same-sex marriage law the repercussions of which continue to this day as double-crossing incumbents lose critical campaign cash and endorsements. The heat back home has been so intense that two congressmen publicly recanted their vote. And yet, in this messy aftermath, Youngkin has made the fatal decision to embrace what his partys platform has rejected. The man who stood in Pastor Gary Hamricks church and declared, At the cornerstone of everything that we do is our faith in Him has proven to be just another insincere, weak-kneed politician. The man who promised to fight for parents rights has just left those moms and dads twisting in the wind, subject to the states long arm of punishment if their views are out of favor with the government. The man who told the Pray Vote Stand Summit, We want to teach children how to think not what to think just robbed them of that intellectual and moral curiosity on societys most fundamental institution. People want Republicans to believe in marriage that this ship has sailed, Cobb shook her head. They tell elected officials, Dont be on the [wrong] side of this. Just come along and sign these bills. But I think its going to matter in primaries, she warned. I really do. I think theres still a very large portion of the Republican Party that cares very much [about] the definition of marriage And so I do think the governor is going to have to [answer for] this if he has future aspirations nationally or otherwise. Its harmful, Cobb argued, because the media is making a big deal about the fact that hes a Christian, and he did this Their entire goal is to say people of faith are going to [come] around, and theyre going to be okay with this too. Thats really part of the underlying effort here. To those who would say there are more important issues right now, I would argue this isnt just about marriage. Its about the collapse of Christian courage. Its about the deep hunger for leaders to stick by their convictions when the pressure comes. And its about the grassroots longing for Republicans to fight for their principles with the same tenacity that Democrats fight for theirs. If people have trouble understanding Donald Trumps popularity, its because more than anything, Americans want someone who will stand taller and speak louder when the detractors come. Theyre looking for a leader whos fearless in the face of the Left, the liberal media, the progressive status quo. Say what you will about the 45th president, but he has created a Republican Party where moral courage matters. As FRC President Tony Perkins has said, The greatest gift [Trump] gave social conservatives was refusing to be intimidated by tough issues. He took on the abortion lobby, LGBT extremism, and the cancel culture without blinking or apologizing. It was Trumps presidency that gave rise to the Brian Kemps and Ron DeSantises leaders who have the nerve to stand up to the bullies in Hollywood, corporate America, pro sports, and education. Now is not the time to give up that ground. Its the time to tell leaders like Glenn Youngkin that when it comes to representing Republicans, cowards need not apply. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Christians face harassment in over 160 countries as restrictions reach record levels: Pew study (CP) In an alarming trend, Christians experienced harassment in 160 countries in 2021, according to a comprehensive study of 190 countries published by the Pew Research Center, which revealed that government restrictions on religion also reached an all-time high. The study, which is part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project, showed that both government actions and social hostilities contributed to the harassment of religious groups. Government restrictions on religion reached an all-time high, with 183 countries imposing various forms of limitations, the highest number since the study began in 2007. Christians, as the largest religious group globally, faced harassment in various forms, from derogatory statements to physical violence. The study found that Christians were harassed by governments in 160 countries, an increase from 155 in the previous year. This harassment ranged from subtle forms of discrimination to overt acts of violence and oppression. Muslims faced harassment in 141 countries, down from 145 in 2020. Jews were harassed by governments and social groups or individuals in 91 countries in 2021, down from 94 countries in 2020, the third highest total of any religious group, the study said, noting that Jews make up just 0.2% of the world's population. In terms of physical harassment, which included property damage, assaults on people, detentions, displacements and killings, the study reported incidents in 137 countries, with governments being the primary perpetrators in 100 of these. Property damage was the most common type of physical harassment, occurring in 105 countries. Europe had the highest share of countries reporting property damage related to religion, with incidents such as the closure of 21 mosques in France and attacks on Catholic and Jewish sites in Poland. Physical assaults on individuals due to their religious beliefs were reported in 91 countries. In the Middle East and North Africa, assaults were particularly prevalent, with 75% of countries in the region reporting such incidents, including a missile attack on a Sunni-majority mosque in Yemen. Detentions related to religious beliefs were reported in 77 countries, with the Middle East-North Africa region having the highest share of countries reporting such incidents. In Sri Lanka, 311 individuals remained imprisoned without formal charges for alleged connections to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Government restrictions on religion laws, policies and actions by state officials that limit religious beliefs and practices reached a new peak globally, according to the analysis. The global median level of government restrictions on religion increased to 3.0 in 2021, up from 2.8 in 2020, indicating a tightening of control over religious practices. However, the global median level of social hostilities involving religion decreased slightly, from 1.8 in 2020 to 1.6 in 2021. In 2021, 55 countries, accounting for 28% of the total, experienced "high" or "very high" levels of government restrictions. This was a slight decrease from the 57 countries, or 29%, that reached this level in 2020, 2019 and 2012. Despite this slight decrease, the overall median index score for all countries increased due to a greater number of countries showing an increase in index scores compared to those showing a decrease, the study said. The study also highlighted the dual nature of government actions regarding religion. While imposing restrictions and engaging in harassment, governments in 161 countries provided benefits to religious organizations, such as funding for religious education and maintenance of religious buildings. This paradoxical situation raises questions about the motivations behind government policies toward religious groups. The Christian Post SpaceX's Starship third flight attempt ended with the spacecraft wrecked once again after a failure to complete a controlled re-entry to Earth's atmosphere. SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot reported that the company lost communication with Starship during its re-entry and failed to splash down to the Indian Ocean. The re-entry was broadcast live on Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter), who also owns SpaceX. The whole flight lasted less than an hour before SpaceX lost connection. Starship re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Views through the plasma pic.twitter.com/HEQX4eEHWH SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2024 SpaceX: Third Test Flight is a Success Despite the test flight ending in another destroyed spacecraft, the aerospace company sees the attempt to be successful, achieving multiple milestones in a single flight. For starters, the third flight has reached farther into space than the two previous attempts since it started its early test flights in 2023. The company is confident that crucial data can be gathered from the failed flight as it prepares to bring crewed missions to the moon, and eventually to Mars. Also Read: SpaceX Prepares for Third Starship Flight Attempt, Aims for Successful Re-Entry to Earth SpaceX Inches Close to Artemis Mission Goal With its recent space flight attempts, SpaceX is inching closer to completing its part of the deal in providing NASA its spacecraft to revive its manned lunar missions after over 50 years. Musk's aerospace company is contracted by the agency for its Artemis missions in an effort to race with other countries in reaching the moon. So far, five countries have already accomplished successful moon landings as agencies step up in their space explorations. Data from the manned missions are expected to be used for SpaceX's eventual manned Mars missions in the far future. NASA is planning to launch its first crewed mission to the moon by September 2025. Related Article: SpaceX to De-Orbit 100 Starlink Satellites After Detecting Issue Head of Catholic order for the Holy Land calls for a 'just peace' Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, stressed that there can be no peace in the Holy Land unless there is justice and the understanding that both sides, Israel and Palestine, have a right to exist. The cardinal spoke on Thursday to Vatican journalists, where he discussed the work that his order financially supports in the Holy Land. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre was founded by Pope Pius IX in 1898 with the role of funding and sustaining the Christian community in the Holy Land. Its roughly 30,000 members, knights and dames, are not only bestowed with an honorary title but they are also required to make financial contributions to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Filoni underlined that no solution will work, be it one state or two states, unless justice is guaranteed for both sides involved in the war. "There can be no peace without justice. An unjust peace could create new wars, injustices and violence," he said. Addressing the origins of the conflict, the cardinal said that "when a people feels to have suffered an injustice or doesn't feel heard, hate grows and can become violent." "We have to start by saying that one can't deny Palestinians their right to exist, just as you can't deny Israel its right to exist," Filoni said. The cardinal added that the Israeli invasion in Gaza was "illegal" and "violent." Filoni made clear that the order is not involved in the politics of the Holy Land and "is not an architect of peace." While the knights and dames might not directly interfere with peace and diplomacy, he said, "we can be workers." The charities funded by the order mostly help Christian families in the Holy Land, which currently make up only 2% of the population. But its schools and hospitals are open to all, Filoni said, which create a framework for peaceful coexistence. "If we are able to prove that peace is possible, then it can be applied to all in the Holy Land," he said. "Just because we don't talk about coexistence, it doesn't mean it does not exist. The future of this land is peaceful coexistence, which is still possible, but we have to build it," he added. Religion News Service We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns are close to welcoming safety Rodney McLeod, 33, back into the fold. Hes set to sign a one-year deal soon to finish what he started last season. McLeod, who won a Super Bowl with current NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Jim Schwartz in Philadelphia, was off to a great start last season before suffering a torn biceps in the 13-10 victory over the Steelers on Nov. 19. He underwent season-ending surgery, but stuck around the Browns practice facility to help mentor his young teammates on their way to the playoffs. Starting five of his 10 games last season, he finished with 23 tackles and broke up two passes. He also finished tied for fifth on the team with six special teams tackles. Having played for five seasons under Schwartz in Philadelphia, McLeod helped implement Schwartzs scheme and defensive philosophy here last season. He was one of the premier leaders on the team and a tremendous help to the younger players, especially the defensive backs. This season, the Browns welcome another former Schwartz defender in linebacker Jordan Hicks, who played three seasons for him in Philly. Like Hicks, who signed a two-year free agent deal this week, McCleod is one of a handful of Browns veteran defenders who are 30 and over. Others are ZaDarius Smith, new defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris. Hicks, for one, is grateful the Browns value veteran experience. It just speaks to the culture that I think theyre trying to build and then also the fact that theyre trying to compete right now, Hicks said Friday on a video conference. Its not always about looking ahead and always going younger. If that was the case, I wouldnt have a job right now. So appreciate that. Very much so. But at the same time, its a testament of whats being built here, and I think theres a good blend to have a good blend of veteran leadership along with young energy and young players know you can build this thing and help get this thing going in the right trajectory. A drunk driver was arrested after he drove into the restricted SHPD garage. City of Shaker Hts. The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is teaming with Ferrante Winery on a four-course wine-pairing dinner.The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake In the more than 200 pages of the opinion, concurrences and dissents in the U.S. Supreme Courts June 29, 2023, ruling overturning affirmative action in college admissions, the word scholarship is mentioned only thrice. And in none of those three mentions are scholarships classed in a way that would put them in the same category as admissions policy, the focus of the high courts ruling. Yet in a Jan. 26 phone call with Ohio university leaders, cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports that state Attorney General Dave Yost said the ruling also applied to race-conscious scholarships and that such scholarships would violate the Supreme Courts affirmative action ruling. The US Customs and Border Protection is seeking to add "100 more high-tech drug detection machines" in its operations as the US tightens border policies against immigrants. Among the cited "high-tech" machines are X-ray and AI tools that will detect fentanyl and other illegal drugs passing through the country's southern border. The new Non-Intrusive Inspection X-Rays will supposedly scan cars and tracks for drugs by just going through its "massive U-shaped screeners," NBC News reported. AI will reportedly be used to help officers process passing vehicles much faster. US President Joe Biden claimed that the government already has the needed scanners and detectors but remains uninstalled as Congress has yet to allocate a budget to accomplish the task. The CBP is requesting at least $300 million to reach its 100% fentanyl detection system goal. Biden later reiterated the endorsed a bipartisan immigration bill to achieve the deployment of the AI-powered scanners, promising to roll out the US' "toughest set of border security reforms we've ever seen." Also Read: Homeland Security is Now Hiring AI Experts to 'Advance Missions' Biases, Prejudice in AI Systems Remain a Concern While the CBP and the Department of Homeland Security have been touting AI as a means to boost its operations at the border, the agencies have yet to address concerns about its applications. In its press statement last January, the border patrol intends to use AI in tasks related to surveillance and "situational awareness." The technology has already been reported in the past of falling into stereotyping and biases prevalent online, particularly technologies that rely on prediction and assessment. Homeland Security has already started hiring AI experts to impose safety measures on the technology but has yet to provide a concrete solution as to This is necessary as more migrants are being reported to have been killed in the US-Mexico border. Related Article: Rite Aid Gets 5-Year Ban on AI Facial Recognition; Labels Black, Latino, and Asian 'Likely' Shoplifters US Tightens Border Patrol Amid 'Migrant Crisis' Citing the so-called "migrant crisis" in its southern borders, the US government has been rolling out stricter border policies to supposedly curb the increasing number of illegal trafficking in the country. It is worth noting, however, that most of the smuggled fentanyl came from US citizens and not migrants. A United Airlines plane that departed Friday from San Francisco International Airport was missing an external panel when it landed at its destination in Medford, Oregon. United released the following statement: "This afternoon, United flight 433 landed safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel. We'll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. We'll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred." United said the Boeing 737-800 had 139 passengers onboard the plane, with six crew members. The plane also did not declare an emergency while en route to Medford "as there was no indication of the damage during the flight," United said. The incident involving United Airlines flight 433 is the latest in a string of recent mechanical problems on United airplanes. On Thursday, United Airlines flight 1816 took off from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport at 5:30 a.m. Just before landing in SFO at 7:30 a.m. local time, the United Airbus experienced a hydraulic leak. It was able to land safely, according to officials. On Mar. 7, a Japan-bound United flight out of SFO was diverted to Los Angeles after a wheel fell off during takeoff. Then on Mar. 8, in passengers had to be evacuated from a United Airlines plane in Houston after it rolled off a runway during landing and got stuck in the grass. Also on Mar. 8, a United flight to Mexico City from SFO was diverted to LAX because of a hydraulics issue. Last Monday, a United flight headed to SFO from Sydney, Australia had to turn around midflight after fluid was seen spewing out from the right rear landing gear. All of the incidents are now under investigation, and it has some aviation experts questioning their connection to the San Francisco airport. CNBC Pro readers flocked this week to several stories on Nvidia and other ways to play the stock's monstrous rally. A little-known nuclear stock also caught the attention of subscribers. The top Pro story this week was " Sell Nvidia or stick with it? Here's what investors say " in which several investors discuss what they're doing with their Nvidia holdings. Vahan Janjigian, chief investment officer at U.S.-based Greenwich Wealth Management, said he's pared down his exposure to the stock. "I got a little nervous because I do think the stock is overvalued, especially when you look at it on a price to sales basis. It's selling for about 35 times sales, which is very high compared to some of the other technology companies," he said. Nvidia's GTC conference could determine the top AI play's fate in the coming week. We've got a complete guide on the conference, nicknamed "AI Woodstock" by Bank of America, here . "We think the major takeaway from the week will be a clear vision to NVIDIA being sold out through 2024, a clear product cycle supporting another growth year in 2025 (B100 and others), and a vibrant ecosystem ripe to monetize the tremendous opportunities as we approach a tipping point in Generative AI," Cantor Fitzgerald analyst C.J. Muse wrote in a note. The event kicks of Monday. Other stocks could see a lift in the coming week off the Nvidia conference including AMD, Broadcom and Oracle. It isn't just fundamental investors getting worried about Nvidia , so are chart analysts. How to trade Nvidia In a column Monday, Fairlead Strategies founder Katie Stockton gave a guide to how to trade stocks that have " gone parabolic " like Nvidia and Meta. "A 20-day moving average (MA) can be helpful as a gauge of short-term momentum, in general. It is especially useful in helping us stay on the right side of steep uptrends," Stockton wrote. "Quite simply, when the 20-day MA is pointing higher, as it is currently for NVDA and META, it supports holding existing exposure." You can read more here . Nvidia alternatives Another top-performing Pro story this week was David Keller's on the potential breakout in Block , the parent company of Square. Such a trade could benefit investors looking to slightly diversify from Nvidia. "A quick review of the weekly chart of Block shows a clear inverted head and shoulders bottoming pattern, represented by a low in October 2023 surrounded by higher lows in May 2023 and January 2024," Keller wrote . Another alternative to Nvidia, according to fund manager Stephanie Niven, is KLA . KLAC 1Y mountain KLA Corp. 1-year The company "leans into the supply chain of AI," said Niven. "This is a business that decarbonizes the AI transition because it reduces errors and increases yields." You can read more here . Under-the-radar call of the week To be sure, it wasn't all about Nvidia. Reader interest was piqued by Bank of America hiking its price target on Vistra, a little-known nuclear stocks that could capitalize on the energy demand needs from AI data centers. VST YTD mountain Vistra, YTD "The projected growth of data centers is positive for incumbent generators via higher realized power prices/margins leading to yet further upside," BofA said . Read the full story here. Attendees at HIMSS in Orlando, Florida 2024. Courtesy of HIMSS The hottest new technology for doctors promises to bring back an age-old health-care practice: face-to-face conversations with patients. As more than 30,000 health and tech professionals gathered among the palm trees at the HIMSS conference in Orlando, Florida, this week, ambient clinical documentation was the talk of the exhibition floor. This technology allows doctors to consensually record their visits with patients. The conversations are automatically transformed into clinical notes and summaries using artificial intelligence. Companies like Microsoft's Nuance Communications, Abridge and Suki have developed solutions with these capabilities, which they argue will help reduce doctors' administrative workloads and prioritize meaningful connections with patients. "After I see a patient, I have to write notes, I have to place orders, I have to think about the patient summary," Dr. Shiv Rao, founder and CEO of Abridge, told CNBC at HIMSS. "So what our technology does is it allows me to focus on the person in front of me the most important person, the patient because when I hit start, have a conversation, then hit stop, I can swivel my chair and within seconds, the note's there." Administrative workloads are a major problem for clinicians across the U.S. health-care system. A survey published by Athenahealth in February found that more than 90% of physicians report feeling burned out on a "regular basis," largely because of the paperwork they are expected to complete. More than 60% of doctors said they feel overwhelmed by clerical requirements and work an average of 15 hours per week outside their normal hours to keep up, the survey said. Many in the industry call this at-home work "pajama time." Since administrative work is mostly bureaucratic and doesn't directly influence doctors' decisions around diagnoses or patient care, it has served as one of the first areas where health systems have seriously begun to explore applications of generative AI. As a result, ambient clinical documentation solutions are having a real moment in the sun. "There isn't a better place to be," Kenneth Harper, general manager of DAX Copilot at Microsoft, told CNBC in an interview. Microsoft's Nuance announced its ambient clinical documentation tool Dragon Ambient eXperience (DAX) Express in a preview capacity last March. By September, the solution, now called DAX Copilot, was generally available. Harper said there are now more than 200 organizations using the technology. Microsoft acquired Nuance for around $16 billion in 2021. The company had a two-story exhibition booth in the exhibit hall that was often packed with attendees Harper said the technology saves doctors several minutes per encounter, though the exact numbers vary depending on the specialty. He said his team gets feedback about the service almost daily from doctors who claim it has helped them take better care of themselves and even saved their marriages. watch now Harper recounted a conversation with one physician who was considering retirement after practicing for more than three decades. He said the doctor was feeling worn out from years of stress, but he was inspired to keep working after he was introduced to DAX Copilot. "He said, 'I literally think I'm going to practice for another 10 years because I actually enjoy what I do,'" Harper said. "That's just a personal anecdote of the type of impact this is having on our care teams." At HIMSS, Stanford Health Care announced it is deploying DAX Copilot across its entire enterprise. Gary Fritz, chief of applications at Stanford Health Care, said the organization had initially started by testing the tool within its exam rooms. He said Stanford recently surveyed physicians about their use of DAX Copilot and 96% found it easy to use. "I don't know that I've ever seen that big a number," Fritz told CNBC in an interview. "It is a big deal." Dr. Christopher Sharp, chief medical information officer at Stanford Health Care and one of the physicians who tested DAX Copilot, said it is "remarkably seamless" to use. He said the tool's immediacy and reliability are accurate and strong but could improve at capturing a patient's tone. Sharp said he thinks the tool saves him documentation time and has changed how he spends that time. He said he is often reading and editing notes instead of composing them, for instance, so it is not as though the work has disappeared entirely. In the near term, Sharp said he'd like to see more capabilities for personalization within DAX Copilot, both at an individual and specialty level. Even so, he said it was easy to see the value of it from the start. "The moment that that first document returns to you, and you see your own words and the patient's own words being reflected directly back to you in a usable fashion, I would say that from that moment, you're hooked," Sharp told CNBC in an interview. Fritz said it is still early in the product life cycle, and Stanford Health Care is still working out exactly what deployment will look like. He said DAX Copilot will likely roll out in specialty-specific tranches. Attendees at HIMSS in Orlando, Florida 2024. Courtesy of HIMSS An Indianapolis jury is holding electric vehicle maker Tesla and one of its employees partially liable in the 2017 crash between the company-owned Ford truck and a motorcycle. Tesla and the employee are asked to pay more than $42 million in damages that caused partial amputation, permanent disfigurement, and a traumatic brain injury to the motorcyclist. Read Also: OpenAI Mocks Elon Musk for 'Incoherent,' 'Frivolous' Lawsuit Tesla Found Guilty for Indiana Motorcycle Incident Previously, it was reported that the attorneys of the victim Christopher Dugan have been seeking damages worth $191 million. However, the jury found Dugan 30% liable for the crash, leading to the reduction of the award from $60 million to $42 million. The remaining 70% was found to be Tesla and Kyle Kaszuba's responsibility for the accident. Dugan's trial attorney, Nick Rowley, expressed disappointment with Tesla's failure to take accountability. "A young father's life was permanently destroyed. This verdict cannot repair the harm caused, but it will help provide Chris Dugan with the lifetime of care and support he needs," he added. Tesla 2017 Incident Led to Traumatic Crash In 2017, long-time Tesla employee Kyle Kaszuba made a left turn in the Tesla-owned Ford Super Duty F-250 maintenance truck across the double yellow line and two lanes of oncoming traffic. The motorcycle, driven by Dugan, was temporarily hidden from the driver's view due to another truck, as per Tesla's argument. In addition, the company stated that Dugan was moving at an accelerated pace into the traffic. During the trial, it was alleged that Tesla never made any attempt to settle the case and even rejected the settlement offers from $10 million to $20 million. According to Rowley, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has a policy of personally approving any company settlements that will cost more than $10 million. Related Article: Jeep's Parent Company Stellantis to Adopt Tesla's Charging Standard US billionaire businessman and pilot Jared Isaacman flies in formation aboard a fighter jet over the SpaceX sign, close to the Starship spacecraft, before his third test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on March 13, 2024. SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies. The network is being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said. The plans show the extent of SpaceX's involvement in U.S. intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces. If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe. The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said. The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a $1.8 billion classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing the purposes of the program. Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk's company is working with is the NRO. Reuters was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts. SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and details on satellite launches. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX. In a statement, the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop a sophisticated satellite system and its partnerships with other government agencies, companies, research institutions and nations, but declined to comment on Reuters' findings about the extent of SpaceX's involvement in the effort. "The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen," a spokesperson said. The satellites can track targets on the ground and share that data with U.S. intelligence and military officials, the sources said. In principle, that would enable the U.S. government to quickly capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe, aiding intelligence and military operations, they added. Roughly a dozen prototypes have been launched since 2020, among other satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, three of the sources said. A U.S. government database of objects in orbit shows several SpaceX missions having deployed satellites that neither the company nor the government have ever acknowledged. Two sources confirmed those to be prototypes for the Starshield network. All the sources asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the U.S. government program. The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. Starshield's first prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate, roughly $200 million contract that helped position SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, one of the sources said. The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX's growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies. The classified constellation of spy satellites represents one of the U.S. government's most sought-after capabilities in space because it is designed to offer the most persistent, pervasive and rapid coverage of activities on Earth. "No one can hide," one of the sources said of the system's potential capability, when describing the network's reach. Musk, also the founder and CEO of Tesla and owner of social media company X (formerly Twitter), has driven innovation in space but has caused frustration among some officials in the Biden administration because of his past control of Starlink in Ukraine, where Kyiv's military uses it for secure communications in the conflict with Russia. That authority over Starlink in a war zone by Musk, and not the U.S. military, created tension between him and the U.S. government. A series of Reuters' stories has detailed how Musk's manufacturing operations, including at SpaceX, have harmed consumers and workers. The Starshield network is part of intensifying competition between the U.S. and its rivals to become the dominant military power in space, in part by expanding spy satellite systems away from bulky, expensive spacecraft at higher orbits. Instead a vast, low-orbiting network can provide quicker and near-constant imaging of the Earth. China also plans to start building its own satellite constellations, and the Pentagon has warned of space weapon threats from Russia, which could be capable of disabling entire satellite networks. Starshield aims to be more resilient to attacks from sophisticated space powers. The network is also intended to greatly expand the U.S. government's remote-sensing capabilities and will consist of large satellites with imaging sensors, as well as a greater number of relay satellites that pass the imaging data and other communications across the network using inter-satellite lasers, two of the sources said. The NRO includes personnel from the U.S. Space Force and CIA and provides classified satellite imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies. The spy satellites will house sensors provided by another company, three of the sources said. Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine on Friday of trying to disrupt a Russian presidential election that is virtually certain to hand him six more years in the Kremlin and said Moscow would punish Kyiv for its latest attacks. The first of three days of voting was marked by disruptions including dye being poured into ballot boxes, a Molotov cocktail thrown at a polling station in Putin's hometown, and reported cyberattacks. Millions of Russians cast their ballots across the country's 11 time zones, with officials putting turnout on day one at more than 35%. The Ukraine war cast a shadow over voting, with what Putin said was repeated shelling of Russia's western regions and an attempt by 2,500 Ukrainian proxies to cross into two Russian regions with tanks. "These enemy strikes will not remain unpunished," a visibly angry Putin said at a meeting of Russia's Security Council. Ukrainian officials said the attacks were carried out by Russian armed groups based in Ukraine who are opposed to the Kremlin. A Russian ballistic missile attack hit a residential area in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 70, in Moscow's deadliest attack in weeks, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia would receive a "fair response" for what he said was a "vile" strike. Amid the Ukraine war, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, Putin, 71, dominates Russia's political landscape and none of the other three candidates on the ballot paper presents any credible challenge. More than 114 million Russians are eligible to vote, including in what Moscow calls its "new territories" - four regions of Ukraine that its forces only partly control, but which it has claimed as part of Russia. Ukraine says the staging of elections there is illegal and void. Video released by the Kremlin showed Putin casting his vote online and waving briefly to the camera. Russians in about a third of the country can vote electronically for the first time in a presidential election - something critics say is impervious to scrutiny and open to abuse. "These are the most closed, most secret elections in Russian history," Stanislav Andreichuk, co-chairman of the Golos vote-monitoring group that the state has branded a "foreign agent," told Reuters in a telephone interview. #IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 The Indian Navy has foiled attempts by a group of Somali pirates to hijack ships in the high seas off the east coast of Somalia as it intercepted their vessel, officials said on Saturday.The armed pirates had sailed out on board a cargo ship named Ruen that was hijacked around three months ago, they said.The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on 14 December, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of piracy on high seas, the Navy said.An Indian Navy warship intercepted the vessel on March 15, it said.The Navy said the pirates opened fire on the Indian warship, which took appropriate actions in self-defence as per international law and to counter piracy and used minimal force to neutralise the pirates' threat to shipping and seafarers.The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will, the Navy said in a statement.The Indian Navy remains committed to maritime security and safety of seafarers in the region, it added.On Friday, the Navy said an Indian warship and a long-range maritime patrol aircraft extended assistance to a Bangladeshi-flagged cargo vessel after it was hijacked.It said the safety of the crew held hostage by the armed pirates was ascertained and the Indian Navy warship continued to maintain its presence in close vicinity of the vessel till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia.In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy has extended assistance to several merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them.The Indian Navy, earlier this month, foiled a piracy attempt on an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel with a crew of 11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals along the east coast of Somalia.In January, Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani crew of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel after it was attacked by pirates off the east coast of Somalia.The Navy on January 5 thwarted an attempted hijacking of the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea and rescued all its crew members.Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23.The Navy has already enhanced the deployment of its frontline ships and surveillance aircraft for maritime security operations given the maritime environment in the critical sea lanes, including in the North and Central Arabian Sea.There have been mounting global concerns over Houthi militants launching a series of attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea in the last few months. 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It is worth noting, however, that the registration record is largely lower than the 52% registration growth EV automakers received in 2023 when the market started booming. Rivian, Hyundai Speeds Up Move Towards EV Industry The report was published following Rivian and Hyundai's move to build more electric cars in the US. Rivian has been reported several times for ramping up its production process to compete with industry giants. Hyundai, on the other hand, earlier announced to build more EV factories, including plans to start plants in Canada to meet the demand in North America. It is expected that both automakers will have bigger growth in the next report with their EV deployment increase throughout February. Also Read: Honda is Considering to Set Up EV Production in North America EV Sales in the US Starting to Plateau While the EV registration report indicates a growing acceptance of electric cars, the January data does not reflect the actual EV market in the country. Reuters earlier reported that signs of a global slowdown in the EV market are becoming more prevalent as the gap between supply and demand widens. The report even clarified that the distribution of EV registrations is uneven throughout the US as sales and registrations are concentrated in selected states. In the Reuters report, both Tesla and General Motors reported a sharp decline in their EV sales in comparison to the same period last year, citing near-term struggles amid "consumer anxiety." The US government has also been easing its push towards the EV transition as manufacturers and dealers bemoan increasing costs to accomplish the task within the next six years. Related Article: California EV Sales Slow Down Amid Government Ramp Up Green Home Systems Read 48 Reviews Solar panel installation. Residential and commercial solar panel projects. Includes 25-year workmanship and product warranty. Batteries available for backup storage. Free quotes by phone or online. 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Founded in 1986. 10-year warranty on panels. Offers loans and net metering. Solar Flex Share your experience with this company Residential solar energy system installations, energy storage, solar monitoring and roofing services in 40 states nationwide. Offers brands like SunPower and Enphase Energy. Finance through a loan, lease or PPA. Solar Kit Direct Share your experience with this company Sells DIY kits for installing solar energy systems. Ships to the lower 48 states. Offers a 15-year manufacturer's warranty and 25-year performance warranty on solar panels from AXITEC. Pay upfront or through a loan. Solar SME Share your experience with this company Residential and commercial solar panel installation. Backup batteries and storage. Generator installation. 25-year workmanship and manufacturers warranty. Financing and power purchase agreements. Solar Unlimited North America Share your experience with this company Commercial, nonprofit, military and industrial installation of solar thermal water heating systems in the United States. Offers brands like SOLARHOT. Pay upfront or finance through a loan. SolareAmerica Share your experience with this company Residential and commercial solar panel installations across Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Offers full-service installations, system monitoring and financing options. Free evaluations for potential customers. Star Enrg Share your experience with this company Residential solar, commercial solar and agricultural solar installation. Offers products from Enphase, Fronius, SolarEdge and LG. Covers 13 states. Offers warranties. No financing available; upfront payments only. Sun Up Zero Down Share your experience with this company Residential solar installation and roof replacement in parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Offers a 25-year manufacturers warranty on solar panels, inverters and racking. Finance with a loan, lease or PPA. Get a free estimate. SunLogic Power Share your experience with this company Residential and commercial solar energy system installations, energy storage, EV charging, roofing services and tree removal in nine states. Finance through a loan, solar lease or power purchase agreement. SunPeak Share your experience with this company Commercial solar installation services. Covers businesses in the lower 48 states. Payment options include solar loans and power purchase agreements. Relies on manufacturer warranties. SuperGreen Solutions Share your experience with this company Residential and commercial installation of solar energy systems, EV charging and LED lighting in 10 states and Washington, D.C. Offers a 25-year production guarantee. Finance through a loan. Get a free solar quote. TerraSol Energies Share your experience with this company Specializes in commercial and residential solar installations. Services available across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Carries SunPower products. 10- to 25-year manufacturers' warranties on components. Texas Solar Power Company Share your experience with this company Residential and commercial installation service available worldwide, including special custom projects. Uses components by Enphase Energy and SMA. Service inspections available to ensure system fidelity. The Sun Company Share your experience with this company Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, and performing installations nationwide. Installs residential and commercial solar electric systems. Offers grid-tied, off-grid, battery storage and EV charging. Tick Tock Energy Share your experience with this company Specializes in agricultural, commercial and residential solar installations. Hybrid systems available for residential installations. Offers products from AllEarth Renewables. Also performs wind turbine installations. Truly Solar Share your experience with this company Residential, commercial and agricultural installation and repair of solar energy systems plus energy storage and EV charging in 21 states and Washington, D.C. Offers production guarantees on systems. Finance with a PPA. Veregy Share your experience with this company Phoenix, Arizona-based solar installer specializing in residential, commercial and industrial solar installations. Offers services across the entire United States. Also installs EV chargers. Volition Share your experience with this company Energy management company offering commercial and residential solar design and installation worldwide. Headquarters in Lehi, Utah. Has completed more than 5,000 projects around the world. Wise Power Systems Share your experience with this company Solar installer serving homes in the mid-Atlantic region with solar power and water heating. Offers solar for businesses globally. Financing available through loans. Offers brands like OutBack Power, Sharp and Xantrex. Worldwide Energy Share your experience with this company Based in Kansas. Offers solar energy system installations to businesses across the United States. Founded in 2006. Provides lighting services as well as energy auditing services and assessments. Compare AUTHORIZED PARTNER Freedom Forever Read Reviews Share your experience with this company Freedom Forever specializes in residential solar panel installation and solar storage solutions. Service areas extend to parts of the West, Northeast, South and Midwest. Boundless Inc. Share your experience with this company Offers residential solar solutions. Services 26 states nationwide. Fill out a form online for a free consultation and quote. Partners with GivePower Foundation, an NGO based in Texas. Complete Solar Share your experience with this company Offers services in 29 states across the country. Works with partners in the industry for solar energy solutions. Provides solar financing and solar energy system installation services. Green Power Energy Share your experience with this company Residential solar panels, solar storage and EV charging. Finance products from well-known companies such as Enphase Energy, Generac PWRcell and United Renewable. Financing and 25-year warranties available. Kayo Energy Share your experience with this company Kayo Energy is a solar installer based in Tempe, Arizona. Service areas extend across parts of the Western United States. (Photo : Unsplash/ Jurij Kenda ) McDonald's Corp. faced a system outage on Friday that seems to have originated in the Asia-Pacific region. It subsequently affected other markets worldwide, resulting in customers being unable to place orders at its stores and through electronic platforms. McDonald's Global Outage Stemming From a Computer System The tech outage originated from a computer system issue that spread from Japan to Australia, New Zealand, and European countries. It left some restaurants unable to process online orders and serve food. McDonald's said in an emailed statement that they continue to address the outage, thanking customers for their patience. They apologized for the inconvenience and further clarified that the incident was not related to a cybersecurity event. The Australian branch of the American fast-food chain reported the outage first and stated they were working to fix it quickly. By around 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time, McDonald's Australia announced that most of its restaurants had reopened. Social media users in the UK experienced difficulties placing orders online on Friday morning. However, the company stated in a separate statement that the issues in both the UK and Ireland have been resolved. A spokesperson mentioned that problems were also occurring in Germany and other European markets during the morning, and the company is still trying to gather more details about these issues. READ ALSO: Change Healthcare Attacked by Ransomware, Causing Outages Disrupting Clerical and Reimbursement Systems Affected McDonald's Restaurants in Asia The issues, which initially arose in Asia, led to restaurants in Taiwan stopping phone and online ordering for system maintenance and McDonald's Japan halting operations across the country. According to Downdetector, a website that monitors technical problems with apps and websites, a surge in reports of issues with the McDonald's app in Australia was detected around 2 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday. Similar issues with the McDonald's app were reported in the UK around the same time, and more reports came in around 5 a.m. Eastern Time. Downdetector also displayed outage reports in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle. Returning to Business as Usual The New Zealand Herald reported that stores could not take orders, Australian broadcaster 7News mentioned that restaurants were affected by the outage across the country, and Singapore's Strait Times noted that ordering services on the McDonald's app was unavailable in the city-state. Still, some locations were returning to business as usual, with McDonald's Hong Kong system slowly returning to normal and customers now able to use its app and self-ordering kiosks, as mentioned in a post on its official Facebook page around 5 p.m. local time. Online ordering has also resumed in mainland China, as stated in a Weibo post. McDonald's operates roughly 40,000 restaurants worldwide, with over 1,000 restaurants in Australia, more than 1,450 in the UK, and nearly 3,000 restaurants in Japan, making it one of McDonald's largest markets. RELATED ARTICLE: Major Fast-Food Price Increases as Minimum Wage Hike Set to Take Effect on April 2024 2017 Jobs & Hire 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. Chinese enterprises donate medical supplies to Mozambique's largest hospital Xinhua) 14:09, March 16, 2024 MAPUTO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese companies operating in Mozambique on Friday donated a batch of medical equipment to the Maputo Central Hospital (HCM), the largest in the country. The donation includes electric drills and other instruments for surgical operation, which the hospital considers "a revolution" because the unit has never had so many drills at once, according to Mouzinho Saide, director general of the HCM, during the reception of the donated items. "Despite the difficulties we face, we are not alone; the equipment we received today will make all the difference; it will allow us to have many more surgical operations, and many patients will benefit from it, so we are very happy," said the HCM director general, while addressing the ceremony. Saide said that the materials offered would help a lot in treating the patients the hospital receives, who are mostly suffering from traumas caused by accidents or assaults. Many of the patients who occupy beds in the hospital are those on the waiting list for surgery, and it takes time due to the lack of medical supplies. This batch of donations will help alleviate the pressure on hospital beds, he said. "China's friendship and presence in our country is not new; it's quite old and long-standing. And in recent times, it has been strengthened with the cooperation of the government itself, which is why we have received medical teams from China who also support the Maputo Central Hospital, working side by side with national doctors, so our feeling is one of gratitude," said Saide. Xu Shuguang, one of the representatives of the Chinese enterprises, namely WengLong I&E Ltd., Hengli Moz. Ltd., and Auto Sunshine Ltd., said that the donation was made following the suggestions of a Chinese doctor who works in the orthopedic department at the HCM and knows about the difficulties that the hospital has been facing with medical supplies. "We procure the items according to the list provided by the doctor and donate them in the name of the local Chinese community. We are happy to help," said Xu. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) (Photo : Unsplash/ Milan Csizmadia) Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has settled a racist discrimination lawsuit where a federal jury had previously awarded three million two hundred thousand dollars in damages to Owen Diaz, a Black man elevator operator at a Fremont, California factory in 2015. The California Civil Rights Law Group Lawrence Organ, an attorney from the California Civil Rights Law Group representing Diaz, emailed CNBC to inform them that both parties have reached an amicable resolution. However, the settlement terms are confidential, and no further comments will be provided. The California Civil Rights Law Group, which represented Diaz, is also representing current and former Tesla employees in a proposed class action lawsuit, Marcus Vaughn v. Tesla Inc., which alleges ongoing racist discrimination and harassment against Black workers at the automaker. Musk Unbothered with The Seven-Year Legal Battle Organ mentioned to CNBC over the phone on Friday that Owen Diaz showed great courage in standing up to a company as large as Tesla and emphasized that civil rights laws rely on people willing to take such risks. Despite the legal battle being over for Diaz, Organ highlighted that there is still much work to be done for Tesla. He mentioned that when the case began, he proposed that the behavior would cease if Elon Musk made a clear statement and commitment to his employees that such conduct is unacceptable. Even after seven years of legal battles and large financial penalties, they still have not heard a clear statement from Elon Musk to stop this behavior. Tesla is supposed to represent the future of factories, yet its behavior reflects practices from the "Jim Crow past." Diaz's Racial Discrimination Case The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sued Tesla, alleging that the company violated federal law by allowing widespread racial harassment of its Black employees and retaliating against those who opposed it. Tesla has denied these allegations, stating they present a false narrative and overlook Tesla's history of providing equal employment opportunities. READ ALSO: SpaceX Wrongfully Terminating Eight Workers, Faces Criticism on Labor Laws and Working Conditions In CNBC's 2023 report, Diaz testified in a San Francisco federal court that his colleagues at Tesla often used racist language to insult him and other Black workers, making him feel physically threatened at the factory, telling him to "go back to Africa," and leaving racist graffiti in restrooms. Diaz's colleagues at Tesla also left a racist drawing in his workspace, which resembled Inki the Caveman, a character from a 1950s cartoon known for its racist portrayal of a Black boy with exaggerated features, including large lips, a loincloth, earrings, and a bone in his hair. During his trials, Diaz shared that he had once encouraged his son to work at Tesla. However, he later regretted this recommendation because his son also experienced a racially hostile work environment. In his initial trial, a jury granted Diaz a significantly larger sum, totaling one hundred thirty-seven million dollars, which included punitive damages. Diaz and his legal team convinced the jury that he had faced severe racist discrimination, and the company did not take adequate measures to stop or prevent it, along with other civil rights violations. Diaz and Tesla requested a retrial to determine damages after Judge William H. Orrick reduced the jury's awarded amount to fifteen million dollars. Diaz won again, receiving a three million two hundred thousand dollars verdict. Elon Musk's Hate Speech Criticism The settlement with Diaz happens as Tesla CEO Elon Musk receives extensive criticism for managing hate speech on X, previously known as Twitter, which he owns and oversees as CTO. As NBC News recently stated, Musk posted unverified claims of cannibalism in Haiti on X this month, along with sharing posts that smeared Haitian migrants as potential cannibals. Progressive news outlet MotherJones also reported that the tech billionaire has been retweeting prominent race scientists on his platform and spreading misinformation about the intelligence and physiology of racial minorities. Without a conventional public relations office in North America, Tesla did not reply to a request for comment. RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk's Tunnel Construction Faces Tough Scrutiny as OSHA Found Eight "Serious" Safety Violations 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A Korean American lawmaker has submitted a bipartisan resolution calling on the U.S. government and its allies to protect North Korean defectors in China, who it said face "humanitarian and human rights crises." On Wednesday, Rep. Michelle Park Steel (R-CA), along with several fellow lawmakers, introduced the resolution, stressing that defectors from the North face forced labor, arbitrary detention, human trafficking and forcible repatriation. The resolution encouraged the U.S. president and secretary of state to pressure China to protect North Korean defectors and use the influence of the United Nations to protect North Korean asylum seekers, prohibit any goods produced with North Korean labor, and halt the flow of foreign capital to the North Korean regime. In a press release, Steel's office highlighted that if defectors are repatriated, they have to endure "serious human rights abuses," including torture and forced labor. "As North Korea and the CCP aggressively hunt for defectors, innocent North Koreans searching for freedom, like my parents did so many years ago, need our help now more than ever," Steel was quoted as saying in the release. CCP stands for the Chinese Communist Party. "The vast majority of these individuals are women and girls who are sexually abused, trafficked, and forced into 'marriages' with Chinese citizens. They are treated as less than human. We must use every tool at our disposal to end these horrific abuses," she added. The resolution also pointed out that the governments of China and North Korea are "aggressively" seeking to locate and detain North Koreans in China, and to return them to North Korea, including offering bounties for information on defectors. (Yonhap) It is possible to find your soulmate in the strangest of places. But seven women from around the world think they have found true love with inmates in American prisons. Lifetime's latest series, simply titled Prison Brides, has lifted the lid on how blushing brides-to-be from the likes of Germany, Australia and the UK formed unlikely bonds with convicted felons in the US. The men who are soon to be married are serving years in prison on a range of charges including armed robbery, assault and possession of a firearm. Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the most shocking connections as women uproot their lives to be with their new loves. Lifetime's latest series, simply titled Prison Brides, has lifted the lid on how blushing brides-to-be formed unlikely bonds with convicted felons in the US The first to share her story was midwife Svea, from Dusseldorf, Germany. The 29-year-old candidly admitted that she did not have 'much dating history' before she struck up the relationship in the first place. 'I was a student homeschooling and there was nobody to talk to. Online I saw that there was an opportunity to be pen pals with a prisoner in the United States. 'I just thought I would say whatever is on my mind. He is so far away he cannot tell anyone because he is locked up.' Svea described beau Joseph as a 'good listener,' adding that he was 'understanding and goofy.' Joseph, 30, was then revealed as a current inmate at Central Michigan Correctional Facility serving 11 years for armed robbery, assault and possession of a firearm. She continued: 'I thought it would not be possible to fall in love with somebody you never met but it happened to me.' The connection left her friends and family 'scared' and 'nervous' but she attempted to dispel her mom's worries on camera. Midwife Svea, from Dusseldorf, Germany, fell in love with Joseph who is serving 11 years for armed robbery, assault and possession of a firearm Following his release, Svea and Joseph checked into a hotel to celebrate their very first night together - but soon ran into accommodation clashes Addressing his crime, which he committed aged 19, Svea said: 'Of course it is not a nice crime at all but he was really young at that time... 'I'm not trying to downplay it. Everybody makes mistakes - some people make small mistakes and some people make big mistakes. 'He did a big mistake and I'm sure he will never, ever do something like that again.' The couple, who had never met in person before the show, eventually met for the first time during filming. Following his release, Svea and Joseph checked into a hotel to celebrate their very first night together - but soon ran into accommodation clashes. He moved into his cousin's basement in Michigan and, after Svea moved back to Germany, he seemingly struggled with life on the outside which left her questioning if the felon even had time for her anymore. But theirs was a familiar tale. Hairdresser Erin, 33, explained how she was preparing to relocate from Brisbane, Australia, to move in with boyfriend Michael in Ohio once he was released from prison. She later dropped the bombshell that this meant she would also be leaving her son behind with his father in order to pursue the new relationship. Hairdresser Erin, 33, explained how she was preparing to relocate from Brisbane, Australia, to move in with boyfriend Michael in Ohio once he was released from prison 'He means the world to me but right now I think that at this point in his schooling it would be a bad time to uproot him. 'It's important that he has that stability while I am building stability in America,' she reasoned. Having dated the convict long distance for three years, Erin said: 'This is definitely the most serious relationship I have had... 'He is just such a lovely, warm, funny person and it's just sucks that he is there - but I'm just so glad he wants to be with me because I don't know how anyone could not fall in love with him.' Michael, 43, was sentenced to 8.5 years behind bars on charges of robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property. And it is not his first stint in prison. Michael, 43, (pictured with Erin) was sentenced to 8.5 years behind bars on charges of robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property Erin shared: 'Michael's been incarcerated before. His first sentence was 15 years. He got out and went back a year later.' Asked if she was worried he would make the same mistake again, she explained: 'He's a lot older now... He says now he has something more to live for and to work towards,' in reference to herself. But their relationship has not been without its hurdles. Michael proposed to Erin immediately after his release, following a short stint in a halfway house, and the duo quickly began building a life together but it appears his outbursts towards his fiance put too much pressure on their relationship. Elsewhere, postal worker Emma, 32, from London, was also seen jetting off to tie the knot with 33-year-old Curtis - after exchanging messages for more than two years. He was serving seven years at St Louis Correctional Facility in Michigan for car jacking and possession of a firearm. She explained: 'The reason that I actually even wrote to Curt in the first place... not even that long ago I was in a terrible relationship. It was a violent relationship. 'I really didn't want to be with anybody. I didn't want to be with anybody physically, I didn't want to date. 'Writing to a prisoner allowed me to be who I am and grow as a person but it was on my terms.' Emma said Curtis proposed just six months after she first started writing to him. Elsewhere, postal worker Emma, 32, from London, was also seen jetting off to tie the knot with 33-year-old Curtis Fighting back the tears, the lovesick bride-to-be dished: 'As much as people always say to me "you must have saved Curt," he also saved me - and I don't think people see that' Fighting back the tears, the lovesick bride-to-be dished: 'As much as people always say to me "you must have saved Curt," he also saved me - and I don't think people see that.' Emma said that the couple had to get married while the inmate was still behind bars - rather than waiting for his release - to ensure she can get the correct visa by the time he is a free man. She shared that she spends about $2,500 per trip to see her fiance and works seven days a week to be able to save up funds for the journey. 'The time and the money involved is a lot,' Emma explained. 'Have I ever thought "why am I doing this?" Every day. 'I'm too far invested now to give up. Mama didn't raise no quitter.' Explaining the situation to her parents, Emma said of Curtis' crimes: 'He did car jacking and had a firearm on him which isn't that scary because everyone in America has a firearm. 'It was just the car jacking and the car jacking itself was like a family feud type thing... I don't really see like a victim of his crime. He's not a mass murderer.' Dishing on how they have been able to take their relationship to the next level, Emma divulged: 'Being with somebody that is incarcerated, there are very limited ways that you can be intimate. 'I like to use my imagination and he likes to use his - and we like to exchange "spicy letters."' In one such exchange, Emma received an outline of Curtis' penis, adding: 'They like to draw around their private parts in prison apparently and send it in the mail.' But their relationship was also put to the test. An upcoming documentary is set to delve into the chilling case of a seemingly doting daughter who carried out a plot to execute her own parents in a crime that shook a quiet Canadian town. Jennifer Pan, who lived in the upscale neighborhood of Markham, had spent nearly a decade weaving a web of lies to cover up her falling grades and forbidden romance - until her parents began to untangle the truth. Her mother Bich Ha and father Huei Hann, who had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, eventually confronted her before Jennifer plotted to have them killed in a fake home invasion. The then 24-year-old shelled out $10,000 for assailants to enter the family home and shoot her parents in the head - but miraculously her father survived. Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the sordid details as Netflix's What Jennifer Did gets set to unravel the case. Jennifer Pan, who lived in the upscale neighborhood of Markham, had spent nearly a decade weaving a web of lies to cover up her falling grades and forbidden romance - u ntil her parents began to untangle the truth Her mother Bich Ha and father Huei Hann, who had arrived in Toronto as refugees from Vietnam, eventually confronted her before Jennifer plotted to have them killed in a fake home invasion Jennifer, who was a first-generation Canadian, had excelled both as a student and as an ice skater in her formative years, according to school friends who previously spoke to Toronto Life. However, she later stopped dedicating herself to her studies when she was 'snubbed' for a valedictorian award for her eighth grade class. Her grades began to slide to the point where she was averaging 70 per cent in all of her classes except music by the first year of high school - but she kept her parents in the dark. Karen Ho, who went to the same elementary school as Jennifer, told the outlet that Hann was the 'classic tiger dad' who gave up everything to move to the US and labored at a tool manufacturing job so that his two children could have a better life. Like many immigrant parents, he expected his children to perform at the top of their class so that they could get into the best colleges that would lead them to high-paid careers. Afraid for her parents to find out that she was slipping, Jennifer decided to forge her report cards to show straight As using old progress reports, scissors, glue and a copy machine. For the most part, Jennifer was actually getting Bs which was 'respectable for most kids but unacceptable in her strict household,' according to Ho. Her grades were good enough to get her into Ryerson University on early admission, and she told her parents that she would spend two years there studying science before transferring to the more prestigious University of Toronto to study pharmacology like her father had always wanted. The then 24-year-old shelled out $10,000 for assailants to enter the family home (pictured) and shoot her parents in the head - but miraculously her father survived The intruders dragged Hann out of his room and down into the living room, while pretending to be staging a home invasion by tying Jennifer's hands to a bannister The group stole some money hidden around the home and then led the parents to the basement where each was shot multiple times However, in her last semester Jennifer failed calculus, which kept her from graduating and Ryerson withdrew their admission offer. Instead of fessing up, the student continued to go about as if nothing was wrong. She accepted her father's offer of a new laptop, started buying used biology and physics textbooks and even pretended to attend freshman week in September. As for questions about how she was paying for college, Jennifer doctored papers saying she had received a loan and told her parents she had won a $3,000 scholarship. When classes started, Jennifer took public transport downtown every day, where instead of attending lectures, she would go to public libraries and take notes on topics she thought she would be learning in her first-year science classes. And it was a pretense that Jennifer kept up for two whole years. He r father started asking about transferring to the University of Toronto and she again fed her parents a lie by saying she had been accepted. She convinced them to let her stay with a friend downtown a few days of the week when in fact she was living at her high school sweetheart's house. Another two years passed, and it was time for Jennifer to 'graduate' from University of Toronto. This time, she and boyfriend Daniel Wong found someone to forge a straight-A college transcript. She then told her parents that because of over-crowding at the school, each student was only allowed one guest at graduation, so she gave her ticket to a friend, not wanting to make one of her parents feel left out. But her near-decade of deceit eventually came crashing down when she told her parents that she had gotten a volunteer job working in the blood-testing lab at SickKids hospital. Police found splatters of blood trailed throughout the house as one investigator branded it as 'something we had never seen before' Jennifer told police in interviews: 'All I could hear was my dad screaming on the street. I was yelling at him but he wouldn't come in' Her father grew suspicious after he noticed she had neither a uniform nor a key card to get into the building. Hann decided to take matters into his own hands and one day insisted o n dropping her off at work before having his wife tail Jennifer inside the hospital where she was nowhere to be found. The next morning, he then called the friend that Jennifer was supposed to be living with and found out that she never stayed there. Ultimately, the Pans confronted their daughter and she conceded that she had never attended the University of Toronto and had been staying at her boyfriend's house. Hann felt betrayed and had initially banished his daughter from the house before his wife convinced him to let her stay with a strict set of ground rules. For the first two weeks, Jennifer was banned from using her computer and cellphone and after that time was up her parents had to be in her presence when using them. Forbidden from seeing her boyfriend, their relationship began to fall apart and Wong started seeing someone new. Jennifer was left furious but, after briefly rekindling things with Wong, they schemed to have both her parents killed so the young couple could move in together and collect a $500,000 inheritance. Wong introduced Jennifer to one of the hit men, Lenford Crawford, who agreed to do the hit for $10,000. But Wong soon decided to return to his other girlfriend and asked Jennifer if she still wanted to go through with the hit, to which she replied: 'I want it for me.' On November 8, 2010, Jennifer's mother had been watching TV and her father was sleeping in his room. It was at this point that she is said to have texted the killers and signaled for them to come into the house. Boyfriend Daniel Wong (pictured) introduced Jennifer to one of the hit men who agreed to do the hit for $10,000 Eric Carty (left) and David Mylvaganam (right) were both found guilty of their involvement in the crime and sentenced to time behind bars Crawford and his associates David Mylvaganam and Eric Carty walked in through the unlocked front door - each bearing their own gun. The intruders dragged Hann out of his room and down into the living room, while pretending to be staging a home invasion by tying Jennifer's hands to a bannister. The group stole some money hidden around the home and then led the parents to the basement where each was shot multiple times. Her mother died of a point-blank gunshot wound. H er father was shot in the face - but miraculously survived. The killers fled and Jennifer pulled out a cellphone from her waistband to call 911. She sounded panicked and out of breath as she told the operator: 'Help me, please. I need help. I don't know where my parents are. 'Some people broke into our house and stole all this money. I could hear my parents yelling. Please send help.' In subsequent police interviews Jennifer said she 'heard two pops,' adding: 'My mom screamed. I yelled out for her. And a couple more pops. 'All I could hear was my dad screaming on the street. I was yelling at him but he wouldn't come in. 'I don't know if he didn't hear me. He just wouldn't come in.' Police found splatters of blood trailed throughout the house as one investigator branded it as 'something we had never seen before.' When Hann woke up from a medically-induced three-day coma, he told investigators details of the home invasion that put the eye of suspicion on Jennifer. Netflix's What Jennifer Did is set to be released on April 10 He said that he saw his daughter talking to one of the men 'like a friend' and that her arms were not tied behind her back while she was being led around the house. Investigators bought the then 24-year-old in for questioning and she quickly admitted to hiring the men to kill both her parents. However, she claimed that her relationship with her dad mended and she called the murder-suicide plot off and had nothing to do with what happened. Police did not believe her story and she was ultimately charged. Pan, 28, was convicted of first-degree murder as well as attempted murder in December 2014. She was found guilty alongside boyfriend Wong and two thugs she hired to help carry out her plot - Crawford and Mylvaganam. All four got life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years on the murder conviction and life for attempted murder with the sentences to be served concurrently. Judge Cary Boswell said at the time that he handed down the maximum sentence for attempted murder because Hann only survived the 'crime of terrifying violence' through sheer luck. 'Each of the offenders knew that he or she was involved in a murder plot,' and understood the 'abject immorality' of it, Boswell said. Pan's family members did not attend the trial but both her father and brother sent written statements. Hann wrote: 'When I lost my wife, I lost my daughter at the same time. On the day Bich died, I feel I died too.' He said he could no longer work and had been unable to return to the family home since the attack - adding that it was also impossible to sell the house because the murder case was so widely known. 'I hope my daughter Jennifer thinks about what happened to her family and can become a good, honest person someday,' he added. Pan's brother Felix said the murders would follow him the rest of his life. Carty was tried later but was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder after co-operating with the Crown and admitting to the plot. He was given 18 years. Following his sentencing he was fatally stabbed in prison, according to reports. Netflix's What Jennifer Did is set to be released on April 10 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un used a Russian-made private car, gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a public event, for the first time this week in "clear proof" of the two nations' friendly ties, his sister said Saturday. Last month, North Korea said Putin sent a Russian-made car for personal use to the North's leader as a gift demonstrating the special bond between the two leaders. Russia said the car is the Aurus Senat limousine. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, said the North's leader used the car during an open event Friday, without elaborating, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "I am very pleased that the supreme leader of our Party and state uses the special private car sent by the head of state of Russia as a gift," she said in a statement carried by the KCNA. Kim said the special function of the private car was "perfect and can be thoroughly trusted," noting that the gift is clear proof showing the North Korea-Russia friendship developing "in a comprehensive way on a new high stage." Russia's sending of a luxury car to North Korea is a breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the supply, sale and transfer of luxury goods, including automobiles, to Pyongyang. Putin showed his presidential Aurus Senat limousine to Kim in September last year, when the North's leader visited Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome for a summit, and offered him the opportunity to take a seat in the Russian-made luxury vehicle. North Korea and Russia have deepened military cooperation amid suspicions that Pyongyang has provided munitions and artillery to Moscow for use in Russia's war in Ukraine. (Yonhap) They were also surprised by the Spanish pronunciation of clothing brand Zara The biggest differences were how Swedish brand Ikea is pronounced in Sweden While many of the same brands exist in different countries, the pronunciation of them are all somewhat different. To demonstrate how differently a word can be pronounced, six different people from Europe and America discussed how they say different words. A person representing Germany, Italy, France, Italy, Sweden, Spain and the United States all shared how certain brands and makes of luxury cars were said in their home countries While in English, most people pronounce the Swedish furniture store giant Ikea as 'Eye-key-ah' - in European countries, different vowels are elongated. Six women from different countries around the world compared their pronunciations of popular brand names to reveal which is the correct way of saying them The pronunciation of Ikea and Zara were the two brands with the most shocking pronunciation According to Hanna, from Sweden, the store isn't pronounced how we think, explaining the Swedes say: 'Eh-kay-ah.' 'We pronounce the "E" very hard and long' Hanna explained. 'But when I speak English I always pronounce it "eye-key-ah."' The girls from France, Germany, Spain and Italy agreed, with the only person pronouncing the name any different being Virginia, from the US. The next shocking pronunciation was Spanish clothing brand Zara, with native Spanish speaker Carol revealing it's actually said with a 'th' sound instead of 'Z'. 'It's actually called "th-er-ra,"' Carol explained. As for Germany and Italy, they pronounce the Z a lot harder, with Germany putting more emphasis on the 'a', making it sound like 'za-ah-ra.' French was similar to the English pronunciation, just with the Z running into the rest of the word a bit more. Meanwhile. Swedish speakers say the Z and an S- almost sounded like 'Sora.' Jessica (pictured) from Germany said Volkswagen was pronounced 'fau-vey' or 'folks-wagon' in her home country While in English, most people pronounce the Swedish furniture store giant Ikea as 'Eye-key-ah' - in European countries, different vowels are elongated Jessica (left) from Germany observed the the French pronunciation was the closest to how it's said in her home country German car Audi was next, which is said 'ow-dee' in German, English, Spanish and Italian - with only the French pronouncing it slightly different as 'oodi' Next up was cars, with the European countries having different names for an automobile - which they pointed out is In Germany, they say auto, in Sweden; bil, Spanish; coche (kort-eh), while Italians have many words, with auto or automobile used, but the most common is macchina (mack-in-a) and the French use auto, automobile or voiture (vort-chure). The group then compared how they popular German car makes, starting with luxury car, Mercedes-Benz. In Germany, according to Jessica, they say 'mert-say-dez-bends,' with a slightly shorter 'Mer' at the start of the world. 'We pronounce the Z very hard,' she explained. 'So the Z is like set, almost.' In Sweden, the 'ced' switches to a 'sh' sound - making it sound like 'mer-shay-dees-bends', while the Spanish say 'Mer-they-des-bends', Italian say 'mer-chay-dees-bends', and the French simply say, 'Mercedes.' Another German car was up next - BMW - or Bayerische Motoren Werke. 'In English we just saw BMW,' Virginia, from the US, laughed. Many of the other countries said they pronounce the 'W' with a 'V', making it 'BMV.' Volkswagen was next, which Jessica from Germany said was pronounced 'fau-vey' or 'folks-wagon' in her home country. In Sweden, it's pronounced with a softer 's' - 'volts-wagon', in Spain it's 'vols-wagon' - with the 'V' almost sounding like a 'B', Italians say 'volts-vagon' - with a 'V' sounding 'W' - and the French similar to Germans - with a softer 'V'. 'I think the most similar is probably French,' Jessica said, while Vittoria from Italy observed that Italian's don't use the letter 'K' much - making their pronunciation of Volkswagen much different. In Germany, the Z is harder and they say 'mert-say-dez-bends,' with a slightly shorter 'Mer' at the start of the word Lamborghini was said similarly in all countries - with some slightly elongated vowels - while in France, it was said more like 'lom-bor-geen-ee' German car Audi was next, which is said 'ow-dee' in German, English, Spanish and Italian - with only the French pronouncing it slightly different as 'oodi'. Porsche was up next, pronounced as 'poor-shay' in Germany. Swedes also say 'poor-shay', while Americans, Italians and Spaniards pronounce the luxury car as 'poor-sh.' Italian car Ferrari was pronounced similarly all around, with the exception of the European's ability to roll their 'r's and the slight exaggeration of the 'I' at the end of the word. While Fiat was more-or-less said the same all around - 'fee-at' - there were some differences in Italian make Maserati. In Germany, the 'S' sound has a harder 'Z', as is the same in Italian, in Sweden it's a softer 'S', which the French and Spanish also adopt. Lamborghini was said similarly in all countries - with some slightly elongated vowels - while in France, it was said more like 'lom-bor-geen-ee'. Volvo was also said somewhat similar, with the two 'Os' said slightly differently in Swedish. 'The first 'O' is more like the 'oar' sound,' Hanna explained. 'The last 'O' is kind of like 'oo'.' Bugatti - often pronounced as 'boogaatee' - was again, said similarity apart from in French, where the 'gaa' was replaced by 'gee', making it 'boo-gee-tee.' When it comes to style, we are all inspired by what we see; whether it be a well-dressed celebrity, a blow-your-mind catwalk presentation or even a fashionable passerby. As fashion editors, we're moved by all of the above, and then some. We're exposed to under-the-radar labels; we get a first-hand look at collections months before they hit stores; we attend VIP events; we're tapped into brands with chic-yet-cheap offerings and we shop a lot. To share our knowledge, FEMAIL brings you Style Swoon, a weekly series of the latest, greatest and on the verge. We hope this Friday series will serve as a buying guide and point of inspiration for all. Today we focus on must-see product launches and chic industry parties. Rachel Zoe celebrates CURATEURs Spring Supper with a Tanqueray Martini in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, March 12th I am woman, hear me roar In celebration of Womens History Month, Rachel Zoe and Fairmont Century Plaza teamed up to organize a soiree in honor of bold and fearless women. Zoe looked amazing in an animal print pant set accessorized with multiple heavy handed necklaces for the evening. Guests like Victoria Justice - in a two tone dress featuring a big white bow - where there to celebrate the latest cover of CURATEUR featuring Julianne Hough. Cover girl Julianne turned heads in a red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Signature Tanqueray cocktails were served, including the Tanqueray Dry Martini, French 75, and Cucumber & Mint Tanqueray & Tonic. Victoria Justice raises a toast to CURATEURs Spring Supper with a Tanqueray French 75 Julianne Hough celebrates her cover feature on CURATEUR Spring Issue in a stunning red dress Salon-style nails at home On Friday, March 15th, Nicki Minaj launched her first-ever luxurious press-on nail brand, Pink Friday Nails. Inspired by her own press-on problems the nails never fit her, and the designs werent good enough the rap star sensation partnered with her actual nail technician Yvett G to design the brands product and oversee production. The collection includes 11 dynamic designs in a wide range of colorways, from matte and chrome bases to camo patterns, and much more. There are four custom shapes stiletto, coffin, square, and almond in five lengths, including short, medium, long, XL, and XXL/ Customers can order a design in their favorite length and shape - a first in the press-on market. On Friday, March 15th, Nicki Minaj launched her first-ever luxurious press-on nail brand, Pink Friday Nails The collection includes 11 dynamic designs in a wide range of colorways, from matte and chrome bases to camo patterns, and much more The vegan and cruelty-free brand was first dreamed up when Nicki became a mother and switched to press-ons. 'When I became a mom, I couldnt spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, QUALITY press-on nails,' said Nicki Minaj. 'I told my team when we started Pink Friday Nails that if I dont want to wear them, Im not going to even attempt to sell them because our customers arent stupid. 'Pink Friday Nails are the ACTUAL nails I wear designed by my ACTUAL nail tech. And I have VERY small nail beds, so normally press-ons are way too big and dont hit the same. 'Our nails come from short to the longest length I wear, in ALL shapes, all sizes, and polishes.' 'When I became a mom, I couldnt spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, QUALITY press-on nails,' said Nicki Minaj Some of the brands limited-edition designs are only available in small quantities and feature as many as 300-400 gems and charms on a single set For the launch collection, Nicki recreated her press-on set that famously fell off during the MTV VMAs and was later sold on eBay for $55,000. Some of the brands limited-edition designs are only available in small quantities and feature as many as 300-400 gems and charms on a single set. The brand offers a high-end look at a very affordable price with sets retailing for $19.99-$24.99. The brand offers a high-end look at a very affordable price with sets retailing for $19.99-$24.99 Fashion for a cause Footwear designer Kenneth Cole and Happy Jack celebrated a second limited edition collection in support of mental health. The collection will launch on March 20th on International Day of Happiness. 100% of net proceeds will go to The Happy Jack Foundation in support of the University of Denver to continue The Jack Nathan Scholarship for The Arts Program. 'Happy Jack' is Jack Nathan, a selfless, creative soul who eased his anxiety and depression via art therapy and by letting those with the same challenges know they are never alone. After Jack passed suddenly and accidentally at the age of 19, due to accidental fentanyl poisoning, his devoted family and friends continue his hope-fueled mission to end the stigma associated with depression, an illness that is often misunderstood. Kenneth Cole and Happy Jack celebrated a second limited edition collection in support of mental health As a founder of The Mental Health Coalition, designer Kenneth Cole thought collaborating with Happy Jack was the perfect way to start mental health conversations with new audiences As a founder of The Mental Health Coalition, designer Kenneth Cole thought collaborating with Happy Jack was the perfect way to start mental health conversations with new audiences. The unisex collection is geared towards the GEN Z consumer and features an embroidered crewneck ($125) and sweat shorts ($65) set, striped t-shirt ($50), bucket hat ($40) and tube socks ($20). To remind us all to check in on those who may be struggling and to promote more open conversations, items in the collection feature the question, Happy?. The unisex collection is geared towards the GEN Z consumer and features an embroidered crewneck ($125) and sweat shorts ($65) set, striped t-shirt ($50), bucket hat ($40) and tube socks ($20) 100% of net proceeds will go to The Happy Jack Foundation in support of the University of Denver to continue The Jack Nathan Scholarship for The Arts Program An elegant rebrand On Tuesday, March 12th Rue Sophie Co-Founder and Creative Director, Sabina Vilusic, celebrated the label's rebrand and Spring/Summer 2024 collection with an intimate dinner at La Mercerie located at 53 Howard in New York City. Joining the party was Leandra Medine Cohen, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Ugbad Abdi, Ella Emhoff, Audrey Hilfiger, Arianna Margulis, Abi Hoffman, and Linh Niller Skvortsova, among others. Dressed in designs by the the luxury label, guests mingled before being guided to their assigned seats at a long, stunning table. On Tuesday, March 12th Rue Sophie Co-Founder and Creative Director, Sabina Vilusic, celebrated the label's rebrand and Spring/Summer 2024 collection with an intimate dinner at La Mercerie located at 53 Howard The simple-yet-chic table setting included white tulips and candles as centerpieces on brand with the elegantly understated collection The simple-yet-chic table setting included white tulips and candles as centerpieces on brand with the elegantly understated collection. A message from the label: 'We craft garments made to seamlessly transition with youemphasizing utility, sophistication, and lasting relevance. Meant for both deliberate dressing and ad hoc adaptability, Rue Sophie is for traversing the familiar and the new; for transcending the sum of simple parts.' Joining Sabina at the party was Leandra Medine Cohen and Freya Drohan, among others Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, it has been reported. Neither the Prince or Princess of Wales are expected to be in attendance at the Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate's planned surgery, which took place in January. The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since, only emerging on Mother's Day to share a family photograph which became the source of heightened speculation when it emerged the image was edited. Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate has missed the St Patrick's Day parade. She has attended every other parade since 2012. But despite her lack of attendance, Kate, who became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honoured by soldiers at the Mons Barracks. Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, it has been reported A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother-of-three their best wishes, and give three cheers to the princess at the end of their celebratory parade. MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment. At last year's St Patrick's Day parade, Kate gave a short speech. 'I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do this is a responsibility I do not take lightly,' she said. 'I look forward to spending more time with you and your families, seeing your commitment to duty and service in all you do. 'Before I close, however, I want to thank Colonel William. He has always talked about his fierce pride for this Regiment. 'I know he will continue to support us all in the work we do.' Prince William became honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022. Neither the Prince of Princess of Wales are expected to be in attendance at the Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate's planned surgery, which took place in January. Pictured: Latest sighting of Kate Middleton The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since, only emerging on Mother's Day to share a family photograph Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate has missed the St Patrick's Day parade. She has attended every other parade since 2012 Despite her lack of attendance, Kate, who became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honoured by soldiers at the Mons Barracks It comes as our Royal Editor Rebecca English said the Princess of Wales is likely 'very distressed by the fallout' after she admitted digitally editing a family portrait taken by Prince William. The picture was released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother's Day on Sunday and prompted an apology from Kate, which Rebecca said was 'honest and heartfelt'. The princess who has not been seen at a public royal event since Christmas Day - was 'simply was trying to put out a nice picture of her children', Rebecca added. She also said she hoped 'lessons have been learnt internally' at Kensington Palace but that the public should 'accept the apology equally graciously and move on'. A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother-of-three their best wishes, and give three cheers to the princess at the end of their celebratory parade At last year's St Patrick's Day parade, Kate gave a short speech to the Irish Guards Prince William became honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022 Last year, the Princess of Wales enjoyed sips of Guinness after she paid tribute to her husband Prince William at the Irish Guards' St Patrick's Day parade in Hampshire. Kate wore a turquoise coat which matched the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards' blue plume, and sipped on a pint of 'the black stuff' with her husband after making an emotive speech. The princess said: 'I really couldn't be prouder to stand in front of you here today. It really is a true honour to be your Colonel. I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.' Meanwhile William said that being Colonel of the Irish Guards has been one of the 'great honours of my life'. The newly-wed was shopping for her honeymoon when Drs gave their diagnosis A bride has told how her horror 'hangover' ended up being a sign of MS. Emily McColgan-Upfold, from Northern Ireland, found herself struggling to bend down the day after her hen-do in March 2023. Understandably, she assumed that she was experiencing nothing more than a few aches from the night before. But over the next few weeks and months, the 30-year-olds strength, balance, vision, hearing and speech rapidly deteriorated. Demanding answers over the cause of her bizarre symptoms, Mrs McColgan-Upfold, who works in education, sought medical help. Emily McColgan-Upfold, from Northern Ireland , found herself struggling to bend down the day after her hen-do in March 2023 Then just three days before she was due to marry her partner of 11 years, Stephen, in May, concerned medics rushed her in for an emergency MRI. This left the bride-to-be's wedding day in tatters as she nervously awaited the results. Her wedding to Stephen went ahead as planned although Mrs McColgan-Upfold was 'anxious about falling' and 'couldn't really walk steadily'. Her results, telling her that she had MS, came just days after tying the knot, while she was at the airport about to fly off on honeymoon to Greece. Recalling the moment, Mrs McColgan-Upfold told MailOnline: 'I cried and completely broke down. WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability. MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide - including around one million in the US, and 100,000 in the UK. It is more than twice as common in women as it is in men. A person is usually diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European ancestry. The cause isn't clear. There may be genes associated with it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning. The majority of sufferers will have episodes of symptoms which go away and come back, while some have ones which get gradually worse over time. Symptoms can be managed with medication and therapy. The condition shortens the average life expectancy by around five to 10 years. Advertisement 'I'm sure people were looking at me, but it was as if time and space had ceased to exist. 'They told me I had enhanced lesions on my brain and spinal cord and demyelination, which was most likely MS. 'I felt like my whole world had just collapsed.' MS is a neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including the problems Mrs McColgan-Upfold suffered before her diagnosis. With MS, the immune system goes haywire and mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath in the brain and spinal cord. The NHS advice page states: 'This is the layer that surrounds your nerves, protecting them and helping electrical signals travel from the brain to the rest of the body. 'Attacks cause the myelin sheath to become inflamed in small patches, which can be seen on an MRI scan. 'These patches of inflammation can disrupt messages travelling along the nerves. It can slow them down, jumble them, send them the wrong way, or stop them getting through completely.' Even before diagnosis, the worrying symptoms tarnished what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of Mrs McColgan-Upfold's life. 'Our wedding day was supposed to be such a special, happy day, but it had such an ominous grey cloud hanging over it,' she said. 'I thought I'd be more excited and giddy with nerves, but instead, I was very aware of not giving it away that I was in pain and exhausted. 'I had bad muscle weakness due to the numbness, so I was anxious about falling and I struggled to get into my dress, so my mum had to help me. 'I [also] couldn't really walk steadily or hold anything too heavy in my left hand, I had migraines and dizziness on and off and had constant back, hip, and leg pain; and I struggled with my hearing and vision.' Mrs McColgan-Upfold said the ordeal has now left her looking back on her big day with 'mixed feelings'. 'I just wish I could have felt the way I thought I would, and I feel sad for the girl who was scared of what was to come,' she said. Determined to enjoy her honeymoon in Greece, Mrs McColgan-Upfold waited until she was home before undergoing further tests to decide on her treatment options. While expecting to start treatment for MS soon, Mrs McColgan-Upfold has also made changes to her lifestyle to help with the pain the condition causes including cold water swimming and ice baths. She has also started an Instagram account to document the highs and lows of her journey. 'If you asked me six months ago what my future would look like, I'd have said bedbound or in a wheelchair with no hopes or dreams,' she said. 'An MS diagnosis brings with it a lot of uncertainty. I will never know if I'll relapse again or if my disease will progress, but I have learned we shouldn't really worry about things out of our control. Understandably, she assumed that she was experiencing nothing more than a few aches from the night before 'Yes, things might take me a little longer, sometimes the house won't be as tidy as it used to be but living with MS is just that, living.' Mrs McColgan-Upfold still manages to enjoy life despite occasionally struggling with activities she used to perform without a second thought. 'There are, of course, times I feel sad, especially when there are things I used to be able to do with ease that are now a struggle, such as putting my shoes on, open bottles and jars, cook or prepare a meal and clean my house,' she said. 'But I choose every day to wake up and fight back at MS and to do things that make me happy. The future for me is hopeful.' Mrs McColgan-Upfold said she's hopeful that research will help MS sufferers in the future and plans to help raise awareness for people with the disease. 'I want to continue raising awareness for MS and building a community of chronic illness warriors that uplift and support each other through the good times and the hard times,' she said. 'When I was first diagnosed, I went straight to Google and the images of elderly people in wheelchairs, the horror stories of falling and choking, and discovering the average lifespan of 40 years post-diagnosis sent me spiralling into a dark place where I had given up. 'But if you look, you will find that there are hundreds if not thousands of MS warriors online choosing to find joy every day, choosing to fight back at the stigma, and choosing to keep going despite all the odds. 'They helped me realise that MS doesn't have to be as bad as a Google search tells you it will be. We didn't choose to have MS, but we can choose how we respond to it.' But just three days after tying the knot, while at the airport shopping for sun cream for her honeymoon, she was handed the devastating diagnosis of multiple sclerosis Mrs McColgan-Upfold hopes other people diagnosed with MS keep in mind it's not the end. 'For people who have MS or have recently been diagnosed with MS I would love them to know that MS is of course a life-changing diagnosis but it doesn't have to be life-ending,' she said. 'It certainly doesn't have to be the end of your hopes and dreams.' Scientists are still trying to unpick exactly what triggers MS. It is currently suspected to be caused by a combination of genetics and an outside factor or factors. Theories include a lack of vitamin D, exposure to smoking, teenage obesity and a consequence of viral infections. For reasons experts don't yet understand, women are two to three times more likely to develop MS than men. MS typically develops when people between their 20s and 40s, though it can strike at any age. There is no cure and treatments instead focus on controlling and easing MS's numerous symptoms as well as slowing its progression, if this is possible. Treatment depends on the type of MS a patient has. Relapsing remitting MS is the most common type, accounting for 8 to 9 out of every 10 cases. Someone with this type of MS can have episodes where new or worsening MS symptoms return in intermittent bursts. Periods between relapses, which can last years in some cases are called remission. The other type of MS is called primary progressive. In this type, there are no relapses or periods of remission, symptoms just get progressively worse. People with relapsing remitting MS can also go to develop the progressive form of the condition, this is called secondary progressive MS. Specific MS treatments, which includes both drugs and therapies, varies by individual depending on their symptoms and the specific nature of their condition. Medicines designed to reduce the frequency or severity of relapses, as well as potentially slowing down the progression of MS, are divided into two broad types. First line treatments are those which are less effective overall but have fewer, potentially debilitating, side effects. Second line treatments are the opposite, more effective but with higher risk of suffering powerful side effects. These treatments are typically only given to people with relapsing remitting MS as they don't typically benefit people with the progressive form who still suffer the side effects regardless. An estimated 130,000 people in the UK have MS according to charity MS Society UK, with 7,000 people diagnosed each year. About 1milion Americans are also thought to have MS. When Arslan Zhunus, 27, moved into his East London houseboat in June 2022, he didnt imagine that Annie Leibovitz would come calling. Best known for shooting covers for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Leibovitz is one of the worlds most famous photographers, and it would be reasonable to assume that the banks of the River Lea arent her home turf. Yet, she insists, when I meet her in Paris, it makes no difference to her whether she is working for the house of Windsor (she was the first American invited to photograph Queen Elizabeth II) or on a barge. I didnt go about this shoot in any different way than I would if I was shooting a well-known person. I know it sounds corny but were all people. The portrait is part of a collection commissioned by Ikea to celebrate the places that people call home. Whether it was a multigenerational dwelling in India or a plant-filled apartment in Italy, Leibovitz tells me she felt a deep respect for her sitters. You have to tread lightly before entering a small space. Remember, we are their guests; this is their home. Visual artist Zhunus says, The whole process took no more than 50 minutes and I felt so engaged. Annie immediately knew what she wanted and was so lovely and spoke with me the whole time, so I wasnt even aware she was taking photos. See the full collection of portraits at lifeathome.ikea.com At the time of writing, the contents of my freezer include a sad-looking, half-empty packet of peas; two jumpers (moths); a haphazardly filled ice-cube tray; and a loaf of sliced bread inside a plastic bag with an enormous rip down the middle. Kate Halls freezer is rather more aspirational. The drawers are arranged by category dairy, cupboard, bakery, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, raw meat and within those categories, individual groups of food are packaged separately in sealable plastic bags. (Hall likes the ones from Ikea, which cost 2 for 25 and can be reused.) These bags are then labelled and dated. In January, Hall went on BBCs Morning Live. When presenter Gethin Jones saw a picture of her freezer he gasped and said, Its like a Filofax! Hall, 38, is a freezer expert based in Kent. Her Instagram account @thefullfreezer, where she shares freezer tips, has 68,000 followers. When Hall announced her debut guidebook, The Full Freezer Method, on social media, it went to number one on the Amazon home guides bestseller list thanks to pre-orders alone. Hall got into freezing after having her second child. She was wasting so much food and money and didnt have time for batch cooking. But she did have time to, say, chop up a pepper and stick it in the freezer. Soon she started doing this with all the food that was about to go off in her fridge. It was like finding a magical pause button, she says. Kate Hall's ice trays are filled with things like leftover hummus or coffee. She even keeps eggs, which she has lightly beaten and then poured carefully into the trays Intrigued, Hall wanted to find out just how much she could freeze and in what ways. So she took a restaurant-level food hygiene course online to learn what was safe and unsafe, then got freezing. The first trick, says Hall, is to make sure the food is flattened when you pack it into the plastic bags that way itll defrost faster and you can fit more bags in your freezer. Although, she warns, a freezer must never be too crammed: You want it to be about 70 per cent full, so that it doesnt have to work too hard. So, for example, a 70 to 100-litre freezer should be filled with about a carrier bags worth of shopping. Hall is also strict about how long cooked foods should cool before you freeze them: most dishes need about two hours while rice should have an hour. As for optimum freezer temperatures, Hall thinks about -18C. And, she says, although food can be kept in a freezer indefinitely, it is at its best eaten within three to six months. Alongside her flat-packed bags, Hall keeps space to open-freeze on trays. She chops up bananas or cooked chunks of chicken, open-freezes them then decants the results into plastic bags. Crisps straight from the freezer are nicer than fresh Ice trays are filled with things like leftover hummus or coffee. Hall even keeps eggs, which she has lightly beaten and then poured carefully into the trays. There is about one egg in every two cubes. Apparently they freeze brilliantly. Who knew? Whisked eggs and hummus arent the only strange things inside Halls freezer. She keeps peeled, parboiled potatoes which, once defrosted, she roasts (an excellent time-saver for Sunday lunch); lemons (she says frozen ones are easier to zest); filled sandwiches she has pre-made (perfect for packed lunches); nuts (for snacks); even crisps. If you have a load of half-eaten packets of crisps left over from a party, just pour them into a plastic bag and stick it in the freezer, says Hall. You shouldnt then decant all of the crisps into a bowl at room temperature theyre going to go stale really quickly but theyre excellent if you just want a handful on a Friday night with a gin and tonic. Actually, says Hall, Eating crisps straight from the freezer when theyre really cold, is, I think, nicer than eating them fresh. They are so crunchy. After our interview, I try a frozen crisp for myself. Its odd at first, but then quite tasty. The only snag is that I very rarely just have a handful of crisps. But that is a me problem, not a freezer problem. What cant be frozen, then? Almost nothing, says Hall, although mayonnaise and any sort of emulsion sauce doesnt freeze because it separates once defrosted. Other dairy products will split, too, as the fats separate from the water, but you can recombine them by blitzing in a food processor, heating them, using them in cooking or, sometimes, giving them a really good shake. Hall also warns against freezing any food you havent cooked yourself for instance, takeaways as you dont know how many times it has been cooked or cooled. (You should only do either once.) Hall estimates that she saves 1,000 a year by freezing food that otherwise would have been binned. Its good for the environment, too; the UK wastes 9.5 million tonnes of food a year. A proportion of that will end up in a landfill, where it rots and releases methane. Humans have been freezing food for a long time. In 1,000 BC, Chinese emperors commissioned subterranean ice cellars so they could store ice and food over the summer. There are still four ancient examples in Beijings Forbidden City; made from stone, theyre about two metres high, 11 metres long and more than six metres wide, with walls that are two metres thick. Hall would love them. More recently, frozen food has gone gourmet. At Waitrose you can buy 200g of frozen miso butter for 3.50. The Times calls it a wonder product and umami bomb. And UK brand The Truffle Company sells black winter truffles the underground kind, not chocolate which can be shaved from frozen. Yours for 39 per 50g. Despite Halls Filofax freezer, she insists shes not perfect. Im just a person that is trying. Im trying really hard! I find people tend to have grown up in a household where its either: We dont waste anything. Or, Oh, is that OK? Im not sure. Ill bin it to be safe. And Im from the latter. Freeze it or fling it? Five foods you can freeze EGGS Crack, whisk then freeze. Perfect for baking, omelettes or scrambled eggs. CRISPS Frozen ones are crispier and tastier, says Hall. FLOUR Weevil bugs can hide in flour but freezing kills their eggs. Eek. COOKED PASTA Just make sure its al dente, to avoid mushiness when defrosting. CITRUS FRUITS Sliced, whole or peeled and segmented. And five foods you cant HARD-BOILED EGGS The whites go rubbery. Yuck. SALAD Freezing salad items separately? Tick. Freezing a ready-made salad? Expect sogginess. JELLY Itll become cloudy and mushy on defrosting (but freezing in lolly moulds and eating while frozen is fine). EMULSION SAUCES Mayonnaise and hollandaise will separate on defrosting. TAKEAWAY LEFTOVERS High-risk, says Hall you dont know how many times its been heated before. The Full Freezer Method by Kate Hall is published by Ebury, 14.99. To order a copy for 12.74 until 31 march, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. free uk delivery on orders over 25. About 20 years before he was roundly defeated at Waterloo, Napoleon allegedly described England as 'a nation of shopkeepers'. The claim was considered offensive, Napoleon got his comeuppance and today, the UK is proud of its retail prowess. In food and drink alone, there are around 90,000 independent stores across the country, catering to our last-minute, local and impulse needs. But we are a nation that loves to grab a coffee, a pint or a bite to eat too, and some 350,000 outlets provide just that service from the Highlands to the Cornish coast. Kitwave helps these businesses to function, delivering food and drink from well-known brands to more than 40,000 corner shops, cafes and caterers nationwide. Choc full of products: Kitwave's range includes Magnum, advertised by Kylie Minogue Petrol forecourts, care homes, gyms and schools are among the group's customer base too but in each case, Kitwave is laser-focused on delivering what businesses want when they need it at a price they can afford. The strategy is working and Kitwave shares, at 3.42, should prove rewarding. Based in North Shields, a few miles from Newcastle, the company started in 1987 with a single cash-and-carry store. Today, almost 5,000 deliveries a day are made from 30 depots. Orders vary in shape and size but Kitwave specialises in small, frequent drop-offs, averaging 350 a go. Chilled and frozen products are particularly popular with retailers, while eateries source almost all their goods from Kitwave, bar fresh meat and fish. The company's range is extensive, with 44,000 individual products, from Magnum ice cream and McCain chips to crisps and Coke to onions and lettuce. Customers do not pay delivery charges so Kitwave makes money by adding a mark-up to the products sold. Margins are small, however, and many businesses prefer to have goods delivered than take trips to cash-and-carry outlets. Results for the 12 months to October 31 prove the point. Sales rose 20 per cent to 602 million, pre-tax profits rose 39 per cent to 25 million and the dividend rose 21 per cent to 11.2p. Looking ahead, there is plenty of potential for continued strong growth. The wholesale market is huge, with annual sales of almost 25 billion, excluding cigarettes. Large players account for more than half of revenues but that still leaves around 10 billion in the hands of independent operators. Here, Kitwave is doing better than most, with growth that far outstrips its peers. The independent market is also deeply fragmented, with hundreds of small players owning one or two depots and serving local customers only. This presents attractive acquisitions for Kitwave, so the group has done 13 deals in recent years and more are expected. Founder Paul Young, 67, is retiring this summer but his successor, Ben Maxted, has been with the business for more than a decade and knows it inside-out. A youthful 40, Maxted is keen to improve profit margins and productivity by making the best use of technology, from route mappers for drivers to headphones that help warehouse workers navigate orders more effectively. Online ordering is on the up too, with average orders growing as customers are presented with a plethora of product options. There is also a pipeline of acquisitions, as Maxted and finance director David Brind have a broad network of contacts and can source deals before they hit the open market. There will be no radical departure from Young's tried and tested formula, however. Delivering thousands of goods to thousands of customers day in, day out is a demanding task. Plenty can go wrong and customers can be fickle. Kitwave's success is built on developing relationships with its suppliers, understanding its customers and ensuring that goods are in stock and delivered on time to the businesses that need them. The company joined Aim in 2021 and is reaping the benefits with greater recognition across its market. Brokers are optimistic about prospects, forecasting sales of 660 million and profits of 29 million for this year, with a dividend of 12.7p. Maxted and Brind are keen to reward shareholders and Kitwave's balance sheet is strong so steady dividend growth is expected. Midas verdict: Kitwave is a North East success story, catering to shopkeepers, cafe owners and dinner ladies. It delivered strong growth as a private company, and has continued in that vein since listing three years ago. At 3.42, the shares are a buy. Traded on: AIM Ticker: KITW Contact: kitwave.co.uk or 0191 259 2277 According to Macfarlane chief executive Peter Atkinson, the true test of a business comes when times are tough. If a company can do well against weak economic conditions, rising prices and falling demand from customers, that business is worth supporting. Atkinson knows of what he speaks. At the helm of this Glasgow-based packaging firm for 20 years, Atkinson has steered Macfarlane through downturns, crises and commodity cycles. Through it all, he and his team have delivered consistent growth in profits and dividends, keeping old customers happy, winning new ones and controlling costs. Going places: Macfarlane is expanding and has started to move into Europe Macfarlane designs and sells packaging for a range of businesses, from retailers such as Dunelm and Ikea, to industrial or healthcare giants such as Siemens and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Competition is fierce but Atkinson prides himself on working closely with customers, saving them money by designing boxes that fit products snugly and protect them. The group has also opened two innovation laboratories to ensure it leads on the packaging front. This part of the business accounts for around three-quarters of its profits. The rest comes from a manufacturing division, which specialises in packaging for high-end, often fragile, products that need care from eye-testing kit to brake lines for aircraft. Most Macfarlane customers are feeling the effects of slow economic growth and consumer caution. This translated into a 3 per cent fall in 2023 sales to 281 million. But the group still increased its pre-tax profits by 10 per cent to 26 million and raise the dividend by 5 per cent to 3.59p. Economic conditions are improving but many businesses remain concerned about the future so Atkinson does not expect a surge in demand any time soon. He is optimistic, however, expecting to deliver continued growth by investing in innovation, working closely with customers and pursuing new ones in resilient markets such as aerospace. Acquisitions boost returns too and last week, Atkinson unveiled his latest purchase, East Anglia-based Allpack, for a price of 3.25 million. More deals are likely, both here and across the Channel. Macfarlane earns most of its money in Britain but has started to move into northern Europe. Brokers expect a small increase in sales and profits this year, accompanied by a rise in the dividend to 3.8p. Longer term, Atkinson is deeply ambitious, eyeing up group sales of 500 million over the next few years. Midas verdict: Midas first recommended Macfarlane in 2012, when the shares were 27p. By 2019, they were 92p and today they are 1.34. Founded 75 years ago from a single room in Glasgow, the business now employs more than 1,000 people and is a top player in its field. Showcasing British resilience at its best, Macfarlane has proved it can deliver for shareholders. A robust, long-term investment. Traded on: Main Market Ticker: MACF Contact: macfarlanegroup.com City bosses have this week written to the Chancellor demanding he scrap bizarre European Union rules that are harming savers. Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of investment firm Abrdn and one of the most respected figures in finance, is among more than 130 money managers to sign the letter to Jeremy Hunt. They argue the controversial EU regulations mean Britain is missing out on 7 billion of money every year that could be ploughed into green energy, fixing roads, rail and building hospitals. The controversial rules are being applied despite Brexit to British investment trusts. Trusts have a long history in the UK dating back to the Victorian era when they funded railways and other engineering projects. Trusts today continue that tradition by investing in areas such as renewable energy, transport and other infrastructure. Looking for a new dawn: The controversial rules are being applied despite Brexit to British investment trusts Sir Douglas Flint, chairman of investment firm Abrdn and one of the most respected figures in finance, is among more than 130 money managers to sign the letter to Jeremy Hunt There are 361 investment trusts on the stock market. Between them, they control 267 billion of assets. Flint and his fellow executives argue that the trusts are being put at risk because of rules that make it look as though the costs of investing are far higher than is really the case. Flint, previously chairman of banking giant HSBC, told The Mail on Sunday the rules were 'a barrier to getting money for the infrastructure we desperately need.' He added: 'We need to make it attractive to invest in the UK and for people to fund infrastructure through their retirement plans.' Justin Dowley, chairman of the FTSE 100-listed Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, also wants Hunt to act because investment trusts are being subjected to rules cooked up by the EU. Despite the UK voting to leave the EU which means there is no need to apply them at all City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is imposing them on firms in draconian style. As a consequence, trusts are in a bizarre situation where many of their costs are being double-counted. Campaigners say this situation is unique to the UK. It has caused a sell-off of investment trusts leaving them starved of cash and vulnerable to foreign takeovers as many of their share prices have tanked. In their letter, published this weekend, the City bosses warn Hunt the rules are 'cutting off' vital funding. Campaigners say the regulations threaten to choke the flow of money into areas the Chancellor hopes to boost, such as renewable energy, science and biotechnology. The letter says: 'This is having adverse effects on investment in the UK and is driving British investors' capital into companies listed overseas, contributing to the poor performance of the UK stock market. This surely cannot be allowed to continue. The UK's interpretation is flawed. Fixing the problem by doing the same as the rest of the world could restore over 7 billion per year of lost investment with no cost to the taxpayer.' It continues: 'We call on the Government and the Financial Conduct Authority to take action now to end this situation immediately and return the UK to a competitive position.' More than 130 money managers have signed a letter to Jeremy Hunt demanding he scrap bizarre European Union rules that are harming savers AJ Bell, one of the UK's largest investment platforms, has also called for the rules to be changed. Senior politicians including ex-pensions minister Baroness Altmann also want an overhaul. Altmann, alongside other peers including Lib Dem Baroness Bowles and Labour's Lord Davies of Brixton, is trying to push legislation through Parliament that would remove investment trusts from these rules. A Treasury spokesman said: 'We recognise industry's concerns and are working at pace with the FCA to reform the UK's retail disclosure regime, including for investment trusts. We'll set out further details on these reforms soon.' A giant Chinese cargo ship lumbers down the West Coast of Africa before making its way around the Cape of Good Hope. The 'BYD Explorer 1' is returning from a potentially game-changing trade mission: to flood Europe with cheaper electric cars, and knock Tesla off its perch. The 200-metre long vessel is two weeks into the return leg of its maiden voyage, having dropped off more than 5,000 vehicles at ports in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Its final destination is Shenzhen in South-East China, whence it set sail more than two months ago. This bustling city near Hong Kong is home to the ship's owner, BYD. This is a company so big it has built its own walled town, complete with an airport-style monorail for workers. The brand which stands for Build Your Dreams is backed by legendary US investor Warren Buffet and is the biggest car manufacturer most Westerners have never heard of. Show piece: BYD launched its all-electric Yangwang U9 three weeks ago to rival Ferrari But that is about to change. BYD recently pipped Elon Musk's Tesla to become the biggest-selling manufacturer of electric cars in the world in the final three months of last year. Some are dubbing BYD the 'Tesla Killer', after it came out on top in a brutal price war in China, a country which builds and buys more electric cars than the rest of the world combined. BYD looks unstoppable. However, old-fashioned protectionism might slam on the brakes. Despite ambitious environmental targets to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars in just over a decade, the UK's Trade Secretary Mark Harper last week said Britain could use 'robust' trade sanctions to prevent China from flooding the market with cheap electric vehicles. And the post-Brexit trade watchdog, the Trade Remedies Authority, has also signalled it is ready to launch an investigation into Chinese EVs. Lawmakers in Europe and the US have baulked at the prospect of their citizens buying cheaper electric cars, subsidised by the People's Republic of China. BYD has received a total of 2 billion in subsidies from the Communist government in Beijing between 2008 and 2022, it said in its annual reports. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen complained in September this was making the price of its cars 'artificially low'. T he company, however, is forging on and the Explorer 1 signals the next logical phase in its quest for global domination. Of the three million cars BYD sold last year, just 243,000 were exported. The slowdown in global sales of electric cars, including in China, has given BYD more urgency to expand overseas. This is why it has commissioned seven more cargo ships, all capable of carrying up to 7,000 electric cars, to take to the high seas within the next two years. It has set up assembly lines in Brazil, Hungary, Thailand and Uzbekistan. More manufacturing plants are in the pipeline in Indonesia and Mexico, which is seen by BYD as a back door into the US market.BYD has a knack for making well-designed vehicles more cheaply than its rivals. The firm recently announced the launch of its cheapest car yet in China a super-mini called the Seagull Honor Edition, costing the equivalent of less than 8,000. It launched its first model in the UK last year, the Atto 3 SUV, which starts at about 36,000, roughly 9,000 less than Tesla's equivalent, the Model Y Europe's best-selling new car last year. BYD's all-electric Yangwang U9 Supercar, with its distinctive scissor doors, was launched three weeks to rival Ferrari and Lamborghini. However, about half of BYD's sales are popular plug-in hybrids, which has helped give it an edge over Tesla as global appetite for electric cars has waned. The company was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu a chemist who came from a poor farming family when he was just 29. Now known as 'the chairman', he made his initial fortune manufacturing mobile phone batteries and other components for Siemens, Nokia and Motorola, before branching out into building cars after buying an assembly plant in Xi'an in central China in 2003. BYD's potential was spotted by Warren Buffett's right-hand man, the late Charlie Munger, in 2008, several years before the company launched its first electric car. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle bought a 10 per cent stake for 181 million. The holding, which has been whittled down to about 8 per cent, is now worth 5.1 billion. Wang scored another major coup in 2016 by poaching Wolfgang Egger, a prominent German car designer who had worked for Alfa Romeo, Audi and Lamborghini. BYD's cars, which until then had a reputation for being unattractive, were given a sleek makeover. A few years later, Wang made a technological breakthrough with the launch of cheaper and more efficient 'Blade' batteries in 2020, which are used by Tesla and Toyota in some of their models. This helped turbo-charge growth at BYD, which has a stranglehold on the supply chain for EV batteries, owning everything from stakes in lithium mines to the battery packs themselves. It reached a key milestone in the final three months of last year, when it sold 526,409 fully electric vehicles, compared with 484,507 sold by Tesla (although the American company still sold more over the course of the year). BYD's meteoric rise has spooked more established car manufacturers around the world. They have clamoured for tougher trade barriers to stem the great Chinese electric car invasion. Musk, who ridiculed the appearance of BYD cars in 2011 when he dismissed them as no threat, has changed his tune. In an earnings call with investors in January, he warned that Chinese car exporters would 'pretty much demolish most other companies in the world' unless new trade tariffs are quickly established. Pushback from Western governments is the biggest threat to BYD's advance. Higher tariffs are on the cards, with the EU launching a probe into whether not just BYD, but also other Chinese car manufacturers such as Geely which owns Volvo and SAIC, which owns MG, benefit from 'hidden' government subsidies, including cheap loans and supplies of steel and electricity. Tariffs of 27.5 per cent on Chinese electric car imports imposed by the Trump regime have helped freeze BYD out of the US market. Earlier this month US president Joe Biden took further steps towards blocking Chinese electric vehicle imports, by warning that internet-connected cars and trucks pose risks to national security. But as things stand, BYD is still in pole position to overtake its rivals. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has guided military drills involving the country's paratroopers and called for full preparations for war, state media said Saturday, in an apparent protest of the latest joint military exercise staged by South Korea and the United States. The training of air-borne military units held Friday was aimed at inspecting paratroopers' readiness to be mobilized for any military operation plan in "surprise wartime circumstances," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim stressed that the "primary duty" of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is to make full preparations for war. "He underlined the need for all the service personnel of the KPA to firmly arm themselves with the strong will against the enemy and thoroughgoing outlook on war that they have to change history without fail if a war breaks out," the KCNA said. Photos carried by the KCNA showed Kim being accompanied by his teen daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, in inspecting the drills. Seoul and Washington wrapped up the annual Freedom Shield exercise on Thursday after staging it for 11 days to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. In response, the North's leader guided military exercises, including artillery firing drills and training involving tank units. The North's leader has defined inter-Korean ties as relations between "two states hostile to each other" and vowed to control the South Korean territory in the event of war. Meanwhile, the North Korean leader attended a ceremony marking the completion of building a greenhouse farm with his daughter on Friday, according to a separate dispatch by the KCNA. The Kangdong Greenhouse Farm, built on the site of a military airfield near Pyongyang, is the third modernized farm built in recent years to grow vegetables amid a chronic food shortage. North Korea built similar greenhouse farms in Hamgyong Province in 2019 and 2022. The latest inspection marked Ju-ae's third public activity in the economy-related sector since she first made a public appearance in November 2022. She mostly accompanied her father to military events. The North's media used the rare expression of "the great persons of guidance" in an apparent reference to Kim Jong-un and Ju-ae. "If the expression means Kim and his daughter, it would be the first time that she been given the status of a great guide (of the country)," said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies. "But given that there has been no personality cult about her and her name has not been publicly mentioned, it does not appear that she has been ultimately anointed as Kim Jong-un's successor," he added. The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, said it sees Ju-ae as Kim Jong-un's "most likely successor," citing her public activities and the level of the North's respect toward her. (Yonhap) Direct Line's chief executive Adam Winslow faces a tough balancing act on Thursday. As well as presenting the insurer's annual financial results, he will need to lay out his roadmap for transforming the business and make the case for fending off further takeover bids from Belgian rival Ageas. He will have had only three weeks to put all this together. Winslow's strategy is expected to include cost-cutting measures and plans to digitise the business. Direct Line was the UK's first telephone-only insurer but has failed to keep up with technology and does not even have an app. Behind the times: Direct Line was the UK's first telephone-only insurer but has failed to keep up with technology and does not even have an app This may be Winslow's first port of call. Fortunately for him, there is at least some good news. Direct Line is expected to announce it returned to profit in 2023, making around 320 million, according to Refinitiv estimates. In 2022 it lost 45 million after being caught by a combination of severe winter weather claims such as burst pipes and a drop in the value of its commercial property investments. This led the company to scrap its final dividend. Within weeks it parted ways with chief executive Penny James. The tumultuous year continued as it was forced to pay around 30 million to customers who were charged more than they should have been to renew home and car insurance policies. The general view in the City is that the company's move to sell its commercial insurance unit for 520million has shored up its balance sheet and put it in a better position though ironically this has probably also made it more alluring to bidder Ageas. Investors are unlikely to see much cash heading their way for the time being though. Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'There's still a long way to go if Direct Line wants to return a stable dividend and restore investor confidence.' Ageas's first bid, made in January, was 3.1 billion, which was swiftly rejected by Direct Line's board just two days before Winslow took the helm. Another offer, that was only 3pc higher, was slapped down last week. Ageas has until March 27 to make a final firm offer. It may well be waiting for Winslow to set out his strategy before making a move. Direct Line's share price has dropped from a recent high of 225p to around 208p indicating that investors think it is less likely that a takeover will happen. Analysts believe a price tag of 263p rather than Ageas's previous 237p would be needed. The Mail on Sunday understands the Belgian insurer was in London wooing shareholders last week. Panmure Gordon's Abid Hussain said that it should focus on improving margins, as rival Admiral has, as well as identifying 'avenues of growth'. Daniel Allen waited patiently on his doorstep for the police to arrive as his rented bungalow burned with three generations of the same family including a baby lying dead within its scorched walls. On a February day in 2018 that Derrylin in Northern Ireland will never forget, the quadruple-killer had to be pushed aside by people trying in vain to battle the blaze and save the four people inside. Burning roof tiles had rained down on Allen but the 33-year-old quadruple-killer refused to move and told neighbours: 'Don't go in. They're all gone'. He had stood looking towards the gate, seemingly with little interest in the blaze raging behind him, before seeking out a police officer to ask who was going to arrest him. 'I'm sorry... I started the fire. A promise is a promise. I promised to put them to the next life as they didn't want to stay here no more', he was heard saying. Despite the chaos at the scene, Allen had immediately began pushing claims that he set the blaze as part of a suicide pact with his partner Denise Gossett, who was handcuffed to a bed as he stood uninjured outside. With her in the burning building was her daughter Sabrina, 19, son Roman, 16, and Sabrina's 15-month-old daughter Morgana Quinn. Today MailOnline can reveal there is growing anger in Fermanagh, especially amongst those who witnessed the fire, that he was allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter for killing Denise when the deaths of her children and grandchild were treated as murder. Many believe Denise has been denied justice and even the judge who sentenced him to 29 years admitted he had 'scepticism and doubts about his version of events'. Neighbour Maureen McGerty watched the tragedy unfold from her kitchen window. She told how she was washing the dishes after breakfast when she saw the smoke and initially thought it was a bog on fire. 'I don't believe that bulls**t [story] of a suicide pact. He should have got the electric chair', she told MailOnline. Mrs McGerty added: 'To think that a whole family was wiped out is hard to take in. I didn't know them not many did about here'. Daniel Sebastian Allen, 33, previously pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his partner Denise Gossett, and murder of the other three family members. There is anger that he was not forced to accept four murders because of his disputed claim that it was part of a suicide pact Allen had waited on the doorstep of the bungalow in Derrylin and then asked to be arrested after the fire in 2018 The ruins of the bungalow where three generations of the same family-including a baby and two teenagers were killed Denise had choked to death on the smoke while Roman and baby Morgana Quinn died after being poisoned with fatal levels of the sedative and date rape drug GHB. Allen claimed he had strangled Sabrina but due to the fire her cause of death could not be ascertained. Allen has now started a 29-year jail term - one of the longest in recent Northern Irish history. But the judge who sentenced him last month also raised doubts about Allen's claims, calling it a 'strange suicide pact where one person dies and one escapes uninjured'. It has also emerged that Allen had met a new woman online just before the fire. She lived in America and he had hatched plans to move to the United States to be with her because of their love of the fantasy roleplaying game World of Warcraft. Their last communication was two days before the killings and around the same time he had bought a significant amount of gas for delivery, apparently to ensure the house would be totally destroyed if a fire broke out. Allen was said to have had 'total control over the family' - forcing them to use different names and cutting them off from the community, while he 'lived most of his life online'. He was a troubled and violent loner had met Denise online as she battled to get away from an abusive partner, speaking to her in a BDSM sex chat room in 2016 and moving in together within months. Neighbours in Derrylin said Allen and his family were rarely seen in public, the children were not in school and supermarket delivery drivers were even told to leave food at the gate and leave. Kerrie Flood from Fermanagh Women's Aid told MailOnline: 'So from the very beginning, when emergency services responded, my understanding is that he set the narrative - and that narrative was that there had been this suicide pact. This is something that abusive men who wipe out families tend to do - the abuser sets the narrative'. As well as being a 'horrific and cruel' murderer, Allen is a habitual liar and domestic abuser with a history of violence and making threats to kill and allegations he raped one woman. Initially, during police interview, Allen 'largely took a 'no comment' stance. But the true sickening details about the last hours of their lives, as well as the terror they suffered living with the control freak would later emerge. Mr Justice O'Hara said that pleas were entered by Allen on the basis that in killing Denise it was 'a suicide pact'. Allen asserted that it was Sabrina who was responsible for administering fatal doses of GHB to her baby and her brother, but that he was aware of the plan and pleaded guilty to their murder as a secondary party. He also confessed to strangling Sabrina and claimed 'there had been discussions' between them around suicide 'but this was not sufficient to amount to a suicide pact - on that basis he pleaded guilty to her murder. In his judgment, Mr Justice O'Hara stated: 'While I can express my scepticism and doubts about his version of events (which have repeatedly changed when speaking to different individuals) the end result in terms of sentencing may not be very different.' Daniel Allen covers his face while being led away from Enniskillen Magistrates' Court in cuffs. He claimed that the fire was started as part of a suicide pact with Denise. But Allen was controlling and a judge said it was a 'strange suicide pact where one person dies and one escapes uninjured' Sabrina Gossett, 19, was also killed in the fire alongside her 15-month-old daughter Morgana Roman Gossett, 16, was also killed in the blaze - Allen admitted to murdering him, Sabrina and Morgana One of those killed in the fire in 2018 was 15-month-old Morgana Quinn Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service, Ulster's version of the Crown Prosecution Service, has been put under pressure to explain why they allowed him to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than murder. While the sentence may have been the same, campaigners say there is a growing and worrying trend of prosecutors allowing dangerous suspects to plead guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility rather than murder. There was volcanic anger in Nottingham in a similar case that ended in January. Grieving mother Emma Webber insisted the deaths of her son Barnaby, his fellow student Grace O'Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates were murders. In a three-minute address outside Nottingham Crown Court in January, she said 'true justice has not been served' and claimed the victims' families had been 'railroaded' into accepting paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane's plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility rather than the offence of murder. In Allen's case, the PPS has defended its decision as 'the correct course to follow' - but admitted that they had initially agreed to prosecute him for four murders but changed their mind in June 2023 when they were contacted by the killer's lawyers. A Public Prosecution Service spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'Allen has been sentenced to one of the longest tariffs in prison imposed by the Courts in Northern Ireland in recent years. 'The Public Prosecution Service has a duty to consider any formal offer from the defence for a defendant to plead guilty to a different charge or charges than those originally presented in court. In this case, a decision to prosecute Allen for four counts of murder and one count of arson endangering life with intent was taken in May 2019. 'Allen's legal representatives subsequently made a formal offer in June 2023 for Allen to plead guilty to one count of manslaughter, three counts of murder, and one of arson endangering life with intent. 'Having carefully considered all the relevant facts and circumstances of the case, and taken the view of very experienced senior prosecuting counsel, it was determined that accepting this plea was the correct course to follow. All decision making in this case was taken in line with the PPS Code for Prosecutors.' In evidence to psychiatrist Dr Kennedy he said Allen and Denise had regular sex using handcuffs, ropes and other sex toys. He moved to live with her and her family in Scotland soon after they met before a nomadic lifestyle that took them to County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland in 2017, then County Cavan after Irish social workers became involved. They were soon on the move again, over the border to County Fermanagh. And by February 2018 Northern Ireland social services were on the verge of intervening before Allen committed his heinous crimes. The grim conditions for Denise and her family was spelled out in court, including for 16-year-old Roman, whose life must have been 'miserable' it was said as he 'was not attending school, who was denied teenage companionship and who was being shunted from one place with which he had no connection to another.' This image of a controlling slave-like existence was borne out by local mechanic and garage owner Cathal McGovern, who spoke to the MailOnline when we visited Derrylin, and told us he had cause to meet Roman once when the youngster asked if him if he had 'any work going'. Cathal said: 'He told me his names was Quinn. I told him, 'No problem, I'll find something you can do.' But I never saw him after that. 'It was about four weeks before that [tragedy] happened. I never once seen him [Allen] but I did see the young lad and told him I'd give him work. 'A fella later told me he [Allen] gave that cub an awful beating. 'This farmer had him moving cattle and he had an accident with a chainsaw, but he never went to a doctor or anything. 'I've a funny feeling that's why the cub never came back down to me after.' The family was reclusive, lived entirely on benefits, the children were not in nursery or school and it has since emerged that the killer was deep 'in a fantasy world' revolving around habitual use of sex chat rooms and role-playing computer games. It later emerged that Allen and his family had been using different names ever since they arrived in the area. Their landlord Tommy Fee revealed at the time of the fire that Allen was going by the name Sam Quinn. Denise had been using the name Crystal, her daughter Sabrina called herself Diane and he had been told that Roman was called Edward. He did not know the baby's name. The bungalow was so overwhelmed with flames that initial investigations - and the secretive way the family live - made it difficult for police to establish how many people were inside. Allen started the fire by soaking strips of fabric in heating oil and putting them throughout the house before setting the building alight. Crucially, Allen emerged from the catastrophic event unscathed, prompting Mr Justice O'Hara to express his curiosity at a hearing in Belfast last week, stating: 'It's curious. One person doesn't escape at all, and the other person escapes pretty much entirely uninjured.' Allen's 'unstable and unhappy background' was also explored - his parents separated when he was two and by 12 he left his mother's care 'because of physical and sexual abuse from some of her partners'. He also has a conviction from July 2015 'for a threat to kill an ex-partner who accused him of rape' but after sentencing was deferred he later failed to appear in court in March 2016, with a bench warrant for his arrest issued two months later but 'no further action is recorded as having being taken, perhaps because the defendant 'disappeared' to Scotland where he joined Denise Gossett.' Defence counsel Frank O'Donoghue KC painted a grim picture of Allen's life, describing it as 'chaotic' and deeply impacted by mental health issues, asserting that Allen lived in a 'fantasy' world, often online, rather than reality. In 2018, he was remanded in Maghaberry Prison and for six months in 2020, he was transferred to Shannon Clinic in Belfast, an intensive psychiatric rehabilitation facility. When first formally arraigned in 2020, Allen denied the charges as well as one count of arson endangering life. A defence barrister would later confirm a consultant psychiatrist conducted an examination of Allen which 'does not support diminished responsibility and we no longer have evidence to support that'. During a subsequent hearing in 2022, Allen altered his plea, accepting the charges of manslaughter concerning two adult victims. As the legal proceedings advanced, the case was scheduled for a hearing in June of the same year, with a jury sworn in and preparations under way for a trial at Dungannon Crown Court in Craigavon. However, on the morning the trial was set to commence, Allen's senior barrister requested a re-arraignment, introducing a pivotal moment in this case. Allen confessed to the murders of Sabrina, Roman, and baby Morgana, while maintaining his stance regarding Denise, acknowledging her death as manslaughter by way of a suicide pact. The house the family had been renting was completely gutted in the blaze and has since been knocked down Daniel Allen was sentenced to 29 years in prison for the murders of the three children and a further count of manslaughter for the death of Denise The prosecution counsel deemed the lesser plea in relation to Denise acceptable, setting the stage for a decision by Mr Justice O'Hara. Addressing Allen directly, the presiding judge declared: 'You have pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, and I sentence you to life imprisonment.' The tragedy has shocked many on both sides of the Irish Sea. Allen showed no emotion as he was jailed for a minimum of 29 years for killing three generations of the same family almost six years ago to the day. The judge told him he would not be eligible for parole until 2047 - but there have been calls for a whole life term to be imposed. According to Allen, he was supposed to handcuff himself to another bed as part of the alleged suicide pact with partner Denise - but changed his mind and stood on the doorstep instead. 'I am sorry I started the fire. I promised to bring them to the next life,' Allen said according to witnesses. 'They didn't want to stay here anymore. They didn't want to be buried', he went on. The suicide pact he claimed to have agreed on was apparently because he and Denise saw themselves as failed parents. But the full truth will never be known. Landlord Tommy Fee, who owned the bungalow and has now torn it down, described seeing the killer and arsonist looking like a 'psychopath' in his 'bare feet and screaming'. He was the first on the scene after receiving a call from a concerned neighbour and he raised the alarm, phoning the fire brigade on the way. Tommy said: 'I half expected when I got there to maybe see them all out of the house with blankets around them, but that wasn't the case. Allen's hands were in the air. He was shouting, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. He was in his bare feet and looked like a psychopath.' Rodney Edwards, now editor of the local paper The Impartial Reporter, was the first journalist to the scene. He said: 'As the first journalist arriving at the scene that fateful morning, the vivid memories remain etched in my mind. 'The atmosphere was eerie, permeated by the lingering scent of smoke that hung heavy in the air, encapsulating the shock and gravity of the situation. 'Specialist officers erected four white tents on a farmyard next to the fire. A chimney and part of the gable wall of the property were knocked down for safety reasons. 'After the bodies were retrieved, they were taken down the snow-covered lane for post-mortem examination as neighbours looked on'. James Dickens, who is married to Denise's daughter Samantha, said the family were 'heartbroken'. He said: 'No matter how many thoughts and prayers there are and how much community support there is, we have lost four members of the family, we have lost three generations at once.' Initially handing down a term of 33 years, Mr Justice O'Hare reduced this to 29 years on the basis of Allen's admissions, saving the necessity for a trial but he stated: 'There's a very dangerous and disturbing part of his makeup that led to these deaths.' Outside the court in Belfast, Samantha Gossett, daughter of Denise, said 'my beautiful mother was taken from me'. She added: 'My younger brother and sister, Roman and Sabrina, along with Sabrina's wee baby Morgan are all gone too. 'And it breaks my heart to think on what happened - to think on how they died. 'It is hard to move on with our lives, and my life will never be the same again. But the support of everyone, especially my partner and friends, has truly meant such a lot.' Gucci treated a top saleswoman who sold $50 million of designer goods like a slave, mocked her age and bullied her until she wasted away to skin and bones with her hair falling out, a lawsuit claims. Tracy Cohen worked as a client advisor-sales associate for Gucci's Chicago store on Michigan Avenue for eighteen years. She sold more than $50 million of goods - including $5 million in 2021 alone. But in October 2023, she was terminated without severance. Cohen, 54, claims she was discriminated against because of her age and that bosses preferred under-40s. She also claims she was targeted because of her gender and disability - anxiety and depression. She was told she was 'crazy' and 'old' for complaining that she was being worked 24/7, it is alleged. Cohen says she was deprived of thousands in commission to punish her for filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint and the Illinois human rights department. In the complaint, Cohen claimed the top boss of Gucci ignored her pleas. When she went to her manager and human resources, hoping she would finally get help, she was told she was suspended and 'under investigation.' The lawsuit against Kering, Gucci, Gucci, Gucci America, Inc. and Gucci North American Holdings was filed on January 22, 2024 in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Tracy Cohen worked as a client advisor-sales associate for Gucci's Chicago store (pictured) on Michigan Avenue for eighteen years President and CEO of Gucci Marco Bizzarri (pictured) wearing Gucci left the brand in November 2023 after disagreeing with management about Guccis direction, as per The New York Times Models strut down the catwalk at Gucci's RTW 2024 Fashion Show in Milan, Italy in February The lawsuit alleges that 'during Ms. Cohen's employment, rather than decorate her with recognition and give her opportunities to succeed, Gucci instead consumed nearly every second of her life, exploiting her through a modern-day slavery scheme of psychological abuse, manipulation, and discrimination where her employees- Gucci and Kering - destroyed her sense of self and made her live in constant fear of losing her job.' Cohen was hired by Gucci in 2006. In 2018, she became the number one salesperson in Gucci Chicago, surpassing at least twenty other sales associates. She was responsible for 15 percent of the store's entire monthly quota. In 2021 - the year she shifted $5 million of goods - she was given a bonus of just $20,000, it is alleged. According to the complaint, Gucci and Kering created an elaborate scheme of trickery to push Cohen to sell more Gucci product, while keeping her afraid of losing her job. 'Defendants controlled nearly all aspects of plaintiff life by isolating her from society, demanding that she work off-the-clock while attached to her electronic selling devices, making negative comments about her age and mental health, and giving her a monthly sales quota that was nearly two to three times the quota of her peers,' according to the suit. When she was suspended, something that never happened in her 18-year career, and was told she was 'under investigation.' The company continued to punish her and told her she could still sell from home, during the 5-day suspension, it is claimed. But bosses forbade her from speaking to any of her co-workers while she was 'under investigation,' further isolating her, traumatizing her, and bullying her, the lawsuit alleges Solange, Salma Hayek, FranAois-Henri Pinault and Hanni at Gucci RTW Fall 2024 as part of Milan Ready to Wear Fashion Week held on February 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy Actor Idris Elba, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, and Gucci CEO and President Marco Bizzarri - all dressed in Gucci - are pictured at the 2022 LACMA ART+FILM GALA presented by Gucci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art November 5, 2022 The suit alleges that coworkers confided in her that they witnessed how defendants were abusing, but never came to her aid. Instead, they watched her physically deteriorate,' the suit states. One under-40 male associate told he,' Why don't you just quit,' after watching her manager bully her, as per the suit. She was also denied an assistant to help her manage her exorbitant workload, as per the complaint. 'Plaintiff continued to work under exploitative conditions as her hair fell out, and as she visibly wasted away into skin and bones, suffering from physical manifestation of defendants' disparate treatment of her,' according to the complaint. While holding the top performer position, she consistently told her superiors that she was suffering from exhaustion, anxiety, and depression, and their conduct was making her disabilities worse.' When she complanied to both Gucci and Kering she claimed the managers bullied her. When she asked to be transferred to another store, they refused, while transferring, younger, non-disabled, less successful co-workers to other locations. In September 2022, when she went to then - Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri, who had created a 'values framework allegedly' devoted to women's rights and equality in the workplace, hoping she would have his ear, the suit claimed he ignored. 'President Bizzarri ignored plaintiff, the female employee who brought nearly $50 million in revenue to Gucci and Kering, over her nearly 18-year career,' as per the suit. Cohen claims in the suit she was excluded from prestigious opportunities, and made her feel guilty when she attempted to take time off. One of those instances was when her father was dying, and she needed to care for him, she claimed. In March 2022, when she was asked to nominate a cherished clients for Billie Eilish concert tickets, she was told by management that her client pick was too old, according to a letter that was reviewed by DailyMail.com. 'I believe corporate is looking for Gen Z or Millennial clients - He may be suited for Elton John,' the letter said, in part. Billie Eilish is wearing Gucci and pictured speaking onstage at the 2019 LACMA Art + Film Gala Presented By Gucci at LACMA on November 2, 2019 in Los Angeles, California Elton John performing during his 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour at the U Arena on June 11, 2022 in Nanterre, France The suit also details Gucci's alleged abusive and exploitative labor practice around the globe. Cohen says that Gucci officials maintained sweatshop conditions in China, forced pregnant women to have abortions, and ignored complaints of sexual harassment. She further highlighted the luxury goods' giant's alleged decision to push new mothers out of their jobs, causing women to suffer from incontinence, calling women 'crazy,' and and requiring female models to wear straitjackets on the runway against their will. Cohen's lawyer Tamara Holder told DailyMail.com that 'they fired her because she spoke out.' 'We are highlighting Tracy's case but there are other woman coming forward. We are looking forward to an opportunity to expose how these fashion brands treat women in the workplace. 'Other women have come forward - high performing women - from other locations,' she added. Holder said that the first interaction she had with the lawyers was a 'threat,' and intends to litigate this in court. 'The threat was that they were demanding that I remove the trafficking allegations off the lawsuit and they threatened me with sanctions if I didn't do that.' Holder said that since the story broke, five additional women from the Seattle, Houston and California area have come forward. Holder said: 'All from different Gucci store locations from around the country with nearly identical claims.' EXCLUSIVE A heartbroken family has been told they 'should be grateful' to property developers in Malaysia who covered up the discovery of an Adelaide woman's buried remains. Greg Jenkins, 44, has spent the last six years on a quest for justice after his mother Anna Jenkins, 65, went missing while on a trip to the island of Penang in 2017. Mr Jenkins said the comment - made this month by a Malaysian High Court judge as she threw out a negligence case against local police he alleges failed to properly investigate - 'highlights the disrespect' his family have consistently encountered. Mr Jenkins said the judge told his family they should be grateful that construction workers involved the police when his mother was found but he alleges they only did so after he put pressure on them. After his mother disappeared Mr Jenkins, who until recently was member of Australia's Defence Force, got leave from his post in Hawaii and flew back to his home in Adelaide. He then made 34 trips to Malaysia at a cost of more than $300,000 in an effort to track her. His persistence paid off when a construction worker in 2020 replied to a missing persons flyer he posted saying his mother's body had been found during works on a building site and it had been quietly moved nearby to not disrupt the development. The last call Ms Jenkins made from Penang's main city of Georgetown indicated she was being followed by men after her passport and her family believe she was robbed, murdered and left at the building site - which at that point was still jungle. Greg Jenkins and his sister Jen Bowen (pictured) searched relentlessly for their mother Australian grandmother Anna Jenkins, 65, (pictured) is believed to have been snatched off the streets while on a trip to Penang in 2017 and was never seen again Georgetown city in Penang, Malaysia sprawls out against its jungle surroundings Mr Jenkins has received the backing of independent MLC Frank Pangallo who also accompanied him to Malaysia for the recent ruling. Mr Pangallo said the Jenkins family, who just want someone to answer for what happened to Anna, have been repeatedly brushed aside by Malaysian authorities. Anna became an Australian citizen when she moved to the country in the early 1970s and raised a family in Adelaide following her marriage to RAAF serviceman Frank Jenkins as a young woman. 'It's high time the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, made strong representations to the Malaysian Government about the treatment of the Jenkins family,' Mr Pangallo said. Her son Greg said no-one has been held to account after a project manager and landscape contractor who were working on the housing development moved his mother's remains in a deliberate effort to cover up the body and keep it hidden. 'We have proof they found and reburied mum's remains,' Mr Jenkins told Daily Mail Australia. 'How is tampering with evidence and contaminating a crime scene not a criminal offence in any Commonwealth country?' he said. 'Instead the judge absolved them and said we should be thanking them that they brought the police in - which they only did because of the amount of pressure I put on the construction worker.' 'They at first didn't do anything and the police refused to go there until we forced their hand. It was getting some local media coverage and I said I would go to the foreign minister.' Devoted son Greg Jenkins found the skeletal remains of his missing Australian mother at a Malaysian building site as he rummaged through rubble after years of investigating A 2023 coronial inquiry into Ms Jenkin's death was declared an 'open verdict' due to a 'lack of evidence'. Anna's daughter and Greg's sister, Jen Bowen, said she felt authorities 'did not care' for her mother and didn't want to help. The housing development was aimed at wealthy Chinese buyers - and traditionally they can't buy a home anywhere that's had human remains on it. 'That development cost over $100million to build but the selling price of the luxury villas made it worth more than a billion - so everyone just hushed it all up,' Mr Jenkins said. 'They didn't want word leaking out that a dead body had been found there as it's taboo and could have killed off the market for Chinese buyers. 'So they moved my mother's bones off to the side to an area which was going to be a water feature and parkland, and wouldn't be residential land. 'We found 34 bones from my mother but the police and deputy public prosecutor called the search off. They said the excavation equipment could destroy any more remains, which is ridiculous. 'Even when I first went to the site the Chief of Police told me we were not allowed to tell the press we were going or post it on social media. 'The developer has put a lot of money into Penang and they don't want anything putting that at stake. 'They are setting the profits of this developer above a kidnapping and murder investigation.' Mr Jenkins said during his investigations he found out that an Australian passport is worth $100,000USD on the black market in Malaysia as they are used by transnational criminal groups. 'Someone holding an Australian passport can access 129 countries without a visa, which is very valuable to these people.' There is no suggestion the construction workers had anything to do with Ms Jenkins' disappearance, only that her remains where later found at the building site and moved. Despite the fact Ms Jenkins was an Australian citizen her case has largely gone under the radar at home. 'If this had been a younger blonde Australian woman there would be outrage. 'That just crushes my heart, my mother was the most beautiful person. 'She was a Christian woman who dedicated her life to helping others. She helped the homeless and refugees in Adelaide through her charity work and an Aboriginal group through the church. 'It's just indicative of the person she was.' Malaysian-born Australian woman Anna Jenkins married husband RAAF serviceman Frank Jenkins and moved to Australia in 1970, raising son Greg and daughter Jen in Adelaide, SA Mr Jenkins said the Malaysian High Court judge won't accept an appeal until he pays the legal costs of the defendants - which are the government, the police, the land developers, the project manager and a landscape worker. 'They just want me to drop the case but I haven't let this go for six years and I'm not going to let an unjust system deter us.' The quest to find Anna and the legal case has cost the family about $600,000 and the Australian government has provided little in the way of help. 'Anthony Albanese goes out of his way to send a text about David Warner's missing baggy green, yet there's been an Australian citizen go missing overseas and we've had no assistance at all.' Prince William, it is often said, has come a long way. The Party Prince of yesteryear has today been replaced by a loving father who rarely fails to cut a dignified and often humorous figure in public. At 41, the Prince of Wales is not only a key force in the monarchy but popular with the public, too. The outlook has not always been so sunny, though, as author Robert Lacey explains in his best-selling biography, Battle of Brothers. Storms were all too frequent. William looks a less than happy as he follows his father in Glasgow The brothers are together at Westminster Abbey in March 2020. It is the last official enagement for Harry and Meghan - and the mood is sombre William, head bowed down, stands with Prince Charles outside Clarence House as the celebrate the Queen Mother's 98th birthday Perhaps that is to have been expected. King Charles himself has been no stranger to the occasional outburst. Nonetheless, William's step-mother Camilla was said to have been taken aback by the ferocity of his tantrums. He has proved no Sweet William when roused, writes Lacey. In the years after her 2005 marriage to Prince Charles, Camilla recounted to members of her own family and close friends her surprise at discovering this unexpected side to Prince Charming "the boys got a temper!" Charless wife was horrified at the ranting and raving that William unleashed on occasion against her husband in her presence. The rows were shattering, by Camillas account in the early days, with William doing the shouting and Charles submitting meekly on the receiving end. As she described it, William held nothing back. It was a wrath, suggests Lacey, commensurate with Williams sense of himself as future King. Today, it is largely hidden, but younger brother Harry has his own views on Williams anger. Writing in his memoir, Spare, Harry claims that in one 2019 row at Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace, William had grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. A dog bowl was apparently broken in the fracas. (Prince William has never given his version of events.) According to Lacey, the anger had been apparent from early on, notably when his mother, Diana, had appeared in a 1995 Panorama interview with the now disgraced Martin Bashir. To the profound embarrassment of William, then studying at Eton College, his mother had appeared on national television discussing the breakdown of her marriage to his father and her affair with James Hewitt. According to a friend, the healer Simone Simmons, Diana soon felt the full force. All hell broke loose, Diana told Simmons. He started shouting and crying and when she tried to put her arms around him, he shoved her away. Diana was getting a taste of how Williams intensity could lead to his notorious rages. The following day, he apologised to his mother for his temper with a small bunch of flowers. Princess Diana felt the full force of William's temper after the Panorama interview in 1995 Robert Lacey says that Prince William used to rant and rave against his father The rows were shattering,' by Camillas account to friends Camilla was said to have been taken aback by the ferocity of Williams tantrums Writing in the Daily Mail, Lacey concluded: It should be stressed that in recent times and particularly since the adjustments that the Royal Family had to make in 2019 and 2020 in the wake of their disagreements and the departure of Harry father and elder son have grown much closer together. Prince Charles and Prince William now clearly appreciate the need to work closely together for the future of the monarchy. The accused home invaders evicted from an Atlanta rental property amid the city's squatting epidemic fled to a possible 'stash' location just two miles away the night they were booted out, DailyMail.com can reveal. We tracked down the rented U-Haul truck the alleged squatters used to cart away their belongings after sheriff's deputies turfed them from the house they had seized and trashed nine days earlier. The vehicle was backed up tight against a tree outside a rundown three-bedroom property with an address that DailyMail.com can reveal is associated with two of the squatters. Letters addressed to a 'Takisha Bailey' were left behind at the Stone Mountain home that was seized from truck driver Paul Callins, 39, as he tended his sick wife Amanda in hospital. It is 20 miles from downtown Atlanta. Two confirmed her 'living' at a single story home in nearby Lithonia, Georgia, while another revealed an address in another quiet neighborhood of DeKalb County's Stone Mountain where DailyMail.com found the truck. DailyMail.com located the U-Haul truck the accused squatters used to cart away their belongings after cops evicted them from Paul Callins's home last week The truck was parked outside a different property in Stone Mountain, Georgia Takisha Sheree Bailey, pictured left with a young boy believed to be her son, and Carlos Bailey (right) are accused of squatting at a Stone Mountain, Georgia property for nine days before allegedly fleeing to a different property two miles away Just like Callins's newly-remodeled home, this one had been listed to rent although it is not known if Takisha is associated with it illegally or has a legitimate lease. Certainly, swooping on vacant properties is a typical tactic in the squatter nightmare that has overwhelmed the Atlanta area with 1,200 homes currently falling victim in DeKalb County alone. Along with Takisha's letters, there was also an enrollment document for the SAE Institute in Atlanta left behind for a Carlos Bailey enrolled for a course in Storytelling for Contemporary Media. DailyMail.com has confirmed Carlos Bailey also has ties to the house where the truck was located. Earlier on Monday, DailyMail.com revealed that the woman evicted from Callins's property had identified herself to police at Takisha Bailey, according to the homeowner. Unearthed social media photos showed the heavily-tattooed mom posing with what appears to be a machine pistol on her Instagram page, where she goes by Sheree Bailey and username Sheree303. A third man was also revealed to have been at the house, which had been left to Callins by his physician father Willis, who died in 2021 from prostate cancer. A boy believed to be Takisha's son and aged about four was also there. The squatters parked up the U-Haul truck with Arizona plates in a cul-de-sac at the other location sometime between 6pm and 7pm on Monday, March 4, according to a neighbor's security home security footage seen by DailyMail.com. No one was in the house when we knocked, although an upstairs window was partially open. Paul Callins discovered squatters had unlawfully entered and changed the locks on his recently refurbished home, listed for rent online, while he was away Sheree Bailey is accused of being one of the squatters who invaded the vacant Atlanta area rental home of a man caring for his sick wife. She tilts her head and squints down the sights of a gun in a photo posted to her Instagram Pictured arm-in-arm on her social media page is a man who was filmed when confronted by sheriff's deputies after breaking in and changing the locks. He is believed to be Carlos Bailey The squatters parked up the U-Haul truck with Arizona plates in a cul-de-sac at the other location sometime between 6pm and 7pm on Monday, March 4, according to a neighbor's security home security footage seen by DailyMail.com. Outside, a wheel and tire was propped against a tree and considerable trash littered the yard and driveway. 'In December last year, suddenly there was a commotion with people shouting and dogs barking over at that place,' the neighbor revealed. 'There would be a lot of cars coming and going a lot of activity.' The householder, who did not want to be identified for fear of repercussions, continued: 'That U-Haul hasn't moved since it arrived on Monday. 'Strangely in the days before it arrived, there was a smaller U-Haul at that property which was pulled right up on the driveway. That went and this one replaced it. 'I thought it was weird. I just imagined they were moving out, but the truck hasn't budged and I haven't heard a peep from over there since. 'The last time I saw someone there was Saturday, February 24. I remember the date because I had people round and we all saw them. I never saw a woman there though, just guys and a Pitbull.' Callins's squatters had a starved-looking Pitbull at his home, but callously left it behind when they fled. It was later captured by animal welfare on the home's decking, where it had been abandoned. The trucker said after we revealed the location of the large U-Haul to him: 'From what I've learned, that's got to be their stash location for it until they find their next target house.' According to DeKalb County Property Appraiser records, the 1,875 sq ft home is owned by foreign limited liability property company YS Avon SFR III Propco LLC, with a registered address in Park Avenue, New York City. Callins walked DailyMail.com through the house hours after getting the final pieces of trash hauled away, but with startling signs of the illegal occupation still evident The alleged squatter were ordered to leave the property by DeKalb County Sheriff's Office after nine days leaving it trashed and with broken furniture piled on the front yard The trio and toddler were ordered out by DeKalb County Sheriff's Office after nine days leaving it trashed and with broken furniture piled on the front yard A pack of cigarettes, bottles of alcohol and fast food cups are seen in bags strewn on the front lawn It was listed for $2,080 rent in July 2023 and the listing was removed the following month. The 'Sheree Bailey' Instagram page shows her arm in arm with a man believed to be Carlos. It is the same man who was filmed when faced by DeKalb Sheriff's Office deputies after the squatters entered Callins's home and changing the locks. Callins told DailyMail.com: 'The photo with the gun definitely looks like the woman I saw at the house when I went there to confront them after they broke in. As do the others on that Instagram account. 'The woman that night identified herself to police at Takisha Bailey and she presented police with a fake lease on her phone. 'And the guy pictured with her on Instagram page later told me they had a lease, which was ridiculous.' Further clues to the squatters' identities are revealed by the social medial handle Sheree303. The number is the area code for Denver, Colorado, and the intruders had a black Nissan Versa with plates from the Centennial State. A bumper sticker read: 'Shoot more, b***h less.' DailyMail.com has revealed a huge irony in the trauma which garnered national headlines. Callins has no intention of ruthlessly cashing in on the booming rental market but is working with the county housing authority to provide a home for a low income family. He walked us through the house hours after getting the final pieces of trash hauled away, but with startling signs of the illegal occupation still evident. Callins spoke of his incredible emotional tie to the house through his late father Willis, who died of prostate cancer in 2021 aged 75. 'This is not an investor house, this is my father's house,' he said Callins has spent nearly $50,000 converting the former three-bedroom home into an eight-bedroom place by developing the extensive basement. Writing is seen on the walls of the home The new cream colored carpets are stained all over the house. Graffiti is scribbled on walls The squatters had filled the home after arriving with a full U-Haul truck. They took their most prized possessions with them after police gained entry by drilling the new lock on the front door but smashed their unwanted furniture out front. Revealing the damage, Callins spoke of his incredible emotional tie to the house because of his late father, who died aged 75. 'This is not an investor house, this is my father's house,' he said. 'He bought it from new in 2002 and it's been a big part of my life. 'He was really proud of it. He'd bring me over while they were building it, he was so excited. 'He passed in this house. He never wanted to leave this house. I am choking up just talking about it. 'My wife and I would come here and stay with him for the last couple of months when he was really sick. It's a family legacy. I want my kids to have it. 'So when those squatters came I took it very personally. I felt like they were attacking me and my family.' Callins has spent nearly $50,000 converting the former three-bedroom home into an eight-bedroom place by developing the extensive basement. He drew the plans himself and has done much of the work by his own hand to a high standard. There's also been a new kitchen, new carpets and a myriad of other improvements. His intention throughout was to give a struggling family a home. The squatters left behind an emaciated pit bull on the deck at the rear of the property. The terrified animal, barking furiously, can be seen eventually being captured by welfare authorities in video obtained by DailyMail.com Callins, who works as a trucker, believes the squatters pounced after seeing his online ad for a needy family 'I'm working with the authority and hopefully there should be a single mother with nine children moving in some time very soon. We're going through the application to get everything approved. 'That's the kind of person I want this house to go to, a place where kids can grow up and where they will feel safe. I'm never selling this place. It means too much to me and it's for others who aren't so fortunate to call home.' Despite, a massive clean-up, there's still a lot of work to be done after the squatters left an unmistakable odor of urine and weed that still permeates. Callins showed us where they had drilled holes in every window and inserted screws to ensure they could not be opened. The new cream colored carpets are stained all over the house, but retrievable. Graffiti is scribbled on walls. The trucker, who lives with his wife in Grayson 16 miles from Stone Mountain, believes the squatters pounced after seeing his online ad for a needy family. He only realized the house was occupied when he passed nearby at midnight and saw lights blazing. Confused, he drew closer and then contacted the sheriff's office, who sent deputies. 'My heart sank when I saw what had happened,' he said. 'I thought, man, this is happening to me?' Despite the emotional turmoil, he considers himself lucky the squatters were evicted so quickly. Cops acted after he applied for an intruder affidavit. As police were handling the eviction, Callins confronted the man believed to be called Carlos Bailey, who like 'Takisha' said he had a lease. Paul Callins from Georgia discovered squatters had unlawfully entered and changed the locks on his recently refurbished home, listed for rent online, while he was away 'Well he didn't have a lease with me,' he said. 'That was a fake, no question. The guy claimed he was scammed. I'm not buying that either. 'I believe there is a ring of squatters, producing things like these fake leases. They hit one place, leave then go somewhere else. 'They came into mine and just changed all the locks straight away. I'm certain they have lists of houses they know are empty. 'The disregard they show was illustrated by the fact I saw them smashing up furniture on the front after they had been evicted. They took the rest in a U-Haul.' He added: 'I'm thankful to have my house back but it has been a shattering experience.' DailyMail.com also visited the home in Lithonia, DeKalb County to which Takisha Bailey had mail sent. No one was at the property at the time. A neighbor said he believes the home did have squatters at one point. The figure of 1,200 squatter homes in DeKalb comes from the National Rental Home Council. The situation is so acute that a new law allowing police to arrest squatters for trespassing, and making faking a lease a felony, is close to passing in the Georgia General Assembly. Currently, squatting is a civil matter. It comes after a catalogue of high profile squatting situations in the Atlanta area, that of deployed Army Lt Colonel Dahlia Daure whose $500,000 home was seized by intruder Vincent Simon in May 2023. The military officer said she felt 'violated' after learning Simon who had gun and drugs convictions had been there while she was on duty in Chicago and the house was in the process of being sold. The squatter was later kicked out and arrested. Another squat was being run as an illegal strip club that was eventually cleared out by an FBI SWAT team in October, 2023 Four people were seized in the 4,000 sq ft, five-bedroom property in South Fulton which was trashed. Neighbors said the men were running a weekend strip club, noisy parties and street car races. DeAnthony Maddox, Jeremy Wheat, Kelvin Hall and Tarahsjay Forde were arrested on several counts of theft by receiving stolen property. Rep Devan Seabaugh, a Republican co-sponsoring the Georgia crackdown bill, said of squatters: We're dealing with criminals. These people that know exactly what they're doing and they're stealing other people's most valuable capital, which is their home.' Furious Netflix fans have threatened to 'cancel their subscriptions' after viewing an explicit clip from a new X-rated drama. Supersex is loosely based on the life of Rocco Tano, a simple guy from Ortona, Italy, who becomes Rocco Siffredi, the most famous porn star in the world. The seven-part series stars Alessandro Borghi as Siffredi, whose humble beginnings are revisited as the plot navigates his extraordinary career as one of the most prolific adult actors of all time. Since his debut performance in 1986, Rocco Siffredi has starred in more than 1,500 X-rated films and is believed to have bedded in excess of 5,000 people. The drama has been rated by Netflix strictly for viewers aged 18 and over - but that hasn't stopped fans from sharing their disgust over the 'inappropriate' content released by the steaming giant. Sickened Netflix fans have threatened to cancel their subscription after viewing an explicit clip from new drama Supersex, based on the life of famed Italian adult star Rocco Siffredi The steamy, seconds-long scene was posted by Netflix on its U.S. Instagram page on March 7, before it was mysteriously deleted. The short video featured the show's star, the Italian actor Alessandro Borghi, making out and thrusting against several scantily clad women. However, the clip disappeared from Netflix U.S. Instagram account after a few hours, though it's unclear if the platform deleted it amid complaints from users, or if Netflix opted to remove it due to negative fan feedback. A number of Netflix users shared their disgust over the subject of the new controversial series, while others threatened to cancel their subscription altogether to protect their children. Taking to the comments below the now-deleted video, one person fumed: 'Now we have porn on Netflix as well? Cancelling account while we speak, my kids can't see this.' Another parent wrote: 'Isn't this inappropriate for a platform where KIDS FOLLOW YOU?!' Other users were left appalled by the explicit content being 'normalised,' with one person commenting: 'Are we just making porn mainstream now? It's pretty sickening that there is no warning on explicit content like this. 'Yet women who post a picture breastfeeding are flagged. This should be a separate category on Netflix if you want to put stuff like this out.' The short video featured the show's star, Italian actor Alessandro Borghi, making out and thrusting against several scantily clad women Another wrote: 'It's really sad that this is accepted in modern culture. The hyper-sexualisation of our society and generation is depressing and degrading to the value of both genders.' Meanwhile, fans who viewed the official trailer on Netflix's Youtube channel shared their thoughts on the explicit series, with one person writing: 'I'm not sure I like the direction Netflix is going.' Another fan commented: 'What's going on with Netflix. Bring back the good stuff.' A number of Netflix users shared their disgust over the subject of the new controversial series, while others threatened to cancel their subscription altogether to protect their children Francesca Manieri, the filmmaker behind the series, told the Independent: 'My goal was to put men in front of themselves. 'This is what we call the phallocentric system, the system in which the d*** is the centrum of the thought before everything.' She added: 'So what can you do right now, [in] 2024, to understand the relationship between men and women? And how can men put themselves in front of the image of their symbolic d*** and try to deconstruct all of this?' It comes after Netflix viewers were previously left disturbed by the streaming site's extraterrestrial docuseries Rael: The Alien Prophet in February. The four-part documentary covers the life of Claude Vorilhon - a French journalist who promised 'out of this world' ecstasy and enlightenment to anyone who followed the teachings he claimed to have learned via his supposed alien abduction in 1973. A British grandmother threatened with deportation back to the UK has just five days left on her visa and is 'losing it' with anxiety over the possibility of being forcibly dragged from her home. Mary Ellis is facing the prospect of being arrested, placed in immigration detention and sent back to a country she hasn't visited in more than three decades. The 74-year-old's latest bridging visa is due to expire on March 21, and the 'E' visas being issued to Mary have been getting shorter and shorter, now down to a mere four weeks. Migration agent Stan Shneider who has been helping her pro bono, said Mary, who has lived in Australia for 43 years, was 'a sick old lady' who was 'very confused, sad and starting to lose it'. Mr Shneider has appealed to the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles, and is now wondering if he's even aware of Mary's case. Grandmother Mary Ellis, 74, has suffered a deterioration in her health as the her latest bringing visa is only days away from expiring and she faces the prospect of immigration detention and deportation Mary came to Australia in the 1980s but because she was out of the country in a window of time in which to qualify for 'absorbed person' status she is being threatened with deportation 'I think he's decent, honest and hardworking, however he's surrounded by 200 staff members and they're just going by the rules,' Mr Shneider said. 'Under the Migration Act there is a trigger to enliven the minister's power to intervene, but I don't think anyone has tested it - ever.' Mr Shneider also compared the plight of Mary - who had worked, paid taxes, and volunteered for charity - with criminally convicted asylum seekers who had been released from immigration detention under a High Court decision. Poll Do you think Mary Ellis should be allowed to stay in Australia? YES NO Do you think Mary Ellis should be allowed to stay in Australia? YES 3841 votes NO 826 votes Now share your opinion Many Australians support Mary, saying she had contributed to the country while urging Mr Giles to help her out. People have also criticised the Albanese government for allowing 'criminals' to stay in Australia and telling it to 'have a heart' and 'leave Mary alone'. One woman wrote online: 'For goodness sake this is outrage, she so deserves to stay. The Immigration Minister needs to to fix this! Surely common decency on behalf of the Minister should automatically be granted! What on earth does the Immigration Department come to when we dont deport people who should be jailed and deported a good Scout who has done nothing wrong in the 40 years she has lived here!!!' A male poster wrote: 'If this law abiding lady is deported, this country will become the laughing stock for all moral minded, laterally thinking, mature and justice thinking people across the globe.' Another woman said: 'So many illegal immigrants that are allowed into Australia, who have broken our laws and are still here and they want to deport a grandmother who has lived here for over 40 yrs.' Online support for Mary is growing, as is Facebook criticism of the minister and the Albanese government's immigration policies Mary's case has sparked online criticism of the Immigration Minister and the Albanese government for allowing out criminal detainees but seeking to lock up and oust a 'law-abiding grandmother' Mary Ellis is feeling anxious as he latest visa runs out and the threats from Immigration officials hit home, such as this letter (right) stating she could face 'serious consequences' In contrast with Mr Giles easing restrictions on convicted ex-detainee asylum seekers, Mary has received a threatening letter from the Department of Home Affairs leaving her in no doubt of an official intent to deport her. The letter, with words underlined for emphasis, states 'you could face serious consequences including immigration detention and removal from Australia'. This means that unless the Mr Giles intervenes and Mary is unwilling to leave, she could be arrested by a police and taken in handcuffs to an immigration centre for deportation. As Mr Shneider investigates the very few opportunities available under the Migration Act, parts of which he describes as an 'appalling piece of legislation', Mary's health is deteriorating. Mary went on television last month and begged the Department of Home Affairs to let her stay in Australia after she was threatened with deportation over claims she had misrepresented her continuous residence in the country since arriving from Britain. She said Home Affairs' claims that she left Australia three times under an alias between 1983 and 1986 were untrue, as were allegations her late husband Martin Ellis was really a man named Trevor Warren. According to her own account, Mary first arrived in Australia in December 1981 in the wake of a marriage breakdown, and began a relationship with Mr Ellis. To qualify as an 'absorbed person' under Australia's Migration Act, Mary Ellis would be eligible only if she was in Australia from April 2, 1984, and had not left the country since. Mary said she had never returned to the UK once since arriving in 1981 and that she was 'terrified' of going back to Britain as she 'didn't know a soul' there, declaring 'I'm an Aussie'. Mary Ellis (above) loves Australia and wants to stay and with rallying online support it would appear many Aussies believe she deserves it after decades of work and paying taxes here The tide of opinion in Facebook discussions about Mary Ellis's case is squarely behind her and against the government's immigration laws Mary's daughter Angela (above) said her mother did return home in 1986, but on Facebook people didn't seem to care about the details, just that Mary was the sort of person Australia should allow to stay in this country She said she had paid taxes in Australia, and held a Medicare card, pension card and an Australian driver's licence. However, a MailOnline investigation poked holes in her story, unearthing Mary's daughter in Britain who said her mother had returned to Britain, albeit 34 years ago. MailOnline used genealogical research to track down Mary's ten siblings who live in the UK, and her estranged daughter Angela who effectively torpedoed Mary's claims, saying her mum had flown to the UK in 1986 to sell her house in Croydon, Surrey. It also found Mary's Facebook page which revealed she was in touch with the majority of her siblings, all of whom lived in the UK, despite Mary saying they lived in other countries around the world. Mr Shneider told Daily Mail Australia he still had faith in Mary's story that she had never left Australia and that the part of the Migration Act which gives the minister the power to intervene was at best narrow, or at worst a kind of Catch 22. Home Affairs told Daily Mail Australia that Minister Giles' personal intervention powers were only enlivened under certain sections of Migration Act, which are when a person is refused a visa, or a review tribunal refuses to intervene in the case. However Mr Shneider responded to this saying Mary Ellis had not applied for an absorbed person visa - because under the Migration Act no-one can, it is just a status that is acquired if you qualify - and therefore she had not been refused a visa. Migration agent Stan Shneider has staunchly supported Ms Ellis, and says the Migration Act only allows narrow opportunities for the minister to intervene but he is giving it a go Further, if Mary hasn't been refused a visa, she cannot apply to a tribunal like the AAT for a review of that refusal. 'Notwithstanding this, I am in the process of applying to the AAT with a request that it quickly refuse the application,' he said. 'I am doing so hoping that it will be enough to trigger the Ministers right to intervene. 'Mary denies she is here illegally and I tend to agree with her. It is all very well for the Department to contend she is an illegal immigrant, but despite numerous requests by me over years now for the Department to provide its so called proof, it never has. 'I presume it never has because it cant.' Do YOU know more about the hoax? A missing Latvian student who was the subject of an elaborate fake funeral in London knew the hoaxer who staged the bizarre stunt, MailOnline can reveal. Last week's bizarre burial service at the London Oratory church sparked international media attention when it emerged that the presiding vicar had dramatically stopped the service - upon realising that it was being filmed, that the mourners were paid actors and the coffin was empty. This prompted the question as to who had gone to such lengths to stage the funeral and why - the church alone having cost 10,000 to book - until MailOnline was able to establish that the organiser was an exhibitionist would-be influencer with a track record of staging strange events to be filmed. That organiser was Jacky Jhaj, 38, a convicted sex offender, who has on at least two occasions posed as a film producer or film star - once hiring dozens of young extras to shoot a fake film premiere in Leicester Square to boost his online following. The name Jhaj used for the supposed dead person when booking the Oratory was Lauris Zaube - a 23-year-old Latvian man missing since the early hours of New Year's Day - and Jhaj pretended to be Lauris's mourning brother during the bogus event. A missing Latvian student who was the subject of an elaborate fake funeral in London knew the hoaxer who staged the bizarre stunt, MailOnline can reveal. Pictured: The pair together In an incredible twist, the mystery of Lauris's disappearance has deepened after his family confirmed he and Jhaj knew each other Three years ago Lauris appeared in a music video (pictured) for the hoaxer who organised the bogus church service The family of Lauris Zaube, 23, (pictured) who went missing at a New Year's Eve party and is feared to have drowned say they are horrified after a hoaxer staged an elaborate fake funeral for him Pictured: The stretch of river in Latvia where the phone signal for Lauris Zaube disappeared Convicted paedophile Jacky Jhaj, 38, organised the bizarre fake funeral with an empty coffin Last week's bizarre burial service at the London Oratory church (pictured) sparked international media attention when it emerged that the presiding vicar had dramatically stopped the service - upon realising that it was being filmed, that the mourners were paid extras and the coffin was empty Lauris's brother Aris (pictured) discounted the possibility that he had staged his own disappearance as part of Jhaj's twisted scheme The funeral was meant to be that of 23-year-old Latvian man Lauris Zaube (pictured) Lauris is feared to have drowned that night in an icy river after accidentally falling in after leaving the party near the Latvian capital Riga - but he is still officially missing rather than dead as no body has yet been recovered. But in an incredible twist, the mystery of Lauris's disappearance has deepened after his family confirmed he and Jhaj knew each other and that three years ago Lauris appeared in a music video for the hoaxer who organised the bogus church service. The family of Lauris only heard of the fake funeral when they read news reports about it and are horrified that his name was used with fake documentation, not least because his body has not been found despite intensive searches in the 11 weeks since he disappeared. But his brother Aris discounted the possibility that he had staged his own disappearance as part of Jhaj's twisted scheme, knowing that it would have put his relatives and friends through the agony of believing he was dead. When asked by MailOnline if it was possible that he might have done so, Aris insisted: 'No, he would never have done that.' Instead, it is believed that Jhaj may have recognised the name of Lauris in online news reports about his disappearance and decided to use his identity in a cruel deceit. Jhaj pretended to be a brother of Lauris called Clyde and presented undertakers with a bogus death certificate for him, written in Russian, in order to stage the lavish service at the famous London Oratory church in Kensington, west London. A horse drawn carriage, two vintage cars, men in top hats, a full choir and even a videographer were all arranged after the bill of more than 10,000 was paid in advance. Aris confirmed that Lauris and some of his friends had met Jhaj three years ago at the annual Baldones Waterfest music festival in central Latvia and they had 'filmed a music video together'. The amateurish video entitled Butter Gang is still on the YouTube account which Jhaj has under his alternative name Jilliah and features him striking poses bare-chested and dancing with several young Latvians including Lauris. Aris said he did not believe that his brother had much to do with Jhaj after the making of the video which has had 1.2million views. He said: 'I think it was the only project for them. At least Lauris didn't tell about anything else.' Lauris (pictured) is feared to have drowned that night in an icy river after accidentally falling in after leaving the party near the Latvian capital Riga Pictured: The guest house venue of the New Year's Eve party from where Lauris Zaube disappeared MailOnline has tracked down Lauris's family and discovered that they were just as stunned as the vicar at what happened at the church in Chelsea on Monday last week. Pictured: Inside the party venue Lauris's family are outraged at Jhaj appropriating the tragedy in the name of his twisted game. Pictured: Inside the party venue Lauris disappeared during a New Year's Eve party attended by 80 people at the end of last year at a hired venue in the remote hamlet of Straupciems around 20 miles from the centre of Riga Lauris vanished from a party attended by 80 people at a hired guest house in the hamlet of Straupciems on a remote island around 20 miles from Riga, the capital of Latvia. His friends realised he was missing in the early hours, and used a mobile phone app to track him as he apparently walked along a man-made earth bank, built as a flood defence beside the River Lielupe. But his phone signal disappeared at 3.30am after he had walked for two miles in the darkness, wearing only a white T shirt on his upper body to protect himself from temperatures of up to -8C, having left his jacket behind. When his concerned friends reached the scene at 4am, they found it was at a spot where the earth bank, known locally as a dam, was blocked by a former farm building being renovated as a riverside home. Do YOU know more about the hoax? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement The phone signal seemed to disappear near a narrow path through a reed bed which led directly down to the fast-flowing river at a point where it becomes 9ft deep within a few metres of the shore. Searches involving divers, tracker dogs, a drone and volunteers were carried out along the river and in numerous water-filled ditches, but no body was found, suggesting to local villagers that he had been swept away. In another bizarre twist, MailOnline was sent a rambling and anonymous email on January 5 from someone claiming to have knowledge of the case, saying that Lauris had been abducted by criminals and was being held to ransom. The far-fetched email, which had all the hallmarks of having been written by Jhaj, said that Lauris had been lured outside from the party, believing he was going to meet Jhaj secretly. It added that the alleged plan was then for Lauris to take Jhaj back inside as a 'surprise' for his friends who had been in the music video with him. It went on to claim that Lauris was instead snatched by a gang and the real Jhaj had been contacted by the kidnappers demanding a ransom 'to be transmitted immediately to an anonymous crypto hard wallet'. Jhaj's motivation for staging the fake funeral is not known, but it has been suggested it was a prank to boost his social media profile. Lauris' brother Aris said: 'When I first read the UK article, I was in a bit of shock. Afterwards, I called Latvian police and they did confirm that it actually happened, and they are working together with the UK police on this. 'I don't know what were his intentions in faking the funeral for Lauris. But I hope that UK police together with Latvian police will find out.' The path leading down to the river at the point where Lauris Daube's mobile phone lost its signal His friends realised he was missing in the early hours, and used a mobile phone app to track him as he apparently walked along a man-made earth bank, built as a flood defence beside the River Lielupe But his phone signal disappeared at 3.30am after he had walked for two miles in the darkness, wearing only a white T-shirt on his upper body to protect himself from temperatures of up to -8C, having left his jacket behind When his concerned friends reached the scene at 4am, they found it was at a spot where the earth bank, known locally as a dam, was blocked by a former farm building being renovated as a riverside home The phone signal seemed to disappear on a narrow path through a reed bed which led directly down to the fast-flowing river at a point where it becomes 9ft deep within a few metres of the shore The earth bank which Lauris Zaube was tracked walking on with a ditch on one side and the river on the other The path led down to the river at the point where Lauris Daube's mobile phone lost its signal Aris said family members were still clinging on to the remote hope that Lauris might be alive, potentially after wandering off while suffering a mental breakdown or possibly amnesia. He insisted that his brother had no suicidal thoughts and would not have deliberately killed himself by jumping in the river. Aris said: 'Lauris was friendly and most of his free time he would go to the gym, snowboard or wakeboard, or play video games. 'We had booked a snowboarding trip with him to Livigno in Italy at the end of January. We were all waiting and excited about the trip. 'He was studying business management. This was his final year to get a Bachelor's degree. Most of his time, he hung out with his friends and nothing indicated that he would tend to have suicidal thoughts.' Aris added: 'Some mentioned that there was a fight (at the New Year's Eve party), but most said that Lauris wasn't involved in it. 'He went missing only wearing a T shirt, or someone's hoody. He left his jacket and his wallet with his ID card and all other cards at the guest house. None of the 80 people saw when or how he had left the party. 'With help from friends, relatives and lots of volunteers, we searched the whole island. 'We are still trying to find Lauris, and if anyone has seen him (in the UK), they should contact UK police. He has been confirmed missing in all Europe since early January. 'I know the chances that he went or was taken to the UK, are close to zero, but you never know.' EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Revealed: Organiser of fake funeral at historic London church is a convicted paedophile who held a similar event making children as young as six 'faint' as he paraded up and down a pretend red carpet Advertisement Lauris' uncle Janis Zaube added: 'Lauris is my brother's son. I read about this supposed funeral, and I am really upset about it. Lauris has not been declared dead, as his body has not been found. 'It is outrageous and I am very angry. The whole thing is just rubbish and a terrible nonsense. How can anyone to do such a thing? It is totally stupid. We are decent people.' A friend of Lauris who asked not to be named, added: 'It is ridiculous to suggest that he faked his own death to allow some silly pretend funeral to take place. 'He would never have put his family through the heartache of thinking that he had died. It looks like he went into the water, but he is still missing. 'The person who organised this funeral is an idiot. He must be a fraudster. How can he produce ashes and a death certificate for someone when their body has not even been found?' Sexual predator Jhaj from Feltham, Middlesex, was jailed for four years in 2016 for four counts of sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls. He pretended to be a top Hollywood film producer as he befriended the girls, plying them with alcohol and giving them lifts to parties, before sexually assaulting them. Jhaj staged a fake red carpet scene last November outside the Odeon Luxe cinema in London's Leicester Square involving dozens of young children and teenagers hired as supposed film extras. The child actors, some aged as young as six in school uniforms, were asked to pretend to faint as Jhaj paraded up and down in a red tuxedo as if he were a film star at a premier. Lauris' real brothers Aris and Maris said at the time of his disappearance that there were different accounts among party-goers, and they had no idea why he had left the venue. Maris also told local TV news how his brother was not suicidal and had never gone missing before. He said: 'From the beginning we hoped that somebody had arrived by car and picked him up. We thought that maybe his phone was just off.' Mother-of-five Vere Gogole, 67, (pictured) who lives nearby, said: 'My sons and nephews helped search for the young boy. It is sad that we don't know what happened to him. The search went on a long time. Hundreds of people were helping' A professional hunter called Aldis (pictured) who lives in the village of Gatciems where Lauris lost his mobile phone connection, confirmed that there was no snow on the ground on the night he disappeared The home under construction blocking the earth bank at the spot where Lauris disappeared The lake is on the left side of the earth bank, with a water-filled ditch on the right The river where Lauris Zaube is thought to have been swept away after the New Year's Eve party Maris added that his brother's friends had looked up his location on a mobile phone tracking app after noticing he had left the party. He said: 'Supposedly, they followed his phone location, but then the GPS location signal was lost at 3.30am, and they got to the place 30 minutes later.' The party was held in a guest house called Peterstraupes which is surrounded by agricultural land, woods, and farmsteads on an island bordered by the River Lielupe and the Babites lake. The guest house was hired by a 26-year-old woman who invited her Facebook friends. She refused to comment to MailOnline. Lauris did not know most guests, and attended with five or six friends who were invited by one of the people there. The owner of the house, who lives next door, told MailOnline that he had converted the venue from a former stables for his own events, and friends' celebrations, but rented it out to the woman after she found his phone number and asked to hire it. The retired lawyer who is also called Maris said that party-goers had danced in the open plan downstairs room, and used the sauna with some apparently taking icy dips to cool down in the pond behind his home. The party was still going on when he and his wife who had held their own New Year's gathering went to sleep at around 2am. He said: 'I got up at around noon and I realised something was wrong when I saw people searching around and looking confused. They told me their friend had gone missing at about 3am, and later on the police arrived. The party was held in a guest house called Peterstraupes (pictured) which is surrounded by agricultural land, woods, and farmsteads on an island site beside the River Lielup and the Babites lake The pond at the back of the party venue where party-goers had an icy dip after enjoying a sauna The owner of the house, a retired lawyer who is also called Maris and lives next door, told MailOnline that the house was a former stables which he had converted into a venue. Pictured: The village of Straupciems He said party-goers had danced in the open plan downstairs room, and used the sauna with some apparently taking icy dips to cool down in the pond behind his home. Pictured: Straupciems His real brothers described Lauris (pictured) as being a university student who was 'a positive, cheerful and friendly person' with 'big and bright plans for his life' 'The police first thought he had gone into the pond. I go in the water every day, even when it is iced over. I had broken some of the ice at the edge where it is shallow so the young people at the party could go in after a sauna. 'But he was not in the pond, or anywhere else. His friends and family searched for him for weeks. There was also a police search. They would not have done all this if they had thought he had disappeared deliberately. 'He was from a good family. If he had gone in the river, I do not think he would have lasted long. It is very sad. I think he would have been found, if he was in a ditch. 'The people at the party were well behaved, and just normal young people. Everything was left in order. There was no signs of a struggle or anything.' A professional hunter called Aldis who lives in the village of Garciems close to where the mobile phone connection for Lauris was lost, confirmed that there was no snow on the ground on the night he disappeared. But he said temperatures had plummeted on New Year's Eve, leading to snow covering the area two days later. Aldis said he had not been drinking on New Year's Eve and saw nobody walking around as he returned home at 2am. The 23-year-old went missing near an iced-over dam after a New Year's Eve party Pictured: Search teams look for the youngster beneath the ice near the party venue Police near Riga joined 'hundreds' of people searching for missing Latvian man Lauris Zaube He said: 'I walk 8kms every morning with my two hunting dogs, and I have been keeping an eye out for this young man. 'The river was running very high at the time. There was a strong current and it was fast moving with chunks of ice swirling around. Even a drunk person could not have mistaken this. 'I don't believe he could have stumbled into the water - but he could have had hypothermia as he did not have a jacket, and it could have caused him not to think straight. 'If he had gone in the river, he would have been swept away. But it is a mystery because his body has not been found. People have not stopped searching for him. They were even here a couple of weeks ago. 'I have two theories. Either he went into the water, or he could have been picked up by someone in a car. We don't have killers around here. All the people and families are normal. 'I spoke to people who were searching, and they said he was a very joyful young man with no tendency for sadness or suicidal thoughts.' Married father-of-two Aldis said he was in the seventh generation of his family to have lived in the area over the last 300 years. He recalled how the earth bank which Lauris had walked on beside the river and the lake had been built by workers including his great grandfather during the Soviet occupation of Latvia in the 1960s. Jhaj hired a group of actors to pretend to be mourners and arranged the entire service online Video footage from inside the fake funeral showed people dressed in smart suits for mourning Many of those in attendance wore long black coats and puffer jackets, with black clothes underneath Jhaj even hired a director to film the funeral using cameras set up inside the historic London church Aldis who gave MailOnline a tour of the area in his 4 X 4 vehicle said that walking on the overgrown path in the darkness would have been perilous, partly due to beavers digging holes in the bank which could cause someone to trip over. Mother-of-five Vere Gogole, 67, who lives nearby, said: 'My sons and nephews helped search for the young boy. Everyone who lives around here was involved. 'We didn't know the people at the party, but we just wanted to help. It is sad that we don't know what happened to him. 'The search went on a long time. Hundreds of people were helping. The road was full of cars. People who didn't even know him came to search. Some young people came by bus and walked here. 'People checked abandoned buildings, and looked in the ditches, but I think he went in the river because there is no alternative. If someone had picked him up in a car, he would have been found somewhere by now.' Mrs Gogole who has 11 grandchildren, added: 'Many decades ago, there was someone who landed up in the river in the winter and their body was only found about 3km away in the spring.' The spot where Lauris disappeared is about three miles from an area full of open water where a young mother vanished last November. Her four-month-old baby daughter was found dead at the spot in a hire car, but the body of the mother has not been found. Two fishermen were also swept to their deaths on a nearby stretch of the river in February last year after their flimsy boat capsized, although their bodies were quickly recovered. 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 A worshipper at the London Oratory recognised Jhaj as being at the fake funeral when shown pictures of him at his fake film premier in Leicester Square. A film industry source told MailOnline last week: 'This man is not a film star or a pop star. He's 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.' Father Rupert McHardy, 49, who was due to conduct the funeral said of the organiser: '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.' The priest had prepared a sermon and was in his robes, ready to start the service when the choirmaster warned him that something was suspicious. He added last week: 'I have never been involved in anything like this and it is very disrespectful to the church.' Fr Rupert described mourners who turned out to be actors as being respectful and polite, although one complained about not being paid. He added: '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.' 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. MailOnline was told that undertakers T. Cribb and Sons had been paid more than 10,000 in advance by bank transfer after being contacted online a week before he service. The Met Police are believed to have launched a fraud investigation after being contacted by the funeral firm, although Scotland Yard could not confirm its involvement. A spokesman for Latvian Police said: 'The State Police has been informed about this event. Lauris Zaube has not been found. We are not making further comments.' Huntsville, Alabama, is fiercely proud of its Rocket City nickname - earned for its crucial role in America's space race success. The city, which transformed in the 1950s from a cotton market town to the world's foremost hub for space travel research, is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, which led development of the Saturn rockets that put the first man on the moon. But there is a dark side to the story of these epic achievements: many of the men who led the groundbreaking work were Nazis - recruited through a top secret operation after the Second World War. The fascinating, and troubling, reality is often omitted from lessons about America's victory in the space race against the Soviet Union. It is also something Huntsville continues to grapple with today. There are those who say the 'greater good' outweighed the moral cost of recruiting members of an evil regime, allowing them to avoid justice in the process. But others say bringing these men to the US was an inexcusable decision - compounded by the fact their Nazi backgrounds go largely unmentioned in lessons about America's space history. Huntsville, Alabama, is home to the Marshall Space Flight Center, which played a crucial role in America's space race victory. Many of the scientists who designed the rockets which put the first man on the moon were Nazis recruited in secret after the Second World War Wernher von Braun, a Nazi who led the Marshall Space Flight Center, pictured with President John F. Kennedy Part of a Saturn rocket at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Saturn rockets, which carried the first man to the moon, were designed with help from Nazi scientists recruited by the USA after the Second World War The Nazi scientists who were key to America's space ambitions were recruited through a top secret program called Operation Paperclip. Following the defeat of the Nazis and the conclusion of World War Two in 1945, the United States and its allies were aware that Germany was home to some of the greatest scientific minds, including pioneers in rocket engineering. America set about recruiting these scientists to further its own military research. As tensions with the Soviet Union increased, which ultimately led to the Cold War, the scheme was also intended to prevent other hostile nations from recruiting the Germans. Around 1,600 scientists were brought to the US through Operation Paperclip, which was approved by President Harry S. Truman and named after the paperclips attached to the personnel files of Germans eyed for recruitment. Foremost among the scientists was Wernher von Braun, a Nazi and member of the SS, the notorious paramilitary wing of the party. Von Braun was complicit in war crimes and played a leading role in the development of the V-2 rocket, which was built using slave labor and used by the Nazi regime to kill thousands of civilians. Despite his background, he would later become a hero in the US. Von Braun and a team of his specialists were brought to the US in 1945 and initially based at Fort Bliss, Texas, where they worked on missile systems. Historians have said about half of von Brauns team of around 118 men were members of the Nazi party. Five years later, he was transferred to Redstone Arsenal, an Army base near Huntsville, along with a team of other German engineers to develop the nation's first ballistic missiles. It was this move which started this former cotton town on its journey to becoming the global epicenter of space rocket development. Instrument Unit and Flight Control Computers of the Saturn V at the Saturn V Hall at the Davidson Center, U.S. Rocket and Space Center, Huntsville, AL The historic Redstone Rocket Test Site and its bomb bunker at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama, is nicknamed Rocket City after the rockets which carried the first man to the moon were developed there at the Marshall Space Flight Center Before 1950, Huntsville was a poor, segregated town with a population of about 16,000 people. By 1960, the year that the Marshall Space Flight Center was established, the city was a hub of rocket research. Von Braun was appointed the first head of the center, which opened at the Redstone Arsenal two years after NASA was formed in 1958. He was already one of the most famous scientists in America for his rocket breakthroughs and lofty ambitions for space exploration. But the publicity which surrounded him rarely included mention of his Nazi past. In Huntsville, there were many people initially uneasy with their new neighbors Sherman Mullin, who worked in the town in the late 1950s before joining aerospace manufacturer Lockheed, told the LA Times: 'There were basically four groups in Huntsville the local whites, the blacks, the Germans, and everybody from out of town, who were considered Yankees. 'None of the groups mingled. A Yankee couldn't get a date with a young lady in that town.' The arrival of the Nazis was also difficult for their Jewish colleagues at NASA. Another central figure to NASA's early achievements was Kurt Heinrich Debus, another former SS member who was recruited through Operation Paperclip. In Nazi Germany, Debus also played a central role in the development of the V missiles. He went on to become the first director of NASA's Launch Operations Center, which would later become the Kennedy Space Center. Von Braun worked closely with Abraham Silverstein, a Jewish American engineer who grew up in Indiana and was a crucial figure at NASA. Silverstein coined the name for the Apollo missions and pioneered the use of liquid hydrogen fuel in rocket engines. His son, David Silverstein, told the LA Times he believed his father was 'not totally fond of the situation'. Silverstein's daughter, Judy Cook, shared a similar view. But ultimately, Silverstein was one of many NASA colleagues who were motivated to make progress through cooperation. He would say that there was 'never' animosity with von Braun and that the Nazi recruits 'were an important cog in the business and to have left them out would have been silly'. Former Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer told the New York Times in 2007: People said, If you had just been at war with these people, how can you be so accepting of them? But I think we were just in awe. The Germans knew they would face animosity from locals. But many accounts explain how they made efforts to be accepted, including Von Brauns insistence that his team never speak German when Americans were in earshot. The result was that in Huntsville, they were able to integrate in spite of their background, referred to by some as 'our Germans'. Von Braun forged personal links with several notable figures in Alabama as he rose to national prominence. Wernher von Braun meets Nazi officers of the Wehrmacht, during a demonstration for the launch of the V-2 rocket, planned on June 20, 1944. He went on to become a key figure in America's victory in the space race Wernher von Braun is credited with inventing the V-2 rocket for Nazi Germany and the Saturn V for the United States Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon on July 21, 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and their crew mate Michael Collins were carried into space by a Saturn V missile built using the expertise of von Braun, Debus and many more other scientists recruited from Nazi Germany. To this day, this epic feat of humanity is still regarded as a truly American achievement. NASA's biographies of von Braun and Debus today make references to their Nazi backgrounds. Von Braun was 'was well aware of the terrible conditions' at the Nazi's V-2 missile plant and was 'involved in decision-making about the use of slave labor'. Debus's biography notes that during his time as a scientist in Germany, he once reported a colleague, Richard Cramer, 'for criticizing Hitler and the Nazi Party, resulting in the Cramers conviction under the Treachery Law'. In Huntsville, where there is still a strong German presence, the city is careful to consider its achievements in the context of the controversial backstory. As Mayor Tommy Battle noted during a 50th anniversary celebration of the Apollo 11 mission in 2019: 'For the first time in history it made Huntsville a place that had done something nobody else had done.' Medical professors across the nation have decided to submit resignations starting March 25 in collective action pressuring the government to seek a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, a medical professors' group said Saturday. But even if they resign, medical professors said they will faithfully treat patients at hospitals as more than 90 percent of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors have walked off the job since last month to protest the government's decision to hike the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats. The decision came at an online meeting held by medical professors from 20 universities late Friday, according to the group. In South Korea, there are 40 medical schools across the nation. Of the 20 universities, professors from 16 medical schools "overwhelmingly" decided to submit resignations and the four others are collecting opinions over whether to join in, according to Bang Jae-seung, chief of the emergency committee of medical school professors. "The decision does not mean that we are abandoning patients. But if the current situation continues, there will be irreversible damage to public health," Bang told a press conference. He said medical professors will do their best in treating patients until the process of their resignations is completed. "We are to submit resignations to prevent a medical debacle as we think an agreement can be reached only after the government first backs down from the plan to raise the enrollment slots by 2,000," Bang said. Since early this week, medical professors have threatened to submit resignations en masse unless the government presents a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout. Prior to the resignation submission, the group said it plans to hold a meeting next Friday to check the development. March 25 is the deadline by which trainee doctors are required to submit their opinions on license suspensions. The government earlier sent prior notices of license suspension to some 5,000 junior doctors who have defied an order to return to work. The medical circle has been protesting the government's plan to hike the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats beginning next year. The government said the move is aimed at addressing a chronic shortage of doctors in rural areas and essential but less popular medical fields. But doctors claimed the quota hike will undermine the quality of medical education and other services and result in higher medical costs for patients. They have called for measures to first address the underpaid specialists and improve the legal protection against excessive medical malpractice lawsuits. The protracted walkout raised patients' concerns that they might not receive medical treatment at an appropriate timing. Major general hospitals have been experiencing cancellations and delays in surgeries and emergency medical treatment as they heavily rely on trainee doctors. (Yonhap) A three-way race for the Republican nomination in the Ohio Republican Senate primary appears to be razor-thin with just days to go before voters head to the polls. Matt Dolan, Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose are all running for the chance to take on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in November as he seeks a fourth term. The contest has turned into a Trump-wing of the Republican party face-off with the more establishment wing as the ex-president and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine have backed different candidates in the tense primary on Tuesday. The Ohio senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country. Brown is trying to hold onto a seat in a state that has become increasingly red over the past few elections. Republicans are confident they can flip it and several others to retake the Senate from the current one-seat Democrat majority. An East Carolina University polls showed Dolan with a narrow lead at 33 percent on Friday to Trump-backed Moreno's 31 percent and LaRose's 23 percent among likely GOP voters. But an Ohio Northern University of Republican primary voters on Thursday showed DeWine-backed Moreno at 22 percent, Dolan at 18 percent and LaRose at 16 percent. And an 11th hour bombshell report linking Moreno to an adult sex website could determine the outcome in the race. Republicans Matt Dolan (left), Frank LaRose (center) and Bernie Moreno (right) are in a three way race for the GOP Ohio Senate nomination and the chance to take Sen. Brown in November. The primary is March 19 Former President Trump endorsed Republican Bernie Moreno (second from right) in the GOP Ohio Senate primary Moreno, who a businessman who owned multiple car dealerships, has the backing of Trump. The ex-president called Moreno 'the type of MAGA fighter that we need in the United States Senate' and 'successful political outsider' needed to defeat Brown. Trump is heading to Dayton to rally for him on Saturday just days before the primary which could help propel him across the finish line. Moreno also has the endorsement of close Trump ally Senator JD Vance. But Ohio's GOP governor on Monday backed Dolan, a state senator who also ran in 2022 but lost the primary to Vance. He also has the support of former GOP Senator Rob Portman. DeWine called Dolan the best candidate to win against Brown come November. 'In 2024, the Donald Trump endorsement it the loudest trumpet in the band,' said Ohio Republican strategist Mark Weaver. 'The DeWine and Portman endorsements are still heard, but more at the level of a clarinet.' What Dolan does have going for him is great personal wealth which he has put behind his campaign allowing him to compete. Another wrench in the race that could benefit Dolan is an 11th-hour Associated Press report that raises questions over Moreno being linked to an adult website profile. The AP review found Moreno's email linked to a 2008 Adult Friend Finder profile seeking 'Men for 1-on-1 sex.' Morenos lawyer responded insisting Moreno had nothing to do with the account and said a former intern created the account as a prank. It is unclear how much of a doozy it will be for Moreno's bid, but Trump's campaign made clear he is not reconsidering the endorsement. Polling third in the race is the current Ohio Secretary of State LaRose. He's running as 'proven, battle-tested conservative.' Despite Moreno having the coveted Trump endorsement, both Dolan and LaRose have aligned themselves with the former president. LaRose touted Trump's support when he ran for secretary of state. Dolan said he backs Trump for president. The state has shifted to a deeper red. Republicans control statewide offices and the legislature. Brown won re-election in 2018 but the last Democrat to win the presidential race in the state was Barack Obama. This year, Republicans there expect to benefit with Trump at the top of the ballot and say Brown is toast, but Democrats remain bullish in their incumbent. Gov. DeWine called Matt Dolan the best candidate to beat Sen. Sherrod Brown in November Ohio's Republican Governor Mike DeWine endorsed state Sen. Matt Dolan in the GOP primary Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is running in the GOP primary and has touted Trump's past support even as the ex-president has endorsed his opponent in the Senate primary The state has shifted to a deeper red. Republicans control statewide offices and the legislature. Brown won reelection in 2018 but the last Democrat to win the presidential race in the state was Barack Obama. This year, Republicans there expect to benefit with Trump at the top of the ballot and say Brown is toast, but Democrats remain bullish in their incumbent. As Ohio plays front-and-center in the Republican path to a majority, Democrats have been meddling in the primary. The move is reminiscent of the gamble Democrats made in some 2022 primaries where they promoted conservative 'MAGA' candidates they believed Democrats had a better chance of beating in the general election. This time they are promoting Moreno in the primary. In the ad that started airing Thursday, a narrator describes Moreno is 'too conservative for Ohio' and highlights the Trump endorsement, claiming he would do the ex-president's 'bidding' in Washington. On screen, images show Moreno with Trump. It was paid for by Duty and Country PAC which is largely funded through the Senate Majority PAC, a super PAC that works to help elect Democrats. Republicans have cried foul as at least $2.7 million in ad reservations were placed ahead of the primary. A spokesperson for the Buckeye Leadership Fund, which supports Dolan, blasted the effort saying 'the prospect of Sherrod Brown going up against Republican Matt Dolan in November has Chuck Schumer so worried that he's injecting millions of dollars into Ohio, aimed at dragging Bernie Moreno across the finish line in Tuesdays Republican primary.' DeWine also slammed the effort saying Schumer and Democrats are running ads on Moreno because 'they know hes the weakest candidate to beat Sherrod Brown this fall.' But while the tight race goes into overdrive, the candidates have some similar stances on major issues. Like it has been across the country, the border has been the number one issue in the Ohio primary. All three candidates have been vying as the toughest on immigration. None of them support for the Senate bipartisan border deal which was tanked by Republicans. Dolan has called for closing the border. LaRose has called for deploying the military to the border. Moreno, an immigrant from Colombia, has called for changing the immigration laws on asylum and deporting all immigrants in the country illegally. The winner of the Ohio GOP Senate primary will take on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown Issues Democrats are sure to seize on in the general election: all three celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and have supported some level of federal abortion restriction. All three have also been critical of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, and they have all attempted to tie Brown to President Biden. Democrats have also been accusing the GOP Senate hopefuls of trying to buy a Senate seat. The expensive primary has seen a significant amount of self-funding. Dolan loaned his campaign $9 million, a vast majority of the $11.4 million total raised. Moreno has also loaned his campaign more than $4 million, nearly half the his campaign's total receipts according to the latest filings. LaRose has also loaned his campaign funds but a much smaller amount by comparison: $250,000. The three-way race is already one of the most expensive in the country, and it expected to see a massive amount of spending later this year. According to AdImpact, there have already been more than $142 million in future ad reservations made for the fall. Thousands of wealthy retirees are ditching Florida and now choosing to spend their golden years in Appalachia instead - but not everyone is happy about it. With its warm weather and low tax burden, the sunshine state has long been known as the retirement capital of the US. Yet Southern Appalachia, known for its stunningly beautiful views, is increasingly giving Florida a run for its money, Wall Street Journal reported. The population in counties in southern Appalachia designated as retirement or recreational areas grew by 3.8 percent between April 2020 and July 2022 - more than six times the national average, according to Hamilton Lombard, a demographer at the University of Virginia. But while older populations are attracted by cheaper living and housing cost, lower crime levels and pleasant weather with fewer hurricanes, some locals are furious about the impact this influx is having on property prices, traffic and even restaurant bookings - with one resident saying 'they should go back to where they came from'. Southern Appalachia is becoming a thriving retirement community due to an aging and affluent population, but some local services are struggling to keep up Helen (right), born and raised in Dawson, is not pleased with the influx of transplants moving to her rural neighborhood Pictured: A map of Southern Appalachia in relation to the rest of the United States Ed Helms, 75, and his wife moved from Panama City Beach, Florida to a gated community, half of it in Dawson and half in a neighboring county, to escape natural disasters, congestion, and the rising cost of living. 'Our property insurance was going sky high,' Helms, who worked in mergers and acquisitions, told the Wall Street Journal. 'We got tired of being unable to find a place to sit in restaurants. Everything was getting out of reason. We wouldn't go back for anything.' People like the Helms are often referred to as 'halfbacks' - a nickname for those originally from the Northeast and Midwest who moved to Florida before eventually settling somewhere in the middle. The trend back in the early 2000s and then slowed during the recession - but has now picked up again in earnest. Gayle Manchin, the The Appalachian Regional Commission's co-chair and wife of Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, told WSJ she believes the pandemic has fueled the retirees' interest in moving back to more isolated, nature-filled areas. According to Lombard of the University of Virginia, who has been tracking the pattern, an average of 328,000 individuals from other regions of the country have relocated to the five-state region of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee annually since 2020. The Georgia county of Dawson has proven particularly popular, reporting a 12.5 percent population increase from 2020 to 2022, according to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. But this huge influx has put enormous pressure on local services, leaving some lifelong residents like Helen Anderson unimpressed. Anderson was born and raised in Dawsonville, Georgia, her family making ends meet by farming chicken and selling moonshine from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Atlanta. 'They ought to go back where they come from,' she told the Wall Street Journal when discussing the newcomers. Manchin told the WSJ that demand for affordable housing has skyrocketed as more workers are needed to serve the influx of halfbacks. The migration of these wealthy retirees has spread governments thin as they trying to extend healthcare, housing, and other services to its citizens, she added. But chairman of the Dawson County Board of Commissions Billy Thurmond noted that some of people who stop him to complain about the traffic and development are ironically the same people who moved to the county in recent years. 'People who have moved here now want us to put up a gate and stop anybody else from moving here,' he told WSJ. 'It doesn't work that way.' County Manager Joey Leverette said medical calls to eldercare facilities in the county are also taking up resources. For that reason, county officials are considering splitting up staff to dedicate some to just emergency calls, freeing up teams to respond to fire calls. 'It's a game changer,' Leverette told WSJ. 'If we don't get the funding, we'll just have to keep plodding along as best we can.' An average of 328,000 individuals from other regions of the country have relocated to the five-state region of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee annually since 2020 The population in counties in southern Appalachia designated as retirement or recreational areas grew by 3.8% -more than six times the national average -from April 2020 to July 2022 The demand for affordable housing has skyrocketed for the influx of new workers serving the halfbacks moving in County Manager Joey Leverette said medical calls to eldercare facilities in the county are taking up resources Retirees are leaving Florida in droves due to increased cost of living, natural disasters, and congestion Southern Appalachia has been known for its rural and serene nature The U.S. Census Bureau has projected further development for the county, according to a piece that the weekly Dawson County News recently shared on Facebook. One person commented: 'The entire south and southern living is being ruined.' Linda Bennett, 81, has lived in Dawson County. Now that she is widowed, she resides in a home close to Georgia Route 400. She cherished being in the country, but she worries that North Georgia will never be the same with so many newcomers. 'It has grown so much; it is just unreal,' she told WSJ. 'With all the houses and apartments they're building, it's not going to get any better. How could it?' After her husband died, Delaware native Karen Rickards, 73, moved from Tallahassee, Florida to Dawson, Georgia. A halfback herself, she is wondering how much more growth Dawson County can handle. 'They are building house after house after house,' she told WSJ. 'Atlanta's moving up here, no doubt.' From the outside, the Tokyo Detention House looks like any other tall, austere buildings native to Katsushika City. It is guarded only by a low wire fence and enjoys sprawling parks dotted with trees to blend in with the surrounding landscape. But inside a far more sinister reality awaits. In a sparsely decorated room with wood panelling, Japan's most dangerous criminals await the death penalty. Stood on a bright red square in front of a viewing platform separated by a large glass window and bright blue curtains, there is a chilling theatrical element to how the East Asian country hangs the condemned. Prisoners pass by a small gold statue of Kannon as they enter, a Buddhist bodhisattva associated with compassion. Rare notes from inside the sterile centre confirm prisoners are often told only an hour before they are due to take the stage on the day of their execution - a decision the UN Committee against Torture claimed causes the families additional stress. And witnesses have since described their horror at watching the mechanical process by which officials pull levers to drop a prisoner, blindfolded and hooded, through the floor of the execution room into a chamber below, where medics confirm their death and wipe the lifeless body down. Following the sentencing of Yuki Endo, a 21-year-old who murdered the parents of a girl who rejected him three years prior, in January 2024, rights groups fear that Japan's cold and clinical execution practices are making a comeback in a shocking reversal of Western trends. A glass window separates a viewing platform from the trapdoor where prisoners are hanged Prisoners walk past a Buddhist statue of Kannon on the way in, associated with compassion Journalists stand outside the grey Tokyo Detention House in Katsushika, November 20, 2018 Yuki Endo was just 19 when the girl he like spurned his advances in 2021. Angry and despairing, the teenager sought revenge by targeting those closest to her, marching to the house of her parents in Kofu on October 12 and stabbing her 55-year-old father and 50-year-old mother to death in cold blood. Enraged, Endo then attacked their second daughter with a machete, injuring her, and burned the house to the ground. After his arrest, judges determined he was fully criminally responsible and showed no remorse for the crime, making it unlikely he could be rehabilitated in their view. READ MORE: How the world executes its worst criminals: Methods of capital punishment used around the world from public beheading and stoning to nitrogen gas and Chinese death vans Advertisement Endo became the first person in Japan sentenced to death for a crime committed between the ages of 18 and 19 after Japan's Juvenile Courts brought down the legal age of adulthood in 2022. The change to the law was intended to get younger people to 'gain awareness of their responsibilities' and rehabilitate them more effectively. But as Japan rolls out wider use of the death penalty, it has expanded the scope for capital punishment for the most heinous of crimes. Endo's case shares striking similarities with that of Tomohiro Kato, whose story haunted Japanese newspapers for years after the atrocious 2008 Akihabara massacre. It culminated in Kato becoming the most recent inmate to be executed by the Japanese state in 2022 after years waiting on death row. On June 8, 2008, the then-25-year-old rented a two-ton Isuzu Elf truck and drove it into a lunchtime crowd of pedestrians at the Akihabara shopping district, killing three people. Kato proceeded to stab onlookers with a dagger, killing four and wounding eight. He said at the time of his arrest: 'I came to Akihabara to kill people. It didn't matter who I'd kill.' During his trial, Kato claimed he had been angered by online bullying - as prosecutors painted him as a troubled young man who was demoralised by a woman he was chatting with online stopped talking to him after he sent her a photo of himself. Some 20 minutes before carrying out the heinous attack, he wrote online: 'It's time.' The massacre prompted outcry and discussion around preventative measures that should be taken to stop angry and alienated young people lashing out in brazen displays of indiscriminate violence. Knife laws were tightened, and Kato was sentenced to death in 2011. It would be another 11 years before Kato would face his penalty in the Tokyo Detention House. There is no clear record of what happened on July 26, 2022 - but a rare witness testimony from the end of 2021 shed light on the conditions facing the condemned. Convicts are notified they will be execution on the morning of the very day, a local newspaper wrote, citing lawyer Yoshikuni Noguchi. As soon as the announcement is made, they are moved to a special room and constantly monitored by security officers. The message is then supposed to be relayed to the inmate's family - though the UN notes many are told only as their loved ones die after prolonged periods in solitary confinement. Noguchi recounted an experience as a young prison officer, shortly after graduating in 1970. He said he remembered the inmate he was looking after requesting only to shake the hands of the executives who had taken care of him before going into the room - which he was allowed. The man was then blindfolded and handcuffed with his hands behind his back. The blue curtains opened and an officer tied a noose around his neck, hanged from the ceiling, and aligned him with the trapdoor. In an instant, an official gave a signal and three members of staff pulled their levers at the same time, opening the floorboard and allowing the man to drop in a small grey-tiled room below. The rope swayed back and forth. Noguchi grabbed it to stop it shaking. Below, a doctor stepped in to strip the deceased inmate and check his pulse. Confirming his death, he wiped the lifeless body clean. The aftermath of Yuki Endo's attack on the family and home of the girl who rejected him On June 8, 2008, the then-25-year-old Tomohiro Kato rented a two-ton Isuzu Elf truck and drove it into a lunchtime crowd of pedestrians From the platform, one of the rooms where prisoners are hanged in the Detention House A general view shows the trapdoor with a pulley above where a rope and noose is attached Noguchi resigned from the role after about four years in the job, recalling how faint he felt reflecting on the involvement of ending the life of another human being with a nod and the pull of a lever. Japan is one of only two G7 countries that still sentences its prisoners to death - the other being the United States - but it does so sparingly, and has not sent anybody to die since Kato in 2022. Three died on death row last year while awaiting the penalty. Japan reserves the use of its seven execution facilities for only the most serious of crimes - namely, aggravated murder, or the intentional killing of somebody else without justification. While awaiting his punishment, and following an unsuccessful appeal, Tomohiro Kato reflected that his victims were 'enjoying their lives, and they had dreams, bright futures, warm families, lovers, friends and colleagues.' But scope for rehabilitation was not mentioned in Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa's decision, who told reporters Kato had shown a 'strong intent to kill'. After Kato was hanged in 2022, international advocacy groups were quick to denounce the measures, under which inmates can wait years, only learning of their impending death hours before it happens. Families, too, have criticised Japan's policy of secrecy and short-notice, one couple suing for damages for mental distress based on the claim that 'informing death row inmates that their death sentence is to be carried out on the day of their deaths is unconstitutional and inhumane.' Furukawa said it was 'not appropriate' to abolish the penalty so long as 'heinous crimes such as mass killings and robbery-murders still repeatedly occur'. Indeed such crimes do continue to occur, with the death penalty seemingly of limited use as a deterrent for criminals intent on committing atrocious acts of violence. One of the more noteworthy cases in recent years was the 2018 execution of seven cult members at various facilities across Japan for their involvement in a dramatic attempted coup in March 1995. Leader Shoko Asahara, 63, founded Aum Shinrikyo cult in 1984, and his mix of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity and social disillusionment attracted thousands of followers. They took part in bizarre rituals, such as drinking his bathwater and wearing electrical caps they believed synchronized their brain waves with Asahara's. Asahara chose doctors, lawyers and scientists from Japan's top universities as his top aides, making them ministers of his pseudo-government of the Aum empire. They worshipped him and carried out his orders. But behind the scenes, they also built an arsenal of chemical, biological and conventional weapons to carry out his vision of overthrowing the government to save the world from a doomsday he said was coming, which ended in the cult releasing deadly sarin gas in the Tokyo subway in a horrific attack that killed 13. As many as 50 were severely injured in the attack, some of whom later died. And nearly 1,000 suffered temporary vision problems from the nerve agent which causes respiratory paralysis and can cause permanent neurological treatment for those who do not immediately die. Asahara was captured two months after the attack, dragged out of a hidden compartment in a ceiling where he had holed up to evade arrest. In 2004, he was convicted of having killed 27 people in 13 murders and other assaults and kidnappings spanning six years that culminated in the subway attack in his elaborate scheme to hasten Armageddon. During his eight years on trial, Asahara rarely spoke and never acknowledged responsibility or apologised for the attack. In a rare interview in 2006, two of Asahara's four daughters told The Associated Press that never in dozens of visits to him in prison had they had a real conversation. Instead, he sat and fidgeted or grunted as his lawyer sought medical treatment and appealed for his release. With the appeals unsuccessful, he was finally hanged at the Tokyo Detention House on July 6, 2018, along with six other cult members. Shoko Asahara, guru of the doomsday Aum Shinrikyo cult, pictured in October 1990 Shoko Asahara, real name Chizuo Matsumoto on October 31, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan Rescue workers carry the survivors to the emergency rescue tents at Tokyo Metro Tsukiji Station on March 20, 1995 in Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Fire Department Haz-Mat team leave after decontamination work at Kasumigaseki Station on March 20, 1995 in Tokyo, Japan Former cult leader Shoko Asahara who was executed for his involvement in the 1995 attack The appointment of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2021 rang alarm bells for international rights groups, who soon warned of an 'abhorrent resumption of executions' after a 'chance for progress on human rights in Japan'. Amnesty International noted at the end of the year that three death row inmates had been promptly to their deaths after a two year interregnum and apparent shift away from the practice. The Death Penalty Information Center reported in January that 106 inmates, including Yuki Endo, are still awaiting the penalty, though 'Japan's law requires that executions must be carried out in utmost secrecy'. Critics of capital punishment often argue against the death penalty along moral lines, claiming the power to take life is not within the purview of the state and that execution means often go wrong, causing unnecessary suffering to the condemned. The frequency of miscarriages of justice - by which an innocent person may be sent to their death before they are later exonerated - is often put forward as a reason for banning the practice. They also argue against practical lines - that people are more useful to society if rehabilitated, and that implementation of the death penalty does not seem to deter criminals from offending. But Japan, among 55 countries with 'retentionist' provisions for the death penalty, seems to show no signs of giving up on its belief that a handful of eerie wooden rooms in a large grey institution in Tokyo still serve a purpose. The pavement outside the main branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull is covered in flowers. In the midst of the floral tributes, growing bigger by the day, is a small pink teddy bear with pink bows which has been here from the start, ever since police raided the premises last week and discovered a horror story behind the now shuttered-frontage. In all 35 bodies that should have been sent for cremation weeks ago including at least one body allegedly left to decompose were removed from the building in Hessle Road by forensic officers in white boiler suits. The unfolding drama in this corner of Hull is reminiscent of an episode from the BBC's Silent Witness or the American series CSI. Behind it, so many distressing repercussions for grieving families: some fear they have been given the wrong ashes after attending a service at Legacy's Chapel of Rest . . . others have not received any ashes at all . . . one woman is convinced the coffin she kissed at her father's funeral was empty . . . the uncertainty left another relative feeling 'physically sick'. The company's boss Robert Bush and his employee daughter Saskya Bush There is even suspicion that the coffin for a much loved grandmother may have been 'second-hand'. It was 'dented' and the name plaque was not properly attached. The ripple effect this is having on Hull is epitomised by the fact that more than 1,500 people whose loved ones were handled by Legacy have contacted a dedicated police hotline set up in the wake of the raid. And the pink teddy bear? There is no attached note or card to indicate if it was left in memory of a child or by a child for a departed family member. Either way, it is surely the first time that flowers and tributes, now an all-too familiar sight at roadside and pavement shrines in towns and cities across Britain, have been left outside, and not inside, a High Street undertaker. The removal of corpses followed a tip-off to Humberside Police which raised concerns about 'storage and management processes relating to care of the deceased'. Critics argue the controversy is symptomatic of an industry which is unregulated in the UK and in urgent need of an overhaul. Currently, there are at least two trade bodies with codes of practice, but membership is not compulsory and Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is not signed up to either. Most firms are well run and offer a caring and compassionate service, but the lack of regulatory control can be easily exploited. One way, we have been told, is by sending a body for cremation but dividing the ashes between two different sets of bereaved relatives, thus doubling the 300 profit a funeral business typically makes on each cremation. Such a practice can result in the 'stockpiling of bodies' because only one corpse is being disposed of each time. Crematoriums have only a certain amount of slots available on any given day. More than 1,500 people whose loved ones were handled by Legacy have now contacted a dedicated police hotline set up in the wake of the raid So, if a funeral parlour, say, has six customers in a week requesting cremations of their loved ones, but only three are actually cremated, three 'extra' bodies will have to be disposed of at a later date. To extrapolate the sequence further, over a ten-week period, the number of 'extra' bodies rises to 30. The average High Street undertaker will usually only have 'three or four bodies' in their own mortuary at any one time. Legacy is run by married father-of-two Robert Bush. Mr Bush, whose wife is a retired teacher, opened the funeral firm nearly 15 years ago and had three branches, two in Hull and the other in nearby Beverley. On the Legacy website, it describes him as a 'highly trained funeral director, with many years of experience, holding industry recognised qualifications,' adding: 'We pride ourselves on the quality of our service and the personal support we offer our clients.' Funeral packages ranged from 970 to 4,999. Mr Bush's daughter Saskya, 23, a mechanical engineering graduate, helped run the business. 'Each of you do an outstanding job, you should be proud of yourselves,' reads one of several glowing testimonials online praising staff in earlier times. The family live in a big detached house in the suburbs of Hull. Father and daughter raced motorbikes in their spare time and are pictured in action at Brands Hatch and Snetterton on social media, where Saskya can also be seen soaking up the sun in Spain and Cape Verde and visiting Rome and Norway. 'It was well known that Rob might be struggling a bit financially,' said the director of another funeral firm. 'Suppliers and tradespeople talk when their bills aren't being paid.' Some customers complained about the standard of funerals when they popped into neighbouring shops. 'A woman who came in recently was just livid about her grandad's funeral,' revealed one proprietor. 'The car was late, the flowers were not fastened down properly to the coffin and were not the ones they had ordered. Then, afterwards, the spread they paid for at the funeral parlour was really poor, mainly tea and biscuits.' It was not an isolated example. A daughter described a similar experience at her father's funeral. 'I wanted a bit more spent on the flowers but they were just fake ones spelling out Dad that had been lying around.' Meanwhile, a mortuary fridge and hearses from Legacy, as well as other possessions, were up for sale on Facebook marketplace. Legacy's financial predicament is spelled out in accounts for Legacy Independent Funeral Directors, which are overdue. Turnover has nearly halved from 142,555 in 2018 to 74,450 in 2022, with declared profits of 5,060 for the same year, the latest figures available. The firm, which does not have any fixed assets such as land or buildings, received its fifth public warning this month that it faces being struck off the Companies House register. All the branches have now closed. The Hessle Road premises has a troubled history. A previous, entirely unconnected, funeral firm based there, Heavenly Services ironically named, as it turned out was the subject of a fraud investigation following the sudden death of owner Simon Woolston in 2021, when the business went into liquidation and hundreds of customers who had paid for funeral plans were left out of pocket. Saskya Bush, 23, a mechanical engineering graduate, helped run the business with her father The revelations now emerging about the funeral industry represent a largely untold story and will shock many to the core. Those wishing to pursue a career as an undertaker most commonly complete an apprenticeship with a funeral company but no formal education is required, though many undertakers have professional qualifications (such as a diploma in funeral arranging and administration or a foundation degree in funeral services). Among the relatives who would come to deeply regret walking through the front door at Hessle Road is Leila Parker-Poland, 35. Both her mother and father's recent funerals were arranged through Legacy. Both were problematic. Ms Parker-Poland was initially told her mum's ashes had been lost, then they were miraculously found and delivered to her home by a member of staff but weighed less than the ashes of her dad, who was smaller than her. At his own funeral a year earlier, he had also been left, she said, in a non-refrigerated viewing room for more than two weeks. Police outside the Hessle Road branch of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors in Hull after reports of 'concern for care of the deceased' 'Whose ashes have people got?' Ms Parker-Poland asked, a question that many relatives are asking. 'There are a hundred things going through our minds. It is traumatising.' Cassie Long's father died in March last year following a long illness. 'We paid for a horse and carriage and a dark oak coffin . . . with nice quality handles,' Ms Long told the Yorkshire Live website. 'Our dad went through so much at the end of his life and we thought he deserved a good quality service to pay our respects and honour.' But while visiting the Chapel of Rest in Hessle Road she and her sisters noticed their dad was not in the coffin they had paid for. They didn't say anything, she said, because 'we were all exhausted and traumatised by the experience we'd just shared with our dad. We were in our most vulnerable state . . . we just wanted it all to be over and for him to be at peace.' Michael Fogg, who has been an undertaker in Sheffield for 36 years, has publicly called for sweeping reform of his industry and a clear regulatory framework to prevent future abuses. Some of those affected by the news in Hull have contacted him. One woman he spoke to said the police had told her that the ashes she had thought were her late mother's final remains were in fact someone else's. 'This poor woman was utterly distraught,' he said. 'To lose your mother is hard enough, but to then be told you've been given the ashes of another deceased person is just horrendous.' Mr Fogg told how he visited one funeral firm a husband and wife team who had set up in an industrial unit in his home city. 'I was horrified by what I saw,' he said. 'They had two corpses laid out on stretchers in the middle of the unit and there was no outside ventilation.' He added: 'Until there is a regulatory body working to a regulatory framework, we'll never have peace of mind.' An online petition 'Stop Funeral Directors Exploiting Grieving Families' started by Jodie Langsford, from Birmingham, has now been signed by more than 60,000 people. 'On the 23rd of April, my life changed forever when I lost my dad,' the introduction reads. 'As a family, we trusted a funeral director with the honour of caring for my dad. 'But instead of looking after him, they left his body to decompose, failing to provide even the most basic care. I didn't even get to say my final goodbye.' In the wake of the most recent allegations, Jodie, 34, said: 'My heart goes out to everyone in Hull and everyone who's experienced this.' The 35 bodies removed from the Hessle road branch are now undergoing identification at a local authority mortuary. Today, many relatives will be anxiously waiting to find out whether the precious ashes they were given really were the final remains of a loved one. Yesterday, police said they believed they had contacted all families of the 35 deceased. 'It feels like I'm in the middle of a horror movie,' said one relative. Albeit one that can't be switched off. Annastacia Palaszczuk has offered the woman she hopes will replace her the 'same advice my father gave me' as she cast her by-election ballot. The former premier made a rare public appearance on Saturday afternoon at the polls with Labor candidate Margie Nightingale, saying the day was about 'new beginnings'. 'I'm going to give her the same advice that my father gave me, and that is: Whoever comes through your door always comes there for a reason and to treat everyone with respect and to make sure that you really listen because they've come to you for help,' she told the ABC. 'So if Margie does that, she'll be a very, very good local member.' Ms Palaszczuk retired from politics on her own terms late last year following months of speculation about her leadership. The former premier made a rare public appearance on Saturday afternoon at the polls with Labor candidate Margie Nightingale, saying the day was about 'new beginnings' Saturday's by-election will be the first time in over 30 years that Inala won't be held by someone with the last name Palaszczuk. The seat was held by her father, Henry, since its creation in 1992. She took over the legacy when she entered the political arena in 2006. Ms Nightingale, a former teacher, said she would focus on 'progress' should she win. 'I'll be looking at doing that and I understand what this community needs and I'm ready to listen and I'm really ready to do the hard work,' the hopeful told the ABC. Ms Palaszczuk wasn't the only high profile visitor on the campaign trail. Ms Nightingale was also joined on the hustings by treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Steven Miles. The pair laughed as the posed for pictures with Noodles the dog outside the Inala State School. Ms Palaszczuk wasn't the only high profile visitor on the campaign trail The battle for Inala, which Labor holds on 28.2 per cent margin, is just one of the two by-elections being held in Queensland on Saturday. Both Inala and Ipswich West - which was prompted after Labor's Jim Madden resigned to run for local council - are deep in traditional Labor heartland. Ipswich West is held by Labor on a margin of 14.2 per cent. Both results are being keenly anticipated as an early gauge of where the electorate is sitting ahead of the general election in October. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a swing in the two by-elections would not necessarily spell the beginning of the end for Mr Miles. 'We'll wait and see when the election happens in October, I expect there'll be a swing away from the government in these by elections today,' Mr Albanese said. Ipswich West is held by Labor on a margin of 14.2 per cent 'That is what happens in by-elections, normally, but I think that, you know, people will have a look at the LNP in Queensland very closely before October.' Ahead of the polls opening, a Newspoll published by the Australian showed the LNP opposition was ahead of Labor 54 to 46 per cent after preferences. If repeated at the general election in October, it would result in a loss of 18 Labor seats - four more than the LNP needs to win a majority. Mr Miles has previously said it would be 'very, very challenging,' for Labor to be reelected for a fourth term. Local Government Elections Millions of Queenslanders will also be lining up across the state to vote in local council elections. The state is home to Australia's two biggest local councils, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Buoyed by their success at the 2022 federal election, the Greens are making a play for Brisbane City. LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is expected to hold on to Brisbane's top job, despite challenges from Labor's Tracey Price and the high-profile Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan. Millions of Queenslanders will also be lining up across the state to vote in local council elections On the Gold Coast, Tom Tate is expected to be returned as mayor, a position he has held since 2012. Incumbent councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is seeking re-election despite facing a murder charge. At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their vote ahead of Saturday's local government elections, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal votes returned as of Wednesday. At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their vote ahead of Saturday's local government elections, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal votes returned as of Wednesday The Queensland Electoral Commission said 3.65 million people enrolled to vote, equating to 97.6 per cent of the state's population eligible to vote. About 45 per cent of Queenslanders had voted early at around 170 early voting centres statewide. Voting booths opened at 8am and counting will begin at 6pm when polls close. A woman could walk free from jail in less than a year after being sentenced for brutally torturing a woman and leaving her so terrified she wet herself. Ingrid Pydde subjected her victim to a horrifying ordeal inside a Gold Coast unit, in south-east Queensland, on August 16, 2020. Southport District Court heard Pydde had started questioning the woman about a 'personal grievance', then dragged her back inside when she tried to leave, reported the Gold Coast Bulletin. The court was told that Pydde spent an hour assaulting the woman, beating her and slamming her body into the ground, allegedly with the help of another man. She then threw a towel at the victim and told her to 'stop bleeding everywhere' and covered her head with a plastic bag, only tearing a small hole so she could breathe. Ingrid Pydde subjected her victim to a horrifying ordeal inside a Gold Coast unit, in south-east Queensland, on August 16, 2020 Pydde taped over the womans eyes and jaw, bound her feet, and cut off her clothes before stuffing her naked inside a suitcase that she zipped up and shut inside a cupboard. She them burnt her victim's finger with a blowtorch, which was poking out the top of the slightly unzipped suitcase, and threatened to stab her if she did not 'shut up'. The woman was released a short time later. Only weeks before that Pydde and three others stormed a Coomera home, all dressed in black with balaclavas and brandishing weapons including a gun, the court was told. Pydde and a female accomplice began rummaging through the house as the men in their group attacked a 31-year-old man, but the violence soon escalated as the man fought back. The man was stabbed and Pyddes blood was found at the scene. She was the only one identified and charged in relation to the incident. A victim impact statement from a female resident who was also stabbed during the home invasion was read out in court, revealing she had suffered significant emotional trauma and was receiving mental health treatment. Pydde was supported by her mother and brother when she appeared in court with a lengthy criminal history READ MORE: Gold Coast crash: Teenager fighting for life after horror hit and run Advertisement Pydde was supported by her mother and brother when she appeared in court with a lengthy criminal history. Defence barrister Nicholas Brown said his client's offending was fuelled by drug use at the time. He said the suicide of her cousin when she was a teenager had a 'profound effect' on Pydde and had impacted the trajectory of her life. The court heard that Pydde completed several programs during her time in custody, with hopes of returning to her previous work in Melbourne following her release. Pydde pleaded guilty to torture, burglary while armed and in company and assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company. She was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment and will be eligible for parole on February 8, 2025 having been in custody for more than 700 days to date. A teenager pulled a gun during a fight on a packed Florida beach earlier this week, before running through a crowd with the weapon and fleeing into the ocean. Felixander Solis-Guzman, 16, was arrested by officers from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office following the incident on New Smyrna Beach on Thursday. In shocking footage, Solis-Guzman can be seen brawling with four individuals on the packed beach before he pulls out a firearm. Deputies with the office had been on the beach at the time of the incident, and gave chase as Solis-Guzman caused revelers to scatter, with one shouting: 'He has a gun!' The officer recording the incident can be seen running after the teen with his gun raised, shouting at the teenager: 'Alright motherf***er, drop the f***ing gun.' Residents are now urging holidaymakers to be careful when visiting New Smyrna Beach during Spring Break, with locals telling DailyMail.com they were concerned that police can't do much until someone gets hurt. In shocking footage, Solis-Guzman can be seen brawling with four individuals on the packed beach before he pulls out a firearm The officer recording the incident can be seen running after the teen with his gun raised, shouting at the teenager: 'Alright motherf***er, drop the f***ing gun' The video footage showed Solis-Guzman continue to flee the scene with officers hot on his tail, and start running towards the ocean. Five officers can be seen with their guns drawn aimed at Solis-Guzman as he stands on the edge of the beach in the water. Solis-Guzman starts to comply with officers after several minutes and drops the weapon and a bag into the water before surrendering. As officers bring him in, large crowds of spring breakers can be seen watching the events unfold. Deputies recovered the firearm and the bag from the water, which held 20 small plastic baggies of marijuana. The teen was charged with three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a person under 18, improper exhibition of a firearm, commission of a 2nd degree felony with a weapon, resisting a law enforcement officer, 2 counts of tampering with evidence, and sale of marijuana. In addition to his charges, he was also arrested on 7 active no-bond warrants out of Orange County, including robbery with a firearm and violation of his probation. He was taken to the Volusia Family Resource Center for processing before transport to the Department of Juvenile Justice. Five officers can be seen with their guns drawn aimed at Solis-Guzman as he stands on the edge of the beach in the water On Friday, the Florida State Attorney's office said they had filed adult charges against Solis-Guzman and he is to be transferred to the Volusia County Jail On Friday, the Florida State Attorney's office said they had filed adult charges against Solis-Guzman and he is to be transferred to the Volusia County Jail. State Attorney R.J. Larizza said: 'This 16-year-old brought drugs and a gun to Volusia County during spring break. 'He will now face adult charges and serious consequences for his reckless actions. We welcome spring breakers, so long as they behave themselves.' Sheriff of Volusia County Mike Chitwood added: 'We arent playing around in Volusia County. 'Dont let your child be the next to come here as a juvenile and end up an adult facing serious criminal.' Hundreds of high school kids in the county were enjoying a senior skip day when the incident occurred with DailyMail.com witnessing cops confiscating bottles of vodka from the teenagers vehicles. Many were blasting music along the shores, with some even competing in a planned boxing match as dozens cheered them on. One group of girls told DailyMail.com they were handed a $160 ticket for blaring their music too loud, adding that they were unsure how they would pay it. A senior in Volusia County said: Its high school skip day, and usually some of us would travel down to Miami but theyve made it clear weve been kicked out of there. It is stricter here than it usually is, the police have been going through cars and giving out tickets to those who have been deemed too loud. But were just here to have a good time. DailyMail.com also witnessed police speaking to several other teens who donned balaclavas for their day at the beach, as officials herded the teenagers away from the rough water. A couple, who wished to remain anonymous, told DailyMail.com that they spend four months a year in New Smyrna Beach, and have banned their grandchildren from visiting in March. They used to come and visit us but honestly its just not safe at this time of year, so we told them to come a little later in April, they said. Despite the curfew on youths put in place for March, residents say that it has been ramping up in recent years and the cops cant do much until someone gets hurt. They added: Its a much younger crowd than it has been in previous years, but I do think they should reinstate the rule that they had last year if they get in trouble the parents are fined. Despite the packed beach, bars along popular Flagler Avenue close to the shore were quiet, with the underage teens taking their own beverages onto the sand in their cars. Police and the mayor's chief of staff in Fort Lauderdale said it had been a successful week with limited crime Groups of bikini-clad girls and jeering guys flocked to the packed-out beaches of the city, situated just twenty miles from Miami Beach Crowds descended on the beaches of the city as they soaked up the sun for the first few days of Spring Break Groups of bikini-clad girls and jeering guys have flocked to the beaches of Florida for Spring Break. Some girls, leaving little to the imagination, posed for photos in the ocean. Elsewhere, swathes of half-dressed youngsters danced at daytime parties on the beach, in the back of pickup trucks, and on boats rented out for the day. As night descends, partygoers continue drinking well into the night with groups pictured posing outside of bars and clubs. Spring Break last year saw 488 arrests in Miami Beach, more than 230 of which were felony offenses, and more than 100 firearms were seized. Due to this, officials in Miami announced plans earlier this year to bring about tougher restrictions. City Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who pushed for Miami to announce this year's spring break measures, sent an email to constituents celebrating the calm start to spring break this past weekend. In it, Fernandez wrote: 'No shooting. No stampedes. No fatalities. What a difference.' The city's goal for weeks was to break up with Spring Break, which the New York Post said was a 'bust'. In a social media post of the headline used by the outlet was shared on social media, former Miami Mayor Philip Levine posted the headline with hand-clapping emojis. A ramped-up police presence was noticeable along the beach in Miami with officers on bicycles, buggies and SUVs seen patrolling the area. Others were seen leading K-9s between sun bathers on the crowded sands. Police told Fox News that they had made nine arrests between March 4 and March 9, with only two arrests being related to spring breakers Party goers flocked to the beach in the south of Florida to celebrate Spring Break, with St Patrick's Day also coming up this weekend In contrast, there was barely a patch of open sand to be had on some stretches of Fort Lauderdale Beach, often dubbed as 'Spring Break Central.' Police and the mayor's chief of staff in Fort Lauderdale said it had been a successful week with limited crime, as they look ahead to a tougher challenge - with continued celebrations coinciding with St. Patrick's Day. Casey Liening, spokesperson for local police, told Fox News: 'Our spring break crowds have been as expected so far this year, with this week being the busiest week we are anticipating. We have not had any major issues or disturbances.' Prior to the spring break, Mayor Dean Trantalis said there were designated areas where alcohol was permitted, as well as safety measures including date rape drug tests, rideshare options and Narcan. During a press conference at the beginning of March, Trantalis said: 'We want to make your spring break experience the best experience you've ever had. 'Why? Because we want you to come back. We want you to come back next year. We want you to come back in future years, and, hey, maybe you want to make Fort Lauderdale your home.' A beleaguered police and fire chief finally agreed to step down last night after it emerged he had told a meeting: Ill dump the bitch when discussing a female colleague. Stephen Mold, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire, faced a barrage of criticism over the misogynistic comment made when he was asked what he would do if his new fire chief Nikki Watson was found guilty of misconduct. Mold was already under pressure over his appointment of Ms Watsons predecessor his close friend Nicci Marzec. His office initially said he had attended a reflective meeting to ensure he fully understands the impact of the language he used and the need to remain calm under pressure following the comments. But late yesterday afternoon, as pressure on him mounted, he released a lengthy statement saying he would not seek reelection in May. Police, fire and crime commissioner for Northamptonshire Stephen Mold has said he will not seek reelection in May (file photo) It emerged that he had said 'I'll dump the bitch' when discussing Nikki Watson (file photo) He said he had made a significant mistake that would have an impact on his ability to steer cultural change at Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. I know that culture is one of the biggest challenges facing both services, and it was up to me to set an example. I have failed on that with the language I used, and I really am sorry that I have let people down, he said. Mr Mold - who has denied Ms Marzec was his lover - went on: Public life is hard - the public spotlight is relentless at times and the pressure intolerable. No-one can remain immune to that and the toll it has taken on me and those around me has been significant. Ms Watson, the former Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, was appointed despite being currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct over her attendance at a policing conference in 2023. Mr Mold used the derogatory term while explaining that Ms Watson would be removed from her new post if the police watchdog found against her. His own party said his position was untenable after his comments, made at a meeting with firefighters earlier this month, were revealed. Adam Brown, deputy leader of Conservative-controlled West Northamptonshire Council, said Mr Molds misogynistic language at the meeting creates a hostile environment for female employees of the fire service and the police. Mr Mold used the derogatory term while explaining that Ms Watson would be removed from her new post if the police watchdog found against her Conservative councillor James Hill, who has lodged an official complaint with the party, said: There comes a point where enoughs enough, and thats where Im at now and I feel that, as a party, we can do better and we can have someone who can represent us in the way we should be represented. Mr Mold has already faced criticism over his appointment of Ms Marzec, amid speculation over her friendship with him. Mr Mold, 55, faced calls to resign after it emerged he hired Ms Marzec, 50, as Northamptonshires interim chief fire officer even though she had no previous experience. Ms Marzec quit just ten days later amid uproar, and five separate sources later told The Mail on Sunday she had been in a relationship with the Tory commissioner for years. Independent councillor Ian McCord said Mr Mold was an embarrassment adding: What does he have to do before the local Conservatives will tell him its time to go? Why does the local party tolerate almost daily humiliation their resident jester brings? A female 'prophet' from a Hillsong-like megachurch has broken her silence, confessing to an affair with a married church leader. Stacey Hilliar - a married mum and self-described prophet - abruptly resigned from Neuma church, a Pentecostal revival congregation based in Melbourne, in February after a cheating scandal was exposed. Former policeman Corey Turner, his wife Simone, and Ms Hilliar all resigned from leadership positions at the Neuma church after the scandal became public. Mr Turner admitted to having an affair with Ms Hilliar last month, while both parties were married to other leaders within the church congregation. On Saturday, Ms Hilliar shared a lengthy statement on Instagram on behalf of her family after investigations into the incident concluded. A female 'prophet' from a Hillsong-like megachurch has broken her silence, confessing to an affair with a married church leader 'My, Staceys, poor choices from Nov 2023 - Jan 2024, for which I offer no excuses, are being soberly processed & worked through in private as our family seeks healing and restoration, looking to the future, united,' she said. 'For the pain and disappointment I have caused to so many people, l am sorry. I own my part and I own my sin. Nobody else is responsible for my choices. I simply offer my apology and ask for your forgiveness. 'I am committed to the restoration process provided by the ACC [Australian Christian Churches] and honour their leadership.' On Saturday, Ms Hilliar shared a lengthy statement on Instagram on behalf of her family after investigations into the incident concluded Ms Hilliar confirmed she and her husband, Jai, have both stood down from their roles within the church at the strong recommendation of the Senior Pastor. 'To some, this statement has taken too long, however, we have been committed to honouring the integrity of the ACC investigation process that commenced in early February,' she said. 'I, Stacey, resigned on 2 February, 2024 from my executive role due to my clear breach of the code of conduct for which I am responsible.' Stacey Hilliar is pictured with her husband Jai. They have four children together She went on to express the pair's sincere love and thanks to the church community. 'For the last 12 years, our family has had the privilege of serving and being part of one of our nation's great churches, Neuma Church,' she said in a statement. 'We have been honoured to serve and walk with some of the most incredible people - friends, families & leaders - we are privileged to know and love you. We miss you. 'As we look to the future, we offer our thanks to our Neuma Church family, the wider Body of Christ, the ACC & to our gracious, kind & forgiving God who is our hope and our restoration.' Stacey Hilliar is pictured preaching during a service at Pentecostal church, Neuma The church board sent an email to the congregation on February 3 saying that the leadership changes were due to health issues and 'unforeseen circumstances'. On February 23, Mr Turner confessed his 'sin' in a statement to his 28,000 Instagram followers, saying he entered a 'fog of deception' because his soul was tired. Neuma has 12 branches in Australia, Thailand and the US, and sermons delivered in large concert-style venues have been known to spark the faithful into frenzied scenes of moaning, crying and praying on the floor. According to the email to members, the board was alerted to the affair via an anonymous complaint. The leaders resigned when confronted. How long the infidelity had been going on remains undisclosed. Corey and Simone Turner are pictured, left and right, with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife, Jenny, in 2019 Mr Turner and Ms Hilliar went to Europe together, along with other church staff, in October 2023. In his statement, Mr Turner said: 'Towards the end of 2023 I didn't sufficiently guard my heart, reach out for help from trusted spiritual fathers, take decisive action or get the necessary rest I needed from the compounding levels of fatigue in my own soul.' 'In a fog of deception that clouded my emotions and judgement I sinned and compromised my relationship with god, my marriage covenant, my character and my calling to ministry.' Mr Turner said he was grateful for his family, and his wife in particular, 'who have faithfully stood by me and embraced me in my weakness'. Pictured, left to right: Stacey Hilliar, Simone Turner, and Corey Turner It appears that both parties are committed to repairing their marriages. Within weeks of the scandal being exposed, Mr Turner shared photos and videos of himself with his wife and three children enjoying time together and going on holidays. Ms Hilliar, who is married with four children, was on the executive team of the church, like Mr and Mrs Turner, but also described herself as a 'prophetic pillar' who had heard the 'voice of God' from the age of nine. She previously said: 'I grew up with the voice of God being very familiar to me, it being very normal for me to talk to mum and dad about my dreams and what I felt like the lord was saying.' Corey and Simone Turner (pictured together) resigned as senior pastors of Neuma church She ran an online training course for those wanting to 'increase their prophetic gifting', but her website appears to have been removed within the past few weeks. The email from the Neuma church board to members in February read: 'The board received a complaint from a member of the church, alleging that Pastor Corey Turner was in an inappropriate relationship.' 'The allegation was put to both pastors and communicated to Australian Christian Churches ... Both pastors were immediately stood down by the board, pending an internal investigation.' 'Understandably, both pastors were under significant stress, and the board had concerns about their health and wellbeing, as well as that of their families.' Stacey Hilliar (pictured) also resigned as senior pastor and prophetic pillar of Neuma The church will not proceed with an internal investigation because all parties involved have resigned. However, the Australian Christian Churches - a network of Pentecostal churches - will continue to look into the matter. Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Turner, Ms Hilliar, and Neuma church for comment but did not receive a response. Villagers are being terrorised by poachers who are leaving animal corpses strewn across their streets and pavements. In the latest incident, dozens of bloodied hares were dumped at the entrance to the community shop in Broughton, Hampshire. The perpetrators even impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shops door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows on Thursday night. Locals believe the displays are a deeply sinister message from the poachers to discourage them from interfering in their activities. Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads and fields in recent weeks, including a grim collection of 27 rabbits outside a primary school. The poachers are thought to be linked to gangs who run international gambling syndicates, raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds a night. It is believed they hunt illegally using guns and aggressive, specially-bred bull lurchers, and broadcast their activities live on Facebook, taking bets on how many animals the dogs can kill. Dozens of bloodied hares were dumped by illegal poachers at the entrance to the community shop in Broughton, Hampshire Other wild creatures including rabbits, pheasants, deer and birds of prey have been dumped in surrounding roads Poachers near Broughton are believed to be hunting illegally using guns and specially-bred bull lurchers Pictured: A solitary dead deer left lying in the middle of a field Mike Jelen, a conservation manager who works on estates in the area, said: This is now happening twice a week. 'Its total anarchy and the police are doing little about it. By dumping the bodies like this, the poachers are sticking two fingers up to farmers and rural communities. He said farmers and landowners are constantly trying to prevent the attacks, putting themselves at risk. Pheasant poachers recently opened fire on a farmer who confronted them. One local farmer, whose land has been targeted repeatedly, said: They are basically laughing in our faces. The horrific display they left outside our community shop is obviously meant to let us know theyre invincible. Broughton Community Shop said that they had reported the incident to the police, in a statement on social media. They asked locals to share any CCTV of the area from 3am to 3.45am as they thanked them for helping them to clear the distressing scene. They said: 'Safe to say non(e) of us were expecting our day to start as it did here this morning at Broughton Community Shop. 'Thank you all for popping in, messaging and phoning to make sure we are ok. We are ok. Shocked but ok. 'Thank you again for all of your help, we are so lucky and grateful for your support and extremely quick response to help us clear up.' They added: 'Your fabulous shop team rallied round and got it all cleaned up. Please do continue to support your shop we are here to serve you.' The perpetrators even impaled a barn owl and kestrel on the shops door handles and rubbed animal blood and guts over the windows Birds of prey have been also been used for the sinister displays Pictured: A chilling sight as animal corpses are scattered across a road in Broughton Horrified followers took to the comments to show their horror at the cruel displays. A New Forest groceries shop said: 'We're so very sorry you've had to deal with this. 'My heart broke when I heard what had happened. Pure needless destruction of our beautiful world. 'I sincerely hope whoever is responsible is caught and dealt with appropriately. It's an abhorrent act. Thinking of you all.' And another, Louise Banfield, added: 'Just seen what happened. I can't imagine why anyone would do such a vile thing. Hope you are all OK, what a dreadful shock.' Animals were also dumped outside Awbridge Primary School around ten miles from Broughton in February. Local resident Mandy Robinson, 47, told the Hampshire Chronicle the scene was 'like something out of a horror movie'. She said: 'This was only about an hour or some before the school breakfast club began, so there were going to be primary school children walking by this horrible sight. I dont know why someone would do this.' Jayne Fahey, headteacher of the school, added: 'As Headteacher, I am truly saddened by this event and struggle to comprehend why anyone would think it an appropriate action.' The paper also reports 40 animal corpses were dumped north of Stockbridge, the next village over from Broughton, in November. Hampshire Police told MailOnline: 'We can confirm we are investigating following a report that a number of dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton. 'We were called at around 6.20am on Friday, March 15. 'The bodies of around 50 dead hares, as well as a barn owl and a kestrel, were found outside the Broughton Community Shop in High Street. 'The animals have been collected and an investigation is underway. As part of our investigation we are seeking to identify the owners of a silver Suzuki Grand Vitara. 'If you saw a vehicle matching this description in the area between Thursday night and Friday morning, please get in touch. 'If you have any information about this incident, please call us on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44240111410, or you can report it via our website - https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/' We are not tools to be used by politicians during election campaigns: head of marriage immigrant women's association By Lee Hae-rin Marriage immigrant women in Korea and a Philippine-born naturalized Korean lawmaker called for substantial measures to guarantee their political participation to better represent 2.5 million people from multicultural backgrounds. Rep. Lee Jasmine of the minor progressive Green Justice Party, the first and only Korean lawmaker with an immigrant background, held a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, along with members of an association of marriage immigrant women, as the April 10 general elections approach. No political party in Korea has actively represented the opinions and rights of immigrants, said Lee Gyeong-suk, the head of the association. Koreas political parties must find ways to encourage marriage immigrants to participate in politics and speak up for themselves. The upcoming general elections must be the first step. Established in 2014 to help migrant wives' integration into Korean society and encourage their political participation, the association has over 50,000 members of Chinese, Japanese, Mongolian, Filipino, Uzabek, Cambodian, Nepalese, Vietnamese and ethnic Korean backgrounds. Rep. Lee criticized Korean politicians for ignoring marriage migrants yet using locally popular foreign celebrities as tools to garner attention from voters during election campaigns. The association proposed the authorities hire marriage immigrants for positions in local governments to be in charge of immigration-related work and encourage their political participation by giving extra admission points to candidates with marriage immigrant backgrounds when entering politics. Also, the group urged the country to mandate immigrant groups to carry out civil education activities at least twice a year. Korea has seen a dramatic jump over the years in the number of marriage immigrants from 619 in 1990 to 136,752 in 2022, the group noted. Despite their growing population and contributions to the countrys economy amid its falling birthrate, there has been no proper political representation for them, the lawmaker pointed out, noting that less than 0.1 percent of 9,400 bills in connection with immigrants passed the Assembly between 2020 and 2024. Disturbing new footage has emerged showing a career criminal hunting down a 71-year-old man before striking him over the head with a hatchet. Paleti Anikesi Veniale, 30, was caught on surveillance camera following the elderly man in a park on Federal Way, Washington, in December of last year. The video shows Veniale follow his victim from a distance, before hurriedly running up behind him wielding a hatchet before striking him over the head. According to prosecutors, the attack on the man was completely unprovoked and Veniale struck him numerous times, even after he had fallen to the ground. Two days later, while wanted for attempted murder in connection with the attack, officers shot Veniale. Paleti Anikesi Veniale, 30, was caught on surveillance camera following the elderly man in a park on Federal Way, Washington, in December of last year The video shows Veniale follow his victim from a distance, before hurriedly running up behind him wielding a hatchet before striking him over the head The video shows giving chase to Veniale on foot as he crosses across a busy road, before he turns with a large knife in his hand. The two officers unleash a volley of bullets on the 30-year-old, who then drops to the ground letting go of the knife in the process. According to CBS12, Veniale had ran off after the attack on the elderly man who was rushed to hospital with critical injuries to his head, face and chest. The outlet reported that there was concern the man might not survive but he is now in a satisfactory condition three months on from the horrifying attack. Veniale was charged with attempted murder in the first degree, with prosecutors citing his 'extreme level of violence and extensive violent criminal history'. Court filings seen by the outlet show that Veniale had 19 bench warrants since 2012, with prosecutors raising concerns over him being at large. In April of last year, he was arrested for attacking an EMT worker after he is said to have punched them in the face with no provocation in a hospital hallway. He has also been repeatedly arrested for assaulting firefighters, police and healthcare workers, and strangers. Veniale was charged with attempted murder in the first degree, with prosecutors citing his 'extreme level of violence and extensive violent criminal history' According to prosecutors, the attack on the man was completely unprovoked and Veniale struck him numerous times, even after he had fallen to the ground The video shows police giving chase to Veniale on foot as he crosses across a busy road, before he turns with a large knife in his hand The two officers unleash a spray of bullets on the 30-year-old, who then drops to the ground letting go of the knife in the process CBS12 said that in 2017 he punched a passenger on a bus in the city and knocked out their teeth in another unprovoked attack. Prosecutors also said Veniale had stabbed someone in the neck with a pencil before the attack on the bus. After his attack in the hospital, he was ordered to be taken to Western State Hospital for psychiatric care. Veniale was released after two months in the state hospital and booked back into jail for pending cases. He was in custody for two weeks before being released on December 18, just two days before he is said to have attacked the 71-year-old. Veniale ran across a road to evade the cops, before he was gunned down two days after the hatchet incident In a bizarre twist, one of the officers who shot Veniale in December had a previous run-in with him in May 2020. Police encountered Veniale with a machete and a knife at a homeless encampment where he jumped toward them and started yelling while clutching the weapons. Veniale was arrested after the officers tased him and was charged with assault in the third degree. After he pleaded guilty to that charge, a judge determined that the time he spent behind bars was sufficient enough and released him from custody. In charging documents, prosecutors said: 'The defendant is unlikely to comply with future court orders. 'Furthermore, the defendant faces a standard range including the deadly weapon enhancement of approximately 19.5 to 25 years for this charge.' Veniale is currently in the King County Jail with his next court hearing scheduled in June. An RNLI volunteer has been charged over the death of a grandfather whose fishing boat capsized during a rescue operation. William Murray McCubbin, 60, was pulled from the water after his vessel sank close to Port William harbour, Wigtownshire, in November 2022. His boat had become stranded on the rocks and efforts were already being made to recover it when it capsized. Mr McCubbin was taken to the Galloway Community Hospital, in Stranraer, but he could not be saved. William Murray McCubbin (pictured), 60, was pulled from the water after his vessel sank close to Port William harbour, Wigtownshire, in November 2022 His boat had become stranded on the rocks and efforts were already being made to recover it when it capsized. Pictured: Port William harbour Police have now arrested and charged a 48-year-old volunteer lifeboat crew member following a 16-month investigation. Yesterday, the family of Mr McCubbin who was known to friends and relatives as Murray paid tribute to him and spoke of their hope that the inquiry would provide them with answers. A family statement issued by lawyers Digby Brown said: 'We welcome the update in the criminal investigation as it brings us closer to learning the truth about what happened at sea that day. 'The loss of Murray is something that shattered our family he was a loving partner, father and Papa and there is not a day that goes by where we don't think of him.' The statement added: 'We would like to thank our friends and family for their support over the last 16 months but we now request that our privacy is respected as we await the outcome of the criminal investigation.' An RNLI spokesman said: 'An RNLI volunteer crew member has been arrested and charged following the death of a man in November 2022. 'The RNLI is continuing to make support available to the individual, as well as to others at the lifeboat station. As this is subject to a police investigation, we cannot release any further details.' Police have now arrested and charged a 48-year-old volunteer lifeboat crew member following a 16-month investigation. Pictured: Port William seafront Yesterday, the family of Mr McCubbin who was known to friends and relatives as Murray paid tribute to him and spoke of their hope that the inquiry would provide them with answers. Pictured: Port William harbour A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'A 48-year-old man has been arrested and charged after a man died when a boat capsized during a recovery operation in 2022. 'The incident took place near to Port William, Newton Stewart, around 4.30pm on Saturday, 19 November, 2022. The 60-year-old man was taken to Galloway Community Hospital where he died a short time later. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.' Last week, the RNLI celebrated 200 years since its creation in a London tavern. Since then, the charity calculates that it has saved 146,277 lives an average of two a day and launched 380,328 times. Catch figures for wild Scottish salmon have plummeted to their lowest-ever level. The dramatic decline has sparked concern for both the rural economy and the state of Scotland's rivers. Provisional catch statistics for wild salmon in 2023 show that Scottish fisheries caught 33,023 fish last year a staggering 25 per cent reduction when compared to 2022. In total, the Scottish Government figures mean that 11,139 fewer wild salmon were caught in Scottish waters in 2023. Posting online on International Day of Action for Rivers, the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) said: 'We're facing a wake-up call. Salmon are not just fish; they are a crucial indicator of the health of our rivers and their struggle is largely impacted by the degradation of our river woodlands which provide cool, clean water.' Catch figures for wild Scottish salmon are at their lowest level ever, with 25% less fish caught by fisheries in 2023 than in 2022 A recent assessment of wild Atlantic salmon by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that it was endangered in much of Britain The SWT said Robbie Douglas-Miller, parliamentary under secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, put it 'perfectly' in saying: 'If you've got it right for salmon, you've got it right for your whole ecosystem because they are the bellwether. They are the canary in the coal mine.' While the figures may be subject to change when final results are published later this year, conservationists say 'much more' needs to be done to protect wild salmon. Dr Alan Wells, of Fisheries Management Scotland, said: 'These new statistics provide more evidence of the perilous state of Scotland's precious migratory fish populations.' He called for restoration of rivers through schemes such as the SWT-led Riverwoods initiative. It is supported by charities, organisations and government agencies, and works towards ecosystem recovery through the restoration and creation of river woodlands. The data underlines a recent assessment of wild Atlantic salmon by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which found the fish are 'endangered' in much of Great Britain. The Scottish Government was contacted for comment. A pub where Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath played their first gig has been given listed status. The Crown Inn in Birmingham city centre, dubbed the 'birthplace of heavy metal', hosted local bands which went on to become household names including Led Zeppelin and UB40. It also welcomed the likes of The Who, Status Quo, Duran Duran and Thin Lizzy in its heyday. There had been fears for the building's future because it has sat vacant since 2014. But the site is now Grade II listed having been granted the status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England. It is best known for being the venue where Ozzy's Black Sabbath - called 'Earth' at the time - performed their first-ever gig at Henry's Blueshouse upstairs. The Crown Inn in Birmingham city centre is dubbed the 'birthplace of heavy metal' Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabath, then called 'Earth' played for the first time at The Crown Louise Brennan, Historic England regional director for the Midlands said: 'The Crown is a one-of-a-kind building with history written in its walls. 'It's a Birmingham cultural landmark that, fittingly is almost within sight of Ozzy the bull in New Street Station, and I'm really pleased it's being recognised with Grade II Listed status. 'Heavy metal is a gift Birmingham gave to the world and The Crown is an integral part of that story.' Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Lommi said: 'Cities all over the UK are protecting their musical heritage, Birmingham shouldn't be left behind. 'The Crown has huge significance to us and many other successful acts. 'It was one of very few venues that supported the emerging rock scene with a blues club and was home to our first ever gig.' Last month it emerged plans to restore the pub on Station Street as a live music venue by an arts organisation had fallen apart. Birmingham Open Media (BOM) had been looking to give a new lease of life to the heritage pub, first built in 1881, after being bought by a Japanese development company. But the pub's current owner would only sell it alongside a nearby car park and apartments, making it a high-value transaction 'requiring public sector funding.' Ozzy has always been known for his wild image - Black Sabath is known as the first metal band It is at The Crown where the band played the songs that would appear on their first two albums Originally named the General Elliott and thought to have opened its doors in 1876, it was likely designed by the architect, Thomson Plevins. Best known for Birmingham's Grade II-listed Grand Hotel, Plevins also designed the two other public houses on Station Street - the Market Hotel and the Victoria. As well as quenching the thirst of Brummies and showcasing rock stars from across the world, the building has had some other fascinating alternative uses. Local legend has it that the Crown's cellars stored the remains of fallen soldiers during the First World War, which were then taken through a tunnel to St Martin's Church. Its upper rooms are thought to have been accommodation for judges visiting Birmingham's law courts. Ian Campbell - father of Ali, Duncan and Robin Campbell of UB40 - recorded the country's first live folk album there in 1962. As one of the few places with a license for live music in the city at the time, Henry's Blueshouse, set up at the Crown in the late 1960s, established the venue as one of Birmingham's most important cultural landmarks. Jez Collins, music historian and founder of the Birmingham Music Archive, said: 'The Crown holds a special place internationally for the music industry. Ozzy is far less wild than he used to be, but his image remains - and it all started at The Crown 'It is the venue that Black Sabbath, then called Earth, first played the songs that would appear on their classic first two albums. 'In fact, the stage Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill first stood on is still there. 'This is a venue that deserves its place on Historic England's listings. 'But we need more. We need to ensure The Crown re-opens, we need to bring it back to life as a cultural venue, a music venue and a place people will want to visit. 'This brilliant news is just the beginning in the renaissance of The Crown.' A British grandmother who has been on death row in Bali for more than 10 years has been offered a glimmer of hope for escaping a firing squad. Lindsay Sandiford has been imprisoned since 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.6 million cocaine into Indonesia in her suitcase. The 67-year-old may have her sentence converted into a whole life term instead due to a law change being introduced in January, due to good behaviour behind bars. Cellmates told The Mirror how the woman, dubbed the 'grandmother', enjoys special privileges including medium-rare steak dinners and teaches inmates how to knit. Lawyers could argue for her to be returned to the UK, where she may be able to go free due to the time already served, the newspaper reported. Lindsay Sandiford has been imprisoned since 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.6 million cocaine The 67-year-old may have her sentence converted into a whole life term instead due to a law change being introduced in January, due to good behaviour behind bars This picture taken in November 2012 shows a female detainee at Kerobokan prison An inmate at Sandiford's prison told The Mirror: 'If she can get through to 2025 then she thinks she may be able to avoid the death penalty.' Human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC called for the grandmother to be returned to Britain. She currently awaits being brought to Nusa Kambangan, known as Execution Island, from her cell in the Kerobokan jail. Sandiford's cellmate told the newspaper that she 'is scared of dying but she has accepted it' while another con claimed she is 'foul-mouthed, antagonistic' and drives people out of her cell. The grandmother-of-two is locked up in one of the toughest prisons in Indonesia and the site of many deadly riots, known ironically as Hotel K. Drug mule Sandiford was caught flying into Bali from Bangkok with 10.16 lb of cocaine in 2012. Smugglers face severe penalties in the country as around 80 per cent of the prison's population are locked up on drug charges waiting to be executed, according to the Mirror. Lindsay Sandiford, is to be executed by a firing squad after she was caught in 2012 Now grey-haired and suffering arthritis, Sandiford spends her days knitting in the cramped five metres-by-five-metres cell she shares with four other women prisoners Barbed wire fences encircle the Kerobokan jail in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali Sandiford met one of her granddaughters (pictured) while in prison awaiting her fate Sandiford (pictured left with her eldest son and right in her younger days) will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan known as Execution Island and shot by firing squad The Brit, from Yorkshire, who has no previous convictions, claimed she was forced by a UK-based drugs syndicate to smuggle cocaine from Thailand to Bali by threats to the life of one of her two sons in Britain. She received a death sentence despite cooperating with police in a sting to arrest people higher up in the syndicate, sparking an outcry from human rights lawyers and former UK Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald who said she had been treated with 'quite extraordinary severity'. She will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan known as Execution Island and shot by firing squad at midnight with up to a dozen other condemned prisoners when and if her death penalty is carried out The British government has repeatedly refused to fund Sandiford's appeal, despite a ruling from Supreme Court judges in London who said 'substantial mitigating factors' had been overlooked in her original trial. The syndicate's alleged ringleader Julian Ponder, 50, from Brighton, was freed from Kerobokan prison in late 2017 following rumours more than 1 million in bribes were paid to drop trafficking charges against Ponder, his former partner Rachel Dougall, and fellow Brit Paul Beales. Dougall served one year and Beales four years for involvement in the conspiracy. Sandiford could face execution at any time after failing to lodge a final appeal but said: 'I really cannot face asking anyone for help or having to deal with another lawyer. I just can't face it. I've been burnt enough times. 'I've had 10 different lawyers. If I actually turned my mind to the legal process I would get angry and bitter and it would be destructive.' Indonesian police at the entrance of Kerobokan prison as prisoners torched buildings in 2012 Sandiford will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan and shot by firing squad Julian Ponder, 50, from Brighton (pictured) was the alleged ringleader of the drug smuggling syndicate that Sandiford was involved in but he was freed from Kerobokan prison in late 2017 Now grey-haired and suffering arthritis, Sandiford spends days at a time knitting in the cramped five metres-by-five-metres cell prison she shares with four other women prisoners, most of them poorly-educated local women convicted of drug offences. The prison houses 1,300 inmates four times the amount of people the prison was built for in 1979 - and has previously been described by inmates as a 'hellhole' with frequent 'murders, rapes, drug overdoses and bashings'. Announcements and sirens on loudspeakers scream every day and inmates are constantly vying for space in the crowded cells. Rachel Dougall, who was sentenced to a year in the squalid prison for failing to report a crime, told Daily Mail Australia in March, 2017, she suffered a nervous breakdown while inside after being locked up with drug addicts, HIV-positive inmates and sexually aggressive lesbians. 'Most of the women were on drugs virtually every day. If you had money the guards would get you anything you wanted,' she said. Diane Abbott has denied a report that she was offered the Labour whip back but refused because she would have had to go on antisemitism training. It comes as senior Labour figures appear split on whether to welcome the long-serving MP back into the party fold. An investigation has been ongoing into antisemitism accusations against her since her suspension last April. It came after she wrote a letter to The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'. Following a backlash, she apologised for any 'anguish' caused and withdrew her comments. Ms Abbott is a former shadow home secretary, but sits as an independent MP after being stripped of the Labour whip Frank Hester, who is believed to have given the party 10million, is alleged to have said Ms Abbott made him 'want to hate all black women' and that she 'should be shot' Ms Abbott on Friday rejected 'key facts' in a report by the Independent, which said her own refusal to compromise was in part to blame. Pictured: At the 'Stand With Abbott Rally' on March 15, 2024 in London The row this week over alleged racist comments by major Conservative donor Frank Hester - that Ms Abbott made him want to 'hate all black women' and 'should be shot' - has sparked questions over why the probe has already taken 10 months. Mr Hester, who has given the Tories 10million in the past year, is said to have made the remark to staff at his medical software firm the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), which has Government contracts worth more than 135million. According to the Guardian, Mr Hester made the remarks in 2019 when complaining about an unnamed business executive, who he branded 'the sh*ttest person'. Ms Abbott on Friday rejected 'key facts' in a report by the Independent, which said her own refusal to compromise was in part to blame. Citing unnamed sources in the party, the newspaper reported she was given the opportunity to be reinstated as a Labour MP if she gave a more fulsome apology and took an antisemitism awareness course. Ms Abbott, 70, was the first black woman elected to the Commons and remains the longest-serving black MP. She currently sits as an independent, but was Labour's shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. Ms Abbott wrote on X: 'A blatantly shoddy piece of journalism. 'I told the reporter that all the key 'facts' in his piece were false - on the record. Instead, he has led with the unattributable briefings from Labour party sources. 'The facts can be verified by LP. On the record.' Sir Keir Starmer said Ms Abbott should receive 'support' in relation to the abuse she receives, he has resisted calls to restore her to his party's parliamentary ranks Mr Sunak has faced mounting calls to pay back Mr Hester's donations, including from within his own ranks, but has argued that the healthcare tech entrepreneur's apology should be accepted Labour declined to comment 'on individual cases'. While Sir Keir Starmer said Ms Abbott should receive 'support' in relation to the abuse she receives, he has resisted calls to restore her to his party's parliamentary ranks. The Labour leader on Thursday said her suspension from the Parliamentary Labour Party was 'an entirely different issue' and subject to an independent process that was separate from him. But his deputy Angela Rayner has been among those to say she would like Ms Abbott to be allowed back into the party. Ms Abbott expressed confidence that she would contest the general election later this year as the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Speaking a rally in support of her on Friday night, she told Channel 4 News: 'I have temporarily lost the whip. But I'm completely confident that Keir Starmer will restore it.' She said the supporters that had gathered in Hackney, including Jeremy Corbyn, had given her 'a lot of strength after what has been a very difficult week'. 'I'm sure that Keir Starmer will look at the strength of feeling and he will do the right thing.' She said 'no Conservative has apologised' after the emergence of Mr Hester's 2019 comments about her, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has described as 'racist' while refusing to return the 10 million he donated to the Tory Party. Ms Abbott said: 'They keep saying that the Hester guy, he's apologised. He's not apologised. He's apologised for being rude, whereas in fact he was racist, and he's not apologised for that. 'In fact, he was inciting violence. He's not apologised for that.' Mr Sunak has faced mounting calls to pay back Mr Hester's donations, including from within his own ranks, but has argued that the healthcare tech entrepreneur's apology should be accepted. Meanwhile, the Guardian has published fresh claims that Mr Hester asked at another meeting in 2019 if there was 'no room for Indians' in the room and suggested they could 'climb on the roof, like on the roof of the train'. Mr Hester has admitted making 'rude' comments about Ms Abbott, but claimed they had 'nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin'. In the latest statement the PM's spokesman said: 'The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted. 'The Prime Minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life and, as the first British-Asian Prime Minister leading one of the most ethnically diverse Cabinets in our history, the UK is living proof of that fact.' Tories have voiced anger that it took so long for the premier to take a clear position on the issue. The fire on the Navy's flagship warship HMS Queen Elizabeth resulted in ten sailors needing medical treatment after the blaze 'ripped through the cursed carrier' and destroyed 100 beds. Last week, it was revealed that the 3bn ship caught on fire while docked at Glenmallan, on the shores of Loch Long in Scotland. No fatalities or ordnances were reported at the scene after the Scottish Fire Service were called out. However, it has now been revealed that ten sailors needed treatment after the blaze went through mess decks and crew sleeping areas. It is understood that the fire began in an air conditioning unit on the aircraft carrier shortly after 11pm last Friday. Last week it was revealed that the 3bn 65,000-ton ship caught on fire while docked at Glenmallan The Queen Elizabeth's sister carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, broke down near the Isle of Wight after setting sail for America just 18 months ago also due to a faulty propeller shaft A source told The Sun: 'The order came to clear lower decks after the fire broke out and everyone mustered in the hangar for a headcount. 'Some sailors were drunk as they were off-duty and it was Friday night. 'Those that were fit enough were given jobs to help with the fire. Sprinkler systems eventually extinguished it.' A Royal Navy Spokesperson told MailOnline: 'A minor, isolated fire on HMS Queen Elizabeth was quickly brought under control and extinguished.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire Service added: 'We received a call at 23.50 yesterday evening to a report of a fire on board a vessel.' The emergency service attended the scene. HMS Queen Elizabeth - nicknamed Big Lizzie - arrived at the Scottish dock yesterday as it destored ammunition and supplies enroute to Rosyth, where it will be repaired. The ship was due to be replaced by is sister carrier, 3billion warship HMS Prince of Wales, on a NATO, but its departure was also cancelled at the last minute. HMS Queen Elizabeth (left) was due to set sail from Portsmouth to help lead the western military alliance's biggest exercise since the Cold War No fatalities or ordnances were reported after the vicious blaze The 65,000-tonne Royal Navy aircraft carrier had down off the Isle of White 18 months ago after a coupling on its 33-tonne starboard propeller malfunctioned. And in early February four tiny P2000s, which normally patrol coastlines with crews of five, were instead seen making final preparations before heading to Norway. The embarrassing limitations of Britain's once mighty Royal Navy have been exposed in a string of alarming revelations this year. In January, sources revealed HMS Queen Elizabeth would be unable to back up the Prime Minister's promises to resist Houthi aggression in the Red Sea as its support ship was reportedly understaffed and stuck in a Liverpool shipyard. And when the warship was pulled out of the NATO exercise MPs described the development as 'excruciatingly embarrassing'. Elon Musk has compared the former CNN anchor Don Lemon to a spoiled child from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after a report claiming the TV host made a series of contractual demands before his new show streamed on X. Lemon is alleged to have requested a Tesla Cybertruck, an $8 million salary, an equity stake in X together with a $5 million upfront payment on top. In a posting to X on Friday night, Musk simply wrote, Don 'Veruca Salt' Lemon, in reference to the character from the 1970 film, that sees the youngster making clear her wants as she belts out 'I want it now!' Lemon is alleged to have demanded a flight toon a private jet flight together with a suite for him and his fiance, according to the New York Post. In addition it is claimed Lemon asked for X to pay for a day of drinking and massages, The Post is reporting. Lemon's list of demands went on and are alleged to have included executive assistants plus a budget for marketing of up to $15 million. Elon Musk has compared the former CNN anchor Don Lemon to a spoiled child from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after it was revealed the TV host had an alleged series of demands before his new show streamed on X Elon Musk likened Don Lemon to spoiled child Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Yet Musk reportedly still agreed to do the interview with Lemon despite his extravagant demands. The alleged proposal was also formal rather than whimsical with everything placed in writing in a contract sent from United Talent Agency to X in December. Officials at X stated there was no 'final or signed agreement with Don Lemon or 'The Don Lemon Show'' But a spokesperson at UTA has poured cold water on the claims describing it as 'absolute, complete utter nonsense without an iota of truth to it.' Lemon was due to partner with Musk's X before things turned sour after the journalist questioned him about the rise in hate speech on his app. Lemon slammed the decision to have his show axed by Musk as an attack on his free speech. Musk was quick counter by insisting Lemon is still free to share his show on the platform without censorship, but 'we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships.' 'We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,' Lemon said in a scathing statement, in which he said that he had entered an agreement to stream all of his shows on Musk's platform before the rug was pulled. 'His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me.' Lemon is alleged to have requested a free Tesla Cybertruck in return for having his show on X Lemon appeared on The View on Friday to plug the forthcoming show, which is still going ahead through other platforms, where was consoled about the cancellation Don Lemon revealed Elon Musk dished to him about his private chats with Donald Trump before the 'tense' interview resulted in the Tesla billionaire deciding to ax his show Earlier on Friday, Lemon set out to promote his show while suggesting Musk made a mistake by shelving any planned partnership Lemon released his own statement on the termination of his partnership between Musk and himself The journalist's new series, 'The Don Lemon Show', had entered into an agreement with X to promote the show, which would have seen him share in revenue from ads. After Lemon claimed that Musk was undercutting his free speech, the platform's business account clarified that he can still share his program, but 'after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.' Lemon said that despite the show being cancelled, he will still air the interview with Musk, which covered a wide range of topics 'from SpaceX to the presidential election.' 'This will be just the first of many episodes of The Don Lemon Show,' he added. The interview is set to air on YouTube on March 18. 'While Elon goes back on his word, I will be doubling down on my commitment to free speech and I cannot wait to get started.' In response, Musk said that he decided to axe his partnership with the show after finding Lemon's approach was 'basically just CNN, but on social media.' 'And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity,' he said. A source told The Post that Musk was 'underwhelmed' at the end of the show, and canned it after 'realizing how bad it was.' 'Don was underwhelming, unprepared and dull,' the insider continued. Although Swisher claimed they clashed over questions about Musk's alleged drug use, the source claimed Lemon failed to ask any interesting or edgy questions. 'He didnt ask Musk about (ex-girlfriend) Amber Heard. Elon probably would have liked it,' they added. 'He was unpolished. He didnt have producers in his ear. Jeff Zucker used to be in his ear and he would repeat back everything he was told,' they said, noting that Lemon had only a barebones crew that included his fiance. Another former CNN anchor, Brian Stelter, also waded into the argument on X, claiming a source told him the interview was 'like a bad first date.' Lemon was ousted from CNN in April 2023 following 17 years with the company, after he sparked backlash with several controversial remarks, including branding Nikki Haley 'past her prime.' Lemon is alleged to have demanded a flight to Las Vegas on a private jet flight together with a suite for him and his fiance, Tim Malone, pictured together here last April Lemon was ousted from CNN in April 2023 following 17 years with the company, after he sparked backlash with several controversial remarks, including branding Nikki Haley 'past her prime.' He also faced allegations from female co-workers who claimed that he had a history of misogynistic behavior, which he denied. The X show was intended to be a comeback for Lemon, and he was slated to tape three 30-minute episodes per week. He was recruited for a slate of shows, with deals also recently handed to Tulsi Gabbard and sports host Jim Rome. It was reported in January that Lemon entered an exclusive publishing deal with X, which has now seemingly halted monetization he would have received. He countered that he will now be sharing his content on YouTube. After releasing his statement, Lemon took to X to release a video of himself walking through New York, where he claimed Musk was 'so upset' about their interview. 'This does not change anything about the show, except for my relationship with Elon and X,' he said. 'I know that many of you were not happy that I was doing this in the first place, and you told me so. 'I just want you to know that I did this deal because not only do I believe in free speech, but I believed that this was my best possible chance for the work that I'm doing to reach the largest amount of people.' On Friday, Lemon appeared on The View to the forthcoming show, which is still going ahead through other platforms. He was consoled about the cancellation by the panel 'I think getting fired by Elon Musk is something you should wear as a badge of honor,' host Ana Navarro told him. Despite the rift, Lemon revealed he was able to glean some more information about Musk's relationship with Donald Trump which has been in the spotlight following reports the two billionaires had met. Musk reneged on the multimillion-dollar deal hours after the sit-down, where Lemon asked him about hate speech on Twitter and his personal drug use Lemon is alleged to have requested a Tesla Cybertruck, an $8 million salary, an equity stake in X together with a $5 million upfront payment on top 'Did he show his hand on whether he would support Trump?' Host Alyssa Griffin asked. 'He did talk about the meeting, why he went down, the context and the venue were in and he did talk to me about what the former president did have to say,' Lemon replied. Musk met with Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, fueling speculation he could be about to provide a much-needed cash injection into the presidential hopeful's campaign. Scant details have been released about the meeting, although Musk publicly came out to deny he would be endorsing any candidate shortly after. The South African CEO invited Lemon to bring his show to X after the former CNN host was dumped by the network on April 2023 after allegations of misogyny. But Musk reneged on the multimillion-dollar deal hours after the sit-down, where Lemon asked him about hate speech on Twitter and his drug use. In one clip played on The View, Lemon asked Musk about X users and hate speech including the 'great replacement theory' which Musk himself has amplified. The 'Great Replacement Theory' preaches that white European populations are being demographically and culturally replaced by non-white peoples - especially from Muslim countries. Speculation was ignited that Musk could be backing Trump after the two met in Florida. Pictured: President Donald Trump talks with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the White House Feb. 3, 2017 But the billionaire was unimpressed and refused to answer the question directly, telling Lemon he did not have to agree to the interview. 'I don't have to answer questions from reporters. Don the only reason I'm doing this interview is because you're on the X platform and you asked for it. I'm criticized constantly I could care less.' The exchange prompted The View co-host Joy Behar to brand Musk a 'snowflake' and to ask Lemon if he knew what he was getting into with the controversial billionaire. 'There's an old saying in the south, you knew I was a snake when you picked me up. I'm not saying he is a snake, but it is relative to this situation I went into it with my eyes open. 'Truly I went into it with the best of intentions. I am an independent regardless of what people think, Elon Musk thinks I'm on the left, I am an independent. 'I believe in free speech. I believe people have the right to say whatever they want to say but you suffer the consequences for it. 'Twitter or X is one of the biggest information platforms in the world so why cede that to extremists? I wanted to get on their and fight it out so that everybody could have a voice.' Lemon revealed he was able to glean some more information about Musk's relationship with Donald Trump which has been in the spotlight following reports the two had met In the clips that have surfaced from Lemon's encounter with Musk, which Lemon described as 'tense at moments,' the pair covered a wide-range of topics, including Musk's use of drugs, his lack of support for Joe Biden and issues over moderation at X. CNN aired footage showing Lemon asking Musk about his recreational use of horse tranquilizer ketamine. The Tesla founder's use of the drug has been widely reported on and he himself has admitted to taking it. 'The reason I mentioned ketamine with prescription on the X platform is because I thought: 'Maybe this is something that could help other people.' That's why I mentioned it. 'Obviously I'm not a doctor but I would say that if someone has depression issues, they should consider talking to their doctor about ketamine.' Journalist Kara Swisher tweeted after news of Lemon's show being cancelled that she had warned him that it would happen, as she branded Musk 'the adult toddler.' She claimed that Musk's angry response came after he was asked 'questions about his ketamine use', an issue raised in a New Yorker article last year that claimed his use of the drug has 'escalated.' Citing those close to him, the article alleged that 'the drug, alongside his isolation and his increasingly embattled relationship with the press, might contribute to his tendency to make chaotic and impulsive statements and decisions.' Hamas terrorists executed a leader in the powerful Doghmush clan in Gaza this week after claiming the group had been stealing humanitarian aid and may have been in contact with Israel. Multiple reports in Arab media said the clan leader, who was not named, was killed alongside at least two others earlier this week in a family compound. The Doghmush clan operates in northern Gaza and was involved in the kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnson in 2007; the group is also alleged to engage in extortion, smuggling and arms dealing. However, Hamas warned Palestinians earlier this week against cooperating with Israel to provide security for aid convoys - with an affiliated website telling Gazans that they would be treated as 'collaborators' with the Jewish state. The Hamas al-Majd website said: 'The occupation's attempt to communicate with the leaders and clans of some families to operate within the Gaza Strip is considered direct collaboration with the occupation and is a betrayal of the nation that we will not tolerate.' Hamas terrorists are reported to have killed the leader of the Doghmush clan in northern Gaza after the family was alleged to have been in touch with Israel A statement reportedly issued by the family, which could not be immediately verified, claimed Hamas fighters and bases were now 'legitimate targets' following the killings People walk past destroyed buildings in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says 31,490 Palestinians have been killed since the war began Israeli news website Ynet quoted Hassan al-Sharfi, a human rights activist in Gaza, as saying: 'We the people of Gaza sometimes die because of Jews and sometimes because of Hamas. 'Hamas militias executed the leader of the Doghmush family inside the "Family Court".' Doghmush is a large, armed clan that has clashed with Hamas in the past; it founded the Army of Islam jihadist outfit in 2006. READ MORE: First aid ship carrying food to Gaza arrives from Cyprus as Hamas proposes new six-week truce with Israel Advertisement It appeared to confirm the execution in a statement disseminated on social media, warning that all members of Hamas were now 'legitimate targets' after the group's attack on its compound. It also said ten others had been killed alongside the leader, rather than the previously reported figure of two. 'The cowardly Hamas militia assassinated the family's mukhtar (chief) and ten of its sons under the cover of darkness,' the statement, which could not be independently verified, read. 'As of today, the Doghmush family considers the Hamas militias, its headquarters, and its members a legitimate target.' The violence came after reports in an Israeli newspaper suggested officials had considered arming civilians in Gaza to provide security for aid convoys. Reuters, citing the Israel Hayom newspaper, reported earlier this month that the civilians in question would not be linked to militant groups. Police in Gaza are refusing to provide security to humanitarian aid convoys because of the risk of being targeted by Israeli forces, exacerbating the starvation crisis impacting many of the 1.9million displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip. An incident on Thursday saw 21 people killed as a hail of gunfire fell on an aid convoy in northern Gaza. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian health ministry said Israeli troops were to blame; the Israel Defense Force (IDF) says its soldiers did not open fire. Thursday's incident had echoes of the so-called 'flour massacre' at the end of February in which 118 Palestinian civilians were killed. The IDF denied responsibility, claiming people were killed in stampedes and run over by delivery drivers - but international observers say they saw a 'large amount of gunshot wounds' on patients being treated in hospital. It later maintained that its 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', it said in a statement. Israel has been at war with Hamas since October 7, when terrorists crossed the border and killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 253 people. Since then, Israel has carried out a near-ceaseless campaign of aerial strikes and ground operations within Gaza itself. Talks are continuing on a potential ceasefire. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims 31,490 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. In the meantime, new means of delivering aid to Palestinians are being devised - including maritime corridors after US airdrops of aid killed at least five on the ground after parachutes failed to open. Aussie mum warns renters to look out for mould An Aussie mum is warning tenants after a horror discovery in her 'perfect' rental forced her to move out. Kimberley McMahon was relieved to have secured a rental in Werrington Downs, in Sydney's west, but just weeks after moving, thick back mould made her young family sick. Ms McMahon said an 'awful smell' began seeping through the walls last month, but initially she didn't know where it was coming from. After discovering a dangerous amount of thick black mould inside an air-conditioning unit, which wasn't working, and coming through the paint on the walls she notified the property manager, who sent out a handyman. Kimberley McMahon was relieved to have secured a rental in Werrington Downs, in Sydney 's west, but just weeks after moving, thick back mould made her young family sick After discovering a dangerous amount of thick black mould inside an air-conditioning unit, which wasn't working, and coming through the paint on the walls she notified the property manager 'We could see it coming through the paint and I emailed the property manager directly, and I said you can't just paint over mould and expect it not to grow through,' she told 7NEWS. Ms McMahon came down with a sore throat and her daughter, who is immunocompromised, came down with a chesty cough, a runny nose and a sore throat. The family believe this is a direct result of the mould inside the home. After a battle with their landlord, the family managed to get their bond back, and have the lease broken. Ms McMahon was shocked to hear that a new family has moved into the property, saying she almost wants to contact the new tenants and warn them. She said the whole ordeal made her angry because the property manager made her feel 'stupid'. Ms McMahon said the landlord made her feel like she didn't know what she was talking about, but was happy to let her leave once she complained enough. 'Normally, we are very careful and inspect the homes for mould, but we couldn't tell this time when we had inspected, and we were just quite desperate to find a house with this rental crisis,' she said. An Aussie mum is warning tenants after a horror discovery in her 'perfect' rental forced her to move out The real estate company that leased the property said the tenant was 'quite distressed and wanted to leave which they did after a three-week tenancy'. The mould issue was reported on February, 19, in the back of a low-level cupboard in the kitchen. 'This (mould) has since been repaired, and we have sourced trades to attend to, inspect and remedy any remaining mould spores at the property,' the spokesperson said. According to NSW Fair Trading, managing mould risk is 'a shared responsibility' between renters and property providers n NSW. Tenants are urged to tell their landlord or property manager about any mould or maintenance issues as soon as possible. More information can be found on the Fair Trading website. By Robert Neff Traditionally, animals were often seen in Korea as harbingers of doom or omens of hope and good fortune. Foxes were often associated with evil acts while magpies enjoyed a more favorable image. It is easy to dismiss these tales as superstitions of the past but it might surprise you to learn that South Koreas first president, Syngman Rhee, regarded an enormous turtle as a positive omen for the country. In the fall of 1949, a huge turtle was caught in Gangjin, South Jeolla Province. The turtle was initially reported to be about 7 feet long and weigh 180 kilograms, and was estimated to be about 1,000 years old. According to William M. Mann, the director of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., if the turtle was truly 7 feet long, it would be the largest of its kind in the world. Korean newspapers reported that Gangjin residents regarded the turtle as a divine omen of good fortune as it coincided with the celebration of the first anniversary of the Republic of Korea. However, it wasnt only the common people who felt this way. Time, a magazine published in the United States, quoted President Rhee as saying the giant turtle is an omen for the nation. The turtle is our symbol of longevity and prosperity. The magazine added that the Korean people knew their president was talking about the past and present. It explained that when Korea was invaded by the Japanese during the Imjin War of the late 16th century, the country was saved by turtle-shaped warships that destroyed the Japanese fleet. In 1949, South Korea was menaced by Communist aggression and it was hoped this giant turtle would help protect it from aggression. The Singapore Free Press joined in and declared that no turtle had it so good because President Rhee had adopted it and that it was soon to be placed in the zoo of Changgyeongwon, a palace that had been turned into a public park by imperial Japan, which lasted there until 1983. However, an examination of the turtle revealed that it was a loggerhead sea turtle and far smaller than initially reported. It was also estimated to be only about 400 years old. Newspapers in the United States were amused. One newspaper quipped that the Korean authorities had better get that big sea turtle to a safe sanctuary before it shrinks to terrapin size. Despite it not being the largest turtle in the world, President Rhee still treasured it and wanted it to be protected. According to Time, when the turtle was first caught, the fishermen poured three crocks of wine [makgeoli] down its gullet. The Singapore Free Press quoted President Rhee assuring the public that the alcohol didnt hurt [the giant turtle] at all. None of the Western articles explained why alcohol was given to the turtle, but Joo Hee-chuns articles (Gangjin Ilbo, June 11 and 18, 2020) provide some very interesting insight. According to Joo, after the turtle was captured, hundreds of people gathered daily in hopes of touching the turtles shell, or, if they were lucky, riding upon its back. There was a superstition that a person would have a long life if they rode on a turtles back. Another superstition asserted that your misfortunes could be avoided if you gave alcohol to a turtle and then put burning brush or straw upon its shell and released it into the sea. When President Rhee learned of the abuse the turtle was experiencing, he ordered the police to protect the turtle and prevent the residents from harassing it. His original plan to bring the turtle to Seoul had to be abandoned because it was feared the winters cold would result in the turtles death. Instead, the turtle was moved to Busan. When the Korean War broke out, the Korean government relocated to Busan and some people claimed that it was the turtle that protected the city and eventually enabled President Rhee to return to Seoul. In July 1956, the turtle suddenly stopped eating. Korean and American doctors tried to save the turtle but on Aug. 1 it died. President Rhee was greatly shaken by the death and ordered the turtle to be stuffed and, for a short time, displayed near his office. It was later moved back to Busan where it was kept in storage until 2011 when it was revealed to the public. Four years later, Syngman Rhee, no longer president, was living in exile in Hawaii. According to some, his luck ran out when the turtle he treasured died. My appreciation to Diane Nars for her invaluable assistance. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including "Letters from Joseon," "Korea Through Western Eyes" and "Brief Encounters." Alec Baldwin was offered a plea deal last year that would have seen him serve no jail time in connection with the manslaughter of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Variety reported that before the 65-year-old could decide whether to accept the terms, prosecutors pulled the offer and said they would be indicting him. In a filing seen by the outlet, prosecutor Kary Morrissey offered 'a plea deal identical to the petty misdemeanor deal accepted by Dave Halls. The filing states that the offer was made on October 5 and Baldwin was given until October 27 to decide, but prosecutors rescinded the offer on October 17. Halls, the first assistant director on Rust, did not serve prison time after pleading to a count of negligent handling of a deadly weapon. Variety reported that before the 65-year-old could decide whether to accept the terms, prosecutors pulled the offer and said they would be indicting him Baldwin will go on trial later this year for manslaughter in connection with the death of Halyna Hutchins, seen here in 2019 He was given six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, 24 hours of community service and ordered to take a firearm safety class. Baldwin's lawyers have accused the prosecutors in the case of a list of abuses and are looking to have case dismissed. Variety reported that his lawyers claim that Morrissey repeatedly leaked confidential information about the grand jury proceedings to an NBC reporter. In November, lawyers representing the actor filed a motion for sanctions over that issue, and asked to have Morrisey and her co-counsel removed from the case. They also sought to have monetary penalties imposed against Morrissey over her alleged misconduct. At a hearing on November 15, the judge overseeing the case admonished the parties not to disclose anything about the grand jury proceedings. The judge also postponed the grand jury proceeding from November to January to allow more time to review material the defense wanted to present. Attorney's for Baldwin allege that within an hour of the hearing, Morrissey then called the NBC reporter to relay the scheduling update The shooting happened in October 2021 after two weeks of filming while Baldwin was practicing drawing out his gun from the holster Halls, seen here, was the first assistant director on Rust and did not serve prison time after pleading to a count of negligent handling of a deadly weapon Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and also faced a charge of tampering with evidence In this image taken from video released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, Alec Baldwin speaks with investigators following the fatal shooting NBC reported that same day that the grand jury proceeding had been postponed, citing an 'unnamed source'. The reporter then allegedly contacted lawyers for Baldwin seeking comment hours after the judge made the ruling. In a filing earlier this week, Baldwin and his attorney Alex Spiro also claimed that the prosecutors rigged the jury process in the case. They are arguing that the grand jury process was rigged by the Santa Fe County D.A.'s office, alleging that they add 7 witnesses who were biased. The filing reportedly adds that three of the witnesses were on the DA's payroll, two of them were from Santa Fe Sheriff's Office and one was suing him in a civil case. It is also alleged that the FBI tested the pistol used in the fatal scene that killed Hutchins, and that the DA failed to present all the evidence from the testing. The documents allege that the testing showed that the revolver did fire without the trigger being pulled when fully loaded, just as they were on the day of the tragedy. During the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed earlier this year, agent Bryce Ziegler said he had to break the gun with a mallet to get it to fire without using the trigger. Ziegler, appearing for the prosecution, said that couldn't have happened on the set of Rust because the gun was in working order when it came to him. His analysis contradicts claims by Baldwin that he only pulled back the hammer on the vintage-looking pistol. In 2022 Baldwin settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by Matthew Hutchins, the widow of Hutchins, seen here, and the father of their son This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Oct. 23, 2021, used for the film 'Rust' The jury was shown shocking images of cinematographer's Halyna Hutchins' the blood-stained shirt During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutors painted a damning portrait of a film that was in a state of 'rushed chaos' Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, was the armorer for Rust and was was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The verdict spells trouble for Baldwin when he goes on trial in July in the same courthouse for involuntary manslaughter. If found guilty he faces 18 months in jail. During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutors painted a damning portrait of a film that was in a state of 'rushed chaos.' The night before the incident, six members of the camera crew quit because of their concerns over safety. The jury heard that Baldwin commissioned director Souza to write the script, which he owned the rights to. Baldwin was the lead actor on the movie and was also a producer. Bowles called Gutierrez-Reed, who was just 24 at the time of the incident, a 'scapegoat' for wider failings that led the New Mexico safety regulator to issue a $136,000 fine to the producers for 'willful and serious' safety failings. Jurors were shown a video shot during production of Rust in which Baldwin pointed the gun at the crew and cast members including a 12-year-old boy between scenes Jurors were told Baldwin himself made the set unsafe by waving his gun like a 'pointing stick' at people and firing rounds after the director said cut Alec Baldwin is seen in this still practicing drawing his revolver on the set of the Rust movie Bowles told the court that Baldwin himself made the set unsafe by waving his gun like a 'pointing stick' at people. In his opening statement, Bowles said that Baldwin 'violated basic gun safety' by pointing the gun at Hutchins because he didn't intend to shoot at her. He said: 'The primary thing here was rush, get this thing so we can get the money and that's all on production and Mr. Baldwin is one of the primary producers. That's on them. Miss Gutierrez-Reed had no control over that.' The criminal case is not the only court proceedings resulting from the shooting of Hutchins. In 2022 Baldwin settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by Matthew Hutchins, the widow of Hutchins, and the father of their son. Under the terms Rust continued production at a new location in Montana and Matthew Hutchins, who has called his wife's death a 'terrible accident,' is an executive producer. No date has yet been set for the film's release. Boeing is instructing airlines to inspect switches on pilots' seats in its flagship 787 Dreamliner jets - after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane earlier this week. The announcement, issued Thursday, came hours before a United Airlines plane built by Boeing was grounded after it was found to be missing a panel following a flight. That plane was a Boeing 737-824, and the cause of the midair malfunction - like several other in recent weeks - is still under investigation. As for the LATAM flight out of Australia, Boeing said it recommended airlines inspect the motorized cockpit seats the next time they perform maintenance. The aircraft manufacturer went on to point to instructions that include how to disable motors that move the seats in its 787s, before billing the advisory as no more than a 'precautionary measure.' The United Airlines jet, flying out of Australia, had to turn around midflight Monday because of a midair mechanical issue. that caused 'a strong movement' that jolted passengers in their seats, reportedly sending one into the ceiling The announcement, issued Thursday, came hours before a United Airlines plane built by Boeing was grounded after it was found to be missing a panel following a flight. Pictured: The missing part on the 25-year-old Boeing 737-824, a much older model than the 787-Dreamliner 'Closing the spring-loaded seat back switch guard onto a loose/detached rocker switch cap can potentially jam the rocker switch, resulting in unintended seat movement,' Boeing brass warned in the memo. The memo adds that this was already a known issue, and that Boeing had issued a similar service notice in 2017. The memo doesn't indicate whether a loose switch cover played a role in the incident on the LATAM flight, during which a flight attendant accidentally hit a switch on the pilots seat while serving a meal, officials said. This, in turn, caused a motorized feature to push the pilot into the controls and push down the planes nose, causing the plane to plunge and jolt passengers in their seats. Roughly 50 people were treated by first responders and at least five were hospitalized after the plane dipped violently, LATAM airline and first responders both said after the fact - The switch, on the back of the chair, is usually covered and isnt supposed to be used when a pilot is in the seat, at a time where the firm is already under heavy scrutiny. That attention stems from a separate incident involving a supposedly state of the art 737 Max that happened in early January, where an unused emergency exit door blew off the brand-new plane shortly after take-off from Portland International. Feds have been vetting the incident ever since, during which time Boeing's value has nosedived an eye-watering $150billion to $112billion. Also within that span, the firm has seen at least five other planes face technical failures. The memo doesn't indicate whether a loose switch cover played a role in the incident on the LATAM flight, during which a flight attendant accidentally hit a switch on the pilots seat while serving a meal. The 787 Dreamliner that suddenly lost altitude mid-flight is seen here This caused a motorized feature to push the pilot into the controls and push down the planes nose, causing the plane to plunge and jolt passengers in their seats, reportedly sending one into the cabin's ceiling. Pictured: A new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner not involved in the incident The switch, on the back of the chair, is usually covered and isnt supposed to be used when a pilot is in the seat, at a time where the firm is already under heavy scrutiny. Pictured: A Passenger being embraced by his mother after touching down from the horror flight That attention stems from a separate incident involving a supposedly state of the art 737 Max that happened in early January, where an unused emergency exit door blew off the brand-new plane shortly after take-off from Portland International The first, also involving a Boeing 737, occurred March 4 shortly after takeoff from Florida's Fort Meyers, and saw one of the plane's engines catch fire. Footage from the cabin showed passengers screaming and crying as they witnessed flames billowing up over one of the plane's wings, after one of the turbines on the United flight somehow ingested bubble wrap before the departure, the airline said. No one was injured during the incident. A few days later, on another United flight, a wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 shortly after takeoff in San Francisco. As was the case with the other mishaps, it occurred shortly after take-off, and saw the 256lb wheel crush several cars parked below after plummeting to the ground. The United Airlines flight on its way to Osaka was barely off the runway when the Boeing 777-200's wheel came off, with footage showing it laying on the runway following the frightening fall. 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 Thursday, before eventually landing safely at LAX at around 1.20pm with no further incident. No injuries reported on the ground. Feds have been vetting the incident ever since, during which time Boeing's value has nosedived an eye-watering $150billion to $112billion. Also within that span, the firm has seen at least five other planes face technical failures. Pictured: Passengers on the stricken LATAM flight The first, also involving a Boeing 737, occurred March 4 shortly after takeoff from Florida's Fort Meyers, and saw one of the plane's engines catch fire. Footage from the cabin showed passengers screaming as they witnessed flames billowing over one of the plane's wings A few days later, on another United flight, a wheel fell off a Boeing 777-200 shortly after takeoff in San Francisco . As was the case with the other mishaps, it occurred shortly after take-off, and saw the 256lb wheel crush several cars parked below after plummeting to the ground Then, on Friday, On Friday, a United Airlines aircraft skidded off a runway into a grassy area after a rough landing in Houston 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 plane, in that case, was also a Boeing 737 Max United, at the time, issued a statement that seemingly attempted to quell riders' concerns: '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.' The craft is the same model seen leaking hydraulic fluid in Sydney on Monday. Then, on Friday, On Friday, a United Airlines aircraft skidded off a runway into a grassy area after a rough landing in Houston. 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 plane, in that case, was also a Boeing 737 Max. A few hours later, a flight from San Francisco to Mexico City was diverted to LA after an issue with the planes hydraulic system, United Airlines said - this time referring to a Boeing 777-300, the same model seen spewing hydraulic fluid on Monday. None of the 183 passengers or crew were injured. The next day, retired Boeing Quality Manager John Barnett - who had been involved in whistleblower retaliation suit against the manufacturer - was found dead in South Carolina from what cops said was a self-inflicted gunshot. His death came during a break in depositions in his whistleblower retaliation suit, in Charleston where he was to meet Boeing lawyers fighting his case. It alleged Barnett, 62, witnessed under-pressure workers at the firm's then new plant in South Carolina were deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the assembly line, and that in some cases, second-rate parts were removed from scrap bins, before being fitted to planes that were being built to prevent delays. A 2017 review by the FAA upheld some of his concerns, and had just given a deposition to Boeing's lawyers for the case this past week, his attorney said. Back in January, the staffer who spent four years overseeing quality checks at the Charleston plant issued stark warnings about the aviation giant's 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max models specifically, just weeks before his demise. 'This is not a 737 problem - this is a Boeing problem,' he said after being asked if he believed the 737 was safe to fly following the door incident and a subsequent FAA inspection. 'I know the FAA is going in and done due diligence and inspections to ensure the door close on the 737 is installed properly and the fasteners are stored properly,' he said, citing the parts that likely played a part in the incident. The next day, retired Boeing Quality Manager John Barnett - who had been involved in whistleblower retaliation suit against the manufacturer - was found dead in South Carolina from what cops said was a self-inflicted gunshot. He is seen here warning TMZ about the firm's production practices - for 787s and 737s in particular 'But, my concern is, "What's the rest of the airplane? What's the condition of the rest of the airplane?"' He went on to provide a reason for that concern - one that he said led him to file the lawsuit against the aviation firm. 'Back in 2012, Boeing started removing inspection operations off their jobs,' he told TMZ's Charles Latibeaudiere and Harvey Levin, recalling his time as a quality overseer at Boeing's plant in South Carolina, which manufactured mostly 787s. 'So, it left the mechanics to buy off their own work,' he explained. Barnett went on to charge that the incident involving the door was indicative of something greater - and something alleged in his lawsuit: Boeing turning a blind eye to safety concerns in order to raise their bottom line. 'What we're seeing with the door plug blowout is what I've seen with the rest of the airplane, as far as jobs not being completed properly, inspection steps being removed, issues being ignored,' he charged, months before his sudden death. 'My concerns are with the 737 and 787, because those programs have really embraced the theory that quality is overhead and non value added. Boeing's assembly plant in North Charleston - where the deceased worked for decades - is seen here. It manufactures mostly 787s The plant where Barnett worked for decades is where Boeing builds the 787 Dreamliner, one of several crafts from the airliner that's made headlines as of late. Pictured: an unrelated United Airlines Boeing 787-9 takes off from Los Angeles international Airport on July 30, 2022 'Those two programs have really put a strong effort into removing quality from the process.' The FAA appears to have stood up some of the expert's assertions after revealing how a six-week audit found 'multiple instances where [Boeing] allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements' of its 737s. At one point during the exam, feds found that mechanics at Spirit AeroSystems - one of Boeing's main suppliers - used a hotel key card to check a door seal, and a liquid Dawn soap to a door seal 'as lubricant in the fit-up process.' That action was 'not identified/documented/called-out in the production order,' a document outlining the probe said - spurring FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker to decree Boeing must develop a comprehensive plan to address such 'systemic quality-control issues' within 90 days He sent summary of its findings to the companies in its completed audit, after an all-day February 27 meeting with CEO Dave Calhoun. He did not state the specific corrective actions Boeing and Spirit must take. 'Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements,' Whitaker explained at the time last week. 'We are going to hold them accountable every step of the way, with mutually understood milestones and expectations.' Calhoun responded in his own statement, saying that Boeing's leadership team was 'totally committed' to addressing FAA concerns and developing the plan. Spirit, which makes the fuselage for the now scrutinized MAX, issued a statement saying it was 'in communication with Boeing and the FAA on appropriate corrective actions.' In response, Boeing claimed that after some 'quality stand-downs, the FAA audit findings, and the recent expert review panel report, we have a clear picture of what needs to be done.' Since then, the 737 has continued to experience technical failures, after being grounded by the FAA for two years following two crashes in 2017 and 2019 that collectively killed 346. Clearing them to fly again in 2021, officials deemed the crashes to be the result of a combination of oversight, design flaws, and inaction by Boeing brass. That said, the door blowing off the brand-new 737 in January has since sparked a renewed probe by the DOJ - one that could get complex as these failures continue. Further complicating matters is the fact that Boeing's continued crises have now forced airlines like United and Southwest to cut flights and even pause hiring - decisions bolstered by United's decision to hold off on the unproved 737 Max 10, Once the Max 10 gets clearance to operate, Kirby said Monday, United will start accepting some of the craft into its fleet. Back in January, shortly after the door incident, Kirby said the airline would build a fleet plan without the Max 10 because of constant delays. On Friday, United told staff it would have to pause pilot hiring this spring because new Boeing planes are arriving late, CNBC reported. teams collect personal effects and other materials from the crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight in March 2019, less than a year after another 737-MAX crash in Indonesia That crash came five months after another flight on a Boeing 737 MAX jet left 189 people dead in Indonesia. Pictured are inspectors at the site of the Lion Air Flight crash in November 2018 Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun speaks with reports at the Capitol in January after MAX 9 planes were grounded following the door incident. The company is now under criminal investigation Southwest Airlines, which only flies Boeing 737s, also trimmed its capacity forecast for 2024, saying this week that it was reevaluating the year's financial guidance, citing fewer Boeing deliveries than it previously expected: 46 as opposed to 79. Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said at the JPMorgan industry conference Tuesday: Boeing needs to become a better company and the deliveries will follow that.' Alaska Airlines added Tuesday that its 2024 capacity estimates are 'in flux due to uncertainty around the timing of aircraft deliveries as a result of increased FAA and DOJ scrutiny on Boeing and its operations.' Boeing, meanwhile, did not link the memo to what happened this week on the LATAM flight, which was between Australia and New Zealand. The Federal Aviation Administration, however, confirmed the Boeing memo was issued 'in response to the incident', adding that it was convening a panel of experts to review Boeing's message to airlines. The part in questoin is on roughly 375 planes, according to an insider who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. Passengers reported that when the Dreamliner dropped, people not wearing seatbelts were tossed from their seats and thrust into the cabin ceiling and aisles. The plane later landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled. Multiple investigations into the firm remain underway. A Southern California fertility doctor was sentenced on Friday to 15 years to life in prison for the murder of his wife in an incident authorities said was made to look like an accident. Eric Scott Sills, 58, sat stone-faced in an orange jump suit as he was sentenced for one count of second-degree murder in the death of his wife Susann at Orange County Superior Court, in Santa Ana, California. Authorities say Sills called 911 in November 2016 and said he found his wife's body after she apparently fell down the stairs in their home in San Clemente, which is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. But evidence showed she died from being strangled. Prosecutors told jurors at the outset that the 45-year-old's injuries were not consistent with a 'fall down the stairs' narrative. Blood stains were found in the room where she had been sleeping. Tensions in the couples marriage arose after Susann posted a nude photo of herself online after she lost a bet over Donald Trump's 2016 election win. Sills was arrested in 2019 over the November 2016 killing and found guilty by a jury in December last year. Dr. Eric Scott Sills appears before Judge Patrick H. Donahue as he is sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife in Orange County Superior Court on Friday, in Santa Ana, California Dr. Eric Scott Sills, 58, was arrested in April 2019 over the 2016 killing, allegedly amid tension with his late wife Susann Sills Susann, 45, was found at the foot of the stairs in what prosecutors labeled 'a staged accident' at their San Clemente home in November 2016 Sills sat stone-faced as he was sentenced to life for killing his wife seven years During the trial, prosecutors recalled how Sills hade made a frantic phone call on the day of the killing. 'On November 13, 2016, Sills called 911 and said he awoke to find the lifeless body of his wife, 45-year-old Susann Sills, after she apparently fell down the stairs. 'Evidence presented at trial showed that she died due to strangulation and blood stains were found on a wall and curtains in their daughter's bedroom where Susann was sleeping due to a migraine. 'A clump of her hair also was found in the room, indicating that there had been a violent struggle between the couple.' Those inconsistencies, the attorneys said, proved crucial in jurors agreeing to dole out a guilty verdict for one count of second-degree murder. Prosecutors, moreover, labeled the murder 'a staged accident' - pointing to the dad-of-two's apparent attempt to cover up the killing after 'squeez[ing] the life out of' his spouse after a series of lover's quarrels. Dr. Eric Scott Sills listens as his daughter speaks on his behalf - although he refused to look at her while appearing before Judge Patrick H. Donahue at Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, California Sills stuck to his story about his wife's death being an accidents, but evidence showed she died from being strangled. He is pictured with his attorney Jack M. Earley Sills previously claimed to have discovered his wife's body at the bottom of the stairs in the family of four's home on the 10 block of Via Cancion in San Clement Evidence presented at Sills November trial, pictured, showed his wife died due to strangulation, prosecutors said. They further cited blood stains found on a wall and curtains in one of their kids' bedrooms, where Susann had been sleeping due to a migraine Those inconsistencies, the attorneys said, proved crucial in jurors agreeing to dole out a guilty verdict for one count of second-degree murder. Sills is seen in court last month, during which he stuck to the testimony he gave cops way back in 2016. Pictured on Friday Prosecutors, moreover, labeled the murder 'a staged accident' - pointing to the dad-of-two's apparent attempt to cover up the killing after 'squeez[ing] the life out of' his spouse after a series of lover's quarrels Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker provided jurors with an example of one of those tiffs via printouts of text messages, one of which suggested Susann posted a topless photo of herself online after losing a bet about whether Trump would win the 2016 election. A printout of an exchange with a chat group member about whether the posted photo would upset her husband was found near a printer in the doctor's office after her death, and in another chilling message, she told her husband that she 'wants out.' Citing 'substantial injuries' on the victim's face and neck, Walker attempted to sway jurors with those exchanges, as well as another between the couple where Sill told her husband: 'You are killing me, don't you see?' 'She is frustrated, upset, feels trapped and feels like he is killing her,' Walker told the 12-person jury. 'She tells him in these texts, 'You are killing me, don't you see?' Susann, meanwhile, had been wed to the well-off medical director for more than 10 years, and also doubled as the co-founder of the Carlsbad IVF & infertility practice where her husband worked as the head of medical operations. Prosecutors suggested the couple argued after Susann, 45, posted a topless photo of herself online She posted the nude online after supposedly losing a bet about whether Trump would win the 2016 election A printout of an exchange with a chat group member about whether the posted photo would upset her husband was found near a printer in the doctor's office after her death, and in another chilling message, she told Sills she 'wants out' The couple also has two daughters, twins Mary-Katherine and Eric Scott II, who were around 14 at the time of the murder. Sills is also father to two adult offspring from a previous marriage, and was described as a doting father in a 2004 alumni newsletter from his alma mater, Roane State Community College. A section of the brief reads: 'As a father of four, [Sills] is reminded of the value of his work every day. 'Whats the biggest thrill that he gets out of his work? His answer is immediate,' it continues, before offering a quote from the now-convicted killer. Sills told the college at the time: 'Thats an easy one! Just today, I telephoned two couples to tell them their pregnancy test was positive. 'Lately Ive been calling the husband first with the good news, so he can surprise his wife with the result.' The newsletter goes on to remark note how at the time, more than 20 years after Sills entered his first college classroom, the doctor was 'an internationally recognized expert in reproductive medicine in Atlanta, where he makes his home with wife Susann.' The pair eventually moved to their posh pad in Southern California, before falling on hard times. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called the doctor 'diabolical,' citing how he committed the murder as not only a medical professional, but as a husband. Sills was a father to two adult offspring from a previous marriage, and was described as a doting dad in a 2004 alumni newsletter from his alma mater, Roane State Community College Sills is seen being taken back into custody following his sentencing on Friday 'Dr. Sills was sworn to care for the sick and injured and his chosen profession as a fertility doctor helped bring so much joy to his patients but the woman he vowed to love in sickness and health was strangled to death by his own hands,' he wrote. 'Think of how diabolical you have to be not only to kill your wife but to make it look like she had fallen down the stairs. 'It took calculated planning to commit this crime and worst of all he ruthlessly and selfishly murdered the mother of their children who now are left without their parents. 'I am grateful to the jury for the verdict and the diligent work by investigators and Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker for holding him accountable for his reprehensible act.' An elderly Georgia pizza shop owner is running for county commissioner in Athens, the town where Laken Riley was killed by 'blunt force trauma.' Sidney Anne Waters, who owns Mama Sid's Pizza, is running for district 8 commissioner in Athens-Clarke County with the slogan 'A fresh slice for district 8.' 'I suddenly had a reality check that there are many of us in Athens who really didn't know what our government was doing,' she told Fox on Thursday. 'The day before qualifying ended, I decided to go in and put my name on the ticket,' she continued, with a group of supporters behind her in the pizzeria. The community has been on edge after an illegal Venezuelan immigrant allegedly killed nursing student Riley and 'seriously disfigured' her body and skull, Waters said. Sidney Anne Waters, a Georgia pizza shop owner, is running for county commissioner in Athens, the town where Laken Riley was killed by 'blunt force trauma' Waters, who owns Mama Sid's Pizza, is running for district 8 commissioner in Athens-Clarke County with the slogan 'A fresh slice for district 8.' The community has been on edge after an illegal Venezuelan immigrant allegedly killed nursing student Riley(pictured) and 'seriously disfigured' her body and skull, Waters said 'Everybody is quite concerned because we have discovered that our local government is not transparent with us. They have resolutions and agreements going that the public had no idea about,' Waters said. 'I don't really know how familiar our commission was with the 2019 resolution that opened up a lot of sanctuary. We're not a sanctuary city, but we have sanctuary policies that somewhat control us.' Waters is referring to the resolution signed in 2019 by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz and Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin. The resolution says the local government 'is welcoming to people from all lands and backgrounds and strives to foster a community where individuals and families of all statuses feel safe, are able to prosper and can breathe free.' It also states: 'our immigrant and undocumented neighbors, especially those of Latinx heritage, face daily fears and threats from individuals and institutions such as ICE.' Girtz previously warned 'against conflating immigration and crime' and argued that Athens does not technically fall under the category of 'sanctuary city.' A sanctuary city limits or rejects cooperation with the federal government in shielding illegal immigrants, which is against state law. 'Everybody is quite concerned because we have discovered that our local government is not transparent with us. They have resolutions and agreements going that the public had no idea about,' Waters(pictured with husband) said Waters is referring to the resolution signed in 2019 by Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz(pictured) and Clerk of Commission Jean Spratlin The 22-year-old Riley had never returned from her jog last month, and her body was discovered in a field on the Athens campus Jose Ibarra, 26, is accused of using a mystery object as a weapon to kill the 22-year-old Augusta University student Waters said: 'Mayor Girtz just came out and read that policy one evening and signed it. He personally petitioned the U.S. State Department for us to become a refugee resettlement site. 'Nobody knew about that, so what does all this mean? How many people have we welcomed into our community and who are they?' 'When you're standing on the outside looking in and talking with them at different chamber meetings, you don't think they're listening.' 'And the way you get them to listen is to become a part of them... I want to be a part of the commission so I can at least express my opinion and know that they are heard.' The 22-year-old Riley had never returned from her jog last month, and her body was discovered in a field on the Athens campus. Jose Antonio Ibarra was arrested for her murder and has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. The 26-year-old crossed into El Paso, Texas in September 2022 but had been released from a detention center due to a lack of space, according to NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley. Police said Riley was killed by blunt force trauma. They say Ibarra dragged her body to a secluded area to conceal the death, according to an arrest affidavit seen by CBS News. Police have said Ibarra, who lived in Athens, did not know Riley, but campus surveillance footage and other technology led them to the migrant. Ibarra is accused of 'seriously disfiguring Riley's body by disfiguring her skull,' and is also charged with preventing Riley from making a 911 call when he allegedly grabbed her between 9am and 1pm Thursday. Officials confirmed that Ibarra is not a US citizen and did not know or have any kind of relationship with Riley Riley, 22, was found dead Thursday afternoon after her roommate reported her missing, saying she had not returned from her jog Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for Ibarra to receive the death penalty, stating 'deportation is not enough' Riley's body was found the same day on campus in a forested area near Lake Herrick that includes trails popular with runners and walkers. Republicans including Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for Ibarra to receive the death penalty. 'Ibarra is an illegal alien and murdered a young woman the age of my own children. Deportation is not enough. He deserves the death penalty,' the Georgia representative said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 'You want to break in our country, ILLEGALLY, and murder one of our girls. DEATH PENALTY!' She added in another. Georgia still has the death penalty, but has not executed anyone since 2020. One DOJ report from Texas in 2020 found that relative to undocumented immigrants, U.S.-born citizens are over two times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over four times more likely to be arrested for property crimes. Families spending 58 per cent of their salary on it Housing affordability in NSW has hit a horrifying record low with families forced to fork out more than half their weekly income just to keep a roof over their heads. The report by the Real Estate Institute of Australia found families in NSW were forced to spend 58.5 per cent of their weekly income to meet home loan repayments. The state ranked worst in housing affordability between October-December 2023, with average monthly repayments rising by almost $800 from late-last year. Renters in NSW faired little better in the report, with the median family income required to meet payments still the highest in the country despite decreases. Families in NSW spend 58.5 per cent of their weekly income to meet home loan repayments (pictured, Sydney) Australia's housing market is recognised as one of the toughest in the world despite our abundance of land The percentage of family income needed to make home loan repayments Families in late-2023 were being forced to spend almost a third - 27.3 per cent - of their income on their rent, compared to 21.1 per cent in neighbouring Victoria. While families south of the Murray River generally fared better in the latest REIA report, both rental and housing affordability fell in the last quarter of 2023. Residents in the state were required to spend 46.8 per cent of their weekly income on home loan repayments, an increase of 1.6 per cent from the previous quarter. The Sunshine State came in a close third according to the report, with Queenslanders spending 45.1 per cent of their income on home loans and 22.3 per cent on rent. South Australia and Tasmania followed close behind with families spending 44.3 per cent and 43.4 per cent of their income on loan repayments respectively. The Northern Territory and the ACT were found to be the most affordable when it came to proportion of weekly income, followed by Western Australia. Victorians came in a distant second, with families spending 46.8 per cent of their income on home repayments (pictured, Melbourne) Home loan and rent payments across the country Canberrans were spending less than 20 per cent of their weekly income on rent and just over 35.2 per cent on their home loan repayments in late-2023. Critically, the report found families in the ACT on average earned almost $800 a week more than their NSW counterparts. The average home loan was also about $170,000 smaller than its neighbour, though it was about $100,000 more expensive than WA and $170,000 more than the NT. Families in the country's north were spending only 33 per cent of their weekly income on their home loan repayments, and 24 per cent on their rent. While marginally more expensive according to the report, WA families were still spending almost $600 more per month on their repayments in 2023 than in 2022. Where families are buying homes The report also found the number of first home buyers rose by a whopping 16.8 per cent in the last quarter of 2023, with about 31,445 families entering the market. Despite the country's worst statistics for homeowners, NSW recorded more than 1300 more first home buyers between October-December 2023 than in 2022. Nonetheless, Victoria reported having the most first home buyers over that time period - 10,000 - and new home loans more broadly, just shy of 24,000. South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT all reported rises in first home buyers, while Queensland and the Northern Territory remained stable. Ushered in by the use of artificial intelligence tools Waves of students are turning to artificial intelligence to write their assignments but universities are doubling down on methods to catch them out. Sydney University has revealed 330 assignments were completed using AI in 2023 and the University of NSW recently said they had similarly found a 'new wave' of cheaters emerging. OpenAI's ChatGPT engine, which helped fuel the AI boom, has emerged as the favoured tool of lazy students with a 60.2 per cent share of the total industry website visits, according to Visual Capitalist. The tool takes already written chunks of text from the internet and then combines, rewords and paraphrases them to answer questions asked of it - with varying levels of accuracy and impressiveness. Marking systems have struggled to keep up with the use of AI in the classroom but recent developments combined with a crackdown on lax grading by the university watchdog is making it tougher on those who would rather let a robot write for them. Although UNSW did not reveal how many AI-assisted assignments had been caught, its academic misconduct report recorded a significant increase of offences in 2023, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. A 'new wave' of fraudulent assignments using AI have been found by universities in 2023 Deakin University's cheating detection expert, Professor Phillip Dawson, said detection of AI generated in student work was notoriously difficult. Prof Dawson said the research into AI detectors makes the assumption the person using them is an idiot who does not attempt to hide their use of AI. 'Most research showing good detection rates is based on the assumption that someone just copy-and-pastes, and they don't ask ChatGPT to reword or paraphrase,' he said. Students are increasingly turning to AI tools to help them complete their work A Sydney University spokeswoman told the newspaper that it was actually much easier to detect fraud just with closer inspection from human assignment markers. 'If [an assignment] contains different use of language, is irrelevant to the question, has false references or fails to answer the set question, we then investigate, and use the Turnitin AI tool as part of this process alongside a number of indicators of misconduct,' she said. Turnitin regional vice-president James Thorley agreed that the tool was intended to be one part of the proofing process, not the be-all-end-all of AI detection. The university sector watchdog, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), demanded in June that all higher education providers needed to create action plans for how they will root out AI assignments. These plans need to thoroughly consider how each institution will ensure the integrity of its education. Prof Dawson said that unless students are being supervised during an assessment, markers need to assume that they could turn to AI to finish it for them. Both he and Mr Thorley agreed that universities now have to navigate the tricky landscape of how much students can use AI before it becomes a bigger issue. A Sydney University spokeswoman said that markers are reading assignments with more attention to detail in order to root out cheaters Mr Thorley said that the universities his company had been consulting with were encouraging the use of generative AI 'in the right framework and right guidelines'. An English lecturer at Sydney University, Associate Professor Huw Griffiths, told the publication that he had already integrated ChatGPT into his course work. Mr Griffiths said that the use of AI allowed students to 'grasp their own agency' by discovering the limitations of it compared to traditional research sources. University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is also taking a similar approach by encouraging staff to discuss AI tools with students. UTS's idea behind embracing tools like ChatGPT is so that staff can 'invite students to actively engage ... and to critically reflect on how they can be used'. Sadiq Khan has issued a plea for Liberal Democrat and Green supporters to back him as he seeks a third term as London's mayor. In a pitch to 'fellow progressives', Mr Khan has launched what he describes as a 'love letter' campaign to persuade supporters of other parties to 'lend him their votes' in the election on May 2. The mayor said he was 'under no illusion' about his chances, saying he 'could lose' to the Conservatives' Susan Hall due to changes in the voting system and arguing the election was 'on a knife edge'. In previous contests, Londoners have been able to express a first and second preference, but this year's election will be held under the 'first past the post' system, meaning voters will only get one vote each. He said: 'This election represents a real shift with major changes to the voting system brought in by the Tory Government to make it more likely their candidate will win. Sadiq Khan is set to launch his 'love letter' campaign on Saturday with a visit to Kingston, in south-west London, a borough that has often backed the Liberal Democrats and has a council dominated by the party Labour insiders fear Khan could lose to Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, Susan Hall, due to changes in the voting system and arguing the election was 'on a knife edge'. 'To all of those who gave me their second preference votes last time, I say thank you, and ask that you put your trust in me this year by lending me the sole vote you can cast for mayor. 'This election is a close two-horse race between me and the Conservative candidate. I'm under no illusion, I could lose in May.' In an open letter to Liberal Democrat and Green supporters, Mr Khan added: 'At the last London Mayoral election, in 2021, I was less than 5% ahead after the first round of voting. 'These are the finer margins we'll now be dealing with. That's why, today, I am making a direct appeal to Liberal Democrat and Green voters across our city to lend me their support to keep the Tories out and progressive politics in. Unlike last time around, there is no insurance policy with a second choice. 'I am asking for their help so that we don't wake up in six weeks' time to find our city's cherished values at serious risk with a hardline Conservative in City Hall.' Mr Khan is set to launch his 'love letter' campaign on Saturday with a visit to Kingston, in south-west London, a borough that has often backed the Liberal Democrats and has a council dominated by the party. He will also urge voters to ensure they have photo ID, which they will need for the first time in order to vote in May's election. Analysis of the electoral roll by the mayor's office suggested more than 900,000 Londoners could lack the necessary ID to vote. Zoe Garbett, who is vying to become London's first Green mayor, said: 'If people want to vote Green, they can - and should! The Green Party has consistently come third in London and we are a growing force nationally. Liberal Democrats' mayoral candidate, Rob Blackie, said: 'The Mayor has such a poor record that he can only resort to scaring people with the threat of the Conservatives' Green Party candidate Zoe Garbett said: 'Sadiq Khan should be focusing on his record - and the fact he isn't suggests there isn't much to be talking about' 'Green Assembly members have a track record of delivering for Londoners. A Green mayor would be much more ambitious tackling the issues that really matter to voters: dealing with the housing crisis, making our city more affordable and a more accountable police service. 'Sadiq Khan should be focusing on his record - and the fact he isn't suggests there isn't much to be talking about. If he wants people to vote for him, he and the Labour Party need to be better.' The Liberal Democrats' mayoral candidate, Rob Blackie, said: 'The Mayor has such a poor record that he can only resort to scaring people with the threat of the Conservatives. 'Support for the Conservatives in London is in freefall and it's obvious why: the party and their candidate has nothing in common with the values of Londoners. This couldn't be made clearer by the latest racism row. 'While the Tory candidate will not win, Sadiq Khan doesn't deserve a free run. Since he became Mayor, we are catching rapists half as often and the entire Met Police is in crisis. 'After eight years in charge, Londoners need a Mayor who will deliver. Liberal Democrat supporters and disappointed Khan voters should vote Liberal Democrat. ' A spokesman for Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate, said: 'Sadiq Khan's record is so poor, the only tool he has left is playing politics. If he had listened to Londoners, he would know that they are calling for a Mayor who will get a grip of crime, build more affordable family homes and scrap the ULEZ expansion on day one. Only Susan can deliver that.' A college lecturer who lost his job following false allegations from students quit a previous teaching post after kids pelted him with food, MailOnline has learned. Kirk Wood this month won damages from Halesowen College, near Birmingham, when bosses believed pupils' untrue 'sex' chat claims against him and sacked him. Now it has emerged Mr Wood resigned from an earlier job as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teacher at Colmers School and Sixth Form College, also in Birmingham, following spurious complaints from pupils. An employment tribunal heard Mr Wood allegedly called a student a 'dwarf' and other pupils wanted to fight him. The hearing was told newly qualified Mr Wood started at Colmers School on September 2 2019, but by October 23 he had been suspended pending a disciplinary investigation. Mr Wood resigned on January 4 2020, before the investigation was concluded. College lecturer Kirk Wood (pictured), who lost his job following false allegations from students, quit a previous teaching post after kids pelted him with food, MailOnline has learned The tribunal heard Mr Wood had been accused by a pupil of calling him a 'dwarf', which the teacher denied saying. Mr Wood complained of being the victim of a 'witch hunt' by students during his brief time at Colmers School. Mr Wood stated: 'Two students threatened to fight me after they had fought each other and drew blood.' He said another pupil had tried to steal from him. Another pupil posted on his Instagram site: 'Oi bigman stop thinking your bad' and 'You're a f****** pussy'. He told the tribunal: 'At least one pupil sat on my desk and refused to move. 'At least one pupil approached me very closely, face to face, and insulted me. 'A group of Year 10 boys repeatedly threw items of food at me during lesson time.' But, on October 22 2019, whilst in a lesson, a number of students made allegations against Mr Wood to another teacher. The tribunal heard: 'There are common themes in the notes written by the student. These included the use of the term a*** or something similar, holding a chair over the head of a student, making reference to the dating app Tinder in class, touching the face of a female student.' After quitting Colmers School Mr Wood went on to work at Halesowen College, from which, as reported earlier this week, he was wrongly sacked. College bosses had believed 'outlandish' claims from a 'disgruntled' teen student out for revenge and he has now won damages - as a tribunal judge hit out at his former bosses for taking her claims 'at face value'. Mr Wood was accused by the 19-year-old of asking her out for a drink and quizzing her about her sex life, and she roped friends into making false statements to management at Halesowen College near Birmingham in order to back her up. Rather than conducting a full investigation into the 'potentially career-ending' claims, the college did not bother interviewing four members of staff whose accounts would have put paid to her dishonest allegations - and fired him. An employment tribunal heard that Mr Wood, a lecturer in esports and digital technologies, had raised safeguarding concerns after the student told him she had been sexually assaulted - leading to her family being informed. The judge concluded it was 'more likely than not' that the teenager was unhappy at Mr Wood flagging the concerns - and concocted the plot against him in 'revenge'. The tribunal was told Mr Wood joined Halesowen in August 2022 and was teaching the 19-year-old, who was said to be 'challenging', after she specifically asked to be in his class. Prior to the allegations being made, an incident had seen the student storm out of class after Mr Wood refused to quieten down the class as she had requested. Mr Wood was accused by the 19-year-old of asking her out for a drink and quizzing her about her sex life, and she roped friends into making false statements to management at Halesowen College (pictured) near Birmingham in order to back her up In February last year, the student and her boyfriend raised allegations against the lecturer, claiming he had asked if they were sexually active. They also claimed he asked the teen out for a drink, and alleged that he favoured paying attention to female students over male ones. Two other male friends of the teen also made allegations to support his accuser's assertions. But employment judge Robert Childe slammed the 'illogical, outlandish, contradictory and inconsistent' allegations made by what he referred to as the 'four friends' - pointing out the flaws and contradictions in their claims. One allegation was that Mr Wood had told the teen he was a '30-year-old virgin' - but that he had also engaged in group sex; another was that he ignored male students, but also approached them to discuss his sex life. The judge ruled that the college ignored Mr Wood's request for other vital evidence that would prove his innocence to be taken into account. He criticised it for 'relying' too much on 'fanciful' allegations made at Mr Wood's previous school which he ruled were 'on the balance of probabilities...fabricated'. The judge said Mr Wood acted 'entirely appropriately' and at times had to shut down the teen and her boyfriend's attempts to 'blur professional boundaries', such as the pair asking him out for a drink. Judge Childe found that the student was 'motivated to get back at Mr Wood' because he raised safeguarding concerns and because of her anger at him not adhering to her demands in class. 'It is relatively easy for a student, disgruntled in some way at the actions of their teacher, to make allegations of unprofessional conduct against that teacher,' Judge Childe said. 'I find that it is more likely than not that (she) was unhappy that Mr Wood had raised safeguarding concerns about her, which the college had subsequently taken up with her family. 'I add to this the fact that (she) was known to be a student with challenging attitudes and behaviours and conclude that it is likely (she) was a student who would raise the allegations falsely as revenge for what she perceived to be Mr Wood interfering in her home life and also because he had not followed her instructions in class. '(She) would have known that the allegations were potentially career ending for Mr Wood as a teacher. 'I find that there is also a motivation for (her boyfriend) to not tell the truth. He was at the relevant time (her boyfriend), and it is more likely than not that he was persuaded by her to go along with her story. 'On the balance of probabilities, I find the evidence from (all four students) was too outlandish, contradictory and inconsistent to support (their allegations).' The judge added: 'I don't accept that (her) evidence was tested. Rather, I find it was simply taken at face value. 'I find that the college had not complied with its contractual obligation to fully investigate the circumstances of the allegations by not obtaining witness evidence.' The judge awarded Mr Wood 3,431.31 in lost pay and compensation, with a further amount of lost holiday pay and pension contributions to be decided. Prosecutors are refusing to hand over paperwork on their investigation into Madeleine McCann to lawyers representing the prime suspect. Convicted rapist and pedophile Christian Brueckner, 47, is currently on trial accused of five unconnected sex crimes said to have happened in the area where Madeleine vanished from in 2007. Four years ago prosecutors in Germany sensationally named Brueckner as the person they believe responsible for Madeleines abduction and murder but so far he has not been charged in relation to her disappearance. It has led to growing speculation that despite claims they have evidence there is no hard concrete proof to charge him and he has always denied any involvement. Before the start of his current trial in Braunschweig, Germany, Brueckner told MailOnline the accusations against him were 'ridiculous' and added he hoped 'they find the truth out. Convicted rapist and pedophile Christian Brueckner , 47, is currently on trial accused of five unconnected sex crimes said to have happened in the area where Madeleine vanished from in 2007 He is the prime suspect in the disappearance of British girl Madeline McCann on May 3, 2007 in Praia da Luz, Portugal Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, pictured, have campaigned vigorously since she vanished on a family holiday in 2007 for information Now it has emerged his defence team led by Friedrich Fulscher have again demanded the case file on Madeleine, who vanished from the resort of Praia da Luz in Portugals Algarve when she was just three. However prosecution spokesman Hans Christian Wolters told MailOnline they would not be giving it to him adding: 'He is not entitled to them at the moment,' and he refused to be drawn on when if ever charges would be made against Brueckner. When his current trial opened Mr Fulscher said Brueckner had been constantly linked by prosecutors to the disappearance of Madeleine and repeating it like a prayer wheel. He added: The results of the investigation have not yet been presented to the defence, so that the accused has not been able to substantiate this allegation. A comparable media campaign of prejudgement has been sought in vain. Defence lawyers say they want access to the file in order to defend Brueckner in his current trial and have also applied for that to be thrown out. German prosecutors believe Brueckner, pictured, is responsible for Madeleine's disappearance and murdered her Brueckner, pictured in court in Braunschweig, Germany earlier this week, has denied any connection with Madeleine's disappearance Scotland Yard sent out search teams to Portugal in an effort to find clues about what happened to the youngster In the latest hearing a former pal Christian Post, pictured, told the court Brueckner had confessed to him he was an expert on breaking and entering holiday apartments and hotels. He is currently accused of three rapes and two sexual assaults against said to have taken place in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017 when he was living and working there. In the latest hearing a former pal Christian Post, told the court Brueckner had confessed to him he was an expert on breaking and entering holiday apartments and hotels. Post, 56, added Brueckner told him he was good at taking stuff and had helped himself to dozens of holidaymakers passports which he sold on to make money. Madeleine was snatched from her room while her parents Kate and Gerry were out to dinner with pals but her two siblings were left alone. Philip Marquort, one of Brueckners legal team, said: The BKA only keeps one file for all investigations and specifically channels individual results into various proceedings against our client. The right to a fair trial, according to their argument in the most recent request for evidence, requires access to all files. They were the first test of Steven Miles' premiership As well as council elections there were two state by-elections Votes are in after millions voted in Queensland on Saturday Queensland Labor is dangerously close to losing a prize state seat in a warning blow for new Premier Steven Miles months out from the October general election. Labor was expected to hold the safe seats of Inala and Ipswich West vacated by former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Jim Madden in two by-elections. LNP candidate Darren Zanow was on Saturday night looking set to win Ipswich West after Labor rival Wendy Bourne suffered a 15.2 per cent swing against her. Labor has held the seat for 19 out of 22 elections since 1960. Polls have now closed in Queensland where millions voted on Saturday in local council elections and in the two state by-elections in what is the first popularity test for the new premier. It was slightly better news in Inala, held by Palaszczuk before her resignation, where Labor's Margie Nightingale suffered a 30 per cent swing against her with 31.5 per cent of the vote in and LNP rival Trang Yen had a 10.9 per cent swing in her favour. It is unlikely Ms Yen's swing will be enough to snatch the deep red Labor seat and Ms Nightingale will likely replace Palaszczuk as the next member for Inala. She currently leads with 37.4 per cent of the first preference vote. Votes in Queensland council elections and two State by-elections on Saturday are shaping up to see Labor hold one crucial seat but lose another LNP candidate for Ipswich West Darren Zanow looks like he will snatch the long-held Labor seat in what will be a wake-up call for Premier Miles Labor's Margie Nightingale suffered a 30 per cent swing against her in Inala but looks still likely to win Annastacia Palaszczuk's old seat Mr Miles was out on Saturday supporting his candidates in both seats, but was expecting to suffer a swing against Labor. Mr Miles succeeded Ms Palaszczuk late last year after her sudden resignation. LNP state leader David Crisafulli was also out on the hustings in Inala and Ipswich West on Saturday. In Inala, LNP candidate Darren Zanow needed to overcome a 14.3 per cent margin to clinch victory in the Labor stronghold. The LNP and One Nation had preferenced one another on their how-to-vote cards. There was also voting in elections for all 77 local councils on Saturday. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is expected to retain his job, but there are predictions of a 'Greens-slide', with the minor party expected to pick up several of the 26 wards in Brisbane City Council. Tom Tate is expected to also get another term as mayor of the Gold Coast, while former Liberal MP Andrew Laming is making a run for mayor of Redland City. Ms Nightingale's opponent Trang Yen was hopeful that she could pull of an upset though it was looking unlikely late on Saturday night Millions of Queenslanders voted on Saturday (pictured: residents lining up at the Coorparoo State School during the elections) Andrew Laming at the Cleveland State School in Moreton Bay during the elections Fifteen councils have mayors running unopposed, including former state LNP leader Lawrence Springborg in Goondiwindi. A further 21 councils will have new mayors after the retirements of the incumbents. Another former federal MP, George Christenson, is running for a council job in the central Queensland city of Mackay. Earlier on Saturday there were complaints of long queues at a number of polling booths across the state. An ECQ spokesperson said most queue times were '15 minutes or less'. 'Our team has confirmed we were required to replenish ballot papers at two polling booths this afternoon, and that ballot papers were securely delivered before stock was depleted at a small number of other booths,' the spokesperson said. 'Staffing is allocated to each booth according to expected voter turnout, which is analysed using data from recent Queensland and federal elections.' The former premier made a rare public appearance on Saturday afternoon at the polls with Ms Nightingale, saying the day was about 'new beginnings'. Ms Palaszczuk offered the woman she hopes will replace her the 'same advice my father gave me' as she cast her by-election ballot. 'I'm going to give her the same advice that my father gave me, and that is: Whoever comes through your door always comes there for a reason and to treat everyone with respect and to make sure that you really listen because they've come to you for help,' she told the ABC. 'So if Margie does that, she'll be a very, very good local member.' A blonde Annastacia Palaaszczuk made a rare public appearance since retiring from the state's top job Ms Palaszczuk retired from politics on her own terms late last year following months of speculation about her leadership. Saturday's by-election will be the first time in over 30 years that Inala won't be held by someone with the last name Palaszczuk. The seat was held by her father, Henry, since its creation in 1992. She took over the legacy when she entered the political arena in 2006. Ms Nightingale, a former teacher, said she would focus on 'progress' should she win. 'I'll be looking at doing that and I understand what this community needs and I'm ready to listen and I'm really ready to do the hard work,' the hopeful told the ABC. Ms Palaszczuk wasn't the only high profile visitor on the campaign trail. Ms Nightingale was also joined on the hustings by treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Steven Miles. The pair laughed as the posed for pictures with Noodles the dog outside the Inala State School. The battle for Inala, which Labor holds on 28.2 per cent margin, is just one of the two by-elections being held in Queensland on Saturday. Both Inala and Ipswich West - which was prompted after Labor's Jim Madden resigned to run for local council - are deep in traditional Labor heartland. Ipswich West is held by Labor on a margin of 14.2 per cent. Steven Miles helped Ms Nightingale win over last minute voters with Noodles the dog Both results are being keenly anticipated as an early gauge of where the electorate is sitting ahead of the general election in October. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a swing in the two by-elections would not necessarily spell the beginning of the end for Mr Miles. 'We'll wait and see when the election happens in October, I expect there'll be a swing away from the government in these by elections today,' Mr Albanese said. 'That is what happens in by elections, normally, but I think that, you know, people will have a look at the LNP in Queensland very closely before October.' Ahead of the polls opening, a Newspoll published by the Australian showed the LNP opposition was ahead of Labor 54 to 46 per cent after preferences. If repeated at the general election in October, it would result in a loss of 18 Labor seats - four more than the LNP needs to win a majority. State opposition leader David Crisafulli said issues such as youth crime and wait times for surgery and home ownership were on the top of people's minds. 'When I look at the challenges facing Queenslanders, I see things like the youth crime crisis that's running out of control, I see things like a health system where people are waiting an inordinate amount of time for surgery and ambulance ramping is out of control,' Mr Crisafulli told Sky News. 'You've got a generation of young Queenslanders who don't believe they'll ever own their home - we've got the lowest homeownership rate in the country. Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli talking to voters on Saturday Mr Miles has previously said it would be 'very, very challenging,' for Labor to be reelected for a fourth term. The state is home to Australia's two biggest local councils, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Buoyed by their success at the 2022 federal election, the Greens are making a play for Brisbane City. LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is expected to hold on to Brisbane's top job, despite challenges from Labor's Tracey Price and the high-profile Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan. On the Gold Coast, Tom Tate is expected to be returned as mayor, a position he has held since 2012. Incumbent councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is seeking re-election despite facing a murder charge. At least 1,010,000 Queenslanders had already cast their vote ahead of Saturday's local government elections, with about 235,000 of the 440,000 postal votes returned as of Wednesday. The Queensland Electoral Commission said 3.65 million people enrolled to vote, equating to 97.6 per cent of the state's population eligible to vote. About 45 per cent of Queenslanders had voted early at around 170 early voting centres statewide. Voting booths opened at 8am and counting will begin at 6pm when polls close. Partnered with Samsung and KT, startup aims to become 'Koreas Nvidia' in inference chips By Ann Cao In an office building located in southern Seoul, a dozen chips are laid side by side on shelves, Monday afternoon, each next to its own electric fan to cool it down as it operates. These chips, called ATOM, are the latest neural processing units (NPUs) developed by Korean startup Rebellions, targeting AI models with up to 7 billion parameters. Their performance is being tested and compared with a few of Nvidias A100 GPUs, located in a separate room on the same floor. Regarded as the next generation of AI chips, NPUs are processors optimized for simultaneous matrix operations, meaning they are a step further in deep learning compared with general-purpose central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs). Rebellions, the fabless AI chip startup co-founded by five Korean engineers in 2020 to focus on AI inference as opposed to training, was viewed as the best hope to match or rival Nvidia in that field. Park Sung-hyun, CEO and co-founder of Rebellions, told The Korea Times in an interview earlier this week that ATOM is set to be mass-produced with Samsungs 5nm technology in the first half of 2024. That will be an important milestone for the Korean chip industry, as ATOM will the first domestically developed chip to support language models at mass production level. We are much more energy-efficient than Nvidia's GPUs in AI inference, said Park, referring to the process of running live data through a trained AI model to make a prediction or solve a task. ATOM is up to five times more power-efficient than Nvidias A100, with just half of the latency a measurement of speed for chips of Nvidia A2 in a language model inference benchmark test, he added. More visually, the ATOM chips only need fans for cooling down, while Nvidia chips need to operate in an air-conditioned environment which means more power consumption and higher operating costs. The rise of Rebellions comes as the global semiconductor industry is in a heated battle for AI chips, fueled by the sweeping popularity of openAIs ChatGPT and ever-increasing demand for Nvidia GPUs to provide the massive computing power needed by LLMs. South Korea, known for its position in memory chipmaking, is poised to gain a strong foothold in this booming market. Samsung Electronics, for instance, is facing off with TSMC to challenge its dominance in AI chipmaking, while the Korean government aims to grow the share of locally developed AI chips in domestic data centers to 80 percent by 2030. Rebellions had secured backup from several biggest names in the Korean tech industry including Samsung, KT and Kakao. In January, Rebellions finished its latest funding round totaling $124 million, led by KT, which has so far invested over $50 million in the startup. That brought Rebellions valuation to $650 million, becoming the most-funded chip startup in the country. Park said going into mass production will be a big boost for the companys revenue, following years in the prototype stage. KT, the second-largest telecom operator and largest data center company in Korea, will become the first customer of Rebellions after it begins mass production of ATOM, according to Park, who believes telecom companies are the most ideal clients for AI chips. The future of the AI industry is going to be an infrastructure game. Telecom companies are willing to invest large amounts of money into building up data centers, he said. Park also hopes the partnership with Koreans largest data center company will act as a reference for its global expansion, especially in the U.S. market. The company has been in talks with some major U.S. hyperscalers such as IBM, Park said. Park, who graduated from MIT in 2014 with a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science, had spent six years developing chips in the U.S., working for companies including Samsungs U.S. research arm, Intel and SpaceX. Despite his experience in the U.S. chip industry, Park saw better chances for starting a semiconductor company in Korea. In the semiconductor hardware ecosystem, Asia is going to be the next big thing, he said. South Korea and Taiwan are catching up. Park went back to his homeland and founded Rebellions in 2020, joined by Oh Jin-wook another Korean AI chip expert with an industry background in the U.S. along with other co-founders. For Park, it was not an easy decision, as most of his industry network at that time was in the U.S. Rebellions initial team members included figures from IBM, Intel and Apple, as well as Samsung USA. Now, it has around 120 employees including nearly 100 engineers. As the team expanded over the years, it attracted experts with local background, with those coming from Korean big semicon companies making up nearly 70 percent of the staff, according to Park. Rebellions launched its first product called ION in 2021, targeting AI tasks in the financial industry with chips manufactured by TSMC. Then the company decided to refocus on chips for AI models, after seeing higher demand from data center companies instead of finance companies. Samsung, the largest chipmaker in Korea, is Rebellions manufacturing partner for ATOM. The two companies deepened their cooperation last October by announcing plans to co-develop REBEL, the startups next-gen NPU after ATOM, which is set to target LLMs with larger parameter size and compare with Nvidias top-spec GPU H200 in inference tasks. Park is pinning larger hopes on REBEL, which is expected to finish development and start mass production in the second half of this year, using Samsungs 4nm fabrication process. As the generative AI market continues to expand, Park expects the demand for inference chips to become a key growth point. AI training traffic is depending on the number of developers, while AI inference traffic goes up as number of end users increases, Park said. Currently, training and inference market is almost half and half, but inference traffic is going to be much higher in the future. Within two and a half years, Park saw the companys share in the Korean LLM market grow to 30 percent in terms of inference tasks, and take up at least 3 to 5 percent globally. Currently, Nvidia is estimated to have a whopping share of up to 90 percent in the global AI chip market, according to analysts. If you catch just a little share of the LLM market, that's already huge, Park said. Ann Cao is a tech reporter with the South China Morning Post. She is currently based in Seoul, reporting for both The Korea Times and the South China Morning Post under an exchange program. A passenger on a British Airways flight reportedly caught a pilot 'ogling soft porn during a cockpit break'. The pilot was caught sneaking a peak at the material on a long-haul flight from London to Shanghai. Passenger David Jones, 35, was flying to China with his wife when he saw the plane's captain perusing through the sultry photos, which appear to be from an adult magazine, on his iPad while sat in the front row. The pilot, who was on a break at the time, looked at the snaps for around half an hour when the cabin's lights had been lowered. Accountant Mr Jones then claims the pilot head headed to the toilet. A passenger on a British Airways flight reportedly caught a pilot 'ogling soft porn during a cockpit break' (file photo) The flyer had just woken up after a nap while sat in a nearby front seat when he saw the pilot 'image after image for about 30 minutes, went to the bathroom, came back and went to sleep,' the Sun reports. Mr Jones, took photos - which have been shared with The Sun - of the captain looking at the racy photographs on his iPad as many passengers were asleep. The passenger then told BA of the incident upon arriving in Shanghai. Mr Jones reportedly received a message of apology from BA customer relations, which said they would investigate and take 'appropriate action'. MailOnline has contacted British Airways for comment. Police had to be called in after furious protesters blocked a road to stop hated new broadband telegraph poles from being put up in their street. Campaigners in Southport, Merseyside, have accused the broadband firm Openreach of poor behaviour, with one councillor saying the company had displayed a 'shocking' level of 'arrogance'. Locals near Griffiths Drive and Chester Road met on Thursday for their second day of demonstrations against the installation of the 'alien' masts. Pictures from the scene show the protestors facing off against 14 officers who were called to the scene to calm tensions between the campaigners and workmen. The poles will carry FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), linking properties to Openreach's ultrafast full fibre broadband network. Fourteen police officers had to be called in after furious protesters blocked a road to stop hated new broadband telegraph poles from being put up in their street Pictures from the scene show the protestors facing off against 14 officers who were called to the scene to calm tensions Campaigners in Southport, Merseyside, have accused the broadband firm Openreach of poor behaviour after the company did not consult them While campaigners in Southport say the internet upgrade programme is welcomed, they are very clear about their opposition to telegraph poles - believing them to be unattractive, damaging to wildlife and less effective than the underground cables they want instead. Earlier this week, Sefton Council called on Openreach to suspend its plans to install telegraph poles across the town after being inundated with complaints from local residents. The erection of Openreach's telegraph poles has proceeded without the need for approval from Sefton Council's planning team. This is because the installation is covered by permitted development rights (PDRs) - a statutory instrument included in the Town and Country Planning Order 2015. It means planning permission for certain types of development can be granted without requiring approval from the local planning authority or any consultation with residents. Guidance published on the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 and available in the House of Commons Library states: 'The 2003 Regulations do not require broadband companies to consult with local residents.' Protesters claimed they had not been consulted and this point was echoed by Norwood ward councillor Greg Myers, who was in attendance. Speaking on Thursday evening, the Labour councillor said: 'Instead of pausing on poles and holding a constructive dialogue with concerned residents as requested earlier this week, Openreach has instead it seems ramped up its efforts. The Openreach workmen were surrounded by an army of police officers while they tried to put up the telegraph poles The campaigners believe the poles are unattractive, damaging to wildlife and less effective than the underground cables they want instead 'Today though there was definitely more of an edge to proceedings and attitudes are hardening a little it seems, certainly residents increasingly feel they are being trampled upon by Openreach. 'How on earth the company has failed so miserably on meaningful engagement with this community is one thing, the fact that it is blatantly obvious they have and yet they stubbornly refuse to change tack is quite another. 'All these delays, extra cost and police man hours wasted because they preferred to talk at residents instead of to them? It makes little sense. It is shocking arrogance by Openreach management and it needs to stop.' One local resident, Brian, who attended the protest, said he had been part of the campaign to stop the telegraph poles since the beginning. Brian said: 'There were 14 police officers today. It's taken an awful lot of police resources of the streets just to assist Openreach in carrying out their works. 'Today was a small victory for Openreach even though it's taken them five hours to put one pole in and cost them a lot of money. 'We've had to go away and we've had to learn a few lessons, but we'll be back out again tomorrow.' A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that officers were monitoring a protest in connection to the installation of new broadband on Griffiths Drive, in Southport, on Thursday, March 14. 'Merseyside Police recognises the right of people to peacefully protest and express their views. Officers engaged protesters at the scene today and reminded them that their protest must remain peaceful and that any escalation towards committing offences will not be tolerated. 'No arrests were made, and the protest ended at around 2pm. 'Officers have held ongoing and open discussions with both sets of parties surrounding this issue and we will continue to monitor protests to ensure it doesn't impact on public safety or the right of people to go about their lawful business.' Openreach is a company wholly owned by BT Group plc. It runs the UK's digital network Openreach has a total of 37,000 staff which help build and maintain the infrastructure Openreach is a company wholly owned by BT Group plc. It maintains the telephone cables, ducts, cabinets and exchanges that connect nearly all homes and businesses in the United Kingdom to the national broadband and telephone network. Responding to Thursday's events, Openreach said: 'We know that some people in Southport feel strongly about poles and understand why, however, to say we haven't engaged with local residents is simply not true. Our local team has engaged extensively with local residents even to the point of discussing the positioning for individual poles. 'Wherever possible we will use existing network to build our broadband upgrades but in Southport cables are mainly buried direct in the ground. The scale and cost of civil engineering to install new underground ducts throughout the area just isn't viable and would involve months of road closures and disruptions. 'We've explored every possible option for the build and adding new telegraph poles into the network is the only option to bring full fibre to the people of Southport. 'We've communicated our decision to continue building and we believe our engineers should be allowed to go about their lawful work without facing harassment or abuse.' This clash between residents and Openreach comes after the company was involved in a similar battle last month. Furious homeowners in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, revealed how telecoms workers were trying to cement in 'eyesore' broadband poles right outside their windows. The owners of the 450,000 newbuild houses were blighted with the 30ft masts 19 months ago. A similar battle between residents and Openreach has been raging in Thornesgate drive in Wakefield over broadband telegraph poles Workmen turned up unannounced and started digging up the pavement to lock in the poles permanently Resident confronted the workers after they began their work without any warning The 450,000 newbuild houses in were blighted with the 30ft masts 19 months ago Start up manager Shabana Yousaf, whose bedroom window view has been ruined by a mast But the owners of the modern properties have been left horrified after workmen turned up unannounced last month and started digging up the pavement to lock in the poles. Locals feared that if the resurfacing work is completed they will be stuck with the giant pillars for good. Start up manager Shabana Yousaf, whose bedroom window view has been ruined by a mast, was coming back from the gym when she saw the crews using a heavy duty machine. They had already planned the section across her and her neighbour's drive when she parked across the pavement at the entrance to her drive to halt the work. 'The stress they have caused me is ridiculous. They did not give any notice they were coming today. They were trying to do it on the hush hush,' she told MailOnline at the time. 'We want answers why they did not give notice. The poles stank of creosote when they were first put in as well. All the residents are unhappy.' Residents were infuriated because when they bought the new homes they said they were told all the broadband cables would be buried underground, not overhead. A Tory peer has claimed the Church of England's 1billion slavery reparation fund for 'for show' and 'almost like bribery.' Lord Tony Sewell of Sanderstead, who chaired the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred) which was set up by then-prime minister Boris Johnson in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, also said the decision to start the reparation fund was 'political.' The C of E had initially announced last year that it was setting up a 100million fund for reparations to recognise that it once profited from the slave trade. But a report released on March 3 said this was 'insufficient' to 'fully redress' the centuries-long impact of the 'great evil' of slavery and called for a much bigger target of 1billion. In an interview with The Times, Lord Sewell claimed the church had started the fund 'for show' and said the C of E should focus on getting people back into church. Lord Sewell said: 'We need to have a conversation with the Archbishop (of Canterbury) and ask what he is doing. It would be so much better to focus on bringing people back to a time when the church was packed. Lord Tony Sewell of Sanderstead (pictured) chaired the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred) which was set up by then-prime minister Boris Johnson in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (pictured). The Church of England announced last year it was setting up a 100million fund for reparations to recognise that it once profited from the slave trade. But a report released on March 3 said this was 'insufficient' and called for a much bigger target of 1billion 'They need to repair their base but they are doing something political, for show, giving away this cash. It's a strangely materialistic way for a spiritual organisation to work, almost like bribery. 'The church needs to rethink its purpose and stop using the race element as a mechanism to solve their own uncertainty in the world.' Lord Sewell was speaking to the outlet ahead of the release of his book, Black Success: The Surprising Truth, in which he argues that the successes of black British people hasn't come despite white oppression but through hard work and discipline. He said: 'I am fighting to move the story away from racism. Black people always have to overcome white people somewhere in their story, even when they are successful. I have no narrative of that. 'Nowhere in my life have I had to get over the foot of some white person trying to trip me up. It's about agency and self-affirmation. Race is almost a diversion.' The Lord also revealed in the interview that he was still angry about the reception his race report received and claimed Britain was much less racist than it was 40 years ago. The Cred published a report in 2021 which faced a backlash after it concluded that while racism is a 'real force', Britain is no longer a country where the 'system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities'. A Black Lives Matter demonstrations in April 2021. The Cred published a report in 2021 which faced a backlash after it concluded that while racism is a 'real force', Britain is no longer a country where the 'system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities' The commission said geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion all impact life chances more than racism. It also found no evidence of 'institutional racism' and criticised the way the term has been applied, saying it should not be used as a 'catch-all' phrase for any microaggression. The panel's report sparked a fierce response with politicians and other public figures branding it insulting and divisive. Including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer who said he was 'disappointed' by the findings as he insisted there were structural problems that needed to be addressed. Lord Sewell hit back at criticism of his report by highlighting that 'racism has always been a complicated subject.' He added: 'In Britain there may have been more overt racism in the 1970s and 1980s with fewer immigrants, but because social media wasnt around and we all watched the same TV programmes we did have quite a lot of cohesion. 'What governments must be careful not to say now is: we have multiple groups of people, therefore we need to kill off everything that is male and white and bring in all this difference. We shouldnt be pitching one group against each other.' An 11-year-old boy in Florida who was wielding a butcher knife and threatening to kill himself and his sister during a tantrum over a video game has been tasered by officers. Wesley Hinton began getting angry following the dispute and grabbed a blade before his 10-year-old sister phoned 911 during the incident on January 20. Deputies from the Broward Sheriffs Office arrived on the scene and say Wesley ran the knife over parts of his body including his wrists, stomach and held it at his chest. Surveillance footage shows deputies pleading with him to drop the weapon for at least 30 minutes before he appeared to reach for it again and was tasered. His mother Samantha Hinton claims he has struggled to function since the incident and he said he is traumatized to this day. An 11-year-old boy who was wielding a butcher knife and threatening to kill himself and his sister during a tantrum over a video game has been tasered by officers Wesley Hinton began getting angry following the dispute and grabbed a blade before his 10-year-old sister phoned 911 during the incident on January 20 Video from the incident shows Wesley holding a large butcher knife in his hand. Deputies attempt to get him to drop it and he lays it down momentarily before he appears to pick it back up and he is tasered. 'It looked like I tried to grab it again, but I was about to do this and then shot,' Wesley told WTVJ. 'The juvenile male, according to deputy, continued to reiterate he had intentions to harm himself,' a Broward Sheriffs Office spokesman said. 'And at some point the deputy said he ran that large knife over parts of his body, stomach and wrist and chest. 'Deputies utilized their training and were able to save that juvenile life and also prevent injury to anyone else.' Deputies from the Broward Sheriffs Office arrived on the scene and Wesley ran the knife over parts of his body including his wrists, stomach and held it at his chest Surveillance footage shows deputies pleading with him to drop the weapon for at least 30 minutes before he appeared to reach for it again and was tasered His sister (pictured) called 911 after he picked up a weapon following an argument over a video game and told operators: 'He has a knife. Nobody is injured yet.' His stepfather Jonathan Friedland revealed that he has 'multiple disabilities' But his mother Samantha said: 'Hes so pale, he doesnt sleep, he just stares at you at night, he cant function, hes failing in homeschooling, where he was getting all As.' His sister called 911 after he picked up a weapon following an argument over a video game and told operators: 'He has a knife. Nobody is injured yet.' Samantha said deputies have helped deal with her son on multiple occasions before and his stepfather Jonathan Friedland revealed that he has 'multiple disabilities'. 'They were able to sit down and talk to him at this level and re-direct his mind and then he would calm down and talk with them and go willingly,' she said. 'They deescalated the situation every time.' The young boy is not facing any charges over the incident and child protection services are said to be involved. Voters across Russia queued up to cast their votes today on the second day of an election guaranteed to hand six more years of power to President Vladimir Putin. Putin has no serious challengers as all his opponents are either dead, imprisoned or in exile. The President has crushed political dissent over his nearly 25 years in power. Just last month, his fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison. Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of him or his invasion of Ukraine. The 71-year-old has been in power in Russia since the last day of 1999 and is set to extend his grip over the country until 2030. A woman walks past an information electronic screen at the headquarters of Russia's Central Election Commission during the presidential election in Moscow, March 15 Putin voted online during the election, which is set to see him in power for another six years The President has crushed political dissent over his nearly 25 years in power. Just last month, his fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny (pictured), died in an Arctic prison If Putin completes another Kremlin term, he would stay in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the US and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia. That war was visible on Russia's streets on Saturday as Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit the country. Two people were killed in Ukrainian shelling of Belgorod, close to the Ukrainian border, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. 'A man was driving a lorry when a shell hit him, after which the car crashed into a passenger bus. The people on it were not injured,' Gladkov wrote on social media. 'Another woman was killed in a parking lot where she and her son came to feed the dogs. Medics are fighting for her son's life,' he added. A woman casts her vote in the election while being watched on by two Russian security officials A Russian woman casts her vote in presidential elections at her home, as members of a mobile election committee visit her, in Moscow, on March 16 A damaged vehicle following a shelling in downtown Belgorod on March 16 Russia's defence ministry earlier said it had downed rockets, missiles and drones in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk that have suffered an uptick in fatal attacks in recent weeks. Unverified images of the attack circulating on social media showed a large blast destroying a car and sending debris into the air. Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, 662 miles southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said. In spite of the attacks, analysts say the Kremlin is looking for a high turnout in the elections as a sign that Russians approve of the war to legitimise Putin for another term. The Russian defence ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war - driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russia's wartime economy has also proven to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Mayor of Belgorod City Valentin Demidov (centre) inspecting the damage following a shelling in downtown Belgorod, Russia, on March 16 According to the local governor, at least three people died as a result of a Ukrainian attack Russia's opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death. Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online. In the run-up to the vote, Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where the Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower. Ukraine, meanwhile, has fought back by stepping up attacks on Russia's border regions and launching drone strikes deep inside the country. Putin faces no serious challengers as all his opponents are either dead, imprisoned or in exile Putin, 71, has been in power in Russia since the last day of 1999 and is set to extend his grip over the country until 2030 Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of him or his invasion of Ukraine, including Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) leader Leonid Slutsky (pictured) People vote during a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 16 On Friday, Putin described the week's cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks 'won't be left unpunished.' Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Yet despite tight controls, at least half a dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations have been reported, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant splashing green disinfectant in his face. Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy. European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin Friday on 'his landslide victory' in an election that was technically still underway. 'No opposition. No freedom. No choice,' he wrote on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates - or state-backed advisory bodies - can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs. British drug-smuggling British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford has been living life as the 'Queen' of the Bali prison where she has been on death row for more than a decade. Sandiford, 67, enjoys special benefits including medium-rare steak dinners and leading knitting circles to her fellow inmates, who have dubbed her 'The Queen of Kerobokan Prison' in Indonesia. She has been imprisoned since 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.6million worth of cocaine into Indonesia in her suitcase. The cocaine-smuggling grandmother's cellmate, an Indonesian woman who has been behind bars for two years after being found guilty of corruption said: 'She is the grandmother of the prison, the Queen.' She reportedly said that Saniford is the only inmate who is permitted to order steak dinners from the prison cafe. 'She has it medium-rare, normally once a week,' Sandiford's cellmate said. Lindsay Sandiford has been imprisoned since 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.6 million cocaine Lindsay Sandiford and inmates of Kerobokan Prison knitting in classes hosted by the Briton Sandiford met one of her granddaughters (pictured) while in prison awaiting her fate British innate Sandiford is loved by everyone in the prison, her cellmate told The Mirror. She said that she teaches people in the prison how to knit in regular classes and also shows them how to take care of themselves. Sandiford started getting privileges in prison, being given a mattress instead of sleeping on the floor. She was then given her own cooking utensils as she did not enjoy the food in prison. As Lindsay has a 'sweet tooth' and an enjoyment for 70% dark chocolate, she was brought chocolate and fresh vegetables from her supporters. The 67-year-old may have her sentence converted into a whole life term instead due to a law change being introduced in January, due to good behaviour behind bars. Lawyers could argue for her to be returned to the UK, where she may be able to go free due to the time already served, the newspaper reported. An inmate at Sandiford's prison told The Mirror: 'If she can get through to 2025 then she thinks she may be able to avoid the death penalty.' Human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC called for the grandmother to be returned to Britain. She currently awaits being brought to Nusa Kambangan, known as Execution Island, from her cell in the Kerobokan jail. Sandiford's cellmate told the newspaper that she 'is scared of dying but she has accepted it' while another con claimed she is 'foul-mouthed, antagonistic' and drives people out of her cell. The 67-year-old may have her sentence converted into a whole life term instead due to a law change being introduced in January, due to good behaviour behind bars This picture taken in November 2012 shows a female detainee at Kerobokan prison Now grey-haired and suffering arthritis, Sandiford spends her days knitting in the cramped five metres-by-five-metres cell she shares with four other women prisoners The grandmother-of-two is locked up in one of the toughest prisons in Indonesia and the site of many deadly riots, known ironically as Hotel K. Drug mule Sandiford was caught flying into Bali from Bangkok with 10.16 lb of cocaine in 2012. Smugglers face severe penalties in the country as around 80 per cent of the prison's population are locked up on drug charges waiting to be executed, according to the Mirror. The Brit, from Yorkshire, who has no previous convictions, claimed she was forced by a UK-based drugs syndicate to smuggle cocaine from Thailand to Bali by threats to the life of one of her two sons in Britain. She received a death sentence despite cooperating with police in a sting to arrest people higher up in the syndicate, sparking an outcry from human rights lawyers and former UK Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald who said she had been treated with 'quite extraordinary severity'. Barbed wire fences encircle the Kerobokan jail in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali Sandiford (pictured left with her eldest son and right in her younger days) will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan known as Execution Island and shot by firing squad She will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan known as Execution Island and shot by firing squad at midnight with up to a dozen other condemned prisoners when and if her death penalty is carried out The British government has repeatedly refused to fund Sandiford's appeal, despite a ruling from Supreme Court judges in London who said 'substantial mitigating factors' had been overlooked in her original trial. The syndicate's alleged ringleader Julian Ponder, 50, from Brighton, was freed from Kerobokan prison in late 2017 following rumours more than 1 million in bribes were paid to drop trafficking charges against Ponder, his former partner Rachel Dougall, and fellow Brit Paul Beales. Dougall served one year and Beales four years for involvement in the conspiracy. Sandiford could face execution at any time after failing to lodge a final appeal but said: 'I really cannot face asking anyone for help or having to deal with another lawyer. I just can't face it. I've been burnt enough times. 'I've had 10 different lawyers. If I actually turned my mind to the legal process I would get angry and bitter and it would be destructive.' Indonesian police at the entrance of Kerobokan prison as prisoners torched buildings in 2012 Sandiford will be transferred to Nusa Kambangan and shot by firing squad Julian Ponder, 50, from Brighton (pictured) was the alleged ringleader of the drug smuggling syndicate that Sandiford was involved in but he was freed from Kerobokan prison in late 2017 Now grey-haired and suffering arthritis, Sandiford spends days at a time knitting in the cramped five metres-by-five-metres cell prison she shares with four other women prisoners, most of them poorly-educated local women convicted of drug offences. The prison houses 1,300 inmates four times the amount of people the prison was built for in 1979 - and has previously been described by inmates as a 'hellhole' with frequent 'murders, rapes, drug overdoses and bashings'. Announcements and sirens on loudspeakers scream every day and inmates are constantly vying for space in the crowded cells. Rachel Dougall, who was sentenced to a year in the squalid prison for failing to report a crime, told Daily Mail Australia in March, 2017, she suffered a nervous breakdown while inside after being locked up with drug addicts, HIV-positive inmates and sexually aggressive lesbians. 'Most of the women were on drugs virtually every day. If you had money the guards would get you anything you wanted,' she said. Notorious serial killer 'The Serpent' Charles Sobhraj - who murdered at least 20 backpackers in the Far East in the 1970s and 80s - has been spotted sightseeing in central London. Disguised in a wig and spectacles, Sobhraj looked every inch the tourist as he took snaps on his phone of the sights around London Eye. But few of the holidaymakers passing by the inconspicuous 78-year-old man on Westminster Bridge could imagine his horrifying legacy. Sobhraj, who was the subject of the BBC's 2021 drama The Serpent, was released from a Nepalese prison in 2022 after 20 years behind bars - but is suspected of a whole series of other crimes for which he was never charged Beginning on Tuesday at 9pm, Channel 4 documentary The Real Serpent: Investigating a Serial Killer follows the French national enjoying his freedom even as he faces questions about these unsolved crimes. Disguised in a wig and spectacles, serial killer Charles Sobhraj AKA 'The Serpent', now aged 78, looked every inch the tourist as he took snaps on his phone of the sights around London Eye Charles Sobhraj aka The Serpent photographed at the time of his capture in New Delhi, India, in 1977 Sobhraj's exploits were dramatised in the 2021 BBC drama The Serpent, starring Tahar Rahim as Sobhraj and Jenna Coleman as his lovesick sidekick Marie-Andree Leclerc Chillingly, while taking pictures of Big Ben, Sobhraj opens up about his ability to flee justice - bragging to the cameraman: 'I was like a shadow.' When quizzed over whether Londoners should fear him, Sobhraj replies: 'I will say they are free [to have] their feelings and thoughts. What I am doing in this programme is without financial benefits. 'I am fed up of all these allegations so I'm going to put forward my facts and let the people decide. You are the victim of brainwashing by the media.' The documentary features clips of Sobhraj in a Delhi jail, in which he talks about the killing of US tourist Teresa Knowlton, 21, in Bangkok in 1975. Handsome, eloquent and seductive - Sobhraj was a ruthless con artist without scruples, whose crimes escalated from burglary to murdering touists on the hippy trail in Thailand, India and Nepal. His exploits were portrayed in the 2021 BBC drama The Serpent, starring Tahar Rahim as Sobhraj and Jenna Coleman as his lovesick sidekick Marie-Andree Leclerc. Next week's three part documentary runs from Tuesday to Thursday and sees Sobhraj face challenging questions from former Det Ch Insp Jackie Malton and Commander Gary Copson, as well as a forensic psychologist, who show him evidence of his guilt. The killer denies the unsolved murders of a number of travellers, even as he ducks questions about how he acquired their possessions or crossed borders using their passports. Mr Copson declines to shake the murderer's hand at the end of the series, even avoiding touching documents pushed to him 'because you don't know what's on them'. The retired commander says: 'No way would I accept a cup of tea from him, put it that way. Yes, he's 79. But he's not a decrepit 79. He's still got his marbles, he is capable. 'He has always had women doing his bidding. It would astonish me if he had not convinced one or more women, even now, that he was a safe and entertaining companion.' Born in 1944 in Ho Chi Minh city in Vietnam, then a French colony, Sobhraj rose through the ranks of Parisian high society in the 1960s, cultivating a stylish image financed through burglaries and exploiting wealthy women. After fleeing back to the Far East in the 1970s, Sobhraj took up with his lover Marie-Andree Leclerc, who followed him slavishly as he exerted a cult-like hold over travellers to Bangkok, many of whom were never seen again. The BBC's hit crime drama The Serpent starring Tahar Rahim as Sobhraj and Jenna Coleman shows the dark underbelly of the hippy trail, which once drew thousands of young travellers to South East Asia seeking drug-fuelled enlightenment The killings began in 1975. Sobhraj and Marie-Andree would befriend Western tourists in bars and hotels and invite them to stay at their apartment. She used the alias Monique, and would pretend to be Sobhraj's wife or a fashion model. The couple hosted parties for their 'guests' and took them to Bangkok nightspots. Their victims were drugged with a crude mix of laxatives, sedatives and vomit-inducing medication. Those who survived were stabbed, strangled, drowned or burned alive, their bodies dumped on roadsides or beaches, with the Thai police apparently uninterested. Sobhraj then took their cash or travellers' cheques and stole their passports. The total number of murders he committed is unknown. A San Francisco man who stabbed a 94-year-old in the street has avoided jail after being sentenced to probation and a 'behavioral and mental health treatment program.' Daniel Cauich stabbed Chinese and Vietnamese immigrant Anh 'Peng' Taylor multiple times in San Francisco's Lower Nob Hill neighborhood in broad daylight in June 2021. The senseless attack was caught on camera and sent shockwaves through the city during a period of increased attacks on Asian Americans. Cauich was sentenced to five years of probation and a supervision program at San Francisco Superior Court on Friday. 'I am giving you one last chance to stay out of state prison,' Judge Kay Tsenin told Cauich during the hearing, which combined another charge of burglary in a separate incident. Daniel Cauich stabbed a 94-year-old in the street in broad daylight in June 2021 The senseless attack was caught on camera and sent shockwaves through the city during a period of increased attacks on Asian Americans Cauich has been enrolled on the state's Intensive Supervision Court program intended for high-risk probationers as an alternative to state prison. As part of the program, he will be under intensive supervision in a facility with limited freedom until the course is completed. His defense attorney Lisa DewBerry successfully argued that her client had underlying mental health issues and trauma that contributed to the attack. 'When we were able to get through to him to tell him what he had done, the man cried,' DewBerry told The San Francisco Standard. 'He couldn't believe he did such a thing to her.' Cauich was run over by a car and homeless at the time of the stabbing DewBerry claimed. Court records, including a neuropsychology report, stated that said Cauich had experienced trauma and brain injuries, leading to mental health issues and a substance-use disorder. Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Maffei opposed the sentence, arguing that Cauich is a danger to the community and should serve 12 years in prison for the stabbing. Chinese and Vietnamese immigrant Anh 'Peng' Taylor was stabbed multiple times in San Francisco's Lower Nob Hill neighborhood Taylor's attacker was sentenced to five years of probation and a supervision program at San Francisco Superior Court Taylor survived the attack and is doing well at the age of 97, her family confirmed '[The stabbing] was senseless and horrifying and suggests a quick willingness to do harm to vulnerable people within our community' Maffei wrote in a document protesting the sentence. Taylor survived the attack and is doing well at the age of 97, her family confirmed. 'After the attack, we moved her to an assisted living home,' her daughter Vivianne Taylor told the Standard. Adding: 'She is well-recovered and doing fine now.' But many rich Republicans worry he will use their cash to pay legal bills Wining and dining donors three times a week at Mar-a-Lago to charm them Donald Trump is scrambling to catch up to President Joe Biden's massive fundraising advantage with just eight months until the election. The Republican National Committee has just $40 million in the bank compared to the $130 million Democratic operations had last month. The huge gap in funding is steadily growing as Democrats open their wallets to support Biden's campaign to hold the White House. Democrats raised more than $10 million in the 24 hours after the State of the Union last Thursday, far higher than Trump's biggest day where he raised $4.2 million after his mugshot in the Georgia election fraud case was released. Donald Trump is scrambling to raise cash as the Republican National Committee has just $40 million in the bank Joe Biden has $130 million to work with so far and is raising money much faster Additionally, the Service Employees International Union planned to spend $200 million to convince working class Americans to vote for Biden and other Democrats. Trump is trying to close the gap by schmoozing as many rich donors as he can, entertaining at Mar-a-Lago three nights a week, The New York Times reported. Oracle founder Larry Ellison and sugar tycoon Pepe Fanjul are among those wined and dined at the Palm Beach, Florida, resort in recent months. Mar-a-Lago will also host an expensive dinner early next month to launch a new joint fundraising account, which it is hoped will raise at least $25 million. Trump has also taken steps to promote his donors and supporters and make them feel important at his campaign events. A special room for big donors to mingle was set up at Mar-a-Lago on Super Tuesday last week and Trump stopped by to thank them. They included Trish Duggan, a Florida philanthropist who gave Trump's campaign more than $5 million. Trump earlier thanked billionaire casino owner Steve Wynn and hedge fund manager John Paulson in his New Hampshire primary victory speech. Then he put New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, whom he made ambassador to the UK during his presidential term, on stage with him after the South Carolina poll. Trump put New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, whom he made ambassador to the UK during his presidential term, on stage with him after the South Carolina poll Johnson is joined by Donald Trump at a New York Jets' Kickoff Luncheon In another sign that he wants to ramp up fundraising, Trump and his allies staged a coup to take over the RNC, installing his daughter-in-law Lara as co-chair. About 60 staff were laid off or forced to re-apply for this jobs in a bloodbath days after Lara Trump was unanimously elected on March 8. Struggling to attract new rich donors, Trump's team is asking those who already pledged seven-figure sums to up their contributions to more than $10 million, according to the New York Times. 'He (Trump) understands the one advantage the Biden campaign has is financial resources... and he understands we need to do all we can to negate that,' Republican lobbyist Brian Ballard said. A big part of the problem is donors fear their cash will be siphoned into paying Trump's mounting legal bills and court judgements. The former president was ordered to put up a $91.6 million bond after being found liable for defaming writer E Jean Carroll, while his appeal plays out. He also faces a deadline to come up with a $450 million bond in the New York civil fraud case against his businesses after losing in court last week. Trump's massive legal bills are still rising both from these cases, and his 91 criminal charges in various cases - which were slightly reduced after a judge quashed several of the Georgia election fraud cases on Wednesday. He has been using his Save America PAC to pay the legal fees, but that fund is almost empty and he will soon have to find other avenues to pay his bills. Trump's advisers insisted RNC funds would not be used to pay his personal expenses, but his PACs are another matter. Many potential donors are also hesitant to contribute after receiving blowback for supporting the controversial candidate in 2016. Trump met with billionaire TikTok investor Jeff Yass and Tesla and Twitter owner Elon Musk, but neither of them are known to have have donated. 'Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President,' Musk wrote on Twitter on March 6. Trump greets supporters at one of many fundraisers at his Mar-a-Lago resort Donald Trump attends a Hawaiian themed fundraiser accompanied by Eric and Lara Trump. The fundraiser benefits Curetivity and is hosted by Dr Peter Lamelas Longtime Republican financier Ken Griffin is also holding out after backing Trump's defeated opponent Nikki Haley, but may donate in the future. 'Can I just have a moment to be sad over Nikki not being in the race?' he said at a conference in Florida this week. A person close to Yass told the NYT he plans to make a seven-figure donation, but did not say where the money would be directed. Donors who don't want their names associated with Trump can give to more shadowy organizations that don't have to disclose contributors. Ultimately, although Trump is concerned about the funding gap, his allies believe they will come up with enough to win the election. 'Hillary Clinton way out-raised President Trump but he connected with the American people and that was the difference right there,' former RNC co-chair Tommy Hicks Jr told the NYT. A Gen-Z couple from Philadelphia have become homeless influencers after vlogging their tent-living and claiming that homelessness is a 'flex.' Leland Brown Jr. and his girlfriend Breanna Hubbard have shot to fame for uploading videos documenting their lives as 'homeless' people living in a tent with yoga mats as beds and a makeshift toilet. Brown, 28, was kicked out of his family home by his father after he refused to get a job. 'He told me I was grown and have a son, so I needed to figure it out,' said Brown, who has a seven-year-old son who lives with his mother. The 28-year-old then moved in with Hubbard, 22, and her family in Hatfield - but after that didn't work out, the pair packed up and moved to the woods in September 2022. Brown was excited to experience the outdoors, having never even been camping, but the harsh reality soon set in. 'It was a lot once we got everything settled,' he said. 'It was crazy dealing with the animals and the cold.' Leland Brown Jr. and his girlfriend Breanna Hubbard have shot to fame for uploading videos documenting their lives as 'homeless' people living in a tent with yoga mats as beds and a makeshift toilet The couple moved to the woods - where they currently live in a tent decked out with a full house setup In the tent, carboard is laid over the ground as well as fluffy rugs. They use yoga mats, two eac, and air mattresses as beds and make their pad cozy with pillows and blankets They even have a 'stove top' and frying pans where they cook meals and cleaning supplies to wash their dishes Six months after becoming homeless and moving to the woods, the pair began vlogging their experience and sharing videos online. Brown lost his job after a year - but the couple's videos had been getting millions of views online, so they decided to embrace life as influencers. Hubbard's mother encouraged the pair to go to a local U-Haul lot to escape the cold, edit their videos and do 'office work.' They made themselves at home in their unit, even setting up furniture and turning the storage box into a tiny housing quarter. The couple did a three-part TikTok series documenting experience living in a storage container - which generated more than 22 million views and even made national news. Their makeshift house was taken away after U-Haul caught wind of their scheme. 'Residing in a self-storage unit is a violation of state and federal housing laws,' Jeff Lockridge, a spokesperson for U-Haul International, wrote in an email to The Inquirer. 'I was always prepared to get kicked out because of the video,' Brown said. 'I didn't expect it to become as viral as it was, but when it did, I knew I couldn't delete it. I was making money off of it, so we had to run with it.' The couple moved back the woods - where they currently live in a tent decked out with a full house-setup. A charging station is used to power the couple's phones and laptops Brown says he prefers the term 'house-lessness' and has even described the 'low-cost lifestyle' as a 'flex,' boasting that their living situation is a sacrifice worth enduring for the independence that comes with it In the tent, carboard is laid over the ground as well as fluffy rugs. They use yoga mats, two each, and air mattresses as beds and make their pad cozy with pillows and blankets. A charging station is used to power the couple's phones and laptops, and they even have a 'stove top' and frying pans where they cook meals, and cleaning supplies to wash their dishes. Brown says he prefers the term 'house-lessness' and has even described the 'low-cost lifestyle' as a 'flex,' boasting that their living situation is a sacrifice worth enduring for the independence that comes with it. 'I'm very educated and intelligent, and so is [Hubbard], but people tell us how to live because their perspective in life is different,' Brown said. Brown hails from a successful family. His father is a principal engineer and director of a military and aerospace communications company. The father and son have an understanding, 'My dad is saying [I] have to stay in the woods and make it work,' Brown said. 'He's trying to teach me to be strong and survive.' 'I believe Leland has been very clear this is a choice he has made and he stands on his choice,' his father wrote in an email. 'If no harm is caused to anyone, content development is a good method to share his approaches on how he wants to live his life, while allowing others to follow his journey.' Hubbard's family have welcomed her back into their home, but she has denied them - saying, 'I had to leave to be the best version of myself.' Brown and Hubbard faced controversy in January, after it was revealed that they accepted money from a homeless charity despite having almost $4,000 from a GoFundMe and making thousands on some of their TikToks. The owner of the homeless charity said she felt 'taken advantage of' after the pair accepted a stay in a hotel room and other offerings from the charitable lady. Their excuse was that they don't want to 'mess' with the money they've made by making TikToks, or the thousands that has been donated to them on GoFundMe. The pair even have a computer-setup in their tent They caption videos things such as 'When You're Homeless and Get Bullied,' 'When You're Homeless In a Tent' and 'When Your Parents Kick You Out' Hubbard's family have welcomed her back into their home, but she has denied them - saying 'I had to leave to be the best version of myself,' she said Brown and Hubbard faced controversy in January, after it was revealed that they accepted money from a homeless charity despite having almost $4,000 from a GoFundMe and making thousands on some of their TikToks They want to save their money and spend it on a van or RV at some point in the future. 'We don't wanna work the rest of our lives,' Breanna said, with Leland adding 'at a traditional job.' On top of their influencer funds and GoFundMe donations, the pair have also rented cars to do DoorDash runs and cleaned hotel rooms to make some extra cash. In a February video, titled 'When You're Homeless & Not Getting a Job #genz,' Brown said he planned to be an 'entrepreneur'. 'I'm not getting no job,' he said in the TikTok video. 'I've had jobs in the past, and I've got fired at 90 percent of those jobs. It's not for me. I'm an entrepreneur, self-made, and so is [Hubbard].' The couple currently have 177,000 followers on TikTok and more than three million likes. Their top video has over 16 million views. Recent videos show the pair bathing in a hotel bathroom, cleaning their 'home' by sweeping up, wiping down their furniture and doing their dishes. They caption videos things such as 'When You're Homeless and Get Bullied' and 'When Your Parents Kick You Out'. A group of U.S. lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Friday, to reaffirm the South Korea-U.S. alliance ahead of the third Summit for Democracy to be hosted in Seoul next week. Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), along with Korea Caucus Co-Chairs Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Ami Bera (D-CA), delivered the letter as Seoul is set to host the summit, a U.S.-led initiative to promote solidarity among democracies, from Monday to Wednesday. The letter has 13 signatories, including the four lawmakers and other members of Congress. "We write to recognize the United States' continued dedication to the U.S.-Korea alliance, an alliance forged in blood over 70 years ago and based in shared democratic values," they wrote in the letter. "We commend and applaud the ROK for hosting the important gathering ... We fully support the Republic of Korea's (ROK) initiative and encourage the administration to continue its work with counterparts in Korea to ensure the summit's success," they said. ROK is South Korea's official name. In the letter, the lawmakers said that Seoul is hosting the summit against the backdrop of "ongoing destabilizing provocations" by North Korea, as they pointed out that Pyongyang has recently unleashed a barrage of "hostile and aggressive threats" against the South and conducted a series of weapons tests, including the launch of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in December. "These actions pose a serious risk for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," they wrote. They also reiterated their "grave concern" over the deepening military partnership between the North and Russia, saying that they continue to work to pass the North Korea-Russia cooperation sanctions act. "We look forward to working with you to stop North Korea from providing material support for Russia's illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine," they said. They, in addition, highlighted security commitments in the Washington Declaration, which President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to during their summit in April last year. The commitments include the establishment of the Nuclear Consultative Group, a key mechanism designed to strengthen America's extended deterrence commitment to using its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its Asian ally. "These critical commitments underscore the importance of maintaining a ready posture for the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea to confront any present and future threat," they said. They pledged to work together with the government and their colleagues in Congress to seek "every avenue" to "grow, deepen and strengthen" the alliance. (Yonhap) Australia's Foreign Minister has married her long-time partner in a quiet ceremony in her home state of South Australia. Penny Wong, 55, exchanged vows with Sophie Allouache who she has been in a relationship with since 2006 at Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday. The couple share two young daughters Alexandra, 11, and Hannah, eight. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and newly engaged girlfriend Jodie Haydon were also in attendance after flying in on his RAAF plane on Friday, as were Health Minister Mark Butler and former SA Premier Jay Whetherill. Senator Wong has long been an advocate for same-sex marriage and broke down in tears when Australians voted to legalise the union in 2017. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has married Sophie Allouache Foreign Minister Penny Wong has married Sophie Allouache in Adelaide and holding a reception at the Bird in Hand Winery with Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon, Mark Butler and Jay Whetherill in attendance (pictured together previously) The passing of same-sex marriage laws was a turbulent period for Senator Wong. She condemned the toxic debate surrounding the 2017 plebiscite on whether Australia should allow same-sex unions - held under Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull - as an 'expensive stunt'. However, when Australians voted overwhelmingly to approve such marriages she wept with joy. 'I hope that everyone in this parliament has heard the resounding voice of the Australian people today, a mandate for change, a mandate for equality,' she said. 'Because it is time. 'Thank you for standing up for fairness, thank you for standing up for equality. Thank you for standing up for our families.' Senator Wong was a strong campaigner for same-sex marriage and broke down in tears when it was legalised in 2017 Seven years earlier, Senator Wong had controversially stuck to what was then Labor's policy maintaining that marriage was an institution between a man and a woman. 'On the issue of marriage I think the reality is there is a cultural, religious, historical view around that which we have to respect,' she said. Senator Wong publicly came out as gay in 2002, shortly after she was elected to the Senate although her sexuality was not a secret to friends and family. Ms Allouache, who works as public servant in Adelaide and is seven years younger than the Senator Wong, carried and gave birth to the couple's daughters Alexandra and Hannah after undergoing IVF. Russia is preparing for a large-scale conflict with the West by 2026, according to a classified German intelligence report seen by Business Insider. Shocking new analysis warns of a 'significant intensification' of Russian arms production which could see Russia 'double its military power in the next five years' and war on NATO soil as soon as 2026. The projections for Russia's ramped up arms race led intelligence services to conclude an attack deeper into Europe in the next two years can 'no longer be ruled out', according to the outlet. NATO is believed to share similar concerns about recent escalations but does not see the West necessarily being dragged into direct conflict with Russia, according to Business Insider. German agencies have not yet made the statements publicly, the report notes. But tensions have soared in recent weeks, with Putin's presidential election this weekend undermined by angry demonstrations and attacks from Ukraine, and French President Emmanuel Macron still refusing to rule out sending troops east to meet Russia's bloody invasion head on. A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut on November 8, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine Vladimir Putin attends a parade marking Navy Day in Saint Petersburg, July 31, 2022 Servicemen of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade of the Donbas battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard train on a shooting range near a frontline in the Donetsk area, Ukraine, 15 March 2024 Servicemen of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade train on a shooting range near a frontline in the Donetsk area, Ukraine, 15 March 2024 Ukrainian troops carry out drills with an American M-113 APC in Donetsk, Ukraine, March 15 Missile deployments in the west of Russia, the reorganisation of the army, troop movements and the expansion of arms production are all referenced in the alarming conclusion by the German Intelligence services, according to the outlet. They claim within two years, Russia could attack at least part of NATO's territory west of Ukraine, such as the Baltic states or Finland. Earlier this year, threatcasting group T-Intelligence estimated Russia saw 2024 as a 'waypoint to achieving complete victory', aiming to bring the war to a head between 2025 and 2027. They likewise noted that in spite of intense losses on the frontlines, Russia's defence industry is 'poised to continue to intensify production in crucial areas', including the building of new tanks, armoured vehicles, loitering munitions, drones, artillery ammunition and glide bomb kits. Russia was also expected to experience a 'moderate upturn' in long-range missile production in 2024. This year alone, Moscow looks to spend an estimated $140bn on defence, or roughly 7.1 per cent of GDP. Defence spending will take around 35 per cent of 2024's state budget - up 30 per cent from 2023. Ukraine is estimated to spend $44bn on defence this year, or roughly 22.1 per cent of GDP, 50.54 per cent of the state budget. Ukraine also receives significant aid from abroad, but there is skepticism around how much is likely to be agreed with political actors clashing over support for large donations. On Wednesday, the US said it would send around $300mn in aid to Ukraine, the Department of Defense's first announced security package since December. But it comes as some $60bn in aid is held up by opposition from Republicans at a critical time for the war. As pressure mounts, France's Emmanuel Macron has taken a much harder line on Russia, refusing to back down from comments he would send troops to Ukraine if needed. Late February, Putin warned Macron that if France were to send any troops to Ukraine, they would meet the same fate as Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Armee, whose 1812 invasion ended in staggering defeat and huge casualties. On Thursday, the French President reaffirmed that Europe's security was 'at stake' in Ukraine, adding that a Russian victory would 'reduce Europe's credibility to zero'. The Kiel Institute notes France has committed 1.79bn in spending to Ukraine, or 0.067 per cent of GDP. Since the start of the war, Britain has committed 15.66bn to Ukraine, or 0.55 per cent of GDP. Germany has also pledged a significant amount to Ukraine's defence, offering 22bn in aid, or 0.57 per cent of GDP. Germany's Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, warned in January that Russia might attack a NATO member state within five to eight years. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has also urged members to be ready for a decades-long standoff with Russia if needed. NATO continue to carry out the largest set of joint drills since the Cold War with Exercise Steadfast Defender 24, bringing together some 90,000 troops from all 32 countries to train together. Britain's 65,000-ton aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales was pictured earlier this week leading a floatilla of ships from the US, Spain, Norway, Italy, Germany and France. Six Finnish F18 and two Swedish JAS-39 also participated in a flypast. Exercises on land, by sea and in the air took place along Norway's Arctic coast this week, involving more than 20,000 troops, more than 50 frigates, submarines and other vessels, and some 110 fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft. Despite the show of force, military experts have warned Britain is woefully underprepared for conflict. Holes in Britain's armed forces were further undermined by this year's spring budget, in which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt refused to earmark any extra money to the British Armed Forces. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speak to the media following talks in the 'Weimar Triangle' format at the Chancellery on March 15, 2024 in Berlin Rescuers extinguishing a fire at the site of a missile attack in Odesa after attacks on March 15 An injured rescuer takes a moment of respite following a missile attack in Odesa, March 15 An injured rescuer was left covered in dirt and with a huge rip in his jacket following the chaos Firefighters extinguish a fire amid rubble after the 'double tap' attack wrecked 'at least 10' houses in Odesa Medical staff providing assistance to an injured rescuer following a missile attack in Odesa Lord West of Spithead, who is a former Royal Navy Admiral, told MailOnline: 'I am absolutely amazed that the government have not increased defence spending in this budget. It is extraordinary. 'They have said that we could soon end up in a war and that we should be prepared to fight. In that event the armed forces will be under-equipped and there will be a much greater number of those eligible for the Invictus games.' Former Army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told the Mail: 'This was the one time the Budget should not ignore defence when the threats have never been higher and our conventional capabilities are no deterrent to Vladimir Putin. 'Some of our allies are looking distinctly wobbly. Nothing else matters if we cannot defend ourselves. 'No doubt the vodka will be flowing in the Kremlin. It is abundantly clear from the Budget that defence of the realm is not an issue for the Government and probably not the Opposition. This is incredibly shortsighted.' Defence Secretary Grant Shapps claimed at the time: 'As we push forward to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence as soon as possible, we've secured a real-terms uplift and the largest defence budget in history, increasing spend by 1.4 billion to 55.6 billion.' A drunken airline passenger who was barred from a flight for abusing staff mocked the penis size and salaries of cops and screamed as she was hauled away - then peed herself on the terminal floor. The woman, who refused to give officers her name, was flying from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to Colombia on September 12. She claimed to have only had two 'very full' vodka tonics to drink at the airport bar, but was slurring and incoherent for much of her chaotic arrest. Newly released police bodycam footage began when cops were told of the situation by three American Airlines ground staff who alleged she hit them with her phone. They arrested her for public intoxication and assault and carried her out of the airport when she refused to move. During this time she shouted abuse, mocked their salaries - which she speculated were around $60,000, penis sizes, sex lives, and screamed about her platinum frequent flyer status. A drunken airline passenger who was barred from a flight for abusing staff mocked the penis size of cops and screamed as she was hauled away DO YOU KNOW HER? Do you know this woman? Email nic.white@mailonline.com Advertisement From what police were able to piece together, the trouble began when as she tried to board the flight One female staff member said she told the passenger she needed to consolidate her carry-on as she had too many, and she got upset. 'So I said ok, just go. When she gets to the door she starts yelling' and swearing ''are you f**king kidding me?' for unknown reasons, she told police. As she was telling the passenger she needed to stop swearing, the captain came off the plane because some of his paperwork was missing. The staff called a manager to bring the missing paperwork and the woman, overhearing her, said 'what did you say the captain said'. 'You're not going on the flight... get out of my face, you cannot be talking to my flight attendants like that,' the captain told her, according to staff. Staff told police she became belligerent and started recording on her phone, getting in the face of three ground staff and 'swiping' them in the chest with the phone. Police were called and sat her down in handcuffs while they tried to figure out what was going on. They talked to the staff, one of whom said she wanted to press assault charges and explained where she was allegedly hit with the phone. Newly released police bodycam footage began when cops were told of the situation by three American Airlines ground staff who alleged she hit them with her phone The chaos at the gate before the police arrived as took her to a chair where they handcuffed her. The woman can be seen filming on her phone Meanwhile, a policewoman tried to get the passenger's side of the story, but she mostly said she just wanted to go home and yelled. 'I have flown for 30 years, I am a high school graduate and I worked my way out of the darkest hole anyone could imagine,' she said at one point. 'And you can f**k off, I hate this whole place.' 'I don't care, I just don't care, I want to go home.' The woman eventually gave a partial explanation that she was flying to Colombia on a work trip with other colleagues, who made it onto the plane. 'They didn't let me on because I got on at the wrong time, I was late... I'm usually on so early...' she said. 'I was trying to make a joke about my Indian co-workers who were with me. 'I assure you I wasn't doing anything to screw with these travel agents, they are the best people ever... this is so dumb.' A policewoman tried to get the passenger's side of the story, but she mostly said she just wanted to go home and yelled The woman insulted the salaries and penis sizes of police as they frog-marched her through the airport The passenger said she had two 'very full' vodka tonics at an airport bar, but not any more than she usually drinks when she travels. 'I'm not innocent... I'm definitely not completely sober but,' she said. 'I'm not as drunk as you think I am, I'm just super traumatized.' She got progressively more agitated and started screaming about wanting to speak to her lawyer immediately. 'I am trying to be nice, and now I'm done so let's call my lawyer,' she bellowed in a garbled voice and tried to leave. Police decided they had heard enough and told her she was being arrested for public intoxication. They tried to escort her out of the airport but she refused and they had to frog-march her away from the gate while she abused them. 'Pieces of mediocre s**t of your life, you feel good make $60,000 a year?' she yelled incoherently. 'You f**king tiny piece of s**t. You feel good f**king your wife with you're f**king five-inch d**k?' As the police were marching her out of the airport, the woman fell to the ground and refused to get up, and police realized she had wet herself Giving up on her walking, police strapped her legs together and carried her horizontally until they got to security and she agreed to walk Seconds later, the woman fell to the ground and refused to get up, and police realized she had wet herself. 'Did she p**s herself? Yep she did,' one cop said. The woman insisted she didn't but another policeman said he could smell the urine. 'It's probably the guy who f**ked your wife before he f**ked you,' she responded. 'You feel good about yourself? You f**king six five eight d**k stack f**king short tiny a** dick... wearing a uniform makes you feel good about yourself? You and your f**king facial hair.' While she was lying on the ground, the woman bizarrely asked officers 'how am I acting right now?' 'It doesn't matter, it's how you were acting before, how we ended up on the ground,' a policeman replied. She short back: 'How I was acting before is so subjective. I'm not acting f**king much right now, am I? 'You are trying to detain someone who is unwilling to be detained. How is that fair?' Giving up on her walking, police strapped her legs together and carried her horizontally until they got to security and she agreed to walk. Then she got mad when they searched her before putting her in the police car, yelling that she hadn't done anything wrong and she was scared. She was taken out of the airport and put into a police car to be taken to jail After the woman was locked in the police car, officers regrouped and exclaimed about how much of her urine they got on them. 'I have it all over my leg! You're fine... it's on my pant leg completely, it's seeped through to my leg,' one policewoman yelled in disgust, while a male cop said his hands were covered with urine. One policeman headed back inside to take a formal statement from the airline staff and picked up hand sanitizer to get rid of the urine and sprayed all his uniform. He explained to the airline staff that as the passenger would be charged with resisting arrest, there was not much to be gained from adding assault. After being told she would have to take days off work to come to court, she decided not to press assault charges. 'I'm gonna go take a bath,' he said. Police agreed they would charged her with resisting arrest and public intoxication. American Airlines staff at DFW endured another meltdown from a passenger just two months earlier. Tiffany Gomas, 38, hysterically claimed a fellow passenger on her American Airlines flight from Fort Worth to Orlando on July 2 was 'not real'. 'I'm telling you, I'm getting the f*** off and there's a reason why I'm getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it,' she yelled as she walked to the front of the plane. 'I don't give two f**ks, but I am telling you right now - that motherf**ker back there is NOT real,' she added, pointing towards the back of the plane. 'And you can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I'm not going to.' American Airlines staff at DFW endured another meltdown from a passenger just two months earlier when Tiffany Gomas, 38, hysterically claimed a fellow passenger was 'not real'. Footage of her meltdown went viral on TikTok and Gomas became an internet sensation as 'crazy plane lady'. The Dallas marketing executive said when she said the other passenger was 'not real' - she meant it as a figure of speech, meaning 'he's not being real'. 'I stayed at home for over four weeks because I was so ashamed and so embarrassed I didn't wanna go in public,' she told Inside Edition. When asked what sparked the sudden outburst - Gomas said 'I had an altercation and I felt very strongly that I needed to get off the plane'. She explained that she believed other people on the flight were in danger 'due to the altercation' - but said she couldn't say anything more for 'legal reasons'. Police have been able to locate Andre Gordon, 26, who is suspected to be involved in a series of fatal shootings early this morning and barricaded inside a home with hostages. A SWAT team arrived at a house on the 100 block of Miller Street where the suspect had barricaded himself inside, resulting in a hostage situation. Two hostages have since been released after being led down a ladder from the house's second floor roof. Gordon allegedly shot and killed his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister in a home on a block near Viewpoint Lane and fled in a stolen vehicle. Three other people, including a minor, were inside the home and were able to hide. He then drove to Edgewood Lane around 9 am and fatally shot Taylor Daniel, 25, who was the mother of his two children before once again fleeing the scene. Authorities say four other people were inside when he shot Daniel and one person ended up injured after they were struck by Gordon with a rifle. According to officials, at around 9:15 am, Gordon carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint from a 44-year-old male in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville and sped away. Officials in Pennsylvania are on the lookout for Andre Gordon, 26, who is suspected to be involved in a series of fatal shootings early this morning According to officials, at around 9:15 am, Gordon carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville and sped away. He was last seen driving a 2016, dark gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania plate reading KFR-1534 Gordon allegedly killed three people in two different locations, and all the victims are reportedly his relatives Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County has confirmed that the suspect knew all of the victims. Gordon is believed to currently be homeless and has ties to Trenton. He was last seen driving a 2016, dark gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania plate reading KFR-1534. Authorities also believe he has ties to the home where he is barricaded. Around noon, the suspect reportedly abandoned the carjacked Honda in Trenton and SWAT teams are responding to the scene, according to Fox29. A SWAT team arrived at a house on the 100 block of Miller Street where the suspect had barricaded himself inside, resulting in a hostage situation Two hostages have since been released after being led down a ladder from the house's second floor roof Additional resources from neighboring departments, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Police, are also being called in. Middletown Township Police Department had placed a 'shelter-in-place' warning for residents and asked people to stay out of Fall Township, Bucks County. Fitzpatrick had previously said that they were monitoring a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township. FALLS TOWNSHIP: Shelter-in-place alerts sent out to residents. This is one of the scenes on Edgewood Lane. St. Patricks Day Parade has been cancelled @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/Eifh8VMiWp Jennifer Lee (@JennLeeTV) March 16, 2024 The Middletown Police Department has declined to clarify if any suspects have been detained and told DailyMail.com that they are unsure when more information will be shared The Middletown Police Department told DailyMail.com that they are unsure when more information will be shared. Police are also asking residents to lock all doors and move to a central and secure location away from windows. Authorities have also closed the Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place Philadelphia to until further notice. Multiple retail establishments have also closed doors as a precaution for their shoppers and employees. The county's St. Patrick's Day parade, scheduled to be held today, has also been canceled, according to State Rep. Steve Santarsiero. An angler who posed proudly on Facebook with a giant salmon he caught has been handed a fine of nearly 1,000. Rolands Bartkevics, 29, caught the big fish in a river close to his home in Meifod, in Powys and has now been ordered to pay a fine of 984 at Welshpool Magistrates Court. Fellow anglers, who had also seen his post on social media, then reported Bartkevics for unlicensed fishing after he was spotted with his rod on a beauty spot waterway where salmon are protected. Any salmon caught on the 19-mile long River Banwy in Powys, Mid Wales, must be released back into the water due to dwindling stocks. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and officers from Dyfed-Powys Police searched Bartkevics home and found evidence of illegal salmon handling. Rolands Bartkevics, 29, posing with a salmon he caught. Fellow anglers spotted his post on Facebook and reported him for unlicensed fishing Bartkevics posing with a salmon. He was found guilty of two offences under the Salmon Act and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act at Welshpool Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay 984 They also found Facebook pictures of him holding a large salmon with its mouth wide-open and numerous posts relating to fishing. A NRW spokesperson said: 'During the investigation, Mr Bartkevics was presented with pictures from his own social media account of him holding salmon. 'He conceded that he had caught the fish in the pictures but contended that the date of the posting of the images was not the date of when the fish was caught. 'However, these pictures were posted before he had ever held a valid licence to catch salmon. The pictures also showed him handling salmon in suspicious circumstances.' Bartkevics was found guilty of two offences under the Salmon Act and the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act at Welshpool Magistrates Court and was ordered to pay 984. Speaking after the sentence Jeremy Goddard, NRW's Waste and Enforcement Team Leader in Mid Wales said: 'Salmon is an iconic species in Wales. 'Their presence in a river is an indicator of high environmental quality, and when stocks are sustainable, they support high value fisheries to many rural areas of Wales. 'As salmon are under significant pressure from many sources, they are very vulnerable to illegal fishing. Since 2020, rod and net fishing byelaws in Wales have meant that all salmon caught in Wales must be returned to the water alive as quickly as possible. 'It is important to point out that Mr Bartkevics's offending was first reported to us by a concerned member of the public. I would like to thank them for their vigilance and promptly reporting the case and the DPP Rural Crime Team for their support in the investigation.' A Colorado teenager has been jailed for 40 years for burning a baby, toddler and three adults alive in their home in a horrific arson attack. Gavin Seymour, now 19, was 16 when he started a house fire that killed five Senegalese family members in Green Valley Ranch, Denver on August 5, 2020. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was given the maximum sentence he could face in Denver District Court on Friday. Investigators said the attack was a case of mistaken identity in a drug trafficking scheme gone wrong. A man, woman and child were able to survive the blaze by jumping from a second story window. Amadou Beye, who lost his wife Hassan Diol and six-month-old daughter Hawa, called for Seymour to be executed for his crimes and told KDVR: 'This is not justice. If I could get death penalty or life sentence that is what would be justice.' Colorado teenager Gavin Seymour has been jailed for 40 years for burning a baby, toddler and three adults alive in their home in a horrific arson attack The 19-year-old was 16 when he started a house fire that killed five Senegalese family members in Green Valley Ranch, Denver on August 5, 2020 He pleaded guilty to second degree murder of the five Senegalese family members (pictured) and was given maximum possible sentence he could face in Denver District Court on Friday Amadou Beye, who lost his wife Hassan Diol and six-month-old daughter Hawa, called for Seymour to be executed for his crimes Also killed in the fire were Hassan Diols brother, Djibril, his wife, Adja Diol and their 22-month-old daughter Khadija. Their bodies were found on the first floor of the home near the front door. Seymour, who was charged alongside teenagers Kevin Bui and Dillon Siebert, 19, was sentenced to 40 years in prison as well as five years of mandatory parole. Judge Karen Brody said: 'This is a tragedy that is, Im sure for everyone involved, incomprehensible. There was a loss of the most innocent of lives.' Seymour apologized in court on Friday and said: 'If I could go back and prevent all this I would. 'There is not a moment that goes by that I dont feel extreme guilt and remorse for my actions. I want to say how truly sorry I am to the family members and community for all the harm Ive done.' Beye addressed Seymour in court and said: 'I hope when you die you will die slow and hard. 'And you will die young. And when you die, I hope you will feel all the pain they did feel when they were dying. And you will feel all the pain that we feel right now.' Hanady Diol, who lost his son Djibril and daughter Hassan in the blaze said he thought about killing himself after their deaths. 'Even if you kill five sheep or goats, you should get a maximum sentence,' he told the court. 'This person here, they are talking about 40 or 30 years. That just means there is no justice there. There is no judging that the people who died are human beings.' Also killed in the fire were Hassan Diols brother, Djibril (right), his wife, Adja Diol (left) and their 22-month-old daughter Khadija Hanady Diol, who lost his son Djibril and daughter Hassan in the blaze said he thought about killing himself after their deaths Old bouquets, stuffed animals and other remembrances hanging on the fence surrounding the family's burnt down home Kevin Bui's has also been charged for his involvement in the murders and his trial is set to be heard next week Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the arson, was sentenced in February 2023 to ten years behind bars for his role in the crime. Bui's trial is set to be heard next week and he faces charges including first-degree murder extreme indifference, attempted murder with extreme indifference, burglary and assault with a deadly weapon. Denver police Detective Neil Baker told the court: 'This is by far the worst, most senseless murder investigation I have ever investigated. 'I cant think of any other one that is more deserving of a maximum sentence allowed There are five victims. Two were babies.' Britain's Royal Marines are sending a 'hands off Nato' message to Putin, while showing preparedness in case of a possible nuclear threat. Pictures showed servicemen training for eventualities of modern warfare while wearing full anti-nuclear and chemical gear, while brazing freezing Arctic Circle temperatures. The UK's elite Commando Forces practiced reacting to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks - known as CBRN - in the extreme cold, to prepare for possible aggression from Russia. The marines were shown wearing protective equipment including gas masks while tackling the icy weather and deep snow. The major exercise formed part of the Royal Navy's amphibious task group, designed to respond to crises in Europe's waterways and key routes - potential chokepoints during warfare. Royal Marines were pictured practicing drills in the Arctic Circle in response to potential aggression from Russia Elite Commando Forces have been brazing extreme temperatures and deep snow while readying themselves for modern warfare Servicemen pictured wearing protective equipment including gas masks on the Royal Navy's amphibious task group The exercises have taken place in the extreme environment in the Arctic Circle, as well as in new NATO members Sweden and Finland Described as 'tough but rewarding', the CBRN exercises help commandos build confidence and enable forces to operate together. READ MORE: Vladimir Putin could be ready to launch war on Nato as early as 2026 says startling new German intelligence analysis Advertisement Around 20,000 troops from 12 countries took part in the Nordic Response, with exercises conducted across the Arctic and in Sweden and Finland, the newest members of NATO. Lieutenant Commander Dennis Murphy said that CBRN exercises had become more vital since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said: 'CBRN warfare is amongst the most challenging aspects of modern warfare and combined with the difficulties of extreme cold it is down to the Royal Marines to lead UK Defence in developing this capability. 'Staff from the Defence CBRN Centre were on hand to learn lessons to pass onto the rest of UK Defence.' The exercises involved HMS Prince of Wales and the UK Carrier Strike Group, and saw military personnel sharpen their skills in challenging environments. HMS Prince of Wales was pictured earlier this week leading a NATO fleet as the military alliance carried out its largest joint drill in decades. HMS Prince of Wales was seen leading fifteen ship formation as jets fly past at sea for Exercise Nordic Response 24 earlier this week HMS Prince of Wales led the largest NATO exercises in decades from Wednesday until Friday this week Vice Admiral Rune Andersen, the Commander of the Norwegian Headquarters said the exercises were a signal of 'unity and strength'. 'What sets Nordic Response apart from previous exercises is that we are training on integrated operations in the Nordic region, with exercise activities extending across the borders to our Nordic neighbours', he said. 'We are well underway in revising our plans for various scenarios we must be prepared for. 'At the same time, it is necessary to maintain the close cooperation we have with our other close allies who have an interest and ability to contribute to security in the northern regions.' The preparation comes amid warnings that Putin could be ready for full scale war with the West by as soon as 2026, with startling analysis that Russia could double its military power within five years. Tech giant Apple is being widely criticized by users - particularly corporate employees - for its default gesture-based reaction setting on its camera. The reaction setting is activated when a hand gesture is made in the view of the camera and then a 3D effect fills the video frame for a few seconds. Possible reactions include balloons flying by, bursting confetti, a thumbs up and down, fireworks, floating hearts and lasers. While these reactions are meant to elicit a laugh and help people express their emotions, many have been embarrassed and are becoming increasingly frustrated when the reactions show up on screen unprompted during serious video calls. Tech giant Apple is being widely criticized by users - particularly corporate employees - for its default gesture-based reaction setting on its camera Possible reactions include balloons flying by, bursting confetti, a thumbs up and down, fireworks, floating hearts and lasers While these reactions are meant to elicit a laugh and help people express their emotions, many have been embarrassed and are becoming increasingly frustrated when the reactions show up on screen unprompted during serious video calls Alyssa Nolte, a 33-year-old consultant in Iowa, was on an office call when a client who was sharing news about coming layoffs raised her hands and suddenly their screen was filed with balloons. 'We're all like, "What just happened? Oh my gosh,"' she told the Wall Street Journal. Dennis Perpetua, a 46-year-old digital workplace experience officer in New York, also shared his experience on LinkedIn and noted that fortunately his bosses laughed too. Perpetua was on business call with his boss in Zurich, when suddenly a thumbs-down emoji bubbled up beside his head. He said: 'We're kind of having a fairly serious conversation around strategy and it popped up. To be quite candid, I kind of snort-laughed, which probably wasnt a great move. But luckily for him, his boss joined and started laughing too. Dennis Perpetua, a 46-year-old digital workplace experience officer in New York, was on business call with his boss in Zurich, when suddenly a thumbs-down emoji bubbled up beside his head Later on, he wrote on LinkedIn: 'The FaceTime camera's reactions on Macs with M1 chips can make for uncomfortable conversations with your boss! Regardless of how intently my eyes suggested I am listening, I underestimated my body language during the conversation. 'Now the only question is how did I manage to get Microsoft Copilot to capture this happy accident?' Zach Holmquist, co-founder of AI startup Seer, explained that the reactions have caused a lot of chaos on calls with potential investors. 'We would be having a really serious conversation about finances and trajectories and all this stuff and you trigger confetti and balloons. 'I feel like balloons is the one I trigger all the time. It just gets really freaking awkward,' Holmquist told the WSJ. But corporate employees aren't the only ones to be embarrassed during calls. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman ended up releasing confetti when he made the symbol for air quotes on the screen while on a Zoom interview on MSNBC last month Fetterman released the confetti on Zoom on MSNBC pic.twitter.com/fpylDiU1uc Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) February 23, 2024 He did not comment on the incident during the video and continued with the conversation Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman ended up releasing confetti when he made the symbol for air quotes on the screen while on a Zoom interview on MSNBC last month. He did not comment on the incident during the video and continued with the conversation. Jacquelyn Tenaglia, a 38-year-old mental-health counselor in Boston, also had a similar experience. During a virtual appointment, Tenaglia was resting her chin on the back of her hand when suddenly a thumbs-down bubble popped over her head. She had to quickly apologize and say: 'It was embarrassing to have that conversation. I think of myself as someone with a great sense of humor, but I can say confidently that this has only been a nuisance.' But it is incredibly simple to turn this setting off. According to Apple, while on video call on a Mac system or an iPhone, users need to select the Reactions option in the Video menu and select off. For the gesture-based reaction setting to work, a user should have a macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 12 or later. Fears are growing for the health of a schoolgirl left comatose by a bully who smashed her head into concrete - after her grandma said she was 'devastated' and that a statement is 'imminent.' Terry Nordstrom Thompson, whose granddaughter Kaylee Gain was filmed having her head smashed into a concrete road, wrote the disturbing post on Facebook Friday. Contacted by DailyMail.com for further details, Thompson - whose 15 year-old granddaughter was attacked in Spanish Lake, Missouri, on March 8 - said: 'The family will give a statement very soon. That's all I can say right now.' She shared the worrying updates after blasting the 'unforgiveable' attack on her granddaughter by a school bully that left the teenager in 'critical condition. Kaylee's grandma posted on Facebook on Friday night that she was 'devastated.' The distraught grandma shared, 'Have you ever just said "I'm fine" when you weren't because some people wouldn't understand.' Few updates have been shared on how Kaylee is doing with the latest news sparking fears she may not recover from the horrific attack, which has sparked global revulsion. Kaylee Gain (pictured) suffered a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage when her head was repeatedly smashed into the ground during a brawl near her St. Louis high school last Friday Terry Nordstrom Thompson, whose granddaughter Kaylee Gain was filmed having her head smashed into a concrete road, said she is 'devastated' and that a statement will be released by the family shortly Kaylee was brutally beaten by another teen (pictured) last week. She is 'fighting hard to stay alive' after suffering brain damage in the horrific attack The emotional updates come after Thompson spoke out against her 15-year-old granddaughter's attackers several days ago. 'It unforgiveable what she endured and went through,' the grandma said. In a post sharing the GoFundMe page set up for Kaylee's recovery, Thompson slammed the 'assault,' calling it 'vicious.' 'We love her so much and hoping and praying for a full recovery but the road is long,' the post said. The charity page has raised $320,000 so far to go toward medical bills as the teen fights for her life to stay alive. She suffered from a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage and was left in a critical condition with major brain bleeding and swelling, according to the GoFundMe. The attack happened just after 2:30 pm last Friday near the school. Video of the incident circulated on social media showing another girl bashing the teen's head into the concrete after throwing multiple punches and sending her careening to the ground. Gain appeared to begin to have a seizure as groups of other teens brawled just feet away. Police found the girl suffering from a serious head injury near the intersection of Norgate Drive and Claudine Drive, roughly a five-minute walk from the high school campus. She was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition. 'In minutes, this family's life shattered when their only daughter was assaulted outside of a North County high school,' the crowdfunding page states. 'She was left alone on the ground to convulse before EMTs arrived on the scene. She was admitted to one of the local hospitals in Saint Louis with a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage.' A GoFundMe has been set up to cover Gain's medical expenses Viral video shows another teen smashing Gain's head into the pavement repeatedly before the victim appears to suffer a seizure Gain's 'shocked and devastated' parents have been staying by their daughter's side 'day and night' since he was hospitalized and are 'hoping to bring her back to the Kaylee they know and love.' A 15-year-old girl was arrested Saturday and charged with assault. She was taken to the St. Louis County Family Court and remained in custody as of Sunday afternoon. Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called on the 'evil' 15-year-old girl who beat Gain's head into the concrete to be 'tried as an adult.' Bailey announced on X: 'This evil and complete disregard for human life has no place in Missouri, or anywhere. I am praying for the victim. 'The criminal should be charged and tried as an adult. If the victim dies, that offense should rise to a homicide.' John O'Sullivan, Director of Communications with St. Louis County Courts, told KSDK it is too soon to determine if the suspect will be tried as an adult. He says a court hearing is expected to be held in the next few weeks. After news of the altercation broke, the Hazelwood School District released a statement condemning violence within the community. 'It is a tragedy anytime children are hurt,' the statement read. 'Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children. 'The Hazelwood School District offers our sincerest condolences to everyone involved and will offer additional emotional support from our support and crisis team to those in need.' The statement urged community members to respect the families of those involved and 'pledge to help work toward the betterment of our entire community.' Missouri AG Andrew Bailey warned the sickening attack against high schooler Kaylee Gain was a result of 'radical' DEI policies and a soft-touch approach to justice Missouri's Attorney General said 'radical' diversity, equity and inclusion programs are to blame for the vicious school fight that left student Kaylee Gain with severe brain damage as he called for her attacker to be tried as an adult. Andrew Bailey warned the brutality was a result of an obsession with woke DEI policies and the soft-touch approach to justice under former St. Louis DA Kim Gardner and current Rep Cori Bush, a hardline progressive Democrat. He appeared on Fox News to discuss the horrifying attack on Gain at her St. Louis high school last Friday. It is not yet clear what started the fight, but Bailey accused Gain's school of 'promoting racial divisiveness' and 'pushing a radical social agenda' at the expense of proper discipline. 'These children grew up in St Louis. They have watched a Soros-backed prosecutor Kim Gardner who refused to prosecute criminal defendants,' Bailey said. At least 16 truffle hunters have been killed after their vehicle hit a landmine in the north Syrian desert today, a war monitor has said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the truck was carrying more than 20 civilians who were searching for the edible delicacy. Desert truffles - fungi that grow in arid temperatures - can sell for high prices in Syria, a country that has been battered by 13 years of war and a crushing economic crisis. Between February and April each year, hundreds of impoverished Syrians risk their lives searching for truffles in the desert, or Badia - a known hideout for jihadists that is also littered with mines. A spokesperson for the Observatory said: 'Sixteen civilians including at least nine women were killed and others seriously wounded' when their small truck hit a mine in an area where Islamic State (IS) group extremists are present in Raqa province. At least 16 truffle hunters have been killed after their vehicle hit a landmine in the north Syrian desert today, a war monitor has said The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the truck was carrying more than 20 civilians who were searching for the edible delicacy Recent weeks have seen repeated deadly mine blasts as Syrians hunt for truffles. Authorities have frequently warned against the high-risk practice. Earlier this month, gunmen thought to be linked to IS killed 18 people, mostly civilians, in a desert attack on a group of truffle hunters, the Observatory aslo reported. The group included four members of a pro-government paramilitary National Defence Forces (NDF). Gunmen opened fire on the truffle hunters in Kobajib, a desert area in the south of Deir al-Zour province. Desert truffles - fungi that grow in arid temperatures - can sell for high prices in Syria Between February and April each year, hundreds of impoverished Syrians risk their lives searching for truffles in the desert Last month, state media said a landmine left by IS killed 14 people foraging for truffles in the Raqa desert. In March 2019, IS lost its last scraps of territory in Syria following a military campaign backed by a US-led coalition, but jihadist remnants continue to hide in the desert and launch deadly attacks. They have ambushed civilians as well as Kurdish-led forces, Syrian government troops and pro-Iran fighters, while also mounting attacks in neighbouring Iraq. Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly 25 years of rule. The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putins fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of him or his invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine , now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia. Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least half a dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant splashing green disinfectant in his face. Russian state news agency Tass said a woman in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg Saturday tried to unsuccessfully throw green liquid into a ballot box while a pensioner in the Altai region in southern Siberia attempted to damage ballots. Both were detained. Following reports of vandalism, Russian lawmakers suggested introducing a new law to punish election saboteurs with sentences of up to eight years in prison. Also on Saturday, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit deep inside the country. Tass said an armed group also tried to penetrate Russia's border region from Ukraine. Two people were killed in Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, ordering shopping centers and schools to shut down because of the security situation. Meanwhile, local officials denied reports of explosions at polling stations in the border city, Tass said. Dozens of people have been killed in Belgorod since the war began. Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, 1,065 kilometers (662 miles) southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said. A Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive on a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Tass said. In the run-up to the vote, Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower. On Friday, Putin described the weeks cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks wont be left unpunished. Despite the attacks, analysts say the Kremlin is looking for a high turnout in the elections as a sign that Russians approve of the war to legitimize Putin for another term. The Russian defense ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russias wartime economy has also proven to be resilient , expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. Russias opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death. Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy. European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still underway. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice, he wrote on the social media platform X. Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates or state-backed advisory bodies can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs. (AP) Police believe a body recovered from a park today in Greater Manchester is that of a vulnerable man who went missing several days ago. A cordon was seen in place at Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park, in Barton upon Irwell, Salford from Saturday morning. Although the body has yet to be formally identified, it was found in the area where 21-year-old Andrew Heys was reported missing a few days ago. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that Andrew's family had been informed of the 'sad' development, although his death was not being treated as suspicious. The body was recovered by officers and was taken away by private ambulance. Police have recovered a body from Barton Aqueduct Pocket Park in Greater Manchester Andrew Heys, 21, was last seen at his home in Eccles on Monday evening Officers believe the body to be that of Andrew, who went missing on Monday night in Greater Manchester A police cordon was spotted in place on Saturday morning near Barton Road Swing Bridge in Salford A police cordon was blocking a footpath near Barton Road Swing Bridge, near the Manchester Ship Canal. Residents living near the scene reported seeing specialist water search and marine unit vehicles at the park around 11am on Saturday. Detective Inspector Mike Sharples said: 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences remain with Andrew's family and friends at this time. 'Officers and specialist resources have been working around the clock and through the night to find Andrew since he was first reported missing to us, and I would like to thank members of the public who shared our appeals and assisted with our investigation. 'Our priority now is to make sure we can do everything possible to support the family and get the necessary answers for his loved ones, but I would ask that the family are given privacy during this time.' Residents living near the scene also reported seeing specialist water search and marine unit vehicles at the park Andrew, known as Andy, was an engineer at the Co-op Live Arena when he was diagnosed with Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in 2021, the MEN reported. The condition meant that he had to learn how to walk and talk again. He was last seen on Monday evening at his home in Eccles, the night before he had an appointment the next day. His mother Jeanette described him as 'friendly and approachable', while friends said he was the 'funniest guy in the group'. London residents have described their terror after a lunatic attacked two people with a crossbow in the trendy area of Shoreditch in London. One of the victims, Nazarine Cazley, 44, is lucky to be alive after being harpooned in the back of the head near her home. She was rushed to hospital with the projectile still attached to her skull, where it was removed by a doctor. Police are connecting it to a similar attack which happened just 200ft away 10 days later. Mrs Cazley's husband Clifton said: 'The doctor told her that if she was a child or an elderly person she wouldn't have survived. 'I think if she was a second quicker or a second slower it could have hit a different part of her head and she wouldn't be here today.' Emergency services raced to Arnold Circus, in Shoreditch (pictured, at around 7.30pm yesterday Mrs Cazley was attacked on March 4 as she walked home in the Arnold Circus area of Shoreditch. Her husband said: 'She was almost home when she felt something hit the back of her head. 'When she felt the back of her head there was a spear sticking out. My son heard her screaming and rushed out to help her. She's been left extremely scared.' Miraculously, she was not seriously injured in the attack and has since been released from hospital. Subera Rabby, speaking to Sky News, called an ambulance for the 44-year-old woman on March 4. She said: 'The first thing was hearing the screaming, I came out, blood stain on the floor, there was a crossbow [bolt] sticking out of her head. 'It was really really horrific, I've never seen anything like that. It's so scary, I'm frightened for my kids, for myself. 'The fact the second incident has now happened, I'm now thinking it could have been any of us.' The second incident happened on March 14 when a man in his 20s was hit with a crossbow bolt in the neck. He required hospital treatment but also escaped serious injury. Scotland Yard said it is linking the two attacks. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who is responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: 'There are significant efforts to find whoever carried out these assaults, and we are committed to keeping the community updated over the coming days, as we know how worrying this is. Subera Rabby,who called an ambulance for the 44-year-old woman said: 'I've never seen anything like that. It's so scary' 'This investigation is being led by my detectives in the CID and supported by my neighbourhood teams and specialist officers. 'My team are progressing a number of lines of enquiry, including identifying witnesses and exploring both CCTV and forensic opportunities. 'We are keen to hear from the local community. You may have seen something on the days when these offences occurred, or you might have seen or heard something in the local area that you think is suspicious and may be linked to these incidents. 'If you do have any information please come forward and speak to us. You can either speak with a police officer, or call us on 101. 'If you do not feel comfortable speaking with officers directly, please do not let that stop you sharing information, as you can call Crimestoppers anonymously. 'I understand that local people will be distressed by these incidents, but we would urge them to go about their business. 'Please do be vigilant and alert while our investigation is ongoing and contact us about anything which seems concerning. 'Over the weekend you will see an enhanced local policing presence as we dedicate more officers to locate whoever is responsible for these assaults, and help people feel as safe as possible.' Bill Maher has hit out at the rise in Americans who self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses. The comedian and talk-show host, 68, believes it takes away from those who really suffer with debilitating conditions. 'PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq not for people who want to bring their dog on a plane,' he said during a monologue on Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday. Maher insisted that Americans 'really need to stop pathologizing everything'. He acknowledged that some people have real issues but there are 'simple solutions' to the way most others are feeling. Bill Maher has hit out at the rise in Americans who self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses The comedian and talk-show host, 68, believes it takes away from those who really suffer with debilitating conditions 'No one's just sad anymore, they're clinically depressed,' Maher said on his show. 'They don't merely worry they have chronic anxiety. 'Do you like things neat and organized? That's OCD. You're bummed when it's cold, out, seasonal depression. 'Hate being alone, separation anxiety. Bored? That's ADHD. Shy? Social anxiety disorder. 'Why because you don't want to go to the office party? Nobody does, best case scenario you have too much fun and it leads to getting fired.' He added: 'Are you moody? No you're bipolar. Some people are bipolar and some people are on the spectrum but sometimes on the spectrum is just a whole pass for being a jerk. 'I'm clinically an a******, nothing I can do.' Maher went on to say everyone alive is on the spectrum and added: 'It's not noble to glom on to the soft end of it.' He then pointed to how self-diagnosing mental conditions takes away from the seriousness of those who suffer them. 'PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq not for people who want to bring their dog on a plane,' Maher said. 'There are people in America with real problems who deserve to feel sad but sometimes a bad day is just a bad day. 'When you constantly reinforce this message that no one's just a normal human with normal struggles but we're all permanently f***** in the head it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Maher insisted that Americans 'really need to stop pathologizing everything' He acknowledged that some people have real issues but there are 'simple solutions' to the way most others are feeling He continued: 'Maybe the solution is much simpler and you just went a week without sleep or sunlight. 'Maybe you have problems that could be solved with vegetables or exercise.' In the US, more 20 percent of the population lives with a mental illness, according to data from the CDC. Around one in 25 live with a serious mental condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. William and Kate are said to be 'shaken and devastated' at the speculation about their marriage on social media and could address the Princess of Wales' health condition at public engagements next month, her close friends have said. Princess Kate has not made an official public appearance since she underwent major abdominal surgery on January 16, leading to a growing tsunami of speculation over her unknown health condition. Speculation only intensified when she publicly took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother's Day, which was 'killed' by six of the world's top picture agencies over concern that it had been 'manipulated'. As well as a number of imperfections in the photoshopped image, viewers also spotted that Kate appeared to not be wearing her wedding ring, which sparked multiple unfounded theories online about the state of her marriage. Despite this tumultuous few weeks for the Royal Family, it is expected that they will still uphold the tradition of releasing a new photograph to mark their children's birthdays, the next being Prince Louis on April 23. They may use it as an opportunity to speak about her health, it has been reported. 'They are at their most open when out interacting with members of the public and I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements,' a source told the Sunday Times. 'If she was going to do it, that's how she would do it.' Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram account 'They appreciate the public's love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,' an aide added. READ MORE How Palace handling of Kate Middleton photo crisis fuelled yet more conspiracy theories - from claims she face swapped her Vogue shoot, sent Pippa out as a body double and used shot from 2023 Advertisement Although it is understood that no 'firm decision' has been taken, the couple has been shaken after the online hysteria around Kate's health. The Sunday Times quoted a friend as saying: 'They will want to be clear and more open, but they'll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They're not going to be rushed.' A source close to Kate claimed all she intended to do was 'bring a bit of joy' and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their ongoing support. The Princess is not expected to return to frontline duties until after April 17, when her three children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot after the Easter holidays. Another friend insisted that it was just someone trying to project the polished image that the public has come to expect: 'It's a photo that she knew everyone would pore over so she pored over it herself she likes trying to make the family look the best they can.' Earlier this week, Kate made the unexpected decision to publicly take responsibility of the mishap and issue a personal apology on Instagram: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,' she wrote. A friend and adviser to the couple said that Kate's only mistake was not telling her team that she had edited the photos. 'But she came out and said sorry. The photo was a misstep, even with something as innocent as that you should disclose altering it.' Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service Now sources within the royal circles are warning of the negative affect rumours may be having on the future Queen as she recovers from her major surgery in January. One insider said: 'I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday.' Kate was seen in the backseat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. The Mail understands she was on route for a 'private appointment' and she did not accompany William publicly. Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children. It comes after further details emerged about the photo shoot, with William having taken the picture in just a 40-minute window on Friday before the Princess edited it twice in Photoshop to 'make it the best it can be'. The Prince of Wales took the picture of his smiling family on a 2,900 Canon camera before Kate made edits to improve the photo ahead of its public release on Instagram on Sunday. Royal commentator Jennie Bond suggested Kate 'must feel under intense pressure now whenever she's going to be seen in public' after her major surgery in January. Also rallying round Kate today was royal expert Angela Levin who praised her for being 'honourable'. Spinach sold at Asda has been recalled over a warning there could be dangerous shards of metal in the product. Bags of Taj Chopped Spinach, selling for about 1.50 a bag, should not be eaten and instead returned to stores, the Government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned in a nationwide alert today. The affected product is sold at Asda and frozen food wholesaler Eden Farm. People reacted to the news with horror on social media. One user posted on X, formally known as Twitter: 'A spinach mixed with metal. Doesn't sound a good recipe. 'Time ASDA had installed a magnet scanner at the check-in to see if greens contain metal pieces.' Spinach sold at Asda has been recalled over a warning there could be dangerous shards of metal in the product Bags of Taj Chopped Spinach, selling for about 1.50 a bag, should not be eaten and instead returned to stores Asda posted on their website today: 'If you have purchased Taj chopped spinach, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund. You do not need your receipt. 'We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.' A spokesperson for the FSA said: 'This product may contain pieces of metal which makes it unsafe to eat. 'Taj Foods is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.' Import and export company Taj Foods, based in Woodford Green, Essex, called the spinach recall a 'precautionary step'. 'We apologise for inconvenience caused by this situation' they added. Taj Food said the affected product is sold in 450g bags and has batch codes 144009 or 144010. The product recall comes after supermarkets Tesco and Sainsburys were both hit by an IT meltdown today. The crash impacted home deliveries and stopped customers from using contactless payment at the tills on one of the busiest shopping days of the week. Frustrated shoppers across the country were forced to wait in long queues and pay with cash. Shoppers have apparently abandoned their groceries at the Sainsbury's on the 316 out near Richmond upon Thames after the cashpoint was not working Sue Mautner (pictured) said that a west London Sainsbury's had opened a separate queue for people with only a few items but this had become packed as customers rushed in to grab essential weekend supplies Sue Mautner said a Sainbury's store in west London had opened a separate queue for people with only a few items but this had become packed as customers rushed in to grab essential weekend supplies. She told MailOnline: 'I've had to walk a long way to get here and thank God I did my big shop in the week. 'I went into the shorter queue which was still very busy and they said that people were having problems paying with card. 'I offered to walk to the cash point instead but then they said that that wasn't working either. Even though I was in the short queue I still had to wait a long time. 'The man in front of me was just buying two beers and I couldn't understand why it was taking such a long time. 'In the end I just showed the person at the till my cards and just hoped that one would work. It had gone into meltdown.' Police have struck back against a feared Haitian gang leader who promised 'civil war', as violence in the Caribbean country showed no sign of abating. Haiti cops conducted an operation in a neighborhood of the country's capital - Port-au-Prince - controlled by the notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, that left several criminals dead, an official said today. National police units entered the Delmas neighborhood on Friday evening with the aim of unblocking a road, said Lionel Lazarre of the Haitian police union. He said several 'bandits' were killed but did not provide any more detail. Haiti cops conducted an operation in a neighborhood of the country's capital - Port-au-Prince - controlled by the notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier (pictured), that left several criminals dead, an official said today National police units entered the Delmas neighborhood on Friday evening with the aim of unblocking a road, said Lionel Lazarre of the Haitian police union. Pictured: Police officers during an operation in the surrounding area of the National Penitentiary Pictured: People queuing for food from a shelter for displaced families in Port-au-Prince Officers also tried to regain control of the capital's main port in another operation this morning. The area was where gang members had looted several containers, a source at the port told AFP. Ongoing violence has meant the port has been shut since March 7. The attacks began earlier this month after Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to hold general elections in mid-2025. Armed gangs have since looted, closed the main airport and freed prison inmates - causing chaos. Haitians have been on edge in recent days awaiting the naming of a transitional governing body meant to restore stability to the impoverished country, wracked by gang violence and largely isolated from the outside world. Some are hoping a transitional council can fill the void left by departing Henry, who is leaving amid pressure from an offensive by gangs that control 80 percent of the capital. Officers also tried to regain control of the capital's main port in another operation this morning. Pictured: A protestor in the streets of Port-au-Prince The area was where gang members had looted several containers, a source at the port told AFP. Pictured: A soldier guarding the international airport in Port-au-Prince Ongoing violence has meant the port has been shut since March 7. Pictured: Burnt out vehicles that were previously set on fire by armed gangs The Prime Minister resigned on March 11 but is not in the country after he travelled to Kenya last week to negotiate a UN-backed multinational police mission in an attempt to stabilise his country. When he tried to return to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, gang attacks stopped him from landing and he instead went to the US territory of Puerto Rico where he is now stranded. Before the resignation, Cherizier had told reporters that the chaos would lead to a civil war. However, many have decried the pending establishment of a transitional council, a move supported by Caribbean regional body CARICOM, the United Nations and the United States. Cherizier threatened the families of political leaders who support the prospect of a planned transitional council. The country has a long, brutal history of foreign interventions, from a 20-year American occupation in the early 1900s to a deadly cholera outbreak linked to a UN peacekeeping mission in the 2010s. 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. The Prime Minister resigned on March 11 but is not in the country after he travelled to Kenya last week to negotiate a UN-backed multinational police mission in an attempt to stabilise his country. Pictured: Jimmy Cherizier However, many have decried the pending establishment of a transitional council, a move supported by Caribbean regional body CARICOM, the United Nations and the United States. Pictured: A protestor burning tires in Port-au-Prince Food shortages are also hitting the area and some 1.4 million Haitians are on the verge of famine, and more than 4 million require food aid according to aid groups. 'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nation's World Food Program said. He noted that Croix-des-Bouquets, in the eastern part of Haiti's capital, 'has malnutrition rates comparable with any war zone in the world'. Officials are trying to rush food, water and medical supplies to makeshift shelters and other places as gang violence suffocates lives across Port-au-Prince and beyond, with many trapped in their homes. The SNP's plans to split from the UK's defence forces and create a 20,000-strong Scottish Army were branded a 'threat to national security' by a senior UK Minister last night. Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, a British Army veteran, said Humza Yousaf's party was 'hopeless' and was threatening the security of the UK and her allies by suggesting Scotland would split from the UK's long-established and successful defence forces. Referencing Mr Yousaf's 'ego trip vanity project' of independence, Mr Tugendhat said: 'I think that it's a good idea for UK politicians not to make life easier for those who are trying to exploit us.' Security Minister Tom Tugendhat (pictured), a British Army veteran, said Humza Yousaf's party was 'hopeless' Mr Tugendhat said it was threatening the security of the UK and her allies by suggesting Scotland would split from the UK's long-established and successful defence forces. Pictured: Humza Yousaf Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin His devastating broadside comes in response to the SNP's defence independence paper 'An independent Scotland's place in the world'. This states that Scotland would have its own army with around 15,000 personnel and 5,000 reserves, as well as a Scottish intelligence agency. The party also claimed Scotland would ditch nuclear weapons but would apply to join nuclear alliance Nato. READ MORE: Tom Tugendhat heaps pressure on Rishi Sunak saying defence spending must rise 'now' as furious Tories compare the PM to Neville Chamberlain failing to stand up to Hitler Advertisement But Mr Tugendhat warned: 'Humza is demonstrating that he is from the Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond school of wishful thinking, not of real policy. 'Scotland already has the finest intelligence services and military in the world. It's called the British armed forces, it's called the British intelligence services. 'Scotland's contribution in that is absolutely essential and keeps not just Scotland but the whole of the UK safe, and in fact, allies around the world.' He said these allies are 'absolutely clear that the UK as part of Nato is an absolutely essential partner and anything at all that undermines Nato particularly now, with Putin not only actually invading Ukraine, but threatening other countries in the region, is really not the time for hopeless Humza's wishful thinking it really isn't.' On Scotland ditching nuclear weapons but applying to join Nato, Mr Tugendhat said it would be the 'oddest application' he had ever heard of. While many Nato countries do not have their own nuclear deterrents, Mr Tugendhat said it was fundamental that nations who are part of the 'nuclear club' would have to agree to base other countries' weapons on their soil. He said: 'Sweden agreed to it, Finland agreed to it. They're not nuclear powers. But then everybody agrees to the same thing. And the idea that you would join a club by kicking out the weapons that keep not only this country safe, but other countries in Nato I mean, it's the oddest application I've ever heard of.' His devastating broadside comes in response to the SNP's defence independence paper 'An independent Scotland's place in the world'. Pictured: Mr Yousaf speaking last year This states that Scotland would have its own army with around 15,000 personnel and 5,000 reserves, as well as a Scottish intelligence agency. Pictured: Mr Tugendhat He added: 'The reality is that our allies and our friends want the UK as a single integrated unit because that's what keeps Nato strong.' He also called the UK 'the most fantastic in-depth comprehensive alliance the world has ever seen', adding, 'this isn't some sort of puzzle where you can remove a piece. 'This is like a family where after generations you can't cut out a cousin, an uncle or brother or sister and pretend the family is the same. It's not. The UK works as a single unit and has done for over 300 years.' The Scottish Government said: 'The armed forces of an independent Scotland would play their part to defend our national interests and contribute to global peace and security, given Scotland's strategic position in the North Atlantic.' And a source close to the First Minister said: 'Defence ceased to be strong ground for the Westminster parties long ago, given the hollowing out of our armed forces by successive UK governments, the billions spent on aircraft carriers that aren't fit for purpose and a nuclear weapons system that doesn't work.' Resplendent in the famous Caledonian MacBrayne livery and proudly sporting both the Saltire and the Turkish flags, the MV Isle of Islay slipped quietly yesterday into the clear, warm waters of the Sea of Marmara. It is an image sure to gladden the heart of every islander on Islay and Jura, the communities that will benefit from the state-of-the-art ship which will sail, ready to go, for its new home within months. Launched on time and on budget, 18 months since its first steel was cut, it also symbolises a stark contrast to the shambles at the SNPs Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow, where two vital CalMac ferries remain, a staggering eight years after they were begun and more than a quarter of a billion pounds over budget. The CalMac ferry MV Isle of Islay is launched into the Sea of Marmara from her dry dock at the Cemre yard The astonishing speed with which the Turkish yard has constructed the first of four ferries for Scotland is all the more impressive given it was achieved in the face of challenges which have included an EARTHQUAKE! The Isle of Islay only had her first steel cut in October 2022, with the keel laid a symbolically important step and the start of construction on the slipway only taking place the following January. It was commissioned amid chaos surrounding the Ferguson yard, nationalised by the SNP in 2019 and which has failed in the five years since to deliver two lifeline ferries for Arran into service. In Turkey, the Isle of Islay will undergo trials and final fitting-out before sailing for the Inner Hebrides, the delivery date of October in little doubt. The ship and sister vessel MV Loch Indaal, also due to be launched this year, are within their combined budget of 91 million again in appalling contrast to the MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa being built in Scotland. They are now expected to land taxpayers with a bill of 360 million almost four times their original budget. The award of the contract to the Cemre yard in Turkey for the two vessels was itself a snub by the SNP to its own Scottish yard. In a further vote of no confidence in Fergusons, a 115 million contract for two further ferries of the same design to Islay and Indaal this time for CalMacs Skye, Harris and North Uist routes was also awarded to Cemre early last year. Yesterday, in Turkey, the yards proud boss spoke of his workers determination to complete their ferry to schedule, knowing of its importance to the communities it will serve in Scotland. Project manager Recep Portakal told his staff it was their right to be proud of what they had achieved as we gather here after only a year of construction on the slipway. In Port Glasgow, the Glen Rosa still sits on slipway five years late and millions over budget Nicola Sturgeon and Jim McColl Beaming with satisfaction, Mr Portakal added: Crafted with precision and care, these ships embody the finest traditions of shipbuilding while embracing cutting-edge technology and innovation. They are more than just vessels they are lifelines, bridging the gap between islands, facilitating trade and travel, and fostering a sense of belonging among those they serve. These vessels represent more than just steel and machinery. They represent hope, opportunity and progress for the communities of Islay and Jura. They are the embodiment of our collective vision for a brighter, more connected future one where no island is too remote and no challenge too daunting. Also in attendance at Cemre yesterday was Morag McNeill, chairwoman of CMAL, the Scottish Government body that owns national ferry assets. Ms McNeill said: We have been very impressed with the professionalism and commitment shown by everyone in the yard throughout the construction of the vessel. This despite the terrible earthquake which occurred last year and which I know affected many of you and your families. Meanwhile, at the SNPs beleaguered yard at Port Glasgow, the Glen Sannox sits in the water, trials ongoing, while the Glen Rosa has yet to even be launched. Both vessels had their first steel cut in April 2016 and were expected to have entered service by 2019. Due to serve the vital Ardrossan to Arran route, we told last month how their delay is having a horrendous impact on businesses and communities on Arran. The Glen Sannox was launched in 2017 by then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Fergusons then owner Jim McColl with the ship having black squares painted on to give the impression that windows had been fitted. We told how the Nationalists yard reached new levels of farce in 2022 when repairs were required on a propeller which had rusted up as the ship had been sitting idle in the Clyde for so long. CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said yesterday: The successful launch of the MV Isle of Islay marks a major milestone in the vessels construction. Its wonderful to see her in the water. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: Im delighted to see MV Isle of Islay enter the water and look forward to her arrival in Scotland later this year. I know she will be warmly welcomed by the communities she will serve. Yesterday, as the Isle of Islay settled into the waters near the Gulf of Izmit, tended by tugs, workers again took up their tools, keen to crack on with delivering their ferries for Scotland. Sinan Kavala, deputy general manager at the Cemre yard, said: We laid its first keel on January 12, 2023, and today we witness this graceful lady returning to her natural habitat. This marks a significant milestone for us; two years of hard work, sweat and tears will soon merge with the water as she gracefully slips into the sea. A poster girl for the SNPs new hate crime laws was last night revealed to be a senior member of an organisation with Islamist orientation and beliefs that engages in hate speech and anti-semitic conspiracy theories. A video uploaded to a Scottish Government website ahead of new anti-prejudice legislation coming into force next month shows a Muslim woman called Linsay Taylor discussing the impact of Islamophobic attacks. Yet a probe by The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal the organisation Ms Taylor works for, Muslim Engagement and Development (Mend), may fall foul of the laws she has been enlisted to promote. Linsay Taylor is part of a group that may be classed as extremist Last week, UK Community Secretary Michael Gove used parliamentary privilege to name Mend as one of five extremist groups that could be banned from receiving taxpayer cash or contact with Ministers and civil servants under a new crackdown. Last night, Fiyaz Mughal who was forced to stand aside from the position of the UK Governments Islamophobia tsar due to a widespread backlash from extremist groups expressed deep concern at the Scottish Governments decision to use a senior Mend employee to promote its new hate laws. Mr Mughal, who is founder of Muslims against Anti-Semitism, said: One of the groups that created a whipping-up on social media against me was Mend. These groups seem to whip up campaigns against Muslims who are independent-minded, who do not follow their particular view of the world. He added: People who are associated with the divisive group Mend should be reviewed in terms of their past comments before they are recruited onto any public sector campaign. Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: The public will be asking questions as to the vetting process surrounding who was to front up this campaign. Given the subject in question, Ministers should be as up-front as possible about what due diligence was done before making their choice. Ms Taylor features in a video promoted by the SNP ahead of new anti-prejudice legislation Michael Gove named Mend and four other groups A video titled Hate Hurts: Linsays Story uploaded to the Safer Scotland website sees her recount the harrowing Islamophobia she has experienced, including death threats, in a bid to illustrate what might constitute a hate crime under First Minister Humza Yousafs new legislation. She tells how she has been told to Go home just for wearing a hijab and spat on in the street. She adds that she was brought up in a family that champions equality and acceptance. There is no suggestion Ms Taylor has not suffered such abuse. But The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal she works as head of community development and engagement at Mend. According to think tank the Henry Jackson Society, Mend has been accused of promoting anti-semitism and demonisation of Israel and engaging in hate speech and anti-semitic conspiracy theories over social media. In 2016 Mend tweeted an article from the website Electronic Intifada called How the Israel Lobby Manufactured UK Labour Partys Anti-Semitism Crisis. A recent post engages with the idea that there is an Israeli lobby influencing British and foreign government policy-making. Meanwhile, Ms Taylor herself promoted a Voices For Palestine event on her LinkedIn page two months ago. One of the speakers listed claimed in the wake of the Hamas atrocities on October 7 that Israel has enjoyed killing my people, displacing my family and wiping out generations of Palestinians, erasing villages, history, culture and tradition. Last week, Mr Gove outlined a new official definition of extremism which would affect organisations that meet the criteria even if they are non-violent. He named five groups, the Right-wing British National Socialist Movement and Patriotic Alternative and three classified as Islamist: the Muslim Association of Britain, Cage International and Mend. He said: Organisations such as the Muslim Association of Britain, which is the British affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and other groups such as Cage and Mend give rise to concern for their Islamist orientation and beliefs. We will be holding these and other organisations to account to assess if they meet our definition of extremism, and will take action as appropriate. It is the latest hurdle to face Mr Yousafs draconian Hate Crime and Public Order legislation, which he first mooted while he was justice secretary. A Scottish Government spokesman called all hate crime abhorrent, adding: We are grateful to those who have shared their direct experience of this type of abuse and the traumatic impact of hate crime on their lives. Last night a spokesman for Mend said: The Henry Jackson Society is a highly discredited Right-wing think tank. Both Michael Gove and Fiyaz Mughal are associated with the Henry Jackson Society. The fact you use the two of them and the Henry Jackson Society to smear Mend and, by association, Linsay Taylor says a lot about your intentions with this article. The head of Israeli intelligence is expected to lead ceasefire talks with mediators which resume in Qatar on Sunday in direct response to a new proposal from Hamas. The talks between Mossad intelligence agency head David Barnea, Qatar's prime minister and Egyptian officials will focus on remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas including prisoner releases and humanitarian aid, the source said. Israel had said on Friday it would be sending a delegation to Doha, but did not spell out when it would do so or who would take part. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene the security cabinet before the talks. His office says the Hamas offer is still 'unrealistic'. Barnea was involved in previous significant pushes for a deal. The head of Israeli intelligence is expected to lead ceasefire talks with mediators which resume in Qatar on Sunday in direct response to a new proposal from Hamas Mossad head David Barnea has been central to previous ceasefire discussions A short-lived truce in November was agreed and came into effect after his participation in talks in Doha. His last meeting with Qatar's prime minister in January led to a proposal for a temporary ceasefire that Hamas ultimately rejected. Repeated efforts to agree a ceasefire and exchange hostages for prisoners have fallen apart this year, despite mounting international pressure over the human cost of Israel's ground and air assault in Gaza. A potential ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago fell through, with Israel saying it planned to launch a new offensive in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in tiny, crowded Gaza after five months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a two-day visit to the region, voiced concern, saying there was a danger it would result 'in many terrible civilian casualties'. Hamas ultimately rejected a ceasefire deal in January but now talks are going to resume Join German and French planes join relief effort supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene the security cabinet before the talks. His office says the Hamas offer is still 'unrealistic' On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. READ MORE: First aid ship carrying food to Gaza arrives from Cyprus as Hamas proposes new six-week truce with Israel Advertisement It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. This comes as the main UN aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine. 'Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza,' UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the UN saying it faced 'overwhelming obstacles' including crossing closures, onerous vetting, restrictions on movement and unrest inside Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started. A first delivery into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, pioneering a new sea route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday and was off-loaded, the charity said. Pressure is mounting on Israel to provide more aid to the starving Palestinians Over five months of war has left Palestinians in desperate need of food aid Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, queue to receive food distributed by aid organizations On Saturday, a second cargo of food aid was ready to depart by sea from Cyprus on Saturday, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan said they carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid. Queen Rania of Jordan, in a CNN interview, called the airdrops 'literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs' and accused Israel of 'cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water.' The war began on Octover 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 31,500 Palestinians, about 70% of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Experts laud China's achievements in safeguarding ethnic minorities' right to education Xinhua) 14:19, March 16, 2024 GENEVA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China has made significant progress in safeguarding ethnic minorities' right to education during its modernization, said experts at a side event of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council here Thursday. During the event, hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, Chinese experts and scholars from universities and research institutions presented findings on China's efforts to guarantee ethnic minorities' right to education in its modernization, with a focus on Xizang Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Modernization is a crucial indicator of high-quality development, and education plays a key role in achieving it. With the acceleration of human civilization, ethnic minorities' right to education has received increasing attention, as it is closely related to the modernization of China and the world, said Wang Yanwen, deputy secretary-general of the China Society for Human Rights Studies. Liang Junyan, a researcher at the Institute of History Studies of China Tibetology Research Center, shared cases of Tibetan students whose lives were changed through education. She said that the development of education in Xizang has not only improved the cultural literacy of local ethnic groups, but also provided strong talent support for Xizang's economic, social, and cultural progress. China's efforts to safeguard the right to education of ethnic minorities in Xizang have greatly promoted the development of education in the region, said Jia Chunyang, executive director of the Center for Economic and Social Security Studies of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. Tuersun Aibai, an associate professor with the School of Journalism and Communication of Xinjiang University, highlighted Xinjiang's continuous efforts to protect the right to education of all ethnic groups, especially minority groups. Xinjiang has been broadening access to education, increasing investment in education, and promoting the teaching of the national common language. It has introduced courses in Uygur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongolian, and Xibe languages in primary and secondary schools, fully guaranteeing the right of minority students to learn their own languages, said Aibai. Qiao Basheng, director of the Center for International Communication and Cultural Security Studies of the Northwest University of Political Science and Law, said that modern education in China not only safeguards the rights of ethnic minorities to maintain their own characteristics and dignity, but also provides opportunities and channels for them to participate in national development. The right to education of ethnic minorities with disabilities is a manifestation of social equity and justice, and plays a significant role in promoting social progress and development. Remarkable achievements have been made in this regard in Xizang and Xinjiang, said Zhou Lulu, vice dean of the Institute for Human Rights at Guangzhou University. Li Juan, a researcher from the Human Rights Studies Center of Central South University, said that China has continuously strengthened the legal basis for the protection of the right to education of ethnic minorities by formulating and implementing a series of education laws. In the process of modernizing education in China, educational informatization is essential to ensure that ethnic minorities have access to education, while educational digitalization will become a stronger driving force for the protection of ethnic minorities' right to education, said Gong Xianghe, executive director of the Institute for Human Rights Studies of Southeast University. A photo exhibition with the theme "Modern Life of ethnic minorities in China" was held simultaneously, demonstrating the practices of China's ethnic minorities in promoting modernization in political, economic, social, cultural and other fields. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) Police have launched an appeal for two teenage girls who were last seen on Friday in Dartford. Dominika Cwiklak, 15, and Sofia Altincioglu, 14, were thought to have been in Crayford, south east London at around 6pm on March 15. Officers believe the pair may have planned to travel to Birmingham. Dominika is described as having dark brown and of slim build and around five feet and three inches tall, while Sofia is five feet and two inches tall with straight brown hair. Both girls were wearing school uniform including a black skirt and blazer with orange and burgundy logo, an orange and burgundy tie, a white shirt and dark jumper and black shoes. Dominika Cwiklak, 15, and Sofia Altincioglu, 14, were last seen late on Friday afternoon In addition to wearing her uniform, Dominika also had a black hooded top with silver zip and a black Zavetti Canada puffer-style jacket. Anyone who sees the girls should contact Kent Police on 999 quoting reference 15-1574 for Dominika and 15-1491 for Sofia. A ship hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of India was recaptured today - ending a three-month takeover of the vessel. India's navy rescued all 17 crew members of the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen, the military has said. The December hijacking of the ship was the first time since 2017 that any cargo vessel has been successfully boarded by Somali pirates. The navy said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the operation was carried out over the past 40 hours by Indian warship Kolkata. The navy cornered then forced the 35 pirates to surrender, before safely evacuating the crew members. A ship hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of India was recaptured today- ending a three-month takeover of the vessel India's navy rescued all 17 crew members of the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen (pictured) They added that the captured vessel opened fire on the warship and that as little force as possible was used to neutralise the threat posed by the pirates. None of the crew members were injured in the rescue mission which was carried out in conjunction with several ships, helicopters and other aircraft. The pirated ship was eventually recaptured nearly 1,400 nautical miles, or 2,600 kilometres, from the Indian coast. The Indian navy has kept tabs on the MV Ruen since it was seized by Somali pirates 380 nautical miles east of the Yemeni island of Socotra in December. The pirates, who at the time released one injured sailor, had taken the MV Ruen and its remaining 17 crew members to Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where the Indian navy said it was moored off the city of Bosaso. India's military has stepped up its anti-piracy efforts in recent months following a rise in maritime assaults. These include incidents in the Arabian Sea and by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 - with gunmen launching attacks as far as 2,271 miles from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean - before falling off sharply in recent years. The December hijacking of the ship was the first time since 2017 that any cargo vessel has been successfully boarded by Somali pirates The navy said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the operation was carried out over the past 40 hours by Indian warship Kolkata But December's attack followed a recent spike in armed seaborne attacks around the Horn of Africa. Although analysts have said Somali piracy poses nowhere near the threat it did in 2011, the upswing in attacks has raised further concerns about maritime security. Somali pirates have traditionally sought to capture a 'mother ship' - motorised sailing vessels or fishing trawlers - capable of sailing greater distances where they can target larger vessels. Since the Houthi attacks, many cargo ships have slowed down far out at sea to await instructions on whether to proceed to the Red Sea, which experts say can make them vulnerable to attack. Nigel Farage could make a shock return to the political front line as an envoy for Donald Trump to Britain, his allies have said. The former Brexit Party leader is in line for a 'very significant' job if Mr Trump returns to the White House, most likely as an economic envoy to the UK or economic adviser, sources close to him said. 'Nigel's friends have been talking up the idea,' one insider said. Another added: 'He could be a special envoy to the UK and, interestingly, to the European Union. Trump thinks it's essential Farage is on the front line.' Mr Farage is also keen on being appointed United States ambassador to the UK, multiple sources told The Mail on Sunday. This would require giving Mr Farage US citizenship, which would need approval from Congress. A senior Conservative MP who recently spent time in Washington said it would also be 'in Trump's gift' to appoint Mr Farage ambassador. 'It would mean the next US President will have a view of Britain that isn't Labour's jaundiced view,' they said. Nigel Farage could make a shock return to the political front line - as an envoy for Donald Trump The old allies pictured together while in New York City back in 2016 Mr Farage flew to the US last month to meet Mr Trump at the ex-President's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. He also gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, in which he lauded Mr Trump as the 'bravest' man he knew. Mr Farage then told reporters that maintaining the 'Special Relationship' between Britain and America was 'vital' not just to the UK, but 'to the free world'. He also said that if Mr Trump won the election, Britain's ambassador to Washington would need to be someone who 'knows him and can get on with him, not a career civil servant with a double first from Oxbridge'. However, a senior Tory said 'no Conservative prime minister would appoint Farage to Washington' and Labour even less so. 'He is much more likely to get a job from Trump.' The prospect of a role in a new Trump administration makes it less likely that Mr Farage would run the general election campaign for Reform UK, the party he co-founded. A source close to Mr Farage said: 'He has too much potential to come after the US election in November.' MPs have warned that the UK risks another 'Kim Darroch moment' after the British embassy was accused of being too 'distant' with Mr Trump's Republicans during his presidency between 2017 and 2021. Lord Darroch resigned as Britain's Ambassador to Washington in 2019 after memos in which he described Mr Trump as 'inept' were exposed by The Mail on Sunday. Last night Mr Farage said he had 'no idea' if he will be made envoy or ambassador in a Trump administration. The Tories have accused police of failing to properly investigate allegations Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner broke the law over her right-to-buy council house. Greater Manchester Police said Labour's deputy leader had 'no case to answer' after Tory deputy chairman James Daly asked them to find out if she lied about where she was living to avoid paying tax on the home she sold for an 48,000 profit. But Mr Daly said he was 'concerned' that the speed of their response coming in just seven days indicated they did not properly examine the case. Ms Rayner is under pressure following allegations in The Mail on Sunday that she had falsely claimed to have lived separately from her husband for the first five years of their marriage, allowing her to avoid capital gains tax on her Stockport home when she sold it. Experts said if Ms Rayner was not telling the truth when saying her property, rather than her husband's, was her main home, she would be liable for a around 1,500 in tax as well as possible criminal charges for making a false declaration on the electoral roll. The Tories have accused police of failing to properly investigate Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner Greater Manchester Police said Labour's deputy leader had 'no case to answer' after Tory deputy chairman James Daly (pictured) asked them to find out if she lied about where she is living Mr Daly has written to the force to say he was 'concerned that my complaint may not, so far, have been handled properly'. The force even wrongly spelled her name 'Raynor' in its response, prompting him to ask 'whether you investigated the correct Angela Rayner'. READ MORE: Can even Keir Starmer stop the irrepressible rise of the Red Queen? Advertisement A police spokesman said they would 'assess' Mr Daly's request for the case to be re-examined. Ms Rayner has rejected Tory accusations of 'staggering hypocrisy', despite Labour proposing to 'review' Margaret Thatcher's right-to-buy scheme from which she benefited by buying the house at a discount. The claims first emerged in a forthcoming biography, Red Queen? by Lord Ashcroft, which is being serialised in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Ms Rayner said she did live in Vicarage Road, Stockport, after marrying second husband Mark, who had a house a mile away in Lowndes Lane. A neighbour of his last week called Ms Rayner a 'f****** liar'. A Labour spokesman said last night: 'Tory MPs shouldn't be wasting police time, they should concentrate on governing.' Controversy-riddled Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert remains likely to keep her spot in the House of Representatives despite scandal after scandal and what one pollster calls a 'terrible' brand. Boebert, who has held office in Colorado's 3rd District since 2021, announced in December that she would run in 2024 for a different Colorado Congressional seat. She'll try to replace retiring Republican Rep. Ken Buck in Colorado's 4th Congressional District instead, the state's most conservative district, after nearly losing her seat to a Democrat in 2022. Some wonder if she can hang on to power after facing everything from an infamous ejection from a theater performance of Beetlejuice to a nasty divorce to her son's legal troubles have kept her in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, an independent pollster believes this may not matter because she represents her new district's interests and remains endorsed by close ally and former President Donald Trump. Controversy-riddled Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert remains likely to keep her spot in the House of Representatives despite scandal after scandal and what one pollster calls a 'terrible' brand Some wonder if she can hang on to power after facing everything from an infamous ejection from a theater performance of Beetlejuice (pictured) to a nasty divorce to her son's legal troubles have kept her in the news for all the wrong reasons 'Her personal brand, it is terrible,' said Colorado pollster Floyd Cirulli told ABC News. 'Between not only the particular problem in the 4th [Congressional District], that is she's a carpetbagger, but what she brings over with her is just terrible. Under no normal conditions would she be elected,' he continued. However, in a race littered with candidates, she likely has a plurality if not necessarily a majority to win. 'Even though her personal brand is as low as you can go and damaged, she still would probably find a third of the vote,' Cirulli said. 'And in a multi-candidate field, we assume a third of the vote is going to give her the primary.' Former President Donald Trump endorsed Boebert two weeks ago amid her son's legal woes and the congresswoman's messy divorce saga. Trump called the 37-year-old grandmother a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter,' giving the Colorado Republican his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.' 'Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a Proven Conservative and Effective Leader who delivers for Colorado, and our America First agenda,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. In a race littered with candidates, Boebert likely has a plurality if not necessarily a majority to win On Saturday, former President Donald Trump (left) endorsed Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert (right) whose family and private life has produced a number of scandals in recent months In a Truth Social post, Trump referred to Boebert as a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter' 'Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a trusted America First Fighter, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Colorado's 4th Congressional District!' Cirulli believes this keeps her in good with the MAGA movement and makes her likely to win. 'She's got the money, she's got universal name identification, she has several other people running, so there'll be a multi-candidate ballot. And she had initially [House Speaker Mike] Johnson's support, and now she has Trump's. And that's a Trump district,' he added. While Colorado have already made their pick for the presidential nominees, Congressional primaries in the state aren't held until June 25, giving Boebert some time to gain ground. She applauded Trump's endorsement in posts on X. 'It's my honor to have the endorsement of the greatest President our country has ever known - Donald J. Trump,' the Colorado Republican said. 'It will be such a privilege to work alongside him in 2024 to deliver results for Colorado & get the entire country back on track!' In another post she held up a draft of Trump's Truth Social post, labeling it, 'MY president.' It's the latest twist in the story of the politician whose greatest hits including allegations that she punched her ex-husband, allegations of pointing a gun at an Obama-supporting employee and trying to prove that a WWE star was her birth father. Boebert has had several notable run-ins with law enforcement in the past Boebert's son Tyler (right) was released from jail Wednesday and has been charged with 22 crimes, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area In a post on X Saturday, Boebert held up a draft of the Truth Social post former President Donald Trump used to endorse her Arguably the most infamous incident involving Boebert saw her removed from a theater in Denver after she became amorous with her date. Boebert was filmed lashing out at theater staff after being booted from a Beetlejuice performance for singing along - with staff claiming she also vaped and took photos during the performance. Surveillance footage shows Boebert, wearing a tight, low-cut gold dress and high heels, making a considerable fuss as she and a hunky mystery man are ordered out. She can be seen snapping a selfie as she leaves the auditorium and angrily bares her teeth at staff as she is escorted through the lobby. According to The Denver Post, the lawmaker at one point declared 'Do you know who I am?' Afterwards, Boebert and her smartly-dressed date were caught on camera walking off through the empty nighttime streets of the Mile High City. Just weeks later, Boebert was accused of using campaign funds to watching a cycle race that her partner from that night, Aspen bar owner Quinn Gallagher was competing in. Earlier this month, Boebert's 18-year-old son Tyler was released from jail Wednesday facing 22 charges, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area, with one victim saying she now can't affort to pay for brain surgery. Her son's legal problems come in the months following the congresswoman finalizing her divorce from husband Jayson, who Tyler called the cops on in January after his father allegedly shoved and grabbed him. Boebert, 36, and her mystery man quickly made their way through the lobby and out the front doors Lauren and Jayson wed in 2005. They met while she was working at McDonald's at the age of 16. He was 22 at the time Days later, Boebert denied punching her ex-husband at a Colorado restaurant after he made 'lewd advances' toward her. None of her family scandals deterred Trump from labeling her an 'Effective Leader.' In 2022, Boebert nearly lost her Republican-leaning district to Democrat Adam Frisch, beating him by only 546 votes. Last February, Frisch said he planned to challenge Boebert again for her seat representing Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. That move prompted Boebert to announce in December that she would run in 2024 for a different Colorado Congressional seat. She'll try to replace retiring Republican Rep. Ken Buck in Colorado's 4th Congressional District instead, the state's most conservative district. Ten Republicans are currently vying for that seat, with the Denver Post reporting in early February that Boebert started the year with a fundraising advantage. Still, Boebert came in fifth place in a straw poll of voters in her new district. A stunning 19th-century Seattle mansion, sold for $6 million, is set to be torn down because its last owners were the Moonies - members of the Unification Church. Nestled on the shores of Lake Washington, the three-story Spanish Mission revival mansion was once home to the family of early pioneers of Seattle, including Rolland Denny, the son of the city's founder, Arthur Denny. Later in the 1970s, it was purchased by the Unification Church when the religion was still in its infancy and served as a domicile for founders Sun Myung Moon, his wife, and their followers. Leonard Garfield, the director of the Museum of History & Industry, described the house as 'one of the great private estates from one of Seattle's golden eras,' as reported by The Seattle Times. However, the iconic estate cannot even be nominated as a historical landmark because the state Supreme Court has exempted religious entities from landmark designation unless their owners support or seek it. A stunning 19th-century Seattle mansion, sold for $6 million, is set to be torn down because its last owners were the Moonies - members of the Unification Church Nestled on the shores of Lake Washington, the three-story Spanish Mission revival mansion was once home to the family of the early pioneers of Seattle, including Rolland Denny, son of the city's founder Arthur Denny Later in the 1970s, it was purchased by the Unification Church when the religion was still in its infancy and served as a domicile for founders Sun Myung Moon(left), his wife(right), and their followers Rolland and his wife Alice Kellogg commissioned Bebb & Mendel, Seattle's most prominent architectural firm at the time, to design and build the mansion. After the construction was completed in 1907, the couple named their new home 'Loch Kelden', a fusion of 'loch' meaning lake in Scottish and the couple's names Kellogg and Denny. With the sweeping views of Lake Washington and Mountain Rainier, the property served the ideal wilderness retreat space that was only accessible by boat. Notably, the mansion's carriage house was not built for cars, but horses that Rolland would ride on the gravel Windermere Road. In the early 1970s, Moon moved to the U.S. and began giving public speeches across the country. Meanwhile, he tasked a small group of his followers with traveling around and purchasing property to establish the church in key cities. The Unification Church acquired the mansion for $175,000 in 1974. Since then, the mansion had been used as a residence for members of the American Unification Church and occasionally hosted Moon and his wife. The house was listed by Sotheby's International Realty in 2022 for $5.99 million but remained unsold until recently. The unknown buyer, according to writer Jean Sherrard, has installed a nondisclosure agreement that prevents anyone from visiting the estate or documenting its condition. Scott Dolfay, the churchs retired property manager and caretaker for more than two decades, invited historians to the mansion for a farewell tour, and had to cancel it two days before the visit. 'At the last minute, he contacted us and said the estate has essentially been sold, and the buyer has installed a nondisclosure agreement,' Sherrard told KUOW. The developers even denied access to the grounds to take some repeat photos of the mansion, Sherrard said. 'So, we realized the only way we could take our "now" photo was to go on the water below and shoot up.' Slide me Rolland(pictured) and his wife Alice Kellogg commissioned Bebb & Mendel, Seattle's most prominent architectural firm at the time, to design and build the mansion in the 1900s The house was listed by Sotheby's International Realty in 2022 for $5.99 million but remained unsold until recently Sherrard and Maria Denny, the great-great-grandchildren of Rolland, embarked on a boat tour recently and spotted the spectacular house from the water. 'It's sad. Especially being here right now out in front of it and remembering what a really spectacular home and how stately and beautiful it is,' Maria said. 'There's not much like it anymore, and I believe it maybe the last of the original homes that original Denny family members lived in,' she added. 'Id forgotten how lovely it is.' Sherrard said: 'And it really feels like a little symphony up on the hill. I think Id categorize this as a real treasure.' But the precious 19th-century mansion could be demolished soon, as Sherrard called for public attention to the matter in her article. 'As far as we know, all this is shrouded under several layers of intentional secrecy,' she said in an interview. 'All we can determine is that there is no schedule for its demolition that has been presented in any public forum. We're all essentially in the dark,' she said. 'I'm hoping that a little light shed on the subject might indeed inspire developers to save the place.' 'There are many uses that this lovely mansion can be put to. I would say the least and most diminished of them would be to tear it down and replace it with multimillion-dollar houses. Medicaid offices are targeting the deceased homes as a way of recouping health care costs. Recovering money from the assets of those who died after relying on medicaid in their final years is part of the estate recovery process the federal government requires of states. Although a person's home is typically exempt from qualifying for Medicaid it is subject to the process for those who were over 55 and used Medicaid to pay for long-term nursing care. Sandy LoGrande, 57, was shocked to receive a $177,000 bill for her father's Medicaid expenses two years after he died of cancer in 2016. In the letter Massachusetts threatened to sue for his home if LoGrande didn't pay the bill quickly, the Associated Press reported. Recovering money from the assets of those who died after relying on medicaid in their final years is part of a process the federal government requires of states 'The home was everything,' to her father LoGrande told AP. Democratic lawmaker Jan Schakowsky proposed scrapping the estate recovery requirements completely, earlier this month. Critics of the program argue that it recoups roughly 1 per cent of the $150 billion Medicaid spends on long-term care each year. They also argue that Medicaid does not warn people that sign up to Medicaid that large bills and claims to their property could be passed onto their family once they die. LoGrande sought advice from a non-profit when her father fell ill who advised her to sign him up for Medicaid, the Associated Press reported. She claims she asked about the status of his home and was reassured it would only be liable to the state if her father was moved into a nursing home. 'He never would have signed on with anything that would put his home in jeopardy,' she told AP. For years, her father got an annual renewal notice from the state's Medicaid office. Progressive politician Jan Schakowsky is calling for the government to scrap the policy altogether Although a person's home is typically exempt from qualifying for Medicaid it is subject to the process for those who were over 55 and used Medicaid to pay for long-term nursing care LoGrande says it wasn't until after his death, when the state's demand for $177,000 arrived, that she saw the first bill for his care, which included a brief stint in the hospital for pain from cancer, medications and hospice. 'That's what ripped my guts out,' LoGrande told AP. 'It was dishonest.' After a two-year legal battle the state settled with the LoGrandes in 2019 and released its claim on the house. State policies around this recovery process vary widely, according to a 2021 report from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, which makes policy recommendations to Congress. Some states will put a lien - a legal right - on a home while others don't. Meanwhile, some Medicaid offices try to recoup all medical costs from patients, like doctor visits or prescriptions, while others just pursue the costs for long-term care. Alaska and Arizona pursued just dozens of properties in recent years while other states go after thousands of homes, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. New York and Ohio topped the country for such collections, recovering more than $100 million combined in a single year, a Dayton Daily News investigation found. An investigation into the Kansas program, released Tuesday by the Health and Human Services inspector general, found that program was cost effective - yielding $37 million while only spending $5 million to recover the money, But the state didn't always collect the money from estates that were eligible. Last month, a foundation for one of the industry's biggest health insurance giants called on Massachusetts to overhaul its process, which includes collecting reimbursement for most Medicaid costs, beyond the federal government's minimum requirement to recover long-term care expenses. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts recommended the state Legislature pass a law that would prohibit those additional collections. Estate recovery 'has the potential to perpetuate wealth disparities and intergenerational poverty,' said Katherine Howitt, a Medicaid policy director with the foundation. In Tennessee, which recovered more than $38.2 million from more than 8,100 estates last year, Imani Mfalme found herself in a similar predicament after her mother's death in 2021. As her mother's early-onset Alzheimer's worsened, Mfalme continued to care for her. But in 2015, when Mfalme was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy, she started looking at other options. She hosted a meeting in her mothers home with the local Medicaid office. The representative told her to drain her mothers bank accounts - money Mfalme poured into assisted living facility payments for her mom - so her mother would qualify for the program. She recalls being somewhat offended during the meeting after the representative asked her three times: 'This is your mothers home?' The representative, Mfalme said, made no mention that she could be forced to sell the house to settle her mother's bill with Medicaid once she died. Now, Tennessee's Medicaid office says she owes $225,000 and the state is seeking a court order that would require Mfalme to sell the house to pay up. Mfalme, now 42, said she wants to pay what she can, but the house is a particular pain point. Her mother, a Black woman, purchased her dream home in Knoxville after she won a landmark discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Boeing, for paying her less than her male coworkers. 'She fought hard for equal pay and equal rights. Just to see that ripped away just because she was sick and I was sick, its just absolutely devastating,' Mfalme said of her mother. TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid office, said in an email to The Associated Press that it would not comment on specific cases. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's report recommended that Congress reverse the 1993 law that required states to recover money from estates, instead making it optional. Earlier this month, Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois reintroduced legislation that would end the federal government's mandate. Schakowsky believes the rule is a losing proposition for families, who give up their homes, and taxpayers, who don't see big returns from the recovery efforts. 'It is one of the most cruel, ineffective programs that we see,' Schakowsky told the AP. 'This is a program that doesnt work for anybody.' In a gridlocked Congress, where some Republicans are clamoring to trim Medicaid entitlements, the bill is unlikely to garner the bipartisan support needed to become law. There's at least one person who acknowledges the rule isn't working: the man who engineered it. Many people don't know about the decades-old mandate, which was intended to encourage people to save for long-term care - or risk losing the equity from their home, explained Stephen Moses, who now works for the conservative Paragon Health Institute. 'The plan here was to ensure that people who need long-term care can get it but that you plan ahead to be able to pay privately so you dont end up on the public health care program,' Moses said. Foreign Office staff were told not to call Hamas terrorists in a training session last month, whistleblowers have revealed. MPs have accused senior civil servants of allowing ignorant and dangerous views into the department. The seminar, held in Whitehall, said calling Hamas terrorists was unhelpful and suggested Israel is a white, settler colonialist nation. The training was run by academics from Kings College London who also said there was no future without Hamas, which carried out the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. About 100 officials, including specialists in the Middle East, attended the 75-minute session, which was first reported by the Jewish Chronicle. Speakers said applying the terrorist label to Hamas was an obstacle to peace. Foreign Office staff were advised not to call Hamas terrorists during a training seminar last month The training session also suggested that Israel is a 'white, settler colonialist nation Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said that Hamas apologists should not be invited into seminar in the FCDO Jewish Conservative MP Andrew Percy said it was 'sick' to suggest that Hamas are not a 'Jew-hating terrorist outfit' The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has vowed to review guidance on internal seminars to ensure speakers invited are appropriate after whistleblowers disclosed the details of the training. When asked about the training, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: Hamas is a terrorist organisation and let me say very clearly, its apologists should not be invited into the FCDO for a seminar. And Tory MP Andrew Percy told The Mail on Sunday: Many of us are very concerned about anti-Israel bias and sentiment among FCDO officials and this seems to prove we are right to be concerned. It is sick for anyone to suggest Hamas are anything other than a murderous, Jew-hating terrorist outfit. An FCDO spokesman said: The UK Governments position is unequivocal that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Many of the views expressed by the academics in the seminar were wrong and contrary to the Governments position. Elena Rios, 68, was was impaled by a forklift truck, yet her family only learned of her death after hearing it on the news A family from North Texas is grappling with the loss of their beloved matriarch after she was impaled by a forklift truck in a deadly workplace accident. Elena Rios, 68, was killed while working at a Walmart distribution center in Fort Worth last month. Fort Worth Fire Department officials said she ended up being crushed between a forklift and a pallet rack. Elena, a mother of four and grandmother of 13, had worked for Walmart for 10 years and was certified to operate forklifts and other heavy machinery. She had been operating the forklift at the time of the accident. Shockingly, the family first learned about the fatal accident on the news and was given conflicting information about what occurred. The family still doesn't know exactly what caused Elena's death. The results of her autopsy have not been released leaving the family with more questions than answers. Granddaughter, Danielle Rios, recalled how the pair would go shopping together as they planned to celebrate special occasions Fort Worth Fire Department officials said Elena was crushed between a forklift and a pallet rack at the distribution center, located at 15101 North Beach Street in far north Fort Worth A Walmart spokesperson has conveyed condolences to the family and attempted to assure them that an internal investigation is underway in collaboration with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Walmart officials in a statement said the company was 'heartbroken over the passing of one our associates.' Walmart closed the facility for the day after Elena was killed and offered counseling 'and other resources to our associates as they cope with this tragic event,' the statement said. But the family are unhappy with what they say is a complete lack of communication and transparency. Elena, was a mom of four and grandmother of 13. She had worked for Walmart for 10 years and was certified to operate forklifts and other heavy machinery when she was killed on the job On the day of the accident, which occurred on February 16, Elena had been planning to attend her 18-year-old granddaughter's college softball game after she finished her shift at Walmart. Sadly, she never got that chance. In their quest to find some sort of closure, the family has now launched a website, as they appeal to the public for any information or leads regarding the tragic accident. Her family says Elena loved them deeply. Her granddaughter, Danielle Rios, recalled how the pair would go shopping together as they planned to celebrate special occasions, and how they used to visit the casino together for fun. 'She took me to the casino for my first time. We did a lot together, every weekend,' Danielle told NBC5. Elena's daughter, Bianca Villanueva, described her mother as being the cornerstone of the family. 'My mom was everything to me, my siblings, to my kids...to the rest of the grandkids,' Bianca said. Bianca says bosses at Walmart did not promptly inform the family of Elena's death despite her being listed as an emergency contact. It has left the family pressing for answers with the possibility of legal action. 'I want to know what happened,' Bianca added. 'I miss her. And I just want to know why.' A former council chief who suffered PTSD after working with the bereaved families of the Grenfell Tower fire has been awarded a record 4.6 million payout after suing her bosses. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was ordered to pay compensation and damages to Rachael Wright-Turner for disability discrimination and harassment after she was sacked from her 125,000-a-year role. The employment tribunal's ruling which found senior officers in the Labour-run authority had lied in evidence is believed to be the highest-ever such award against a public body. Last night, Ms Wright-Turner, 52, said while she recognised the sum was 'substantial', she had never wanted to go to a tribunal. The six-year legal battle had destroyed her life, her family and her health, she added. The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham was ordered to pay compensation and damages to Rachael Wright-Turner (pictured) for disability discrimination and harassment after she was sacked from her 125,000-a-year role The employment tribunal's ruling which found senior officers in the Labour-run authority had lied in evidence is believed to be the highest-ever such award against a public body. Pictured: Grenfell Tower Last night, Ms Wright-Turner, 52, said while she recognised the sum was 'substantial', she had never wanted to go to a tribunal. Pictured: A fireman at Grenfell Tower fire Ms Wright-Turner told The Mail on Sunday: 'This case has cost us everything, Before this started, I was married with two children in private school. 'Now my marriage has collapsed, I'm fighting to stop my house from being repossessed and my children have been left devastated after being forced to leave their schools. My income has been taken away we have been living literally on the breadline, taking donations from food banks and charities.' Doctor's 4.5m award eclipsed A payout of 4.5 million to a hospital consultant who suffered trauma was until now the highest amount awarded at an employment tribunal. Dr Eva Michalak, who worked as a consultant physician at Pontefract General Infirmary, won claims for sex and race discrimination and unfair dismissal against the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and three senior staff members after colleagues ran a four-year 'get Eva campaign' following her maternity leave. She said in 2010 she had suffered 'years of psychological abuse' before receiving the record award. Army veterans have long struggled to receive payouts from government compensation schemes despite suffering with severe trauma from their time in warzones. Dean Upson, who fought during in Iraq and did two tours of Afghanistan, said when he left the Army in June 2011, he was initially awarded just 3,000 for complex PTSD that was so severe it has left him suicidal and unable to work full-time. He eventually received more than 160,000, but it took him four years of working with lawyers. And Royal Marine Mark Ormrod, who lost both legs and an arm in a Taliban landmine blast, was offered 214,000 despite having to raise significantly more himself to afford prosthetics which are not available on the NHS. Advertisement Ms Wright-Turner was dismissed from her role as director of public service reform at Hammersmith and Fulham in 2018 after taking sickness leave for post-traumatic stress disorder. She had developed PTSD while working at Kensington and Chelsea council as a 'humanitarian assistance lead' with those affected by the Grenfell blaze that killed 72 people. She said it left 'a movie' of the tragedy playing in her head. Ms Wright-Turner then moved to Hammersmith and Fulham. She was signed off work after a meeting with superiors at a pub triggered her PTSD. She had a panic attack and was taken to hospital. Following this incident on May 2, 2018, senior council officers made the untrue claim to colleagues that she had been drunk before being taken to A&E, the tribunal heard. Separately, Ms Wright-Turner had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the tribunal heard. After learning of the diagnosis, the council's former chief executive Kim Smith said Ms Wright-Turner's brain 'doesn't work like other people's'. Ms Smith also asked whether Ms Wright-Turner had disclosed her ADHD when she was recruited. She was dismissed while on sick leave without a chance to discuss or challenge the decision. The tribunal ruled Ms Smith and the council's then HR director lied to the tribunal that Ms Wright-Turner was informed earlier on the day she was admitted to hospital that her probation was to be extended. It was concluded Ms Smith took the decision a day later when it was understood she would take leave for her mental health. Ms Smith and HR director Mark Grimley also conspired to doctor her dismissal letter so it would appear to have been signed before she launched a grievance against the council, it was concluded. No mention was made of her PTSD or ADHD in her termination letter 'to avoid any inference that this decision was in any way connected with the claimant's mental health or related sickness absence', the tribunal panel said. Ms Wright-Turner said: 'I don't think they understood how closely I'd been working with the families in the aftermath of Grenfell. They treated my PTSD as if I was acting like some sort of drama queen.' She was aware of the cost of her award to council taxpayers but said she had no choice but to try to clear her name. Ms Wright-Turner was dismissed from her role as director of public service reform at Hammersmith and Fulham in 2018 after taking sickness leave for post-traumatic stress disorder. Pictured: The remains of Grenfell Tower She said: 'From the public's point of view this award will seem a huge amount, but I would give every penny of this award back for it not to have happened I thought I would just leave with a redundancy payment, but they wanted me to leave without a penny. The 4.6 million award equates to 25 per Hammersmith and Fulham resident. If the payment is not made by the end of this month, it will accrue 8 per cent interest per year, which equates to 302,500. Peter Daly, from law firm Doyle Clayton who represented Ms Wright-Turner, said the award reflected the 'severe injury' she suffered due to Hammersmith and Fulham's 'unlawful conduct'. Hammersmith and Fulham said it was 'very sorry' for the ordeal Ms Wright-Turner suffered, but it will appeal the decision as it has 'always considered' her claim to be 'vastly excessive, disputed and highly unprecedented'. According to figures from ITV News, 150million was approved as a global settlement of compensation claims made by people affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. Lawyers representing bereaved relatives said a settlement was reached following around 900 cases. Cladding giant Arconic said it was among the firms which was involved in the High Court case and had agreed to the settlement. Further research from the Guardian also revealed how two-thirds of the adults who survived or were affected by the Grenfell fire have shown signs that they require treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The report also revealed how there was 'significant risk' of secondary trauma. An African conservation charity of which Prince Harry is a director is facing further accusations of human rights abuses that include extra-judicial killings and violent beatings. Fresh allegations of brutality in Zambia by rangers jointly managed by African Parks have emerged following the MoS's front-page report in January about armed guards engaged in beatings, rape and torture of the Baka tribal people in the Republic of Congo. The charity which manages parks in 12 African countries, with 1,400 guards patrolling protected land almost the size of Britain claims that it saves wildlife by working with local communities. And prior to the allegations being made, Prince Harry, the charity's president for six years until he joined the governing board of directors last year, boasted: 'The African Parks model is exactly what conservation should be about putting people at the heart of the solution.' But now allegations of brutality have surfaced in Zambia's Bangweulu Wetlands, a conservation area almost the size of Devon that is home to 50,000 indigenous people who have the right to 'sustainably harvest' natural resources such as fish, antelope and rabbits. Prince Harry, wearing an African Parks cap, watches an anti-poaching demonstration exercise in 2019 Fresh allegations of brutality in Zambia by rangers jointly managed by African Parks have emerged Farmer Chanda Mwewa was among 48 people shot in a market African Parks has managed the area since 2008, in partnership with the government and six local chiefdoms. The charity says it is its only project where management responsibilities are not fully integrated, with conservation law enforcement remaining under the supervision of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. While it is not clear exactly who perpetrated the attacks in Zambia, an investigation by this newspaper has found evidence that, in September 2021, a marketplace was sprayed with gunfire that left scores of villagers injured, including young children. READ MORE: Prince Harry faces calls to quit his role in a conservation charity accused of operating an armed militia Advertisement Impoverished people in Bangweulu, one of Africa's most important wetlands, now say they are suffering a campaign of intimidation to stop them fishing and hunting on their own land while tourists arrive on safari expeditions that can cost up to 5,000 a day. 'Our home has become a nightmare that frightens us every day,' said Luni Elo, who was shot during the attack at Muwele village's market. Farmer Chipulu Mwale, 23, who was also wounded, pleaded for African Parks to leave: 'They have turned this place into hell.' African Parks insists it has 'zero tolerance' for human rights abuse and has hired Cherie Blair's law firm to investigate the MoS's original allegations that rangers in Congo were beating, raping and torturing locals. The MoS has seen minutes from the biggest chiefdoms' council meetings that record claims of 'extra-judicial killings, maiming, severe beatings and torture'. The document says '12 people have been shot dead or beaten to death' and that poaching suspects are 'paraded naked in front of their families and neighbours'. Newton Ng'uni, the council chairman, claimed cases included a man killed after being caught fishing. 'They just beat him but not a single ranger has been imprisoned,' he said. Villagers in Muwele claim the market shooting happened after rangers arrested a man found with antelope meat, then chased a second suspect into the village in defiance of an agreement with the local community. This sparked protests and stone-throwing that damaged vehicles, including two belonging to African Parks. The Ministry of Tourism said law enforcement officers 'fired warning shots to disperse the villagers'. Locals claim 48 people were injured, including five women and three children. 'I was hit in the arm,' said farmer Chanda Mwewa. 'The pain was excruciating.' The charity claims that it saves wildlife by working with local communities African Parks insists it has 'zero tolerance' for human rights abuse and has hired Cherie Blair's law firm to investigate the MoS's original allegations Impoverished people in Bangweulu, one of Africa's most important wetlands, now say they are suffering a campaign of intimidation to stop them fishing and hunting A government minister told Zambia's parliament that 'moderate force' was used on 'riotous' and 'irate residents'. And African Parks said incidents had been reported to the criminal justice system and rangers were found to have acted in self-defence 'due to armed threats from suspected poachers'. 'It's our way of life what they call poaching is just fishing or hunting,' said one man. Sturburn Chuma, co-founder of Zambian campaign group Action For Nature, said: 'We agree with conservation but people still need something to put on their table.' African Parks admitted in its 2022 annual report that it had seen 'a number of unfortunate interactions... between residents and the park rangers, which have led to both injuries and fatalities'. Fiore Longo, campaign director of Survival International, which fights for the rights of indigenous people, says: 'This is another case of abuse and violence supposedly in the name of conservation.' Her group wrote to Prince Harry in May about 'appalling human rights abuses' in Congo's Odzala-Kokoua National Park. Harry's spokesman said the Duke 'immediately escalated' the allegations to the chairman and chief executive of African Parks. The charity told this newspaper none of the investigative teams had yet visited the park. There is no suggestion that Harry had any knowledge of the allegations about what happened in Zambia. African Parks said: 'While there have been incidents that we condemn, suggesting African Parks is responsible for structural misconduct in the area would be false.' A Jetstar plane was forced to make an emergency stop on the runway just before takeoff after a latch on the aircraft was left open. The airline's JQ739 flight from Melbourne to Launceston on Saturday was reportedly 'barrelling down the runway' when the pilot aborted the takeoff and brought the plane to an abrupt halt. It's understood the door on a small communications panel on the underside of the plane near the wheels had been left open. Ground crew use the communication panel to connect their headsets. The airline's JQ739 flight from Melbourne to Launceston on Saturday was reportedly 'barrelling down the runway' when the pilot aborted the takeoff and brought the plane to an abrupt halt (stock image) Flight radar data showed how the airline aborted the first takeoff attempt (pictured) 'We were just barrelling down the runway in Melbourne for takeoff and then the pilot literally slammed on the brakes because apparently air traffic control told them a door was open on the plane when they were trying to take off,' one passenger told the Herald Sun. Another passenger said the pilot was warned about the latch by air traffic control seconds before they were about to takeoff. 'We were going for it on the runway but we had to (make an) emergency stop. They slammed the brakes on. Someone from the tower said the door was open,' the passenger said. Jetstar said the Airbus A320 was travelling at a low speed before it came to a halt. 'The Captain discontinued take off at low speed as a small 10cm x 20cm hatch at the front of the aircraft was open,' a spokesperson for the airline said. 'The open hatch has no impact on the safety of the aircraft in flight. The aircraft took off shortly after and has since arrived in Launceston.' Melbourne Airport said the flight was turned around moments before take off. 'After taxiing to the runway, flight JQ739 aborted takeoff and returned to the gate this afternoon due to an engineering issue,' a spokesman said. 'The issue resulted in a delay to the flight of just under an hour and a half with the aircraft taking off safely at 4:41pm.' As red carpet outfits go, it is the very definition of figure-hugging. But White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney still manages to look blooming marvellous. The American actress, 26, appeared at the premiere of her new film, Immaculate, in Los Angeles on Friday wearing the unusual floral ensemble which featured two floating white arms embracing her waistline. The striking effect, paired with flowing black trousers, was of hands cradling flowers and fruit to protect her modesty. Joking about her off-beat fashion style, Ms Sweeney said: Thats the fun thing about all of this, its like playing dress-up. Its boring to do the same thing again. The Washington-born star arrived at the films screening an eerie horror set in a picture-perfect Italian convent with her mother, Lisa, and two grandmothers, who were both given roles as extras. The striking effect, paired with flowing black trousers, was of hands cradling flowers and fruit During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ms Sweeney who also produced the film said she had cast them as little old nuns and described how she was able to make their dreams come true by flying them out to Italy for filming. Theyd never been to Europe, she explained. My Grandys dream was to go to Italy shes never left the country before. She also revealed photographs of her Grandy on set in a nuns habit, smoking a cigarette. Shes iconic and needed a smoke break between takes. I had to capture how amazing she looked. Immaculate follows Ms Sweeneys character Cecilia, a devout Catholic who is offered a role at an Italian convent. Sydney Sweeney's grandmother is an extra in her new film 'Immaculate' and plays a nun But the building, she soon learns, harbours dark secrets finding herself at the centre of her own mystery when she discovers she is unexplainably pregnant. Ms Sweeneys breakthrough role was as promiscuous teenager Cassie Howard in HBO drama Euphoria, which also starred Zendaya. She has also starred in The Handmaids Tale TV series and Quentin Tarantinos film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Immaculate is released in UK cinemas from Friday. The party's surge in the polls has led to panic in Downing Street , and talk about a return to frontline politics for Nigel Farage. But a Mail on Sunday investigation into the candidates selected to stand at the next election for Reform UK - the successor to Mr Farage's Brexit Party - has revealed that the potential MPs include a convicted animal abuser and a fortune-teller who sold spells for 200 on the pornography-dominated site OnlyFans . Other candidates have also shared anti-Semitic, far-Right, racist and sexist material and spread Covid misinformation. Some polls have put Reform UK, which is led by Richard Tice, just four per cent behind the Conservatives, which if replicated in a general election would split the Tory vote and contribute to a landslide for Sir Keir Starmer 's Labour . Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that 'a vote for Reform is a vote for Labour', but the warning has not dented the party's polling rise. Lloyds was derided as a woke laughing stock last night after it advised staff to avoid using the word 'widow' in its new 'inclusive language' guidance despite the company owning the high-profile insurer Scottish Widows. Britain's biggest lender has been accused of a 'nanny state approach' after issuing a long list of everyday terms for its 57,000 workers to avoid in case they cause offence. Phrases and colloquialisms deemed unacceptable include 'headless chicken', 'lost in translation' and 'sold down the river'. Lloyds says use of the term 'guinea pig' might upset vegans because it's associated with 'experimentation on non-human animals'. But it is the 'banning' of 'widow' which will attract most ire, as its Scottish Widows subsidiary is one of the world's most recognised brands, managing assets totalling almost 200 billion. Lloyds claims the word is 'unnecessarily vivid' and may 'trigger unwarranted personal memories of trauma and upsetting situations'. It suggests using the term 'separated' instead. Lloyds is the 'banning' of 'widow' which will attract most ire, as its Scottish Widows subsidiary is one of the world's most recognised brands, managing assets totalling almost 200 billion The phrases to avoid Widows Lloyds says it is a potentially upsetting term to use in contexts that are not about bereavement, and it can trigger memories of trauma. Guinea pigs Term may not be inclusive of vegan colleagues as it could conjure up imagines of experimentation on animals. Penetration testing This refers to a type of cyber security testing that firms perform to check their systems are safe. But Lloyds says it may infer a level of gender bias. It may conjure up an unwarranted and intrusive bodily image or may be triggering. Sold down the river Phrase is a reference to slaves being sold in Kentucky and transported via boat to work in plantations. Like a headless chicken Associated with animal cruelty, the expression stems from a 1940s phenomenon where a Colorado farmer cut off the head of one of his chickens but the bird lived for another 18 months. Advertisement It comes after the bank launched an 'inclusive language' guide explaining what terms should be used and, crucially, what is considered inappropriate. The guide says there are many terms 'that have strong negative associations.' Using them, it adds, could negatively impact another person and create 'barriers based on... social mobility, education, religion, accessibility, race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation'. Last night the guide was criticised as the latest example of wokery gone too far. Mark Brown, general secretary of the BTU trade union, which represents bank workers, said: 'The more we allow people to claim they have been offended because they disagree with the use of certain words or phrases, the more they will seize the opportunity to be offended.' He added: 'Is this kind of nanny state approach to language going to make things better or worse in Lloyds?' Referring to the censure of the word 'widow', Mr Brown said: 'Lloyds is engaged in the most hypocritical form of virtue signalling. 'If it really believed in the use of inclusive language, then it would change the Scottish Widows brand name immediately. 'The fact that's not going to happen tells you all you need to know about 'inclusive language' in Lloyds Banking Group. It's a gimmick Lloyds has become a woke laughing stock.' Mr Brown said there were clear economic and organisational arguments for diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. But they 'are being drowned out by half-baked schemes which are ineffective and create resentment, muddled thinking on the part of one-dimensional executives and 'diversity washing' employers whose words and actions are completely at odds with each other', he added. Lloyds insists the guide is not a 'diktat dictionary'. Mr Brown said there were clear economic and organisational arguments for diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. (Stock Image.) 'You may agree with some terms and disagree with others that's OK! You don't have to adopt alternatives, though do explore why we recommend doing so and the urgency which they are suggested,' the guide adds. The bank was always looking at ways to engage, debate and be collaborative with staff, a spokeswoman added. 'The voluntary inclusivity tool is designed to be a self-moderated way for colleagues to explore how people may feel about different words and phrases,' she said. 'As is par for the course when crowd-sourcing for ideas, some are better than others.' Lloyds said there were no plans to change the name of Scottish Widows. Criminal gangs are making up to 1.6 million a day from small boats crossing into Britain, it has been revealed. On March 4, 401 people were smuggled on to Britain's shores in seven small boats a record for a single day so far in 2024. Analysis by the Labour Party has found that, according to French police, the average cost demanded from people-smugglers to cross the Channel is 4,000 per person and so these illegal migrants would have paid the gangs about 1.6 million. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'The criminal smuggling gangs are making huge profits from this horrific trade. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) has said Labour would crack down on smuggling gangs Criminal gangs are making up to 1.6 million a day from small boats crossing into Britain, it has been revealed On March 4, 401 people were smuggled on to Britain's shores in seven small boats a record for a single day so far in 2024 Analysis by the Labour Party has found that, according to French police, the average cost demanded from people-smugglers to cross the Channel is 4,000 per person 'Rather than wasting billions on the Rwanda gimmick, Labour would crack down on the smuggling gangs running small boats, establishing a cross-border policing unit to go after them upstream and smash their business model.' More than 40,000 migrants have reached the UK in small boats since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, despite the fact that stopping them was one of the five key promises he gave early in his premiership. A Home Office spokesman said: 'This Government is committed to breaking the gangs' business model, securing our borders and stopping the boats. 'That's why we have taken robust action to crack down on these criminals, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels. 'This relentless action reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year.' Double chins can be the scourge of even of the most beautiful women in the world, with actor Richard Burton once unkindly saying his lover Elizabeth Taylor had one. But now researchers say the humble soya bean can get rid of the unwanted facial fat. In a trial, a compound is being used to selectively break down what is referred to as submental fat, which affects 60 per cent of people. Research has suggested that the fat, often associated with being overweight, can run in families, and results in loss of skin elasticity with age. There are a number of other causes for a double chin. Genetic research has suggested it can run in families, and the loss of skin elasticity with advancing age can also causing skin, including that under the chin, to sag. Double chins can be the scourge of even of the most beautiful women in the world, with actor Richard Burton once unkindly saying his lover Elizabeth Taylor had one Poor posture can also weaken neck and chin muscles over time leading to loss of elasticity in the skin. Last week, tests started on more than 250 patients at Chung-Ang University Hospital in South Korea. Researchers using a compound known as AYP-101, developed by Amipharm, claim: This is the worlds first and the only injectable that can break down only fat cells selectively. But Dr Bav Shergill, consultant dermatologist and honorary senior lecturer at the University of Manchester, warned: The biggest problem (in previous tests) is the range of side-effects including over- correction and numbness. There have been many attempts to find a perfect fat-dissolving agent. 'The biggest problem is the range of side-effects. Now researchers say the humble soya bean can get rid of the unwanted facial fat A compound is being used to selectively break down what is referred to as submental fat (Stock image) 'Current products require very precise placement in order to prevent beard loss, over-correction and numbness. 'It will be interesting to see the results. When it came to Elizabeth Taylor's alleged double chin, Richard Burton was sometimes less than chivalrous. She was indisputably one of the most beautiful woman of the 20th century, but he once declared: She has an incipient double chin, her legs are too short, and she has a slight pot belly. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary 'at some point'. It is the latest in a series of comments that will not only anger his EU allies, but also Vladimir Putin. Last month Macron refused to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine, which prompted a stern response from Berlin and other European partners. However, despite later asserting that Western allies would not take the initiative, the French president has not recanted from his position. 'Maybe at some point - I don't want it, I won't take the initiative - we will have to have operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter the Russian forces,' Macron told newspaper Le Parisien in an interview conducted on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary Ukrainian Emergency Services earlier this week attend a damaged residential building following a Russian strike 'France's strength is that we can do it'. Disagreements over the possibility of ground operations and the delivery of long-range missiles to Kyiv had threatened to undermine cooperation between the allies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacted angrily to Macron's earlier refusal to rule out sending troops to Ukraine and his pointed comments urging allies not to be 'cowards'. Macron met his German and Polish counterparts in Berlin on Friday, in a show of solidarity behind Kyiv. After the meeting, Macron said the three countries of the so-called Weimar Triangle were 'united' in their aim to 'never let Russia win and to support the Ukrainian people until the end'. Scholz last month disputed Macron's claim that NATO members are considering to send ground troops to Ukraine in an attempt to ease anxiety throughout Europe. On Thursday, Macron said that a Russian victory in Ukraine 'would reduce Europe's credibility to zero' and refused to rule out deploying troops. The French leader spoke on French TV about how to further support Ukraine, after drawing pushback from European leaders last month when he said sending Western ground troops shouldn't be ruled out. A destroyed car pictured yesterday sits in front of damaged houses following a missile attack in Odesa A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut on November 8, 2022 He also said that the continent's security was 'at stake' in the conflict which he said is 'existential for our Europe and for France'. Macron later added in a video on social media that Moldova, Romania and Poland could be under immediate threat if Ukraine lost the war. Speaking on Tuesday at the National Assembly, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Macron's message has been clear and added: 'We will not abandon Ukraine and we are not ruling out any option on principle.' France is not 'waging war against Russia' and 'rejects any escalation,' Attal said, and he added: 'We don't set ourselves limits against Russia, which doesn't set any (limits) for itself.' A depraved rapist who pimped-out and brutalised his wife in the most vile of ways has received a discounted sentence because he was a former prison guard who was the subject of negative press. Jon Seccull, 46, denied ever raping his then-wife Michelle Skewes - who gave Daily Mail Australia permission to name her - multiple times between February 2014 and September 2015. His acts were so degrading, perverse and frightening Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to detail them. Jon Seccull and his then-wife Michelle Skewes on their wedding day in 2003. The tragic death of their son years later saw them commence an open relationship that ended in horror, a court heard On Wednesday, County Court of Victoria Judge Sarah Dawes sentenced Secull to a minimum of six years and 10 months in jail. He has already served 613 days behind bars. In coming to her conclusion, Judge Dawes took into account the stress and anxiety Seccull felt while caged at Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat - the home of some of Australia's worst sex predators. Seccull had worked as a correctional officer up until he was charged by police in 2017, acting as a prison ambassador for White Ribbon - an organisation that campaigns against violence against women. He also became a high-profile campaigner for organ donation after their son's tragic death, speaking at events and to media. Judge Dawes, who was backed by Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions, accepted Seccull had been subjected to intense media scrutiny over his sick offending, which added to his depression behind bars and activated Victoria's 'Verdins Principles'. Under Victoria's Sentencing Act of 1991, the principles, if accepted, reduce the offender's moral culpability and force a judge to consider the added 'hardship' jail will have on them. The court heard Jon Seccull used to enjoy watching his wife Michelle Skewes have sex with other men. He also enjoyed raping and tormenting her Jon Seccull hid behind a veil of respect as a prison guard. He has now used that very role to avoid spending more time behind bars They are principles rolled-out and relied upon by convicted criminals and their lawyers on a daily basis in Victoria 'The prosecution does not take issue with the submission that prison will weigh more heavily on you and I am satisfied that it is applicable,' Judge Dawes said. 'I am told that the extent of the media reporting in the past has caused you great concern and affected your mental health. 'This is particularly relevant now as you have been acquitted of egregious offending in the current trial ... I accept that being the subject of public interest has added to the stress of associated with these proceedings and to the criminal process overall.' 'I accept that the media coverage is a mitigating factor ... the prosecution accepts the media coverage amounts to extra-curial punishment.' Judge Dawes comments relate to Seccull's 2021 trial in which a jury found him guilty of nine counts of rape, two counts of assault and one count of threatening to inflict serious injury. He was sentenced then to 15 years behind bars with a minimum of at least 10 years. Seccull appealed that outcome on the grounds the judge grossly interfered with the trial amounting to a substantial miscarriage of justice. The Victorian Court of Appeal agreed and sent him back to the County Court for a retrial. This time around, the jury found Seccull guilty of just three charges of rape and one charge of threatening to inflict serious violence against Ms Skewes. Jon Seccull raped Michelle Skewes in the most horrendous of ways after her return from a QLD trip where he watched her have sex with a stranger, detailed in court Jon Seccull, 46, denied ever raping his then-wife Michelle Skewes Both juries heard Seccull had long-held fantasies and cruel desires and would arrange for his wife to meet other men for sex, having it live-streamed for him to watch. He would warn her beforehand not to fall in love and remind her that she belonged to him. If she refused, he would punish her. The jury accepted Seccull had violently raped Ms Skewes after she returned from a live-streamed sex session with a man in Queensland in 2014. He raped her again a year later after a drunken argument. It was the same year he approached her with a loaded gun and threatened to smash her head in, shoot himself in the head and allow their children to find his body. Judge Dawes condemned Seccull's outrageous treatment of his terrified wife, who has since become a powerful public voice against domestic violence. 'Your degrading and volatile conduct resulted in a significant and fundamental breach of trust,' she told the rapist. Ms Skewes told the court her long ordeal had made her often believe she got what she deserved throughout her marriage, which effectively ended in 2016. 'No-one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors.' she said. 'I was left a shell of who I previously was and still question my worth everyday.' Outside court, Ms Skewes said she was happy to be done with the long court process. 'The sentence was better than I was anticipating and the fact hes on the sex offenders register for life is absolutely huge,' she said. Seccull was sentenced to a total maximum sentence of nine years and nine months behind bars. Rishi Sunak's conference speech to his party last October was eminently forgettable. But it contained one memorable and moving passage. It was the story he told of how, soon after his election, he was giving his relatives a tour of the House of Commons. Pausing at the statue of Winston Churchill that gazes out across the Members' Lobby, his grandfather picked up his phone and started to dial. A slightly flustered Sunak asked him what he was doing. His grandfather explained he was phoning the landlady he'd had when he had first arrived in the UK to tell her where he was standing. 'I am proud to be the first British Asian Prime Minister,' Sunak told his audience. 'But I'm prouder that it's just not a big deal.' It was the section of the speech that drew the biggest round of applause. But there was one problem. The statement his landmark elevation to the highest office in the land held no broader significance wasn't true. Last week was dominated by the row over Tory donor Frank Hester's racist comments about former Labour MP Diane Abbott 'Rishi's race is going to be an issue for us in the Election,' one Minister told me. 'Our private polling shows we lose about 2 percentage points because of it. No 10 don't want to address it. But they're going to have to.' A senior Tory strategist agreed. 'It's a problem for him, especially in some of the Red Wall seats. There's no avoiding it. Most people don't care. But some do. And it's going to have to be confronted.' Rishi Sunak and his team don't want to confront it. Last week was dominated by the row over Tory donor Frank Hester's racist comments about former Labour MP Diane Abbott. It was the perfect opportunity for the country's first non-white PM to step in, and from a position of authority, defuse the issue. But as the furore spiralled out of control, he was nowhere to be seen. 'No 10 is terrified of the race issue,' a Cabinet Minister told me. 'They don't want to touch it. They think it's a lose-lose for them.' One of the explanations for Sunak's reticence was financial pragmatism. The Prime Minister recognised, and was appalled by, the racism of Hester's remarks. But with the Election imminent, the 10 million in cold cash Hester had proffered with millions more potentially on offer couldn't be ignored. 'No party can just throw away 15 million to 20 million,' one Minister conceded. 'We literally wouldn't have an Election campaign.' But another reason was Sunak's innate squeamishness at addressing issues of race. 'It's not something he's comfortable talking about,' one ally told me. 'It was like with Theresa May. She was only the second female PM, but she hated talking about gender issues. 'She felt it was playing identity politics. And she wanted to be judged on her merits. Rishi is the same.' Whatever the rationale, Sunak's attempt to hide from the racial firestorm engulfing his party backfired disastrously. First of all, it created a leadership vacuum that others rapidly stepped in to fill. Most notable was the intervention of Kemi Badenoch, the Cabinet Minister responsible for equalities. As No 10 were tying themselves up in knots trying to rationalise why Hester's words weren't prejudiced, she baldly tweeted: 'Hester's 2019 comments, as reported, were racist.' Badenoch is seen as one of the frontrunners to replace Sunak. But her allies insist her reaction was based on more than political manoeuvring. 'The comments genuinely upset her,' one revealed. 'She's the only black woman MP in the Tory Party. Her view was, 'Hester can't be allowed to get away with this s***.' It matters.' A second issue was the way the row completely undermined the Prime Minister's attempt to promote his new anti-extremism agenda. 'It was insane,' one Tory MP complained. 'We were simultaneously trying to come up with a new definition for hate speech while trying to defend a guy who had said he'd like to see a black woman MP shot.' But there was another reason Sunak's failure to get out in front of the Hester frenzy was so damaging. It opened the door for his opponents to exploit the issue of race for their own advantage. 'Labour's own polling shows what our polling shows,' a Minister explained to me. 'They know some voters are still put off by an Asian PM. So they're dog-whistling to it. 'Rishi Sunak doesn't get Britain'. We know what their strategy is.' Sir Keir Starmer's team angrily reject that claim. 'There's no way Keir would allow that,' an aide insisted. 'Anyone he thought was trying to leverage Sunak's racial heritage would be out on their ear.' But other Shadow Ministers concede it is something that is being raised on the doorsteps. 'It comes up a fair bit,' one admitted to me. 'I've had it in my own constituency. And I've had to say to some of my own people, 'Look, we're not going there. Dial it down.' 'Rishi Sunak's race is going to be an issue for us in the Election,' one Minister told me The Diane Abbott row was the perfect opportunity for the country's first non-white PM to step in, and from a position of authority, defuse the issue The reality is that in the furnace of the Election campaign, the issue of Sunak's race is likely to be dialled up. Immigration will be a central theme. Reform a party not averse to aggressive campaigning on migration will be on the charge. George Galloway's victory in Rochdale, the ongoing Gaza conflict, and the debate surrounding it, will make an increasingly rancid political climate even more toxic. Sunak's friends are confident he can navigate this minefield. 'Rishi doesn't like talking about when he's experienced racism because he doesn't think it accurately represents Britain now,' one told me. 'And he just doesn't think it should define him. 'When Barack Obama was elected, it was the major issue for a long time. Here it was, 'Oh, that's nice'. And then people just moved on.' Maybe. And allegations of racism are tossed around now with such flippancy and expediency the word is starting to lose its meaning. But Rishi Sunak needed to show leadership over the genuinely racist bile spewed by one of his party's biggest donors. He failed. And if Hester's poison is allowed to spread unchecked throughout the body politic, then Britain's first Asian Prime Minister will be one of the first to be contaminated by it. A war of words has erupted between scientists at Harvard, Johns Hopkins and elsewhere, over a mystery object some argue came from outside our solar system. Last June, a research expedition off the coast of Papua New Guinea led by Harvard astrophysicist Dr. Avi Loeb dredged up hundreds of small metal spheres from the Pacific, which he argues came from this object as it melted in midair before impact. In an op-ed for DailyMail.com last August, Dr. Loeb concluded that 'the evidence indicates the fragments are of interstellar origin.' But critics of Dr. Loeb, and his E.T.-hunting Galileo Project at Harvard, continue to challenge these findings which he has described as a 'truly historic moment' of humanity's first contact with 'materials from outside our solar system.' And now the latest test: A new, rival analysis of earthquake-sensor data used to track the object's 2014 crash argues that this sensor never really did track an interstellar meteor, much less a crashing alien probe, as Dr. Loeb has teased. This sensor, according to an international team of Galileo's critics, most likely picked up only the rumblings of a truck. As critics tell DailyMail.com that the Harvard physicist took his team 'on a wild goose chase,' Dr. Loeb has blasted the new study as 'unprofessional' and 'a lie.' Throughout their two-week Pacific voyage last summer, the Galileo team scoured the seabed for debris from the meteor-like object 'IM1,' dragging a deep-sea magnetic sled along the fireball's last known trajectory. Pictured is Loeb (right) Dr. Loeb maintains his team only used this seismometer's 'earthquake' data to corroborate Department of Defense satellite data on the likely location and trajectory of the meteor-like object, as it blazed through Earth's atmosphere in 2014. 'As my colleague Professor Stein Jacobsen noted,' Loeb told DailyMail.com, '"For them to be right, the Department of Defense satellites picked up the signal of a truck in Papua New Guinea rather than a meteor?"' Led by planetary seismologist Dr. Benjamin Fernando at Johns Hopkins, the new research looked for patterns across days and nights of the Manus Island seismometer, named AU MANU, finding similar patterns of noise clearly unrelated to the meteoric fireball 'The disturbing reality,' Loeb continued, 'is that some scientists who pretend to defend evidence-based science, are fast to dismiss new evidence that goes beyond their knowledge base.' Fernando's team also used three infrasound sensors to reassess the meteor's landing site. They believe the magnetic dredging by Loeb's Galileo team last summer might have been looking for sunken fragments of the IM1 meteor (pictured) in the wrong place But the authors of the competing new paper were no less critical of the Harvard physicist's approach. That group, led by planetary seismologist Dr. Benjamin Fernando at Johns Hopkins, looked for patterns across days and nights of the nearby Manus Island seismometer, AU MANU, near the site of the fireball's 2014 splashdown in the Pacific. They report finding many similar patterns of seismic noise, unrelated to the object's fiery descent. Their work calls into the question the analysis of that AU MANU data, which Dr. Loeb and one of his former students published last year in the journal Signal. 'It was an ordinary truck,' Dr. Fernando told the New York Times. 'Like a normal truck driving past a seismometer.' Using directional 'azimuth' data from the AU MANU seismometer, Dr. Fernando and his co-authors were able to trace an apparent pattern in the signal. 'The northward to south-westerly trend of the second (purported meteor) signal is consistent with passage along the road in the opposite direction,' they wrote in their paper, which has not yet cleared peer-review but is available at Cornell Tech's pre-print server, arXiv. These seismic waves picked up by the AU MANU seismometer as astrophysicist Dr. Steven Desch, a co-author on the new paper, told DailyMail.com are 'similar in wave form to dozens of other events that week.' The group presented their research Tuesday as part of a conference organized by Houston's Lunar and Planetary Institute. Loeb's team searched a patch of the Pacific shown above as a 'mustard yellow' square near 'CNEOS C' one of two potential impact zone's estimated by Department of Defense data. New research using infrasound and seismometer sensors suggests a different crash site, 'IDC' Three infrasound sensors used by the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisations International Monitoring System - ISO4, IS07, and IS37 (above) - were used to calculate this new assessment of the meteor-like object's crash site Dr. Fernando's group also employed data from an array of sensors used to enforce the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to determine for themselves where the object (be it a meteor or an alien space probe) might have most likely hit the Pacific. Their triangulation, which used three of those infrasound sensors, suggests that the magnetic dredging by Dr. Loeb's Galileo team last summer might have been looking for sunken fragments of the object in the wrong place. 'If he [Loeb] were honest about the seismometer data, he'd have to admit he had no idea where to look.' Dr. Desch said, 'but it's too late for that now. 'He went on a wild goose chase,' Dr. Desch opined, 'now he has egg on his face.' 'His response to anybody pointing out any of this is to suggest we don't trust the Department of Defense.' But, as noted in their paper, Dr. Desch and his colleagues devoted considerable attention to the public Department of Defense meteor data reported to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the object, technically named CNEOS 20140108. Above a plot of seismic rumbling, as 'incident velocity power' from the days before and after the IM1 meteor event (red circle). Clusters of loud and quiet periods, according to Dr. Fernando and his team, conform to loud day and quiet night road traffic. Blue areas are weekends Harvard's Galileo team has since recovered many hundreds of unusual iron spheres that they believe are likely from the unidentified object, known as IM1, off the coast of Papua New Guinea last week as part of a $ 1.5 million underwater search mission READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Truth about my 'alien' encounter... How I found bombshell interstellar objects a mile beneath the sea - and their limitless potential for life on Earth, by scientist AVI LOEB Every scientist dreams of making a great discovery. A eureka moment when all the signs point to a conclusion that breaks new ground, that potentially changes everything. Advertisement His colleague Dr. Fernando noted that the data compiled by the Pentagon for its asteroid-tracking collaborations with NASA, the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), identified two potential impact zones for the 'fireball' object, sites dubbed CNEOS B and C. Loeb's Galileo team, Dr. Fernando told DailMail.com Monday, only focused on one of these sites, CNEOS C, which was far afield from his teams' infrasound-based calculation of the impact zone. 'The best that we can do with the state of the art nuclear monitoring sensors is get an area of about 300,000 square-kilometers, 227,000 square kilometers,' Dr. Fernando told DailyMail.com Monday. 'And that's not because the data is no good. It's not because the sensors are no good,' he added. 'It's just because it's an extremely weak signal. And we don't have an exact model for what the atmosphere was like back in 2014,' a reference to how weather might have scattered the melting, falling debris. Dr. Loeb, however, rested his rebuttal on the broad uncertainty and massive square-kilometer surface area determined by his critics' new research, which he noted, happens to include the area where his team conducted their magnetic dredging for the mystery object's crashed debris. 'Ben Fernando and colleagues simply dismissed the Department of Defense data for the localization of the meteor,' Dr. Loeb wrote DailyMail.com. 'This is an invalid argument.' Both Dr. Loeb's 2023 journal article in Signal, as well as a public announcement from US Space Command, indicate that his Galileo team received corroborative assistance from sensitive DoD satellite data that is not available to the public. 'It is unprofessional for him to claim that the DoD [Department of Defense] box is incorrect because his much larger region contains other points,' Loeb said. 'We went to the DoD box and only used seismometer data to validate the DoD box.' From sightings by U.S. submarines to mysterious humanoids in the depths of Russian lakes, there is an even more mysterious cousin to the UFO - the USO, or Unidentified Submerged Object. There are multiple reports of USOs from around the world, often from respected military and academic professionals - with some claiming that underwater fast movers are a common part of life on board submarines. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Nigel Watson, author of Captured by Aliens? A History and Analysis of American Abduction Claims, said: We live on an ocean planet, so it is not surprising that UFOs are seen over or in the vicinity of the great expanses of water that surround us. 'Concentrations of USO sightings indicate bases in the North Sea, and off the coasts of California and Puerto Rico. 'USOs are as intriguing as UAPs but they are even more difficult to substantiate - and often get mixed with dreams about Atlantis and aliens living in the hollow Earth. 'Personally, to me, they are a myth, like mermaids or the Loch Ness Monster.' Pilot sights dark mass in the water Retired Navy commander David Fravor Retired U.S. Navy Commander David Fravor, who famously spotted the Tic-Tac UFO in 2004, described how a fellow pilot had revealed to him an encounter with a USO. The pilot said he had seen a dark mass, which he described as big and kinda circular, and was not a submarine. Fravor told the Joe Rogan podcast that the helicopter had dropped a swimmer in the water to pick up munitions. He said: 'The first time they were out and they were going to pick up a munition, hes sitting in the frontin the CH-53 you can see down by your feetand as hes looking down, theyre 50 feet above the water, he sees this kind of dark mass coming up from the depths. 'Hes looking at this thing going, "What the hell is that?" And then it just goes back down underwater. Once they pull the kid and the munition out of the water, this object descends back into the depths.' The pilot who was retrieving spent practice munitions out of the sea in a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter said that a practice torpedo he was sent to recover was sucked down into the sea by another object. The torpedo never resurfaced. The encounter occurred in the sea near Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, on Puerto Rico, Fravor said. The UFOs of Guantanamo Bay Did Marines see USOs in the late Sixties? In the late Sixties, heavy UFO traffic was seen at the Guantanamo Bay base. An ex-Marine said: 'All of us Marines were amazed at the amount of UFO activity over and around this base,' the witness said. 'Virtually every night UFOs were flying overhead with altitudes of less than 300 feet. 'Most of these UFOs were approximately 50 to 100 feet across, but to the naked eye came off as a dull, hazy hull with a small red light trailing behind it,' The marine - who wished to remain anonymous in an interview with the paranormal sighting website MUFON - said that he was unsure of the exact dates The Marine claims he was instructed not to discuss the sightings, and said he saw one UFO which looked like a 'big beautiful cloud with a blue and white pulsating light'. Underwater craft buzzes U.S.S. Hampton submarine The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hampton A craft moving through the water faster than the speed of sound whizzed by the submarine U.S.S. Hampton, a professor has claimed. Professor Bob McGwier of Virginia Tech and the Institute for Defence Analyses, said the crafts onboard sonar detected a USO moving through the water faster than the speed of sound. McGwier was on the submarine doing classified work, and says that the crew opted not to investigate so as to focus on their mission, but did not tell him that he could not talk about the strange encounter. In an interview with the YouTube Channel UAP Encounters, he said: 'We were underway, and, all of a sudden, I heard a sound. It is really strange and clear that something is whizzing by us. 'When I left there with the knowledge in my head, not having been told to be quiet, not having been told it was classified... It is mine to tell whoever I want. They blew it,' The encounter with the fast-attack submarine lasted just a few seconds, McGwier says. The underwater alien base off Malibu Alien-hunters spotted what many described as an alien base 2,000 feet beneath the waves off Malibu in 2014. When Google Earth revealed what appeared to be a structure beneath the waves, conspiracy fans went wild. UFO author Preston Dennett said: 'I have collected probably 50 or 100 reports of people who have seen UFOs going in and out of the water there. My problem is that the Google images are coming out different, depending on what viewpoint you're looking at this thing from. Some show a tunnel. Some don't. "I'm very intrigued by the possibility. 'm convinced there's something down there." Geologists however have dismissed the idea that the structure is an alien base, describing the structure as perfectly ordinary. The USOs of Lake Baikal Lake Baikal has seen multiple bizarre sightings over the years Lake Baikal in Siberia has been the site of multiple sightings of USOs and UFOs, beginning in the Soviet era. Russian former Navy officer turned UFO researcher Vladimir Azhazha said, "Fifty percent of UFO encounters are connected with oceans. Fifteen more - with lakes. So, UFOs tend to stick to the water,. Azhazha has claimed that humanoid beings in strange shiny suits were seen in the water by military divers in 1982. In more recent years, photographers have captured strange lights and mysterious craft over the lake. The chairman of the Union of Photographers of Buryatia, Sergey Konechnykh, said in 2009, When I saw it, it was flying low. Until it disappeared over the horizon, I kept looking at it. I call it a fireball, and what it really was - I cannot know.' READ MORE: London restaurant is serving up invasive species like grey squirrel With 9.5 million tonnes of food being dumped every year in the UK alone, Brits are increasingly looking for ways to 'save the scraps' and avoid a climate crisis. Now, a trendy east London restaurant aims to change how the food industry deals with its share of edible waste. Silo in Hackney claims to be the world's first zero waste eatery and it doesn't even have a bin in its kitchen. The restaurant has already made its name for showcasing dishes using 'invasive' non-native species such grey squirrel and Japanese knotweed. I decided to go along to try its 75 tasting menu, featuring the likes of on-site milled bread, wild rabbit dumplings and an interpretation of a famous Walkers snack. Silo in Hackney, east London, claims to be the world's first zero waste restaurant that doesn't even have a bin in its kitchen Silo claims to not even have a bin - and by sitting at the bar along the edge of the restaurant's open kitchen I was able to confirm that this is indeed the case READ MORE: London restaurant hosts bizarre supper clubs where brave diners are served invasive species Pictured, a crayfish dish at the 'zero-waste' restaurant Advertisement Silo is the creation of British chef Douglas McMaster, who previously worked at Heston Blumenthal's famous Fat Duck. McMaster says: 'We are the world's first zero waste restaurant and aim to innovate the food industry whilst demonstrating respect respect for the environment, respect for the way food is generated and respect for the nourishment we give to our bodies.' Silo claims to not even have a bin and by sitting at the bar along the edge of the restaurant's open kitchen I was able to confirm that this is indeed the case. However, I did notice one of the chefs peeling potatoes and putting the scraps into a plastic container. I asked the waitress: 'If there's no bin, what's going to happen to those scraps?' She explained that all the kitchen's vegetable peelings get combined and cooked in a pressure cooker to create a 'vegetable treacle' for savoury dishes. Once the treacle has been made, the remaining sludge is fed to a 'aerobic digester', where it's consumed by microorganisms. Usually, when food leftovers rot, they release methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that causes global warming. Other scraps from food prep are made use of in other clever ways for example, offcuts from the freshly baked bread are used to make its ice cream sandwich, as well as the dough for savoury Asian-style dumplings. Pictured, the homemade 'Siloaf' bread and butter (left) and purple sprouting broccoli with dairy garum (a Roman-inspired sauce made out of whey and cheese rind) To save on paper, a massive copy of the menu is projected onto the wall rather than being printed onto individual sheets READ MORE: Almost a fifth of the world's food is wasted, study says When food waste rots, it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas Advertisement In essence, Silo transforms remains from food prep into brand new dishes although it stops short of saving the scraps that diners don't eat. Aside from the food, the zero waste ethos is enforced in other ways, including the furniture and the plates apparently being made with recycled materials. Meanwhile, any produce that is delivered to the venue is transported in reusable creates and containers. The waiter told me: 'We explain to our suppliers that we can't work with them if everything's wrapped in plastic.' And to save on paper, a massive copy of the menu is projected onto the wall rather than being printed onto individual sheets. My tasting menu of 10 dishes started with the homemade 'Siloaf' bread and butter and purple sprouting broccoli with dairy garum (a Roman-inspired sauce made out of whey and cheese rind). Next up came Silo's interpretation of one of Britain's most beloved crisps Walkers Quavers made out of leftover buttermilk and whey. The massive triangular crisp is drizzled in the bright orange vegetable treacle followed by finely grated goat's cheese. Inspired by one of Britain's most beloved crisps, this homemade Quaver is covered in vegetable treacle and finely grated goat's cheese Another highlight was the raw pollock, lightly marinated and covered in cubes of wild horseradish dressed in crab sauce. Typical of tasting menus, all the portions were small, although I suppose this fits in with the zero waste philosophy too. On the rare occasion that uneaten food comes back to the kitchen, it's added to the aerobic digester, the head chef told me. Possibly the tastiest dish of the evening was the maitake mushroom a little-known and underused species with distinct wavy caps served with miso sauce. Pictured, maitake mushroom - a little-known and underused mushroom species with distinct wavy caps - served with miso sauce Main course: Cull Yaw mutton from Cornwall. Typical of tasting menus, the portions were small, although this fits in with the zero waste philosophy too Raw pollock, lightly marinated and covering cubes of wild horseradish dressed in sauce made from crab Offcuts from the freshly baked bread are used to make the dough for savoury Asian-style dumplings (pictured, rabbit dumpling) READ MORE: Scientists say all households fit into three food waste categories Advertisement There was also beautiful Cull Yaw mutton from Cornwall, rich, soft and gamey, served with a sweet cream sauce. Silo is clearly breaking some eco-rules here to put cattle meat on the menu, which has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of all the foods. The tasting menu ended with two puddings firstly, a dairy-free ice cream made of fermented rice and sake, the Japanese rice wine. It packed a powerful burst of refreshing citrus flavour reminiscent of some of my favourite lollies from my childhood on a hot summer's day. But the most ingenious offering of the night was the ice cream sandwich, which takes unused cuts of bread to make the two wafers. More bread is left to soak in water for two days until it starts to ferment and turn into homemade liquid Marmite. This is churned with leftover buttermilk (from Silo's homemade butter) to make the delicious salty-sweet ice cream, which tasted like dulce de leche, the delectable South American sauce. At Silo, offcuts from the freshly baked bread and butter are used to make its ice cream sandwich (pictured) Ice cream made of fermented rice and amazake ('sweet sake', the Japanese drink) topped with raspberry cheong (a Korean style of marinating fruit) Although some dishes were more flavourful than others, there's an abundance of very clever ideas on show at Silo. I'm a huge fan of its zero waste concept and see no reason why other restaurants shouldn't take inspiration when brainstorming new dishes. Restaurants are just as guilty as households if not more when it comes to chucking beautiful ingredients in the bin as if they're worthless. Surely, with more than eight billion mouths to feed and constant warnings of a looming food crisis, we should show food more respect than that. From now on I'll be more conscious of the leftovers in my fridge when I'm working out what to make for dinner. An au pair to the super rich has opened up about some of the perks of the job, which include flying around on private jets, vacationing on superyachts and not paying for food or accommodation. Sami Jean, 24, who is from Prince Edward Island in Canada, has been an au pair for just over two years and in a bid to help others follow in her footsteps, she regularly shares insights to TikTok where she has more than 33,000 followers. In one clip, she reveals how she originally got hired by a family to live in New York after graduating college through an agency called Scotia Personnel, and she has since worked in the Hamptons, Miami Beach and in Italy. In terms of pay, Sami doesn't reveal her salary but she says it varies from family to family and the location will also help 'identify how much you're gonna get paid.' Sami Jean, 24, who is from Prince Edward Island in Canada, has been an au pair for just over two years In one clip, she reveals how she originally got hired by a family to live in New York after graduating college through an agency called Scotia Personnel Photos posted to Instagram show the Canadian enjoying her time on the job, with one shot showing her posing at the bow of a yacht in the Hamptons while another post captures her wining and dining in Paris. On TikTok, Sami can be seen casually boarding a private jet in one clip which her host family owns and another snippet shows her enjoying the surrounds of a yacht with the overlaid caption reading: 'POV: You're nanny for a family with a yacht.' In one video, Sami's friend Alexa, who also works as an au pair to wealthy clients, runs through what an average day looks like. She tells viewers: 'So here in America, I'm doing childcare and I'm helping with the kids in the morning... making them breakfast, getting them ready for school.' During the day, Alexa says that she does 'a lot of driving,' as she takes the children to 'activities and stuff.' Then in the evenings, her main job is to hang out with her host children and make sure they do their homework. Alexa, who also worked in Italy as an au pair like Sami, reveals that her workload there was lighter as she didn't need to get the children ready for school. Instead, her main job was to 'simply help them with their homework and speak English to them because [the parents] wanted the kids to learn English and speak English with a really good accent.' Photos posted to Instagram show the Canadian enjoying her time on the job, with one shot showing her posing at the bow of a yacht in the Hamptons Sami highlights that the main role of an au pair is keeping children 'entertained' While Sami admits she has been lucky with the families she has been paired with, she reveals some hosts treat au pairs like 'slaves' Sami highlights that the main role of an au pair is keeping children 'entertained.' For aspiring au pairs, she outlines some of the things to ask a host family before accepting a posting. She tells her fans: 'Ask them how many kids they have, what ages and what genders they are. 'Ask what they do for a living if they have any pets and are you responsible [for them].' After quizzing a potential employer about the child and pet situation, Sami says it is important to determine what your living situation will be like and what a typical day will involve. She continues: 'And then, honestly, I would dive into vacations. Do they take you on vacation? If they take you, will you be paid extra?' Other things Sami says are worth finding out are if you are allowed to have friends over and if your partner can visit - especially if you are in a long-distance relationship. Lastly, on the topic of pay, Sami recommends finding out what your salary will be and 'if there's potential for that to be increased.' In terms of experience, the au pair says you generally just need 'three references from childcare experience' which can be 'solely babysitting.' While Sami admits she has been lucky with the families she has been paired with, she reveals some hosts treat au pairs like 'slaves.' One of her followers also suggested it isn't always as glamorous as it seems. They wrote: 'You're lucky you have a good family. My mom did this, and it wasn't a good experience at all.' However, Sami seems very content with her career choice so far. She concludes: 'Trust me, if you're willing to put yourself out there, au pairing expands your network so much and the coolest part is that you'll end the experience with friends all over the world.' She spoke to MailOnline Travel about the most romantic destinations From getting picked up in the pouring rain in Milan to taking a helicopter ride over Central Park, this American woman travelling the world in search of love has certainly had her fair share of interesting dates. Anne Marie Hagerty began a 'worldwide quest' to find her husband two years ago after splitting from a man she thought she 'was going to marry'. Since then, she's visited 25 countries, exploring the dating scene in each and collecting anecdotes like souvenirs. She posts her dating adventures to her TikTok account (@annemariehagerty), where she's amassed 50,000 followers. The 28-year-old spoke to MailOnline Travel about her international encounters - sharing details on the most romantic spots and places that failed to capture her heart. Anne Marie Hagerty (above) has dated in more than 25 countries on a 'worldwide quest' to find a husband. She's pictured above in Mykonos, Greece MailOnline Travel spoke to Anne Marie about her dating adventures. She told us about the world's most romantic spots and places that didn't capture her heart. She's pictured above in Petra, Jordan Before her dating quest, Anne Marie was certainly no stranger to travel. She moved from a small town in North Carolina to New York, has jetted everywhere from Japan to Panama, and even lived in India when she was 18. But, she said, dating abroad opened her eyes to a 'whole other side' of travel. The most romantic places, she claimed, are New York, Italy and Croatia. Anne Marie described New York as her 'number one' place to date. And said it's a 'huge part' of why she moved there. She explained: 'The serendipity of the city is magical, plus being surrounded by millions of people, but finding one special person feels like you're living in a super-romantic movie. 'I love grand romantic gestures and unique experiences, and New York is the best place in the world to make those things happen. For example, I planned a date for a guy to ride in a doors-off helicopter over the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Central Park.' New York is Anne Marie's 'number one' place to find men. She said being in the city 'feels like you're living in a super-romantic movie'. She's pictured above in the West Village Anne Marie said dating in different countries opened her eyes to a 'whole other side' of travel. She's pictured left in Plitvice National Park, Croatia, and pictured right on a beach in Split, Croatia And Italy also left her swooning with delight. There she experienced one of her 'best dates'. In Milan, Anne Marie was picked up in the pouring rain by a stranger. 'He walked up to me and said, "I think you're beautiful, I'd love to take you to dinner,"' she said. Lake Como was another passionate spot. She said it's 'hands-down the most romantic place I have ever been in my life'. But overall, she claimed it was tricky to find dates in Italy. Meanwhile Croatia, she said, was just as romantic and easier to meet people in than Italy. She explained: 'It has the charms of Italy with a more off-the-beaten-path feeling. And people were generally more friendly and open to early-stage dating.' Although not as romantic as some places she's visited, Anne Marie said London was one of her favourite places to date. Anne Marie is pictured in Notting Hill, London. She claimed the city is one of her favourite places to date in the world Anne Marie hasn't enjoyed the dating scene in every country. She found it difficult to meet men in Switzerland. She's pictured left in Lucerne, Switzerland. Anne Marie said: 'I found Swiss people are more insular' ANNE MARIE HAGERTY'S COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY DATING VERDICTS NEW YORK: 'Being surrounded by millions of people but finding one special person feels like you're living in a super-romantic adventure movie.' ITALY: 'Lake Como is hands-down the most romantic place I have ever been in my life. It's literally in the air.' CROATIA: 'Has the charms of Italy with a more off-the-beaten-path feeling - and people were generally more friendly/open to early-stage dates.' MEXICO: 'I had a lot of machismo experiences with guys who were quite chauvinistic and pushy.' BELIZE: 'I met great expat friends but a lot of the locals I met were giving big player vibes.' SWITZERLAND: 'The men are friendly and kind, but insular.' ARGENTINA: 'The men are so over the top and aggressive, almost like love bombing.' LONDON: 'The men are an interesting combination of weird, classy, reserved, and chivalrous.' Advertisement She found an 'interesting combination of men' in the UK capital, and while she had some 'weird encounters', she said most were 'sweet, reserved, and pretty chivalrous'. What made it stand out? She said: 'There's some sense of global connection and an ability to connect to the world in some ways. 'There's also something sweet to me about British culture. There's tea, there's Sunday roasts, it's just very sweet and very family-oriented.' But Anne Marie wasn't left impressed by everywhere she's visited. She said while Colombia is an 'amazing country' with 'cool food', the dating scene is 'not for me'. She explained: 'There's a little bit of this in all of Latin America, but it's a very machismo culture that I'm not about.' Mexico was another place where she found men to be 'quite chauvinistic and pushy'. She also struggled to connect with men in Switzerland, where she said it was 'difficult to get to know people more deeply'. She added: 'I found Swiss people are more insular and they tend to stay within their groups. I respect it and they are very kind, but they're not the most welcoming to newcomers.' While Anne Marie visited dozens of countries with the intention of finding a husband, she's yet to find the one. For now, she said, she's enjoying the process, meeting new people and exploring connections without 'high expectations'. For more from Anne Marie visit her TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@annemariehagerty - or her Instagram profile at www.instagram.com/annemariehagerty. It's the Australian comedy film that has cemented its place in Australian pop culture history. And while Hollywood has embraced a new era of reboots and remakes in recent years, actor Stephen Curry, 47, says The Castle won't likely be returning for a sequel any time soon. Released in 1997, The castle tells the story of a blue collar family from Melbourne who do battle with developers who wish to acquire their home as part of a nearby airport expansion project. Stephen, who played Dale Kerrigan, the youngest son and the film's narrator, has enjoyed a fruitful career since The Castle was released and is now starring in Stan Original series Population 11. Yet a sequel for The Castle doesn't seem likely, as Stephen explained during an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday. Stephen Curry, 47, (pictured) has revealed the sad reason why iconic Australian comedy The Castle WON'T get a reboot 'I don't think it would be that interesting, because it was 28 years ago that we shot [the original]. And I think that my character Dale Kerrigan would still be living at home, digging holes,' he mused. Stephen said The Castle's original charm would also be lost due to the rise of political correctness within modern society. 'Wokeness has come about since then. And you can't say lines like, "What is it with wogs and cash?" anymore. Because as Vince Colossimo showed us in Chopper, "Here, no cash". Vince doesn't use cash,' he joked. Stephen, who played Dale Kerrigan, the youngest son and the film's narrator, has enjoyed a fruitful career since The Castle was released and is now starring in Stan Original series Population 11. (Pictured in The Castle) 'I don't think it would be that interesting, because it was 28 years ago that we shot [the original]. And I think that my character Dale Kerrigan would still be living at home, digging holes,' he mused. (Pictured with Population 11 co-star Perry Mooney) 'Costas Kilias, who played the Arab character, is actually Greek. I don't think you can do that anymore. That's cultural appropriation,' he continued. 'I think a lot of the fun would have evaporated from that film. It would be a lot more of a homogenised version.' Fans of The Castle need not lament, however, as an enterprising Airbnb host recently listed the property that was used in the film as a holiday home. Fans of The Castle need not lament, however, as an enterprising Airbnb host recently listed the property that was used in the film as a holiday home. (Pictured: Cast of The Castle) Located in Bonnie Doon, 168km from Melbourne, the modest three-bedroom cottage has been renovated to look just as it did in the 1997 film. Highlights include retro furniture and fittings that recall the '70s throwback atmosphere in the now famous Australian comedy classic. Fans will recall that it was in Bonnie Doon where the films main characters - a family called the Kerrigan's - enjoyed a bush holiday because they wanted to experience 'the serenity'. The property is available to sleep seven guests for a minimum of $120 a night. Savannah Guthrie and her husband Michael Feldman celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on Friday. The broadcast journalist, 52, and the PR consultant, 55, both shared sweet tributes on Instagram that included photos from their 2014 wedding ceremony, which was held in Guthrie's hometown of Tucson, Arizona. The Today anchor - who was involved in a recent controversy centered on Kelly Rowland - also took the day off from her duties in order to celebrate the milestone with her husband. Guthrie's first photo showed her holding hands with Feldman after they said their vows during their ceremony. According to People, the media figure donned a white lace mermaid-cut gown from Monique Lhuillier while saying her vows. Savannah Guthrie and her husband Michael Feldman celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary by posting tributes to Instagram on Friday The 52-year-old broadcast journalist and the 55-year-old public relations consultant both shared photos from their 2014 wedding ceremony, which was held in the former's hometown of Tucson, Arizona The journalist went on to share a pair of snaps featuring the couple's daughter Vale, 9, and their son Charley, 7. Guthrie also penned an affectionate message in her post's caption, which read: 'This was us - ten years ago today! And this is us now. I love you now and forever.' Feldman's first snap showed him placing his hand on the stomach of his wife, who was pregnant with their daughter during their wedding ceremony. He also included an affectionate black-and-white photo that showed him kissing the media figure's cheek. The consultant wrote a short message, which read: '10 years, 2 kids, so many laughs. I could not love you any better.' Guthrie and Feldman initially began dating in 2009, and they went on to become engaged in 2013. The journalist was formerly married to news presenter Mark Orchard, and their marriage lasted from 2005 until 2009. She eventually moved on with the consultant, and they welcomed Vale in 2014 before adding Charley to their family two years later. Feldman's first snap showed him placing his hand on the stomach of his wife, who was pregnant with their daughter during their wedding ceremony He also included an affectionate black-and-white photo that showed him kissing the media figure's cheek Guthrie and Feldman initially began dating in 2009, and they went on to become engaged in 2013 The happy couple welcomed Vale in 2014 before adding Charley to their family two years later Guthrie spoke about her husband during an interview for Reveal with Drew and Jonathan Scott and discussed what made him seem attractive during the early days of their romance. She stated: 'Mike is extremely handy, which is one of the things I liked about him when I first met him. I thought, "Wow, here's a sophisticated guy who grew up in the city but who can actually do things."' The journalist went on to speak about how Feldman greatly impressed her by performing a simple plumbing job. 'When we first started dating, he came over and fixed my toilet, which I found to be very attractive...our kids have a catch phrase, which is "Daddy can fix it." And it's true. Daddy can fix almost anything,' she said. Farmer Wants A Wife viewers have called for Natalie Gruzlewski to return as the main host of the show after Samantha Armytage took her place. Natalie, 47, helmed the popular Channel Seven dating show the first eight seasons from 2007 until 2012, and returned in 2020, becoming a firm fan favourite. However, she was replaced by former Sunrise star Samantha, 47, as the main host last year as Natalie appeared in a more 'scaled-back' role on the programme. Samantha is once again returning as the host for the upcoming 2024 series, with Natalie co-hosting, but fans have shared their dismay over the changes. She has so far featured in much of the promotional material by herself, with fans sharing their confusion over Natalie's absence. Farmer Wants A Wife viewers have called for Natalie Gruzlewski to return as the main host of the show after Samantha Armytage took her place Taking to the comments section of posts shared to the show's official Instagram, viewers argued that the series isn't 'the same' without Natalie at the forefront. 'Bring back Nat..,' one wrote as another added: 'Is Natalie coming back? She is so good.' 'Loved this show with Nat hosting,' a third said while another wrote: 'Nat was GOAT, bring her back please!' 'Devastated it's not @nataliegruzlewski - it's not the same show anymore,' one said. Channel Seven previously confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Natalie will be returning to the show in 2024 alongside Samantha as co-host. 'The 2024 season is ready to roll, with more episodes, more farmers, and Samantha Armytage and Natalie Gruzlewski on a quest to find our farmers their one true love,' the network said in a statement. Samantha first joined the dating show as a 'guest host', but her minor role was then expanded while Natalie 'scaled back' her duties. Natalie was replaced by former Sunrise star Samantha (pictured), 47, as the main host last year as she instead appeared in a more 'scaled-back' role on the programme She took over hosting duties for FWAW in 2023, replacing Natalie - who still appeared on the show but in a diminished role. Within the first 15 minutes of the 2023 show, Natalie only featured in several frames to interview past couples, while Samantha was heavily featured as she introduced the new contestants. Natalie presented her own segment called Nat's Getaway during the 2023 season, with Sam 'front and centre' as the face of the franchise. Set across farms in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, the 2024 season of the hit reality show will feature five strapping young farmers looking for love. Lisa Rinna took to Instagram to reveal that she will guest star on George Lopez's hit television series Lopez vs Lopez. The 60-year-old actress is slated to play a customer for Lopez' moving company but becomes a love interest to him as they end up hitting it off. The acting veteran will be in one of the second season's episodes as the show's renewal was recently announced. 'Another one! I'm so excited,' wrote the Days of Our Lives star on her post. Fans went wild for the collaboration between the two Hollywood icons. Some commenters wrote, 'Booked and busy.' Lisa Rinna took to Instagram to reveal that she will guest star on George Lopez's hit television series Lopez vs Lopez The acting veteran will be in one of the second season's episodes as the show's renewal was recently announced The main cast of Lopez vs. Lopez includes Selenis Leyva, Brice Gonzalez, Matt Shively, Al Madrigal, George Lopez and his daughter, Mayan Lopez. According to Variety, the shows official description is: 'George Lopez and his daughter, Mayan, return to NBC to put the fun back in dysfunctional family comedy. 'This time there will be big life changes for Mayan and the whole Lopez familia while George takes his first step in sobriety. Get ready for another season of Lopez vs. Lopez that will have you laughing, crying and shouting "ta loca."' Season 2, which will debut on April 2, will mark Mexican icon Jaime Camil's joining of the series. The Newport Beach native has most recently appeared on American Horror Story on Hulu and So Help Me Todd on CBS. Her role in the upcoming Lifetime film Mommy Meanest is set to debut on May 11. Rinna is also well-known from her eight seasons as a prominent cast member of the popular reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. While on Live with Kelly and Mark, she gushed over leaving the series as she decided to move forward with her career. Rinna is also well-known from her eight seasons as a prominent cast member of the popular reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Her role in the upcoming Lifetime film Mommy Meanest is set to debut on May 11 She said, 'I feel heavenly, I'm so happy...I'm really pleased with my life right now and that's what its all about. I feel blessed.' Another notable role of hers was on the popular Fox drama series Melrose Place in which she acted in three seasons. The Hollywood starlet is currently married to 72-year-old actor Harry Hamlin and share two daughters together, Delilah Belle, 25, and Amelia Gray, 22. With Hamlin's previous marriage to Ursula Andress, Rinna is also the stepmother of Dimitri Alexander, his son. She has been previously linked to Peter Barton and Todd Nelson. Pierce Brosnan has been spotted for the first time since pleading guilty to trespassing in hot springs at Yellowstone National Park. On Friday the 70-year-old actor who offered his 'heartfelt apologies' for the indiscretion stepped out for a solo bike ride in Malibu. The James Bond star wore an all-black outfit consisting of a long-sleeved crew neck shirt, trousers, and sneakers. His silvery gray hair was slicked back and his face was clean-shaven as he got fresh air and exercise. The longtime entertainer kept the sunlight out of his eyes with a pair of Rayban sunglasses. Pierce Brosnan has been spotted for the first time since pleading guilty to trespassing in hot springs at Yellowstone National Park The James Bond star wore an all-black outfit consisting of a long-sleeved crew neck shirt, trousers, and sneakers It comes after Thursday evening he took to social media to address the incident at the national park. Brosnan was fined $500 for stepping off a trail and entering an area that said 'no trespassing.' He was caught after posting pictures online of himself in the thermal area during a visit in November, a Wyoming court heard. in addition to the fine, he was also ordered to make a $1,000 donation by the end of the month to Yellowstone Forever, a nonprofit organization that supports the park. Posting on his social media, Brosnan said he was 'an environmentalist' who had 'the utmost respect for and love of our natural world.' He added: 'However, I made an impulsive mistake - one that I do not take lightly - when entering a thermal area covered in snow in Yellowstone National Park to take a photograph. 'I did not see a 'No Trespassing' sign posted that warned of danger nor did I hike in the immediate area. 'I deeply regret my transgression and offer my heartfelt apologies to all for trespassing in this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all our National Parks are to be cared for and preserved for all to enjoy.' Pierce offered his 'heartfelt apologies' for stepping off a trail in the national park The James Bond star was caught after posting pictures online of himself in the thermal area during a visit in November, a Wyoming court heard Pierce walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana line, on Nov. 1, according to citations issued by the park. He uploaded images of himself standing in the snow on the thermal feature to his Instagram page, court records said. Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside. Federal rules stipulate visitors to national parks must stay on the designated walkways. Paris Hilton's little sister Nicky Hilton has finally revealed her son's name, nearly two years after welcoming him into the world. The 40-year-old socialite and her husband James Rothschild share two daughters, Lily-Grace, seven, and Teddy Marilyn, six, as well as their little boy. Although they were forthcoming with their daughters' names, Nicky and James were assiduously private about what they have called their son. But now, just four months before her youngest child celebrate his second birthday, Nicky has decided to spill the beans at last. In a new interview with Us Weekly, she dished that her son is called Chasen, explaining: 'We always liked the name, and it was unusual.' Paris Hilton 's little sister Nicky Hilton has finally revealed her son's name, nearly two years after welcoming him into the world The 40-year-old socialite and her husband James Rothschild share two daughters, Lily-Grace, seven, and Teddy Marilyn, six, as well as their little boy She still thinks of Chasen as her 'little baby' and 'cant believe that hes going to be entering preschool in the fall,' she revealed. 'Hes trying to talk. Hes saying lots of words, but no full sentences yet. Hes so sweet and his big sisters adore him,' the proud mother-of-three added. 'They love him. Zero jealousy. They just dote over him. Im very lucky that all of my children get along extremely well,' Nicky shared, adding: 'The girls have their occasional bickering, but everyone gets along.' Chasen is exactly 'like his dad,' Nicky said fondly, explaining that she meant her one-year-old was 'very, very serious. Its so cute.' Teddy is 'definitely' the 'more girly and feminine' of the two sisters, while Lily-Grace is 'more like me, a little more quiet and reserved,' noted Nicky. Nicky married James, a grandson of the third Baron Rothschild, in 2015 in a ceremony in the Orangery at Kensington Palace with Paris as maid of honor. Paris herself became a mother twice last year, welcoming two children via surrogacy with her venture capitalist husband Carter Reum. They shocked the world in January 2023 when they announced the arrival of their son Phoenix, and then did so again on Thanksgiving when Paris broke the news that she now had a daughter and had called her London. Although they were forthcoming with their daughters' names, Nicky and James were assiduously private about what they have called their son Teddy is 'definitely' the 'more girly and feminine' of the two sisters, while Lily-Grace is 'more like me, a little more quiet and reserved,' noted Nicky Social media was set ablaze by the baby girl's name, with fans pointing out that the old Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody included a character called London Tipton (Brenda Song) who was an obvious parody of Paris. Paris herself noticed the link between her and the sitcom character years ago, tweeting that she had realized 'London Tipton is basically me.' Meanwhile, Nicky gave an interview recently about the way her and Paris' approach to the holidays has changed since they had children. 'I mean, usually around this time of the year we're trying to figure out what we should do for New Year's Eve, should we go to Vegas?' she told People. 'But this year we're talking about doing a trip with all the children.' Kanye West's team claims about $1.2 million worth of his Yeezy GAP apparel - around 60,000 articles of clothing - has vanished from his warehouse. According to his chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos, the team then found a fan account that was advertising a sale in Los Angeles this Friday where massive amounts of Yeezy GAP clothes could be purchased for $20 apiece. Detectives and cops were dispatched to the sale, where the organizers assured the authorities that they had bought the clothes legitimately. Although the people behind the event insisted they had receipts verifying their side of the story, the police were not able to trace every piece of clothing back to a receipt, law enforcement sources told TMZ. However, as West neglected to file a police report and there were two contradictory narratives at play, the police could not confiscate the clothes. Kanye West 's team claims about $1.2 million worth of his Yeezy GAP apparel - around 60,000 articles of clothing - has vanished from his warehouse West is pictured last month attending the Mami runway show at Milan Fashion Week alongside his second and current wife Bianca Censori West's team has now issued a cease and desist letter to the sale organizers, accusing them of forging the receipts to hoodwink the authorities. Yiannopoulos maintained that West's team would not have allowed a bulk sale of his apparel, and that they themselves had no record of such a sale occurring. Doubling down on the accusation that the clothes were stolen, Yiannopoulos asserted that West's team will file a police report and take any other measures they need to in order to retrieve the missing items. He alleged further that he and his team were of the impression that they had uncovered the identity of one of the people who stole the clothes. Yiannopoulos, an 'ex-gay' media personality who shot to international fame as a right-wing pundit before his association with West, has said the rap star's team will give any leads it uncovers to the authorities. The Yeezy GAP fracas comes days after West and his collaborator Ty Dolla $ign delivered a controversial performance at the Rolling Loud hip-hop festival. West and Ty Dolla $ign worked together on last month's album Vultures 1 and are currently percolating its follow-up effort Vultures 2. When news broke that West would be headlining Rolling Loud, the hip-hop festival found itself faced with a deluge of backlash. The Yeezy GAP fracas comes days after West and his collaborator Ty Dolla $ign delivered a controversial performance at the Rolling Loud hip-hop festival They neglected to rap live at all, opting instead to wander around the stage without microphones while tracks from Vultures 1 played behind them Ty Dolla $ign defended the 'listening experience' to Big Boy TV , boasting: 'Its still better than other people's shows that have a mic' The criticism focused on West's past antisemitic outbursts, including praise for Hitler and a vow to 'go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.' West saw his career implode and his billion-dollar fortune plummet in late 2022 as a result of his string of tirades directed at Jews. When West and Ty Dolla $ign's performance finally took place this week, they neglected to rap live at all, opting instead to wander around the stage without microphones while tracks from Vultures 1 played behind them. Footage from the show indicates that the live audience enjoyed the spectacle, but the two performers were raked over the coals on social media. Ty Dolla $ign defended the 'listening experience' to Big Boy TV, boasting: 'Its still better than other people's shows that have a mic.' Advertisement Sydney Sweeney has made quite a habit of rocking head turning looks on the red carpet but this time she was joined by some very special ladies in her life. The 26-year-old actress was joined by two of her grandmothers and mother Lisa at the Los Angeles premiere of her thriller Immaculate on Friday. The blonde bombshell looked absolutely breathtaking once again as she went braless under an avant-garde white top which resembled a sculpture of hands, flowers, plants, and fruits. She teamed the jaw-dropping artistic top with flowy black trousers and matching heels. Her signature blonde locks were given a wet look as they were combed back and tucked behind her ear other than one strand which hung just over her eye. Sydney Sweeney has made quite a habit of rocking head turning looks on the red carpet but this time she was joined by some very special ladies in her life The 26-year-old actress was joined by two of her grandmothers and mother Lisa (pictured left) at the Los Angeles premiere of her thriller Immaculate on Friday The blonde bombshell looked absolutely breathtaking once again as she went braless under an avant-garde white top which resembled a sculpture of hands, flowers, plants, and fruits Sydney proudly showcased her natural looks with complementary make-up highlighted with heavy mascara and shiny nude lip. The stunner was also joined by castmates Benedetta Porcaroli and Simona Tabasco, who is best known for her work in The White Lotus season 2. No doubt it was a special family moment on the red carpet for Sydney as her two grandmothers were also cast as extras in the film. Last month Sydney revealed the news during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as she said: 'They'd never been to Europe. My grandys dream was to go to Italy, she's never left the country before, and so I surprised them, flew them there, and I let them be extras in the movie.' Sweeney's grandmothers play a pair of 'little old nuns' that live in the same Italian convent as her character Cecilia where the upcoming movie is centered on. The Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actress brought a bunch of photos of her grandmothers on the set of Immaculate to show Fallon and the audience. Fallon loved a photo of one of Sydney's grandmothers in the full nun's habit costume while smoking a cigarette. 'This is my Grandy,' Sweeney explained, while pointing at the photo. 'She's iconic and she needed a smoke break in between takes, so we went outside and I had to capture how amazing she looked.' She teamed the jaw-dropping artistic top with flowy black trousers and matching heels No doubt it was a special family moment on the red carpet for Sydney as her two grandmothers were also cast as extras in the film. Syndey was all smiles as she was given a sweet smooch by one of her beloved grandmothers It was certainly a family affair as Sydney's father Steven was also in attendance Her signature blonde locks were given a wet look as they were combed back and tucked behind her ear other than one strand which hung just over her eye Sydney proudly showcased her natural looks with complementary make-up highlighted with heavy mascara and shiny nude lip as she posed with models dressed as nuns with their faces covered up Sydney was also joined by castmates Benedetta Porcaroli (left) and Simona Tabasco (right), who is best known for her work in The White Lotus season 2 Simona, 29, looked gorgeous in a black tuxedo dress with a thigh-high split Sister Mary Blaze looked fashionable as the Catholic sister has made quite a name for herself on TikTok After the screening, Sydney changed into a white button-up cardigan and black pants to celebrate the film Sydney shared many warm moments with Sister Mary Blaze She got a selfie with her Anyone But You co-star Darren Barnet Sydney addressed the crowd inside the theater She was joined at the front of the theater by director Michael Mohan The synopsis of Immaculate is: 'Cecilia [played by Sweeney], a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets.' In the trailer for the flick Sydney is pictured saying: 'God saved me for a reason. 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.' The synopsis of Immaculate is: 'Cecilia [played by Sweeney], a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets' 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 is set to premiere on March 22 '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. Immaculate is set to premiere on March 22. Steven Tyler faced a lawsuit for alleged sexual assault, sexual battery and more, brought by Julia Misley in December 2022. Now, portions of the case against the 75-year-old rockstar who is dating Aimee Preston, 36 have been dismissed by a Los Angeles court. This week the court ruled that it would nix the parts of Misley's complaint that stated she endured an intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) based on the publications of Tyler's two memoirs. Misley, whose last name was formerly Holcomb, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager in the 70s. She alleged the music legend used his fame and status to 'groom, manipulate, exploit and sexually assault' her. Steven Tyler faced a lawsuit for alleged sexual assault, sexual battery and more, brought by Julia Misley in December 2022 Now, portions of the case against the 75-year-old rockstar have been dismissed by a Los Angeles court She also claimed he plied her with drugs after gaining guardianship from her mother so he could take her on tour with him. In his memoir Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? Tyler wrote that he 'almost took a teen bride' after falling in love with a woman Holcomb alleged is her. 'She was sixteen, she knew how to nasty, and there wasn't a hair on it,' he wrote in the book, which names the girl as 'Diana.' Another extract reads: 'I went and slept at her parents' house for a couple of nights and her parents fell in love with me, signed papers over for me to have custody, so I wouldn't get arrested if I took her out of state. I took her on tour with me.' Misley said the publication 'retraumatized' her and her family, saying in a statement: 'I am grateful for this new opportunity to take action and be heard.' The complaint stated that Misley met Tyler in 1973 after attending an Aerosmith concert in Oregon. She was then invited backstage and later to Tyler's hotel room where she accused the musician of sexually abusing her. He is alleged to have then flown her out to an Aerosmith concert in Seattle where he sexually assaulted her again. The following year, Tyler met with Misley's mother and 'convinced her to sign over the guardianship of her daughter to him.' In April 2023, Tyler told the court that he was Misley's legal guardian at the time, giving him immunity from related laws, past and present. Julia Misley, formerly known as Holcomb, filed a lawsuit over a year ago accusing Steven Tyler of abusing her as a teen Tyler performing with his band Aerosmith in the 70s The court's dismissal comes weeks after a different civil lawsuit accusing the Aerosmith frontman of sexually assaulting a teen model nearly 50 years ago was dismissed by a New York judge, per TMZ. In the November filing, plaintiff Jeanne Bellino claimed that Tyler forcibly kissed, groped and dry-humped her back in 1975 when she was 17 and he was 27. Bellino said the alleged assault left her with life-long physical injury and she sought unspecified damages. The suit was able to be brought against Tyler due to NYC's extended statute of limitations on gender-based violence. But a judge decided that the alleged assault, although distressing, did not 'present a serious risk of physical injury' to Bellino and the lawsuit was thrown out. She had until Wednesday, March 13 to amend her complaint. Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson slammed her mother 'Mama June' Shannon for not contributing to her college tuition on the latest Mama June: Family Crisis. Mama June argued that she was still 'rebuilding her life' after previously depleting her finances during her years of spiraling drug problems. However, Honey Boo Boo, 18, was not convinced, reasoning that Mama June had 'got the money' to buy jewelry for her latest husband Justin Stroud. Honey Boo Boo's sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, 24, and brother-in-law Josh Efird, took on the task of caring for the teen while Mama June fought her addiction. Pumpkin sided with Honey Boo Boo on the tuition issue, theorizing that Mama June was 'just avoiding all motherly responsibilities for Alana.' Alana ' Honey Boo Boo ' Thompson slammed her mother ' Mama June ' Shannon for not contributing to her college tuition Mama June argued that she was still 'rebuilding her life' after previously depleting her finances during her years of spiraling drug problems However, Honey Boo Boo, 18, was not convinced, reasoning that Mama June had 'got the money' to buy jewelry for her latest husband Justin Stroud The problem arose on the episode when Mama June asked whether Honey Boo Boo truly meant to 'truck' through her college education. 'If I didn't give a f*** about you and I didn't care about you succeeding and doing the things you want to do, I wouldn't be saying this,' said Mama June. Pumpkin brought up the subject of tuition, noting that in order to enroll, Honey Boo Boo needed assistance paying for her first semester. Mama June pointed to Honey Boo Boo's Coogan account - a special trust created for child stars to protect their money from potentially unscrupulous parents. The accounts were named after Old Hollywood child star Jackie Coogan, who grew up and shatteringly found out that the fortune he earned in his youth had been squandered by his mother and stepfather. A law was passed requiring that 15% of a child star's pay be placed in a Coogan account that only the child could access, and only upon reaching his majority. At the age of 18, Honey Boo Boo has reached her majority both in Georgia, where she lives, and in California, where she made much of her showbiz money. However the wrinkle in the plan is that Mama June lied to her children, leading them to believe Honey Boo Boo could only access the account at the age of 21. Honey Boo Boo's sister Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, 24, and brother-in-law Josh Efird (pictured), took on the task of caring for the teen while Mama June fought her addiction Pumpkin (pictured) sided with Honey Boo Boo on the tuition issue, theorizing that Mama June was 'just avoiding all motherly responsibilities for Alana' The problem arose on the episode when Mama June asked whether Honey Boo Boo truly meant to 'truck' through her college education 'If I didn't give a f*** about you and I didn't care about you succeeding and doing the things you want to do, I wouldn't be saying this,' said Mama June Pumpkin brought up the subject of tuition, noting that in order to enroll, Honey Boo Boo needed assistance paying for her first semester Mama June pointed to Honey Boo Boo's Coogan account - a special trust created for child stars to protect their money from potentially unscrupulous parents At the age of 18, Honey Boo Boo has reached her majority both in Georgia, where she lives, and in California, where she made much of her showbiz money However the wrinkle in the plan is that Mama June lied to her children, leading them to believe Honey Boo Boo could only access the account at the age of 21 Honey Boo Boo, believing she was unable to get into her Coogan account, asked Mama June to retrieve the money for her. Rather than confess the truth, Mama June simply said she herself had no way of getting into the account but would ask the bank what could be done. Dejected after a failed confab with her mother, Honey Boo Boo complained to Pumpkin that her mother would not help her 'even with a dollar.' She added: 'Maybe she thinks that paying for Justin's chains or something is more important than giving it to me for college. She's stingy when it comes to money.' Honey Boo Boo said further: 'It would have been nice to have her help. I don't know it's like she doesn't believe in me, for real.' Honey Boo Boo, believing she was unable to get into her Coogan account, asked Mama June to retrieve the money for her Rather than confess the truth, Mama June simply said she herself had no way of getting into the account but would ask the bank what could be done Dejected after a failed confab with her mother, Honey Boo Boo complained to Pumpkin that her mother would not help her 'even with a dollar' She added: 'Maybe she thinks that paying for Justin's chains or something is more important than giving it to me for college' Honey Boo Boo said further: 'It would have been nice to have her help,' adding: 'I don't know it's like she doesn't believe in me, for real' In a confessional, Honey Boo Boo noted that 'when it comes to me it's like: "Well, Alana I can't do nothing for you, I don't have the money," and she knows she's got the money"' Meanwhile, during a private conversation with her husband, Mama June laid out her own reasons for refusing to help her daughter with college money 'I'm still rebuilding my life, that is why I have chose to give her some tough love and say: "No, I'm not going to pay for college,"' she said She added that she had placed 80% of Honey Boo Boo's California pay into the Coogan account - a significant amount higher than was legally required 'Truth to be known, Pumpkin may be mad and I'm sorry and the world may be mad and think that I'm the worst person ever...,' Mama June admitted 'I've lied to my children over the years,' said Honey Boo Boo: 'I've lied to them and told them that you can't get your money until you're 21 so they wouldn't blow through it' In a confessional, she noted that Mama June 'can help everyone around her...but it's just like when it comes to me it's like: "Well, Alana I can't do nothing for you, I don't have the money," and she knows she's got the money.' Meanwhile, during a private conversation with her husband, Mama June laid out her own reasons for refusing to help her daughter with college money. 'I'm still rebuilding my life, that is why I have chose to give her some tough love and say: "No, I'm not going to pay for college." It's me wanting her to see the bigger picture,' said Mama June to her hunky hubby. She added that she had placed 80% of Honey Boo Boo's California pay into the Coogan account - a significant amount higher than was legally required. 'Truth to be known, Pumpkin may be mad and I'm sorry and the world may be mad and think that I'm the worst person ever...,' Mama June admitted. 'I've lied to my children over the years. I've lied to them and told them that you can't get your money until you're 21 so they wouldn't blow through it.' Michelle Williams was spotted in New York City on Friday shooting the new FX limited series Dying For Sex. The award-winning actress arrived for the day's shoot looking casual in brown pants with with a green puffer jacket and black leather shoes. Feeling playful, the actress momentarily covered her face and her short dyed blond locks with her long scarf, before pulling it off to converse with a crew member. Based on the hit Wondery podcast of the same name, the miniseries tells the story of Molly (Williams), a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who leaves her husband of 15 years and begins to explore her sexuality, according to Deadline. Ultimately, Molly gets the courage and support to go on this adventure from her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate), who stays by her side all the way to the very end. Michelle Williams was spotted in New York City on Friday night shooting the new FX limited series Dying For Sex The afternoon gave way to the evening and Williams was later joined by a male co-star on set. For her camera time, the costume department had Williams change into blue denim overalls with a black overcoat and white Converse All-Star sneakers. The five-time Oscar-nominated actress was photographed making her way along the bustling streets of New York chatting with her scene partner. Carrying a large dark bag with one arm, Williams and her male co-star would eventually break out into laughter as they stood on the side of the road. While still smiling and laughing, a car pulls up in front of the pair, and Williams' character proceeds to hop in the vehicle to end the scene. Directed by Leslye Headland, who's working from scripts written by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, the cast includes Jenny Slate, Max Darwin, John-Deric Mitchell and Jenni Ruiza. Meriwether and Rosenstock also serve as showrunners and executive producers with Headland, Meriwethers longtime collaborator Katherine Pope, Nikki Boyer, host and co-creator of the Dying for Sex podcast, and Wondery's Jen Sargent, Marshall Lewy, Aaron Hart and Hernan Lopez. The award-winning actress arrived for the day's shoot looking casual in brown pants with with a green puffer jacket and black leather shoes The afternoon gave way to the evening and Williams was later joined by a male co-star on set For her camera time, the costume department had Williams change into blue denim overalls with a black overcoat and white Converse All-Star sneakers Carrying a large dark bag with one arm, Williams and her male co-star would eventually break out into laughter as they stood on the side of the road This is Michelle's first project in two years since she starred in Steven Spielberg's film The Fabelmans (2022) The production has reportedly been in the works for years, but it only just picked up momentum this past spring, but them negotiations temporarily stalled again due to SAG-AFTRA and the WGA strikes. The shoot, which marks her return to acting following her brief hiatus, is her first project since she shot The Fabelmans, Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film about his childhood, in which she played Mitzi Fabelman, a character inspired by his mother. The coming-of-age drama was shot in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, starting in mid-July 2021, and lasting 59 days until ending on the end of September. The role earned the Kalispell, Montana native a number of accolades, including an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations, among many others. Based on the hit Wondery podcast of the same name, the miniseries tells the story of Molly (Williams), a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who leaves her husband of 15 years and begins to explore her sexuality, according to Deadline Ultimately, Molly gets the courage and support to go on this adventure from her best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate), who stays by her side all the way to the very end Directed by Leslye Headland, who's working from scripts written by Elizabeth Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock, the cast includes Jenny Slate, Max Darwin, John-Deric Mitchell and Jenni Ruiza This also marks Williams return to FX, where she starred as Gwen Verdon in the limited series Fosse/Verdon (2019), which earned her an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Williams had previously taken time off from acting years ago in 2012, as reported by Page Six, in order to just focus on being a mom to daughter Matilda, now 18, whom she shared with her late partner, Heath Ledger. The Dawson's Creek alum also has two young kids with husband and theater director Thomas Kail, including a three-year-old son Hart and a second child together they have yet to reveal a name. Jack Black is in Sydney promoting his latest animated feature, Kung Fu Panda 4. And the American actor was hamming it up on the red carpet at the Australian premiere of the film at at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday. Working his angles - and showing off his agility - the comedian posed alongside a performer dressed as the lead character, Master Ping Xiao Po, voiced by Black in the popular film franchise. Jack opted for a black and white long-sleeved shirt paired with white trousers and Crocs sandals. He appeared to be having an absolute ball as he posed at the photo wall, showing off his Kung Fu moves. Jack Black (pictured) is in Sydney promoting his latest animated feature, Kung Fu Panda 4 The American actor was hamming it up on the red carpet at the Australian premiere of the film at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday Working his angles - and showing off his agility - the comedian posed alongside a performer dressed as the lead character, Master Ping Xiao Po, voiced by Black in the film Also putting on a show was Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley who stunned in a red gown. The sleeveless, satin number fanned out around her statuesque figure and she added an edgy touch with silver sneakers. The journalist opted for a rosy makeup look with lots of blush and a red lipstick that matched her frock. Lucia wore her brunettes locks down and straightened and skipped the accessories but for a watch. Jack opted for a black and white long-sleeved shirt paired with white trousers and Crocs sandals He appeared to be having an absolute ball as he posed at the photo wall, showing off his Kung Fu moves Also putting on a show was Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley (pictured) who stunned in a red gown The sleeveless, satin number fanned out around her statuesque figure. The journalist opted for a rosy makeup look with lots of blush and a red lipstick that matched her frock Married At First Sight's Jules Robinson took along her young son Oliver who she carried on her hip. The former reality star, who is expecting her second child with husband Cameron Merchant, glowed in a fitted white dress under a colourful light trench. Sally Obermeder took along her kids too, with the television host looking radiant in a black top paired with white trousers and a designer belt. . She added a pair of flat sandals and wore a smattering of accessories while going for a warm makeup look. Married At First Sight's Jules Robinson (pictured) took along her young son Oliver who she carried on her hip The former reality star, who is expecting her second child with husband Cameron Merchant, glowed in a fitted white dress under a colourful light trench Sally Obermeder (pictured) took along her kids too, with the television host looking radiant in a black top paired with white trousers and a designer belt Kyly Clarke (pictured) made it a mum and daughter date night alongside her little girl Kelsey Lee. The former WAG and interior designer looked chic in a loose white boho frock Kyly Clarke made it a mum and daughter date night alongside her little girl Kelsey Lee. The former WAG and interior designer looked chic in a loose white dress with a boho silhouette. She added a pair of brown and tan espadrilles and statement earrings as well as a blue designer purse. Meanwhile, Lucia, who works as a reporter, was doing double duty as she interviewed Jack on the red carpet ahead of the screening for 7Bravo. Hawley is the host of 7Bravo and face of Live From E! red carpet coverage in Australia. Meanwhile, Lucia, who works as a reporter, was doing double duty as she interviewed Jack on the red carpet ahead of the screening for 7Bravo Rosie Ramsey appeared on top of the world as she shared her gratitude with fans after co-presenting Comic Relief on Friday night. The podcast host, 37, made her first live television appearance for the famous charity night and couldn't believe the achievement as she gushed in an Instagram post on Saturday morning. Rosie was honoured to host the live telethon which raised a whopping 38,631,548M, however she did admit she missed her husband, comedian Chris Ramsey, who is usually by her side. Taking to social media she exclaimed: 'Did last night actually happen?!? Thank you so much for having me @comicrelief and letting me s***e my big girl pants on my biggest AND FIRST (probably last) live telly job! (Jesus, no pressure right?!?) 'Thanks to everyone who watched and donated. 38 million! Just wow.' Comic Relief presenter Rosie Ramsey, 37, has shared her overwhelming gratitude after her first live television performance for the charity night on Friday... but admits she missed her comedian husband Chris Sharing a group selfie with fellow presenters Sir Lenny Henry, Maya Jama and Paddy McGuinness she continued: 'I have to thank all the other presenters who genuinely couldnt have been nicer to me' Sharing a group selfie with fellow presenters Sir Lenny Henry, Maya Jama and Paddy McGuinness she continued: 'I have to thank all the other presenters who genuinely couldnt have been nicer to me. 'You all looked after me and gave me so many words of encouragement, Ill never forget that. So, thank you '. Thanking her glam team and runnner she wrote: 'My lush runner was called Zara and she is the best runner Ive ever had!' Yet the star also admitted she missed having her husband by her side. She added: 'Ps. @iamchrisramsey I actually missed you a little bit NGL. x' The pair present their chart-topping podcast Sh*gged, Married, Annoyed together and have now hosted two series of The Chris and Rosie Ramsey Show on BBC One. Rosie looked fabulous for the evening as she opted for a red power suit, adorned with pink embroidery around the edges. She swept her blonde locks back in a high ponytail as she shared a behind the scenes snap of some intense hairspraying. Rosie was honoured to host the live telethon which raised a whopping 38,631,548M, however she did admit she missed her husband Taking to social media she exclaimed: 'Did last night actually happen?!?' as she thanked the whole team Rosie looked fabulous for the evening as she opted for a red power suit, adorned with pink embroidery around the edges She swept her blonde locks back in a high ponytail as she shared a behind the scenes snap of some intense hairspraying Meanwhile Sir Lenny tearfully took his final bow after hosting his Comic Relief for the last time after 39-years on Friday. After being branded 'irreplaceable' by his co-hosts Lenny, 65, said: 'Its been incredible. Utterly incredible it is people at home that do this, I am moved and finding it difficult to hold it together so thank you'. After thanking fellow founded Richard Curtis he continued: 'I'm actually speechless thank you all so much and thank you, never give up caring or giving, I send my love to all of you, you have been brilliant goodnight'. Earlier in the show Sir Lenny again broke down in tears as he looked back at his 39-years of hosting the annual fundraiser. It was revealed he'd had help raise a whopping 1.5B since his first telethon in 1988 and was joined by A-listers including Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd. Sir Lenny watched clips of previous families that had been helped by the charity alongside Richard Curtis. The comedian, 65, was left speechless as he was honoured during the live telethon which raised a whopping 38,631,548M Sir Lenny pictured hosting Comic relief in 1991 Seeing Aberash from Ethiopia who battled HIV he said, struggling to contain his emotion: 'I couldn't bare this' as he young son came to her bedside in 1995. Learning the woman was alive and well thanks to the charity, tearful Lenny told viewers: 'They survived because of everybody, mums, cab drivers, cub scouts all donating'. Back in the studio he was then left 'speechless' when a huge number of the studio audience were revealed to have all been helped by Comic Relief. Lenny was also shown a video from Aberash alongside her son who was now a grown man, in shock the host threw his hand to his mouth. He said: 'I am speechless, thank you so much for organising this'. Alec Baldwin appeared downcast while stepping out in Manhattan with a grim look on his face on Friday afternoon. While arriving to an attorney's office amid his legal troubles, the 65-year-old actor kept his head down as he attempted to fly under the radar in a black sherpa-lined jacket, charcoal grey pants and sneakers. His latest sighting comes after his lawyer, Alex Spiro, filed new legal documents to be let off the hook in the Rust manslaughter case. Baldwin and Spiro are arguing that the grand jury process was rigged by the Santa Fe County D.A.'s office, alleging that they added seven witnesses who were biased. Alec Baldwin appeared downcast while stepping out in Manhattan with a grim look on his face on Friday afternoon The filing reportedly claimed that three of the witnesses were on the DA's payroll, two of them were from Santa Fe Sheriff's Office and one was suing him in a civil case. It is also alleged that the FBI tested the pistol used in the fatal scene that killed Halyna Hutchins, and that the DA failed to present all the evidence from the testing. The documents also allege that the testing showed that the revolver did fire without the trigger being pulled when fully loaded, just as they were on the day of the tragedy. During the trial of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed earlier this year, agent Bryce Ziegler said he had to break the gun with a mallet to get it to fire without using the trigger. Ziegler, appearing for the prosecution, said that couldn't have happened on the set of Rust because the gun was in working order when it came to him. His analysis contradicts claims by Baldwin that he only pulled back the hammer on the vintage-looking pistol. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, was the armorer for Rust and was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Hutchins. The verdict spells trouble for Baldwin when he goes on trial in July in the same courthouse for involuntary manslaughter. If found guilty he faces 18 months in jail. While arriving to an attorney's office amid his legal troubles, the 65-year-old actor kept his head down as he attempted to fly under the radar in a black sherpa-lined jacket, charcoal grey pants and sneakers His latest sighting comes after his lawyer, Alex Spiro, filed new legal documents to be let off the hook in the Rust manslaughter case Baldwin was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter but the allegations were dropped in April last year. He was dramatically charged again last month and pleaded not guilty. The shooting happened in October 2021 after two weeks of filming while Baldwin was practicing drawing out his gun from the holster. He opened fire on Hutchins, 42, a married mother-of-one whose son was nine at the time, and the bullet went through her and lodged in the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who survived and testified in court. During the trial of Gutierrez-Reed, prosecutors painted a damning portrait of a film that was in a state of 'rushed chaos.' The night before the incident, six members of the camera crew quit because of their concerns over safety. Gutierrez-Reed's defense was to blame everyone but her, but especially Baldwin. Her lawyer, Jason Bowles, said Baldwin was the 'big boss' on set that nobody stood up to even though he rushed people and ignored safety checks because Rust, which he was a producer on, had a tight budget. The jury heard that Baldwin commissioned director Souza to write the script, which he owned the rights to. Baldwin was the lead actor on the movie and was also a producer. Bowles called Gutierrez-Reed, who was just 24 at the time of the incident, a 'scapegoat' for wider failings that led the New Mexico safety regulator to issue a $136,000 fine to the producers for 'willful and serious' safety failings. Bowles told the court that Baldwin himself made the set unsafe by waving his gun like a 'pointing stick' at people. Baldwin pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer Halyna Hutchins earlier this year A behind the scenes video from the filming showed Baldwin demanding a second shot immediately after one that just finished. He was heard saying: 'Right away! Right away! Let's reload. Here we go, come on! We should have two guns, both reloading.' Asked if that kind of conduct was typical, Carpenter said no, adding that it put pressure on the armorer to stand up to him. Moments later, after the director shouted cut, Baldwin let loose another blank round while standing next to the 12-year-old actor. Carpenter said that when somebody yells cut, nothing else should be fired and that Baldwin 'went off script.' Baldwin could have used a Nerf gun in the scene where he accidentally shot Hutchins dead because it was just a rehearsal known as blocking, the jury heard. But Baldwin insisted on using the real guns, known as his 'hero props', because he preferred them, just like he preferred the most powerful dummies possible because they were more realistic. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 26, (pictured above) was the armorer for Rust and was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting of Hutchins In his opening statement, Bowles said that Baldwin 'violated basic gun safety' by pointing the gun at Hutchins because he didn't intend to shoot at her. He said: 'The primary thing here was rush, get this thing so we can get the money and that's all on production and Mr. Baldwin is one of the primary producers. That's on them. Miss Gutierrez-Reed had no control over that.' During cross-examination of Addiego, Bowles asked: 'Did you ever stand up to Mr Baldwin and say we're not going to move this fast?' Addiego said it was 'not my job' and he didn't recall 'anybody standing up to Mr Baldwin on the set of Rust.' 'He's running the show, he's the big boss, right?' Bowles said. 'He's number one, so yes,' Addiego said. The criminal case is not the only court proceedings resulting from the shooting of Hutchins. In 2022 Baldwin settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by Matthew Hutchins, the widow of Hutchins, and the father of their son. Under the terms Rust continued production at a new location in Montana and Matthew Hutchins, who has called his wife's death a 'terrible accident,' is an executive producer. No date has yet been set for the film's release. Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin gave a rare insight about her personal life while opening up about her marriage to Ira Kunyansky on Friday night. While attending Clarins' Multi-active product launch party in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old actress, who tied the knot last year during a lavish ceremony surrounded by friends and family, spoke about being a wife and how she spends her time with her man, who is a self-described crypto connoisseur. 'I get to hang out with my best friend all the time, which is really fun,' Breslin told People. 'I hate that he takes the blankets and doesn't keep his sink clean enough, that's my biggest issue, but my best thing is that he is my best friend and I love going to hang out with him for the rest of my life.' She went on to reveal they are 'big gamers' and love 'going to arcades together.' Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin gave a rare insight about her personal life while opening up about her marriage to Ira Kunyansky on Friday night; seen on Friday night Additionally, the pair are 'very obsessed with Dateline and 2020' and tuning into 'any murder mystery things.' 'There's this YouTube channel called the Impossible Channel and we watch all of the creepy videos online,' she confessed. 'Most people get creeped out, but we fall asleep through that.' Breslin, then, mused: 'So it's like we're creepy together. We're just creepy people.' Ira and Abigail had been together for nearly five years before getting engaged in February 2022. She and Ira held their nuptials at the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley, California, a suburban area just north of Los Angeles County. In January 2023, Breslin announced she was a married woman while sharing a photo from their big day, which she captioned: 'Ya girl got married y'all.' Meanwhile her husband shared a photo from the wedding ceremony to his Instagram feed. 'Love my other second half @abbienormal9,' he captioned the post. While attending Clarins' Multi-active product launch party in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old actress, who tied the knot last year during a lavish ceremony surrounded by friends and family, spoke about being a wife and how she spends her time with her man, who is a self-described crypto connoisseur Ira and Abigail had been together for nearly five years before getting engaged in February 2022 Abigail stunned in a beautiful white gown with a form-fitting top, dramatic tulle sleeves and a princess bottom, while Ira could be seen in a black tuxedo behind her. The beauty's blonde tresses were styled in light curls, with a braided crown adorning the back of her head. Ira also took to his Stories to repost a number of photos and a video taken by their guests, that showed them kissing at the altar as well as their first dance. In another reposted snap the couple were seen underneath a green altar adorned with pink roses. 'I get to hang out with my best friend all the time, which is really fun,' Breslin told People. 'I hate that he takes the blankets and doesn't keep his sink clean enough, that's my biggest issue, but my best thing is that he is my best friend and I love going to hang out with him for the rest of my life' (seen in 2022) She went on to reveal they are 'big gamers' and love 'going to arcades together' (pictured in 2023) Another photo saw Abigail sitting down at her table during the wedding reception while her husband stood beside her. In another photo Kunyansky showed off his dapper outfit as he posed for a photo with a friend. Previously, she shared she is a survivor of domestic violence and that her previous abusive relationship made her feel like she 'deserved less than dirt.' She made the decision to tell her story during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 2022 and expressed her hope to help 'some people feel a little bit less alone.' Breslin found fame in 2006 when she starred in the film Little Miss Sunshine and has had roles in films like Stillwater (2021), My Sister's Keeper (2009), Definitely, Maybe (2008) and shows like Scream Queens (2015). Gogglebox stars were left in tears on Friday night as they tuned into the latest episode of Casualty. The popular show aired at 9pm on Channel 4 and saw the cast witness a gripping episode of the hospital show, which featured a 20-car pile-up, explosions, and a beloved character stabbed. As Gogglebox aired the final scene, emotions ran high as a seemingly innocent roadside breakdown escalated into chaos, with a young boy narrowly avoiding disaster and a thug triggering a massive explosion. The heart-wrenching scenes culminated in the shocking moment when beloved character Charlie was viciously stabbed, leaving fans reeling with uncertainty about his fate. With the future of fan-favourite Charlie in jeopardy, stars including Jenny Newby and mother-son duo Elaine and Seb, were unable to control their emotions and were seen wiping away tears. Gogglebox stars were left in tears on Friday night as they watched the latest episode of Casualty The popular show aired at 9pm on Channel 4 and saw the cast witness a gripping episode of the hospital show, which featured a 20-car pile-up, explosions, and beloved character Charlie (pictured) stabbed Jenny, visibly moved by the events, expressed her deep affection for Charlie and called out for a double episode to process the emotional rollercoaster, reflecting the sentiments of many viewers. Fans took to X formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughts. 'Love Jenny's ''Charlie please'' wrote one follower. 'Did he stab Charlie?' questioned another shocked viewer. A third vocal user wrote: 'F**k me, I've not even watched Casualty since the 90s and I'm shocked as s**t they've killed off legend Charlie!!!!' A fourth wrote: 'I've watched #Casualty for almost 15 years...15 years I have grown up and watched Charlie Fairhead - I am NOT ready at all. Just let him go alive and happy please :((' followed by a heart break emoji. However, others commented on how far fetched Casualty had turned. One user wrote: 'Christ Casualty has become far-fetched'. Another wrote: 'How do people watch this c**p so farfetched'. Stars including Jenny Newby and mother-son duo Elaine and Seb (pictured), were unable to control their emotions and were seen wiping away tears Jenny, visibly moved by the events, expressed her deep affection for Charlie and called out for a double episode to process the emotional rollercoaster Fans took to X formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughts on the intense and shocking episode where Charlie ended up stabbed and in hospital A third frustrated viewer wrote: 'So when the hell did casualty turn into final destination 2?' Reports suggest character Charlie Fairhead may depart the show after 38 years, with the official BBC Casualty X account posting on Saturday: 'After 38 years and over 900 #Casualty episodes, it's finally time to say goodbye to our Charlie. Don't miss Charlie's final chapter. Tonight 9:25pm on @BBCOne'. The actor - played by Derek Thompson - is preparing to bow out as the clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the BBC medical drama during its first series on September 6 1986. Speaking to OK! Derek, now 75, told how the part had originally been outlined as a short-term job by show producers. He said: 'I never envisaged I'd stay 38-years. I originally signed up for three years, but it soon became apparent what a great character he was to play. 'Medicine and television have both changed a lot since I started. But the basics are still there the reception area and desk where people roll up is still performing the same function it did on my first day.' Reports suggest character Charlie Fairhead may depart the show after 38 years, with the official BBC Casualty X account posting a cryptic message on Saturday The actor is preparing to bow out as clinical nurse Charlie Fairhead after joining the BBC medical drama during its first series on September 6 1986 He's set to leave Casualty as its longest serving star, but Derek Thompson admits his beloved character was supposed to leave the show decades ago Refusing to give away any spoilers about Saturday night's episode he added: 'I don't want to spoil it by saying whether or not he survives, but everything felt heightened when I filmed my last scenes. 'It felt like one of those big emotional moments in your life, like the birth of a child or your wedding. 'This final story really does create a realism, which will poke people in the eye and say, 'This really is painful for these people, and yet they struggle on.' The actor confirmed his departure after the programme's episodes were dramatically reduced due to costs at the BBC. However, he won't be absent from screens for long because he has already been snapped up by another BBC drama and is set to appear in upcoming weeks. Derek Thompson will be featured in the second series of the BBC's hit drama Blue Lights, returning to his hometown of Belfast. The new role is a massive shift for the actor who has only made limited appearances in other shows outside of Casualty in the last 37 years. Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brien may have looked like they were enjoying themselves during their 'horny sex scenes' in the new thriller Love Lies Bleeding, but behind the scenes, it was all work. O'Brien, 35, stars as body builder Jackie who meet's Stewart's Lou, when she goes to the gym Lou manages in a desert town near the US-Mexico border, for a workout on her way to Las Vegas in 1989 for a competition. In an interview with People, the former police officer admitted her love scenes with Stewart and co-star Dave Franco were hot, but not the way most viewers might think. 'We're filming in Albuquerque. It's hot, it's in the summer it's like 112 degrees,' she explained. 'So we feel sweaty and gross, and we just hope that we're not stinky and everything,' adding, 'It doesn't feel as sexy in the moment.' Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brien may have looked like they were enjoying themselves during their 'horny sex scenes' in the new thriller Love Lies Bleeding, but behind the scenes, it was all work And while the coupling may look intimate on screen, in reality the actors were surrounded by crew members. 'It's just so not glamorous, and it's really not that sexy when you're doing it,' she maintained. 'I mean, first of all, you've got a boom-mic guy that's got his microphone hovering over you while it's all happening.' Director Rose Glass, who joined in the interview, agreed. 'You're usually worrying more about something like the camera falling on the actors and killing them and hoping that doesn't happen, and forgetting the fact that, oh yeah, they're simulating sex.' And while their actions on the big screen may look spontaneous, each move is choreographed and agreed to before the cameras begin to roll. 'We stick with the script for those scenes, because with intimate scenes there's massive approvals that go into everything.' 'If anything changes,' she said, 'we have to go back and sign more paperwork. We just had to approve it all ahead of time.' O'Brien, 35, stars as body builder Jackie who becomes the love interest of Stewart's character, Lou, in the thriller (Pictured in Los Angeles March 5) In an interview with People , the former police officer admitted her love scenes with Stewart and co-star Dave Franco were hot, but not the way most viewers might think. 'We're filming in Albuquerque. It's hot, it's in the summer it's like 112 degrees,' she explained Intimacy coordinators Christine McHugh and Rebekah Wiggins made sure privates were protected by using modesty garments during the simulated nude scenes. Some were similar to the garment John Cena wore when he presented the Best Costume Design award at the Oscars. Others were put together on the set. 'Our intimacy coordinator wanted to make sure I had lots of layers between me and Kristen, so she would tape down one layer of fabric, especially in our first bedroom scene, where you have to see the side of me, so we can't have underwear on,' she said. 'I think there was another layer, and there was literally a cut-out yoga mat that she put over me, and taped that down,' she added. There was one incident in which the sweaty conditions created a mishap in a scene, in which Stewart was supposed to remove O'Brien's pants. O'Brien said intimacy coordinators applied protective garments during the sex scenes and all of the moves were choreographed and agreed to in advance The actresses were surrounded by crew members while shooting the scenes. 'You've got a boom-mic guy that's got his microphone hovering over you while it's all happening' the actress explained 'It was so hot that every time Kristen would pull the pants off, everything would just pull right off. So finally we're just like, 'Can we just do this with one layer? Do we really need a diaper?' the actress asked. For her sex scene with co-star Dave Franco, the intimacy coordinators used a 'deflated yoga ball' as 'a buffer.' 'There was some funny little experimenting with protection,' she said with a laugh, adding, 'It just felt really not sexy and very silly.' Love Lies Bleeding is in theaters nationwide after opening in a limited release. Coronation Street's Bill Roache is reportedly set to get a new on-screen love interest. Known as one of the cobbles' biggest lotharios, the 91-year-old soap star has played Ken Barlow for 64 years and has been married three times. After being single for near a decade following the death of his beloved wife Deirdre in 2015, Bill is set to form a new romance with Helen Lederer. The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 69, filmed her guest scenes earlier this year and is set to appear on the cobbles next month, according to The Sun. A TV source told The Sun: 'Despite being Weatherfield's oldest resident Ken still has an eye for the ladies and his character is very charming. Coronation Street 's Bill Roache is set to get a new on-screen love interest. The 91-year-old soap star , has played Ken Barlow for 64 years and has been married three times After being single for near a decade, after his latest marriage to Deirdre ended in a tragic off-screen death in 2015, Bill is set to get the sparks going with Helen Lederer 'Corrie stars are paid per episode so this storyline will help boost Bill's earnings. 'Bosses know what he's going through and bringing in Helen as Ken's new love interest will mean more air time, which means more cash.' MailOnline has approched Bill's and Coronation Street's representatives for a comment. It comes after the actor was given a three month deadline to clear his huge tax debt in order to 'allow for the sale of property' on Monday. William earns a reported 250,000 a year playing Ken Barlow on the long-running soap but has racked up a half-a-million debt to the taxman. He entered an agreement in 2018 to clear the 588,015.18 bill, but according to reports last month he has only paid 41,666.65 so far. Bill is looking to sell off some property to clear the debt with The Sun reporting in February a prospective buyer had pulled out of a deal. The High Court has now given him a 12-week adjournment in order to 'allow for the sale of property'. The Absolutely Fabulous actress, 69, filmed her guest scenes earlier this year and is set to appear on the cobbles next month, according to the Sun It comes after the actor was given a three month deadline to clear his huge tax debt in order to 'allow for the sale of property' on Monday Bill was made an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity Bill did not appear at a specialist hearing, where lawyers for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) said the sum the actor owes - which was not disclosed in court - has been reduced due to payments made. Jacquille Jarrett, for HMRC, said Bill had asked for a 12-week adjournment, which was unopposed, to 'allow for the sale of property'. Retired Insolvency and Companies Court judge Stephen Baister granted the adjournment and said Bill's case will return in June. 'Splendid,' Dr Baister said at the end of the hearing, which lasted less than a minute, at the High Court in London. Bill is best known for his portrayal of Ken Barlow in the ITV soap for more than 60 years after making his debut in its first episode in 1960. He has wed three times during his sex decades on the show with Deirdre (played by Anne Kirkbride) being the most memorable. They were first married in 1981 and their relationship was rocky to be say the least. Shortly after tying the knot for the first time, Deirdre had an affair with Mike Baldwin (played by Johnny Briggs) after she found Ken boring. And while the relationship miraculously survived, it soon came to a devastating end when after Ken had an affair with his secretary Wendy Cozier (Roberta Kerr) in 1989. They divorced in the 80s only to remarry in 2005 which tragically ended after her off-screen death in 2015, in the wake of the passing of actress Anne Kirkbride. Before Deirdre, Ken was briefly married to Janet (Judith Barker) in 1973. After the death of his first wife, Ken married Janet soon after so that his twins would have a lovely mother. But, the pair would often not see eye-to-eye, with Janet not keen on having the kids at home and also disappointed by Kens lack of ambition. In 1977, Janet turned up on Kens doorstep asking him to take her back but he refused, which led her to taking taking her own life. Valerie (Anne Reid) was Kens first wife and mother to Peter (Chris Gascoyne) and Susan (Joanna Foster). They got married in 1962 and were smitten until her devastating accidental death in 1971. Ken then agreed to take a teaching position in Jamaica and the family were preparing to emigrate. While getting ready for her own going away party, Valerie was electrified by a faulty hairdryer. Bill, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest serving TV soap star in the world, was made an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list in December 2021 for his services to drama and charity. Last month, friends from Bill's spiritual group claimed he was 'doing fine' as he 'faces bankruptcy' for a second time, according to The Mirror. At a Stride for Truth group meeting, one member said they were '100% supporting' Bill. The organisation, which strives for world peace and enlightenment, meets in a room above a foot clinic in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Bill, who is now the highest paid member of the cast, earning around 250k a year, 'owes the taxman nearly 550,000'. The Sun published his six-figure debt, just weeks after it was revealed he's facing bankruptcy for a second time. Bill initially owed 588,015.18 and entered a 2018 agreement to clear it, but the High Court papers obtained by the publication claim he has only paid 41,666.65. He had until last month to pay the full amount of 546,348.53, and now faces a High Court battle in March. Bill's interest payments come to 14,699, while he also faces late-payment fines of more than 8,000, which are both included in the total. A spokesperson for Coronation Street told the Mirror: 'We're really sorry to hear of Bill's financial situation. Bill has an ongoing contract with Coronation Street and remains a much loved member of the cast.' Hugh Bonneville's new flame Claire Rankin reportedly liked 25 of his Instagram photos a whopping five years before he split from wife Lulu Williams. The Downton Abbey star, 60, who parted from his wife of 25-years last September, was spotted for the first time with Canadian actress Claire 53, earlier this week after they were said to have enjoyed a string of dates. But now according to The Sun Claire had been pouring over a string of the actor's photos long before his split. The publication reports that she began liking the snaps shortly after her ex-husband and Hugh's former co-star Josh Randall wed The Inbetweeners star Kacey Clarke in 2018. Claire, who divorced the actor in 2011 after 11-years of marriage, is said to have given the thumbs up to photos of Hugh as he rehearsed play 2019 Shadowlands as well as his TV appearance alongside Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy at the 2023 King's Coronation. Hugh Bonneville 's new flame Claire Rankin reportedly liked 25 of his Instagram photos a whopping five years before he split from wife Lulu Williams (Claire and Hugh pictured earlier this week) The Downton Abbey star parted from his wife of 25-years last September (pictured together in 2022) She also liked 19 of Hugh's online posts in 2019 alone. MailOnline have contacted Hugh and Claire's reps for comment. When they were spotted together this week an onlooker said the new couple 'looked happy together' while linking arms as they departed a luxury restaurant. Hugh recently delivered a reading to the young winners of a BBC writing competition with Claire in the audience. On Wednesday, they were said to have enjoyed dinner with Hugh's Downton co-star Michelle Dockery. On Friday, Claire shared a photo taken at the airport as she prepared to return to Canada. The actress, from Prince Edward Island, began acting in Shakespeare plays in the 90s and appeared on shows including Ally McBeal, Without A Trace and House. MailOnline has contacted representatives of Hugh Bonneville for comment. The pair were spotted for the first time with Canadian actress Claire earlier this week after they were said to have enjoyed a string of dates Claireis said to have given the thumbs up to photos of Hugh as he rehearsed play Shadowlands as well as his TV appearance alongside Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy at the 2023 King's Coronation According reports that she began liking the snaps shortly after her ex-husband and Hugh's former co-star Josh Randall (pictured together) wed The Inbetweeners star Kacey Clarke in 2018 Josh and Hugh appeared together in US sitcom Courting Alex nearly 20 years ago A spokesperson for Hugh confirmed in September that he and his ex Lulu, who lived together for 25 years at their home in West Sussex, ended their marriage. However, it seems the split has not been smooth sailing, with a source revealing: 'It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing.' Lulu often accompanied her husband to premieres and film sets and her recent absence sparked rumours the pair were having troubles. The actor, famous for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, had never shied away from expressing his love for Lulu, having previously called her his 'bedrock' and 'anchor' and crediting his wife for being the backbone of their household. A source told The Sun: 'Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year. He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned and relaxed.' Hugh recently delivered a reading to the young winners of a BBC writing competition with Claire in the audience A spokesperson for Hugh confirmed in September that he and his ex Lulu, who lived together for 25 years at their home in West Sussex, ended their marriage (pictured together in 2017) The heartbreak came just five years after the couple renewed their vows at Graceland chapel in Las Vegas. In previous interviews Bonneville claimed he was 'completely indebted' to his wife for the way she supported him throughout his career while looking after their son Felix, 20, who himself has enjoyed success on the screen. 'Lulu's priority has been to be a bedrock for Felix and me and I'm completely indebted to her,' he said. Maria Thattil has opened up about her decision to pose naked on the cover of this week's Stellar Magazine. The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, is seen lying naked while spread out on bedsheets which barely conceal her modesty in the very racy photo shoot. Thattil told the publication that women who are 'confident' with their bodies are often devalued by society and she was looking to challenge that norm. 'I think women are held to standards of scrutiny that make us feel like, to be taken seriously or to get ahead, we need to be palatable. We can't be too sexy and show skin,' she began. 'It is this concept of society wanting us to believe that bodily autonomy will devalue us, or it will cancel out our intelligence, our vision, or our capacity for impact.' Maria Thattil, 31, (pictured) has opened up about her decision to pose naked on the cover of this week's Stellar Magazine Maria added it was her choice to flaunt her genetically blessed body for the shoot because she was proud of what she has achieved and won't apologise for it, stating she felt confident in her own skin. Elsewhere in the interview, Maria revealed while she is open about her new romance, there are things she keeps private to protect her growing relationship. Thattil is dating AFLW star Moana Hope and the pair have been spotted together at many red carpet events and seen cuddling up on social media. Thattil said women who are 'confident' with their bodies are often devalued by society and she was looking to challenge that norm The couple have been dating for the past few months following Moana's split from her ex-wife, Isabella, with whom she shares two children. And things are reportedly getting serious between the lovebirds. Maria has even introduced her father to her new love, as he was recently photographed sitting with them while they enjoyed a meal together. In September, Moana slammed criticism herself and Maria had got together too soon following her split. Moana split-up with Isabella in May 2022, explaining they'd tried 'everything to get their relationship back on track' but she 'didn't feel the same as she used to'. Maria also recently went through a high-profile breakup, after she and her TikTok star ex-girlfriend Jorgia O'Hare, announced their split in June. Maria added it was her choice to flaunt her genetically blessed body for the shoot because she is proud of what she has achieved and won't apologise for it Sources say the star's salary may have been too high for BBC bosses to justify For 38 years, he has been the stalwart of BBC drama Casualty. No longer. Senior charge nurse Charlie Fairhead left viewers in tears as he finally departed the accident and emergency department of the fictional Holby City Hospital after a near four-decade shift. But it could have been worse. Fans had been left fearing Charlie, played by Derek Thompson since the show's inception in 1986, would die after he was stabbed in the previous cliffhanger episode by a drugs dealer. Instead, he survived and promptly retired. Sources say Thompson's fate was sealed because his salary between 349,999 and 399,999 a year was too high for BBC chiefs to justify after axing Casualty spin-off Holby City and Doctors. Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal the BBC is to turn to the popular Barney Walsh to fill the void left by Thompson, 75. Walsh, the son of actor and presenter Bradley Walsh, joined the show last year, playing hapless staff nurse Cameron 'Cam' Mickelthwaite. Senior charge nurse Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) left viewers in tears as he finally departed the fictional Holby City Hospital Sources say Thompson's fate was sealed because his salary between 349,999 and 399,999 a year was too high for BBC chiefs Thompson will now join another BBC drama, Blue Lights, which follows a group of rookie police officers in Northern Ireland Bosses believe they can cash in on his high profile. He presents Gladiators on the BBC, and has appeared on ITV productions Breaking Dad and The Larkins alongside his father. In Charlie's absence, Cam would have bigger storylines and, executives hope, he would pull in younger viewers. Walsh, 26, was also approached to star in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, but has turned it down. A BBC insider said: 'Charlie was a bit of a rubbish nurse when he first arrived, as is Cam, which is why this makes it all such a lovely idea from the bosses. They think that turning Cam into the 'face of the nurses' in lieu of Charlie is a no-brainer. His popularity has soared so much since Gladiators so it would mean he would be given bigger storylines and he would be used more, to stop anyone else grabbing him.' On last night's episode, Cam was an integral part of saving Charlie's life. He found him gravely ill and alerted his colleague Stevie Nash portrayed by actress Elinor Lawless who performed life-saving surgery on him. After coming round, Charlie was joined at his bedside by his best friend, Josh Griffiths played by actor Ian Bleasdale. He quit the show in 2007, appearing only occasionally since then. The pair then drove off in a yellow Beetle, along with cans attached to it and a sign in the back window that said: 'Just retired.' Fans also learned that Charlie saved the life of Stevie's father when she was a young girl. Speaking of his departure, Thompson said: 'I never envisaged that I'd stay 38 years. I originally signed up for three years, but it soon became apparent what a great character he was to play. 'Medicine and television have both changed a lot since I started. But the basics are still there the reception area and desk where people roll up is still performing the same function it did on my first day.' Thompson will now join another BBC drama, Blue Lights, which follows a group of rookie police officers in Northern Ireland. Stacey Dooley looked super cool in bright orange hair and black combat boots as she left the BBC studios on Saturday. The presenter, 37, appeared to have had a recent re-dye as her locks were blinding and she turned up the orange factor with orange-tinted sunglasses. She wore a fur-look brown jumper and a black satchel across her shoulders, finishing her look with heavy black boots. Stacey sweetly stopped to take a selfie with a fan who held his phone far in front of him as Stacey made an animated expression. Her visit to BBC comes after her husband, former Strictly dancer Kevin Clifton, took to social media to show off a dye job of his own. Stacey Dooley, 37, looked super cool in bright orange hair and black combat boots as she left the BBC studios on Saturday The presenter appeared to have had a recent re-dye as her locks were blinding and she turned up the orange factor with orange-tinted sunglasses She wore a fur-look brown jumper and a black satchel across her shoulders, finishing her look with heavy black boots The usually brown-haired Kevin, 41, appeared to be a lighter shade grey in a selfie shared with Instagram followers. But the professional dancer admitted he had only dyed it to match his naturally greying facial hair. The change comes after documentary maker Stacey, 37, admitted she hired an entire trailer to 'drag' her husband Kevin Clifton and their daughter, 14 months, around America while filming her new project. The documentary maker, 37, has returned for another series of Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over USA in which she meets a variety of extraordinary families. Stacey uploaded a photo of the trailer on Instagram, named 'Minnie Winnie' and wrote: 'I had to hire an entire trailer and drag it across America. 'I just wasnt ready to be away from Minnie. Kev had to live in here for 3 weeks reading the same tiger book over and over. It was chaos but also so fun.' The series sees Stacey stay over for 72 hours at the house of an unusual family, with the latest three-part run filmed in the US. Stacey and Kevin have been together since 2019 - the year after they won Strictly Come Dancing. Stacey gave birth to the couple's daughter Minnie in January 2023. Stacey was make-up free for the trip and rocked silver earrings, but the sleeves of her jumper concealed her hands Stacey put her hand in her pocket and then looked downwards to ensure she didn't trip over her long trousers Stacey sweetly stopped to take a selfie with a fan who held his phone far in front of him as Stacey made an animated expression The change comes after documentary maker Stacey, 37, admitted she hired an entire trailer to 'drag' her husband Kevin Clifton and daughter, 14-months, around America while filming her new project Tom Holland flashed a peace sign as he headed to a three-hour 'chemistry reading' with Juliet hopeful Francesca Amewudah-Rivers on Saturday. The Spider-Man actor, 27, will portray Romeo Montague Jamie Lloyd's Romeo & Juliet at the Duke Of York theatre from May to August. His castmates have not yet been announced but Francesca, best known for her work in Bad Education, is thought to have bagged the lead role. Tom was confirmed to be appearing in the remake in February and tickets completely sold out in a matter of hours. The chemistry reading comes after he put the ongoing rumours he had split from actress Zendaya to bed once and for all. Tom Holland, 27, flashed a peace sign as he headed to a three-hour 'chemistry reading' with Juliet hopeful Francesca Amewudah-Rivers on Saturday The Oxford University alumna wore light blue jeans and a navy blue coat and wrapped up warm in a black and white scarf Split rumours began circulating in January that the couple were no more when Zendaya, also 27, unfollowed Tom on Instagram. However, it wasn't personal as Zendaya had unfollowed everyone and Tom still followed her. Adding to the concern of fans was the fact that the Golden Globe winning actress and the Spider-Man actor haven't been photographed together since October 25, when they were snapped grocery shopping in Los Angeles. But a source with direct knowledge says the couple were seen together as recently as New Year's Eve, according to TMZ. The two also put on a united front at the Dune: Part Two premiere in London in February. Zendaya stars in the film. Earlier in March, Tom shared a clip of the actress at work on her new film Challengers to his Instagram Story. Tom showed his 66 million followers that the ship was still sailing as he wrote three heart-eye emojis with the video and tagged @challengersmovie. Jamie Lloyd's Romeo & Juliet begins at the Duke Of York theatre on May 11. Tom was confirmed to be appearing in the remake in February and tickets completely sold out in a matter of hours His chemistry reading with Francesca comes after he put the ongoing rumours he had split from actress Zendaya to bed once and for all Split rumours began circulating in January that the couple were no more when Zendaya unfollowed Tom on Instagram and they hadn't been photographed together in a while Kanye West's Australian wife Bianca Censori has not been known for her modest outfits, from baring all in see-through ponchos to risking jail time for wearing sheer tights in Paris. The 29-year-old architect, who wed the 46-year-old rapper in a private ceremony in December 2022, has had her fashion choices become increasingly more risky overtime, with those closest to her claiming it is down to Kanye's alleged 'controlling ways.' Now experts have claimed there is more to the power couple's 'game plan' and that is to out-shine ex-wife Kim Kardashian by 'breaking the internet' with the X-rated looks. Mark Borkowski, one of the UK's leading PR gurus, told MailOnline that Kanye West is using Bianca Censori to copy the publicity strategy pursued by his ex-wife Kim Kardashian but pushing his 'freak show' to the very limit. Using's Bianca's body and outfits to further his fame and wealth is making many uncomfortable and alienating brands, he said. Kanye West 's Australian wife Bianca Censori arriving back in LA on Friday Kanye West declared Bianca Censori will be wearing less clothes than ever before in 2024 as he posts a slew of racy snaps captioned 'No pants this year' Image from Kanye's Instagram. As her friends and family are concerned over Kanye's 'controlling ways' But Mr Borkowski said that despite allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour by the former rapper, Bianca may be very happy to go along with it. He said: 'Kanye understands outrage and is trying to break the Internet. I think a lot of people are starting to feel rather uncomfortable, despite everything he's said, about that he feels he can do whatever he wants with his partner. 'There is a line here drawn between those who believe this is control and those who believe that this woman is complicit and fully involved with this freak show. But it is a weird freak show that everybody is engaging with and some are enjoying these quite explicit photos. 'I think we'll be looking back at this if a rift appears between them as something that is something exploitative. Some of the dresses are built for craving for publicity. Kanye has been sharing a slew of highly sexualised images of his wife, despite slamming his ex Kim Kardashian for 'dressing too sexy' during his stint as a gospel artist. When Kim wore a custom corset-style minidress made of silk organza and dripping crystals by French designer Thierry Mugler at the 2019 Met Gala, Ye openly slammed the reality TV icon's ensemble. 'I didn't realize that that was affecting my soul and my spirit as someone that's married and loved, the father of what's about to be four kids,' Ye said about Kim's outfit choice. 'A corset is a form of underwear. It's hot. It's like, it's hot for who, though?' You are my wife, and it affects me when pictures are too sexy,' he told his wife. Kanye has been sharing a slew of highly sexualised images of his wife, despite slamming his ex Kim Kardashian for 'dressing too sexy' Image from Kanye's Instagram. The couple were recently spotted enjoying an amorous moment on a water taxi in Venice, with Kanye exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking tourists Mr Borkowski continued: 'You can only assume this is a way of Kanye keeping his name at the forefront and on everybody's lips and also a statement to his ex-wife Kim who engaged in the same publicity, which he is taking to another level but she did with a lot more style and panache. It wasn't as direct as this. READ MORE: Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori continues her mission to shock with VERY crude detail on her outfit Advertisement 'As we revaluate those who exploited their partners in the past, this is a high watermark. 'I feel uncomfortable but you are looking at someone who can generate a conversation, Kanye knows how to do that. 'But I can't see a strategy here. He has pushed himself so far away from brands with his anti-Semitic remarks and outrage that there has to be a limit where he doesn't want one'. The pair have hit the headlines for their attention seeking outfit choices and bizarre outings of late. Their most shocking excursion came when when they were spotted enjoying an amorous moment on a water taxi in Venice, with Kanye exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking tourists. Images of the couple showed the American rapper seated at the back of the river taxi while his Australian bride placed her head in his lap. Last month she wore a sheer poncho with nothing underneath to a music studio, although branding across the front of the coat helped shield her ample chest, she was forced to place her hand over her groin to protect her modesty. She has even been snapped heading to a sun tanning appointment in tiny black shorts that have a small hole visible at the front of the pants, which is designed to accommodate sex toys. Krispy Kreme is offering free doughnuts with a special twist in honor of St. Patrick's Day. From March 15 through March 17, Krispy Kreme is bringing back a green version of the original glazed doughnut. And the company will give out the treat free of charge to anyone who visits a store or drive-thru. Lucky guests do not have to buy anything to get the free 'O'riginal Glazed Doughnut' - all they have to do is wear green. Krispy Kreme is bringing back the green O'riginal Glazed Doughnut for St. Patrick's Day The company is introducing four new doughnuts in honor of the holiday Krispy Kreme is also introducing four new St. Patrick's-themed doughnuts to celebrate the holiday. The four are: 'Luck of the Rainbow Doughnut' - an original glazed doughnut dipped in green icing, with rainbow sprinkles and a buttercream cloud 'Plaid Party Donut' - an unglazed shell with cream filling, dipped in chocolate icing and drizzled with green icing 'Shooting Shamrock Doughnut' - which comes topped with a shamrock sugar decoration, is also available 'Shamrock Cookies 'N Kreme with Oreo Cookies' - has with a filling made from Oreo cookies and is dipped in white icing with green drizzles 'Luck is meant to be shared, and our colorful, fun, all-new St. Patricks Day doughnuts will make everyone feel like they've found a pot of gold,' Dave Skena, Global Chief Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a release. The special edition treats include a 'Luck of the Rainbow Doughnut' - an original glazed doughnut dipped in green icing, with rainbow sprinkles and a buttercream cloud The four new flavors are available in-store and for pickup or delivery via the Krispy Kreme app and website. Doughnut-lovers can also find the collection in select grocery stores, the company said. To find out whether your local store will stock the treats, customers should visit the company's website. St Patrick's Day, the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland, falls on March 17 every year. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the aerodrome license for Ambikapur airport in Chhattisgarhs Surguja district to start flight operations, officials said on Saturday. Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur, has been developed in the 3-C VFR category to expand air services in the state, a public relations department official said. An application, seeking a license to start air services from the airport, was submitted to the DGCA in December 2022. The aviation regulator on Friday granted the license to the state government for Ambikapur Airport, he said. With this, the state now has three licensed airports -- Bilaspur, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), he added. The license has paved the way for the operation of 72-seater flights from Ambikapur, he added. The state government has already been making efforts to start air service from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi. With the commencement of flights from Ambikapur, tourism and commercial activities in the northern region of the state will get a boost and facilitate the development of the region, the official said. Meanwhile, the state government also signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with the Centre-run Alliance Air on Friday to start regular commercial flight services from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi and Kolkata, and Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi via Jabalpur by the end of this month, he noted. The chief minister inaugurated flight services from Bilaspur to Delhi and Kolkata on March 12, while the flight service Delhi-Jabalpur- Jagdalpur-Jabalpur-Delhi was also launched on the same day, the official said. Now, after the pact, the flight services on the three routes will be regular from the month-end, he added. As per the MoU, the state will provide financial assistance to the airline company to compensate for the loss based on the cost revenue model in case of non-availability of passengers on the flights. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in a post on X thanked IOC for extending the benefits of completion of cost recovery of capital expenditure and inter-island price rationalisation to the people of Lakshadweep by reducing fuel prices. The move will improve #EaseofLiving and #EaseofBusiness for the people and ensure a bright future for the islands, which are poised to become major hubs of global tourism. Truly #ViksitBharat, he said. It is #ModiKiGuarantee that all parts of the country benefit from good governance. The South China Sea has once again become a focal point of international attention following sudden clashes between coast guard vessels of the Philippines and China. As tensions rise, the involvement of global powers like the US and Japan adds further complexity to the situation, potentially pushing more nations to align against Beijing. Amid these escalating tensions, it becomes imperative for China to reconsider its assertive stance and respect the existing global order to avoid further international backlash The South China Sea (SCS) has once again come into focus following sudden skirmishes between the coast guard vessels of the Philippines and China last week. The ongoing assertion by the Philippines of territorial claims over the Spratly Islands and Chinas outright refusal to acknowledge these claims lie at the heart of the current crisis. This dispute has deep historical roots, with China asserting its rights over the entire SCS, a claim that other countries involved simply reject. The contentious issue of control over sea waters and its resources has long strained relations between China and the other claimants. Since 2009, during Hu Jintaos presidency of China, the country has steadily intensified its efforts to solidify its position in the SCS, despite Hus advocacy for Chinas Peaceful Rise Doctrine. In this endeavour, the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing devised a subtle strategy involving the use of its military and coast guard to surveil foreign vessels, explore and exploit resources in disputed islands, drawing the attention of the international media and SCS neighbouring countries. However, starting in 2013 with Xi Jinping assuming the presidency after Hu, Beijing escalated its activities by initiating the construction of artificial islands and stationing military and civilian personnel in various parts of the SCS. This aggressive expansion has increasingly posed a security threat to other claimants in the SCS. They have all begun to question Chinas extensive claims over the land parcels and adjacent waters in the SCS. As China has asserted its claim through frequent naval patrols and island-building in the Paracels and Spratlys, other nations have sought support from the US and Japan to deploy their military and naval vessels in the area. Interestingly, the US, without directly participating in the conflict, has started sending military ships and aircraft near the disputed islands under the guise of freedom of navigation operations. Meanwhile, Japan, a close ally of the US in the region, although having no direct claim in the SCS, regularly provides ships and military equipment to countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. The involvement of global powers is heightening tensions in the regional power balance, which may compel China to further militarise the SCS. In addition to China, seven countries consistently claim resources and water bodies in the SCS. These countries include Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan. However, Chinese claims and territorial occupation of the sea are the most prominent in the region. This greatly concerns all other nations involved in the conflict, posing one of the most serious security threats to neighbouring nations in the Western Pacific area. More than the concerns about troublesome neighbours, the US is deeply troubled by the increasing Chinese claims and security buildup in the SCS. The SCS, along with the East China Sea (ECS), is an area where US-China strategic interests constantly clash. This strategic competition encompasses various issues in the SCS, including but not limited to: - US security commitments to the Western Pacific, encompassing treaty obligations to the Philippines - Maintenance and enhancement of the US-led security architecture in the Western Pacific - Sustaining a regional balance of power favourable to the US and its allies - Defending the principle of peaceful dispute resolution - Maintaining the universal doctrine of freedom of navigation, also known as freedom of the seas These factors compel Washington to focus more on the Asia-Pacific region than the conflict-laden West Asia. Currently, the US aims to restrict China from engaging in additional base construction, deploying more military equipment to the islands, initiating new constructions at Scarborough Shoal, declaring straight baselines and Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ), taking actions over the Philippines to either operate in or vacate the Spratly Islands, and granting Filipino fishermen access to water bodies surrounding Scarborough and the Spratly Islands. Additionally, Washington clearly desires Beijing to adhere to and abide by the verdict issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on July 12, 2016, which was established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This verdict, which China outrightly rejects, was fully in favor of the Philippines based on a case lodged by the latter against the former in 2013. The Philippines brought the case against China for its claims and activities in the SCS. However, China did not respect the verdict of the international court because it was not prepared to accept a decision against its interests. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted that Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the SCS would not be affected by this ruling. The tribunal challenged Chinas extensive claims over the SCS and dismissed its Nine-dash line thesis, which claimed sovereignty over 90 percent of the SCS. The tribunal also rejected Chinas historic rights over the resources of the SCS, stating that there was no legal basis for such claims. Finally, the court declared a large part of the SCS as Neutral International Waters (NIW) or exclusive economic zones of other nations. This ruling was nonetheless a significant setback for Xis regime and other members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) who viewed the entire SCS as the exclusive territorial zones of the country, inviolable by any other nation. China reputedly claims to have historic rights and claims over the SCS. Despite the legally binding nature of this historic ruling on China, it chose not to comply. Instead, the Communist leadership in Beijing dismissed it as ill-founded and naturally null and void. This saga clearly illustrates Chinas determination to assert its expansive territorial claims over the SCS, regardless of the provisions of the UNCLOS. Such an attitude from Beijing strongly indicates its aggressive pursuit of sovereignty and complete disregard for the rules-based international order. While Beijing advocates for a rules-based international order, it seeks to establish one on its own terms and conditions rather than adhering to the existing framework. Why are all these countries actively involved in the SCS? Located in the Western Pacific Ocean, the SCS is the largest marginal sea in the region. The Paracels and the Spratlys are two chains of islands claimed by many countries in the region, particularly all of them in their entirety by China through its Nine-dash Line Thesis. The significance of the SCS lies in its status as a major international shipping lane. According to estimates by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD), over 21 per cent of international trade, amounting to 3.37 trillion dollars, passes through these sea lanes. Also, the entire SCS encompasses more than 250 islands, reefs, sandbars, etc, which are rich reservoirs of minerals and other sea-borne resources. Experts also suggest that the sea is believed to contain nearly 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. However, these Paracels and Spratlys are largely uninhabited. Also, the SCS oversees the operation of more than half of the worlds fishing vessels, and these fishing reserves serve as a potential source of livelihood for millions across the region. Thus, all these countries surrounding the SCS are fiercely asserting their claims over it. Beyond this, their regional and geopolitical interests are clearly evident in the clashes and differences of opinion that have surfaced so far. It is not surprising to many strategic experts that China does not want to be subordinate to or follow the dictates of the existing global liberal order led by the US and the rest of the West. Thus, China, especially under Xi, has consistently advocated for a multipolar world and a new world order in which Beijing will establish (or has already set) the terms and conditions. At no point does it want to be dominated by the West, especially by the US. It unequivocally demands equal terms of engagement and treatment in all international forums, on par with Western nations. Chinas territorial claims, both on land and in neighbouring water bodies, seem to have no bounds; they are continually on the rise. Its imperial ambitions have become increasingly apparent in recent years. However, by turning the South China Sea into another flashpoint, alongside Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang, China is not only threatening American interests in the Asia-Pacific but also challenging the security architecture of Western allies in the region. This may lead to more global powers aligning against Beijing. Xi and his regime should be cautious not to overextend their reach, as this could drive more nations to align with the US. China must learn to respect the existing global order before others feel compelled to rally behind an Asian order led by Beijing. (The writer is currently president of the Global Research Foundation) Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh, the joint capital of Haryana and Punjab, will be voting for its Member of Parliament on June 1 in the seventh and the last phase of the Lok Sabha election, schedule of which was announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. Traditionally, the party in power at the Centre has an edge over its opponents in the Chandigarh Lok Sabha election. Interestingly, this parliamentary constituency did not exist during Indias first general elections in 1952, but came into existence in 1967, when Srichand Goyal of Bharatiya Jana Sangh became the first Chandigarh MP. The electoral dynamics in Chandigarh reflect a diverse demographic composition, with predominantly urban electorate (100 per cent). BJP, which has won the Chandigarh seat on the last two occasions in 2014 and 2019, is optimistic of repeating the feat, despite the INDIA bloc partners Congress and AAP coming together in an attempt to end its hattrick streak. In 2019, the voter turnout in the Chandigarh Lok Sabha election was 74.2 percent. As per Election Commission official data, till date, Chandigarh has 6.47 lakh registered voters, of which 3.35 lakh are male voters and 3.12 lakh are female voters and 33 are third gender voters. Of these, 15,006 individuals are first-time voters in the age group 18-19 while 4,799 are voters above 85 years of age. Highest voters are in the age group of 30-39, which is 1.62 lakh voters, followed by those in the age group of 40-49 and 20-29 which is 1.38 lakh voters and 1.25 lakh voters, respectively. The total numbers of polling booths in Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency have increased from 597 to 614 as compared to the last General Election, it stated. The political parties will go to the people with both national and local issues during their poll campaigns that send one member to the Lower House of Parliament. As per the seat sharing formula of INDIA bloc, Congress will field its candidate and contest with AAPs support. However, neither the INDIA bloc nor BJP has declared its candidates yet indicating that both will declare their potential candidates very thoughtfully. Four-time MP and former Union Minister Pawan Bansal, Chandigarh Congress chief HS Lucky, and Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari are among the front-runners for the lone Lok Sabha seat from Chandigarh. On the other hand, with BJP considering this seat to be very significant, it is believed that the BJP high commands decision on the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat may surprise everyone. Actor-turned-politician Kirron Kher is currently representing the seta since 2014, BJP;s local stalwarts like Sanjay Tandon, Arun Sood, Satya Pal Jain, Anup Gupta, and the newly-minted political aspirant Kanhaiya Mittal are all vying for the seat. Political observers opine that having wrested the Chandigarh mayoral polls from BJPs grasp with their maiden cooperation, although after a hard-fought legal battle, the seat is set to witness a two-way contest with the INDIA bloc having an edge over BJP candidate. In fact, AAP became the single largest party with 14 seats in the House of total 35 in its first Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections in 2021. Congress had won eight seats, while BJP won only 12 seats. Moreover, while the BJP is expected to base its campaigns on the works done by the Central Government, INDI alliance will seek to challenge their rival on issues related to price rise, employment, and even the recently-implemented contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). As far as previous three Lok Sabha elections are concerned, in 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJP's candidate Kirron Kher had won from Chandigarh with a margin of 46,970 votes securing 50.64 per cent of votes, defeating closest contestant Pawan Kumar Bansal of the Congress who received 40.35 per cent of votes. Chief Minister Champai Soren today laid the foundation stone of 135 schemes at a cost of Rs 2 billion, 31 crore, 19 lakh 58 thousand 673, while the inauguration of 27 schemes worth Rs 1 billion 7 crore 23 lakh 24 thousand 186 was completed in West Singhbhum District. At the same time, assets worth Rs 1 billion 72 crore 80 lakh 70 thousand 533 were distributed among the beneficiaries. The CM while addressing the inauguration-foundation stone laying ceremony and asset distribution ceremony among the beneficiaries of degree colleges and various schemes in Bandgaon and Hatgamharia of West Singhbhum district under Kolhan University at Tata College grounds in Chaibasa today said, Better education leads to a better society and state. Education is a medium which decides the direction of your future. Good education is essential for the overall development of a person. This is the reason why our government is strengthening the education system. Now you do not need to go out for college studies. A degree college is being opened in your village or nearby, where you can pursue your studies. For this now you will not have to go to cities. The government is committed to providing better education to children in rural areas from primary to college. The CM said that the government has made continuous efforts to promote tribal and regional languages. In this context, now teaching of tribal and regional languages like Kudukh, Ho, Mundari and Santhali is being started from primary schools. For this, instructions have been given to appoint expert teachers. Our government is working towards preserving the tribal and regional languages and giving them a distinct identity. The CM said that many schemes have been started by the government to strengthen the education system of the state. Necessary resources and facilities are being provided to the educational institutions here. Schools of Excellence and Model Schools have been opened to provide quality education to poor children in their own villages. To ensure that children's education is not interrupted due to financial constraints, the scholarship amount has been increased three times. Girl students are being linked to Savitribai Kishori Savitri Yojana. Through Guruji Credit Card Scheme, education loan up to Rs 15 lakh is being given to students for pursuing courses like medical engineering. Under Manki Munda Scholarship Scheme, financial assistance is being given to girl students for technical education. The state government is giving 100% scholarship to the tribal, Dalit, minority and backward class students for higher education abroad. The CM said that the government is committed to protecting the tribal language, culture, traditions, water, forests, land, social and religious places and the identity of the tribals and indigenous people. Our government will not allow any kind of tampering with this. This is our heritage. We will give it a different identity in the country and the world. The CM said that this is your government. We understand your pain and sorrow very well. In such a situation, by making plans as per your expectations and needs, we are taking them to the last person of the society. He said that along with fulfilling people's needs like food, clothing and shelter, they are strengthening the social, economic and educational systems. A network of 15 thousand kilometers of roads is being laid in the rural areas of the state. Many projects have been started to supply water to the fields through underground pipelines. Today pension is reaching every family. 30 lakh families are getting the benefit of 125 units of electricity. 20 lakh poor are being given three room permanent houses under Abu Awas. There are many other schemes which have been started to empower you. The CM said that after the formation of Jharkhand state, no one was concerned about the development here for 19 years. The mineral resources here continued to be exploited. The interests of the tribals and natives continued to be ignored. But, after assuming the post of Chief Minister in the year 2019, Hemant Babu gave a new direction to the development of the state with his efficient leadership. Today our government is moving forward on the same path and giving a new dimension to development. On this occasion, Minister Deepak Biruwa, MLA Joba Manjhi, Sukhram Oraon and Dashrath Gagrai, District Council President Lakshmi Soren and many officials of the district administration including Commissioner and DIG of Kolhan Division were present. The equipment manufactured by BHEL is manufactured in accordance with stringent quality standards and there is no compromise with the prescribed standards anywhere in the production process. That is why customers have full faith in BHEL products and BHEL has maintained the trust of customers across sectors, said SM Ramanathan, Executive Director, BHEL, Bhopal on Saturday while addressing the Army Officer Cadets of Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Dr Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow). Ramanathan said that BHEL has established its reputation in power sector, industrial sector, transportation, nuclear energy, non-conventional energy and hydro-electric energy as well as in defense and other new areas. It is a matter of pride for BHEL to be associated with Defense along with playing an important role in the industrial progress of the country. Congratulating the young army officers for choosing the career of serving the country, he said that BHEL holds a special place in the field of engineering not only in the country but also at the international level. It is a matter of happiness for BHEL that they can take maximum advantage of the technology and experience available in this organisation. On this occasion, RK Aggarwal, General Manager (CPX), while giving information to the military officers about various products manufactured by BHEL, Bhopal and the facilities available here, informed about the projects and industries BHEL is serving in India and in different countries of the world. He also informed about the diversification by BHEL in line with the changing business needs. On this occasion a presentation was given by Ramnarayan Dangi, Manager (CPX). Major Bhavesh Mahajan, MCET, Mhow, while sharing his experiences during his visit to UHV Lab, New Transformer Block and Transportation Block-9 along with his team, said that world class facilities are available in BHEL, Bhopal and it is indeed a symbol of our country. He said that during the visit to BHEL, Bhopal, we got a glimpse of India's engineering progress and potential and the work culture here is exemplary in itself. The visit was coordinated by Sanjay Rajbanshi, Deputy Manager (Publicity and Public Relations), BHEL, Bhopal. In a big step toward providing modern flats and a dignified life to the slum dwellers in the national capital, under Prime Minister Narendra Modis ambitious in situ rehabilitation Jahan juhggi wahin makan, scheme, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has allotted 1,396 flats out of the total 1,675 flats, to the residents of three JJ clusters at Jailorwala Bagh in Ashok Vihar in North Delhi. Giving this information here on Saturday, officials said during his visits to the Jailorwala Bagh project and subsequent review meetings, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena had issued specific instructions for allotting the flats to eligible beneficiaries at the earliest. As against the construction cost of Rs. 25 lakh per flat, the allotment are being made to the eligible JJ dwellers for Rs. 1.41 lakh as beneficiary contribution. These flats are equipped with all modern social and physical infrastructure, community facilities, sewerage treatment, clean and safe drinking water. The Scheme has been formally approved by Vice-Chairman (DDA). Accordingly, a draw was held and particular flats have been allotted to eligible JJ dwellers. Out of these 1,396 flats, 1,078 flats have been allotted to eligible slum dwellers of Jailorwala Bagh JJ cluster while 318 flats have been allotted to eligible households of 02 nearby JJ clusters namely Golden Park Rampura and JJ clusters opposite Mata Jai Kaur Public School in Ashok Vihar. Coming after the Kalkaji in situ rehabilitation project under the Jahan Jhuggi wahin Makaan, scheme, these flats will go a long way in fulfilling the Prime Ministers inclusive vision of a dignified life to the poorest of the poor. Earlier, in November, 2022, the Prime Minister had handed over 3,024 modern EWS flats to the slum dwellers. At Jailorwala Bagh, Ashok Vihar, DDA has constructed 1,675 EWS flats. Spread over 340 sq.ft, each of these flats have a bedroom, living room, kitchen, separate toilet and bathroom and a balcony. While the total residential built-up area of the project is approximately 67,000 sq.mtr., the covered area for community facilities is nearly 1000 sq.mtr. It will also have a provision for parking of 337 vehicles. 4 parliamentary, 6 assembly segments going for polls As the political temperature rises in Himachal Pradesh, all eyes are set on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections for four crucial seats and the concurrent by-elections to six assembly constituencies scheduled for June 1. The state, known for its picturesque landscapes, is witnessing a tumultuous political scenario following the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs, setting the stage for a gripping electoral battle. The Election Commission of India (ECI), while announcing the poll scheulde for 2024 general elections on Saturday, confirmed that polling for the four parliamentary seats in Shimla, Hamirpur, Mandi, and Kangra will take place on June 1, with results slated for announcement on June 4. Simultaneously, by-elections for the six assembly seats, including Dharamshala, Lahaul-Spiti, Sujanpur, Badsar, Gagret, and Kutlehar, will be held, adding a layer of complexity to the electoral landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), wasting no time, has initiated its campaign by announcing candidates for two parliamentary seats. Anurag Thakur, a seasoned four-time MP and Minister of Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, will contest from Hamirpur; while Suresh Kashyap, the incumbent MP from Shimla, seeks re-election. However, the candidates for the remaining two parliamentary seats are yet to be declared, keeping the political atmosphere charged with anticipation. On the other hand, the Congress party, in a strategic move, has kept its contenders under wraps, intensifying the suspense surrounding the electoral battle. Meanwhile, the by-elections were necessitated by the disqualification of six Congress MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Rajendera Rana, Ravi Thakur, Devender Bhutto, Indira Datt Lakhanpal, and Chaitanaya Sharma following allegations of cross-voting during the recent Rajya Sabha elections. The disqualification of these six MLAs has significantly altered the political equation in Himachal Pradesh, with the ruling Congress party facing a formidable challenge to retain its stronghold. The by-elections pose a critical test for the Congress Government, especially after the dramatic turn of events during the Rajya Sabha elections, which saw the defeat of the party nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi despite holding a clear majority in the assembly. The problems for the ruling Congress escalated with the resignation of PWD Minister and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singhs son Vikramaditya Singh, signaling internal discord within the party. Although his resignation was not accepted, his mother and state Congress chief, Pratibha Singh, criticized the functioning of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, highlighting underlying tensions within the party. Himachal Pradesh is no stranger to political complexities, with its unique geographical and demographic challenges. The state has four parliamentary constituencies, with Mandi being the second-largest parliamentary area, encompassing tribal constituencies like Lahaul Spiti, Bharmour, and Pangi, as well as Rampur and Kinnaur. Currently, the BJP holds three parliamentary seats, while Congress has one. In the 68-member assembly, Congress holds 34 seats, BJP 25, and three seats are held by independents. The disqualification of the six Congress MLAs had altered the equation, reducing Congress's actual strength in the assembly from 40 to 34. The disqualified MLAs have challenged their disqualification in the apex court, with the next hearing scheduled for March 18. Their absence during the budget session led to their disqualification, reducing the effective strength of the House from 68 to 62. As the legal battle unfolds, the political drama intensifies, with all eyes on the upcoming elections that will shape the future trajectory of Himachal Pradesh's governance. The BJP, buoyed by its previous electoral successes in Himachal Pradesh, is eyeing a clean sweep once again. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured all four seats in the State, showcasing its dominance. However, the upcoming elections pose new challenges, particularly with a divided Congress struggling to regroup after the defections. Key seats to watch out for include Hamirpur and Mandi. Hamirpur, traditionally a stronghold of the BJP, sees the party's stalwart Anurag Thakur seeking re-election. His long-standing presence in the constituency and his ministerial portfolio add weight to his candidacy. Mandi, on the other hand, presents a different narrative, with familial legacies and regional dynamics shaping the contest. In Mandi, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh currently represents the constituency, following in the footsteps of her husband late Virbhadra Singh the five-time Chief Minister popularly known as Raja ji. As the countdown to the elections begins, political parties gear up for intense campaigning, vying for the electorate's support. The outcome of these elections will not only determine the representation of Himachal Pradesh but also set the course for its political future, making it a crucial juncture in the state's democratic journey. In a meeting organized at the BJP state office, senior Congress tribal leader cum spokesperson Dr. Birsa Oraon, National Vice President of Bedia Development Council Jeetnath Bedia, social worker Dr Jaiprakash, Vice President of Bhuiya Social Welfare Committee Kolhan area Poresh Nayak, President of Tanti Samaj Kolhan area, Rashanand Kumar Tanti, social worker Ashok Kumar Sahay, social worker Chhotan Lohra, along with their respective supporters took membership of the party. BJP State General Secretary Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu welcomed all the leaders by garlanding them and party pattas. On this occasion, Sahu said that people are becoming disillusioned with the family based party Congress-JMM and everyone from big leaders to workers are leaving the party. On the other hand, people from other parties are joining BJP, influenced by the policy intentions and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dr. Birsa Oraon said that Congress-Jhamma are misleading the tribals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased the respect, honor and self-respect of the tribal society. BJP Ranchi Rural District President Surendra Mahato gave online membership to all the people on online membership number 8980808080 and expressed his gratitude for the program. The program was conducted by state media in-charge Shivpujan Pathak. On this occasion, State Vice President Aarti Kujur, Ashok Badaik, former MLA Ramkumar Pahan, Kamlesh Ram and many others were present. Aditya Sahu welcomed the voting dates announced by the Election Commission today for the 18th Lok Sabha elections. He said that India's democracy is getting stronger every day. Due to good governance, the common people are getting connected to the mainstream of development, which has also yielded positive results. He said that in the last ten years, 25 crore people of the country came out of the poverty line. Efforts have been made to provide permanent houses, toilets, gas cylinders, electricity, health facilities and respect money to the doorsteps of all the villages, poor, farmers, Dalits and deprived backward classes. There was rapid development of basic facilities like roads, electricity, highways, airports, railway facilities, medical colleges, IIMs. He said that in Jharkhand, the people of the state will vote for candidates on 14 Lok Sabha seats in four phases. He said that the way public trust towards the Modi government has increased, the self-respect and respect of the country has increased. The people of the country and the state are determined for the Modi government for the third time. There is a heartfelt relationship between the Scindia family and all of you. We are even ready to die for each other. I consider myself fortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National President Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have given another opportunity for the development of the region and the people of Guna, Shivpuri and Ashoknagar areas. This area is a piece of my heart. The support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , everyone's development, your trust and my efforts will lead to quadruple development of the region said Union Minister and party candidate Jyotiraditya Scindia while inaugurating the Shivpuri election office on Saturday. He told the public that seeds were sown in the field, fertilizer and water were given, today with the blessings of the same farmer the crop grew with hard work and how can that crop leave that field and go anywhere else. Union Minister Scindia said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given us the target of increasing 370 votes at every booth. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee agitated for the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir and even sacrificed his life. Therefore, we will pay a true tribute to Dr. Mukherjee by increasing 370 votes at every booth. With the blessings of the public and the hard work of the workers, we will win 370 parliaments in the country. We will start this goal from our polling booth. We have to work on how to increase 370 votes in favor of the party. To achieve the target given to us by the Prime Minister, we have to make records by strengthening our Assembly, Mandal, Shakti Kendra and booths. Scindia said that there might be someone left at every polling station who is not a beneficiary of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He appealed to the workers to join the elections from today itself. Gather all the societies, contact each beneficiary. He once again pledged to the workers to support Modi government, won the booth, won the election and made my booth the strongest. On this occasion, District President Raju Batham, MLA Devendra Jain, Lok Sabha Co-Convenor Surendra Sharma, Keshav Singh Tomar, former MLA Omprakash Khatik, Narendra Birthare, Shakutla Khatik, Municipality President Gayatri Sharma and other officials and workers were present. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday commemorated the completion of his governments two years in office with a solemn visit to Khatkar Kalan the ancestral village of the legendary martyr Bhagat Singh. Amidst the sacred grounds where Bhagat Singh's spirit continues to inspire, Mann renewed his pledge to propel Punjab into a leading position across all domains. March 16, 2024, marked the second anniversary of Mann's assumption of office as the Chief Minister of Punjab, following AAPs landslide victory in the state elections, securing 92 out of 117 seats. Taking his oath amidst the echoes of Bhagat Singh's legacy, Mann embarked on a mission to actualize the aspirations of the iconic martyr, who epitomized the struggle for India's liberation from colonial rule. In a gathering after inaugurating a state-of-the-art museum showcasing Bhagat Singhs life, Mann reminisced about his oath-taking ceremony on this hallowed ground. He articulated that every endeavour of his government over the past two years has been dedicated to realizing the dreams of Bhagat Singh, whose sacrifice remains etched in the annals of India's freedom struggle. During two-year tenure, Mann said that Punjab witnessed the implementation of numerous pro-people and citizen-centric initiatives aimed at fostering the state's development and ensuring the well-being of its populace. The Chief Minister asserted that he has tirelessly worked towards the state's progress, leaving no stone unturned in his quest to uplift Punjab. Reflecting on his governments achievements, Mann emphasized strides in education, healthcare, and employment. The establishment of new schools and hospitals, coupled with the provision of free electricity to 90 per cent of households, underscores the government's commitment to inclusive growth and welfare. Additionally, over 43,000 government jobs have been generated under Mann's tenure, a testament to his administration's efforts to alleviate unemployment. In Balachaur, Mann also inaugurated the Punjab Agricultural University's Agriculture College, a collaborative effort between the university and the State Government. This initiative aims to revitalize the agricultural sector, offering a four-year degree course in BSc agriculture and opening avenues for youth employment. Will focus on development achievements in upcoming polls Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister and AAPs state unit president Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said that his party will seek votes on the basis of works undertaken by his Government in the state in the past two years. Mann, along with his wife on Saturday, offered prayers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali on the completion of two years of his government. I prayed for the progress of Punjab, said Mann after offering prayers at the historic gurdwara. Asked about the AAP's preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Mann said his party will seek votes based on works undertaken in the past two years. We do politics of work, he said. About his government's works, he pointed towards the opening of 829 aam aadmi clinics', giving more than 42,000 government jobs, receiving investments worth Rs 65,000 crore in the State, the opening of Schools of Eminence, 300 units of free electricity and buying of a private thermal power plant. He exuded confidence that people will give their stamp on the works undertaken by his government. The Dehradun police have booked four accused, including the chief ministers former personal secretary PC Upadhyay under the Gangster Act for fraud on the pretext of providing government tenders. Several cases of fraud are already registered against the four accused in Dehradun and other areas, the police said. According to the police, the main accused in the frauds committed on the pretext of providing government tenders PC Upadhyay and Saurabh Vatsa have been arrested and sent to jail. Vatsa along with Upadhyay used to work as an organised gang. They used to allegedly use fake government documents to convince their targets that they would get government tenders for them through e-tendering. They defrauded their victims of crores of rupees. The duo are booked in Dehradun, other districts of the State and in other States also for fraud. The police informed that a case has been registered against four accused including Vatsa and Upadhyay at the Kotwali under the Gangster Act in Dehradun. The authorities are now in the process of identifying the property amassed illegally by the accused. Their properties will be seized in the near future, the police said. While Vatsa in the native of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, currently living in Doiwala area, Upadhyay is a resident of the Mohkampur area of Dehradun. Vatsas wife Nandini Vatsa and Shahrukh Khan and the two other accused who have also been booked under the Gangster Act. It will be recalled that while Upadhyay was arrested earlier this week, Vatsa had been arrested earlier by Rajasthan police in Bhilwara in a fraud case registered there. They both had allegedly duped a man of about Rs 52 lakh on the pretext of giving him the tender of supplying medicines to government hospitals in Uttarakhand. The police said that Upadhyay had confessed to duping the man. According to him, his accomplice Vatsa brought the complainant to him on the pretext of giving him the tender for supplying medicines to government hospitals across the State. Both the accused made a fake information memo with the signature of Vatsa. They gave the complainant the memo and a bill of about Rs 52 lakh in the name of various expenditures. This convinced the victim that he had received the tender so he reportedly handed over the money to the accused, the police said. A railway employee and his eight-year-old son were allegedly murdered at their residence in Jabalpur city of Madhya Pradesh, and the body of the boy was found stuffed in a refrigerator, police said on Saturday. The minor daughter of the deceased railway staffer went missing following the incident that occurred on Friday at the Millenium Colony located under the Civil Line police station, with the police suspecting that she eloped with their neighbour after the latter murdered the father-son duo. The deceased, Rajkumar Vishwakarma, lived with his two minor children following the death of his wife, Superintendent of Police (SP) Aditya Pratap Singh said. "On Friday, Vishwakarma's brother received a voice message from the former's daughter that their 19-year-old neighbour murdered her father and brother," he said. Vishwakarma's brother, a resident of Pipariya town in the state, then informed the police, he said. "After getting the information, the police broke into the house and found that the man and his son were murdered. The body of the son was found stuffed in their fridge," he added. It was found that the father-son duo was murdered with a sharp weapon, Singh said. The minor daughter of the victim has gone missing apparently with the accused, he said, adding that it was a suspected case of love affair. "The police have launched a search for them. As per the evidence collected so far, the accused visited Vishwakarma's house on Friday morning," he said. According to the police official, the girl had run away with the accused in September 2023 but later lodged a case of rape against him. Further investigation is underway with the help of forensic experts, he said. Four time Congress MLA from Sultanpur Majra in North west Delhi, Jai Kishan approached the Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi accusing the Opposition party for harassing him and lodging false cases against him. The senior Congress leader said that he and his son were beaten up by Delhi police in the fake cases lodged against him. Jai Kishan also alleged that he was completely ignored by the party leadership in Delhi. In a letter to Rahul on Friday, he wrote, My opponents made false allegations against me but I never left the Congress Party and won the election by more than 8000 votes. Some of my opponents even made a woman accuse me of some lies and Sonia Gandhi knew that I was innocent and had been a confidant of the party. By ignoring my rights, the party will regret in future. Jai Kishan also mentioned the incident of getting beaten in front of Wayanad MP. He stated, In front of Rahul Gandhi, the Police beat me and my younger son with sticks and we both got badly injured and were admitted to the Hospital. He further added that despite being offered high posts by the BJP, he stayed loyal to Congress. I, Jai Kishan, have been MLA from Sultanpur Majra for five consecutive times with my wife. I always defend the Congress Party and regret the high posts offered by BJP, said the former MLA. Kishan got into a controversy in 2015 when he was arrested for allegedly beating up students and a teacher of a private school for attending a reality show in Hyderabad without his prior permission. The former Congress Secretary asked the high command to name a person who has worked more than him for the party and the Dalit community in Delhi. No one has worked more than me in the rallies, Panchayat, Meetings and demonstrations for dalit Congress party and also no one has spent more money than me on the party's work. If anyone has done it, please let me know. It is my humble request to you that, please tell me who worked more than me for the Congress Party and dalit samaj in Delhi. Concluding the letter, Kishan said that he will always try to remain loyal to the party, adding that he is worried for the party in future. If my words have hurt anyone, I really apologise for that and my activities will be weakened. I will try to remain loyal to the Congress Party. I am worried about my family's livelihood and the Congress Party. The trend of leaders from the Congress and other parties joining the Bharatiya Janata Party continued on Saturday with two of its former MLAs from Uttarkashi district joining the BJP. A day after resigning from the Congress, its former MLAs Vijaypal Sajwan from Gangotri and Malchand from Purola joined the BJP in the presence of the partys State president Mahendra Bhatt and cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal, among other party leaders. The two joined the party along with their supporters. Sajwan and Malchand joining the BJP is expected to boost the partys chances of victory in the Tehri Lok Sabha constituency. Speaking on the occasion, Bhatt said that considering the big target set by the BJP, every party worker will have to strive to achieve it. He said that people will continue to join the BJP till the day of voting because all are experiencing the public welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said that after the leaders joined the BJP on Saturday, most public representatives in Uttarkashi district, especially from the Congress are now in the BJP with Uttarkashi becoming a Congress-free district. He said that the BJP has to replicate this in the whole State and achieve a victory on all five Lok Sabha seats with a margin of more than five lakh votes. Speaking at the chief ministers representative, cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal said that both the former MLAs are connected to the ground and their popularity will make it easier for the BJP to achieve its target. After these two former MLAs, a large number of their supporters and office bearers left the Congress and joined the BJP, the opposition candidates are bound to lose even their deposit in the election. He said that the Congress is a sinking ship which nobody would like to travel aboard. Malchand, who had earlier left the BJP and contested as the Congress candidate from Purola Assembly constituency in the 2022 Assembly elections, apologised to the party leaders and workers for having left the BJP earlier. He said that the nation building policies of PM Modi gave him courage to return to the BJP. Former Gangotri MLA Sajwan said that he had decided to join the BJP along with his supporters to contribute to the development works being facilitated by the government under PM Modi and chief minister Dhami. A number of former office bearers and public representatives of the Congress and other parties from Gangotri, Purola and Rishikesh areas joined the BJP on the occasion. The SC's recent verdict on tiger safari in Corbett Tiger Reserve marks a crucial step in wildlife conservation. Amid concerns over illegal construction and deforestation, the ruling underscores the intrinsic link between tigers and forests, stressing the need for effective habitat protection and restoration measures The Supreme Courts order last week to ban tiger safaris in the Core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve, while permitting them in buffer and peripheral areas, represents a significant judgment concerning the conservation of flora and fauna. Also, it underscores the impact on the ecological services provided by forests, including their carbon sequestration potential. A three-judge bench led by Justice BR Gavai criticised former Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and former Divisional Forest Officer Kishan Chand for permitting illegal construction and deforestation. The bench emphasised, The tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without the tigers. Therefore, the tiger should stand guard over the forest, and the forest should protect all its tigers. The court further expressed concern over poaching and illegal destruction in tiger habitats and established a committee comprising former DGF Chandra Prakash Goyal and two serving officers of Uttarakhand, Anup Malik and Samir Sinha, occupying the positions of head of forest force and chief wildlife warden respectively. The committee has been given three months to propose suggestions for more effective management of tiger reserves in India, assess the cost of restoring damages inflicted on Corbett tiger habitat, and propose measures to recover damages from those responsible for such destruction. It is also tasked with making recommendations regarding restrictions on ecotourism facilities in the best interest of protection. Moreover, the court directed the CBI to conclude its investigation into the criminal intent of individuals responsible for the destruction of the tiger habitat in the renowned Corbett Tiger Reserve. During the case hearing, the court also took into consideration the suggestions provided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Based on the feedback from these two national agencies, the court has allowed the opening of safaris for rescued tigers and cubs within the buffer and peripheral areas of the core of the tiger reserves, while prohibiting the housing of zoo-born tigers in such facilities. It is important to note that buffer areas are equally important as core areas and are legally designated as such. Both core and buffer areas constitute the tiger reserve. When a tiger loses its territory to a more dominant one, it often gets pushed into the buffer area. In many reserves, such as Corbett, the habitats in buffer areas are comparable to those in the core. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibits the opening of any safari or rescue center in buffer areas. Section 38-O of the Act stipulates that tiger reserves must be kept inviolate, meaning that management efforts should ensure that both the core and buffer areas of the tiger reserve remain undisturbed. The NTCA, in collaboration with state forest departments, has been consistently working to relocate villages from within tiger reserves and resettle families outside. It would be contradictory to remove human and livestock populations from tiger reserves only to open them for safaris. Studies on tiger occupancy surveys indicate that tigers do not inhabit areas occupied by humans and livestock. The social dynamics of tiger territories suggest that we require 800 to 1,200 square kilometres of undisturbed habitat to sustain a viable tiger population, provided there is an adequate prey population. Such areas could support 70 to 75 tigers, including breeding females but excluding cubs. Furthermore, the tiger population would be genetically robust if two such source population areas were connected by corridors. In October 2012, the NTCA issued SC-approved guidelines for creating tourist facilities and regulating visits in core areas. These guidelines stipulated that not more than 20 per cent of the core area in any tiger reserve should be open to visits. Additionally, they restricted the number of safari vehicles and the duration of visits, and prohibited the construction of any tourist infrastructure within the tiger reserve. The proliferation of tourist resorts outside the reserve has disrupted the movement of elephants, leading to an increase in conflict cases between humans and wild animals. Often, the forest areas within corridors are not managed by the Wildlife wing of the Forest Department. These areas are also interspersed with human settlements, where multiple activities take place. Effective management of corridors is crucial, and new economic activities such as industries and mining are prohibited to minimise human presence. I am uncertain whether the Pakharo area, where the tiger safari is constructed, is in the core or buffer zone of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. However, what I am certain of is that it serves as the gateway for tiger movement towards the Lansdowne forest division, where tigers breed in substantial numbers. Also, it forms a corridor for tiger movement through the Lansdowne and Haridwar forest divisions, connecting to the Rajaji Tiger Reserve, another source population. These landscapes are also vital for the movement of elephants. I have observed a proliferation of tourist resorts between Pakharo and Lansdowne, with many of them fenced off to prevent access by wild animals, especially elephants. Numerous island fences within elephant corridors hinder the movement of herds, leading to human-elephant conflicts. Unfortunately, what the Minister and DFO have done is erect another island fence, which will undoubtedly impede elephant movement within the Corbett Tiger Reserve itself. I have had the opportunity to visit the site where the habitat inside the Corbett Tiger Reserve has been destroyed. More than 6000 Sal trees have been felled to make way for water holes and to provide a perimeter fence for the safari to prevent the entry of wild elephant herds. I understand that higher authorities permitted DFO Kishan Chand to fell less than 200 trees. However, I fail to comprehend why a DFO would continue cutting trees far beyond the permitted limit, with his superiors remaining silent spectators. Why did they not visit the site when the destruction was ongoing? In my assessment, this is a complete failure of administration in Uttarakhand. These forests are extremely dense, with nearly 0.8 canopy density, and the felled Sal trees had a girth of more than 2 meters. One of the tasks assigned to the Supreme Court-appointed committee is to assess the cost of restoring the tiger habitat. My understanding of restoration encompasses not only the removal of all structures constructed using angled iron, RCC, etc, used in creating fences, buildings, and bunds for the water holes, along with the spillover structures, but also the regrowth of the habitat previously dominated by more than 6000 Sal trees and other hardwood species. The natural setting of the area, which has been disturbed by cutting and filling of earth, can never be fully restored. Artificially grown trees in an area of equal extent can never serve as proper compensation. Forest departments have a poor track record of successfully implementing compensatory afforestation. I am more than certain that the Sal and other miscellaneous species lost in the destruction can never be replaced. These forests are a gift from nature, and once lost, they cannot be regenerated by human efforts. The destruction of forests and the fragmentation of habitats and corridors are irreversible. Relatively pristine forest areas with high biodiversity values across states are designated as sanctuaries and national parks, commonly referred to as protected areas (PAs). Various laws and guidelines are in place to ensure the integrity of PAs is maintained. While forests are often burdened with rights and concessions, as well as the rights of dwellers and tribal communities, PAs generally have fewer such encumbrances. Some PAs, like Corbett National Park, are also designated as Tiger Reserves. Many rivers in the central Indian landscape and peninsular India originate in forested areas, typically within PAs. Air and water are among the most crucial ecological services provided by forests. The primary reason for conserving forests and wildlife is to ensure that these ecological services are not disrupted. Without them, our existence on this planet would be uncertain. Ministers like Harak Singh Rawat and officers like Kishan Chand have the capability to pave the way for more safaris and rescue centers in the buffers of tiger reserves or any other protected areas (PAs). The courts approval for buffer and peripheral forests opens the door to potential misuse. Under the guise of road formation, maintenance, creation and upkeep of water holes, and removal of invasive species, heavy machinery such as JCBs for earth cutting and filling are already being utilized in many PAs. The practice of earth cutting in PAs must come to an end. The Forest Conservation Act Amendment of 2023 has classified zoos and safaris as forestry activities, eliminating the need for approval to establish these facilities in forested areas. Without proper regulation of this provision, officers who favor the use of JCBs may end up causing destruction to the forests. (The writer is a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Karnataka) You may admire him, you may despise him, but you can never ignore him, both on and off screen. Indeed, that is Paresh Rawal, a pillar of Indian cinema, embodying roles as a hero, villain, comic, and versatile actor celebrated for his unmatched range and flawless portrayals. With a career spanning several decades, Rawal has left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry through his nuanced portrayals, impeccable comic timing, and compelling dramatic performances. He has seamlessly transitioned between genres, effortlessly embodying a diverse array of characters with depth and authenticity. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) from Ahmedabad East constituency in the 2014 Indian general election on a BJP ticket. In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri. Rawals journey in acting has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by his unwavering commitment to his craft and his ability to continually push the boundaries of his art. One of his most remarkable contributions to Indian cinema has been his ability to infuse realism and depth into his characters, elevating them beyond mere caricatures and stereotypes. Rawal is celebrated for his mastery of both comedic and dramatic roles, effortlessly oscillating between light-hearted comedy and intense drama with equal finesse. His impeccable comic timing has endeared him to audiences across generations, while his ability to evoke genuine emotion has earned him critical acclaim. Furthermore, Rawals dedication to his roles goes beyond mere performance; he delves deep into the psyche of his characters, bringing them to life with layers of complexity and nuance. Whether portraying a bumbling comic or a morally conflicted individual, Rawals performances resonate with authenticity and depth, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. In addition to his prowess as an actor, Rawal has also made significant contributions to Indian theatre and television, further solidifying his status as a true icon of the performing arts. His ability to seamlessly transition between mediums highlights his versatility and enduring relevance in an ever-evolving industry. Paresh Rawals illustrious career serves as a testament to the transformative power of acting, showcasing how dedication, talent, and a relentless pursuit of excellence can elevate the craft to new heights. As he continues to captivate audiences with his unparalleled performances, Rawal remains a shining beacon of inspiration for aspiring actors and a true legend of Indian cinema. He talked to Gyaneshwar Dayal about his acting and stint in politics. You are celebrating Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2024 National at the School of Drama. What is it about and how has the experience been? How do you see it as the Chairperson of NSD? We are very excited about it. We are into the 25th year and that too in Amritkal. It is all about connecting people; understanding people. Theatre is entertaining as well as enlightening. It is a medium through which we can patch our differences and know each other better. I am happy that we are celebrating it in Amrit kal which makes it even more special. You are an actor who took to politics. How has politics changed your acting and choice of scripts and approach? Well, broadly speaking, actors are confined to their comfort zone, in a way they are insulated from the problems the country faces. When you are in Parliament you know about it from all angles, laid threadbare. And that gives you a right perspective. I would say that stays with you and subconsciously affects your acting and approach to cinema. Your journey in the world of acting has been nothing short of remarkable. How do you approach the roles you accept? I try to do justice to the role I get and my training in theatre helps me a lot. I am Eklavya of theatre which means all the details and minute nuances of the role must be given due importance and done with finesse. You have done myriad roles but there must be one which is close to your heart? I would say the role of Sardar Patel. He was indeed one of the greatest statesmen and politicians we have had. It not only made me a better actor but also a better citizen. While preparing for it, I was flabbergasted by his personality and work. I came to know that the history we are taught is mutilated and full of lies. There were many people who got us independence, not just two. Sardar Patel was sidelined and forgotten. You have been associated with Marathi theatre for a long time. Do you think theatre is more progressive than cinema? Yes, that is correct to say. Theatre is progressive and has long traditions of breaking stereotypes and helping society do some serious thinking about itself. Your ability to seamlessly transition between comedic and dramatic roles is truly commendable. How do you approach such diverse characters? Each character, comedic or dramatic, comes with its own set of challenges and nuances. For me, the key lies in understanding the essence of the character and tapping into their emotional core. Whether it is finding the perfect timing for a comedic scene or delving into the complexities of a dramatic role, I always strive to bring authenticity to my performances. I also believe in extensive research and preparation, which allows me to inhabit the character fully and deliver a memorable portrayal. You began with a career and then had a stint with politics. How does politics shape your acting style? Acting is, of course, a craft which must be learnt and perfected while politics is learned when you enter it. When you are in Parliament you get to know the real India, its people, its problems, what the Government is doing, and where you fit in. It is a humbling experience. Do you think actors have a role to play in politics? Of course. If they want to become full-time politicians, they should prepare for it. If they do not want to enter it, fine but still they should know about it. After all, they are also part of society and should be aware of its challenges and problems. They should not just curse sitting on the sidelines and come forward to make a change. Those who enter politics must be serious about it and be be aware and of the opportunities and challenges politics throws at them. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday said that rebel Congress leaders who voted against the party in the recently held Rajya Sabha polls in the state insulted "public vote and public faith". Addressing a public meeting, Sukhu said that the people will not "spare the rebel MLAs". "A person who sells his honour and betrays their families has to run into hiding out of fear," he said. They have insulted the public vote and the public will make them realise the power of their vote, Sukhu added. Congress' six MLAs -- Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto besides Rana -- were disqualified by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania for defying a whip to be present in the House and vote for government during the cut motions and budget. The chief minister on Saturday announced 37 development projects worth Rs 445 crore in Bilaspur district's four assembly constituencies hours before the Model Code of Conduct for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was enforced. The chief minister announced development projects in Jhanduta, Shri Naina Devi, Ghumarwin and Bilaspur (Sadar) assembly constituencies in Bilapsur district. Sukhu said the BJP's mismanagement left the state with a debt of Rs 75,000 crore and liabilities to the government employees worth Rs 10,000 crore, he said. Despite this, the state government implemented the old pension scheme for 1.36 lakh government employees, Sukhu said. The Modi government has banned the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, led by incarcerated terror accused Yasin Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League and four Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League factions for their involvement in fomenting terror and secessionism in the Union territory. Announcing the decisions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences. In a separate notification, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs also banned four factions of the J-K Peoples League JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan) and the Yaqoob Sheikh-led JKPL (Aziz Sheikh). "The Modi government has declared the 'Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction)' as an 'Unlawful Association' for a further period of five years," Shah wrote on 'X'. The minister said the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League, which was also declared a banned group for five years, has threatened India's integrity by promoting, aiding and abetting secession of Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism. "The Modi government will remain unsparing to people and organisations involved in terror activities," he said in another post. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Karnataka alleging deterioration of law and order situation and accused it of indulging in "loot" when the people are in trouble. Formally launching the party's Lok Sabha election campaign here in the home turf of Congress President M Mallikarujn Kharge, he also claimed that the people of Karnataka have decided to make BJP victorious in the state in the upcoming polls. "The anger that you (people) have towards Congress in Karnataka I can understand. The Congress is a party that despite changing their costume a number of times, their misdeeds don't change. That's the reason people of Karnataka are awake and are angry towards it," Modi said. According to political analysts, Karnataka is very important for the BJP in south India as it's only here that it had held power in the past. The BJP bagged 25 seats out of the total 28 in the State in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. An independent backed by the party had also won. Addressing a mega public rally here, Modi said people of Karnataka are disenchanted with the Congress government in Karnataka within such a short span of time. "This shows that people are aware of Congress' truth. The Congress is not ready to improve despite getting several chances." Alleging that the law and order situation in Karnataka has deteriorated, the PM said, anti-social elements are getting protection openly, and fear is being instilled into the minds of the people. "When people are worried, Congress is busy with loot." Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra, BJP Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, the party's candidate from Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat Umesh Jadhav, among others were present. Looking at the enthusiasm among the people, it looks like Karnataka has decided to make BJP victorious in a record number of seats, Modi said, adding Karnataka has decided what the verdict would be even before the announcement of elections. Stating that he has been in South India for the last couple of days and before that was in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, he said, journalists in Srinagar in their blog have written that after 1988 Srinagar had never seen such a big rally by any political party there. "The scenes and passion I saw in Srinagar, the enthusiasm I saw towards India. I can say with confidence that the country is ready to fulfill its aspirations," he said. Highlighting his tour in various parts of south India campaigning for the last couple of days, the PM said, people are looking at the BJP with hope. "Across south India people from all sections and fields have given their immense support to the BJP. Looking at this huge support that BJP is getting in south Congress and INDIA alliance people are saying, one of your leaders even said in parliament, our opponents are saying -- it will be the BJP this time" Stamford Police Officer Jeff Booth flies a DJI Phantom III drone used by the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Squad. Booth is one of the departments four FAA-certified drone pilots. Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media (Peter Hvizdak - Hearst Connecticut Media)Orange, Connecticut: July 19, 2017. Orange Fire Marshall Tim Smith demonstrating a DJI Inspire 1 drone the fire department received from a $3000 grant from FM Global to the Orange Fire and Police Departments to test drone capabilities in firefighting and police work. 13 members of the Orange Fire and Police Departments have been trained and certified to fly the drone. Digital First Media In an effort to protect against foreign spying and hacking, Connecticut would ban towns from using Chinese- and Russian-made drones under a proposal being considered by the state legislature. Two of the top-ranking state Senate Democrats have sent a letter to municipal leaders warning of the dangers of drones made by Chinese and Russian firms. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, said municipal leaders might not understand the risk. At some point the software gets uploaded. Even if they say it doesn't, it does, Duff said. What we've seen in other states with these Chinese-made drones is where they have hacked in and frozen electrical systems in Texas hospitals, schools and, according to the FBI, this is all about when China invades Taiwan, which sounds so conspiratorial. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That almost sounds ridiculous. But this is what we're hearing from the FBI, Duff said. The letter, obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group, and sent by Duff and Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven, to Connecticut Conference of Municipalities CEO Joe DeLong and Connecticut Council of Small Towns Executive Directot Betsy Gara, details some of the ways foreign-made drones have been used to gain access to internet-connected systems used by towns and cities across the United States. According to Duff and Looneys letter, drones manufactured in China and Russia are sending proprietary information back to China and Russia through backdoors installed in the drones. Gara said she is taking the senators concerns seriously, but is wary of municipal agencies incurring any additional cost. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Local law enforcement and firefighters have invested considerable funds in purchasing drones, many of which have been manufactured by Chinese, she said. To replace those would be cost prohibitive. We're looking at opportunities to ensure that the drones are used in such a way that they don't pose cybersecurity risks. Duff said the goal is not to destroy existing drones, but to prevent additional purchases of drones made in Russia and China. We want to make sure that we stop buying them and when the lifecycle of these current drones are done, they don't buy more Chinese drones, Duff said. I'm not sure that people understand the severity or the real risk of having these drones. We're not saying take a hammer to them tomorrow, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The proposed ban, included as a section of a larger bill, would prevent any public agency in Connecticut from purchasing any small unmanned aircraft system assembled or manufactured from the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation and any governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof. Michael Shabenas, fire chief at the Dayville Fire Company in Killingly, spoke against the ban during public testimony. He said his fire company uses a drone made by DJI, specifically mentioned in the senators letter. Our drones are used for public safety purposes including (but not limited to): structural fires, wildland/forest fires, and search and rescue operations, Shabenas said. Losing that operational capability would be detrimental to our ability to protect life and provide for incident stabilization and property conservation. DJI, one of the world's largest drone manufacturers, is based in Shenzhen, China. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense listed DJI as a "Chinese military company working with the Peoples Liberation Army. DJI issued a statement saying the company "has never designed or manufactured military-grade equipment, and has never marketed or sold its products for military use in any country." Advertisement Article continues below this ad In response to concerns heard at the public hearing, Duff and Looneys letter said that the threat to local and statewide security is not "overblown." We would like to point out that the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Congress, President Biden and former President Trump have all stated that these devices do pose significant risks and have implemented policies to ban these drones, the letter said. Moreover, it is the drone hardware itself that presents the security risk, as the security software updates for Chinese-made drones are controlled by Chinese entities that can introduce unknown data collection and transmission capabilities without the users awareness. Connecticut would not be the first state to ban the purchase or use of Chinese and Russian drones. As of April 5, no state or municipal agencies in Florida may use drones made in a foreign country of concern, including China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Syria, among others. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Florida will allocate $25 million to help local agencies buy new drones. Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee have also enacted similar measures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gara said state funding could make the request feasible. Funding would be essential if the ban goes forward because the use of drones has proven very effective in searching for and rescuing people and responding to other emergencies. Theyve become a tool that is relied on very heavily by our communities, Cofrancesco said. But at the same time you have to be very concerned if these are used in such a way that they can subject infrastructure to sabotage or allow the use of data to be used in nefarious ways. While Duff said state funding might happen, I'm not sure it's necessary. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We're not saying if we pass that provision in the bill that they have to then scrap them all and start from scratch, he said. We're just saying you can't buy any more and then when the other ones stop working, you can't buy Chinese ones anymore. Lynch & Associates IN lessened its stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 60,081 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 790 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. accounts for approximately 2.5% of Lynch & Associates INs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Lynch & Associates INs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $10,220,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.8% in the third quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,151 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,182,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Affinity Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.4% in the second quarter. Affinity Wealth Management LLC now owns 19,082 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,775,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Mezzasalma Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 3.3% in the third quarter. Mezzasalma Advisors LLC now owns 2,151 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.8% in the third quarter. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI now owns 9,396 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,363,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zhang Financial LLC boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 0.7% during the third quarter. Zhang Financial LLC now owns 9,434 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,371,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have commented on JPM. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Bank of America boosted their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $179.11. Insider Transactions at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In other news, Vice Chairman Peter Scher sold 1,812 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.65, for a total value of $301,969.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 46,766 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,793,553.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Jennifer Piepszak sold 1,648 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.96, for a total value of $294,926.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 32,819 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,873,288.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Vice Chairman Peter Scher sold 1,812 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.65, for a total value of $301,969.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 46,766 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,793,553.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 845,383 shares of company stock valued at $154,341,636 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Trading Up 1.4 % NYSE:JPM traded up $2.66 on Friday, hitting $190.63. 8,001,321 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,942,549. The stock has a market cap of $549.08 billion, a PE ratio of 11.66, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $177.63 and a 200-day moving average of $160.42. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $123.11 and a fifty-two week high of $191.73. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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). JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 20.70%. The company had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $39.73 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.57 EPS. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s quarterly revenue was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; 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. Featured Articles 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. Shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Hold by the eleven research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $112.18. A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ALV. StockNews.com upgraded Autoliv from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, January 20th. Wolfe Research lowered Autoliv from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Autoliv from $101.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Barclays upped their price target on Autoliv from $105.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Autoliv from $106.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Get Autoliv alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ALV Autoliv Price Performance NYSE:ALV opened at $120.03 on Monday. Autoliv has a 12 month low of $79.66 and a 12 month high of $123.01. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $110.52 and a two-hundred day moving average of $103.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $9.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.71. Autoliv (NYSE:ALV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 26th. The auto parts company reported $3.74 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.37 by $0.37. Autoliv had a return on equity of 27.13% and a net margin of 4.66%. The company had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.75 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.83 EPS. Autolivs quarterly revenue was up 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Autoliv will post 9.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Autoliv Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 12th will be paid a $0.68 dividend. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 11th. Autolivs payout ratio is currently 47.30%. Insider Activity In other news, VP Mikael Hagstrom sold 327 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $109.69, for a total value of $35,868.63. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 327 shares in the company, valued at $35,868.63. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Anthony J. Nellis sold 760 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total value of $83,600.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 4,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $534,490. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Mikael Hagstrom sold 327 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.69, for a total value of $35,868.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 327 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,868.63. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 8,388 shares of company stock worth $921,757. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Autoliv Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ALV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Autoliv by 51.4% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 22,346 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $1,708,000 after buying an additional 7,587 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 7.5% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 3,092 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $236,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 2.0% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 107,903 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $8,247,000 after purchasing an additional 2,073 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Autoliv by 16.8% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 24,143 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,845,000 after purchasing an additional 3,464 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Autoliv during the first quarter worth about $122,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.70% of the companys stock. Autoliv Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Shares of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Hold from the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $90.00. A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Textron from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Textron from $84.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Bank of America upgraded Textron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $85.00 to $105.00 in a report on Friday, March 8th. Citigroup increased their target price on Textron from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a 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. Get Textron alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on TXT Hedge Funds Weigh In On Textron Textron Price Performance Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of TXT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Textron by 27.7% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,596,887 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $324,678,000 after purchasing an additional 997,119 shares during the last quarter. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new position in Textron in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $64,463,000. Man Group plc acquired a new stake in Textron in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $64,467,000. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its stake in Textron by 93.7% during the 3rd quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 1,474,191 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $115,193,000 after acquiring an additional 713,169 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank acquired a new position in Textron during the 3rd quarter worth $50,696,000. Institutional investors own 85.92% of the companys stock. TXT stock opened at $92.91 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $17.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.92. Textron has a 1 year low of $61.27 and a 1 year high of $93.45. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of $80.19. Textron (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.07. Textron had a net margin of 6.73% and a return on equity of 16.05%. The company had revenue of $3.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.07 earnings per share. Textrons revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Textron will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Textron Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.09%. Textrons dividend payout ratio is currently 1.75%. About Textron (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. See Also 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. Central Bank & Trust Co. trimmed its position in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report) by 14.6% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 18,957 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 3,238 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in Sherwin-Williams were worth $5,912,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in SHW. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the third quarter worth $25,000. Union Savings Bank bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Sherwin-Williams by 44,853.3% in the first quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,743 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 6,728 shares in the last quarter. Lee Financial Co bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams in the third quarter valued at $33,000. 75.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance NYSE:SHW traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $334.66. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,623,785 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,492,448. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a 12-month low of $205.43 and a 12-month high of $347.71. The firms fifty day moving average price is $315.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $285.76. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The stock has a market cap of $85.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.18, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 1.15. Sherwin-Williams Increases Dividend Sherwin-Williams ( NYSE:SHW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.01. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 74.72%. The firm had revenue of $5.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.89 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 11.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th were given a dividend of $0.715 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $2.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. This is a positive change from Sherwin-Williamss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio is presently 30.92%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on SHW shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $346.00 to $341.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 26th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $355.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Sherwin-Williams from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $312.00 to $402.00 in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Argus boosted their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $330.00 to $378.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Northcoast Research upgraded shares of Sherwin-Williams from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $360.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $318.72. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Sherwin-Williams Insider Activity In other news, insider Todd D. Rea sold 2,449 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $313.54, for a total transaction of $767,859.46. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 9,329 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,925,014.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Gregory P. Sofish sold 1,830 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $320.70, for a total transaction of $586,881.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 6,329 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,029,710.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Todd D. Rea sold 2,449 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $313.54, for a total value of $767,859.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,329 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,925,014.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 32,050 shares of company stock valued at $10,340,237 in the last quarter. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Sherwin-Williams Profile (Free Report) The Sherwin-Williams Company engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of paints, coating, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. It operates through three segments: Paint Stores Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Sherwin-Williams Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sherwin-Williams and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Green Agriculture, Inc. (NYSE:CGA Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $2.32 and traded as high as $3.16. China Green Agriculture shares last traded at $3.16, with a volume of 1,554 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture in a report on Friday. They set a sell rating on the stock. Get China Green Agriculture alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on China Green Agriculture China Green Agriculture Trading Down 2.8 % The firms 50-day moving average is $2.66 and its 200 day moving average is $2.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.54 and a beta of 0.49. China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The basic materials company reported ($0.40) EPS for the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative return on equity of 12.68% and a negative net margin of 14.54%. The business had revenue of $17.80 million for the quarter. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CGA. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture in the 1st quarter worth approximately $115,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of China Green Agriculture by 67.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $192,000 after purchasing an additional 7,700 shares during the period. Finally, Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture in the 1st quarter worth approximately $175,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.74% of the companys stock. China Green Agriculture Company Profile (Get Free Report) China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers, agricultural products, and bitcoin in the People's Republic of China and the United States. The company operates through four segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production); and Antaeus (Bitcoin). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for China Green Agriculture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Green Agriculture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Destiny Media Technologies (OTCMKTS:DSNY Get Free Report) and Q2 (NYSE:QTWO Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, risk, institutional ownership and earnings. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Destiny Media Technologies and Q2s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Destiny Media Technologies alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Destiny Media Technologies $4.03 million 2.44 $340,000.00 $0.02 50.03 Q2 $624.62 million 4.58 -$65.38 million ($1.13) -42.87 Destiny Media Technologies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Q2. Q2 is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Destiny Media Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Destiny Media Technologies 7.84% 9.46% 8.38% Q2 -10.47% -6.75% -2.52% Analyst Recommendations This table compares Destiny Media Technologies and Q2s net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Destiny Media Technologies and Q2, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Destiny Media Technologies 0 0 0 0 N/A Q2 0 3 11 0 2.79 Q2 has a consensus price target of $42.73, indicating a potential downside of 11.78%. Given Q2s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Q2 is more favorable than Destiny Media Technologies. Risk and Volatility Destiny Media Technologies has a beta of 1.06, suggesting that its stock price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Q2 has a beta of 1.48, suggesting that its stock price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Destiny Media Technologies beats Q2 on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Destiny Media Technologies (Get Free Report) Destiny Media Technologies Inc. develops technologies that enable the distribution of digital media files in a streaming or digital download format over the Internet. It offers Play MPE, an online platform that distributes promotional content, including broadcast quality audio, video, images, promotional information, and other digital content from record labels and artists to broadcasting professionals, music curators, and music reviewers to discover, download, broadcast, and review the content; Play MPE CASTER; Play MPE Quickshare provides a distribution tool for Play MPE customers to promote music; and Play MPE Player for music curators to review and download content through cloud-based player and mobile apps. The company also provides Music Tracking Radar, a digital tracking service that tracks and reports the number and times customers track is played; Clipstream, an online video platform for encoding, hosting, and reporting on video playback that can be embedded in third party websites or emails; and playback through its JavaScript codec engine. It markets and sells its products in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. The company was founded in 1991 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. About Q2 (Get Free Report) Q2 Holdings, Inc. provides cloud-based digital solutions to regional and community financial institutions in the United States. The company offers Digital Banking Platform, an end-to-end digital banking platform supports its financial institution customers in their delivery of unified digital banking services across digital channels. Its digital banking platform solutions, comprising Q2 Consumer Banking, Q2 Small Business and Commercial, Q2mobile Remote Deposit Capture, Q2 Sentinel, Q2 Patrol, Q2 SMART, Q2 Contextual Personal Financial Management, Q2 Goals, Q2 CardSwap, Q2 Gro, Q2 Innovation Studio, Q2 Biller Direct, ClickSWITCH, Sensibill, Centrix Dispute Tracking System, Centrix Payments I.Q. System, and Centrix Exact/Transaction Management System. The company also provides lending solutions, which consists precisionlender solutions, a cloud-based platform, data-driven sales enablement, relationship pricing, and portfolio management solution includes precisionlender platform, premium treasury pricing, data studio, and Andi; and Q2 Cloud Lending solutions, a cloud-based digital lending platform and end-to-end lending solution that allows financial institutions, FinTechs, and Alt-FIs to automate and digitize their lending activities, supporting digital lending applications, scoring, underwriting, servicing, and collections for multiple assets classes comprising Q2 CL portal, originate, loan, marketplace, and collections. In addition, it offers Q2 Innovation Studio, an application program interface, or API, based and software development kit, or SDK, based open technology platform; and Helix, a cloud-native, real-time core processing platform. The company was formerly known as CBG Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Q2 Holdings, Inc. in March 2013. Q2 Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Destiny Media Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Destiny Media Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers Trust Co. lifted its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 7.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,011 shares of the conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the period. Farmers Trust Co.s holdings in Danaher were worth $1,391,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Danaher by 344.8% during the 2nd quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in Danaher during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Danaher in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Insider Transactions at Danaher In other news, Director Teri List sold 3,289 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $248.32, for a total transaction of $816,724.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 19,726 shares in the company, valued at $4,898,360.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Teri List sold 3,289 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $248.32, for a total value of $816,724.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 19,726 shares in the company, valued at $4,898,360.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Georgeann Couchara sold 2,622 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.67, for a total transaction of $636,280.74. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,029,891.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 32,957 shares of company stock worth $8,265,802. Company insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock. Danaher Stock Performance Shares of DHR stock traded down $3.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $249.40. 5,793,330 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,783,907. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $243.45 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $231.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $184.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.84. Danaher Co. has a 12-month low of $182.09 and a 12-month high of $259.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.68. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.91 by $0.18. Danaher had a net margin of 17.26% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The business had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.87 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current year. Danaher Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. This is an increase from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Danahers dividend payout ratio is 16.90%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have recently issued reports on DHR. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Danaher from $254.00 to $282.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com lowered Danaher from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. TheStreet upgraded Danaher from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Danaher from $255.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays cut Danaher from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $240.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Danaher currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $266.00. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on DHR About Danaher (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hannover Ruck SE (OTCMKTS:HVRRY Get Free Report)s share price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $41.60 and traded as high as $43.63. Hannover Ruck shares last traded at $43.61, with a volume of 11,071 shares trading hands. Hannover Ruck Stock Up 2.0 % The business has a fifty day moving average price of $41.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $39.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.09 and a quick ratio of 0.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.83 and a beta of 0.68. About Hannover Ruck (Get Free Report) Hannover Ruck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The company offers property and casualty reinsurance solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space businesses; catastrophe XL business; credit, surety, and political risks businesses; facultative business; and marine and offshore energy businesses, as well as insurance-linked securities and structured reinsurance. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hannover Ruck Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannover Ruck and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI Free Report) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,193 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in MSCI were worth $675,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Diversified Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of MSCI by 11.4% in the 4th quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,759 shares of the technology companys stock worth $995,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSCI by 56.0% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 532 shares of the technology companys stock worth $301,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the last quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of MSCI by 114.4% in the 4th quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 208 shares of the technology companys stock worth $118,000 after acquiring an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. DNB Asset Management AS lifted its holdings in shares of MSCI by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. DNB Asset Management AS now owns 16,107 shares of the technology companys stock worth $9,111,000 after acquiring an additional 1,429 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in MSCI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $634,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.61% of the companys stock. Get MSCI alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes MSCI has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of MSCI from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $526.00 to $600.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Edward Jones initiated coverage on shares of MSCI in a report on Friday, December 22nd. They set a buy rating on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of MSCI from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of MSCI from $615.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James reissued a market perform rating on shares of MSCI in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, MSCI has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $578.21. MSCI Stock Performance Shares of MSCI stock opened at $544.74 on Friday. MSCI Inc. has a 1 year low of $451.55 and a 1 year high of $617.39. The company has a market capitalization of $43.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.83, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.07. The companys fifty day moving average is $563.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $536.94. MSCI (NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The technology company reported $3.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.39. MSCI had a net margin of 45.42% and a negative return on equity of 111.17%. The company had revenue of $690.11 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $662.64 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.84 EPS. MSCIs revenue for the quarter was up 19.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that MSCI Inc. will post 14.75 earnings per share for the current year. MSCI Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th were given a dividend of $1.60 per share. This is an increase from MSCIs previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. This represents a $6.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. MSCIs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.44%. About MSCI (Free Report) MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSCI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for MSCI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSCI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC raised its position in Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Free Report) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 671 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the quarter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Lockheed Martin were worth $305,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in LMT. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 0.5% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 37,972,543 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $17,950,761,000 after purchasing an additional 176,739 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.3% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,302,719 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $9,120,920,000 after purchasing an additional 279,162 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.8% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,686,937 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,302,388,000 after purchasing an additional 97,916 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 2.5% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,451,163 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,045,055,000 after purchasing an additional 106,461 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Lockheed Martin by 4.0% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,158,783 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,291,816,000 after purchasing an additional 121,358 shares during the last quarter. 74.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Lockheed Martin news, COO John Frank A. St sold 6,648 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $425.35, for a total transaction of $2,827,726.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Lockheed Martin news, COO John Frank A. St sold 6,648 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $425.35, for a total transaction of $2,827,726.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Maryanne Lavan sold 4,022 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $434.39, for a total value of $1,747,116.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,874 shares of company stock worth $7,249,946. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Lockheed Martin Stock Performance NYSE LMT opened at $435.82 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $105.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.97 and a beta of 0.48. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $435.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $438.32. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 1-year low of $393.77 and a 1-year high of $508.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, a current ratio of 1.21 and a quick ratio of 1.03. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The aerospace company reported $7.90 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 return on equity of 79.91% and a net margin of 10.24%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $7.79 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given 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 2.89%. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is 45.74%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $550.00 to $540.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $513.00 to $503.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on Lockheed Martin from $475.00 to $470.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Lockheed Martin from $438.00 to $472.00 in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Lockheed Martin from $540.00 to $508.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $491.92. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LMT Lockheed Martin 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. Stephan Oliveira of Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Shards of broken glass were on the welcome mat at the entrance to New Havens Strange Ways when owner Alex Dakoulas got to the store last Wednesday morning. Welcome mat at New Haven's Strange Ways the morning after the store was burglarized. Strange Ways / contributed Security footage showed that hours earlier someone had smashed the front door, entered the store with a black trash bag, hat, face mask and gloves, and stole thousands of dollars of merchandise and apparel, much of it made by local artists from marginalized communities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The words on the mat feature the eponymous opening lyrics of Nirvanas 1991 single Come as You Are. They reflect, Dakoulas said, the safe and welcoming atmosphere he strives for in the store, especially for members of the LGBTQ community. Alex Dakoulas of Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media "Its become a safe space, in the sense that they can come in and hold hands with their partner, or wear something very identifiable, or be openly trans, and were accepting of that, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Screenshot from surveillance video of a burglary at New Haven's Strange Ways. Strange Ways / contributed New Haven police said they could not comment about the incident, but confirmed there is an active investigation. Surveillance footage Dakoulas sent to Hearst Connecticut Media Group shows a person enter the store around 2 a.m. near the Come as You Are welcome mat and walk up a long ramp decorated with an elongated progress Pride flag, past a wall painted in pink and black geometric shapes with an open-mouthed skull and neon stay strange sign, and begin to stuff shirts and sweaters into a trash bag. Retail items at New Haven's Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media Strange Ways got its start about 10 years ago as an online shop selling stickers, shirts, patches, pins and other accessory items. Then came a brick-and-mortar storefront in the citys Westville section. A few years ago, it moved to Pitkin Plaza. Dakoulas also owns the Westville General Store. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The doors broken glass was cleaned and replaced almost as quickly as it was discovered. Police were called and items were inventoried. Dakoulas said staff at local businesses like G Cafe, Trinity Bar and Blue Orchid reached out to offer support. Other local businesses, like Devils Gear and Ritual Pizza, shared social media posts about the burglary. Some of the people who created the stolen merchandise even offered to replace them for free, Dakoulas said. Retail items at New Haven's Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media I do feel like theres a great sense of community in the Ninth Square business district, he said. We all want this area to succeed. We are all small business and we support each other when we can, so thats been great. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the most support, Dakoulas said, came from his staff, who made sure the store kept running smoothly and patrons felt as welcome as ever. Alex Dakoulas of Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media On the Saturday after the break-in, there were few signs that a violent act had been committed days ago. Even as employees readied to close the store for the night, minutes before 6 p.m., customers entering were greeted from across the store with a bright and chipper Hi! Welcome to Strange Ways. Stephan Oliveira, a 21-year-old student at Yale University, said working at Strange Ways has been more than a job. Its a dream. Oliveira found Strange Ways while in high school in Los Angeles and became a fan of the store, purchasing items and following it on social media. When he got to New Haven after transferring to Yale from a community college in L.A., he jumped at the chance to work at the store. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Retail items at New Haven's Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media It spoke to the activist in him, he said. There was something punk rock about the store's embrace of counterculture, non-conformist elements mixed with whimsy. Its not rainbow capitalism, Oliveira said, but a space where art, creativity, fashion and social consciousness come together. And, he said, its part of why he loves New Haven. It just generally made me feel like the city is a welcoming space, he said. This is a space where you are going to be part of New Haven. Even talking to my professors, they know Strange Ways and they know Alex. This place, as its changed locations, has still been a part of what makes New Haven New Haven. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Retail items at New Haven's Strange Ways. Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media To the person who broke in, Oliveira said he offers grace. &Partners raised its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 48.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 38,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 12,658 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil accounts for 1.0% of &Partners investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. &Partners holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $3,909,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. IMA Wealth Inc. boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 720.0% in the 2nd quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 369 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 324 shares during the period. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at $43,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 3rd quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, Studio Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Exxon Mobil in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Trading Down 0.2 % Exxon Mobil stock traded down $0.20 during trading on Friday, hitting $111.27. The company had a trading volume of 38,264,401 shares, compared to its average volume of 19,089,314. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1-year low of $95.77 and a 1-year high of $120.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $103.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $105.97. The stock has a market cap of $441.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.96. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $3.40 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is currently 42.74%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently commented on XOM. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Mizuho lowered shares of Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $116.00 to $119.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Exxon Mobil currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.53. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Exxon Mobil Insider Buying and Selling In other news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total value of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,652,596.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at $22,652,596.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares in the company, valued at $3,169,845. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Company Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. &Partners lifted its holdings in shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Free Report) by 52.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 154,373 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 52,851 shares during the period. &Partners holdings in First Horizon were worth $2,186,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 4.2% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 56,775,050 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $625,661,000 after buying an additional 2,276,977 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 5.7% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,689,257 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $281,883,000 after buying an additional 1,321,075 shares during the period. North Reef Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 137.9% in the third quarter. North Reef Capital Management LP now owns 8,900,000 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $98,078,000 after buying an additional 5,158,750 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of First Horizon by 4.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,973,123 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $89,710,000 after purchasing an additional 365,205 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of First Horizon by 9.9% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 7,849,284 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $184,381,000 after acquiring an additional 704,662 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.44% of the companys stock. Get First Horizon alerts: First Horizon Stock Performance Shares of FHN stock remained flat at $14.68 during trading hours on Friday. 17,226,852 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,964,142. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.59, a P/E/G ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.93. First Horizon Co. has a one year low of $8.99 and a one year high of $18.99. 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 fifty day simple moving average is $14.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $12.81. First Horizon Dividend Announcement First Horizon ( NYSE:FHN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.01. First Horizon had a net margin of 17.80% and a return on equity of 9.94%. The company had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $784.20 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.51 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that First Horizon Co. will post 1.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. First Horizons payout ratio is currently 39.22%. First Horizon declared that its board has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, January 23rd that permits the company to buyback $650.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 7.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts recently commented on FHN shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of First Horizon in a research note on Friday, January 19th. UBS Group upgraded shares of First Horizon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $15.50 to $16.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Raymond James raised shares of First Horizon from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $13.00 to $17.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of First Horizon in a report on Friday, December 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $14.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $14.68. Read Our Latest Analysis on FHN First Horizon Profile (Free Report) First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through Regional Banking and Specialty Banking segments. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FHN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN Free Report). 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. Pure Financial Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 6,099 shares of the companys stock after selling 348 shares during the period. Pure Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $574,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the second quarter worth $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the third quarter worth $37,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 950.0% in the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 420 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group downgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Societe Generale upgraded Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Argus reissued a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $105.40. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total transaction of $181,380.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total transaction of $181,380.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total value of $457,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,918 shares in the company, valued at $9,412,880.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Philip Morris International Stock Performance Philip Morris International stock opened at $94.28 on Friday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $91.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.63. 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 capitalization of $146.36 billion, a PE ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last issued 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). Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.99 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.39 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.52%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 103.59%. About Philip Morris International (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Recommended Stories 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. Renaissance Investment Group LLC decreased its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 6.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 7,892 shares of the companys stock after selling 563 shares during the period. Renaissance Investment Group LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $1,237,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of JNJ. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 90,144.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 54,386,720 shares of the companys stock worth $9,607,414,000 after buying an additional 54,326,454 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter valued at $4,609,399,000. Capital International Investors grew its position in Johnson & Johnson by 62.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,825,795 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,605,627,000 after purchasing an additional 10,724,110 shares during the period. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC grew its position in Johnson & Johnson by 161,420.2% in the 2nd quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 7,276,483 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,204,404,000 after purchasing an additional 7,271,978 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its position in Johnson & Johnson by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 42,224,521 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,458,962,000 after purchasing an additional 4,521,062 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.40% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $181.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. UBS Group upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $167.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $215.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $170.00 to $169.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $177.31. Insider Buying and Selling at Johnson & Johnson In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $96,142.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,099,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at $105,810,030.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total value of $9,281,969.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance JNJ traded down $1.03 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $158.18. The stock had a trading volume of 13,165,500 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,197,996. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $159.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $157.00. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $144.95 and a 1 year high of $175.97. The stock has a market cap of $381.02 billion, a PE ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.01. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 37.27% and a net margin of 37.79%. The company had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.35 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current year. Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $1.19 per share. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is presently 34.47%. Johnson & Johnson Profile (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Resona Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:RSNHF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 5,221,400 shares, a decline of 22.8% from the February 14th total of 6,765,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 8,702.3 days. Resona Stock Up 1.9 % OTCMKTS:RSNHF traded up $0.12 on Friday, reaching $6.23. 1,724 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,582. The business has a fifty day moving average of $5.52 and a 200-day moving average of $5.42. Resona has a 52-week low of $4.40 and a 52-week high of $6.24. Get Resona alerts: About Resona (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Resona Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides retail and commercial banking products and services in Japan and internationally. It operates through Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, and Market Trading segments. The Consumer Banking segment provides consulting services, that includes consumer loan, asset management, and asset succession services to individuals. Receive News & Ratings for Resona Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Resona and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW Free Report) by 20.6% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,099 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,557 shares during the period. ServiceNow accounts for about 1.3% of Farmers Trust Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Farmers Trust Co.s holdings in ServiceNow were worth $6,428,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. PFG Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of ServiceNow in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new stake in ServiceNow during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ServiceNow in the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Steward Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of ServiceNow by 125.0% in the 3rd quarter. Steward Financial Group LLC now owns 63 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ServiceNow in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. 87.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get ServiceNow alerts: ServiceNow Trading Down 4.6 % NOW stock traded down $35.58 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $743.91. 2,539,129 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,273,465. The company has a market capitalization of $152.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 88.35, a PEG ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. ServiceNow, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $421.50 and a fifty-two week high of $815.32. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $761.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $669.84. Insider Transactions at ServiceNow ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The information technology services provider reported $3.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.34. ServiceNow had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 11.85%. The firm had revenue of $2.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.88 earnings per share. ServiceNows revenue was up 25.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 6.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, insider Paul John Smith sold 1,795 shares of ServiceNow stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $781.06, for a total value of $1,402,002.70. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 994 shares in the company, valued at $776,373.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other ServiceNow news, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 5,030 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.08, for a total transaction of $3,787,992.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 17,177 shares in the company, valued at $12,935,655.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Paul John Smith sold 1,795 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $781.06, for a total transaction of $1,402,002.70. Following the sale, the insider now owns 994 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $776,373.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 13,164 shares of company stock valued at $9,940,303. Corporate insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on NOW shares. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of ServiceNow from $700.00 to $750.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of ServiceNow from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $780.00 to $870.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $800.00 to $910.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $840.00 to $850.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $750.93. Get Our Latest Research Report on ServiceNow ServiceNow Company 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NOW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW Free Report). 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. Shares of Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the four analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $63.00. A number of research firms have recently commented on SON. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Sonoco Products from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. StockNews.com raised Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Sonoco Products from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on Sonoco Products Insider Activity at Sonoco Products Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sonoco Products In other news, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total transaction of $114,306.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,988 shares in the company, valued at approximately $672,047.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, insider Jeffrey S. Tomaszewski sold 10,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.53, for a total transaction of $604,065.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 13,456 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $774,123.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . Also, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total value of $114,306.34. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,988 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $672,047.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 13,076 shares of company stock worth $749,002 in the last ninety days. 0.51% of the stock is owned by company insiders. A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SON. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 12.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 65,349 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,088,000 after purchasing an additional 7,130 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,286 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $894,000 after purchasing an additional 1,087 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 23,239 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,454,000 after purchasing an additional 4,281 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 164.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 43,701 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,744,000 after purchasing an additional 27,157 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Sonoco Products by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 274,058 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $17,145,000 after purchasing an additional 3,941 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.20% of the companys stock. Sonoco Products Stock Performance Sonoco Products stock opened at $57.00 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $57.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $55.51. Sonoco Products has a 52-week low of $49.98 and a 52-week high of $63.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.69. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.04 by ($0.02). Sonoco Products had a return on equity of 22.42% and a net margin of 7.00%. The business had revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.27 EPS. Sonoco Productss revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Sonoco Products will post 5.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. Sonoco Products Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 28th were paid a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.58%. Sonoco Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.50%. About Sonoco Products (Get Free Report Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thai Union Group Public Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TUFBY Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 4.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $8.27 and last traded at $8.27. 100 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 800 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.93. Thai Union Group Public Price Performance The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $8.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.17. Get Thai Union Group Public alerts: Thai Union Group Public Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be given a $0.0527 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. Thai Union Group Public Company Profile Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of frozen, chilled, and canned seafood in Thailand and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Ambient Seafood; Frozen and Chilled Seafood and Related Businesses; Pet food; and Value-Added and Other Businesses. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Thai Union Group Public Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thai Union Group Public and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC lessened its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 10.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,975 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 707 shares during the quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $1,016,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Macroview Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7,833.3% in the 3rd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 238 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the period. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the 3rd quarter worth $40,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 290.9% during the 3rd quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 387 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth $58,000. Finally, Robbins Farley lifted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Robbins Farley now owns 421 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.94% of the companys stock. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, CEO Jennifer Piepszak sold 1,649 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.59, for a total transaction of $274,706.91. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 34,467 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,741,857.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, CEO Jennifer Piepszak sold 1,649 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.59, for a total transaction of $274,706.91. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 34,467 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,741,857.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Lori A. Beer sold 3,920 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total value of $716,340.80. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 44,996 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,222,569.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 845,383 shares of company stock worth $154,341,636. 0.79% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance NYSE JPM opened at $190.51 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $548.74 billion, a PE ratio of 11.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $177.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $160.72. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1-year low of $123.11 and a 1-year high of $191.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by ($0.69). JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 20.70%. The company had revenue of $38.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $39.73 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.57 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes JPM has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Bank of America upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $177.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $191.00 to $221.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Barclays upped their price objective on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $179.11. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; 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. Featured Articles 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. Wedmont Private Capital increased its stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 7.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,711 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 998 shares during the quarter. Wedmont Private Capitals holdings in General Electric were worth $1,759,000 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 GE. Global Wealth Management Investment Advisory Inc. grew its position in General Electric by 808.1% during the 1st 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 last quarter. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Macroview Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 43.4% in the 3rd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 317 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Fortis Group Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. 74.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was 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 owns 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,153,863.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total value of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.67% of the stock is owned by company insiders. General Electric Stock Performance NYSE:GE traded up $2.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $168.89. 10,585,590 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,998,182. General Electric has a one year low of $88.57 and a one year high of $175.81. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $144.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $125.87. The firm has a market cap of $183.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.28. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $19.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.24 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on GE shares. TheStreet upgraded General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Oppenheimer restated a market perform rating on shares of General Electric in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded General Electric from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $166.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on General Electric from $180.00 to $195.00 in a research note on Monday, March 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, General Electric currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $146.54. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on General Electric General Electric Company Profile (Free Report) General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers. Featured Articles 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. Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSE:WCP Get Free Report) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, March 14th, Zacks reports. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.061 per share on Monday, April 15th. This represents a $0.73 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Whitecap Resources Trading Up 1.7 % Shares of Whitecap Resources stock opened at C$9.94 on Friday. Whitecap Resources has a 12-month low of C$8.15 and a 12-month high of C$11.91. The company has a market cap of C$5.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.81, a PEG ratio of -0.33 and a beta of 2.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.25. The companys 50-day moving average price is C$8.98 and its 200-day moving average price is C$9.84. Get Whitecap Resources alerts: Whitecap Resources (TSE:WCP Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported C$0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.30 by C$0.19. Whitecap Resources had a net margin of 27.52% and a return on equity of 16.89%. The firm had revenue of C$914.10 million for the quarter. On average, equities analysts expect that Whitecap Resources will post 1.106113 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently weighed in on WCP. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$12.25 to C$12.75 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. National Bankshares lowered their target price on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$18.50 to C$15.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. CIBC lowered their target price on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$15.00 to C$14.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Jefferies Financial Group set a C$11.00 target price on shares of Whitecap Resources and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Desjardins raised their target price on shares of Whitecap Resources from C$11.00 to C$11.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Whitecap Resources has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$13.40. Get Our Latest Report on WCP Insider Transactions at Whitecap Resources In other news, Director Grant Bradley Fagerheim bought 3,723 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 5th. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$8.17 per share, for a total transaction of C$30,416.91. Company insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock. Whitecap Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Whitecap Resources Inc, an oil and gas company, focuses on the acquisition, development, and production of oil and gas assets in Western Canada. The company's primary areas of focus of its development programs are in Northern Alberta and British Columbia, Central Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Whitecap Resources Inc was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Whitecap Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whitecap Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China's top legislator meets with Angolan President Xinhua) 10:30, March 16, 2024 Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Beijing on Friday and called for the greater development of bilateral relations. Noting that China and Angola are good brothers and good partners with sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, Zhao, the chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China is willing to work with Angola to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, further consolidate strategic mutual trust, and promote the upgrading of practical cooperation to achieve greater development of bilateral relations. Zhao said that exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies are important channels for enhancing mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples. The NPC is willing to work with the National Assembly of Angola to strengthen exchanges between high-level officials, special committees, bilateral friendship groups and parliamentarians to provide legal guarantee for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Zhao also briefed Lourenco on the second session of the 14th NPC. Lourenco said that Angola welcomes and supports a series of global initiatives proposed by China and firmly supports China's position on Taiwan, human rights and other issues. He expressed gratitude to China for its long-term support to Angola, and said Angola is willing to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China in various fields. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) Providing benefits that add value to your employees can come at a high cost to you as an employer. You want to ensure that, given the amount of money involved, your staff completely appreciates, understands and uses these incentives. Employee benefits networks like Pluxee are ideal for encouraging your staff to take charge of their wellness. A robust employee benefits platform can benefit more than just your workforce. It enhances your companys overall operations. With such a competitive advantage, companies can adopt technologys innovative aspects into their employee benefits plans or risk falling behind. In this article, we will delve deeper into why investing in a top-notch employee benefits platform will pay off for your company in 2024 and beyond. Benefits of Using an Employee Benefits Platform A Rise in Production By eliminating conventional data obstacles with employee benefits technology, companies can transfer information far more easily across various corporate divisions. As a result, your payroll and HR teams will be able to work together and merge much more easily. This will improve overall productivity by streamlining your operations and lowering administrative workload. Additionally, there is just one system for end users in payroll and HR, which cuts down on expenses and training time. Compiling Reports Your employees actions are providing you with important information that you should utilise to enhance your workplace benefits plan. All your reports will be centrally located on the Pluxee employee benefits platform, allowing you to address critical inquiries. These include the most well-liked benefits or those you could be overpaying for. You can develop a customized system that prioritizes their requirements by tailoring your businesss benefits approach to your employees behaviours. As a result, it encourages them to connect with and benefit from your employee benefits. Your structure can also showcase total compensation, demonstrating how much worth the staff members receive and their income. If your employees grasp the companys purpose, it will help to create a more engaged workforce. Safety and Adherence We understand how important it is to safeguard your businesss data. Innovation for employee benefits is valuable because it can be integrated with your dedication to maintaining data security. The lower the number of suppliers your data must go through, the lesser the danger to your company. Also, employee benefits platforms like Pluxee enforce policies that can provide you with total peace of mind. These include protecting any confidential information, using encryption, and making multifactor authentication (MFA) a default feature. Participation and Ease of Access Making your benefits simple will motivate your employees to interact with them more. Also, it provides them with the tools they need to make the most of the fantastic items at their disposal. So, ensuring that your workplace perks are well-known can help you differentiate yourself from the competition and keep top talent. This will establish your business as one that provides exceptionally good employee benefits. Providing mobile connectivity for your companys benefit is a wonderful approach to further improving your staffs experience. This is possible since smartphones have surpassed computers as the most popular device for internet access. Each worker in your company will enjoy the same great experience no matter any location they are in the world. Pluxee: a perfect tool to ease management? Regarding the benefits of technology, your workers should expect it to be easy to use, flexible and accessible in their daily lives. By choosing a framework built on these three essential areas, you can help your company efficiently reduce the time and resources required for managing your benefits. With Pluxee, you can automate the running of crucial reports and expedite the process of examining and approving benefit options. Additionally, the platform ensures you are constantly informed and sent helpful alerts and notifications. Developing a sense of responsibility and trust for the platform will motivate staff members to use it. So, you and your staff can rest easily knowing that data is secure. Is your organisation considering benefit options? Contact Pluxee today to help you create a benefits plan that will optimise the well-being of your staff. Driven by growth from the Permian, the US has produced more crude oil than any other country at any time, according to the Energy Information Administration. Eli Hartman/AP Once again, the US has produced more crude oil than any other country ever. An analysis released this week by the US Energy Information Administration said that, according to its International Energy Statistics, the US produced more crude oil than any nation at any time for the past six years in a row. US crude production, including condensate, averaged 12.9 million barrels a day in 2023, breaking the previous US and global record of 12.3 million barrels per day set in 2019. Average monthly US crude oil production established a monthly record high this past December at more than 13.3 million barrels per day. Texas Permian drillers were largely responsible for these record numbers, producing 5.63 million barrels per day, Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Americas strong output helped stabilize global energy markets as Saudi Arabia and Russia cut their production. US crude output is set to remain strong in 2024, with February reaching highs of 13.3 million b/d and expectations for 2025 to deliver similar results. Advertisement Article continues below this ad EIA analysts write that the nations crude oil production is unlikely to be broken in any other country in the near term because no other country has reached a production capacity of 13 million barrels per day. They noted Saudi Arabias state-owned Saudi Aramco recently scrapped plans to increase production capacity to 13 million barrels a day by 2027. Together, the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 40% (32.8 million barrels per day) of global oil production in 2023, according to the EIA. These three countries have produced more oil than any others since 1971 (counting production in the Russian Federation of the Soviet Union prior to 1991), although the top spot has shifted among them over the past five decades. By comparison, the next three largest producing countries Canada, Iraq, and China combined produced 13.1 million barrels per day in 2023, only slightly more than what was produced in the US alone. After peaking at 9.6 million barrels per day in 1970, annual US crude oil production flattened and then generally declined for decades to a low of 5 million barrels per day in 2008. Crude oil production began increasing again in 2009, as producers increasingly applied hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques, and has increased steadily since. The only exception to U.S. production growth since 2009 was in 2020 and 2021 when demand and prices decreased because of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, crude oil production in the Permian Basin drove the increases in total crude oil and natural gas production in the United States. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Russia was the country with the most crude oil production in 2017, but production growth in Russia has since lagged behind the United States. Average annual production in Russia peaked in 2019 at 10.8 million barrels per day, when it trailed the US by 1.4 million barrels per day. More recently, Russia was among the OPEC+ countries that announced production cuts in November 2022, and in February 2023, it separately announced additional voluntary cuts of 500,000 barrels per day. Although voluntary cuts have reduced recent production in Russia, EIA analysts believe sanctions and voluntary actions by companies in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine have been the primary cause of the cuts. Actual cuts to production appear to be smaller than anticipated, however, and EIA estimates production in Russia declined by only 200,000 barrels per day in 2023. Andrew Peller Ltd (TSE:ADW.A Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$4.29 and traded as low as C$3.96. Andrew Peller shares last traded at C$4.03, with a volume of 59,850 shares trading hands. Get Andrew Peller alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Acumen Capital upped their target price on Andrew Peller from C$8.00 to C$11.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on ADW.A Andrew Peller Trading Up 0.2 % About Andrew Peller The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$4.35 and a 200 day moving average price of C$4.29. The firm has a market cap of C$142.02 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -28.79 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 87.27, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 4.93. (Get Free Report) Andrew Peller Limited engages in the production, bottling, and marketing of wines and craft beverage alcohol products in Canada. The company offers products under Peller Estates, Trius, Thirty Bench, Wayne Gretzky, Sandhill, Red Rooster, Black Hills Estate Winery, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Gray Monk Estate Winery, Raven Conspiracy, and Conviction brands; Peller Family Vineyards, Copper Moon, Black Cellar, and XOXO brands; and Hochtaler, Domaine D'Or, Schloss Laderheim, Royal, and Sommet brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Andrew Peller Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Andrew Peller and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Headinvest LLC bought a new stake in shares of Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm bought 231 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $32,000. Get Dover alerts: Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Dover in the third quarter worth $32,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Dover in the first quarter worth $48,000. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Dover by 193.7% in the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 373 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Dover in the first quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP increased its stake in shares of Dover by 128.2% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 518 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $72,000 after acquiring an additional 291 shares during the last quarter. 83.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades DOV has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Dover from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $167.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. 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 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 report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Dover from $175.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $167.60. Dover Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of DOV opened at $175.55 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $158.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $147.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.40. Dover Co. has a 52 week low of $127.25 and a 52 week high of $177.64. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.44 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $2.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.16 billion. Dover had a net margin of 12.52% and a return on equity of 25.95%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.16 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Dover Co. will post 9.07 earnings per share for the current year. Dover Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 28th. Dovers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.13%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.71, for a total value of $1,060,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 17,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,164,699.39. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.71, for a total value of $1,060,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 17,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,164,699.39. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 18,410 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,897,406.09. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 25,910 shares of company stock valued at $4,318,059 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. 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. Recommended Stories 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. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lessened its position in shares of Truist Financial Co. (NYSE:TFC Free Report) by 7.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 666,929 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 52,957 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohios holdings in Truist Financial were worth $19,081,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Truist Financial alerts: A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of Truist Financial in the first quarter worth about $25,000. United Bank boosted its position in shares of Truist Financial by 4.1% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 74,457 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,222,000 after buying an additional 2,938 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Truist Financial by 33.3% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,365 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,495,000 after buying an additional 6,593 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Truist Financial by 3.3% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 22,951 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,348,000 after buying an additional 738 shares during the period. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in shares of Truist Financial by 8.1% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 56,690 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,214,000 after buying an additional 4,234 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.11% of the companys stock. Truist Financial Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of Truist Financial stock opened at $34.87 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $36.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.29, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.07. Truist Financial Co. has a twelve month low of $25.56 and a twelve month high of $38.47. Truist Financial Announces Dividend Truist Financial ( NYSE:TFC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The insurance provider reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $5.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.70 billion. Truist Financial had a positive return on equity of 9.64% and a negative net margin of 3.28%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Truist Financial Co. will post 3.35 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Truist Financials dividend payout ratio is currently -192.59%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TFC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price target on Truist Financial from $37.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Bank of America raised Truist Financial from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $43.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Truist Financial from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Truist Financial from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Truist Financial from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Truist Financial presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $39.14. Read Our Latest Report on TFC Insider Activity at Truist Financial In related news, Director K. David Jr. Boyer sold 3,764 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.48, for a total value of $141,074.72. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 16,132 shares in the company, valued at approximately $604,627.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.31% of the stock is owned by insiders. Truist Financial Company Profile (Free Report) Truist Financial Corporation, a financial services company, provides banking and trust services in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. The company operates through three segments: Consumer Banking and Wealth, Corporate and Commercial Banking, and Insurance Holdings. Its deposit products include noninterest-bearing checking, interest-bearing checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts, as well as certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Truist Financial Co. (NYSE:TFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Truist Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Truist Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aozora Bank, Ltd. (OTCMKTS:AOZOY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,500 shares, a decline of 22.2% from the February 14th total of 4,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.8 days. Get Aozora Bank alerts: Aozora Bank Price Performance AOZOY opened at $4.30 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $4.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.87. Aozora Bank has a twelve month low of $3.34 and a twelve month high of $5.55. Aozora Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Aozora Bank, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services in Japan and internationally. It operates through Institutional Banking Group, Structured Finance Group, International Business Group, Customer Relations Group, and Market Group segments. The company offers checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, deposits-at-notice, non-residents deposits, and negotiable certificates of deposit, as well as deposits in foreign currencies. Receive News & Ratings for Aozora Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aozora Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio trimmed its holdings in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 10.7% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 388,734 shares of the banks stock after selling 46,707 shares during the quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohios holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $16,580,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 97.1% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 609 shares of the banks stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 1st quarter worth $36,000. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 603.2% during the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 879 shares of the banks stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 754 shares in the last quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth $45,000. 81.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance BK opened at $54.41 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $40.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.71, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.11. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 1 year low of $39.65 and a 1 year high of $56.42. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $55.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.13. Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The bank reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.63% and a net margin of 10.01%. The company had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.30 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 5.26 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 19th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.09%. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio is currently 42.32%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group raised their price objective on Bank of New York Mellon from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $54.50 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Citigroup raised their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Bank of New York Mellon from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $52.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.75. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Bank of New York Mellon Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bank of New York Mellon news, VP Catherine Keating sold 4,498 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total value of $246,535.38. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 123,490 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,768,486.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,425 shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.16, for a total value of $850,843.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 119,656 shares in the company, valued at $6,600,224.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Catherine Keating sold 4,498 shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total value of $246,535.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 123,490 shares in the company, valued at $6,768,486.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock. About Bank of New York Mellon (Free Report) The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL Free Report) by 0.8% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 18,626,625 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 140,488 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 0.05% of Estee Lauder Companies worth $2,692,479,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Get Estee Lauder Companies alerts: A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky boosted its holdings in Estee Lauder Companies by 17.8% in the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 73,263 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,590,000 after purchasing an additional 11,069 shares in the last quarter. Headinvest LLC acquired a new position in Estee Lauder Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in Estee Lauder Companies by 82.2% in the third quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 277 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Estee Lauder Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,801,000. Finally, Financial Insights Inc. acquired a new position in Estee Lauder Companies in the third quarter valued at approximately $355,000. 55.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently weighed in on EL. Barclays increased their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $101.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating and issued a $179.00 price objective on shares of Estee Lauder Companies in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $155.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Raymond James increased their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $150.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Estee Lauder Companies from $150.00 to $167.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seventeen have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $164.71. Estee Lauder Companies Trading Down 2.0 % Shares of EL stock opened at $149.74 on Friday. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $102.22 and a fifty-two week high of $260.46. The stock has a market cap of $53.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 115.19, a P/E/G ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $141.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $139.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The company reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.33. Estee Lauder Companies had a return on equity of 9.78% and a net margin of 3.08%. The business had revenue of $4.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.54 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. will post 2.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Estee Lauder Companies Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Estee Lauder Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 203.08%. About Estee Lauder Companies (Free Report) The Estee Lauder Companies Inc manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Estee Lauder Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Estee Lauder Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its position in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report) by 0.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 51,955,981 shares of the companys stock after selling 95,195 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned approximately 0.09% of General Mills worth $3,324,663,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Get General Mills alerts: Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of General Mills by 1.9% during the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 11,278 shares of the companys stock worth $722,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Adviser Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Mills during the third quarter worth $323,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its stake in shares of General Mills by 5.9% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 342,794 shares of the companys stock worth $21,935,000 after purchasing an additional 19,209 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of General Mills by 60.4% during the third quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 12,261 shares of the companys stock worth $785,000 after purchasing an additional 4,616 shares during the period. Finally, Savoie Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of General Mills during the third quarter worth $724,000. Institutional investors own 75.31% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GIS has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Bank of America decreased their price objective on General Mills from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on General Mills from $75.00 to $72.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on General Mills from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on General Mills from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their target price on General Mills from $77.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, General Mills has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.67. General Mills Stock Up 1.8 % GIS stock opened at $66.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.32 and a beta of 0.15. The business has a 50-day moving average of $64.28 and a 200-day moving average of $64.71. General Mills, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $60.33 and a fifty-two week high of $90.89. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, December 20th. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.09. General Mills had a return on equity of 25.44% and a net margin of 12.06%. The business had revenue of $5.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.10 earnings per share. General Millss revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. General Mills Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 9th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. General Millss payout ratio is presently 57.42%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 7,671 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.15, for a total transaction of $492,094.65. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,924 shares in the company, valued at $6,602,574.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Jeffrey L. Harmening sold 60,056 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.44, for a total transaction of $3,870,008.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 318,483 shares in the company, valued at $20,523,044.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 7,671 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.15, for a total value of $492,094.65. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 102,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,602,574.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About General Mills (Free Report) General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; Pet; and North America Foodservice. It offers grain, ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream and frozen desserts, nutrition bars, and savory snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Derry man has been nominated for the Royal Television Society NI Student Television Awards. Nathan Edgar (24), journalist and student at Ulster University, has been recognised for his documentary about the vital work Foyle Search and Rescue do in Derry. Nathan said he is thrilled with the nomination. I was over the moon when I got word. Its an absolute honour to be recognised by such a prestigious organisation for shedding light on such an important cause, he said. Hopefully I can bring the award back to Derry at the end of the month! The RTS Student Television Awards recognise, encourage, and reward the talent and enthusiasm of students in colleges and universities for the creation of film and video content. The awards offer an opportunity for students to put their creative talents before the critical eye of professionals and win recognition for their skills from leading figures in the field. Foyle Search and Rescue was set up by local people in 1993 in response to the high number of drownings in the river. It has since adopted the role of preventing suicide and supporting families in Derry. The documentary, largely filmed during the pandemic with additional shooting this year, features MLAs Robin Swann and Naomi Long and former Derry Councillor Graham Warke. The aim of the film is to highlight the alarming suicide rates in Derry and NI as a whole whilst diving into the amazing work that Foyle Search and Rescue do to combat this. I believe Suicide is something that has touched everyone in the city, in some shape or form. I think its absolutely crucial that we make sure that charities like Foyle Search and Rescue are funded properly by our Government, they are the ones dealing with the issue hands-on, day in, and day out. Theyre an extremely valued organisation in the city. According to the latest statistics on suicide released by NISRA, 87 people died by suicide in Derry and Strabane between 2018 and 2022. This was the fourth highest in the five year period. In 2022, 13 people died by suicide in the area. This was the joint third lowest in that year. I reached out to Foyle Search & Rescue some time ago about the possibility of creating a film based on their work and the topic of Suicide in the City. Within a week, we met and thats when the planning began and it turned into a year-long project. I met some of the volunteers. Jack Dillon and Gerard Burns are in the documentary. While we were filming one of the scenes, there was an incident at the other side of the water. We couldn't film it, obviously, but it really put me back that we were talking about this and then it was happening right in front of my eyes. Some of the music in the film was recorded by Nathan's brother, Jordan, who is the bassist in Derry band Lavengro. Sinead Rocks, Channel 4 Managing Director and the Nations & Regions Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards, said the award is well respected in the industry. The RTS Student Television Awards have a proven track record in discovering and nurturing the next generation of world class talent in video production, film making and television journalism, she said. They provide a fantastic opportunity to have your ambition and creativity recognised and celebrated by top media professionals and crucially, for you to sell your skills to people at the very top of the broadcasting industry. Put simply, winning an RTS Student TV Award is a real badge of honour on any CV and one that is taken incredibly seriously by professionals. Anyone affected by the topics discussed in this story can contact Lifeline's 24/7 helpline for free on 0808 808 8000 in confidence. The Samaritans can be contacted 24/7 on 02871 265511 or Freephone 116 123 in confidence. FILE - Pierce Brosnan, a cast member in "The Out-Laws," poses at a special screening of the film, June 26, 2023, at the Regal LA Live theaters in Los Angeles. Brosnan, whose fictitious movie character James Bond has been in hot water plenty of times, pleaded guilty Thursday, March 14, 2024, to stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a November 2023 visit to Yellowstone National Park. Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP MAMMOTH, Wyo. (AP) Actor Pierce Brosnan, who pleaded guilty Thursday to stepping off a trail in a thermal area during a November visit to Yellowstone National Park, was caught after posting pictures online, court records said. Brosnan, who called in to the court hearing in Mammoth, Wyoming, was fined $500 and ordered to make a $1,000 donation by April 1 to Yellowstone Forever, a nonprofit organization that supports the park, court records said. Prosecutors had recommended a $5,000 fine and a two-year probationary sentence. A second petty offense, for violating closures and use limits, was dismissed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The actor issued an apology on his Instagram account Thursday, saying he made an impulsive mistake and calling himself an environmentalist with the utmost respect for and love of our natural world. I deeply regret my transgression and offer my heartfelt apologies to all for trespassing in this sensitive area. Yellowstone and all our National Parks are to be cared for and preserved for all to enjoy," Brosnan wrote. He did not see a no trespassing sign when entering the thermal area to take a photo and did not hike in the immediate area, he wrote. Brosnan ended the message with #StayOnThePath. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Brosnan, 70, walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana line, on Nov. 1, according to citations issued by the park. He was in the park on a personal visit and not for film work, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Wyoming has said. However, he uploaded images of himself standing in the snow on the thermal feature to his Instagram page, court records said. Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside. They are just some of the parks hundreds of thermal features, which range from spouting geysers to gurgling mud pots, with water at or near the boiling point. Going out-of-bounds in such areas can be dangerous: Some of the millions of people who visit Yellowstone each year get badly burned by ignoring signs warning them not to stray off the trail. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Getting caught can bring legal peril, too, with jail time, hefty fines and bans from the park handed down to trespassers regularly. 1.30pm - Triumph Hurdle - This is a real puzzle to work out now with Sir Gino a non-runner for Nicky Henderson. You could throw a blanket over the Willie Mullins runners but he seems to favour the JP McManus runner, MAJBOROUGH (4/1). I was with Storm Heart all week but I've been swayed by comments made by Willie ahead of this race. Majborough has been impressing him at home, he was third on his debut for the yard behind Kargese at Leopardstown last month. He will no doubt come on for that run and I'll take a chance he'll improve more than the others in the same field that day who re-oppose in this. 2.10pm - County Hurdle - I'd probably keep it simple here and back the Dan Skelton trained horses. He has been the big winner of the handicap races this week and could have two live chances again. FAVOIR (12/1) and L'EAU DU SUD (4/1) are both worth a bet. The latter is surely ahead of the handicapper and Favoir won the race last year and comes in on a mark of 136, just two pound above his mark last year. The jockey can claim three pound off so he's effectively in here a pound lower than last year. I'll have a bet on both of these and hope one wins and the other places. Magical Zoe and King of Kingsfield look the best of the Irish to me. 2.50pm - Albert Bartlett - I'm all over READIN TOMMY WRONG (9/4) in this for the in-form Willie Mullins yard. He's unbeaten and has winning form against the likes of Ile Atlantique (third in the Gallagher's behind Ballyburn this week) and Firefox (third in the supreme this week). I think Gidleigh Park is a danger for the home team today but Readin Tommy Wrong will improve again for the step up in trip and will handle the ground. He's getting short in the market and some of his stablemates (Dancing City and High Class Hero) are very interesting but I can't pick faults in him for the sake of it. I think he'll win. 3.30pm - Gold Cup - I've been a big Galopin Des Champs (10/11) fan for a while and backed him when he won the Martin Pipe back in 2021. I backed him when he fell against Bob Olinger the year after and again last year when he won the Gold Cup. I can't be against him here as the ground will be no problem to him. He has a great cruising speed and will find plenty up the hill. His win in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December, beating Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths, was one of the finest performances seen at that track and I can't see him beaten if he stays on his feet. I also can't tip a horse that's odds-on so I've been looking for eachway value. I think JUNGLE BOOGIE (28/1) is a live eachway chance for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He'll enjoy the very soft ground and is lightly raced at this trip. The trainer has won this race twice in the last three years so this lad has to be worth a punt. GENTLEMANSGAME (28/1) is another at a big price who will stay all day and his win over Bravemansgame at Wetherby last November would put him bang there with a chance for place money. 4.10pm - The Foxhunter's Chase - This is a very simple one for me. ITSONTHELINE (11/8) looks very strong for connections that have won multiple times this week in similar contests. Derek O'Connor is one of the best amateur jockeys around and proved that on Thursday with a patient ride to win on Inothewayurthinkin. Similar tactics here will see this stout stayer power home and win. It looks a good thing barring disaster. It's worth watching how Samcro gets on in a race like this. Once thought of as an absolute star, he's certainly class enough but I doubt he'll stay as well as some of these. 4.50pm - Mare's Chase - I'd been with Dinoblue for this race for a long time given her form with El Fabiolo but the ground and the trip are now starting to concern me. This will be a testing 2m 4F trip and on drier ground, I'd be nailed to Dinoblue's colours. However, I think for the purposes of a bet here you have to side with ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (5/1) who was an expensive loser of this race last year but was only denied by a horse in Impervious who remains unbeaten over fences. She'll definitely stay and will act in the ground. She also warmed up for this with an impressive victory over Riviere D'Etel at Naas last month. Dinoblue could absolutely be the class in this but with the question marks and given she's now 6/4, she's not a comfortable bet for me. 5.30pm - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle - Always a puzzle to work out but the lucky last has thrown up some good winners in the past, including Galopin Des Champs in 2021. I think WHAT'S UP DARLING (8/1) has a good chance in this. Her second behind Lantry Lady recently looks decent after that one finished 11 lengths third to Lossiemouth on Tuesday. She also has form behind Answer To Kayf who's in today's field and I reckon she's well handicapped given she'll improve further for the extra distance. I'd be happy on her eachway. Jay Jay Reilly (25/1) and Yeats Star (16/1) are others I'd have a small bit eachway on. PICTURED ABOVE: Left to right, Craig Ferla, Tanzania Country Director, Heri Ayubu, Tanzania Senior Manager Programmes and Operations, Richard Moore, Chief Executive Children In Crossfire and Matthew Banks, Head of Programmes and Strategic Direction. A Children in Crossfire delegation, led by Richard Moore, is playing a central role in a groundbreaking international conference on Early Childhood Development in East Africa. The Africa Early Childhood Network conference which is taking place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is bringing together educational experts, policy makers and practitioners from eight East African countries to explore best practice in early years intervention and support. The collective goal of the gathering is to ensure that millions of young children across a vast swathe of the African continent get the start in life they all deserve. Speaking from Dar es Salaam, Richard Moore said: Children in Crossfire are delighted to be playing a central role in this major international conference on Early Childhood Development in East Africa. "The key theme is Investing in Early Childhood, which is the core focus of our work. Colleagues from both Tanzania and Ethiopia are delivering six platform presentations detailing the work we do in the early years field, sharing our experiences, practices and ideas. The most important step in ensuring children get the best possible start in life is to provide access to high quality education. That is the vital message the Children in Crossfire team are communicating this week. I am immensely proud that Children in Crossfire have become so highly regarded and respected internationally, particularly through our work in education. "It has been a long road from our earliest days in 1996 to having influence and impact on the scale we are now. Whether people have been supporting us over all those years or have joined us along the way, they should be proud of their part in the progress we have made. This week is demonstrating the shared will that exists across East Africa to shape a better world for their children. As Children in Crossfire look to the future, we are determined to make as big a difference as we can for as many vulnerable children as possible. 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. Reform UK has struck an electoral partnership with the Traditional Unionist Voice party that will see them run agreed candidates in Northern Ireland. A memorandum of understanding between the parties was announced as Reform leader Richard Tice attended the TUV conference in Co Antrim on Saturday. The TUV is a vocal opponent of the post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers on the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The party is a scathing critic of the DUPs decision to agree a deal with the UK government on trade that saw it drop its two year blockade of powersharing and return to devolved government at Stormont. TUV leader Jim Allister announced the General Election deal between the parties as he addressed the conference in Kells. He insisted the DUP had no mandate for its return to Stormont, as he accused his unionist rivals of performing a somersault to become implementers of Brexits contentious Northern Ireland Protocol. There ought to have been a fresh Assembly election, he said. Having run away from that, however, they must face the electorate in the General Election. That is where their acceptance of the Irish Sea border, EU law, the suspension of Art 6 (of the Acts of Union) and, yes, their fawning acceptance of Sinn Fein rule, will hit the road. Unionists who still refuse to take the knee to the Union-dismantling protocol must have the opportunity to have their say, remembering a protocol implementer is a protocol implementer whatever his party label. I am therefore delighted to announce TUVs partnership with Reform UK in the upcoming election. Like TUV, Reform UK speaks its mind, takes on the establishment and is driven by principle, not power. Our principles are neither optional nor for sale, but they are the stuff of conviction politics. We speak truth to power. Unfamiliar as it is in todays political world, Reform UK and TUV are parties you can trust. Trust to say what they mean. Trust to stand firm. Trust not to rollover. Today we will formally endorse a joint platform by publicly signing a Memorandum of Understanding and going forward we will announce agreed candidates from both parties across constituencies. During his speech, Mr Tice referred to the defection of Lee Anderson to Reform earlier in the week and said attending the TUV conference was a wonderful way to round off such a significant few days for his party. He heavily criticised the Brexit deals the Government had struck with the EU over Northern Ireland and claimed the Windsor Framework sealed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was worse than the existing Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Tice claimed the UK is broken and in a terrible, terrible state. But he insisted strong leadership could turn around the countrys fortunes around. We need to have strong pride and belief in the culture of the United Kingdom, in our incredible heritage, our history and where we have come from, he said. The Reform leader was loudly applauded by TUV members as he set out his partys stance on issues such as immigration, defence, net zero and transgender identity. Cllr John Sheridan has sought an update from Louth County Council on its compliance with its legal obligations to Irish speakers. In 2020 the Council committed to addressing matters raised by the Irish Language Commissioner about the Council's provision of services through Irish. The Ardee councillor told the Dundalk Democrat: This week, Seachtain na Gaeilge takes place to promote the use of a cupla focail. Louth has a rich heritage and active Irish speaking community and it's important our local authority are compliant with their obligations to supply services through Irish. In 2019 the Irish Language Commissioner raised some issue's about Louth County Councils provision of services through Irish. In summer 2020, I received a commitment from the Council that they were addressing all matters raised in An Comisinear Teanga's investigation report. I personally have noted more of a proactive approach to Irish by the Council and I have now tabled a motion with Louth County Council to seek a formal update on the Council's work following the 2019 investigation by the Irish Language Commissioner. Cllr Sheridan continued, the 2022 Census suggested that 32% of people in Louth could speak Irish, while over 14,000 people used Irish inside the education system which another 13,400 people in Irish used Irish outside the education system. Not many may know that there was a living Gaeltacht in Omeath a century ago, since then, many of us have developed a gra of Irish through our education and families. I particularly note Colaiste Ris in Dundalk, among others, which promoted education through Irish for decades, while there is a vibrant Ciorcal Comhra group in Ardee meeting weekly through Irish. The Fianna Fail councillor added, the spirit of the Official Languages act isnt necessarily that everything is translated but that there is access to services if it is required. Like others, were very proud to have the cupla focal and would like to use it more in our interactions with state agencies including the council. Midland International Air and Spaceport Midland Reporter-Telegram Midland International Air & Space Port is reporting growth in passengers over the last month and year, the city reported. In February 2023, 47,088 passengers flew out of Midlands airport. Last month, 53,797 passengers flew out of Midland, a 14.25% increase. City officials also reported that the year-over-year increase pushed the year-to-date total to 285,969, which is an 11.5% increase compared to fiscal year 2023. Southwest Airlines carried the most passengers last February with 25,131, 46% of the total share of flights in February, the city stated. United Airlines served 14,780 passengers in February while American Eagle flew 13,886 travelers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beginning on April 22, Delta Airlines will become the fourth airline to provide service at Midland International, the city announced in December. Councillors at the March meeting were told that there may be just five applications eligible for the Council's affordable housing scheme. Cllr Kevin Meenan raised the matter at the March meeting, seeking an update on how applications for the scheme were progressing. Senior Executive Officer, Mr John Lawrence, told the meeting that Louth County Council, to that point, had received around 26 applications for the ten houses available in the affordable housing scheme at Cois Farraige in Blackrock. Mr Lawrence went on to say that the actual number of eligible applications among the 26 was quite low, at that point, less than five. Highlighting that there was very strict criteria in relation to applying for the scheme, he added that they had extended the closing date for applications to the Wednesday 6 March. Mr Lawrence added that there was some issues around the approvals that applicants got in principle from the pillar banks not being sufficient, adding that they would be highlighting issues with the process with the Housing Agency. Knockbridge ladies, Dolores McNally and Mary McArdle, are hosting an afternoon tea dance in Knockbridge Community Centre on bank holiday Monday 18 March, to raise funds for NECRET (North East Cancer Research & Education Trust) / Drogheda Oncology a cause very close to both women, who have both availed of these services. The mission of NECRET is to improve both the treatment and outcome of those people affected by cancer. Both Dolores and Mary say they cannot speak highly enough of the services provided by NECRET and Drogheda Oncology, having witnessed first hand the dedication and care provided by the services and medical teams and are grateful to be able to give something back to the organisation, and have a bit of fun while doing so. The tea dance will be held on the bank holiday Monday 18 March in Knockbridge Community Centre between 3-6pm, there will be good food, craic and music by Brian Mohan and friends. The ladies say not to forget your dancing shoes, and they will provide the hats! There will be a raffle on the day with some fantastic spot prizes up for grabs. Tickets are 15 and can be bought by contacting 085-1446825 or 087-2395203. Dolores and Mary say are extremely grateful to the local clubs and organisations who have been so supportive in the lead up to this event. If you are unable to make the tea dance and still want to make a contribution, donations and sponsorships are very much appreciated, the organisers say. It is expected to be a great opportunity to catch up with friends, and enjoy some nice homebaking, while dancing along to wonderful tunes, all while raising funds for a very worthy cause. In a celebration of global collaboration, Dundalk Grammar School has been granted funds from the European Union via the National Agency Leargas, igniting a transformative project titled "Breaking the Language Barrier - Towards an Educational Approach Where Language Learning Has No Frontiers." With the unwavering support of Erasmus+, Dundalk Grammar School students are set to embark on an educational adventure that transcends borders and fosters a deep appreciation for diversity and unity. A school spokesperson said: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Leargas and Erasmus+ for their generosity, enabling us to offer our students unparalleled opportunities for growth and enrichment. This partnership symbolizes the spirit of international cooperation and underscores the power of education to bridge divides and cultivate understanding. At the core of their project lies a commitment to promoting European values and cooperation through collaborative initiatives with partner schools in France, Germany, and Spain. The school's partners, Colegio Maria Auxiliadora in Gran Canaria and Notre-Dame du Grandchamp in Versailles, near the iconic palace, embody the essence of cultural exchange and mutual learning. Together, we are breaking down barriers, fostering friendships, and nurturing a sense of global citizenship among our students, the spokesperson continued. We are thrilled to announce two unforgettable trips: one to Paris with 15 French students heading to Paris and another to Gran Canaria with 20 Spanish students going to Colegio Maria Auxiliadora. These cultural exchanges promise to be immersive experiences, fostering language acquisition, cultural appreciation, and lifelong friendships. Adhering to the rigorous standards set by Erasmus, our selection process ensures inclusivity and equity, prioritizing factors such as motivation, merit, and individual learning needs. Every student, regardless of background, is given the opportunity to participate, ensuring a diverse and dynamic learning environment. Through a multifaceted approach, we address key objectives encompassing gender and race equality, healthy living through sports, integration of ICT in language classrooms, and education on renewable energies. By embracing innovation and embracing real-world issues, we empower our students to become active participants in shaping a sustainable future. Our journey exemplifies the transformative power of education to transcend boundaries and unite nations. We extend our deepest gratitude to Leargas, Erasmus+, and our esteemed partner schools for their unwavering support and commitment to enriching the lives of our students. Together, we are breaking boundaries, building bridges, and paving the way for a brighter, more interconnected future. Students from year 3 Event Management, Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts courses in Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) hosted a fabulously glamorous PR Perks & Pastries Afternoon Tea event recently in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland. This occasion was held in the Hospitality Training Restaurant on campus which was transformed for the event with magically elegant decor thanks to Wow Weddings. The attendees of this event indulged in delicious treats and got to hear from and network with PR professionals Bronagh Quinn and Leah Morgan of Enhance Management as they discussed the world of social media influencing and PR. Bronagh Quinn who is the founder of Enhance Management is a graduate of DkIT where she studied Event Management. This company has grown rapidly, working with some of the most in demand influencers & spreading waves across the industry. At Enhance Management their main goal is to support influencers to succeed to their best ability. Lorraine Dunne, Lecturer & Programme Director, BA in Event Management, stated: "The year 3 students hosted a wonderful Afternoon Tea in DkIT around the theme of 'PR Perks & Pastries. They were delighted to welcome our past Event Management student, Bronagh Quinn, proprietor of Enhance Management and influencers Leah Morgan & Carly Mahady. "Guests were treated to a sparkling wine and orange juice reception paired with chocolate dipped strawberries and proceeded to have an array of mouthwatering savoury and sweet treats for Afternoon Tea. Bronagh, Leah & Carly enlightened the audience about the world of PR and Influencing with an engaging Q&A afterwards. All guests received an enviable goody bag provided by Benefit Makeup. There is a glimmer of dad some days, 34-year-old Dublin native Pamela Laird said. The entrepreneur is known for her TV appearances on the Irish Dragons Den, as well as being a finalist on the UK Apprentice in 2019. Pamelas father Sylvester, who recently turned 90, was diagnosed with dementia around 10 years ago. In light of Alzheimer Society Ireland (ASI) marking their 30th anniversary of their annual Tea Day awareness event, Pamela shared insight into the progression of the disease, and what it is like for her as a daughter seeing her fathers cognitive functions decline over time. As a daughter, to see from both my mother and fathers point of view is very hard - there are times when dad wouldnt instantly recognise me, which is very difficult, Pamela said. At the beginning, it was mobility issues we noticed rather than memory issues. Dad would turn a corner and keel over and we couldnt figure out why as he had been a very active man his whole life, so it was a drastic difference. It took quite a while to get a diagnosis and unfortunately, we experienced some ageism along the way. I would say to anyone who has gotten a recent diagnosis that knowledge is key and to engage with support early on in the process. There are 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland and there are 11,000 new cases of dementia in the country each year. Thats at least 30 people every day. Both of Pamelas parents owned their own businesses, which means she inherited the entrepreneurial mindset. Her mother Yvonne owned a beauty salon, which inspired Pamela at a young age. I grew up spending my afternoons after school in my dads car garage or my mams beauty salon - I preferred the latter, definitely! I set up a nail bar just after my Leaving Cert and then I started my own beauty business brand, Moxi Loves. It has been a wild ride. Pamela and her family are extremely thankful for ASI, who have a range of support services for families going through a dementia diagnosis, including that of a 24 hour helpline and carers course. Making a guest appearance at the launch of the 30th anniversary for ASIs Tea Day on March 12, Pamela would encourage everyone to take part in setting up a Tea Day in their local community during the month of May and fundraising for ASI and the incredible work that they do. From May 2, communities across the country will come together and drink tea to raise money for ASI. A national non-profit organisation, ASI works across the country in the heart of local communities providing dementia-specific services and advocating for the rights and needs of all people living with the progressive disease, and their carers. The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. plans to host the 61st South Central District Conference in Midland. Sorin Banica / 500px/Getty Images/500px The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womens Club, Inc. plans to host the 61st South Central District Conference in Midland March 15-17. The opening program and reception begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Bush Convention Center and the conference will conclude at noon on Sunday. Olli Gilstrap, the governor of the South Central District of the NANBPWC said the conference is an annual event that brings together clubs from Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It an opportunity for members to come together and celebrate our shared mission of strengthening the community through community service in the areas of leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and service, Gilstrap wrote in an email message to the Reporter-Telegram. She also shared that more than 150 attendees are expected to attend the conference including the youth and mens auxiliary groups. The theme of this years conference is Igniting Engagement and we have designed the conference to help members do just that with the goal of leaving feeling inspired, motivated, and empowered to take on new challenges and opportunities, Gilstrap wrote. Dr. Terri ONeal Ford, the 25th national president of the NANBPWC, Inc. said the theme of this years conference in Midland perfectly encapsulates the spirit of progress and determination that has always been the hallmark of the South Central District. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It resonates deeply with our national theme, Moving Forward With A Purpose: Exceeding the Vision, Breaking Barriers, and Empowering Change, Dr. ONeal Ford wrote in a press statement discussing the conference. The array of workshops for adults, the enriching youth activities, including the Rites of Passage, the awarding of the District scholarships, the essential ombudsmen activities, and the culminating Dr. Versia L. Lacy Prayer Breakfast/Memorial Service, all speak to the comprehensive and inclusive programming that has been thoughtfully curated for this gathering, she explained. The components of the conference are intended to highlight the groups commitment to fostering a sense of community and spiritual well-being among members, she added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mrs. Shirley Howard, the president of the Midland Chapter of the Negro Business and Professional Womens Club shared the sentiment of the conference serving to foster community. A suspect is in custody and two others are safe when the standoff at Sundance Creek Apartments ends March 15. B. Kay Richter/Reporter-Telegram Christian Armani Milan City of Midland/Courtesy Photo A Midland man is in custody and two hostages are safe after the standoff at Sundance Creek Apartments ended overnight. According to a warrant of arrest obtained from the justice of the peace, Christian Armani Milan, 40, of Midland was arrested for aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse. Milan was reportedly involved in a situation where two women were held hostage during a standoff with police at Sundance Creek Apartments. The incident, spanning from March 13 to 15, involved an armed subject barricading themselves and lasted over 27 hours. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Midland Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call at building #8 in the apartment complex March 13. During a welfare check, officers learned that Milan was holding hostages inside and refused to come out, triggering the standoff. Management of the apartment complex notified residents by email of a situation that was going on, relaying that the police asked they shelter in place and remain secure. Meanwhile, police officers cleared building #8 to ensure the safety of bystanders. The city sent out an alert to media and the community at 8:45 a.m. March 14, notifying them of a barricaded subject and hostage situation at the apartment complex and asked residents to avoid the area until the situation was resolved. Around the same time, management notified residents that they were essentially free to go about their day, but would need to park in certain areas when returning to the complex. While the Midland Police Department were the initial agency involved in the standoff, in the afternoon on March 14 Midland Police Deputy Chief Brian Rackow told the Reporter-Telegram He also said the Texas Department of Public Safety had taken the lead on the situation. Rackow said MPD officers were on scene overnight, and it can be detrimental to an officers health for one unit to remain on duty for extended periods of time. The suspect, later identified as Milan, engaged with law enforcement negotiators throughout the situation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the afternoon of March 14, someone claiming to be the suspect contacted CBS7 and gave an interview. During the call, the man presumed to be Milan told CBS7 he was in the apartment with a woman and his daughter. He said he was holding the woman hostage for cheating on him, and that he was heartbroken. The reason is, I am not going to prison the rest of my life, the caller said to CBS7. Im 39 years old, so Id already be dead before I do 20-30 years, and thats not going to happen. Thats a fact. Preliminary reports from law enforcement stated the man was holding two women and a child hostage. However, during a press release held after the conclusion of the situation March 15, it was revealed only two people were held hostage the woman and a 9-year-old girl. Before the conclusion of the situation, around 7:25 p.m. March 14 Midland Mayor Lori Blong issued a statement thanking the community for stepping up to help displaced residents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I want to thank Midlanders who have reached out to me to see what they can do regarding the hostage situation in our community, Blong said. Also, the churches that are stepping up with ways to help those who are temporarily being displaced are a huge lift and a great way to help our fellow neighbors. On Thursday, in response to the Sundance Creek Apartments standoff, the City of Midland and the Midland Police Department coordinated support for displaced residents. They took several steps: The city arranged and paid for hotel rooms for affected residents, with four units accepting the offer. Anticipating the possibility of evacuating multiple buildings, the city and Midland County activated Emergency Response Coordination around 3:30 p.m. to potentially assist up to 66 apartment units. The Horseshoe Education Building was quickly converted into a Temporary Shelter, equipped with resources from the American Red Cross, including blankets, teddy bears, and hygiene kits. Through a partnership with Target Hospitality, man camp rooms were made available at no cost for those in need, thanks to Target Hospitality's generous support. City and county officials, including city council members and the mayor, engaged with local ministries and nonprofits to prepare additional support, such as clothing and shelters, if required Milan is being detained at the Midland County Jail, facing a charge of aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse, classified as a class one felony. Currently, no bond has been set, and his case is awaiting further legal proceedings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MPD Deputy Chief Greg Chatwell announced at a press conference after Milan was taken into custody, that the standoff began after Milan threatened his girlfriend in calls to family members. These threats prompted MPD to conduct a welfare check on Milan. During the press conference, Chatwell credited the departments working relationships with other agencies for the support and success of the arrest. Over the last 24 hours, there have probably been over 100 people, being sworn officers and all the support personnel, millions of dollars worth of equipment, Midland Police Department, Midland Fire Department, Odessa came in and relieved our folks for a while, Texas DPS and later the FBI hostage rescue team, he said. CORK Rose, Kate Shaughnessy, has launched this years campaign to search for a 2024 Cork Rose. The launch of the campaign, at Rochestown Park Hotel, marks the beginning of the search for a Cork representative to attend the Rose of Tralee International Festival. An entrant will be selected as the winning Cork Rose by June 8, and she will then go on to represent the county at the festival in August. It will be bittersweet for me as I have loved every minute of it, but I am so excited to meet all the new Cork Rose entrants and for the amazing experience theyre about to start, said Ms Shaughnessy. The people of Cork and the Cork Rose Team have been such a support to me over the last year, and I have no doubt theyre about to do it all over again for the next Cork Rose. Prior to the selection, entrants will enjoy several days out including a Rose tour around some of Corks finest establishments and landmarks. The chosen Cork Rose will then enjoy a fortnight of events before the official showcase, beginning with a multi-destination Rose Tour alongside other national and international Roses, a chance to take part in parades and gala functions in Tralee, and a live interview with a journalist from RTE. The 65th Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place this year from August 16 to August 20. Those interested in applying for the Cork Rose position must be over the age of 18 years and must not have reached their 30th birthday on or prior to September 1. An entrant sponsorship fee of 250 is also required for the Rose hopefuls. Additional requirements include that entrants must be born in Ireland, be an Irish citizen, or of Irish descent, and must have never previously represented any centre as a Rose either regionally or internationally. Information sessions will be held by the Cork Rose Team in the coming weeks in Youghal on March 21 and Charleville on March 28. Entrants can also apply online by visiting: https://roseoftralee.ie/apply-to-be-a-rose/ THE Echos Mary Corcoran says she feels privileged to have been appointed as the new editor of the Holly Bough. Ms Corcoran has worked as assistant news editor with The Echo for the last four years, having spent close to two decades working in both print and radio. She takes over the role from John Dolan, following his decision to step down as editor of the annual publication after 22 years. Mr Dolan will remain on in his role as features editor of The Echo. Ms Corcoran paid tribute to John. I feel enormously privileged to take up the role from John at the helm at the Holly Bough, Ms Corcoran said. The publication has been a part of life in Cork since 1897 and it means so many different things to different people, but for most it is synonymous with Cork, with Christmas, and with stories of home. Growing up, the arrival of the Holly Bough in my own home always signalled the beginning of Christmas and this continues to be true for many people today, not only in Cork, but for the many Leesiders who have made their homes across the miles. I look forward to playing a small part in continuing to bring this tradition to people in Cork and around the world. Editor of The Echo Grainne McGuinness said: We are delighted to announce Mary Corcoran as the new editor of the Holly Bough. It has been an essential part of Christmas in Cork for well over a century. We know how much it means to readers because it means a lot to us in The Echo too. As someone who grew up reading the Holly Bough, Mary shares this love, and we are already looking forward to her first edition for Christmas 2024! John Dolan, features editor with The Echo, said: Being editor of the Holly Bough has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career you are constantly made aware that this 127-year-old Cork institution has been a vital part of the city and countys culture at Christmas for so long, and has a beloved place in the peoples hearts. I am delighted that Mary is the new keeper of the flame, and I know she will do a brilliant job as editor. I wish her all the best in the role, and look forward to joining the long list of contributors to the Holly Bough in the years ahead! US PRESIDENT Joe Biden said he always wants to come back to Ireland, as he welcomed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the Oval Office today. Mr Varadkar is in the US this week for the Taoiseachs annual visit to mark St Patricks Day. Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office today, ahead of which the president thanked the Taoiseach for his welcome to Ireland last year, quipping that his family werent sure we wanted to come home. When asked by reporters whether he would come back to Ireland, Mr Biden said: I always want to come back. Thank you Addressing the Taoiseach, Mr Biden said: I want to thank you again for the reception I had when I was last in Ireland. As a matter of fact, my family werent sure we wanted to come home, it was so nice. Its great to see you again, great chance to return some of the hospitality that you provided me. I know there are all kinds of old Irish sayings, but my grandfather Finnegan used to say: May the hinge of our friendship never go rusty. He had all these sayings the Irish in America sometimes think theyre more Irish than the Irish but I dont think were going to let it go rusty. Were vital for each others economies and were good friends, and today celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and America. As far as that friendship goes, it keeps increasing not diminishing. Ceasefire During the meeting, Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkars calls for a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, and that a two-state solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace. The US president said we both know theres a lot more that has to be done, in relation to the Middle East conflict. Mr Varadkar also called on the US to push for peace in the Middle East, as had been done in Northern Ireland, in a separate meeting with Ms Harris. There has been political pressure on senior politicians to use the high-profile US visit for St Patricks Day to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to end the spiralling numbers of deaths and injuries. Not self defence After the meeting, Mr Varadkar was asked whether the military support the US is offering Israel would continue. The president was very clear that the US would continue to support Israel and to assist Israel to defend itself, he said. So I dont think thats going to change, but I think none of us like to see American weapons being used the way they are; the way they are being used at the moment is not self-defence. The return of the powersharing institutions in Northern Ireland and economic ties between the US and Ireland were also discussed. Gardai have been granted a 72-hour extension to the detention of 10 men arrested in West Cork on Thursday morning. The 10 individuals, aged from their 20s to 50s, appeared in front of Judge James McNulty at a special sitting of Bandon District Court this evening. Chief Superintendent Vincent OSullivan of Cork West and Cork North Division told the court that it was his intention to apply for a warrant authorising the further detention of each of the 10 individuals to further assist with Garda investigations for a period of detention not exceeding 72 hours. Inspector John OConnell from Mallow Garda Station said that each of the 10 individuals would appear separately in court for operational reasons. All the men had legal representation in court and interpreters were also provided. Chief Supt OSullivan said that the 10 men are currently being held at various Garda stations in Co Cork under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. Judge McNulty granted the 72-hour extension in the case of all 10 men and they were removed from Bandon Courthouse amid tight security. Gardai resumed their interviews with the men at various stations in Co Cork last night. The men six Spaniards, two Dutch men, one Serbian, and one man from Co Fermanagh were arrested when gardai stopped a camper van in Leap village, and later stopped a 4X4 and an articulated lorry at Tragumna at around 7.30am on Thursday. A high-powered rigid inflatable boat (RIB) is also believed to have been seized as part of the operation. The arrests are understood to be drug-related, with detectives believing the men were part of an aborted drug delivery off the south coast. A rendezvous with a larger vessel off the West Cork coast is believed to have been abandoned after the RIB was put to sea at Tragumna. No drugs have been recovered. THE deterrent effect of sentencing had to be given particular consideration in cases involving crimes against taxi drivers who are providing a public service, a judge has said. These comments were made by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy at the Court of Criminal Appeal, in an appeal brought by the DPP against a sentence being unduly lenient for a knifepoint robbery on a taxi driver in Cork. Mr Justice McCarthy said the sentence imposed on the 27-year-old accused man of 18 months, with the last six months suspended, was now being quashed by the court. It was replaced with a sentence of three years, with the last two years suspended. Delivering this decision, Mr Justice McCarthy said the court had to give consideration to the protection of the community and the fact that the accused had serious convictions for robbery and crimes of violence. The jail time still amounts to one year and this has been served already. In effect, the suspended sentencing hanging over the young man is now much longer. The judge warned the man that if he did not comply with all directions of the Probation Service, then he would have to serve the two years that was suspended. Jamie OBrien, of 23 Meadow Hill, The Meadows, Hollyhill, Cork, was originally sentenced at Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Colin Daly. Garda Joe OReilly arrested OBrien and charged him that, on February 9, 2022, he went to Murphys barbers on 27 Shandon St and he attempted to carry out a robbery. He was also charged with robbery of 20-30 from a taxi driver at Boyces St, Gurranabraher, on the same day. He was charged with being in possession of a knife at Cathedral Rd, Gurranabraher, on February 10. OBrien pleaded guilty to all of those charges. Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said half of his peer group died through suicide or overdoses, and the other half are in custody. She said the accused entered guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity. Judge Colin Daly said the accused may have been under the influence of drugs, but this did not excuse his behaviour. The judge said he had to consider the impact on the victims and the aggravating factor of having previous convictions for violent offences. The judge noted in mitigation that the accused now had a supportive partner and a very young child. The Cork city St. Patricks Day Parade will begin at 1pm on Sunday, commencing at the junction of South Mall and Parnell Place and finishing on Merchants Quay. Other events happening in the city over the festive weekend include: Today (Saturday): Circus High Jinks, Elizabeth Fort - 12pm to 4.30pm. The Afternoon Ceili Mor, City Hall - 3pm to 6pm. Sunday: Saints and Shamrocks Trail, Nano Nagle Place - 9.30am to 5pm. Portrait Peek- A Boo, Crawford Art Gallery - 11am to 4pm. Traditional Storytelling Telling at the Franciscan Well - 2.30pm The Lee Sessions Trad Trail in Cork City Centre Pubs across the weekend. For anyone outside of the city, Cork County council also shared a list of 24 different towns hosting parades across Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the times of the parades: Midleton: Sunday, March 17 - 3pm. Kinsale: Saturday March 16 - 7pm. Sunday, Sunday, March 17 - 3pm. Bandon, Sunday, March 17 - 1pm. Carrigaline: Sunday, March 17 on Main Street 2pm. Crosshaven: Monday, March 18 at Crosshaven Boatyard 2pm. Clonakilty: Sunday March 17 - 2.30pm. Dunmanway: Sunday, March 17 1pm. Castletownbere: Sunday March 17 3pm. Bantry Sunday March 17 1pm. Kealkill: Sunday, March 17 3pm. Ballydehob: Sunday, March 17 1pm. Schull: Sunday, March 17 2.30pm. Skibbereen: Sunday, March 17 3pm. Mallow: Sunday, March 17 2.30pm. Youghal Town: Sunday, March 17 - 3pm. Glounthaune: Sunday, March 17 - 10.30am. Carrigtwohill: Sunday, March 17 - 1.15 pm. Cobh: Sunday, March 17 - 3pm. Ballinagree: Sunday, March 17 - 12pm. Ballingeary: Sunday, March 17 10:30am. Carriganimna: Saturday, March 16 - 9pm. Macroom: Sunday, March 17 3.30pm. Millstreet: Sunday, March 17 5pm. Fermoy: Sunday, March 17 11am. Mitchelstown: Sunday, March 17 1pm. Willie Nelson releases new single to his new album 'The Border.' Rick Kern/WireImage for Shock Ink The grass doesnt seem to grow underneath Willie Nelsons feet as he turns 91 next month. A new song was released today following news of a new album The Border set to be released in May a sign the Texas native isnt slowing down. The new album will be Nelsons 75th studio album release, according to Rolling Stone, consisting of ten new tracks, some of which Nelson has co-written, others from songwriters Buddy Cannon, Shawn Camp, Mike Reid, and Bobby Tomberlin, to name a few. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new single Nelson released today is his rendition of a Rodney Crowell, song from Crowells 2019 album Texas, Billboard reported. A strategic new album announcement, Rolling Stone reported. Nelson dropped the release and album announcement today during the Luck Reunion. The Luck Reunion is headlining live music on Thursday, March 14, throughout the day from Tyler Childers to Red Clay Strays the Toadies and more. The musical event aligns with the SXSW musical events in Luck, Texas, the home ranch of Nelson, just outside of Austin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pre-orders are now available on Willie Nelsons website. The new album is scheduled to be released on May 31. Up to 700 people once braved the elements today as they marched through Cork city for the 23rd consecutive week in a rally and protest organised by the Cork-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC). The demonstration saw many protesters in green clothes stained with fake blood, march down Grand Parade in disproval of the traditional St Patrick's Day shamrock sharing ceremony, to be held at The White House in Washington DC tomorrow. To the protestors the ceremony, which will see Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presenting the historic shamrock bowl to US President Joe Biden, represents the approval of the Irish people of the military support President Biden has given Israel throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Outrage Speaking at the protest, University College Cork (UCC) graduate and nurse with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) also known as Doctors Without Borders, Aoife Ni Mhurchu said: Palestinians dont need your despair right now, they need your outrage and they need you to keep protesting. Cork-Palestine Solidarity Campaign protesters marching to show disproval of traditional shamrock sharing ceremony, due to take place at The White House on St Patrick's Day. Credit: Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign The CPSC co-chair, Martin Shiel commented on the rally, saying: At a time when US-made bombs and bullets are being used by Israel to kill Palestinians, and with the US supplying billions of dollars' worth of financial aid to Israel, it's shameful that the Irish government refused to heed the call of so many people in Ireland not to meet with President Biden in the White House as a way of communicating Irish opposition to Americas Israel policy. The Taoiseachs stated sympathy with the people of Gaza is not well borne out by his actions." The protest also saw and heard attendees stop to chant outside the McDonalds restaurant at Daunt Square. The company has been globally boycotted for its perceived support of the Israeli State, alongside other named US brands such as Starbucks and Amazon. Opposed Speaking to The Echo about the aim of the Cork-based protest, People Before Profit - Solidarity TD Mick Barry said: There are hundreds of thousands of people in this country that are opposed to him [Leo Varadkar] presenting gifts to the American president. We want to keep the government under pressure on this issue. We want to say not in our name'. Irish politicians should not be participating in those celebrations with him [Joe Biden], he added. AP Reporters People across the United States have celebrated their Irish heritage at several major St Patricks Day parades on Saturday. They are marking the holiday a day early at events that included a big anniversary in Savannah, Georgia, and honoured a pioneering female business leader as grand marshal in New York. The annual parade took place in New York (AP) The holiday was largely popularised in the US by Irish immigrants. Many parades were moved to Saturday, a day ahead of St Patricks Day. The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations (AP) Manhattans St Patricks Day Parade, which dates to 1762 14 years before the US Declaration of Independence is one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. Megan Stransky of Houston and two relatives planned a Broadway weekend to coincide with the parade, seeing it as a prime opportunity to remember their familys Irish roots and the traditions that helped shape their upbringing. Bagpipers march along Fifth Avenue during the St Patricks Day Parade (AP) The event did not disappoint. There is no comparison to any other parade or city that Ive been to, Ms Stransky marvelled, as she took in the bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents and more. The grand marshal, Irish-born Heineken USA chief executive Maggie Timoney, is the first female head of a major US beer company. State Police march along Fifth Avenue in New York City (AP) At a pre-parade reception at New Yorks mayoral residence, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hailed the recognition for Timoney and noted some other causes for celebrating Irish American links this year, including Cillian Murphys best actor Oscar win last weekend. New York City has multiple parades on various dates around its five boroughs including, on Sunday, the first St Patricks Day parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island. A kayaker floats on the Chicago River (AP) Mayor Eric Adams last month announced the plan for the new, privately organised celebration, arranged after a local group had asked for years to join the boroughs decades-old parade. That longstanding event, which does not allow groups to march under LGBTQ+ banners, happened earlier this month. The Manhattan parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups and symbols in 2015, after decades of protests, legal challenges and boycotts by some politicians. Attorney General of New York, Letitia James (left) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, march during the city parade (AP) Ahead of Chicagos parade, thousands of people, many decked out in green with beers in hand, gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green. Organisers say the tradition, started by the union, uses an environmentally friendly powder once used to check pipes for leaks. Celebrations were moved to Saturday in many US cities (AP) In Savannah, Georgia, organisers expected a historic crowd to participate in the parade, which started in 1824. Ahead of the bicentennial, Georgias oldest city had nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend. St Patrick's Day is being marked around the country with parades big and small taking place across villages, towns and cities. Here's some information on the major parades being staged around Ireland... Dublin Approximately half a million spectators are expected to line the streets of Dublin to take in the annual parade, led by this year's Grand Marshal, Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty. 'Spreach' is the theme this time out, meaning spark in Irish, aiming to highlight the "unique essence of Ireland and of Irish people". The parade starts from Parnell Square North at 12pm, and is scheduled to end at Kevin Street Lower, near Stephen's Green. The parade will travel from Parnell Square down O'Connell Street, cross the Liffey onto Westmoreland Street before turning onto Dame Street. It will then continue on towards Nicholas Street and Patrick Street, before the final stretch on Kevin Street. A series of road closures will be in place to facilitate the parade, and public transport routes will also be impacted, so those travelling into the city on Sunday are advised to check their route beforehand. Excited to share the Festival Quarter programme timings with you all for tomorrow! We have a fantastic lineup of performers joining us. Almost all of our tents are indoors & sheltered from whatever weather comes our way. So excited welcome you all! https://t.co/GfvB3JwDC2 pic.twitter.com/uNEjXt2ZqI St. Patrick's Festival (@stpatricksfest) March 15, 2024 Galway Expected to be the biggest St Patrick's Day parade Galway city has ever seen, Sunday's instalment looks ahead to this summer's Olympics in Paris with its theme. The parade, which will feature over 3,000 participants, starts at 11.30am from University Road, crossing Salmon Weir Bridge. It will continue on towards Eyre Square before finishing up on Prospect Hill. Cork Taking inspiration from the beloved Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory song, the theme of Cork's parade is 'Pure Imagination'. What promises to be a vibrant display will set out from South Mall at 1pm. The route will lead the parade towards Grand Parade, before turning on to St Patrick's Street and finishing on Merchants Quay. Limerick The Treaty county promises 'A Different Kind of Energy' with its parade theme. Led by Grand Marshal, Sean O'Sullivan, who was recently crowned the winner of this year's BT Young Scientist, the parade will start out on O'Connell Avenue at 12pm, heading up onto Henry Street before making its way to finish on Rutland Street. THREAD - ST PATRICKS EVENT INFO Tomorrow is the return of our big St Patrick's Day parade This years theme is People, Place & Planet the key themes as part of @Belfast2024 The cross-community, colourful parade will feature floats, dance & music!#BelfastStPats pic.twitter.com/GfAcz53CW5 Belfast City Council (@belfastcc) March 16, 2024 Belfast Belfast's parade will get underway from 1.30pm. Starting and ending at City Hall, the parade will weave through the city centre, taking in Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place. Derry Derry's parade will take place between 3pm and 4pm, starting at Bishop Street. The theme is 'Recycle & Renewal', so expect a fantastic focus on taking used materials and giving them a new lease of life. Owen Diaz's lengthy court battle against Tesla is officially over, now that both parties have agreed on a settlement. Attorney Lawrence Organ, Diaz's lawyer, told CNBC that that the "parties have reached an amicable resolution of their disputes," but that the "terms of the settlement are confidential." If you've been following this case for a while now, that means you won't get to find out how much Diaz is getting after the massive $137 million in damages he was originally awarded got dramatically lowered to $3.2 million. The former elevator operator famously sued the automaker for enabling a racist workplace, saying that he faced discrimination "straight from the Jim Crow era" as a Black individual. He said his fellow workers left left drawings of swastika and racist graffiti, such as ones of Inki the Caveman, on his workspace and around Tesla's Fremont assembly plant. Diaz also said that he and other Black workers were subjected to racial slurs, and that the company failed to address thes behaviors despite repeated complaints. In 2021, a San Francisco court ordered Tesla to pay $137 million in damages to its former worker, which was one of the highest amounts awarded to a plaintiff suing on the basis of discrimination. However, a judge during the appeals that followed found the amount excessive and lowered it to $15 million, even though he upheld the original jury's verdict. The parties went back into trial after Diaz refused the lowered amount, but a jury lowered the damages Tesla must pay even further to $3.2 million. At the time, Diaz's lawyer said he was wrongly attacked by the defense and that they had already requested a new trial due to misconduct. It looks like both parties have since agreed to negotiate behind closed doors. While Diaz's case is done, Organ also represents Marcus Vaughn, who filed another lawsuit against the automaker for racial harassment. Vaughn called Tesla's Fremont plant a "hotbed for racist behavior" and petitioned the court last year to give his lawsuit class action status so that he could add 240 Black colleagues to his complaint. This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. The Midland County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect in a manhunt that began Wednesday, March 13 as 26-year-old Job Jasso. MCSO The Midland County Sheriffs Office identified the suspect in a manhunt that began Wednesday, March 13 as 26-year-old Job Jasso. Jasso has multiple warrants out for his arrest. According to MCSO records, Jasso has several third-degree felony warrants for his arrest and one misdemeanor warrant. The felony warrants include the possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, continuous violence against family, and criminal mischief (a state jail felony). The misdemeanor warrant is for the possession of marijuana. Jasso is accused of leading law enforcement officers on a chase in Midland County beginning Wednesday. As of Thursday, he was still considered to be a wanted fugitive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers from the Midland County Sheriffs Office, the Ector County Sheriffs Office, and state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety all joined the manhunt Wednesday to attempt to locate Jasso after a vehicle chase escalated into a foot chase. Law enforcement agencies were on West Industrial Avenue, directly across from the flight line of the Midland International Air and Space Port. Sgt. Steven Blanco, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that traffic had been diverted within that area due to law enforcement efforts related to the search for Jasso. According to Blanco, the Midland County Sheriffs Office was conducting a manhunt for Jasso while Texas DPS troopers continued to hold a perimeter around the area while that search was ongoing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is not an active shooter situation as previously reported by the media, Blanco told the Reporter-Telegram on Wednesday. Law enforcement agencies also used drones to help engage in the search for Jasso. According to other media reports, nearby businesses located near the Midland airport were evacuated as of Wednesday, in addition to roads being closed, causing a delay for residents who were driving in the area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad FORT BENTON, Mont. - City of Fort Benton Police Department (FBPD) Chief Adam Jacques took to social media on Saturday to address recent questions about the future of the Fort Benton Police department. In his statement he recommended that the City of Fort Benton should contract the services of Chouteau County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) in order to conserve funds for the City's Budget. Chief Jacques recently announced on Wed, March 13 that he had turned in his resignation as FBPD Police Chief, effective on April 20, and he would be accepting a position at CCSO. Jacques also stated that Officer Alvalle of FBPD had handed in his resignation for March 31. Chief Jacques decision came as a result of a number of financial difficulties within the department as well as difficulties with filling position vacancies with qualified candidates. Jacques said he would work with the Mayor and City Council to see what law enforcement would look like in Fort Benton moving forward. In his post on Saturday, Chief Jacques provided more context for the difficulties that FBPD was facing and suggested that if the City of Fort Benton were to instead contract the services of CCSO, the city could save a conservative figure annually that would top $100,000. Jacques emphasized this was a conservative figure of minimum savings, and that there would be many other items that would allow additional savings. For instance, he said that other city crews are in need of updating vehicles, which would be another expense to the City of Fort Benton. If the City were to contract CCSO, the current FBPD police trucks could be given to fill that need and avoid that expense. Chief Jacques also emphasized that if a contract was made, the officers of FBPD would have jobs at CCSO. Jacques said the City of Fort Benton has been struggling to keep up with the financial demands needed to support FBPD operations. According to him, the FBPD car radios and portables are no longer supported due to age, and their report writing system has become obsolete and is no longer in compliance. As a result, FBPD will not be eligible for state or federal grants unless they are upgraded. Jacques estimated that the cost to replace and upgrade everything would top $50,000. "If there ever was a time for a contract, it is my belief the time is now with the announced changes that will be coming to the sheriffs office and the difficult time in law enforcement recruitment. I know that a contract negotiation would be fair, civil and beneficial for both," said Chief Jacques. "... it is my opinion that the contract with the Chouteau County Sheriffs Office is the best for the safety and finances of Fort Benton." Chief Jacques said he would support any decision that the city makes and that he wished to make this announcement to remain as transparent as possible. He also said that this shift would by no means lower the officers in Fort Bent, but in fact would increase patrol coverage. "I look forward to assisting the city in anyway that I can regardless of what decision is made," said Chief Jacques. You can read his full original statement announcing his resignation at this link, and his follow up statement suggesting the contract with CCSO at this link. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low near 25F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low near 25F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Cara Delevingne's cats have been saved by firefighters from the wreckage of her home. Cara Delevingne's cats have been saved by firefighters The 31-year-old actress has revealed via social media that her beloved cats have been rescued after her multi-million dollar property in Studio City, California, was destroyed in a fire. In an initial Instagram post, Cara shared a photo of her two cats and captioned the snap: "My heart is broken today. I cannot believe it. Life can change in a blink of an eye. So cherish what you have. [broken-heart emoji] (sic)" The actress is currently in London, where she's starring in 'Cabaret' at the Playhouse Theatre. But she's shared updates about her home via social media, after the property was burnt to the ground. She wrote: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the firefighters and people that have showed up to help." And Cara subsequently took to Instagram to reveal that her cats had been found alive. She said on the photo-sharing platform: "THEY ARE ALIVE!! THANK YOU TO THE FIREFIGHTERS. (sic)" The blaze tore through Cara's home in the early hours of Friday morning (15.03.24), and it's currently unclear what caused the fire. However, an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department has revealed that there's "nothing to suggest that it was criminal activity". Speaking to the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column, the officer added: "There is no indication of an arson or criminal investigation right now." Cara wasn't at home when the fire started, as she's currently playing Sally Bowles in 'Cabaret' in London's West End. Prior to making her West End debut, the London-born actress said: "There are no words to explain the excitement I have to return home to make my stage debut in such an iconic role. "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. "I cannot wait to be a part of this brilliant cast and production." Jimmie Allens former manager has dropped her sexual assault lawsuit against him. Jimmie Allens former manager drops sexual assault lawsuit The woman - only identified as Jane Doe in court documents - had sued Allen for allegedly subjecting her to sexual abuse and harassment over an 18-month period while she worked at his management team. A second woman sued Allen for sexual assault and alleged the musician continued to have unprotected sex with her despite her no longer giving her consent. The woman - who filed a report to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police - also alleged that Allen filmed them having relations. The first woman has now dismissed her claims against Allen after suing the artist, his former management company, Wide Open Music, and its founder, Ash Bowers, back in May 2023, according to Us Weekly. However, she has not dropped her suit against Wide Open Music, and Ash Bowers. The second lawsuit, filed against Allen in June 2023, is still pending. Allen denied all the accusations and counter-sued both women, accusing the first woman of defamation and claiming the second woman stole the phone he allegedly used to record her. Meanwhile, in October last year Allen and his wife Alexis Gale revealed they were "still together" after announcing their separation in April. Speaking to PEOPLE, Jimmie's rep said: "They decided to work on things together and are still together." The same week they spoke about their reconciliation, the pair confirmed they had welcomed their third child together. Cohen Ace James was born on September 27, and is a new brother for Naomi, Zara, and Allen's son, Aadyn from a previous relationship. Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer has alleged they were both physically abused by one of their nannies. Charles Spencer made the shocking claims about his and Princess Diana's childhood The late Princess of Wales' 59-year-old sibling, the 9th Earl Spencer, has claimed the nanny, who he referred to as Nanny Forster, "used to crack our heads together, if we were both found to have done something naughty, obviously without my father's knowledge, but it really hurt." He continued in a candid interview for BBC One's 'Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg', which airs this weekend: "It wasn't a tap on the wrist, it was a cracking crunch, you know, and I remember it still." Charles insists he does not put the blame on his parents, the late John Spencer and Frances Spencer. The journalist has opened up on his mistreatment and being sexually abused as youngster in the memoir A Very Private School. He claims a female member of staff at Maidwell boarding school groomed him and other boys and that headmaster, John Porch, gave them "brutal beatings". In response to the serious claims, the school said in a statement: "It is sobering to read about the experiences Charles Spencer and some of his fellow alumni had at the school, and we are sorry that was their experience. "It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time. Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children, and promotion of their welfare." Also in the tome, Charles claimed he lost his virginity to a prostitute on a family vacation when he was just 12 years old. He used his pocket money to pay the woman 15 for his first time having sex, and admitted the experience left him feeling hollow and cold". The aristocrat said his preteen years were characterised by casual cruelty, sexual assault and other perversions. After attending boarding school for most of his young life, Spencer headed to Eton College and later attended Magdalen College in Oxford to study history. He then worked as a journalist and broadcaster for NBC News and Britains ITV Granada. Charles became an earl and inherited his familys estate, Althorp, in 1992 after his dad died. Diana died aged 36 in a 1997 Paris car smash and her brother has always been outspoken about the way she was treated by the media, insisting in the interview with Kuenssberg that it was "more dangerous" than the conspiracy theories surrounding Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, who apologised for Photoshopping a family photograph, the first to be released amid her recovery from abdominal surgery. Image: Shutterstock Think of a tightrope walker balancing themselves effortlessly Well, thats a bit similar to what women do every day from the boardroom to the living room, playing multiple roles each demanding a piece of her energy, both physical and mental. Its like being the star of our own show. But hey! While we are gracefully playing all the roles, wheres the spotlight on our wellbeing? Between family and work, do we pause to consider the strength WE need? Do you give yourself sufficient me-time? One thing you can add to your self-care routine to nurture yourself from the inside out, is yoga. So, read on and shift the spotlight to your wellbeing! Image: Shutterstock In the menstrual phase, relaxation and restoration is top priority! Poses like Childs Pose and Cat-Cow Stretch help achieve the same. Pranayama practice is like a cherry on top as breathwork helps you calm your mind. As energy levels fluctuate during the follicular phase, poses like Surya Namaskars prepare the body for ovulation. Then comes the ovulatory phase, where youll probably notice a boost in energy and strength, giving you the chance to put in more effort in your workouts. You can try Pigeon Pose, Warrior II, Bridge Pose and Plank Pose. The luteal phase knocks at the door with some premenstrual symptoms! Youll feel a slight decline in energy. Restorative poses like Legs Up The Wall, Supported Bridge Pose, Cat-Cow Stretch, Reclining Butterfly Pose can help your body relax. Throughout the menstrual cycle, yoga proves to be a holistic companion, addressing the varying needs of each phase.Stick to your yoga routine throughout the month, and it will feel like having a reliable friend that always knows what you need! Image: Shutterstock Yoga For Stronger Bones As women age, their bone health experiences a significant downfall compared to our male counterparts. Blame it on hormonal shifts, declining oestrogen levels, or a higher risk of osteoporosis, but there is a silver lining! Unlike intense workouts, yoga offers a gentler yet powerful approach when it comes to maintaining bone health. Poses like Tree Pose, Triangle Pose, Warrior II, Locust Pose, Legs Up The Wall and Downward-Facing Dog can boost bone density, while building resilience. Yoga For Breast Health Every four minutes, an Indian woman faces a breast cancer diagnosis now thats a serious eye-opener! Its not just a concern for the 40s club anymore; even younger women are in the ring. Though the numbers are alarming, weve got the power to keep our breast health in check! Poses like Cow Face Pose, Warrior II, Cobra Pose, Warrior II, and Bow Pose give a good chest stretch, stimulate lymphatic drainage and strengthen the upper body. Image: Shutterstock Yoga For Stress While we are shouldering the weight of multiple roles and responsibilities, stress becomes a familiar guest. But what is it that invites stress? Well, stress becomes a part of our life when were unaware of its origin, when we are unaware of our next step. Daily yoga practice will help you become more aware, helping you alleviate stress and promoting inner peace by giving you more control over your mind. Yoga For Body Image With mindful moves and self-acceptance at its core, yoga can transform your relationship with your body, making it a powerful ally for overall wellbeing. As you practise, you will notice how you become aware of your body. When you are aware, you accept. And self-acceptance is a must for self-confidence! Yoga also boosts strength and flexibility, promoting a positive self-image and of course, a better and healthy body. Image: Shutterstock Always remember, strength isnt just about what we do for others; its also about cultivating good habits for ourselves every day. And yoga is one such habit that can help all women celebrate themselves! Lets change the definition of self-care and make yoga our superpower. Read more: Tips For Women To Bridge The Gender Savings Gap A pan-India star, Pooja Hegde, has risen to become the top choice for filmmakers and audiences, owing to her noteworthy performances across various industries, including Telugu, Hindi and Tamil cinema. In 2024, she's geared up to entertain audiences with an array of exciting projects, showcasing fresh on-screen pairings that promise great chemistry and applaud-worthy performances. Currently, Pooja Hegde's busy with 'Deva' directed by Rosshan Andrrews, where she shares the screen with Shahid Kapoor and has fans eagerly awaiting the electrifying chemistry between the two. Among her other new collaborations is a recent tech commercial starring actor Kartik Aaryan, earning praise from netizens who are eagerly anticipating their on-screen pairing in a future film. Additionally, Pooja Hegde surprised audiences recently with her new project announcement, a Valentine's Day 2025 release titled 'Sanki' by filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala, where she shares the screen with Ahan Shetty. Reflecting on the same, a source close to the actress stated, "Given Pooja's versatile film choices and the freshness she brings on screen with every character she takes on, directors today are viewing her in a new light and have high expectations of her due to her pan-India mass appeal." Her upcoming action-thriller 'Deva' backed by Zee Studios & Roy Kapur Films, is set to hit theatres on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, October 11, 2024. FILE - Police patrol Pusher Street in at Christiania, Copenhagen, Friday, May 25, 2018, after the street reopened after having been closed for three days. The inhabitants of Copenhagen's freewheeling Christiania neighborhood want dig up the aptly named Pusher Street where cannabis has been sold for decades although the trade is illegal, in the latest attempt to stop the hashish sale which has led to deadly gang turf wars and sometimes violent confrontations with the police. (Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File) Nils Meilvang/AP COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) The inhabitants of Copenhagen's freewheeling Christiania neighborhood plan to dig up the aptly named Pusher Street, in their latest attempt to stop illegal hashish sales which have led to deadly gang turf wars and sometimes violent confrontations with the police. Residents of the hippie enclave are calling for volunteers to help dig up the street on April 6, the Berlingske newspaper wrote Thursday. All are welcome, and participants can take home one of its cobblestones as a souvenir. It is yet unclear what will replace the street. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The residents are fighting to preserve Christianias reputation as a free-wheeling society made up of political idealists and aging hippies. For years, hash has been sold openly in Christiania from roadside stalls, among buildings painted in psychedelic colors. But inhabitants say that feuding gangs, not them, control the trade and the survival of their community hinges on ending it. The neighborhood has been a world apart from the rest of Copenhagen since 1973, when hippies squatted at a derelict naval base and set up a community dedicated to the flower-power ideals popular at the time: free cannabis, limited government influence, no cars and no police. After more than four decades of locking horns with authorities, they were given control over their homes when the state sold the 84-acre (24-hectare) enclave for 85.4 million kroner ($12.5 million) to a foundation owned by its inhabitants. There are nearly 700 adults and about 150 children living in the community today, and it's one of the Danish capital's biggest tourist attractions. The Christianites have made several attempts to close the hashish market in the roughly 100 meter (328 foot)-long street. Police say the trade, worth millions, is controlled by the Hells Angels and the outlawed Loyal to Family. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authorities tolerated hashish sales in Christiania until 2004, when police started to crack down. To preempt police raids, residents took down hash booths, but trading soon came back. Last year, they brought heavy machinery to tear down the market but masked men stopped them. In the past month, Christiania has worked with local authorities to make plan that includes ending the drug trade and replacing it with other activities. The social and housing ministry said that it was an important prerequisite to get rid of the organized hashish trade" before Christiania can get 14.3 million kroner ($2.1 million) earmarked for the work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A 30-year-old man who was selling drugs was shot and killed, and four others injured, in August; in 2022, a man selling hashish from one of the streets booths was shot dead. The previous year, a man was shot and killed at the entrance to the same street. Renowned for her roles in acclaimed films such as 'Raazi,' 'Satyameva Jayate,' and 'Malang,' Amruta Khanvilkar is set to grace screens once again in the eagerly awaited thriller 'Lootere,' scheduled for release on Disney+ Hotstar from March 22. The series also stars Rajat Kapoor, Vivek Gomber, and Aamir Ali. Returning to both Bollywood and the OTT space with 'Lootere,' Amruta expresses her honour and privilege in collaborating with the show's creators, including director Hansal Mehta and his son Jai Mehta. "I believe the greatest contribution Jai and Hansal sir made to 'Lootere' is their humility, despite their significant success. Their grounded nature inspired everyone on set, from the cast to the crew, to go above and beyond," she shares. "Shooting in South Africa presented its challenges, but they remained steadfast with the entire cast through the most dangerous and risky situations. Some individuals spent more than 5 to 6 months in South Africa, yet there were no complaints. This speaks volumes about the assurance and support Hansal sir and Jai provided us as creators. Their profound respect for the cast and crew resonated throughout, and they treated us exceptionally well," Amruta concludes. Actress Shanthi Priya along with Sandip Soparrkar mesmerised audiences with the dance drama "Pavitra Tulsi." Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, this production was nothing less than a captivating exploration of devotion, spirituality, and the timeless tale of Tulsi. Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, holds a special place in Indian culture and mythology. She is revered as a goddess and is considered the epitome of purity and devotion. Through "Pavitra Tulsi," Shanthi Priya has bought the divine character to life, embodying her grace, resilience, and unwavering dedication to righteousness. With her extensive experience in both classical and contemporary dance forms, Shanthi Priya is well-equipped has done justice to the multifaceted character of Tulsi. Her dedication to her craft, coupled with her innate talent, promises to make "Pavitra Tulsi" a mesmerizing theatrical experience. Directed by acclaimed Sandip Soparrkar in affiliation with Nalanda Dance Academy and Sandeep Soparrkar's ball room, Pavitra Tulsi" is a collaborative effort that brings together the finest talents in the industry. From stunning choreography to exquisite costumes and enchanting music, every aspect of the production has been meticulously crafted to create a truly immersive experience for the audience. Following the resounding success of "Pavitra Tulsi" in Mumbai, Shanthi Priya along with Sandip Soparkar has captivated the audiences in Ahmedabad too with her mesmerizing dance drama. With each performance, she is not only showcasing her talent but also carrying the rich tapestry of Indian culture and mythology to new heights. As she prepares to grace the stage at Ahmedabad, Shanthi Priya reaffirms her commitment to taking her art to places, spreading the magic of dance and storytelling far and wide. As the curtains raised on "Pavitra Tulsi," audiences were swept away by the beauty and spirituality of this timeless tale. Through Shanthi Priya's captivating performance, they witnessed the power of devotion and the triumph of righteousness, leaving them with a sense of awe and inspiration. On the professional front, Shanthi Priya made her debut in the cult film Saugandh. She has now made a comeback with the hit series "Dharavi Bank" and is also set to be seen in the famous director Vetrimaaran's next film and also the Sarojini Naidu Biopic in which she is playing the titular role! Not Harry and Meghan, now again the attention has shifted to ladies man Prince William and his rumoured mistress Sarah Rose Hanbury. Remember how everyone was googling Rose Hanbury? The rumoured other woman in Prince Williams life during King Charles coronation. Well, Rose is in news again. But who is Rose Hanbury, what is her claim to fame and her connection with the royal family. Lets revisit what happened with Rose and her royal connection. Advertisement Stephen Colbert dedicated an entire segment of his late night chat show to Prince Williams alleged affair with Lady Rose Hanbury amid the ongoing royal family drama. According to reports, Rose Hanbury is a key figure in Middleton and Prince Williams inner circle, Sarah Rose Cholmondeley, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, is a former model and was once a researcher for an MP. The cat is out of the bag, as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has officially reveals to the world that Prince William had an affair with Rose Hanbury, who happens to be a friend of Kate Middleton and their neighbor at their rural home in Norfolk #princewilliamaffair #KateGate pic.twitter.com/3lVAB8nkbF Layla M (@royalrota) March 13, 2024 Advertisement This segment of Stephen Colbert comes after the mysterious disappearance of Prince Williams wife, Kate Middleton the Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since December 25, 2023. Although Kensington Palace shared a statement saying Kate is recovering from a planned abdominal surgery and will resume official duties after Easter, it has only served to inflame rumours that all is not right within the British royal family. Advertisement Prince Williams rumoured lady-love is colloquially known as Rose Hanbury. The 39-year-old Rose, now spends her time managing the estate of her husband, David Rocksavage, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, The Independent reported. The couple live with their three children in their stately home in Norfolk called Houghton Hall. Rose Hanbury s royal connection Looks like infidelity runs in the genes of the Royal British family. Rose Hanbury , who is rumoured to be Prince Williams mistress, attended the coronation of King Charles III, an appearance we predicted would cause some tension among the Royal couple. Advertisement Her links to the royal family go back generations: her maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, was one of eight bridesmaids to the late Queen Elizabeth IIs wedding to the Duke of Edinburgh. Her father Timothy Hanbury was a website designer, and her mother Emma Hanbury was a fashion designer. Lady Sarah Rose started modelling when she was 23. Advertisement Is Hanburys daughter, Iris Williams child? Last year, British journalist and author Omid Scobie claimed in his book Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchys Fight for Survival that Prince William and Kate Middleton had distanced themselves from their former friend Rose Hanbury after rumours of an affair between her and William surfaced in 2019. Advertisement But all Is not well in the British Royal family again. According to reports published in several publications, there are also rumours that Hanburys daughter, Iris, is actually Williams child. Kate Middletons recent absence from the public eye has only fuelled the fire with rumours of a separation between the royal couple due to Prince Williams alleged involvement with Hanbury. Advertisement Colbert brought up the topic of Lady Rose Hanbury after citing a story Rumors Surrounding Prince Williams Relationship With Rose Hanbury Are at an All-Time High Amid Kate Middletons Recovery which has made him come to the conclusion that Prince William and Kate are probably headed towards a divorce. (With added inputs from agencies) BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested from Hyderabad on Friday in the Delhi liquor policy case, was taken to the ED headquarters in the national capital around midnight. The law agency has alleged her involvement with a South Group lobby of liquor traders seeking influence over the now-scrapped excise policy BRS MLC K Kavitha after she was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from her residence in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, in Hyderabad. PTI Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha was arrested on Friday evening after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department raided her residence in Hyderabad. The raids were in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, in which she has been named as an accused, as per Indian Express. Advertisement Kavitha, the daughter of BRS MLC and former Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, was brought to Delhi for further questioning. She is likely to be produced before a special court in Delhi today afternoon, according to ANI. Lets take a closer look. Kavithas link to the case According to the news agency, the arrest order indicated that the probe agency holds grounds to suspect that Kavitha has committed an offence punishable under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The ED alleged that Kavitha was part of the South Group and allegedly gave Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders bribes of Rs 100 crore. These payments were purportedly paid under the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy in return for illegal benefits. South Group comprises Telangana MLC Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Group), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (MP, Ongole), his son Raghav Magunta, and others. The South Group was being represented by Pillai, Abhishek Boinpalli, and Butchi Babu, ED stated as per ANI. Advertisement The ED probe further showed that Pillai was an accomplice, taking part in kickbacks from the South Group and then recovering these funds from Delhi-based companies. According to the ED, as per the statement of Butchi Babu (the accountant), there was a political understanding between K Kavitha and the (Delhi) chief minister (Arvind Kejriwal) and the (then Delhi) deputy chief minister (Manish Sisodia). In that process, K Kavitha also met Vijay Nair on 19-20 March 2021, reported PTI. Advertisement Kavitha has refuted the claims and referred to the ED notices as Modi notices. Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, and Vijay Nair have already been arrested in relation to the case. A parallel investigation is being conducted by the ED and CBI. According to the Indian Express, on 1 December 2022, Kavithas statement was recorded at her Hyderabad residence by a team of CBI officials. The next day, she received a notice from the CBI under section 160 of the CrPC asking her to join the inquiry on 6 December about the investigation into suspected corruption in the excise policy that the Delhi government had previously removed. Advertisement She was questioned multiple times at the ED headquarters and had to turn in her cell phones to the federal agency for examination last year. As per News18, Kavitha received a summons from the CBI last month over the same case. She was summoned to appear before the central probe agency for the second time, however, she declined it, stating in a letter that she had pressing onerous engagements. Advertisement Kavitha had already received notices from the IT and ED to come in person so they could record her statement, but she had contested the notices in the Supreme Court and declined to show up. Dramatic arrest Kavitha and her husband, D Anil Kumar were at their home when at least 10 officers from both agencies in New Delhi conducted searches during the day. Advertisement The 45-year-olds brother, BRS working president K T Rama Rao, and her cousin, T Harish Rao, arrived at her home shortly after she was placed under arrest. Both argued and demanded to see a transit warrant from the ED officers. BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, being brought to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in New Delhi. PTI KTR claimed that an illegal arrest warrant had been obtained by the ED for Kavitha. KTR was instructed not to obstruct the teams work by ED officials. Advertisement Sravan Dasoju, a spokesperson for the BRS, described the ED raids as politically motivated earlier in the day and claimed that the Congress and BJP are working hand in glove to harass leaders of the party led by KCR. Wherever (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi goes ED and IT (Income Tax) either precedes or succeeds. That is what is happening in Telangana. They want to create a panic situation in the BRS. The ED and IT which are working at the behest of BJP are not bothered about the Congress leaders of Telangana who have illegally obtained so much wealth, the BRS leader said as per PTI. Advertisement Whats next for Kavitha K Kavitha was reportedly taken to Delhi to finish the series of evidence in the case of the Delhi liquor policy scam, according to Mint which cited News18. Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia, who are being held in judicial custody in this case, are also expected to confront Kavitha. Advertisement Kavitha would also meet with Amit Arora, a crucial witness who confessed to the ED on the purported bribes that were designed and secured in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. Additionally, its expected that Kavitha will see Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who has been avoiding ED summons. Advertisement Her legal team will move the Supreme Court today to contest her arrest by the ED, even though it is difficult to obtain bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to media reports, her lawyers will attempt to ask for an urgent hearing before the top court on Saturday in order to contest the arrest. Advertisement Delhi liquor scam The liquor excise policy under the AAP government has undergone numerous modifications in 2021. As per another report by News18, among these were the discontinuation of state-run liquor stores and the issuance of operating licenses to private entities. The legal drinking age was also lowered from 25 to 21 years old. Specific requirements for liquor brand registration were put out, including variables like cost and sales figures outside of Delhi. In addition, the government suggested raising the yearly licence price for alcohol vending from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 75 lakh. The move coincided with the Delhi governments withdrawal from the retail liquor business, as 849 private vendors won licences through competitive bidding, the report said. However, the implementation of the policy was clouded by the oppositions allegations of corruption and favouritism during the licencing process. The AAP faced additional difficulties when Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena of Delhi opened a probe into the new excise policy. A report from the top official in Delhi prompted Saxena to formally request an investigation by the CBI. The government declared that the excise policy would be scrapped amid the growing criticism. With inputs from agencies Vladimir Putin is a prisoner of the political system he has built around himself for the past 24 years. Like many dictators, he cannot walk away from power and enjoy a quiet retirement even if he wants to. He is too attached to the mind-boggling wealth and power he has accumulated Two things are certain concerning Russian dictator Vladimir Putin . First, he will be reelected as president in the rigged election scheduled to run from 15 to 17 March 2024 , by a resounding if fraudulent margin. Second, he is not immortal. He will die one day, and he is likely to die in office rather than retiring willingly. Though we dont know when that day will come, the world might want to consider the power struggle that will commence the day after Putin departs. Advertisement How Putin has mastered election fraud Ever since he took over as president in 2000 , Putin has been perfecting the machinery of electoral fraud to guarantee victory. Vote buying, ballot miscounting, distribution of pre-filled ballots, tampering with ballot boxes, voter monitoring and intimidation, and ballot stuffing are all methods that Putins agents employ to guarantee a favourable result . He has also jailed political opponents, exiled others and denied yet others the ability to challenge him in fair elections. In the most extreme cases, he has had hands in the murders of Opposition figures like Boris Nemtsov and, most recently, the prison death of Alexei Navalny . There will be no surprises in this election: Putins victory will reaffirm his iron grip on Russias politics. Advertisement As a scholar of Russian politics and foreign policy who has studied Putins regime for the past 25 years, I have watched him build a dictatorship in Russia that rivals the repressive Soviet Union in both its brutality and corruption. Vladimir Putin will be reflected as president in the rigged elections in Russia. File image/AP But ironically, Putin is a prisoner of the political system he has built around himself for the past 24 years. Like many dictators, he cannot walk away from power and enjoy a quiet retirement even if he wants to. He is too attached to, and dependent on, the mind-boggling wealth and power he has accumulated during his time as a public servant. Advertisement Why Putin will never give up power But even if Putin got to keep his palaces and yachts , there would be no guarantee of safety in retirement. If Putin gave up power, his successor might come after him. Putins personal authority, charisma and influence would always be a threat to his successor as long as he was alive, a tempting target for the next ruler, and Putin knows it. Advertisement The other reason most dictators wont even name their successor is that it might initiate a bitter power struggle even before the dictator retires or dies. Imagine if Putin picked a successor: That person would immediately become the target of the unsuccessful contenders not chosen for the job. There are bitter rivalries even among Putins inner circle of cronies. Usually, Putin manages to keep those struggles in check , but the 2023 revolt by Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin against the Russian ministry of defence shows how deadly these competitions can turn. Prigozhin was killed in an August 2023 plane crash whose real cause may never be known , but Putins hand is widely suspected. Advertisement Behind each of the wealthy insiders who support Putin his oligarchs stands a deep network of corrupt cronies who would stand to lose their power, wealth and perhaps even freedom if a rival succeeded in taking over. Putins departure could set off a bloody power struggle whenever it happened, so why would he risk it ahead of time by naming his successor? Advertisement Power over others Putin is not likely to be removed by any palace coup. His control over Russias security services has allowed him to crush rivals and control the media, judiciary, regional leaders, parliament and community groups. He has also closely monitored threats from potential Opposition figures inside and outside his regime and made his regime coup-proof, as one scholar put it. Advertisement His cultivation of anti-Western Russian nationalism has won him the loyalty of the military and citizenry at least for now. Putin also uses his control over Russias natural resource wealth to keep his oligarchs in line. He decides which oligarchs are appointed to lead Russias major state-owned oil, gas, mineral and industrial producers. As long as they remain loyal to Putin and support his political and economic directives, these oligarchs are allowed to profit handsomely by plundering the income their companies earn. Advertisement The oligarchs wealth and freedom are conditional on staying in Putins good graces. Cross him and they could lose everything. Jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky learned that in 2003 when, after criticising Putin, he was imprisoned and saw his Yukos oil company seized by the state. President Vladimir Putin also uses his control over Russias natural resource wealth to keep his oligarchs in line. File image/Reuters And just in case any of them did step out of line despite their dependence on his largesse, theres another reason none of the oligarchs cross Putin: For decades he has amassed a trove of compromising materials or kompromat with which to blackmail even his closest advisers. Advertisement In short, the entire Russian elite has nothing to gain and everything to lose by defecting from Putins coalition. What happens if Putin dies in office If Putin cant retire and probably wont be deposed, what happens when he finally does die in office? According to the Russian constitution, the prime minister automatically becomes acting president with limited powers when the president can or will no longer serve. Remember, that was Putins first step toward becoming president in 2000 when Boris Yeltsin resigned. Advertisement This time around, the transition would look much different. Russias current prime minister is Mikhail Mishustin , a rather bland and uncharismatic former tax official who lacks a strong power base of his own. Should he succeed Putin as acting president, its unlikely that he would become the permanent replacement. Under the constitution, new presidential elections must be held within three months of the presidents death or incapacitation. But the real scramble for power will take place behind the scenes and not at the ballot box. Advertisement Its possible that the potentially violent power struggle could be resolved before the election, but three months is not much time for a successor to consolidate their grip and fill the void left by Putin. Its also possible that a consensus candidate might be allowed to win the election while the real struggle between factions plays out in the ensuing months and years. Or, an informal coalition of leaders attempts to rule collectively while holding the key positions of power like the presidency, premiership and security services. This sort of power-sharing arrangement has historical precedent in Russia: Coalitions proclaiming collective leadership briefly held power after the deaths of both Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin . But in each case, one member of the coalition was able to outmanoeuvre and eliminate their partners: first Stalin and later Nikita Khrushchev . These cases are reminders that autocratic succession is usually a messy affair. But the days, months and years after Putins departure may be even more turbulent than anyone expects. Never before has so much personal authority been concentrated in the hands of a single Russian leader with so few supporting institutions to help stabilise a leadership transition. There is no monarchical succession, as under the Romanovs , the last royal family to rule the country. Nor are there the strong institutions of a single-party state to constrain rivals as in Soviet times. There is only Putin. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . After rising incidents of pet attacks, the Centre has asked states to ban 23 ferocious dog breeds Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Wolf dogs, among others. But are they dangerous? We explain the dog ban and other big news that grabbed headlines like electoral bonds, CAA, and the Bengaluru water crisis in our weekly roundup Rottweilers are among the 23 dog breeds that the Centre has asked states to ban. File photo/Reuters Its been a week of new announcements, a few changes, and a ban. The election season is here. The dates for the Lok Sabha polls will be announced today. Political parties have already started the groundwork. Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP is fulfilling one promise after another. This week, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Advertisement The ruling party also announced its second list of candidates , dropping some known names, and Modi has started campaigning with his eyes on the southern states . Talking about elections and politics, electoral bonds continued to be in the limelight. After a Supreme Court rap, the State Bank of India (SBI) handed over the poll bonds data to the Election Commission , which released it on Thursday. The apex court also pulled up the lender for not sharing the complete data . We have been following this story closely. Changes continue to sweep India, which will likely see simultaneous elections by 2029. The BJP has been endorsing One Nation, One Election and a high-level panel led by former president Ram Nath Kovind has made its recommendations. On the non-political news front, Bengaluru continues to face a severe water crisis , and the Centre has directed states to ban 23 ferocious dog breeds. Advertisement In our weekly roundup of explainers, we bring all these stories and more. 1. Lets talk about the electoral bonds. Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court last month, they were a major source of political funding. But who were the donors? The State Bank of India (SBI) data on poll bonds released by the Election Commission throws up several names some known, some unknown. Advertisement The No. 1 buyer of electoral bonds is Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd. The man behind the company is Santiago Martin. Who is he? Known as the lottery king, he worked as a labourer in Myanmar, only to return to India in 1988 and build his fortune. This is his story . Advertisement Santiago Martin helms Future Gaming and Hotel Services, which is the No. 1 donor electoral bonds Santiagos Future Gaming has a murky past. It has been under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Among the top 30 donors of electoral bonds, at least 14 have had a brush with the law. This explainer takes a deep dive . 2. Four years after Parliament passed it, the home ministry notified the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA). The legislation eases the citizenship process for persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Advertisement With this notification, PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of our Constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X. The move has been criticised by the Opposition; the Northeastern states of Assam and Tripura are seeing protests. Advertisement But what is the CAA? And what changes for India with its implementation? We explain . 3. One Nation, One Election. Its a phrase that has been doing the rounds since last year. It means that India will vote in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the same year, if not the same time. But is it feasible? Advertisement A panel led by former president Ram Nath Kovind was appointed in September to answer the question. On Thursday, it submitted its recommendations after it studied best practices from other countries and consulted 39 political parties, economists, and the Election Commission. Heres what the committee said . Ram Nath Kovind, chairman of the high-level committee on One Nation, One Election, presents the report to President Droupadi Murmu, in New Delhi. Two of the committee members, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DPAP leader Ghulam Nabi Azad are also seen. PTI 4. Bengalurus dry days continue. Indias Silicon Valley is plagued by a severe water crisis with no respite. Advertisement Many schools and colleges have switched to online classes and several professionals are working from home. Some techies are even leaving the city to go back to their hometowns. A posh apartment complex has asked its residents to use disposable cutlery and wet wipes. People are bathing on alternate days and some are forced to use toilets in malls. Advertisement Its a dire situation. In this piece, we look at how water scarcity has upended lives in Indias tech capital . People collect free drinking water from a tanker due to a water crisis at Bangarappa Nagar, in Bengaluru. PTI 5. Our last story is a tale of caution. Attacks by pet dogs have been on the rise in the country. Headlines of a Pit bull or a Rottweiler going rogue and mauling people are not as rare as wed like them to be. Now the Centre has asked states to ban 23 ferocious breeds of canines . Which are they? And are these dogs really dangerous? We have some answers . Advertisement Those are the big stories for India this week. We hope our explainers help you understand the news better. Keep coming back for more . Have a good weekend. Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls will happen alongside Lok Sabha polls on April 19, the Election Commission announced on Saturday. Results for the same will be declared on June 4. The BJP won 41 seats in the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly in the 2019 Assembly elections. The Janata Dal (United) won seven seats, the National Peoples Party (NPP) five, the Congress four, the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) one and the Independents two. The BJP garnered 37.36% of the vote share in the latest general election, marking the highest vote share by a political party since the 1989 election. Securing 303 seats, the BJP further strengthened its significant majority. Additionally, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) clinched a total of 353 seats. Advertisement The BJP alone secured 37.76% of the votes, while the NDA collectively garnered 45% of the total 603.7 million votes cast. On the other hand, the Indian National Congress secured 52 seats, falling short of the 10% threshold required to claim the post of Leader of the Opposition. Furthermore, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) secured 91 seats, while other parties collectively won 98 seats. The BJP secured an impressive 37.36 percent of the votes in 2019 across the country, the highest vote share obtained by any political party in India since the 1989 general election. The BJP alone secured 303 seats, with the final tally reached to 353 seats for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In contrast, the Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, secured 52 seats, with the party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) achieving a total of 98 seats. Advertisement According to the mega News18 Opinion Poll conducted recently, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to return to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024 with a huge majority. The survey projects the BJP-led NDA to win 411 Lok Sabha seatswell over the 400 target Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set for the ruling alliance with the slogan, Abki baar 400 paar. The last time a party in the country won more than 400 seats was in 1984, when the Congress Party bagged 411 seats out of 542 at stake. The NDA vote share is expected to be at 48% in the upcoming General Elections, as per the poll. Advertisement With a 32% vote share, the Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. alliance is predicted to win 105 seats, better than the 91 seats it won in its previous avatar as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2019. Other parties are expected to win 27 seats, as per the opinion poll. Within alliances, the BJP is set to improve its tally to 350 seats, while the other NDA partners will contribute 61 seats, as per the poll. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 303 seats, while the NDA total was 353. Bennet has requested information on the platforms election-related policies, content moderation teams, including the languages covered and the number of moderators on full-time or part-time contracts, and tools adopted to identify AI-generated content Senator Michael Bennet, a prominent figure in American politics and a member of the Senate Intelligence and Rules Committees overseeing US elections, have reportedly written a letter on Friday to major US social media companies regarding their readiness for the upcoming elections in India. Given the history of social media platforms, including Meta-owned WhatsApp, amplifying misleading and false content in India, Senator Bennets inquiry seeks clarity on the measures these companies have implemented to address this issue. Advertisement The letter coincides with the imminent announcement of elections in India by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Senator Bennets correspondence, directed to the leaders of Alphabet, Meta, TikTok, and X, requests information about the steps these companies have taken to prepare for elections across different nations, particularly India. Highlighting the persistent threats posed by social media platforms to electoral processes, Senator Bennet underscores the evolution of these risks. While users have previously utilised deepfakes and digitally altered content in electoral contexts, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) models further compounds these challenges. Bennet notes that the proliferation of sophisticated AI tools has lowered previous barriers to entry, enabling almost anyone to create highly realistic images, videos, and audio, thus posing significant threats to democratic processes and political stability. Advertisement With over 70 countries holding elections and more than two billion people casting ballots this year, 2024 is the year of democracy. Australia, Belgium, Croatia, the European Union, Finland, Ghana, Iceland, India, Lithuania, Namibia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Panama, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States are expected to hold major electoral contests this year. Advertisement In his letter to Elon Musk of X, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Shou Zi Chew of Tik Tok and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, Bennet requested information on the platforms election-related policies, content moderation teams, including the languages covered and the number of moderators on full-time or part-time contracts, and tools adopted to identify AI-generated content. Advertisement Democracys promise that people rule themselves is fragile, Bennet continued. Disinformation and misinformation poison democratic discourse by muddying the distinction between fact and fiction. Your platforms should strengthen democracy, not undermine it, he wrote. In India, the worlds largest democracy, the countrys dominant social media platforms including Meta-owned WhatsApp have a long track record of amplifying misleading and false content. Political actors that fan ethnic resentment for their own benefit have found easy access to disinformation networks on your platforms, the Senator wrote. Advertisement Bennet then asked about details of their new policies and people that have placed for India elections. What, if any, new policies have you put in place to prepare for the 2024 Indian election? How many content moderators do you currently employ in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri? he asked. Advertisement Of these, please provide a breakdown between full-time employees and contractors, Bennet said. The Senator told the social media CEOs that beyond their failures to effectively moderate misleading AI-generated content, their platforms also remain unable to stop more traditional forms of false content. China-linked actors used malicious information campaigns to undermine Taiwans January elections. Facebook allowed the spread of disinformation campaigns that accused Taiwan and the United States of collaborating to create bioweapons, while TikTok permitted coordinated Chinese-language content critical of President-elect William Lais Democratic Progressive Party to proliferate across its platform, it said. According to the Senator, he has heard from the heads of the US Intelligence Community that the Russian, Chinese, and Iranian governments may attempt to interfere in US elections. Advertisement As these and other actors threaten peoples right to exercise popular sovereignty, your platforms continue to allow users to distribute fabricated content, discredit electoral integrity, and deepen social distrust, he wrote. Bennet requested information on the platforms election-related policies, content moderation teams including the languages covered and the number of moderators on full-time or part-time contracts and tools adopted to identify AI-generated content. Advertisement With inputs from PTI The Russian Presidents repeated threats of using a tactical nuke in the Ukraine war have achieved their objectives to an extent by dissuading NATO from a direct confrontation If there is no intention to doom the world to the catastrophe of thermonuclear war, then let us not only relax the forces pulling on the ends of the rope; let us take measures to untie that knot. We are ready for this. Nikita Khrushchev, 26 October, 1962 The Soviet premiers chilling message to American President John F Kennedy during the 13-day Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the precipice of a nuclear Armageddon. Advertisement However, the crisis was averted after an exchange of messages between the two leaders. Khrushchev eventually removed the R-12 MRBMs and R-14 IRBMs with thermonuclear warheads from Cuba and stopped the construction of their launch sites, but his military and diplomatic manoeuvres hit the bullseye. Kennedy promised never to invade Cuba and withdrew the PGM-19 Jupiter nuclear MRBMs from Turkey. More than six decades later, Moscow again raised the possibility of a nuclear spectre several times, triggering fears of an Armageddon in Washington. Vladimir Putin has threatened the use of tactical nukes during the Ukraine War five times and followed it up with some actions alarming NATO. On 24 February, 2022, the day he launched his Special Military Operation, the Russian president said , Any further expansion of the North Atlantic alliances infrastructure or the ongoing efforts to gain a military foothold of the Ukrainian territory is unacceptable for us. Russia has a certain advantage in several cutting-edge weapons. In this context, there should be no doubt for anyone that any potential aggressor will face defeat and ominous consequences should it directly attack our country. Advertisement On 21 September, he repeated his N-threat . In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff. On 30 September, Putin indirectly hinted at the use of nukes to protect Ukraines illegally annexed regions of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia with all the forces and means at our disposal. Advertisement In February 2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron didnt rule out the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, Putin said , Everything that the West comes up with creates the real threat of a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, and thus the destruction of civilisation. This month, Putin said that if American troops are deployed in Russian territory or Ukraine, Russia would treat the move as an intervention. From a military-technical point of view, we are, of course, ready [for a nuclear war>, he said . Advertisement In some cases, Putins actions indicated that he might resort to a tactical nuclear attack. On 27 February, 2022, he put the Russian Armys deterrence forces on high combat alert as top NATO officials were indulging in aggressive statements directed at Russia. On 25 March, 2023, Putin announced plans to deploy Russian tactical nukes in Belarus . In March 2024, Russia tested the nuclear-tipped RS-24 Yars ICBM, which travels at Mach 14 and has a multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle. Advertisement One month after Putins September 2022 threat, US President Joe Biden reacted on expected lines. We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, he said . CNNs chief national security analyst and anchor Jim Sciuttos book The Return of Great Powers, released this month, claims that an analysis and highly sensitive new intelligence showed that Russia wanted to use a tactical nuke against Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Sciutto claims that a senior US administration official told him that the fear wasnt just hypothetical but based on some information that we picked up. Subsequently, the US started preparing rigorously for such an eventuality. These nuclear threats and actions raise some questions. What is Russias nuclear doctrine? The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, on 2 June, 2020, provides the framework for the use of nukes in in various scenarios. Advertisement a) potential enemys build-up in the territories adjacent to the Russian Federation and its allies and in adjacent sea areas of general-purpose force groups, which include nuclear weapons delivery vehicles; b) deployment by states that consider the Russian Federation as a potential enemy of missile defence systems and means, medium- and shorter-range cruise and ballistic missiles, high-precision non-nuclear and hypersonic weapons, attack unmanned aerial vehicles and directed energy weapons; c) creation and deployment in space of missile defence and strike systems; d) states have nuclear weapons and (or) other types of weapons of mass destruction that can be used against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies as well as means of delivery of these types of weapons; e) uncontrolled proliferation of nuclear weapons, their delivery vehicles and technologies and equipment for their production; f) placement on the territories of non-nuclear states of nuclear weapons and means of their delivery. However, Russia can use nuclear weapons against the adversary in a conventional war if its existence is at risk or to prevent the escalation of hostilities and their cessation on terms acceptable to it and the enemys deployment of other weapons of mass destruction along its borders. Were N-threats against Ukraine or NATO? Advertisement Putins warnings were against NATO, not Ukraine. In every statement, he pointed to the blocs eastward expansion, which was allegedly endangering Russias existence. Two months after the Ukraine war, Russias Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned NATO of deploying the nuclear-capable 9K720 Iskander SRBMs in the Russian Kaliningrad exclavesandwiched between Poland and Lithuaniaif Finland and Sweden joined the bloc. Despite his warning, Finland and Sweden joined NATO as Iskanders had been deployed there for years. Advertisement When NATO launched Steadfast Defender 24 , its biggest military exercise in Europe since the end of the Cold War, on 24 January, Moscow warned that any events of this scale significantly increase the risk of military incidents. Several incidents prove that Russia never intended to use a tactical nuke against Ukraine despite attacks inside its borders. Advertisement Kyiv has targeted the Kerch Bridge, the shortest land route to Crimea used by Russias military to transport large equipment and soldiers to Ukraine, several times since October 2022. Now, it has pledged to destroy the bridge. Ukraine also attacked Crimeas Saky airbase with a missile on 9 August, 2022. Anti-Moscow groups supporting Kyiv have attacked Russias Belgorod region several times since 2023 with the latest on 12 March. Advertisement According to Russian media, more than 190 drone attacks have been launched inside Russia, including Moscow, since January 2023. On 12 March this year, Ukraine launched more than 24 drone strikes on energy sites and a major oil refinery in Russia. Besides, Ukraine has destroyed 21 warships and one submarine of Russias Black Sea Fleet, according to the Dutch open-source website Oryx, which contains verified tallies of Russian and Ukrainian equipment losses. The withdrawal from Kyiv and Kherson, the massive losses of troops and equipment and the Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory were a big trigger for Putin to launch a nuke against Ukraine. Our assessment had been for some time that one of the scenarios in which they would contemplate using nuclear weapons [included> things like existential threats to the Russian state and direct threats to Russian territory, one of the officials told Sciutto. But Putin didnt launch a nuke against Ukraine. Was there any specific intel? The two senior US officials were ambiguous regarding specific intel about Russias intention to use a tactical nuke yet America feared such an attack. Its contradictory. At no point did we ever see any indications of types of steps that we wouldve expected them to take if they were going down a path towards using nuclear weapons, one of the officials said. All the US intel community gathered was from its other Western counterparts, who claimed to have received information that lower levels of the Russian system were discussing a nuclear strike. Its never a cut-and-dry black-and-white assessment, one of the officials told Sciutto. But the risk level seemed to be going upbeyond where it had been at any other point in time. Since tactical nukes are small compared to strategic nuclear weapons, they can be moved secretly and quietly. If what they were going to do is use a tactical nuclear weapon it was not hundred per cent clear to us that we necessarily would have known, this senior administration official continued. In either case, the US didnt have specific intelligence. In fact, the White House denied any imminent threat of a Russian nuke attack after Bidens Armageddon comments in October 2022. Even National Intelligence director Avril Haines said in May 2023 that Russia was very unlikely to use nukes. Why Putin issued N-threats and whats their aim? Such threats are part of the Soviet-era Theory of Reflexive Control. The theory combines psychological and information manipulation, pressure tactics and geopolitical strategy to influence the enemys decision(s) in Russias favour. Its an asymmetric warfare that changes the adversarys perception of the situation and forces it to act accordingly to further Russian objectives. According to Sergey Komov, a leading Russian thinker on information warfare, Reflexive Control can include one or more or a combination of the following tactics : distraction, overload, paralysis, exhaustion, deception, division, pacification, deterrence, provocation, suggestion and pressure. Reflexive Control is a means of conveying to a partner or an opponent specially prepared information to incline him to voluntarily make the predetermined decision desired by the initiator of the action, says Timothy Thomas, a leading American expert Russias information warfare. Basically, Russia escalates the situation to force the adversary to de-escalate. In the process, Russia portrays itself as an irresponsible nuclear powera bold yet restrained strategywhich either forces the enemy to change its course of action or end the conflict. According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists , Escalation is a deliberate action taken primarily for the purpose of ending a conflict without any further increase in the intensity or level of fighting. Though the escalate to de-escalate theory is contested by some military experts in the US and Europe, the US 2018 Nuclear Posture Review expressed concern about a scenario where Russia grabs the territory of a NATO member. Subsequently, America and NATO are presented with a fait accompli by Russia threatening to use nuclear weapons, according to the Congressional Research Service report in April 2022. While Russia never uses a nuke, the show of nuclear force, capabilities and readiness are enough to alarm its adversary. The steps usually include putting the nuclear forces on high combat alert, military exercises and testing nuclear-capable missiles. When Putin put his nuclear forces on high combat alert on February 27, 2022, the US and NATO reacted accordingly. The US postponed the test launch of the Minuteman III ICBM in March that year. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said, In an effort to demonstrate that we have no intention of engaging in any actions that can be misunderstood or misconstrued, the secretary of defence has directed that our Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled for this week to be postponed. Then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, At no point has Russia been under threat from NATO [or> has Russia been under threat from Ukraine. NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said, This is dangerous rhetoric. This is a behaviour which is irresponsible. On 19 February, a few days before the invasion, Russia conducted a massive simulated exercise of its nuclear triadICBMs, SLBMs and strategic bombers. The Zircon and Kinzhal cruise missiles, Yars ICBM, and Sineva and Kalibr SLBMs were fired and Tu-95 bombers, warplanes and submarines participated in the exercise. The main purpose of the exercise is to train the strategic offensive forces actions aimed at delivering a guaranteed defeat of the enemy, Russias Chief of General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. Russia can show its nuclear prowess by launching a nuke in an unpopulated area, against a populated centre inside Ukraine or against Ukrainian troops. In the worst-case scenario, Russia could resort to the third option. However, one tactical nuke wont obliterate the whole Ukrainian military; Russia would need to launch several such weapons. Besides, Russian soldiers would be exposed to radiation. Putin also knows the risks involved in a nuclear retaliation. Such a drastic step would further isolate him globally and cement the anti-Russian coalition. Putins nuclear threats havent wholly achieved their goals. NATO continues to supply missiles, 155mm artillery rounds, tanks and anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. NATO has also okayed the supply of F-16s and Ukrainian pilots are being trained in Romania. However, Russias Reflexive Control has worked to an extent. NATO never deployed its troops in Ukraine to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia. If Ukraine were a NATO member, Article 5 would have come into effect, putting the bloc in direct confrontation with Russiathats why the US has avoided allowing Ukraine into the bloc. America supplied the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine last year on the assurance that they would not be used to strike inside Russia. Though the Biden administration is contemplating sending long-range ATACMS with a maximum range of 300 km if the House of Representatives approves the $95 military aid package, the missiles will be used to hit targets in Crimea, not inside Russia. Recently, Stoltenberg said that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian military targets outside Ukraine. That is international law and, of course, Ukraine has the right to do so to protect itself. However, Ukraine has used missiles to strike targets on its occupied territories, like Donetsk, Luhansk or Crimea, not deep inside Russia. Czech Repulic-supplied multiple rocket launcher RM-70 Vampire has been used to target the Russian border city of Belgorod. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Russia neither fired the thermonuclear missiles nor completed the construction of their launch sites. Khrushchevs diplomacy, misinformation, strategic ambiguity, and psychological pressure against Kennedy worked, and the US reaction was on expected lines. Similarly, Putin hasnt used tactical nukes against NATO despite stoking fears of a nuclear retaliation and has achieved his objectives to an extent. 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 Firstposts views. A statement from Netanyahus office on the Rafah attack plan said Hamas demands for the release of hostages remained unrealistic, but an Israeli delegation would still head to Doha once the security cabinet had discussed its position Israel has given the green light for a potential military operation in the Gaza city of Rafah, while also signaling a willingness to pursue ceasefire negotiations by planning to send another delegation to Qatar for discussions on a possible prisoner exchange with Hamas, the Palestinian terror group. According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office, the plan to target Rafah, located on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, has been approved. Advertisement This decision comes amid concerns from global allies and critics who fear significant civilian casualties. Israel maintains that Rafah is a stronghold of Hamas, a group it aims to eradicate, and assures that residents will be evacuated prior to any military action. In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. had not seen the Rafah plan, but would like to. He told a regular briefing a Hamas ceasefire-for-hostages proposal was within the bounds of what was possible and expressed cautious optimism about it. Hamas has presented a Gaza ceasefire proposal to mediators and the U.S., which includes release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences, according to a proposal seen by Reuters. A statement from Netanyahus office on the Rafah attack plan said Hamas demands for the release of hostages remained unrealistic, but an Israeli delegation would still head to Doha once the security cabinet had discussed its position. Advertisement The Israeli statement said the Israeli Defence Force was preparing operationally and for the evacuation of the population of Rafah. It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Austria the U.S. needed to see a clear and implementable plan from Israel for Rafah, including to get civilians out of harms way. Advertisement Negotiators failed this week to reach a ceasefire agreement in time for the Ramadan Muslim holy month. Washington and Arab mediators are still determined to reach a deal to head off an assault on Rafah and let in food to stave off starvation. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused Netanyahu of manoeuvring to conduct more crimes of genocide. Advertisement He isnt interested in reaching an agreement, he told Reuters. Israel has rejected claims of genocide, saying it is purely focused on destroying all Hamas fighters. There is increasing friction between Washington and Israel, which officials in President Joe Bidens administration say is waging war with too little care for civilians. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected U.S. official and a leader of Bidens Democratic Party, called on Thursday for Israelis to replace Netanyahu, whose hardline policies he said were wrecking Israels international standing. Advertisement Biden said on Friday Schumer had made a good speech and that many Americans shared those concerns. In the centre of Gaza City late on Friday, an Israeli air strike destroyed a seven-floor residential building, killing or wounding several people, the spokesman of the civil emergency service there said. He said emergency workers were searching the rubble for casualties. Advertisement HAMAS OFFER More than two weeks after receiving an Israeli-approved proposal for a truce, Hamas gave mediators on Thursday its first formal counter-proposal in more than a month. Like previous proposals from both sides, the offer, reviewed by Reuters on Friday, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages being freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let in aid. Advertisement Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce. Though Israel did not accept, its description of the terms as still unrealistic was notably milder than its response to the previous Hamas offer last month, which Netanyahu called delusional. Advertisement Israeli security cabinet member and National Unity minister Chili Tropper said there were still wide gaps in Israeli and Hamas positions. We have to be honest with the public, if we reach a deal that will return our boys and girls home, it will come at a cost, and a heavy one, he told N12 News. Advertisement It wont be at any cost, but we also shouldnt mislead. To bring back these people, who we failed to protect on Oct. 7, we will have to pay a price. What will that cost be? Ill leave that to closed doors. The war began with an attack by Hamas Islamist fighters from Gaza who killed 1,200 people and seized 253 hostages in Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, an Israeli assault has killed more than 31,000 people, according to Palestinian figures, and driven nearly the entire population of Gaza from their homes. Advertisement FIRST AID SHIP The United Nations says a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine and on Friday, the first ship bringing aid by sea, the Open Arms, arrived off Gaza. Israel said 130 pallets of humanitarian equipment and 115 tonnes of food and water were offloaded to World Central Kitchen (WCK) charitys trucks for distribution after security checks. Advertisement If the new sea route is successful, it may help to ease hunger in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people face malnourishment and hospitals in the worst-stricken northern areas have reported children dying of starvation. However, aid agencies have repeatedly said that plans to bring in aid by air and sea would be far from sufficient as long as most access by land is restricted. Israel, which has sealed off all land routes into Gaza apart from two crossings on the territorys southern edge, denies blame for hunger and says aid agencies should do a better job. Distribution of the limited aid that arrives has been chaotic and frequently violent. In one of the worst reported incidents yet, Gaza health authorities said at least 21 people had been killed and 150 wounded at a queue for aid near Gaza City on Thursday night and blamed Israeli forces for shooting into the crowd. Israel denied its troops were to blame and said Hamas fighters had opened fire. Reuters was not able to independently confirm either account. With inputs from Reuters Palestinian Muslims break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan outside the Dome of Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Mahmoud Illean/AP Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group block a road during a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group block a road during a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP The second vessel, left, with food aid from aid group World Central Kitchen prepares to depart for Gaza, at Larnaca port, Cyprus, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Petros Karadjias/AP Relatives and supporters of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group attend a rally calling for their release, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP Muslim worshippers perform "tarawih," an extra lengthy prayer held during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, next to the Dome of Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Mahmoud Illean/AP Muslim worshippers perform "tarawih," an extra lengthy prayer held during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Saturday, March 16, 2024. Mahmoud Illean/AP In this photo provided by the Israeli Army, humanitarian aid transported from a ship from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization, led by the United Arab Emirates, arrives in the Gaza Strips maritime space, Friday, March 15, 2024. The Israeli military says a ship has delivered 200 tons of food, water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus. The sea route is intended to bring more assistance to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave five months into the war between Israel and Hamas. (Israeli Army via AP) AP In this photo provided by the Israeli Army, a ship transporting humanitarian aid from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization, led by the United Arab Emirates, arrives in the Gaza Strips maritime space, Friday, March 15, 2024. The Israeli military says a ship has delivered 200 tons of food, water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus. The sea route is intended to bring more assistance to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave five months into the war between Israel and Hamas. (Israeli Army via AP) AP In this photo provided by the Israeli Army, humanitarian aid transported from a ship from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization, led by the United Arab Emirates, arrives in the Gaza Strips maritime space, Friday, March 15, 2024. The Israeli military says a ship has delivered 200 tons of food, water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus. The sea route is intended to bring more assistance to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave five months into the war between Israel and Hamas. (Israeli Army via AP) AP In this photo provided by the Israeli Army, humanitarian aid transported from a ship from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) organization, led by the United Arab Emirates, arrives in the Gaza Strips maritime space, Friday, March 15, 2024. The Israeli military says a ship has delivered 200 tons of food, water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus. The sea route is intended to bring more assistance to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the enclave five months into the war between Israel and Hamas.(Israeli Army via AP) AP CAIRO (AP) Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. But both sides have made moves in recent days aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Nearly one in three children under 2 years old in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the U.N. children's agency said Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies its holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic" but agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar. His government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thousands of people demonstrated Saturday night in Tel Aviv to show their impatience with Netanyahu's government and demand a deal to free hostages. Some expressed support for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's sharp criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the war and his call for a new election. I think that we are in a situation where they are completely right, that we have a war that is continuing well beyond what is necessary, protester Yehuda Halper said. Netanyahus office said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians more than half the enclave's population are sheltering. Israel wants to target Hamas battalions stationed there. Many fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous. Netanyahu's office didn't give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation, but said that it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. Many people are too fragile, hungry and sick to be moved again, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media, adding that there are no fully functional, safe health centers they can reach elsewhere in Gaza. In the name of humanity, we appeal to Israel not to proceed. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. Advertisement Article continues below this ad An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people, including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies. Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N. As part of efforts to deliver desperately needed aid, a ship inaugurated a sea route from Cyprus on Friday and offloaded 200 tons of humanitarian supplies sent by the aid group World Central Kitchen destined for people in northern Gaza. The group said it was preparing another vessel in Cyprus with hundreds of tons of aid. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Also on Saturday, Germany joined a group of countries, including the U.S. and Jordan, in conducting airdrops of aid over Gaza. The U.S. also has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Displaced Palestinians living in tents along the Mediterranean coast remained hungry and bleak. The situation is so bad that no one can imagine it, and the ship, even if it helps, will be a drop in the ocean, said Zahr Saqr in Muwasi. We run like dogs behind air drops. ___ Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bassem Mroue in Beirut, Shlomo Mor in Tel Aviv, and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Advertisement Article continues below this ad ___ On the opportunities in Bhutan, Tobgay said his country provides immense opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. The investors can come and set up hotels, restaurants, wellness centres in Bhutan of which 72 per cent is under forest cover The prime minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay during his maiden international visit to India, urged the Indian business community Friday to explore potential business ventures with the neighboring country in the tourism sector. During a five-day visit to India, Tobgay gave the following remarks at the national capital during a discussion titled India-Bhutan Tourism: Expanding Horizons, which was hosted by the trade association FICCI. Advertisement I always wanted to meet captains of the industry and invite you to Bhutan. We have been blessed with excellent relation with India. India is our immediate neighbour. We want more and more Indians visiting Bhutan, he said addressing the gathering which included representatives of various sectors including travel and hospitality. On the opportunities in Bhutan, Tobgay said his country provides immense opportunities in the travel and tourism industry. The investors can come and set up hotels, restaurants, wellness centres in Bhutan of which 72 per cent is under forest cover. Travel for Indians is very easy as a person has to only seek a permit to enter the country at a charge of around Rs 1200 which is lower compared to tourists coming from other parts of the world, the PM said adding he is expecting around 1.50 lakh Indian tourists to Bhutan in 2024, more than double of 72,659 in 2023. Advertisement The prime minister mentioned the railway service between India and Bhutan which offers a cost-effective means of transport. The train facility will connect Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Sarpang, Bhutan. He also said in the coming years the number of airlines to Bhutan is expected to increase as part of the agreement between the two nations. Advertisement Sharing the experience of his India visit, Tobgay said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is like his older brother. Being in New Delhi with him is like being among friends, the visit has been very emotional, he added. With inputs from PTI The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating how a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 lost an external panel before landing safely in Oregon. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started an investigation after a missing panel was discovered in a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane before landing safely in Oregon on Friday. The FAA said a post-landing airline inspection of the 25-year-old aeroplane revealed a missing panel. United said it would also investigate and said no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. Advertisement The airports director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. No injuries were reported. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found. Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. Advertisement The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year, according to the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Advertisement Boeing said, also via email, that it would defer comment to United about the carriers fleet and operations. In January a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. Advertisement The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. Advertisement The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said. With inputs from AP. Residents in Waziristan, an area bordering Afghanistan in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told Reuters an explosion shook doors and damaged windows around the time of the start of the attack Using an explosive-laden vehicle, militants attacked a military post in Pakistan near Afghanistan on Saturday morning, killing five members of the security force, according to the Pakistani military. The militarys media wing said in a statement that the incident in northwest Pakistan was carried out by six attackers, but it did not identify the militant group that was behind the attack. Advertisement The terrorists rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to collapse of portion of a building, resulting into Shahadat (martyrdom) of five, said the statement. Residents in Waziristan, an area bordering Afghanistan in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told Reuters an explosion shook doors and damaged windows around the time of the start of the attack. Pakistani government and security officials say attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Officials say militants are using Afghan soil to launch attacks. That has damaged the relationship between Pakistan and the ruling Afghan Taliban, who deny allowing Afghanistan to be used by militants. Advertisement Pakistans national elections in February took place under tight security. Nine people died in blasts, grenade and gun attacks on election day. With inputs from Reuters The cargo on second ship, the Jennifer, includes pallets of canned goods and bulk product including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt, the charity said A second aid ship loaded with food and other supplies for Gaza could sail off soon after the first vessel successfully delivered humanitarian resources. The Jennifer was set to depart for Gaza today or tomorrow, foreign ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis told state radio. The cargo ship, Jennifer, has been loaded with 200 tonnes of food, US charity World Central Kitchen said. However, the ships voyage might be deterred by bad weather, making it hard to predict when it would set sail for Gaza or when the first vessel. Advertisement Maritime weather reports show bad weather from Sunday until end of next week - so exact timing of sailing for either boat to return to Gaza is not available at this time, the charity said in a statement. What is Jennifer carrying? The cargo on the Jennifer includes pallets of canned goods and bulk product including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt, the charity said. It also includes a forklift and a crane to assist with deliveries, it said. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates has sent a special load of 120 (kilogrammes of) fresh dates, it added. Meanwhile, the first cargo ship, Open Arms, has reportedly begun to return to Cyprus. How does the maritime corridor work? In November 2023, Cyprus first presented the idea of creating a sea corridor to supply aid to Gaza at the International Aid Conference in Paris. Advertisement The plan called the Amalthea Initiative, caught the attention of other countries including Jordan, Egypt and the UAE who are now involved in making the project a reality. The 25-page-long document detailing the plan has five stages through which food, medical and shelter supplies would be shipped to Gazas beaches. The aid is collected and compiled at a base in southern Cyprus Larnaca, which is 210 nautical miles away from Gaza and is equipped with an airport and a seaport. Advertisement The supplies are run through a security check by Israeli authorities following which they will be loaded into ships that will sail to Gaza and will be accompanied by warships to avoid any untoward incident. With inputs from agencies On July 1, 2019, a wave of protesters broke through the windows of the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong and poured inside, demonstrating against a bill that would have permitted authorities to extradite individuals to mainland China for trial File photo: Protesters pass building material into the lobby of the Legislative Council building on the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in Hong Kong, China July 1, 2019. REUTERS In a high-profile rioting case connected to the storming of the city legislature during a pro-democracy protest in 2019, a Hong Kong court on Saturday sentenced 12 people to prison terms ranging from more than four years to nearly seven years. The event marked a turning point in the months-long demonstrations that engulfed the city ruled by China in the most audacious populist rebellion against the Chinese Communist Party since the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in Beijing in 1989. Advertisement On July 1, 2019, a wave of protesters broke through the windows of the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong and poured inside, demonstrating against a bill that would have permitted authorities to extradite individuals to mainland China for trial. Those sentenced by district court Judge Li Chi-ho included actor Gregory Wong, 45, who was jailed for six years and two months after pleading not guilty. Political activists Ventus Lau and Owen Chow, who had pleaded guilty, received terms of 54 months and 20 days, and 61 months and 15 days, respectively. Li described the incident as a serious blow to the citys rule of law. The large number of protesters, the intensity, the unique constitutional status of the Legislative Council, and the intention to weaken the significance of the (Hong Kong) government, are insulting, he said. Advertisement The judge described in detail how protesters had rammed their way into the building with metal barricades, pelted the area with eggs, sprayed political slogans on the walls and inked over a government emblem. The former president of the University of Hong Kongs student union, Althea Suen, 27, who had pleaded guilty, was sentenced to four years and nine months. Advertisement Relatives and supporters cried and shouted Take care! and Hang in there! as the defendants were led away from the glass dock. Chow said the governments refusal to withdraw the extradition bill after one million people marched against it was the immediate cause of the incident. No matter what punishment the court imposes on me, Ill continue to move forward and convert my fear into a force for change, just like the day I walked into the chamber, Chow told the court before the sentences were handed down. Advertisement He said their actions stemmed from a need to stand up for basic human rights that were under threat from authorities. Martin Luther King, leader of the human rights movement who has always advocated peaceful and rational demonstrations, once said, A riot is the language of the unheard, Chow told the court. Advertisement Lau said he had rushed to the scene given his fears of a bloody crackdown by the police. Lau later left Hong Kong returned despite the risk of prosecution. I dont want the public to think all the people in this movement only care about their own safety, he said. In a mitigation letter submitted to the court last month, actor Wong said his arrest and conviction had essentially derailed his career as an actor since the age of 12. Advertisement I will still help people in need with a sincere heart, Wong wrote. Student reporter Wong Ka-ho and online media reporter Ma Kai-chung, who were acquitted of rioting but found guilty of entering or staying in the precincts of the chamber, received fines of HK$1,500 ($190) and HK$1,000 respectively. Rioting holds a maximum seven-year sentence in Hong Kongs district court. Advertisement More than 10,200 people were arrested in relation to the protests in 2019, of whom 2,937 have so far been charged with offences including rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal damage, according to police figures. Of these, over 870 people have been charged with rioting, according to the Witness, opens new tab, an online news portal specialising in legal news. Advertisement With inputs from Reuters Indian Navy commandos forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft & MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft The Indian Navy, after a painstaking 40-hour-long operation, successfully rescued the 17 crew members of a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel on Saturday. In a statement, the Navy said that it cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender while ensuring the safe evacuation of all the crew members of MV Ruen. On Friday, the pirates opened fire on the Indian warship, which took appropriate actions in self-defence as per international law and to counter piracy and used minimal force to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers. Advertisement How was the operation carried out? INS Kolkata carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1400 nautical miles (2600km) from the Indian Coast. #INSKolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender & ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today #16Mar 24 from the pirate vessel without any injury.#INSKolkata had carried out the https://t.co/eKxfEdMRES pic.twitter.com/tmQq2fG8yE SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 Indian Navy commandos forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft & MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft. Advertisement The vessel has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. Who was onboard MV Ruen? As many as 17 crew members are reportedly being held hostage by Somali pirates while one person has been released on medical grounds. People familiar with the situation told CNN-News18 that members are currently marked safe based on information provided by the crew onboard. Advertisement The crew consists of citizens from Angola, Myanmar and Bermuda. As many as 17 crew members are reportedly being held hostage by Somali pirates while one person has been released on medical grounds Indian Navy commandos on Saturday launched a daring operation to rescue the crew of a Maltese-flagged merchant vessel after it foiled hijacking attempts by Somali pirates in the high seas off the east coast of Somalia. Marine Commando Force aka MARCOS, the Indian Navys special force, was seen boarding the hijacked MV Ruen. Advertisement On Friday, the pirates opened fire on the Indian warship, which took appropriate actions in self-defence as per international law and to counter piracy and used minimal force to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers. #IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will, the Navy had said in a statement. Advertisement Who is boarded in MV Ruen? As many as 17 crew members are reportedly being held hostage by Somali pirates while one person has been released on medical grounds. People familiar with the situation told CNN-News18 that members are currently marked safe based on information provided by the crew onboard. The crew consists of citizens from Angola, Myanmar and Bermuda. Advertisement Indian Navy flexes power In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy has extended assistance to a number of merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them. The Indian Navy, earlier this month, foiled a piracy attempt on an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel having a crew of 11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals along the east coast of Somalia. Advertisement In January, Indian warship INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani crew of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel after it was attacked by pirates off the east coast of Somalia. The Navy on January 5 thwarted an attempted hijacking of the Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea and rescued all its crew members. Advertisement With inputs from PTI The Houthis, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are all part of the Iran-backed axis of resistance, an alliance of groups hostile to Israel and the United States that also includes Lebanese Hezbollah and armed groups in Iraq Amid the Houthi-orchestrated crisis in the Red Sea and an ongoing war in Gaza, the rebels reportedly met Hamas leaders to discuss expanding confrontations and encircling Israel. Talking to AFP, a Houthi official said Representatives from Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war, the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine met last week with the Houthis in Beirut. Advertisement Palestinian sources said that the meeting saw deliberations on mechanisms to coordinate their actions of resistance for the next stage of the war in Gaza, now in its sixth month. Another Palestinian source, also requesting anonymity to share details of the meeting, told AFP that those present discussed the complementary role of Ansar Allah (the Houthis) alongside Palestinian factions, especially in the event of an Israeli offensive on Rafah. The Houthis, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are all part of the Iran-backed axis of resistance, an alliance of groups hostile to Israel and the United States that also includes Lebanese Hezbollah and armed groups in Iraq. Israels Netanyahu approves Rafah plan Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday approved a plan to strike Gazas Rafah while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said he had okd a plan to attack the city on the southern edge of the shattered Palestinian enclave where more than half of its 2.3 million residents are sheltering after five months of war. The Israeli statement said the Israeli Defence Force was preparing operationally and for the evacuation of the population of Rafah. Advertisement It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. With inputs from agencies A source said that the talks between Mossad head David Barnea, Qatars prime minister and Egyptian officials will focus on remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas including over prisoner releases and humanitarian aid After weeks of stalemate over reaching a truce deal, the head of Israeli intelligence, Mossad, is expected to resume ceasefire negotiations with mediators in Qatar on Sunday after Hamas gave a fresh hostage proposal. Talking to Reuters, a source said that the talks between Mossad head David Barnea, Qatars prime minister and Egyptian officials will focus on remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas including over prisoner releases and humanitarian aid. Advertisement Meanwhile, on Friday Israel announced that it would send a delegation to Doha, holding back further details about the visit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene the security cabinet before the talks. Barnea was involved in previous significant pushes for a deal. A short-lived truce in November was agreed and came into effect after his participation in talks in Doha. His last meeting with Qatars prime minister in January led to a proposal for a temporary ceasefire that Hamas ultimately rejected. Hamas extends new deal The new proposal presented by Hamas to mediators and the US includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences. An initial phase of the hostage deal would release women, children, elderly and ill hostages in return for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Advertisement The proposal, however, was slammed by Netanyahu who said that the proposal was still based on unrealistic demands. Netanyahu approves Rafah attack plan Israel on Friday approved a potential assault on the Gaza city of Rafah while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive with plans to send another delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible hostage deal with the Islamist terrorist group Hamas. Advertisement Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said he had okd a plan to attack the city on the southern edge of the shattered Palestinian enclave where more than half of its 2.3 million residents are sheltering after five months of war. With inputs from Reuters This is the third attack on a merchant vessel in the last 48 hours. According to British Security company Ambrey, the crew of the ship involved in the most recent incident in the Red Sea was owned by the US until recently The British security company Ambrey said on Friday that a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands reported two explosions close to the ship as it passed off the coast of Hodeidah, Yemen. This is the third attack on a merchant vessel in the last 48 hours. Advertisement According to Ambrey, the crew of the ship involved in the most recent incident in the Red Sea was owned by the US until recently. According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKTMO), the master of a merchant vessel in the vicinity reported hearing an explosion some distance off the starboard beam of the ship. It took some time for Reuters to confirm whether the two reports were about the same ship. Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since mid-November in professed solidarity with Palestinians against Israels war in Gaza. Their attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to take longer and more expensive journeys around the southern end of Africa. Advertisement There was no damage or crew injuries reported to ships involved in the earlier attacks. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping. Late on Thursday, the US military said Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, and to the north, two missiles toward the Red Sea, but there were no injuries or damage reported to US or coalition ships. Advertisement The US militarys Central Command said early on Friday it destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two drones in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. With inputs from Reuters China calls for deescalation in Red Sea Xinhua) 10:33, March 16, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for de-escalation of tensions in the Red Sea. The attacks and military operations in the Red Sea have resulted in casualties, which China regrets seeing. China calls on the Houthis to respect the right of commercial vessels of all countries to navigate in the waters of the Red Sea in accordance with international law, and to immediately cease their attacks. Meanwhile, China calls on the parties concerned to exercise restraint and immediately cease actions that might exacerbate tensions, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "I would like to reiterate that the Security Council has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen. International law and resolutions of the council should not be subjected to misrepresentation and abuse by any country," he told the Security Council. The escalation in the Red Sea is seriously disrupting the political process in Yemen. Progress in the political process is hard-won and deserves to be cherished, said Geng. "We hope that the parties concerned will adhere to the general direction of political settlement, place above all else the interests and the well-being of the Yemeni people, and continue to push forward the Yemeni-led and the Yemeni-owned political process." China supports the work of UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and expects all parties, especially those with major influence, to play a constructive role in easing the situation, he said. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen persists, with more than 18 million civilians in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and about 2.4 million children suffering from malnutrition. China calls on the international community to increase its investment in Yemen's humanitarian and development efforts, and looks forward to the resumption of humanitarian operations from the World Food Programme in northern Yemen as soon as possible, he said. The tension in the Red Sea is a prominent manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict. China once again calls on Israel to immediately cease its military operations in Gaza and to stop its collective punishment of the Palestinian people, stressed Geng. China calls on the country concerned to heed the overwhelming calls of the international community and act in a truly responsible and constructive manner by enabling Security Council action as soon as possible on the demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) This photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows broken and burned cars after shelling from the Ukrainian side, in Belgorod, Russia. A Russian regional governor says two people have been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine. Three others were wounded. (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP) AP This photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows emergency employees working by damaged and burned cars after shelling from the Ukrainian side, in Belgorod, Russia. A Russian regional governor says two people have been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine. Three others were wounded. (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP) AP This photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows a broken truck and a bus after shelling from the Ukrainian side in Belgorod, Russia. A Russian regional governor says two people have been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine. Three others were wounded. (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP) AP This photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov's telegram channel on Saturday, March 16, 2024, shows damage to a flat in an apartment building after shelling from the Ukrainian side, in Belgorod, Russia. A Russian regional governor says two people have been killed in Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine. Three others were wounded. (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP) AP A woman holds a photo of her son, who is a Ukrainian prisoner of war, during a vigil in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP A young girl, whose family member is a Ukrainian prisoner of war attends a vigil in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP Family members of Ukrainian prisoners of war gather during a vigil in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP A woman gives out flowers at a gathering of family members of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP A young boy, whose father is a Ukrainian prisoner of war attends a vigil in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP A woman gives out heart-shaped balloons at a gathering of family members of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP A woman gives out flowers at a gathering of family members of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. Tony Hicks/AP Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod killed two people, officials said Saturday, while Russia claimed to have thwarted a new attempt by saboteurs to cross the border. Saturdays attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by another six years after he crushed dissent. A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russias war on Ukraine. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Gladkov said. Russias Defense Ministry also said Saturday that it had thwarted attempts by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the country from Ukraine's Sumy region. That followed an armed incursion claimed by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin on Tuesday in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. Russia's Defense Ministry said that Moscows military and security forces killed 30 fighters while thwarting the latest incursion. The Russian Volunteer Corps one of the groups who claimed to have crossed the border on Tuesday, who say they are fighting for the freedom of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples released a video on social media Saturday claiming to have captured 25 Russian soldiers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another of the groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, warned of a massive strike on military bases in Belgorod late afternoon Saturday and urged residents to take shelter. Shortly afterward, Russias Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian air defenses had shot down 15 rockets over the Belgorod region. Videos appeared on local news sites, appearing to show smoke rising from buildings and falling shrapnel. The authenticity of the videos couldnt be independently verified. Cross-border attacks in the area have taken place sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda. Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, some 450 miles (725 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border, regional Gov. Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported. In a statement posted Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the country's military for its new long-range capability. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What our own drones are capable of is a true Ukrainian long-range capability. Ukraine will now always have a strike force in the sky, he said on social media. A Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive close to a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Russian state news agency Tass said. No injuries or damage were reported. The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 21 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad India stressed that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps India declined to vote on a draft resolution on Islamophobia in the UN General Assembly that was presented by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China. India argued that rather than focusing only on one religion, it was important to acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia against other faiths that face discrimination and violence, such as Buddhism, Sikhism, and Hinduism. Advertisement The resolution Measures to combat Islamophobia was introduced by Pakistan Friday and was approved by the 193-member General Assembly with 115 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 44 abstentions, including those from Brazil, India, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Ruchira Kamboj, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, expressed her condemnation of all acts driven by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, and Islamophobia, but she also stated that it is important to recognize that these phobias are not limited to any one of the Abrahamic religions. Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh sentiments, she said, in an explanation of Indias position on the resolution. India stressed that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps. Advertisement It is crucial for the UN to maintain its stance above such religious concerns, which have the potential to fragment us rather than unite us under the banner of peace and harmony, embracing the world as one global family, Kamboj said. India called on all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally. Advertisement While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality, she said. Kamboj told the UN General Assembly that it is crucial to recognise that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism with more than 535 million and Sikhism with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religiophobia. Advertisement It is time that we acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia, rather than single out just one, she said. Kamboj said the contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident in the increasing attacks on religious places of worship such as gurudwaras, monasteries and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries. Advertisement The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions, she said. The destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by the Taliban in March 2001 led to global condemnation. Advertisement Kamboj underlined that India stands against all forms of religiophobia, be it antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments. The resolution condemned the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence against Muslims. Advertisement It also requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia. India said it in principle is opposed to the creation of the post of a Special Envoy on the basis of a single religion, she said. Kamboj pointed out that the substantial budgetary implications of establishing such a position prompt us to pause and reflect on whether this is the most effective use of resources. Could we not achieve greater impact through a more inclusive approach that addresses religious discrimination in its entirety? Advertisement She underscored that Indias rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation, embracing diverse religions, has long served as a refuge for those persecuted for their faith. Whether Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews, or adherents of any other belief, they have consistently found in India a sanctuary free from persecution or discrimination, she said. Advertisement Prior to adopting the resolution, the Assembly rejected two amendments to the draft introduced by Belgium on behalf of the EU. India voted in favour of both the amendments. One amendment proposed changes in the resolutions language to remove references to the desecration of the Quran. The other amendment would have called for the appointment of a United Nations focal point, within existing structures and resources, to combat anti-Muslim discrimination instead of a UN special envoy. Advertisement The General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2022 proclaiming March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in the wake of the 2019 mass shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that had killed over 50 people. In his remarks to mark the day, Guterres said that around the world, there is a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry in many forms such as structural and systemic discrimination, unequal immigration policies, unwarranted surveillance and profiling and restrictions in accessing citizenship, education, employment and justice. Advertisement The UN chief also voiced concern over supremacist ideologies and attacks against Jews, minority Christian communities and many others. Hatred of one group fuels hatred of another. Hate normalises hate. Hate destroys the fabric of our societies, he said. With inputs from PTI Despite Taiwans adamant protests, China regards the democratically run island as its own territory. In recent years, it has increased its military presence close to Taiwan, invading air defense identification zones practically every day Amid simmering tensions across the delicate Taiwan Strait, Taiwan warned off Chinese coast guard ships Saturday that ventured into its restricted waters near frontline islands near China for the second day in a row. Taiwans coast guard reported that four Chinese coast guard vessels had entered the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands restricted waters on Saturday morning. The Kinmen islands abut the Chinese coast. It claimed that after being asked to leave by Taiwanese authorities, the Chinese boats stayed for just over an hour. Advertisement Despite Taiwans adamant protests, China regards the democratically run island as its own territory. In recent years, it has increased its military presence close to Taiwan, invading air defense identification zones practically every day. You have entered our countrys restricted waters. Please turn around immediately, a Taiwan official said via radio in a broadcast message to their Chinese counterparts, according to footage released on Saturday by Taiwans coast guard. The footage shows a Taiwan coast guard boat tracking the movement of two Chinese ships in the near distance. The move has seriously impacted traffic and safety. To avoid triggering naval incidents we urge them to stop such behaviours, Taiwans coast guard said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Chinas coast guard, which does not have publicly available contact details. Advertisement Chinas coast guard conducted patrols near the Kinmen Islands on Friday as well, with four Chinese coast guard boats being warned away by their Taiwanese counterparts, according to Taiwans official Central News Agency. Last month, Chinas coast guard began regular patrols around Kinmen, after two Chinese nationals died while trying to flee Taiwans coast guard after their boat entered prohibited waters. Advertisement Taiwan dispatched coast guard boats on Thursday to join a rescue mission at Chinas request after a Chinese fishing vessel capsized near the Kinmen islands. Taiwans government has stressed the importance of co-operation between Taiwan and China amid the heightened tensions. On Friday, Taiwan also sent several boats at Chinas request to help search for a Chinese fisherman who went overboard near the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands, in the northern end of the Taiwan Strait. Advertisement A senior Taiwan security official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that Beijing is sending out confusing messages by continuing its harassment of Taiwan, while also asking for Taipeis assistance on dealing with maritime incidents. The official said the latest moves by the Chinese coast guard in Kinmen did not carry substantial security threats but complicated the situation there. Advertisement We are clueless, the official said. We tried to save their fishermen yesterday and today they are baring their teeth and claws. Last week, Taiwans top China policy-making body urged its giant neighbour not to change the status quo in waters near Kinmen by sending coast guard boats into restricted areas. With inputs from Reuters Since April of last year, the conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, damaged infrastructure, and severely harmed the economy in Sudan In order to prevent impending catastrophic hunger, the UN urged Sudans warring factions Friday to permit the delivery of humanitarian relief. As per reports UN has estimated that as many as five million Sudanese may experience catastrophic food insecurity in the months to come as a nearly year-long war between rival generals continues to rip the nation apart. Advertisement Since April of last year, the conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, damaged infrastructure, and severely harmed the economy. In addition, it has led to severe food shortages and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, leaving the nation on the verge of famine. Noting that some 18 million Sudanese are already facing acute food insecurity a record during harvest season UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned in a letter to the Security Council that almost 5 million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in some parts of the country in the coming months. Advertisement He noted that nearly 730,000 Sudanese children including more than 240,000 in Darfur are thought to suffer from severe malnutrition. Aid organizations require safe, rapid, sustained and unimpeded access including across conflict lines within Sudan, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterress spokesman Stephane Dujarric. A massive mobilization of resources from the international community is also critical, he added. Advertisement The UNs World Food Programme has warned that the war risks triggering the worlds largest hunger crisis. Jill Lawler, the emergency chief in Sudan for the UN childrens agency UNICEF, said there were enough aid stocks in Port Sudan, but the problem was getting the aid from there to the people in need. Advertisement Lawler said she last week had led the first UN mission to reach Khartoum state since war erupted 11 months ago. They had seen first-hand that the scale and magnitude of needs for children across the country are simply staggering, she told reporters in Geneva via video link from New York. The war is pushing the country towards a famine with hunger the number one concern people expressed. Advertisement - Moment of truth - Mandeep OBrien, UNICEF representative in Sudan, said 14 million children needed humanitarian aid and four million were displaced. There was only a small window left to prevent mass loss of childrens lives and future, she warned on X, formerly Twitter. World Health Organization regional director Hanan Balkhy, who recently returned from a trip to Sudan, underlined the acute needs in Darfur, saying most health facilities were looted, damaged or destroyed. Advertisement Griffiths, the UN aid chief, lamented that fighting continued to rage during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan despite a Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities. This is a moment of truth, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The parties must silence the guns, protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access. Advertisement The UN on Friday called for more financial support for aid operations in Sudan. UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters in Geneva that the world body had appealed for $2.7 billion to provide aid this year, but had received just five percent of that amount so far. With inputs from AFP Express to your senator how much you value TikTok. The notification, which let users find their senators phone number by entering their zip code, said, Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban Some U.S. users of TikTok saw a notification on Friday, advising them to contact their senators and request that they vote against a bill that would ban the well-known short-form video app if it isnt separated from the Chinese tech company ByteDance. Express to your senator how much you value TikTok. The notice, which let users find their senators phone number by entering their zip code, said, Ask them to vote no on the TikTok ban. Advertisement Now, if the Senate votes, the future of creativity and communities you love on TikTok could be shut down, the notice stated. On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass the bill giving ByteDance about six months to sell the U.S. assets of the app, or face a ban. The White House said the Senate should take swift action, and President Joe Biden said he would sign the bill. Well continue informing our community about how the ban bill will affect them and what they can do to make their voices heard, a TikTok spokesperson said, adding the alert is only being served to users of voting age. The alert was displayed when some people opened the app, and it also appeared when users searched TikTok ban. Advertisement TikTok sent a similar alert to users ahead of the House vote, warning that the government will take away the community that you and millions of other Americans love. Lawmakers complained their offices were inundated with calls from TikTok users opposing the legislation. With inputs from Reuters The total number is hard to pin down, though authorities have noted that only a fraction of the estimated hundreds of thousands of arms in the country are legally owned The self-described king of a Haitian gang was in a US court pleading guilty to smuggling AK-47s and a.50 caliber rifle to the Caribbean nation, weeks before the most recent violence broke out in Haiti. The Justice Department will aggressively pursue every tool at its disposal to hold accountable those who would smuggle US-origin weapons and other controlled goods for the benefit of malicious actors, prosecutors stated at the time. Advertisement Though Joly Germine, 31, entered a guilty plea in late January for smuggling about two dozen weapons, it hasnt seemed to have much of an impact on the violence in Haiti as gangs and police continue to fight. Haiti has long been awash with guns smuggled in illegally from abroad, with the US likely a significant point of origin, according to experts. The total number is hard to pin down, though authorities have noted that only a fraction of the estimated hundreds of thousands of arms in the country are legally owned. The principal source of firearms and munitions in Haiti is in the US, and in particular, Florida, according to a 2023 UN Office on Drugs and Crime report. Weapons purchased legally in states with loose gun laws are often hidden inside consumer products, electronic equipment, garment linings, frozen food items or even the hulls of freighters, it added. Advertisement Haiti has no firearms or ammunition manufacturing capabilities and has laws restricting legal ownership. Yet those laws, as well as UN restrictions on importing arms into Haiti, have proved insufficient in the face of US smugglers and Haitian gangs targeting the ports. Would the gangs in Haiti acquire them from somewhere else if weapons in the US were not available? Probably, Matt Schroeder, of the research group Small Arms Survey, told AFP. Would it be as easy? Probably not. Advertisement - Demand for rifles - Gang leader Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, whose attacks have helped force Prime Minister Ariel Henry to promise to step down, has been seen alongside associates with weapons that appear to be Galil rifles and M16- or AR-pattern rifles, according to experts who viewed AFP photos of Cherizier. Advertisement Its unclear if Cherizier, a former police officer, got them from illegal or legal channels, though the UN report noted that higher-powered rifles such as AK47s, AR15s and Galils are typically in higher demand from gangs. Seizure rates indicate that the percentage of illicit weapons in circulation (in Haiti) that are rifles are much higher than in the rest of the Caribbean, Schroeder told AFP. Advertisement And that is in part reflective of the demand and the desired capacity of the illicit end-users, he said, while cautioning that hard data both on the number of guns and their countries of origin remains hard to pin down because of the weapons illegal nature. Germines shipment of weapons was actually one of the larger smuggling attempts highlighting how difficult cracking down on smugglers is when theyre often simply individuals making a quick buck by slipping a single or a few guns being into otherwise normal cargo shipments, Schroeder said. Advertisement As of Friday morning, residents in Port-au-Prince had put up barricades in the streets in part to protest the armed gangs that control 80 percent of the capital, but also for their own protection. With inputs from AFP TOKYO, Mar 16 (News On Japan) - Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress met with the recipients of the "Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Festival Emperor's Cup," who have made outstanding achievements in the field of agriculture. Their Majesties met with the recipients of the Emperor's Cup at the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Festival on Friday afternoon at the Imperial Palace. The Emperor expressed his appreciation, saying, "I am pleased that you have overcome various difficulties and achieved great results through research and effort, contributing to the development of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and local communities. Your achievements are an encouragement to those involved in these industries." Subsequently, Their Majesties listened to explanations from the recipients about their panels and products. His Majesty asked the representative of a seafood processing company in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, about recent fish catches, "Do you feel the impact of global warming?" Meanwhile, Her Majesty showed concern for the damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Source: ANN TOKYO, Mar 16 (News On Japan) - Studio Colorido, known for "Penguin Highway" and "The Drifting Classroom," is set to release its latest anime film "The Contrarian Amanojaku" exclusively on Netflix on May 24, with a simultaneous theatrical release. The film, a youth fantasy featuring a boy and a "demon girl," unfolds a story that begins on a summer day with unseasonal snowfall. Kenjiro Ono voices the protagonist, Hiiragi Yatsume, a high school freshman in Yamagata who can't refuse requests due to his desire to avoid being disliked, leading to unsuccessful attempts to act for others. Miyu Tomita plays the role of Tsumugi, a cheerful demon girl who comes to the human world in search of her mother. The film is directed by Tomotaka Shibayama, who made his feature-length directorial debut with "A Whisker Away," with screenplay by Yuko Kakihara, known for "Trapeze." Character design is handled by Masashi Yokota, who worked on "Weathering with You" and "The Wind Rises," with assistance from Naoki Konaka, the animation director of "The Drifting Classroom." Ono, reuniting with Shibayama since "A Whisker Away," said, "Recording in several sessions allowed me to carefully progress while facing the role. I think people of any generation can empathize with it. Please watch it with family, friends, and loved ones!" Tomita added, "It's a heart-warming work that makes you want to meet your family and dear friends, themed around worries that everyone has felt at least once. Tsumugi is a demon girl, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows through encounters with many people, including Hiiragi." Additionally, two types of movie ticket cards featuring original illustrations were released on March 16 at theaters, major online retailers, and the MOVIE WALKER STORE, priced at 1,500 yen each, with a random "little demon" acrylic keychain included as a bonus. A special exhibition focusing on the latest movie materials and intermediate production items will be held at "AnimeJapan 2024" in Tokyo Big Sight on March 23 and 24. A discussion event featuring Shibayama and other creators is scheduled for the Creation Stage on March 24. Source: Natalie Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with 2 sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have 3 dogs: Duke, Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel FILE - Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., leaves the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, June 21, 2023. A judge on Monday, March 11, 2024 ended a temporary restraining order Boebert had sought against her ex-husband at her request. Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel Toilet Equity has now installed four compost toilets at the Homeward Bounce Resource Center, with locations also at the First Christian Church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Grand Junction. The group, started by local physician Paul Padyk, aims to give unhoused people in the Grand Valley a free place to use the bathroom, when they otherwise might not have access. Padyk has personally heard of people experiencing homeless planning specifically when to eat, to be able to use an available bathroom. A passenger train in November 2021 passes through Gore Canyon along the Colorado River. A proposed new railroad in Utah could direct heated oil trains on the same tracks through the remote canyon. JASON BLEVINS / Colorado Sun OSAKA, Mar 16 (News On Japan) - Osaka's Nipponbashi Tool District boasts a history even longer than Tokyo's Kappabashi, renowned for its unique shop owners and innovative gadgets, attracting foreign visitors who rave about their finds. The 142-Year Legacy of Nipponbashi Tool District Here's a quirky cooking gadget quiz: What do you think a giant clip, seemingly a hundred times larger than a regular clip, is used for in the kitchen? A visitor from Canada guessed, "Is it for holding giant papers?" No, it's actually a cooking tool. A visitor from South Africa suggested, "Is it for holding fish and eating it while it's still clamped?" The correct answer is a clip for grilling squid. This clip prevents the squid from curling up, allowing it to be grilled beautifully. Such unique and handy gadgets can be found in the Nipponbashi Tool District, just a three-minute walk from Namba Station in Osaka. Spanning 150 meters, this specialty street is lined with over 40 stores offering a wide range of cooking tools. A visitor from Australia exclaimed, "It's huge!" and "That's a massive takoyaki!" Indeed, Osaka is famous for its oversized takoyaki pans, with a diameter of 8 centimeters. There's even a tiny takoyaki machine available, which can make "chobo-yaki," considered the precursor to takoyaki, sold in candy stores during the Taisho era. A visitor from Finland remarked, "Kappabashi might be slightly larger, but the variety here is amazing." The Nipponbashi Tool District traces its roots back to 1882, making it older than the Kappabashi Tool District. Its extensive product range draws tourists from all over the world. Specialized Peelers and Chef-Approved Tongs A Canadian visitor wondered, "Is this a frog? It looks like a frog." What appeared to be a frog to foreign eyes is actually a cabbage-specific peeler. Simply fit it in your palm and stroke the cabbage to easily shred it finely. An American visitor said, "I've never seen such a tool before," and, using the palm cabbage peeler, added, "Oh! I always cut with a knife, but I've never been able to cut it this neatly." Comparing the two, the difference is clear. The cabbage cut with the peeler is much finer and more uniform than that cut with a knife. Yuken Chida, the owner of a cooking tool store, mentioned, "Products like these sell well. It's called 'Tsuma & Peeler,' and it has two blades." The "Tsuma & Peeler," popular among foreigners, features different blades on each side. Not only can it peel, but the serrated blade can also julienne, making it a versatile tool for effortlessly preparing dishes like kinpira gobo without the need for a knife and cutting board. Chefs and Foodies Beware: The Irresistible 'Idea Tongs' An Australian visitor, a chef, was thrilled with the "Idea Tongs," saying, "These are chef tongs. He's a chef, a cook." The excitement was palpable as the chef demonstrated the tongs, "See, it's open. It locks," and declared, "Very fun," while his daughter commented, "You're getting too into it." These tongs function as regular tongs when facing down, but with a simple upward flip, they lock with one touch. This innovative design allows for smart storage without taking up much space. The Quest for the Perfect Knife: Success After Three Hours? Tobias, a 37-year-old visitor from Canada, was on a mission to find his ideal knife. "It's a black knife," he said, while his friend Sam added, "It's a sexy knife." Tobias was torn between the handle of one knife and the blade of another, spending nearly three hours searching through the 11 knife shops in the district. "Are you still deciding?" Sam asked. Tobias replied, "They all seem the same... I can't choose anymore." However, he eventually found the perfect knife and was looking forward to using it for the first time back home. "Are you happy?" Sam asked. "I'm so happy to have this knife," Tobias responded. A Unique Gift for a Cousin: A 'Noren' Curtain Rosa, a 23-year-old visitor who had just completed a half-year study program at a university in Kyoto, was set to return to her home country, Hungary, the next day. "I'm buying souvenirs to take back home. I want to give my cousin something unique," she said. She chose a noren curtain from a takoyaki shop, saying, "I'll go with this one. The octopus is cute." While the design is adorable, one wonders if it will be understood in Hungary. Foreigners Praise the 'Mysterious Stone' A visitor from Australia marveled, "This is truly an invention. I've never seen anything like it before. It seems very good." There was also a captivating live demonstration that intrigued foreigners. A visitor from France asked, "What is this made of?" Keisuke Mikawa, the owner of a ceramics store, answered, "Stone, special stone." Despite having no holes, this peculiar stone-like object allows water to pass through. Mikawa explained, "It's made of Arita porcelain. When water passes through, it becomes softer, making Japanese tea taste better even overseas." Made with Arita porcelain techniques, this eco-friendly filter can be reused repeatedly. Mikawa added, "No detergent is needed for cleaning, just pour boiling water. Once a year, bake it in a toaster." A visitor from Mexico commented, "It's very intriguing. It makes you realize how much paper we use daily. We should use more items like this. It's very good, bravo." Osaka's Playful Food Samples Even the food samples familiar in Tokyo's Kappabashi have a playful Osakan twist! Takoyaki becomes earrings, and a business card holder is heaped with spaghetti Napolitan. A visitor from the USA said, "This looks like it would start a conversation." The most popular food sample experience is, of course, making takoyaki. A visitor from Hawaii joked, "This is tomorrow's lunch. I hope it doesn't spoil (laughs)." Discovering a 'Mysterious Tool' in an Established Store The 80-year-old Ebisuya Hardware Store is a treasure trove of quality tools. A visitor from the USA said, "I always find good things in this store. Things I can't find in America, I find here." The store's philosophy is to provide tools that customers can use for a long time and that are truly needed. Isao Shibata, the owner of Ebisuya Hardware Store, said, "We have to keep things that customers might ask for, 'Do you have something like this?' We have a lot of tools that we just have to keep." The store is filled with products that have stood the test of time. Among them is this curious item. Hideyoshi Goto, an employee with 50 years of experience, said, "It's older than my 50 years here." This brass roller is engraved with patterns of tangerines and cherry blossoms. But what is it? Goto explained, "Don't you know candy drops? The ones in a tin can. I don't know the price. It's made of brass, so it should be somewhat expensive." The mystery tool is a mold for drops. Although we couldn't find a company that uses the exact same tool, we did discover a food manufacturer in Kyoto that uses a similar principle. Nowadays, machines automatically produce drops, but in the past, workers would manually turn the roller, pressing out a sheet that would be broken into individual drops. Experience the love for tools that Naniwa merchants have. Why not give it a try? Source: ANN Minister Joly meets with Palestinian Authority President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Global Affairs Canada Readout March 14, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, and with the Palestinian Authority Minister of Foreign Affairs, Riad Malki, while visiting the West Bank. During the two meetings, Minister Joly raised the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the protection of civilians and the growing threat of hunger and disease for displaced Palestinians. The Minister emphasized that a humanitarian ceasefire is urgently needed to stop the violence, bring hostages home and ensure that civilians in Gaza can access humanitarian relief. Minister Joly and her counterpart agreed on the urgent need to increase and deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Minister Joly underscored Canada's continued efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, including by pushing for increased delivery of aid by all means possible, including through existing land entry points and by sea. During the meetings, Minister Joly also discussed the unacceptable sharp increase in extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Minister Joly reaffirmed Canada's position that the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank endangers the prospects for a two-state solution and highlighted Canada's continued calls for perpetrators of extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank to be held accountable. Minister Joly, President Abbas, and Minister Malki also discussed the pathway to a sustainable peace through the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Military Committee: General Brieger participates at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum European External Action Service (EEAS) 14.03.2024 Strategic Communications On 14 March, the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) General Robert Brieger offered a comprehensive overview of the current and future landscape of EU defence initiatives at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum. The Chairman outlined the strategic framework and the pivotal role of defence and security efforts being advanced at the EU level. The Chairman emphasised the transformative changes underway within the EU's defence domain, including as regards military support for Ukraine, the first-ever Live Exercise (LIVEX) under EU command in Spain (October 2023), and the unveiling of the European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS). These developments mark significant strides towards enhancing the EU's military capabilities and asserting its role as a proactive security provider on the global stage. Among other points, the Chairman highlighted the following: Strategic Compass: The Chairman reaffirmed the EU's commitment to its Strategic Compass, a guiding framework established in March 2022, aiming to direct defence efforts over the next 5-10 years across four pillars: Act, Invest, Secure, and Partner. This initiative reflects a concerted effort by the EU to adapt and respond swiftly to evolving security challenges. The Chairman reaffirmed the EU's commitment to its Strategic Compass, a guiding framework established in March 2022, aiming to direct defence efforts over the next 5-10 years across four pillars: Act, Invest, Secure, and Partner. This initiative reflects a concerted effort by the EU to adapt and respond swiftly to evolving security challenges. EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC): The EU RDC remains central to the EU's efforts to enhance its operational readiness and response capabilities. The EU RDC remains central to the EU's efforts to enhance its operational readiness and response capabilities. European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS): Presented on 5 March 2024, EDIS sets a long-term vision for achieving defence industrial readiness within the EU. This strategy, complemented by the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), aims to foster cooperation on defence equipment procurement and enhance the competitiveness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Presented on 5 March 2024, EDIS sets a long-term vision for achieving defence industrial readiness within the EU. This strategy, complemented by the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), aims to foster cooperation on defence equipment procurement and enhance the competitiveness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). EU-NATO Relations: General Brieger underscored the importance of EU-NATO relations, advocating for complementary roles that avoid duplication and seek synergy. The EU's strategic autonomy in defence was highlighted as essential for addressing military capability gaps and reinforcing the European pillar within NATO. General Brieger underscored the importance of EU-NATO relations, advocating for complementary roles that avoid duplication and seek synergy. The EU's strategic autonomy in defence was highlighted as essential for addressing military capability gaps and reinforcing the European pillar within NATO. Future Outlook: The Chairman's remarks concluded with a call for preparedness in facing high-intensity defence confrontations, the advancement of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base, and a commitment to providing military advice and insight to support EU defence efforts. This briefing underlines the EU's determination to navigate a riskier security environment, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and strategic autonomy to bolster its defence capabilities and contribute to global security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Letter to the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148) March 14, 2024 Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Madam President:) While some positive efforts have been made to resolve the instability in Haiti, there remain heightened security concerns for the United States Embassy and its supporting facilities in Port-au-Prince. To protect United States diplomatic personnel and diplomatic facilities, on March 12, 2024, at my direction, a security force of military personnel deployed to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to strengthen United States Embassy security. Although this military security force is equipped for combat, its movement was undertaken as a precautionary measure solely for the purpose of protecting United States diplomatic facilities and diplomatic personnel. The United States Armed Forces personnel are anticipated to remain in Haiti for as long as the security environment requires. I directed this action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States diplomatic missions abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive and to conduct United States foreign relations. I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action. Sincerely, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby March 14, 2024 NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL Via Teleconference 11:50 A.M. EDT MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks again for bearing with us this morning. Kirby has no toppers, so we'll go straight into your questions. Our first question will go to Aamer with the AP. Q Hey, thank you very much. Two quick news-of-the-day questions, and then I just had one also a short one that's like things sort of emerging into next week. But on the news of the day, does the President agree with Leader Schumer that Netanyahu has lost his way and that it's time to hold new elections in Israel? And secondly, on the TikTok development, does the White House view this emerging Steve Mnuchin effort as a possible solution to the national security issues with the platform? And then finally, there's this bipartisan group of senators that wrote a letter to leadership this week, and it's waving red flags on the Afghan SIV issue with the March 22nd government funding deadline. What is the administration doing to make sure this gets done? Thanks. MR. KIRBY: Look, we know that Leader Schumer feels strongly about this. I'll certainly let him speak to it and to his comments. We're going to stay focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself while doing everything that they can to avoid civilian casualties. And of course, we're still focused laser-focused on trying to get a temporary ceasefire in place so that we can get the hostages out and get more aid in. That's where our head is right now. I don't have any information on the Mnuchin effort you're speaking to, Aamer. I don't have any context on that. We're still focused on continuing to work, providing some technical support and assistance to Congress as this bill, which just passed the House, moves on to the Senate. There's an ongoing legislative process for that. We obviously want to see the Senate take it up swiftly. And we're focused on making sure we're providing them the context and the information we believe is important so that this bill can actually do and address the national security concerns that we have with respect to TikTok. But I'll tell you what I'll do, since I didn't have anything on yet for the Mnuchin effort you spoke to, but I will take that question, and we'll have the team take a look and see if we can get you something a little bit more cogent than what I just gave you. And, look, on Afghan SIVs, I think, as you know, we project that all 7,000 remaining Afghan SIV numbers are going to be exhausted by August of this year, so the end of the summer, at the current rates that they're being issued. So that's why we requested from Congress an increase of 20,000 SIVs, which would provide a visa for all individuals with a demonstrated eligibility for the program. And so we're going to continue to urge Congress to move forward on that. Even though our war in Afghanistan ended, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war has not ended. And we absolutely feel fully committed, and morally so, to do everything we can to get those folks a pathway out of Afghanistan. MODERATOR: Great. Thank you. Our next question will go to Steve with Reuters. Q Hey, John. Welcome back. Since you mentioned the hostage deal, give us an update on where things stand with that. Are there any active negotiations going on right now? Getting any movement from Hamas on that front? MR. KIRBY: Hey, Steve. I wish I had some tangible progress to speak to. I don't. But I can clearly state that discussions and conversations are ongoing. We are a part of those discussions and those conversations. And we're still hopeful that we will be able to get there. But I don't have an update for you. Q And secondly, the U.S. is imposing sanctions on several individuals related to settlement activity in the West Bank. Why were these people specifically chosen for the sanctions? MR. KIRBY: Yeah, these three individuals and two entities were sanctioned because they own or control I'm sorry, sanctioned three individuals and two associated entities that are owned or controlled by those individuals. That's what this was about. These individuals have engaged in repeated violence against Palestinians and, in some cases, Israelis too, in the West Bank. And as we made clear before, extremist settler violence that we've seen increase sharply since the attacks on the 7th of October threatens peace, security, and stability of the West Bank. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Karen with the Washington Post. Q Hi. On the attack the IDF attack on the UNRWA facility in Rafah yesterday, I wonder how concerned you are about Israel openly targeting either Hamas or police in Rafah at a U.N. facility that is key to resolving the aid issues that you've outlined in the south and whether you have any more information on this person who was targeted. Separately, there's a report that the Israelis that the United States is aware of plans that Israel has to relocate people in the south in order to proceed with their Rafah offensive. I know Jake said yesterday that the United States had not seen any plans. And I wonder if, in fact, you've seen anything. And finally sorry, I have one more. There was another report yesterday that the United States this year has held talks on two occasions, with Iran and Oman, over both the Houthi strikes and the nuclear situation, and I wonder if you could comment on that. Thank you. MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Karen. Lots there. So, on the strike at an UNRWA distribution facility, we're very concerned about that strike that apparently killed and wounded civilians. What I can tell you is that we are in touch with our Israeli counterparts. We're trying to gather some more information about exactly what happened. Obviously, we offer our deepest condolences to all those who were affected by it. And we have called for a swift investigation by the Israelis into exactly what happened. And as I said, we are and we'll stay in touch with them to get more information, but we want to see a swift and thorough investigation as to exactly what happened here. And I would just reiterate: Again, we certainly understand, respect, and support Israel's right to defend itself and to go after Hamas leaders, but we've also been clear that they have to do this in a way that protects innocent civilian lives and humanitarian aid workers who are on the ground to protect those innocent civilian lives. We want to see them do everything they can to differentiate between civilians and Hamas. And again, I don't have anything more or more information about the high-value target that they said that they were going after. The Israelis can speak to that. Again, they certainly have a right and responsibility to go after Hamas leaders, but they also have an obligation, as we have said many, many times, to protect innocent civilian life and particularly to protect those who are trying to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to those more than a million individuals who are trying to seek refuge down in Rafah. And that brings me to your second question. We've seen the reports that they have plans to relocate people out of Rafah into what they're referring to as sort of humanitarian islands inside Gaza. We haven't seen those plans; I've seen press reporting of it. We can't confirm that that is, in fact, a plan that they have. We've not seen that. But again, our position has not changed. We do not want to see large-scale operations in Rafah that don't unless there is a credible, legitimate, executable plan to provide for the safety and security of the civilians that are there. On Iran, I can't confirm the reports that you're referring to. What I can say, just in general, is that we have many channels for communicating with Iran and for passing messages to Iran. Again, I will comment on those, except to say that all of these discussions are focused on raising the full range of threats that are emanating from Iran and the need for Iran to cease its escalation across the board in the region and the support that they are providing to various groups that are doing everything they can to undermine peace and security. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Molly with ABC. Q Hi, Admiral. Thank you so much. ABC News spoke with a senior Israeli official who said that the U.S. is slow-walking supplies of ammunitions into Israel and that the pressure is enough that it's not putting them under threat but it is putting them on notice. Does the administration have any response to this? MR. KIRBY: I would just tell you we continue to provide Israel with the tools, the capabilities, the weapons systems that they need to defend themselves. And the President has spoken to this. He spoke he's spoken about it numerous times in just recent days. They have a right and responsibility to defend themselves. We're continuing to provide them that critical support. In fact, as I think you know, we surged air defenses to them in the wake of the October 7th attack. And I'll just leave it at that. Q Can you speak at all to the speed at which we're providing them though? Has it slowed down? MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to get into the timeline for every individual system that's being provided. We continue to support Israel with their self-defense needs. That's not going to change. And we have been very, very direct about that. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Jordan with Bloomberg. Jordan, you should be able to unmute yourself. Q I have a few questions on the statement the President made on U.S. Steel. Were the Japanese given a heads-up that the President would be releasing a statement opposing the deal? And how does the President plan to ease any tensions with Tokyo, especially given the upcoming state dinner? And thirdly, wondering if you can clarify if the statement means that the President wants a Nippon Steel transaction to die or does he think it can be changed. MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I don't have any diplomatic conversations to speak to with respect to your first question. We have an incredibly close partnership, friendship, and alliance with Japan. And the President is very much looking forward to Prime Minister Kishida's visit and to discussing the broad range of issues in our bilateral relationship, whether they be diplomatic, economic, or even in the security front. There's an awful lot to talk about, an awful lot to explore. The alliance with Japan is stronger than it's ever been, and it's a real keystone to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. So we're looking forward to that visit, and we believe it's going to be a very, very productive one at that. And, I'm sorry, you had your third question, which I did not write down and therefore did not remember. Q No problem. Can you clarify whether the President wants the Nippon Steel purchase of U.S. Steel to die, or does he believe it can be changed to satisfy the conditions you laid out in his statement? MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I'm not going go beyond what he said in his statement. I mean, as he said, he has the back of American steel workers, and he's committed to iconic American steel companies remaining in American hands. And I think I'll just leave it at that. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Danny with AFP. Q Thanks, Admiral. A couple of things from the other side of the Atlantic. The first one is about an ally of Navalny, who was apparently attacked in Lithuania. Lithuania has blamed Russian secret services for that. Just wondering if you have any if you've got any read on that or any details. And the second question is just about the Netherlands, where the far-right leader, Geert Wilders, says he's not going to stand for prime minister anymore. Just wondering if there's any reaction to that far-right figure dropping out of the picture. Thanks. MR. KIRBY: Well, on the second question, I'm certainly not going to speak to domestic political issues in the Netherlands. We'll let that individual speak for himself and for his decision-making. On your first question: Yeah, we are very, very concerned about this attack on Leonid Volkov. As you all know, he has been a longtime associate or was a longtime associate of Mr. Navalny, and certainly has been outspoken in his criticism of the Kremlin. Just terrible, terrible, brutal reports coming out about the attack on him by an individual wielding a hammer. Just incredible violence. We certain wish him the best for a speedy recovery. While we can't don't have much more detail on who did it and the motivation behind it, or any additional context with respect to the actual act itself, it is, I think, a reminder and it should serve to all of us as a reminder of the very real threats that civil society members in Russia face on a daily basis. It certainly underscores the danger and the peril that they face just for the simple act of speaking out in opposition. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Nick Schifrin with PBS. Nick, you should be able to oh, there you go. Q Thanks, Sam. Thanks, John. Questions. First, a clarification on the previous question that Steve asked about the sanctions. John, can you just confirm one basic fact that this is the first time an actual outpost has been sanctioned rather than just people? Just wanted to clarify that. And then, Gaza humanitarian. What have you seen in the last day or so in terms of Israel's opening up an additional gate in the north? How significant is that? Are you seeing enough trucks that you've been hoping to see? And do you believe there's any progress being made on a crucial question that Israel doesn't seem to have the answer for, at least not publicly, which is how trucks are going to be secured? Are you working with Israel on that? Thanks. MR. KIRBY: So just to be clear and if I wasn't, I apologize the outposts themselves are not what's being sanctioned. The individuals and the entities that those individuals own are what's being sanctioned, not the outposts themselves. On Gaza: You're right, the Israelis did open up a new crossing; they call it the 96th Gate, which is geographically closer to northern Gaza. As you know, Kerem Shalom is way down at the south there. And that's something that we've been pushing for. There have been and we would call we would call it minimal amounts of aid getting through the 96th Gate so far. And, you know, today we saw some slow-rolling of movement overnight. So, nothing actually got in overnight. But at other crossings, there's been some improvement. Too early to tell if we've been able to commit to the improving flow I'm sorry, if the Israelis have committed to improving the flow of assistance. But again, just in the aggregate, Nick, not enough is getting in. Q Sorry, can you just clarify why nothing got in overnight? MR. KIRBY: Again, I think we're seeing just, I guess, not as much effort being applied by the Israeli side to increase that flow. And I want to go back on my original answer to you. The outposts are, in fact, being sanctioned because they are owned by sanctioned individuals. I was incorrect on that. So the outposts were designated, but they were designated due to their ownership or control by designated individuals. I apologize for the error, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to clean it up. Q Got it. So the entity referred to, that is the outpost itself? MR. KIRBY: Yes. Q Got it. Okay, thanks. MR. KIRBY: Apologize for the confusion. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Serena with Scripps News. Q Oh, thank you, guys, for doing this. I was wondering, Admiral, if you could give us an update. Israel reportedly set a deadline with Hezbollah to come to a diplomatic agreement for tomorrow. And Hezbollah's leader has said they're going to continue fighting. Is there any update you can give us on what's happening in the north and concerns over the conflict spreading wider? MR. KIRBY: I don't have any update on this deadline that you're talking about. We can take that and come back after the gaggle is over. But we have continued to see exchanges or blows from both sides up there. And as I think you know, Amos Hochstein has been engaged diplomatically with leaders on both sides to see what we can do to keep it from escalating. I would say that we haven't seen a dramatic escalation of the violence up there or something that leads us to believe that a quote, unquote, "second front" is about to open up. But it's not something we're taking for granted. And as I said, we're actively engaged diplomatically with leaders from both sides here to avoid that outcome. But as for the deadline and where that sits, and whether we have an assessment of that, I'll have to take that and come back to you. Q And, Admiral, can I ask a second question? On Haiti, just, can you give us an update on the situation and what you're watching for? MR. KIRBY: Again, watching it very, very, very closely. It remains a challenging environment. The violence has been increasing, not decreasing, as well as the instability. And of course, the Haitian people are the ones that are suffering as a result. So that's why we felt positive about the outcomes of the meeting in Jamaica, which was led by dozens of Haitian stakeholders, all designed to create an inclusive, transitional presidential council. And I think one point I'd like to make: It was a meeting facilitated by CARICOM and certainly supported by lots of our international partners Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, even the United Nations. And of course, we were involved. It was a Haitian-led meeting, and it was and the decisions and the outcomes were derived at by Haitians. And so we think that's very, very positive. And it's an important message to make sure we continue to reiterate. In addition to us participating in that, I think you saw that Secretary Blinken announced an additional $100 million for support for the Multinational Security Support Mission and an additional $33 million for humanitarian assistance. So we're going to keep working really, really hard with our international partners to move this idea of a Multinational Security Support Mission forward, which would be led by Kenya. And we're doing everything we can to try to accelerate that deployment in support of the Haitian National Police. So there's still a lot of work to do. The situation on the ground is still not safe, not tenable for the Haitian people. We recognize that, our international partners recognize that, and Haitian leaders recognize that. So there's been some good progress on the diplomatic front. Certainly good progress from the United States on the economic support front. But we have a lot more work to do to get this Multinational Security Support Mission up and running and on the ground to assist the Haitian National Police. MODERATOR: Thank you so much. Our next question will go to Gordon with the Wall Street Journal. Q Hey, John. I wanted to follow up on Nick's questions a little bit about the aid inside. One is: Are there other specific gates that you guys are proposing the Israelis open to get aid in? But then, kind of on this practical issue of vehicles and trucks inside Gaza that can distribute the aid, can you update us on efforts to essentially get more trucks inside Gaza to distribute the aid? And then anything you can add more about the security of those trucks once they get in there? Thanks. MR. KIRBY: Yeah, so I mean, there are other crossings into Gaza that we are talking to the Israelis about opening and using. Again, we were glad to see that the 96th Gate opened up. We'd like to see it get used a little bit more than it has been. We have seen an increase in trucks that are, in general, being applied to the crossings and, you know, just across the board, but not enough. So there's been a general increase, not at the 96th Gate, but if you look at Rafah and Kerem Shalom. But it just hasn't been enough. The airdrops, as you know, have continued. They are helping to supplement, but they're not going to be as good as trucks can be. And it's hard to one of the reasons why it's so important to get this temporary ceasefire in place is because it's hard for truck drivers and for the aid organizations that are supporting the truck drivers to get the material from the crossings to where they need to go for distribution because of the combat, because of the violence. And that is why we are working so hard on this temporary ceasefire, because with a stoppage in the fighting, it'll make it a lot easier for these trucks to get where they need to go. Q But just to clarify real quick, I visited Rafah recently and saw all these trucks, but my understanding is those trucks that are all lined up the thousands of trucks are not the same as the ones that would go into Gaza because they would do, like, transfers of stuff. But you're saying you your understanding is you're helping to obtain more trucks for inside Gaza to do the distribution? MR. KIRBY: No, I'm not aware of any effort to do that. And that's not what I meant to convey. Certainly, it's always been the case that in some cases, for some of the aid and, depending on where it's going, there's transfers from the trucks that go in across to other trucks that can move it inside Gaza. But I'm not aware of any effort that we're undertaking to provide physical vehicles additional physical vehicles inside Gaza. I'll go back and check on this to make sure I'm not wrong, but I don't think that we've got an active effort to actually man- or to procure or to provide additional distribution trucks inside for use inside Gaza. When I talked about the increase of trucks, I was talking about the trucks making the crossings. And there has been an increase in the last week or so in general not, as I said, through the 96th Gate. But in general, there's been an increase, but it's not enough. I mean, it's just several hundred, and it's just not enough. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Michael with McClatchy. Q Hi there. Thanks for doing this. There's a vote underway in the Senate to confirm Dennis Hankins as ambassador to Haiti. I just wanted your reaction to that vote. It's been about three years since the last ambassador was there. And then secondly, John, you obviously spoke to your efforts to expedite the MSS. But in the interim, what are you providing, if you can provide any details, to the HNP for them to sustain the fight against these gangs until the MSS can be deployed? Are you providing ammunition? What other assistance are you providing? MR. KIRBY: On your first question, obviously, we certainly urge a swift confirmation for Mr. Jenkins [Hankins] as our ambassador to Haiti. This is a critical time to make sure that we have an ambassador in place, and we certainly urgently need him in place. And again, we're working with our partners on Capitol Hill to get him confirmed as soon as possible. We certainly hope that that vote proceeds swiftly and in the affirmative. On your second question about the HNP, I know we are continuing to talk to Haitian leaders about their needs and about the HNP's needs. I don't have any announcements to make or anything to preview for you, but we're mindful that the HNP is doing critical work and has come under attack. And we're in close discussion with our Haitian counterparts and international partners about the HNP's readiness and sustainability. Quite frankly, that is another reason why this MSS mission is so important, because it would really be, as it says, a security support mission supporting the HNP. It is the main muscle movement that we're looking hopefully to get in place soon to do exactly that to bolster and support the HNP's efforts. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Kelly O with NBC. Q Hey there. I wanted to go back to the first question, if I could, that Aamer asked. Was there any advance notice from Senator Schumer about his remarks? Or did the White House in any way approve what he said? I know they're co-equal branches of government, but was there any coordination there regarding his comments about Prime Minister Netanyahu? MR. KIRBY: Hey, Kelly. He did give our team advance notice. And I apologize to Aamer if I did not answer that question. But we did have advance notice that he was going to deliver those remarks. And again, we fully respect his right to make those remarks and to decide for himself what he's going to say on the Senate floor. We obviously feel strongly about this. We understand and respect that. This wasn't about approval or disapproval or editing in any way. But it was but he did give us a heads-up that he was going to do it. Q And if I may, just for time my colleague Gabe Gutierrez is in the Dominican Republic, and I know there's been some reporting that Haitian refugees might be processed through Guantanamo. I wonder if you could comment on that. MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I've seen that. What I can tell you on that, Kelly, is that if you can just give me a second, because I had a feeling this question may come up. There's a Department of Homeland Security task force called Task Force Southeast. And that task force continually watches and monitors migrant flow rates and all the different conditions under which migrants do flow in that particular part of the world, down in the Caribbean. And particularly, they watch closely maritime migration trends, people that are trying to flee to safety by boat. So we're always monitoring that. We adjust they adjust their assets to meet the challenges that come with maritime migration. And in doing that, they're always looking at different options to try to address the challenges that maritime migration might incur. So it's our policy to return non-citizens who do not have a fear of persecution or torture or legal basis to enter the United States. That won't change. Those that are interdicted at sea will be subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to, again, longstanding policy and procedure. There has been in the past, one processing location for maritime migrants has been the Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay. It has been used in the past for that exact purpose, for repatriation processing. It certainly remains an option to look at for, again, that eventuality. But I don't have anything firm and I don't have any concrete plans here to speak to. I think it's important for people to remember the context here that maritime migration remains a challenge in the Caribbean. We have to monitor it. We have to assess the flow. We have to do the proper repatriation processes. And, again, Guantanamo Bay has been used in the past for that. And so we'll certainly keep the options open as we continue to look at that. I would tell you though the last thing I'll say, and I promise I'll shut up is that we're not seeing a heavy flow of Haitian migrants, certainly by sea actually, by any means right now. We're just not seeing a heavy flow of that. But because the situation is not getting better, because we know it's dangerous and unstable for the Haitian people, it would be irresponsible if DHS and the interagency wasn't taking a look at what we might do should that flow dramatically increase and how we would properly handle individuals that might be seeking to flee. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will sorry, our next question will go to Nadia. Nadia, you should be able to unmute yourself. Q Yeah, I did. I did. Hi. Hi, Sam. Hi, John. The Israeli Defense Minister said that for those who doubt that we go into Rafah, I will tell you, you will see soon. So how serious do you take his statement? And second, on building the pier in Gaza, will the Israelis be involved in building or controlling or distribution? And also, an NGO like World Central Kitchen has managed to deliver 750,000 meals a day to people in Gaza. And the U.S. government hopes that they will provide 2 million meals a day in two months. So where do you see the disparity here? And finally, if you allow me, on TikTok: There was some leaked tapes of pro-Israeli group pushing to ban TikTok because it has unfiltered videos of Palestinian children and women killed in Gaza. And they believe this is it's reaching youth worldwide, especially in the United States. So are you aware of this? Thank you. MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware of the last thing you said. As I want to just stress, our national security concerns about TikTok have to do with its ownership by a Chinese company. It is not about First Amendment, freedom of speech, or the content itself. It's about divestiture. It's about the ownership of apps like TikTok. Let me go back to your top here. On Rafah, I won't speak for the Israeli military and what their plans are. They have said repeatedly and consistently that they want to conduct operations in Rafah to go after remaining Hamas leaders and Hamas military units. They have every right and responsibility to protect their people against those threats, and we recognize that. That said, nothing has changed about our concerns that we would not support such an operation unless or until they can properly account for the safety and security of the more than 1 million people that are seeking refuge in Rafah, that sought refuge in Rafah as a result of operations in Khan Younis and, weeks before that, in Gaza City. They have that obligation, and we're going to continue to talk to them about that. That's still critical to us. On the temporary pier in Gaza, there is a lot of work being done right now, largely by the Department of Defense and some of our allies and partners, to move not only the infrastructure itself, the temporary pier and its components, but also to get humanitarian assistance and ships with humanitarian assistance moving in the right direction so that we can use that pier as quickly as possible. But there's an awful lot of work that has to be done to get all the pieces in place and to begin the construction of this temporary pier. And we are still working with allies and partners about all the particulars and the modalities of how exactly the operational component of it will actually, that sounds like gobbledygook. We're still working with allies and partners about how we will safely operate and use the pier to support the people in Gaza in terms of how the material will flow to the pier, how the material will flow from the pier, and we can make sure it gets to the people that are most in need and get there in a safe and secure way. That's a much better, more English way of putting it. But we're still working our way through that. And I did not your third question about meals per month. Can you repeat that? Because I don't think I quite understood it. Q Yeah, sure. My understanding is an NGO, like World Central Kitchen, has been able to deliver 750,000 meals daily to Gaza, and they're building something similar to a pier. And my question to you, John, is: Your plan is to deliver, as the Secretary said yesterday, 2 million meals a day in two months. So how come an NGO with little resources are able to deliver it now, and the U.S. government needs two more months to deliver 2 million, which is, you know, not far away from almost like 750,000 (inaudible)? MR. KIRBY: Well, I can't speak to the reports by the NGO. Certainly, they can speak to their capacity and their capability. I'm in no position to judge one way or the other. We welcome the contributions of everybody and anyone that is willing to get food, water, medicine to people in need in Gaza. So we commend their efforts. I'll let them speak to their capacity. All I can do is speak to our capacity and what we're trying to get done. You've heard the Secretary talk about that. And we'll see where it goes. And obviously, as we have since the beginning here, we will continue to push and prod to get more humanitarian assistance in as much as possible. It's why we started doing airdrops not to replace the trucks, but to supplement the trucks. It's why we're talking about a temporary pier to supplant not to supplant, but to support efforts by other partners, including NGOs, to get humanitarian assistance in. Look, more is more. And right now, more is better. And so, again, we applaud the efforts of everyone who's trying to get more in to the people of Gaza, and that includes our own efforts as well. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Yuna with Israel Channel 12. Yuna, you should be able to unmute yourself. There you go. Q Hi. Thank you, John. Thank you for doing this. Following up also on Rafah, you've said before that the U.S. hasn't seen any programs or anything that would suggest that there is something that would allow moving the civilian population, the evacuation. Has that changed? Has the U.S. government seen any plans of that sort? Has that changed the U.S. perspective on this? MR. KIRBY: No and no. Q Have you asked? Was there a refusal to show these kind of plans? I'm kind of wondering where it stands. MR. KIRBY: No, I know of no refusal to show any plans. As I said earlier in the gaggle, we've seen the press reporting that the Israelis have that the IDF spokesman said that they've got a plan to move or they're working on a plan to move Gazans into what they call humanitarian islands. I can't speak to those plans. I'm not disputing their reporting; I'm just saying we've not seen such plans. Q And another question, if I may, about the Schumer speech. You said that President Biden was informed and updated. And after that and because this is such a rare speech, after all is there some sort of a conversation or call being planned between President Biden and Netanyahu or someone else within the administration after the speech or regarding the war in Gaza and in general? MR. KIRBY: Well, in general, I mean, we've been in touch with our Israeli counterparts dang near every single day at various different levels, including through our embassy in Jerusalem, with Ambassador Lew. So there's been constant, daily conversations with our Israeli counterparts at various levels, up to and including the President, of course. I don't have a call with Netanyahu to announce or preview for you today. They have spoken at various intervals since October 7th. And you can count on the fact that they will speak again. No doubt about it. I just don't have one to announce right now. But we will constantly stay in touch with them, as we should, as we must. MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Neria with Israel Channel 12 13. Excuse me. Israel Channel 13. Q Hey. Thank you, Sam. Thank you, Admiral, for doing this. I was wondering: Some may see Chuck Schumer's speech today as an intervention in Israeli domestic politics. What do you have to say about that? MR. KIRBY: I think we'll let people speak for themselves and how they want to see it. And as I said, Leader Schumer feels strongly obviously strongly enough to make the comments that he did. I think we're going to let him speak to his thought process there. But again, our focus is on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, that everything is being done to avoid civilian casualties, that more aid gets in, that hostages get out. We're still having these conversations about a hostage deal. That's what we're focused on. MODERATOR: Thank you. We'll next go to Nathan with KAN. Q Thanks so much. Again, going back to the Schumer speech: Just in general, does the administration have any policy regarding the need for elections in Israel? This relates also to the national intelligence assessment presented this week that spoke about Netanyahu's political viability. Is it the U.S.'s view that it is time for political change in Israel? MR. KIRBY: That's going to be up to the Israeli people. And the issue of elections is, in the parliamentary process, up to the Israeli government, a government elected by the Israeli people. Q Would it be a wise move for Israel to move towards elections after the war is over? MR. KIRBY: That is up to the Israeli people. MODERATOR: Thank you. I think we have time for one more question. We'll go to Patsy with VOA. Q Thank you, Sam. Hi, John. I have a question on Ukraine and Yemen. But just to follow up on Haiti, can you confirm Prime Minister Henry is being housed at a U.S. military base in Puerto Rico? And does the administration believe there's a role for him in Haiti post his resignation? MR. KIRBY: I know he's in Puerto Rico, Patsy. I don't know where he is. He'd have to speak to his specific whereabouts. But he's still in Puerto Rico. And again, we applaud him for doing the right thing and putting the Haitian people first and being willing to being willing to step aside. Q Can we get your reaction to reports of Speaker Johnson planning to send a Ukraine aid package to the Senate but making it a loan or Lend-Lease program? MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to get ahead of a legislative process that hasn't executed yet. We believe that the supplemental passed by the Senate will answer very well. Our strong desire to continue to support Ukraine will answer well Ukrainian defense needs, as well as Israeli defense needs and other concerns to our national security around the world. So we continue to urge Speaker Johnson to take that bill up, put it on the floor, get it voted on, and get it moving forward. And we know there's strong bipartisan support for it if it can be made available to a vote. Q And on Houthis, can you confirm their claims that they have this new hypersonic missile in their arsenal and how might this impact U.S. operations in the Red Sea? And if I can just sneak in an Afghanistan question. Senator Rubio has introduced a bill asking the U.S. to hold off contribution to the U.N. for aid to Afghanistan until they can confirm that the money won't go to the Taliban or other terrorist groups. Does the administration support this bill? Thanks. MR. KIRBY: Look, on the hypersonic thing, those reports are inaccurate. There's absolutely no indication that the Houthis have access to a hypersonic weapon. So I can walk you off of that. And, I'm sorry, can you repeat the last question? Q Oh, yes. So, Senator Rubio has introduced a bill asking the U.S. to hold off contribution to the U.N. on aid for Afghanistan until they can confirm that the money won't go to the Taliban or other terrorist groups. Do you guys support this bill? MR. KIRBY: I won't get ahead, again, of a bill that's still in its early stages. I would just tell you that, you know, we haven't recognized the Taliban as the government in Afghanistan. If they want such recognition, if they want legitimacy, they got to meet their commitments, particularly to women and girls and to human rights in Afghanistan. And we are not providing direct support to them diplomatically, economically, or in any other way. MODERATOR: Thank you. And thanks, everyone, for joining us. Sorry we were a little late. As always, if we weren't able to get to your question, please reach out to the NSC press distro and we'll try to get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks. 12:38 P.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Virginia National Guard Takes Over Poland Sustainment Mission By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hull, 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade March 15, 2024 POWIDZ, Poland -- The Virginia National Guard's 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion unfurled its organizational colors and took responsibility for logistics, maintenance and supply missions from the Army Reserve's 787th CSSB March 11 at Forward Operating Site Powidz. "We are proud to continue sustaining operations," said Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, the commander of the 529th. "To the Soldiers of Task Force Cavalier, our time is now. The opportunity is here. I have full confidence that you will continue to perform at the highest level. I am always proud and humbled to have the opportunity to stand here as 'Cavalier 6.'" After the outgoing unit furled its colors, Maldonado and Command Sgt. Maj. David Elliott, the senior enlisted leader of the 529th CSSB, unfurled their colors, symbolizing the unit's arrival and assumption of the sustainment mission. The 787th and 529th deployed as part of a rotation of forces assigned to V Corps, supporting operations and training for collective defense and regional security in Europe. The Soldiers enable multinational training that increases military interoperability between the United States and its NATO allies and partners to deter aggression on the continent. They serve under the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade, which leads a force of Active Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers providing critical support across as many as 13 countries. "As the only rotational sustainment force assigned to V Corps, we contribute to our nation's steadfast presence here, reinforcing longstanding commitments on NATO's Eastern flank for collective defense and regional security," Col. Jennifer McDonough, commander of the 3rd DSB, told the two units assembled in the post chapel for the ceremony. "We are grateful for your service and sacrifices." Known as Task Force Grizzly and led by Lt. Col. Jeoffrey Hall and Command Sgt. Maj. Clint Halstead, the 787th CSSB colors now return to Dothan, Alabama. While deployed and headquartered at FOS Powidz, the battalion provided command and control of more than 600 Soldiers at six forward operating sites throughout the Central European and Baltic nations. The battalion managed hundreds of sustainment convoys and missions, traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers, transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of equipment and parts, and delivering millions of gallons of fuel. The unit employed a new Army concept of surge maintenance support to brigade combat teams, enhancing the readiness of units poised to respond to contingencies in the region. The Soldiers managed multiple supply support activity points and collected logistics intelligence to inform future missions. "The mission set before you is fluid and complex," Hall advised the incoming unit's Soldiers. "Stay flexible and stay focused. Never lose sight of that Soldier in the field that's awaiting that part, that piece of equipment, that fuel, food or water. May your time here be as professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling as it was for us." Members of the 529th, dubbed Task Force Cavalier, bid farewell to friends and families and cased their colors in a ceremony at their home station of Virginia Beach Jan. 28. The Soldiers trained at Fort Cavazos, Texas, until Feb. 16 to validate their readiness for the mission. Earlier, the Cavalier Soldiers certified on small arms and machine gun live-fire ranges and rehearsed tactical task proficiencies at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The 529th also demonstrated its readiness in the Army's premier crucible training experience at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana last summer. The battalion managed a division support area for the Hawaii National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, providing command, control and supplies for more than 400 National Guard Soldiers from five states. This is the fourth federal active-duty deployment for the 529th CSSB since it was federally recognized in 2009, with previous missions to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hawaii National Guard, Philippines Strengthen Partnership By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, 154th Wing Public Affairs - Hawaii Air National Guard March 15, 2024 CAMP AGUINALDO, Philippines -- The Hawaii National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines strengthened their partnership during the 2025 Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board standing committee meeting in Quezon City March 6-7. This bilateral gathering, steered by high-level military strategists from both nations, kicked off a year-long agenda with over 500 joint planning and training initiatives to advance security goals. Hawaii and the Philippines share a bond through the State Partnership Program. This initiative fosters long-term security relationships and international cooperation by connecting National Guard units with foreign militaries. Through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau program, each geographic combatant command in 100 nations partners with the 50 states, three territories, and Washington, D.C. Seven new partner nations will be paired with states soon. For the March event, Hawaii Guardsmen planned and coordinated transportation logistics while the Philippines hosted the exchange. "As a supporting effort from the SPP, the U.S. and the Philippines have been able to collaborate on a wide range of initiatives, including disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping operations," said U.S Army Col. John Udani, director of military support, Hawaii National Guard. "By working together, we are able to address common challenges more effectively, promote regional stability, and contribute to the advancement of shared security objectives in the Asia-Pacific region." The Philippine and U.S. members said they were eager to continue tight-knit cooperation in areas vital to national security. These include counterterrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. "The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific Command," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Stephen Brightman, bilateral affairs officer for the U.S. Embassy, Manila. "The Hawaii and Guam National Guard continues to play a vital role as a partner to build capacity and enhance partnerships to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific." In 2023, Guardsmen from Hawaii and Guam participated in more than 30 engagements, while Guardsmen worldwide completed nearly 1,500 engagements. The MDB and SEB, established in 1958 and 2006, respectively, form the annual MDB-SEB, which coordinates a framework for defense and security cooperation between the U.S. and Philippine militaries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and Additional Support for Gaza Minister for Foreign Affairs Joint media release with: The Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister For Defence The Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Minister for Defence Industry 15 March 2024 Australia will lift its temporary pause on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), following steps to strengthen the integrity of UNRWA operations. The decision to pause an additional $6 million in funding was taken after serious allegations were made, resulting in UNRWA's dismissal of staff alleged to have been involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October. The nature of the allegations warranted an immediate and appropriate response. The Australian Government has been working with a group of donor countries and with UNRWA on the shared objective of ensuring the integrity of UNRWA's operations, rebuilding confidence and ensuring aid flows to Gazans in desperate need. Australia and our partners welcome the decisive actions from UNRWA and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to strengthen the integrity of operations. This includes the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services' investigation of the allegations, and the independent review into UNRWA and the principle of neutrality, led by former French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna. We welcome UNRWA's immediate work to deliver an action plan for donors, including Australia. The plan includes strengthened internal controls to ensure its neutrality, including rigorous requirements of staff. We see this as an ongoing process of diligence and vigilance. In disbursing the $6 million to UNRWA's flash appeal, Australia is finalising an updated funding agreement that will include stringent conditions such as guarantees of staff neutrality, and confidence in supply chains. These steps provide the necessary confidence that the $6 million in urgent humanitarian funding to be released will go directly to those in need, satisfying Australia's rigorous humanitarian controls, sanctions and legal requirements. Australia's decision is in line with steps taken by Canada, Sweden and the EU. It is expected that more countries that have paused will take a similar approach. UNRWA must continue to do all it can to ensure the highest standards of governance and accountability are met, as its work is vital. There can be no tolerance for members of terrorist organisations working for UNRWA. Only UNRWA has the infrastructure to receive and distribute aid on the scale needed right now in Gaza. We urge Israel to recognise its mandate and work transparently to support its integrity. In resuming funding, the Government is responding to a humanitarian situation in Gaza which is dire, and only worsening. More than 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced, most living in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Access to health care and food is limited; the risk of widespread famine is growing. Women and children are facing the most acute impacts, but the suffering is widespread and threatens to have enduring health effects. Relief agencies have briefed the Australian Government on large stocks of food outside Gaza's borders, but that there is no way to move it across the border into Gaza and deliver it at scale without Israel's cooperation. To address the urgent need, Australia will also support efforts by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to assist with the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster will deliver a supply of 140 Australian Defence Force (ADF) aerial delivery parachutes for use in humanitarian assistance airdrops by Jordan and the UAE. The Australian Government will also provide an additional $4 million to UNICEF to provide urgent services, including for women and children, and $2 million to the new mechanism of the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, to facilitate expanded humanitarian access into Gaza. This support is in addition to more than $46 million committed by the Australian Government towards humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the Hamas-Israel conflict, bringing the total to $52.5 million. Australia reiterates our call for an immediate and enduring humanitarian ceasefire that will enable unconditional release of hostages, and the urgent humanitarian relief that is needed. Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Richard Marles, MP: "Australia remains deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are pleased to support the efforts of Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to provide crucial humanitarian aid to civilians through airdrops." "We continue to call for safe, unimpeded and sustained access for humanitarian supplies to enable lifesaving support for the civilians in Gaza." Quotes attributable to Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong: "The Australian Government will work with UNRWA on an ongoing basis to ensure its integrity and neutrality are beyond reproach. "The additional assistance provided, including support for airdrops, is recognition that we need to pursue all avenues to address the suffering in Gaza. "Only UNRWA has the infrastructure to receive and distribute aid on the scale needed right now in Gaza. But aid can only reach the civilian population at scale if Israel lets it into Gaza. Australia implores Israel to allow this to happen. Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development, the Hon Pat Conroy MP: "The need for immediate humanitarian assistance in Gaza is undeniable. We continue to call on Israel to allow full and unfettered access to help those most in need. "The release of funding for UNRWA, with additional assurances, backs in Australia's longstanding support for the organisation, recognising its unique position and capability in the region. "UNRWA does lifesaving work. That is why successive Australian Governments have funded it since 1951, and it is why the Albanese Government doubled its core funding to UNRWA to $20 million." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Central Command conducts 11th Humanitarian Airdrop into Gaza U.S. Central Command Press Release | March 15, 2024 USCENTCOM March 15, 2024 Release Number 202403015-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command conducted the 11th air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on March 15, 2024, at 12:12 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict. The joint operation included two C-130s and one C-17 Globemaster III U.S. Air Force aircraft, and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies. U.S. C-17 and C-130s dropped over 35,700 U.S. meals ready to eat and 31,800 bottles of water into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to the 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 15, 2024 Release DOD Awards $7 Million to Enhance Domestic Nickel and Cobalt Supply Chains The Department of Defense announced today an award of $7 million to The Doe Run Resources Corporation (Doe Run) via the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) Program to complete a demonstration-scale hydrometallurgical plant for separation of cobalt and nickel at their facility in Viburnum, Missouri. This effort supports the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy to continue and expand support for domestic production to increase supply chain resilience. "This award is another important step towards decreasing reliance on unstable sources of cobalt and nickel, and ensuring a sustainable industrial base capable of meeting current and future demand," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP)). By helping to retrieve minerals from Missouri resources, these Defense Production Act funds will enable Doe Run to test, demonstrate, and scale up their hydrometallurgical nickel and cobalt extraction process. This will lead to a sustainable domestic processing facility capable of producing commercial-scale levels of cobalt and nickel, which are used in a number of DoD systems. This is the latest of 12 awards made by the DPAI program across multiple areas totaling $307 million since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024. DPAI is overseen by the ASD(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate, in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience. For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.html About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)) The OASD(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3708859/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shoppers browse in the produce aisle and wait in line to check out at the Aldi grocery store in Branford when it opened in June 2022. Aldi officials said last week they plan to open up an additional 800 stores over the next five years. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Rene King, right, and Brianna Kinney, far right, of East Haven exit the Aldi grocery store in Branford when it opened in June 2022. Aldi officials said last week they plan to open up an additional 800 stores over the next five years. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Shoppers enter the Aldi grocery store in Branford when it first opened in June 2022. Aldi officials said last week they plan to open up an additional 800 stores over the next five years. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media The Aldi at Gateway Center in South Windsor opened in 2021. Aldi officials said last week they plan to open up an additional 800 stores over the next five years. Journal Inquirer File Photo Supermarket experts say even though low-price grocer Aldi already has 31 stores in Connecticut, the state is ripe for further expansion by the chain. The German-headquartered supermarket announced late last week that it plans to open 800 stores in the United States by the end of 2028. Included in that number are 400 stores acquired from Southeast Grocers that operate as Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores, according to company officials. A significant number of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket locations will convert to the Aldi format over the next several years, company officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aldi's $9 billion expansion will focus on the Northeast and Midwest, where the company will add nearly 330 new stores over the five-year-period. The rest will be built in Southern California and Phoenix. Jason Hart, Aldi's chief executive officer, said increased food prices around the country have increased demand for the chain's low-price format. With up to 40 percent savings on groceries, new customers are inspired to try us out, and existing customers keep coming back," Hart said. "While price is important, we earn their loyalty by stocking our shelves with only the best products and offering a quicker, easier, and more enjoyable shopping experience." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aldi officials have not yet identified any locations in Connecticut where it might build new stores. The chain's Connecticut footprint makes Aldi the third largest grocer in the state, trailing only Stop & Shop and Big Y. Of the total number of Aldi locations in the state, the majority of the chain's stores are clustered in New Haven and Hartford counties, with 10 locations in each county. Aldi has only two locations in Fairfield County and just three stores between Branford and the Rhode Island border along the Connecticut shoreline. Those two areas are most likely to be targeted by Aldi as the chain rolls out its expansion, said Burt Flickinger, managing director of the New York City-based retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. "I could see another 10 or 12 Aldi locations being added over the next five years," Flickinger said. "One of the areas they are targeting in the Northeast is southern New England, which they feel is underserved in terms of supermarkets." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Aldi has nine stores in Rhode Island and 21 in Massachusetts. The typical Aldi store, built to suit the company's specifications, is between 20,000 and 28,000 square feet, according to Flickinger said. Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said he wouldn't be surprised to see Aldi expand in Connecticut because "there are signs of growth in the marketplace." But Pesce said expansion in Fairfield County might be too pricey for Aldi officials to consider. "If you want to play, you're going to pay and it all starts with retail rents in Fairfield County," he said. Labor and energy expenses as well as rents are the three biggest cost drivers that supermarket operators have, according to Pesce. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although Aldi is a member of the Connecticut Food Association, Pesce said he is not privy to the demographic information executives of the chain uses in its site selection. March 15, 2024 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles Attributed to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with his Spanish counterpart, Minister of Defense Margarita Robles, to discuss the steadfast U.S.-Spain bilateral defense relationship and security assistance for Ukraine. The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian people and condemned Russia's unlawful war of choice. Both leaders looked forward to continued coordination through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and future bilateral engagements. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3708943/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 15, 2024 Release Navy to Christen Submarine Idaho The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony March 16, at General Dynamics Electric Boat, in Groton, Connecticut. The Honorable Nickolas H. Guertin, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Research, Development, and Acquisition (RDA), will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Senior representatives from the Navy, the shipbuilders, Congress, and the state of Idaho are also expected to speak. In a twist on the time-honored Navy tradition of breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow, the Submarine's Sponsor, Ms. Teresa Stackley, will christen the boat with water she has collected from several lakes in Idaho. Stackley is the daughter of a Navy Sailor and is the spouse of the Honorable Sean Stackley, a former Naval officer who served as ASN (RDA) from 2008 to 2017. The submarine, which began construction in 2017, will be the 26th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth U.S. Navy ship to be christened with the name Idaho. The last ship named Idaho was battleship BB 42, commissioned in 1919. Though landlocked, the state of Idaho prides itself in its rich Naval history and continuing contributions to the fleet. The Navy's Acoustic Research Detachment on Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho's largest and deepest body of water, is a state-of-the-art facility that supports research, development, testing, and evaluation of submarine acoustic stealth technology and propulsor design. Lake Pend Oreille is a critical body of water to the U.S. Submarine Force. Virginia-class submarines are built to operate in the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation's undersea superiority well into the 21st century. Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. For more information about the Virginia-class submarines visit: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/ https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3708143/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US: Speech by High Representative Josep Borrell at Georgetown University on current geopolitical challenges European External Action Service (EEAS) 15.03.2024 Washington EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Distinguished faculty, dear students, ladies and gentlemen, I have now served over four years as the European Union's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy. Four years during which multiple crises spilled onto us like a violent river overflowing its bank. I will spare you the list of crises we are experiencing. You know them as well as I do. Let me reflect today on what seems to me our continent's major challenge: Europe rediscovering - through Ukraine - the harshness of the world. A harshness, for which we have been poorly prepared. Why so? Europe was poorly prepared for the harshness of the world because the project of European unity was built in opposition to the very idea of power politics. Its aim was to eradicate among Europeans the instinct of war, which had caused us so much trouble over the centuries. European nations had spent centuries at war. First on behalf of religion. Then in the name of the nation, the will to power, or imperial ambitions. Europe was the continent with the highest number of inter-state wars. When in the aftermath of World War II, the idea of European unity began to emerge, Europe's top priority was to put in place a system that would put an end to the wars that had ravaged the continent. This was the starting point of European integration. The new Europe would be built around the economy. Negotiations and compromise would defuse conflict. And it has been a great success. It brought 80 years of peace within our Union. Today, the very idea of war between European Union member states is unimaginable. But the downside for Europeans is that we began to think - or perhaps wanted to think - that war was equally disappearing in the rest of the world. Or that, even if conflicts persisted elsewhere, they no longer concerned us. This has been the received wisdom in Europe for many decades. This worked well during the Cold War. As, by definition, the war in question remained cold. And, in fact, Europe's security was ensured by an external actor, the United States. So it was almost as if Europeans were saying, 'For war, please call the US.' After the end of the Cold War, the belief in a world without war only grew. We believed in the end of history and expected the triumph of democracy. Russia became a G8 member, and China joined the WTO. We were told that globalization would make borders meaningless, some spoke of the "end of geography". But what do we see today? Two violent conflicts in the world - one in Ukraine, the other in the Middle East - where issues of territoriality are at stake. In Ukraine, we are facing a conflict between a sovereign state, Ukraine, and Russia, an imperial power - or more precisely, an imperialist power - that still has a colonial vision of its identity. This is the thread that runs through tsarist politics, Soviet politics and now Putin's policy. As long as Ukraine remained within Russia's orbit, Putin pretended to accept the formal principle of an independent Ukraine. But the moment he realized that Ukraine was likely to break away from Russian influence and gravitate towards Europe, he set out to destabilize it. We all know the different stages: annexation of Crimea and occupation of the Donbass. As destabilization failed to achieve the desired results, Russia opted for an open war of aggression with the idea of waging a swift, decisive campaign. They expected victory within three days. We all know what followed. On 24 February 2022, the forgotten harshness of the world returned to Europe with intensity. Europe reacted in a remarkable manner that was neither guaranteed at the outset, nor expected by Russia. It was Europe's moment of awakening as a geopolitical player. We took strong and decisive action: We have adopted 13 successive sanctions packages, including freezing all Russian assets held in Europe. We virtually stopped our energy imports from Russia, a move that seemed unthinkable. And with the G7, we have capped the price of Russian oil sold by sea, thanks to the de-facto monopoly held by European insurers on maritime freight - a little known instrument of European power. We have taken the historic decision that Ukraine will become a member of the European Union. A step that will fundamentally change the European Union. We provided massive economic and financial assistance to Ukraine, including by supporting member states hosting Ukrainian refugees. The commitments we have made now exceed EUR 110 billion In addition, we provided substantial military aid of EUR 28 billion, either through bilateral aid from member states or through EU mechanisms. And for this year alone, Member States have budgeted at least EUR 21 billion in additional military assistance. This makes us by far the largest financial supporters of Ukraine. However, the massive financial, military and political support of the United States has also been decisive to keep Ukraine in the fight. Russia has undoubtedly suffered a colossal strategic defeat. It failed at the gates of Kyiv, it suffered an enormous setback when Ukraine liberated over half the territory Russia had captured and unblocked the Black Sea routes. And the long-term prospects of Russia's economy are much bleaker than recent figures would suggest. But Russia has not yet lost the war, nor has it changed its strategic calculation. Today we are entering a delicate new phase. It is important that we fully understand the magnitude of the situation, assess the difficulties we face, and adapt accordingly. What is this new phase? Firstly, the Russian regime has regained political space. Putin did that in a number of ways. On the one hand, he further consolidated power internally. The demise of Wagner leader Prigozhin and the recent murder of Alexei Navalny sent a signal that absolutely no opposition would be permitted. On the other hand, he was able to move towards a war economy, by converting parts of civil industry into military production. This was facilitated by the authoritarian nature of the regime, as well as a formidable network for evading sanctions, particularly through Central Asia. Russia's political space was further amplified by the horrific attacks by Hamas on 7 October. The Hamas attack and the resulting Israeli offensive have shifted the centre of gravity of global attention. Many countries in the global South, which supported us only half-heartedly on Ukraine, now point to double standards when witnessing the scale of the carnage in Gaza and the failure of the international community to step in. The call for respect of international law has become much more difficult for us when the international community fails to stop the biggest humanitarian catastrophe of our time. This is also what I told the Security Council two days ago in New York. If the two-state solution is really what we all agree on, the Security Council should now define the parameters to achieve it. The second reason why the war in Ukraine entered into a new phase, is that Russia is waging an asymmetrical war. It simply needs not to lose in order to win, whereas Ukraine needs to win in order not to lose. That's a fundamental difference. Because for Putin, Russian lives are cheap. But Ukraine has neither the means nor the desire to sacrifice large numbers of its population. As the lethality of the war increases, this disparity between the two societies grows, shifting further in Russia's favour. Moscow has adapted by strengthening its defensive positions, using its advantages in terms of ammunition, manpower, drones and electronic warfare. For Russia, what matters is that Ukrainian losses are proportionally much greater than its own, in accordance with the known principles of wars of attrition. Wrongly or rightly, Russia believes that it has time. That's why calls for negotiations are pointless now, unless one expects Ukraine to simply surrender. The context is therefore very worrying. But you can be sure that Europe's stance on Ukraine will not weaken. Nor should that of America. There are lessons to learn from history. Appeasement and isolationism have not worked in the past. In 1939, the rallying cry of the French pro-appeasement crowd was: "Pourquoi mourir pour Dantzig?" "Why die for Danzig", the Polish city. And in 1940, when war was already raging in Europe, large crowds turned out on the Washington Mall, just a few minutes from here, to protest against US involvement. But war came anyway, to both France and to the Unites States. Today, the question is not even whether European or Americans should "die for Donbas". It is rather, if we are willing to provide the assistance needed to help Ukrainians stop dying for Donbas - and the rest of their country. Our lesson from history must be, that if we allow Russia to erase Ukraine from the map, we will pay a much higher price later on. In Europe, this realisation has largely unified our strategic view of Russia. The vast majority of Europeans now see Russia as a direct threat to their security. This sentiment is widely shared from Riga to Lisbon. The possibility of a conventional high-intensity war in Europe can no longer be ruled out. Almost all European capitals are now working on this scenario, hoping of course that it will never materialize. This realization has several consequences: First, we are urgently looking for ammunition, anywhere we can find it. Because Ukrainian forces have shown that if they are sufficiently supplied and entrenched, they can inflict very high costs on Russian forces for minimal territorial gains. An initiative by the Czech President has just identified 800,000 rounds of artillery shells, many of which will be in Ukraine in a matter of weeks. And the ammunition production capacity of European industry has already increased by 50% in the last two years. We are also ramping up the capacity of our defence industry to produce more. The quality of European military equipment has been exceptional for the past two years. But admittedly, we have often been too slow to provide our best technologies. We hesitated on modern tanks, we hesitated on cruise missiles, we hesitated on F-16s. In the end, we agreed to send all of those, but the hesitation has cost lives. Ukraine's path to turning the tide of war can only lead through technological superiority, including modern battle drones and artificial intelligence. And I don't need to remind you that on that front, nobody can do more than the United States. The second consequence is that Europe must, more than ever, solidify its credibility as a future guarantor of its own security. This is called Europe's strategic responsibility. It will take time, require sacrifices and demand collective action. All this is easier said than done. While we indeed agree that Russia is an enormous threat to Europe, our view on how to respond to this threat is far less unified. Let me explain this by looking more closely at Germany and France, the two countries at the heart of our union. Germany's response is captured in one word: "Zeitenwende" - a turning point in history. This turning point came to the tune of a EUR 100 billion investment package in the German army. Much of it is spent on US arms, indicating Germany's conviction that in the medium term, European security without the US is unimaginable. France on the other hand, concluded that Europe must stand on its own feet in matters of defence as soon as possible. This is of course a very schematic picture. Poland and the Baltics want both, a strong domestic arms industry and the US to back them. On the other hand, some EU member states have a history of military neutrality. Against this background, Europe's strategic responsibility must be built and developed. First of all within NATO, where a European pillar should be established. A pillar developed in parallel with continued strong US commitment in favour of EU Security. The United States may have other strategic priorities outside Europe. Any state always has its own agenda. But when I appeal to the commitment of the United States, it is simply to remind us that the United States themselves has a fundamental interest in ensuring that Europe's security is guaranteed and that its stability is strengthened so that its prosperity is not threatened. Why? First, because Europe is by far the most important partner of the United States. Second, because if the United States were to disengage from Europe by misfortune, the credibility of all its alliances outside Europe would inevitably be undermined. Let's not forget that the Russians intervened in Syria because they saw that we remained idle in Crimea. Let us not forget that the Russians intervened in Ukraine because they saw the United States disengage from Afghanistan. Our strategic interests are deeply intertwined, even if in terms of military, we have to do more and better as Europeans. And doing things better is in my view as important, if not more, than doing more. Because if one looks at the European military landscape, what prevails is not the lack of military effort, but its dispersion and duplication among EU members. So let me say it loud and clear. Europe has changed dramatically. We are now on alert because our vital interests are at stake. But the awakening of Europe should not imply that the US should rest easy. We both need to remain vigilant, because our strength comes from our unity. Working together as we have done for decades. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-254601 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pevkur the first minister of defence to visit newest NATO member Sweden Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence 15. March 2024 Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur visited Sweden this week to meet with the Minister of Defence of Sweden Pal Jonson and discuss defence cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region with NATO's newest member. The Minister also visited the Karlskrona Naval Base and the SAAB shipyard, attended defence industry business seminars and opened the Estonian Honorary Consul in Karlskrona. "It was a privilege to be the first minister of defence to visit Sweden as a NATO member and to personally convey Estonia's congratulations," said Minister of Defence Pevkur. "Sweden's accession to NATO makes the Baltic Sea and the Nordic-Baltic region better protected and it means that our rear is more secure. Estonia and Sweden have historically enjoyed strong bilateral defence cooperation, and our alliance within NATO will certainly open up new avenues for cooperation. Given the substantial air and naval capabilities of the Swedish Armed Forces, we can be more confident that the sea and air routes in the Baltic Sea are open and secure." The business seminars for Estonian and Swedish defence industry representatives, organised by Enterprise Estonia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Karlskrona and Stockholm, set out to foster cooperation between defence companies in the two countries. "Estonia's innovative defence industry with its focus on new technologies can have a lot to offer to its Swedish counterparts. I believe that these business seminars will soon lead to new co-operative defence industry projects and investments between Estonia and Sweden," said Pevkur. The Estonian Minister of Defence also attended the official opening ceremony of the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Kalrskrona together with Ambassador Toomas Lukk and met with the new Honorary Consul of Estonia Paula Eninge. The Minister visited the Swedish Navy's Visby-class corvette Karlstad and the CB90-class fast assault craft at the Karlskrona naval base, and observed the construction and modernisation of Swedish submarines at the SAAB shipyard. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USEUCOM hosts Japanese Joint Staff director for security talks By U.S. European Command Public Affairs , United States European Command Stuttgart, Germany Mar 15, 2024 U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director for U.S. European Command plans, policy, strategy and capabilities, hosted Japan Joint Staff Maj. Gen. Nobutaka Minamikawa, director of defense plans and policy department, at USEUCOM's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 11, 2024. The meeting with Minamikawa and USEUCOM leadership focused on security issues in the European theater and prospective opportunities for enhanced security collaboration. This engagement followed an earlier visit to Japan in February 2024 by U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, USEUCOM commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Cavoli's visit stressed the importance of cooperation with like-minded countries to address global security challenges. "The U.S.- Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," Lasica said. "With shared core interests and values like promoting stability and security in the region, advocating for political and economic freedoms, and working towards peaceful resolutions in conflicts, this partnership is crucial for the well-being of both nations and the global community." While some 10,000 kilometers separate Tokyo and Stuttgart, the bilateral discussions with Minamikawa underscored the close-knit relationships that exist between American and Japanese military leaders in both the Indo-Pacific region as well as in Europe. Japan provided significant financial aid to Ukraine immediately after the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion of that country in February 2022. Today, Japan is the largest contributor to the United Nations Development Programme's humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and has been a significant and active contributor of non-lethal weapons to assist Ukraine protect its citizens and sovereign territory through the International Donor Coordination Center. -30- About USEUCOM U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 65,000 permanent military personnel supported by rotational forces and DoD civilians working closely with NATO Allies and partners. For more information about USEUCOM, visit www.eucom.mil. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Commission allocates 500 million to ramp up ammunition production, out of a total of 2 billion to strengthen EU's defence industry European Commission Press release 15 March 2024 Brussels Today, the Commission allocated the 500 million foreseen under the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). This will allow the European defence industry to ramp up its ammunition production capacity to 2 million shells per year by the end of 2025. The Commission also launched the Work Programme for the instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) and the fourth annual Work Programme of the European Defence Fund (EDF). Together, these programmes have a budget of almost 2 billion. Today's steps towards the reinforcement of the European defence technological and industrial base are taken in the wake of the adoption of the first ever European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and the associated proposal for a European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). 500 million to ramp-up ammunition production capacity to 2 million per year With the support of ASAP, Europe is expected to reach an annual ammunition shell production capacity 2 million by the end of 2025. The Commission completed the evaluation under the ASAP Regulation in record time and selected 31 projects to assist European industry in increasing its ammunition production and readiness. The selected projects cover five areas: explosives, powder, shells, missiles, and testing and reconditioning certification. The projects will be funded with 513 million from the budgets of the EU and Norway. This funding will leverage additional investment from industry through co-financing, resulting in a total investment of around 1.4 billion in the supply chain. ASAP focuses on powder and explosives, which are bottlenecks for ammunition shell production, and will allocate some three quarters of the programme to them. The programme will support projects increasing the annual production capacity by more than 10 000 tons of powder, and by more than 4 300 tons of explosives. For this purpose, The Union will invest 248 million in powder manufacturing capacity and 124 million in explosives manufacturing capacity. Thanks to measures already taken, European annual production capacity for 155 mm shells had already reached 1 million per year in January 2024. ASAP funding recipient companies and their supply chains are spread across the European Union. Support is provided to reinforcing existing production capacities, as well as to build up new ones. The completed projects will enhance the responsiveness and capability of the Union's defence industry, ensuring a faster supply of ammunition and missiles in Europe. Grant agreements with the selected applicants are expected to be signed in May 2024. 310 million to incentivise Member States to procure defence capabilities together With the adoption of the instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) Work Programme, and the launch of the respective calls for proposals, the Commission incentivises for the first time Member States to jointly acquire defence products serving the most urgent and critical needs, especially those amplified by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Aggregating demand will provide predictability and therefore incentivise our industry to ramp up manufacturing capacity, and will improve the interoperability of the national armed forces. With a total budget of 310 million, the EDIRPA Work Programme will support common procurement in three areas: 1) Ammunition (e.g. small arms, artillery ammunition, mortars, rockets), 2) Air and missile defence, and 3) Platforms and replacement of legacy systems (e.g. tanks, armoured vehicles, support systems, soldier systems, drones). These funding priorities have been set together with the Member States to address urgent defence needs and replenish defence stockpiles. The submission deadline for proposals is 25 July 2024. 1.1 billion to boost EU defence R&D projects To ensure Europe remains at the cutting edge of defence technology and innovation, the Commission has adopted the fourth annual Work Programme of the European Defence Fund (EDF) and launched the corresponding calls for proposals, allocating an additional 1.1 billion, including 225 million to support innovation and defence start-ups through dedicated measures under the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS). The funding priorities are commonly agreed upon with the Member States and take into consideration defence technologies and capability needs as well as emerging threats amplified by the changed security environment. The 2024 EDF work programme covering 32 call topics will fund projects in crucial defence domains, including countering hypersonic missiles, developing a range of unmanned vehicles in the air and on the ground, and ensuring secure space communication. It prepares the ground for next generation defence systems, such as helicopters and mid-size cargo aircraft. Additionally, the Work Programme offers support measures to promote defence innovation and inclusiveness through the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), with funding for a EUDIS Business Accelerator and Matchmaking opportunities with investors. The submission deadline for proposals is 5 November 2024. Background The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) is a direct response to the Council's to urgently deliver ammunition, and if requested missiles, to Ukraine, and to help Member States refill their stocks by introducing targeted measures. The Act aims at ensuring that the EU can ramp up its ammunition production capacity. Financial support will be provided in the form of grants to various types of actions contributing to the efforts of the European defence industry to increase its production capacities and tackle bottlenecks. ASAP implements track 3 (industrial part) of the so-called three-track approach of the ammunition plan agreed by the Council in March 2023. The instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA) responds to Member States' request to address the most urgent and critical defence product needs resulting from Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The instrument incentivises Member States, in a spirit of solidarity, to commonly procure defence capabilities for their armed forces and facilitates access for all Member States to defence products being urgently needed. The European Defence Fund is the Commission's instrument to support defence R&D and cooperation. Without substituting Member States' efforts, it promotes cooperation between companies of all sizes and research actors throughout the EU and Norway (as an associated country). The EDF supports competitive and collaborative defence projects throughout the entire cycle of research and development, focusing on projects leading to state-of-the-art and interoperable defence technologies and equipment. It also fosters innovation and incentivises the cross-border participation of SMEs. The Work Programme and the funding priorities are defined based on the defence capability priorities agreed by Member States within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and particularly in the context of the Capability Development Plan (CDP). With the adoption of this annual work programme 2024, the Commission has committed to invest more than 4 billion in collaborative defence R&D since the entry into force of the EDF Regulation in May 2021. These measures, complemented by the recently announced Commission proposal for a European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), ensure a structural, longer-term approach to achieve defence industrial readiness. They provide continuity of the support to the European defence technological and industrial base, to enable its swift adaptation to the new security environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Questions and Answers on the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and on the Instrument for the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement (EDIRPA) European Commission Questions and answers 15 March 2024 Brussels The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) What is the objective of the ASAP Instrument, work programme and the calls for proposals that have been launched? The objectives of the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) instrument are to support EU's defence industry to ramp up its manufacturing capacities to match increased demand for ammunition and missiles. It also aims to secure supply and availability of critical inputs such as raw materials and components, facilitate access to finance for EU defence companies and mobilise private funding and address bottlenecks in production to enable faster delivery rates. What are the funding priorities identified in the ASAP Work Programme? The ASAP Work Programme targets key bottlenecks identified in the ammunition supply chains: explosives, propelling powder, and shells, and supports the missiles production ramp-up. It also addresses the obsolescence, testing, or reconditioning certification of relevant defence products. Accordingly, the ASAP Work Programme is structured along 5 calls for proposals on the following topics: Explosives; Powder; Shells; Missiles; Testing and Reconditioning certification. What was the basis for the preparation of the ASAP Work Programme and identifying the respective priorities? The structure of the ASAP Work Programme is supported by information which was gathered through: Research and analysis within the Defence Joint Procurement Task Force; Information collected during Commissioner Breton's visits to key manufacturers in EU Member States; Bilateral exchanges with industrial stakeholders. What is the link between ASAP and EDIRPA? Both instruments, ASAP and EDIRPA, are complementary initiatives, on the supply and demand side respectively. EDIRPA aims at incentivising Member States to commonly procure urgently needed defence capabilities and products. Therefore, it will support cooperation of at least three Member States for the common procurement of most critical and urgent defence products from the EU's Defence and Technological Industrial Base (EDTIB), hence contributing to its competitiveness and its adaptation to the current context. The objective of ASAP is to support and accelerate the immediate ramp-up of production capacity of ammunition and missiles in the EU. It will therefore directly support producers of these defence products, as well as their supply chains. Is the budget sufficient considering the ammunition needs of Ukraine? While half a billion euro is coming from the EU budget, the underlying co-financing principle means that these funds will leverage additional funding from industry bringing total investment in the whole supply chain to around 1,4 billion. Furthermore, project proposals submitted under and ranked above a predefined quality threshold but not funded by ASAP due to budgetary constraints will be awarded the Seal of Excellence certificate which is a quality label first introduced under Horizon 2020, the EU's previous research and innovation framework programme (2014-2020). With this label, the Commission recognises the value of project proposals and encourages other funding organisations to take advantage of the high-quality proposals (e.g. for funding under EU Cohesion Funds), with much simplified selection procedures. The funding should also be seen in the context of individual Member States' own contributions to Ukraine and in support of their respective defence industries. When will the projects deliver results and what is the impact of the ASAP funding? To avoid potential delays to industrial actions contributing to ensure the effective supply and timely availability of ammunition and missiles, ASAP provides for a retroactivity clause so that actions having begun after 20 March 2023 may be eligible for EU support. All projects will be completed within a maximum of 36 months. However, some projects are already able to deliver results now, and significant improvement will be observed already by the end of 2024. ASAP will address bottlenecks throughout the supply chains of ammunition and missiles in the EU and Norway, by supporting industry to rapidly adjust to new market trends and reduce dependencies. How long will the ASAP programme last for and will it be repeated/extended? On 18 October 2023, the Commission adopted the Work Programme foreseen in the Regulation on supporting Ammunition Production (ASAP). This work programme covers the period 2023-2025 by which time all ASAP funded projects will have been completed. On 5 March, the Commission adopted a proposal for the new defence industry programme (EDIP), which also includes actions in support of ramping-up ammunition production. What is the link between ASAP and the overall EU policy in support of Ukraine / improvement of the Union's defence capabilities? ASAP is a direct response to the Council's call to urgently deliver ammunition, and missiles if requested, to Ukraine and to help Member States replenish their stocks by introducing targeted measures. Aimed at enabling ramp-up of ammunition production capacity across Europe, ASAP constitutes the track 3 (industrial part) of the so-called three-track approach of the ammunition plan agreed by the Council. The three tracks are closely interlinked. For Member States to be able to use their ammunition in stock to support Ukraine (track 1) and subsequently replenish it with new orders (track 2), there needs to be enough confidence that the EU artillery ammunition and missiles producers can match the demand (track 3) in a timely manner. The Instrument for the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement (EDIRPA) What are the objectives of the EDIRPA Instrument? EDIRPA aims at incentivising Member States to commonly procure defence products for which there is an urgent and critical need, especially those amplified following the Russian aggression against Ukraine. EDIRPA also aims at strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) - and by providing predictability - to increase its manufacturing capacity and face the increase in demand for defence equipment. It will also lead to increased interoperability between the armed forces of the Member States. What is the objective of the Work Programme? The EDIRPA work programme reflects the shared political will and the needs identified together with the Member States/Norway to establish funding priorities for the replenishment of defence stockpiles, the reinforcement of capabilities and the replacement of Soviet-era legacy equipment. The funding priorities align with the capability gaps identified in the Joint Communication on the Defence Investment Gaps Analysis and Way Forward of 18 May 2022. What are the funding priorities of the EDIRPA Work Programme? The work programme identifies three calls for proposals with a total indicative budget of 310 million, in the following areas: A call for proposals for common procurement of 'Ammunition' with a budget of 103.2 million. with a budget of 103.2 million. A call for proposals on 'Air and Missile Defence' with a budget of 103.2 million. with a budget of 103.2 million. A call for proposals on 'Legacy Systems and Platforms' with a budget of 103.2 million. Is the budget sufficient considering the defence procurement needs of MS? The programme does not aim to substitute national defence budgets, but to incentivize cooperation for the most urgent defence products. The EU financial support is not related to the procurement of the defence capabilities but is envisaged to cover 'cooperation costs' between Member States for procurements that are of much larger financial magnitude than the EDIRPA contribution. Who will benefit from the procurement actions? Is the EU buying weapons? The programme supports the procurement of defence capabilities by the armed forces of the EU Member States and Norway. Neither the EU, nor the Commission, will procure defence products. How long will the EDIRPA programme last for? The EDIRPA programme is a short-term urgency instrument as a consequence of Russia's aggression against Ukraine that lasts in 2024 and 2025. On 5 March, the Commission adopted a proposal for new defence industry programme (EDIP), which also includes the continuation of actions in support of common procurement of defence capabilities by the EU Member States. With the Work Programme adopted, what happens next? The Commission will publish and open for submission the calls for proposals in the next days on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Potential applicants (national procurement authorities, the European Defence Agency or an international organisation designated to conduct a common procurement) can submit proposals by 25 July 2024 and the Commission services will then evaluate the proposals received. The highest scored proposals within the available budget will be selected for funding. Awarded projects, composed of consortia of at least 3 Member States, will then receive EU grants. How are Ukraine and Moldova involved in the EDIRPA programme? Under the EDIRPA Regulation, Member States can make Ukraine and Moldova a recipient of quantities of the defence products concerned by the collaborative procurement action. Is there possible duplication between EDIRPA funding and support provided by the European Peace Facility? There is no possible duplication between the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the EDIRPA funding. The EPF is an off-budget programme outside the frame of the Multiannual Financial Framework currently used to reimburse Member States transfer of mainly in-stock and/or in-service defence systems to Ukraine. EDIRPA support is not linked to the cost of the procured capabilities but covers the cooperation cost related to common procurements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland achieves its EU ammunition funding goal Finnish Ministry of Defence 15.03.2024 The Finnish defence industry has been granted EUR 32.5 million in EU funding for ramping up its ammunition production. The funding decision complements the decision made by the Ministry of Defence in December to allocate approximately EUR 24 million for increasing domestic ammunition production. "Long-term advocacy at the EU and direct contacts with Commissioners produced results. We got what we went for. The funding decision is in line with the plan drawn up by the Ministry of Defence in December to increase domestic ammunition production. The decision will finance investments that are critical to military security of supply and enable long-term support for Ukraine," says Minister of Defence Antti Hakkanen. Funding was granted through the ASAP (Act in Support of Ammunition Production) fund, which had an allocated budget of around EUR 500 million. Finnish industry was granted the full amount of funding applied. A total of EUR 22.5 million in EU funding was granted to Nammo Lapua Oy for additional capacity to manufacture 155-mm artillery grenade shells and EUR 10 million was granted to Nammo Vihtavuori Oy for increasing the production of the existing nitrocellulose and powder plant. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines urged to stop provocations that may escalate tensions at South China Sea Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 15, 2024 04:56 PM China urges the Philippines not to further walk down the wrong path, and to immediately stop any provocative actions that may escalate the disputes or complicate the situation at the South China Sea, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday, also suggesting some non-regional countries to stop supporting the provocative and risky acts of the Philippines and refrain from being a disruptor in the South China Sea. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. China's resolution and will is unwavering in safeguarding our legitimate rights and interests, Zhang said. The Chinese side will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend our sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests and firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, said the spokesperson. On March 5, without permission from the Chinese government, Philippine vessels intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao, in an attempt to transport supplies, including construction materials, to the Philippine warship illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao, and deliberately collided with China Coast Guard vessels. In response to the provocation, China Coast Guard took necessary regulatory measures in accordance with the law. The actions taken at the scene were professional, restrained, justified and lawful, said Zhang, noting that China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the provocations and infringements made by the Philippine side. After the incident, the Chinese side released relevant videos in the first place showing the crystal clear facts to the public. It is the Philippine side that broke the law and infringed upon China's rights, said Zhang. Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, is beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippine side has yet to tow away the warship illegally grounded at Ren'ai Jiao. Instead, it even attempted to repair and reinforce the warship for permanent occupation of Ren'ai Jiao. Such illegal and void acts severely violate China's sovereignty and are doomed to fail, according to the spokesperson. It is the Philippine side that broke its promises and took wanton acts; and it is the Philippine side that resorted to deception, said Zhang. It needs to be pointed out that some big powers outside the region, in disregard of the facts, try to back up the Philippines, stir up trouble and create turmoil in the region. Such moves of using the Philippines as a pawn for selfish gains will find no support, as they go against the common aspiration of regional countries for peace and development, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah attacks military base of Zionist regime IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah announced on Friday night that another military base of the Zionist regime in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories has been targeted once again. According to al-Mayadeen network, Lebanon's Hezbollah issued statements and announced that the forces of this group targeted a Zionist force when they were entering the "Zareit" barracks with appropriate weapons. Hezbollah added that this operation was successful and the target was hit by the missile. The Lebanese Islamic Resistance also announced that they also targeted the gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers around the Yarin party with missiles. Hezbollah fighters also directly hit the radar site in the occupied fields of Shabaa at 16:20. Hezbollah also added in another statement that the fighters of this Lebanese resistance group targeted the gathering place of the Zionist enemy soldiers in the vicinity of Barka Risha base with Berkan missiles at 16:00 this afternoon. At 14:50 today, the fighters of the Islamic resistance of Lebanon targeted the gathering of Israeli soldiers near the 'Al-Rahab' base with artillery, and the cannonballs directly hit the target. In another operation that was carried out at 14:50 on Friday, the soldiers of Hezbollah of Lebanon targeted the 'Al-Malkiyeh' base of the Zionist regime with a missile, and at 13:15, the Al-Maraj base of the Israeli regime came under the artillery of Lebanon's Hezbollah. Heavy damages were inflicted on the Zionist enemy. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A file visual of an Aer Lingus plane. In March 2023, Aer Lingus resumed nonstop flights between Bradley International Airport and Dublin Airport. A bill before the state General Assembly seeks to increase transatlantic business by establishing a Connecticut-Ireland trade commission. Contributed photo/Connecticut Airport Authority Andy Mackin, center, who is the founder and CEO of Mackin Group, a Cork, Ireland-headquartered company that includes the Mackin Talent human resources business, gathers with colleagues at Mackin Talent's office in Rutherfordton, N.C. Mackin Talent also has an office in Hartford, Conn. Contributed photo/Mackin Talent Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, the state Senate majority leader, speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new health and wellness center at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, in Norwalk, Conn. Jan. 22, 2024. Duff is one of the supporters of a bill that would establish a Connecticut-Ireland trade commission. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media About 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean separate Connecticut and Ireland. But it is an expanse that many companies are willing to cross to seek new opportunities. Pointing to the growing number of transatlantic connections, some business leaders and elected officials are pushing for passage of a bill in the General Assembly that would establish a commission focused on trade between Connecticut and Ireland. With business boosted by recently restored flights between the Hartford area and Dublin, proponents of the legislation argue that now is the time to capitalize on both sides of the ocean. Why I think a trade commission is such a great idea is because if theres a bit of weight behind us, there are potentially lots of businesses, not just in Ireland, but in other parts of Europe, that could come in and use Connecticut as a foothold in the U.S., said Andy Mackin, founder and CEO of Mackin Group, in a remotely held interview this week from his company's headquarters in Cork, Ireland. The human-resources business, Mackin Talent, has an office in Hartford. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Support for a new trade commission Among the bills backers is Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. In his testimony during a March 5 Commerce Committee public hearing, he noted that the commission would not require any state funds because it would fundraise through direct solicitation, or other fundraising events, as well as through gifts, grants and requests. This commission will provide nothing but a benefit to the state, Duff said. It will strengthen our international ties and enhance trade, and strengthen our economy without requiring the state to spend a cent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Duff also noted the establishment of the New Jersey-Ireland Trade Commission, which was created after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last June signed supporting legislation. Mark Daly, a senator in Ireland's national legislature, also endorsed the bill. One of the few benefits of Brexit is Ireland is now the largest English-speaking country left in the European Union, Daly said, during remote testimony during the hearing. And we are the gateway to a market of 450 million people (throughout the E.U.). Proof of that is there are 950 U.S. companies using Ireland as their access-way to the E.U. market. Written testimony submitted in recent weeks to the state legislatures Commerce Committee also shows the extent of support for the bill, SB248. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Connecticut and Ireland share a deep-rooted foundation in innovation, life sciences, green energy, academia, wrote the Ireland-Connecticut Business Council, which has more than 350 members, including the Mackin Group, in its testimony submitted to the committee. And together with this commission, we will see continued advances and expansion in these high-growth sectors that will benefit generations for many years" as the new trade commission would lead to "further cooperation and innovation with one of Europes strongest performing economies. The Commerce Committee has not voted on the bill, but a number of committee members appeared receptive to the proposal. State legislative leaders and Connecticuts governor would appoint the commissions members, who would submit their first report to the General Assembly by Feb. 1, 2026, according to the bill. Ireland has really reinvented itself on many fronts, said state Sen. Joan Hartley, D-Waterbury, the committees Senate chairwoman. We are very grateful to try to leverage and raise this working relationship. 'Connecticut was definitely more competitive' While a new trade commission would bolster transatlantic trade, business will likely keep growing anyway between Connecticut and Ireland, which last year, had estimated populations of about 3.6 million and approximately 5.3 million, respectively. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mackin said that while the effects of the pandemic have complicated hiring efforts in Connecticut, where Mackin Talent has operated since 2020, his company still plans to add employees in the state. Mackin Talent now has one employee who works full-time at the Hartford office, and two employees who work remotely out of that office, which is the business' sole location in the northeast. About 800 miles southwest, Mackin Talent also has an office in Rutherfordton, N.C. New York and Boston are extremely high cost in terms of setup of office space and all that stuff, Mackin said. Connecticut was definitely more competitive. We had easy access to both cities on the train-and-road network. We just felt that Hartford would be a good place to set up shop in the northeast region. Other signs of the ever-strengthening ties between Connecticut and Ireland include the resumption in March 2023 of Aer Lingus direct route between Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and Dublin Airport. The airline had suspended flights between Connecticuts flagship airport and the Irish capital since March 2020, as a result of the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Bradley, we can go directly there, Mackin said of Hartford. Its, literally, jump in a cab (from Bradley), youre at your hotel in 20 minutes. It just makes it so much easier for doing business. Its been really appreciated and welcomed that that route came back. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State funding is supporting the Aer Lingus route, which offers the only nonstop service between Bradley and a European city. After missing certain revenue goals for the route, Aer Lingus has received since 2018 a total of about $11.9 million in state grants for revenue guarantees, according to the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The state's strong connections to Ireland have encouraged a number of Connecticut-based companies to pursue expansions there. We have been actively trying to export our StanChem and Albi products to the E.U., and Ireland will likely be our gateway location to warehouse products for sale across the E.U. and Great Britain, Paul Stenson, CEO and president of StanChem Resins and Albi Protective Coatings, which are based in Berlin, said in written testimony, in support of the bill. Ireland is a very convenient location for Connecticut businesses to expand to because of language and cultural connections between the two regions. Irelands easy access to both Great Britain and the E.U. market is a significant advantage. Yemeni forces attack oil tanker off Hodeida coast IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Media sources reported on Friday that an oil tanker was targeted in the Red Sea. Reuters news agency quoted the British maritime security company as saying that an oil tanker was attacked by a missile 88 miles northwest of Hodeidah. It also reported that the tanker was damaged as a result of the attack, but there were no reports of casualties among its crew. In a relevant development earlier on Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had said that two vessels have been attacked west and southwest of the coastal Yemeni city of Hodeidah, with one merchant vessel having been damaged as a result of the attacks, Al Mayadeen reported. The first vessel has been attacked 50 nautical miles (58 miles) southwest of Hodeidah, the UKMTO said. The owner of the vessel has said two missiles had flown over the ship and detonated in the distance, adding that the crew was safe and the ship was not damaged. The ship continued its way to the next port of call, the UKTMO said on X. The second vessel has been attacked 76 nautical miles west of Hodeidah and has been damaged by a missile that hit it, the UK authority mentioned. "A merchant vessel has reported that they have been struck by a missile and the vessel has sustained some damage. The crew are reported safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call," the UKMTO said. The reported incidents came shortly after the US-UK aggression launched more than a dozen airstrikes on several districts in multiple Yemeni governorates. On early Friday, the US-British aggression launched three airstrikes on the coastal district of Abs on the Red Sea in Hajjah province northwest of Yemen, hours after the joint aggression targeted the neighboring Hodeidah province with 11 airstrikes. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni war drills simulate potential US-British ground attack IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemeni Army forces have simulated a potential US-British ground attack on the country. In war drills on Friday, the Yemeni forces practiced ways to fight a possible heliborne of the US and British forces into the country. This exercise was participated by one thousand fighters from engineering, anti-tank, sniper and artillery divisions as well as various types of vehicles. Based on the scenario, the US and British troops headed towards the sensitive areas where they faced Yemeni armed citizens before the arrival of the Army forces. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran takes US responsible for crimes in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that the US is responsible for the violations of all kinds of human rights and humanitarian laws due to its participation in equipping and arming the Zionist regime. Writing on his official X account on Friday, Kanaani referred to the US dispatch of food for Palestinian people as showy and hypocritical action as he said that the American government is providing full support for the Zionist war crimes. He also referred to the US propaganda against human rights conditions in Iran as a scape forward to nullify its own oppression and participation in the genocide and mass killing of the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. The political and instrumental use of human rights and international human rights mechanisms is part of the reality of American foreign policy, the spokesman said. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two vessels attacked off Yemen's Hodeidah: UKMTO IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has said that two vessels have been attacked west and southwest of the coastal Yemeni city of Hodeidah, with one merchant vessel having been damaged as a result of the attacks, Al Mayadeen reported. The first vessel has been attacked 50 nautical miles (58 miles) southwest of Hodeidah, the UKMTO said. The owner of the vessel has said two missiles had flown over the ship and detonated in the distance, adding that the crew was safe and the ship was not damaged. The ship continued its way to the next port of call, the UKTMO said on X. The second vessel has been attacked 76 nautical miles west of Hodeidah and has been damaged by a missile that hit it, the UK authority mentioned. "A merchant vessel has reported that they have been struck by a missile and the vessel has sustained some damage. The crew are reported safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call," the UKMTO said. The reported incidents came shortly after the US-UK aggression launched more than a dozen airstrikes on several districts in multiple Yemeni governorates. On early Friday, the US-British aggression launched three airstrikes on the coastal district of Abs on the Red Sea in Hajjah province northwest of Yemen, hours after the joint aggression targeted the neighboring Hodeidah province with 11 airstrikes. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ansarallah says will target Zionist ships in Indian Ocean IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Ansarallah spokesman Mohammad Abdussalam has said the Yemeni movement will target Zionist-linked ships sailing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope. Writing on his official X account, he said that Ansarallah's decision has been taken after the Israeli Zionist regime escalated its aggression against Gaza. International shipping companies with ties to Israel must take this warning seriously and understand that any vessel associated with Israel is at risk of Yemeni missile strikes, he said. Yemen began a string of attacks against Zionist and Zionist-linked ships in Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea several weeks ago in retaliation for the regime's crimes against Gazan people. The Arab country has pledged to keep its maritime siege against the Zionist regime as long as the war in Gaza continues. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas condemns inaction of international community against genocide in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 15, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Hamas has condemned the inaction of the international community and the United Nations in the face of Zionist crimes in Gaza which it says serves as a green light for committing more heinous crimes. Hamas made the remarks in a statement following a Thursday Israeli shelling which targeted Palestinian people awaiting aid where hundreds of innocent people were killed or injured, Al Mayadeen reported. It pointed out that the Israeli crimes come with full support from the Biden administration, which protects the criminal entity from any international accountability. Hamas held the Biden administration responsible for the continuation of the Nazi-like massacres committed with US weapons and support. It called on the United Nations and the Arab League to urgently intervene to stop this genocide, to allow aid to enter through land crossings, and not to yield to the will of the Israeli occupation and its fascist policies. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We hope for Greek support for the practical implementation of the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model, says A. Anusauskas Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2024-03-15 International cooperation | Security and defense policy Meeting Minister of National Defence of Greece Nikolaos Dendias in Vilnius today Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas addressed bilateral defence cooperation, security situation and NATO agenda. The Ministers were particularly focussed on air defence. "An important decision was taken at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model. We expect assistance from Greece in the practical implementation of it before the NATO Summit in Warsaw this summer," said It would be an important signal about the Alliance's commitment to strengthen deference and defence," said A. Anusauskas. Ministers also discussed assistance to Ukraine. "The war in Ukraine is not over. The commitment of EU member states to support Ukraine has to be united, we support the position that the multilateral assistance to Ukraine must not dry out. I wish to thank Greece for joining the demining coalition for Ukraine that Lithuania and Iceland lead together. We need to send out a mutual message about our steadfast commitment to continue supporting Ukraine," said A. Anusauskas. Ministers also discussed the security situation in the South. According to A. Anusauskas, even though Lithuania's most pressing challenges arise from the East, the situation in the South, Middle East and the Mediterranean is monitored and taken seriously: Lithuania is looking into the options of contributing to the international efforts in those regions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen says launched first strike against US, Israeli vessels in Indian Ocean Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 1:59 PM Yemen's Armed Forces announce starting their pro-Palestinian operations in the Indian Ocean by targeting several Israeli and American ships in the body of water in protest at the Israeli regime's US-backed genocidal war against the Gaza Strip. The forces' spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced the developments in a statement, which he read out on Friday to the people attending the weekly million-march in support of Gazans in Sana'a. The forces, he said, "carried out three operations against three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean with a number of appropriate naval missiles and drones, and the three operations successfully achieved their goals." The forces have been targeting Israeli vessels or those "associated" with the occupying regime in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea since October 7, when Tel Aviv began the war in response to a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements. The war has so far killed nearly 31,500 people, mostly women, children, and adolescents. Saree's statement came only a day after Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement, announced that the Yemeni forces were to expand their operations to include Israeli or Israeli-linked vessels that would pass through the Indian Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope. The spokesperson, meanwhile, announced that the forces had also struck an Israeli ship, which he named as "Pacific 01," in the Red Sea, targeting the vessel with "a number of appropriate naval missiles." The forces, he added, further carried out a strike against an American destroyer in the same body of water with "several drones," adding that "the operation successfully achieved its goals." Saree vowed that the Yemenis would continue their pro-Palestinian operations as long as the Israeli regime sustained the war and a simultaneous siege that it has been enforcing against Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens of Palestinian aid-seekers killed in Israeli attacks Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 11:11 AM Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks on people waiting for humanitarian aid in the besieged Gaza Strip. Gaza's health ministry said on Friday that Israel killed 21 people, who were waiting to receive desperately needed aid at the Kuwait Roundabout, southeast of Gaza City, and injured more than 150 others on Thursday. The Palestinians Information Center, however, cited the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor as saying that more than 60 people were killed and 160 others injured in the attack. Citing initial reports, the group said the casualties took place as the Israeli military forces opened fire on the civilians from tanks and helicopters and ran over a number of them. Noting that the number of Palestinians who had lost their lives while waiting for aid has exceeded 500 people, the group blamed the United States and the international community for the ongoing massacres in Gaza. The latest massacre came hours after eight people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on an aid distribution center at al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to health officials. The Israeli military, however, denied that its forces had opened fire on the aid-seekers, saying "Press reports that Israeli forces attacked dozens of Gazans at an aid distribution point are erroneous." The statement didn't specify which attack. On Wednesday, six aid-seekers were killed and dozens others injured at the Kuwait Roundabout. Also on Wednesday, Israel attacked a UN aid warehouse in southern Rafah that also caused an unspecified number of casualties. That comes as rights groups say Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians. The United Nations has warned that at least 576,000 people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, are on the brink of famine. A spokesman for the Civil Defense in Gaza has urged the UN and human right groups to stop such massacres, stressing that aid must enter Gaza by land to avoid more casualties. Israel unleashed its war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. Since the start of the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 31,000 Palestinians and injured more than 73,000 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel has failed to achieve any objectives in war on Gaza: Iran Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 10:57 AM Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the Israeli regime has failed to achieve any of its stated goals after more than 160 days of a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the signs of the occupying regime's historic defeat have become conspicuous. Amir-Abdollahian, in a message released on Thursday night, felicitated the leaders of resistance groups as well as resilient and steadfast Lebanese and Palestinian nations on the advent of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. In the message addressed to Secretary-General of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh, and Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the Iranian minister hailed all resistance forces for standing out against the "hateful and criminal Zionist regime." He went on to pay homage to "the respectable families of the martyrs and those wounded in the ongoing conflict, as well as to the resilient and steadfast nations of Lebanon and Palestine." "Muslims worldwide have welcomed this sacred month as the occupying regime of al-Quds continues to perpetrate crimes against humanity and genocide against the oppressed Palestinian nation, particularly the vulnerable women and children of this revered land," he said. "This comes whilst responsible international institutions, like the United Nations Security Council, have failed to adopt effective and deterrent actions aimed at halting the genocide being committed by the Israeli regime," Amir-Abdollahian stated. The top Iranian diplomat went on to denounce the inaction of the so-called advocates of human rights in the face of Israeli crimes across Palestinian territories, praising the "heroic, dignified, and historic resilience of resistance forces and the steadfast Palestinian nation against the regime that is armed to the teeth and emboldened by the US administration's all-out support." "In light of these dignified and honorable efforts, the Zionist enemy has failed to achieve any of its declared objectives, and the signs of this regime's historical failures have become evident." "With sincere and unshakable faith in the assured fulfillment of God's promise of victory, I solemnly commemorate the memory of all martyrs of the resistance front during these virtuous and luminous days and nights," he concluded. Since the start of Israel's genocidal war following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements on October 7, 2023, more than 31,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have lost their lives. The Israeli military offensive has left a trail of destruction in Gaza, leaving hospitals in ruins and displacing around half of its 2.4 million residents. Israel has additionally enforced a comprehensive blockade on the coastal sliver, severing the supply of fuel, electricity, sustenance and water to the population of over two million Palestinians residing there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There are several bills and decisions happening this legislative session likely to affect Hartford. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media HARTFORD Connecticut's capital city is regularly a large benefactor of state funding, and this year is no different. There are several bills being considered by the state legislature as well as the composition of the state budget that could have an effect on Hartford's finances and future. The Connecticut General Assembly has been in session since Feb. 7 and will adjourn May 8. Here's what you need to know if you're a Hartford resident concerned about the city's future. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 1. Bill to end concentrated poverty While the bill hasn't formally been introduced, Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, said it is coming. Fonfara, who previously ran an unsuccessful campaign to be mayor of Hartford, is hoping to pass a bill that will target pockets of concentrated poverty statewide. But since Hartford has several census tracts that would qualify as "high-poverty areas," the bill would be of particular interest to residents in the capital city. An area is considered high poverty if at least 20 percent of residents are below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Census. State Sen. John Fonfara is looking to introduce a bill that would eliminate concentrated poverty by census tract. Emily DiSalvo/ Hearst Connecticut Media "If you're a child growing up in an area that is considered concentrated poverty, it affects your life throughout," Fonfara said. "It shortens your life. Your income is lower. Your chances of being incarcerated are greater. Schools are poor, bad. Crime is high." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fonfara says his bill requires various state agencies, including the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Housing, to work with a municipality in which a high-poverty tract exists to develop a 10-year plan to lower the percentage of residents who live below the poverty line. In one Hartford census tract, 69 percent of people live below the poverty line. Fonfara explained that concentrated poverty is his priority because studies show that it is the biggest indicator of future success in life. "If you live in Avon, you may be poor, but maybe your best friend's father is CFO at Stanley Black and Decker and he gets you a summer job and you're on your way," Fonfara said. "The kid in Hartford doesn't have that friend who has that relationship because he's poor too, and his father's poor." 2. State education spending In Gov. Ned Lamont's proposed budget, which the legislature will decide upon this session, he removed a tuition cap that would limit the amount of money districts like Hartford are forced to spend on magnet school, open choice, and charter school tuition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hartford Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez spoke before the legislature about the implications of the decision on the district. "The elimination of the education reform returns the state back to its multi-tiered choice payment system and it shifts the entire burden of tuition costs back to districts," Torres-Rodriguez said at a Feb. 15 press conference in the legislature. "And historically disadvantaged and marginalized communities should no longer face the financial burden of paying other school districts to educate their children." Torres-Rodriguez estimated this decision would put a $11 million burden on the district's budget, which already has proven difficult to balance. 3. House Bill 5477 on blight Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam went to the state Capitol on March 13 to testify on "An Act Concerning Penalties For Blight Upon Real Property, Municipal Agreements To Fix Assessments and a Personal Property Tax Exemption." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Arulampalam, the former CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, has been a longtime advocate for curbing blight in the city and giving municipalities more power when it comes to cracking down on absentee landlords. The bill would allow larger properties to be treated differently than smaller properties when it comes to blight. Buildings of six to 40 units and those above 40 units would face fines at a different rate than smaller properties. "This is necessary in cities like Hartford and elsewhere because we have got these large-scale commercial properties that speculators hold on to and don't want to move because they see the long-term investment in it and have no concern for the impact on our community, have no concern for the impact on the residents of the community," Arulampalam said in his testimony. Mayor Arunan Arulampalam (left) testified on behalf of a bill that would make it easier for Hartford and other municipalities to crack down on blight. Emily DiSalvo/ Hearst Connecticut Media In his testimony, he said blight in large properties isn't just about the aesthetics of a property or neighborhood it's a public safety issue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "These are the properties in which we see crime, in which residents in neighboring properties see loss of property values and tend to be some of our biggest problem properties," Arulampalam said. 4. Senate Bill 143 on No Fault Evictions A bill being pushed by tenants and tenant unions statewide would ban "no fault evictions," a big deal in Hartford where approximately 75 percent of residents are tenants. According to The Eviction Lab, in Hartford there have been 6,656 eviction filings in the last year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The bill would ban evictions without a cause in buildings with five or more units. The Senate Housing Committee passed the bill in March amid a bitter back-and-forth between Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, and tenants who came to testify. Tenant organizers have argued that landlords have moved to evict tenants or have refused to renew leases of tenants who have requested maintenance requests as a form of backlash. But under the new bill, only tenants who do not abide by the rental agreement or pay rent could be evicted. "This class of evictions is used as explicit retaliation but also as an always-in-the-background threat of, 'If you rock the boat, we can kick you out and we don't have to prove why,'" said Luke Melonakos-Harrison, a Connecticut Tenants Union leader in his testimony. "It really hangs like a shadow over anyone who's a tenant who's dealing with issues." 5. Funding for free student meals In February, legislators introduced a bill to provide funds to reimburse the district for the difference between the federal reimbursement rate for reduced-price and fully paid school breakfast and lunch program meals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As of the 2023-24 school year, 78 percent of Hartford students are deemed eligible for free or reduced school meals, contrasted with 44 percent statewide. Hamas presents 'comprehensive' Gaza truce proposal Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 10:02 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has presented a ceasefire proposal that includes prisoner exchange and delivery of aid to the people in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a statement late on Thursday, Hamas announced that it had handed the new proposal to mediators, Egypt and Qatar. It said that the "comprehensive" plan involves a ceasefire in Gaza, the delivery of aid, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and the Israeli military's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. "The rights and concerns of our people shall remain our top priority," it added. The movement did not announce details of the plan, however, Reuters News Agency reported on Friday that the proposal entailed the release of women, including "female recruits", children, elderly, and ill captives in exchange for the release of 700-1000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the initial exchange. Hamas said it would agree on a date for a permanent ceasefire after the initial exchange of captives and detainees, and that a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would be agreed upon after the first stage, according to the report. All captives and detainees from both sides would be released in a second stage of the plan, according to the report. The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed any hope for a pause in the war in Gaza after it said the new Hamas position was based on "unrealistic demands." Some 2.3 million people in Gaza started Ramadan on Monday as the Israeli regime continued with a merciless onslaught that has killed more than 31,300 people since it started in early October after Hamas led an unprecedented operation against Israeli settlers and military forces. International organizations had aimed for a ceasefire that could allow the delivery of aid into Gaza and the freedom of Palestinian prisoners in return for release of captives taken by Hamas during its October 7 blitz. That comes as sources close to the indirect negotiations involving Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators say that Israel's refusal to accept key conditions set by Hamas is the main obstacle in the way to reach a ceasefire agreement for Gaza. Hamas authorities have said they would not agree to anything short of a permanent ceasefire while calling for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the unconditional return of displaced people to their homes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mar. 14: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 8:30 AM By Press TV Website Staff Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 31,272 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. The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Wednesday, March 13, are as follows: Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Mar. 14: Targeted illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip with a barrage of rockets. Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on Mar. 14: Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with an RPG on the axis in Hamad Town, west of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza. Targeted another Israeli military vehicle with an RPG at the same location moments later. Hezbollah's operations on Mar. 14: Eastern sector: At around 15:15 local time, the Al-Samaqa site in Kafr Shuba was targeted with missiles. At around 15:15 local time, the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site Kafr Shuba was targeted with missiles. At around 20:30 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted inside the Bayad Blida site with artillery shells. Western sector: At around 15:35 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted inside the Al-Malikiyah site with artillery shells. At around 17:10 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Karantina Hill were targeted with appropriate weapons. At around 22:15 local time, Israeli soldiers were targeted in the vicinity of the Al Raheb site with artillery shells. Iraqi resistance's operations on Mar.14: Targeted the Israeli military's Palmachim air base with a kamikaze drone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK carry out new aerial aggression against Yemen Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 7:39 AM The US and UK have conducted new airstrikes on Yemen, as tensions remain high in West Asia over the Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip. Yemen's al-Masirah TV said Hajjah Governorate was targeted three times on Friday. Hajjah borders the Red Sea to the west. The crucial waterway has witnessed tensions over the past months as the Israeli war on Gaza continues. Yemeni armed forces have been attacking Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea to force the regime to stop its genocide in Gaza. The US and the UK launched airstrikes on Yemen in mid-January for what they called protecting international shipping. Yemen rejects their claim and has retaliated by targeting American and British ships in the Red Sea. It holds the two Western states responsible for the mounting tensions. Marine security monitors said Friday a missile strike damaged a ship in the Red Sea off Yemen after Ansarullah pledged to expand its operation. The British navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations, and security firm Ambrey, said a vessel had reported to have been struck by a missile and sustained "some damage" west of the Yemeni port of Hudaydah in the early hours of Friday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Yemen's armed forces. On Friday, Ansarullah spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam vowed to prevent Israeli-linked merchant vessels from sailing in the Indian Ocean. "Given the stepped-up Israeli military aggression against Gaza, we declare that Yemeni Armed Forces have intensified their retaliatory measures, and will now target Israeli ships traveling in the Indian Ocean on the way to the Cape of Good Hope [at the tip of South Africa]," he wrote in a post published on X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter. He added that shipping companies linked to Israel should take into serious consideration the threat to target merchant ships in the Indian Ocean, and bear in mind that any ship affiliated to the occupying regime will not be spared from Yemeni naval missiles. The remarks came hours after Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Yemeni Armed Forces would continue their retaliatory operations against Israeli-affiliated commercial vessels and prevent the passage of the ships even through the Indian Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope. About 34 Yemeni fighters have been killed since the Yemeni military began to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with the people of Palestine, Houthi said in a televised speech broadcast live from the capital Sana'a on Thursday evening. Houthi noted that 73 ships have been targeted in Yemeni operations in support of Gaza so far, adding rarely does any ship associated with the Israeli enemy pass through Bab al-Mandab. "This week, support operations included 12 operations targeting ships and barges, executed with a total of 58 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden," he said. "Our operations this time reached unprecedented ranges, with 3 operations reaching the Indian Ocean, by the grace of Allah," he added. "The total number of targeted ships and barges reached 73." Houthi underscored that the operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege on Gaza persist. Yemeni citizens have declared their full support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation, especially in light of the destructive war on Gaza that commenced on October 7 following the unexpected Operation Al-Aqsa Storm conducted by Palestinian resistance groups in the coastal sliver. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada stopped non-lethal military exports to Israel: Report Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 1:45 AM Canada stopped non-lethal military exports to Israel due to growing concerns over human rights violations in its war against the people of Palestine in Gaza, according to a Canadian newspaper report. The exports of non-lethal military goods and technology to Israel were paused two months ago, the Toronto Star reported on Thursday, quoting senior government officials who spoke to on the condition of anonymity. Applications for permits to allow Canadian companies to ship tens of millions of dollars worth of non-lethal goods and technology, which includes millions of dollars' worth of non-lethal goods and technology, has been in effect since January 8. The officials said Canada however continues to receive and review applications for non-lethal exports to Israel. The federal government of Canada has reportedly approved over $28.5 million in new export permits for military goods and technology to Israel in the war's initial two months. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted on Jan. 31 that Canada's arms permitting system is "one of the most stringent globally" but he emphasized that permits had not been issued since Oct. 7 when Israel launched its war on Gaza. Canadian govt. sued over military exports to Israel A group of Canadian rights activists last week sued the federal government to stop it from allowing companies to export military goods and technology to Israel. The lawsuit argued that Canadian laws prevent military exports to Israel because there is "substantial risk" they could be used to violate international law and commit serious acts of violence against women and children. The applicants include the Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights group, the Palestinian organization Al-Haq and four individuals. "Our policy on export permits has not changed. Canada has one of the strongest export controls systems in the world, and respect for human rights is enshrined in our export controls legislation," a spokesperson for the Global Affairs Canada department said. Since the start of Israel's genocidal war following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements on October 7, 2023, more than 31,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have lost their lives. The Israeli military offensive has left a trail of destruction in Gaza, leaving hospitals in ruins and displacing around half of its 2.4 million residents. Israel has additionally enforced a comprehensive blockade on the coastal sliver, severing the supply of fuel, electricity, sustenance and water to the population residing there. Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Hamas slams Israel's genocidal war Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas issued a statement on Thursday saying that the criminal Zionist occupation continues to commit massacres and genocide against the unarmed Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. "On Friday night, a massacre was committed by them, targeting a gathering of citizens waiting to receive relief aid at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City, resulting in dozens of martyrs and wounded, adding to the series of massacres and brutal targeting of unarmed civilians who are in the face of the Zionist policy of starvation," the statement said. "The failure of the international community and the United Nations to take action against the occupation army was effectively a green light to commit more horrific crimes, which are part of the genocide and ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people, fully supported by the administration of President Biden, who protects the criminal entity from any international prosecution," it noted. Hamas said that Palestinians hold the Biden administration "responsible for the continued massacres committed by the Nazi occupation army with open American weapons and support." "We call on the United Nations and the League of Arab States to urgently intervene to stop this genocide and to take all measures to introduce aid through the land crossings without succumbing to the will of the occupation and its fascist policies." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni military to expand operations against Israel-linked ships to Indian Ocean: Houthi Iran Press TV Thursday, 14 March 2024 10:53 PM The leader of Yemen's Houthis has said that the Yemeni armed forces will continue their retaliatory operations against Israeli-affiliated commercial vessels, preventing the passage of the ships even through the Indian Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope. About 34 Houthi fighters have been killed since the Yemeni armed forces began to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with the people of Palestine under attack in Gaza by Israel, Ansarullah leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech on Thursday. Yemeni forces have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against Israeli and Israel-bound ships since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's war on Gaza. Al-Houthi said 73 ships have been targeted in Yemeni operations in support of Gaza so far, adding rarely does any ship associated with the Israeli enemy pass through Bab al-Mandab. "This week, support operations included 12 operations targeting ships and barges, executed with a total of 58 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden," he said. "Our operations this time reached unprecedented ranges, with 3 operations reaching the Indian Ocean, by the grace of Allah," he added. "The total number of targeted ships and barges reached 73." Al-Houthi said that the operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege on Gaza persist. The United States and Britain began striking Yemen in January in order to dissuade the country from targeting Israeli ships which carry arms and logistics for the onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip. Al-Houthi said the Americans and the British have received "painful blows" from the Yemeni armed forces in retaliation. The American-British "aggression will not affect the escalating course of our operations in terms of range, momentum, precision, and strength," said Al-Houthi. "What can stop the Yemeni military's maritime operations is only the cessation of aggression and siege on Gaza," he noted. The American stubbornness and escalation of aggression result in only one outcome: the expansion of the conflict, the widening of the circle of war and events, and the tension of the situation at the regional level in general, he stated. He went on to say that the Yemeni armed forces will continue and effectively expand the range of the operations to reach areas and locations that the enemy never expected. Al-Houthi said what insures the navigation security in the Red Sea is for any country not to participate in the Israeli aggression against Gaza. He said the Americans and those who drag the United States towards the militarization of the Red Sea are the ones who undermine international navigation. "By the grace of Allah and His assistance, we aim to prevent the passage of ships associated with the Israeli enemy even through the Indian Ocean and from South Africa towards the Cape of Good Hope," he stated. "For this important, advanced, and significant step, we have begun to implement our operations related to it through the Indian Ocean and from South Africa towards the Cape of Good Hope," he said. There is absolutely no choice for the American and the British but to stop the aggression on Gaza and stop starving the people in Gaza, he declared. "Our human conscience, our religion, our morals, our dignity, our pride, our belonging to Islam, prohibit us from watching the oppression of Palestine or remaining silent about it," said Houthi. He added that the Yemeni military is in continuous development of capabilities and in constant expansion of the stance in its range, effectiveness, and impact. "The American's actions this week, involving aerial bombings and naval shelling, amounted to 32 bombing raids and strikes, which, as usual, were unsuccessful," he revealed. "The impact of the American raids and bombings is negligible regarding our missile and drone capabilities and in terms of continuing operations effectively to counter it, and in preventing ships associated with the Israeli enemy," he stated. He concluded by saying that the Yemeni armed forces are continuously escalating, and increasing capabilities to attack enemy ships. "No matter what the Americans do, they will not be able to stop us from supporting the Palestinian people in Gaza." Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they won't stop retaliatory strikes. The maritime attacks have forced some of the world's biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal. Since the start of Israel's genocidal war following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements on October 7, 2023, more than 31,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have lost their lives. The Israeli military offensive has left a trail of destruction in Gaza, leaving hospitals in ruins and displacing around half of its 2.4 million residents. Israel has additionally enforced a comprehensive blockade on the coastal sliver, severing the supply of fuel, electricity, sustenance and water to the population residing there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hanoi asks Beijing to abide by law while drawing baseline in Gulf of Tonkin Analysts say China's newly announced baseline is not in line with U.N. Law of the Sea. By RFA Staff 2024.03.15 -- Vietnam has requested that China respect international law and bilateral agreements with Hanoi after Beijing drew a new baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin. The baseline is deemed as "excessive" by analysts, with one suggesting the U.S. should conduct a freedom of navigation operation to challenge it. Radio Free Asia was the first Western media to report the announcement earlier this month of a new baseline that defines China's territory in the northern part of the area known in China as the Beibu Gulf. This baseline, which Beijing said was set in accordance with Chinese law, did not exist before. Vietnamese foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on Thursday said that "all coastal countries need to abide by the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)" when drawing the territorial baseline, used to calculate the width of the territorial waters and other maritime zones. She highlighted the necessity for these baselines to not affect the lawful rights and interests of other countries, including the freedom of navigation and the freedom of transit passage through straits used for international maritime activities. The spokeswoman stopped short of rejecting the new Chinese baseline and instead called on Beijing to "respect and abide by the agreement on the delimitation of the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin signed in 2000, as well as the 1982 UNCLOS." Beijing has yet to respond to Hanoi's statement but the Chinese foreign ministry's Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs said on its official WeChat account earlier that the announcement of the baseline was a necessary act to exercise national sovereignty and jurisdiction. Encroachment on shared waters The Gulf of Tonkin, or Vinh Bac Bo in Vietnamese, is highly important to both Vietnam and China not only in terms of economic development but also defense and security. After nine years of negotiation, in 2000 Hanoi and Beijing signed a Maritime Boundary Delimitation Agreement to clearly demarcate each other's territorial seas, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in the Gulf of Tonkin. Some analysts say the new baseline won't affect Vietnam's economic interests much as long as the signed agreement is observed but some are concerned that Beijing would use it as a pretext to push Hanoi to renegotiate the boundary agreement. "China's announcement of its baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin is a step up the ladder of escalation in its strategy of ratcheting up assertiveness in the South China Sea," said Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii. "The new baseline puts Vietnam's before a fait accompli," he said, "It gives reasons for China to question the agreement that Beijing and Hanoi signed off in 2000 and push the boundary closer to the Vietnamese coast." UNCLOS stipulates that the drawing of straight baselines "must not depart to any appreciable extent from the general direction of the coast, and the sea areas lying within the lines must be sufficiently closely linked to the land domain to be subject to the regime of internal waters." The new Chinese baseline at some points encroaches about 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) on international waters and on average, "it represents an encroachment of 20 to 30 nautical miles upon international waters," according to Vuving. "China's baseline in the Tonkin Gulf is not in line with UNCLOS and can be rejected by an international court," the security expert said. Challenging China's excessive claims "China's unilateral creeping excessive claims in other countries' maritime and territorial domains even while a border resolution instrument is in existence, are becoming a regular event," said Pooja Bhatt, an independent maritime security analyst. Vietnam, as well as other countries in the same situation, should protest against this move, raise the issue at bilateral level and also bring international attention to it, she said. "Keeping silence to save immediate Chinese backlash will harm countries' future territorial integrity and national interests." The new expansive baseline would affect freedom of navigation activities in the area as no foreign vessels or aircraft are allowed to make so-called innocent passage through a country's internal waters inside the baseline. China also requires permission or notification before a foreign warship can sail through its territorial sea, measured 12 nautical miles outward from the baseline. 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. Vuving from the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security suggested that several other countries may dispute China's new baseline and the U.S. "may conduct a freedom of navigation operation to physically challenge China's excessive claims." 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 The Azadi Briefing: Taliban's Investment In Iranian Port Signals Shift Away From Pakistan By Abubakar Siddique March 15, 2024 The Key Issue The Taliban has said it will invest around $35 million in Iran's strategic Chabahar Port, located in the country's southeast. The move announced in late February is seen as an attempt to lessen landlocked Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistani ports to access international markets. Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan, longtime allies, have plummeted in recent years. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistani militants. As bilateral ties have deteriorated, Islamabad has sporadically closed the border with Afghanistan, blocked the transit of Afghan imports, and increased taxes on Afghan exports to Pakistan.The moves have hit traders and the fragile Afghan economy hard. "Depending on a country that has been heavily involved in Afghanistan's affairs in such a critical area was not the right thing for Afghanistan," a senior Taliban official told told Arab News. "Particularly that the economy of the other country is closely tied with politics." Why It's Important: The Taliban's decision to turn to Iran to access international markets is a strategic move with regional implications. Access to the Chabahar Port reduces Afghanistan's reliance on Pakistan and gives it access to India, Islamabad's archenemy and Kabul's traditional ally. Islamabad has historically been Kabul's biggest trading partner, but Iran has taken its place in recent years. In Pakistan, foreign policy experts have expressed concern at Kabul's expanding trade ties with its other neighbors. "Pakistan-Afghanistan trade has dwindled from a high of $4 billion to less than a billion now," former lawmaker Mushahid Hussain Syed wrote on X, previously Twitter. According to the World Bank, Afghanistan's trade with India increased by 43 percent to $570 million last year. Since 2002, India has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in developing Chabahar and linking Afghanistan to the Iranian port. "As a competitor of Pakistan, India cooperates with any government in Kabul if its relations with Islamabad are tense," Nasrullah Stanikzai, an Afghan political expert, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. What's Next: The Taliban is following in the footsteps of the former Western-backed Afghan government, which saw the country's economic future linked with Chabahar. The cash-strapped Taliban, which remains unrecognized and sanctioned by the international community, is likely to increasingly turn to Iran to increase trade and develop the Afghan economy. What To Keep An Eye On The World Bank has said work has resumed on the Afghan section of a $1.2 billion project to build a power line from Central Asia to South Asia. Work on CASA-1000 was suspended after the Taliban forcibly seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. The World Bank announced last month that it would move forward with financing pylons and other infrastructure in the Afghan section. The Taliban confirmed the move last week. The project will allow Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to sell excess energy to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the summer months. Why It's Important: The project, if completed, would be a major boon for the Afghan economy because Kabul will receive cheap hydropower and substantial transit fees. CASA-1000 has long been seen by Afghanistan as part of its goal to be a regional hub of connectivity and trade. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-investment-iran- port-chabahar-pakistan-azadi-briefing/32863147.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Envoy Frustrated With Kurti's Refusal To Reverse Serbian Dinar Ban By Amra Zejneli March 15, 2024 PRISTINA -- Frustration is growing among Kosovo's Western backers, a senior U.S. diplomat told RFE/RL's Balkan Service, because of Prime Minister Albin Kurti's refusal to reverse a ban on the use of Serbia's dinar in the country's ethnic-Serb dominated north. The restriction, which bans financial institutions from using any currency other than the euro for local transactions, took effect on February 1, ratcheting up tensions between Serbia and Kosovo in the face of efforts by Washington and Brussels to get the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade back on track. "What is happening now with the decision of the Central Bank [of Kosovo] is that there are many [Kosovar] citizens who are feeling a lot of pain, people who are not getting their modest salaries," Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans U.S. Gabriel Escobar told RFE/RL after meeting with Kurti on March 15 at the end of a three-day visit. Kosovo is not a member of the European Union or its common currency area, the eurozone, but it unilaterally adopted the euro in 2002 to help bring monetary stability and to simplify and reduce transaction costs inside and outside the country. Belgrade, which has never acknowledged its former province's 2008 declaration of independence, still pays many ethnic Serbs at institutions in Serb-dominated parts of Kosovo in dinars. Many also hold their pensions and get child allowances in dinars. Escobar told RFE/RL during the interview in Pristina that Kurti had told him the decision to reverse the ban was not his to make. "The prime minister said that it was the decision of an independent institution (the central bank)," Escobar said. "We are talking about [people] with disabilities, pensioners, students -- the most vulnerable people -- and this decision has affected them very deeply," he said. The central bank argues that the change doesn't stop anyone from accepting money from any country, it just means the money is converted into euros. Still, it adds a layer of cost and complication to the daily lives of ethnic Serbs still tied to the dinar. The U.S. diplomat, however, said the dinar issue "will be a topic of discussion in Brussels" on March 19 when the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia are scheduled to meet, and that he still hopes a solution will be reached. Escobar decried what he called the lack of communication between Kurti's government and the United States, one of Kosovo's key Western allies. "We will always be a close friend of Kosovo, but that doesn't mean we're not going to have differences with individuals and with individual governments. And I think that's where we are right now, we are entering a period of a lack of communication. And we, at least from the American side, are doing everything that we can to repair that relationship," he said. Referring to Kurti's ruling party, Escobar admitted there is a "lot of frustration with this Vetevendosje government not just in Washington, but in Brussels, Rome, Berlin, and Paris as well." Escobar has previously warned that the ban on the circulation of the Serbian dinar impacts the most vulnerable people in the Serb community. The decision "has caused some real hardship for some of the citizens of this country," he said. Separately, the EU has warned both Kosovo and Serbia that refusal to compromise on the issue jeopardizes both countries' chances of joining the 27-member bloc. Diplomatic sources have told RFE/RL the March 19 meeting in Brussels is expected to cover the sequencing plan for the implementation of the agreement on the path toward normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia among other issues, including the dinar. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-kosovo-dinar- ban-us-envoy-escobar-kurti/32863361.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 Ban On Serbian Dinar Has Created Challenges In U.S. Relations With Kosovo, Envoy Says By RFE/RL's Balkan Service March 15, 2024 PRISTINA -- A senior U.S. diplomat on March 14 said a regulation on the use of the Serbian dinar in northern Kosovo has caused problems for some citizens in the region and challenges for the U.S.-Kosovo relationship. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said Kosovo's controversial decision on the dinar is "an issue that we need to address immediately." Escobar, speaking to reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, said that the United States remains the most reliable and committed partner of Kosovo, but the dinar issue has presented challenges in the relationship. "To be honest, these challenges are due to the current treatment of the Serbian minority. It is unfortunate that we have to go through this situation," he said. Escobar, who is on the second day of a visit aimed at restarting normalization talks between Kosovo and Serbia, told reporters that he had a good and open conversation with Kurti, who he said promised to review some of his proposals related to the issue of prohibiting the use of the Serbian dinar. Even though Kosovo is not a member of the European Union or its currency zone, it unilaterally adopted the euro in 2002 to help bring monetary stability and to simplify and reduce transaction costs inside and outside the country. Belgrade, which has never acknowledged Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, still pays many ethnic Serbs at institutions in Serb-dominated parts of Kosovo in dinars. Many also hold their pensions and get child allowances in dinars. Escobar said no one can remain unaffected to hear how the most vulnerable people in the Serb community are being affected by the new dinar regulation. The decision "has caused some real hardship for some of the citizens of this country," he said. "The prime minister accepted this and promised to look at some of the proposals I presented to him today," Escobar said after the nearly two-hour meeting with Kurti. The restriction, which bans financial institutions from using any currency other than the euro for local transactions, took effect on February 1. It has also fueled Western concerns about regional tensions escalating as a full-scale war rages in Ukraine, while Washington and Brussels struggle to get the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue back on track. Brussels has warned both that refusal to compromise jeopardizes both countries' chances of joining the bloc. Kurti said that during his meeting with Escobar he expressed readiness to address current issues and informed Escobar of the steps taken to facilitate the implementation of the regulation on the dinar. "Great to meet with...Escobar. Thanked him for U.S. support and stressed the need to hold Serbia accountable for the Banjska attack," Kurti said on X, formerly Twitter, referring to a deadly attack on September 24 by an armed group on Kosovar police officers in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo. Escobar also said he hoped the Kosovar government would be flexible during a dialogue meeting on March 19 in Brussels. Diplomatic sources told RFE/RL that the meeting will be at the level of chief negotiators. It is expected to cover the sequencing plan for the implementation of the agreement on the path toward normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia among other issues, including the dinar. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-serbian-dinar- escobar-relations-kurti/32862672.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 Houthis Attack Three US, Israeli Ships in Indian Ocean Sputnik News 20240315 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Yemen's Houthis said on Friday that they have attacked three US and Israeli vessels in the Indian Ocean. "The Yemeni Armed Forces, within the framework of implementing these directives, carried out three operations against three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean, using a number of suitable naval missiles and drones, and all three operations successfully achieved their objectives," the statement said. The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce a multinational operation to secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces later launched multiple strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade their ability to target commercial vessels. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The plans for the Fairfield museum illustrate a ground-floor museum split between two rooms, one featuring the main display and another with large, interactive video walls, dubbed the "immersion gallery." Courtesy of Pablo Redondo The plans for the Fairfield museum illustrate a ground-floor museum split between two rooms, one featuring the main display and another with large, interactive video walls, dubbed the "immersion gallery." Courtesy of Pablo Redondo The plans for the Fairfield museum illustrate a ground-floor museum split between two rooms, one featuring the main display and another with large, interactive video walls, dubbed the "immersion gallery." Courtesy of Pablo Redondo FAIRFIELD Floor designs and dollar figures have placed the future of Irelands Great Hunger Museum into sharper focus as its highly anticipated opening remains years away. The museum's nonprofit completed a 40-page report this week outlining a $4.9 million budget for its move to Fairfield, likely slated for the Operation Hope building at 636 Old Post Road, where a makeover with stone walls and wooden columns would usher guests into a refurbished art and historical gallery. The museum expects to open there no sooner than 2026, but the report offers the first glimpse into the museum's future home since Quinnipiac University's Board of Trustees voted to terminate its former space in Hamden in 2021. "I think the space itself for Operation Hope right now is very conducive to what we're looking to build," John Foley, the president of the Great Hunger Museum, told Hearst Connecticut Media. "I don't think the renovations will be that extensive. All the rooms will be the same. It's just our vision of it is slightly different. We will be able to use state-of-the-art lighting, sound system an immersive museum." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Hamden museum chronicling the Irish Potato Famine had shut down in 2020 because of the COVID19 pandemic, but after Quinnipiac trustees voted to move the historic collection to Fairfield under the care of the Gaelic American Club, the museum's move to Fairfield has been on pause. Operation Hope, the Fairfield-based nonprofit combating homelessness, has continued to occupy the Old Post Road building as it searches for a new space, but Foley said the two nonprofits have worked together through the process united by common missions. "They are actually feeding hungry people, and that's something that we want to have, that we want to be able to work with them long into the future, to highlight hunger, realizing hunger's in our history," Foley said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mark Barnhart, the town's director of community and economic development, said the wait for the space could last another three years until the expiration of Operation Hope's lease with the First Congregational Church. He said the group has no plans to remain in the building after that point. Carla Miklos, the executive director of Operation Hope, did not return a request for comment. The museum's nonprofit will look to pull together the millions of dollars needed to complete construction and development for their opening in the meantime; Fallon said he's in talks for a state bond. The nonprofit needs nearly $1.2 million for the initial costs associated with the museum's launch, coming from lease payments and operational expenses, the report says. The total $4.9 million price tag includes $1.7 million for construction, $501,000 for development which includes design, project management and artifact relocation costs and more than $2.7 million to eventually buy the building. All the volunteers overseeing the Fairfield museum's creation are members of the Gaelic American Club, a group that includes Foley. The plans for the Fairfield museum show a ground floor museum split between two rooms, one featuring a main display and another with large, interactive video walls, dubbed the "immersion gallery." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Foley said visitors entering the museum will walk past stone walls meant to resemble those of Irish cottage,s and wooden columns, a reference to the ships transporting Irish immigrants across the Atlantic Ocean. An audio-visual display of stories from the Great Hunger would play by the front lobby, and the front gallery would include a stained glass artwork illustrating the events of the famine. Foley said the building's lower level will include a room for events and enough storage space to keep the first-floor exhibitions rotating. The top floor of the building would house administrative offices. A gift shop and conference room for meetings and lectures will also be on site, but the report does not specify their location. The museum is expected to attract an estimated 35,000 annual visitors, according to the report. Museum leaders said they expect the space to draw on the 7,500 visitors who visited the former Hamden site, coupled with a much more densely populated area in Fairfield. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The report states the museum will create 17 jobs six full time and 11 part time, in addition to about 50 volunteer museum guides. Museum officials expect to generate $1.29 million in annual revenue while operating with a $1.22 annual budget, they said. As he awaits an official opening, Foley said the museum has held temporary exhibitions in Albany and at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. He said he plans future appearances at Fairfield and Sacred Heart universities and the American Irish Historical Society in New York City. His mission is to keep the museum in the public eye in the buildup to a major fundraising kick, meant to ensure the memory of Irish immigrants lives in the heart of Fairfield for years to come, he said. "The art is worth waiting for," Foley said. "The vision that we're looking for is worth waiting for." Secretary Blinken's Meeting with IAEA Director General Grossi US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 15, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi today in Vienna, Austria. The Secretary and Director General Grossi discussed nuclear safety, security, and safeguards issues, including the IAEA's presence at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Secretary reiterated the United States' strong support for the IAEA's global nuclear nonproliferation verification mission, including in addressing outstanding verification issues in Iran. He also noted the IAEA's critical role in helping Member States develop and benefit from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, science, and technology to aid in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including to meeting the challenge of global climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Minister for Foreign Affairs Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson March 15, 2024 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Peru. Begin Text Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea met on March 14 in Washington, D.C., to discuss a wide range of shared values and interests, including democracy and human rights, rule of law, and cooperation on regional security, trade, investment, and migration. They emphasized the importance of further strengthening the strategic partnership between our countries, including through the first High-Level Bilateral Dialogue between Peru and the United States, scheduled for May 9, 2024, in Washington, DC. They also reaffirmed our joint commitment to advance economic initiatives under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which the United States hosted last year and Peru is hosting this year. The Secretary and Minister agreed to establish a working group to reinforce our cooperation to enhance citizen security and bolster the fight against transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking and related offenses. Agreeing on the need for a safe, prosperous, and democratic Haiti, they underscored the importance of supporting a successful deployment of the Haiti Multinational Security Support mission in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2699 (2023). Both parties concurred that democracy is indispensable for stability, peace, economic and social development, and respect for human rights, and that strong and independent institutions and the separation of powers are crucial to healthy democracies. Recognizing the significant beneficial outcomes for the people of both countries of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement , which entered into force 15 years ago, and our shared goals to build a more resilient and prosperous region though the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP), the Secretary and Foreign Minister prioritized promoting more investment in strategic areas such as energy - including critical minerals that are necessary for energy transition - and sustainable infrastructure. The Secretary welcomed Peru's invitation for a U.S. business mission to visit Peru. The Secretary and Minister reaffirmed both countries' commitment to inclusive and sustainable economic growth that respects the environment. The Secretary and Minister recognized the global and regional challenges posed by migration and the importance of prioritizing the protection, safety, and socio-economic integration of refugees and migrants, in accordance with the principles of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. They renewed their commitment to further cooperation on this matter. In recognition of Peru's rich culture and history and the success of our cultural property agreement, the United States Government returned to Peru an important 16th century document recently recovered by the FBI. This rare work, dated June 28, 1599, is a contract for the formation in Lima of the first-ever theatrical company in the Americas. End text NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg At a Joint Press Availability US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Federal Chancellery Vienna, Austria March 15, 2024 MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the press conference on the occasion of the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Vienna. Following the remarks of the two ministers, there will be time for some questions. And I would like Mr. Schallenberg to give his remarks. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: To the Secretary of State, dear Tony, ladies and gentlemen, a very warm welcome to you. It's a real treat and pleasure to have you here in Vienna, and I believe your presence is not only a visible sign of our strong partnership - only a year ago, I had the pleasure to visit you in Washington, D.C. - it is also - very much appreciate sign of your support for the work of the UN, or the United Nations, and in particular, the UNODC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. And I can tell you that Austria is a very committed member of your Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. I believe the fight against the scourge of organized crime and drug trafficking needs our full attention and more than less international cooperation. And you can be assured that we will stand together with our partners in this fight. Together with the chancellor, Karl Nehammer, we had a very good exchange on a number of geopolitical hotspots which are on top of our, again, agenda on both sides of the Atlantic - either Russian continued war of aggression against Ukraine, the dire situation in the Middle East, or the stabilization of the Western Balkans. And the convergence - our convergence on these issues illustrates a strong and solid foundation on which the Austrian-American strategic partnership is built. And our partnership, and if I may say so, our friendship - also personal friendship - is not only based on common interests, it is more based even on common values and our common commitment to the rule of law, to checks and balances, to democracy, and to fundamental freedoms. And, yes, you have probably heard me very repeatedly say that I believe that Europe and the U.S. have probably taken each other too much for granted over the last couple of years, but this has fundamentally changed, I believe. And in these trying times, we realize that we do not only share but we also have to defend the values that unite us. And in face of Russian's aggression against Ukraine, including its hybrid actions and activities, it is more important than ever that we continue to stand together side by side. And I believe very strongly that how we act together now will significantly impact on the way we are seen for the decades to come. We all know that others, other actors on this planet, watching us. And talking about the Middle East, here we are equally strongly like-minded countries. Our commitment to Israel's security and right to self-defense remains ironclad, but it is very clear that more needs to be done to protect civilians in Gaza. Humanitarian law, and that is very clear, applies to everyone, everywhere. And without doubt, we know that the military offenses - offensive in Rafah, without a credible plan what to do to protect the civilians, will trigger only terror and disaster. We urgently need a humanitarian pause to get the hostages out of Gaza and more humanitarian aid into Gaza. And we should never forget that among these over 130 hostages, there's one Austrian-Israeli family father who now for 161 days is in the hands of Hamas. And in this respect, I'm extremely thankful, not only to the vital role of the United States, but also to your personal tireless and extraordinary commitment of engagement in the region. And I welcome any initiative that enables more humanitarian aid to reach the people in Gaza. The Austrian Republic itself has offered 23 million euro in support, and I know that we are talking now about the sea or airborne help. I believe we have to do everything together to protect the people in need there. And we also discussed a region, which is a neighboring region to Austria which is close to our heart, which is the Western Balkans. And here again we are both committed to the European future of this region and its citizens. And I just wanted to point out, among the many things we do together, the Austrian - the Austrian-American program Speak Up - and Bosnia and Herzegovina is for me a prime example of the cooperation between the United States and Austria can really do a difference on the ground. And we know now that we have important decisions coming up: European Council on Bosnia and Herzegovina opening the accession talks. And there are still very strongly advocates for this step because in view of the - you could say the circle of fire surrounding Europe, we have to make sure that our immediate neighborhood is stabilized. And there's no vacuum in politics. So, either we manage to export our model of life, our stability, our security, or we risk being confronted with growing insecurity and instability. And let me add finally on a more bilateral note that the United States is not only our second biggest trade partner in export market, and significant investments are actually ongoing in United States, but I'm also extremely happy to see how our strategic partnership is prospering, also thanks to the work of the - of our Austrian ambassador and Washington ambassador - American ambassador here in Vienna. I'm happy to say that we - just a couple of weeks ago - signed the Working Holiday Program, which is a very good thing; and the Austrian-American Media Fellowship Program, which we already launched a couple of years ago, is proving to be a true success story. So, I believe with these programs we push our strategic partnership on a new level, and this level should be even expanded. We need more than less people-to-people contact. We want more exchange, more dialogue. We have to understand each other. And I believe in this year, 2024, it's probably more important than in others. We have important elections coming up in Austria and in the United States. On all these issues, I can assure you Austria is a strong partner, and for us, you are an indispensable friend. And again, on this note, thank you for being here. And I'm happy to welcome you and happy for the talks we have here in Vienna, and we had already in the past. Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you, Minister. Mr. Secretary, the floor is yours. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Minister Schallenberg, Alexander, my friend, my colleague, thank you. Thank you for the incredibly warm welcome, and my thanks as well and especially to the chancellor for the extremely productive, and in-depth conversation that we just had. I greatly appreciate it and value it. And yes, the fundamental fact is that we have deep appreciation for the friendship between Austria and the United States and the partnership between our countries, a partnership for freedom, for security, for prosperity. In so many ways, in so many places, our countries are working together to try to continuously move in that direction. Here in Europe, the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, but Austria has been a stalwart supporter of Ukraine from day one and a key member of an alliance of more than 50 countries coming together in different ways to support Ukraine. Austria may be militarily neutral, but it is very much not politically neutral. And we see that in the extraordinarily generous support that the Austrian people have provided to Ukrainian refugees. We see it in the humanitarian assistance that Austria is providing to people in Ukraine and, of course, the strong support for the European Union sanctions to try to make sure that the Russians and Putin don't have the resources to continue to fuel the war machine that continues this aggression against Ukraine. We discussed this. We discussed as well the energy situation for Europe, and here, I have to say what's happened over the last couple of years is quite remarkable: the move away from dependence on Russian energy. The United States has very much supported this move, including with liquefied natural gas. And we discussed the ongoing transition that countries are making really redrawing the energy map of Europe at a critical time. As the foreign minister mentioned, we're also collaborating on other key regional priorities, and notably the Western Balkans. And here, I really have to commend Austria's longstanding leadership and the foreign minister's personal leadership and engagement. This is something that is near and dear to our hearts, and especially President Biden, because for the President and for me - when I started out the 1990s, so much of the focus of the world was on the Balkans, on Bosnia, on Kosovo. And one thing we don't need, that Europe doesn't need, and especially the people of the Western Balkans don't need is a back-to-the-future moment, where we find ourselves back in the 1990s. And thanks to the engagement of Austria, the leadership of Austria, we're moving decisively in a different direction, a positive direction, a direction in which the Western Balkans is genuinely integrated with Europe. We share the goal of a democratic, prosperous, peaceful region integrated with the rest of Europe. The European Commission's recommendation to open accession talks and negotiations with Bosnia Herzegovina is something that's very welcome. We fully support their Euro-Atlantic path, including with the European Union. And we also encourage the leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to move past divisions to pursue reform, reform necessary to move down the path toward the EU. And here, we really benefited from the foreign minister's insights, not just from his recent visit but from all his engagement. And here, we will continue to partner strongly. The foreign minister mentioned the emerging voices program that we have together. We want to make sure that this new generation and the region that its voice is heard, because it's a voice for peace, for security, for stability, for opportunity, and that comes with the path toward the European Union. We're also working together to support an improvement of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. There, the EU-facilitated dialogue is the only viable mechanism, the only viable path forward. We need to see good-faith, constructive efforts by both Kosovo and Serbia to stabilize the relationship and to move down that path, keep tensions low, to increase coordination, to increase transparency with international partners, to implement all of the commitments that are in the dialogue. Austria is also, has long been, and remains a vibrant crossroads for the world and for the international community, hosting here so many UN agencies and organizations that are doing critical work to actually address the challenges that people are facing all around the world. One of my priorities for this visit was to spend time with the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs at their 67th session. It's the first time that someone in my position as secretary of state has actually taken part in this very, very important meeting. And I think it's a testament to our commitment to and our conviction that partnerships are the best way to address shared challenges. Now, why are we here today for that? It's pretty simple. In the United States, there is virtually not a town, a city, or a state that has not been affected and in some cases devastated by synthetic opioids - and notably fentanyl. More than 40 percent of the American people knows someone who died from an opioid overdose. The number one killer of Americans age 18 to 45 is fentanyl. So, this has to be - and this is - a priority for President Biden, for our administration, for our country. We've also seen that while we may have been the canary in the coalmine on one synthetic opioid, fentanyl, while we were first, unfortunately we're not last. And we see that as markets get saturated in the United States and even in our own hemisphere, the cartels, the criminal organizations, are trying to make markets elsewhere. That's one of the reasons, along with the fact that other drugs - methamphetamines, ketamine, Captagon - in different parts of the world, are having devastating impacts. And so, you're seeing countries increasingly come together because we know, because of the international nature of this challenge, that we have to work together if we're going to be effective. Last July the United States put together a global coalition to address synthetic drugs. We had about 80 countries at our first meeting; we're now up to over 151 countries and 14 international organizations. And that, again, is evidence of the fact that so many countries are seeing that this is a problem that already is or could soon be coming to them. And together, we are sharing best practices, we are developing initiatives, new policies, new programs, new approaches, to be more effective in dealing with the challenge of synthetic drugs. This global coalition has developed, through its working groups - 1,500 participants from all of these countries and these working groups - 120 new specific initiatives for how to effectively address the problem. And we very much appreciate Austria's very active participation in all three of the working - major working groups that we established. Today we announced the United States Government is taking some additional steps. We're advocating for the addition of two chemical precursors to the international control list. These are the ingredients that go into making synthetic drugs. And making sure that those key ingredients are controlled is one of the most effective ways to make sure that they're not illicitly transferred and turned into something like fentanyl. We'll sponsor a resolution on overdose prevention and response, on harm reduction, and we just pledged an additional $170 million for international efforts to address synthetic drugs through the UNODC, on top of the 100 million that we announced back in September. Finally, I had a chance as well to spend time at the IAEA, and met with Director General Grossi. We discussed the dangers to global security from Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and in particular, the threat that that has posed to the Zaporizhya nuclear power facility. The IAEA's efforts to prevent a nuclear catastrophe are in service of quite literally everyone on this planet. We also expressed support for the IAEA safeguards and verification mandate, something that is critical in a variety of places around the world. And in particular, we discussed how we can best support the director general's efforts to support full Iranian cooperation with its obligations. Beyond the regional, beyond the global partnership, as the foreign minister said, we have an incredibly strong bilateral partnership between our countries. And especially in times of challenge, there's no greater source of confidence, no greater source of strength, than the kind of friendship and partnership that we have with Austria. Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you, ministers. The first question - Mr. Schutz, APA. QUESTION: I wanted to ask a question to both of you. It's about Middle East because there are some brand-new issues. The Israel Government today has approved a military offensive on Rafah. What do you think about that? Is there a risk of a humanitarian disaster? FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: Okay. As I said already at the beginning - and I was just recently, 10 days ago, in the Middle East, and I had discussions on this issue among them with the - our Israeli colleague, Israel Katz, but also in Amman and in Ramallah. At the time, the Israeli - our Israeli friends told us that if an offensive on Rafah were to start, they would supply us with a credible plan on how to deal with the 1-point-plus million refugees, you might say - internally displaced Palestinians - who are now amassed in south of Gaza Strip. And I believe this is necessary. As I said, Israel has - it is in a dilemma. As a rule-of-law state fighting terrorists, it's a very unequal sort of fight - unequal fight. On the one side you have a terrorist organization, Hamas, not abiding, not respecting any rule, less even humanitarian law. But Israel has to measure itself by international law. And the decision or the plan, as far as I understand, is - doesn't mean yet that it will be executed immediately, simply that the prime minister was presented with a plan and that he has given a green light. SECRETARY BLINKEN: And I could - the easiest thing for me to do would be to say exactly what the foreign minister said because we have exactly the same position. But simply to repeat, President Biden has been very clear that given the large number of civilians in Rafah - about 1.4 million, many of whom, as the foreign minister said, have been displaced from other parts of Gaza - we have to see a clear and implementable plan not only to get civilians out of harm's way, but also to make sure that, once out of harm's way, they are appropriately cared for with shelter, with food, with medicine, with clothing, and we have not yet seen such a plan. MODERATOR: Thank you. Bloomberg, Mr. Marlow. QUESTION: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, thanks. I just have a few questions on Israel-Gaza, also. SECRETARY BLINKEN: A few? (Laughter.) QUESTION: Yeah. Please bear with me. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: (Off-mike.) QUESTION: We've seen increasingly critical comments from President Biden on Gaza in recent weeks, sanctions on West Bank settlers this week from the State Department, and Senator Schumer's call for Netanyahu to be replaced on Thursday, prompting Israel to say they're not a banana republic. What do you make of this broader deterioration in ties? And have relations gotten so bad that it could undermine broader U.S. efforts on negotiations about what happens the day after the war? Secondly, President Biden did call an invasion of Rafah a redline, and I know you just discussed this proposal, but it seems that Netanyahu's - the prime minister's office in Israel said that they're now reviewing a plan. Have U.S. officials seen that plan? And is a safe evacuation even possible given that there's 1.5 million people sheltering there? And just thirdly, a quick last one: Israel also said it's seen Hamas's counteroffer on the hostage ceasefire deal. Have U.S. officials reviewed that counteroffer? And does it look like a deal is within reach? And Foreign Minister Schallenberg, a senior U.S. Treasury official visited Vienna earlier this month, telling financial institutions here about the risk of potentially violating sanctions on Russia. Did you discuss this with the Secretary today? And have Austria's business ties with Russia affected diplomatic ties with the U.S. in any way? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Iain, thank you, and I also want to thank you on behalf of your colleagues since you were able to ask presumably their questions as well. (Laughter.) So, look, we are working every single day with the Israeli Government on all of the challenges that the situation poses to Israel, to Palestinians, to other countries in the region, and that's happening across our governments and it's happening on a whole variety of issues, including our commitment to help make sure Israel is able to defend itself and not ever see a repeat of October 7th; to make sure, though, at the same time, that more and better is being done to protect civilians in harm's way in Gaza, to get the humanitarian assistance they so desperately need to the children, to the women, and the men; to look at everything that needs to be done to prevent the conflict from spreading, including to the north with Hizballah, Lebanon, or more broadly in the region. And in each of these instances and so many more - and I'll come to the hostage question in a moment - we're working on a - almost more than daily basis with the Government of Israel. As past administrations have worked with Israeli governments, whatever party or persuasion they were, whatever party or persuasion our own government was, that's the nature of the relationship. Also, the nature of the relationship - and this is particularly true of President Biden, who has such a longstanding history with Israel - as he said and I'm sure you've heard him say, he's worked with every Israeli prime minister going back to Golda Meir. He speaks very directly, very candidly, very openly about our views, our perspectives, our thoughts with our partners. That's fundamental to the relationship. That's actually the strength of the relationship, to be able to speak clearly, candidly, and directly. On Rafah, as I've said - I won't repeat it, but you asked specifically have we seen the plan that has been alluded to now in the press, and the answer is no, we've not yet seen it. On the hostages, yes, there has been a counterproposal put forward by Hamas. I obviously can't get into the details of what that involves. But what I can tell you is we're working intensively with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt to bridge the remaining gaps and to try to reach an agreement. We have conversations that are happening now as we speak here, and I am convinced they'll go on into the coming days. Israel has sent back a negotiating team to pursue this. And I think it reflects the sense both of possibility and of urgency to get an agreement, to get a ceasefire, to get the hostages back, to get even more humanitarian assistance in. This is something that we're committed to, and we will work as long and as hard as it takes to get it done. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: May I add to this last point here? We see again very much eye to eye with our American friends. We talk about acts of violence of radical settlers, we talk about provocations on holy sites, settlements or calls for displacement. We are friends of Israel as well, but I believe it's up to friends to find open words, and our line is very clear, very much like yours. I've been already in the past calling for sanctions by the European Union on violent extremist settlers. I think their actions are extremely dangerous, and an act of lack of solidarity in the country which is in a fundamental crisis and fight for the time being. And to ignite a fire in the West Bank while the fighting has gone in Gaza is irresponsible and - fully irresponsible. On your question on Russia, we discussed the whole area of relationship with Ukraine, Russia. And it's no secret that Austria is heavily engaged, was heavily engaged in Ukraine and in Russia. We're the sixth biggest investor in Ukraine. Two hundred companies are still there and have remained, although war is raging there. And yes, Austrian companies were also present in Russia and are partly still present, as about 95 percent of all Western companies. There are American companies, a lot of them, that are in Russia too. From my perspective and as the foreign minister of Austria, it's very clear and there's no doubt and cannot be any doubt about it: Sanctions have to be respected fully, all sanctions in place. There cannot be any exceptions. And we talk very - in a very transparent and open manner on these issues with all our partners within the European Union, and also with our American friends. MODERATOR: Thank you. ORF. QUESTION: Alexander Kofler, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation. A question for Mr. Secretary: What do you think - because you spoke about the energy markets in Europe, what do you think about the still strong dependency of Austria on Russian fossil fuels, gas, and so on? Is there a way for the U.S. to support Austria to become more independent from Russia? Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. I think the reason that we're all - and by "all," I mean the United States, Europe, and others - are so focused on this issue is because Putin uses energy as a weapon. He's very effectively weaponized it over the years, and the dependence that built up over many decades in Europe on Russian energy, well, we see the consequence and the price of that. That's why what's happened over the last couple of years in Europe more broadly, moving away in ways that I don't think people could have imagined just a few years ago from that dependence, is so important - because it takes away the strategic weapon that Putin has made of energy. Now, different countries have different energy relationships with Russia, again, that had built up over many, many decades. So, it's not always easy to change these things in one moment. It's a process and it's a transition, but I think we see some very important steps that Austria has taken and is taking. And to that end, for the United States, as we've done with many partners in Europe, we want to be able to help, and we have with LNG, liquefied natural gas. We'll continue to do that. The other thing that's, I think, very beneficial in this moment is it's also an opportunity for countries to focus and double down on the transition away from fossil fuels. Again, it's a transition, it's not a light switch, but Austria is a company - is a country that's leading by remarkable example when it comes to renewables in its energy economy, setting a very, very strong example. But I think there are opportunities here to do even more. And, by the way, one of the things that we talked about at the IAEA, again not specific to Austria but just in general, are the opportunities that now exist for nuclear power, including small modular reactors and other new technology that can make a big difference. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: May I add maybe SECRETARY BLINKEN: Please. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: for the American journalists - the line of the Austrian Government is very clear. We want to move out of Russian gas, because as you said, rightly, for the first time we saw that it can be weaponized. It can be used to exercise pressure. And that is something which I have to point out we - the first agreement between the OMV, the Austrian company, and Gazprom goes back - dates back to 1968. Soviet Union fell apart, they delivered, we paid. Iron Curtain fell, they delivered, we paid. Nobody ever, ever used gas or grain or any other of these products as a leverage. Putin is the first one. It wasn't Andropov; it wasn't Chernenko. It wasn't anybody of those. It wasn't the Soviet Union. Putin was the first one. So, we - and yes, we, we have probably over the decades - because it was comfortable, it was possible - created a dependency, but we have moved out now aggressively to a certain degree, and we will continue doing so. The aim of the Austrian Government is to be 100 percent independent of Russian gas by 2027. MODERATOR: Thank you. And there's one last question. New York Times - Mr. Crowley, please. QUESTION: Thank you both. Secretary Blinken, the good news is I have no more questions than my colleague did. (Laughter.) The bad news is I do have a multipart question. On Iran, there was a report this week that the U.S. has conducted secret indirect talks with Iran, in part about its nuclear program. Is there any chance you would comment on that and say what our current message to Iran about its nuclear program might be? Also related to Iran and since you have both talked about Ukraine, what is your latest sense of the possibility that Iran will supply missiles to Russia, presumably for use on the battlefield in Ukraine? And what would be the U.S. and Western response to that? And then very briefly on Haiti, it's now been more than three days since your trip to Jamaica and the agreement that established plans for this transitional council to appoint members. We were told that would happen within a day or two. We're now about three or four days past that. There are some reports that that process is not going so well. Are you concerned that that process is breaking down, and is there a plan B if it does? And Mr. Minister, a question that I'm sure is a very familiar part of the debate here in Austria but less familiar to Americans: Now that Sweden and Finland have abandoned their own military neutrality, and joined NATO because of their concerns about Russian aggression, I wonder if you could talk about whether there's any rethinking of Austria's own neutrality and any prospect that you might consider NATO membership in the foreseeable future. Thank you both. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Michael, with regard to Iran, our message is clear and it's public and it's a message that's shared by many others countries, notably by France, by the UK, by Germany, by the European Union, which is to stop taking steps to increase its nuclear capacity by spinning more centrifuges and by enriching more uranium, and to move in the other direction. And we've been very clear about that. One of the reasons I was here at the IAEA today was precisely to talk about the work the IAEA is doing to try, despite the very challenging circumstances, to make sure that it's monitoring, verifying, and also holding Iran to its safeguard agreements and requirements that it has under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. So, this is something that we've been very clear on, and we're in very close coordination with European countries on this, with the EU, and also supporting the IAEA. And look, beyond that, I don't have anything to add, but I think there's - it's very clear what we - and by we, I mean all of these countries plus, more broadly, many in the international community - expect of Iran. On the question of Iranian missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, there too we've sent very clear messages to Iran not to do it. And this has been the subject of considerable conversation among a number of countries in Europe and the United States, and I think that the concern about that eventuality and the commitment to address it - if necessary, is very real and very strong. On Haiti - so this is never going to be smooth, never going to be linear. An agreement was reached - a Haitian-led agreement was reached to move to a new transitional administration, a presidential council, one that would be inclusive, that would bring in all the major stakeholders, all the major parties; that would have responsibility for naming a new prime minister - an interim prime minister - naming a national security council, an electoral commission - all with the objective of putting Haiti clearly on the path to elections and to restrengthening its democracy. What we've seen over the last 24 hours is there's seven seats on this transitional council, and most of the parties or stakeholders that were given a seat have actually named their representative to the council. There are a couple that still haven't so that's a work in progress, but we've seen that move forward. Relatedly, but separately, is the whole question of security in Haiti, because moving forward on a political transition and getting to elections - being able to provide humanitarian assistance to get it to people who need it, as well as helping the economy develop - that - none of that happens if there is profound insecurity, which is what we've seen now with the gangs taking over parts of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, challenging the airport, challenging the ports, et cetera. So, as you know, we've been working for some many months now on having a Multinational Security Support force led by Kenya with the participation of other African countries, Caribbean countries, go in and support the Haitian National Police, help them regain control of Haiti. And that too is moving forward. We have made additional commitments to that force in terms of our financial contributions, our in-kind contributions. Other countries have stood up in recent weeks, including Canada, with substantial contributions to that force. Once the new council - the - is fully stood up - and again, I would anticipate that happens in the coming days - that process with the force will be able to move forward, and then we have a trajectory that has at least the chance of putting Haiti in a more stable place. But having said all of that, every single day there are challenges to that process. There are political challenges. There's security challenges. And we're working to address them, but the Haitian people are leading this process. This is their process, but they have strong support from countries throughout the region in the Caribbean and well beyond. And we'll continue to try to marshal that support and help them move forward. It's - look, it's challenging, but it is moving and we're committed to doing everything we can to support it. FOREIGN MINISTER SCHALLENBERG: On your question of neutrality - thank you, by the way, because it gives me the opportunity to maybe clarify one of the other point - you're right to point out that Sweden and Finland took the decision to join NATO. I believe we have to take - we have to be aware that the geographic position - the history of neutrality in these countries, which were actually non-aligned - that's neutral - is very different. And after the experience of the First and Second World War, which actually started in Central Europe, when we adopted the constitutional law on everlasting - and we call it everlasting neutrality - it was a very important intellectual and emotional step for us, and it became part of our self-perception to a certain degree in this country. According to the Swiss model at the time was - the Swiss neutrality was actually the buzzword. And I want to point out one thing. Our neutrality is a strictly military neutrality. We are not neutral as far as values and principles are concerned. So, if a country - and it might be a permanent member of the UN Security Council - believes that he can kick out all the principles of the UN Charter and simply invade a neighboring country, we won't stand by idly and simply watch on. We have a very clear position. And that is not new. This is not invented by this government. I always point out in 1956, when Soviet tanks were driving through Budapest, the very young then, fully sovereign Austria - already then at the General Assembly of the UN - supported every resolution against the Soviet Union and even issued one or put one on the table themselves. So, our position has been always very clear, and if you ask why, then I can be very clear, too - because international law is for us not a luxury. It keeps us safe. We need a rule-based international order. We need other countries - whether they're big or small, whether they have nukes or not - to stick to the rules, to the principle of pacta sunt servanda. So, on these issues, Austria will never be neutral. But in military terms, and we show it in Ukraine, we don't deliver lethal equipment, but we deliver more humanitarian aid per capita than other countries. That is our approach in this crisis, and we continue on this policy. And I might add that the neutrality has a very strong public support in Austria. Nearly 80 percent of the people stand behind it. So, there is no question on this matter. We fully respect the decision by our friends in Finland and Sweden, but this is not the way we have an intention of going down this now. MODERATOR: Thank you, Excellencies. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And for those of you who are lucky enough, have a good weekend. Thanks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palais Briefing on the First UN mission to Khartoum State since war broke out in Sudan UNICEF This is a summary of what was said by Jill Lawler, Chief of Field Operations and Emergency for UNICEF in Sudan, to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 15 March 2024 GENEVA, 15 March 2024: Last week, I led a team of 12 UNICEF staff on a mission to Omdurman, Khartoum. It was the first UN mission back to Khartoum, which has been under near-constant fire since the war broke out in April 2023. Our objective was to understand as much as possible what the conditions are for children 11 months into the fighting, and to see first-hand the work we are supporting with local partners to deliver life-saving supplies and services, at least to the parts of Omdurman we were able to access. At Al Nau hospital, one of the only hospitals in Khartoum with a functional and very crowded trauma ward, we met with two young people who had recent amputations - two young lives changed forever - and we learned from the hospital director that about 300 people had limbs amputated in the hospital in just the past month alone. Doctors say that needs are growing. We saw two, sometimes three patients, sharing beds. Exhaustion among staff, many of whom are practically living in the hospital, and most of whom have not been paid regular salaries in months - is palpable, as is frustration at the lack of supplies, equipment and space. At another hospital, we visited with malnourished children and their caregivers in total darkness because of electricity outages. The backup generator had failed about a week prior, so they were working in the dark and sustaining critical cold chain vaccines with ice packs. As we near the summer months those ice packs simply won't last. During our visit, we learned that women and girls who had been raped in the first months of war are now delivering babies - some of whom have been abandoned to the care of hospital staff, who have built a nursery near the delivery ward. We saw the UNICEF-supported Al Manara water treatment plant, which is the only one still functioning out of 13 plants in the Khartoum area, providing safe water to about 300,000 people in Omdurman. It too has been damaged by the fighting and is working at just 75 per cent capacity, but will cease to function in two weeks unless more chlorine to treat water can be brought in for that population. Though we could hear sounds of artillery firing in the distance, there was a relative calm where we were, but there was an intense armed presence in the markets, on the streets and even in the hospitals. We saw many young people carrying arms. Not clear how old they were, but clearly young, and clearly not in schools, which have been shut since the start of the war. Hunger is pervasive - it is the number one concern people expressed. There's food in the market, but it is simply unaffordable for most families, due in part to a continued telecommunications blackout that is preventing families from receiving much needed mobile cash. We met one young mother at a hospital whose three-month-old little child was extremely sick because she couldn't afford milk, so had substituted goat milk, which led to diarrheal conditions. She wasn't the only one. The numbers of acutely malnourished children are rising, and the lean season hasn't even begun. Nearly 3.7 million children are projected to be acutely malnourished this year in Sudan, including 730,000 who need lifesaving treatment. The needs for children in Khartoum alone are massive. But this is also true in Darfur, where I was last month, on a cross-border mission through Chad. The scale and magnitude of needs for children across the country are simply staggering. Sudan is now the world's largest displacement crisis. And some of the most vulnerable children are in the hardest-to-reach places. Our asks are clear: We need parties to the conflict to enable rapid, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access - both across conflict lines within Sudan and across borders with Sudan's neighboring countries. Chad has provided a crucial lifeline to communities in Darfur, and access through its border remains absolutely critical, along with access through South Sudan. Parties to the conflict have a moral imperative and legal responsibility to protect children. In particular, they must take concrete measures to prevent and end the killing and maiming of children; the recruitment and use of children in the conflict; and all forms of sexual violence. From the international community, we need a massive mobilization of resources by the end of March so that humanitarian partners can get the supplies and capacity on the ground, in time, to limit the impending humanitarian catastrophe that we are seeing. As our Executive Director said last week - the brutal war in Sudan is pushing the country towards a famine and unless there is sufficient political will, attention and resources put towards the response now, we are looking at a potential catastrophic loss of lives. Most importantly - 24 million children across Sudan need and deserve peace. They need a ceasefire. They need a lasting political solution. They need a chance to be children. ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Acute malnutrition has doubled in one month in the north of Gaza strip: UNICEF UNICEF 1 in 3 children under 2 years of age are today acutely malnourished in the north, according to nutrition screenings conducted by UNICEF and partners 15 March 2024 NEW YORK, 15 MARCH 2024 -- 31 per cent - or 1 in 3 children under 2 years of age - in the Northern Gaza Strip suffer from acute malnutrition, a staggering escalation from 15.6 per cent in January. Malnutrition among children is spreading fast and reaching devastating and unprecedented levels in the Gaza Strip due to the wide-reaching impacts of the war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery. At least 23 children in Northern Gaza Strip have reportedly died from malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks, adding to the mounting toll of children killed in the Strip in this current conflict - about 13,450 reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Nutrition screenings conducted by UNICEF and partners in the north in February found that 4.5 per cent of the children in shelters and health centers suffer from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition, which puts children at highest risk of medical complications and death unless they receive urgent therapeutic feeding and treatment, which is not available. The prevalence of acute malnutrition among children under 5 years of age in the north has increased from 13 per cent to as high as 25 per cent. "The speed at which this catastrophic child malnutrition crisis in Gaza has unfolded is shocking, especially when desperately needed assistance has been at the ready just a few miles away," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. "We have repeatedly attempted to deliver additional aid and we have repeatedly called for the access challenges we have faced for months to be addressed. Instead, the situation for children is getting worse by each passing day. Our efforts in providing life-saving aid are being hampered by unnecessary restrictions, and those are costing children their lives." Screenings conducted for the first time in Khan Younis, in the middle area of the Gaza Strip, found 28 per cent of children under 2 years have acute malnutrition, more than 10 per cent of which have severe wasting. Even in Rafah, the southern enclave with the most access to aid, the results from screenings among children under 2 years doubled from 5 per cent who were acutely malnourished in January to about 10 per cent by the end of February, with severe wasting rising fourfold from 1 per cent to more than 4 per cent over the month. UN agencies have been warning of the risk of a famine in the Gaza Strip since December. In January, the emergency thresholds for acute malnutrition in children were exceeded. Acute malnutrition among children has continued to rise rapidly and at scale and there is a high risk it will continue to increase across the Gaza Strip, costing more lives, in the absence of more humanitarian assistance and the restoration of essential services. UNICEF has reached children with treatment for acute malnutrition, including the use of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), Ready to Use Infant Formula and preventative micronutrients supplements containing iron and other essential nutrients for pregnant women. More supplies are due to arrive this week, but this is still not enough to address the needs. "We are doing everything we can to avert a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but it is not enough," said Russell. "An immediate humanitarian ceasefire continues to provide the only chance to save children's lives and end their suffering. We also need multiple land border crossings that allow aid to be reliably delivered at scale, including to northern Gaza, along with the security assurances and unimpeded passage needed to distribute that aid, without delays or access impediments." ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: 23 million tonnes of debris 'will take years to clear'; acute malnutrition doubles in a month 15 March 2024 - The war in Gaza has left a staggering almost 23 millions tonnes of rubble and unexploded weapons scattered across the enclave, UN humanitarians said on Friday. In a fresh alert about the disastrous humanitarian emergency still unfolding in the enclave, the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, said on Friday that it will "take years" before the Strip is made safe again. The lives of more than two million Gazans have been devastated by daily Israeli bombardment, since Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on 7 October, the UN agency noted in a post on X, formerly Twitter. As the largest relief agency in Gaza, UNWRA continues to provide lifesaving supplies and services to more than 1.5 million displaced people in the south of the enclave. The agency runs shelters for more than one million people, providing them with humanitarian relief and primary healthcare. No let-up in violence Lifesaving humanitarian work has continued amid intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations - as well as heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups. In its latest update on the emergency, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, reported ongoing violence "across much of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the Hamad area of Khan Younis...The hostilities are causing further civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure." OCHA noted that mine action partners are now carrying out "assessments of explosive threats" and educating Gazans about the dangers. "Larger-scale assessments are urgently required, but response efforts have been hampered by restrictions on the import of humanitarian mine action supplies and authorization requirements for the deployment of specialized personnel." Funding boost The news came as Australia became the latest country to announce that it intended to resume funding UNRWA, which saw international donor support evaporate, amid Israeli allegations that some of the agency's staff had participated in the 7 October Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel. A high-level UN investigation continues into the claims, which UNRWA is also complementing with its own inquiry. Shortly after the allegations were made public, nine UNRWA staff were dismissed. Seaborne aid contribution Meanwhile, efforts to secure a new maritime aid route from Cyprus to Gaza continued on Friday as the NGO ship Open Arms moved closer to the Gaza coastline. The vessel, which open-source satellites showed moored off the coast of Gaza City in the north of the enclave on Friday morning, left Larnaca in southern Cyprus on Tuesday with 200 tonnes of relief supplies. These are to be delivered ashore once a jetty is built south of Gaza City, according to reports. The initiative involves UN-partner World Central Kitchen and the search-and-rescue charity Open Arms, reportedly in coordination with the Israeli authorities and international partners. Malnutrition doubles in northern Gaza: UNICEF One in three children under two in the Northern Gaza Strip suffer from acute malnutrition - double the rate of 15.6 per cent in January, UN Children's Fund UNICEF said on Friday. Malnutrition among children is spreading fast and reaching devastating and unprecedented levels. At least 23 children in Northern Gaza Strip have reportedly died from malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks, adding to the mounting toll of children killed in the Strip in this current conflict - about 13,450 reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Nutrition screenings conducted by UNICEF and partners in the north in February found that 4.5 per cent of the children in shelters and health centers suffer from severe wasting, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition. "The speed at which this catastrophic child malnutrition crisis in Gaza has unfolded is shocking, especially when desperately needed assistance has been at the ready just a few miles away," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. "We have repeatedly attempted to deliver additional aid and we have repeatedly called for the access challenges we have faced for months to be addressed. Instead, the situation for children is getting worse by each passing day. Our efforts in providing life-saving aid are being hampered by unnecessary restrictions, and those are costing children their lives." Screenings conducted for the first time in Khan Younis, in the middle area of the Gaza Strip, found 28 per cent of children under two have acute malnutrition, more than 10 per cent of which have severe wasting. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Rights chief appalled at Nigeria mass abductions, 'pervasive' hunger in streets of Sudan, Syria child crisis 15 March 2024 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday expressed outrage at the recent abductions by gunmen of hundreds of people in Nigeria. "I am appalled by the recurrent mass abductions of men, women and children in northern Nigeria. Children have been abducted from schools and women taken while searching for firewood. Such horrors must not become normalised," he said. News reports indicate at least 564 people have been abducted since 7 March. More than 280 pupils were abducted that day from a school in Kuriga town in Kaduna State. At least 200 others, mostly internally displaced women and children, were also abducted on 7 March in Gamboru Ngala in Borno state while reportedly searching for firewood. Two days later, gunmen stormed a boarding school in Gidan Bakuso village in Sokoto state and abducted at least 15 pupils. On 12 March, about 69 people were abducted in two raids on a village in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state. Justice must be done "I acknowledge the Nigerian authorities' announcement that they are taking action to safely locate the missing children and reunite them with their families," said the UN rights chief. "I urge them to also ensure prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into the abductions and to bring those responsible to justice." He called for perpetrators to be identified and brought to account - in compliance with international human rights law - "as a first step towards reining in the impunity that feeds these attacks and abductions". Sudan: Hunger 'pervasive' in Khartoum streets, warns UNICEF Hunger across Sudan is on the rise, especially in the capital Khartoum, due to a near year-long war between rival generals that sparked a spiralling humanitarian crisis. In a new alert, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that hunger and unaffordable food are now the main worry for desperate civilians. Jill Lawler, UNICEF's chief of field operations and emergency in Sudan, described to journalists in Geneva on Friday what she had seen in Omdurman just outside Khartoum, where she led the first UN mission to the Sudanese capital since war erupted in April last year. "Hunger is pervasive; it is the number one concern people expressed," she said. "We met one young mother at a hospital whose three-month-old little child was extremely sick because she couldn't afford milk, so had substituted goat milk, which led to diarrheal conditions. She wasn't the only one." Ms. Lawler said the numbers of acutely malnourished children are rising, and the lean season hasn't even begun. She cited worrying projections that nearly 3.7 million children could be acutely malnourished this year in Sudan, including 730,000 who need lifesaving treatment. The senior UNICEF officer also described how women and girls who had been raped in the first months of war were now delivering babies. Some had been abandoned to the care of hospital staff, who had built a nursery near the delivery ward, she said. Around 7.5 million children need aid in Syria After thirteen years of conflict in Syria, almost 7.5 million children in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance - more than at any other time during the conflict, said UNICEF on Friday. Repeated cycles of violence and displacement, a crushing economic crisis, extreme deprivation, disease outbreaks and last year's devastating earthquakes have left hundreds of thousands of children exposed to long-term health issues. More than 650,000 under-fives are chronically malnourished, representing an increase of around 150,000 recorded four years ago. According to a recent household survey conducted in northern Syria, 34 per cent of girls and 31 per cent of boys reported psychosocial distress, UNICEF reported. Child deaths will continue "The sad reality is that today, and in the days ahead, many children in Syria will mark their 13th birthdays, becoming teenagers, knowing that their entire childhood to date has been marked by conflict, displacement and deprivation," said UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr. Marking the grim anniversary of the start of Syria's civil war, UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen emphasized the dire situation highlighting the unprecedented humanitarian crisis with millions in need of assistance, both inside and outside Syria. He called for an immediate end to violence, the release of those arbitrarily detained and efforts to address the plight of refugees together with the internally displaced. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNRWA Situation Report #90 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 12-13 March 2024, is valid as of 15 March 2024 at 22:30 UNRWA 15 Mar 2024 Key Points The Gaza Strip Intense Israeli Security Forces (ISF) bombardment from the air, land and sea continued across much of the Gaza Strip, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Israeli forces airstrikes continue also in heavily populated Rafah in southern Gaza. On 13 March 2024, UNRWA released a statement on at least one UNRWA staff member killed and another 22 injured when Israeli Forces hit a food distribution centre and a warehouse in the eastern part of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The distribution centre that was hit is one of the two main distribution centres in Rafah which provides life-saving emergency food assistance and other basic supplies like blankets, clothes and hygiene kits. UNFPA reported that only two out of the 12 partially functional hospitals are providing maternity services, and that up to 180 women are giving birth every day. Safe spaces for pregnant women and new mothers to deliver are becoming increasingly difficult to find, leading to an increased risk of infection and communicable diseases, compounded by the lack of clean water1. UNRWA continues to provide essential health services in seven out of 22 health centres, including support to complex pregnancy cases. On 12 March, Save the Children published a report2 highlighting that children's repeated and long-term exposure to traumatic events and oppressive living conditions in Gaza had already created a mental health catastrophe. Access to people in Gaza City and Northern Gaza remains insufficient. According to OCHA, only 25 per cent of aid missions planned to the North to date have been facilitated by the Israeli Authorities. According to OCHA, child malnutrition levels in northern Gaza are extreme, with now at least 23 children reported to have died from malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza. The first 14 days of March saw an average of 169 aid trucks per day crossing into the Gaza Strip. This remains well below the operational capacity of both border crossings and the target of 500 per day, with challenges at both Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah. Security to manage the crossings has been severely impacted due to the killing of several Palestinian policemen in Israeli airstrikes near the crossings in early February. As of 13 March, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 166. As of 13 March, up to 1.7 million* people (over 75 per cent of the population) ** have been displaced across the Gaza Strip, some multiple times.*** Families are forced to move repeatedly in search of safety. Following intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and the Middle Area in recent weeks, a significant number of displaced people have moved further south. *This includes 1 million individuals residing in or near emergency shelters or informal shelters. As of 12 October, approximately 160,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded in UNRWA shelters in Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates. UNRWA currently estimates that the population of Northern Gaza and Gaza City governorates is up to 250,000 people. The ability of UNRWA to provide humanitarian support and updated data in these areas has been severely restricted. The ongoing hostilities, evacuation orders issued by ISF, and the constant need for safer locations have resulted in people being displaced multiple times. **UNRWA reported on 15 January in Situation Report 64 that up to 1.9 million IDPs were either residing in 154 UNRWA shelters or near these shelters. Due to the continued escalation of fighting and evacuation orders, some households have moved away from the shelters where they were initially registered. *** There are instances where the same IDPs are registered in multiple shelters due to the fluid movement of populations; hereafter, estimates are used for these shelters. UNRWA plans to conduct a more accurate count of IDPs in shelters, including informal shelters, as soon as the security situation allows. [1] "Gaza is at breaking point": Health workers and patients describe an unfolding catastrophe in Rafah - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb [2] Trapped and Scarred: The compounding mental harm inflicted on Palestinian children in Gaza | Save the Children's Resource Centre The West Bank, including East Jerusalem On 12 and 13 March, six Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including three children. One was reported to be a 12-year-old boy shot by ISF in Shu'fat Camp in East Jerusalem. During the same period, 38 ISF search and arrest operations were recorded with 35 detentions. ISF operations continued to operate in Jenin Camp and Jenin city in the northern West Bank, with two Palestinians killed. Significant damage to camp infrastructure, including roads, was reported. One of these operations took place during working hours on the morning of 12 March, forcing UNRWA staff and camp residents to shelter inside UNRWA installations. On 13 March, ISF reportedly made preparations for a demolition in Hebron delivering a demolition order for a house belonging to a Palestinian resident from Jenin Camp believed to be in Israeli detention. Israeli settler' violence was reported in northern West Bank, with settlers reportedly throwing stones at Palestinian houses and setting fire to a Palestinian vehicle in Burin on 12 March. On 13 March, Israeli settlers shot at Palestinian houses, causing property damage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2727 (2024) Meetings Coverage Security Council 9577th Meeting (PM) SC/15628 15 March 202 Cooperation with De Facto Authorities Vital to Establishing Lasting Peace, Delegate Notes The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 17 March 2025, expressing its appreciation for the Organization's long-term commitment to support the people of that country and stressing the need for a continued field presence. Unanimously adopting resolution 2727 (2024), the Council stressed the importance of the continued presence of UNAMA and other UN agencies, funds and programmes across Afghanistan. Further, it called on all relevant stakeholders to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the safety, security and freedom of movement of UN and associated personnel throughout the country. The Council also requested that the Secretary-General report every three months on the situation in Afghanistan and the implementation of UNAMA's mandate. Speaking after the vote, the representative of Japan Council President for March spoke in his national capacity to state that the resolution ensures that UNAMA will remain equipped with a sufficient, robust and flexible mandate as it tackles the multifaceted challenges faced by Afghanistan. The Mission's presence is indispensable as the international community seeks to deepen engagement and build confidence with the Taliban, and it sends a strong message to the people of Afghanistan that the United Nations backed by the Council "will continue to work tirelessly for them", he said. Similarly, the representative of the United States said that, by extending UNAMA's mandate, the Council has enabled the United Nations to continue addressing the international community's priorities in Afghanistan, promoting peace and stability and facilitating dialogue among all national political actors. She underscored, however, the need to support efforts to restore the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans particularly women and girls. She stressed: "The Afghan people deserve to see peace, security and stability." Ecuador's representative also underlined UNAMA's role in addressing growing humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, especially for women and girls. Slovenia's representative echoed that, observing that the situation in Afghanistan remains alarming particularly when it comes to human rights, the dire humanitarian and economic situations and challenging security threats, which all have a devastating impact on the people of Afghanistan. She also expressed concern over the Taliban's policies that restrict women's and girls' full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, calling on the Taliban to respect and fulfil Afghanistan's obligations under binding human-rights treaties. "A new school year starts soon in Afghanistan, but 1.4 million girls have been excluded from secondary education," noted the representative of the Republic of Korea. Expressing support for the women and girls of Afghanistan who continue to endure systematic oppression, he said that suffering increases every day and urged: "We should never get used to this." The international community stands at a critical juncture regarding the reintegration of Afghanistan into the fold, and he stressed that the needs and aspirations of the country's people should be "the main rationale behind our consideration". On that subject, the representative of the Russian Federation asserted that cooperation with the de facto authorities is vital to establishing a lasting peace in Afghanistan. While the UN's consistent support sends a message about the international community's commitment to peace and stability in that country, she rejected unjustifiable attempts to politicize the humanitarian sphere. The representative of China, meanwhile, expressed regret that the resolution failed to reflect the latest developments in Afghanistan, stating that over two years after the withdrawal of foreign troops the country's overall domestic situation is stable. However, it still faces humanitarian, economic and terrorism challenges, and he expressed hope that UNAMA will continue to play an active role in promoting stable development, facilitating regional integration and helping Afghanistan's people build a better life. "This renewal is critical as Afghanistan faces a severe crisis, exacerbated by the Taliban's lack of commitment and failure to address the situation, engage constructively and establish a just, responsible, inclusive and representative system of governance," stressed the representative of Afghanistan at the close of the meeting. Welcoming that the resolution highlights UNAMA's crucial role in promoting peace, stability and inclusive governance in his country particularly in monitoring and reporting on human rights, including the situation faced by women and girls he urged continued unity and consensus in the international community's "principled engagement with Afghanistan to guide the country toward stability". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Gunston Hall arrives in Harstad, Norway for a scheduled port visit US Navy 15 March 2024 From Courtesy Story HARSTAD, Norway -- The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) arrived in Harstad, Norway, 13 March, as maritime operations conclude for NATO's largest exercise in decades, exercise Steadfast Defender 24. Gunston Hall's return to Harstad is a milestone in the training objectives for Steadfast Defender, highlighting the ship's ability to embark NATO forces and conduct Allied-integrated amphibious operations. "Operating in the Arctic has been extremely valuable for Gunston Hall's crew and the Allied troops she carried," said Cmdr. Christopher W. Van Loenen, Gunston Hall's commanding officer. "We have learned how to overcome the harsh environmental factors while still admiring the beauty of the Nordic Fjords. I look forward to our stay in Harstad, Norway, and showing appreciation to our hosts and strong Allies." During Steadfast Defender, Gunston Hall operated alongside Italian Landing Assault Helicopter Ship Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian amphibious transport dock San Giorgio, and French Navy Aquitaine-class Frigate Normandie. Gunston Hall carried out five amphibious exercises and 19 well deck operations in the High North with French and Finnish forces, as well as NATO's newest Ally, Sweden, all while under an Italian Amphibious Task Force, operating in Norwegian waters. Gunston Hall's integration with Allies and their presence in Harstad emphasizes NATO's interoperability and readiness. It demonstrates the United States Navy's dedication to fostering international partnerships. Gunston Hall is an amphibious vessel currently assigned to the U.S. 2nd Fleet based in Norfolk, Virginia. It is one of the 50 NATO naval assets, accompanied by 80 air platforms and 1,100 combat vehicles, participating in Steadfast Defender. 2024 year marks the 75th anniversary of the NATO Alliance, and this exercise is the largest NATO exercise in decades, showcasing the alliance's sheer strength and dominance. Steadfast Defender 24 is a multi-domain operational and tactical-level live exercise that aims to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the Alliance to reinforce Europe's defense. During the exercise, Allies demonstrated their ability to deploy some 90,000 forces from North America and other parts of the Alliance, move them to and across Europe, from the Arctic to the Eastern flank of the Alliance, and conduct defensive operations. The U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic to ensure access, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State Trooper Brian North, center, listens as a jury reads a verdict of not guilty on all counts in Connecticut Superior Court in Milford, Conn. March 15, 2024. North, who was tried on charges of manslaughter for shooting 19-year-old Mubarak Soulemane in January 2020 in West Haven after a chase from Norwalk on Interstate 95, is mulling over his future with state police, his attorney said. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media MILFORD State Trooper Brian North left state Superior Court a free man Friday minutes after a jury acquitted him in the fatal January 2020 shooting of Mubarak Soulemane, but when he'll wear a badge and gun again is another question, according to his attorneys. Frank Riccio, who successfully defended North of manslaughter charges in the two-week trial, said Saturday it's "far too early" to answer that question. "The weeks and months ahead should provide some clarity." Andrew Matthews, the state police union's executive director and Riccio's co-counsel in North's defense, said North intends to remain a state trooper, but hasn't determined a timeline to return to active duty. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "His intentions are to continue to be a state trooper," Matthews said. "Obviously, when he's ready to speak, he will. I don't think he's in a position to speak just yet." The lawyers' comments echoed those made moments after the verdict, when Riccio said that while North and his supporters were happy with the result of the trial, they weren't celebrating, in light of the fact that Soulemane lost his life during the Jan. 15, 2020, incident off Interstate 95 in West Haven following a police pursuit. There's also a pending lawsuit connected to the shooting. Officially, North, whose police powers were suspended following his April 2022 arrest in the case, will be on administrative duty until he "completed internal administrative requirements," a state police spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. While on administrative duty, a trooper would be assigned in-house duties, meaning that if North returned to the force, his role wouldn't involve interacting with the public until internally cleared. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The police spokesperson did not provide a timeline for North's return to work and said they "did not have additional information" when asked to clarify what requirements the trooper must complete. Matthews said that's routine for any trooper involved in a shooting. "He'll get his police powers back once he goes through a thorough process with the command staff of the agency," Matthews said. "He hasn't made a determination what he wants to do or not." "Brian has yet to determine in what capacity he wants to return to duty, and that is up to him," Matthews said later, adding that an internal review of the shooting which was put on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case will now go forward. "They have yet to do that because we just finished court yesterday. That's the next process." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The pending civil lawsuit and any possible discipline North could receive regarding the incident should not prevent him from pursuing a return to active duty if he wants it, according to Gregory Cerritelli, a lawyer and former police officer. "There's no finding of guilt," Cerritelli said. "Whether or not there may be a policy violation is a separate issue." Mark Arons, the lawyer representing Soulemane's family in the lawsuit, worried what the verdict said about the highly charged issues surrounding police reform that have come to the fore in recent years. "In response to George Floyd's murder and the trial that followed, Connecticut passed what is known as the police accountability act," Arons said. "The verdict in the Trooper North criminal trial calls into question whether police can be held accountable in the state of Connecticut." Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a prepared statement, David McGuire, executive director or the ACLU of Connecticut, said that reform efforts need to go beyond decisions in individual cases. "Too many families, especially Black families, are left to grieve loved ones killed by police, and never see the individual police or system-wide actors held responsible," McGuire said. "Preventing police violence and racism will require broader system overhauls, including moving money out of policing and investing in the programs and services that build healthy and thriving communities." Lawyers who watched the two-week trial said the jury's decision wasn't an easy one. "Some cases need to get tried, there's no two ways about it," Cerritelli said. "This was a case that needed to get tried." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The evidence showed Soulemane could and perhaps should have emerged from the incident alive, he said, but that jurors believed North's testimony in his own defense, in which he said he fired because he thought other officers were in danger. "The kid has a knife," Cerritelli said. "He's in a car. He's boxed in. There's ample law enforcement resources there. He's contained. With the benefit of hindsight, could they have done things differently? Absolutely. But again, that's the benefit of 20/20 hindsight." He said the incident illustrates a law enforcement maxim "lawful but awful" with regard to police uses of force which the public is seeing for the first time because of body-worn camera footage. The verdict and an early question jurors had during deliberations, when they asked for more instructions about North's claim he was defending others suggest North's testimony, which they asked to hear again Friday before delivering the verdict, could have been decisive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The defense of others is an affirmative defense," Cerritelli said. "All the defense has to do is prove it by a preponderance of the evidence and then the state has to disprove it beyond a reasonable doubt. We might never know how the jury tackled that, but when you look at the facts of the case, it certainly suggests they did work backwards from that question coming out right after deliberations began." The jurors "listened to all the evidence, were attentive, and in my opinion arrived at the right result," he said. Donald Cretella, one of a handful of defense lawyers who have tried cases in the Milford courthouse post-pandemic, was in the courtroom as the verdicts were announced and agreed, saying the jury's decision was tough but ultimately right given the evidence. "These cases are extremely difficult, especially for a jury," he said. "We ask them to put themselves in a position they have never been in, nor likely will ever be in. I think the jury in this case was very thoughtful, took their time and rendered the correct verdict." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Edward Gavin, a past president of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, called it "as difficult a case I have seen in 25 years." He said the decision could illustrate how juries don't like to convict police. "The public doesn't want police afraid to protect them," Gavin said, noting that the era of cops walking neighborhood beats is long past, with mass shootings now commonplace. "Brian North relied on his training in a very dangerous situation for everyone. Youths with weapons can have dire consequences." The jury deliberated for about a day and a half before finding North not guilty of first-degree manslaughter, an offense that carried up to 40 years in prison. The jury, comprised of four men and two women, also exonerated North of two lesser charges: second-degree manslaughter with a firearm, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years, or criminally negligent homicide, a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of a year behind bars. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a statement Friday evening, the current commanding officer of the state police offered sympathy to Soulemane's family, while also praising North and his. We are all saddened by the loss of life," state police Interim Col. Daniel Loughman said in a statement Friday night. "We offer our condolences to the family of Mubarak Soulemane for their loss." "The role of the jury listening to hours of testimony, reviewing many pieces of evidence, and weighing all the witness statements, was a demanding and time-consuming task," Loughman added. "We appreciate the tireless effort and attention to detail required for the jurys deliberations." "We recognize the stress this process has had on Trooper North and his family, and we commend Trooper North for his professionalism during this trial," Loughman's statement went on. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Matthews said both Loughman and the state police commander at the time of the shooting, Col. Stavros Mellekas, have been "extremely supportive" throughout the process. North was the first law enforcement officer in the state to be charged in a fatal shooting in nearly two decades, following a two-year investigation by Inspector General Robert Devlin, a former judge appointed to his current position overseeing all police uses of deadly force statewide. North was also the first police officer charged since the creation of Devlin's post in 2021 following a national outcry against police violence. The inspector general declined comment immediately after the verdict but in a subsequent prepared statement said that while "disappointed with the outcome of the case, the office respects the jurys decision and thanks them for their service." USS Truxtun Pulls into Boston for Port Visit US Navy 15 March 2024 From Lt.Cmdr. David Carter BOSTON, Ma -- The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer, USS Truxtun (DDG 103), arrived in Boston for a scheduled port visit, Thursday, Mar. 14. The visit coincides with the city's St. Patrick's Day celebration and provides an opportunity to showcase the Navy's capabilities and talent of its Sailors, with a goal of increasing awareness and understanding within the local community. "We're excited to show our Nation's flag and tell the Navy story," said Cmdr. Chance Smith, Truxtun's commanding officer. "Our Navy is doing extremely important work all around the world every day, so it's an honor for Truxtun to be here, share that story and serve as ambassadors on behalf of our service." A city already steeped in Navy heritage, Boston is home to the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat, USS Constitution, which sits just across town from where Truxtun is moored. With both vessels in town over the weekend, visitors will have the unique opportunity to see warships reflective of both the Navy's origins at "Old Ironsides," or a more modern approach onboard a destroyer. The history in Boston this week isn't limited to just ships either, as Truxtun has ten Sailors on board with ties to the Greater Boston area or surrounding parts of the Northeast. "I'm very excited to be back home and bring the Navy with me," said Lt. Meghan Brooks, operations officer on Truxtun and Pepperell, Mass. native. "There are so many amazing things this city has to offer and I'm excited for our crew to experience it, and similarly, I'm excited for Boston to interact with the talented men and women making up our force." The ship's crew are scheduled to participate in a number of engagements around the city, ranging form community service projects to veteran events, and will wrap up the visit by taking part in South Boston's St. Patrick's Day / Evacuation Day parade. Truxtun was commissioned in 2009 and is named after Commodore Thomas Truxtun, who was one of the first six commanders appointed by George Washington to the newly-formed U.S. Navy. She currently serves as part of Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT). SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring the capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of the United States national interests. More than 70 ships and 34 shore commands make up the SURFLANT force. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) Arrives In Narvik, Norway After Successful Participation In Steadfast Defender US Navy 15 March 2024 From Ensign Karolyn Batista, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) Public Affairs Narvik, Norway -- USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) arrived in Narvik, Norway, March 15, 2024, following its participation in the largest NATO exercise since World War II, Steadfast Defender. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer played a key role in the exercise, which focused on enhancing interoperability and readiness across 32 NATO Allies and partner nations. During the exercise, Paul Ignatius worked alongside more than 50 ships and 80 aircraft from NATO navies, conducting a variety of training scenarios to test and enhance the capabilities of the participating forces. The crew of the Paul Ignatius demonstrated their skill and professionalism throughout the exercise, showcasing the United States Navy's commitment to collective defense and security in the region. "We are proud to have represented the United States Navy in Steadfast Defender and to have worked alongside our NATO Allies and partners," said Cmdr. Corry Lougee, commanding officer of Paul Ignatius. "The exercise was a valuable opportunity to train together, strengthen our relationships, and demonstrate our commitment to the security and stability of the region." The port visit to Narvik provides the crew of Paul Ignatius with an opportunity to rest and refuel before continuing on with their mission. It also allows for cultural exchange and interaction with the local community, further strengthening the bonds between the United States and Norway. Paul Ignatius is one of the most advanced ships in the U.S. Navy's fleet, equipped with cutting-edge technology and capable of conducting a wide range of missions. Its participation in Steadfast Defender highlights the ship's versatility and readiness to respond to any challenge that may arise. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Irish Anger Over Gaza Overshadows White House St. Patrick Celebration By Patsy Widakuswara March 15, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Friday for the annual St. Patrick's Day reception at the White House, amid calls to boycott the event by many in Ireland who are outraged by staunch U.S. support of Israel in its war against Hamas. "Today celebrates 100 years, 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and America," Biden said in front of reporters at the top of his meeting with Varadkar. "May the hinge of our friendship never go rusty," he added, quoting an Irish saying. Varadkar noted the "strong relationship" between Ireland and the U.S. and said he is "keen" to discuss the situation in Gaza. "My view is that we need a cease-fire as soon as possible to get food and medicine in, to get the hostages out," he said. "We need to talk about how we can make that happen and move towards a two-state solution which I think is the onlyway we'll have lasting peace and security." "I agree," Biden said. Varadkar has repeatedly called for an "immediate cease-fire," a step that goes beyond the six-week halt in fighting that Biden is pushing for. Speaking earlier this week in Boston, where almost a quarter of the city's population claims Irish descent, the Irish prime minister cited Ireland's "own painful history," and said he intends to warn Biden and congressional leaders that if the West does not "see and respect the equal value of a child of Israel and a child of Palestine," the rest of the world, particularly the Global South, will ignore calls to uphold "rules and institutions that are the bedrock of the civilized world." Polls show Ireland, a Catholic-majority European country, is one of the most pro-Palestinian nations in the world. Many Irish cite their own resistance against British rule as the reason for their support of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation. Varadkar's visit comes amid shifting public sentiment among Biden's Democratic Party on the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. and an avid supporter of Israel, stunned Israelis by condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an "obstacle to peace" and calling for new elections in Israel. Biden told reporters that Schumer contacted senior White House officials before addressing the Senate on Israel. "He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans," Biden said. Biden and Varadkar discussed support for Ukraine's push against Russian aggression amid a deadlock in the U.S. Congress over funding for Kyiv. The Irish leader added his voice to the chorus of European leaders urging House Republicans to pass the aid package. Varadkar underscored that he's "very worried" about the progress of the war. "We don't think that if [Ruissian President Vladimir] Putin is successful in Ukraine, he'll stop there," he said. The leaders attended a "Friends of Ireland" luncheon with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Biden implored the House of Representatives to pass the Senate-approved $95.3 billion aid package, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance and $4.8 billion to support regional partners in the Indo-Pacific region. "I continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin," Biden said in his luncheon address. "He's a thug." Northern Ireland First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of the Democratic Unionist Party or DUP are also in Washington to take part in St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The two aim to deliver the message that Northern Ireland is open for business following the recently restored power-sharing deal in Stormont or the Northern Ireland Assembly, after two years of political infighting between DUP, which favors continued governance with London, and Sinn Fein, which broadly supports reunification with Ireland. Biden, who often cites his Irish heritage, has long advocated for the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 peace deal that helped end 30 years of bloody conflict over whether Northern Ireland should unify with Ireland or remain part of the United Kingdom. "I'm glad to see Northern Ireland's Executive Assembly is up and running," Biden said, calling it a "very positive step forward. In his visit to Northern Ireland last year, the president promised that American businesses are ready to invest once power-sharing and stability is returned. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia Resumes Aid to UN Palestinian Aid Agency By Phil Mercer March 15, 2024 Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Friday the government will resume funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which is providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In January, Australia joined several Western nations in suspending funding to UNRWA after Israeli intelligence suggested a dozen of its workers had been linked to the October 7 attack by Hamas militants. Australia is also being criticized for canceling the visas of several Palestinians fleeing the conflict with Israel in Gaza. The Australia Greens party says the move "shows a lack of humanity." Speaking to reporters Friday in Canberra Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said she was confident UNRWA was "not a terrorist organization." She added that the United Nations aid agency for Palestinians was critical to providing help to people in Gaza "who are on the brink of starving." Earlier this month, Canada and the European Union announced they would also resume funding to UNRWA. The United States, the agency's largest donor, continues to freeze payments. Wong told reporters she is satisfied an investigation into the allegations following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas has been thorough. "The nature of these allegations warranted an immediate and appropriate response. The best available current advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organization, and that existing additional safeguards sufficiently protect Australian taxpayer funding," she said. Australia's resumption of aid to the agency comes amid criticism for canceling the visas of Palestinians fleeing the conflict. Data from the Department of Home Affairs states that Australia granted 2,273 temporary visas for Palestinians with connections to Australia between October 7 and February 6. More than 2,400 visitor visas were also granted to people declaring Israeli citizenship during that period. The visa category does not allow recipients to work or have access to education or government-funded health care in Australia, although they would not be turned away from emergency rooms. Campaigners for refugees and migrants say several Palestinians have had their Australian visas abruptly canceled by the Canberra government in recent days. The government, citing "privacy reasons," refuses to say how many visas are affected. A cancelation notification obtained by local media asserted a particular applicant had never intended to genuinely "stay temporarily in Australia." Australia's left-leaning Labor government has defended its actions, insisting they were based on ongoing security checks. A spokesperson for the Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the "Australian government reserves the right to cancel any issued visas if circumstances change." But Adam Bandt, the leader of the Australian Greens party, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Friday that visa applicants are being treated unfairly. "What Labor is saying is that peoples' visas are being canceled because Labor does not know how long the Labor-backed invasion of Gaza will last, and, accordingly, they are refusing them entry into the country. That is callous inhumanity," said Bandt. Australia has said Israel has the right to defend itself after the attack by Hamas militants last October. Canberra advocates a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist within internationally recognized borders. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 3 Soldiers, 5 Militants Killed in Al-Shabab Attack on Mogadishu Hotel By Mohamed Olad Hassan March 15, 2024 Police in Somalia say security forces have ended a siege by al-Shabab militants who attacked a heavily guarded hotel close to the country's presidential palace. Police spokesperson Major General Qasim Ahmed Roble told VOA Somali that all five assailants who carried out the attack have been killed, "and now the situation has been normalized." Roble said three government soldiers were also killed, and 27 people were injured during the siege of the SYL Hotel that began Thursday evening. He said the injured included nine soldiers and 18 civilians. VOA reporters who contacted hospitals in Mogadishu put the number of injured at more than 40, including lawmakers, government officials and a journalist. A former BBC reporter who is currently a Somali government spokesperson, Farhan Jimale, and the owner of a local television station, Hassan Ahmed Ade, were among the injured. The hotel attack began around 9 p.m. local time Thursday evening, when armed al-Shabab fighters stormed the heavily guarded hotel. According to residents close to the area, a heavy explosion was detonated outside the hotel. Moments later, deafening gunfire was heard from inside the hotel. The police spokesperson said the militants started their attack by detonating an explosives-laden vehicle and then the five assailants entered the building. Earlier, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack on the hotel, which is often frequented by government officials, lawmakers and Somalis from the diaspora. Media affiliated with the group has also claimed that four Somali MPs were wounded in the attack. The government has not said if there are wounded lawmakers, and VOA could not independently verify al-Shabab's claim. Hotels in Somalia are a frequent target of terrorist attacks by al-Shabab. At least 14 individuals were slain when the terrorists assaulted the Villa Rays hotel in the city in 2022. Three years earlier, at least 26 people were killed in an attack on the Asasey hotel in the port of city of Kismayo. Among those killed were numerous foreigners and a well-known journalist. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken Says Haiti Transitional Council Will Take Charge Soon By VOA News March 15, 2024 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the proposed transitional council in Haiti, meant to provide a political transition and bring stability to the troubled Caribbean nation, was still not set, but he expressed confidence it would be in the coming days. Speaking at a news conference in Austria, Blinken said most Haitian social and political stakeholders had named their representatives to the seven-member council but that "a couple" had not. He expressed confidence they soon would. Blinken took part early this week in an emergency meeting on Haiti in Jamaica, led by the regional trade group CARICOM. It was during that meeting that the Transitional Presidential Council, consisting of seven voting members and two nonvoting observers, was agreed to. Under the agreement, Blinken said, the council would appoint an interim prime minister and, together with the interim leader, appoint an inclusive council of ministers, including a national security council and a commission that would oversee new elections. "This was a Haitian-led agreement," Blinken said. He said that the issue of security was related but separate, and that distributing humanitarian aid, developing the economy and setting up elections would be impossible if there was profound insecurity in Haiti. Violence in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, has left much of the city under the control of heavily armed gangs. Agence France-Presse reported that attacks continued overnight Friday into Saturday, taking place at Port-au-Prince airport and a top police official's home. It said residents set up roadblocks in two areas of the city to try to impede criminal gangs. Blinken said the international community has been working for months on the multinational security force, led by Kenya and other African and Caribbean nations in support of the Haitian police. He said it was moving forward but would not be in place until the transitional council was set up. The secretary of state said he expected that to happen in the coming days, but in Haiti, "Every single day, there are challenges to that process political challenges, security challenges and we are working to address them." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson called Friday for "all Haitian stakeholders to set aside their differences and take immediate action to advance the implementation of the transitional governance arrangements." Also Friday, U.S. aid chief Samantha Power announced $25 million in humanitarian assistance for Haiti, on top of $33 million announced by the U.S. government on Monday. Under pressure from the United States and other regional nations, unpopular and unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced Monday that he would step down once the transitional council was in place. The White House confirmed Thursday that Henry was in Puerto Rico. On Thursday, gang alliance leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier threatened the politicians who are to take part in the transitional council. Also Thursday, the United Nations said it was working to establish an aid airlift to Haiti. And in Washington, the U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm career diplomat Dennis Hankins as ambassador to Haiti. The confirmation marked the first time the diplomatic post will be filled in the country in almost 2-1/2 years. The U.S. said its embassy remained open and limited operations continued, focused on assisting Americans in Haiti and "supporting Haitian-led efforts to secure a peaceful transition of power." Other embassies, including Canada's, have similarly reduced embassy staff in the country over safety concerns. VOA's Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP Palais briefing note: A deepening humanitarian crisis in Mozambique as resources shrink and needs increase World Food Programme 15 March 2024 This is a summary of what was said by Antonella d'Aprile, WFP Country Director in Mozambique to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Geneva - This week marks five years since Cyclone Idai struck, affecting more than 2 million people across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. In fact, on March 12 in the night, Tropical Storm Filippo entered southern Mozambique, Inhassoro district in Inhambane province, with a very strong winds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. It exited back into the Mozambique channel on March 13th through Gaza province. So, considering that the region, and the provinces are already affected by El Nino phenomenon, water levels in some basins remained low. The government preliminary data on the storm's impact in Inhambane, Sofala, Gaza and Maputo provinces, indicate that more than 48,000 people have been affected and over 23,000 students and teachers are unable to attend classes. More than 10,000 houses have been partially or completely destroyed. There are more damages in key infrastructure like roads, power poles, health units and assessment continue to quantify the damages. The climatic shocks come on top of already constrained WFP operations in the northern region because of conflict and insecurity. WFP and the UN are on standby to respond in support of the Government's National Institute of Disaster Risk Management. WFP can support more than 50,000 people with food rations covering 30-day food needs. WFP Mozambique and other UN agencies are already under significant pressure and constraints not only for resources, but also because we are handling multiple shocks. The situation in Cabo Delgado remains of great concern. We have about 12 out of the 17 districts in Cabo Delgado, and also the neighbouring province of Nampula, which are impacted by a new wave of population displacement. Between end of December and 3rd of March, there has been a new wave of violence by non-state armed groups attacks that have triggered 113,000 people fleeing and moving, in Cabo Delgado province, and unfortunately also crossing into the province of Nampula. This is the second largest population displacement since the beginning of the conflict in 2017. Around 63% of the newly displaced people are children and 23% are women. WFP, UNICEF and the IOM, through the joint response plan, managed to assist 17,000 people in the southern part of Cabo Delgado and WFP is also responding by providing food assistance to 37,000 people who moved to Nampula province. We are in a situation where we have to take tough decisions, because resources are shrinking as population displacement is increasing. Just to give you very brief statistics; in January 2023, WFP assisted one million displaced people in the northern part of the country. In January 2024, we managed to assist half a million of the affected people. We will have to further reduce food rations to 215,000 people starting in May. We have to take tough decisions moving forward. We have already supported the Government of Mozambique in activating Anticipatory Action in response to the El Nino phenomenon. In many of the Southern Africa countries, including Angola, Botswana, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, we have received the lowest rainfall between January and February timeframe in the last 40 years. These extreme weather events, and the ongoing tropical storm, will likely increase the humanitarian needs in central and southern provinces of Mozambique. The very active conflict is driving a new wave of displacement with 113,000 displaced, most of them children and women. Then we have the central and southern part of Mozambique affected by tropical storm Filippo and El Nino phenomenon causing loss of crops due to lack of water. # # # About WFP The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of the Republic of Ireland at the Annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon March 15, 2024 U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. 1:35 P.M. EDT SPEAKER JOHNSON: Well, thank thank you all. I know it's been a great time of fellowship and enjoyment. It's been very loud in here. That's a good sign. That's a good sign. Not great acoustics, but great fellowship. This lunch is a special event, as we noted earlier because it's a time when we come together here in Washington each year. And what's unique about it, what important, I think, is that we look past our political differences for this moment in time and we remember the importance of peacemaking and we celebrate the important friendship between our two countries: the United States and Ireland. And today, we all welcome continued efforts to promote and preserve the Good Friday Agreement and promises of a bright future for all the friends of Ireland. And certainly, at this time, in many ways, our hearts are heavy, in spite of the fun fellowship, because stability is being threatened in Europe and in the Middle East. And our allies and friends, such as Israel and Taiwan, continue to fight for their very right to exist. And I know everyone is this room is committed to the same things. We know that we all must stand for national sovereignty and work for peace. And this is an important time for all of us to encourage a productive dialogue and mutual respect. And even when we may disagree on matters of politics and policy, which is inevitable, we should all appreciate traditions like this an occasion for thoughtful discourse where we can thoughtfully move beyond was Yeats called "polite" but "meaningless words." When we do that, it restores trust among the people and it renews faith in our institutions. And I think all of us know that we need that desperately right now. So so, today, I'm happy that we're able to showcase the Irish spirit of charity and humor and friendship that flows through your children and through my children and all the children and all of the friends of Ireland. So, I have the distinct pleasure now of introducing our Commander-in-Chief and someone who is known everywhere as America's most famous Irishman, President Joe Biden. (Applause.) THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you all very much. Thank you. (Applause.) Well, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. I was telling the Speaker at dinner when a good friend of mine and many of you, a former senator from Oregon, Senator Smith, came to me when I was vice president and said, "You know, I've checked it out. You're able to accept this gift." I said, "What's the gift?" He said, "Well, the single most significant compilation of historical records and family records are held by the Mormon church." And he said, "We want to do we want to do a background for you. We want to check your genealogy for you." And they ended up showing up five months later with six volumes. And one of them pointed out that, on one side of the family, the ones that came from County Louth, they started off in New Orleans. And I've warned them. They could have stayed; I would have been a bit of trouble. (Laughter.) Folks, look, Mr. Speaker and and I want to I want you to know that diplomat Shane Leslie once wrote, "Every St. Patrick's Day every St. Patrick's Day, every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to." So (laughter) so, thank you for allowing me to find you. Mom, it's okay. (Laughter.) Look, you know, I'm glad I found all of you, because no matter how much we debate, no matter how much we disagree, we always have been able to come together as friends of Ireland. And, you know, the friendship goes back centuries. But today is an important period, an important milestone: nearly 100 years of diplomatic relations, Taoiseach, and (inaudible) 100 years of Ireland and the United States. So, Mr. Speaker, thank you for hosting us today. It's a tradition I've always enjoyed. And, Taoiseach, thank you for joining us again. And I'd also like to extend the 100,000 welcomes to all leaders who are involved in the Ireland and Northern Ireland agreements that they've now put it together. And I think I I just wonder whether my mother would have ever thought that would happen. (Laughs.) But it has happened, and it's great. You know, it's great to come together once again. To all Irish Americans, Democrats and Republican members here, I'm glad to be united on this issue. We begin the next century of a real partnership. And it has been partnership, but it's really increasing now. And finally, to all that wish they were Irish, I'm glad you're here too. (Laughter.) My grandfather used to say that being Irish is is enough. (Laughs.) At any rate, I won't go into that. (Laughter.) Well, I stand here as a proud descendant of the Finnegans and the Blewitts. The Finnegans are from the County Mayo, which I just was there not long ago. And the Finnegans are from County Louth. And this pride is part of my soul, as I'm sure that all of you who are Irish ancestry feel the same way. In fact, as many of you know, when I served on Capitol Hill, my colleagues used to kid me because I always quoted Irish poets. They thought I quoted Irish poets, Rev, because I was Irish. I don't do it for that reason. Because they're the best poets in the world, that's why I quote them. (Laughter.) Steny, it's true. (Laughter.) And, you know, I really today, there's one poem in particular that comes to mind. It was written by my great-grandfather Edward Francis Blewitt, who was only the second Catholic elected to the state senate in the state of Pennsylvania, back in 1906. And he wrote a book of poems, a hundred poems, and about his he referred to it as his Ireland. One, he called "The Worker." And here's what he said: "No barrier is too thick or strong to stay the onward march each day. A goal they seek, a goal they find. Hardship to them is but real play." And I think, together, Ireland and America are always marching forward toward a better world, toward a better life, and one of greater liberty, greater dignity, and greater equity and outcomes of opportunity and possibilities for everybody possibilities. I was with Xi Jinping a couple of years ago on the Tibetan Plateau, and he asked me could I define America. And I said this was recorded by him, as well. I said, "Yes, in one word." He said, "What's that?" I said, "Possibilities." Think about it. What defines us as Americans? We think anything is possible. Anything is possible if we do it together. Well, together, Ireland and America have always moved onward for a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity, greater equality, opportunity, and possibility. And even when those barriers seem so thick and so strong, even even when we face sorrow, setbacks, and division and darkness, together, we've always persevered Ireland and the United States. We've always held out hope that arises that we've not yet seen. You know, I often say that the Irish are the only people in the world who are nostalgic about tomorrow. (Laughter.) Think about it. That's an original quote, unfortunately. But they that's that's (inaudible) who we are. And I often say that because wherever wherever there is a yearning for freedom, wherever there is a call for progress, people around the world, they can always count on Ireland and the United States to be on their side, not just for hope but to help to help them in their march forward. We see this in our in our support of Ukraine and the people in the face of Putin's vicious onslaught against Ukraine. Taoiseach, we we had a meeting earlier today. I told you that I'm deeply grateful for Ireland's unwavering humanitarian aid to people of not only Ukraine but also Gaza. I'm committed to continue to do our part. I'm confident the vast majority and excuse me for saying this, but I think the vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part and continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin. He's a thug a thug. (Applause.) And I urge you to send me the national security bill now. The bill includes funding for Ukraine and Israel and, maybe equally important, humanitarian assistance to Gaza. They badly, badly need it. And it sends a clear message that America stands up for freedom and we bow down to no one to no one in the world. You know, I said in Belfast last year, where we marked the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, I'm also committed to protecting peace and progress in Northern Ireland. We all know we all know that we feel I assume all of us feel the same way. That includes Northern Ireland's newest leaders, Minister O'Neill, and your Deputy First Minister are you guys here? (Applause.) Stand up. Thank you. (Applause/_ As a friend of mine from Claymont, Delaware, would say, "Who woulda thunk it?" (Laughter.) Thankfully, you're here. And, look, to both of you, for thank you for reminding us what possibilities are as we work across the aisle and rise above longstanding disagreements. Let me close with this. I think we stand at an inflection point not only in American history but in world history where the decisions we make now are going to determine what the next three, four, five, six decades are going to look like. And I believe history is watching. I think history is watching. Today, let us resolve to march forward with each other and all those who all those who seek a better future. Like our ancestors, remember no barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States to get through. There's nothing, nothing our nations can't do together when we work together. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I'm confident there's not a thing we can't do if we work together. And I say the same thing. Remember this is the United States of America. There is nothing nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we work together. So, my prayer today is we continue and we increase our working together. Thank you all for having me. (Applause.) SPEAKER JOHNSON: Thank you for your remarks, Mr. President. And our next guest, though he is now leading the country and I believe he is the youngest to ever hold his office, he started out you may not know this as an intern in these very halls more than two decades ago. And while this is my first time having the pleasure to meet him in person, he's no stranger to this lunch either. He's been in leadership for quite some time. And he's done a few of these. Will you please join me in welcoming our guest of honor from the Republic of Ireland, the Taoiseach. (Applause.) TAOISEACH VARADKAR: (Speaks Irish.) (No translation provided.) Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of Congress, First Minister, Deputy First Minister, esteemed friends and colleagues, it is a honor and a privilege to be back among friends here in Washington, D.C., today. And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for continuing the tradition of hosting this lunch today. We are very appreciative. I believe that Ireland is perhaps the only country in the world that can get away with turning our national holiday into an international week of events or, in some places, a whole month. (Laughter.) We're also unique in having a national holiday where the head of government and all the senior ministers leave the country to celebrate it around the world (laughter)- with our diaspora and our friends and our allies. St. Patrick's Day is more than our national holiday. It is an international moment. It's when we get to share our story with the world a story of faith in the future, no matter what the obstacles; hope in our ability to work together for the greater good, out of charity towards those who are experiencing suffering. As the President acknowledged, since we last gathered here last year, the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have returned. And it's hugely significant that we're joined here today by the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, two women from different political traditions who are showing what can be achieved working together, holding jointly a co-equal office as heads of government of Northern Ireland. It is so good to have both of you here today. (Applause.) And it's really good to see colleagues here as well, ministers and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, including the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Poots. Also, to see members of the House of Commons here too and members of Dail Eireann and Oireachtas here, too, as well. So very much seeing all three strands of the Good Friday Agreement, the totality of relationships Northern Ireland, North South, and East West all represented here today, which makes us a very special moment. And I want, on behalf of all of us, to thank the United States and members from both sides of the aisle and, indeed, beyond politics for what you've done to help make Ireland and Northern Ireland a place where young people can dream of coming times brighter than their grandparents could ever have dared imagine. So, thank you for your role in giving us back our future. We'll forever remember the steadfast work of so many members of Congress Democrat and Republican as well as successive administrations over the years who have made this possible. Throughout the entirety of the peace process, the Friends of Ireland Caucus have been our resolute friends. And on behalf of the Irish people, thank you for your commitment to Ireland. Our country is so grateful for your friendship, for your leadership, and for your enduring support. So, thank you so much. Mr. Speaker, someday soon, we would really like to welcome you to Ireland. So, consider this the official invitation. We'd love to love love to show you around. And, of course, last year, we had the pleasure of showing President Biden around the country. Although he knows it so well, I don't think he needed a tour guide. But it was a wonderful opportunity for him to reconnect with relatives and friends and also to make new ones. Mr. Speaker, today, as we run into St. Patrick's Day, I'm thinking very much of the prayer of St. Patrick, which was alluded to earlier. As we face the most complicated and difficult circumstances in the world, problems that have no easy answers, which demand that we do our best to repel the forces of darkness, to defend our values, and to shield the innocent I'm thinking of St. Patrick's prayer today for strength and protection against every cruel and merciless power. When I reflect on the war being waged by Russia against Ukraine, the light of democracy, the rule of international law, and liberty itself are under attack from a relentless adversary who would extinguish them. Ukraine must not fall. And together, we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. (Applause.) I'm also thinking of St. Patrick's prayer today when he prayed for the wisdom to guide us, when I reflect on the catastrophe that's unfolding in the Middle East the savage attacks of October 7th in Israel, and the terrible violence and loss of human life in Gaza which has followed and continues. And we very much want that to end. These are global challenges that demand our courage, our empathy, and our action. And we pray for the wisdom of St. Patrick in facing them. Mr. Speaker, over a hundred years ago, Ireland and the U.S. established diplomatic relations the oldest republic welcoming the newest member of the international community. And since then, it's a relationship that has grown on respect, friendship, and shared kinship. So, thank you so much for helping us in those 100 years to take our place among the nations of the world. We look forward to working with America for the next hundred years, a second century of friendship and alliance. (Speaks Irish.) (No translation provided.) Happy St. Patrick's Day, and thank you very much. (Applause.) 1:53 P.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Joe Biden's Meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland March 15, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. welcomed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland to the White House today to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and continue their close coordination on shared priorities. A longstanding tradition, the leaders' annual meeting was an opportunity to discuss a range of issues. They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine as it defends against Russia's continued aggression. President Biden commended Ireland's support to over 100,000 Ukrainians who have sought refuge in Ireland. They reaffirmed their commitment to Israel's right to self-defense consistent with international law, underscored the urgent need to significantly increase deliveries of life-saving humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, discussed the crucial need to prevent regional escalation, and emphasized their shared view that a two-state solution remains the viable path to lasting peace. The leaders also highlighted growing economic and people-to-people ties between the United States and Ireland, building on our strong historic connections. They welcomed the restoration of Northern Ireland's Executive and Assembly, reaffirming the critical role these institutions play in preserving the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. They looked forward to continuing to build a vibrant future for U.S.-Irish relations. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by Vice President Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland During a St. Patrick's Day Celebration Breakfast March 15, 2024 Vice President's Residence United States Naval Observatory Washington, D.C. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Okay. Good morning, everyone. Good morning, and Happy St. Patrick's Day. Happy St. Patrick's Day. So, Doug and I are very honored to once again host the Taoiseach and Mr. Barrett back at the Vice President's Residence. I I don't think that we told you both, but Doug and I decided after our last visit here that you would be our new "couples friend." (Laughter.) And as you know, Taoiseach, nearly 1 in 10 Americans proudly claim Irish ancestry. And St. Patrick's Day, then, is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the culture and the connection between Ireland and the United States. And I am proud, then, to continue this breakfast tradition here the Vice President's Residence and to host you again and your spouse to celebrate. And this year, we celebrate 100 years 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland. And as we know, the Irish people have been a part of American history and the American story since the very beginning, way beyond those 100 years. In 1776, three signatories to the Declaration of Independence were Irish born. Then, in the 19th century, Frederick Douglass found refuge in Ireland when he fled slavery. And I recall having extensive conversations about that. The historians among us will know that Frederick Douglass, when he went to Ireland, famously said it was the first time he fully felt like a man, because of the kinship and the dignity then that he received in Ireland. And America has, of course, served as a place of hope for millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants, including those who have held the highest offices in our land. And currently, of course, that is our President Joe Biden. Throughout the past century, our nations have stood together, united by shared commitments to freedom and opportunity. And, Taoiseach, I want to thank you, in particular, for your leadership and your partnership. Early on in your career, you worked to strengthen the ties between the Irish diaspora and the Emerald Isle. And you have been courageous in the fight for women's reproductive freedom. You have also been a global leader. And last month, you became the first Taoiseach to attend the Munich Security Conference, joining me and dozens of other global leaders. And you have made clear that you intend that Ireland will play a positive role on the world stage, given the security challenges that we all face. We are proud to work with you to support the people of Ukraine in their fight for democracy and independence. Under your leadership, Ireland has hosted one of the highest per capita populations of Ukrainian refugees a testament to the generosity and the compassion of the Irish people. And I commend you for leading by example when you hosted in your own home a refugee from Kyiv, who left days after the invasion began. Regarding the conflict in the Middle East triggered, of course, by Hamas's brutal terrorist attack Ireland has been a leader in providing food, water, and medicine to the people of Gaza. And when it comes to human rights, Ireland made history in 2015 when it became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by referendum. On a personal note, Taoiseach, you have been an extraordinary role model for the people all around the world as one of the only openly LGBT leaders in history. And you so graciously talked last year here about the work that you and I have done to support and fight for the rights of the LGBT community. And to see you and Mr. Barrett on the world stage is important for so many reasons, as our long march for progress continues on. So, as we look to the next century of partnership, I am confident that the bonds between the people of our nations will only grow stronger. And I'm confident that our work together will continue to advance the cause of freedom and opportunity. So, I offer a toast to the next 100 years, Taoiseach. Cheers, cheers, cheers. (Vice President Harris offers a toast.) And, Taoiseach, the floor is yours. We're fitting a lot of folks in here. (Laughter.) TAOISEACH VARADKAR: Thank you. Thank you so much, Vice President Harris, Second Gentleman Emhoff, distinguished guests, friend. (Speaks Irish.) (No translation provided.) Thank you so much, Madam Vice President, for once again inviting me and Matt to your beautiful home. This act of friendship and hospitality, I believe, goes back to when President Biden was vice president and lived here. And it celebrates, I think, the wonderful relationship between our two countries now and forever. Madam Vice President, to update the words of one of your distinguished predecessors: The President of the United States has 332 million bosses; the Vice President has 332 million plus one. (Laughter.) And I think, in some ways, it's the hardest job, but one that can have an extraordinary impact. And I know a little bit what it's like myself, as somebody who went from Taoiseach, prime minister of the country, to Tanaiste, the deputy prime minister, before returning to the top job at the end of the last year. And I'm not going to lie, I know which one I prefer. (Laughter.) And I do even find it a little bit easier, even when it's harder. But I know that the best vice presidents have been able to show enormous leadership and vision in the role, trailblazers who've spoken from the heart. President Biden, when he served as vice president, showed enormous courage and leadership in 2012, when he spoke out in favor of marriage equality, helping to encourage the administration and the country along the road to greater equality. I remember that interview really well. And it was a very significant intervention at the time. And I believe you, Madam Vice President, showed great courage and leadership in recent weeks, when you spoke publicly in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza. I'm sure it can't have been easy, but it was the right thing to do, and your words echoed all over the world. Like you, we call for the unconditional and immediate release of all of the hostages, a very significant increase in humanitarian aid food, medicine, sanitation, electricity and an end to the fighting by both sides, Israel and Hamas. And we support the work of the United States in trying to bring that about. There is a terrible humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza a very human tragedy, which I think will haunt us all for years to come. In Ireland, we know how quickly atrocities can lead to calls for vengeance, creating new cycles of hatred and bitterness. But we also know that the cycle can be broken, and that new hope can replace old hatreds. The United States helped us to find peace. And now th- let us work together to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East for Israel, Palestine, and its Arab neighbors. We know from our own story that finding peace can be a long and painful process, and it takes time to build trust and build relationships. American politicians on both sides of the aisle helped to encourage and nurture these relationships in Northern Ireland over many decades. And we thank you all so much for that. Today, Northern Ireland looks very different. We have a first minister and deputy first minister from different traditions working together for greater good. And in recent months, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly the elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland came together to elect a new speaker and a new executive. Now, politicians in Northern Ireland from across the community are making decisions to improve the lives for all who live there. So, it's great to see that the Good Friday Agreement is working again. Today, the U.S. is our partner in building a better future for all young people, and we sincerely thank you for it. (Speaks Irish.) (No translation provided.) Thank you again for the very warm welcome, for your very kind hospitality here this morning, and a very happy St. Patrick's Day to you all. (Speaks Irish.) (No translation provided.) (Applause.) END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China calls for peace talks over Ukraine crisis Xinhua) 14:43, March 16, 2024 UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the parties to the Ukraine crisis to start peace talks at an early date. With the fighting still ongoing, the risk of spillover continues to emerge. One more day of conflict brings one more element of risk to the world. One day earlier for peace talks means one day sooner for peace. Peace is a matter of utmost urgency as well as a matter of public expectation, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. On the Ukraine issue, China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld, the legitimate security concerns of all countries be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the political settlement of the crisis be supported, he told the Security Council. "We reiterate our call on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, meet each other halfway, build consensus, cease fighting, and start peace talks at an early date," said Geng. "We call on the international community to step up diplomatic efforts to create conditions for de-escalating the situation and achieving a political settlement." China has always maintained an objective and impartial position and has participated in promoting peace talks. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and one that ensures the equal participation of all parties in full discussion of all peace plans, he said. "China is ready to provide the necessary conditions for Russia and Ukraine to engage in negotiations, and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis," Geng said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) A file photo of a New Haven police cruiser. Police said a 25-year-old Hamden man was fatally shot in the city's Annex neighborhood early Saturday. Austin Mirmina / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN A 25-year-old Hamden man was fatally shot in the city's Annex neighborhood early Saturday, police say. The shooting happened on Fairmont Avenue, between East Ferry Street and Lancraft Street, around 4:19 a.m., New Haven police spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart said in a news release. Bruckhart said officers responded to the area after a caller reported hearing "several gunshots." After arriving, officers located a crime scene but were told that someone drove the victim to the hospital. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers then responded to Yale-New Haven Hospital and arrived at the same time as the vehicle carrying the shooting victim, Bruckhart said. The man, who has not yet been identified, was ruled dead as a result of his injuries, the spokesperson said. Police are investigating the fatal shooting. Operation Iron Swords - Day 161 - 15 March 2024 Israeli army spokesman Ari Shalikar said today that the army will work to transfer civilians in the city of Rafah to a safe area if the army carries out a military operation there. Shalikar added that the Israeli army suspects the presence of Hamas leaders in the city of Rafah, as well as many remaining fighters from the movement. The Israeli spokesman added that if a military operation is launched in Rafah, residents will be transferred to safer areas such as Al-Mawasi camp. The Al-Mawasi area is about 28 kilometers south of Gaza City, and is divided into two areas administratively affiliated with the Khan Yunis and Rafah governorates. A senior political source in Tel Aviv announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposals put forward by the Hamas movement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. According to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, a senior Israeli political source said that the message issued by Netanyahu, after the meeting of the war command councils in his government, the small and the expanded one today, Friday, is that he rejects the proposals of the Hamas movement , but he does not close the door to resuming negotiations on a deal. Ceasefire and prisoner exchange. Netanyahu's office also announced that the War Command Council approved the Israeli army's plan to invade the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The statement stated that in addition to this, the Israeli army is preparing to evacuate the residents and displaced people from Rafah. The statement indicated that the Israeli war cabinet meeting discussed the proposal presented by the Hamas movement , but did not take a decision, and indicated that Netanyahu described the movements demands as still unrealistic. The statement added that an Israeli delegation will go to Qatar to conduct negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire, and that the delegation will present Israels position. The Israeli media quoted a senior political source as saying, Hamass proposals indicate weak prospects for progress in the negotiations , but the Israeli government agreed to conduct additional deliberations in an attempt to cooperate with the mediators regarding the upcoming Doha negotiations. It is worth noting that Netanyahu had given a negative opinion of the latest Hamas proposals when he received them yesterday evening, Thursday, despite the confirmation of a senior official in the Israeli government that the movements written response contains reasonable positions and positive change, allowing progress in the negotiations. Netanyahu issued an official statement in his name that downplayed the importance of Hamas response, saying: Hamas is still holed up behind baseless demands. Over 80,000 worshipers performed the first Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque , despite the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation, according to the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem. Worshipers began arriving at Al-Aqsa Mosque at dawn today to perform Friday prayers, as the Israeli occupation police mobilized 3,000 of its members in occupied Jerusalem and installed iron barriers at the gates of Al-Aqsa. Scenes on social media platforms showed buses running to transport worshipers from Ramallah to Al-Aqsa, and others arriving on foot hours before prayer time, while other scenes show thousands of Palestinians leaving Al-Aqsa after performing the first Friday dawn prayer there. Thousands of occupation police and border guards were deployed in the Old City and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the occupation forces also strengthened their presence at military checkpoints between the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. Al Jazeera correspondent Fatima Khamaysi said that the occupation forces prevented hundreds of Palestinians from entering Jerusalem under the pretext of not obtaining permits to reach Al-Aqsa. The occupation police also prevented all medical teams, including ambulance crews from all medical institutions in Jerusalem, from entering Al-Aqsa, and also beat the ambulance crews while they were heading to the mosque. The Israeli occupation army said that it would allow worshipers from the West Bank to enter Jerusalem on Fridays throughout the month of Ramadan, on the condition of obtaining a valid magnetic security permit, and according to an assessment of the security conditions. He added that only men over the age of 55, women over the age of 50, and children under the age of ten will be allowed to enter. In a related context, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas ) said - yesterday evening, Thursday - that the occupations attempt to install iron barriers at the doors of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is a malicious attempt to prevent worshipers from reaching the mosque during the blessed month of Ramadan and deprive them of performing prayers, especially Tarawih prayers. In a press statement, Hamas warned the occupation against continuing its measures against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing that our stationed people will remain loyal and vigilant, and will not remain silent in the face of the occupations efforts to undermine the status and status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas called on the Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the occupied interior to mobilize and confront the occupations plans against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to confront the Zionist aggression that aims to empty it of its buildings during the greatest month for Muslims. It also called on the masses of the Arab and Islamic nations to assume their responsibilities and protect their first Qibla and the journey of their Prophet, which is subject to all forms of siege, harassment and abuse. War Termination The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) announced that it had presented to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar a comprehensive vision for the negotiations based on four foundations that the movement considers necessary for agreement and the exchange of prisoners, including stopping the aggression, providing relief, the return of the displaced, and the occupations withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The New York Times also quoted an American official as saying that Hamas' response was within the framework agreed upon at the recent Paris meeting. The Israeli War Council is holding two meetings today to discuss Hamas response amid continued pressure from the families of the Israeli prisoners. Hamas said in a statement published on Thursday evening that these principles and foundations that it presented are considered necessary for the agreement and the prisoner exchange file, and stressed that it will remain biased towards the rights and concerns of the Palestinian people. The leaks that began filtering out from government sources, and are attributed to senior sources in Israel, indicate that Hamas spoke for the first time in its new proposal about releasing 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of all Israeli civilians detained in prison. Gazans include children, women, the sick and the elderly, as part of the first phase of the exchange deal or the ceasefire curve that will extend for 42 days, while allowing the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip. According to those leaks, negotiations will begin after this stage for a permanent and continuous ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces, in preparation for implementing the remaining stages of the exchange deal. Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) presented a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in 3 stages, each lasting 42 days, while Hamas stipulated the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Al-Rashid and Salah Al-Din Streets for the return of the displaced and the passage of aid. It also offered, in exchange for the release of every living female prisoner, the release of 50 Palestinian prisoners, 30 of whom were serving life sentences. The first phase that includes the release of women, children, the elderly, and sick Israelis in exchange for the release of a number ranging from 700 to a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including 100 who are serving life sentences and high sentences. This number includes 100 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of female soldiers. Hamas stated in the proposal that the final date for the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would be agreed upon after the first phase. Hamas said that it would agree to a date for a permanent ceasefire after the first exchange of hostages for prisoners. With the start of the second phase, Hamas stipulated that a permanent ceasefire be declared before any exchange of its captured soldiers. All detainees on both sides will be released in the second phase of the plan. Hamas's proposal also included starting the comprehensive reconstruction process for the Gaza Strip and ending the siege with the start of the third phase of the deal. Israeli Channel 12 said that Qatar had delivered Hamas response regarding the prisoner exchange deal to Israel. On the other hand, Israeli Army Radio said that Tel Aviv is studying Hamas response to the conditions for completing the exchange deal. Israeli media reported that the War Council may meet again on Friday to discuss Hamas response to the deal. In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a brief statement that Hamas' demands are "unreasonable and we will provide an update on this matter to the war council." He pointed out that Hamas's new position on the truce talks is still based on "unfounded demands," as he claimed. Netanyahu's statements came after his meeting with the families of Israeli prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip. These families organized a demonstration in Tel Aviv as part of the ongoing movement to pressure the Israeli government to expedite the conclusion of a prisoner exchange agreement. For his part, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that talks to reach a ceasefire agreement are still continuing. Kirby added that the American position has not changed regarding its refusal to launch a major operation in Rafah without taking into account the protection of more than a million people who have taken refuge there. Kirby also stressed the continuation of work with the allies on how to operate the temporary port in Gaza. Last week, talks in Cairo mediated by Egypt and Qatar did not lead to any tangible result towards reaching an agreement to exchange prisoners within the framework of a temporary truce in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu is facing criticism from the Israeli street and a number of politicians, even those affiliated with the War Council, against the backdrop of the prisoner crisis in Gaza and the failure to find a path to guarantee their return alive, and some of them accuse him of obstructing the deal to release them. Families of detainees in the Gaza Strip demonstrate almost daily to demand the conclusion of a deal leading to the release of their children. Israel detains at least 9,100 Palestinians in its prisons, according to official Palestinian sources, while mystery surrounds the number of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza in light of Hamas refusal to reveal an accurate number. While the Israeli media talks about the number of prisoners detained in Gaza ranging between 240 and 253, the Palestinian movement talks about the killing of 70 others as a result of the Israeli bombing. Hamas released 105 Israeli and other nationalities prisoners during a prisoner exchange deal that took place in November 2023 during a temporary humanitarian truce. A humanitarian truce prevailed between Hamas and Israel for a week from November 24 until December 1, 2023, during which a ceasefire took place, a prisoner exchange took place, and very limited humanitarian aid was brought into Gaza, with Qatari-Egyptian-American mediation. Israel decided to send a delegation to Doha to continue negotiations on a possible deal that includes a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, after it described an offer made by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) to conclude an agreement in stages as unrealistic, while Washington expressed cautious optimism for the success of the talks. Commenting on the offer made by Hamas to mediators in Egypt and Qatar, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that the movement's demands are still unrealistic. The PMO added that an Israeli team will head to Doha to continue negotiations after the end of the discussions in this regard in the Mini Ministerial Council for Political and Security Affairs. Al Jazeera's correspondent said earlier today that the Israeli mini-ministerial council is meeting at the Ministry of Defense headquarters to discuss Hamas' response to the exchange deal. Israeli media reported that the War Council would hold another session on Friday to discuss Hamas response to the deal. For his part, a correspondent for the American news website Axios quoted informed Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu is expected to hold a consultative meeting on Saturday evening or Sunday morning to decide on expanding the Israeli delegations mandate before it leaves for Qatar. The sources added that the large gaps between the two parties require additional flexibility on the part of Israel, noting that this is not possible without expanding the powers of the negotiating delegation. For its part, Israeli Channel 12 quoted senior political officials that the gaps in the negotiation deal are very large, including Hamass insistence on the return of residents to the northern Gaza Strip. The Washington Post quoted a senior US administration official who described what is happening in the Gaza Strip as chaos created by Israel, indicating that Tel Aviv bears responsibility for the mass starvation and lack of aid. The newspaper also reported, citing American officials, that the crisis in the Gaza Strip stems from what it considered Israels failure to develop a practical post-war strategy or plan for the consequences of open military occupation. For his part, an Israeli official said that Tel Aviv has not yet found what it called a new partner on the ground with regard to providing aid in a better way. A knowledgeable Israeli official also indicated that it is not possible to find a family in Gaza that can impose the required control, and that the Hamas movement is not the only obstacle, as he put it. The head of the Supreme Tribal Committee in the Gaza Strip, Abu Salman Al-Mughni, stressed that the tribes cannot accept being an alternative to the government or to whomever the people have chosen, indicating that the task of the tribes is to preserve the social fabric and support the government in performing its work. Earlier, sources told Al Jazeera that the coordinator of Israeli government activities in the Gaza Strip personally contacted the notables of Gaza families, but they rejected his offer of cooperation. These sources indicated that family notables in Gaza informed UN officials in a meeting on Wednesday of their refusal to cooperate except through the security services in Gaza. It added that the families' notables expressed their willingness to cooperate in bringing in and distributing aid, on the condition of coordination with the security services in Gaza. Hamas praised the tribes' refusal "to respond to the malicious plans of the Zionist occupation." Hamas said that the position of Gaza's notables and clans confirms support for the resistance, the government, and the police and security services. It stated that this position confirms the rejection of the occupations attempts to tamper with the Palestinian national unity. The movement also stressed that this position proves the unity and cohesion of Palestinian society behind the option of resistance and national unity. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that his country is working intensively with Egypt, Qatar and Israel to fill the remaining gaps regarding the hostage exchange agreement, stressing during a press conference with his Austrian counterpart in Vienna that Washington will work every effort to complete this deal. Blinken added that there are talks now taking place regarding the deal, and that Israel is sending a negotiating team to follow up on this matter, which reflects the possibility and necessity of reaching an agreement, as he put it. In this context, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and seven members of the US Senate called on Qatar to redouble its efforts to ensure the release of all hostages. Since the end of the latest rounds of negotiations in Paris and Cairo, Washington has been offering a truce for a period of 6 weeks during which the Israeli prisoners will be released. Meanwhile, Israelis demonstrated on Friday in front of the headquarters of the army command complex and security services in Tel Aviv to demand the return of Israeli prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Channel 13 quoted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as saying, during a government meeting discussing the agreement proposal presented by the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ), that Israel will not be able to overthrow the movement if it does not work to create an alternative to it in the Gaza Strip . Gallant explained that the Israeli army is paying the price for what he called the failure to make a political decision regarding who will rule Gaza after the war, noting that the most likely option for the form of governance in Gaza after the war is to strengthen local elements, according to him. For its part, Israeli Channel 12 quoted Gallant as saying that Israel's military rule of the Gaza Strip "will cost it the lives of its soldiers and drain military resources." Sources had previously told Al Jazeera that the coordinator of the Israeli governments activities in Gaza had personally contacted family notables in the Gaza Strip, but they rejected his offer, stressing that the tribes could not accept being an alternative to the government, and expressed their willingness to cooperate in bringing in and distributing aid, on the condition that Coordination with security services in the sector. The Hamas movement also praised the position of the tribal notables in their refusal to respond to the malicious plans of the Zionist occupation, noting that this proves the unity and cohesion of Palestinian society behind the option of resistance and national unity. Operational Update Operational Update - Gaza Intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations as well as heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups continue to be reported across much of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the Hamad area of Khan Younis, resulting in further civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of houses and other civilian infrastructure. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans to launch a military operation in Rafah , south of the Gaza Strip , while the United Nations and the United States warned of catastrophic consequences of a potential invasion. The Prime Minister's Office added, in a statement, that "the Israeli army is ready for the operational aspect and to evacuate the population," without providing details about this operation that Tel Aviv has been threatening for weeks. The announcement of the ratification of plans to invade Rafah comes despite international warnings that the attack on the city, crowded with displaced people, would lead to a major massacre. It also comes a day after Netanyahu announced that he would not yield to international pressure to dissuade him from carrying out a military operation in Rafah. The Israeli Prime Minister said that the goal of attacking Rafah is to eliminate the remaining Hamas brigades . Netanyahu and other Israeli officials claim that the Israeli army has eliminated about three-quarters of Hamas' military battalions since the start of the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip late last October. Israeli media said that the Israeli army is not ready to begin a military operation in Rafah, even if the political leadership approves plans for that. In New York, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, described the Israeli Prime Minister's approval of plans to invade Rafah as very disturbing. Dujarric said that the possible ground operation in Rafah would have serious consequences for the population and for the entry of humanitarian aid, expressing his hope that it would be prevented from happening. In Washington, the White House warned that any Israeli military operation in Rafah without taking into account the safety of civilians would be disastrous, saying that it could not support a large-scale military operation in a way that did not guarantee the security of more than a million people there. Strategic Communications Coordinator for the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that Washington had not seen Israel's plan regarding Rafah and would like to see it. In this context, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that his country has not yet received any implementable Israeli plan regarding the protection of civilians in the southern Gaza Strip. Blinken added that there must be a clear and implementable plan regarding the military operation in Rafah, not just removing civilians from harms way, and that any plan must include taking care of civilians in shelter, food, medicine, and clothing after their removal, which is what the United States did not see, as he put it. The Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Jihad movement, announced this Friday evening that it had bombed the Sderot settlement and the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip with missile attacks. The "Jerusalem Brigades" said in a statement on "Telegram" that it "bombed gatherings of Israeli occupation soldiers east of the central region of the Gaza Strip with a barrage of mortar shells." It added, "After returning from the clashes points north of Madinat al-Zahra in the Central Governorate, its fighters confirmed that they had targeted a number of Israeli military vehicles with anti-tank missiles, and that an Israeli force had been killed or wounded during a clash with them from zero distance." Al-Quds Brigades said that it bombed gatherings of occupation soldiers east of the central region of the Strip with a barrage of mortar shells. The Palestinian resistance is still engaged in fierce clashes with the Israeli occupation forces in central and northern Gaza and in the Khan Yunis Governorate in the south. In turn, the "Al-Qassam Brigades", the military arm of the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas", announced that it had targeted 5 Israeli tanks with homemade "Al-Yassin 105" shells. It said, "Its fighters were able to target an Israeli foot force consisting of 4 soldiers transporting a number of explosive devices to a house with an anti-fortified TBG shell in Madinat Al-Zahra, northwest of the Central Governorate, confirming their deaths." In the city of Khan Yunis, the "Al-Qassam Brigades" said that "its fighters targeted an Israeli troop carrier and a Merkava tank with "Al-Yassin 105" and "Tandum" shells. They also targeted an Israeli troop carrier with a "Shawaz" device and its surroundings with a "TBG" shell in Hamad Town. North of the city. The Al-Qassam Brigades said that it fired an anti-fortified TPG shell "at a Zionist force of 4 soldiers" who were transporting explosive devices to a house in Madinat Al-Zahra in the central Gaza Strip. Al-Qassam said in a statement: Our mujahideen confirmed the killing of all members of the Zionist force. Al-Qassam also announced that it had targeted 5 Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells in central Gaza. The Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, severely reprimanded Major General Dan Goldfuss, from the 98th Army: "He acted contrary to what was expected of a senior commander in the IDF." A launch was detected from the north of the Gaza Strip towards the city of Sderot, which was successfully intercepted by the air defense fighters. In a quick closing of the circle, within a few minutes the fire center of the Southern Command, the Air Force and the 215th Fire Brigade directed an attack on the launcher located in the north of the Gaza Strip using aircraft and artillery, as a result of which it was destroyed. Last night (Thursday) IDF soldiers operating at the checkpoint checkpoint stopped for inspection a vehicle containing four suspects. After searching the vehicle, the soldiers located an explosive device on the side of the door and photos of weapons on the suspects' phones. The forces arrested the suspects and they were transferred to the security forces for further treatment. During the night, the IDF forces, the Shin Bet and the Mageb, arrested 14 wanted persons throughout Judea and Samaria. In the village of Araba and Tulkarem in the Menashe Brigade, the forces arrested five wanted persons. In addition, during the night, the IDF forces arrested two suspects near the village of Eldad in the Etzion Division, on whom knives were found, and Yehuda expressed that weapons parts were confiscated. On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the IDF allowed the passage of a convoy of 31 humanitarian aid trucks containing food and supplies intended for distribution to Gazans in the northern Gaza Strip. About an hour before the aid convoy arrived at the humanitarian corridor, Palestinian gunmen were spotted shooting in the vicinity of Gazan civilians who were waiting for the convoy. Based on a preliminary and in-depth investigation that the IDF carried out during the night, it was found that no shots were fired at the aid convoy in Kuwait Square. Palestinian gunmen were seen shooting in the vicinity of Gazan civilians. IDF sted "We would like to emphasize that there was no shooting by IDF forces at the aid convoy in Kuwait Square. The IDF continues to investigate the incident while making strenuous efforts to bring in humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip, while Hamas terrorists are harming the residents of Gaza and spreading lies in order to blame the State of Israel for this."" Soldiers of the 7th TDF uncovered a terror tunnel and a large amlach under an agricultural field. The forces of the 98th Division continue to operate in the Khan Yunis area, during the last day the fighters together with the Air Force forces closed circles on terrorists and located weapons. The combat team fighters of the 7th Brigade and the Givati Brigade eliminated terrorists through tank fire and sniper fire as well as destroyed terrorist infrastructures where Hamas operatives were staying. In another activity by the fighters of the 7th Brigade's combat team, the forces identified a number of armed terrorists loading explosives onto a vehicle in their possession, an aircraft attacked the terrorists and eliminated them. Later, a number of terrorists were identified who tried to plant explosive charges in the area, an aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists before they were able to capture the area. The fighters of the Nahal Brigade's combat team continue to operate in the center of the Gaza Strip and have eliminated about 10 terrorists throughout the last day. In one of the activities in the area, the forces identified a squad of terrorists near them and fired shells at them. A few minutes later, another terrorist was identified in the area and was also eliminated. In another activity In the area, the forces eliminated an armed squad during a face-to-face fight. Following launches carried out yesterday into the surrounding settlements, the IDF attacked from the air and with artillery a number of terrorist infrastructures in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. Newsweek stated that Israeli sources have been confirming that they have succeeded in reducing the number of rocket attacks launched by resistance factions from Gaza , but at the same time they admit that they have not yet achieved their original goals, which complicates the situation for them. The report quoted pro-Israel analyst Joe Trosman as saying that the Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and its allies are now focusing on targeting Israeli forces inside Gaza, instead of launching rockets towards Israel. He added that this does not mean that the bombing of Israel has stopped, but rather that the pace has decreased, and the Israeli army announces from time to time the launch of missiles towards areas inside Israel. Trosman admitted - speaking to Newsweek - that time is not in Tel Aviv's interest, as pressure is increasing on it "to limit its operations." He said that Hamas benefits from prolonging the conflict, such that the longer it persists, the more difficult it becomes for Israel to achieve its goals. Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted Israeli security estimates that there are still between 4 and 6 thousand Hamas fighters in the central and northern Gaza Strip. Israeli estimates warned that the reduction of forces in Gaza and the absence of a force to fill the vacuum would lead to renewed Hamas military and administrative control over the Strip. In February, Haaretz newspaper reported from Israeli military, media and political sources that reports had increased in recent days about renewed fighting in Gaza City and the northern areas of the Strip, indicating that Hamas and the rest of the Palestinian factions had renewed their ability to move in those areas. The newspaper added that Hamas is trying to escalate the fighting in these areas, which Israel claims to have tightened control over, so that the movement can demonstrate its organizational and operational capabilities, and at the same time reduce Israeli military pressure on the southern Gaza Strip. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, revealed in a video dated March 7 this year a new launcher bearing the names of the martyrs Khairy Alqam and Uday Al-Tamimi. Military expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi confirmed to Al-Jazeera that what appeared in the video indicates that it may be a simulation of a 122 mm Katyusha missile , meaning that its range reaches 14 kilometers, which means that all settlements surrounding Gaza will be within its range. The launcher carries 8 missiles, and it may be one of the achievements of the current battle, according to Al-Duwairi, who suggested that it was made through reverse engineering. He believes that the unveiling of the new weapon at this time, after 5 months of war, means that Al-Qassam is still managing the battle and controlling the command system, and that it has something to offer after this period of fighting. In early February, the Israeli Army Radio said that the Israeli forces are still far from achieving their goal of eliminating the missile capabilities of the Hamas movement, stressing that this mission requires, according to estimates, between one and two years. The radio reported that many of the rocket launching pads in the Gaza Strip are buried underground, which makes it difficult for Israeli forces to find them. It added that estimates indicate that Hamas still has about 1,000 rockets so far, most of which are in platforms buried underground. Researchers at the Israeli Military Intelligence Division said in February that Hamas is capable of surviving as an armed organization capable of waging a guerrilla war. They explained in their report that the occupation army may succeed in eliminating the movement as a ruling system, but it will not be able to end its existence as an armed organization, according to what Israeli Channel 12 reported last month. The channel said that the head of the research department in the Israeli Military Intelligence Division presented these findings in the occupation army to officials in the Israeli occupation government, in a warning message that the Hamas movement still enjoys real support despite the devastating war on Gaza. Recently, there has been talk in Western and Hebrew media that the Israeli occupation is unable to defeat or eliminate Hamas militarily, and they considered this to be an unrealistic idea. Friday, the first aid ship to reach the Gaza Strip began unloading via the sea corridor from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus. A spokeswoman for the World Center Kitchen confirmed that about 200 tons of aid had begun to be unloaded after the Open Arms ship stopped near a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza. Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the cargo, which includes foods such as rice, flour, legumes, and canned vegetables, will be lowered into small boats and transported to the shore under the supervision of international institutions. Anatolia News Agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying that small boats began unloading the ship's cargo and transporting it towards the shore of Gaza City. The witnesses said that the ship was standing hundreds of meters from the Gaza coast, opposite the new pier being constructed on the coast of the Al-Baidar area, southwest of the city, explaining that the pier paving work had not yet been completed. The owner of World Center Kitchen, Jose Andres, confirmed on the X platform that the ship had reached the shores of Gaza, and published a video clip showing the ship and its cargo. For its part, the Israeli army said in a statement that its forces were deployed to secure the area where the aid was being unloaded, noting that the ship had undergone a full security inspection. A second aid ship is being prepared in the Cypriot port of Larnaca, scheduled to transport 300 tons of food, and no date has been set for its departure to Gaza. The United Nations, the United States, and other Western countries stressed that transporting aid by sea to Gaza cannot be an alternative to delivering it through land ports. Operational Update - Judea-Samaria The Israeli authorities have announced measures on the entry of Palestinians holding West Bank IDs, with valid permits and magnetic cards, to Al Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan (15 March), limiting entry to children under 10 years of age, women over 50, and men over 55. In 2023, men over 55, women of all ages and children under 12 were allowed entry without a permit on Fridays during Ramadan. The occupation army usually storms Palestinian areas to carry out arrests against Palestinians, leaving great destruction, especially the camps in the northern West Bank. The Israeli occupation forces stormed, at dawn today, Friday, the fifth of the holy month of Ramadan, several cities in the West Bank and carried out raids and arrests. Clashes also took place with Palestinian resistance fighters in the city of Tulkarm , while extremist settlers stormed the outskirts of the town of Kafr Nima, west of the city of Ramallah, and attacked the residents and their property in the center with heavy gunfire. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the occupation forces stormed Tulkarm with a number of military vehicles and were stationed near the Shweika roundabout northwest of the city, while local media reported that clashes took place between Palestinian resistance fighters and the occupation forces storming the city. The Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) said that the occupation forces arrested 4 Palestinians from the city of Tulkarm at dawn today, and raided the town of Baa, north of the city. Local sources confirmed that more than 12 Israeli military vehicles stormed the city of Tulkarm and deployed in several areas. The sources stated that the occupation forces raided several commercial stores and residential buildings in the city, and wreaked havoc there. The same sources reported that confrontations broke out between young men and the occupation forces in the city of Tulkarm and on the outskirts of the Tulkarm camp, but no injuries were reported. In Yatta, south of Hebron, the occupation forces stormed the city and positioned themselves in its centre. The occupation forces also arrested two Palestinians, one of whom was a freed prisoner, during their storming of the town of Arraba in Jenin. The occupation forces carried out extensive searches of homes during their storming of the town of Burqa, northwest of Nablus. The Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem, at dawn on Friday. Local sources reported that 4 Israeli military vehicles stormed the town and toured several neighborhoods, without any arrests being reported. The occupation forces also stormed the vicinity of Qalandia camp, northeast of Jerusalem. Israeli occupation forces continued their attacks in the Holy City and the occupied West Bank , while resistance factions announced that they would confront them and thwart their advance in the Al-Fara camp, south of Tubas, in the northern West Bank. In occupied Jerusalem, the occupation army intensified its military measures today near the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque , and arrested a Palestinian and soldiers assaulted him by beating him in the Damascus Gate area . The occupation authorities imposed strict restrictions at their military checkpoints between the West Bank and Jerusalem, including repelling the majority of Palestinians and preventing them from reaching the Holy City. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the occupation authorities prevented medical teams from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan. In the northern West Bank, the occupation forces stormed Al-Faraa camp, south of Tubas. Eyewitnesses said that a military force stormed the camp, amid armed clashes. According to witnesses, military bulldozers accompanied the Israeli force and participated in destroying the infrastructure. They indicated the outbreak of armed clashes and the sounds of explosions were heard from time to time. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that clashes took place between the occupation forces and resistance fighters in the camp. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank said that its fighters in the Faraa camp confronted the occupation forces and their vehicles, and forced them to retreat. Meanwhile, at dawn today , extremist settlers stormed the outskirts of the town of Kafr Ni'ma, west of the city of Ramallah, and the settlers attacked the Palestinians and their property amid heavy gunfire. The settlers also burned a number of vehicles and facilities in the town before withdrawing from the place. It is noteworthy that settler attacks on Palestinians and their property have escalated in the West Bank since the seventh of last October. In this context, the US State Department announced the imposition of sanctions on 3 Israeli settlers and two Israeli settlement sites against the backdrop of acts of violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. The Department said in a statement that the step comes within the framework of holding accountable individuals and entities that undermine security and stability in the West Bank, as well as the two-state solution. The sanctions included 3 settlers, namely Zvi Bar-Yosef, Moshe Sharfeit, and Neria Ben Bazi, whom Washington accuses of engaging in acts of violence and threatening Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States will continue to take action against those involved in extremist violence in the West Bank. In his reaction to the US sanctions, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir considered that the US Treasurys imposition of sanctions on settlers is further evidence that the administration of US President Joe Biden does not distinguish between enemy and friend, as he put it. Ben Gvir claimed that the settlers bring security to Israel and deserve appreciation instead of sticking a knife in the back, according to him. Operational Update - Lebanon Fighter jets attacked a military site of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Hula area and an observation post of the organization in the Marvin area. Also, the IDF attacked with artillery to remove a threat in the Vedai Hamol area. Terrorist infrastructures of the organization were attacked in the Kfar Kila area and in the Lavona area. In recent hours, launches from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory have been detected in the areas of Shetula, Har Dov and Zareit. Fighter jets attacked a Hizbollah observation post in the Ayta al-Sha'ab area, a military structure of the organization in the Alma al-Sha'ab area and a terrorist infrastructure of the organization in the Lavona area. Another military structure of the organization was attacked during the night in the Livona area, the IDF attacked with artillery to remove a threat in the Wadi Hamul and Khula areas. A number of launches from Lebanese territory were identified that crossed into Israeli territory in the areas of Margaliot, Malkiah and Shatula. The IDF attacked the sources of the fire with artillery. In the words of its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the Lebanese Hezbollah sent a message in Hebrew to the Israeli army, via a video clip showing scenes from its operations. Hezbollah's military media published a video clip showing scenes from operations carried out by the party against the Israeli army. The video also showed the launching of rockets and the use of various weapons to target Israeli sites, vehicles, and marches, and their injuries. Hezbollah concluded the video clip with words of a threat to Hassan Nasrallah, in Hebrew and Arabic: By expanding... expanding. By rising... high. This means that Hezbollah is ready to expand the war with Israel if it does so. Reuters reported, citing 7 sources, that amid the attack on Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah informed Iran that it would fight alone in any war with Israel. The sources told Reuters that the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Ismail Qaani, visited Beirut in February to discuss the risks that might arise if Israel targeted the Lebanese Hezbollah after that. The sources added that Qaani met in the Lebanese capital with Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah for at least the third time since Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza. It also indicated that the conversation turned to the possibility that Israel would launch a comprehensive attack in Lebanon. Reuters quoted three sources, who are Iranians from the inner circle of the authority (according to the agency), that such an escalation may put pressure on Iran to respond more forcefully compared to what it has done so far since the seventh, in addition to the devastating effects on Hezbollah. . Over the past five months, Hezbollah has demonstrated its support for Hamas by launching a limited barrage of rockets across Israel's northern border. All sources explained that in the previously unannounced meeting, Nasrallah Qaani reassured that he did not want Iran to be drawn into a war with Israel or the United States and that Hezbollah would fight alone. According to what an Iranian source familiar with the discussions told Reuters, Nasrallah told Qaani: This is our battle. Operational Update - Syria / Iraq rien Operational Update - Yemen The US military said today (Friday) that the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden and two missiles towards the Red Sea, but there were no reports of injuries or damage to US or coalition ships. The US Central Command said in a statement on the X platform that it destroyed nine anti-ship missiles and two drones in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen. Maps All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness. Bystanders The Palestinian National Liberation Movement "Fatah" stated in a press statement that whoever "caused Israel's reoccupation of the Gaza Strip has no right to determine the priorities of the Palestinian people." It said in the statement, The Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah confirms that whoever caused Israels reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, and caused the Nakba that the Palestinian people are experiencing, especially in the Gaza Strip, does not have the right to dictate national priorities. The statement added: "The real disconnect from reality and the Palestinian people is the leadership of the Hamas movement, which has not, until this moment, sensed the extent of the catastrophe that our oppressed people are experiencing in the Gaza Strip and in the rest of the Palestinian territories." The Fatah movements statement comes in response to a statement issued today by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements, in addition to the Popular Front and the Palestinian Initiative movement, in which they objected to the decision of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new government, accusing the Palestinian Authority of exclusivity and hegemony in making... the decision. The Fatah movement expressed its surprise and disapproval of Hamas talk of exclusivity and division, asking, Did Hamas consult the Palestinian leadership or any Palestinian national party when it made its decision to carry out the adventure of last October 7, which led to a catastrophe more massive and cruel than the catastrophe of last year? 1948". Fatah asked: "Has Hamas consulted with the Palestinian leadership and is now negotiating with Israel and offering it concessions after concessions, and that its only goal is for its leadership to receive guarantees for its personal security?" The Fatah movement also accused Hamas of trying to reach an agreement with Netanyahu again "to maintain its divisive role in Gaza and the Palestinian arena." Fatah criticized the actions and practices of the Hamas leadership and its behavior towards the war in the Gaza Strip, noting that it seems that the comfortable life that this leadership lives in seven-star hotels has blinded it to what is right, wondering why most of Hamas leaders live abroad, and why She and her families fled and left the Palestinian people facing a brutal war of extermination without any protection. Fatah called on the leadership of the Hamas movement to stop its policy of being dependent on foreign agendas, and return to the national side in order to stop the war and save our people and our cause from liquidation, and to provide relief to our people and rebuild Gaza, leading to complete withdrawal from the land of the State of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Friday that Egypt seeks to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, increase the entry of aid, and allow the displaced in the south of the Strip to move to the north. In his speech during a visit to the headquarters of the Police Academy in Cairo, Sisi stressed the importance of the ceasefire in bringing the largest volume of aid into Gaza, and said that the failure to enter aid leads to famine. He also stressed that the ceasefire would allow residents of the center and south to move towards the north, warning at the same time of the danger of the Israeli invasion of the border city of Rafah, to which estimates indicate the displacement of more than 1.5 million people near the Gaza Strip border with Egypt. This is the second time this week that the Egyptian President has warned publicly and directly of the dangers of invading the Palestinian city of Rafah. The day before yesterday, Wednesday, Al-Sisi said during a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the Israeli plan to invade Rafah threatens the lives of more than 1.5 million displaced people, whom Israel bears the responsibility to protect (..) in accordance with the rules of international law. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are leading mediation efforts to stop the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since last October 7 , and the efforts succeeded in concluding a first truce last December, which only lasted for about a week. Axis of Resistance Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi deplored the attempts by the Western media outlets to draw the worlds attention away from the crisis in Palestine and Gaza and prevent the Israeli atrocities from being publicized. In a meeting with a group of Iranian media people and officials of news agencies and newspapers, held in Tehran on Thursday, President Raisi decried the role of the Western media outlets in diverting the public opinion of the people of the world away from the events in Palestine and Gaza. Some media are mercenaries for the United States and the Zionist regime, while censoring the widespread and unprecedented demonstrations of the people of different parts of the world against the crimes of the Zionists, Raisi said, his official website reported. In a meeting with Iranian students on November 1, 2023, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said one of the many shameless actions of Western politicians and Western media is calling the Palestinian fighters terrorists. When the Western media label the Palestinian fighters as terrorists, it is a sign of how truly disgraceful they are, the Leader stated. When a person defends their own home or country, does that make them a terrorist? When the French fought the Germans in Paris in World War II, did that make them terrorists? How come they were considered fighters and a source of pride for France, yet you consider the youth of the (Palestinian Islamic) Jihad and Hamas as terrorists? Ayatollah Khamenei said. The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas ) and Palestinian factions described the efforts to form a new Palestinian government without national consensus as deepening the division and indicative of the crisis of the Authoritys leadership and the gap between it and the Palestinian people and their aspirations. A statement by those factions - which included Hamas, Islamic Jihad , the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian National Initiative - said that the national priority is currently to confront the Israeli aggression and the war of extermination and starvation that the occupation is waging against the Gaza Strip . The factions' statement stressed that "making individual decisions, such as forming a new government without national consensus, is a reinforcement of the policy of exclusivity and a deepening of division at a historical moment when the Palestinian people need unity." The statement pointed out that "the Palestinian people have the right to question the feasibility of replacing one government with another, and one prime minister with another, from the same political and partisan environment." In their statement, the Palestinian factions called on all national forces, especially in the Palestinian National Liberation Movement ( Fatah ), to agree on managing this critical stage in a way that serves the Palestinian cause and meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people to extract their legitimate rights, liberate their land and sanctities, and establish their independent state. "full sovereignty, with Jerusalem as its capital." This comes after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas , yesterday, Thursday, assigned economist Muhammad Mustafa to form the new Palestinian government, 3 weeks after Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh resigned from his position. The tasks of the new Prime Minister in the text of the assignment included coordinating efforts to reconstruct Gaza , reunifying Palestinian institutions, continuing reform leading to a system based on governance and transparency and combating corruption, and preparing to hold legislative and presidential elections in all Palestinian governorates, including occupied Jerusalem. Allied for Democracy Two prominent media organizations in the United States published two articles by two leading researchers in Middle East affairs about the dispute between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While the Foreign Affairs magazine article focused on the pressure points that give the United States the ability to influence Israel, the author of the article in the New York Times asked about the reasons that prevent Biden from exerting pressure on Tel Aviv. Jonah Blank, a researcher at the RAND Corporation and the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore, says in his article in Foreign Affairs magazine that the opinion that has remained common regarding Bidens political path is that strict dealings with Israel are futile and rather entail great risks. But things are no longer that simple, as the writer believes, because after more than 5 months have passed since the devastating war in the Gaza Strip , the inability to take a firm stance towards Israel has also become a major danger. Blank believes that Biden has not yet shown a willingness to challenge Israel in a meaningful way, but there are indications that he has become increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu. But if the president wants to get tough with Netanyahu, he has a range of options. Ranging from withholding military aid to recognizing a Palestinian state. Although implementing these options - as the author acknowledges - is not easy from a political standpoint, they may become more feasible in light of the rising death toll from the war and the spread of famine in the Gaza Strip. Although Biden's tone in his criticism of Netanyahu's military campaign in Gaza has become sharp and frank since last February, and his call on Israel to increase humanitarian aid and limit the size of its military operations and civilian casualties, he must announce in a televised speech from the White House that he will stop dealing with the Israeli Prime Minister is if he wants to give his demands more weight, according to Blank. The writer believes that if he does so, he must make clear that his criticism is directed at the extreme right-wing government of Israel, and not at its people, which would increase the pressure on Netanyahu at home, which would make him moderate his positions. The other step - in the opinion of the American researcher in his article - is to reduce American diplomatic support for Israel at the United Nations, without a specific political commitment. Another pressure point is that Biden has the authority to recognize a sovereign Palestinian state through executive action. Washington could also stop offering incentives to encourage the conclusion of a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, according to the New York Times article. In his article, Aaron David Miller, an analyst and former negotiator at the US State Department for Middle East affairs, expressed his belief that President Bidens statements regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, which were contained in his State of the Union address and in his interview with MSNBC on Saturday, it signaled a more critical American policy towards Israel. Miller, who works as a senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that the president called in that speech for at least a temporary ceasefire, speaking about the losses and suffering suffered by the people of Gaza, and sending a message to Israel of the necessity of working to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Strip considering that's a priority. Instead of heralding a major shift in policy - as the writer put it - the presidents words and Vice President Kamala Harris recent meeting with Benny Gantz, Netanyahus opponent and potential successor, most likely came within the framework of the US administrations approach, which does not seem happy with Netanyahus government. Miller said that the presidents speech carried several messages, including rebuking Israel for its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza; He expressed his frustration with some of Tel Aviv's actions, its indifference and even its opposition to facilitating the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip. He also expressed his anger at Israel's unwillingness to curb settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The former analyst at the US State Department believes that the phrase, I am not happy with Israel, but I will not do much about it, which Biden launched is an expression of his policy driven by his sensitivity and the political choices he faces in dealing with the current war. Then the president certainly knows that there is a price he will pay at home and abroad for allowing Netanyahu to disdain American interests and values, and here lies the problem, according to Miller, who added that it was Bidens connection to Israel that prevented him from imposing conditions on it throughout the war. The writer added that no American president has repeatedly described himself as a Zionist except Biden. Biden believes that his political life is intertwined with the story of the Israeli state, but these feelings of love do not include the current Israeli Prime Minister. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gave a good speech on Thursday when he called for new elections in Israel and strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as an obstacle to peace. He gave a good speech, Biden told reporters at the White House when asked about Schumers statements on the Senate floor on Thursday. Biden added: (Schumer) expressed serious concerns...which are shared by a large number of Americans, noting that Schumer informed presidential staff about the speech earlier than he delivered it. In a remarkable coincidence with Schumers statements in which he criticized Israel for its failure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and called for new elections to change its government, the Axios website quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant signed a letter on Thursday confirming To the administration of President Joe Biden, Israel will use American weapons in accordance with international law, and will allow US-supported humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This is a response to increasing American pressure on Israel to control its ongoing military operation in Gaza, in light of fears that the Netanyahu governments insistence on invading Rafah without a clear plan to protect civilians will lead to increased objections, outside and within the United States. While Schumer's statements were considered the culmination of an American pressure campaign that has been ongoing for months, and has moved from the shadows to the public, they are also considered an indication that Biden and Schumer, who are strong supporters of Israel, have run out of patience with Netanyahu, and pave the way for criticism that is expected to increase in the coming period, from many. Among the American opponents to Netanyahu's policies, who apparently lost Biden's trust, after he seemed to be working in favor of the Republican agenda in the upcoming US presidential battle. Ghaith Al-Omari, senior researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, considered Schumer's statements a coordinated message with the administration, and a warning that Israel is losing its closest allies. Al-Omari added to Asharq Al-Awsat that these statements will now remain within the framework of media pressure, but if Israel invades Rafah, the scene could change and some American-backed moves could take place in the Security Council, for example. He added that the manifestation of disagreement between Biden and Netanyahu is not due only to internal American electoral reasons, but also to fundamental differences over policies. Al-Omari conveyed impressions from conversations with Israelis themselves, that there is discomfort with Netanyahus policies towards Biden, and they see that the recent reception of Minister Benny Gantz by senior American officials is a clear message that Washington is not dealing with the government, but rather with Israel as a state. A senior administration official declared that the change in tone was intentional, saying: Our rhetoric on humanitarian aid has become more strident as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened. He added that the general principles of the administration remained the same, which are to seek the return of the hostages, defeat Hamas, protect civilians, and ultimately seek a two-state solution. Schumer, the Jewish senator, who was one of the most prominent defenders of Israel and stood in the face of the growing pro-Palestinian trend in the Democratic Party, seemed closer to the progressive senator Bernie Sanders, who has long criticized Netanyahu. He said on Thursday: Netanyahus coalition no longer suits Israels needs after October 7. The world has changed radically since then, and the Israeli people are now suffocated by a vision of governance stuck in the past. He said that if Israel refuses to change course, that is, to protect the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza and seek a two-state solution, then the United States must play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our influence to change the current course. Despite this, Schumer was subjected to criticism, especially from Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who pushes for military aid to Israel separately from foreign aid to Ukraine, said his speech was completely inappropriate. But Schumer's speech would not have been possible without the shifts witnessed by the Biden administration in recent weeks, driven by increasing political pressure from Democrats and pro-Palestinian voices inside and outside Washington. At this time, Axios said that the request for guarantees submitted by the Biden administration, last month, under the National Security Memorandum, does not constitute a change in policy towards Israel specifically. But it came after some Democratic senators expressed concern about the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The Biden administration asked Israel to sign the letter of guarantees by the middle of this month. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has until March 25 to confirm the credibility of Israel's written commitments. If certification is not granted, US arms transfers to Israel will be suspended. While the Israeli war government gave Gallant the green light to sign the letter of guarantees last Sunday, he did not sign it until Thursday. An Israeli official said that the letter was then delivered to the US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew. The National Security Memorandum, published on February 8, states that before supplying US weapons, a country must provide the United States with credible written assurances that it will use them in accordance with international humanitarian law. It also stipulates that humanitarian assistance provided by the United States and international efforts supported by the United States government to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians shall not be prevented or restricted. On the other hand, American and Israeli officials said that before signing the memorandum, Israel asked the Biden administration to add to the written guarantees another message confirming the United States commitment to Israels security, its right to defend itself, and military assistance. But Biden administration officials responded that such a request would require a long time of consultations and negotiations that would not meet the deadline specified in the memorandum, preferring to keep this process in a technical framework as much as possible, and not turn it into political negotiations that might require Israel to provide more written guarantees. Last week, more than 30 Democratic representatives expressed, in a letter to Biden, their fears that the Rafah invasion would lead to a violation of his demand to use US military aid in accordance with international law, pointing to the absence of a credible plan to protect civilians. Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers 73,439 Gazans injured, 28% adult male 40,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble 33,000 Gaza targets attacked 31,490 Gazans martyred 15,000 rocket launched from Gaza 14,664 Israelis were injured [i24 TV] 13,430 Gazan children martyred 13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12] 12,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF] 11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons 9,000 IDF psychological assistance 9,000 Gazan women martyred 8,000 Gazans missing 7,500 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th 6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS] 5,500 IDF wounded [reports] 4,700 West Bank Palestinians wounded 3,484 administrative detainees 3,400 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria 2,976 IDF wounded [IDF] 1,609 terrorists killed on the first day 1,500 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas 1,200 Israelis killed on the first day 575 Israeli officers and soldiers killed 433 West Bank Palestinians martyred 247 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza 222 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon 126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers 116 living hostages in Palestinian custody 50 civilians killed in Lebanon 29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire" 15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case. The Palestinian resistance says that the losses of the Israeli forces are much greater than what is announced. Al Jazeera military and strategic expert Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi expressed his conviction that the numbers of dead and wounded announced by Israel cannot represent the truth, due to a discrepancy between the Israeli armys data and the Walla website, which is close to the army itself. In an interview with RT, Military strategist retired Tunisian Brigadier General Tawfiq Didi said that the number of Israeli army deaths in the Gaza battles is much greater than what Israel announces. Didi explained in an interview with the Best Saying program on RT channel, The number of people killed in battles can be easily known, as the equation in wars is that for every 3 wounded there is a dead person, and the numbers now in Israel hover around 12,500 wounded and disabled people, and when we divide by Three, we find that the death toll exceeds 4,000, especially after eliminating more than a thousand tanks and armored vehicles, and I know what happens when Kornet missiles hit a tank. Its ammunition explodes and no one is left alive. He added, "The Israelis announce their dead only of those of Jewish origin and of the first race, meaning all Arabs, Falash, and those who are among them. They are not counted because they are of the second category. So I am sure that the number exceeds 4 thousand dead, and this is a very easy military calculation." He pointed out, "The Palestinian resistance documented everything it did, unlike the Israelis. The resistance documented shooting at tanks and armored vehicles and destroying the houses in which the Israeli soldiers were holed up, and we saw them being killed... We saw the Kornet hitting the tanks, we saw Al-Yassin 105, so the difference is clear." Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed have been held as hostages in Gaza since 2014 and 2015, respectively. Unlike the roughly 240 people kidnapped in the Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks, the campaign for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed has received little publicity. Mengistu is known to suffer from what HRW deemed "serious" mental health issues. "Avera crossed one of the safest borders in the world, under the eyes of the security services," recalled Gil Elias, a relative. "We're talking about a mentally ill person who got lost." The calls for the release of Mengistu and al-Sayed have been barely audible during the many years they have been held captive in Gaza. Abraham Wyner, Professor of Statistics and Data Science at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, reported 06 March 2024 that : "While the evidence is not dispositive, it is highly suggestive that a process unconnected or loosely connected to reality was used to report the numbers.... Another red flag, raised by Salo Aizenberg and written about extensively, is that if 70% of the casualties are women and children and 25% of the population is adult male, then either Israel is not successfully eliminating Hamas fighters or adult male casualty counts are extremely low. This by itself strongly suggests that the numbers are at a minimum grossly inaccurate and quite probably outright faked.... Taken together, Hamas is reporting not only that 70% of casualties are women and children but also that 20% are fighters. This is not possible unless Israel is somehow not killing noncombatant men, or else Hamas is claiming that almost all the men in Gaza are Hamas fighters.... "Israel estimates that at least 12,000 fighters have been killed. If that number proves to be even reasonably accurate, then the ratio of noncombatant casualties to combatants is remarkably low: at most 1.4 to 1 and perhaps as low as 1 to 1. By historical standards of urban warfare, where combatants are embedded above and below into civilian population centers, this is a remarkable and successful effort to prevent unnecessary loss of life while fighting an implacable enemy that protects itself with civilians." This makes perfect sense under a third possibility, namely that the IDF doing a really good job of targeting male combatants, most of whom are in proximity to their families. There are no HAMAS barracks, so everyone lives at home, en famille. Co-habiting extended families are common [hence reports of dozens of family members killed in a single strike]. The HAMAS battalions are organized by neighborhoods, so it would not be surprising that multiple HAMAS combatants live in a single building. So casualties structured as one male combatant, one female cohabitant, and two children are approximately consistent with both expectations and reports. Lord Roberts of Belgravia (Con) stated 08 February 2024 "My Lords, even if we were to take as accurate Hamass statistics and the 27,500 figure there is no reason why we should; we do not do that with Putin or ISIS if one subtracts the number of Gazans who have been killed by the quarter or so of the Islamic Jihad and Hamas rockets that fall short, one is left with a less than 2:1 ratio of civilians to Hamas terrorists killed, of whom there have been more than 9,000 so far. War is hell, and every individual civilian death is a tragedy, but I speak as a military historian less than 2:1 is an astonishingly low ratio for modern urban warfare where the terrorists routinely use civilians as human shields. It is a testament to the professionalism, ethics and values of the Israel Defense Forces." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 15 March 2024 - Day 750 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 following a series of significant Russian vessel losses in the Black Sea, on 10 March 2024, the Commander in Chief of the Russian Federation Navy, Admiral Nikolay Anatolyevich Yevmenov, was highly likely removed from the position and replaced by Northern Fleet commander, Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev. The sacking of Admiral Yevmenov comes after the removal of the second Black Sea Fleet commander since February 2022 and follows the loss of the SERGEY KOTOV corvette on 5 March 2024, the ninth major vessel to be lost to Ukrainian action since Russia invaded Ukraine. Although a career submariner, prior to his appointment as Northern Fleet Commander, Admiral Moiseyev held command of the Black Sea Fleet between 2018 and 2019. It is likely that Admiral Moiseyev's first task as Commander in Chief of the Navy will be to stabilise the security situation in the Black Sea and implement changes designed to improve the Black Sea Fleet's combat capability in the region. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 15, there were 68x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 57x air strikes, carried out 46x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in civilian casualties. Residential private and apartment buildings, as well as other infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Today, Russia launched several missile strikes on Odesa, cynically launching a repeated strike on rescuers of the State Emergency Service who had already begun to respond to the aftermath of the first strike and provide medical aid to the victims. As a result of this terrorist attack, according to preliminary updates, at least 19 people were killed and 70 others were wounded. 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 Pysarivka, Popivka, Vil'ne, Lukashivka, Dmytrivka (Sumy oblast), Baranivka, Pokalyane (Kharkiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Sorokyne, Khodyne, Volfyne, Volodymyrivka, Zapsillya, Ryasne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Pletenivka, Budarky, Ambarne, Stroivka (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x assaults in the vicinities of Terny, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Virolyubivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, New York (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 20x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Keramik, Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Karlivka, Netailove, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian invaders in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 22x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pobjeda and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast). Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted 5x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces conducted 3x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders. Around 10x settlements, including Nikopol', (Dnipropetrovsk oblast), the city of Kherson, Beryslav, Sadove (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. During the day of March 15, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 9 to 15 March 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 50 group strikes by high-precision weapons, multiple launch rocket systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles against the airfield infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, repair of weapons and military equipment, storage depots for UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, arsenals and POL bases. All the assigned targets have been engaged. Moreover, the strikes also hit deployment areas of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Berestovoye, Peschanoye (Kharkov region) and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic). Twenty-two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 57th Motorised, 32nd and 47th Mechanised brigades were repelled close to Sinkovka, Pershotravnevoye (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 305 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and 25 field artillery guns. In addition, from 12 to 15 March 2024, as a result of preventive and coordinated actions of the Russian troops, all attempts by the AFU to break through Belgorod and Kursk regions were thwarted by actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation. Air strikes and artillery fire neutralised over 550 Ukrainian troops, 16 tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, including 11 U.S.-made Bradley, and 15 motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Nevelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and seized more advantageous lines. The Russian troops hit seven mechanised and five assault brigades of the AFU close to Kurakhovo, Spornoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Krasnogorovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, four counter-attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade and 81st Airmobile Brigade were repelled close to Belogorovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,930 Ukrainian troops, nine tanks, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 41 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, two Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launchers, and eight field ammunition depots. In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units continued to advance and occupy more advantageous positions. In cooperation with aviation and artillery, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of 11 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Ocheretino, Novzvelannoye, Novogrodovka, Rozovka, and Kalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic). Sixty-four counter-attacks launched by the AFU units have been repelled close to Berdychi, Semenovka, Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Over the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 2,710 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three U.S.-made Abrams tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns. In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 127th, 128th Territorial Defence brigades of the AFU close to Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Rovnopol, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonoye, and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region). Seven enemy counter-attacks were repelled close to Staromayorskoye, Novodonetskoye, Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic) and Vladimirovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 980 Ukrainian troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 31 motor vehicles, and 11 artillery guns. In Kherson direction, the Russian troops took more advantageous positions, inflicted complex fire damage on the formations of the 141st Infantry, 65th, 117th mechanised, 82nd, 128th assault, 35th Marine brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Novosyolovka, Orekhov, Kamenskoye, Stepnoye, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region), Berislav and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU losses were more than 270 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, 23 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns. The Groups' Missile Troops, Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles have shot down one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher, two U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile launchers, and one S-300 anti-aircraft missile launcher with radar stations during the week. Air defence units have eliminated over the past week: one MiG-29 fighter jet and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force; one Tochka-U tactical missile; five French-made Hammer aerial bombs; 86 projectiles of the U.S.-made HIMARS, Czech-made Vampire, and Grad MLRS; and 915 unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, 577 airplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,573 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,496 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,238 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,406 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,764 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 Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced for International Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Thursday, March 14, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A leader of the Lorenzana drug trafficking organization was sentenced last week to 33 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $27 million for charges related to international drug trafficking. According to court documents, beginning in or about 2008 and continuing to at least 2019, Marta Julia Lorenzana-Cordon, 47, from Zacapa, Guatemala, was a leader of the Lorenzana drug trafficking organization, one of the largest and most influential drug cartels in Guatemala, which was comprised primarily of family members. The organization transports tonnage quantities of cocaine from Colombia into Guatemala, where the cocaine is inventoried and stored on properties owned by the organization throughout Guatemala. Once processed, the organization works with the Sinaloa Cartel, among other organizations, to traffic cocaine into Mexico, through Central America, and eventually, into the United States. Lorenzana-Cordon was extradited in December 2021 to the United States from Guatemala. She pleaded guilty on May 2, 2023, to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that it would be unlawfully imported to the United States. Between 1996 continuing through 2019, the organization coordinated the transportation, storage, and distribution of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Mexico, for eventual distribution into the United States. Lorenzana-Cordon's siblings, Eliu Elixander Lorenzana-Cordon, 53, and Waldemar Lorenzana-Cordon, 59, were convicted in March 2019 on international narcotics trafficking charges in the District of Columbia and sentenced to life in prison. Lorenzana-Cordon's father, Waldemar Lorenzana-Lima Sr., who has since passed away, pleaded guilty in August 2014 to international narcotics trafficking charges in the District of Columbia and was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement. This investigation is part of "Operation Slipknot," which is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The DEA's 959/Bilateral Investigations Unit is investigating the case, with assistance from the DEA Guatemala City Country Office. The Justice Department thanks the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control for their support and contributions to the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendants. The department appreciates the assistance provided by the government of Guatemala. Trial Attorneys Imani Hutty and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Press Release Number: 24-294 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the 67th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs Side Event "Protecting Global Public Health and Safety: Mounting a Unified International Response to Synthetic Drugs and Their Precursors" US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Vienna International Centre Vienna, Austria March 15, 2024 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Good afternoon. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you. It is genuinely an honor to join all of you as the first American secretary of state to participate in the high-level session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs. And I am joined today by the most senior delegation the United States Government has ever sent to this gathering. Agencies, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice, Drug Policy, Drug Enforcement, everyone is here, and it, simply put, reflects the importance that President Biden places on addressing the shared challenge of synthetic drugs and the whole-of-government approach that we brought to meeting the challenge. We've come to Vienna to continue to sound the alarm - to sound the alarm around the dangers of synthetic drugs and to rally a more coordinated and vigorous global response, and here's why. First, every region is experiencing a dramatic increase in synthetic drug use, addiction, and overdose deaths, from tramadol in Africa, to fake Captagon pills in the Middle East, to ketamine and amphetamine in Asia. Now these are far from the only harms. Criminal organizations that manufacture and traffic synthetic drugs are also extorting local businesses, corrupting politicians, security forces, trafficking women and children. Second, this is a problem that no one country can effectively solve alone. In an interconnected world, criminal organizations quickly exploit weak links to make, to move, and to market their increasingly potent and dangerous synthetic drugs. Chemical precursors manufactured in one country transit through others, get to a third where they're synthesized, and then come into the United States or other countries, hitting our streets, killing our people. So we have to work together to get at every link in this chain. Finally, no country, no government, no institution has a monopoly on good ideas. Innovative solutions are being tried, they're being tested everywhere, and the more we can bring these ideas together, the more effective each of us is going to be. So we have to do more to learn from one another and work with one another. And that's the focus of today's gathering. The good news is we already have so many of the tools that we need to tackle this challenge thanks to decades of work by leaders in government, in multilateral organizations, in civil society, including right here at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which has the authority to place synthetic drugs and their precursors under international control. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime, also based here in Vienna, has worked with experts around the globe to develop a synthetic drug strategy and practical toolkits for action. The International Narcotics Control Board has created platforms that allow governments, law enforcement, justice officials around the world to exchange information in real time about legitimate chemical and pharmaceutical shipments as well as suspected trafficking incidents. We've also created new tools to foster greater global awareness and cooperation on this issue. Last July, we launched the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. We started with about 80 partner countries. It's now grown to 151 countries, 14 international organizations and counting. From the outset, the coalition is focused on three main lines of effort: preventing the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursors, detecting emerging trends and threats, promoting public health solutions. In the short space of time since July when the coalition came together, we've held 70 working group sessions with more than 1,500 participants, including public health experts, law enforcement officers, diplomats, civil society leaders. In all, the working sessions generated more than 120 proposals for programs, for policies, for actions, nearly all of them now searchable on the coalition's website. And let me just give you a couple of quick examples. Training countries on how to safely dispose of seized precursor chemicals and how to collect evidence from clandestine labs that can be used to prosecute criminal groups; deepening awareness among and coordination with private sector partners, particularly online platforms and the manufacturing and shipping sectors; funding laboratories and trainings for experts in countries that lack the capacity to analyze new synthetic drugs; identifying better treatments for addiction to stimulants, the most widely used synthetic drug with some 80 billion[1] users annually. Now we're bringing the coalition to a new stage. We're asking every member of the coalition and every government, every institution, every organization here today to make concrete commitments to address the crisis. That could be passing new laws and regulations, implementing new policies, funding new research, or acting on any one of 120 initiatives recommended by the coalition's working groups. And because countries have different needs, different capacities, different resources, we will work to marshal support to help countries that have the will to take action but lack the resources to do it. Here's what the United States will do to support these collective efforts. In September, we committed $100 million to fund global efforts aimed at tackling synthetic drug threats. Given the ongoing urgency of this threat, today we're committing to with our Congress to significantly expand that support with an additional $170 million next year. We'll continue to put more resources than ever before into addressing the challenge at home, such as our efforts to significantly increase access to Naloxone and to prevent overdose deaths as part of a broader health-centric approach for people who use drugs. I mentioned a short while ago that for the first time, the resources we're dedicating to dealing with the demand side will surpass those that we're dedicating to addressing the supply side. We are stepping up to our responsibilities. Over the last three years, President Biden has programmed $170 billion to counter narcotic threats. And again, so much of that is at home - public awareness, public health, prevention, treatment. We'll leverage all of these tools to target key drivers of the challenge, such as the request we put forward internationally to control two additional precursors of synthetic opioids. And here, we simply have to make sure that we're not only keeping up, but hopefully seeing around the curve, because we know that even as we control ingredients that go into making synthetic opioids, those engaged in that practice are finding new ways, new combinations, new chemicals, and even as we control one, something else may come to market. So we have to stay ahead of this. We'll look to all of you to hold us to our own commitments, and we'll do the same, because we can't afford to come up short. I have the honor and pleasure in just a moment to hand it over to Executive Director Waly and to Justice Tettey and also our distinguished panel. But let me just in closing remind you why we're here. The World Health Organization estimates that in 2019, approximately 600,000 people worldwide died of drug overdoses, the vast majority from synthetic drugs. That's the most recent year for which we have that overall tally. Today, that number is almost certainly much higher, and let me just speak to my own country for a minute. We've seen the scourge of synthetic drugs touch virtually every town, every city, every state in the United States. More than 40 percent of the American people know someone who died from an opioid overdose, the number one killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45 is fentanyl. So the impact this has had cannot be overstated, and on something like fentanyl, we've been something of a canary in the coal mine. It hit us hard, it hit us first, but now we're seeing, as markets are saturated, criminal enterprises trying to make markets in other parts of the world. And so what came to us one day, alas, may be coming to you another. And of course there are many other synthetic drugs that are already afflicting so many countries in this room. Those numbers are almost hard to digest, so I'd ask you to think for just a moment, not so much of the numbers but what they represent, of all the losses that they contain, all the pain experienced by loved ones and friends, all the empty seats left in classrooms and at dinner tables - or in businesses, places of worship - all the contributions those hundreds of thousands of people might have made to our shared world if they were still alive. Now, think about all the people who will live longer, healthier, more secure lives with greater opportunity if we achieve what we've set out to do, if we come together to surmount the profound threats posed by synthetic drugs, if we prevent more citizens, more communities from being consumed by this crisis. That's why we're all here. That is why it is so important that we succeed and succeed together. I thank you so very much and it's now my honor and pleasure to hand the podium over to UNODC Director Waly. Welcome. (Applause.) [1] million NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address READOUT: Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson's Travel to Japan U.S. Department of the Treasury March 15, 2024 TOKYO -- On March 13 and 14, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson held meetings in Tokyo, Japan to continue close coordination between the two G7 allies on pressing national security issues, including countering Russian attempts to evade multilateral sanctions and export controls particularly through third countries; protecting maritime shipping from illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi attacks; and on cyber threats and ransomware. While in Tokyo, Under Secretary Nelson met with senior government officials including Ministry of Finance Vice Minister for International Affairs Masato Kanda, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Keiichi Ono, Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino, and Financial Services Agency Vice Minister for International Affairs Shigeru Ariizumi. The United States has worked closely with Japan both bilaterally and via multilateral groups, including the Financial Action Task Force and the G7, to prevent terrorists, money launderers, and other illicit actors from accessing the international financial system, and to counter sanctions evasion from actors like Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Under Secretary also met with private sector representatives from banks and multinational companies to discuss geopolitical issues and ways that the private sector and governments can work together to detect and prevent illicit finance. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's commercial space industry embraces rapid growth People's Daily Online By Liu Shiyao (People's Daily) 16:42, March 15, 2024 At the beginning of 2024, a carrier rocket developed by Chinese commercial aerospace company OrienSpace blasted off from waters off the coast of Haiyang in east China's Shandong province, sending three satellites into the planned orbit. The Gravity-1 commercial carrier rocket is the world's largest solid-propellant launch vehicle. Through technological innovation, its payload capacity has been expanded from 1 or 2 tons to 5 or 6 tons, while the launch costs have been reduced by over 30 percent. The launch vehicle has facilitated the deployment of large-scale satellite constellations, enhanced China's capacity for diversified and large-scale launches of medium- and low-orbit satellites and enriched the country's launch vehicle variety. The successful launch of the Gravity-1 rocket was a miniature of the rapid development of China's commercial spaceflight. Commercial spaceflight refers to the participation in the development of the space industry through commercial operations under market principles. It aims at exploring new mechanisms for the marketization and commercialization of national civil space infrastructure. In recent years, China's commercial space industry has transitioned from its initial stage to a period of rapid growth, becoming an important complement to the country's space endeavors. According to a recently published blue paper, in 2023, a total of 26 commercial launches were completed (including rideshare and co-passenger launches), which accounted for 39 percent of China's total launches for the year. Among them, 25 were successful, marking a success rate of 96 percent. Experts noted that China's commercial space industry has witnessed vigorous growth, emerging from its infancy to become a thriving sector. The industry has preliminarily established an industrial system and market system. Today, a number of private companies have entered various segments of the commercial space sector, including rocket launches, satellite manufacturing, and satellite application services. Each leading commercial spaceflight enterprise has shown its own characteristics and development trends in areas such as rocket and satellite development, constellation deployment, and data services. A relatively flexible market mechanism would contribute to technological exploration and innovation in the commercial space industry. Last year, China launched a Long March-2D rocket to place 41 satellites, including the Jilin-1 Gaofen 06A developed by the Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., in orbit, setting a domestic record for the most satellites lifted in one go. The Zhuque-2 carrier rocket independently developed by Chinese private space launch provider LandSpace was successfully launched, becoming the world's first rocket powered by liquid oxygen-methane fuel to be successfully launched in a row. Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., better known as iSpace, completed the second flight test mission for its commercial reusable rocket SQX-2Y, the first reuse of such a rocket in China. These achievements demonstrate the diverse research and development routes and directions of innovation of commercial space exploration, effectively promoting the overall progress of space technology. With the help of satellite communication, it is now possible to make phone calls and send messages even in uninhabited areas. Commercial low-orbit satellites can immediately provide image coverage of the ground after earthquakes and other disasters, supporting emergency rescue efforts. Zhong Xing, chief designer of Chang Guang satellites, said commercial remote sensing satellites have made China a world-class participant in remote sensing data acquisition. The price of satellite remote sensing data obtaining service has dropped from several hundred yuan to just over 10 yuan per square kilometer. Zhong believes that the commercial space industry can help lower satellite launch costs and improve launch efficiency, thus contributing to large-scale satellite launches and faster constellation deployment, and better facilitating the economy, society, and people's lives. Experts said that China's commercial space industry is bursting with vitality, demonstrating enormous market potential. High-frequency commercial launches will become a development trend, and intensive rocket launches will drive exponential growth in the number of commercial satellites. The networked deployment of low-Earth orbit satellite constellations will be an important trend in the development of commercial satellites. Innovation is the gene of commercial spaceflight development. Chinese commercial space launch enterprise CAS Space has established a test center covering nearly 10,000 square meters in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, with an aim to meet various testing needs for the development of carrier rockets. Over 80 percent of the employees at OrienSpace are engaged in research and development. Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. has invested more than 1.3 billion yuan (around $180 million) in research and development so far. These examples demonstrate the high importance placed on technological innovation. Thanks to technological innovation, the commercial space industry has continuously developed new technologies and created new models, promoting industrial innovation along the innovation chain and accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces. Experts believe that the fruitful results of China's space innovation and the country's rich reserve of space talents provide strong support for the commercial space industry. China has the world's largest market demand and most diverse application scenarios, which offers a huge market for the commercial space industry in terms of technology translation and consumption. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canadian test centres and accelerators join NATO DIANA network National Defence News release March 15, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence; the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Member of Parliament for Waterloo; Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax; and Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for DartmouthaCole Harbour congratulated two Canadian accelerators and 13 test centres that have joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) network. As announced in 2022, NATO DIANA is coming to Canada, with its North American Regional Office finding a home in Halifax. The NATO DIANA Regional Office in Canada is expected to bring tangible benefits to Canadian industry and the defence technology sector. With a thriving innovation ecosystem, sustaining more than 300 entrepreneurial science and technology start-ups, the Halifax Regional Municipality is also home to several major universities and research centres as well as Canada's Atlantic naval fleet. NATO DIANA unites the best and brightest innovators from across the Alliance and provides deep tech and dual-use innovators with access to NATO resources. DIANA focuses on deep tech and dual-use technologies that have both civilian and military uses. It will help facilitate cooperation between military operators and the Alliance's start-ups, scientific researchers, and technology companies to help NATO maintain its technological edge over the threats posed by emerging technologies. DIANA supports companies with training, funding, commercial advice, and access to defence expertise and investors. Through competitive challenges, selected innovators can receive grant funding, acceleration advice, and access to the NATO DIANA network of accelerators and test centres. The new accelerator sites and test centres will augment DIANA's capacity to support innovators from across the Alliance as they develop their technologies. DIANA-affiliated accelerators deliver world-class programming to companies in the programme, while the network of test centres provides access to cutting-edge testing facilities. These are available to DIANA's current cohort of companies, as well as those DIANA will support in future, giving them expert advice and access to test and try their technologies in specialised environments. The Canadian accelerators and test centres that are now part of the growing DIANA footprint are: Accelerators: Communitech - Waterloo, Ontario COVE - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Test centres: The Launch, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador ACE Climatic Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel and Core Research Facility - Ontario Tech University Canada - Oshawa, Ontario University of Alberta - Edmonton, Alberta Area X.O. - Ottawa, Ontario Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) / University of Saskatchewan - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Testing Network - Mohawk College, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, 3 Points in Space Media, SubZero North - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan / Hamilton, Ontario Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) - Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM) - Calgary, Alberta Centre technologique en aArospatiale (CTA) - St-Hubert, QuAbec Aerospace Research Centre, National Research Council Canada - Ottawa, Ontario Automotive and Surface Transportation Research Centre, National Research Council Canada - Ottawa, Ontario / Boucherville, QuAbec Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council Canada - Ottawa, Ontario Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre, National Research Council Canada - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador / Ottawa, Ontario Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, National Research Council Canada - Ottawa, Ontario The Canadian additions to the NATO DIANA network will enable innovators from across the Alliance to access Canada's cutting-edge facilities and collaborate on emerging technology to jointly help solve NATO's defence and security challenges. Quotes "Canada is a hub for defence innovation - and Canadian innovators have a great deal to offer our NATO Allies. Today, I congratulate all the Canadian accelerators and test centres for being selected to join NATO's defence innovation network. The integration of our domestic experts with NATO's DIANA will strengthen our capacity to develop cutting-edge solutions to the security challenges faced by Canada and our NATO Allies." The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence "For over 25 years, Communitech has been a driver of innovation in Waterloo Region's tech sector, helping start-ups grow and succeed. I want to congratulate them on their selection as one of Canada's two NATO DIANA accelerator sites. This decision by NATO is a recognition of Communitech's success and leadership when it comes to identifying emerging technologies and supporting their development." The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Member of Parliament for Waterloo "Today's announcement once again underscores Halifax's leading role in the advancement and development of innovative solutions to NATO's most pressing defence issues. In addition to the selection of Halifax as NATO DIANA's North American Regional Office, we continue to see how they're supporting regional economic growth in our city and province." Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax "I am thrilled to congratulate COVE on their selection as one of Canada's two NATO DIANA accelerator sites. Atlantic Canada is a culture of innovation and COVE plays a crucial role in that space. Sitting on the shores of one of the most impressive natural harbours in the world, DartmouthaCole Harbour has long been central to the development of maritime defence technology, and I am so proud to see our community continue to punch above its weight as leader in the defence innovation sector." Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for DartmouthaCole Harbour "Part of DIANA's strength is our unique transatlantic network of talent centres and innovation leaders working toward a common purpose. The breadth and diversity of partners in DIANA's network will accelerate the development and deployment of ground-breaking solutions for defence, security and peace." Prof. Deeph Chana, Managing Director of DIANA Quick facts DIANA is NATO's innovation accelerator - a shared endeavour bringing together innovators from across the Alliance to help NATO maintain its technological edge, defend its one billion citizens, and preserve peace and security. DIANA was created by NATO to help develop dual-use technologies that address challenges affecting security and defence. DIANA supports companies working on solutions in key sectors identified by the Alliance. NATO DIANA will be coordinated by two regional offices - one in London, UK, and one in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The DIANA North American regional office will open by summer 2024 at the TD Centre at 1791 Barrington Street in Halifax, supported by Canada's initial investment of $26.6 million over six years. Yesterday, NATO DIANA announced the addition of 11 accelerators, of which two are Canadian, and 92 test sites, of which 13 are Canadian, to its growing network. This brings the NATO DIANA network to 23 accelerators and 182 test sites. The footprint of NATO DIANA's transatlantic network of accelerator sites and test centres is now comprised of accelerators and test centres in 28 Allied nations. DIANA issues 'challenges' in specific problem areas and asks innovators to bring forward solutions; in its pilot year, those challenges were energy resilience, undersea sensing and surveillance, and secure information sharing. 44 companies were selected from more than 1300 applicants to join DIANA's first accelerator programme in 2023; they are currently participating in a six-month 'bootcamp' in partnership with DIANA-affiliated accelerators. Canadian innovators have demonstrated their interest in NATO DIANA with the second highest number of submissions in NATO DIANA's first-ever competitive challenges launched in June 2023. There were 211 Canadian submissions, just behind the United States' 215. Seven Canadian companies were among the 44 successful companies announced in December 2023 by NATO DIANA, taking on challenges related to energy resilience, secure information sharing, and sensing and surveillance. With today's announcement, successful innovators in NATO DIANA challenges will now have access to Canadian accelerators and test centres, as part of an expanded DIANA network. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on March 15, 2024 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China 2024-03-15 22:12 AFP: Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he will build an investor group to acquire TikTok. What is your response? Wang Wenbin: Yesterday we made clear China's position on the US handling of TikTok. The spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce has also stated China's solemn position. CCTV: The United Nations Development Programme released the Human Development Report 2023/2024 yesterday. The report shows that China's human development index for 2022 rose to 0.788, ranking 75th in the world, up from 79th in 2021. What is your comment? Wang Wenbin: We noted the report. China's human development index (HDI) has increased from 0.499 in 1990 to 0.788 in 2022. China is the only country in the world that has leapt from the group of low human development to the group of high human development since the index was first measured in 1990. The increase of China's HDI is a result of the Communist Party of China practicing the people-centered development philosophy and putting the people at the core of the modernization endeavor. Since the beginning of reform and opening up, the population lifted out of poverty in China has accounted for over 70 percent of the world's total. China has made the historic achievement of eliminating absolute poverty and realized the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule. Chinese people's average life expectancy has increased to 78.2 years, per capita annual disposal income has reached close to RMB 40,000, and the country has the world's largest and most promising middle-income group totaling over 400 million people. China has also set up the world's largest education system, social security system and medical care system. The Chinese people now have an increasingly greater sense of gains, happiness and security. Chinese modernization, with its continued progress, will turn the Chinese people's aspiration for a better life into reality, and improve the Chinese people's living standard and quality. We noted that the report by the UN Development Programme pointed out that the recovery in HDI values is unequal, the divergence between the very high and the low HDI groups of countries, after decades of convergence, is going up, and only about half of the least developed countries are projected to have reached or surpassed their pre-2019 HDI values. This highlights the urgency of making development the priority of the international agenda. The Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping provides strong impetus for global development cooperation and the realization of sustainable development targets. We stand ready to continue working with all parties to deepen cooperation under the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and make new contribution to enabling the people of all countries to live a happy life and realize well-rounded development. Financial Times: If the US passes this bill which forces ByteDance to sell TikTok to US investors, what is China's position? Wang Wenbin: The Foreign Ministry and the Commerce Ministry made responses to relevant questions, which you may refer to. Associated Press of Pakistan: In a letter to President Xi Jinping, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari thanked him for extending warm congratulations on his reelection. President Zardari expressed his commitment to working closely with President Xi to deepen practical cooperation, strengthen the all-weather partnership, and foster a shared community for the benefit of the two countries. Do you have any comment on that? Wang Wenbin: We appreciate the positive remarks of President Zardari. After the reelection of President Zardari, President Xi Jinping sent a message of congratulations to him, in which he noted that China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers. The ironclad friendship between the two countries is the choice of history and invaluable treasure of the two peoples. The reply letter of President Zardari once again highlights the strength of China-Pakistan relations. China looks forward to working with Pakistan to carry forward the traditional friendship, promote practical cooperation in various areas, strive for greater development of the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. Rudaw Media Network: Iraq Central Bank has shown readiness to trade with China in yuan. What is China's reply?a Wang Wenbin: China and Iraq are strategic partners. We conduct mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work with Iraq to augment financial cooperation and the facilitation of trade and investment. On your specific question, I'd refer you to competent authorities. Financial Times: Steel workers in the US are calling for the United States Trade Representative to initiate an anti-dumping investigation into China's shipbuilding industry. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this? Wang Wenbin: China's global leadership in sectors including shipbuilding and maritime transport is achieved through high-quality products and good reputation forged in fierce market competition not through the so-called "discriminatory trade practices." The US should uphold the principles of market economy and fair competition, and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for companies of all countries. Bloomberg: Just now you were talking about how the UN human development index has shown that China is now a high development nation or a nation of high development. My question is when will China become a developed nation as classified at the WTO and other international organizations? China claims as a developing nation at those organizations at the moment. I'm just asking when it will be changed into a developed nation? Wang Wenbin: China is the only country in the world that has leapt from the group of low human development to the group of high human development since the index was first measured in 1990. It speaks volumes about China's achievements in socioeconomic development and the great benefits brought to the Chinese people. That said, it needs to be stressed that from a comprehensive perspective, China is still a developing country, which has solid ground in China's national realities and international law. China's right as a developing country cannot be taken away by any country. As China's strength grows, we will make greater contribution to human progress and global development. China Daily: It's reported that the Philippine Trade Secretary recently held talks with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The Philippine side stated that the US held up imports of garments from the Philippines on suspicion that the raw material cotton was produced by "forced labor" in Xinjiang. The Philippines has expressed concerns to the US side. What's China's comment? Wang Wenbin: The so-called "forced labor" in Xinjiang is nothing but an egregious lie propagated by anti-China forces aiming to create "forced unemployment" and "forced return to poverty" in Xinjiang. It's a typical example of infringing on human rights under the banner of "upholding human rights." Here are some examples: among the over 2,200 staff employed by a private garment company in Xinjiang at the end of 2018, over 95 percent were from ethnic minority groups. Due to sanctions imposed by the US and other Western countries, major business partners of the company canceled all of their orders for 2019, resulting in a loss of over RMB 10 million and the layoff of more than 500 employees. As we speak, the factory and equipment of the company is mostly left unused and the company is barely staying afloat with domestic orders. A hair accessories company in Xinjiang, before the sanctions, has an annual production capacity of 50 million hair bands and an annual export of USD 30 million, making significant contribution to local employment. After the US imposed sanctions on it, the company could not conduct normal collection of payment and foreign exchange, its production and operation kept deteriorating, and the number of orders decreased by 40 percent. A villager from Jiashi county, Kashgar region, Xinjiang landed a job in a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in Hunan province in September 2019. The company is specialized in export trade and offered a monthly salary of RMB 5,000. In 2020, influenced by US sanctions, the company terminated the labor contract with the villager, who was forced to leave and make a living back home with a significantly lower income. Besides, the influence of the US also crept into poverty alleviation projects in Xinjiang, damaging the livelihood of local people from different ethnic groups who worked so hard to get rid of poverty. Some US companies, for the so-called "compliance reasons", unilaterally stopped supplying medical products to Chinese medical institutions purchased by Xinjiang. Such a decision had a severe impact on the rights to life and health of people in Xinjiang. Facts have shown that the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" is in nature a tool for US politicians to destabilize Xinjiang and contain China's development. It not only severely infringes on the human rights of people in Xinjiang but also destabilizes global industrial and supply chains and sabotages international trade rules. Thus, the act is one of the most notorious and egregious laws in the 21st century. The international community needs to firmly oppose the US's wrong practice of smearing other countries, interfering in other's internal affairs, going after foreign companies and containing other countries' development under the excuse of "human rights." China will continue to firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies. Bloomberg: Yesterday, at the Vietnamese press conference, the Vietnamese foreign ministry answered questions about a statement from the Chinese government on March 1, which issued a new demarcation line for a Chinese claim at the Gulf of Tonkin. The Vietnamese government suggested that China abide by previous agreements between China and Viet Nam. Do you have any comment on this? Wang Wenbin: It's China's legitimate and lawful rights to determine territorial sea baseline in Beibu Gulf.a AFP: Earlier today US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said that considering China's censorship on overseas online platforms, the remarks of the Chinese side on the possible ban of TikTok in the US are "supremely ironic". What is your response to these comments? Wang Wenbin: China's policies of treating foreign social media are a far cry from the US's treatment of TikTok. All platforms, products and services are welcomed to the Chinese market as long as they observe Chinese laws and regulations. This non-discriminatory approach is equally applied to all foreign companies. TikTok is registered in accordance with the US's laws and subject to the US's regulation. It conducts lawful operations, but the US harnesses state power to ban and even force TikTok to divest with every means in an attempt to suppress its development.a A country that touts freedom of speech and a free market is actually abusing state power to go after a certain company. This is "supremely ironic". China News Service: It's reported by Reuters that former US President Donald Trump signed a secret executive order in 2019 to authorize the Central Intelligence Agency to launch a clandestine campaign aimed at smearing China by creating a special team of operatives who acted covertly such as buying off media outlets and using bogus internet identities in China, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Africa. What's your comment?a Wang Wenbin: I recall that CIA Director William Burns said publicly not long ago that the CIA has committed substantially more resources toward China-related intelligence collection. The report that you mentioned echoes Director Burns's remarks. It has also once again shown that the US has spread China-related disinformation in an organized and well-planned way for a long time and it's America's important approach to wage a battle of perception against China. US Republican Senator Rand Paul once said honestly that the US government is the biggest propagator of disinformation. The US who often accuses other countries of spreading disinformation is in fact the true breeding ground of disinformation.a Concocting and spreading rumors will only get one lose credibility faster. Spreading disinformation cannot inhibit China's progress but will only discredit the US.a NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US bill targeting TikTok sparks mixed reactions in China Social media users draw parallels to censorship and are amazed at the impact of the Chinese-owned app By Wang Yun for RFA Mandarin 2024.03.15 -- A U.S. bill that if approved would force the sale of the video sharing platform TikTok has sparked mixed reactions from Chinese commentators, with some drawing parallels with Chinese internet censorship and others marveling at the heated debate around the app. TikTok, whose parent company is China's ByteDance, has 170 million monthly American users. It has sparked security concerns in Washington that Beijing would use the app for propaganda or to sway American public opinion, particularly leading up to November's presidential election. The legislation passed Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives would ban the app in America if ByteDance doesn't divest its controlling stake in the social media app. U.S. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill if it is approved by the upper house Senate. Some Chinese social media users criticized the move, saying it was similar to censorship. "It's the same over there [as in China], mutual bans on everything, just that the process is more cumbersome over there," commented @LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLsm from Guangdong, in a reference to the blocking of Twitter and Facebook for users inside the Great Firewall of internet censorship. "There's going to be a rush of white people trying to get over the Great Firewall [into China] now," quipped Hantang_Lengyue_1130 from Beijing. "From a Chinese perspective, I hope TikTok can continue to exist in the United States," another user, 1_lowkey_1 from Gansu, commented. "From another perspective, this gives me a feeling of confusion. Can this thing really get Americans so addicted? That's powerful." Forced to give Beijing user data? Lawmakers supporting the bill say that TikTok is required under Chinese law to expose American user data to Beijing upon request, and say it could be forced to alter its algorithms to promote Chinese propaganda. TikTok has denied any interference from Beijing, and China's foreign ministry has said there is "no evidence" of any threat to U.S. national security. "I would prefer them to remove it than sell it -- that way the American people will take up arms and fight the U.S. government to the end," @Golden_Annunciation_Bird_999 wrote. User @Xiao_Xianyu added from Beijing: "Rednecks are the angriest, because their main platform is about to be blocked." Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Thursday accused the Washington of using "sheer robbers' logic to try every means to snatch from others all the good things thatathey have." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further hit back on Friday with a commentary titled, "The Truth About the So-Called Freedom of Speech in the United States." The TikTok bill "violates the rights granted to the American people by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, suppresses and damages the freedom of more than 150 million American TikTok users, and sets a worrying precedent," the op-ed piece said. Protecting free speech A U.S.-based Chinese student majoring in information technology who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals said he doesn't use the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, citing privacy concerns. But he said he supported others who wanted to use the app's equivalent in the United States, and appeared not to support a legal move against the TikTok: "The rights guaranteed by the First Amendment are very important," the student said. "If there are individual cases of data disclosure, they can just fine them, like they do Facebook," he said. In Zhejiang, @The_romantic_and_talented_Mi_Duoduo thought the potential forced sale wasn't a good idea, either. "Prohibition will only make it impossible for the people at the bottom, and there will be more and more social unrest," they commented. "[TikTok] has overturned American imperialism at its root, along with its hegemony over public opinion," commented @na_jiaa from Guizhou, Meanwhile, @not_a_thief added from Hubei: "The United States was founded on a platform of freedom of speech." A Washington-based software engineer who hails from China, and who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, told RFA Mandarin that the best approach was to build a U.S.-company that could compete adequately with TikTok. 'That's not going to happen here' James A. Lewis, senior vice president and director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, recommended using a U.S. initial public offering, or IPO, to allow TikTok's current owners ByteDance to cash out of the company and make a profit in doing so. "An IPO on Wall Street would provide a vehicle for the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) to intervene and impose conditions on the IPO to mitigate risk," Lewis wrote in a March 13 commentary on the Center's website. But he warned that there is "a larger and more complicated problem of Chinese software use in U.S. apps and networks," calling on the Department of Commerce to investigate the scope of that problem. "The United States should manage the risk created by deep technological connections to a hostile and untrustworthy nation that is undertaking the largest espionage campaign in history," Lewis said. While not all Chinese technology creates risk, genuine risks can be mitigated, including those attributed to TikTok, he said. Xia Ming, professor of political science at New York's City University noted that LinkedIn was forced to shut down in China last year, and that the TikTok bill could be seen as a retaliatory measure. "If you kick me, I have to kick you back," Xia said. But he said freedom of speech is unlikely to be affected by the move. "The fundamental difference is that, if you listen to the Voice of America or Radio Free Asia in China, the state security police will come for you," Xia said. "That's not going to happen in the United States." Translated with additional reporting 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 China Gives Warnings on Vietnam-Australia Strategic Relationship By An Hai March 15, 2024 A new, closer diplomatic relationship between Australia and Vietnam is drawing warnings from China against forming "exclusive circles" in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Monday's daily news briefing, "To advocate bloc confrontation and build exclusive circles goes against the trend of the times and the common aspiration of regional countries." Although Wang did not mention Vietnam or Australia by name, he was responding to a question posed by one of China's official media outlets, Shenzen TV, about an agreement the two nations signed March 7. Longtime observers of Vietnam's diplomacy say Beijing's response to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) reveals its unease with Hanoi's push to upgrade ties throughout the region. In August, Vietnam signed a CSP with the United States, China's rival. A CSP is the highest level in Vietnam's diplomatic hierarchy, a relationship Hanoi maintains with China, India, Japan, Russia and South Korea. A CSP commits partners to cooperation on a wide range of concerns and typically contains a military dimension. A joint statement issued March 7 by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the nations share a common vision of a peaceful, stable, independent and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. It also mentioned a joint commitment 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." China's increasingly aggressive claim of sovereignty over those waters has met challenges from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Thursday at a news conference, "The upgrade of Vietnam-Australia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a natural development step and in line with the level of relationship between the two countries after more than 50 years of establishment and development, for the common interests and aspirations of the people of the two nations and for peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world." The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not respond to VOA's request for a comment on Wang's remarks. Instead, the ministry referred to Albanese's statement from the day the CSP was signed. "Australia and Vietnam share an ambitious agenda across climate change and sustainability, digital transformation and innovation, defense and security, economics and trade, and education," he said, adding that the CSP reflects "our cooperation, our strategic trust and shared ambition for our region." "China is of course concerned," said Ha Hoang Hop, an associate senior fellow with Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Research Institute. Speaking on the telephone with VOA Vietnamese from Hanoi on Monday, he said, "China may, in fact, be concerned that Vietnam may move closer to the United States and its allies. But China cannot be offended because Vietnam first aims to create a security balance." The CSP "is both beneficial for Vietnam and beneficial for our comprehensive strategic partners, including China. ... The establishment of partnerships is not intended to create factions or cause trouble for countries in the region," said Ha. "Everyone is aware that it only creates a better environment for development cooperation, and more broadly, ensuring peace and prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region." The agreement with Australia reflects Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" as its ruling Communist Party tries to navigate rising regional and global tensions. The reference is to the bamboo plant's qualities of adaptability and resilience. Vu Duc Khanh, a law professor at the University of Ottawa who follows Vietnamese politics, told VOA Vietnamese via email on Monday that although he can understand China's reactions, he believes it is too early for Beijing to be overly concerned by Vietnam's latest CSP. He pointed to Hanoi's endorsement in December of China's "community of common destiny" with objectives of "common development" and "common security." "China's comments [are] largely in line with its strategy of keeping Vietnam neutral," said Vu Xuan Khang, a doctoral candidate at Boston College who specializes in international security. "China does not want Vietnam to join any blocs made up of countries that China sees to be anti-China because Vietnam could then become a springboard for those countries to hurt Chinese interests," Vu Xuan wrote to VOA via email on Monday. "Vietnam thus needs to be careful and should not stoke too much Chinese suspicion to avoid unnecessary Chinese retaliations," he added. On March 9, the Vietnam News Agency quoted emeritus professor Carl Thayer of the Australian Defense Force Academy, University of New South Wales, as saying that upgrading bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will create opportunities for more in-depth discussions on various issues between Vietnam and Australia, noting that most Australians support strengthening this relationship, especially in the field of education. Thayer believes that Australia will prioritize cooperation with Vietnam and promote dialogue, helping both countries to deal with future challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and competition between world and regional superpowers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sandy McCauley, second from left, is honored as the Irishwoman of the Year at the 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Hall in West Haven on Friday, March 15, 2024. From left are Lou Mangini, congressional aide to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, McCauley, state Rep. Bill Heffernan and West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, right, presents Sandy McCauley with a personalized jacket as the Irishwoman of the Year at the 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Hall in West Haven on Friday, March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Sandy McCauley, center, pulls a cord to unveil a street sign in her honor as the Irishwoman of the Year at the 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Hall in West Haven on Friday, March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Sandy McCauley, center, is honored as the Irishwoman of the Year at the 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Hall in West Haven on Friday, March 15, 2024. From left are Lou Mangini, congressional aide to U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, McCauley and master of ceremonies David Coyle. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media WEST HAVEN Decades of service to the city come naturally for Sandy McCauley. "I feel like if you're living in a community, you need to give back to that community," she said. "I'll continue to do it as long as I'm able." McCauley, a former school nurse who was once president of the school nurses union and the Connecticut Association of School Nurses School Nurse of the Year in 2000, was named the city's Irishwoman of the Year during a brief midday ceremony at City Hall Friday; she is the city's 31st honoree since 1992. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mayor Dorinda Borer said that since McCauley, a native of Indiana, moved to the city in the early 1960s, she has been a fixture of the community. "You, for decades, worked to make sure our children were healthy," she said, often working extra hours. McCauley retired last summer but continues to work as a substitute school nurse. State Rep. Bill Heffernan said McCauley "embraces the community service spirit we love here in West Haven." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Beyond her day job, Borer noted McCauley's contribution to civic life as a longtime volunteer of the city's fireworks committee, fundraising to make the city's Independent Day fireworks display one of the region's most extravagant, walking the length of the Memorial Day parade with a hat in her hand to collect donations. Borer said McCauley is known for never missing any fundraising event. "Sandy is very modest, but today we are celebrating you," Borer said. McCauley said she was "overwhelmed" and "deeply honored" by the acknowledgment. She said she was honored not just for what the recognition said about her but what it says about proudly representing the city's "vibrant" Irish community. China-Russia-Iran Maritime Drills Send Signal to West By Stephanie L. Freid March 15, 2024 China conducted joint military drills this week with Russia and Iran in the Gulf of Oman, a critical water conduit near the entry to the Persian Gulf. The five-day exercise, "Maritime Security Belt 2024," involved both naval and aviation forces, with the primary objective of enhancing the security of maritime economic activities, according to Russia's Ministry of Defense. The drills may have been planned long in advance of the current Israel-Hamas war, but their implication and message to regional players and the West are highly significant, analysts say. More than 20 ships, combat boats, support carriers and navy helicopters participated in the exercise. Iran's semiofficial Mehr News Agency reported that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) debuted new warships in the exercise, including the Shahid Soleimani corvette. "That's a game changer," Wendell Minnick, an arms specialist and "China in Arms" podcaster, told VOA. "Pay close attention to anti-ship missiles on ships," Minnick said. "The U.S. Navy has a real problem with these types of missiles." The IRGC-operated Shahid Soleimani corvette is equipped with long- and short-range anti-ship cruise missiles. It's the first Iranian warship outfitted with advanced VLS, or Vertical Launching Systems, for firing surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. "This gives the U.S. Navy a nightmare scenario of being saturated by multidirectional vectors of attack that they cannot possibly defeat en masse," Minnick said. "Like being attacked by bees or ants. Eventually they will get you." Rear Admiral Mohammad Nozari, the IRGC commander of Iran's base at Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman, told the Mehr News Agency the drill's chief objectives were consolidating regional security, promoting China-Russia-Iran cooperation, and safeguarding global peace and maritime security. Analysts say Chinese, Russian and Iranian objectives go far beyond the IRGC top naval commander's stated claims. "The Chinese and the Russians are using this exercise as a variety of tools disposable to them to show their presence and to pressure the West," said Meir Javedanfar, who teaches Iranian security studies at Reichman University, in Herzliya, Israel. "The Chinese are saying these exercises are normal and have nothing to do with what's happening in the Middle East," Javedanfar said in an interview with VOA. "Nevertheless, the fact that these exercises are taking place against the background of an unprecedented U.S. and Western naval presence in the Middle East shows that the rivalry between the China-Russia-Iran front against the Western front is now heating up, and the Middle East waters are playing an important part in this rivalry." The rivalry takes on heightened significance when weighed against the recent uptick in Chinese participation in regional drills. In November, China collaborated with Pakistan in "Sea Guardian 3" joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea. It was the biggest joint People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Pakistani Navy drill to date and included land and sea phases. China's warships are stationed at a naval base in Djibouti near the Red Sea waters where Iranian-backed Houthis declaring solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict have since last year repeatedly fired drones and missiles at ships. China has not publicly condemned the attacks. "If China really wanted the Houthis to stop these attacks against Western shipping, they could pressure the Iranians and the Iranians would listen, but they're not doing this because they want to pressure Western economies and to show that they have influence in the region," Javedanfar said. "The drills play a part in the larger strategy led by China and Russia and Iran," Javedanfar said. Sophie Kobzantsev, a Russia analyst and research fellow at the Misgav Institute in Jerusalem, says the Gulf of Oman drill is part strategy, part message. "From the beginning a the Russia-Ukraine war a Russia's goal was to create a new world order in which it gets a role or a place as super world power," Kobzantsev told VOA. "Part of this concept of the new world order is to partially create a military balance vis-a-vis the West. The drill serves Russia a and Iran and China a in creating the image and the message to the West that there is a counterstrategic military coalition." Leading the Russian contingent was the missile cruiser Varyag from its Pacific Fleet, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Naval representatives from Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa served as observers during the exercises. The drills come just a week after NATO's Nordic Response exercises, the most expansive NATO drills since the Cold War ended in 1991. Nordic Response incorporated military participation of NATO's newest member states Sweden and Finland. With an increased U.S. foothold in the Middle East due to its role in mediating the Israel-Gulf States Abraham Accords, pursuing the normalization of Israel-Saudi ties and now mediating between Israel and Hamas, the drill also takes on "countermessage" significance, said Kobzantsev. The area where the joint drills are taking place is also significant. An estimated 20% of globally traded oil moves through the narrow Strait of Hormuz passage linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Since 2019 the Gulf of Oman has seen a series of ship seizures and attacks that the U.S. has blamed on Iran, although Tehran has denied any involvement. "We actually see a kind of formation of the world that is reminding us of the Cold War and that there is a new clash between superpowers in this world," said Kobzantsev. "The West vs. Russia, China and Iran." Marine Security Belt 2024 is the fourth joint China-Russia-Iran military exercise since 2019. Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 15, 2024 Release Readout of Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker's Meeting With German State Secretary, Ministry of Defense Benedikt Zimmer Department of Defense Spokesman Lt Col David Herndon provided the following readout: Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker hosted German State Secretary, Ministry of Defense Benedikt Zimmer at the Pentagon, reaffirming the strong U.S.-Germany transatlantic alliance, March 14. Following Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's call with German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius on March 4, Ms. Baker and Mr. Zimmer reaffirmed that ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend against Russia's brutal, unprovoked invasion, remains a top priority for the United States and Germany. Ms. Baker and Mr. Zimmer also discussed the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which will convene March 19 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. This will be the 20th meeting of the UDCG since Secretary Austin formed the international coalition in April 2022. The two leaders also discussed the upcoming NATO 75th anniversary summit in Washington, DC in July. Ms. Baker congratulated Mr. Zimmer on Germany's recent achievement in reaching 2% GDP spending on defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3708676/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (March 15, 2024) India - Ministry of External Affairs March 15, 2024 Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this press engagement once again. I have no announcements to make. So let's open the floor for questions. Rishabh: Sir, good evening. Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, early this morning the State Department of United States have made a comment on Citizenship Amendment Act saying that US is concerned about the implementation of CAA. Any response from MEA? Sidhant: Sir, connecting question. Sidhant from WION. We have seen reaction coming from the UN and Pakistan as well. Any reaction to that, when it comes to the CAA law? Huma: Sir, I am Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. I have two questions. One, yesterday the first 2 plus 2 Secretary level talks happened between India and Brazil. If you can tell some... share details. And number two, there is a lot of violence going on in Haiti and there are around 40-50 Indians. So are you planning to get them back? Ayushi: Sir this is Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Can we have some details of the meeting that took place in Israel between our NSA and Israeli PM? Emerson: I am Emerson Lim from Central News Agency of Taiwan. India and Taiwan signed Labor Mobility Agreement recently. And few days ago, Modi ji mentioned Taiwan leaders during a semiconductor plant foundation stone laying event in Gujarat, which was participated by Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister virtually. So are these signals for a greater India-Taiwan proximity and did India receive any concern from any country? Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So any more questions regarding CAA, so that we can club it all together? Speaker: Sir, a similar question. Actually the Taliban Spokesperson has also come up with a concern saying that the CAA should be for all persecuted people irrespective of religion. So there has been a lot of criticism coming in from, I mean, globally, as well regarding exclusion of Muslims in the law. So any comment particularly? Thank you. Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. So let me first come to the CAA part. As you are well aware, the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 is an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India's inclusive traditions and our longstanding commitment to human rights. The Act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have entered India on or before 31st December 2014. The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. So this must be underlined. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights. As regards the US State Department's statement on the implementation of CAA, and there have been comments made by several others, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted. India's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens. There are no grounds for any concern or treatment of minorities. Vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress. Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India's pluralistic traditions and the region's post-partition history are best not attempted. Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken. So that is our point on CAA to the questions that you asked. Huma, regarding your question on 2 plus 2, this is the first time that we had this dialogue with Brazil involving Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry. Brazil, as you know that, is a strategic partner for us. This dialogue was held at the level of Additional Secretary/ Joint Secretary. We want to strengthen our strategic partnership. We also want to strengthen our defense cooperation. To do more, already there are several things that are happening including military exercises. There are also ongoing conversations regarding joint production, trade, etc. So the idea of 2 plus 2 dialogue is to give a further boost to India-Brazil strategic partnership. Haiti...we have established a control room here in the Ministry of External Affairs. We have emergency helpline numbers. Our Embassy in Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic, which has the accreditation for Haiti, has also established a control room, has also established helplines. There are some 50 to 80 Indian community members there. The Embassy is in touch with all of them. We are monitoring the situation. As you know, there is a crisis in Haiti and if required we will evacuate. We are ready to evacuate and if required, we will do that. Our Embassy in Santo Domingo is monitoring the situation and the Ministry also is fully monitoring the situation. Ayushi, regarding your question on NSA's visit, there is a context to it. As you are aware, Prime Minister himself is invested and is keen to promote peace and stability in the region. He has been in touch with several Arab leaders in this connection. NSA's visit to Israel, which took place at the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, carries forward these efforts. NSA called on the Israeli Prime Minister. He also met with his Israeli counterpart and he also met several other senior leaders and discussed developments in Gaza. He emphasized on the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance, and discussed steps being taken or undertaken for the release of hostages. So that is the visit to Israel of National Security Advisor. Emerson, as far as your question regarding Taiwan, we have economic, trade, people-to-people linkages with Taiwan, and the Labor Mobility Agreement that we signed is one of the recent steps in that direction. Amit: Sir, Amit from India Today. If you could share the details of Prime Minister's visit to Bhutan and will the announcement of the elections tomorrow, when the MCC will come into effect, will it have any impact on the visit as well? Dhairya: Sir, this is Dhairya Maheshwari from Sputnik India. Sir, my question is regarding the Zelensky's peace formula and the upcoming Switzerland Summit. Sir, the Switzerland's Foreign Minister, he has said that he wants to invite Russia while the Western countries are opposed to inviting Moscow to the talks. So, Sir, will it be possible to know India's stance on whether it supports Russia's participation in these talks? And, Sir, if you allow me, I have another question on the India-U.S. Counter-Terrorism meeting that took place earlier this month in Washington, DC. Sir, could you give us an update on what's the status of the 10 people that NIA had identified for attacking the San Francisco Consulate, Sir? Is there any progress in the investigation from the U.S. side? Thank you. Sandeep: Sir, I am Sandeep Dixit from the Tribune. This is related to my Sputnik colleague's question. Is there an update on people taken to Russia and whether more people have been discharged from the Russian Embassy and whether similar news has come to you about Ukraine too? Reza: Reza from the Hindustan Times. I just wanted to ask you about China's repeated statement about putting the border issue in its appropriate place. I mean, we have made it pretty clear to them that there cannot be a normalization without peace and tranquility on the border. But, again, we see this sort of a statement. Could I have your views on that? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you. So, Amit, regarding your question, yesterday the Prime Minister of Bhutan met with our Prime Minister. You must have seen the Press Release. He invited our Prime Minister to visit Bhutan. As far as the visit itself is concerned, you will come to know of it as and when it is announced and when we take decision in that regard. The visit has been accepted, as you would have seen if you followed social media, relevant handles. So, that is where it is. You will come to know more details in that regard. Our friend from Sputnik, your question regarding...we have been very consistent in our position on Russia-Ukraine war. We continue to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. That is our standard position which you are aware. And we remain open to engaging all ways and means that could help achieve this objective. So, that is our stand on the question that you asked. Regarding India-US CT talks, after these talks were held, they were held at Joint Secretary level. We had the talks in Washington. We did issue a Press Release, so I would refer you to that. The Press Release has all the details of, you know, when you have Counter-Terrorism dialogue, all issues which are of concern to both sides, security related, related to counter-terrorism, all are discussed. So, I would refer you to the Press Release that we issued. You will get a sense of discussion, the way it went forward. Sandeep, regarding your question on Russia, you would have seen our statement that we issued and we have been doing so repeatedly. We are pressing very hard with the Russian authorities for early discharge of our people who are stuck there. Last time, we had told you that there are 20 odd people there who approached us. We also have two people who passed away. On that, I have an update. The paperwork of their mortal remains has been done. The funeral agency which we have engaged has been handed over the bodies. We are in touch with the family. We are also in touch with the Russian authorities and hopefully we will have the mortal remains in India by the end of this week, that is, on Sunday or there about. So, hopefully on 16th or 17th, they will be here and then handed over to the family. So, that is the update on Russia. Reza, on your question regarding China, you would have seen that few days back, our External Affairs Minister spoke at a media event where he elaborated on India-China ties. So, I would request you to look at his comments. You will understand how we are positioning ourselves, what is our point of view on that, how do we take things forward. So, please, that is for you. Nirmala: Hi, I am Nirmala with the Straits Times. I just wanted to ask a clarification on these 20 odd Indians, because CBI has said 35 Indians, they have identified 35 Indians in Russia. Is there an update on the number of Indians stuck on the frontline? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: See, we will give you a number based on the people who have contacted us for help. So, these are people who have contacted us. Several of them have been discharged. Some of them have actually also come back. So, that is the figure that we have in mind. Beyond that, we will update you more as and when we come to know more about these details. So that is where it is. The CBI, you know, they had issued a Press Release after the search that they had conducted here and they had implicated several people, taken documentary evidence, incriminating evidence and they had launched searches here in several cities. So, several people have been arrested and a case has been opened and things are going forward. As far as the number is concerned, this is what we told you before, we gave you before. 20 plus people are the ones, who contacted us. So, that is where we are. Nirmala: (inaudible) Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: On that, Nirmala, your question, people were detained for questioning and searches were... So, pardon me, I stand corrected on CBI part. Kallol: Following up on the Russian question. This is Kallol from the Hindu. How many Indians have really returned? I mean, how many were discharged by the Russians and how many were you able to bring back so far. Is there a number, Sir? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, you know, several people, we got them released. Of them, how many of them have come back, we don't have an idea, because they got released, some of them wanted to come back, some of them did not want to come back. They wanted to be there in Russia itself. So, hopefully now that you have put this pointed question, we will have an answer for you soon. But, you know, our sense is that some four to six, five, seven, eight people have come back. Vijayalakshmi: Sir Vijayalakshmi hoon India TV se, Kallol ne halaki ye pucha, kya hum koi deadline set karke chal pa rahe hain ki kab tak hum jo baaki bache log wahan par hain, unko Bharat wapas la payenge? Aur Russia mei pichli jo Press varta thi, aapne kafi bataya tha, usko le kar koi naya update? [Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, I am Vijayalakshmi from India TV. Though Kallol had asked this question, do we have a deadline to bring the remaining people stranded there, back in India? And the details you had shared regarding Russia in your previous Press Briefing, is there any update on that? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Vijayalakshmi ji aapke is sawal par hum logon ne kai dafa statement jari kiye hain, aur bataya hai ki hum log purjor koshish kar rahe hain ki hamare jo log wahan fase huye hain, unko nikal ke yahan laya jaye. Aur iske liye jo Russian authorities hain, jo sarkar hai, unki alag alag ikai hain, sabse hum log baat kar rahe hain. Ye log durdaraj ke ilake mei hain toh lana bhi thoda mushkil hota hai, toh hum log purjor koshish kar rahe hain ki woh jaldi se jaldi wapas aa jaaye. [Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Vijayalakshmi ji, regarding your question, we have issued statements several times and have conveyed that we are making strong efforts to bring our stranded citizens back from there. We are in regular contact with the Russian authorities and different government departments there for this purpose. Since these individuals are in far away places, bringing them back have some challenges, but we are making strong efforts to ensure their early return. Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, when it comes to Maldives, the Indian troops which were present there, have they been replaced? The deadline was this month. So, all of them have been replaced or, I mean, if any number is there? Abhishek: Sir, Abhishek Jha from CNN News 18 this side. Recently we saw some pleading or some requests coming from other people from other nationalities also, regarding Indian Embassies in Moscow, helping them get evacuated or discharged or, you know, getting back to their homes, especially from people from Nepal. Are we trying to help them or have they reached out to Indian Embassies to help and what is our position on that? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, we have seen some reports in this regard. We haven't been approached formally. So, we will see. At this point in time, as I told you, our focus is to get our people back from Russia or people who are stuck. So, we will take it forward as and when we are approached. Sidhant, regarding your question on Maldives, so there, our understanding is that the first, the turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH, that has been completed. So, the first batch of people, the first team that was to be replaced, that has been completed. And that turnaround has happened. Amit: Just an addition to the Russian question, Sir. The Belarus Foreign Minister was in India and there have been media reports about, you know, certain individuals, Indian nationals claiming that they were detained in Belarus and were handed over to Russia and eventually landed up on the war front. They were seeking help. So, was this issue raised with the Belarus, because their response is that they are unaware of these developments? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: See, the Belarusian Foreign Minister was here at our invitation, the invitation of External Affairs Minister. He had several meetings. He met External Affairs Minister, obviously. He also met the Commerce Minister. He met with Fertilisers, Health and Pharmaceutical Minister, Mr. Mansukh Mandaviya. Several issues were discussed. On this particular issue that you have raised, I am not aware whether this was raised, but I haven't come across what you are saying, you know. There are... movement of people continues to happen across the world. This particular issue whether it was flagged or not, this specific detail I don't have, but I will come back to you with more details on that. Speaker 2: (inaudible) Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, we have somewhere between 75 to 90 people, that is my sense, but some 60 odd people are the ones who are, 50 to 60 people who have registered with our Embassy to come back, if need be. There are also, you know, people who are working in Sisters of Charity, Missionaries of Charity, nuns; they may or may not, it it their...we have reached out. So 30 odd of them are there. So if the situation arises, we are ready to evacuate everybody. We have established a control room here. We have established a control room in our Embassy and we are ready to evacuate if required. Huma: Sir, I am Huma Siddiqui, I just wanted to check what is the status of the 8th person who is still in Qatar. When is he expected to come back? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, last time, I had answered this question a week before or two weeks before that the gentleman, he has certain requirements to fulfill there. Once those requirements are fulfilled, then he will return to India. Speaker 3: On Myanmar, if you could update us what is going on, because we are seeing the reports of rebels and fightings and there are a lot of Indians also stuck there. Has MEA updated its advisory or have people approached MEA that they want to be, you know, evacuated or things are going on? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: See on Myanmar, we had issued an advisory for the Rakhine State where the situation there is very delicate. Security situation has deteriorated. We told all Indian nationals to evacuate themselves, move away from there and we also told our nationals who were there or otherwise from anywhere else not to travel to that part. The situation in Myanmar remains of cause of concern because of the deterioration in security situation. There is lot of fighting happening there and security situation is not conducive. But, we call upon all sides. We want peace and stability in the country. We want constructive dialogue in the country and we want inclusive federal democracy to be established through dialogue and through constructive engagement. Kallol: This is Kallol once again. This is about the CAA. Sir, you have mentioned Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh while explaining the context of the CAA. My question is, when we talk about domestic laws and yet define them within the context of neighbouring countries, isn't it a bit of an intervention in the internal affairs of these countries, that you are naming, through our internal laws? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Kallol, on this particular issue, I have said what I had to say. Also, I made a reference to post-partition history. So, I would urge you that please have a look at our statement. That will give you an answer as to why we have taken this step. Sandeep: I had asked about Ukraine also, are you finding out because they are also short of men in the battlefield? Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: On Ukraine, we have not been contacted. No Indian national has contacted us who is in Ukraine, who is stuck there, who has a problem on this particular account. So, on that, that is the answer from us. Thank you. Take care. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MoD signs contract worth over Rs. 2,890 cr with HAL for Mid Life Upgrade of 25 Dornier Aircraft of Indian Navy India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 15 MAR 2024 6:31PM by PIB Delhi The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on March 15, 2024 for Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs.2,890 cr. The MLU for Dornier Aircraft includes an upgrade to incorporate state-of-the art Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors. The upgrade would significantly enhance the operational capability of the Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy to perform Primary Roles of Maritime Surveillance, Coastal Surveillance, Electronic Intelligence and development of Maritime Domain Awareness. In addition, this upgrade will also enable Indian Navy Dorniers to carry out Secondary Roles of Search and Rescue, Medical/Casualty Evacuation and Communication Link. Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft is likely to generate an employment of 1.8 Lakh Man- days during its execution span of 6.5 years. The indigenous upgrade entails supply of major systems and equipments from indigenous sources thus significantly contributing towards "Atmanirbharta" in Defence, in consonance with Make-in-India initiative of Government of India. **** ABB/Anand/Javaria (Release ID: 2015025) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON ENHANCES BILATERAL RELATIONS DURING VISIT TO PORT LOUIS India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 15 MAR 2024 3:28PM by PIB Delhi The First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Tir and CGS Sarathi, concluded visit to Port Louis, Mauritius, as part of their Long Range Training Deployment. The visit, coinciding with the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations, highlighted the deep maritime ties between India and Mauritius. A naval contingent and a helicopter participated in the Mauritius National Day city parade which was witnessed by Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Hon'ble President of India, as the Chief Guest. The visit was enriching for the Indian Naval trainees who visited Maritime Air Squadron and Police Helicopter Squadron of Mauritius. As part of cross training visit, the National Coast Guard personnel of Mauritius were imparted training on small arms and firefighting onboard 1TS ships. The visit culminated in PASSEX and VBSS exercise further enhancing interoperability. Joint EEZ surveillance was also undertaken by 1TS along with Mauritius Coast Guard Dornier prior entering Port Louis. The extant visit underscores the shared commitment to regional security and highlights rich cultural and diplomatic ties between India and Mauritius. _______________________ VM/SPS 54/24 (Release ID: 2014913) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets Vessel Shipping Iranian Commodities for Houthis and Qods Force U.S. Department of the Treasury March 15, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is taking action against Marshall Islands-registered shipping company Vishnu Inc., whose vessel, the LADY SOFIA, is involved in illicit shipments to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in support of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal, who is sanctioned under U.S. counterterrorism authorities. "We remain committed to disrupting the IRGC-QF and the Houthis' attempts to evade U.S. sanctions and fund additional terrorist attacks," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States will continue to target the key funding streams that threaten civilians and peaceful international trade." Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority in Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Sa'id al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007 for providing support to multiple terrorist groups. IRGC-QF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE HOUTHIS The Vishnu Inc. owned and managed LADY SOFIA (IMO: 9212759) engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer with the recently sanctioned vessel MEHLE (IMO: 9191711) on January 31, 2024, which deceptively obscured its transfer of commodities to the LADY SOFIA through "spoofing"aan automatic identification system (AIS) manipulation that masks the vessel's true location. Disguised as a fictitious vessel called the "AMOR," and incorrectly broadcasting its location as the South China Sea, the MEHLE offloaded its illicit cargo to the LADY SOFIA near Singapore. The LADY SOFIA is currently traveling to the PRC, carrying the Iranian commodities it received from the MEHLE on behalf of Sa'id al-Jamal. The MEHLE was identified on January 12, 2024, as property in which Cielo Maritime Ltd has an interest. Cielo Maritime Ltd was concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa'id al-Jamal. Vishnu Inc. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa'id al-Jamal. The LADY SOFIA is being identified as property in which Vishnu Inc. has an interest. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated person described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entity and its blocked property may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here. Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blood Money launches campaign to ban aviation fuel to Myanmar junta Airstrikes have killed nearly 1,000 civilians during the country's 3-year civil war. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.15 -- Myanmar civil society organization Blood Money has launched a campaign to stop the global sale of aviation fuel to the country's junta, citing the deadly impact of military airstrikes on the civilian population. In recent months, the military has increasingly turned to air power after suffering a number of losses on the ground in its fight against rebel groups around the country, often with devastating effect to communities caught in the crossfire. Since the February 2021 coup d'etat until the end of December 2023, the military carried out more than 1,650 airstrikes, killing nearly 1,000 people and injuring more than 900, according to data from the Nyan Lin Thay research group. Around 30 hospitals and 75 schools were damaged in the attacks, the group said. Blood Money kicked off its "Global Campaign" on March 10, urging individuals and organizations at home and abroad to join its fight to end aviation fuel sales to the junta. A leading organizer of the campaign said he expects it will have a major effect on the junta's ability to wage war. But he acknowledged that it would "have a gradual impact instead of immediate effect," speaking to RFA on condition that he only be identified as "Mike" due to security concerns. In addition to lobbying efforts to stem the flow of fuel to the junta, Mike said Blood Money will also work with local communities to prevent casualties from airstrikes. The group joins efforts to ban fuel sales to the junta by the shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, whose spokesman Kyaw Zaw told RFA it hopes to spearhead a binding resolution at the United Nations Security Council. "In addition to [targeting] the companies importing jet fuel to Myanmar, we are trying to put pressure on companies that sell insurance for jet fuel cargo vessels shipping to Myanmar," he said. Data compiled by RFA found that between the coup and the end of January this year, airstrikes and artillery attacks killed 1,429 people and injured 2,641 others. The figures include 149 civilians killed and 267 injured in January alone. Attempts by RFA to contact junta spokesman Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment on the campaign went unanswered Thursday. The junta has said it does not intentionally target civilians. Air force 'crucial' for junta On Aug. 23, 2023, the United States and Britain announced sanctions against companies that import jet fuel to the junta, but the military has continued to carry out airstrikes on a near-daily basis. London-based rights group Amnesty International announced on Jan. 30 that its researchers had documented new ways that the junta is skirting sanctions. The group said that aviation fuel was shipped directly from Vietnam to Myanmar at least seven times last year. Khin Ohnmar, the founder of Progress Voice, which is participating in Blood Money's campaign, said that a shift in policy by governments and international bodies, such as the U.N. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,or ASEAN, is "vital for the movement to have effect." "We need to make clear their responsibilities in terms of political will and international law," she said. Other observers said that targeting fuel shipments will both help end the junta's harming of civilians and loosen its grip on power. "The air force is really crucial for the military regime, so [this] is a good targeted campaign," said Thomas Kean, the International Crisis Group's Brussels-based senior consultant on Myanmar. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that ending fuel sales entirely will be difficult, due to nations such as Russia, China, Thailand, and India, which are unwilling to impose sanctions on the junta. In February 2022, former U.S. Rep. Tom Andrews, who serves as U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, said in a report to the U.N. Security Council that countries should stop selling arms to the junta, citing a brutal crackdown on civilians since the coup. The report called out permanent Security Council members China and Russia, as well as India, Belarus, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia, Pakistan and South Korea, for selling the weapons, which Andrews said are almost certainly being used by the military to kill innocent people. 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 Junta regains control of still-smoldering city in Myanmar The center is burning and filled with bodies after a 10-day fight for control, residents said. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.15 -- A 10-day battle in central Myanmar has left one city in ashes, residents told Radio Free Asia on Friday. Fighting between resistance groups, or People's Defense Forces, and junta soldiers began in Sagaing region's Kani city on March 2, locals said. Sagaing, an agricultural region in the heart of Myanmar's dry zone, has faced the brunt of junta attacks since Myanmar's 2021 coup began. Civilians region-wide have been subject to indiscriminate arson, arrests, shelling from heavy weapons and raids as rebel groups have proliferated in Sagaing's central plains and neighboring Chin state. People's Defence Forces have been trying to capture Kani since March 2, focusing attacks on the city's police station, school and administrative office where junta troops are stationed. Kani city is the capital of Kani township. The result has been a city in ruin and full of bodies. The amount of casualties is still unknown since much of the city remains inaccessible, according to one local who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "Much of inner Kani city has already been destroyed. There are corpses of civilians and junta soldiers. Civilians' houses were burned down there," he said. "We found that the houses of revolutionaries were torched initially. That's all we can say at the moment." A People's Defense Force soldier fighting in urban Kani told RFA the junta air force dropped 500-pound bombs during the battle. After the rebel group captured a hill near Kani on March 7, the junta's army retaliated with helicopters and fighter jets. The air force repeatedly targeted urban areas and rural villages around the city, according to defense force officials. Junta troops regained control of the city and nearby Nyaung Pin Wun village on March 12, but both sustained severe fire damage in the following days, residents said. Sagaing's junta spokesperson told RFA that the arson was likely a defense tactic used by rebel armies. "It is also possible that the burning was started by the People's Defense Forces to disrupt the army. It could cause the army to not be able to chase [resistance fighters] while they were fleeing," Nyunt Win Aung explained. He declined to comment on villagers' accusations that bombs had been dropped by his administration's army. "Now the army can control the city completely. The People's Defense Forces are no longer there. They fled again. If the people live in the city, they can come back." Kani has been deserted since fighting broke out, and nearly 10,000 residents from nearby villages have also fled to safety, according to the residents. 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 Military conscription poised to start in Myanmar's Yangon Draft-eligible youths are avoiding census takers and parents are terrified for their children. By RFA Burmese 2024.03.15 -- In the clearest sign yet that a military draft will soon go into effect in Myanmar, junta authorities are summoning draft-eligible youths and taking information door-to-door throughout the largest city of Yangon, residents said Friday. The move comes after the junta enacted a conscription law last month requiring selected young men and women to serve in the military, which is trying to replenish its ranks after suffering a series of battlefield defeats against rebel groups fighting them since the military seized power in a 2021 coup. In reaction, many young people have fled Myanmar's cities, saying they would rather leave the country or join anti-junta forces in remote border areas than serve in the military. "We reject their authority under martial law," said a 28-year-old resident of Yangon's Mayangone township who said he would never serve in the military. After initially being required to provide personal information at his ward administration office, he is now avoiding authorities. Like others interviewed for this report, he spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. The junta has claimed that conscription won't go into effect until April, but RFA Burmese has received several reports indicating that forced recruitment is already under way across the country. The junta has announced plans to recruit 5,000 people monthly under the conscription law. Those who fail to comply with the military service call-up face up to five years in prison. 'Summoning has commenced' All townships in Yangon have initiated enforcement of the country's conscription law, according to official records. Based on data from the ministry, township-level militia recruitment teams are screening young residents and requiring them to fill out eligibility forms by ward. Those within the specified age range are then being summoned to ward offices to be tallied, residents told RFA. Authorities are selecting three to five people from smaller wards and five to 10 people from larger wards, said one resident of Yangon, who also declined to be named. "The township general administration, in collaboration with the immigration office, examined their census records, focusing on people aged 24 to 30," he said. "The summoning process has already commenced across the entire Yangon region." Those selected are being assured that they will be assigned to serve solely within their respective townships, and will not be sent to the front lines after completing their training, he added. Operational procedures vary among townships, residents said, with youths being summoned to ward offices in some and door-to-door inspection by authorities in others. In areas with limited numbers of draft-eligible residents, authorities have proposed a lottery system to choose from among the middle-aged, they said. A 27-year-old mother of a newborn in Dagon Seikkan township said that her husband was included in the census. "I am a breastfeeding mother, so I would have to be left with my baby" if her husband is drafted. she said. "If he is selected, it would feel like our world is collapsing." Attempts by RFA to contact Htay Aung, the junta's attorney general and spokesperson for Yangon region, went unanswered Friday. However, on Tuesday, Soe Thein, the junta's chief minister of Yangon region disclosed during a meeting in the city that militia recruitment teams and census teams had been established "down to the ward and village" level, calling on authorities to emphasize precision in their work. 'State of utter chaos' Parents of draft-age young people are also terrified. One woman in Yangon said her neighborhood is "in turmoil." "The actions of the junta are deeply troubling and are taking a toll on the mental well-being of our children," she said. "Parents are grappling with how to navigate this situation and uphold their values." RFA received reports that similar summonses are being issued in the capital of Naypyidaw, where draft-eligible residents are being required to register at township general administration offices for military service. Than Soe Naing, a political commentator, said the implementation of the draft law reflects the "dire state of the nation." "Some young people are seeking to leave the country, while others are heading to liberated areas [under rebel control]," he said. "It is a state of utter chaos." Translated by Kalyar Lwin. 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 Committee of Ministers condemns Russia for Alexey Navalnyy's death, calls for independent international investigation Council of Europe Committee of Ministers strasbourg 15 March 2024 The Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has strongly condemned the Russian authorities for the recent death of Alexey Navalnyy. At the Committee's latest quarterly meeting on the implementation of judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, it called for an international commission of inquiry into Mr Navalnyy's death, to help ensure the independence of the investigation given the lack of trust in relevant institutions in Russia. In an Interim Resolution(*) adopted at this week's meeting, where the nine cases of the Navalnyy and Ofitserov group concerning the Russian Federation were on the agenda, the Committee of Ministers stated that the death of Mr Navalnyy appears to be the alarming consequence of a pattern of victimisation and political persecution revealed by the many violations found by the European Court of Human Rights, in retaliation for his anti-government protests and investigative activities. Following the Committee meeting, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, recalling firmly the Russian Federation's unconditional and binding international legal obligation to implement all final judgments and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, even though it has ceased to be a Party to the European Convention on Human Rights as from 16 September 2022. She stressed it was deeply regrettable that the Russian authorities had stopped all communication with the Council of Europe in respect of the implementation of the judgments by the Court and that so many judgments against the Russian Federation remain unimplemented. The Secretary General has urged the Russian authorities to abide by these judgments and to take all required measures to execute them. There are currently 2,633 cases under the supervision of the Committee of Ministers, pending full implementation by the Russian authorities. Information is currently awaited on the payment of 'just satisfaction' in 1,378 cases. As of 11 March 2024, the amount outstanding stood at over 2 billion euros. Ahead of this week's meeting, the Committee held an informal discussion with representatives of Russian human rights NGOs on issues relevant to the execution of judgments. It was the third such exchange since the Russian Federation was excluded from the Council of Europe in March 2022. (*) An Interim Resolution is a form of decision adopted by the Committee of Ministers aimed at overcoming more complex situations requiring special attention. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A file visual of an Aer Lingus plane. In March 2023, Aer Lingus resumed nonstop flights between Bradley International Airport and Dublin Airport. A bill before the state General Assembly seeks to increase transatlantic business by establishing a Connecticut-Ireland trade commission. Contributed photo/Connecticut Airport Authority Andy Mackin, center, who is the founder and CEO of Mackin Group, a Cork, Ireland-headquartered company that includes the Mackin Talent human resources business, gathers with colleagues at Mackin Talent's office in Rutherfordton, N.C. Mackin Talent also has an office in Hartford, Conn. Contributed photo/Mackin Talent Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, the state Senate majority leader, speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new health and wellness center at Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, in Norwalk, Conn. Jan. 22, 2024. Duff is one of the supporters of a bill that would establish a Connecticut-Ireland trade commission. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media About 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean separate Connecticut and Ireland. But it is an expanse that many companies are willing to cross to seek new opportunities. Pointing to the growing number of transatlantic connections, some business leaders and elected officials are pushing for passage of a bill in the General Assembly that would establish a commission focused on trade between Connecticut and Ireland. With business boosted by recently restored flights between the Hartford area and Dublin, proponents of the legislation argue that now is the time to capitalize on both sides of the ocean. Why I think a trade commission is such a great idea is because if theres a bit of weight behind us, there are potentially lots of businesses, not just in Ireland, but in other parts of Europe, that could come in and use Connecticut as a foothold in the U.S., said Andy Mackin, founder and CEO of Mackin Group, in a remotely held interview this week from his company's headquarters in Cork, Ireland. The human-resources business, Mackin Talent, has an office in Hartford. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Support for a new trade commission Among the bills backers is Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. In his testimony during a March 5 Commerce Committee public hearing, he noted that the commission would not require any state funds because it would fundraise through direct solicitation, or other fundraising events, as well as through gifts, grants and requests. This commission will provide nothing but a benefit to the state, Duff said. It will strengthen our international ties and enhance trade, and strengthen our economy without requiring the state to spend a cent. Duff also noted the establishment of the New Jersey-Ireland Trade Commission, which was created after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last June signed supporting legislation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mark Daly, a senator in Ireland's national legislature, also endorsed the bill. One of the few benefits of Brexit is Ireland is now the largest English-speaking country left in the European Union, Daly said, during remote testimony during the hearing. And we are the gateway to a market of 450 million people (throughout the E.U.). Proof of that is there are 950 U.S. companies using Ireland as their access-way to the E.U. market. Written testimony submitted in recent weeks to the state legislatures Commerce Committee also shows the extent of support for the bill, SB248. Connecticut and Ireland share a deep-rooted foundation in innovation, life sciences, green energy, academia, wrote the Ireland-Connecticut Business Council, which has more than 350 members, including the Mackin Group, in its testimony submitted to the committee. And together with this commission, we will see continued advances and expansion in these high-growth sectors that will benefit generations for many years" as the new trade commission would lead to "further cooperation and innovation with one of Europes strongest performing economies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Commerce Committee has not voted on the bill, but a number of committee members appeared receptive to the proposal. State legislative leaders and Connecticuts governor would appoint the commissions members, who would submit their first report to the General Assembly by Feb. 1, 2026, according to the bill. Ireland has really reinvented itself on many fronts, said state Sen. Joan Hartley, D-Waterbury, the committees Senate chairwoman. We are very grateful to try to leverage and raise this working relationship. 'Connecticut was definitely more competitive' While a new trade commission would bolster transatlantic trade, business will likely keep growing anyway between Connecticut and Ireland, which last year, had estimated populations of about 3.6 million and approximately 5.3 million, respectively. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mackin said that while the effects of the pandemic have complicated hiring efforts in Connecticut, where Mackin Talent has operated since 2020, his company still plans to add employees in the state. Mackin Talent now has one employee who works full-time at the Hartford office, and two employees who work remotely out of that office, which is the business' sole location in the northeast. About 800 miles southwest, Mackin Talent also has an office in Rutherfordton, N.C. New York and Boston are extremely high cost in terms of setup of office space and all that stuff, Mackin said. Connecticut was definitely more competitive. We had easy access to both cities on the train-and-road network. We just felt that Hartford would be a good place to set up shop in the northeast region. Other signs of the ever-strengthening ties between Connecticut and Ireland include the resumption in March 2023 of Aer Lingus direct route between Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and Dublin Airport. The airline had suspended flights between Connecticuts flagship airport and the Irish capital since March 2020, as a result of the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Bradley, we can go directly there, Mackin said of Hartford. Its, literally, jump in a cab (from Bradley), youre at your hotel in 20 minutes. It just makes it so much easier for doing business. Its been really appreciated and welcomed that that route came back. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State funding is supporting the Aer Lingus route, which offers the only nonstop service between Bradley and a European city. After missing certain revenue goals for the route, Aer Lingus has received since 2018 a total of about $11.9 million in state grants for revenue guarantees, according to the state Department of Economic and Community Development. The state's strong connections to Ireland have encouraged a number of Connecticut-based companies to pursue expansions there. We have been actively trying to export our StanChem and Albi products to the E.U., and Ireland will likely be our gateway location to warehouse products for sale across the E.U. and Great Britain, Paul Stenson, CEO and president of StanChem Resins and Albi Protective Coatings, which are based in Berlin, said in written testimony, in support of the bill. Ireland is a very convenient location for Connecticut businesses to expand to because of language and cultural connections between the two regions. Irelands easy access to both Great Britain and the E.U. market is a significant advantage. Russia holds presidential election amid rising tension with the West Global Times Moscow's current position on geopolitics, regional security likely to remain unchanged, "looking eastward" to continue By Wang Qi and Bai Yunyi Published: Mar 15, 2024 09:53 PM Russia began voting Friday in a three-day presidential election. Analysts believe the Russian election will be a high-turnout and high-vote one, and with incumbent president Vladimir Putin aiming to win a sixth term in office, the new government, even with a possible cabinet reshuffle, will be largely in line with current domestic and foreign policies, which means confrontation between Russia and the West will continue after the election, and that will also make Moscow "keep looking eastward" and enhance ties with emerging powers. Four candidates will compete for the top state post, including Vladimir Putin, the incumbent president and an independent candidate, Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party, Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party and Nikolai Kharitonov of the Russian Communist Party. According to the independent Levada Center, Putin's approval rating stood at 86 percent in a February poll, and his overall approval ratings have all been above 80 percent since December 2022. On election days, more than 94,000 polling stations will be open in Russia from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm local time. A total of 295 polling stations will open in 144 foreign countries and on the territory of the Baikonur space center, which Russia leases from Kazakhstan, news agency Tass reported. According to Russian media, the 2024 election is the first ever Russian presidential election to continue for three days. The presidential election is also the first time that voters will have the option of casting their ballots electronically, with online voting available in 29 regions, including Moscow, comprising one-third of the country's constituent regions. Aggravated tensions It is also the first Russian presidential election that will see the participation of residents in Eastern Ukraine regions including Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, according to media reports. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Thursday described the vote in these regions as "illegal and void," Reuters reported. On the same day, Ukraine launched a drone attack in the Russian border region of Belgorod, causing two deaths and wounding 12 people, the Associated Press (AP) reported. US and Western media have also been extremely unfriendly to Putin in their coverage of the election. CNN said Putin's opponents were "carefully curated by the Kremlin" and results of the elections are a "foregone conclusion." Meanwhile, a US think tank scholar called Russia's election "a sham" in his recent interview with Associated Press. Ahead of the election, several Russian authorities accused hackers from "Western countries" of plotting and already orchestrating cyberattacks on Russian election infrastructure, media reported. By denying the legitimacy of the Russian election, the US and the West are attempting to cut off their channels of dialogue with Russia, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times. Even if the US and West deny the legitimacy of Russian election, they still need to contact with Russia on certain important issues, such as nuclear arms control talks, which makes their tough words pointless, said Cui. According to Zhang Hong, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the confrontation between Russia and the West will continue after the election as Putin, if elected, is likely to stick to his current position on geopolitics and regional security. There are still serious contradictions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine crisis, said Zhang, noting that Putin's staying in power would mean that Russia will continue its tough stance on the Ukraine crisis and leave less room for adjustment. Ahead of the Russian election, French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday warned Western powers against showing any signs of weakness to Russia, and reiterated that sending Western troops into Ukraine shouldn't be ruled out, according to AP. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday urged allies to step up military support for Ukraine, saying "it would be a great historic mistake to allow Putin to prevail," media reported. The external environment and Russia's security situation during the election period are more tense than before, with Russia facing the risk of escalating military confrontation with NATO, said Zhang, "there is a growing pessimism about relations with the West in Russia," and that will make Moscow "keep looking eastward," especially economically, Zhang added. Continuity and certainty Even if there is a ceasefire in the Ukraine crisis, it is almost impossible for the West to withdraw sanctions against Russia in a short period of time, so Russia needs to find more markets to ensure stable economic development, the expert said. Echoing Zhang, Wang Xiaoquan, an expert from the Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Russia will further strengthen relations with developing countries and emerging economies such as China, India and the Islamic world, and seek a greater role for Russia in the construction of the new international order. It may further work with the Global South in his possible next term and enhance the status and role of the UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, "BRICS +" and other multilateral mechanisms of developing countries, promoting the process of multi-polarization, Wang said. According to the expert, Putin has been working hard to weaken the monopoly of the "Anglo-Saxon countries" in the world economy, strengthen the industrial and supply chain connection with the emerging economies, strengthen cooperation with the world's major producers of resources, and expand local currency settlement of international oil and gas trade and other commodities. Putin is expected to further promote Russia's economic "turn to the East," which will have a profound impact on the world's energy, financial and geo-economic patterns, Wang said. In terms of China-Russia relations, the momentum of steady development will continue, analysts said. China-Russia relations are a model of relations between major powers. After the end of the Cold War, China and Russia have maintained a steady development of relations with mutual trust and cooperation in economic, political, security, social and regional affairs, said Zhang. No matter how relations between Russia and the West develop, and no matter how China-US ties develop, the basic principle of "non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party" will continue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council The President held a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council via videoconference. March 15, 2024 17:45 Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov. * * * President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues. As you know, today the presidential election started in our country in accordance with the Constitution of Russia. To disrupt the election process and intimidate people, at least in the areas bordering Ukraine, the neo-Nazi Kiev regime has planned and is trying to carry out a number of demonstrative criminal armed actions. It is primarily striking civilian residential areas in Russian territory. About 95 percent of the enemy missiles and shells are being destroyed by our air defence systems. Nevertheless, unfortunately, we still have civilian casualties. All of them, and their families, will be given every necessary support and assistance. These enemy strikes do not and will not go unpunished. In addition, starting March 12 of this year and until now, our adversary has made several attempts to enter and gain a foothold on our territory, mostly by using special units, foreign mercenaries and support forces from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They have carried out several subversive terrorist attacks - four in the Belgorod direction and one in the Kursk direction - with the aim of entering Russian territory and gaining a foothold on it. The enemy used the following forces and equipment: over 2,500 personnel, 35 tanks, and about 40 combat vehicles. It did not achieve success in a single direction. It was rebuffed and forced to retreat, or flee, to be more precise, with heavy losses. The adversary lost about 60 percent of its personnel and over 50 percent of its armoured vehicles. As I said earlier, these militarily senseless and humanitarianly criminal actions were aimed at disrupting the elections for the President of Russia. I am confident - our people, the people of Russia will respond to this with even greater cohesion. Who did they decide to scare? The Russian people? The multi-ethnic people of Russia? This has never happened and, I know, will never happen. One more possible goal for these attacks is to sidetrack the attention of their own people and the people in other countries whom the Kiev regime is trying to beg, humiliatingly, for money or any kind of handout. The regime also wants to divert attention from the real state of affairs at the battle line where the Russian Armed Forces are confidently holding the initiative and showing courage and heroism, fulfilling their combat missions. They are thereby creating the necessary, basic conditions for ensuring the security of Russia, the domestic political stability of our state and, eventually for reaching our national development goals, for the future of our Motherland, which will certainly be ensured despite any attempt by our enemies and ill-wishers. I would like to ask the Defence Minister [Sergei Shoigu] to report on the current situation. Go ahead please. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russians vote in presidential election amid escalating border attacks Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 10:38 AM Russians have begun voting in a three-day presidential election amid an ongoing conflict and a barrage of deadly attacks on border regions. A country spread across 11 different time zones, the booths were first open to voters at 8:00 am on Friday (2000 GMT Thursday) on the Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula. Polling stations will conclude their activities on Sunday at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) in Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, which is situated between the European Union members Poland and Lithuania. For the first time in a presidential election, Russians have the option to vote online. Authorities report that over 200,000 Moscow residents cast their votes digitally shortly after the opening of the polls. Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed to the Russian people to stand by him during a trying period for the country, delivering a pre-election message that was broadcast on state TV on Thursday. "I am convinced: you realize what a difficult period our country is going through, what complex challenges we are facing in almost all areas," Putin said. "And in order to continue to respond to them with dignity and successfully overcome difficulties, we need to continue to be united and self-confident. "We have already shown that we can be together, defending the freedom, sovereignty and security of Russia ... Today it is critically important not to stray from this path," he added. Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, Vladislav Davankov of the New People Party and Nikolay Kharitonov of the Communist Party are the three other candidates approved by Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC). According to Kremlin experts, Putin, 71, who is running for his fifth term, will emerge victorious of the polling, and will secure another six-year term. Moscow authorities have issued a cautionary statement, advising against any form of protest during the upcoming presidential vote scheduled from March 15-17, which comes in response to the opposition's call for anti-Putin demonstrations on Sunday. Alexei Navalny, a prominent adversary of Putin for the past ten years, passed away in February while imprisoned in an Arctic penal colony. He had been sentenced to 19 years for "extremism". The Friday vote comes as the Kremlin has made its first territorial gains in Ukraine in months. War experts say that Russia possesses the upper hand in the field of combat, where it is achieving modest progress, albeit at a gradual pace. The governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that at least three separate waves of aerial attacks had killed two people, wounding several others. He said Ukraine was trying to "sow panic, distrust, anger and resentment, in order to break the unit of our society". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address About One-Third Of Voters Turn Out On First Day Of Election Set To Extend Putin's Rule By RFE/RL's Russian Service March 15, 2024 More than a third of Russia's eligible voters cast ballots in person and online on the first day of the country's three-day presidential election, the Central Election Commission (TsIK) said after polls closed on March 15 in the country's westernmost region of Kaliningrad. Russians began casting ballots earlier in the day in an election that President Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win, extending his rule by six more years after any serious opponents were barred from running against him amid a brutal crackdown on dissent and the independent media. The Kremlin released a video showing Putin calmly voting online from a computer in a government office, and the TsIK said voting proceeded in an orderly fashion across the country, but there were numerous reports of vandalism at polling stations along with more than a dozen arrests. The vote, which is not expected to be free and fair, is the first major election to take place in Russia since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. Putin, 71, who has been president or prime minister for nearly 25 years, is running against three low-profile politicians -- 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 -- whose policy positions are hardly distinguishable from Putin's. Boris Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old anti-war politician, was rejected last month by the Russian Central Election Commission (TsIK) because of what it called invalid support signatures on his application to be registered as a candidate. He appealed, but the TsIk's decision was upheld by Russia's Supreme Court. "Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today," European Council President Charles Michel wrote in a sarcastic post on X, formerly Twitter. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice." Voters cast their ballots at nearly 100,000 polling stations across the country's 11 time zones, as well as in regions of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed. Ukraine and Western governments have condemned Russia for holding the vote in those Ukrainian regions, calling it illegal, and on March 15 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to the criticism. Guterres "condemns the efforts of the Russian Federation to hold its presidential elections in areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that the "attempted illegal annexation" of those regions has "no validity" under international law. There were reports that public sector employees were being urged to vote early on March 15, a directive Stanislav Andreychuk, the co-chairman of the Golos voters' rights movement, said was aimed at having workers vote "under the watchful eyes of their bosses." The outcome, with Putin's foes in jail, exile, or dead, is not in doubt. In a survey conducted by VTsIOM in early March, 75 percent of the citizens intending to vote said they would cast their ballot for Putin, a former KGB foreign intelligence officer. The ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and human rights groups began before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine was launched, but it has been ratcheted up since. Almost exactly one month before the polls opened, Putin's most vocal critic, opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, died in an isolated Arctic prison amid suspicious circumstances as he served sentences seen as politically motivated. Many observers say Putin warded off even the faintest of challengers to ensure a large margin of victory that he can point to as evidence that Russians back the war in Ukraine and his handling of it. Most say they have no expectation that the election will be free and fair, with the possibility for independent monitoring very limited. "Who in the world thinks that it will be a real election?" Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Moscow, said in an interview with Current Time ahead of the vote. Before his death, Navalny had hoped to use the vote to demonstrate the public's discontent with both the war and Putin's iron-fisted rule. He called on voters to cast their ballot at 12 p.m. on March 17, naming the action Noon Against Putin. HIs wife and others have since continued to call for the protest to be carried out. Viral images of long lines forming at this time would indicate the size of the opposition and undermine the landslide result the Kremlin is expected to concoct. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death and his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has promoted it. "We need to use election day to show that we exist and there are many of us, we are actual, living, real people and we are against Putin....What to do next is up to you. You can vote for any candidate except Putin. You could ruin your ballot," Navalnaya said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Todd Prince, Current Time, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-vote-putin- crackdown-opposition-election/32862665.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 Six More Years For Putin. Five Things To Watch For. By Mike Eckel March 15, 2024 This we can say with high confidence: Vladimir Putin will be declared the victor of the now ongoing three-day election, ushering in another six years as Russia's president. There's less confidence in what comes next, but there are strong clues: more men for the Ukraine war, new taxes to fund the war, new personnel shuffling within the Kremlin, new threats for NATO, and new repression of dissent. The strongest clues came in Putin's state-of-the-nation speech last month. Above all, said Tatyana Stanovaya, a veteran expert of Russian politics, was how confident Putin and the Kremlin are about Russia's geopolitical position. "This is not empty propaganda, but a reflection of plans for ideological expansion, the export of 'Putinism' to Western countries, and active work with potential 'friends,'" she wrote in an analysis for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "In other words, the geopolitical battlefield for values is once again moving to Western territory, and Putin feels more confident than ever." "The horizons of this 'holy war' have now expanded," she said. War Is (Not) Over More than two years into the mass invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces currently have the momentum, building on last month's symbolic victory capturing the industrial city of Avdiyivka and advancing further against Ukrainian forces. The cost, in terms of Russian soldiers and equipment, is on a scale not seen since World War II, with upward of 320,000 soldiers killed or wounded and thousands of weapons, tanks, vehicles, and weapons systems destroyed, according to Western estimates. The country's industrial base has kicked into higher gear, churning out an increasing number of weapons and equipment. Sourcing personnel has been more problematic. Putin ordered a mobilization of around 300,000 men seven months after the start of the full-scale invasion, an acknowledgment that the war was not going to be a cakewalk. The order reverberated through Russian society, prompting an exodus of people fleeing abroad. Military planners induced thousands of "kontraktiki" into volunteer service, using above-average wages and other lucrative compensation, such as death payments for widows and survivors. Signing bonuses for new contracts are up to 700,000 rubles, according to research by the Bank of Finland's Institute for Emerging Economies -- a sum greater than the annual average salary as of 2022. In Russia's poorer regions, where average wages are even lower, the financial incentives for volunteering to fight are even greater. Planners have tapped the vast prison population, offering inmates pardon or amnesty for crimes committed in exchange for military service. By some estimates, up to 100,000 prisoners may have ended up fighting in a force whose casualty rates are also believed to be well above that of regular units. Military commanders also have tweaked and fudged contractual obligations. Some inmate soldiers have reportedly been refused promised discharge after short-term service and instead told they'll be released only when the war ends. Commanders have cut back furloughs and rest-and-relaxation holidays for some units, angering relatives and fueling a grassroots movement called The Way Home, which challenged officials, advocating for troop rotations. Another round of mobilization does not appear imminent, experts say. Despite enormous losses -- Russia has lost more troops since February 2022 than the Soviet Union did in an entire decade fighting in Afghanistan -- commanders appear intent to continue the patchwork system of recruitment. "In 2024, the Kremlin will need to decide: If the number of losses remains high as it is today, as it was during the last several months...the Kremlin will need to find more soldiers," said Pavel Luzin, an expert on Russia's military industrial sector and researcher at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. The Kremlin will either have to do another mobilization "by force, by coercion," Luzin said during a March 14 forum organized by the Center for European Policy Analysis, or it will have to send a greater number of conscripts to fight in Ukraine. Both options would be highly unpopular. Currently, all Russian men between 18 and 30 are required by law to serve 12 months in the armed forces, but those conscripts aren't allowed to be sent abroad or into combat. More Guns, Less Butter Russia's economy has been transformed and put onto war footing. The country's vast industrial base has been tooled to churn out the weaponry needed to keep pace with Ukraine's destruction of it. In the first two years, the Kremlin earmarked more than 30 trillion rubles for the war effort, and experts estimate the share of gross domestic product taken up by military and security spending will exceed 8 percent this year. That government spending has helped the economy defy Western sanctions, with predictions of 2.6 percent or more growth this year. Money for the war effort has come in large part from government coffers filled with petroleum dollars. The Finance Ministry said in January that it expects to bring in 11.5 trillion rubles in revenues from oil and gas sales this year, with China and India being the main buyers. But the government has also burned through its rainy-day savings, and government data show nearly half of the national wealth fund had been depleted as of the end of 2023. During last month's speech, Putin signaled the Kremlin was looking to tweak the tax code to raise more revenues and shift the tax burden onto higher earners. The government is considering raising the personal income tax from 15 percent for those earning more than 5 million rubles to 20 percent and hiking corporate tax rates from 20 percent to 25 percent, according to the Russian news site Important Stories and Bloomberg. That would help plug a 1.6 trillion ruble hole that the Finance Ministry has forecast for 2024. Changing Of The Guard During his speech, Putin also mentioned the creation of a new national elite, emphasizing that those who fought in the war or otherwise gave full-throated support for the war effort should be afforded privileged positions, either in society or in the government itself. Among the current "elite" are Putin's advisers -- his inner-circle confidants, the powerful President Administration, the wider government headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin -- a group that has been relatively stable in recent years. Some of his confidants are aging. General Valery Gerasimov, the 68-year-old chief of the Russian general staff and overall commander of the Ukraine war, for example, is beyond the mandatory military retirement age. The head of the powerful Federal Security Service, Aleksandr Bortnikov, is 72, a year older than Putin, and rumored to be ailing. "What is inevitable is that the Russian military will get more prominent in Russian politics," Andrei Soldatov, an author and expert on Russia's security services, said during the March 14 forum. "And every war in Russia -- it doesn't matter how disastrous it was -- nevertheless produced very popular generals who played a really significant part of Russian politics." Some of the proposals Putin laid out in his speech included the establishment of five new "National Projects" focusing on major social policies will require substantial new funding and likely the creation of a new deputy prime minister. "For many years now, Putin has avoided a major reshuffle among Russia's top officials in order to head off any speculation about power transitions or successors. Now, however, he has little choice but to empower a major new political player," political commentator Andrei Pertsev wrote. If major shuffling does take place, one name to watch is Sergei Kiriyenko, who is an influential behind-the-scenes player in the Presidential Administration, an entity responsible for engineering all aspects of the presidential election. He's also been the Kremlin's point man on the occupied Ukrainian territories of which Moscow has illegally claimed ownership. Kiriyenko was the "viceroy of the Donbas" who could "keep moving up through the ranks," one former government official told the Russian news site Meduza. "It's not a question of legitimacy. It's a question of demonstrating control of the system and sufficient loyalty among the elites to produce a result that the Kremlin wants," said Thomas Graham, who served as senior director for Russia on the White House National Security Council from 2004 to 2007. "Beyond that -- and I don't think the Kremlin thinks in terms of democratic legitimacy the way we might mean in the West -- that is not something that's top of mind." 'Destruction of Civilization' Putin's domestic popularity has been undergirded by the prosperity that a growing middle class enjoyed beginning in the 2000s, as well as his image as an even-keeled leader following a turbulent decade under his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin. His popularity is also propelled by a strongman persona, committed to bringing back the global might that many Russians recall from the Soviet period. That includes standing up to the West, NATO, and in particular the United States, which the Kremlin perceives to be an existential threat. Putin's bellicose rhetoric, which stretches at least as far back as 2007 when he began likening the United States to the Nazi Third Reich, has worsened since his last election in 2018 -- and further in the run-up to the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. During his speech before parliament, Putin bragged about Russia's nuclear arsenal and threatened to use it against Western nations if they intervened more directly in the Ukraine war. That would result in "a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, and therefore the destruction of civilization," Putin said. "They must ultimately understand that we also have weapons...that can hit targets on their territory," he said. Putin's legacy is consumed by the outcome of the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin analysts say: if not outright victory then some other outcome that would allow Putin to claim victory. That, plus the efforts by the West to prevent the subjugation of Ukraine, means the belligerent rhetoric will continue. Additionally, other experts warn, the Kremlin and military commanders may be emboldened to challenge NATO and the United States in other places or in other ways, depending on the course of the war and how much Western nations waver in their support for Ukraine. Some European leaders have suggested the Kremlin might be confident enough to test NATO directly, to see how and if the alliance would actually respond to Russian hostility. Dissent Will Not Be Tolerated Since at least 2012, when Putin returned to the presidency after a four-year interim as prime minister, the government has squeezed civil society, NGOs, rights groups, independent media, and others. Scores of people and organizations have been blacklisted, threatened with prosecution, bankrupted, or driven out of the country. The war in Ukraine further accelerated the move toward police-state policies, with lawmakers criminalizing anyone who questions the war or voices opposition. A former lawmaker named Boris Nadezhdin who espoused an anti-war stance was embraced by many Russians opposed to Putin and the conflict. But he was blocked from running in the presidential election by the authorities on a technicality. Last month, the beleaguered opposition suffered another blow when Aleksei Navalny, the anticorruption crusader who was increasingly hailed as a figurehead leader, died in an Arctic prison. Some who turned out to pay their respects during Navalny's funeral last month are now reportedly being targeted by police. By all estimates, the repression of dissenting voices will only increase in the wake of Putin's re-election. The hope is that society will be cowed into acquiescence, or apathy. "It's true that the Kremlin does not like widespread public unrest. They are concerned about what that means for the stability of the regime," Graham said. "To a certain extent they're paranoid about that, because I think they exaggerate the destabilizing aspects of public protests. But they are concerned about that and have been concerned about that for decades." "They are concerned about anything that demonstrates initiative, or spontaneity on the part of the population, and much prefer political apathy and people who don't engage in politics," Graham said. "The stability of the system is actually based on apathy." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-election- what-to-watch-for/32863511.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 The Week In Russia: Flowers On The Grave By Steve Gutterman March 15, 2024 The Kremlin will cast the March 15-17 election as a powerful popular endorsement of President Vladimir Putin and the war against Ukraine. The long lines of citizens who came out to support a would-be rival and to pay their respects at the funeral of Putin's most prominent opponent tell a different story. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. War And Power Russia may have the upper hand right now in its war on Ukraine, and its attacks continue to kill civilians almost daily, but in some ways it has already lost, analysts say. Its forces failed to subjugate the country in the weeks following the full-scale invasion of February 2022, and that goal -- Putin's overarching aim -- seems further from reach today than it was before the onslaught. The overall outcome of the presidential election is in far less doubt than that of the war: Putin will win, and the official numbers -- both turnout and the percentage of votes claimed by the incumbent -- are likely to enable the Kremlin to cast the noncompetitive contest as proof of almost monolithic support for Putin and the war. He has made clear that's his goal: "We must affirm our unity and our determination to move forward," he said in an address to the nation on the eve of the three-day election. But efforts to portray Putin and the war as natural and necessary facts of life, phenomena to which there was never any alternative, was punctured plainly and publicly by crowds of Russian citizens in the weeks ahead of the election. First, in January, long lines formed as Russians turned out at locations nationwide to help politician and former lawmaker Boris Nadezhdin, a critic of the war, gather enough signatures to get his name on the presidential ballot and challenge Putin. Nadezhdin submitted the signatures on January 31. Eight days later, the Central Election Commission refused to put him on the ballot, ruling that thousands of the signatures were invalid -- a claim the would-be candidate rejected. Barred From The Ballot On February 15, the Supreme Court did what was widely expected: It rejected two appeals that Nadezhdin filed in a bid to challenge the election commission's ruling. One day later, Russian penitentiary authorities announced that jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, Putin's most formidable foe for a decade, had died at an Arctic prison known as Polar Wolf. Relatives and some supporters contend that Navalny was killed at Putin's behest. In 2020, he had barely survived a poisoning -- with a weapons-grade nerve agent apparently smeared on his underwear in a Siberian hotel room -- that he blamed on Putin and the Federal Security Service (FSB). Like the far less prominent Nadezhdin, Navalny had also been barred from a presidential ballot. The election commission refused to register him as a candidate in 2018, citing a criminal conviction that he and his backers assert was falsified in part for that precise purpose: to keep him out of electoral politics. Since at least 2011, when he helped lead big, peaceful protests sparked in part by Putin's decision to return to the presidency after four years in the No. 2 post as prime minister, Navalny had been a major thorn in the Kremlin's side, due both to his reports on alleged corruption and his political activity. Ahead of the 2018 election, Navalny established a nationwide network of campaign offices that continued to operate after he was barred from the ballot but were declared extremist and outlawed by the state, along with his Anti-Corruption Foundation, in June 2021 -- five months after he was arrested upon his return to Russia following treatment in Germany for the poisoning. Navalny received about 27 percent of the vote in a 2013 election for Moscow mayor, and it's unclear how big a chunk of the electorate he could have attracted in a presidential election. That's clearly something the Kremlin decided it did not want to find out: Navalny and other protest leaders led chants of "Russia without Putin"; instead, it's now a Russia without Navalny. 'We Need To Say Goodbye' Elections, including the current vote, are by design devoid of actual competition. "Although Putin would likely win a fair election in 2024, an unmanaged election would foster genuine political contestation and criticism of the president, which the Kremlin had long been keeping off-limits," political analysts Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman wrote in a March 13 article in the U.S. journal Foreign Affairs. "Meaningful criticism would open the door to another possibility: namely, that Putin's edicts may not reflect the united will of the Russian people and that he may not be destined to rule Russia in perpetuity," they wrote. For many Russians, Navalny also represented that possibility. Nowhere was that clearer than at his funeral on March 1. In the face of a large police presence and amid a sweeping state clampdown on dissent that has intensified since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of people lined up outside the church where his funeral was held in the southeastern Moscow neighborhood where Navalny's family lived before his poisoning. "We need to say goodbye to a man who symbolizes freedom," one man at the scene said in footage published by The Moscow Times. When Navalny's coffin was taken to a nearby cemetery, the mourners walked calmly across a bridge over the Moskva River and filed past his resting place after initially being barred from entering. Russians continued to come to the cemetery in substantial numbers in the following days, and a growing pile of flowers soon covered his grave. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/gutterman-week-in-russia- election-navalny-protest/32863428.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 Several Russians Vandalize Polling Stations In Protest On First Day Of Presidential Vote By RFE/RL's Russian Service March 15, 2024 About a dozen Russians, defying threats from authorities of long prison sentences, have vandalized ballot boxes and polling stations across the country in protest of a presidential election that is almost certain to hand Vladimir Putin six more years as president. Police in Moscow on March 15, the first of three days of voting, detained a woman after she poured a green antiseptic dye known as "zelyonka" into a ballot box after she deposited her voting sheet. The Investigative Committee said the woman was detained and a probe had been launched into "obstructing the implementation of voters' rights." At another polling station in the capital, a man was detained after he poured a similar liquid into a ballot box. Reports from several areas across the country -- including the city of Borisoglebsk in the Voronezh region that borders Ukraine, the southwestern city of Rostov-on-Don, the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, the Volgograd region that borders Kazakhstan, the North Caucasus region of Karachai-Cherkessia, and Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea -- also highlighted voter protests using the dye. Meanwhile, the Baza Telegram channel published a video from a polling station in Moscow, showing a woman pouring a flammable substance on a voting booth and setting in on fire. In Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, a 21-year-old woman was detained after she threw a Molotov cocktail at an entrance of a local school that houses two polling stations. Ella Pamfilova, chairwoman of the electoral commission, warned those found guilty of disrupting voting during the three days would face up to five years in prison. Russian elections are tightly controlled by the Kremlin and are neither free nor fair but are viewed by the government as necessary to convey a sense of legitimacy. They are mangled by the exclusion of opposition candidates, voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, and other means of manipulation. Those who were expected to be Putin's main challengers currently are either incarcerated or have fled the country, fearing for their safety. Adding to the anger of some is the inclusion of four regions of Ukraine that Russia illegally annexed since it launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. In the Russian-occupied southeastern city of Skadovsk in Ukraine's Kherson region, an explosive device detonated at a polling station but caused no casualties, Russian-installed officials said. Many Western governments have called conducting of elections in the occupied areas "a grave violation of international law." With reporting by AFP, Baza, and Mediazona Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-police-detain-woman- pouring-dye-ballot-box/32863220.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 Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 13th Anniversary of the Syrian Uprising US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson March 15, 2024 The following statement was released by the Governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America on the occasion of the 13-year anniversary of the Syrian uprising. Begin text: On this day 13 years ago, the Syrian people took to the streets in peaceful protest to demand their freedom and respect for human rights. The Assad regime met these protests with a ruthless campaign of oppression and atrocities that continues to this day. Since March 2011, the Syria conflict has led to the deaths of more than 500,000 people, and the forced displacement of more than half of the Syrian population. The coordinated efforts of the United Kingdom, United States of America, France and Germany are focused on ending the suffering of the Syrian people. We also continue to press for accountability and justice, calling for the release of civilians arbitrarily detained. We welcome and support the work of organisations such as the Commission of Inquiry and the International Independent and Impartial Mechanism, which document the crimes perpetrated in Syria, and the newly established UN Independent Institution for Missing Persons in Syria. The war in Syria is not over. During the last year, the suffering of ordinary Syrians has continued, whether at the hands of the Assad regime, its allies, or Daesh terrorists. Since October, the Assad regime has stepped up its ruthless bombardment campaign, impacting civilians living outside areas under its control. With the support of Russia, the Assad regime has conducted attacks across north-west Syria, resulting in over 500 civilian casualties and the displacement of over 120,000 people. We call for an immediate end to these attacks. Northeast Syria has witnessed further escalation in violence. This includes attacks by Daesh, whose past atrocities must not be forgotten. In this regard, we thank the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Investigation and Identification Team for their recent report, concluding that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Daesh deployed sulfur mustard during attacks in Marea in 2015. Preventing Daesh's resurgence remains a top priority. We call on the international community to rally around the remaining tasks to ensure durable solutions for the residents of al-Hol and Roj camps, and for the issue of the Daesh detainees. The devastating impact of the February 2023 earthquakes is still felt today. In 2024, the number of Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance across Syria has reached 16.7 million. In the north-west, the unhindered and predictable delivery of humanitarian aid, including cross-border humanitarian assistance, is essential to ensuring civilians can access adequate support. Donors and international partners require greater predictability for planning and procurement, and we call on the Assad regime to grant indefinite access at crossing points for as long as needs persist, to ensure a sustainable and reliable response. We are increasingly concerned by the threats posed by the trade of the illicit drug captagon, from which the Assad regime, with the support of Iran-aligned militia groups and other actors, generates vast profits to fund its oppression of the Syrian people. Global coordination is required to tackle the malign impact of captagon, which is contributing to instability across the region. We call on the Assad regime to end its role in this trade and to take meaningful steps to curb drug trafficking by others in Syria. We remain committed to ending the human rights violations and abuses suffered by the Syrian people at the hands of the Assad regime. The peaceful demonstrations in Suweida, ongoing since last summer, show that the demands for peace, freedom and dignity that led to protests 13 years ago endure. Our countries see no possibility of normalisation with the Assad regime, no funding of reconstruction and no lifting of sanctions until there is authentic, meaningful and enduring progress towards a political solution. A Syrian-owned, Syrian-led political settlement in line with UNSCR 2254 is the only viable mechanism that can bring lasting peace for the Syrian people. The conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary returns of refugees to Syria, supported by the international community, are not yet met and we call on the Assad regime to make the reforms necessary to protect the freedom, dignity, and human rights of all. We welcome the announcement by UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to convene a meeting of the Constitutional Committee in April in Geneva and we urge all sides to accept the invitation and engage seriously on the work of the Committee. End text. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. helping Taiwan consolidate ties with Pacific allies: Official ROC Central News Agency 03/15/2024 03:31 PM Washington, March 14 (CNA) The United States has been working to help Taiwan consolidate its formal diplomatic ties with countries in the Pacific island region and prevent them from being poached by China, according to a top State Department official Thursday. "We work very carefully and closely with them to make sure their needs are met. And we try to close off any opportunities that China could exploit," said Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. Appearing at a Senate committee hearing on U.S. strategy in the Pacific island region, Kritenbrink was responding to a question about China's poaching of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, and what the U.S. can do to try and flip them back to Taiwan recognition. The most recent Pacific nation to switch allegiance to Beijing was Nauru, on Jan. 15, leaving the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's formal name) with only three diplomatic allies in the Pacific -- Tuvalu, Palau and the Marshall Islands. Two other previous allies, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, severed ties with the ROC to recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 2019. Given that history, Kritenbrink said countries ought to be "clear eyed" about China. "Our message to Nauru and then to the three remaining partners of Taiwan in the region is again countries ought to be careful and clear eyed about entering in these arrangements with China," Kritenbrink said, indicating that Beijing often makes promises that are never met. In the case of Nauru, he said the State Department had been aware of the situation for quite some time, but the disappointment was in the way it was done. "The excuses that were used by the PRC [included] certain economic inducements and U.N. General Assembly resolution 2758, which was misused and misinterpreted," the assistant secretary said. Resolution 2758 was adopted by the 26th U.N. General Assembly in 1971 to solve the issue of China's representation in the U.N. system and ultimately led to the U.N.'s decision to expel the ROC and have the PRC take its place in the international organization. The resolution passed on Oct. 25, 1971 recognizes the PRC as the "only lawful representative of China." Taiwan and U.S. governments have repeatedly argued, however, that it does not mention Taiwan, does not state that "Taiwan is part of the PRC," and does not explicitly authorize Beijing to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system. "Every country has the sovereign decision to make their own decision, including on these recognition questions. But we do encourage countries to be cautious and careful given the track record of the PRC," Kritenbrink said. According to Kritenbrink, the Pacific Islands face significant challenges to their security and prosperity, including from climate change and economic shocks, making the region more vulnerable to influence from China. (By Chung Yu-chen and Ko Lin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Coast Guard helping with searches for missing Chinese fishermen ROC Central News Agency 03/15/2024 04:30 PM Taipei, March 15 (CNA) Taiwan's Coast Guard has teamed up with China to search for Chinese crew members who have gone missing from vessels in Matsu County and Kinmen County. In the Matsu County case, the Coast Guard deployed vessels early Friday to assist in a search and rescue mission involving a Chinese fisherman who fell overboard while apparently walking on the edge of the vessel. The Matsu Coast Guard was first made aware of the incident at 12:30 a.m. Friday by the Economic Development Department of Lienchiang County, the county just off China's eastern coast that covers the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands. According to an unnamed source, a 26-year-old fisherman working on the "Min Lian Yu 60911," a Chinese fishing vessel, is believed to have fallen overboard while walking around the perimeter of the boat's deck Thursday afternoon. The fisherman lost his footing roughly 5 kilometers east of Lienchiang County's Sanlian Islets around Beigan Island. Members of the boat initially attempted to locate the man on their own, to no avail, before reporting the incident to Chinese authorities. China then made Taiwan aware of the case, and two to three coast guard vessels were sent to the area to assist in search and rescue operations, Matsu Coast Guard captain Hung Wen-chuan () told CNA. Hung said the Coast Guard is expected to work with Chinese authorities on the mission for 72 hours. In Kinmen, the Kinmen Coast Guard deployed ships to help China search for the six crew members of the "Min Long Yu 61222" Chinese fishing boat, which capsized and sank about 2 kilometers southwest of Dongding Island in Taiwan-controlled Kinmen County on Thursday. Dongding Island is considered the southernmost point of Kinmen County, lying about 26 km south of the main Kinmen Island. Taiwan's Coast Guard said the boat had ventured about 500 meters into Taiwan's "prohibited waters," in which Coast Guard vessels are authorized to control the activity of foreign vessels. Since joint-rescue efforts were initiated Thursday after the ship capsized, four crew members have been pulled from the water, with two of them already dead when found. Search efforts are still underway for the remaining two crew members, according to the Coast Guard. (By Kao Hua-chien and James Lo) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FILE PHOTO: Stew Leonard's on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. The company issued a recall Friday for two items it says may contain undeclared milk or eggs. Luther Turmelle/ Hearst Connecticut Media Stew Leonard's is recalling two items sold at its seven locations, including three in Connecticut, because they may contain eggs and milk that aren't declared on the packaging, the company said Friday. The company said it is voluntarily recalling its apple crisp made with honeycrisp apples and its no-sugar apple pie that were sold between Aug. 28 2023 and March 8. 2024. The apple crisp may contain undeclared milk, while the apple pie may contain undeclared eggs, the company said. It is working with the state Department of Consumer Protection to determine the cause of the labeling error. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The products were sold at Stew Leonards Connecticut locations in Danbury, Norwalk, and Newington as well as in New York in East Meadow, Farmingdale, and Yonkers and in Paramus, N.J. "People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk and eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products," the company said. No illnesses had been reported as of Friday from the items, according to Stew Leonard's. Anyone who has the items should discard them or return them to a store for a refund, the company said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A 25-year old woman from New York died earlier this year after eating a cookie manufactured by Cookies United and sold by Stew Leonard's that contained undeclared peanuts. PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Mar. 15, 2024 ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/03/15 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1. Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Thursday to Friday, Mar. 14-15 2.PLA activitiesis 11 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 10 years of Crimea's illegal annexation: Statement by the Congress President Council of Europe Congress Strasbourg 15 March 2024 The President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools, has made the following statement: "Ten years ago, on 16 March 2014, the illegal referendum in the Ukrainian region of Crimea, organised at Russian gunpoint, set off a spiral of violence leading to Crimea's illegal annexation by Russia two days later and eventually to the Russian Federation's full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine through which we are living today." "In 2014, the Congress strongly condemned the annexation by the Russian Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Today, we stand united with Ukraine and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 216 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 24/2024 Vienna, Austria 15 Mar 2024 Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has regained access to its only remaining back-up power line, following an outage of more than three weeks that once again underlined persistent nuclear safety and security risks facing the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today. The ZNPP's connection to the 330 kilovolt (kV) off-site power line was restored shortly after 6pm local time on Thursday, providing a much-needed buffer for the plant which has suffered eight complete loss of external power events over the past year and a half. The 330 kV line was lost on 20 February due to an incident on the other side of the Dnipro River, leaving the ZNPP entirely dependent on its only 750 kV line. Before the conflict, Europe's largest nuclear power plant (NPP) had a total of ten power lines available, four 750 kV and six 330 kV lines. "Last evening's positive development should not hide the fact that the power situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant continues to be extremely fragile and vulnerable to further disruptions. I remain deeply concerned about the nuclear safety and security situation at this major nuclear facility," Director General Grossi said. In addition, IAEA experts stationed at the site have continued to report on explosions and other indications of military activity not far from the ZNPP. They heard blasts at various distances from the site every day over the past week, including explosions nearby in the morning and evening of 8 March and again in the morning and late at night the following day. On Wednesday, the team heard around 13 rounds of outgoing artillery fire. "What once seemed unimaginable - military activity near a nuclear power plant - has become a daily reality. The situation is not improving and as long as this tragic war continues, the plant remains in danger. For this reason, I again call for maximum restraint and full observance of the five concrete principles established at the United Nations Security Council in May last year," Director General Grossi said. The IAEA experts at the ZNPP were informed by the plant of a drone attack in an area outside the perimeter of the ZNPP site during the week. There were no casualties reported. The event occurred at around 6pm local time on Tuesday, 12 March. The IAEA experts were first informed by the ZNPP on 13 March at 1pm, where upon they immediately accessed the location of the reported impact, roughly 550 meters from the site perimeter. The team observed a shallow cavity in the ground approximately 70cm in diameter, located just outside the concrete wall that surrounds the off-site diesel fuel storage area, some 100 meters from the diesel fuel storage tanks. The team also observed some partially burnt foil/plastic material in the area. The off-site diesel fuel tanks store additional fuel for the emergency diesel generators (EDGs) for the six reactor units at the ZNPP. Together with the fuel stored at each EDG on-site, the plant currently has enough diesel fuel for more than 20 days operation of the EDGs in the case of a total loss of off-site power. The impact did not cause damage to any structures, including a warehouse approximately 40 meters from the impact site, and there was no impact on nuclear safety. On the basis of the available evidence and visual observations, the IAEA is unable to confirm if the event was the result of a drone attack or other type of projectile. The IAEA experts at the site, who crossed the frontline to travel to and from the plant as part of a scheduled rotation this week, have continued to conduct walkdowns and assess nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP. They reported that the ZNPP's four diesel steam generators have resumed operations to treat liquid waste. These recently-installed steam generators were previously operating in early February, but were then switched off for just over a month until a sufficient volume of liquid was ready to be treated. As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the well-being of personnel, the IAEA team was briefed by an on-site psychologist on the continuous evaluation of all staff, with some additional assessments for operators of the main reactor control rooms and turbines. The IAEA experts also observed simulator training of operating staff in the training centre, where they held discussions with the ZNPP training centre and Rostekhnadzor, the nuclear safety regulatory body of the Russian Federation, about the process that staff must follow to obtain their operating "authorizations". The IAEA experts were informed that staff are being trained considering the present situation at the ZNPP, with all reactor units either in cold or hot shutdown, as well as the current status of the external power lines and cooling water. The ZNPP says it has enough authorized operating staff to maintain the reactor units in their current shutdown states. "The staffing situation at the plant remains a vital issue for nuclear safety and security that we will continue to monitor closely," Director General Grossi said. The IAEA experts present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs as well as at the Chornobyl site have reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the challenging war-time circumstances, including the frequent sound of air raid alarms at some of the facilities. The IAEA team at the Khmelnytskyy NPP had to go to the site's shelter four times this week, on 10 and 11 March, respectively. At the same site, the IAEA team was informed that the plant manually shut down its reactor unit 2 on Wednesday to investigate an issue with the turbine shaft. Nuclear safety and security was not affected by this event. The IAEA experts at the Rivne, South Ukraine and Khmelnytskyy NPPs all rotated this week. The IAEA has continued to deliver equipment to help maintain nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. This week, two deliveries took place bringing the total to 40 since the armed conflict began. Alpha and beta radiation counting systems, portable radio-communication equipment and personal protective equipment reached the Rivne NPP and the Chornobyl site. The equipment was procured using funding from the European Union and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iceland supports the training of Ukrainian naval cadets Government of Iceland 15 March 2024 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Iceland has undertaken training of Ukrainian naval cadets who will receive training in practical seamanship including navigation, maritime surveillance, and operations, including search and rescue. "This training programme is a good example of what Iceland can contribute to support Ukraine based on our expertise and experience in seafaring in challenging conditions of the North Atlantic," says Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson. The training is a part of the NATO training programme for Ukraine, and the Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for the training in collaboration with the Defence Directorate of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The training will for the most part take place aboard Coast Guard vessels where smaller groups of cadets will receive several weeks of training. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine: UN Commission concerned by continuing patterns of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law GENEVA (15 March 2024) - Two years after the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, civilian suffering is mounting as a result of Russia's disregard for basic principles of humanitarian law and its human rights obligations, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said in its report published on Friday. The Commission found new evidence that Russian authorities have committed violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding war crimes, in areas that came under their control in Ukraine. The Commission is concerned by the continued use of explosive weapons in civilian areas. The multiplicity of such attacks confirms a pattern of disregard by Russian armed forces for possible harm to civilians. The report assessed the grave impact on civilians of the fighting in and the siege of Mariupol at the outset of the full-scale invasion. Satellite imagery provides indication of widespread destruction of whole urban areas of the city. Residents described unbearable suffering endured during relentless shelling and aerial bombardments which caused large-scale death, injury, and destruction. After emerging from shelters, civilians reported seeing dead bodies strewn on the streets and in the rubble of their homes. Data obtained by the Commission indicates that at least 58 medical infrastructure buildings and 11 power stations were damaged or destroyed in Mariupol. More generally, recent indiscriminate attacks violating international humanitarian law committed by Russian armed forces have led to civilian casualties and the destruction and damage of civilian objects, including of protected objects such as hospitals and cultural property. Often, Russian armed forces failed to take feasible precautions to verify that the affected objects are not civilian. "We are concerned at the scale, continuation, and gravity of violations and crimes that the Commission has investigated and the impact on victims and the affected communities," said the Chair of the Commission, Erik MAse. New evidence strengthens the Commission's previous findings that torture against civilians by Russian authorities in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic. The current report focuses on torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war and describes cases of horrific treatment of such prisoners in several detention facilities in the Russian Federation. Victims' accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention, with blatant disregard for human dignity. This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma. One Ukrainian soldier, who was detained and tortured by Russian authorities in several detention facilities, recounted his experience in the correctional colony in the town of Donskoy, Tula region, where he was repeatedly subjected to torture and left with broken bones, broken teeth and gangrene on an injured foot. "I lost any hope and the will to live," the soldier said, adding that he had tried to kill himself but perpetrators subjected him to further beating. After his release, the soldier has been hospitalized 36 times. Investigations found additional evidence concerning the unlawful transfer of children to areas under Russian control. The report documents incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women in circumstances which also amount to torture. It also details incidents of torture with a sexualised dimension and threats of rape against male prisoners of war. The report also describes a few violations of human rights by Ukrainian authorities against persons suspected of collaboration with Russian authorities. The Commission strongly condemns all violations and corresponding crimes. Its current findings confirm the necessity to continue investigations, including to determine whether some of the situations identified may constitute crimes against humanity. Finally, the Commission reiterates the importance of ensuring that perpetrators are identified and held accountable. Bringing perpetrators to justice is crucial but so is attending to the needs of victims. Therefore, the Commission also emphasizes the significance of other dimensions of accountability, such as truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence. The report reflects the Commission's findings during its second mandate. The Commission will present its report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva early next week. Read the full report here. Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine was created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022 to investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. The Commission comprises Erik MAse (Chair), Pablo de Greiff and Vrinda Grover. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France to 'make sure Russia never wins Ukraine war': Macron Iran Press TV Friday, 15 March 2024 8:06 AM French President Emmanuel Macron says his nation is prepared to make sure that Russia does not emerge victorious in the conflict in Ukraine, noting that sending troops to Ukraine was "possible." "If the situation should deteriorate, we would be ready to make sure that Russia never wins that war," Macron said on French TV on Thursday, warning that anybody advocating "limits" on aid to Ukraine "chooses defeat". While claiming that European security was at risk amid the Ukrainian conflict, Macron cautioned allies against imposing any restrictions on the support provided for Kiev. Reacting to the French opposition leaders' condemnation of his recent comments as bellicose, Macron said "if Russia wins this war, Europe's credibility will be reduced to zero", and would mean that "we have no security." Criticizing the opposition leaders, he said that he "deeply" disagreed with them, and called them the reason behind Ukraine's defeat on the ground. "Today, deciding to abstain or vote against support to Ukraine, it's not choosing peace, it's choosing defeat. It's different," he said. Macron's main rival party, led by Marine Le Pen, chose to abstain from voting in parliament this week on the security pact between France and Ukraine, whereas the France Unbowed party on the far left voted against it. "If war spread in Europe, Russia would be to blame," Macron said. "But if we decided to be weak; if we decided today that we would not respond, it would be choosing defeat already. And I don't want that." Calling the conflict in Ukraine "existential for our Europe and for France", Macron said anybody advocating "limits" on aid to Ukraine "chooses defeat." Macron said Ukraine was facing a challenging situation on the ground and stressed the imperative need for increased assistance from its allies. "Peace does not mean the capitulation of Ukraine," he said. "Wanting peace does not mean defeat. Wanting peace does not mean dropping Ukraine," Macron was quoted as saying. When asked about the prospect of sending Western troops to Ukraine, he replied, "We're not in that situation today," he said, but added that "all these options are possible." Last month, Macron publicly refused to rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine, which prompted pushback from other European leaders, especially from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over differences on how to support Ukraine. On Friday, Scholz was set to receive Macron in Berlin, after tensions between them erupted, regarding urgent consultations on further European military backing for Kyiv. The meeting will also be attended by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who said that it falls to Paris, Berlin and Warsaw "to mobilize all of Europe" to provide Ukraine with fresh aid. Friday's meeting is of "great importance" for allies to "organize as much support as possible for Ukraine", said Scholz, who spoke Thursday with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky by phone and underlined Germany's "unbroken solidarity" with Kyiv. Russia launched what it calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, over the perceived threat of the ex-Soviet republic joining NATO. Since then, the United States and Ukraine's other allies have sent Kiev tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. Western countries have also imposed a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The Kremlin has said the sanctions and the Western military assistance will only prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Rebuilding Of Kyiv's Navy, Far From Ukraine By Rostyslav Khotin March 15, 2024 Despite having no large naval vessels on active duty, Ukraine has taken out around a third of the Kremlin's Black Sea fleet, mostly with missile and marine drone strikes amid Russia's ongoing invasion. Now Kyiv is rebuilding its own naval strength after their maritime forces were decimated during the Russian invasion. But the ships are being made outside Ukraine's borders, and it is unclear whether they will have any role in the current war with Russia. In Turkey, a vessel built for the Ukrainian Navy was completed and launched in Istanbul in October 2022. The ship's crew has been enlisted and the ship, named the Hetman Ivan Mazepa, is undergoing sea tests. Hetman was a title for Ukrainian Cossack military commanders, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. On a visit to an Istanbul shipyard on March 8, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy was given a tour of a second warship being built in Turkey under contract from Kyiv. During the visit, Zelenskiy named the incomplete vessel the Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky after a 17th-century commander who fought to keep Ukraine out of Moscow's orbit. The corvettes belong to the Turkish-designed Ada-class, which feature stealth technology making them relatively difficult to detect. The ships can be fitted with anti-ship and anti-submarine weaponry. The two-ship deal between the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and Turkish engineering firm STM was inked in 2020 and cost Kyiv a reported $256 million. "This type of corvette is anti-submarine; this is their main specialization," Volodymyr Zablotskiy, a naval expert at the Defense Express, told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "They have helicopters, hydroacoustics, and electronic detection systems that can classify underwater noises. It's a ship that knows where a submarine is and how to attack it," the expert added. The ships are around 100 meters long and nearly 15 meters wide. Both vessels will be equipped with the American Harpoon anti-ship system as well as anti-aircraft missiles, mounted artillery, large-caliber machine guns and torpedo tubes. But many wonder whether the highly armed ships will serve any role in the current conflict with Russia or even be able to reach the warzone. It is not clear whether the two corvettes would be free to pass through the Bosphorus. Turkey is bound to close the strategic waterway to ships of warring parties during conflict in accordance with the Montreux Convention of 1936, an agreement that regulates the passage of ships through the strategic strait. It is possible Ukraine could argue to have the ships released, since departing from Istanbul is not explicitly a journey of transit through the Bosphorus. But even if the ships would be permitted to depart to Ukrainian waters with the war ongoing, analysts say they are likely to be immediately targeted by Russia. "I hope the war will be over before these corvettes are commissioned," said Oleg Chubuk, a former spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy. "The Russians will be waiting for them, and they would hunt them from the moment they set off on the crossing [to Ukrainian waters]." Zablotskiy agrees, pointing out they would be a high-value target for Russia within Ukrainian waters. "It's better to let them stand there for the time being, in Turkey," he said. In December 2023, the United Kingdom and Norway announced they would lead a new coalition of naval forces that would provide long-term support to Ukraine, including training, equipment, and infrastructure to strengthen Ukraine's defenses in the Black Sea. Britain also pledged two minesweeping ships to Ukraine, but the vessels have not yet arrived due to the prohibition of passage through the Bosphorus for warships of warring parties. Ukraine's own major ship-building industry has been effectively on ice since the February 2022 Russian full-scale invasion when the country's navy suffered huge losses, including the scuttling of the country's flagship, the Hetman Sahaidachny, at Mykolayiv to prevent the frigate falling into Russian hands. Currently, the construction of Ukraine's light frigate Volodymyr the Great is suspended in Mykolayiv with the southern port city frequently being targeted for Russian strikes. If that ship is completed, it is likely to become the new flagship of the Ukrainian Navy. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-warships- turkey-construction-navy/32863289.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Hit With Over 1,500 Losses in Failed 3-Day Attempt to Invade Russia Sputnik News 20240315 Ukraine's attempted incursion into Russian territory in the area of the Kursk and Belgorod regions between March 12 and 14 resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 Ukrainian troops, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD). The MoD said in a statement that over the course of the past three days (March 12-14), Russian soldiers from Battlegroup Zapad together with the border services of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) "thwarted all efforts by Ukrainian militants to penetrate the territories of the Belgorod and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation, and decisively repelled all attacks launched by Ukrainian military units." "The total losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to more than 1,500 militants, with some 500 fatalities, in addition to 18 tanks and 23 armored combat vehicles ending up destroyed," the MoD noted. On March 14, Ukraine attempted to deploy helicopter-borne air assault troops, along with approximately 30 militants, in the Kozinka area. However, their landing was thwarted and subsequently neutralized. The Ukrainian military's failed attempt to infiltrate into Russia's Belgorod Region on March 14 cost them losses of over 50 troops, the MoD noted. The ministry added that Russian forces have completely restored control over the village of Kozinka (in the Belgorod Region), and the area has been totally mopped up. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Air Defense Downs 7 Vampire MLRS Missiles Over Belgorod Region Sputnik News 20240315 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defense systems have destroyed seven Vampire MLRS missiles over the Belgorod Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "On March 15, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack on targets on the territory of Russia using the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system was stopped at about 08:15 Moscow time [05:15 GMT]. On-duty air defense systems destroyed seven missiles in the air over the Belgorod Region," the ministry said in a statement. As Sputnik earlier explained, the Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (or VAMPIRE for short) is essentially a portable kit capable of firing 70mm laser-guided rockets such as, for example, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. Three Children Killed as Result of Night Shelling of Donetsk by Ukrainian Troops Three children were killed as a result of a night shelling of the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk by Ukrainian troops, Donetsk Mayor Alexey Kulemzin said on Friday, adding that a shell hit a private house. "As a result of the barbaric night shelling by Ukrainian ... [military] of the Petrovskyi district of our city, a shell hit one of the private sector houses ... followed by a fire. Three children died a a girl born in 2007, a girl born in 2021 and a boy born in 2014," Kulemzin wrote on Telegram. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Russian elections in Ukraine are a violation of the UN Charter and a fraud - nothing more: UK Statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. 15 March 2024 President, I must first address the latest appalling Russian missile strikes on Odesa today, an apparent 'double tap' strike designed to inflict maximum human casualties and target first responders. Ukrainians are not only mourning the 16 civilians who have lost their lives in Odesa today. Today, Ukrainian civilians in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea, are being forced and intimidated into taking part in a sham election. As the General Assembly has made clear, including in October 2022 when 143 States voted to condemn Russia's attempted illegal annexation, these regions are part of the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine. The people in these territories voted overwhelmingly to join an independent Ukraine in 1991. There is no popular support for Russian rule, historically or today. Yet Russia continues to defy the calls of UN Member States and the Ukrainian people, pressing ahead with its attempt to consolidate its illegal control. Alarming reports have emerged of officials, accompanied by troops, carrying ballot boxes from door to door. All part of Russia's effort to cultivate a climate of fear and coercion. As the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has reported today, there is overwhelming evidence that Russian forces have carried out large-scale atrocities in territories under its control since 2022. This includes arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence against civilians. And Russia does not allow the UN or humanitarian agencies meaningful access to support the millions of Ukrainians living in these areas. Yet ordinary Ukrainians continue to demonstrate true bravery by standing strong and resisting Russian oppression. In the past weeks, there has been a surge of demonstrations of resistance. In response, Russia has sent more of its National Guard into these areas to stifle dissent. President, these elections are a sham because of a simple truth: you cannot hold legitimate elections in someone else's country. These elections are a violation of the UN Charter and a fraud, nothing more. They will not be recognised, just as we will never recognise Russia's attempted annexation of Ukrainian territory. So I call on Russia to respect the call of UN Member States and immediately halt these elections on sovereign Ukrainian territory, end its aggression against Ukraine, and adhere to all its international commitments in full. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to secure a just and lasting peace, in line with the UN Charter. Thank you. 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It's a despicable act of cowardice: two missiles, with the second one hitting when rescuers and doctors arrived at the scene. Among the casualties and injured are emergency paramedics and rescuers from the State Emergency Service. My condolences go out to all their families and loved ones. Dozens are wounded, and the search for people under the rubble continues. All necessary services are engaged in this effort. I am grateful to everyone who is supporting the people now and saving lives, including the police, the State Emergency Service, medics, volunteers, and municipal services. I have instructed the regional authorities to fully support all those affected. Our Defense Forces will do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response. I've held several meetings with military leadership and government officials. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, along with the Minister of Defense, visited the front lines and presented a report today on the current situation and the preparedness of our actions. We discussed the provision of ammunition, and frontline air defense. The Commander-in-Chief assessed the overall situation and actions of commanders on the front lines. I am thankful to all senior officers who, along with soldiers and combat units, truly care for the front lines. Today, we coordinated further active steps with the Commander-in-Chief. We also discussed the production and use of our strike drones and long-range drones, Russian logistics, and their war financing system. A joint meeting was held with the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, the Chiefs of Defense Intelligence and the Security Service, and Commander of Unmanned Systems Force Sukharevskyi. Everyone understands the tasks and specific goals clearly. The Cabinet of Ministers must do everything to create even more high-tech and long-range, mass-produced drones. This must be the conveyor of Russian responsibility for terror. And this is a fundamental moment, in many ways historical. The fairer responses we have towards the Russian state, and the more palpable our actions are against the Russian system, the harder it will be for Putin to continue his sick rule, and thus, the war. One more thing. I chaired a meeting regarding our international work. We discussed the outcomes, communication with partners in the first half of March, and upcoming negotiations planned for the next few weeks. We are working hard to fulfill every agreement, including those regarding joint defense productions. Ukraine will become even stronger. I thank everyone who works for our state and people. I thank everyone who fights for Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andriy Yermak discussed preparations for the first Global Peace Summit with the Ambassador of Brazil President of Ukraine 15 March 2024 - 17:43 Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Brazil to Ukraine Norton de Andrade Mello Rapesta. The interlocutors discussed preparations for the first Global Peace Summit to be held in Switzerland. "It is very important to have as many countries from all continents that respect international law and recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine participating in the summit as possible, so that the leaders of these countries can come up with a common solution to achieve a lasting and just peace. Participation in the summit is a position of building a civilized world without war and with respect for borders," emphasized Andriy Yermak. The Head of the President's Office informed the Ambassador of Brazil about the ongoing Russian missile terror and its tragic consequences with numerous victims, in particular, about the recent shelling, as a result of which a Russian missile hit a residential building in Odesa. The interlocutors discussed topical issues of the bilateral agenda, including ways to intensify contacts between Ukraine and Brazil at the intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moscow's Plan for Presidential Elections in Russian-Controlled Areas of Ukraine Unacceptable, Under-Secretary-General Tells Security Council Meetings Coverage Security Council 9678th Meeting (PM) SC/15629 15 March 2024 (Note: Due to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations and the resulting time constraints, the full press release will be published at a later date.) The Russian Federation's intention to hold presidential elections today and over the weekend in Crimea and four other regions of Ukraine under its occupation are unacceptable, the UN's political affairs chief told the Security Council this afternoon. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo's briefing coincided with two important anniversaries: 16 March will mark 10 years since Moscow's attempted unlawful annexation of Crimea and of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia nearly one and a half years ago following illegal referenda in those regions. She also reported that the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine's new report published today presents more evidence of the Russian Federation's systematic, widespread torture against civilians in that country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At UN, Ukraine Protests Russian Presidential Elections on Its Territory By Margaret Besheer March 15, 2024 Ukraine, joined Friday by more than 55 countries at the United Nations, condemned Russia's attempts to organize elections on occupied Ukrainian land, saying they were not valid. "We condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation's illegitimate attempts to organize Russian presidential elections in temporarily occupied areas within the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine," the group said in a statement read by Ukraine's U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, flanked by his counterparts. "Holding elections in another U.N. member state's territory without its consent is in manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. "Such elections have no validity under international law." Starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, Russians are casting votes in polls that international election observers have dismissed as having no chance of being free or fair and are designed to return President Vladimir Putin to power for another six years. Ukraine, supported by council member Slovenia, requested that the U.N. Security Council meet Friday to discuss Russia's holding of the vote in areas of Ukraine that Russian forces have seized and occupied, including Crimea and the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. "You convened an entire Security Council meeting to criticize Russia for Russia's conduct of democratic elections on territories which administratively, politically and economically are part of our country a like it or not," Russia Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said. Ukraine's envoy dismissed the Russian election as a "travesty" and said residents in the occupied areas have been subject to broad intimidation by local authorities to participate in the "sham" election. "Among them, threats against life, illegal detention, denial of access to health care and social services, threats of deportation and deprivation of property," Kyslytsya said. "We should not forget that these actions take place at gunpoint." "Let's call this what this is: It's a blatant propaganda exercise, undertaken in the hopes of somehow strengthening Russia's false claim to the parts of Ukraine it illegally invaded," said U.S. envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield. U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo said as the occupying power, Russia is obligated to uphold Ukrainian laws in the occupied territories. She said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned Russia's intention to conduct presidential elections in these areas as "unacceptable." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Investigators Accuse Russia of 'Horrific Treatment' of Ukrainian POWs, Civilians By Lisa Schlein March 15, 2024 U.N. investigators have accused Russian authorities of disregarding basic human rights principles and causing untold suffering to Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians by subjecting them to appalling treatment. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine submitted its latest report to the U.N. Human Rights Council this week. The investigators presented a blistering account of "violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, and corresponding war crimes," committed by Russia in Ukrainian areas under its control. At a news briefing Friday in Geneva, Commission Chair Erik Mose said the report focuses on torture against Ukrainian prisoners of war and describes "horrific treatment" of POWs in several detention facilities in the Russian Federation. He said new evidence "strengthens the commission's previous findings that torture used by Russian authorities in Ukraine and the Russian Federation has been widespread and systematic. ... Victims' accounts disclose relentless, brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention with blatant disregard for human dignity. This has led to long-lasting physical and mental trauma," he said. Commission Chair Mose told journalists that the Russian authorities have received the report and have had an opportunity to comment on the draft. "We have noted with regret that the Russians have not responded to any of the drafts that we have sent them during this reporting period, nor have they done so this time," he said. The commission will officially present the report Monday at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting. Russia has the right to respond but has often boycotted such meetings in the past. The report covers the period from April 2023 to March 2024. During that period, the commission traveled to Ukraine 16 times, visited 34 settlements in nine provinces and interviewed 816 people. Allegations of torture Mose said that the commission examined credible reports concerning torture in 11 detention facilities, seven in areas under Russian control in Ukraine and four in the Russian Federation. He said the prisoners of war in the centers were subjected "to beatings, verbal abuse, and electronic devices that were used on body parts," adding that the picture emerging from the way they were treated over long periods of time "enables us to use the word horrific." The report documents incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women "in circumstances which also amount to torture." It also details incidents of torture with "a sexualized dimension" and threats of rape against male prisoners of war, under the control of prison guards. Vrinda Grover, a commission member, said "there also were incidents of touching of certain body parts of male prisoners, which was considered very humiliating." She said the commission found that Russian soldiers raped and sexually assaulted girls and women, ages 15 to 83, usually during house searches "in the presence of family members." "These are violations of international human rights, as well as the war crime of rape and sexual violence," she said. Mariupol The report also assesses the grave impact on civilians of the fighting in the three-month siege of Mariupol, which began the day Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. "Residents describe unbearable suffering during relentless shelling and aerial bombardments, which caused large-scale death, injury, and destruction," said Mose. He said people interviewed recalled seeing large numbers of dead bodies on the streets. "One woman who fled on foot to a neighboring village called it the road to death, expressing the pervasive feeling of fear," he said. For the first time, the commission has documented attacks by Russian authorities affecting cultural property and the seizure of cultural objects. In one case, it says Russian authorities transferred cultural objects from the Kherson Regional Art Museum to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Grover said, "The commission has concluded that Russian authorities violated international humanitarian law relating to cultural property and committed the war crime of seizing the enemy's property." Transfer of children One of the most emotive issues facing the Ukrainian people is Russia's forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to areas under its control. The Ukrainian government estimates some 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia, given Russian citizenship and put up for adoption by Russian families. The commission says its investigations found "additional evidence concerning the unlawful transfer of children to areas under Russian control." In its current report, the commission focuses on the case of a group of 46 Ukrainian children from the Kherson Regional Children's Home to Crimea, "on orders of Russian authorities, on 21 October 2022." Grover said the commission has concluded that the transfer to Crimea "was not temporary and hence amounts to the war crime of unlawful transfer." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Q&A: Ukraine's Prosecutor General: 'Over 20 Countries' to Investigate Russian War Crimes By Oksana Bedratenko March 16, 2024 Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin spoke to VOA during a visit to Washington about the results of U.S.-Ukraine cooperation in ensuring justice for crimes committed during Russia's war on Ukraine, the importance of U.S. assistance to Ukraine and the ways to make Russia pay for its aggression. Kostin highlighted cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute war crimes. "Not only Ukraine is bringing war criminals to justice, not only the International Criminal Court, but third countries as well," Kostin said, noting a recent decision by the U.S. government to charge four Russian soldiers with war crimes in Ukraine. Kostin also argued for seizing sovereign Russian assets to compensate victims of Russian aggression via a compensation mechanism set up in The Hague. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Oksana Bedratenko, Voice of America: What are your impressions from your meetings with American lawmakers and partners in the Department of Justice? Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine: In our area of ensuring justice, we see full support with regards to all elements of our system. Talking about specific results a in December last year the United States was the first country to charge four people with war crimes for torturing an American citizen in the temporarily occupied Kherson region [in southern Ukraine]. This is very important because it means that not only Ukraine is bringing war criminals to justice, not only the International Criminal Court, but third countries as well. We are creating a network of over 20 countries to investigate war crimes committed by Russia on Ukraine's soil and there will be more charges issued. The Prosecutor's Office of Lithuania issued its first charges. Importantly, the United States takes part in the work of 16 prosecutors from six countries that work in The Hague in Eurojust [to] prepare the case materials for special tribunal. VOA: The U.S. Congress has not adopted the supplemental spending package for Ukraine. Does this have an impact on your cooperation programs? Kostin: This is a very important question and part of my communication with congressmen and senators. It is very important for assistance to be constant and for us to be confident that the help is there for years to come. The assistance in training investigators and prosecutors is important in the areas, where not only Ukrainian prosecutors lack experience, but also prosecutors in other countries [need training]. For instance, we investigate crimes against the environment as war crimes. Nobody has done this before, not even the International Criminal Court. In my meetings with senators and congressmen, I try to explain to them that it is important not only to bring the guilty to accountability, but also to stop these crimes from happening. This means weapons, long-range weapons, and air defense to protect the civilian population. If Russia goes further, it will commit the same acts a not on our territory, but on the territory of other countries. It is important to explain to our partners that the sooner we liberate our land, the fewer war crime victims there will be. VOA: What should come first: peace or accountability? Kostin: We are bringing [perpetrators] to accountability even now, while the war is ongoing, and we are not the only ones issuing criminal charges. We have 530 charges and 82 convictions issued by Ukrainian courts. The International Criminal Court has issued two batches of arrest warrants. Our colleagues in the U.S. and Lithuania made some steps and I'm confident there will be more [charges] during this year. So, it is very important for us not to wait for the war to end and do our job already today. VOA: America is already seizing assets of Russian oligarchs. In Europe, there is a new impetus to discuss seizing Russian assets. However, in some cases, the West appears to not want to take on the responsibility of confiscation over fears of litigation. Kostin: There is a feeling that we are getting closer to a decision point. It is hard to say whether this will be seizing the assets, or using them as a guarantee to obtain money, which then could be transferred to the Ukrainian state a for instance to the international compensatory mechanism, which is working in The Hague. This is very important, because already in April this year we are expecting the first applications of victims to the registry of losses. Then the compensation commission a another element of the compensation mechanism a will decide who and how much will be compensated. Compensations means money and these should be funds received from arrested sovereign assets of the Russian Federation. VOA: The U.S. has joined the coalition to return forcibly deported Ukrainian children. What specific steps are expected here? Kostin: It is very important that the United States has joined the initiative. The more countries with their own capacity to find the kids, the better. This is not always easy. Our American partners help us via a very important project, the Conflict Observatory of Yale University, which helps to identify the location of the children. Another issue is to prepare a strategy to return the children to Ukraine. There should be regulatory measures, for instance to prosecute such crimes, and also there should be documents adopted at the level of international organizations, like the U.N., to condemn such crimes and demand the return of the children. This is a complicated route, and we wanted the coalition to have happened earlier, but it's important that it has happened, and we hope to return all Ukrainian children. Our goal is to bring everyone home. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, March 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) between April 30, 2020 and January 22, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important March 25, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Archer-Daniels-Midland common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Archer-Daniels-Midland class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22028 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 25, 2024. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Nutrition segments financial reporting and accounting practices did not provide investors with an accurate impression of Archer-Daniels-Midlands performance and future prospects, including reported operating profits; (2) the Nutrition segments accounting practices created a heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and adverse impacts to Archer-Daniels-Midlands business; and (3) based on the foregoing, defendants lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements about Archer-Daniels-Midlands Nutrition segment and related financial results, growth, and prospects. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Archer-Daniels-Midland class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22028 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com PASCAGOULA, Miss., March 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division hosted their apprentice graduation today, celebrating 99 graduates during a ceremony at the shipyard. Each of these apprentice graduates have invested time in the classroom and shipyard to prepare them for a shipbuilding career with the company. Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, addressed the graduates providing words of encouragement for these new first-class shipbuilders. Each of our graduates has a role to play and an important job to get done on behalf of millions of Americans, Wilkinson said. Together they form an elite and special team to do the work of the nation. Enrollment for the apprentice program is competitive, and students work full-time while learning a craft through classes and on-the-job training. The prestigious workforce development program has produced more than 4,000 graduates since its inception in 1952 and currently has 700 students enrolled in the program, the highest enrollment since prior to the pandemic. Russel Sand Jr. received the 2023 Overall Apprentice of the Year Award, which recognizes the apprentice who has set a standard of excellence among their peers and has performed at the top of their class continuously. Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-ingalls-shipbuilding-celebrates-apprentice-school-graduates-2024/. Sand has been with the company for four years and is currently a transportation rigger. When asked where his motivation came from to complete the four-year program, Sand said, My fellow rigging apprentices were some of the best motivators, we all encouraged each other as we went through classes and rotated through crafts. While in the apprentice program Sand learned about the various aspects of shipbuilding and gained a greater purpose for the work he does saying, In a four-year span I have seen ships go from the keel to delivery, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Our purpose is to build some of the finest warships in the world, and I am proud of my decision to become an Ingalls shipbuilder. The apprentice program offers a comprehensive three- to four-year curriculum with 15 registered Department of Labor apprentice programs for students to pursue. Apprentices earn competitive wages and receive a comprehensive benefit package upon entering the program. This allows apprentices to receive an education, build work ethic, gain experience and develop into world-class journeymen of their crafts. For more information about Ingalls Shipbuildings apprentice school visit https://hii.com/careers/ingalls-apprentice-school/. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HIIs mission is to deliver the worlds most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nations largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/ HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII Contact: Kimberly K. Aguillard 228-355-5663 Kimberly.K.Aguillard@hii-co.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b71d1865-f6ee-4978-a11a-ffcd8737cc28 Toronto, March 15, 2024 - Kuya Silver Corp. (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces that the second tranche of the non-brokered private placement pursuant to an agreement with Trafigura Pte Ltd ("Trafigura"), whereby Trafigura is to invest USD$970,000 to acquire units at CAD$0.25 (each a "Unit"), is now expected to close on or around April 15, 2024, see press releases dated November 6, 2023, December 8, 2023, December 21, 2023 and February 2, 2024. Each Unit consists of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Trafigura Warrant"). Each Trafigura Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share for $0.37 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. Securities issued pursuant to the private placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of issuance. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadianbased mineral exploration and development company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, and advancing precious metals assets in Peru and Canada. For more information, please contact: David Stein, President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (604) 3984493 info@kuyasilver.com www.kuyasilver.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," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion of the potential of exploration targets is 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/201970 Vancouver, March 15, 2024 - Gold Basin Resources Corp. (the "Company" or "Gold Basin") - (TSXV:GXX), (OTC:GXXFF) today announced the appointment of Anthony Balic and Michael Povey to the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), with Mr. Balic being appointed as an independent director. In connection with the appointments of Messrs. Balic and Povey, Jonathan Lotz, John Robins and Jim Paterson have resigned as directors of the Company. Following the reconstitution of the Board, the Board is now comprised of four (4) directors, of which two (2) are independent. Colin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are excited to welcome Michael Povey back to Gold Basin as a director, and also welcome Anthony Balic to the Company. We are appreciative of the contributions of Messrs. Lotz, Robins, Paterson, and the Discovery Group and wish all parties well in their future endeavours." The Company expects that the newly appointed directors, along with incumbent directors Charles Straw and Grant Duddle, will all stand for election at the upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders of the Company. Anthony Balic - Director Mr. Balic is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and is a Principal of Katuni Capital Corp., a private company providing corporate finance, accounting and capital advisory services to private and public companies. Mr. Balic serves as a director and/or officer to a number of junior public companies in the natural resource sector and was previously a senior manager at Deloitte LLP, where he specialized in assurance and advisory services for publicly listed mining companies based both in Canada and the United States. Michael Povey - Director Mr. Povey is a mining engineer, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, with over 40 years of worldwide experience in the resource sector in a wide range of commodities. He has held senior management positions in various public companies including Rio Tinto and Anglo American, with surface and underground mining operations in Africa, North America, and Australia. Over the past 20 years, Mike has held positions as Chairman, Managing Director, and Technical Director of several ASX and AIM listed companies where he has led project acquisitions, exploration programs, JV negotiations and equity raisings. Mike is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and holds a number of Certificates of Competency, including a West Australian Mine Managers Certificate. APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER The Company also announces the appointment of Mark Lotz as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Mr. Lotz holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a joint major in Economics. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant with 26 years of post-qualification experience and has extensive experience in the capital markets across a broad cross-section of industries including SaaS (software as a service), manufacturing, mining, technology, and financial services. Mr. Lotz has held CFO and other senior financial positions with several well-known mining and exploration companies. He has also served as a senior executive officer in the securities brokerage industry. Prior to that, he served as a securities regulator, following his tenure at Coopers & Lybrand where he focused on the mining and tax sectors. Mr. Lotz replaces Monty Sutton as Chief Financial Officer and Jacqueline Collins as Corporate Secretary, respectively. ABOUT GOLD BASIN RESOURCES CORPORATION Gold Basin Resources Corp. is advancing the 42 km2 Gold Basin Project, located in the tier one mining jurisdiction of Mohave County, Arizona. Gold Basin is accessible year-round via a 1.5-hour-drive on I-93 Highway southwest of Las Vegas, and high-power electrical lines from the Hoover Dam crosscut the southern Project area. The immediate focus of Gold Basin's highly experienced technical team is to expand and delineate multiple at-surface oxide gold deposits and prove the project's district-scale potential. For further information, please visit the Company's web site at: www.goldbasincorp.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Colin Smith Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Michael Rapsch Investor Relations Email: mrapsch@goldbasincorp.com 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 news release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information. Such risks and other factors include anticipated business plans, direction and timing of future activities of the Company, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's continuous disclosure documents. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. By SA Commercial Prop News The project aims to help Transnet enhance capacity at its Durban port, part of $1.7bn the bank has approved for Brics projects in 2018 The project aims to help Transnet enhance capacity at its Durban port, part of $1.7bn the bank has approved for Brics projects in 2018 Former president Jacob Zuma never kept his promise to Nhlanhla Nene, when he dismissed him as finance minister in December 2015, that he would be deployed to take up a senior position with the New Development Bank but now, Nene Finance Minister once again under President Cyril Ramaphosa has achieved this on his own merits. Nene was elected chairman of the banks board of governors at its third annual meeting in Shanghai, China on Monday. He will serve in the position until the end of the next annual meeting of the board of governors, which will be held in SA next year. Back in 2015, Zuma said the reason for dismissing Nene was so he could be nominated as head of the Africa regional centre of the bank. This never happened. The New Development Bank is a multi-lateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA (the Brics countries) in 2014. The bank is mandated to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in Brics and other emerging economies and developing countries. Mondays meeting approved a $200m project for the reconstruction of the Durban Container Terminal berth. This was one of six projects from the five member countries that was approved by the board with loans totaling $1.6bn, bringing the banks total portfolio to more than $5.1bn. Total approvals for 2018 amount to $1.7bn. "The project is aimed at helping the South African state-owned transportation company Transnet enhance the capacity of its port in Durban, through the rehabilitating of its container terminal berths that are currently operating beyond their original design; and the upgrading of port infrastructure to provide additional slots for larger vessels," a statement by the bank said. The meeting also adopted the audited financial statements of the bank for the year ended December 2017 and discussed the project pipelines in member countries. Now that the Galaxy A35 5G is officially a thing, it is frankly not particularly surprising that Samsung has an M35 5G in the works as well. The latter allegedly appeared in the GeekBench database under the SM-M356B moniker. Leaked GeekBench test Just like the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A54, this new device seems to be using the Exynos 1380 chipset. It is a 5nm Samsung in-house chip with a CPU configuration consisting of four Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at up to 2.4 GHz and another four Cortex-A55 ones working at 2.0 GHz. The onboard GPU is a Mali G68. The Exynos 1380 offers support for UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR4X and LPDDR5 RAM. However, we are still unsure what type of chips are inside the Galaxy M35 5G. We do know that the unit tested on GeekBench rocked 6GB of RAM and ran Android 14. Neither of which is surprising. Unfortunately, nothing is really confirmed specs-wise beyond this. Going off of previous M-series devices that have generally been based on their Galaxy A counterparts, we expect a very similar-size or even identical 6.6-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Probably a similar flatter middle frame design. Also, it is quite likely that a larger 6,000 mAh battery would be featured since that has become a signature feature of the M-series. Probably expandable storage, too and likely at least an 8GB RAM variant somewhere in there. There surely will be some downgrades compared to the Galaxy A35 5G as well, probably in ingress protection, cameras and potentially the speaker setup. Most of these points are merely educated guesses on our part at this point. We will keep you posted if any new information comes out. Source | Via The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch7 will apparently arrive in no less than three versions, according to a new rumor on the matter. The wearables could be launching alongside the Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 at Samsung's rumored Unpacked event in early to mid July. The Watch7 will allegedly come in Classic and Pro iterations along with an unnamed third option. This could be the rectangular shaped Galaxy Watch that we recently told you about. If this rumor pans out, it will mark a first: the first time Samsung launched three different versions of its latest smartwatch. So far in the past few years we've had a vanilla model alongside either a Classic or a Pro. The new wearables are said to sport Samsung's Exynos W940 SoC, which is purportedly 50% more power efficient than the Exynos W930 inside the Galaxy Watch6 series. That obviously won't translate into 50% more battery life, but the improvement should be pretty good nevertheless. The W940 might be the first chip from Samsung to use its 3nm process, and that in itself could account for the increased efficiency. If that's accurate, then we should also expect a 30% bump in performance. Source 1 | Source 2 | Via In a proactive effort to prevent opioid overdoses and save lives, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center is offering free training on properly responding to an opioid overdose and proper naloxone usage to the community. In addition to the launch of a vending machine that dispenses free naloxone, these initiatives aim to fulfill portions of Public Law 37-27 or The Guam Opioid Overdose Act of 2023. In 2019, 15.5% of high school students and 6.7% of middle school students reported taking a prescription drug, such as OxyContin and/or Codeine, without a doctor's prescription. While local data surrounding opioid misuse is still being gathered, much is known about the addictive properties of opioids as well as the devastation brought on by the opioid epidemic witnessed in the United States. Naloxone, a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose - has been shown to be a critical and safe tool in preventing fatal overdoses and a means of connecting people to resources for substance use disorder. GBHWC will offer a comprehensive, monthly training on naloxone administration. The training includes, how to recognize the signs of, and the steps to properly respond to an opioid overdose. Naloxone kits will be available for public access via a vending machine free of charge, providing easy access to the medication 24/7. "By offering free trainings and naloxone, we increase access to this life-saving medicine to our community members, so they have the necessary tools and knowledge to save lives," stated Director Theresa Arriola. The vending machine is located outside the main entrance of the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center in Tamuning. Members of the community are encouraged to access the naloxone after receiving training through GBHWC. The first community training to be held on March 22. For more information about the vending machine and naloxone trainings, contact the GBHWC Main office at (671) 647-5440 or the GBHWC Prevention and Training Branch at rx.marketing@peaceguam.org. Joaquin Kiomasa Kaminanga was released pending his change of plea agreement by Superior Court Judge Vernon P. Perez Friday. But because he has another, more recent case going through the judicial system, Kaminanga will continue to be held until he can strike an agreement with the government. Kaminanga, 26, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and theft, both as third-degree felonies in his latest case, where he is represented by attorney Samuel Teker in a case in front of Judge Maria T. Cenzon. His case in front of Perez stems from late 2022. Police apprehended him near the fence line of T&W Home Improvement in Dededo, with a backpack of items allegedly taken from the warehouse. Police also found drug paraphernalia in the backpack that yielded a presumptive positive for methamphetamine. Kaminanga, was released for his October 2022 charges but failed to check in with the probation office as required, causing Perez to issue a warrant to send him back to jail, where he's spent more than 200 days confined. Perez told his attorney Terrence Timblin that he needed his client to comply with the conditions imposed on the court for him to stay out of jail. Perez said he would not deign to guess how Cenzon might handle her case with Kaminanga, but said that he could return to his courtroom on April 16 for his change of plea. He said that Kaminanga would be further guided by any action Cenzon decides to take in his case. His latest charges also include a notice of a commission of a felony while on felony release, and a special allegation of a crime against the community for allegedly cutting the fuel line on a vehicle belonging to the Yigo Mayor's Office. A deal for temporary power to help the Guam Power Authority stave off power outages this summer is stalled due to legal concerns from the attorney generals office. Attorney General Douglas Moylan on Friday said procurement documents were returned to GPA Thursday due to legal problems with the documents and proposed contract as provided. Assistant Attorney General David Rivera in a letter to GPA legal counsel Marianne Woloschuk wrote about the corrections that need to be made to the contract. A note from the AGs office reminded GPA that the review is not being done as the agencys attorneys. GPA is one of more than 20 government agencies the AGs office has temporarily withdrawn from representing due to ongoing court cases. Bill 206-37, now Public Law 37-81, waives a number of procurement regulations, with the goal of speeding along a deal for emergency power. The new law allows GPA to go after a $25 million, two-year deal with power supplier Aggreko on an emergency basis. The law also requires 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, anyway. 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. After the AGs review it will go to the governor to sign off on the Aggreko deal. After that, the Public Utilities Commission will have to give the final authorization before GPA can proceed. Terms need to be added Rivera said there are contract terms required by Guam law which are not stated in the Aggreko contract which include prohibition against gratuities, kickbacks, and favors, a statement concerning ethical standards and prohibition against contingent fees. These terms need to be added to the contract, he wrote. The Disputes Clause as written is inconsistent with Guam law, Rivera wrote. There are also certain clauses if used in the contract that must follow the verbatim language of the clause found in the Guam Administrative Rules. If such a clause is varied from the language found in the GAR, the head of the purchasing agency is required to make a written determination justifying the variation or variations, Rivera said. The contract must also contain a clause that acknowledges the obligation to pay their employees on Guam who delivering services to Guam in accordance with the U.S. Department of Labor Wages and Benefits Determination. A copy of the most recent U.S. DOL document must be attached to and incorporated by reference to the contract, he wrote. Some other issues include specifying what type of contract is being submitted. The contract appears to be a Fix Priced Contract with Price Adjustment, but does not state this, he wrote. If GPA believes that this is not a Fixed Price contract with Price Adjustment, please state what type of contract it is, Rivera wrote. Another issue is the contract does not say if federal funds will be used and if they are then additional contract provisions would need to be added to the contract, he wrote. While you are working on these issues for this contract, we will continue reviewing the record of procurement and await the return of the revised contract, Rivera wrote. The annual Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday festival has been rescheduled due to severe weather warnings. The event will now be held on Sunday, March 24, from noon to 5 p.m. in A.L. Davis Park in Central City. At the free festival, tribe members strut their stuff in intricately beaded and feathered suits, while performing choreographed dances and songs. Due to the delicate nature of the costumes, a dry forecast is necessary. Mardi Gras Indians also referred to as Black Masking Indians are a unique subculture in New Orleans, dating back to the 1800s. Historians generally agree that the tradition stems from early encounters between the regions Native and enslaved Black communities. Second Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr., left, and Gang Flag Marwan Pleasant of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians are shown during Mardi Gras on Feb. 13, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Erika Goldring | Getty Images)Getty Images According to Smithsonian Magazine, local Indigenous tribes offered refuge and a sense of community to incoming African slaves, and the groups occasionally worked together. When African Americans were later barred from joining all-white Mardi Gras Krewes, they created their own traditions. Now, the Mardi Gras Indians costumes meticulously designed and kept a secret for most of the year pay homage to a centurys old friendship. This year, over 40 vendors will have food and drink for sale at the festival. At the same time as the procession, there will be a block party in front of the newly reopened Dew Drop Inn at 2836 Lasalle St. By SA Commercial Prop News Durbans Point precinct is been transformed into a property market paradise, with upgraded roads and waterways leading to upmarket apartment blocks. A decade ago Durbans Point precinct was dominated by dilapidated buildings that were home to vagrants and criminals. It has been transformed into a property market paradise, with upgraded roads and waterways leading to upmarket apartment blocks, restaurants, hotels and offices. But in the past few years development stalled. The city and developers blame this lull on the 2008 global recession and SAs slow economic growth that affected many sectors of the economy, including property and leisure investment. Now the Point precinct is poised for another wave of development, including new skyscrapers. eThekwini municipality and UEM Sunrise, one of Malaysias biggest property companies - joint owners of the Durban Point Development Company - have plans to revive the stalled multibillion-rand waterfront project and other supporting amenities. These include a Cape Town-style waterfront at the entrance to Africas busiest port. Other plans include five- and six-star hotels, a 33-storey skyscraper, residential apartments, office parks and shopping malls. City authorities and developers say these projects will augment others including the nearby uShaka Marine World, Moses Mabhida Stadium, Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the beach promenade to ensure that Durban truly becomes Africas playground. Business owners in the precinct say the new developments are welcome news. The Three Cities Waterfront Hotel and Spa (formerly the Docklands Hotel) on Mahatma Gandhi Road has a breathtaking view of the harbour. The three-star hotel is a popular venue for weddings, parties, spas and product launches. Like many old buildings along the Point precinct, the hotel is in a building more than a century old and is protected by the provincial heritage agency, Amafa. Its architecture signals a bygone era with facebrick and ironwork masking the modern facilities. A stones throw from the hotel is the South African Maritime School and Transport College, housed in two old buildings about 500m from uShaka Marine World. The school offers courses such as shipping practice, customs clearing, freight logistics, international trade and transport, sailing, and leadership training. The colleges marketing manager, Nonhlanhla Dlamini, says the Point is an ideal location to teach young people maritime studies since it is within walking distance of the Durban harbour. The Point offers a truly South African dockside experience, yet has tranquillity and beauty. Students love it here because they not only learn but have access to the nearby harbour to see where they will work during their careers, she says. Herman Chalupsky, of Chalupsky Properties, which is based in the Point, says the next round of development will put the area on par with Cape Towns V&A Waterfront, the Docklands in London, New Yorks Meatpacking District, San Franciscos Pier 68 and other rejuvenated dockside areas across the world. We are very excited because this will be the most sought-after area in all of Durban. The office space will double in the next three months as Ithala Development Bank and the Lion Match company will move their headquarters here. The developers are not allowed to tamper with the 100-year-old buildings, one of which the old compound that once housed railway workers is now owned by young property developer Nkululeko Mnganga. He is transforming it into one-, two- and three-bedroomed apartments. There is already a waiting list. This area is going to be very big in investment terms in the next few years. Everyone is building something or another. We expect not only huge returns on our investments but also the upliftment of the whole Point area, he says. But not everyone is happy with the plans for the area and objectors have been vocal at the public meetings in which the development plans are shared. A major complaint is that they have been given limited time to comment on the latest changes to the plans. There is a new 50-page motivation plan that includes a small waterfront basin instead of the original yacht and small-craft harbour. The plan to build an 18-storey hotel at Vetchs Pier has been amended to a 20-storey five- or six-star iconic hotel that will be built along the new north pier. Anne Farris, a Point resident opposed to the new development, says another new feature is a 33-storey tower block at the base of the north pier, likely to provide office space, shops and flats. She says the huge skyscrapers that will be built in front of her home will block her view of the sea and the warmth of the sun. Its not that we dont want to see development in the area. But when we bought here we were under the impression that there would be no building taller than 10 floors. But they are now proposing many skyscrapers. Karin Solomon, a Point resident and a member of Save Our Sunshine Durban, says people who were duped into investing in the Point are now crying foul because they are to be duped again. Many people who are currently living in apartments at the Point, who have lost millions due to the investment they have made there, now stand to lose even more. Some are sitting with properties they cannot sell because of the proposed highrise buildings very close to their apartments, she says. Soban Bevarah, project manager and head of operations in SA for Renong/UEM Sunrise, says construction on the new developments is starting in earnest. He says residents will benefit because their property values will increase when the project is completed. Concern about shadows caused by highrises was unfounded because the development was designed in an S-shape to minimise shadows on the beach. There are also big gaps to bring in sunlight. The shadows and views were taken into consideration, with at least 80% of the views unaffected. Whether for or against the past and current development of the Point precinct, people agree that the area will not be the same again. Haiti - Politic : Blinken affirms that the Presidential Transitional Council will soon take control of Haiti Friday March 15, 2024 Antony Blinken, American Secretary of State declared during a press conference in Austria that the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) proposed by Haiti, intended to ensure a political transition and bring stability to the country, was not still not put in place, but he said he was convinced that it would happen in the coming days https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41888-haiti-flash-6-out-of-7-entities-have-submitted-the-names-of-their-representatives-to-the-presidential-transitional-council.html Still no agreement between the signatories of the December 21 Agreement regarding the personality who should represent them at the CPT. Caricom grants a new deadline until Saturday March 16, 2024 at noon to the different branches of the December 21 Agreement to find an agreement on their representative on the Presidential Council. Charles Tardieu withdrew his candidacy and supports Vikerson Garnier against Levaillant Louis-Jeune. Regarding the withdrawal of "Pitit Dessalin" his representative should be replaced by a representative of Civil Society according to certain (unofficial) information. Under the agreement, Blinken recalled, the CPT will appoint an interim prime minister and with him an inclusive council of ministers, including a national security council and an electoral commission that would oversee the new elections. "This was a Haitian-led agreement," Blinken stressed. Adding that the issue of security is related, but distinct, and that humanitarian aid, economic development and the organization of elections would be impossible if there was deep insecurity in Haiti. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41888-haiti-flash-6-out-of-7-entities-have-submitted-the-names-of-their-representatives-to-the-presidential-transitional-council.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41852-haiti-caricom-extraordinary-session-on-the-transition-in-haiti.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Delmas and Petion-ville paralyzed Friday March 15, barricades of burning tires were erected in the municipalities of Delmas and Petion-ville, leading to the paralysis of activities. At the call of the "Pitit Desalin" party and the "Reveil National pour la Sovereignte dHaiti" group, people demonstrated on the Delmas highway to protest against CARICOM "which they accuse of wanting to impose a presidential council made up of 7 members" (INFOX: The council was chosen on the recommendations of Haitian political actors and not imposed by CARICOM) See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41888-haiti-flash-6-out-of-7-entities-have-submitted-the-names-of-their-representatives-to-the-presidential-transitional-council.html The UN Security Council "disconnected" Members of the UN Security Council earlier this week urged armed gangs in Haiti to "immediately cease their destabilizing actions". The Council demands that "the perpetrators of these odious acts be brought to justice". Belleville, Torcel, Vivy-Mitchel and Bellevue in hell Thursday March 15, 2024 was a terrifying day for many residents forced to flee their homes in Belleville, Torcel, Vivy-Mitchel and Bellevue where heavily armed infividuals looted and burned properties. Many businesses and a branch of Capital Bank in Cazeau were also looted. The AMH recommends a National Security Council The Haitian Military Association describes the establishment of a Presidential Transitional Council as absurd. He recommends the establishment of a National Security Council (CNS). According to him, the CNS must be composed of experts and would serve as a legal interface for the multinational security support mission whose deployment is still awaited. The Embassy of Canada with reduced staff Thursday, March 15, Canada announced the reduction in the number of its employees at its Embassy in Port-au-Prince and the maintenance of essential personnel. Melanie Joly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasizes that Ambassador Andre Francois Giroux and a consular team will continue to provide assistance to Canadians in Haiti. Taekwondo : Haiti at the Costa Rica Open "We are proud to announce that Gregory Jean Baptiste will represent Haiti at the Costa Rica Open! Good luck to our Grenadier in this international competition," Haitian Taekwondo Federation. HL/ HaitiLibre A recent study has revealed that a significant majority of men who speak Arabic, Dari, Somali, and Sorani feel at home in Finland. The study, based on a survey of 259 men from these language groups across Finland, was conducted by Owal Group Oy on behalf of the Uusimaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment as part of the "Kumppanina kotoutumisessa" (Partner in Integration) project, funded by the European Social Fund (ESR+). The survey sought to understand the experiences and perspectives of men who moved to Finland as adults, covering topics such as the job market, employment status, job search skills, social connections, and experiences of discrimination. Findings show that 55% of the respondents were actively looking for work at the time of the survey. However, only 47% felt confident in their ability to apply for jobs independently, such as writing a CV or a job application. More than half of the participants felt they had too few friends, both Finnish or Swedish speakers and speakers of other languages. Interestingly, 67% of the respondents reported experiencing discrimination in the past 12 months, most commonly in public places. A notable correlation was found between experiences of discrimination and the feeling of belonging: those who had not experienced discrimination were more likely to consider Finland their home. The report emphasizes the importance of recognizing the specific needs and situations of immigrant men in Finland, who have often been overlooked in favor of services targeted towards women, especially those caring for children at home. While there has been significant development in services aimed at immigrants in recent years, the findings suggest a need for more targeted support and services for men to aid their integration and improve their quality of life in Finland. The survey's results have led to recommendations for enhancing the service system to better accommodate the needs of immigrant men, highlighting the importance of integration in fostering a sense of belonging and home among Finland's diverse population. HT Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, launched its campaign on Friday for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat from Vadodara. The AAP leaders campaigned for Chaitra Vasava, who will contest from the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat, and Umesh Makwana, who has been fielded by the party from the Bhavnagar seat. Punjab CM Mann showcased the successful implementation of the free electricity scheme in his state, providing 600 units bi-monthly to 90 per cent of households, effectively reducing their electricity bills to zero. Mann spoke about the AAP's vision for Gujarat, inspired by Punjab's model of government services reaching the doorstep of residents, eliminating the need for citizens to navigate bureaucratic channels. Meanwhile, Delhi CM Kejriwal, criticising the government, stressed the need for more substantial progress for the citizens. He projected AAP as a "pragmatic alternative, committed to addressing core issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure". AAP plans to leverage door-to-door canvassing initially, building up to a series of public meetings and roadshows. Gujarat has 26 Lok Sabha seats. Finland has made a significant leap in defense and technology innovation by joining NATO's Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) network. The DIANA initiative's steering committee has approved the establishment of a business accelerator and two testing centers in Finland. These new facilities aim to support companies in developing technologies and innovations for both civilian and defense sectors. The Ministry of Defence and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland led the preparations, involving several stakeholders, culminating in the successful inclusion of Finland in the DIANA network. The accelerator will be set up in Otaniemi, Espoo, in collaboration with Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, while the technology testing centers will be located at the University of Oulu and VTT's Otaniemi facility. This development capitalizes on Finland's strong technological expertise and market success cultivated over decades. The focus areas for the accelerator and testing centers include next-generation communication systems, 6G technology, cyber security, quantum technology, and space technologies. Sauli Eloranta, VTT's Director of Defense Technologies, expressed pride in joining the DIANA network. He highlighted that Finland's world-class expertise would aid leading companies in developing deep technologies crucial for NATO's security. The accelerator, particularly targeting startups and SMEs with limited experience in the defense and security sector, will provide comprehensive training on commercial and defense-oriented technology development, as well as business opportunities within the defense sector. Sauli Eloranta emphasized the importance of Finnish companies participating in DIANA's innovation activities, noting the challenge of exporting to the defense sector and how DIANA supports overcoming these barriers through education and tailored business training programs. Companies will be selected to join the accelerator through DIANA's challenge program, with the first application round for Finland's DIANA accelerator set to open in 2024. This initiative is open to NATO-country startups developing dual-use solutions. The testing centers in Otaniemi and Oulu will offer facilities for cyber secure communication, quantum and space technologies, and 6G network technologies, respectively. These centers will allow companies to enhance their technological capabilities and competitiveness through access to extensive research infrastructure and expertise. Eloranta also noted Finland's strong position in civilian communication systems development, largely thanks to companies like Nokia, and sees DIANA as a pathway for the industry to accelerate into NATO's defense markets. The DIANA initiative aims to identify and address future defense and security challenges by collaborating with companies on technology solutions. With a unique transatlantic network of expertise and innovation leaders, DIANA facilitates the development and deployment of groundbreaking solutions for defense, security, and peace. By joining DIANA, Finland not only strengthens its technological and defense capabilities but also opens new avenues for Finnish companies to contribute to global security and defense innovation. HT In 2023, Finland witnessed an 11 percent increase in the number of children under 16 receiving disability support, with the most significant rise seen among those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This disorder has become the most common basis for disability support among children, accounting for a 33 percent increase from the previous year. The Finnish Social Insurance Institution (Kela) disbursed a total of 622 million euros in disability benefits in 2023, marking a real-term decrease of 12 percent over the past decade. By the end of the year, there were 261,900 beneficiaries of disability support, making up 4.7 percent of the population. A remarkable trend has been observed over the past decade, with the number of children under 16 receiving disability support increasing by 36 percent since 2013, reaching 47,300 by the end of 2023. The growth is primarily attributed to mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders, which constituted 71 percent of all new disability support cases for children under 16 in 2023, up from 49 percent in 2013. Among these, neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ADHD, stood out as the leading cause for support, with ADHD-related cases increasing by 322 percent over the last ten years. By the end of 2023, 10,900 children received support for ADHD, representing 23 percent of all child disability support recipients. Kela's research indicates a rising trend in ADHD diagnoses and medication treatments among children and adolescents, reflecting in the broader usage of Kela's benefits. Interestingly, while ADHD diagnoses and treatments are more common among boys, the increase has been relatively more significant among girls. In 2023 alone, the number of boys receiving disability support for ADHD grew by 30 percent, while the figure for girls surged by 44 percent. Geographically, the prevalence of ADHD-based support was highest in North Karelia and North Savo, affecting 2.2 percent of the 0-15 age group, while the lowest rates were observed in Uusimaa, Ostrobothnia, and South Karelia. These findings align with regional variations in ADHD diagnoses and treatments, with the highest incidences reported in Eastern Finland. This data underscores the growing challenge and the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms for children with ADHD across Finland. HT B.S. Yediyurappa The Karnataka government on Friday handed over the Pocso case against former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa ' title=' Pocso case against former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa '>Pocso case against former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa to the special wing of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According to sources, the victim was sent for a medical test and her statement will be recorded shortly. The mother of a minor girl had filed a case of sexual harassment against Yediyurappa in Sadashivanagar police station in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that he learned that the complainant is mentally unstable, adding "the case will be handled sensitively". Yediyurappa has said he is ready to face the law. The senior BJP leader also said he wouldn't say that the development is politically motivated "at this stage". Meanwhile, former Karnataka law minister and BJP leader, J.C. Madhuswamy said: "When a Pocso case is lodged, it is left to the discretion of the police to make the arrest or not make the arrest of the accused. It is not compulsory to arrest. There will be a possibility of taking the accused into custody fearing destruction of evidence." Co-Chairs of the White House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders issue joint statement to underscore the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to combat anti-Asian hate and gender-based violence three years since the tragic shootings in Georgia. WASHINGTON Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai issued a joint statement on the third anniversary of the 2021 Atlanta spa murders, in which eight people including six women of Asian descent lost their lives at the hands of a gunman who targeted three separate Asian-owned businesses in Georgia. "Three years ago, eight beautiful lives were cut short by acts of senseless gun violence that shocked the conscience of our nation amid an already disturbing surge in anti-Asian sentiment. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those affected by the tragic events of March 16, 2021, and we continue to share in the grief that remains for many Asian Americans, both in Atlanta and across the nation. "As people of all faiths and backgrounds gather in Georgia to mark this somber anniversary, we are also reminded of the Atlanta community's resilience and unbreakable spirit. Our White House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission have been honored to work collaboratively with the local community in Georgia to confront gender-based violence and anti-Asian bias, tackle the epidemic of gun violence, and ensure that hate has no safe harbor. "The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all Americans can live in dignity and safety. We are continuing to implement the first-ever national strategy to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. Last year, the Administration also released its inaugural plan to end gender-based violence and launched the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. And under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are taking significant action to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate resources especially mental health services to impacted communities and to building a brighter future for all Americans." Gaza ceasefire on cards as Israel likely to agree to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners A six-week ceasefire is on the cards in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel after both sides communicated to the mediators on stepping down from their earlier demands. While Hamas has agreed to climb down from the demand for a permanent end of the war to a pause for six weeks, Israel has almost agreed to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners including 100 charged with grievous crimes including murder. There were a series of meetings in Doha, Cairo, and Paris in the last two days with different negotiators brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas Sources in Israeli intelligence agencies told IANS that Qatar has communicated to the Hamas leadership that it would "not hesitate to deport them from Qatar if they do not come down from unreasonable demands". According to sources, the strong position taken by Qatar and Egypt to prevent any Gazan refugees on its soil if Israel invades Rafah has acted as a trigger for Hamas to rework its earlier demands of a permanent ceasefire. As per the available information, Hamas would release all Israeli prisoners including soldiers in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli intelligence agencies have communicated to the government that of the 134 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, 32 have died. Hamas, according to sources in the Israeli Prime Minister's office, would release the remaining 102 hostages and send the bodies of 32 hostages in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. However, it is unclear whether all the hostages would be released in a single go or multiple slots. Mary Beard is everybodys favourite poster girl. A classics don from Cambridge, Beard is revered for rescuing Roman history from a dusty discipline, elevating it to a primer on personality and power. Beard is erudite and entertaining; she writes expansively on ancient Rome everything from laughter to shoes to sex in the swimming pool. A good place to start reading Mary Beard is Its a Dons Life. This memoir began as a blog on her life as a don (a lecturer) in Cambridge. I found it zippy and sparkly; it talks about everything from sanitary pads for schoolgirls in Kenya and David Beckhams new tattoo to the real identity of that statue pulled from the Rhone. Or if you prefer to start with something short and punchy, head for Beards Women and Power: A Manifesto. At the recent Jaipur Literature Festival, Beard captivated audiences with tales of Roman emperors. A story stood out: Elagabalus, an emperor known for smothering dinner guests with rose petals. Beard even used an 1888 painting to illustrate the scene, see below The Roses of Heliogabalus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. The Roses of Heliogabalus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema(Superb magazine, The Desirs & Volupte exhibition at the Musee Jacquemart-Andre/ Wikimedia Commons) But Beard isn't just about the sensational. She connects the past to the present, making ancient stories relevant to our modern world. The 69-year-old Cambridge don spoke with me after her session, on reading, writing and the courage to speak your mind, even if its about sex in the swimming pool. Here are edited excerpts of our conversation. What was your early reading like? I loved reading dictionaries of quotations, things like the Guinness Book of Records, compilations of facts, and encyclopedias. So it was very non-fiction. I did my bit of Enid Blyton and all the other kinds of trash that kids read. I remember my mother banned me from reading Enid Blyton because she thought that it was very bad literature and had a terrible ideology. But, in fact, as soon as I got some money to spend on my own, I went off and bought loads of Enid Blyton. Later, my mother said it was really stupid of her, especially as she was a teacher. She said she should have been wise enough to know, it doesn't matter what kids read, as long as they read something. You are known for the rare quality of being unafraid to speak your mind. What helped you be this kind of person? I didn't have any sort of public profile until I was middle-aged. By then I was reasonably confident that I knew things. I knew enough about ancient history to contribute to the conversation. And I grew up with a mum who was the kind of person who thought women should speak up and not be bullied. Of course, I am anxious about all kinds of things. It's very easy, you know, to not quite say what you mean. I'll still say something in the course of a conversation, and it will get extracted. And then it looks terrible. In the session at JLF, you painted vivid pictures of ancient Roman life, including a reference to the sex-in-the-swimming pool. How did you develop this distinctive voice? When I began teaching in Cambridge, it was a very male-dominated world. It would have been very easy to get intimidated by it. And I did start out thinking I had to fit in with that world, to lecture like a man. But then I came to see that there's no point in pretending to be a man. I'm going to tell it as I see it. Mary Beard (left) in conversation with Peter Frankopan at Jaipur In your book Women and Power, you speak about the kind of vicious backlash youve faced for speaking on issues of public debate. What gives you the courage to carry on? If you've been lucky enough to spend your life being paid to do what you really want to do, then there's a bit of payback. I've been paid to teach and research in ancient history and ancient literature, all my life. I've got a duty to pay back. As somebody who works on Roman history, I think I have got something to add to today's debate, by talking to popular audiences and being on television. We need public voices to be heard in many different ways, women, especially older women, have got something to say, and the debate ought to have lots of people participating. It becomes better if you do. Tell us a story of a modern woman in power This is not a very good story, but it has a moral actually. I once was invited to a concert in the Victoria and Albert Museum. And it was with a whole group of people. And one of the other people there was Theresa May when she was prime minister of the UK. We sat down, I was just a little bit along from her, and I noticed that she had fallen asleep. And I disagree with almost everything she has done, like creating a hostile environment against illegal immigrants. But you can't help but feel human sympathy for this woman, she is so tired. She's come to this concert, she sits down. And she drops asleep. It's very easy to see people in power as good or bad, you know, angels or demons. And I thought it was a lesson in remembering that people in power are also human beings. You are married to an art historian, you have a daughter and a son who are both history scholars, and you have such an eclectic family. I'm curious to know, what's the conversation at the dining table like? We don't sit down and say, do you think Plato was right about that? Its everyday conversation, it's arguing about who didn't put the dustbins out. We do recommend books to each other. When I was writing what became Women in Power, it was my son, who told me to read Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I think you might find it useful, he said casually. Its a wonderful story, about a society composed entirely of women. They have created a perfect world with child care, and no debris anywhere, but they think they are hopeless. And finally, a question on shoes. You spoke earlier today about the shoes Roman emperors wore. I read somewhere you are friends with the shoe designer Manolo Blahnik tell us about your best shoes Ive got my favourite ones - a pair of Manolos, flat red shoes. On that peripatetic note, its a wrap for now. Until next week, happy reading! Sonya Dutta Choudhury is a Mumbai-based journalist and the founder of Sonyas Book Box, a bespoke book service. Each week, she brings you specially curated books to give you an immersive understanding of people and places. If you have any reading recommendations or suggestions, write to her at sonyasbookbox@gmail.com Tata-owned Air India has laid off more than 180 non-flying employees in the recent weeks. It stated that the impacted staff were unable to utilise the voluntary retirement schemes (VRS) and re-skilling opportunities, PTI reported. An Air India spokesperson said that one per cent of the employee base who were unable to utilise the VRS or re-skilling opportunities, had to part ways Since the takeover by Tata in January 2022, efforts have been made to streamline business model in the airline. As per a spokespersonm the employees in the non-flying functions have been assigned the roles on the basis of organisational needs and individual merit. ALSO READ: Air India deboards rude head of a financial company: Here's what happened Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A comprehensive process has been followed to assess the suitability of all employees over the past 18 months. During this phase, there have also been multiple Voluntary Retirement Schemes and reskilling opportunities offered to employees, the spokesperson was quoted by PTI as saying. The spokesperson said that one per cent of the employee base who were unable to utilise the VRS or re-skilling opportunities, had to part ways. The company said it is honouring all contractual obligations. Although the spokesperson did not mention the exact number of staff that were laid off, PTI reported that it was little more than 180 employees. ALSO READ: Will Air India Express succeed with hand baggage-only fares where others failed? Two rounds of VRS were offered since the airline's takeover by the Tata Group. As part of the multi-year transformational initiative Vihaan.AI, the spokesperson said one key aspect is to build an agile and effective organisational structure in line with the business model to support expansion and ambition, the spokesperson added. ALSO READ: Air India building sold to Maha govt, will house its offices In another development, domestic air traffic rose 4.8 per cent on an annual basis to 1.26 crore last month, while more than 1.55 lakh passengers were affected by flight delays during the same period, PTI had reported. In February, Air India's market share rose to 12.8 per cent from 12.2 per cent while that of IndiGo marginally dipped to 60.1 per cent from 60.2 per cent in January. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on Friday alleged that 20 girls are almost imprisoned in an illegal orphanage operating at Sampigehalli here. The NCPRI team conducted a surprise inspection of the orphanage operated by a woman Salma, Kanoongo wrote a post in Hindi on the social media platform X. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairman Priyank Kanoongo. (File) "Today shocking information has come to light during the inspection of an illegal orphanage in Bengaluru," he said. "Girls are not sent to school, there is no window or ventilator in the entire children's home and the girls have been kept completely imprisoned," he added. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. READ | Two arrested for allegedly killing Uzbekistan woman in Bengaluru hotel: Report According to the NCPRI chairperson, there were 20 girls in the orphanage. He said that some girls used to go to school before coming to the orphanage, but their studies have been discontinued. "During the conversation, the girls said a woman named Salma, who takes care of the orphanage, arranges the marriages of the girls in Kuwait. From preliminary discussions, it appears that in Gulf countries, the work of grooming girls for trafficking in the name of marriage is done here," the NCPRI chief said in his post. He added that similar cases have already been reported in South India. READ | Bengaluru: Farmer dies by suicide after borewell dries up in Uttara Kannada Kanoongo alleged that during the investigation, when it came to presenting the girls before the Child Welfare Committee, Salma and one Shameer called some goons who tried to create a ruckus. "When the goons were controlled with the intervention of the police, one of the goons called someone on the phone and asked to make an announcement from the mosque to call the crowd," Kanoongo charged. On the advice of the police the NCPRI and Child Welfare Committee members reached the police station, he said. Alleging that the police refused to register a First Information Report, Kanoongo said, "The Karnataka government is bowing down before the criminals due to 'appeasement'." READ | Bengaluru: Decomposed legs of woman found in Bannerghatta Responding to the post, the Bengaluru Police replied, "We have informed the concerned police officers for necessary action.@DCPNEBCP @acpsampigehalli @sampigehallips. In case of distress/ emergency situation, dial #Namma112." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to launch the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Lok Sabha poll campaign today, starting from Congress National President M Mallikarjun Kharge's home turf in Karnataka, Kalaburagi. PM Modi will arrive in the southern state on Saturday afternoon at around 2 pm to address a mega rally in Kalaburagi's N V Ground. PM Narendra Modi will address a mega public meeting in Karnataka's Kalaburagi this afternoon.(YouTube/Narendra Modi) Kharge had fought the 2019 general election from Kalaburagi - the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency - when he had lost to BJP's Umesh Jadhav. This was his first electoral loss after a political career stretching across decades. The saffron party has once again decided to field Jadhav from the seat, where it has disrupted the Congress party's historical dominance. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ | Jagadish Shettar to contest from Belagavi: Sitting MP Mangala After Kharge's loss in 2019, the grand old party is in talks to field his son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani instead, who is a businessman. "The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha's hands are full. In addition to managing party affairs at the national level, he has to coordinate with INDIA bloc partners", a senior party leader had said in the matter. ALSO READ | LS Polls: Discontent brews in Karnataka BJP after announcement of first list PM Modi is starting off the BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign from the south, and is scheduled to be in party veteran B S Yediyurappa's home district, Shivamogga, on March 18. The BJP, which lost to Congress in the May 10 assembly election in Karnataka, is looking to regain its foothold in the south. Regional party the Janata Dal (Secular) has also joined hands with the BJP to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls with a united front. The JDS is expected to contest from three seats, namely Mandya, Hassan and Kolar. ALSO READ | 'My belief aligns with BJPs vision for India's development': Scion of erstwhile Mysuru royal family Senior BJP leaders including party National President J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and others are also likely to visit various Lok Sabha constituencies for election campaigning in the near future. (With inputs from PTI) Bengaluru police on Friday arrested two accused for allegedly killing an Uzbekistan woman who was found dead at a hotel in the city on Wednesday reported Deccan Herald. The accused are identified as Amrit and Robert, the staff of the same hotel. Two arrested for allegedly killing Uzbekistan woman in Bengaluru hotel: Report According to the report, the two suspects entered the womans room on Wednesday to clean and found her with foreign currency. They decided to rob her and started attacking her. They later smothered her with a pillow and killed her before looting the cash and an expensive mobile phone. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read - Revision of water tariffs likely in Bengaluru: Shivakumar The Seshadripuram police booked a murder case on both the accused, who are the natives of Assam. Further investigation is going on. According to a statement from the hotel staff, Zareena Djeparova arrived in Bengaluru on March 5 on a business visa and booked a room for ten days on the second floor of Star Hotel. On Thursday, the agent arranged her arrival at the hotel tried reaching her on the phone. He then contacted the hotel, but she did not respond to any calls. The staff then opened the door with the master key and found her lying on the floor with a bedsheet wrapped over her. They then immediately called the police, and a probe was launched. The police have also notified the Ministry of External Affairs to contact the victims family. Police, along with forensic experts and canine units, conducted an on-site investigation, and the body was sent to Bowring Hospital for an autopsy on Thursday. At least 40 workers were rushed to various hospitals in Rewari following a boiler explosion at a spare parts manufacturing unit in the Dharuhera industrial area on Saturday evening, said police. No casualty was reported yet, officers added. Ambulances from Rewari civil hospital were also rushed to the spot. (HT) The blast occurred at a manufacturing unit named Life Long Company in Dharuhera. After receiving the information, police and fire officials rushed to the site and started the rescue work. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Ambulances from Rewari civil hospital were also rushed to the spot. Sub-inspector Pramod Kumar of Civil Lines police station in Rewari said, As many as 40 workers were admitted to various hospitals in Rewari, Dharuhera, Gurugram and Delhi. No casualty was reported and workers are stable now, he added. Rewari civil surgeon Dr Surender Yadav said that at least 40 workers were injured in the explosion, of which 23 were admitted to Rewari civil hospital and others were sent to a private hospital in Dharuhera. One patient, who sustained serious injury was referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak. We have alerted other hospitals also. Two more patients will be shifted to PGIMS. The doctors have started the treatment at the civil hospital, he added. A doctor at the civil hospital said that some workers have sustained over 70% injuries. A worker identified as Manish Kumar, who is undergoing treatment at Rewari civil hospital said that they were working around 7 pm and suddenly the explosion happened. Nearly 150 people were working when the incident occurred and the reasons behind the explosion are not known. At least 40 workers have sustained burn injuries, he added. However, the workers alleged that over 100 persons sustained injuries and still some workers were also trapped inside. On the other hand, the police denied the allegations. Just hours before the imposition of the model code of conduct, the Punjab health department ordered the removal of photos of chief minister Bhagwant Mann from Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) across the state. An ACC featuring Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann picture. Punjab has around 800 AACs across the state. (HT Photo) In a letter to all district heads, the health department directed its employees to ensure that photos of CM Mann and other political parties are either removed or covered within 24 hours. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. While CM Manns pictures have been put inside all AACs, some newly inaugurated buildings of district hospitals have flex boards featuring both Mann and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. After the election code of conduct kicks on March 16, remove photos, posters and flexes of all political parties from hospitals, health centres, and Aam Aadmi Clinics in the following 24 hours. Also, cover Punjab CM Bhagwant Manns photo outside the Aam Aadmi Clinics, reads the order which the HT has a copy of. Notably, there are over 800 AACs across the state. Punjab government and the Centre have been at loggerheads over the use of the CMs photo at AACs because many of these centres refurbished health and wellness centres of the Union health ministry. Consequent upon the issue of branding guidelines, the Union health ministry had withheld around 395 crore funds to Punjab under the National Health Mission (NHM) in the financial year 2023-24. We have asked all the departments, including the health department, to remove the photos of the Punjab CM and other political leaders within the next 24 hours. We will ensure the model code of conduct is implemented in letter and spirit, said a district electoral officer on the condition of anonymity. The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has sought a list of Pakistan nationals who have completed their sentences and are still languishing in Punjab jails. The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has sought a list of Pakistan nationals who have completed their sentences and are still languishing in Punjab jails. (Shutterstock) The order was passed by the HC bench of acting chief justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Lapita Banerji while hearing a suo motu plea initiated last month after a HC judge, during his visit to Faridkot, had come across a case of two juveniles from Pakistan, detained in juvenile homes of the state. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The HC sought details by March 18 so that they can be repatriated. As of the juveniles, the Punjab government has told the court that three children of Pakistan origin are residing in observation homes here, and the addresses of two of them have been verified and their extradition process is underway. In the third case, the address is yet to be verified, it was stated. The government further added that in the other two cases, the Government of India has been apprised that there is no-objection, if they are to be repatriated. A Pakistani intruder was nabbed near the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri late on Friday, said officials. An army patrol team nabbed the intruder in Nowshera sector late Friday while he was trying to sneak into the Indian territory. (HT File) He was identified as Mohammad Nadeem, 34, a resident of Samani village in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. An army patrol team nabbed the intruder in Nowshera sector late Friday while he was trying to sneak into the Indian territory, said a defence official. The individual started fleeing after he was asked to halt but the team nabbed him, he added. He is being questioned by the army officers, said the official. The voting for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi will take place on May 25 during the sixth phase, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Saturday. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. (Representative file photo) Gurugram along with Delhi will also go to polls together in the sixth phase on May 25 while voting in Noida will take place in the second phase on 26 April. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4. As many as 14.7 million eligible voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the national Capital to elect their MPs. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) currently holds all seven Lok Sabha seats and 8 of the 70 seats in Delhi assembly where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has 62 seats. Also Read:Lok Sabha elections in 7 phases; voting starts April 19, results on Jun 4 In 2019, the voter turnout was 60.60% in Delhi. AAP and Congress are part of the INDIA bloc alliance and will together be contesting polls. AAP will contest on four seats while Congress on three seats. BJP has already named its seven candidates while AAP has announced candidates for four, while the Congress is yet to announce its candidates. A Congress leader aware of the development, said the party is likely to announce its candidates next week. BJP has opted for fresh faces this time around while dropping six of the seven sitting MPs and replacing them with fresh names. AAP has named four, three of whom are sitting legislators in Delhi, for the Lok Sabha election. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP received 56.6% of the votes in all, while AAP got 18.11% and the Congress 22.51%. In each of the seats, the BJP won more than 50% of the vote share. That year, the BJP, Congress, and AAP were in a triangular contest in all seven seats. Among the seven seats, New Delhi with 1.48 million electors is the smallest constituency while West Delhi with 2.49 million electors is the largest constituency. According to data from the office of the chief electoral officer of Delhi, the poll body that will conduct the election in the capital, as of February 1 (2024) the capital has 14742145 electors which includes 7998652 male and 6742330 female electors. Renderings of the California High-Speed Rail Project show how its Central Valley stations could look. But, the project still needs billions of dollars in funding before completion. California High-Speed Rail Authority Californias high-speed rail project has teased residents with recent renderings of how its futuristic trains and massive stations would look. But, despite recent progress and the excitement those renderings have produced, the project remains about $7 billion short of the cost to complete the initial segment from Merced to Bakersfield. The rail project also needs about $100 billion to make the original vision of linking San Francisco and Los Angeles via bullet trains a reality. And some of the projects watchdogs say state leaders need to decide soon whether to commit to the entire project or abandon it. Officials from the states High-Speed Rail Authority shared the projects latest cost projections during legislative hearings in Sacramento last week, when they also briefed lawmakers on the status of the project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If all goes according to the rail authoritys latest plans, electrified high-speed rail service on a 171-mile segment in the Central Valley will begin between 2030 and 2033. Authority officials say they will finalize designs this year on train car interiors and the four stations being built in Merced, Fresno, Hanford and Bakersfield. Authority officials say theyre trying to secure $4.7 billion in federal funds to pay for the bulk of the Central Valley segments remaining estimated cost. A look at the canopy design that would shield travelers from the sun in a rendering of the California High-Speed Rail Projects Fresno station. California High-Speed Rail Authority The projects two Northern California segments connecting the Central Valley to San Francisco have both reached environmental clearance. Authority officials say theyre trying to secure more funding to complete geotechnical studies in the Pacheco Pass segment between Merced and San Jose, a precursor to construction. Other projects, such as Caltrains electrification and the Peninsula commuter rails extension to Salesforce Transit Center are ongoing and part of the high-speed rail projects eventual plan to reach San Francisco. Advertisement Article continues below this ad State leaders agreed to prioritize finishing construction in the Central Valley first, and the rail projects supporters hope that the launch of interim service there will galvanize public support to finance the rest of the project. The rail authority and state leaders have not yet decided where to build after the Central Valley segment. In Southern California, another bullet train project, the privately-operated Brightline West, aims to carry passengers from Los Angeles to Las Vegas via bullet train by 2028. The Brightline system plans to have a stop in Victorville in the states high desert, which would be about 50 miles from the High-Speed Rail Authoritys planned stop in Palmdale. Preliminary renderings show how the seating configurations and interiors of California High-Speed Rail trains could look. California High-Speed Rail Authority That project, and the states high-speed rail project, got a combined $6 billion windfall from the Biden administrations 2022 infrastructure law, and rail authority CEO Brian Kelly told legislators the Brightline West project will probably affect our ongoing analysis of where we go next. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We do have to get into the population centers, ultimately in the Bay Area and in Southern California, to have a fully self-sustaining system, meaning that the net revenues of the system exceed the net cost of the system, Kelly said. Its unclear how, when and if the high-speed rail project will acquire the funding required to complete the Bay-to-L.A. system initially sold to California voters in 2008. Kelly, who in January announced plans to retire, told lawmakers it would likely take funding not just from the federal and state (governments), but probably local and regional partners, as well, to complete the envisioned system. Californias bullet train project, though, faces other immediate questions. The project has been mired by rising cost estimates, delays and litigation Phase 1 between San Francisco to L.A. is estimated to cost three times the initial cost projection. Vehicles drive past farmland and part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority San Joaquin River viaduct construction project along Highway 99 through the Central Valley between Madera County and Fresno County, in 2021. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Louis Thompson, chairman of the projects Peer Review Group, said the costs face considerable risk in rising further, because most of the project remains at an early design stage or less, and there is no experience to date with major elements of the project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Exacerbating the problem, Kelly and Thompson both said, is the fact that the project continues to face financial uncertainty. Its sole source of ongoing funds, from the states cap-and-trade program, expires in 2030. Authority officials want to extend that authorization to 2050. Even with an extension, that funding alone wont be enough to finance the complete project, and Thompson said lawmakers should decide soon whether to commit to building the entire project or cut bait. It is critical that any funding approach be fully funded, and stable and predictable from year to year. This has not been done, and it is ever more important, Thompson said. We cannot emphasize too strongly that inaction by the Legislature and governor to identify an adequate and stable source of funding for the project is increasing its costs and hindering managements control of the project. LUCKNOW: A collaborative operation involving the police and Childline resulted in the rescue of a 15-year-old girl from the custody of her distant relatives in Aminabad, where she was allegedly subjected to physical abuse, sparking suspicions regarding Mumtaz Yatimkhana, the orphanage from which the girl was reportedly handed over to her relatives without adequate documentation. One of her distant relatives took her to her home, where men in the family, including a 70-year-old man identified as the prime accused, Mohiduin, sexually abused her. (For representation) Concerns have also been raised about the welfare of the remaining girls from the orphanage following its closure in 2021. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The girl disclosed that she was transferred to her relatives by the Yatimkhana, which is currently non-operational. However, several questions arise, such as whether the legal process was followed, whether the background of the relatives was checked, and where the other girls went after its closure, questioned Jaya, the project coordinator of Childline, Lucknow, who participated in the rescue operation. Expressing similar concerns, Shuchita Chaturvedi, a member of the UP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and part of the rescue team, said, Now, all these aspects will be thoroughly investigated, and a detailed probe will be conducted regarding Yatimkhana. Our immediate focus was on rescuing the girl. When the alleged family was questioned about whether they followed any legal procedures, they failed to provide any documentation. They were unable to produce even the girls Aadhar card, said Ruqaiya bano, a lawyer closely involved with the case. However, Vikas Singh, the district probation officer of the women and child welfare department, said that Yatimkhana was closed under his supervision in 2021. Talking to HT, Singh explained, There were only 4-5 minors who were reunited with their parents, following which the facility was closed. Earlier, in the FIR, filed by Saif Mirza, a lawyer by profession, it was revealed that the victim contacted him via phone and narrated her ordeal. According to Mirza, the girl had been residing in Mumtaz Yatimkhana in Thakurganj during her childhood due to her mothers mental instability. However, one of her distant relatives took her to her home, where men in the family, including a 70-year-old man identified as the prime accused, Mohiduin, whom she referred to as her father, sexually abused her. The girl even sent the video of the act to Saif as evidence. Aminabad Police has filed a case against Mohiuddin, his brother Aminuddin, his wife Rozi, his daughter Sumaiya (who brought the girl from Yatimkhana), as well as Aamir and Arshad. The charges include sections 376D (gang-rape) and 377 (unnatural sex) of the Indian Penal Code, along with sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012. We are currently in the process of investigating her release from the previous shelter home, said Sandhya, a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). We are examining available records and trying to determine the details of what occurred in 2006. While we have acknowledged the case and are actively working on it, this process cannot be expedited overnight, she added. Meanwhile, CWC chairperson Ravindra Singh Jadaun said that accessing such old records was challenging as the CWC seals and disposes of case files after the 10 years. We are hopeful to gather more actionable details from the survivor herself, but do not want to further traumatise her with excessive questioning, he explained. According to the child welfare committee (CWC), the girl has been transferred to the Rajkiya Bal Griha (Balika) at Para, where she is receiving counselling and has been assigned a support person by the CWC. She will continue to stay at the government shelter until the investigation of the case is concluded. Mumbai: Documenting the lesser-known Royal Indian Naval Uprising of 1946, which hastened Indias independence by a year, is a photo exhibition by the Maritime History Society (MHS) on view till March 18 in the Army & Navy building in Fort. The exhibition unearths the archives of the MHS, digging into its newspaper stores, photo albums, historic documents, and other external sources to stitch together the story of the Last War of Independence. Mumbai,India. Mar 15,2024 :Photo exhibition of Naval Uprising to National Uprising the last war of Independence at Army-Navy building, Kalaghada in South Mumbai Mar 15,2024 (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) Beginning with the ratings (officers and sailors) of the Royal Indian Navy in Bombay on February 18, 1946, the uprising lasted a mere five days but spread far and wide, at various places in the country but also beyond, in places like Aden, Yemen and Bahrain. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Information about the Royal Indian Naval uprising is very scattered. Outside of school textbooks there are few who know about it, despite it playing a decisive part in the history of our countrys independence, said Sarah Barboze, staff assistant, in charge of archives and collection at the MHS. So, four researchers and I set to the task of setting the events of the uprising in order, putting a chronology to it. The uprising, Barboze explains, started aboard the training ship HMIS Talwar. One rating, given stale food, complained of a stomach ache. Instead of medical attention, the British subjected him to brutal sunlight for two hours which resulted in his death. This was the last thread for the ratings. Recruited by the British into the navy to fight wars for them, they were initially lured in with the promise of a good life. The reality turned out to be quite the contrary; while fighting in the Battle of Somme, the Battle of Atlantic, and World War I and II, their living conditions, accommodation, clothes, food, and salaries were poor. To make matters worse, there was heavy racial discrimination. The ratings death sparked anger. Other ratings, prominently BC Dutt and MS Khan, started a strike on the ship, and when they disembarked, got the support of ratings on other ships. 1,500 ratings would walk out of the mess hall in defiance. News spread around through newspapers, adds Barboze. Ratings in other parts of the country, like Karachi, and those posted in Aden and Bahrain also joined the revolt. But it didnt stay restricted to the navy; civilians who were reeling under British occupation also joined in, till 20,000 people were involved. approximately 300 died, although due to incomplete documentation, we cant give a reliable number. The photo exhibition depicts the various parts of the life of this uprising; from photos of the living conditions of the ratings, to newspaper clippings documenting it, with headlines of Bombay in Revolt: City a battlefield, and Nightmare grips Bombay. Violence from both sides erupted on the streets of the city, one of the spots being Girgaon. Stones were thrown, weapons used, trains burnt, and commercial establishments shut. We also have a photo of the dead laid down on the street, as well as the demands of the ratings, said Barboze. The uprising did not last long. Worried that the violence would delay independence, the leaders Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel called it off. The prime 450 ratings involved were arrested and later released, although they lost their positions in the navy. An inquiry commission was set up to study the uprising. Eventually, after Independence, the conditions the ratings were subjected to improved, as they became a part of the Indian Navy. We were supposed to get Independence initially in August 1948. But this uprising showed a clear indication that not just the civilians but also the armed sources were against their colonial powers. It led to the end of British supremacy as their stronghold were the forces, and they were compelled to leave India sooner, ended Barboze, adding that a short film made by MHS and the Indian Navy on the Royal Indian Naval uprising is also showing at the exhibition. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Tripura on Friday allocated portfolios to two ministers of the TIPRA Motha party who took oath earlier this month. Two TIPRA Motha legislators were administered oath of secrecy as cabinet ministers by Tripura governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu at the Raj Bhawan on March 7. (ANI) TIPRA Motha legislator Animesh Debbarma was given charges for Forest, General Administration (Printing & Stationery) and Science, Technology and Environment while Brishaketu Debbarma was made the minister of state for Industries and Commerce Department. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Both Animesh and Brishaketu were administered oath of secrecy as cabinet ministers by governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu at the Raj Bhawan on March 7, four days after a tripartite agreement was signed between the central and state governments and the TIPRA Motha in New Delhi for a solution to the tribal issues. There are 60 members in the state legislature of Tripura, of which 32 are from the BJP, one MLA from its ruling alliance partner IPFT, who also serves in the state cabinet, 13 MLAs from the TIPRA Motha, 10 from the CPI(M), and three from the Congress. One seat fell vacant following the death of BJP MLA Surajit Dutta last year. 11 of the 12 seats in the state cabinet are currently occupied, with eight BJP ministers, two TIPRA Motha and one IPFT ministers. The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), called the farmers protest near Delhi as resurgence of separatist terrorism in Punjab and advised the government to distance itself from violent agitators. The second day of the three-day meeting accused the agitators of attempting to spread anarchy under the guise of a farmers agitation. The RSS started a three-day meeting of its highest decision-making body, the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, in Nagpur on Friday. (File Photo) On February 13, thousands of farmers initiated a march towards the national capital to advocate for their demands, including a legal guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, and no increase in electricity tariffs. Farmer leaders criticised the central government for not taking their demands on MSP seriously while launching the agitation. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The separatist terrorism in Punjab has raised again its ugly head. Under the pretext of farmers agitation, especially in Punjab, attempts have been restarted to spread anarchy, just two months before the Lok Sabha elections, the RSS, the ideological foundation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), highlighted these issues in its annual report for 2023-24 in the meeting. On the other hand, senior functionaries of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) , an outfit of sangh, reportedly raised several demands during the meeting, including fair pricing based on production costs, abolition of GST on agricultural goods, increased support for farmers, prevention of market exploitation, and rejection of genetically modified (GM) crops through a resolution. The meeting also expressed distress over the atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali region of West Bengal, and the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the border state of Manipur, emphasising the need for unity and swift action to ensure womens safety and prevent future crimes. The incident of atrocities on hundreds of mothers and sisters, especially of the Scheduled Caste and tribal communities, in Sandeshkhali has shaken the conscience of the entire society. It cannot be imagined that such incidents have been going on for years in any part of independent Bharat, the meeting said. But what is even more abominable is that instead of giving the harshest punishment to the guilty persons, the government there (West Bengal) made efforts to save them. All parties should, rising above their political interests, unanimously take such drastic action on the issue of womens safety and honour that no one can even think of committing such a crime in the future, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said in the meeting. On the Manipur violence, the RSS said the conflict created mistrust between the two sections of the society- Meitei and Kuki - causing deep wounds. It is unfortunate that the border state is undergoing a deep, inexplicable pain, and the psychological division of society is dangerous, it said. The meeting also decided to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar. The Sangh would organise several year-long programmes to mark the anniversary. All swayamsevaks and all members of society should wholeheartedly participate in the programmes organised in connection with it. The real tribute to her is to be at the forefront in the path of simplicity, character, religiosity, and national self-esteem shown by her, urged Hosabale. Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the meeting emphasised its significance for a vibrant democracy and stated that RSS swayamsevaks not only have to fulfil the sacred duty of exercising their franchise but also ensure one hundred percent voter turnout. They should devise plans in their respective areas to achieve this. In the context of elections, they should keep in mind the challenges they face, issues related to national interest, and the current needs of the hour. We understand well that the desire for change can be effectively realised only through the active presence of the Sangh and planned efforts for the necessary change, it said, indirectly appealing to all its swayamsevaks to re-elect its chosen peoples representatives in the coming elections. The Ministry of Education (MoE) in an official notification invited applications for the post of Director of Indian lnstitute of Technology [llT) Hyderabad and Indian Institute of Technology (llT) Kharagpur. The appointment will be made on a contractual basis for a period of five years or till the attainment of 70 years of age, whichever is earlier, as per usual terms and conditions.(Ambuj Saxena / Wikimedia Commons) Eligibility Criteria as mentioned in the notification: Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I) He/She is expected to have a minimum of 5 years of administrative experience and leadership qualities to head an institute of national importance II) The candidate/person should be a Ph.D with first class or equivalent at the preceding degree, preferably in a branch of Engineering. In exceptional cases, candidates with Science, Mathematics or Management degrees may be considered III) He/She should have an outstanding academic record throughout and a minimum of 10 years of teaching experience as a Professor in a reputed Engineering or Technology Institute or University and should have guided Ph.D. students IV) The applicant should preferably be less than 60 years of age on the last date of receipt of the applications Salary Details: The post carries a fixed pay of 2,25,000/- (Revised) per month, with allowances as per the rules, mentioned the notification. Selection Procedure: MoE stated that the appointment for the post of Director of IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kharagpur will be made after obtaining the approval of the competent authority based on the recommendations made by the Search-cum-Selection Committee which will consider applications received, as well as nominations received from eminent persons. The appointment will be made on a contractual basis for a period of five years or till the attainment of 70 years of age, whichever is earlier, as per usual terms and conditions, informed the MoE. The applications must reach the office of the Department of Higher Education, New Delhi on or before May 31, 2024. For more information, visit the official website of the Ministry of Education. Also Read: TN govt to sign MoU with Centre for implementation of PM SHRI Schools scheme As Season 1 of Solo Leveling draws to a close with just three episodes left, fans eagerly await the release date and deets of the remaining episodes. In the latest episode, viewers saw Sung Jin Woo win his battle against Kang Taesik, proving his growing strength and ability to take on even the best hunters in the B-rank category. Episode 10 is scheduled to be released on March 16, followed by episodes 11 and 12. Solo Leveling is a South Korean action-fantasy web novel written by Chugong, originally serialized online from 2016 to 2018 Solo Leveling Episode 5 is set to air on Saturday, February 3 Solo Leveling Episode 11 & 12 release date Solo Leveling, also dubbed the anime of the year, debuted with an average rating of 8.6 out of 10 on IMDb. The first episode was released on January 6. Reportedly, the first season of Solo Leveling consists of two cours. The second cour, which will air later this year, will also comprise 12-13 episodes, bringing the total number of season one episodes to 25. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Date Episode Regional timing- (JST/IST/EST/GMT) March 16, 2024 Episode 10 24:00/20:30/10:00/15:00 March 23, 2024 Episode 11 24:00/20:30/10:00/15:00 March 30, 2024 Episode 12 24:00/20:30/10:00/15:00 What to expect from Episode 10 of Solo Leveling Song Chi Yul is well aware of Sung Jin Woos power now, Lee Young Hee doesnt need to know about it either. However, Woo Jin Chul is surprised by Kang Taesiks secret murders. Strangely, he didnt suspect Jin Woo at all as Song Chi Yul and Lee Joo Hee always took credit for defeating Taeshik. In Episode 10 of Solo Leveling, Jin Woo will go to the next C-rank prison with Jin Ho to fulfill their agreement. Also read: Netflix K-drama Queen of Tears inspired by real-life marriage of Samsungs heiress? The official synopsis of episode 10 reads, Jin Woo teams up with Yoo Jin Ho to conquer the C-class dungeon in order to level up. As they conquer dungeon after dungeon with their motley party, someone from a large guild has begun to pay attention to them. Episode 10 of Solo Leveling titled What is this, a picnic? has released a teaser for the same. Take a look. Also read: Netflix One Piece Live-Action Season 2 gets exciting release date update; filming starts soon Solo Leveling Episodes 10, 11, and 12 - Where to watch In Japan, Solo Leveling Episode 10 will be broadcast on local channels and subscription-based websites like Tokyo MX (Japan MX), GYT (Japan GYT), BS11 (Canada BS11), and YTV (Japan YTV). International viewers can also watch the episode online at Crunchyroll with a slight delay. Actor Amitabh Bachchan has seemingly dismissed reports of his health issues after several of them claimed that he underwent angioplasty. However, concerns about his health are valid. The actor, 81, has faced health issues throughout his life, and battled them well. (Also Read | When Jaya was told only her prayers can help clinically dead Amitabh Bachchan: I had Hanuman Chalisa in my hand) Amitabh Bachchan has fought illnesses and faced accidents in his career. Here's a timeline of Amitabh's health issues: In 2023, taking to his blog, Amitabh shared that he suffered an injury in his rib cartilage. He wrote, In Hyderabad at the shoot for Project K, during an action shot, I have got injured .. rib cartilage popped broke and muscle tear to the right rib cage .. cancelled shoot .. did Doctor consult and scan by CT at the AIG Hospital in Hyderabad and flown back home .. strapping has been done and rest been advocated .. yes painful .. on movement and breathing .. will take some weeks they say before some normalisation will occur .. some medication is on also for pain.." Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In July 2020, Amitabh had Covid-19 and was admitted to Nanavati Hospital's isolation unit. He had confirmed his diagnosis on X. BMC had sealed his residence Jalsa and declared it a containment area. In 2019, Amitabh wrote on his blog about his illness after skipping the National Film Awards. He had written, the neck the ham string the lower back the wrists decomposed .. seated long distressed .. the fever condition .. the advice of the medical for rest and recoup and no travel .. the missing National Award..." He also wrote, "So back to the medical .. the ham string injury hinders the walk and the sitting .. long hours of which need respite .. so to the standing table be lured .. not now .. the fever constraints prevail .. but the positioning has been done, when the fever reduces .. .. In 2000, Amitabh was diagnosed with Hepatitis B, following which doctors informed him his liver was infected. They also told him that he was surviving on 25% of the organ. In 1982, Amitabh sustained a near-fatal injury while shooting for Coolie. He was rushed to a hospital, where he remained in a coma and did not respond to treatments despite multiple surgeries. He was even declared clinically dead for a few minutes before being put on the ventilator. Speaking on Simi Garewal's show, Amitabh had shared, I was in a coma. I had ruptured my intestine in the accident on the set. And then there was the surgery which was conducted almost as an emergency. We went to Bombay 5 days later, the sutures ruptured, and I had to have another surgery. It was the end of that surgery where I couldnt come out of anaesthesia for 12-14 hours. Thats when they felt it was all over because there was hardly any pulse, BP was down to almost zero. Amitabh had been diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. He suffered from gastro issues which transformed into diverticulitis of the small intestine. The veteran actor also battled tuberculosis of the spine. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Sonu Sood is all set to entertain fans his upcoming film Fateh, in which he also marks his debut as a director. The actor shared the teaser of the film on Saturday, and if it is any indication, viewers can expect an intense ride of jaw-dropping action, violence and intrigue. (Also read: Sonu Sood advocates for the rights of people with disabilities, urges government to prioritise their needs. Watch) Fateh teaser: Sonu Sood leads this action thriller. About Fateh teaser The teaser begins with the caption, Never underestimate a nobody. It then leans into a voiceover where Sonu Sood, who plays the titular character, is heard having a conversation with another person where he corrects that he did not kill 40 people on March 19, but 50. You will never find those 10 bodies, he adds menacingly. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. When the other person asks if he has to say anything else, Sonu's character says, May their souls rest in peace. When asked whether he thinks it was the right thing to do, he also adds, One who is born will perish. Its the law of nature They were trapped with me! The teaser then adds the visuals where Sonu is seen from afar, where he gets ready for the killing spree on a grand scale. He is seen beating goons left and right, with no remorse. The teaser gives a blink-and-miss moment of Jacqueline Fernandez as well. Sharing the teaser on his Instagram account, Sonu wrote: "Aa Raha Hoon (fire emoticon) #Fateh! Brace yourselves for the biggest action-packed thriller! Teaser out now. (Link in bio)" Farah Khan, who has directed Sonu in Happy New Year, commented on the post with, Sonuuuuuuu. She also shared the teaser on her Instagram Stories and sent her best wishes to the team. Fan reactions Reacting to the teaser, a fan commented: Hero in real life and a villain on the big screen but now he is hero again in big screen. Another said, Directed by Sonu Sood Seems like it will fateh (conquer) the theaters. Much excited. A comment also read, Woah! Sonu Sood is back. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Described as a compelling story that lifts the veil on the planets most revered and charismatic animal, the film will start streaming on Disney Hotstar on Earth Day on April 22. HT Image "Tiger" will take the viewers on a journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "In the film, the cubs-curious, rambunctious and at times a bit clumsy-have a lot to learn from their savvy mother who will do all she can to keep them safe from pythons, bears and marauding male tigers," Disney said in a press release. The documentary film is directed by Mark Linfield, with Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan serving as co-director. It is produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli. "Its just wonderful to be able to be a part of something so special and to tell the story of this magnificent animal that comes from my country-I was very honoured. I have always loved tigers and I feel a kinship with the female tiger-I feel very protective of my family. Ambars journey is something I think every mom would really relate to, Chopra Jonas said in a statement. On the occasion of Earth Day, "Tigers On The Rise", a companion film to Tiger, will also start streaming on Disney Hotstar. Narrated by American actor Blair Underwood, the film celebrates the remarkable comeback of one of the worlds most iconic animals. "Tiger populations have rebounded so successfully, many of the big cats are venturing from Indias forest reserves into farms and villagesa monumental challenge for both people and animals. The heroes in this story are the vets, scientists and community patrols dedicated to ensuring that tigers and people can coexist," the official description read. Tigers on the Rise is directed by Rob Sullivan, co-directed by Alistair Tones, and produced by Sullivan, Vanessa Berlowitz, Mark Linfield and Roy Conli. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Priyanka Chopra talked about dressing her daughter Malti Marie in a new interview during her trip to India. The actor was speaking to Vogue when she revealed how much she enjoys choosing Malti's outfit for the day and called her fashion muse. (Also read: Priyanka Chopra is back home in India and she's brought daughter Malti Marie along. Watch video) Priyanka Chopra spoke about her daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas. What Priyanka said During the interview, when Priyanka was asked about her current fashion muse, she instantly replied, My fashion muse at the moment is my daughter, I love dressing her up. I literally wake up every morning with a fit for her, like this will be her fit for the day and this will be her fit for the night and I will be in pajamas. I forget to dress myself. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In the same interview, she said that she is a golds and diamonds girl and that a fashion trend she wishes that stays more in the trend is athleisure. When asked about a film that is her current mood board for fashion, she smiled and said, Just for fun I will say The Devil Wears Prada. More details Priyanka and Malti Marie landed in India a few days ago for the little one's second trip to the actor's homeland. The mother-daughter duo arrived at Mumbai airport and was photographed leaving together along with the actor's team in their waiting cars. Priyanka's long-time manager Anjula Acharya also joined them. She shared a picture of herself and Malti on Instagram Stories and wrote, Mumbai meri jaan (Mumbai, my darling). Here we go! A day later, the actor looked stunning in a light pink saree as she appeared for an event in Mumbai on Friday evening. Priyanka and Nick got married in 2018 in Rajasthan. They welcomed daughter Malti in 2022. She recently turned two and the family came together for her Elmo-themed birthday party. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place FILE - Demonstrators clash with police as arrests are made after shutting down the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge in conjunction with the APEC Summit taking place Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. Seventy-eight protesters were ordered Thursday, March 14, 2024, to do five hours of community service and pay restitution to avoid criminal proceedings for allegedly blocking traffic on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for hours in November to demand a cease-fire in Gaza, prosecutors said. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) Noah Berger/Associated Press Motorists wait as demonstrators shut down the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge in conjunction with the APEC Summit taking place Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger/Associated Press Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down the Bay Bridge in conjunction with the APEC summit taking place Nov. 16, 2023, in San Francisco. Noah Berger/Associated Press A motorist stuck on the Bay Bridge last fall after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked all westbound lanes during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation had to be rushed to the hospital due to complications from Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to overproduce thyroid hormone. The motorist delivered a victim impact statement in court Thursday, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said, as the 78 protesters who blocked the Bay Bridge on Nov. 16 agreed to a pre-trial diversion program, meaning theyll avoid further criminal proceedings. As part of the diversion program, each of the 78 protesters were ordered to pay restitution to the motorist, who was the only person trapped on the bridge that day to step forward and express to the district attorneys office how the protesters action hurt them. She identified herself in court only by her first name, Ally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In September of 2023, I was diagnosed with Graves disease which affects my heart among other things, Ally told the court. My disease also makes me sensitive to heat. I must take beta blockers several times a day to normalize my hearts function. I work in South San Francisco and live in San Pablo, California, a 30-mile commute. Ally said she left for work at 7 a.m. on Nov. 16. The protest began shortly before 8 a.m., the Chronicle previously reported. The protest was one of several demonstrations during the APEC summit to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and express displeasure with President Bidens approach to the conflict. On the day of the Bay Bridge protest, participants stopped their cars and chained their arms to the bridge. They rallied with bullhorns and waved signs reading stop genocide and no U.S. military aid to Israel. Some protesters ditched their cars and tossed their keys off the bridge, the California Highway Patrol said after the protest. The bridge was shut down for more than four hours. Ally said in court that she became trapped on the middle lane of the bridge without food or water and was unable to take her heart medication. She said she was unable to run her cars air conditioning to cool herself off because the car was running out of gas. At around 11 a.m. I began to experience a medical crisis, Ally told the court. I started to become weak, dizzy, nauseous, short of breath and my vision began to blur as my heart rate increased. I called 911 as my symptoms worsened and my heart rate continued to increase. I was incredibly fortunate to receive quick medical attention from a nurse practitioner in the crowd. Paramedics arrived and took me by ambulance to Oakland Kaiser Emergency Department. I was losing consciousness and becoming unresponsive but gathered that they were concerned as my heart was not beating normally. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The protest left me traumatized, Ally said. Since the protest, she said she has not been able to drive and instead commutes to work via BART. I had constant weakness, fatigue, headaches, nausea and pain as I recovered, Ally said. She also said in court that she was worried about how her inability to complete important work tasks that day would affect her yearly performance review. She said she had to pay $420 to get her car back after it was towed from the bridge and impounded and expressed worry about potentially having to pay for the ambulance ride to the hospital, which totaled nearly $4,000. Under the diversion program, each protester must complete five hours of community service within two months and pay restitution to Ally, an amount to be set at a later date, according to the district attorneys office. Joe Camp, the American writer and director, who is known for creating the Benji films, has died. He was 84. The news of his death was confirmed by his son filmmaker Brandon Camp, as per The Hollywood Reporter. Joe died at his home in Bell Buckle, Tennessee on Friday morning following a long illness. (Also read: Jennifer Lopez's 'This Is Me... Now' Tour: Unexplained cancellations and chart woes) Joe Camp found his own distribution company Mulberry Square to market his films. Joe Camp death Joe is widely known for his Benji films, but it was a difficult road to success for him. He had to raise $500,000 to make the first Benji film, about a mutt who saves a pair of children from kidnappers, which then went on to become the ninth-highest-grossing title of 1974, with $39 million in collections. The iconic track from the film, I Feel Love (Benjis Theme), that was sung by Charlie Rich, even earned an Oscar nomination and won a Golden Globe. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Joe Camps son, filmmaker Brandon Camp, had told the same publication how no one was interested in making the film. He screened it for every single studio, and each one passed. They all said, No one is interested in this movie. Disappointed, Joe formed his own distribution company Mulberry Square Releasing in 1974 and marketed the movie. More details The success of Benji, with Higgins the dog, resulted in more films for the franchise, including For the Love of Benji (1977), The Phenomenon of Benji (1978) and Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (TV short 1978) among others. The final two films of the franchise were made in 1987 with the help with Disney, which were Benji the Hunted and Benji: Off the Leash! in 2004. Joe was an animal lover and also a bestselling author. He was also known for his work with horses. He is the author of the book The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd, which was published in 2008. The book revolved around his learnings and lessons from the time spent in working with the creatures. The filmmaker is survived by his wife, Kathleen along with his two sons, Joe and Brandon; and his step-children David, Dylan and Allegra. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Kanye West's wife and Australian Yeezy architect Bianca Censori shot to spicy fame in recent memory for particular reasons. Her unswerving X-rated fashion choices nearly landed her with jail time in Paris. On top of that, her family and friends are exceptionally concerned about her husband's alleged controlling ways." But now, experts are claiming there's nothing to worry about because it's all part of the controversial pair's self-serving game plan.' Kanye West and Bianca Censori are charging ahead with a strategic 'game plan' against Kim Kardashian with every piece of controversial publicity. The American rapper finalised his divorce from his ex-wife Kim Kardashian in November 2022, and all it took to get over his 6-year marriage with her was a month. In December 2022, he secretly wed his now 29-year-old wife, Bianca Censori. However, newly emerging claims suggest that he may not actually be over Kim after all. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kanye West and Bianca Censori's game plan against Kim Kardashian Earlier this week, Kardashian and Censori were unexpectedly pictured together at Ye's Vultures 2 Listening Party in San Francisco. All seemed fine between the two, and the internet was pleasantly startled by the two being on peaceful terms with each other despite Kanye's starkly opposing treatment of them. West was contentiously known for ridiculing Kim for her explicit fashion choices during their marriage. However, the tide has changed entirely as now he allegedly forces Bianca to push for attention-grabbing antics. Also read | Kanye West is feuding with Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, but why? Online DM battle explained It has significantly earned them a lofty space in the headlines, and all seems to be going according to the supposed game plan' that West hatched after he nearly went bankrupt for his antisemitic slanders, losing numerous deals and projects from under his radar. A new DailyMail report states that Bianca isn't merely a passive pawn in Kanye's ploy. She has a game plan and has reportedly told her family and friends that she knows what she is doing and she has this under control. Moreover, Kanye and Bianca's joint undertaking strategists around them breaking the internet with such X-rated looks to outshine Kardashian. Mark Borkowski, a leading PR guru in the UK, said West was pushing his freak show to the limit by using Censori to imitate similar strategies Kim pursued for publicity. Borkowski also busted Kanye's coercive ways as Censori happily played along to the beat of the drum on her accord. He continued, Kanye understands outrage and is trying to break the Internet. He also acknowledged that there was a fine line between all those who believe that Bianca is being controlled and those who firmly hold the sentiment that this woman is complicit and fully involved with this freak show. Despite those strong responses, everybody engages in the weird freak show in their own way. The PR guru noted that it wasn't merely a way for Kanye to keep his name at the top, but also a statement to his ex-wife who engaged in the same publicity, which he is taking to another level, minus the panache she handled it with. Shooting for Shankars upcoming film, Game Changer, starring Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, SJ Suryah and others, is currently in progress in Visakhapatnam. Fans were thrilled to see the actors, sharing pictures and videos from the shooting on X. (Also Read: Ram Charan takes over the kitchen and cooks paneer tikka for his mom. Watch) Ram Charan and Kiara Advani are shooting for Game Changer in Vizag Ram Charan, Kiaras looks leaked The makers of Game Changer have not released any promotional material so far that showed Ram or Kiaras looks in the film. One of the first posters saw them dressed in suits while another saw Ram sitting on a bike, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. However, in the pictures and videos leaked by fans, the actors looks from the film can be seen. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Ram is seen dressed in a buttoned-up shirt, formal pants and shoes, with neatly combed hair and rimless glasses completing his look. Kiara can be seen dressed in a simple blue and gold saree paired with a cream blouse with her hair tied back in a ponytail. One of the videos shows a set put up at RK Beach, and numerous fans thronging the actor for a picture or selfie even as his security pushes them back. Ram can be seen covering his nose due to fans kicking up sand in their bid to meet him. Fans stayed there till the actor completed the shoot, greeting him as he left for the day. About Game Changer While the story of Game Changer has been kept under wraps, buzz is that Ram plays a political strategist in the film based on true events. The film faced its fair share of delays due to director Shankar shooting for this film and Kamal Haasan, Kajal Aggarwal, Siddharth and Rakul Preet Singhs Indian 2 simultaneously. The film will also star Anjali, Jayaram, Sunil, Samuthirakani, Naveen Chandra, Nassar and others in key roles. Upcoming work After Game Changer, Ram will shoot for his next film with director Buchi Babu Sana of Uppena fame and actor Janhvi Kapoor. The film, which will also see Shiva Rajkumar in a key role, is touted to be a sports drama. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Actor Avantika Vandanapu has been making waves since she starred in the reboot of Mean Girls as Karen Shetty. In an interview with iDream Media, she spoke about the trolling she has since received for her American accent. (Also Read: Mean Girls actor Avantika: I struggled with the way I looked, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya were kind to me) Avantika Vandanapu called out trolls for making fun of her accent(Instagram) I cant speak in Telugu everywhere When people recognised Avantika as the child actor from Brahmotsavam and Premam, many were proud to see a Telugu actor make it in Hollywood. But some pulled clips from her red carpet interviews, trolling her for her American accent. Speaking in the interview, Avantika explained the concept of code-switching and called out trolls for being mean to her. She said, I was born and raised in the US; its natural for me to have an American accent. A lot of immigrant kids code-switch, as in, we speak in an English accent at school and an Indian accent at home. But, I think the Telugu audience is unfamiliar with it. I was trolled for how I speak in English, but I cant speak Telugu everywhere, right? Avantika added that if she were in their place, she would be proud that a Telugu girl was reaching places and would try to uplift her, instead of pulling her down. When a Telugu girl gains success in Hollywood, she should be supported. Its unfair I was trolled for my accent. I would be proud and want to uplift, instead of troll. I thought people would be proud of me. I will keep doing what I will because my family is proud of me and their opinions are the only ones that matter, she said. About Avantika For the unversed, Avantika was born to a Telugu family in San Francisco, California, US. Her family is originally from Hyderabad and she debuted in 2016 with Mahesh Babu-starrer Brahmotsavam. She later starred as a child actor in films like Naga Chaitanyas Premam, Rarandoi Veduka Chudham and Pawan Kalyans Agnyaathavaasi. She also debuted in Tamil with Aishwarya Rajeshs 2021 film Boomika. She was recently seen in Mean Girls and will soon be seen in Tarot. She plays Ludo in the Prime Video India Original series Big Girls Don't Cry, which began streaming this week. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Perfect Match season 2 received a special shoutout at the Love is Blind 6 reunion, sparking speculations about its release date. The romance reality show, which aired its first season on Netflix in 2023, was a total hit. Now, the show is gearing up for its second season, reportedly featuring cast members from shows like Love is Blind, The Ultimatum, Too Hot to Handle, and more. Here's everything to look forward to before the show lands on the OTT space. Perfect Match season 2 (Netflix) Perfect Match season 2 release date Netflix has confirmed that the show is premiering this summer. However, a fixed airing date is yet to be determined by the OTT platform. Host Lachey also confirmed the same during the Love is Blind 6 reunion. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: BTS V FRI(END)S MV explained: Kim Taehyungs romance is torn between two worlds Who will be in Perfect Match Season 2? Single stars from Netflix's popular dating shows, including Love Is Blind, The Ultimatum, Too Hot to Handle, The Circle, The Mole, Sexy Beasts, etc., are set to grace Perfect Match 2. Here is the list of confirmed contestants: Jessica Vestel from Love is Blind 6: Jess, who walked out of the pods without finding her blind commitment after Jimmy Presnell chose Chelsea Blackwell, is looking forward to more adventure. She was announced as a cast member during the reunion. Micah Lussier from Love is Blind 5: Micah is another confirmed contestant for Perfect Match 2. She was engaged to Paul Peden, but their relationship ended right before the wedding. Izzy Zapata from Season 5: Izzy was engaged to Stacy Snyder in Season 5, but Stacy called off the wedding. Perfect Match Season 2 rumoured contestants The other names that are rumored to be on the show include: Byron Constantin Squid game: The Challenge season 1, Irina Solomonova Love Is Blind season 4, Trevor Sova Love Is blind season 6 and Tolu kundare The Trust: a game of greed. Also read: Netflix One Piece Live-Action Season 2 gets exciting release date update; filming starts soon Who will host Perfect Match Season 2? The show feels incomplete without Nick Lachey, and Season 2 is rumored to feature his return as the host. Nick, known for his background as a former boy band member and his expertise in romance, has previously hosted successful shows such as Love Is Blind and The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On. Perfect Match season 2 filming location Season 1 of the show was filmed at Casa Naga, a tropical villa located in the beach town of Playa Bonita in Panama. Season 2 is reportedly set to continue filming at the same location. Under the policy, the consumers who do not get subsidy for using more than 400 units per month can now install rooftop solar panels and get zero bills. HT Image The power bills of commercial users will be halved if they go for rooftop plants, said the statement of Delhi government. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Currently, domestic consumers receive zero bills up to 200 units monthly consumption while monthly consumption 50 percent subsidy is given for 201-400 units. The Delhi Solar Policy, 2023, was announced by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on January 29. The Delhi government will spend 570 crores towards the implementation of the policy, it said. It provides for generation-based incentives' to solar panel installers, allowing for additional earnings of up to 900 per month. Expenses incurred for installing solar panels under the new policy will be recovered within four years, according to the policy. This policy will not only reduce electricity bills for Delhiites but also help in reducing pollution, Power Minister Atishi said. She said the Kejriwal government aims to have 50 per cent of Delhi's total electricity usage from solar energy by 2027. The Delhi government will deposit 3 per unit of electricity generated into the bank account of the consumer. For 3 to 10 kilowatts, money will be deposited at the rate of 2 per unit. The government will continue to provide this generation-based incentive for five years. The amount under GBI will be adjusted against the monthly electricity bill of the consumer. Any excess amount will be deposited into the consumer's bank account by the discom concerned every month. Earlier, GBI amount was transferred only twice a year. A solar portal is being created to make all the information about the Delhi Solar Policy available in one place. All the relevant information related to the policy will be provided. The policy also stipulates installation of rooftop solar plants on all government buildings with rooftop surface area of 500 square meters. For the first time, the Delhi government will provide a capital subsidy to residential consumers of 2,000 per kW of installation up to a maximum of 10,000 per consumer. This will be over and above the capital subsidy of the Central government. Under 'Net Metering', the solar power generated gets offset with the electricity consumed from the grid. So, if a household consumed 400 units and generated 100 units of solar power, it will be billed only for 300 units. This allows the consumers to benefit from reduced electricity bills, the statement said. After net metering, which happens every month, the excess solar units left will be rolled-over into subsequent billing cycles for up to 12 months , it said. Additional income: at the end of the year, in case the solar power generated is more than the consumer's annual electricity demand, the consumer will earn money for the same from the discoms, it said. Currently, around 70 per cent of Delhi's residential consumers get ZERO electricity bill - less than 200 units consumption per month. By installing a rooftop plant under the new policy, partially-subsidized and unsubsidized consumers too can get zero bill every month from the first month itself, it added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Having secured almost 60% of the counted national votes so far, Indonesias current defence minister Prabowo Subianto, and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, his running mate and President Jokowi Joko Widodos son, are set to be declared the winner of the 2024 election in Indonesia. Prabowo is likely to assume the presidents office in October 2024 while Gibran will become the next vice president of the country. However, despite Prabowo-Gibran team doing fairly well in the election, the coalition parties, led by and supporting Prabowo-Gibran duo, could not manage to win a clear majority in the legislative election. Official announcement of the election results is still a few weeks away. Prabowo Subianto gestures.(AFP) On the domestic front, the road ahead for Prabowo doesnt seem difficult provided he manages to keep the opposition seats to the minimum possible numbers following Jokowis model of grand coalition. This, of course, comes with some challenges, including how the cabinet portfolios are distributed. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On several instances in the run-up to the election, Prabowo pledged to continue some of the policies launched by Jokowi. That Jokowis key policies are likely to continue during a Prabowo presidency is due to three reasons: First, having served as a cabinet minister in Jokowi administration holding a key post of the defence minister, Prabowo has witnessed first-hand the success of an orderly governance model albeit not without flaws. This should serve as a point of reference for him. Prabowo has already promised to further implement big infrastructure plans and projects initiated by Jokowi including the shifting of the capital to Nusantara. He also seems supportive of social welfare and security initiatives taken by Jokowi. Secondly, Jokowis policies are likely to be continued by his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka who is all set to become the next vice president. Thirdly, Jokowi himself would like to see his legacy is carried forward. The support of his political party and the presence of his son, and possibly other colleagues as well, in the Prabowo government will ensure Jokowis continued relevance in Indonesian politics. However, key ministers of the Jokowi government have not been very comfortable working with Prabowo. The list includes the foreign affairs minister Retno Marsudi, finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and public works and housing minister Basuki Hadimuljono. It remains to be seen whether these leaders will join the Prabowo government. These key portfolios will shape the overall nature of the Prabowo government. Prabowos family linkages and career history are also likely to play a role in shaping his presidential term. Prabowo is married to former president Suhartos daughter, while his father Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, a noted economist, served as former president Sukarno's minister for the economy and Suharto's minister for research and technology. The family legacy has not only shaped Prabowos political ambitions but is likely to shape his policies as well. Prabowos proposal at the Shangri-La defence ministers dialogue, to create a demilitarised zone and use a United Nations referendum to settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict, drew a lot of criticism both home and abroad could be seen as an example of his ambition to make a mark in international affairs as well. His sour personal relations with the United States (US) on his human rights records is another factor that will shape the Indonesia-US ties. During Jokowis two terms as president, Indonesia-US ties grew from strength to strength. It remains to be seen whether the US will be willing to embrace Prabowo and his government with the same warmth. While he seems keen to work with China on infrastructure projects, his views on the South China Sea dispute should also be factored in. The bigger challenges before him, though, would be on how he follows through on his defence expenditure plans and keeps the Indonesian economy growing at a sustainable pace. Indonesian Gross Domestic Product has been growing at around 5% per annum a remarkable feat, which needed deft economic policies and management. Managing the sustained economic growth momentum is a task Prabowo needs to pay close attention to. Taking a step beyond Jokowis downstreaming policy is expected by many Indonesia watchers. Compared to Jokowi who focussed more on economic growth and welfare, Prabowo seems more inclined to prioritise Indonesias defence and its standing in regional and global affairs. His Indonesia First pledge, articulated during the election campaign, is a sign that a more nationalistic tilt in Indonesian foreign policy is likely to be witnessed. Overall, it seems likely that Probowo will continue the key policies of the Jokowi administration while adding his own preferences and policies. It remains to be seen how he blends the two and keeps his electoral promises. This article is authored by Rahul Mishra, senior research fellow, German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance (CPG), Thammasat University, Thailand and associate professor, Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. This week, three cats and two dogs are looking for forever homes in Delhi-NCR. All of them are playful and in need of some TLC. Wouldn't you give them a chance? Meet these animals in Delhi-NCR, who are searching for forever homes this week. Cuddly baby Clara Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Clara, a friendly German Shepherd, will make your homecoming worthwhile. Clara, an eight-month-old German Shepherd, was surrendered by someone who was unable to care for her any longer. Playful and affectionate, this little one doesnt have a single aggressive bone in her body. She is now looking for an active family that can keep up with her energy and take her out on runs, treks and long drives! Sterilised and vaccinated, she will have to be spayed by her adoptive family. To adopt, WhatsApp text at: 7838433083. The adventures of Kali & Bill Kali (left) and Bill (right) are cuddle masters, and can be adopted individually. Kali (female) and Bill (male), around 1.5 months old, were rescued from the streets a couple of months ago and admitted to a vet clinic by a kind soul. At the time, Kali was paralysed neck down due to a car accident, but she is now healthy and hearty as ever! The cuddle monster is fully vaccinated and neutered. Bill, on the other hand, was found with his ear bitten off. Loving in nature, he will take some time to heal, but can be taken home for self-medication. Both of them love the combo of chicken and rice, and enjoy eating dry food as well. They can be adopted individually. To know more, WhatsApp on 9810370553. Your thoughts on Hahi? Hahi is friendly and playful and loves grabbing her human's attention. Hahi, a 55-day-old indie, is a friendly, playful and brave puppy. When she was just 35 days old, she was separated from her mother, abandoned on the streets and attacked by other dogs. She was then rescued and fostered for a short while. Yet, this sweetheart has not lost all hope and wishes to find parents who will give her love, cuddles and a home she can call her own. Shes capable of grabbing your attention all day long! Her vaccinations have begun and deworming is up to date. To adopt, WhatsApp at 9891071081. Em-paw-yer of the week! Mr Buta Singh enjoys expressing his affection with head butts and purrs. Hiring alert! Are you a dynamic, self-motivated multitasker who exceeds expectations at work with quality, consistency and agility? Mr Buta Singh is looking for a chef, a butler, a masseur and a playmate, all rolled into one! He promises to be a great employer: the employee will get unlimited headbutts, long and soothing purring sessions and the most adorable slow blinks to tell them that they are valued. And if he is in a super nice mood, he will also let them pat his belly; a true privilege! Expect the most gratifying yearly appraisals if youre able to prove your worth. The employer is five months old, litter-trained and vaccinated. To apply, WhatsApp message on 9971267512. Inform us if you know of a pet who needs a home, write to: htcity.pets@gmail.com For more, follow @htcity.delhijunction At least seven assistant engineers (AEN) of the discom department in Deeg district of Rajasthan have sought transfer to different areas accusing state minister Jawahar Singh Bedham of threatening them constantly against taking any action on the bill defaulters in the district, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday. Jawahar Singh Bedham did not respond to the repeated calls made by HT for his remarks over the incident (@BedamSingh/X) The development came after an AEN was slammed with an awaiting posting order (APO) on Thursday after he protested against Bedham. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The officials also submitted a memorandum to the Discom headquarter in Jaipur on Friday alleging that Bedham, since Wednesday, has been threatening them of brutal assault if they disconnect the transformers of bill defaulters without his permission. They said that they might have a life-risk if they continued working in the area. Earlier on Wednesday, following the direction of Nagar block AEN Chandra Prakash Meena, a few officials of the Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL), posted in Deeg, had visited seven villages Arsi, Bedgama, Sundaravli, Nogava, Akbarpur, Foujdar and Ishnaka and disconnected 11 transformers of bill defaulters. The minister (who is also Nagar constituency MLA) called us and asked to return the transformers. He also asked us not to visit the village further without his permission following which we failed to get hold of the due payments from those customers due to such political interference, the staff said in the memorandum, a copy of which HT has seen. Later, on Thursday, the minister again called Meena and his staff in the meeting hall of the Deeg Panchayat Samiti, where he also called some defaulters from Isaka village. During the meeting, he forced Meena to return the transformers and asked us again to not take action. When Meena protested his decision, Bedham threatened to assault him and break his arms and legs if he takes such action in future against those customers, they said in the memo. Following the meeting, where the Deeg district collector Shruti Bharadwaj, Deeg discom superintendent engineer Yuvraj Asliwal and a few local police officials were present, the minister also issued an order on the same evening, putting Meena on an APO. Alleging their incapability in recovering due revenue of the government due to the ministers dictatorship and political interference, the seven AENs submitted the memorandum to superintendent engineer Asliwal on Friday and sought an immediate transfer considering the risk of their life. Claiming that they also have the call records of Bedhams conversation as evidence, they said: We are facing life threat. We are scared that we may face similar fate as of AEN Harshsdhipati Valmiki in Bari of Dholpur. Hence, the department is hereby requested to kindly transfer us in different areas. We will also not be answerable anymore for failing to get hold of the due revenue. Valmiki, a Dalit AEN of the department, was brutally assaulted by the then-Congress MLA Girraj Malinga on March 28, 2022 at his office in Dholpur for removing the transformers of bill defaulters in a village belonging to Thakur caste. He sustained around 22 fractures during the incident and is still undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jaipur. Meanwhile, Meena said, I was newly posted in the ministers constituency. Our department directed us to recover revenue and take legal action against defaulter customers. I was threatened by the minister and he also forced me to not take action. He also forced me to not take action in Gurjar dominated villages. My colleagues are also scared. Reacting to the development, Bharatpur zonal chief engineer Umesh Gupta said, We have to recover the revenue due in March but defaulters dont want to pay the bill. We are trying to solve the grievances of customers. Public and political leaders must support us to collect revenue for the department. Bedham meanwhile did not respond to the repeated calls made by HT for his remarks over the incident. Even as the five-party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-Congress-Left parties Mahagathbandhan, or Grand Alliance, is still busy finalising the seat-sharing deal for Bihars 40 Lok Sabha seats ahead of the general elections, there are indications that the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD, the biggest constituent in the Grand Alliance, is facing a tough time negotiating a sweet deal with the major Left party constituent, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation), or CPI-ML-Liberation. The reason is the CPI-ML-Liberations growing dependability as a trusted ally for the RJD. The Left partys strike rate in the 2020 assembly polls left a deep impression on Lalu, as well as on his younger son and heir apparent, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Of the 19 seats that the Grand Alliance allotted to CPI-ML-Liberation in the 2020 assembly polls, the latter won 12. In terms of vote share, CPI-ML-Liberation won 12 seats with just a 3.16% vote share, while RJD won 75 out of 144 seats with a 23.11% vote share, as per Election Commission of India data. The results had left the RJD top brass wondering whether it had been a miscalculation on their part to give fewer seats to CPI-ML-Liberation, which had last won an impressive eight seats in the 2005 February assembly polls, though only five in the subsequent assembly polls held in November that same year. In 2005, Bihar had witnessed two assembly polls in quick succession after a stint of President's Rule. The Grand Alliance now comprises five parties: RJD, Congress, CPI-ML (Liberation), Communist Party of India, and Communist Party of India (Marxist), after Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) exited the Grand Alliance this January. The JD(U) realigned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form the state government on January 28, 2024. In the previous Grand Alliance government which lasted from August 2022-Jan 2024, CPI-ML-Liberation did not join the government but remained a key ally. The other factor that has catapulted the outfit to an envious position of vote-transferring capability since the early 1990s is CPI-ML-Liberations cadre-based structure and substantial support base among weaker sections from backward classes/ scheduled castes. The ultra-left outfit CPI-ML-Liberation, formed in the late 1970s by late former general secretary Vinod Mishra, joined mainstream parliamentary politics after coming overground In the early 1990s. After Mishra's death in December 1998, the partys young leader Dipankar Bhattacharya took over as general secretary and continued to serve in that position for successive terms till date. "CPI-ML-Liberation has a vote transferring capability and it is crucial for entities like RJD, which after successive losses in the past two parliamentary polls since 2014, is keen on winning a good number of seats by defeating the BJP-JD(U)-led NDA. After the 2020 assembly election, RJD has realised that CPI-ML-Liberation's support is required to give a tough fight to the NDA, as the left party continues to have a support base among the poorest sections of backward classes and scheduled castes in central and north Bihar," said a senior RJD leader. History of MLs rise, love and hate with RJD The CPI-ML-Liberations rise as a major Left party in Bihar was quite dramatic, in the milieu of post-Mandal Commission Bihar, when in the early 1990s caste politics took centre stage as the erstwhile Janata Dal under Lalu mobilised backward classes to fight for government job reservations and bulldoze the upper caste hegemony. CPI-ML-Liberation has been known for its assertive movements for land reforms in the early 1980s, through its front Indian People's Front (IPF). The IPF was the face when CPI-ML-Liberation was still underground, to mobilise marginalised farmers and oppressed classes against landlords in central and north Bihar. Later, after coming overground in 1992 to join parliamentary politics, the CPI-ML-Liberation emerged as a strong baiter of the RJD, which emerged from a split in the erstwhile Janata Dal. The CPI-ML-Liberation criticised the RJD for playing caste-based politics in the name of a social justice agenda, and for not addressing law and order challenges properly. The CPI-ML-Liberation was also fighting tooth and nail against RJD strongman and former Siwan MP Mohammad Shahabuddin. CPI-ML-Liberation youth leader Chandrashekhar was killed by gunmen in Siwan in March 1997, a trigger event after which the party took on the RJD then in power under Lalus wife Rabri Devi as Chief Minister hammer and tongs in Siwan and across Bihar. Observers like Rakesh Tiwary, a social scientist based in Patna, feel CPI-ML-Liberations main agenda of empowering the poorest among the poor and pushing a social justice campaign by championing the cause of land reforms, has been its USP and helped it keep its identity as a Left party, when other major Left parties CPI and CPM found much of their support bases eroded by the RJDs caste-based platform. However, CPI-ML-Liberation has also been often criticised for supporting RJD covertly at times of crisis, like abstaining from the trust vote when the RJD formed the government with a slight majority along with the Congress in 2000, after the NDA led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar failed to muster support to prove its majority after a week-long stint in power. In 2015, following the Narendra Modi-led BJP coming to power at the centre, CPI-ML-Liberation chose to align with the RJD-led Grand Alliance, which then also included Nitishs JD(U). In 2017, the JD(U) walked out of the Grand Alliance to realign with the BJP-led NDA. CPI-ML-Liberation and RJD have come closer in the wake of the changed social and political scenario. Our common aim is to defeat the BJP, which is in power at the centre. Besides, we do have some agendas in common with RJD, like social justice and fighting against the feudal order. Of course, CPI-ML-Liberation stands for radical social justice and there could be some contradictions, but we are united in the Mahagathbandhan on a common agenda to fight forces which are trying to weaken secularism and change the constitution, Dhirendra Jha, politburo member of CPI-ML-Liberation, told HT. Insiders in the Grand Alliance feel the RJD and CPI-ML-Liberation bonhomie since 2015 has intensified as both the outfits know well how the rise of aggressive Hindutva politics was a potential threat to their own support base among weaker sections. Their concern is especially about their eroding support among EBCs extremely backward castes that comprise 36% of the state population per the Bihar caste-based survey, released in October 2023 and Dalits, as past state and Lok Sabha polls have witnessed a shift of some OBC, EBC and Dalit votes towards the BJP. For CPI-ML-Liberation, its more a compulsion than the choice to align with RJD and vice versa, as both are facing a challenge to keep their vote base intact among the poorest of poor, among OBCs, EBCs and Dalits. CPI-ML-Liberation also feels the RJDs substantial vote base, especially among religious minorities and Yadavs, might help it to win more assembly and parliamentary seats as it did in 2020 polls," said one senior RJD leader. CPI-ML-Liberation recently got a berth in State Legislative Council with support from the RJD, after having made a strong demand for one Rajya Sabha seat in the last biennial polls. Seat-sharing blues Despite the bonhomie between the parties intensifying over the past few years, the seat-sharing deal between RJD and the major left constituent appears to be facing some roadblocks, as CPI-ML-Liberation is keen on settling on not less than five parliamentary seats against its demand for eight. On March 14, the CPI-ML-Liberation leaders led by politburo member Dhirendra Jha and senior leader KD Yadav had met RJD state president Jagdanand Singh along with other leaders to thrash out a seat-sharing deal, but the meeting was inconclusive. " We want a respectable share of seats. Of course, we are in the Grand Alliance and would be in it. But at the same time, we want the seat adjustment to be favourable for us, said Kunal, CPI-ML-Liberation state secretary. Insiders in both parties said they are working on a seat-to-seat basis, with CPI-ML-Liberation keen on the Ara, Jehanabad, Karakat, Patna Saheb, Siwan and Katihar seats. The hitch, according to sources, is on a few seats like Katihar where Congress, a senior member of the Grand Alliance, is a strong claimant keen to field senior leader and former MP Tariq Anwar, while Jehanabad and Siwan are strongholds of the RJD itself. We are in no way giving up our claim on the Katihar seat. We have a substantial share in Katihar and Seemanchal and we feel we have a winning chance. If its not given, it would only affect the Grand Alliances winning prospects, said a senior CPI-ML-Liberation leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Jha too asserted that CPI-ML-Liberations importance as a major Left constituent is still not being acknowledged as much as it should have been, indicating that the party wants a bigger slice in seat distribution, no matter whether this suits RJD's poll plans, or not. The party has clarified that it would contest polls as part of GA irrespective of seat-sharing. At the Grand Alliances Jan Vishwas rally on March 3 in Patna, CPI-ML-Liberation had displayed its strength by mobilising a big crowd of its supporters. We do not feel the RJD would be less generous in giving us seats, as otherwise, it would not send the right message," said a senior CPI-ML-Liberation leader. State RJD president Jagdanand Singh said the seat-sharing deal would be done within a day or two. It will be done soon, he told HT. There are speculations that the RJD might contest 25-28 seats on its own and allot three to four seats to ML, and five to six seats to Congress and distribute one seat each to the CPM and CPI. Children play with bubbles Saturday during the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day Celebration in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Micheal Smith, the Consul General of Ireland in San Francisco interacts with a crowd at the 173rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle A group on a bus participates in the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day Parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle A group participates in the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day Parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle A kid wears a San Francisco shirt during Saturdays St. Patricks Day parade. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Hannah Logar waves during the St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle A group on a bus participates in the St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle A group on a bus participates in the St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Children march in the St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Bagpipers march up Market Street during the St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott and Mayor London Breed march in the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Lotus Yee Fong perched on decades-old rail ties on her float, threading a cord through a bamboo work hat, waiting for San Franciscos St. Patricks Day parade to begin. More than 150 years ago, the citys Irish and Chinese residents toiled through stone, muck, timber and sand to build the Transcontinental Railroad. The feat was like landing on the moon, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Yes, Fongs ancestors hail from Asia, not County Cork. But more than a century ago, many of the ancestors of the citys Chinese community labored away on the Transcontinental Railroad alongside their Irish brethren. A group dances at the San Francisco St. Patricks Day Parade. Benjamin Fanjoy The Chronicle And on Saturday, members of the two ethnic groups gathered on float 31 sporting railroad ties and rails pulled from Irish Hill in honor of that shared effort. The joint labor of the Chinese and Irish on the railroad made the prosperity of San Francisco possible, said Elizabeth Creely of Irelands consulate general in San Francisco. Some of the rail ties were also destined for the forthcoming Irish Cultural Museum of San Francisco, said Leo Cassidy, who helped design and build the float. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Creely and Fong were among more than 10,000 people who traveled downtown to celebrate St. Patricks Day, part of a line of revelers so long that it stretched more than a dozen blocks from the parade start at Second and Market streets past Harrison Street. The San Francisco St. Patricks Day parade turns off Market Street on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy The Chronicle Saturdays celebration marked the 173rd anniversary of the first St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco. Irish tap dancers from the Whelan Academy of Irish Dance were among the revelers, while some floats representing the citys trades groups carried plasterers, builders and pipe fitters, some sipping from red Solo cups. A group of Freemasons was among the participants, while nearby, a group of DeLorean enthusiasts rode in five immaculately maintained vehicles. Thirty huge Irish wolfhounds and their owners stalked among the revelers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Were here every year to represent the breed, and how wonderful they are, said Robyn McInerney. Kieran, her Irish wolfhound, loomed at her side, a 180-pound beast that looked more dire wolf than dog. A contingent marches up Market Street during the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Down the way, Bob Stanley stood with Tessa, his year-old Kerry blue terrier. Theyre very strong-willed and affectionate, he said. They make a great guard dog. Stanley hoped that showing the blue terriers might inspire others to consider adopting or raising them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Drum lines rattled and boomed, and trumpets blared as the shifting sea of people snaked down Second Street. Several streets were closed and Muni vehicles rerouted for the parade and festival. A contingent marches up Market Street during the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day parade in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle The parade ended at Civic Center, culminating in UniteSF, a festival with food and live music, said parade organizer James Quinn of the United Irish Societies. He moved to San Francisco 25 years ago from Ireland at age 20, started a business and married a local, he said. This years festival had many new groups, Quinn said, adding that he hoped for a day of radical inclusivity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is San Francisco, he said. Chinese, Irish and Latinos have walked arm in arm for 150 years in this fine city of ours. He also hoped to remind residents that San Francisco was more than the doom and gloom heaped upon it in recent years. Every city has people living in tents, he said. This is a worldwide problem. But if you turn on the news on TV, its just in San Francisco. Landon, 6, waves a flag Saturday during San Franciscos 173rd annual St. Patricks Day parade and celebration. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Quinn hoped that in future years, the city would be able to hold similar festivals, making St. Patricks Day festivities similar to the citys Outside Lands summer concerts. A few blocks down from Fong and Creely, Girl Scouts Royal Ramsay, Cove Johnson Rabidoux and Adele Richardson stood under a trio of flags. Are you selling cookies today? someone yelled. No, they said, but it would have been a good idea. For the girls, the parade was their first. They planned to march with their troop, buy some merchandise, and hang out in the warm sun. The parade wound into Civic Center until well past 2 p.m., with the UniteSF celebration continuing until 6 p.m., followed by an after-party in the Outer Sunset at the United Irish Cultural Center. Celebrations Sunday were to include a Green Fest block party at 45th Avenue and Wawona Street, as well as a block party outside the Lark Bar at Market and Kearny streets, both at noon. Ronan Mulligan from the band the Hooks performs at the 173rd annual St. Patricks Day Celebration in San Francisco on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle The Civic Center roster included the Hooks band, the Whelan Academy of Irish Dance, the accordion-fiddle duo of Felim Egan and Darcy Noonan, the Glide Ensemble and Change Band, and the Dublin Soul band. Sinead OConnor and Shane MacGowan, two Irish titans of contemporary music who died in 2023, were also memorialized Saturday. Several other Bay Area cities planned St. Patricks Day events all weekend. Quinn, the organizer, said he hoped to see the San Francisco event grow even bigger next year. Amid a row over the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday questioned the fate of 1.5 lakh Muslims, who were allegedly left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list in Assam. AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad.(PTI) Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday, days after the BJP-led Centre published the rules for implementing CAA across the country, Owaisi questioned how Muslims left out of NRC will be given citizenship. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus listed in the NRC conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under CAA, but what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims? People are saying nothing is going to happen immediately. I want to tell them that things take time to unfold Owaisi was quoted as saying by ANI. The AIMIM chief claimed that Muslims left out of the NRC list will be asked to prove their descent by tracing their ancestry from 1962 or even 1951 at the Foreigners' Tribunal. "They will be asked if they came in 1962 or 1951. They will be asked to show documents and birth certificates of their grandfathers. Those 1.5 lakh Muslims will be asked to fight it out at the Foreigners' Tribunal," the AIMIM chief said, according to ANI. Also Read | MHA launches mobile app for applicants seeking citizenship under CAA He also said out that home minister Amit Shah has in the past mentioned that CAA will be followed by the nationwide exercise of NRC and the National Population Register (NPR). "Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament that NPR and NRC will also be implemented. Did he not talk about NPR and NRC in TV interviews?" the Hyderabad MP said. Owaisi, however, pointed out that he was open to the idea of granting citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries but the methodology for doing that should not be based on religion. "The government must give citizenship to people who come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, but on the basis of religion," he said. Opposition on CAA The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government on Monday implemented CAA, the law that paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. The development came four years after Parliament passed the law in December 2019. The notification of the Act triggered criticism from Opposition leaders, who claimed that the notified rules were unconstitutional, discriminatory and violative of the secular principle of citizenship enshrined in the Constitution. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear a clutch of pleas demanding that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, be stayed, and that no coercive steps be taken against persons belonging to the Muslim community. Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday reacted to the Supreme Court's verdict on electoral bonds, saying that the scheme was an initiative to end the domination of black money in Indian politics. He said the scheme should have been improved rather than scrapped. Union Home Minister Amit Shah.(ANI) "Electoral bonds were introduced to end the influence of black money in Indian politics. Everyone has to accept the decision given by the Supreme Court. I fully respect the Supreme Court decision. But I feel that instead of completely scrapping the electoral bonds, it should have been improved," Shah said at an interaction at the India Today Conclave. In a landmark verdict delivered on February 15, a five-judge Constitution bench scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it "unconstitutional". It also ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose details on donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients. On March 14, the Election Commission of India (ECI) uploaded the electoral bonds data a day before the deadline set by the Supreme Court in the high-profile case. During Friday's interaction, Shah said that there is a perception that the BJP benefitted from the electoral bonds scheme because it is in power. I want to make my stance clear about it. Out of the total 20,000 crore electoral bonds, the BJP has got approximately 6,000 crore. Where did the rest of the bonds go? TMC has got 1,600 crore, Congress got 1,400 crore, BRS got 1,200 crore, BJD got 750 crore and DMK got 639 crore, Shah said. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi calls electoral bonds an extortion racket by PM Modi He added: "We have got 6,000 crore despite having 303 MPs and the rest got 14,000 crore against 242 MPs. What is the hue and cry about? I can say that once the accounts are settled they will not be able to face you all," he said. Further, the home minister also pointed out that prior to the implementation of the electoral bonds, Opposition parties used to take political donations in cash. Shah alleged that out of a donation of 1,100, they used to deposit 100 in the name of the party and keep 1,000 in their own pockets. What electoral bonds scheme data shows? The data shared by the State Bank of India shows that around 1,260 companies and individuals bought 22,217 bonds worth 12,155.51 crore between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024. In this period, 20,421 bonds worth 12,769.09 crore were redeemed by 23 political parties, with the BJP leading the pack with a war chest of 6,061 crore (47.5% of total redeemed value), followed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with 1,610 crore (12.6%) and Congress with 1,422 crore (11.1%). Also Read | What does Electoral Bond data published by the ECI tell us? Tamil Nadu-based Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated the biggest sum in these five years 1368 crore. Andhra Pradesh-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited donated 891 crore, Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited donated 410 crore, Vedanta Limited donated 400 crore and Haldia Energy Limited donated 377 crore. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, Sunil Bharti Mittal's Bharti Airtel, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, DLF, PVR, Birlas, Bajajs, Jindals, Spicejet, IndiGo and the Goenkas were among the notable names who donated to the parties. The voting for the 175-member Andhra Pradesh assembly will be held in a single phase, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. As per the announcement, voters will cast their votes on May 13. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4, announced chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly(File) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Here's the complete schedule for the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls: Issue of notification: April 18 Last date of notification: April 25 Scrutiny of nomination: April 26 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: April 29 Date of poll: May 13 Results: June 4 The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for a smooth and fair polling ensuring a level-playing field, the CEC said. In the 2019 legislative assembly elections, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) won 151 assembly seats with a vote share of around 49.5%, and forming the government under chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The (Telugu Desham Party) TDP won 23 seats in the assembly, with a vote share of 39.5%. The Jana Sena Party won just one assembly seat. The BJP, meanwhile, drew a blank in both Lok Sabha and state assembly, barely managing a vote share of 0.9%. Read here: TDP seals Andhra Pradesh deal with BJP, rejoins NDA ahead of Lok Sabha polls This time, the BJP has sealed its alliance with the TDP and Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, ending days of suspense and paving the way for the N Chandrababu Naidu-led partys return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold after a gap of six years. The three parties have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly elections in alliance. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is excavating a site in Madhya Pradesh, hoping to find India's oldest temple. The digging is underway in Nachne village where the experts have zeroed in on two mounds. The excavation sites are just 30 metres away from two ancient temples- a Gupta-era Parvati temple- and close to Chaumukhi temple, built by the Kalachuri Dynasty. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is excavating a site in Madhya Pradesh, hoping to find India's oldest temple. (Getty Images) "We are carrying out this excavation with the objective of finding the oldest temple in India," ASI superintending archaeologist(Jabalpur circle) Shiva Kant Bajpayee told The Times of India. He added that the excavation work began on March 4 and would take 3-4 months to complete. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. ALSO READ| Ayodhya Ram Temple: Check new guidelines for entry rules, aarti timing Bajpayee informed that the oldest known temples in India are from the Gupta era (4th to early 6th century CE). He added that a majority of the earliest known temples of the country are in Madhya Pradesh- Temple No. 17 in Sanchi, the Nachne Parvati temple, Tigwa's Vishnu Temple and Bhumara's Shiva Temple. The excavation team hopes to find pre-Gupta-era temples. "If we are not able to find it here, we will continue our exploration in the area as it cannot be that only Gupta-era temples exist. There can be temples older than that," said Bajpayee. ALSO READ| No special or VIP darshan at Ram temple, clarifies trust As per The Times of India report, the site has eight archaeological mounds. The excavation team has got permission to dig two mounds. Both mounds are nearly two metres in height and spread over 1000 sqm. The voting for the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh assembly will be held in a single phase, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. As per the announcement, voters will cast their votes on April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4, announced chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Arunachal Pradesh assembly (File ) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Here's the complete schedule for the Sikkim assembly polls: Issue of notification: March 20 Last date of notification: March 27 Scrutiny of nomination: March 28 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: March 30 Date of poll: April 19 Results: June 4 The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for a smooth and fair polling ensuring a level-playing field, the CEC said. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP retained power by winning 41 seats and formed government under chief minister Pema Khandu, while, Janata Dal (United) won seven, NPP won five, Congress - four, Peoples Party of Arunachal Pradesh - one and the remaining two seats were secured by Independents. Read here: BJP announces candidates for all 60 seats for Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls Meanwhile, the BJP announced candidates for all 60 seats for the assembly elections. The party has fielded C, Khandu from the Mukto seat, the same seat he represented in 2019, while his deputy Chowna Mein would fight from his home constituency, Chowkham. Significantly, the BJP dropped 14 of its sitting MLAs, including three ministers in the present cabinet. The ministers left out are home minister Bamang Felix (Nyapin), industries minister Tumke Bagra (Alo West) and agriculture minister Tage Taki (Ziro Hapoli). Congress and other parties like the National Peoples Party are yet to announce their candidates for the assembly election. Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be held on April 19 and in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on May 13 while the results will be declared on June 4, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar announcing the schedule. (HT PHOTO) The polls in the four states will be held along with the worlds largest democratic exercisethe Lok Sabha elections. The first phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on April 19, and the seventh and the last on June 1. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained power in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019, winning 41 of the 60 seats. The Janata Dal (United) got seven, the National Peoples Party (NPP) five, Congress four, and the Peoples Party of Arunachal Pradesh one seat. On Wednesday, the BJP announced candidates for all 60 seats in Arunachal. In neighbouring Sikkim, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) formed the government in 2019 as it won 17 of 32 seats. The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won 15 seats. The poll schedule was announced even as confusion continued over the alliance between BJP and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik held a second meeting of BJD leaders on Thursday over the alliance but there was no word on the finalisation of the tie-up. State BJP chief Manmohan Samal, who attended a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday night, said on X on Thursday that the party will fight alone in Odisha and form the government before deleting the post. He later told reporters that the discussions continued. In 2019, Patnaik retained Odishas top post for a fifth term as the BJD won 115 of the 147 assembly seats. He equalled the record of Pawan Chamling (Sikkim) and Jyoti Basu (West Bengal). In Andhra Pradesh, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) stormed to power in 2019, winning 151 assembly seats and a vote share of 49.5%. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which won 23 assembly seats, will contest the 2024 polls in alliance with Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party and the BJP. It returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after six years. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday moved the Supreme Court seeking to stay the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, reported ANI. All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.(PTI) In his petition, Owaisi said that no applications seeking a grant of citizenship status can be entertained or processed by the government under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act,1955 (as it stands amended by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019) during the pendency of the proceedings. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The CAA was passed by the Parliament in December 2019. However, rules for it were issued by the Union government earlier this week on Monday. The law aims to fast-track citizenship to non-Muslim refugees, who came to India because of religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014. Over two hundred connected petitions, filed in the top court since 2019, have challenged various CAA provisions. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on March 19. The notification of the Act triggered criticism from Opposition leaders, who claimed that the notified rules were unconstitutional, discriminatory and violative of the secular principle of citizenship enshrined in the Constitution. Owaisi argues that the law by the Modi government is against the constitution. This law made by the Modi government four years ago is against the constitution. You cannot make laws on the basis of religion. There are several Supreme Court judgments on this. CAA is against the Right to Equality, he has said. Other critics of the CAA also argue that by excluding Muslims from its purview and linking citizenship to religious identity, the law undermines the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The Centre, however, has maintained that the CAA is about granting citizenship and that no citizen of the country will lose citizenship. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also asserted that CAA will never be taken back and the BJP-led government will never compromise with it. Chhattisgarh Police have filed a case naming former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as an accused in the Mahadev Online Book app scam, estimated to be worth 6,000 crore, a development that could lead to legal problems for the Congress leader ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader and ex-Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (File Photo) Baghel has been charged with various sections pertaining to cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act in a first information report (FIR) filed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur on March 4. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Those named along with Baghel in the FIR include Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, 16 other named accused persons, and unnamed bureaucrats, police officers and officers on special duty (OSDs) during his tenure as the CM. HT has reviewed a copy of the FIR. People familiar with the development said the case naming Baghel has been filed after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sent two references to the state police, on January 8 and 30 this year, based on its findings that reveal the involvement of state government functionaries at the top level for allowing illegal activities of Mahadev in lieu of alleged protection money. The financial crimes probe agency had alleged in November 2023 that Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes worth 508 crore to Baghel. The two are currently in detention in a UAE facility and extradition requests have already been sent through the ministry of external affairs (MEA). The promoters of Mahadev Book App paid huge amounts of protection money to various police officers, administrative officers and influential political persons to stop police from taking any action on their illegal activities. This money used to reach the police and administrative officers through hawala operators, and then further to other senior police officers and influential political persons. This way, several police and administrative officers misused their official position to benefit themselves in the form of protection money and create illegal assets, states the FIR. Read Here: Baghel got 508 cr from Mahadev betting app promoters, says ED; CM dismisses charge Interestingly, the FIR doesnt name any senior police or administrative officers. One of the people cited above said, The ED is likely to register a fresh money laundering case naming Baghel based on this FIR. After losing the assembly elections in December, Baghel is set to fight the Lok Sabha election from the Rajnandgaon seat. HT reached out to Baghels political adviser for a comment from the former CM but there was no response. Read Here | Baghel's sharp dig at ED amid Mahadev app row: Short break after Nov 17 Citing EDs findings, the FIR claims that Mahadev Book App and its associate companies together illegally collected 450 crore worth of proceeds of crime every month. In its communication to Chhattisgarh police on January 8, while asking it to file an FIR, the ED said, Chandrabhushan Verma made a startling disclosure, revealing that police officials/bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh were illicitly receiving bribes to overlook the unlawful betting activities conducted by Mahadev Book. Verma revealed that he was collecting hawala payments and distributing them to senior police officers and OSDs to the CM for ensuring smooth operations of betting websites and as protection money. So far, the ED has filed two charge sheets in the case, including one against Chandrakar and Uppal. The ED has alleged in its charge sheet that Chandrakar got married at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023 and about 200 crore in cash was spent for this event and private jets were hired to ferry his relatives from India to the UAE and celebrities were paid to perform at the wedding. The projected proceeds of crime in the case are about 6,000 crore. So far, assets worth 572.41 crore have been seized or frozen by the ED in this case. This question is best answered by looking at just one chart which plots the BJPs seat share in the 2019 elections and the change in its vote share between the 2014 and 2019 elections. In any election, the best metric to measure whether or not a party has increased popular support, is the vote share number. (ANI) In any election, the best metric to measure whether or not a party has increased popular support, is the vote share number. However, in a federal first-past-the-post election system, which is what India has, an increase in national vote share need not lead to an increase in seat share due to two reasons. Because the BJP has a big regional skew in its performance, this is an important consideration for the BJPs electoral math in the 2024 elections. This is why it is useful to classify states into different categories. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Category I: In nine states and union territories with 58 PCs there is nothing left to conquer for the BJP These are Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and union territories of Delhi, Chandigarh, and Daman & Diu. To be sure, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli are now one UT. Together, they account for 58 parliamentary constituencies (PCs). In all of these PCs, the BJP actually increased its vote share between the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections except in Daman & Diu. Put together, these states had a share of 10.15% in the number of votes polled in the country in the 2019 elections, but their share in BJPs votes in the 2019 elections was much larger at 16.4%. Now, even if the BJP were to increase its vote share in these states, it will add nothing to its Lok Sabha tally of 2019 because there is nothing left to win in these states. Category II: In another three states with 82 PCs the BJP can add a maximum of two-three PCs These are the states where the BJP won at least 90% of the seats. In the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP won 52 PCs out of the total 54. In the state of Karnataka, the BJP won 25 out of 28 PCs and in one PC, the party supported an independent candidate who went on to win. In Karnataka, the BJP will actually contest fewer PCs than it did in 2019 because of an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular). This means that even in a clean-sweep scenario, the BJP will not add more than 2-3 PCs to its Lok Sabha tally in these states. Category III: BJPs potential gains are also very limited in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and Assam In the first three states, the BJP won at least 75% of the seats. In Uttar Pradesh, the party won 62 out of 80 PCs and suffered a loss in seat share (it won 71 in 2014) despite increasing its vote share. However, the BJP is likely to contest fewer PCs in Uttar Pradesh than in 2019 because of the inclusion of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). If RLD and Apna Dal contest two PCs each, the BJP will be contesting 76 PCs in the state. This means it can add a maximum of 14 PCs from Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, even if the BJP were to win all PCs in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand (it did not contest all of the 14 PCs in 2019) it will add a maximum of five PCs. In Assam, the BJP contested 10 out of the 14 PCs in the state and won nine . If the alliance formula remains unchanged, it can gain just one more seat from the state. Read Here | Lok Sabha election schedule takeaways: All you need to know about poll dates Category IV: States which the NDA swept, but BJP was not a dominant partner in 2019 They are Maharashtra and Bihar with 48 and 40 PCs respectively. In 2019, the BJP won 23 out of the 25 PCs it contested in Maharashtra and all 17 PCs contested in Bihar. But almost half of the PCs in these states went to NDA allies in the state. In these states, the BJPs seat count, even in the event of an NDA clean sweep, will depend on the number of seats it contests this time. There are reports that the BJP could contest 30 seats in Maharashtra, but the final formula is yet to be announced. Category I to IV states account for 266 out of the BJPs 303 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 elections. Unless the alliance formula in some of these states changes significantly in the BJPs favour, the BJP is unlikely to add more than 25 seats to its Lok Sabha tally even in a clean sweep scenario. Category V: States where the BJP was a credible second force in 2019 They are West Bengal and Odisha with 42 and 21 PCs respectively. The BJP won 18 and 8 seats from West Bengal and Odisha in 2019 and increased its vote share in both these states compared to 2014. Theoretically, the BJP can make the biggest gains from these two states (37 PCs) even with a small increase in vote share. To be sure, if the BJP were to ally with the Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, its potential gains could be limited. Read Here | Lok Sabha elections: These 5 regions will witness fierce Modi vs Opposition faceoff Category VI: Southern challenge for BJP The BJP won no seats in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and won four in Telangana in 2019. Put together these four states account for 101 PCs in the Lok Sabha. Apart from Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP has allied with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) it is contesting the elections on its own in the other three states in this category and is not considered to be among the top two political forces at the moment, although it is expected to gain at erstwhile-ally AIADMKs expense in Tamil Nadu. Unless the BJP manages to surprise everyone, this is the most difficult part of the BJPs 2024 challenge. Category I to VI state and union territories account for 511 out of the 543 constituencies in the Lok Sabha. Category VII: Mixed bag This includes the states of Punjab (13), Manipur, Meghalaya and Goa (two each), Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim (one each) and union territories of Jammu and Kashmir (5) and Puducherry, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli (which became part of the combined Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu UT after 2019 Lok Sabha elections), Lakshadweep (one each). The BJP has 7 out of these 32 PCs and is unlikely to make major gains here although it could gain a few seats. US envoy to India Eric Garcetti, reacting to his country's remarks over the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act on Friday, said that the principles of religious freedom and of equality under the law is a cornerstone of democracy. US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti (ANI) Hours after US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed the country's concerns towards the Indian government notifying the rules of CAA, Garcetti said "we understand India's security needs." Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "In America, we feel very strongly about ...that sensitive borders need to be secured. We are a nation of immigrant citizens, we have been enriched by our diversity. Secondly, we understand India's security needs as well. We are well aware of this. But, the principles of religious freedom and of equality under the law is a cornerstone of democracy," he said. Read more: SC agrees to hear pleas for staying CAA rules on March 19 And, that is why we look at these things, it will be easier not to look at our friends. We invite you to do the same with our imperfect democracy, it is not a one-way street. But, you cannot give up on principles, no matter how close you are with friends..., Garcetti further added. At a press conference on Friday, India's Ministry of External Affairs spoke against the comments made by the US government, calling its remarks misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted. MEA said in its press briefing: "The Citizenship Amendment Act is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights. US government's remark on CAA implementation During a press conference on Friday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was asked if his government was concerned over how CAA could impact religious freedom in India. To this, Miller said, We are concerned... we are closely monitoring this law (and) how it will be implemented. The MEA also said in its sharp response: Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India's pluralistic traditions, and the region's post-partition history are best not attempted. Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent in this step. (With inputs from PTI) United Airlines suffered another blow to its image with news Friday that one of its jets lost an external panel from the bottom of the airplane during a flight from San Francisco to Medford, Ore. Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press United Airlines officials said Friday that they discovered that a plane that flew from San Francisco to Oregon was missing an external panel when it landed, the latest in a string of safety incidents involving the U.S. carrier. The panel is on the underside of the aircraft, where the wing meets the aircraft body just adjacent to where the landing gear deploys, United officials said. United Airlines flight 433 took off from San Francisco International Airport at 10:20 a.m. before landing at Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Ore., at 11:36 a.m., according to Flightaware records. When the plane arrived at its arrival gate at the airport, the airline discovered that the external panel was missing, United officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members. The plane did not declare an emergency when it arrived in Oregon because there was no indication of the damage during flight, United officials said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service, United Airlines officials said. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. This is at least the ninth incident involving the Chicago-based airline within the last two weeks: On Thursday, a United airlines jet arrived to SFO with a hydraulic leak and a small amount of smoke. On Monday, an SFO-bound United Airlines flight returned to Australia due to a maintenance issue On March 9, a United Airlines flight returned to Chicago OHare International Airport due to a maintenance issue. On March 8, a United Airlines plane from SFO to Mexico City made an emergency landing in Los Angeles due to a hydraulics issue. Also on March 8, a United Airlines plane rolled off a runway and got stuck in grass at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. On March 7, a United Airlines jet headed to Japan from SFO lost a wheel during takeoff. On March 4, a United Airlines flight from Houston to Florida made an emergency landing after an engine went up in flames midair. Also on March 4, an SFO-bound United Airlines flight from Honolulu safely landed after engine failure mid-flight. New Delhi: The Centre on Friday notified the new Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, to improve the process of film certification and enhance transparency, efficiency and ease of doing business for the film industry. The new rules were notified in accordance with the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Twitter/@CBFC_India) The ministry of information & broadcasting (MIB) in a statement said that the new rules aim to streamline and modernise the film certification process for the digital age, keeping pace with the emerging technologies and advancement in the film sector. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The new rules will provide greater representation of women in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Board & CBFC Advisory Panels, where it is stipulated that one-third of the members in the Board shall be women or preferably half shall be women. It also has a provision of accessibility features for certification to make watching movies and feature films inclusive for disabled persons. The upgraded CBFC rules introduce new age-based categories of certification by further subdividing the existing UA category into three age-based categories seven years (UA 7+), 13 years (UA 13+), and 16 years (UA 16+), instead of 12 years. These age-based markers would be recommendatory, meant for the parents or guardians to consider whether their children should view such a film, the ministry said. The ministry said that the new rules would put in place the system for priority screening of films to enhance transparency and eliminate all discretion. It will also enable a reduction in timelines for the processing of film certification and the adoption of complete digital processes for eliminating all transactional time, said the ministry. The rules also have a provision for priority screening to expedite film screening for certification, in case of any urgency felt by film-maker(s) due to their prior commitments to release the film in line with ease of doing business. The new rules were notified in accordance with the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, replacing the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983. The government had last year amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952, after almost 40 years to comprehensively address the issues relating to film certification. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa was on Friday booked under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Posco) Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at his residence in Bengaluru last month, police said. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa. (PTI) The case has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a detailed inquiry, police added, even as the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader dismissed the allegation and vowed to deal with the matter legally. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. After examining the allegations, police have registered a case. The girls mother had typed the complaint and given it to the police. A probe is underway and until it is done, I cannot comment any further on the matter, state home minister G Parameshwara said. According to a first information report (FIR) registered by Bengaluru Police, and seen by HT, the case against Yediyurappa was registered on the basis of a complaint by the minors mother, who alleged that the 81-year-old touched her daughter inappropriately and molested her on February 2 in his room at his house when she had gone to seek some help. Also Read | BS Yediyurappa after sexual assault allegation: Will contest legally Police said the former chief minister was booked under section 8 of the Pocso Act and section 354A (sexual harassment) of IPC. Section 8 of Pocso Act says that whoever, commits sexual assault, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine. The case has been transferred to CID. As per procedure, since the mother has submitted the complaint, a statement of the minor girl will be recorded before the competent authority. Based on the statement, further action will be taken, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity. Yediyurappa dismissed the allegations, saying he will tackle the matter legally. I have come to know that a complaint has been filed against me by a woman. It must have been a month ago when they used to visit but I did not pay attention. But one day, I was told that they were crying. I called them and asked what happened, he said. They told me that some injustice had happened to them. I then called police commissioner B Dayananda and asked him to hear them out. But then she started talking against me then and there. I thought she was unwell and asked the police commissioner to investigate, he added. We will do whatever has to be done legally. I did not think helping someone would result in this. I had even given some money to them, he said. Yediyurappa is one of the top leaders in the Karnataka BJP. He is the only person to have served four times as chief minister and three times as leader of opposition. The coming elections may see the Congress meet another record. The INDIA bloc, comprising 28 parties, was formed last year to take on BJP. (Hindustan Times) The only time the Congress lost three consecutive Lok Sabha elections was between 1996 and 1999. But in the past two general elections, the party that ruled India for 54 years was so badly trounced by the Bharatiya Janata Party that it fell short of even the number to claim the leader of the oppositions status in the Lok Sabha. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In this election, too, the Congress faces an uphill task . High on confidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi already announced in the Lok Sabha last month that his target for the BJP is 370 seats this time, with the larger National Democratic Alliance crossing the 400 mark. Read Here: Modi, Hindutva, development and welfare pillars of BJP campaign in LS polls The Congress is banking on a number of key factors in its bid to do well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that will be held in seven phases starting April 19. INDIA bloc A combined opposition to take on the BJP seems to be the best bet of the Congress and other political parties. In June, the Congress and 15 other parties met at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars (then a Congress ally) residence to build an opposition bloc that rapidly grew to include 28 parties by the time the grouping met in Mumbai in September. In a subsequent meeting in Bengaluru, the bloc got a name: Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). The new front took inspiration from the United Progressive Alliance that the Congress led, but for better electoral impact, opposition leaders decided to stitch a pre-poll bloc and resolved to share seats. In its initial months, the opposition grouping looked promising. The parties identified common issues and started seat negotiations. The Aam Aadmi Party and Congress even won a mayoral election in Chandigarh. The idea was to try to consolidate the vote shares of different opposition parties in a state and fight against the BJP. Read Here | Narrative to identity: Key factors at play in LS polls We were not together earlier. We could not put common candidates in each seat and Modi took the advantageWe have arrived at a conclusion and an organisation has been formed. We will start the seat sharing arrangements by accommodating everyone. There will be no hurdle, former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad said in Mumbai, summing up the objective of the alliance. But trouble started mounting from January. Miffed by the slow response from the Congress on sharing seats, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on January 24 that her party Trinamool Congress would contest all 42 seats in the state. Four days later, Kumar, a pivotal force of INDIA, dumped the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and Left parties to again form an alliance with the BJP, giving a major jolt to the united oppositions prospects in Bihar, a state that accounts for 40 Lok Sabha seats. Jayant Choudhurys Rashtriya Lok Dal, a party with a footprint in western Uttar Pradesh, was the next to quit INDIA. It joined the NDA on January 12. Congress efforts to bring Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati into the alliance didnt work and now the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, is limited to only Samajwadi Party and Congress. The SP has given one seat to Trinamool. Election 2024: Nearly a billion people to vote in 1.05 million booths; results to be announced on June 4 Even as the alliance suffered roadblocks in key states, the seat discussions in some other places such as J&K, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have made no headway so far. Moreover, the allies have ruled out an alliance in Punjab and Kerala, substantially limiting the scope of the bloc. Congresss guarantees In the UPA era, the Congress focused on right-based laws. This time, the principal opposition party will offer mega sops to social groups such as women, tribals, youth, farmers and workers. The party is also promised a caste census if it comes to power. Championing the cause of the underprivileged, Congress policies such as Minimum Wage Act, MNREGA, EPF Act are testament to our commitment to ensure decent standards of living, fair wages and social security for the weaker sections, Karnatakas deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday, hours before the poll schedule was announced. Carrying forward the legacy, Congress announced Shramik Nyay (justice to workers) and Hissedari Nyay (justice to stakeholders). Watch: Congress, TMC Target EC Over 7-Phase Polls; Telangana CM Stung By 'Bade Bhai' Modi The party has promised to give 1 lakh annually to poor women, 50% reservation for women in government jobs, a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations, fill up 3 million public sector jobs and offer a social security net for unorganized workers. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge has pinned hopes on the poll promises. 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the Door of NYAY for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save Democracy and our Constitution from Dictatorship. We the people of India will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities, he said on Saturday. Rahul Gandhis role The Gandhi scion, now 53, has failed to deliver in two national elections, including one campaign under his leadership. A section of the Congress wants to project party chief and a prominent Scheduled Caste face Kharge as the prime ministerial candidate. But recent events suggest that a prominent section of the party retains the focus on Gandhi, who is also by far the most popular leader in the organization and has a say in most of its decisions. But too much focus on Gandhi, as it has happened in the past two polls, helps the BJP package the election as a Modi vs Rahul Gandhi battle. New Delhi: The Congress partys manifesto that is likely to offer a slew of sops will get final approval from the CWC (Congress Working Committee) that will meet on March 19, people aware of the matter said on Saturday, a day before senior party leader Rahul Gandhi concludes his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai. Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party, and his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attend a roadshow during his 66-day long "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra", or Unite India Justice March in Mumbai on Saturday. (REUTERS) Two senior party leaders said this will be the last meeting of the CWC before the Lok Sabha elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The top item on the agenda is to approve the Congress manifesto for the upcoming elections. The party has already promised to give 1 lakh annually to poor women, 50% reservation for women in government jobs, a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations, fill up 3 million public sector jobs and offer a social security net for unorganised sector workers. Read Here | Congress manifesto for 2024 LS polls will be peoples manifesto: Chidambaram Party president Mallikarjun Kharge has high hopes from the poll promises. 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the Door of NYAY for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save Democracy and our Constitution from Dictatorship. We the people of India will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities, he said on Saturday. The CWC will also pass a resolution to hail the partys former chief Rahul Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which will end on Sunday at Mumbai. The Yatra, a follow-up of the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, started from Manipur in January, and is expected to be hailed as a success. The CWC will also discuss the current political situation and might also put its stamp of approval on the seat-sharing agreements reached in different states between the Congress and its allies, the people cited above said. The last CWC meeting was held on December 21 and it gave its approval to the efforts for seat-sharing arrangements. In the last meeting, party leaders also urged Gandhi to undertake another Yatra that was later named as the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Read Here | CAA rules notified: BJP fulfils another promise made in 2019 poll manifesto Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will preside the CWC meeting. Senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are expected to attend the meeting. In Mumbai, Rahul paid tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at his memorial Chaityabhoomi and targeted the BJP. The largest corporations funnel funds to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) via electoral bonds. When any of these companies come under scrutiny from agencies like the ED or the CBI, they offer financial support to the BJP. Consequently, investigations often seem to fade away without any substantial consequences. In this manner, they extort money, Gandhi said. During an interaction at a conclave here, he also said that India has resources to "take care of our borders", especially disputed borders in the north, very well. HT Image He said this in response to a question on some of the biggest security challenges for India in the 21st century. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "I think if you look at the armed forces, the biggest challenge would be mostly external . And they are of immediate concern. But then external challenge also unite a nation. We have seen it in Kargil, we have seen it in Galwan," Gen Chauhan said. The interaction was on the subject of 'Vision National Security: The Challenges Before the Indian Military' during the India Today Conclave 2024. "As far as the armed forces are concerned, our immediate challenge is the rise of China and the unsettled boundary problem. We have two neighbours, both adversarial to us. Both of them profess that their friendship is higher than the Himalayas and as deep as the oceans. And they are both nuclear capable," the CDS said. But both of them are predictable actually and the Indian military knows that these are the kinds of threats, he said. "What is unpredictable, and for us what the biggest challenge would be, is the way warfare is changing in future. And, because of this, we will have to introduce new weapon systems, technologies and tactics and strategies are going to change. And, probably organisation systems," Gen Chauhan said. "This particular path of how to predict and what paths to take right now so that we are at the right place at the right time that I think is the biggest challenge for us," he added. He was also asked if a "financially weaker Pakistan" continues to remain a threat. "Pakistan may be in economic kind of turmoil and may be politically also slightly unstable, now they have a proper government. But militarily there has been no denting in its capabilities actually. And, we should.. give full marks to the adversary. That's a better way of looking at things, that is how I look at things," the CDS said. "They retained their capabilities..., so, Pakistan remains a threat, you can't say that Pakistan armed forces will not remain a threat. Yes, there may be a challenge for them to fight a long war because of the current economic problems which they have. But they remain a threat for us," he added. The remarks from the top general of the armed forces comes days after the Indian military conducted the mega exercise 'Bharat Shakti' at Pokhran near the international border, where it showcased the prowess of its indigenous defence equipment and platforms. Gen Chauhan and other members of India's top military brass had also witnessed the exercise held in the field firing range located in the arid terrain of Pokhran in Jaisalmer district. As far as the border is concerned, they are "reasonably well secured", the CDS said during the conclave. "We have resources to take care of our borders, especially disputed borders in the north very well," he said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has warned Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi of legal action over his recent remarks on electoral bonds. In a post on X(formerly Twitter), Bordoloi had alleged corruption by the BJP-led Assam government through electoral bonds. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma(File photo) In a post on X, Sarma's office rejected the allegations from Bordoloi, calling them "devoid of any facts" and "entirely baseless". Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "The allegations levelled by Honble MP Shri @pradyutbordoloi is devoid of any facts and is entirely baseless," wrote the Assam CMO. "Through these defamatory statements alleging quid pro quo between Govt of Assam and M/s Bright Star Investments, Honble MP has invited grounds for legal action by the State," added the chief minister. "The Govt of Assam has absolutely no commercial linkage with the said firm. The MoU mentioned is only a philanthropic donation by the said firm to the State Government for constructing the Pragjyotishpur Medical College, work on which is going on swiftly and will be dedicated to the people in the coming days," the post added. Bordoloi has also reacted to Assam CM's warning about legal action. Taking to X(formerly Twitter), he wrote, "I certainly welcome any such move of the Govt of Assam to prosecute me for pointing out the tip of the iceberg of a huge racket called Electoral Bonds! It will provide opportunity to cross examine & have skeletons tumble out of BJP govt's cupboard." ALSO READ| Amid Assam protest over CAA, CM Himanta Sarma's will resign if' vow on NRC What Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi had alleged Bordoloi shared a post on X(formerly Twitter) on Friday, alleging that Assam government signed MOU with a company and BJP received donations via electoral bonds. "As the #ElectoralBondScam unveils how deep rooted corruption in the BJP is, here is a case of how fraudulent 'development' has played out in Assam! Not long before the house of cards comes tumbling down.. @INCAssam," Bordoloi captioned the post. External affairs minister S Jaishankar will travel to Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia this month to drive bilateral relations and discuss regional issues. External affairs minister S Jaishankar. (AP FIle Photo) Jaishankar will begin the five-day official visit on March 23, the external affairs ministry said on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The visit will focus on enhancing bilateral relations with the three countries, and would provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern, the ministry said. Singapore is one of Indias closest partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the two sides have close ties in areas ranging from trade to defence and security. India and Singapore established a real-time link between their digital payment systems last year to facilitate instant and cost effective fund transfers. India has intensified relations with the Philippines, especially in defence, in the last few years. The Philippines became the first overseas customer for the BrahMos cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia and New Delhi has expressed support for Manilas position on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Ties between India and Malaysia had cooled in recent years because of several irritants though both sides have attempted to restore relations to an even keel, especially after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assumed office in 2022. While announcing the schedule for the much-awaited Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) shared an all-phase map, which showed total number of constituencies as 544 instead of 543. When this was pointed out, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar explained that one parliamentary constituency of Manipur will have the distinction of going to the polls twice due to the special situation amid the ethnic violence. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses the press conference announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha polls, (ANI) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Replying to the journalist on the question, CEC Kumar said, "It is because elections will take place twice in one constituency in Manipur." While addressing the press conference, the poll body announced that the much-awaited Lok Sabha elections for the 543 constituencies will be held in seven phases, starting April 19 and would culminate on June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. The phase 1 polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, third phase on May 7, fourth phase on May 13, 5th phase on May 20, 6th phase on May 25 and the last and the 7th phase on June 1. However, one of two constituencies of Manipur, Outer Manipur, would have the chance to cast their votes on two days, considering the recent ethnic violence between the Kukis and Meiteis communities in the north-eastern state. While Inner Manipur constituency will be voting on April 19 (phase 1), outer Manipur will vote on two dates: April 19 (phase 1) and April 26 (phase 2). 15 assembly constituencies falling under Outer Manipur constituency-- Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabok, Wabgai, Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnoo, Chandel (ST), Saikul (ST), Kangpokpi, Saitu (ST), Henglep (ST), Churachandpur (ST), Saikot (ST), and Singhat (ST)-- would vote on April 19. While the remaining assembly segments under the same constituency-- Jiribam, Tengnoupal (ST), Phungyar (ST), Ukhrul (ST), Chingai (ST), Karong (ST), Mao (ST), Tadubi (ST), Tamei (ST), Tamenglong (ST), Nungba (ST), Tipaimukh (ST), and Thanlon (ST)-- will go to polls on April 26. Additionally, the poll body has made an arrangement for the people living in camps in violence-hit state to allow them to vote from their camps in the upcoming polls. Read here: Election schedule to facilitate PM's campaign: Congress, TMC criticise 7-phase plan Responding to a question, CEC Kumar said, "We have drawn a scheme, which we have notified... to allow the voters in the camp to vote from the camp. Like there is a scheme for Jammu and Kashmir migrants... same way the scheme will implemented in Manipur. Voters will be allowed to vote from the respective camps... from the lower constituency to higher and higher to lower." "My appeal to the voters is that let us decide through the ballot, peacefully by participating in the elections, we will make the arrangements," he added. Severe ethnic clashes between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities broke out in Manipur in May last year which caused the loss of over 200 lives. According to officials, over 25,000 people have been rescued by the security forces while around 50,000 are living in camps following the unrest. Former navy chief and a war hero Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away at Secunderabad on Friday due to age-related health issues, according to a statement from Indian Navy. Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas was awarded a Vir Chakra for bravery in the 1971 war with Pakistan (PTI) He was 90. His funeral will be held on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Ramdas, who was the navy chief during 1990-93, is survived by his wife Lalita, their three daughters and their families. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on September 1, 1953, and retired on September 30, 1993. With profound grief and a heavy heart, we regret to announce the sad demise of Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, age 90 years, on #15Mar 24 at Secunderabad. During his illustrious career spanning over 40 years, the Admiral held several important appointments such as Commanding Officer INS Beas during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, FOC-in-C (South) and FOC-in-C (East), and rose to the helm as the 13th #CNS of the #IndianNavy on 01 Dec 1990, the Indian Navy wrote in a post on X. Ramdas was a leading proponent of gender equality in the military, and it was during his term as navy chief that the armed forces began inducting women as short-service commissioned officers with the navy becoming the first service to do so. He settled down at Alibag in Maharashtra after retirement and took on the role of a social activist, championing the case of marginalised communities and minorities. Ramdas, who was awarded a Vir Chakra for bravery in the 1971 war with Pakistan, was also an advocate of peace and nuclear disarmament. He had famously said that he joined the military as a hawk but exited as a dove. He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award in 2004 for promoting peace and understanding between Indian and Pakistan. After the 1998 nuclear tests by India, he signed a public declaration by retired military men declaring that nuclear weapons should be banished from the South Asian region, and indeed from the entire globe. He also served as the Aam Aadmi Partys internal Lokpal. The late Admiral was a stickler for professionalism and perfection, and maintained very high standards, said former navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd). Prakash served as Ramdass naval assistant in 1993 in the rank of commodore. He would never tolerate any slackness. He was well endowed intellectually and was always thinking ahead not just for the navy but for the country. He was on a first- name basis with former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the two would often discuss issues of national significance, said Prakash. The idea of the Indian Navy holding the multi-nation Milan exercise was also floated by Ramdas. While it began with five Indian Ocean region navies in 1995, around 50 navies from across the Indo-Pacific took part in this years edition of the Milan drills. More than 300 people were killed and at least a 1,000 injured in a dozen powerful bomb blasts that had a massive impact all over Bombay on March 12, 1993, gripping the megapolis in panic and fear. A police official at the site of a blast in Worli on March 13, 1993. (Sanjay Sharma/HT Archive) The bombs were meticulously planted over a distance of over 30km, from the Bombay stock exchange building in South Bombay to Centaur Hotel (airport) in the North. By 6pm, hospitals had already received 300 bodies and 500 injured persons -- all victims of bomb blasts. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The army has been put on alert in the city. Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar has also ordered the entire police force to be put on a state of high alert, according to officials. The 29-storey Bombay stock exchange, the countrys premier bourse, was the first to be hit by two powerful blasts sending an estimated 3,000 people in the trading ring running helter-skelter as the mirrors and window panes there shattered, injuring several of them. The blasts apparently originated in the basement car park and in the office of the Bank of Baroda, police and fire brigade officials said. Within a short span, explosions occurred in 11 other places. It all began at 1.20pm. There was a massive explosion in the basement parking of the BSE building. Scores of cars parked in the basement were destroyed beyond repair and at least 40 people were killed on the spot. Thousands of people ran helter-skelter. The explosions occurred far away from the places of worship and it could not be considered an act against any particular community. The next blast was in Narsi Mehta street near Masjid Bandar station at 1.35pm. A truck loaded with chemicals by the side of a car exploded causing wide devastation. The next was at Gadkari Chowk in Dadar near Shiv Sena Bhavan at a petrol pump. This was at 2.30pm. A few minutes later, there was a massive explosion in Gopal Nagar near the passport office. The most powerful blast was at the Air India Building, which left at least 25 people dead. The Bank of Oman office was reduced to debris and six of its employees were among the dead. The Air India security office was reduced to rubble. Most of the offices of various airlines in the building were destroyed. This explosion was at 2.45pm. The sixth explosion was at Madanpura in Nagpada area at 2.42pm. Century Bazar area of Prabhadevi was rocked at 2.58pm. A number of bombs burst in a local bus. It was blown into smithereens. The upper half of the drivers body was found on a hutment nearly 400 metres away. Another eight buses close to the site of the explosion were also seriously damaged. The toll here alone could be around 100. An explosion rocked Zaveri Bazar, outside a well-known jewellery shop. There was a bomb blast inside Plaza cinema in Dadar at 3.16pm. Sea Rock hotel was rocked, with a blast in locked room on the 18th floor at 3.50pm. Centaur Hotel at Santa Cruz Airport was shaken by a powerful explosion at 3.55pm, and Centaur Hotel in Juhu suffered a similar blast at 4pm. According to experts, remote control devices were used in most of the blasts. With major bomb blasts at Bombay Stock Exchange and Air India building, people left their offices and rushed home, fearing something worse. A very high level team of expert investigators including those of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) is being rushed immediately from New Delhi to Bombay. The Centre airlifted 11 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from New Delhi along with forensic experts to Bombay following a series of bomb blasts in the city. A special control room has been set up in the Home Ministry in north block in New Delhi to monitor the situation in Bombay. Minister of state for home PM Sayeed is supervising the control room and is in contact with the authorities in Bombay. Police and fire brigade officials said the toll is likely to go up with scores of people in serious conditions in 10 hospitals. The governments decision to ask the army to be on standby was announced by Pawar following an emergency Cabinet meeting after the blasts. Explosives experts from four national agencies, including National Security Guard, Defence Production Department and Intelligence Bureau have been called in to investigate the explosions, Pawar said. Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Riot Control Force have been deployed in the city as a precautionary measure. Security has been beefed up at vital installations in the city as well as the airport. The CM announced an assistance of 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the explosions. Those permanently disabled would be given compensation of 25,000 each, while other injured would be paid 10,000 each. City Police Commissioner AS Samra said the blasts should not be linked with the prevailing law and order situation which was described by him as normal. He felt the explosions were a part of a deeper conspiracy by mischief mongers and antisocial elements. He confirmed blasts at 12 places, adding that the police had sent out an SOS for blood donation to the critically injured. Even as businesses and offices closed early and panic-stricken citizens headed back to the safety of their homes, political parties and social organisations appealed to people to maintain calm and provide assistance to those affected. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray called on the people to maintain calm after Sena workers turned restive following the explosion near the partys headquarters. It obviously appears to be a well-planned operation, said senior Cabinet minister Padamsinh Patil, who visited the stock exchange and Air India building. The blasts took the intelligence agencies of the country, particularly the Bombay-based agencies, by surprise as none of them even had an inkling of the impending attack. The Bombay police have set up an experts committee to unravel the plot. Chief minister Sharad Pawar said the purpose of the explosions is to disturb the peace and destabilise the economy of Bombay and the country. He appealed to people to maintain calm and not be provoked by rumours. He told reporters that riot-control measures have been immediately put into action and forces deployed. The SkyStar at Fishermans Wharf, as seen from Telegraph Hill, was first installed in Golden Gate Park in 2020. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle March is always a bit of a puzzle spring is in the air, and a bit of winter too. Rain one day, sunshine the next, a windstorm the day after that. If weather is a worry, so is the human condition, especially this March. The news is full of small crime on top of big problems. Theres no escape. Something to worry about every day in the newspaper, on television, on your cellphone. A doom loop of worries. A wave of March gloom came over me one day just last week. An event I was attending came to a close earlier than anticipated, and I had the afternoon free. I should have headed back to my home office, where there was a lot of unfinished business. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You know what they say about unfinished business: Its never finished. But just then the sun came out. It was an omen. So I took a spring break. The SkyStar at Fishermans Wharf costs $18 to ride, or $12 for children and seniors. Carle Nolte/The Chronicle Luckily for me, I was on the San Francisco waterfront, and right in front of me was a 150-foot-tall structure, white and glittery, and rotating slowly like a wheel. It is called SkyStar, and its a Ferris wheel. In my view, a Ferris wheel is one of humanitys grand inventions. It does no work, it does not produce anything. A Ferris wheel has no politics, no philosophy. It does not make music or art. Its only purpose is amusement. Its fun to ride on, its fun to pretend you are up in the sky, looking down on mere mortals below. They say you only go around once in life, but on the SkyStar you go around three times. The best things in life are free, but the SkyStar costs $18, $12 for kids and seniors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As every schoolchild knows, the device was invented by George Washington Gale Ferris and operated for the first time at the noted Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. San Francisco had one, too, a smaller vertical merry-go-round at the 1894 Midwinter Fair in Golden Gate Park. The SkyStar was San Franciscos second Ferris wheel, first installed in Golden Gate Park in 2020. But it was not a hit; some political figures thought a Ferris wheel was inappropriate for the park and it was moved to Fishermans Wharf last fall. My own ride on the waterfront wheel was fun and pleasant. The view inside the wheel is like being inside one of those old erector set toys: bolts and struts and little flags to gage the wind. The show is on the outside the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the bay, the towers of the city. Little people below. North Beach alleyways provide a reminder of classic San Francisco. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle Once around the wheel whetted my appetite for more San Francisco, and more spring break, so I headed on foot up Mason Street inland toward North Beach. I turned east on Francisco Street, past Sweeties Art Bar, local neighborhood place, through the heart of the old Italian North Beach, past Francisco Middle School and up to a local landmark. That would be Freddies Sandwiches, at Francisco and Stockton streets, which is famous in its own small world. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its a North Beach institution and is the kind of place that used to be found all over San Francisco from the Excelsior to the Marina. There were variations, but essentially it was a classic Italian delicatessen, and the centerpiece is the handmade sandwich. Freddies is a sandwich store in all its glory: 30 varieties of sandwiches, on a choice of 10 kinds of bread and seven kinds of cheese. The price is right: $10.95 for a sandwich 6 inches long, $14 for a large. The sandwiches are big and good. Its a family place in the city tradition. The owner, Eddy Sweileh, mans the counter. The customers are bus drivers, truck drivers, neighborhood people and kids from the school next door. Its off the beaten path, a discovery in your own hometown. After lunch I continued up the hill, which got steeper and ended in a dead end. The slopes of Telegraph Hill are cut on the north side by steep cliffs just above the waterfront, the bay just beyond. Big houses here with huge windows, the kind of San Francisco home you always wanted but could never afford. A child rides a swing in Washington Square in San Francisco. Carl Nolte/The Chronicle Then I looped around keeping close to the upper part of the hill, not far from Coit Tower, but not close either. Here are all those tiny alleys running off the bigger streets. The houses here are old and kind of shambling. There are entrances to small apartments on every block and in the alleys. These are the San Francisco places you always imagined when you were younger and full of ideas, free as a bird, no responsibilities. A little place on a hill with a view and a kind-hearted landlady, maybe an adventure just down the hill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant has said that his government will request the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) to invite Pope Francis, the head of the global Catholic church, to visit the state for the decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier to be held later this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Pope Francis in October of 2021 at the Vatican City and formally invited him to make an official visit to India. (File) Sawant, who chaired a review committee meeting to oversee the preparations for the 45-day event that will begin in late November this year, said, We will be writing to the Prime Ministers Office who in turn will extend an invitation to the Pope to visit Goa for the exposition. When the Prime Minister met the Pope, he had also invited him to visit India. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met the Pope in October of 2021 at the Vatican City when he formally invited him to make an official visit to India. The chief minister, who had set aside 10 crore in his budget speech for the exposition, said the state government will be beautifying the Old Goa church complex including the setting up of amenities for pilgrims who will be visiting Old Goa to venerate the holy relics of the 16th century Spanish Jesuit missionary, who is regarded as a saint among Catholics across the world and especially in South Asia. The mortal remains of the saint, who passed away on Sancian (Shangchuan) island off the coast of China in 1552, were brought to Goa after they were found to be incorrupt despite being buried for three months. The remains, now considered relics, have been interred at the Basilica of Bom Jesus and are taken down from the high altar once every ten years, a practice that began in 1782 to dispel a persistent rumour that the Jesuit priests, who were expelled from Portuguese territories, had taken the body with them. The lowering of the silver casket containing the body has continued since then. The last Pope to visit India was Pope John Paul II who visited the country in 1999 while Pope John Paul II had visited Goa in 1989. Pope Francis, who had planned a visit to India in 2017, didnt follow through with his plan in what was said to be a less than enthusiastic response the Vatican received from the Indian government. The Pope visited Myanmar and Bangladesh instead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Saturday that what is being seen as certain in a world plagued by uncertainty is that India will continue to grow at a fast pace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (ANI ) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking at a conclave of the 'India Today' group, he said he is driven by "nation first" and without naming the opposition, added they are guided by a "family first" approach. Exuding confidence of his government retaining power in the Lok Sabha polls, Modi said people will see decisive policies and decisions being made in the next five years. He has been working on them, Modi said. The next five years will be a guarantee of a stable, capable and strong India to the world while development will be taken to new heights, he said. Read here: PM Modi says 'Phir Ek Baar Modi' after poll dates announced, opposition rudderless He said his government has maintained "zero-tolerance" to corruption and given a freehand to investigation agencies, and that is why some people are having a pain in their stomach, an apparent reference to opposition leaders who have accused the government of misusing the probe bodies to target its rivals. While the Enforcement Directorate had seized only 5,000 crore till 2014, it has attached assets worth over 1 lakh crore and arrested those associated with cyber and narco crimes, and terrorism, he said. Modi said some people are running a campaign to abuse him but their intentions and commitment are under a question mark. The country is clearly telling them "so sorry", he said, in a play at a popular short parody programme of the news channel. Modi highlighted at length numerous welfare schemes his government has brought over the years to help the deprived sections of society, be it street vendors or the rural poor. Read here: EC's poll date announcement shows 544 seats instead of 543. Is it an error? These issues do not make media headlines but impact people, he said, as he dwelt at length the impact of schemes like Mudra and SVANidhi, which provide loans to the poor and street vendors, respectively, for their business at simple and easy terms without guarantees. Modi said his dispensation has worked to boost 'ease of living' of people and underscored his governing philosophy of minimising the role of government in people's lives. A common man should have the freedom to lead his life the way he wants, he said, noting that his government has done away with hundreds of laws and regulations. Modi said that before his government came to power in 2014, people had to pay tax on income of 2,00,000 while there is no tax now on income of 7,00,000. The prime minister said he could have distributed tax-payers' money to draw claps but this is not his way. He believed that people's lives could be made easier by saving their money. This is good in long-term and in the country's interests, he said, asserting that he wants to handover a prosperous India to the next generation. People have saved over 2.5 lakh crore in direct tax as his government wants the common people to have more money in their pocket, he said, adding that the poor has saved over 1 lakh crore due to the Ayushman health insurance scheme. While the North East states were the least of priorities of previous governments, Modi said, he ensured that his ministers and senior officers visit the region regularly. Modi said his ministers have visited the remote region nearly 700 times while he as prime minister has travelled there more than the trips of all the previous prime ministers put together. This was not done with an eye on elections but as a matter of commitment, he said. Read here: Modi charisma key factor for BJP to retain all Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat Modi said that he has even launched a vaccination programme, costing nearly 15,000 crore, for animals. The number of start-ups has risen from a few hundred to 1.25 lakh, and they come from almost 600 districts, he said, adding that this highlights as to how youngsters from smaller cities are leading the start-up revolution. Under previous governments, the powerful and resourceful were the first to corner facilities by hook or by crook while the common people suffered, he said. Modi said his government has made 'ease of living' of the common people its top-most priority and noted that the period for making a passport is now merely five to six days against 50 earlier. Before 2014, Income Tax refunds used to take 93 days on an average and it is now less than 10 days, he said. New Delhi: India will step up support for Bhutans 13th five-year plan, including considering a request for an economic stimulus programme, and New Delhis development aid will be geared towards creating infrastructure and building connectivity. Bhutan PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay met PM Narendra Modi during his five-day visit to India on Thursday (Twitter Photo) The commitment to enhance backing for Bhutans next five-year plan was conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay during their meeting on Thursday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Indian support forms the mainstay of funding for Bhutans five-year plans, and New Delhi provided aid worth Rs.5,000 crore for the 12th plan. This was Tobgays first foreign visit after assuming office in January, and it will be followed by Modis trip to Bhutan during March 21-22, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday. The Indian leaders brief visit, following the announcement of dates for the general election, underlines the importance attached by New Delhi to its ties with Thimphu. During their meeting, the premiers acknowledged that the exemplary ties of friendship between India and Bhutan are a source of strength for the region, according to a joint statement issued on Saturday. The two sides also pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties, and Modi said India is committed to supporting Bhutans quest to become a high-income nation in line with the vision of the Bhutanese king. Tobgay thanked the Indian government for its development aid of Rs.5,000 crore for Bhutans last five-year plan, while Modi reiterated Indias commitment to step up support for Bhutans 13th FYP, including to consider [a] request for the Economic Stimulus Programme, the joint statement said. Indias development aid will be geared towards developing infrastructure, building road, rail, air and digital connectivity, and supporting sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, skilling and cultural preservation, the joint statement added. Modi appreciated the Bhutanese kings vision of developing the Gelephu Mindfulness City, a green economic zone that is aimed at creating infrastructure and jobs, and said it will lead to sustainable economic prosperity manner and strengthen economic, and investment linkages between India and Bhutan. The Bhutanese side is looking to India to support this flagship project with investment. The two sides are also looking to bolster connectivity through the development of rail and road links and upgrades of trade infrastructure for the seamless movement of people and goods. Besides the opening of additional points by the two sides for immigration and trade, Indias Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is carrying out the final location survey for two railway links between Banarhat (West Bengal) and Samtse (Bhutan) and Kokrajhar (Assam) and Gelephu (Bhutan). Hydropower cooperation is another important pillar of bilateral economic partnership, and the two premiers directed officials to hold expeditious consultations for implementing new projects. The 1,020-MW Punatshangchhu-II hydropower project is expected to be commissioned in 2024, and the two leaders agreed to expand the existing energy partnership to non-hydro renewables such as solar and wind energy and green initiatives for hydrogen and e-mobility. The people cited above said efforts by Bhutan to resolve a border dispute with China are expected to figure during Modis upcoming visit to Thimphu. The previous Bhutan government had signed an agreement with China to create a special body to demarcate the boundary. Concerns have grown on the Indian side that this move could have a bearing on national security, especially for the chickens neck or small piece of land that connects the northeastern states to the rest of the country. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced that the much-awaited Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, starting April 19 and would culminate on June 1. The counting of votes will be done on June 4. The phase 1 polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, third phase on May 7, fourth phase on May 13, 5th phase on May 20, 6th phase on May 25 and the last and the 7th phase on June 1. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S.S. Sandhu during announcement of the schedule for General Elections 2024, (PTI) Follow LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The southern states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 19 and April 26, respectively, while Karnataka will vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7. The poll schedule announcement has set a tone for an exciting contest in these southern states which together send 87 members to the lower house of the Parliament. Tamil Nadu: Issue of notification: March 20 Last date of notification: March 27 Scrutiny of nomination: March 28 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: March 30 Date of poll: April 19 In Tamil Nadu, BJP stitched an alliance with the Tamil Maanila Congress after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) snapped its ties with the saffron party. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has sealed a seat-sharing deal with the Congress and filmmaker Kamal Haassan's Makkal Needhi Maiam for Lok Sabha polls in the state. Kerala: Issue of notification: March 28 Last date of notification: April 4 Scrutiny of nomination: April 5 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: April 8 Date of poll: April 26 Kerala's hill constituency of Wayanad shot to fame after the Congress fielded Gandhi from here in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. is candidacy in Wayanad was a source of energy for the state's Congress-led UDF then. Riding on the "Rahul wave" among various other factors, the UDF then won 19 out of a total of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala. Karnataka: Issue of notification: March 28, April 12 Last date of notification: April 4, April 19 Scrutiny of nomination: April 5, April 20 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: April 8, April 22 Date of poll: April 26, May 7 In 2019, the BJP defeated the ruling Congress-JDS alliance. However, the political scene changed in the 2023 assembly elections, with the Congress scoring a thumping victory. It is pertinent to note that the politics in South India is typically dominated by regional parties, not by the national parties including Congress, BJP, and CPI(M). However, these political parties have been successful in forging alliances with regional players. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Date LIVE: Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses the press conference announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha polls, which will be held in 7 phases from 19th April to 1st June, in New Delhi on Saturday. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: The Election Commission of India announced on Saturday that Lok Sabha elections will be held in 7 phases. Counting for all elections, including by-elections, assembly elections, and general elections, is slated for June 4. The current government's term is ending on June 16. Lok Sabha elections full schedule...Read More Phase 1- April 19, 2024 Phase 2- 26 April 2024 Phase 3-7 May 2024 Phase 4 - 13 May 2024 Phase 5 - 20 May 2024 Phase 6 - 25 May 2024 Phase 7 - 1 June 2024 Counting on June 4 2024 Lok Sabha polls: Check full schedule How many voters for Lok Sabha elections in India? According to CEC Rajiv Kumar, there are 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast a vote in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations. What was the result of 2019 Lok Sabha elections? In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 303 seats while Congress got 52 seats. The BJP-led NDA has expressed confidence for the upcoming polls as well, hoping to win over 400 seats. While Congress boasts of giving a spirited fight. The Election Commission on Saturday announced the schedule of seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, setting stage for a high-octane poll summer. From April 19 to June 1, nearly 97 crore voters across 10.5 lakh polling stations will take part in this mammoth democratic exercise once labelled as the great electoral experiment in 1951-52. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who along with Amit Shah scripted the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral successes in 2014 and 2019, is eyeing a third straight term in office. If he does so, he will be only the second PM after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to do so. When the opposition said '24 mein 400 paar', I said I have also heard this that NDA will cross 400. But I have also heard that the BJP alone will cross 370. And I will tell you how to do it, the prime minister had said at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua last month. Pitted against BJP is the opposition INDIA alliance, a bloc of opposition parties comprising Congress and regional parties. The anti-BJP bloc has tried to put up a united front despite differences between the alliance partners on seat sharing issues. ALSO READ: Lok Sabha election schedule takeaways: All you need to know about poll dates In this mega festival of democracy, five regions will witness an exciting contest: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already said that if NDA crosses the 400 mark, the BJP should alone get 370 seats. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh It has been famously said that the road to Delhi is via Lucknow. India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh has given nine prime ministers to the country, including Modi, who is a sitting MP from Varanasi. UP, which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha, is crucial to BJP's ambitions of bettering the overalll 2019 Lok Sabha tally of 303. The party is confident that the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya along with PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath's popularity will get them more numbers than 2014 and 2019. The BJP is facing a formidable challenge from its principal opponent, Samajwadi Party. In the 2019 elections, the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP had won 5 seats while its alliance partner Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party had bagged 10 seats. The Congress, which once dominated the political landscape in this Hindi heartland state, has been fighting for survival. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, it could win just two and one seat respectively. UP will vote in all seven phases in this Lok Sabha elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. West Bengal It was in 2021 assembly elections that Mamata Banerjee famously coined her party Trinamool Congress's poll warcry of Khela Hobe (Game's on). Three years later, Didi is on a similar warpath. With the Left Front totally decimated, her enemy No.1 was and is the BJP. In the 2019 elections, the BJP had won 18 seats in a poll marred with violence. This time, it is leaving no stone unturned to corner Mamata Banerjee on various issues including Sandeshkhali where several women accused suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan of sexual assault. Even Prime Minister Modi met the victims of this North 24 Parganas village. "What the TMC leader did with Sandeshkhali's poor, tribal, Dalit women is being discussed in the entire country. TMC, Congress and the LEFT's INDIA bloc did a lot of discrimination to the North Bengal. They did not develop these areas but also created social conflict," he said in Siliguri. Like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Bengal is also voting in seven phases. Maharashtra Maharashtra will witness a five-phased election battle between the NDA comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP led by Ajit Pawar, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The state, which sends 48 members to the Lok Sabha, has witnessed several political events in the past five years, right from Devendra Fadnavis' early morning oath to Maha Vikas Aghadi's collapse following Eknath Shinde's rebellion. Southern States The BJP, often dubbed as a north Indian party by its critics, has made strides in southern states in recent years. In Karnataka, the BJP had won 25 out of 28 seats in the 2019 elections. However, the Congress would be hoping to translate its 2023 assembly poll triumph into Lok Sabha success this time. In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP has tied up with Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena against Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP. Telangana, the new state carved out of Andhra witnessed a Congress victory last December. The grand old party, which ended the 10-year-long reign of K Chandrasekhar Rao's BRS, would be eyeing a 2023 rerun. In Tamil Nadu, INDIA allies DMK and Congress would be eyeing a strong performance against the AIADMK. The BJP, on the other hand, is hoping to mark its presence by capitalising on the controversy over Udhayanidhi Stalin's remark against the 'Sanatan Dharma'. In God's own country Kerala, the CPM is currently the ruling party. The BJP has fielded Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar against three-time Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram. Northeast Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura and Sikkim, will vote on April 19, 26 and May 7. Out of 25 seats in the northeast, the BJP and its allies won 18 in the previous election. Manipur, the northeastern state gripped in violence since May last year, will see one of its two constituencies voting on two days. The Inner Manipur constituency will be voting on April 19 (phase 1), outer Manipur will vote on two dates: April 19 (phase 1) and April 26 (phase 2). The polling in Tamil Nadus 39 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on a single day on April 19, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting of votes will be on June 4. There are a total of 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu. (File) The by-election to the Vilavancode assembly constituency will also be held along with the parliamentary polls after the seat fell vacant when MLA S Vijayadharani resigned from the Congress to switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in February. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Tirukkoyilur assembly was also initially listed in the by-election list where Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA K Ponmudi was disqualified in December 2023 after the Madras high court convicted him in a corruption case. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) corrected this and removed Tirukkoyilur from this list as Ponmudi was reinstated on March 13 after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and sentence. The parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu will be a three cornered contest between the ruling DMK, opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the DMK led by M K Stalin, current chief minister, swept 38 out of the 39 seats. The AIADMK won one seat with O Ravindranath, who along with his father O Panneerselvam, have now been booted out of the party. The father and the son are likely to join the BJP. In 2019, the AIADMK was in alliance with the BJP. However, they parted ways in September last year. The DMK, which is a part of the INDIA bloc, has inked a seat sharing formula similar to that in 2019. The DMK will contest in 21 constituenciestwo seats less than what they contested in 2019. The DMKs main ally Congress will battle in 9 seats. The remaining nine seats are being contested by allies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK-2), CPI (M)-2, CPI-2, IUML-1, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK-1), Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK-1). Actor-politician Kamal Haasans Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) will be campaigning for the DMK led alliance and has been promised a Rajya Sabha seat. The AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has not announced any allies yet. This is EPS first election since he took over the party reigns after expelling Panneerselvam and his supporters. EPS has also stuck to his decision not to have any truck with the BJP after they came together for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Expelled AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakarans Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) has joined the BJPs alliance. After the AIADMK walked out, the allies who were remaining in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) have been in talks with the Dravidian major as well as the BJP. The BJP has been trying hard to gain a foothold in the southern state that has led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state five times since January. Since 1967, the DMK and AIADMK have governed the state where no national party has been able to make a mark. The DMKs campaign has focussed on deteriorating Centre-state relations, retrieving state autonomy and rights. Chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin has accused the AIADMK of being subservient to the BJP and supporting their legislations such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He has repeatedly called the BJP-led Union government and PM Modi as fascist and communal seeking votes for INDIA bloc to protect the countrys secularism. The BJP has accused the DMK of corruption and dynastic politics. The party has targeted the DMK over Senthil Balaji (a minister until February)s arrest on money laundering charges and the corruption cases against several other ministers in the Madras high court. The DMK is also facing the heat from the AIADMK and the BJP after one of its former members Jaffar Sadiq was arrested by the Narcotics Crime Bureau (NCB) earlier this month in an international drug smuggling case. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has announced the schedule for the 2024 general elections on Saturday, and it will be held in seven different phases across the country. The results will be announced on June 4. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai Lok Sabha vote dates. Full list All major metropolitan and cosmopolitan cities in the country are also set to go for polls in dedicated phases. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read - Why did Arun Goel resign as election commissioner? CEC Rajiv Kumar replies Below is the date of polling in respective Indian cities. Bengaluru Karnataka is set to go for polls in two different phases, and the polling in Bengaluru will be held in Phase 2, which is on April 26. Bengaluru has four Lok Sabha constituencies, and the last day for filing the nominations is April 4. Chennai Tamil Nadu is set to go for polls in a single phase and the polling in Chennai will be held in Phase 1 on April 19. Chennai has three Lok Sabha constituencies and last day for filing the nominations is March 27 Mumbai Maharashtra is set to go for polls in five different phases and the polling in Mumbai will be conducted in Phase 5 on May 20. Mumbai has six Lok Sabha constituencies and last day for filing nominations is May 3 Kolkata West Bengal is set to go for polls in all seven different phases and the polling in Kolkata will be conducted in Phase 7 which is on June 1. Kolkata has two Lok Sabha constituencies, and the last day for nomination filing is May 14. Hyderabad Telangana is set to go for polls in a single phase and the polling in Hyderabad will be held in Phase 4 which is on May 13. Including the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, there are five Lok Sabha seats that fall under the Telangana capital and the last day for filing nominations is April 25. Delhi-Gurugram-Noida Delhi is set to go for polls in the sixth phase and polling will be held on May 25. Delhi has seven Lok Sabha seats. Gurugram along with Delhi will also go to polls together in the sixth phase on May 25 while voting in Noida will take place in the second phase on 26 April. Guwahati: Rejecting a request made by the BJP-led government in Assam to hold elections in the state before the Bohag Bihu celebrations, the Election Commission on Saturday announced that voting in the northeastern state would be held in three phases beginning April 19, which falls after the festival. The Election Commission rejected a request made by the BJP-led government in Assam to hold elections in the state before the Bohag Bihu celebrations. (Representative photo.) Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, which falls in mid-April, marks the start of the Assamese New Year and is the most important festival of the state. Celebrations continue for almost a month across the state. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. During the EC teams visit to the state earlier this month, the BJP delegation had requested it to hold polling in the state ahead of Bohag Bihu. Assam has 14 Lok Sabha seats, and this is the first election being held in the state after last years delimitation exercise which witnessed large scale redrawing of boundaries of both assembly and parliamentary seats. Polling in Assam will be held on April 19, April 26 and May 7. In strife-torn Manipur and Tripura, both of which have two Lok Sabha seats each, polling will be held on two phases on April 19 and April 26. Manipur has witnessed ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis since May last year in which at least 219 persons have died and over 50,000 have been displaced. The BJP-led NDA is all set to continue its momentum of bringing unprecedented growth and development in the country. With the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates by the EC, we are fully prepared to serve the masses once again with support and cooperation from all sections, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh posted on X. Within declaration of Lok Sabha poll schedule, the ruling BJP in Tripura said that the party is prepared to face the contest and its poll campaign is already at its peak. Our party activists were deployed on the ground long back. They are visiting every house to spread the message of making Prime Minister Narendra Modis hands strong. We are confident of our victory, said BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya. Tripura has two Lok Sabha seats: West constituency and East constituency. The Congress, too, expressed hope to win the West seat. People are giving us positive responses during our poll campaign. We are confident of our victory, said Congress president Asish Kumar Saha. The BJP fielded former chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb as candidate in West constituency and TIPRA Motha party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarmas elder sister Kriti Singh Debbarma in East constituency. The Congress fielded Asish Kumar Saha against Biplab Deb in West constituency leaving the East constituency for the CPM as per their seat sharing agreement. The CPM is yet to announce its candidate. Both the Lok Sabha seats are with the BJP since 2019. Polling in Arunachal Pradesh, which will also witness voting for the 60-member assembly, Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya will take place on the first phase on April 19. Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have two LS seats each while Mizoram and Nagaland have one seat each. Nagaland, which has one seat in the Lok Sabha, will go to elections on April 19. According to the chief electoral officers establishment, there are currently a total of 13,17,036 voters including 660544 female, 656489 male and three third gender voters as per the present final roll. Ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Peoples Democratic Alliance has nominated Chumben Murry, a former MLA and chief minister Neiphiu Rios advisor, as its consensus candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election while Congress has named its Nagaland unit president S Supongmeren Jamir as its candidate. Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO), which has declared public emergency in six eastern districts of Nagaland demanding that the Union Government implement its assurance to create an autonomous Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT) , on Friday reaffirmed its resolution to abstain from participating in any election process. The ENPO has also announced its intention to disallow any political party to take up campaigning exercises in its jurisdiction for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls if the Centre fails to settle the FNT issue before the model code of conduct comes into force. As part of the public emergency in the districts of Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator, the ENPO has restricted the movement of government (both central and state) vehicles, functioning of government offices and barred governments sponsored construction activities with exception of emergency services. (With inputs from Priyanka Deb Barman in Agartala and Alice Yhoshu in Kohima) New Delhi: The biggest festival of democracy is here, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday minutes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo) We, the BJP-NDA [Bharatiya Janata Party- Nation Democratic Alliance], are fully prepared for elections. We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors, Modi said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The ECI on Saturday announced the election dates which will be held across seven phases from April 19 to June 1 while balloting for Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha assemblies will take place on April 19 and May 13. Expressing confidence that the BJP-led government will once again form the government, Modi said, I have full confidence that we will get full affection and blessings of 140 crore [1.4 billion] family members and more than 96 crore [9 billion] voters for the third consecutive time. I can clearly see that the coming five years will be the period of our collective resolve in which we will prepare the roadmap for Indias development journey of the next one thousand years. This time will witness Indias all-round development, inclusive prosperity and global leadership, the PM said. Also Read: Lok Sabha elections in 7 phases; voting starts April 19, results on Jun 4 Under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP will form the government with an overwhelming majority and will work with determination to fulfill the aspirations of the people for the next 5 years, he added. Modi said that his government would continue its fight against poverty and corruption. We are going to work towards making India the third-largest global economy. We will further cement our effort for fulfilling the dreams of the youth, he added. Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said, Our opposition is rudderless and issueless. All they can do is abuse us and practice vote bank politics. Their dynastic approach and attempts to divide society are not being accepted. Equally hurting them is their corruption track record. People dont want such leadership. He said that the previous governments have betrayed and disillusioned the people of this country alleging that they were only engaged in scams and policy paralysis. The world had given up on India. From there, its been a glorious turnaround, Modi said. BJP national president JP Nadda urged people to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the worlds largest democracy. I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission. Elections are the biggest festival of democracy. It is a medium to keep the country and the state moving on the path of development and good governance, Nadda said in a post on X. Danielle Echeverria is a reporter for The Chronicles Engagement and Breaking News team. She recently completed her Master's degree in journalism at Stanford University, where she won the Nicholas Roosevelt Environmental Journalism Award for her reporting and covered agriculture, climate change and worker safety. She previously interned The Chronicle on the Business desk, as well as at Big Local News, focusing on data journalism. She is originally from Bakersfield, California. She can be reached at danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com. Kolkata: The Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal will be held from April 9 to June 1 in all seven phases alongside Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while the exercise in other Indian states will be completed in fewer phases, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced at a press conference in Delhi on Saturday. The phase 1 polling will be held on April 19 (Representative Photo) The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held across seven phases. The phase 1 polling will be held on April 19, the second phase on April 26, the third phase on May 7, the fourth phase on May 13, 5th phase on May 20, 6th phase on May 25 and the last and the 7th phase on June 1. The counting will take place on June 4. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Moreover, bypolls for the two assembly seats in Bengal will also be held at the same time as the Lok Sabha polls. The Bhagabangola seat in Murshidabad district is vacant following the death of TMC legislator Idris Ali, and Baranagar in North 24 Parganas went vacant after TMC MLA Tapas Roy recently resigned from the legislative assembly and joined the BJP earlier this month. Also Read: Odisha: Assembly and Lok Sabha polls to be held in 4 phases beginning May 13 Of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, West Bengal has 42. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) set a record by winning 18 seats in Bengal, making the coming elections a big challenge for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Campaigning in Bengal has already started as the political parties have announced the names of their respective candidates. The TMC has announced the names of its 42 candidates, and the BJP and the Left parties have also named around half of their nominees. TMC earlier urged the ECI to conduct the general elections in Bengal in one or two phases since the election watchdog has sought the deployment of more than 900 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in the state, more than what has been asked for any other state, to ensure free, fair and violence-free Lok Sabha polls. Around 100 companies of the CAPF have arrived in Bengal, with more to be deployed. ECI did not pay heed to our request, Bengals minister of state for finance Chandrima Bhattacharya said after Saturdays announcement. Our experience shows that it is convenient for voters if polls are held in a single phase. They turn out in larger numbers. The turnout falls during seven and eight-phase elections. Multi-phase polling makes things easier for parties that have huge financial resources, he said, hinting at the BJP. TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh, however, said a seven-phase election will not affect his party. We have targeted all 42 seats and will surely win 30 to 35. Results at the rest of the seats will depend on how CPI(M) and Congress, which are also part of the INDIA coalition, approach the election. As far as BJP is concerned, several of their leaders are getting in touch with us every hour, he said. Welcoming the election commissions announcement, Samik Bhattacharya, chief spokesperson of the BJP state unit, said, The ECI did what it thought is required for free and fair polling because Bengal is the only state where violence is a salient feature of every election while other states celebrate the right to franchise like a festival. Poll schedule: Phase I (April 19) Cooch Behar (SC), Alipurduar (ST) Jalpaiguri (SC) Phase 2 (April 26) Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat Phase 3 (May 7) Malda North, Malda South, Jangipur, Murshidabad Phase 4 (May 13) Berhampore, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat (SC), Burdwan East (SC) Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur (SC), Birbhum Phase 5 (May 20) - Bongaon (SC), Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly, Arambagh (SC) Phase 6 (May 25) Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram (ST), Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur (SC) Phase 7 (June 1) - Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Joynagar (SC), Mathurapur (SC), Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata South, Kolkata North Raipur: Voting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh will be held from April 10 to May 7. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the dates for Lok Sabha polls nationwide, with Chhattisgarhs 11 seats going to polls in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7, respectively. (Representative Photo) Chhattisgarhs Bastar seat will go to poll on April 19, while Kanker Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund seats will host voting on April 26. The remaining seats Durg, Raipur, Janjgir-Chapa, Korba, Surguja, Raigarh, and Bilaspur, will go to poll on May 7. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The election commission on Saturday announced that the election to 543 constituencies will be held in seven phases beginning April 19 and ending June 1, and the counting of polls will be held on June 4. Also Read: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha assembly elections to be held on April 19, May 13 The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to rumble with the Congress for all 11 seats in Chhattisgarh after a victory in the state assembly elections held in December last year. In the 2023 assembly elections, the BJP won 54 seats and the Congress 35. The Congresss defeat was attributed to internal strife, with allegations of leaders resorting to manipulation in certain constituencies. For the 11 state Lok Sabha seats, the BJP has declared candidates for all, dropping four sitting MPs and introducing an incumbent state minister into the mix. Three women leaders, including a former MP and a former MLA, are among them. The Congress on the other hand has declared only six candidates, including leaders like former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, two former state ministers and a sitting MP. Baghel has been fielded from the Rajanandgaon constituency. The upcoming general elections pose a huge challenge for the Congress as it has not fared well in the four parliamentary elections in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019 in Chhattisgarh since the formation of the state in 2000. The BJP had won 10 out of 11 Lok Sabha seats three times in 2004, 2009, and 2014 while Congress could only manage to win one. Despite facing a severe loss in the 2018 assembly election, the BJP managed to win nine out of 11 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Shiv Sena won 42 and 41 of Maharashtras 48 seats in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. They accounted for a significant chunk of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)s overall tally of 336 (2014) and 353 (2019) seats. Maharashtra is key to the BJPs plans for a third straight term as it is expected to do well in the north but faces a tough contest in the south. Maharashtra assembly polls are due later this year. (HT PHOTO) The fight was straight between the BJP-Shiv Sena and the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) groupings in the last two Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, which sends the second highest (48) lawmakers to Parliament after Uttar Pradesh (80). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Shiv Sena and NCP have since split with a majority of their lawmakers defecting to the factions that are part of the NDA. Yet the Opposition Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is banking on a good show in Maharashtra. A Congress leader said they hope to win 20-plus seats. If the anti-incumbency and other factors work and the ruling coalition fails to get a desired number of seats in central and north India, things could go wrong for them. Political analyst Padmabhushan Deshpande said there is polarisation on caste lines in the state. No politician has a clear idea what will be the impact of the Maratha versus OBC [Other Backward Class] polarisation. Agrarian crisis, unemployment, especially in rural areas, and communal polarisation would also determine the outcome besides national issues. Surendra Jondhale, another political analyst, said the split in Shiv Sena and NCP as well as the Maratha quota agitation has led to voter fragmentation. Will the traditional voters of Shiv Sena and NCP shift towards the BJP? This will decide the outcome of the election. The result of Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra will also set the tone for the assembly elections due to be held later this year. The ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) is currently testing an app called SafeNet which will allow parents to set content filters for their children, access their live location, and access their calls and messages, said people familiar with the matter. There are also concerns regarding the parental control apps such as overall safety and well-being of children and privacy of children from their parents, excessive content censorship. (Representative Image) At a November 2023 meeting convened by the Department of Telecommunications, an industry body recommended that mobile, computer and laptop manufacturers should preload this app by default. The progress made after the December meeting will be reviewed in a meeting on March 18. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The SafeNet app has been developed by the Centre for Internet Studies and Artificial Intelligence (CISAI) of the Kerala-based Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham with research and development support by MeitY. MEITY has developed an application named Safenet for parental control for PC/tablets/mobile phones for use by parents which is under testing. All the participants were served with document of Safenet, provided by MEITY, to take their valuable comments immediately so that MEITY may launch (including uploading the App on Google Playstrore [sic]) the App at the earliest, said the minutes of the meeting convened at Sanchar Bhawan on November 23, 2023. HT has seen the document. As per the minutes of the meeting, the Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI) suggested that this app should be uploaded by default in Mobile/Laptop/PC etc. by manufacturer itself. The industry body requested MeitY to take appropriate action with respective manufacturers. ISPAIs members include Airtel, Vodafone Idea, Tata Communications, ACT Fibernet, and Hathway amongst others. In the meeting, the DoT told the participants, which included representatives from DoT, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, MTNL and Excitel that the PMO has directed to incorporate parental controls in data usage by 31.7.24. In the same meeting, the Department of School Education was requested to issue instructions to all schools through their respective boards to raise awareness on parental control filter (PCF) solutions through display boards, parent teacher meetings, WhatsApp groups between parents and teachers, and other tools of communication. The DoT also asked the licensees to raise awareness about parental control through SMS, ring tones for subscribers, sending emails to subscribers at least quarterly, and displaying fliers at points of sales. At a previous meeting on this issue on August 29, 2023, it was decided that MeitY may arrange to develop an app for parental control. During the August meeting, it was also decided that telecom service providers (TSPs) and internet service providers (ISPs) would provide details of configuration in mobile/computers with regard to parental control on their website through PPT/short videos, etc. The TSPs and ISPs were also asked to suitably educate their subscribers about use of parental controls while providing SIM cards and fiber connections. The deputy director general of telecom in the DoT was to ensure compliance from all licenced ISPs through their licensed service areas (LSA) pursuant to a DoT letter dated August 21, 2023. What does SafeNet do? According to the apps website, the app allows parents to set up content filters for their childrens phones, get detailed YouTube activity insights, manage how much time a child spends on each domain, and block age-inappropriate content. If the parent and the child use the same phone, both versions of the app --- meant for the parent and the child --- can be installed on the same phone. SafeNet has also set up three custom domain name servers (DNS) with a graded approach to filtering so that schools can block more than 70 million domains and more than 34 categories through the primary DNS while colleges and research organisations can block more than 40 million domains and more than 21 blocked categories through the secondary DNS. The ternary DNS allows everything except terrorism, nudity, and porn and blocks more than 4 million domains. HT has not tested these filters yet. Such apps, if widely available on all devices, without verification of legitimate parent-child relationships can also lead to incidences of intimate partner violence, so enough safeguards need to be built to avoid abuse of these tools as well, Aparajita Bharti, founding partner of The Quantum Hub (TQH) Consulting who has worked extensively on protecting children online, said. Apps meant for parental control are often used as stalkerware, that is, used by abusers to monitor and track their victims without the victims knowledge and consent. Countries around the world are exploring device level parental controls. However, there are competing concerns to be balanced such as overall safety and wellbeing of children and privacy of children from their parents, excessive content censorship, Bharti said. She warned that for deploying such tools, it is important to address unintended consequences by engaging with child rights experts, educators, adolescents, and civil society organisations who work with children in distress. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday extended the ban on separatist leader Yasin Maliks Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF-Y) under the anti-terror law as it believes the organisation continues to propagate anti-India activities. Yasin Malik is currently lodged in Tihar prison serving life imprisonment in a terror funding case. (File) The JLKF-Y was earlier declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA on March 22, 2019. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Yasin Malik is currently lodged in Tihar prison serving life imprisonment in a terror funding case. He was sentenced in May 2022 for raising, receiving and collecting funds domestically and abroad through various illegal channels, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, and conspiring to cause disruption in the Kashmir valley by pelting stones on the security forces, systematically burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against the Indian government. A notification issued by MHA on late Friday evening stated, The Central government is of the opinion that if the unlawful activities of the JKLF-Y are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will take the opportunity to escalate its subversive activities including attempt to carve out a separate state out of the territory of Union of India by destabilising the government established by law; continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir; and propagate anti-national and separatist sentiments prejudicial to the territorial integrity and security of the country. It said the government is of the opinion that it is necessary to declare the JKLF-Y as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years. The ministry, through two separate notifications on Friday, also imposed fresh ban on two more Kashmir based organisations - Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League (JKPFL), chaired by Mohammad Farooq Shah alias Farooq Rehmani; and four factions of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL) - identified as JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan alias Sopori) also known as Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Political League and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikh, for their illegal activities. About JKPFL, the ministrys notification state that members of the JKPFL have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. The the leaders and members of JKPFL have been involved in mobilising fund for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, it said. Referring to the activities of four factions of JKPL, the MHA said they are involved in promoting, aiding and abetting secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities; sowing seeds of disaffection amongst people; exhorting people to destabilise public order; encouraging the use of arms to separate Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India; promoting hatred against established government, giving clarion call to boycott elections on multiple occasions and for Black Day and shutdown on the Republic Day and Independence Day of India in Jammu and Kashmir. Both outfits have been banned for five years. New Delhi, The number of Left Wing Extremism-hit districts in the country covered under the special SRE funding scheme has come down to 58 from 72 following a "comprehensive" review by the Union home ministry and the 10 affected states, official sources and records state. HT Image The Ministry of Home Affairs division concerned with Left Wing Extremism issued a communication earlier this week to the chief secretaries and the directors general of police of these states, saying the new categorisation would be effective from the financial year beginning on April 1. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The MHA communication, accessed by PTI, says that a number of interventions, both security- and development-related, are being made by the ministry and the states and as a result, there has been a "marked improvement" in the LWE scenario. The LWE or Maoist violence-affected districts covered under the Security Related Expenditure scheme were last reviewed by the MHA in 2021, and at that time, there were 72 such districts spread across 10 states. After the latest review, this number has come down to 58, according to the official sources. These districts are provided with various grants under the SRE scheme as part of the national policy and action plan to address the LWE issue "holistically", they said. These districts are categorised under two broad heads LWE-affected and Legacy and Thrust districts . The highest number of LWE-affected districts as per the new categorisation, out of 38 in total, is in Chhattisgarh , which is followed by Odisha , Jharkhand , Madhya Pradesh , Kerala, Telangana and Maharashtra with two each and West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh with one each. As per the ministry, LWE-affected districts are those where violence and other Maoist activities are continuing. These LWE-affected districts have been further sub-categorised as 'most affected districts', a terminology brought in 2015, and 'districts of concern' , which was coined by the MHA in 2021. There are 12 'most affected districts' after the latest review. This count was at 35 in 2015 and it went down to 30 in 2018 and 25 in 2021 following reviews, as per official records. Seven of these 12 districts are in Chhattisgarh, two are in Odisha and one each is in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. DOC was added to the LWE terminology to "address the resource gap where the Maoist influence was waning". Eight districts were categorised as DOC for two years between 2021 and 2023, and all of them have now been deleted and nine new ones have been added, according to the MHA. The latest DOC are in Jharkhand , Odisha and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. 'Legacy' districts are those which are no longer LWE-affected but support to states is required for consolidating the position and continued support in respect of security and development measures for some more time, the ministry said. The 'Thrust' districts are those that are considered "prospective sites" of LWE expansion and hence, continued support would be required for capacity building of the states, according to the MHA. A total of 20 districts are included under the LT categorisation and these are in Bihar , Jharkhand , Odisha , and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The MHA told the states that the resources and funds envisaged in the SRE scheme to combat the LWE menace "will be utilised in a focussed manner on the districts as per the revised categorisation". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced a host of steps to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media during the Lok Sabha elections, including launching a Myth vs Reality project, using the Information Technology (IT) Act to take down unlawful content, and setting up a standard operating procedure for Quick Response against fake news. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (CEC) addresses the briefing for Observers to be deployed in the States/UTs organised by Election Commision of India (ECI) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, on Monday. (ANI pic service) Announcing the schedule for elections to the 18th Lok Sabha, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar highlighted the significance of the IT Act to take down fake social media posts. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Under Section 69[A] and Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, authorised authority of each state is empowered to ask for takedown of the social media posts. In almost all states, authorised officials have been appointed or are being appointed. In each district, we have done thorough training on how to deal with this menace, he said. He added that the poll body will also monitor TV news, social media, webcasts from polling booths, complaints received on its helpline 1950 to tackle electoral violence through 24X7 integrated control booths set up in all districts. The poll body, he said, has resolved to launch a Myth vs Reality project on its website to deal with common fake narratives related to the electoral process such as getting registered on the electoral roll, etc. If someone is trying to set a fake narrative that is disturbing the level-playing field or disrupting the law and order, we will also join them. We will soon launch a Myth vs Reality project to clear the air around fake news spreading on social media, he said, asserting that while people have the freedom to criticise on social media but you should not be allowed to create fake news which is not based on facts because it can disturb the order. Calling social media a jhooth ka bazaar (marketplace of lies), Kumar urged people to Verify before you amplify. Remember, Verify Before You Amplify is the mantra to combat fake news. Let us rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process, he said. In a press release, EC said: An SOP for identification and quick response to any fake news/misinformation had been shared with CEOs and DEOs of all the States/UTs for time bound response... Social media Cell in collaboration with cyber cell unit in all districts have been constituted for quick response and action with the legal framework. Besides these steps, the poll body has also mandated pre-certification of all political advertisements across all electronic media - TV channels, radio, cinema halls, any audio-visual displays in public places, voice messages and bulk SMS over phone, social media, websites - from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC), which work at district and state level. The announcement of elections has also enacted the Voluntary Code of Ethics, which aims to ensure free, fair & ethical usage of Social Media Platforms to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. The code was voluntarily agreed upon by the participants, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat and TikTok, through industry body Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in March 2019. As per this code, the signatories must acknowledge and process reports from EC within three hours. Recently, Google joined hands with ECI to prevent the spread of false information, promote authorised content and label AI-generated data during the upcoming elections. Google in a blog post said, We are collaborating with ECI to enable people to easily discover critical voting information on Google Search - such as how to register and how to vote - in both English and Hindi. The scale of elections in India is always mind-boggling a polity of nearly a billion people of diverse backgrounds, faiths, communities and geographies come together to choose their lawmakers in a remarkable display of cohesion and trust. This round of national elections to be held across 47 days and seven phases over 543 Lok Sabha constituencies is even more so given the extraordinary events that have convulsed the country over the last five years: a once-in-a-century pandemic that devastated large swathes of India, only to be defeated by the might of modern science; an aggressive neighbour abandoning diplomacy for belligerence; unprecedented global challenges brought by two ongoing conflicts; an ascension as the worlds most populous country, which brings forth associated challenges of managing the demographic bulge. The Lok Sabha elections, spread across seven phases, will be held over six weeks between April 19 and June 1. The counting of votes is scheduled to be held on June 4. (HT file) Against this backdrop, the third general elections in an era of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dominance will begin. It has been a generation since a party approached impending Lok Sabha elections with the kind of confidence that the BJP is doing in 2024. Not since the heyday of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi has one party appeared so comfortably placed to come back to power (if successful, Narendra Modi will become the first Prime Minister since Nehru to win three consecutive terms and the first since Indira Gandhi to serve three terms). Modi has sought to burnish this edge by setting an impressive target for the BJP (370 seats) and the National Democratic Alliance (400 seats). On the other hand, the Oppositions Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) project has flattered to deceive after a promising start, haemorrhaging partners and unable to break deadlocks in seat-sharing arrangements in key states. A number of opinion polls conducted over the past month have given the NDA a decisive edge over INDIA. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Lok Sabha elections 2024: Can tech reshape the poll campaign? But the Indian voter is far too discerning, and the weave of political narratives too complex, for elections to not throw up surprises. To that end, three factors will be important to track. The first is narrative. The 2014 elections were about seeking change from an ostensibly corrupt regime, and the 2019 polls were wrapped in nationalistic fervour against the backdrop of the attack in Pulwama and the cross-border strike in Balakot. This time, there is no such overarching sentiment enveloping the country, though strongly emotive local issues hold sway in key regions. The BJP likely realises this, and has attempted to fill this vacuum with aspiration its pitch for Viksit Bharat, or developed India, by 2047 is a blueprint for a country where upward mobility remains the single biggest source of anxiety for individuals and communities alike. In a milieu where tens of thousands of people, especially young men from smaller cities and hamlets, find their path out of poverty blocked by a compromised system (think of the flashes of sweeping public anger at frequent question paper leaks in government job examinations), the BJP hopes to use the larger-than-life image of Modi and his cross-community appeal to dispel this gloom that can easily tip over into anti-incumbency. Instead, Viksit Bharat not only reminds voters of the NDA governments track record, it also effectively turns the contest even more presidential because it gives the BJP an opportunity to point out that there is no competing vision for the countrys future emanating from the Opposition. Read Here | Election 2024: Nearly a billion people to vote in 1.05 million booths; results to be announced on June 4 This is frankly a weak spot for INDIA because its success is tied to the contest becoming less presidential and more local (or how it used to be between 1989 and 2009). The alliances seat-sharing arrangement is only partially successful and its once-avowed strategy of one joint Opposition candidate to take on the BJP is stillborn in large parts of the country. Still, the absence of an overarching narrative the Congresss vision of economic and social justice attempts to fill some of this void doesnt mean that the Opposition is devoid of emotive issues. For example, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray will almost certainly make stirring pitches to their constituents in Maharashtra, as will Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu, pivoting on local vs outsider and the regions distinctive cultural identity. But outside pockets, the Oppositions search for one pithy narrative is ongoing. The second factor is identity, a term that encompasses not just questions of caste and faith but also (to a lesser extent) of regional and linguistic pride. The BJP believes it has cracked the identity game, using welfare as the glue to hold together disparate caste groups that otherwise share hostile relations on the ground. The party would seek to leverage the carefully built relationship between each welfare beneficiary and the image of the PM a phenomenon experts term new welfarism to drive home its message that unlike caste-based regional satraps who are often seen as protecting their own fiefs, the BJP doesnt discriminate in basic welfare. There was a sense in 2023 that some of this welfare rubric was fraying a bit, but the party has repackaged its welfare promise as Modi guarantees to great success in the recently concluded assembly elections in three heartland states.On top of this, the party will use its brand of faith-based majoritarianism which not only fires up its core base but also seeks to imbue pride with its strident, unapologetic Hindutva with the Ram Temple as its motif. Read Here | Myth vs Reality: EC lays down steps to curb fake news The Oppositions arsenal here is radically different. It believes that the BJPs caste arithmetic which adds a section of Dalits and backwards to its core upper caste base can be broken by a new language of social justice centered around a national caste census and radical redistribution of resources. To be sure, a clutch of state polls have hinted that without grassroots mobilisation, there may not be the kind of traction that, say, Mandal commissions quota promise generated. But the INDIA parties will hope that what it is lacking in religious fervour, it can more than make up with linguistic and regional identities. Regional parties have used this strategy to decent success against the BJP, and over the past year, the Congress has, too, tried to project itself as the federal party, respectful of regional idiosyncrasies. The third factor is geography. The BJPs core strength comes from its dominance of northern India, where it mops up nearly all of the 200-odd seats on offer, and especially in Indias most populous province, Uttar Pradesh, where it has not won less than 60 of the 80 seats in the last decade. This time, too, with governments in every state in northern India save two, the party will hope for a rich haul of seats from this region. These are also the seats where the BJP and Congress fight one-on-one, and so this will also be a battle of relevance for the latter. Lok Sabha election schedule takeaways: All you need to know about poll dates For the Opposition, the key region is peninsular India. Although at a numerical disadvantage (because south India only holds 130-odd seats), the INDIA bloc cannot afford to allow the BJP to make inroads in any of its core regions, especially in Tamil Nadu where Modi has invested an extraordinary amount of energy in recent weeks.In many ways, this is the most exciting part of the elections, especially because of the BJPs efforts at breaching the wall of the eastern seaboard despite its dominance, one can still drive from Kanniyakumari to Kolkata without encountering a single BJP government on the way especially in Odisha and West Bengal. How the geographical battle plays out will likely be decided by the three biggest states after UP; Maharashtra, with 48 seats, is a political blackbox. No major direct elections have been held in the state in recent years despite enormous political (two NCPs and two Shiv Senas compete for the same constituency now) and social (the Maratha quota movement and the consequent OBC mobilisation) churning. Bihar, where the NDA won 39 out of 40 seats, has seen one realignment after another due to Nitish Kumars flip-flops. The states political history states that when two out of the three main players BJP, JD(U) and RJD come together, they dominate. But has Kumars wiliness eroded his political capital? And in Bengal, where the BJP posted its best ever results in 2019 with 18 seats only to slump to a humiliating defeat two years later, the Trinamool Congress is fighting for its life in attempting to protect its citadel of south Bengal. The 2024 elections are crucial not only for what they hold but also because of what they portend. Against the backdrop of a billion people inking their fingers, important debates on campaign finance and political funding are playing out, as are debates on hate speech and the role of technology in campaigning. And as the last polls before scheduled delimitation in 2026, this might be the last elections as we have known them. In that sense, June 4 might not be the end of this election cycle, it might also be the beginning. An Indian warship on patrol in the western Arabian Sea was on Friday fired upon by Somali pirates on board a merchant vessel (MV) hijacked by them three months ago, an attack that saw the Indian Navy respond in self-defence and later forced the pirates to surrender and free the hostages held by them, the navy said on Saturday. This photograph shared by Indian navy on the X platform shows the hijacked ship ex-MV Ruen, Saturday. (AP) The action lasted 40 hours and involved the elite marine commandos being air-dropped by C-17 aircraft. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. MV Ruen was hijacked by the pirates on Thursday and was since being used by them as a pirate ship to target vessels on the high seas. That incident took place 700 nautical miles from the Indian coast. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions under international law, in self-defence and to counter piracy; with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers, the navy said in a statement. Read Here: Navy commanders explore ways to boost combat prowess in strategically-located island territories INS Kolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender and ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members on Saturday evening from the pirate vessel without any injury, the navy said in another statement. INS Kolkata intercepted the pirate ship Ruen almost 1400 nm (2600km) from the Indian Coast and forced it to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, RPA (remotely piloted aircraft), P8-I maritime patrol aircraft & marine commandos air-dropped by C-17 aircraft. The vessel was sanitised for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband, the statement added. The navy has stepped up surveillance in the Arabian Sea substantially and deployed task groups consisting of several warships in the face of rising threats in the area, including the recent attacks on India-bound merchant vessels and the resurgence of piracy. The navy has thwarted several piracy attempts in and around Arabian Sea in the last few months and responded to distress calls made by merchant ships hit by missiles and drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The voting for the 147-member Odisha assembly will be held in four phases, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. As per the announcement, voters will cast their votes on four dates, viz, May 13, May 20, May 25, June 1. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4, announced chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The term of the current assembly elected in 2019 will expire on June 2, 2024. Odisha legislative assembly(File) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Here's the complete schedule for the Odisha assembly polls: Issue of notification: April 18, April 26, April 29, May 7 Last date of notification: April 25, May 3, May 6, May 14 Scrutiny of nomination: April 26, May 4, May 7, May 15 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: April 29, May 6, May 9, May 17 Date of poll: May 13, May 20, May 25, June 1 Results: June 4 The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for a smooth and fair polling ensuring a level-playing field, the CEC said. In the 2019 Odisha legislative assembly elections, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured 113 seats, wining the election with a thumping majority, and forming the government for a fifth consecutive term under chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 23 seats followed by Congress at 9. The remaining seats were won by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and an independent candidate. Read here: BJD, BJP hold discussions for alliance in Lok Sabha, Odisha polls Odisha has 21 parliamentary constituencies. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJD got the maximum number of seats, wining 12, followed by the BJP at 8 and the Congress just a lone seat This time, hectic parleys were underway between BJP and BJD for a possible alliance ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The two former allies, who parted ways in 2009, discussed contours of a seat-sharing pact for the assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls. The BJD is considered a friendly party to the ruling BJP, having lent support to the Union government for the passage of crucial bills. Oakland police are investigating a pair of weekend shootings, one of which was fatal. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2021 A San Francisco man was killed and another was wounded in separate weekend Oakland shootings. Just before 10:30 p.m. Friday, officers responded to reports of gunfire in a home on the 1300 block of 102nd Avenue in East Oakland. Paramedics pronounced the victim, a San Francisco man, dead at the scene, and an Oakland resident was taken into custody, the Police Department said. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oakland police ask anyone with information to contact the departments homicide section at 510-238-3821 or the tip line at 510-238-7950. Just before 1 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation on the 800 block of International Boulevard, police said. Investigators learned of a walk-in gunshot victim at a local hospital who was listed in stable condition. The East Bay Times described the victim as a 24-year-old San Francisco man who was shot in the arm and leg while driving and said another motorist had taken him to the hospital. Anyone with information on the Saturday shooting is asked to contact the departments felony assault unit at 510-238-3426. More than 50 companies from West Bengal bought electoral bonds worth 1,600 crore, an analysis of the electoral bond data showed, reported The Times of India. The Election Commission of India office in New Delhi.(Reuters file photo) Of the 1,600 funds, the biggest contribution came from Keventer Group around 600 crore through firms such as Madanlal Limited, MKJ Enterprises and Keventers Food Park. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Keventer Group was followed by RP Sanjiv Goenka Group which contributed close to 500 crore through companies Haldia Energy, Dhariwal Infrastructure and Philips Carbon Black, according to the newspaper. Besides them, several other well-known industrial groups from the state also contributed to political parties. These include ITC, Rungta Group, Rashmi Group, Ambuja, Shyam Steel, IFB Group, Ripley, Shree Cement, Dhunseri Group, Utkarsh Group, Star Cement, WPIL, Tega Industries, Acropolis Maintenance, SKP Merchants and Austin Plywoods. Also Read | What does Electoral Bond data published by the ECI tell us? On March 14, the Election Commission of India (ECI) uploaded the electoral bonds data a day before the deadline set by the Supreme Court in the high-profile case. Last month, in a landmark verdict delivered, a five-judge Constitution bench scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it "unconstitutional". It also ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose details on donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients. Also Read | Data on electoral bonds gives Opposition some ammunition ahead of Lok Sabha elections The data showed that around 1,260 companies and individuals bought 22,217 bonds worth 12,155.51 crore between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024. In this period, 20,421 bonds worth 12,769.09 crore were redeemed by 23 political parties, with the BJP leading the pack with a war chest of 6,061 crore (47.5% of total redeemed value), followed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with 1,610 crore (12.6%) and Congress with 1,422 crore (11.1%). A number of opposition parties including TMC have criticised the BJP over the issue of electoral bonds. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi dubbed the scheme as the worlds largest extortion racket led by Prime Minister Modi. West Bengal industry minister Shashi Panja said that his party followed all rules and alleged that the BJP indulged in quid pro quo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched into an anti-corruption attack in rallies in Telangana and Karnataka on Saturday, alleging that there was a partnership of corruption between dynastic parties, and that the Congress had given the country nothing except lies and loot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a road show in Malkajgiri Parliamentary constituency, in Hyderabad. (ANI) The comments come on a day when the Election Commission of India announced general elections in seven phases beginning on April 19, and were made on the second of a five-day trip across five states across southern India a region where the BJP hopes to make inroads to fulfil a target of 370 seats for itself and 400 paar for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that Modi has repeatedly set. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking at a rally in Kollapur in Telanganas Nagarkurnool, Modi said that while his government at the Centre had worked over their decade in power to change lives, the Congress in power at the state-level in both Karnataka and Telangana had only looted the countrys poor. In the last seven decades, the Congress has given nothing to the country except for lies and loot, and now appears totally rudderless, Modi said. The Prime Minister said that the Congress had once given the slogan of garibi hatao but had done little to uplift the poor. They used SC, ST and OBC communities as vote banks, yet did nothing to transform their lives. A wave of change only came when the country trusted Modi with a full mandate, he said. Modis thrust in southern India comes at a time when the BJP hopes to hold on to its Lok Sabha stronghold in Karnataka, where it won 25 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, but also wants to expand its footprint in states where it has thus far had limited influence. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which have a total of 101 parliamentary seats on offer, the BJP won four in 2019. The Prime Minister said that the partnership of corruption is strongest in dynastic parties, referring to the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), led by former chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. Congress was involved in the 2G scam. BRS indulged in corruption in water that led to the irrigation scam. Both the Congress and BRS support the land mafia, Modi said. Describing Telangana as the gateway of the south, Modi said his government was committed to its progress and listed the developmental projects undertaken by the central government. We call Telangana the Gateway of South. Over the past 10 years, the development of Telangana has been a priority for us. Telangana remained divided between the policies of Congress and BRS. Both these parties have together crushed the dreams and aspirations of Telangana. First, it was BRSs maha loot and now it is Congresss buri nazar, he said. A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested BRS MLC K Kavitha, Raos daughter, in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the Delhi excise policy case that has also embroiled the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Modi said, BRS sits in partnership with other corrupt parties outside the state. This truth is being revealed every day. No corrupt person will be spared, I am promising the people of Telangana today. I need the blessings of Telangana in this fight against corruption. Kavitha was on Saturday remanded to ED custody by a Delhi court for a week. The Congress accused Modi of cheap politics. The BJP and the BRS are trying to mislead people. Modi wants to take votes portraying that they take action on her for involving in a scam and KCR want to take votes on sympathy. We see how cheap political tactics are being played, Telangana chief minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy said. The PM said the BJP is the only hope for the development of the state. Both the parties are culpable of impeding the growth of the state. They together have shattered every dream of development in Telangana. First, it was the BRS which plundered the state and now, it is the turn of the Congress, he said. In Karnatakas Kalaburgi, the home turf of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Modi said that the state has no money left for development due to corruption. The MLAs have been told that the government does not have money. Is this how a government operates? Even Congress has realised that they will not be able to form the government again. Therefore, Congress has only one agenda left, loot as much as you can The blackness of coal can be removed but corruption cant be separated from Congress, he said. Karnataka has resolved to make BJP win a record number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Today the whole of Karnataka is saying that this time we will cross 400, Modi said. The Prime Minister alleged that funds from Karnataka was being used to fund expenses of the Congress party and the family. Wherever public money is used to fill the stomach, pockets and treasuries of some people, bad governance, disorder and anarchy spreads. Instead of fulfilling promises made ahead of elections, the situation of Karnataka is deteriorating every day, he said. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah hit back at the Prime Ministers allegations, questioning his silence on what he called the electoral bonds scam. For a decade, you held power, promising to bring back black money from Swiss Bank, eliminate black money via demonetisation, claiming Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga, and being the so-called Chowkidar of the Nation. Now, it is time for you to address the issues surrounding the electoral bond scam, he said in a post on X. Hyderabad/Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win more than 400 seats as the opposition was rudderless for the seven-phase general elections, whose schedule was announced earlier in the day by chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Telangana (Twitter/@BJP4India) The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held from April 19 to June 1 in seven phases, the Election Commission of India announced on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Addressing a public rally at Kollapur in Telanganas Nagarkurnool district, as part of his election tour of southern states, Modi said that even before the formal announcement of the poll schedule, people of the country have announced the result that NDA would cross 400 seats this time. On Friday, the PM addressed rallies in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In the last seven decades, Congress gave nothing to the country except for lies and loot and now appears totally rudderless, Modi said. He alleged that the Congress gave the slogan of garibi hatao in the country for decades but failed to change the lives of the poor. The real change happened when the country gave Modi full majority, he said. Modi said that there was only one guarantee for change that was Modis guarantee and asked voters whether they would give him more than 400 seats this time. Also Read: Lok Sabha polls: Confident that BJP will get full affection for 3rd time, says PM He also highlighted several pro-poor measures of his government, including toilets, pucca houses for the poor, free vaccination and bank accounts for the poor, claiming that 250 million people emerged out of poverty in the last 10 years under the BJP rule, which has never happened before. Observing that people have given him the opportunity to serve first as chief minister (of Gujarat) and now as PM, Modi said he has not used even a single day for himself but only worked for the 1.4 billion citizens of the country. Making an indirect reference to the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Kalvakuntla Kavitha in connection with the Delhi liquor policy, Modi said the BRS was in partnership with other corrupt parties outside the state. This truth is being revealed every day. No corrupt person will be spared, I am promising the people of Telangana today. I need the blessings of Telangana in this fight against corruption, he said. The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested BRS MLC K Kavitha, daughter of former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao from Hyderabad in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the Delhi excise policy scam case. She was remanded to ED custody for a week by a Delhi court on Saturday. Modi accused the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government and the present Congress government in Telangana of being responsible and corrupt, stating the BJP was their only hope. Both the parties are culpable of impeding the growth of the state. They together have shattered every dream of development in Telangana. First, it was the BRS which plundered the state and now, it is the turn of the Congress, he said. The Congress did the 2G scam, while the BRS resorted to corruption in irrigation. Both the Congress and BRS support the land mafia, he alleged. The PM also raked up the recent row over a photo in which Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka was seen sitting on a small seat, whereas chief minister Revanth Reddy and other ministers were seen seated on bigger seats at a temple. Modi said that the people of Telangana had seen how the deputy CM, who is from an SC community, was insulted. Vikramarka had clarified about the incident and denied any insult to him. Describing Telangana as the Gateway of the South, Modi said his government was committed to its progress by taking up several developmental projects in the state in the last decade. There was a tangible impact of initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, healthcare, and infrastructure development, heralding a paradigm shift in the lives of millions, he said. Also Read: Corruption is oxygen for: PM Modi hits out at Cong in Karnatakas Kalaburagi In Kalaburagi, which is home to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Modi said Karnataka has already resolved to make the saffron party a victor in the upcoming election. ...Karnataka has resolved to make BJP win a record number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The election is yet to be announced and you have already announced it. Today the whole of Karnataka is saying that this time we will cross 400, he said. The law and order in Karnataka have worsened. Anti-social elements are being given protection in the state. I can understand the anger that all of you have against Congress. It is such a party that no matter how many clothes they change into, their activities wont change. The blackness of coal can be removed, but corruption cant be separated from Congress. For these dynasts, corruption is oxygen. Therefore, the people in Karnataka have been awakened. People have come to know the truth of Congress, he said. The PM said that such is the loot of Congress that the Karnataka government does not have any money for development. The MLAs have been told that the government does not have money. Is this how a government operates? Even Congress has realized that they will not be able to form the government again. Therefore, Congress has only one agenda left, loot as much as you can, he alleged. The PM further said that the BJP was always committed to the development of Karnataka and its identity. Wherever I go in the world, I talk about the principles of democracy that were taught to us by Jagadguru Basaveshwara. Taking inspiration from the Anubhava Mantapa, we also named Delhis Bharat Mandapam after it. This is the place where the G-20 Summit of leaders from around the world was held. This increased the pride and respect of Karnataka worldwide, he said. Reacting to his speech, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah asked Modi why his party was silent about the electoral bond scam. In a series of X posts, Siddaramaiah said, For a decade, you held power, promising to bring back black money from Swiss Bank, eliminate black money via demonetisation, claiming Na Khaunga, Na Khane Dunga, and being the so-called Chowkidar of the Nation. Now, it is time for you to address the issues surrounding the electoral bond scam. Siddaramaiah also questioned why the State Bank of India was reluctant to submit the details of electoral bonds to the top court. Despite the Supreme Courts order, why is the State Bank of India (SBI) hesitant to provide complete information? If the sale and purchase of electoral bonds were conducted legally, why is SBI concealing information? Who is exerting pressure on SBI? Prime Minister @narendramodi, please respond, he asked, urging the Supreme Court to establish a special investigation committee to probe the electoral bond row. Special polling stations will be set up near relief camps across Manipur, where over 50,000 displaced people have been living in makeshift facilities for the last 10 months after losing their homes in the ethnic clashes, enabling them to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. Voting for the two Manipur Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26 (ANI) Voting for the two Manipur Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26. The votes will be counted on June 4. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The ECI reviewed the ground situation and found that a large number of electors from different constituencies of Manipur were displaced from their native places, the poll body said in a statement on Saturday. They are now residing in relief camps in various districts of Manipur. The commission, after due consultation with various stakeholders, has decided that special polling stations shall be set up at/near the camps where such electors, who opt for such facility, will be able to register their votes in EVMs (electronic voting machines), it said. Read Here | 100% polling station webcasting in LS polls: Agarwal In this regard, a detailed scheme for internally displaced persons of Manipur to vote in relief camps has been issued by the commission on February 29, 2024, the statement added. We will make all arrangements. We have drawn up a scheme that has been notified to allow voters in the camp to vote from the camp itself. The scheme has been notified. It will be like the scheme for migrants in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K), chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar told reporters in Delhi. More than 50,000 people displaced in ethnic clashes are housed in community centres, tents, porta cabins, churches and government buildings across the northeastern state. Ever since clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3 last year, Manipur has been divided on ethnic lines. Meiteis who lived in hill districts have returned to community-dominant valley districts such as Imphal and Bishnupur while Kukis settled in Imphal have shifted to relief camps in hill areas. Security forces guard the boundaries between the hill and valley districts to ensure people from one side do not enter others territory and indulge in the violence. Government officials from the district administration had visited us last week and said they would make arrangements for us to vote. They have details of each person at the relief camp, Keishang Guite, who is taking shelter at a Churachandpur-based relief camp, said. Lok Sabha elections 2024 schedule: 97 crore to vote at 10.5 lakh poll stations, says CEC Another person at the camp said many have lost their identity cards. We have told officials from the DMs office that many people have lost their identity papers. They said all names would be verified and everyone would get to vote. Also, many people have fled to Mizoram. Now that election dates have been announced, some may return to exercise their franchise, S Haokip, another displaced person, added. The ECI also announced that voting for the two Lok Sabha seats Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and April 26. All those places that witnessed violence and continue to report sporadic incidents, including the entire Inner Manipur constituency comprising Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts, among others as well parts of Outer Imphal constituency including Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Saikul and Kakching will go to polls in the first phase. The remaining parts of the Outer Manipur seat, such as Tengnoupal, Phungyar and Ukhrul, will vote in the second phase, according to the poll schedule released by ECI. The decision to hold elections in valley and parts of hills areas such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi on the same day may be because of security reason. At one go, all the forces will be deployed in the area, a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity. The other so-called peaceful areas, except Tengnoupal (also international border district), will go to polls on another date. Meanwhile, security officials said the unified command along with district magistrates would take stock of the deployment of the forces. There are enough security forces in Manipur right now. Maybe it only needs a rejig. More security forces could be posted on the states border with Mizoram or the porous international border with Myanmar at Moreh and other parts of Tengnoupal district, one of the officials said, also declining to be named. Manipur currently has around 198 companies of paramilitary forces and 140 columns of army and Assam Rifles. Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said with the implementation of the Citizenship Act, 2019, a clarity has emerged and the process to unlock the biometrics of those frozen during the updating of the National Register of Citizens can begin. HT Image ''I will discuss the process with All Assam Students' Union and other stakeholders and hopefully, a solution will be reached soon after the elections'', Sarma said at a press conference here on Friday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The biometrics of around 27 lakh people in the state were locked and they were unable to get Aadhaar cards. During the last two years, following the enactment of the law, ''we were doing the groundwork to dispel doubts raised about the CAA. Now it is clear that anybody who came after 2014 will not be given Indian citizenship'', he said. Sarma said he was 100 per cent convinced that not even a single person will come to Assam through the CAA and ''only those who had applied for NRC will get citizenship''. The CM admitted that blocking of the biometrics created problems in getting ration cards and employment and ''we will take up the matter and resolve it''. He urged people not to be guided by emotion but by sound logic on the CAA issue. ''We have already captured the data by the NRC process and those not included in the list would have anyway got citizenship through the Foreigners' Tribunal, if not the CAA'', Sarma said. The CM further said he expects around six lakh people, three lakh each from Barak and Brahmaputra valleys, will get citizenship and not 20 lakh as being spread by certain sections. The Supreme Court-monitored Assams National Register Citizens published on August 31, 2019, which excluded 19 lakh of the 3.4 crore applicants, was a fallout of the Assam Accord signed in 1985 which had the provision for "detection and deportation" of all persons who entered the state from Bangladesh post-March 24, 1971. The NRC and CAA are not linked in the rest of the country but in Assam, the only state engaged in NRC updating exercise, a sizable population of Bengali Hindus were left out due to lack of proper legacy data documents or legacy data. With the notification of CAA rules, the Centre will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India till December 31, 2014. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians. The CAA was passed in December 2019 and subsequently got the president's assent but there were protests against it in several parts of the country, including Assam where five persons died in the violence. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday cleared a proposal that will make cadets boarded out of military training academies on medical grounds eligible for schemes run by the directorate general resettlement (DGR), the ministry said in a statement. This proposal was made by the ministrys department of ex-servicemen welfare. (ANI file photo) This will help 500 cadets who have been boarded out on medical grounds to access the schemes and ensure a brighter future for them. Future cadets in similar conditions would also get the same benefits, the statement said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This proposal was made by the ministrys department of ex-servicemen welfare. DGRs schemes include those related to coal loading and transportation, management of company owned company operated fuel outlets, allotment of Mother Dairy booths and shops, management of CNG stations in national capital region, running security agencies and providing technical services, officials aware of the matter said. Also Read: Defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates navys new headquarters in Delhi The defence minister has approved a proposal for extension of resettlement facilities to cadets who are invalidated from military training on medical grounds due to the causes attributable to/aggravated by the training, the statement said. This decision has been taken as the cadets join military academies at a young age with the intention of becoming officers in the armed forces and show a commitment to serve the nation in uniform but are unfortunate in being invalidated. Since decades, cadets/their parents have been demanding such resettlement opportunities, it added. Around 10 to 20 cadets are boarded out every year due to medical causes attributable to or aggravated by military training. However, the statement did not talk about whether such cadets will be eligible for disability pension, a longstanding demand. The service headquarters had forwarded a proposal in this regard to the defence ministry a few years ago. A 52-year-old railway employee and his eight-year-old son in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur district on Friday were allegedly killed by a 19-year-old man accused of raping the government employees teen daughter, who was later found missing, police said. Preliminary probe indicated that the father and the son were killed with some sharp-edged weapon, police said. (Getty Images) The incident came to light after the 14-year-old rape survivor sent a voice message from her fathers phone to her grandfather immediately after the murders committed by the rape accused, Mukul Kumar, who is also their neighbour, police said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As the girls grandfather informed police, a team rushed to the house a government quarter that was found locked from outside. Police broke the lock and found the railway employee in a pool of blood on the floor while the sons body was recovered from a fridge, Jabalpur superintendent of police (SP) Aditya Pratap Singh said. The minor girl, however, was found missing, he added. Preliminary probe indicated that the father and the son were killed with some sharp-edged weapon, police said. In September, a case was filed against Mukul Kumar under sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (Posco) Act after he allegedly raped the girl. He was arrested and sent to prison but was released on bail a few days ago, Singh said. Police said they are scanning CCTV footage of the area outside the railway employees house and a detailed probe is underway. A search is on for the accused and the minor rape survivor, Singh said. Police said the railway employee and his children had moved to the government quarter after his wifes death last year. India has abstained in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamobhopia. New Delhi asserted that the prevalance of religiophobia' against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged, PTI reported. A total of 115 nations voted in favour of Pakistan's resolution titled Measures to combat Islamophobia'. None of them voted against the resolution. At least 44 countries abstained including India, France, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Ukraine and Italy. ALSO READ: Biden condemns Islamophobia amid Gaza war, rights group urges US policy change Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh sentiments, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, was quoted by PTI as saying. Permanent Representative of India to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj.(UN TV) The Indian diplomat said that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps. ALSO READ: Concerned over phobia against one religion to level of int'l day: India at UN in 2022 Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It is crucial for the UN to maintain its stance above such religious concerns, which have the potential to fragment us rather than unite us under the banner of peace and harmony, embracing the world as one global family, she addd. India called on all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally. While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality, Kamboj said. She told the UN General Assembly that it is crucial to recognise that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism with more than 535 million and Sikhism with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religiophobia. It is time that we acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia, rather than single out just one, she said. The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions, she said. Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila on Friday accused her brother and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy of protecting the accused in the brutal murder of her uncle and former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy five years ago. Vivekananda Reddy, also known as Viveka, was the younger brother of Jagans father Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh (Agencies) Vivekananda Reddy, also known as Viveka, was the younger brother of Jagans father Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh . He was hacked to death by an axe at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on the intervening night of March 14 and 15, 2019. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. At a memorial meeting conducted at Kadapa on the fifth death anniversary of Viveka, Sharmila said all the evidences gathered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pointed an accusing finger at her own relatives, but they were able to get away without punishment even after five years, only due to protection given by her brother. She recalled that hours after Viveka was hacked to death, the accused sought to project it as a heart-attack. Even Jagans own media house, in its initial report, said it was a natural death. Only after I came to Pulivendula did I come to know that my uncle was murdered. Now, everybody knows who was behind the murder. Yet, there was no action against them and the case has not made any progress, she said. Instead of standing by the side of Vivekas family members, the YSRCP leaders were making allegations against them. Jagan should stand before a mirror and question his conscience as to what he is doing is right or wrong. My father YSR has done a lot for his brothers; and what has Jagan, who claims to be YSRs successor, has done to his cousins? she asked. Sharmila asserted that she would stand by Vivekas daughter Dr N Sunitha till she got justice in her fathers death. I will be her strength and weapon in her fight for securing punishment for the real culprits in Vivekas murder. Our struggle is not for power or property. We are fighting for justice, , she said. She appealed to the people to stand by the truth and justice and teach a fitting lesson to those who were protecting the killers of Viveka. Sharing her trauma in the last five years, Sunitha said her father had always encouraged Jagan in politics and wanted to see him as the chief minister. When we were all in a state of shock after my fathers death, Jagan became the chief minister and we expected that he would take initiative in getting stringent punishment to the accused in the murder. But till date, he has been protecting the accused, she regretted. Alleging that the YSRCP leaders sought to blame her family for conspiring in the murder, Sunitha wanted to know why Jagan had not taken steps to arrest her. How can you, being in the government, make false allegations against your own cousins? If you have any evidence on my role in the murder, give it to the CBI, instead of making wild allegations, she said. The YSRCP leaders havent yet reacted to Sharmila and Sunithas comments. The voting for the 32-member Sikkim assembly will be held in a single phase, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. As per the announcement, voters will cast their votes on April 19. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4, announced chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The term of the current assembly elected in 2019 will expire on June 2, 2024. Sikkim assembly(File) Follow Lok Sabha poll schedule LIVE Updates Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Here's the complete schedule for the Sikkim assembly polls: Issue of notification: March 20 Last date of notification: March 27 Scrutiny of nomination: March 28 Last date of withdrawal of candidature: March 30 Date of poll: April 19 Results: June 4 The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for a smooth and fair polling ensuring a level-playing field, the CEC said. In the 2019 Sikkim legislative assembly elections, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) won 17 seats and formed the government under chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, while the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won 15 seats. The 10th Sikkim Legislative Assembly elections took place on April 11, 2019, alongside the Lok Sabha polls. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) defeated the long-standing Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), securing a simple majority with 17 seats. Other parties like BJP, Congress, and Hamro Sikkim Party fielded candidates but didnt win any seats. Sikkim witnessed vigorous voter turnout, with 78.19% voters casting their votes across 32 assembly constituencies. Meanwhile, Sikkim Chief Secretary V B Pathak had directed all government officials, including Heads of Department (HODs) to strictly follow the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) rules once it comes into effect with the announcement of poll schedule. Vice President Kamala Harris repeated her line that nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed Friday during a White House event on cannabis legalization. Her position has changed dramatically since she was a prosecutor in San Francisco. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinal The sight of Vice President Kamala Harris urging the reform of cannabis laws Friday in the White House will prompt a lot of eye rolls from dubious Californians old enough to remember when Harris was an anti-weed prosecutor in her home state less than a decade ago. When Californians voted to legalize cannabis for adult recreational use in 2016, then-Attorney General Harris didnt take a position. Six years earlier, she actively opposed a different legalization measure. As San Franciscos district attorney, her prosecutors convicted more than 1,900 people for weed violations. When reporters pointed out that her 2014 Republican opponent for attorney general supported legalization, she laughed and said, Hes entitled to his opinion. How far shes come. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Friday, sitting in the West Wing next to rapper Fat Joe, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who has pardoned cannabis crimes in his state, and others who have received federal pardons for weed possession violations, Harris repeated a line she has used often in recent months: Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed. Now, Harris has an opportunity to redeem her past positions beyond Fridays White House cannabis photo op by telling the story of how and why she has evolved on cannabis. And if she does so genuinely, she could help her fellow former weed warrior, President Joe Biden, win reelection by connecting with a lot of Americans who are taking the same journey when it comes to reconsidering cannabis. There are political benefits, too. Explaining that evolution could also boost their standing with young voters and people of color who are unenthused about supporting the Biden-Harris ticket. Their support could be a difference-maker in the election. They overwhelmingly support legalization and reclassifying cannabis from what the federal government considers it to be now: a drug as lethal as heroin. There is little to lose, as public opinion is on Harris and Bidens side. Not only do polls show that 70% of Americans support legalization, but 38 states permit the use of medicinal cannabis while 24 allow adult recreational use. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Neither one of them should hide from the fact that in the past, they held different positions. And I think its important for them now to explain why theyve changed their position, said Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, a national cannabis reform organization. One of their members participated in Fridays White House event. That would go a long way to sort of persuading some of the perhaps more cynical members of the public, who remember the fact that this wasnt the way they spoke about marijuana a decade ago. If Harris explained why and how shes changed, Armentano said, it would blunt criticisms of people who might say, Theyre just hypocrites or Theyre just seeing which way the winds are blowing now, and thats why theyre saying these things, that this is just crass politics. Its easy to come to those conclusions because Harris cannabis history is complicated and often contradictory. Harris reflected public sentiment at the time she was elected San Franciscos district attorney in 2003, when only 34% of Americans supported legalization. Prosecutors in her office won 1,956 misdemeanor and felony convictions for marijuana possession, cultivation or sale between 2004-2010. Only 45 were sent to state prison, according to a 2019 San Jose Mercury News investigation. (She did, however, pioneer programs like Back on Track while district attorney. It enabled low-level drug offenders to obtain a high school diploma and a job instead of prison time.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad Not only did Harris oppose Californias 2010 ballot measure to legalize the adult recreational use of cannabis, she co-wrote the argument against it that appeared in the voter guide, calling Proposition 19 flawed public policy and would compromise the safety of our roadways, workplaces, and communities. She took no position when California voters backed legalizing cannabis for adult recreational use, when she was on the same ballot running for Senate. Kamala Harris was certainly no friend to marijuana policy when she was attorney general, Armentano said. Harris didnt catch up to her home state voters on cannabis until 2018, when as a senator she backed New Jersey Sen. Cory Bookers federal legalization legislation. The following year, when she was running for president, her campaign attempted to fundraise off of her legalization position. On the email pitch, she outlined her pathway to legalization for weed at the federal level. Now, she is talking about cannabis reform on the campaign trail, often through a criminal justice lens. In January, Harris announced a new federal rule that would make people with criminal records, even those not related to cannabis, eligible for Small Business Administration loans. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last month while campaigning in South Carolina, Harris was asked what her ticket meant for young Black men. Along with talking about high-speed internet, Harris mentioned what we have done to pardon tens of thousands of people for simple marijuana possession under the federal law and then invoked her line that nobody should be jailed for smoking weed. These are some of the things that we have done that I think really do resonate with young people, with Black voters and young Black voters, with young Black men, Harris said. And theres more to do. On Friday, Harris said that the promise of America includes equal justice under the law. And for too many, our criminal justice system has failed to live up to that core principle. And I say that with full knowledge of how the system has worked, including my experience as a prosecutor. It is the closest Harris came Friday to acknowledging how she has evolved on marijuana. Biden, too, has come a long way after a lifetime of supporting harsh punishments for drug dealers and users. Booker, his 2020 Democratic presidential rival, called him the architect of mass incarceration for his support of a 1994 crime bill toughening sentences for many federal crimes. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In 1989, Biden, then a Delaware senator, appeared on national television to offer a rebuttal to President George H.W. Bushs plan to crack down on the nations drug problem. The presidents plan is not tough enough, bold enough, or imaginative enough to meet the crisis at hand, Biden said. Biden called not just for tougher penalties for drug dealers but also to hold every drug user accountable. As he prepared to run for president in 2019, Biden acknowledged his history in accelerating the war on drugs and mass incarceration, saying, I havent always been right, on criminal justice issues. I know we havent always gotten things right, but Ive always tried. Since he became president, Biden has tried harder than any president to change cannabis laws. He has issued blanket presidential pardons granting clemency to people convicted of simple marijuana possession, use and certain related federal offenses. In 2002, he urged the nations governors to pardon state-level weed offenders, which quickly led the governors of Kentucky and Oregon to pardon tens of thousands of convictions. Other states then followed suit. Bidens pardons of people with federal marijuana convictions apply to an estimated 6,557 people, according to an analysis by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. And while cannabis activists were thrilled to hear Biden say in this months State of the Union speech that no one should be jailed just for using or possessing marijuana, Biden incorrectly described his work as expunging records. He has pardoned drug crimes, not expunged records, which involves sealing past convictions from public view. The most important thing Biden has done to reform cannabis laws was to order an administrative review of reclassifying cannabis from the Schedule 1 category of controlled substances. The Department of Health and Human Services recommended last year that cannabis be placed in the Schedule 3 category, where it would be considered more like a medicine. The Drug Enforcement Agency, however, has not yet responded to the recommendation and it might not for years. Advocates have asked the DEA to reclassify cannabis five times before, and it has frequently taken several years for the agency to respond. I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible, Harris said Friday. And we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment. While Biden and Harris are moving ahead on cannabis reform, Congress lags behind. Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer promised to put a cannabis reform bill on the floor of the Senate three years ago. That still hasnt happened. So for now, the administration is using its massive public megaphone in unprecedented ways. Three decades after Bill Clinton denied inhaling while smoking pot, it is mind-blowing to hear a sitting vice president say that nobody should be in jail for smoking weed. Siliguri: Voting for the 32 assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim will be held simultaneously on April 19, the first of the seven phases scheduled for general elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the schedule for the 2024 general elections (Representative Photo) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the schedule for the 2024 general elections commencing on April 19 in seven phases with the last phase on June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Himalayan states ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), which currently controls 19 assembly constituencies and the Lok Sabha seat, is leaving no stone unturned to stay in power. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in alliance with the SKM, has 12 legislators while Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which was in power for 25 years till its defeat in 2019, has only one MLA. Sikkim is likely to witness a triangular contest between the SKM, SDF and the newly formed Citizen Action Party (CAP), political observers feel. Also Read: Lok Sabha polls: Assam to have 3 phase voting for 14 seats, starting April 19 Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang-led SKM has left the other parties behind on the campaign trail after it recently ordered permanent jobs for around 27,000 temporary government employees, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The government has also recruited around 15,000 people on a contractual basis. Opposition parties see these as SKMs trump card since more than 25 per cent of voters in the state are government employees. Sikkim has 0.46 million voters while the number of government employees is around 0.12 million. All parties welcomed the ECIs decision to hold simultaneous elections in Sikkim in the first phase. CM Tamang has been touring every part of the state since last month and meeting voters. SKM will win all 32 assembly seats and the Lok Sabha seat as well. SKM will make Sikkim prosperous, Tamang said. Hitting out at the SKM, SDF president and former chief minister Pawan Chamling, said that the current governments regime is marked by violence and attacks on opposition supporters. People want a change. Ganesh Rai, CAPs chief ministerial candidate said that Sikkim will vote to form a clean government and safeguard the states special status. Sikkim, which became the 22nd state of India in 1975, enjoys special status under Article 371F of the Constitution which grants the states government and citizens 16 special powers and privileges. An Indian warship on patrol in the western Arabian Sea was on Friday fired upon by Somali pirates on board a merchant vessel (MV) hijacked by them three months ago, an attack that saw the Indian Navy respond in self-defence, the navy said in a statement on Saturday. The vessel was intercepted by the Indian warship on March 15. (Indian Navy | Official X account) MV Ruen was hijacked by the pirates on December 14 and was being used by them as a pirate ship to target vessels on the high seas. That incident took place 700 nautical miles from the Indian coast. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The vessel was intercepted by the Indian warship on March 15. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions under international law, in self-defence and to counter piracy; with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers, the statement said. Also Read:Indian Navys anti-piracy steps gain momentum The pirates were asked to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding hostage, it said. Further details were awaited when this report was filed. The Indian Navy remains committed to maritime security and safety of seafarers in the region. The navy has stepped up surveillance in the Arabian Sea substantially and deployed task groups consisting of several warships in the face of rising threats in the area including the recent attacks on India-bound merchant vessels and the resurgence of piracy. The navy has thwarted several piracy attempts in and around Arabian Sea in the last few months and responded to distress calls made by merchant ships hit by missiles and drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In the 1980s and the 1990s, the best suitor to the rich, brown Robusta from the blue Nilgiris was the creamy-complexioned Aavin from Tamil Nadus plains. In neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh too, similar alliances were nurtured: Coorgs Arabica was found to be most compatible with Nandini, and the crimson-red make from Andhras Araku, considered limited edition, was matched with Vijaya, the whitecap from the states sunny side. The coffee and cream duos grew to win the hearts of every south Indian whose mornings were unthinkable without Aavin, Nandini, and Vijaya the homegrown cooperative milk federations 6 am drop-offs. Cut to 2020. Enter Amul, and a bitter battle ensued disrupting the long-standing relationship between dairy farmers, federations, and consumers across all southern states. Amul, or Anand Milk Union Limited, owned by the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), is considered Indias largest and most successful milk procurer and marketer. In the last two years, it has been repeatedly chastised for barging into territories alien to its jurisdiction, buying up liquid milk, and thronging the south Indian markets with its brightly packaged products. At the heart of the discontent of Aavin, Nandini, Vijaya, and Keralas Milma the four regional milk marketing federations is Amuls unfair pricing and procurement of milk from dairy farmers. Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin requested the urgent intervention of Union home minister Amit Shah to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from Tamil Nadus Aavin milk shed area. Stalin said that the entry of Amul into the market would create unhealthy competition with Aavin, the states dairy cooperative federation functioning since 1981. Until now, Amul was just selling their products through their outlets in the state, Stalin said in his letter to Shah. Recently, it has come to our notice that the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (one of the unions that forms Amul), has utilised their multi-state cooperative licence, to install chilling centres and a processing plant in Krishnagiri district and has planned to procure milk through FPOs and SHGs in and around Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts in our state, he wrote. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavins milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades, the TN CM wrote. K Annamalai, the BJP state chief, however, refuted the allegations. Aavins daily milk procurement is 35 LLPD against the total milk production of 244 LLPD in the state, he said. Amuls procurement in the South Southern milk federations are up in arms at the way Amul has bought liquid milk from dairy farmers through agents at higher rates than the local unions, enticing farmers with bonuses and spot payments. In Andhra Pradesh for instance, the first state that Amul tried penetrating in late 2020, it collected milk through the Jagananna milk flood scheme, introduced by the state government. By 2022, farmers reported a fifth increase in the procurement price of both cow and buffalo milk. Subsequently, Amul also increased the collection price of butter by 32 in the Uttarandhra districts. Jagananna milk collection started in December 2020 in three districts, and within three months, Amul started expanding its procurement operations to 17 districts. From 100 villages and 27,300 farmers, the number has now risen to more than 2,50,000 farmers across nearly 2,900 villages in the state. This has helped us farmers tremendously, V Srinivasa Rao, the leader of the Krishna District Milk Producers Mutually Aided Cooperative Milk Union said. After the state raised the procurement price of milk for the fifth time in one year, Amul was buying buffalo milk at 87.52, paying 16 higher than the state dairy, and cow milk at 42.46, paying 8.26 more than Vijaya Dairys procurement price. By the end of 2022, Amul had compensated the farmers by paying 232 crore to buy more than five crore litres of milk from Kaira, Sabarkantha, and Banaskantha unions in the Rayalaseema, Coastandhra and Uttarandhra regions, respectively, according to Seediri Appalaraju, the minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries made at a press conference last year in November. The milk procurement price is akin to the minimum support price (MSP), a baseline or floor price below which the market prices of commodities cannot fall even in case of a supply glut or a bumper crop. In the case of crops, while the Central government decides the MSP beforehand each year, the state cooperatives determine the procurement and sale price of milk and milk products in consultation with the state dairy federation and state government based on the availability of milk. Before winning the election, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy promised to pay the dairy farmers a higher procurement price than the private dairies if they were voted to power. The government is now enabling this through Amul. Government officials are holding camps to threaten farmers to supply milk to Amul and not to Visakha or Vijaya dairies, said former Communist Party of India (Marxist) parliamentarian P Madhu. Vijay Mohan, a dairy expert from Andhra Pradesh said that private players too increased the procurement costs of raw milk because of a decline in milk output due to the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreak in 2022-2023 and an increase in fodder prices. Commensurate with the input costs, the dairy industry players took price hikes in cow and buffalo milk but once the threat and spread of the disease waned, they did not resort to additional price hikes. The health of Amuls balance sheet allows it to procure milk at higher costs even if they are not viable in the short term. Last year, Amul also took over the assets of the defunct Chittoor Dairy, a unit of the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (APDDCF) investing 385 crore to create a new facility. In July 2023, chief minister YS Jagan Reddy laid the foundation for the Amul milk procurement and production facility. The Chittoor unit was shut down 20 years ago after incurring recurrent losses due to the advent of Heritage Dairy, a private firm owned by Nara Chandrababu Naidus wife, N Bhuvaneswari. The Anand-based cooperative corners dairy unions by pumping in cash through agents, Madhu said. According to Srinivas Rao, who leads the Krishna District Milk Producers Mutually Aided Cooperative Milk Union, Amul paid a spot bonus per litre to farmers and unions through agents. Small district units of the state dairy are thus made part of the Gujarat cooperatives network, which also includes private players to supply milk for Amul. The three-tier system in the Dairy Cooperative structure consists of a Dairy Cooperative Society at the village (Primary Dairy Cooperative Society), district, and state levels. This is how the cooperative dairies are systematically dismantled in the state, the CPI (M) leader said. Other states are feeling the pinch too As cooperatives, our aim is not to make profits. It is to support the farmers and uphold the cooperative movement. Amul is functioning like a Multinational Corporation and is violating the states cooperative laws, KS Mani, chairman of Milma, the milk brand run by the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), said. Mani, who is also on the board of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India, said he tabled the issue of Amuls encroachment amongst the NCDFIs members. Amul, or any cooperative for that matter can sell all other products across India, but procurement and sale of liquid milk should be restricted within their jurisdiction. As a sister concern, I am proud that Amul is doing well. But we should not fight each other. Amul should share its best practices and help other federations to function better, he said. In Karnataka, the issue turned into a political slugfest during the polls last year. The Congress alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was allowing the Gujarat-based Amul to strangulate Nandini, Karnatakas milk cooperative a charge vehemently denied by the BJP. Brand Nandini, run by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), offers the cheapest milk in the state. A dairy farmer in Karnatakas Mandya region who did not wish to be named said, Amul is procuring milk through the India Tobacco Company-owned (ITC) Sunfeasts farmer producer organisations (FPO) network. Sunfeast is doing white-labelling for Amul, that is to say, it is packaging products for Amul, which will later be sold at Amul outlets. The Karnataka government, now run by the Congress, has introduced a 5 subsidy for every litre of milk sold to state-run KMP. No competition spirit Mani cites examples of the cooperative spirit, which Amul is reportedly working against. The KMF, he said, desisted from opening additional outlets in Kerala it not only operates only two, but upon the KCMMFs request (Karnatakas cooperative), it also refrained from marketing and selling Nandini-brand products and milk in Kerala. According to Mani, Amul has doubled commissions for dealers and agents to sell its products to cannibalise market share. This is against the very formative principles of cooperative unity and Indias milk revolution pioneered by Dr Verghese Kurien, Mani said. It was this that Stalin also pointed to in his letter to Shah last week when he sought the Union home ministers intervention in keeping out unhealthy competition between cooperatives. In Tamil Nadu too, Amul has a pricing system because it follows the ISO formula for computing fat percentage and Solid Non-Fat (SNF) percentage in milk the key determinants of price. Aavin, the local dairy, uses a British-era Richmond formula to determine the fat and SNF percentage. Besides, Amul is also keen to install another plant in Sri City, Nellore, about 30 km from Chennai, besides the one it has in Krishnagiri district. A general manager from Aavin who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Amul was slowly and steadily increasing its procurement. As an institution, it has become more professional. It is trying all kinds of business models to succeed. No bureaucrats enter the system. The price is decided by the board, unlike other states where growth is hampered because of red-tapism and systemic indifference. Siddharth Gautam, a small-scale dairy farmer who runs his farm in Telangana agrees with the Aavin officials inference. Amul has mastered the system. It assists the farmers by providing them with feed for the cattle, medicines for animals, cattle insurance, and even a doctor on call. It is this that the other state dairies have not been able to match, Siddharth said. As an owner of 50 buffaloes, Siddharth manages his own supply chain but compliments Amul for their timely payment to farmers and their genuine interest in farmer welfare. A political fight Southern states have to up their game. Punjab and Haryana have contests and fairs for cattle because dairy is a big part of their life. Tamil Nadu, AP, Kerala, and Karnataka have to introduce innovative measures and campaigns for the local farmers and consumers to stay loyal to the homegrown brands. India is aiming to account for one-third of the global milk production by 2030, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) chairman Dr Meenesh Shah said. India accounts for 24%, or a fourth of the total world milk production, according to the NDDB. For this to be achieved, the board must take along all the farmers, unions, cooperatives, and their federations. At the height of the Amul controversy in July last year, a good number of policymakers and planners stood by Karnataka and Tamil Nadus firm stance and called Amuls practices predatory. In fact, Amul was set up as a response to Pestonjee Eduljee Polson, which flooded the market with its milk and butter by fleecing farmers. To counter its monopoly, Anand Cooperative was set up in 1946 in Gujarat. Dairy engineer and social entrepreneur Verghese Kuriens Operation Flood is well known for making India the milk capital of the world in 1970, by leading the countrys dairies to extensively increase milk production through cooperative movements. India was eased out of a severe shortage of milk and its domestic milk production was more than sufficient to meet the countrys demand. The genesis of the dairy cooperative movement was in Anand, Amuls headquarters. Today, as Amul is dealing with allegations of overpricing and unfair trade practices, its patrons, however, say nothing sinister can be attributed to them. Amul declined to respond to the email sent by this journalist. Deepika Amirapu is a freelance journalist based in Hyderabad. Each week, Southern Lights examines the big story from one of the five states of South India. The development came amid speculations that the first cabinet expansion would take place on Saturday. Saini and five ministers were inducted into the cabinet on Tuesday. HT Image However, there was no word from the government about the cabinet expansion. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Haryana can have maximum 14 ministers, including the chief minister. At present, the Haryana Cabinet has five ministers four from the BJP and one Independent apart from the chief minister. Asked what kind of message he had received for reaching the Raj Bhavan and whether the cabinet expansion was going to take place, Gurugram MLA Sudhir Singla said, "It was to take place and the time was at 11 am but it has been deferred." Replying to a question, Singla told reporters outside the Haryana governor's residence that he had received a message to reach there at 11 am. Asked whether the cabinet expansion was delayed because Anil Vij was upset, Singla said that it got delayed initially because of this reason. "But attempts will be made to persuade him," he added. Later, Vij, who was in Ambala, asserted that he was not "upset". Asked if attempts are being made to persuade him, Vij said he was not aware of this. "I am standing before you. Neither anybody told me nor contacted me," he said. Asked if anybody came to persuade him, Vij said he was not "upset". Whether anybody persuaded him after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Vij said that after the ceremony, nobody has spoken to him yet. "I even attended the session and all were present. Nobody spoke to me. Whatever they are doing, they are doing good. They will run the government efficiently. Nayab Saini is my younger brother and I hope he will do very good work," said Vij. Vij, who held the home portfolio in the previous Manohar Lal Khattar-led cabinet and was often at loggerheads with him, had not attended the swearing-in ceremony of Nayab Singh Saini and five ministers on Tuesday. He was earlier said to be "upset" over being "ignored" by the party. Six-time MLA Vij had also walked out of the legislature party meeting where Saini was unanimously named the chief minister-designate. Khattar had told reporters on Tuesday that Vij's name was on the list of new ministers to be sworn in at the Raj Bhavan, but the six-time MLA decided to skip the swearing-in ceremony. During his Delhi visit on Thursday, Chief Minister Saini, when asked about Vij being "upset", had said, "Vij sahab is our senior leader, and we have his blessings." In a surprise move on Tuesday, the BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with OBC leader Saini as Haryana's chief minister in a swift switch in the state, just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Saini, who is the party's state unit president, was sworn in as chief minister on Tuesday along with five ministers hours after the resignation of Khattar. Saini represents Kurukshetra in the Lok Sabha. The Saini government in Haryana on Wednesday won the trust vote in the special session of the state assembly. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Telangana CM and Congress leader Revanth Reddy has reacted to the arrest of state MLC K Kavitha and accused the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing cheap politics. He even termed the issue as "a serial drama". Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy (ANI) "Just a day ahead of polls notification, ED arrested Kavitha. This is nothing but a serial drama. Why didn't they arrest her in 2022? K Kavitha is the daughter of KCR. When ED arrested her and took her, why didn't KCR didn't come there as a father or as party Chief," Reddy said while holding a press conference on Saturday, reported news agency ANI. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Reddy further alleged that the arrest has been done to benefit both BJP and BRS. "They are trying to play cheap politics. Both BJP and BRS are trying to mislead people. Modi wants to take votes portraying that they take action on her for involving in a scam and KCR want to take votes on sympathy. We see how cheap political tactics are being played," he said. ALSO READ| K Kavitha's first reaction after being arrested by ED in Delhi excise policy case: 'It's illegal' BRS leader Kavitha was arrested from her residence in Bajara Hills Hyderabad on Friday and brought to Delhi. Daughter of BRS founder and former Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kavitha has been arrested in connection with alleged kickbacks paid to leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the formulation of Delhis controversial 2020-21 excise policy. Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charged Kavitha with money laundering. EDs primary allegation against Kavitha is that she was part of a cartel known allegedly as the South Group, which paid 100 crore in kickbacks to AAP leaders, in exchange for being assigned nine retail zones under the Delhi excise policy. ALSO READ| KTR's attack on BJP amid Kavitha's arrest by ED: Inordinate rush to On Saturday, Kavitha was produced before Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi. In her first reaction since her arrest, Kavitha said: It's an illegal arrest, will fight it out, The 2019 general elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 with the results for members of the 17th Lok Sabha declared on May 23, 2019. Will the EC help in cutting down the number of election phases for the country to go on about its business rather than remain mired in election? Today, the Election Commission is scheduled to announce general elections to elect members for the 18th Lok Sabha. The million dollar question is whether the EC will reduce the number of phases of polling or continue with a similar number of phases as in 2019. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. While state police and paramilitary forces are required to protect the electorate from violence and electoral coercion, the internal security environment in the country is much better than 2019 with Jammu and Kashmir coming to terms with abrogation of Article 370 and Maoist insurgency limited to Bastar region in Chhattisgarh. Lok Sabha elections 2024 dates announcement LIVE coverage Apart from political violence in West Bengal and ethnic tensions among Kukuis and Meiteis in Manipur, the internal security situation is largely stable albeit religious radicalisation is high among the minority communities. With terror incidents going down in the hinterland apart from terror strikes in Rajouri-Poonch sector since 2019, the EC has an opportunity to reduce the number of phases rather than a month long tedious exercise costing a humongous amount of money, men, women and material. But there is a caveat to this presumption as forces need time to move from one end of the country to the other and EC rather play it safe than reduce the number of phases as political violence and terror strikes are a distinct possibility during the elections. In the age of deep fake AI, Indias adversaries including big powers could also use this opportunity to influence the electorate towards the party they think could further their cause. Then there are others like the Pakistani deep state who could activate their sleeper cells to engineer violence or cyberattacks during elections. Since 2019, India has seen consistent cyberattacks originating from China and East European countries but the focus has been to cripple governance in India. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi communicating to his Ministers that governance and decision making does not stop during elections, the present government will take decisions till the last day of its term. Will the EC help in cutting down the number of election phases for the country to go on about its business rather than remain mired in election and politics for a whole month ? Indias IT capital, better-known for its traffic snarls, and monsoon floods, is now a topic of discussion nationwide over water scarcity . Even though popular narrative claims the whole city is suffering from drought, the reality on the ground is nuanced, and more complex. Amidst the bustling streets and high-rises is a clear divide: only about 30% of Bengaluru faces acute water shortages, mainly in new areas that have contributed to the citys geographical growth since 2007 that span 225 square kilometres. In contrast, the older city precincts, spanning 580 square kilometres, continue to enjoy relatively stable water access. The key differentiator? Piped water supply. People wait in a queue with cans to collect drinking water amid an ongoing water crisis in Bengaluru. (AFP) The expansion of Bengalurus boundaries in 2007 marked a significant shift, introducing five new zones. Prior to this expansion, the city was delineated into three zones East, West, and South. The addition of 110 villages, seven erstwhile City Municipal Corporation areas, and one Town Municipal Area, totalling 225 square kilometres, gave rise to five new zones: Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Dasarahalli, and Yelahanka. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The primary aim behind their incorporation came from the rapid development witnessed in these regions, notably Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli, which saw a surge in IT industry since the early 2000s, said Shivalingappa R, a retired official of the city corporation which saw the incorporation. Despite the citys growth and the transformation of the Bangalore Municipal Corporation (BMP) into the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), poor planning in terms of water supply have plagued the newly incorporated regions, leading to a reliance on groundwater, and exacerbated by delayed infrastructure projects and frequent monsoon failures. Seventeen years after the inception of these new zones, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) only delivers Cauvery water to the three zones in old Bengaluru. Consequently, the trend of drilling borewells to access groundwater has emerged in the remaining five zones, particularly in the tech corridor. As groundwater levels depleted in numerous areas, the reliance on water tankers became pronounced. Two-thirds of Bengalurus water supply originates from the Cauvery River, with the remainder sourced from borewells and alternative sources. Bengaluru presently receives 1,470 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water. In addition, theres an allocation of 600 MLD from groundwater sources within the city. Considering the current population and an allotment of 150 litres per capita, theres ample water to sustain the entire city, said S Vishwanath, a water conservation expert. According to Ram Prasath Manohar, Chairman of BWSSB, Cauvery water supply remains uninterrupted until July, with Bengaluru receiving 1,470 MLD daily. At this rate, the citys requirement amounts to 1.54 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic) feet of water per month, with a maximum requirement of eight TMC feet until the end of July. This essentially translates to an uninterrupted Cauvery water supply for the core areas of Bengaluru, encompassing approximately 72% of the current city, until July. Then where is the crisis? And how did it begin? It began when Karnataka experienced very poor rainfall during the last summer and winter monsoon. There was 21% shortfall during southwest monsoon in Bengaluru city in 2023, according to IMD. The north-east monsoon which provides rains in southern peninsula between November and January was deficient for the Bengaluru urban district by 27%. With expansion of the city -- built-up area has increased by 1055% over the past five decades the so-called water spread area in the city has declined by 70% from 2,324 hectares in 1973 to 696 hectares in 2023, according to a recent study by Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru. Professor T V Ramachandra, who conducted the study, said that 98% of the lakes are encroached and 90% are fed with untreated sewage. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said on Monday that the state has not witnessed such severe drought in the past three to four decades. This resulted in the shortage in zones where heavily dependent on groundwater. He said that the government has taken things under its control and arranged for water tankers to supply water. In the last 30-40 years we had not seen such drought; though there was drought earlier we had never declared such a large number of taluks as drought-affected. Wherever Cauvery river water has to be supplied, it is being done, but out of 13,900 odd borewells in Bengaluru, about 6,000 borewells have become defunct, DK Shivakumar explained. The exact numbers are different: according to BBMP data, out of the 13,955 borewells administered by the BBMP, 1,214 are completely dry, while water levels in 3,700 is very low. In such a situation Cauvery water should have been pumped to the new areas, but there comes the second problem. After the new zones were created the government announced a new plan , Cauvery V Phase, to provide water to the new regions. The delayed completion of the Cauvery V Phase project is the main cause of the current crisis. While sufficient Cauvery water is theoretically available, the delay in the project has hindered its distribution, leaving thousands reliant on dwindling groundwater resources and erratic monsoon patterns. If you look at the availability of Cauvery water, we have enough water to supply to these regions. While the current 1,470 MLD is enough to supply water to the old region. The Supreme Court order in the Cauvery River water-sharing case has provided for an additional 775 MLD of water, which can fulfil the needs of these new areas. But the problem is that the project is still not complete. It should have been completed at least two years ago, said Vishwanath. The government has said that the Cauvery V project will be completed by July. Adding to the problem is the slow pace of efforts to rejuvenate key lakes like Bellandur and Varthur. These lakes, spanning a collective 1,200 acres, have been devoid of treated sewage and rainwater for the past four years, ever since the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) began its restoration process. Despite the BDAs earnest intentions, the diversion of water inflow for desilting has been fraught with delays, exacerbating the situation and affecting groundwater resources. Once lifelines for nearby communities, the lakes now stand stark reminders of environmental mismanagement. Vishwanath said these lakes play a critical role in recharging millions of litres of water daily. The draining of Bellandur and Varthur lakes for desilting plays a huge role in aggravating Bengalurus groundwater crisis. Bellandur Lake, sprawling across 360 hectares, has the potential to recharge 66 million litres per day, equivalent to 5,500 tankers of 12,000 litres each. Similarly, Varthur could contribute 36 million litres per day. The failure to harness a total of 102 million litres per day for recharge purposes has precipitated the groundwater collapse, he explained. To address these concerns, activists are pushing for immediate measures, proposing the replenishment of these lakes with tertiary treated wastewater. The film, written and directed by Chidambaram, is based on a real-life incident from 2006, when a group of young men from Manjummel, a small town near Kochi, suffered a terrible mishap during a trip to the Guna Caves in Kodaikanal. One of them fell into a deep crevasse. As the film tells it, locals tried to persuade the boys that their friend was likely dead, but they refused to give up on him. When rescue attempts by the police failed, one of the boys risked his life, lowering himself into the steep gash, and eventually rescued his friend. From this material, Chidambaram constructs a narrative that plays the audience, as Alfred Hitchcock famously said, like an organ. Which is quite a feat, given that this is only the filmmakers second feature (the first being the 2021 comedy-drama Jan E Man). Manjummel Boys begins by immersing us in the lives of these seemingly ordinary men. They are all single, with low-paying jobs one is a driver, another an assistant at a store, a third works in an auto-mechanic shop. Occasionally, they are rowdy. They gatecrash a wedding, get drunk and cause a ruckus. This is the kind of boisterous gang one might instantly judge and label as not-good-for-much. The highlight of their mundane lives seems to be these trips they make together. But when thrown into dire circumstances, the group of 11 coalesces into a formidable whole. Early in the film, we see them lose a tug-of-war contest. Chidambaram weaves this back into the narrative beautifully; their ability to work together is ultimately what saves them. There is also a haunting, poetic stretch in which we see the men as boys, playing hide-and-seek and swimming in a river. From that age, they learn to look after one another. Their actions in the past shape their present. Chidambaram skilfully stitches in Ilaiyaraajas classic Tamil song Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan (Apple of My Eye) from the film Gunaa (1991), which starred Kamal Haasan and was shot in Kodaikanal, including at the place known as Devils Kitchen, which features in this film. Even if you havent watched that film and dont fully get the weight of this reference (I hadnt, and didnt), it has impact. As does Sushin Shyams expansive, soaring score, Shyju Khalids superb camerawork, and the production design by Ajayan Chalissery. And then theres Soubin Shahir, here both as co-producer and actor. He plays Kuttan, the oldest member of the group. There is such grace and subtlety in his expressions; especially in the post-climax sequence, when his courage is finally recognised. That moment is a masterclass in acting, just by itself. Since its theatrical release on February 22, Manjummel Boys has become the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. It has also set a record for fastest Malayalam film to cross the 100-crore mark worldwide. I saw it in its third week, in Mumbai, and the theatre was nearly full. The audience cheered as the story unfolded; I heard gasps and even sobs. Such is the power of storytelling. Malayalam cinema scores big, yet again. (To reach Anupama Chopra with feedback, email feedbackforanu@gmail.com) To write a tome out of the life of ones father ought to be a challenging jostle. It could well have been so for theatre director Amal Allana, who has written the definitive expansive biography of her father Ebrahim Alkazi. What does she include, what has she left out, how does she gauge a human being entirely divested from his familial roles and consequently since a daughter writes, is it a biography or a memoir? Allana finds a way in a multiplicity of viewpoints and formats, her own viewpoints being prominent but not overriding, for this really multi-rooted, versatile legacy of scholarship and cultural vanguardism. Allana writes with winning candour. Her chroniclers commitment to truths from her fathers life as she experienced them, and as the world experienced her fathers extraordinary creative and intellectual agency, is obvious from the first hundred pages. Ebrahim Alkazi, Elk in his close circles of friends and family, is a true cosmopolite in his daughters panoramic, way-finding style of recreating her fathers life. Allana is also inventive, phrasing some of the views of Alkazi, and that of his peers similarly integrated in West-meets-India, as dialogues in conversations. Allana even gives Francis Newton Souza, the enfant terrible of the Progressive group of artists, some dialogues. The personal is richly detailed. Alkazi, who, for most of his adult life did not engage much with the Arab side of his family, comes alive as a Maharashtrian Arab in the book, the influences that his Arab lineage had on his life and vision evident. Allana is committed to the truth of her father as a family man, and she dwells on the relationship between her mother Roshan Padamsee and her father in great detail, including the triangle she says that formed when another woman, Uma Anand, became Alkazis romantic partner later in life. Allana suggests that it was their attempt at living their truths, and for Allana and her brother Faisal, her fathers affair even became an avenue for the idea of being free amid the established systems that we belong to. For Alkazis great work as an institution builder, Allana immerses into his writings and scribbles and also interviews of actors and artists whose dreams and ideas he helped actualise with distinct methodologies and processes. It is obvious actors didnt as much learn the technical proficiencies of their craft under Alkazi, as how to cultivate an artistic temperament and world-view. How the National School of Drama takes shape under Alkazis leadership is a book in itself, and Allana captures that history like a thorough chronicler. Over 600 pages, the portrait of Alkazi, Roshan and the children build-up, along with an entire milieu of like-minded, artistic minds who believed in a syncretic idea of Indian cultureAlkazis uncle Sultan, or Bobby Padamsee, made him learn Kathakali for a performance There is as much world-building in the book as there are character studiesfrom the earliest art exhibitions that Alkazi curated, which often had framed magazine cut-outs of famous art inspired by the Musee imaginative or museum of the imagination movement started by French novelist Andre Malraux, to his dedicated mentorship to actors such as Manohar Singh, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav and Pankaj Kapur. Alkazi, who died at the age of 94, directed more than 50 plays. During his stint as head of the National School of Drama from 1962 to 1977, he changed contemporary theatre in India with taste-shattering and tradition-altering ideas, such as staging a play in Delhis Purana Qila, creative lighting design, costume (Alkazis wife, Roshan, was a costume designer by profession, but was involved in every aspect of Alkazis performative and creative life) and stage design elements. His legendary directorial ventures were Dharamvir Bharatis Andha Yug, Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot, Mohan Rakeshs Ashadh ka Ek Din, and Girish Karnads Tughlaq. Alkazi, born in 1925, was the son of parents from the Arabian peninsula, who had chosen to settle down in Pune his father was a spices and silk trader. He grew up in a cosmopolitan milieu among Maharashtrians, Jews, Parsis and Anglo-Indians. He went to school at St. Vincents. When he was 17, Alkazi moved to Bombay to attend St. Xaviers College. Here he joined Sultan Padamsees Theatre Group and later married Sultans sister, Roshan. Seeing young Alkazis interest in theatre, his wealthy father sent him to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. During this period he won the British Drama League Award for Work of Outstanding Merit, and the BBC Award for Broadcasting. He returned to India in the 1950s. Alkazi was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2010. As we near Alkazis centennial year in 2025, Allanas densely populated biography-cum-memoir, titled Holding Time Captive, based on a scribble that Allana serendipitously discovered the day Alkazi died, reminds us of a cultural heritage that did not find its propulsion from ideas of nativity and nationalism. Its inspiration was pluralism, dialogue and cosmopolitanism. Alkazis remarkable life in the artsthere are chapters also about his own work as an artist, innovative works inspired by literary forms, mythology and anthropologyis one of great courage and questing. Unlike the popular belief that in the early days of post-colonial India, we were a sad and diffident nation and that we are only now a confident lot, Allans book draws out a lost brand of courage and confidencethat of seekers, who combined defiance, adaptability, rigorous creative work, institution-building, and global influences to forge new languages and identities. Sanjukta Sharma is a Mumbai-based writer and critic. Not long after I began teaching at my alma mater last year, it occurred to me how much being young has changed since I studied at St Xaviers College, Mumbai. I remember heated debates in our classroom, as we argued over ideas of right and wrong. Today, teenagers respond to probing questions with puzzlement and blank stares. Move on, was the advice my mother, now in her mid-70s, offered. Then I met consulting psychologist Kuldeep Datay, whom I often turn to when exasperated. After hearing me out, his advice was: Move on. On why, he offered interesting perspective. These young people have grown up in an India of unprecedented technological advancement and social change. This has inured Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) to cultural and generational debates. They are self-centred, Datay pointed out without judgement. That is what the world they live in seems to require them to be. Unlike the generation you and I grew up in, where being a rebel was seen of as a badge of honour, for Gen Z, the need to fit in is very palpable, he added. This is why they are more easily swayed by influencers on social media. Datay has engaged directly with Gen Z for years. So has my teacher from 25 years ago, Smita Krishnan, who recently retired as head of the department of zoology at St Xaviers. She agreed with his assessment. It has often struck me how detached most of this generation is, she said. The younger Gen-Z are more detached even than the older members of this generation. Children from a few years ago were more engaged. I am worried as well about the neutral positions the younger ones take out of fear of offending anyone, she added. But, Krishnan added a caveat. Yes, there are fewer rebels, she said. But maybe that comes partly from observing how their elders disengaged. Most of these elders are apathetic to what is going on around them. How these teens engage reflect on us as a society. A key shift, Datay pointed out, is that their identity as consumers appears to drive them to a far greater degree than it did previous generations. They prefer even their food to be branded, never mind that these branded happy meals and ultra-processed snacks are technically junk food (high in salt and sugar and severely low on nutritive value). Krishnan added that, in her experience, a branded fast-food outlet at a food plaza will draw the entire class in, regardless of the alternatives available. What about those who cannot afford the brands? Students take up part-time jobs so that they can keep up with their peers on consumption, she said. This takes us back to their need to fit in. So, should we be worried, I asked. Datay laughed and offered a reminder: This is a hypothesis based on my observation. Our parents may have said the same about us. Krishnan admitted that she had fretted over my generations lost years, the aimlessness that seemed to take hold soon after or just before graduation. She would worry about how our future would unfold, she said. When looked at from that perspective, there is another way to view these youngsters who will eventually take charge. Gen Z is a vibrant mix of digital natives who have the potential to shape the countrys cultural and economic landscape. To suggest that we dont yet know the future they will shape is precisely why they might be best left to chart their own course. This doesnt imply an absence of guidance or mentorship but rather an acknowledgment that the future will be forged by their hands, and they must be prepared, not stifled. It will be vital to afford them the autonomy to navigate this future in new ways. The challenges they face are real and consequential, but they are not insurmountable. It will be up to us to support and equip them with the tools and wisdom they need to make the most of the world that they inherit. Like every generation, this one has its flaws and strengths. Their story is still being written. We must ensure they have the agency to write it well. (I have to admit, though, that the impassive stares still rattle me.) (Charles Assisi is co-founder of Founding Fuel. He can be reached on assisi@foundingfuel.com) Hills are lush with green color off of Lagoon Valley Road in Vacaville on March 15. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle California enjoyed a second consecutive winter of above-average precipitation this year, and many are hoping that will translate to another relatively calm fire season. But thats far from a sure thing, even though the outlook for the next few months is good, experts say. In 2023, about 320,000 acres burned statewide due to wildfires, well below the five-year average of 1.7 million acres. Storms that winter played a part: Rain revitalized a landscape parched by years of drought and a colossal Sierra Nevada snowpack provided additional moisture as it melted through the warmer months. The wet conditions this winter soaked vegetation, which bodes well for fire risk over the next few months. There also arent signs for unusual weather that would amp up large fire activity during spring. But how wildfires will play out this summer and fall remains uncertain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Right now, its looking great as a lower-than-normal season, but that can change, said Craig Clements, a professor of meteorology and climate science who directs the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San Jose State University. April-May is really critical for the rest of the fire season. Absence of drought The Northern California Geographic Area Coordination Centers four-month outlook issued March 1 calls for minimal fire activity across Northern California from March through May. June is typically when we start seeing more large fires, Brent Wachter, a fire meteorologist with the Northern Operations Predictive Services unit, who defined a large fire as generally bigger than 100 acres. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One reason activity should remain low is because California has been drought-free for months, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. And there arent signs that drought will return anytime soon, Wachter said. The biggest blazes in 2023, the Smith River Complex near the California-Oregon border and the York Fire in the Mojave National Preserve, occurred where there was still drought. Yuccas burn during the York Fire in the Mojave National Preserve on July 30, 2023. David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images Rain in recent months has kept vegetation moist. The healthy Sierra snowpack can also delay wildfire activity as it slowly melts. This was especially apparent in 2023, one of Californias largest snow years on record. There were some elevations that were never really open for large fire business because the snowpack took a long time to erode, Wachter said. Its one of those gifts that keeps on giving, where that snowmelt went into the soil and then it eventually got sucked back up into the living plant and then the living plant wasnt very flammable. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While this winters snowpack is just above average, it could still help push out fire season if it melts gradually. Fuel for flames Fire needs fuel to burn. Experts carefully track how much and what types of California vegetation accumulates and whether its dry enough to feed a wildfire. Grassy fuel is quick to light up but also to burn out; dense forests sustain large, destructive fires. After past wet winters, fire Capt. Chris Bruno with Cal Fire has seen super-growths of light vegetation like weeds, twigs and bushes. In the summer, this new growth is too moist to spark up, but by the fall it can lead to an uptick in fires. As the temperatures rise statewide this summer, then we will have some significant drying out, and that could possibly give us some very active months in fire activity, Bruno said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lush green hills are seen in Vacaville on March 15. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Clements worries less about the light vegetation that grows in a single spring. Grass fuel loading can vary year to year based on precipitation, but thats not the issue really, Clements said. Shrubs and trees, which he said play a larger role in major wildfires, take many, many years to build out their fuel loads. Future weather The biggest unknown is how the weather will play out in the coming months. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Susie Kocher, a forestry adviser with the UC Cooperative Extension, notes that a spate of unlucky conditions could turn those grassy growths into a tinderbox for the rest of the state. Weve had a decent amount of moisture, but with a couple of big heat waves, the vegetation thats been stimulated to grow by the moisture could dry out very fast and lead to an early fire season, Kocher said. A rainmaker brought wet weather to Northern California on March 12. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Even though a relatively blaze-free summer followed a drenching winter in 2023, Californians shouldnt necessarily equate the two. The intervening chilly spring, which kept the rich snowpack intact for months, was a big part of that equation, Kocher said. Even with an average amount of precipitation, its a waiting game to see what the spring weather will be like. Forecasters are also watching out for wind events, which are often tied to large fire growth in the spring and early summer, Wachter said. The Bay Area faced blustery weather this past week, but it has been so wet lately that vegetation isnt primed for blazes. We have a lot of green grass and shrubs out there, Wachter said. It would be a different story if Northern California experiences multiple rounds of drying winds, but that isnt showing up in the latest forecasts for spring and early summer, Wachter added. Experts are standing by for measurements when the snowpack typically peaks, since the earlier snow disappears, the sooner large wildfires can take off. We really are making ourselves at home in space, with junk, rovers, plans for construction and now, advertisements. Last month, the 13-ft-tall, six-legged Odysseus lander became the first American spacecraft on the moon in more than 50 years. And the first private vessel to make a successful lunar landing in human history. Launched by the space company Intuitive Machines, it had a turbulent landing, lost a leg, almost lost its way, and survived only a week. But in that time, it beamed back some vivid selfies with the Earth and moonscapes as the backdrop. Zoom in a little and one can see a logo for Columbia Sportswear on the lander, part of a marketing deal with that brand that supplied the insulating material for its propulsion tank. That isnt even the first commercial advertisement on the moon. When the Japanese space exploration company Ispace crashed its lander, Hakuto-R, into the lunar surface in April, on it were the logos of Japan Airlines, Suzuki Motor Corp and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, among others. Meanwhile, Sent Into Space, which calls itself the worlds first marketing-focused space agency, has already sent a BlendJet smoothie-maker, a bottle of Heinz ketchup, Mattels Astronaut Barbie, and a single chicken nugget made by frozen-foods brand Iceland, among other products, into the upper stratosphere, attached to high-altitude balloons, as part of social-media-focused promotional campaigns. Before the private space race, brand visibility in space typically consisted of small logos of collaborators on spacecraft and spacesuits. There were a few exceptions. Pepsi and Coca-Cola pulled off some early product placement with a space-friendly can in 1985. Russian astronauts filmed a milk commercial for the Israeli brand Tnuva Dairy in 1996, which holds the Guinness record for first advertisement shot in space. Once the International Space Station opened up to commercial activity in 2019, promotional campaigns began to appear in the form of educational outreach and scientific experiments (including some by Mattel, featuring Barbie dolls; some by Adidas, linked to experiments in shoe design). Now, in a time of incessant clamour here on Earth, advertisers are ratcheting up the volume on two new fronts. Space is one. Surrealism is another. Pie in the sky The marketing agency Sent Into Space has dispatched a smoothie-maker , branded ketchup, and a single chicken nugget, among other things, into the upper stratosphere, as part of promotional campaigns. Surrealist advertising is a sub-genre that hinges on computer-generated imagery (CGI) designed to make it look as if products have taken over landmarks in the real world. In this manner, brightly coloured Jacquemus handbags have zipped through the streets of Paris, in an online ad. A dollop of toothpaste seemed to narrowly miss passersby outside the Isabel Marant mens store, also in Paris. People gathered to look up at a Big Ben clad in a North Face puffer jacket. A single Tods shoe rolled down a street in Tuscany on little wheels. And, in Mumbai, large tubes of Fae lipstick lay tossed about on the street near Gateway of India. It is hard to tell where this new race will lead. The current use of space and surrealist advertising is a move backwards, to an age of trademark advertising when everyone flexed their brand identity through logos without focusing on messaging, says KV Sridhar, an industry veteran and former chief creative officer at Leo Burnett India. Brightly coloured Jacquemus handbags zipped through the streets of Paris, in a surrealist online ad campaign last year. What does a CGI horse on a street (a surrealist Instagram campaign by the US restaurant chain PF Changs, to mark its debut in Mumbai), a larger-than-life mascara at a train station, or a cupcake atop a famous monument tell us about the brands value, Sridhar asks. Gimmicks can draw attention, but they wont create relatability, which is what every brand needs in order to sustain itself in the public memory. That could change in the next evolution, with both space and surrealist advertising likely to embrace augmented reality and holograms (where see-through spectres of the giant bags actually do bounce past you in the real world). In January, for instance, Hugo Boss projected a 33-ft-tall hologram of the supermodel Gisele Bundchen and South Korean actor Lee Min-ho into thin air near Londons Tower Bridge, as a part of the promotional campaign for its 2024 Spring/Summer collection. Holographic billboards could feature see-through people and animations moving around, commenting on products, listing key features. We can expect a virtual layer on physical reality soon and a lot of it will be advertising, says Santosh Desai, author and CEO of the brand consultancy Futurebrands. Ironically, our virtual spaces may become more protected as we exert more control over them, but physical spaces will bear the brunt of the onslaught of new innovation and be encroached upon. The Las Vegas Sphere, inaugurated in September, is an example of how advertising innovations can loom. The next step could be logos projected into the night sky, Desai says. Tech start-ups such as the Russian StartRocket have so far expressed intent but shelved their plans following a barrage of criticism. The pristine beauty of the hills has already been marred by huge advertising billboards, Desai says. The thought of not being able to look away from logos in the sky is horrifying. Day three of the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week organised by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) was quite a glamorous affair as Bollywood divas including Kriti Sanon and Shanaya Kapoor walked the ramp as showstoppers. Ever since Fashion Week started, we have been on the edge of our seats to see which designs and styles will set the fashion trends for the coming season. And we have to say, we were not disappointed. With classic silhouettes and traditional Indian prints taking over the ramp, we are certainly taking notes for the festive season. Ace Indian designers like Rajdeep Ranawat, Paras & Shalini, Anamika Khanna and others showed their mesmerising collections on day 3 and left us swooning. Scroll down to read more. (Also read: Lakme Fashion Week Day 2: Dia Mirza turns showstopper in a regal look for Sustainable Fashion Day. All pics inside ) Lakme Fashion Week day 3 dazzles with celebrity showstoppers and mesmerising collections by top Indian designers(Instagram ) Kriti Sanon turns showstopper for Sketchers Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kriti Sanon walked the ramp for the popular brand Sketchers and is also the brand's ambassador. The actress walked the ramp in blue sneakers and made quite a fashion statement. Her look is all about retro chic as it perfectly combines style and charm. Her dress features a round neckline in neon green, which also adorns the sleeves. Vibrant shades of blue and orange bring a pop of colour, while chic side pockets add a trendy touch. The bodycon fit hugged her body perfectly and accentuated her curves. With the perfect blend of light silhouette and colour, her outfit is a complete hit and is perfect for sportswear or casual dressing. She has kept her accessories to a minimum to make her outfit shine, simply adding a pair of gold hoop earrings and a trendy pair of blue sketchers to style her look. With nude eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascaraed eyelashes, darkened brows, rosy cheeks, luminous highlighter, nude lipstick and her luscious locks pulled back in a bun, she completed her showstopper look. Shanaya Kapoor took over the ramp in stunning shirt dress On the other hand, Shanaya Kapoor set the ramp ablaze as the showstopper for ace fashion designer Anamika Khanna. Her stunning collections have always been rooted in India's vibrant culture, using weaves and motifs that celebrate a way of life that worships nature. At Lakme Fashion Week, she takes this signature approach one step further by imagining Bonda colours, motifs and embroidery in ensembles for a night out in the city. Shanaya's glamorous look features a white shirt dress embellished all over with a bold black and yellow pattern. The full sleeves and uneven hem added a touch of sophistication. Her accessories, including layered gold chain necklaces, statement bracelets stacked on her wrist and trendy black boots, perfected her whole look. Her glam make-up look included nude eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, mascaraed lashes, darkened brows, rosy cheeks, luminous highlighter and a shade of nude lipstick. With her luscious locks styled in soft curls and left open at the centre, they cascaded beautifully down her shoulders to complete her chic look. Pelvic pain is seen as a common issue that pregnant women experience ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain that can occur at various stages of pregnancy. Multiple causes can lead to the occurrence of pelvic pain including the stretching of the ligaments, hormonal imbalances, putting too much pressure on pelvic organs, excessive activity of the pubic symphysis, or stretching of the round ligaments supporting the uterus. Pelvic pain in pregnancy: Causes, treatment and expert tips on when to seek help (Photo by The Mom Love Blog) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Nidhi Jha, Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Rosewalk Healthcare in Delhi, shared, While pelvic pain during pregnancy is common, there are instances when it may indicate a more serious problem. It's important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing severe or constant pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage as this could be a sign of preterm labor or other complications and require immediate medical attention. Additionally, pregnant women suffering from pelvic pain should seek help if they are experiencing difficulty in walking or performing daily activities, frequent fevers or chills or pain during urination or bowel movement, thereby, making it crucial to seek medical advice. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. She added, Pregnant women often face various physical and hormonal difficulties during the different stages of pregnancy, however, pelvic pain can be cured or treated with certain medications and therapies to alleviate the pain. These include resting and warm compresses, which reduce pain by helping muscles relax. Moreover, other treatments include physical therapy, pain medication, hydrotherapy, and pelvic support devices (maternity belts or pelvic support bands). Needless to say, pregnant women should first consult their gynaecologist to effectively diagnose and treat the sinister causes of pelvic pain. He/she can help in identifying mild causes and address these immediately in order to reduce the pain significantly. Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr Anilasre Atluri, M.S.(OBG), FMAS, DMAS, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Apollo Spectra Hospital in Chennai, said, Pelvic pain in pregnancy is experienced by most of the expecting mothers- ranging from mild to debilitating. Pregnant women can experience pain in their pelvic joints, specifically the lower back, groin, hips and thighs. To avoid the discomfort and know the treatment options, it is important to understand what are the causes of the pelvic pain during pregnancy. With the secretion of the hormone, relaxin, softening of ligaments occur, making bones to move easily and putting pressure onto surrounding muscles and nerves. Additionally due to the stretch of ligaments caused by expanding uterus to accommodate the growing baby. Increase in weight and shift in gravity can also contribute to pain. This can be called pelvic girdle pain. It can increase with walking, climbing stairs, turning in bed from side to side. According to her, the other causes like uterine contractions, vaginal infections and urinary infections, labour pains, miscarriage, ruptured ovarian cysts etc can also contribute to pelvic pain. Talking about pain management, Dr Anilasre Atluri said that it is very important to find the cause and address it as early as possible as pregnancy may compromise the inherent stability of bones and ligaments in the pelvis, requiring a pregnant woman to follow these treatment options to ease the pain. She advised: Regular exercises along with taking adequate rest to maintain stability of the joints. Hot and cold therapy to relax muscles and de-stress. Take massages to reduce stress and soothe the pain. Avoid high heels and wear comfortable shoes. Maternity support belts or bands can help stabilize the pelvis and reduce discomfort. Suggesting to be on the safe side and consult your doctor, Dr Anilasre Atluri advised to seek help from a doctor if you experience these unusual signs: Consistent pain and doesnt go with the rest Fever or chills along with pain. Unusual bleeding or greenish, watery discharge. Persistently feeling nauseous or dizzy. Burning sensation when you urinate. She concluded, Pelvic pain during pregnancy is a common yet manageable concern. However, it is crucial to understand its causes and know when to consult a medical expert to prioritize their health and well-being, ensuring a comfortable pregnancy experience for themselves and their babies. Over 28,000 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israels invasion of Gaza since October 27 last year. Now there is another crisis looming in Gaza. The blockade of humanitarian aid by Israel has precipitated a serious crisis of food leading to pervasive starvation and death, particularly among children. The crisis of food shortage is so intense that according to a report from the Palestinian health ministry, one in six children in north Gaza is showing signs of severe malnourishment. Starvation as a tool of war and as a weapon of genocide is not a new phenomenon. Food shortage created by monarchs, dictators and fascists has claimed millions of lives. Faminophilic (famine-loving) rulers know the value of food better than anyone else as an item of sustenance of life, thought and action. One glaring example of such brutality is the Nazi hunger plan called der Hungerplan led by Hitlers food minister Herbert Backe. It was aimed at annihilating 30 million Russians, Slavs and Ukrainians. On May 24, 2018, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the use of food insecurity and starvation as a technique of war. This was the first time ever that the UN Security Council not only addressed the issue but went ahead to say that using the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare may constitute a war crime. The Israeli regime has more than one reason to be tried for war crimes: Starvation deaths in Gaza are just one of the trophies in their showcase. Shortage of food in any geographical unit is nearly always political. In fact, it is believed that three-quarters of famines and three-quarters of famine deaths in the world happen through a political agency. But inducing a famine through the blockade of humanitarian aid is altogether another matter. The world should be able to see through the difference between shortage of food and depriving people of food. The crystallising effect of food shortage in a geographical location like Gaza, where Israeli bombing has destroyed civic infrastructure and crippled supply chains, can be catastrophic. This is a crime of altogether different dimensions and effects. Starvation is also prohibited under the Geneva Conventions; violation of the Geneva Conventions falls under war crimes. Conflict zones are populated both with stories of complete despair and wild hope. I am not sure if we can comfortably label Gaza as a conflict zone. Gaza is a landmass where the annihilation of residents is happening under the watchful eyes of world bodies and under the aegis of powerful nations like the United States (US). The utter failure of global governance in overcoming hunger and Israeli aggression in Gaza is being etched in history and may influence global politics in a future not very far from sight. This may not be without consequences even for children living out of this conflict zone. Hunger is a dangerous weapon to kill, but a treacherous weapon to construct an imagination of redress, revenge and retribution. Belligerence-induced hunger in regions like Yemen, Syria and South Sudan should have been a reason enough for the world community to be aware and sensitive to possible hunger crimes by Israel. The narrative of starvation as Israels weapon of war generates a lukewarm response among most regimes, even though there have been large mobilisations in cities across the globe. The capital power of the US, Britain and the apartheid Israeli aggression is a blow not just to the people of Gaza, who despite the assault continue to live, but to the very values of liberty, fraternity and justice. Shah Alam Khan is professor of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The views expressed are personal It is a truth universally acknowledged and applicable across scenarios that until the fire approaches homeward, one does not heed its existence. To be honest, thats the climate crisis and me. Since save-the-planet topics were introduced in the EVS (environmental science) period in Class 5, I knew the planet was in crisis, pollution was through the roof, the polar ice caps were melting, natural resources were depleting and, in the last few years the air quality index (AQI) of all major cities in India was rapidly deteriorating Delhi leading the way. But I wasnt viscerally concerned. Even as I liked posts about up-cycling in fashion, shopped for sustainable brands and felt my throat scratch a bit when I came to Delhi, the climate and planet never kept me awake at night. That is until I had a baby. Raabiyaa was born end-September 2023 in Delhi, and by end-October, my four-week-old newborn had congestion and was inconsolable from discomfort with a stuffy nose and incomprehension at what this struggle to breathe was. Panic would grip me each time I watched my babys chest heave and, as I administered the paediatrician-recommended medicine by nebuliser and scrambled to buy multiple air purifiers for every room in the house, I wondered which city I could relocate to where I wouldnt have to choose between taking my child to the park and asthma! That must have been my epiphany of climate awakening. I asked a friend who works in renewable energy what could introduce me to the climate-debate ocean. He sent me the UN Women's Report on Feminist Climate Justice. The comprehensive report was an eye-opener for me. It had both a robust critique of climate policy and climate advocacy to date and prescient warnings of what will come if we dont change our ways collectively along with an inspiring and idealistic global vision. But what stayed with me was the simple premise that the climate crisis is a feminist issue because women, along with other marginalised groups, are more adversely affected by climate-related disasters than men. This is not just because, for instance, a drought will cause rural women to walk farther and face more hardship, but because gender-based violence increases in times of crisis and the climate crisis is no different. The report noted that during the 2022 drought in the Horn of Africa, child marriage increased four-fold in the affected parts of Ethiopia, and, in Somalia, rape and intimate partner violence increased by 20%! Famine, food insecurity, and a resource crunch are all negative by-products of climate crises that will adversely affect women, girls and other marginalised communities first. Numerous reports have shown that climate-crisis-induced natural disasters have fuelled the trafficking of women and children in the garb of employment opportunities or safe habitats. And these are just a few facets: The intersections of vulnerability are myriad. The poorer and more marginalised the womans other identity markers--nationality, race, ethnicity, class demography, caste, religion, gender spectrum, physical ability spectrum--the larger the adverse impact of the climate crisis she is likely to face. I felt foolish and ignorant. Its so simple and obvious when laid out. Why hasnt it bothered me more before this moment? Is the answer perhaps, the same reason why world leaders for the past many years failed to do more or better on the climate issue, why big corporations are able to get away with climate crimes, why countries make climate destructive deals and policies in exchange for international aid or investment? Is it that we just dont care, because we think we will be dead anyway when the planet finally implodes? This is a gross generalisation certainly, but why arent more people other than the few NGO types and the youngest two generations more paranoid about the environment? Are we so callous because we know that in our lifetime we are assured of our ACs and our water supply? But what about our children? It suddenly makes perfect sense to me why those incensed young people are throwing soup at various iconic works of art across European museums. We all need to be up in arms or constantly indignant at the very least. Climate consciousness, climate education, and the climate crisis discourse need to move beyond elite international conferences, higher-ed research theses and private school annual days. It needs to become part of our common sense. It feels odd now that the worsening AQI in all major cities in India has not elicited more public outrage. After all, the air will not discriminate with regard to who will choke. Why is clean air not on any partys election manifesto in India? Why arent we a vote bank that will be appeased by climate-sensitive politics? As women, who will suffer first and suffer more, we must recognise the climate crisis as a womens security issue and force governments to do better. Every environmental clearance any government grants should make it nervous of public scrutiny and outrage. My cook knocks as I type this and asks to leave early. What happened? My one-year-old daughter has a fully congested nose and throat. I look at my newborn being medicated within the first month of her existence on this planet. Where is that soup-can? Swara Bhasker is an actor. The views expressed are personal The Maharashtra government has decided to extend the stamp duty amnesty scheme for the third time until June 30, 2024, providing relief to property owners. The Maharashtra government has decided to extend the stamp duty amnesty scheme for the third time until June 30, 2024, providing relief to property owners. (Picture for representational purposes only) (BACHCHAN KUMAR/HT PHOTO) ...And whereas, the Government of Maharashtra considers it expedient to amend the said Order so as to extend the period of the second phase from the 1st March 2024 till the 30th June 2024 for the said Amnesty Scheme-2023, the order said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Earlier, the state government on January 31 this year had extended the term of the Stamp Duty Amnesty Scheme up to March 31 this year in the wake of low mobilization of revenue. The stamp duty amnesty scheme The stamp duty amnesty scheme is called Mudrank Shulakh Abhay Yojana. The scheme introduced in December last year is an attempt to encourage buyers to settle outstanding stamp duty dues by offering them discounts on penalty fees related to delayed stamp duty payments. The Maharashtra government had said last year that the Scheme will be implemented in two phases to simplify its execution. The first phase started on December 1, 2023 and continued until January 31, 2024. The second phase began on February 1, 2024 and ends on March 31, 2024. Also Read: State to waive off stamp duty on flats in integrated townships Decision to stimulate the real estate market: Experts Real estate experts said that the move is expected to stimulate the real estate market as more people will be encouraged to register their properties, thereby ensuring a regular flow of revenue collection. The Maharashtra government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the concerns of property buyers and the real estate industry. This decision is likely intended to stimulate the real estate market by making it more financially feasible for buyers to finish their transactions. By lowering stamp duty fines, the government not only encourages more property registrations but also ensures a surge in revenue collections, said Anuj Puri, Chairman - ANAROCK Group. Also Read: Mumbai's real estate hits a 12-year high; property registrations touch 11,742 units in Feb 2024 This extension will play a critical role in upholding the real estate market by encouraging more transactions, which will benefit all linked sectors and Maharashtra's overall economic growth, he said. Also Read: Govt proposes amnesty scheme to recover disputed stamp duty worth 2,900 crore "Extending the stamp duty amnesty scheme till June 30, 2024, by the Maharashtra government is a prudent move that will provide much-needed relief and support to the real estate sector. This decision not only acknowledges the challenges faced by homebuyers but also underscores the government's commitment to facilitating property transactions and stimulating economic growth. By prolonging the scheme, the government has demonstrated its responsiveness ensuring continued momentum in the housing market, said Prashant Sharma, president, NAREDCO Maharashtra. This is good news for those looking to regularize their contracts where insufficient stamp duty was paid in the past. This extension allows for more flexibility for those looking to avail this amnesty scheme, said Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research and REIS, India, JLL. With lower penalties under this scheme incentivizing the need for making relevant documents recognized under law, this scheme also allows the government to recoup unpaid duties. This scheme and its extension, however, should not be equated with paying insufficient duties and waiting for such schemes to be bailed out. It is always advisable to pay the appropriate stamp duties on registration and within time to ensure legal rights are adequately protected, he added. The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building, after it was destroyed in an Israeli strike the night before, in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City. (AFP) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene the security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands." Efforts failed repeatedly to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, with Israel saying it plans to launch a new offensive in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in tiny, crowded Gaza after five months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a two-day visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties". On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce. Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release. At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members in the Gaza fighting. The assault has also devastated the enclave, forcing nearly all the inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a massive hunger crisis. "Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the U.N. saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles" including crossing closures, onerous vetting, restrictions on movement and unrest inside Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started. A first delivery into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, pioneering a new sea route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday and was off-loaded, the charity said. On Saturday, a second cargo of food aid was ready to depart by sea from Cyprus, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan said they carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid. Queen Rania of Jordan, in a CNN interview, called the airdrops "literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs" and accused Israel of "cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water." On a stop in Bahrain, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa efforts to secure a ceasefire of at least six weeks and their commitment to free passage in the Red Sea amid attacks on shipping by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, the State Department said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by President Vladimir Putin recently, Kims sister said Saturday, praising the cars special function and the two countries' deepening bilateral ties. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (AP) In February, Putin sent Kim a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he had shown to the North Korean leader when they met for a summit in Russia in September. Observers said the shipment violated a United Nations resolution aimed at pressuring the North to give up its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury items to North Korea. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In a statement carried Saturday by state media, Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, said that her brother used that limousine for the first time during an open event the previous day. The special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted, Kim Yo Jong said. Kim Jong Uns using of the private car sent by the president of the Russian Federation as a gift is a clear proof of (North Korea)-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage." ALSO READ| Vladimir Putin gifts luxury limousine to North Korea's Kim Jong Un in potential UN sanctions violation According to Russian state media, Aurus was the first Russian luxury car brand, and its been used in motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018. Kim, 40, possess a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into his country. During his Russia visit, he traveled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that was brought with him on one of his special train carriages. Other limousines he's reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62. ALSO READ| Russia elections: Vladimir Putin castes his vote online in presidential poll Over the past year, North Korea and Russia have sharply boosted their military and other cooperation as they face separate confrontations with the West North Korea for its advancing nuclear program and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Drawing the biggest outside concerns was North Korea's purported shipments of conventional weapons to support Russia's war with Ukraine to receive high-tech Russian weapons technologies and other support. Russia, together with China, have repeatedly blocked the U.S. and its partners' attempts to impose fresh U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its barrage of banned ballistic missile tests. Niger's government announced on Saturday that it was breaking off "with immediate effect" its military cooperation agreement with the United States. Niger Junta ousted the president and moved closer to Russia. (AFP/File) The declaration came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military junta that ousted the president and moved closer to Russia. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The statement said the government had decided to "denounce with immediate effect" the agreement relating to US military and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense inside Niger. It was read out Saturday evening on national television. The United States still stations some 1,000 troops in Niger at a desert drone base built at a cost of $100 million. Movements there have been limited since the July 2023 coup and Washington has curbed assistance to the government. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in hopes of shoring up president Mohamed Bazoum, a stalwart ally in Western security efforts against jihadists. Just four months later, the military deposed Bazoum and put him under house arrest. The junta took a hard line against former colonial power France, forcing the withdrawal of French troops in place for nearly a decade. Niger's military had in the past worked closely with the United States. But the junta has sought cooperation with Russia, while stopping short of the full-fledged embrace of Moscow by military-run neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso. Prince William was recently spotted in London without his wedding ring as he stepped out for the first time since Kate Middleton's Mother's Day photo controversy. The outing comes just days after she took the fall for the manipulated family photo captured by the Prince of Wales. In addition to the photo being edited, Kate faced severe backlash for not wearing her wedding band. It may come as a shock to many that Prince William has never once worn his wedding ring. Britain's Prince William delivers a speech as he attends the Diana Legacy Awards at the Science Museum in London, Britain, March 14, 2024. Arthur Edwards/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS) Why does Prince William never wear wedding rings? The Princess of Wales is almost never seen without her wedding and engagement rings. This is why netizens raised eyebrows when she chose not to wear them in the now-deleted photograph. Meanwhile, Prince William has never once worn his rings since tying the knot in 2011. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. After the Mother's Day scandal, netizens started questioning why the Princess faced backlash for not wearing her rings when the Prince had never worn his. A month before their Royal Wedding, the St. James Palace confirmed that Prince William will not wear any ring even after his marriage. A palace insider told Mirror at the time, Hes [Prince William] not one for jewellery. Hes never worn any. He decided he didnt want to wear one now. Its all down to personal preference. Meanwhile, the insider explained that Kate will wear a ring fashioned from a lump of Welsh gold owned by the Royal Family that has been smelted down. The insider also revealed that the couple have both had a hand in the design. Both Kate's engagement and wedding rings are significant. Her iconic sapphire engagement ring was an heirloom from the late Princess Diana. Despite the recent controversy, it is not the first time that Kate opted to forego her rings. Though seldom, the Princess of Wales doesn't wear her rings during sporting events or public visits to hospitals. Prince William's choice of never wearing his rings sets him apart from his brother, Prince Harry, who is often pictured with his wedding bands. Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of stepping up "terrorist activities" during the Russian presidential election in order to attract more aid and weapons from the West. Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) servicemen stand guard at a pooling station during the presidential elections(AP) "It is obvious that the corrupt regime in Kyiv has intensified its terrorist activities in connection with the ongoing presidential elections in Russia in order to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It said that in one such incident, a Ukrainian drone had dropped a shell on a voting station in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. There was no mention of any casualties from the incident, which Reuters could not independently verify. Last Friday Boeing 737-800 (air crate) had an unpredictable problem. The reason for the problem was that the external panel of the cabin slipped during the flight. Boeing 737s panel slip was noticed after it safely landed in Oregon(Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport) This event is the most recent chain of problems for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner while the plane was tracked at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Oregon, which ended up with a safe landing in Oregon only. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. United Airlines Flight 433 had taken off from San Francisco at approximately 10:08:20 hours, and ahead roughly 70 minutes later, we reached Medford. The missed panel was found in the evidence during the landing, and afterwards, the airport operations had to be suspended till the airport runway was scrutinized for safety measures. No debris on the field, does that mean it slipped mid-air? Amber Judd, the airports director, expressed that the mechanics should have checked that the aircraft was missing immediately after the plane's personnel disembarked and the aircraft was docked. ALSO READ| Boeing whistleblower, John Barnett, found dead, here's what he had exposed about aircraft giant In spite of mid-flight disconnection the flight did not register any problems, and declaring any emergency was not required as well. According to the United Airlines report, there were 139 passengers in this aircraft, including six crew members. Searching not only the airport vicinity but also in neighboring communities failed to find the missing section. After finding no debris on the airfield, normal operations at MFR resumed a few minutes later, Judd added. United Airlines has announced, Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred of the 25-year-old aircraft, ensuring all necessary repairs are completed prior to its return to service. The airline is also set to conduct an investigation to ascertain the cause of the damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also indicated that it will investigate the incident, as per a spokesperson. Boeing woes continue, 7th in a fortnight This alarming fiasco marks the seventh Boeing-related incident in a fortnight. Just the day before, an American Airlines flight had to execute an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport due to a suspected mechanical issue on a Boeing plane. Earlier in the week, a United Airlines flight en route from Sydney to San Francisco had to reverse course because of a fuel leak. The Boeing 777-300 landed safely back in Sydney with 167 passengers and 16 crew members aboard. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner travelling from Sydney to Auckland encountered a technical problem, resulting in injuries to 50 passengers. ALSO READ| Boeing unable to identify workers in Alaska Airlines door plug mishap. Why cant they provide records on Flight 1282? On March 7, a United Airlines flight bound for Japan had to divert to Los Angeles International Airport after a tire from the Boeing 777-20 detached following takeoff, causing damage to vehicles in a parking lot below. In response to these incidents, Boeing has informed its employees through a memo that it will implement weekly compliance checks in all 737 work areas and conduct additional equipment audits to mitigate quality issues. John Barnett, 62, set to testify against Boeing, was found dead, apparently by suicide. Yet, a family friend insists it wasn't suicide and that he foresaw his death. Meanwhile, Boeing mishaps continue to unsettle passengers with mid-flight turbulence. Following a series of incidents in recent months, an American Airlines Boeing 777 was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday due to a possible mechanical problem. Barnett was reportedly in the process of speaking out against the Boeing Companys manufacturing processes before his dead body was discovered in South Carolina. John Barnett, a former Boeing employee. had raised concerns about the company's production standards,(@sentdefender) If anything happens, it's not suicide According to a family friend close to Barnett, "Barnett predicted that he would die and that there would be a story that would come out that he killed himself." When authorities found Barnett, they said it looked like he shot himself in the head. Speaking to ABC News, the friend who identifies herself as Jennifer said, I know that he did not commit suicide, there's no way. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: A look at series of Boeing mishaps as whistleblower John Barnett's death sparks public outcry Jennifer went on to say that the two of them had talked about the same thing happening, but now it seemed like a hunch he had told her not to believe. "I know John because his mom and my mom are best friends," she said. "Over the years, get-togethers, birthdays, celebrations and whatnot. We've all got together and talked." Barnett was a veteran quality manager for almost 30 years. Following his retirement, he recently moved to Louisiana with his mother. Boeing whistleblowers grim prediction before his death According to the ABC conversation, Barnett was aware of the massive complaint he filed against Boeing and seemingly predicted the impact it would have on his life. After his death, his attorney pointed out that there were no indications that he would kill himself. Jennifer disclosed that in their recent encounter, Barnett talked about how the aerospace company retaliated against him for exposing unsafe practices. Also read: American Airlines Boeing 777 makes emergency landing at Los Angeles Airport due to mechanical issue "He wasn't concerned about safety because I asked him. Jennifer said before adding, I said, 'Aren't you scared?' And he said, 'No, I ain't scared, but if anything happens to me, it's not suicide.' "I know that he did not commit suicide. There's no way. He loved life too much. He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what they're going through right now." She concluded her statement. The friend of the deceased was very sure when she stayed firm in her belief that somebody "didn't like what he had to say" and wanted to "shut him up" without it coming back to anyone. Chicago is grappling with a measles outbreak, with 12 confirmed cases reported, including 10 linked to the citys largest migrant centre. This situation has sparked a serious concern about the citys healthcare management for migrants and the potential for stigmatization of new arrivals. The National Health Service is launching a publicity campaign after figures showed there have been 216 confirmed measles cases and 103 probable cases in parts of England since October. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)(AP) The outbreak underscores the challenges public health systems face in dealing with highly contagious diseases, especially in settings with vulnerable populations. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Chicago Health Commissioner Simbo Ige highlighted that the initial measles case in the city this year was not linked to the shelter, stating, The first case of measles in Chicago was a non-shelter resident. And those who got infected got infected because measles was circulating in Chicago. The diseases spread is particularly concerning given the national context of a measles outbreak. Last week, health officials discovered measles cases at a Pilsen shelter, where approximately half of the 900 residents had not been vaccinated against measles. Those who have recently been vaccinated are now under quarantine to prevent further transmission. ALSO READ| Measles: What are the symptoms and how to prevent it? Know more about vaccination How measles spread Measles is an airborne virus known for its high contagion rate. According to Mangino, virus particles from an infected persons cough or sneeze can linger in the air for up to two hours, posing a risk to anyone entering the area. Esper adds, For most of these viruses like flus and RSV you really have to have fairly close proximity, basically be within coughing range [of an infected person], to get it. With measles, you dont have to be in the same three to six-foot distance. You just have to be in the same exposed area. Plus, children can contract measles by touching contaminated surfaces and then their faces. Symptoms of measles parents shouldn't ignore Parents should be aware of the symptoms of measles, which typically manifest one to two weeks after exposure. The CDC notes that the incubation period is usually 11 to 12 days. Early symptoms include cough, red and watery eyes, runny nose, and high fever. Within a few days of these initial signs, some children may develop tiny white spots inside their mouths, followed by a rash that begins at the hairline and spreads to the rest of the body. The complications from measles can be severe, ranging from ear infections and diarrhoea to pneumonia and encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. The CDC reports that out of every 1,000 children who contract measles, one to three may die from the disease. ALSO READ| Measles: A deadly disease that can be prevented How to beat measles The immunization protocol for measles includes two doses of the vaccine. The initial dose is recommended for children aged between 12 and 15 months, followed by a booster dose when they are between four to six years old. Julie E. Mangino, professor emeritus in the Department of Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, states, We have data that says more than 97 percent of the people who have had their two shots of the vaccine never get measles. Typically, adults are not required to receive booster vaccinations unless they are in the midst of a significant community outbreak, as noted by Esper. For parents uncertain about their childs vaccination status, Jennifer Duchon, an expert in paediatric infectious diseases and neonatology and a hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai Kravis Childrens Hospital, advises consulting a healthcare provider to check if vaccination records can be retrieved. Duchon says, There's no harm if a child gets an extra vaccine. TikTok users have taken abarefoot lifestyle, which has them walking shoeless in various public settings. This trend follows the viral emulation of Margot Robbies iconic foot scene from the hit film Barbie. A swimmer walks barefooted through slush while heading across the ice toward the lanes. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)(AP) However, Dr. Sari Priesand, a foot specialist at Michigan Medicine-University of Michigan, warns against this practice. In a university press release, she firmly advises, Keep the shoes on. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We're not Flintstones. Walking barefoot nowadays is not safe The Go Barefoot Everywhere trend has been expanding more and more like this as social media searching, and in such instances, individuals are customizing their footwear to get into ventures where there are shoe requirements. Netizens think barefoot walking is a uniquely natural state that is good for feet because it bears weight evenly on them. ALSO READ| Measles outbreak paralyzes Chicago, Here's what parents need to know While these proponents argue that minimal or no shoes are more likely to avoid foot problems, Dr. Priesand warns against the various risks of running and playing outside the footwear. There is a high chance to get hurt from walking on glass pieces or other perils, including wounded feet. And this will sometimes lead to infections, which may be common in crowded places. 'Anywhere you're barefoot, you are potentially exposed' The podiatrist underlines the risk of suffering from any moisture-related fungal affection, for example, the athlete's foot or nail fungus, which is a very unpleasant condition and not easily treated. Another problem that avid exercisers experience regularly is getting viral infections, particularly plantar warts, usually traced back to human papilloma virus (HPV). The medical condition, which seems to be a matter of trifle, is not negligible; it may require doctors appointments, medications, and sometimes need operating. Treatment completion does not provide 100% guarantee that the disease will not recur. ALSO READ| Boeing trouble continues as 737's cabin panel slips mid-air, sparks investigation Dr. Priesand concedes that walking barefoot On surfaces that are cleaned appropriately, it can be okay but anywhere you're barefoot, you are potentially exposed in most public areas. Common places like pools, gyms, and hotels are hotspots for contracting fungal infections. She further explains, Having good foot hygiene is beneficial, but it's not going to necessarily protect you from all those things that can penetrate or hurt your feet. Good foot hygiene, while beneficial, does not offer complete protection against the myriad of risks posed to bare feet. Dr. Priesand also notes the lack of stability when walking without shoes, stating, The reason we have a sole is to help support our foot, and Removing that part is removing one of the most important parts of the shoe itself. The Duchess of Sussex may have secured a legal victory against her half-sister, Samantha Markle, but according to royal experts, she is highly 'conflicted' about what is happening inside the Palace. Markle won her case on Tuesday after Samanthas defamation case, which was originally brought against her in February 2022, was rejected with prejudice. Meanwhile, the internet went wild with conspiracy theories about the disappearance of Princess of Wales Kate Middleton after her photo editing scandal. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made a surprise appearance outside Windsor Castle with Prince William and Kate Middleton, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, to view the public tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The brothers, with their wives, waved at the well-wishers on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 11, 2022 (IST). (AFP) Meghan Markle likely empathizes with Kate Middleton's situation Also read: 'Kate Middleton unreachable', Royal Staff unaware of Surgery, cant contact her: Report Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the rebellious young royals who stepped down from their royal duties back in 2020, know well what it is like to 'wake up and see those screaming tabloid headlines targeting them for one thing or another,' Christopher Andersen told Fox News." "But theres no doubt that Meghan and [her husband, Prince] Harry are also keeping a very close eye on whats happening back in the U.K." The author of The King added. Just weeks prior, Meghan Markle had candidly addressed social media toxicity and the bullies she faced during her pregnancies. A royal insider urged her to 'rise above those things' while drawing comparisons to how Kate handles social media. However, tables seemed to have turned as the Princess of Wales found herself embroiled in trouble. Her Mother's Day portrait shared on Instagram was labeled 'misleading' and 'heavily edited' by the platform and several news agencies. Meghan must be incredibly conflicted "Meghan, in particular, must be incredibly conflicted about all the incoming heat Kate and the royals are taking, not to mention the way the palace continues to bungle things on a daily basis," Christopher added, stressing the potential contrast between Meghan's situation in California and the ongoing challenges faced by the royals in the UK. Also read: Prince William calls wife 'arty one' amid Kate Middleton's photo editing scandal "On the other hand, the palace media machine has never been more exposed for what it is: a complete mess." He went on to describe the situation as "a total disaster." Following Kate's public apology for her photo editing mishap, Phil Chetwynd, the global news director of Agence France-Presse (AFP), told BBC Radio 4s Media Show that Kensington Palace is no longer considered a trusted source. Kate Middleton is reportedly recovering from abdominal surgery she underwent in January. She has been spotted only twice since, once with her mother and more recently with Prince William. However, in both instances, some experts, particularly royal followers online, remain unconvinced that Kate has fully returned. Conspiracy theories continue to swirl on social media, fueled by the Princess of Wales recent apology for the Photoshop scandal an apology that many view as highly improbable. Miami Beach is one of the most well-known spring break destinations in America. In anticipation of the coming spring break crowd, the city government has pronounced a curfew that will commence on Friday, 15th March, from 11.59 pm until 6 am on Monday, 18th March. The City of Miami Beach closed the streets in South Beach during this Spring Break weekend on March 8, 2024. Around this time of year college kids usually transform Miami Beach's main seaside drag into a huge street party, blocking traffic as they dance to thumping reggaeton music, drinking in public and otherwise living it up. But this time the US ritual known as Spring Break is a much more muted affair, as the city enacts strict new rules to stamp out raucous partying that has gotten out of control and even violent in recent years. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP)(AFP) Locals and guests staying in designated areas such as hotels are allowed to go to their respective houses while essential services like police, firemen and hospitals are exempted from the curfew. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Why is the curfew being imposed? The city has been empowered to impound vehicles found violating that zone and increase fines for non-criminal motor vehicle violations. The areas affected will be bounded by 23 Street and Dad Boulevard, Government Cut on the south, Biscayne Bay on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. In an effort to reduce any chaos, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that police presence in Miami Beach and other spring break locations will increase. More than sixty state troopers will be deployed as part of this endeavour, which also makes use of mobile command vehicles and drone technology. The strategy for managing crowds and guaranteeing public safety includes essential elements like bag inspections at beach entry points, limited beach hours, and increased police presence. The decision to impose a curfew and tighten security measures stems from incidents, including fatal shootings, that occurred during previous spring breaks. Mayor Dan Gelber emphasised the importance of his decision, stating, While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, a few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns, creates a wholly intolerable situation, per the Hill. Additionally, the city released an advertisement saying they were breaking up with spring breakers who only want to get drunk in public and ignore laws. Former Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday that he will not endorse his former boss, Donald Trump, in the 2024 general elections. Announcing the decision, Pence told Fox News, Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. However, he admitted that he is incredibly proud of the Trump-Pence administration. The 64-year-old Republican added that he will also not back US President Joe Biden. Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not endorse Trump this year(AP) Mike Pence says he will not back either Trump or Biden in 2024 elections Pence's statement comes after Trump secured enough Republican delegates over the week to clinch the party's nomination. He further noted that the presumptive GOP nominee is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. Reiterating his decision, Pence added, Thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Although the former VP didn't reveal who he is going to vote for in the 2024 elections, Pence declared he will never vote for Biden. Im going to keep my vote to myself, he added. What I'm going to spend the rest of this year on is talking about what we should be for. And that is the broad mainstream conservative agenda that's defined our party and always made America strong and prosperous and free, Pence continued. During his conversation on The Story with Martha MacCallum, Pence said, During my presidential campaign, I made it clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. And not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised January 6th. As I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. And this last week, his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations efforts to force a sale of ByteDances TikTok, Pence added. While Elon Musk gets enmeshed in an accusation of fanning unfactual flames on the issues of the Haiti cholera crisis, there is a clear indication that other significant developments in the crisis have been ignored. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pictured during a visit at the company's electric car plant in Gruenheide near Berlin, eastern Germany. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)(AFP) Armed gangs rampage through Port-au-Prince News spreads about the rising violence in Port-au-Prince and the appearance of the capital towards the civil war edge. The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry is called atop the soaring international pressure as a means of exhibiting how serious the issue is. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. There are armed gangs taking over the most important structures, including several attempts at grabbing the capital international airport and never-ending attacks on government buildings. From soon after the onset of violence to date, the youths have staged several riots and police stations throughout the city are set ablaze. On top of this, over 4000 convicts were released from the correctional facilities during the chaotic prison raids, which can only be termed as the treasonable act of the gangs. ALSO READ| Explained: How does new EV policy pave road for Elon Musk's Tesla in India? From information sources to the weather, radios have made life easier for people living in remote regions. Everyday life, lifestyle, and its significant role in preserving social connectivity and community bonding cannot be overstated. The video clips that anonymously attest to the gruesome scenes of gang members eating to demonstrate their power since 2 years back is also in the viral circulations online. According to NBC News, the increase of armed militias is not common practice or cultural in Haiti. Notable figures like right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong fuel the narrative, asserting the existence of cannibal gangs in Haiti who abduct and eat people. Matt Walsh weighs in Controversial conservative commentator Matt Walsh finds himself entangled in the discourse, defending against accusations of spreading unverified claims. He rebuffs NBC's allegations. ALSO READ| Twitter layoffs: Ex-employees say Elon Musk personally responsible for chaos NBC publishes an article accusing me, Elon, and other conservative influencers of spreading unverified claims of Haitian cannibalism. They then proceed to verify the claims themselves in the fourth paragraph of the article, the post read. Elon Musk enters the fray, responding to Walsh's defence with a startling revelation. Musk claims, I just saw a video of someone in Haiti chewing the (uncooked fwiw) off a dead guy This controversy follows Musk's recent endorsement of Donald Trump over Joe Biden. The Brooklyn district attorney announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the individual involved in the subway shooting on Thursday, citing self-defence. On Thursday, New York City witnesses a horrific subway shooting.(X) The disclosure followed a day of heavy public scrutiny and emotional reactions of the audience which had happened during a traffic jam in the evening. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The New York Police Department (NYPD) calmed down the communitys widespread concern, laying out the circumstances that prompted the shooting incident. NYPD claimed the passengers should have done more than nothing to stop the pistol-brandishing assailant who had started this attack as early as the time passengers realized what was at stake. During the demolition, the police shot a passenger, and a shooter was identified, who used the attackers gun to kill him. ALSO READ| Who is the Brooklyn subway shooter? All we know about the NYC shootout Evidence of self-defence precludes us from filing any criminal charges: NYPD The press briefing held in the afternoon revealed the NYPDs findings, confirming that the passengers, including the shooter, had to intervene in what was a life-threatening situation. The district attorneys office later aligned with the NYPDs assessment, stating, Evidence of self-defence precludes us from filing any criminal charges, thereby precluding the possibility of pressing charges against the shooter. The smartphone footage showed a 36-year-old man, who is now in critical condition after being shot in the head. NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey commended the communitys response, saying, It was incredible what people from the community did yesterday, people who tried to intervene. The NYPDs account of the events indicated that the 36-year-old man had aggressively confronted a 32-year-old man, leading to a struggle over a gun, which ended with the 32-year-old shooting the aggressor in the head. Im really pleased with the police department: NYC Mayor The investigation also seeks to involve a woman who reportedly stabbed the 36-year-old man during the confrontation. She is believed to have been accompanying the 32-year-old man at the time of the incident. NYPD has released footage showing the alleged attacker entering the subway through an emergency exit without paying the fare. NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry commented, Sometimes people ask why would we do such a big operation for people not paying a $2.90 fare. We are seeing a small group of people doing these operations that dont pay their fare that are recidivists, that have warrants. ALSO READ| NYC subway drama: Shocking video captures tense moments and heated arguments that led to shooting NYC Mayor Eric Adams expressed his satisfaction with the polices quick response. These random acts of violence send the wrong message. Im really pleased with the police department being there to apprehend and make sure other people are not injured, he stated. The transit system has seen a notable increase in violence this year, with eight shooting victims reported so far, compared to just one in the same period last year. Additionally, there have been 17 gun arrests, more than double the number from the previous year. 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On March 16, the Falls Township Police headed to Viewpoint Lane, Levittown, to investigate a shooting report before 9 am. Police patrol a neighborhood after a shooting on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Falls Township, Pa. Several people have been shot after gunfire erupted in a suburban Philadelphia township, prompting authorities to warn residents to hunker down in their homes and forcing cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade and a childrens theme park. (AP Photo/Michael Catalini)(AP) Initial reports (Fox 29) claimed that 26-year-old Andre Gordon shot and killed three people. It's also believed that the victims were either related to him or were his acquaintances - either way, he knew them. The first shooting took place after Gordon drove a stolen car and shot two people at a residence. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It's estimated that at 9:01 am, he drove to Edgewood Lane, Levittown. While there, he shot another individual before escaping. Around 9:13 am, he undertook carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint in a Dollar General parking lot on Bristol Pike, Morrisville. The vehicle owner wasn't harmed like the previous parties. Also read | Cop senses foul play in Indian-origin family's death in Canada Police reports also suggest that he's currently homeless and is tied to Trenton, New Jersey. He was last seen driving a stolen vehicle - a 2016, dark grey Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania registered plate: KFR - 1534. In the wake of the fatal incidents, the Bucks County St Patrick's Day Parade was also cancelled with a shelter-in-place. People who'd gathered or were arriving for the parade were moved to a nearby High School. Local businesses in the area were also shut temporarily. About the Philadephia shooter Authorities released the perpetrator's picture to the public, stating that Andre Gordon is approximately 6'1'' and has a thin build. He was last spotted wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. Believed to be in possession of an assault rifle, which was used to kill all the victims, Gordon may also have other weapons on him. He's already been labelled a dangerous man, with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Levittown resident, addressing him as an active shooter in his recent X (formerly Twitter) post. Latest updates highlighted that the car Gordon is still believed to be driving - a Honda CRV - has a white Namaste sticker on the right side of the back bumper. A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. A Medford Jet Center worker walks under a United Boeing 737-824 that landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport from San Francisco with a missing panel Friday, March 15, 2024, in Medford, Ore. (Andy Atkinson/Rogue Valley Times via AP)(AP) United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. No injuries were reported. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found. Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year, according to the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Boeing said, also via email, that it would defer comment to United about the carrier's fleet and operations. In January a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said. Adin Ross is rapidly gaining popularity over Kick and YouTube, but his indirect action led to the detention of Andrew Tate. At present, Ross admits he was partly responsible for what occurred. Adin Ross feels guilty for inadvertent role in Andrew Tate's arrest(AP/Instagram) Earlier this week, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were reportedly sent back to the UK to face accusations of sexual aggression, which they have been facing in Romania, and the trial is about to conclude. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Tate brothers are accused of heinous wrongdoings beginning from 2012 to 2015. However, they have unequivocally denied all the charges ranging from rape to human trafficking. These charges materialized as a consequence of the Tate brothers, with two other women, being caught in December 2022. ALSO READ| Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan to be extradited to UK, Romanian court rules The genuineness of Ross's implication became apparent upon learning that the police officers decided to take a quick action after Ross mentioned during a live online broadcast that Tate was thinking of leaving for the United States. Thank god he did not get put back in there: Ross Ross recounted Tates words to him, saying, Hey, Im going to be leaving Romania soon and never coming back So if you want to come and see me its basically now or never. This prompted the police to apprehend the Tate brothers out of concern that the Top G might flee to a non-extradition country. Following the arrest, Ross expressed his regret and acknowledged his unintended role in the events. During a Kick livestream, he stated, Andrew Tates team confirmed that I f***ed up, and Tate told me. I f***ed up, and thank god he did not get put back in there, "cause I wouldve felt really guilty. ALSO READ| Andrew Tate decodes John Cena's nude Oscars 2024 look Ross also shared that he has been in communication with Tate since the incident. He relayed a conversation with Tate: Dude, just come to Romania. I want to give my people, your people, what they want to see. Lets do some content, youre okay, I forgive you. The friend of the Boeing whistleblower found dead while he was in the midst of providing key evidence regarding the aircraft manufacturer's alleged unsafe practices said he suspected he would die. John Barnett, a 62-year-old former Boeing quality manager, died from what appeared to be a "self-inflicted gunshot wound," the Charleston County coroner said, according to CBS News. Barnett's body was found in his parked truck on Saturday. The truck was located outside a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. He had been staying there while participating in a deposition for a lawsuit. In the lawsuit, Barnett alleged that Boeing engaged in dangerous operations in their aircraft assembly. His lifelong friend, Jennifer, said there's "no way" he killed himself, and that he predicted he might be targeted. "I said, 'Aren't you scared?' And he said, 'No, I ain't scared, but if anything happens to me, it's not suicide," she told WCIV-TV Thursday. Barnett spent three decades at the aircraft manufacturing giant, before retiring in 2017, citing health issues. After that, he made public his concerns over the company's safety protocols - alleging they installed subpar airplane parts and rushed aircraft production. He then accused them of retaliating against him for speaking up. "[Boeing] didn't like what he had to say," and wanted to "shut him up," Jennifer alleged to the outlet. "That's why they made it look like a suicide." "I know that he did not commit suicide," she explained. "There's no way. He loved life too much. He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what they're going through right now." Boeing issued a statement following Barnett's death. "We are saddened by Mr. Barnett's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends," it said, according to the BBC. It's unclear if Barnett's death will impact the trial, which was originally slated to begin in June. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Boeing 787 flight from Sydney to Auckland, Australia plunged suddenly, terrifying all on board, after a flight attendant serving a meal accidentally hit a switch on a pilot's seat, jamming it against the controls, regulators believe. Frightened passengers described the ordeal as being like a "scene from The Exocist" when the plane suddenly plunged, thrusting dozens of passengers into the ceiling of the cabin. The Latam Airlines flight attendant inadvertently triggered the motorized pilot seat switch, which is supposed to be covered and not operated while a pilot is seated, while serving inflight meals. Latam is based in Chili and stated the experience was a 'technical event during the flight which caused strong movement.' The activation of the seat jolted the pilot forward into the controls, which caused the plane to nosedive. The descent was described by some passengers, according to the Daily Mail, like a scene from the 'The Exorcist.' Boeing sent out a memo to operators of the 787 airliners on Thursday urging an inspection of cockpit chairs for loose switch covers and also provided instructions on how to deactivate the motor to the pilot seat when needed. "Closing the spring-loaded seat back switch guard onto a loose/detached rocker switch cap can potentially jam the rocker switch, resulting in unintended seat movement," stated the memo, obtained by The Wall Street Journal. Boeing, who manufactures the aircraft, also said changes in the instruction manual are being considered. A Latam spokesperson said the company is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation. "We are in contact with our customer, and Boeing stands ready to support investigation-related activities as requested," Boeing said in a statement. Up to 50 passengers were injured in the chaotic scenes, with 10 hospitalized with head and neck injuries and broken bones The incident is the latest in a string of aircraft malfunctions associated with Boeing jets. A January incident on an Alaska Airlines flight that caused the emergency door to be sucked out of the plane is primary among them. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Tennessee private investigator aiding in the search for missing man Riley Strain in Nashville outlined the effort on Thursday, as concerned relatives continued to hope for Strain's safe return. Strain, 22, was last seen around 10 p.m. March 8 leaving Luke's 32 Bridge Bar where he was kicked out after allegedly being overserved, according to reports. The bar, which derives its name and branding from country music star Luke Bryan, is cooperating with authorities' investigation, the restaurant group that runs it said in a statement. The University of Missouri student told friends from his fraternity that he was heading back to their hotel, but he never arrived. On Thursday, a self-identified licensed PI writing on X under the handle @Chloe_DXM shared photos and a short video from their search. "There were also a lot of civilians, some even in their office attire, trying to search as they walked by," the PI wrote. "There are just endless possibilities in my mind of where he could have gone off course if it's believed he may have entered the water." The photos show stretches of the Cumberland River shore, some thick with brush, others more developed. "There is some fencing/ walls as you come up Gay St from Church St (where you see him on video), but some of it is broken (I do not think by him) and/or would be very low to Riley as he is very tall," the PI wrote of the 6-foot-6, 165-pound Strain. "As you travel further down Gay towards James Robertson there's some railing to block the woods to the river, but also [in] many places there isn't anything," they continued. "Like I said yesterday there's a TON of paths the unhoused have created and many little camps about midway between the sidewalk and River." "I do believe the people in these camps have been very helpful to family and law enforcement." Meanwhile Thursday, Strain's family told NewsNation that they were moved by the outpouring of support while calling for people to keep it up as they hoped for Strain's safe return. "I feel like it's what's getting us through," Strain's mother, Michelle Whiteid, told NewsNation of the support through tears. "We feel everybody's prayers. Please continue. Please continue to share his story." @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Friday, the Supreme Court made a ruling that permits public officials to block individuals on social media in specific cases. Challenges against Michigan and California officials who blocked critics on Facebook were dismissed. In a unanimous decision led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court established a more clear guideline for determining when public officials are state actors online and when they can have control over their social media presence. A second opinion dealing with a related dispute was unsigned, and there were no noted dissents, said CNN. As politicians use social media to reach voters, these cases question whether their pages are private or part of the government. Some of the profiles included public information alongside personal content. "When a government official posts about job-related topics on social media, it can be difficult to tell whether the speech is official or private," Barrett wrote. The Supreme Court faced a similar issue when former President Donald Trump blocked several followers on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter. A federal appeals court in New York ruled against Trump. However, by the time the case reached the Supreme Court, he had left office, prompting the justices to dismiss the dispute as moot. According to the Supreme Court's decision, speech by government officials can be considered state speech and is subject to First Amendment scrutiny only if the individual has the authority to represent the state and is exercising that authority on social media platforms. The standard set by the court Friday applies to all government officials. "Today's ruling splits the difference between two fairly extreme poles," said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. "As opposed to a rule that public officials are always state actors on social media, or are never, the court is clarifying the specific circumstances in which, even through a personal account, a public official is still constrained by the First Amendment in how they interact with their constituents. The lower courts will now have to apply this new test - so we'll see how it operates on the ground. But splitting the difference in theory helps to explain why the court was unanimous." @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A New Mexico State Police officer was fatally shot during a traffic stop Friday by a suspect described as "armed and dangerous." The shooting happened on Interstate 40 near Tucumari, about 175 miles east of Albuquerque, the state police said in a Facebook posting. "Suspect was last seen wearing a brown hoodie and jacket and is considered armed and dangerous," the statement said, adding that the scene was still active and that more details would be released later. The state police warned that anyone who comes in contact with the suspect, last seen in the area on foot, not approach him and contact police. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the shooting of Officer Justin Hare "devastating." "I'm heartbroken by the devastating news that State Police Officer Justin Hare was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call near Tucumcari this morning," the governor said in a statement, according to the Quay County Sun. "It's a tragic reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face each time they put on a uniform and report for duty. Officer Hare was doing his job protecting his community, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fellow officers at this most difficult time," the governor said. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nathan Wade, who played a significant role in the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump in Georgia, submitted his resignation on Friday. This decision came after the judge requested him to step down due to his romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D). Judge Scott McAfee has determined that the romantic relationship has created a perception of a conflict of interest. As a result, McAfee has ordered that the entire district attorney's office be excluded from the case, unless Wade agrees to step aside. Following the departure, the case regarding Trump's alleged election interference can now proceed, although a trial date has not been scheduled yet.Trump and over a dozen of his associates are facing charges of racketeering and other offenses. They are accused of participating in a lengthy conspiracy to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 victory in Georgia. Trump entered a not guilty plea. In his letter, Wade highlighted that the judge did not find the defense's proof of an actual conflict of interest. "I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible," Wade wrote. "I am sure that the case, and the team, will be in good hands moving forward and justice will be served," Wade said. Willis responded to Wade with a letter of her own, accepting with kindness his resignation and expressing admiration for her former romantic partner. "I compliment you for the professionalism and dignity you have shown over the last 865 days, as you have endured threats against you and your family, as well as unjustified attacks in the media and in court on your reputation as a lawyer," Willis wrote. "I will always remember - and will remind everyone - that you were brave enough to step forward and take on the investigation and prosecution of the allegations that the defendants in this case engaged in a conspiracy to overturn Georgia's 2020 Presidential election," she added. In an already unprecedented case, a remarkable chapter unfolded when a former president was charged with illegally attempting to overturn his election loss. This extraordinary development began in January when Michael Roman, a co-defendant of Trump, claimed in court documents that Willis and Wade, allegedly romantic partners, had benefited financially from the extensive election racketeering case. Judge Scott McAfee presided over three days of intense hearings in February, which included a surprising testimony from Willis herself. The judge declared on Friday that there was a strong suspicion of dishonesty surrounding Willis' testimony. Furthermore, the judge warned the district attorney that they must either replace Wade or risk being disqualified from the case. Trump, writing on Truth Social, celebrated that Wade had "resigned in disgrace." @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An independent commission investigating the tragic October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine has concluded that the local sheriff's department had sufficient proof to capture the shooter before he carried out his devastating attack, resulting in the loss of 18 lives. The preliminary report, drafted by the Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston, highlighted the presence of several missed opportunities that could have potentially altered the course of events. The commission was examining the sequence of events that preceded Army reservist Robert Card's tragic act of killing 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar on Oct. 25, along with the actions taken in response. The commission expressed its concerns regarding Sgt. Aaron Skolfield's response to a report made five weeks before the shooting. The report indicated that Card was experiencing a mental health crisis, having previously assaulted a friend and made threats about shooting up the Saco Armory. Skolfield, a member of the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office, should have recognized that he had sufficient evidence to initiate a "yellow flag" procedure, according to the commission. This procedure enables a judge to temporarily confiscate an individual's firearms in the event of a psychiatric health emergency. Commission Chair Daniel Wathen emphasized that their work was far from complete and that the interim report aimed at providing policymakers and law enforcement with crucial information they had acquired. "I'm in agreement with the committee's findings as far as they go, and I do think it's a legitimate point that the Sagadahoc Sheriff's Office could have done more to intervene," Wathen said in a statement. Robert Card, who tragically passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot following an extensive search, had an enviable record within law enforcement. Concerns were raised by both family members and fellow service members regarding his behavior, declining mental health, and the potential for violence beforeto the shootings. In May, concerned relatives alerted the police about Card's increasing paranoia and raised worries about his possession of firearms. In July, Card was admitted to a psychiatric unit for a two-week period following an incident where he pushed a fellow reservist and secluded himself in a motel room. In August, the Army issued a directive that prohibited him from being responsible for weapons during his duty and deemed him ineligible for deployment. In September, a fellow reservist reached out to an Army supervisor expressing deep concerns about Card, stating their belief that he may be on the verge of committing a mass shooting. However, commission members were informed by law enforcement officials that the existing yellow flag law in Maine poses challenges when it comes to confiscating firearms from individuals who may pose a threat, according to NECN. Related Article: Maine Mass Shooter Robert Card's Brain Sustained Extreme Damage, Contributed to 'Symptoms' Before Killing Spree @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. by Kazi Anwarul Masud RUSSIAN PRESIDENT ACCUSES THE US OF DEPLOYING MILITARY BASES NEAR RUSSIAN BORDER On February 21, 2023, in a speech to the federal assembly in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States of deploying military bases near the borders with Russia. He accused the West of enslaving Ukraine for a big war. Putin said: In the modern world, there should be no division into civilized countries and all the rest. We were ready for constructive dialogue with the West. But in response, they received a hypocritical reaction the expansion of NATO, the missile defense system, and the deployment of military contingents. Neither side has hundreds of military bases around the world like the US does. The whole planet is covered. In December 2021, Russia sent to the West a security guarantee agreement, but all positions were refused. Libyan leader Marshal Khalifa Haftar (C) was accorded a ceremonial welcome attended by Russian Defence Minister Gen. Yunus-Bek Yevkurov at a Moscow military airfield, September 26, 2023 RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE The incoming information suggested that by February, everything was ready for another punitive action in the Donbas (in Ukraine) against which Kyiv threw artillery, planes, and tanks. They started the war, and we used force to stop it. The next target after the Donbas was an attack on Crimea and Sevastopol. They are now talking about it openly. We protect our homes, and the goal of the West is unlimited power. The West spends $150 billion on war and $60 billion on supporting poor countries. Endless accusations against Russia were heard at the Munich Conference. The feeling that this was done so that everyone would forget what the West has been doing in recent decades. And they plunged entire regions into chaos, released gin and bottles. Trillions of dollars are at stake under the guise of democracy. In the 1930s, the West opened the way for the Nazis to power in Germany. In our time, they made anti-Russia out of Ukraine. The project is not new. It goes back to the 19th century. It was cultivated in Austria-Hungary, Poland to tear the historical regions away from our country. The West accelerated this project by supporting the anti-state anti-constitutional coup in 2014 in Kyiv. Russophobia was planted with ideologies. The Armed Forces of Ukraine use Nazi symbols and do not hide whose heirs they are. The West doesnt give a damn who to bet on in the fight against Russia. The main thing is to fight against us. So, you can use at least terrorists, at least neo-Nazis, at least a bald traitor. And in the 1930s and now the idea is the same: to kindle a hotbed of war in the East. The people of Ukraine have become a hostage of the occupational pro-Western regime, which has been plundering its state for decades. Nobody cares about people. They are prepared for slaughter and turned into consumables. Sad, scary to talk about it, but true. The responsibility for the escalation lies with the West and the Kyiv regime, for which its people are strangers. The more long-range systems fall back on Ukraine, the further we will be forced to push the threat away from our borders. The elites of the West want to turn a local conflict into a global confrontation. It is about the existence of our country. But they understand that it is impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Hence the information attacks, lies, distortion of historical facts, and attacks on the Russian Orthodox Church and culture. I would like to tell the West look at the main books of world religions. It says that the family is the union of a man and a woman. But even these sacred values are questioned. The West is trying to undermine our society. But traitors will be held accountable. We will not arrange a witch hunt for those who have abandoned their homeland. Let them live with it. The main thing is that the citizens of Russia gave them a moral assessment. We are proud that the Russians understood our actions in Donbas and supported us. This is a manifestation of patriotism, a feeling that is historically inherent in our people. I want to thank our people for their courage and determination. US WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY EVER TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS Recalling the devastations following the Second World War, Vladimir Putin accused the US of being the only country to use nuclear weapons twice, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. They created a precedent. He also recalled during WWII the United States and Britain reduced Dresden, Hamburg, Cologne, and many other German cities to rubble, without the least military necessity. It was done ostentatiously and, he said, without any military necessity. They had only one goal, as with the nuclear bombing of Japanese cities: to intimidate the rest of the world. US CARPET BOMBING OF VIETNAM AND LAOS The United States left a deep scar in the memory of the people of Korea and Vietnam with their carpet bombings and use of napalm and chemical weapons. In Putins narrative, the US continues to occupy Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and other countries, which the US cynically refers to as equals and allies. In his tirade against the US, Putin recalls that the Western elites are even shifting repentance for their historical crimes onto everyone else, demanding that the citizens of their countries and other peoples confess to things they have nothing to do with at all, for example, the period of colonial conquests. RUDYARD KIPLINGS WHITE MANS BURDEN It is worth reminding the West, Putin said, that it began its colonial policy back in the Middle Ages, followed by the worldwide slave trade, the genocide of Indian tribes in America, the plunder of India and Africa, the wars of England and France against China, as a result of which it was forced to open its ports to the opium trade. What they did was get entire nations hooked on drugs and purposefully exterminate entire ethnic groups for the sake of grabbing land and resources, hunting people like animals. Bangladesh at that time being a part of undivided India felt the full brunt of the colonial British civilizing Mission detailed by Rudyard Kipling in his White Mans Burden. PUTINS GRIEVANCES OF THE US CONTINUED SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA Putins grievances against the US continue for the US demanding more and more sanctions against Russia and the majority of European politicians obediently going along with it. In Putins narrative, the West clearly understands that by pressuring the EU to completely give up Russian energy and other resources, the United States is practically pushing Europe toward deindustrialization in a bid to get its hands on the entire European market. The dictates of the US are backed up by crude force, on the law of the fist. Sometimes it is beautifully wrapped; sometimes there is no wrapping at all, but the gist is the same the law of the fist as Putins grievances against the US continue. PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING US MILITARY BASES AND NATO EXPANSION Putin reasons that the deployment and maintenance of hundreds of military bases in all corners of the world, NATO expansion, and attempts to cobble together new military alliances, such as AUKUS and the like, and the creation of the Washington-Seoul-Tokyo military-political chain, is to contain Russia and now an emerging China on the global stage. These are the principles that underlie US and NATO military doctrines that require total domination. Western elites are presenting their neocolonialist plans with the same hypocrisy, claiming peaceful intentions and talking about some kind of deterrence. This evasive word migrates from one strategy to another but only means one thing undermining any sovereign centers of power. They have everything in their sights, including Russias next-door neighbors the CIS countries. In launching the sanctions blitzkrieg against Russia, for example, reasons Putin that the whole world would follow the Western command. As it turns out, however, such a bright prospect does not excite everyone other than complete political masochists and admirers of other unconventional forms of international relations. Most states refuse to snap a salute and instead choose the sensible path of cooperation with Russia. MULTIPOLARITY DEFEATS PUTINS ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE US The problem with Putins reasoning is that the world has now become multipolar, and the US has to take along other freedom-loving countries to reach a consensus on any global problem. Such self-confidence is a direct product not only of the concept of exceptionalism first mentioned by the French nobleman Marquis de Lafayette, who had a close relationship with George Washington during the American War of Independence. Vladimir Putins reasons for the lack of Western presss enthusiasm for US enmity towards Russia and now China are like Goebbelss ocean of myths, illusions, and fakes, using extremely aggressive propaganda. The more unbelievable the lie, the quicker people will believe it that is how they operate, according to this principle. They point back at Russia and say: That is the source of all your troubles. Russian President wants to make special note of the fact that there is every reason to believe that the Western elites are not going to look for constructive ways out of the global food and energy crisis that they and they alone are to blame for, as a result of their long-term policy, dating back long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have no intention of solving the problems of injustice and inequality. CONCLUSION Vladimir Putin reasons that the West would rather use other formulas they are more comfortable with. And here it is important to recall that the West bailed itself out of its early 20th-century challenges with World War I. Profits from World War II helped the United States finally overcome the Great Depression and become the largest economy in the world, and to impose on the planet the power of the dollar as a global reserve currency. And the 1980s crisis things came to a head in the 1980s again the West emerged from it unscathed largely by appropriating the inheritance and resources of the collapsed and defunct Soviet Union. Now, to free itself from the latest web of challenges, the Western countries need to dismantle Russia as well as other states that choose a sovereign path of development, at all costs, to be able to further plunder other nations wealth and use it to patch their holes. Kazi Anwarul Masud is a retired Bangladeshi diplomat. During his tenure, he worked in several countries as the ambassador of Bangladesh including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Germany A federal judge delayed former United States President Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial until at least mid-April following the release of new documents. The defendant's lawyers as well as the Manhattan district attorney both sought additional time to review the case after a new batch of documents was revealed. The decision to delay from its original Mar. 25 schedule could push back the timeline of the former president's other criminal cases, including one that focuses on his handling of classified documents. Trump's Hush Money Trial The development comes as the Republican businessman has been working to delay as many of his criminal trials as possible as he pursues the presidency. Trump is currently facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, related to an alleged scheme to conceal hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The former president has repeatedly denied the accusations and claimed that the case is politically motivated against him. If the trial continued on its original schedule, it would have been the first criminal trial against a former president in the U.S., according to BBC. The development comes after a last-minute release of tens of thousands of pages of documents from federal prosecutors. It comes as they are also conducting an investigation into the payments made in 2018. This prompted both parties to seek a last-minute reprieve. The Republican businessman's legal team requested a 90-day delay, arguing that they need more time to review the documents. Manhattan District Attorney Alan Bragg agreed to give both parties a 30-day delay, which Justice Juan Merchan, who is handling the case, ultimately agreed to. On the other hand, Trump's lawyers argued that federal prosecutors did not properly turn over the evidence. In Merchan's decision, which was released on Friday, he wrote that there were "significant questions of fact which this court must resolve." Read Also: Trump Georgia Election Fraud Judge Calls Out 'Fatal' Mistake by Fani Willis Last-Minute Evidence Dump The latest announcement follows a contentious back-and-forth between the Manhattan district attorney's office and the former president's legal team. Merchan added that the Court agreed with the defendant that a prompt hearing is required on the pending discovery motion, the circumstances surrounding the document production by the UAE-SDNY, and the scheduling of a trial date, if one is needed, said CNN. A senior legal analyst with CNN, Elie Honig, said that the decision to delay the trial shows that the judge is concerned about the dispute over document production. He noted that Merchan's letter suggests he is taking the defense allegations seriously. The Republican businessman's lawyers argued that the new information presented in the case was exculpatory for Trump and damaging to prosecutors' key witness, Michael Cohen. On Friday, federal prosecutors turned over the last batch of roughly 15,000 pages. This is the latest development in one of the legal challenges that Trump is facing. Another is in Washington and relates to accusations that he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results. This particular case was originally scheduled to go to trial this month. However, it was delayed as the former president appealed to the Supreme Court. Also this week, an Atlanta judge quashed six of the charges against the Republican businessman in his Georgia election interference case. This particular case also lacks a trial date, according to the New York Times. Related Article: Manhattan DA Asks for Brief Delay in Trump's NYC Trial Due to New Records @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss providing arms support for Ukraine. The meeting with the international leaders was held in Berlin as they sought to repair relations following strained ties under Poland's previously nationalist government. After the Friday Chancellery meeting, Scholz said that they would immediately start acquiring more arms for Ukraine. European Leaders Meet in Support of Ukraine The German chancellor added that the arms will be procured from the global arms market. Additionally, he noted that they will increase military arms production capacity, which will be done in cooperation with their partners on the ground in Ukraine. Scholz added that a new coalition that seeks to provide long-distance artillery rockets will be set up within the so-called Ramstein Format. This is a 40-plus member group of allies, both NATO and non-NATO, and from across Europe, North America, and Africa. The leaders also announced that the European Union will work to expand financial as well as training assistance. The German chancellor added that they will take advantage of windfall profits from frozen Russian assets in Europe to provide financial assistance to Kyiv as well as to purchase additional arms, according to DW News. The summit comes as Ukraine's military is requesting more help and supplies from Western members as it continues to struggle to fight off Russia's military. In addition, Kyiv's forces have recently had difficulties defending territory and the EU's pledges to make a million artillery rounds have fallen short of targets. Tensions have also escalated between French and German leaders after Macron refused to rule out the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine. This was a move that Scholz said neither Germany nor NATO would take amid the conflict. Macron and Scholz have adopted differing strategies in their support of Ukraine's defense against Russia. The former has been seen as being far more hawkish than his German counterpart. This comes as the latter's supporters have called him a "peace chancellor" who seeks to avoid an escalation toward war between Russia and NATO members. Read Also: US to Send $300 Million Weapons Package to Aid Ukraine in War With Russia: Report Additional Aid for Kyiv European support for Ukraine has become increasingly key as United States President Joe Biden has struggled to provide an aid package for Kyiv. Additionally, the majority of the Democratic leader's foreign policy energy is now focused on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, said Reuters. The summit comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last month called for the EU to consider using Russia's frozen assets to "jointly purchase military equipment for Ukraine." The commission is also expected to make a concrete proposal on the matter in the next few days. During the meeting between leaders, Scholz said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could rely on them as they were renewing their signal for support for Kyiv. However, he also said that the summit was a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that they would not let up their support of Kyiv. In a statement after the summit, Tusk said that they want to spend their money and help in every possible way. He noted that these efforts seek to make the situation in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months better, not worse, according to the Associated Press. Related Article: World Alliances Decry Russian Election Not 'Free and Fair' As Putin Prepares to Take 6th Term @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened an inquiry into Reddit's licensing practices ahead of the social media platform's initial public offering (IPO). On Friday, Reddit said that the FTC opened the inquiry into the company's sale, licensing, or sharing of its users' posts and other content to outside organizations for use in training artificial intelligence (AI) models. FTC Investigations Reddit's Licensing Practices The social media firm disclosed the FTC inquiry in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that cited a letter from the agency that was dated Thursday. In the filing, Reddit said that given the novel nature of the technologies and commercial arrangements, they were not surprised that the FTC expressed interest in the area. The social media company added that it did not believe that it engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practice despite the scrutiny. Similar to other social media platforms, Reddit has expressed interest in business deals where AI companies would pay to access databases of human-written text that their models can use to refine their abilities, according to ABC News. These include conversing, answering questions, and producing written work and images on request of users. Nearly a month ago, Reddit announced a $60 million deal with tech giant Google for that exact purpose. That particular deal would also give the social media company access to Google AI models so that it could improve its internal site search and other features. However, Reddit officials have declined to comment or answer questions regarding the deal beyond a written statement. The disclosure of the FTC inquiry on Friday comes as the company is preparing to sell shares to the public for the first time in what is considered to be one of the largest IPOs so far this year. The social media company, which is based in San Francisco, filed paperwork on Monday that projected a price for its IPO valuing the 18-year-old platform at up to $6.4 billion, said the Washington Post. Read Also: High-Profile IPO: Reddit, Investors Seek Up to $748 Million in Fundraising Method Making Profits in Other Ways While Reddit's core business relies on online advertising, it was also seeking to make profits in other ways. This comes as it is in the early stages of its "data licensing efforts," as revealed in the recent filing. Referring to its users and forum moderators, the company said that the opportunity did not conflict with the platform's values and the rights of its Redditos. In its latest IPO plan, it seeks to sell more than 20 million shares priced at $31 to $34 each. The IPO comes as there has not been a notable venture-backed tech debut since Instacart and Klaviyo in September last year. Prior to those, the market had been largely shuttered since late 2021. Last year, Reddit's revenue increased by 20% to $804 million and roughly 98% of its sales came from advertising. The remaining 2% includes data licensing. The social media company said that it entered into some data-licensing deals in January earlier this year. It contracted a total value of $203 million over the last two to three years, according to CNBC. Related Article: World Video Game Hall of Fame: 2024 Finalists Span 4 Decades, Including Resident Evil, Metroid, Neopets @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted his occasional thinking of stepping away from his demanding role, but has affirmed his intention to continue serving until the next election. Justin Trudeau's political future has come under inquiry as polls indicate a decline in his popularity among Canadians. PM Justin Trudeau on Sacrifices Amid Election Speculation In an interview , Trudea discussed many issues and personal sacrifices that are naturally associated with his position. Trudeau's leadership is coming under more scrutiny as debates keep raging around the upcoming general election, which is scheduled to take place in October 2025. The public's opinion is leaning toward dissatisfaction over issues such as the cost of living and the affordability of housing. Recent surveys have shown that people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the administration. The Liberal party has been regularly falling behind the Conservatives, and the gap between them is sometimes quite substantial. Through the duration of the long conversation, Trudeau openly discussed the immense duties that come with his position. He added that his unwavering dedication to the continuing dispute, regardless being aware that it is a difficult task. "I could not be the man I am and abandon the fight at this point," he said reflecting on the continuous state that had taken place about the prospect of leaving his office. Trudeau admitted the daily considered quitting, describing the post as rigorous and there were times when it was intimidating. He did so with a hint of humor. Despite the difficulties, he recognized the crucial crossroads that democracies all around the world are currently finding themselves in, and he maintained his resolve to negotiate the unsafe path forward, according to Reuters. Read Also: Putin Fires Naval Commander-in-Chief After 'Significant' Black Sea Losses PM Justin Trudeau Faces Personal, Political Turmoil Trudeau was also dealing with the result of his separation from his wife, Sophie, which he declared the previous year after 18 years of marriage. This occurred against the backdrop of personal issues that Trudeau was also experiencing. In the middle of personal struggles, the world of politics continues to be filled with competing views, as the Conservatives present their strategies to demolish a number of crucial measures that have been implemented by the Liberals. A distinct plan of government is presented by the opposition, which promises to do away with the carbon tax, solve financial imbalances, address housing difficulties, and strengthen attempts to enforce laws. Trudeau reaffirmed the government's position on the challenging issue of the carbon price, repeating that the climb that was slated to take effect on April 1 will go forward as planned, despite the fact that several provincial leaders have called for the adjustment to be halted. Trudeau, when reflecting on his entry into politics, raised the humanitarian motivations that led him to enter the world of politics. He said his dedication to public service and his sense that he had meaningful contributions to make. Trudeau's persistent dedication to his responsibilities reflects the importance of the choices that remain ahead, particularly in considering how the political situation is becoming more intense and the date to the next election is getting closer, NDTV World reported. Related Article: Molotov Cocktail Thrown At Russian Polling Station as Putin Eyes 5th Term @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, informed Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, that the committee's hearing on alleged influence peddling and the Biden family's business transactions will take place next week, regardless of whether the First Son will attend or not. Comer extended a request to Biden and his business associates, Tony Bobulinski, Devon Archer, and Jason Galanis, to take part in a public hearing set for 10 a.m. on March 20. Hunter Biden's Business Dealings In a letter directed to Hunter Biden's attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, Comer stated the necessity of Biden's absence and hinted that it may indicate a recognition of the potential scrutiny that his public testimony might not withstand. Comer said to Lowell's charges that he had cherry-picked facts and sensationalized the matter by calling attention to the point that Democrats and Lowell himself had engaged with the media immediately after Hunter Biden's prior testimony, even before the transcript of that hearing was made public. In his speech, the Chairman identified that a public hearing would provide Hunter Biden with the opportunity to face the evidence that is allegedly presented against him. As part of the inquiry into whether or not his father, President Joe Biden, should be prosecuted for impeachment, Hunter Biden had already provided testimony before both the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee. The purpose of the search was to gather information about Joe Biden's suspected involvement in his son's lucrative business activities in various countries, including Ukraine, Russia, China, Romania, and Kazakhstan. Although Hunter Biden continues to deny that his father was involved in his business dealings, he has admitted that his father had contact with a number of international business acquaintances. This recognition lends credibility to the accusations made by persons such as Devon Archer and Tony Bobulinski. Both Archer and Hunter Biden had worked together on the board of directors of Burisma Holdings, which is a Ukrainian oil firm, and they had a strong connection with one another, according to Fox News. Read Also: Tesla To Pay $42 Million to Motorcyclist Left Partially Amputated Following 2017 Crash Dispute Arises from Hunter Biden's Testimony A failed business transaction with the Chinese corporation CEFC was the reason for Hunter Biden's harsh assessment of Bobulinski during his testimony. He charged Bobulinski of being arrogant and harboring hatred toward him. As a result of these characterizations, Bobulinski and Democratic MPs found themselves in dispute with their fellow politicians. Furthermore, Hunter Biden and his legal representative pointed out Jason Galanis's incarceration for involvement in a bond-issuance fraud scheme. Galanis alleged that the Justice Department shielded Hunter Biden during his own criminal prosecution. In his letter, Chairman Comer highlighted the invitation extended to Hunter Biden's business associates, emphasizing their role for dealing with any discrepancies that have come up from Biden's testimony regarding his father's involvement. Comer urged Hunter Biden to reconsider his stance, emphasizing the worth of transparency and honesty. In considering Hunter Biden's absence, the scheduled hearing will proceed as planned, proving the Committee's dedication to examining the Biden family's business transactions and maintaining accountability. Related Article: Hunter Biden's Trial on Gun Charges To Begin in June as Dad Joe's Campaign vs. Trump Heats Up @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A teenager has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for taking part in a tragic Denver house fire that resulted in the loss of five lives. The fire reportedly began as an act of revenge, stemming from a mistaken belief that a stolen cell phone was located in the home. Gavin Seymour, 19, accepted his guilt in January for being involved in the terrible Aug. 5, 2020, fire that claimed the lives of five members of a Senegalese family. Judge Karen Brody handed down the harshest sentence available to him in the Denver District Court. Denver Teen Sentenced for Tragic House Fire During the sentencing of Gavin Seymour, one of the three teenagers involved in the tragic fire that led to the loss of five lives, including children, Denver District Court Judge Karen Brody shared a powerful statement. ""This is a tragedy that is, I'm sure for everyone involved, incomprehensible," Brody said. "There was a loss of the most innocent of lives." Seymour, Kevin Bui, and Dillon Siebert were accused with starting the fire that unexpectedly claimed the lives of Djibril Diol, Adja Diol, Khadija Diol, Hassan Diol, and Hawa Baye during the night. Although Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the incident, had already received a sentence, Seymour and Bui, both 16 at the time of the fire, were involved in legal proceedings. After entering a plea of guilty to second-degree murder in January, Seymour was sentenced. Sixty other allegations were dropped. The judge handed down a 40-year prison sentence, the highest possible punishment. Arguments for leniency were put forth by Seymour's family, emphasizing his young age and potential for reform. Conversely, family members of the victims advocated for the maximum sentence, emphasizing the profound impact of the loss on their lives. Hanady Diol, a relative, expressed dissatisfaction with the potential duration of Seymour's sentence, stating, "Even if you kill five sheep or goats, you should get a maximum sentence," according to ABC News. Read Also: Illinois High School Students Claim Their Images Were Edited Using AI To Become Explicit Testimonies Reflect Impact of Tragic Fire Testimony from witnesses identified the broad influence of the tragic hitch as the Senegalese immigrant community is still dealing with fear and an absence of trust following the fire. Friends and relatives expressed their grief over the loss of loved ones while talking about their lasting influence on the community. Veteran police detective Niel Baker recounted the harrowing details of the case, labeling it as "the worst and most senseless murder" he had ever investigated. He highlighted the premeditated nature of the crime, revealing that the suspects meticulously planned the fire as an act of revenge. The sentencing reflects an important turn in the legal proceedings, however, the community still faces the persistent effects of the tragedy. As the case against Bui takes place, the search for justice and closure remains of utmost importance to everyone impacted by the awful circumstances of that night, 9News reported. Related Article: Sheriff Could Have Taken Guns From Maine Mass Shooter Before He Killed 18, Report Finds @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple has agreed Friday to a settlement of $490 million in a class-action lawsuit that accused CEO Tim Cook of misleading investors regarding the declining demand for iPhones in China. The preliminary settlement, filed in Oakland, California, stems from allegations that Cook's statements during an investor conference call in November 2018 did not accurately reflect the true state of iPhone sales in China. iPhone Sales Letdown Spurs Investor Lawsuit Against Apple In September 2018, Cook initially voiced confidence in the latest iPhone models at that time, describing their performance as "very strong last quarter." However, shortly after, Apple instructed suppliers to decrease production. Just a few months later, by January 2, 2019, Apple issued a revenue warning that shocked the investors. In the statement, the company forecasted that its revenue for the quarter would fall significantly short of expectations, specifically a shortfall of $9 billion. This, according to the tech giant, was primarily due to weakening demand in China. This announcement represents the first time Apple had revised its revenue forecast downward since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, according to AP News. The sudden revision in revenue forecast resulted in a substantial drop in Apple's stock price, causing a loss of over $70 billion in shareholder wealth. The lawsuit alleged that Apple failed to disclose the true extent of the decline in iPhone sales in China, leading to financial losses for investors. Read Also: Apple Buys Canadian Start-up DarwinAI, Attempts to Bring Killer Feature to Catch up With Microsoft, Google Apple Settles Investor Lawsuit Over CEO's Alleged Deception While Apple has denied allegations of Cook deceiving investors, it has agreed to the settlement to avoid the cost and distraction of prolonged litigation. The settlement, which is subject to approval by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in a hearing set for April 30, 2024, will compensate thousands of eligible shareholders who purchased Apple stock between November 2018 and January 2019. The lead plaintiff in the case is the Norfolk County Council, representing the Norfolk Pension Fund in the UK Lawyers for the shareholders may seek fees of up to 25% of the settlement amount. Despite the significant settlement payout, the $490 million represents less than 1% of Apple's $97 billion profit in its last fiscal year. Additionally, since the announcement of the revenue forecast revision in January 2019, Apple's share price has more than quadrupled, resulting in substantial gains for shareholders. Related Article: Apple iPhone Sales Fall 24% in China as Huawei's Popularity Surges @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un overseen air defense drills on Friday and emphasized the importance of realistic getting ready for battle, according to state media KCNA. These drills took place after the end of joint yearly exercises involving South Korea and the United States earlier this week. "Soldiers must undergo realistic training that directly relates to warfare in order to prepare them as true combat fighters," Kim Jong Un stated. Kim Jong Un Praises North Korean Troops Amid Exercise The readiness of North Korean troops has been conveyed as being enough by Kim Jong Un. After the joint annual drills between South Korea and the United States, North Korea proceeded to carry out its own military exercises. The joint drills between South Korea and the US took place for the first time since November, when Pyongyang decided to cancel a 2018 inter-Korean military acceptance that was meant to reduce tensions. The just-ended 10-day Freedom Shield exercises saw a remarkable level of participation from member states of the US-led United Nations Command, which was established following the armistice of the Korean War from 1950-1953. Kim Jong Un overseen the recent training to evaluate the preparedness of paratroopers for potential recruitment during times of war. According to the report from KCNA, these drills were conducted to assess the troops' abilities and readiness for unexpected wartime situations. The troops demonstrated their impressive speed in occupying enemy territory upon receiving orders. Kim addressed the significance of realistic and scientific training techniques, indicating his goal of obtaining maximum combat effectiveness in present fight locations. He also emphasized the value of adopting realistic training methods. Accompanied by senior military officials, Kim's young daughter, Ju Ae, was seen observing the drills through binoculars in images released by Pyongyang's Rodong Sinmun newspaper. Troops on the ground were depicted taking strategic positions as paratroopers descended from above, according to Reuters. Read Also: Bernie Sanders Renews Push for 4-Day Workweek Bill; Is 32-Hour Standard Possible for Congress to Enact? North Korea's Aggressive Stance towards South Korea This report follows Pyongyang's recent announcement of Kim's inspection of a purportedly formidable new battle tank, which the North claims to be the world's most powerful. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington wrapped up their annual Freedom Shield exercises this week, which saw a greater number of troops participating compared to previous years. The exercises included a range of military maneuvers, such as missile interception and air assault drills. North Korea had previously warned of consequences for the joint drills, asserting that the South and the US would pay a "dear price". Additionally, Pyongyang announced Kim's supervision of a significant artillery drill targeting South Korea's capital. Between the Washington-Seoul drills, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik stated the power of getting advanced combat skills, such as conducting clearing operations within North Korea's strategic facilities. Pyongyang's recent actions bring out a growing resentment towards South Korea. In a period of rising tensions, North Korea has declared South Korea as its main adversary, dissolved organizations aimed at unity, and made forceful statements regarding territorial conflicts, Barrons reported. Related Article: North Korea's Development of Chemical Weapons, Potential Use Against Other Nations Spark Alarm From US Intel @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : AFP via Getty Images) The Open Arms maritime vessel that set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus carrying humanitarian aid approaches the coast of Gaza City on March 15, 2024. A ship carrying some 200 tons of food, water and other essential supplies arrived Friday in Gaza, the first to do so via a sea route from Cyprus newly opened to help bring humanitarian aid amid Israel's war against Hamas in the territory, the Israeli military said. The vessel, operated by the Spanish aid group Open Arms, came towing a barge bearing beans, flour, lentils, rice, tuna and canned meat, outlets including the Associated Press reported. The supplies were sent from World Central Kitchen, a charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres. The initial shipment of supplies will reportedly be distributed in Gaza's north, which was devastated by Israel's initial military push into the strip. It's expected to be the first of multiple sea shipments to Gaza, with a second to follow once supplies from the first have been handed out. The basic supplies have become increasingly scarce in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing war against the Hamas terror group entrenched in the territory. Israel's war against Hamas began on Oct. 7 when the terror group launched a surprise attack on Israel, indiscriminately killing some 1,200 people and abducting about 240 hostages back to Gaza. Israel responded with a large-scale air and land campaign aimed at rooting Hamas out of Gaza. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza. Civilians represent the majority of those killed in both cases. But the war has also taken a humanitarian toll on Gaza, with movement of supplies - and people - in and out of the strip tightly restricted. Land shipments via truck have proven inconsistent and were frequently waylaid, both in Gaza and by Israeli protesters before ever crossing the border. A coalition of nations including the U.S. recently began conducting airdrops, but international humanitarian groups have said that that method wouldn't provide aid at the rate Gaza needs it. President Joe Biden vowed during his State of the Union address last week to construct a harbor along Gaza's shore using U.S. military labor, to help facilitate the sea shipments. But it could take up to two months for that project to be completed, according to military officials. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. The hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. Alex Slitz/AP FILE- Special prosecutor Nathan Wade looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. A progressive Democrat and a Republican who briefly worked in Donald Trump's administration entered the Fulton County district attorney's race Friday, March 8, 2024, as the current officeholder, Fani Willis, awaits a judge's decision on whether she will be removed from the Georgia election interference case against the former president because of a relationship with Wade. Alex Slitz/AP FILE- Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides over a hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. Scott McAfee, who's presiding over the election interference case, drew two challengers Friday, March 8, 2024, for his nonpartisan race in May: civil rights attorney Robert Patillo and Tiffani Johnson, a staff attorney for another Fulton County judge. Alex Slitz/AP ATLANTA (AP) Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can prosecute Donald Trump on charges that he interfered with Georgia's 2020 election now that a special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship has withdrawn from the case. But the long-term impacts of allegations of impropriety that have roiled the case for weeks remain to be seen, with Trump and his allies certain to continue to attack the legitimacy of the prosecution against the former president and 18 others. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled Friday that Willis could stay if special prosecutor Nathan Wade left. That was a partial victory for Willis, whom defense attorneys had pushed to have removed from the case over her relationship Wade. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the judge also rebuked Willis for her tremendous lapse in judgment and questioned the truthfulness of Wade's and her testimony about the timing of their relationship. It's an extraordinary decision in a case that in recent weeks has taken on a soap opera atmosphere as the prosecutors who pledged to hold Trump accountable had their own personal lives thrust into the spotlight. Here are some major takeaways from the judge's ruling: Advertisement Article continues below this ad ____ THE JUDGE PUT THE BALL IN WILLIS' COURT The judge's ruling threw it to Willis to decide whether she and her entire office would step aside or whether Wade would withdraw from the case. The judge said the prosecution couldn't move forward until one of those two actions was taken. Several hours after the ruling came down, Wade offered his resignation and Willis accepted it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If Willis had instead opted to step aside, the case would have been referred to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council a nonpartisan association of Georgia district attorneys to be assigned to a different prosecutor. That could have upended the entire prosecution. Another prosecutor could have continued on the track that Willis has taken, could have chosen to pursue only some charges or could have dropped the case altogether. FINANCIAL CONCERNS The defense attorney who first revealed the romantic relationship, Ashleigh Merchant, alleged that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then improperly benefited from the prosecution of the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Willis and Wade argued that the district attorney received no financial benefit from the relationship and that she either paid for things herself or used cash to reimburse Wade for travel expenses. Judge McAfee called it concerning that there were no documents to corroborate Willis' claim that she paid Wade back. But he said Willis' testimony withstood direct contradiction and was corroborated by other evidence, including her purchase of a flight for two in 2022. That led the judge to conclude that the claim was not so incredible as to be inherently unbelievable. The judge said there was no way no know for sure that Willis and Wade's expenses were split evenly and Willis may well have received a net benefit of several hundred dollars. But, McAfee said the defendants didn't provide sufficient evidence to prove that Willis financially benefited from hiring Wade. Furthermore, McAfee concluded that enriching herself through her relationship with Wade was not a motivating factor in Willis' decision to bring the case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The judge noted that Willis was not financially destitute throughout this time or in any great need, but was making more than $200,000 per year. He also said there was no indication she was trying to prolong the case to rake in more money, noting that prosecutors had initially wanted the case to go to trial less than six months after they brought the indictment. WILLIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS Attorneys for Trump and others said Willis public statements about the case veered into the realm of misconduct, saying she expressed her belief in the guilt of the defendants. McAfee noted that he had to consider whether the remarks were part of a calculated plan to prejudice the defendants in the minds of future jurors. He said the comments must be egregiously improper to justify disqualification. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The judge found that statements Willis made describing the charges in the indictment, her offices conviction rates and personal anecdotes were not disqualifying. That extended to her unorthodox decision to speak on the record to authors of a book about the special grand jury investigation that preceded the indictment, he wrote. A speech she gave at a historic Black church in Atlanta less than a week after the allegations of her relationship with Wade surfaced was a different matter, the judge wrote. Willis complained in those remarks that people had questioned her decision to hire Wade and questioned his qualifications, seeming to suggest the criticism arose from the fact that she and Wade are Black. McAfee noted that the speech did not mention any defendant by name and did not address the merits of the charges in the case or disclose any sensitive or confidential evidence. He said he didnt find that it crossed the line to the point that the defendants couldnt have a fair trial. But it was still legally improper, he wrote. Providing this type of public comment creates dangerous waters for the District Attorney to wade further into. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He noted that it may well be time for an order preventing prosecutors from mentioning a case in public to prevent prejudicial pretrial publicity, but he said that was not the issue currently before him. McAfee has recently made his own public statements about the case. He said in an interview on WSB Radio last week that hed had a rough draft of his ruling ready before he knew that anyone planned to challenge him in a May election and that the result is not going to change because of politics. When a WSB-TV reporter snagged him on the sidelines of a Rotary Club lunch Thursday, McAfee said the ruling would be out Friday and that no ruling of mine is ever going to be based on politics. McAfee was appointed to his seat by Georgia's Republican governor and faces two challengers in a May election. The race is nonpartisan, but Fulton County is a Democratic stronghold. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LACK OF CANDOR Wade was questioned on the stand about statements he had made in his divorce case that he hadnt been romantically involved with anyone other than his wife during their marriage. His patently unpersuasive explanation for those inaccuracies indicates a willingness on his part to wrongly conceal his relationship with the District Attorney, McAfee wrote. McAfee also found himself unable to determine the answer to a central question in the evidentiary hearing: whether Willis and Wade began their romantic relationship before she hired him. Neither side provided sufficient evidence to make a conclusive determination, he wrote. But he said, an odor of mendacity remains. He wrote that reasonable questions about whether Willis and Wade testified truthfully about that timing further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ____ (Photo : Los Angeles Police Department) Samuel Haskell IV has been charged with the murders of wife Mei Li Haskell and her parents, Yanxiang Wang and Gaoshan Li. A California woman who was killed and dismembered, allegedly by her Hollywood scion husband, may have still been alive when she was decapitated, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner reportedly found. The torso of Mei Li Haskell, 37, was found by a homeless man inside a duffel bag thrown into a dumpster last November. Samuel Haskell IV, 35, has been charged with the murders of his wife and her parents. Haskell - whose father is an Emmy-winning Hollywood producer and a former executive at the William Morris talent agency - pleaded not guilty during a January court appearance. The younger Haskell allegedly hired day laborers on Nov. 7 to dispose of multiple large bags, authorities have said. After allegedly finding human body parts inside the bags, the laborers contacted police. Haskell was allegedly caught on surveillance camera later that day stuffing a bag into the dumpster where his wife's torso was found. An autopsy report on the torso obtained by People noted a "sharp force injury at the neck," the magazine reported Friday. The bone margins where the victim's head and limbs were severed were "remarkably smooth," suggesting "a sharp powered tool was likely used," according to the report. The medical examiner also said it couldn't be determined when the victim was decapitated, meaning "the possibility that the head and neck removal was initiated prior to death cannot be entirely excluded." Mei Li Haskell's head and limbs are yet to be recovered, and her torso displayed no other fatal injuries, leaving the cause of death officially undetermined, according to the report. The bodies of her parents, 71-year-old Gaoshan Li and 64-year-old Yanxiang Wang, are also unaccounted for. If convicted, Samuel Haskell faces life in prison. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 35F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 35F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Berkshire Horseworks Secures Grant From MountainOne Foundation RICHMOND, Mass. Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc., a 501c3 mission-driven nonprofit, which for 10 years has offered Eagala Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning, Equine Assisted Team building, and other therapeutic and recreational activities with horses, has secured funding through a grant of $1,000 from MountainOne Foundation to support local schools in Berkshire County with academic challenges to build literacy skills. In addition, BHW welcomed new board member Beth Persing, a licensed social worker and substance abuse counselor. The news was announced by Hayley Sumner, founder and executive director. The grant from MountainOne will fund the eight-week Horse Powered Reading (HPR) series, which integrates horses and social-emotional learning with academics. The experiential strength-based program uses horses in ground-based metaphorical activities to complement classroom learning, at the nonprofit's seven-acre ranch in Richmond. The sessions will be held weekly and will run for 90 minutes each. HPR provides children with tools to excel by experiencing reading with their mind, body and emotions. Rescue horses and donkeys are engaged as partners to support students with or without an IEP as they identify obstacles and work on phonetic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. In an effort to further engage the community in assessing the needs of the schools, Berkshire HorseWorks welcomed licensed social worker and substance abuse counselor, Beth Persing, to its board of directors. Persing is experienced in many different facets of human services through her work as a social worker for adolescent outreach, early childhood development, school adjustment counselor and as a substance use case worker. Beth currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Berkshire County, as well as works as a school adjustment counselor at Morris Elementary School in Lenox. She is passionate about working with children, supporting our mental health community, the arts and animals. "Every day we wake up so grateful that the community of which we are a part of is so invested in the wellbeing of our youth. Beth has been at the forefront of critical initiatives. We are so inspired and encouraged by her energy and insights," stated Sumner. BHW has recently expanded into the educational space, with the introduction of Horse Powered Reading and Math curriculums. All experiential programming for children, families, and those at risk with mental health, behavioral and academic challenges is funded through grants, donations, and direct pay from corporate team building and recreational activities including trail rides lessons. Pittsfield's $80M School Budget Proposal 'Not Ideal,' Cuts Over 100 Employees PITTSFIELD, Mass. The school administration delivered a somber budget presentation for fiscal 2025, including a proposed reduction of more than 100 staff members. "Tonight is truly about much change and certainly challenges and then choices and as being committed to the Pittsfield public schools for now 30 years, we certainly have been here before over different periods of time and I've experienced it in really all the roles I have held," Superintendent Joseph Curtis told the School Committee on Wednesday. "We will get through this. We will continue to serve our children, our families, and our community and we will continue to show compassion and understanding to the children and families we serve. We will get through this. It will be a struggle, but we certainly will in the good of who we serve." Much of the impact is attributed to the September sunsetting of the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds that were created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and not as much in state Chapter 70 education funding as previous years. For FY25, the district is anticipating a 3.5 percent increase from this year's budget appropriation totaling $80,821,096, about $2.7 million more. With anticipated contractual increases and other spending obligations reaching more than $6.4 million, a local budget shortfall of almost $3.7 million is anticipated not including the discontinued ESSER funds. That $3.7 million gap has brought a proposal for a level number of reductions including 27 teachers to save more than $1.3 million and 26 paraprofessionals to save another $686,000. If any additional cuts need to be made, PPS will need to close an elementary school. Curtis said this is "not an ideal proposal in any way" and reported that district leaders' "facial expressions of worry and concern were certainly real" when it was presented to them. "We're talking between ESSER and local reductions over 100 staff members. We do not want those 100 staff members to find out on a slide or from the media," he said. "We want them to have individual conversations with their school leader, their department leader. We also want to have opportunities to have optional staff meetings with our staff. There's a lot of communication that has to take place." A special meeting is being held for a public hearing on Wednesday and the committee is expected to adopt the budget on April 25. Curtis pointed out that there are still adjustments being made. "I would sense that there will be a lot for the public to react to after this evening," he said. Due to a decrease in the percentage of low-income students, the district is being docked $2.3 million after missing the cutoff for a higher reimbursement group by 0.04 percent. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kristen Behnke explained that this is a difference of two students to get the district over the mark and that some possible technical errors have been identified. The district saw an increase in Chapter 70 funds of $6.6 million this year; the projected FY25 increase is $649,248. There have been ongoing conversations with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on the matter but due to the budget process timeline, the lesser amount of funding is being reported. "I want to be optimistic," Behnke said. "This seems to me very much like it should be a technical fix and not something that would have to make a case for but I really don't know." Other proposed budget cuts include three deans of students resulting in a $255,000 savings, eight teachers of deportment resulting in a $400,000 savings, and cuts to line item expenses. "There's certainly no way that this will be a moment that anyone appreciates," Curtis said, explaining that these reductions impact each of Pittsfield Public School's 14 facilities and all bargaining units except for bus drivers and monitors, cafeteria workers, and custodians. He explained that if closing an elementary school became a necessary action, the district would have inflated class sizes. Currently, PPS has some very small class sizes that no other urban school district possesses, he said, emphasizing that Pittsfield is an urban school district even though some community members don't think so. Reacting to the city's loss of Chapter 70 funding, committee member Sara Hathaway said somebody did not do the counting correctly at the state level and emphasized the impact of the monies. "Real lives are affected, jobs are being lost, children's education is being affected," she said. "We need them to own up and at least give us that missing funding." Member William Garrity said the district has a unique issue with Chapter 70 but that there are also issues happening statewide and he is pleased to see advocacy from multiple educational organizations on it. "I think collaboration is the goal moving forward with this budget," he said, highlighting the importance of working with the City Council this budget season. The district is currently undergoing a restructuring study for the physical and educational structure of PPS. This week, the School Building Needs Commission and the committee voted in favor of submitting a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Needs Authority to rebuild Conte Community School and Crosby Elementary School on the Crosby site with shared facilities. The upper floors of the Moderne Studio building are being carefully removed to prevent its collapse on the adjacent building. The roof was taken off by crane in sections. PreviousNext Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor just a few feet means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5 Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site. "We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. "And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe." Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him." The administration is using American Rescue Plan Act funds for the demolition, which is putting another project on hold, said the mayor, who did not reveal which project. The goal is to get the building to a "safe place" where the owner can take over the structure. The mayor also updated the council on a lengthy number of infrastructure projects, including a $2 million project for a failing retaining wall on Walnut Street and repairs to the YMCA roof that is "moving along very well." "We are still aiming for an end of the month completion. That is all dependent on the weather," she said, adding, "we are in the process as the YMCA is moving out of that building to evaluate the building and determine what we are going to do with that." The city expects to hear soon about an application to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program for repairs to the Mount Williams and Notch reservoirs following an engineering assessment done through a previous grant. Some $1.2 million state funds from the July 10 storm last year will go to engineering and repairs along Houghton and Brooklyns streets. A road project for North Eagle, Houghton, Owens and Brooklyn using Chapter 90 road funds is out to bid, as is a bid for a temporary bridge at Brown Street. And engineering has been completed for a road repairs around Hall, Grove, Prospect and Chase streets. The city is working with the federal delegation to get $700,000 in funds released for the Army Corps of Engineers' study of the Hoosic River flood control. Tighe & Bond is doing a lead pipe inventory that will lead to construction and a brownfield inventory is being completed to prepare for the next round of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funds. The city's information system is in need of updating and the mayor said she may be coming to council for some support. A request for proposals has been issued for Sullivan School and there are "some very interested parties," said the mayor, adding that there will be a neighborhood meeting once some proposals are received. The Mohawk Theater marquee still needs some lights fixed but the goal is to have it lit for First Friday on April 1. A collaboration is underway with Tourists on a Blackinton parking lot development using a grant and the city is working with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission on some funding grant opportunities for Heritage State Park. Also being explored is a new elevator at City Hall, new parking kiosks and engineering on the City Yard and City Hall roofs, assessments of playgrounds and the Christopher Columbus Bridge, and the cost for a new transfer station scale. MassBroadband and Green Communities grants are being worked on and a Mass Preservation grant for the library's belvedere was submitted this week. The state Department of Transportation is engineering repairs for the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The Police Department received a Strong Communities grant for Flex public safety software to track policies and procedures. The mayor said this will aid in becoming a certified police department. Dispatch has recently shifted to the new headquarters and the city has applied for a grant for Phase 2, which will include portable radios. "We're very busy here even though people don't think we are," said Macksey. "There's probably 10-30 other projects that we're working on. But those are the questions that I get from people what's going on with this, what's going on with that?" 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 Hong Kong court has sentenced 12 people to prison for storming the city legislature during pro-democracy protests in 2019. Hundreds of protesters broke into the city's legislature on 1 July 2019, which marked the 22nd anniversary of the former British colony's return to China, defacing the property as public anger mounted over an extradition bill. The protesters smashed windows, spray-painted slogans in the chamber and painted over the territory's emblem on a wall before vacating the site. Actor Gregory Wong, former student leader Althea Suen and activists Ventus Lau and Owen Chow, were among the 12 defenders, who were previously convicted for rioting. District court judge Li Chi-ho on Saturday handed down jail terms ranging between 54 months and 82 months, depending on the degree of their involvement. The judge sentenced Wong, 45, to six years and two months after he pleaded not guilty. Lau and Chow, who had pleaded guilty, received terms of 54 months and 20 days, and 61 months and 15 days, respectively. Althea Suen, former president of the University of Hong Kong's student union, was sentenced to four years and nine months after pleading guilty. Pro-democracy activist Eddie Chu, (L), Joshua Wong Chi-fung, (2R), Owen Chow, (2R), and Lester Shum, (R), distribute leaflets in Hong Kong (EPA) Judge Li said the legislature holds a unique constitutional status and the nature of the event was "serious", with a far-reaching impact. He said the acts of the protesters were "targeting the city's government," he said. The judge described in detail how protesters had rammed their way into the building with metal barricades, pelted the area with eggs, sprayed political slogans on the walls and inked over a government emblem. Two reporters, Wong Ka-ho and Ma Kai-chung were previously acquitted of the rioting charge but were convicted for unlawful entry into the legislature. They were fined HK$1,500 (150) and HK$1,000 (100) respectively. Following the sentencing, supporters of the defendants cried in the courtroom and many others waved at the accused. Some chanted, "Hang in there!" Chow stated that the governments refusal to withdraw the extradition bill, despite the participation of one million people in street protests, was the immediate cause of the incident. "No matter what punishment the court imposes on me, I'll continue to move forward and convert my fear into a force for change, just like the day I walked into the chamber," Chow told the court. He said their actions stemmed from a need to stand up for basic human rights that were under threat from authorities. "Martin Luther King, leader of the human rights movement who has always advocated peaceful and rational demonstrations, once said, A riot is the language of the unheard, he said before he was sentenced. Lau said he had rushed to the scene because he feared a bloody crackdown by the police. "I don't want the public to think all the people in this movement only care about their own safety," he said. Both Lau and Chow were among the 47 pro-democracy activists charged with subversion in 2021 over an unofficial primary election under the draconian national security law. More than 10,200 people were arrested in relation to the protests in 2019, of whom 2,937 have so far been charged with offences including rioting, unlawful assembly and criminal damage, according to police figures. Additional reporting with agencies 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 }} North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw air warfare drills and urged realistic preparation for combat in response to the annual joint drill between South Korea and the US. Only realistic training directly related to warfare can prepare soldiers as real combat fighters, Mr Kim said, according to state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The military drills in the Hermit Kingdom were conducted after South Korea and the US concluded their joint drills earlier this week. The joint drills, known as the Freedom Shield exercises, were the first since Pyongyang in November scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at de-escalating tensions. The 11-day event saw participation from an unprecedented number of member states from the US-led United Nations Command, which has been operational as part of the armistice that concluded the 1950-1953 Korean War. Mr Kim views his rivals exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion. The parachuting training was the latest and the fourth reported instance of Mr Kim observing North's military exercises since the start of the South Korean-US drills. North Korea has intensified missile launches since 2022 and ramped up belligerent rhetoric this year. After supervising the air warfare drills on Friday, Mr Kim expressed satisfaction with the troops readiness and ordered training to cope with all kinds of topography, weather, time, and the most severe conditions, according to KCNA. Earlier this week, he drove a new tank model while overseeing a simulated battle showcasing the North's military prowess. The simulated harsh combat showcased a new type of vehicle which the North Korean leader called the most powerful tank in the world. Meanwhile, the leader's sister and senior official, Kim Yo-jong said her brother used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by Russian president Vladimir Putin as she praised the cars special function and the deepening ties between the nations. In February, Mr Putin sent his North Korean counterpart a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he had showcased to Mr Kim during their summit in Russia in September. Observers have noted that the shipment violates a US resolution intended to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury items to the country. North Koreas Kim Jong-un overseeing militray drills along with his daugter (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image) The special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted, Ms Kim Yo-jong said, without specifying. Kim Jong-uns using of the private car sent by the president of the Russian Federation as a gift is a clear proof of (North Korea)-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage. According to Russian state media, Aurus is the first Russian luxury car brand, and it has been used in the motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018. Mr Kim possesses a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into his country. During his visit to Russia, he travelled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that was brought with him in one of his special train carriages. Other limousines he has reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62. 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 }} Blake Lively has made a subtle nod to Kate Middletons edited family photo. The actress recently made an Instagram post announcing some updates for her alcohol brand, Betty Buzz and Betty Booze. The post showed a photo of her head blatantly Photoshopped on a distorted womans body lounging by a pool, with one of her Betty Buzz drinks in hand. Seemingly poking fun at rumors over Kates whereabouts, Lively added in the 15 March post, Now you know why Ive been MIA. The mother of four announced that she was releasing four new products for her beverage brand, including two mocktails. The Betty Buzz account left a comment under the pic that read, Haters will say its photoshop. Many other commenters applauded the actress for how funny they thought the parody was. The concept of this adShe is a mastermind! one comment read. Another commenter agreed, writing, This is hilarious and so on the nose. Other commenters viewed the advertisement as offensive, mentioning that Lively went too far with her joke. Love you Lively, but this is mean, one comment began. The person you are referring to is recovering from a nasty illness, she had been bullied enough when she was dating William, so she had her share. She has done nothing wrong, let her be. Another commenter agreed, writing, Wrong call Blakethis kind of funny doesnt quite cut it especially not if you want to be seen as a feminist. Earlier this week Middleton had broken her silence on the row surrounding a photo issued by the royal family on Mothers Day. The Princess of Wales has personally apologised for confusion over the family photograph issued by Kensington Palace saying: Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. She added: I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day. She signed off the post with her initial: C. Kensington Palace gave the picture credit to Prince William but internet sleuths soon noticed inconsistencies that appeared to show it had been digitally altered. The Princess of Waless statement on Monday came with the Palace under pressure to answer questions about whether the first picture of Kate with children George, Charlotte and Louis - after her abdominal surgery in January has been photoshopped. Six of the worlds biggest news agencies have now pulled the picture from circulation after concerns were raised about image manipulation. Speculation on social media has been widespread, with members of the public wondering why Kate had not made any public appearances since December, and expressing concern for her health. Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months, she said. At first glance the photograph may appear normal, however social media users were quick to point out some key giveaways that the picture may have been altered. Most glaring is Princess Charlottes left-hand sleeve, which appears to partially dissolve into nothing. Kates right hand also appears to be unusually blurred, while a wall near Louis leg appears to disconnect. Royal sources told the Press Association the Princess of Wales made minor adjustments and that Kate and the Prince of Wales wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mothers Day. The Wales family spent Mothers Day together and had a wonderful day, the source added. Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Todays programme on Monday royal photographer Ian Lloyd said manipulation of royal photographs was common, but the decision to pull it was very rare. 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 }} Napping culture hasnt taken off in the US like in other countries. From siestas in Spain and Nigeria, riposas in Italy, and idlip in the Philippines, people around the world proudly practice napping. But in the United States, napping is considered a sign of laziness and a lack of ambition. A byproduct of the American dream, hustle and grind culture reigns supreme in America, with many workers often avoiding time off or breaks to get even more work done. Rest isnt considered a priority to our collective detriment. In activist Tricia Herseys 2022 bestseller Rest is Resistance, Hersey argues that prioritising rest in your daily routine can be a form of resistance against the capitalist grind. In an interview with NPR, Hersey explained, Our bodies are a site of liberation. And that brings into the somatics the idea that wherever our bodies are, we can find rest. Naps provide a portal to imagine, invent, and heal, she added. Our dream space has been stolen, and we want it back. We will reclaim it via rest. Although younger generations have pushed back against hustle culture and actively embraced rest on social media by coining the term bed rotting, theres also the other half of the internet obsessed with wellness that touts their sleepy girl cocktails and 10-step skincare routines. While the latter may seem innocuous, it is often glorified as an aspirational version of self-care, while bed rotting is often seen as a product of laziness and can cause anxiety that we arent doing enough by simply resting. American culture champions workaholism, but at the end of the day, that compulsive need to be more productive isnt healthy. According to the State of Sleep report from 2023, the data indicates that the US is largely a sleep-deprived nation, with one in three adults reporting trouble sleeping. An estimated similar percentage of people nap once a day, whether they truly need it or not. A so-called sleep economy has gradually emerged as more Americans struggle with sleep deprivation. A variety of products like natural supplements and CBD edibles as well as blue light and sound machines have been a hit among consumers. Hostage Tape - a brand that sells a tape-like strip of fabric that keeps your mouth closed to prevent snoring and help your breathing - was among several sleep products that went viral last year. The Sleep Foundation says that a periodic nap - specifically midday - can enhance alertness, mood, and memory, and reduce stress. When we get sleepy during the day, its typically the body trying to make up for an energy imbalance so that we can continue to function properly. Ideally, experts recommend people take naps that last between 20 and 30 minutes so that they can avoid grogginess and falling into a deep sleep. By taking a nap at midday, we can work with our circadian rhythms and take advantage of the natural dip in energy around that time of day. However, it can be concerning if you regularly doze off throughout the day, especially at inopportune times like waiting at a traffic light. There are over 100 different sleep disorders out there, including the deadly sleep apnea, that could be the reason lurking behind your lack of rest and sleep. Scientists have long found a correlation between poor sleep quality and detrimental cardiovascular conditions as well as issues concerning mental acuity. Oftentimes, our sleep patterns are also influenced by genetics. According to a study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the amount of sleep you can get can be affected by at least 80 different genes. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police are urgently hunting a suspect after two people were injured by crossbow bolts in separate attacks just days apart. In the first attack a 44-year-old woman was hit in the head with a crossbow bolt as she crossed the street on Club Row, in Shoreditch, east London, at around 7.45pm on 4 March. Ten days later a 20-year-old man was left with a neck injury from a crossbow bolt after being attacked just 200 feet from the same spot, on Arnold Circus, just before 7.30pm on Thursday. View more The Metropolitan Police said on Friday due to the nature and location of both incidents, they have been linked, and detectives are urgently trying to identify a suspect. The victims injuries were not life-threatening or life-changing and they have now both left hospital, according to Scotland Yard. Police said they were not currently aware of any further crossbow attacks, but urged people in the area to be vigilant. Residents in Shoreditch will see a heightened officer presence this weekend as detectives carry out their enquiries. The force added: Officers are also working with Tower Hamlets Council in a joint effort to use as many resources as possible to help the investigation. Local officers will be on patrol and available to answer questions and provide reassurance. Detective chief superintendent James Conway, who is responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: There are significant efforts to find whoever carried out these assaults, and we are committed to keeping the community updated over the coming days, as we know how worrying this is. This investigation is being led by my detectives in the CID and supported by my neighbourhood teams and specialist officers. My team are progressing a number of lines of enquiry, including identifying witnesses and exploring both CCTV and forensic opportunities. We are keen to hear from the local community. You may have seen something on the days when these offences occurred, or you might have seen or heard something in the local area that you think is suspicious and may be linked to these incidents. Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 6663/14 Mar or Operation Goldwater. To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 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 mother is desperate to change her childs surname so that they no longer share it with their criminal father. But Emily* is being blocked from doing so by her ex, despite the fact that he is a convicted child sex offender. Her predicament is not unique. Under English and Welsh law, child sex abusers are able to keep their parental rights in the UK, even if they target their own children. This allows them to retain influence over where the child lives, as well as their healthcare and education. Getting parental responsibility revoked is an intensely protracted process that requires going through the family courts and can cost as much as 30,000 to 50,000. But Londons victims commissioner, Claire Waxman, is tabling an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill that would mean that child sex abusers who target their own children or stepchildren have their parental responsibility revoked. Sexual abuse by a parent or step-parent is one of the most psychologically damaging crimes that children can endure, Ms Waxman told The Independent. It is an abhorrent gap in our justice system that, when these offenders are convicted, they maintain their parental responsibility over their victims. The children in these cases and the adults caring for them should not be subjected to additional psychological, and potentially financial, suffering by having to make applications to family courts to have this parental responsibility revoked. Have you been affected by this? Email maya.oppenheim@independent.co.uk Claire Waxman says it is an abhorrent gap in our justice system (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) The Independent understands that Labour is expected to call for measures that go even further, and will be supporting an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, tabled by their own MP Harriet Harman, which will mean that anyone who sexually abuses any child will have their parental responsibility suspended. The only caveat is that they were a parent when they committed the offence. I was 16 when I met him, says Emily, who is in her twenties. He was over twice my age when we met. He was abusive. Emily, who has one child with her ex, says he has a conviction for downloading hundreds of indecent images of children. He was doing this before I was with him, while I was with him and after I was with him, she explains. He never went to prison. He was placed on the sex offenders register for five years, but is due to come off it soon. Until recently, Emilys ex was permitted contact with their child, which was ordered through the courts but supervised by one of his family members. He is currently on bail facing charges relating to rape and sexual abuse, taking indecent images of Emily when she was 16, and potentially coercive control, too, she says. For now, the family courts have ordered that he has no contact with their child. My child has his surname, and I cant change it because he has parental responsibility, Emily says. He has refused to let me change it. I have spent 15,000 up to this point in the family courts. My whole life is on hold. My wages go on my solicitors bill. I dont get to do anything nice for me or my child. She says she wishes she could get her ex-partners parental responsibility revoked, but that doing so is impossible adding that a number of professionals have told her this is not achievable. They basically said the worst of the worst murderers and rapists still manage to keep it, Emily says. I do believe it should be an automatic thing. People like him pose too much of a risk. He has no self-awareness and shows no remorse he is not going to change, as he doesnt realise he has done anything wrong. Ms Waxman explained that the government has decided that murderers should have their parental responsibility removed at sentencing in cases of domestic homicide, and is ensuring that this will happen by introducing Jades Law into the Victims and Prisoners Bill something that The Independent has reported on previously. The legislation must go further to protect children sexually abused by their own parent, the commissioner added. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system has a long way to go in addressing these crimes, and only a minority of child sexual abuse cases ever reach court 11 per cent of all child sex abuse reports to police in England and Wales in 2020/21 were charged. In my experience, even fewer are charged when a parent or step-parent is the perpetrator. But some cases do lead to a conviction, and in those instances, victims must be safeguarded from their abusers, who currently maintain parental responsibility and subsequently play a role in their key life decisions, Ms Waxman said. Protecting children from parents who have committed the heinous crime of abusing children is absolutely crucial, said Shabana Mahmood, the shadow justice secretary. The Labour Party is committed to ensuring that the law steps in with these terrible cases, to ensure that an abusers own children are not put in harms way. Labours Harriet Harman has tabled an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to address the issue (PA Archive) Another mother, Frankie*, also wants to get her exs parental responsibility for their child revoked. He was very abusive to me, the 30-year-old tells The Independent. Physical, psychological, financial and sexual. He was controlling, manipulative, and unpredictable. My child came home and disclosed child sex abuse he perpetrated against her, which then led to going to the family courts, but this led to nothing. I was failed by the police system nothing was found to [have happened], because of how the police mishandled the situation. Frankie says her daughter sees her ex, who has a conviction for downloading indecent images of children, regularly in supervised visits, but that she often cries afterwards because he has been emotionally abusive and controlling towards her. Research has found that there are known links between coercive control, physical abuse and child sexual abuse, according to Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno, director of the Shera Research Group, which conducts research on domestic abuse and the family courts. We are calling for parental responsibility to be suspended for convicted child sex offenders, she adds. It should not be incumbent upon victim-survivors to seek and pay for their own protection from these offenders via the civil courts. This is state-sanctioned abuse. Dalgarno says that she hears from mothers that the courts ignore child sex abuse convictions, adding that it is increasingly common for mothers to try to curtail an exs parental responsibility. At the end of January, victims and safeguarding minister Laura Farris told MPs: In cases in which a parent has been convicted of a child sexual offence, the family court has the power to strip out parental responsibility. The Tory MP later warned that choices about suspending or restricting parental rights hold substantial consequences for children, adding that this is why judges prefer to consider each case on its individual merits and make a decision that is specific to the best interests of that child. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: The safety of a child is absolutely paramount. Family court judges will always put the welfare of children first, and can already make orders limiting the parental rights of those found guilty of such offences. We are also carefully reviewing the approach to parental access to make sure all children are kept from harm. *Names have been changed to protect identities Close King Charles waves as he arrives for Easter Sunday church service in Windsor 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 }} King Charles went on a surprise walkabout to speak to well-wishers outside Windsor Castle following the Easter Sunday service. The service was the Kings most notable public appearance since he was diagnosed with cancer in February. Afterwards, Charles surprised onlookers by greeting gathered members of the public, who later said he looked good and was in high spirits. A Buckingham Palace source told The Telegraph that doctors had changed medical guidance for the King after he had responded very encouragingly to cancer treatment. The walkabout will have meant a great deal to the King, said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. He added: Its the first time that hes been able to meet the public in such a way for several months, the first opportunity to do a walkabout this year, so its a very welcome milestone on the road to recovery. The Kings appearance will also be seen as an effort to reassure the public following the royal familys double cancer scare, with todays service marking just over a week since Kate revealed her own diagnosis. The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the service, but Charles was joined by the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York. 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 number of prison officers trained to deal with riots as part of so-called Tornado squads has plummeted by a third, The Independent can reveal, as new figures lay bare the staffing crisis blighting UK jails. The officers, who are part of 50-strong groups armed with batons and shields, saw a surge in deployment in prisons last year as the beleaguered system battles a surge in violence and disorder amid a staffing crisis and overcrowding. Their depletion coincides with a spike in violence in prisons; despite demand for their specialist skills at its highest in years, ministers have admitted nearly 700 fewer of these prison officers are available than in 2018, when 2,310 were on hand to tackle the most serious prison disturbances. The concerning figures, triggered by a surge in such officers quitting the service, have prompted fears that jails are becoming increasingly vulnerable to violence, instability and control by gangs. Justice secretary Alex Chalk is said to have warned Rishi Sunak that the overcrowding crisis could soon trigger a wave of riots. Tornado squads were deployed 13 times in prisons last year alone, more than any year since at least 2018 and up from a mid-Covid low of just four times in 2021, a series of parliamentary questions by Labour has uncovered. More than half of Tornado squad callouts over the past two years were to young offender institutions and womens prisons, minister Edward Argar told his Labour counterpart Ruth Cadbury. The number of prison officers trained to deal with riots has plummeted (PA Wire) It comes as figures show assaults on prisoners and staff soared by 20 per cent in the year to September, with more than 25,000 incidents in a single year. Violence in the womens estate skyrocketed to an all-time high, overtaking mens prisons for the first time. Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood told The Independent: No wonder these new figures show a huge decrease in the number of specialist officers who can be deployed to deal with dangerous and difficult situations across our prison estate including riots. This is yet another sign of the scale of the crisis in our prisons, and the failure by the government to take this crisis seriously. In addition to Tornado squads, which comprise local officers who volunteer to be deployed to tackle dangerous situations across the prison estate, a separate specialist group often described as the prison systems SAS was called out more than twice a day last year. Routinely armed with pepper spray, smoke bombs and batons, and wearing flameproof uniforms, anti-stab protection vests and armoured gloves, National Tactical Response Group units were deployed 794 times in 2023 an increase of nearly 40 per cent on the previous year. While Mr Argar told parliament that the government has no minimum staffing requirement for Tornado squads, unions suggest a contingency of at least 2,100 volunteers is the official recommendation well above the 1,592 available in November, which rose slightly to 1,620 last month. Warning that prisons are operating under extreme pressure with a current concentration of higher risk, more violent prisoners amid emergency measures to release lower-risk offenders early, Tom Wheatley, head of the Prison Governors Association, said: This makes it more likely that there will be disorder. Justice secretary Alex Chalk announced drastic measures this week to release prisoners up to 60 days early (PA Wire) Despite [the Prison Service] training more new Tornado officers than ever, retention rates are alarmingly low. This is of concern to prison governors, as the ability to swiftly restore order and control in our prisons is essential to maintaining prison capacity and the safety of staff, prisoners and the public. Expressing alarm but not surprise at the drop in Tornado volunteers, the Prison Officers Association warned it could not recall a time where there was a shortage of interest in carrying out Tornado roles and said the 1,592 officers available in November could well be an all-time low. [Officers] dont get any real additional payments for putting themselves on the line. Theres no real difference between rate of pay for Tornado duty and bed watch, the unions chief Steve Gillan told The Independent, adding: Theyve taken them for granted, and now its come home to roost. Labelling the shortage a wake-up call for everyone which could have a knock-on effect for staff and prisoner safety, Mr Gillan warned: The last thing you want is not having enough trained personnel to deal with incidents throughout the service. Officers are nearly on their knees, morale is rock bottom, he added. The prison service is just in crisis on everything from overcrowding to assaults rising, to Tornado incidents on the rise. Officers are stretched to the limit. The justice secretary announced drastic measures this week to release prisoners up to 60 days early after prisons came dangerously close to running out of space, and is said to have warned Downing Street that the crisis could soon trigger riots. Mr Gillan added: Theres no denying there can be a risk of disorder, and thats a real concern because that means potentially more prisons being put out of action, he said, adding: We cant afford that at the moment. We need an adult conversation in this country about how many people we lock up. When the Strangeways riot happened in 1990, there were 43,000 prisoners then and they were talking about overcrowding then as one of the causes. So it appears weve learnt nothing because 40 years later, weve now got 88,000 prisoners. Echoing calls by HM chief prisons inspector Charlie Taylor to this publication in December, he urged all political parties to stop posturing and said: We need an adult conversation in this country about how many people were going to continue to lock up, reiterating demands for a root and branch royal commission into the state of the justice system. A Prison Service spokesperson said: The safety of our staff and prisoners is our priority which is why were bolstering our Tornado teams by training more than 800 staff this year to deal with serious incidents. This is on top of our 100m investment into tough security measures to clamp down on violence and improve safety. 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 man has been taken into custody after an hours-long standoff with police at a residence in Trenton, New Jersey. Authorities say 26-year-old Andre Gordon fatally shot his sister, stepmother and mother of his two children on Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. The shootings happened at two different residences around 9am before he fled the second scene and stole a car in a Dollar General parking lot. Speaking at an afternoon news conference, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Mr Gordon barricaded himself at a duplex on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in Trenton. The Trenton Police Department responded to the incident and confirmed that the standoff was over. Hes in custody. No one else was injured, Trenton, New Jersey, Police Director Steve Wilson told CNN. Officials said the man previously had hostages inside of the residence but they are now safe. SWAT officers and a tactical vehicle also responded to the scene. Officials asked the man to come out with his hands up. Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney said that officials have had previous interactions with the suspect but nothing that would lead them to believe that something like this could happen. Officials responded to calls about the first residence shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, where the suspect allegedly killed his stepmother Karen Gordon, 52, and sister Kera Gordon, 13. Several family members at the home, including a 14-year-old were able to hide from the shooter as he searched for them, Ms Schorn added. Police said Mr Gordon drove to the residence with a stolen vehicle and was armed with an AR-15 style assault rifle. Shortly after the first shooting, police responded to calls about the second on Edgewood Lane. In that incident, Mr Gordon forced his way into the home and allegedly fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children. Four other individuals were present inside that home, including Ms Daniels mother and her two children. Ms Daniels mother was allegedly bludgeoned by Mr Gordon with the assault rifle. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Following the two shootings, the suspect stole an unidentified 44-year-old mans Honda CRV. Police say the victim did not suffer any physical injuries. Police later recovered the car after it was found unoccupied. Earlier in the morning, residents of Middletown in Pennsylvania were urged not to travel to Falls Township until further notice. A shelter-in-place for the area was lifted around 12.30pm ET after police located the suspect. Its believed that Mr Gordon is homeless but primarily stays in Trenton. Close Riley Strains mother speaks out after his body is recovered 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 preliminary autopsy has been completed on student Riley Strains body after he was recovered from Nashville, Tennessees Cumberland River this week. The initial autopsy results suggest an accidental death, as there were no signs of foul play, police told WKRN. Authorities recovered his body Friday around eight miles from the downtown area where he was last seen. Now, his family is thanking the Nashville community. I want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone and how much we appreciate everyones support, love and prayers, Strains mother, Michelle Whiteid, said. We are quite thankful for everything youve done the grace youve given us, Chris Whiteid, Strains stepfather, said. The 22-year-old University of Missouri student was partying with his fraternity in Nashville on 8 March when he was kicked out of a bar around 10pm. Strains bank card was found a week later near the river. The discovery came after Mr Whiteid and family friend Chris Dingman told NewsNation police had shown them footage of what was believed to be Strains last known movements. In the video, Strain was seen jogging close to the river, away from the direction of his hotel, they 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 former FBI informant has been charged with lying about President Joe Biden and his sons business dealings but his reputation as a liar dates back to at least 2016, according to a report. The Republican-led impeachment inquiry into the president hinged on details that Alexander Smirnov provided which have now been deemed as false derogatory information. But long before these recent revelations, Mr Smirnovs credibility was called into question. There was a criminal case in which Mr Smirnov allegedly gave false information to the FBI unbeknownst to the agency at the time that ultimately led to a prosecution, CBS News reported. Mr Smirnovs information was used in a 2015 racketeering case in California, in which the Justice Department brought charges against 33 defendants, the outlet wrote. His information also led to a separate case involving two of the defendants in the racketeering case. In a sentencing brief, one defendants lawyer, Joseph Benincasa, wrote, The CHS [confidential human source] was known to the United States as a liar and fraudster. Mr Benincasa then claimed that the confidential human source lied to the government and called the intel completely untrue. The document does not name the source or identify Mr Smirnov. A footnote in the document states that the government was provided with the notes of their private investigators interview with a close associate of Smirnov who repeatedly called him a liar. A courtroom sketch of Alexander Smirnov from Feb. 26, 2024 (William T. Robles) A footnote in the filing states, A second CHS was interviewed by the defendants private investigator and extensively stated that the CHS was a liar. This interview was turned over to the government but has not been provided here as it reveals the identities of the two CHS. Since the production of that interview to the government, the defendant and his family have been threatened with bodily harm by that CHS. Mr Benincasa told CBS News: Having seen how much he lies, its kind of surprising that he has been able to do it for as long as he has without anyone in the government stopping him. They never should have used him again its shocking, he added. When asked about the recent discoveries, Mr Smirnovs attorney told The Independent: Mr Smirnov is proud of his past service to the United States. He intends on vigorously defending himself in court, not in the media. Other law enforcement officials have demanded a review of the cases that relied on intel from Mr Smirnov. I think a review has to be done, either internally by the FBI or, more advisedly, by the Department [of Justice] to find out not only what happened here, but whether there is a systemic problem in thesupervision of informants, Michael Bromwich, the former Justice Department inspector general, told CBS News. On top of this resurfaced past case, his most recent criminal indictment states that Mr Smirnov was admonished by the handling agent that he must provide truthful information to the FBI when he first became a CHS in 2010 and on multiple occasions thereafter. The FBI declined to comment. In addition to the accusations against Mr Smirnov, the impeachment inquiry has not seen much evidence to support the GOPs argument. So, the White House has now urged for the inquiry to come to an end. Mr Smirnov has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. 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 }} Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accepted the resignation of her outside prosecutor and former romantic partner who was hired to lead a sprawling criminal case against Donald Trump and his allies for their alleged scheme to overturn Georgias election results in 2020. Nathan Wades notice arrived hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee determined that Ms Willis and her office should step aside or Mr Wade should withdraw following several days of hearings on allegations that she financially benefited from his hiring. His letter to Ms Willis and her reply underscored Mr Trumps alleged efforts to overthrow 2020 results and the years of work among prosecutors to get the case to trial, after they spent weeks hearing salacious allegations from Mr Trump and his allies that prosecutors argue were designed to embarass them and distract from the case against the former president. In his resignation letter, Mr Wade wrote that the furtherance of the rule of law and democracy is and has always been the North Star of our combined efforts in the prosecution of those who are alleged to have attempted to overthrow the results of Georgias 2020 presidential election. He offered his resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible, he added. I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in investigating, indicting, and litigating this case, he wrote. Seeking justice for the people of Georgia and the United States, and being part of the effort to ensure that the rule of law and democracy are preserved, has been the honor of a lifetime. Nathan Wade (AP) Writing in response, Ms Willis noted that Mr Wade and his family have endured threats and unjustified attacks in the media and in court on his reputation. I will always remember and will remind everyone that you were brave enough to step forward and take on the investigation and prosecution of the allegations that the defendants in this case engaged in a conspiracy to overturn Georgias 2020 presidential election, she wrote. Others who were considered were understandably concerned for the safety of themselves and their families that would arise from their acceptance of your role, she added. You were the one who had the courage to accept the role, even though you did not seek it. The former president and more than a dozen co-defendants including his allies Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman are accused of mounting a statewide effort to unlawfully reverse his election loss in the aftermath of the 2020 election. They allegedly mounted a so-called fake elector scheme to falsely assert his victory in a state he lost to Joe Biden, conspired to seize voting machines, intimidated election workers, and pushed the states top election official to find votes he would need to win. Four of Mr Trumps original co-defendants in the Fulton County case including attorneys Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell pleaded guilty last year after reaching plea deals with prosecutors. Earlier this week, the judge dismissed several charges against Mr Trump and five of his co-defendants that stemmed from their alleged pressure campaign to solicit state officials to violate their oaths of office and subvert the states election results. Judge McAfee, however, did not toss out the central racketeering charge facing all the defendants, nor did he dismiss the overt acts that support their alleged scheme to pressure Georgia lawmakers and secretary of state Brad Raffensperger. Ms Willis can re-open an indictment against them. She can also appeal the judges decision. 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 }} The judge in Donald Trumps hush money trial agreed to delay the trials start date by 30 days after prosecutors received an influx of materials to review, just two weeks ahead of the trials initial start date. Judge Juan Merchan wrote on Friday, 15 March that the trial would be postponed by 30 days, meaning it would begin in mid-April. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg asked the judge overseeing the criminal case on 14 March to delay the trial by as much as 30 days after the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) produced 31,000 pages of records the day prior. Prosecutors also noted on Friday that they are expecting an additional 15,000 pages of potential evidence. In response, Mr Trumps team requested an immediate adjournment of more than 30 days, citing that the trial date would be moved such that it would conflict with Passover. His team also previously requested to pause the trial until the US Supreme Court rules on his presidential immunity claim; those arguments will not be heard until 25 April. Judge Merchan wrote there will also be a prompt hearing on 25 March to resolve significant questions around the circumstances surrounding the document production and the scheduling of a trial start date if necessary. Mr Bragg said that while most of the new batch of filings are unrelated to the case, roughly 172 pages of witness statements could be relevant. The Manhattan DA also accused Mr Trumps team of trying to postpone the hush money trial by failing to timely request materials from the USAO that could be relevant to the case. The timing of the USAOs productions is a result solely of defendants delay despite the Peoples diligence, Mr Bragg wrote. The slew of new records are related to a federal investigation into Michael Cohen, whose testimony is key to the case. Mr Trump is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records, including Mr Cohens payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The former president has pleaded not guilty. The trial delay comes exactly one month after Judge Merchan set the trial date. The judge said at the time that it is expected to last five to six weeks, with 15 to 17 days for the prosecutions arguments, running from 9.30am to 4.30pm ET daily, except Wednesdays. Close Trumps mental acuity questioned on Fox News 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 his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday to wish a happy Easter to all, including all those he claimed were doing everything possible to put him in jail. In a lengthy and all-capitalised post on Sunday afternoon, Mr Trump railed against some of his usual suspects, including DOJ special counsel Jack Smith and Georgia attorney Fani Willis. HAPPY EASTER TO ALL... INCLUDING THOSE MANY PEOPLE I COMPLETELY & TOTALLY DESPISE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DESTROY AMERICA, he wrote. It comes as Republicans, led by the former president, are sounding off on Joe Biden after he issued a statement recognising Trans Visibility Day becasue it happened to coincide with Easter Sunday this year. Created by a Michigan-based transgender activist, Rachel Crandall, in 2009, International Transgender Day of Visibility (often shortened to Trans Visibility Day) falls on March 31 every year. In 2024, that date coincidentally falls on Easter Sunday, which is determined annually by marking the first Sunday after the full moon occurring on or after the Spring Equinox. President Biden marked the push for transgender rights with a statement recognising Trans Visibility Day on Friday that has immediately set off alarm bells on the far right. 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 }} UK defence minister Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to the Ukrainian port city of Odesa after Russia became aware of his whereabouts, it has been reported. It comes just days after it was revealed that an RAF jet transporting Mr Shapps back to England from Poland earlier this week had its GPS signal jammed while flying over the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Mr Shapps, accompanied by UK army chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, was preparing to visit Odesa earlier this month during a three-day visit to Ukraine. Footage published by Mr Shapps showed him in the capital of Kyiv on 8 March. Im in Kyiv to raise the alarm to the democratic world we must make sure Ukraine wins this war, he wrote on Twitter/X at the time. 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 pair held meetings with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and army chief Oleksandr Syrsky, before preparing for a 290-mile trip south to the port city of Odesa on the Black Sea. But just moments before the delegation was due to leave, the trip was cancelled. A report from The Sunday Times said it was because the Russians had become aware of the plans. They reported that British intelligence said there was a credible threat that Mr Shapps could be targeted in a Russian missile strike. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: On a recent trip to Ukraine, the defence secretary did not make a planned visit to Odesa for security reasons. The UK continues to provide strong support for Ukraine and the defence secretarys visit and engagements only underscored the importance of this support in the face of Putins aggression. The security risk had already been raised to critical after a Russian missile landed just 500 metres from Mr Zelensky during his trip to Odesa earlier that week, where he was visiting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Though neither leader was injured, the Ukrainian military said five people were killed in the strike. Emergency service workers tend to an injured man in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa on Friday (Telegram ) We saw this strike today, Mr Zelensky said at the time, from Odesa. You can see who we are dealing with, they dont care where they strike. I know that there were victims today, I dont know all the details yet, but I know that there are dead and wounded. Russia has in recent weeks stepped up its strikes on the southern city, which is a vital hub for Ukrainian grain exports. At least 20 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in an attack on Friday after Russia fired back-to-back Iskander-M missiles at Odesa. The authorities said it was the deadliest attack in the citys recent history. Among the dead and wounded were emergency service personnel who had rushed to the scene of the first explosion, only to be hit by a second missile strike. This form of attack is known as a double tap strike. On 2 March, a Russian drone struck a multistorey building in the area, killing 12 people, including five children. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russian citizens will spend this weekend casting their vote for their next president, even though the result has already been decided. Vladimir Putin, already the longest-serving ruler of Russia since Joseph Stalin, will win a fifth and unconstitutional term after polls close on Sunday. No amount of votes against him can prevent his victory, say the Russian dissident community, since the system is rigged and those that could challenge him have either been killed, imprisoned or exiled. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, center, left a plan to disturb the elections that will be enacted after his death (AP) Its impossible to win against Putins regime through legitimate means, says Evgenia Chirikova, who once unsuccessfully ran to be a local mayor in a Moscow suburb, with the help of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. She is now in exile in Estonia, having had her life threatened by the authorities. But the Russian dissident community has nevertheless convened a plan to disturb this rubber-stamping exercise. Known as Noon Against Putin, Russian citizens frustrated with the leaders rule are being called to head to the voting booths all at the same time: Midday, 17 March, the final day of the election. We want this dark time to end. We want a clear, normal future, the campaigns website says. But we, citizens of our country, with our pain and our hope, are not noticeable either to the authorities or to each other. AT NOON on Sunday, March 17, the last day of voting, when we come to the polling stations, we will show others and see for ourselves that there are many of us . We can become a force that cannot be hidden behind drawn percentages. The plan, created by Russian opposition politician and former St. Petersburg lawmaker Maxim Reznik, has gathered traction since Navalnys death. Vladimir Putin is expected to extend his reign this weekend (AP) This can be a powerful demonstration of the mood of the country, a post on Navalnys Telegram channel said in early February. This will be a nationwide protest against Putin that takes place near your home. Its available to everyone, everywhere. Millions will be able to take part. And tens of millions will witness it. A fortnight after his death, his wife Yulia Navalnaya then endorsed the campaign as well. It has become what Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta called Navalnys political testament. I want to do what [Alexei] thought was right, and I urge everyone to come to his memory," Ms Navalnaya said in a video at the start of this month. This will be your personal contribution to the common cause. There are probably many people close to you who are against Putin and against the war. It has since been backed by a host of prominent anti-Putin figures, including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russias richest oligarch, and Gary Kasparov, the chess grandmaster turned opposition figure. Their Anti-War Committee, made up of dozens of exiled figureheads of the dissident community, have also backed the plan. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has pledged to continue his work (AFP via Getty Images) Nearly 20,000 Russians have been arrested for opposing Putins war in Ukraine since he ordered the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022. Hundreds were detained for merely laying flowers in memory of Mr Navalny last month. But the plan for Noon Against Putin is to stay well within the law - participants are being asked to vote, or not vote, however they please, so long as it is not for Putin - in the hope of circumventing the very real threat of arrest. Ultimately, the plan is one intended to show at least a shade of the true nature of Russian dissidence, in a country where the stakes for opposing the Kremlin are the highest theyve been since Stalins Gulags. The main thing we can do at noon is to show that there are many of us! the campaign website says. The queues that will line up all over the country will show how much discontent has accumulated in the country, how many people want a normal, stable future, they want a better life. Eswatini is not a poor country. It has resources that can sustain the nation for many years to come. The problem we have as a country is that we have failed to set our priorities right. The affordability aspect is not an issue when we seriously engage on youth social grants to address unemployment and inequality. While the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini initiates or implements programmes on addressing the unemployment rate in the country, I humbly suggest to the State to create an Unemployment Benefit Scheme for our working-age youth. I urge MPs to talk about such issues in the chambers, weighing probabilities of improving the welfare of our people. A yearly budget of E1.2 billion budget can, for starters, enable 200 000 young people to receive E500 per month to buy toiletries. I know for a good fact that others can form groups to buy agricultural inputs with the intention of venturing into income generating projects. Basically, we do not know what a person can do with a grant of E500 per month. Others can turn it around to benefit the entire kingdom. It is a doable thing. We panic a lot, and its bad. Government can design a grant payment system that can remove names of people who have found employment. That would create space for incoming working-age youth to receive the grants. The E1.2 billion budget equates to 4.1 per cent of the overall budget of the country. The Kingdom of Eswatinis National Development Plan (2023/2024-2027/2028) has enlightened me to the shocking reality of unemployment in the country. I am worried. I presume we all know the effects of unemployment. The age group 6-24 comprises 41 per cent of the total population and represents the population in the education system from the first grade to tertiary level. Challenges According to the NDP, these are the critical formative years of a childs growth and period for family and governments intervention in building human capital and a future for the children. Statistics indicate social challenges such as poverty, disintegrating families, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, social unrest, Ukraine-Russian war which is pushing up prices and high unemployment. According to NDMA (2022), food insecurity is expected to worsen with 29 per cent of the population facing a food security crisis. I must acknowledge that the school feeding programme and accessing food through neighbourhood care points (NCPs) has been a relief to poor parents. According to the National Development Plan (NDP), to access food, people resort to negative coping mechanisms, including withdrawing children from schools. As a result, government has realised that there are many negative factors affecting performance and productivity disparities between rural and urban schools, private and public schools, investments in technology, behavioural and discipline issues, drug abuse, mental disorders, teenage pregnancy (12-19 years old), loss of interest in school, school drop-out and gender-based violence. Now, the challenge is that they face unemployment upon completion of their studies. It is mentioned in the Labour Force Survey of 2021 that the unemployment rate is 58.2 per cent. The World Bank asserted as well that poverty and inequalities have persistently been a big challenge in the Kingdom of Eswatini. It is said that Eswatini stands in the top 10 per cent of countries with highest levels of poverty and inequality. It is stated in the National Development Plan that between 2010 and 2017, the incidence of poverty in general was reduced from 63 per cent to 58.9 per cent with 20 per cent in extreme poverty. However, an assessment done by UNDP during the COVID-19 period indicated a possible increase of five per cent point. I am happy to note that His Majesty the King appointed Dr. Thambo Gina to the same ministry to drive the NDP, which provides a critical platform for the country to make vital policy shifts. It is, of course, important to invent new approaches as stated in the NDP to address new and existing challenges which are bottlenecks to economic, social and political development. As government contemplates making those vital policy shifts, the taxpayer must release the grants to our unemployed young people. They deserve to eat. Indeed, they need clothes. They have to also buy protection to prevent STIs. The United Nations in Eswatini states that the country is a lower middle-income country but the economic and social indicators are in contrast. Crisis The UN notes with concern that economic performance continues to be very poor and has been in a crisis state for a number of years. Government started implementing the fiscal adjustment plan (FAP) agreed with the IMF from the financial year 2021/22 which will run for three years, aimed at achieving fiscal consolidation to establish a foundation for economic growth. It is my earnest observation that it is impossible to establish the foundation for economic growth without youth participation. On an empty stomach, how are they going to participate in nation-building? In an attempt to trace the cause of the problem, the UN states that the poor economic performance is characterised by high vulnerability to the following: External shocks, Poor growth highly dependent on government activities for stimulus, Fiscal crisis with high deficit levels largely financed through borrowing leading to fast increasing debt levels with high interest payments and combined with increasing arrears that are forcing the private sector into a state of insolvency. We are faced with challenge to overcome climate change effects, with the health system, not only poorly resourced, but manipulated by unscrupulous elements. It means the unemployed citizens are in trouble. The risk of frequent drought occurrence and floods is exposing the vulnerability of agriculture and other sectors to changing climate conditions. Disasters are also a frequent likelihood. With these teething problems and high levels of inequalities and poverty, I am justified to call for improved support for our people. In his Speech from the Throne, His Majesty the King said emaSwati gathered at the cattle byre in Lobamba last year set an agenda for the government. The King said the primary focus was to address the pressing issue of unemployment which was also being witnessed around the world. It is important for Parliament to follow through on this task, the King issued this directive. His Majesty observed that the unemployment challenge had been exacerbated by the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is vital for members of Parliament to address these issues and come up with well-established strategies to achieve good economic growth for the country, he said. Neal Rijkenberg, the Minister of Finance, in his budget speech, made similar remarks. Rijkenberg said two of the countrys most pressing challenges were poverty and unemployment. The minister said the only real way of sustainably addressing these issues was to grow the economy to yield more jobs for the people and create opportunities for quality employment. Disruptions This in turn will lift our people out of poverty, he said. I pointed to the fact that the grants are essential in cementing political and social stability for the country so that governments initiatives or programmes to create jobs are implemented without disruptions by those who are aggrieved. A hungry person has the ability to see things he would not have seen if he had food on his table. hungry man is an angry man. He complains about everything and he becomes dangerous to society. The youth grants would minimise the youth anger which we do not want it to spiral out of control. There are ministries and departments that need to cut their budgets to finance this noble youth programme. South Africa has, at least, tried to show commitment to meeting some of the basic needs for its people. The E350 Social Relief Distress may appear to be too small, but it does purchase a few things from the shop. In February this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured South Africans his government would extend and improve the R350 (E350) Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant as the next step towards income support for the unemployed. Delivering the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) for the sixth administration at the Cape Town City Hall, the president said government introduced the special grant during the pandemic, which currently reaches some nine million unemployed people every month. We have seen the benefits of this grant and will extend it and improve it as the next step towards income support for the unemployed, President Ramaphosa said. I mentioned earlier that the grants are an investment. Just underline what Ramaphosa said: These grants and subsidies do much more than give people what they need to live. They are an investment in the future. Social assistance has been shown to increase school enrolment and attendance, lower drop-out rates and improve the pass rate. It is understood that more than 17 million people now live off grants in South Africa, which pay E1 800 a person per month. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) states that social grants provide income support to poor households, with one- third of the population receiving a cash transfer from the State each month. The largest social grant programmes are the Child Support Grant (CSG), the Old Age Pension (OAP) and the Disability Grant. All target low-income households. In Eswatini, I must praise government for introducing the social grant for the elderly persons and disability allowance, which is payable on a monthly basis. The grants are good as they help thousands of households, but they do not target the young person. Eswatini has a youth population, and we have invest in the young people. The E500 billion set aside by the South African Government to mitigate the economic shock of a national lockdown caused by the spread of COVID-19 showed the ability of a country to take necessary risks to support its people. Mind you, nearly half of South Africas 60 million people receive social grants, ranging from child support to pensions. These grants were designed to provide financial assistance to people living in poverty. Risk Researchers said the largest components of the South African social grant system were introduced, or expanded to include the full population, in the 1990s. Since then, the system, they say, has evolved into one of the most comprehensive in the Global South. We are a great nation, and we can also take the same risk and introduce those grants for the youth. For sure, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini should introduce the Unemployment Insurance. Sulla and Zikhali concurred in the analysis in 2018 that social grants have proved to be effective at reducing the incidence of extreme poverty and preventing inequality from worsening. I personally do not subscribe to the notion or theory that social grants are unsustainable and capable of producing negative side-effects such as dependency, which is an idea advanced by Ferreira in 2017. I did suggest that youth social grants, in a youthful population, give government a breathing space to create jobs and the payment system will remove beneficiaries who have found employment. I also did say that some people may even use the social grants to create jobs. The SMEs is a powerful vehicle for stimulating economic growth. Let us give reasoning a chance to prevail. 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 }} At midday on Sunday, on the last day of the Russian presidential vote, those opposing Vladimir Putins repression will answer the final call of Alexei Navalny, the late face of anti-Kremlin opposition. Russians cannot affect the result of what is a predetermined election, Mr Navalny said two weeks before he was announced dead but if they turn up at polling stations all at the same time, the Kremlin may glimpse just how many people wish for an end to Putins more than two-decade-long grip on the country. This election, for which voting began on Friday, will add another six years to that. It is entirely managed by the Kremlin to do one thing: hand Putin victory. The Russian leader has hardly even bothered to campaign. More than two years into Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine, intensifying what had already been a widespread crackdown on critics inside Russia, the opposition now faces a new chapter. Western nations have lined up to lay the blame for Navalnys death at Putins door, with his widow Yulia clear that the Russian leader killed her husband the Kremlins fiercest critic. As well as the killing of Navalny, nearly a thousand other critics and anti-war dissidents have been imprisoned across Russia. Tens of thousands have been arrested simply for protesting. Hundreds of thousands have been forced into exile. Yulia has taken on her husbands call to flood voting locations en masse as a symbolic gesture, with protests in the street risking arrest and lengthy prison sentences. On Friday, a number of people were arrested for incidents including pouring green dye into ballot boxes, the boxes or polling booths being set alight and fireworks being set off inside polling stations. Such acts carry stiff jail terms. Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now an exiled high-profile dissident, was once Russias richest man. He co-founded the opposition Anti-War Committee and has been an outspoken advocate of the midday protest set for Sunday. He has called for all those who attend to wear the colours of anti-war Russia, which are white and blue. Its a political act, a political flash mob to show that we are many, he says. Police officers detain a woman during a gathering in memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny last month (Reuters) Russian prosecutors threatened voters who take part in the Noon Against Putin action with five years in prison on Thursday. But given there would be no legal reason to disperse those attending polling stations to vote, it is unclear what form a crackdown would take on the ground. You cannot change the regime democratically, Khodorkovsky adds. It has to change through revolution. But he realises that will not come quickly and that the chances of success are slim until both Putin dies and the militarisation of Russia is put to a stop. The military machine has been set in motion, it is not going to stop very quickly. If it continues manufacturing weapons, mutual trust will not be restored very easily, he says. I think that will last at least the next decade. But that does not mean giving up. Khodorkovsky says the next chapter of resistance should be three-fold. Our objectives must be as follows: helping Russian activists and professionals who want to leave Russia to get out. Their departure from Russia would weaken the Putin regime, he says, noting how brain drain was a major problem for Joseph Stalins repressive Soviet regime in the 1930s. The second objective should be countering Putins propaganda. That will significantly damage his ability to mobilise and conscript soldiers [for the war in Ukraine]. Vladimir Putin has hardly even bothered to campaign for an election entirely managed by the Kremlin to do one thing: hand him victory (AP) The third objective is building for Russians a new vision of Russia and its future. Today, they have lost their idea of what they would like to see and what normal life would be. Putin is telling them there is no normality, only confrontation. Boris Nadezhdin, a veteran politician who tried to run in this years election against Putin, rose from relative obscurity late last year to become the face of the anti-war vote. Independent polls then suggested more than 15 per cent of the Russian population would have voted for him. Perhaps spooked by queues of thousands signing up to support his bid to run, he was banned by Russian election authorities kept on a tight lead by the Kremlin with claims that 15 per cent of the signatures were flawed. The fact that Nadezhdin was allowed to get that far in such a stage-managed election has drawn suspicion from critics that he is being allowed to gain such publicity to give Russias democracy a sheen of legitimacy and is merely a part of Putins election machine. But Nadezhdin says he believes the only way to keep fighting against Putins repression is to play within the rules. My strategy is to be in Russia and not to be very sharp in my criticism, he tells The Independent from his office in Moscow. I will never criticise Putin as a person. I only criticise what he does with the country. Veteran politician Boris Nadezhdin rose from relative obscurity late last year to become the face of the anti-war vote (AP) Those candidates that have been allowed to run have made little attempt to try to disrupt the status quo and have praised Putin. My rating was rising 5 per cent a week, Nadezhdin says. I think maybe the Kremlin administration just decided that I would receive too much if I was allowed to run. Nadezhdin says his plan now is to endorse another candidate, 40-year-old Vladislav Davankov, running nominally for a liberal, pro-business party, but making little noise all while Nadezhdin prepares for local parliamentary elections in two years. Regarding the Navalny-endorsed Noon Against Putin campaign, Nadezhdin will not explicitly support it. I will say only that my supporters should go to the election stations on Sunday, 17 March, not on Friday or Saturday, but at any time that is convenient to them, he says. I think I have a quite different strategy to [Navalny]. I have criticised Putins politics for 20 years but because I have been in Russian politics for 35 years, I know the red lines. I know what I should not do to avoid being put in prison. For those in the anti-Putin camp that have done enough to be forced into exile, however, this softball approach is nowhere near enough and is bound to fail. The strength of the noon protest will give a sense of how to push on. We are confident normal peace for Russians is possible for them," Khodorkovsky says. Our job is to show them that picture. Close Zelensky rejects Putins claims that Ukraine involved in Moscow attack For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Russia is using barges in a bid to enhance the defences of one of its ports in the Black Sea, Britains Ministry of Defence has said. It comes following a number of successful Ukrainian strikes on navy ships in the region. Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea fleet facility of Novorossiysk Sea Port, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update. This is an effort to enhance the defence of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). Elsewhere, a Russian cruise missile strike on infrastructure in Ukraines western Lviv region killed one man, while another died in an attack in the northeast, officials said Sunday. The attack in Lviv destroyed a building and sparked a fire, governor Maksym Kozytskyi wrote on social media app Telegram. He said that rescue operations were being conducted. In the Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Syniehubov said that an air attack killed an 19-year-old man after a missile hit a gas station. 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 }} Millions of Russian citizens have started to head to the polls in a sham election that will confirm Vladimir Putins presidency for at least another six years. The stage-managed vote will also take place in parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces. But with the election and candidates tightly controlled by the Kremlin, is the Russian election rigged, how does it work and what does it mean for Mr Putin? The Independent has put together all you need to know below. The election is expected to confirm Russian president Vladimir Putin as president for at least another six years (AP) When is the election? The Russian presidential election will be held between 15 March and 17 March. Results will follow shortly afterwards and the winner will be inaugurated in May. Voting will also take place in what Russia calls its new territories - parts of Ukraine now controlled by Russian forces that have been placed under Russian law. A remote online voting system will be available for the first time in a Russian presidential election. There are 112.3 million people with the right to vote in the election. The Russian population is around 143.4 million. Around 70-80 million people usually cast ballots. Turnout in 2018 was 67.5 per cent. The Russian presidential election will be held between 15 March and 17 March. Pictured: Ballots to be used in 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) How does the election work? Russian politics professor Samuel Greene, of Kings College London, explained getting onto the ballot was a complicated process controlled by the Kremlin which sees genuine Putin critics barred. He told The Independent: Getting on to the ballot is a complicated process. Parties that have representation in parliament have guaranteed access to the ballot. Everybody else has to go through a system of petitions and collecting tens of thousands of signatures that have to be verified. The government authorities invariably find problems with the signatures that have been collected by genuine opposition candidates. Russian president Vladimir Putin meets with residents following a visit to a greenhouse complex near Moscow ahead of elections this weekend (AP) Is the election rigged? Prof Greene added that all parties are vetted by the Kremlin in an illegal process separate to the Central Election Commission, which checks regular conditions like nationality and criminal records. All parties that are able to function in Russia are coordinated by the presidential administration. Candidate lists are vetted by the Kremlin; fundraising is both limited and enabled by the Kremlin, he said. He explained Russian candidates are only allowed to campaign within red lines set by Putin and dont really expect to win the election - which means they wont say anything too controversial like criticising the war in Ukraine. The opposition candidates are being careful not to be any more aggressive than Putin is in his campaigning. They dont really expect to win, he said. All parties in Russia are vetted and approved by the Kremlin, experts say (AP) Who are the candidates? There are four candidates that have been vetted by the Kremlin and who are on the ballot for this years Russian presidential election. Vladimir Putin In charge of all the levers of state, incumbent Vladimir Putin, 71, is expected to easily win a landslide victory and another six-year term. Already the longest-serving ruler of Russia since Joseph Stalin, will win a fifth and unconstitutional term after polls close on Sunday. His standing in the election comes as a result of a referendum in 2020 amending Russias constitution to reset presidential term limits having previously opted in 2008 merely to swap places with prime minister Dmitry Medvedev to sidestep the two-term limit. While that move triggered the largest protests of his rule, the changes ushered in by the referendum in 2020 were largely unopposed, and Putin could theoretically still be in the Kremlin in 2036, notes Independent columnist Mary Dejevsky. Nikolai Kharitonov Nikolai Kharitonov (AP) A 75-year-old member of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, Nikolai Kharitonov is the official candidate of the Communist Party, whose candidates have finished a distant second to Putin at every election since 2000. Mr Kharitonov, a Siberian, stood previously in 2004 and won 13.8 per cent of the vote to Putin's 71.91 per cent. A state pollster said in February that its research showed that around 4 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him. The state Tass news agency has quoted Kharitonov as saying he would not find fault with Mr Putin, because he is responsible for his own cycle of work, why would I criticise him? Mr Kharitonov supports the war in Ukraine, but has previously opposed some of the ruling pro-Putin United Russia partys domestic policies. He enjoys the backing of Gennady Zyuganov, the 79-year-old veteran Communist Party leader. Leonid Slutsky Russia Cold War Treaty (The State Duma, the Lower House of the Russian Parliament) A senior member of the State Duma, Leonid Slutsky, 56, is the leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and has long chaired the parliaments international affairs committee voicing support for the Ukraine war and the need to keep food prices down. A regular anti-Western mouthpiece on Russian state TV, Mr Slutsky took over as the partys permanent leader after veteran firebrand Vladimir Zhirinovsky died in 2022. He is seeking to tap into his late predecessors popularity by campaigning on the slogan Zhirinovsky lives on. A state pollster said in February that its research also showed that around 4 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him. In 2018, a group of female journalists accused Mr Slutsky of sexual harassment. A parliamentary commission exonerated him, which his accusers labelled a whitewash. Vladislav Davankov New People politician Vladislav Davankov is deputy chair of the State Duma, and has received a state award from Mr Putin in the past. Aged 40, heis the youngest registered candidate and has said he wont criticise his political opponents. His main campaign slogans are Yes to changes! and Time for new people! A state pollster said in February that its research showed that over 5 per cent of Russians were ready to vote for him. Mr Davankov has tried to position himself as someone opposed to excessive curbs on peoples personal freedom and in the context of Russian politics as someone who is more liberal. Without mentioning Ukraine by name, he has said he favours Peace and talks. But on our terms and with no roll-back. What does the election mean for Putin? Prof Greene explained the elections are designed to give an air of legitimacy to Vladimir Putin and Russias political system without alienating the majority of Russians. The Kremlin knows there are people in Russia who wont vote for Putin, Prof Greene said. But it would rather people vote for a candidate and party that is controlled by the Kremlin and can be relied on not to cause problems, instead of people becoming disaffected and protesting for broader change. They want people to feel like they have a voice in the system and have somebody they can vote for so they lost the election fair and square. What have critics said about the Russian ballots? Critics of the Kremlin have warned that the ballots are unlikely to bear any resemblance to true democracy. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said: We know already that opposition politicians are in jail, some are killed, and many are in exile, and actually also some who tried to register as candidates have been denied that right, he said. And an EU spokesperson said: We know, given the track record of how votes are being prepared and organised in Russia under the current Kremlin administration and regime, how this will look. Its very difficult to foresee that this would be a free, fair and democratic election where the Russian people would really have a choice. And as Nato warned Russias attempts to organise elections in four Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed would be competely illegal, as the Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko alleged that at least two Chechen military men with machine guns had been seeking to enforce voting there. A fortnight after the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident community has convened a plan to disturb this rubber-stamping exercise, dubbed Noon Against Putin, in which Russian citizens frustrated with the leaders rule are being called to head to the voting booths all at the same time on the final day in a display of discontent. The campaign has been dubbed Navalnys political testament by independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta, and has been backed by the opposition leaders widowed wife Yulia Navalnaya, along with a host of prominent anti-Putin figures, including Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russias richest oligarch, and Gary Kasparov, the chess grandmaster turned opposition figure. Additional reporting by Reuters 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 31-year-old woman has died after a bear in Slovakia chased her and a companion. The woman, from Belarus, was walking with her male friend in the Low Tatras mountain range when they encountered the brown bear. According to the man they both ran away in different directions in the Demanovska Valley, which is a popular area for hikers featuring dense forest and steep ravines. The Slovak Mountain Rescue Service recovered the womans body using a search dog on Friday evening after her friend went for help, the BBC reported. When authorities found her body the bear was nearby, and had to be scared away from the scene by multiple gunshots from the Mountain Rescue Service. It remains unclear at this stage if the woman was killed by the bear or died in a fall. Authorities said they will make the information public if it transpires the bear killed her. Brown bears are common in eastern and north-eastern Europe, but are mostly found in the Carpathian Mountains that stretch across Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland and Romania. Slovakias brown bear population was also hunted to extinction in the 1930s but has since rebounded. Researchers believe around 1,275 bears are currently in the country. There have been an increasing number of bear attacks in the country, including one that was fatal in 2021 - the first in Slovakia in more than a century. The brown bear population is a hot political topic in the country, with Slovakias new populist nationalist government wanting less EU environmental protection for predators such as wolves and bears. However environmental groups, such as the WWF and the Slovak Wildlife Society, have pushed back against any plans to cull the brown bear population in the country. Pope Francis: I did everything in my power to free priests captured during Argentinas dirty war Pontiffs autobiography addresses his controversial role under the junta but alas not his subsequent stay in a Dublin suburb Pope Francis in Phoenix Park in 2018. Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images Michael Kelly Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 03:30 From the moment of his election 11 years ago this week, Pope Francis has spoken to people outside of the Catholic fold in a way few of his predecessors could manage. Its a curious fact, given that he generally only speaks in Italian, in contrast to his polyglot predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who travelled the globe and effortlessly spoke the language of wherever they were. Louis Walsh has revealed that he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer during lockdown. The former X Factor judge, 71, is currently appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and spoke about his health for the first time during Fridays episode (March 15). He told housemates that he was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, a rare type of blood cancer, during lockdown but decided to keep his diagnosis private. Describing how he spent lockdown, Walsh revealed: I was sick, but nobody knew I was sick. I had cancer. A mild version, a Waldenstrom, a rare one. Levi Roots asked: Which part? Pancreatic cancer? to which Walsh replied: In my blood, I didnt even know that I had it until I went to the hospital, and they checked me, checked me, checked me, then they found it. They said its a rare one. He clarified that the cancer had cleared and he is now fine but said that the experience took a toll on his mental health. The former music manager continued: It did affect me mentally, I got to be honest with you. Its just up here, even when I go past a hospital I almost get sick. Its all gone, Im fine. It was just the shock of being sick and that word, nobody wants that word. I have blocked it out, a reality check, you see so many people sick and its terrible. In my world it was all about pop music and all that. I didnt think of anybody getting sick or anything like that. And that was like wow reality check, youre in the real world. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, Waldenstroms macroglobulinaemia is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is sometimes called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The most common symptoms include fatigue, repeated infections, bruising or bleeding easily and weight loss. Fridays episode of Celebrity Big Brother saw Levi Roots and Ekin-Su CulculoAYlu become the latest contestants to be evicted from the Big Brother house after the pair faced the public vote alongside Walsh, David Potts and Fern Britton. During Tuesday nights episode, Walsh ruffled feathers when he called his former X Factor mentees Jedward vile. Just minutes after the scene was aired on ITV, the Irish pop duo Jedward posted a series of tweets criticising Walsh, while Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins weighed in and called on Walsh to stop slagging off my boys. Celebrity Big Brother airs Sundays through Fridays at 9pm on Virgin Media. Asylum-seekers have been sleeping in tents in Mount Street, Dublin city centre, as the Government struggles to cope with the influx of immigrants. Photo: Collins A number of asylum-seekers who were sleeping in tents in Dublin city were diagnosed with the skin condition scabies and moved to an isolation facility. The tented accommodation near the headquarters of the International Protection Office in Mount Street has led to health worries about the asylum-seekers. A spokesperson for the HSE said healthcare workers and funded agencies are currently on site to assess and monitor the immediate healthcare needs of people sleeping rough in the Mount Street area, with onward referral as required. The primary care team has begun treatment for those with scabies and has liaised with regional public health, they said. These patients have also been referred to the National Infectious Disease Isolation Facility for treatment and to contain spread to others. The facility is in Portrane in north Dublin at the St Itas campus and offers a 43-bed, 24-hour facility for people who have infectious diseases and who are unable to isolate in their own environment. It is currently zoned and can accommodate residents with different infectious diseases and differing isolation periods without risk of cross-contamination. A number of others have also been diagnosed with respiratory diseases. Outbreaks of scabies are notifiable to public health and regional departments of public health assess all notifications and address incidents to manage and control, as appropriate, further transmission as far as is possible. Last year saw an increase in the number of scabies outbreaks in Ireland, with 26 reported compared with nine in 2022. As of February 15 last, an additional eight outbreaks were notified. The two main treatments for the condition are permethrin cream and malathion lotion. Last year most outbreaks were reported in places where people are grouped together, including nine in nursing homes and eight in residential institutions, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Three outbreaks were in private households. Inside the empty asylum seeker centre with 160 beds as tent shanty town grows A rise in cases in other European countries has been seen. The watchdog said scabies is a very common itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite. Anyone of any age can get scabies. It usually starts with itching which can be worse at night-time. A rash can also be present in affected areas of skin; it may be seen in skin folds, for example between fingers and toes. Scabies is not usually a serious condition. It is usually treated with creams applied directly to the skin in addition to other measures. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the reason why international protection applicants were moved from Dublin city centre to alternative tented accommodation was so they could be provided with showers and toilets. Speaking in Washington D.C this evening, Mr Varadkar said: the reason why they were moved to essentially that there wasn't any sanitary facilities there were no showers and toilets on Mount Street. So the alternative in Crooksling had that, so it was to move them really for health and safety reasons from a place where there was no facility somewhere there is, he added. Mr Varadkar said the new site for the migrants was chosen because it was State owned and had better conditions than the city centre. He also said security measures will be put in place to ensure those living in the emergency accommodation can remain safe. Earlier a large group of asylum seekers who were living in tents around the International Protection Office in Dublin were relocated. Up to 200 men had been living in the tents on Mount Street due to a shortage of accommodation for male asylum seekers. It is understood the men were relocated this morning via buses and given tents to pitch on arrival at the new site in Crooksling in the Dublin mountains. However, a "minority" of the men have since left the site after arriving, confirmed a spokesperson for the Department of Integration. Charities and opposition politicians had raised concerns around the conditions of the encampment due to a lack of running water or toilets available. A number of those who were living at the camp this week had been moved to an isolation facility after they were diagnosed with the skin condition scabies. A statement from the Department of Integration confirmed that the asylum seekers camped on Mount street have been offered alternative accommodation at a site in Crooksling where food, personal toiletries, toilet and shower facilities are available. It has also not recommended for asylum seekers return to Mount Street as it does not have the facilities or security. Independent Councillor Gerry ONeill said a group of the men are now returning to Dublin from the new site, describing the situation as dreadful. They were carted off the streets of Dublin and brought to Crooksling without any accommodation, he said. The location had previously been the site of protests against the accommodation of asylum seekers, with Mr ONeill condemning a previous arson attack on the site which damaged one of the units. A statement from the Department of Integration said: "This morning, the Department has offered alternative shelter to all International Protection Applicants camped on Mount street. "All those who accepted the offer will be provided tented accommodation at a site in Crooksling, where food, personal toiletries, toilet and shower facilities are also available. "The Department will engage with the HSE and health care providers in order to ensure the wellbeing of those on site. Tents at back of the International Protection Offices on Mount Street in Dublin. Picture Credit: Frank McGrath The Department added that it has engaged closely with Dublin City Council regarding the situation on Mount Street, and DCC has confirmed that the site at Mount Street will be cleaned following the removal of the tents currently there. "More broadly, the situation in relation to accommodation remains very challenging. The supply of available accommodation is severely diminished, they added. Cleaning contractors attended the site this lunchtime, where many tents were lifted into the back of a truck and tarpaulin was gathered. A group of local volunteers had been providing food, clothes, tarps and bedding to the men at Mount Street. One volunteer, Rachel, said there was little notice of the move given and described the arrangement as haphazard, where they were brought onto buses and tents and sleeping bags were handed out. Contractors went in to clear the site and the resources that have been hard fought for by the men, volunteers and donations - tents, duvets, tarps and everything, she said. They left one camp to go to another one. There are sanitation facilities in the new site but theyre away from the supports that they established. Many of them are observing Ramadan and theyre visiting their mosques daily. She said that while some men have pitched their tents at the new location, others have decided to return to Dublin city but have been warned the encampment is largely gone. Hundreds are sleeping in tents near the International Protection Offices on Mount Street, Dublin. Photo: Frank McGrath A spokesperson for the Department Integration said it is not recommended that people return to Mount Street. They said the facility in Crooksling has toilets, food and security, with access to health services and transport links in Dublin to be put in place. Anyone who chooses to refuse this offer or leave the space offered by IPAS are of course entitled to make that choice, they said. However, for their own safety and health, we do not recommend anyone return to Mount St as it does not have the facilities or security. A local councillor for Crooksling, a townland near the border with Wicklow, said a group of the men are now returning to Dublin from the new site, describing the situation as dreadful. They were carted off the streets of Dublin and brought to Crooksling without any accommodation, said Independent Cllr Gerry ONeill, who has been involved in a group that has advocated for the site to be re-opened since its closure in 2020. It has previously been the site of protests against the accommodation of asylum seekers in the premises, with Mr ONeill condemning an arson attack on the site which damaged one of the units. Meanwhile, Senator Mary Fitzpatrick said the relocation cannot be a temporary solution until Monday. "It can't be that they have just moved them because there is a parade coming through town tomorrow, that's unacceptable, she said. "I am assuming that they are being moved to facilities that are more secure, that are safe, dry, warm, that have hygiene and cooking facilities," she told RTE's Saturday with Colm O Mongain. Ms Fitzpatrick said she is "glad" to see action, however, "this can't be an overnight action. It can't be just until Monday morning. That's not a solution." Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain described the relocation of the men as a positive step but that the conditions should not have deteriorated to the extent they did. "Im glad there is movement. Im glad theyre moving to somewhere with better facilities. I dont think it should have taken to the point of people contracting diseases for this to be the point were at, he told the Irish Independent. "It was a direct result of Government policy that the situation deteriorated and its only because the advocacy of local people that it seems to be coming close to being resolved. "Its a positive development however genuinely, we are a bit disturbed as to how we got to this point. Mr O Riordain said new accommodation is better than the conditions on Mount Street where the men were exposed to the elements and also exposed potentially to anti-social behaviour. "It is a positive move however I think the Government is going to have to reassess how they manage this. There are over 1,200 asylum seekers homeless in the state and this is going to potentially get worse when the 90 days for Ukrainian accommodation runs out. "The clock started ticking on that a number of days ago on this new policy for the length of time that Ukrainian refugees will be accommodated. "The Government will have to reassess because this situation could actually return. My dad was a strong person so if this can happen to him, what else is happening? Martin Abbott's daughter on his death in University Hospital Limerick Some areas are connected to water sources with higher levels of a chemical linked to cancer. Photo: Getty The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declined to say if it will have households notified in areas where drinking water has unacceptable levels of a chemical linked to cancer. The EPA said Uisce Eireann was responsible for communicating information and advice to consumers on drinking water quality. Campaigners at Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), however, say the EPA has a duty under EU law to direct Uisce Eireann to communicate with consumers on the issue. Uisce Eireann, meanwhile, said it was consulting with the EPA and the HSE on the matter. The chemical is trihalomethane (THM), which forms when chlorine disinfectant added at water treatment plants reacts with organic matter in the water. The HSE says THM is classified as possibly carcinogenic and references some studies that suggest links with reproductive problems. However, it says the evidence is not conclusive and the possible risks are lower than that of contracting illness from drinking water that is not properly disinfected. FIE says the public should be informed when their water supply has elevated THM levels and given the opportunity to minimise their exposure. The EPA publishes regular lists of water supplies in need of upgrades and improvements, and Uisce Eireann has a portal through which customers can check issues in their area. However, there has been no specific information provided directly to customers supplied by affected water sources since 2018. FIEs lawyers have written to the EPA saying it will face legal action if it does not direct Uisce Eireann to notify all affected consumers of the potential danger to human health. The EPA confirmed it received the letter and was preparing a response. It added: Water suppliers, such as Uisce Eireann and private group schemes, are responsible under the drinking water regulations S.I.99 of 2023 for communicating information/advice to consumers on drinking water quality. FIE first made a complaint to the European Commission in 2011 about the 600,000 customers who were then served by supplies with THM levels above recommended limits. Last January, the EU Court found Ireland guilty of providing unsafe water to around 220,000 people supplied from water sources in which THMs were still elevated. Uisce Eireann said it had resolved the issue at most of the water supplies referenced in the court and was working on the outstanding supplies. MBABANE There is no catching a breath for the consumer as household products are increasing this year. A glance into the costs that are being effected this year has shown that within two months into the year, consumers could be digging deeper into their pockets for the same products and services for the rest of the year. This is because there are at least three increments to look out for. These are fuel, electricity tariffs and customs duty increments. In turn, these also cause increases in other products such as transportation, housing, and food. If anything can go by with these increments, to start with, the hiked prices of fuel show that they do not only affect motorists, but could fall on the shoulders of pedestrians. Also coupled with the 13.5 per cent salary increment for public transport workers, fuel prices may lead to the review of public transport fees anytime this year. Already adjusted this month, motorists are now paying an extra E1.10 for both unleaded petrol (ULP) and diesel (50 ppm) and 50 cents per litre for illuminating paraffin. As of March 8, ULP increased from E20.50 per litre to E21.60 per litre. Diesel 50ppm increased from E21.80 to E22.90 per litre. Illuminating paraffin increased from E16.75 to E17.25. Fuel increments are an invitation to public transport increases. The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Phila Buthelezi, issued a gazette detailing the minimum wage for the road transportation industry on Thursday. Necessitated Anticipated talks between government and public transport owners could be necessitated by how fuel prices have performed. Therefore, public transport fees are anticipated as transport operators are paid by transport owners, who, in turn, are in the business to make profit. It is worth noting that just when some parents are still recovering from paying school fees, transport costs may accrue. More other costs, including prices of mealie meal, rice, cooking oil, body lotion, might be reviewed and something to also look forward to. In the past three instances, consumers have enjoyed a decrease in fuel prices. There were no fuel adjustments in February when parents raised school fees. On January 5, this year, ULP decreased by 30 cents from E20.80 to E20.50 per litre, while diesel and paraffin decreased by 80 cents per litre. Diesel went down from E22.60 to E21.80. Paraffin decreased from E17.55 to E16.75 per litre. On December 6, last year, the price of petrol remained unchanged at ULP 95, price maintained at E20.80/litre. Diesel and paraffin prices both decreased by 80 cents, coming down from E23.40 to E22.60 per litre for diesel, while paraffin dropped from E18.05 to E17.55. On November 3, 2023, ULP 95 decreased by E2.00 per litre from E22.80, diesel 50ppm from E24.40, and illuminating paraffin decreased from E19.05 to E1 per litre. The fuel price adjustments are attributed to the fluctuating exchange rate and the changing global oil prices. In March, the Rand/Lilangeni weakened and global oil prices increased, leading to under-recoveries. The government has urged the public to use fuel efficiently as the international oil markets and the Lilangeni to Dollar exchange rate remain highly volatile. Moreover, while still braising, consumers are facing rolling electricity tariff increments. The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) gave the green light for the electricity tariff increase effected by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC). Effecting On April 1, the EEC will again be effecting an 8.02 per cent tariff increment for the 202425 financial year, a press statement informing all customers said. This follows the tariff increase of 10.14 per cent for the 202324 financial year. With this tariff increment, a unit (expressed in kWh) costs E2.25. For a domestic customer, this means that E100 buys 44.4 units. Buying electricity for E50 will mean that you have 22.2kWh, while E30 forks out 13.3kWh and E10 gives you just 4.4 units. With an 8.02 per cent increment on April 1, the unit price will be E2.43. Then E100 will be worth 41 units. There were freezes that were introduced by ESERA in 2019 and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic after 5.7 per cent was sought by the EEC. In the 2021/22 financial year, domestic electricity consumers heaved a sigh of relief, with 1.33 per cent and 1.27 per cent affected in the 2022/2023 financial year. This was despite the EEC filing an application to have the tariffs increase by an average of 7.16 per cent. There are also customs duty increments under the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which are distributed annually among members. This is in lieu of excise duty and levies. SACU members are Eswatini, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa. The excise duties and levies are imposed mostly on high-volume daily consumable products.Some goods, including alcohol and tobacco, are subject to three per cent for domestically produced and seven per cent for imported alcohol or tobacco levies. Addition Levies are also an addition to other taxes, like VAT. Other products on excise include petroleum, non-essential or luxury items such as electronic equipment, and cosmetics. The function of the duties and levies is to ensure a constant stream of revenue for SACU members while discouraging consumption of certain harmful products. The SACU agreement means that the excise tax rates are the same in all five SACU member states and they have since been reviewed. These rates were reviewed when the minister of finance in South Africa delivered the budget speech and they affected all five countries, meaning that the increase in South Africa is an increase here. Levies are consumption taxes, meaning that they are paid by the end consumer even though it is the producer or importer who remits them to the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS). Depending on whether products are imported or not or come within the SACU membership, there could be increments too. These goods may include bread. The bread price was last increased by 20.73 percent on July 13, 2022. Other than bread, there are still other household products.A 10kg mealie meal costs about E120, rice between E130 to E150, while chicken portions range between E180 to E260. There is also the issue of rent. The former president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSFA) will run as a local election candidate for Independent Ireland in Co Cork. Dermot Kelleher has announced he will stand in the upcoming elections in Macroom as a candidate for the party led by Cork TD Michael Collins. Mr Kelleher said he was inspired by Mr Collins and his dedication the the people of West Cork. "His advocacy for vital healthcare services, such as Bantry General Hospital, resonates deeply with me, particularly after the recent passing of my beloved wife Mary, it gave us great comfort to know she passed in Bantry hospital rather than a large general hospital potentially lying on a trolley - it is this and the great work that Michael Collins does that made me decide to run for Independent Ireland." His wife Mary died following a diagnosis for motor neurone disease. Mr Kelleher was heavily involved in the Life Focus initiative as president of the ICSA, which highlighted the importance of mental health in the farming community. He said he hopes to protect the interests of farmers and consumers and advocate for an independent food regulator that will deliver transparency in the food chain. Party leader Michael Collins said Mr Kellehers leadership and advocacy have been invaluable to the farming community. "He has worked for decades for his community here in Cork and also across the country advocating for farmers and the people of rural Ireland in general, he said. "His decision to join our party speaks volumes about our shared commitment to representing the needs of our communities. Dermot's experience and dedication will be invaluable assets in our pursuit of real change for farmers, for rural Ireland and for the whole country." Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice said Mr Kelleher has vast experience and knowledge of the agricultural sector and will be an outstanding asset for the new party. Its Paddys Day, not Pattys Day! Irish man marches in Chicago parade in protest over what Americans call St Patricks Day It is literally the only way to offend an Irish person. So I decided to finally try do something about it Evil leprechaun Ross McDonagh is marching in the Chicago Patty's Day - sorry, Paddy's Day - parade with his protest sign Alan Caulfield Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 15:17 An Irish PR guru living in the US is marching with a protest sign in Chicago St Patricks Day parade to drive home an important message to Americans its called Paddys Day not Pattys Day. The ruling found that even within regulation limits, turbine noise could be categorised as a nuisance, opening the possibility of compensation. Photo: Getty Images The attorney general is studying a landmark High Court ruling on noise from wind turbines that could have implications for the operation of existing and future wind farms. Officials from two Government departments, Housing and Environment, have joined the chief law officer in examining the judgement. Wind Energy Ireland, which represents most wind farm owners in the country, also has experts scrutinising it. The ruling found that turbine noise even if within planning regulation limits could be categorised as a nuisance. That opens the possibility of compensation claims by people who say noise from turbines interferes with the enjoyment of their homes and daily lives. In the case that gave rise to the ruling, nuisance was proven by two couples who lived close to a wind farm in Co Wexford. The case heard they were constantly stressed and sleepless, that one of the couples split up largely because of it and one party was left suicidal and remained under treatment for depression. High Court judge Ms Justice Emily Egan found they had established their right to receive damages from the company involved. "This is wind turbine noise that an objectively reasonable person should not be expected to tolerate, she said. A second part of their case will consider the level of damages due and, significantly, whether an injunction should be granted against the wind farm. If an injunction is granted, it may come in the form of restrictions on operating hours rather than a complete stop to operations. The ruling is the first on the issue in Ireland and comes at a critical time in national plans to increase the generation of renewable electricity. Ireland has about 4.5 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind power installed in just over 300 wind farms. Under the Climate Action Plan, the capacity must double to 9GW by 2030. A spokesperson for Wind Energy Ireland said: Its a very detailed judgement and covers a complex area of project development. We are studying it closely to see what implications, if any, it might have for the development of onshore renewable energy in Ireland. The Department of Housing, which is responsible for planning regulations, said it was considering the judgement in conjunction with the Department of the Environment and the Office of the Attorney General. The wind farm at the centre of the case is at Ballyduff, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, owned by Meenacloghspar Wind, and has been in operation since 2017. It received planning permission with conditions around the level of noise measured at the nearest house. Over 51 days of hearings, evidence was presented on the causes and frequencies of noise, the weather and geographical features that influence it and how it is perceived by people. The case focused chiefly on aerodynamic noise caused by the interaction of the rotor blades with the surrounding air which Ms Justice Egan characterised as swish, whoomph and thump. Lawyers for Meenacloghspar said their client should be judged on their compliance with the planning conditions on noise levels, which was not in question. Ms Justice Egan disagreed, saying the court did not have to restrict its assessment to planning compliance a finding that may have implications in other cases. She highlighted a lack of regulatory data in Ireland, and relied on the UKs Windfarm Noise Statutory Complaint Methodology for guidance. Ms Justice Egan acknowledged the wider significance of the case. This case concerns the production of renewable energy which is clearly of vital importance to society, and to everyone who lives in it, she said. The fact that such activity was of public importance was not a defence, she said. However, it might have some bearing on the final outcome. The public interest must inevitably be a factor in the courts assessment of an appropriate remedy. At the very least, it means that a generalised injunction ought not to be granted where a tailored injunction more suitable to the particular interference held to constitute nuisance is warranted. The plaintiffs in the case are couple, Ross Shorten and Joan Carty, and former couple, Margaret Webster and Keith Rollo. The former have left the area since the court case began, while Mr Rollo also left after contemplating suicide. Ms Justice Egan directed all parties to engage in mediation before proceeding to the second part of the case, although she acknowledged that earlier attempts at mediation had failed. Current wind energy planning guidelines date to 2006 and are widely accepted to be out of date. The Department of Housing published draft revised guidelines in 2019 but they were later withdrawn, partly due to disputes over the proposed guidance on noise levels. The Climate Action Plan sets a timeline of the end of this year for completion of the updated guidelines. The Department of Housing said: The Department is working towards meeting this commitment. A MAN is fighting for his life after suffering a serious leg injury when he was attacked. The incident occurred shortly after 8pm on Friday on Newtown Road in the Cork harbour town of Cobh. During the attack a man in his early 30s suffered stab or slash injuries. The young man is from the Cork harbour area. It is understood he suffered a serious loss of blood after sustaining a deep gash across his lower leg which partially severed arteries and veins. Paramedics were at the scene within minutes and worked desperately to staunch the flow of blood and stabilise the man's condition. He was rushed by Health Service Executive (HSE) ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH) where he underwent emergency surgery. His condition is now described as critical. Gardai immediately cordoned off the area for a full forensic and technical examination. CCTV security camera footage is now expected to play a critical role in the investigation. The incident occurred a short distance from a busy local shop. Gardai are investigating the circumstances of the incident and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. "A man is receiving treatment for serious injuries at CUH," a Garda spokesperson said. "The man in his 30s was assaulted." Gardai are investigating suggestions a weapon such as a sword or machete may have been used in the brutal attack. One source described the injury involved as horrific. No arrests have been made as yet and no weapon has been recovered. One line of investigation is that the man may have been targeted as part of a dispute over money. Gardai are convinced that others must have witnessed the incident as the roadway was quite busy at the time with motorists, those heading out for the evening and pedestrians., Detectives are particularly interested in identifying vehicles which were in the Newtown Road area at 8pm on Friday evening. It is unclear if the young man was attacked by one or more assailants. Fusion of Irish & African culture takes centre stage in Uganda for St. Patrick's weekend There is no better place to be for St Patricks Day than Ireland. However, it is not the only place to be. Many countries across the world are marking the special day. The Irish Independent has compiled a list of the stand-out ones. Southern hemisphere celebrates first The first St Patricks celebration takes place at the other end of the world. Thirteen hours ahead of Irish time, people living in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, are the first to honour St Patricks Day. The St Patricks Day parade in Auckland is the farthest celebration from Ireland, more than 18,000km from Dublin. A walk around the block for Saint Patrick Every year, Hot Springs in Arkansas, US, hosts the worlds shortest St Patricks Day parade. The parade will go along Bridge Street and be approximately 98 feet long (30 metres). Masked dancers on the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean The Caribbean volcanic island of Montserrat is the only nation apart from Ireland that marks March 17 as a public holiday. People living on the so-called Emerald Isle of the Caribbean go all-out celebrating St Patricks Day with a week-long festival. The parade kicks off with a torch-lighting ceremony, followed by performers playing steel drums, and masked dancers wearing tall hats resembling bishops mitres. Locals mark the celebration by respecting their two heritages early Irish influence and the uprising of the enslaved African ancestors on March 17, 1768. Leprechauns in New Dublin On St Patricks Day, leprechauns turn the city of New London in Wisconsin into New Dublin. A decade-long tradition sees locals dress up as leprechauns and change the city signs on highways. A Japanese oyster festival Tokyo has been hosting the largest St Patricks Day parade in Asia since 1992. The celebrations have quickly spread across Japan, as Irish and Japanese flags fly together in Ise, where the parade starts at the Ise Shrine, a sanctuary dedicated to a Shinto sun goddess. On March 17, people dress up as leprechauns, play bagpipes, dance Irish jigs, and later attend the oyster festival. The parade thats 14 years older than the US New York City hosts the oldest and largest St Patricks Day parade in the world. The first parade was held in 1762 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There are scheduled to be approximately 150,000 marchers in the parade this year, which starts at 11am local time. Meanwhile, two million spectators are expected to watch it go up Fifth Avenue. Pearly fusion of Irish dance and African rhythm Uganda, the Pearl of Africa is set to combine traditional Irish dance and African rhythm this St Patricks Day. Young Ugandans from the Cultural Fusion Dance Programme, set up by Galway man John Walsh and his Ugandan wife Debbie, will showcase their Irish dancing skills at the St Patricks Ball in Kampala. Ugandan dancers are led by professional Irish dancer, Roisin Lyons. It comes as the Irish Embassy in Uganda celebrates its 30th or pearl anniversary this year. Where the rivers run green Chicago, Illinois, which has a large Irish community, has been famously dyeing the Chicago River green since 1962. This year, participants can witness river dyeing at 10am, followed by the parade kick-off at 12.15pm today. Another city dyeing its main river for St Patricks Day is Singapore, which hosts the biggest parade in Southeast Asia. Not only planet Earth Who said we have to limit St Patricks Day to our planet? In 2013, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield wore green and recorded himself performing Danny Boy from the space station. Exclusive | They said I was going to be safe, it was going to be fun and Id probably win it Louis Walsh talks about his 1m stint on Big Brother Taoiseachs plan to push for peace in Gaza fell flat before Washington lunch Joe Biden looks like an 81-year-old man. He talks slowly, walks awkwardly and appears to wear some form of make-up that gives him the appearance of a wax museum mannequin. He was almost impossible to hear when he spoke in the Oval Office during his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. This wasnt made any easier by the thundering roars of the US press who competitively scream questions at the president while he sits in silence. How much better it would be if these celebrations were happening in conditions of peace,' President Michael D Higgins said. Photo: Steve Humphreys President Michael D Higgins has called for an immediate ceasefire and end to the killing of such a huge proportion of children in Gaza as well as the release of hostages this St Patricks Day. As part of his message, he said the Irish scattered across the world, and all those who feel a connection to the country, were part of a global family with a shared culture and heritage. How much better it would be if these celebrations were taking place in conditions of peace and shared concern for the sustainable future of our planet and all forms of life on it, he said. The President said the fact of child deaths and malnutrition were carried each day on television screens around the world. Children are dying of lack of oxygen, with many more threatened with what will be a human-induced famine, he added. He said an example of Irishness at its best, in a world marked by conflicts, was Irelands practical contribution to peace-building. On this, our national day, we pay tribute to all those Irish women and men directly engaged in peacekeeping and in humanitarian relief around the world and of whom we are so proud. Attacks on citizens have risen, as witnessed in the Hamas attack on Israel which killed 1,200 people last October followed by a horrific assault as collective punishment, he said. More than 32,000 people have so far been killed, mostly women and children, in Gaza in Israels reprisal. This year, all of the people in Gaza, ordinary citizens facing the most horrific of circumstances of war and displacement, will be in the thoughts of Irish people, he said. He said that the lead taken by Ireland in giving increased and additional aid to [Palestinian refugee agency] UNRWA is an initiative of which Irish people can be proud. So on this St Patricks Day 2024, this is a special year for holding in our minds the Irish involved in building and supporting peace in so many regions." President Higgins said humanity was currently faced with unprecedented challenges of a global kind. The United Nations, and multilateralism itself is under grave threat. Secretary General Antonio Guterress recent comments about how parties to conflict are not only ignoring but trampling on international law, cannot be ignored. He said that such a rejection of international law, of international responsibility, emphasises once again how the Security Council has been weakened by abuse of the veto. This, he said, had led to its failure to respond with appropriate agreed resolutions both to Israels military operations in Gaza and to Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine. Now is the time for all those countries of the world who wish to see a world of peace, the building of a sustainable, more equal world, to come together and ensure our multilateral system is reformed to make these vital goals a reality, he said. Protesters at the black shamrock demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge in Dublin (David Young/PA) Pro-Palestinian campaigners held aloft black shamrocks in Dublin as they protested against the Government due to take part in a traditional St Patrick's Day ceremony in the White House. The demonstration saw activists line both banks of the River Liffey at the landmark Ha'Penny Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It was staged ahead of the St Patrick's event in Washington DC on Sunday when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present US President Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock to celebrate the Irish patron saint. Senior politicians from both sides of the Irish border will be at the annual event in the White House. Activists denounced their planned attendance during the vocal and colourful protest back in Dublin. They insisted they should be boycotting the ceremony due to the US's continued support of Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza. The demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge on Dublins River Liffey (David Young/PA) As well as displaying black shamrocks, campaigners waved Irish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans supportive of Palestine and critical of the US administration. Other demonstrators boarded boats that moved up and down the Liffey during the protest, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said: "The black shamrock is our symbol of resistance and declaration that 'Ireland Stands with Palestine', that we support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. "We have been consistently demanding that no Irish politician should be meeting or sharing shamrocks with the Biden administration while the Palestinians in Gaza are being slaughtered with US weapons and funding." Aine Hayden from the IPSC handed leaflets to passing members of the public during the visual demonstration. "I'm here because my heart is completely shattered and broken looking at this genocide that's been taking place for nearly six months now," she told the PA news agency. "For the 13,000 children who've been blown to pieces and the many more thousands that are still under the rubble yet to be found. For the two children every day who lose a limb. Every day two children lose one or both legs, for the 25,000 orphans who who are left with no family and the fact that they're (the Israeli military) targeting ambulances, hospitals, they're targeting the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) food aid centres. They took out the last one the other day. They're targeting starving people who are queuing, waiting for a bag of flour, and they're shooting and bombing them. "We've never seen the like of this outrage, this is barbarity, and it needs to stop. We need a permanent ceasefire now." Licensed premises more likely to be found near DEIS primary schools The researchers argue more regulation of licensed premises could reduce under-age drinking. Photo: Stock image A new study has found there are problematic numbers of premises licensed to sell alcohol in close proximity to schools, particularly primary schools located in the most disadvantaged parts of the country. Researchers found that DEIS primary schools are significantly more likely to be located in close proximity to licensed premises than schools in non-disadvantaged areas. An average of 2.53 licensed premises were located within 300 metres of DEIS primary schools, compared with an average of 1.48 for non-DEIS schools. However, the average rose to 7.7 licensed premises within 300 metres for the countrys most disadvantaged schools in the DEIS Urban 1 band, compared with the overall average for all primary schools of 1.79. The study, by researchers at the Health Research Board (HRB), Maynooth University and Technological University of the Shannon, said the findings indicated there were problematic numbers of licensed premises within close proximity of schools. The research, which is published in the medical journal BMC Public Health, examined the proximity of 14,840 premises with a liquor licence issued by Revenue to more than 3,200 primary schools and around 720 secondary schools. Overall, the average number of licensed premises within 300 metres of all schools was two. No statistical difference was found in proximity to pubs, off-licences and other premises licensed to sell alcohol between DEIS and non-DEIS schools at secondary level, with an average of three within 300 metres. About a third of all schools both primary and post-primary are classified as DEIS schools. More than 257,300 pupils were enrolled in DEIS schools in the 2022/23 academic year, representing 26.9pc of the total school population. One of the main authors of the study, Anne Doyle of the HRB, pointed out that the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 prohibits alcohol advertising within 200 meters of the perimeter of schools but the legislation does not apply to premises selling alcohol. She added that the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 proposes to increase the number of licensed premises allowed to sell alcohol, as well as extending their opening hours. Alcohol availability within the vicinity of the home or school normalises alcohol for schoolchildren, Ms Doyle said. As licensed premises signage is exempt from this ban, it is important that planning of additional licensed premises is carefully considered, especially in areas of disadvantage. She also highlighted international evidence which had shown the presence of licensed premises near childrens schools and homes is linked to an increased likelihood of alcohol use, binge drinking and detrimental effects on school behaviour. The study called for priority to be given to reducing the level of availability of alcohol near schools in order to reduce its adverse effects on children. The findings from this study suggest greater regulation of licensed premises, particularly around schools in areas of greater deprivation, could potentially reduce the proportion of adolescents engaging in under-age drinking, Ms Doyle said. Ezulwini Despite assurances that the issue of ghost employees has finally been addressed, government continues to spend millions of Emalangeni paying salaries to civil servants sitting at home. According to a report compiled by the Ministry of Public Service, there are currently over 50 civil servants on suspension with full pay within the civil service. Calculations based on the suspended employees positions and grades, as per the establishment register Supporting the estimates of public expenditure for the financial year 2023/24, revealed that government spends about E6 116 084 public funds on an annual basis, paying salaries for suspended officials. On a monthly basis, government spends about E509 673.66 on salaries for suspended employees. The figures could be higher, taking into consideration that government has paid over E4 million on salaries for the 24 junior police officers over the past two years who remain suspended after protesting about the implementation of Phase II of the salary restructuring exercise. Some of the government employees have been on suspension since 2010 and continue to receive full pay, while at home while others were suspended in the subsequent years before the report was finalised two years ago. The suspended employees hold various positions, such as store man, cleaner, accountant, driver, fuel attendant to name a few. The names of the suspended employees are known to the Eswatini News but will not be revealed as their cases are yet to be reviewed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The offences committed by the civil servants, leading to their suspension included; fraud, housebreaking and theft, stock theft, contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA), fuel theft, rape, malicious injury to property, murder and attempted murder, robbery kidnapping and assault common, contravening the provisions of the People Trafficking, People Smuggling Act of 2009, as well as theft by false pretences. Noteworthy, a majority of the suspended government employees were from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Among the offences committed by the Works employees was theft of fuel, fraud and contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006. Meanwhile, within the Ministry of Agriculture, there are currently seven civil servants who are on suspension with full pay for offences including fraud, stock theft and housebreaking and theft of government fertiliser, to name a few. The ministry with the third highest number of suspended employees is the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, where officials were suspended in connection to fraud (academic qualifications), theft as well as POCA offences. During the CSC strategic plan validation workshop held at the Royal Villas yesterday morning, CSC Chairperson Simanga Mamba assured that the commission was in the process of reviewing the cases of the suspended government employees. Mamba said the strategic plan was meant to ensure that the commission became the epitome of excellence, while improving transparency in recruitment, as well as excellent service delivery. While presenting an overview of the strategic plan, Mamba informed the present ministries principal secretaries that the commission would issue memos pertaining to the suspended civil servants in their respective ministries. Servants He acknowledged that the Minister of Public Service, Mabulala Maseko, tasked the commission with addressing the issue of suspended civil servants. He mentioned that there were close to 60 civil servants who were on suspension, some of whom have been suspended since 2010. At the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, there is a civil servant who held the position of a Road Oversee, who has been suspended since 2015 for stealing 20 bags of cement amounting to about E1 500. When you come to think of it, How much has government paid in salaries to the employee who is still at home for stealing cement worth E1 500? quizzed Mamba. He said the commission was currently going through the report dated June 2022, to ascertain whether it was still viable and whether the suspensions were still serving the purpose or backfiring. I do not want to preempt setting them aside, but we will be inviting you to the commission to discuss whether there was still objectivity pertaining to the suspensions, said Mamba. He said should there be a need to review, it would be considered as part of the work mandated to the commission by the Constitution. He assured that the issue of suspended civil servants should be addressed in the next quarter. Focus He mentioned that among the key focus areas, was effecting the handling of disputes and grievances from civil servants. He said the CSCs mandate in terms of the Constitution was to handle grievances from civil servants as well as outside civil service. The strategy will assist us to establish a grievance dispute mechanism within, he said. Elaborating, Mamba said in 2021, the CSC embarked on an exercise to review all civil servants cases that were filled with the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) so they could be adjudicated by the commission. That yielded positive results because some cases that would have otherwise ended up in court and being a cost to government, were resolved by the commission, he said. He further mentioned that in most cases, civil servants tended to run to CMAC, yet in terms of the Constitution, the commission was mandated to address the grievances from civil servants. Mamba stated that the commission has issued a circular to the Ministry of Public Service to ensure that all matters were referred to the commission for deliberation and would then be handed over to CMAC if a resolution was not met. Grievances This assists us in boosting morale within the civil service, because if government employees approach the commission with grievances, they returned to work happy when the matters have been resolved, he said. Pertaining to ethical leadership, Mamba said this was leadership that was directed by respect for ethical beliefs and values for the dignity and rights of others. He said the commission intended to push and promote consequence leadership within the civil service. He stated that the benefits of the strategic plan as articulated ranged from a clearly stated mission, vision, values, key focus areas covering service excellence, improvements in internal systems and processes. He further mentioned that also benefits which are; institutional capacity building, advocacy, image and reputation management, strengthening partnerships and collaboration as well as improvement in legal regulatory framework to resource mobilisation and financial sustainability. Mamba said the expected outcome was a CSC that would be an epitome of excellence in the public service founded on integrity, professionalism, innovation, inclusivity, confidentiality, teamwork and appropriate structure as well as aligned legal and regulatory framework to fully carry its constitutional mandate. The HSE has issued a red alert drug warning to Irish prisons after a highly potent synthetic opioid was identified in the system. An alert remains in place for people in Dublin and Cork after the nitazenes were linked to a high number of overdoses in recent months. The drug, identified in a light brown powder in a prison, can cause serious overdose, hospitalisations and drug-related deaths. The Irish Prison Service said it is working with the HSE in response to a number of OD presentations in custody. Additional naloxone kits have been secured and extra vigilance is being taken across all prisons. "The IPS has commenced an (information) campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming contraband. In a post shared to social media, the HSE said: "While safer not to use drugs, we urge individuals who use drugs to avoid new types of drugs or new batches being sold. HSE Red Alert extended to Irish Prison settings due to presence of nitazene-type identified in powder. While safer not to use drugs, we urge individuals who use drugs to avoid new types of drugs or new batches being sold. pic.twitter.com/aSsdEnVKPC HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) March 15, 2024 The health service shared a photo of the brown powder, urging anyone who uses drugs in prison to "make a safety plan. There were 57 overdoses associated with the drug reported in Dublin city within four days last year. A number of these overdoses occurred in homeless settings in the inner city of Dublin. The synthetic opioid is often sold as heroin in Dublin and in Cork city. The nitazene-type drug can be found in pills or powder, with cases of overdoses in Cork linked to the drug in powder form. The HSE has urged people not to buy new types or batches of drugs and to not buy from new sources due to the extreme risk linked to nitazene-type drugs. "Treat all substances with caution. You cant be sure of whats in it or its strength, the drug warning reads. "Mind yourself and care for others. We ask you to be extra cautious at the moment and always carry naloxone. Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opiate-type drugs like heroin, keeping the person alive until emergency services arrive. Starting with the OG himself, our patron saint, historian Donal Fallon on the Patricks, Patricias, Padraigs and Pats who have become part of our national story Just where Saint Patrick was born is the subject of some debate. Still, our patron saint was a real person, and left behind him an autobiographical sketch of his own life. Beginning, My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers, he went on to give us a detailed account of his time here and his journey towards faith in his Confessio. St Patricks Day has been a public holiday since Home Rule MP James OMara succeeded in introducing the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903 at Westminster. Alas, OMara also succeeded in closing public houses on the date. Almost four months since the Dutch people voted in national elections on November 22, there is still no government there. The stalemate has meant results in complex coalition negotiations are proving elusive for a nation that prides itself on consensus-building and compromise. March 17 is so much more than just a public holiday. It has evolved from being St Patricks Day to a week-long St Patricks Festival, and its global appeal is greater than ever. But who was St Patrick? And how has our patron saints name travelled across the world from Nigeria to Times Square and beyond? Fionnan Sheahan is joined on the Indo Daily podcast by the author, historian and host of the Three Castles Burning podcast, Donal Fallon. Incidentally, Donals article on the top 100 Patricks of all time is available to read here or in todays Weekend Magazine. So, pull on an Ireland jersey (or a green jumper!) and enjoy the insights as we reveal the Patricks, Paddys and Patricias who have worn the name with distinction. A YOUNG man has been charged with two counts of raping a woman in her Kerry home and threatening to kill her while armed with a large scissors. The 32 year old - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - appeared before a special sitting of Mallow District Court in respect of the alleged attack in Tralee town centre on Thursday. Judge Colm Roberts was told by Detective Sergeant Tom Burke that when the five charges were formally put to the defendant at Tralee Garda Station he replied after caution that: "I just want to say I am sorry for the things I am accused of. I cannot remember. I was on drugs." The detective said the young man had been arrested by Gardai on Thursday and questioned at Tralee Garda Station. Inspector Debra Marsh said the State application was for a remand in custody to Tralee District Court next week. The defendant did not speak during the brief sitting of Mallow District Court. He appeared wearing a black sports top and grey sweatpants. The defendant sat with his head in his hands throughout the proceedings. He faces a total of five charges including two counts of rape, one charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman, one count of burglary with intent to assault causing harm and one charge of production of an implement, namely a scissors, contrary to the Firearms and Offences Weapons Act. The other charges are brought contrary to the Criminal Law Rape Ammendment Act and the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act. All five charges involve an alleged incident early last Thursday morning at a residential address in Tralee town centre which cannot be revealed for legal reasons. Judge Roberts was told by defence solicitor, Pat Mann, that no application for bail would be brought before the court. Mr Mann said that his client's medical condition had already been outlined to the Gardai and he asked that the court make an order for him to receive any appropriate medical attention while in custody. Judge Roberts agreed and directed that the defendant receive the required medical care from the prison authorities. He remanded the defendant in custody to appear again, via video-link, before Tralee District Court on Wednesday. Judge Roberts also granted free legal aid with a statement of means to be submitted to the court. He was told that Gardai had no objection to free legal aid being granted to the defendant. The young woman involved had to be rushed to University Hospital Kerry (UHK) last Thursday for treatment of multiple stab and slash injuries. She was also assessed and treated for a suspected sexual assault. The young woman had suffered almost a dozen stab and slash wounds to her face and arms. While the woman's injuries are not life threatening, she is understood to have been left deeply traumatised and is now receiving specialist support. The young man charged with rape was not known to the woman. A 35 year old man who grabbed his partner by her jumper and twisted it around her neck leaving her with ligature marks and problems breathing and speaking was convicted of assault causing harm by Judge Keenan Johnson at Sligo Circuit Court. Kelvin Kudgenga, Globe House, Chapel Hill, Sligo was charged with assaulting Carrolle Sarah Nadege Batiglag causing her harm at Globe House on April 28 2022. Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh were Prosecuting, while Mr Colm Smyth SC with Ms Kelda Doherty BL instructed by Mr Tom MacSharry solicitor appeared for the accused. Gda Cian Erraught of Sligo Garda Station outlined the evidence, led by Mr Mulrooney. He told the court Kudgenga pleaded guilty to the assault causing harm charge on July 25th 2023. The injured party, Ms Batiglag, is from Cameroon while the accused is from Zimbabwe. Both were residents in Globe House at the time. The injured party had asked a friend of hers also living in Globe House if she had embarked on a relationship with the accused. The friend said she hadnt and this caused upset and consternation. Ms Batiglag was standing on the stairs when the accused approached. He started getting angry and grabbed her by her jumper. She told him to leave her alone. The accused grabbed her by the jumper with his two fists. He had a strong grip of her jumper and grabbed her. She thought he was going to throw her down the stairs and she tried to grab onto the bannisters. He was pushing her and she fell against a wall. Ill show you this time, the accused said to her. She was very scared and couldnt breathe as he had wrapped her jumper into a twist and was squeezing her neck and she couldnt breathe. She asked two girls to help and another resident who pulled the accused away. Ms Batiglag ran to Sligo Garda Station a short distance away and a security guard in Globe House also contacted gardai. The woman said she couldnt breathe and thought she was going to die. She felt burning around her neck and there was pain in her throat and her voice was hoarse. Gda Erraught said he could see severe bruising around her neck and her voice was extremely hoarse and she had to take breaths in between speaking. An ambulance was called for the woman. At 1:15am, Gda Erraught arrested the accused. The medical reports noted that Ms Batiglag was complaining of a sore throat and had a hoarse voice and bruising around her neck area. She had difficulty speaking and difficulty swallowing. There was a ligature mark around her neck and bruising. There was soft tissue damage and her clothing was torn. There were no fractures and she had soft tissue swelling and was given painkillers. The court heard Kudgenga accepted he was in a relationship with Ms Batiglag. He said that he did probably grab her to stop her leaving. He said he was not someone who would abuse women. It was put to him by gardai that there were witness accounts that he grabbed her by the neck and there were marks on her neck and he agreed with this. He thought he had held onto her for less than ten seconds and denied applying pressure. He ultimately accepted that he did what he did. Mr Mulrooney said the complainant was aware of her right to provide a Victim Impact Statement but hadnt. He said Kudgenga had no previous convictions. Mr Smyth said his client and Ms Batiglag were living together in the same building. She believed he was having an affair and confronted the other woman. There was an element of hysteria. The accused did accept he grabbed her. He had no previous convictions and had not come under notice since. He had since moved to a different county. He had given an apology to the complainants family and she accepted it. He told the court his client is an asylum seeker and a conviction will have serious consequences. Kudgenga told the court he came from Zimbabwe as he had attended a political protest there and had to flee and seek asylum here. If he returned, his life would be in danger. He was awaiting to hear the final stage on his application. He said Ms Batiglag was confronting the other lady and there was hysterical carry on. He came upon it and was pulling and dragging at her. He said what he did was really wrong. Mr Smyth told him his Probation Officer was of the opinion he didnt have remorse. He said it really hurts him everyday and he was really sorry and really regrets it. He said he told his Probation Officer he didnt mean any harm. He had not contacted Ms Batiglag since. He said he wanted to apologise to her that he was really sorry from the bottom of his heart. He said he really loves her so much. He said he was really sorry for causing damage and hopes she can forgive him. He agreed with his barrister that a conviction would have consequences for his application for asylum. Judge Johnson said he couldnt possibly apply the Probation Act. Mr Smyth said that unfortunately his clients application will founder because of this. He said he doesnt know what will happen in terms of deportation if he gets a non-custodial sentence. Judge Johnson said the defendant had been in an intimate relationship with the victim for four years. It appears the victim went to another lady and enquired if she was in a relationship with him. He was annoyed about that and tried to remove the victim from the confrontation with the other lady. He exercised considerable force and wrapped her jumper around her neck causing friction injuries. She said she had difficulty breathing and was very hoarse and in distress. Gda Erraught confirmed her injuries which were quite significant. The judge said there were quite significant bruising on her neck are and it must have been frightening for her. The aggravating factors were that it was a serious assault. The perpetrator was the intimate partner of the victim. She says she feared she was going to be killed which must have been traumatic and frightening for her. The injuries showed intent of strangulation which was a very big aggravating factor. The Probation Report said the accused spoke about the victim in a derogatory manner which was an aggravating factor and was absolute nonsense. The mitigating factors were the early plea of guilt and no previous convictions. He said the apology given to the court from the accused says he still loves her. The judge said the outcome of the case will have an impact on his International Protection application. He had to leave Zimbabwe as he attended a political protest and his life is in danger if he goes back. He has a good relationship with his siblings some of whom live in the UK. He imposed a two year sentenced suspended for five years on condition he enter into a bond to keep the peace and engage with Probation Services for 12 months, deal with anger management and the MOVE programme and have no contact whatsoever with the victim. He told Mr Smyth the only reason his client was not going to prison was because the affects on his asylum application. Fr Sean Fortune victim says the legacy and scars he caused must never be forgotten In Part 3 of our series marking the 25th anniversary of the death of paedophile priest Sean Fortune, Wexford man Patrick Bennett bravely recalls the harrowing abuse he suffered at the hands of one of Irelands most notorious men of the cloth The late Fr.Sean Fortune, former c.c. in Poulfur, Co. Wexford, pictured in 1987. Photo P.J.Browne David Looby New Ross Standard Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 09:12 Warning: Some readers might find the following article distressing An RNLI commemorative stamp designed by David Rooney. It focuses on the first touch of welcome contact between the RNLI and those rescued. Wicklow RNLI, who have a unique bond with their local post office, are lending their support to An Post who have produced two stamps in honour of the lifesaving charity. There are approximately 1,121 lifeboat crew members, with 675 shore crew in Ireland. Over the past 200 years the RNLI has responded to 20,899 incidents, saved 724 lives and come to the aid of 25,120 people in Ireland. An Post has joined with postal administrations in the UK to create commemorative stamp collections for the RNLI 200 celebrations taking place this year. An Post and Wicklow RNLI are connected by local postman Brendan Kavanagh, who also volunteers for the RNLI. He joined An Post 10 years ago and delivers in Wicklow town, but his passion for the RNLI stretches back 33 years. He has been a lifeboat crew member, but now manages incidents from the shore. The set of two stamps by renowned Irish designer David Rooney show action-filled RNLI rescues at sea, with florescent orange contrasting with sea green to form a striking colour palette. Using a scraperboard engraving technique, which is then digitally coloured, the scenes vividly depict the urgency and humanity of one person saving anothers life. In the international W stamp available in sheets of four, a gull bears silent witness overhead to a challenging rescue scene. The second national N stamp in sheets of eight focuses on the first touch of welcome contact between the RNLI and those rescued. The colour palette highlights the orange and reds of the RNLI boats set against the greens and blues of the ocean. The N rate national stamp costs 1.40 for posting within the island of Ireland, while the W international stamp costs 2.20 to cover letter postage anywhere in the world. RNLI 200 stamps are available online at www.anpost.com/shop (free delivery) and in selected post offices, including all those in RNLI station locations. If you wanted to get involved in the RNLI on shore, the fundraising branch of Wicklow RNLI is currently seeking new volunteers for their popular shop. Details of the voluntary role are available at volunteering.rnli.org and the closing date to apply is March 24. Energy efficiency and cost savings are paramount for Irish businesses seeking to optimise their operations and enhance profitability. Sponsored by SSE Airtricity We are living through climate collapse in real-time. That was the warning presented to delegates at the Cop28 conference in Dubai by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He added, This year has seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods, and searing temperature and the impact is devastating. The impact of climate change is well-known, and closer to home, Irish businesses are being encouraged by the Government and customers to establish greener energy solutions and implement sustainable practices. Whether yours is a small family business, a medium-sized company with ambitions to grow or a large company ready to play its part in a greener future, SSE Airtricity can help you. Oisin Burke, Energy Efficiency Manager at SSE Airtricity, explains, SSE Airtricity works with its Business Energy customers to support and offer guidance on how their business can operate more energy efficiently. We can deliver energy audits to identify areas for improvement, which serves as the first step to becoming a more sustainable business, highlighting the energy savings opportunities which exist while providing direction on grants and financial supports available for businesses of all sizes, he adds. The benefits of adopting energy efficiency measures As well as doing their bit in the fightback against climate change, Irish companies of all sizes can enjoy other great benefits by adopting energy efficiency measures. That can take the form of simple changes in behaviour right through to more significant investment in energy infrastructure. Businesses can showcase their green credentials In today's environmentally conscious world, consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on a company's commitment to sustainability and doing the right thing. By adopting energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, Irish businesses can demonstrate their commitment to reducing their environmental impact and conserving precious natural resources. This proactive approach can enhance a companys reputation as an eco-friendly leader, attracting a broader customer base and fostering brand loyalty among environmentally conscious consumers. Enhanced reputation: Meet customer expectations Adopting energy efficiency measures aligns with current customer expectations and sets a benchmark for responsible business practices. Consumers increasingly demand transparency and accountability from companies, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability is crucial in shaping their purchasing decisions. By embracing eco-friendly initiatives, businesses can position themselves as forward-thinking and socially responsible entities, gaining the trust and respect of their customers. Energy security: Fixed pricing offers input cost stability While the energy market continues to experience volatility, fixed pricing options provide businesses with much-needed stability and predictability. By locking in their energy costs for a predetermined period, companies can safeguard against unforeseen price fluctuations and have greater certainty in their pricing and budget planning. This stability allows businesses to plan their operations effectively, allocate resources strategically, and make informed decisions for long-term growth. Reduced energy costs: Save money in the long term Adopting energy efficiency measures can significantly reduce a business's energy consumption, leading to substantial cost savings in the long run. By implementing measures such as upgrading lighting systems, installing energy-efficient appliances and optimising heating and cooling systems, businesses can minimise their energy usage, lower their utility bills, and improve overall profitability. This will help support companies with their supply chain CSR obligations as a result of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and deliver a return on investment. These savings can be reinvested in other business areas, fostering growth and expansion. Lower carbon footprint: Do your bit to halt climate change By adopting energy efficiency and renewable energy measures, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and play a role in climate action. Businesses everywhere are under increasing pressure to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Using energy more efficiently can help to reduce Scope 1 emissions. These are the emissions companies themselves create directly, for example, by burning fossil fuels in the companys boilers, furnaces, and vehicles and through specific industrial processes. Meanwhile, choosing cleaner, renewable energy can help to address Scope 2 emissions significantly. Scope 2 refers to emissions associated with electricity generation purchased by the company and any other energy services bought by the business, such as steam, heating or cooling. Companies can buy their electricity from one of SSEs named wind farms through an SSE Airtricity Corporate Power Purchase Agreement backed by Guarantee of Origin certificates. This provides a highly tangible demonstration of a businesss green credentials. Tax incentives and grants Governments worldwide recognise the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability, and many offer tax incentives and grants to encourage businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices. These financial benefits can offset the initial costs of implementing energy efficiency measures, making them more accessible and attractive to businesses of all sizes. Unlocking Grants and Support Irish businesses can access financial support, grants and expert advice on becoming a more sustainable company. Avenues for Sustainable Business Growth Find out more about how your business can avail of these services to support your green credentials by calling 0818 88 28 03 or clicking here. For energy sources, visit www.sseairtricity.com. DVOKOLWAKO - The Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo intervened at Phemba Primary School, where about half of the pupils were not attending classes. Phemba Primary School has an enrolment of 155 pupils and is located at Dvokolwako in the Hhohho Region, but it services children from Mantshonga under the Manzini Region. For the past three weeks, about 83 of the pupils attended classes, while the remaining 72 remained at home. This comes after the operations of the school were accommodated at Philani Maswati Charity Organisations Old Age Home at Mantshonga, as the pupils were unable to reach the institution. This was due to the fact that floods washed away the suspended bridge (tebetebe), which connected the community to the school. This happened last year and as such, the minister visited the school yesterday to meet its administration, parents and other stakeholders. Suspended However, government constructed a new suspended bridge and after finishing it (earlier this year), the Ministry of Education and Training, through the office of the Hhohho Regional Education Officer (REO) orders that teaching and learning should be conducted at the school premises. However, according to the Hhohho REO Nkosinathi Nkambule, the head teacher of the school reported that some parents were not happy with the decision. In fact, he said he was told that they were against it. As a result, some of children had not been attending classes for about three weeks now, as their parents were against the ministrys decision. According to the REO, the parents argued that the school was far, the path to the institution passed through thick forests which posed danger to the children and that the suspended bridge was not safe for the pupils. Engage Minister Nxumalo promised Phemba Primary School stakeholders that he would engage another gear. This, he said, he would do in order for government, in particular the ministry, to make the construction of the school a priority for the safety of the children. Therefore, he promised the schools stakeholders that he would take the matter up with Cabinet and within three weeks, he and his team would visit the community to assess progress at the construction site. He said he was saying this because he had seen the forest which the parents were talking about and that path was not safe for children. Again, he said he had seen that the school was far from the community, which was something that was against the international conventions which the country signed. Highlighted The minister said apart from the school which was built at Maphiveni, he highlighted when schools were supposed to open in January, some of the institutions under Mafutseni Constituency, including Mhubhe High School, were affected by hailstorm. He said the hailstorm left the schools with no roofing, they managed to fix everything, including windows in three weeks. On another note, the minister thanked Their Majesties and Philani Maswati Charity Organisation Chairman Lutfo Dlamini for allowing the school to do teaching and learning at the old age home during the crisis. He said as a ministry, they were yet to go to Their Majesties to express their appreciation. Thereafter, the stakeholders, including a representative of Dvokolwako Royal Kraal, applauded the minister. In response, the parents promised the minister that they would send their children to school from Monday. Following her return to our screens after a ten-year absence, Lindsay Lohans comeback continues and now shes bringing us a romance that nods to her Irish roots. Shes coming to our screens in Irish Wish, a romance that Lohan shot on these shores over a year ago. Irish Wish is set here and was filmed on location in Kilruddery House and Lough Tay in Wicklow, Westport town, with other stunning locations including the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare. Netflix releases trailer for Irish Wish with Lindsay Lohan Directed by Janeen Damian who last year kick-started Lohans comeback with Falling for Christmas it tells the story of a shy book editor Maddie Kelly (Lohan), who is smitten with the writer she works for. But when reciprocation proves elusive, she takes matters into her own hands only to find that romantic fantasies dont always hold up to the harsh light of reality. Lohan, whose family can trace their roots back to Italy and Ireland, jumped at the chance to explore this side of her heritage. Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly in Irish Wish Alexander Vlahos as Paul Kennedy and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly Ed Speleers as James Thomas and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly A scene from the Netflix movie Lohan says she loved shooting in Ireland I loved it. It was incredible and so beautiful. My grandfather is Irish, Im basically half-Irish, but this was my first time being there. We were in Dublin, at a beautiful little place on the coast called Dalkey and we were at Newgrange which was just amazing. "I loved it there. I loved the people, the pies the Guinness! It was such a great cast, including my brother, Dakota. We had a great time. The movie was shot here during a special period in Lohans life. Not only did she stage a successful screen comeback, but last year she and her financier husband Bader Shammas welcomed their first child, a boy named Luai, into the world. She says she and co-star Ayesha Curry who plays her love rival in the movie bonded over motherhood. I wasnt pregnant at the time of shooting this but I was pretty much right after. I was so excited to be a mother and with Ayesha, a mother-of-three with another one on the way, I couldnt help keep asking her questions. We really hit it off from day one and the whole experience of making this together and sharing that experience has made her a special friend to me. How has the experience of motherhood been for her? I love it. Me and my husband feel so lucky and so blessed right now. Its the best. Lohan grew up in the limelight, having been signed to a modelling agency at the age of three and getting a regular gig on a TV soap by the age of ten. But it was 1998s The Parent Trap which turned the then 12-year-old into a huge child star. By the time she filmed Mean Girls and Freaky Friday, Lohan was a megastar but her fame led to huge media interest. Her rumoured relationships were in the news, while her frequent brushes with the law including for drink driving didnt help matters. A decade ago, she stepped back from Hollywood and moved to Dubai, where she has since said she benefited from being out of the spotlight. Thats where she met husband Shammas, and in the past couple of years she signed a three-movie deal with Netflix. I loved it from the moment I read the script, she says of Irish Wish. I totally fell for the story and I really loved the comedy. "It had been so long since I had done a movie, almost a decade, so to come back to something like this with Netflix and to also be an executive producer and be involved with so many aspects of the project other than just acting really felt like something exciting. I was really happy to do it and Im really excited for everyone to see it. I feel like this is the kind of movie we dont see enough of. I know I love a good rom-com, something that gives you that warm feeling inside. This is definitely one of those movies. Lohan believes the movie industry has changed hugely in the decade shes been away. Its totally different. Back then it was all about auditions and hoping to get a call-back. "The Parent Trap was huge but I had no nerves about any of that back then. Now I get nervous all the time, which is weird. But its a good kind of nervous. Im loving it right now. Her Freaky Friday co-star Jamie Lee Curtis who knows a thing or two about life in the public eye has remained a close friend and mentor. Lohan confirmed rumours that the two could be returning to the screen for another Freaky Friday movie. She has been there for me since I was 16. Im 37 now so its a long time. I feel very lucky to have someone like Jamie to look up to and to ask for advice. As someone who grew up in the public eye, the actress knows what advice she would give her younger self. To relax a little and slow down. I think when you are young, you get excited about things, you move too fast and you forget to just take a minute. That is what I would tell myself. Irish Wish is on Netflix now. Dublin designer Robyn Lynch: I was showing at London Fashion Week and making breakfast rolls in my familys deli at the weekend With past collections based on Jacks Army and her dads old GAA jerseys, the Malahide creative is fiercely proud of her roots. Here, she talks about how Irish dancing inspired her latest show, championing Irish heritage abroad and her big Paris ambitions Designer Robyn Lynch talks us through her AW'24 collection Bairbre Power Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 03:30 When guests arrived at Irish designer Robyn Lynchs menswear show at London Fashion Week last month, they were greeted by old video footage of two young girls in Irish dancing regalia giving it socks at a competition in Dublin. In a bumper year for elections, with more than 60 countries, including the United States, India and probably the UK, all going to the polls, Russias presidential contest has drawn relatively little attention outside the country. And it is true that the vote this weekend will be among the least savoury and most predictable renditions of the democratic process. The Houthis have for weeks hinted about surprises they plan in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) An attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a tanker in the Red Sea early Friday but the ship's crew was unharmed, authorities said. It was the latest in the rebels campaign against shipping over Israels war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu approves new attack on Rafah but Israel also hints at peace talks Mixed messages leave Palestinians fearful of further bombardment as US senate leader hits out at Israeli PM The Open Arms vessel carrying aid sails off the shore of famine-hit Gaza. Photo: Reuters Bassam Masoud Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 03:30 Israel has approved a potential assault on the Gaza city of Rafah while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive with plans to send another delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible hostage deal with Islamist militant group Hamas. US puts forward draft UN resolution for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza The US first proposed the resolution a month ago, just before vetoing a widely supported resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire Democrat US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Craig Hudson/Reuters Katie Hawkinson UK Independent Sat 16 Mar 2024 at 03:30 The US has drafted a resolution for the UN Security Council calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, a new report obtained by the Associated Press reveals. Photo courtesy: PR Team Kolkata/IBNS: Atonko, a play directed by veteran thespian Sohag Sen, was staged at a theatrical event of TOT School of Drama in Kolkata earlier this month. Staged at the prestigious Tapan Theatre, the production portrayed the struggles faced by 'migrant workers' in India. Atanko delves deep into the lives of migrant workers who traverse thousands of miles away from their homeland in search of a livelihood. They break mountains and create tunnels, but while cutting stones to earn their bread, they are trapped in a tunnel, which makes them and their families residents of "The kingdom of darkness". The play paints a vivid picture of the challenges encountered by migrant workers and the 'grave' terror that reflects in the eyes of their family members. Photo courtesy: PR Team Directed by Sohag Sen, the play sheds light on the harsh realities faced by these individuals, who toil away from their homes in search of a livelihood, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of exploitation and despair. Speaking about the production, she shares her insights, stating, "Atanko is a reflection of the resilience and determination displayed by migrant workers in the face of adversity. "With the initiative of TOT School of Drama, we conducted a theatrical workshop for 6 months to train individuals and then provided them with a situation based on the recent events of Uttarkashi, where several workers were trapped in a tunnel. Usually when I'm performing, I do a workshop and then prepare my script." She adds, "Similarly, we gave them a situation along with a set of characters, asked them to write their own dialogues and enact them. We just helped them bring this play into a form. It's a team effort and Im thankful to TOT School Drama for thinking so passionately about the theatre community during these times" Photo courtesy: Facebook/Arvind Kejriwal New Delhi/IBNS: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who on Saturday appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with the liquor policy case, has been granted bail, media reports said. Reportedly, Kejriwal, who heads the city's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was granted the bail on a bond of Rs. 15,000 and a surety of Rs. 1 lakh. The Chief Minister, who has skipped as many as eight summons served by the Enforcement Directorate, appeared after he was asked to appear by the court. The anti-corruption agency had filed a complaint before a Delhi court against Kejriwal for repeatedly skipping summonses over the past few months. #WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal leaves from Rouse Avenue Court, after being granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of Rs 1 lakh. The CM appeared before the court following summons issued to him by the court on the basis of two ED complaints in connection with pic.twitter.com/dPBXR95R4u ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 The probe agency is investigating the Delhi excise policy which has handed over liquor shop licences to private players. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleges that liquor companies and middlemen were "actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation" of the excise policy. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Kejriwal's colleague in the party, Manish Sisodia, is already in jail in the same case as the prime accused. In April last year, the CBI questioned Kejriwal as a witness for nine hours, after which he slammed the agency. The ED has been summoning him since November 2. #WATCH | BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in ED summons case "He has got bail on bail bond of Rs 15,000 in the case of complaints filed by ED. He is on bail and has been asked by the court to respond to the ED summons and obey the law. Following the law is pic.twitter.com/m3ai5vnKdQ ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 Kejriwal, who is one of the prominent opposition leaders in the country, has called the ED summons as a "political vendetta" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs the Centre but is out of power in the union territory. The Chief Minister, who is a staunch opponent of BJP, said the saffron brigade wants to bring an attack on his "asset" which is "honesty". He said, "A lot of my party leaders have been arrested on fake charges. Anyone is picked up and sent to jail. It's an open goondaism. Photo Courtesy: PR Team The U.S. Consulate General Kolkata on Saturday opened its doors to interview over 250 visitor visa applicants. This was the first of four Super Saturday visa processing events planned in 2024. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and U.S. Consulate Mumbai opened their doors on March 9 for similar special visa processing hours. U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, The foundation of our U.S.-India partnership is the network of relationships that individuals form when they work, travel, and study in the United States. Were doing everything we can to facilitate the visa process and support critical people-to-people connections. The U.S. Mission in India has increased staffing and harnessed technological innovations to meet the unprecedented demand and process more visas than ever before. In 2023, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India processed a record-smashing 1.4 million U.S. visas. Demand across all visa classes was unprecedented, with a 60% increase in applications compared to 2022. Indians now represent one out of every ten U.S. visa applicants around the world. LOBAMBA A submission to disqualify companies run by consuls from participating in public procurement was yesterday thrown out in Parliament. This happened after some Cabinet ministers and the Attorney General (AG), Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo made it known that consuls were not politicians and, therefore, eligible to apply for tenders in the country. As a result, Somntongo Member of Parliament (MP) Sandile Nxumalo, who had made the submission, was forced to withdraw. When making his submission, Nxumalo made reference to SwaziPharm, a company that is run by Indonesian Consul Kareem Ashraff. Nxumalo, who is the chairperson of the Ministry of Health Portfolio Committee, named the company after he had been asked by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, to qualify his statement that the Tender Board had messed things up by allowing companies run by consuls to participate in public procurement. Before Rijkenberg stood up, Nxumalo had submitted that during the engagement of the portfolio committee, members had advised that there should be a selection of drug suppliers and it should be those that complied with the Public Procurement Act of 2011. Nxumalo said as they scrutinised the annual performance report of the Ministry of Health, they discovered that Section 69 (ii) of the Public Procurement Act, 2011 stipulated that public officers and politicians were not allowed to bid for tenders. When we analysed the situation here, we found that there are people with that status who are allowed to tender and this we found to be a breach of the law. As we looked further, we discovered that the issue of tenders for medical drugs is captured by strong and powerful people, that is why we are in this mess, Nxumalo said. He said if there were members of the House who doubted his assertion, he was prepared to qualify it and that during the committee engagements, a question was posed to ascertain whether such people were eligible for tenders or not. The ministry gave a response and said they were not eligible. So we took it from there and agreed that the law had not been followed when tenders were issued, argued Nxumalo. It was then that Rijkenberg stood up on a point of order and submitted that since the MP had uttered a statement, where he made mention of politicians winning tenders and the Tender Board breaching the law, he should qualify his assertion. Submitting The MP responded by submitting that there had been reports published in newspapers recently to the effect that there was a consul and a company called SwaziPharm. That is known and I do not understand what we are arguing here because a consul is a politician. Unless there is something new you want to teach me today. I am ready to learn, said Nxumalo. At this point, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu stood up to offer what she termed a correction by stating that consuls were not politicians. Instead, Shakantu said, consuls were appointed by countries and that usually it was individuals who were businesspeople. Not wanting to back down, Nxumalo stood up again to say that he did not agree with the correction offered by Shakantu. The AG then stood up and said the correction shared by Shakantu was actually factual and that there was an Act governing consuls and diplomats and was clear that they were not politicians. According to the AG, there was a provision in the Consular Conventions Act of 1950, which gave clarity on the issue. I still do not agree, unfortunately. Had you given me enough time I would have justified it, submitted Nxumalo. Another Cabinet minister, this time it was that of Tinkhundla Administration and Development Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, stood up on a point of order directed at Nxumalo. Minister Sikhumbuzo submitted that Nxumalo should withdraw his statement since he had failed to justify it when asked to do so by Rijkenberg. He must withdraw it since he submitted that politicians were awarded tenders and then he cited a consul. It has been explained that consuls are not politicians. So I request that he withdraws his statement so that we can follow properly, MP Sikhumbuzo said. Again, Nxumalo bravely stood up to say that he had indicated to the Speaker, Jabulani Mabuza, that he wanted to explain but had not been given a chance, something he said was unfair. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo then requested Nxumalo to do the House a favour since what he was talking about regarding politicians was not contained in the annual performance report that the House was adopting. Khumalo said even in the findings and recommendations, there was no mention of politicians being removed from tendering. Seeing that he was not winning, the Somntongo MP appeared to be accepting his fate as he submitted that the session should continue, but that he planned to bring up the issue in future. Withdraw Despite giving in and allowing that the session should continue, Nxumalo was called to withdraw the statement on politicians and consul by Minister of Education and Training Owen. Making a similar submission as Minister Owen was Lobamba MP Michael Masilela, who said the matter should not be left hanging but that the Somntongo MP must withdraw. After a directive by the Speaker, the Somntongo MP eventually withdrew his statement. Meanwhile, besides calling for the disqualification of consuls, the Somntongo MP also submitted that all tenders that involved huge amounts of money should be taken to Cabinet first as was done when it came to those related to construction of major roads. He also submitted that since government provided The Luke Commission (TLC) with drugs, it must make sure that the organisation was audited and reports submitted to Parliament. Photo Courtesy: Youtube Page grab India will vote in seven phases from April 19 to elect a new Lok Sabha, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. Watch LIVE : Press Conference by Election Commission to announce schedule for General Elections 2024 to Lok Sabha & State Assemblies https://t.co/M8MRkdUdod Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 16, 2024 "We are committed to giving the nation a truly festive, democratic environment," Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said while addressing a press conference. 96.8 crore registered voters are expected to exercise their voting rights in the country in 2024. "We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years," Kumar said. Strict action against violence Kumar said action will be taken if reports of violence emerge from any corner of the country. "There is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections," he said. 4M challenges He said muscle, money, misinformation, and MCC violations are the '4Ms' that pose a challenge before the ECI in conducting free and fair elections. He said: "ECI is committed and has put in place measures to deal with these disruptive challenges." Misinformation to be tackled Promising to take action against misinformation, Kumar said fake social media posts will be taken down. He said: "Tackling misinformation in today's digital age is complex. We have put certain measures in place to ensure misinformation is nipped in the bud. We're proactive in debunking fake news. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws." He said 10.5 lakh polling booths will be set up across India to conduct elections. He said, "Over 85 lakh 1st-time women voters will participate in this year's election." "Gender ratio is above 1,000 in 12 states where the number of women voters is more than men," he said. Replying to a question asked by the media,he said the EVMs are '100 percent safe'. Assembly polls Assembly polls will be held simultaneously in Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh with the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections. Voting in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will take place on April 19 while Andhra Pradesh will vote to elect a new Assembly on May 13. In Odisha, two-phased Assembly polls will be held on May 25 and June 1. Bye-elections to 26 assembly constituencies will be held along with the Lok Sabha elections. The term of 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 16th June, 2024. The term of legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim is also expiring in June this year. Support Our Journalism We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news. Support objective journalism for a small contribution. Photo Courtesy: India in Sri Lanka X page The first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy constituted under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy signed between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka in July 2023 during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India, was held on March 11, 2024 in Colombo, officials said on Saturday. The meeting was co-chaired by Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy from the Indian side and Sulakshana Jayawardena, Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy from the Sri Lankan side. The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha also attended the meeting. The Indian delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Central Electricity Authority of India and the High Commission of India in Colombo. A 17-member delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) representing major renewable energy companies in India also accompanied the official delegation. The Sri Lankan delegation had members from the Ministry of Power and Energy, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "During the meeting, the Indian delegation gave detailed presentation on Indias achievements in the renewable energy sector, citizen-centric schemes offered by the Government of India to encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Indias cross border electricity trade," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Sri Lankan side highlighted the present status of the power sector in Sri Lanka and the contribution of renewables in the energy mix. The Secretary informed that since the Government of Sri Lanka was working towards achieving an ambitious target of 70% generation through RE by 2030, there existed vast potential for investments by Indian companies. He requested if capacity building support for evaluation of proposals and training to Sri Lankan officials could be extended by the Government of India. The Indian side agreed to extend all possible technical assistance to the Government of Sri Lanka in the areas of solar, wind, biomass and grid connection by offering trainings in premier Indian institutions such as National Institute of Solar Energy, National Institute of Wind Energy and National Institute of Bio Energy. The Indian delegation led by the Secretary called on the Hon. Minister of Power & Energy of Sri Lanka Kanchana Wijesekera on March 12, 2024 and discussed the entire gamut of existing collaboration in the renewable energy sector and ways to further expand it. On the sidelines of the JWG, the High Commission of India organized a business event- Energizing India-Sri Lanka ties through cooperation in Renewable Energy" in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and CII on March 11, 2024. The event saw participation of industry leaders from India and Sri Lanka in the energy sector. A panel discussion was also held during the event on areas of collaboration between India and Sri Lanka in the renewable energy sector, which was addressed by the Hon. Minister of Power and Energy of Sri Lanka, Secretary to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy of India, High Commissioner of India and Secretary to the Ministry of Power & Energy of Sri Lanka. The minister invited more Indian companies to invest in Sri Lanka and help harness the vast renewable energy potential for export to India in the future. The visit of the delegation led by Secretary to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India along with members from Indian industry will impart further momentum to the close cooperation in renewable energy sector between India and Sri Lanka. New Delhi: The Supreme Court registry returned the electoral bonds data provided by the Election Commission on Saturday, in compliance with the directive of a five-member Constitution bench, media reports said. The Commission had requested the documents, submitted in both 2019 and 2023, to be returned so that it could adhere to an earlier Supreme Court ruling which ordered to publish them on its website. Responding to the Election Commission's plea on Friday, stating it lacked copies of the documents submitted in sealed covers, the Supreme Court instructed the registry to return the papers by 5 pm on Saturday after digitizing them, reported NDTV. Subsequently, the Commission has been instructed to publish them on its website by 5 pm on Sunday. In 2023, during hearings on the validity of Electoral Bonds, the Supreme Court had requested current information on funds received by political parties through this method until September, following an earlier request for data in 2019. It is still unclear, once this data is uploaded, it will reveal new information on the donations, as the details supplied by the State Bank of India was already published on the EC's website on Thursday, the report said. During Friday's hearing, the Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, also criticized the State Bank of India for failing to provide the electoral bond numbers. These numbers are crucial for linking the lists of donors and recipients. "Who is appearing for the State Bank of India? They have not disclosed the bond numbers. It has to be disclosed by the State Bank of India," Chief Justice Chandrachud said when the hearing began, according to the report. The bench asked the bank to provide an explanation for the lapse during the upcoming hearing scheduled for Monday. Image Credit:Representational image (Credit: Pixabay) Rewari (Haryana): More than 40 workers were rushed to hospitals due to burn injuries after an explosion at an automotive spare parts factory in Haryana on Saturday, media reports said. The incident occurred approximately at 5:50 pm when a boiler ruptured in the dust collector at the Life Long Company in Dharuhera, a significant industrial center in Rewari District, news agency ANI reported. #WATCH | Haryana: Visuals from Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center, Rewari where the patients injured in the boiler explosion at a factory in Dharuhera, have been admitted. Dr Surender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, says "A boiler has exploded in a factory in Dharuhera, Rewari. We have alerted https://t.co/DR5Jgp86od pic.twitter.com/7WEWQkSblT ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 There have been no reported fatalities so far, according to a senior official. Footage from the scene depicted people fleeing through the factory gate as plumes of smoke billowed into the evening sky. The injured have been hospitalized at the Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center. "A boiler has exploded in a factory in Dharuhera, Rewari. We have alerted the hospitals. We have sent the ambulance to the factory. Several people have burn injuries. Around 40 people are injured and there is one serious patient who has been referred to Rohtak...," Dr Surender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, told news agency ANI. In the incident, one patient sustained serious injuries and was referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, the report said. Photo courtesy: facebook.com/filmheritagefoundation The acting legend, who has worked with some of the greatest filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Guru Dutt, invited the FHF archivists at her place and donated some of the memorabilia to them. Among the items which she donated were the "saree (that) she wore to the C.I.D. premiere, her photo albums and photographs and lobby cards from milestone films like Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudvin Ka Chand, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, C.I.D., Bees Saal Baad and Baat Ek Raat Ki". An excerpt of a long Facebook post by FHF reads, "It is a true honour and privilege for us that she has chosen Film Heritage Foundation as the custodians of her personal collection to be preserved for posterity. "FHF would also like to thank her children, Sohail Rekhi and Kashvi Rekhi, for supporting and enabling the donation." "These are my important memorabilia. People who have interests in films, keen to know how films were earlier made, they can visit Film Heritage Foundation and see these items," says Rehman. From playing a street sex worker in Pyaasa to the rebellious Rosie in Vijay Anand's Guide, Waheeda Rehman, who was honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award (India's highest award in the field of cinema) last year, had essayed roles which were unconventional and ahead of her time. Rehman, 85, worked mainly in Hindi films, but began her acting journey way back in 1955 with Telugu film Rojulu Marayi. Acclaimed for her roles in iconic films like Guide and Reshma Aur Shera, Waheeda Rehman is set to receive this prestigious accolade. Also Read: Dev Anand was the only actor I used to call by first name, says Waheeda Rehman as filmdom celebrates the legends 100th birth anniversary Waheeda Rehman's portrayal of unconventionally bold and beautiful Rosie (who abandons her uncaring archeologist husband to live together with tour guide Dev Anand) in Guide and her mesmerizing snake charmer dance elevated the film to new heights in Hindi cinema. Her performance in the storyline ahead of its time in Hindi cinema, not only showcased her exceptional talent but also emphasised the profound socio-psychological role that dance played in her character's journey. Guide marked a milestone in Indian mainstream cinema, setting a standard of aesthetic excellence in dance. She is best known for her Hindi films like Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, all of which were directed by Guru Dutt. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash About 15,000 people took part in an anti-government rally organised by the opposition in Slovakia's capital Bratislava, Slovak portal dennikn.sk reported Friday. The report said the opposition returned to protests against the government of Robert Fico. It said the protest was organised by two opposition parties represented in parliament: Progresivne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia) and Sloboda a Solidarita (Freedom and Solidarity). The main topic of the rally was the disagreement of those gathered with the reform of state television proposed by the Fico government and the foreign policy of the current cabinet. Protests have been occasionally held in Slovakia since the end of 2023. They were provoked by the initiative of the government led by Fico to carry out a large-scale reform of criminal legislation, including mitigation of punishment for some economic, corruption-related and property crimes and closure of the special prosecutor's office. The opposition in Slovakia said that proposals to close the special prosecutor's office were due to the fact that the government wanted to stop investigating politically sensitive cases; it also did not agree with the proposed mitigation of punishments. (With UNI inputs) An apartment building damaged by shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo Courtesy: UNICEF/Oleksii Filippov At least 20 people died after a Russian missile strike hit a civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, media reports said. After the first missile struck Odesa Friday morning, killing and wounding civilians, Ukrainian emergency service personnel who had rushed to the scene were then caught in a second strike, in an attack known as a double tap used by Russia throughout more than two years of its war in Ukraine, reported CNN. This is the first time a double attack has happened in Odesa region, Maryna Averina, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service in Odesa, told CNN. First responders arrived at the site of the strike and immediately began to extinguish the fire, clearing the rubble and searching for victims. And then there was a second missile strike, she said, adding that eight rescuers had been killed. 50-year-old Maria Slisovska said she was at her home when the missiles hit. At first our windows were still intact. Then about five minutes later there was a second blast. The ceilings were damaged. In the kitchen, plaster fell from the ceilings. Thank God my mom wasnt in the kitchen at that moment, she told CNN. The second hit blew the windows out. Then the ambulances started coming in. And then there was a strike after the paramedics arrived. The guys were dead. There were people covered in blood. We are now clearing the glass," she said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky describes strikes as 'heinous'. "Two missiles were fired, with the second hitting rescuers and medics who had arrived at the scene of the first strike," he said. Five injured in Ukrainian drone attack on moving car in Russia Five people were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a moving car in Russia's Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said as quoted by Sputnik. "A car moving along the road was attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine using a kamikaze drone. The incident occurred in the village of Glotovo, Grayvoronsky urban district. As a result of the explosion, the car caught fire, five people in it were injured," Gladkov wrote on Telegram. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Armed men opened fire on police in Pakistan's Karachi city on Saturday, media reports said. According to the SSP for South Karachi, the incident occurred as four suspicious individuals were traveling in a car and were signaled by police officials to stop for a security check, however, the four persons inside the car opened fire with an automatic rifle, reported ARY News. In the exchange of gunfire, one suspect who was driving the car was apprehended in injured condition, the news channel reported. The remaining three escaped from the scene. The police quickly seized the car and recovered an automatic rifle and multiple rounds while searching it. Authorities have started investigating the incident. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and an alleged robber who was also a proclaimed offender were killed during a three-hour-long encounter at Fatehmal village in Pakistan on Saturday, media reports said. The brother of the accused was injured in the incident. According to police, a team, headed by ASI Muhammad Akram, raided the house of proclaimed offender and alleged robber Muhammad Latif at night at village Fatehmal, about three kilometers from the Kanganpur Police Station, reported Dawn News. ASI Akram was injured when Latif opened fire on him. He later died in a hospital. Latif, along with his brother Shafique, fled the scene but the police continued chasing him. The accused entered a house, went upstairs and again started firing at the police, reported Dawn News. Latif was dead after an exchange of fire took place. The police told Dawn News Akram was wanted by Kasur Police in eight cases of robberies and was declared a proclaimed offender. Bapco Refining, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bapco Energies, the integrated energy company leading the energy transition in Bahrain, said it has received the GCC authorised economic operator (AEO) certificate and the ISO 55001 Asset Management certificate. The GCC Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certificate will enable the Bapco Refining to obtain priority clearance and immediate release of goods in accordance with international customs regulations. Additionally, it exempts the company from physical inspection and grants priority in dealing with certified operators within the facilitation mechanism applied in emergency procedures when the customs single window (OFOQ) or X-ray scanners are not functioning, said Bapco Refining in its statement. The ISO 55001 Asset Management certificate will contribute to achieving improved operational results and performance, as well as better final business outcomes. It will enable effective control of daily activities and help generate higher returns from assets while reducing overall risk costs. This comes after Bapco Refining successfully fulfilled all the requirements for these certificates, said the statement. The certifications were received by Abdulla Jehad Al Zain, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bapco Refining, alongside the board members. "Obtaining the AEO certificate will provide the company with numerous benefits, while the ISO 55001 Asset Management certificate will support Bapco Refinings growth and elevate its position in meeting internationally recognized asset management system requirements," remarked Al Zain. "Bapco Refining's attainment of the ISO 55001 certificate has placed it among the first energy companies in the region to achieve a significant accomplishment," he added. Bapco Refining CEO Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery, expressing pride in its latest feats, said: "This achievement will assist in streamlining and enhancing the company's operations while maintaining professionalism." Dr Jawahery acknowledged the board's conscious policies, which contribute progressively to achieving the company's aspirations and maintaining its leadership through the application of advanced work systems, he added.-TradeArabia News Service "Murder Mubarak" hit Netflix screens on Friday, featuring Sara Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, and more. The film follows a murder mystery set in the Royal Delhi Club, unravelling a web of suspicion and intrigue. Following its Netflix release, Twitter erupted with excitement as netizens shared their thoughts on "Murder Mubarak." The film's storyline and unexpected twists earned praise, with particular acclaim for Pankaj Tripathi's stellar performance. But there is also a section of users who are not happy with the film. For those planning to watch "Murder Mubarak," here are some tweets summarising the Twitterverse's reactions and recommendations: One user said, "Karisma Kapoor is so good in Murder Mubarak. Shes also just as beautiful as she was in the 90s." Another user said, "MurderMubarak! Sara Ali Khan and Vijay Varma make it unmissable. Forget the usual suspects; it's Sara Ali Khan and Vijay Varma's captivating performances that keep you hooked!" One, while critiquing the film, wrote, "#MurderMubarak on #Netflix. I am disappointed, seriously. Waste of such talented actors. 1 star." One individual shared, "I looked at my mom during murder mubarak and said, I cant wait to finish this so we can watch Koyla." A devoted fan of Karisma Kapoor shared, "Watching Murder Mubarak on Netflix for my queen Karishma." Murder Mubarak Twitter Review/X Murder Mystery Unravelled: In "Murder Mubarak," viewers are drawn into a gripping tale set in the Royal Delhi Club, where a murder shakes the elite community. ACP Bhavani Singh, portrayed by Pankaj Tripathi, leads the investigation as more murders unfold, adding complexity to the case. Homi Adajania's direction in "Murder Mubarak" hints at an exciting viewing journey, boasting a skilled cast and an engaging plotline. Also Read: Court By Day, 'Kedarnath' Scenes By Night! Abhishek Kapoor Spills Beans On Legal Fight With Sara Ali Khan For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Ramadan 2024, Sixth Roza Timings: Ramadan, the ninth month, is one of the holiest in the Islamic calendar. Muslims worldwide follow sawm (fasting - one of the five pillars of Islam) to commemorate the sacred month. Therefore, Ramadan rituals are observed for 29-30 days from the first sighting of the crescent moon to the other. Moon sighting is important to decide the beginning and the end of the month of Ramadan. Muslim community observes fast from dawn to dusk. After the day is over, in the evening, they break their fast by eating meals, known as Iftar with family or friends. It is believed that by refraining from food and water throughout the day, one understands the pain and suffering of other people and gets closer to the almighty God (Allah). Ramadan 2024: Sixth Roza City-wise Sheri and Iftar Timings Discover the city-wise Sehri and Iftar timings for the 6th Roza in India. Mumbai 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:32 AM 6:49 PM Delhi 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:09 AM 6:33 PM Chennai 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:04 AM 6:20 PM Hyderabad 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:17 AM 6:37 PM Lucknow 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 4:56 AM 6:18 PM Kanpur 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 4:58 AM 6:20 PM Bengaluru 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:15 AM 6:35 PM Kolkata 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 4:28 AM 5:48 PM Jammu 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:15 AM 6:43 PM Patna 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 4:40 AM 6:01 PM Noida 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:09 AM 6:33 PM Ajmer 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:21 AM 6:45 PM Ahmedabad 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:31 AM 6:51 PM Thiruvananthapuram 6th Roza Timings: Roza Date Sehri Iftar Sixth Sunday, March 17 5:18 AM 6:34 PM Ramadan 2024 Start And End Dates In India, The holy month of Ramadan 2024 begins on March 12 and will last for four weeks and ends with Eid-ul-Fitr. On April 10, Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed. Here's how Ramadan Roza is observed During the holy month of Ramadan Roza (fasting) begins after sunrise and culminates with sunset Consumption of food and water is prohibited between sunrise and sunset. Interestingly, the days start with Fajr (prayer during dawn), followed by Zhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening) and conclude with the Isha (night). Muslims consume a pre-dawn meal called Suhur, and they break their fast by having Iftaar during this month. About the Holy month of Ramadan According to Islamic culture, the origins of Ramadan can be traced back to the seventh century, when the Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, during the month of Ramadan. According to Islamic tradition, the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad began on the 27th night of Ramadan, a night that is known as Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power. Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of the year and that praying on this night is more valuable than praying for a thousand months. The practice of fasting during Ramadan is based on the Quranic injunction to "fast for a fixed number of days". Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan. The fast is broken at sunset with a meal known as iftar, which typically consists of dates, water, and a light meal. After the meal, Muslims perform the Maghrib prayer, the Sixth of the five daily prayers in Islam. Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, and charitable giving. Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran during the month, and many mosques offer daily prayers and study groups. In addition, Muslims are expected to give to charity during Ramadan, with many mosques and charitable organizations organising food drives and other initiatives to help those in need. Ramadan 2024: Dua For Iftar And Sehri FAQs What is Ramadan Dua? Ramadan dua is an act of worship that can bring great spiritual benefits to believers. It helps to strengthen one's faith and deepen their relationship with Allah. It can also serve as a means of self-reflection and introspection, as believers reflect on their actions and seek forgiveness for any shortcomings. How Many Fasting Days in Ramadan? The duration of the Ramadan fast is one lunar month, usually 29 or 30 days. What is Iftar and Sehri (Suhoor)? Iftar is a meal eaten by Muslims at sunset to break their daily fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Iftar is the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. This is followed by a prayer called the Maghrib prayer. Then, depending on the region, the iftar meal consists of a variety of traditional dishes, such as soups, salads, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. After the meal, many Muslims attend a special congregational prayer called the Tarawih. What is dua for Sehri in Ramadan? The dua for Sehri is Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan means I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan after reading this dua in Ramadan 2024 for fasting in Sehri you are not permissible to eat and drink anything till the time of Iftaar. What is dua for Iftar in Ramadan? Iftar, also known as futoor (the Arabic word for breakfast), is a meal held every day during Ramadan at sunset. You can break your fast by saying this Ramadan iftar dua, 'Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa 'alayka tawakkaltu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu'. Note: Dates/timings may be subject to change; details mentioned here are as per the information available. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Pet owners in the Uttar Pradesh capital are concerned about losing their much-loved animal friends following the ban on 23 dog breeds. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) announced a ban on sale, breeding or keeping of foreign breed dogs dangerous to human life and also decided not to issue licences for dogs of banned breeds that are not sterilized and vaccinated. Pexels Can't register banned breeds as pets Lucknow Municipal Corporation will run a door-to-door campaign from April 1 to enforce the central government ban on 23 dog breeds from being kept as pets. The LMC officials said the civic body will not issue new licenses for these breeds as pets from April 1. Breeding centres will also be prohibited from breeding them, they added. Existing pets allowed However, people who already own these breeds of pets will be allowed to keep them provided they have a licence and are duly registered with LMC. The pet owners will have to get their dogs sterilised and vaccinated and get the licenses renewed. They can keep the pups if the female of these breeds is pregnant at present, but no procreation will be allowed in the future. Pexels Unregistered dogs to be confiscated Dr Abhinav Verma, LMC animal welfare officer, said a fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed and the dog will be confiscated if a pet owner is found to have a dog of the banned breed without licence and registration. According to LMC, there are about 400 dogs of such breeds as pets in Lucknow. Ban on 23 dog breeds Earlier, the Union Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department had asked states to ban dog breeds considered as ferocious and dangerous to human life. Pexels These breeds are Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Japanese Tosa and Akita, Mastiffs, Rottweiler, Terriers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Wolf Dogs, Canary Dogs, Akbash, Moscow Guard and Cane Corso. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. The process to elect the next government of India officially got underway with the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. With the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct also came into effect. It will be in place until the announcement of the results. REUTERS What is Model Code Of Conduct In simple terms, the Model Code of Conduct is a set of norms for political parties and candidates to create a "level playing field". The MCC aims to keep campaign, polling and counting orderly, clean and peaceful and check any abuse of state machinery and finances by the party in power. MCC on campaigning The MCC states that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity that may aggravate existing differences create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic. BCCL It says that candidates should not appeal to caste or communal feelings to secure votes or use places of worship as a forum for election propaganda. According to the MCC, candidates or parties cannot canvas within 100 meters of polling stations. They also cannot hold public meetings during the period of 48 hours before the poll date. What ministers can't do MCC prevents ministers and other authorities from announcing any financial grants, laying foundation stones of projects, making promises of projects and making appointments to influence the voters. History of Model Code Of Conduct According to ECI, the MCC was first implemented during assembly elections in Kerala in 1960 when the administration tried to evolve a code of conduct for the political parties. BCCL The Model Code of Conduct was first issued by the Election Commission of India under the title of 'Minimum Code of Conduct' on September 26, 1968 during the Mid-Term Elections 1968-69. The code was further revised in 1979, 1982, 1991 and 2013. Legal status of Model Code Of Conduct While MCC does not enjoy any statutory backing, the Supreme Court has upheld its sanctity on several occasions. The Election Commission is fully authorised to investigate any violation of the code, and pronounce punishment. A parliamentary panel had in 2013 recommended that MCC be granted legal backing to ensure there is no vacuum for ECI to exercise its power, which is residuary in nature. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. When the State Bank of India on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it had submitted data on electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India, it was also a hard-earned victory for Commodore (Retired) Lokesh Batra. That is because the Navy veteran-turned-RTI activist has been at the forefront of the legal battle to make the data on electoral bonds public. BCCL Who is Commodore (Retired) Lokesh Batra The 77-year-old who describes himself as a transparency activist has been using the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek information on electoral bonds. Before he became a transparency campaigner, Commodore Batra had served the Indian Navy for more than three decades. Commodore Batra was born in Multan, which is now a part of Pakistan in 1946. TWITTER He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 22, 1967, and retired from service in December 2002. From Navy to RTI activist His post-retirement life changed with the introduction of the RTI Act in 2005. One of the first RTIs Commodore Batra filed was seeking information about the quality of water supplied to homes in Noida. RTI Since then he has used the RTI Act to gain information on several matters of public interest. More than 100 RTIs on Electoral Bonds After the government introduced the electoral bonds in 2018 which allowed political parties to receive donations anonymously, Commodore Batra filed more than 100 RTIs on the matter that were instrumental in building the case against them in the Supreme Court. The SC on February 15 struck down the electoral bonds scheme, saying it violates the right to information and freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution. BCCL The SC also asked the SBI to stop issuing electoral bonds and submit the details of the donations to the ECI by March 6. The SC had further said that the EC should make the data on electoral bonds public by March 13. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Things are only going from bad to worse for Boeing as the airline-maker found itself, yet again in a spot of bother after a New Zealand-bound LATAM plane dropped violently mid-flight, injuring dozens of travelers. Boeing on Friday warned airlines flying its 787 Dreamliner model to inspect certain switches in the cockpit following the incident. AP What Boeing told airlines "We have taken the precautionary measure of reminding 787 operators of a service bulletin issued in 2017 which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining switches on flight deck seats," Boeing said, adding, "We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity." What happened to LATAM Airlines Flight 800 Fifty people were injured after a Chilean Airlines LATAM flight from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand plunged mid-air on Monday. The sudden plunge resulted in some unrestrained passengers bouncing out of their seats and smashing into the cabin roof. REUTERS The airline on Tuesday attributed the accident to an unspecified "technical event." 2024 only getting worse for Boeing This was the latest in a series of incidents involving Boeing flights this year alone that has raised serious aviation security concerns. 2024 started on a disastrous note for the American plan-maker after a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 Alaska Airlines jet blew off mid-flight on January 4. AP Last week, a Boeing 777 jetliner bound for Japan had to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from San Francisco when a wheel fell off and plunged into an airport parking lot, damaging several cars. Boeing 737 Max fiasco Boeing, once known for its quality has been under fire and intense scrutiny by aviation regulators and airlines from around the world in recent years. REUTERS Airlines across the world were forced to ground their Boeing 737 MAX fleet for nearly two years after two planes -- Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in October 2018 and March 2019 killing more than 350 people due to faulty software installed by the manufacturer. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. India has emphasised the importance of acknowledging religious phobias beyond the Abrahamic religions, condemning all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia while also shedding light on contemporary forms of phobias affecting Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. This statement was made during the UN General Assembly session where a resolution sponsored by Pakistan aimed at combating anti-Muslim hate was adopted. While India abstained from voting on the resolution, it underscored the necessity to address the broader spectrum of religious phobias. #IndiaAtUN PR delivers the explanation of India's position during the adoption of the resolution on 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' at the United Nations General Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/AheU8UvpYM India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 15, 2024 Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, highlighted the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia targeting non-Abrahamic religions. She pointed out the increasing attacks on religious places of worship such as gurdwaras, monasteries, and temples, along with the dissemination of hatred and disinformation against these faiths in various countries. Despite the adoption of the resolution by a significant majority, the Assembly rejected two proposed amendments put forth by a group of European nations. These amendments aimed to alter key language in the resolution, including the call for a UN special envoy and references to the desecration of religious texts. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Kamboj expressed concerns about the allocation of resources solely to combat Islamophobia, stressing that neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths could perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality. She cautioned against establishing a precedent that could lead to resolutions focused on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the UN along religious lines. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the need to combat intolerance, stereotypes, and bias, emphasizing that online hate speech fuels real-life violence. He called for collective action to promote mutual respect, understanding, and social cohesion, urging leaders to condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia, commemorated following the tragic attacks on mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to confront bigotry in all its forms and build peaceful, inclusive societies for all religious communities. People of all ages from children to seniors suffer from all the common elements of joint pain due to several reasons such as ageing, and injury. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and many other underlying medical conditions. In today's fast-paced world, our attention on maintaining the health of our joints often does not get the needed priority, leaving it unattended or depending on palliatives like painkillers. However, with the advent of Nveda Joint Support, a revolutionary supplement aimed at supporting knee and joint health, individuals now have a powerful ally in their quest for optimal joint function. For more details log on to https://nveda.in/. 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It has been found the have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation in joints and relieving symptoms associated with conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Improved Mobility: Hydrolyzed Collagen enhances overall joint function and mobility by supporting the health of joints and cartilage. It promotes smoother joint movement, reduces stiffness, and increases flexibility, allowing individuals to engage in daily activities and physical exercise more comfortably Joint Repair: Hydrolyzed Collagen Type 2 contains essential amino acids that are vital for the synthesis of new collagen and the repair of damaged joint tissues. It supports the body's natural healing process, aiding in the regeneration and recovery of joint structures. 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Please talk to Nveda Doctors for a free consultation at the number given on Nveda website- nveda.in Nveda products have more than 50,000 ratings and reviews about its products in Amazon and Flipkart. Nveda Joint Support is a Non-Veg food supplement, Collagen is extracted from Chicken Cartilage and glucosamine from Marine fish. Anyone allergic to these should not take them. Remember, taking care of your joints today means embracing a happier and healthier tomorrow! A Chinese infant was born with a four-inch tail protruding from its back, stunning medical professionals due to the rareness of the condition. What did the doctor about the baby born with a tail? Chinese baby born with a tail | Image: AsiaWire Dr. Li, the deputy chief physician of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Hangzhou Childrens Hospital, identified the condition shortly after the baby's birth. Dr. Li shared a video on social media displaying the unusual appendage emerging from the baby's lower back, suspecting it resulted from incomplete degeneration. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed Dr. Li's suspicion of a tethered cord, where the spinal cord is abnormally connected to surrounding tissues, typically at the base of the spine. How long is the tail? The soft, boneless protrusion measures approximately 10 cm (3.9 inches) in length. A tethered spinal cord restricts normal movement, potentially causing various neurological issues. This rare case gained attention on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, with the video garnering over 34,000 likes and more than 145,000 shares since its posting on March 11. Why is the tail not removed even after mothers urges? Despite the mother's urging for doctors to remove her son's tail, surgeons opted not to operate due to the connection to the baby's nervous system, which could lead to permanent damage upon removal. The doctors decided to not remove the tail | Image: Unsplash This decision echoes a previous case in Guyana, South America, where surgeons successfully removed a tail from a 10-day-old baby last June. That baby boy was born with an abnormal spine, resulting in the presence of a caudal appendage, commonly referred to as a 'tail.' Scientists posit that the tailbone, or coccyx, is a vestige of our evolutionary past, no longer serving its original purpose but serving as a reminder of our ancestors' tails, which aided in balance while climbing trees. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. An photograph designed to dispel rumors about Catherine, Princess of Wales's health, has instead sparked a new frenzy. The British royal's extended absence from the public eye, dubbed the 'WherelsKate' trend, has inspired significant curiosity and discussion on social media sites. The hashtag #WhereIsKate has gained popularity on the microblogging platform, with individuals actively speculating and seeking answers regarding the princess's location. Who echoed #WhereIsKate on social media? #WhereIsKate trends on social media | Image: X Kinza Tariq, a social media influencer, echoed the concerns of many, writing, "Literally everyone on Twitter is trying to figure out what is happening with #KateMiddleton and questioning #WherelsKate???" As public interest grows, the mystery surrounding Princess Catherine's extended absence only intensifies, leaving watchers desperate for answers. Why is #WhereISKate trending? It all began with a photograph. Concerns and inquiries about Kate Middleton's whereabouts and health increased following the release of a Mother's Day portrait. Subsequent investigations found that the photo had been digitally manipulated, adding to the mystery of the Duchess of Cambridge's current predicament. Following a two-month absence from the public eye due to stomach surgery for an unidentified disease, suspicion about Kate Middleton increased. The British royal family's lack of transparency sparked great curiosity and distrust among the public. The Plot Thickens Is KomaKate New Date June ? #WhereIsKate pic.twitter.com/Fcl5RECZEg My Opinion - Sussex Warrior (@my_opnion) March 15, 2024 How did people on the internet react? The shot, which was intended to comfort people about Kate's health following her operation, sparked greater concern when top news outlets discovered it was Photoshopped. The next day, Kate apologized and admitted that, like many people who shoot images for fun, she occasionally tries to modify them. I feel this is the whole of the UK right now #KateMiddleton #WhereIsKate pic.twitter.com/47BnWnTZFK SIMON IN BIO (@TheSimonC90) March 15, 2024 William is avoiding media questions about #KateMiddleton. Does anyone know when this happened and if William was asked about Kate? #WhereIsKate #WilliamIsALiar#KateGate pic.twitter.com/8yT7A87H3I JAmshed IQbal (@Jamshediqbalji) March 15, 2024 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. New Delhi, March 16 (UNI) The ACMM Court here on Saturday granted bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in two complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him for skipping summons in a money laundering case linked to the Excise Policy case. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra after hearing granted bail to Kejriwal in both ED complaints on furnishing a bail bond of Rs. 15,000 and a surety bond of Rs. 1 Lakh. The court adjourned the next hearing in the case on April 1. CBI Special Judge Rakesh Syal after hearing on Friday declined to stay the summons issued against Kejriwal by ACMM Court, which directed him to appear before the court today. ED had moved two criminal complaints against Kejriwal for non-compliance of summons before the ACMM court at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi and matter was fixed for Saturday for appearance of Kejriwal. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra after taking cognizance of Enforcement Directorate (ED) complaints issued summons to Kejriwal for his personal appearance on March 16. Government counsel submitted earlier that as per the mandate of Section 50(3) of the Act, the respondent/ proposed accused was legally bound to comply with the summons but allegedly he failed to do so. He submitted that every non-compliance of the summons by a public servant would tantamount to a separate offence. In this matter, Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the Excise Policy was implemented as part of a conspiracy to give wholesale business profit of 12 percent to certain private companies. ED has alleged that the accused were in touch with Kejriwal regarding the preparation of the Excise policy for 2021-22. UNI XC CS1429 If you work in a business setting, you may be accustomed with extending your lunch break for a variety of reasons. But not everyone finds life in the corporate world to be simple. Who fired an employee for taking a long lunch break? Employee fired for taking a long lunch break | Image: Pexels Troy Holmes, an Australian real estate businessman, came under fire for posting a story about terminating his worker. Following the criticism over the piece, he explained his decision. Holmes explained that the assistant's removal was due to the 2014 episode, which he considered severe. In his TikTok video, Holmes stated that he hired a personal assistant who initially excelled at a large real estate firm. During the interview, the 22-year-old assistant impressed him and others by saying the right things. What happened at the office? After a few weeks, Holmes noticed that she would disappear for a few hours at a time, which didn't seem right. "She seemed to not be able to follow instructions," he went on to say. "I wasn't getting any real reasons for what she was doing," Holmes informed his followers. "I was struggling to hold her accountable because she wasn't clear as to what she was delivering as far as her KPIs go." The assistant's responsibilities included door knocking and letterbox dropping in order to help Holmes and his company generate more revenue. One "hectic afternoon," the assistant's hour-long lunch break proved to be the final straw. Why did she take a long lunch break? she stated that her heart had stopped and she fainted on the pavement | Image: Pexels Holmes called her to find out her whereabouts. In reaction, she stated that her "heart had stopped" and she fainted on the pavement. When Holmes got at her location, he was told that she tried to return to work, started running, had her heart stop, and then fell down. After offering her medical attention, Holmes observed, "Her entire demeanour changed to perfectly fine." "So yeah, apparently your heart can stop, and then you'll be perfectly fine in a couple of minutes," he went on to say. At that point, the employee's job with the company came to an end. The comments section generated mixed feedback, with some supporting Holmes' decision to fire the assistant and others defending the employee, claiming that Holmes did not come across well in his video. Holmes voiced confidence in his doubts to news.com.au, citing the assistant's hesitation to seek medical assistance and the fact that she had recently lost a close friend to heart failure. Holmes told the media outlet that the main takeaway from the incident was the need to strengthen interview procedures in the future. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. A woman in Tennessee described an unexpected experience after getting a shipment from the apparel company Shein. According to The People, the parcel was supposed to include clothes but also included a vial of blood and a can of beans. Who is the woman who received vials of blood and beans in Shein order? Anna Elliott contacted the blood testing company named on the vial | Image: TikTok Anna Elliott contacted the blood testing company named on the vial. The corporation confirmed that the vial was mismanaged and should not have been shipped to a resident, according to the news source. "I recently received a box from Shein that included a vial of human blood from a testing business. It had no name, no doctor's office, and no date," she explained in a social media video. "The lady from the testing firm stated they are attempting to find it. She claimed that everything was badly mishandled, and that they do not even ship blood to locals. They solely transport blood between doctors." What did the woman do after receiving disturbing order? Elliott also notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and her local sheriff's department | Image: TikTok Elliott also notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and her local sheriff's department. The CDC is investigating the incident as a possible biohazard. How did Shein react to the incident? Shein, the store, reported that their inquiry revealed that the box contained only the garments purchased when it left their facility. They believe the package was tampered with during shipment. The apparel shop stated, "When we learned that a client had received a manipulated box, we immediately initiated an investigation. This indicates that when the delivery passed through our quality control process and left our facility, it contained solely the Shein products purchased. We will continue to actively support the client in her ongoing investigation regarding what happened after her package left a Shein facility. " FedEx, the delivery business, has apologized for the incident and is investigating further. Elliott also claimed that a friend of hers got a needle in a separate Shein gift earlier this year. However, it remains unclear whether these instances are linked. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Bank Holidays April 2024: In India, banks usually shut down on public holidays, including national and state-specific holidays. National holidays like Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) mean banks are closed across the country. Also, festivals such as Diwali, Christmas, Eid, Guru Nanak Jayanthi, Good Friday, and others are considered bank holidays. Additionally, the second and fourth Saturdays of every month are marked as holidays too. Earlier we shared a list of bank holidays in March 2024. Now that April the third month of the new year is here, there's a new set of bank holidays to take note of. In April 2024, banks will be closed for 14 days but not in all the states or regions. These include the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays, public holidays, and some regional holidays. The holidays are decided by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the respective state governments. Services like Internet banking and ATMs will be operational during these holidays. The first holiday in April 2024 starts from the yearly bank closing on April 1st and other holidays like Eid al-Fitr which will be celebrated for two days on April 10 and 11 so banks will be observed holidays which apply to all banks in India except some states. These holidays may vary from state to state as holidays are determined keeping in mind the local festivals. A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen inside its headquarters in Mumbai | Photo: Reuters According to RBI guidelines, banks are closed on Sundays as well as on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, RBI has declared holidays on April 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 20 Apart from this, there are four Sundays in the month falling on April 7,4,21, and 28, and also on the second and fourth Saturdays on April 13 and 27. According to the Reserve Bank's calendar, apart from the weekends, there are nine bank holidays in April 2024. Everyone should plan any important bank-related work, taking into consideration the holiday schedule. April 2024: Bank Holidays Date & Day Holiday State April 1, Monday Yearly closing Several States April 5, Friday Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday/Jumat-ul-Vida Several States April 7, Sunday Weekend All Over India April 9, Tuesday Gudhi Padwa/Ugadi Festival/Telugu New Year's Day/Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba)/1st Navratra Several States April 10, Wednesday Ramzan-Id (Eid al-Fitr) Kerala April 11, Thursday Ramzan-Id (Eid al-Fitr) (1st Shawaal) Several States April 13, Saturday: Bohag Bihu/Cheiraoba/Baisakhi/Biju Festival/Second Saturday All Over India April 14, Sunday Weekend All Over India April 15, Monday Bohag Bihu/Himachal Day Assam and Himachal Pradesh April 17, Wednesday Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain) Several States April 20, Friday Garia Puja Tripura April 21, Sunday Weekend All Over India April 27, Saturday Fourth Saturday Holiday All Over India April 28, Sunday Weekend All Over India State-wise List Of Bank Holidays in April 2024 April 1, Monday: Yearly closing Banks are closed across the country except in Mizoram, Chandigarh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Meghalaya And Himachal Pradesh. April 5, Friday: Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday/Jumat-ul-Vida Banks remain shut in Hyderabad (Telangana) and Jammu and Kashmir. April 7, Sunday: Weekend Banks will be closed across the country April 9, Tuesday: Gudhi Padwa/Ugadi Festival/Telugu New Year's Day/Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba)/1st Navratra Banks are closed in Navi Mumbai, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir. April 10, Wednesday: Ramzan-Id (Eid al-Fitr) Banks observed a holiday in Kerala April 11, Thursday: Ramzan-Id (Eid al-Fitr) (1st Shawaal) Banks remain closed in the country except in Chandigarh, Sikkim, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh April 13, Saturday: Bohag Bihu/Cheiraoba/Baisakhi/Biju Festival/Second Saturday Banks will be shut across the country due to the second Saturday holiday especially in Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir due to events like Bohag Bihu/Cheiraoba/Baisakhi/Biju Festival. April 14, Sunday: Weekend Bank will be closed across the country April 15, Monday: Bohag Bihu/Himachal Day Banks are closed in Assam and Himachal Pradesh April 17, Wednesday: Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain) Bank will be closed in Gujarat, Navi Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh. April 20, Friday: Garia Puja Banks will be shut in Tripura. April 21, Sunday: Weekend Bank will be closed across the country April 27, Saturday: Second Saturday Holiday Bank will be closed across the country April 28, Sunday: Weekend Bank will be closed across the country As per the RBI rules, there are three categorised holidays and they are as follows: 1. Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act 2. Holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday 3. Banks' Closing of Accounts Important Days and Festivals In March 2024 Bohag Bihu: Also called Rongali Bihu, this festival marks the Assamese New Year. It's celebrated with feasting, music, and dancing for almost a month across Assam. Also called Rongali Bihu, this festival marks the Assamese New Year. It's celebrated with feasting, music, and dancing for almost a month across Assam. Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti: This day honours the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, the main architect of India's constitution. Processions and decorations of Ambedkar's statues are common ways of paying homage to him. This day honours the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, the main architect of India's constitution. Processions and decorations of Ambedkar's statues are common ways of paying homage to him. Garia Puja: A harvest festival celebrated by ethnic tribes in Tripura. It involves worshipping the god Garia for peace, wealth, children, and animals. A harvest festival celebrated by ethnic tribes in Tripura. It involves worshipping the god Garia for peace, wealth, children, and animals. Himachal Day: Celebrating the creation of Himachal Pradesh, this day includes a parade and cultural events attended by the Governor and Chief Minister. Celebrating the creation of Himachal Pradesh, this day includes a parade and cultural events attended by the Governor and Chief Minister. Vaisakhi: A harvest festival celebrated with singing, dancing, and wearing festive clothes. Sikhs commemorate the founding of the Khalsa Panth during this festival. A harvest festival celebrated with singing, dancing, and wearing festive clothes. Sikhs commemorate the founding of the Khalsa Panth during this festival. Odisha Day: This day remembers when Odisha became its own province under British rule on April 1, 1936. People celebrate by having fun and decorating shops. They also hold cultural events and competitions. This day remembers when Odisha became its own province under British rule on April 1, 1936. People celebrate by having fun and decorating shops. They also hold cultural events and competitions. Vishu: This is the New Year festival in Kerala, dedicated to offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. It signifies the sun's movement into Aries and the start of agricultural activities. This is the New Year festival in Kerala, dedicated to offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. It signifies the sun's movement into Aries and the start of agricultural activities. Biju: The Chakma people celebrate Biju, a colourful festival lasting three days. They showcase their cultural heritage through various performances. Biju marks the end of one year and the beginning of the Bangla New Year. The Chakma people celebrate Biju, a colourful festival lasting three days. They showcase their cultural heritage through various performances. Biju marks the end of one year and the beginning of the Bangla New Year. Ram Navami: This Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Rama, an important figure in Hinduism. People decorate temples and offer water to the Sun God, who is believed to be related to Rama. This Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Rama, an important figure in Hinduism. People decorate temples and offer water to the Sun God, who is believed to be related to Rama. Ashoka's birth anniversary: April 14 is observed as a public holiday in Bihar to commemorate the birth of Emperor Ashoka, despite uncertainty about his actual birth date among historians. April 14 is observed as a public holiday in Bihar to commemorate the birth of Emperor Ashoka, despite uncertainty about his actual birth date among historians. Cheiraoba: Manipuri New Year, celebrated by cleaning and decorating homes. Locals climb hills to symbolize human civilization's rise. Manipuri New Year, celebrated by cleaning and decorating homes. Locals climb hills to symbolize human civilization's rise. Bengali New Year: Celebrating the Bengali New Year, this festival involves fairs, processions, and spending time with family. Special foods like sweets are shared among friends and relatives. Celebrating the Bengali New Year, this festival involves fairs, processions, and spending time with family. Special foods like sweets are shared among friends and relatives. Babu Jagjivan Ram Birthday: Telangana celebrates the birthday of Babu Jagjivan Ram, a politician who helped create the All-India Depressed Classes League. He became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar in 1937. Telangana celebrates the birthday of Babu Jagjivan Ram, a politician who helped create the All-India Depressed Classes League. He became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Bihar in 1937. Maha Vishuba Sankranti: Also known as Odia New Year, this day marks the beginning of the Odia almanac. People prepare and share a sweet drink called 'Pana' to celebrate. Also known as Odia New Year, this day marks the beginning of the Odia almanac. People prepare and share a sweet drink called 'Pana' to celebrate. Mahavir Jayanti: This day honours the birth of Lord Mahavir, the founder of Jainism. Jains engage in charitable activities and hold prayers in temples dedicated to Mahavir. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Since Elon Musk became the boss of Twitter in October 2022 and decided to change its name to 'X' and its famous bird logo, the social media site has had many good and bad times. However, even with all that, Twitter (now named X) is still a favourite social media site. Elon Musk, who used to be the CEO, is very active on it. He's also the most popular account on X, with over 177 million people following him as of today (March 14, 2024). Did you know that some of India's leading entrepreneurs use Twitter and have millions of followers? Who tops the list of most followers remains a question. Don't worry; we've compiled the list for you. From Ratan Tata To Gautam Adani, let us have a look at the list of most followed business tycoons on X (formerly Twitter): List Of India's 8 Most Followed Entrepreneurs on X (Formerly Twitter) 1. Ratan Tata - 12.9 million followers BCCL Ratan N. Tata chaired Tata Sons, overseeing Tata Group, till 2012. Under him, revenues soared, exceeding $100 billion in 2011-12. Post-retirement, he became Chairman Emeritus of key Tata companies. He led major firms like Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Consultancy Services. Additionally, he held positions in global organizations and trusts, contributing to education and research. Tata, who joined Tata in 1962, holds a Padma Vibhushan and honorary degrees. People admire him for his smart decisions and for helping others. He started using Twitter in 2011 and is followed by over 12 million people. 2. Anand Mahindra - 11 million followers BCCL Anand Mahindra is an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman of Mahindra Group who is very active on social media, especially Twitter, where he has 11 million followers. He's known for his funny and friendly tweets on different subjects. He shares cool things, talks to regular people, and helps those who need it or show talent on Twitter. 3. Nandan Nilekani - 2.4 million followers BCCL Nandan Nilekani is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Infosys Limited. He also led the Unique Identification Authority of India from 2009 to 2014. Nandan co-founded EkStep Foundation, a charity aiming to help kids learn better with technology. In January 2023, he became co-chair of the "G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure for Economic Transformation, Financial Inclusion, and Development." 4. Ronnie Screwvala- 2 Million followers BCCL Highly successful entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala, worth Rs 12,800 crore, joins Shark Tank India Season 3. Named in Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People in 2009, he started with a toothbrush company and expanded into education and film, building a Rs 12,800 crore empire. Mumbai-born, he attended Sydenham College after Cathedral and John Connon School. His love for theatre led to roles in plays like Othello and Death of a Salesman. He joined Twitter in 2012 and now has over 2 million followers. 5. Harsh Vardhan Goenka - 1.8 million followers BCCL Harsh Goenka, who leads RPG Enterprises, likes to share uplifting and fascinating posts to entertain and inspire his social media followers. He also teaches important life lessons to his 1.8 million Twitter fans. Harsh Goenka joined Twitter in 2009. 6. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw - 1.6 million followers BCCL Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is among the rich entrepreneurs from India. She started a company called Biocon Limited and another one called Biocon Biologics Limited. She joined Twitter in May 2010. On Twitter, she talks about many things like politics, helping people, and what's happening in science and medicine. 7. Uday Kotak - 1.1 million followers BCCL Uday Kotak, who is the executive vice chairman and managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank, started using Twitter in June 2014. He likes to share helpful information about the business world, which can be useful for young people making investments. 8. Gautam Adani - 1 million followers BCCL Gautam Adani is the founder of the Adani Group, one of India's top industrial conglomerates. His goal is to help India grow while doing good. The group has many businesses, including energy, ports, and defence. Adani wants to improve India's infrastructure and help farmers. He also focuses on renewable energy and self-reliance in defence. The group works with global partners and runs many social programs through the Adani Foundation, benefitting millions of people yearly. He joined X (Formerly Twitter) in 2024 and has over 1 million followers. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Top 10 Poorest Countries In The World In 2024: In various corners of the world, some countries are facing severe economic hardship like poverty, limited resources, and inadequate infrastructure, making life challenging for their citizens. With low incomes and high unemployment rates, people in these countries often find it difficult to meet their basic needs. Political instability, conflicts, and reliance on agriculture further exacerbate their plight. Despite the rich potential of their natural resources, mismanagement and external pressures often prevent these countries from thriving. International aid and sustainable development efforts aim to uplift these nations, offering hope for a brighter future amid adversity. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report about the poorest countries, considering their GDP per person after adjusting for the cost of living. This gives a better idea of how people live in these places. South Sudan is the poorest, facing problems like politics, conflicts, and bad infrastructure. Next are Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique. They all have similar issues like unstable politics, conflicts, poor infrastructure, and rely heavily on farming, which makes them vulnerable to bad weather and food shortages. The report also talks about Malawi, Niger, Chad, Liberia, and Madagascar. These countries are mostly in Africa and struggle with limited resources, lots of people, and depend a lot on farming, which keeps them poor. The report says the world should help these countries by building better infrastructure, helping their economies grow in different ways, and making sure they have stable governments. AFP In 2024, Yemen is the Asian country facing the worst economic problems, with a GDP per person estimated at $2,136. But it's hard to be sure because of ongoing conflicts. On the other hand, Luxembourg is the richest country, with a very high GDP per person of $145,834. Meanwhile, India's GDP per person is around $9890 in 2024, showing where it stands in the world economy. List of Poorest countries in the world by GDP per capita by IMF as of February 1, 2024 Poorest Countries In The World Rank Country GDP Per Capita 1 South Sudan $492.72 2 Burundi $936.42 3 Central African Republic (CAR) $1,140.00 4 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) $1,570.00 5 Mozambique $1,650.00 6 Malawi $1,710.00 7 Niger $1,730.00 8 Chad $1,860.00 9 Liberia $1,880.00 10 Madagascar $1,990.00 Let's take a closer look at the world's poorest countries and understand why they are at the bottom of the list based on their per capita income. South Sudan: South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, is facing big economic problems. With a GDP of $25.83 billion, it has issues like fights, political instability, and not enough good roads and buildings. Most people rely on farming, but fighting and bad weather often stop them from growing enough food. This affects over 11 million people, keeping many of them poor. Burundi: Burundi is a small country with a GDP of $3.06 billion and the population of over 13 million in East Africa without any coasts. It struggles a lot with problems like politics, fights, and not having good roads or buildings. Many people there farm to survive, but there are so many people that it's hard to have enough food for everyone. This makes Burundi one of the hungriest countries in Africa. Central African Republic (CAR): The Central African Republic (CAR), located in the middle of Africa with a GDP of $3 billion and a population of over 5 million, possesses valuable resources like gold and oil. However, despite this, most people in the country remain very poor. This is due to ongoing conflicts, insufficient infrastructure such as roads and buildings, and rising prices caused by a war in Ukraine. Additionally, natural disasters like floods and droughts further compound the difficulties faced by the population. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)is the biggest country in Africa below the Sahara Desert with a population of over 100 million and with GDP of $15.42 billion. Even though it has many valuable things like cobalt and copper, most people don't have much money. Many people there live in poverty, not having enough money for food or other things they need. This is a big problem for the country's growth. Mozambique: Mozambique, with a GDP of $23.96 billion and a population of over 30 million, is a sparsely populated country in southeastern Africa. Despite its abundant natural resources like gas, many people suffer from poverty due to factors such as diseases, adverse weather conditions, and food shortages. Additionally, conflicts among various groups further exacerbate the challenges, making it difficult for people to lead prosperous lives. Malawi: Malawi, with a GDP of $11.04 billion and a population of over 21 million, is a beautiful country in southeastern Africa, but it faces many challenges. Most of its people rely on farming, but issues like climate change and fluctuating prices make it difficult for them to have enough food or money. However, the government is working to address these issues by creating more jobs and improving schools and hospitals. Niger: Niger, a country in West Africa with a GDP of $19.54 billion and a population of over 27 million, faces significant challenges. Due to its lack of coastlines, water scarcity, and frequent harsh weather, many people in Niger are poor. Most rely on farming, but droughts make it difficult to produce enough food. Additionally, the country's limited financial resources result in few opportunities for good jobs or access to quality education. Chad: Chad, with a GDP of $13.19 billion and a population of over 18 million, is an African nation rich in oil resources. However, despite this wealth, many people live in poverty. Most of the population relies on farming, but challenges like adverse weather conditions and conflicts make it difficult for them to earn enough money or produce sufficient food. Additionally, unfair treatment by the government further exacerbates the hardships faced by its citizens. Liberia: Liberia, with a GDP of $4.59 billion and a population of over 5 million, is a country in Africa that has experienced numerous conflicts and diseases. This has resulted in poor infrastructure, including inadequate roads and hospitals. Many people have been displaced from their homes and farms, exacerbating food shortages. However, organizations like the World Food Programme are working to alleviate hunger by providing food aid and improving education and healthcare facilities. Madagascar: Madagascar, an island country in Africa with a GDP of $16.77 billion and a population of over 25 million, has faced numerous conflicts and government changes since gaining independence. Despite its abundant mineral resources, many people in Madagascar are not wealthy. This is due to insufficient stability and underutilization of the country's resources for its development. Mining and tourism play significant roles in generating income for Madagascar. (With inputs from Forbes and the IMF) For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here His remarks came during a visit to the Piraeus General Cancer Hospital Metaxas, where he inspected the progress of renovations alongside Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis. The Labour Party (LP), on Friday, commended Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central for speaking out against alleged N3 trillion padding in the 2024 budget. According to the Party, LP senators in the 10th National Assembly agree with Ningi Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, the LP National Youth Leader, said this during a youth-led solidarity visit to the partys national secretariat in Abuja. READ ALSO: Insecurity: Sack Non-Performing Security Chiefs APC Chairmen To Tinubu Recall that Ningi, at the Senate, was slammed a three-month suspension by the Senate on Tuesday for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded. Reacting, Ahanotu said, Many senators besides Labour Party senators backed the suspended lawmaker for his courage. There are a lot of people that supported him, but he was the one that the floor was given before he spoke. But I can assure you that many senators, including Labour Party senators, are solidly behind him because he is trying to unravel the ills of the National Assembly. Forum of All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairmen, on Friday, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack all non-performing security chiefs in his cabinet. The Party chairmen made this call following the high rate of kidnapping and general insecurity in the country. Addressing journalists in Abuja, shortly after a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Secretary of the Forum, Alphonsus Oga Eba, said the rising insecurity in the country was discussed in their meeting. On the question of the kidnap of pupils in Kaduna State, yes it forms one of the issues about the general insecurity in the country that we raised as a matter of concern to Mr President, he said. We said we are more concerned because, from our position, it is very clear there are a lot of distractions going on in this country. There are activities of criminals that are being perpetrated to put the government and our party in a bad light, Eba said. READ ALSO: Insecurity: FCT Police, DSS Dont Have Ordinary Tracking Devices Wike Reveals Having commended President Tinubu for his moral and financial support to security agencies, the Forum added that, We came with one humble advice that we gave to Mr President today as a forum of chairmen to say that nobody expects Mr President as Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to carry arms and go to the battlefield. That is why he has his lieutenants, as security agencies in various areas and what we have told Mr. President today, by way of advice, that it is time for people to be held accountable for their actions. Where a district police officer or a commissioner of police or whoever that is in control of whatever security architecture at whatever level is found wanting, Mr President should wield the big stick. That was part of what we discussed today. Minister Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has weighed in on the scarred relationship he has with Ireti Kingibe, Senator representing FCT. Kingibe and Wike have not had a good work relationship since they both came to the office. Last year, Kingibe declared that Wike does not have the executive powers to make threats of demolition of illegal buildings in the territory. Also in January, the lawmaker claimed that Wike had refused to respond to her letters and messages in the wake of the rising kidnappings in Abuja. Speaking at a media parley on yesterday, Wike said Kingibes anger stems from his constant companionship with Philip Aduda, her predecessor in the Senate. The Minister who said he could not be forced to befriend Kingibe said: Somebody wants to be your friend. I said I dont want to be your friend. Is it by force? The problem is that she wanted to be chairman senate committee on FCT but the senate president said: Im not giving you.' READ ALSO: Lets Set Aside Political Differences For Governance- Tinubu Tasks Govs As newmen pointed out the Kinigbes interest in FCT affairs, Wike responded saying, What? Are you going to supervise me? You cannot supervise me. According to him, he has always invited the chairpersons of the FCT committee in the National Assembly to witness the flag-off projects in the nations capital. Theres nothing we have done that I have not invited the two chairmen of the FCT. Nobody can intimidate me. I was a minister before, I became a governor of one of the most important states in Nigeria and now I am a minister of FCT. Youre saying the minister does not carry me along. I dont have the back. People dont know how to go about things. It is not by intimidation. The problem is this she ran an election against my friend Philip Aduda. And then she sees Philip Aduda everywhere with me. She said I am taking Philip everywhere instead of her who is the senator. Will I abandon my friend because he failed election? People are so petty. It doesnt make sense, he said. Wike however asked Kingibe to do the right thing through appropriate communication. Ogunleye Olamide Babatunde, also known as Oluwadolarz, a Nigerian musician and skit creator, has spoken out about how his colleague Lord Lamba unexpectedly moved into his home. In a recent chat on the Echo Room podcast, Oluwadolarz described how some close friends in the industry organised a surprise birthday celebration for him. He revealed that the party was held in his home and that there were several industry colleagues in attendance. He said that Lord Lamba was present at the celebration. However, even after the celebration was done, Lord Lamba remained in his home until he permanently moved in without his approval or authorization. READ MORE: Lord Lambas Action After Queens Engagement Was To Sabotage Her Big Day Tolanibaj (Video) In his words, Lamba is someone I thank God for, because the way he started living in my house was I was celebrating my birthday, Sydney organised a birthday surprise for me, literally 80 percent of the industry were at my house that night I was not even aware that something was going on so Lamba was among them and everything so the birthday was done, the next day he was still there and Im not the kind of person thatll say leave my house, Ill just be looking at you, he came as a guest and he started living there, we never had a conversation See some reactions to his revelation, @abee4real17: Na your birthday gift be that @marcesandra: Hes saying the truth now, you can help someone today and tomorrow the person will be richer than you. @1debrah; it will take dynamite for me to swallow before I blurt this out Abeg SEE POST: The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has a again cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against meddling in the affairs of the National Assembly. According to APC, the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio has done nothing to warrant quitting his position over the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central. Recall that the PDPs National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in support Ningis budget padding claim, asked the Senate President to step down for an independent probe to be conducted on the alleged N3.7tn padding of the 2024 budget. However, APCs National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, reacting to the development via a Friday statement, argued that Akpabio has not done anything unusual to make him step down from his duties as Senate President. The APC claimed that it was laughable that the PDP was demanding that Akpabio surrenders himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), whilst being a corrupt party. READ ALSO: Probe N3trn Budget Padding Allegation PDP Tells Tinubu His words, The PDP should quit being a meddlesome interloper, expend its lean energy on revamping its decrepit institution, and leave the Senate to carry on with its important role of deepening our democracy and stabilising our dear nation. It is rather ridiculous that the PDP that is unable to govern itself would seek to dictate to the Senate how it should conduct its proceedings and handle internal matters of discipline of its members. Exactly how is the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi without first referring the matter to a Senate standing committee proof of a cover up? Contrary to the PDPs twisted argument, the Senate neither violated its standing rules and orders nor the Constitution by not referring the matter to a relevant committee. It is eerily comical that the PDP, a party with a sordid legacy of monumental corruption would suggest that the President of the Senate should turn himself to anti-graft agencies for investigation. The PDP should lead by example and heed its own call. Ned Nwoko, a Nigerian businessman and politician, has explained why he chose his stunning actress wife, Regina Daniels, whom he married as a virgin. While appearing as a guest on the MICON podcast, Nigerian Senator Ned Nwoko discussed his personal life and marriage to his women. According to the 63-year-old man, he chose Regina Daniels, the mother of his two sons, since she is from his area, claiming that he cannot marry a woman who has been touched. It is important to note that Ned Nwoko married six wives, including Barrister Lily Nwoko (the first), Laila Charani (wife number four), Lina Nwoko (wife number five), and the most recent addition, Regina Daniels. Neds decision to be in a polygamous relationship has been a popular topic on social media, stirring discussions. He said, Not all girls meet up with what I like. As for Regina, I like her because she is from his place. I can not marry a woman thats not a virgin. The video elicited widespread comments, with internet users sharing their thoughts online. READ MORE: Lord Lambas Action After Queens Engagement Was To Sabotage Her Big Day Tolanibaj (Video) Some some reactions below: eyebreakdrules said, Someone said regina run Ned streets God Abeg . comradejerrbernard said, I really hope to become a virgin till death so my kids will be proud of their dad. comradejerrbernard said, I really hope to become a virgin till death so my kids will be proud of their dad. the_voltage_king said, Has a woman if your price tag is ONLY MONEY, be ready to dance when the music starts playing, and dont worry you dont have to like the music JUST DANCE . lavida_glow said, So na filter regina they use smooth this man face . SEE VIDEO: Babatunde Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State, has advised the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led State Government to reduce residents levies and taxes. Fashola said this at the States 18th Edition of the Executive and Legislative Parley held on Friday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island He disclosed this as a measure to ease the current socio-economic challenges facing citizens while speaking on the theme, Engaging all for Inclusive Governance: Hands on for a Greater Lagos Rising. The annual parley which is held to review the activities and mandates of each of the arms of government, discusses the prevailing social-economic issues and develops a strategy for dealing with the potential areas of conflict in the overall interest of the State. Fashola, who was the immediate past minister of Works and Housing, applauded Sanwo-Olu for rolling out other measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. According to him, aside from the school feeding initiative in schools and reducing the cost of transportation, the reduction of levies and taxes in other sectors would help a great deal. The Lagos State government deserves to be commended for the feeding initiative and for also reducing the cost of transportation in the state; this is commendable, and I applaud Gov. Sanwo-Olu. READ ALSO: Budget Padding: If You Want To Probe Others, We Will Also Open Your Book Galolo Threatens Akpabio Id like to make additional suggestions. Id like to advise that, in line with finding succour for residents of our great state with the current economic situation, I think reducing levies and taxes would help. There must be a balance. I remember during the Ebola crisis, the Association of Tourism and Hotel Owners approached us (the government) then that we should suspend the consumption tax, which we did. These are some of the ways we can bring relief to the people of Lagos State. It is important to increase the quantum of money for disposal. There must be a balance in governance, Fashola said. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further urged the State to find a way of redistributing wealth and giving small businesses succour. We must meet with small businesses across the senatorial districts, state legislature should hold town hall meetings to understand their needs and demands. We have more money in the hands of the people; we need to roll out public works in construction, supply, etc. We need to find a way to redistribute wealth, the former governor said. Representatives of the people at various levels, he added! must check themselves and see if they have represented the interests of the people they represent. He said: They should ask, do I still live in the constituency I represent; do I truly represent them; do I know where it pinches, and do I know where it hurts? Daniel Bwala, former spokesman of the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, said Nigeria must be safe and secure before the political dabbling towards 2027 elections begin. Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Friday, former spokesperson commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the intervention of his administration. According to him, as a former All Progressives Congress member (APC), he has no regret joining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I have no regret going to PDP or supporting Atiku, I do my things based on conviction and at the end of the day, if it doesnt work out, I accept my fate. READ ALSO: Jigawa Okays N2.8bn For Three-Week Ramadan Feeding The reality I have accepted now is that this politicking is gone and because of the crisis in Nigeria, the only way we can have a 2027 election is when Nigeria is safe and secure. I saw that this president I supported in APC is trying to ensure he rewrites the wrongs of the past administration. When he said he wanted all opposition to come together for nation building, I felt it was the right time to look at nations building rather than politicking. There must be a Nigeria before we do politics, he said. Timini Egbuson, a prominent Nollywood actor, has disclosed his plans for next year, announcing that he will be taking a break. The actor discussed his schedule in a recent podcast with content producer Kamsi Nnamani, admitting that he has been moving from set to set for years, barely getting any sleep or time for himself. He commented that for the previous fourteen years, since his first film appearance, he hasnt had more than six hours of sleep and has forgotten what it feels like to genuinely rest. He stated that it is time for him to take a break. READ MORE: Angela Okorie Expresses Sadness As She Recounts Moments With Late Actor, Mr Ibu In his words, I only rest when I go out at night. I only sleep five hours to six hours a day. And then keep the work going. But next year Im going on a sabbatical. I have been acting for the past fourteen years consistently. There has never been a downtime or a time when Im just chilling. And I did not say that with pride. I say that with all humility. It has just been God. The repair process for damaged submarine cables may take up to five weeks, leading provider of submarine cable systems, MainOne, has revealed. The company disclosed this in a statement on Friday following a fault experienced on its network on Thursday. Preliminary investigation conducted by the company have attributed the fault to an external incident, resulting in a cut along the West African coast, offshore Cote DIvoire, in the Atlantic Ocean. The outage had significant negative impacts, on network providers, particularly on Nigerian banks, as MainOne serves as a prominent internet provider for some of them. Its disruption also left numerous major Nigerian banks offline, causing inconvenience to customers who were unable to access banking apps or utilise USSD services. The company does not only support commercial and microfinance institutions with connectivity and hybrid cloud solutions. It also provides services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, small to large enterprises, and educational institutions. MainOne has reassured its customers of its dedicated efforts to expedite the repair process and promptly restore network connectivity. The technology firm revealed that it had a maintenance agreement with the Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement to provide repair services for its submarine cable. READ ALSO: I Dont Have Fake Power, Never Visited Native Doctor Odumeje The repair procedure involves inspecting and testing the cable joints for defects, followed by lowering the cable back to the seabed and guiding it to an optimal position. It further explained that the process, which includes mobilising a vessel to retrieve necessary parts from Europe and transit to West Africa, is estimated to take approximately five weeks to complete. We have a maintenance agreement with Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement to provide repair services for the submarine cable. First, identify and assign a vessel, the vessel has to retrieve the necessary spares required for repair, and then sail to the fault location to conduct the repair work. Next, in order to complete the repair, the affected section of the submarine cable will have to be pulled from the seabed onto the ship where it will be spliced by skilled technicians. Post repair, joints will be inspected and tested for any defects, and then the submarine cable is lowered back to the seabed and guided to a good position. This process might take 1-2 weeks for repairs while about 2-3 weeks of transit time may be required for the vessel to pick up the spares and travel from Europe to West Africa once the vessel is mobilised, the statement read in part. Most submarine cable faults occur as a result of human activities such as fishing and anchoring in shallow waters near shore, natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and then equipment failure MainOne stated that given the distance from land, and the cable depth of about 3 km at the point of fault, any kind of human activity ship anchors, fishing, and drilling among others had been immediately ruled out. Our preliminary analysis would suggest some form of seismic activity on the seabed resulted in a break to the cable, but we will obtain more data when the cable is retrieved during the repair exercise, the operator added. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, controversial Islamic cleric, has faulted the Federal Government on the use of force to secure the release of victims of kidnapping, particularly the recent abduction of 287 pupils and teachers from a Kaduna State school. Speaking on an Arise Television yesterday, Gumi posited that the government ought to go closer to the bandits and study them to provide them with better living conditions. The governments use of kinetic means, according to him, has now turned the bandits into monsters. These bandits are getting more vicious. Before they were not doing this. They are heading to softer targets and we can only attribute this to the kinetic approach. Now we are fighting bandits. They are anonymous. You cannot fight someone you dont even know. We said lets go in, let us know them, lets map them out know who they are and where they belong. All this intelligence information is virtually not there. READ ALSO: Lets Set Aside Political Differences For Governance- Tinubu Tasks Govs The high-handed approach to the matter is what is making it worse. Now they are kidnapping children and threatening death, which they were not doing before. So, I think what to do is really go back to the drawing board and be truly non-kinetic, he said. On how to halt the trend, the former military officer said government should design a programme like the amnesty initiative for the Niger Delta militants. You need a programme just like the Niger Delta, a programme which will bring them out of their forests, educating then, giving them healthcare, giving them peaceful life. This is how you entice people to abandon violence and militancy. But when you continue dropping bombs, they will find no sympathy and empathy for our children. This is it. An eye for an eye. This is what is happening. So, we have to change our tactics, we have to change our styles. We know leaders of bandits The government, everybody knows their leader. In fact, there is a book, I am a bandit by one Murtala, an Academic. He listed more than 160 bandit leaders. We know their leaders by their names but you dont know their foot soldiers. You dont know all of them. So, you just know their leaders. If you dont know their foot soldiers, how can you be fighting? They can just come into the town as civilians and then go out. Leland Brown Jr. (left) and Breanna Hubbard in their tent in Lansdale, Pa. They are chronicling their journey of being unhoused on TikTok. Read more Like many Gen Zers, Lansdale couple Leland Brown Jr. and Breanna Hubbard gave TikTok viewers a tour of their new home, hours after they moved in. The space was just large enough to fit a twin-size mattress, a small couch, a dresser, and a wall of storage boxes. But no windows, bathroom, or kitchen. It also happened to be located inside a storage unit in North Wales. The container was an upgrade from their previous digs, a tent in the woods of Montgomery County. Brown and Hubbard, who spent most of their days creating videos, live a minimal lifestyle to avoid what they call the stresses of employment and costly housing. According to a 2022 survey conducted by Freddie Mac, a government-sponsored finance company, adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have mostly positive thoughts about homeownership. But over one-third of them say its outside of financial reach. Advertisement We think its more beneficial for us in the long run, Hubbard said of living outdoors. Were not looking at how much we make now, were looking to build up our businesses and to work for ourselves. We want to make our own money by sharing our life, which were having success with. A mutual friend introduced the pair in March 2022, and they have shaped their online presence and living situation in tandem ever since. It wasnt always meant to be so minimal. Brown and Hubbard were among the 31% of Gen Z who were living at home due to high housing costs. After continued disagreements with his father, who wanted the 28-year-old TikToker to pursue a more sustainable career, Brown was kicked out of his parents home in Montgomery County in May 2022. He told me I was grown and have a son, so I needed to figure it out, said Brown, whose 7-year-old son lives with his mother. Brown then moved in with Hubbard, 22, who was living with her family in Hatfield. That didnt work out, so they packed up their bags and moved to the woods in September 2022. Brown, who had never been camping before, was excited to adopt the new lifestyle. But he quickly learned how difficult it was living outdoors. It was a lot once we got everything settled, Brown said. It was crazy dealing with the animals and the cold. After six months, Brown and Hubbard adapted to the new living situation and decided to chronicle their journey. In December of 2023 he posted videos that showed him taking leftover food from his job at a nearby hotel to the tent. Brown lost his job soon after but the videos generated millions of views on TikTok and YouTube. Around the same time, Hubbards mom encouraged the couple to visit a nearby U-Haul store for an occasional break from the cold, and for a place where they could edit their videos and do other office work. The couple saw the storage units there as an opportunity to have a low-cost home of their own, at least while they saved money for a more permanent space. They started by taking naps inside the U-Haul store, then moved their belongings into one unit. Over time, they organized furniture and made it into a small housing quarter. They posted the three-part series on TikTok, which generated over 22 million views and made national news, with outlets like CBS News, Complex, and Yahoo News reporting on their move into the climate-controlled space. Within days, U-Haul management asked the couple to leave. Residing in a self-storage unit is a violation of state and federal housing laws, Jeff Lockridge, a spokesperson for U-Haul International wrote in an email to The Inquirer. I was always prepared to get kicked out because of the video, Brown said. I didnt expect it to become as viral as it was, but when it did, I knew I couldnt delete it. I was making money off of it, so we had to run with it. The couple stayed in a U-Haul truck for a night before moving their stuff back to the Lansdale woods. Brown and Hubbard currently live inside a large camping tent, filled with bundled blankets, an air mattress, and a power bank to charge their electronics. Brown, who prefers the term house-lessness, said tent life is less than ideal. But the independence that comes with the low-cost lifestyle, he feels, is a sacrifice worth enduring. Im very educated and intelligent, and so is [Hubbard], but people tell us how to live because their perspective in life is different, Brown said. While Brown had asked to move back in with his parents in the past, he said he and his father have now come to an understanding. My dad is saying [I] have to stay in the woods and make it work, he said. Hes trying to teach me to be strong and survive. His father, Leland Brown Sr., a principal engineer and director of a military and aerospace communications company, said he had his concerns, especially when Brown and Hubbard moved into the storage container. Still, I believe Leland has been very clear this is a choice he has made and he stands on his choice, Brown wrote in an email. If no harm is caused to anyone, content development is a good method to share his approaches on how he wants to live his life, while allowing others to follow his journey. While Hubbards parents have invited her back home, shes continued to say no. I had to leave to be the best version of myself, she said. Since last year, the couple has monetized videos of their daily exploits. They clean up in hotel bathrooms, use rented vehicles to run DoorDash deliveries, make food in a portable grill placed in the trunk of an electric car. All the while defending their house-free lifestyle against the naysayers who comment under their posts. The couple is enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program and TikToks Creator Fund, which allow certain users to monetize their videos based on views, engagements, and other metrics. Brown said they pull in roughly $750 a week from their videos. In a February video, titled When Youre Homeless & Not Getting a Job #genz, Brown talked about his desire to be an entrepreneur rather than working for someone else. Im not getting no job, he said in the TikTok video. Ive had jobs in the past, and Ive got fired at 90% of those jobs. Its not for me. Im an entrepreneur, self-made, and so is [Hubbard]. In response to the video, one TikTok user commented if you cant handle a 9-5, you most definitely cannot handle entrepreneurship. Brown and Hubbard admit negative comments often get under their skin, especially when people suggest they are faking their lifestyle or meaninglessly avoiding employment. Ive been saying homelessness is a flex, and I believe that with my heart and soul because of the challenges homeless people endure, Brown said. People dont understand that. Still, Brown says he recognizes his and Hubbards living situation is a lot different from many unhoused people. They are located in a relatively quiet suburb and can earn a steady flow of income from their videos. We got very lucky, he said. I grew up here half of my life, so thats a privilege. Tyler Greene, who has known Brown since they were in elementary school, is happy his friend is garnering attention online, but I want him to get out of that tent, he said. The couple will continue living in the woods for now, but Hubbard said they intend to save money and eventually buy a tiny home before starting a family together. They currently want to purchase an RV and document van life. (A recent social media trend focuses on #vanlife, where people live out of modified vans. Its often promoted as a bohemian way to travel and save money, but critics say its really glorified homelessness.) Their only hurdle is a lack of payment and credit history. In the 2022 Freddie Mac survey on homeownership, insufficient credit history and unstable employment were two of the top five obstacles preventing young adults from purchasing a home. We have to be more patient, live out in the woods for three or six more months, and just be more financially intelligent, Brown said. Were just waiting for the right time while we live in the wilderness. As they continue to chase their entrepreneurial dreams, which include starting a clothing and pottery business, Hubbard said they want to change the negative perception of unhoused people through their content. Its not the end of the world to be homeless or live minimally, she said. Its an opportunity we have to work on ourselves. While visiting relatives in upstate New York a few months ago, I stopped into a lovely little liquor store to buy a bottle of wine (OK, three bottles). The store was small, but warm and bright with a wide selection of products, a reminder that the shop was privately owned and not overlorded by a state agency with liquor control board in its name. As I wandered the aisles something caught my eye a bottle of Philadelphia Whiskey. Not a bottle of whiskey made in Philadelphia, but rather a brand of whiskey from Kentucky that had seemingly usurped our citys good name and slapped it on the label with pictures of the Liberty Bell to peddle cheap hooch. Im no whiskey aficionado, but I felt it safe to assume that a 1.75-liter plastic bottle of Blended Whiskey with Natural Flavors and Caramel Color for under $20 was not the pinnacle of high-class drinkery. Advertisement Despite the bottles claim that its been FAMOUS SINCE 1894, Id never heard of it. As it turns out, I was not alone. When I posted a photo of the bottle on social media, many Philadelphians said theyd never heard of it either. I work at the Liquor Distribution center in Philadelphia and have never seen this item pass through our doors, one said. The few that had heard of it either warned me not to drink it (do not buy out of curiosity) or egged me on to try it: drink it, i dare you, you wont regret your entire life when you wake up in a small room with doritos everywhere. Yet, I wanted to know more. Was this whiskey ever made in Philly or did they just steal our name, like the Kraft cream cheese people did? Who makes this swill now? Why isnt it sold in Philadelphia? And what does it taste like? I had to snifter out the details. The investigation Philadelphia Whiskeys label offered few clues to its origin, aside from that it was bottled by the Medley Company in Bardstown, Ky. I searched for that business and even reached out to the Bardstown Nelson Chamber of Commerce for information, but came up empty-handed. Searches for Philadelphia Whiskey were equally fruitless, returning only a mash of online ads from liquor stores for the product. Then I remembered someone commented on my post that Philadelphia Whiskey may be made by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Ky., which also makes the very-Philly-centric-named Rittenhouse Rye, which I am familiar with. (I had a late editor who often said, You can have a sip of Rittenhouse Rye and thatll make every emergency better. He kept a bottle in his office for emergencies, of course.) Heaven Hill spokesperson Kaitlynn West confirmed via email that the company makes and owns Philadelphia Whiskey and has since it acquired the brand in 1993, along with Rittenhouse Rye and a few others. So why doesnt Heaven Hills name appear anywhere on the bottle? Are they embarrassed to be associated with Philadelphia Whiskey? [T]he company felt like, for continuitys sake, theyd keep the label the same. This included keeping Medley on the bottle, West said. Medley Company is no longer in existence, but it is a recognized trade name so when Philadelphia Whiskey was brought in by HH, the team felt like it made sense to keep both the trade name and brand name on the bottle the exact same. Still, I have to wonder why on the our brands page of Heaven Hills website which reads Were proud of the spirits weve crafted... Philadelphia Whiskey is nowhere to be found (but Rittenhouse Rye and Mellow Corn do appear, along with many others). The archives Digging into the Inquirers archives, I discovered Philadelphia Whiskey was indeed originally made here in South Philly by the Continental Distilling Corporation. The companys name appeared in a series of absolutely unhinged print ads in the mid-1940s that used illustrations of colonial times in Philly with dudes in powdered wigs and tricorn hats to sell booze. The Heritage Whisky, a special occasion treat, yet one you can afford to enjoy regularly and often, several ads read. The years add new lustre to the fine old name of Philadelphia, famous for its Colonial heritage of tradition and hospitality. Widely famed today is the whisky which bears this proud name Philadelphia, another ad proclaims. Continental Distilling, which was located at Snyder Avenue and Swanson Street, was a subsidiary of Philly-based Publicker Industries, which was founded in 1913 by Harry Publicker, who got his start in the booze business by sweating whiskey that had soaked into the wood of barrels and then selling it, according to the Historical Society of Pennsylvanias PhilaPlace website. Robert Cassell, president of the Pennsylvania Distillers Guild and president and CEO of Millstone Spirits Group of Philadelphia, said Continental named a number of their brands after Philly places, including a whiskey called Cobbs Creek. You cant trademark a geographic indicator, he said. That part has always fascinated me from a legal standpoint. In fact, as Cassell pointed out, theres actually a Philly-based company called the Philadelphia Whiskey Company, but it doesnt make Philadelphia Whiskey (get out of here with your logic). Its just the corporate name of Four Humors whiskey. Publicker shuttered its facilities in the 1980s and several of its brands, including Philadelphia Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye, were bought by Medley, which in turn was bought and merged with several other companies before the brands went to Heaven Hill in 1993, according to the Dram Devotees of Bucks Countys website. The taste Now that weve distilled down the facts, its on to the burning questions: What does Philadelphia Whiskey taste like and whos drinking this stuff? According to West, Heaven Hill sells it in very limited quantities and in very few markets namely New York, New Jersey, and Florida. Of course Florida man is a fan. PLCB spokesperson Shawn Kelly said via email that Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores once carried Philadelphia Whiskey, from January 2020 to November 2022, particularly in the Philly area. The product did not sell well, so we stopped carrying it, he said. At the Total Wine & More in Cherry Hill a 1.75-liter plastic bottle of 80-proof Philadelphia Whiskey retails for $16.49 before tax. Cassell said it tastes like a cheap, blended whiskey. While in other countries blended whiskey is a blend of whiskeys, in the U.S. the blend can be up to 80% vodka, Cassell said. Its always a proportion of vodka and whiskey and caramel coloring, which doesnt add to the taste, its just to fool the eyes, he said. This is more of a hangover of Prohibition, to stretch the limited inventory its a thing all of our grandparents drank. Anybody whos ordered a 7 and 7 has also had blended whiskey. The test Outside of the occasional whiskey sour, I dont have much of a palate for the stuff, so to grain further insight about the flavor of Philadelphia Whiskey, I gathered some colleagues for a tasting. In the name of journalism. Because we are professionals. At first sip, many of my coworkers found it shockingly smooth and a little too easy to drink. Its smooth because its whiskey-flavored water, arts and culture reporter Rosa Cartagena said. Its weak-sauce whiskey. After the second and third sips, other descriptions like so sweet, nail polish remover, an assault on your mouth, and the perfect college whiskey began pouring out. Some suggested its best use would be at large parties, where it could be masked in mixed drinks. Restaurant critic Craig LaBan said the nose had hints of dime-store caramel and cleaning detergent. Upon tasting, he noted the smell and look didnt match the flavor at all, calling it cognitive dissonance. Its like rocket fuel, but for a very small toy car. Its got no front, no middle, no back. Its pure empty fumes, he said. This is fake. Philadelphia is real and we have a great alcohol reputation. Its a cheap buzz and were more than a cheap buzz. There you have it, worts and all. While Philadelphia Whiskey is technically whiskey, its definitely not Philly. Theres no muddling about it. Given my findings, I would like to formally request Heaven Hill stop associating Philadelphias hallowed name with this whiskey and rename it for where its popular today. Id like to suggest: New Florida Jersey Whiskey. It definitely conveys a more accurate description of the taste. A teacher at Central Bucks West has been accused by some parents of "brainwashing" students with pro-Palestinian messaging on social media. But officials say the teacher didn't violate any policies. Read more A Central Bucks West High School teacher did not break district rules with his anti-Israel advocacy, district officials said this week after reviewing complaints by parents that his social media posts spread antisemitic content and inspired a Muslim student group to do the same. Complaints about Youssef Abdelwahab, a Spanish teacher and adviser to the high schools Muslim Student Association, were investigated by the Central Bucks School District, according to acting superintendent James Scanlon, who said he couldnt provide details on personnel matters. There were no policy violations, Scanlon said. Several parents criticized Abdelwahab during a school board meeting Tuesday night, accusing him of brainwashing students through an Instagram account set up for a business he runs selling durag head coverings with designs inspired by kaffiyehs, a traditional Arab headdress viewed by supporters of the Palestinian cause as a symbol of fighting for Palestinian rights. Abdulwahabs critics have also circulated a 45-page letter addressed to Scanlon that called for his firing. Advertisement An unsigned copy of the letter was provided to The Inquirer, which verified the district had received it. The letter included a photo showing the handle for his Instagram account written on a classroom whiteboard. The complaint noted that Abdelwahab had tagged students in some posts, and claimed that at least 26 Central Bucks students follow his business or personal account. (Under Central Bucks policies, teachers can have social media accounts. Teachers are not allowed to follow students on social media, but students are free to follow them, Scanlon said.) The controversy comes amid a highly contentious debate over free speech and its limits spurred by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. In the Philadelphia area, the fallout at educational institutions includes the December resignation of University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill, who had faced backlash over her congressional testimony on antisemitism. At the local level, several area school board directors have resigned over social media posts criticizing Israel. Now the issue is inflaming Central Bucks, a politically divided district that has become known as a lightning rod for national culture-war clashes. Parent Fania Karlitsky told school officials Tuesday she was outraged that a teacher had used an emoji with a raised fist in a post about Yemeni billboards honoring a U.S. airman who lit himself on fire to protest Israels killing of Palestinians. She didnt name Abdelwahab publicly at the meeting, but described the same allegations as contained in the letter. What message does this send to students who are suggestible and impressionable and may themselves be struggling? Karlitsky said at the school board meeting, noting that many district parents shared her concerns. She highlighted how a few days after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas, Abdelwahab posted a message that read: Resistance is justified when people are occupied. It is fundamentally wrong to radicalize Central Bucks students with propaganda, Karlitsky said. Another parent, Inna Pyatetsky, said Abdelwahab had superimposed his political agenda on the Muslim Student Association, where students have been seen to repost the same content. This is not an inclusive environment, said Pyatetsky, who said that people with Israeli flags in their social media photos had been blocked from following the Muslim student club. In a statement to The Inquirer on Friday, Abdelwahab said the Muslim Student Association, which started this fall, seeks to build not only positive relationships amongst Muslims but also with non-Muslim students. But it has come under fire from unknown adults outside the school community, Abdelwahab said, who have been stalking the social media account for his headwear business, as well as the accounts of students in the Muslim group. I love and take pride in supporting all students at my school as a teacher, as an MSA club adviser, and as an unofficial liaison to ethnic minority students, Abdelwahab said. He said adults had created a defamation campaign against me and the MSA students, harming my reputation as a proud educator simply because they are adamant on silencing Muslim student voices and violating their rights. About 10 current and former Central Bucks students spoke on his behalf Tuesday, describing how Mr. A provided crucial support to students of color who had felt marginalized in a predominantly white district. The students said they do not know any other Muslim teacher in the district, where he is also one of just a handful of teachers of color. Everyone deserves a safe space, Mary Ayata, who started the Muslim Student Association at Central Bucks West, said at the school board meeting Tuesday. She said the accusations against Abdelwahab were deeply rooted in Islamophobia and racism, and a direct attack on both her club and the students in it. Abdelwahab is an adviser, not the clubs leader, she noted. As such, he supports student-initiated activities, including Friday prayers and presentations and discussions. A polarized school district Teachers speech has been controversial in Central Bucks in recent years. The new Democrat-led board recently rolled back a policy enacted by the previous Republican majority that barred teachers from advocating to students about partisan, political or social policy issues. The measure was criticized as targeting Pride flags and support for LGBTQ students. The letter to district officials charged that Abdelwahad had violated that policy while it still was in effect, alleging that he advocated to students through his Instagram account and his role with the Muslim Student Association. The letter highlighted a poster at the high school for a Feb. 27 event hosted by the association encouraging students to protest the states financial support for Israel. The poster invited students to collectively write a letter to PA state treasurer listing ways we can better use the $$ here in PA, rather than for killing more innocents in Gaza. Under the direction of another teacher, Central Bucks students wrote letters in support of Israel, according to a former Central Bucks West student who spoke at Tuesdays meeting. The situation is deeply insensitive to our Palestinian students, said the former student, Ginny Morgan, who came to the U.S. as a Syrian refugee and described being bullied and targeted by jokes about 9/11 while a student in the district. Morgan also pushed back on criticism of students wearing kaffiyehs, which the letter to Scanlon described as popularized by former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Wearing a keffiyeh is hate speech that is made to evoke a fear reaction in Jewish and Israeli students when they see it, the letter said, citing case law to contend that student free speech while largely protected is not unlimited in public schools. Morgan, who wore one to the school board meeting, told district officials the keffiyeh holds deep cultural significance for Palestinians. Labeling it antisemitic is insensitive and reflects a need for more education, she said. Some board members briefly addressed the debate Tuesday. Its not OK to scapegoat or go on a witch hunt for a teacher who is doing his job, said Mariam Mahmud, who called for addressing both Islamophobia and antisemitism in the district. She praised Muslim and Jewish student groups at the high school for organizing an interfaith event. Board member Heather Reynolds, who is Jewish, said students have come together to do what maybe some adults cant do, or havent been able to do. Dwight Garner at the New York Times: Everett mostly sticks to the broad outlines of Twains novel. He is riding the same currents; the book flows inexorably, like a river, yet its short chapters keep the movement swift. James is on the run, of course, because he has learned that Miss Watson plans to sell him to a man in New Orleans. He will be separated from his wife and children. Huck is on the run because he has faked his own death after being beaten by his father. They find each other on an island in the Mississippi, and their flight begins. The reader slowly discovers that their bonds run deeper than friendship. There are familiar large scenes, like Huck and Jamess separation in a fog, and their encounter with the deadly con artists, the Duke and the King. But smaller moments are reproduced as well, such as Jamess suffering after a rattlesnake bite and Hucks need to dress like a girl to disguise his identity. more here. West Chester University president Christopher Fiorentino presided over his last university fundraising gala Friday. At the event, the university announced the total of its latest fundraising campaign, which began in 2017. The school has raised more than $69 million. Read more West Chester University has raised more than $69 million in its latest fundraising campaign targeted for student aid and support more than $4 million over its goal, with more than three months remaining in the campaign. Its easier to get people to support students than it is to support bricks and mortar on a public university campus, said Christopher Fiorentino, West Chesters outgoing president. That resonated a lot with our alumni base and donors. The money will fund scholarships, technology, international travel, and student research, among other student supports, he said. READ MORE: West Chester Universitys president is retiring next year Advertisement The announcement of the total raised came Friday evening at the universitys annual fundraising gala that for the first time was specifically targeted for the schools Fund to Finish program, designed to help students on track to graduate but short of financial resources to complete their education. The gala usually brings in about $80,000, which will count toward the fundraising campaign total. About 270 people were expected to attend the event held on campus at the Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons. The fund has helped more than 170 students over the last few years, including a single mother of two who had a 3.6 grade point average in the bachelor of nursing program but encountered financial hardship because of illness, Fiorentino said. He also cited a student who had nearly completed her nursing degree while working multiple jobs and exhausting all of her loans, and another who worked full time while carrying a full course load. READ MORE: Fiorentino completes a 33-year climb to the top at West Chester U. Our hope is that it will impact many more students going forward, said Fiorentino, who will retire in June after more than 40 years at the university, the last seven and a half as president. West Chester enrolls more than 17,100 students and is the largest university by far in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. READ MORE: West Chester taps former provost and long-time employee as its next president The $69.5 million fundraising total is the schools largest amount raised to date, Fiorentino said. The campaign began in 2017 and slowed down during the pandemic instead of donor dinners, the school held donor Zooms but then rebounded, Fiorentino said. The three largest gifts to the campaign include: $3.5 million from Student Services Inc. (SSI), a not-for-profit organization aimed at helping West Chester students; $3 million from James R. Wells, class of 1954, and Richard G. Wells, class of 58, for whom the music school is named; and $1 million from Mark Duey, founder, president and CEO of ProMetrics, who is also an adjunct professor at West Chester, in association with his family that money was targeted toward the building of the sciences and engineering building. Jannah Wing and boyfriend Kevin Rooney react to learning where they will spend their residency on Match Day at Drexel University on Friday. Read more Soon-to-be newly minted doctors Jannah Wing and Kevin Rooney, who have been dating since their first year at Drexel University College of Medicine, knew they wanted to spend the next phase of their training together when it came time to apply for medical residency programs. They knew, too, that they were signing up for a uniquely stressful phase in both their education and their relationship. The residency match process where medical students apply to hospitals to spend their three-year training period after medical school is grueling on its own. But for couples who hope to do their residency in the same place, its doubly so. Friday was the moment of truth, for Wing, Rooney, and thousands of others Match Day, when students would find out which hospital selected them. Over a period of several months, hospitals interview prospective residents from around the country, selecting a pool of candidates. Meanwhile, students rank the programs theyd most like to join. Couples in the process pair their rankings, judging a program not just by its suitability for them but for its proximity to their partners top choices. Advertisement To cast a wide net, we applied to a lot more programs and interviewed at more programs than most people would, Wing said. Theres a lot of give and take there were a couple programs which I really liked, but then Kevin didnt have any programs he liked in that location. Some of their options involved completing residency at different hospitals in the same city. In other scenarios, theyd be a few hours apart. But their top choice was to work together at Yale Universitys health system in Connecticut, where Rooney hoped to complete a residency in anesthesiology and Wing would focus on diagnostic and interventional radiology. On Friday, Wing, Rooney, and their parents took their seats in an auditorium on Drexels campus with their graduating class to learn where theyd spend the next three years. Even if it isnt Yale, were sure its going to be a good day. We matched and thats 95% of the battle right there, Rooney said. A high match rate for a large med school class Both Rooney, whos from Albany, N.Y., and Wing, who grew up in Bethlehem, Pa., have wanted to become doctors for as long as they can remember. They met at a socially distanced mixer for new medical students in their first year, and quickly hit it off. Wing was drawn to Rooneys steady presence; Rooney liked how she could make him laugh. Anytime our friend group was getting together, everyone was wondering where Jannah was. Shes the life of the party, and smart and gorgeous, too, he said. They opted to complete their clinical rotations in their third and fourth years of medical school together, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Drexels teaching hospital, Hahnemann Hospital, closed in 2019, and the school now partners with several hospitals around the country to send students on clinical rotations. Charles Cairns, the dean of Drexels medical school, said such partnerships allow students to gain a wide variety of experience around the country even before residency. Theyre connected with both communities and the health systems. The partnership is critical and it manifests itself in the match rate, he told The Inquirer. Every student in the class seeking to match with a residency program did so, he said, and this years class of more than 250 is the largest of his tenure. Counting down to a match In the auditorium, Rooney, Wing, and their parents listened as school officials read off statistics about where members of the class had matched. Just six were going to programs in Connecticut. The couple tried not to think about what that meant for their odds. Finally, officials passed out envelopes with their match papers inside. The projector screen on the stage of the auditorium counted down from 10. Rooney pressed a kiss to Wings forehead. Then, together, they opened the envelopes. Oh, my God, Wing gasped, turning to Rooney. We did it! The two had both matched at Yale. As their parents wiped away tears, the couple hugged friends and tried to let the moment sink in. It feels surreal, Rooney said. To go through this 10-year journey, with all the ups and downs, all to end up at your top choice with your best friend. Their perfect match was hard to believe. We have to double-check these papers, Wing said, laughing. The Pennsylvania Board of Medicine suspended the license of weight-loss physician Prabhakara Tumpati in October for inappropriately touching female patients during medical exams. He could return to practice under probation next year. Read more At his weight-loss clinic in Philadelphia, physician Prabhakara Tumpati directed female patients to lie on an upholstered couch that served as his exam table. Then he would examine their genital area without explaining what he was doing or why, state records show. He did it at least three times in a three-month span in 2017: Tumpati asked a 30-year-old to lower her pants and underwear, then performed a vaginal examination so detailed it included inquiries about her use of a tampon. He ran an ungloved finger along another patients stomach, into her jean shorts waistband and down her inner thigh. He reached into the pants of an undercover state investigator, who was posing as a patient, and touched a scar right by her genital area. Yet Tumpati was allowed to keep practicing medicine in Pennsylvania for six more years before state authorities limited his access to patients. Advertisement READ MORE: This Main Line doctor has been sanctioned by 16 states. How is he still practicing? Tumpati is appealing Pennsylvanias decision to suspend his medical license for three years. The states Board of Medicine found in October that his conduct was unprofessional, and his medical care violated professional standards. The board, which regulates the licenses of medical doctors and other health professionals, also penalized Tumpati for allowing a medical assistant to dispense medications, which is not permitted under state law. These included prescriptions for strictly regulated weight-loss medications, which were not reported as required to a state database. The physician will be allowed to shorten his suspension after the first year, and his discipline could be reduced to probation for the remaining two years. Tumpati declined an interview request from The Inquirer. He is appealing his suspension in court, saying his discipline should be reduced to probation. We understand that discipline may have been appropriate, but we believe the boards sanction was harsher than it needed to be, said Peter Good, his lawyer, who works with the Harrisburg-based firm Caldwell & Kearns. On his website, Tumpati says he is a weight and sleep medicine physician with offices in Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Cherry Hill, and New York City. He can practice medicine in New Jersey and New York, where his medical license remains active, public records show. Tumpati doesnt currently practice in New Jersey, Good said. He is still accepting appointments at his Brooklyn office, The Inquirer found through phone calls. To patient-safety advocates, his case underscores a long-standing concern that medical boards take years to discipline doctors and impose lenient penalties, at most. Often, doctors licenses are suspended or revoked only after they are found guilty of crimes. Inappropriate touching is commonly dismissed as a professional breach that can be addressed without the harshest sanctions, said Azza AbuDagga, a researcher who has studied physician misconduct with Public Citizen, a consumer rights nonprofit based in Washington. She thinks such cases should be treated as sexual abuse. The proper punishment should be revocation of a medical license, AbuDagga said. An undercover inspection, then six years to discipline The first two publicly reported complaints against Tumpati were filed by female patients in July and September of 2017. State authorities responded quickly. On Oct. 31, 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of State sent Sherilyn Gillespie, a professional conduct investigator, to check out his Philadelphia office. She posed as a patient seeking to lose weight. During her undercover visit, she documented the medical care provided: Tumpati directed her to lie down on the upholstered couch in his office. There, he pulled up Gillespies shirt, pulled her pants down, and without warning reached into her underpants, disciplinary records show. Tumpati ran his ungloved thumb multiple times over Gillespies scar from a hysterectomy, the mark left by an incision below her bikini line from a surgery to remove her uterus. After her exam, Gillespie received a cocktail of weight-loss medications from a medical assistant, who was not allowed to dispense drugs. All the patients cited in disciplinary records similarly received medications from the unlicensed assistant. READ MORE: Doctors in Pa. cant perform pelvic exams without consent, new law says It is unclear why the state did not discipline Tumpati for six years after her visit. The Pennsylvania Department of State, which oversees medical discipline, declined to answer questions, citing confidentiality laws. A six-year delay is unusually long, even for state medical boards, said Robert Oshel, a retired patient-safety advocate. Oshel ran a database that tracks physicians accused of wrongdoing, which is intended to help health systems and state licensing boards protect patients. Heres a case where theyve got apparently as good evidence as they could ever get, Oshel said. It just seems pretty outrageous that it would take that long. The board called Tumpatis behavior appalling when it finally suspended his license. [Tumpati] exhibited a complete disregard for the patients emotional and physical well-being during these examinations, the board wrote. 0% of the time Tumpati has denied inappropriate examinations, state disciplinary and court records show. The upholstered couch was intended to give his clinic the ambience of Grandmas living room and make patients feel more comfortable, his lawyers wrote. Tumpati also denied specific details, such as examining the vagina of the 30-year-old who filed an official complaint. He told the board that she had a skin condition that required extensive examination. He did not document that part of her physical exam in her chart, he said, because the skin condition was irrelevant to weight loss. READ MORE: Jeffersons top emergency medicine doctor was under anesthesia when he was supposed to be supervising a hospital unit The physician testified that he washed his hands before each patient visit, and didnt need to wear gloves because he didnt perform internal exams. Tumpati said he touched the scar of the undercover investigator to verify her hysterectomy, claiming some weight-loss medications can cause birth defects. Experts and the state medical board rejected his explanation. Weight-loss physicians do ask about reproductive plans, contraceptives, and past surgeries before making decisions about what medications to prescribe, said Holly Lofton, an obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone. But there is never a reason to physically touch a hysterectomy scar. 0% of the time is that necessary, Lofton said. One-year suspension appealed as too harsh When a complaint against a medical doctor is investigated and discipline is warranted, the Pennsylvania State Department staff recommends a penalty. But discipline is decided by the 13-member Board of Medicine, which is mostly composed of medical doctors. In Tumpatis case, state department staff recommended that he practice under probation for one year. But the board of medicine imposed the harsher penalty of three years suspension, with only the last two reduced to probation. In his appeal in Commonwealth Court, Tumpati said the board abused its authority when it imposed the stricter penalty. The six-year delay showed the board didnt view him as an immediate threat to patients, his legal appeal stated. There was not an immediate concern to impose a sanction sooner, Tumpatis lawyers wrote in the appeal. READ MORE: State board suspends license of Montco physician charged with attempted murder and arson The board told the court the egregious nature of his misconduct required the license suspension. Pennsylvania regulators declined to say whether they alerted other states to Tumpatis discipline, though the state participates in a notification system that is supposed to flag any disciplinary action to other states. Currently, the New York and New Jersey websites show no discipline record. The patient in New Jersey or New York is not going to know that this guy may be a problem, Oshel said. New Jersey is equipping more than 6,400 churches, mosques, synagogues, and other houses of worship across the state with bleeding control kits part of a precautionary initiative to prepare its faithful in the event of a shooting, stabbing, or other attack, officials said. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness said this month that it will provide approximately 7,100 kits each of which includes a tourniquet, a pressure bandage, gauze, chest seals, gloves, and shears and training to its places of prayer. The move is precautionary, stressed NJOHSP spokesperson Maria Prato, noting that there are currently no known, credible or specific threats to New Jersey at this time. However, Prato pointed to several religiously motivated incidents in New Jersey in recent years, including the 2019 fatal shooting at a Jersey City kosher market that left six people dead: three civilians, a police officer and two suspects. Officials said the premeditated attack on the Jewish grocer was fueled by both antisemitism and anti-law enforcement beliefs. Prato also highlighted the attempted firebombing of a Bloomfield synagogue last year, a smoke bomb and bear spray attack on concertgoers at a churchs antiracism concert in Asbury Park in August, and vandalism and bias incidents against several Catholic churches in Camden and Gloucester Counties. Advertisement In Pennsylvania in 2018, 11 worshipers were killed by a gunman spewing antisemitic hatred at Pittsburghs Tree of Life Synagogue, the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. The first month of the Israel-Hamas war also saw increased reports of harassment and violence targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab residents nationwide. We cannot afford to wait for a cataclysmic incident at a house of worship, Prato said, adding the offices strategy in providing bleeding control resources and education is proactive, not reactive. Our hope is that no one ever has to use these kits, said NJOHSP director Laurie Doran. A victim, depending on the wounds location and severity, may have five to eight minutes to slow blood loss, Doran said. While many religious organizations have become more vigilant with mitigating risks and threat levels, the quick action of bystanders can drastically improve the survivability of the wounded as they wait for [a] first responders arrival. Houses of worship are considered soft targets, Prato said, due to easy access and often limited security. Theyre also a hub for mass gatherings, which can attract bad actors, she said. In December, the Department of Homeland Security released a guide for faith groups to better protect themselves against threats at a time of heightened tensions across religious communities, including tips such as installing motion-sensitive lighting, keeping landscaping trimmed to prevent creating hiding places for attackers, and training greeters to identify early warning signs of potential violence. New Jersey plans to distribute the bleeding control kits to its houses of worship within the year including more than 1,200 locations in South Jersey, Prato said. The kits, NJOHSP said in a statement, will help prevent deaths among victims with traumatic injuries received during an active shooter or hostile event incident, prior to the arrival of first responders. Law enforcement and medical professionals will help deliver trainings to congregations, Prato said. The initiative, funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is part of the national Stop the Bleed campaign from the American College of Surgeons, which offers courses to communities on how to control traumatic bleeding. The kits cost $56 a piece, Prato said, a very small price to pay if we have a chance at sparing even a single life. READ MORE: Stop the Bleed courses are helping Philadelphians buy valuable time Stop the Bleed kits and training have been distributed at Philadelphia day camps, grocery stores, Lincoln Financial Field, and at schools, libraries and health centers across the country. In 2020, the New Jersey Department of Education was awarded funding to provide bleeding control kits and training to the states public school districts. New Jersey houses of worship interested in obtaining a Stop the Bleed kit, Prato said, should visit: Bit.ly/njohspbleedkits. Ireland is up against the clock to outline clear domestic regulation around the use of artificial intelligence after a landmark new law was approved with an overwhelming majority in the EU parliament earlier this week. The long-awaited AI Act, which has become the worlds most extensive set of rules around artificial intelligence, was created to protect consumer rights and democracy from high-risk uses of AI in a changing tech environment, while also keeping Europe attractive as a place to do business for tech companies. Barry Scannell, second from right, front, with junior minister Dara Calleary and the other members of the new AI Advisory Council. Picture: Julian Behal The act is expected to come into force in May, but there is no indication of who or what will be responsible for regulating this rapidly-changing part of the tech sector in Ireland, only rumblings for now, according to William Fry consultant and member of the Irish AI Advisory Council, Barry Scannell. He said: Im on the AI Advisory Council and I still dont know. I still dont know whats going to happen. I still dont know what the governments plans are. The AI Advisory Council is a voluntary body created to advise the government. Other members include Emma Redmond, head of EU privacy and data protection at OpenAI, a leading AI tech company. I get the distinct impression, personally, that we wont have an independent AI regulator data, itll be a function of another existing body, Mr Scannell continued. In an episode of the ieBusiness Podcast with the Irish Examiner, former data protection commissioner Helen Dixon hinted that the responsibility could fall under the remit of the Data Protection Commission but nothing has been confirmed since. The consumer watchdog remained coy and told the Irish Examiner it had no further updates to give following the approval of the AI Act. In its 2024-2026 strategy report published last year, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said: AI and how it may impact on consumer interests and competition raise important issues. In addition, before the new act was approved the CCPC said it received, and expects to receive more, new responsibilities and powers across a range of new and existing functions for the purpose of tackling issues in digital and data markets. One country has been eager to show initiative in this area though. Spain has invested heavily in its AI strategy and was the first EU member to establish its own task force for regulating artificial intelligence, the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA), even before the AI Act was approved. Spain is an outlier in this regard as many other EU countries are still ironing out their approach to AI regulation. AI Ireland founder Mark Kelly said he sees the EUs new AI Act as a good starting point. Picture: Damien Eagers However, the move by Spain has been viewed as an early bid to become a hub for AI foreign direct investment. Mr Scannell is confident about Irelands approach so far to AI regulation and said the Government has reached milestones in this regard including the introduction of an AI strategy. He also suggested Ireland still has an edge when it comes to securing AI foreign direct investment and becoming a hub for these companies, even without a regulator yet. Ireland wants to set itself out as the European hub for AI because theyre here already and because of the relationships we have with them. For example, OpenAI opened its first European office in Dublin last year. The strength of Irelands tech and startup ecosystem across Dublin and cities like Cork, Galway, and Limerick has shown impressive growth and advancement, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said at the time. However, Irish regulators charged with keeping Big Tech in line have been accused of being too soft in the past, which Mr Scannell disputes. Based on the work that William Fry does, and were working with international companies that are coming to Ireland, Ireland isnt seen as a soft touch, he said. I think [Ireland is] seen as tech friendly because our decisions are consistent and logical and firm, but fair. It is a cliche, but I think that is the way that Ireland is seen. And thats a good type of environment in which to do business. The AI Act has been largely welcomed, but there are claims that it has been significantly diluted since it was first proposed. When it comes to the lobbying in the EU, there was huge lobbying. There is no doubt whatsoever, that the AI Act was watered down, said Mr Scannell. He said that most of this lobbying targeted rules around language models such as OpenAIs ChatGPT. He added that he believes the risk from things like ChatGPT is low. So, while it think it has been watered down and while I think the previous version was probably a bit too heavy, I dont think its particularly a major problem. One of the main points of contention in the legislative process was the use of facial recognition. The new rules ban certain AI applications that threaten citizens rights, including untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage to create facial recognition databases. The more right-leaning parties, like centre right, were pro the use of this technology in law enforcement, or making it easier for law enforcement to use facial recognition technology, whereas more left-leaning parties were very much against this, he added. The laws will now allow law enforcement to use facial recognition technology only in very limited circumstances, said Mr Scannell. There are also now clear obligations for high-risk AI systems. This could include using AI for employment selection, according to Mr Scannell, as it could use bias language in job advertisements. It is likely that further legislation on AI is on the horizon as the tech is new yet evolving at pace. AI Ireland founder Mark Kelly said he sees the AI Act as a good starting point, which will be adjusted as the AI technology advances. The AI sector has already developed significantly since the Act was first proposed in 2021. Mr Scannell said: Thats been one of the biggest struggles that I think the EU has had throughout this legislative processes how do you actually legislate for a technology thats changing so rapidly and moving so rapidly? Overall, Mr Scannell welcomed the act and said that as much as AI can be used for good, it can also be used for things that are not so good. So it needed to be regulated. He said: Any technology that can cause harm should be regulated. You dont want AI making decisions that will change peoples lives and potentially harm peoples lives. In relation to concerns over job losses due to the emergence of AI, Mr Scannell said he does not think there will be massive layoffs because of AI. Instead, he he expects to see companies transfer staff from one department to another rather than cut large numbers. The only way an economy can grow, is by making more with less and be more efficient, he said. Meanwhile, EU regulators continue their crackdown on the pitfalls arising from generative AI tools used by Big Tech firms. The European Commission has sent requests for information to Microsoft, Google owner Alphabet, Facebook-owner Meta Platforms, social media platform X, Snapchat, and TikTok under the EUs flagship Digital Services Act, according to EU officials. The commission is also requesting information and internal documents on the risk assessments and mitigation measures linked to the impact of generative AI on electoral processes, dissemination of illegal content, protection of fundamental rights, gender-based violence, protection of minors, mental well-being, protection of personal data, consumer protection and intellectual property. I dont remember when I first met Anthony Glavin. The writer from Boston has been part of the fabric of literary Ireland since he settled here in 1974. Quietly influential, hes helped many a writer along the way, and yet retains a dignified modesty, staying largely in the background at the events and book launches he regular attends. Hes a short story writer, a novelist, and a critic; skills that have contributed to make his latest novel, Way Out West shine with authenticity, empathy and a real understanding of his craft. We meet in Dublins Buswells Hotel along with his Irish wife of 42 years, Adrienne. Tall and erect, with a moustache, Glavin is affable, and softly spoken, his Bostonian accent still detectable. He tells me his memory isnt all it once was, but Adrienne will help supply any dates and details that might have slipped his mind. Way Out West follows Fintan Doherty, a Donegal born boy, who, raised on stories told by returned yanks, dreams of escaping to the fabled land. And when his mother dies, there seems little to keep him in Ireland. And he goes via Europe, ending up in Ohio, seduced by the wide landscapes, and working at anything and everything, as he lives in an array of rented rooms. He makes many and varied friends, and falls constantly in love, as he tries to settle and find his place in the world. Glavins life was almost the mirror image of the fictional Fintan. He thumbed around America in the late sixties, working at odd jobs, but his childhood was rooted in Boston, and it was Donegal that provided him with that sense of adventure. I absolutely loved Donegal, he says. I fell in love with it. You could fish. You could hike. And the stories. Oh my God, it was the stories you couldnt get enough of it. I could listen to my first landlord forever. A sheep farmer, he was a weaver as well. After growing up in Boston, it was like being in a movie. The novel is beautifully narrated. I loved the way we are shown America through the eyes of an Irishman. We see Fintans surprise at the way adverse mental health and disability are treated in the states with complete acceptance, and his impatience with Americas love of trashy plastic and anything impermanent is a key feature. How did he get into that mindset, when, at Fintans age, he had never left the states? My time in Ireland enabled me to see America from that point of view. It sounds like a contradiction, but from coming to live in Ireland, I learned so much about the states. He originally came in 1967, when he hitchhiked around the country for a few days. I only got as far as Kerry. He had saved up money by the time he returned in 1974, and that was when he began to write in earnest. His early short stories were published in New Irish Writing by the original editor, David Marcus. And it was he who encouraged Glavin to bring out a collection. One for Sorrow was published by Poolbeg Press in 1980. And it was through those stories that Glavin met Adrienne, who was working for the publisher at the time. It wasnt a rapid romance. It was a slow burn, says Adrienne. I think we were both a bit timid. The couple spent time in America, going back and forth before finally settling in Dublin in 1995. They still live in the house in Whitehall, Dublin 9, that they bought back then. Meanwhile, Glavin had taken over the editorship of New Irish Writing. David Marcus and I had become friends, says Glavin. Hed studied all my stories and knew my writing. Wed met for coffee. And when he retired in 1987, he asked me to take over. After a happy time there, he joined the publisher, New Island, at a time when the founder, writer Dermot Bolger was still involved. He was an editor there for several years a role he adored. When I ask what skills he needed, and if hed had to gain any qualifications, he says he kind of segued into it, before admitting, with some hesitancy, that hed won a scholarship to major in English Literature at Harvard. I dont often talk about it, but I loved it there. It was wonderful. It was when he was commissioning editor at New Island, that Glavin asked the journalist Nuala OFaolain if he could publish a collection of her Irish Times columns. And then I began to see that the columns needed some narrative, he says. I said, you have a story to tell. How right he was! The resulting manuscript, selling as Are You Somebody?, took Ireland, and indeed the world, by storm. Written with such devastating honesty, it had caused a few ructions in her family at the time, and I wondered whether hed worried that she was making herself at risk from over exposure. She had always wanted to write her story, he says, but had never got round to it. And yes, we did talk about her vulnerability a lot. I asked was she sure and she said she was. The American sale came about by chance. We went round to the Viking pub with our friend, Liz, and her American visitor. She happened to be in publishing, and when I told her all about Nuala, she said, I think I know someone who would be interested in that. I followed up, and pitched the book, and the publisher accepted it. Laughing, the couple tell me that there is now a plaque on the bench they were sitting on in the Viking, to say This is where the deal was done. Since that time, Glavin has continued to be much in demand as a freelance editor. And hes been heavily involved at the Irish Writers Centre, helping many fledgling writers through their annual Novel Fair. Id imagine hes a wonderful mentor, because his own work is so brilliantly structured and flawlessly edited. In Way Out West, he wraps the narrative around a painting Fintan found painted by an American artist whod been living in Donegal. His search for the artist brings the novel to a startling, yet perfectly logical conclusion. Thats a very tangential reference to the artist Rockwell Kent. An American, he lived in Donegal in his twenties, says Glavin. Unknown in this country, he was a towering figure in America, but was blacklisted because he was a communist. Theres a wonderful love story anchoring his new novel; one that evolves over the years, and is written with such sweet tenderness, that when it ends in tragedy, the reader feels profoundly moved. There was no exact parallel in Glavins life, but he did have a first marriage that ended sadly. Way Out West isnt the first of Glavins work to deal with the Irish American dynamic, which isnt surprising, as he calls himself third generation Irish. My mother was Irish American, he says. And I have Irish citizenship. But does he feel Irish? I think I have Irish sensibilities, he says, but I dont engage in Irish politics. This is telling, because his childhood in Boston was steeped in politics. It was a very politically aware household, he says. Both my parents were active democrats. I have a picture of Bobby Kennedy with my Mum and Dad. We all helped at the elections. And now? I still have a belief that America could be good, he says, rather wistfully. And when I ask him if hes troubled by Trump, he says: Troubled doesnt even begin to describe how I feel. Im losing sleep over it. Marco DEramo in Sidecar: I realise that agricultural policy rarely sets hearts and minds racing. But the recent farmers protests in Europe provide fundamental lessons in contemporary political science. Their significance rests not only on the fact that they constitute one of the rare victorious protests of recent decades. Nor that the protesters represent one of the most protected classes on the planet (and perhaps the two are not unconnected). Nor because the victory consisted in reasserting their right to poison water, land and air (and perhaps the three are connected). Nor even because of the extraordinary submissiveness and munificence of both national governments and the European Union (and are these four things not connected?). The lessons go far beyond that. But lets start with the facts. The recent outbreak of farmers protests began in Germany on 18 December, when 8,000 to 10,000 demonstrators and at least 3,000 tractors descended on Berlins Brandenburg Gate. Demonstrations continued in the capital and spread throughout the country in the weeks that followed, by which time French farmers were also in revolt, proclaiming a siege of Paris on 29 January and blocking its motorways. Similar protests broke out across ten other EU countries, including Spain, Czechia, Romania, Italy and Greece. The initial unrest was triggered by Germanys Constitutional Court, which had forbidden the governing traffic light coalition from using unallocated Covid-19 funds to balance its budget. Forced to look elsewhere, the government curtailed subsidies and introduced new taxes affecting agricultural motor vehicles and diesel. Hence the revolt of the farmers, who added further items to their cahier de doleances. This included the EU measure excluding those who do not set aside 4% of their land each year from subsidies. More here. A quick-fire round of slagging Fashion choices, fashion fails, live TV bloopers, and some touchy subjects were all brought up fairly quickly. It kicks off when Patrick Kielty takes off that rather fetching gold headband and welcomes his first guest, Tommy Bowe, and realises they are wearing remarkably similar ensembles featuring black polo neck sweaters. They lean into it and call themselves 'Jedward the older years'. A quick call of 'watch out, Louis Walsh' and it's time to roast Donncha O'Callaghan. He's not wearing a black polo neck but another fashion choice is rapidly brought up... the time "my shorts broke". Yes, there's a clip of the time he was playing for Munster and his shorts ripped and he decided to play in his red undies rather than miss the line-out. Back to slagging Tommy and his efforts at singing. His brave version of Black Velvet Band got an airing with musical backing and without. You just can't have Tommy Bowe without mentioning his ' 10 siblings' moment. He gamely admitted that "it's going to live with me forever". Back to Donncha O'Callaghan who decided to horrify any men even vaguely thinking of getting 'the snip'. He launched into a yarn about when "I got the snip that morning... I found the whole ordeal very traumatic... they take out a welding thing I was wide awake for it..." Other painful moments get a mention too when there's a reference to RTE being keen to get some good PR "after 'the situation', as we call it". Irish music Of course there was time for a nice tribute to RTE legend Charlie Bird who passed away this week. Patrick Kielty expressed his condolences to Charlie's family and then the musicians honoured him with one of his favourite songs, a beautiful version of 'On Raglan Road'. Then there was a visit from the musical McKenna family from Tyrone who came to the attention of an awful lot of people a year ago when a video of them playing after an Aer Lingus flight landed in New York went viral. They popped along to chat about how that came about and how it's been going for them since then. Sheamie Garrihy performed 'I'll Tell Me Ma' And then "eight-year-old living legend... the man who knows the meaning of life before he's even lived" made an appearance. Sheamie Garrihy, who was one of the Late Late Toy Show stars, chatted about everything from his recent surgery, to hens, and handshakes before breaking out his concertina for a lively rendition of 'I'll Tell Me Ma'. Kielty presented the Clare boy with a beautiful new accordion so we'll definitely be hearing more of him. St Patrick's Day parades Patrick Kielty must be really really looking forward to being Grand Marshal for this year's St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin as he managed to mention it a good few times. To be fair, he'll do a great job even if he has terrified some organisers with his joke about what he'll wear: "how surprised they'll be when I come down O'Connell Street with a sash and a bowler!". Comedian Kevin McGahern was on hand to give his experience of heading up a parade, even if he noted that there are probably some differences between Dublin's celebrations and the parade in Cavan where McGahern was grand marshal. Lip sync queen Kayleigh Trappe recalled her parade glory she played the fried egg in a Breakfast Roll song moving float. A Guinness World Record for Ireland We needed 288 players and we got 386 so we definitely had the numbers and Ireland reclaimed the record from Scotland for the world's largest ceilidh band performance. Musicians from all over the country were recruited to help break the Guinness World Record live on the show. Troupes of fiddles, flutes, drums, keyboards and dancers met at Croke Park and in front of Una Healy and a Guinness Book of Records adjudicator they succeeded in bringing the title home to Ireland. THEY'RE just back from their honeymoon, travelling first to Sri Lanka for nine days, followed by a week in the Maldives where the Cork newlyweds celebrated the bride's 30th by chilling on the beach. Rachael Elphick, from Ardgroom in Beara, Co Cork, and Nigel Douglas, from Bartlemy, Fermoy, Co Cork, met in 2014. We both lived in several different locations for work, but we have settled in a lovely house in Drake's Point, Crosshaven, says Rachael, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Ringaskiddy. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com She and Nigel, who is employed in cybersecurity, headed across the border to Kerry, to exchange vows in the five-star Muckross Park Hotel in Killarney. The ceremony, in the hotel's atrium, was led by celebrant Sharon Quigley and attended by 30 guests. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com The newlyweds and their attendants departed by jaunting car for a photoshoot in nearby Muckross Abbey, in Killarney National Park, led by award-winning Kerry-based photographer Micheal OSullivan (www.osullivanphotographyirl.com). Later, 130 guests arrived for the Prosecco reception, dinner and dancing. Our original vision for the wedding was to have only about 30 people for the day but we decided to have an intimate ceremony, while still getting to eat and dance with all 130 of our family and friends after, says Rachael. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas with their wedding party. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com The bride chose her younger sister Michaela Elphick to be her maid of honour and her friends Samantha Crowley and Aimee O'Sullivan were her bridesmaids. Aimee lives in Vancouver, Canada, and after Samantha and I visited Aimee last year for a holiday, Aimee thought it was only fair to travel all the way back to Ireland for the wedding, which I appreciated! says Rachael. Nigels friend Shane Duggan was his best man and Kevin Elphick and Alan Elphick, the brides brothers, were the groomsmen. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas with Claire and Michael Elphick and Heather and John Douglas. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com Toasting to the newlyweds happiness were both sets of parents, Claire and Michael Elphick and Heather and John Douglas. Back when Nigel was about to pop the question, he called Rachaels dad Michael beforehand to share his plans. Dad seemed delighted but Nigel noticed he was a little quiet it transpired my father had answered the phone while it was in speaker so my mum and sister had heard the whole conversation, says Rachael. Nigel Douglas with Shane Duggan and Kevin Elphick and Alan Elphick. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com But while the surprise element was ruined for them, the pair faced a fun challenge in the lead-up to the proposal, at Fennell's Bay, near their home, adds Nigel. Rachaels mother, sister and Rachael are very close, so the only thing they could do to keep this quiet was not talk to her for those three days! he says. The couple were thrilled with their wedding coordinators at the Muckross Park as well as Elevate Weddings and Events. Bernie at Elevate Weddings and Events helped us choose the venue, organise all suppliers and was there all day on our special day, says Rachael. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com The bridal hairstyling was by Joanne Henderson, with makeup by Sandra Flynn Beauty and the decor was by Divine Blooms and the candles were from Scents by Sarah. Cork duo Violini provided the music for the ceremony and later Arklight ensured the dancefloor was a lively spot. Rachael Elphick and Nigel Douglas. Pictures: Micheal OSullivan Photography, www.osullivanphotographyirl.com Welcoming the honeymooners back home was the third member of their family, their one-year-old Labrador, Sadie. Karl OHanlon & Anita Forte, Languedoc Karl OHanlon and Anita Forte, Irish hoteliers and owners of Domaine & Demeure Chateaus in the French Languedoc, are known for their laid-back luxury. Karl believes the Irish possess an inherent knack for hospitality. Were like chameleons, he says, able to adapt to all sorts of different social scenarios. I think we have a natural hospitality. Natural, maybe, but Karl also earned his stripes working in hospitality before a business career beckoned. He got his first restaurant job at 15 and, in university, he worked in bars and restaurants and even became a part owner of a club in Dublin. But it was always for pocket money, he says, In todays language, I suppose youd call it a side hustle. That side hustle experience came in handy when in 2006, along with his wife and business partner Anita Forte, they moved to France for a change of business and life. They began by restoring run-down 19th-century Chateau les Carrasses near Narbonne and opening it as a luxury hotel and self-catering estate. They now have three such properties. They are all quintessentially French, so how does the cead mile failte fit in? In a way, its ideal to have that Irish welcome, that focus on making people feel really good and caring about their comfort along with the French technical excellence under the hood. For me, thats absolutely ideal and thats what we aspire too. Luxury for them is not just about the properties being beautiful; looking after people is also paramount. Karl recalls a particularly heartfelt time when they were able to do that. It still gives me the shivers to tell this story. Anita and I noticed a group having a long Sunday lunch, eventually realising they were gathered for a terminally ill woman saying goodbye to her friends. He was touched by the scene. We sent over drinks and ended up talking to them. They told us the whole story. We sent them a letter afterwards and invited them back for a weekend. "It was a very lovely human moment taking place in our place and I suppose we hope that we contributed to it in our own little way, giving them another moment of that. They believe the Irish cead mile failte is about more than welcoming someone a hundred thousand times. Its about being able to welcome a hundred thousand different types of people. Thats really what the Irish welcome is about, making people of all different types and cultures feel comfortable. I think Irish people are very, very good at that. Mary Rogers, Laguna Beach Mary Rogers, Laguna Beach Mary Rogers is Managing Director and Area General Manager of Montage Hotels California. She has over two decades of luxury hotel experience around the world, including managing the legendary Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, but she says it all stems from her Galway upbringing. I am incredibly proud of my Irish heritage, which has absolutely defined the leader I am today, she says. Born into a farming family as one of eight children, Mary says from a young age she was taught the values of hard work, honesty and treating everyone with respect. We were always told, work hard and be nice. And shes worked hard all around the world since starting in a small B&B in Salthill while studying Hotel and Catering Management which she says sparked [her] love for greeting guests and making a positive impact on their holidays. Since then she has worked in Washington DC, Orlando, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Miami and now Laguna Beach, California, always carrying with her a sense of the Irish welcome. Its what we Irish are known for and Im so proud as a member of the industry that Ireland is known around the world for our authenticity and warmth of service. The Irish accent, she says, has also come in handy over the years. Ill never forget the time I welcomed President Biden to one of the hotels I worked at, and how his face lit up when he heard I was from Ireland. We chatted for a little while about home, and we bonded over his love of all things Irish. Its also been a catalyst in helping Mary go that extra mile with guests. She overheard Irish accents in one hotel and went to say hello. They were a family from Kerry and had travelled to California to fulfil a dream of bringing 10-year-old twins to Disneyland. We went on to surprise them with personalised Mickey Mouse ears, matching Disney t-shirts and sent them off to Disneyland. It was hugely rewarding to play a small part in making their trip more memorable. For Mary, cead mile failte is three small but incredibly powerful words. When I hear them I instantly think of home, they somehow sum up everything it means to be Irish. The warm welcome, both giving and receiving it. Showing who you are, authentically. Kindness, warmth, craic. When I hear and see these words, I feel instantly connected and proud to be Irish, as do millions of others the world over. Anton Moore is GM of the fashionable Gansevoort Hotel Anton Moore, New York Anton Moore is the General Manager of the five-star Gansevoort Meatpacking Hotel in New York. He has over 20 years of experience, launching and managing properties including Edition Hotels, Waldorf Astoria and Ashford Castle, and hospitality has been part of his life from a very young age. Ive always been surrounded by dedicated hospitality professionals and have admired their work from a young age, he says. His aunt owned a hotel, his father worked in the hotel business all his life, and his godmother owned a restaurant before going on to teach in hospitality. I think it means I have a very comfortable sensibility in my approach to hospitality, not only from growing up in the industry but also growing up in Ireland. Entering any household, youll be offered a cup of tea almost immediately, which is just the start. It shouldnt be a shock that as a country we have produced generations of great hoteliers. Hes settled into working in NYC easily, and says feeling like a local there is easier than youd think. I always say that New York is practically a suburb of Dublin, he says. Knowing the neighbourhood well is key to providing the cead mile failte. Anton credits his connections within the community, with art galleries, local restaurants, and shopping as adding to the welcome he can provide. I love visitors to feel like locals during their stay. One thing he misses about home is Irish conversations: There is nothing better than sitting together over cups of tea or glasses of wine for long conversations and stories. But this natural talent for chat and stories is something that he loves to bring into his work. This storytelling is an integral part of Irish hospitality and something I like to bring to my conversations with our guests. He especially loves guest surprise planning. From engagements at The Gansevoort Rooftop to guests celebrating their birthday or anniversary, its always extremely touching. We are in the business of creating wonderful memories and they are all rewarding and, not to mention, I love a good surprise. As an Irish hotelier living in America, he adds that its not just about giving the cead mile failte but he also acts as an ambassador for travel to Ireland. I love to give guidance to anyone planning a trip, telling them all about what Ireland has to offer. Michelin-starred chef Andrew Walsh at Cure in Singapore Andrew Walsh, Singapore Andrew Walsh is chef-proprietor of Cure Concepts in Singapore, a restaurant group including Michelin-starred Cure. Andrews culinary journey began at home in Breaffy, Co Mayo, when he started washing dishes at 15 and since then hes garnered over 25 years of experience cooking with some very well-known names including Tom Aikens, Richard Corrigan and Jason Atherton. The front-of-house welcome doesnt seem as if it would be at the forefront of these high-octane kitchens but Andrew says cheffing is never just about the food. The kitchen and front-of-house he says are more than just colleagues; were a tight-knit unit dedicated to crafting unforgettable dining experiences. He opened Cure in Singapore in 2015 the name Cure, derived from the Latin curare meaning to take care of, an idea Walsh says resonates with the Irish tradition of cead mile failte. I think it conveys a deeply personal greeting as if each word carries the warmth and sincerity of countless embraces. For him, its not just a catchphrase but a show of genuine hospitality and the desire to make someone feel truly valued ... the essence of what I want to do. Treating people like family, and having a genuine sense of care are aspects of Irish hospitality Andrew appreciates along with the craic, enjoyment, good company, conversation and fun ... [that] can help with fostering genuine connections with guests. He recalls a couple celebrating an anniversary who seemed nervous about trying some of his dishes. I took time to chat with them. I shared stories about the menu and some of the inspiration behind it, as the evening progressed, they changed, excitement grew and by the end of the meal they were beaming. They thanked us not just for the food but for making them feel welcomed and at ease. They loved their experience of Irish food with us so much that they booked a summer holiday to Ireland to explore the Wild Atlantic Way. His aim is for every guest to feel valued and leave with a smile and he certainly thinks the cead mile failte is a big part of that. West Cork native Joe Carroll is a great man for straight-talking, and hes not short of an opinion when it comes to the importation of drugs along the coastline. If you see shells, youll find eggs, the Fianna Fail county councillor quips when asked about drug smuggling in his constituency. Ive noticed a few people over the years getting very wealthy overnight, he adds. I couldnt say if they were into dealing drugs, but the fact that so much of it is coming in via our coastline, it wouldnt surprise me. The general consensus here is that only a fraction of what is getting smuggled in is getting caught. Fellow Cork County Council councillor Danny Collins agrees. Our coastline is wide open, he says. The fact that we dont seem to have enough money to run our navy is not great. It is easy to bring the drugs into West Cork. The fact that drugs are so prevalent now in Irish society points to one thing: A good supply of it. Barloge, about 7km from Baltimore, is another spot that people believe is wide open for smugglers. Their comments are hardly surprising when you consider that, for much of January and February, the Naval Service has only been able to put one ship out on sea patrols. One of the things puzzling locals in and around the hamlet of Tragumna is: Why here? There are around 100 piers, jetties, and slipways dotted around the coast, a resident in a nearby townland said. As sleepy as Tragumna might well appear, it is positively busy in comparison to how things are in more remote places. Barloge, about 7km from Baltimore, is another spot that people believe is wide open for smugglers. It is not overlooked, it is very remote, and it is difficult to get to. Indeed, it has proved to be a place to land drugs in the past for those reasons. Near that again is another secluded spot, Tralispean Beach. There are dozens of areas within a 20-30km radius of Tragumna that have road links and remoteness. Meandering through the sleepy, stone-walled, boreens and narrow tree-lined avenues, there are regular entry points to secluded beaches or small jetties. The former coxswain of the Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat, Kieran Cotter, shakes his head as he looks out over Baltimore Harbour a place that has been home to him and his family since 1970. Never mind trying to find the small jetties and piers along the coast of West Cork, he says. All anybody needs to do is come to Baltimore. One of the best places to bring drugs would be the likes of the pier in Baltimore. There are fishing boats coming and going all the time, other boats too, you could just slip in. The place is wide open. There are little or no checks. Like so many others, he remembers the big one a 440m drugs haul at Dunlough Bay, West Cork, on July 2, 2007. He has good reason to remember it, because he helped retrieve the bales of drugs that had been washed into the sea when the rigid inflatable boat carrying them sank. One of the mistakes they made was not realising that boats are like cars, he said. The more weight you put in them, the more fuel they use and they miscalculated the amount of fuel they would need. After they ran aground, Mr Cotters RNLI crew was one of two tasked with recovering the bales. We picked up 56 bales within half an hour, he recalled. Asked if he thinks Coastal Watch which is based around a confidential tip-off phone line for anybody who spots anything suspicious is effective, he wonders aloud. You have loads of people of all nationalities coming in and out of Baltimore every day, he said. Most of us pay no heed to them. The reality is, most of the people bringing the drugs in dont want to draw attention to themselves. They come and go and you dont hear about most of them. The HSE has extended a red alert drugs warning to Irish prisons after a number of concerning overdoses among the prison population. The Irish Prisons Service said it is working with the HSE in response to the overdoses, with extra quantities of the anti-opioid naloxone being made available and extra vigilance currently being observed in prison settings. The HSE said it was extending its red alert to include prison settings, as an extension of the warning it has had in place for several months for drug users in Cork and Dublin. The decision was made after a synthetic opioid substance known as n-pyrrolidino protonitazene was found contained in powder in a prison setting. It said that recent overdoses have been linked to a light-brown or tan powder containing a synthetic opioid known as n-pyrrolidino protonitazene. Such variants of the drug nitazene have also been found in tablets in the UK, the HSE said. Nitazene itself was first sold more than 60 years ago as a morphine alternative but was never approved for the medical market. Nitazenes are strong synthetic opioids that can cause serious overdoses, hospitalisation and drug-related death, the HSE said in a statement. Official advice is that while it is safer not to use drugs, prisoners who are planning to do so should talk to a medical professional about treatment and harm reduction. They should also avoid new types of drugs or new batches for sale, the HSE said. The alert is the latest of several such warnings concerning n-pyrrolidino protonitazene which were first issued late last year after a series of atypical overdoses were observed among heroin users in Dublin. Early last December the HSE had urged extreme caution among users after eight overdoses related to a new powder being sold on the heroin market in Cork were reported in less than two days. A criminal organisation with vast financial means which is logistically astute is being investigated by gardai in connection with a major suspected drug trafficking operation in West Cork this week. Ten men arrested in connection with the suspected drug trafficking operation had their period of detention extended by 72 hours at a special sitting of Bandon District court on Friday night. Evidence was heard in relation to all the suspects - one from the North, six from Spain, two Dutch nationals, and one from Serbia, who were assisted in court by Spanish, Serbian, and Dutch interpreters. Gardai are satisfied from the conduct of the arrested men that they are members of a criminal organisation, Chief Supt Vincent OSullivan said. The covert nature of their actions, the significant modification of vessels found, and the money spent on their travel and accommodation led gardai to confer that they were planning and conspiring to import a large quantity of drugs into the State at Tragumna pier, he said. The investigation is "a fast-moving, dynamic investigation with multiple international lines of inquiry" and gardai are liaising with Interpol, Europol and police forces in countries, including Spain, Holland, Serbia and the PSNI, Chief Supt O'Sullivan said. Due to the scale of the investigation, its international element, and the huge quantity of evidence gathered, which would need to be examined and put to the defendants, a detention extension was required, he said. Chief Supt OSullivan said the criminal organisation has a hierarchical structure and comprises of members from multiple jurisdictions, including the Netherlands, UK, Spain, Serbia, and Iran, the court heard. It has vast financial means and showed itself to be logistically astute, travelling by multiple means and sourcing multiple vehicles, Chief Supt OSullivan said. The 10 men were arrested on March 14 on suspicion of participating in or enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit the serious offense of drug trafficking, he said. On Tuesday, March 12, a concerned citizen reported to gardai suspicious activity by Tragumna pier in West Cork. Vehicles including a campervan, an articulated truck, and a green Land Rover Discovery jeep were observed. Suspicious activity was observed by gardai when they surveyed the scene. At 4.45am on March 14, gardai observed suspicious activity on Tragumna with the vehicles and a 40-foot power boat carrying a significant amount of extra fuel. Multiple people were on board. When it reached land, people were seen emptying bags from the vessel. Up to 10 people were observed at the scene, Chief Supt OSullivan said. Four men were intercepted around the jeep and the truck at Tragumna pier. A white campervan was seen leaving Tragumna pier and travelling to Leap village. Gardai moved to intercept that vehicle and six males were arrested in Leap. Although intensive searches are ongoing, preliminary searches found a large volume of telephones, including satellite telephones. Equipment had been modified to increase its stealth capability, including having navigating equipment removed. Some 43 telecommunication devices, including mobile phones, laptops and other devices, were retrieved. More than 120 hours of CCTV footage is being examined by gardai. Judge James McNulty granted the requested 72-hour extension for all 10 men from the moment the existing detention period expires around 11.28am tomorrow. I am satisfied that it is reasonable and necessary to extend the period of detention by 72 hours, Judge McNulty said. The court believed the investigation is being conducted expeditiously and judiciously and a lot of evidence had been gathered which would require examination so it seems reasonable to extend the detention period, he said. Judge McNulty said that free legal aid could be backdated to solicitors once a statement of means in affidavit form was supplied outlining the defendants assets, liabilities, and income sources. Asylum seekers who had been staying in tents on the streets of Dublin have been bussed to new accommodation 20km away from the city centre. The dismantling of the 'tent city' has been slammed as an "irresponsible ploy by the government to remove the embarrassing spectacle of a refugee encampment" in the centre of Dublin on St Patrick's weekend. People who had been staying in the tents on Mount St were moved on Saturday morning to Crooksling in Co Dublin where new tented accommodation was provided. A spokesman for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said that food, personal toiletries, toilets and shower facilities are available at the new site. Tents have been removed from Mount St, and the Department is working with the HSE to ensure the wellbeing of those onsite at Crooksling, the spokesman told the Irish Examiner. The situation generally remains very challenging and the supply of available accommodation is severely diminished nationally, the Department said. What accommodation can be opened at this point is primarily being utilised for families in order to avoid women and children becoming homeless, he said. Since January, approximately 2,400 beds have been brought into use for those seeking accommodation. A spokesman for Dublin City Council confirmed their staff were at Mount Street on Saturday. "Following the relocation of the International Protection Applicants by IPAS, contractors working on behalf of Dublin City Council removed the waste and tents that were left behind as they were causing an obstruction on the public footpath" he said. Activist group Social Rights Ireland described the situation at Mount Street as "utter chaos", sharing pictures of slashed tents on social media. Some volunteers have raised concerns personal belongings of some men were destroyed along with the rubbish. It is believed some may have missed the bus transfer having already left their tents for the day by the time the move started. It's understood that after the men arrived at the new site, a protest took place outside on the road. "Gardai attended the scene of a public gathering earlier today in the Crooksling area of Dublin 24. "All persons present later dispersed without incident, " a Garda spokesman said. It follows a fire at St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling last month and earlier demonstrations by people who believed the buildings were to be used to accommodate refugees. Donna Cooney, a Green Party councillor in Dublin, said the lack of information given to the asylum seekers and elected representatives added to a general sense of confusion. By afternoon, Ms Cooney had been told there were 15 working toilets and six showers on the Crooksling site, with more to be fitted. Reports circulated online of men leaving the site to return to the city centre, but Department officials have said this was a minority of those taken to Crooksling. Ms Cooney said there were also reports that some of the men had left the Mount St area to attend mosque services and missed the transport to Crooksling because they were never told that buses were coming. Volunteers present at the encampment on Friday were also not aware of the planned move, she said. She warned some people with lower levels of English may not understand what is happening, and called for better communication saying this has been happening in other areas. 'It should never have got so bad' Labour eader Ivana Bacik. File Picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin Opposition politicians have queried the timing of the move, coming over the St Patrick's Day weekend when thousands of visitors are expected in Dublin. Labour leader Ivana Bacik visited Mount Street on Saturday morning. "It should never have got so bad here," she said. She also gave huge credit to the local volunteers who have been helping those staying in the tents. Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain said it is amazing what some political pressure can do, and queried why the situation was allowed to deteriorate to this point before action was taken. He said it should never have taken an outbreak of disease to bring about this change in plans. This followed health worries emerging this week for those staying in the tents including around an outbreak of scabies as well as various respiratory conditions. Those affected with scabies were treated by HSE teams and referred to the National Infectious Disease Isolation Facility earlier this week to limit the spread of infection. Photographs shared on social media by advocates and volunteers show many of the tents have been slashed with a large build-up of rubbish in the area, following so many people living on the unsuitable site. Criticism of government The Irish Refugee Council has criticised the decision to move hundreds of asylum seekers to a remote site as an attempt to place people out of sight, out of mind by the government. Our repeated call has been for people to be given appropriate accommodation. Not tents, chief executive Nick Henderson said. We have received very concerning reports that people have been placed in tents outside of Dublin and that tents in the Mount Street area were slashed by contractors to prevent them being used again. He said the states legal and ethical obligations must be met for these people. This seems to be shifting people from one place to another and an attempt to place people out of sight, out of mind, he said. This would be the worst of both worlds: outside of the public eye but still in terrible conditions. The said the men concerned are among those in need of emergency accommodation, with 1,308 asylum seekers now homeless. Volunteers who have been supporting the men on Mount St have accused the government of being irresponsible. Social Rights Ireland said: This is a cynical and profoundly irresponsible ploy by the government to remove the embarrassing spectacle of a refugee encampment from the centre of the city on St Patricks weekend, when many tourists are visiting Dublin. Their communication with some men involved indicated very few details were shared before they were moved out. We heard from several of the international protection applicants that they had been taken to a field next to a vacant nursing home in Saggart, West Dublin, that they had been given new tents and were told they could pitch them in a field next to the building and use the bathroom and shower facilities at the nursing home, the group said. They were not informed how long this arrangement would last and whether there are plans to move them to secure indoor accommodation. Pro-Palestinian campaigners held aloft black shamrocks in Dublin as they protested against Irish politicians due to take part in a traditional St Patricks Day ceremony in the White House. The demonstration saw activists line both banks of the River Liffey at the landmark HaPenny Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It was staged ahead of the St Patricks event in Washington DC on Sunday when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present US President Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock to celebrate the Irish patron saint. The demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge on Dublins River Liffey (David Young/PA) Senior politicians from both sides of the border will be at the annual event in the White House. Activists denounced their planned attendance during the vocal and colourful protest back in Dublin. They insisted they should be boycotting the ceremony due to the USs continued support of Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza. As well as displaying black shamrocks, campaigners waved Irish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans supportive of Palestine and critical of the US administration. Other demonstrators boarded boats that moved up and down the Liffey during the protest, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said: The black shamrock is our symbol of resistance and declaration that Ireland Stands with Palestine, that we support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We have been consistently demanding that no Irish politician should be meeting or sharing shamrocks with the Biden administration while the Palestinians in Gaza are being slaughtered with US weapons and funding. Aine Hayden from the IPSC handed leaflets to passing members of the public during the visual demonstration. Aine Hayden from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (David Young/PA) Im here because my heart is completely shattered and broken looking at this genocide thats been taking place for nearly six months now, she told the PA news agency. For the 13,000 children whove been blown to pieces and the many more thousands that are still under the rubble yet to be found. For the two children every day who lose a limb. Every day two children lose one or both legs, for the 25,000 orphans who who are left with no family and the fact that theyre (the Israeli military) targeting ambulances, hospitals, theyre targeting the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) food aid centres. "They took out the last one the other day. Theyre targeting starving people who are queuing, waiting for a bag of flour, and theyre shooting and bombing them. Weve never seen the like of this outrage, this is barbarity, and it needs to stop. We need a permanent ceasefire now. The owners of two Co Cork hotels, including five-star Fota Island Resort hotel, have obtained temporary orders in the High Court freezing the assets of two former directors alleged to have defrauded the businesses of over 1.8m. The ownership of the luxury Fota Island Resort and the Kingsley Hotel has already been the subject of a long-running legal battle by Chinese businessman Yuzhu Kang, which was only resolved last month. Yesterday, Xiu Lan Hotels Limited, Xiu Lan Riverside Hotel Limited, Xiu Lan Payroll and Management Services, which are firms owned by Mr Kang, obtained temporary freezing orders against Xiu Xiang Kelly and her son Tuo Du. It is claimed that the two are both former directors of the firms which own and operate the resorts. Ms Kelly has now been ordered by the High Court not to reduce her assets below a value of 1.85m, while Mr Du cannot reduce his assets below a value of 1.7m. Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy granted the temporary freezing orders on an ex-parte basis, and the case will come back before the court next week. The judge said he was satisfied the applicant had made out a sufficiently strong case. Mr Kangs counsel, barrister Stephen Walsh, said the freezing orders application was not an attempt to enforce the settlement of the other proceedings, but is an attempt to recover monies belonging to the companies that have been allegedly unlawfully misappropriated. In a sworn statement to the court, Mr Kang claims that Ms Kelly and Mr Du have allegedly engaged in dishonest and fraudulent behaviour. He alleges that at a time when they were directors, they got the companies to pay Ms Kelly approximately 1.5m for various artworks and furniture. Those monies were allegedly paid between September and December 2023, for over 20 antiques placed on display in the hotels. The items were allegedly not remotely worth what was paid for them, Mr Kang claims. Mr Kang also alleged that Ms Kelly was not the owner of any of the artworks in question. Mr Kang also alleges that 246,000 was paid to the defendants in 2021 over what the court was told were sham redundancies. The court further heard there were concerns about an alleged directors loan of 125,000 advanced to Ms Kelly by Xiu Lan Hotels Ltd which remains, it is alleged, unpaid. As a result of these alleged activities, Mr Kangs firms have sought the freezing orders. Last month, proceedings over the ownership of Fota Island and other properties were settled in the High Court. As part of the settlement, various stock transfers were declared null, void, and ineffective, and Mr Kang was declared a 100% shareholder in the company Xiu Lan Holdings Ltd of Ballincollig, Cork, which is the 100% shareholder of Xiu Lan Riverside Hotel Ltd. The settlement effectively meant that Mr Kang is the owner of the Fota Island Resort and the Kingsley Hotel in Cork City, as well as three other properties that were in dispute. Yuzhu Kang had sued businesswoman Xiu Xiang Kelly, who is also from the Hebei region but who lived at Fota Island Resort, Cork, and her son Tuo Du, of the same address. Mr Kang had also sued three companies Xiu Lan Holdings Ltd and Lan Sideriver Investment Holdings Ltd both with offices at Ballincollig, Cork, and Allied Express International Development Ltd, with registered offices in Hong Kong. All of the claims made were denied and Ms Kelly, in a counterclaim which was dismissed, contended that she effected the purchase of the Fota Island Resort in 2013 using monies belonging to her. Gardai believe they have dismantled an international drug smuggling logistics operation, whose members could have been attempting to land up to 1bn worth of cocaine on the West Cork coast. As detectives continue to question 10 men detained during two coordinated swoops near Skibbereen on Thursday, officers were liaising with international police forces including the PSNI and Interpol. The men in custody, aged from mid 20s to mid 50s, include six Spanish nationals, two Serbian nationals, and two Dutch man, with one believed to have Iran heritage or links to the country. At least one is known to international police and security forces for involvement in the international drugs trade. One of the men in custody is also said to have extensive seafaring experience. Several wet suits and diving gear have been recovered by gardai. Given the investment required for the scale of this land-based logistics operation, senior Garda sources believe the gang would have been attempting to land between 1.5 to two tonnes of 90% pure cocaine to make it viable. Once a consignment that size is cut down five or six times, it could be worth up to 1bn on the streets. Gardai have already traced the movements of several gang members and have established some flew into the country in recent days, identifying a number of hotels and AirBnBs in the West Cork region where they stayed. Gardai have also seized several mobile phones and electronic devices, including GPS devices, which are now being forensically examined to see if data can shed any light on their operation. The Irish Naval Service is analysing shipping tracking data of certain vessels which were off the South West coast in recent days to establish any suspicious movements, and identity a potential mother-ship which could have been carrying a large consignment of drugs. The MV Matthew was seized last September carrying over 2.2 tonnes of cocaine. Picture: David Creedon The Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, which plays a key intelligence role in the identification of transatlantic drugs shipments, is also assisting with the investigation. It has proved crucial in several major drug seizures since the start of the year, including the seizure of seven tonnes of cocaine in a series of bold, at-sea interceptions of three separate vessels by the French navy in the space of just six days in late February. Garda sources believe these seizures, along with other recent major drugs seizures here, including last Septembers dramatic Army Ranger Wing interdiction on the MV Matthew off Cork which led to a 157m cocaine haul, the largest in the history of the state has led to a significant pinch on Europes illegal cocaine supply chain operations. They believe this pinch may have forced the international organised crime gang financing this shipment to take more risks with the timing of transatlantic drug runs, and with the drug landing operation itself, which in this case included the parking of a large articulated truck on a small pier at Tragumna beach, about 9km south of Skibbereen a sight which was bound to arose local suspicions and an attempted at-sea rendezvous in severe weather. While the 10 men are being questioned, the hunt is on for the suspected mothership. No drugs have been recovered yet. Gardai are also trying to establish if they interrupted the gang on a recce or a test-run, or if they pounced moments after an aborted smuggling operation. A source said bad weather and heavy seas could have forced the gang to abandon their efforts, and the drugs could still be out there. Some drugs gangs have dropped waterproof bales at sea from the mothership, sometimes up to 20km off-shore, allowing them to sink with a GPS tracker and timed or electronically triggered floatation devices attached. Land-based gang members zero in on the GPS signal, activate or wait for the flotation devices to fire, and then collect the drugs when they float to the surface. Detectives had been tracking the gangs activities for some time in advance of Thursdays arrests, but stepped up their operation following reports of suspicious activity earlier this week around Tragumna beach. They pounced on the gang at 7.30am on Thursday, arresting four men one in an articulated truck, and three in a jeep and seizing the truck, a rigid inflatable boat stowed in the trucks trailer, and the jeep. The inflatable boat was fitted with three high powered engines, each up to 250hp two to power the craft and one for backup. It had a specific hull type to allow it cope with heavy seas and weather up to 20km offshore. It was also found to be carrying a large quantity of fuel, giving it an additional 15 hours of endurance. Around the same time, gardai intercepted a foreign-registered campervan as it drove through Leap village about 16km to the North East, arresting six men there. All 10 were arrested on suspicion of being members of an organised crime group and are detained at Garda stations across Cork city and country, under the provisions of organised crime legislation, where they can be held up to seven days before being charged or released. Tim Sahay in Polycrisis: Protests led by farmers have been roiling Europe for months. In Belgium, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands, Poland, and France, farmersarmed with grievances ranging from subsidized Ukrainian grain imports to the EU-Mercosur trade deal and falling priceshave been taking to the streets, blocking traffic, and pelting the European parliament with eggs. In the European halls of power, right-wing parties are taking note. In the Netherlands, populist and conservative parties have protested the ammonia tax imposed on the nations livestock. In Italy, figures in the ruling hard-right League and Brothers of Italy coalition have denounced EU decarbonization policies as hurting both consumers and industries. In France, Marine Le Pen, who ran for president as the National Rally candidate in the last election, is fighting against diesel taxes and for greater energy subsidies. The crystallization of a robust anti-climate coalition in the European Parliament is a real possibility after elections in June. The farmers protests are a powerful reminder that the challenge to achieve net zero isnt simply a technical one, but a political one. Unable to form or mobilize coalitions with working and middle classes, parties of the left have been locked out of power in much of the continent. Meanwhile, fossil-fuel interests have mobilized cross-class coalitions for militarized adaptation. The socioeconomic risks of rebellion are not lost on incumbent governments in the global North and South. In the energy crisis of 20222023, European governments chose to cut fuel taxes and subsidize citizens energy bills on an enormous scale. Southern governments, for their part, continue to resist IMFs consistent policy advice that they should stop supporting their populations with fossil-fuel, food, and agricultural subsidies. Why is it so hard to stitch together a cross-class coalition for climate policy? More here. As authorities on the south coast deal with yet another attempt to import drugs into the region by sea, the spotlight turns yet again on the lack of naval ships available to patrol and intercept drug ships. In a statement yesterday, a spokesperson for Defence Minister and Tanaiste Micheal Martin said the Defence Forces support An Garda Siochana and the Revenue Commissioners in preventing drug trafficking, as the need arises. They also said: The Naval Service and Air Corps conduct maritime surveillance and fisheries patrols in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and the Irish Naval Service Fisheries Monitoring Centre in Haulbowline remotely monitors vessels in the Irish EEZ on a 24/7 basis. However, having just one navy ship on patrol is not helping in the fight against drug importation. Micheal Martins spokesperson said: A number of investment initiatives have been introduced to address recruitment and retention within the Naval Service, including the doubling of the patrol duty allowance and increased starting salaries. However, only around 80 personnel have qualified for that patrol duty allowance (PDA ) so far this year and fears are growing those not able to avail it will quit the already beleaguered force. The doubling of the PDA should mean that those who undertake 165 days a year on sea patrol will get an annual salary of nearly 60,000. Read More Colombia's biggest drug cartel linked to haul off Cork coast However, just one ship has been out on patrol for the past few months monitoring fishing activity as well as potential threats of drug importation, with the three other modern P60 class vessels undergoing maintenance. Meanwhile, the future of the older P50 class LE Roisin and LE Niamh, which are also out of action, is shrouded in uncertainty. The one ship in use is on constant patrol as it is swapping crews from others to keep fully operational. But as the P60s are crewed by around 40 personnel it means that just double that number are getting the additional PDA allowances at present. In addition, the two smaller inshore patrol vessels purchased from New Zealand at a cost of 26m also remain tied up because the navy does not have enough specialists at present who need to be onboard when the ships go out to sea. A spokesman for the Defence Forces press office maintained the increased PDA is a welcome step in addressing the unique nature of seagoing with the Naval Service and that personnel receive this allowance as part of their weekly or monthly (rank dependent) pay. However, he refused to say how many personnel are currently qualifying for it. The Irish Examiner understands it is around 80. Meanwhile, it is not clear when more ships will be ready to go back on patrol. The Defence Forces spokesman said: The navy does not comment on the operations of the fleet but will highlight that a phased return to patrolling will occur as the numbers of personnel serving in the navy rise and are deployed to the fleet. While PDForra, the association which represents enlisted personnel in the navy, is prohibited from commenting on operational issues, its president Mark Keane said he is concerned about the small numbers of sailors who are currently able to avail of the increased PDA. The LE George Bernard Shaw offshore patrol vessel sailing into Dun Laoghaire Harbour this week. Picture: David Jones He reiterated that his association welcomes the doubling of the PDA but, without the opportunity for many to benefit from it, it would be akin to Shakespeares Hamlet without the prince. Mr Keane said: The PDA increase is something we in PDForra had looked for over many years, as we firmly believe that this forms part of the three Rs which we have highlighted previously and which can be summed up simply as retention, remuneration, and recruitment. Our members currently endure long hours and frequent periods of weeks away from home, serving in arduous and inhospitable weather conditions. Mr Keane said it is ironic that since the doubling of the PDA was announced late last year, it is now out of reach of many personnel. Its introduction was designed to aid recruitment and retention. But theres now a fear that those who are unable to attain it, through no fault of their own, may decide to leave and seek better remuneration elsewhere. It could well influence their decision to leave, which would be very unfortunate, Mr Keane said. Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly may have received the loudest applause from Irish Americans this week but they werent the only unlikely tag -team in Washington promoting a unified political message. Mary Lou McDonalds rhetoric has become almost indistinguishable from that of Leo Varadkar and her trip to the US shows that. On the frantic St Patricks Day circuit of breakfast briefings, lunch events and evening receptions, both leaders appeared to be reading off a single transferable speech honed and altered for a US audience. Away from the dramatics of the Dail chamber, the two political rivals were singing Danny Boy off the same hymn sheet in a bid to draw lucrative US dollar investment to Ireland. Mary Lou McDonald has been accused of watering down many of Sinn Feins long-standing key agenda items in the pursuit of power at the expense of core policies. In a bid to gain more support, Sinn Fein has shifted its position on everything from the Special Criminal Court to wealth taxes. But in Washington, McDonald went a step further by appearing to endorse the work of Varadkar and his coalition. Writing in a shiny brochure handed out at an American Chamber of Commerce Ireland event in Washington on Thursday, McDonald stated: Today the Irish economy has much to celebrate. We have a track record in securing investment and as a location for successful multinational companies. Our economy is one driven by FDI but also by strong domestic performance. The glowing report on the Irish economy could have been taken from the pieces written by Finance Minister Michael McGrath or, indeed, the Taoiseach, both of whom also appeared in the brochure, but it wasnt. While McDonald was joined by the likes of IDA chief Michael Lohan; Pfizer VP Deb Mangone; John Paul Construction managing director Liam Kenny and EY partner Derarca Dennis, she was the only opposition TD to contribute to the promotional business brochure. She wrote: Over the last year Pearse Doherty, our Finance Spokesperson, and I have led a new conversation with businesses the length and breadth of this island, including many of your members. We know that these relationships are crucial in building on international trade and economic prosperity. Varadkar fights back Perhaps a bit put out by McDonalds attempt to claim credit for the economy, Varadkar temporarily tore up the unified script to lash out at Sinn Fein. I firmly believe that Sinn Fein would make Ireland broke again if they pursue their economic and trade policies, he told reporters. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaks at the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. I know theyll tell one thing to business leaders but theyre telling a very different thing to the Irish people. And if theyre telling the Irish people the truth, their economic policies will be deleterious for us. It is true that McDonald has been courting multinational firms and tech companies, easing fears that a Sinn Fein Government would be bad for business. Back in 2022, McDonald travelled to Silicon Valley in the US where she had discussions with senior executives from Google and Salesforce. But whether or not Sinn Fein policies, which have been drifting closer to a pro-business centre ground, would damage the economy has yet to be determined. Support for Palestinians Despite facing significant backlash for ignoring calls to boycott the White House over its stance on Israel, both party leaders made the annual trip across the Atlantic where Irish-American arms were extended. Given Sinn Feins long-held support for the Palestinian cause, McDonald came under particular heat for her refusal to boycott the trip. Ill never vote SF again, was one of many comments under an Instagram post by comedian and Sinn Fein supporter Tadgh Hickey, which called for a White House boycott. Asked about supporters who had been left angered and disappointed by McDonald, she said she had set out in the clearest, most unequivocal terms, what needs to happen in Gaza. Varadkar also strongly defended the decision to attend White House events, claiming they would be using their voice to put forward Irelands call for an immediate ceasefire. Arriving into Boston on Monday, Varadkar addressed an audience in the impressive JFK Presidential Library after being greeted by members of the famous political dynasty. Keenly aware of the particular sensitives in the US, the Taoiseach focused on the suffering of Palestinian children when broaching Israels bombardment of Gaza. If we are not consistent if we do not see and respect the equal value of a child of Israel and a child of Palestine then the Global South, most of the world in fact, will not listen when we call for them to stand by the rules and institutions that are the bedrock of a civilized world, he told an unreactive audience. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, left, and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly attend the Ireland Funds 32nd National Gala, at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. The Taoiseach continued by stating that the cries of the innocent will haunt us forever if we remain silent on what is happening in Gaza and will engender more retaliation and beget more violence and revenge. He added: When thousands of children are killed in response no one can avert their eyes. Three days later McDonald was delivering her own keynote address at Georgetown University, a remarkably similar speech that wasnt just off the same hymn sheet, but almost the same song, depending on your perspective. In referencing the bombardment of Gaza over the past six months, she described the thousands of young people who have been killed as children whose lives carry the same value as the lives of my own children and children the world over. Again echoing the Taoiseach, McDonald added: History has its eyes on us. We cannot say we didnt hear, that we didnt see, that we didnt know. Our children and our grandchildren will one day look at us and ask how this was allowed to happen, and why the international community was so slow to respond. Its likely that this week was an American dream and both leaders will return to the usual Dail bickering when they touch down on Irish soil. But in travelling to the US, Mary Lou McDonald has shown she is not only willing to let key priorities slide in a bid to gain power, but is already sounding like a member of Government. Mary Elmes might be remembered as the woman who saved Jewish people from Nazi extermination camps, but in her lifetime she was much better known as Miss Mary of the camps and tent villages. She brought supplies and, perhaps more importantly, imaginative solutions to seemingly intractable problems. When shoes were almost impossible to get, she wrote to local garages asking for worn-out tyres so that the rubber could be repurposed as soles. When food scarcities became more acute, she asked laboratories to analyse the vitamin content of grape juice. She wanted to bottle it so that it might bolster the health not only of refugees but the French population who lost up to 20% of their body weight during World War ll. In the end, the project did not come off but there were constant efforts to improve the health and conditions of those in camps in Spain and France in the late 1930s and 1940s. The children traumatised by bombing during the Spanish Civil War were among the first in Europe to be introduced to art therapy, for instance. Several letters survive showing how Mary Elmes sought out vacant buildings, negotiated leases and turned them into refuges for the hundreds of thousands displaced by war. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading I thought of Mary this week because the anniversary of her death, in 2002, fell on Saturday and also March is womens history month. But more than that, I thought how much we need a person with a plan and an understanding of the needs of asylum-seekers in government. It is actually obscene to think that the fanfare and spectacle of tomorrows St Patricks Day parade will take place a few kilometres away from a miserable encampment tent city is too grand a name for it of some 200 abandoned people. Abandoned, that is, by government. Because, as in Mary Elmes time, charities have tried to fill the gaping hole left by the lack of joined-up thinking in official Ireland. Tents stretch around the International Protection Office in Dublin as people await their applications to be processed. How is it that it falls to medical charity, Safetynet Primary Care, to point out the urgent need for emergency shelter for the estimated 200 people camping without access to basic facilities on Mount Street near the International Protection Office? CEO Dr Fiona OReilly said they found isolated cases of scabies, respiratory ailments and other health conditions that would be exacerbated by such poor living conditions. To be fair, there have been many calls from politicians too, most recently from Fianna Fail TD Jim OCallaghan who says he has written to Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman asking him to identify another more suitable outdoor location. When asked, on the Six One News on RTE on Thursday, if he had identified any suitable alternative location in his constituency he said he had not. And theres the rub. Is it not time for elected politicians to get more involved and come up with a plan for asylum seekers that doesnt just depend on one government department? The displacement of people is and will remain the defining issue of the 21st century, yet there is no sense of collective urgency or the kind of cross-party planning that is sorely needed. Some 1,260 asylum-seekers have no shelter this St Patricks Day. To put the challenge of housing them into context, the number of homeless people in Ireland topped 13,500 in January. The failure to deal with the latter explains the difficulty in meeting our international obligation to house those fleeing war and conflict, but the solution to both is the same treat them as the national crises (and scandals) that they are. Lack of imagination The theme for this St Patricks Day is spreach, which translates as spark. If only we could nurture the spark so that it ignites some kind of collective action from a government that has consigned human beings to tents on a city street. That brings me back to Mary Elmes and the kind of action she and her colleagues took when the population of south-west France doubled overnight in 1939 with the influx of 500,000 refugees from the Spanish Civil War. Some 25 different organisations came together to try to help the refugees. With her close colleague, nurse Dorothy Morris, Mary Elmes often discussed plans on the balcony of the flat they shared at 30 Avenue des Baleares in Perpignan. It provided sanctuary from the relentless demands of the long days travelling from camp to camp in the foothills of the Pyrenees. But, as Dorothy Morriss biographer Mark Derby observed, it was also a place of planning. I like to think of them there, in the warm, fragrant Mediterranean evenings, talking about saving the world, not in the vague, idealistic, theoretical way most people do. I imagine they talked about saving the world in a totally pragmatic, costed and realistic way How are we going to save the world tomorrow? And heres what Mary Elmes, head of the Quaker delegation in Perpignan, southwest France, achieved in the latter half of 1940. She and her team helped several thousand people in different camps. In one of them, Argeles, Mary organised a school for 2,000 children, set up a library with 4,000 books, established a maternity facility in one of the barracks, distributed clothes, blankets, orthopaedic instruments, reading glasses and hernia belts, established classes for adults, set up sewing and carpentry workshops, distributed food and milk, and set up a hospital, equipping it with medicine and instruments. To give children respite from the camps quickly established as they were, conditions were appalling she set up a series of care centres for children along the coast. In March 1941, after setting up one such childrens colony, as they were called, a local paper sent along a journalist, Theo Duret, to observe the daily routine. He wrote an article full of enthusiasm for the premises, with its brightly painted walls, nourishing food and happy atmosphere. Those centres later played a life-saving role when they became safe houses for Jewish children who were threatened with deportation. If refugees were suffering, so too was the local population. During the war, Mary Elmes and her colleagues at the American Friends Service Committee provided school snacks or a midday meal for more than 84,000 children in the south of France. Contrast that with what the government has done in the three months since some 200 asylum-seekers started to pitch tents on Mount Street in Dublin. Nothing. In an era when its possible to build a plumbed and insulated log cabin in less than a week, that beggars belief. We dont really need Mary Elmes to tell us that we can do so much better than that. There is something of a rule in journalism or any storytelling. At its heart, it comes down to that Kurt Tucholsky adage of one death being a tragedy, but a thousand being a statistic. Humans being a narrative species, we place as much stock in anecdotal value as we do empirical evidence. That is why we understand the scale of the problems facing the nation, but we rarely get really mad until those problems are made personal or tangible. Therefore when the Department of Integration releases the number of international protection applicants without State-provided accommodation every Tuesday and Friday, it has been easy to ignore the milestones. First, 100 people were without shelter provided by the State. Then 500. Then it hit 1,000 and, while the impact was noticeable on the streets of Dublin to a certain extent, it had yet to become part of the public psyche. The growth of what is being dubbed a tent city near the offices of the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) in Dublins south city has in fact been ongoing for some weeks. It took an unseasonable snowstorm to force a reaction from the authorities as tents gave way under the weight of snow and dire warnings were made about how those who had arrived in Ireland would cope with the bitter cold. At the time, the Irish Examiners Alison OReilly spoke to Ahmad Jan, who fled the Taliban in search of a better life in Ireland. Every day its raining, and I am on the streets, he said. It is not good. I escaped from Afghanistan. I get out from hell and fall into another hell. While some of the men were moved to emergency shelters, that arrangement lasted only two nights and, since then, the number of unhoused asylum seekers and the size of the tent city have swelled. As of yesterday, 1,268 are without State-provided housing. The genesis of the issue is simple: The Government has run out of places to house asylum seekers and is prioritising women, children, and families. In December Cabinet signed off on giving international protection applicants who did not receive an offer of accommodation an extra 75 in their weekly payment in lieu of housing. Asylum seekers are entitled to 38.50 every week, but this will rise to 113.80. The opposition has strongly argued that the measure coupled with this weeks cut to the welfare rate applied to those arriving from Ukraine are simple deterrents for those who might claim asylum on these shores. While the Government has said that there is a need to slow the flow of people coming here, they are keen to press home that anyone who genuinely needs and is entitled to asylum will be granted it, while those who arent entitled will be asked to depart the State. The area where those without State-provided accommodation have been sleeping rough has been dubbed 'tent city'. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie But whatever the motivation on behalf of politicians, whatever your view on immigration, a tent city on the streets of the capital, just 500 metres from the back gates of Leinster House is a bracing sight. There are no toilet facilities, no showers, no medical treatment, there has been a scabies outbreak. The issue was raised at a Dublin City Council housing committee meeting during the week, but as councillors railed at the conditions, director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) Mary Hayes said that while the area would be cleaned up, housing the men lay outside of her organisations remit. Meanwhile, members of the Government are abroad selling Ireland as a place for foreigners to come and spend their money. Be clear, though, tents are nothing new on the streets of Dublin. They have been used by homeless people for a long time and their plight is no less urgent. But, right now, the number of tents on Dublins streets risks becoming just another statistic. "It's like a gnat on a windshield, it doesnt even register, was how one senior member of the Capitols press pool described Taoiseach Leo Varadkars Gaza interventions in Washington. It was a blunt but honest remark that you will not hear from US president Joe Biden who was keen to ham up his roots in the run-up to St Patricks Day, and who was doling out lines like may the hinge of our friendship never go rusty to the Taoiseach in the Oval office. Ireland may be a true friend of the US but it is clear that it is a relationship in which the dominant party does not care what the weaker one has to say, especially when it comes to the highly contentious issue of Israel and Gaza. Before the annual Oval Office meeting, Mr Varadkar had been accused of watering down his language and when asked about this he admitted the need to get the tone right and tailor the message for the audience. However, in truth the audience was never going to be fully tuned in. Even if he had gone full nuclear, Irelands influence in world events is peripheral. We may be the land of St Patrick, Guinness, and a lucrative corporation tax rate, but the US has no interest in our view on how it should be interacting with its key allies. Careful steps: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US president Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson, leaving the Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill on Friday. Picture: Andrew Harnik/AP Forty-two steep stone steps lead down from the door of the Capitol. It was this flight of stairs that the US political media wound up into a nervous tizzy yesterday afternoon and not for anything the leader of the Irish government had to say. A scrum of reporters, photographers, and camera operators waiting at the bottom was growing increasingly anxious about how president Biden would make it down the threads to his waiting convoy below. In the end, Mr Biden, led out by a bagpiper in a kilt and flanked by the Taoiseach and speaker of the house Mike Johnson, descended without a hitch. Theme of friendship Earlier that morning in the White House, Mr Biden was continuing the theme of friendship that Leo Varadkar used in a speech after touching down in Boston. Referencing a story about a seanchai who was gifted a field of gold for his honesty to the king, Mr Varadkar had suggested that true friends tell each other difficult truths and not simply what they want to hear. Ireland has always been a true friend to the United States, Mr Varadkar had told an audience in the JFK Presidential library. House Speaker reaffirms US support of Israel And so maybe speaker Johnson was a true friend when he set out the American reality at a lunch in the Capitol, that was attended by Mr Varadkar, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald, and the attorney general Rossa Fanning. Turning to the Middle East, Mr Johnson told the gathering that our allies and friends in Israel continue to fight for their very right to exist. Mr Varadkar was also made well aware of how his friends in the US felt when he was greeted with stony silence in mentioning the atrocities that are unfolding in Gaza and the need for a ceasefire. Just minutes earlier, the Taoiseach had received a strong round of applause for calling out and condemning the actions of Russia in Ukraine. While president Biden was all smiles and shamrocks during his introductory remarks in the Oval Office, even agreeing with Mr Varadkar that a two-state solution is the long-term goal, he made his position clear when the media was ushered out of the room. Biden makes stance on Israel clear Speaking afterward, Mr Varadkar said the president had been very clear that the US would continue to support Israel and to assist Israel to defend itself. So I dont think thats going to change, he said. It was the president who raised the issue of US military support for Israel. The US is very clear that it will continue to support Israel. Before his trip to Washington this year, many in Ireland, who are horrified by Israels brutal and indiscriminate killing of Palestinian women and children, had called for the Taoiseach to boycott the St Patricks Day events. Snubbing the president of the United States would have sent out a powerful signal, campaigners said. Limited US interest in Irish views Mr Varadkar in defending his decision said the Irish government does not have a policy of boycott and stressed that he would use his time to strongly relay Irelands position on Gaza. However, even the Taoiseach must have known that this weeks conversation with Mr Biden and others in the US would be of little consequence. It may feel like the Irish are VIPs when the green carpet is rolled out every year in America. The visiting taoiseach of the day usually has a captive audience when talking about the Northern Ireland peace process and the millions of Americans who claim to have Irish roots. Politicians, whether Democrat or Republican, can all get on board with the wearing of the green, especially in an election year. However, when the Taoiseach tried to tell our true friends what they needed to hear, he quickly found out they simply were not interested in listening. Leo Varadkar: Mr President. Joe Biden: LeeeLeoyou're so welcome. How is everybody back on the old sod? LV: They're good, Mr President. They're impatient but go- JB: I remember when I was in Ballina last year, Leo, I remember the warmth. The affection. I thought, my God! I felt home, Leo. I felt safe LV: Yes, well, about that Mr Presid- JB: Tell me, Leo, tell me where's this shamrock from? I'm guessing Gorteen, maybe? Borrisoleigh, perhaps? LV: Eh, Kerry, Im told. And the bowl is Dingle Crystal, took over 50 hours to make and...no wait, we need to talk about something else, Mr President. JB: We sure do! You know who I got a message from, Leo? A priest. Fr. Brendan from a small parish in Pennsyl- LV: We need to talk about Gaza. We need to talk about what you can do to stop it... JB: Now, Leo. I don't know who's briefing you. But, you might have seen we've got guys on the ground there LV: I did see, Mr President. I saw the trucks drive in. Past the aid trucks. And I assume they drove out again. Past the desperate women and children. Past the corpses. JB: Now, now Leo. Today is not the day for such heavy dis- LV: Today is the day, Joe. You know how much flak I took to come here from the 'old sod'? You know how bad this looks? Support for Palestine is rooted deep in the Irish psyche, it goes far beyond flag-waving and marches. Irish people expect their government to take a stand, to speak up for Palestinians, to call bullshit on those who claim to help but are clearly doing the opposite. JB: I think you forget where you are, Leo. This is my house and you are my guest. Best grip and grin and remember who's buttering your spuds. LV: With respect, Joseph. Last year you came to Ireland. As our guest. And you stood there and told us IRELAND REMEMBERS". Well, Joe. This is Ireland remembering. Ireland remembers centuries of colonisation and oppression, its embedded in the national soul. But now you, our ally, the country that helped us find peace on our island, you're financing a genocide in Gaza. A war on children. A war on women. It's within your power. JB: You people. You have no clue. You're an inconsequential rock in the ocean. You can wave your flags all you want. I know. I've been doing this shit before you were a glint in your mamas eye, Leo. Where's Enda? I preferred him. That guy knew how to tell a story. How to down a pint. You're mistaking me for some weak-ass Kennedy. LV: I'm mistaking you for a man of principle, Joe. You realise if you came home to Ballina tomorrow, there'd be nobody there. Nobody would come. Except with their Palestinian flags and their keffiyehs. You've wasted whatever nostalgic notion of connection between us on the endorsement of a genocide. Not the legacy old Edward Blewitt hoped for you when he set sail, I'm sure. You cant Mayo for Sam your way out of this. Since we started talking, children have starved to death. JB: Ya know Leo, theres an old Irish saying... LV: Ah forget about it, Im going home. A ship delivered 200 tons of humanitarian supplies, food and water to Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus for aid to help ease the humanitarian crisis brought by Israels five-month-old offensive in the enclave. Israel has been under increasing pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, especially in the Palestinian territorys isolated north where hunger is at its worst, with many people reduced to eating animal feed and weeds. The United States has joined other countries in airdropping supplies into northern Gaza and has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Aid groups said the airdrops and sea shipments are far less efficient than trucks in delivering the massive amounts of aid needed. Instead, the groups have called on Israel to guarantee safe corridors for truck convoys after land deliveries became nearly impossible because of military restrictions, ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of order after the Hamas-run police force largely vanished from the streets. Food aid, left on the pallets, from the US charity World Central Kitchen and the United Arab Emirates is seen being loaded aboard a second vessel preparing to depart for Gaza, at Larnaca port, Cyprus, on Friday (Petros Karadjias/AP) The ship, operated by the Spanish aid group Open Arms, left Cyprus on Tuesday towing a barge laden with food, including rice, flour, lentils, beans, tuna and canned meat. The food was sent by World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, which operates kitchens providing free meals in Gaza. Throughout the day on Friday, the ship could be seen off Gazas coast. In the evening, the military said its cargo had been unloaded onto 12 trucks. Grainy footage released by the military showed a truck on a pier approaching the barge. The food is to be distributed in the north, the largely devastated target of Israels initial offensive in Gaza, where up to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to remain, mostly cut off by Israeli forces since October. The delivery is intended to pave the way for larger shipments. A second vessel will head to Gaza once the supplies on the first ship are distributed, Cypruss foreign minister Constantinos Kombos said. Its timing depends in part on whether the Open Arms delivery goes smoothly, he said. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by Hamas October 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in another 250 being taken into Gaza as hostages. Israels offensive in Gaza has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the United Nations. d site. Former US Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, Mr Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Friday, commenting publicly for the first time since the former president became the presumptive Republican nominee. Mr Pence ran against Mr Trump for their partys nomination but dropped his bid before voting began last year. The decision makes Mr Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former bosss bid to return to the Oval Office. I cannot in conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Mr Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid. It also marks the end of a metamorphosis for Mr Pence, who had long been seen as one of Mr Trumps most loyal defenders but broke with his two-time running mate by refusing to go along with Mr Trumps unconstitutional scheme to try to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. When Mr Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 2021 trying to disrupt the certification of Joe Bidens win, Mr Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters chanted Hang Mike Pence! outside. In order to participate in the Republican primary debates, Mr Pence was required to sign a pledge saying that he would support the partys eventual nominee. And during the first debate in Milwaukee, Mr Pence was among the candidates who raised their hands when asked whether they would support Mr Trump even if he were convicted in one of his four criminal indictments. Then-president Donald Trump listens as then-vice president Mike Pence speaks during a briefing at the White House in 2020 (Patrick Semansky/AP) But Mr Pence had made clear he had come to harbour serious reservations about Mr Trumps actions and his policy stances. I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again, he said during his campaign launch speech. As the campaign progressed, he raised alarms about the partys resistance to sending aid to Ukraine and called on his fellow Republicans to reject what he called the siren song of populism espoused by Mr Trump and his followers. In the Fox interview, Mr Pence said he was incredibly proud of his and Mr Trumps record in office, but said: During my presidential campaign I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues, and not just our difference on my Constitutional duties that I exercised on January the 6. I mean, as I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life, he went on, also referencing what he called Mr Trumps reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations effort to force the sale of the popular TikTok app. In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And thats why I cannot in conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, he said. Mr Pence declined to say whom he would be voting for Im going to keep my vote to myself, he said but made clear it would not be Joe Biden. I would never vote for Joe Biden, he said. Im a Republican. A Boeing 737-800 arrived at its destination in southern Oregon with a missing panel on Friday after flying from San Francisco, according to officials the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10.20am and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director Amber Judd said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, she said, and none was found. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Ms Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United Airlines spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year. United Airlines has operated it since November 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Boeing said it would defer comment to United about the carriers fleet and operations. In January, a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair, just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in south west Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalised, officials said. A digital display with arrivals times, lists LATAM Airlines flight LA800 as cancelled at the international airport in Santiago, Chile. At least 50 people were injured by what officials described as a strong movement on the Chilean plan On Friday, Boeing recommended airlines inspect the cockpit seats the next time they perform maintenance on their 787s Dreamliner jets after a published report said an accidental cockpit seat movement likely caused the sudden plunge of a LATAM Airlines plane flying to New Zealand. The company described its advisory as a precautionary measure. It noted that the investigation into what happened during Mondays LATAM Airlines flight between Australia and New Zealand was continuing and referred questions about potential findings to investigating authorities. Passengers reported that when the Dreamliner dropped without warning, people not wearing seatbelts were tossed from their seats and into the cabin ceiling and aisles. The plane later landed at Auckland Airport as scheduled. About 50 people were injured, according to emergency crews in Auckland. Voters across Russia are casting ballots on the second day of an election set to formalise six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin. The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Mr Putins fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. Former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (Moscow City Court via AP) The 71-year-old faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties, who have refrained from any criticism of him or his invasion of Ukraine. Mr Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the US and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia. Russias wartime economy has proven to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defence industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition. Russias opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Mr Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon on Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Mr Navalny not long before his death. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russias 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. In the run-up to the vote, Mr Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where the Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower. Ukraine, meanwhile, has fought back by stepping up attacks on Russias border regions and launching drone strikes deep inside the country. On Friday, Mr Putin described the weeks cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks wont be left unpunished. Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least half a dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations have been reported, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Mr Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant splashing green disinfectant in his face. Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy. European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Mr Putin Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still under way. No opposition. No freedom. No choice, he wrote on the social media platform X. Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates or state-backed advisory bodies can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs. Jessica Ferri at the LA Times: While modern audiences might be more likely to understand the import of these themes, many critics at the time discounted Harings work as fast food, as one put it, adding, Its a good time, its boogieing on a Saturday night, its alive, but great, no. One curator blamed Harings commercial appeal for the reluctance to take his art seriously, saying, I think Haring was so successful that other artists could not forgive him. Gallerist Jeffrey Deitch pointed out that most artists enjoying Harings level of financial success would have been churning out even more sellable work. But Haring was committed to public projects such as murals, which he did for little or no compensation. In 1987, during a period of extensive travel, Haring noticed that he was short of breath. The following year, while in Tokyo, he discovered a small purple spot on his leg that, when he returned to New York, was confirmed as Kaposis sarcoma. Haring told almost no one of his diagnosis in July 1988. In August, Basquiat died of a heroin overdose at 27. Writer Glenn OBrien had once asked Basquiat who his favorite painter of his own generation was. He didnt hesitate, but said, Keith Haring. more here. Stalled talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to restart in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders joined the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that would not lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. Palestinians perform the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (Fatima Shbair/AP) The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. The first stage would be a six-week ceasefire that would include the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people being held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Nearly one in three children under two years old in the isolated north are suffering acute malnutrition, the UN childrens agency Unicef reported on Friday. In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Those talks were expected to resume on Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Benjamin Netanyahu was defiant in the face of criticism from the US (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Mr Netanyahus government has rejected calls for a permanent ceasefire, insisting it must first fulfil its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Mr Netanyahus office also said on Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The United States and other countries have warned such an operation could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there. Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel began attacking Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza. Mr Netanyahus office said the Rafah operation would involve the evacuation of the civilian population, but did not give details or a timetable. The military said on Wednesday it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday: We have to see a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion. We have not seen such a plan, he said. Israels offensive in Gaza has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the United Nations. Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the border between the two countries, has killed at least two people, Russian officials said. A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russias war on Ukraine. Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, just over a mile from the Ukrainian border, Mr Gladkov said. Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, regional governor Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported. The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 21 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city on Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said. More than 50 people are still in the hospital following the attacks, Odesa deputy mayor Svitlana Bedreha said on Saturday, according to Ukrainian state media. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised a just response to the attack in a video address on Friday evening. Saturdays attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by another six years after he crushed dissent. Three people have been killed after gunfire erupted in a suburban Philadelphia township, forcing cancellation of a St Patricks Day parade and shutting down a childrens theme park, authorities said. Middletown Township police said there were confirmed shootings in the neighbouring Falls Township in Eastern Pennsylvania that resulted in several gunshot victims. Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for the area, warning residents to stay in their homes and lock their doors. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024 One local elected official who was briefed by police said characterised the shootings as domestic. Jeffry Dence, chairman of Falls Township board of supervisors, said the suspect went to two locations in the township and shot a number of victims, including three who died. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and drove to Trenton, Mr Dence said. Middletown Township police said a 26-year-old suspect was identified and has ties to addresses in Bucks and Trenton, and while believed to be currently homeless, he stays in Trenton primarily. Shaun Murphy, who lives in the Falls Township community of Levittown, said he was headed to the parade when he saw that the road had been blocked. Three people are said to have been killed (AP) Mr Murphy said: All the neighbours were outside wondering what was going on and then we got the notice about shelter in place. I did see ambulances coming up the street earlier without their sirens on, Murphy said. My neighbours were just outside with me last night, and we were just saying how great of a town and how great of a neighbourhood it is. Pennsylvania state governor Josh Shapiro said in social media posts that he has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement agencies. US representative Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican who represents Bucks County, said in social media posts that there had been a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township. He said he was in touch with law enforcement officials as they pursue the suspect. Police said Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice, and the areas Target store and other businesses chose to close as well. People across the United States have celebrated their Irish heritage at several major St Patricks Day parades on Saturday. They are marking the holiday a day early at events that included a big anniversary in Savannah, Georgia, and honoured a pioneering female business leader as grand marshal in New York. The annual parade took place in New York (AP) The holiday commemorates Irelands patron saint and was popularised largely by Irish Catholic immigrants. While St Patricks Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved up from Sunday, a day of worship for the Christian faithful. The Chicago River is dyed green ahead of St Patricks Day celebrations (AP) Manhattans St Patricks Day Parade, which dates to 1762 14 years before the US Declaration of Independence is one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. Megan Stransky of Houston and two relatives planned a Broadway weekend to coincide with the parade, seeing it as a prime opportunity to remember their familys Irish roots and the traditions that helped shape their upbringing. Bagpipers march along Fifth Avenue during the St Patricks Day Parade (AP) The event did not disappoint. There is no comparison to any other parade or city that Ive been to, Ms Stransky marvelled, as she took in the bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents and more. The grand marshal, Irish-born Heineken USA chief executive Maggie Timoney, is the first female head of a major US beer company. State Police march along Fifth Avenue in New York City (AP) At a pre-parade reception at New Yorks mayoral residence, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hailed the recognition for Timoney and noted some other causes for celebrating Irish American links this year, including Cork actor Cillian Murphys best actor Oscar win last weekend. New York City has multiple parades on various dates around its five boroughs including, on Sunday, the first St Patricks Day parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island. A kayaker floats on the Chicago River (AP) Mayor Eric Adams last month announced the plan for the new, privately organised celebration, arranged after a local group had asked for years to join the boroughs decades-old parade. That longstanding event, which does not allow groups to march under LGBTQ+ banners, happened earlier this month. The Manhattan parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups and symbols in 2015, after decades of protests, legal challenges and boycotts by some politicians. Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, left, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, march during the city parade (AP) Ahead of Chicagos parade, thousands of people "many decked out in green with beers in hand" gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green. Organisers say the tradition, started by the union, uses an environmentally friendly powder once used to check pipes for leaks. Celebrations were moved to Saturday in many US cities (AP) In Savannah, Georgia, organisers expected a historic crowd to participate in the parade, which started in 1824. Ahead of the bicentennial, Georgias oldest city had nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend. Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to Ukraines southern city of Odesa because of a Russian missile threat. The UK defence secretary had to abort the visit after he was warned by British intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans, according to a Sunday Times report confirmed by a source close to Mr Shapps. As he flew to Poland from RAF Northolt last week, he was notified that an armoured convoy carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis narrowly avoided a Russian missile strike while visiting the port city on March 6. Five people were killed in the explosions, according to Ukrainian authorities. The news raised the threat level to Mr Shapps safety from substantial to critical, according to the newspaper, which had access to the delegation. Mr Shapps, travelling with chief of the defence staff Admiral Tony Radakin and a small team of British officials, took an overnight train from Poland, arriving in Kyiv on March 7 for talks with Mr Zelenskyy and senior members of his wartime administration. But the planned onward journey to Odesa was called off after an intelligence update revealed the Kremlins knowledge of it. Putin has shown himself to be reckless, ruthless and careless, Mr Shapps, who instead travelled back to the UK via Poland, told the Sunday Times. The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesnt matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing? It was the senior Torys second trip to Ukraine as defence secretary and his third since the outbreak of the war in February 2022. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with President Volodymyr Zelensky in January (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It comes as Mr Zelenskyy faces waning enthusiasm in the West for supporting Kyiv. European countries are struggling to find enough weapons and ammunition to send to Ukraine, and US help worth $60 billion is stalled over political differences in Washington. Republicans loyal to Donald Trump have held up the funding package in Congress for months, and there is little hope of further US funding for Ukraine if the former president is re-elected. On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka last month, where they had battled a fierce Russian assault for four months despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned. Mr Shapps said he hoped his visit would serve as a wake-up call to push, persuade and even embarrass the rest of the world into action. Senior British military figures say western allies including the UK would need to ramp up the scale of investment by hundreds of billions of pounds to outproduce Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has raised defence spending by nearly 70%, according to the Sunday Times. Mr Shapps this week called for military spending to be increased to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy. Rishi Sunak has said he wants to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP when economic circumstances allow. When asked whether the British Prime Minister should set a date for increasing defence spending before or at the election, Mr Shapps told the paper: Yes. Alexandra Jacobs in The New York Times: Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter. It sounded like a piece of refrigerator poetry suddenly ringing out in the wood-paneled Hart Senate Office Building: Christine Blasey Fords distinctive phrase describing her memory of being assaulted at 15 by Brett Kavanaugh, two years older, while his friend watched. (Kavanaugh, seeking confirmation to the Supreme Court, less poetically but categorically and unequivocally denied he had done any such thing, brandishing old calendars as an alibi.) Published more than five years after her 2018 congressional testimony, Blasey Fords new memoir, One Way Back, is an important entry into the public record a lucid if belated retort to Senator Chuck Grassleys 414-page, maddening memo on the investigation but a prosaic one. A Big Book like this has become the final step in the dizzying if wearily familiar passage through the American media wringer: once called a spin cycle, now more like a clown car going through the wash tunnel. Blasey Ford is a research psychologist, professor and devotee of surfing, who leans heavily on the sport as a metaphor for her ordeal. You made me paddle out, she tells her lawyers at one point, when they are advising her not to testify after weeks of preparation. And you never, ever paddle back in once youre out there. You catch the wave. You wipe out if you have to. More here. Today Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Tomorrow Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 73F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Australian freshwater crayfish bring fresh vitality to rural Xinjiang Xinhua) 15:12, March 13, 2024 URUMQI, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yunfeng, who is in charge of a farmers' cooperative for aquaculture in Dongbag Township in Shache County, located in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was struck by the astonishment on the faces of local villagers upon seeing the Australian freshwater crayfish for the first time. Living in southern Xinjiang with the expansive Gobi Desert for generations, the locals, who have endured poverty, struggled to comprehend how people outside the region considered this "unusual" aquatic product a delicacy. Australian freshwater crayfish, originally from the tropical regions of northern Australia, are often cultivated in the eastern coastal provinces of China. Since 2021, when having completed six months of aquaculture training in Shanghai and east China's Shandong Province, technician Mubarek Abulaiti has been leading a team of over 10 breeders responsible for aquaculture in around a dozen ponds in the farmers' cooperative. Although far from the sea, the unique geographical advantage of being located along the Yarkant River gives Dongbag Township the possibility to develop aquaculture. In addition, the township boasts a wide range of crops such as wheat and beans, and these green agricultural products can become ideal feed for aquatic products, such as crayfish, crabs and fish, after simple processing, Mubarek Abulaiti explained. The arrival of the Australian freshwater crayfish piqued the curiosity of people in Dongbag and its surrounding areas. The production process of the crayfish, including breeding, fishing and packaging, has also become a source of fascination for the villagers. "I winced in pain as the crayfish's pincers caught my fingers. The villagers burst into laughter that seemed to last forever," said Mutellip Tursun, a breeder in the cooperative. Over time, the Australian freshwater crayfish gained increasing acceptance among the locals. "Now, with the penetration of internet and smartphones in the village, everyone knows that the crayfish bred here is an expensive delicacy in big cities," said Mutellip Tursun, adding that the villagers even "brag" to their relatives and friends in other places about the local crayfish. On holidays, the villagers would also put a plate of crayfish next to their local cuisines, such as laghman and roast meat, as a main course for the family dinner. Before this year's Spring Festival holiday, the cooperative secured orders from distributors in several cities, including Xi'an and Lanzhou in northwest China, and even the eastern metropolis of Shanghai. It is currently in talks for collaboration with some large chain supermarkets, according to Wang. "Crayfish have served as a window to the outside for the villagers," said Abulait Memet, head of Dongbag Township, noting that unlike their earlier generations, who primarily lived off a few acres of fields and some cattle, the younger villagers are now focusing on new business models and societal developments. According to Abulait Memet, in recent years, new ventures, such as tropical fruit cultivation, flower and tree cultivation for ceremonies, and ornamental bird breeding, have also emerged in the surrounding townships. "It is almost always youngsters who start these new projects." Upon graduating from college, Atungul Abdukram, Mubarek Abulaiti's friend also in Dongbag, set her sights on the downstream industry of Australian freshwater crayfish, and decided to start a business using the popular e-commerce model. "I plan to sell crayfish bred in my hometown online so I can directly deal with sales enterprises in other cities across China," she said. After the Spring Festival holiday, Dongbag Township launched a series of projects including an "aquatic town" and the construction of scenic spots for fishing and leisure. "Many young villagers are now eager to explore new avenues for employment and business. Perhaps soon, besides crayfish farming, we'll see a variety of novel ventures emerging here," Abulait Memet said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Hans Kundnani in Dissent: In the five months since October 7, people around the world have looked on in horror as Germany has wielded the memory of the Holocaust to silence criticism of Israels war on Gaza. The German governments response to the conflict itself has not been all that different from that of the United States: both have increased their supply of weapons to Israel and supported Israel against South Africa in the International Court of Justice. But Germany has gone much further than the United States in persecuting protesters, artists, and intellectuals expressing sympathy for and solidarity with the Palestinian people. It wields its responsibility for a barely distant genocide as a kind of moral authority. This invocation of the Holocaust to police criticism of Israel is a far cry from the Erinnerungskultur, or memory culture, that many international observers once celebrated as an exemplary form of reckoning with the past. Even philosopher Susan Neiman, who five years ago wrote a book celebrating Germanys memory culture as a model for the United States, now thinks it has gone haywire. Neiman speaks of a particularly German philosemitic McCarthyismthough since it has often also been directed against Jews who are critical of Israel, like the New Yorker writer Masha Gessen and the artist Candice Breitz, it may be more accurate to call it Zionist McCarthyism. Although much attention has rightly focused on these individual cases of persecution, the genesis and evolution of Germanys memory culture is less often discussed. More here. Oakland, Ca. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) Whether driven by moral compass, or political survival; Americas Democratic leaders are finally recognizing the obvious: The continued leadership of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi), is hurting Israel, and fueling global antisemitism. Its also making the Jewish nation an international pariah. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumers eloquent speech stated all this, while calling for new elections in Israel, and a two-state solution, in a speech at the Senate. Schumer said in his speech, Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the acts of Hamas. The US has an obligation to do better to get aid to the people who need it. Few other US political leaders have dared to express that sentiment so boldly, but it is remarkable to see Schumer saying things on this issue that are so close to the stance of his fellow Senator Bernie Sanders. Schumer comes from a family of Holocaust survivors, and his name in Hebrew means guardians of the faith. Schumer prefaced his comments saying, Oct. 7 was pure & pre-meditated evil. The widespread antisemitic expressions by many Americans have awakened the deepest fears of the Jewish people that our annihilation remains a possibility. With that family background and context, Schumer called out Israel as no other high-ranking US politician with such ranking ever has, other than President Barack Obama. President Joe Biden has also expressed growing objections and public differences with Bibi, as have other Members of Congress, many of them Jewish. Bibi and his Gaza campaign are endangering Bidens chances of re-election, as many Americans are horrified by images and stories in Gaza, and blame Biden for supporting the Israeli war machine. The traditional American blank check for Israeli military operations has become a huge political liability. Never has American largesse been so badly abused by an ally or client state. Americans have reacted forcefully and viscerally to Israels actions, which has given life to a new form of antisemitism. The Guardian News Video: Israeli PM Netanyahu obstacle to peace in Gaza, says US Senate majority leader American Democratic leaders are doing what Israelis are afraid to do, and demand the end to Bibis leadership. Hes used the PM position to shield himself from criminal charges, and as with Donald Trump, intends to fix the Courts and legislature to absolve himself of all past and future crimes. Despite widespread condemnation of Bibi in Israel, many Israelis are reluctant to address the obvious need to depose him. When Ive quizzed some deeply religious Israeli friends about the viability of Bibis continued leadership the answer is, Thats not for me to decide. Those wedded to the myth of Biblical prophecy sometimes shut themselves off from political realities, and are reluctant to think beyond their comfort zone. Schumer and Biden have challenged that. The American blank check for Israel is about to have a finite dollar amount and expiration date. Haaretz columnist Yossi Vetter noted that with the airlift to Gaza, The U.S. has effectively broken the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since June 2007. Another achievement by the fully right-wing government. Biden has promised that no American soldiers would serve in Gaza, however some contractors must be employed to build the pier and makeshift port. Whats notable is the US building new infrastructure in Gaza to provide aid. With that, the US is expressing its disapproval of Israel by tacitly violating its sovereignty. But Israel is cooperating by providing security in the perimeter of the operation. Bibi has been taunting Democrats and the US since before his speech to Congress, while he did not visit the Obama White House in 2015, and was not invited. But he colluded with House Speaker John Boehner and Republicans to show up the President. The US move to break the blockade is a challenge to Israel on the order of President Dwight Eisenhowers leadership during the 1956 Suez crisis. . Ike was facing re-election just weeks away when Israel invaded the Suez with support from the UK and France. An inconvenient coincidence was the Soviet invasion of Hungary three days before. General Ike essentially said in salty terms, If you dont pull back from the Suez, I cant stand up to Khrushchev in Hungary. That was the point in history when US supplanted the UK and France as Israels primary sponsors. Biden and Schumer are sending strong leadership messages, as no US president has since then. Hopefully, this will address and counter the popularity of uncommitted votes in some recent Democratic primaries. That illustrates how the Democrats unconditional defense of Israels actions in Gaza has hurt them politically. Many Americans across age and ethnic spectrums are horrified by Israels war crimes in Gaza, and expressed themselves in the primaries by casting protest votes, confident Biden would prevail. However, anyone even thinking about a protest vote to express themselves in the November election must remember the alternative: Donald Trump could become president again, and inflict way more domestic and global damage than Biden could possibly do. Trump would let Israel do whatever the hell they want, just as he said he would encourage Putins new USSR in Ukraine. Also important is that a vote for Biden or Trump is a vote for their teams, ideas, policies and goals; not the men themselves. So theyre both old. Biden is manageable, and tended by lucid advisers. Trump is not. Biden is still Israels patron, but is attempting to restrain it from its worst instincts under Bibi. Trump fueled and empowered Bibis worst instincts during his presidency. Schumer gets credit for his candor and cojones for stating the obvious: Its time for Bibi to go. It may be too late for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, but that Schumer seems genuinely to want one at this juncture is significant. It matters that Schumer is a descendant of Holocaust survivors, an observant Jew, a Zionist and highest ranking Jewish-American elected official in history. Subscribe to Nonviolence Radio on Apple Podcasts, Android, Spotify or via RSS. ( Waging Nonviolence) As a Palestinian, Sami and his family have suffered directly under the long Israeli occupation and more acutely now, from the current war. Sami speaks candidly about the ways in which politicians and media harness fear and exploit unhealed traumas so that violence seems to be the only response to conflict. This, he insists, is a distortion and one that must be actively resisted. Instead of accepting the simplistic binary categories of victim and victimizer, Palestinians can envision and then work collectively through nonviolent means to realize a just future, one which they themselves have chosen. Such a path calls for broad education in nonviolence, it calls for deliberate organization, it calls for genuine leadership and crucially, it calls for love to be our primary motivation. The situation in Palestine is horrific, there is no quick fix, but when we reject fear as our driver and turn to love instead, possibilities for real change emerge I think part of loving is to deeply understand who the other is and where theyre coming from and what motivates them to behave the way they behave and do the things they do. And in that love and care and compassion, creates space for transformation and healing. And I think that is definitely much more powerful than fear, and is key. But its a journey. Stephanie: Greetings and welcome dear listeners to another episode of Nonviolence Radio. Im your host, Stephanie Van Hook, and Im here with my cohost and news anchor of the Nonviolence report, Michael Nagler. And were from the Metta Center for Nonviolence in Petaluma, California. On this episode we speak with a truly remarkable guest, Sami Awad. Hes the former executive director of the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem. With the worlds eyes on this region at this time in the conflict, especially, escalated since October 7, our discussion with Sami explores a new level of activism and understanding of nonviolence in the region, one of the most tumultuous regions in the world. What I liked the most about this interview with Sami was the depth of his understanding of the dynamics of nonviolence, not only politically, but also what happens in the human heart and mind, and this kind of tension between fear and love. Sami is a thoughtful, inspiring, and noble human being. And we hope that you gain as much understanding and inspiration and support from this interview as we did. Lets turn to Sami Awad. Sami: My name is Sami Awad. I am living in Bethlehem. I am a Palestinian. Both of my parents are Palestinians. My father is a refugee from Jerusalem and my mother is from Gaza, from the Gaza Strip. Until last week, my mothers family was in Gaza. We were able to take them out to Cairo a day before the Israeli army started bombing Rafah. And they were in Rafah, actually. So very, very lucky. My uncle, aunt, cousins, in-laws there are still family members that are still in Gaza. Were still very worried about them. But at least the immediate family, we were able to take out last week. I grew up in a family that has always been committed to peace work and very deeply influenced at a young age by an uncle, Mubarak Awad. Who was heading the Palestinian Center for the Study of Nonviolence before he was arrested and deported by the Israeli army for his work in nonviolence. And so, my life journey, my mission, has been to engage in nonviolent resistance and activism towards the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people and to bring a just peace to this land. Which has not been an easy task for all of us, I think, for all who have been involved in this. Part of that was in 1998, I started an organization called Holy Land Trust, which I ran for 25 years, until last year, when I decided to step away from the organization. To continue working with them, but stepping into more freelancing and doing more work on a global scale with nonviolent activism. Stephanie: What does that look like for you today? Sami: Well, today, I mean, this was all the idea before this war on Gaza took place before October 7. So, its been completely taken over by just the reality that we live in now, and then trying to advocate for at least a ceasefire to happen. Trying to advocate for nonviolence, trying to advocate also for people not to be afraid to expose the injustices that are happening, the genocide that is taking place, the growing levels of racism that are happening also in this land, that need to be addressed. So, I havent been able to engage at the international level as planned. But for me, the three tiers of the work that I work in and want to continue working, as I mentioned, the first and maybe the cornerstone is nonviolent activism. The second tier, which I have been doing more and more work in the field also, maybe even at the same level of need, is to address collective trauma, inherited trauma, and how this is an important component actually, of activism that we need to we need to be motivated not by our fear nor by our trauma as we move forward. Many, many peace activists are activists for peace because theyre afraid of the other side, not because they honor the other side, respect the other side, or even acknowledge the atrocities that have been done to the other side. We are afraid of you, therefore, we want to make peace with you, and that, for me, doesnt work. And so inherited narratives of trauma, which are key. Key, when it comes to the Palestinian Israeli situation, are some aspects of work that we have been doing. The third level of work is leadership development. So, for me, we cant also talk about nonviolence without having clear, visionary, trusted leaders that are motivating their community, that carry the vision, that are leading their people in the struggles of liberation and not just sitting in, you know, five-star hotels and mansions and talking about liberation. And so, leadership development, nonviolence, and healing are the work that Ive been engaged in and want to continue to engage in, as I said, locally and globally as well. Michael: So, in that brief talk, Sami, three things have come up for me of different character. One is, are you working with Combatants for Peace? Sami: Yes. Yeah, you know, when we look at whats happening now, as I dont even know what the word is to describe it. As sorrowful, as painful as confusing as it is, as dark as it is, there are some beacons of light that are happening. And I think one major one is that there is a level of awakening within the Palestinian activist community. Ive been having many of these discussions, many of these discussions happen in my home, including key leaders on the Palestinian side of Combatants for Peace, that we come, and we meet together. And then really ask the questions of, who we are, where are we, what is our mission? What is our goal? What have we done that has worked? What have we done that has not worked as well in the past? I think October 7, let me say on a positive side, was maybe a wake-up call for many of us to say that, yes, we have been doing work as activists for 25 years and more now since the Oslo peace process began, at least if not before. And then, did we fall into a routine? Did we fall into a certain pattern of what we did and how we did things that we need to address? And so, I think were having really very powerful discussions that talk about, again, who are we? What are we doing? What is the language we want to speak now? How much have we been in a space where we were appeasing the other side, even in our nonviolent activism? To try to bring them into, you know, accepting us or engaging with us? How much did we downplay our language in a way that makes them want to join? Now were saying, No, we want to label things as they are. We want to speak truth to power. We want to make it very clear were not looking yes, we enjoy the friendships, but this is not the main part, the part of what were doing. Itll be amazing friendships when this occupation ends. These are the friendships we want to have. Not before, and then having these friendships become so personal that they interfere with our ability to engage in work because we are worried about upsetting them or not making them or making them triggered by us. So, theres been an awakening, I think, within the activist community since October 7. And these discussions have been very, very strong, and profound. I think. Michael: Wow, thank you, Sami. Okay. Ill just move on to my second question, since we had such a great time with the first one. The second one was more like a comment, but Id like to get your response to it. You know, in this field, as you know, we talk about negative peace and positive peace. And you just gave a really devastating definition of negative peace when you said, Some people go into nonviolence because theyre afraid. Theyre afraid of the opponent. And Gandhi would say, acting out of fear is a form of violence. Sami: Exactly. Michael: So that, in a way, negative peace is not nonviolence. Sami: Yes, I fully agree with that statement. And this is why it became very important for us to address the fear. Because we know that fear is part of the collective psyche, for example, of the Jewish community in particular. They grow up in a narrative that says to them, as Jews, we have trusted so many in the past and look what they did to us. As Jews, everybody hates us. Everybody wants to destroy us. And antisemitism is alive and well. There is no denial of that. But there is also, in my opinion, an abuse of that by certain leaders to gain political clout. One quote that also is as strong for me is, it says, Fear is the greatest motivator of human behavior. And then leaders know that if you use fear, people will listen to you. And then we see this politically everywhere in the US, in Europe, growing fascism. To be honest, Michael, even the left in the US is now using fear as a motivation to rally people around them. And so, this has also been negative, negative peace as well. So, we need to definitely address fear and its history, and the way to deal with it is healing. So, we are very much engaged in creating spaces for Palestinians and Israelis collectively, where they come with very specific programs that we have created to become aware. At least become aware that many of the decisions that theyre making are motivated by fear, and that we can now create a different space where we could put that fear behind us and become motivated by something else. Become motivated by justice. Become motivated by compassion, by understanding the other, by acknowledging the atrocities that are being committed against the other. Take responsibility. Because fear also just puts you more in the victims mindset. And then we need people to understand that they have responsibility in terms of whats happening here. Michael: You made a statement, which is of really great significance in the nonviolence field. Because there is always this specter raised because of the tremendous power of Gandhi and King and a few others, there is, of course, a school that wants to not have charismatic leaders, which I dont agree with that school very much. And it sounds like you agreed with me, which is quite thrilling. That you said that a leader has to at least emerge, someone who can rally, who can refocus people, has to emerge. Sami: Yes. Yeah. I think for us as Palestinians, this has been a question for me that Ive been in for a long time. This is why I actually started doing the leadership training programs in the Palestinian community, because in a way, I could say we have too many leaders, but we dont have leadership. We dont have clear leadership that is really able to unite the community. Our sad reality is we have leaders that are tribal leaders representing political parties. Theyre trying to gain politically for their party based on, you know, putting others down or even struggling or having conflict with others, as we see between for many, many years and until now between groups like Hamas and Fatah, each one trying to gain power in a situation where we have nothing, absolutely nothing. Sometimes I compare this like people fighting over whos going to be standing on top of the trash dump instead of asking, how can we all come together and clean this mess that we have been put in? So, for me, leadership is key, is important. We have leadership that are, again, ready to not just speak a vision and inspire people but are ready to be on the ground. This is what Gandhi did. This is what King did. They were on the front lines of demonstrations. Ive been in so many demonstrations here that we organized, Michael, where Palestinian leaders come to join us. And as soon as it reaches that hot zone where, you know, where its ready to have that tension between us and the army, theyre the first ones to leave, many of them, not all of them, but many of them will just turn around and go back. They got their photo op, they got on the camera. You know, they got the interview on TV, and that was it. This is not the leadership that we want. And then I will even add to this and say that part of our work is to also build up the capacity of young leaders, which are very important for us. This is key motivation. And, as important, women leaders in the Palestinian community, which were very, very strong, and very, very powerful until the Oslo peace process began, and the Palestinian Authority was created. And this absolute male masculine energy took over and women were sidelined for all the work that they did. And now we see, like all most of the leaders in the Palestinian community are men. Even somebody like Hanan Ashrawi, who was a woman leader for many years, you know well. Shes been sidelined. You know, given sort of like a spokesperson position at best. And so, for us, bringing young leaders and women leaders in full force in the Palestinian community is key as well. Stephanie: Sami, as youre speaking, first of all, I just want to pause and see if, you know, youve covered a lot of ground has anything struck you as youve been speaking, that you want to go into a little bit further before we guide into another place? How are you feeling? Sami: No, Im feeling good. Well see where we go. I mean, I think its important at some point to talk about what I dont even know the answer to it, but what is nonviolence in the midst of all whats happening now? Stephanie: I do have a lot of questions about the various aspects and angles of nonviolence. One is that fear is the greatest motivator for politicians in particular, I think is what you mean. Sami: Its what the politicians use to motivate. So, fear is the greatest motivator of human behavior. And politicians know how to play that game very well. Thats yeah. Stephanie: Do you think love could be the greatest motivator? Sami: Yeah, yeah. No, for me, I mean, I think a big part of the work were all doing is to conquer fear with love, for sure. And thats what we want. But I think to really make that happen, I think we also need to understand how deeply fear has also been embedded in love itself. And how many people, you know fear has, there is a certain understanding of love that I think is really missing. I think most people who engage in love, if its at the personal or the collective level, still have this component of fear in them. Fear of losing a loved one, fear of being alone, fear of separation, fear of judgment. A lot of fear comes in love relationships. And so, this is something very important for me that we work on, which is how to also free love from fear itself. And for me, there is a love that I think is very powerful and can be motivational. And that is when we talk about love that is unconditional, for example. Like, how can we love somebody despite the triggers, despite how, you know, their behavior that makes us feel insecure or something? And then how can we be part of that healing journey for them? To love somebody, in my opinion, means to unconditionally love them. And then for me, you know, my history connected to this has been I always say how I began to discover Jesus when I let go of Christianity. And then I started studying Jesus independent of Christianity. And then one key statement, a commandment, actually, not just a statement that he told his followers in the midst of a very brutal occupation that they were living in under the Roman occupation, which is, love your enemy. And then I went on, it was my spiritual journey to understand what does it mean to love somebody? What does it mean when he is telling Jews who lived under a very violent, brutal occupation to love their enemy? He didnt say, Make peace with your enemy. He didnt say, Resolve a conflict with your enemy. He didnt say, Reach a peace treaty with your enemy. He said, Love your enemy. And then I think part of loving is to deeply understand who the other is and where theyre coming from and what motivates them to behave the way they behave and do the things they do. And in that love and care and compassion, creates space for transformation and healing. And I think that is definitely much more powerful than fear, and is key. But its a journey. I want to say that its been one of my biggest disappointments since October 7 was in seeing how many Israeli peace activists that Ive worked with, connected with, been in spaces with, engaged in nonviolent resistance with, immediately, immediately on October 7 itself fell into the trap of absolute fear from the other and even calling for violence towards the other. And this is why I say its the greatest motivator. Because if youre not really embedded and stable and have deep roots in love, then that tree can fall very quickly and then fear takes over. And so, yes, love is ultimately the greater motivator. But my fear, my problem at this time is that, sadly, in the world we live in, fear and separation are the motivations. Stephanie: I was just reading in Therese of Lisieux, a Catholic mystic, who said on this topic of loving your enemy, that its not enough to love your enemy, you have to prove it. Sami: Yes, I love that. I jokingly say sometimes, when I was in that question of what Jesus meant by loving the enemy, you know, I would say like, should I go to checkpoints and open my arms out to Israeli soldiers and say, I love you, Come and now give me a hug? And so, love, there is a proof to it, component as well. Its not just words. Its actions. Its deeds. Its energy that you bring into the space. Its an opening, an invitation. So, there is action for sure when it comes to love as well. Stephanie: And I think in that same context, it was something like the greatest that before Jesus was crucified, that he gave another commandment which was even greater than loving your enemy, which was love one another the way that Ive loved you. Sami: Yeah. And yeah, for sure. And his story, his journey of his life is one where it was expressing love and living love and teaching love and being unconditional in love. And not separating between different tribes and different people and different groups when it comes to love. And even being challenged by himself, like when he showed love to the enemy, and he showed love to the I think it was, there was a woman who was from a different identity group that even challenged him to heal her because he didnt want to heal her initially. And then she challenged him, and he did heal her. And for him to be in the humbleness of it, and accepting that he also has his learning to do when it comes to this from the enemy, from others. So, yeah, for me, everything that Jesus did was an embodiment of love and transformation and healing. And then this is why, for me, its very important then to talk about him and to talk about his teachings in that way. Stephanie: And on that topic again, of fear, and as you said, you know, love is sort of hiding behind fear in a way. That in the work of the trauma work and of, you know, getting to this place of nonviolence from this place of unconditional, fierce love, detached love, even, I wonder what you think that fear is doing there. Why is fear so intertwined with love? Sami: Yeah, yeah. Its a big question. I mean, I think part of it is, we grow up in communities and in identities that promote separation and promote division. Starting with family, you know, now its about the nucleus family. Its not about the bigger community that we are part of. Its my father and my mother and my siblings. And then there is the other. Its my school, and then there is the other. Everything is polarized, everything is dualistic, everything is divided. And in that, because of these narratives we grow up in, there is this illusion of security that we have to create around my identity, my narrative, my people, my tribe. And the illusion is that this identity creates a sense of security for me to be part, to belong to something. And then the moment that is challenged by something else or by a new narrative that comes into play, then immediately fear of losing comes up. And I think fear of losing is the biggest fear that we have, not just losing life but losing, losing connection, losing community, losing identity. And to be honest, this is what I see a lot within the Israeli community. That for so many years now, decades, its been embedded in them that the state of Israel, this state is the only safe place for you. This state is the only place that you could come to that will protect you when the rest of the world begins to attack you. This is why you have to So, the love for the state of Israel is coming completely from an ideology of promoting fear of the other. That if you dont love Israel and you dont give everything to Israel, your commitment, your vows, your money, your vote, then you are with the other, you are with the enemy. You are allowing. So fear this is why I keep saying fear is a great motivator. And then many, many Israelis and talking to them, especially when it comes to trauma healing work, there is this fear of who are we, even now, without the state? And yes, the state has problems. And yes, the state has issues. And yes, the state is not doing good things. But, you know, theres always this, but we go back to it. And we need to fix it. We need to make it better. But its still this whole nation that is completely embedded and motivated by fear. And again, Im not denying the past that created this, but to say that there is an abuse of this at this time that is taking place, thats making people completely lost in it. So, yes, separation and division and dualism is key in promoting fear and dismantling love in spaces. When we talk about love, its about community. Its about oneness. When you love somebody, you are creating something new with them. Its not just the I and the they. Its the we that comes out, that emerges. Its the new creation that comes out of love. And for me, this is like this is my dream for this place and this land. What is the new that we can create? When we look into the peace treaties that have been offered, the Oslo peace process. A peace process. Even leaders won Nobel Peace Prizes on it. Like the greatest honor of peace. If we look deeply on it from that lens, it wasnt a peace process. At best, we could say it was a security process to put like a positive note on it. It was negotiating security, and security means there is fear. And so, when there is fear, we need to negotiate the best security mechanism for us. Israelis were negotiating from a place of, how do we maintain a Jewish nation, a Jewish state? Because, again, of how the world has treated us, how the world has seen us, the fear and the trauma that we have experienced. And then we have to deal with those Palestinians that are in this land. We wish they were not there, but because theyre there, we have to find a certain arrangement for them. And the Oslo peace process failed because that arrangement was only about how can we control the Palestinians in order to maintain security. How can we create a Palestinian Authority to help us suppress the Palestinians in a way to maintain security for Israel and the Jews? And that failed. The Palestinians leadership on the other side was also motivated by fear. The PLO at that time had lost its legitimacy in the global community when Yasser Arafat stood with Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War. You know, the faucet of financial support from the Gulf state was cut, diplomatic negotiations with the US and Europe that were secret were ended. He was motivated by fear of losing everything. So, he jumped into the Oslo peace process again from a place of fear. Both sides were motivated by fear. And for me, yeah, when we talk, imagine if they were motivated by love in that way, like by a deep understanding, compassion, care, a desire to reconcile the grievances that were created by both sides, a desire to even apologize and mend what we have done to you. We would definitely not be in this situation. But sadly, thats not the motivation that was there. Stephanie: Youre here at Nonviolence Radio. Im Stephanie Van Hook. Im with Michael Nagler. And we are speaking with Sami Awad from Israel-Palestine about the work of nonviolence in the region. A while ago, we had interviewed Ali Abu Awwad from Taghyeer, and he said something that ties into something that you said earlier about the victim mentality. He said, When we stop seeing ourselves as victim or victimizer, thats really the basis for being able to move forward together. Can you speak to the again, that kind of tension between love and fear within this identity of a victim or victimizer when, clearly, we can be both victim and victimizer at the same time? So, how do we release ourselves from that space? How do you do that in your work? Sami: Yeah, so again, for me, it comes down to motivation. And what is that motivation for action that it creates? At first, we cannot deny the reality that we live in. On that scale, there is a victim and there is a victimizer, there is an oppressor and oppressed, there is an occupier and an occupied. The question is, being the victim, what do I do? What do I engage in? How do I behave? Do I allow myself to completely surrender to victimization, which means my action is about blaming, complaining, seeking entitlement, not taking responsibility, not taking action, labeling everything as impossible because of what theyre doing to us? And so, there is a consciousness of victimization that I can choose to be in. And theres another consciousness of victimization, which is, yes, I am a victim, but I have power. Yes, I am a victim, but I can unite my people around the call. Yes, I am a victim, but I can have a vision for the future. And I can engage in action to bring a better day for me and my people, and for the victimizer themselves as well. I think its not about denying the reality, but its about saying that I make a choice. Everything in life is a choice. And then again, we see this on a personal and then the collective. This is why, for me, always, the personal and the collective are intertwined. We learn from each other. A person who is abused in a relationship and is a victim has a choice. And sometimes we think we dont have a choice because fear takes over. But we always have a choice. Then what is that choice that we make in the midst of the oppression, of being victimized? Its not about denying it. I think thats very important. And then I fully agree with you. Yes, I can be a victim in the context of an occupation, but I can be a victimizer in the context of how I connect to my neighbor, or how I connect to my family or my children. And so, we all have that, we all have that component in us to be both at the same time. I dont want to belittle the reality that we live in and to say no, that at that mega political level, that is the reality, and we need to address it from that point about how do we empower the victim, and how do we and this is a key part of nonviolence, is how do we pull power away from the victimizer? I think many people just completely ignore the component of nonviolence, which is the need of nonviolence to pull power away. Michael, Mubarak, Gene Sharp, talk about this. That we need to yeah, so, when it comes to the power dynamics, its where the shift needs to happen. Stephanie: Yeah, Michael and I were listening to a practitioner of restorative justice from Northern Ireland the other day, and he was working with victims of sexual assault, I think at one point. And he said that one of the stories was that this woman had the opportunity to be in the room with the person who had raped her, but he wasnt going to apologize for what he did. And so, the guy was like, Well, we could call off the session because youre not going to get what you want. She said, No, were going to go through with it because hes never going to have that power over me again. Its not that I want his apology. I dont want him to ever have that power over me again. Michael: She showed that she wasnt destroyed by what he did. That was her triumph in that situation. Sami: Yeah. And not make him decide what the discourse of the conversation would be. But he decides he wants to apologize or not, thats not, thats not important to her. Yeah, thats beautiful. I love that. Michael: You know, at the end of Mans Search for Meaning, which is Viktor Frankl, the psychiatrist who was in Auschwitz for two and a half years. At the very end, when the camp is liberated, hes walking out of the camp with a fellow prisoner, and they walk past a wheat field. And the other prisoner runs into the wheat field and starts trampling the wheat. And so, Frankl says, What are you doing? And the guy says, They did this to me, so Im going to do this to them. And theres just like such a stark allegory of this man let himself be destroyed by his victimization. And Frankl, for some, you know, Gods grace descended on him or something and he didnt let himself be destroyed. So, Im guessing that when you do a lot of trauma work with both camps, actually, that this is something that you emphasized, not to let yourself be, not to adopt what your enemy tells you you are. Sami: Of course. Of course. And then we see this fully in history, where unhealed trauma creates a cycle of, a new cycle of victim and victimizer, of oppressor and oppressed. And we all know this is a big part of this reality that we live in. The fact that there was no real deep healing work for the Jewish community after the Second World War when it comes to trauma healing, it was never addressed at that level. It was just, in a way, coming out from guilt and shame that the international community had to make up for the Jewish community. But until today, there hasnt been a real reconciliation process. And we see this, and then we see that that lack of healing has created this system that we have lived in for many, many years that has completely now exposed itself. And then its violence. And then its sad. Its really sad. Like, its not easy for me to create a comparison between how they were treated and how theyre treating us. This is not the point. But to say that the lack of healing of the Jewish community has created a community where they are committing atrocities against another people. And to say that in the future that the lack of healing for Palestinians from the traumas that they are facing will result in them creating violence and atrocities against others. If its another group of people, if its different identity groups within the Palestinian community, if its gender-based, religious-based, to say that the Palestinians are excluded from that cycle, its not going to happen if we dont engage in trauma healing as soon as we are able to move in that space for the Palestinians. So, peace, any peace that comes in the future, in my opinion, needs to be deeply embedded in truth and reconciliation and trauma work for both communities. Michael: We recently interviewed Ofer Cassif, and he had a very interesting image for this. He talked about Israelis and Palestinians living side by side, but not looking each other in the eye. That they are really not seeing one another on a human level. In other words, theyre trying to coexist rather than live together. And that kind of thing has never lasted. Sami: Yeah, I fully agree. And not just that, I will add to it. Were living next to each other, coexisting and I think thats what he was also meaning, with completely different narratives of who we are and who the other is. Were not even listening to each others stories. Were not even listening to each others pain and narratives. So, the Israelis are living their own complete narrative. And actually, its interesting because part of the conversations were having is how media is being presented on both sides. And the absolute contrast with what the Israeli medias presenting, what Palestinian medias presenting. And its not about truth or not like its thats, you know, the media is media. But its just the stories, the narratives that are being presented by one, and how the same experiences presented by the other is a completely different story. And then people, this is what theyre listening to. Thats what theyre hearing, and thats then what theyre sharing as their experience. We need to find that space where and its not even about creating one story. I mean, its about just beginning to really listen to the other and then seeing the other eye to eye, and honoring and respecting the other, trusting the other for their experience and what can be built with them. Stephanie: We have a good friend, Amery, who is an artist. In his art, he tries just to bring people together to build relationship with each other, whether its like rolling a ball back and forth in a park. That is his art in a way. And so, Id love to move into this question of what nonviolence looks like in this situation right now. And yeah, lets just open that up. Sami: Yeah. So, Ill begin by saying that nonviolence in the midst of war and violence is not something very easy to engage in. Its sad to say this, but when the emotions are so high, when the arms are so powerful and strong, and the use of weapons is so easily done, all of us, all of us, were all in a place where we are in the question of what can we do? You know, were seeing demonstrations happening around the world. Millions and millions of people. Were seeing politicians that are probably going to lose elections because of their stance, and theyre still advocating for violence and for this war to continue and for more weapons. So, on one level, I would say, we I cant be always optimistic and say, yeah there is a nonviolent solution at this time. At this time, I think its very difficult. And I think its very important for us to honor that within us as activists. To actually acknowledge despair as it exists within the community and not to play around it. And in that place, to create conversations of how do we move, and where do we move, and what are we creating for any future work we want to do? We definitely know that at the end of this war, there isnt any political agenda out there that is going to promote a just peace to this situation. Were going to fall back into a reality of fear, and victimization, and victimhood, and oppressor, and oppressed, and power dynamics the same way. Yeah, maybe a different political map of it, but that same energy is still going to be present. And that, I think, is where we will have an opportunity to engage. And so, in a way, when the dust settles from this atrocity that were facing, its going to be our time to take charge, to move forward in work. And these are the conversations were having with activists. Its not to say that we cannot engage. We do the best that we can, which is creating advocacy. Many, many of us are on webinars and Zoom calls around the world talking about nonviolence, talking about the Palestinians, talking about the rights of the Palestinians, creating more international support, the momentum for a just peace in this land. Because that is an opportunity that we have to work with. But none of us are able to go now and stop a tank from shelling a house in Gaza. Even though there are many conversations Ive been in conversations with women leaders from around the world that are talking, lets bring 100,000, 200,000 women to come and stand. And even with their willingness to understand that some of them might even lose their life in this. And then theres conversations happening around that, for sure. But to understand even that is going to be difficult to do. And were still engaging in the conversations at this level of activism and action. But there is a time that will come that I think many people will look back and say, Violence has not worked. What we did in 2023 and 24, with so much death and destruction, did not achieve anything for both people. And we need a different route. The power dynamics will still stay there. And I think that will be the door opening for us to say there is a way, which is nonviolence, which is a more powerful force, which is also a force that will have the negative and violent response from the oppressor towards it. And this is something we need to engage in. You know, I think, as I said, were having all these conversations now, and I think part of the conversations is to actually present nonviolence as a powerful force that many people lost touch with. Nonviolence became, again, like the negative peace, the negative nonviolence that Michael talked about, which is lets get together, lets do a sit-in somewhere. To be very honest, in many nonviolent actions that are joint Palestinian/Israelis, there was pre-negotiations with the army that we will be there for an hour or youll be there for an hour. After an hour, well start shooting. And the demonstrators would leave before the hour ended because they did not want to engage in the clash. And now what were saying is, No, if we want to engage in nonviolence in the future, we have to be ready for that clash. We have to be ready for the response, the violent response from the other side. To reclaim nonviolence for its core and its power, I think is the opportunity that we have ahead of us. Stephanie: Yeah, Ive heard comments that this conversation is extremely difficult to have because people have said Palestinians have tried nonviolence with the specific emphasis on the Great March of Return and that you had so many people joining that and that the soldiers just shot people down. So, how do you respond to that? Sami: Yeah, I mean, I always say the March of Return was an example. I also say that the March of Return was and could have been much stronger if it was much more organized and much more embedded in a unified Palestinian cause of resistance. That its the West Bank and Gaza coming together, its leadership that was missing. And then sadly, like in the First Intifada, where that was a very strong example of nonviolence that actually achieved great results for us, its, one, honestly, I would say corrupted leadership wanted to ride the wave and took it over, that it began to collapse. And many people who were organizing the March of Return were not committed were not part or supporters of Hamas. And then, sadly, I would say at one point, again, leaders saw an opportunity for them to gain power and they rode that wave. And of course, you know, once nonviolence and this is something that we always learn in nonviolent resistance and activism, even Gandhi talked about the army of nonviolence. You have to be trained in it. This is not just about, you know, lets go out and do it. Then were missing this: were missing the schools, the education, the training of nonviolence, as if you are trained to join an army. The only thing different is the weapons that you use are different. And so, theres a sense of discipline, theres a sense of camaraderie, theres a sense of steadfastness, of willing to sacrifice, understanding this, that is missing, I think, I would say at this level, in most of the global, nonviolent movement, not just here. So, yeah, it was an example. And then we could definitely build on it more. And to say, yes, the other side will engage in violence. And by the other side actually engaging in violence, it actually is a proof of the success of nonviolence, as we know, its not that it failed. It actually showed success. When the other side uses violence as a response. Stephanie: So there were two intifadas, right? Michael: Yeah. Sami: Yes. Stephanie: Where this where the Second Intifada was more grounded in nonviolent action. Or the first one was? Sami: The first one. Stephanie: The first one. Okay, so Third Intifada? Is that a conversation thats taking place, or what would be your vision of a Third Intifada? Sami: I think what we need to its probably coming, the Third Intifada. Itll probably eventually come. But I think there are certain things that need to be in place for that intifada to happen. It cannot just be another sporadic, you know, movement or resistance that because even between the intifadas, we had many of these things that have happened where it could have launched the second or could have launched the Third Intifada, but then it quickly died out. And so, I go back to the issue of leadership and vision. You know, the sort of the three circles that I use in our training work is you need nonviolent resistance as a strategy. You need leadership and a vision. You cannot have two only of the other. You have leadership and you have nonviolence. Without a vision, youre going nowhere. You have leadership and a vision without a community that is committed and engaged in violence, you go nowhere. You have nonviolence and a vision, without leadership, youre going nowhere. And so, for me, if we want to engage in achieving that, that level of the Third Intifada or intifada that has a great potential of succeeding, we need to start doing the groundwork for it and preparing for it. And I think this is part of the conversations that we are having within the Palestinian community and leadership within the Palestinian community. What is the leadership that we need? What is the vision? What are we struggling for? What is it that we want and that we need to come to an agreement on this? And again, sadly, within the Palestinian community, we dont have a clear vision. You know, the two-state solution was imposed on us. Most people do not support the two-state solution, at least in the way that it was presented. And most people have seen on the ground the reality that with the expansion and building of new settlements of the apartheid wall and the confiscation of land and water, that that solution wasnt a working solution to start with. Then again, I even mentioned that they show fear. How it was motivated by fear. And so, we need to come together, and I would say, as Palestinians first and ask what is the vision we want? And then invite Israeli partners and activists to join us in these discussions. But again, I think one of the big challenges is that since Oslo, everything had to be done jointly. And I would say this is probably in my memory, and you could correct me, the only liberation movement where members of the oppressor had a voice as equal to the oppressed in what is the strategy and what is the vision and what is the tactic. Like, you know, the civil rights movement wasnt bringing white people and black people to talk about what is the vision, what to create. No, its the black community saying this is what we want to achieve. In South Africa, this is the LGBTQ community, this is what we want. And we invite solidarity. We invite people to join us in this. The Black Lives Matter wasnt, you know, some, you know, like a 20-year-old white person from Seattle coming in and saying, Yeah, I like your movement, but I think you need to do this and that. This is what we get as Palestinians from our Israeli friends. And we need to say, No, this is what we want to achieve, and you need to trust us and not be afraid of us. And join us at some point and help us achieve this, this vision and the goal and create a new future for all of us. But you dont have a veto or a say in deciding it. So yeah. So, it starts by the Palestinians coming for a vision and start training and the strategies of nonviolence that we will use, start building momentum around it, creating a movement around it, bring in more people. Nonviolence is, it means mass popular movement. Its not just the 20 of us going into a demonstration or tying ourselves to trees as nonviolence. These are actions that are happening. A movement of nonviolence means that the greatest majority of the Palestinian community are committed at one level or another to it. Stephanie: Well, thats our show today. Youve been here at Nonviolence Radio where we explore nonviolence all over the world. And today our guest was Sami Awad from Israel-Palestine speaking about nonviolence in the region. We want to give a shoutout to our mother station, KWMR, to all of the people who help make this show possible including Matt and Robin Watrous, Sophia Pechaty, Francesca Po helping out on social media. To Bryan Farrell and the friends over at Waging Nonviolence who help syndicate the show, as well as friends on the Pacifica Network, thank you for sharing Nonviolence Radio with a much wider audience. If you want to learn more about nonviolence, visit us at www.MettaCenter.org. And you can also found the show at www.NonviolenceRadio.org. Until the next time, please continue to study nonviolence, practice nonviolence and take care of one another. The world needs you. Until the next time. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2024 / Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:NDM) (NYSE American:NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") and 100%-owned U.S.-based subsidiary Pebble Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership" or "PLP") is filing two separate actions in the federal courts challenging the federal government's actions to prevent the companies from building a mine at the Pebble Project. Action Seeks to overturn EPA's illegal veto One action, in Federal District Court in Alaska, seeks to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency's ("EPA") veto of a development at Pebble. This is the main focus of our legal actions. We are confident that the court will vacate the EPA veto and allow permitting of the Pebble project to resume because, as we have previously stated, the veto violated the law and was arbitrary and capricious. The complaint in this action alleges, among many other points, the veto was issued in violation of various federal statutes regarding Alaska's statehood rights and a land exchange approved by Congress; it was based on an overly broad legal interpretation of EPA's jurisdiction which has since been over-ruled by the Supreme Court; its geographic scope exceeds that allowed by the statute; it was based on information previously developed by EPA in an illegal preemptive veto process that was designed to reach a predetermined result; and the factual basis stated to support the veto is directly contradicted by the July 2020 Environmental Impact Statement published by the United States Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE"), which is an important part of the administrative record. The EPA has not demonstrated that either the development of the Pebble deposit will have unacceptable adverse effects under Section 404(c), or that there are any impacts to Bristol Bay fisheries that would justify the extreme measures in the final determination (veto). "Whatever authority the EPA may have under section 404(c), the general provision in the Clean Water Act cannot authorize the EPA to take action to block the specific economic activity that was Congress's express purpose for granting these lands to the State of Alaska under the Cook Inlet Land Exchange," Ron Thiessen, Northern Dynasty President and CEO, stated. "It cannot authorize the EPA to override the State's regulatory preferences for the lands, or the State's preference to allow modest use of some streams and wetlands in the vicinity of the Deposit to facilitate the extraction of the valuable critical minerals. This is just another example of gross EPA overreach of the powers granted to it by Congress." Takings case An action is also being filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC, claiming that the actions by the EPA constitute an unconstitutional "taking" of Northern Dynasty's and the Pebble Partnership's property. We plan to ask the court to defer considering this action until the EPA veto case, discussed above, has been finally resolved. Our permitting strategy is focused entirely on winning the EPA veto case and permitting the Pebble project. We have filed a takings case against the federal government to preserve our ability to seek compensation for a violation of our rights in line with the protections under the Fifth Amendment. There are procedural rules regarding takings cases that made it necessary to get this claim on file at this time. We note, however, that the damages for "taking" the world's largest undeveloped copper deposit could be very substantial. "Our priority is to advance the District Federal Court Complaint, because overturning the illegal veto removes a major impediment from the path of getting the permit to build the proposed mine," said Ron Thiessen, Northern Dynasty President and CEO. "The filing of the takings complaint puts the US Government on notice that we will be seeking very substantial compensation if they continue to illegally block the lawful permitting process. It is basically an insurance policy, ensuring that this case is available to us when, or if, we decide to pursue it further," Mr. Thiessen continued. The State of Alaska will also be filing similar actions in Federal District Court in Alaska and the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC. About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, Canada. Northern Dynasty's principal asset, owned through its wholly owned Alaska-based U.S. subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, is a 100% interest in a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims in Southwest Alaska, including the Pebble deposit, located 200 miles from Anchorage and 125 miles from Bristol Bay. The Pebble Partnership is the proponent of the Pebble Project. For further details on Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Project, please visit the Company's website at www.northerndynastyminerals.com or contact Investor services at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1- 800-667-2114. Review public filings, which include forward looking information cautionary language and risk factor disclosure regarding the Company and the Pebble Project in Canada at www.sedarplus.ca and in the United States at www.sec.gov. Ronald W. Thiessen President & CEO U.S. Media Contact: Dan Gagnier, Gagnier Communications (646) 569-5897 Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary Factors This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under applicable provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, which address permitting, including the legal actions described above, development and production for the Pebble Project are forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding: (i) the ability of the Pebble Project to ultimately secure all required federal and state permits; (ii) if permitting is ultimately secured, the ability to demonstrate that the Pebble Project is commercially viable; (iii) the ability of the Company and/or the State of Alaska to successfully challenge the EPA's Final Determination process under the Clean Water Act, including the legal actions described above; and (iv) the ability of the Company to secure the significant additional financing to fund these objectives as well as ultimately funding mine construction, for which financing may not be available to NDM on acceptable terms or on any terms at all. Although NDM believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that the Pebble Project will secure all required government and environmental permits, regarding the ability of NDM to develop the Pebble Projects in light of the EPA's Final Determination or regarding NDM's ability to secure significant additional financing. Assumptions used by NDM to develop forward-looking statements include the following assumptions: (i) the Pebble Project will ultimately obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses; (ii) NDM will be successful in its legal action against the EPA and any action taken by the EPA in connection with the Final Determination will ultimately not be successful in restricting or prohibiting development of the Pebble Project; and (iii) the Company or its subsidiaries will be able to secure significant additional financing. NDM is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. Investors should also consider the risk factors identified in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed on SEDAR plus and included in the Company's annual report on Form 40-F filed by the Company with the SEC on EDGAR, and the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and nine months ended September 30, 2023, each as filed on SEDAR plus and EDGAR, for a discussion of the risks that may impact our forward-looking statements. The National Environment Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement process requires a comprehensive "alternatives assessment" be undertaken to consider a broad range of development alternatives, the final project design and operating parameters for the Pebble Project and associated infrastructure may vary significantly from that currently contemplated. As a result, the Company will continue to consider various development options and no final project design has been selected at this time. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Hong Kong: City I&T challenge launched The second City I&T Grand Challenge was launched today, inviting all sectors of the community to put forward innovative solutions from April 5 to May 16 to enhance the experience of nature and create a caring society in Hong Kong. Organised by the Innovation & Technology (I&T) Commission, the competition aims to promote an I&T culture and enhance the application of I&T in the community. The theme of this year's competition is Hong Kongs Got I&T. Participants are invited to submit I&T solutions under the sub-themes of I&T for Nature and "I&T for Community. The nature sub-theme revolves around improving the operation and management of country parks and campsites, and enhancing hikers experiences in nature with the use of I&T, while the community sub-theme is about enhancing support for carers through the application of I&T. Officiating at the challenge's launch ceremony, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the Government has been committed to investing in I&T development in recent years to bring new impetus to the citys social and economic development, to enhance its competitiveness as well as to create more quality employment opportunities for people in Hong Kong. As the city possesses unique advantages in artificial intelligence, data industry, biomedicine and green technology, the Government will develop these key areas in the future in order to further create room for I&T development, he added. Mr Chan encouraged students and the public to actively participate in the competition to contribute to a better living and the future of I&T in Hong Kong. Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong also spoke at the ceremony where he noted that the winning solutions of the first City I&T Grand Challenge serve as a testament to the strong creativity, observation and operability of the people in Hong Kong. Apart from pointing out that he was pleased to learn that some projects have successfully been applied to the community to benefit the general public with the use of technology, Prof Sun invited the community to participate in the competition in an effort to achieve the I&T for all target. This story has been published on: 2024-03-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. While networks and streaming platforms release sequels to various series, reality shows, and movies, "Signal" is one of the K-dramas that fans are looking forward to having in season 2. Headlined by powerhouse cast Kim Hye Soo, Jo Jin Woong, and Lee Je Hoon, the trio takes on the role of police detectives who are on a mysterious case. Helmed by Kim Won Suk of "My Mister" and "Arthdal Chronicles" and penned by renowned screenwriter Kim Eun Hee, who is the genius behind "Kingdom" and "Revenant," "Signal" is inspired by real-life criminal incidents in Korea, particularly the Hwaseong serial murders in 2004. The series focuses on criminal profiler Park Hae Young, who witnessed a crime when he was still in elementary school. Now a police officer, he finds a mysterious walkie-talkie where he is able to contact a detective named Lee Jae Han. Along with Hae Young's superior, Cha Soo Hyun, they set out to find out the mystery behind the cold cases. But he was stunned to find out the truth about Lee Jae Han. Will 'Signal' Get Season 2? First aired in 2016, "Signal" gained the attention of viewers with interesting stories with surprising twists. The thriller crime K-drama bagged Best Drama at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards. Interestingly, writer Kim Eun Hee officially announced during the event at La Sapienza University in Rome that "Signal" season 2 is finally happening. In a report, the screenwriter and director, Jang Won Seok, said that they are "preparing Season 2 of the drama." As for the cast lineup, drama officials are yet to confirm the possible cast members, but Kim Eun Hee previously mentioned in her interview that she wanted the trio to reprise their roles if given a chance. 'Signal' Cast: Current and Upcoming Projects of Kim Hye Soo, Jo Jin Woong, and Lee Je Hoon Kim Hye Soo Following the success of her 2022 K-drama "Under the Queen's Umbrella," Kim Hye Soo will be returning to the small screen for the comedy series "Unmasked," along with "The Glory" actor Jung Sung Il and Joo Jong Hyuk of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." The award-winning actress takes on the role of Oh So Ryong, the team leader of an investigative reporting program. READ MORE: Kim Hye Soo Goes Candid About Her Decision to Step Down as Blue Dragon Film Awards Host She pursues cases and incidents that the police and the prosecution were unable to solve. Jo Jin Woong Following his cameo in "The Good Bad Mother," Jo Jin Woong is in talks to headline the star-studded movie "No Way Out" with Lee Kwang Soo, Kim Moo Yeol, and more. As for the big screen, he recently returned for the thriller mystery film "Deadman," which was released on February 7. Lee Je Hoon A special forces member turned dark hero, Lee Je Hoon takes on the iconic role of detective Park Young Han in the upcoming K-drama "Chief Detective 1958." Slated to debut on April 19, viewers will get to see Lee Je Hoon take on another challenging role with co-stars Lee Dong Hwi, Choi Woo Sung, Yoon Hyun Soo, and Seo Eun Soo. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Lee Je Hoon's New Drama 'Chief Detective 1958' Gives Off 'Life on Mars' Vibe According to Viewers For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Pictured during recent and separate appearances in front of Penticton city council are senior staffers Tina Mercier and Ken Kunka, who were among four people let go this week by the municipality. Glen Fuhl, president and CEO of Video King, is photographed as he organizes shelves in one of his stores in Winnipeg Thursday, March 7, 2024. Fuhl is planning to close up shop after forty years in the movie business. April 6 will be the day he turns off the lights for good. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Hong Kong: BBC condemned for smearing of NSL The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today disapproved of and condemned the British Broadcasting Corporation for smearing the citys laws on safeguarding national security with false accusations in its report on the sentencing of protestors involved in the black-clad violence in 2019. In a statement tonight, the Hong Kong SAR Government said Article 1 of the National Security Law (NSL) clearly stipulates the purpose of the enactment of the law is to ensure the resolute, full and faithful implementation of the policy of one country, two systems under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy. The report concerned completely disregarded the relevant provision and slandered the NSL with false accusations that it reduced Hong Kongs autonomy. Consequently, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that it is necessary for it to set the record straight. Moreover, it pointed out, what the NSL targets are people who conduct acts and activities endangering national security. In fact, endangering national security is a very serious offence. No country will watch with folded arms acts and activities that endanger national security. The report attempted to shift the focus with false accusations to mislead people into believing that the legislative intent of the NSL is to make it easier to prosecute protesters, thereby creating a negative impression of the law. The Hong Kong SAR Government said, as a matter of fact, the Department of Justice (DoJ), by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference. It added that all prosecutorial decisions by the DoJ are based on admissible evidence, applicable laws and guidelines such as the Prosecution Code. Prosecutions would only be commenced if there is sufficient admissible evidence to support a reasonable prospect of conviction and if it is in the public interest to do so. This story has been published on: 2024-03-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Saturday, March 16, 2024 - Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria, has been accused of hiring goons to beat Nation Media Group Journalist Mwangi Muiruri for exposing former murder suspect, Jackie Maribe. Muiruri, who is a brilliant scribe, was abducted in Makutano along the Nairobi-Nyeri-Embu road by men who were driving a Demio and they demanded his phone security key and robbed him of Sh 2000. Muiruri noted that he suffered a bruise to his left eye and also lost his mobile phone The respected reporter filed the incident at Makutano Police Station under OB 05/15/3/2024. A few days ago, Muiruri had an altercation with Moses Kuria after the latter claimed foul play in the article written about Maribe's appointment as the Head of Communications in his Ministry. According to Kuria, the message was forged and hence did not represent the correct facts about the situation. The CS, however, noted that he would stand with the former news anchor. "Contrary to reports by the Nation, I have never been interviewed by the media House nor made any comment nor announcement about Jacque Maribe," Kuria wrote on his X on Friday and threatened to report at the DCI headquarters. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 15, 2024 Model Gigi Hadid and actor Bradley Cooper have been captured on camera kissing while having dinner at a New York City restaurant with friends. The couple shared a whole lot more than appetizers at the table, and photos shared online showed that Gigi got a pretty firm grasp of Brad's face while they were lip-to-lip and smooching. It also felt like they were confirming that they are in a romantic relationship. The date didn't end with dinner either as they strolled around town with Brad walking a dog while Hadid chatted up her close friend Tan France. Gigi and Bradley's sightings are becoming pretty commonplace. She was spotted at Bradley's new cheesesteak food truck in December and grabbed dinner with him and his mom after the Globes in January. Rumours about the couple first started to swirl in early October following her romantic entanglement with Leonardo DiCaprio. That only kicked into higher gear when they decided to take a weekend getaway after they were seen out to dinner together. Saturday, March 16, 2024 Murder convict Joseph Irungu, alias Jowie, has refused to go down without a fight. This is after he filed a notice of appeal over the death sentence handed to him by the High Court over the cold-blooded murder of the late Monica Kimani. In a court document, Jowie, through his new lawyer Andrew Muge, noted that the appeal is against the conviction and sentence issued by Lady Justice Grace Nzioka. He noted that he is ready to be present at the appeal hearing. Previously, Jowie had hired Hassan Nandwa to defend his case. "Take notice that Joseph Kuria appeals to the Court of Appeal against the decisions of the Honourable Lady Justice Grace Nzioka delivered in open court at Milimani, Nairobi on February 9, 2024, and in her written judgment dated February 9, 2024, whereby the Appellant was convicted of Murder and sentenced to death on March 13, 2024," read part of the document. "The appeal is against the conviction and sentence. The Appellant intends to be present at the hearing of the appeal." Jowie was found guilty of murdering Monica Kimani in September 2018. While issuing the sentence this past week, Justice Nzioka issued the maximum penalty for the murder charge and handed Jowie the death penalty. In her ruling, the Justice ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Jowie killed Monica based on the evidence presented and the convict's character. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, March 15, 2024 A female Zimbabwean police officer is now facing a 5-year salary deduction after being accused of ruining a marriage. The policewoman identified as Chipo Mukwasi has been ordered to pay her boyfriends wife US$ 5,000 by a Bulawayo magistrate. Mukwasi, who is stationed at Tomlinson Depot in Harare, was sued earlier this year by one Yeukai Pfumbirai, who claimed that she was deeply in love with her husband. On January 9 this year, Pfumbirai was granted a judgment awarding her US$5,000 in her lawsuit against Mukwasi. However, Mukwasi allegedly refused to disclose her home address, making it difficult to serve her with the court summons for payment. Despite serving Mukwasi with the court summons at her workplace, Pfumbirai faced difficulties as the policewoman allegedly avoided receiving them. Hence, Pfumbirai was left without an option but to pursue a garnishee order as the only viable option for payment. Consequently, the presiding Bulawayo magistrate, Vakayi Chikwekwe, granted Pfumbirais request for a garnishee order on Mukwasi's salary. However, the monthly payment was reduced to US$75 instead of the full US$200 requested. Pfumbirai told local news platforms; I obtained a judgment in my favour on 9 January. The respondent is supposed to pay me a total of US$5 000 broken down as US$2 500 being compensation for the injury, insult and indignity I suffered as a result of the adultery and US$2 500 being compensation for loss of consortium (intangible benefits of a relationship). Sunday, March 16, 2024 - President William Ruto has rewarded former Mumias East Member of Parliament, Ben Washiali, with a plum position in his government. In a Gazette Notice dated 15th March, Ruto appointed Washiali as the chairperson of the Board of the Tourism Regulatory Authority. Ruto said Washiali will serve for three years effective immediately. In Exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 (1) (a) of the Tourism Act, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, I, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Benjamin Washiaji to be the Chairperson of the Board of the Tourism Regulatory Authority, for three (3) years, the Gazette notice read in part. Ruto revoked the appointment of Halima Yussuf Mucheke whom he appointed on March 8, 2024, as the Kenyan Ambassador to The Hague, Netherlands. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, March 16, 2024 - President William Ruto has identified four best-performing cabinet secretaries and two other individuals and awarded them for their exceptional service and contributions to the nation. In a Gazette notice, Ruto awarded the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart award (second class) to Njuguna Ndungu, who serves as the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Aisha Jumwa for Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Florence Bore for Labour, and Alice Wahome for Lands. Professor Njuguna Ndung'u has overseen a resurgence of the economy and the repayment of the Eurobond loan that is set to mature in June 2024. In addition to these cabinet secretaries, Teresia Mabika Malokwe has been honoured with the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (First Class) award, while Karani John Ndiwa received the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (Third Class) distinction. Ruto's decision to confer these awards follows recommendations from the National Honours and Awards Committee, reflecting a recognition of exemplary service across various sectors of Kenyan society. The Order of the Golden Heart of the Republic of Kenya, the nation's highest award, is divided into three classes: Chief, Elder, and Moran, with the Chief designation typically reserved for holders of the office of the President. Established in 1966, the Order of the Burning Spear recognises distinguished service to public dignitaries, exemplary members of the public service, and professionals. The award, divided into Chief, Elder, and Moran classes, has been bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, March 16, 2024 - President William Rutos government has finally responded to accusations by Russias Department of Defence that Kenya is one of the countries that have sent mercenaries to Ukraine to help fight Russia. In a statement issued by Kenyas Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Singoei, the Kenya government dismissed claims that it has sent mercenaries to Ukraine. Singoei said Kenya is a signatory of the 1989 United Nations Convention on International Convention against the recruitment, use, financing, and training of mercenaries. "The Government of Kenya has noted with concern the allegation that 5 individuals, perceived to be Kenyans, are serving as mercenaries in Ukraine. "As a signatory to the 1989 United Nations Convention on International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, and the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa. Kenya rejects the allegations and dissociates herself from any alleged mercenary presence and activities in Ukraine, read the statement in part. Singoei also noted that Kenya is guided by the foreign policy of non-interference in the affairs of other states. Kenyas interaction with other State Actors of International Relations continues to be guided by her Foreign Policy of non-interference in affairs of other states, non-alignment as well as peaceful settlement of disputes, he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, March 16, 2024 President William Ruto has reacted to Russian President Vladmir Putins allegations that he had secretly deployed the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to Ukraine to fight the Russians. In a statement, Ruto, through Foreign Affairs Principal Korir Sing'oei, dismissed the allegations by Russia alleging that five Kenyan soldiers were fighting against its soldiers in Ukraine. The PS noted that Kenya is guided by the foreign policy of non-interference in the affairs of other states. Sing'oei also pointed out that Kenya advocates for peaceful settlement of disputes between warring nations. "As a signatory to the 1989 United Nations Convention on International Convention against Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries and the 1977 OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa, Kenya rejects the allegations and dissociates herself from any alleged mercenary presence and activities in Ukraine," the statement read in part. "Kenya's interaction with other State Actors of International Relations continues to be guided by her Foreign Policy of non-interference in affairs of other states, non-alignment as well as peaceful settlement of disputes." The Federation alleged that 13,387 foreign soldiers had relocated to Ukraine since February 2024 to aid in the fight against Russia. Out of this, 249 allegedly emanated from 13 African countries out of which 103 were eliminated. It was, however, not revealed by the Federation if the five Kenyans were among those killed in the war. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, March 15, 2024 A mother-of-one in the UK has called for a ban on 'liquid BBLs' after a botched procedure left her buttocks with leaking black holes and in pain 'worse than childbirth'. Monique Sofroniou, 30, from London, reportedly booked an appointment to enlarge her bottom after undergoing a 'Brazilian Butt Lift' in 2021. The aesthetician spent 3,000 on the non-surgical procedure to have one litre of filler injected into each bum cheek to have her dream look. But when Monique turned up for the appointment in September 2022, she felt 'weird' about being directed to a nearby hotel where she underwent the hour-long filler procedure. Later that evening, she discovered her bum was 'swollen' and 'very red', and had reached a temperature of 41C. Monique was immediately rushed to A&E where she was given the news that she had sepsis. She recalled: 'After the procedure, I was really lightheaded, then that night I woke up and was being sick everywhere. 'I felt so ill. I had a temperature of 41 but I was shivering, freezing cold. I was being sick all night. 'My bum was swollen and very red around the area where you could see where the filler was. It was just getting redder and redder. 'I went to the hospital and stayed in for a week on an antibiotic drip, but after I just went home with oral antibiotics. 'It just continued to get worse and worse to the point where I woke up and there were bumps of blisters with fluid inside them. 'I didn't want to look at it, it made me feel sick. It was really burning to the point where I had to have ice packs on it, but even to put the ice pack on it where it was touching was agony. It was burning and stinging. 'It was the worst pain I've ever been through in my life, and I've had childbirth'. The surgery requires a person to have fat taken from their abdomen and moved into their hips and bottom to create an hourglass shape. Monique booked the procedure on the recommendation of a friend, assuming it would be at a clinic and not knowing it was going to be done at a local hotel. She revealed: 'I didn't know it wasn't going to be done in a clinic. 'When I got there they met me [at the address] and walked me to an opposite hotel, I thought, "Oh this is a bit weird". 'I do think I probably should have walked out at that point and been like "no" but because I knew quite a few people who had been there before I just thought it'd be fine. 'I thought filler would be a less invasive procedure, it's not supposed to be dangerous'. The morning after the injections, she was rushed to Stoke Mandeville Hospital A&E in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The mum-of-one was told she had developed sepsis and that the practitioner had used non-dissolvable silicone, rather than hyaluronic acid which is typically used for fillers. Sepsis occurs when the body reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. After a week in the hospital, the mother returned home but the respite was short-lived, To her dismay, the skin on her bum had turned black and was oozing out the injected filler. A surgeon syringed some of the stuff out to see what it was' explained Monique. I was crying in agony while he was doing it, I said "Its too painful, you've got to stop". 'I went home with a plaster on it where he'd put a tiny little hole in one of the blisters - it was filler mixed with blood. 'The next morning when I woke up, where he'd put the hole into syringe some stuff out, the skin had collapsed in on itself and [the whole area] had gone nearly black. 'It was awful, I didn't even want to look, I felt sick. It was so abnormal, I thought "Oh my God, what is going on?". 'The surgeon said he thinks it was likely down to the fact that a high volume of this filler was put in and there was no room for it to go. 'That filler just needed to come out somewhere to the point it caused my skin to die, there was too much pressure on the skin. 'They didn't tell me it wasn't dissolvable. If they did, I'd never have had it done. Following the gruesome ordeal, Monique has been left with permanent scarring around her buttocks. Now the mum is sharing her story in a bid to get the 'high risk' procedure 'banned' or at the very least to encourage tighter regulations. She said: 'I'm quite a strong person, even though I'm fuming I know there are other people going through a lot worse. 'I'm not after sympathy but I just want to spread awareness because I think it needs to be more regulated. I don't think it will be banned but personally in my opinion I think it should be banned. I just walked about 90 km in six days along the Via Matildica del Volto Santo between Mantua and Lucca through the Appenine mountains in the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy. This beautiful, lesser-known route, crossing regions once ruled by the formidable Countess Matilda of Canossa, offered a unique blend of physical challenges and the opportunity to connect with history. As a geriatrician committed to enhancing the health and well-being of older women, this walk illuminated for me both the story of one of the most powerful women of the Italian Middle Ages and underscored to me the vital interplay between social connections and mental and physical health. Walking the Via Matildica connected with me in a very physical way as we traced the path of the Countess, an incredibly powerful woman who played such an important role in the history of the region and someone who defied the odds and broke from the constraints and expectations of gender so prevalent in her day an important recognition we dont often grant women historically. Every day, along with my small group, we walked through and immersed ourselves in history in a way that transcends what any lecture or book could provide. From castle to castle and church to church, we traveled back a thousand years. The physical effort of these long days and countless hills, while difficult, still seemed trivial compared to what people experienced in the past. As we progressed on our journey, the personal impact and benefits of this trip unfolded in various ways. At a very physical level, with our long days on the trail, and at a social level, with all of the rich connections made with my fellow walkers and with history. The rewards of walking were apparent. The effort was challenging but rewarding. As a geriatrician whose work addresses discrimination women face based on their sex and age, this trip gave me much to reflect on specifically, how a woman born in 1046 could become one of Italys most important rulers. The Countess was able to govern lands that stretched from Lombardy through Emilia Romagna to Tuscany. She left a rich legacy along the mountainous route, including the promotion of new forms of agriculture in the region. Recognized and revered over the past ten centuries, she is one of the very few women entombed in Saint Peters Basilica in Rome, celebrated by a monument by Bernini. Thinking about her accomplishments and how she achieved them in an era where womens roles were generally very different gave me much to think about. Far from the grandeur of Rome, we continued our walk along cobblestone roads with cliffside houses through small mountain towns. Our views were breathtaking. Our walking group of primarily women was accompanied by two wonderful Italian-speaking guides who were local to the region. They helped us, first and foremost, to not get lost on the ancient path. They shared stories about the villages we were walking through, the history of the castles and churches that we saw along the way, the people who lived there now, and how Matilda influenced all of this. This experience transcended language barriers as we started to understand some Italian phrases and reciprocated by providing guidance on some of the intricacies of the English language that arose from conversations along the way. While walking is one of the most beneficial activities for your physical well-being, equally important are the social connections that effortlessly form when you jointly experience the discovery of unfamiliar times and places together. In this case, walking through many chestnut groves, we learned of their importance as they could be grown on the steep mountainsides where grains could not. Chestnuts were used to make flour and became a staple food source promoted by Matilda to help sustain the local population. Fortunately, our trip coincided with the chestnut season, so they were a key ingredient in our dinners and the focus of a festival we encountered in a hill town where townspeople gathered to sing, dance, and roast chestnuts over enormous open fires. Emilia Romagna, the home of parmesan cheese, was covered in fields of the special grass and grains used to feed the cows that make the milk used for this famous cheese. We were regularly given small packages of parmesan cheese as our energy food for snacks along the hike to help fuel us as we hiked for miles past these beautiful fields. If you are fortunate to go on a trip in the near future, consider making it a walking adventure. But dont wait for a trip. Recognize the power of walking wherever you are. Paula Rochon is a geriatrician. Nearly three decades ago, David Hilfiker, a family medicine physician in rural Minnesota, authored an essay in the New England Journal of Medicine titled Facing our mistakes. In the piece, he chronicles three major medical mistakes he made during his long career practicing medicine. Some of the mistakes are horrifying and others simply tragic, but he is brutally honest and forthcomingdisplaying a frank self-reflection that is too frequently absent in the daily practice of medicine. This lack of introspection is seldom more evident than in American medicines morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs), where dozens of physicians routinely gather to scrutinize a case. A case where a mistake is made is reviewed exhaustively, and the physician who may have misjudged or miscalculated is often viewed as if they are on trialforced to revisit a painful moment in their careers in front of their colleagues who then have the benefit of hindsight. As physicians, we are often forced to make countless high-consequence decisionsoften with limited informationon a daily basis. Our morbidity and mortality conferences, however, suggest that we have failed as a profession to foster an atmosphere in which we feel comfortable confronting the mistakes we make the way Dr. Hilfiker does. I am concerned that this culture impairs honest review of the clinical errors we make. There is a better way to scrutinize clinical complications and medical errors in a way that fosters a culture rooted in improving systems and avoids leveraging unhelpful critiques and assigning blame. In the 1980s, the United States Army developed a technique called the after-action review (AAR), which members of the military use to this day after major training events to identify strengths and weaknesses and incorporate lessons learned into the next cycle of action. Not only has this tool been used successfully by the military, but it has also been routinely used as a business management tool by scores of Fortune 500 companies. Even the U.K.s National Health Service (NHS) uses this tool as a way to enhance patient safety and improve the quality of clinical care they deliver. Particularly during times of great stress on health care systems, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, this tool has helped to promote belonging and cohesion. The questions comprised in an AAR are the following: What was supposed to happen What actually happened What went well and why What can be improved What do we do next As is the case in military operations, the delivery of clinical care is a complex endeavor, often occurring under unique circumstances that do not lend themselves to decisions that conform to prevailing guidelines. As a former army platoon leader, I used this methodology to cultivate shared understanding among my unit in dynamic and complex environments, enhance investment in the mission, and gain access to perspectives that I may not have considered from my vantage point. The elegance of this format in its capacity to facilitate an agreed understanding of the multidimensional system lapses that led to a particular undesirable outcome. The questions of an AAR inherently encourage groups to view a clinical event as a complex interplay of stakeholders, imperfect processes, and personalities as opposed to the consequence of one specific cause. In this way, AARs can help to broaden the investigation of a clinical error and create a more comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors. We are entering a new era of medicine replete with dizzying new advances. Groundbreaking new therapies and technologies that can dramatically improve outcomes for our patients in the future are on the horizon. Yet, even as the landscape of medicine has changed dramatically over the last few decades, the format of our MMCs has not materially changed since its inception in the 20th century and fails to align with the complexity of modern medical practice. Unless we as a profession foster an environment in which clinicians feel comfortable facing often difficult medical mistakes and complications, we will fail to create a health care system that can safely and effectively harness the innovations on the horizon. By using the AAR methodology in MMCs, we can humanize the MMC and create a space for introspection and reflection that not only unearths the systemwide lapses that often lead to an adverse event but also marshals the energy of a deeply invested group of clinicians to enact durable solutions. Neel Vahil is an internal medicine resident. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. University of Missouri student Riley Strain's body was recovered from the Cumberland River in Nashville on the morning of Friday, March 22, two weeks after his disappearance. Below is a timeline of the events since March 8 when Strain was escorted out of a bar in Nashville and disappeared. Friday, March 8: Strain gets kicked out of Nashville bar on fraternity trip Strain and his friends traveled to Nashville for a fraternity formal. They allegedly stayed at the Tempo Hotel, located at 127 Rosa L Parks Blvd. 9:35 p.m.: Security escorted Strain out of Luke's 32 Bridge, a bar located at 301 Broadway, due to conduct standards, according to a March 15 statement from TC Restaurant Group. "He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs," the statement said. The bar said Strain bought one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was kicked out. 9:45 p.m. Video shared by Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain stumbling and following in a parking lot at Third Avenue North and Church Street. The video has a timestamp beginning at 9:45:02 p.m. 0:36 WATCH: Additional security video of missing MU student Riley Strain Security video from Downtown Smoke and Vape Shop on Church Street in Nashville shows missing MU student Riley Strain. The video has a timestam The smoke shop shared another video with a different angle of Strain stumbling on a sidewalk along Church Street. When Strain enters the screen, the timestamp shows 9:45:57 p.m. 0:21 WATCH: Additional security video of missing MU student Riley Strain Security video from Downtown Smoke and Vape Shop on Church Street in Nashville shows missing MU student Riley Strain. This video has a timesta 9:47 p.m.: Video shared by police shows Strain crossing First Avenue North to Gay Street (right to left). 9:52 p.m.: Body-camera video (released on March 18) reportedly showed Strain walking on Gay Street, south of the Woodland Street Bridge, and speaking with an officer. Strain exchanges greetings with police officer Reginald Young, who was in the area on a vehicle burglary call and remained on that portion of Gay Street for 45 minutes, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. 0:49 WATCH: New video of Riley Strain exchanging greetings with Nashville police officer before disappearance Video shared March 18 by the Nashville Police Department shows Riley Strain's brief exchange with officer Reginald Young on Gay Street, south MNPD said Strain did not appear to be distressed. Between 9:55 and 10 p.m.: Strain's last phone ping was near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street. Police said the cell tower radius is about 2 miles and does not give an exact location. Police said his last phone call with a friend was also during this time. Saturday, March 9: Strain reported missing by friends during Nashville fraternity trip 1:46 p.m.: Strains friend makes a 911 call to file a missing person's report. Monday, March 11: Nashville police post to social media about Strain 2:11 p.m.: The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department posts to social media for the first time about Strain's disappearance. A Metropolitan Nashville Police Department helicopter searched along Gay Street, including near the bank of the Cumberland River. Detectives also search on the ground. Strain was last seen at 9:52 p.m. Friday on Gay St. after drinking downtown. An MNPD helicopter searched that area today, including the riverbank. Detectives on the ground also searched, but to no avail. The investigation as to his whereabouts is active. https://t.co/gyhVeJo0Wh Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 11, 2024 KOMU 8 spoke to Strain's father, Ryan Gilbert, who calls the situation "a parent's worst nightmare." Tuesday, March 12: Luke Bryan's bar issues statement, comments on Strain's disappearance Luke Bryan commented on Strain's disappearance, calling it "scary" and urging anyone with information to contact police. TC Restaurant Group issued its first statement: "TC Restaurant Group, operator and owner of Lukes 32 Bridge, is continuing to work closely with the Metro Nashville Police Department to provide security camera footage and any other potentially helpful information to aid in the search for Riley Strain. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones for his safe return." Wednesday, March 13: Tennessee Alcohol Beverage Commission opens investigation The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (NABC) confirmed to KOMU 8 it launched an investigation into whether Strain was overserved alcohol at Luke's 32 Bridge on March 8. There are no specific rules or statutes that governs escorting out intoxicated patrons from their businesses or providing assistance in getting someone home, NABC Director of Communication Aaron Rummage said. However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated. A violation is a class A misdemeanor." The Nashville Office of Emergency Management deployed two boats and sonar equipment to search the Cumberland riverbank area. OEM crews deployed 2 boats to aid with searches of the riverbank area. Addition of sonar equipment was requested with this launch & crews will work a path set in coordination with @MNPDNashville as they continue to investigate the whereabouts of the missing 22 year old student. pic.twitter.com/8HBifRdugv Nashville EOC/OEM (@NashvilleEOC) March 13, 2024 7 p.m.: A candlelight vigil was held in Strain's hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Thursday, March 14: Nashville police speak on camera to media for first time The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department addressed the media for the first time regarding the continuous search for Strain. Sgt. Robert Nielsen, a supervisor for MNPD's Cold Case and Missing Unit, said there is no indication of foul play or evidence that another crime was committed at the time of Strain's disappearance. The Nashville Urban Search and Rescue team searched along the bank of the Cumberland River. Detectives also spoke with people living in nearby homeless camps to piece together any clues that might help find Strain. Friday, March 15: TC Restaurant Group releases second statement on Strain's disappearance TC Restaurant Group and Lukes 32 Bridge, released a statement detailing Strain's visit. Some of the details in the statement are already included in the timeline below. Sunday, March 17: Strain's bank card found along Cumberland River embankment Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. 2:42 p.m.: The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Strain's bank card was discovered on an embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River. Around 1 p.m., a body was reported floating in the Cumberland River, near the 1000 block of Cleeces Ferry Road, according to WSMV. Investigators said it did not match Strain's description. The Uvalde Foundation for kids, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending school violence formed after the Robb Elementary shooting, also announced Sunday that it has assembled a special team of volunteers to join search efforts. The volunteers come from its STOPNOW school community patrol teams. Monday, March 18: Nashville police release video showing Strain interacting with Nashville police officer The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department shared video that shows Strain speaking with an officer on Gay Street, south of the Woodland Street Bridge, the evening of March 8, before Strain disappeared. Within the video, Strain can be seen interacting with police officer Reginald Young though a brief exchange of greetings. Young was in the area on a vehicle burglary call and remained on that portion of Gay Street for 45 minutes, according to MNPD. The video was captured at approximately 9:52 p.m. March 8. Strain's family also met with detectives on March 17 and received a full briefing of the investigation, police said. Tuesday, March 19: Strain's family, United Cajun Navy hold press conference on Strain investigation On the 11th day of Strain's disappearance, his family held a press conference and called for more organized search efforts. The United Cajun Navy, a natural disaster response organization formed after Hurricane Katrina, was contacted by the Strain family and has provided resources in the ongoing search. 40:42 WATCH: Family of missing MU student Riley Strain holds press conference Members of the Nashville Police Department and United Cajun Navy also spoke at the press conference Tuesday. Operations Director David Flagg called for volunteers to get involved with the organization. He said their main goal is to find Strain, but the "secondary focus is to ensure the safety of the people who are out here searching." During the press conference, Flagg and one of the women who found Strain's bank card provided safety tips for those who are searching on their own: Wear sturdy shoes Wear gripped or heavy-duty gloves Layer your clothing Wear a mask Metropolitan Nashville Police Department helicopters and Nashville Office of Emergency Management boats returned to the Cumberland River to search for Strain. Our helicopters continue to fly over the Cumberland River in the ongoing search for Riley Strain. MNPD & @NashvilleEOC boats were on the water again today. The Cheatham Co. Sheriff's Office is also assisting down river. See him? Pls call 615-862-8600. pic.twitter.com/qF96AQqzAO Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 20, 2024 Wednesday, March 20: Crews search for Strain at Cheatham Dam The Cheatham County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office, at a request of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, searched at the Cheatham Dam in Ashland City March 20 in an effort to search for Strain, according to Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV. The dam is about 42 miles down the Cumberland River from Nashville. WSMV said crews burped closed and opened the dam for the search efforts. People also stood at the top of the dam looking at debris in the water. WSMV reported crews did not find anything and were done searching the area by 2:30 p.m. The search for #RileyStrain has now moved to the Cheatham Dam where officials have shutdown the water flow this afternoon. Ill have the latest details from both the dam and downtown starting at 3p live @WSMV pic.twitter.com/QkVIse7lhb Brendan Tierney (@BTierneyTV) March 20, 2024 Friday, March 22: Body of Riley Strain found in Cumberland River The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville Friday morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said on X, formerly known as Twitter. 4:27 WATCH: Nashville Police Chief John Drake announces Riley Strain's body found in Cumberland River Nashville Police Chief John Drake held a press conference Friday morning after Riley Strain's body was discovered in the Cumberland River, abo Nashville Police Chief John Drake said river workers discovered Strain's body just before 7:30 a.m. March 22. When they removed an object from the river, Strain's body surfaced. The city's fire department removed the body from the water, and a medical examiner confirmed it to be Strain's body. He was in the clothes he was wearing when he went missing, Drake said. No foul play is suspected, and an autopsy is pending, Drake said. Sunday, March 24: Initial autopsy examination suggests drowning was accidental Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson Kris Mumford says a detective attended the autopsy examination for Riley Strain, who says his death continues to appear accidental." While Mumford says toxicology results are still pending, she says there is no apparent foul play. A final autopsy won't be complete until all testing is finished. Wednesday, March 27: Family orders second autopsy before body returns to Springfield for visitation, celebration of life Strain's family is reportedly still searching for answers after he was found dead without his wallet or the pants and cowboy boots he wore the night he disappeared, a family friend told NewsNation on Wednesday. The only thing that was found with him, as the police stated in the report, was the watch and the shirt, Chris Dingman said. Dingman told the outlet that the family was confused by the coroner saying that no water was found in Strain's lungs, prompting them to ask for a second autopsy from a private company in Nashville, Tennessee. "Usually, water in the lungs means that they were alive when they went into the water," Dingman said. Dingman did not expand on the findings of the second autopsy, but says Strain's body has returned to his hometown Springfield, where a public visitation and celebration of life is scheduled for Friday. The public visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, according to his obituary. A celebration of life will follow, and a private burial will be held at a later time. The obituary states that since Strain often said, "Green makes you look good," attendees are asked to wear something green and dress comfortably. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Strain's honor to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Thursday, March 28: Officials release 911 call detailing discovery of Strain's body The Nashville Department of Emergency Communications released the 911 phone call to KOMU on Thursday, which reported finding Strain's body. During the four-minute exchange, the caller says they found a dead body face down in the water, which they believed was Strain. The caller identifies himself as someone who works on the river, and says they found the body fully submerged on the front of a barge at River Marker 184 as he was checking around the dock. New Mexico State Police officer fatally shot in cold blood by driver he tried to help, police say Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC reduced its position in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR Free Report) by 12.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,848 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 700 shares during the period. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings in Entergy were worth $491,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Entergy by 157.1% in the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 270 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Entergy by 108.8% in the third quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Entergy in the first quarter worth $29,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Entergy in the third quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Fortis Group Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Entergy during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. 86.52% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Entergy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Entergy from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $117.00 price target on shares of Entergy in a report on Monday, February 26th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Entergy from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Bank of America raised shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $94.00 to $110.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.73. Insider Activity at Entergy In related news, insider Deanna D. Rodriguez sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.23, for a total value of $151,845.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,442 shares in the company, valued at approximately $348,433.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Kimberly Cook-Nelson sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total transaction of $200,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,037 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,609,312.95. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Deanna D. Rodriguez sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.23, for a total transaction of $151,845.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,442 shares of the companys stock, valued at $348,433.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Entergy Trading Down 0.5 % Entergy stock traded down $0.52 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $101.97. 2,643,802 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,370,902. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.57. Entergy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $87.10 and a fifty-two week high of $111.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.24, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.70. The firms 50 day moving average is $100.89 and its 200-day moving average is $98.59. Entergy (NYSE:ETR Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $0.52. The company had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.27 billion. Entergy had a net margin of 19.41% and a return on equity of 10.54%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 earnings per share for the current year. Entergy Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.43%. Entergys dividend payout ratio is 40.76%. Entergy Company Profile (Free Report) Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ETR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Entergy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Entergy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC reduced its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Free Report) by 10.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 8,832 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 1,000 shares during the quarter. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $658,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in RIO. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Rio Tinto Group by 10.9% during the third quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,732 shares of the mining companys stock worth $556,000 after acquiring an additional 858 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in Rio Tinto Group by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 721,662 shares of the mining companys stock worth $45,926,000 after buying an additional 111,623 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,464,344 shares of the mining companys stock worth $284,111,000 after purchasing an additional 118,706 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 369,931 shares of the mining companys stock worth $23,542,000 after purchasing an additional 14,083 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 16.7% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 404,189 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $25,723,000 after acquiring an additional 57,818 shares during the last quarter. 10.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Trading Up 0.2 % Rio Tinto Group stock traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $62.16. 3,742,948 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,865,765. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $67.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $66.83. Rio Tinto Group has a fifty-two week low of $58.27 and a fifty-two week high of $75.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $2.58 per share. This is a boost from Rio Tinto Groups previous semi-annual dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a yield of 6.6%. A number of research firms recently issued reports on RIO. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Friday, January 12th. They set a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com raised Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Liberum Capital reissued a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Rio Tinto Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Rio Tinto Group Rio Tinto Group Company Profile (Free Report) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RIO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC lessened its stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB Free Report) by 17.4% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 4,596 shares of the companys stock after selling 967 shares during the period. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings in Kimberly-Clark were worth $558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. acquired a new stake in Kimberly-Clark during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Centerpoint Advisors LLC lifted its position in Kimberly-Clark by 175.0% during the 3rd quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 275 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new stake in Kimberly-Clark during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors own 74.38% of the companys stock. Get Kimberly-Clark alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have commented on KMB shares. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Kimberly-Clark in a research report on Friday, March 1st. They set a buy rating and a $135.00 price target for the company. Piper Sandler began coverage on Kimberly-Clark in a research note on Friday, November 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $146.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Kimberly-Clark from $119.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Barclays cut their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $128.00 to $124.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Bank of America lowered Kimberly-Clark from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their price target for the company from $135.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given 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 $130.36. Insider Transactions at Kimberly-Clark In other news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,720 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.00, for a total transaction of $450,120.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 17,229 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,084,709. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,720 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.00, for a total transaction of $450,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 17,229 shares in the company, valued at $2,084,709. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Mark T. Smucker bought 827 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $120.98 per share, with a total value of $100,050.46. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 827 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $100,050.46. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Kimberly-Clark Trading Down 0.3 % KMB traded down $0.34 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $124.47. The companys stock had a trading volume of 6,375,403 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,144,277. Kimberly-Clark Co. has a fifty-two week low of $116.32 and a fifty-two week high of $147.87. The stock has a market cap of $41.94 billion, a PE ratio of 24.00, a P/E/G ratio of 4.02 and a beta of 0.40. The businesss 50-day moving average is $122.18 and its 200-day moving average is $122.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.94, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.54. Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.99 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 8.63% and a return on equity of 260.47%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.54 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Kimberly-Clark Co. will post 6.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Kimberly-Clark Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.92%. This is a positive change from Kimberly-Clarks previous quarterly dividend of $1.18. Kimberly-Clarks dividend payout ratio is currently 93.85%. Kimberly-Clark Profile (Free Report) Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products in the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company's Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Aon plc (NYSE:AON Free Report) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,955 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 35 shares during the period. AON comprises about 1.2% of Salvus Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Salvus Wealth Management LLCs holdings in AON were worth $1,733,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Arcus Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AON by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Arcus Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,171 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $380,000 after buying an additional 31 shares during the period. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in AON by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 450 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $155,000 after buying an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in AON by 10.4% in the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 341 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $111,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its holdings in AON by 5.1% in the third quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 665 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. Finally, Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in AON by 2.3% in the first quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 1,447 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $456,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. 86.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get AON alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at AON In other news, Director Lester B. Knight bought 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $301.97 per share, for a total transaction of $15,098,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 134,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $40,463,980. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other AON news, Director Lester B. Knight bought 50,000 shares of AON stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $301.97 per share, for a total transaction of $15,098,500.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 134,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $40,463,980. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Lisa Stevens sold 13,000 shares of AON stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.26, for a total transaction of $4,098,380.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 10,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,175,613.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 74,532 shares of company stock worth $23,335,805 over the last 90 days. 1.15% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. AON Stock Down 0.5 % NYSE:AON traded down $1.49 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $318.99. 1,514,721 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,038,690. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $308.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $317.20. The firm has a market cap of $63.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 61.66, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.27. Aon plc has a twelve month low of $284.12 and a twelve month high of $347.37. AON (NYSE:AON Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $3.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.07 by ($0.18). The business had revenue of $3.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.36 billion. AON had a negative return on equity of 1,150.40% and a net margin of 19.17%. The firms revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $3.89 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Aon plc will post 15.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AON Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were paid a $0.615 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. This represents a $2.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.77%. AONs dividend payout ratio is presently 19.71%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts recently commented on AON shares. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on AON from $306.00 to $326.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on AON from $304.00 to $295.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 21st. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on AON from $350.00 to $325.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 22nd. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of AON in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They set an outperform rating and a $390.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of AON from $342.00 to $325.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $336.36. Get Our Latest Analysis on AON AON Company Profile (Free Report) Aon plc, a professional services firm, provides a range of risk and human capital solutions worldwide. It offers commercial risk solutions, including retail brokerage, specialty solutions, global risk consulting and captives management, and affinity programs; and health solutions, such as health and benefits brokerages, and health care exchanges. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AON? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aon plc (NYSE:AON Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AON Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AON and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold Co. (TSE:ELD Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) Senior Officer Joseph Dennis Dick sold 1,441 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$14.87, for a total value of C$21,432.28. Eldorado Gold Trading Up 2.0 % Shares of ELD stock traded up C$0.34 during trading hours on Friday, hitting C$17.61. 678,081 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 401,736. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$16.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$15.23. The stock has a market cap of C$3.58 billion, a PE ratio of 24.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.13. Eldorado Gold Co. has a 12 month low of C$11.38 and a 12 month high of C$18.30. The company has a quick ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 3.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.60. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts recently commented on ELD shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Eldorado Gold from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their target price for the stock from C$15.50 to C$17.25 in a research note on Friday, January 26th. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on shares of Eldorado Gold from C$21.00 to C$19.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Stifel Canada downgraded shares of Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Finally, National Bank Financial reissued an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eldorado Gold has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$18.06. About Eldorado Gold (Get Free Report) Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru mines located in Turkey; Lamaque complex located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in General Dynamics Co. (NYSE:GD Free Report) by 7.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,068 shares of the aerospace companys stock after buying an additional 71 shares during the quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $277,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Guidance Capital Inc. acquired a new position in General Dynamics in the second quarter worth approximately $992,000. Moreno Evelyn V increased its stake in General Dynamics by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter. Moreno Evelyn V now owns 27,310 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $6,035,000 after purchasing an additional 3,991 shares in the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new position in General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter worth about $16,077,000. Clough Capital Partners L P purchased a new position in General Dynamics in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,868,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in General Dynamics by 57.7% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 326,121 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $72,063,000 after purchasing an additional 119,264 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.08% of the companys stock. Get General Dynamics alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of General Dynamics stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total value of $8,551,750.05. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 773,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $204,569,860.87. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Mark C. Roualet sold 73,330 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.75, for a total value of $19,414,117.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 149,205 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,502,023.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 32,355 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $264.31, for a total value of $8,551,750.05. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 773,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $204,569,860.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.52% of the companys stock. General Dynamics Stock Down 0.0 % GD stock traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $275.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,305,858 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,101,082. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market capitalization of $75.42 billion, a PE ratio of 22.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.68. General Dynamics Co. has a 12 month low of $202.35 and a 12 month high of $277.43. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $265.79 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $248.40. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The aerospace company reported $3.64 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.68 by ($0.04). General Dynamics had a return on equity of 16.61% and a net margin of 7.84%. The business had revenue of $11.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.39 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.58 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that General Dynamics Co. will post 14.6 earnings per share for the current year. General Dynamics Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 12th will be given a $1.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 11th. This represents a $5.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.06%. This is a boost from General Dynamicss previous quarterly dividend of $1.32. General Dynamicss payout ratio is currently 43.93%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently commented on GD shares. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of General Dynamics from $283.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. 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. UBS Group increased their price objective on General Dynamics from $286.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. StockNews.com downgraded General Dynamics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 3rd. Finally, Alembic Global Advisors downgraded shares of General Dynamics from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $296.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $271.69. Read 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 Stories 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. Lectra (OTC:LCTSF Get Free Report) is one of 461 publicly-traded companies in the Software Application industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Lectra to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, profitability and dividends. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Lectra and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Lectra alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lectra 0 0 0 0 N/A Lectra Competitors 617 2700 5687 72 2.57 As a group, Software Application companies have a potential upside of 22.02%. Given Lectras competitors higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Lectra has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Lectra N/A N/A 42.09 Lectra Competitors $462.53 million $19.94 million 377.53 This table compares Lectra and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Lectras competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Lectra. Lectra is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Dividends Lectra pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.7%. Lectra pays out 28.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Software Application companies pay a dividend yield of 1.7% and pay out 69.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Insider and Institutional Ownership 32.4% of shares of all Software Application companies are held by institutional investors. 31.6% of shares of all Software Application companies 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. Profitability This table compares Lectra and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lectra N/A N/A N/A Lectra Competitors -32.89% -79.36% -10.27% Summary Lectra competitors beat Lectra on 6 of the 10 factors compared. About Lectra (Get Free Report) Lectra SA provides industrial intelligence solutions for fashion, automotive, and furniture markets. The company's solutions include software, automated cutting equipment, data, and related services, which enable customers to automate and optimize product design, development, and manufacture of garments, car seats and interiors, airbags, and sofas, as well as to digitalize their processes. It also offers technical maintenance, support, training, and consulting services; and sells consumables and parts. The company operates in Europe, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. Lectra SA was incorporated in 1973 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Receive News & Ratings for Lectra Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lectra and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A senior U.S. diplomat will travel to South Korea and Indonesia for talks on democracy, human rights and other issues, the State Department said Friday. As part of the trip from Saturday to March 22, Uzra Zeya, under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights, will visit Seoul, where she will meet people from the government, civil society and the education sector for collaboration on anti-trafficking efforts, global humanitarian efforts and other issues. In Seoul, Zeya will also join Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the third Summit for Democracy that South Korea is hosting from Monday through Wednesday. She plans to give remarks at the opening ceremony of the summit Tuesday to underscore the U.S. government's commitment to supporting civil society and human rights defenders, according to the department. In addition, she will give keynote remarks at an event, organized by the governments of the Netherlands and Denmark, to highlight the importance of upholding information integrity online. In Jakarta, Zeya plans to work to advance bilateral cooperation under the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership announced by their presidents in November 2023, the department said. (Yonhap) The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating how a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 lost an external panel before landing safely in Oregon Friday. United Flight 433 landed at Medford Airport around 1:45 p.m. PDT (2045 GMT) carrying 139 passengers and six crew after departing from San Francisco, the FAA and airline said. The FAA said a post-landing airline inspection of the 25-year-old airplane revealed a missing panel. United said it will also investigate and said no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during flight. "We'll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service," the airline said in a statement. Boeing did not comment, directing questions to United Airlines. According to FAA records, the plane was built in late 1998. The Rogue Valley Times posted a dramatic photo of the airplane with the missing panel. Traffic was briefly halted at the airport to search for the panel. In the aftermath of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 mid-air emergency prompted by a door plug blowout, U.S. aviation incidents are getting more attention. Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny following the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines incident, with probes into the company's safety and quality standards in its production process. Last week a United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 MAX rolled onto the grass and off the runway in Houston, prompting investigations. Also last week a United-operated Boeing 777-200 bound for Japan lost a tire after takeoff from San Francisco and was diverted to Los Angeles where it landed safely. A United Boeing 737 on March 4 bound for Florida departing Houston returned to the airport shortly after takeoff after the engine ingested some plastic bubble wrap that was on the airfield prior to departure. Social media posts showed flames coming out of the engine. (Reuters) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder possible. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder possible. Low 41F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 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. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 16: Entrepreneur First (EF), the world's first "Talent Investor", has launched a new office in South Park, San Francisco to connect the world's best founder talent with the world's best funding ecosystem. Five Indian companies built from scratch in EF's Bangalore program will be invited to relocate to San Francisco following EF's pre-Seed Investment Committee. Also Read | Will Lionel Messi Play Tonight in DC United vs Inter Miami MLS 2024 Match? Here's the Possibility of LM10 Featuring in Starting XI. These Indian startups will have the opportunity to continue their journey in San Francisco, growing what they've built into an early-stage company while gaining access to US investors, customers, and markets. This immersive program further reinforces EF's commitment to strengthening the India-US corridor, helping exceptional Indian founders build global-first companies from their very inception. The inaugural San Francisco batch will be made up of 33 global teams who will be working on everything from non-invasive brain-computer interfaces to decode language-related thought in the brain to Figma for spatial computing. EF has also upgraded its investment terms for founders joining their programs across the globe. Teams that pass their pre-Seed Investment Committee will be offered a $125,000 investment for an 8% convertible instrument. In addition to the $125,000 investment amount per company, every founder will receive a pre-seed advance of up to $5,000 investment amount upon acceptance into one of their programs in India. Also Read | Rajasthan: Over 5.32 Crore Voters Including 15 Lakh First-Timers Registered for Lok Sabha Polls. The immersive program comes as a follow-up to the graduate program launched in India in March 2023. Successful teams from the graduate program were given the tools, advisory, and required funding to launch their startup focused on rapidly growing their idea into an early-stage company. The EF India team has been mentoring 30 exceptional individuals as a part of this cohort and preparing the India teams for creating value with a global customer base from their inception. The selected teams from India comprise of: * CodeAnt AI | Amartya Jha, Chinmay Bharti | CodeAnt AI is a DevTool that helps companies find and auto-fix code issues and security vulnerabilities. * Hanomi | Marco Mascolo, Drishti Bhasin | An engineering co-pilot to slash design cycles for hardware companies by 50x. * Insight XR | Sudhanshu Heda, Akshat Khare | Building an Analytics and Insights Platform for XR Experiences to help teams build data-backed experiences. * Iterate AI | Saksham Aggarwal, Shubhram Bhattacharya | Creating infinite engineering bandwidth for product teams. * Repello AI | Aryaman Behera, Naman Mishra | Automated red-teaming tool to proactively find vulnerabilities in generative AI applications. * Unproject | Rishabh Singh, Viba Mohan | Building the Figma for spatial computing. Alice Bentinck, co-founder and CEO of Entrepreneur First, said, "It's well known that Europe and India have some of the world's most talented engineers. But their path to becoming globally important founders is still too fraught with obstacles. Launching the SF hub is not just about access to the world's best investors, but it's about the 'wet-ware' mental upgrade EF founders will get from being surrounded by a dense ecosystem of ambitious peers." Talking about the immersion program Rahul Samat, Partner and India Head of Entrepreneur First, said, "From Bengaluru to San Francisco, our immersive program is a testament to our commitment to Indian founders, enabling them to build global companies from inception. Witnessing their growth over the past year has been inspiring, and we eagerly anticipate their global impact. As they step onto the global stage, their diverse perspectives will not only contribute to the entrepreneurial fabric of their home countries but also enrich the global startup ecosystem." Once founders relocate to San Francisco post funding from EF's Investment Committee, they will be matched with a Silicon Valley advisor, attend weekly conversations with experienced founders, operators, and investors, and pitch to world-leading investors at an in-person Demo Day hosted by Reid Hoffman. Building across a wide range of sectors, EF India's portfolio boasts 50+ successful startups such as gamified investment and personal finance platform Fello, which has a user base of over 1,000,000 people and raised US$4M in their latest funding round, and Beatoven, which harnesses artificial intelligence to empower video and podcast content creators in composing original soundtracks without any prior music expertise. For more information, please visit our website www.joinef.com Founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck, Entrepreneur First is a category-defining investor in entrepreneurial talent. EF's portfolio companies have been backed by world-leading investors, including Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Softbank and GV (formerly Google Ventures). The startups cofounded on their programs are now worth over $10B, and include Tractable, Magic Pony Technology, Cleo, La Vie, Aztec, Sonantic, and many more. They have offices in London, Paris, Bangalore and San Francisco. Sharing their expertise, Matt and Alice have co-authored the book "How to be a Founder" (Bloomsbury Publishing), which was released in August 2022. Entrepreneur First, the world's first "Talent Investor" finds and funds the world's best early-career, technical founder talent pre-team and pre-idea. Since 2014, they've built a portfolio worth >$10bn with this unique approach to company creation and are backed by founders including Patrick and John Collison, Reid Hoffman, Taavet Hinrikus and Matt Mullenweg. EF's impressive global roster of backers includes John and Patrick Collison (co-founders of Stripe), Taavet Hinrikus (co-founder of Wise), Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn), Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of Wordpress), Tom Blomfield (co-founder of Monzo and GoCardless), Nat Friedman (former CEO of Github), Sara Clemens (former COO of Twitch and Pandora), Matt Robinson (co-founder of Nested and GoCardless), Patrick O'Shaughnessy (Positive Sum), Demis Hassabis and Mustafa Suleyman (co-founders of Deepmind), Claire Hughes Johnson, Sten Tamkivi, Elad Gil and Lachy Groom. Appendix: Details of companies from India in the inaugural batch CodeAnt AI | Amartya Jha, Chinmay Bharti | CodeAnt AI is a DevTool that helps companies find and auto-fix code issues and security vulnerabilities. Amartya led the DevOps and Infrastructure teams at unicorns like Zeta and ShareChat, scaling their infrastructures and applications to handle hundreds of millions of requests. Chinmay was the founding engineer at Zevi AI and built search infrastructure for the biggest D2C brands to handle millions of requests. Hanomi | Marco Mascolo, Drishti Bhasin | An engineering co-pilot to slash design cycles for hardware companies by 50x. Marco was awarded Best Student in Imperial College's Engineering Department, with an MSc in Fluid Dynamics, and hands-on experience from NASA to Formula 1, building 3D printers and robotic arms since age 12. Drishti has a mechanical engineering background, from top IIT, combined with 5 years of AI expertise, and key roles at Microsoft, NannyML, Quansight, and multiple publications in top conferences. Insight XR | Sudhanshu Heda, Akshat Khare | Building an Analytics and Insights Platform for XR Experiences to help teams build data-backed experiences. Sudhanshu was a Founding Member in a Series A funded XR Startup where he developed a platform to deploy AR/VR/MR Experiences for more than a dozen Fortune-500 Enterprises. These experiences garnered more than 50M users. Akshat graduated from IIT Delhi with a Computer Science Degree. He was a Senior AI Researcher developing cutting-edge AI solutions leveraging LLMs and LVMs for US State Governments and Pharmaceutical companies. Iterate AI | Saksham Aggarwal, Shubhram Bhattacharya | Creating infinite engineering bandwidth for product teams. Shubhram was a product manager and built India's first book-keeping app for truck owners and scaled it to 1.2 million users. Saksham is a CS senior from BITS Pilani. He worked as a full-stack developer at pyor.xyz, building the interpretation layer for digital assets which led to scaling the waitlist to 120k+ users. Repello AI |Aryaman Behera, Naman Mishra | Automated red-teaming tool to proactively find vulnerabilities in generative AI applications. Aryaman, with his 5 years of security research background, graduated from IIT Roorkee, was a part of Azure Red team at Microsoft. Naman is a software developer and ML Engineer who has built products used by more than half a million users and has worked with big companies like American Express. With research publications in ML Security, he brings deep-tech expertise to the team. Unproject | Rishabh Singh, Viba Mohan | Building the Figma for spatial computing. Unproject is currently working closely with design partners from Unity, Microsoft and Gravity Sketch to build the perfect tool for spatial designers. Viba was previously listed by Adobe as one of the 10 most promising designers of 2019. Rishabh previously worked at the Intel 3D research lab at Santa Clara with a focus on XR. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): The KIET Group of Institutions in Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, organized the inaugural ceremony of "Centre of Supercomputing" that shall have world's first 5 petaFLOPS AI Supercomputer: NVIDIA DGX A100. According to a press release, this state-of-the-art technology, embodied in the SUPERCOMPUTER, represents a significant milestone in the institute's dedication to propelling research and innovation across diverse fields. Also Read | Rakshak India's Braves Success Party: Barun Sobti, Surbhi Chandna, Rithvikk Dhanjani, Mohit Malik and Others Attend the Glam Event (View Pics). The establishment of this Supercomputing Center is backed by the 'Start In UP' startup policy, an initiative spearheaded by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The inauguration ceremony, graced by dignitaries and stakeholders, including Chief Guest Sunil Kumar Sharma, Cabinet Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, underscored the strategic significance of supercomputing in propelling economic growth and fostering a culture of innovation. Also Read | Movie Scam: Woman Duped of Rs 4 Lakh on Pretext of Acting Role With Rajinikanth in Film Thalaivar 171 - Code Red. Sunil Kumar Sharma, in his address, lauded the institute's endeavor, emphasizing the transformative potential of supercomputers in shaping the nation's future. Minister Sharma said, "I congratulate the institute for introducing this center of supercomputing as it will shape the future of our nation. I believe when the students will begin working on supercomputers, they will be able to create new products and ideas that can multiply economic growth and promote innovation and entrepreneurship." The ceremony, attended Ghaziabad MLA Atul Garg, highlighted the collaborative efforts between academia, government, and industry to nurture talent and drive technological advancement. Dr Rekha Kashyap, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) AI and CSE AIML, provided insights into the capabilities of the NVIDIA DGX A100, describing it as a revolutionary AI system designed to unify training, inference, and analytics. Dr Kashyap said, "The NVIDIA DGX A100 is the world's first 5 petaFLOPS AI system, designed to unify training, inference, and analytics into a single, easy-to-deploy AI infrastructure. The addition of the DGX A100 systems to the Centre of Supercomputing represents a leap forward in our institute's research capabilities." "With unparalleled computational efficiency and versatility, the DGX A100 will accelerate research in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, climate science, genomics, and more," explained Dr Kashyap. The integration of the DGX A100 into the academic curriculum was hailed by Dr Manoj Goel, Joint Director, as a significant enhancement to educational programs. He commended the efforts of Dr Rekha Kashyap and Dr Adesh Pandey, Dean ITS, in organizing the event and expressed optimism about the transformative impact of the supercomputer on student learning and research outcomes. Dr Goel said, "the DGX A100's integration will significantly enhance educational programs, providing students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art AI technology." The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude towards the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor, along with felicitations for their invaluable contributions to the event. The presence of college students, deans, heads, functional heads, and faculty members underscored the collective commitment towards leveraging technology for academic excellence and societal progress. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 16 (ANI): Taking into account stakeholder feedback, the Board of India's capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the launch of a Beta version of optional T+0 settlement, for a limited set of 25 shares, and that too with a limited set of brokers. The decision was taken at its Board meeting held on Friday. Also Read | POCSO Case Against BS Yediyurappa: Karnataka Government Hands Over Case Against BJP Leader to Special Wing of CID for Investigation. The T+0 system means that the settlements must be done within the same day, of the completion of a transaction. Those 25 shares that would be part of the Beta version have not been named yet by the regulator. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Gaza Ceasefire on Cards As Israeli Government Likely To Agree To Release 1000 Palestinian Prisoners. Parallelly, the regulator SEBI said it shall continue to do further stakeholder consultation, including with the users of the Beta version. The Board of the SEBI will review the progress at the end of three months and six months from the date of this implementation, and decide on further course of action, SEBI said in a statement. SEBI, in its endeavour to keep pace with the changing times and carry out its mandate of development of securities markets and investor protection, shortened the settlement cycle to T+3 from T+5in 2002 and subsequently to T+2 in 2003. Further in 2021, T+1 settlement was introduced in a phased manner which was fully implemented from January 2023. It was of the view that the significant evolution of payment systems in the country in recent years coupled with sophisticated and robust technologies used by market infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) appears to present further opportunities for advancing the clearing and settlement timelines, on an optional basis. Against that backdrop, SEBI in December 2023 floated two propositions before the public and sought their suggestions. The proposal to be implemented in two phases were: In Phase 1, an optional T+0 settlement cycle (for trades till 1:30 PM) is envisaged, with the settlement of funds and securities to be completed on the same day by 4:30 PM. In Phase 2, an optional immediate trade-by-trade settlement (funds and securities) may be carried out. In the second phase, trading was to be carried out till 3.30 pm After the implementation of phase 2 (optional instant settlement), the mechanism of optional T+0 settlement implemented under phase 1 was to be discontinued. Besides, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch last year said the financial markets regulator was working on a mechanism for instant settlements of transactions on the stock exchanges. She had said they were working on a mechanism for instant settlements and were engaged with the ecosystem. "We believe that in the not very far future we will have a mechanism which will facilitate instantaneous settlement of transactions on the stock exchanges. That's where we are headed," she had said in July 2023. The instantaneous settlement, once it is implemented, will put money into the hands of the investors on a real-time basis. Over the last few years, Indian securities markets have seen tremendous growth, both in terms of volumes, and value, as well as the number of participants. This increase in participation of new investors in securities market puts greater onus on SEBI to make markets more efficient and safer for its participants, with a special focus on retail participants. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Actor O Yeong-su, best known for his role in Squid Game, has been convicted of sexual misconduct over allegations he hugged and kissed a woman on the cheek against her wishes. O was sentenced to up to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, by the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court, Deadline reported, citing information from Korean reports. Squid Games O Yeong-su Found Guilty of Sexual Assault, Gets Eight-Month Prison Sentence. The 79-year-old was charged in 2022 over allegations that he hugged a woman and kissed her on the cheek in 2017. However, he denied the charges. After leaving the court on Friday, he told reporters that he would appeal the ruling, which included attending a 40-hour sexual offender treatment program. O has previously said he held the woman's hand to guide her around a lake. "I apologised because (the person) said she wouldn't make a fuss about it but it doesn't mean that I admit the charges," he said. O Yeong-su Case Squid Game actor #OYeongSu sentenced to 8 months suspended prison term for sexual misconduct. Allegations include unwanted hugs and kisses.#SquidGame #SexualMisconduct#OhIlnam O Yeong-Su Oh Il-nam pic.twitter.com/GEGeh1a2AU know the Unknown (@imurpartha) March 15, 2024 O has been in the business of showbiz for over five decades but his role in Netflix's show Squid Game drew him global fame and acclaim. The series series depicts a dark world where marginalised individuals are forced to compete in deadly versions of traditional children's games. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Imphal, Mar 16 (PTI) Manipur chief electoral officer Pradeep Kumar Jha on Saturday said 1,058 polling stations out of 2,955 have been identified as "vulnerable critical" in the state. Addressing a press conference here, Jha said, "The first phase of polls on April 19 will cover 47 assembly segments while the second phase on April 26 will have 13 assembly segments. The last date for filing nominations is March 27." Also Read | Movie Scam: Woman Duped of Rs 4 Lakh on Pretext of Acting Role With Rajinikanth in Film Thalaivar 171 - Code Red. He said the state has a total number of 10,47,929 femals and 9,80,855 male voters in addition to 239 transgender electors. To check election expenditure, 197 flying squads, 194 static surveillance teams, 92 video surveillance teams, 60 video viewing teams and 60 accounting teams have been constituted. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: General Elections To Be Held in West Bengal in Seven Phases; Check Dates. "Trained officials have visited polling stations for identification of vulnerable locations. A total of 1,058 polling stations have been identified as vulnerable and critical," he said, adding, "Steps have been taken to identify history-sheeters, trouble mongers, and persons who might create trouble." "These critical and vulnerable polling stations will be brought under webcasting/videography" along with deployment of micro observers and additional deployment of CAPFs," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amaravati, Mar 16 (PTI) With the EC on Saturday announcing the poll schedule for the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh on May 13, the poll bugle has been sounded in the southern state for a double battle. With an electorate of 4.08 crore voters--two crore male, 2.07 crore female and 3,482 third gender voters, Andhra Pradesh is poised to elect members to its 16th Legislative Assembly, constituting 175 constituencies, besides 25 Lok Sabha members. Also Read | Ramadan 2024 Calendar: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 6th Roza of Ramzan on March 17 in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Other Cities of India. The Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP which got nearly 50 per cent vote share with 151 seats in the last assembly polls is deploying all its might to retain power. TDP secured just 23 while Janasena, one in 2019. The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP on Saturday announced the list of candidates for all the 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, coinciding with the date of the election notification announcement by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: Election Commission To Focus on Muscle, Money and Misinformation To Ensure Free and Fair Polls. According to YSRCP, 50 percent of all the seats for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls have been allocated to SC, ST, BC and minority communities. Jagan Mohan Reddy will contest from Pulivendula Assembly constituency, Krishna Raghava Jayendra Bharath (Kuppam) and M Lavanya (Mangalagiri), the key constituencies of the southern state. As per the list, B Jhansi Laxmi will contest from the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency, G Uma Bala (Narasapuram) and V Vijayasai Reddy (Nellore). On the other hand, TDP is pulling all stops to wrest the power by joining NDA and having pre-poll alliance with actor Pawan Kalyan-led Janasena and BJP. Left parties, Congress and other smaller parties have lesser impact in the poll arena. N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP recently rejoined the NDA alliance whereas Janasena has already been the local ally of BJP. The NDA partners entered into a seat sharing deal, according to which BJP will contest from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly segments, TDP 17 Parliamentary and 144 Assembly constituencies and Pawan Kalyan-led Janasena from two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats. Naidu has already announced the names of 128 candidates while 16 more are due, which could be done any time from now. Kalyan revealed the names of only seven Janasena candidates until now, including giving clarity on his status, announcing he will fight the Assembly election from Pithapuram constituency. Janasena still has to reveal the names of candidates for 14 more Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats while the BJP is yet to announce the list of its candidates for either the Assembly or Lok Sabha polls. Following TDP conceding several seats to BJP and Janasena as part of the seat-sharing deal, many seat hopefuls underwent serious heartburn and also exhibited signs of rebellion. Senior TDP leader and former Undi MLA V V Sivarama Raju and Pithapuram party leader S V S N Varma openly expressed their disappointment. When Pawan Kalyan suddenly announced in a party meeting on Thursday that he will contest the Assembly election from Pithapuram, Varma's supporters protested and burnt some placards and papers in his office. Meanwhile, the NDA partners have lined up an election meeting at Boppudi in Chilakaluripeta constituency on March 17, which could feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the run up to the polls, YSRCP chief Jagan has announced the candidates for 24 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly constituencies. Appointed after intense reshuffling, the new in-charges have replaced several sitting legislators, causing much consternation and exits from the party, which also included five Lok Sabha MPs and a Rajya Sabha member. The YSRCP is yet to announce the final list of its candidates. Unfazed by the exits, Reddy, confident of his welfare-dependent statecraft, has coined the term "why not 175", in a bid to 'sweep' all the Assembly seats. In a show of strength, he has already addressed four massive Siddham (ready) election meetings, touching all the major regions of the state which saw lakhs of supporters attending. Meanwhile, the Congress party led by Y S Sharmila, Jagan's younger sister, has also decided to fight from all the 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats during the simultaneous elections. Though it has been reduced to a political minnow after UPA II led by Congress bifurcated the state, the grand old party is now attempting to inject some life for a toehold in the southern state's political landscape. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, March 16: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls wil be held after the Lok Sabha elections. In an interview with ANI, CEC Kumar said, "We are yet to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I mentioned in the press conference earlier today that the way for conducting legal elections has opened since December 23. This is March, and there is snowfall in the region, hence the question of holding elections does not arise at this point." "We (ECI) went to Jammu and Kashmir and were asked by all the political parties there to hold the state assembly elections with the Lok Sabha polls. After that, we held administrative meetings wherein it was discussed that a lot of security forces would be required to conduct state assembly election with Lok Sabha election in J-K," he said. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: State-Wise, Constituency-Wise List of Seats and Polling Dates. CEC Rajiv Kumar Speaks on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls #WATCH | Delhi: CEC Rajiv Kumar explains over not conducting Parliamentary & Assembly polls together in J&K; says, "During our recent visit to Srinagar and Jammu, the J&K Administration told us that two elections can't be held at the same time due to more security requirements. pic.twitter.com/xfzVt7hKxY ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 "All political parties asked the ECI to conduct an assembly election with Lok Sabha polls, but security agencies advised us that it would not be possible to provide security as there was a need for the deployment of huge security forces. But we are seriously thinking of conducting polls in JK after the Lok Sabha polls. JK will be the first state to go in the election after the Lok Sabha polls," he said. Lok Sabha Election 2024: Constituency-Wise Polling Date in Jammu and Kashmir Constituency no. Constituency Polling Date 1 Baramulla May 20 2 Srinagar May 13 3 AnantnagRajouri May 7 4 Udhampur April 19 5 Jammu April 26 Kumar further said that the ECI will immediately conduct elections in JK within the limited time frame and it is considering "seriously" to conduct the elections after the Lok Sabha polls. CEC Kumar spoke about the high-level committee examining One Nation, One Election and said that the ECI will conduct elections as per the constitutional provisions. "There is a provision in the Constitution for conducting elections. Article 83(2) of the Constitution of India states that the House of the People will continue for five years from the date of its first meeting. There is a clause in Section 14 of the RP Act, 1951 that elections for the Parliament be must held six months before the end of the Assembly. As long as this article is there in the Constitution and there are provisions for People's Representation and People's Act, our job is to conduct elections according to them," Kumar said. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: General Elections To Be Held in West Bengal in Seven Phases; Check Dates. The High-Level Committee on 'One Nation One Election' chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted its report on March 14. When asked if there was a message for the political parties ahead of polls, CEC Kumar said, "To spread the word in the best possible way, carry out healthy and clean elections, do ethical campaigning. Best wishes to everyone. We will provide them with a level playing field, this is what we do. State governments must be behavior-neutral because the job of the administration and election machinery is to remain the same for everyone." The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, Mar 16 (PTI) Hyderabad is one of the keenly-watched contests in the present Lok Sabha polls in Telangana and the battle just got interesting with the BJP fielding a political greenhorn to take on AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi in his home turf and aims to scuttle his re-election bid. The Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, comprising mainly the old city of Hyderabad with a predominantly Muslim population, has been an AIMIM bastion, and the BJP has been making efforts to make inroads in the constituency. K Madhavi Latha will fight on a saffron party ticket to take on Owaisi, one of the most vocal critics of the BJP. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: General Elections To Be Held in Five Phases in Maharashtra; Mumbai To Vote in Fifth Phase on May 20. Elections will be held in Telangana on May 13. Other parties, either Congress or BRS now or TDP in the past, don't fancy their chances of winning the seat. Also Read | Bee Attack in Tamil Nadu: Man Falls Into Gorge in Bid To Escape From Swarm of Bees in Nilgiris District, Dies. Polarisation on religious lines has been a public secret in the constituency. BJP has often been the runner-up in the elections. Owaisi (55) has so far won the constituency for four terms since 2004. Before that, he was a member of the undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for two terms. Prior to Asaduddin Owaisi, his father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi had represented Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha for six consecutive terms between 1984 and 2004. Salahuddin was also elected to the Legislative Assembly in undivided Andhra Pradesh for two terms between 1978 and 1984. The Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments of Bahadurpura, Chandrayangutta, Charminar, Goshamahal, Karwan, Malakpet and Yakatpura. All assembly seats, except Goshamahal, are held by the AIMIM. Goshamahal was retained by BJP's firebrand Hindutva leader Raja Singh. Former AIMIM MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri said the works related to civic amenities, including flyovers, are taking place in the old city. AIMIM's public representatives, including MLAs and Corporators, are accessible to people at Darussalam, the party's headquarters here, to address their grievances, he said. "No other party has its office open to the general public to come and represent their grievances. Majlis (AIMIM) does it at Darusslam," he told PTI. BJP, which has set its eyes on south to make significant, sprang a surprise when it announced the candidature of Madhavi Latha, a philanthropist, classical dancer and entrepreneur, in the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. She has the image of being a strong Hindutva proponent. Madhavi Latha, who had worked with Muslim women groups on triple talaq, vows to fight to win the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat this time. As a social activist, she had collaborated with several Muslim women groups on triple talaq and she was one of the few who were invited to talk on abolition of triple talaq, her office said. She had also created a fund for destitute Muslim women, it said. The ruling Congress and BRS have not announced their candidates for Hyderabad so far. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Patna, Mar 16 (PTI) Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh on Saturday said the party would like to contest "more than 10" Lok Sabha seats in the state. He also welcomed "disgruntled" NDA allies like Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras to the Congress if they chose to switch sides. Also Read | Haryana Blast: Boiler Burst in Spare Parts Factory in Rewari, 40 Workers Injured (Watch Videos). Talking to reporters, Singh said, "The Congress' state election committee in its meeting on Saturday authorised our central leadership to decide the seat-sharing formula with partners of the Mahagathbandhan. In the last Lok Sabha polls, the Congress had contested from 10 seats. This time we would definitely like to contest more than that." He, however, made it clear that the final decision in this regard would be taken by the central leadership. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: With Voter Base of 4.95 Crore, Gujarat Readies for May 7 General Polls. Asked about the reported indication that Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras might walk out of the ruling NDA, if his faction of the LJP does not get due respect in seat-sharing, Singh said, "We will welcome him, if they (Paras's party) chose to switch sides". Paras on Friday accused the BJP of not doing justice to his LJP faction and hinted that he may leave the NDA. He asserted that he is free to go anywhere and "doors are open". His disappointment followed days after the BJP struck a seat-sharing deal with his nephew Chirag Paswan, who heads another faction of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), ignoring Paras' claim over several Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, including Hajipur. The Lok Janshakti Party, which was led by Ram Vilas Paswan, split into two after his demise in 2020. His brother Paras leads the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) and his son Chirag Paswan the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), both part of the BJP-led NDA. Meanwhile, another alliance partner of the Mahagathbandhan, CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, on Saturday said that seating-sharing issues must be resolved at the earliest in the state. "Now, dates for the Lok Sabha polls have been announced, therefore, the seat-sharing issue must be resolved at the earliest by the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan", said Kumar Parvez, Media in charge of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation's Bihar unit. The elections to the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar will be held in seven phases on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1, the Election Commission said on Saturday. (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 16 (ANI): A team of doctors in Delhi conducted a complex Aortic Surgery and saved the life of a 55-year-old Indian citizen, who while vacationing in Bali, Indonesia, was diagnosed with NSTEMI (non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction), acute renal failure, and Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection. This above-mentioned condition has a mortality risk of nearly 30-40 per cent at the time of occurrence, and with each passing hour that the patient delays surgery, the risk increases by 1 to 2 per cent. Also Read | Haryana Blast: Boiler Burst in Spare Parts Factory in Rewari, 40 Workers Injured (Watch Videos). A team of the private hospital in the national capital ensured the patient's safe transfer to Delhi from Bali with the help of an air ambulance. "Upon reaching Delhi, a well-coordinated effort, including assistance from Delhi Police and aviation authorities, along with a designated green corridor, facilitated a seamless transition to Apollo Hospitals," read a statement issued by the hospital. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: With Voter Base of 4.95 Crore, Gujarat Readies for May 7 General Polls. Dr Niranjan Hiremath, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular and Aortic Surgery, Surgical Lead, Apollo Aortic Program, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi further explained, " This case presented an intricate medical challenge, particularly given its diagnosis in Bali." At the time of admission patient's aortic valve was completely damaged and the aorta was torn from the inside jeopardizing blood flow to the coronary arteries. Under the expert care of the hospital's aortic team, under Dr Niranjan Hiremath, the patient underwent an extensive eight-hour surgical procedure to reconstruct the damaged aorta, aortic valve and adjoining arteries. "With comprehensive post-operative ICU care, the patient was quickly weaned off ventilation support after surgery, recovered well with no complications, and was discharged 6 days later. His kidneys, coronaries and other organ functions were reported normal after surgery, it added. According to Dr Priyadarshani Pal Singh, Head of Emergency, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, "Every emergency is a demanding precision, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Being part of this life-saving journey exemplifies the essence of our profession - to provide hope and healing in moments of crisis." "At Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, we prioritize swift action and seamless coordination to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients. Our relentless pursuit of patient well-being and seamless coordination ensures that no obstacle stands in the way of delivering life-saving care," said Doctor Pal Singh. Despite the high-risk nature of the surgery and the critical condition of the patient, the surgery was performed successfully. Stanford Type A aortic dissections, though uncommon, pose an extremely grave threat, with mortality rates soaring to 30-40 per cent within 24 hours if left untreated. "The swift coordination among diverse medical specialities--cardiology, cardiac surgery, anaesthesia, emergency medicine, and transport logistics--was remarkable. From diagnosis to arranging air ambulance transport, the process unfolded with unprecedented speed. Our team executed an arduous 8-hour open heart surgery swiftly upon the patient's arrival, showcasing extraordinary teamwork and efficiency," said the doctor. (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 17 (PTI) Eyeing a repeat of its electoral performance of 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party will look to win all 25 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan, even as the Congress would hope to cause a dent in the saffron party's plans. Despite losing the assembly elections to the Congress in December 2018, and thus being in the opposition, the BJP had managed to win 24 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with the only other seat going to its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). Also Read | Chicago Horror: Teenager Dies Protecting Mother in Domestic Attack by Knife-Wielding Ex-Boyfriend. This time, the BJP is the ruling party in the state and looks to have wind in its sails. The Congress, which had won a majority of assembly seats in eastern Rajasthan in the 2018 assembly polls, suffered a bitter loss a few months later in the parliamentary polls. Also Read | Rewari Blast: Boiler Burst in Spare Parts Factory in Haryana Injures 40 Workers, Disturbing Videos Surface. The Gurjar community had voted for the Congress in the assembly polls hoping that Sachin Pilot, a member of the community, would be the state's chief minister. When that did not happen, votes for the Congress took a hit and the BJP won all the seats in the region in the Lok Sabha polls. However, the winning margin was relatively low on three eastern Rajasthan seats as compared to other seats in the state. In the Lok Sabha polls, BJP's Jaskaur Meena won from Dausa with a margin of 78,444 votes while Manoj Rajoria won the Karauli-Dholpur seat with a margin of 97,682 votes. In Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria won the election with a margin of 1,11,291. Pilot had won his first assembly elections in 2018 from the Tonk assembly seat which comes under the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha segment. In the Marwar region, Congress faced a humiliating defeat from Jodhpur in the parliamentary elections where the then chief minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot lost his first election to BJP's Gajendra Shekhawat with 2,74,440 votes. Jodhpur is Gehlot's hometown and is considered a stronghold of the Congress. The party's loss was a major embarrassment for both Gehlot and the party. Shekhawat, a Union minister, is contesting again from the seat in 2024. He has been a Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur since 2014. BJP had left one seat, Nagaur, for its ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) headed by Hanuman Beniwal in 2019. Beniwal had defeated Congress candidate Jyoti Mirdha by a margin of 1,81,260 votes. Mirdha, who is now in the BJP, has been given the party ticket from Nagaur. BJP's alliance with the RLP ended over the farmers' protest in 2020. In the Mewar region comprising the southern parts of the state, Bhartiya Tribal Party, which had emerged just ahead of the 2018 elections, won two assembly seats, causing considerable damage to both the Congress and the BJP, particularly in Banswara and Dungarpur areas. However, the BJP managed to swing the voters in its favour in the Lok Sabha elections that followed and won with a very high margins in Banswara (3,05,464 votes), Chittorgarh (5,76,247), Udaipur (4,37,914 votes) and Rajsamand (5,51,916 votes). BJP's assembly performance in the Mewar region, in which it had won many seats, also helped the party increase its winning margin in the Lok Sabha elections. The party retained its influence in the Hadoti region where it won the Kota-Bundi (Om Birla) and Jhalawar-Baran (Dushyant Singh) seats. Dushyant Singh, son of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, won his seat with a margin of 4,53,928 votes. In northern Rajasthan (Bikaner, Ganganagar) and the Shekhawati region (Churu, Sikar, Jhunjhunu), the party had won comfortably with margins close to three lakh in each seat. (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 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Saturday that what is being seen as certain in a world plagued by uncertainty is that India will continue to grow at a fast pace. Speaking at a conclave of the 'India Today' group, he said he is driven by "nation first" and without naming the opposition, added they are guided by a "family first" approach. Also Read | Rewari Blast: 100 Factory Workers Injured in Boiler Blast at Factory in Haryana (Watch Videos). Exuding confidence of his government retaining power in the Lok Sabha polls, Modi said people will see decisive policies and decisions being made in the next five years. He has been working on them, Modi said. The next five years will be a guarantee of a stable, capable and strong India to the world while development will be taken to new heights, he said. Also Read | Chicago Horror: Teenager Dies Protecting Mother in Domestic Attack by Knife-Wielding Ex-Boyfriend. He said his government has maintained "zero-tolerance" to corruption and given a freehand to investigation agencies, and that is why some people are having a pain in their stomach, an apparent reference to opposition leaders who have accused the government of misusing the probe bodies to target its rivals. While the Enforcement Directorate had seized only Rs 5,000 crore till 2014, it has attached assets worth over Rs 1 lakh crore and arrested those associated with cyber and narco crimes, and terrorism, he said. Modi said some people are running a campaign to abuse him but their intentions and commitment are under a question mark. The country is clearly telling them "so sorry", he said, in a play at a popular short parody programme of the news channel. Modi highlighted at length numerous welfare schemes his government has brought over the years to help the deprived sections of society, be it street vendors or the rural poor. These issues do not make media headlines but impact people, he said, as he dwelt at length the impact of schemes like Mudra and SVANidhi, which provide loans to the poor and street vendors, respectively, for their business at simple and easy terms without guarantees. Modi said his dispensation has worked to boost 'ease of living' of people and underscored his governing philosophy of minimising the role of government in people's lives. A common man should have the freedom to lead his life the way he wants, he said, noting that his government has done away with hundreds of laws and regulations. Modi said that before his government came to power in 2014, people had to pay tax on income of Rs 2,00,000 while there is no tax now on income of Rs 7,00,000. The prime minister said he could have distributed tax-payers' money to draw claps but this is not his way. He believed that people's lives could be made easier by saving their money. This is good in long-term and in the country's interests, he said, asserting that he wants to handover a prosperous India to the next generation. People have saved over Rs 2.5 lakh crore in direct tax as his government wants the common people to have more money in their pocket, he said, adding that the poor has saved over Rs 1 lakh crore due to the Ayushman health insurance scheme. While the North East states were the least of priorities of previous governments, Modi said, he ensured that his ministers and senior officers visit the region regularly. Modi said his ministers have visited the remote region nearly 700 times while he as prime minister has travelled there more than the trips of all the previous prime ministers put together. This was not done with an eye on elections but as a matter of commitment, he said. Modi said that he has even launched a vaccination programme, costing nearly Rs 15,000 crore, for animals. The number of start-ups has risen from a few hundred to 1.25 lakh, and they come from almost 600 districts, he said, adding that this highlights as to how youngsters from smaller cities are leading the start-up revolution. Under previous governments, the powerful and resourceful were the first to corner facilities by hook or by crook while the common people suffered, he said. Modi said his government has made 'ease of living' of the common people its top-most priority and noted that the period for making a passport is now merely five to six days against 50 earlier. Before 2014, Income Tax refunds used to take 93 days on an average and it is now less than 10 days, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, Mar 16 (PTI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said India currently needs economic freedom to achieve developed nation status by 2047 and assured that the country would move to the third spot in world economy from the current fifth position in the near future. Criticising those who compared India with China, Sitharaman said that certain things could not be replicated from them. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: General Elections To Be Held in Five Phases in Maharashtra; Mumbai To Vote in Fifth Phase on May 20. "India should attain self sufficiency on economic matters. It should become an economic power. The country has come from 10th position to 5th in global rankings and a few years down the line we will achieve the third spot", Sitharaman said, after unveiling a bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Shrimati Indira Gandhi College here. Appealing to the students gathered at the venue to contribute to the progress of the nation, she said, "It is through the efforts of students like you that our country will become a developed nation by 2047." Also Read | Bee Attack in Tamil Nadu: Man Falls Into Gorge in Bid To Escape From Swarm of Bees in Nilgiris District, Dies. Referring to people talking about how China has progressed and comparisons with India, Sitharaman recalled that the two countries were at the same level 30 years ago. "They have progressed because of various reasons which cannot be followed here. For example, (in China) there is no democracy at all. But we have civil liberty, freedom of speech is here and we have values in our system. And to become a developed nation, we should think positively," she said. Observing that India was a rich country about 400 years ago, she said that even today there are references to Indian connections in Indonesia and other East Asian countries. "Cholas had gone to Indonesia and set up a kingdom there. Even today there are references to that. So, what I am trying to say is that today, on this day when we remember Mahatma Gandhi, we should attain economic freedom and we should be free from imperial forces. That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks about the Atmanirbhar Bharat (campaign) in his speeches to attain a developed nation with all your contribution", she said. Maintaining that India is traditionally rich in culture, she said there were many people who have praised the country for its legacy. "About 20 years ago, many countries were commenting that India is a culturally rich country. But today most of the world nations are looking in awe on several fronts including how we have progressed by using the digital technology infrastructure. They showcase India as an example in tapping digital technology," she said. Even a top minister from Brazil which has taken the Presidency from India for hosting the G20 Summit this year has raised doubts about matching the digital technology infrastructure in their own country, she said. In her address to the students, Sitharaman said digital technology in India does not refer to the payment mechanism, but it was also about the revolution during the COVID-19 pandemic when digital certificates on vaccination status were issued through mobile phones. "You were able to receive the time, date, place, what was the vaccine that you were administered along with the certificate in your mobile phone." she said, adding that today's schools and colleges were able to link to educational institutions or to teachers through digital channels. "We have been using digital in every section, not only for making payments, but also in education and healthcare. Like this many developmental programmes have been launched in India in the last 10 years," she said. The Finance Minister said women in rural areas were tapping digital technology by operating drones for development of their farm lands. "While her brother operates the tractor in the fields, the woman spreads fertilisers using drones. Not only that, they can also sell their produce to global markets from their phone," she said. Sitharaman said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on developing every part of the country and used to tell his cabinet colleagues that India does not mean only Delhi. "That is why the G20 Summit was conducted in every state in our country last year. He (Modi) wanted every state to gain the experience of hosting a G20 Summit and that it should not rest in Delhi alone. He used to request to take all the benefits across the country to every district. Even those districts which were economically backward needs to be developed and that is how we have announced the aspirational districts scheme. Even in Tamil Nadu, we have announced that Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar will be developed under this scheme," she revealed. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Vishu Adhana New Delhi (India), March 16 (ANI) JNU elections committee on Saturday issued a final list of candidates for the upcoming student union elections and women account for just 26.3 per cent of the total candidates pitted for 4 central positions. Also Read | Chicago Horror: Teenager Dies Protecting Mother in Domestic Attack by Knife-Wielding Ex-Boyfriend. The students' union has four central panel positions: President, Vice President, General Secretary, and Joint Secretary. As per the election commission, eight candidates (1 woman, 7 men) have been finalised for the president position and 4 candidates (1 woman, 3 men) will contest for the position of vice president. For the positions of general secretary and joint secretary, there are four (3 women, 1 man) and three (3 men, zero women) candidates each. Besides the four main positions, other posts include councillors for each of the schools as well as a part-time councillor. Also Read | Haryana Blast: Boiler Burst in Spare Parts Factory in Rewari, 40 Workers Injured, Disturbing Videos Surface. Only 29.72 per cent of 111 final candidates for the position of councillors are women. The elections, happening after four years, will be held on March 22. Addressing a press conference, Election Committee chairman Shailendra Yadav said: "The process of filing of nomination began on 14 March 2024. And the committee displayed the list of final candidates today. The received nominations for the president was 45. The final nomination is eight the received nomination for the Vice President was 43. The final nomination is 8. For the received nominations for general secretary 44. The final nomination for general secretary received nominations is 4 and for Joint Secretary, the nomination received 38 but the final is three." "The total number of counsellors was 258. The final nomination for the counsellor at present is 111. Out of this 111, a total of 78 that is 70.27 per cent are men, 33 are women that constitute 29.72 per cent of the total," he said. Since 2015, the left parties have been fighting the elections as one unit under the umbrella of the United Left. The ABVP has also announced its candidates. ABVP said that Umesh Chandra Ajmira has been nominated for the post of President, and Deepika Sharma for Vice President. Arjun Anand and Govind Dangi have been nominated as candidates for General Secretary and Joint Secretary respectively. The United Left representatives said that the AISA, SFI, DSF and AISF panel will field Dhananjay as the Presidential candidate, Avijit Ghosh for Vice-President, Swati Singh for General Secretary and Sajid for Joint Secretary as the left unity panel, respectively. Since 2015, the left parties have been fighting the elections as one unit under the umbrella of the United Left. A total of 7,751 students are eligible to vote in the upcoming students union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University that is to be held on March 22. Yadav said that the final list of the voters would be out soon as the correction process in underway. A model code of conduct (MCC) has been implemented in the university ahead of the elections. Under the code, students are barred from using inflammatory remarks, wooing voters based on community, caste or religion, or spreading misinformation during campaigning. The MCC, which came into effect Thursday night, has been implemented in continuation of the partial code of conduct effective on the campus of the JNU since March 10--a day before the election was announced. The counting of votes will take place on March 24, following which the result will be declared. The JNUSU election is being conducted after a hiatus of four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was last held in 2019. The last JNUSU election was won by left-backed SFI candidate Aishe Ghosh in 2019.The left students outfits had formed an alliance to contest in the 2019 polls under the banner of the United-Left Alliance, which included a coalition of AISA, SFI, DSF, and AISF. (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 16 (PTI) Soon after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, the Congress on Saturday said that it was "perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship". Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the people of the country will together fight against hatred, unemployment and price rise. Also Read | Ramadan 2024 Calendar: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 6th Roza of Ramzan on March 17 in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Other Cities of India. "The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the 'door of Nyay' for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship. "'We the people of India' will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities. 'Haath Badlega Halaat' (the Hand will change the situation)," Kharge said on X, referring to the Congress' poll symbol. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024: Election Commission To Focus on Muscle, Money and Misinformation To Ensure Free and Fair Polls. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference that these "milestone" elections are happening under "a cloud of scams" of electoral bonds, jailing, suspension and raiding of opposition parties and politicians and freezing of funds of the primary national opposition party, which is "unprecedented". "It is a milestone election because this election will decide whether our democracy will be protected or not, whether Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution will be protected or one man's whims and fancies will decide the direction and future of our democracy. It is a very crucial election," Khera told reporters. He alleged that the BJP has reduced the constitutional status of the Election Commission and noted that the Congress gave a dissenting note on the appointment of the election commissioners. "We have been raising issues that matter to farmers, youths and women, especially to the unemployed youth through the two yatras that Rahul Gandhi undertook. We have underlined the need for India's politics to focus on these issues. People have been waiting for this election. "People want to elect a party that thinks of the youth. The promise of giving 30 lakh jobs to the youths, the promise of putting an end to paper leaks and the promise of tough laws to deal with this. These are promises that have changed the way politics need to be done in the country and no political party can afford not to focus on these issues," he asserted. Khera also said that 18 million new voters would be voting this time and they would be "remembering and thanking Rajiv Gandhi who gave voting rights to the youth". "BJP's slogan is for the BJP's benefit only. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge gave guarantees for the country and its people. The Congress' guarantees, slogans and narrative are for the people and not for themselves," he asserted. He claimed that in the next two months, the country would be rid of the "rhetoric" by the BJP and the prime minister. Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4 for the world's biggest election exercise, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission. Khera also said that for the last 10 months, opposition parties have been struggling to meet the Election Commission and the poll body should answer why it is not finding time to address their concerns. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) YEREVAN, MARCH 16, ARMENPRESS. A conference titled "Armenia and the EU after the depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh" was held at the Free University of Brussels (ULB), organized by the 'Nairyan' Union in collaboration with the UN community at the Free University of Brussels. The speaker at the conference was Tigran Balayan, Armenia's Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Armenian Mission to the EU. According to Armenpress Brussels correspondent, the Ambassador presented to the students the events that occurred between 1988 and 2023, covering the history of Nagorno-Karabakh in all its facets: the movement, wars and negotiations. He also touched upon Armenia's views on the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, bilateral relations with the EU, deepening cooperation and future joint plans. ''The Armenian foreign policy is neither a turn towards the West nor a turn towards the East. Armenia foreign policy is a turn towards the state interest of Armenians," said Ambassador Balayan. Many of the students were interested to learn about Armenia's possible candidacy for EU membership. Tigran Balayan noted that Armenia is ready to be as close to the European Union as the European Union deems it possible. New Delhi, March 16: The CBI on Saturday arrested three people, including the brother of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, for being allegedly involved in the January 5 attack on an Enforcement Directorate team at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, officials said. Sheikh Alomgir, who is Shahjahan Sheikh's brother, Mafujar Molla, the president of the TMC's student wing in Sandeshkhali, and Sirajul Molla, a local, would be produced before a local court on Sunday. The agency took into custody Sheikh's brother and two others during their questioning. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over three FIRs registered by the West Bengal Police on the directions of the Calcutta High Court. After detailed examination, and according to technical evidence collected, they were arrested by the CBI today, the officials said. With these arrests, the number of people nabbed by the CBI in the case has increased to 14. Sandeshkhali ED Attack Case: CBI Summons Brother of Suspended TMC Leader Shajahan Sheikh for Questioning in Connection With Mob Attack on Officials The agency suspects that these people were allegedly part of the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on January 5 and instigated a crowd to target the team when they went to raid the premises of Sheikh at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, they said. Sheikh was arrested on February 29 after 55 days on the run following violent protests led by women, alleging sexual atrocities and land grab. He went missing after a mob attacked the ED team that went to search his house in an alleged ration distribution scam. The state CID took over the investigation into the allegations against him. He was later handed over to the CBI on an order of the Calcutta High Court. On March 10, the court sent him to CBI custody for four days which was later extended by another eight days -- till March 22. The CBI has taken over the investigation in three cases related to incidents on January 5, when the ED team was attacked by an around 1,000-strong mob. A former state minister has been arrested in the ration scam case. Supreme Court Dismisses West Bengal Governments Plea Against Calcutta High Court Order Transferring Sandeshkhali ED Team Attack Case to CBI Sheikh was arrested by the state police on February 29, a day after the high court ordered that the CBI, ED or the West Bengal Police could arrest him. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai, Mar 16 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "uttering a lie" on the Katchatheevu issue to target the DMK and blamed him for "staying silent" over projects for the state. In a post on social media platform X, Stalin alleged that the Prime Minister had "blatantly lied" in his rally at Kanyakumari on March 15 that Tamil Nadu fishermen are facing trouble from Sri Lanka only due to the past "sin" of the DMK. Also Read | Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: With Voter Base of 4.95 Crore, Gujarat Readies for May 7 General Polls. "The Tamil Nadu people know the true history pretty well; that the Katchatheevu island was ceded (1974, 1976 agreements) to Sri Lanka despite the stiff opposition of the DMK government. Is the Prime Minister naive to the extent of believing that a state government can give away a portion of the country to another country," Stalin said in the post. Late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1969 to 1976. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections Will Be Held After Lok Sabha Polls 2024, Says Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (Watch Video). The Chief Minister also sought to know the steps taken by the BJP regime at the Centre during the past 10 years to retrieve the Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka. Stalin wondered if Tamil Nadu fishermen were not considered Indians and why the Centre has not stopped their arrest and harassment at the hands of the island nation. "Why didn't the Indian government openly condemn Sri Lanka for announcing confiscation and nationalisation of boats of Indian fishermen," the chief minister said. Stalin also alleged that only during the BJP regime's tenure did the Lankan courts start the practice of awarding prison sentences to fishermen arrested for the second time. "What action did you take to stop this," he questioned Prime Minister Modi. The "usual lies" echoed in the Prime Minister's rally at Kanyakumari, the chief minister alleged, adding that there was no answer to people's question on the special projects implemented for Tamil Nadu. "Why does the PM remain a 'Mouna guru' (silent guru) who is taking pride that he is the 'Vishwa guru' (guru for the world)," Stalin asked, taunting the Prime Minister over the fishermen issue. BJP state chief K Annamalai hit back at Stalin and alleged that it was the DMK which was "silent" for 50 years on the Katchatheevu issue and that it was time for Stalin to introspect. In a post on X, Annamalai retorted saying that it was the DMK which was in power in 1974 and only then had the Congress-led Centre ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. Referring to the DMK-Congress alliance, the BJP leader said the DMK was also part of the government at the Centre several times, but had stayed "silent" on the Katchatheevu issue for 50 years. Similarly, the DMK stayed "silent" when "over 80 fishermen were killed" by the Sri Lankan Navy during the rule of DMK-Congress alliance, Annamalai said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rewari, March 16: Around 40 workers were rushed to hospitals with burn injuries following a blast in the boiler of a spare parts manufacturing facility in the industrial area of Dharuhera here on Saturday, said police. No casualty was reported yet, a senior officer said. Many of the wounded were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Rewari and some were referred to hospitals in Delhi and Gurugram, said police. Haryana Blast: Panic Grips in Shanti Vihar of Sonipat After Short Circuit Triggers Explosion, One Arrested (Watch Video). Rewari Blast #WATCH | Haryana: Visuals from Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center, Rewari where the patients injured in the boiler explosion at a factory in Dharuhera, have been admitted. Dr Surender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, says "A boiler has exploded in a factory in Dharuhera, Rewari. We have alerted https://t.co/DR5Jgp86od pic.twitter.com/7WEWQkSblT ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 VIDEO | Several workers injured in a boiler blast at a Dharuhera factory in Haryanas Rewari earlier today. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/BNr5ekMkkC Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 16, 2024 The incident took place around 5.50 pm when a boiler burst in the dust collector of the factory, said police. Several fire tenders were rushed to the unit to put out the fire. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hamirpur/Shimla, Mar 16 (PTI) The six disqualified Congress MLAs in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday said they will file a defamation case against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and threatened to "expose" him. In a joint statement, the six disqualified Congress MLAs and three Independent lawmakers said they have decided to file a defamation case against Sukhu and the chief minister will be liable to prove the allegations he has made against them. Also Read | Indian States and Their Formation Dates: Maharashtra Din, Bihar Day, Karnataka Rajyotsava, Kerala Piravi & More - Marking Celebrations of Statehood Days. The six Congress MLAs, who had abstained from voting on a cut motion and finance bill (Budget) in the assembly, were disqualified for defying a party whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the government. Disqualified Congress MLAs Rajendra Rana, Ravi Thakur, Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto and Independent lawmakers KL Thakur, Hoshiyar Singh and Ashish Sharma said they will tell the public how they were humiliated during the past 14 months and development works in their constituencies stopped. Also Read | AP TET Exam Results 2024: Final Answer Key of Andhra Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test Examination Released at aptet.apcfss.in, Main Results To Be Declared Soon. They alleged that Sukhu has become nervous as power is slipping out of his hands and he is fearful that his "deeds" will be exposed if he loses power. They also said the government shut the doors on unemployed youngsters, the Congress manifesto was thrown into the dustbin and "favourites" are being rewarded even during an acute financial crisis. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ghaziabad, March 16: A 40-year-old woman suffered burn injures in an acid attack by two motorcycle-borne men in the Nandgram area of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district on Saturday, police said. She was attacked when she was returning home after buying ration from a shop in the Panchwati area, they said. The incident took place near a gas agency in the afternoon. She suffered severe burn injuries in the acid attack, police said. The woman was rushed to a private hospital by police for treatment and from there, she was referred to the Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, ACP (Nandgram) Ravi Kumar Singh said. Acid Attack in Delhi: Minor Girl Attacked With Acid in Burari Area, Accused Confesses to Disliking Girls. One of the accused has been arrested, he said. Police said a case was registered on a complaint from her son. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Aboard a US Military Aircraft, Mar 16 (AP) As American military pilots closed in on the northern coast of Gaza, Associated Press journalists aboard the aid mission could hardly spot a single building left untouched by six months of brutal war. They watched as three tons of humanitarian aid food, water and hygiene products supplied by Jordan tumbled out of the rear of the C-130 transport plane, a mess of parachutes trailing behind. It was the 11th American airdrop of aid since the US began the program at the start of March. Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day. We understand that 6,400 pounds is a drop in the bucket. There are so many people that need aid out there, Jeremy Anderson, the American lieutenant colonel with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron aboard the aircraft, told the AP reporters who observed the aid delivery Thursday. We're doing what we can right now, and opening ground gates or anything outside of air dropping is out of our control. The airdrops are part of an international effort to work around extreme difficulties plaguing ground transport of aid into Gaza. Truckloads of aid have been stalled by political and security concerns. The US also plans to construct a sea bridge, but it will likely be several weeks before it is operational. Also Read | World's Heaviest Blueberry: Australian Blueberry Breaks Guinness World Record As Heaviest Ever (Watch Video). Israeli warplanes and ground troops have conducted a scorched-earth campaign on the strip since Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel. The Israeli offensive has killed that at least 31,553 Palestinians, the Gaza health ministry said Sunday. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. The offensive has also pushed a quarter of the strip's population to the brink of starvation, according to UN officials. The situation is most desperate in the north, where the C-130 crew conducted the airdrops on Thursday. Up to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to have remained there despite Israeli evacuation orders. Cut off since October, many have resorted to eating animal feed in recent weeks. 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. They have been met with some skepticism from UN officials and rights groups, who say that the method is not best practice when it comes to distributing much-needed aid. Dropping aid from the sky can be dangerous a recent airdrop killed five people when a package's parachute failed to engage. Anderson said the crew's equipment was built to avoid similarly fatal incidents. If a chute doesn't open, it's going to go in the water and nobody's going to get hurt. As far as receiving, these chutes are light enough and have a slow enough rate of fall that even a child could get under it and tip it over on its way down, and it would prevent injury or death to personnel, he said. The journalists looked on as, one by one, the aid packages rolled off the aircraft and disappeared from view. The plane turned west, toward the Mediterranean Sea, away from the rubble below. (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 16 (ANI/TPS): A Hamas terrorist responsible for numerous rocket launches was killed in an airstrike, the Israel Defence Forces said. Wide-scale Israeli airstrikes also targeted operational tunnel shafts, rocket-launching positions and other Hamas infrastructure across Gaza. Also Read | World's Heaviest Blueberry: Australian Blueberry Breaks Guinness World Record As Heaviest Ever (Watch Video). Meanwhile, the IDF said it intensified operations in the Khan Yunis neighborhoods of Abasan, Al-Qarara and the Hamad Towers district. In the last 24 hours, there were exchanges of fire between IDF troops and a seven-man terror squad barricaded inside a compound in the Hamad area. In a coordinated strike, the troops killed several of the terrorists, then directed an airstrike which eliminated the rest of the squad. Weapons were also located in the area. Also Read | Pakistan IMF Deal: Government Accuses Imran Khan's Party of Trying To Sabotage Deal With International Monetary Fund. Over the past week, Israeli forces uncovered extensive terror infrastructure including a weapons factory, tunnel shafts, rocket launching positions and command centers among and beneath the Hamad residences. Large numbers of weapons, explosives and military equipment were also seized. The 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. In central Gaza, a terrorist with a suspicious object in his possession was identified entering Hamas infrastructure adjacent to the troops. An aircraft was directed to eliminate the terrorist. 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) Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 16 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu attended the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, an event aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding, which has brought together a diverse array of religious leaders from around the world. Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation, the event has witnessed the participation of leaders representing various faiths, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and more. Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day. Abhijeet Haldar, the Director-General of the International Buddhist Confederation, expressed the significance of the event in promoting peace and harmony among different religious communities. He highlighted the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing global challenges and achieving world peace. The Mahotsav features a range of programs and exhibitions showcasing different aspects of spirituality and religious traditions. One of the highlights is an exhibition featuring relics related to the life of Gautam Buddha, obtained from the India International Centre and the National Museum in Delhi. Additionally, there are displays of photographs depicting the life of Buddha, sourced from the National Museum, providing visitors with insights into Buddhist history and philosophy. Also Read | World's Heaviest Blueberry: Australian Blueberry Breaks Guinness World Record As Heaviest Ever (Watch Video). Furthermore, attendees have the opportunity to explore Mandal art, a traditional form of art characterized by intricate designs and patterns. An expert team is on hand to guide visitors through the significance and beauty of Mandal art, showcasing the richness of cultural heritage associated with spirituality. The Ministry of Culture (Special Cell) and Heartfulness are holding a one-of-a-kind spiritual congregation, called the Global Spirituality Mahotsav from March 14 to 17 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the headquarters of Heartfulness, situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad. At a press conference held on March 9 in Hyderabad, Chief Guests, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy announced the upcoming Global Spirituality Mahotsav and its significance. The President of India Droupadi Murmu graced the summit on 15 and 16 March respectively. The four-day spirituality summit being brought by the Ministry of Culture and Heartfulness has the theme of "Inner Peace to World Peace". The conference aims to bring interfaith dialogues and help people of every age and every walk of life connect with spirituality in daily life. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Streaks of Light Seen in California. (Photo Credits: Video Grab) Rawalpindi [Pakistan], March 16 (ANI): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met with PTI founder Imran Khan at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on Saturday, as reported by ARY News. Sources revealed that the meeting between Gandapur and the former prime minister lasted approximately 30 minutes, during which they discussed the current political landscape of the country. Also Read | Chicago Horror: Teenager Dies Protecting Mother in Domestic Attack by Knife-Wielding Ex-Boyfriend. The meeting took place in the jail's conference room, with Gandapur arriving without any official protocol, as per ARY News. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Gandapur filed a plea in court seeking permission to meet Imran Khan in Adiala Jail for consultations on legal and political matters. Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day. According to ARY News, the plea urged the court to direct the concerned authorities to ensure the privacy of the meeting. Last Wednesday, Gandapur approached Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting assistance in arranging a meeting with the PTI founder. Gandapur stated that the prime minister had assured him of facilitating the meeting, even amid heightened security measures at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. Recently, on March 15, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) extended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan's interim bail until March 22 in the Jinnah House attack case, as reported by The Nation. As per details, the ATC judge, Arshad Javed, heard the interim bail pleas in three cases, including the Jinnah House attack. According to The Nation, the court decided to prolong the interim bail until March 22, instructing Imran Khan's lawyer, Salman Safdar, to present arguments during the next session. Earlier, the Punjab Home Department banned the meetings with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail due to security concerns. This ban, effective for two weeks, also encompasses media coverage near gate no. 5 of Adiala Jail. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dubai [UAE], March 16 (ANI/WAM): The UAE Gender Balance Council participated in key meetings and sessions held at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, including a meeting of the UN Security Council, and a session on women's empowerment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, jointly organised by the GCC and the UAE. This active engagement of the Council in these meetings is in line with the directives of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to strengthen the Council's global partnerships. Also Read | Baby With Tail: Chinese Woman Gives Birth to Child With Four-inch Tail Growing From Its Back, Rare Birth Defect Baffles Doctors. These efforts also support the worldwide initiative to accelerate the achievement of the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on Goal 5, which is dedicated to empowering all women and girls. The UAE has been at the forefront of formulating and adopting these goals, demonstrating its commitment to promoting gender equality on both a local and global scale. Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, participated in the UN Security Council Arria-Formula meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Women, Peace and Security Framework. Also Read | Ramadan 2024: Prayers in Jerusalem Pass Without Violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque Amid Gaza War (Watch Video). In her address, Mona Al Marri emphasised the UAE's strong commitment to leveraging the key principles of the international framework for women, peace, and security to ensure the protection of women's rights and foster their full, equal, and meaningful participation in both public and private sectors. Further, she stressed the importance of creating a flexible and sustainable international framework for safeguarding and promoting women's rights globally. She noted the significant contributions of the Security Council Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security (IEG), which the UAE and Switzerland chaired last year. The IEG effectively incorporated essential elements of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women into its country-specific discussions, offering an opportunity to further leverage synergies between the Convention and the Women, Peace, and Security framework. She stressed the importance of linking these documents with the Sustainable Development Goals, enabling governments working towards the 2030 Agenda to align and coordinate their efforts and commitments across these frameworks. Al Marri touched on the efforts of the UAE in this regard. In 2017, the UAE established a national committee for sustainable development goals to implement the 2030 plan at the national level. She emphasised that the current session and its productive discussions once again demonstrate that the international community has laid down a robust framework. This foundation is essential for promoting the full, equal, and meaningful engagement of women in social roles. The UAE Gender Balance Council participated in a high-level session sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) under the title 'Closing the Gap: Women's Empowerment in the GCC Region', which focused on the progress achieved by countries in the region in the field of gender balance and women's empowerment, as well as challenges and future trends. The meeting, which featured several inspiring female personalities, provided an opportunity to highlight the tremendous advancements witnessed in the GCC region in the field of women's empowerment. It also provided a platform for sharing expertise and experiences between them. During the session, Mona Al Marri remarked, "Thanks to the insightful vision of our wise leadership, women in the UAE have received considerable support, propelling the nation to a leading global position in gender balance." She highlighted the pivotal role played by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (The Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), in championing women's empowerment through numerous national programmes and targeted initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable opportunities in education, employment, and various other domains. The Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council highlighted the council's major achievements and the key projects it has implemented since its establishment in 2015 to enhance gender balance in all sectors of the country. She also noted the council's efforts to develop principles and policies to prevent gender-based violence through digital applications, as well as a draft policy for gender balance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and a gender-responsive federal budget. During the session, Mona Al Marri highlighted the UAE's experience in supporting and empowering women. She stressed that the UAE, since its founding, has laid solid foundations to ensure the empowerment of women and girls under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. The implementation of many national programmes and specific initiatives focused on granting women their full right to obtain education and balanced and fair opportunities in all fields are evidence of this robust foundation. She said, "The UAE is committed to pursuing a comprehensive programme aimed at supporting women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable groups such as low-income women, widows, divorcees, the elderly, and people of determination. Legislative updates and policy implementations have been prioritised to strengthen family cohesion and ensure access to opportunities without compromising their vital roles within their families." Furthermore, she highlighted the UAE's dedication to achieving social balance through innovative initiatives like the UAE Gender Balance Council. This council collaborates with government and private entities to develop programmes, strategies, and initiatives to attain optimal gender balance across various sectors, fostering effective partnerships for sustainable progress. The Vice President of the UAE Council for Gender Balance discussed key achievements and ongoing projects since its inception in 2015 under the leadership of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The council's efforts are focused on establishing gender balance within both government and private sectors nationally. Notable projects include developing principles and policies to combat gender-based violence through digital platforms, drafting policies to address gender balance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, and formulating a gender-responsive federal budget. On the sidelines of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Mona Al Marri met with Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. They explored cooperation to enhance gender balance and ways to overcome the challenges associated with advancing women's empowerment in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5 to empower all women and girls worldwide. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) When a young man called Andre left the small village in Lebanon where he grew up to move to Australia, he couldn't stop thinking about his childhood; the small garden where his family grew vegetables, his mum making flat bread every night, and cooking chickens over an open wood fire. After getting married and raising three children in Sydney, Andre decided it was time to rekindle some of the memories of the incredible fresh food his mum used to make. Along with his wife Carole, in 1998, Andre opened El Jannah - which means paradise in Arabic - a restaurant based on simple, fresh Arabic food; charcoal chicken, garlic sauce, flatbread and tabouleh with fresh parsley. El Jannah focuses on fresh, quality ingredients. Photo: Supplied They opened their first restaurant in Sydney's Granville, with Andre manning the charcoal; he loved it because it reminded him of cooking over the open fire in Lebanon and sharing food with his family. The traditional smell hit home for a lot of others too and soon there were customers queuing out of the door for a taste of the Arabic-inspired food. Today, the 20 El Jannah stores across NSW, Victoria and the ACT have become famous for their charcoal flavours and renowned garlic sauce. Their infamous charcoal chicken is made with a mix of five simple ingredients, and is the cornerstone of all their meals. Fans rave about the flavours. "It's so delicious," says one happy customer. "I want it all the time." RELATED: Some of the crowd favourites include the Half Chicken Plate, $16.50, which includes a half charcoal chook-of-choice, famous garlic sauce, mixed pickles and fresh and warm Lebanese bread. El Jannah's Half Chicken Plate, $16.50. Photo: Supplied Their mixed chicken meal, $51.50 ,is also a winner. Designed to share, you can choose from their signature charcoal chicken or a crispy fried chicken edition. It also comes with hot chips, creamy gravy, fresh coleslaw, garlic sauce and Lebanese bread. El Jannah currently has free delivery at in-store pricing for a limited time only. El Jannah's mixed chicken meal. Photo: Supplied Subscribe to our MAFS newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Got a story tip? Email us now. Washington, DC [US], March 16 (ANI): US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a joint appearance, urged the lawmakers to pass assistance for Ukraine which is facing an uncertain path forward in the House, reported The Hill. Biden, speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon to mark St. Patrick's Day, expressed his appreciation for Ireland's commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine during its war with Russia and to the people of Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. Also Read | Amnesty International Urges Pakistan Government for Immediate Restoration of X As Ban Enters 29th Day. "I'm committed to continuing to do our part," Biden said to the room of bipartisan lawmakers, where, Hojnson was also present. "I'm confident the vast majority -- and excuse me for saying this -- but I think a vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part. And I continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin. He's a thug," Biden added. Also Read | World's Heaviest Blueberry: Australian Blueberry Breaks Guinness World Record As Heaviest Ever (Watch Video). After hearing his statement, those present in the room, including the Speaker, applauded, reported The Hill. Biden further called on the House to send him the national security supplemental that passed the Senate in a 67-32 vote last month. The legislation included USD 60 billion in aid for Ukraine, and funding for Israel, along with funds for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has not brought it up in the House for a vote, according to The Hill. "It sends a clear message that America stands up for freedom and we bow down to no one. To no one in the world," Biden said. Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach of Ireland, echoed Biden's calls to provide aid to Ukraine to better prepare themselves for Russia's attempt at invasion, which began in February 2022. "Ukraine must not fall, and together we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes," Varadkar said. Friday's public plea comes as Johnson has signalled that he plans to move on aid for Ukraine but has not disclosed details of what the package would look like, with a growing contingent of his conference opposed to sending any assistance to the embattled US ally, The Hill reported. He further said that the chamber is first focusing on completing the government funding process. At the House GOP retreat in West Virginia this week, Johnson said "I understand the timetable and I understand the urgency of the funding," but once against, he cast doubt on the Senate supplemental. He said that the lower chamber will "work the will of the House" and is "processing through all the various options right now," warning that the ultimate product "may not look exactly like the Senate supplemental." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, March 16: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, while announcing the dates for 18th Lok Sabha elections, said that there is an elaborate security arrangement, which includes not just the security of polling personnel, voting stations and materials, but also the overall safety of the election process. For peaceful elections, this time the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured that the security agencies deal effectively with three M -- Muscle, Money, and Misinformation. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 88.4 Lakh People With Disabilities Registered in Electoral Roll, Says Election Commission. Elaborating on the Muscle, the CEC said that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are deployed to supplement the local police force in ensuring a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair and credible manner. Based on the assessment of the ground situation, CAPFs and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other States will be deployed during the election. The CAPFs shall be deployed well in advance for area domination, route marches in vulnerable pockets, point patrolling and other confidence-building measures to reassure and build faith in the minds of the voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, minorities etc, said Kumar. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Dates Announced: Polling to Be Held in Seven Phases; Voting Starts From April 19, Results on June 4. The CAPFs/SAP shall also be deployed in Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies and other vulnerable areas and critical polling stations as per the assessment of ground realities by the CEOs of all States/UTs in consultation with various stakeholders. Besides, these forces will secure the strong rooms where EVMs and VVPATs are stored and for securing the counting centres and for other purposes, as required, said Kumar. To ensure optimum and effective utilisation of State Police Officials and CAPFs, the ECI has also directed to constitute a committee of CEO, State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) and State CAPF Coordinator to jointly decide the State Deployment Plan and to ensure the randomisation of state police. To deal with illicit cash flow, Kumar said that comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the election expenditure of the candidates have been issued, which include deployment of Expenditure Observers, Assistant Expenditure Observers, formation of Flying Squads (FSs), Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs), Video Viewing Teams (VVTs), Accounting Teams (ATs), Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC), District Expenditure Monitoring Committee (DEMC), involvement of enforcement agencies viz. State Police, State Excise Department, Income Tax, FIUIND, CBIC, DRI, CGST, SGST, State Commercial Department, ED, NCB, CISF, RPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, Assam, Rifles, ICG, Department of Post, BCAS, AAI, RBI, SLBC and State Forest Department. State Excise Department has been asked to monitor production, distribution, sale and storage of liquor and inducements in the form of free goods during the election process. The functioning and operations of the FSs/ SSTs shall be closely monitored using GPRS Tracking, said the CEC. The Income Tax department has been also asked to activate Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) in the airports of the States and also to gather intelligence and take necessary action to check the movement of large sums of money in all the States and Union Territories. The Bureau of Civil Aviation has also been directed to check chartered planes and helicopters at commercial airports. Control room and Complaint Monitoring Centre with 24 hours toll-free numbers shall be operative during the entire election process and in every district which will be headed by a senior police official, said the CEC, while elaborating the plan to deal with misinformation. Social media will be monitored and strict action will be taken against rumour-mongering, said the CEC. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2024 05:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Gandhinagar, March 16: As Gujarat prepares for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in the state on May 7, the state poll panel under Chief Electoral Officer P. Bharati is ensuring that the state is well-prepared with a robust voter base of nearly 4.95 crore, including over 11 lakh young voters and 10,322 centenarians. There are 87,042 Balloting Units, 71,682 Control Units, and 80,308 VVPAT machines being deployed across Gujarat. As the Election Commission announces the election schedule with counting of votes on June 4, Gujarat's political arena is set for a series of compelling electoral duels. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule: State-Wise, Constituency-Wise List of Seats and Polling Dates. Lok Sabha Election 2024: Constituency-Wise Polling Date in Gujarat Constituency no. Constituency Polling Date 1 Kachchh May 7 2 Banaskantha May 7 3 Patan May 7 4 Mahesana May 7 5 Sabarkantha May 7 6 Gandhinagar May 7 7 Ahmedabad East May 7 8 Ahmedabad West May 7 9 Surendranagar May 7 10 Rajkot May 7 11 Porbandar May 7 12 Jamnagar May 7 13 Junagadh May 7 14 Amreli May 7 15 Bhavnagar May 7 16 Anand May 7 17 Kheda May 7 18 Panchmahal May 7 19 Dahod May 7 20 Vadodara May 7 21 Chhota Udaipur May 7 22 Bharuch May 7 23 Bardoli May 7 24 Surat May 7 25 Navsari May 7 26 Valsad May 7 Particular emphasis is being placed on inclusivity, with 182 model polling stations, 1,274 'Sakhi' polling stations run exclusively by women, and 182 polling stations managed by persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the introduction of live webcasting at around 25,000 polling stations and home voting facilities for senior citizens and differently-abled individuals underscores the comprehensive measures to enhance electoral participation. The c-VIGIL app ensures that election conduct violations and expenditure breaches can be reported effectively. The spotlight is on the Gandhinagar seat, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will seek re-election. This sets the stage for one of the most closely watched contests. With all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat going to the polls in a single phase, the political landscape is full of anticipation. Lok Sabha Election 2024: Election Commission To Focus on Muscle, Money and Misinformation To Ensure Free and Fair Polls. Key constituencies like Gandhinagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surat, and Bharuch are set to be the battlegrounds for political dominance. Gandhinagar, a traditional BJP stronghold, has garnered significant attention with Amit Shah looking to continue the legacy of veteran leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani. The BJP's stronghold in Porbandar is attributed to the dominant Leuva Patidar community, with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya representing the constituency. Rajkot and Surat have been BJP fortresses for decades, leveraging community support and strong leadership to maintain its grip. Bharuch presents a unique scenario where the combined forces of the Congress and the AAP challenge the BJP's long-standing dominance. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 16, 2024 09:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Kolkata, March 16: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's health condition is "fine", doctors treating her, said on Saturday morning. The 69-year-old is recovering well, they said."The chief minister is fine and stable. She is recovering well. The pain due to the injuries has also subsided much. Still, she is prescribed to take rest," a senior official of the state-run SSKM Hospital told PTI. Mamata Banerjee Hospitalised: West Bengal CM Admitted to SSKM Hospital Due to Forehead Injury; Leaders Wish Speedy Recovery (See Pics) The Bengal CM also slept well in the night, he added. The Trinamool Congress supremo had a fall at her Kalighat residence on Thursday evening leading to severe injuries on her forehead and nose. Banerjee's nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee rushed her to the SSKM Hospital where she underwent three stitches on her forehead and one on her nose. Mamata Banerjee Accident: West Bengal CM Suffers Injury After Her Car Halts Suddenly To Avoid Collision With Vehicle A three-member doctor team visited the Bengal CM at her Kalighat residence on Friday evening and conducted necessary check-ups on her. "Our doctors may conduct another round of check-ups on Banerjee today. It's still not decided whether she will be coming to the SSKM or our doctors will visit her at her residence," he said. The agency, which arrested Kavitha, the daughter of party President and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Friday after searches at her residence in Hyderabad, produced her before Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court. The Indian Navy officials on Saturday, March 16, said that navy commandos were conducting a major operation to rescue crew members of the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel MV Ruen from pirates. According to reports, the Indian Navy had intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen earlier in the morning. It was allegedly being used as a base by Somali pirates for conducting raids on other vessels. The Indian Naval warship was fired upon when it intercepted the hijacked ex-Malta-flagged tanker Ruen, which was reported to have sailed out from Somalian waters. Indian Navy Thwarts Somali Pirates From Using Ex-MV Ruen For Acts of Piracy (Watch Video). Operations Underway To Rescue Crew of MV Ruen: In a recent interview with French language broadcaster Radio-Canada, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confessed that he contemplates resigning from his demanding role every day. "I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making personal sacrifices... Of course, it's super tough. It's super boring at times, Trudeau said. Despite the daily challenges and personal sacrifices, Trudeau affirmed his commitment to continue his political journey until the next general election in 2025. He stated, I couldnt be the man I am and give up the fight at this point. Trudeaus candid admission comes at a time when he has been grappling with declining popularity in polls for several months. Meanwhile, his political adversary, Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, appears to be gaining a significant lead as the country gears up for the election scheduled for October 2025. Will Unequivocally Stand Up for Rule of Law, Says Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on India-Canada Row Over Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing. Canada PM Thinks About Quitting Politics Everyday Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberals are trailing badly in the polls, said he thought about quitting his 'crazy job' every day but insisted he would stay in office until the next election https://t.co/yKbVlhlcRm pic.twitter.com/yV4ahLIw4D Reuters (@Reuters) March 15, 2024 (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.) Former top military officials of Brazil's Army and Air Force revealed to police investigators that former President Jair Bolsonaro convened them twice after his electoral loss in 2022 to discuss the possibility of a coup d'etat, according to Reuters. The disclosures, released by the Supreme Court on Friday, position Bolsonaro as the central figure in a scheme to declare martial law and prevent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming power after his election victory. Contrary to mounting evidence, Jair Bolsonaro denied any involvement in coup attempts following his election defeat, which he refused to concede. Instead, he departed for the United States to avoid transferring power to Lula, sparking unrest as his supporters attempted to incite a coup by storming government buildings. Bolsonaro's legal representatives did not provide immediate comments regarding these allegations. In their testimonies, former Army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and Air Force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista stated that they explicitly informed Bolsonaro of their refusal to support any coup attempts, thereby thwarting the then-president's plans to garner military support. READ NEXT: Thousands of Jair Bolsonaro Supporters Gather To Support Former President Former Brazil Military Leaders Reject Jair Bolsonaro's Coup Plans The testimonies of the former military commanders emerged as part of ongoing investigations into Bolsonaro's conduct before Brazil's Supreme Court, including his suspected involvement in a 2023 attack on key government buildings following Lula's inauguration. According to a federal police report included in Friday's court filings, Gomes recounted multiple unplanned meetings at the presidential palace convened by Bolsonaro after the 2022 election's second round, Aljazeera reports. In one such gathering, Bolsonaro proposed forming a commission to investigate the electoral process's validity and legality. He also suggested employing measures such as declaring a state of siege. However, Gomes reiterated to Bolsonaro that reversing the election outcome via military intervention was unfeasible given the circumstances. Similarly, former Air Force commander Carlos de Almeida Baptista affirmed his rejection of Bolsonaro's efforts. He credited Gomes' firm stance as instrumental in dissuading Bolsonaro from pursuing electoral reversals. Denials and Legal Ramifications Responding to these revelations, Bolsonaro's lawyer, Fabio Wajngarten, dismissed the accusations, asserting ignorance of any coup plots or threats of arrest from Brazil military leaders against Bolsonaro, per AP News. Wajngarten disparaged the former commanders, labeling them as sycophants with no significance. Bolsonaro's persistent questioning of Brazil's electronic voting system in the years leading up to the election, coupled with intensified efforts to sow doubt before Lula's victory, underscores his contentious relationship with electoral processes. Gleisi Hoffmann, chairwoman of Lula's Workers' Party, hailed the Brazil military leaders' disclosures as vindication of Lula's electoral win, emphasizing the pivotal role democracy played in Brazil's stability. Legal experts weigh in, highlighting the potential gravity of Jair Bolsonaro's actions. Despite not issuing a decree for deploying tanks, Bolsonaro faces significant legal jeopardy due to mounting evidence implicating him in coup-related activities. Cezar Ziliotto, a constitutional law attorney, contends that the testimonies of the former military commanders represent crucial evidence likely to influence forthcoming charges against Jair Bolsonaro before the Supreme Court. READ MORE: Jair Bolsonaro's Son Under Investigation for Alleged Spying This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Bolsonaro attempted coup probe: Brazil's former president surrenders passport - From Al Jazeera English After repeated court losses, Kari Lake now plans to take her 2022 elections case to the Supreme Court, alongside failed Arizona Secretary of State candidate Mark Finchem. Lake, who is currently running for US Senate while struggling to get the moderate McCain Republicans to vote for her, still has not accepted her loss to Governor Katie Hobbs despite the myriad of court cases she has lost saying so. Lake has now petitioned the highest court in the land to take up her and Finchem's case, which seeks to ban the use of machines to count ballots in two Arizona counties. Her case also seeks the court to force election officials to do a hand count of the ballots. The two failed Republican candidates filed the suit in April 2022. They alleged that the counties of Maricopa and Pima used "hackable" electronic ballot tabulators and that the courts should have placed an injunction against their use before the 2022 midterm elections where both Lake and Finchem lost their respective races. After they lost, both failed candidates filed lawsuits seeking to overturn the results. However, in both cases, neither of them could prove their claims, leading to their cases being thrown out and even having their lawyers sanctioned because they made claims unsupported by facts or evidence. As the Arizona Mirror pointed out, an attorney for the two failed Republican candidates had to admit that they "had no evidence to support their claims that tabulation equipment or any voting equipment in the state had been hacked." This is because tabulators in Arizona are not connected to the internet and paper ballots are used across the entire state. Despite these repeated losses, Lake and Finchem still asked the Supreme Court to overturn the lower court's decision. READ MORE: Melania Trump Was 'Pissed' at Donald Trump Over Stormy Daniels Scandal How Did Kari Lake and Mike Finchem Lose Their Case? According to the Arizona Daily Star., their case was previously rejected by Judge John Tuchi, who wrote that their argument was a "long chain of hypothetical contingencies'' that have never occurred in Arizona. This led to them taking the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which also rejected their claims after finding that the machines used in Arizona to count ballots had actually ever been hacked. Despite losing all those cases in the lower courts because of lack of evidence, Finchem and Lake are now claiming they have new evidence, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is saying that this new evidence "will shock the world." 'New Evidence' Claimed by Kari Lake and Mark Finchem Are Nothing New, Says Expert During a livestream on X, Lindell stated that there was "explosive" and "shocking" new evidence in the case. He also revealed that his Lindell Defense Fund paid for the original suit. Despite this, however, with Lindell not being a credible source having lost so many lawsuits on lack of evidence himself, the case is considered a longshot, with Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer telling Arizona Central that there was "nothing new" in the case. "Same old crazy. Zero percent chance the United States Supreme Court decides to spend its very limited time on something so crazy that it got sanctioned to the tune of $100,000-plus at the trial court level," Richer said. The outlet also pointed out that the argument that Lake and Finchem are making with this new "evidence" is virtually the same case that was thrown out in regard to Donald Trump's failed 2020 election attempt, which includes the same arguments such as altered software, faulty testing, and coverups, all of which have been previously rejected by the courts. READ MORE: Arizona: Man Hired by Donald Trump and Kari Lake To Find Voter Fraud Admits He Found Nothing This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Fallout from Kari Lake defamation trial - 12 News Donald Trump's legal team and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg sought a postponement following the release of new documents in the hush-money case, leading to a trial delay from March 25. This decision could impact the timeline of Trump's other criminal proceedings, as he aims to delay trials while pursuing a White House bid. The former president faces 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records concerning hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The former president vehemently denies these accusations, labeling the Trump hush money trial as politically motivated, according to BBC. Initially slated as the first criminal trial of a former US president, the trial's postponement adds complexity to Trump's legal battles. READ NEXT: Judge Trashes 6 Counts of Chargers from Donald Trump's Document Release Spurs Trial Postponement The sudden release of tens of thousands of pages of documents by federal prosecutors, who previously investigated the payments in 2018, prompted both parties to seek a delay. Trump's team requested a 90-day extension, citing the need for additional time to review the documents, while Bragg agreed to a 30-day delay, later approved by Justice Juan Merchan. Trump's lawyers contend that federal prosecutors failed to adequately provide evidence, sparking Justice Merchan to acknowledge significant factual inquiries. A hearing scheduled for March 25 aims to address the discovery process, document release circumstances, and possibly set a new trial date, Fox News reports. In response, the former president's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, pledged continued efforts to discredit the Trump hush money trial. The Justice Department notified Trump's legal team and Bragg's office of plans to produce 15,000 records of potential evidence, primarily stemming from the DOJ's investigation into the hush money matter during Trump's presidency. However, the US Attorney's Office clarified that much of this material is unrelated to the state case against Trump. Bragg expressed openness to a trial delay of up to 30 days to facilitate Trump's legal team in reviewing recently provided evidence. Trump faces 34 felony counts related to alleged hush-money payments, wherein he's accused of falsifying records to conceal payments made to Stormy Daniels. Legal Strategy to Delay Trials Donald Trump's vocal advocacy for trial delays aligns with his broader legal strategy. His federal prosecutions in Florida and Washington, DC, face uncertainties regarding trial schedules due to ongoing challenges and appeals, AP News noted. Despite Trump's desire for trial postponements, the Georgia election interference case remains unscheduled following a judge's ruling prompting special prosecutor Nathan Wade to step aside. The longer Trump's trials are deferred, the more he'll argue against courtroom appearances, citing campaign commitments. However, potential trial dates may intersect with the election. Justice Merchan assured Trump would not face simultaneous criminal trials. While a rush to trial before the election seems unlikely, Trump's legal team strategizes to delay proceedings, aware of the potential impact on his political ambitions. Additionally, the prospect of presidential pardon power, applicable only to federal crimes, adds complexity to Donald Trump's legal predicament, especially in cases involving state charges. READ MORE: Judge Rejects Donald Trump's Request To Delay Paying $85.3M Defamation This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Prosecutors may postpone Trump hush-money trial - From Fox 5 New York The trip of a lifetime ended in disaster for one Aussie tourist after a mishap involving a camel left her with a $100,000 medical bill. Carol Hucker, 63, was just six days into a month-long world trip with her niece Olivia when she toppled off the top of a camel in the Sahara Desert and fell on her shoulder. The NSW suffered six broken ribs, a punctured lung, a shattered collarbone as well as a fractured left wrist in the horror fall. Carol tells how she experienced the worst pain of her life during the ordeal. I was completely focused on the pain I was in, she told Yahoo News Australia. She spent 11 days in a Moroccan hospital before being repatriated back to Australia for surgery and during this time, medical bills mounted to an eye-watering $96,840. Tourist Carol (right) suffered extensive injuries after falling off the camel on holiday in Morocco. Source: Supplied Remarkably, the forward-thinking Aussie bought an insurance policy for the trip $812 with 1Cover who footed nearly all of the bill. Carol is now warning fellow travellers not to skimp on cover. Be responsible and take it, she said. You cant expect what youll need it for. One minute you could just be having this normal day and taking pictures and just doing everything like normal tourists do. You never know what could happen. Dream trip years in the making Carol recalled that the trip was originally a gift to niece Olivia for her 21st birthday. But after a number of delays and Covid forcing the pair to reschedule their trip, they finally embarked on their adventure in November last year. Their epic itinerary would have seen them stop in Morocco, Paris, New York and Iceland. Everything was going great until just six days into the trip. Carol, who had ridden camels twice before, said they were just 20 minutes into their journey to a campsite when her guide asked if shed prefer to travel by car - to which she said yes. Then for some reason he started pulling at my leg and I started to lose my balance and I just fell off, she said. Olivia (left) and Carol (right) enjoying the camel ride moments before it all went wrong. Source: Supplied According to Olivia, Carol was completely unresponsive for several minutes after the fall. When she came to, she was nauseous and struggled to sit up. Story continues My niece was screaming out for help, saying we need medical help, but there was no reception. We were in the middle of the Sahara Desert. There's nothing there. There's no phone. With no reception, the group were unable to call for help so Carol was transported by jeep to the nearest camp despite needing urgent medical attention. Carol described the pain as Excruciating. The next morning she was taken to a country hospital where the extent of her injuries was realised and she was transported by ambulance to Casablanca, eight hours away. Rocky recovery for Carol After arriving in Casablanca, Carol was taken to intensive care where she spent two days being monitored for internal bleeding. It was advised Carol would need surgery on her collarbone, which insurer 1Cover advised her to do back in Australia. After 11 days in hospital, Carol was repatriated home via a commercial flight with two nurse escorts in business class, which she says went really smoothly. Meanwhile, Olivia carried on with their scheduled trip without Carol. It was a huge relief to get home, she said. Carols surgery was a success and after a few months, her lungs were healed too. All up, her medical expenses reached a whopping $96,840. I usually always take travel insurance because I nominate other conditions that I need covered. But that condition was fine, falling off a camel wasn't. I dont know where I would have been if I hadnt been able to access travel insurance. Warning to travellers: 'You can't expect the unexpected' Stories like Carols affirm that you simply cant expect the unexpected. Should your holidays hit a hump, you can count on travel insurance to get you back on track, Natalie Smith, of 1Cover Travel Insurance, said. Due to the severity of Carols injuries, she required round-the-clock care during her flight back home and the associated costs were substantial. Moreover, the medical expenses incurred overseas far exceeded what the average Australian could afford without travel insurance." She warns that when travelling in remote areas tourists should always do their homework. Research your destination and which tour company you choose to go with. Most people arent aware of the risks of travelling in geographically isolated locations. If you are in danger or injure yourself, you may not have access to emergency services. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A startling altercation unfolded on New Smyrna Beach in Florida when Felixander Solis-Guzman, 16, engaged in a spring break brawl with four individuals before drawing a firearm, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Deputies, already present on the beach, swiftly intervened as Florida teen Solis-Guzman brandished the weapon, causing panic among beachgoers who scattered upon witnessing the alarming scene, Daily Mail reports. In video footage capturing the incident, an officer is seen pursuing Solis-Guzman, his gun drawn, while shouting commands at the teenager. Despite attempts by law enforcement to apprehend him, Solis-Guzman fled towards the ocean, with officers in pursuit. Upon reaching the shoreline, Solis-Guzman was confronted by five officers, their weapons trained on him as he stood on the water's edge. After several tense moments, Solis-Guzman complied with the officers' instructions, relinquishing the firearm and a bag into the ocean before surrendering. READ NEXT: Florida Teen Stabs Ex-Girlfriend 15 Times Charges and Arrest Details Authorities discovered 20 plastic baggies of marijuana among the Florida teen's belongings. Consequently, he faces multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a minor, resisting arrest, and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. The confrontation at the Florida beach, captured on video, depicts the intensity of the situation as law enforcement officers demand Solis-Guzman to drop the firearm while ensuring the safety of bystanders, per the Daily Caller. The video at the Florida beach culminates with images of the confiscated weapon, bags of marijuana, and Solis-Guzman's mugshot. Legal Ramifications for Solis-Guzman Solis-Guzman, hailing from Lakeland, Florida, confronts a slew of charges, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, improper exhibition of a firearm, and tampering with evidence, among others. Additionally, he faces seven warrants from Orange County. Following his arrest, the Florida teen Solis-Guzman was processed at the Volusia Family Resource Center before being transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice. This incident underscores the swift response of law enforcement in defusing a potentially dangerous situation and highlights the gravity of consequences for engaging in reckless behavior, particularly involving firearms, in public spaces. In a series of recent events involving youth and criminal activities, a teenager from Vernon faces a litany of weapon and drug charges following a search and seizure operation executed by law enforcement, according to Eyewitness News 3. Tajh Taylor, 18, was arrested on March 7 after police initiated a narcotics investigation into an apartment on Hartford Turnpike. During the search, authorities uncovered a significant cache of drugs, including crack cocaine and fentanyl, alongside stolen firearms, high-capacity magazines, and ammunition, underscoring the gravity of Taylor's alleged criminal activities. The discovery prompted Taylor's arrest and subsequent charges, which included possession of stolen firearms, sale of narcotics, and operating a drug factory. These recent incidents that happened in Florida and Connecticut underscore the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating youth involvement in criminal activities, particularly concerning weapons and narcotics. The swift actions taken by authorities in both cases highlight the dedication to ensuring public safety and holding individuals accountable for their actions. READ MORE: Florida Shooting: 5, Including Catholic Priest and Alleged Gunman, Dead This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Florida teen pulls gun on spring break crowd at New Smyrna Beach causing chaos - From Fox 35 Orlando A man suspected of killing three people in Pennsylvania on Saturday morning and fleeing to Trenton has been taken into custody, authorities said. Andre Gordon, 26, was found around 5 p.m. near a Trenton home where he was initially believed to have barricaded himself, said Steve Wilson, the city police director. No one was injured during the arrest. Gordon, believed to be homeless with ties to Trenton, is suspected of shooting and killing his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, before also killing Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children, authorities said. The shootings occurred at two separate homes in Falls Township, a Philadelphia suburb about six miles from New Jersey, authorities said. Gordon will be charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at the appropriate time, according to the county prosecutors office. The arrest ended an hours-long manhunt that stirred fear and confusion in two states and led police to what they thought was a barricaded home on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in North Trenton. The alleged spree began when Gordon stole a car in the area of the Donnelly Homes in North Trenton on Saturday morning, Wilson said. He then crossed state lines in the stolen vehicle to Falls Township, authorities said. Gordon allegedly shot and killed his stepmother and sister at their home on Viewpoint Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township before 9 a.m., Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said in a briefing with reporters Saturday afternoon. Other people in the home were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she said. Steve Wilson, police director for the city, speaks in Trenton, N.J. on Saturday, March 16, 2024. A man suspected of killing several people in their Philadelphia-area homes was later arrested in New Jersey's capital city following a major police response, authorities said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP After that, Gordon allegedly broke into a home on nearby Edgewood Lane, where he shot and killed Daniel, the mother of his children, Schorn said. Four other people were inside, including the victims mother, whom Gordon allegedly injured, Schorn said. The woman is being treated at a local hospital, Schorn said. Gordon allegedly used an AR-15 style assault rifle, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said. He then allegedly carjacked a man at gunpoint around 9:13 a.m. in the parking lot of the Dollar General in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, authorities said. Local officials in Pennsylvania quickly ordered Falls Township residents to shelter in place, canceled the countys St. Patricks Day parade and closed the nearby Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place amusement park. The stolen car was found abandoned in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., Schorn said. Police initially believed Gordon had taken hostages in the home where he had fled after one of the residents called 911 from hiding, Wilson said. The residents and their neighbors were safely evacuated by a SWAT team as police surrounded the area. Authorities later learned Gordon escaped the home before police surrounded the perimeter. He was ultimately found several blocks away. Lehigh Valley Live staff writer Kurt Bresswein, NJ Advance Media staff writers Bill Duhart, Brent Johnson, and Kevin Shea, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. UPDATE: Man suspected of killing 3 in PA taken into custody in N.J. A man suspected of shooting and killing three people Saturday morning in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, fled to nearby Trenton in a carjacked vehicle and has barricaded himself inside a home in New Jerseys capital city, authorities said. Andre Gordon, 26, who is homeless but has ties to Trenton, allegedly killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon; 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon; and the 25-year-old mother of his two children, Taylor Daniel, authorities said. The shootings occurred at two separate homes in Falls Township, a Philadelphia suburb about six miles over the Delaware River from New Jersey, authorities said. Police said Gordon was believed to be barricaded inside a home on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in North Trenton. He was still inside as of 3:30 p.m., according to the Bucks County District Attorneys Office. Authorities initially said Gordon had hostages. But residents and neighbors were evacuated safely as law enforcement surrounded the home, Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson told NJ Advance Media. The Mercer County SWAT team is on the scene. They will attempt to negotiate a surrender before they do anything, Wilson said. The FBI; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the New Jersey State Police; and other agencies are supporting Trenton Police, he said. Ande GordonFalls Township Police Department The shootings sparked hours of tension in the area, with officials ordering Falls Township residents to shelter in place at one point, canceling the countys St. Patricks Day parade, and closing the nearby Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place amusement park. A manhunt ensued as authorities worked the case on both sides of the river. The alleged spree started when Gordon carjacked a vehicle in the area of the Donnelly Homes in North Trenton on Saturday morning, Wilson said. He then crossed state lines in the stolen vehicle to Falls Township, authorities said. Gordon allegedly shot and killed his stepmother and sister at their home on Viewpoint Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township before 9 a.m., Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said in a briefing with reporters Saturday afternoon. Schorn said other people in the home were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them. After that, Gordon allegedly broke into a home on nearby Edgewood Lane, where he shot and killed the mother of his children, Schorn said. Four other people were inside, including the victims mother, whom Gordon allegedly injured, Schorn said. The woman is being treated at a local hospital, Schorn said. Around 9:13 a.m., Gordon allegedly carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Dollar General in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, authorities said. The driver did not suffer any injuries, police said. That car was then found abandoned in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., Schorn said. Jeff Dence, chairman of board of supervisors in Falls Township, told CNN the killings were domestic related. Authorities said they believe Gordon has ties to the Trenton home where he is barricaded. Gordon allegedly used an AR-15 style assault rifle, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said. Asked if it was legally owned, authorities said only they would investigate every aspect of how he came into possession of these weapons. Gordon may have other weapons, authorities said. He was last seen driving the carjacked vehicle, a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV, with Pennsylvania registration KFR 1534, and a Namaste sticker in white lettering on the right side of the rear bumper, according to the Falls Township Police Department. Gordon is about 6-foot-1 with a thin build and was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, police said. Gordon is extremely dangerous and anyone who sees him or the vehicle is asked to contact 911 immediately, police said. Anyone with information regarding Gordon is asked to call 911 or (215) 328-8501. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on social media that he directed his states State Police to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to law enforcements direction, Shapiro added. EDITORS NOTE: This is a developing story. Lehigh Valley Live staff writer Kurt Bresswein and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. An Aussie couple buying their dream home say they got "taken advantage of by experts we trusted" who they say signed off on a pre-purchase building pest report, only for extensive termite damage to be discovered by the new homeowners days after moving in. Ben and his wife purchased the multi-million dollar property on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in June last year. However, shortly after moving in the couple discovered part of it "was at risk of collapsing" an expensive mistake that has so far cost almost $100,000 to fix. The homeowner, who asked not to disclose his surname, said there were "no obvious signs of termite damage" but they "did the right thing" by enlisting a trusted, well-known company, to do the pest inspection. "We took time off work to attend the inspection with them. We walked around and they raised no issues at all around termites," Ben told Yahoo News Australia. "They sent us the report afterwards which said nothing about termites, that everything was ok. We relied on that to go and finish the purchase of the house." The couple discover the termite damage days after moving into their 'dream home'. Source: Supplied. Termite damage 'was everywhere', couple say The couple made the heartbreaking discovery within days of moving in when builders began work on the garage. Panic set in when a worker found "serious" damage behind one of the walls. "We went through every panel in the garage and found that it was so extensive that it was in every single panel," Ben explained. "They had to stop working and leave the site as a safety precaution. That's how serious it was. It was everywhere." Couple demolish garage after finding termite damage Termites can be harmful if found inside the home causing more than $1.5 billion in damage to homes every year, a study by the University of Technology Sydney previously showed. Thankfully, the Queensland couple concluded the damage was isolated in the garage which is detached from the rest of the house. So far, the couple have spent "tens of thousands" trying to repair the unexpected damage. Story continues "Most of that cost was in demolishing and rebuilding parts of the garage. We had to replace everything except the roof and some of the roof truss," the homeowner said. "We had to replace the walls, the plaster, all the framing, everything had to be replaced and we even had to drill into the garage floor to put beams up to stop the roof falling down." The termite damage was evident throughout the entire garage despite the company allegedly claiming there was none. Source: Supplied Company 'refuses' to admit fault At first, the company came back to reinspect the property after being made aware of termite damage. They said they'd "put it through as an insurance claim," Ben claims. However, the pest company told Yahoo they "have never admitted liability". Since then, Ben claims "they've pretty much refused to talk with us and left us in the hands of their insurers, who have done everything they can to avoid the claim". "We're now having to go to court to recover our cost, which is obviously super stressful for the family," he said. Pest company denies claims In a statement to Yahoo, the company said a "large amount of stored goods in the garage" created "limitations" during the inspection meaning they could not do an "internal cavity inspection". They claim this was expressed to the couple on the day, however, Ben claims this was not the case. "No termite activity was detected in the areas we were able to inspect," the company said. "However, we noted to [Ben] the risk of termite activity was high and made several recommendations in person on the day of inspection" which the homeowner also says was not true. "Our inspectors undertake their work with great consideration and skill, and while its unfortunate that termite activity has occurred on the property, we are confident we have acted in line with our contractual obligations and limitations," the company added. The couple have spent almost $100,000 repairing the garage which had been destroyed by termites. Source: Supplied. Mistake causes stress on family Ben said the situation has caused his family a lot of stress, and hopes no other family has to experience it. "I think the hardest part for us is that we trusted the pest inspection company to warn us if there was going to be anything seriously wrong, and they missed something that was so serious," he said. "The stress it's caused us to get it corrected and the worry that we've then had about it extending to the rest of the house has been really significant. But I think above that is that once we realised that they'd missed something, we expected that they'd do the right thing and fix the damage." Having already coughed up almost $100,000, the couple said it was a "hard decision" to pursue legal action against the company given the associated costs, but they say "in the end, I think we decided on it based on doing what we think is fair, and we just think it's fundamentally unfair that you can make a mistake and not fix it." "We so genuinely feel that we've done nothing wrong and have been taken advantage of," Ben said. "The main thing is that just be so careful with who you engage to do these reports. It can be so expensive if you get it wrong". Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Progress is being made in New Jerseys effort to purchase farmland in Warren County. The New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee late last year announced an agreement to purchase approximately 571 acres of farmland owned by Jaindl Land Co. in White Township. The property borders Route 519 to the east; Foul Rift Road to the north; and the Delaware River along S. Foul Rift Road along to the west. Jaindl had proposed to build 1.8 million-square-foot and 800,000-square-foot warehouses on the property. The plan was met with opposition that often had up to 250 people attend planning commission meetings. No warehouses property signs have become a common sight in White Township and the surrounding municipalities over the last five years. Jaindl Land Co. purchased about 585 acres from Talen Energy Supply LLC for about $11.2 million in 2019. SADC agreed to buy most of the land except parts of the property that includes two single family dwellings and one uninhabitable dwelling. The agreement is to pay Jaindl $48,000 per acre for about 571 acres of the property, which totals about $27.4 million. The purchase price may change based on the final surveyed acreage of the property. SADC said it plans to purchase the property, preserve it for agricultural uses only, and eventually sell it at public auction. Jaindl attorney Anthony Sposaro said the sales process is on track for a mid-May closing. Sposaro said details still need to be worked out with the state about removing some debris and storage tanks on the property but there are no issues that are insurmountable. All systems are go, Sposaro said. I know of nothing thats going to stand in the way of this. State officials told him that funds are available for the purchase, he said. Sposaro said he would report to White Township in May with an update as to the sales status. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Five Laois students were among a total of 626 first-year students from Ireland and overseas who received a prestigious Entrance Exhibition Award from Trinity College Dublin. The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points. The local students honoured included Luca May Walker, former student of Heywood Community School, former Scoil Chriost Ri student Ann Lawlor, Cate Conway, a past pupil of Colaiste Iosagain in Portarlington, former Portaoise College student Zeyad Abdelrazak and Stephen Kelly, past pupil of St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise. The awardees received a certificate and a 150 book token. Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond. Past Exhibitioners include Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle said: The Entrance Exhibition Awards are our way of recognising these fantastic students and acknowledging the huge effort they put into their Leaving Certificate exams. I am really honoured that they have chosen Trinity College Dublin for this next step of their education. "This years award recipients are now in the First Year of their studies and I hope they are finding their studies enjoyable and rewarding, and enjoying the huge variety of clubs and societies in Trinity. Our Entrance Exhibition Awards programme includes a special event for school principals, and I want to really acknowledge the amazing work of principals, teachers and school staff who are so dedicated in making sure that students achieve their full potential. The Irish Prison Service and the HSE have issued a warning to all prisoners in relation to dangerous drugs circulating in prisons. The Health Service Executive(HSE) has issued a Red Alert to all prisoners in the country in relation to the synthetic opioids. HSE Red Alert extended to Irish Prison settings due to presence of nitazene-type identified in powder. While safer not to use drugs, we urge individuals who use drugs to avoid new types of drugs or new batches being sold, the HSE stated. The Irish Prison Service said it is working with the HSE following a number suspected overdoses in prisons. The IPS is working with HSE in response to a number of OD presentations in custody. Extra naloxone kits have been secured. Extra vigilance is being taken across all prisons & the IPS has commenced a campaign for prisoners around the dangers of consuming contraband, the Irish Prison Service stated. HSE Red Alert extended to Irish Prison settings due to presence of nitazene-type identified in powder. While safer not to use drugs, we urge individuals who use drugs to avoid new types of drugs or new batches being sold. pic.twitter.com/aSsdEnVKPC HSE Drugs.ie (@drugsdotie) March 15, 2024 In Portlaoise there were 963 prisoners in the Midlands Prison and a further 235 prisoners in Portlaoise Prison on Thursday, March 14. President Joe Biden has urged a gathering of representatives from the US, Ireland and Northern Ireland to march forward together. Politicians from across Ireland are visiting the US this week ahead of St Patricks Day, including the Stormont First and deputy First Ministers in office attending together for the first time in eight years. It comes following the resurrection of powersharing government in Northern Ireland in January. During the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon hosted by Speaker Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, Mr Biden invited Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly to stand up for applause throughout the room. Mr Biden commented: Who would have thunk it thankfully youre here. Thanks to both of you for reminding us what possibilities there are as we work across the aisle and rise above longstanding disagreements, he said. I think we stand at an inflection point, not only in American history but in world history where the decisions we make now are going to determine what the next three, four, five, six decades are going to look like, and I believe history is watching. Today let us resolve to march forward with each other and all those who seek a better future. Like our ancestors remember, no barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States to get through, there is nothing our nations cant do together when we work together. My prayer today is that we continue and increase our working together. In his speech to the event, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also praised the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Its hugely significant that were joined here today by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, two women from different political traditions who are showing what can be achieved working together, holding jointly a co-equal office as heads of government of Northern Ireland, he said. He added: Its so good that both of you are here today, to applause. Mr Varadkar went on: Throughout the entirety of the peace process the Friends of Ireland Caucus have been our resolute friends and on behalf of the Irish people, thank you for your commitment to Ireland. He also extended an invitation to Mr Johnson to visit Ireland. Mr Johnson described the annual lunch as a special event, a time to come together and look past our political differences for this moment in time and remember the importance of peacemaking. The guests included Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, MPs, TDs from the Irish Parliament and both Democrat and Republican members of the US Congress. During the event, Ms ONeill said she took the opportunity to press Mr Biden to play a constructive role in securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. The United States has been a critical partner for peace in Ireland, she said. We deeply value this support. Our peace process and your role in this are a fine example of successful US diplomacy and foreign policy success. As the world watches on in horror at the genocide of the Palestinian people, I urge you to apply this same constructive role to securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; full humanitarian aid; an end to illegal settlements in the West Bank, and a sovereign Palestinian state. A County Kildare man has been accused of stealing his ex-wifes dashcam from the car. The claim was made by gardai present in Naas District Court on Thursday, March 14 last. The Director of Public Prosecution indicated for the case to be dealt with by summar disposal. Gardai allege that the man in question was in his ex-wife's car in Kildare. A 'domestic dispute' broke out, and this allegedly resulted in the man taking the woman's dashcam from the car. It was heard that the dashcam is worth around 400. Defending solicitor Tim Kennelly told Judge Desmond Zaidan that his client is contesting the allegation. Judge Zaidan accepted jurisdiction over the case and adjourned to to a date in July for hearing. He remanded the accused on continuing bail until the case resumes. US vice president Kamala Harris has told Irish premier Leo Varadkar that she and her husband consider him and his partner their new couple friends. Ms Harris praised Mr Varadkar as a global leader, who has been an extraordinary role model, during a St Patricks Day event in Washington DC. The Irish premier in turn praised Ms Harris as courageous for recent comments in which she called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The pair had a breakfast meeting at the vice-presidents official residence on Friday morning, ahead of Mr Varadkars high-profile White House talks with President Joe Biden. Mr Varadkars partner Matt Barrett and Ms Harris husband Doug Emhoff were also in attendance. She told Mr Varadkar: Doug and I decided last year that youre our new couple friends. Ms Harris praised the Taoiseach for leading by example and housing a Ukrainian refugee from Kyiv in his home. Under your leadership, Ireland has hosted one of the highest per capita populations of Ukrainian refugees, a testament to the generosity and the compassion of the Irish people, she said. Ms Harris said Mr Varadkar was courageous in the fight for womens reproductive freedom and praised him for being the first Taoiseach to attend the Munich Security Conference, which the US vice president also attended. She said: On a personal note, Taoiseach, you have been an extraordinary role model for people all around the world as one of the only openly LGBT leaders in history, and you so graciously talked last year here about the work that you and I have done to support and fight for the rights of (the LGBT community). Ms Harris said Mr Varadkar had also worked in the early part of his career to strengthen the ties with the Irish diaspora. America has, of course, served as a place of hope for millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants, including those who have held the highest offices in our land, and currently, of course, our president, Joe Biden, she said. In response, Mr Varadkar said he understands the difficulties of being deputy leader of a country, and added he finds being the leader a little bit easier. Mr Varadkar explained how he went from Taoiseach, or Irish prime minister, to Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, before returning to the role of Taoiseach at the end of 2022. Im not going to lie, I know which one I prefer, he said, prompting laughs from those present. I do even find it a little bit easier, even when its hard. He said the best vice presidents are the trailblazers who spoke from the heart. He added: I believe you, madam vice president, showed great courage and leadership in recent weeks, when you spoke publicly in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza. Im sure it cant have been easy but it was the right thing to do and your words echoed all over the world. ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair Hugh Farrell has expressed his ongoing frustration with the Department of Agriculture over its handling of the TB Eradication Programme. At the TB Forum there is a constant focus on asking farmers to do more, while at the same time the Department is continuing to fail farmers with its underwhelming wildlife programme. In particular, the Department of Agriculture must reconsider prioritising badger vaccination over culling as the vaccination programme has coincided with increasing TB numbers, he said. A recent peer-reviewed scientific analysis of the UKs Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) badger control policy in England has revealed a 56% fall in the herd incidence rate of TB by following a badger culling policy. If badger culling in the UK can have such a significant impact on TB levels, we must seriously question the scientific advice ICSA and other farm organisations are receiving at the TB Forum where badger vaccination is heavily prioritised over culling despite reactor numbers here going up, not down. The new study published in the Nature journal analysed the effect of badger culling on bovine TB rates across 52 areas in England. The 56% drop in herd incidence as result of badger culling amounts to an overall drop of 15% in reactor numbers in England in the 12 months to September 2023. This is in contrast to Wales where no culling programme exists, and reactor numbers increased by 2%. It is patently clear from this study that culling badgers is vital when it comes to reducing the levels of bovine TB. It is also patently clear that while the Department here has reduced culling in favour of vaccination that our TB numbers have gone up, he said. As the curtain came down on the final night of Kiltyclogher Drama Festival, Ballyshannon Drama Group were once again declared winners of the Open Section of the Festival with their amazing production of Margaret by Shaun Byrne. Harvest Moon Drama Group from Claremorris won the Confined Section. On behalf of the Drama Festival Committee, Frank Fox thanked the Adjudicator, Martin Maguire for sharing his knowledge of the plays and the playwrights with the audience at the end of each show. He acknowledged the hard work of all the people in the community who help in various ways to keep the Festival going - the ladies and gentlemen who turned out over the eight nights to cater for the groups, man the doors, sell tickets and all who worked behind the scenes to keep the festival running smoothly. He thanked Killasnett Co-op who had sponsored all the individual prizes for the Festival and all the sponsors who support the Festival each year with their generous contributions. He thanked the audiences who had attended in such great numbers over the week. He paid tribute to the eight groups, some of whom had travelled long distances to compete in the Festival, they had entertained us with first class drama. He paid a special tribute to Hubert McMorrow who has been assisting the Festival for the past 40 years. He attends every day to welcome the groups and to help the backstage crew. His support has been invaluable to both the drama groups and the committee. In appreciation of his commitment to the Festival, Kathleen McCaffrey, Festival Secretary, presented Hubert with a beautiful framed slate plaque of Sean MacDiamadas homestead from Louse Carroll Designs, Dromahair. Kathleen McCaffrey presenting framed slate plaque to Hubert McMorrow. Also in the picture Martin Maguire, Adjudicator. Festival Results: BLUE RIBAND: Ballyshannon Drama Group Margaret by Shaun Byrne ADJUDICATORS AWARD: Dooega Drama Group The Cripple of Inishmaan AUDIENCE AWARD: Ballyshannon Drama Group Margaret by Shaun Byrne BEST MOMENT OF THEATRE: Battle of the Barn Scene = Animal Farm Phoenix Players MOST PROMISING ACTOR: Nakita McTeigue as Kitty Kat in According to Rumour - Cornmill Theatre Group BEST SET: Clontarf Players Radium Girls BEST OPEN PLAY (Merenda Perpetual Trophy): Ballyshannon Drama Group Margaret by Shaun Byrne BEST Director (Open): Monica Doherty Ballyshannon Drama Group Margaret by Shaun Byrne BEST ACTOR (Open): Shaun Byrne Ballyshannon Drama Group as Denis in Margaret BEST ACTRESS (Open); Rachel OConnor Ballyshannon Drama Group as Margaret in Margaret BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Open): Oisin Hourican Cornmill Theatre Group as Roger in According to Rumour BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Open): Karen Doyle Clontarf Players in multiple roles in Radium Girls BEST CONFINED PLAY (Dr McManus Perpetual Cup): Harvest Moon Drama Group in Now and Then by Sean Grennan BEST Director (Confined); John Corless, Harvest Moon Drama Group BEST ACTOR (Confined): Michael Boyle Enniskillen Theatre Group As Coleman Connor in The Lonesome West BEST ACTRESS (Confined): Vera Kilgallon Harvest Moon Claremorris As Abby in Now & Then BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Confined) Eoin Murphy Dooega Drama As Bartley McCormick in The Cripple of Inishmaan BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Confined): Mary Conlan Newtownstewart Drama Group As Clara in The New Electric Ballroom. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGES DALLAS, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today announced recent Leadership updates across the Company. These changes are effective immediately and represent a continuation of the organizational structure work at Southwest Airlines that began in September 2022 and has continued into 2024. Technology Carrie Mills has been promoted from Vice President Technology, Cybersecurity to Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer?Cybersecurity. As Chief Information Security Officer, Mills will be responsible for all aspects of cybersecurity across Southwest's facilities, airports, and aircraft, comprising security engineering, security operations, incident response, threat intelligence, risk and compliance, and vulnerability management. She will continue leading the Cybersecurity Team, where she is responsible for the daily operation of the Cybersecurity function and lead our top Cybersecurity initiatives, including Privileged Access Management, Technology Data Privacy, expansion of Multi-Factor Authentication, Vulnerability Management, and Incident Response and Recovery. Mills joined Southwest in 2017 as the Senior Manager of Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence and Response. Her Leadership and guidance have driven Team wins across numerous efforts to improve Southwest's Cybersecurity posture. Key initiatives include the buildout of an around-the-clock Security Operations Center (SOC) and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) capabilities; enhancing the Cybersecurity incident response processes and procedures; the original implementation of Shape Security to combat Customer account takeover attacks; the rollout of improved technologies to aid in vulnerability management and reporting; the deployment of an enterprise-wide Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) platform; and the development of a Cybersecurity Aviation Team to help meet the requirements of many Federal Agencies, and leading a project to implement an Integrated Risk Management platform. Mills' Cybersecurity domain expertise and Leadership talents have been invaluable in growing Southwest's Cybersecurity capabilities. Mills earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management information systems from the University of Oklahoma, and she's a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) with a long-standing passion for Cybersecurity. With Mill's shift in responsibility. Jim Dayton's role has changed from Vice President & CISO Technology?Platforms & Architecture to Vice President Technology?Platforms & Architecture. In this role, Dayton will be responsible for building out modern foundational data and technology platforms used and leveraged by Development Teams. The Team's work includes Cloud and DevOps development platforms as well as all enterprise data platforms comprising analytics, optimization, integration, data lake, and data warehouse. Dayton also leads the Technology Architecture function, responsible for the overall technical design of Southwest's systems to ensure the resiliency, security, and effectiveness of the Company's technology solutions. Before this transition, Dayton led cybersecurity as Vice President and CISO, overseeing all aspects of cybersecurity across Southwest Airlines' facilities, airports, and aircraft, including security engineering, operations, incident response, threat intelligence, risk management, compliance, and vulnerability management. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Technology?Operations Portfolio, supporting Southwest's complex operating systems such as Flight Operations, Inflight Operations, Network Operations Control (NOC), Safety & Security, and Technical Operations Departments. He collaborated closely with these Teams to ensure the successful delivery of new technologies that redefined necessary capabilities for Southwest's critical operating systems. Since joining Southwest in 2012, Dayton has served as a Leader in multiple areas of Technology including Operations Recovery, Network Planning, and Revenue Management, and was the Technology Delivery Leader for Southwest's multi-year Reservation System implementation. Before Southwest Airlines, Dayton worked as a Director of Consulting at several companies, including PeopleSoft, i2 Technologies, and Oracle. He previously worked at Capital One Auto Finance as Director of Loan Servicing Systems. "The biggest thing that makes us 'us' is our People, and the unique and unrivaled Hospitality they deliver," Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines President & Chief Executive Officer said. "No one has a Heart of service like the People of Southwest Airlines, and we're proud to not only individually recognize our amazing folks, but continue to enhance our organizational structure, making sure can deliver our very best selves to the People of Southwest and our Customers." ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. Southwest Airlines Co. operates one of the world's most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. By empowering its nearly 75,0002 People to deliver unparalleled Hospitality, the maverick airline cherishes a passionate loyalty among more than 137 million Customers carried in 2023. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3 of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). Southwest leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world including harnessing the power of its People and Purpose to put communities at the Heart of its success. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. As the airline with Heart, Southwest has set a goal to work toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Southwest has also set near-term targets and a three-pillar strategy to achieve its environmental goals. Learn more by visiting Southwest.com/planet. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation quarterly Airline Origin & Destination Survey since Q1 2021 Fulltime-equivalent active Employees 1973-2019 annual profitability SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. 15 march 2024 at 16:30 News published onand distributed by: After Aussies aired their "confusion" over signs warning drivers not to park on both sides of the road in narrow streets, questioning how rangers would know who was there first when they issue fines, a local council has tried to set the record straight. While such road signs exist all over the country, the topic of how they're policed was thrust into the spotlight earlier this week after a South Australian motorist photographed one of the signs in the inner-southern Adelaide suburb of Mitcham. The photographer uploaded the snap to social media, asking "can we get more of these for narrow streets please?", with the idea being that it's easier to drive down narrow lanes without parked cars on either side. South Australians have aired their confusion over this council parking sign in the inner-city suburb of Mitcham. Source: Reddit Aussies respond to 'confusing' road sign in Adelaide But immediately people responded questioning how rangers and road authorities would know who was there first when it came to issuing fines, without there having been someone on the ground physically monitoring the street at all times. "I'm always so confused by this rule though, how do they decide who was there first, or do they simply fine both? Seems unfair when the first person left 3m," a person wrote online. "Most narrow streets have no parking signs down one side. This idea is just stupid," another said. "As an American checking in, this rule is madness, just make one side no parking and be done with it," a US expat said. One person came up with a clever way to avoid any confusion over who nabbed a park first, suggesting people simply "take a photo of your car and the opposite side of the road when you park". The sign warns against parking on both sides of the road when there's not a three-metre gap in between. Source: Getty Council weighs in, reveals 'balanced approach' to fine distribution While dozens of other Aussies weighed in with their thoughts on the matter, a spokesperson for Mitcham City Council revealed how officers enforce the rule. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the spokesperson said that council "takes a balanced approach" when issuing fines. Story continues "The City of Mitcham is responsible for keeping our roads safe," the spokesperson said. "Under the road rules you must leave at least three metres clear for vehicles to pass your parked car when parked on the street. If the road has a continuous dividing line or a dividing strip, you must park your vehicle at least three metres from the continuous dividing line or dividing strip. "If the way residents park impacts access to fire tracks, traffic or the most direct route to a fire, lives and homes may be put at risk. When a vehicle is parked there must be at least three metres of road clearance alongside the car to let other cars pass. This is required by law, and it may save a life." The spokesperson concluded that "in instances where parking issues occur and it is unclear which vehicle was parked first", council takes a balanced approach to enforcement. "Our team proactively engages with vehicle owners to communicate parking regulations and educate individuals on road rules," they said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Displaced women in 2022 in the village of Silse, a hundred kilometers from Semera in the Afar region, where the war between the central government and rebels from the Tigray region had spread. EDUARDO SOTERAS / AFP Fearing that their stories would disappear, Meseret Hadush has recorded the names of thousands of Tigrayan women who were victims of rape during the civil war in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia, from 2020 to 2022. Her research has continued, more than a year after the peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan insurgents of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) was signed in November 2022. Read more Subscribers only In Ethiopia's Tigray region, the wounds of war remain raw After collecting almost 5,000 testimonies with her organization Hiwyet ("healing" in the Tigrinya language), she now fears an AIDS "epidemic" among these women raped by troops from the neighboring Amhara region and Eritrea. Some 15% of them are thought to have contracted HIV, according to her organization's register of their stories. Before the conflict, Tigray and its 6 million inhabitants were a role model in Ethiopia's fight against AIDS. The prevalence rate (the number of people infected) had fallen to 1.43%. Then, beginning in November 2020, war struck this mountainous, arid province once the cradle of Ethiopian civilization. The unprecedentedly violent clashes which took on a strong ethnic dimension left up to 600,000 people dead, according to an African Union tally. They were also accompanied by widespread acts of rape. Regional authorities in Tigray have estimated the number of victims of sexual abuse at 120,000. "A grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter were raped by the same Eritrean soldiers in a suburb of Shire, [a city] in central Tigray, in December 2020," said Hadush with tears in her eyes, from her office in Mekele, the regional capital. "These three generations of women are now HIV-positive. It's a tragedy for Tigray's future." 'Time bomb' The region is still struggling to recover from the civil war. Maimed people, some with "broken faces," are everywhere in town. In Mekele, where refugee camps still number in the dozens, begging has become the only means of subsistence for all these internally displaced people. Economic activity has almost ground to a standstill, and the drought has brought hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans to the brink of starvation. Hospitals have struggled to regain their pre-war capacity. Read more Subscribers only Famine in Ethiopia's Tigray has become a political battle "At least we have antiretrovirals," said Fisseha Berhane, the head of the AIDS department at the regional health office. Tigray was sorely lacking in such supplies over the two years of conflict. "Because of the blockade, HIV-positive people were, at best, taking expired antiretrovirals," he said. The clashes damaged or destroyed 70% of hospitals or health centers, according to the organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF). "We have lost track of 9,000 of the 46,000 patients registered before the war," noted Berhane, preferring to use the term "disappeared" to "dead." You have 58.78% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar speaks during a press conference at the Election Commission of India in New Delhi on March 16, 2024. SAJJAD HUSSAIN / AFP India announced Saturday, March 16, that national polls would begin on April 19, with Hindu-nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly favored to win a third term in the world's biggest democracy. A total of 970 million people are eligible to vote in the election, more than the entire population of the United States, European Union and Russia combined. Voting will be staggered over six weeks and in seven stages between April 19 and June 1, and ballots from around the country will be counted all at once on June 4. Results are usually announced on the same day. There will be more than a million polling stations in operation staffed by 15 million poll workers, according to the election commission. Many consider Modi's re-election a foregone conclusion, owing to both the premier's robust popularity a decade after taking office and a glaringly uneven playing field. His opponents have been hamstrung by infighting and what critics say are politically motivated legal investigations aimed at hobbling any challengers to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "We will take democracy to every corner of the country," chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference in New Delhi announcing the voting dates. "It is our promise to deliver a national election in a manner that we... remain a beacon for democracy around the world." Unofficial campaigning Modi, 73, has already begun unofficial campaigning as he seeks a repeat of his landslide wins of 2014 and 2019, forged in part by his appeals to India's majority faith. In January, Modi presided over the inauguration of a grand temple to the deity Ram in the once-sleepy town of Ayodhya, built on the grounds of a centuries-old mosque razed by Hindu zealots. Construction of the temple fulfilled a long-standing demand of Hindu activists and was widely celebrated across India with back-to-back television coverage and street parties. Read more Subscribers only India: Modi launches his campaign by weaponizing Hinduism The opposition Congress, which led India's independence struggle and ruled the country almost uninterrupted for decades after its conclusion, is meanwhile a shadow of its former self and out of office in all but three of the country's 28 states. Its leaders have sought to stitch together an alliance of more than two-dozen regionalist parties to present a united front against the BJP's well-oiled and well-funded electoral juggernaut. But the bloc has been plagued by disputes over seat-sharing deals, suffered the defection of one of its members to the government and has so far been unable to publicly agree which of its leaders will be its prime ministerial candidate. Several party leaders in the alliance are the subject of active investigations or criminal proceedings, and critics have accused Modi's government of using law enforcement agencies to selectively target its political foes. Rahul Gandhi the most prominent Congress politician whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather all served as prime ministers was briefly disqualified from parliament last year after being convicted of criminal libel. He faces at least 10 other defamation proceedings in courts around the country, many filed years ago by BJP officials and slowly snaking their way through India's glacial criminal justice system. "Wherever I go, I can clearly see that Modi will become PM for the third time," Amit Shah, India's home minister and Modi's closest political ally, said in a speech this week. Read more Subscribers only India inaugurates Narendra Modi selfie booths ahead of general elections A view shows aftermath of fresh aerial attacks on Belgorod on March 16, 2024. STRINGER / AFP Ukrainian bombardments killed two people and set an oil facility ablaze in Russia on Saturday, March 16, officials said, on the second day of elections guaranteed to cement President Vladimir Putin's hardline rule. Presidential polls opened this week but voting has been marred by an uptick in fatal Ukrainian aerial attacks and a series of incursions into Russian territory by pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups. Fresh bombardments prompted authorities to close schools and shopping centers in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, undermining the Kremlin's efforts to isolate Russians from its conflict in its neighbor particularly during the highly touted elections. Putin, who cast his vote online, vowed a harsh response to the assaults and accused Kyiv of trying to "disrupt" his bid for another six-year mandate. Schools to close again The governor of the Belgorod region said air defense systems had downed eight Ukrainian missiles but that two residents were killed and others injured. "A man was driving a lorry truck lorry when a shell hit him, after which the vehicle crashed into a passenger bus. The people on it were not injured," Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on social media. "Another woman was killed in a parking lot where she and her son came to feed the dogs. Medics are fighting for her son's life," he added. In a separate post, Gladkov announced that schools and shopping centers in the city of Belgorod and some surrounding districts would close temporarily over the coming days, the second time this month. Russia's defense ministry earlier said it had downed rockets, missiles and drones in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk that have suffered an uptick in fatal attacks in recent weeks. The ministry later said it had fought off more "attempts to infiltrate into the territory of the Russian Federation by Ukrainian militant sabotage and reconnaissance groups". THE OWNER of a County Limerick transport company has been fined 250 for failing to properly secure a load of cement. Justin OMara, aged 51, of Knocklong Transport, Knocklong pleaded guilty at Kilmallock Court to the offence. Garda Pat Ahern said he was on mobile patrol in the Garryspillane area on June 16, 2023 when his attention was drawn to an articulated vehicle transporting cement. I followed it and stopped it near Knocklong village, said Garda Ahern. The garda said the required number of straps to secure the load of cement were not being used. I spoke to the driver who produced extra straps but they still didnt suffice. As he was almost home I let him continue, said Garda Ahern. Kevin Power, solicitor for Mr OMara, asked if the lorry was in good condition. Garda Ahern confirmed it was. Mr Power put it to the garda that the load had not moved. No, but in an emergency situation if he had to brake hard or the lorry jack-knifed... said Garda Ahern. Mr Power asked if the driver was fully cooperative and provided more straps. READ MORE: Number of cars stolen from separate areas of Limerick on same night Yes. He had them on the truck but hadnt used them, said Garda Ahern. Mr Power said it is accepted that his client should have put on extra strapping and he apologises. Judge Patrica Harney said the defendant needs to be a little bit more careful. If he had to brake suddenly he is putting other road users at risk, said Judge Harney, who fined Mr OMara 250. THE OWNER of a popular pub on the citys southside has become the new chair of the local branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI). Eamonn O'Rahilly of The Spotted Dog pub in Janesboro has hailed a new start for the group which advocates for publicans in Limerick and nationwide. He succeeds Robert Byrne of Bobby Byrnes pub in the job. The focus is not on the VFI peer-se, but how the VFI interacts with all other aspects of how Limerick is going forward. This is a new start in terms of how we view the committee, our focus on Limerick city, and how we attract businesses here, and how we use ourselves as publicans to help provide a service and amenities to the people of Limerick and outside, he said. Mr ORahilly said he wants to see the city VFI branch work with the gardai, Limerick Chamber and the new night-time council advisor Ashlene Reyburn. Eamonn joined the Spotted Dog as manager in 2009, working in Flannerys at Wickham Street in the city centre before then. Prior to that, he worked in industry. READ MORE: Jobs saved at three Limerick restaurants In 2019, the chance came to buy The Spotted Dog. He points out the role of pubs outside the immediate city centre differs from pubs in the urban area in some ways. But overall, the issues are the same for most publicans. In general, theres the cost of running a business today, the focus on hiring staff, and how we are viewed across the city as an amenity, he explained. Eamonn hails from Ballysimon Road, growing up in a home called Eureka! His father is from Thomondgate, his mum from Mungret Street in the city centre. Apple agreed to pay $490 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged Chief Executive Tim Cook defrauded shareholders by concealing falling demand for iPhones in China. A preliminary settlement was filed on Friday with the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, and requires approval by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. It stemmed from Apple's unexpected announcement on Jan. 2, 2019 that the iPhone maker would slash its quarterly revenue forecast by up to $9 billion, blaming U.S.-China trade tensions. Cook had told investors on an Nov. 1, 2018, analyst call that although Apple faced sales pressure in markets such as Brazil, India, Russia and Turkey, where currencies had weakened, "I would not put China in that category." Apple told suppliers a few days later to curb production. The lowered revenue forecast was Apple's first since the iPhone's launch in 2007. Shares of Apple fell 10% the next day, wiping out $74 billion of market value. Apple and its lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling. The Cupertino, California-based company denied liability, but settled to avoid the cost and distraction of litigation, court papers show. Shawn Williams, a partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd representing the shareholders, called the settlement an "outstanding result" for the class. The settlement covers investors who bought Apple shares in the two months between Cook's comments and the revenue forecast. Apple posted $97 billion of net income in its latest fiscal year, and its payout equals a little under two days of profit. Last June, Rogers refused to dismiss the lawsuit. She found it plausible to believe Cook had been discussing Apple's sales outlook and not currency changes, and said Apple knew China's economy was slowing and demand could fall. The lead plaintiff is the Norfolk County Council as Administering Authority of the Norfolk Pension Fund, located in Norwich, England. Lawyers for the shareholders may seek fees of up to 25% of the settlement amount. Apple's share price has more than quadrupled since January 2019, giving the company a more than $2.6 trillion market value. The case is In re Apple Inc Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 19-02033. 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 prosecutors have escalated their investigation into India's Adani Group, focusing on potential bribery and the conduct of billionaire founder Gautam Adani, according to sources familiar with the matter, as per a report by Bloomberg The investigation, led by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Justice Department's fraud unit in Washington, is examining whether an Adani entity or individuals linked to the company were involved in paying officials in India for favourable treatment on an energy project. The probe also extends to Indian renewable energy company Azure Power Global Ltd, the report added. In a statement, the Adani Group asserted, "We are not aware of any investigation against our chairman. As a business group that operates with the highest standards of governance, we are subject to and fully compliant with anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws in India and other countries," as quoted by Bloomberg. Representatives from the Justice Department in Brooklyn and Washington declined to comment. Azure did not respond to requests for comment. The investigation follows allegations from short-seller Hindenburg Research last year, which claimed that the Adani conglomerate manipulated its stock price and committed accounting fraud. The group has firmly denied these allegations, and its shares have largely recovered from the initial plunge, the report added. Despite the scrutiny, the US government has continued to work with Adani Group entities. Last year, the US International Development Finance Corp. provided $553 million in financing to an Adani unit for a port terminal in Sri Lanka's capital, aiming to counter China's influence in the region, as per the report. The Adani probe is now at an advanced stage, and the Justice Department can pursue its investigations without notifying the parties involved. Gautam Adani, his company, and Azure have not been charged with wrongdoing by the Justice Department, and investigations do not always lead to prosecutions, according to the report. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) allowed US prosecutors to pursue foreign corruption allegations if certain links to American investors or markets exist. Adani Group does not trade in the US but has American investors. As the investigation unfolds, it highlighted the geopolitical implications surrounding the Adani Group, deeply intertwined with the Indian economy and closely watched by the White House as a potential ally against China's influence, the report added. (With Inputs from Bloomberg) 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! Biocon Ltd Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has corrected a user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) regarding the amount she donated through electoral bonds. The user had claimed that Mazumdar-Shaw donated 5 crore every month before the Karnataka elections. However, the Biocon chief promptly responded, pointing out the calculation error. "That's incorrect. Pls do the math," she wrote. Also Read | Stocks to Watch: Paytm, Eris Life, Biocon, Ashok Leyland, Vedanta, IIFL Finance Further clarification revealed that Mazumdar-Shaw's total donation through electoral bonds amounted to 6 crore. When another user, Arman Ahmad, asked her to specify if she had made donations through other modes, Mazumdar-Shaw responded, "I am always transparent and what you see is what is correct." On being questioned whether she was "asked" to donate, the Biocon chief acknowledged that all political parties seek funding, stating, "All parties want funding." Also Read | Biocon Biologics to sell India branded formulations biz to Eris Lifesciences for 1,242 cr The issue gained attention after the Election Commission of India published a list detailing buyers of electoral bonds, which constitute a significant portion of political donations in the country. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional, stating that it violated the right of voters to know who was funding their representatives. Also Read | Telugu film director Surya Kiran passes away at 48 According to the data, around 11 per cent of the bonds issued between April 2019 and January 2024 were purchased by a firm led by Santiago Martin, also known as the "Lottery King." His company, Future Gaming and Hotel Services, emerged as the single-biggest buyer of electoral bonds during the stated period. However, the electoral bond data does not map buyers to recipients, leaving the question of which individual and corporate donors were funding specific political parties unanswered. Mazumdar-Shaw's clarification on her donation amount highlights the need for transparency in political funding and the ongoing debate surrounding the electoral bond scheme. BIOCON 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! Federal authorities are investigating Meta Platforms for its role in the illicit sale of drugs, according to documents and people familiar with the matter. U.S. prosecutors in Virginia have been sending subpoenas and asking questions as part of a criminal grand jury probe looking into whether the companys social-media platforms are facilitating and profiting from the illegal sale of drugs, the people familiar with the matter said. Meta is the owner of Instagram and Facebook. The prosecutors have requested records related to violative drug content on Metas platforms and/or the illicit sale of drugs via Metas platforms," according to copies of subpoenas reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The subpoenas were delivered last year. The Food and Drug Administration has been helping with the investigation, the people familiar with the matter said. Investigations dont always result in formal charges of wrongdoing. The prosecutors office and a spokeswoman for the FDA declined to comment. The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services," a spokesman for Meta said in a statement. Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs." On Friday, Nick Clegg, Metas president of global affairs, said the company has joined an effort alongside the State Department and others to help disrupt the sale of synthetic drugs online and educate users about the risks. The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that requires action from all parts of US society," he wrote in a tweet. Meta has enlisted outside entities to screen advertisers and content that might violate rules regarding the promotion and sale of drugs. A company called LegitScript helps determine which companies can advertise and promote prescription medication on its platforms. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham had a partnership with Facebook to help flag problematic content related to drug sales. A spokeswoman for the university said it isnt a current service provider for Meta. Social-media companies have recently come under scrutiny from members of Congress for content that has harmed young people, particularly children. Lawmakers have been discussing the need to hold the technology companies responsible for what third parties post on their platforms. Efforts to do so have been complicated by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which says that online platforms arent liable for what third parties post, with a few exceptions. The Supreme Court left core elements of Section 230 unchanged after deciding on two cases involving the law in 2023. The Justice Department in the past has tried to extend the reach of federal drug laws to make an internet platform culpable when companies use it to break the law. In 2011, Google agreed to forfeit $500 million for allowing online Canadian pharmacies to place ads targeting U.S. consumers, resulting in the unlawful importation of prescription drugs in the U.S. Gretchen Peters, executive director of the Alliance to Counter Crime Online, confirmed that her organization had received a federal subpoena in the Meta investigation but declined to comment further. As part of the investigation, prosecutors also subpoenaed the Algorithmic Transparency Institute, a project of the nonprofit National Conference on Citizenship, for research related to violative drug content on Meta Platforms. A special agent from the FDAs criminal-investigations division delivered the subpoena, said Cameron Hickey, the conferences chief executive. The group turned over to prosecutors thousands of telehealth company ads from Metas ad library, many featuring prescription drugs, which researchers collected at the request of the Journal in 2022, Hickey said. During the pandemic, such telehealth companies flooded Facebook and Instagram with ads touting prescription drugs for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and other medical conditions. Employees and patients said in interviews that the ads contributed to the abuse of controlled substances such as Adderall. A Journal investigation in 2022 highlighted telehealth companies ads that touted benefits of medications with no mention of side effects and promoted drugs for uses that werent approved by the FDAskirting traditional FDA advertising rules. The FDA has typically limited the scope of its regulatory authority to packers, distributors and manufacturers of prescription drugs. The telehealth companies told the Journal that they arent subject to FDA rules because they are medical providersnot the manufacturers, packers or distributors of the drugs. Sellers have recently advertised counterfeit versions of blockbuster weight-loss drugs on Metas platforms, including one drug that is still at least two years away from receiving FDA approval, the Journal has reported. Meta took down some of the ads that were flagged by the Journal, but in some cases, nearly identical ones popped up soon after. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Ramseyer, who previously investigated Purdue Pharmas marketing of OxyContin, requested the subpoenas. Ramseyer was featured as a character in the Hulu miniseries Dopesick," about the opioid crisis in the U.S. Ramseyer works in U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaughs office. Last month, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to the FDA, requesting that the agency take action against the marketing of prescription drugs on social media, citing the Journals previous reporting about telehealth company ads promoting easy access to prescription drugs. A Journal investigation in 2021 found that TikTok served minors thousands of videos containing drug and other adult content; TikTok didnt respond as to whether it also received a subpoena. Write to Andrea Fuller at andrea.fuller@wsj.com, Salvador Rodriguez at salvador.rodriguez@wsj.com and Khadeeja Safdar at khadeeja.safdar@wsj.com The young Aussie woman who was savagely attacked by her pet Rottweilers has shared a heartbreaking tribute to the pets who nearly killed her. Nikita Piil, 31, almost lost an arm and suffered severe head and leg injuries after she was mauled by her two dogs, Bronx and Harlem, at her home in Perth on September 16 last year. Seven-year-old Bronx was shot by attending police officers after attempts to taser the dog failed. Harlem, her surviving dog, was put down days later after being deemed a dangerous dog. Nikita Piil was rushed to hospital for several life-saving surgeries after the horror attack by her pet rottweilers. Source: GoFundMe/Facebook Six months on from the incident, Nikita shared a heartbreaking tribute on her social media to say that she is nothing without her beloved pets despite what happened. Harlem & Bronx, you made me the proudest Rottweiler Mama on the planet, she wrote, adding I am nothing without you. Tragic details of attack Nikita narrowly avoided death during the incident that left her mauled. Her family revealed after the incident that she was attempting to calm down the dogs following an incident with a neighbour when she inadvertently got caught in the crosswire and became the victim of the attack. She was discovered by neighbours who heard her screams. Despite attempts to assist the 31-year-old, the dogs continued to maul her until police intervened. Neighbour Bryn Spencer told the ABC at the time he was unable to save her over fears for his own safety. I was contemplating jumping the fence and getting in there to rescue her but obviously there were two rottweilers in there I would have been ripped apart, he said. All I could really do was watch this girl get mauled apart while I was smacking the fence with a bat while (another neighbour) was hosing the dog. The attack continued until police stepped in. Rottweilers Bronx and Harlem in their backyard where the attack happened. Picture: Facebook Backlash after 'ban' calls The rottweiler attack led to a push from federal MPs to ban the breed in Australia causing backlash from owners of the breed. Leading the push was former opposition leader Bill Shorten who described the dogs as "sharks on legs". Story continues You should ban some of these breeds," he said of dogs at the time. Its been proven that owners cant control all of them. But dog owners told Yahoo the notion was "extreme" and "completely over the top". With NCA Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday announced that voting will take place in the southern region in seven phases beginning from April 19. The results will be announced on June 4 ahead of the June 16 deadline for forming a new government. Voting will be held across India on 19 April (1st phase), 26 April (2nd phase), 7 May (3rd phase), 13 May (4th phase), 20 May (5th phase), 25 May (6th phase) and 1 June (7th phase) to elect 543 members for the Lower House. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Karnataka will cast their ballots in seven phases, starting from April 19 to June 1. According to EC data, Karnataka will go to polls on April 26 and May 7, while people will vote in Tamil Nadu on April 19, Telangana on May 14, and Kerala on April 26. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: A look at South India's political scenario South belt seems to be important for the Bharatiya Janata Party and PM Narendra Modi Five years ago, the ruling party won all seats in Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, one in Madhya Pradesh, and two in Chhattisgarh. However, BJP needs to improve its performance in South, Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal. The Prime Minister intensified the Lok Sabha poll campaigns in its South outreach including Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu where the BJP is yet to influence people with its existence. PM Modi has spoken at a series of public meetings in the region while launching multiple development projects in the run-up to the election. It is pertinent to note that the politics in South India is typically dominated by regional parties, not by the national parties including Congress, BJP, and CPI(M). However, these political parties have been successful in forging alliances with regional players. In Tamil Nadu, BJP stitched an alliance with the Tamil Maanila Congress after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) snapped its ties with the saffron party. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has sealed a seat-sharing deal with the Congress and filmmaker Kamal Haassan's Makkal Needhi Maiam for Lok Sabha polls in the state. In Telangana, the BRS and BSP announced a pre-poll alliance following talks between KCR and state BSP president R S Praveen Kumar. Kerala's political scenario is dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The Congress-led United Democratic Fund (UDF) also unveiled its seat-sharing model. Karnataka is one of the most politically volatile states in India. In 2019, the BJP defeated the ruling Congress-JDS alliance, however, the political scene changed in the 2023 assembly elections with the Congress scoring a thumping victory. In Andhra Pradesh, BJP, Jana Sena Party (JSP), and TDP have recently finalized a seat-sharing agreement. A mega opinion poll, conducted by News18, anticipated that the NDA government will make significant gains in the southern states of India, including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The poll stated that the BJP can secure 8 out of 17 seats in Telangana, while the ruling Congress party is expected to win 6 seats. However, in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-Congress alliance is anticipated to secure victory in 30 out of the 39 seats in the southern state. In Karnataka, the NDA is poised to replicate its performance from 2019, securing victory in 25 out of the 28 seats, and the Congress is anticipated to secure only 3 seats. 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! SOKOLIVKA, UkraineFarmers like Oleksandr Kosenyuk in this central Ukrainian village are ramping up exports of grain thanks to a surprising military success that has subdued the Russian Black Sea Fleet hundreds of miles away. Ukrainian naval drones have sunk a series of Russian warships, putting swaths of the Black Sea all but off limits to the Russian Navy and allowing Ukraine to increase grain exports close to prewar levels from its main ports in Odesa. It is thanks to our armed forces," said 46-year-old Kosenyuk, whose nearly 7,000-acre farm grows wheat, barley and corn, among other crops. Without the corridor, we dont have exports, we dont have an economy. That is one of the enemys main aims: to destroy the economy." It is a rare bright spot for Ukraine, which has suffered recent setbacks on the battlefield and is anxiously watching political disputes in the U.S. that have stalled much-needed additional funding. The increased income is providing a timely boost for the countrys economy, which lost around one-third of its output in the first year of the war before clawing back about 5% in 2023. Grain exports more than doubled to more than 5 million metric tons in December compared with around 2 million tons in September. The increase, if sustained, should add $3.3 billion to exports this year and 1.2 percentage points to economic growth, according to Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraines economy minister. Ukraine was a global top-five exporter of grains, exporting about two-thirds of its output, mostly by ship, until Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. Shipments from ports in Odesa were halted as Russian warships sailed nearby and fired artillery on the city. Turkey and the United Nations brokered a deal starting in July 2022 to allow some ships carrying grain to sail out. But they suffered delays averaging five or six weeks due to inspections by Russian and other officials. Other export routes, such as overland via Poland or from river ports on the Danube, are expensive, slow and overloaded. Trucks loaded with grain can be parked in lines for days. Ukraines maritime exports were dealt a further blow in July after Russia declined to extend the grain deal. Many farmers were forced to load grain in huge white silo bags, usually used for temporary storage, as they ran out of space in grain silos and warehouses. It was a total collapse," said Kosenyuk. Then, from August, Ukraine took the battle to the Russian Navy with a series of strikes on warships and naval facilities. Although Ukraine has no large warships of its own, it has used naval drones and cruise missiles to devastating effect, sinking ships in the open seas and in their main home ports of Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. In the last four months of 2023, Ukraine destroyed one-fifth of Russias Black Sea Fleet, according to the British Ministry of Defense. Ukraine also used drones to strike a Russian oil tanker that had resupplied Russian forces in Syria, serving as a warning of a broader threat. The effect was to put much of the Black Sea off limits for the Russian Navy and open space for commercial ships to restart grain exports from Odesa. It has been a showcase of power," said Andrey Stavnitser, co-owner and chief executive of TransInvestService, which operates Ukraines largest dry-goods port. Russia only understands power." The ships hug the coast to stick to the waters of Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, which are all members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, further reducing the threat of Russian interference. As the first ships passed without incident, shipowners sent larger vessels. Exports for now are mostly grain and iron ore, but Stavnitser said he hopes to launch container exports soon. A key ingredient for shipping is insurance. The Ukrainian government has worked with international insurers, including Lloyds of London and Marsh McLennan, to help grain ships sailing to and from Ukraine find affordable coverage. Without insurance, few commercial vessels would have dared anchor at Ukrainian ports. On March 1, this program was expanded to all nonmilitary cargo such as steel and iron ore. The aim, said Economy Minister Svyrydenko, is to make Ukraine more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign aid. Hundreds of trucks now line both sides of the road near one Odesa port. On a recent day, a local man was eagerly shoveling corn that had spilled from one vehicle into a bucket that he had stashed in the trunk of his car. There are dark spots. Bumper exports have been driven by a surplus of products that were accumulated while exports were squeezed, said Volodymyr Slavinskiy, director of trade at Nibulon, one of Ukraines biggest grain exporters. The cost of logistics and production is higher than before, cutting into profit and investment, Slavinskiy said. For the agricultural year ending in June, farmers in Ukraine will plant grains on an area nearly one-third smaller than before the war, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast. Attacks on Odesa are continuing. A deadly missile strike there on Friday highlighted the continued threat. Ukrainian officials said at least 20 people were killed after one missile that hit a residential area was followed by a second after rescuers arrived. Dozens more were injured. Dockworkers halt operations during air-raid alerts, increasing loading times. We need more air defense," said Stavnitser. This is the bottleneck." Still, Kosenyuk, the farmer, said the influx of cash is allowing investment. He is putting money into new projects, such as growing and processing vegetables to replace produce from land in Ukraines south that was occupied by Russia or spoiled when a dam was blown up. Kosenyuk is also making what he says are equally vital investments in Ukraines armed forces. He provides troops with off-road vehicles and food, from canned meat to dumplings stuffed with cabbage or potato. At Christmas, he sent nearly 60 lbs. of food to every soldier from the village. Our job in the rear is to fill the budget," he said. It is to finance the armed forces above all." Yusuf Khan, Anna Hirtenstein and Oksana Grytsenko contributed to this article. Write to James Marson at james.marson@wsj.com Several hotels and resorts in Bengaluru are hosting rain dance events and pool parties on the occasion of Holi even as the residents of the city continue to struggle for drinking water amid the crisis. Many Bengaluru hotels on BookMyShow have started selling tickets for pool parties starting March 22. As per the information on the BookMyshow website, Hotel Leroy in Bengaluru is hosting the "biggest poll rooftop open-air Holi party 2024" starting March 22. "The biggest and the longest Holi party of Bangalore," the hotel says. ALSO READ: Bengaluru water crisis: Civic authorities to fill drying lakes with treated water Lago Palms resort too is hosting the "Open Air-Pool Holi Festival". Meenakshi Resots is hosting a "pool rain dance festival" with tickets starting 99. The Jayamahal Palace Hotel is also among other hotels and resorts offering "rain dance, Punjabi dhol, unlimited colours and holi party till the sun sets down". The festival of Holi will be celebrated on March 25 across India. ALSO READ: Bengaluru water crisis: As shortage deepens, techies 'move away' from India's Silicon Valley Bengaluru struggles for drinking water The struggle for drinking water continues for the residents of Bengaluru, news agency ANI reported. And the crisis, several residents were seen queuing up outside the RO water plant, carrying empty cans, in hopes of securing the essential water supply. "For the last few days, we have been facing problems. We are fully dependent on the RO plant," a resident of Bengaluru was quoted as saying. Another local complained of the issue of untimely supply of water. ALSO READ: Bengaluru water crisis: From using milk tankers, fixing rates, filling lakes to fines; How the city is tackling drought Shabbir, a resident, said, "We get less water and we have to make 2-3 visits to check if water is available. Kaveri water is supplied only once or twice a week. Rains haven't started yet so there is no underground water and even the Kaveri River has less water. As the residents continue to struggle for potable water, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "There is no such scarcity of water in Bengaluru." "As far as Bengaluru is concerned, there is no water crisis. Only about 7,000 borewells have dried. We have made alternative arrangements for them. We have taken control of water tankers. We have identified the water sources. We will see that water is supplied," Shivakumar said on March 14. 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! Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court ACMM on Saturday granted bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on a bail bond of 15,000 and a surety of 1 lakh in two cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for skipping agency summons in the excise policy scam. The chief minister appeared before the court following a summons issued to him by the court based on two ED complaints in connection with the liquor policy case. The court had summoned CM (Arvind Kejriwal). Last time he attended it through video conferencing when he was directed again he said that he would appear physically. He appeared today & submitted the bail bond. The bail was granted," said AAP party legal head Sanjeev Nasiar. Arvind Kejriwal had moved the Rouse Avenue Court against the order passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra asking him to appear before her on March 16. The development came after the Enforcement Directorate filed two complaints before the magisterial court against Kejriwal for disobeying the summons issued by it in connection with the alleged money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor excise policy case. However, it was submitted by Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta that there was no disobedience by Arvind Kejriwal. A person can be summoned only when his non-appearance is intentional. On Thursday, Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Syal had heard the arguments of the advocates representing Kejriwal and the Enforcement Directorate on the first order by which a magisterial court had on February 7 summoned the politician for February 17. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra had, however, granted Kejriwal exemption from personal appearance before it on February 17 after he appeared through video conference and directed him to appear before it on March 16. The sessions judge heard on Friday the arguments on Kejriwals plea against ACMMs second order dated March 7 by which Kejriwal was summoned for March 16. The Enforcement Directorate has till date issued eight summons to Kejriwal in connection with the case. The court of ACMM Malhotra listed the matter (regarding summonses no. 1 to 3) for hearing on March 16, along with the other complaint. 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 Elections Dates announced: In a bid to curb the distributions of freebies, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said banks would look if there has been increase in the demand of cash in the chests. "Banks would be sending almost daily reports on suspicious transactions which they have," he said. Follow Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates LIVE updates here Rajiv Kumar was speaking at a press conference held on Saturday to announce the schedule of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He said, "NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) will look at if there are more demands in the payments through wallets. We will be looking all wallets transactions." ALSO READ: Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates out : 10 key highlights of seven-phase voting He said every agency, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Excise Department, state police, Border Security Force (BSF), are put on alert to curb any transaction, whether through borders or elsewise. View Full Image Elections Commission of India On Electoral bonds After the electoral bond scheme was scrapped by the Supreme Court, Rajiv Kumar said the country needs to find solutions through institutional machanism where donors' (of electoral bonds) privacy is also considered". He addressed the challenge of unaccounted money in elections and said, how do we also control the donation in the unaccounted form is something the entire nations has to work together...(on) how donor's privacy is also protected, he is not harassed...how it (the cash) is more and more white...one has to think of it and I am sure some better system will evolve," Kumar said. The CEC said political party is required to to make declaration to the Elections Commission on the contributions they receive. ...political party is required to to make declaration to us on the contributions they receive. Also in the annual accounts, how much they have collected and how much they have spent . Also after every elections, they are supposed to give us account of what they spent in that particular elections...and we publish it on the website of the commission...this we have made digital," Kumar added. His statement came days after the Elections Commission made public the details of donors of electoral bonds. It also released details of amount recieved by political parties through these bonds . The electoral bond scheme was introduced by the Narendra Modi-led government to facilitate political funding in India. The scheme enabled individuals and corporate groups to donate money (without any capping) to their desired political parties, without disclosing their 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! Modi government on Saturday extended the ban on Yasin Malik's JKLF for another five years and declared it as an 'Unlawful Association'. Union Home Minister Amit Shah noted that JKLF (Yasin Malik faction) continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shah said, The Modi government has declared the 'Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction)' as an 'Unlawful Association' for a further period of five years." The banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences." In another tweet, he said, Pursuing PM @narendramodi Ji's policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, the MHA has declared four factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Leaguenamely, JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan) and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikhas 'Unlawful Associations'. These organizations were involved in inciting terror and abetting secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. The Modi government is committed to suppressing terrorism ruthlessly. Who is Yasin Malik? The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court on May 24, 2022, that held him guilty for various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this year filed an appeal in the Delhi High Court seeking enhancement of the sentence from life term to death penalty, which is the maximum punishment for the offence. The life term was awarded for two offences - section 121 (waging war against government of India) of the IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) of the UAPA. The court had awarded Malik a 10-year jail term each under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government of India) of the IPC and sections 15 (terrorism), 18 (conspiracy for terrorism) and 20 (being a member of terror organisation) of the UAPA. (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! Amid Bengaluru's ongoing water crisis, Anand Mahindra , the Chairman of Mahindra Group, has shared a video on Twitter showcasing an innovative solution for harvesting water from air conditioners. The video, which has garnered significant attention, highlights a simple yet effective method of collecting water daily from AC units. Mahindra took to Twitter to share the video, emphasizing the importance of adopting such practices across India. He tweeted, "This needs to become standard equipment throughout India wherever people use A/Cs. Water is Wealth. It needs to be stored safely" The video showcases a setup where a pipe is attached to the AC unit's condensate drain, directing the water into a collection tank. This ingenious method capitalizes on the fact that air conditioners generate significant amounts of condensate water, which is typically drained and wasted. Bengaluru, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India," has been grappling with severe water shortages in recent years. The city's rapidly growing population and urbanization have placed immense strain on its limited water resources, prompting authorities and residents to explore sustainable solutions. Mahindra's endorsement of AC water harvesting has struck a chord with many, who recognize the urgent need to conserve and utilize every available water source. With air conditioners being widely used in households and commercial establishments, this simple technique could potentially save millions of liters of water annually. Meanwhile, despite repeated instances of residents facing acute water shortages in various parts of Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has denied the existence of any water crisis in the city. His statement comes as a contradiction to the ongoing struggles of citizens, particularly in areas like Whitefield, KR Puram, Electronic City, RR Nagar, Kengeri, and CV Raman Nagar, which have been grappling with severe water scarcity for weeks. When questioned about the severe water shortage in many parts of Bengaluru, Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru Development, stated, "As far as Bengaluru is concerned, there is no water crisis. Only about 7,000 borewells have dried. We have made alternative arrangements for them. We have taken control of water tankers. We have identified the water sources. We will see that water is supplied." However, residents have reported facing significant challenges in accessing clean water for daily needs, with many relying on private water tankers at exorbitant rates. The situation has raised concerns about the city's preparedness and water management strategies in the face of growing urbanization and climate change impacts. 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! Amidst mounting anticipation for the announcement of poll dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several state assemblies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a new campaign titled 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (Together with all, development for all). In a video shared on the social media platform X, PM Modi emphasizes that every Indian citizen is part of his family, a message aimed at countering the 'no family' jibe from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during a recent rally. "Mere Bharat, Mera Parivar," he said on X while sharing the video. Yadav had said, "This Narendra Modi is attacking 'parivaarvaad' (dynasty politics) these days. First, you should tell why you do not have any children or family. For the people with more children, he (PM Modi) says that it is dynasty politics. You don't have a family...You are not even a Hindu. Every Hindu tonsures their head to mourn their mother's death. Answer why did not you get your hair and beard removed..." Addressing a public gathering in Telangana's Adilabad district, the Prime Minister stated, "140 crore Indians are my family," while slamming "dynasty parties," accusing them of being united by "jhoot and loot" (lies and loot) despite their different faces. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the dates for the crucial Lok Sabha elections and state assembly polls on Saturday at 3 pm. An ECI spokesperson confirmed the timing of the press conference, which will be live-streamed on the commission's social media platforms. In a show of support, senior BJP leaders, including Piyush Goyal, JP Nadda, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, added 'Modi ka Parivaar' to their names on X, echoing the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign on the platform (then Twitter) before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voting was held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19, with results declared on May 23, where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a resounding victory, winning 303 seats. Political parties have already begun announcing their candidates for the upcoming elections, with the BJP and Congress releasing their initial lists. Amidst the election fever, the Election Commission has also uploaded data on electoral bonds, revealing the top donors to political parties, such as Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! It is the love for sons and daughters that led to epic splits in political parties in Maharashtra and has nothing to do with BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday while speaking at India Today conclave. "The BJP did not split anyone," Amit Shah told India Today when he was about splits in undivided NCP and Shiv Sena and how rebel factions merged with the BJP. "I differ from the statement that we broke so many parties. We have not broken any parties. Many parties fell apart due to living for daughters and sons." "Uddhav Ji wanted to make Aaditya Thackeray the chief minister. Many people left his party because they were not ready to accept Aaditya Thackeray as their leader. People who have been working in Shiv Sena since Balasaheb Thackeray's time first accepted Uddhav as their leader. Now they had to accept Aaditya as well. It was not acceptable to them," he added. Meanwhile, speaking about the split in the NCP, he told India Today, Sharad Pawar also wanted to make his daughter Supriya Sule the leader. Many people, who were not ready to accept this, left the party. It was not we who split the party." "It was the love for sons and daughters that split Shiv Sena and NCP." Amit Shah announced a seat-sharing agreement between BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena for Maharashtra's Lok Sabha preparations. This reflects political pragmatism and could reshape the state's dynamics. It highlights BJP's strategic coalition-building approach. He also took a swipe at the Opposition, saying the "INDI Alliance" should better finalise their seats because they are "not going to get anything from here". 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! Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed claims of a connection between recent probe agency raids and the electoral bonds scheme as mere "assumptions." Addressing the India Today Conclave 2024, Sitharaman defended the government's move to introduce electoral bonds, stating that it has brought transparency to political funding. "This matter is in court already. The verdict has come, SBI submitted... One question comes to mind, was the earlier system 100% perfect...nahi.... At least white money goes to political parties. We moved to a transparent system...it's certainly not better but one-bit head," the Finance Minister said, as quoted by India Today. Sitharaman's remarks came amidst controversies surrounding the electoral bonds scheme, which allows anonymous donations to political parties. Critics have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential for misuse. The Finance Minister's statement also follows recent raids by probe agencies on individuals and entities allegedly linked to the electoral bonds scheme. However, Sitharaman dismissively referred to such claims as "assumptions." Meanwhile, in a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi labelled the electoral bond scheme as the "biggest extortion racket in the world" after the Election Commission published details of political funding through the controversial bonds, as per ANI. Addressing the media during his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', Rahul claimed, "Narendra Modi ran the world's largest extortion racket in the name of electoral bonds," as quoted by ANI. He further alleged that investigative agencies like the ED and CBI are no longer autonomous but have become "weapons" in the hands of the BJP and RSS to target Opposition leaders. "The sovereign institutions of the country, be it the ED, the Election Commission of India or the CBI, are no longer autonomous bodies but are weapons in the hands of the BJP and RSS. If these institutions had done their job as they should, things wouldn't have come to this pass. When this BJP government goes, these agencies will face action. The action against them will be such that these incidents (alleged harassment of Opposition leaders) are not repeated. I can guarantee," he said, as quoted by ANI. Accusing the ruling party of destroying the country's institutional framework, Rahul said, "The BJP has shackled and destroyed the institutional framework of the country. This is the single biggest anti-national activity under this government. The CBI, ED, and the Income Tax Department are being used to extort big firms. They are being contracted (for political and electoral funding) before being rewarded with government contracts." Describing the electoral bonds scheme as the Prime Minister's "brain child", Rahul added, "This scheme is the brain child of the PM, who said the electoral bonds would cleanse the country's politics (by ensuring checks and balances)." The Congress has long criticized the opaque electoral bond scheme, alleging that it facilitates anonymous corporate donations to political parties, potentially compromising transparency in political funding. 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! Passengers onboard Royal Caribbean's nine-month Ultimate World Cruise have had their fair share of drama since embarking on the epic journey across over 60 countries. But the group of 1,500 tourists are facing fresh misery as they depart Australia following a week of festivities and make their way towards Indonesia. A tropical cyclone warning has been issued for the Gulf of Carpentaria for this weekend. One passenger, Aussie comedian Christian Hull, shared images of him holding a sick bag while attempting to eat breakfast as the boat rocked in 3.6-metre swells. If there was one thing I could try to translate is the sheer swells of the ocean, he shared on his Tiktok account. I was really sick in Brisbane when the swells were 4 metres its rough. Royal Caribbean passenger Christian Hull shared that the ship is making its way through a cyclone. Source: Tiktok Sharing a map on his Tiktok, the ship, which is currently making its way through the Gulf of Carpentaria, above the Northern Territory, can be seen alarmingly close to the eye of the cyclone. Just to give you an idea of where the ship currently is, he says, sharing his Google Maps, adding, [The cyclone is] very close to us. But its okay, I think Im going to be fine. In another clip, as Christian suffers from seasickness in bed, strong wind can be heard howling outside. Christian joined the cruise as it hit Australian shores on March 11 after admitting he was sucked right in to the viral sensation with many online likening happenings on the boat to a reality show. Christian reportedly took money out of his mortgage to cover the $20,000 ticket. He will be on board the ship for 16 days, travelling from Brisbane to Hong Kong. Communities put on standby for Cyclone Coastal communities near the Northern Territory and Queensland border have been put on standby for the weather event, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting the system to gradually move south. Story continues It is then expected to weaken early next week but not before bringing severe rain and strong winds to the affected region. The Bureau said in a warning there were a number of risks associated with the upcoming cyclone including heavy rainfall and damaging winds. Strong to damaging winds of up to 65km/h, as well as gusts of about 100km/h, are expected along the northeastern Arnhem coast east of Milingimbi while damaging wind gusts of up to 110km/h are forecast over Groote Eylandt during Saturday morning. World Cruise has 'created community' on board With the passengers having many days at sea while they travel between continents, fellow passenger Anastasia previously told Yahoo that she was surprised by the sense of community among passengers. "What's really surprised me is how much a community has formed on board," she said. "Nobody on the boat really has anywhere to be on sea days... it's quite an adventure meeting people." She said there is a mix of nationalities on the cruise with Aussies, Chinese, American and European passengers all forming bonds, regardless if they're retired, health care professionals or IT specialists. The cruise will travel to more than 60 countries and 11 wonders of the world in 274 days. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The 6,700-kilometer Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, came to an end in Mumbai's Dadar on Saturday. His sister, and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the yatra as it made its way to Dharavi. The yatra, which commenced on January 14, has covered 16 states and 110 districts along its course. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded in Chaityabhoomi, the memorial of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Congress leaders paid floral tribute at the Ambedkar Smarak as the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra came to a end. Priyanka said the yatra was conducted to tell people "the reality of this country". "Today, it's very significant to fathom the reality of this nation. There is a sharp attack on public awareness and to make you all aware of that, he (Rahul Gandhi) began the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'," she said. On the last day of the yatra, Rahul attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over electoral bonds. He accused the party of procuring funding from companies under the guise of electoral bonds. "The largest corporations funnel funds to BJP via electoral bonds. When any of these companies come under scrutiny from agencies like the ED or the CBI, they offer financial support to the BJP. Consequently, investigations often seem to fade away without any substantial consequences. In this manner, they extort money," he said. He also claimed that the BJP "extorted money" through electoral bonds and used it to topple opposition governments in Maharashtra, Goa, Manipur, and Arunachal. AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and AICC in charge of the state Ramesh Chennithala accompanied the Gandhi siblings in an open jeep. The yatra commenced from strife-torn Manipur on January 14 and entered Mumbai from neighbouring Thane on its 63rd day on Saturday. The Congress has also planned to organize a mega rally at Shivaji Park to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Several INDIA bloc leaders are likely to participate in the rally. (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! In the fast-paced world of technology, innovations unfold at an astonishing rate. From the unveiling of cutting-edge smartphones to groundbreaking AI developments, here's a comprehensive recap of the latest tech news that made waves this week. Samsung Unveils Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G in India Samsung has launched its latest additions to the Galaxy A series in the bustling Indian market. The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G boast impressive specifications coupled with enticing pricing strategies. The Galaxy A55 comes in three variants, featuring up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, while the Galaxy A35 offers configurations with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. With vibrant color options and complimentary accessories, Samsung aims to captivate consumers with its latest offerings. Poco Introduces X6 Neo: A budget-friendly powerhouse Poco, known for its value-driven smartphones, launched the Poco X6 Neo, targeting the sub- 20,000 price segment. Boasting a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, and up to 12GB of RAM, the X6 Neo promises smooth performance at an affordable price point. With features like a 108MP primary camera, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and Dolby Atmos support, Poco aims to disrupt the mid-range smartphone market with its latest offering. iQOO Z9 5G hits the Indian market with MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC iQOO has launched the iQOO Z9 5G, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset. Available in two variants, with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the iQOO Z9 promises high-speed performance and smooth multitasking. Featuring a 120Hz AMOLED display, dual rear camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, and a 5,000mAh battery, iQOO aims to cater to the needs of tech enthusiasts seeking value and performance. Google announces Google I/O 2024 Google has officially declared the commencement of Google I/O 2024. Set to kick off on May 14, the event promises groundbreaking revelations in the realms of AI innovations and the Android operating system. With expectations running high for insights into AI dominance, the unveiling of the Pixel 8a smartphone, and previews of Android 15, Google I/O 2024 is poised to redefine the technological landscape. Elon Musk warns of the dangers of "Woke AI" Renowned tech mogul Elon Musk ignited a debate on the potential dangers of "woke AI," cautioning against programming artificial intelligence with a focus on forced diversity. Musk's concerns stem from the implications of AI algorithms prioritizing diversity initiatives, citing examples such as Google's Gemini AI. As AI continues to advance, Musk emphasizes the need for careful consideration to prevent potentially harmful outcomes. Satya Nadella praises Google's competence in AI despite recent backlash Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella weighed in on the recent controversies surrounding Google's AI capabilities, praising the tech giant's competence in the AI space. Despite recent setbacks, Nadella acknowledges Google's talent and resources, emphasizing the challenges inherent in developing AI models. As concerns over AI ethics persist, Nadella underscores the importance of addressing potential risks while advancing technological innovations. Google DeepMind introduces SIMA, an AI-based virtual gaming partner Google DeepMind introduces SIMA, an advanced AI agent revolutionizing gaming. SIMA learns diverse gaming skills through natural language and image recognition, emulating human-like gameplay across various environments. It has mastered 600 skills including navigation and vehicle piloting. Partnering with eight game studios, SIMA learns from nine games like No Man's Sky. Google has collaborated with research environments to enhance SIMA's decision-making. The vision is for AI agents like SIMA to offer human-like proficiency, enhancing gaming experiences. 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! Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tourists enjoying a holiday to Kgari, formerly known as Fraser Island, were stunned to discover an unexpected guest taking cover at their campsite. The group, staying near Eurong on the eastern side of the island, returned to their campsite at 7pm to spot the dingo which had made himself comfortable between the camp chairs and tent. Even with the lights shining on him he hasn't moved, they shared online. The surprise find comes as rangers on Kgari are investigating following a German tourist being bitten on the shin by a dingo on the eastern side of the island earlier this week. The hidden danger spotted by tourists at a campsite on K'gari. Source: Facebook The incident happened at Gerowweea Creek on March 13 when the man got out of his vehicle to check the depth of the water, according to a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service statement on Friday. The female dingo, who he hadnt noticed approach him, bit him on his right shin causing a small laceration. The bite caused the man to jump onto the bonnet to escape the dingo. The bite comes only days after a tracking collar was placed on a female dingo. Dingo encounter sparks warning While it appears that the campsite dingo appears to be different to the one involved in the attack, its sparked a warning to those enjoying time on the island. I have heard there are some that may be a bit aggressive at times, said one Aussie on social media. Don't ever try and pat them or feed them...they are not pets...they are and should remain Wild Animals. Be Cautious. Its not the first time that a dingo has been spotted hanging around campsites on the island with a holidaymaker last month expressing his surprise at waking to find a pack of four outside his tent during a weekend away. Sydney man Laine Cameron was visiting K'gari with his partner when he woke to find a "curious" bunch of dingoes sitting right at the doorstep of his tent. Story continues Sydney man Laine Cameron said he woke up on K'gari at the weekend to find a pack of dingos had crashed on his doorstep. Source: Supplied "They are just curious, looking for food," he told Yahoo. "You have to just make sure you dont leave any food or rubbish out otherwise theyll just snatch it and run. "Theyll even eat your tomato sauce or thongs if you leave them out, but they weren't aggressive towards us we could hear them playing outside our tent during the night." Authorities say encounters can turn to 'tragedy' Last month, Queenslands Parks and Forests Department issued a warning on their social media about dingos. "Generally dingoes go about their lives and stay clear of people. Unhabituated dingoes have a natural fear of people and shy away," they wrote. "From time to time, dingoes may come close and some encounters can turn to tragedy. Stay alert and stay calm. "Stand still at your full height and fold your arms across your chest, face the dingo, then calmly back away. If you are with another person, stand back to back." The QWPS recommends all visitors to the island to carry a stick with them at all times and to report any negative interactions with dingoes to 07 4127 9150 or dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au Authorities on the island share the following sign to avoid a dingo altercation: Never feed dingoes Always stay within arm's reach of children Walk in groups Do not run Never store food in tents Secure rubbish Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. As the launch of the Granard Booktown Festival approaches the organisers have released details of some of the impressive offerings that will be part of the annual event. The headliners are: Booker prize winner Paul Lynch, award winner Sinead Gleeson and foreign correspondent with BBC News, author Fergal Keane. In April of last year Granard assumed the mantle of Ireland's literary centre as the town was transforming into a writing hub by hosting the country's first Booktown Festival. Visitors from far and wide flocked to the town to enjoy a packed programme of events over the three days. Once again Granard Booktown Festival will encourage people who love books to visit the town and share in the arts generated around books and provide cultural amenities through the building of not just a national festival but an international one in the heart of Ireland. In their social media post the organisers said: Join us on March 21st for the official launch of our 2024 programme in Granard Library at 7:30 pm. There will be a special reading from 2024 artist-in-residence Noel Monahan, and festival director John Connell will unveil our full programme and list of events for this year's festival. Renowned Irish author and artist Sinead Gleeson will participate in the festival on Friday, April 19 to discuss her haunting debut novel Hagstone. Journalist and festival patron Shaunagh Connaire will host the discussion. The following day Paul Lynch, the winner of the 2023 Booker Prize for his novel 'Prophet Song', will have an in-depth conversation with festival patron and award-winning author Belinda McKeon on Saturday, April 20. Fergal Keane, one of the BBCs most distinguished correspondents, who has received multiple awards for his reporting, including the Emmy, BAFTA, and George Orwell Prizes for literature will be in discussion with Longford native and RTE Prime Time presenter Fran McNulty about his remarkable career and memoir The Madness on Sunday April 21. Inspired by the global Booktown movement, Granard's literary get together sees the town dedicated itself to books, literature, and the arts for three glorious days. Granard is the first Irish town to organise a Booktown Festival. The festival committee has been working very hard to return to the lofty heights achieved by last year's event. Using words and literature the festival brings speakers, writers and artists to the town from Friday April 19 to Sunday April 21. Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden is taking over the presidency of the countrys leading party in power, the CSV, in a first for the Christian democrats. Frieden was the only candidate for the post and his election with more than 96% of votes from 400 delegates came as no surprise on Saturday morning, during a national party congress in Hesperange. This is the first time that a CSV prime minister also holds the presidential mandate of his party. Holding both mandates simultaneously will have two advantageous, Frieden said in remarks delivered during the congress, citing permanent contact with party members through his presidency, as well as implementing the partys programme for the next five years in a spirit of unity. Friedens solo presidency marks a departure from a dual leadership system introduced by his predecessor Claude Wiseler, who stepped down from the position when he became president of the Chamber of Deputies. Wiselers co-president, Elisabeth Margue, did not run for the office again. She currently serves as justice minister in Friedens government. Instead of having two co-presidents, the party will now have one president and two deputy presidents. These positions were filled by agriculture minister Martine Hansen and Esch-sur-Alzette Mayor Christian Weis. (With reporting by the Luxemburger Wort) Before retiring and settling down in Mallorca, Pipe Major, Staff Sergeant John Bruce, circumnavigated and toured the world in the Navy with 42 Commando Royal Marines and then in the Army with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. He ended his military career in Oman - he initially went for two years and stayed for 26. John was born in Peebles, Scotland, and at the age of 15 decided that he wanted to join the armed forces. I was accepted into the Royal Navy to start with, but I didnt like it very much, so I transferred to the Royal Marines, did my Commando course, got my Green Beret and was sent to Singapore. I spent three years out there before a couple of tours of Northern Ireland in the early to mid seventies. It was a bit scary at times, and during one of the tours The Pipe and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards came and played for us in Armagh. I got speaking to the Pipe Major, told him I played the bagpipes. I had started playing when I was 12 although I played the drums first, and he asked where I was from. It transpired that he was also from Peebles along with a number of other pipers in the band so he asked me what I was doing with this lot. I said I was with the Marines, who used to have a pipe band in Singapore but that it had been disbanded and I was the only one left. So he asked me to join them. Trouble is you cant really transfer from the Royal Marines to the Army, but he said if I wanted to, he would make it happen and sure enough he did. And at the time, their recording of Amazing Grace rose up to number one in the charts a few months later, and I transferred over in August, 1972. From there I went to Germany where the regiment was stationed. Obviously with Amazing Grace being number one we were very popular all over the world and we just revelled all over on the name of Amazing Grace. We did a couple of trips to Australia, New Zealand, North America and Canada. Basically, when I was in the Army, although I was a piper, we had to train as tank crewmen, so initially I trained as a gunner and then as a driver and eventually crew commander. I spent the rest of my time with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, mostly in Germany. I did my Senior Pipers course and my Pipe Majors course, which was nine months long, at Edinburgh Castle in 1979. I learnt about the history of piping, famous piping families and various pieces of classical Highland music for the pipes called piobaireachds. The history is very important. The pipes were introduced in the Army to put fear in to the enemy basically, and it worked quite well. Imagine sitting in a trench in the middle of the night and you hear the bagpipes coming towards you and you dont know what they are. Hence why we got the nickname The Ladies from Hell by the Germans I think it was. Then I took over as Pipe Major of the regiment in 1983 and remained there until I finished my time in September, 1991. Thats when I retired from the Army. I had just returned from the first Gulf War and was offered a job in Oman which, after one thing and another, I eventually accepted and stayed there for 26 years teaching the Royal Army of Oman how to play the bagpipes, John said. But apart from travelling the world as a piper and Pipe Major, John has played as the lone piper on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle during the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, although the first time it was so foggy no one, including his parents, could see him. I also played for the Queen many times in Scotland and at Ascot, for example. I played for Pope John Paul at the Vatican and he gifted us with a set of Rosary Beads which had been blessed by him. I played for President Reagan at The White House while we were on a tour of America and we got invited to play on the lawn before drinks during which I had to translate a Gaelic label on a bottle of whisky for the president and explain its history, John recalled. He was very satisfied with that, and the whisky. The pipes are still very much part of his life, although John describes it as a hobby. Living in an apartment makes playing somewhat complicated, he joked. But since moving to Mallorca he has been hired for a host of events from marriages to weddings and birthdays. Last month it was his task to Address to the Haggis at the first Bulletin Burns Day event at the Mallorca Country Club and he has already been booked for a Burns Supper in Ibiza next year. So hes not hanging up his pipes just yet. New York state joined the rest of the country last week in recognizing Sunshine Week, an annual reminder of the importance of government transparency. Making meeting documents available and responding to Freedom of Information Law requests are among the most vital functions of local government, as stressed by the state Committee on Open Government. They help ensure that the public is informed about what its governments are doing, and that the public can participate in their decision-making to the fullest extent possible. However, a review by The Citizen has found that most municipalities in the Cayuga County area, like most in New York state, do not regularly post meeting documents online. Based on a review of the websites for the 38 municipalities in The Citizen's coverage area, 89% do not regularly post agendas before meetings and 26% do not regularly post minutes after them. In comparison, the Committee on Open Government reported this week that 72% of New York state towns do not post meeting documents online. Not making agendas or minutes available to the public defies the state's Open Meetings Law, which says: "Public notice of the time and place of a meeting scheduled at least one week prior thereto shall be given or electronically transmitted to the news media and shall be conspicuously posted in one or more designated public locations at least seventy-two hours before such meeting." Minutes, meanwhile, "shall be available to the public in accordance with the provisions of the freedom of information law within two weeks from the date of such meeting." Under the law, making meeting documents available is not a requirement but a courtesy. The committee does not keep track of which of the thousands of state municipalities do so. Nor does the law require municipalities to make meeting documents available online. Having physical copies at town hall, or sending them upon request, also suffices. Still, with municipalities that don't post agendas and minutes online, The Citizen encountered some difficulty requesting those documents. The town of Genoa, for instance, asked why we were requesting an agenda and what we were planning to do with it. With other municipalities, like the villages of Cato and Jordan, reaching out to staff was necessary because their websites did not work. Granted, many local municipalities have small staffs, and drafting and making documents available to the public takes time. But Sunshine Week is a reminder that nothing should stop local governments from doing what Open Meetings Law asks of them: It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy. The people must be able to remain informed if they are to retain control over those who are their public servants. It is the only climate under which the commonweal will prosper and enable the governmental process to operate for the benefit of those who created it. Who regularly posts agendas, minutes online? Agendas Minutes Auburn X X Aurelius X Aurora X Brutus X Cato (town) Cato (village) Cayuga X X Conquest X Elbridge (town) Elbridge (village) X Fair Haven X Fleming X Genoa X Ira X Jordan Ledyard X Locke X Mentz X Montezuma X Moravia (town) X Moravia (village) Niles X X Owasco X Port Byron X Scipio X X Sempronius Sennett Skaneateles (town) X Skaneateles (village) X Spafford Springport Sterling X Summerhill X Throop X Union Springs X Venice X Victory Weedsport X If you want to do more than wine and dine next time youre strolling down Newbury Street in Boston, then stop by Olfactory to make your own custom scent. Founded in New York City by JJ Vittoria in 2017, Olfactory lets you make your own fragrance that is intended to smell like you. While the company already had a pop-up location in Seaport, the Newbury spot is bigger and takes appointments instead of just walk-ins. The Newbury spot has been open for about a month as well. The experience starts with customers smelling nine of Olfactorys core, gender-neutral fragrances from Taylor and Riley to Hunter and Blake. Olfactorys Boston studio also features three seasonal scents that change every few months. Once you have chosen your favorite scent, an Olfactory scentologist will guide you through the process of creating a personalized fragrance based on your preferred smells. The process involves the scentologist layering a variety of different fragrances according to each core scent until customers discover their perfect blend. Throughout the process the scentologist will ask you what scents you like and dislike until you are left with 10 options to choose from. You then narrow it down to four options. Once you do that, the scentologist does a skin test where they spray your top choices on your hands and wrists. After smelling the final options, you get to go home with your new perfume. The custom scent is then bottled and customers can choose the fragrances bottle color and hand-stamped label name. Each package comes with a card that lists the individual scents that went into your fragrance as well. Olfactory also sends you an email with instructions on how to reorder your perfume. Custom scents, which come in 50ml bottles, retail for $85 each. You can also order a 15ml travel spray ($38) or home diffuser. Overall, the experience lasts about 30 minutes, but can run longer if you are with another person or group. Olfactory does recommend you book an appointment online. But the Newbury store does take walk-ins. The space also has a private room where it can host events of up to 20 people. The store is located at 133 Newbury St. and is open Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Meanwhile the pop-up is located at 85 G Northern Ave. in the Seaport District and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Cant make it to the store? Olfactory also offers the option to create custom scents at home. In addition to the perfumes, Olfactory also offers body wash, body lotion, rinse-free hand wash and soy-blend candles in many of the same scents as the core fragrances. More information about Olfactory can be found online. The owners of a popular seafood and ice cream restaurant in Auburn announced a bittersweet closure on Friday night. After 67 years in business, owners Rich, Dawn and Richie Lamansky took to social media to thank loyal customers whove supported the family-owned business over the decades. It is bittersweet that we announce that the time has come for Ronnies to close its doors, reads the message posted to Facebook. This business has been the heart and soul of the Lemansky family since Ed and Florence opened the doors in 1957. The post garnered an outpouring of reactions from customers who shared their best wishes and some memories of their time at the restaurant. Four generations of the Lemansky family have worked at the restaurant and employees regularly returned year after year from high school to college and beyond, according to the post. The restaurant, located on Route 20, specialized in fried clams and served lobster rolls, homemade clam chowder and fish and chips, according to CBS News. Whether you came once a year, weekly or even daily, your patronage and loyalty has enabled us to become a successful, local landmark, the owners said. One Facebook user named Meghan Roche Depasse wrote in response to the post that she worked for years as an employee. You taught us about hard work, respect and responsibility. We all made friends for a lifetime working there. The best job ever. In interviews Friday, residents were united in condemning the behavior six middle school students in the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District accused of racist postings about their fellow students on an online platform. On Thursday, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni announced criminal charges, including civil rights violations that could send the students to a juvenile facility, have been filed against the six students after a Feb. 9 group chat came to light. The students were not idenstified because they are juveniles. SPRINGFIELD Oscar-winning actor Susan Sarandon wants a federal court to allow to her to seize a Clarksburg contractors house, amid a dispute over a sustainable home she had built in a pastoral site in southern Vermont. Sarandon, 77, appeared to want to spend at least part of her retirement living off-the-grid on 50 acres in Stamford, Vermont, on wooded land she bought in 2018. However, she soon found fault with what she describes as subpar work and questionable invoices filed by DeGrenier Contracting and Property Management. A longtime Skaneateles Central School District employee is set to begin leading Waterman Elementary School this summer. JoAnna Schmeling was hired at a meeting of the Skaneateles Central School District Board of Education on Tuesday to serve as the elementary school's principal starting July 1, according to a news release on the district's website. Schmeling, the current assistant principal for Skaneateles High School, will take over for Patrick Brown, who will be retiring after 20 years. Schmeling has an associate degree from Cayuga Community College, finished her bachelors degree at SUNY Cortland, and continued on to get her master's degree while substitute teaching, the release said. Schmeling has spent 11 years at the Skaneateles district as a substitute, kindergarten teacher and special education teacher at both the elementary school and high school. I love it here, she said in the news release. This year has been amazing, but early education is my thing. Getting this job at Waterman is a dream come true. Schmeling, who served as an intern under Brown, said she saw many of Waterman's teachers firsthand when she served as a special education teacher, and she learned a lot from them. Walking in after Pat Brown is not an easy feat, Schmeling said. Hes amazing. Huge shoes to fill, but I want to continue on that legacy. Waterman is a special place where all are welcomed, all are loved, and all are guided to their rightful place of learning and growth. SOUTHWICK The day after School Superintendent Jennifer Willard sent an email to parents and guardians to notify them about another incident involving racist language, a Select Board member has requested that the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee ask one its members to resign if rumors about her child being involved in the mock slave auction in early February are true. On Thursday evening, Willard let the parents and guardians of students attending Southwick Regional School know that another racial incident had occurred. I am completely disheartened that I must so quickly address an issue of racism in our community, Willard said in the email. The district was made aware of racist language written on a bathroom wall. Happy St. Patricks Day Weekend, everyone! This week, and over the past few months, I have been traveling to celebrations all across our district to recognize our communitys deep Irish heritage and the contribution of Irish Americans to Western Massachusetts in anticipation this weekends holiday. As we all get ready to enjoy tomorrows parade in Holyoke, I want to thank all of the countless parade volunteers and committee members who have worked tirelessly to make all these events and the parade possible! Earlier this week my team presented citations to the Holyoke and Chicopee colleens courts during the annual visit to Holyoke Medical Center. On Thursday I enjoyed helping serve a traditional boiled dinner over at the West Springfield Council on Aging for their St. Patricks Day Lunch. Yesterday morning I fueled up in preparation for todays Holyoke Road Race by grabbing a bite at the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerces annual St. Patricks Day breakfast. I cant wait to see many of you along the streets of Holyoke for the parade tomorrow where I will be marching with the Westfield Parade Committee. With all of these celebrations going on today and tomorrow, I hope everyone is able take part safely. Helfands Deli, located on Highland Street in Worcester and surrounded by a bustling neighborhood, will be closing its doors, the restaurant announced. Less than two years after it opened in October 2022, the delicatessen said on Facebook that Saturday, March 16, will be its last. The restaurant said it will deliver a final feast to local veterans using our remaining food as a way of thanking you all. MAYOS finest individuals and community groups have been acknowledged at the annual Cathaoirleachs Awards. In front of an attendance of approximately 400, fifteen different awards were handed out acknowledging outstanding contributions to community life in Mayo. The late Western People photographer Henry Wills posthumously received the Mayo Publication Award for In All Kinds Of Weather, a highly acclaimed compilation of photographs taken throughout his long career. Mulranny Community Futures were the only nominee for the Environmental Award. The Killasser-based Hennigans Heritage Centre received the Contribution to Local Heritage & Biodiversity Award. The centre contains an old stone cottage depicting life in rural Ireland in bygone days and is also used for various functions. Castlebar Tidy Towns and Breaffy Community Council were acknowledged with the Community Social Inclusion Project Award for involving international protection applicants with local litter-picks. The award for Contribution to the Preservation & Promotion of the Irish Language Gaeltacht based was given to Turas Siar, a language school based on the Mullet peninsula. Jean Tuomey was chosen from 14 nominees for the Contribution to the Arts in Mayo Award. The Castlebar-based poet has published several works, including works in the Irish Times and national and international journals. The Swift Conservation Project received the Contribution to Local Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Award for an initiative that has seen a 31 percent increase in the breeding swift population in Mayo. Mayo County Councils civic awards, which are now in their third year, recognise the dedication and efforts of the many community volunteer groups at work in County Mayo, as they work quietly behind the scenes to make our communities stronger, more vibrant, and caring places to live. After a public nomination process last autumn and a shortlisting process, over 100 groups and individual nominees were invited to the presentation evening, which was attended by 400 guests, which celebrated their achievements and provided a fitting platform to showcase their incredible work to a wide audience. The winners were: Mayo Publication Awards Commercial Publishers: Henry Wills In All Kinds of Weather. Environmental Awards - Environmental Initiatives: Energy and/or Travel: Mulranny Community Futures. Contribution to Local Heritage and Biodiversity Awards - Contribution to Local Heritage: Joint Winners - Irishtown Heritage Group & Hennigans Heritage Centre. Contribution to Community Life Awards - Community Social Inclusion: Castlebar Tidy Towns and Breaffy Community Council. Contribution to the Preservation and Promotion of the Irish Language Gaeltacht based: Turas Siar. Contribution to the Arts in Mayo: Jean Tuomey. Contribution to Local Heritage and Biodiversity Awards - Contribution to Local Biodiversity and Natural Heritage: Swift Conservation Mayo. Environmental Initiatives: Circular Living Waste and/or Litter: Claremorris Tidy Towns Contribution to the Preservation and Promotion of the Irish Language Non-Gaeltacht based: Coiste Feile Sheain Mhic Phaidin. Contribution to Community Life Awards Community Endeavour Award: Facefield Community Group. Outstanding Contribution to Mayo Life: The Late Padraig Brogan. Mayo Publication Awards Publications from Community Groups: Waterfall Committee Tourmakeady Waterfall Parish Magazine 2023. Contribution to Diaspora Wellbeing/Engagement Award: Brian ODwyer. Environmental Awards Green Community Group of the Year: Ballina Karen Community Green Garden. Community Tourism Award: Geesala Festival Committee. Cathaoirleachs Special Recognition Award: Betty Goodman. A rapist convicted of making a hoax bomb threat to the home of the Minister for Justice has told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he does not accept the jury's verdict. Michael Murray (54), formerly of Seafield Road, Killiney, Dublin, appeared before Judge Patricia Ryan in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today after being found guilty of 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 7, 2021. Murray was convicted on the sole count by a jury after an eight-day trial earlier this month. Detective Garda Patrick Muldowney told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, that on March 7, 2021 a call was made to the Samaritans by an anonymous male asking if they could take a message. The caller then said: This is the Irish National Liberation Army. Explosives have been planted at the home of the Minister of Justice and her family. The password is Red October. This is to do with a court case happening in Dublin tomorrow. Gardai were dispatched to the home of the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, but found no evidence of any explosives. The court heard the call was traced back to Murray's cell within the Midlands prison. He was the sole occupant of the cell at the time. Murray was arrested and questioned. He admitted making a call to the Samaritans but denied making the threat. When interviewed, Murray accepted that he had previously been aligned with the INLA and that he had a gripe with Fine Gael and the Minister for Justice. On August 9, 2021, Murray requested a meeting with gardai where he said he admitted making the call and that he did so out of frustration. Giving evidence during the trial, Murray maintained that these admissions concerned a later call to the Samaritans and not the bomb threat. No victim impact statement was handed in to the court. Garret Baker SC, defending, said his client respectfully disagrees with the verdict of the jury and instructed him not to offer mitigation on his behalf. Murray has 40 previous convictions for rape, sexual assault, harassment, abduction of a child, false imprisonment, threats to kill, burglary and theft. Taking to the stand on his own behalf, Murray said today: I absolutely reject the verdict of the jury. He said the DPP were absolutely disgraceful and had failed to hand over documents or answer letters in time for his trial. Murray added it was disgraceful how the jury came to the conclusion he was guilty and said he maintains his innocence for his prior conviction for rape. Judge Ryan adjourned the case for finalisation until March 19. 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. EDINBURGH, ScotlandCreative Scotland, a publicly-funded development body for the arts in Scotland, has announced that it has officially withdrawn its support for a controversial 45-minute art film by Glasgow-based director Leonie Rae Gasson. The project, entitled "Rein," won an award of 84,555 for its development and production. According to local news reports and tabloids, the project was initially presented as an art film exploring "dyke sexuality." Critics began calling on Creative Scotland to pull support due to "non-simulated" and "hardcore" sex scenes featured throughout. "Following a review of the application, assessment, and contractual agreement regarding the project 'Rein,' Creative Scotland has made the decision to withdraw support for this project and will be seeking recovery of funding paid in respect of this award to date," reads a press statement provided by Creative Scotland. In terms of background, the organization explained that "Rein" was awarded funds through the Open Fund for Individuals on January 29 following an application, assessment and panel decision. The contract, says the organization, requires that no changes are made to the project without prior written consent, and the project funding recipient cannot change the subject material of the initial pitch. Creative Scotland alleges contract violations. "Failure by an award recipient to comply with the conditions of the funding award entitles Creative Scotland to require repayment of any funding received by that recipient," says Creative Scotland. BBC reports that "Rein" attracted controversy over the subject matter. Meghan Gallacher, MSP, a conservative (Tory) deputy leader in the Scottish Parliament, called on the Scottish government to strip funds of the project. Creative Scotland awards projects independently of the government's involvement, reports the BBC. Gasson's description of the project presents the film as a "pro-sex and pro-sex worker project." "If you are selected to be in the cast, our intimacy coordinators will support you to more clearly identify your detailed needs and boundaries with the sexual aspects of the work," said Gasson, via the BBC. A gossip column for The Spectator, a pro-Tory political magazine, mocked Gasson's project and Creative Scotland pulling support. At the time of this writing, the "Rein" website is completely down. It isn't unheard of for public funds to be awarded for projects that are viewed as "pornographic." AVN reported in 2022 that Lustery was awarded funds from a German public service broadcaster to produce a pornographic work. Lustery founder Paulita Pappel directed the project, which is available on Lustery POV. by Teresa Buyikian , March 15, 2024 Spring has almost sprung! And here are some new menu items and store locations that have sprung up as well. Menus Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii launched its spring menu this week, featuring lavender-infused beverages. Bad Ass sources the botanical on the island Maui, known for its lavender fields. Island Bloom Oat Milk Shaken Espresso contains espresso, oat milk, lavender and coconut and is shaken with iced coffee cubes. The Lavender Lava Matcha is the chains iced matcha topped with lavender-infused cold foam. The Lavender Lemonade is the chains lemonade with lavender and coconut syrup. Nekter Juice Bar has announced three new menu items in its collaboration with chili lime seasoning Tajin. Through May 29, customers can try Nekters new Pineapple Tajin Smoothie, with cashew milk, pinapple, agave, Tajin Chamoy Sauce and Tajin Classico seasoning. The Tajin Chamoy Frozen Cucumber Lemonade has cucumber, lemon, agave and Tajin Chamoy Sauce, while the Tropical Tajin Fruit Cup contains pineapple and cucumber with Tajin Classico Seasoning and Tajin Chamoy. advertisement advertisement Smashburger has added a new Mango Habanero Crispy Chicken Sandwich to its menu for a limited time. The crispy chicken is coated in a sweet and spicy tropical-inspired sauce with lettuce and mayonnaise on a sweet roll. TGI Fridays is celebrating March Madness this year with a consolation prize: free wings for every fan with a busted bracket. Fans that dine in-store and show their busted brackets will receive six free boneless wings with their choice of sauce, alongside any food or nonalcoholic beverage purchase. Additionally, the chain is offering 50-cent wings on men's and women's game days all tournament long. Ritas Italian Ice and Frozen Custard is launching its latest limited flavor, Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Ice, with a spring giveaway on Mar. 19 at its over 550 locations nationwide. The new sour and sweet candy-inspired flavor is one of the free options available to customers the first day of spring, when the chain intends to give away over 1 million 6-oz cups of its Italian Ice throughout the day Locations Carls Jr. is launching in Florida with its first location in Doral. Opened earlier this week, the West Coast-based chains new location marks over 1,000 Carls Jr. locations worldwide. The location held several pre-opening celebrations, including dining events for local emergency responders. Donatos Pizza has announced its entry into the Dallas-Fort Worth DFW area, with initial plans to open up to 20 new Donatos Pizza locations in the area this year. The chain states in a release that with DFW's growing population and extensive size, there is opportunity for over 50 locations in the area. KFC has reached 30,000 global locations with the addition of its newest store in Rome, Italy. From its beginnings in 1952, now a new KFC location now opens somewhere in the world every 3.5 hours, according to the brand. The chain also announced plans to enter its 150th country, to be revealed later this year. Little Caesars has announced the grand opening of its latest New York location, in Corona. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Mar. 21, the restaurant will reward the first 50 guests in line with free pizza for a year. Mountain Mikes Pizza has opened its newest Nevada restaurant in Sparks. The chain has plans to expand into Las Vegas later this year. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 15, 2024 Meta Platforms is unlikely to succeed with its claim that the Federal Trade Commission's structure -- including its ability to conduct in-house hearings -- is unconstitutional, a federal judge said this week. The ruling, issued late Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Randolf Moss in Washington, D.C., marks another defeat for Meta in its bid to derail an administrative hearing that could result in an order prohibiting the company from monetizing teens' data. Earlier this week, a federal appellate court rejected a separate request by Meta to prevent the FTC from moving forward. Moss's ruling comes in a complaint filed by Meta last November, when it claimed that FTC administrative hearings -- at which the agency serves as both prosecutor and judge -- deny companies of due process of law. Among other arguments, Meta said such hearings deprive it of a constitutional right to a jury trial. advertisement advertisement The tech company brought the case in an effort to prevent the FTC from attempting to modify a 2020 settlement of charges that it allowed Cambridge Analytica and other outside developers to access users' data. That deal, which was approved by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, D.C., required Meta to pay $5 billion, implement new privacy oversight and obtain an independent assessment of the program. Last May, the FTC proposed modifying the 2020 settlement by adding terms prohibiting Meta from using minors' data to fuel ad targeting or algorithms. (Meta currently allows marketers to send targeted ads to teens based on their age and location.) The FTC also proposed prohibiting Meta from launching new products or services, unless an assessor confirmed that Meta's privacy program doesn't have weaknesses. When the agency put forward the new terms, it demanded that Meta appear at an in-house administrative proceeding -- similar to a trial, but in front of the agency instead of a federal court. Since then, Meta has repeatedly urged judges to halt that proceeding. First, the company argued in a lawsuit filed in June that the 2020 settlement could only be revised by Kelly given that he had approved the deal. Kelly rejected that argument in November, and the D.C. Court of Appeals upheld Kelly's decision this week. Immediately after Kelly refused to block the FTC's hearing, Meta alleged in a separate lawsuit that the FTC's structure is unconstitutional, and sought an injunction on that basis. Moss said Thursday that Meta's constitutional arguments in that lawsuit run head-on into controlling Supreme Court precedent to the contrary. For instance, Moss wrote, the Supreme Court ruled in 1975 that the same state medical board could decide whether a doctor engaged in misconduct, and whether the doctor should be suspended as a result. Moss also said Meta hadn't shown it would suffer irreparable injury if the FTC moved forward with the in-house hearing. On Friday, Meta appealed Moss's decision to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. A company spokesperson reiterated Friday that Meta believes the FTC's allegations regarding the company's privacy practices are without merit. Since 2019, we have invested more than $5.5 billion in a rigorous privacy program that has embedded privacy into our products from the start, the spokesperson stated. We remain committed to investing in privacy programs that protect peoples privacy and we will continue to vigorously fight the FTCs baseless and unlawful action. What is Claustrophobia? Phobia can make even the strongest person weak. Have you ever felt anxious about being in confined spaces like inside a trial room or public toilet where it has restricted means of entry and exit? Then you may be suffering from Claustrophobia i.e., extreme fear of confined spaces. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder and affects 15% to 37% of people around the world. The word claustrophobia comes from the Latin word claustrum which means a shut in place and Greek word phobos meaning fear. A person with claustrophobia may experience mild to severe anxiety when in confined spaces such as an elevator or a crowded room. Even if you avoid confined spaces and limit your entry into such places, you may have claustrophobia. Claustrophobia particularly develops during childhood or teenage. There are some particular situations, which may put a person to experience claustrophobia like: Elevators or Lifts Trial room in shops Public toilets Subways Tunnels Aeroplanes Parking spaces Hotel rooms Car with auto-lock systems Crowded malls Automatic car washes Imaging devices like MRI scan A person may feel afraid to stay or enter into such places and may also experience severe panic when entered. They may fear losing oxygen and think that there will be some danger in such spaces. Advertisement Panic attacks are the first thing a person may experience at a particular place. It has two key symptoms: fear of restriction and fear of suffocation. Fear of restriction refers to the fear of being trapped in a confined space and fear of suffocation refers to the fear of losing oxygen in the confined space. Panic attack increases the anxiety levels and in turn triggers many symptoms such as: Excessive sweating Increased heart beat Breathing faster High blood pressure Difficulty in breathing Nausea Confusion Anxiety Fear of death Urge to visit the toilet Dizziness If you experience some symptoms like panic attacks or fear of being trapped inside a particular place, then you should consult your general physician regarding this. The doctor may ask you to describe the symptoms, which you experienced and also will analyse whether you have any other type of anxiety disorders. Advertisement There are certain methods to diagnose claustrophobia such as: Claustrophobia Questionnaire: It was developed in 1993 and was modified in 2001. It consists of 12 items assessing three mood dimensions such as valence: good mood, bad mood; alertness: awake, tired; calmness: calm, nervous). It determines whether the patient''s anxiety is driven by a fear of suffocation or restriction. It was developed in 1993 and was modified in 2001. It consists of 12 items assessing three mood dimensions such as valence: good mood, bad mood; alertness: awake, tired; calmness: calm, nervous). It determines whether the patient''s anxiety is driven by a fear of suffocation or restriction. Claustrophobia Scale: It was developed in 1979 and consists of 20 questions that help in assessing the anxiety levels. It tends to be an effective method of diagnosing claustrophobia. For many people thinking that their phobia is irrational and needs treatment will increase their anxiety levels even further. But phobia can only be treated by overcoming their fear by dealing with it. Psychologists suggest one or more of the following methods to treat claustrophobia: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: It is a recognized therapy for most anxiety disorders. It proves to be effective for treating disorders that occur due to misconceptions. A person with claustrophobia generally fears more by imagining that lifts are dangerous but instead through this therapy the usefulness of it will be explained and this will in turn help in combating claustrophobia. In vivo Exposure: It treats people by exposing them to the fear itself, such as making them be in confined spaces. It helps in overcoming their fear by exposing them to the same fear. It is usually done in progression from lower levels to higher levels of exposure. It treats people by exposing them to the fear itself, such as making them be in confined spaces. It helps in overcoming their fear by exposing them to the same fear. It is usually done in progression from lower levels to higher levels of exposure. Interoceptive Exposure: In this method internal sensations within a patient are recreated in a controlled environment. It is a less intense form of in vivo exposure. In this method internal sensations within a patient are recreated in a controlled environment. It is a less intense form of in vivo exposure. Medications: Beta-blockers and anti-depressants are prescribed to treat claustrophobia. They relieve symptoms of accelerated heart beats during panic attacks. Alternative medicines like homeopathic medicines are also prescribed to manage panic and anxiety. Beta-blockers and anti-depressants are prescribed to treat claustrophobia. They relieve symptoms of accelerated heart beats during panic attacks. Alternative medicines like homeopathic medicines are also prescribed to manage panic and anxiety. Breathing Exercises: Taking deep breaths, meditating and doing muscle-relaxing exercises are found to be effective in dealing with negative thoughts and anxiety. Taking deep breaths, meditating and doing muscle-relaxing exercises are found to be effective in dealing with negative thoughts and anxiety. Counter-Conditioning: In this method, specific relaxation and visualization techniques are taught to a person when experiencing phobia-related anxiety. This is also known as systematic desensitization. Advertisement There are no specific methods to prevent claustrophobia. People with claustrophobia need to cope with panic attacks, which they experience in an uncomfortable situation. The panic attack usually lasts for half an hour. Therefore, one should not panic and if driving they should park the car immediately. One should not allow negative thoughts to enter their mind such as Im going to die and also should not feel that they are in danger. Instead, they have to relax and take a look at the surroundings. One must browse through the decor, look at items and talk to other people. Support from family and friends is crucial for people suffering from claustrophobia. A person getting treated to overcome a phobia may find it challenging and will need the support and care from people. Psychotherapists may ask the family members or friends to attend certain sessions to support the person seeking treatment. Health Tips These are some tips to follow if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation: Relax yourself Focus on the surroundings Avoid deep breathing Be positive Chat with people Dont overthink Listen to music What is Cyclospora Infection? Cyclospora infection is caused by a protozoan parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis that infects the intestine and causes a disease called cyclosporiasis. It occurs due to ingestion of food and water that is contaminated with fecal matter. It is characterized by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating and other symptoms. It is commonly called "travelers diarrhea" as it is prevalent in travelers returning from endemic areas where this protozoan parasite is prevalent. Epidemiology of Cyclospora Infection Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal protozoon that is endemic (regularly found) in Peru, Haiti, Guatemala, and Nepal. The first known human cases of cyclosporiasis were described in 1979 by Dr. R.W. Ashford, a British parasitologist, while working in Papua New Guinea. In 1994, the complete morphology of the protozoon was characterized in Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru, from where the species name "cayetanensis" is derived. In 2007, Indian researchers reported for the first time that the disease was associated with Bells Palsy. Though largely confined to endemic areas of the globe, several outbreaks arising from imported food products have been reported from USA in recent years. The annual incidence of Cyclospora infection is estimated to be about 21 per 100,000 of all food-borne illnesses in USA. Advertisement How Does Cyclospora Infection Spread? Cyclospora infection spreads through the fecal-oral route by the following modes: Contaminated Food & Water: Cyclospora can rapidly spread through contaminated food and contaminated water. Cyclospora can rapidly spread through contaminated food and contaminated water. Poor Hygiene & Sanitation: Cyclospora can spread rapidly by improper disposal of feces. This underscores the need for proper sanitation and hygienic practices Cyclospora can spread rapidly by improper disposal of feces. This underscores the need for proper sanitation and hygienic practices Soil & Animals: Farmers and persons involved in animal husbandry are at greater risk due to exposure to soil and animals. Farmers and persons involved in animal husbandry are at greater risk due to exposure to soil and animals. Low Socioeconomic Status: Cyclospora can be spread by people from low socioeconomic strata as they usually lack adequate health education, which can lead to unhygienic practices. The primary cause of cyclospora infections is through consumption of contaminated food and water. This can occur as a result of improperly prepared food such as undercooked food, unwashed vegetables and fruits, and lack of hand hygiene. These practices can result from ignorance or simply due to carelessness. Advertisement Some people may not exhibit any symptoms at all. Others may develop symptoms within a week after consuming contaminated food or water, which can last up to a month or even longer in case for a weakened immune system. Some of the main symptoms and signs of cyclospora infection include the following: Frequent (often explosive) watery diarrhea Bloating and flatulence Abdominal cramps Loss of appetite and weight loss Nausea and vomiting Fatigue and malaise Low-grade fever What are the Consequences of Cyclospora Infection? Since cyclospora infections respond to appropriate treatment, severe consequences usually arise only in the absence of treatment. Some of the long-term consequences of cyclospora infections may include the following: Advertisement Diagnosis is essentially based upon Stool Examination. This may involve standard methods such as light microscopy or some advanced techniques, which are highlighted below: Light Microscopy: Stool examination by light microscopy is a routine test for parasite identification. Often acid-fast staining is used to stain the parasites before observing under the microscope. The procedure often requires multiple stool samples in order to get a positive diagnosis. Stool examination by light microscopy is a routine test for parasite identification. Often acid-fast staining is used to stain the parasites before observing under the microscope. The procedure often requires multiple stool samples in order to get a positive diagnosis. Advanced Microscopic Techniques: If light microscopy fails to identify the pathogen, there are two other highly sensitive visualization techniques that can be used for stool examination. These include phase-contrast microscopy and immunofluorescence . However, these techniques are not used routinely but only in special circumstances. If light microscopy fails to identify the pathogen, there are two other highly sensitive visualization techniques that can be used for stool examination. These include and . However, these techniques are not used routinely but only in special circumstances. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): This is the most sensitive molecular test for confirmation of Cyclospora cayetanensis in a stool sample. This involves detection of the parasite DNA in the sample. If parasite-specific DNA is present, it indicates a positive test. However, this test is generally reserved for research purposes. General measures for diarrhea should be adopted such as drinking plenty of fluids and adequate bed rest. If necessary, intravenous fluids may need to be administered. Specific treatment involves administration of the antibiotic Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole as a 7-day course. No other antibiotic has been found to be effective against Cyclospora cayetanensis, which is a drawback for patients who may be allergic to sulfa drugs. This drug is not recommended for pregnant women. Cyclospora infection can be prevented by following the undermentioned strategies: About Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of inherited disorders that affect the connective tissues, mostly of the skin, joints and walls of the blood vessels. It is named after two physicians, Edvard Ehlers of Denmark, and Henri-Alexandre Danlos of France, who first described it in the beginning of the 20th century. EDS is known to occur in 1 out of 5000 individuals. This estimate is not considered accurate due to the wide range of severities among patients across the world. Connective tissue is comprised of proteins and other substances and helps to provide strength and elasticity to the organs or structures that are associated with it such as skin, joints, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and visceral organs. EDS is reported to be caused by an abnormality in COL5A or COL3A genes. This could lead to a defect in the structure, production, or processing of collagen or in the proteins that combine with the collagen. In the majority, these mutations are inherited in the autosomal dominant pattern. It is therefore common to find people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome having extremely flexible joints and fragile skin which lacks elasticity. In those with a more severe form of the disorder known as the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, the walls of the blood vessels, intestines or uterus can rupture. People with this subtype often share distinctive facial features and have translucent skin that bruises easily. In those with certain subtypes of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, such as the vascular variety, there''s a 50-50 chance that the genes will be passed on to the next generation. It is therefore advisable for those with EDS to consult a genetic counselor before they plan to start a family. The severity of the disease depends on the type of mutation present. As there is no cure for EDS, treatment should focus on support to the patient and closely monitoring the uterus, digestive, and the cardiovascular systems. Symptoms and Signs of EhlersDanlos syndrome Some of the signs and symptoms of the most common type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome are as follows: Overly flexible joints Stretchy skin which feels soft and velvety Fragile skin which does not heal well in case of wounds Fatty lumps which are harmless growths at pressure points around the knees or elbows. Advertisement Diagnosis and Treatment of EhlersDanlos syndrome Diagnosis of EDS is done by assessing the medical history and through a physical examination. Genetic and biochemical studies also help to identify affected people. Some effective diagnostic tests include - Collagen gene mutation testing Collagen typing via skin biopsy Echocardiogram Lysyl hydroxylase or oxidase activity However, these tests are not of much help if the mutation causing the disease is unmapped. For those with a family history, it would be a good idea to do a prenatal diagnosis while starting a family. There is no cure for EDS and the treatment is mostly palliative. There must be focus on improving the life of the affected person. Close monitoring of the patients functioning must be carried out. Treatment methodologies include - Physiotherapy - exercises can help to strengthen the muscles around the joint Occupational therapy - which is more focused on enabling the person to carry out specific activities which are work-related. Use of orthopedic instruments (wheelchairs, bracing, casting) Care must be taken to avoid activities that cause stress to the joints. In extreme cases, surgery is advised. Common surgical procedures include joint debridement, tendon replacements, capsulorraphy and arthroplasty; these have been found to improve patient mobility and bring about pain reduction. It must be noted that the use of catheters in procedures can increase the likelihood of hematoma in these patients. Advertisement Pain-relieving medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen (Aleve) are prescribed. Sometimes stronger medications may have to be given. Blood pressure lowering medications may also be administered to keep the stress on the blood vessels optimized. EDS is a chronic condition that will last all through a persons life; prognosis depends upon the type of disease and the severity of the symptoms. These patients are also likely to face social obstacles and experience fears due to their disease. Although the risk for sudden death is high, the majority live a normal life span. It is important for those affected to increase their knowledge of the condition and build a support system involving friends and relatives to help counter the condition. Some lifestyle changes to manage EDS include the following - Gonorrhea / Clap Gonorrhea is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a bacterium/superbug called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is spread during sexual intercourse - vaginal, oral, and anal. Most often, gonorrhea is found in younger people (aged 15-30 years) who have multiple sex partners. It can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth. The disease is deemed as a major public health burden worldwide, with a rising prevalence of nearly 87 million new infections per year. Gonorrhea does not always cause symptoms. In men, it can cause pain and burning sensation when urinating, and discharge from the penis. In women, gonorrhea can cause pain when urinating, bleeding between periods, and yellowish discharge from the vagina. If left untreated, it can lead to complications like epididymitis (inflammation of the tube at the back of the testicle) in men and pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the female reproductive organs) in women, which causes infertility. Laboratory tests like gram stain, culture tests, or DNA tests are useful to diagnose gonorrhea. Gonorrhea can be cured with antibiotics. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces but does not completely eliminate the risk of transmission of gonorrhea. Advertisement Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. A person can get infected with gonorrhea by having any kind of sexual contact with an infected person. It can also be spread from an untreated mother to her baby during childbirth. The bacteria can grow and multiply quickly in moist, warm areas of the body such as the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes in women, and urethra in both sexes. It can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, or rectum. People who are more likely to develop this infection are - Those with multiple sexual partners. If one of the partners has a past history of any sexually transmitted infection. People who indulge in unsafe sex and do not use a condom during sexual intercourse. Those who indulge in alcohol or use illegal substances. Advertisement About 10-15% of infected men and 80% of infected women may have no symptoms. Symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear within 2 to 14 days after infection. They may be totally unaware that they have caught the infection. This increases the risk of transmission. Symptoms of gonorrhea in men include- Painful and burning urination Increased urinary frequency Pus discharge from the penis Pain in the testis Swollen testicles Anal itching and occasional painful bowel movements with fresh blood on the feces Mouth sores Sore throat (gonococcal pharyngitis) Symptoms of gonorrhea in women include- A yellowish vaginal discharge Redness and swelling of the genitals Burning or itching of the vaginal area Excessive bleeding during the menstrual period or bleeding between periods. Painful and burning urination Painful intercourse Pain in the lower abdomen Advertisement Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women include - Pus-like discharge from the anus Pain in the anal region Constipation and bleeding If the infection spreads to the bloodstream, it may cause fever, joint pain, and sparse peripheral rash. Laboratory tests like gram stain, culture tests, or DNA tests are available to diagnose gonorrhea. Gram Staining A healthcare provider can obtain a sample of tissue or fluid from the infected mucus membrane (cervix, urethra, rectum, or throat) and send the specimen to a laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory, this smear is stained with a dye and the bacteria are viewed through the microscope. Although this test is quick, it is not very reliable. Culture Test The culture test involves placing a sample of the discharge onto a culture plate and incubating it for up to two to three days to allow the bacteria to multiply. This test provides absolute proof of infection. Cultures can provide a preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours and a confirmed diagnosis within 72 hours. The samples for this test may be obtained from the cervix of women, urethra of men, throat, rectum, joint fluid, or blood, depending on the likely site of infection. Detection of Bacterial Genes Frequently, doctors use urine or cervical swabs for a new test that detects the genes of the bacteria. Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics. Gonorrhea can be cured with proper treatment. Medicines will stop the infection but will not repair any permanent damage done by the disease. Penicillin derivative antibiotics such as ampicillin or amoxicillin are recommended for the treatment of gonorrhea. Since resistance to penicillin is increasing, other antibiotics can be given like ceftriaxone or spectinomycin. Women who are pregnant should not be given doxycycline and are usually given an alternative antibiotic such as erythromycin. All medications should be taken as prescribed, and the infected person should refrain from sexual intercourse during the course of treatment. It is also important to locate and test the sexual partners of the infected person and treat them to prevent the further spread of gonorrhea. Future Treatment Options Resistance to Treatment Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae has reached an alarming level in todays era. It has been ranked as one of 12 antimicrobial-resistant bacterial species that pose the greatest risk to human health as per The World Health Organization (WHO). Experts fear that the dangerous condition would present the superbug quickly become untreatable. Subsequent treatment failures would then ultimately lead to expanded medical costs and a decrease in human general and reproductive health. This may compute to the prevailing load of the disease which mandates the demand for medical researchers around the world to pursue alternative treatments. Chink in Armor to Combat Superbug Hence scientists at Flinders University and the Australian National University have examined the prime mechanism for antimicrobial resistance in this crafty organism, as per the study A unique sequence is essential for efficient multidrug efflux function of the MtrD protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, published in the journal mBio. We need to find the strengths and weaknesses in these species and in this study we have focused on the manner by which drugs are pumped out of these cells which helps the superbug become more resistant and able to survive treatment by multiple drugs, says lead author Flinders University Professor of Microbiology Melissa Brown. The team has identified a region unique to the drug pump that plays a role in positioning the protein in the surface of the bacteria enabling it to function optimally. The study thus paves the way for the future target for antibiotic or antimicrobial development in treatment options. What is Guinea-worm Disease (GWD)? Guinea worm disease or dracunculiasis is an infection caused by the roundworm parasite Dracunculus medinensis. A parasite is an organism that either lives on or inside the body of another organism (the host) and survives by feeding off the host. Guinea Worm Disease Spread Guinea worm infection is transmitted when a person drinks contaminated water from ponds or wells that contain the immature form of the parasite (larva). In 1986, there were about 3.5 million GWD cases reported annually in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Thanks to the efforts of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, only 30 cases were reported worldwide on 31 st December 2017 from two countries namely Chad and Ethiopia December 2017 from two countries namely Chad and Ethiopia In 2015 four countries were endemic for the disease namely Chad, Ethiopia, Mali and South Sudan Today the parasite has almost been completely eliminated. Advertisement A person becomes infected by drinking water containing tiny infected crustaceans (hard-shelled animals that usually live in water). The immature guinea worms (larvae) live inside the crustaceans. Following ingestion, the crustaceans die and release the larvae, which pass through the wall of the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity. Inside the abdominal cavity, the larvae grow and mature into adult worms in about 1 year. The male and female adult worms mate and then the pregnant female worms leave the abdomen and travel through the subcutaneous tissues, and usually reach the lower legs or feet. In the lower limb they emerge from the skin by forming a blister. The blister causes severe, burning pain and eventually the skin breaks. (In case the pregnant female worms do not reach the skin, they disintegrate or harden (calcify) under the skin producing hard nodular lesions) When people try to alleviate the burning by soaking their leg in water, the pregnant worm releases a milky white fluid containing several thousand larvae into the water Once the larvae are released into the water, they are not directly infective to humans. They remain active in water for about three days and infect a crustacean Inside the crustacean, the guinea worm larvae develop further for a period of about two weeks into the larval stage that is infective to humans and dogs. The cycle repeats again People remain asymptomatic until about one year after they have become infected (time taken for larvae to develop into adults and migrate from the abdominal cavity). Guinea worm disease symptoms start when the worm tries to break out through the skin A few hours to days before the worm emerges from the skin blister, the person may develop pain and swelling in the area associated with fever in the area. Occasionally proteins released by the worm can cause an allergic reaction , leading to breathing difficulty, an itchy rash, vomiting and disabling pain. , leading to breathing difficulty, an itchy rash, vomiting and disabling pain. Nearly all the worms come out through the legs and feet , but they can come out through other parts as well , but they can come out through other parts as well Usually, the blister heals spontaneously once the adult worm leaves the body. However, in some people, superadded bacterial infections develop around the blister Sometimes joints and tendons adjacent the blister are affected, causing joint pain and inflammation and features of arthritis Advertisement Diagnosis of guinea worm disease is usually made by clinical examination of patient while the adult worm is protruding from a skin blister In suspected cases particularly in endemic areas with persons having painful blister or sore on the lower limb Confirmation on examination of lesion with Guinea worm protruding out through the blister. These adult worms measure 60-100 centimeters (2-3 feet) long and as wide as a cooked spaghetti noodle. If skin blister has healed and there are no active lesions, x-rays of the limbs may reveal calcified nodules beneath the skin especially in endemic areas. Advertisement There is no drug to treat dracunculiasis and no vaccine to prevent the disease. to treat dracunculiasis to prevent the disease. The only treatment is to remove the worm by winding it around small stick and pulling it out one little bit at a time as it loosens. Sometimes the worm can be pulled out completely within a few days, but it may take upto several weeks or months. and pulling it out one little bit at a time as it loosens. Sometimes the worm can be pulled out completely within a few days, but it may take upto several weeks or months. If health care personnel are available, the worm can be removed through a small incision made in the area after injecting a local anesthetic Sometimes the worm can be surgically removed by a trained surgeon before formation of the blister Analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen may be given to decrease pain and swelling. Topical antibiotic creams can help development of secondary bacterial infections Drink water only from protected water bodies free of contamination, such as bore wells or hand-dug wells with a wall around the sides and covered at the top Restrict persons with sores, blisters, wounds and hanging Guinea worms from entering these ponds or other water sources Water from unsafe sources should always be filtered using a cloth filter or a pipe filter, to remove the crustaceans (copepods) that cannot be seen by the naked eye Unsafe drinking water sources should be chemically treated with an approved larvicide, such as ABATE*. This will kill the copepods that contain Guinea worm larvae. Ensure provision of persons living in endemic communities with safe drinking water Teaching villagers to cook their fish properly, and to bury tissue left over from processing of the fish, and to not allow their dogs to eat this tissue or uncooked fish Encourage dog owners to keep out infected dogs until the worms come out and to prevent them from contaminating drinking water In 1981 , the steering committee of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (19811990) proposed the elimination of dracunculiasis as an indicator of success of the decade , the steering committee of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (19811990) proposed the elimination of dracunculiasis as an indicator of success of the decade The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the above suggestion in the same year Following this the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) formulated a strategy and drew up guidelines for this eradication campaign (CDC) formulated a strategy and drew up guidelines for this eradication campaign The Carter Center joined the movement in 1986 and has been in the thick of action since then in partnership with the WHO and UNICEF joined the movement in 1986 and has been in the thick of action since then in partnership with the WHO and UNICEF In 1995 , an independent International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE) was established by the WHO , an independent International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication by the WHO In 2011 the WHO called upon its member states to work for the eradication of dracunculiasis by making coordinated efforts to reduce transmission The success of the program is readily evident from the following figures and data BROOMFIELD, Colo.Eldorado Trading Company, an award-winning distributor of adult toys, lingerie, and party supplies, has scheduled the next episode of its 2024 sexual health and wellness education series on Tuesday, March 19 at 11:00 a.m. MT. Eldorado has partnered with Hot Octopuss for the upcoming live Facebook event to discuss orgasm science, along with the important difference between oscillation and vibration. Hot Octopuss chief sales and partnerships officer April Lampert will be hosting this live social media event, which is open to the public. Hot Octopuss designs sex toys with technology and materials outside of the adult industry and uses scientific innovation to create products that bring pleasure to its customers. This event will feature the Pulse Queen, the newest product arrival from Hot Octopuss. Event participants are encouraged to engage throughout the live-stream event for the opportunity to win Hot Octopuss prizes. Lampert shared, "Im thrilled that Hot Octopuss is teaming up with Eldorado for a live Facebook event. We'll be oscillating between laughter and, well, ultimate orgasms! Join us as we delve into stimulating and shameless conversations that are sure to leave you buzzing with excitement and rumbling with fresh knowledge. Get ready to spark some unforgettable conversations and ignite that pleasure products passion within!" During the live event, a two-part (retail store only and public) social media contest will be announced. Each contest includes products and swag prizes. The "Why Science is Key to Orgasm" contests will begin on Wednesday, March 20 on the Eldorado Facebook page. Public contest contestants should reply to the Eldorado Facebook post for their chance to win Hot Octopuss prizes. Contest winners will be announced Friday, March 22 by noon. The retail store contest will also begin on March 20 and runs through April 2. Every $500 of Hot Octopuss products ordered through Eldorado within those two weeks will earn one entry to win the grand prize. Winners will be randomly selected from qualified entries and announced by Friday, April 5. For more details on Eldorado's Facebook Live event, go here. For more information about Hot Octopuss products, contact an Eldorado account manager. For more information about Eldorado, call (800) 525-0848 or visit eldorado.net. Introduction Many women have recently gone to social media to publish images, pregnancy nose tiktoks, and videos of their noses before and during pregnancy. The 'pregnancy nose' craze has highlighted how some women's noses enlarge and alter form during pregnancy. It is unclear how often this happens because everyone's hormone levels vary and everyone reacts differently to changes in them. Some women may notice the difference more than others. Changes in a woman's body are unavoidable during pregnancy. It's easy to overlook these changes, which range from your breasts becoming larger, heavier, and more painful to peeing more frequently. But did you know that the nose can sometimes become obstructed during pregnancy? That is something expectant women have been discussing on social media! Many people have shared pregnancy nose videos that illustrate the before and after shape! Their 'after pregnancy' photos reveal larger noses. This is everything you need to know about the pregnant nose fad. You may have heard of pregnant rhinitis, which also affects the nose. You must deal with a stuffy nose in this scenario. Another alteration in the body during pregnancy that ladies can't get enough of is the pregnant nose. Dr. Rana Choudhary, gynecologist at Apollo Spectra Mumbai, was asked about the pregnancy nose by Health Shots. The list of changes in the body during pregnancy is extensive. However, pregnant mothers' initial thought is whether a certain change is normal or not. You may even question whether your baby's motions are normal (typical baby movements during pregnancy). Advertisement Pregnancy nose is when your nose appears to be growing larger, specifically during pregnancy. According to Dr. Choudhary, a woman's body undergoes changes from the first to the third trimester that persist throughout the postpartum period. Furthermore, most of the changes are typical, such as your nose growing larger during pregnancy. According to the expert, blood vessels tend to widen to accommodate the growing fetus beginning in the first and second trimesters. Increased blood flow into your mucous membrane directly behind your nose might be caused by estrogen levels in your body. Because of the increased blood flow, the muscles and membranes in your nose expand. As a result, the size of your nose will grow. During the third or last trimester, some women experience water retention in their faces, which leads to swelling of the nose(1 Trusted Source Estrogen-Induced Uterine Vasodilation in Pregnancy and Preeclampsia Go to source). Advertisement Not every pregnant woman will have a larger nose. Only a subset of women may be affected. According to Dr. Choudhary, some women may notice that the color of their noses changes to red. This is related to fluctuating hormone levels, which affect skin color. These symptoms generally affect One out of every Five pregnant women. The pregnancy nose isn't the only strange transformation your body may go through when pregnant. Certain changes are anticipated when a woman becomes pregnant. It could be unusual food cravings, a glowing complexion, or morning sickness. However, some of the changes that the body goes through during pregnancy are a little more unusual. Pregnancy Nose Bleed Because of hormonal changes, nosebleeds are extremely prevalent during pregnancy. They can be alarming, but as long as you don't lose a lot of blood, there's nothing to worry about, and they can typically be treated at home. Blood spills from one or both nostrils during a nosebleed. Pregnancy Nose Bleed in the Third Trimester During pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, your body produces a lot more blood. The tiny blood vessels in your nose might expand, dry out, and rupture, causing you to bleed, a condition known as epistaxis. Advertisement Pregnancy Rhinitis Pregnancy Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes. This results in nasal congestion. Increased blood flow to the nasal passageways and nasal vein expansion also play a role. Pregnancy rhinitis symptoms develop throughout pregnancy. In addition to feeling uneasy, your sleep may be disturbed. This is because lying down worsens the congestion. This may cause you to feel weary throughout the day. Long-term pregnancy-related nose congestion might potentially cause difficulties. Sinusitis and ear infections are examples of these. When Seeking Pregnancy Rhinitis Treatment, Exercise Caution To open up their nasal passages, many women use non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant sprays. These medications will not help with pregnancy-related rhinitis. These medications may provide you with brief relief. However, they may aggravate your symptoms and cause a full nasal blockage(2 Trusted Source Efficacy and Safety of Fluticasone Furoate and Oxymetazoline Nasal Spray: A Novel First Fixed Dose Combination for the Management of Allergic Rhinitis with Nasal Congestion Go to source). How can you get Pregnancy Rhinitis Under Control? Experts advise you to rest comfortably with the following measures: Do not take over-the-counter nasal decongestants. Drink plenty of water. Increase the humidity in your house. Use a humidifier. Avoid nasal irritants like cigarette smoke. Get your feet moving. Regular moderate-intensity exercise can help alleviate congestion. It can also improve your sleep. But first, consult with your doctor to determine which workouts are appropriate for you. Raise the head of your bed before going to bed. Use an extra pillow or a wedge, for example. Consult your doctor about using over-the-counter nasal strips and saline nasal sprays or drops during pregnancy. It happens because of the huge changes in hormone levels that occur during pregnancy, particularly the increase in estrogen, which relaxes the blood vessels in all tissues of the body. This lets more blood into the tissues of the nose, allowing them to grow and change shape, making them appear larger and puffier. These hormonal changes can also result in - Runny nose during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy blocked nose during pregnancy Stuffy nose during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy Nosebleeds, also popularly known as bloody noses, are common in the first and third trimesters. Nasal congestion during pregnancy Itchy eyes Post-nasal drip during pregnancy However, a pregnancy nose isn't the only unusual transformation your body may go through while pregnant. Here are a few more: Heart and Pregnancy During pregnancy, the heart undergoes several modifications to suit the baby's growth. The heart is pushed higher up in the chest as a result of the abdominal organs being squeezed and relocated to create a place for the growing fetus. Not only that but during pregnancy, the heart produces bigger muscles and changes in size. This is because the heart has to work much harder during pregnancy, beating up to eight times faster per minute than before to pump the extra volume of blood across the body and to the baby. In rare situations, a woman's blood circulation throughout her body doubles during pregnancy. This helps ensure theres enough oxygen getting to the baby to support its development. Skin Color Changes We've all heard of the pregnant "glow," which causes some women's skin to appear brighter. However, some women get melasma, a disorder in which the skin around the eyes, nose, chin, and upper lip darkens. It's a very common illness, affecting over 75% of pregnant women, but it's more common in women with darker skin. These modifications differ from woman to woman and usually disappear quickly after birth or when the woman stops breastfeeding. The specific etiology of melasma during pregnancy is unknown, but it is assumed that increases in estrogen and progesterone are involved. During pregnancy, the skin surrounding the nipple (known as the areola) might also darken. Again, it's unclear why this occurs, but it could be to assist newborn babies with identifying the nipple for eating. Newborns can only see things that are very saturated and red, and they can't see much more than a foot away from their faces. They discern between light and dark considerably better; therefore, the contrast between the dark areola and the pale surrounding skin may aid them. Most women's areolas will likely remain slightly darker following pregnancy. Hair Growth and Shedding Because of the rise in estrogen in the body, which enables the hair follicles to remain in growth mode, many women's hair grows and appears healthier during pregnancy. Regrettably, hormonal fluctuations affect all hair follicles, not just those on the head. This means that hair growth might occur in less ideal locations during pregnancy, such as the upper lip, upper thighs, abdomen, and back; however, this disappears after pregnancy. During pregnancy, some women experience hair loss instead. This is usually caused by the shock of pregnancy on the body, which causes the hairs to go into a "resting" period and eventually shed. This normally goes away as the pregnancy goes on. Hair loss can also occur after childbirth due to a decline in estrogen levels as hormones return to normal. Hair loss often peaks four months after birth. In most situations, the hair regrows and returns to normal. Changes in Oral Health Many changes in dental health can occur during pregnancy. Estrogen and progesterone surges might make the gums more prone to bleeding, infection, and injury. Gingivitis affects around 70% of pregnant women. Teeth are also more vulnerable to damage and cavities during pregnancy, especially if a woman has morning sickness. This is because stomach acid can damage the protective layer of teeth. During pregnancy, teeth may also feel shaky. This is due to an increase in estrogen levels as well as an increase in a hormone called relaxin. During pregnancy, it stimulates all ligaments in the body to become more flexible to aid in birth. While this is beneficial in some areas of the body (such as the pelvis), relaxin also affects the ligament that holds each tooth in place, resulting in the tooth feeling loose. Tooth loss is more likely to occur in women who have had many pregnancies and in women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. If a woman loses any teeth during pregnancy, it is usually due to years of poor oral health, not just the changes that occur during pregnancy. While some of the changes you'll go through during pregnancy aren't ideal, they're all intended to help the baby develop properly in the womb. Fortunately, most of these abnormalities are transient, fading shortly after birth. What is a Work-related Injury? Work-related injury or illness occurs when workplace events or exposures, directly result in injury or illness. A work-related injury can also happen when the work environment makes worse a previously existing condition in a worker. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), an agency of the US Labor Department defines work environment as the establishment and other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. The work environment includes not only physical locations, but also the equipment or materials used by the employee during the course of his or her work. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) statistics, Approximately 2 million men and women die as a result of work-related injuries and illnesses annually die as a result of work-related injuries and illnesses annually Globally, an estimated 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million work-related diseases occur each year Occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals accounts for about 450,000 deaths annually; 10 percent of skin cancers are caused by work-related exposures deaths annually; 10 percent of skin cancers are caused by work-related exposures Exposure to asbestos at workplace accounts for approximately 100,000 deaths annually Silicosis (lethal lung disease caused by exposure to silica dust) affects tens of millions of workers across the world in occupations such as mining, stone cutting and slate pencil cutting Construction sites account for a major proportion of work-related accidents and deaths; according to ILO statistics, 1 out of every 6 major accidents occurs at a construction site Advertisement Around 60,000 fatal accidents occur in construction sites across the world annually i.e., 1 fatal accident every 10 minute Nearly 30 percent of construction site workers suffer from back pain and musculoskeletal problems Nearly 4% of the worlds gross domestic product (GDP) is lost due to cost of injury, death and disease, absence from work, disability and survivor benefits and sickness treatment Younger workers are at great risk of serious non-fatal accidents due to a combination of lack of experience, lack of physical and emotional immaturity, ignorance of workplace hazards and poor safety and health-training measures due to a combination of lack of experience, lack of physical and emotional immaturity, ignorance of workplace hazards and poor safety and health-training measures The older workers need more days away from work to recover Aging may be accelerated by certain occupations involving handling heavy loads, untimely work shifts, exposure to high noise levels and outdoor work in extremes of temperature The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed annually on 28th April, a date that was initially established by the ILO in 2001 and 2002. According to Juan Somavia, who was ILO Director General from March 1999 to September 2012, There has been a sign of progress on many fronts in the world of work. But work-related deaths, accidents and diseases, are still major causes for concern. Decent work must also be safe work. The ILO has always refuted the notion that injury and illness go with the job. Prevention works. During the course of the 20th century, developed nations witnessed a significant decrease in serious injuries due to concerted efforts and advances in making the workplace safer and healthier. The biggest challenge is to extend these measures to benefit the whole working world. Advertisement Serious workplace injuries are a common occurrence. Some accidents and injuries occur across all occupational sectors although different types of jobs pose a series of hazards unique to the specific job. For example, a construction worker is at a higher risk of falls while an office worker is much less at risk for burns than a chef. Some of the most common work-related accidents and injuries include the following: Falls and trips minor injuries to serious ladder fall injuries in construction sites Muscle strains and pain especially neck and back strains Repetitive strain injury caused by forceful repetitive activity or bad posture Cuts and bruises Getting hit by falling objects can cause minor wounds or major conditions such as blindness or concussion Crashes and collisions involving drivers or operators of vehicles, cranes and forklift trucks in construction sites or warehouses Building collapse in construction sites Inhalation of toxic fumes and exposure to hazardous chemicals Exposure to loud noise, leading to loss of hearing Contracting of disease from patients in the hospital Muscle sprain or injury while maneuvering a patient Walking into objects such as furniture, doors and walls, resulting in minor to serious injuries Violence and altercations at work resulting in bodily injuries Advertisement Mark Twain once said, It is better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once. It is estimated that 80 of every 100 accidents occurring in the workplace are directly due to the fault of the person involved in the incident. Some of the common root causes of workplace-related accidents include the following: Tiredness and over-exertion Using incorrect technique or poor equipment Poor housekeeping leading to unclean surroundings, dirty and slippery floors and a general lack of orderliness exposing workers to increased risk of injuries and illness Frequent mental distractions increasing the chances of serious errors Lack of preparation and ignorance of hazards involved and poor safety training Taking shortcuts due to laziness and increasing the risk of catastrophic accidents especially while handling dangerous machinery or lethal chemicals Overconfidence leading to carelessness A conscious effort is essential each and every day in the workplace to ensure that the aforementioned mistakes are avoided. The life of not only the individual, but also the persons co-workers and the reputation and well-being of the organization is at stake. Some of the commonly encountered work-related injuries and illnesses include the following: Work-related stress Back pain Musculoskeletal disorders due to uncomfortable posture, handling heavy loads, and overexertion Upper limb disorders - affecting the arm and shoulder, forearm, elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. Common symptoms include aches and pain, stiffness, tenderness, weakness, tingling, numbness, cramps, or swelling. Occupational dermatitis (skin disorder) due to handling of chemicals Occupational asthma due to exposure to smokes, fumes and dust Exposure to excessive noise levels and hearing loss Constant viewing of display screens and monitors, leading to eye strain It is the obligation of the employer to ensure the safety and well-being of the worker. The following measures must be followed to ensure the same. Employers Responsibilities Carrying regular assessments regarding risks to health and safety standards of workers in the workplace and having safety norms and practices in place as appropriate regarding risks to health and safety standards of workers in the workplace and having safety norms and practices in place as appropriate Provision of ergonomically designed furniture to minimize occurrence of back pain and musculoskeletal pain to minimize occurrence of back pain and musculoskeletal pain Provision of adequate safety training , education on hazards and correct techniques of handling as well as optimal usage of machinery and equipment , education on hazards and correct techniques of handling as well as optimal usage of machinery and equipment Ensuring proper functioning and well-maintained equipment and well-maintained Education on fitness, healthy lifestyle and work-life balance Having a system in place where work-related injuries or illnesses are brought to the notice of the authorities with appropriate management, which includes reassigning of duties with appropriate management, which includes reassigning of duties Ensure regular breaks from constant activity such as staring at monitors or noisy work environment to minimize eye strain or hearing loss from constant activity such as staring at monitors or noisy work environment to minimize eye strain or hearing loss Periodic breaks to reduce risk of fatigue and overstrain and consequent errors Ensure safety measures to minimize occupational exposures and prompt evaluation and treatment of the same and prompt evaluation and treatment of the same Proper and good housekeeping practices to ensure safe working environment to ensure safe working environment Referral to appropriate specialist for advice on management and prevention of recurrence in future Identification of source of stress at work with risk assessment and strategies to handle the same with friendly and understanding managers Although employers are duty bound to provide a safe working environment for their workers, it is the responsibility of the individual to be careful and avoid taking undue risks that may endanger the persons safety as well as the safety of co-workers. Avoid operating heavy machinery and equipment if tired and unwell Follow safety precautions diligently, such as, wearing helmets at construction sites Avoid taking shortcuts to complete a task soon without knowing the risks or dangers involved Report any work-associated stress to authorities sooner than later for appropriate action Avoid being distracted, focus on the work and take a break if necessary to refresh yourself Do not handle equipment or machinery without proper training or knowledge of the hazards and correct technique of handling them Workers compensation is insurance amount paid by the employer to workers who are injured or fall ill on the job. By this means, workers are given free/partial medical care and benefits while off work due to the injury. Under workers compensation, the worker is automatically entitled to insurance for injury sustained on the job and in return, the worker will not sue the employer for his illness or injury. WASHINGTON The United States and allies warned Iran on Friday that major Western economies will pile new sanctions on Tehran if it moves forward with an advancing plan to provide ballistic missiles to Russia for its war with Ukraine. The Biden administration has raised alarms for months that Russia is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as Moscow struggles to replenish its dwindling supplies. The U.S. has yet to confirm that missiles have moved from Iran to Russia. But U.S. officials are alarmed by comments by Iranian officials that suggest that a deal is imminent. One action that the Group of Seven countries are mulling is to prohibit Iran Air, the country's national air carrier, from flying to Europe, according to a senior Biden administration official. The official, who was not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, declined to preview other sanctions that the U.S. is mulling beyond describing the potential action as significant measures. Were Iran to proceed with providing ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia, we are prepared to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner including with new and significant measures against Iran, the G-7 leaders said in a statement. Iran's U.N. Mission said last month that there are no legal restrictions to prevent it from making ballistic missile sales but that is morally obligated to refrain from weapon transactions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict to prevent fueling the war. The U.S. and Europe already impose extensive sanctions against Iran targeting individuals as well as limiting the country's access to trade, financial services, energy, technology and other sectors. The sanctions on Iran are arguably the most extensive and comprehensive set of sanctions that the United States maintains on any country, with thousands of individuals and entities targeted. The Democratic administration in January said that U.S. intelligence officials had determined a Russian-Iran deal had not been completed but that they were concerned that Russias negotiations to acquire missiles from Iran were actively advancing. In September, according to the White House, Iran hosted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to show off a range of ballistic missile systems a moment that sparked U.S. concern that a deal could come together. Asked why the deal hasn't already been consummated, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he could not speak for the mullahs." Iran last year completed a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia and has been looking to buy additional advanced military equipment from the country, including attack helicopters, radars and combat-trainer aircraft, according to the White House. The U.S. and other countries have taken steps aimed at thwarting the supply, sale or transfer involving Iran and ballistic missile-related items, including issuing guidance to private companies about Iranian missile procurement practices to make sure they arent inadvertently supporting Irans development efforts. Weve sent very clear messages to Iran to not do it, this is a subject of considerable conversation among a number of countries in Europe and the United States and I think that the concern about that eventuality and the need to address it, if necessary, is very real and very strong, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a news conference on Friday in Vienna. The Biden administration has repeatedly sought to make the case that the Kremlin has become reliant on Iran and North Korea for the arms it needs to fight its war against Ukraine and has disclosed intelligence findings that it says show as much. Russia has acquired and used North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials, however, say that North Korean missiles when deployed by Russian forces have frequently missed targets. Russia has received hundreds of one-way attack drones, as well as drone production-related equipment, from Iran, according to the White House. The Biden administration also has accused Tehran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow. Iran initially denied supplying drones to Russia. Tehran later only acknowledged providing a small number before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine AP Diplomatic correspondent Matthew Lee contributed from Vienna. WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip (AP) A ship delivered 200 tons of humanitarian supplies, food and water to Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said, inaugurating a sea route from Cyprus for aid to help ease the humanitarian crisis brought by Israels 5-month-old offensive in the enclave. Israel has been under increasing pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, especially in the Palestinian territory's isolated north where hunger is at its worst, with many people reduced to eating animal feed and weeds. The United States has joined other countries in airdropping supplies into northern Gaza and has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Aid groups said the airdrops and sea shipments are far less efficient than trucks in delivering the massive amounts of aid needed. Instead, the groups have called on Israel to guarantee safe corridors for truck convoys after land deliveries became nearly impossible because of military restrictions, ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of order after the Hamas-run police force largely vanished from the streets. The ship, operated by the Spanish aid group Open Arms, left Cyprus on Tuesday towing a barge laden with food, including rice, flour, lentils, beans, tuna and canned meat. The food was sent by World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, which operates kitchens providing free meals in Gaza. Throughout the day Friday, the ship could be seen off Gaza's coast. In the evening, the military said its cargo had been unloaded onto 12 trucks. Grainy footage released by the military showed a truck on a pier approaching the barge. The food is to be distributed in the north, the largely devastated target of Israels initial offensive in Gaza, where up to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to remain, mostly cut off by Israeli forces since October. The delivery is intended to pave the way for larger shipments. A second vessel will head to Gaza once the supplies on the first ship are distributed, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said. Its timing depends in part on whether the Open Arms delivery goes smoothly, he said. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in another 250 being taken into Gaza as hostages. Israels offensive in Gaza has killed over 31,000 Palestinians and driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the United Nations. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza accused Israeli forces late Thursday of attacking Palestinians waiting for an aid convoy at a distribution point in northern Gaza, killing at least 20 people and wounding 155. At Shifa Hospital, doctors said the casualties were mostly hit by live fire, with some showing signs of being crushed. The Israeli military denied its forces fired at civilians or the convoy. In a statement, it said Palestinian gunmen opened fire among the crowd and that some were run over by the trucks. Aerial footage released by the military appeared to show only one man pushing and shoving people. Bloodshed surrounding an aid convoy on Feb. 29 killed 118 Palestinians in northern Gaza, when the Israeli military said its forces fired at people in the crowd who were advancing toward them and that tanks fired warning shots to disperse them. Witnesses and hospital officials said many of the casualties were from bullet wounds. Military officials initially blamed many of the deaths on a stampede; a later military command review said only that the stampede caused significant harm without addressing the cause of the deaths. After that, plans for the sea route took shape, and the United States and other countries joined Jordan in dropping aid into the north by plane. But people in northern Gaza say the airdrops cannot meet the vast need. Many cant access the aid because people are fighting over it, said Suwar Baroud, 24, who was displaced by the fighting and is now in Gaza City. Some people hoard it and sell it in the market, she said. A recent airdrop that malfunctioned plummeted from the sky and killed five people. Another landed in a sewage and garbage dump, said Riham Abu al-Bid. Men ran in but were unable to retrieve anything, she said. I wish these airdrops never happened and that our dignity and freedom would be taken into consideration, so we can get our sustenance in a dignified way and not in a manner that is so humiliating, she said. On average, around 115 supply trucks a day have entered Gaza over the entire course of the war, according to figures released by the Israeli prime ministers office far below the average of 500 a day before Oct. 7 though on some days the number spikes to above 200. This week, Israel began allowing trucks to enter directly into the north, a step aid groups have long called for. The military has also been arranging private commercial convoys and says more than 300 trucks mainly private have entered the north since the beginning of February. The Gaza Health Ministry said Friday that at least 31,490 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. International mediators have been working to broker a cease-fire, though hopes were thwarted for one before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started this week. Hamas put forward a new cease-fire proposal calling for a three-stage process, according to a report by Al Jazeera television that was confirmed to The Associated Press by a Palestinian official. The first six-week stage would bring a partial Israeli pullback in Gaza and the release of all female hostages held by the militants in exchange for the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. In the second stage, a permanent cease-fire would be declared, and Hamas would release all Israeli soldiers being held. In the third stage, reconstruction of Gaza would begin, and the Israeli blockade of Gaza would be lifted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic, but said Israel would send negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Netanyahus office also said Friday that Israel has approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. It said the operation will involve the evacuation of the civilian population but did not give details or a timetable. The military said Wednesday it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. At Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third-holiest site in Islam, the first Friday prayers of Ramadan were held without a major outbreak of protest or violence. The mosque has been a frequent flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence in the past. Israel limited West Bank Palestinians access to Fridays prayers to men over 55, women over 50 and children under 10. The compound has long been a deeply contested religious space, as it stands on the Temple Mount, which Jews consider their most sacred site. ___ Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Photo Credit: The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube ESPN First Take castmates Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith largely tend to agree on most non-sports-related issues. But when it comes to food, the two seemingly couldnt be further apart. Sharpe grew up in Glennville, Georgia, a town with a population of just under 4,000. Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith grew up in Queens, New York. So if you assumed that the two ate entirely different foods growing up, you would be correct. On the Nightcap podcast earlier this week, Sharpe was asked by a fan to rank four foods he used to eat growing up, a list consisting of squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, and turtles. He did just that, diving into how he preferred to eat each of these proteins. I would go squirrel one, raccoon two, rabbit three, and turtle four, said Sharpe to his Nightcap cohost Gilbert Arenas. Oh, I would take a raccoon right now. Oh man, you aint ever had no fried squirrel? Look, until I got to college, the only time I got chicken at home was on Sunday. I dont eat it now. But my mom said thats what they ate when they were growing up. Stephen A. Smit took notice of this list from his First Take partner, discussing it on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Friday. This brother is hilarious, Smith said of Sharpe. I called him an hour ago, and do you know what Shannon Sharpe said to me yall? Stephen A, you dont know what you missing. The black hulk is eating squirrels. He might have said that list is the top four as a kid. If you watch the video, damn it, he is talking about it now. He said to me Man we gotta get you outta the city. You dont know what you missing. That New York crap, we gotta show you what real food is like. Food!? Raccoons? I flip up my garbage can and run before I run back to make sure none are gonna pop out. I aint messing with no damn raccoon. Why the hell would I think about eating a turtle? I dont want no turtle. I dont want no raccoon. And I damn sure dont want a squirrel. But I aint Shannon, that brother is different. To be fair to Sharpe, he probably isnt eating any raccoons or turtles nowadays if given a choice in the matter. But its hard to fault him for eating what was put in front of him as a kid, even if it may not sound all that appetizing to most. [Nightcap on YouTube, Stephen A. Smith on Twitter/X] The Phillies have an agreement with free agent outfielder Jordan Luplow on a minor league deal, reports Robert Murray of FanSided (X link). He was released from a non-roster pact with the Braves last night. MassLives Chris Cotillo reported this afternoon (on X) that the Phils might have interest. Luplow is a right-handed hitter who has hit for power against lefty pitching. The veteran has connected on 33 longballs in 565 big league plate appearances against southpaws. Hes only a .197/.287/.343 hitter versus right-handed pitching, so hes best suited in a short side platoon capacity. He initially seemed as if hed have a shot at playing that role in Atlanta as a complement to the lefty-swinging Jarred Kelenic. The Braves took that off the table when they reunited with Adam Duvall on a $3MM free agent pact instead. Atlanta released Luplow within hours of the Duvall signing to allow him to explore other opportunities. He gets that look with Atlantas biggest threat in the NL East. The Phils already have a fairly right-handed bench group. Cristian Pache profiles as the fourth outfielder, while Whit Merrifield is a versatile option who could contribute throughout the infield or corner outfield. Philadelphias projected starter in left field, Brandon Marsh, has been delayed in camp after undergoing a minor procedure on his left knee at the beginning of February. While the Phils anticipate Marsh being ready for Opening Day, theres little harm in adding an experienced outfielder to camp. Luplow had been hitting well this spring, putting up a .276/.364/.621 slash with a trio of homers in 12 games. The Royals announced theyve acquired minor league reliever Natanael Garabitos from the Mariners. He is the player to be named later to complete the January trade that sent infielder Samad Taylor to Seattle. Garabitos, 23, signed with the Mariners as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic back in 2019. He has pitched in the lower levels of the minor leagues since entering pro ball. Garabitos has posted big strikeout numbers but walked far too many hitters. That continued at Low-A Modesto in 2023, where he issued free passes to 17.3% of opponents. The 60 righty struck out 30.2% of batters faced while allowing 4.02 earned runs per nine through 40 1/3 innings. Last spring, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs listed Garabitos as an honorable mention in his write-up of the Seattle farm system. Longenhagen noted that Garabitos averages around 96 MPH with his fastball but understandably panned his control. Hes a lottery ticket addition to the lower levels of the Kansas City system. Taylor is trying to grab a utility spot with the Mariners. He has appeared in 11 Spring Training contests, hitting .269/.286/.500 over 28 plate appearances. He has hit two homers with six strikeouts and one walk. BAY CITY, MI Theres a coffee shop offering far more than just the caffeinated beverage in downtown Bay City. Harless + Hugh, located at 1003 Washington Ave., opened in 2015. Owner Lyndsay Edmonds said she lived in Florence, Italy before diving headfirst into the coffee industry. Through her travels overseas, she noticed something that always brought people together. Coffee, beverage, was kind of always the community connector, Edmonds said. Artists and business people and thinkers, young and old, would come together at all different times of the day. Edmonds, who was born and raised in Bay City, said she wanted to move back to the area to be closer to family and find a way to work for herself. Harless Hugh Blair, Edmonds great-grandfather, had eight children, and all of them were entrepreneurs, Edmonds said. She wanted to use a family name that didnt include her own to honor those before her. Its just kind of a testament of family history and working for yourself, and I was just really intrigued with coffee, she said. Edmonds said the lattes flavored with house-made syrups, including St. Laurent Brothers chocolate for mochas, are the most popular coffee pick. The avocado toast with the in-house pickled egg is the customer favorite on the food menu. Alongside the coffee and food, Harless + Hugh offers beer and natural wine to parallel the European concept Edmonds learned. All the toast dishes and bakery offerings come from Fenton-based Crust bakery. Harless + Hugh also serves kombucha on tap from Cultured Kombucha Co. and beer on tap from Farm Club, both based out of Traverse City. I think bridging a Michigan product is really important, Edmonds said. In addition, Edmonds took that European vision further to create The Public House, a craft cocktail lounge also located in downtown Bay City. Edmonds business also includes rental properties, with an apartment above Harless + Hugh, a house on the Saginaw River and a sailboat docked at Pier 7 Marina all available for rent through Airbnb. Edmonds said the main idea was to create a whole getaway for guests within their businesses. Stay with us through the night, get coffee with us in the morning, and get cocktails and dinner with us at night, she said. It really gave somebody a reason to come to Bay City and creating this little triangle of hospitality. Harless + Hugh is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Im happy to be close to family, and I am just thrilled that the community has supported these concepts, Edmonds said. You couldnt ask for a better community, I think, to open a small business in. View the Harless + Hugh website here and their Facebook page here. LANSING, MI A Republican lawmaker says the state House of Representatives improperly censored his proposed constituent newsletter attacking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats. State Rep. Matt Maddock, R-Milford, filed a federal lawsuit against the state House of Representatives, House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, and the House Business Office, which has to approve legislators newsletters. Maddock, a loyalist of former President Donald Trump and husband to former Michigan Republican Party co-chair, Meshawn Maddock, filed the lawsuit after he was told that mass communications require approval by the House Business Office, and that his proposed newsletter violated multiple rules. Maddock objected to the Legislative Service Bureaus printing and mailing equipment guidelines that allow for official legislative business but not printing of personal or partisan material of any nature for a legislator , the lawsuit said. He also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement of House printing guidelines. Related: Trump-endorsed state Rep. Matt Maddock booted from Michigan House GOP caucus Messages seeking comment were left with Tates office and the House Business Office. The House of Representatives provides lawmakers with a lengthy list of prohibited uses of its printing and mailing equipment. Among them: Reports on personal lives of legislators or staff References to future or past elections Thank you notes for election to office Critical comments of the House, legislators or others Solicitation of political support Local or state ballot-issue explanations Campaign information Maddock said the guidelines have been in place for some time but that the House speaker is authorized to enact rules and Defendant Tate has re-authorized these unconstitutional rules and guidelines and uses the power of the Speakers Office to enforce them. Maddock said some rules are reasonable but contended that most are so scorchingly unconstitutional that they must be struck down, the lawsuit said. In a four-page draft of Maddocks proposed newsletter, he railed against Democrats. Let me say it plainly: our Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a horrible Governor, and she has done an awful job. Our legislature is similarly doing horrible things to your freedoms and to the State of Michigan. He said that the government prohibits publishing comments critical of the government. In an email exchange last month, a House Business Office representative told a legislative aide for Maddock that the proposed newsletter violates multiple portions of the printing guidelines and therefore is not approved. SALINE, MI -- A bit of Detroit is making its way to downtown Saline. DropTop Pizza has plans to bring its Detroit-style pizza to part of the building that once housed Smokehouse 52, 107 W. Michigan Ave., sometime this summer. ANN ARBOR, MI --Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar has been bringing classic Italian meals to Ann Arbor for decades, and thats not planned to change anytime soon. The restaurant at 3411 Washtenaw Ave. has been serving authentic Italian food since former owners Bridget and Mike Roddy opened its doors in 1984. Related: Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar is changing owners after 40 years Ownership changed last June when the Roddys sold the business to Richard Buhr, whos been in Ann Arbors restaurant industry since 1979 and is now running Paesano with his family, which includes his daughter, Elissa Spangler, and her son, Andrew Spicer. Even with the new ownership, customers can expect to find the same service and the same menu theyve come to know and love. Theres no reason to fix whats not broken, Spicer said. Dishes like its lasagna will continue to use the same recipe as the last 40 years. Spicer said his family loved the dish so much they would often get it every Christmas Eve. Other top classic meals that wont change include the chicken piccata, made with a lemon sauce, capers and garlic with white wine and herb butter and served with angel hair pasta. This dish has a very simple sauce, but the simpler the sauce is, the better, Spangler said. Paesanos chicken parmesan also hopes to remain a top seller. Its made with crispy, pan-fried breaded chicken breasts topped with melted mozzarella cheese with angel hair pasta and tomato sauce. However, Spicer said customers can expect some new dishes to make their way to the restaurant with its everchanging seasonal menu and weekly specials. One weekly special that recently gained a lot of hype is the restaurants handmade rose petal ravioli filled with short rib and ricotta cheese, served over arugula puree. It was so popular it will return to the menu for Mothers Day. The restaurants chef is also introducing customers to new handmade ravioli every week, Spangler said. Other recent dinner specials have included blackened salmon topped with cucumber-tomato salad and dill cream sauce and a lemon chiffon cake with layers of blueberry buttercream. There are a few specials coming for Easter, including grilled lamb chops with house-made chimichurri, roasted red skin potatoes and puff pastry filled with roasted asparagus and gruyere, brie and mozzarella cheeses drizzled with white balsamic glaze and spicy honey. The new owners loved the energy the Roddys always seemed to have and are making it a priority to bring the same personable approach to their services, Spangler said. The goal is to continue to make the Roddys proud and leave their own legacy with Paesano, Spicer said, adding he loves that he gets to work so closely with his family. I just feel really lucky and blessed to be able to be the face of such a longstanding popular business, he said. This is a huge deal, and we take it very seriously. Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find it online, on social media or by phone at 734-971-0484. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. MORE ANN ARBOR LOCAL EATS: Expand your palate with Base Camp Restaurants Himalayan menu The brisket at The Smoke Doctor in Hamburg Township just melts in your mouth Taste some heat with Thompson & Co.s Nashville hot chicken sandwich Bite into the Reuben - the No. 1 sandwich at Zingermans Deli in Ann Arbor Side Biscuit has your Super Bowl snack needs covered with a gameday menu of wings and more Up, up and away! Superman cheesecake is a superhero at 24th Cheesecakerie The sourdough bread is a hit at Raterman Bread Haus & Bistro in Dexter Youll find authentic, comforting Peruvian food at Culantros newest location in Ann Arbor Youll find a unique take on tacos - including vegetarian options - at TAQ The Diablo Burger is not for the faint of heart at Regents Field in Ann Arbor Give the Zhoug Knight sandwich a try at Spiedo in Ann Arbor before its too late Weighing a pound and a half, the Carrot Cake at Ann Arbors Village Kitchen fills you up Put a little spice in your life with the Caribbean Queen taco at Ann Arbors 1923 Shareable dishes inspired by Vietnamese flavors await at Peridot in Ann Arbor The Lumberjack Omelet at The Golden Egg is so big you may need a nap afterward WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- When Aishwarya Deshmane walked up to him on the first day of class, Brandon Chiazza thought she had one of the warmest smiles he had ever seen. She was really immediately just a presence in my class, said Chiazza, the co-founder of consulting firm Modali Consulting and an instructor at Yeshiva University, both in New York. Deshmane, 29, was killed in a crash around 8 p.m. Monday, March 5 at the intersection of Packard Road and Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township, according to Patrick Gray, spokesperson for the Pittsfield Township Police Department. The crash also injured Deshmanes husband, identified as Parth Bhivate by friend Ananya Dutta, and the 22-year-old driver of the other vehicle, according to police. Deshmane originally was from Maharashtra, India, before moving to the United States to pursue education in data analytics, according to Dutta. She moved from the New Jersey area to Ann Arbor in February, Dutta said. Deshmanes parents remain in India, while her younger brother is studying animation in Canada, Dutta said. She was a very humble person, a very down to earth person, and we used to share many things together, Dutta said. She and Parth really had a very good connection. Dutta and Deshmane met through their respective husbands, who studied together at Clemson University in South Carolina. Deshmane would stay with Dutta while she was working on her move to Ann Arbor, Dutta said. Read more: Woman killed in Washtenaw County crash that also injured 2 Deshmane was a top performer in her program and in her work as a data analytics consultant with Modali Consulting, Chiazza said. Although she started out as an intern, she eventually began working for the company full time. She was known for both her high-level work and magnetic personality, Chiazza added. Her prospects and her future were very bright, he said Deshmane graduated with a masters degree in data analytics and visualization from Yeshiva University in December, according to a LinkedIn profile by the same name. While at the company, Deshmane created an artificial intelligence algorithm that could accurately detect defects in printed circuit boards. Chiazza is working to posthumously publish a paper she wrote on the subject, he said. Despite her achievements, she was always humble, he added. Bhivate is too, he said. Its very rare, especially in the tech industry, that you get such a tremendously humble people that are also matched with the level of intelligence that I think they have, Chiazza said. Dutta specifically praised Deshmanes relationship with her husband. The pair were married in 2021, she added. Parth would say he was very lucky to have Aishwarya in his life, Dutta said. [Me and my husband] could feel they had a really good bonding. Her friend group has rallied around Bhivate as he recovers from the crash, Dutta added. Deshmanes funeral took place in India on Thursday, March 14. I feel very bad that a lovely human beings life could be cut short so quickly, Dutta said. A GoFundMe to support Bhivates medical expenses and Deshmanes funeral expenses has raised more than $89,000 as of Friday. Its really rare like somebody her comes along, Chiazza said. Deshmane was a passenger in a Scion TC driven by Bhivate. He attempted to turn the car left from westbound Packard Road onto southbound Carpenter Road, police said, and a Ford Escape traveling east on Packard Road struck it on its passenger side. The Ford Escape was driven by the 22-year-old man, who is from Ypsilanti. Bhivate, 35, was critically injured in the crash, police said. He is still in the hospital as of Friday, Dutta said. The 22-year-old man was taken to the hospital, but has since been released, police said. The details surrounding the crash are still under investigation and we are unable to say whether charges will be filed at this point, Gray said in an email to MLive. It does appear that the driver of the Scion failed to yield, but it is too early to report on charges at this time. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. FLINT, MI -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Flint political activist who claimed her constitutional rights were violated when she was ordered out of a City Council meeting last August. U.S. District Court Judge Sean F. Cox dismissed the case in an order signed on Friday, March 15. FRANKENMUTH, MI Members of the Frankenmuth community laid to rest their fallen mayor during a memorial service Saturday, March 16. About 250 people gathered for Mary Anne Ackermans funeral at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Frankenmuth, where pastors talked about Ackermans joy of listening to people, dedication to serving others, and love for education. Ackerman was Frankenmuths mayor when she died Feb. 24 at the age of 66. She also spent a decade as the Frankenmuth School District superintendent. There was nothing Mary Anne was afraid to try, the Rev. Patrick Jankowiak told attendees during Saturdays 60-minute service. She did that while being in the public eye. Being the first woman in such a high position wasnt easy. Jankowiak and the Rev. Robert Byrne led a liturgy that included the recital of prayers and hymns as well as a recounting of Ackermans impact as a leader in the town known sometimes as Little Bavaria. She gave us everything she had and taught us everything she knew, including how to die with grace, and with a warm and loving heart, Jankowiak said. The memorials lone speaker besides church leaders was Charlene Hagen, Ackermans sister. You meant so much to her, and she would be so thankful you are here, Hagen told attendees. Jankowiak told them about Ackermans undeterred optimism. Mary Ann laid bare her joys, not her sufferings, he said. It was her way of seeing the beauty in things. Ackermans service in Frankenmuth began in 1995, when the Reese native who previously served as a teacher and then principal at Millington Glaza Elementary was hired as principal at List Elementary School in the Frankenmuth School District. Under her leadership, the school garnered state and national blue-ribbon awards as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. Ackerman served as assistant superintendent for one year before beginning a 10-year tenure as Frankenmuth School District superintendent in 2006. After her retirement from the school district, she remained involved in education until her death. Ackerman worked as an executive-in-residence with Saginaw Valley State Universitys faculty while also serving as co-director of the colleges Gerstacker Fellowship Program, which provides leadership development for educators across the region. She entered politics in 2016, when voters elected her to the Frankenmuth City Council. Then, during the November 2018 elections, she defeated Gary Rupprecht to become the first new Frankenmuth mayor in 33 years. Colleagues and constituents said her political legacy in part was defined during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Ackerman encouraged solidarity. She spoke and wrote messages often via social media channels, where she attempted to provide people with a sense of unity even as public health policies kept many people separated, colleagues said. One of her signature decisions during the pandemic involved encouraging Frankenmuth residents and business owners to display decorative red ribbons across the city as a showing of solidarity. After she died, Frankenmuth City Hall officials paid tribute to that decision by encouraging members of the community to place on their homes and storefronts ribbons featuring the blue-and-white colors of the Bavarian flag. Hundreds of those ribbons remained on display Saturday in the neighborhoods surrounding Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. The memorial service, recorded on the churchs YouTube channel, remains available to view online. 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. Much colder air on a northwest wind will make some lake-effect snow showers from Sunday through Tuesday. There will be some areas of accumulations. The cold air gradually oozes into Michigan through the day Sunday. The cold air will be fully into all of Michigan Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. Its not going to be a super heavy lake-effect snow situation like wed normally have in December or January. The areas of accumulating lake-effect snow will be the typical areas of the northern U.P. off Lake Superior, northwest Lower Michigan, southwest Lower Michigan and the Thumb. The rest of Lower Michigan will have spurts of snow showers that can briefly stack up to an inch or two. Heres the radar forecast from Sunday morning to Tuesday. Radar forecast from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Tuesday.NOAA Snow showers will move from Petoskey, Charlevoix and Traverse City southward to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo Sunday night into Monday. The Thumb will have snow showers Monday. Then another widespread area of snow showers will move across all of Lower Michigan Tuesday. Heres the total snowfall likely through Tuesday evening. Total snowfall forecast from Sunday morning to Tuesday night.NOAA The Lake Superior snowbelt lined all along the northern half of the U.P. will have three inches to eight inches of snow. A large area of northwest Lower Michigan will have two inches to four inches, including Traverse City, areas around Cadillac, Kalkaska, Mancelona, Charlevoix, Petoskey and west of Gaylord. Huron County in the Thumb should have an inch or two inches of snow. The northeast part of the Detroit area could have an inch or two of snow Monday into Tuesday. With the warm ground now the lighter accumulations will be temporary. As soon as the snow stops, the snow on the ground will start to melt. Shares of AIREA plc (LON:AIEA Get Free Report) shot up 3.5% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 31 ($0.40) and last traded at GBX 29.50 ($0.38). 22,465 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 6% from the average session volume of 21,227 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 28.50 ($0.37). AIREA Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.48, a current ratio of 2.91 and a quick ratio of 1.66. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 27.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 26.74. The stock has a market capitalization of 12.20 million, a P/E ratio of 983.33 and a beta of 1.09. About AIREA (Get Free Report) AIREA plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the designing and manufacture of floor coverings in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company offers carpet tiles and planks for architects, specifiers and contractors in the education, leisure, commercial, healthcare, and public sectors under the Burmatex brand name. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AIREA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AIREA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arlington Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 366 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $213,000. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 70,575,602 shares of the companys stock worth $37,908,273,000 after acquiring an additional 659,838 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,878,417 shares of the companys stock worth $15,888,300,000 after acquiring an additional 642,274 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew 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 worth $7,111,568,000 after acquiring an additional 338,077 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% in the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,545,572 shares of the companys stock worth $6,738,605,000 after purchasing an additional 83,915 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.6% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 10,158,275 shares of the companys stock worth $5,456,314,000 after purchasing an additional 355,317 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on LLY shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. DZ Bank downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of 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, Truist Financial upped their price objective 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. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $677.62. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.7 % Shares of LLY traded down $5.37 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $755.36. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,729,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,382,536. The firm has a market cap of $717.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $323.26 and a 1-year high of $800.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69. The company has a 50 day moving average of $708.78 and a two-hundred day moving average of $624.76. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 firm 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 posted $2.09 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 34,538 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $631.81, for a total value of $21,821,453.78. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 99,719,884 shares in the company, valued at $63,004,019,910.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock worth $125,254,657. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company 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; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Featured Stories 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. Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,250,000 shares, a decline of 13.2% from the February 14th total of 1,440,000 shares. Approximately 2.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 513,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days. Insider Transactions at Armstrong World Industries In other Armstrong World Industries news, CEO Victor Grizzle sold 22,914 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.02, for a total transaction of $2,268,944.28. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 332,435 shares of the companys stock, valued at $32,917,713.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.09% of the companys stock. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Armstrong World Industries Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 182.0% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 392 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 334.2% in the 2nd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 495 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 381 shares during the period. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, US Bancorp DE increased its position in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 74.6% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 487 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares during the period. 98.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Armstrong World Industries Stock Up 0.7 % Armstrong World Industries stock traded up $0.84 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $122.38. 715,850 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 362,742. The business has a fifty day moving average of $108.71 and a 200 day moving average of $90.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.61. The firm has a market cap of $5.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.48, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.12. Armstrong World Industries has a 12-month low of $62.03 and a 12-month high of $123.82. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The construction company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $312.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $305.44 million. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.56% and a net margin of 17.28%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.08 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Armstrong World Industries will post 5.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were given a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 28th. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is presently 22.40%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently commented on AWI. UBS Group raised Armstrong World Industries from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the company from $75.00 to $103.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $111.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Truist Financial upped their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, StockNews.com cut Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Armstrong World Industries has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $98.29. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Armstrong World Industries Armstrong World Industries Company Profile (Get Free Report) Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of ceiling and wall solutions in the Americas. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers mineral fiber, fiberglass wool, metal, wood, felt, wood fiber, and glass-reinforced-gypsum; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings, walls, and facades for use in commercial settings; and manufactures ceiling suspension system (grid) products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (NYSE:BLW Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 135,600 shares, a growth of 86.8% from the February 14th total of 72,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 95,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Trading Down 0.1 % BLW traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $14.00. 43,927 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 82,402. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of $13.38. BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust has a 1 year low of $12.35 and a 1 year high of $14.26. Get BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust alerts: BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.108 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.26%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Company Profile A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Carmichael Hill & Associates Inc. now owns 14,488 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $203,000 after acquiring an additional 1,054 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 59,050 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $768,000 after purchasing an additional 1,151 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 46,352 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 1,175 shares in the last quarter. Pointe Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pointe Capital Management LLC now owns 25,965 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $334,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its position in shares of BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 45,802 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $554,000 after purchasing an additional 1,749 shares in the last quarter. (Get Free Report) BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in fixed income securities of the United States. It invests in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in investment grade corporate bonds, mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, US Government and agency securities, and senior, secured floating rate loans. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DB Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:XAR Free Report) by 11.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 14,327 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,451 shares during the quarter. SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF comprises approximately 1.1% of DB Wealth Management Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. DB Wealth Management Group LLCs holdings in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF were worth $1,940,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in XAR. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF by 21.9% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after acquiring an additional 438 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its holdings in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 12,068 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,505,000 after acquiring an additional 1,233 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF by 295.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,579 shares of the companys stock valued at $201,000 after acquiring an additional 1,180 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp acquired a new position in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $548,000. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. raised its holdings in SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF by 61.6% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $716,000 after acquiring an additional 2,190 shares in the last quarter. Get SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF alerts: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF Trading Up 0.1 % NYSEARCA XAR traded up $0.17 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $137.60. The company had a trading volume of 61,404 shares, compared to its average volume of 86,190. The company has a market capitalization of $1.75 billion, a PE ratio of 21.50 and a beta of 1.09. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $133.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.07. SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF has a twelve month low of $108.32 and a twelve month high of $142.78. SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF Company Profile The SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in industrials equity. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of US aerospace & defense companies. XAR was launched on Sep 28, 2011 and is managed by State Street. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XAR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:XAR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Hawaiian Bank increased its position in RTX Co. (NYSE:RTX Free Report) by 4.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 77,085 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,477 shares during the quarter. First Hawaiian Banks holdings in RTX were worth $6,486,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in RTX. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC purchased a new position in RTX in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in RTX in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of RTX by 352.0% during the third quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 443 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. increased its position in shares of RTX by 37.4% during the third quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 467 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of RTX during the third quarter worth about $35,000. 79.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get RTX alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on RTX shares. Barclays lifted their price target on RTX from $75.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of RTX from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $100.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Thursday. Bank of America upgraded shares of RTX from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $78.00 to $100.00 in a report on Thursday, January 25th. TheStreet upgraded shares of RTX from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of RTX from $82.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $94.18. Insiders Place Their Bets In other RTX news, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total value of $3,233,232.64. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,741 shares in the company, valued at $614,711.79. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Neil G. Mitchill, Jr. sold 1,545 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.36, for a total transaction of $142,696.20. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 49,894 shares in the company, valued at $4,608,209.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Shane G. Eddy sold 35,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.19, for a total transaction of $3,233,232.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 6,741 shares in the company, valued at $614,711.79. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 37,785 shares of company stock worth $3,448,188. Company insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. RTX Price Performance Shares of RTX traded up $1.20 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $92.96. 35,742,702 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,277,555. RTX Co. has a one year low of $68.56 and a one year high of $104.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business has a 50-day moving average of $89.50 and a 200 day moving average of $82.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $123.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.38, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.87. RTX (NYSE:RTX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.04. RTX had a net margin of 4.64% and a return on equity of 10.34%. The business had revenue of $19.93 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.74 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.27 earnings per share. RTXs revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that RTX Co. will post 5.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. RTX Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.54%. RTXs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 105.36%. RTX Profile (Free Report) RTX Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. The Collins Aerospace Systems segment offers aerospace and defense products, and aftermarket service solutions for civil and military aircraft manufacturers and commercial airlines, as well as regional, business, and general aviation, defense, and commercial space operations. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for RTX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RTX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fluent Financial LLC lessened its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:DGRO Free Report) by 3.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 45,534 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,861 shares during the quarter. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF makes up 1.5% of Fluent Financial LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Fluent Financial LLCs holdings in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF were worth $2,451,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Centurion Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Centurion Wealth Management LLC now owns 34,693 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,718,000 after buying an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. raised its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. now owns 24,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,195,000 after acquiring an additional 216 shares during the period. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 20,579 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,019,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the period. Financial Life Advisors raised its stake in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Life Advisors now owns 32,339 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,602,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Headinvest LLC increased its position in iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Headinvest LLC now owns 11,676 shares of the companys stock worth $584,000 after buying an additional 243 shares during the period. Get iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF alerts: iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Trading Down 0.3 % DGRO stock traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $56.76. 1,515,156 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,633,146. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.16 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $55.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.51. iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $47.19 and a 12 month high of $57.35. About iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Morningstar US Dividend Growth index. The fund tracks an index of US stocks that are selected by dividends, dividend growth and payout ratio, then weighted by dividend dollars. DGRO was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV Free Report) by 388.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 294,152 shares of the auto parts companys stock after acquiring an additional 233,928 shares during the quarter. Aptiv accounts for 2.8% of HITE Hedge Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest position. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC owned about 0.11% of Aptiv worth $26,391,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank bought a new position in Aptiv during the 4th quarter valued at $382,261,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Aptiv by 350.9% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,723,984 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $305,605,000 after purchasing an additional 2,119,819 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Aptiv by 17.3% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 9,520,838 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $854,210,000 after purchasing an additional 1,405,569 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Aptiv by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 31,372,005 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $3,092,966,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265,774 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its stake in Aptiv by 65.0% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,158,382 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $193,650,000 after purchasing an additional 850,294 shares in the last quarter. 89.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Aptiv alerts: Insider Activity In related news, SVP Benjamin Lyon sold 18,680 shares of Aptiv stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.69, for a total transaction of $1,451,249.20. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 95,211 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,396,942.59. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have issued reports on APTV shares. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on Aptiv from $115.00 to $104.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Aptiv from $150.00 to $136.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Aptiv from $135.00 to $115.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Aptiv from $80.00 to $79.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price objective on Aptiv from $120.00 to $103.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $113.57. Read Our Latest Research Report on APTV Aptiv Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of NYSE:APTV traded up $1.04 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $77.24. 3,848,731 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,934,284. Aptiv PLC has a 52-week low of $71.01 and a 52-week high of $113.60. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $80.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.72. The company has a market capitalization of $21.06 billion, a PE ratio of 7.46, a P/E/G ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.90. Aptiv (NYSE:APTV Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The auto parts company reported $1.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.11. Aptiv had a return on equity of 13.32% and a net margin of 14.65%. The company had revenue of $4.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.95 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that Aptiv PLC will post 5.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About Aptiv (Free Report) Aptiv PLC engages in design, manufacture, and sale of vehicle components in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, South America, and internationally. The company provides electrical, electronic, and safety technology solutions to the automotive and commercial vehicle markets. It operates through two segments, Signal and Power Solutions, and Advanced Safety and User Experience. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding APTV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Aptiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aptiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HST Ventures LLC decreased its position in shares of CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE Free Report) by 70.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 67,780 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 162,777 shares during the period. CBRE Group comprises 2.2% of HST Ventures LLCs holdings, making the stock its 16th largest holding. HST Ventures LLCs holdings in CBRE Group were worth $6,310,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in CBRE. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in CBRE Group by 57.4% in the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 499 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in CBRE Group by 190.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 497 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Headinvest LLC bought a new position in CBRE Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in CBRE Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC bought a new position in CBRE Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.71% of the companys stock. Get CBRE Group alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of CBRE Group from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. StockNews.com raised shares of CBRE Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 19th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of CBRE Group from $95.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Evercore ISI cut shares of CBRE Group from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $79.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of CBRE Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.33. CBRE Group Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of CBRE traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $93.21. 3,280,288 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,742,624. The company has a current ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $88.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.54. CBRE Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $64.63 and a 52 week high of $96.00. The company has a market cap of $28.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.40 and a beta of 1.42. CBRE Group (NYSE:CBRE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $8.95 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.44 billion. CBRE Group had a net margin of 3.09% and a return on equity of 13.69%. The firms revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.33 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that CBRE Group, Inc. will post 4.55 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, CEO John E. Durburg sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.20, for a total transaction of $2,305,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 207,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,164,323.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Chandra Dhandapani sold 11,925 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.03, for a total transaction of $1,121,307.75. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 127,064 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,947,827.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO John E. Durburg sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.20, for a total transaction of $2,305,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 207,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,164,323.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 39,592 shares of company stock valued at $3,675,752 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. CBRE Group Profile (Free Report) CBRE Group, Inc operates as a commercial real estate services and investment company in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The Advisory Services segment offers strategic advice and execution to owners, investors, and occupiers of real estate in connection with leasing of offices, and industrial and retail space; clients fully integrated property sales services under the CBRE Capital Markets brand; clients commercial mortgage and structured financing services; originates and sells commercial mortgage loans; property management services, such as marketing, building engineering, accounting, and financial services on a contractual basis for owners of and investors in office, industrial, and retail properties; and valuation services that include market value appraisals, litigation support, discounted cash flow analyses, and feasibility studies, as well as consulting services, such as property condition reports, hotel advisory, and environmental consulting. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CBRE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CBRE Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CBRE Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ignite Planners LLC cut its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 8.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 10,033 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 917 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $1,180,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in COP. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 22,756,145 shares of the energy producers stock worth $2,354,009,000 after purchasing an additional 334,277 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 26.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,647,723 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,964,432,000 after buying an additional 3,497,750 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 12,486,871 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,495,927,000 after buying an additional 386,276 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 12,028,061 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,440,962,000 after buying an additional 1,152,907 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 98,832.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,584,373 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,012,956,000 after buying an additional 8,575,696 shares in the last quarter. 80.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of ConocoPhillips stock traded up $0.31 on Friday, hitting $120.09. 17,548,992 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,937,875. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $111.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $115.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. ConocoPhillips has a 52 week low of $91.53 and a 52 week high of $127.35. The company has a market cap of $141.28 billion, a PE ratio of 13.25, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.23. ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The energy producer reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.32. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.71% and a return on equity of 22.08%. The firm had revenue of $15.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.47 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.71 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 8.82 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 19th were issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.60%. This is a positive change from ConocoPhillipss previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.61%. Insider Activity at ConocoPhillips In related news, EVP Dominic E. Macklon sold 23,372 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.17, for a total transaction of $2,621,637.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Dominic E. Macklon sold 23,372 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.17, for a total transaction of $2,621,637.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total transaction of $502,781.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,654 shares in the company, valued at $293,399.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 36,425 shares of company stock valued at $4,077,489 over the last ninety days. 0.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on ConocoPhillips from $153.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Johnson Rice lowered ConocoPhillips from an accumulate rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Raymond James dropped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $137.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Mizuho dropped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $139.00 to $132.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $152.00 to $133.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $134.61. Read Our Latest Report on COP ConocoPhillips Company Profile (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding COP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kodiak Gas Services, Inc. (NYSE:KGS Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,660,000 shares, a decline of 21.0% from the February 14th total of 2,100,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 436,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.8 days. Approximately 9.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Kodiak Gas Services from $25.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Kodiak Gas Services from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $27.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on Kodiak Gas Services from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Kodiak Gas Services has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $24.00. Get Kodiak Gas Services alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on KGS Kodiak Gas Services Price Performance Kodiak Gas Services Announces Dividend Shares of KGS stock traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $26.17. The company had a trading volume of 585,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 426,654. Kodiak Gas Services has a 12 month low of $15.05 and a 12 month high of $29.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.03 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.77. The firms fifty day moving average is $23.87 and its 200 day moving average is $20.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th were given a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $1.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.81%. Kodiak Gas Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.00%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Margaret C. Montana purchased 2,000 shares of Kodiak Gas Services stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $25.25 per share, with a total value of $50,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,375 shares of the companys stock, valued at $413,468.75. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kodiak Gas Services A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of KGS. Ion Asset Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Kodiak Gas Services during the 2nd quarter worth $25,984,000. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in Kodiak Gas Services during the 3rd quarter worth $1,252,000. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in Kodiak Gas Services by 51.8% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 91,998 shares of the companys stock worth $1,645,000 after buying an additional 31,385 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in Kodiak Gas Services during the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in Kodiak Gas Services during the 2nd quarter worth $205,000. 23.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Kodiak Gas Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Kodiak Gas Services, Inc operates contract compression infrastructure for customers in the oil and gas industry in the United States. It operates in two segments, Compression Operations and Other Services. The Compression Operations segment operates company-owned and customer-owned compression infrastructure to enable the production, gathering, and transportation of natural gas and oil. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Kodiak Gas Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kodiak Gas Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC reduced its position in Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC Free Report) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 62,153 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 2,235 shares during the quarter. Moelis & Company makes up approximately 2.5% of Salvus Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Salvus Wealth Management LLC owned 0.09% of Moelis & Company worth $3,489,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MC. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in Moelis & Company by 12.7% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 13,269 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $438,000 after acquiring an additional 1,498 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Moelis & Company by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 556,181 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $26,113,000 after acquiring an additional 17,074 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its position in Moelis & Company by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 7,401 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $348,000 after acquiring an additional 620 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Moelis & Company by 95.5% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 7,478 shares of the asset managers stock worth $351,000 after buying an additional 3,653 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its stake in shares of Moelis & Company by 15.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 6,366 shares of the asset managers stock worth $299,000 after buying an additional 828 shares during the period. 91.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Moelis & Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently weighed in on MC shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Moelis & Company from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their target price for the stock from $53.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Moelis & Company from $46.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Moelis & Company from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a market perform rating and issued a $56.00 price target on shares of Moelis & Company in a report on Monday, January 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.80. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, Vice Chairman Eric Cantor sold 17,857 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.60, for a total value of $939,278.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 195,863 shares in the company, valued at $10,302,393.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Vice Chairman Eric Cantor sold 17,857 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.60, for a total value of $939,278.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 195,863 shares in the company, valued at $10,302,393.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Christopher Callesano sold 1,040 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.59, for a total value of $55,733.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 375,185 shares of company stock worth $20,130,225. 6.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Moelis & Company Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSE MC traded up $0.45 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $53.65. 1,386,132 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 666,234. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $49.79. Moelis & Company has a 1-year low of $33.87 and a 1-year high of $58.67. The firm has a market cap of $3.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -149.03 and a beta of 1.35. Moelis & Company (NYSE:MC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The asset manager reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by $0.05. Moelis & Company had a negative return on equity of 3.82% and a negative net margin of 2.89%. The firm had revenue of $214.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $197.98 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.33 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Moelis & Company will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Moelis & Company Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.47%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 16th. Moelis & Companys payout ratio is -666.67%. Moelis & Company Profile (Free Report) Moelis & Company operates as an investment banking advisory firm. It offers advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters, as well as strategic, capital structure, and private funds advisory. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Moelis & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moelis & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. US President Joe Biden recently proposed a $7.3 trillion US government budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Among this, the defense budget of the US has once again broken records, soaring to $895.2 billion, an increase of over $9 billion compared to the 2024 fiscal year, nearly reaching the $900 billion mark. The US defense spending for the 2024 fiscal year has already exceeded the combined military expenditures of the following nine countries, including China and Russia, accounting for about 40 percent of the global military expenditure. With the US national debt surpassing $34 trillion in early 2024, equivalent to $100,000 debt per capita, the US still allocates 12 percent of its government spending to defense for the fiscal year 2025, a practice of "spending lavishly on the military" that has shocked the international community. Looking at the expenditure items in the 2025 fiscal year US defense budget, it is clear the majority will be used to support US military interventions and so-called "integrated deterrence" globally, research and development of new weapons and emerging military technologies, upgrading and modernizing nuclear arsenals, and enhancing military capabilities in strategic competition with other major powers. Despite continuous rhetoric of the "China threat" from US politicians, the continuously rising defense budget fully illustrates that the US is the biggest destabilizing factor threatening global peace and stability. Combining recent speeches from US politicians, it is apparent that the US military will continue to conduct military interventions and so-called "deterrence" actions in regions such as the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East, which will undoubtedly lead to a more tumultuous and unstable world in the future. For example, Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, claimed, "Our defense budget should be built with the goal of deterring the threats facing our nation." In addition to the "European Deterrence Initiative" budget specifically prepared to strengthen military containment against Russia, the US 2025 fiscal year defense budget also allocates $9.9 billion for the "Pacific Deterrence Initiative" targeting China to enhance the deployment and operations of the US military in the Asia-Pacific region and increase targeted joint military exercises and patrols with allies. The US media outlets believe this is a not-so-subtle strategic message sent by the Biden administration to China. US Army Budget Director Major General Mark S. Bennett said the spending on military exercises in the Pacific by the US Army in the new fiscal year will be significantly higher than in the 2024 fiscal year. In addition to continuing to fuel the conflicts in Russia and Ukraine and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the US will also support and condone "Taiwan independence" activities. Although the supplemental spending bill proposed by the Biden administration to provide military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan region has been stalled in the House of Representatives, the defense budget document released by the Pentagon on Monday shows that the $500 million "initial spending request" in the budget will be used to replenish US weapon stockpiles after weapons are sent to Taiwan region. In addition to the $500 million in aid to Taiwan region under the presidential authority, the Biden administration is also seeking $100 million in the 2025 fiscal budget for the US State Department, which is referred to as a "historic investment in Taiwan's security," with the aim of "strengthening deterrence across the Taiwan Straits." This is the first time the US has specifically listed Taiwan region in a budget, revealing the side of the US supporting and tolerating "Taiwan independence" forces. In order to obtain more military funding, the US military has recently been hyping up the "Chinese military threat theory." For example, the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command claimed that Chinese military aircraft will start operating near the US Air Defense Identification Zone as early as this year, "not only military aircraft, but also ships, and even submarines." In addition, Pentagon analysts have also exaggerated China's lead in the field of hypersonic weapons. As a result, the new US defense budget for the coming year has increased investment in missile defense systems and strengthened research and development efforts for hypersonic weapons. In fact, since 2018, the Pentagon has invested over $12 billion in developing a variety of land, sea, and air-based hypersonic strike weapon systems. The new US defense budget also allocates huge funds to continue developing emerging technologies, upgrading and modernizing the nuclear arsenal, and enhancing the "nuclear triad" strike capability, including the development and construction of the next-generation Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine, the B-21 Raider strategic bomber, and the new generation of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles. The world can see clearly that the US' nearly $900 billion defense budget has a major goal of taking various measures to enhance the military capabilities of the US in strategic competition with other major powers, seeking to achieve "absolute security" for the US by undermining the security of other countries, thereby allowing the US to dictate terms and maintain its global hegemonic status. Faced with a world in turmoil, the US should abandon Cold War thinking, stop military confrontation, bloc confrontation, and geopolitical games, and work with the international community to uphold world peace and security, which is the responsibility that a major power should fulfill. - Global Times Moonpig Group PLC (LON:MOON Get Free Report) traded down 1% on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 170.80 ($2.19) and last traded at GBX 171.70 ($2.20). 1,013,662 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 94% from the average session volume of 522,180 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 173.50 ($2.22). Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 265 ($3.40) target price on shares of Moonpig Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Get Moonpig Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MOON Moonpig Group Stock Down 1.0 % Moonpig Group Company Profile The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 163.11 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 164.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.66. The firm has a market cap of 589.46 million, a PE ratio of 1,717.00 and a beta of 1.26. (Get Free Report) Moonpig Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides online greeting cards and gifts in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The company sells its products under the Moonpig, Buyagift, RedLetterdays, and Greetz brands through website and mobile app. Moonpig Group PLC was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Moonpig Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moonpig Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Premium Brands Holdings Co. (OTCMKTS:PRBZF Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 372,300 shares, a drop of 25.2% from the February 14th total of 497,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1,241.0 days. Premium Brands Stock Performance Shares of PRBZF traded down $2.31 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $63.89. The company had a trading volume of 140 shares, compared to its average volume of 862. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $68.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.38. Premium Brands has a 1 year low of $63.89 and a 1 year high of $83.35. Get Premium Brands alerts: Premium Brands Company Profile (Get Free Report) See Also Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides processed meat, deli products, meat snacks, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, salads and kettle products, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products. Receive News & Ratings for Premium Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Premium Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Purus Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF (NYSEARCA:RFV Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 1,804 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $210,000. Purus Wealth Management LLC owned about 0.07% of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of RFV. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Private Trust Co. NA bought a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $48,000. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF by 586.8% in the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 989 shares of the companys stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 845 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF by 97.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 2,102 shares of the companys stock worth $198,000 after acquiring an additional 1,036 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF alerts: Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF Stock Up 0.3 % RFV traded up $0.31 on Friday, reaching $113.27. 8,518 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,691. Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF has a one year low of $87.10 and a one year high of $117.84. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $112.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $105.88. The company has a market cap of $278.64 million, a P/E ratio of 8.63 and a beta of 1.41. Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF Profile The Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF (RFV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P Mid Cap 400 Pure Value index. The fund tracks a fundamentally weighted index of US-listed value companies. RFV was launched on Mar 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Pure Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crescent Point Energy Corp. (NYSE:CPG Get Free Report) (TSE:CPG) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 17,050,000 shares, a growth of 50.1% from the February 14th total of 11,360,000 shares. Approximately 3.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 5,390,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $13.00 target price on shares of Crescent Point Energy in a research note on Monday, November 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $13.75. Get Crescent Point Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Report on CPG Hedge Funds Weigh In On Crescent Point Energy Crescent Point Energy Stock Performance A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of CPG. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in Crescent Point Energy by 15.0% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 172,959 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,254,000 after purchasing an additional 22,571 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in Crescent Point Energy in the 1st quarter worth $50,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 22.4% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 372,962 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,704,000 after acquiring an additional 68,277 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in shares of Crescent Point Energy by 25.8% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 85,590 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $661,000 after acquiring an additional 17,533 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Crescent Point Energy by 76.1% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,549,782 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $32,986,000 after purchasing an additional 1,965,940 shares during the last quarter. 35.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Shares of CPG stock traded up $0.07 on Friday, hitting $7.77. 6,981,174 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,730,548. The firms 50 day moving average is $6.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Crescent Point Energy has a one year low of $5.65 and a one year high of $8.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.82 billion, a PE ratio of 11.10 and a beta of 2.22. Crescent Point Energy Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.086 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Crescent Point Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. This represents a $0.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.43%. Crescent Point Energys payout ratio is presently 47.14%. Crescent Point Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Crescent Point Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, explores, develops, and produces oil and gas properties in Canada and the United States. The company focuses on crude oil, tight oil, natural gas liquids, shale gas, and natural gas reserves. Its properties are located in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba; and the states of North Dakota. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Crescent Point Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crescent Point Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kikkoman Co. (OTCMKTS:KIKOF Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 383,600 shares, an increase of 66.5% from the February 14th total of 230,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3,836.0 days. Kikkoman Price Performance KIKOF stock remained flat at $66.79 during trading on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $61.24 and its 200 day moving average price is $56.90. Kikkoman has a 52 week low of $52.43 and a 52 week high of $66.79. Get Kikkoman alerts: Kikkoman Company Profile (Get Free Report) Read More Kikkoman Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells food products in Japan and internationally. It offers soy sauces, soy sauce soup bases, dipping and marinade sauces, and Del Monte seasonings; soy milk and Del Monte beverages; sweet sake for cooking; and wines. The company also manufactures and sells canned fruits, corn products, and tomato ketchup, as well as health foods; and purchases and sells oriental food products. Receive News & Ratings for Kikkoman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kikkoman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:LOMA Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 635,300 shares, an increase of 67.1% from the February 14th total of 380,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 369,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Stock Performance Shares of NYSE LOMA traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $6.94. 255,211 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 366,548. The firm has a market capitalization of $809.59 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.09 and a beta of 1.46. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima has a 52 week low of $5.64 and a 52 week high of $7.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $6.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.48. Get Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LOMA. RWC Asset Management LLP raised its stake in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima by 167.8% in the 3rd quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 1,259,956 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,598,000 after acquiring an additional 789,477 shares during the period. Eaton Vance Management purchased a new position in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima during the 1st quarter valued at about $2,796,000. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima by 180.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 650,370 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,455,000 after buying an additional 418,875 shares in the last quarter. Sagil Capital LLP grew its holdings in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima by 174.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sagil Capital LLP now owns 505,181 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,046,000 after buying an additional 321,224 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima by 258.5% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 400,270 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,782,000 after buying an additional 288,633 shares in the last quarter. 19.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima from $7.50 to $6.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LOMA Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Company Profile (Get Free Report) Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cement and its derivatives in Argentina. The company operates through Cement, Masonry Cement and Lime; Concrete; Railroad; Aggregates; and Others segments. It offers masonry cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, concrete, and lime to wholesale distributors, concrete producers, industrial customers, and others for use in the construction. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sunburst Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 1,503 shares of the oil and gas companys stock, valued at approximately $200,000. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in Phillips 66 by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 17,121,154 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,633,016,000 after purchasing an additional 97,198 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Phillips 66 by 100,843.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,979,304 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,038,646,000 after purchasing an additional 9,969,418 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Phillips 66 by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,745,974 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $927,137,000 after purchasing an additional 34,890 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,760,709 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $932,447,000 after acquiring an additional 309,239 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of Phillips 66 by 62.1% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,188,087 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $620,979,000 after acquiring an additional 2,753,700 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.83% of the companys stock. Get Phillips 66 alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Phillips 66 from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, February 10th. Raymond James raised their price objective on Phillips 66 from $140.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Phillips 66 from $151.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. TD Cowen raised their price target on Phillips 66 from $134.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Phillips 66 in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $138.15. Phillips 66 Stock Performance PSX stock traded up $4.69 during trading on Friday, hitting $159.07. 11,725,705 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,286,235. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $142.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $127.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a market cap of $68.05 billion, a PE ratio of 10.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.36. Phillips 66 has a 1 year low of $89.74 and a 1 year high of $159.74. Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.37 by $0.72. Phillips 66 had a return on equity of 22.10% and a net margin of 4.68%. On average, equities analysts expect that Phillips 66 will post 13.09 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Phillips 66 Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a $1.05 dividend. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.15%. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Richard G. Harbison sold 21,934 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.27, for a total value of $3,208,286.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,941 shares in the company, valued at $3,648,120.07. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Director Robert W. Pease purchased 682 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $146.58 per share, with a total value of $99,967.56. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $278,502. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Richard G. Harbison sold 21,934 shares of Phillips 66 stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.27, for a total value of $3,208,286.18. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,941 shares in the company, valued at $3,648,120.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 31,887 shares of company stock worth $4,543,437 over the last three months. 4.57% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Phillips 66 Profile (Free Report) Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Phillips 66 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phillips 66 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 14,968 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 373 shares during the quarter. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $737,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Defender Capital LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter worth approximately $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter valued at $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after purchasing an additional 1,895 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays upped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Raymond James increased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and set a $55.00 target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $51.43. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:WFC traded up $0.14 during trading on Friday, hitting $57.51. 40,782,798 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,760,408. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52 week low of $35.25 and a 52 week high of $58.44. 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 company has a market cap of $205.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $51.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $46.09. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). The firm had revenue of $20.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.30 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. The companys revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were paid a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 29.05%. 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Two join financial firm Alexis Larson and EmaLee Dressler have joined the Bismarck office of Legacy Financial Partners as a financial advisor and a client service coordinator. Legacy Financial Partners is a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC. Larson has seven years of experience in the financial services industry and Dressler has three. Capital Credit Union hires onboarding rep Ryan Miller has been hired as a member onboarding representative by Capital Credit Union. Born and raised in Bismarck, Miller has four years of experience in financial services. He joins the Capital Credit Union team from Starion Bank, where he had worked since 2019. Miller is attending Bismarck State College, working toward a business administration degree. Essentia Health clinic adds specialist JoDell Schmidt has joined Essentia Health Walk-in Care-Bismarck 9th Street. Schmidt is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner specializing in walk-in care. She received her medical education from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Firm expands regional leadership Peter Muehlbach has been promoted to vice president of strategy by WSB architecture, engineering and construction firm. Muehlbach will oversee transportation, construction engineering and inspection strategy for the firm's Minnesota/North Dakota region. Harris with Lighthouse Commodities Ashley Harris has been hired as client experience manager at Lighthouse Commodities LLC, a provider of professional merchandising and related services for farmers. In addition to managing client experience, she will work on Beacon Fund donations, marketing activities and other tasks. Education director selected The Afterschool Alliance has selected Arin Casavant, education director at North Dakotas Gateway to Science, to serve as a 2024 Afterschool Ambassador. She is one of only 15 leaders in the country chosen for the honor this year. Afterschool Ambassadors work with local afterschool programs while serving a one-year term, working with community leaders and policymakers, organizing events and other ways to support afterschool and summer learning programs. Bianco Realty recognizes Amber Sandness, Shirley Thomas, Stephanie Stevens, Darcy Fettig and Ryan Hoerner have been named Bianco Realty's top Realtors based on their closed sales for February. Monthly awards North Dakota Farmers Union Insurance, based in Jamestown, announced professionals who exceeded in their positions for the month of January. Dustin Anderson, Mandan, was a top producer of life insurance sales. Dave Berger, Mandan, was the top producer of auto insurance sales. Philip Halvorson, Mandan, was the top producer of health insurance sales. Courtney Schauer, Mandan, was a top producer of health insurance sales. Dylan Schmit, Mandan, was a top producer of supplemental insurance sales. Ryan Schnell, Bismarck, was a top producer of FUIC personal line sales. Lewis Schock, Mandan, was a top producer of health insurance sales and supplemental insurance sales. Jason Smith, Mandan, was a top producer of annuity sales. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 31, 2024 is Brought To You By... Shekhar Iyer is former senior associate editor of Hindustan Times and political editor of Deccan Herald. Views are personal. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved a pilot on the optional T+0 settlement for a set of 25 stocks while relaxing disclosure requirements for foreign portfolio investors (FPI). The market regulator also relaxed compulsory promoter contribution norms for an initial public offering (IPO). In its board meeting, SEBI decided to launch of Beta version of the optional T+0 settlement while relaxing additional disclosure requirements exempted for certain FPIs and timelines for disclosure or documentation related to material changes by FPIs. To enhance ease of doing business, SEBI decided to provide flexibility to FPIs in dealing with the securities post-expiry of their registration. It also decided to facilitate ease of doing business for companies coming for IPOs or fundraising and ongoing compliance requirements for listed companies. It also decided to facilitate a uniform approach to the verification of market rumours by equity-listed entities. While providing flexibility to category I and II alternate investment funds (AIFs) to create an encumbrance on their holding of equity in infrastructure sector investee companies, SEBI decided to introduce due diligence measures with respect to investors and investments, paving the way for the introduction of other ease of doing business measures. It also gave additional flexibility to AIFs and their investors to deal with unliquidated investments of their schemes beyond the expiry of tenure. The SEBI board also decided to extend the timeline for the mandatory applicability of listing norms for high-value debt-listed entities (HVDLEs). The market regulator will provide a framework for the issuance of subordinate units by a privately placed InvIT to facilitate the purchase of infrastructure assets. It also decided to recognise the stock exchange as a body for the administration and supervision of research analysts and investment advisers. Here are the decisions taken by the SEBI board... 1 Launch of Beta version of optional T+0 settlement Taking into account stakeholder feedback, the Board approved the launch of a Beta version of optional T+0 settlement for a limited set of 25 scrips and with a limited set of brokers. In parallel, SEBI shall continue to do further stakeholder consultation, including with the users of the Beta version. The Board shall review the progress at the end of three months and six months from the date of this implementation and decide on further course of action. 2 Additional disclosure requirements exempted for certain FPIs 2.1 In order to facilitate ease of doing business, the Board approved a proposal to exempt additional disclosure requirements for FPIs having more than 50% of their India equity AUM in a single corporate group, in case the concentrated holdings of the FPIs are in a listed company with no identified promoter, if the following conditions are met: 2.1.1 Such FPI holds not more than 50% of its India equity AUM in the corporate group, after excluding its holding in the parent company with no identified promoter. 2.1.2 The composite holdings of all such FPIs (that hold in excess of the 50% concentration criteria and are not exempted) in the company with no identified promoter, is less than 3% of its total equity share capital. 3 Timelines for disclosure/documentation related to material changes by FPIs relaxed 3.1 In order to facilitate ease of doing business for FPIs, the Board approved a proposal to relax the timelines for disclosure of material changes by FPIs. Currently, FPIs must disclose to their DDP material changes to the information provided earlier within seven working days. 3.2 Going forward, material changes required to be notified by the FPIs shall be categorized into two buckets, viz. Type I and Type II. Type I material changes shall continue to be informed by FPIs to their DDP within seven working days of the occurrence of the change. However, supporting documents for the same (if any) shall now be required to be provided within 30 days of such change. Other material changes (categorized as Type II) shall be informed along with supporting documents (if any) by FPIs to their DDP within 30 days of such change. 4 Enhancing ease of doing business for FPIs by providing flexibility to FPIs in dealing with their securities post expiry of their registration In order to facilitate ease of doing business for FPIs, the Board approved the following proposals: 4.1 FPI registrations that expire due to non-payment of registration fee, shall now be permitted to be reactivated within 30 days from such expiry. Such FPIs shall also be permitted to dispose off their securities holdings during this 30-day period. Further, in cases where the FPI chooses not to re-activate its registration within 30 days, it shall be permitted a time period of 180 days for disposal of its securities. 4.2 A minimum time period of 180 days or end of registration block, whichever is later, shall be provided for disposal of securities in case of: 4.2.1 Adverse change in the compliance status of the home jurisdiction of the FPI 4.2.2 Non-submission of documents for reclassification of FPI category from I to II 4.3 In cases where the securities held by an FPI have not been disposed off even after the lapse of the specified time period of 180 days, the following shall apply: 4.3.1 An additional time period of 180 days shall be provided to the FPIs for disposal of their securities, subject to a financial disincentive of 5% of sale proceeds, which shall be credited by the custodian to SEBI's Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF). 4.3.2 Securities remaining unsold after the expiry of the additional 180-day period shall be deemed to have been compulsorily written off by the FPI. This shall be applicable to all FPIs where the registration expires due to any reason, after issuance of this framework. 4.4 For existing cases, where securities are lying in the accounts of FPIs whose registration has expired, a one-time opportunity of 360 days (180 days without any financial disincentive, and an additional 180 days with a 5% financial disincentive) shall be provided for disposal of such securities by the FPIs. Securities remaining unsold after expiry of the 360 days period shall be deemed to have been compulsorily written-off by the FPI. 4.5 Written-off securities shall be transferred to an escrow account, operated by an exchange empanelled broker, who shall attempt to sell the securities at the available market price until the securities are disposed-off. The proceeds from the sale shall be transferred to the SEBI's IPEF. 5 Facilitating ease of doing business for companies coming for IPOs / fund raising In order to facilitate ease of doing business for companies coming for IPOs / fundraising, the Board has approved amendments to SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018 in respect of the following: 5.1 Doing away with the requirement of one per cent security deposit in public/rights issue of equity shares. 5.2 Promoter group entities and non-individual shareholders holding more than five percent of the post-offer equity share capital to be permitted to contribute towards minimum promoters' contribution (MPC) without being identified as a promoter. 5.3 Equity shares from the conversion of compulsorily convertible securities held for a year before filing the DRHP, to be considered for meeting MPC requirement. 5.4 The increase or decrease in size of offer for sale (OFS) requiring fresh filing shall be based on only one of the criteria i.e. either issue size in rupees or number of shares, as disclosed in the draft offer document. 5.5 Flexibility in extending the bid/offer closing date on account of force majeure events by minimum one day instead of present requirement of minimum three days. 6 Facilitating ease of doing business for listed companies - on-going compliance requirements In order to facilitate ease of doing business for listed entities, the Board has approved amendments to SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 in respect of the following: 6.1 Market capitalisation-based compliance requirements for listed entities to be determined on the basis of average market capitalization of six months ending December 31, instead of single day's (March 31) market capitalization. Further, in order to ease the compliance requirements, a sunset clause of three years for cessation of applicability of market capitalisation based provisions is also being introduced. 6.2 Extending the timeline from three months to six months for filling up vacancies of Key Managerial Personnel which require approval of statutory authorities. 6.3 Harmonization and reduction of timelines for prior intimation of board meetings to two working days. 6.4 Increasing the maximum permitted time gap between two consecutive meetings of the Risk Management Committee from 180 days to 210 days in order to provide flexibility to listed entities to schedule the meetings. 7 Facilitating a uniform approach to verification of market rumours by equity listed entities Industry Standards Forum (ISF), comprising of three industry associations viz. ASSOCHAM, CII and FICCI, took up the rumour verification requirement as one of the pilot projects for formulating standards for effective implementation of the said requirement, in consultation with SEBI. Based on the discussions with ISF and consultation with stakeholders, a proposal was presented to the Board which inter-alia, approved the following to facilitate a uniform approach to verification of market rumours by equity listed entities: 7.1 Specifying an objective and uniformly assessed criteria for rumour verification in terms of material price movement of equity shares of the listed entity. 7.2 Considering unaffected price for transactions wherever pricing norms have been prescribed under SEBI Regulations provided that the rumour pertaining to such transaction has been confirmed within twenty-four hours from the trigger of material price movement. 7.3 Promoters, directors, key managerial personnel and senior management to provide timely response to the listed entity for verifying market rumour. 7.4 Unverified event or information reported in print or electronic media not to be considered as 'generally available information' under SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015. 8 Flexibility provided to Category I and II AIFs to create encumbrance on their holding of equity in infrastructure sector investee companies With an objective to provide ease of doing business for Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and to foster an ecosystem wherein private capital effectively complements the various modes available for infrastructure financing, the Board has approved the proposal to allow Category I and II AIFs to create an encumbrance on the equity of its investee companies in infrastructure sector to facilitate raising of debt/loan by such investee companies, subject to certain conditions, including compliance with RBI regulations. For this purpose, the companies in the infrastructure sector are such companies which are engaged in the business of development, operation or management of projects in any of the infrastructure sub-sectors listed in the Harmonised Master List of Infrastructure sub-sectors, as issued by the Government of India. 9 Enhancing trust in the AIF ecosystem by introducing due diligence measures with respect to investors and investments, thereby paving the way for introduction of other Ease of Doing Business measures The Board approved a proposal to require AIFs, Managers of AIFs, and their Key Management Personnel (KMPs), to carry out specific due diligence of their investors and investments, so that AIFs do not facilitate circumvention of specified regulations administered by financial sector regulators. The same is envisaged so that the verifiable compliance with such due-diligence requirements would provide the regulatory comfort necessary for the introduction of other Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) proposals/ measures relating to AIFs, to facilitate sustained capital formation. In order to ensure that the due-diligence requirements are not open ended or subject to interpretation, the specific implementation standards for verifiable due diligence to be conducted on investors and investments of AIFs shall be formulated by the pilot Industry Standards Forum for AIFs, in consultation with SEBI. 10 Timeline for mandatory applicability of Listing Norms for High Value Debt Listed Entities (HVDLEs) extended The Board has approved the proposal to extend the timeline for mandatory applicability of listing norms (i.e. Regulation 16 to 27 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015) and compliance thereof for High-Value Debt Listed Entities till March 31, 2025. 11 Additional flexibility to AIFs and their investors to deal with unliquidated investments of their schemes beyond expiry of tenure The Board approved a proposal to allow AIFs to deal with unliquidated investments which are not sold due to lack of liquidity during the winding-up process, by continuing to hold such investments in the same scheme of the AIF and entering into a Dissolution Period. The value of such investments carried forward into the Dissolution Period shall be recognised as per norms specified by SEBI for capturing in the track record of the manager and for reporting to Performance Benchmarking Agencies. The said facility of entering into the Dissolution Period has been introduced in place of the existing option of launching a new scheme (viz. Liquidation Scheme). The Board also approved the proposal to provide a one-year additional Liquidation Period to schemes of AIFs to deal with unliquidated investments whose Liquidation Period had expired in the past or shall expire within three months from the date of notification of amendment to AIF Regulations, subject to certain conditions. 12 Framework for issuance of subordinate units by a privately placed InvIT to facilitate the purchase of infrastructure assets The Board, inter-alia, approved amendments to SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 to provide a framework for the issuance of subordinate units by privately placed InvITs only to start with. The objective of the framework for the issuance of subordinate units is to enable usage of subordinate units to bridge the valuation gaps that may arise as a result of difference in the valuation of an asset assessed by the Sponsor (in its capacity of the asset seller) and the InvIT (in capacity of the asset buyer). The framework is designed to also include risk mitigation measures in respect of such units. 13 'Stock Exchange' to be recognised as a body for administration and supervision of Research Analysts and Investment Advisers 13.1 The Board approved the proposal to recognise a stock exchange as a "Research Analyst Administration and Supervisory Body" (RAASB) and "Investment Advisers Administration and Supervisory Body" (IAASB). 13.2 As in the case of Investment Advisors, the RAASB framework will be fee-neutral to the Research Analysts. 13.3 Further, in order to provide ease of doing business and to ensure smooth operationalisation of the RAASB/IAASB framework and prevent disruption, the Board approved deemed enlistment of existing registered RAs/IAs. The former middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, reflects on his recent bout against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, expressing his belief that he should have retained his title. Strickland's tenure as the middleweight champion was brief yet impactful, marked by a stellar performance in 2023 that earned him recognition as Fighter of the Year by many. However, his clash with South Africa's Du Plessis in January of this year ended in a closely contested split decision victory for Du Plessis, resulting in Strickland surrendering his title. In the aftermath of the loss, the 33-year-old voiced his conviction that he had done enough to secure the victory. Despite his assertions, there have been no indications of an immediate rematch being discussed, with former champions Israel Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev dominating the conversation. Adesanya's potential rematch holds significance, especially following his previous defeat against Alex Pereira. Strickland has openly criticized the direction of the division's title picture, particularly considering his own victory over Adesanya to claim the title last September. You know I dont care about fight politics or a belt but it makes me laugh they give Izzy [Israel Adesanya] a rematch to Alex [Pereira] after getting slept, Strickland tweeted. I lost a close decision that Dana [White] himself thought I won. Everyone did.. The stats did. That needs to be run back. 'I'm here for recruitment,' suspect said after crashing stolen bus at Andersen U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about rebuilding communities and creating well-paying jobs during a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., March 13, 2024. US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson before Biden delivered his third State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 07 March 2024. FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in the rain the day before the start of the court's new term in Washington, U.S. October 2, 2022. Guahan Academy Charter School student Dallas Cauthen speaks in support of the renewal of the school charter during the Guam Academy Charter Schools Council meeting Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Tiyan. Hundreds of people in Mexico City stretch out for a mass nap to commemorate World Sleep Day Hundreds of people in Mexico City stretch out for a mass nap to commemorate World Sleep Day View Photo MEXICO CITY (AP) Those walking through the milling streets of downtown Mexico City on Friday were greeted with a strange and sleepy sight. Lolling with bright blue yoga mats, sleeping masks and travel pillows, hundreds of Mexicans laid sprawled out on the ground at the base of the citys iconic Monument to the Revolution to take a nap. Dubbed the mass siesta, the event was in commemoration of World Sleep Day. It was also meant to be a protest to push for sleep to be considered an essential part of health and wellness. Some participants wrapped themselves in bright orange blankets, while others prepped their phones to play soothing music as they slept. Among the nappers was 52-year-old mariachi musician Manuel Magana, who was popping in earbuds next to his wife, and 9-year-old daughter, who fell asleep holding hands. Magana heard about the event on the news while he was looking for something fun to do with his granddaughter. He said the idea struck a chord with him because as a mariachi he would work long and irregular hours, often going to bed as the sun would come up. As a musician I work at night, and I rarely sleep well during the day. Sometimes we forget to eat, sometimes all we get is a little nap, he said. The event was organized by the Center for Sleep and Neurosciences and the Mexican Society for the Investigation of Medicine and Sleep (SOMIMS). As participants began to drift to sleep, organizers on stage chanted and lead participants through the meditation. They also listed off tips for helping people fall asleep, like getting plenty of natural light during the day and turning their phone off at night. Oscar Sanchez Escandon, a director of the event and president of SOMIMS, said the event was meant to highlight sleep inequality around the world. We live in a society that is full of economic, social and political commitments, where everything matters other than rest. That can have a strong impact on health, he said. Nearly half of Mexicans are reported to have trouble sleeping, according to a study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Mexico was listed as the most overworked country in the world by a 2019 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report, which compared working hours among dozens of countries across the planet. Last year, Mexicos congress debated a proposed reform to officially lower the weekly work hours from 48 the average for many Latin American nations to 40, standard for much of the world. The initiative was put forward by Mexicos ruling party, Morena, but the debate got kicked back to 2024. Gabriela Filio, a 49-year-old nurse, brought along her 25-year-old daughter with the hopes that Mexicos younger generations would push for a better work balance. We are in a country where the paychecks often dont add up. Sometimes we have to work two jobs, but we also need to make sure to care for our sleep quality, Filio said, stretching out to take a quick rest. By MEGAN JANETSKY Associated Press Graffiti on empty building in Sonora off Pesce Way and Hwy 49 View Photos Sonora, CA Several people were arrested after being caught vandalizing an empty building in Sonora, and police did not have to look far to find evidence linking four of them to the crime. Officers were dispatched recently to the building, pictured in the image box, after a caller reported five subjects spray painting the building. The empty building is behind the am/pm gas stations on Pesce Way, off Highway 49. Once on the scene, they detained the suspects after finding several cans of spray paint and the odor of fresh spray paint inside the building. But what caught the officers attention was that four out of the five suspects had dried spray paint on their hands. The building was tagged with graffiti painted inside and out. Police tell Clarke Broadcasting this is consistent with several other cases that are currently being investigated by our agency. Those locations and details were not disclosed. Officers arrested 20-year-old Chase Berard-Lohr of San Andreas, 18-year-old Sonny Lohr, and 20-year-old Victoria Woodman, both from Angels Camp and Ayden Canfield (no address given), for felony vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime. Woodman faces the added charge of being a minor in possession of alcohol. A citation for conspiracy was issued to 20-year-old Jonathon Rios, who was released from the scene. Connecticut trooper acquitted in shooting death of Black college student following chase View Photo A white Connecticut state trooper was acquitted of all charges Friday in the death of Mubarak Soulemane, a Black 19-year-old community college student who was shot as he sat behind the wheel of a stopped stolen car holding a kitchen knife and apparently in the throes of a mental health crisis. Trooper Brian North, 33, could have faced up to 40 years in prison if he had been convicted of first-degree manslaughter in the Jan. 15, 2020, shooting. The states inspector general said the shooting shouldnt have happened because North and other officers were not in imminent danger. But the six-person jury in Milford acquitted him on that charge and two lesser counts: second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide. North showed little emotion as the verdicts were read. Afterward, he shook hands with his lawyers and hugged the head of the state police union. North didnt comment while leaving court, but his lead attorney, Frank Riccio II, said the trooper is still shaken by the shooting. This is not something that he will ever live down, because it was a very traumatic experience, Riccio said. The verdict is obviously favorable for him, but it doesnt change what happened on Jan. 15. Relatives and friends of Soulemane, including his mother and sister, declined to comment while leaving the courthouse. Mark Arons, a lawyer for the family, said they were devastated by the verdict. We have questions about whether justice was fully done and received here, Arons said. The trooper gets to live his life and Mubaraks never coming back. He said the verdict marked another tragedy for the family, but that it wouldnt affect the familys lawsuit against North and the other officers at the scene that day. Theyve had to relive through the trial all the horrific events that unfolded that terrible afternoon, early evening. And then to hear the acquittal on all the three counts, its a tragic loss all over again. The case caught the attention of the local NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharpton, but race was not raised as a factor in the shooting during the trial. Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut State Conference of the NAACP, called the acquittal a major atrocity. Very disappointing. Its a huge setback. Shame on the jury, Esdaile said by phone. They didnt have to murder this young man. I think this is a disgusting decision. On the day of the shooting, North fired his handgun seven times at close range into the cars drivers window after Soulemane led police on a high-speed chase through several towns on Interstate 95. The shooting happened less than a minute after the car crashed into another vehicle in West Haven, ending the chase, and police surrounded the car. North testified that he fired when Soulemane pulled out a 9-inch knife and made a threatening movement. He said he believed Soulemane posed a danger to police officers who were on the other side of the car and had just broken the passenger door window. But Inspector General Robert Devlin, who investigates all police uses of deadly force in the state, said no officers were in danger because the stolen car was boxed in and Soulemane couldnt go anywhere. He said officers made no attempt to de-escalate the situation. The state police union, meanwhile, criticized Devlin for charging North, saying he had been forced to make a split-second decision and believed he was protecting other officers. Devlin issued a statement after the trial, saying that although his office is disappointed by the verdict, it respects the jurys decision. Soulemane struggled with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to his family. His mother, sister and girlfriend, who testified at the trial, said in the days leading up to the shooting, Soulemanes mental health problems were worsening and he was acting paranoid and erratically behavior he previously displayed when he went off his medications. According to police, the events that led to Soulemanes death began when he displayed the knife at an AT&T store in Norwalk and unsuccessfully tried to steal a cellphone. He then slapped a Lyft driver and drove off in the drivers car after the driver got out, leading police on a 30-mile (48-kilometer) chase from Norwalk to West Haven during the afternoon rush hour at speeds of up to 100 mph (161 kph). State police body camera videos show that after the case ended, a West Haven officer smashed the passenger door window of the stolen vehicle before another trooper, Joshua Jackson, shot Soulemane with a Taser through the window, though it had no effect on Soulemane, who was wearing a heavy coat. North testified that he fired his gun because he thought the West Haven officer whom he couldnt see had leaned in through the smashed window and was in danger from Soulemane, who made a motion to the passenger side of the car while holding the knife. I was afraid that he was going to be stabbed in the face or the neck, which obviously can be a fatal injury, North testified. On cross-examination, Devlin said the videos showed the other officers were not trying to enter the vehicle and asked North if he still believes anyone was actually in danger. 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. In the lawsuit against the officers, Soulemanes mother, Omo Mohammad, offered to settle the wrongful death case for $13 million. By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press Jurors weigh fate of Afghan refugee charged with murder in a case that shocked Muslim community View Photo ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Prosecutors on Friday wrapped up their case against an Afghan refugee on charges that he gunned down a man in 2022 in what turned out to be the first of three ambush-style killings involving members of the Muslim community in New Mexicos largest city. Muhammad Syed, who settled in the U.S. several years ago with his family, quickly became the main suspect after authorities issued photographs of a vehicle believed to be involved in the shootings. He was taken into custody after being pulled over in the vehicle more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Albuquerque. He told authorities at the time he was concerned about the killings and was on his way to Texas to find a new home for his family. He denied involvement in the killings. Syed, who speaks Pashto and required the help of translators throughout the trial, has remained in custody without bond since his arrest in August 2022. He is charged with three counts of murder and four charges of tampering with evidence. Syed, 53, faces separate trials for each victim, the first being 41-year-old Aftab Hussein. The other trials will happen in the coming months. When asked by the judge Friday whether he wished to testify, Syed stood up and adjusted his headphones as a translator relayed the question. He choked back tears and began to cry. He eventually said in Pashto that he would reserve his right to remain silent. The defense called no witnesses, and prosecutors did not address a motive or discuss any interactions that Syed might have had with Hussein. Jurors were scheduled to begin their deliberations Monday morning. Prosecutors detailed the night of the shooting: It was around 10 p.m. when Hussein pulled up to his apartment complex and parked. He had just stepped out of his vehicle with keys still in hand when gunfire erupted. He stood no chance, prosecutor Jordan Machin said during closing arguments, alleging that Syed was lying in wait and that he continued to shoot as Hussein was on the ground. Officers found Hussein with multiple wounds that stretched from his neck down to his feet. Investigators testified that some of the high-caliber rounds went through his body and pierced the car. While questioning a firearms and ballistic expert with the police department, Deputy District Attorney David Waymire pulled out a rifle that had been seized during a search of Syeds home. It had been found under the defendants bed. Waymire also showed jurors bags of spent casings and bullet fragments collected from the scene. In a yellow envelop was a bullet that had been retrieved by medical examiners from Husseins body. The expert said testing determined the casings and projectiles were fired from Syeds rifle. Cellphone records also indicated that Syed was at the scene about 20 minutes before the shooting and that it appeared he left right after and headed home, prosecutors said. They also introduced as evidence a note in Syeds phone that referred to testing the rifle on the date that Hussein was killed. Previous court filings described Syed as having a violent history, none of which was mentioned in court. His public defenders have argued that previous allegations of domestic violence never resulted in convictions. Defense attorneys attempted to introduce doubt throughout the trial, saying prosecutors had no evidence that Syed was the one who pulled the trigger. They suggested other people who lived in Syeds home also had access to his phone, his vehicle and the rifle. They also argued there were no fingerprints or DNA collected during the investigation that would implicate Syed. Megan Mitsunaga, one of Syeds attorneys, told jurors during closing arguments that her client was innocent and that investigators can sometimes get tunnel vision once they seize on a suspect and stop looking at evidence that doesnt support that persons guilt. She suggested there were gaps that should leave jurors with reasonable doubt. How is that fair to Mr. Syed, how is that fair to this community to have law enforcement pick and chose which evidence they want you to hear about? she said. Machin said it was Syed who tried to flee to Texas under the cover of darkness a day after authorities went to the public for help in identifying a suspect. She said the license plate and hub caps on Syeds car had been changed and that he had his phone which was password protected with him when he was stopped. The other two victims include Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old urban planner who was gunned down Aug. 1 while taking his evening walk, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot four days later as he sat in his vehicle outside a refugee resettlement agency on the citys south side. Family members of the victims and other community members have said they are still struggling to understand what was behind the killings. By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press Man suspected of killing 3 people in Philadelphia area arrested in New Jersey, police say Man suspected of killing 3 people in Philadelphia area arrested in New Jersey, police say View Photo TRENTON, N.J. (AP) A man suspected of fatally shooting three family members in their Philadelphia-area homes Saturday was arrested in New Jersey after evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized across two states, shutting down a parade and an amusement park and ordering some residents to stay in their homes. Steve Wilson, police director for the city of Trenton, New Jersey, said the man was arrested near a house where officers had believed he was barricaded inside. He apparently left the home before the police cordon was erected, Wilson said. Wilson added that he did not believe the suspect was armed at the time. The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said they believe he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings at two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township in the morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. His childrens grandmother was injured when she was bludgeoned with a rifle. Officials said they couldnt yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen, Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference. Police said Gordon was believed to be homeless. It was unclear whether he had an attorney or anyone else who could comment on his behalf. The mayhem forced the cancellation of a St. Patricks Day parade and shut down a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Authorities in Pennsylvanias Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for some areas for several hours. After fleeing in a stolen car, then taking another in a carjacking in a store parking lot, Gordon went to the home in nearby Trenton, authorities said. By midafternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out. Andre, get away from the windows. If you would like to surrender, dial 911 now, one message went. Neighbors gathered by the barricade to watch what was happening. The homes residents had been taken to safety with no injuries, the Trenton Police Department said. Schorn said police believe Gordon first broke into a home in the Falls Township community of Levittown and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other occupants, including a 14-year-old, hid as the suspect went through the house, searching for them, the district attorney said. She said police believe Gordon then drove to another home in Levittown and fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were also there. Daniels mother, who was bludgeoned, was expected to recover. Shaun Murphy, who lives in Levittown, said he was headed to the local St. Patricks Day parade when he saw that the road had been blocked. All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on, and then we got the notice about shelter in place, Murphy said, recalling that he and his neighbors had just been talking the night before about how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is. Schorn said officers believe that after the shootings, Gordon carjacked a vehicle in a parking lot in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, from a 44-year-old man who wasnt harmed. From there, officials said, he drove to the home in Trenton. Police in Middletown Township, Pennsylvania, said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks County and Trenton and stays in Trenton primarily. ___ Todt reported from Philadelphia. Associated Press journalists Matt Rourke in Trenton, New Jersey, Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jennifer Peltz in New York contributed. By MIKE CATALINI and RON TODT Associated Press Schumers rebuke of Netanyahu shows the long, fragile line the US and allies walk on interference Schumers rebuke of Netanyahu shows the long, fragile line the US and allies walk on interference View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections. They accused the Democratic leader of breaking the unwritten rule against interfering in a close allys electoral politics. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reacted to Schumer by saying it was hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Schumers call for new elections was inappropriate. Even Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu and member of Israels war cabinet, said Schumers remarks were counterproductive. Schumers stinging rebuke of Netanyahu the senator said the Israeli leader had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace was certainly provocative but it was hardly norm-breaking. U.S. leaders, as well as American allies, are more frequently butting into electoral politics beyond the waters edge. Look no further than the close and historically complicated relationship that American presidents and congressional leaders have negotiated with Israel leaders over the last 75 years. It is an urban legend that we dont intervene in Israeli politics and they dont try to intervene in ours, said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who worked as a Middle East negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations. We do intercede and they do intercede in ours. In 2019, with just weeks to go before Netanyahu faced a difficult election, President Donald Trump abruptly declared the U.S. was recognizing Israels sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, giving Netanyahu a political boost just when he badly needed it. In 2015, Republican House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to deliver an address to Congress during sensitive negotiations about Irans nuclear program and shortly before a national election in Israel. Boehner did not coordinate the invitation with President Barack Obamas administration. Obama declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House during the visit, with White House officials saying that holding such a visit so close to Israels election would be inappropriate. The standard Obama set for a White House visit wasnt one Bill Clinton subscribed to years earlier. In April 1996, Clinton invited Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to the White House to sign a $100 million counter-terrorism accord shortly before an Israeli election. Years later, Clinton acknowledged in an interview that he was trying to give Peres a boost with voters. It didnt work; Peres lost to Netanyahu. In practice, keeping out of allies elections has been more of a professed American value than enshrined protocol. U.S. leaders have frequently demonstrated a varsity versus junior varsity approach to how overtly they noodle in the internal politics of friends, says Edward Frantz, a University of Indianapolis historian. The bigger the allys economy, the less likely American leaders are to meddle openly in its elections. American politicians want to have it both ways, Frantz said. There are moments when American leaders want to and need to speak out and have their say. But there is reason to stay close to the lines on elections. You dont want foreign governments to interfere in our own internal politics, either. The lines have only become blurrier in recent years, and are being tested by how world leaders are approaching Novembers Biden-Trump rematch. This past week, during a White House visit on the 25th anniversary of Polands accession into NATO, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didnt obscure his desire to see Biden win another term. I want you to know that your campaign four years ago was really inspirational for me and for so many Poles, said Tusk, with conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda by his side. And we were encouraged after your victory. Thank you for your determination. It was something really important for not only for the United States. Tusk later singled out Johnson, the Republican House speaker, to blame for Washingtons deadlock on a spending bill with $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, which is running low on ammunition and arms in its war with Russia. This is not some political skirmish that has significance only here, on the American political stage, said Tusk. He told reporters that inaction by Johnson could cost thousands of human lives in Ukraine. Last week, Biden slammed Trump for hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has described a possible comeback by Trump as the only serious chance for an end to the war in Ukraine. Hungary, like the U.S., is a member of NATO. Orban has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing illiberal democracy, replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. Biden during a recent campaign event noted that Trump was meeting Orban, and said the Hungarian leader is looking for dictatorship. Hungary summoned the U.S. ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, to register displeasure with the presidents comments. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president stood by his comments. Our position is that Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions, and that remains a source of grave concern to us, Sullivan said. The Schumer comments in the midst of Israels difficult five-month war offer new strain to the U.S.-Israel relationship. That relationship already has seen tensions between Biden and Netanyahu mount as the Palestinian death toll rises and innocent civilians suffer while the U.S. and others struggle to get aid past Israels blockade and into Gaza. National elections are set for 2026 in Israel though they could well come earlier. Biden, in a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, said he thought Schumer had delivered a good speech. The president and White House officials, however, stopped short of endorsing Schumers call for elections. There have been other moments of deep tension in the U.S-Israeli relationship. President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories. But the press by Schumer for new elections ventures into uncharted territory. All of those other crises were sort of one-offs, Miller said. They were efforts to move Israel in a focused, discrete way on a specific issue. What you have now after years of Netanyahus premierships is a fundamental crisis of confidence, which cuts to the core of the U.S.-Israel relationship. By AAMER MADHANI Associated Press European charity ship rescues 135 migrants but is assigned to distant port in Italy with 359 aboard European charity ship rescues 135 migrants but is assigned to distant port in Italy with 359 aboard View Photo ROME (AP) The European charity ship Ocean Viking said Friday it rescued another 135 migrants, including a pregnant woman and eight children, from a double-decker boat in Maltese search-and-rescue waters. In total, the vessel operated by the humanitarian group SOS Mediterranee was carrying 359 shipwreck survivors, it said, adding the ship had been assigned to the distant port at Ancona, in Italys central Marche region. Such a long navigation should never be imposed on persons rescued at sea, the rescue organization wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Non-governmental organizations operating in the central Mediterranean Sea have repeatedly warned that the far-right-led Italian governments policy of assigning ports farther north keeps their rescue ships out of waters where they can be saving lives. Migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Africa, often flee war and poverty in their own countries in search of a better life in European nations via the Mediterranean Sea. Rome has recently ordered the ships to port after each rescue, punishing groups that conduct other rescues by holding ships in port for 20 days at a time. The Ocean Viking has been subject to three such blocks over three months, the most recently from Feb. 8 until a judge lifted the block 10 days later. Fridays rescue came a day after survivors saved from a deflating rubber dinghy in the central Mediterranean on Thursday reported that some 60 people who departed from Libya with them more than a week ago had perished during the journey. The Ocean Viking spotted the dinghy with 25 people on board Wednesday. Two were unconscious and were evacuated to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, some 60 miles (97 kilometers) to the north. The other 23 were in serious condition, exhausted, dehydrated and with burns from fuel on board the boat. An SOS Mediterranee spokesman said the survivors were traumatized and unable to give full accounts of what had transpired during the voyage, adding that the number of missing and presumed dead was unlikely to ever be verified. Humanitarian groups often rely on accounts of survivors when pulling together the numbers of dead and missing at sea, presumed to have died. The U.N. International Organization for Migration says 227 people have died along the perilous central Mediterranean route this year through March 11, not counting the new reported missing and presumed dead. Thats out of a total 279 deaths in the Mediterranean since Jan. 1. A total of 19,562 people arrived in Italy using that route in the period. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration Migration of hominins out of Africa may have been driven by the first major glaciation of the Pleistocene PhysOrg (Chuck L) Cyborg Jellyfish Could Help Explore Oceans Autonomously Universe Today (furzy) An Introduction to the Astrolabe, the Medieval Smartphone Open Culture (Micael T) Pioneering sociologist Erving Goffman saw magic in the mundane aeon (Anthony L) James Webb telescope confirms there is something seriously wrong with our understanding of the universe LiveScience (Kevin W) Scientists Identify Speech Trait That Foreshadows Cognitive Decline ScienceAlert (Chuck L) ADHD linked to unusual brain connectivity patterns in large-scale neuroimaging study PsyPost (Chuck L) Mystery in Japan as dangerous streptococcal infections soar to record levels Guardian. Paul R: Tis a mystery. It says so right in the headline. Scientists Discover Simple Way To Prevent Life-Threatening Birth Defects SciTech Daily (Chuck L) #COVID-19 Increased Infection Risks After COVID-19 Infections Dramatically higher risk of other infections after COVID infections, consistent with many studies showing immune system deterioration Including over 4X higher viral infections#LongCovidAwarenessDay 1/https://t.co/8w1jZiuYly pic.twitter.com/UmNtNSagFL Yaneer Bar-Yam (@yaneerbaryam) March 15, 2024 RCT showing high rates of viral and symptom rebound with both paxlovid and VV116. There are multiple potential reasons, with one being the highly specific targets within viral replication (Mpro and RdRp respectively). Paxlovid and VV116 may limit viral replication, however they pic.twitter.com/aq6ayXLiDy Covid Analysis (@CovidAnalysis) March 14, 2024 Climate/Environment China? Haiti Haiti and the curse of history Hamilton Spectator (furzy) HAITI: US lawmakers blocking critical funding for Haiti multinational mission is the most DISHONEST decision that has ever been taken by US Congress. But any scholar on International Relations like me would not be Shocked . I told you YESTERDAYVthat the Problem is USA &FRANCE pic.twitter.com/QIIlmm5TjX Dr. David Matsanga (@MatsangaDr) March 16, 2024 Myanmar Myanmar Regime Actually Winning Using TERROR Campaign HistoryLegends (Anthony L) Gaza New Not-So-Cold War Big Brother is Watching You Watch US Lawmaker Cited NYC Protests in a Defense of Warrantless Spying Wired (furzy) Imperial Collapse Watch Trump Biden GOP Clown Car House GOP bullish on November despite chaos, unhappiness over last year The Hill Gunz Our No Longer Free Press Why the TikTok Ban is So Dangerous Matt Tabbi. Anthony L: Taibbi never quite gets there Permit me to show you how dumb Don Lemon and CNN are, but also the core liberal idiocy on free speech. Lemon accuses Musk of not supporting free speech because Musk won't pay him millions for his show. 60 seconds later, Lemon demands Musk censor more political speech on X: pic.twitter.com/hHjLCoY2rZ Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 15, 2024 AI Falling Apart Boeing Airplanes U.S. Is Investigating Meta for Role in Drug Sales Wall Street Journal. Lead story + exclusive. The Bezzle Stretched US consumers start to pull back on spending Financial Times Trying out Microsofts pre-release OS/2 2.0 The Register (William B) Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): And a bonus (Chuck L): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. NEW YORK (AP) People across the United States celebrated Irish heritage at several major St. Patrick's Day parades Saturday, marking the holiday a day early at events that included a big anniversary in Savannah, Georgia, and honored a pioneering female business leader as grand marshal in New York. The holiday commemorates Ireland's patron saint and was popularized largely by Irish Catholic immigrants. While St. Patrick's Day falls on March 17, some parades were moved up from Sunday, a day of worship for the Christian faithful. Manhattan's St. Patrick's Day Parade, which dates to 1762 14 years before the U.S. Declaration of Independence is one of the worlds largest Irish heritage festivities. Megan Stransky of Houston and two relatives planned a Broadway weekend to coincide with the parade, seeing it as a prime opportunity to remember their family's Irish roots and the traditions that helped shape their upbringing. The event didn't disappoint. There is no comparison to any other parade or city that Ive been to, Stransky marveled as she took in the bagpipers, bands, police and military contingents and more. The grand marshal, Irish-born Heineken USA CEO Maggie Timoney, is the first female CEO of a major U.S. beer company. At a pre-parade reception at New Yorks mayoral residence, Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee hailed the recognition for Timoney and noted some other causes for celebrating Irish American links this year, including Irish actor Cillian Murphys best actor Oscar win last weekend. New York City has multiple parades on various dates around its five boroughs including, on Sunday, the first St. Patrick's Day parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march on Staten Island. Mayor Eric Adams last month announced the plan for the new, privately organized celebration, arranged after a local organization asked for years to join the borough's decades-old parade. That longstanding event, which does not allow groups to march under LGBTQ+ banners, happened earlier this month. The Manhattan parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups and symbols in 2015, after decades of protests, legal challenges and boycotts by some politicians. Ahead of Chicago's parade, thousands of people many decked out in green with beers in hand gathered along the Chicago River to watch the local plumbers union boats turn the water green. Organizers say the tradition, started by the union, uses an environmentally friendly powder once used to check pipes for leaks. Katie and Ryan Fox, of suburban Mount Pleasant, landed a spot on a tour boat and saw one of the union boats spraying the dye in front of them. Ryan Fox, 37, said seeing the river dyed by boat was one of his bucket list items. If theres a city that does it better than Chicago, Id like to see it, he said. Large, green-garbed crowds also lined the streets of Savannah for the bicentennial of a parade that began with a few dozen Irish immigrants in 1824. It's now one of the South's major annual events, much so that the Savannah area had nearly 18,000 hotel rooms booked for the weekend. Other communities lent their own flavor to the St. Patrick's Day revelry. In Oklahoma City, hundreds lined the streets of Stockyard City the country's largest stockyard operation for a parade including longhorn cattle, clowns and a man dressed as St. Patrick. The grand marshal was Anita Swift, granddaughter of American film legend John Wayne. In San Francisco, revelers wearing dark green T-shirts and lime green feather boas watched bands, floats and buses in the city's annual St. Patricks Day parade. The event called for unity and aimed to bring together different cultural groups with dance, music and food. This story has been corrected to show that Manhattan's St. Patrick's Day Parade began allowing LGBTQ+ groups to march under their own banners in 2015, not 2014, and that the new Staten Island parade allowing such contingents is set to happen Sunday, rather than having happened in February. The story has been edited to clarify that Timoney is USA CEO for Heineken. Yves here. Its quite a big claim that members of the US military would leak a recording of German generals scheming to strike Russia with Taurus missiles to Russia. But then again, given that the US blew up the NordStream pipeline, its not as if the US regards Germany as anything other that a state that needs to be forced back into line when it acts too independently. So the part that seems like a stretch is not the US taking aggressive action against Germany, but that we still have the connections (presumably military to military at the operational level) that we could toss such a juicy item over the wall. Factors that favor this account include reports that the military has tried to get the US political leadership to understand that escalation against Russia is a road to nowhere (if you preclude nuclear war) and that it would therefore want to sabotage this dangerous scheme before our hyper-aggressive political leadership got wind of it.S By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears A little bird has materialized to sing that the record of the German generals discussing their plan to attack Russian targets with the Taurus missile was intercepted and leaked to the Russians by the Americans. A big bird, actually. The telephone conference of German Luftwaffe chief General Ingo Gerhartz (lead image, left), one of his staff generals, and two Luftwaffe lieutenant-colonels on February 19 was listened to by US signals intelligence after the first meeting the Germans had with a new regional US Air Force (USAF) commander, General Kevin Schneider; Schneider took command of the USAF Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) on February 9 after two and a half years in a senior staff post at the Pentagon under General Charles Brown Jr. Brown was promoted from USAF chief to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on October 1, 2023. When Schneider left Browns staff, he took a promotion from lieutenant general to four-star general. Schneider has never flown or staffed USAF operations against Russia. He was in Singapore for the bi-annual Singapore Air Show to demonstrate what the USAF press office called the opportunity to sharpen ties with Singapore, demonstrate flexible aircraft capability, enable engagement with foreign partners, and expand power projection. His agenda of meetings with other country airforce officers is classified. Intelligence coverage of the airshow proceedings by the US, Russia, and China was especially intense because of the participation in the show of aircraft from the warfighting states. Russia, which has participated actively in past Singapore airshows, did not participate officially this time. The allegation that the Gerhartz teleconference was intercepted by the Russians originated from the Germans and British, and has been amplified in US and NATO media. The first Russian report that it was US intelligence which picked up the call and then leaked it, appeared in Moscow on March 4; click to read. What has now surfaced is the audio record and transcript of the first minutes of the teleconference, before Gerhartz came on the line. In these five minutes, much more has been revealed by the three German officers than has been published by RT in Moscow on March 1, when the audio record and transcript began with Gerhartzs appearance. The full audio record in German, produced and published by RT Deutschland can be heard here. The publication date is March 1. The voices recorded at the beginning are those of Captain Hergang, who introduced and managed the teleconference from Germany; Luftwaffe Brigadier General Frank Graefe, speaking in his Singapore hotel room and describing what he could see out his hotel window; Luftwaffe Lieutenant Colonel Udo Fenske and Lieutenant Colonel Sebastian Florstedt, who are speaking from Germany. A report and transcript in German, auto-translated into English, was published by Tobias Augenbraun in Dirk Pohlmanns internet platform Free21 on March 8. The interpretation of the additional evidence by Augenbraun and Pohlmann is that apparently, the plans were already presented to [USAF] General [Kenneth] Wilsbach [lead image, right] in October 2023, which are also the subject of further discussion This is astonishing for the following reason: All the rest of the conversation is about how to bring Taurus closer to the Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius How can it be that top German generals have already presented these plans to a US general, a full 4 months before talking about how to discuss these plans with Boris Pistorius (Minister of Defense). Something seems to have gone badly wrong with the order here. Is it normal to first talk to generals from other countries before initiating your own defense minister? Who is in charge in Germany? Is the military out of control? Augenbraun and Pohlmann believe the German operational plan discussed with Wilsbach last October was the Gerhartz missile attack on Russia, and that the German Defense Ministry and the Chancellery were unaware of it at the time. This interpretation has been amplified in a report by a Brazilian who claims here apparently we have a clear cut case of top German military officers taking direct orders regarding an attack on Crimea part of the Russian Federation directly from American officers in the Pacific Air Forces. There is no evidence of this in the record of what the Germans actually said and meant. According to Graefe, hes [General Schneider] only been in office for 2 weeks and he didnt even know what I was talking about. And thats why I said, Id better come by again, because that was October, when we presented all this to Wilsbach. This is Graefes acknowledgement that Schneider, who was director of the USAF staff at the Pentagon from September 2021 five months before the Russian Special Military Operation began and then for two and a half years of the war, knew nothing at all about the German air attack plan for Russia. In Russian, thats spelled . Instead, there is evidence that Gerhartz and Graefe have been concealing their Russia-attack plan, not from their German political superiors, but from the Americans; and misrepresenting what they have been doing in Berlin in discussions with the two USAF generals, Wilsbach and Schneider. These two USAF generals are focused on China as their enemy; they have never held a staff or operational command in Germany and against Russia; their current commands are limited to the Asia-Pacific region targeting China. Wilsbach was at his PACAF headquarters in Hawaii concentrating on Chinese targets, when Graefe says on the tape that we presented all this to Wilsbach. All this was Luftwaffe planning against China, not Russia reason for Chinese military intelligence to have been keeping the Germans under close surveillance in Singapore, along with the Russians. The German reporters are unaware of the Russian press report identifying the US as the source of the leak. They havent realized that the first five minutes of conversation reveal the special interest which the USAF had in keeping Graefe under surveillance in Singapore. Also revealed now is the USAF motive in making the Gerhartz war plan against Russia public before not after it had been agreed with Washington. The timing of the newly disclosed Luftwaffe briefing of USAF General Wilsbach last October is also revealing. It was then that the Pentagon was considering what to do next in the Ukraine and the forward budget required after the Zelensky-Zaluzhny counteroffensive had collapsed into the rout which the Pentagon had been anticipating since the Teixeira leaks of early 2023. In short, on display here is evidence that after the Kiev regime capitulates, the Germans are the enemy the Russian General Staff know they must defeat as the American generals look for a way of their own to retreat. Graefe and Schneider have been on speaking terms for several years at least since 2019 when Graefe, a one-star general, was the senior German military attache in Washington and Schneider, with three stars, was the staff director for the USAF at the Pentagon. Even then and there, Schneider was a specialist on Asia, not Europe, not Russia. Left, General Kevin Schneider; right, Brigadier General Frank Graefe, wearing a patch from a joint US-German air exercise. There is also additional audio and transcript at the end of the original record which was not translated into Russian for the initial Moscow publication. This runs for five extra minutes. Revealed for the first time is the confidence on the part of the military officers that they can get Defense Minister Pistorius to do what they want, and that he is as eager as they are for their operations to appear at least as competent as the British and French. Youre man enough, Gerhartz tells Graefe, and the minister [Pistorius] is a totally cool guy to deal with anyway. So from there.. You are the experts. It was just important to me that we just appear sober and dont somehow smash show-stoppers into it [Crimean Bridge], which they simply dont that are not credible when other nations deliver Storm Shadows [British] and SCALP [French]. As for the Americans on the battlefield, Gerhartz concedes we have now surrendered [sic] 3 Patriot radars out of 12. There have been long faces in the FlaRak [anti-aircraft missile group]. But at the moment they are shooting down the planes and missiles that cant hit us. In final words on the record, Gerhartz wishes his men good luck in their briefing with Pistorius. Make something for visualization not too much, always remember: They come from a completely different world, from a completely different world of thought than we who are talking here right now. So Yes, then thats fineAll right. Then I thank you for the round and wish everyone happy work and then I hope to see you both in Berlin. And then you, Frank [Graefe], when youre back from Singapore. And if I cant be there, then one of you can just contact me afterwards, because then of course Im interested in how it went with good Boris. Graefe then told Gerhartz about a productive meeting he had just had in Singapore. According to the Google translation of the German, Ive still got something out of Ive just met the tailor, or can you stay right on the line? The word Graefe used was schneider. Either this was code for General Schneider spoken to hide from the others what was meant, or everyone knew who was meant. Yes, OK, Gerhartz replied. Ill call you again separately in a moment. This a signal that what Graefe had got out of Schneider was so sensitive, it wasnt for the ears of the two lieutenant colonels. This last revelation also indicates that if the Russians had intercepted the teleconference, they also know what Schneider told Graefe for Gerhartz. If the US is behind the interception and leak, they want to keep Schneiders part top secret. AI could exceed human intelligence in 3 years, top scientist warns If the many shortcomings of today's artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT have left you confident that AI surpassing human intelligence is still a far way off, think again. A top scientist has warned that this nightmare scenario could be a reality decades sooner than previous predictions, and it may even be just a few years away. The warning comes from PhD mathematician and futurist Ben Goertzel, who is known for popularizing the term "artificial general intelligence (AGI). At a summit this month, he said: 'It seems quite plausible we could get to human-level AGI within, let's say, the next three to eight years. He added that once we have achieved human level artificial general intelligence, it will only be a few years before a radically superhuman version will emerge. Although he conceded that his prediction may not be correct, he said that the only thing stopping an AI that is vastly superior in intelligence to its human creators would be if an AI bot's own conservatism compelled it to proceed with caution. He believes that an exponential escalation of artificial intelligence technology is an inevitability. Goertzel has been investigating artificial super intelligence, a term for an AI that can match all of the computing and brain power of human civilization. He pointed out that a predictive model developed by Google computer scientist and futurist Ray Kurzweil suggests this type of intelligence will be possible by 2029. The notion is further supported by the huge advancements that have been made in large language models in the last couple of years. This technology has evolved so quickly that much of the world is now all too aware of the potential of the technology. 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 futurist's latest warning is just one of several he has made in recent years about this technology. Last May, he cautioned that artificial intelligence could replace 80 percent of human jobs within the next few years, saying that any job that involves paperwork could be automatable. AI industry leaders warn risk is on par with pandemics and nuclear war Last year, a group of industry leaders warned that AI technology could pose an existential threat to humanity one day and should be thought of as just as dangerous as the risk of nuclear wars and deadly pandemics. The nonprofit Center for AI Safety released a one-sentence statement reading: Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks, such as pandemics and nuclear war. It was signed by more than 350 experts in the field, such as engineers, researchers and executives involved in artificial intelligence. Among those who signed it were the chief executive of Google's DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, Anthropic's Chief Executive Dario Amodei, and OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman. It was also signed by two of the researchers who are considered the godfathers of modern AI, Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton. The world should be very worried that the same people who are deeply involved in this industry and stand to profit most from it are the ones pushing governments to regulate the technology given its potential harms. Center for AI Safety Executive Director Dan Hendrycks said that many insiders are scared of where this is headed, telling the New York Times: Theres a very common misconception, even in the AI community, that there are only a handful of doomers. But, in fact, many people privately would express concerns about these things. It may not be long before the types of biased answers and hallucinations that tools like Google Gemini have been making headlines for lately are the least of our worries. AI pioneer Eliezer Yudkowsky also believes that an apocalypse driven by machines is a few years away. He said: If you put me to a wall and forced me to put probabilities on things, I have a sense that our current remaining timeline looks more like five years than 50 years." Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NYTimes.com TheGuardian.com America at risk of running out of electricity due to Big Techs growing demand for power The United States is at risk of running short of power as Big Tech's electricity-hungry data centers and clean-technology factories proliferate around the country, leaving utilities and regulators scrambling for credible plans to upgrade the grid. In Georgia, demand for industrial power is surging to record highs, with the projection of new electricity use for the next decade now 17 times what it was only recently. Arizona Public Service, the largest utility in that state, is also struggling to keep up, projecting it will be out of transmission capacity before the end of the decade absent major upgrades. In Northern Virginia, the equivalent of several new large nuclear power plants are needed to serve all the new data centers planned and under construction. Texas, where electricity shortages are already routine on hot summer days, faces the same dilemma. The soaring demand is forcing electricity providers to scramble to try to squeeze more juice out of America's aging power grid while pushing commercial customers to go to extraordinary lengths to lock down their energy supply needs, such as by helping build their new power plants. When you look at the numbers, it is staggering, said Jason Shaw, chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates electricity. It makes you scratch your head and wonder how we ended up in this situation. How were the projections that far off? This has created a challenge like we have never seen before. The administration of President Joe Biden claims it has made easing the grid bottleneck a priority. Even if this were true, federal powers are limited and the whole process is politically fraught, at best. Building new transmission lines and transfer stations involves huge land acquisitions, exhaustive environmental reviews and negotiations with multiple partners to determine who should pay what costs. 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. Regulators are worried that residential ratepayers could be stuck with the bill for costly upgrades. Climate activists are also concerned that the surging demand for power could stifle the transition to cleaner energy, especially as utility executives continue to lobby government authorities to delay the retirement of fossil fuel plants and bring more online to keep supply stable. Rapid AI innovations driving surge in demand for electricity A major factor behind the skyrocketing demand is the rapid innovation in artificial intelligence, which is driving the construction of large warehouses of computing infrastructure that require exponentially more power than traditional data centers. Tech mogul Elon Musk has even warned that the U.S. could run out of electricity and transformers for AI by 2025. AI is also part of a huge scale-up in cloud computing. Tech firms like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft are scouring the nation for sites for new data centers, and many lesser-known firms are also on the hunt. (Related: Rosemount, Minnesota trying to establish 15-minute city with the help of Zuckerberg's Meta.) But these same tech giants are also exploring ways in which AI can help make the grid operate more efficiently, such as by developing platforms that, during times of peak power demand, "can shift compute tasks and their associated energy consumption to the times and places where carbon-free energy is available on the grid," said Google in a statement. Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, interviews David Tice about the many vulnerabilities present in the American power grid. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The three states most likely to suffer from power grid collapse. Net-zero is pulling the plug on America's electrical "life support system," new documentary says. Biden's LNG export ban an "outrageous attack on American energy," says House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Insiders warn shifting to green energy could disrupt power grid reliability. Many countries investing in nuclear energy generation while America LANGUISHES in pursuit of less capable renewables. Sources include: Technocracy.news TheWeek.com Brighteon.com Australias transition to a fully cashless society now in full swing as major bank closes all physical branches Bankwest, a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), has announced that it is closing 45 of its branches and transitioning the remaining 15 CBA branches in an effort to go fully digital by October 2024 This announcement comes as Sydney-based banking software company Constantinople, a startup founded by two former executives of major bank Westpac, unveil a new app called Business+. They claim that this app will be an all-in-one mobile app that can offer Australia's first end-to-end digital banking platform for the country's 2.4 million businesses with fewer than 10 employees. CBA and Westpac are two of Australia's "Big Four," or the four largest banks that have traditionally dominated Australia's banking industry in terms of market share, revenue and total assets. The two others are ANZ and National Australia Bank. (Related: Financial preparedness: What are the dangers of a cashless economy?) Last year, Constantinople raised AU$32 million ($21.2 million) from investors to develop its "bank-in-a-box" platform aimed at getting more people to shift away from traditional financial institutions and toward digital banking. Great Southern Bank, one of the country's largest credit unions, has already signed up to launch Business+. CEO and Managing Director Paul Lewis said the company had "taken the best of the neo-bank proposition, digitally first, with what we're good at, which is the banking license side, regulatory requirements." Neobanks are digital-only banking platforms that operate solely online. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. "We've got the whole package, which I think is a first in Australia," he said, noting that other neobanks launched with only a handful of basic products such as savings accounts, but no lending capability. Small businesses would be able to sign up for an account in under 10 minutes, a time frame he called "fantastic." Australian transition to cashless society hitting roadblocks Australia is transitioning to a cashless society faster than almost anywhere else. Last year, the Australian Banking Association reported that the use of digital wallet payments on smartphones and watches had increased from AU$746 million ($494.28 million) in 2018 to over AU$93 billion ($61.62 billion) in 2022. Nevertheless, the response to Bankwest's branch closures shows that there is still strong opposition to Australia's transition to a fully cashless society. Many of the bank's customers, for example, are up in arms over its decision to become Australia's first major digital-only bank. "How dare they limit our access to our own cash money and their services, which should be widely available to us," said Lyn who, after over three decades of loyalty to Bankwest, will be closing all of her accounts with the bank after its "disrespectful" move that will make vulnerable customers have a more difficult time accessing financial services. "My main concern is not for ourselves, but for our seniors, for whom it can be very difficult to adapt to the new technological ways, physically move around, drive or travel large distances," said Lyn. The Australian Senate has also demanded that Bankwest executives appear for an inquiry. National Party Sen. Matt Canavan, chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, has noted how Bankwest's decision was disappointing. "These closures will impact all the communities that they operate in, reducing banking choice and the ability to get an essential service," he said. Watch this video warning of a possible collapse of the American banking system. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Bidens government caught surveilling bank transactions of conservatives and Trump supporters. Fast-food chains under Yum! Brands to go CASHLESS soon: Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC to REJECT cash. American businesses, big-box stores increasingly rejecting CASH as forced shift to cashless society accelerates. Portent of things to come: Move to go cashless by McDonalds greeted with calls for BOYCOTT. The next phase of the globalist takeover requires surrender to a new CASHLESS society, complete with digital passes and IDs to engage in commerce. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com AU.Finance.Yahoo.com WAToday.com.au Brighteon.com In the past three years, British hospitals accidentally chopped off 105 patient limbs The United Kingdom has a serious problem with "accidental" amputations occurring at its government-run National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. Over the last three years, British doctors "mistakenly" sliced off as many as 105 patient limbs, the latest figures show, all due to alleged medical negligence. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where at least six accidental accusations occurred, confirmed these figures. It also acknowledged that they reveal a serious and disturbing trend in lack of quality care across the NHS system. The offending facilities include the aforementioned entity as well as Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, The George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, East Kent Hospitals University Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Another 15 NHS Foundation Trusts across the U.K. have also accidentally sliced off patient limbs, though none of these are revealing how many, citing "confidentiality concerns." Estimates suggest that among the following 15, at least 82 accidental amputations have occurred: Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than 10 Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust: Fewer than five Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five 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. Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust: 15 or fewer Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust: Fewer than 10 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust: Fewer than five Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust: Between one and five Wye Valley NHS Trust: Fewer than six (Related: Did you catch our other report revealing that when the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic" was first launched, U.K. government bureaucrats told NHS doctors to just kill their possibly infected patients?) U.K. emergency rooms also "mistakenly" chopping off limbs Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey is also guilty of this type of medical malpractice and negligence after a young girl who was rushed there had all four of her limbs "mistakenly" chopped off by attending physicians. According to reports, the girl was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital in 2023 after displaying "red flags for meningitis and sepsis," including symptoms of high temperature, fast heart rate, leg pain, vomiting and drowsiness. Doctors should have seen all these signs and known how to proceed properly, but instead they gave the child paracetamol and discharged her. A few hours later when she developed a rash and fever, the girl's parents rushed her back to the facility where she was diagnosed with meningococcal sepsis. A pediatric intensive care unit at another nearby hospital ended up receiving the girl, who ended up suffering multi-organ failure. The girl also required several procedures to treat her infection, one of them being a skin graft. Because of how long it took for NHS doctors to get the diagnosis right, the girl's infection spread, resulting in above-knee amputations of both her legs and above-elbow amputations of her arms. The family later sued the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust for getting the diagnosis wrong, which resulted in too much time passing before their daughter had a chance to keep her limbs. The hospital ended up settling for 39 million (about $50 million). "Money cannot bring who your daughter was back, but it can secure her future," said Judge Caspar Glyn KC to the family. Cases of medical malpractice continue to soar. Find out more at BadMedicine.news. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com NaturalNews.com Independent.co.uk Defense report reveals future warfare may involve man-made pathogens and AI According to an alarming report by RAND Corporation, researchers are looking into the possibility of using man-made pathogens in warfare . This report is supported by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the National Defense Research Institute. The advancement of biotechnology, which in the past was often only observed in science fiction, is now a reality. Analysts and experts are now considering the use of dangerous technologies in strategic military planning. The report detailed several technological improvements, such as brain-computer interfaces, CRISPR gene editing and mRNA vaccines, potentially changing the strategic landscape. The report also suggested that the steadily increasing number of countries with advanced biotechnology capabilities points to a "dynamic future for biotechnology in warfare." In the past, the use of biological weapons by nation-states has been limited due to the risks of collateral damage, especially unintended harm to their own forces. Additionally, pathogens are naturally uncontrollable and may potentially harm both enemies and allies. Because of this, nation-states have often prioritized more precise applications, such as targeted assassinations. War on the Rocks has reported that while some terrorist groups like Al Qaeda have experimented with large-scale biological weapons such as anthrax, these efforts were often impeded by factors like Western intervention and high resource costs. Because of this, groups often shifted their focus back to conventional weaponry. The rapidly growing biotechnology landscape, especially in the field of engineered pathogens, presents new strategic opportunities and challenges. 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. With the development of artificial intelligence and the increasing accessibility and cost-effectiveness of CRISPR technology, the concept of developing pathogens targeting specific genetic markers is becoming more attainable. However, this advancement in biotechnology doesn't just offer new warfare strategies, it also poses significant concealment advantages, making detection and prevention more challenging. (Related: ABSURD: National Climate Assessment report attempts to link climate change to PANDEMICS and PATHOGENS.) Warfare may also involve artificial intelligence Geoffrey Hinton helped develop the technology that served as the intellectual basis for what companies like Google, OpenAI and others are now making a lot of money from. The rapidly evolving tech was part of a project Hinton worked on with two graduate students at the University of Toronto in 2012. In 2023, Hinton announced that he would be leaving Google, where he spent the last decade working to boost the company's efforts in the field of AI. He explained that the decision came about because being a free agent was the only way he could talk about the potential dangers of the technology. Hinton is one of many leaders in the quickly advancing field who warn that the unforeseen consequences of AI could soon harm humans. Hinton even hinted that if he hadn't spoken up, "somebody else would have." In an article that took a closer look at Hinton's about-face from "AI groundbreaker to doomsayer," it was revealed how he and others have encouraged a "necessary step back" from the current rate of AI development. In March 2023, industry leaders like Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and leaders in the AI field also published an open letter calling for a temporary pause on A.I. development. The authors of the March 22, 2023 letter warned that "AI systems with human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity, as shown by extensive research and acknowledged by top AI labs." Watch the video below to learn more about the growing biological warfare threat from China. This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Remember the Chinese biolab in California found to be experimenting with deadly pathogens? FBI, CDC ignored obvious concerns. FBI, CDC refused to investigate Chinese biolab in California despite repeated requests by federal and local officials. Dr. Meryl Nass warns: WHO pandemic treaty is about global dominion by the few and total control of the masses. Russia claims avian flu pathogens with 40% lethality rate in humans being cooked up at US-run biolab in Ukraine. Sources include: YourNews.com WarOnTheRocks.com TheDebrief.org Brighteon.com Europe launches food crisis WAR GAMES simulating an expected global food crisis Is the world heading towards a major global food collapse? The governments of the European Union (EU) sure seem to think so As of right now, EU governments have begun conducting major food crisis war games simulations that predict serious food supply and logistics problems as soon as this year going into next year. Besides the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on grain supplies, weather events like El Nino and La Nina and their impact on Latin American soy production are part of the simulations. The farmer-tractor protests across Europe are also included in the simulation mix. Another major component of the EU's food crisis war games is the impact that a major pandemic, real or otherwise, can have on supply chains, i.e., what the world endured as a result of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic." Last month in Brussels, a conference was held that envisioned a serious food shortage crisis in Europe this year. Some 60 EU and government officials, food security experts and industry representatives converged for two days to confront the very real possibility of a major food crisis event unfolding in a matter of months. "Expect a level of chaos," warned Piotr Magnuszewski, a systems modeler and games developer who contributed to the gaming scenario component of the conference. "You may be confused at times and not have enough information." (Related: It is expected that, come 2030, the world will face "severe cold and food shortages" due to a grand solar minimum.) Europe used to be the best-fed continent on earth To hear Europe and food crisis in the same sentence may come as a surprise to many, especially those who remember the good ol' days when Europe was the most prosperous and well-fed continent on earth. 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. Things have obviously changed in recent years especially as the globalists who control the EU have set Europe down a dark and ugly path of collapse, including the collapse of its continental food supply. For the food crisis simulation, the idea of "harvest failures" as soon as 2025 is presented as a possible real-life issue, starting in the coming months. Animal feed prices soar, livestock and fish production tumbles, and what little food remains is shipped overseas to the "highest bidders elsewhere." Palm oil exports are cut dramatically, leaving just fake-butter margarine and low-quality bread for Europeans to eat. "Allegations of corporate greed, disinformation, and conspiracy theories are spreading," the simulation poses as what it expects to occur. "The cost of fertilizers and energy needed to grow crops and keep glasshouses running soared in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine," it continues, blaming much of the crisis on Russia, as usual. As 2025 continues, the situation worsens as desperate people start robbing supermarkets, and very little police presence is on-site to stop them. Germans living in Europe's former economic powerhouse can no longer find fish or meat at grocery stores and the livestock industry collapses entirely. "Meanwhile, the public's focus shifts to profiteering by commodity traders," the simulation continues, warning that people are eventually going to catch on to the fact that Wall Street greed and private central banking are largely the culprits of this full-scale collapse. "Small farms fall like dominos, while attacks on immigrants begin to become more widespread. Is the EU a sinking ship?" someone asks in a video portion of the simulation. Of course, the aftermath of the simulation presents ideas for how to stop or at least minimize the fallout from all this, one of the major ideas being that people need to shift away from eating meat and other "climate-polluting" things now so the shortages will feel less impactful later. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com Sen. Bill Hagerty accuses Democrats of plotting to use illegals to gain more congressional seats Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) has accused the Democrats of trying to secure additional electoral power and congressional seats using the more than 10 million illegal immigrants that entered the United States in recent years. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to determine the population of each state in the U.S. without regard for lawful residence status. In response, Hagerty and other Republican senators proposed legislation that would exclude illegal immigrants from the census, fearing that their inclusion could impact the future apportioning of House seats and Electoral College votes. The proposed legislation would mandate the inclusion of a citizenship question in future censuses and the disqualification of non-citizens, including legal migrants with temporary visas and green cards, from being considered in congressional apportionments. (Related: They're taking over: IMMIGRANTS now make up 15% of total U.S. population.) However, the legislation failed to garner a single vote from Democrats, and the final Senate vote came out with 45 in favor and 51 against, with all members of the Democratic caucus including independent Sens. Angus King (ME), Bernie Sanders (VT) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) voting against the measure. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also voted with the Democrats. In an interview, Hagerty argued that the only plausible explanation for blocking his measure is that the Democrats are aware of the electoral power they could gain in future elections by exploiting the country's massive illegal immigrant population. 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. "They're seeing the potential of the next census to lose congressional districts and electoral votes... But if you think about the motives for the crime that's taking place at our southern border, that is it. That's what the Democrats are trying to do," said Hagerty. "And its a sheer power grab. It's cynical as hell, and it's actually the most straightforward explanation of why they would tolerate this carnage and mayhem. It's in order to retain and gain power." "I think that this proves the motive behind the crime in our border. They want these illegal migrants in here to create more electoral power for them in their blue states," he continued. "Theyre basically creating sanctuary cities to be a magnet, so these people will disproportionately flow to these blue states. Theyre shipping them there as rapidly as they can." Including illegals in apportionment could have dire consequences In February, the same month Republicans proposed the legislation, conservative experts had already warned the public about the potential effect of the immigration surge on House apportionment. Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation, alongside R.J. Hauman, the president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement, warned that the crisis is "distorting the representation that states have in the House and how many electoral votes they have in presidential elections." "Barring the Census from including non-citizens in apportionment is critical in making sure that American citizens the only population who can and should vote in U.S. elections are picking Americas leaders," Ries and Hauman wrote. Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, shared the sentiment. "Illegal immigration has all kinds of effects and among them is that it distorts the mechanics of democratic government. Illegal immigrants aren't even supposed to be here, so their inclusion in the census count for purposes of apportionment really is outrageous," said Krikorian in an interview with Fox News Digital in February. Watch the video below for the actual flight plan of illegal immigration in America. This video is from the SquareOneNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: America sees 550% increase in illegal immigrants coming in from Canada. Trump promises IDEOLOGICAL SCREENING for potential immigrants if reelected as president. NYC Mayor Eric Adams warns illegal immigrants will DESTROY the city. INVASION USA: Swarm of military-aged immigrants arriving in Texas, citizen journalist warns. Texas Gov. Abbott begins flooding sanctuary cities with chartered flights of illegal immigrants. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Hagerty.Senate.gov FoxNews.com MSN.com House committee passes bill ordering TikTok to divest from the CCP The House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously passed two bills meant to protect the data of Americans and to force social media giant TikTok to divest from its Chinese ownership . The committee's decision allows the bills to advance to a full vote in the House of Representatives. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said the effort was vital to ending the attempts of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to "target, surveil, and manipulate Americans." "Protecting Americans' data and addressing the serious national security threat posed by the CCP has been my top priority of all Congress. We have given TikTok a clear choice: Divest from your parent company, which is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party, and remain in operation in the United States, or side with the Chinese Communist Party and face a ban," McMorris Rodgers said. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act would force social media apps determined to be controlled by foreign adversaries that present a national security threat to the U.S. to divest from these parent companies within 180 days of enactment of the bill, or these applications will be prohibited in the United States. "The Chinese Communist Party poses the greatest national security threat to the United States of our time. TikTok's access to 170 million American users makes it a valuable propaganda tool for the CCP to exploit and use for nefarious purposes," McMorris Rodgers said. The committee held closed-door sessions to hear classified intelligence briefings from various agencies regarding how TikTok allegedly serves the CCP through its parent company, ByteDance. 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 U.S. government is presently investigating ByteDance for using TikTok geolocation data to follow and harass American journalists who exposed the CCPs governing role in the corporation. McMorris Rodgers connected the incident to the government's laws, which permit the CCP to access any data stored within China, a system she cited as "spying by design." She added that as long as TikTok stayed under effective CCP control, it would remain a security threat. "Our adversaries choose to rule through fear and control. Companies controlled by a foreign adversary like the CCP will never embrace American values, virtues of our society and culture like freedom of speech, human rights, the rule of law, a free press, and others," McMorris Rodgers said. House also passes legislation banning sale of Americans' personal information to China The committee also unanimously passed legislation that would prohibit the sale of Americans' personal information to China by data brokers. Such brokers are presently permitted to mop up user data from practically all websites and then sell that data directly to China. Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) compared the legislative action to wartime limitations on radio and television in the 20th century. "Most Americans are unaware that data brokers compile dossiers about their interests, beliefs, actions, and movements, and Americans are powerless to stop this violation of their privacy," Pallone said. The committee may have been motivated to act after a huge spam campaign set up by TikTok recently. The social media corporation started targeting users with location-specific information, providing them with contact information of their local representatives on the committee and persuading them to demand a "no" vote. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) said such behavior was exactly why the bill must be passed. "I think it's just further reason why we need to ban TikTok. This company is clearly politically motivated," Burlison explained. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union and other free speech advocacy groups pressed lawmakers to reject the TikTok bill, stating in a letter to the Energy and Commerce Committee's leadership that "passing this legislation would trample on the constitutional right to freedom of speech of millions of people in the United States." (Related: Biden joins TikTok despite national security concerns.) Read more news related to China at CommunistChina.news. Watch the video below about the CCP waging "global political warfare" against America using TikTok as a weapon. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden administration strikes a deal with ByteDance to gain total control over TikTok operations in America. Data privacy concerns raised as analysis finds China-based developers were responsible for TikToks code. SMOKE & MIRRORS: Anti-TikTok bill is actually secretive legislation to help US government censor US citizens right to free speech and free press. Leaked documents from a Chinese contractor offers rare insight into how the CCP operates its cyberwarfare and surveillance operations. Sources include: NTD.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Cheektowaga voters will decide in November if the town should adopt a ward system for elections as a response to a residents complaint that voting in the town is unfair for minority residents. But a lawyer representing the man whose complaint led to the planned referendum said the town is not solving the problem by putting the question to voters and he plans to take legal action before that happens. The Cheektowaga Town Board unanimously voted Tuesday to put the question on the ballot for the November general election. The decision comes three months after resident and former Town Board candidate Ken Young filed a complaint under the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York claiming there is racially polarized voting in the town, meaning minorities cannot elect the candidates they prefer under the towns current at-large voting system. The Town Board hired two experts to review elections in Cheektowaga dating to 2015, and they found that recent voting patterns demonstrate racially polarized voting in the township, especially in 2021 and in the most recent elections. Young also hired his own expert, who analyzed only the 2023 Town Board election but concluded there was racially polarized voting in that contest. In his complaint, Young proposed that the town should have a ward system for voting and impose a two-term limit for board members as a remedy. In its resolution, the Town Board states theres no evidence that term limits would prevent racially polarized voting. The board believes a new state law that moves many local elections to even-numbered years to coincide with presidential and congressional elections which typically have a higher voter turnout may be a remedy. However, the Town Boards decision to bring the matter to a vote is not acceptable to Young, his attorney Gary Borek said. Thats just completely illusory, their attempt, Borek said. Its also pretty inane because youre submitting the question for remedy to the very electorate that is the problem. (The Town Board) is saying, Lets let the electorate that causes the racially polarized voting decide on what remedy they want. Thats just nonsense. Complete nonsense. According to Borek, the boards decision to put the matter to a vote does not follow the provisions set out under the state Voting Rights Act. He said the towns claim that moving elections to even-numbered years could address the issue is not an appropriate remedy under the law either. Michael Pernick, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund who was involved in developing and advocating for the New York Voting Rights Act, agreed that adopting a referendum to change an at-large voting system to a ward system is not a remedy under the law. If a town replaces an at-large election with a ward system and that ward system gives voters of color one or more districts in which they can elect candidates of choice, that could be a remedy to an NYVRA violation, Pernick said. But just having a referendum doesnt cut it. Pernick said changing the election date is an option listed in the law, but its only appropriate if it addresses the underlying issue. Whether any particular remedy fixes the violation requires factual analysis of the circumstances and situations in the town, Pernick said. Cheektowaga faces challenge to election methods under new state voting rights law Ken Young, a Black resident who campaigned as a Democrat for a spot on the board this past election cycle, claims the town's voting system prevents minority candidates from being elected and is urging officials to consider making a change. However, Daniel Spitzer, an attorney with Hodgson Russ who is acting as special counsel to the town, said Cheektowaga officials followed the law to the letter. In this case, the board is saying democracy should rule, Spitzer said. Democracy comes first. Thats the whole point of this. Why dont we ask the voters what they want to do? There is no reason not to give the voters a choice, Spitzer continued. And anyone whos really concerned about fairness in elections should not be arguing against giving the voters a choice. Under the New York Voting Rights Act, a municipality has a safe harbor period, a window of time it can use to address the alleged violation without risk of a lawsuit. But if that time expires and the municipality does not act, or proposes a remedy that is unsatisfactory, residents can sue. These kinds of court cases can cost municipalities millions of dollars in legal fees, Pernick said. Borek said he and Young plan to take legal action against the town before the end of March. They are not willing to wait and see what the outcome of the referendum will be, he said. Were either going to win or lose the case, but were going to win or lose it quickly, Borek said. Were going to go to court, were going to find out if we were right. If were wrong, were wrong, but were gonna go there and were going to get it done quickly. Were not going to wait around. Last month, the town held two public hearings to listen to residents thoughts on the issue. The majority of the 20 residents who spoke said they were in favor of the town adopting a ward system. The Town Board laid out the steps it will take if it continues with its plan to bring the issue to a vote: There will be at least two public hearings where residents can provide input regarding the composition of the wards. The town will hire an expert to draw proposed ward boundary lines that comply with applicable state and federal law and take public input into consideration. The town will publish the draft ward map and the potential sequence of elections for Town Board positions. There will be two more public hearings where residents can give their input on the map and election sequence. The final ward map will be published at least seven days prior to the November election. In 1953, Cheektowaga residents voted in favor of establishing wards, but the decision was later reversed. Young, a Black resident who ran as a Democrat for one of three open Town Board seats last year, received the most votes in the neighborhoods with the most Black residents, he wrote in his complaint. But overall, he received the fewest votes among the six candidates. Most of Cheektowagas Black residents live in the northwest corner of the town, west of Union Road and north of Broadway, according to Young. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 77% of Cheektowaga residents are white, while 12% are Black. A little more than 4% are Hispanic or Latino, and nearly 3% are Asian. If 9/11 & COVID had a baby, what would it be? The consent of the governed is either intolerable or impossible. (Article by Alix Mayer republished from AlixMayer.Substack.com) Yes, even right here in the ol Constitutional Republic of the United States. Sorry, I know that sounds a bit Negative Nellie. Sadly, I now think its true. I have a masters degree in management. Commonly called an MBA. I think about how things are run. All the time. I deconstruct systems to see how they were assembled. For example, here is my COVID Supra-Emergency presentation laying out the Howdunit of COVID: all the unlawful hi jinx to bring us The Worlds Most Deadly Product. I didn't study political science, however, COVID lockdowns were a good poli sci teacher for me. When Noam Chomskys book, Manufacturing Consent, was first published in 1988, it focused on media manipulation to ensure a population would reject Communism. Of course he also acknowledged that the media cannot bite the hand that feeds them, the corporations that pay to advertise. I have actually seen this first hand, as I know someone who owns and runs the biggest business in a small country. Need a favorable story? Write one and submit it to the largest newspaper. Done. Manufacturing an anti-Communism agenda seems, prima facie, like a good Humanitarian objective. But think of the irony! We accept media manipulation - for the Greater Good - to prevent Communism which is purportedly for the Greater Good. Im a Libertarian, but maybe my feelings on Communism were so manipulated by the media that I automatically reject it? How would I know now? Manufactured Consent overtly shifted after September 11, 2001. Im sure you noticed. I began to understand the concept of false flags. But it wasnt totally obvious to me what the end game was until COVID lockdowns. Lockdowns were Part 2 of manufacturing consent for a Digital ID technocracy. The creepy push for vaccine passports, the placeholder for the Digital ID, brought it all into focus. Starting with bat soup at a wet market, I soon realized we were hurtling toward digital control of the Global population. COVID was not about a virus or a pandemic. It was a means to an end. It was the invisible weaponized architecture to make the governed walk into a government-controlled digital prison. So, the offspring of 9/11 and COVID? I posit they are the parents of a coming cyber-attack. Read on so that doesnt seem like a non-sequitur. The First War on Terror: 9/11 9/11 appears to be a scripted narrative that brought us the Patriot Act, the National Security Agency (NSA,) and the Real ID Act of 2005. It started with images of aluminum-body airplanes going through steel-girded buildings. [Blink, blink.] Then some Mickey Mouse videos emerged of the perps swinging on playground rings. Ah, yes, just your average pilot training to fly planes into skyscrapers! An anchor on CNN, standing in front of a live shot of Building 7 intact in the background, reported it had just collapsed. But it stood proudly - perhaps defiantly - on the live feed. Then we saw Building 7 implode, sans airplane attack. The instant conclusion: Terrorists from any country could kill us at any time. The new invisible enemy was so scary, all air travelers suddenly had to submit to humiliating put your hands up poses while being irradiated. And undress in public. Maam, is that a sweater or a shirt? Do you have anything on under that? If its a sweater, please take it off. And limit liquids and gels to 3 oz each, and fit them in a quart-sized baggie. How random is that? And take our shoes off because one guy tried to blow up an entire airplane by lighting his shoes on fire. Did anyone really believe that at the time? Due to the fear created by 9/11, we voluntarily gave up a little privacy and other civil liberties to assure us of our security. Our consent was manufactured. Re-think the change in airport security without an inciting incident like 9/11. How many would have gone along so quickly and easily? Let me use a super basic example of what 9/11 accomplished regarding giving up civil liberties for greater security. Last year, Dr. Naomi Wolf stayed at my house, or my queendom as she so kindly called it. Dr. Wolf was sunbathing in a lounge chair, but my puppy kept jumping on her. The puppy problem manufactured her consent for a solution. I put a bunch of zig zag gates around Dr. Wolf so the puppy couldn't get near her, but then she couldnt switch chairs as the sun moved. I had removed some of her personal liberty in exchange for her security from my puppy. Security can be inconvenient. Dr. Wolf ended up abandoning the shelter of the gates to seek sun in a different lounge chair. She instead chose her freedom at the of risk puppy jumps. (Hindsight is 20/20: Now, I would have put my puppy on a leash and tied her to me.) The Second War on Terror: COVID-19 COVID-19 was another scripted narrative about a pandemic that attempted to push everyone onto a vaccine passport. The definition of pandemic was watered down in 2009 with Swine Flu, ahem, sorry pigs, H1N1. The media told us it began in China. Viruses never emerge from Madison, Wisconsin. Thats not scary enough to Americans. Not only was this new virus from China; the media said it came from bat soup. Admit it, as an American, you didnt think Chinese ate bats or bat soup. But every media outlet said the Chinese ate bat soup from a wet market. And if viruses are in a soup, surely its a cooked soup, and viruses are supposedly killed by heat. Ive never heard of a chilled bat gazpacho, which could theoretically be infectious. Thats when I cried bullshit, or batshit. They missed the mark on that one. I was agog until I realized this batshit narrative meant we were in serious trouble. Regarding scripted media narratives, Id also watched in horror how the we got bin Laden narrative rolled out. It was hard to find him for years, what with all the cave-hiding (really?,) but since he was purportedly on dialysis, he was bound to show up in an urban area. Like Abbottabad. Then William & Kate married on April 29, 2011. Global eyeballs were glued to the TV for days, savoring royal wedding moments. What an opportune time to take over the TV news cycle. Then on May 2, we got bin Laden with the one raid that happened to be live-fed into a War Room with a contemplative Obama, and Hilary, posing with a hand over her mouth. Then, we took a DNA sample of bin Laden and, per Muslim tradition, [cough, cough] and immediately sent his body out to sea. And I hesitated to add this, but remember SEAL Team 6, the heroes who invaded the Abbottabad hide-out? Yeah. In a fatal Afghanistan helicopter crash on August 6, 2011, all on board, including 15 SEAL Team 6 members, were killed. The official narrative is that the SEAL deaths didnt include anyone from the Abbottabad bin Laden home raid. I was actually with someone in September of that year who knew a lot of those men. Suffice it to say the official narrative is different than what I was told. Do you remember what the Chinese scientists did with the first biological samples of SARS CoV-2? They sequenced it in January 2020, then destroyed it so no one could peer-review their work. Uh huh. Just like bin Ladens body. Maybe they were following Muslim tradition again. Then, after the COVID shots rolled out, we were manipulated to be scared of literally everyone. They wanted us to believe in asymptomatic spread, even though we have video of Fauci saying before lockdowns that asymptomatic spread is not a driver of outbreaks. A search on PubMed, as of the publication time of this article, found 2,107 studies using the search term overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Clearly they studied how to market the shots. Im sure this research concluded that the idea of an unvaccinated person killing COVID-vaccinated Grandma was the most terrifying thing anyone could imagine. Anyone could be sick and kill you at any time because its I Believe in Science to say that the presence of an asymptomatic unvaccinated person will suddenly and temporarily make a vaccinated persons vaccine not work, and then the vaccinated person could get sick or die. Wow. Stunning New Normal Science* right there. In the New Normal Science, vaccines are now dependent on others getting them so the vaccinated persons product will work. Its therefore only logical to get your own vaccine passport or vaccine card, and demand to see others passports and cards! The new invisible virus enemy was so scary, most Americans embraced pseudo-science, voluntarily gave up their bodily autonomy, their right to informed consent, their medical privacy and even insisted on violating the medical privacy of others to find out if it was safe to be in a restaurant with another person. However, if someone died after 2021, it was verboten to ask if someone had been injected with the COVID shot. All deaths after 2021 are still ABV. Anything But the Vaccine. Another major social shift was that the job of policing the population to disclose personal information was now no longer in the hands of the TSA or law enforcement or the medical system, it was now distributed to the entire population. Thats another building block, if you are paying attention. Read more at: AlixMayer.Substack.com Experts warn about restaurants and fast food chains raising food prices during peak hours As labor costs are skyrocketing, experts warn that restaurants may be experimenting with dynamic menu prices where customers would expect big surcharges for peak times and rising staffing demand. Dynamic pricing, a term used for charging higher rates at peak times and dropping them at slower ones, has become commonplace in industries such as e-commerce, and mobile apps have made it easier for companies to study consumers' buying and browsing and quickly adapt. Rising costs in recent years have led more business owners to implement it. Food establishments like San Diego-based Cali BBQ are experimenting with a form of the dynamic pricing long used by airlines, hotels and ride-hailing services. Technology providers pitch services that enable restaurants to change prices weekly or monthly, increasing or slashing the cost of a taco or sandwich between a few quarters to several dollars, depending on demand and sales patterns. Heather Haddon, a Wall Street Journal Chicago reporter, cited fast food giant Wendy's as having drawn public scrutiny after it said in a mid-February earnings call that it was looking to test dynamic pricing. It said it would invest around $20 million in its U.S. restaurants to install digital menu boards by 2025 that could suggest items to customers and present different offerings depending on the time of day. Meanwhile, some restaurants, like the sit-down ones, are charging more for prime seats during peak hours, Haddon further reported. One example is the Gene and Georgetti, a historic Chicago steakhouse where Frank Sinatra once regularly dined. In late 2022, it implemented dynamic pricing on two booths frequented by celebrity customers. As per managing partner Michelle Durpetti, diners would have to pay a $20 fee when they book the booths at busy hours, helping counterbalance the restaurants rising expenses. 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. However, Wendy's discovered last month that customers like happy-hour discounts and other deals at slow times, industry consultants said. But that is not how it works. Instead, prices will go up across the board. Then to get the discount you will have to go off-peak. "People know how much a small fry or burger costs," said Matthew Tucker, head of the reservation platform Tock, which offers dynamic pricing options to the 7,000 restaurants that use its services. "If they mess with that formula, you must be careful." (Related: Bidenomics: Big Mac extra value meal now costs $10 more than it did during Trump's era.) Dynamic pricing is not a good idea: marketing professor Due to the dynamic pricing announcement, headlines like "Wendy's to roll out Uber-style surge-pricing" flooded the news and #BoycottWendys trended on social media. Wendy's rival Burger King quickly took advantage of the news with a "No urge to surge" promotion. For Vivek Astvansh, associate professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics at McGill University, the burger joint's early announcement of its dynamic pricing was a serious mistake. The restaurant's CEO said it would introduce dynamic pricing "as early as 2025," at least nine months before customers needed to hear about it. "I assume Wendy's did this because it wanted to impress its shareholders and boost its stock price," Astvansh said. "In fact, the cynic in me wonders whether this incident was 'staged' that is, Wendy's was testing the waters to see whether they could preannounce the price hike to impress shareholders, and then not actually implement the changes." He said that the backlash put Wendy's on the defensive and it looked like a classic public relations disaster. According to the professor, research has shown that companies often preannounce price increases a few days to several months in advance and may withdraw some of these preannouncements if they realize that the price hike may cause more damage than an increase in revenue. But either way, announcing a decision nine months in advance seems premature. And I havent seen any evidence that Wendys planned for customers to hear the news along with investors. "My advice is for executives to be astute in communicating price increases so consumers take the companys perspective and don't view the hike as unfair. That may mean avoiding terms that elicit hostile reactions or providing explanations for their decisions, such as an increase in the cost of ingredients or employee salaries. Consumers who understand the reasons for a price hike may be more accommodating," he said. He also discouraged other restaurants which wanted to increase menu prices during hours of high demand. "I hope they learn from Wendy's error and frame their price increases strategically," he advised. "Otherwise, they shouldn't be surprised when competitors eat their lunch." Sources for this article include: MishTalk.com WSJ.com TheConversation.com Sen. Chuck Schumer turns on Netanyahu, demands Israel vote in new prime minister to stop Gaza genocide In a statement that has shocked the world, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a Jewish man, has declared that the time of Benjamin Netanyahu's reign as prime minister of Israel is over. Upset over his mishandling of the war on Gaza, Schumer said that Netanyahu "has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel." "The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7th," Schumer continued watch the video below: SCHUMER ABANDONS ISRAEL: "Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel...The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7th."pic.twitter.com/aNVJCcbTUf Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 14, 2024 (Related: Compelling evidence continues to emerge to suggest that Israel coerced the United Nations [UN] agency for Palestinian refugees into lying about having ties to Hamas in order to delegitimize the UN agency's relief efforts.) Contentious Middle Eastern politics What Schumer wants to see happen is for there to be a new vote in Israel to oust Netanyahu from his post. The highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, Schumer claims that the world changed "radically" since October 7th, and that the Israel people at large are "being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past." Accusing Netanyahu of aligning himself with "far-right extremists" like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu is "pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows," Schumer warned. We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance. In many ways, Schumer is right. The world, regardless of political affiliation, is witnessing the genocide take place in Gaza and asking themselves why anyone should support this kind of Israel? Schumer has long been critical of Netanyahu and his Zionist vision and wants to see Israel return to a different kind of politics. After being briefly replaced by a center-left coalition, Netanyahu, who has served in Israel's government for many years, made a major comeback in November 2022 when he and his right-wing coalition were elected with one of the largest majorities in recent history for the Jewish state. Ever since Netanyahu publicly decried President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, Democrats have opposed him. Obama, in case you somehow missed the Iran deal, gave billions of dollars to the Iranian regime in a highly contested wealth transfer. For many decades, the U.S. has sent money and weapons to Israel while nobody batted an eye, but once Obama did the same for Iran, all bets were off. Since that time, the political left has been at odds with the political right in the U.S. over how to deal with the Middle East in general. Another reason Democrats do not like Netanyahu is because of his opposition to President Biden's proposal to establish a Palestinian state to end the current conflict. Netanyahu is also opposed to Biden's warnings against attacking Rafah, as well as Biden's comments that Netanyahu needs a "come to Jesus" moment to stop committing genocide. After Netanyahu was elected in November 2022, Biden refused to meet with him. Since that time, Biden has softened his stance towards Netanyahu as Biden learned that he might be able to claim a rare foreign policy achievement in the form of a Saudi-Israeli peace deal. After visiting Israel last October following the Hamas false flag attack, Biden has remained publicly critical of Netanyahu, stating in much the same manner as Schumer that the prime minister is "hurting" Israel more than he is "helping" Israel. Sources for this article include: Twitter.com NaturalNews.com Breitbart.com Experts warn U.S. is failing to respond quickly to Chinas global cybercrime campaign Experts believe that the United States is failing to respond swiftly to counter the threat of China's communist regime's worldwide campaign of cybercrime This comes as a cache of leaked documents that surfaced in late February directly implicated the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in an extensive overseas campaign of cyber espionage. Retired U.S. Army Col. John Mills, who previously served as the director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs at the Department of Defense, emphasized the importance of speed in the current era of cyber threats. You have to presume a breach, and that the threat is inside. Looking at it from that perspective, its all about speed of identification, speed of ejection. The U.S. government is not good at that, said Mills. (Related: Leaked documents from a Chinese contractor offers rare insight into how the CCP operates its cyberwarfare and surveillance operations.) Mills warned that there are a lot of "industrial control systems and critical infrastructure" that are just very difficult to properly secure because they use "a lot of obscure software programs and languages that are just not very well understood, and they don't scale as far as being able to secure them." "The 'Internet of Things' and critical infrastructure that is still a very porous, vulnerable area," he added. "It's very tailored and customized, which is inefficient and expensive, and that's the reality of critical infrastructure." China's global cybercrime campaign aimed at destabilizing its adversaries like the U.S. The leaked documents reveal that the CCP's global cybercrime campaign is aimed at destabilizing its adversaries and preparing China for a potential war with the United States. 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 documents belonged to a criminal hacking group called I-Soon, which operates as a legitimate business in China. The leaked files revealed the groups infiltration into government departments in India, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and South Korea, as well as into organizations affiliated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Some of the documents verified by the Associated Press show that the majority of the groups clients are based within Chinas regional security bureaus and the CCPs Ministry of Public Security. Mills said the revelation was predictable, and that CCP authorities have a long history of conducting illicit tasks in addition to their formal duties. "The CCP and the government, which is one [and] the same thing, knew these people were moonlighting. This is part of the culture of corruption [in China]," said Mills. The I-Soon leaks surfaced amid a wider flurry of CCP-backed cyber activity, in which the regime successfully infiltrated both U.S. critical infrastructure and the defense ministry of the Netherlands. Volt Typhoon, a malware used to infiltrate U.S. systems and target critical infrastructure, was discovered last year, having been implanted as part of a wider effort to pre-position for a military conflict. The malware also threatened the physical safety of Americans by targeting water, energy, rail, airline and port traffic-control systems, according to intelligence leaders. Casey Fleming, CEO of the risk advisory firm BlackOps Partners, said that the Volt Typhoon initiative was part of the CCPs strategy of unrestricted warfare through which it aims to secure military advantage over the United States through non-military means. "The CCP is hyper-focused on weakening the U.S. from all angles to win the war without fighting," Fleming told the Epoch Times. "This is what World War III looks like. Its the speed of technology, the stealth of unrestricted warfare, and no rules." Watch this video of political commentator Glenn Beck discussing how Chinese cyber activities are fueling the secret war the CCP is waging on American soil. This video is from the Galactic Storm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Leaked documents reveal China's hacking abilities and potential targets. FBI warning: Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure are increasing at unprecedented scale. Report: CCP intensifies global censorship efforts, posing threat to U.S. national security. Japanese government sources confirm Chinese hackers stole classified diplomatic information during 2020 cyberattack. Surveillance cameras from BANNED Chinese tech company allegedly installed in 50 Quebec cities and public facilities. Sources include: YourNews.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com A severe thunderstorm alert has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in multiple regions of the United States this week, with the most recent in areas from the southern Plains to the Southeast US. According to the latest NWS forecast on Friday, March 15, there is a chance for severe weather and excessive rainfall to shift south into the Southeast and Gulf Coast states. Isolated tornadoes and damaging winds are also possible. Earlier this week, the weather service also issued a thunderstorm alert for the Central US, where the potential for hail and twisters threatened the Mississippi Valley and the Central Plains. Under the latest US weather forecast, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain are possible eastward from the Texas Hill Country across the Southeast starting Friday. This adverse weather could continue into the weekend. Severe Thunderstorm Alert In its severe thunderstorm alert at 3:46 p.m. EDT (local time) on Friday, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) reported that a slow-moving cold front will eventually stall along the Gulf Coast and be the focus for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. On Friday evening, scattered to isolated thunderstorms (some of which can be severe) will develop with the cold front ranging from the Edwards Plateau into south-central Texas. The prediction center also mentioned an "Enhanced Risk (level 3/5) of Severe Thunderstorms" is in effect for the affected areas mentioned tonight. Meanwhile, a "Slight Risk (level 2/5)" will extend from the central Gulf Coast and into the Florida panhandle, where the occurrence of very large hail and isolated damaging winds are expected. Furthermore, flooding due to torrential rain associated with the severe weather is also possible. Also Read: US Storm Warning: SPC Issues Severe Thunderstorm Alert for States in the Gulf Coast and Midwest Winter Storm Forecast Aside from the looming severe storms, the NWS is also monitoring a winter storm that is expected to produce waves of heavy snow in high-altitude areas of the Southwest US and Four Corners region into the weekend. With this, the US weather agency issued a winter storm alert for six states: California, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This comes as the winter storm impacted the Western US on Friday morning. For the affected states, light to heavy snow and colder temperatures are expected to descend in the coming hours and until Sunday, March 17. Although the winter season is nearing its end, the storm could still cause potential damage and travel disruption, including delayed or canceled flights. The same risks go for severe weather battering the south and southeastern states, where life-threatening tornadoes can occur. Thunderstorm development is common during the warmer months after winter, which specifically starts at spring in late March. However, this weather phenomenon can still occur at any time of the year in the US, according to the NWS. In 2023, a total of 83 deaths have been reported due to tornado outbreaks across the US. Related Article: Severe Thunderstorm Forecasts: Hail, Potential Isolated Tornadoes Threaten Mississippi Valley, Central Plains The City of Buffalo moved closer Friday to taking possession of two 19th-century Cobblestone District properties that have been in and out of Housing Court for years. The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court, on a vote of 4 to 1, denied Darryl Carr and Park Avenue Estates request to overturn the Common Councils rarely taken March 7 decision to seize 110 and 118 South Park Ave. The ruling said the city was within its right in deciding to pursue eminent domain in order to prevent further deterioration of the properties and to enable development. This is a huge victory for the Cobblestone Historic District, Fillmore Council Member Mitchell Nowakowski said. Oftentimes in preservation, you are dealing with a lot of losses, but today is a victory, even though we are not out of the woods yet. The Brown administration, whose attorney Michael Perley successfully argued the case in court, was encouraged by the courts decision. We always viewed these as important buildings to preserve, and it finally came to the point where we needed to pursue eminent domain in order to preserve this building, said Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the Office of Strategic Planning. This was a good first ruling for the City of Buffalo. Carr said the decision will be appealed. He purchased the 1869 building at 118 South Park Ave. in 2003 and the 1852 building at 110 South Park Ave. in 2008. He has long sought to demolish the two buildings to make way for a development project centered on a skyscraper on the property, while retaining some of the original facade. We are reviewing the courts decision with our legal team, and are encouraged by the reasoning of the dissent, which concluded that the City of Buffalos proceedings were not in compliance with the law, Carr said. We are confident that, upon review, New Yorks highest court will agree with the dissent and will annul the citys attempted taking to protect the rights of all New York property owners. Another court case concerning the properties must also be resolved. In February 2023, Housing Court Judge Patrick M. Carney ordered an emergency demolition of the dilapidated historic properties. That was appealed by the city to Erie County Court, where a decision is pending from Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. In the Appellate Division decision, the justices noted its review of a determination to condemn property is very limited, citing case law. We must either confirm or reject the (citys) determination, and our review is confined to whether the proceeding was constitutionally sound, the (city) had the requisite authority, its determination complied with the State Environmental Quality Review Act and the acquisition will serve a public use, the decision said. The city met all four requirements, the court ruled, while the property owners failed to establish that the determination was without foundation and baseless. Justice Stephen Lindley, the lone dissenter, said the city failed to adequately explain what it planned to do with the properties in its public notice for the public hearing held in Council chambers. Although relieving blight, addressing community needs and promoting economic progress may be permissible goals for taking someones property, that description, standing alone, does not constitute adequate notice of a public project, Lindley wrote. Lindleys dissent is what Carr said he and his legal team are counting on building a successful appeal on. But the rest of the judges said the city adequately represented its intentions for the properties. To the contrary, in its determination and findings the city found that petitioners had neglected the specified parcels and allowed them to deteriorate to the point where they presented a safety risk to the public and constituted a blight within a certified historic district that had otherwise been improved to become a vibrant commercial and historically significant area, attracting tourists as well as local patrons businesses and tenants, the court ruling said. The city further found that this blight was impairing economic development within the otherwise revitalized historic district, the judges continued. The city therefore determined that it was necessary to acquire the neglected properties for the purpose of redeveloping the existing buildings thereon in keeping with the existing character of the district and preserving the properties historic value. Parts of the two buildings are in precarious condition, made worse by the Christmas week blizzard in 2022, which further damaged roofs, masonry and walls. Carr, who also owns the Cobblestone Bar and Grill just east of the targeted buildings, has long contended the buildings were structurally unsafe when he acquired them, and are contaminated from industrial chemicals, claims backed by an engineering report. City inspectors have written up Carr for failing to maintain the properties for years, and he has been cited continually, first by Housing Court Judge Henry Nowak, then by Judge Carney. Scaffolding along a portion of 110 South Park, wrapping around to Illinois Street, was erected to protect the public against falling bricks. Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Sharjah, March 16 R ashid Khan etched his name into the record books, claiming the best figures by an Afghanistan captain in T20Is, a feat previously held by Nawroz Mangal for over 14 years during the opening T20I clash between Afghanistan and Ireland. Rashid's spell of 3 wickets for just 19 runs in four overs showcased his mastery with the ball and underlined his pivotal role in Afghanistan's bowling arsenal. With crucial dismissals of Ireland's key batsmen, including Paul Stirling, Curtis Campher, and Gareth Delany, Rashid spearheaded Afghanistan's efforts to contain the opposition, limiting Ireland to a modest total of 149 for 6 in their 20 overs.Despite Rashid's heroics, Afghanistan faced a setback in their pursuit of victory, succumbing to a 38-run defeat at the hands of a resilient Irish side. While Mohammad Ishaq showcased promise with a spirited knock of 32 runs off 22 balls, the Afghan batting lineup faltered against Ireland's formidable bowling attack, with Ben White emerging as the chief destroyer with four crucial scalps. Despite contributions from veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan failed to overcome Ireland's relentless pressure, ultimately falling short of the target.As the series unfolds, Afghanistan will be eager to regroup and bounce back in the second T20I showdown scheduled for Sunday, March 17. Rashid Khan breaks 14-year-old record to produce best T20I bowling figure by Afghan captain Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Federal judge sentences Buffalo man to 13 years for fentanyl, cocaine sales A Buffalo man who sold fentanyl and cocaine to undercover agents has been sentenced to 13 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Maurice London had pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Prosecutors said undercover agents began investigating London in April 2021, made four purchases of cocaine and fentanyl from him between April 29 and May 24, 2022, then executed a search warrant at his residence. Prosecutors said that the search turned up 144 grams (about five ounces) of fentanyl, 72 grams of lidocaine, 30 grams of crack cocaine, six grams of methamphetamine, 5.6 grams of THC, Suboxone strips, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and about $13,416 in cash. - Dale Anderson 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. Whether a portion St. Marys Road will be turned into a complete street anytime soon whether mobile surveillance trailers must be registered with the city and whether the iHotel has special rooms for larger-bodied athletes. Also, a lonely little tree in the middle of the I-57/74 interchange project. Cease-fire talks with Israel and Hamas are expected to resume on Sunday in Qatar Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday NEW YORK (AP) Some immigrants in New York City could be formally denied emergency housing after officials and human rights advocates agreed to compromise on the interpretation of a unique legal decision that gives the right to shelter to anyone who asks, the mayor announced Friday. Mayor Eric Adams asked a court in October to suspend the housing requirement in a state of emergency, drawing a challenge from The Legal Aid Society and another humanitarian group. The agreement essentially ends the blanket right to shelter for adult immigrants after the first 30 days they receive services. But it entrenches their right to some protections. The city can determine on a case-by-case basis whether to allow a migrant to stay in a shelter for more than 30 days, according to the settlement. Additional time will be granted on a showing of significant efforts to resettle, which can include making an appointment with an immigration lawyer, applying for a resettlement program or proof that they're searching for housing. This new agreement acknowledges the realities of where we are today, affirms our shared mission to help those in need and grants us additional flexibility to navigate this ongoing crisis, Adams said in a recorded video announcing the settlement. In return, Legal Aid expects the city to clear a backlog of immigrants who are reapplying for shelter space. The city also agreed to eliminate the use of waiting rooms as shelters and provide consistent access to bathrooms, showers and food, according to a statement from The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless. This settlement safeguards the right to shelter in the consent decree, ensuring single adults - both long-time New Yorkers and new arrivals - access to shelter, basic necessities and case management to transition from shelter to housing in the community, said attorney Adriene Holder for The Legal Aid Society in a statement. The agreement requires the city to share data with The Legal Aid Society about how many migrants are in shelters and where they are staying. Holder said the group wont hesitate to sue if the city doesnt comply. Adams said over 183,000 immigrants have been in the citys care at some point since 2022. Under the agreement, the unfettered right to shelter would be restored if the humanitarian emergency ended. Roughly 60% of those migrants have been able to leave the system, Ana Almanzar, the city's deputy mayor for strategies, told reporters earlier this week. New York Citys shelter requirement has been in place for more than four decades after the consent decree required the city to provide temporary housing for homeless people. The announcement came after New York shelters began kicking immigrant families out of shelters after 60 days, forcing them to reapply in order to secure another shelter spot. Single adults have been evicted every 30 days, with some having to sleep on the streets or take shelter in subway cars. The settlement applies to adults seeking shelter, not families. Constant address changes are an added strain for the many immigrants in the shelter who are applying for asylum, a step toward receiving legal permission to work. At an asylum court hearing Wednesday, a man from West Africa expressed surprise when a judge told him he had to submit a change of address in writing to the court within 5 days of changing addresses, even if he was moving every 30 days between shelters. Its going to be a bit of a hassle for you, immigration Judge Lori Adams said as she gave the man extra copies of the blue address forms. This story has been updated to correct that it was single adult migrants, not families, who spent days without shelter. Our nervous systems are naturally wired to sense fear. Whether prompted by the eerie noises we hear alone in the dark or the approaching growl of a threatening animal, our fear response is a survival mechanism that tells us to remain alert and avoid dangerous situations. But if fear arises in the absence of tangible threats, it can be harmful to our well-being. Those who have suffered episodes of severe or life-threatening stress can later experience intense feelings of fear, even during situations that lack a real threat. Experiencing this generalization of fear is psychologically damaging and can result in debilitating long-term mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The stress-induced mechanisms that cause our brain to produce feelings of fear in the absence of threats have been mostly a mystery. Now, neurobiologists at the University of California San Diego have identified the changes in brain biochemistry and mapped the neural circuitry that cause such a generalized fear experience. Their research, published in the journal Science on March 15, 2024, provides new insights into how fear responses could be prevented. In their report, former UC San Diego Assistant Project Scientist Hui-quan Li, (now a senior scientist at Neurocrine Biosciences), Atkinson Family Distinguished Professor Nick Spitzer of the School of Biological Sciences and their colleagues describe the research behind their discovery of the neurotransmitters -; the chemical messengers that allow the brain's neurons to communicate with one another -; at the root of stress-induced generalized fear. Studying the brains of mice in an area known as the dorsal raphe (located in the brainstem), the researchers found that acute stress induced a switch in the chemical signals in the neurons, flipping from excitatory "glutamate" to inhibitory "GABA" neurotransmitters, which led to generalized fear responses. Our results provide important insights into the mechanisms involved in fear generalization. The benefit of understanding these processes at this level of molecular detail -; what is going on and where it's going on -; allows an intervention that is specific to the mechanism that drives related disorders." Nick Spitzer, member of UC San Diego's Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind Building upon this new finding of a stress-induced switch in neurotransmitters, considered a form of brain plasticity, the researchers then examined the postmortem human brains of individuals who had suffered from PTSD. A similar glutamate-to-GABA neurotransmitter switch was confirmed in their brains as well. The researchers next found a way to stop the production of generalized fear. Prior to the experience of acute stress, they injected the dorsal raphe of the mice with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to suppress the gene responsible for synthesis of GABA. This method prevented the mice from acquiring generalized fear. Further, when mice were treated with the antidepressant fluoxetine (branded as Prozac) immediately after a stressful event, the transmitter switch and subsequent onset of generalized fear were prevented. Not only did the researchers identify the location of the neurons that switched their transmitter, but they demonstrated the connections of these neurons to the central amygdala and lateral hypothalamus, brain regions that were previously linked to the generation of other fear responses. "Now that we have a handle on the core of the mechanism by which stress-induced fear happens and the circuitry that implements this fear, interventions can be targeted and specific," said Spitzer. Future medicine and vaccine makers will be able to develop their skills using virtual reality at a new national Centre of Excellence, after a successful funding bid involving UCL. The RESILIENCE Centre of Excellence for UK Medicines Manufacturing Skills will deliver training and outreach materials and programmes that address skills demands in the life sciences sector. It will be run by an academic consortium of UK universities led by the University of Birmingham alongside UCL, Teesside University, and Heriot-Watt University as well as Britest LTD. The Centre will receive 4.5m of funding from Innovate UK and the Office for Life Sciences and will work with healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations to provide an entry point for training and career input, including a pipeline of continuing professional development courses. Director of UCL Manufacturing Futures Lab, Professor Gary Lye (UCL Biochemical Engineering), said: "The companies involved in the discovery and manufacture of new medicines make a major contribution to the UK economy. As a university, it is important that we support this vital sector through new research and through the education of skilled individuals who will enable the sector to grow. "The RESILIENCE grant enables UCL to make two critical interventions in the medicines manufacturing skills pipeline. The first is to attract more students into STEM-based degree programmes by creating new outreach activities, and the second is to develop new hands-on training modules for those already working in the field so that they can keep their skills up to date." Students across the UK will benefit from access to training that draws on the best and most innovative teaching being developed by the RESILIENCE Centre, including the use of virtual reality and mixed reality situations that give students 'near to real life' experiences of lab environments for medicine manufacturing. Delivery of the UCL RESILIENCE objectives is enabled by the amazing new facilities available to us at UCL East and within the UCL East Manufacturing Futures Lab. These include new outreach and engagement spaces, teaching wet labs and the Management Education Suite where we will deliver some of our new MBI Training Programme modules." Professor Gary Lye, Director of UCL Manufacturing Futures Lab The Centre will provide training on digital skills, data analytics, and AI, as well as embedding environmental sustainability into manufacturing processes. With the use of virtual reality and mixed reality delivery modes, manufacturing staff can undertake a significant amount of training in VR rather than the physical environment, reducing the production of manufacturing waste that has to be incinerated, as well as speeding up the training process. Ivan Wall, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Birmingham and Co-Director of RESILIENCE, said: "The UK is a global leader in life sciences research, but there is a critical and growing skills shortage across the medicines manufacturing industry. "The RESILIENCE Centre of Excellence will bridge this skills gap, by developing a pipeline of talent and providing training for industry to ensure current and future employees possess the right skills for a rapidly evolving sector." Teaching and outreach materials will be distributed from RESILIENCE to 150 schools, colleges, and universities for free, enabling them to become affiliate members of the RESILIENCE network, as well as nurture the talent pipeline for the medicines manufacturing sector through education, mentoring and outreach. Training courses will also be developed to support the existing workforce in the UK medicines manufacturing community, across industry and NHS, to ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of medicines development and is ready to combat future pandemics. Addressing a Maths Summit at the Science Museum in London this week, Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: "Building on our reforms to the skills system will require work from each and every one of us - universities, schools, and businesses. "By doubling down on our investments in skills and backing British business, we can lay the foundations for an economy fit for the future - an economy that creates jobs and improves lives for communities up and down the country. That is how we make our science and tech superpower mission a success." Professor Vikki Rand, Director of Teesside University's National Horizons Centre, a national centre of excellence for bioscience and healthcare, said: "At the National Horizons Centre we have a strong track record for working with partners in the bioscience sector developing innovative training for the workforce. "By combining hands-on training on the latest equipment with digital technology, including VR and AR, we deliver real impact for the companies, by saving quality time and resources and giving them the ability to train their employees at scale". Professor Nik Willoughby at Heriot-Watt University said: "We are thrilled to participate in RESILIENCE, contributing significantly to the education of the upcoming generation with essential skills for the development and manufacture of future medicines. Our emerging Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies exemplifies our commitment to advancing healthcare through innovative research-led teaching and entrepreneurial collaboration." Dr Kirk Malone, Commercial Director of Britest LTD, said: "As an SME-sized company that supports organisations to sustainably grow through better process understanding, we appreciate the importance of skills training and development. RESILIENCE will instil multidisciplinary thinking into future skilled workers to enable more sustainable medicines manufacturing." Globally, the number of people living with, or dying from, neurological conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and meningitis has risen substantially over the past 30 years due to the growth and aging of the global population as well as increased exposure to environmental, metabolic, and lifestyle risk factors. In 2021, 3.4 billion people experienced a nervous system condition, according to a major new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, published in The Lancet Neurology journal. The analysis suggests that worldwide, the overall amount of disability, illness, and premature death-;a measurement known as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)-;caused by neurological conditions increased by 18% over the past 31 years, rising from around 375 million years of healthy life lost in 1990 to 443 million years in 2021. The absolute number of DALYs is increasing in large part due to aging and growing populations worldwide. However, if the impact of demographics is removed through age-standardization, rates of DALYs and deaths caused by neurological conditions have declined by around a third (27% and 34% respectively) worldwide since 1990-;largely due to better awareness, vaccination, and global prevention efforts for some conditions such as tetanus (93% decrease in age-standardized rates of DALYs), meningitis (62% decrease), and stroke (39% decrease). The top 10 contributors to neurological health loss in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy (brain injury), migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications from preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancers. Neurological consequences of COVID-19 (cognitive impairment and Guillain-Barre syndrome) ranked 20th, accounting for 2.48 million years of healthy life lost in 2021. The most prevalent neurological disorders in 2021 were tension-type headaches (around 2 billion cases) and migraines (about 1.1 billion cases). Diabetic neuropathy is the fastest-growing of all neurological conditions. The number of people with diabetic neuropathy has more than tripled globally since 1990, rising to 206 million in 2021. This is in line with the increase in the global prevalence of diabetes." Dr Liane Ong, co-senior author from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, USA The current study builds on previous GBD analyses [2] to provide the largest and most comprehensive analysis to compare the prevalence and burden (illness and death) of nervous system disorders between countries on a global scale between 1990 and 2021-;expanding the number of studied neurological conditions from 15 to 37 that span from birth to later life. To better reflect that neurological disorders can occur at any stage of life, for the first time the GBD 2021 Nervous System Disorders Collaborators studied neurodevelopmental disorders and neurological conditions in children, and found that they were responsible for almost a fifth (18%) of all DALYs in 2021, accounting for 80 million years of healthy life lost worldwide. "Every country now has estimates of their neurological burden based on the best available evidence," said lead author Dr Jaimie Steinmetz from IHME. "As the world's leading cause of overall disease burden, and with case numbers rising 59% globally since 1990, nervous system conditions must be addressed through effective, culturally acceptable, and affordable prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care strategies." The study, conducted to inform ongoing advocacy and awareness efforts, will support the WHO's Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 20222031 (IGAP) that aims to reduce the impact and burden of neurological disorders and improve the quality of life of people with neurological disorders as well as their caregivers and families. Over 80% of neurological deaths and health loss occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) Overall, estimates reveal striking differences in nervous system burden between world regions and national income levels. In high-income Asia Pacific and Australasia regions with the best neurological health the rate of DALYs and deaths were under 3,000 and 65 per 100,000 people, respectively in 2021. In these regions, stroke, migraine, dementia, diabetic neuropathy, and autism spectrum disorders accounted for most health loss. In contrast, in the worst-off regions of western and central sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of DALYs and deaths were up to five times higher (over 7,000 and 198 per 100,000 people respectively) in 2021, with stroke, neonatal encephalopathy (brain injury), dementia, and meningitis the biggest contributors to years of healthy life lost. "Nervous system health loss disproportionately impacts many of the poorest countries partly due to the higher prevalence of conditions affecting neonates and children under 5, especially birth-related complications and infections," said Dr. Tarun Dua, Unit Head of WHO's Brain Health unit and one of the co-senior authors of the study. "Improved infant survival has led to an increase in long-term disability, while limited access to treatment and rehabilitation services is contributing to the much higher proportion of deaths in these countries." The authors highlight that, as of 2017, only a quarter of countries globally had a separate budget for neurological conditions, and only around half had clinical guidelines. What's more, the medical personnel who care for people with neurological conditions are unevenly distributed around the world, with high-income countries having 70 times more neurological professionals per 100,000 individuals than LMICs. Prevention needs to be a top priority "Because many neurological conditions lack cures, and access to medical care is often limited, understanding modifiable risk factors and the potentially avoidable neurological condition burden is essential to help curb this global health crisis," said co-lead author Dr Katrin Seeher, Mental Health Specialist at WHO's Brain Health Unit. The study quantified the proportion of nervous system burden that was potentially preventable by eliminating known risk factors for stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, encephalitis, meningitis, and intellectual disability. The analysis suggests that modifying 18 risk factors over a person's lifetime-;most importantly high systolic blood pressure (57% of DALYs)-;could prevent 84% of global DALYs from stroke. Additionally, estimates suggest that controlling lead exposure could reduce the burden of intellectual disability by 63%, while reducing high fasting plasma glucose to normal levels could reduce the burden of dementia by around 15%. "The worldwide neurological burden is growing very fast and will put even more pressure on health systems in the coming decades," said co-senior author Dr Valery Feigin, Director of Auckland University's National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience in New Zealand. "Yet many current strategies for reducing neurological conditions have low effectiveness or are not sufficiently deployed, as is the case with some of the fastest-growing but largely preventable conditions like diabetic neuropathy and neonatal disorders. For many other conditions, there is no cure, underscoring the importance of greater investment and research into novel interventions and potentially modifiable risk factors." "Nervous system conditions include infectious and vector-borne diseases and injuries as well as non-communicable diseases and injuries, demanding different strategies for prevention and treatment throughout life," said Steinmetz "We hope that our findings can help policymakers more comprehensively understand the impact of neurological conditions on both adults and children to inform more targeted interventions in individual countries, as well as guide ongoing awareness and advocacy efforts around the world." Despite these important findings, the authors note several limitations, including that, while they have done their best to capture all nervous system health loss, some conditions were left out because they could not isolate the neurological component, including infections such as HIV, which has a large impact in many parts of the world. And while the study uses the best available evidence, estimates are constrained by the quantity and quality of data, especially in LMICs. Writing in a linked Comment, Professor Wolfgang Grisold, President of the World Federation of Neurology, London, UK (who was not involved in the study) says, "This important new GBD report highlights that the burden of neurological conditions is greater than previously thought. In the next iteration, more attention should be given to neuromuscular diseases, the effects of cancer in the nervous system, and neuropathic pain. Comparing the disability caused by conditions with episodic occurrence versus those that cause permanent and progressive disease will remain challenging, because the effects on the individuals vary substantially." The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has published the scorecard and marks for the IBPS PO Mains exam for shortlisted candidates who qualified for the interview round. Candidates who took the IBPS PO Main exam and qualified for the interview for CRP PO/MTs-XIII for the post of Probationary Officer/Management Trainee (PO/MT) can access their scorecard and results through the official website of the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection at ibps.in. It is to be noted that applicants can access their scorecard by entering their registration number/roll number and password/Date of Birth. Candidates should note that the link to download the scorecard will remain accessible from March 14 to March 31. The institute previously released the category-wise IBPS PO Main exam cut-off marks on its official website. IBPS PO Score Card 2024: Steps to Check Step 1: Candidates are required to visit the official website of IBPS at ibps.in to download the scorecard. Step 2: Search for and click on CRP-PO/MT>>Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officer/Management Trainee-XIII on the websites homepage. Step 3: Candidates will then be redirected to a new page, look for the Click here to Check Your Final Scores for Interview Exam for IBPS PO-XIII link. Step 4: Upon clicking, key in your registration number/roll number and password/Date of Birth followed by the Captcha Code as displayed. Step 5: Once done, hit the submit button and your IBPS PO Mains Score Card 2023 will be presented on the screen. Step 6: Save a copy of the IBPS PO Scorecard and print a hard copy for future reference. Upon downloading, candidates are advised to cross-check the details mentioned in the scorecard. The details include the name of the candidate, registration number, roll number, category, exam date, marks obtained in each section and maximum scores per section. The IBPS PO Recruitment is being done by the institute to fill up a total of 5,510 vacancies for the post of Probationary Officers (PO)/ Management Trainees (MT) in various banks in India through the CRP PO/ MT-XIII. IBPS PO Recruitment 2024: Selection process Candidates will go through a three-tiered selection process, consisting of a preliminary exam, Mains examination and an interview. Preliminary examination: This round is qualifying in nature as marks obtained in this stage are not considered for the final selection. Main examination: This stage is crucial as main examination marks carry the majority of the weightage, generally 80 per cent. Interview: Candidates shortlisted based on their performance in the main examination are called for an interview round. The interview round carries around 20 per cent weightage in the IBPS PO selection process. This interview is conducted by a panel of bank officials with an aim to assess the candidates communication skills, personality, and suitability for the banking sector. The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has commenced the evaluation of the Uttar Pradesh Boards intermediate and high school answer papers across the state today, March 16. Secretary of the UP Board, Dibyakant Shukla, earlier shared an official notification on the microblogging platform X (previously Twitter) announcing that the evaluation work will conclude after thirteen working days on March 31. The board has also decided not to carry out any evaluation work between March 24 and March 26, in wake of the Holi festival. However, it is instructed that the evaluation procedure still needs to be completed within 13 working days. A total of 3.01 crore answer sheets will be evaluated by 147,097 examiners within a total of 13 working days. A total of 94,802 examiners have been appointed for evaluating 1.76 crore high school answer sheets, while 52,295 examiners have been appointed for the evaluation of 1.25 crore answer sheets for the intermediate examination, the official notification stated. This year, there are 131 evaluation centres set up for evaluating high school answer sheets and 116 evaluation centres for the evaluation of intermediate answer sheets. Moreover, the evaluation of answer sheets for both intermediate and high schools will be completed at 13 mixed evaluation centres. Among the 260 evaluation centres, 83 government and 177 non-government-aided secondary schools have been selected as evaluation hubs. Secretary Shukla further informed that a total of 55,25,308 candidates enrolled for the board exams in 2024. Out of which, 29,47,311 students are for the high school examination and 25,77,997 are for the intermediate examination. As per a report by Times Of India, secretary Pratap Singh Baghel has instructed the education officers to summon parents to the school on the day of report card distribution and show them their childrens copies. BSA has been directed to print and distribute progress cards at the development block level via the Block Education Officer. The UP Boards intermediate and high school examinations wrapped up on March 9. Sources suggest that the results of the board exam may be published by the last week of April. In the meantime, progress sheets will be distributed in government/recognised schools under the Basic Education department on the basis of annual examination and evaluation in the academic session 2023-24. It is to be noted that secretary Shukla emphasised the incorporation of new technology to stop cheating and unfair practices prior to the commencement of the board exams. He also warned students of strict actions against the circulation of question papers before or after the exams on platforms like WhatsApp. Just a few days ago, when the Election Commission team led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar arrived in Srinagar on a three-day visit, political parties including Omar Abdullahs National Conference, Mehbooba Muftis Peoples Democratic Party, and the state unit of the BJP asked them for simultaneous assembly polls along with the General Elections. The last assembly election in J&K was held in 2014 when BJP formed a government along with PDP. In 2018, BJP come out of the alliance and, ever since, the former state which subsequently became a Union Territory in 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A has been without any elected government. In fact, last year, the apex court asked for elections to be conducted by September 2024. So why is the poll body not holding simultaneous assembly polls when they are already conducting a nationwide General Election in the worlds biggest democracy? There seem to be three reasons behind the ECs decision to not yield to overwhelming public sentiments in the Valley despite knowing very well it has to complete the exercise in the next six months. WOULD NEED MORE FORCE Conducting simultaneous assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha election would require a vast number of additional forces, given the history of the Union Territory. There are about 635 companies in J&K for the Lok Sabha election. Each company consists of 100 troops, which translates to 63,500 troops. A simultaneous assembly election would require an additional 700 companies or 70,000 troops. Such a number would not be available as 3,50,000 troops are pressed into action from Maharashtra to Manipur for conducting the Lok Sabha polls. In West Bengal alone, which has a history of poll violence, there are 900 companies or 90,000 troops. The EC also had to factor in the security of candidates in J&K. We have to send at least two station forces for every candidate standing. So, having elections together will be a strain for security forces, said CEC Kumar. LEGISLATIVE HURDLES The Election Commission has gone on record to cite legislative hurdles as one of the reasons it cant go ahead with parallel polls in J&K. Kumar elaborated: The J&K Reorganisation Act and the Delimitation Act were not in sync. This was set right only in December 2023, when the J&K Reorganisation Amendment Act was passed. Hence, we are not able to conduct it together with the general elections. The first bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. It provides legislative and executive powers related to state matters for Parliament to administer the UTs. As for the latter, the report was released on May 5, 2022, under which an additional six seats were added to Jammu division and one seat to the Kashmir division, taking the total tally to 90 seats. Nine assemblies have now been reserved for STs of which six are in the Jammu region and three in the Valley. Both have been upheld at the highest court of the law but are yet to be synced to hold a smooth election process. THE AMARNATH YATRA FACTOR The famous Amarnath Yatra this year will start from July 1, 2024. Though the Lok Sabha election ends on June 19, there needs to be dedicated focus on the pilgrimage, not only for smooth passage but also for heightened security. This will make the strain on security forces a lingering issue. According to the government-run All India Radio (AIR), more than 60,000 paramilitary personnel were deployed across Jammu and Kashmir for the 2023 Amarnath Yatra. Even the Army chipped in for round-the-clock monitoring and special surveillance squads for the routes, including three-tier security, aerial surveillance, and radio frequency identification tags (RFID) tags for all pilgrims. All district magistrates, police superintendents and their deputies have a lot on their plate during this time of the year. Holding an election just before the Yatra starts could be counterproductive, given the civil administration will have to be on its toes again for the pilgrimage. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? The yatra will end on August 19, 2024. Meanwhile, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission last year to conduct elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly before September 30, 2024. Even if one presumes that the EC moves the SC with a fresh plea to extend the timing, the Valley by then will be in the grip of autumn, followed by a harsh winter, which is not conducive for holding elections. So, essentially, right after the Yatra is over, a tired civil administration and the EC will have a small window of 41 days to hold the first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir ever since its special status was revoked on January 5, 2019. Andhra Pradesh will vote in Assembly elections on May 13, 2024 as per the full schedule and dates announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. The counting of votes for Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections 2024 will be held alongside the counting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 on June 4, 2024. In 2019, the YSR Congress decimated the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP by winning 151 seats while ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won 23 seats. The TDP had bagged 102 Assembly seats in 2014. While the TDP contested the 2014 election in alliance with the BJP, it fought the 2019 general elections on its own and faced a rout. This year, the BJP, TDP and Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena are contesting the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Back in 2014, when TDP and BJP fought the polls together, Jana Sena was their outside ally. As per their seat-sharing formula for 2024, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats, while the TDP will fight 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats. Under the deal, Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats. Jana Sena was initially supposed to contest 24 Assembly and three Lok Sabha seats, but in the seat-sharing formula it got 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats, after the TDP joined the NDA recently. Arunachal Pradesh assembly polls will happen alongside Lok Sabha polls on April 19, the Election Commission announced on Saturday. Results for the same will be declared on June 4. In 2019, the north eastern state had witnessed a saffron surge with BJP winning 41 seats in the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly. Both the Lok Sabha seats, too, were won by BJP. Kiren Rijiju was one of the BJP top guns to win from Arunachal. The 2019 assembly and Lok Sabha polls were held on April 11 while counting of votes was done on May 23, 2019. In 2019, Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh were held for 57 seats as three BJP candidates were earlier declared elected unopposed. The Janata Dal (United) won seven seats, the National Peoples Party (NPP) five, the Congress four, the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) one and Independents two. Among the prominent BJP winners were Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who won from the Mukto seat, bordering China, for third time in a row. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein won from the Chowkham constituency. BJP candidate Rode Bui bagged the Dumporijo seat defeating his nearest NPP rival Paknga Bage while NPPs Tarin Dakpe won the Raga seat, the official said. BJP candidate Taniky Soki won the Daporijo seat, defeating his nearest Congress rival Togam Tamim. BJP candidate Rode Bui had also bagged the Dumporijo seat defeating his nearest NPP rival Paknga Bage while NPPs Tarin Dakpe won the Raga seat. In Miao constituency, state Geology and Mining Minister and BJP nominee Kamlung Mossang beat Chatu Longai of the Congress by 3,856 votes to retain the seat. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday took the help of Shayari (poetry) to slam accusations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering made by some political parties. CEC Kumar, while addressing a press conference in Delhi to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha election and assembly polls, said he had anticipated a question on EVM tampering and had written a few lines to express his views on the matter. He added that EVMs were 100% safe. Adhoori hasrato ka iljaam, har baar hum par lagan thik nhi, wafa khud se nhi hoti, khata EVM ki kehete ho, aur baad mein jab parinaam aata hai toh uspe kaayam bhi nhi rehte (Blaming your incomplete desires on us (EVMs) every time isnt right. You cannot guarantee faithfulness, but you keep blaming EVMs. Later, when the result comes, you dont even accept that), he said. The CEC further urged people to combat fake news and use social media judiciously during the elections. He said, Verify Before You Amplify is the mantra to combat fake news. Lets rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process. Jhuth ke bazaar mein raunak to bahut hai, Goya bulbule jaisi turant hi fat jati hai..Pakad bhi loge to kya hasil hoga siwaye dhokhe ke ( In the marketplace of lies, theres much brightness. Just like bubbles burst instantly, even if you catch hold, what will you gain except deception), he said. The election body also announced regulations and guidelines to tackle misinformation and fake news. CEC Kumar said, We have put certain measures in place to ensure misinformation is nipped in the bud. Were proactive in debunking fake news. Originators of fake news to be dealt with severely as per extant laws. Verify Before You Amplify is the mantra to combat fake news. Lets rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process, he added. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea alleging irregularities in the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying every method has its plus and minus points. The top court also dismissed another petition which claimed 19 lakh EVMs missing from the custody of the Election Commission during 2016-19 may be used to manipulate the results of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih said the apex court has already examined several petitions and dealt with various issues related to the functioning of EVMs. How many petitions shall we entertain? Recently, we have dealt with a plea related to VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail). We cannot go by assumptions. Every method has its plus and minus points. Sorry, we cannot entertain this under Article 32, the bench told petitioner Nandini Sharma, who appeared in person. Meanwhile, a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai dismissed another petition filed by the Indian New Congress Party (INCP). The separate plea of INCP claimed that 19 lakh EVMs missing from the custody of the poll panel could be used to manipulate the results of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases beginning on April 19 and results will be announced on June 4. Hyderabad will vote with the rest of Telangana in the fourth phase of the General Elections on May 13, the Election Commission said on Saturday, as the poll body announced the schedule for the much-awaited battle of 2024. The counting of votes across the country for the Lok Sabha polls and the assembly elections will take place on June 4. Telangana has a total of 17 seats in the Lok Sabha. In the 2019 election, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS, formerly Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS) won nine seats, BJP won four, and Congress won three, while All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi retained the partys sole seat from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency. In 2019, Owaisi won 58.95 per cent of the votes, beating out BJPs Bhagavanth Rao by a two lakh margin. Five years before that, in 2014, Owaisi won 52.94 per cent of the vote, with a similar two lakh vote margin. The Lok Sabha election in 2004 was also the closest margin of victory for Asaduddin Owaisi, when he secured only 37.39 per cent of the total vote. For the 2024 elections, the BJP has decided to field K Madhavi Latha, the chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals, against AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi from Hyderabad. The seat has been the AIMIMs stronghold since 1989, and Owaisi has won the past four Lok Sabha elections from here. Latha, whose social media presence has been on the rise in recent months, has hit out at Owaisi, recently calling him a Razakar and alleging that Hindus in his constituency were unsafe because of him. The Congress and the BSP are yet to announce a candidate for the seat. It is uplifting to see tribute and attention paid to history and culture with the recent appointments of Buffalo city historian and poet laureate. Lindsey Lauren Visser, 32, named as the first female city historian, takes on her role as she also begins a new job this month as executive director of the Niagara Aerospace Museum. She was previously executive director at the Italian Cultural Center and held several positions at the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site prior to that. 'Exceptional in their commitment to our great city': Buffalo names new city historian, poet laureate Mayor Byron Brown announced Monday the appointment of Lindsey Lauren Visser as city historian and Aitina Fareed-Cooke as poet laureate during Women's History Month. Aitina Fareed-Cooke, 37, is the citys second poet laureate. Fareed-Cooke has a media arts company, Get Fokusd Productions, and is a rapper and lyricist. She performs under the name A.I. the Anomaly. Both unpaid positions last for one year and can be extended an additional year. What they bring is depth and understanding of the City of Buffalos past with several historical anniversaries on tap, and a lyricists voice to current events shaping how respond to both happiness and distress. And in the No Pizza Left Behind realm, hungry readers will be happy to know that Buffalos infamous snow-packed winter roads will not impede the Dominos delivery driver. At least, not if the company has anything to say about the matter. Dominos has awarded Buffalo and 19 other cities $25,000 grants to help pay for snowplowing. Thats right. The city now has another tool to add to its snow fighting arsenal, even if the motivation is hot pizza, dripping with melted cheese and extra toppings. Buffalo receives Domino's snowplowing grant worth $25,000 To keep snowy roads from impeding the delivery of hot pizzas, Domino's has awarded Buffalo and 19 other cities $25,000 grants to help pay for snowplowing. The Dominos Plowing for Pizza grants are awarded based on a cluster of nominated ZIP codes surrounding a municipality that often receives heavy snowfall. A Dominos store must be present in the area. Heavy snowfall, check (even in a mild winter). Dominos store, check. A quick Google search found at least a few in the city. And theres more. Buffalo will also receive goodies folks here can use: A winter-themed Dominos Plowing for Pizza kit. The kit includes winter hats, scarves, vehicle magnets, a snow measuring stick and sign, and $200 in Dominos gift cards for plow drivers. There is a breakthrough on the horizon, as even Buffalo shrugs off winter and welcomes spring, officially on March 19. Here is a shoutout to the sun. which should shine much brighter to those who have been yearning for brighter days. Fun fact to get started with spring optimism: On Sunday, two days before spring officially arrives, Buffalo daytime is longer than its nighttime, by one minute and 52 seconds. Well cheer for that. And on a serious note, kudos to the Mental Health Advocates Youth Peer Advocates Program for implementing the Teen Chat Line. The chat line is a new communication tool for Mental Health Advocates professionals to provide emotional support to Western New York teenagers dealing with mental health concerns. It represents an outlet for teens who need help but do not necessarily want to talk to an adult who is decades older. Peer power: Mental Health Advocates' Teen Chat Line designed to change lives "It's recognizing what they're feeling and going through is real, it is serious," said Josh Cuillo, a youth peer advocate with MHA, "but also letting them know 'I've gone through this before, I get where you're coming from, and here's a few things that worked for me.' " The Western New York version of the chat line was prompted by takeaways from Gov. Kathy Hochuls Mental Health Summit. As MHA Executive Director Melinda DuBois said, They want to talk to somebody who looks like them and is closer to their age those are our youth peer advocates. The chat platform is text-based and accessible through a link at mhawny.org or directly at mha-chat.vercel.app. It falls under MHAs Just Tell One initiative, which focuses on depression, anxiety, suicide and substance abuse. K Kavitha, BRS leader and former Telangana Chief Minister KCRs daughter, on Saturday, denied all allegations terming her arrest in the liquor policy scam case as illegal. The BRS MLC said it is a fabricated case. The Telangana leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday after the probe agency raided her residence in Hyderabad. She was later brought to New Delhi for questioning. Kavitha is set to be produced before a special PMLA court on Saturday by ED which seeks to obtain her remand for custodial interrogation in the money laundering case. She arrived at Delhis Rouse Avenue Court with EDs Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain and Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta. She Formatted Her Devices After First Summon: ED In Court During the remand hearing in Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate said Kavitha formatted 4 out of 10 of her devices right after she received the first summoned by the agency in the Liquor policy case and it raised several questions about her conduct. The probe agency also alleged that Kavitha and her party workers were not cooperating during the investigation and created a ruckus on several occasions. We have summoned her husband, and servant for Monday for extraction of digital data. We are also summoning two other persons who gave statements against her for confronting her, said ED. One phone has scanty material and scanty data which shows that the earlier phones were recently formatted and attempted to be disposed of, the agency told the court. Soon after her arrest, a video of Kavithas brother KTRs heated exchange of words between ED officials went viral on social media. A team of doctors and medics were seen entering the federal agencys office in central Delhi in the morning where Kavitha was housed after her arrest. KTR alleged ED produced an illegal arrest warrant against Kavitha, while the probe agency officials told KTR not to obstruct the teams work. An ED official is also heard telling him that legal remedies are available. The ED may seek her 10-day custody from the court while Kavithas defence is expected to contest the same as they had called the Friday ED action illegal as her petition for no coercive action in this case is pending before the Supreme Court and is listed for March 19. Kavithas arrest a day before the Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections, may have some psychological impact on party workers. Meanwhile, the BRS workers on Saturday staged protests at the Jubilee Hills Bus stand in Hyderabad against Kavithas arrest in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. Kavithas arrest came as a rude shock to the BRS which is already limping after losing power. Senior party leaders PTI spoke to, said on condition of anonymity, that the arrest of the prominent BRS leader will affect the morale of party members. Earlier, the BRS MLC and former Lok Sabha member from Nizamabad had said she was ready to face any inquiry. We state that we will face any kind of inquiry. If the agencies come and ask us questions, we will certainly answer. But tarnishing leaders images by giving selective leaks to the media; people will refute it, Kavitha had said. (With PTI inputs) Lok Sabha elections in southern India will be held from April 19 to May 13, with Karnataka voting in two phases on April 26 (14 seats) and May 7 (14 seats), Tamil Nadu on April 19, Andhra Pradesh on May 13, Kerala on April 26 and Telangana on May 13 as per the parliamentary polls schedule announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. The Union Territory of Puducherry will vote on April 19. The Lok Sabha election results 2024 will be out on June 4 when the counting of votes takes place across India. Karnataka April 26 (14 seats) and May 7 (14 seats) Tamil Nadu April 19 Andhra Pradesh May 13 Telangana May 13 Kerala April 26 Counting of votes on June 4, 2024 Andhra Pradesh will simultaneously vote in Assembly polls on May 13 and the counting of votes will be held alongside the general elections counting on June 4, 2024. The BJP is gunning for a third consecutive term for Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, while the opposition has put up the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to challenge him. The bloc, however, has not declared a prime ministerial candidate. The BJP currently has 290 seats in the lower house, while its main rival, the Congress, has 48. The five southern states along with the Union Territory of Puducherry, which has one constituency, account for 130 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats. Tamil Nadu has 39 seats in the Lower House of Parliament, while Karnataka has 28. Andhra Pradesh accounts for 25 seats in the Lok Sabha and Kerala for 20. Telangana sends 17 MPs to the Lower House. The BJP was unable to win any seat in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala besides Puducherry in 2019. It had though swept Karnataka by winning 25 of its 28 seats and made impressive gains in Telangana by bagging for the first time four of its 17 seats. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats, including 32 unreserved and seven reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance recorded an overwhelming victory, winning 38 out of the 39 seats. With the DMK joining the INDIA bloc and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) losing the support of the AIADMK, the states political landscape has been significantly altered ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In Karnataka, after being ousted from power by the Congress in the 2023 Assembly polls, the BJP now is making a strong bid to regain the lost ground. The BJP won 25 out of total 28 seats in the previous elections, and had ensured the win of a party supported Independent candidate in Mandya. The then ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance had come a cropper winning just one seat each. It is a role reversal of sorts for JD(S), which joined the NDA last September and has forged an electoral alliance with the BJP. The regional party is expected to contest in three seats Mandya, Hassan and Kolar. In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP, TDP and Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena are contesting the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together. Back in 2014, when TDP and BJP fought the polls together, Jana Sena was their outside ally. As per their seat-sharing formula for 2024, the BJP will contest six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats, while the TDP will fight 17 parliamentary and 144 state seats. Under the deal, Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats. The state has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. The YSR Congress had swept the 2019 elections with 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. It had received a staggering 49.9% (Assembly) and 49.1% (Lok Sabha) vote share. In Telangana, the Congress had won three out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. All three MPs, including current chief minister A Revanth Reddy, contested the recent assembly elections and won. The K Chandrashekar Rao-led BRS won nine seats in 2019, while the BJP bagged four. Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM had retained one seat. In Kerala, the Congress had won 15 seats in the 2019 elections. The Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF are the two major traditional players in the state politics. But this time, the BJP has welcomed prominent Christian figures like Anil K Antony, son of Congress stalwart A K Antony, and seasoned Kerala politician P C George, into its fold. Additionally, the party is leveraging Prime Minister Narendra Modis frequent visits to Kerala, emphasising developmental agendas tailored to the states needs. Soon after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, the Congress on Saturday said that it was perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the people of the country will together fight against hatred, unemployment and price rise. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the door of Nyay for India. This would be perhaps the last chance to save democracy and our Constitution from dictatorship. We the people of India will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities. Haath Badlega Halaat (the Hand will change the situation), Kharge said on X, referring to the Congress poll symbol. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference that these milestone elections are happening under a cloud of scams of electoral bonds, jailing, suspension and raiding of opposition parties and politicians and freezing of funds of the primary national opposition party, which is unprecedented. It is a milestone election because this election will decide whether our democracy will be protected or not, whether Babasaheb Ambedkars Constitution will be protected or one mans whims and fancies will decide the direction and future of our democracy. It is a very crucial election, Khera told reporters. He alleged that the BJP has reduced the constitutional status of the Election Commission and noted that the Congress gave a dissenting note on the appointment of the election commissioners. We have been raising issues that matter to farmers, youths and women, especially to the unemployed youth through the two yatras that Rahul Gandhi undertook. We have underlined the need for Indias politics to focus on these issues. People have been waiting for this election. People want to elect a party that thinks of the youth. The promise of giving 30 lakh jobs to the youths, the promise of putting an end to paper leaks and the promise of tough laws to deal with this. These are promises that have changed the way politics need to be done in the country and no political party can afford not to focus on these issues, he asserted. Khera also said that 18 million new voters would be voting this time and they would be remembering and thanking Rajiv Gandhi who gave voting rights to the youth. BJPs slogan is for the BJPs benefit only. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge gave guarantees for the country and its people. The Congress guarantees, slogans and narrative are for the people and not for themselves, he asserted. He claimed that in the next two months, the country would be rid of the rhetoric by the BJP and the prime minister. Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4 for the worlds biggest election exercise, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission. Khera also said that for the last 10 months, opposition parties have been struggling to meet the Election Commission and the poll body should answer why it is not finding time to address their concerns. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced that Lok Sabha elections will be held in 7 phases, with counting set for June 4. The current governments term ends on June 16. Alongside this, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been put into effect. The MCC provides guidelines for political parties and leaders during the elections. Theyre prohibited from announcing new schemes or criticising each other based on caste. Also, they cant use communal sentiments or offer freebies to voters. To monitor MCC violations, the Election Commission has introduced the cVIGIL app. This user-friendly app lets citizens report violations by uploading pictures, videos, or audio recordings. The app automatically detects the users location. The cVIGIL app, which stands for Vigilant Citizen, empowers citizens to play an active role in ensuring fair elections. Its available for download on both iOS and Android devices. Users can register complaints anonymously if they prefer. The app is designed to report violations from the date of election notifications. It captures live photos/videos with location data, ensuring digital evidence for swift action. Heres how it works: Step 1: Users capture a photo or record a 2-minute video of the violation and upload it to the app. The Geographic Information System (GIS) maps the location automatically. After submission, users receive a Unique ID in their mobile phone to track and receive follow up on their complaints status. The user can also report many incidents in this manner and will get a Unique ID for each report for follow up updates. Step 2: After a complaint is raised, the information reaches the District Control Room and is assigned to a Field Unit, which includes Flying Squads and Surveillance Teams. These units use a mobile app called cVIGIL Investigator to navigate to the location and take action. Step 3: Once the Field Unit responds to the complaint, they send a field report through the Investigator App to the returning officer. If the complaint is verified, its forwarded to the Election Commissions National Grievance Portal, and the citizen is informed of the status within 100 minutes. Additional info: The cVIGIL app has built-in features to prevent misuse and is strictly for reporting MCC violations. Any anonymous complaints receive no status updates. Registered users can also check status updates on the official website of the portal. The app becomes active from the date of notifications for bye-election/assembly/parliamentary elections. Complaints unrelated to violations or of a personal nature may be dismissed. Citizens are encouraged to use the Election Commissions main website or call the National Contact Centre at 1800111950 or State Contact Centre at 1950 for other types of complaints. The ruling Trinamool Congress has strongly objected to the Election Commission of India announcing a seven-phase polling schedule for West Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, saying the poll body did not take into account the state governments views recommending single phase voting. The 42 Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal will be voting in all seven phases, beginning April 19, along with Uttar Pradesh (80 seats) and Bihar (40 seats). The last phase of polling is on June 1, and the votes will be counted on June 4. We have seen that voter turnout is more if there are fewer phases. Thats why we demanded single phase polling. Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are also big states, but they are voting in one phase. Then why so many phases for Bengal? This is nothing but a tactic to spread fear, TMC minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said. TMCs Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray claimed that this was a disregard for the federal structure of the country. State governments views were not taken into account. This is a disregard for the federal structure. We fail to understand the reasons for holding such a long election. This is quite surprising, he said. The TMC also questioned the alleged hurried appointment of two election commissioners earlier this week after Arun Goel quit as election commissioner. They appointed election commissioners in one day. How is that possible? If one team playing the match appoints the umpire, how do we know the umpire will not be biased? asked Bhattacharya. According to TMC sources, the Mamata Banerjee-led party will project the seven-phase polling as a ploy to defame Bengal as a violent state. It will also stress on its claim that parties with deeper pockets are at an advantage over others when it comes to multi-phased polling. It will also point out that other states with similar geographical size and sending around the same number of MPs to the Lok Sabha are voting in a single phase. The BJP, on the other hand, welcomed the polling schedule. We are happy, but the way voters are intimidated here in Bengal, there should be more phases. Muscle power will not work this time that is clear, said BJP state president Sukanto Majumdar. West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, too, welcomed the schedule. During Panchayat elections, I presented myself before the full bench of the Election Commission and requested that they help people cast their votes. I am happy so many phases have been given (to Bengal). Sources in the EC cited violence during previous general and local elections in the state as the reason for seven-phased polling in Bengal. West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will see seven phase elections this time too as per the Lok Sabha election schedule 2024 announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. West Bengal used to vote in five-phased elections till 2014, but two more phases were added in the 2019 general elections. In 2019, Bengal and Bihar were put in the same bracket of seven-phased elections like Uttar Pradesh. But, in terms of number of constituencies, Uttar Pradesh is the largest state, sending 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Bengal and Bihar, with 42 and 40 constituencies, respectively, had followed the same election schedule in 2019. According to the 2024 election dates, Bihar and Bengal will see polling of six to seven constituencies on an average per phase, while Uttar Pradesh, that has almost double the number of seats, will also see a seven-phase poll. History of Violence According to political experts, the decision of the Election Commission reflects the political volatility in West Bengal and Bihar. For West Bengal, political situation and circumstances changed post-Panchayat polls in 2018. The Panchayat elections saw unabated violence as hundreds of seats, around 34%, remained uncontested. Several opposition parties filed a petition before the Calcutta High Court seeking protection. The 2019 elections, despite taking place in seven phases and with the presence of a good number of central forces, did not go violence-free. The West Bengal Assembly elections in 2021 were held in eight phases. However, the state witnessed a series of clashes and incidents of political violence. Apart from the incidents during polls, the state saw extensive post-poll violence. The related cases are still pending with the CBI. For West Bengal, the EC has deployed 920 companies of central police forces. The deployment of forces in higher than that for Jammu and Kashmir, which is a strife-stricken region. The deployment explains the extent of violence West Bengal sees during the election, said a senior police officer. Bihar, that will also see seven phase elections, will witness deployment of 295 companies in the state for general elections this year. The Election Commission of India will unveil the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls at 3 pm today. In a statement posted on X, the poll panel announced that a press conference will be held to disclose the schedule. The current term of the Lok Sabha concludes on June 16. Lok Sabha Election Dates LIVE Updates The 17th Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, with the results declared on May 23. According to the EC, a total of 60,76,50,051 votes were polled in the 2019 elections. BJPs Landmark Victory in 2019 Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the BJP to a resounding victory for a second consecutive term with the saffron party securing an overwhelming majority, capturing 303 out of the 458 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. This marked a significant increase from its 2014 performance, when it won 282 seats. In 2019, the Congress came in second, securing only 52 seats. The BJPs total vote share notably increased by 6.5 percentage points, as compared to the 2014 elections. Out of the total 60.76 crore votes cast in 2019, over 22.6 crore were in favour of the BJP. Why Is BJP So Confident The fulfilment of three major promises that the BJP made in 2019 poll manifesto has bolstered the partys confidence in its victory. Among the top promises were the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by the construction of the Ramjanmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, and now the implementation of the CAA, four years after it was passed by Parliament. Despite criticism from several political parties like the Trinamool Congress in the east and the DMK in the south regarding the timing of the laws implementation, and their decision of opposition to its application in their respective states, union home minister Amit Shah recently affirmed that the CAA is here to stay and the party will not revoke it. Election Commissioners Resignation As anticipation surrounding the announcement of poll dates grew, a major obstacle arose with the sudden resignation of Arun Goel from the Election Commission panel. Originally comprising three members, the panel was reduced to two following the retirement of election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in February. Subsequently, the prime minister and representatives from the opposition convened to select two new commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu who assumed their roles as election commissioners on Friday. Amid Goels resignation and the appointment of Kumar and Sandhu, the Supreme Court intervened by temporarily halting a plea contesting the appointment of the two new commissioners. Battleground States All eyes are on Maharashtra as political dynamics have undergone a shift. The Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, along with Ajit Pawars NCP and the BJP, will form an alliance to contest the Lok Sabha elections in the state. In the previous polls, the BJP secured victory 23 out of the 25 seats it contested in the 2019 elections, while its former coalition partner, the undivided Shiv Sena, won 18 out of 23 seats it contested. As part of the opposition coalition, the undivided NCP contested 19 seats and succeeded in winning four. West Bengal, too, is in focus. With Sandeshkhali and central agencies probing back-to-back scams in Bengal, can affect the voting pattern in the state. In 2019, the TMC secured 22 seats, while the BJP won 18, with corresponding vote shares of 43.3% and 40.7%, respectively. However, this dynamic could shift due to the BJPs increasing influence in the state, especially following Prime Minister Modis recent visits and the inauguration of Indias first underwater metro. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is starting his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Karnatakas Kalaburagi and Shimoga on Saturday, is sending twin messages to two sections of society scheduled castes and Lingayats, which have been steadfast supporters of the BJP in the past. Kalaburagi, or Gulbarga, is a reserved seat and the bastion of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is not contesting this time. Despite that, the prime minister wants to send a clear message by taking on the opposition INDIA bloc in Kharges backyard. Kharge had won this seat in 2009 and 2014, but lost to the BJPs Umesh Jadhav in 2019 by a margin of more than 95,000 votes. The Congress, which is in power in Karnataka after a thumping victory in the 2023 assembly poll, is hopeful about winning over 10 seats in the general elections. The party had managed to win only the Bengaluru rural Lok Sabha seat in 2019, represented by DK Suresh. Prime Minister Modis focus in Kalaburagi is likely to be to attack Kharge and his partys commitment to the SC community. This part of the Hyderabad Karnataka region has always been a stronghold of the grand old party, but a large section of the SCs there belong to the Madiga community that is popularly called the left sect. The Madigas are more in number than the Holeyas, which is the right sect to which Kharge belongs. But, socially, economically, and educationally, the Madigas are more backward than the Holeyas. After the BJPs poor performance in northern Karnataka, including Kalaburagi, in the 2023 election, the PMs visit will also send a message to the constituents as well as the cadre in the region that the BJP is very serious about elections, said political analyst A Narayana. On March 18, PM Modi will be in Shimoga to honour former CM BS Yediyurappa, who created the social base of the upper-caste group of Lingayats to become a mass leader. By campaigning in this Lok Sabha constituency, he will be showcasing the BJPs commitment and support for Yediyurappas supremacy. Popularly known as BSY, the political veteran had single-handedly brought the BJP to power in the state in 2008. He had also ensured that the saffron party won 25 out of a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 polls. Yediyurappas elder son BY Raghavendra has also been renominated for the fourth time from this seat. Shimoga is in the Old Mysore region, unlike Kalaburagi that is in northern Karnataka. The dominant community in this southern segment are the Lingayats, who have traditionally supported the BJP. The BJP fought a weak election in the Gulbarga region, the stronghold of Mallikarjun Kharge and his minister son Priyank Kharge. Despite the BJPs last-minute efforts to woo the Dalits in this area, which is considered a Dalit heartland, the BJP has not been doing too well. The fight in Gulbarga is between the Lingayats and Dalit OBCs. This may be the other reason why Modi chose this seat to kickstart his campaign, Narayana said. On campaigning in Shimoga, the political analyst said the BJP and Modi are sending a message to the party cadre that though southern Karnataka is their stronghold and, in a high-octane election such as this, there is a need to protect their bastion and work unitedly. Modi wants the party to also cultivate fresh ground in the Hyderabad Karnataka region and acknowledge the support that the BJP has enjoyed, he said. The state BJP also expects Modi to send a clear message during his visit in Shimoga to those party leaders who are upset by the ticket distribution. They want his visit and possible meeting with senior party leader KS Eshwarappa to be a message that the party stands by them and will have to wait in the wings for their chance. Upset on being denied a ticket for his son Kanthesh, Eshwarappa has been contemplating fielding him as an independent candidate from Shimoga. He had been demanding the Haveri Lok Sabha seat, but the BJP high command gave it to former CM Basavaraj Bommai. Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge told News18 that Modi, who is the only campaigner of the BJP, could have chosen any place to start his campaign, but chose Kalaburagi. This is possibly to send a strong message to the south not to reject him, he said. He further said Modi wants to tell the electorate that he is in the Congress chiefs backyard, and that the BJP loves the south. We all saw how PM Modi was made to campaign across Karnataka during the assembly poll like he was campaigning for a municipality election and, despite that, the results for the BJP were devastating. Modis confidence is seriously dented and that is why he has taken this step, he added. Karnataka BJP spokesperson Capt Ganesh Karnik said unlike the assembly election, where Modi travelled extensively in the state, he might not be able to do so this time as it is a national election. The idea is to re-energise the entire cadre from north to south. This visit will get the party cadre to jump into election mode and cover two important regions of the state, he said. The BJP said the speeches by Modi in Kalaburagi and Shimoga will have strong messaging for the opposition as well, especially in the background of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). A week after election commissioner Arun Goel stepped down, suspense continues over the reasons for his sudden" decision. Asked about it during Saturdays press briefing on the countrywide poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said personal decisions must be respected". Arun was a very distinguished member of our team thoroughly enjoyed working with him.but in every institution people should be given personal spaceone should respect personal decisions," the CEC said. Arun Goel stepped down as election commissioner on March 9, exactly a week before dates for the Lok Sabha polls were announced. Opposition parties had alleged that Goel resigned because of differences" with CEC Kumar. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) had alleged that he was being pressurised about West Bengal polls. Goel put in his papers soon after a visit to Bengal with CEC Kumar. He didnt attend the media briefing in Kolkata and Kumar had then said that health reasons had led to Goels absence." The same reason was also cited by the law ministry but TMC continued to ask if the central government had pressurised Goel in the context of West Bengal polls, which led to his sudden departure. The Election Commission announced a seven-phase polling for West Bengal on Saturday, in a repeat of the 2019 exercise. To a pointed question on whether there were any differences within the ECI, which led to Goels resignation, Rajiv Kumar said, Dissent within commission is encouraged." Goel joined the ECI team in November 2022 amid controversies. On November 18, 2022, the 1985-batch IAS officer was given Voluntary Retirement from Service. A day later, the President appointed him election commissioner. On November 21, 2022, he took charge of the office, and two days later, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to produce the original files related to his selection. In August 2023, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the appointment of Goel, saying that a Constitution bench had already examined the process. Sikkim will go to Assembly and Lok Sabha polls simultaneously on April 19, the Election Commission announced in a press conference on Saturday. In 2019, elections in Sikkim were held in a single phase. The state would exercise their franchise to elect 32 members of the Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha member. In 2019, Sikkim had 4,23,325 voters. Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), led by its leader Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as P S Golay, ended chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamlings 25-year rule in the border state after a close contest in 2019. Of the states 32 seats, Golays SKM won 17 seats, leaving the chief minister and his Sikkim Democratic Front totally stunned, who won 15 seats. In 2019, the polling was in a single phase on April 11, 2019, and the counting took place on May 23, 2019. The 68-year-old outgoing chief minister, however, won both Poklok-Kamrang and Namchi Singhithang seats, on the way to a record eighth term as a legislator. His ministerial colleague DT Lepcha, too, entered the state legislature from two seats Martam Rumtek and Gnathang-Machong. Other ministers Ugen T. Gyatso Bhutia and N.K. Subba also romped home from the Tumin-lingi and Maneybong-dentam assembly constituencies. For the SKM, Kunga Nima Lepcha won from the Gangtok and Shyari assembly seats, while party supremo P.S. Golays 28 year-old son Aditya Golay entered the house from the Soreng-Chakung assembly seat. In June 1968, I had just muddled through seventh grade at the local Catholic grammar school. At that time, we had a very charismatic, 42-year-old senator named Robert Kennedy. Moments after winning the California primary, which assured him the inside track to the presidency, he was needlessly slaughtered on the spot. The women cried, the men brought out the flags and schools and offices were closed. Another American beauty. Interestingly, after all those decades, RFK Jr., has emerged as a third-party candidate, polling at record numbers. He's a savvy politician, he realizes that the great liberal establishment embodied by his father and uncles is no longer relevant in this day and age. He has a strong, libertarian anti-vax streak, which draws support from Republicans as well as Democrats. He is particularly popular among young people. It probably doesn't hurt that his real-life wife plays Larry David's wife on Curb your Enthusiasm. He's a youngster at only 70. I think he'll get a record number of votes. The other choices aren't very appealing. Robert Peterson Hamburg Lok Sabha elections in the Hindi heartland will be held from April 19 to June 1, with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar voting in seven phases, Madhya Pradesh in four phases, Chhattisgarh in three phases, and Jharkhand in four phases, the Election Commission announced in a press conference on Saturday. The results for the General Election 2024 will be announced on June 4 when votes are counted across India. UPs eight seats will vote in phase 1 on April 19, eight in phase 2 on April 26, 10 in phase 3 on May 7, 13 in phase 4 on May 13, 14 in phase 5 on May 20, 14 in phase 6 on May 25 and 13 in the last phase on June 1. For Bihar, four seats will vote in phase 1 on April 19, five on April 26, five on May 7, five on May 13, five on May 20, eight on May 25, and eight on June 1. In Madhya Pradesh, polls will be held in four phases. Six seats will vote on April 19, seven on April 26, eight on May 7, and eight on May 13. Chhattisgarhs one seat will vote on April 19, three on April 26, and seven on May 7. Meanwhile, Jharkhand will see polling in the latter half of the schedule, with four seats set to vote on May 13, three on May 20, four on May 25 and three on June 1. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP is looking for a historic third term in power, with the Opposition cobbling together the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to stop the saffron partys victory run. The politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha and is often considered the make-or-break state for any party. Bihar has 40 seats, while Madhya Pradesh has 29. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand send 11 and 14 MPs respectively. UTTAR PRADESH UPs significance can be understood from the fact that the state with the second-most seats, Maharashtra, has only 48 Lok Sabha seats. Uttar Pradesh has also given India the maximum number of prime ministers. Proving all arithmetic of the SP-BSP mahagathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh wrong, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 demolishing the alliance partners, which got 15 seats between them. The Congress won the lone Raebareli seat of Sonia Gandhi in the politically crucial state. Of the alliance partners, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was the biggest gainer with 10 seats. Akhilesh Yadavs Samajwadi Party (SP) won five seats and the smallest of the partners Rashtriya Lok Dal couldnt open its account in the polls. The Congresss biggest loss was in its bastion Amethi where then party president Rahul Gandhi was defeated by union minister Smriti Irani, who had lost the seat in 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi won from the Varanasi seat defeating his nearest rival Shalini Yadav of the SP by a margin of 4,79,505 votes, bettering his previous margin of 3,71,784 votes in 2014. Akhilesh Yadavs wife Dimple and his cousin Dharmendra lost in Kannauj and Badaun, respectively. His other cousin, Akshay, lost from Firozabad. BIHAR Bihar witnessed a political upheaval recently as chief minister Nitish Kumars Janata Dal United (JDU) got out of an alliance with Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to form a government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Six members of the Mahagathbandhan, too, switched to the BJP. The BJP has already allied with Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) for the polls. Determined to give them a fight, Tejashwi Yadav started his Jan Vishwas Rally in Patna on March 3, in which his father Lalu Prasad Yadav took a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attacking parivaarvaad because he did not have a family of his own. This has led to the BJPs Modi Ka Parivar campaign on social media. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the BJP, JDU and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), had won 39 of the 40 seats. The Mahagathbandhan, comprising Indian National Congress (INC), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP), had secured just one seat, Kishanganj, with Congresss Md. Jawed as the winner. MADHYA PRADESH Fresh from assembly elections last year, the political scenario in Madhya Pradesh seems more or less settled ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP, which registered a landslide win in that election, beat anti-incumbency against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. And not much will change for the saffron party if the results of 2019 are also taken into account. The political crisis of 2020 in the Hindi belt notwithstanding, the states past electoral trends show a tough contest between the two major parties BJP and Congress. This time, the Congress is joined by the Samajwadi Party as part of the opposition INDIA bloc. The Congress, which had won the state elections in 2018 as the single largest party, ran into a political crisis as Jyotiraditya Scindia defected to the BJP along with 22 rebel MLAs. But, the BJP swept the 2023 election as it reaffirmed its hold on the state, often known as the Heart of India. With frequent shifts when it comes to state polls, the BJP and Congress have been engaged in a constant tussle. The BJP swept the state in the 2019 general election, winning 28 out of 29 seats, while the Congress managed to win only one. The saffron party had a vote share of 58% in 2019, while the Congress garnered a share of 34.5%. This makes the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a frontrunner for this years polls as well, even as the Congress aims for a comeback. For 2024, the BJP has fielded Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna, state president and sitting MP VD Sharma from Khajuraho, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha among others. The party declared 24 candidates on March 2. The Congress, meanwhile, announced 10 candidates for the state in its second list. While only two names were retained, eight new faces were fielded. CHHATTISGARH Chhattisgarh, which traverses a thin line between its Hindi belt and tribal identity, has given strong mandates to the BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections. But, it is still a complicated state marred by Naxal violence. Still smarting from its loss to the BJP in the assembly elections last year, the Congress has once again fielded its trusty former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon that is considered a stronghold of the saffron party. The six-term MLA is set to return to the Lok Sabha race after a decade. Ruled by the BJP, Chhattisgarh has a total of 11 Lok Sabha seats and 90 assembly segments. Much like the state it was carved out of, Chhattisgarh is also likely to witness a fierce contest between the BJP and Congress. The results of the assembly election in Chhattisgarh were unexpected as many analysts predicted the return of Baghel-led Congress but the BJP came to power winning 54 out of 90 seats. While the BJP wants to maintain its winning streak in the state, the Congress is gunning for an improvement at a national level. If the results of the last two state elections are compared, then it can be seen that the Congress still has a foothold in the state. In the 2018 assembly poll, the BJP won only 15 seats and, while the saffron party won the 2023 election, the Congress still managed to bag 35 seats (42.23% vote share). JHARKHAND Jharkhand will fight 14 seats out of the total 543 Lok Sabha constituencies in summer and 81 assembly seats in October-November. The ruling JMM-Congress alliance was embroiled in political chaos after the arrest and resignation of chief minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case. The state with the largest tribal population has five seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one is reserved under the Scheduled Caste category. In 2019, the BJP-AJSU alliance in Jharkhand won 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the opposition JMM and the Congress secured one seat each. The BJP and AJSU party fought the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in alliance for the first time. While the BJP won 11 seats, its ally AJSU won the lone Giridih seat, where its candidate and Jharkhand Water Resources Minister Chandraprakash Choudhary beat JMMs Jagarnath Mahato by 2,48,347 votes. Union minister and BJP candidate Jayant Sinha won by a massive margin of 4,78,209 votes to retain the Hazaribagh seat, defeating Congress Gopal Prasad Sahu. The BJP had won 12 of the 14 seats, with a vote share of 40% in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the JMM bagged just two seats while Congress drew a blank. The Election Commission of India announced on Saturday the much-awaited schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, as well as assembly and bypoll contests in several states. Looking towards the East and Northeast, West Bengal, which is infamous for poll-related violence, will see voting in all seven phases of the general elections: April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1. Odisha will vote on May 13, 20, 25, and June 1, or the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th phases of the Lok Sabha polls. Assam will see voting on April 19, 26, and May 7, in the first three phases of the general elections. Among the seven northeastern states, five will vote in a single phase on April 19. However, Tripura and Manipur will have polling in the first two phases: April 19 and 26. The counting of votes across the country will take place on June 4. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said there are as many as 97 crore eligible voters in India, of which 1.8 crore will be first-time voters. He said 10.5 lakh polling stations will be set up for the elections with 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff, 55 lakh EVMs, and 4 lakh vehicles. In 2019, the Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results were declared on May 23. West Bengal Trinamool Congress chairperson and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee recently declared that seat-sharing talks with the Congress had failed and her party would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls alone in the state. In 2019, Trinamool bagged 22 seats compared to the BJPs 18, with respective vote percentages of 43.3 and 40.7. But in 2021, Mamata Banerjee led the TMC to a landslide victory in the assembly elections, securing an impressive 215 seats. Despite the BJPs vigorous campaigning, it only managed to get 77 seats. This, though, was a significant improvement on the partys 2016 tally of a mere three seats. The state sends the third-highest number of representatives to the 543-member Lok Sabha, trailing only Uttar Pradesh (80) and Maharashtra (48). Odisha Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly constituencies. In 2019, the BJD won 12 Lok Sabha seats, while the BJP got eight and the Congress secured one. In the assembly elections the same year, the BJD bagged 112 seats, while the BJP won 23, and the Congress got nine. The bonhomie between Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an open secret. While PM Modi has hailed Patnaik as a Lokpriya (popular)" chief minister, the latter has said that the prime minister had set the course for India to become an economic powerhouse". Despite not being part of the ruling coalition, the Biju Janata Dal has voted with the government on contentious issues such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Goods, and Services Tax (GST), demonetisation, and the proposal for one nation, one election, as well as the polls for the Presidents post, both in 2017 and 2022. The two parties were allies from 1998 until 2009. Prior to becoming the chief minister, Naveen Patnaik was a union minister in late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees cabinet in the 1990s. Assam A key state, Assam is the gateway to the Northeast and shares international boundaries with Bangladesh and Bhutan. Before 2014, the Congress had a substantial hold but, after that, the BJP has consolidated itself in the states tumultuous identity politics, stemming from the ULFA movement that was partially resolved last year after 44 years of insurgency. Also, this will be the first poll in Assam after the Election Commission of India (ECI) carried out the delimitation exercise for the state last year, which was strongly criticised by the opposition parties alleging that it was done to help the ruling BJP. There are a total of 14 Lok Sabha constituencies and 126 assembly segments in the state, where the BJP is in power. The main contest will be between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc. The BJP is fighting in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL). The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, is contesting alongside Assam Jatiya Parishad and the CPI(M). Other minor parties in the play include the AAP, TMC, National Peoples Party, AIUDF, and Bodoland Peoples Front. The BJP will be contesting 11 seats while it has given two seats to the AGP and one to the UPPL. The saffron party will be contesting on the double engine development" plank with the tagline Modi hai to mumkin hai in focus. The Congress, meanwhile, has announced candidates for 12 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats. It has offered one seat to Assam Jatiya Parishad, while there is no decision yet on the remaining constituency. One of the prominent names contesting is Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, who has got a ticket from Jorhat. In the 2019 general election, the BJP won nine out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats while the Congress won three, AIUDF bagged one seat, while another was won by an Independent. This was the saffron partys highest tally in the state yet, while the Congress registered a decline in vote share. The BJP had a vote share of 36.1 per cent, while the Congress and AIUDF had 35.4 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively. Northeast Of the seven northeastern states, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura, have two Lok Sabha seats each, while Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim have one each. The region holds importance due to its location and the boundaries it shares with neighbouring nations such as China. The states were previously primarily led by regional parties, but after the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the BJP has slowly established a firm footing in these parts. While running majority governments in Manipur, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is also a partner in the ruling coalitions in Meghalaya and Nagaland. The only state in the region currently where the saffron party is in the opposition in Mizoram. India will witness the 18th Lok Sabha election starting April 19 in seven phases in which 97 crore people will elect their representatives from 543 constituencies. The data shows 6 per cent increase in registered voters from the 2019 general elections, and an addition of 2 crore young electors in the age group of 18 to 29. Holding elections in the worlds biggest democracy is not a small feat. Lets look at the history of national elections since the time of Independence, and who were the top leaders who shaped the future of the Indian democracy. First Lok Sabha Election (1952) The first ever election in Independent India was held for 489 seats, representing 26 states, with over 17.3 crore eligible voters. The Congress won 364 seats, securing 45% of the total votes polled. The CPI and Socialist Party bagged 16 and 12 seats, respectively, and the Bharatiya Jan Sangh won only 3 seats. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first elected Prime Minister. The Lok Sabha, which was constituted on April 17, 1952, lasted its full term till April 4, 1957. The first Lok Sabha also witnessed 677 sittings (3,784 hours), the highest recorded count of the number of sittings, with GV Mavalankar as the first Speaker. Lok Sabha lasted its full term from April 17, 1952 to April 4, 1957. Before the elections, Nehrus two former colleagues, Shyama Prasad Mookherjee found Jana Sangh in October 1951, while BR Ambedkar revived the Scheduled Castes Federation, which was later named as Republican Party. Second Lok Sabha Election (1957) The Indian National Congress again won with 371 seats in its kitty out of the total 494 seats, divided across 17 states and Union Territories. Its vote share increased to 48% of the total votes polled. Other parties such as CPI, Praja Socialist Party and BJS won 27, 19 and 4 seats, respectively. Nehru was again elected the Prime Minister while there was no official Leader of Opposition during the second Lok Sabha. The 1957 election was the first one to be held after the enactment of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 under which states were reorganised and new boundaries were drawn along linguistic lines. On May 11, 1957, M Ananthasayanam Iyengar was unanimously elected the Speaker of the second Lok Sabha. Third Lok Sabha Election (1962) Indian National Congress won 361 of the total 494 seats. However, its vote share was reduced to 45% from 48% in the previous election. Four other parties CPI, Jan Sangh, Swatantra Party & PSP won double digit seats. Nehru became the PM again, but his health started declining amidst the Sino-Indian war. After his return from Kashmir, where he went for recuperation, Nehru suffered a stroke and later a heart attack, and died on May 27, 1964. Gulzari Lal Nanda was appointed the interim PM, who was succeeded by Lal Bahadur Shastri for 19 months before his death. Indira Gandhi then took over in 1966. Fourth Lok Sabha Election (1967): Under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, the Indian National Congress won 283 seats out of the total 520 constituencies. But the partys vote share was down to about 41%. It also suffered a major setback as non-Congress ministries were established in Bihar, Kerala, Orissa, Madras, the Punjab and West Bengal. Six parties won in double digits, with C Rajagopala Charis Swatantra Party winning 44 seats and emerging as the single largest opposition party. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister for the second time. Fifth Lok Sabha Election (1971) Congress under Indira Gandhi won 352 seats of the total 518 while the faction under Morarji Desai secured only 16 seats. Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister for the third time. On June 12, 1975, the Allahabad High Court invalidated her 1971 election on the grounds of electoral malpractices. Instead of resigning, Indira Gandhi declared an Emergency in the country and jailed the entire Opposition. The Emergency lasted till March 1977. Sixth Lok Sabha Election (1977) Bharatiya Lok Dal or Janata Dal emerged a winner, defeating Congress for the first time. The BLD was formed at the end of 1974 with the coalition of seven parties, including the Swatantra Party, the Utkal Congress, the Bharatiya Kranti Dal, and the Socialist Party. The BLD won 295 of the 542 seats while the Congress bagged only 154. Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister, but had to step down in 1979 after alliance partners withdrew support. He was succeeded by Charan Singh. Seventh Lok Sabha Election (1980) The Congress came riding to power by securing 353 seats of the 529 seats, while the Janata Party could manage only 32 seats. Eighth Lok Sabha Election (1984) Indira Gandhis assassination led to anti-Sikh riots in 1984. The Congress came to power with a landslide win due to sympathy for Indira Gandhi, and her son Rajiv Gandhi became the Prime Minister. It won 414 of the 514 seats. Ninth Lok Sabha Election (1989) Amidst the Bofors scandal, rising terrorism in Punjab, and civil war between LTTE and Sri Lankan government, Congress began to lose credibility and popularity. The elections were held in two phases on November 22 and November 26, 1989 for 525 seats in the Lok Sabha. India saw hung house for the first time, with the Congress winning 197 seats, Janata Dal 143 and BJP 85. The Janata Dal formed the National Front government with outside support from BJP and the left parties. VP Singh became the Prime Minister. Chandra Shekhar broke away from Janata Dal in 1990 and formed the Samajwadi Janata Party. He became the 11th Prime Minister, and finally resigned on March 6, 1991. 10th Lok Sabha Election (1991) Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE ahead of the 1991 general elections. The Mandal Commission fallout and the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid became the two pivotal issues of the elections. The Mandal Commission report implemented by the VP Singh government gave 27% reservation to the OBCs in government jobs, and Mandir issue became a major electoral issue. Several riots broke out in the country on the Ram Mandir issue, and the electorate was polarised on caste and religious lines. No party could get a majority. Congress emerged as the single largest party with 244 seats while the BJP won 120, and Janata Dal came a distant third with 59 seats. PV Narasimha Rao of the Congress was sworn in as the Prime Minister. 11th Lok Sabha Election (1996) The BJP won 161 seats, Congress 140 and Janata Dal 46 of the total 543 constituencies. Regional parties began to come to fore, and won 129 seats. Prominent among them were TDP, Shiv Sena and DMK. The President invited the BJP to form the government, which attempted to build a coalition. But could not go far and Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resign as the PM in 13 days. Out of nowhere, HD Deve Gowda became the Prime Minister and he lasted for 18 months before he had to step down and make way for IK Gujral, who was the stopgap arrangement. 12th Lok Sabha Election (1998) The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 182 seats out of 543 constituencies. Congress won 141 and the other regional parties won 101 seats. The BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with other regional parties. Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister for the second time. His government couldnt last and he had to resign after 13 months after AIADMK withdrew support. Nuclear tests at Pokhran, Kargil war were some of the important incidents in this term. 13th Lok Sabha Election (1999) Amidst the Kargil war, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 182 seats, and Congress securing 114 seats only. Region parties performed well with 158 seats in its kitty. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time. 14th Lok Sabha Election 2004 The economy showed steady growth during the BJP rule and the disinvestment of PSUs was on track. The Foreign Exchange Reserves of India stood at more than $100 billion. The service sector had also generated a lot of jobs. The BJP fought the elections as part of the NDA, although some of its seat-sharing agreements were made with strong regional parties outside of the NDA such as the TDP in Andhra Pradesh and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. But the Congress was able to put together a comfortable majority of more than 335 members out of 543 (including external support from BSP, SP, MDMK and the Left front) under the direction of Sonia Gandhi. This post-poll alliance was called the United Progressive Alliance. Sonia Gandhi refused to become the Prime Minister amidst the controversy about her foreign origin, and Manmohan Singh instead was chosen as the PM. 15th Lok Sabha Election 2009 The Congress-led UPA started the Right to Information and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, along with waiving farm loans in 2008. The Congress won 206 seats and the BJP secured 116 while the regional parties won 146 seats. Manmohan Singh was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the second time. 16th Lok Sabha Election 2014 The UPA-II term was fraught with 2G, coal block, Adarsh scams, and Commonwealth Games scams. Amidst the perception of the Prime Minister, BJP projected Narendra Modi as the man of the hour. Congress Prime Ministerial candidate Rahul Gandhi was nowhere a match to Modi. The BJP won on its own with 282 seats while the Congress recorded its worst ever performance with just 44 seats. AIADMK, AITC and BJD won 37, 34 and 20 seats. A total of 551.3 million people or 66.38% of the total electorate came out to vote in an election spread a little over a month in nine phases. Top leaders Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari won from Madhya Pradesh and Nagpur, respectively. BJP and its allies won 71 of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, and all 25 seats in Rajasthan. 17th Lok Sabha Election 2019 Riding on the Modi wave, the BJP increased the mandate with 303 seats and 350 with the NDA, while Congress faced a rout with only 52 seats. Narendra Modi became only the third person in Indias history to have secured a single party majority two times in a row, after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Congress President Rahul Gandhi lost from Amethi. Not just the Hindi heartland, the BJP swept West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The party increased its vote share to over 50% in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana. It thwarted the BSP-SP Mahagathbandan in Uttar Pradesh. A man has been arrested in Gurugrams Chauma village for thrashing his live-in-partner to death in an inebriated state after she refused to cook egg curry for him, news agency PTI reported. Police said Lallan Yadav, 35, during questioning, confessed to having killed his partner under the influence of alcohol. Yadav told police that he lost his cool when she refused to make him egg curry and beat her with a hammer and a belt, they said. Yadav, a native of Aurahi village in Bihars Madhepura district, was arrested by a team of Palam Vihar Police Station from Delhis Sarai Kale Khan area. Anjali, 32, a ragpicker, was found dead on Wednesday in an under-construction building in Chauma village. The caretaker of the building filed a police complaint after the body was spotted. According to police, Yadav and Anjali had been brought to the work site on March 10 from Gurugram bus stand. Their correct names, addresses, and IDs were also not taken by the house owner. Yadav had introduced Anjali as his wife. Yadav during questioning revealed that his wife had died six years ago due to a snake bite and after that, he came to Delhi. About seven months ago, he met Anjali, a ragpicker, and both started living together while working as labourers, police said. After killing her, he fled. We have recovered the hammer and belt which were used in the murder and are questioning the accused, Naveen Kumar, ACP, Palam Vihar, said. Marking his first public appearance since the declaration of the Lok Sabha 2024 election dates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had started preparing to win the upcoming elections, too. PM Modi also praised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its stringent and unwavering action against corruption. He took a dig at opposition parties, saying that they are worried about the probe agencys remarkable actions. During the session themed Redefining Bharat of the India Today Conclave 2024, PM Modi discussed various key issues such as startups, the digital revolution, womens empowerment, and the global initiative One Earth One Health. Here are the key quotes from PM Modis speech: All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday moved the Supreme Court against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). His move comes even as a number of Muslim influencers have come out in support of the law. Owaisi also questioned the fate of 1.5 lakh Muslims, who were allegedly left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list in Assam. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus listed in the NRC conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under CAA, but what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims? People are saying nothing is going to happen immediately. I want to tell them that things take time to unfold Owaisi was quoted as saying by ANI during a public meeting in Hyderabad on Friday. #WATCH | Hyderabad: On CAA, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, " Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus listed in the NRC conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under CAA, but what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims? People are saying nothing is going to pic.twitter.com/rDyAUxD38y ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2024 Meanwhile, state of Kerala also filed an application in the top court, seeking to stay the enforcement of the Act. Dr Feroz Bakht Ahmed, former chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MAANU), had earlier told News18 that theres nothing for the Muslim community to debate or protest about the CAA since it does not concern them. Every channel is debating CAA, leading to the perception that there are issues with CAA but theres nothing to debatethere should only be discussions which clarify that this law is about giving right not taking away, Ahmed said. When asked about the spectre of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that has been raised by opposition politicians like Mamata Banerjee and Asaduddin Owaisi, Ahmed said, NRC kal aata hai, aaj aa jaye (Doesnt matter whether NRC comes today or tomorrow). Why should an Indian Muslim, who has sacrificed for this country, shed his blood against the Britishwhy should he worry? So many other Islamic countries including Pakistan have NRCOnly the illegal immigrant should fear the NRC. Union home minister Amit Shah has also on many occasions said that the new law has no provision to strip anyone of their citizenship. Hitting out at the Congress and AIMIM, Shah, addressing party meetings in Hyderabad earlier this week, said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Hyderabad Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi are lying that minorities of the country will lose their citizenship with the implementation of CAA. We had said we will bring CAA. The Congress party opposed CAA. Since Independence it was a promise of the Congress and makers of our Constitution that citizenship will be granted to those persecuted religious minorities in Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, who come (to India). But, due to appeasement and vote-bank politics, the Congress party opposed the CAA, Shah said, justifying its implementation. He said in order to save their faith and honour lakhs and crores of people from Pakistan and Bangladesh came to India, but were not granted citizenship. They (refugees) felt insulted in their own country when they were not granted citizenship, he said, adding that PM Modi honoured Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh refugees by granting them citizenship through the CAA. The Centre on Monday implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, notifying the rules four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. With the unveiling of the rules that came days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, the Modi government will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from the three countries. The rules came into force with immediate effect, according to a Gazette notification. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on March 18 a plea filed by six Congress rebels, who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh, against their disqualification from the state assembly. The six rebels Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto were disqualified for defying a Congress whip to be present in the House and voting in favour of the Himachal Pradesh government during the cut motion and budget. As per the cause list of Monday uploaded on the apex court website, the plea would come up for hearing before a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta. When the plea was heard by the top court on March 12, the bench asked the petitioners why they had not moved the high court to challenge their disqualification. The counsel representing the petitioners had said it was a rare case where the Speaker disqualified these MLAs within 18 hours. The petitioners have made Pathania, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan and other as party respondents in their plea filed in the top court. Following the disqualification of the rebels, the effective strength of the House has gone down to 62 from 68, while the number of Congress MLAs has shrunk to 34 from 40. The rebel MLAs, in their petition, have alleged violation of the principle of natural justice, claiming they did not get adequate opportunity to respond to the disqualification petition. Announcing the disqualification of the six MLAs at a press conference on February 29, the Speaker said they attracted disqualification under the anti-defection law as they defied the party whip. He ruled that they ceased to be members of the House with immediate effect. The petition seeking their disqualification was filed by the Himachal Pradesh parliamentary affairs minister before the Speaker for defying the whip that required them to be present in the House and vote for the budget. Under the anti-defection law, any elected member who gives up the membership of a political party voluntarily or votes or abstains from voting in the House, contrary to any direction issued by his political party, is liable for disqualification. These MLAs had signed the attendance register but abstained from the House during the voting on the Budget, the Speaker said. They were issued notices for defying the whip through WhatsApp and e-mail and were asked to appear for the hearing. The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed the Finance Bill by voice vote after the Speaker suspended 15 BJP MLAs. The speaker then adjourned the session. In his 30-page order, he said the plea of the lawyer of the rebel MLAs, senior advocate Satya Pal Jain, for giving time to reply to the notice was not entertained as evidence was clear. The Speaker said delivering quick judgment was necessary in such cases to maintain the dignity of democracy and check the Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram phenomenon. The judgment had no link with cross-voting by these MLAs in the Rajya Sabha polls, the Speaker added. Weddings hold a special place in everyones life. People often love to celebrate the occasion with their close friends and family members. From different cuisines and decorations to wedding cards, everything needs proper management. Recently, one incident has been gaining traction on the internet. The principal of a private school located in Teachers Colony, Adilabad town, decided to create a memorable wedding affair for her daughter. Korakoppu Swarnalatha, a private school principal, arranged the wedding of daughter Vaishnavis wedding on March 16. His bizarre idea of making her daughters wedding memorable set the internet abuzz. He opted for wedding magazines. Unlike the usual practice of printing and handing out magazines, he chose a different approach. He decided to distribute eco-friendly wedding magazines. The magazines boast unique features like containing seeds of flower plants such as Tulsi, Marigold and Chrysanthemum. The pens provided alongside differ from the ordinary and contain seeds of vegetables like tomato, brinjal and okhra, as well as seeds of leafy vegetables such as coriander and lettuce. Originating from Coimbatore, these magazines and pens provide an eco-friendly method to celebrate the wedding. A total of 1,250 magazines and 500 pens were obtained for the occasion. The local community is abuzz with these inventive eco-friendly magazines and pens. These sustainable items have garnered attention on social media platforms as well. While costly magazines are customary for weddings, residents praise the thoughtful decision to opt for environmentally friendly options. Using eco-friendly wedding cards can help spread awareness about sustainability and encourage others to become environmentally conscious. The card is believed to have a lasting impact on guests. Eco-friendly wedding cards come in various forms, including recycled paper, plantable cards, digital invitations and natural materials. Some cards feature pressed flowers or leaves with attached seeds, which can be used as bookmarks after the wedding. One more choice is to go for paperless invitations, like e-invites, which can decrease paper usage. e-Invites are usually affordable or even free and they offer opportunities for customisation and personalisation. India has rebuked Pakistan and described it as a broken record that remains stagnant while the world progresses after Islamabads envoy here made references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Citizenship Amendment Act during remarks to the UN General Assembly. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said this while responding to comments made by Pakistans Ambassador Munir Akram during the plenary meeting on Friday where the resolution Measures to combat Islamophobia, introduced by Pakistan, was adopted by the 193-member UN General Assembly. #IndiaAtUNPR delivers the explanation of Indias position during the adoption of the resolution on Measures to combat Islamophobia at the United Nations General Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/AheU8UvpYM India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 15, 2024 One final point concerns a delegation (and its remarks) that, much like a broken record, remains sadly stagnant while the world progresses, she said. Akram made references to the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as well as to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Kamboj said it is unfortunate indeed to witness this delegations limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so, when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership perhaps not the forte of this delegation. Kamboj delivered a statement in explanation of Indias position during the adoption of the resolution on Measures to combat Islamophobia at the UNGA. The General Assembly adopted the resolution, with 115 nations voting in favour, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the UK. The new resolution, besides other things, requests the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. (With agency inputs) The Indian Navy has intercepted a Malta-flagged ship hijacked in the Arabian Sea which had fallen into the hands of Somali pirates in December. The ex-MV Ruen, now used for piracy, was apprehended by an Indian Navy warship on March 15. The Navys response came after the pirate-controlled vessel opened fire on the warship upon interception. The Indian Navy retaliated in self-defence and countered the pirates, using minimal force to neutralise the threat posed by the pirates. #IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high seas, the Navy said in a post on X. #IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 International law The vessel was intercepted by the #IndianNavy warship on #15Mar. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions iaw international law, in self-defence & to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates threat to shipping and seafarers, the Navy said. The Navy said that efforts are underway to persuade the pirates onboard the vessel to surrender and release any civilians they may be held against their will. It reaffirmed its dedication to maritime security and the safety of seafarers in the region. The #IndianNavy remains committed to #maritimesecurity & safety of seafarers in the region, the Navy said. Around the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has been among the first responders to ensure the safety of merchant shipping, along with international partners and friendly foreign countries. In November, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said more than 50 warships of extra-regional forces remain deployed in the Indian Ocean Region for different missions, such as anti-piracy patrol off the Gulf of Aden. He made these remarks at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), which was held in New Delhi. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole The love of women has landed a Gweru man in trouble after he stabbed his friend with a knife accusing him of snatching his commercial sex worker. The matter came to light at Gweru magistrates courts where Lovedale Tshuma appeared before Magistrate Nixon Mangoti.Tshuma was sentenced to two years in jail, six months were suspended on condition of good behaviour while the remaining18 months were commuted to 630 hours of community service at skombingo primary in Lower Gweru.Prosecutors told the court that on December 25 last year Tshuma had a misunderstanding with his friend Risk Zariro over a sex worker at a local bar.Tshuma pulled a knife and stabbed Zariro all over the body.A police report was filed leading to the arrest of Tshuma. The summers are almost here, bringing itself with a lot of unbearable heat. The months of February and March are considered the best to travel and go out, as you would only encounter a good climate outdoors. So, here is a list of the best places to visit in Delhi, that you must go to before the peak of the summer. Akshardham Temple Also known as the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, it is located in Pandav Nagar, New Delhi. The temple holds a lot of importance for the believers of the Sanatan Dharm. You can visit this place before the end of March to get the best experience of the place. Qutub Minar The Qutub Minar is one of the most popular ancient monuments in the country. Standing at 73 meters, tourists from all around the world come to visit the tower. It is also included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Red Fort Another signature monument of the capital, Red Fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Its construction started in 1639 and was completed in 1648, after almost a decade. It is one of the best options to visit in Delhi with your family, right before the summer peaks. Lotus Temple It is also known as the Bahai Temple, a significant site for the people practising the Bahai faith. Built in 1986, and consisting of 27 petals, many compare it to the Opera House of Sydney, Australia. Hauz Khas Located in South Delhi, Hauz Khas can be visited with your friends and family, if you are looking for a place to just roam and eat. You can reach the place either by a metro or an auto. Lakme Fashion Week, orchestrated by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), has consistently been a much-anticipated event for fashion enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the unveiling of designs that will shape upcoming trends. Day three of this esteemed fashion extravaganza lived up to expectations, as classic silhouettes and traditional Indian prints took centre stage, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion landscape. Adding to the allure, Bollywood actresses Kriti Sanon and Shanaya Kapoor walked the ramp as showstoppers. Lets take a closer look at the splendid fashion that unfolded. Kriti Sanon For Skechers Kriti Sanon graced the runway as the ambassador for the renowned brand Sketchers. Her ensemble exuded a retro-chic vibe, seamlessly blending style with charm. Adorned in blue sneakers, Kritis outfit made a bold fashion statement. Kriti Sanon graced the runway as the ambassador for the renowned brand Sketchers, radiating confidence and style. Sporting blue sneakers, she effortlessly captivated the audience with her impeccable fashion sense. Her ensemble exuded a timeless retro chic, seamlessly blending style with charm. The dress showcased a round turtleneck neckline in neon green that extended to the sleeves, exuding vibrancy. Shades of blue and orange injected bursts of colour, while chic side pockets added a trendy flair. The bodycon fit accentuated her curves flawlessly, exuding confidence and grace. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FDCI (@fdciofficial) Keeping her accessories minimal, she opted for just a pair of gold hoop earrings and trendy blue Sketchers. Her subtle makeup provided the perfect finishing touch to her flawless ensemble. With her hair pulled back in a bun, she completed her showstopper look effortlessly. Shanaya Kapoor For Anamika Khanna Shanaya Kapoor commanded attention as she graced the ramp as the showstopper for renowned fashion designer Anamika Khanna. She looks stunning in a glamorous ensemble, donning a white shirt dress embellished with a striking black and yellow pattern all over. The full sleeves and asymmetrical hemline added a touch of sophistication to her overall look. Her accessories, including layered gold chain necklaces and statement bracelets, paired with trendy black boots, complemented her attire flawlessly. Her makeup exuded a glamorous charm, beautifully accentuating her features. To complete her chic look, her luscious locks were styled in soft curls, cascading elegantly down her shoulders. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FDCI (@fdciofficial) Anamikas AK-OK collections have consistently drawn inspiration from Indias rich cultural heritage, often incorporating intricate weaves and motifs that pay homage to our deep-rooted connection with nature. She further elevates her signature style by incorporating Bonda colours, motifs, and embroideries into ensembles perfect for a night out in the city. Indian designers such as Rajdeep Ranawat, Shahin Mannan, and Paras & Shalini also presented their breathtaking collections on the third day. Muslims worldwide observe the fast of Ramadan, abstaining from food and beverages from dawn till dusk. This fast, known as Roza, commences after devotees consume sehri before sunrise and ends with iftar after sunset. Iftar, marking the breaking of the fast, traditionally begins with the consumption of dates (Khajoor). The preference for dates has both religious and scientific significance. In Islamic tradition, opening the fast with dates is considered Sunnah, aligning with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Its believed that dates were the Prophets favourite dry fruit and he regularly broke his fast by consuming them. Following his example is deemed a virtuous practice, hence Muslims prioritise dates for iftar before indulging in other foods. Dr Rajkumar Prasad, a physician from Gaya, Bihar, explains the health benefits of breaking fast with dates. Prolonged fasting during Roza can lead to acidity, as abstaining from food prompts some individuals to consume high-calorie foods quickly, exacerbating digestive issues. Dates offer a solution by boosting bile juice levels, maintaining stomach lining health and preventing acidity and indigestion. Additionally, dates high water content aids in hydration, essential after a day without water. Moreover, dates are rich in nutrients vital for health. They are a source of proteins, providing instant strength and energy to the body. Fibre, iron, sodium and potassium present in dates contribute to overall well-being. Dates also aid in kick-starting the digestive system, releasing digestive secretions and juices and facilitating the digestion of more complex foods consumed during iftar. The tradition of breaking the fast with dates during Ramadan is rooted in religious teachings and offers numerous health benefits. By adhering to this practice, Muslims honour the Sunnah while promoting their physical well-being. From enhancing digestive health to providing essential nutrients, dates serve as a wholesome and beneficial choice for opening the fast during this holy month. Hours after reports of Amitabh Bachchans hospitalisation made headlines, the superstar attended the Indian Street Premiere League (ISPL) 2024 final match in Mumbai. Several videos of Big B from the event are now going viral on social media. Amitabh was spotted enjoying the final match between Majhi Mumbai vs. Tigers of Kolkata. In one of the videos, Amitabh was seen standing with his actor-son Abhishek Bachchan in the stands as they cheered for Majhi Mumbai. In another video, he was seen interacting with Sachin Tendulkar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) After the match ended, Amitabh was seen leaving the stadium when somebody from the crown asked him about his health. At first, the actor made a gresture from his hand to indicate his is fine. Following this, Big B responded verbally and said, Fake news. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Earlier in the day, reports of Amitabh Bachchan being admitted at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai made headlines. Several reports claimed that the 81-year-old Bollywood megastar underwent an angioplasty. However, hospital sources later told News18.com that it was a routine check-up. Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan had undergone a surgery for his wrist earlier this year. Taking to his blog in January this year, Amitabh wrote, The ISPL, as has been promoted and delivered in adverts, is well on its way to fructification and all the owners and the members that are involved, were needed to be in immortalised picture frames. So yes, a photo cum meet shoot .. a very quick in and out between the evening hours .. with our friends and colleagues .. such a joy .. Akshay, one of the owners .. and an explanation to him about the surgery on my hand. Despite his surgery, Amitabh shot for his upcoming projects. On the work front, Amitabh Bachchan will soon be seen in Kalki 2898 AD with Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. Besides this, he also has Section 84 and the Hindi remake of The Intern in his pipeline. South Korean actress Han So-hee has confirmed that she is dating Ryu Jun Yeol, just one day after her agency denied the rumours. Speculations arose on March 15 when Han So-hee and Ryu Jun Yeol were seen vacationing together in Hawaii. While Ryu Jun Yeols agency confirmed his presence there, they refrained from commenting on the dating rumours. Initially, as reported by Soompi, Han So-hees agency denied the rumours, saying that she was on vacation with some of her close friends. However, much to the surprise of her fans and viewers, the situation has now taken a turn. The rumours swirled around when Hyeri, who had dated Ryu Jun Yeol for six years before their breakup last November, posted a cryptic Instagram Story. She uploaded a photo of a vacation spot with the caption, Its fun. Han So-hee responded with a photo of a dog holding a knife, along with a message seemingly aimed at clarifying her stance on relationships. I give them space, interest, or establish a relationship in the guise of friendship, and I dont meddle in other peoples relationships. I enjoy watching romance dramas, but they are not part of my life, read her text. HAN SOHEE IG STORY UPDATE:"i don't like people who have a partner, nor I give them space, interest, or establish a relationship in the guise of friendship, and I don't meddle in other people's relationships. I like transit dating programs, but they're not a part of my life" pic.twitter.com/U1NbrUFMHZ s (@4hansohee) March 15, 2024 Clapping back at the former Girls Day member Hyeri, Han So-hee had also uploaded a story that said Its fun for me too. This story has now been deleted by the actress. Before this incident, in November last year, Han So-hee had reportedly posted a picture of attending Ryu Jun Yeols photo exhibition around the time of his breakup with Hyeri, informs Soompi. Now, on March 16, she addressed the dating rumours in a lengthy statement on her blog, confirming her relationship with Ryu Jun Yeol. She clarified that their relationship began only after Ryu Jun Yeol had ended his previous relationship with Hyeri. Han So-hee also apologised for her now-deleted Instagram Story, admitting that she acted out of line due to rumours suggesting she began dating Ryu Jun Yeol before his breakup. She expressed regret for her actions, acknowledging that she should have handled the situation more wisely. Im writing this in the hopes that I can hurt my precious fans even a little bit less. First, its true that we are in a relationship with positive feelings. However, I hope that people will not use the word transfer. Second, when we exchanged feelings for one another, it was already the beginning of 2024, and his breakup with that person was already wrapped up in early 2023, said Han So-hee. Third, my pathetic Instagram story. Its true, it was pathetic and lame. I temporarily lost all reason and behaved rudely. I will apologize to that person [Hyeri] regarding this fact, and I sincerely apologize to you all for not reacting wisely. Because I acted based on my emotions rather than rational thinking, I acknowledge that this is completely my fault, regardless of my reasons, she added, reports Soompi. In her long statement, Han So-hee also promised to reflect on her behaviour. She vowed to become a better version of herself and thanked her supporters for standing by her. Marvel fans are eagerly waiting for the release of Deadpool and Wolverine, which promises to be a blockbuster event. With just a few months remaining until its release, excitement level is all time high. Amidst growing fan theories and rumours, one name that has garnered maximum attention is Henry Cavill, who has been linked to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following his departure from DC as Superman. Speculation initially suggested that the actor might be playing the role of Captain Britain, but recent reports suggest otherwise. According to a scoop from Giant Freakin Robot, Cavill is set to wear the iconic claws of Wolverine, a role originally immortalized by Hugh Jackman for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, Cavills version will be from a different Earth, all thanks to the introduction of the multiverse saga. A source close to the production informed the portal, Henry Cavill will appear in Deadpool & Wolverine as a multiverse variant of Wolverine. His version will be wearing a long brown coat when he shows up and this will be Cavills first appearance in the Marvel universe. Many had thought Cavill might appear as Captain Britain, a fan favorite character people have long lobbied for him to be cast as. Thats not happening in Deadpool & Wolverine, but it doesnt mean it cant happen in the future. The Deadpool and Wolverines story is pretty wild as different universes will be mixing up. As per reports, just because Henry Cavill might play Wolverine doesnt mean he cant be in other Marvel movies as a different character, as theres still a chance we might see Cavill in future Marvel movies, maybe as someone else. Theres a lot of possibilities in the MCU and Cavill could end up being part of it in many different ways. In an earlier conversation on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast, director Shawn Levy revealed he was surprised after certain actors easily agreed to make cameo appearances in the film. He credited this to the popularity of Deadpool and Ryan Reynolds, as well as the positive response for his own work. Apart from Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, the cast of the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine includes, Morena Baccarin who reprises her role as Vanessa, Stefan Kapicic returns as Colossus, Brianna Hildebrand is set to delight fans as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Shioli Kutsuna as Yukio, Leslie Uggams will play Blind Al and fan favourite Karan Soni reprises his role as Dopinder. Other than them, Rob Delaney joins the cast as Peter, followed by Matthew Macfadyen steps into the role of The TVAs Mr Paradox and Aaron Standford has been cast as Pyro. Randeep Hooda has been making waves in social media for his directorial debut Swatantra Veer Savarkar based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The film is going to be released on the big screens on March 22 and ahead of that, Randeep visited Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilaks memorial and house in Ratnagiri on March 14. The actor was accompanied by the cast and crew of Swatantra Veer Savarkar and uploaded the pictures on Instagram. Actress Ankita Lokhande, who will play the role of Yamunabai, was also present with him. Randeep wrote in the caption, Visited the house and memorial of one of the tallest leaders of our freedom struggle Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak ji, one can still feel the energy of revolution where young Veer Savarkar and many got influenced and galvanised to take part in the Swarajya Movement and the struggle for independence. Hooda added that he also saw the first flag of Bharat hoisted by Madam Bhikaiji Cama in 1906. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda) Besides Randeep and Ankita, the films cast includes Amit Sial, Apinderdeep Singh, Mark Bennington, and others. Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, Avak Films and Legend Global Studio have produced Swatantra Veer Savarkar which will be released in Hindi and Marathi. For those who dont know about Veer Savarkar, he was a former freedom fighter. He, however, refrained from participating in the Indian freedom struggle after the British government released him from cellular jail on account of his relentless pleas for mercy. Hindu Mahasabha, presided over by Savarkar, also entered into a coalition with the Muslim League to run the governments in Sindh and Bengal. Coming back to Randeep Hooda, the actor has acted in many hit movies like Highway, Inspector Avinash, Operation Fryday, Cat, Radhe, etc. He has showcased his remarkable acting skills in many projects but remains a lesser-known actor compared to his counterparts. The Swatantra Veer Savarkar actor said in an interview that earlier he did a lot of films with first-time directors which didnt reach the audiences. After months of speculation, it was officially announced on Friday that a film chronicling the life of late actress Madhubala is in development. Filmmaker Jasmeet K Reen, known for directing the acclaimed film Darlings starring Alia Bhatt and Vijay Varma, will be at the helm of the project. The announcement was made by producers Sony Pictures International Productions and Brewing Thoughts Pvt. Ltd. Additionally, Madhubalas siblings Madhur Brij Bhushan and Arvind Kumar Malviya will co-produce the film under the banner Madhubala Ventures. Captioning the post on Instagram, the makers wrote, Exciting News! Were thrilled to announce our upcoming film honouring the legendary Madhubala, the epitome of grace and talent. Get ready to delve into the timeless charm and captivating story of one of Bollywoods most iconic stars. Stay tuned for updates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sony Pictures Films India (@sonypicsfilmsin) This announcement follows reports that fashion designer Manish Malhotra was also developing a film on Madhubala, with rumours suggesting that Kriti Sanon might be attached to the project. However, in October 2022, Madhubalas sister Madhur Brij Bhushan firmly denied the development of any other film project, stating that there would be only one Madhubala biopic, backed by her and her team. Madhur Brij Bhushan had earlier told Pinkvilla that the film would put to rest many falsely claimed trivia and rumours about her sisters life. During her illustrious two-decade-long career, Madhubala starred in around 60 movies and earned a reputation as one of the highest-earning actresses of her era. Dubbed the Venus of Indian Cinema, Madhubala was renowned for her exceptional beauty and memorable performances in films such as Mr and Mrs 55, Half Ticket Mughal-e-Azam, Mahal and Badal, among many others. Her failed relationships with Dilip Kumar and Prem Nath, which were highly publicised during that era are expected to be explored extensively on celluloid, now that the biopic is officially confirmed. After marrying Kishore Kumar in 1960, Madhubala moved to London for treatment after her health deteriorated. From the onset of her thirties, Madhubala suffered from recurrent episodes of breathlessness and hemoptysis, attributed to a ventricular septal defect. Tragically, these health complications eventually led to her untimely demise in 1969 at the mere age of 36. Rakhi Sawants former husband Adil Khan Durrani has claimed that the actress is absconding and has been in Dubai for the last four months. In a recent interview, Adil argued that he has filed multiple FIRs against Rakhi and claimed that she will be arrested as and when she returns to India. He argued that even though Rakhi is trying hard to get bail, she has not been able to secure one yet. Bahut saari FIR file ki hai maine Rakhi ke against. (I have filed a lot of FIRs against Rakhi). Why she is in Dubai you know? Because uske upar jo humne case kiya hai uski wajah se usko bail nahi mil rahi hai. She is absconding from India from last 4.5 months. That is why she is in Dubai, Adil told Bollywood Bubble. If she comes to India, she will be behind the bars in next 2 hours. She is not able to get a bail as magistrate, 67 A ka FIR jo humne kiya hai magistrate, sessions and hight court have rejected her plea. She has even applied for bail in supreme court but her application has not put up yet, he added. Adil Khan Durrani has been making headlines ever since he announced his second marriage with Somi Khan. The two got married on March 7, 2024. Somi Khan was a part of Bigg Boss 12 with her sister, Saba Khan. For the unversed, Adil was previously married to Rakhi Sawant but they parted ways last year after the Bigg Boss fame levelled several allegations against him and accused him of being involved in extramarital affairs. Adil was then picked up from Rakhis residence and arrested on February 7, 2023. He was released after spending five months in jail. Recently, Adil also accused Rakhi of spreading negativity and urged her not to spread negativity. She is like the coronavirus and we the world will be lucky to get saved from her. I want her to get settled somewhere far away so that Mumbai and India can become more peaceful in her absence, he said. Looks like Ranbir Kapoor starrer Ramayana has landed in a trouble even before the film shoot could begin. If a recent report by Siasat is to be believed, producer Madhu Mantena has backed out of the project. Reportedly, Nitesh Tiwaris directorial was being co-produced by Allu Aravind and Madhu Mantena but the latter has stepped back from his role as a producer now. The reason behind Madhu Mantenas alleged decision is not known as of now. It should also be noted that the makers have not yet officially confirmed Mantenas backing out yet. On the other hand, Namit Malhotra, the CEO of DNEGan Oscar-winning VFX companyis now going to be part of Ramayanas production. The VFX company has worked on several blockbuster films including Oppenheimer, E Machina, Interstellar, Dune and First Man among others. In Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana, Ranbir Kapoor will be playing the role of Ram. Sai Pallavi has been roped in for the role of Sita. Earlier, Alia Bhatt was in talks for the role of Sita but she backed out due to dates-related issues. KGF star Yash is also likely to play Ravana in the movie whereas Sunny Deol has reportedly been locked for the role of Hanuman. Bobby Deol and Vijay Sethupathi are also reportedly in talks for the roles of Kumbhakarna and Vibhashana respectively. It was recently reported that Amitabh Bachchan has been finalised for the role of King Dashrath in the movie. However, there is no official confirmation regarding this as of now. Earlier this year, it was reported that Ranbir will undergo voice and diction training for the film. Ranbir has a certain baritone and a way of speaking his lines. It is symbolic and if you have even closed your eyes, you can recognise a dialogue purely based on Ranbirs voice. In Ramayana, Nitesh wants to make sure Ranbir sounds different from the characters hes played in the past. Being a versatile actor, Ranbir is enjoying this process of trying something new, a source cited by India Today claimed. The shooting for Nitesh Tiwaris Ramayana is likely to begin in the Summer of this year. The Spryfield area located south of the Halifax peninsula is known for its large number of rental homes, mainly built in the 1970s. But very few new rental units have been built since then, according to the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. (Brian MacKay/CBC - image credit) A new data mapping tool is shedding light on the loss of affordable rental housing in six cities across Canada including Halifax's Spryfield neighbourhood. The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights compiled data from dozens of federal, provincial and municipal sources over nearly 20 years to create its low-end of market rental housing monitor, which examines factors like housing costs, evictions and vacancy rates in specific census areas. In Halifax, it focused on the traditionally low-income community of Spryfield, finding it had the highest proportion of affordable housing, but also some of the greatest loss. Researchers concluded the Spryfield area located south of the Halifax peninsula lost 39 per cent of its most affordable single-person rental units between 2016 and 2021. "We're specifically focusing on the most affordable end of the market," said Megan Earle, data scientist and project leader. "And when we lose that most affordable end of the market, there's nowhere else for people to go. "So ultimately when we lose that affordable housing, it becomes a pathway to homelessness." Christina Carter said housing unaffordability is pushing people out of the neighbourhood, but they have nowhere else to go. Christina Carter, executive director of Chebucto Connections, said rising rents are pushing people out of the Spryfield neighbourhood, but they have nowhere else to go. (Brian MacKay/CBC) The latest census data shows 42.2 per cent of Spryfield's 8,358-person population are renters, and 39.7 per cent of those people are in dwellings considered unsuitable, inadequate or unaffordable under Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards. Christina Carter, executive director of Chebucto Connections, a non-profit organization that works with low-income people in Spryfield, said she isn't surprised by these findings because she sees the impacts of the housing crisis every day. "There just is nowhere for people to go anymore," Carter said. "We had an individual who worked all of their life, now they live in a car or they're couch surfing. They have a pension, this is just the reality of it now." Story continues Carter said Chebucto Connections gives out free food boxes to 180 people every two weeks, and housing is the most pressing concern for most of them. New way to look at the data Earle believes the low-end housing monitor is the first of its kind. "To date, nobody's really integrated the federal data or the Statistics Canada data with municipal sources and administrative data as well as the landlord-tenant board data," Earle said. "So by pooling all of these data sources together, what you get is a more nuanced understanding of information relating to housing." The project determined affordable rents for each city based on median incomes and size of renter families. In Halifax, that would be rent of $870 for a single person and up to $1,750 for families of four or more. Earle said she hopes governments and policymakers will use the data to make housing decisions, but she also hopes community organizations and renters themselves will make use of the information. "I think most people don't know about the history of their building or their region," she said. "And to be able to look at what's been happening in their neighborhood over time, I think could be really empowering." Where is the housing going? Earle said factors like building age and need for repairs, or recent turnover in building ownership may help explain this loss in affordable units. Spryfield's census tract is known for having a large number of rental homes, mainly built in the 1970s. However, Earle said there has been very little construction of rental units after 1980. The research also found many of the buildings in this neighbourhood have been in violation of Halifax's residential building safety standards in recent years with the Spryfield area having the most reports filed per residential building than any other census tract. Carter said she also sees fixed-term leases which don't automatically renew every year causing high tenant turnover. And since the province's temporary rent cap doesn't apply to new tenants, rents are being raised often. "It's just sad to see folks that have grown up in this community get run out, making room for other people that I guess can afford it." MORE TOP STORIES Elections in Kerala and West Bengal are understood to be some of the most difficult for the largest political party on the planet, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The number of BJP workers killed in the southern state ranges between 120 to 283. The brutality of many of these killings finds little mention in the mainstream, and local news is highly controlled. In 2023, 4 men of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested for attacking journalist AD Ram. In 2019 as well, a CPM worker was arrested in another attack on journalists. Gaining a foothold in Kerala has proven to be as costly as in West Bengal in terms of lives lost, yet elections have not yielded results that reflect such sacrifices. In the 2021 West Bengal elections, the BJP went up drastically from three seats to 77 seats, and gained 38 per cent vote share, up from 10 per cent only one election cycle ago. This occurred despite the extreme violence and reports of ballot rigging. The same is not expected in Kerala soon. Kerala has proven such a safe haven for leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC) who have been defeated elsewhere that Rahul Gandhi, who lost his long-held dynastic stronghold of Amethi to Smriti Irani in 2019, found refuge in a seat in Wayanad in order to keep functioning as an MP. Along with Shashi Tharoor, he is one of the most popular faces contesting from the state. This time, much like Smriti Irani against Rahul Gandhi in 2019, the BJP has pitted a highly visible minister in the race against Tharoors long-held seat of Thiruvananthapuram. While his origins are from Thrissur in Kerala, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the son of an Air Force officer, has worked all over the country, with his base as Bengaluru. A choice reflective of the BJPs understanding of Keralas population, Chandrasekhar offers a high-achievement, globally exposed option so loved by the population of Thiruvananthapuram who have chosen Shashi Tharoors articulation over anyone else for one and a half decades. He offers a legitimate choice to voters who appreciate a global outlook without being disconnected from their Indian Malayali roots. Bridging the made-up North-South divide that mints much readership for the press cycles, his decades of experience in Bengaluru burnish his cosmopolitan credentials; he is accepted comfortably in the southern part of the nation without having to spew hatred for the north. Electoral discourse in Kerala has typically witnessed generic commentary on youth, representation and divisiveness. Comments invoking Ram have also been par for the course for Shashi Tharoors lead-up to the latest elections. Chandrasekhar has instead, chosen to use Ini Karyam Nadakkum (Now things will work), a statement invoking development along the lines of other BJP-governed states. Kerala has seen much industry leave its shores in order to survive, one of the last and most visible being the Kitex Group in 2021. More, violence perpetrated under Communist rule has not even spared their part-time ally, the INC. In 2019, P Naushad, a Congress worker died after an attack by goons of the Popular Front of India, an Islamist outfit that is a rejig of the banned Student Islamist Movement of India (SIMI). Trade unions controlled by the Left and using violent protests as enforcement for an anti-business climate are reminiscent of Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjees policies of driving away business and those who attempted it, before course-correcting some years ago, at least superficially. Yet, Kerala awaits its own U-turn, and capital investment is still a sore spot in the countrys most literate state. Chandrasekhar, whose involvement in the performance-linked incentive (PLI) schemes that are set to create thousands of jobs in the semiconductor industry in India and has already gotten corporate giants invested, would certainly look towards using such experiences to bring in capital. While Kerala elections are still two months away, a Lok Sabha seat for the BJP in a state it has been long denied in would go a long way toward securing its foothold in Kerala; whether Chandrasekhar is the person to signal a turning of the tides is the question. He was not seen in several of the programs organised for Prime Minister Modi in the state, and his candidacy was announced quite late in a constituency that has been the Tharoor bastion since 2009. Yet, he has been one of the most visible MoS, undertaking policymaking and implementation in overlooked areas of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, while engaging with the likes of Elon Musk at international conferences. In this regard, he offers a solid counter to Tharoor who has been Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and is well-regarded for his exposure to global affairs. As an entrepreneur and investor in his own right, though, Chandrasekhar has a leg up in the race. Having founded BPL Mobiles almost two decades ago and then invested in several other organisations that flourished, he may know a thing or two about bringing in capital to a state sorely lacking new business. Much like Amethis turnaround under Smriti Irani, a Chandrasekhar win in the 2024 elections would signal not merely the toppling of a stalwart politician, but a turnaround for the fortunes of a constituency that might allow the rest of the state to imagine change and newer possibilities. The nomination of Rajeev Chandrasekhar against Shashi Tharoor is a battle of heavyweights, albeit with a high differential in their election experiences. Fighting on the premise of possibilities, while Tharoor battles on slightly more tired tropes of youth and divisiveness that have nonetheless served him well in his years, Chandrasekhar offers a significant change for the people of Thiruvananthapuram. The land of Parshurama and Shankaracharya remembers its roots. Its peoples political choices have often been rooted in necessity, but when offered a choice, some may choose a representative of an ideology that seeks to cherish their ancients rather than forget them. This is what the BJP and their prominent leaders are betting on with selecting Chandrasekhar as a counter to Tharoor. It is likely to create resounding anti-Hindutva narratives in a state used to it, and yet bring forth the many who prefer the invocation of an ancient ethos. His battle as David to Tharoors Goliath will be witnessed by an interested constituency with high hopes and ambitions of the kind that he has already delivered on. If he proves himself in the capital, he, along with Annamalai in Tamil Nadu, is likely to be at the forefront of BJPs southern India strategy. Sagorika Sinha is a columnist at several Indian publications such as NDTV, FirstPost and CNN-News18 and also hosts a podcast on geopolitics and culture. She writes about international relations, public policy and history, and posts on X on her handle @sagorika_s. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. In a written statement dated 14 March of this year, the Archbishop of Bengaluru, Most Rev. Peter Machado, made a fervent appeal. He called upon the Christian faithfuls to observe 22 March as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and harmony in our country. He then went on to underline, in that same appeal, issued on the letterhead of the Archdiocese of Bengaluru, the power of fasting and prayer, and added that it was the most effective means in our hands who have committed ourselves to pursue truth, non-violence, healing, justice and reconciliation in courageously combating the force of falsehoodconflict and division. These appear to be inspiring words, indeed. So are the ones from another passage in the written outreach to the faithful: So, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christlet us place our petitions before Godespecially as we go into the general elections to choose leaders who are secular, non-communal, non-corrupt, committed to the democratic traditions of our country But the facade of the inspiring appeals crumbles and the situation becomes suspicious when political allusions are made, which leads one to question: What business is it of the Church to exhort its faithfuls on matters of politics? It can be argued that the written circular is general in nature and not for, or against, any particular party. But that argument stands shattered when one peruses the phrases in the second paragraph of the Archbishops statement. It is here that the real purpose is made evident, and its here that Rev. Machado exposes the true intent behind his appeal. Sample the following: The increasing impoverishment of the masses, the growing monopoly of the crony capitalists, the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the worsening unemployment among the educated youththe unhindered multiplication of hate speeches, the systematic attempts at depriving millions of our fellow Indians of their citizenship rightsthe unscrupulous dilution of minority rights, the frequent bulldozing of homes, shops and the places of worship of the minorities on flimsy accusations The rant continues. While the language and context of the accusations can hardly disguise the target of the Archbishops ire, the more shocking part is the sweep of allegations that come with no evidence to back the claims. When Rev. Machado talks, for example of increasing impoverishment, he fails to remember that close to 25 crore people in the last nine years have been brought out of poverty. His claim about crony capitalism is an echo of the allegations that Opposition parties have been levelling against the current government, without any proof. The Archbishop refers to unhindered multiplication of hate speech, but forgets that hate-speech givers have been pulled up by our courts. As for attempts to take away the citizenship of Indians, surely Rev. Machado is referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act. But sadly, he displays a complete lack of understanding of this law, which does not seek to deprive any Indian of his or her citizenshipany Indian, whether it be Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or of any other religious denomination. Why, then, is he fear-mongering by resorting to brazen falsehood? In the matter of unemployment, the Archbishop should know that, as per the figures released by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), unemployment dropped to 3.1 per cent in 2023; it was 3.6 per cent in the preceding year, and according to a Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, it was 4.2 per cent in 2021. Besides, the unemployment rates saw a decline both in rural and urban areas. Surely, it makes sense to trust the NSSO over an off-the-cuff remark from an Archbishop. The Archbishops accusation that places belonging to minority members are being bulldozed on flimsy accusations deserves to be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The Church is not a judicial body to determine the innocence or guilt of an accused; lets leave it to the courts to decide on the issue of flimsiness. The charge that minority rights have been diluted, again, comes with no substantiation. If the government has brought in any legislation, or initiated policies and programmes that have led to the loss of rights of minorities in the countrysomething that the Archbishop perhaps has exclusive knowledge ofthe Church must present the material before the public. That said, let us remember two facts. One, the appeal put out by the Archbishop of Bengaluru is actually an outcome of a recent meeting that the Catholic Bishops Conference of India organised. Thus, it has a pan-India character, and its quite possible that other dioceses may have issued similar directives. Two, the Bengaluru Archdiocese is not an outlier in wading into issues that are quite removed from its non-political mandate. A similar-sounding appeal for special prayers and fasting had been issued by the Archbishop of Delhi on the eve of the 2019 general elections. It had created such a furore that the Archbishops office had to hastily put out a clarification that the remarks should not be seen as being directed against the Union government or the prime minister; the statement added that, in fact, the Delhi Archbishop shared an excellent rapport with the prime minister. The Lok Sabha election is a religion-neutral exercise. It is understandable for the Christian community to hold special prayers on religious occasions such as Christmas, Good Friday or Easter. But the Churchs intervention in connection with the general elections is uncalled for. What would be the reaction of the Church, or the countrys secularist ecosystem, if Sanatana Dharma leaders such as Peetha heads, Jagadgurus, or Dharmacharyas, were to issue similarly (poorly-disguised) appeals in favour of parties that have expressly opposed minority appeasement? It must not be forgotten that the Church in India has in the past dabbled in issues that were far removed from religion. Goa offers a classic example. In the 1990s, the Church in Goa joined the movement to oppose the construction of the Konkan Railway in the states territory. The rail line links Mumbai to Mangalore in Karnataka, running its course through the coastal region. The Church gave its support to an assortment of agencies and individuals who claimed to be fighting against environmental degradation, ignoring detailed presentations by experts that made it clear that the project had taken all steps to ensure the protection of the environment. Eventually, the ambitious rail connection became a reality, following a long-winded public hearing. Today, the Konkan Railway is the most important railway link connecting Goa with its neighbours, Maharashtra and Karnatakaand, one may dare say, the preferred mode of travel for several clergies of the Church. The writer is an author and a public affairs analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Where in the world is Kate Middleton? What is the British Royal Family hiding? Is she unwell? Why the need for photoshopped pictures from Kensington Palace? So many questions, so few answers. Its just conspiracies, or better being dubbed Katepiracies where eager minds spin wild tales, endeavouring to decode the enigma. Indeed, it seems everyones channelling their inner Sherlock Holmes, poised to disclose the one perplexing question captivating minds far and wide. Indeed, the fervour reached such heights that an office somewhere dedicated an entire Where is Kate Middleton hour, complete with a makeshift detectives den reminiscent of Sherlock Holmess study. Clues pinned to a wall, connections drawn between them, and a determined group striving to crack the case. From scrutinising Kates edited Mothers Day portrait to delving into rumours of Prince Williams alleged mistress, Lady Ross Handbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, nothing is off-limits in the quest for truth. Take a Look: Someone I know had a where is Kate Middleton? happy hour at their office, and Im cackling pic.twitter.com/qjPYkPqp9U Alyssa (@alyssaleann) March 15, 2024 And the internet, ever hungry for intrigue, clamours for more. This looks like the place to be, jests one observer. This is the kind of thing that would get me to go back into the office, quips another. A third chimes in, My boss asked this morning on teams if anyone knew what was going on and I was FULLY PREPARED! Oh, the allure of a good mystery! When was the last time such fervour captivated the masses? Also Read: Is Kate Middletons Photo Leaving Windsor Castle With Prince William Also Fake? Internet Thinks So Yet amidst the fascination lies a stark truth: what would typically be dismissed as fanciful musings now garners millions of eyeballs on social media, thanks in part to the royal familys own fumbling attempts at reassurance. Thus, as the world waits for answers, one thing is clear: when the royal family fumbles, the internet steps in to play detective! But the latest scoop from these detectives is the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, whose name now resonates for more than just its aristocratic ring. Lady Hanbury is purportedly tied to the British Royal Family through her own affluent lineage, sparking rumors of a liaison with Prince William. These whispers, dormant since 2019, were thrust back into the limelight after The Late Show host Stephen Colbert dedicated a segment to the topic. So, I think we all know who the alleged other woman is say it with me The Marchioness of Cholmondeley now, there have been rumours of an affair between William and [Hanbury] since 2019. According to tabloids back then when Kate supposed confronted him about he laughed it off, saying there was nothing to it. Haha, always a good response when your wife accuses you of cheating, Colbert said. Also Read: Where is Kate Middleton? Internet Abuzz with Wild Conspiracy Theories and Royal Riddles Since then, social media has been abuzz with discussions and memes, as rumours swirl about a possible affair between the Prince and the Marchioness. The fact that the Marchioness of Cholmondeley is cheating on her husband, the Marquess of Cholmondeley with bald-headed William when her own husband is 63 and still looks like this head full of hair? AND he has a beautiful home??? Girl pic.twitter.com/vwv90VQkXR Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) March 14, 2024 i would disappear too if my bald ass husband cheated on me with someone who looked exactly like me but donkier#KateMiddleton pic.twitter.com/2sd0BcLrgX Anna (@Anam_Fatyma) March 15, 2024 If Kate Middleton doesn't recreate this iconic interview then I don't know what's the point of being royal #katespiracy pic.twitter.com/HhjmcfPcFZ (@amoremoondizis) March 15, 2024 Some even suggest that Prince William may be the father of one of Hanburys children. Oh, thats so much news for the day!! A woman encountered a shocking incident at Madras Coffee House located in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Instagram user Ishani shared a video documenting the unsettling discovery she made on March 7 while eating a plain dosa she had ordered. To her horror, she found not one or two, but eight cockroaches within the dosa. In her Instagram post, Ishani recounted the distressing event, describing it as not a heart-wrenching truth, but a gut-wrenching one. She wrote how she and her friend visited the restaurant for a meal and ordered two dosas. After a few bites, Ishani noticed something unusual and investigated further, only to find a cockroach in her dosa. Upon closer inspection, she discovered a total of eight cockroaches embedded in the dosa. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ishani (@ishanigram) Following this alarming discovery, Ishani took immediate action by filing a complaint at a local police station in Delhi. She emphasised her intention to bring the matter to the attention of food sanitation and hygiene authorities. In her post, Ishani made it clear that she would not remain silent until appropriate action was taken against the restaurant. Additionally, she noted that the restaurant failed to provide a valid license when questioned by the police. Ishani expressed disbelief at how a well-known restaurant could be so negligent, particularly on a busy day when they served approximately 30 customers every hour. Describing the kitchen as unappealing and unsanitary, she noted the unpleasant odour and the fact that half of it was without a roof. She firmly stated her belief in her right to safety, including food safety. She concluded her post by stating, I am not the one in need of support here. ALL OF US ARE. So that we can enjoy our meals without worrying about what went behind it. This is about basic health and sanitation, and we wont settle for a compromise. Help me take this issue up, so that a businessman knows who his business runs around. Its CUSTOMERS not COST-SAVINGS. The video attracted attention from online users, with one commenting, This is soo terrible! They must be held accountable for sure!! Another user suggested, The restaurant should be closed. In an interview with The Quint, Ishani voiced her concerns, stating, This incident has left a bad taste in my mouth and raised lots of questions in my head about the license and operation of this cafe. I will always be apprehensive about ordering food at any restaurant now. I will always wonder if their level of hygiene is maintained. Do the authorities regularly visit the restaurants to check their hygiene level and licenses? Because if they do, then such incidents would not happen. In response to the incident, Anubhav Nanda, who manages the operation of Madras Coffee House, told the portal, It is unfortunate that this incident occurred at our restaurant. We apologise for the inconvenience and the lapses. The Brooklyn train passenger who shot the aggressive man who attacked him inside the packed train will not face charges. Yesterdays shooting inside a crowded subway car was shocking and deeply upsetting. The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing but, at this stage, evidence of self-defence precludes us from filing any criminal charges against the shooter, Oren Yaniv, a spokesman for the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office was quoted as saying by the New York Post. The man who shot the aggressive rider was identified by law-enforcement sources and a relative as 32-year-old dad-of-two Younece Obuad. The man who got shot was identified as Dajuan Robinson, 36. Obuad was freed after questioning by authorities Friday. A new footage was also released which showed him lying on the stairs of the rail station with a cop standing over him. The video also shows Robinson lying bleeding on the floor of the train. Thomas Kenniff, who was the lawyer for Daniel Penny, a former marine was prosecuted for Manhattan subway chokehold death of disturbed passenger Jordan Neely, told the New York Post that the law enforcement did the right thing by freeing Obuad. I applaud the Brooklyn district attorney for exercising the prosecutorial discretion to realise that somebody who was forced to defend himself and others shouldnt be subjected to a criminal indictment I think thats how it should play out, Thomas Kenniff was quoted as saying by the New York Post. This is the same environment that confronted my client last year, it underscores the feeling that so many innocent New Yorkers have that if youre riding the subway system, you are rendered defenceless. Unfortunately in the case of my client, when you step up to protect yourselves and others, you wind up being persecuted yourself, Kenniff said referring to his clients caught-on-video takedown of Neely. The former marine claims he did in defence of other passengers he was threatening. Robinson entered the metro with a .380 Ruger and knife and then suddenly started attacking Obuad, a stranger. The dispute between both men heated and a woman travelling with Obuad stabbed Robinson with her own blade. A frantic Robinson, bleeding and shouting, initially brandished a knife before revealing a gun, leading to a scuffle with Obuad, according to police reports. During the altercation, at least four shots were fired. Robinson sustained gunshot wounds to his right eye, neck, and chest, in addition to being stabbed twice in the back. He is currently in critical condition at the hospital. An Indian-origin couple and their teenage daughter were killed in a suspicious fire that engulfed their home last week in Canadas Ontario province, police said on Friday. A fire consumed a home at the Big Sky Way and Van Kirk Drive area of Brampton on March 7, the Peel Police said in a press release. After the blaze was put out, investigators located what was believed to be human remains within the gutted house, but the number of people killed couldnt be ascertained at the time. Update on fatal house fire in BramptonRead more: https://t.co/NWyKCAiej9 pic.twitter.com/rV30AmxESn Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) March 15, 2024 The charred remains were on Friday identified as those of three family members: 51-year-old Rajiv Warikoo; his wife, 47-year-old Shilpa Kotha; and their 16-year-old daughter, Mahek Warikoo. Police said that they resided at the address before the fire. Peel police Constable Taryn Young on Friday said the fire had been deemed suspicious, the CTV news channel reported. At this time, we are investigating this with our homicide bureau, and we are deeming this as suspicious as the Ontario Fire Marshal has deemed that this fire was not accidental, the report quoted Young as saying. Theres not much left to it, Young said when asked about the possible cause of the fire. Looking into something like that as a fire marshal, Im sure its very tough when there is not much left to look at. But we are exhausting all avenues, she said. The deceased familys neighbour, Kenneth Yousaf, said that the family had lived on the street for about 15 years, and he never noticed any problems with them. Yousaf said he was alerted to the fire last week by a family member, who heard a big bang. When we came out, the house was on fire. So sad. Within a few hours, everything was down to the ground, the report quoted Yousaf as saying. In a press release, police said they are continuing to investigate the deaths of the three family members and urged anyone with information to come forward. The circumstances surrounding the house fire remains the focus of an active investigation, and anyone with information or video footage (dashcam or otherwise) is urged to contact Homicide detectives, police said. French President Emmanuel Macron who earlier advocated keeping channels of communication open with Russian President Vladimir Putin made a u-turn and said that France must ensure that Russia does not win the Ukraine war. If the situation should deteriorate, we would be ready to make sure that Russia never wins that war, Macron said and warned that those who advocate for a limit on spending on Ukraine chooses defeat. Russia has become a power that wants to expand and its clear that it will not stop there, if we abandon Ukraine, if we let Ukraine lose this war, Russia will surely threaten Moldova, Romania, Poland, Macron posted on X following his interview with French broadcasters TF1 and France 2 television. If Russia wins this war, Europes credibility will be reduced to zero. (The conflict in Ukraine is) existential for our Europe and for France. Two years ago we said we would never send tanks. We did. Two years ago, we said we would never send medium-range missiles. We did, Macron said. He, however, made it clear that France would not escalate the conflict. For France all options are on the table in its support for Ukraine, Macron said. Should the situation get worse, we will be ready to prevent a Russian victory, but he also said his country would never go on the offensive in the war. We will never take the initiative, he said. From Dove to Hawk Macron openly acknowledged that there is a significant shift in his stance for which he credited Russias domestic and international behaviour and cited the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. He has surprised European allies by not ruling out the deployment of Western ground troops. Who would think for a single second that President Putin, who did not respect any of his limits and engagements, would stop there? he said this week. But Macrons reactions, which were termed by Putin as emotional during a television appearance with star presenter of the state-run Rossiya channel Dmitry Kiselev, could have stemmed from the fear that Ukraine is facing tough challenges and Kyiv as well as Europe cannot rely on the US as Donald Trump aims to return to the White House. He said that it is time to embrace sursaut a mental leap from old certainties to new realities, signalling that Europe and France should prepare for a paradigm shift. Today we must have to quote (Winston) Churchill the sinews of peace. To want peace is not to want defeat or to let Ukraine fall, he said, quoting the famous phrase used by the British premier in a 1946 speech in the United States shortly after World War II ended. Uneasy Germany France has criticised Germany for being slow to provide assistance to Ukraine and for being overly reliant on the US security umbrella, despite warning from Washington that aid will be hard to come by. Meanwhile, Germany has accused France of reckless aggression, hypocrisy regarding arms deliveries and engaging in grandstanding led by Macron. But Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, will hope these difficulties will end after he met Macron this week. Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully coerced all 35 Somali pirates, who had hijacked a vessel in the Arabian Sea to surrender, and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members on Saturday. Earlier in the day, the Indian Navy intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen and told the Somali pirates on board to surrender, a spokesperson from the Indian Navy said. The special forces of the Indian Navy, Marine Commando Force aka MARCOS, had boarded the vessel, navy officials said. INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1,400 nm (2,600km) from the Indian Coast and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft, an Indian Navy statement read. #INSKolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender & ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today #16Mar 24 from the pirate vessel without any injury.#INSKolkata had carried out the https://t.co/eKxfEdMRES pic.twitter.com/tmQq2fG8yE SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 Officials said the vessel, which remained hijacked for days, had been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband. The Somalian pirates, who had hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14, opened fire on the Indian Navy in international waters on Friday. The navy had asked the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding. The pirates released one hostage crew member earlier for medical reasons. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that communication had been established with the crew aboard the ship. The crew consisted of citizens from Angola, Myanmar and Bermuda. The Somali pirates may have used the merchant vessel to take over a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia this week, the European Union naval force said on Thursday. Somali pirates have not been able to successfully hijack a merchant ship since 2017. That was until the Ruen was seized. Congratulating the Indian Navy over its success, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to X and wrote, The Indian Navy continues to ensure safety and security of the Mariners in the Indian Ocean Region. I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions. The @indiannavy continues to ensure safety and security of the Mariners in the Indian Ocean Region.I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions. https://t.co/gDBFzISZVu Rajnath Singh ( ) (@rajnathsingh) March 17, 2024 At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking or suspicious approaches have been recorded by the Indian navy since December, officials said. India deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea in January to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels. The Indian Navy has promptly addressed incidents in the Arabian Sea, and collaborated with international partners to safeguard merchant shipping. Over 50 warships from non-regional forces are presently engaged in missions in the Indian Ocean, including anti-piracy operations. In a newly released podcast, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has outlined the countrys clear foreign policy choices made by the Narendra Modi government which have been pivotal in navigating Indias interests amid issues like the Ukraine conflict. In an interview released on Thursday, influencer Raj Shamani asked Jaishankar what has prompted new Indias" firm stance including the purchase of Russian crude while dealing with world powers on the global stage. We could have bought the Russian oil clandestinely. We could have said something and could have done something. It would not have been maintainable," the minister said, while interacting with Shamani who has over two million subscribers on YouTube. Russia has been a longstanding and time-tested partner for India, with defence ties with Moscow being a key pillar of New Delhis foreign policy. Historically, Russia was a minor exporter of fuel to India but Delhi began boosting shipments after the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. While expanding trade with Moscow, New Delhi consistently called for complete cessation of all hostilities". On the issue of Russian oil imports, India has also maintained that it will continue to take calls based on its national interest. We are a big country The external affairs minister asserted that a country like India should take a clear stand on issues like the Russian oil trade, which is key for the countrys energy security. Today, we are a big country. We are the fifth-largest economy and we are the most populous country. We are looking at a great future ahead. You cannot rise without being clear," he added. In the podcast, the external affairs minister said that when he sits with foreign governments, he explains to them, the adverse impact of sanctions on Russian oil exports and highlights Indias role in stabilising the global market. Lets say If we would not have bought Russian gas or oil. What would have happened to the global market? We did you guys a favour by buying Russian crude. We have actually stablised the market," he added. Mood of the country Further explaining the question on what has prompted Indias firm stand on the Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said, When you have a team like this, under a Prime Minister like this (Narendra Modi), one tends to internalise this. When the appropriate time comes, you express it (Indias view)," he said. People may say I said that I said it. But I expressed what is actually the mood of the country. This is not Jaishankars personal view. The reason people responded was this is what we feel." Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recalled how Jaishankar delivered a strong response to European leaders during a UN speech, telling them to mind their own business" when they questioned why New Delhi continued to align itself with Moscow. He made these remarks while responding to a question on Indias oil purchases during the World Youth Forum in the Russian city of Sochi. During an interactive session, Lavrov stressed the historical ties between the two countries, particularly Moscows support for New Delhi during the Cold War period. Underlining the need to recognise religious phobias beyond the Abrahamic religions, India on Friday condemned all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia but added the crucial need to acknowledge contemporary forms of phobias that affect Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. This comes as the UN General Assembly adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution to push back against anti-Muslim hate during commemorations marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The new resolution, in which India abstained, requests the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. Clear evidence shows, that over the decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religious phobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religious phobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh elements, said Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj at the UN General Assembly on Friday. These contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident in increasing attacks on religious places of worship such as gurdwaras, monasteries, and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries, she said. #IndiaAtUNPR delivers the explanation of Indias position during the adoption of the resolution on Measures to combat Islamophobia at the United Nations General Assembly today. pic.twitter.com/AheU8UvpYM India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) March 15, 2024 113 In Favour, None Against Before adopting the new resolution, by a vote of 113 in favour to none against, with 44 abstentions, a divided Assembly rejected by a close margin two amendments proposed by a group of European nations. The proposals would have replaced key language in the resolution, including calling for a focal point instead of a UN special envoy and removing references to the desecration of the Quran. Ambassador Kamboj said that allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality. We are in principle opposed to a position of a special envoy on the basis of a specific religion. We hope the resolution adopted today does not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centered on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the UN into religious camps, she added. The UN chief said divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatising communities and everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias. Online hate speech is fuelling real-life violence, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement, emphasising that digital platforms must moderate hateful content and protect users from harassment. Institutional discrimination and other barriers are violating the human rights and dignity of Muslims, and much of this disturbing trend is part of a wider pattern of attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations, also including Jewish people, minority Christian communities and others, he added. We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms, he declared. Leaders must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. Together, let us commit to promoting mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all. The world body created the International Day through a resolution adopted following attacks on two mosques Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 51 people dead on this day in 2019. (With agency inputs) The first humanitarian aid supply to be made by sea has arrived in Gaza to bring much needed food to Palestinians. The American charity World Central Kitchen has completed the delivery of 200 tonnes of food with the help of the United Arab Emirates. The shipment set sail from Cyprus last weekend. The Spanish boat, run by the Open Arms aid group, used a new shipping route to make the passage safely. A ship transporting aid from the World Central Kitchen organisation (AP) The aid is essential with one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza now acutely malnourished and famine is looming, according to UN reports. "Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees said in a social media post. A ship transporting aid from the World Central Kitchen organisation arrives in the Gaza Strip (AP) World Central Kitchen prepared the boat in Cyprus with 200 tons of rice, flour and proteins and an additional 500 tons of aid is in Cyprus and ready to follow, spokeswoman Chloe Mata Crane said in a statement. While aid has started to arrive by land and sea, agencies have said these are no substitute for bringing in supplies by land. Israel has accused the agency of complicity with Hamas, saying some staff members took part in the October 7 attack and calling for the agency to be dismantled. Several major donors have paused funding over the allegations. The UN denies complicity with Hamas and said in February that it had dismissed 12 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza shortly after Israel accused them of involvement. European Union humanitarian chief Janez Lenarcic said on Thursday he had seen no evidence from Israel yet to back up its accusations. This week both Sweden and Canada have said they will resume payments to UNRWA. A Boeing 737-800 aircraft on Friday was found to have a missing external panel after landing safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in the US state of Oregon. The United Airlines flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew, and the missing panel was discovered after the plane was parked at the gate. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service, the airline said in a statement. The airline said it will also investigate to understand the cause of the incident. The plane had departed from San Francisco, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. The mishap marks at least the seventh incident involving a Boeing plane in the last two weeks, according to the New York Post. Last week a United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 MAX rolled onto the grass and off the runway at George Bush Airport in Houston and the incident was being investigated by the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Read More: US: Boeing Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Los Angeles Airport Over Mechanical Issue Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny following a Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines mid-air panel blowout, with probes into the companys safety and quality standards in its production process. On Thursday, an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at LA International Airport on Wednesday night over a possible mechanical issue, on a Boeing aircraft. A prominent US lawmaker has asked the US social media companies about preparations they have made for elections in India, where social media platforms have a history of spreading misleading and false content. This comes as more than 70 countries are holding elections, with over two billion people casting ballots in 2024, in what is being dubbed as the Year of Democracy. Australia, Belgium, Croatia, the EU, Finland, Ghana, Iceland, India, Lithuania, Namibia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Panama, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, the UK, and the US are expected to hold major electoral contests this year. The letter, written by Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence and Rules Committees, which has oversight over US elections, was sent to the heads of Alphabet, Meta, TikTok, and X, seeking information from these companies about their preparedness. Dangers of Deepfakes The dangers your platforms pose to elections are not new users deployed deepfakes and digitally altered content in previous contests but now, artificial intelligence (AI) models are poised to exacerbate risks to both the democratic process and political stability. The proliferation of sophisticated AI tools has reduced earlier barriers to entry by allowing almost anyone to generate alarmingly realistic images, video, and audio, Bennet wrote. In his letter to Elon Musk of X, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Shou Zi Chew of Tik Tok and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, Bennet requested information on the platforms election-related policies, content moderation teams, including the languages covered and the number of moderators on full-time or part-time contracts, and tools adopted to identify AI-generated content. Democracys promise that people rule themselves is fragile, Bennet continued. Disinformation and misinformation poison democratic discourse by muddying the distinction between fact and fiction. Your platforms should strengthen democracy, not undermine it, he wrote. Worlds largest democracy In India, the worlds largest democracy, the countrys dominant social media platforms including Meta-owned WhatsApp have a long track record of amplifying misleading and false content. Political actors that fan ethnic resentment for their own benefit have found easy access to disinformation networks on your platforms, the Senator wrote. Bennet then asked about details of their new policies and people that have placed for India elections. What, if any, new policies have you put in place to prepare for the 2024 Indian election? How many content moderators do you currently employ in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri? he asked. Of these, please provide a breakdown between full-time employees and contractors, Bennet said. China-linked actors The Senator told the social media CEOs that beyond their failures to effectively moderate misleading AI-generated content, their platforms also remain unable to stop more traditional forms of false content. China-linked actors used malicious information campaigns to undermine Taiwans January elections. Facebook allowed the spread of disinformation campaigns that accused Taiwan and the United States of collaborating to create bioweapons, while TikTok permitted coordinated Chinese-language content critical of President-elect William Lais Democratic Progressive Party to proliferate across its platform, it said. According to the Senator, he has heard from the heads of the US Intelligence Community that the Russian, Chinese, and Iranian governments may attempt to interfere in US elections. As these and other actors threaten peoples right to exercise popular sovereignty, your platforms continue to allow users to distribute fabricated content, discredit electoral integrity, and deepen social distrust, he wrote. Bennet requested information on the platforms election-related policies, content moderation teams including the languages covered and the number of moderators on full-time or part-time contracts and tools adopted to identify AI-generated content. (With agency inputs) Residents are surveying the damage to their homes as cleanup efforts continue this weekend after several tornadoes ripped across the Midwest, killing at least three people and destroying neighborhoods. Powerful tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts - part of a storm system that stretched from Texas to Pennsylvania - carved paths of destruction across Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky Thursday night, leaving residents to pick up the pieces after homes were demolished, dozens of people were injured and thousands were left in the dark with power knocked out. With parts of towns in ruins, search and rescue teams in Indiana and Ohio began looking for survivors Friday among collapsed buildings to make sure there is no one missing. Every single one of these facilities are going to have to be checked, especially those that have completely collapsed, Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter said during a press conference Thursday night. In Winchester, Indiana, an EF3 tornado destroyed 22 homes, and badly damaged 110 others. Officials said Friday that 38 people were injured from the twister, including three in critical condition. It was one of more than a half dozen tornadoes reported across six states. The wrath of this really begins today when people realize the magnitude of the destruction of their homes and of their livelihoods, Carter said during a press conference on Friday. Up to half of the buildings in Selma a town of about 700 people near Winchester also appear damaged, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency said. Another intense EF3 tornado hit Logan County in neighboring Ohio, leaving at least three people dead and numerous people injured, according to Logan County Sheriff Randall Dodds. I could best describe it as a bomb going off, Dodds said of the damage in the area. Unbelievable damage. Dodds told CNNs John Berman that he believes the number fatalities could increase as first responders continue to search through the rubble. Cadaver dogs will be brought in to help find any residents that may have been left behind by the twisters, as heavy equipment lifts the rubble off demolished homes, Dodds said. Story continues Elsewhere in Ohio, a tornado that struck Mercer County impacted mostly farmland and damaged at least one home and one hog barn, Mike Robbins, the county emergency management director, told CNN by phone. To the east, a storm damaged several trailer homes and three people sustained minor injuries, Robbins said. A state of emergency was declared in Kentucky, where there was significant damage to likely over 100 structures and other infrastructure Thursday night, officials said. Along with the twisters, large hail rained over some areas affected by the severe storms. Apple-sized hail was reported in OFallon, Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. Indiana State Police reported large pieces of hail after a tornado reportedly touched down all across Jefferson County, on Thursday. A severe weather threat looms for the southeastern and gulf regions through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Those areas are at risk for severe storms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and heavy rainfall. It just sounded like everything was just coming apart Brittany Oakley checks in with relatives outside of what is left of her home in Lakeview, Ohio, Friday. - Timothy D. Easley/AP Nancy Brentlinger, who has called Lakeview, Logan County, home since the 1960s, couldnt believe the damage she was seeing after a tornado struck. The National Weather Service office confirmed an EF3 tornado hit Lakeview. Ive never seen anything this bad anywhere, Brentlinger told CNN on Friday. When she felt strong hail coming towards her home, Brentlinger said she shut her screen door and rushed to the living room, when she felt her roof was coming off. It just sounded like a freight train was coming through outside, Brentlinger said. It just sounded like everything was just coming apart. For about 15 minutes, Brentlinger said she sat with her dog on the floor behind a sofa, scared of what would happen when she got up. I was afraid to move because I didnt know whether the house was coming down, she said. After the rain stopped, Brentlinger ventured into the darkness with a flashlight and found that her neighbors shed fell on top of her house. Bretlinger said her area had experienced devastation before, but nothing like this. In a visit to the county on Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he saw tremendous amount of damage. I had a chance to talk to some people who have lost their house or lost part of their house, or who had been in some way impacted, the governor said. And to see their spirit, and their resilience and their toughness and how strong they are, its just absolutely amazing to me. Another Lakeview resident, Elmer Miller, said he was fixing peoples roofs to give back to the community. Miller said he had homeowners calling me crying after the destruction wrecked by the tornado. Theres still much work to be done after homes were demolished, Miller said, with only debris scattered in their place. The community now has to grapple with the devastation left in the tornados wake. A spirit of generosity has endured during the destruction, Brentlinger said, with neighbors offering food and water or other help. But the community will rebuild, she said. Its gonna take a while, Brentlinger said. But Im sure everythings gonna come back eventually. CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe, Robert Shackelford, Amanda Jackson, Mallika Kallingal, Sarah Dewberry, Sarah Engel, David Williams, Taylor Ward, Raja Razek, Andy Rose, Jamiel Lynch, Jason Hanna, Caroll Alvarado and Mary Gilbert contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Hundreds of concerned scientists are asking French President Emmanuel Macron to put the brakes on a very French custom: eating frog legs. The open letter , signed by 557 research, veterinary, and conservation professionals, notes that the European Union isn't exactly practicing what it preaches in how native frogs are protected. "It's absurd," Sandra Altherr, the head of science at Pro Wildlife, told the Guardian , "The natural frog populations here in Europe are protected under EU law. But the EU still tolerates the collection of millions of animals in other countrieseven if this threatens the frog populations there." Pro Wildlife, along with conservation nonprofit Robin des Bois, organized the letter after conducting a study on how consumption of frog legs is affecting wild species outside the EU, particularly in Indonesia. Per the Washington Post, the EU imported the legs of up to 2 billion frogs 2010 through 2019, with the majority going to France, where frog legs are widely enjoyed. The letter says three specific frog populationsthe fanged river frog, crab-eating frog, and rice field frogare declining from overconsumption. Mirza D. Kusrini of Indonesia's IPB University told the Post she's not seeing the big deal. "I don't believe that most Indonesian scientists would agree with the letter," she said. (Cannibalistic tree frogs have spread to another state.) Mike Pence hasn't shied away from criticizing his old boss, former President Donald Trump, especially regarding the debacle of Jan. 6, but many have been waiting to see if the ex-vice president would offer his thumbs-up to Trump for the upcoming election. Now, we have our answerand it's a no. "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence said during a Friday appearance on Fox News , noting that he was "incredibly proud" of the Trump administration's accomplishments, but that he had reasons for disembarking from the Trump train. Those reasons include Trump's tepid reaction to China, a pulling away from his stance on abortion limits, and "walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt," Pence noted, per the Wall Street Journal. "In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years," Pence said on Fox. "And that's why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign." The AP notes that Pence is just the latest in a string of former top officials in the Trump administration who've turned on the former commander in chief, and that his lack of endorsement "marks the end of a metamorphosis for Pence, who had long been seen as one of Trump's most loyal defenders"until Pence refused to help Trump overturn the 2020 election. Still, don't expect Pence to cast a ballot for the other guy: He said he would never vote for President Biden in November, nor revive his own run for president, this time as an independent. "I'm a Republican," he said, though he declined to say who he'd vote for. (More Mike Pence stories.) A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10:20am local time and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, per FlightAware. The airport's director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection, per the AP . No injuries were reported. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found. Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and that no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. "After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel," the spokesperson said (check out a pic here). "We'll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. We'll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred." The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year, per the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It's a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. In January, a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight bound for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people, including passengers and crew, requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said. (More Boeing stories.) Apple has agreed to pay $490 million to end a class-action lawsuit accusing its CEO of misleading investors with a false assurance about demand for iPhones in China. The suit was sparked by Apple's unexpected announcement on Jan. 2, 2019, that the company planned to cut its quarterly revenue forecast by as much as $9 billion. Apple blamed the decision on trade tension between the US and China, Reuters reports. Two months earlier, Tim Cook had told investors in an analysts call that iPhone sales faced challenges in places such as Turkey, India, Brazil, and Russia. "I would not put China in that category," he said on the call. "Our business in China was very strong last quarter." The January announcement, of the first revenue prediction cut in more than 15 years, per the Wall Street Journal, then came as a shock. Apple shares dropped 10%, erasing almost $75 billion in market value. Court records show the company denies liability in the settlement, which was filed Friday in federal court in Oakland and needs the approval of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. That hearing is scheduled for April 30, per the AP. The settlement covers investors who bought shares during the two months between Cook's reassurance and the revenue forecast announcement. A few days after the call with Cook, Apple told suppliers to reduce iPhone production. The company did not immediately comment on the outcome of the suit. Shawn Williams, a lawyer for shareholders, called it an "outstanding result." Based on Apple's $97 billion net income reported for its most recent fiscal year, the $490 million amounts to less than two days' worth of the company's annual profit, per the Journal. (More Apple stories.) Stalled talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to restart in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, though they could get pushed to Monday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders joined the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, per the AP. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn't lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Details: Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officialsone who's involved in the talks, and a second who was briefed on them. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officialsone who's involved in the talks, and a second who was briefed on them. Phase One: This first stage would involve a six-week ceasefire that would include the release of 35 hostageswomen, those who are ill, and older peoplebeing held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza; let displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting; and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. This first stage would involve a six-week ceasefire that would include the release of 35 hostageswomen, those who are ill, and older peoplebeing held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza; let displaced Palestinians return to north Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting; and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Phase Two: The two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire, and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. The two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire, and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. Phase Three: Hamas would hand over the bodies it's holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Hamas would hand over the bodies it's holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Bibi's thoughts: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal "unrealistic." However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Netanyahu's government has rejected calls for a permanent ceasefire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of "annihilating Hamas." Netanyahu's office also said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. More here . (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) A crowd of about 100 people tried to shove through a metal gate in Haiti's capital as a guard with a baton pushed them back, threatening to hit them. Undeterred, children and adults, some carrying babies, kept elbowing each other trying to enter. "Let us in! We're hungry!" they shouted on a recent afternoon, the AP reports. They were trying to get into a makeshift shelter in an abandoned school. Inside, workers dipped ladles into buckets filled with soup that they poured into Styrofoam containers stuffed with rice to distribute to Haitians who have lost homes to gang violence. About 1.4 million people are on the verge of famine, and more than 4 million require food aid, sometimes eating once a day or not at all, aid groups say. "Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger," said Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program. He noted that Croix-des-Bouquets, in the eastern part of Haiti's capital, "has malnutrition rates comparable with any war zone in the world." Officials are trying to rush food, water, and medical supplies to makeshift shelters and other places as gang violence suffocates lives across Port-au-Prince and beyond, with many trapped in their homes. Only a few aid organizations have been able to restart since Feb. 29, when gangs began attacking key institutions, burning police stations, shutting down the main international airport with gunfire and storming two prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. The violence forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce Tuesday that he would resign once a transitional council is created, but gangs demanding his ouster have continued their attacks. Bauer and other officials said that the gangs are blocking distribution routes and paralyzing the main port. WFP's warehouse is running out of grains, beans, and vegetable oil. "That has me terrified," he said. Marie Lourdes Geneus, a 45-year-old street vendor and mother of seven children, said gangs chased her family out of three homes before they ended up at the shelter. "If you look around, there are a lot of desperate people who look like me, who had a life and lost it," she said, adding, "I made a lot of effort in life and look where I end up, trying to survive." (More Haiti stories.) Vaughan Gething is set to be Wales' next first minister after narrowly winning the Welsh Labour leadership election with 51.7% of the vote. Mr Gething, who will become the first black man to lead Wales, beat his only rival Jeremy Miles, who took 48.3%. He was congratulated by UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But Plaid Cymru expressed "deep concerns" over donations from a controversial waste company in Cardiff. Mr Gething's campaign was marred by headlines about 200,000 of cash from Dauson Environmental Group, owned by a man that had twice prosecuted for environmental offences A Welsh government minister and Miles supporter, Julie James called for a review of how leadership campaigns would be run in the future. Mark Drakeford is expected to resign on Tuesday after his final First Minister's Questions in the Senedd. Mr Gething will replace him the following day. Born to a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, Mr Gething pursued a legal career before being elected to the Welsh Parliament in 2011. The Cardiff South and Penarth Member of the Senedd (MS) is currently economy minister in Mr Drakeford's cabinet, and celebrated his 50th birthday on Friday. Mr Starmer said Mr Gething "will lead a hopeful, ambitious Welsh Labour government, in the face of a tired and failed Tory government in Westminster". The prime minister said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Mr Gething's election was "a chance for a new Welsh administration to focus on what matters to people in Wales". As soon as the announcement had been made, Mr Gething received a huge hug from his young son. Mr Miles left the Cardiff University building where the result was announced without speaking to the media. He later issued a written statement congratulating Mr Gething but, in what might be an allusion to the row over donations, said Welsh Labour leaders must continuously earn the trust of the public. Story continues In his acceptance speech Mr Gething praised his predecessor, describing Mr Drakeford as the "right leader at the right time in the pandemic". He also praised his rival, Mr Miles, who would have been Wales' first gay leader if he had been the victor. Mr Gething said the education minister had given a "new hope" to Welsh boys and girls "who might have otherwise have thought very differently about public life here". Turning to his victory, he said: "Today, we turn a page in the book of our nation's history. "Not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country - but because the generational dial has jumped too." Vaughan Gething said a page was being turned "in the book of our nation's history" He also emphasised his commitment to devolution, calling it "not something I have had to get used to or adapt to or apologise for". "Devolution - Welsh solutions to Welsh problems - that's in my blood. It's what I've always known." 'Trust that must be continually earned' In his statement, Mr Miles said: "I congratulate Vaughan on his election. I wish him every success for Wales' future." He said he was proud he secured support "from a clear majority of Welsh Labour Senedd members, council leaders and deputies, CLPs [Constituency Labour Parties], and across our trades unions, MPs, peers and the all member vote of the Co-operative Party". In what might be a reference to the controversy over donations to the new Welsh Labour leader's campaign, Mr Miles said serving the people of Wales was "an honour and responsibility underpinned by trust that must be continually earned". Jeremy Miles said he was "incredibly proud" of his campaign Mr Gething accepted 200,000 for his campaign from a company, Dauson Environmental Group, owned by a man twice convicted for environmental offences. David John Neal was given a suspended prison sentence in 2013 for illegally dumping waste on a conservation site. Four years later he was given another suspended sentence for not removing it. It emerged earlier this week that Mr Gething had, in 2016 and in 2018, lobbied an environmental regulator on behalf of one of Mr Neal's companies. Mr Neal's businesses, who also donated to Mr Gething's 2018 leadership campaign, is currently embroiled in a row in Pembrokeshire where residents have complained about the smell of a landfill site. Atlantic Recycling - part of Mr Neal's group Dauson Environmental - also admitted a fresh waste offence in January, and was fined 300,000 over the death of a worker. The 200,000 donation is thought to be at least one of the largest seen in modern Welsh politics. 'Doing my job' Mr Gething defended the donations in an interview with BBC Radio Wales, and said he "scrupulously" followed the rules. Letters sent to Natural Resources Wales, who he lobbied on behalf of Atlantic Recycling, showed him "doing my job as a constituency member", he argued. "This is a significant employer within the constituency [with] dozens of jobs there," he said. "I'm really clear that nothing changes my commitment to having a firmer environmental regulation." But Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth called on him to return the cash. Vaughan Gething won 51.7% of the vote Mr ap Iorwerth said it was a "matter of deep concern that we now have an incoming first minister who, before even taking up the highest public office, is facing serious allegations and questions about his judgement". "At the very least, Vaughan Gething should surely return the 200,000 campaign donation which has rightly drawn so much criticism from within his own party and beyond." Plaid is in the final year of a three-year agreement with Labour Welsh ministers on a series of policies, including increasing the number of Senedd members. There is no indication that the co-operation deal will end, and Mr ap Iorwerth told BBC Radio Wales that politicians in the Senedd have to "cooperate". Julie James, who is currently climate change minister, told BBC Wales there needs to be a "full-scale" review of the rules for running elections, in light of the Dauson money. Asked if Mr Gething had made a mistake in accepting the money, she said: "I'm not going to comment on that, but what I will say is that it's quite clear that with the rules the way they are we will continue to have this kind of problem until they are sorted out." The leader of the biggest opposition party in the Welsh Parliament, Conservative Andrew RT Davies, congratulated him on his win but warned "Wales can expect more of the same with Vaughan Gething as first minister". "Gething has been part of a Labour Welsh government that has presided over record NHS waiting lists, the steepest decline in educational standards in the UK, the highest business rates in Britain, and is committed to the 20mph speed limit." Analysis by Gareth Lewis BBC Wales political editor It's been a long three months for those involved in the campaign. As Mr Gething's staff left into the Cardiff drizzle to celebrate, they will be aware that the hard work for their boss is really only just beginning. There are plenty of external challenges, from doctors on strike to farmers protesting over subsidies. There are internal challenges too from disquiet within Labour over the donations to an eye on life after the co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, whenever that comes to an end. At least Plaid don't seem about to abandon it, despite questioning Mr Gething's integrity. Even people who've taken a dim view of the donations have been pretty clear with me that they would be hugely surprised if offers of cabinet posts were turned down in some kind of protest. Perhaps with a general election looming Labour minds will focus and this will blow over - the last thing either Welsh or UK Labour need is any kind of split. And as one MS put to me last week: If Vaughan can sort out waiting lists, farmers and strikes in the next 18 months then he'll be a "saviour". Vaughan Gething won the Welsh Labor Party leadership contest on Saturday, setting him up to become the first Black leader of Wales' semi-autonomous government. Gething, the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, will be the first Black leader of a government in the UKand, according to him, of any European country. "Today, we turn a page in the book of our nation's history. A history we write together," Gething said in his victory speech, the AP reports. "Not just because I have the honor of becoming the first Black leader in any European countrybut because the generational dial has jumped too." Gething, who currently is Welsh economy minister, narrowly beat Education Minister Jeremy Miles in a race to replace First Minister Mark Drakeford. Drakeford, 69, announced late last year he would step down once a replacement was chosen. Gething, 50, won 51.7% of the votes cast by members of the party and affiliated trade unions, and Miles 48.3%. Once he is confirmed on Wednesday by the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, where Labor is the largest party, Gething will become the fifth first minister since Wales' national legislature was established in 1999. Once Gething is in the post, three of the UK's four governments will have nonwhite leaders. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has Indian heritage, while Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf was born to a Pakistani family in Britain. Northern Ireland is led jointly by Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, meaning that for the first time there are no white male heads of government in the UK. Wales, which has a population of about 3 million, is one of four parts of the United Kingdom, along with England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Gething was Wales' health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I want us to use this moment as a starting point, for a more confident march into the future," he said Saturday. (More Wales stories.) Dr Kerri Morgan, whose nine-year-old son had cancer as a baby, said scrapping the arrangement would have forced some families to travel overseas for treatment, because there were no private options for children in New Zealand who needed chemotherapy. "Those families are going to be able to concentrate on looking after their child and being a parent and not having to fundraise or mortgage their house. So yes, we're very relieved." About 150 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and up to 15 access medicines using Rule 8.1b. Rule 8.1b meant every child with cancer received the same access to life-saving medicines, said Dr Morgan, a Child Cancer Foundation board member. At the time her son was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, there were only two treatments available. There were now at least 20 drugs used internationally, she said. "With having 8.1 b, if his cancer came back, we would have that option to explore. Hopefully we never have to worry about that, but it just takes away that stress." The specialist who treated her son, Starship Hospital paediatric oncologist Dr Andy Wood, said Rule 8.1b was "a practical, equitable and efficient mechanism" and essential to the survival of a small number of patients. "We're particularly grateful to whanau who had the courage to share their stories as a way to care for future children and whanau who will be afflicted by these dreadful diseases." Child Cancer Foundation chief executive Monica Briggs said most cancer drug treatments were designed for adults, not children - and the rule allowed clinicians the flexibility to find the best treatments. "This is a sensible policy outcome. Elimination of the rule would have detrimentally impacted New Zealand's childhood cancer model of care and disproportionately affected Maori and Pacific tamariki and those children from lower income backgrounds," she said. Pharmac started its review of funding for paediatric cancer medicines in 2019 - but this only came to public attention after a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal that it discriminated against children who did not have cancer. Fiona Tolich, who had been campaigning for children with the deadly disease SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) to have access to life-saving treatment - the Spinraza drug - laid that complaint in 2020. The director of the human rights proceedings declined to take the case, warning her Pharmac could choose to "level the playing field" by stopping access to child cancer drugs. Rare Disorders New Zealand chief executive Chris Higgins said that would have been devastating. "Some of us were worried it could have gone in a different direction if that particular provision had been repealed. So that hasn't happened, we're back at the status quo, which is a good thing." However, Higgins was disappointed Pharmac had not gone a step further, as Fiona Tolich had advocated. In December 2022, Patient Voices Aotearoa presented a petition to Parliament calling on Pharmac to "fund lifesaving medicines for all New Zealand children". "We would like that rule extended to cover whatever children need those dugs to survive and live a good life," Higgins said. In response to questions from RNZ, Pharmac's director of strategy and policy Michael Johnson said the decision not to extend Rule 8.1b to other conditions would be "concerning" to some. However, Rule 8.1b was specifically designed for the treatment of paediatric cancers - which usually lasted up to two years - and that was the focus of Pharmac's review, he said. "As such it supports best practice such as timeliness of access to medicines and access to clinical trials. It's not a case of 'lift and shift' of Rule 8.1b to other groups, as what constitutes best practice for those groups may be different. "Many other medical conditions require lifelong ongoing treatment and a complex approach to care, including access to medicines." RNZ The head of the electoral commission, Ella Pamfilova, said there had so far been 20 incidents of people trying to destroy voting sheets by pouring various liquids into ballot boxes, as well as eight cases of attempted arson and a smoke bomb. In the Belgorod region where cross-border attacks from Ukraine have become part of daily life, the governor reported the deaths of a man and a woman. Video obtained by Reuters showed fires ablaze and air raid sirens sounding on the empty streets of Belgorod city. Dmitry Azarov, governor of the Samara region 850 km (530 miles) southeast of Moscow, said the Syzran refinery was on fire but an attack on a second refinery had been thwarted. The fire was brought under control hours later, officials said, but the incidents highlighted Ukraine's ability to strike hundreds of miles (km) inside Russian territory to target its energy industry. Two other big refineries were set on fire earlier this week by drone strikes that shut down half or more of their output. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had repelled attempts by Ukrainian forces to cross the border into Belgorod region. Governor Gladkov said that, given "the current situation", schools in much of the region would close on Monday and Tuesday, and that shopping centres in Belgorod city would be shut on Sunday and Monday. Russia mounted its deadliest attack in weeks on Friday when its missiles hit a residential area in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 70. PUTIN'S DOMINANCE Putin's hold on power is not under threat. Aged 71 and in office as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, he dominates Russia's political landscape. None of the other three candidates on the ballot paper - veteran Communist Nikolai Kharitonov, nationalist Leonid Slutsky or Vladislav Davankov, deputy chairman of the lower house of parliament - has mounted any credible challenge. Putin's leading critics are in prison or have fled abroad, prompting the opposition to call the vote a sham. Russia's best known opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony last month and his supporters have accused Putin of having him killed. The Kremlin denied that, and his death certificate said he died of natural causes. Overall turnout - an important indicator for Putin as he attempts to demonstrate the whole country is behind him - rose above 50% on the second day of voting. The rate in Belgorod region, where Ukrainian cross-border strikes have become part of daily life, was over 70%. Turnout was also high in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine where Kyiv says voting is illegal and void. The main focus will be on Sunday's third day of voting, when Navalny's supporters have called on people to turn out en masse at noon in a rolling protest against Putin in each of the country's 11 time zones. Pamfilova, the top election official, has said that people who try to disrupt voting are "scumbags" and could face up to five years in prison. She said, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian intelligence and its "accomplices and handlers" - a reference to the West - were behind the rash of protest actions seen so far at polling stations. Russia's governing party, United Russia, said it was facing a widespread denial of service attack - a form of cyberattack aimed at paralysing web traffic - and had suspended non-essential services to repel it. State news agency RIA quoted a senior telecoms official as saying the level of cyberattacks against Russia was "unprecedented", and blaming it on Ukraine and Western countries. He said some of the activity had been traced to IP addresses in Western Europe and North America. Reuters Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today Variably cloudy with snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 22F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (BCICAI) organized a technical session under the theme " RISE OF THE INDIAN ELITE ", couple of days back, where we had the privilege of hosting one of the most prominent and distinguished speaker Saurabh Mukherjea, founder of Marcellus Investment and author of multiple bestselling books. The session was inaugurated by Sthanumurthy Viswanathan Meera, Chairperson of BCICAI, who welcomed the guests and extended his warm wishes to all the members for the holy month of RAMADAN. He then went on to highlight the activities & session of the chapter which are lined up for the near future. The Chairperson then went on to introduce the topic for the evening and explained its relevance in the current market trends. AFP | Moscow The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The first day of voting in Russias presidential election was marred by acts of vandalism at polling stations yesterday, with at least nine arrests for pouring dye into ballot boxes and arson attacks. Vladimir Putin is set to secure another six years in the Kremlin after a three-day vote he has cast as a show of Russians loyalty and support for his military assault on Ukraine, now in its third year. Despite authorities warning that election-day protesters faced heavy punishment, at least nine were arrested for acts of vandalism at polling stations. In Moscow, video showed a woman setting a voting booth alight, filling a polling station with smoke, while another showed a woman pouring green dye into a ballot box. Four others in the Russian regions of Voronezh, Karachay-Cherkessia and Rostov were detained for similar offences, while in Saint Petersburg and the Siberian region of Khanty-Mansi, women were detained for throwing Molotov cocktails at polling stations. A man was detained for lighting fireworks inside a polling station in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, while in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, an explosive device was detonated at a voting site. Close to the border with Ukraine, a wave of Ukrainian drone and artillery strikes killed two people in the Belgorod region. Russia also launched one of its deadliest missile attacks of the conflict, killing at least 14 in a strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa. The strikes cap one the heaviest weeks of aerial attacks since the start of conflict and come after a week of cross-border raids by pro-Kyiv guerilla fighters, bringing Putins two-year conflict into Russian territory once again. In power as president or prime minister since the final day of 1999, victory in the three-day vote would allow Putin to stay in power until 2030 -- longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century. On the eve of the vote, Putin urged Russians to back him in the face of a difficult period for the country. We have already shown that we can be together, defending the freedom, sovereignty and security of Russia ... Today it is critically important not to stray from this path, he said Thursday on state TV. The Kremlin leaders confidence is riding high. His troops have secured their first territorial gains in Ukraine in nearly a year and his most strident opponent of the last decade, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison colony last month. In Moscow, a few dozen residents queued in the morning sun to be among the first in the capital to cast their ballots. Its important to vote, for Russias future, said 70-year-old Lyudmila. She backed Putin and was hoping for above all, victory in Ukraine, she said. Another Putin voter, Natan, 72, said he wanted the government to increase employment, work to ensure that there is no war, stability in the country. Voting was also being organised in occupied parts of eastern Ukraine that Russia claims to have annexed. Amid the hundreds of open jobs on recruiting websites where you can work remotely is this: Humbly Confident Security Lead. You dont often see adjectives tacked on to job titles, especially those involving computer science. This particular job pays $142,000 to $170,000 and the employer is YNAB, or You Need a Budget, an online personal budgeting program. YNABs website describes its origins: Julie and I (Jesse) married. Living in love was great and all, but we still required food, shelter, and textbooks for school. (Yes, we were still in school.) I knew we would need to watch what little money we had very closely. So, I began developing a system that grew into something quite useful. That was 2003. Now the annual revenue is $48.3 million per year. The job post is as conversational as the website. You should read their Core Value Manifesto. This is basically a cyber security job without the jargon. All are encouraged to apply as we continue to grow a smart, hard-working, and diverse team that loves working together to build something that matters, the job post says, adding that the successful candidate will be working with Sebastian, Head of Technology, Buffy, Director of Engineering, and Chance, Head of Operations. And then, it even says its okay to make mistakes here. Exploration and calculated risks are vital to velocity and growth. Heres some more: four day work week, flexible work schedule and they want you to take a vacation. At least three weeks but five is better. Plus the company shuts down for two weeks in December. Get out and do something, the job post says. And the Lehi, Utah-based company has retreats: Costa Rica, a gigantic cabin in the mountains, a beach house in the Outer Banks, a ranch in Montana, Laguna Beach, and most recently, Palm Springs. The various national recruiting websites are full of typical remote jobs data entry, some medical jobs, insurance, travel agents, writers but here are eight that are just a little bit different. Story continues Video creation specialist for WP Media tell video stories and engage with core audiences on social media for the 10-year-old company based in Lyon, France. We are excited to see which new location will join our global team map! The salary was not listed. Company products include WP Rocket, Imagify, and RocketCDN. Mock jury participant for The Keenan Law Firm, based in Atlanta. Virtual focus groups are hosted via Zoom. The pay is $150 a day. Next week they are looking for residents of St. Petersburg, Florida, but they maintain a list for other mock juries. Equine Cruelty Investigations for The Humane Society of the United States. Pay is $50 to $60 an hour. The job entails conducting training programs on equine cruelty investigations for law enforcement officers. A bachelors degree or equivalent work experience is preferred and a year of training experience. Travel required. The Humane Society is also looking for a case manager, Animal Crimes. Salary is $70,000 to $83,000 a year. This job involves responding to various types of animal welfare concerns and inquiries throughout the United States including puppy mills, animal neglect and animal fighting. A bachelors degree in a related field or equivalent work experience and five years of experience working as a humane law enforcement officer are required. Extensive travel. Biographer, Interviewer for Arbor Platform, Inc., a startup that says its dedicated to bringing people together through storytelling. Pay is $20 - $30 an hour 10 to 20 hours a week. The person in his job works with nonprofit customers to tell their stories and expand fundraising. Three years of experience in journalism, interviewing, or related fields. We are always looking for talented people yes that is the name of this job post. Part-time, full-time for CQL Corporation, whose clients include such companies as PetSmart, Frye boots, Coldwater Creek. Top pay for open jobs is $130,000. CQLs mission: making technology simple and the commerce experience compelling. CQL connects some of the most well-known brands with the people who love them. We are a group of authentic individuals that value forward thinking, learning, and a strong dedication to craft, the job post says. The company offers a flexible work schedule, paid time off so you can live your life, remote happy hour and coffee chats. The post says sometimes they have cooking classes. On-camera talent for Aprender Ingles Americanos YouTube Channel. The company teaches English to Spanish speakers. Pay is $65 to $100 an hour. Using the scripts we provide, (generally 15-30 phrases based on a specific topic like travel, food, work etc), fire up your camera, read the phrases clearly and naturally (slightly slower than usual) and then upload the files to a Google folder. Thats the job description. The company is asking for a 2-3 minute video including intro, outro and teach these three common sentences: 1. You got my word. Meaning: Saying this is similar to saying I promise you. 2. Out of sight, out of mind. Meaning: Refers to quickly forgetting people or things that are no longer in our daily lives. 3. Take my word for it. Meaning: Encouraging someone to believe what you are saying is true. Upload the video/audio files to Google Drive (please give access to the folder to hr@aprenderinglesamericano.com). Send an email to hr@aprenderinglesamericano.com attach your CV and the video. Aprender Ingles Americano YouTube channel has 2 million subscribers on Youtube and 900.000 followers on Instagram. No more than 8 hours per week. Dedicated Conversationalist working part-time for a company that pays cash for houses. Pay is $25 to $45 an hour. We are seeking compassionate, consistent, and self motivated individuals to join our team, the job post says. Your most important objective in this position is to hear a prospect say, Im interested. This is a numbers driven position, but with zero micromanagement and very minimal quotas. The goal is to take ownership, ask questions, and learn as much as you can about real estate. The company, which is not named, says 2.5 hours per week can generate $600 the second month and $1,500 in the 5th month, assuming 10 hours of consistent performance per month. Writer for Online Dating $30 - $50 an hour - Part-time. Bachelors Degree required. English or Marketing degree. We are seeking top-notch creative writers to ghostwrite and manage dating profiles on behalf of our clients, the post says. The House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/Bassa in the 2023 elections, Usman Okai, on Saturday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to declare former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello wanted over the misappropriation of funds. Okai also issued a fervent call to safeguard the interests of the people of Kogi State regarding the misappropriation of funds by Bello. He said despite the arduous task of protecting the state, it is imperative not to overlook the plight of civil servants grappling with the repercussions of fiscal misdeeds. Recall that on August 31, 2021, Justice Tijani Garba Ringim, a vacation judge, had ordered the freezing of the account following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency, in a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the ex-parte application, had stated that it received credible and direct intelligence, which led to the tracing of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities in an account No. 0073572696 domiciled in Sterling Bank Plc with the name Kogi State Salary Bailout Account. Moving the application for the interim forfeiture of the funds on August 31, 2021, A. O. Mohammed, counsel to the EFCC, had urged the court to grant the order to prevent further dissipation of the funds in the account. Mohammed had also told Justice Ringim that the N20 billion meant to augment payment of salary and running cost of the government was kept in an interest-yielding account with the bank. According to him, Instead of using the money for the purpose it was meant for, Sterling Bank Plc, acting on the instruction of the Kogi State government, transferred it from the loan account and placed it in a fixed deposit account. Reacting, Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information debunked the allegation, stating that the state government judiciously used the funds for its intended purpose. Countering Fanwos comment, Okai said, It is untenable to shield any individual, including former Governor Yahaya Bello, at the expense of the welfare of Kogi workers. The ramifications of such actions are profound, with millions of lives hanging in the balance. Recently, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in an ongoing corruption case but has yet to formally charge him. Bellos nephew, Ali Bello, and his associate, Dauda Suleiman, the two defendants in the case, were accused of diverting funds belonging to Kogi State. But in the newly introduced count, the two defendants in the case were accused of conspiring with Mr Bello to convert the total sum of N80.2 billion (N80,246,470,089.88) belonging to Kogi State Government to personal use. However, in a statement he signed, Okai urged the indigenes of Kogi and all concerned Nigerians to galvanize support for the EFCCs efforts to bring him to justice. He underscored the urgency for enhanced scrutiny of Bellos alleged transgressions. According to Okai: What is EFCC waiting for to declare Bello wanted? And why does EFCC put 2015 in the charges, or are they trying to give ex-Governor a soft landing to escape judgment? The staggering loss of billions of naira, a burden borne by the citizens, serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to uphold accountability and transparency in governance. Moreover, revelations of property acquisitions in lucrative locales like Dubai, Maitama, and Lagos raise serious questions about fiduciary responsibility. It is disconcerting that despite the confiscation of numerous properties by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), investigations were impeded by immunity provisions. Now, with Bello out of office, I urge Kogites and all concerned Nigerians to galvanize support for the EFCCs efforts to bring him to justice. The misappropriation of public funds cannot be tolerated, and those responsible must be held accountable irrespective of their former positions. Speaking further, Okai said, This call to action is not driven by personal animus but rather by a steadfast commitment to the principles of good governance and fiscal probity. As the wheels of justice turn, it is incumbent upon every citizen to remain vigilant and resolute in demanding transparency and accountability from those entrusted with the stewardship of public resources. The future well-being of Kogi State hinges upon the integrity of its leaders and the diligence of its citizens in upholding the rule of law. The All Progressives Congress (APC) says Senate President Godswill Akpabio has done nothing wrong to step down from his position. The ruling party is reacting to a call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asking Akpabio to step down over an allegation by Abdul Ningi, Bauchi lawmaker, that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion. Ningi stirred controversy when he claimed that a huge damage was done to the north through the 2024 budget. Subsequently, the upper legislative chamber suspended him from the senate for three months. In a statement on Friday, Felix Morka, spokesperson of APC, said the opposition party is quick to feast on shame without verifying facts. It is eerily comical that the PDP, a party with a sordid legacy of monumental corruption would suggest that the President of the Senate should turn himself to anti-graft agencies for investigation, the statement reads. This is the entity that turned graft and corruption to statecraft, the same entity that cannot account for funds raised for the building of its own national headquarters, making such a ridiculous call. The PDP should lead by example and heed its own call. The legislative authority of the Senate includes the authority to make its own rules and adopt its own procedures for discharging its constitutional mandate. That extends to modifying its rules and standing orders in accordance with its rules and procedures, and in observance of all applicable legal and constitutional standards. It also has the authority to discipline its members in accordance with its institutional and constitutional due process. The President of the Senate has done nothing wrong to warrant him stepping aside on account of this or any other disclosed matter. The APC spokesperson added that the PDP should quit being a meddlesome interloper. A high court in Minna, Niger state, has ordered the federal ministry of power to pay N1.1 trillion as compensation to Samboro community in Madaka district, Rafi LGA over damages caused by the construction of Zungeru hydro dam. The suit marked NSHC/ Kut/6/2023 was filed in April 2023 by Abubakar Usman, the village head of Samboro and 2,844 other members of the community. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mohammed .A. Mohammed, presiding judge, held that the construction of Zungeru dam in Samboro has caused damages to the farmland and other economic trees in the community. The judge agreed that it is the act of the defendants in the construction of dam project that led to the continuous flooding and erosion in the community. The judge held that the flooding and erosion have led to the destruction of the plaintiffs sources of livelihood and ejected them from their ancestral homes. He added that the plaintiffs, having suffered from the actions of the defendants, were entitled to monetary compensation. Consequently, Mohammed issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies and or assigns whosever and howsoever from trespassing or further acts of trespass or doing any act or actions, conduct of breach prejudicial and or reprehensive to the plaintiffs right, interest ownership, possession and occupation on the land situate, being and lying at Samboro community, constituting about 7,868 hectares of land in Rafi local government area of Niger state. An order is hereby given directing the 1st defendant to pay to the plaintiffs, forthwith, the sum of one trillion, one hundred and fifty billion, five hundred and ninety-five million, forty-seven thousand and two hundred and eighty-eight naira (N1,150,595,047,288) as monetary compensation for the destruction of their farmlands, houses, ponds, sabotage to their economic welfare and survival, untold hardship and total annihilation of all their resources of livelihood in Samboro Community in Rafi local government area of Niger state, he added. That an order is hereby given directing the 1st defendant to pay the sum of One hundred million naira (N100,000,000) as general damages and cost of prosecuting this suit and legal representation and ten percent post judgment interest per annum. The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, has been reportedly abducted by gunmen. The chairman was abducted about 7 pm on Friday, less than three days after the expiration of the partys State Working Committee. It was gathered that the PDP chairman was kidnapped on Friday (yesterday), when he was about to enter his house shortly after a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki in Benin City. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the PDP chairman was kidnapped at the entrance of his house along Country Home Hotel Road, Benin City, after the meeting with the governor. According to the source, as the driver was about to enter the compound, the kidnappers blocked the jeep and took Dr. Tony Aziegbemi away and left the driver. He also added that the PDP candidate for the forthcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, was supposed to also attend the meeting with the governor. He said the governorship candidate was, however, not able to attend the meeting due to his meeting with the partys leaders in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area. A chieftain of the party, who also spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, said the abducted PDP chairmans meeting with the governor was on how to plan to set up a caretaker committee that would take over the affairs of the party pending the election of a new executive. Our plan is to set up a Caretaker Committee to take over the affairs of the party since we have a very important election coming up on September 21, 2024. The Aziegbemi-led State Exco ended on Thursday, March 14, 2024. As you may be aware, conducting a fresh PDP State Congress in Edo State when the governorship election is around the corner may weaken our togetherness as one party towards winning the election, he said. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he should be given time to respond. The Senator representing Delta North senatorial district, Ned Nwoko, has said that he cannot marry a woman who is not virgin. The lawmaker said this during an interview with Channels Televisions Seun Okinbaloye, shared on YouTube. My uncles have brought some local girls saying look, marry this one and I said no. They dont meet what I want, he said. For her particularly (Regina Daniels) I married her because shes from my place. I cant marry a woman whos not a virgin. Nwoko is said to have up to five wives, who he splashes cash and other material gifts on. He spoils Regina Daniels with expensive gifts, including expensive cars, and houses. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has told the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, that he cannot be coerced into becoming her friend. Wike lambasted the Senator, accusing her of blackmailing him instead of communicating her problems through the right channels or better still focusing on her oversight functions. The former Rivers Governor stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja, stating that the lawmaker is aggrieved because the Senate President snubbed her for the position of the Senate Committee on FCT. I dont want to be personalshes the Senator for FCT. She went around saying oh, oh Wike is busy scraping roadsI should leave the roads till when the potholes come? Wike said. Somebody wants to be your friend and you say I dont want to be your friend. Is it by force? The problem is that she wanted to be Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT and the Senate President said Im not giving you. What are you going to supervise me? You cannot supervise me. What is her interest, that I must see her? If I have a problem Ill go and see her. I dont have a problem. Nobody can intimidate me. Look, I was a Minister before. I became a governor of one of the most important states in Nigeria and she thinks that the only way you can bring me is to go to Channel, TVC, saying the Minister is not carrying me along. I dont have the back to carry. Its not about blackmailing. Do the right thing. You know her problem? She ran election with my friend Philip Aduda and she sees me taking Philip everywhere instead of her being the Senator. Should I abandon my friend because she failed election? Wike queried. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore the integrity of the 2024 budget by immediately ordering an open investigation into the alleged insertion as well as a holistic review of the budget. A statement issued by the partys National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said that the PDP stands by its demand that Senator Akpabio should report at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation into the alleged looting of N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State and the N86 billion alleged contract scam under his watch as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, respectively. The party also slammed the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate for seeking to use diversionary press statements to suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged improper insertion of N3.7 trillion for non-existing projects in the 2024 budget. The PDP asserts that from the incoherent, knee-jerk and dismissive statement issued by the APC leadership in the Senate on Thursday, March 14, 2024, it is clear that it is jittery that an open and detailed investigation into the allegation will further expose the perpetrators and how money was allegedly shared among APC lawmakers, the party alleged. It noted that the press statement further confirmed the presence of an APC budget cabal in the Senate and that the Senator Akpabio-led APC leadership is insensitive and does not care about the welfare of the Nigerian people. It is highly provocative that at this time when Nigerians are passing through severe economic hardship, the APC leadership in the Senate is busy defending and frustrating investigation into allegations of massive manipulation and looting of resources meant for the wellbeing of the citizens, the statement explained. It said that the Akpabio-led APC leadership in the Senate ought to know that no amount of threats, harassment, suspension of whistleblowers and attempts to blackmail the opposition through diversionary press statements and sponsored articles in a section of the media can suppress the demand for an open investigation into the alleged budget padding which is already in the public domain. The statement explained that the PDP and Nigerians are not deterred by attacks by the APC leadership in the Senate, that is a clear case of corruption fighting back in the face of public scrutiny. More importantly, the statement said that the failure by the Akpabio-led APC leadership to allow for an investigation into the budget padding allegation constitutes a huge smear on the image of the Senate and destroys its rectitude and integrity to perform its constitutional duty to investigate and oversight other public institutions; a situation that spells doom to our constitutional democracy if not immediately checked. If Senator Akpabio has nothing to fear, the statement observed, he should immediately recall Senator Abdul Ningi and allow for an open and detailed investigation into the allegation of discrete insertion of N3.7 trillion into the 2024 budget. The statement said, Our Party, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians, insists that Senator Akpabio should step aside and allow for a credible investigation, as he cannot be a judge in this matter. Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has hailed Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham, insisting that his impact at Carlo Ancelottis side so far this season has been massive. According to Guardiola, Bellingham s influence at Real Madrid is obvious, adding that Man City will have to find a way to control it when both teams clash in the Champions League quarter-final next month. Guardiola spoke at his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of his sides FA Cup quarter-final tie with Newcastle United on Saturday. The Spainaird said of Bellingham: His impact has been massive. Its a different team from last season. His influence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it. Bellingham has been impressive for Madrid since joining the La Liga leaders from Borussia Dortmund last summer. Tukur Gusau, director of information at the defence headquarters, says sixteen Nigerian soldiers on a peace mission, were surrounded by youths and killed on Thursday, in Okuoma Bomadi LGA of Delta state. In a statement issued on Saturday, Gusau said: The troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, while on a peace mission to Okuoma community in BOMADI LGA of Delta State were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, 14 March 2024. The unfortunate incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities both in Delta State, he said. The reinforcement team led by the Commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain, and 12 Soldiers. Gusau added that some suspects have been arrested over the incident, and that Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff, has directed an immediate investigation. He also said the incident has been reported to the Delta state government. CDS has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. The occurrence has been reported to the Delta State Govt, the statement adds. However, the military remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps are in place to unravel the motive behind the attack. Additional details later. Clashes between military personnel and restive communities are rife in Nigerias oil rich Niger Delta region. Its been a different sort of homecoming for Omoyele Sowore and the Borough of Haworth. The Nigerian-born journalist and activist is finally free after more than four years in captivity for the crime of speaking out against the government in his homeland. Sowore, the publisher the pro-democracy website Sahara Reporters, received a heros welcome and a slice of pizza at borough hall on March 9, where he was reunited with his family and the community that has been working for his release ever since August of 2019, when Nigerian police arrested him for organizing a demonstration against the government led by Muhammadu Buhari, who was president at the time. This is what community is all about, isnt it? said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., who worked with the U.S. State Department to fast-track Sowores travel visa after the Nigerian government dropped two of the three charges against him last month. Standing for something we believe in. Never giving up, never backing down for one minute. Here, we brought you a pie, Gottheimer said, handing Sowore the pizza that the journalist said he craved while he was locked up. Sowore accepted what Gottheimer called a taste of Jersey and vowed to continue the fight for, and write about, democracy in his native Nigeria. I stand today to declare that I am unbowed, Sowore said to cheers from the audience. Initially charged with treason, money laundering, and cyberstalking, Sowore spent more than four years in prison and under house arrest, locked in a series of court proceedings that seemed to go nowhere. Had he been convicted of treason, the most serious charge, Sowore could have faced the death penalty. Unable to leave the country, his only communication with his wife Opeyemi and children, Ayomide and Komi back in Haworth, was through FaceTime and by phone. Many, many times, I thought I would never see my family again, Sowore said. Meanwhile, his neighbors in the tiny Bergen County town were locked in their own epic struggle to free him. Early on, they hung yellow ribbons around town, held rallies and press conferences, wrote emails and kept the pressure on their congressional representatives to work the diplomatic channels. And when that failed, they kept on trying. We were relentless, quite frankly, said Haworth Mayor Heather Wasser. Omoyele "Yele" Sowore speaking during his homecoming celebration at Haworth Borough Hall on 3/9/24. Sowore, a journalist, was detained for more than four years in his homeland of Nigeria, accused of treason for organizing a protest against the government.Courtesy of the office of Rep. Josh Gottheimer In a small town of 3,300 people where just about everyone knows everyone else, Wasser described what she called a two-pronged attack. That meant spreading the word about Sowores plight while providing emotional support to his wife and kids at home. Haworth really has a beautiful sense of community, Wasser said. It always feels like theres only one degree of separation in this community. And I think it was reaffirming for the family to know they werent alone. Haworths little-known claim to fame is that the actress Brooke Shields once lived in town. Otherwise, its a sleepy place, a bedroom community where people invest in their schools and their privacy. But Sowores case ultimately drew the attention of Amnesty International and the Clooney Foundation of Justice, which accused the Nigerian government of prosecutorial misconduct. Haworth is a town where everybody knows each other from the schools, said Alanna Zahn Davis, a councilwoman who says she got involved with what she called a crisis management team that formed around Sowore family. My son has been in school with Komi since Kindergarten. Davis said the team walked the fine line between drawing media attention to Sowores case, and not saying anything that might anger the Nigerian government. With their congressional representatives, they pressured the U.S. State Department to stay on the case, to assure, at the very least, that Sowore be afforded due process. At the same time, the community rallied around the family, keeping hope alive during the many bleak moments when nothing seemed to be happening with the case. Davis said some of the most difficult times were during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Nigeria, like other nations, went into lockdown and courtroom proceedings ground to a halt. Davis recalled staying up until 3 a.m. to watch a courtroom livestream from Nigeria. She remembers reeling in horror after it seemed Sowore was about to be freed but then immediately re-arrested on the spot and beaten as he was led away. Even in those moments of fear and despair, we continued to show up for the family, Davis said. Nobody walked away from this. Nobody gave up hope. Davis said the human bonds that were formed during the past four years would last forever. I think we all learned about our ability to maintain hope during such times of uncertainty, she said. For Haworth, it really became about the connections that were formed, were sustained, and will carry one forever. In late February, the Nigerian government dropped both the treason and money laundering charge against Sowore and he was allowed to leave the country. Gottheimer then helped to arrange a travel visa that brought Sowore home on March 9. Naturally, Sowore said hes more than happy to be back in Haworth with his wife and children, and hes grateful for all the people who worked on his behalf. Sowore says hes a bit surprised by the outpouring of support. Before his arrest, I wasnt part of the social scene or the culture in Haworth. I didnt have the time, Sowore said. People might have seen me running around town, but thats about it. But theres a very strong set of women in this town. His ordeal is not over. Sowore is due back in Nigeria on April 10 to face the remaining cyberstalking charge. He plans to go back. I have to, he said, otherwise there would be a warrant out for my arrest, and I could not travel. He remains committed to the struggle for democracy, and plans to continue publishing Sahara Reporters. Theres no going back on that. Im going to do everything I can to help the people of Nigeria to have a better life. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com. " Responses to the Wisconsin State Journals candidate questionnaire. The election is April 2. Andrea Andrews Age: 50 Hometown: Marshall Family: My 3 kids: Colton, Kyra and Mya Job: Global logistics and trade compliance for Madison Air Prior elected office: Marshall Village Board trustee, six years Other public service: Vice president of Marshall Scholarship Foundation, three years Education: Business management from Concordia University Jeff Weigand Age: 35 Family: Wife Melissa and five young kids, ages 9, 7, 5, 2 and 11 months Job: Manager, Quartz Health Solutions Prior elected office: Elected in a special election in 2021; reelected in 2022 Other public service: Former Dane County foster parent; active in local church, serving in childrens ministry Q&A What unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office? Andrews: As a village trustee, Ive gained insights into local governance. My roles in fire and EMS, planning, and finance committees expanded my understanding of community issues. These experiences showcase my collaboration skills and meaningful contributions to decision-making. I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and community engagement. Weigand: Im proud of my record of voting for and introducing measures to increase public safety, streamline government processes and ensure the county focuses on the issues that are most important to the citizens. The current board is an echo chamber for the interests of Madison, and Im proud of my efforts to give a voice to the majority of Dane County citizens who live outside the city of Madison. What issue do you think has not received enough funding and attention in the county? Andrews: The budget does align with many important priorities such as, additional funding for mental health crisis response, and investments in affordable housing. These are critical community needs. More funding is needed in areas of support for youth and families. Weigand: Public safety and transportation infrastructure do not receive enough attention. As a county board we need to get back to the basics of what our constituents are asking for. This is why Im proud of my record of supporting public safety. I introduced a measure to add a human trafficking detective in the Sheriffs office. I also introduced a measure to combat the stolen vehicle problems we have. Public safety will always be my top priority. What can or should the county do to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system? Andrews: Allocate resources to support youth engagement and diversion programs, implement mandatory training for law enforcement on cultural sensitivity, de-escalation techniques and implicit bias to reduce racial profiling and enhance fair treatment. Address systemic issues, such as bail reform, diversion programs, and sentencing reform to reduce disproportionate impacts on minority communities. An attempted coup of the Jersey City school board leadership has robbed board members first say on the districts preliminary budget for the 2024-25 school year. Instead the billion-dollar budget plan will go directly to the county superintendent, a move that has infuriated some board members. Contested board President DeJon Morris and trustees Chris Tisdale and Afaf Muhammad were surprised to learn they wont get a chance to speak on the budget Monday after the scheduled meeting was cancelled because of a dispute over who are the rightful leaders of the board. When you ask real questions that may disrupt or cause worry, things like this will happen, Morris told The Jersey Journal in a text. It also appears the administration is afraid of the Jersey City taxpayers coming to the meeting So they dont trust the public and are obviously circumventing the process, which has always been the complaint. Who authorized that? Tisdale said in a phone call. Why would the people not have the right to see where their money is being spent? It doesnt make any sense. Mondays caucus meeting was canceled after a chaotic Feb. 29 school board meeting left uncertainty about who leads the board of education. Jersey City Superintendent Norma Fernandez said the preliminary fully funded school budget will be sent directly to County Superintendent Melissa Pearce instead of going for a vote before the school board. Under state law, the school spending plan must be presented to the county superintendent by March 20. School budget conversations often begin with a public presentation by the school district, allowing board members and the community an opportunity to lobby for some program and against others. Then the school board votes on the budget, which is sent to the county superintendent for approval before returning to the school board for final adoption. We are ready with the budget, I believe Mondays meeting will be canceled, Fernandez said Friday before the cancellation was confirmed. No cuts. No personnel cuts and no increases to the taxpayer. She added that a hearing with the state Office of Administrative Law (OAL) will be held Wednesday to determine if the Feb. 29 votes to oust President Natalia Ioffe and Vice President Noemi Velazquez and replace them with Morris as president and Barkouch as vice president were conducted legally. It is still unclear if a decision will made at the hearing. It is also unclear whether the budget will be made public before the next meeting, which will now be held virtually Thursday. Fernandez did not respond to follow-up questions. Morris says the Monday meeting was canceled because of questions he had on the budget after receiving a four-page synopsis. He requested in an email to Business Administrator Dennis Frohnapfel the full budget along with a breakdown of vacancies and payroll collection. Im officially requesting the whole budget explaining each line item, Morris said in the email. As the chair of the finance committee, this is not an unreasonable request. The abrupt battle among board members came just days after the five board members refused to sign off on tenure charges against the previous business administrator, Regina Robinson. Fernandez in a statement to the OAL said a reckless Robinson cost millions of dollars in fines and unnecessary expenses for the district. Ethics charges were also filed by Ioffe against Morris for allegedly vigorously pushing for the hiring of a law firm he met at an Atlantic City conference in November. The firm was approved by the remaining board members at Feb. 29 meeting after Ioffe declared a recess and she, Velazquez and two other board members, George Blount and Alpa Patel, left the meeting. Ioffe told The Jersey Journal the board will still get a chance to debate the budget when it comes back for final approval in late April or May. She is not worried about it going directly to the county superintendent because the budget will not impact taxpayers. The board is not being asked to relinquish control and the board is not being asked to relinquish responsibility of asking questions about this budget, Ioffe said. Unfortunately we are in a situation where time is working against us and certain issues have to be resolved before we can resume our normal operations. Changes can still be made to the budget after the county superintendent approves the budget, but the final amount must stay the same. Teachers union President Ron Greco trusts the county superintendent before any of these board members. He said the boards behavior on Feb. 29 has left teacher hirings and student events like a trip to Washington, D.C., on hold. They cant even conduct a meeting properly, so that is a good thing, Greco said about the budget going to the county superintendent. We have people that were not approved to come here and work, so you know what they have already done? Screw it. I am going to another district. It seems that all is not forgiven. At least, not yet. Former President Donald Trump appeared to be trolling New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Saturday, asking the millions who follow him on his social media site Truth: Hows Sununu doing? Just askin! Donald Trump appears to be trolling New Hampshire's governor Chris Sununu, who recently endorsed him.Truth Social Sununu just recently made it official hes supporting Trump in the 2024 presidential election despite endorsing Trump rival Nikki Haley in the GOP primary and campaigning hard for her until she dropped her bid after Super Tuesday. Haley has yet to endorse Trump. Sununu and Trump have had a rocky relationship despite Sununu pretty much saying after he endorsed Haley that hed ultimately back Trump if he were to be the nominee again. Of course, he also referred to Trump as an asshole and once joked that he belongs in a mental institution. Trump, for his part, has called Sununu a spoiled brat. 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. But last week, Sununu got behind the former president. Im going to support the ticket. Im going to support Donald Trump, he told a New Hampshire reporter. 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. High Street Dispensary could begin operating a drive-thru window in Hackettstown as early as next week, said Store Manager Bill Mercario. We hope to be up and running by the end of next week, Mercario said. Were looking forward to serving the community in a different way. High Street Dispensary opened inside the former Wells Fargo bank at 811 High St., just across the street from the U.S. headquarters/factory for Mars Wrigley, the makers of M&Ms and other candies, in December 2023. The township okayed the shops request to use the existing drive-thru window during its regular meeting on March 14. Upon hearing the vote pass unanimously, residents applauded and one resident in the back of the councils chambers cheered, Weed dispensary? F*** yeah! The dispensary will run a single lane drive-thru, said Mercario. The drive-thru will open roughly half-an-hour before normal business hours and close a half-an-hour after normal business hours. The window will only be used to dispense preorders, Mercario said. Preorders can be placed via the stores online website. Customers should place their order at least two hours in advance of their desired pick-up time. Craig Cohen and Daniel Weinstein co-own the business, Mercario said. They are both based in northeastern New Jersey. Several other dispensaries across the state have also implemented drive-thru options at their shops. Once complete, High Street Dispensary will be Warren Countys first and only drive-thru dispensary. There are four marijuana dispensaries in Warren County, as of March 15, 2024. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe to lehighvalleylive.com today. Well, if the Yankees arent interested, the Astros are. According to the Athletic, the Astros are engaged in serious pursuit of left-hander Blake Snell, the best starting pitcher still on the market. Yankees fans will not be happy that the teams most hated rival who has bounced the Yankees from the postseason four times and was cheating during a 2017 ALCS victory over New York could snare the starting pitcher they believe would all but assure a championship, and calm the anxieties over a shaky rotation. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER Snell, 31, is believed to be seeking the same type of contract recently signed by two other Scott Boras clients, Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman a three-year deal with two opt outs, the Athletic reports. His annual asking price reportedly is $30 million to $32 million. While rumors linked the Yankees to Snell and that speculation intensified when ace Gerrit Cole was lost to an elbow injury NJ Advance Medias reporting consistently has revealed that the Yankees are not willing to pay a stiff luxury tax penalty that would come with signing him. The Yankees must pay a 110 percent luxury tax on every dollar they spend, meaning Snell would cost them almost double his salary. Meanwhile, Snell would get to keep more of his money: Texas does not have a personal income tax. In January, the Astros added the best reliever on the market lefty closer Josh Hader. The Astros are acting quickly: On Friday, starter Jose Urquidy was pulled himself from a minor-league game with a sore right elbow. But theres more: Starter Justin Verlander will open the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation. Two other starters, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia, are recovering from elbow surgeries. While Verlander is projected to return in April, the other two are not expected back until after the All-Star break. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Domingo German, the former Yankees pitcher who went from the high of throwing a perfect game to the low of coming to the ballpark drunk and throwing furniture in the players lounge, has found a new team. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER German, booted from the Yankees, signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, according to the New York Post. The $1.25 million minor league deal includes a team option for $2.25 million for 2025 that also has performance bonuses. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER: RESTORING THE GLORY His time with the Yankees was marked by controversy. In 2020, German was suspended for 81 games and missed the entire COVID-shortened season for violating MLBs domestic violence policy after an alleged incident with his then-girlfriend. He was placed on the restricted list this past August for alleged alcohol abuse after the Wall Street Journal reported that he got intoxicated in the clubhouse and had confrontations with members of the Yankees. German entered an alcohol abuse treatment center and missed the remainder of the season. He completed an inpatient treatment program, but has been voluntarily checking in with professionals to ensure he was staying on track, according to reports. In November, he elected free agency after he cleared waivers. Last season, he was 5-7 with a 4.56 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 108 innings. He had a 4.41 ERA with 543 strikeouts over 522.1 innings with the Yankees. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. While Habitat for Humanity of Columbus has moved quickly in recent years to build 15 new homes, it's still being outpaced by the need for affordable housing. Bearing this in mind, after some consideration and conversations, Great Plains State Bank, Pinnacle Bank, OneNebraska Federal Credit Union, Bank of the Valley, Columbus Bank and Trust and First Nebraska Bank partnered to form what they are calling the Columbus Banking Collaboration Loan Pool. Habitat Executive Director Lori Peters said this pool will help the organization move even faster on construction. "The local pool is so we can perpetuate the funding. We raised money for the house once, but it's hard to raise that quickly. This will allow us to sell the mortgage and receive funding to build the next house immediately," Peters said. "It kind of makes a circle." As an example, GPS Bank Assistant Vice President Jordan Williams said if costs were $100,000, Habitat could sell the mortgage to the pool and receive $100,000 toward the next house right away, shortening the window between builds. This doesn't affect the amount the Habitat homebuyers pay, Peters said. Williams, who also serves as vice president of the Habitat Board of Directors, said in a press release sent out on March 13 that he is proud of this effort and the collaboration between area banks and credit unions to make it happen. This is a great way to institute permanent financing for Habitat and provide homeownership. If we can help a couple of families each year ... thats an enormous opportunity for the Columbus community," Williams said. How it works, Peters said in the press release, is that the CBC funds the build first, then Habitat uses grants, loans and fundraising to fill in what else is needed. On March 15, Peters took some representatives from the loan pool to House 15, built by Lakeview High School students, which is nearly complete. There, Peters showed the group exactly what the houses look like and how volunteers and area businesses made things happen. "I wanted to make sure the bankers were educated as to the program they invested in," Peters said. "I think they ended up confident in our program and a little more understanding." Peters said that this is more than investment in these homes or even in Habitat's efforts, but the community as a whole, explaining the value of making someone a homeowner. She noted that because of this new loan pool, they're able to do two houses a year instead of one, and a different group has started building homes in the area now that development has been moving. Our entire community will ultimately benefit from the banking efforts because well be able to help more people. Homeowners make better employees, better community members, better students and healthier individuals," Peters said. The houses are typically 1,200-square-feet, three bedrooms and have a shed detached from the main building. Also on the tour, Peters showed some houses where the recipients had been able to move out and up because of the homes Habitat built. Rory Bowen, chief credit officer at Columbus Bank and Trust, said he came on the ride with two main questions. "One thing is I wanted to learn about how the community gets involved with the houses and all the support businesses do provide. The second thing is how short the need is and how we're (going) to get more out there, how the community helps and how we can build numbers up to get more people in homes," Bowen said. While he knew a lot about Habitat going into the trip, Bowen said after seeing the houses and hearing Peters talk about all the people and businesses involved, he did learn something. "What I didn't realize was the amount other businesses provide in like-kind donations or time and energy. I didn't realize they did that much for each home," Bowen said. Jimbo the Drag Clown won season eight of RuPauls Drag Race All Stars last year. Some of her signature looks that went into her win are outfits with massive fake breasts and impersonating celebrities including Joan Rivers and Shirley Temple. It wasnt a big part of her win, but Jimbo usually wore the same shirt for confessional scenes. The red satin cowboy shirt has blue stars and plenty of gold tassels. Its one of Jimbos links to New Orleans. Its my lucky shirt from New Orleans, Jimbo, aka James Insell, says. I bought it at an old vintage shop in the French Quarter, and its brought me a lot of luck. Jimbo returns to New Orleans this week with her Jimbos Drag Circus show on Tuesday, March 19, at the Fillmore. The show includes her Rivers and Temple impersonations but not the shirt. The new show features Jimbo as several characters, and she co-wrote the music for it. Shell do bits featuring her as TV lawyer Nancy Grace, as well as a new character, Alphabet Annie. Conceptually, it is designed to have the vibrancy and variety of a circus. Circus is more about the vibe and the style, Jimbo says. The idea is that you leave your regular life and youre invited into another realm with magic and wonder. Then youre exposed to different acts like the freak show or death-defying feats of strength. I love that framework. I love the vintage vibe of the circus. I bring it into the future with drag and doing something different. Jimbo has a background in costume and production design. She was working on friends shows when she first stepped onstage as a disco ball in one of their bits. After others saw her potential and encouraged her, Jimbo started exploring performance. I was very shy, she says. But I took some clown workshops and found this connection to performance. Soon she did her own act as an evil stepmother at Atomic Vaudeville in Victoria, British Columbia. She started performing more often, both in theaters and at private events. I identify as a fashion clown, she says. I have woven my history as a costume maker and fashion into my performance artistry as a drag queen. Drag has something for everybody. Its visual and comedic and emotional and has a lot of personal story in it. Its fun to play with all those things. In 2020, Jimbo was booked on the inaugural season of Drag Race Canada and finished fourth. Then she competed on RuPauls Drag Race: UK vs. The World. On All Stars, she showed a talent for designing outrageous outfits, from the exaggerations of outrageous curves to high-concept looks, like a walking selfie with multiple smartphones pointed at herself. Jimbo also has a cameo in an upcoming local film. She plays the demanding boss of the Intergalactic Realtors Association Conference (IGRAC). The group costumes as aliens at Carnival and other special events. Theyre working with filmmaker Emily MacKenzie on a mockumentary about IGRAC. Some of it was filmed at the Bonnaroo Music + Art Festival, where the realtors tried to sell off Earth. After meeting several IGRAC members at a Burning Man-type event in Canada, Jimbo has had more reasons to return to New Orleans. They shot movie scenes in fall during Halloween. But shes been coming here for years. I fell in love with New Orleans when I stayed in the Bywater about 10 years ago, Jimbo says. I love the vibe and the culture, and I try to get back as often as I can. For tickets for Jimbos Drag Circus via fillmorenola.com. Coquette chef and owner Michael Stoltzfus wanted to call his new restaurant Wild South when he took over the space on Thalia Street six years ago. But when Urban South Brewery opened up nearby, the names seemed too similar. He opened Thalia in the space in 2019, and then the tasting menu restaurant Lengua Madre with chef Ana Castro in 2021. People always mispronounce Coquette, and they butchered Lengua Madre, he says. Wild South is simple. Theres emotion behind it. And you cant mispronounce it. The 40-seat Wild South opened a few weeks ago, with a weekly, five-course, $85 tasting menu as well as an a la carte menu, with dishes ranging from $13-$17, available only at the six-seat bar. Wild South Where 1245 Constance St., (504) 655-1338; wildsouthrestaurant.com When dinner Tue.-Sat. How dine-in Check it out A seasonal tasting-menu restaurant The Barbie pink neon-lit hallway that led to Lengua Madre's dining room is now lined with burnished refurbished wood. There is charming Mexican tile in the dining room look for one with imbedded paw prints and local photographs on the walls. Its a work in progress, Stoltzfus says. The floor plan is the same, with a curvaceous bar between the open kitchen and dining room. There will be two chefs tasting seats facing the action. We want to have our friends and neighbors in, Stoltzfus says. We have an amazing team here, many from Coquette. We just want to get folks in the space to see what were doing. The restaurants executive chef is Bret Macris, who came to New Orleans in 2017 and previously was chef de cuisine at Donald Links Cajun restaurant Cochon. An Angeleno raised in Burbank, California, Macris trained with Nancy Silverton at Campanile and later worked at Rose Water in New York. Were here because we love New Orleans, he says. I have French family roots here, and wed visit a few times a year. We wanted to make it permanent. The a la carte menu includes Ugly Cheese Toast, a crusty melt made with Leos thick semolina bread and Eldo, a raw cows milk cheese from Texas thats reminiscent of manchego. Theres a house-made tuna nduja, ground tuna cured with chiles; fried fish pieces using cuts like the collar left over from portioning; and steamed Little Moon oysters from Grand Isle served with swordfish bacon. The two chefs knew of each other for years. Becky Brooks-Macris directs service at Coquette and now Wild South. My wife has worked for Mike for a long time, Macris says. He tried to hire me for the Columns, but the timing wasnt right. Wild South hits all the right notes for both chefs and is perfectly suited to serve whats fresh and local. With his seafood program, Macris depends on local fishers to inform his menu, which recently included grilled grouper with greens and shiitake mushrooms. The opening menu was seafood centric as a nod towards Lent, but upcoming menus include beef, pork and rabbit along with seasonal vegetables. Fried Lions Mane mushrooms was a recent vegetarian option. A changing five-course tasting menu doesnt pose a challenge for Macris. The only place Ive worked with a menu that wasnt always changing was Cochon, he says. I have this weird encyclopedia of dishes in my head to draw from. I think of my style as complex simplicity. My goal is to keep all the dishes delicious and approachable. Stoltzfus sees the $85 price tag as in sync with the per person prices at many fine dining restaurants. Our menu is delicious but nothing crazy, he says. New Orleans wasnt a tasting menu city for a reason. People dont want a four-hour meal driven by look what we can do. Our guests trust us. They come in, and we take care of them. Sommelier Ryan Plas curated a $45 wine pairing menu and lists of bottles and by-the-glass options. Jason Kaplan oversees cocktails and will introduce a non-alcoholic pairing menu in the coming weeks. We are researching kombuchas and fun sodas, Kaplan says. Just because a guest doesnt want to drink doesnt mean they dont want to stimulate their palate. Because we are small, we can execute that option here. I want it to be a touchpoint for the restaurant. Hey Blake, We enjoyed the new Cabrini movie about the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. It briefly mentions her ministry in New Orleans. Other than the high school named for her, are there other spots where she lived and worked? Dear reader, Cabrini High School on Esplanade Avenue offers the most tangible reminders of St. Frances Xavier Cabrinis legacy in the city, but Mother Cabrinis first stop in New Orleans was the French Quarter. Its where she and her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus cared for the poor, especially Italian immigrants just as in New York, as depicted in the new film. Born in Italy in 1850, Cabrini came to New Orleans in 1892, just three years after arriving in New York. She purchased a building at 817 St. Philip Street which had been a mansion but was a tenement house by the time she bought it. She opened a school, day nursery and orphanage there. Soon a need arose for even more space for the nuns to care for the many New Orleans children who lost their parents in the yellow fever epidemic. Cabrini secured a $75,000 donation from Capt. and Mrs. Salvator Pizzati to build the Sacred Heart Orphan Asylum in the 3400 block of Esplanade Avenue. During construction, Mother Cabrini lived in the nearby Pitot House on Moss Street. The orphanage opened in 1906. In 1959 it was converted into a Catholic girls high school. In 1965, a modern school building opened on Bayou St. John behind the original structure. Mother Cabrinis chapel and some of her personal items remain inside the Esplanade Avenue building. The Cabrini Day Nursery on St. Philip Street remained open until 1999 as a Head Start Center. It was sold and converted to luxury apartments. Mother Cabrini died in Chicago in 1917. In 1946, she was declared a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Since she had become a U.S. citizen in 1909, she was the first American to be canonized. Among the tributes to Mother Cabrini in New Orleans is a statue on the Harrison Avenue neutral ground in Lakeview. There is also Cabrini Playground in the lower French Quarter and a Cabrini Court in Gentilly. Cabrini High School also offers a "Walk in the Steps of Mother Cabrini" which their site describes as "a guided tour of Mother Cabrinis bedroom, museum, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel." For more information or to register, check here. Saturday, March 23, will mark the 75th annual Big Bass Fishing Rodeo at City Park, the oldest freshwater fishing rodeo in the country. The event was the brainchild of Paul Kalman, a New Orleans native who worked as a journalist and public relations executive. The avid outdoorsman also served on the City Park Board of Commissioners. As Kalman wrote in a January 1949 New Orleans Item column, The rodeo was started by The Item in 1946, when it came to the attention of The Item that City Park, which has some of the finest bass fishing waters in the United States, sponsored no fishing contest of its own. The event was also designed as a way to introduce the citys young people to fishing and to the fishing opportunities offered in City Park. 93 fishermen participated the first rodeo, which was held on April 7, 1946, and featured $100 in cash prizes. Now sponsored by the City Park Conservancy and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the event offers categories for all ages and skill levels. There is also a free family-friendly Fishtival with music, games and other activities. For more information visit neworleanscitypark.org. The regular session of the state legislature has only just begun, but Republicans have already notched scores of key legislative victories thanks to two special sessions and a series of executive orders remaking the state government in Gov. Jeff Landrys image. The breakneck pace at which Republicans have dismantled the modest criminal justice reforms of the past decade has been nothing short of breathtaking. In less than two weeks last month, they not only undid decades of hard work to modernize the states justice system but instituted new punitive policies, including eliminating parole and authorizing new, inhumane forms of capital punishment. And theyre not done. Lawmakers are proposing a number of additional criminal justice bills increasing prison sentences for some convictions to legalizing vehicular homicides under certain circumstances. But those changes during the second special session are likely only the beginning of a broad push to impose a host of often cruel conservative policy positions. Lawmakers in the House and Senate are once again targeting the LGBTQ community particularly transgender and gender nonconforming people with a series of bills legislating their very identities. Republicans and business interests also are gunning for what remains of Louisianas already weak labor protections, ranging from eliminating key child labor rules to banning public sector unions. The rights of young people are also under assault in a host of areas, including proposals to require the Ten Commandments be posted in public schools, ban their ability to freely use social media, limit the types of books they can find in libraries and further restrict their ability to make health care decisions. Even bar owners find themselves in the GOPs sights this year, with bills to raise the age of bartenders, make concealed carry legal in their establishments and even put them on the hook for liability if someone underage is served and is involved in a DUI. How many of the dozens of radical bills being considered pass remains to be seen. In theory, the remnants of old line country club style Republicans could, in theory, block or significantly water down the most controversial of these measures. But one thing is certain: Without a Democrat in the governors office, no part of the Republican Partys agenda can be ruled out anymore. Unmasking Mr. 100: The Enigma Behind Bitcoins 14th-Largest Holder A Bitcoin (BTC) whale known as Mr. 100 has captured the attention of the crypto community in recent days. The enigmatic individual has amassed a staggering 52,996 Bitcoin, worth over $3.5 billion, making them the 14th-largest holder of the digital currency. On March 15, the whale purchased at least 1,000 Bitcoin, which accounted for 52% of the total 1,907 BTC bought by the top 10 Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), sparking speculation about the true identity of Mr. 100. Mr. 100 Consistently Receives Bitcoin Interestingly, the wallet associated with Mr. 100 has been consistently receiving Bitcoin since November 2022, around the time of the FTX exchange collapse. Whats more, the wallet has been adding approximately 100 BTC on a daily basis since February 14. Larger Bitcoin transfers from a secondary wallet address have also been observed, with this secondary address accumulating tranches of 100 BTC since 2019. This suggests that Mr. 100 has been accumulating Bitcoin for quite some time. While the exact identity of Mr. 100 remains unknown, several theories have emerged. Some speculate that the whale could be a Hong Kong financial institution pre-seeding for ETFs, the Qatar Investment Authority, other Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds, a cold wallet associated with the South Korean Upbit exchange, or even an unidentified address belonging to a tech billionaire. What sets Mr. 100 apart is their relentless accumulation of Bitcoin, regardless of its price fluctuations. Notably, on March 12, when Bitcoin was trading above the $72,000 mark, Mr. 100 added a staggering 400 BTC to their holdings. This unwavering accumulation spree has propelled them to become the 14th-largest BTC holder, according to data from Bitinfocharts. Does Mr. 100 Wallet Belong to Upbit Exchange? Interestingly, blockchain intelligence firm Arkham Intelligence has tagged the Mr. 100 wallet as a cold wallet belonging to the Upbit cryptocurrency exchange. The firms analysis suggests that the wallet is associated with a VASP-type service, and the incoming transactions are traced back to Upbit. Crystal Intelligence, another analytics team, confirms that the wallets outflows have been directed to an Upbit hot wallet. Most of these transactions involve significant amounts, with some transfers reaching as high as 3,000 BTC. This evidence has led to the hypothesis that Mr. 100 could indeed be linked to Upbit. The movement of 100 BTC at regular intervals may be Upbits unique method of managing their cold and hot wallet assets, as suggested by pseudonymous on-chain analyst Defioasis. Furthermore, it has been noted that a South Korean entity has been accumulating large amounts of Bitcoin, adding weight to the theory that Mr. 100s activities are connected to Upbit. It is worth noting that the US government is the largest holder of Bitcoin (BTC), acquiring approximately 200,000 coins (worth around $5 billion) through seizures related to criminal activities. The digital assets were seized from cybercriminals and darknet markets and are securely stored offline in encrypted hardware wallets controlled by various federal agencies, including the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). For months there have been strong speculation about the use of the former Royal Ordnance Factory site just to the east of Bridgwater (adjacent to Junction 23 off the M5). This 616-acre site was for several decades the place where the UK made its ammunition. This was largely high explosives. The production area was huge, the site had vast numbers of buildings and even its own railway sidings. When the premises was closed, it was the subject of a major clean up and the demolition of a lot of the buildings. In those days we were less careful about contamination. The pressure to produce munitions, particularly during war time, also meant that less care could be taken about the environmental impact of using highly toxic materials, such as sulphur. Once the use had ceased however, all these problems were identified, and it has taken nearly 10 years to get to a point where the site could be developed. A huge amount of work has already been done to enable activity to recommence. The small adjacent village of Puriton now has a shiny new bypass. This makes commercial vehicle access to the M5 much easier to achieve. The site changed hands and has eventually ended up in the ownership of the Salamanca Group. They christened it Gravity, which is a name that has stuck and suggests the vision for its future as an area for the extensive use of alternative and natural energy. It is rare to have a site this big in any part of the country. In the South West it is probably the only significant strategic site which could accommodate a huge new manufacturing process. There have been several false starts. Even Elon Musk flew over to have a look. Progress has however now been made. It has just been confirmed that Tata Group, the Indian conglomerate which owns Jaguar Land Rover, has finally bought land at this site in order to build a 4billion Giga-Factory. Thereby creating around 4,000 jobs full time and an extensive construction project. The Tata division which deals with battery production is called Agratas. It is planned that it can commence construction almost immediately, with an aim of first production of batteries by 2026/ 2027. The 40 GWh battery is set to be the biggest battery factory in the country and by the early 2030s will contribute almost half of the projected required battery managing capacity for the group. So, what does this development mean for Northern Devon and the South West economy? The planned development is so big that it will have local, regional, and national impact. The factory will be built on a fast-track basis. It is likely that there will be around 2000 workers required for the construction phase. This, when completed, will become a specialist employment hub with direct jobs estimated at around 4,000 (full time equivalent). Importantly, for us, however, it is estimated that there will be around 5,000 additional jobs which form part of the supplier network needed to support the production. This is where the great opportunity for North Devon should be focused. It is perhaps interesting to compare this with the Hinkley C project. This now has around 10,000 workers who are being bused and trained in from all around the UK and Eastern Europe. Once, however, the nuclear power button is switched on, the long-term employment created is around 1,000 jobs. Many of those local companies who are supporting the construction phase will slowly but surely fulfil their role and by somewhere around the mid-2030s there will be no more work. This is why the Giga Factory is so important. When in full production, there will be a fantastic opportunity for many of our local companies. This should be a long-term proposition for those who are successful. I have looked at what is happening currently in Sunderland where there is also a Giga Factory, which supplies the Nissan plant. This is proving to be enormously valuable for the local economy. I would urge companies that feel they can contribute to the success of Gravity to visit the Gravity website at https://thisisgravity.co.uk/community/supply-chain It's rare in Cumberland County that a civilian dies at the hands of law enforcement. Ultrarare, in fact: at most three instances in the past decade. Yet two have occurred in the past three months, after the third one happened just a couple years ago. And this local jump coincides with a national increase in police officers killing civilians whether justified or not. What we're seeing is that there is actually even though it might be less in volume an increase in terms of per capita and rates in rural and suburban areas, said Abdul Nasser Rad, managing director of research and data at criminal justice reform nonprofit Campaign Zero, which tracks police-civilian killings. In all three Cumberland County incidents Hampden Township last week, Carlisle in January and North Middleton Township in February 2022 the civilians were confirmed or alleged to have a weapon and posing a threat to officers. In North Middleton Township, a wounded officer shot and killed a man who had shot him and later pointed his handgun at the officer. And in Carlisle, an officer shot and killed a man as he was attacking a fellow officer with a sharpened deer antler. Both deaths were ruled justified by Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack. Last Thursday, a person was shot and killed by a Hampden Township Police officer. Pennsylvania State Police reported that their early investigation showed the person had a firearm, but they have not released further details as they investigate further before McCormack makes his judgment. And while the three incidents check the same boxes, their timing especially the two in 2024 is likely coincidental, said Lt. Adam Reed, communications director for Pennsylvania State Police. McCormack declined to comment because the Hampden Township investigation is ongoing. Police-civilian killings increasing Civilian deaths nationwide caused by police have increased every year since 2019, according to data tracked by MappingPoliceViolence.org, a project of Campaign Zero. In the data, "civilian" deaths include perpetrators of crimes. Last year, 1,329 civilians were killed by law enforcement, the organization found via government records and news reports. Thats up from 1,089 in 2013, the earliest year tracked by the organization. In Pennsylvania, Mapping Police Violences data, which are current to late February, show 289 civilians killed by police since 2013, when also adding last weeks Hampden Township incident. Of those killed, 95% were male, 73% were allegedly armed, and 94% died from a gunshot, the three characteristics of Cumberland Countys incidents. Data before 2013 show an even starker increase. Using cause-of-death records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a watchdog group at the University of Illinois Chicago found civilians killed by police has nearly doubled since the turn of the century. In 2021, the latest year available in CDC's WONDER database, 683 civilians were reported killed by law enforcement, according to the university's Law Enforcement Epidemiology Project. WONDER stands for Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research. In 2020, 794 civilians were killed by police, which is nearly twice the number killed 10 years prior, when numbers had been relatively stable since 1999. Why the recent incidents? Police killings of civilians have been rising in some places but falling in others, Rad said, as significant changes in enforcement trends have happened across the U.S. in urban, suburban and rural areas. One trend that may help explain Cumberland Countys recent incidents is an increase in arrests per capita in suburban areas. Any sort of increase in interactions results in a potential risk of deadly force, Rad said, and you could imagine, whether its mental health, whether its drug use or someone going through some sort of psychotic episode. In 2017, Pew Research Center found 42% of U.S. police officers often or nearly always worried about their personal safety on the job. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, the states largest organization of sworn law enforcement, pointed to a recent op-ed in The Sentinel written by Joe Regan, in which he criticized ambush-style shootings of officers. Its never been more dangerous to be in law enforcement, Regan wrote, citing ambushes like one in Scranton in January in which a man shot an officer in the head while he was in his cruiser. Regan also cited an FBI analysis of attacks against officers in 2016 that found common characteristics among assailants were access to firearms, mental health challenges and expressed desire to kill police prior to attacking them. Other data, however, shows that Regans statement is insane, Rad said, because it lacks decades of perspective. The U.S. murder rate, despite a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, is still well below its peak in the 1980s and '90s. And even though crime is up in some places compared to last decade, it varies by city. The U.S. is not a monolith, Rad said about Regans claim, and I think that narratives like that could be extremely dangerous. To Regans point, however, felonious killings of law enforcement hit a 25-year high in 2021 with 73 deaths. They dropped to 60 in 2022, the latest year available. Accidental deaths in the line of duty, though, are much lower than where they were in the first half of this century. It was through an article shared on social media that Sarah Shoff first became aware of Big Spring School Districts Operation Lost Sheep committee. Designed to investigate and identify why students are leaving the district for cyber or charter schools, the formation of the committee received board approval last month. I feel the committee is a good thing, Shoff said. I think the school district should be aware of why they are losing students. However, she and her husband, Darrin, who live in Penn Township, believe the committees name should be changed. Their children, Dalton, 8, a second-grader, and Delilah, 5, in kindergarten, are enrolled in Commonwealth Charter Academy, or CCA, a Pennsylvania cyber charter school. Theyre not lost, they are completely in charge of their future and their education, Darrin Shoff said. They are by no means lost or sheep. Both Dalton and Delilah began their education in charter school, rather than a brick-and-mortar environment. It was factors like curriculum offerings and flexible scheduling that prompted the Shoffs to opt for charter school education. A lot of people left Big Spring, from what Ive heard, because of bullying, and I think its a really odd tactic to try to figure out why these folks are leaving or bring them back by essentially bullying kids, because we dont name call in our house, Sarah Shoff said. In our house, we teach them not to call each other names, but then the whole school district is labeling them something that we feel is inappropriate. CCA expressed their thoughts on the committees name through an email sent to district families. We believe that labeling families who have chosen to send their children to the school that best meets their needs as lost sheep is not only judgmental but it is also patronizing, the academy said. We hope that this selection of wording is just a naive oversight. The formation of the Operation Lost Sheep committee came at the suggestion of board member Julie Boothe. I think that the opportunity to dive into this and just take a closer look as to what has caused families to leave, maybe what were the circumstances around their choices to leave, and allow the community to have some input in that I think would be very ... helpful insight for the board moving forward [and] making decisions, she said during the boards Feb. 20 meeting. Consisting of three school board members, one district administrator and three community volunteers, the committee is scheduled to meet monthly at 7 p.m. on the Thursday prior to the first board meeting of the month. Meetings will take place in the middle school cafeteria or in the district office if the cafeteria is unavailable, and are open to the public. An agenda for the boards upcoming meeting Monday includes a motion to approve a chairperson for the committee. The Shoffs plan to share their thoughts during that meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Photos: Archbishop Carroll survives Big Spring in PIAA boys basketball opener SAN FRANCISCO Esa-Pekka Salonen will leave the San Francisco Symphony following the 2024-25 season, just his fifth as music director, announcing his departure Thursday with a statement critical of the orchestra's leadership. "I do not share the same goals for the future of the institution as the board of governors does," Salonen said in a statement. Salonen was not discussing his decision beyond the statement, spokeswoman Amanda Ameer said. The symphony board is chaired by Priscilla B. Geeslin, whose husband Keith Geeslin is president of San Francisco Opera. Matthew Spivey is in his first season as CEO after one year in an interim role. Orchestra spokeswoman Taryn Lott said Priscilla B. Geeslin and Spivey were not available to comment. Salonen, who turns 66 in June, was hired in December 2018 to start with the 2020-21 season and follow the 25-year tenure of Michael Tilson Thomas. Salonen praised the orchestra, saying in his statement Thursday he is "proud to continue working with the world-class musicians." His departure creates yet another vacancy on a major U.S. podium. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has not announced a replacement for Riccardo Muti, who retired at the end of the 2022-23 season; the Los Angeles Philharmonic is looking for a successor to Gustavo Dudamel, who leaves after the 2025-26 season to head the New York Philharmonic; and Franz Welser-Most will retire from the Cleveland Orchestra after the 2026-27 season. James Conlon said this week he will step down as Los Angeles Opera music director after the 2025-26 season. The San Francisco Symphony announced Salonen's departure as it released the schedule for his final season with the orchestra. Salonen was principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 1995 and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1992 to 2009. He was principal conductor and artistic adviser for London's Philharmonia from 2008 to 2021. Frida Kahlo used her own experiences to inform her art. In that spirit, Kahlo's personal writings are used to help tell the story of her life in a new documentary, "Frida." Filmmaker Carla Gutierrez blends first person narration with archival footage and interpretive animation of Kahlo's work in the film, which is now streaming on Prime Video. Gutierrez, who was born in Peru and moved to the United States when she was a teenager, remembers first really connecting with Kahlo's paintings in college. "I was a new immigrant and there was one specific painting that really introduced me to her voice as an artist of her in between the border of the United States and Mexico," Gutierrez said in an interview with The Associated Press earlier this year. "I just saw my experience at the time really reflected in the painting. Then she just kind of became part of my life." Gutierrez was an editor by trade and content with that path in filmmaking. She was working on meaningful projects like "RBG" and "Julia," which allowed her to be intimately involved creatively. But when a director friend whispered Kahlo's name to her, she went back and re-read one of those books she'd read in college. Within hours she was making plans to direct. "I feel like this story really just kind of told me that I needed to step up and direct this one," she said. "I realized she could tell a lot of her own story and I felt like that hadn't been made yet. Hopefully it's a new way of getting into her world and in her mind and her heart and really understanding the art in a more intimate, raw way." Kahlo did not do many interviews herself over the years, Gutierrez said, but she did write very intimate and personal letters. She was surprised by her sense of humor, her sarcasm and her irony as well as and "how explicit she was about her opinions." "It's kind of like messy confidence and messy feminism in a way," she said. The filmmaking team had to search several different museums to find those letters that they would compile into a full picture, including the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City, the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. (where her correspondence with her mother was housed) and the Philatelic Museum of Oaxaca, where they found her letters to her doctor about everything from her complex marriage to her miscarriage. One of the biggest creative decisions was to animate Kahlo's art throughout, which has proved a bit divisive since the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Some love it. Some don't. But it was part of the vision for the film from the earliest stages. The hope, Gutierrez said, was to transport audiences from the real world into her internal world. "I always thought about her heart and her veins just kind of moving from her hands into the canvas," she said. "We wanted to be very respectful to the paintings but bring in lyrical animation to feel like we were immersing into her actual feelings and heart." She is also especially proud that her collaborators are mostly Latinx and bilingual. The composer is Mexican. The animation team is all women from Mexico. "To inject this cultural understanding of the country into the film is fantastic," she said. CROWN POINT A judge sentenced a Merrillville man to 12 years in prison for shooting a man 11 times in July 2021 at an Auto Zone, court records show. Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones wrote in a sentencing order Thursday that the nature of the crimes of which Hagan pleaded guilty to, felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor unlawful gun possession by a violent felon, plus additional factors warrant a sentence higher than the advisory sentence. Aggravated battery is a level three felony, which carries a possible sentence of between three and 16 years in prison. The advisory sentence is nine years. Hagan pleaded guilty in October to shooting the victim numerous times after the victim approached him in his vehicle on July 15, 2021 and asked him a question about money that Hagan owed the victim's wife, according to a plea agreement. Hagan had worked with the woman and she pointed him out to her husband when they arrived at the Auto Zone on the 6100 block of Broadway. Hagan got out of his car and fired at the victim's leg, which caused the victim to fall to the ground, according to information in a stipulated factual basis document. When the victim crawled behind an SUV, Hagan continued to fire. Hagan walked closer, fired more shots, then went back to his car and fled the scene. Jones wrote that Hagan deserved a longer sentence because he chose to continue to shoot at the victim, despite the fact that the victim was wounded and had crawled away. Hagan had recently violated the terms of his bond, which she believed warranted a higher sentence, the order said. Prosecutors dropped charges of attempted murder, two counts of battery and a theft case that Hagan picked up while out on bond in exchange for his guilty plea, the plea agreement said. Hagan intends to appeal the conviction, records show. The United States Environmental Protection Agency is making a renewed effort to secure permission for soil sampling from Town of Pines landowners whose properties may be affected by toxic coal ash. The agency's push comes as some local residents have raised concerns that the EPA's planned cleanup efforts will not be extensive enough, owing to faulty data on the "background" level of contaminants in the area. The agency says it will investigate the claim. Around four dozen Town of Pines residents gathered at Michigan City's City Council chambers on Thursday for the first public meeting on the topic held by the EPA since 2016. Roughly 400 land parcels in the small lakeside community still need to be checked for potentially dangerous concentrations of arsenic, thallium, lead and other heavy metals, EPA community involvement coordinator Kirsten Safakas told attendees. Exposure to high levels of toxic heavy metals in soil which can enter the body through inhalation, skin contact or consuming tainted produce can cause cancer, nervous system disorders and other health problems. Concerns over soil contamination in the Town of Pines stem from the presence of fly ash a fine particulate byproduct of burning coal at sites across the town. For decades, the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. provided fly ash from its Michigan City Generating Station to local landowners as landscaping fill. The company also dumped coal ash in a landfill known as Yard 520. Efforts to address coal ash pollution in the Town of Pines go back decades. Between 2000 and 2003, the EPA responded to complaints by Town of Pines residents of a bad taste in their well water. Water sampling revealed high concentrations of the metals boron and molybdenum, and led the agency to declare the area around the landfill a superfund alternative site with NIPSCO among the parties responsible for cleanup. Contaminants from fly ash were later discovered in residential soil, prompting the start of remediation efforts in 2016. In 2022, NIPSCO entered into a consent decree with the EPA and the State of Indiana that committed the company to funding the cleanup of remaining soil contaminants at an estimated cost of $11.8 million. The EPA is asking landowners within the eligible area, which includes the entire Town of Pines and nearby areas of Pine Township, to submit their contact information online so that NIPSCO can reach out to coordinate a trip to their property. Safakis acknowledged that reaching the owners of the unsampled properties, who have been contacted by mail, has been a challenge. "It's hard to get people to answer to respond from a mailer and I completely understand that," she said. "A lot of times people see something and they just throw it in the trash and that's understandable. We get a lot of junk mail these days." Safakis urged attendees of Thursday's meeting to talk to their neighbors in order to ensure that all eligible landowners are aware of the sampling initiative. Properties sampled by NIPSCO contractors will be divided into four quadrants, each of which will be sampled to a depth of five feet by removing a narrow cylinder of soil, EPA remedial project manager Erik Hardin explained to attendees. In the event that arsenic or other contaminants from coal ash are discovered in concentrations above a removal threshold, NIPSCO will pay for the excavation and replacement of up to three feet of topsoil. In cases where contaminants are found deeper than three feet, contractors will install a fabric demarcation barrier to separate the new backfill from remaining tainted soil. "If you're going to excavate below three feet, then you contact NIPSCO, they come out and excavate the additional material to facilitate whatever project is needed," Hardin said. Because arsenic and other metals contained in coal ash can occur naturally in in soil, the EPA's cleanup threshold is based on a "background" level of contaminants established by testing uncontaminated soil from the surrounding area. A group of local residents and environmental advocates has argued that the cleanup threshold established by the EPA for the Town of Pines is based on faulty data and should be adjusted to make more land parcels eligible for remediation. A letter to Safakas delivered on Thursday and signed by two Town of Pines residents along with representatives of the environmental groups Earthjustice and Just Transition Northwest Indiana criticized the work of NIPSCO contractor AECOM, who in 2016 conducted a feasibility study for the cleanup of coal ash in the area. The contractor "failed to eliminate from its set of 24 background soil samples a sample it knew contained fly ash and consequently a dangerous level of arsenic," the group wrote. Another soil sample included in the data set was also unusually high in arsenic, leading the letter writers to suspect it was also "impacted by an industrial source." Removing the two outliers, the letter said, would have a significant impact on the study's results. The background arsenic level determined by the study was 30.1 parts per million (ppm), but "if one removes the anomalous high arsenic values, the background level would be considered the highest of the remaining samples, which is 14.2 ppm," the group wrote. "Further, the average arsenic level of the 22 soil samples, after the removal of the two anomalous highest values, is 4.4 ppm." The letter writers cited a 2014 study by the United States Geological Survey that found that the median soil arsenic level in rural Indiana was 8.1 ppm. "Revision of the cleanup standard will likely increase the number of properties requiring cleanup due to arsenic contamination," the group wrote. "Should this occur, notice must be provided immediately to impacted homeowners and removal actions should proceed without delay." Hardin, who had not yet had time to fully review the letter on Thursday evening, voiced skepticism about the group's findings. "This is background study that was done in the past and has been reviewed by a number of people, so I'd be surprised if there was something new that was found," he told The Times. Experts at the EPA will review the data and adjust the cleanup threshold if required, Hardin said, adding that due to limited staff resources at the agency, "I can't say exactly how long that'll take." NIPSCO communications director Wendy Lussier told the Times that she is "not aware" of evidence that the background data set might be skewed. "We've worked with the EPA the entire time and they set the guidelines and the guidance on how the testing has been done," she said. "We follow their protocols so everything we've done has been in step with everything that they've guided us to do." Paul Kysel, former president of the now-defunct nonprofit People In Need of Environmental Safety (PINES) and one of the letter's signatories, said he is hopeful, but not optimistic, about the possibility that the letter will get results from the EPA. "Most of the people we've ever had any contact with at EPA including Erik Hardin have always struck us as being there because they believe in EPA's mission statement," Kysel told the Times. GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week The Hobart Chamber of Commerce will host its Business Expo later this month at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana. The annual event will run 3-7 p.m. March 28 at the $300 million casino at 5400 W. 29th Ave. on the Burr Street exit off the Borman Expressway in Gary's Black Oak neighborhood. The 2024 Hobart Chamber Business Expo will be a great opportunity to promote your business and services to an ambitious like-minded group of business reps and owners," Committee Chair James Juarez said. "We will be in the comfortably spacious Hard Rock Live hall with a big stage and big screens to amp up the day. Come join us for a day to network your way to success." It's an opportunity for businesses to showcase themselves, their products and services to fellow businesses and the general public. Booth and vendors spaces are still available. Concessions will be served by purchase and there will be commercials on the big screen of the concert hall at the Hard Rock Casino. This is a great opportunity to present your business to the public and also to the Northwest Indiana business Community at large," said Jay Harrigan, chamber executive director. Attendees can meet new Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun and learn more about doing business in the city in northeast Lake County. We are excited to be joining the Hobart Chamber at their Business Expo. Myself, along with other Department heads will be there on site to help answer any questions," Huddlestun said. "Also other mayors from other communities will be joining us as well. Its going to be a fun exciting time; we hope to see you there. For more information, call 219-942-5774, email info@hobartchamber.com or visit www.hobartchamber.com. A Hobart man was killed in a car crash Saturday. David Frizzell, a 59-year-old Hobart resident, died after a single-vehicle car accident at 121 S. Wisconsin St. in Hobart Saturday morning, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office. He was rushed by ambulance to the St. Mary Medical Center Emergency Room in Hobart, where he was pronounced dead by a physician at 11:03 a.m. The Lake County Coroner's Office was dispatched to the hospital at 1500 S. Lake Park Ave. in Hobart at 11:23 a.m. Saturday. His family was at his bedside and identified him to the coroner's office. An autopsy is slated to take place Sunday at the Lake County Forensic Science Center in Crown Point. The preliminary cause of death and the preliminary manner of death are pending. The Hobart Police Department and Hobart Fire Department Fire responded to the crash. NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the utility's parent company, gave more than $2.4 million to more than 250 nonprofits last year. The Merrillville-based gas and electric utility just released its 2023 Corporate Citizenship Report outlining its community impact in Northwest Indiana. It highlighted ways the company gave back to the communities where it operates, such as the 2,700 hours its employees volunteered at local nonprofits. Last year, the company gave grants or donations to support basic needs, hardship assistance, economic and workforce development, environmental stewardship, public safety, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or STEM education and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At NIPSCO, serving our communities is at the forefront of everything we do, said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO president. Our employees care about our communities and donate their time and resources to deserving organizations and causes. One of my favorite annual events is joining more than 100 walkers on the NIPSCO team at the American Heart Associations Heart Walk because these causes matter to us. Im proud of our team members who continuously contribute to making a positive difference year after year. NIPSCO has a Charity of Choice program in which employees get paid time off to volunteer. The utility's employees volunteered 800 hours for nonprofits like Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana, Humane Indiana and Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Inc. The utility also donated more than $150,000 through its annual Hope for the Holidays Campaign. Employees and shareholders supported nonprofits like Make a Kid Smile of Northwest Indiana and the Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana. The company's employees also donated more than 1,000 toys to eight Toys for Toys groups across Northern Indiana. NIPSCO helped community groups provide programs like educational camps, soup kitchens and handicap-accessible mobile resource centers. It's funded more than 124 projects through its Environmental Action Grant for the last eight years. Last year, it funded 15 projects like Monarch butterfly preservation, habitat restoration, youth outdoor nature education and sustainability programming. NIPSCOs Public Safety Education and Training Action Grant also funded 16 projects that included carbon monoxide educational training, lithium-ion battery response training and the distribution of carbon monoxide detectors to residents. The School Town of Munster has started negotiations to acquire The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, one of the Region's largest hubs of the arts, and turn it into an administrative center. Officials from the Town of Munster also had explored the possibility of buying and taking over the 72,660-square-foot arts center at 1040 Ridge Road after the town's loss of its special events venue at the Centennial Park clubhouse when the walls shifted and the building was condemned. Arts supporters, such as the Friends of the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation and the NWI Theatre, have been sending town officials emails about the future of The Center for Visual and Performing Arts and expect to turn out to the Town Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday and the Board of Parks and Recreation meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Munster Town Hall at 1005 Ridge Road. Town Councilman Chuck Gardiner described the efforts in an email to other council members obtained by The Times. "In a brief discussion with a school board member, they are looking to move their administration center to this site. This site would also allow them to create a preschool program if the need or the state requires them to administer preschool. I did mention to this board member that the town would like to be in conversation with the school town about partnerships, cooperation, etc.," Gardiner wrote in the email. "However, with this being said, back in 2023 (Clerk-Treasurer) Wendy (Mis) and myself had preliminary discussions with administrators at the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana about the potential of the Town of Munster purchasing this property." The town did not move forward at the time because of the fall election. "Much of the discussion took place during the second half of 2023 and therefore we did not feel it was appropriate to get too deep into discussion until after the new council was seated," Gardiner wrote in the email. "However, it is easy to see how the CVPA could host an expanded senior program, arts and theatre program, and possibly meeting and conference space could really be a great benefit to the residents of Munster. Much more, in my opinion, than a School Town Administration Center and possibly preschool." A handful of town officials toured the Center for Visual Performing Arts last fall because both the town and parks department were working on their comprehensive plans for the future, Mis said Friday. The town missed access to catering the Centennial Park clubhouse had provided, and that service was available right across the street from town hall at the CVPA. "Someone suggested with the proximity how it would fit," she said. "People walked through the building and definitely saw some opportunity. There was a municipal election and we were exploring options. It wasn't listed for sale so we didn't think there was any urgency to it." Both comprehensive plans are still ongoing and the newly elected Town Council hadn't had the opportunity to discuss the matter yet, Mis said. "This came up suddenly with the schools," she said. "We'd be willing to have a conversation with the arts groups, the schools and Community Hospital how we could collaboratively work together." The town has been flooded with comments from concerned residents. More than 70 people have submitted comments for Monday's council meeting, and Mis expects to get even more before then. "So far 100% of the comments are in support of the town working with the arts organizations and have been really positive," she said. "I used to work there when I was the executive director of the chamber of commerce. It's been a cultural cornerstone. We need to have a conversation with a lot of organizations and how we can work together so it can continue to be a cultural cornerstone." Munster Schools Superintendent Bret Heller said a town official had mentioned in passing to him that the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana was looking to sell the 35-year-old arts center, which has entertained and edified generations of Region residents. It's home to South Shore Arts, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, the Theatre at the Center, Trama Catering and a ballroom that hosts banquets, Sunday brunches and countless weddings. "Interestingly, a member of the town mentioned to me in passing that the Center for Visual and Performing Arts might be coming up for sale, they might be looking to part with that property," he said. "I did some digging to see if it was true or a town rumor. I got the word that yes, in the right situation, for the right buyer the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana might be interested. So we started to do some due diligence what the building looked like, if it met our needs. We started dreaming about all the ways that building could be used for the School Town of Munster. From there, we started conversations with the Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, what that looks like and why they're looking to move out of that." The board authorized the school to start negotiating a contract through which it would pay for the facility with a mortgage bond it's also using on other projects, such as to renovate fine arts, choir, band and orchestra classrooms and the 1,000-seat auditorium at Munster High School. Bond proceeds also will go to bleachers and a new scoreboard at the high school, as well as the library and guidance office at the middle school. "It will go to boilers, chillers, pipes and a ton of things that aren't very exciting but are needed to run school buildings," he said. Heller said it would be paid for through existing debt and would not raise property taxes or require approval in a referendum. "It could be complicated. There are a lot of moving parts with a facility like that," he said. Heller said the school appreciated the role of the arts and would have talks with South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra about staying on as tenants. The symphony maintains its office there and South Shore Arts has an office, gift shop, public gallery spaces and classrooms where art students of all ages learn ceramics, drawing, painting and many other artistic disciplines. Heller sees possible learning opportunities for visual and music students. "We saw potential for a future house for our central office, but only a portion of it. We don't need that much space. We don't need all the space that's over there," he said. "So there's the potential for us to partner with the tenants that are currently in the building. All of that needs to be negotiated as we go through the process. We need to sit down with each of those tenants as we get closer to the finish line to see what that looks like." The school would take about 8,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet of the building and would hope to continue to operate the rest as an events center. "There's very passionate people who want to maintain a presence of the arts in Munster and we also see a value in that," he said. "There's a great symbiotic relationship with our arts programs and what they do. South Shore Arts and the Northwest Symphony, we want to figure out if there is a way for us to continue to work together in that building. We want to figure out a way to work together if we can because we see a great connection between those two programs and our existing programs." But the schools would not host events like weddings, banquets or plays. Heller said it was not interested in being in the business of event management and could not hold a liquor license under state law, which would kill off the wedding business. "For us running an event center that's going to host weddings is probably not something we're going to be in the business of doing," he said. "I assume we're not going to be an attractive destination because there's not going to be an alcohol license with the school owning the facility." Heller said the timeline for the purchase could be two months, six months or longer. "It depends on the interactions we could have with everybody to pull this off," he said. "This is a functioning events center right now. You have a theater that's hosting events. You have weddings scheduled and banquets scheduled. We'll have to work with the foundation on all of those. We'll have to work with those tenants about what this will look like going forward. We're going into this with a very open mind about what this might look like and what it could look like." Many details will need to be worked out, such as what portions of the building would be renovated into a central office and where the existing tenants would go. The school would likely look at repurposing the 410-seat theater for its own students. "The hard part with the Theatre at the Center is hosting outside events. I don't know that we're going to be in the events business," he said. "There are full-time staff employed by the foundation just to book events, book the artists, make sure all the artists' need are taken care of and make sure everything's done. I think that's part of why people want to get out of that building. They don't want to be in the events business anymore. It's not a very profitable situation. It's not something we're going to want to be in, the outside events business. The theater will remain. We will use it for our internal performances and would be willing to lease it out to host performances. Where we're an events center where we're going to manage the events, I don't think that's unlikely. I don't have the staff that's going to manage events like that." Heller said the school would be interested in leasing the stage out to the Theatre at the Center if someone else wanted to take it over. "I don't get the impression that that's the case, that there's an organization that would want to continue to run the theater for us in that building," he said. "Somebody else would have to come and say we'll run it for you. Then we'd still be open. We like the idea of adding the auditorium for our own use but that doesn't mean there's not value for it to be used beyond our use if the right situation were to arise." The School Town of Munster would create a separate entrance for its administrative offices but likely look to keep the remaining art center portion open the public, which would still be able to access the gallery and classrooms, Heller said. "Yes, they want to part with the building. Yes, we're interested in the facility. Now we've got to talk about what that looks like and figure out if we can find a good spot where we meet in the middle and that works for both sides," he said. "What I don't know is if we didn't purchase that building what would the Community Foundation would do." Wade resigned from the Georgia Trump case Nathan Wade resigned today from his post as special prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump. The move came after an Atlanta judge told Fani Willis, Wades boss and former romantic partner, that she and her office could keep the case only if Wade stepped down. In a pivotal ruling, Judge Scott McAfee said that the romance between Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, and Wade, the lawyer she hired to manage the case, created an appearance of impropriety, but he said there was insufficient proof of a conflict of interest and he declined to disqualify her. With delays mounting, the case against Trump and 14 co-defendants, which is related to efforts to undo Trumps election loss in Georgia in 2020, is unlikely to come to trial before the November election. Willis emerges from weeks of embarrassing hearings and headlines with a bruised reputation that could color the views of a future jury, making convictions more difficult. Another Trump trial: A New York judge delayed Trumps criminal trial in Manhattan until at least mid-April, postponing the only one of his four criminal cases that appeared set to begin. The Justice Department is sending subpoenas and using a recently convened grand jury in Seattle as it widens a criminal investigation into the door plug that blew off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in January, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. The detachment of the panel from the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff terrified passengers at 16,000 feet and required an emergency landing back at Portland International Airport in Oregon. A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board said four bolts meant to secure the door plug in place were missing before the panel blew off. This month, it was reported that the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation of Boeing, which had reinstalled the door plug during maintenance in Renton, Wash., before delivering the plane to Alaska Airlines in October. The subpoenas and use of the grand jury were reported earlier Friday by Bloomberg. The midair incident on Jan. 5 led the Federal Aviation Administration to ground more than 170 Max 9 planes, which were then inspected for construction flaws. Boeing said it agreed with the F.A.A.s decision and pledged to cooperate. The company has said safety is its top priority. MEADVILLE The husband of a pregnant Amish woman killed inside her rural Pennsylvania home late last month testified Friday that his two children told him about the crime when he got back from looking at potential roofing jobs. I didnt really believe it, Andy Byler said at a preliminary hearing for Shawn C. Cranston, charged with two counts of homicide in the Feb. 26 killing of Rebekah Byler and her unborn child. I walked in and saw her cap laying inside the door. The district judge for the hearing ruled there was enough evidence to send the case to Crawford County Common Pleas Court for trial proceedings. Cranston, 52, a truck driver who lives in Corry, about 8 miles from the Byler home near Spartansburg, is also charged with burglary and trespassing. District Judge Amy Nichols rejected a request to have the charges dismissed, despite an argument by defense attorney Gary Alan Kern that prosecutors did not identify a motive or produce a murder weapon. Rebekah Byler, 23, was shot in the head and suffered sharp wounds to her neck, state trooper Samuel Hubbard testified. Andy Byler said his wife had been doing laundry when he left that morning with a neighbor and a driver. When he got back home and went inside, Byler said he saw his wife on the floor. The driver, Julie Warner, called 911 while he waited in a truck for police to arrive. Warner said she tried to calm him down and went into the house to collect the children. She found them playing with toys in the dining room and led them out to the porch. Warner said she told a 911 dispatcher she felt she could not check Rebekah Bylers pulse but that she could tell her body was cold. Other witnesses described seeing a red Jeep in the area that morning, including parked by the Byler home. A neighbor testified that Cranston drove a red Jeep. Members of the Amish community filled four rows on one side of the courtroom for Fridays hearing. Cranston was wearing a bulletproof vest and said nothing during the proceedings. In court documents filed for a search of the murder scene, state police said they recovered guns, ammunition, knife parts and other items. Cranston has been in the county jail without bond since being arrested March 2. A United Airlines flight that took off on Friday morning from San Francisco International Airport landed in Oregon missing an external panel, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The panel was found to be missing after the plane, a Boeing 737-800, landed safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Oregon and parked at a gate, United Airlines said in a statement. It was unclear when or how the panel went missing. According to the airline, there was no indication of any damage to the plane during the flight, and the aircraft did not declare an emergency on its way to the Medford airport. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service, the airline said. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. A federal court on Friday temporarily halted new rules from the Securities Exchange Commission that require public companies to disclose more about the business risks they face from climate change, siding with two oil and gas companies that criticized the requirements as costly and arbitrary. Approved by the S.E.C. this month, the rules require some publicly traded companies to disclose their climate risks, and how much greenhouse gas emissions they produce. Industry groups, as well as their political allies, have filed numerous lawsuits challenging the regulation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents a wide cross-section of industries, filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit this week to stop the rules, calling them unconstitutional. Ten Republican-led states have also sued to stop the rules. The emergency stay granted by Fifth Circuit judges on Friday came in a case brought by two fracking companies, Liberty Energy and Nomad Proppant Services. There is no clear authority for the S.E.C. to effectively regulate the controversial issue of climate change, the two companies wrote in their petition. They were arbitrary and capricious, the two companies said, and violated the First Amendment, which protects free speech, by effectively mandating discussions about climate change. A former Connecticut state trooper was acquitted on Friday of manslaughter and other charges in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Black man after a car chase four years ago. The trooper, Brian D. North, was criminally charged in 2022 in the killing of the teenager, Mubarak Soulemane, on Jan. 15, 2020. The killing occurred after Mr. Soulemane, who had schizophrenia, led state troopers on a chase that ended in West Haven, Conn., where Mr. North, who is white, fired seven shots through the drivers side window. The six-person jury hearing the case in Milford found Mr. North not guilty on all charges, including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Mr. Norths lawyers clapped him on the back as the jury foreman announced the verdict. This was a difficult case, Judge H. Gordon Hall of State Superior Court told the jury. The work that you did was hard, and like I told you in the first place, you wont ever forget it. After a bill that would force TikToks Chinese parent company to sell the app or face a nationwide ban sailed through the House at breakneck speed this week, its progress has slowed in the Senate. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader who determines what legislation gets a vote, has not decided whether to bring the bill to the floor, his spokesman said. Senators some of whom have their own versions of bills targeting TikTok will need to be convinced. Other legislation on the runway could be prioritized. And the process of taking the House bill and potentially rewriting it to suit the Senate could be time consuming. Many in the Senate are keeping their cards close to their vest about what they would do on the TikTok measure, even as they said they recognized the House had sent a powerful signal with its vote on the bill, which passed 352 to 65. The legislation mandates that TikToks parent company, ByteDance, sell its stake in the app within six months or face a ban. The lesson of the House vote is that this issue is capable of igniting almost spontaneously in the support that it has, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, said in an interview on Friday. He said that there could be adjustments made to the bill but that there was bipartisan support to wrest the app from Chinese ownership. A commission investigating the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, concluded on Friday that local law enforcement officers should have taken the gunman into custody and seized his weapons before he killed 18 people on Oct. 25. The decision to instead give the shooters family responsibility for removing his weapons was an abdication of law enforcements responsibility, the commission wrote in its 30-page interim report, intended to provide early findings to legislators who are weighing several proposals for changes to the states laws, spurred by the events. The local sheriffs department had sufficient probable cause to take the gunman, Robert R. Card II, into custody and remove his weapons because of a likelihood of serious harm, the commission said in its report. The seven-member Independent Commission to Investigate the Facts of the Tragedy in Lewiston has held seven public meetings since last November, collecting testimony from Mr. Cards Army Reserve supervisors, local and state police officers, as well as survivors and family members of the victims. The panel has pressed witnesses for details of their actions in the months leading up to the shooting, when the gunman displayed increasingly erratic and paranoid behavior, convinced that people he did not know were calling him a pedophile. Over 44 painstakingly scripted minutes on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, spoke of his Jewish identity, his love for the State of Israel, his horror at the wanton slaughter of Israelis on Oct. 7 and his views on the apportionment of blame for the carnage in Gaza, saying that it first and foremost lay with the terrorists of Hamas. Then Mr. Schumer, a New York Democrat and the highest-ranking elected Jew in American history, said Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was an impediment to peace, and called for new elections in the worlds only Jewish state. The opposition was not nearly so painstaking. Within minutes, the House Republican leadership demanded an apology. The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, using Mr. Netanyahus nickname, declared: Make no mistake the Democratic Party doesnt have an anti-Bibi problem. It has an anti-Israel problem. And the Republican Jewish Coalition proclaimed that the most powerful Democrat in Congress knifed the Jewish state in the back. The months that have followed the slaughter of Oct. 7 and the ensuing, calamitously deadly war in Gaza have been excruciating for American Jews, caught between a tradition of liberalism that has dominated much of Jewish politics and an anti-Israel response from the political left that has left many feeling isolated and, at times, persecuted. Iran and the United States held secret, indirect talks in Oman in January, addressing the escalating threat posed to Red Sea shipping by the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the attacks on American bases by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, according to Iranian and U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The secret talks were held on Jan. 10 in Muscat, the capital of Oman, with Omani officials shuffling messages back and forth between delegations of Iranians and Americans sitting in separate rooms. The delegations were led by Ali Bagheri Kani, Irans deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, and Brett McGurk, President Bidens coordinator for the Middle East. The meeting, first reported by The Financial Times this week, was the first time Iranian and American officials had held in-person negotiations albeit indirectly in nearly eight months. American officials said Iran requested the meeting in January and the Omanis strongly recommended that the United States accept. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza after Hamass Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the United States and Iran have reassured each other that neither was seeking a direct confrontation, a stance conveyed in messages they passed through intermediaries. Every morning in his townhouse in the tony San Francisco neighborhood of Pacific Heights, the man once referred to as Britains Bill Gates gets to work. That man, Mike Lynch, checks in with his investment firm, Invoke Capital, on its recent performance. He speaks with researchers in Cambridge, England, whom he funds personally, about the ways artificial intelligence could be used to help those with hearing difficulties. He receives updates on the heritage Red Poll cattle and other livestock at his farm in Suffolk, in the east of England. Eventually, Mr. Lynch, 58, turns to his most important task: defending himself against 16 criminal counts of conspiracy and fraud. If convicted, he will face up to 20 years behind bars. The trial begins on Monday in San Francisco, where federal prosecutors who extradited Mr. Lynch from Britain in May and placed him under house arrest have accused the former tech mogul of defrauding Hewlett-Packard of billions when he sold HP his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion in 2011. Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to workfriend@nytimes.com. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited. Is It Real or Is It Memorex? I am a senior lead and manage large, complex projects and teams. My organization has a thorough review process for all projects, with many quality enhancement steps. I recently noticed colleagues are sending ChatGPT generated responses without acknowledging that their response was generated by artificial intelligence. After seeing a recent review with a suspected A.I.-generated set of bullet points, a team member was able to verify that the response had been generated by A.I. I support the use of A.I. to improve efficiency, but this sort of review has the opposite effect: The A.I.-generated response does not take into account previous discussions/decisions during the review process and can generate unnecessary busy work. Are other organizations seeing this sort of internal use of A.I.? And what is the best way to broach this subject without causing a negative reaction? Anonymous Many organizations are grappling with how to manage A.I. in the workplace. The next time someone turns in work generated by A.I. without an appropriate acknowledgment, simply tell them that moving forward, they need to identify all A.I.-generated work. But its also important to take a more expansive approach instead of trying to address the issue on a case-by-case basis. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop A.I. guidelines that reflect the realities of the work your organization does. When is it appropriate for employees to use A.I.? How should they acknowledge and cite A.I.-generated work? When is using the technology not appropriate? What are the consequences for employees who do not follow these guidelines? How are you going to train staff to use A.I.? How are you going to train managers to identify work that is generated by it? These are the early days of the mass adoption of A.I. It is an imperfect tool, however exciting its potential may be. We need to think carefully about the ethics of using A.I. and remember that artificial intelligence is not human. It lacks a moral code. It lacks judgment. There are limits to what it knows and what it can do. Continue That Ed, for Yourself Ive been in the same office for more than 25 years, and Im largely self-taught. Because Ive shown a willingness to learn independently, whenever we have new tools or changes to existing tools its assumed I dont need training. Im also expected to train new employees. However, because Im self-taught I have trouble articulating steps. Are there resources that can help with this? The irony that Im self-taught but dont know how to train myself to be a better trainer isnt lost on me, but I sincerely want to give others the sort of help I havent always received myself. Anonymous Dont be so hard on yourself. Training and instructional design are specific areas of expertise. If your employer expects you to train new employees, ask if they will support your professional development and pay for you to take an instructional design course or workshop. There are also many books that you may find helpful. Cathy Moores Map It: The Hands-On Guide to Strategic Training Design, is well-regarded. Id also suggest Design For How People Learn by Julie Dirksen. As you start to develop resources, think, what are the most important things people need to know about using these tools? How can you best communicate that information to new learners? Good luck! I asked Melissa Clark what to do with the rest of the Irish cream: Id add it to chocolate pudding or pots de creme, she said. Itd be great in butterscotch pudding, too. You could add it to whipped cream, pour it over ice cream, drizzle it in buttercream. Yum. To transition from the sweet to the savory, Genevieve Kos simple maple-baked salmon adds just enough maple syrup to balance the spicy mustard and acidic lemon in her pantry-friendly sauce. Mayonnaise and low heat ensure silky results. Whatever isnt eaten with rice for dinner is going on my bagel for breakfast. Speaking of leftovers: While the weather isnt yet warm enough to keep me outside, Im trying to use my weekend cooking to prep for weekday eating. A batch of kotlets Iranian meat, potato and onion patties seasoned with cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves will turn into quick dinners and, tucked into bread with some pickles, excellent lunchtime sandwiches. (For more easy, economical meals, be sure to check out this recipe collection.) This jocon (chicken and tomatillo stew), adapted by Christina Morales from a recipe by Jorge Cardenas, looks absolutely dreamy: chicken thighs braised in a velvety tomatillo-pumpkin seed puree thats spiked with jalapeno and garlic. The recipe yields eight servings, so Ill stash half of it into the freezer for a how-is-it-not-Friday Thursday night. After serving as a cornerstone of the Corner in Charlottesville for more than 30 years, the Biltmore has closed. The popular late-night establishment feet from the University of Virginia, which boasted the citys largest outdoor patio, closed its doors in December. But, in a testament to the popularity of the UVa-adjacent commercial district, a new bar is already opening in its place, one that promises to retain the live music and beach bar atmosphere of its predecessor. I do believe some things run their course, Anderson McClure, owner of the Virginian Restaurant Company, told The Daily Progress. Except for the Virginian. The Virginian Restaurant Company ran the Biltmore and continues to operate Citizen Burger Bar on the Downtown Mall and, of course, the Virginian, Charlottesvilles oldest restaurant, on the Corner. Ashley Major, a UVa graduate and longtime manager with the Virginian Restaurant Company, purchased the Biltmore from the McClures at the beginning of the year. Since taking over the space, Major has been hard at work transforming the Biltmore into Ellies Country Club, what she describes as a modern country and pop styled bar and restaurant. Ellies, which takes its name from the bars address on Elliewood Avenue, held a soft launch this week, opening Thursday for a sneak preview weekend, Major told The Daily Progress via email. The grand opening, she said, will be next Thursday. I believe being a woman owned and alumni owned business smack dab in the middle of UVA country is something people could really respond to, said Major. We have nothing like that on the Corner, and we dont even really have anything like that in the surrounding area. The new business owner received the blessing and support of her former boss. I bought the Biltmore in 2009, so it was a huge deal to me, but honestly, Ashley Major taking over the space and turning it into her modern country bar is as exciting as it gets, said McClure. I am so proud. The Biltmore made a name for itself over three decades as the citys (perhaps more specifically UVas) beach bar getaway, offering pub fare, outdoor drinking, live music, dancing, game day watch parties and discounted survivor hours. Originally a boarding house for visitors to the university across the street, the Biltmore, or at least the first business using that name, opened in 1989. At first a casual dining spot, the real estate took on its most recent iteration in 2009 when McClure took over and transformed the Biltmore brand. Now, the Biltmore will go through yet another transformation. But the difference between a beach bar and a country bar remains to be seen. Majors description of Ellies Country Club bears a striking resemblance to the Biltmore: live music, big bars and great food. On a recent visit to the establishment, The Daily Progress witnessed some hints of what changes Majors is bringing: a fresh coat of blue paint, the name Ellies in big and bold lighted marquee letters and tiki-themed signage from the old Biltmore days in a pile out front. Its just the latest in a season of change for the Corner, which in spite of turnover has remained a viable investment for business owners in the city. A report released by the citys Office of Economic Development in January on the retail sector identified only three retail properties as vacant on the Corner, which it defined as all commercial establishments between Bank of America on Madison Lane and the Graduate Hotel, including side streets as well as the storefronts on the block of 14th Street to its intersection with Wertland Street (a larger footprint than typically accepted for the neighborhood). One of those vacancies was listed at 9 Elliewood Ave., home to Coupe DeVilles. The bar was closed for a two-year stint after a kitchen fire, but reopened in May. Another address that was reported as vacant was 104 14th Street NW, though the building has several tenants, such as Beijing Station, Thyme & Co. and Lemongrass. The neighborhood is blessed with high foot traffic thanks to its proximity to UVa Grounds, which has allowed older local businesses, such as the Virginian, to survive and newer national name brands, such as Starbucks and Chipotle, to thrive. In recent years, though, theres been some blurring of the lines between what constitutes an old and a new business, as new owners have taken over old establishments, menus and brands, preserving here and discarding there. Both the Virginian Restaurant and the White Spot greasy spoon down the street are good examples. More recently, earlier this year, a handful of UVa alumni announced they had purchased the name, menu and old location of the shuttered Littlejohns deli, which had operated on the Corner for 44 years before its pandemic-induced closure in 2022. The group also bought the space above Littlejohns that was previously Michaels Bistro & Taphouse, though they have yet to disclose their plans for the space. As for the Corners newest business, Ellies Country Club will be open from noon to 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday before hours become more regular after its grand opening next week. Im as excited as I could possibly be to bring this new style and feel to the Corner, said Major. I think UVa and the region as a whole are gonna love it! This story has been corrected to say that Anderson McClure's Virginian Restaurant Company operates the Virginian and Citizen Burger Bar. Lucky Blue's and Brightside Beach Pub are owned by his brother Patrick McClure. This year, for the first time, every New York City borough will host a St. Patricks Day Parade that allows L.G.B.T.Q. groups, bringing a decades-long conflict to an end. That milestone will be celebrated on Sunday with a new parade on Staten Island, part of a deal brokered by Mayor Eric Adams. Its the result of decades of work by activists like Brendan Fay, an indefatigable Irish immigrant who began lobbying for the inclusion of gay marchers 34 years ago. There has been a huge cultural transformation that I have lived through from 1990 until today, Mr. Fay, 65, said this week as he prepared to march in the Staten Island parade. Still, he said, we had no idea it would take so long. The new parade quickly overshadowed the boroughs traditional march, held on March 3, which officials said they believed to be the only one left in the United States that bans gay marchers. Most of New Yorks elected officials, who plan to march on Sunday, have boycotted the boroughs original parade for years. President Biden is sounding tougher toward Israel these days and showing more compassion for people starving in Gaza. There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying, Biden said. And its got to stop. But its not going to stop on its own indeed, it may get worse if Israel invades Rafah, or if hunger tips into famine. And Bidens concern for Palestinians rings hollow to me because he has been unwilling to lean hard on Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make it stop. So were now in a bizarre situation: American bombs and American aid are both falling from Gazas skies. In 1948, the United States and its allies undertook the famous Berlin Airlift to rescue West Berlin from a Soviet blockade. Now we are engaged in another humanitarian airlift this time because of the actions not of an enemy but of our partner. Israel is insisting on painstaking inspections of every aid truck going into Gaza. A senior administration official told me that Israel was turning back entire truckloads if they contained emergency birthing kits, apparently because these include a small scalpel for cutting umbilical cords. UNICEF tells me that Israel is refusing to allow it to bring in portable toilets. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley visited the Gaza border and found that Israel has blocked water purifiers. A British member of Parliament said that Israel had blocked 2,560 solar lights. This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions. Whenever youre talking about Haiti, its hard to know where to begin the story because, obviously, the country was born in this extraordinary act of liberation way back in the 19th century, but this most recent crisis, I think, is worth just sort of taking on its own terms. And it really began with the assassination of Haitis president, a man called Jovenel Moise, who was assassinated in July of 2021. Ive been traveling to Haiti as a journalist since 2003. It was actually the first big international assignment that I was ever asked to do. And it began, I think, a decades-long engagement with the story of Haiti and its struggle for self-determination, for security, for dignity, and just a deep interest in the lives and culture of the Haitian people. I think you have a lot of people in Haiti who are ready at this moment to help build this new future. And really, what they need is financial support, security support, and also, the time and space to build their own ideas of what a future Haiti could look like. And just because there is this long history of failure doesnt mean that success is not possible. And Haiti just hasnt been able to recover since then. Its had an appointed prime minister. A man named Ariel Henry ostensibly has been the head of the government, but for the past three years, has not been able to organize new elections to return Haiti to democracy. Hes become a very unpopular figure. The civil society organizations and political parties and others have been pushing him to resign. And then he was also facing pressure from these armed groups that have popped up in Haiti and have been a very, very big part of the crisis because theres just real kind of, like, lawlessness and violence happening in the streets. And under some pressure from various regional leaders, and of course, the internal pressure within Haiti, he did agree to resign. Its hard to talk about a crisis in Haiti without thinking about the kind of broader global context. The United States has meddled and interfered. Theyve invaded, theyve occupied, theyve sanctioned. Theyve restored leaders. Theyve backed dictators. Theyve tried to bring democracy back. And its a constant back and forth, almost to the point where its sometimes hard to draw a line of where the United States policy and action ends and where Haitian agency begins. The question of what we owe Haiti now, I think, is a really complex one. And I dont think that theres an easy answer. Where I ultimately come down is that if, in the past, the United States has had a kind of paternalistic attitude towards Haiti, where youre kind of trying to tell Haiti what to do, tell Haiti how it should be governed, who should be in charge, that the role that the US should play now is really more of a midwife. And its a role of supporting and creating an environment in which Haitians themselves can determine their own future. I think every American needs to understand that Haiti is not some separate thing from the United States. Our fates, our stories, our histories are deeply, deeply intertwined. The United States owes, I believe, a deep debt to Haiti. And so much of the story of what Haiti has become is a story of our misdeeds and actions over many, many years. So theres a historic debt there. Also, one thing that youll often hear people say when they say why we should care about what happens in Haiti, theyll often talk about migration. There is a very, very ugly history of using Haitians as a kind of bogeyman, and deportations continue. But I think that it goes even deeper than that during the early days of the AIDS crisis. For example, when people would talk about who has HIV and AIDS, it would be homosexuals, Haitians, and hemophiliacs. The United States has a lot to answer for in terms of the relationship that weve had with Haiti over a very, very long time. And theyre part of our story. Over the last couple of years, Ive been tracking these conversations with various political groups and civic groups and religious groups that have just been working tirelessly to come up with a blueprint for what a just transition in Haiti back towards democracy might look like. And the one thing that was really standing in their way was that the prime minister was refusing to step down. And look, now hes gone, and theres an opportunity to take all of that incredibly difficult and hard work that these people have done and imagine a new and different future for Haiti. And thats the thing that gives me a sense of hope. There are lots and lots and lots of problems on the horizon. There are lots of things that could derail it. But this is a moment for a fresh start for a country that desperately needs one. How do you solve a problem like North Korea? Since the end of the Cold War, it seems that every formula, from threatening war to promising peace, has been tried. And yet, despite being under more sanctions than just about any other country, North Korea developed a nuclear arsenal estimated at 50 warheads and sophisticated missiles that can, in theory, deliver those weapons to targets in the continental United States. President Bidens administration has taken a notably more ambivalent approach toward North Korea than his predecessor Donald Trump, who alternately railed at and courted its leader, Kim Jong-un. But we shouldnt stop trying to come up with bold ways to denuclearize North Korea, improve the lives of its people or lessen the risks of conflict, even if that means making unpalatable choices. On the contrary, there is more urgency now than there has been for years. As the analyst Robert Carlin and the nuclear scientist Siegfried Hecker, two experienced North Korea watchers, warned in January, Mr. Kim has shifted away from pursuing better relations with the United States and South Korea and closer to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and may be preparing for war. Just days after the two experts issued their warning, Mr. Kim disavowed the long-cherished goal of peaceful reconciliation between the two Koreas, and he called for completely occupying, subjugating and reclaiming the South if war breaks out. It might seem preposterous, even suicidal, for Mr. Kim to seek war. But many people in Ukraine doubted that Mr. Putin would launch a full invasion, right up until the rockets began landing in February 2022, and Hamas caught Israel completely by surprise in October. Both conflicts have had devastating human tolls and are severely taxing Americas ability to manage concurrent crises. The people of both Koreas certainly dont need war, and neither does the United States. When the prosecutor Karen McDonald decided to press criminal charges against the parents of the teenager who carried out the deadliest school shooting in Michigans history, even some members of her own staff expressed doubts, fearing the case was too ambitious to win. It seemed a huge reach to try to hold the parents responsible, said Linda C. Fentiman, a professor emerita at Pace University who is an expert in health law and criminal law. This was new legal territory. But in the end, prosecutors were able to convince two separate juries that they had met their burden of proof. The parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, were both found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter one for each of the students who had been shot to death by their son at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Now the question is whether the cases will affect the legal terrain around criminal law, parental responsibility and gun legislation. On a recent evening in California, a woman named Sandra was at a birthday party with her 15-year-old son when she glanced at the clock. She started to panic: It was after 10 p.m. She had less than an hour to get home in time for an 11 p.m. curfew set by U.S. immigration authorities, part of a nearly year-old tracking system for migrant families who hope to be granted asylum in the United States. She motioned to her son that they had to leave, and hustled him out the door and into the car. They made it home at 10:58 p.m., the bulky GPS monitor on her right ankle pinging out her location to the authorities keeping track. Her heart, which had been slamming in her chest the whole ride home, finally slowed. Sandra, 45, and her son Justin, who crossed the border in December after fleeing Colombia, are part of a nearly year-old Biden administration program that seeks to quickly process and potentially deport many of the migrant families who have arrived in the United States in record-breaking numbers. In these videos from February, a Chilean firefighter recorded his desperate search for water as a wildfire hit his city. It was the deadliest wildfire in a decade and killed at least 134 people. It was a perfect storm of extreme climate conditions and management failures that left thousands of people vulnerable. It also offers a warning to cities faced with the increasing threats of climate change. Urban expansion, driven by unregulated housing development here, had taxed the water grid beyond what it was designed to handle and the magnitude of this wildfire exposed that weakness. The New York Times spoke with firefighters and residents in the two cities of Vina del Mar and Quilpue, who say that some hydrants on that critical day had little to no water pressure. Escape routes quickly became bottlenecks and death traps. What this disaster showed is that many cities are not prepared for wildfires that have become more frequent and intense. Rodrigo Mundaca, one of Chiles staunchest water rights advocates, is currently governor of the region where the wildfire hit. Chile is one of the few countries in the world with a privatized water rights system. This climate catastrophe has reopened a long-standing debate in the country about unequal access to water, which often fails to reach the poorest communities. Now, some residents who lost homes or loved ones are demanding better protection. The majority of those who died in the wildfire lived in informal settlements along exposed hillsides, places where water companies are not required to put any hydrants at all. The closest hydrant to Ariel Orellanas mothers house in Quilpue was nearly half a mile away. He lost his mother, her husband, and his 14-year-old sister. Esval, which controls water rights for the region, denied wrongdoing and said that pressure fed to its hydrants may have dropped due to the sudden surge in demand. I think our responsibility is none because we are sure that the hydrants were working. I understand the frustration of the people. I understand that they were expecting something different, but we are completely sure that what we did is 10 times what the regulation asks from us. But Daniel Garin, a longtime volunteer firefighter, documented how he and his team struggled to find water to save peoples homes during the worst of the firefight. A number of residents in Quilpue are now seeking compensation from Esval for damages to their homes that they say resulted from hydrants with no water. And the countrys Ministry of Public Works is investigating specific complaints that Esval failed to provide adequate water to combat the wildfire. With China aggressively asserting its claims on the South China Sea, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines spent his first year on the job beefing up Manilas alliance with its oldest ally, the United States. Now he is shoring up support from a wider and new network of partners. Mr. Marcos is adding a new intensity to his muscular foreign policy at a critical moment in his countrys territorial dispute with Beijing. Maritime clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have become more frequent in recent months. In January, Mr. Marcos and the leaders of Vietnam, another country fighting off Chinese claims to the crucial waterway, pledged closer cooperation between their coast guards. This month, Mr. Marcos clinched a maritime cooperation deal with Australia. And this past week, he took his pitch to Europe. It has to be recognized that the South China Sea handles 60 percent of the trade of the entire world. So, its not solely the interest of the Philippines, or of ASEAN, or of the Indo-Pacific region, but the entire world, Mr. Marcos said on Tuesday in Berlin, apparently referring to global maritime trade and using shorthand for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The police officers asked the man what he meant when he said that involving an Australian government minister in a charity event could benefit us Chinese. Was he talking about mainland China and the Chinese Communist Party, or the local Australian Chinese community? Depending on the answer, he faced up to 10 years in prison. You are understanding the Chinese is China. We always say, Im Chinese, that not mean, Im mainland China, said the man, Di Sanh Sunny Duong, who was brought in for questioning. The officer pressed on, according to a tape played for a jury. Was Mr. Duong effectively building a relationship with the minister, who you thought would be the future prime minister, to support the views of the Chinese? Another officer asked, Mainland China? When Australias broad-stroke foreign interference laws were passed nearly six years ago amid rising concerns about covert Chinese government meddling in Western democracies, they were heralded as trailblazing by the United States and other countries. Blockbuster prosecutions revealing sophisticated tactics seemed to be just around the corner. Much of the trouble with the two companies which are commonly owned and whose holdings include The Chronicle Herald in Halifax and The Telegram in St. Johns, Newfoundland, as well as The Guardian in Charlottetown is of their own making. They have either refused to cover, or paid very little, on 40 million Canadian dollars in debts over the past five years; they owe the government just under 5 million dollars in H.S.T.; and they have funded operations using employees pension money. But the move to dissolve the companies, and a corresponding filing they made for creditor protection, come at a time when news outlets large and small are facing yet another major threat to their existence. My colleague David Streitfeld writes that there are signs that the whole concept of news is fading. While he was writing about the United States, it appears that his findings also apply in Canada. Charlottesville police have taken another juvenile male into custody in connection with an early March shooting near Downtown. He has been charged with attempted malicious wounding and displaying a firearm in commission of a felony. Due to his age, his identity will not be released. He is the second juvenile male that has been arrested as police investigate the shooting that occurred March 5 in the 700 block of Sixth Street Southeast, on the border of the Ridge Street and Belmont neighborhoods south of downtown Charlottesville. Police are still searching for two men connected to the case: Zymir Jakai Brown and Eric Dweh. Brown, a convicted felon, is wanted on firearm possession charges. Dweh, also a convicted felon, is wanted on firearm possession charges as well as three other charges: attempted malicious wounding, using a firearm in commission of a felony and reckless handling of a firearm. On Wednesday, a little more than a week after the shooting, Charlottesville police, with the assistance of the Virginia State Police and Albemarle County Police Department tactical teams, executed search warrants in the 100 block of Stribling Avenue in Charlottesvilles Frys Spring neighborhood as well as the 800 block of Mallside Forest Court in Albemarle County north of the city. Those warrants led to the arrest of the first juvenile male arrested in the case. That juvenile, who has also not been identified because of his age, has been charged with attempted malicious wounding, reckless handling of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. CPD holds additional arrest warrants to be served on individuals related to this case, police said in a statement. That includes warrants for both Brown and Dweh. Anyone with information regarding the March 5 shooting or the whereabouts of the two men is encouraged to contact the Charlottesville Police Department at (434) 970-3280 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at (434) 977-4000. A new sign went up a few miles from the front line recently on the main billboard of an occupied town in Ukraines Luhansk region. Vote for our president. Together were strong, read the sign in the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag, according to Anastasiia, a resident. The message was clear to her: that the president was Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, not Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, and that Mr. Putin was the only choice in the Russian presidential vote taking place in the occupied parts of Ukraine over the past three weeks. Mr. Putin long ago transformed Russian elections into a predictable ritual meant to convey legitimacy to his rule. In the occupied territories, this practice has the additional goals of presenting the occupation as a fait accompli and identifying dissenters, said political analysts and Ukrainian officials. Hamas is no longer demanding that Israel immediately agree to a permanent cease-fire in return for beginning a hostage and prisoner exchange, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Hamass new proposal would allow the release of hostages in exchange for a phased pullback of Israeli troops from parts of the Gaza Strip as well as prisoner releases. By modifying demands for an outright end of hostilities, the new proposal could possibly restart negotiations. The White House welcomed the new Hamas proposal and confirmed that talks would resume soon in Doha, Qatar, although without an American delegation present. Were cautiously optimistic that things are moving in a good direction but that doesnt mean its done and were going to have to stick with it until the very end, said John F. Kirby, a national security communications adviser for the White House. The United States has been applying pressure on Hamas to resume talks and ease its demands. Various negotiating parties have been offering Gaza more promises of humanitarian aid and issuing vague threats to close down Hamass political office in Doha. While publicly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was dismissive of the new proposal, other Israeli officials have reacted more positively, given that last week Hamas refused to offer terms for a hostage swap. Negotiators, including senior Israeli intelligence officials, could arrive in Doha as early as Sunday, according to an official in the region. The United Nations human rights office has documented more than two dozen attacks on Gazans waiting for desperately needed aid since January, with hunger spreading as a result of Israels near complete siege, preventing most food and water from entering the tiny enclave. The office has not blamed any side for the spate of attacks as people wait for aid. In a number of U.N. reports and statements, the office has documented at least 26 such attacks since mid-January. They include Thursday nights attack on hundreds of Palestinians who were waiting at the Kuwait traffic circle in Gaza City for an expected convoy of aid trucks. Gazan health officials accused Israeli forces of carrying out a targeted attack on the crowd that killed 20, and three witnesses described shelling at the scene. The Israeli military blamed Palestinian gunmen for the bloodshed and said that it was continuing to review the episode. It said an intensive preliminary review had found that no tank fire, airstrike or gunfire was carried out toward the Gazan civilians at the aid convoy, though it did not say whether its forces had opened fire at all. It was at least the 10th such incident in March in which people have been shot and killed or injured while waiting for aid at either the Kuwait or Nabulsi traffic circles, according to the United Nations. They are the two main southern entrances to Gaza City, where the few humanitarian aid trucks entering north Gaza arrive from the south. In the deadliest incident, more than 100 Palestinians were killed and many more injured when Israeli forces opened fire around a convoy in Gaza City in late February. Witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire toward Palestinians who surged forward toward aid trucks. After 20 years of uncertainty and eight days of trial, it took jurors barely two hours Friday to convict Kevin Moore of murdering Jesse Hicks. The jury of seven women and five men found the 39-year-old Albemarle County man guilty on all three of the counts he faced murder, murder conspiracy and felony firearm use and recommended a sentence of 28 years. Im very excited, Hicks widow, Nancy Hicks, told The Daily Progress. I feel like we got justice for Jesse today. A resident of Fluvanna County, Jesse Hicks was a trucker and father of two who went missing 20 years ago after telling his wife he was going to check in on a $35,000 debt his friend Glenn Spradlin owed him. A decade later, his remains were discovered at a southern Albemarle hunt club owned by Moores family. That discovery led to the arrest of both Moore and his father, Glenn Spradlin. Spradlin was also charged in the case but died of cancer last year at the age of 60 before the trial could get underway. The reputations of both deceased men took a substantial beating in court over the course of the trial. Jesse Hicks was described by several witnesses as a drug dealer whose hauling business was a cover for cocaine dealing. More ominously, the late father of the defendant was portrayed by both sides as the instigator of the 2004 crime. Kevin was 19 years old when this occurred and apparently had great love, respect and devotion to his dad, co-counsel for the defense Blair Howard told the jury. I simply ask you to put things in context with where he was in his life and his relationship with his dad, who obviously put him up to this. Howard was the lawyer credited in 1994 with securing a not guilty verdict for Lorena Bobbitt, the Manassas woman charged with malicious wounding for cutting off her husbands penis with a kitchen knife. In Albemarle, however, he came up against Philip Giles, the now-retired lead detective in the Hicks murder case. Im grateful for detective Phil Giles, Melissa Proffitt, one of Hicks two daughters, told The Progress. Hes really the brainchild for all this. The 2014 discovery of a partial skeleton on a tract of land owned and operated by Spradlins hunt club, the Woodridge Sportsmens Association, provided some clues but not enough to satisfy then-detective Giles. Giles devised a way to secure a confession from Spradlins son. He sent a 33-time convicted felon to venture into the southern Albemarle community of Woodridge to dangle business ventures an RV park, even a hit job in front of Moore. Like Moores father, the informant didnt live to see this trial. Nearly three years ago, at the age of 68, Edward Fitzgerald, known as Harley for his lifelong love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, died. You either loved him or hated him, and he didnt really care one way or another, went one line in his 2021 obituary. He lived most of his life in Greenville and Amherst when he wasnt in prison. But over the course of several weeks in 2018, Fitzgerald crossed over to help the Albemarle police. In a wired-up Chevy van, he recorded hours of video evidence, some which was played for jurors over the course of Moores trial. At various points, Moore could be heard telling Fitzgerald how he ambushed, shotgunned, dragged and buried a man who sounded a lot like Hicks. He said he drove the victims pickup truck halfway to Lynchburg and wore gloves to avoid leaving evidence before his father gave him a ride home. Hicks widow testified to having called Spradlin around 2 a.m. the night her husband disappeared and feeling troubled that Spradlin sounded like he was inside a moving vehicle at that hour. In a post-arrest interview played for jurors, Moore claims his words were just bluster spitballing, he calls it. But there were small details that seemed to ring true, including his admission that the night of the murder was a bright night, which astronomical records confirmed, and that he chose to bury the body in a mud hole, something that seemed plentiful on the hunt clubs notoriously soggy property along the Hardware River. Did Kevin Moore just come up with this, or is he telling the truth? lead prosecutor Richard Farley asked the jury. Defense co-counsel Brooke Howard, Blair Howards son, blasted the case as entirely circumstantial evidence. Not only do we not have any evidence of cause of death, but theres no indication of trauma of any kind whatsoever, said the younger Howard. One thing jurors got to hear only after they rendered their guilty verdicts was Moores history of violence. In 2017, about 20 months before his murder arrest, he was charged with abducting and assaulting a family member. I felt Kevin grab me from behind, then-wife Jenny Reeves wrote in a handwritten complaint. He covered my mouth and started dragging me back toward his house, strangling me. The file in that case includes more than a dozen images of the womans bruises. I was unable to breathe nor scream/speak, Reeves alleged. Kevin said, Im going to beat your fucking face in. I am going to fucking kill you. Moore was convicted and sentenced to 21.5 months. In jail, another more sympathetic Moore was presented to the jury. Jurors learned that Moore has helped stave off assaults and recently rescued an Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail guard when an inmate put her in a chokehold. Mr. Moore pulled the inmate off of me, Lt. Katelyn Bergey testified via video from the jailhouse. Moore did not testify. As the verdicts were read Friday afternoon, Moore did as has done throughout the trial: He sat up straight, expressing no emotion. This story has been corrected to say Jenny Reeves was Kevin Moore's wife at the time she wrote her complaint. A White House official traveled to Charlottesville on Monday to celebrate the significant steps the University of Virginia Health System has taken to better care for its cancer patients as well as a new partnership with the Biden administration that both institutions promise will only improve that level of care. Danielle Carnival, deputy assistant to President Biden under his Cancer Moonshot program, toured UVas Comprehensive Cancer Center before meeting with its doctors, nurses and patients. Her appearance came on the heels of a new development announced by the White Houses Cancer Moonshot, a program aimed at eradicating cancer that was started in 2016 by then-Vice President Biden after his son died of brain cancer. On the evening of the presidents State of the Union address last week, the administration announced it had created new navigation codes which will allow seven major health insurance companies representing 150 million Americans access to what are known as nurse navigators: medical workers who help guide patients through the confusing process of cancer treatment. When somebody receives the diagnosis of cancer, its very, very scary, UVa Health CEO Craig Kent said Monday. We want to be able to reach out to those individuals immediately with what we call a nurse navigator and send a reassuring message that were going to take great care of you at UVa Health. A navigator gets to know a patient, helping to explain their diagnosis, coordinating schedules and making them aware of all the complexities of patient care. The consequence is when the patient finally shows up in front of the doctor, the doctor knows the history of all the different symptoms and diagnosis and can make a good treatment plan for that patient, said Kent. So nurse navigators are a way of taking more efficient care of cancer patients. Forty cancer treatment facilities nationwide have pledged to utilize the new navigation codes created by the Biden Moonshot, allowing more patients access to a navigator. UVa is one of them, in part because navigators are already something the university health system has been providing. UVa was ahead of us, said Carnival. We didnt select them. They selected themselves. UVa was one of 40 cancer centers and community cancer providers across the country that stepped up and said, We want to be a part of this. We want to say right now that were going to provide these services and that were going to report back on how theyre working, Carnival said. Touring the halls of the cancer center, Carnival congratulated staff on what she called a beautiful facility. She later sat down with 25 people to learn about how the nurse navigation system works at UVa. Navigators told her that they help patients with anything from explaining test results to letting them know where to park when they come to the facility for treatment. Without that help, all of the burden falls onto the patient, they said, who not only has to contend with the fear of a cancer diagnosis but also the complicated logistics of treatment. Navigators streamline the process. Its really to have someone by your side from the moment you get diagnosed, helping you make decisions, helping you understand the cancer that youre facing, helping you understand the treatment that youre going to be receiving, said Carnival. Maybe travel is a barrier for you. How do we make sure that your appointments are all stacked on the same day so that youre not having to make extra trips? Gina Cunningham, a nurse navigator that met with Carnival, said that their work takes a significant load off of patients. So all the patient has to worry about is showing up, Cunningham said. One recently diagnosed patient told Carnival how helpful navigators have been for her. I think its a wonderful thing for educating people and making them more comfortable and not making the C-word so scary, she said. According to Kent, many centers do not have nurse navigators on staff. UVa Health has some in its breast cancer and hematologic diseases departments. It had been covering the cost on its own, but now that the Cancer Moonshot program has made it possible for large insurance companies to pay, UVa plans to hire more navigators in more of its cancer units. We had such great success with our first units that we tried this out with that were going to try to do it across our cancer center, said Kent. I would say in some ways were leading the way. And its working so well for us that we want to tell the rest of the world that this is the direction they should head. The Moonshot program is part of what Bidens administration is calling the Unity Agenda, a series of policies he hopes all Americans can get behind. Established after the death of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the presidents eldest son, of glioblastoma, the Moonshot has two goals set by the president and first lady Jill Biden: To prevent more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047 and to improve the experience of people who are touched by cancer. By enabling more insurers to cover the cost of navigators, thus giving patients more access to their services, the administration has taken a step toward improving that experience. Were going to keep working with payers and providers across the country to make sure that more Americans receive these services, said Carnival. They were already starting like here at UVa, but now theyre going to be a core part of the system thats recognized and valued. The Virginia Festival of the Book has been going strong for 30 years now, and Jody Hobbs Hesler has been right there as a volunteer. Mostly, I was counting crowds and passing out review sheets at the end of a variety of festival events, Hesler said. Ive also volunteered to moderate. This year, Hesler will participate in both a time-honored tradition and a brand-new one, reflecting the fact that the festival, which takes place in Charlottesville Wednesday through March 24, continues to write new chapters. Hesler and colleague BettyJoyce Nash, who teach at Charlottesvilles WriterHouse, will be among the panelists for a long-running favorite event: the Moseley Writers Write Start: Moseley Speed Critique, set for 1 p.m. March 24. Theyll join filmmaker and author Meredith Cole and author Deborah M. Prum to read aloud from the first 100 words of unpublished writers manuscripts and offer suggestions for making them sing. Both Helser and Nash published their debut books in 2023; Everybody Here is Kin is Nashs first novel, and Hesler wrote What Makes You Think Youre Supposed to Feel Better, a collection of stories. Heslers first novel, Without You Here, will be released in September. But theres no time for resting on laurels. Festival fans can see Hesler and Nash at a brand-new event this time as well: Festival Friday, which gives Charlottesvilles beloved First Fridays visual art opening reception tradition a literary twist. Hesler and Nash will be on hand for a reading and conversation at 5:30 p.m. Friday at New City Arts Initiative. Other Festival Friday events will include sweet treats, book signings and a Virginia Center of the Book showcase of book arts at Omni Charlottesville Hotel; panel moderators reading from their own works at VPMs Charlottesville headquarters; a WTJU zine release at the Beautiful Idea featuring Erin OHares new issue of Under the Table and Screaming: a poetry critique circle at New Dominion Bookshop; an art and listening party at the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative; and a book signing at Hello Comics with Kelly and Zach Weinersmith. The Virginia Festival of the Book will complement its creative collections of readings and panels with parties, because theres plenty to celebrate, director Kalela Williams said. I guess I thought about my own 30th birthday while planning events, Williams said. Its scary in a way, because its the end of an era. After her first year on the job, I really understand how community focused this festival should be, Williams said. For Festival Fridays, she said, I wanted that sense of community. I wanted that sense of stopping in at local places. She said she looks forward to the 30th-Anniversary Kickoff: 90s Rooftop Party, which begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Common House. Rob Harvilla, pop culture critic and author of 60 Songs That Explain the 90s, will be there to share tunes, slang and memorable moments from the era. The event is $40. I think the '90s party will be great, Williams said. Im planning my outfit right now. Wordy Thirty, a 30th-anniversary party set for 7 p.m. March 23 at the Bradbury, offers music and dancing, food and drinks and a VIP author reception. Patrons can choose their own adventures from among three packages, at $150, $60 and $30. Williams also recommended Alternate Appalachias at 2:30 p.m. Friday at New Dominion Bookshop. The event brings in three memoirists offering different perspectives on embracing and confronting life in Appalachia: Jeff Man, author of Loving Mountains, Loving Men, which examines his experiences through essays and poems; Holler Rat by performance artist and author Anya Liftig; and Holler: A Poet Among Patriots by poet and professor Danielle Chapman. Moderator Jeffrey Dale Chapman is the author of Red Clay Suzie. Author, farmer and advocate Brooks Lamb will speak about his new book, Love for the Land, at 11:30 a.m. March 24 at Ivy Creek Natural Area. Lamb writes about racial injustice encountered by farmers of color, as well as the loss of farmland to suburban sprawl and the toll of agricultural consolidation. Coffee and Crime with Sarah Weinman, scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Omni Charlottesville Hotel, will feature Weinman speaking about her most recent book, Evidence of Things Seen: True Crime in an Era of Reckoning, and her 2020 anthology, Unspeakable Acts: True Tales of Crime, Murder, Deceit and Obsession. Williams said Weinman will offer food for thought on our appetite for crime and what that means, and what it says about us. Multigenerational Fiction: Ghosts and Secrets, set for 12:30 p.m. Friday at Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, will dive into The Apology by Jimin Han, One Blood by Denene Miller and Take What You Need by Idra Novey. There are ghosts; there are family secrets rising, Williams said. Its possible to get an all-day pass to four featured and headlining events March 23 at Paramount Theater, where readers can listen to Danica Roem at 10:30 a.m., U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon at 1 p.m., Roxane Gay at 4 p.m. and Percival Everett at 6:30 p.m. The all-day pass is $75 for priority seating, $150 couples priority seating and $25 for students priority seating. Everetts novel Erasure inspired the recent film American Fiction, which was screened at the Virginia Film Festival and won an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay for Cord Jefferson on March 10. Hes ahead of his time so much, Williams said of Everett. I really think hes an American treasure. Learn more about Virginia Festival of the book and map out your schedule at vabook.org. Kerrville, TX (78028) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Thousands of civilians living under terrorist occupation in Idlib have taken to the streets to demand the fall of the government on Friday. No, not the Syrian government in Damascus, but the Idlib government ruled by Abu Mohamed al-Julani, and his terrorist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On Saturday, 1,500 Uyghurs strapped on suicide vests and marched from Idlib eastwards to attack the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the only national army in Syria under the command of the administration in Damascus. The SAA repelled the attack and 60 of these Asian terrorists were killed, while hundreds of them were injured. Experts feel that the attack on the SAA was a strategy by Julani to deflect on the civilian uprising against him and his terrorists. HTS set up several checkpoints in Idlib on Thursday, aimed at preventing protests against Julani and HTS, who opened fire at protestors in the Aleppo countryside. On February 6, it was reported that tens of women went out in a protest in Al-Atareb city in western Aleppo countryside against HTS, demanding the release of detainees, fair and speedy trials for prisoners and the overthrow of Julani. A day it was reported that dozens of people went out on protests in Binsh Town in Idlib countryside against HTS. Women in Idlib are singled out for harsh treatment by HTS. They have to conform to a strict dress code, they can't attend training programs offered by international humanitarian groups hoping to train people with employable skills, and they can't work in places with men. Even Saudi Arabia's rule for females is better than Idlib. Over the past years, HTS has prevented the entry of many foodstuffs such as vegetables, fruits, and fuels from areas controlled by the Syrian National Army, the Turkish supported terrorist group north of Aleppo. Hundreds of civilians staged anti-HTS demonstrations in Idlib city, the towns of Ariha, Killi, Hazanu, Binnish, Al-Dana and Sarmada in Idlib countryside and Al-Atarib city in the western countryside of Aleppo, calling for the downfall of Julani, HTS, release of detainees in HTS prisons and punishing every person involved in torturing civilians in those prisons. During the US-NATO attack on Syria for regime change, which began in 2011, Idlib became a center for armed fighters seeking to establish an Islamic State in Syria. The US government supported the Radical Islamic terrorists based in Idlib, because it is located on the border with Turkey, which had been used by the US to train and weaponize the terrorists. In other parts of the world, you may find the US fighting terrorists, but in Idlib is was to their advantage to use the terrorists as 'boots on the ground'. Idlib is a small, rural province between the coastal city of Latakia, and the industrial capital of Syria, Aleppo. Idlib's resource is olive trees and the production of olive oil. But, after the CIA set up shop in Turkey, under the CIA program named "Timber Sycamore" which President Obama directed, Idlib became vital in the US-NATO attack on Syria. The CIA under took the training of terrorists, supplying them with paychecks financed by Qatar, supplying them with weapons shipped from Libya to Turkey and trucked across the border to Idlib. In 2017, President Trump shut the CIA program which had cost the US taxpayers billions of dollars. Julani is commander in chief HTS. The group is the occupying force in Idlib since 2015. Julani is Syrian, but born in Saudi Arabia. He fought against the US military in Iraq, and there became associated with Abu Mustafa Baghdadi, the founder if ISIS. Julani left Iraq for Syria and established the Al Qaeda branch in Syria, called Jibhat al-Nusra. After the UN and the US designated al-Nusra as a terrorist group, Julani changed his groups' name to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in order to continue receiving support from the US. Every drop of aid coming in from the UN and other charities to Idlib passes through the hands of Julani and his officers. Julani built a large, two-story shopping Mall, with escalators, in which he sells the humanitarian aid surplus. If you are on his deserving list, you will get free aid, but if you have criticized him or his group, you will receive nothing and have to buy what you want from his Al Hamra Mall. Julani was asked to clean-up his image by the US State Department, and he dressed in a suit and tie for an interview with an American media. Even though the US has issued a $10 million reward on Julani as a terrorist, the Oval Office has continued their support for him, because this suits the US interest in keeping a tiny piece of Syrian territory out of the hands of the administration in Damascus. Julani has said that the "Nusra Front doesn't have any plans or directives to target the West. We received clear orders from Ayman al-Zawahiri not to use Syria as a launching pad to attack the U.S. or Europe. " This statement was to position Julani as an American-friendly terrorist. His US handlers gave him advice to focus on fighting Al Qaeda and ISIS in order to make him and HTS look like they share a common enemy with the US. HTS has imposed check-points between Idlib and Aleppo in which they profit from goods and people moving between the two areas. They collect taxes, tariffs and duties on everything moving in or out of Idlib. The Turkish military invaded Syria for a two-fold purpose: to support the terrorists in Idlib, and to set-up Turkish affiliated terrorists north of Aleppo, which borders Idlib. Turkey is a NATO member, and is an American ally. America also has occupation troops in Syria, but those are supporting the SDF and YPJ, which Turkey regards as terrorists aligned with PKK, a vicious communist terrorist group which has killed over 30,000 people over decades. In Idlib, under Julani, they refer to their government as 'The Salvation Government'. In the area north of Aleppo, the Turkish occupiers refer to their government as the 'Interim Government'. Both groups levy taxes and charges on the civilians living under armed occupation. Even though both armed groups are following Radical Islam, which is a political ideology, they are in competition with one another over money matters: how to bleed the civilians of every penny. The President of Turkey, Erdogan, regards the Chinese citizens in far western China as the descendants of the ancestors of modern Turkey. These people are ethnically Uyghurs, and their political party is the Eastern Turkmenistan Islamic Party (TIP). Their pale blue and white flags can be seen in the US, as the State Department has taken them under their wing as an insult and threat to China, the US perceived enemy. Thousands of Uyghurs were given fake passports by Erdogan, and transported to Idlib in an effort to overthrow the Damascus government, as part of the US-NATO plan. Damascus did not fall, but the Uyghurs are still there. They feel that establishing an Islamic State in China is well over their ability, but the next best plan is to establish an Islamic State in Syria, which dove-tailed nicely with the plan from Washington, DC. The situation in Idlib is at a stand-still. The status quo has been maintained by the US, Turkey and their terrorists. Caught in the middle are 3 million civilians who earn for freedom and life. They are being used as pawns in a dirty political game which seeks to keep Syria split apart and unable to recover from over a decade of conflict. Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist The "foreign agent" law made a big splash in Russian society in 2022, when it took the form of the very significant federal law 255-FZ "On Control over the Activities of Persons Under Foreign Influence." However, the term "foreign agent" emerged in Russia much earlier, in 2012, and fell under immediate criticism. Back then, Russian president Vladimir Putin noted that the Russian version of the "foreign agent law" was similar to FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) from the U.S., or, as some experts and organizations within the country claimed, even softer than that. Remembering the reaction of the Russian public to the federal law back in 2022, it was perceived as ridiculous, restrictive, oppressive. Vague to a degree that any individual or organization could be subject to it on a whim. Essentially, it is so - indeed, it's incredibly vague. However, it's not a detriment; in fact, taking a good look at a slice of Russian society today, I see that it has become incredibly effective in what it was meant to deliver. Surely, it brings in more control over foreign influence and more transparency in foreign funding, but the bluntness and aggression with which it was enacted, combined with the well-oiled machine of Russian propaganda and media, brought about a side-effect, arming the Russian government with a power tool of domestic policy - stigma. Let's delve quickly into FARA and the U.S. side of things. The act was introduced back in 1938 - to counter Nazi propaganda on the eve of World War II. Over the course of years, it underwent many changes and amendments, and, in its current form, it's as vague as one would think, giving space for much flexibility in determining who needs to register with the FARA Unit, lest they receive significant fines or jail sentences. For example, Covington points out a particular case, in which a company that agreed to broadcast a government-owned news agency's radio programs was required to register. It seems that FARA is aimed, first and foremost, at foreign representatives who plan to influence particular decisions by, for example, arranging meetings with relevant officials in the country. However, another part of the "foreign agent" definition brings the act's wingspan to its ridiculous width: it's not just someone influencing American officials, but also a person trying to influence "the American public regarding U.S. domestic or foreign policy or the political or public interests of a foreign government or foreign political party." Recently, curiously at the same time as the Russian version of the law was conjured, there was an uptick of FARA activity noticed in the U.S. - with more FARA prosecutions lately than in the previous decades combined (Covington mentioned only 7 prosecutions between 1966 and 2016). Some talks have been circulating in the U.S. about changing the name of the act, in particular "foreign agent" in favor of "foreign representative." Why? Stigma. The title "foreign agent" can scarcely be evaluated as neutral - it's a heavyweight in terms of negative connotations; the very word "agent" is perceived with apprehension, damaging the reputation of companies listed under FARA. This rough gem is what the Russian government has discovered - or planned to use all along instead of avoiding it - and now wields as a weapon, steering the tide of public opinion, having now gained the so-highly-prized control over it. In Russia, the 255-FZ federal law is incredibly flexible and serves as both a genuine tool of rooting out harmful foreign propaganda and as an ax to hack out any dissent. Dissent is what Russia hates with a passion: it is indeed extremely destructive in times of economic and political instability and/or armed conflicts. I won't list all the reasons why Vladimir Putin wants to quench dissent, but now, more than ever, he requires unanimity - and for Russian society to rally around him and his decisions, which, so far, has been working well. The broadness of this law (there's no minimal limit of foreign "support" one can get to be considered a foreign agent; moreover, monetary support is not necessary - even informational support is enough) allows the Russian government to punish, silence, restrict, and constrict almost anyone; the most interesting fact, however, is the effect it has slowly caused on the population. Initially, this law was welcomed cautiously. It seemed over-the-top and way too flexible. However, due to the insistent media agenda, assertive rhetoric, and vocabulary employed, it has now gained tremendous power of crowd manipulation. "Foreign agent!" the media exclaims, pointing its finger at someone. And the public frowns in unison. Was this person genuinely a foreign actor or was it dissent only? No one looks into it, "foreign agent" acts like a tag that justifies spite. Effectively, "foreign agent" and "dissenter" have merged. With a wave of its media hand, the Russian government now seems to be able to turn the public ire against anyone - at least the ire of the vocal majority of the public, supportive of nearly all government measures today. Controlled public stigma is an incredibly powerful tool of domestic policy - manipulating the crowd into hatred as people believe they decide who to hate. It's an ancient instrument, dipping into the foundations of human society - a sense of community, group solidarity, "us" versus "them", with a clear definition of who "them" are. Now it's even simpler to employ, spreading like wildfire with the speed of modern media. In Russia, "them" are the dissenters and those outside of the proverbial fortress wall. In the U.S., public stigma is being aimed at a different group of people to the same, albeit more covert, ends. Controlled stigma is a strong screwdriver in one's political tool set, an acquisition worthy of congratulations if not for the moral side of the matter. In reality, however, it only breeds more tension - external and internal alike. Commentators have been busy analyzing the consequences of Israel's Gaza invasion: Does it help or hinder and delay a long term peace? If anyone thinks it has fostered greater love, then it has helped, although it would be fair to call that an idiosyncratic point of view. Mahmoud Darwish was regarded as a national poet by Palestinians. His birth date passed by this March 13th. Born in 1941, and having suffered from heart disease, he passed away in 2008. His Palestine was like a metaphoric Eden, its loss reflecting the Palestinian tragedy of the Nakba, namely, the dispossession of their land and property by Darwish's usurpers. Israel now comprises about four-fifths of the land under the League of Nations mandate for Palestine. It forced the Ottoman Empire to concede the area to the British following the First World War in 1918 , Darwish called Palestine an ancient land and considered himself also part of the Jewish civilization that had existed at one time. Similarly, the Jew he noted has an Arab element, and in his view recognizing the interwoven nature of the two peoples would in the end facilitate reconciliation and peace. So far, such dreams are far removed from reality. Darwish died in 2008; in 2023 Israel invaded Gaza following a brutal attack by Hamas killing 1200 Israelis. The invasion has taken over 30,000 Palestinian lives with unaccounted thousands still buried in the rubble. Israel has also been accused of breaching the rules of International Humanitarian Law by no less a personage than Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, who is from Portugal -- a relatively neutral bystander. Israel's use of white phosphorus weapons and its attacking of civilian targets have been cited. Moreover, Palestinian deaths and casualties have comprised mostly women and minor children. No wonder numerous commentators believe Netanyahu has already lost the war, meaning of course in the court of world opinion. And tentative steps Saudi Arabia was taking towards a long-term peace have become a hasty retreat. Not that the people of Israel are in support of this war. Netanyahu's popularity, already low (about a third of the people), has plummeted, and if an election were held today, the principal opposition leader, Benny Gantz, would win the most seats. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). A 53-year-old California man accused in a fatal Corvallis shooting was arraigned in Benton County court Friday, March 15. Appearing remotely from the county jail, Jerry Bruce Mitchell pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder, unlawful weapon use, and felon in possession of a firearm. A Place to Sleep, episode 3: Corvallis Do unhoused people know where to go in Corvallis? Well, the city has outlined where they shouldn't be: near creeks, rivers, wetlands, sidewalks or within 20 feet of trees. In court documents, Corvallis police allege the Saturday, March 9 shooting resulted from domestic violence and took place while the victim's children were at home. Mitchell allegedly killed his 34-year-old girlfriend and seriously wounded her sister. Vonetta Johnson died from an apparent gunshot wound to the head, according to authorities. Her sister, a 24-year-old Eugene resident, was shot in the head and shoulder but is expected to recover. Victim statements During Mitchells arraignment, prosecutor Matt Ipson read written victim statements to the court, including one from Johnsons sister, who said she fears for her life and familys lives and does not want to see Mitchell released. I believe that he should be held accountable to the fullest for the crimes he committed against people he claimed to love, Johnsons sister wrote. He endangered two minor children who called him grandpa, and he left them there to watch their loved ones die. The sister added: He knows where we all reside. There is no telling what he could do if he was released. The victims mother also asked for the state to hold Mitchell, saying he has no ties to the area and would leave Oregon if given the opportunity. She said that would be unfair to her and her family. Records show Mitchell is currently held without bail at the Benton County Jail. No bail was set Friday. Another sister also gave a victim statement that Ipson read during the hearing. She said Mitchell manipulated and preyed upon her family despite their love and trust. She said Johnsons children lost their support system and will be forever changed. You took a mother from their children and that will never be OK, the sister stated. These kids who are so loving and have hearts full of hope have lost their rock and have hit a brick wall. From the moment their mother was shot, from the moment I picked them up, they ran into my arms, and they keep asking the question, 'Why did our grandpa shoot our mom,' she wrote. They also stated that they should not have trusted you and they now blame themselves. You do not deserve to hurt anyone else in this manner. Johnsons children also referred to Mitchell as grandpa in interviews with authorities, according to a probable cause affidavit. Mitchell fled the area in a vehicle owned by Johnson after the shooting, Corvallis police allege. Within hours, California Highway Patrol officers caught up to him just on the other side of the state border and arrested him. Locating the vehicle in the area of Yreka, California, law enforcement officers tried stopping Mitchell, but he refused, according to the affidavit. CHP officers used "intervention tactics to finally end the pursuit around midnight. Corvallis police said the pursuit lasted 45 minutes and exceeded 100 mph at times. A black 9 mm Smith & Wesson M&P pistol was found in the vehicle Mitchell used to flee, according to the affidavit, matching the caliber of ammunition casings recovered from the shooting scene. Although seriously wounded, Johnsons sister was able to tell responders that during her visit from out of town, Johnson and Mitchell had argued throughout the day, and the conflict flared up in the kitchen that evening, the affidavit states. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today. Confronting Mitchell over his treatment of Johnson, the sister alleged Mitchell pushed Johnson, who responded by telling him not to put his hands on her, according to the affidavit. Mitchell allegedly then pulled out a 9 mm handgun and shot Johnson in the head, turning to her sister and saying, Look at what you made me do, and shooting her in the head and shoulder, the affidavit alleges. Related story: Police searched for a suspect Friday afternoon after someone stabbed a man to death along Portlands popular waterfront path near the Steel Bridge at lunchtime. Investigators blocked the lower path across the bridge and turned away dozens of cyclists and pedestrians who were taking in the sunshine and blooming cherry blossoms in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Police converged on Portland's waterfront path near the Steel Bridge on Friday, March 15, 2024, after a man was stabbed to death on the path in the early afternoon.Austin De Dios/The Oregonian Police responded to reports of the stabbing at 1:15 p.m. and found a man with severe injuries, they said. Officers used tourniquets to help stanch the bleeding until medics arrived. The man died later at the hospital, police said. Its unclear if the man was stabbed on the path across the bridge or if he walked onto the bridge after being attacked, police said. Investigators had placed yellow markers along the middle of the lower bridge path. Investigators didnt release any other information about what happened. The mans death marks the 18th homicide in Portland so far this year. At this time in 2023, 14 people had died in homicides. Police converged on Portland's waterfront path near the Steel Bridge on Friday, March 15, 2024, after a man was stabbed to death on the path in the early afternoon.Austin De Dios/The Oregonian Hours after the stabbing, Tom McCall Waterfront Park remained closed at the west end of the bridge as was the lower bridge path. Traffic on the upper deck was unaffected, police said. Police asked anyone with information about the stabbing to contact Detective William Winters at william.winters@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0466 or Detective Jason Koenig at jason.koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov 503-823-0889 and reference case number 24-63876. Austin De Dios covers public safety and diversity, equity and inclusion. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Hundreds of Portland high school students and some of their teachers streamed out of schools Friday afternoon to protest ongoing bloodshed in Gaza, the latest sign that the crisis in the Middle East has emerged as a touchstone cause for the citys vocal activist community. But unlike other student-driven movements in Portland including previous climate justice walkouts the students calls for the district to support a ceasefire in Israel and a free Palestine has evoked strong opposition from some Jewish families, educators and students, who also say they are concerned about the Portland Association of Teachers public stance on the issue. School board members have so far refused to accede to demands from student activists, including that lessons about the ideology of Zionism and its roots in white supremacy [and] Palestinian liberation and social justice be taught at all grade levels. They moved a recent board meeting online after an eruption of chants from pro-Palestinian audience members. Zionism is a movement that advocates for Israel as a Jewish homeland. Student activists have also said they also want the district to release a statement calling for a ceasefire and condemning the Israels government prolonged military response to Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attacks and hostage takings and to ensure that no district funds are spent on companies with ties to Israel. If these demands are not met, we can only promise a continual fight from an organized student body, organizers with the group PPS Students for Justice in Palestine wrote in a letter to school board members that they submitted after Fridays event. At a poster-making event before Fridays rally, organizer Chloe Gilmore, a Lincoln High student, said Portland students involvement grew organically in response to a torrent of news from the region, including coverage of the thousands of civilians killed in Gaza. We are not an anti-Jewish group, Gilmore said. One misconception that I have heard is that this rally could make Jewish students feel unsafe. But there are current Southwest Asian and North African students who have not felt safe in Portland Public Schools for its entire existence. An Ida B. Wells High student who is involved in the Jewish Student Union there said that in recent weeks, he has felt, more uncomfortable with displaying my Jewish identity at school. The student asked to be identified only by his first name, Noah, because he was concerned about retribution for speaking publicly about his views on the conflict. One of my teachers talked about it in class and said it was a one-sided war, Noah said. He and others in the class pushed back, he said, feeling that the classroom was a safe space in which to do so. Still, he said, most students arent learning enough in school about the conflict and a Jewish presence in Israel that stretches back for millennia to have a nuanced position on the issue. Mo Eskayo, a substitute teacher for Portland Public Schools who helped out at a pre-rally poster-making event and is involved with Oregon Educators for Palestine, said teachers had been censored for showing support for Palestinian liberation. There have been teachers called into the principals office for putting up Palestinian flags, Eskayo said. They pointed to state law that mandates teaching about the Holocaust, genocide and other acts of mass violence, but said teachers were being prevented from contextualizing the current violence. Some Jewish parents, though, say theyve been alarmed by public stances by the Portland Association of Teachers on the conflict, including repeated promotion of the walk-out on social media. The concerns echo those raised during the Portland teachers strike in November about the unions posting about Palestinian advocacy events on social media.. After internal protests from Jewish union members and a meeting with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, teachers union leaders announced a social media pause. The union has since resumed regular pro-Palestinian event postings, while also posting that it will not tolerate anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or any forms of hate and convening a forum for Jewish teachers. School should be a politically neutral space where you teach kids to be critical thinkers, said Ross Weinstein, a Jewish father with a child at a Portland middle school. That isnt what I see at PPS. Weinstein also said he was frustrated with a message that went out to middle and high school families on Thursday from Chief of Schools Jon Franco that alerted parents to the plans for the walkout and noted that children would need their permission in order not to be marked as absent and unexcused. The war between Israel and Hamas has affected many Portlanders in tangible, varied ways, and we recognize that some students feel a strong desire to advocate, Franco wrote. For Weinsteins family, that messaging landed as a tacit stamp of approval and legitimization, he said. A representative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland said the organization had hosted a call earlier this week that drew 60 families upset by the unions promotion of the walkout. Spokesperson Bob Horenstein said the group is currently organizing to fight back against what it sees as inappropriate anti-Israel activism that is making Jewish families feel unheard, marginalized and unsafe. Portland is not the only district in Oregon that has experienced student activism on the issue. About 100 students at Parkrose High School staged a walkout in early December, calling upon their district to release a statement in support of a ceasefire in the region. Gilmore and other student organizers said they have also been in touch with youth activists from the Beaverton, Reynolds and Tigard-Tualatin school districts. Julia Silverman covers schools and education policy for The Oregonian and OregonLive. She can be reached via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com. Follow her on X.com at @jrlsilverman An exterior panel of a Boeing 737 carrying passengers on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Medford appears to have torn off mid-flight Friday, marking the latest in a string of recent high-profile mishaps for Boeing planes. A photo of the plane shows a hole in the fuselage, exposing what appears to be mechanical components of the aircraft. United said the panel was missing from a spot where one of the wings meets the aircrafts body, near the landing gear. United did not answer questions about what caused the panel to fall off. The plane is a Boeing 737-800, according to United, though the FAA lists it as a Boeing 737-824. It is not a Boeing 737 Max 9, which is the model of plane that made an emergency landing in Portland after a door plug flew off of the Alaska Airlines aircraft about six minutes into a Jan. 5 flight. Fridays Flight 433 landed shortly before noon as scheduled at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, said airport Director Amber Judd. United said none of the 139 passengers and six crew members were injured. It was only after the plane was on the ground that the problem was found, Judd said. I dont think anyone even knew that was an issue until they discovered that during a routine inspection before the next flight, she said. The Rogue Valley Times was among the first to report the incident. Quite a sight as United #433 lands at Medford Airport this afternoon after panel apparently lost in-flight from San Francisco. No injuries, all safe, per updates coming in from our reporters. Plane is a 25-year-old Boeing 737-824 More coming soon from@RogueValTimes newsroom. pic.twitter.com/IlN7c1d5mF David Sommers (@david_sommers) March 15, 2024 United confirmed that the pilots didnt declare an emergency before landing in Medford because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. Boeing planes have had a rough past couple weeks and months. A succession of problems have been discovered on domestic and international flights, including earlier this month when a United flight from San Francisco to Japan diverted to Los Angeles because a tire that was part of the landing gear fell off the Boeing 777-20 after takeoff. On March 1, a cargo door also was discovered ajar on a Boeing 737 from Los Cabos, Mexico, to Portland. On March 6, a Boeing 737-800 headed to Phoenix returned to Portland shortly after takeoff when passengers and crew smelled fumes in the cabin. Boeing didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about Fridays flight. United said its investigating. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service, read a United statement. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The plane was manufactured 25 years ago, according to the FAA. Judd, the Medford airport director, said she doesnt know where the panel flew off. The airport briefly closed while workers inspected the grounds to see if the panel had fallen just before landing. After finding nothing, the airport reopened. Luckily everybody landed safely, Judd said. And theyll make sure its safe before the aircraft is back in the air. 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. If you have yet to see the Lifetime Channels documentary series Where is Wendy Williams, you may have also missed the media frenzy that has unfolded in the aftermath. Williams court-appointed legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, has filed a lawsuit over the documentary, calling the series exploitative and saying she was depicted in a demeaning and undignified manner in court filings. If you havent seen it yet, you can watch Where is Wendy Williams Lifetime series for free with Philo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). For a sneak peek, check out the teaser trailer video provided below. Comprised of four episodes that were televised on Lifetime channel over two nights on February 24 and 25, Where is Wendy Williams is still available to watch streaming on demand. Despite losing the initial battle to block the show from airing, Williams legal guardian is still trying to get it off streaming services and television as the lawsuit continues. Since it aired, both fans of Wendy Williams and the news media have been critical of the series in the wake of Williams aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. Some of those fans took to social media to voice their displeasure over what some believe was Lifetime taking advantage of a vulnerable woman, including some embarrassing moments where Williams is emotional, or angry and being demeaning towards personal assistants and others around her. Others used the opportunity to celebrate Williams and focus on the career she built over the years. During filming of the series, Williams was clearly showing signs of being impaired. However, producers reportedly had not been made aware of the diagnosis, which is a neurological condition that affects her ability to both communicate and understand others. That diagnosis also reportedly came after she agreed in November 2022 to take part in the series. Further complicating her state of mind is Williams history of alcohol abuse, which has accelerated, or at least significantly contributed to her condition. Is there more Where is Wendy Williams news? Whats the latest? If you want to read more about the lawsuit filed by Wendy Williams guardian, you can see more of the arguments and claims made in court thanks to this breakdown of the unsealed lawsuit from People Magazine. Wendy Williams ex-husband Kevin Hunter is seeking two years of unpaid spousal support, according to a motion filed in New Jersey Superior Court on March 12. Adding to Williams financial woes, the former talk show star reportedly owes over $500,000 in federal taxes that went unpaid in 2019 and 2021. If youre looking for more history about who Wendy Williams is and what she has accomplished in her career, the Where is Wendy Williams Lifetime documentary isnt the only special report 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 STREAMING FREE When: On demand, but the four-part docuseries first premiered over two nights on February 24 and 25. 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). Find out more about which channel Lifetime is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish. Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week on Saturday, March 23, through Sunday, March 31, along the Oregon Coast, coinciding with spring break for some people. Trained Oregon State Park volunteers will be stationed at 15 sites along the Oregon Coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, according to an agency news release. A Place to Sleep, episode 9: Sleep The latest episode is here, and this time we put a lot less emphasis on the word "place" and a lot more on "sleep." The nearest site to Benton and Linn counties is Depoe Bay. The spring event is three days longer than last years, according to the parks department news release, and might offer better odds of seeing gray whales on their journey home from the calving lagoons in Mexico. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on March 14 the end of an unusual mortality event, a significant die-off of the gray whale population that has affected the marine mammals since 2019. The latest counts indicate that the gray whale population has likely turned the corner and is beginning to recover, Michael Milstein, public affairs officer for the NOAA, said in the release. Its a perfect time for people to see them as they swim north with new calves to feed. Researchers counted about 412 calves last year, which was almost double the number from the year before, according to the news release. That helped signal an end to the unusual mortality event and a likely turnaround in numbers as the species begins to rebound. An estimated 14,500 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon from late winter through June as part of their annual migration back to Alaska. A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage, https://bit.ly/3ySGWuq. The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 23 through 31. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday expressed outrage at the recent abductions by gunmen of hundreds of people in Nigeria Lusaka, Zambia (PANA) - A new National Energy Advancement and Transformation Programme (NEAT), a multiphase programme supported by the World Bank, will help Zambia step up the financial sustainability, reliability, and resilience of its electricity sector by 2033 Photo: (Photo : Eric Thomas /Getty Images) Kansas has recently taken a significant step forward in addressing the tragic case of Adrian Jones, a 7-year-old boy whose life was marked by severe abuse and neglect. The state has agreed to a $1 million settlement in the child welfare lawsuit filed by Adrian's family, signaling progress towards justice for the young victim. Justice for Adrian: A $1 Million Legal Settlement Governor Laura Kelly and top officials from the Kansas Legislature gave their approval to the settlement in a short public meeting. This decision came after a private discussion with the chief deputy of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach for about 30 minutes. The lawsuit, brought forth by the boy's mother, maternal grandmother, and adult sister in Wyandotte County in 2017, argued that the state and social workers neglected their duty to intervene and protect Adrian from the prolonged abuse he endured. The Kansas agency, however, cited difficulties in monitoring Adrian due to frequent relocations made by his family. Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Democrat representing the Kansas City area, expressed her belief on Wednesday that the state was legally liable for the events surrounding Adrian's tragic death, acknowledging the significant liability faced by Kansas. Adrian Jones, who lived with his father, Michael Jones, and stepmother, Heather Jones, in Kansas City, Kansas, suffered extreme abuse leading to his death. Both his father and stepmother are serving lengthy prison sentences for his murder. Reports of Adrian's abuse were received by the Kansas Department for Children and Families years prior to his death, but the last physical contact with him occurred nearly four years before the tragic incident. Records also revealed the family's frequent moves between communities in Kansas and Missouri, complicating efforts to monitor Adrian's well-being. Read Also: Royal Photography Controversy: Kate Middleton's Manipulated Mother's Day Photo Sparks Global Outrage Kansas Child Welfare Lawsuit Demands for a Better Future However, during a press briefing at the Statehouse on Wednesday, Governor Kelly emphasized that the primary concern was not the potential financial damages from the lawsuit but rather the diversion of attention from the crucial task of enhancing the child welfare system. "The focus was on reaching a settlement and avoiding prolonged litigation that could have stretched on for months or even years," she stated. The details of the settlement resolution, made public on Wednesday, indicate that half of the settlement amount will be covered by the department, while the remaining half will be drawn from a dedicated state fund designated for lawsuit damages. Following the tragic incident involving Adrian, a comprehensive assessment of the child welfare system was undertaken over multiple years. In 2021, the introduction of "Adrian's Law" led to the establishment of a committee chaired by Concannon, which mandated officers and caseworkers to physically observe children who are suspected victims of abuse or neglect. Furthermore, the state has taken steps to enhance doctors' training in identifying signs of abuse and has implemented wrap-around services aimed at supporting families facing challenges. Birch, representing the family, expressed optimism that both the lawsuit and the newly enacted law would lead to increased vigilance in protecting vulnerable children, stating, "We hope that these measures will result in greater attention and care for these children." Related Article: Bullying Tragedy: Missouri Teen Left Critical After High School Brawl Assault Photo: (Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Getty Images) In the ongoing quest for answers surrounding the disappearance of University of Missouri student Riley Strain, a recent Nashville bar dispute has injected a new sense of urgency into the search efforts. The circumstances surrounding Strain's vanishing act have left investigators and loved ones alike grappling for clues in a complex puzzle of events. Riley Strain Disappearance: Nashville Bar Dispute Intensifies Search The University of Missouri student who disappeared following his removal from a Nashville bar had only consumed one alcoholic beverage before being asked to leave Luke Bryan's bar, according to the bar's owners. Luke's 32 Bridge + Drink, owned by TC Restaurant Group, released a statement indicating that Riley Strain, aged 22, had been served one alcoholic drink and two glasses of water during his visit to the downtown Nashville bar while on a trip with his fraternity for a spring formal event. Security footage shows Strain's last appearance just before 10 p.m. on March 8, where he can be seen swaying and performing a full 360-degree turn before continuing his walk. According to Luke's 32 Bridge + Drink, Strain was escorted out by security at 9:35 p.m., as per their conduct standards. However, the statement did not elaborate on Strain's behavior that led to his removal. The bar mentioned that Strain was escorted out through the Broadway exit at the front of the building, with a friend accompanying him down the stairs before returning upstairs to the bar. Aaron Rummage, the communications director for the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, stated earlier in the week that they were investigating whether Strain had been served alcohol while visibly intoxicated. Luke's 32 Bridge + Drink stated that they have been actively communicating with the TABC and are willing to provide any necessary records to aid in the investigation. The bar also mentioned their cooperation with the Nashville Metro Police Department, providing them with security camera footage, photos of Strain at their establishment with timestamps, transaction records, and staff testimonies in their efforts to locate the missing individual. Chris Whiteid, Strain's stepfather, revealed in an interview that Strain had informed his friends about returning to his hotel when he left the bar. However, he never made it back to the hotel, raising concerns about his whereabouts. Read Also: Bullying Tragedy: Missouri Teen Left Critical After High School Brawl Assault University of Missouri Missing Student Riley Strain, is a senior, was last spotted on Friday night at a popular bar in Nashville's lively Broadway area, part of a trip with his fraternity brothers for their spring formal event, according to reports from the St. Louis-Post Dispatch. However, Strain got separated from his friends after being asked to leave Luke Bryan's bar, Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink. His friends noticed his absence when they returned to Tempo Hotel, prompting concerns as his phone was found dead and his room key left behind. His family, including Whiteid and Michelle Whiteid, journeyed from Springfield, Missouri, to Nashville to aid in the search efforts. Security footage from the MNPD captured Strain heading in an unexpected direction, crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street and later seen walking north between James Robertson Parkway and Woodland Street Bridge. Nashville police, led by Sergeant Robert Neilsen, have launched an extensive search operation utilizing ground, air, and riverbank searches near Strain's last known whereabouts. They are also awaiting data from Strain's cell phone and Apple Watch to piece together his movements. Related Article: Indiana Mother's Tragic Death on Plane: Cause Revealed, Mystery Dispelled Photo: (Photo : KIRK SPEER / Getty Images) In Denver, a teenager named Gavin Seymour has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his involvement in an arson attack that tragically claimed the lives of a Denver family. This incident, marked by revenge and a devastating loss of life, has deeply impacted the local community, sparking discussions about justice and safety. Teen Sentenced for an Arson Attack Gavin Seymour received a 40-year prison sentence after admitting guilt to second-degree murder in the fatal arson attack that occurred on Truckee Street within Denver's Green Valley Ranch neighborhood. The arson, carried out by Seymour and accomplices Kevin Bui and Dillon Siebert, resulted in the tragic deaths of Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; Khadija Diol, 1; Hassan Diol, 25; and 6-month-old Hawa Baye. Three individuals managed to escape by leaping from the second floor of the residence. Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the incident, faced sentencing in February 2023 at the age of 17. He received a three-year term in juvenile detention and seven years in a state prison program tailored for young offenders. Seymour and Bui, both 16 during the fire, are entangled in legal proceedings. Bui, suspected as the mastermind, confronts multiple first-degree murder charges pending resolution. The inquiry into the arson endured for months with no initial leads. Concerns of a potential hate crime prompted many Senegalese immigrants to enhance home security with surveillance cameras, fearing they too could become targets. The suspects' identification stemmed from a police search warrant targeting Google records of accounts querying the residence's address within a fortnight post-fire. During the sentencing hearing, Hanady Diol, a relative of the victims speaking via a translator from Senegal, voiced dismay at the perceived disparity in sentencing length. She emphasized the need for equitable justice, arguing that the victims, despite their tragic deaths, deserved recognition as human beings. The case encapsulates broader themes of justice, community security, and the enduring impacts of senseless violence on families and neighborhoods. Read Also: Massachusetts Middle Schoolers Face Charges in Shocking Racist Snapchat Exchange 5 Members of a Denver Family Died Kevin Bui informed investigators that he had been the victim of a robbery a month prior to the fire incident while attempting to purchase a firearm, as per court records. He claimed to have used an app to track his iPhone, which led him to the residence in question. The alleged motive behind the arson was revenge for an item stolen from another suspect, Kevin Bui. Bui is awaiting trial and is scheduled for arraignment on March 21, facing first-degree murder charges and numerous other potential charges. Prosecutors allege that Bui sought revenge over a stolen cellphone, which he mistakenly believed to be at the residence on Truckee Street. However, the victims had no connection to Bui or the stolen cellphone. Legal representatives for both Seymour and Bui contested the validity of the search warrant, although the Colorado Supreme Court upheld its relevance to the case. Bui's next court appearance is set for March 21, as reported by The Denver Post. During his court appearance, Seymour expressed remorse for his actions, stating, "If I could go back and prevent all this I would. There is not a moment that goes by that I don't feel extreme guilt and remorse for my actions... I want to say how truly sorry I am to the family members and community for all the harm I've done." Related Article: Justice for Adrian: Kansas Agrees to $1 Million Settlement in Child Welfare Lawsuit Recently, Adam Colvin provided me with copies of two documents from his family history. With his kind permission, I share portions of them here. The first extract comes from a Life Sketch of Simeon Adams Dunn, compiled by Nancy Dunn Watson: James Dunn, the brother of Simeon, came to their home in Van Buren [Wayne County, Michigan] as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He preached the gospel in that neighborhood and Simeon and his wife were baptized on the 15th day of April, 1839. Simply embracing the gospel was not enough for Simeon. He had to see the prophet for himself, and perhaps offer his services to the growing church. In June 1840, Simeon left Van Buren on foot for Nauvoo. He met Joseph Smith and then returned home to get his family. They arrived in Nauvoo on August 15, 1841. The Prophet Joseph was there to meet them and shook all their hands. Simeon purchased land from the prophet on which to build their home. It was located near the Mansion House on Hyde and Parley Streets. The children of the two families often played together. . . . Simeon labored as a hand on the building of the temple in Nauvoo. . . . The prophet was often called upon to heal the sick. The Dunn family could bear testimony to his power of healing. Once when Simeon was very sick, Joseph laid his hands on Simeons head and asked if Simeon had ever had the measles. Simeon answered, No. You will have them, replied the prophet, and before he removed his hands from Simeons head, he was broken out with thick spots. On the 6th day of May, 1843, a daughter, Susannah, was born to Simeon Adams Dunn and Margaret Sneider. A short time later, the child became sick with what was called black canker. Margaret took the baby to the prophet, who then went with the family to a stream of water. Joseph took the baby, laid it across his hand, face down, and immersed it in the water. The baby recovered. Simeon and his family often saw the prophet riding on his favorite horse, Joe Duncan, at the head of the Nauvoo Legion or on parade the 4th of July. They also watched him participate in various sporting events and ball games on the green. . . . On June 27, 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, were shot and killed while awaiting trial in Carthage Jail. Simeon returned from New York in time to be present for the meeting on August 8, 1844, when the mantle of the prophet fell on Brigham Young. As Brigham Young arose to speak, the congregation saw the Prophet Joseph instead of Brigham Young and they heard his voice as if he, himself, stood before them in life. It was unanimously accepted to sustain the Council of the Twelve Apostles as the leaders of the church. Simeon remarked upon leaving the meeting, They need not hunt any further, Brigham Young is the man to lead us. The second passage is from a deposition given and signed by John Welch before the county clerk of Cache County, Utah, on 5 July 1902: I was born January 6th, 1823, at Derbyshire, England, and I served as an apprentice at the cutlery trade at Sheffield until I reached the age of majority. I was babtized [sic] into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 1841; emigrated to Nauvoo, Ill. in 1843 and to Salt Lake City in the year 1852. I was well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and heard him speak both in public and in private many times. I was present at the meeting in the grove at Nauvoo August 8th, 1844, when Sidney Rigdon made the claim that it was his right to assume the leadership and presidency of the church. I saw Brigham Young, then the President of the Twelve Apostles, stand up to speak to the people and he spoke to the people and he spoke with the voice of Joseph Smith; and I further declare and testify that he, Brigham Young, had the appearance of the Prophet Joseph Smith while he, Young, was talking; that I was convinced then, and have never doubted in all the intervening years from that time up to the present, that Brigham Young was the right man and the man chosen of God to lead the Church. Frankly, Im still rejoicing in the return of the Kirtland Temple and other sites there and elsewhere (including the Mansion House, mentioned above in the Life Sketch of Simeon Adams Dunn) to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So I enjoyed this: Why the Newly-Purchased Nauvoo Sites are So Significant: A Photo Essay And, yes, Im mindful of the sorrow felt by many members of the Community of Christ with regard to precisely the same transfer of ownership. I regret it. But because some have suggest otherwise I want to say that my rejoicing in no way entails indifference, let alone Schadenfreude, at their sense of loss. When the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated, say, the Chicago Cubs, my youthful pleasure at my teams victory involved not so much as a scintilla of delight at the sadness of the other teams fans in Chicago. (I cant say the same about defeating the San Francisco Giants, though, or the New York Yankees. I dont claim perfection.) The analogy isnt perfect, I realize. But its not irrelevant, either. Some of you may have noticed that I have something of a personal interest in religiously-oriented filmmaking. Its not surprising, given that personal interest, that my attention was recently caught by mention of I am Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland. I would love to see it, but I doubt very much that Ill get a chance to do so before this years St. Patricks Day. If anybody out there does see it, or has seen it, I would appreciate a report. However, the currently most significant religion-themed film out in the theaters is Cabrini. I havent managed to see it yet, but I hope to do so relatively soon. In the meantime, here are some relevant links: Deseret News: This takes Angel to an entirely new level: Cabrini catapults Utah-based Angel Studios into new territory: The faith-based film has earned a positive response from both critics and audiences Deseret News: People are hungry for light: Angel Studios filmmakers on why audiences want faith-centered content: Movies like Cabrini are earning big at the box office and attracting large audiences Still, there are some dissenting voices: The American Spectator: Gutting Jesus: Feminist Cabrini, Secular Saint: This is not a religious movie. National Review: Cabrinis Beauty Masks Its Sparse Spirituality Has anybody out there seen it? If so, do you have an opinion about it? And why not? while Im on the subject of filmmaking, this also caught my notice: Kevin Costner brings movie magic to southern Utah Finally: If I fall behind in sharing material from the depressingly inexhaustible Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File, Ill never ever manage to catch up. So here is a trio of infuriating further illustrations of the evils wrought by theism and theists: The Churchs efforts to improve nutrition for women and children, one by one: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prioritizes the health and well-being of women and children around the world through multiple ways Farm Families Join Forces with the Church of Jesus Christ to Feed the Hungry: 140,000 pounds of food goes to families in Iowa, Kentucky and Utah Volunteering Sparks Unity: The Success of Reginas JustServe Community Fair: Volunteers connect after JustServe fair in Saskatchewan Myths Regarding Cyprian, Augustine, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius This is a reply to an old Dividing Line show from James White called, The Early Church Fathers and Sola Scriptura (12-11-98). Now that all these shows have written transcripts, I can interact with them, minus all the time-consuming tedium of searching and transcribing. Much more efficient . . . and tons of shows to pick from. Whites words will be in blue. 0:48 sola Scriptura, the idea that the scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith for the church . . . Note this well. This is the standard Protestant definition. It follows logically from this statement that neither the Church nor ecumenical councils nor sacred tradition are, or can be infallible. Only one thing is infallible in Protestant belief: the Bible. Therefore, if a Church father claims that either the Church or ecumenical councils or sacred tradition is infallible, it follows inexorably that he cannot and does not adhere to sola Scriptura. Please keep that in mind as we proceed. One more thing: simply noting that some father wrote about how the Bible is wonderful and inspired and good for theology and determining doctrine (which Catholics wholeheartedly agree with), etc. is not repeat, NOT enough to prove that a man believes in the rule of faith called sola Scriptura. But if I had a dime for every time Ive observed Protestants indulge in this silly logical fallacy, Id be richer than Elon Musk. 1:59 Well, if you are familiar with this area of discussion, maybe youve encountered some Roman Catholic apologetics writings, magazines like This Rock or Envoy Magazine or various and sundry books like Karl Keatings Catholicism and Fundamentalism or Patrick Madrids Surprised by Truth [I had a chapter in that, recounting my conversion], books like that, you know that they like to cite the early fathers. Well, I like to cite the early fathers too. Great! Well see what he comes up with, then. I guarantee even before I see what he produces that none of it will prove what he thinks it proves, because Ive done more research on the rule of faith in the fathers than with any other topic Ive looked into with regard to the fathers, and there is no proof at all that Ive ever seen that any of them believed in sola Scriptura. Its rather easy to prove this lack of belief in specific cases, and I will be doing that here. 2:23 Should be able to go toe -to -toe, quote-to -quote, with a Roman Catholic in regards to the beliefs of the early church? Well, the answer to that, I think, is no, if Protestantism, if my Reformed faith is something that was unknown and is in fact an innovation that only came about with Martin Luther, or the sharper folks would admit at least John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, or maybe even with people earlier than that. But if its an innovation, if it was not something that the early church believed, then I shouldnt be able to go toe-to-toe, quote-to-quote, with a Roman Catholic. But the simple fact of the matter is we can. He can try, but he cannot and will not succeed, as I will shortly prove. You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear. 3:41 Just to give you an example, in the middle of the 3rd century, we have Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage. . . . He wrote a letter to Pompey. He was specifically discussing issues in regards to the church, and he said: Whence is this doctrine? Does it come from the authority of the Lord and of the gospel, or does it come from the commands and epistles of the apostles? For that those things must be done which are written, God testifies and commands when he says to Joshua, The book of this law shall not depart of your mouth, that you may observe to do all the things which are written [Josh 1:8]. If, therefore, it is either commanded in the gospel or contained in the epistles and the acts, then also this sacred doctrine must be observed. I dont know which translation this is from. I found the letter (White didnt say which one it was). Its his Epistle 73, section 2. I cite the Schaff versi0n, from the 38-volume set of the fathers. For some odd reason, Whites version has the word doctrine twice, where Schaff has tradition. Curious, huh? St. Cyprian holds that the Church is infallible and indefectible: [T]he Church is thus divinely protected, and its unity and holiness is not constantly nor altogether corrupted by the obstinacy of perfidy and heretical wickedness. (Epistle 46: To Cornelius, 1) [T]he Church does not depart from Christ; . . . (Epistle 68: To Florentius Pupianus, 8) [T]he Church herself also is uncorrupted, . . . (Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, 11) And he believed in an infallible, indefectible tradition, maintained by bishops: [V]ery many of the bishops who are set over the churches of the Lord by divine condescension, throughout the whole world, maintain the plan of evangelical truth, and of the tradition of the Lord, and do not by human and novel institution depart from that which Christ our Master both prescribed and did; . . . if any one is still kept in this error, he may behold the light of truth, and return to the root and origin of the tradition of the Lord. (Epistle 62: To Caecilius, 1) . . . Gods tradition . . . (Treatise I: On the Unity of the Church, 19 and Epistle 51: To Antonianus, 24) . . . the divine tradition . . . (Epistle 41: To Cornelius, 1; Epistle 54: To Cornelius, 17; and Epistle 73: To Pompey, 11) . . . the Lords tradition . . . (Epistle 62: To Caecilius, 17 and 19) . . . the tradition of Jesus Christ the Lord and our God! (Epistle 73: To Pompey, 4) . . . laying aside the errors of human dispute, we return with a sincere and religious faith to the evangelical authority and to the apostolic tradition, . . . (Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, 15) Therefore, by the Protestant definition, he couldnt possibly have held to sola Scriptura. Why couldnt James White figure that out? 4:26 Notice then that Cyprian limits the scope of debate to that which is written, specifically to the scriptures themselves. He does no such thing. To say, x is an authority and it is in writing is not the same thing as saying, there is no other authority which is infallible like x is or there is no authority in Christianity that is not written. What Cyprian wrote about Scripture is not proof that he held that it alone was infallible. Catholics agree with every word of what Cyprian said about the Bible in the citation White pulled up. There is no reason for us not to. He wasnt asserting sola Scriptura. We need to know what he thought about authority outside of Scripture, and I just provided that. I considered Cyprians entire view, not just the portions where he writes about Holy Scripture, that might appear at first glance to assert a certain thing (out of wishful thinking), but in fact, actually do not do so at all. At 4:54, White cites St. Augustine. Once again, he didnt give the reference. I had to search it. Its from Of the Good of Widowhood (2). He writes (and White quoted these portions): what more can I teach you, than what we read in the Apostle? For holy Scripture sets a rule to our teaching, that we dare not be wise more than it behooves to be wise; . . . Be it not therefore for me to teach you any other thing, save to expound to you the words of the Teacher, . . . White comments on this: 5:12 Now, obviously, when we hear such words as that, we recognize that specifically he is referring to the scriptures. And he says that the holy scripture fixes the rule for our doctrine. Thats extremely important because what is sola Scriptura? It says that the scriptures are the sole infallible rule of faith. And here Augustine, referring to that very rule of faith, says that it is holy scripture that fixes the rule for our doctrine. This passage doesnt teach that only holy Scripture sets a rule. It teaches that holy Scripture sets a rule. The two are not identical. When will Protestant apologists ever grasp this? Its not rocket science. Its simple logic. Augustine didnt say that the Bible was the sole infallible rule. Thats simply Protestant boilerplate rhetoric, from their playbook of slogans. The same Augustine also wrote: My opinion therefore is, that wherever it is possible, all those things should be abolished without hesitation, which neither have warrant in Holy Scripture, nor are found to have been appointed by councils of bishops, nor are confirmed by the practice of the universal Church, . . . (Epistle 55 [19, 35] to Januarius) Now all of a sudden, there is more than Scripture setting or fixing the rule of faith. He also mentions councils and Church tradition. Here are statements from St. Augustine, showing that he believed in an infallible and indefectible Church: In the following passages, Augustine writes that infallible sacred tradition and ecumenical councils are also part of the rule of faith alongside the Bible: In light of this overwhelming evidence, we can safely say that St. Augustine rejected sola Scriptura. He clearly held to the Catholic three-legged-stool rule of faith (Bible-Tradition-Church). Again, is James White too lazy to do this research that I did? Or does he simply not care about presenting serious, verifiable research? He presented two or three (it was hard to tell), thinking it proved his assertion. I have provided twenty. 5:48 Its interesting that when he wrote to Maximin the Arian, . . . he said, I must not press the authority of Nicaea against you, nor you that of Ariminum against me. I do not acknowledge the one as you do not the other, but let us come to ground that is common to both, the testimony of the holy scriptures. Notice here, even when faced with a council that Augustine would have considered to be authoritative, that Augustine would have considered to be accurate, that Augustine believed expressed the mind of the church. When talking with Maximin the Arian, he says, I cant press the authority of that against you and you cannot press against me the authority of Ariminum, another church council that Augustine would have said did not in any way, shape or form express the mind of the church, that it did not in point of fact represent Christian orthodoxy, but you had dueling councils. You had councils that came to different conclusions. But the one thing that doesnt come to different conclusions, Augustine says, is the testimony of the holy scriptures. Of course he argued from Scripture with the Arian (just as I did forty years ago in my first major apologetics project, because they had that in common. I do exactly the same with Protestants, for the same reason. One starts with common ground that is agreed-upon in any constructive dialogue or debate. That doesnt prove anything whatsoever about what one believes is authoritative outside Scripture. Its simply a methodological choice, nothing more. White is smart enough to figure this out. Good grief! 7:53 He also says, neither dare one agree with Catholic bishops, if by chance they err in anything, with the result that their opinion is against the canonical scriptures of God. Catholic bishops may err, but the scriptures of God do not. Individual bishops have no gift of infallibility at all, according to Catholicism. They only do in ecumenical council, and when the pope also agrees with their decisions. Decrees of individual bishops arent magisterial. So this is a non sequitur. It doesnt prove at all that Augustine accepted sola Scriptura. He did not, as already proven above. 9:14 Another of the great early fathers was Basil of Caesarea, and he said the hearers taught in the scriptures ought to test what is said by teachers and accept that which agrees with the scriptures, but reject that which is foreign. Now notice what he says. The hearers taught in scriptures ought to test what is said by teachers. It sounds a little bit like private interpretation to me. That sounds like we have a responsibility to go to the ultimate rule of faith in scriptures to test what we are taught. Of course they should do that. I wont bother looking this up (no documentation given again) because it proves nothing whatsoever, anyway, as to sola Scriptura. I get so tired of explaining the obvious over and over again. White tries another one from Basil, where he says that Scripture should decide the issue between the two competing parties. But I dont know who he was dialoguing with. If it was a non-Catholic heretic, then it would have been the same reasoning Augustine employed: find common ground and go from there. It proves nothing of Basils own view of the rule of faith. In fact, he believed in the infallibility, even the Bible-like inspiration, of the Council of Nicaea: [Y]ou should confess the faith put forth by our Fathers once assembled at Nica, that you should not omit any one of its propositions, but bear in mind that the three hundred and eighteen who met together without strife did not speak without the operation of the Holy Ghost, . . . (Letter No. 114 to Cyriacus, at Tarsus) St. Basil also fully accepted the infallible authority of sacred apostolic tradition (even unwritten tradition: twice!) and apostolic succession: both of which the so-called reformers ditched in the 16th century when they adopted the novel tradition of men, sola Scriptura: Let us now investigate what are our common conceptions concerning the Spirit, as well those which have been gathered by us from Holy Scripture concerning It as those which we have received from the unwritten tradition of the Fathers. (The Holy Spirit, Ch. 9, 22) The one aim of the whole band of opponents and enemies of sound doctrine [1 Timothy 1:10] is to shake down the foundation of the faith of Christ by levelling apostolic tradition with the ground, and utterly destroying it. So like the debtors of course bona fide debtors they clamour for written proof, and reject as worthless the unwritten tradition of the Fathers. But we will not slacken in our defense of the truth. (The Holy Spirit, Ch. 10, 25) Of the beliefs and practices whether generally accepted or publicly enjoined which are preserved in the Church some we possess derived from written teaching; others we have received delivered to us in a mystery by the tradition of the apostles; and both of these in relation to true religion have the same force. And these no one will gainsay no one, at all events, who is even moderately versed in the institutions of the Church. . . . For were we to attempt to reject such customs as have no written authority, on the ground that the importance they possess is small, we should unintentionally injure the Gospel in its very vitals; or, rather, should make our public definition a mere phrase and nothing more. For instance, to take the first and most general example, who is thence who has taught us in writing to sign with the sign of the cross those who have trusted in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? What writing has taught us to turn to the East at the prayer? Which of the saints has left us in writing the words of the invocation at the displaying of the bread of the Eucharist and the cup of blessing? For we are not, as is well known, content with what the apostle or the Gospel has recorded, but both in preface and conclusion we add other words as being of great importance to the validity of the ministry, and these we derive from unwritten teaching. Moreover we bless the water of baptism and the oil of the chrism, and besides this the catechumen who is being baptized. On what written authority do we do this? Is not our authority silent and mystical tradition? Nay, by what written word is the anointing of oil itself taught? And whence comes the custom of baptizing thrice? And as to the other customs of baptism from what Scripture do we derive the renunciation of Satan and his angels? Does not this come from that unpublished and secret teaching which our fathers guarded in a silence out of the reach of curious meddling and inquisitive investigation? Well had they learned the lesson that the awful dignity of the mysteries is best preserved by silence. What the uninitiated are not even allowed to look at was hardly likely to be publicly paraded about in written documents. . . . In the same manner the Apostles and Fathers who laid down laws for the Church from the beginning thus guarded the awful dignity of the mysteries in secrecy and silence, for what is bruited abroad random among the common folk is no mystery at all. This is the reason for our tradition of unwritten precepts and practices, that the knowledge of our dogmas may not become neglected and contemned by the multitude through familiarity. (The Holy Spirit, Ch. 27, 66) In answer to the objection that the doxology in the form with the Spirit has no written authority, we maintain that if there is no other instance of that which is unwritten, then this must not be received. But if the greater number of our mysteries are admitted into our constitution without written authority, then, in company with the many others, let us receive this one. For I hold it apostolic to abide also by the unwritten traditions. I praise you, it is said, that you remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you; [1 Corinthians 11:2] and Hold fast the traditions which you have been taught whether by word, or our Epistle. [2 Thessalonians 2:15] One of these traditions is the practice which is now before us, which they who ordained from the beginning, rooted firmly in the churches, delivering it to their successors, and its use through long custom advances pace by pace with time. (The Holy Spirit, Ch. 29, 71) [W]e too are undismayed at the cloud of our enemies, and, resting our hope on the aid of the Spirit, have, with all boldness, proclaimed the truth. Had I not so done, it would truly have been terrible that the blasphemers of the Spirit should so easily be emboldened in their attack upon true religion, and that we, with so mighty an ally and supporter at our side, should shrink from the service of that doctrine, which by the tradition of the Fathers has been preserved by an unbroken sequence of memory to our own day. (The Holy Spirit, Ch. 30, 79) In our case, too, in addition to the open attack of the heretics, the Churches are reduced to utter helplessness by the war raging among those who are supposed to be orthodox. For all these reasons we do indeed desire your help, that, for the future all who confess the apostolic faith may put an end to the schisms which they have unhappily devised, and be reduced for the future to the authority of the Church; that so, once more, the body of Christ may be complete, restored to integrity with all its members. Thus we shall not only praise the blessings of others, which is all we can do now, but see our own Churches once more restored to their pristine boast of orthodoxy. For, truly, the boon given you by the Lord is fit subject for the highest congratulation, your power of discernment between the spurious and the genuine and pure, and your preaching the faith of the Fathers without any dissimulation. That faith we have received; that faith we know is stamped with the marks of the Apostles; to that faith we assent, as well as to all that was canonically and lawfully promulgated in the Synodical Letter. (Letter No. 92 to the Italians and Gauls, 3) St. Basil mentions tradition 21 times in The Holy Spirit: the tradition of their fathers (7, 16); the tradition of the Fathers (7, 16); Can I then, perverted by these mens seductive words, abandon the tradition which guided me to the light . . .? (10, 26); For the tradition that has been given us by the quickening grace must remain for ever inviolate (12, 28); by the tradition of the divine knowledge the baptized may have their souls enlightened (15, 35); the unwritten traditions are so many (27, 67); etc. So we see that the highest reverence of Scripture can exist alongside with reverence for an ecumenical council which always operated with the operation of the Holy Ghost and that the same father thought that not holding their declaration of more authority than ones own opinion, is conduct worthy of blame. And it can co-exist with a belief in the sublime authority of apostolic tradition and apostolic succession. As it was for Basil, so it is for Catholics, now, and from the beginning. 13:48 One of my favorite of the early fathers was John Chrysostom. And he said the following, quote: but when scripture wants to teach us something like that, it interprets itself and does not permit the hearer to err. I therefore beg and entreat that we close our ears to all these things and follow the canon of the holy scripture exactly. One would have to see what like that and all these things referred to by consulting context (of which we have none, above). Again, White provided no source and I refuse to do his work for him. Its not my job to document his own quotations that he didnt see fit to document, like any 9th-grader writing an essay would do. Needless to say, this doesnt prove sola Scriptura. St. John Chrysostom accepted the authority of sacred tradition (even unwritten, oral tradition): So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by Epistle of ours. Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. Here he shows that there were many who were shaken. (On Second Thessalonians, Homily IV) For, remember, he says, the words of the Lord which he spake: It is more blessed to give than to receive. (v. 35.) And where said He this? Perhaps the Apostles delivered it by unwritten tradition; or else it is plain from (recorded sayings, from) which one could infer it. (Homily XLV on Acts 20:32) Not by letters alone did Paul instruct his disciple in his duty, but before by words also which he shows, both in many other passages, as where he says, whether by word or our Epistle (2 Thess. ii. 15.), and especially here. Let us not therefore suppose that anything relating to doctrine was spoken imperfectly. For many things he delivered to him without writing. Of these therefore he reminds him, when he says, Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. (Homily III on 2 Timothy on 2 Tim 1:13-18) Note two things in particular in the last quotation: the corresponding relationship of 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (which the other citation was a comment upon) and the reference to anything relating to doctrine. This shows that he regarded 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (by direct reference: no speculation on our part) as dealing with doctrine and not just practice. And that is the key unlocking the question of what sort of tradition he was referring to in the other citation under examination. To me that settles the argument: St. John Chrysostom did not believe in sola Scriptura. Further contextual factors strengthen this conclusion. Right after this quotation, he wrote about the deposit of faith (or apostles teaching: Acts 2:42) which is, of course, primarily doctrinal and theological in relation to this passage: After the manner of artists, I have impressed on you the image of virtue, fixing in your soul a sort of rule, and model, and outline of all things pleasing to God. These things then hold fast, and whether you are meditating any matter of faith or love, or of a sound mind, form from hence your ideas of them. It will not be necessary to have recourse to others for examples, when all has been deposited within yourself. That good thing which was committed unto you keep, how? by the Holy Ghost which dwells in us. For it is not in the power of a human soul, when instructed with things so great, to be sufficient for the keeping of them. And why? Because there are many robbers, and thick darkness, and the devil still at hand to plot against us; and we know not what is the hour, what the occasion for him to set upon us. How then, he means, shall we be sufficient for the keeping of them? By the Holy Ghost ; that is if we have the Spirit with us, if we do not expel grace, He will stand by us. For, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. Psalm 127:1 This is our wall, this our castle, this our refuge. If therefore It dwells in us, and is Itself our guard, what need of the commandment? That we may hold It fast, may keep It, and not banish It by our evil deeds. He comments in similar fashion on the related verse, 2 Thessalonians 2:15: So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by Epistle of ours. Hence it is manifest, that they did not deliver all things by Epistle, but many things also unwritten, and in like manner both the one and the other are worthy of credit. Therefore let us think the tradition of the Church also worthy of credit. It is a tradition, seek no farther. Here he shows that there were many who were shaken. (On Second Thessalonians, Homily IV) He even appeals to an apostolic unwritten tradition of intercessory prayers for the dead (mentioning also the Sacrifice of the Mass: Mourn for those who have died in wealth, and did not from their wealth think of any solace for their soul, who had power to wash away their sins and would not. Let us all weep for these in private and in public, but with propriety, with gravity, not so as to make exhibitions of ourselves; . . . Let us weep for these; let us assist them according to our power; let us think of some assistance for them, small though it be, yet still let us assist them. How and in what way? By praying and entreating others to make prayers for them, by continually giving to the poor on their behalf. . . . Not in vain did the Apostles order that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries. They know that great gain resulteth to them, great benefit; for when the whole people stands with uplifted hands, a priestly assembly, and that awful Sacrifice lies displayed, how shall we not prevail with God by our entreaties for them? And this we do for those who have departed in faith, . . . [NPNF Editors note: The reference doubtless is to the so-called Apostolical Constitutions, which direct the observance of the Eucharist in commemoration of the departed] (On Philippians, Homily 3) Concerning the sacred writers he stated: [I]t was no object with them to be writers of books: in fact, there are many things which they have delivered by unwritten tradition. (On Acts of the Apostles, Homily 1) 14:34 Cyril of Jerusalem wrote the following in his Catechetical Lectures; this would be in the fourth century: [Catechetical Lectures, 4, 17 In regard to the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, not the least part may be handed on without the holy scriptures. Do not be led astray by winning words and clever arguments. Even to me who tell you these things, do not give ready belief unless you receive from the holy scriptures the proof of the things which I announce. The salvation which we believe is not proved from clever reasoning, but from the holy scriptures. Cyril talks about the inspired authority of Scripture, as he should, and as we do, but he places it within the authoritative interpretation of Holy Mother Church. Hence, he wrote: But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now delivered to thee by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the Scriptures. For since all cannot read the Scriptures, some being hindered as to the knowledge of them by want of learning, and others by a want of leisure, in order that the soul may not perish from ignorance, we comprise the whole doctrine of the Faith in a few lines. . . . So for the present listen while I simply say the Creed, and commit it to memory; but at the proper season expect the confirmation out of Holy Scripture of each part of the contents. . . . Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive, and write them on the table of your heart. Guard them with reverence, lest per chance the enemy despoil any who have grown slack; or lest some heretic pervert any of the truths delivered to you. (Catechetical Lectures 5:12-13) He refers to the tradition of the Churchs interpreters (Catechetical Lectures 15:13). When Cyril refers to proof and demonstration from the Scriptures in 4:17, it depends what he means. If he means by that, all doctrines to be believed are harmonious with Scripture, and must not contradict it, this is simply material sufficiency and exactly what Catholics believe. If he means, all doctrines to be believed must be explicitly explained and taught by Scripture and not derived primarily or in a binding fashion from the Church or tradition then he would be espousing sola Scriptura. But its not at all established that this is what he meant. It is established, on the other hand, that he accepted the binding authority of Church, tradition, and apostolic succession (that apostolic and evangelic faith, which our fathers ever preserved and handed down to us as a pearl of great price: To Celestine, Epistle 9). The notion that all doctrines must be explicit in Scripture in order to be believed (and only binding if so), is simply not taught in the Bible; i.e., sola Scriptura is not taught in the Bible. An authoritative, binding Church and tradition certainly are taught in Scripture, and those two things expressly contradict sola Scriptura. Conclusion: neither the Bible nor St. Cyril of Jerusalem teach sola Scriptura. He refers to the passing-on of apostolic tradition: And now, brethren beloved, the word of instruction exhorts you all, to prepare your souls for the reception of the heavenly gifts. As regards the Holy and Apostolic Faith delivered to you to profess, we have spoken through the grace of the Lord as many Lectures, as was possible,. . . (Catechetical Lectures 18, 32) Make thou your fold with the sheep: flee from the wolves: depart not from the Church. . . . The truth of the Unity of God has been delivered to you: learn to distinguish the pastures of doctrine. (Catechetical Lectures 6, 36) He speaks in terms of the Catholic three-legged stool rule of faith: tradition, Church, and Scripture: all harmonious: But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now delivered to you by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the Scriptures. For since all cannot read the Scriptures, some being hindered as to the knowledge of them by want of learning, and others by a want of leisure, in order that the soul may not perish from ignorance, we comprise the whole doctrine of the Faith in a few lines. This summary I wish you both to commit to memory when I recite it , and to rehearse it with all diligence among yourselves, not writing it out on paper , but engraving it by the memory upon your heart , taking care while you rehearse it that no Catechumen chance to overhear the things which have been delivered to you. . . . for the present listen while I simply say the Creed , and commit it to memory; but at the proper season expect the confirmation out of Holy Scripture of each part of the contents. For the articles of the Faith were not composed as seemed good to men; but the most important points collected out of all the Scripture make up one complete teaching of the Faith. And just as the mustard seed in one small grain contains many branches, so also this Faith has embraced in few words all the knowledge of godliness in the Old and New Testaments. Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which you now receive, and write them on the table of your heart. Guard them with reverence, lest per chance the enemy despoil any who have grown slack; or lest some heretic pervert any of the truths delivered to you. For faith is like putting money into the bank , even as we have now done; but from you God requires the accounts of the deposit. I charge you, as the Apostle says, before God, who quickens all things, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession, that you keep this faith which is committed to you, without spot, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Catechetical Lectures 5, 12-13) At every turn, then, we see that St. Cyril is thoroughly Catholic, and does not teach sola Scriptura. White then remarkably proves that he doesnt understand logic, nor how to properly analyze patristic statements that are contrary to sola Scriptura, and prove that the one who wrote them didnt believe in it: 17:27 the first response I automatically get is, yeah, but those guys believe things that you dont. Okay, they did. What does that have to do with the issue at hand? Well, nothing at all. It certainly does if they believe in infallible things other than Scripture, because every time that happens, its proof that they dont adhere to sola Scriptura in its standard definition. But apparently that is too sophisticated for White to grasp. He did acknowledge, however, that St. Basil sometimes appealed to unwritten traditions, but then asserts that he just was simply inconsistent . . . because all of us are inconsistent at some point or another (18:52). He cant admit that he denied sola Scriptura. That wouldnt go with the plan. He is only willing to concede that he believed in it most of the time, but contradicted it some of the time, being human. He cant fathom that he actually was consistent, and that he himself is the one stuck in the either/or trap of false dichotomies. 20:56 Augustine was inconsistent with himself. Well of course. It could never be true in any conceivable universe that James White was inconsistent and wrong and confused, rather than Augustine! No! Its not possible. Therefore, the fault here must lie with Augustine rather than with the venerable Dr. [???]-Bishop. 21:52 The simple fact of the matter remains, he made the statements he made, and if he had as Roman Catholics believe today, that the Scripture is simply part of sacred tradition, [which we dont believe] and that you need these oral traditions to buttress these things, then he wouldnt have said the words that he said. He wouldnt have made the statements that he made. And so, when we talk about the issue of sola Scriptura in the early church, sadly, I must report to you that the primary response that we get from Roman Catholic apologists is not a meaningful interaction with the passages. He simply couldnt have believed as a Catholic does, because he said things that White erroneously and foolishly, illogically believes are the equivalent of sola Scriptura. Therefore, the things I documented above, that prove that Augustine rejected sola Scriptura, are all fabricated and made up by myself or other Romanists / papists. Makes perfect sense, right? Hear no evil, see no evil, read no evil . . . 22:41 Most of the attempt fails, most of it is just simply to say, well, they couldnt have meant that because they said this over here, and the idea of testing for consistency and listening to a passage in its own context, thrown out the window, no one really worries about that too much. I have shown, contrary to this caricatured nonsense, that a fathers thought has to be considered as a whole. All of the men noted above were consistent in their rule of faith, which was the Catholic one. Its all harmonious. White simply cant accept that conclusion, and so he is blind to any evidence contrary to the myths that he holds in his head. Catholics dont have to be blind and ultra-biased and hyper-selective with the Church fathers. Its so obvious that they believed far more like us than like Protestantism that our work in this regard is rather easy. Then he cites Athanasius and tries to play the game again. This reply is now over 7,000 words and Im trying to finish it at 1:30 AM, so Ill simply refer readers to my treatments of his views: St. Athanasius Rule of Faith (NOT Sola Scriptura) [6-16-03] Lutheran Chemnitz: Errors Re Fathers & Sola Scriptura (including analysis of Jerome, Augustine, Origen, Epiphanius, Ambrose, Lactantius, Athanasius, and Cyprian) [8-31-07] Did Athanasius Accept Sola Scriptura? (vs. Bruno Lima) [10-14-22] ** See also my web page: Bishop Dr. [?] James White: Anti-Catholic Extraordinaire ** NOTES: I call Mr. White a bishop because he informed me in a letter dated 10 January 2001 that he was a bishop: I am an elder in the church: hence, I am a bishop, overseer, pastor, of a local body of believers. So I have called him that ever since [see more material giving the background and rationale for this, based on Whites own stated beliefs]. As for his supposed doctorate (hence my quotation marks and question mark), see: James Whites Bogus Doctorate Degree (vs. Mark Bainter) [9-16-04] James Whites Bogus Doctorate Degree, Part II (vs. Jamin Hubner) [6-29-10] James White Bogus Doctorate Issue Redux: Has No One Ever Interacted With His Self-Defense? / White Takes His Lumps from Baptist Peter Lumpkins [2-20-11] Thus we have the double irony of his not wanting to be called what he claims he is (a bishop), while he falsely calls himself what he clearly isnt (an academic Doctor with an authentic, earned doctorate degree). Two teenagers are awaiting their fate before the High Court in Accra for the alleged murder of 10-year-old Ismael Mensah Abdella in Kasoa. After three years of legal proceedings, the court is set to make its decision on May 7. The court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, directed lawyers for the accused persons to file their closing addresses by March 18. Following this, the court will conduct a summing up on May 7 and allow the jury to return their verdict. While the Prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Dorcas Fellie, adhered to the court's directive on February 14 and filed their closing address, the defense lawyers encountered difficulties. They explained to the court that circumstances beyond their control prevented them from filing on time and requested an extension until Monday. The teenagers are standing trial for the alleged murder of Ismael Mensah Abdella in 2021, purportedly for money rituals. The case has been adjourned to May 7. 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 As part of the 2024 International Womens Day celebration, the Women in Aviation, Ghana Chapter organised a program to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in the aviation industry and beyond. It was a day filled with inspiring keynote speeches, engaging panel discussions and interactive workshops all centred around the theme Embracing Equity to Inspire Inclusion in the Aviation Industry in Ghana. In her welcome remarks, the President of Women in Aviation, Ghana Chapter and Deputy Director General (F&A) Madam Juliet Okae, indicated that the programme was aimed at providing the women with the opportunity to look at challenges facing women in the industry and strategize on the way forward. She touched on the theme, stressing the need for inclusion not only at the base but also at the top of the corporate ladder. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Madam Mabel Sagoe in her remarks indicated that it had become very necessary to seek for fair opportunities for women in the aviation industry. She encouraged all women to work hard, be innovative and pursue careers perceived to be the preserve of men. She entreated women to learn and upgrade themselves so that they will not be left behind when opportunities become available. The Director General of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ing. Charles Kraikue congratulated the women in aviation on the occasion of the International Womens Day. He indicated that steps had been initiated to ensure that the percentage of women in the organization is increased. A Board Member, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Madam Joyce Boateng noted that the aviation industry has over the years witnessed increasing womens participation particularly in areas dominated by men. She stated that there must be a deliberate and concerted effort by the state and its institutions to include more women to address the gender disparity in industries. The Officer-in-Charge of Immigration Service at KIA, Madam Edith Arhin in her statement, charged ladies to cultivate a culture of respect and collaboration which in her view was essential for fostering a positive work environment. She urged ladies not to be distracted by criticisms but rather embrace it as an opportunity for self-improvement and personal development. Touching on the theme, the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare who was the Special Guest of Honour spoke about the need to collectively establish a more inclusive world for women to be inspired at all levels in society. She urged ladies to push themselves higher by learning new things, taking up new challenges, dare to reach higher in all fields, regardless of race, age, ability, faith and body image. She indicated that an inclusive workplace culture sends a clear signal to customers, stakeholders and the community that the organisation values diversity and is committed to treating everyone with respect and dignity. The voice and the perspective of a woman in the decision-making process is a powerful one. She encouraged women to build a culture of inclusivity in a male-dominated world and hold themselves accountable and face challenges. She noted the achievements chalked by the Women in Aviation Ghana Chapter over the past few years and commended them for whipping up the interest of young girls in the aviation industry. This, she indicated, will ignite their passion in pursuing careers in the aviation industry many years to come. The Women in Aviation Ghana Chapter was incorporated in June 2016 to network, connect and inspire women in the aviation industry. Women in Aviation International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation and aerospace career fields and interests. 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 Members of Parliament want the Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful to address the nation about the current internet outrage nationwide. The situation has been worrying but the National Communications Authority (NCA) earlier alerted the public about multiple undersea cable disruptions that had caused internet disruption. But Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Parliament today that Ursula Owusu-Ekuful must officially brief the nation about the unfortunate situation. The Ghana Telecommunication Chamber and the telecos have all issued statements pleading with their subscribers to bear with them. They say that there have been multiple submarine fibre optic cable disruptions in the high seas, and we do not know the extent of the distractions, and this is a national security issue. I want to appeal that the Communications Minister come to tell us what the government is doing to help restore normalcy so that we can have access to the internet and our data services. Sarah Adwoa Safo, the MP for Dome-Kwabenya also expressed the need for the government to update the country on measures taken to restore services. Members of our constituencies are equally worried as we are, especially with the mobile money operators. So, I will plead with the Majority Leader to schedule the Minister for Communication to come and rightfully and thoroughly address the House on the issues that are at stake so that we can understand it better, she stated. 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 Authorities arrested and charged a 94-year-old man in the hit-and-run crash that killed a Dumont, New Jersey, woman Thursday evening, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Friday night. Ernest F. Hofmann, 94, of Bergenfield, was charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and fourth degree obstructing the administration of law, as well as several motor vehicle summonses. An investigation into the hit-and-run crash that killed Elizabeth Feliciano-Rosa, 54, found that Hofmann hit her Thursday night in his pickup truck around 5:20 p.m. as she crossed Madison Avenue at Washington Avenue in Dumont, authorities said Friday. Elizabeth Feliciano-Rosa (Englewood Public School District photo)Englewood Public School District Feliciano-Rosa was taken to Hackensack University Hospital and died from her injuries, according to authorities. An employee of the Englewood, N.J., school district, Feliciano-Rosa taught dual language to first-grade students at Grieco Elementary School since 2005, according to a statement from the school district posted on their website. It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and cherished friend, Elizabeth Rosa, the school district said in a statement. Hofmann was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance. An attorney for him was not immediately reachable Friday night. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X. Update: Pa. gunman killed 3, including 13-year-old sister: police A man shot and killed three people in Bucks County on Saturday morning before stealing a car and leaving the area, according to multiple reports. Andre Gordon, 26, shot two people at a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, around 8:52 a.m., according to 6abc Action News. Less than 10 minutes later, Falls Township Police were sent to Edgewood Lane in Levittown for another reported fatal shooting, Action News said. The third victim was reportedly running away from the area when Gordon killed them, the story said. Gordon then stole a car from a person at a Dollar General on Old Bristol Pike in Morrisville around 9:13 a.m., according to the Inquirer and Action News. He was last seen driving a dark gray 2016 Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate that reads: KFR1534 and a Namaste sticker in white lettering on the right side of the rear bumper. The victims have not been identified at this time, but the Inquirer reported that the victims knew the alleged shooter. Police described Gordon who does not have a permanent address but has connections to the Trenton, N.J., area as skinny, 61 tall and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, Action News said. He is also believed to have an assault rifle which police said he used in the shootings and other weapons in his possession, the story said. Anyone with information regarding Gordon or his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 215-328-8501. A federal bankruptcy judge approved a plan Thursday that clears the way for the Catholic Diocese of Camden to finalize agreements to pay child sexual abuse survivors. The deal comes nearly two years after the diocese agreed to pay $87.5 million in settlements to people who were abused by clergy members as children. Judge Jerrold Poslusny signed off on the plan despite objections from several of the dioceses insurance companies, attorneys for the survivors said in a news release. This moment comes after decades of survivors suffering, and it is their courage and their voice that is making the Diocese accountable and safer for kids, said Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing the victims. It is the survivors deserving of credit, who courageously stand in Camden and across this nation, he said. From their courage and collective action, brings about real reckoning. In a letter addressed to the church community Thursday, Camden Bishop Dennis Sullivan confirmed the finalization of the settlements by the court and apologized to victims. This decision opens a new chapter in the Diocese of Camden, allowing us to finally offer substantial reparations to survivors harmed by sinful priests dating back more than six decades, he said in the letter. The plan received the support of 99% of the survivors who voted in the bankruptcy case, the attorneys said. Poslusny required modifications to the plan over the last few months before giving his approval. The judges confirmation continues of a long process for victims of sexual abuse in the diocese. In April 2022, the bishop announced $87.5 million in settlement with more than 300 childhood victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy. Attorneys who represented the victims called the settlement one of the largest cash payments of its kind. The settlement was negotiated amid an ongoing bankruptcy case brought by the diocese in 2020, as it struggled with mounting debt after a flood of abuse victims sought recompense under the New Jersey Independent Victims Compensation Program. The victims, all now adults, filed claims as part of the federal bankruptcy proceedings. The Camden Diocese oversees nearly half a million Catholics in 62 parishes in the Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. The bishop also expressed appreciation for the survivors who worked to bring the process to a conclusion. The settlement will allow the diocese to now meet its obligations to the survivors of clerical abuse, he said. Once again, I express my sincere apologies and prayers to all those who have been affected by sexual abuse in our Diocese, Sullivan said. I pledge my continuing commitment to ensure that this terrible chapter in the history of the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey never happens again. Staff writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Newtons third law says For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. One candidate for president suggests the United States should abandon NATO. His public comments and his allies in Congress suggest Ukraines fight against Vladimir Putin is not worth it. Newtons law is relevant here. With an U.S. abandonment of NATO and Ukraine and pulling back from its leadership role and around the world, that equal and opposite reaction will be devastating to major parts of the economy. While President Dwight D. Eisenhowers warning about the military-industrial complex was on point, the reality is that much of the economy depends on Pentagon spending, which has tremendous effects on other areas of the economy. In 2022 Pennsylvania received $17.9 billion in those dollars. Virginia $62.7 billion; Texas $58 billion; Connecticut $22.3 billion. Lockheed Martin won $44.5 billion in contracts and Raytheon $25.4 billion. Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, centre, poses with other protesters for the media at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is on trial for protesting outside a major oil and gas industry conference in London last year. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) DoNotPay is an innovative business tool that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to help individuals fight back against big corporations, tackle bureaucratic hurdles, uncover hidden money, and efficiently manage subscriptions. The platform is designed to empower consumers by providing a wide range of tools and features to address common issues faced in everyday life. With DoNotPay, users can access a plethora of services such as fighting back against corporations that unfairly charge fees or collect debts, analyzing Terms of Service agreements to protect privacy, and navigating complex situations like appealing parking tickets or toll booth fines. The platform also offers tools for canceling subscriptions, managing free trials, and finding unclaimed money to optimize financial health. One of the standout features of DoNotPay is its versatility in addressing a wide range of consumer needs. From helping individuals make an 83(b) Election to securing compensation for flight delays, the platform offers solutions for a variety of scenarios. Users can also benefit from tools such as helping with bill payments, negotiating salaries, filing complaints against companies, or finding discounts on products and services. By leveraging artificial intelligence technology, DoNotPay aims to level the playing field between consumers and corporations, giving individuals the tools they need to navigate complex systems and protect their rights. The platforms user-friendly interface and comprehensive list of services make it a valuable resource for anyone looking to simplify their interactions with companies, government agencies, or other entities. Overall, DoNotPay is a powerful AI consumer champion that can help individuals save time, money, and resources by providing efficient solutions to common challenges. Whether you need assistance with cancelling subscriptions, fighting back against unfair fees, or navigating bureaucratic red tape, DoNotPay offers a comprehensive suite of tools to support your needs. DoNotPay Features Appeal Banned Account Cancel Anything Fight Email Spam Find Unclaimed Money Increase Credit Limit Notarize Documents Schedule Appointments With the DMV Voter Registration DoNotPay Pricing Available upon request, free trial. Visit donotpay.com for more. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter , Facebook and Instagram. Trump son in law Jared Kushner is still exploiting overseas connections he got from the White House to make money. The New York Times reported: Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald J. Trump, confirmed on Friday that he was closing in on major real estate deals in Albania and Serbia, the latest example of the former presidents family doing business abroad even as Mr. Trump seeks to return to the White House. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Mr. Kushners plans in the Balkans appear to have come about in part through relationships built while Mr. Trump was in office. Mr. Kushner, who was a senior White House official, said he had been working on the deals with Richard Grenell, who served briefly as acting director of national intelligence under Mr. Trump and also as ambassador to Germany and special envoy to the Balkans. The Trump overseas exploitation of their time in the White House remains alive and well. It is also a cautionary tale for the American people of what the future could hold if Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025. For as bad as the obvious corruption of the Trump administration was, these same people have learned from their experiences in the first Trump term and are going to return to power with a better understanding of how to be even more corrupt to enrich themselves. Jared Kushner didnt just do one $2 billion cash-in with the Saudis. Kushner is still running around the world and leveraging the relationships that acquired while working in the White House to make even more money. The Trump family doesnt want to govern. The Trumps want to use the most powerful political office in the world as their primary source of income. Trump may have left office, but the corruption is alive and well. 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. Aziaha James made a career-high seven 3-poiners and scored 27 points, and third-seeded North Carolina State earned its first trip to the Final Four of the womens NCAA Tournament since 1998, beating top-seeded Texas 76-66. The played with 3-point lines at different distances on opposite ends of the court. River Baldwin added 16 points for N.C. State, which will face unbeaten South Carolina in the national semifinals in Cleveland on Saturday. Freshman Madison Booker finished with 17 points to lead the Longhorns, who were vying for their first Final Four since 2003. Both coaches were informed about the problem with the 3-point lines before the game but decided to play on. Read moreAziaha James scores 27, leads NC State to 76-66 win over Texas, first women's Final Four since 1998 Aiken, SC (29801) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. F88's initiatives in supporting self-employed low-income women and promoting opportunities for female employees are highly appreciated by international organizations. F88 launched a loan package on March 8 specifically for female customers with half the cost of the normal loan. The new product is part of activities that aim to bring benefits to female employees and customers after the Australian Development Investment Organization (ADI) provided F88 with technical assistance worth AUD43,000 (US$28.200). The goal of this sponsorship is to support F88's diversity initiatives to promote fairness and gender equality within the company, increasing the presence of women in leadership positions and in company services. An F88's female employee works with a customer. Photo courtesy of F88 Majdie Hordern, Secretary in Charge of Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy in Hanoi, said that the Australian government is proud to deploy technical assistance through ADI to support a company on Australia's investment list, Lendable. F88 has helped self-employed women access capital and developed products that are suitable for women business owners, which is a smart decision. "I look forward to seeing how F88 and other lending institutions expand their customer base by customizing products for thousands of women-led businesses in Vietnam," Hordern said. Before receiving support from ADI, F88 was a partner of Lendable with an investment of US$10 million of foreign funds for a convenience store chain. Lendable, after working with F88, introduced this partner to ADI as a business that regularly organizes activities for the community, including on promoting gender equality. Lendable currently operates in 12 countries and territories. The company representative said that it is pleased to be the bridge connecting ADI and F88, helping its partner create financial products for women as well as strategic gender initiatives in the company. Lienda Kavindele, Head of Impact and ESG at Lendable, said that F88's initiatives in supporting low-income self-employed women are very important and reflect a vision of inclusive economic development. "We appreciate that F88 not only focuses on the external but also implements internal gender equality programs, demonstrating its commitment to positive change both in business and the workplace," Kavindele said. Women account for a high proportion of employees at F88. Photo courtesy of F88 According to statistics from the Ministry of Finance for 2023, women make up 47% of the Vietnamese workforce. However, the female workforce is largely unprofessional; jobs such as housekeeping, cleaning, and housekeeping performed by female workers account for 94.7% of the total number of hired workers. During the pandemic period, the unemployment rate of female workers was higher than that of male workers. These numbers show that Vietnamese women are facing more difficulties in being financially independent, and it is necessary to provide a loan solution for self-employed women. This is also the motivation for F88 to launch loan products specifically for women. Phung Anh Tuan, General Director of F88, said that in the past 5 years, since receiving investment from foreign funds, the company has increasingly focused on gender equality. Currently, the proportion of female employees in the company is 53%, of which 2030-year-olds account for nearly 70%, those holding management positions account for 45%, and those holding executive management positions account for approximately 20%. The proportion of female customers is currently 30%. Female customer growth in 2022 compared to 2021 reached 234%. For F88, becoming a partner of Lendable and ADI in gender equality initiatives is a great achievement. This recognition shows that its efforts in the past have been highly appreciated by the community. Editor's note: Sunshine Week is observed March 10-16 and is a collaboration between journalism, civic and government groups across the nation to celebrate the importance of public records and open government. A meeting between key players at an upscale restaurant. An advertisement pulled at the last minute. A purchase agreement that might have been signed in bad faith. These are some of the clues in the mystery surrounding the failure of Project Pascalis, the city of Aiken's $75 million economic development effort. But the puzzle is still not complete, and the Aiken Standard is attempting to shed light on what happened through reporting and Freedom of Information Act requests. The Aiken Standard filed a FOIA request seeking communications between a city official and a prospective developer during the month of November 2021 to determine which man contacted the other. Laura Jordan, the city's Freedom of Information Act response coordinator, denied this request. She said the city determined emails were exempt from disclosure under the act. "S.C. Ann. Code 30-4-40(a)(5) and (9) provide that a public body may exempt from disclosure 'documents of and documents incidental to proposed sales or purchases of property,'" as well as correspondence relative to efforts or activities of a public body and of a person or entity employed by or authorized to act for or on behalf of a public body to attract business or industry to invest within South Carolina," Jordan said. If little Debbies parents prefer for her to dine on wagyu beef instead of mystery meat, should the taxpayers have to pay for her to have lunch delivered daily from Circa 1886 instead of standing in line in the school cafeteria? Should Hubert Homeowner be able to send the taxpayers his ADT bill every month because he doesnt like to lock his doors, and hes just not sure he trusts the police to keep burglars out of his unsecured South of Broad mansion? One more: Should the federal government "forgive" college debt? For poor people? For rich people? For people who spent six years drinking their way through undergrad and then settled down and got a graduate degree in comparative French gender studies better known as You want fries with that? Of course those are silly questions. Well, the first two are anyway. Some parents are, after all, required to pay a de minimis portion of the cost of their kids school lunch, and besides Circa 1886 doesnt even serve lunch. And no one would ever suggest that the taxpayers should pick up the cost of an individuals private security service would they? But both are essentially what the S.C. House wants to do with the state's biggest annual expense, K-12 education: Pay parents to send their kids to schools other than the ones taxpayers already fund, because those parents think private schools are inherently superior, and its nothing but the best for little Debbie. If like me youre uncomfortable with the idea of the federal government handing out blanket college loan forgiveness regardless or need (or any such forgiveness without congressional authorization), then the voucher expansion bill up for debate as soon as Tuesday should create in you at least the same level of discomfort. If it doesnt, you need to get your double-standards meter checked, because its on the fritz. Budget-busting expensive The all-you-can eat voucher plan thats racing through the House has its roots in a comparatively modest idea (the key word here being comparatively, not modest): Well just offer subsidies to poor kids, so they can enjoy a lunch of albacore tuna and hummus on pita like their suburban classmates. BEAUFORT The final crack of the auctioneers gavel had barely stopped reverberating before John Warley was already thinking about holding another auction next year. Ok, thats not exactly true. There was no auctioneers gavel. The March 14 event was looser than that, more casual. But the point stands. The board president was enthused about the success of the Beaufort History Museums first-ever auction, which raised more than $11,000. Talk of a follow-up event started even before the silent auction closed. Frankly, some of those bids were above what we were anticipating, Warley said. I think were going to do this again next year. Up for bid One of those bidding was City Councilman Josh Scallate, who arrived with his eye already on one of the seven items on the auction block: a 1902 U.S. Cavalry saber and scabbard. The saber was designed for both ceremonial use and for combat on horseback. Since its provenance is not tied to Beaufort, South Carolinas second-oldest city, it was selected for the auction. The decision was a good one as bidding was brisk. The saber drew the top price among the live-auction items. In the end, Scallate was not to be denied. His bid of $1,000 well over the $275 reserve price secured the elegant weapon for display on his office wall. I didnt know how high I was willing to go, Scallate said. Im excited just to have it. Contrary to a rumor heard by a number of attendees, including board Vice President Amelie Cromer, the sword was the only weapon up for auction. News that the museum planned to auction a Gatling gun, an early iteration of the machine gun, was, as Mark Twain once said, greatly exaggerated. It was never mentioned in one of our museum meetings, said Cromer. Other items up for auction included a 19th century bronze copy of Giovanni da Bolognas statue The Flying Mercury, acquired by the museum in 1939, several other works of art and a rare book of photographs. BEAUFORT A St. Helena Island man is in custody and faces a variety of charges related to a March 3 shooting in Beaufort that resulted in the death of a child. Benjamin Shamar Seabrook IV, 18, was arrested March 15 and charged with involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, unlawful conduct toward a child, tampering with evidence and filing a false police report. According to a statement made to The Post and Courier by interim Chief Stephenie Price of the Beaufort Police Department, Seabrook had a firearm in a residence. The child obtained the gun, and it discharged, Price wrote in an email. Beaufort police responded to the report of a gunshot victim at Cross Creek Apartments shortly after 1 p.m. March 3. Officers found a child with a gunshot wound to the head and provided medical aid until emergency medical services personnel arrived. The child was transported to an area hospital with an injury described as critical. Two days later, police issued an advisory stating that the child had died as a result of the gunshot wound. Police initially said the shooting appeared to accidental but added that an investigation into the incident was ongoing. According to county records, Seabrook was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center around 3:30 p.m. on March 15. At this time, he remains confined there. FILE - The Boeing logo is seen, Jan. 25, 2011, on the property in El Segundo, Calif. A Boeing 737-800 was found to have a missing panel after a United Airlines flight arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday, March 15, 2024, airport officials said. A dilapidating Burger King on a busy corner in West Ashley could be demolished this year. Plans are in the works to raze the vacant fast-food restaurant at Ashley River Road and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and replace it with a First National Bank. The BK was one of six shuttered in the Charleston region in 2019. The property has since sat idle despite its high-profile location at one of the citys busiest intersections. First National already has received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to open an outpost at 1804 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. The Pittsburgh-based lender anticipates it will open in the first half of 2025, a spokesperson said. FNB currently has four locations in the Charleston area, including a regional headquarters, and it plans to open a Summerville location at 1307 North Main St. in the first half of 2025. The bank also has 150 ATMs in the state. We plan to continue our expansion across the state and in Charleston specifically, including in North Charleston, the spokesperson said. Make room for Publix Discount chain Family Dollar is set to close about 600 locations this year while its parent company Dollar Tree will shutter about 30 more, including the Ashley Landing location. The Charleston store at 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., along with the former Napa Auto Parts site next door, will both be torn down to make way for the planned relocation of the existing Publix supermarket across the parking lot. No start date has been confirmed, but the expected timeframe is to start demolition sometime this fall. Coffees coming A new coffee shop is percolating in Goose Creek. Charleston Commercial closed a land development deal in Carnes Crossroads to bring a jolt of caffeine to 2501 N. Main St. near Carnes Crossing Boulevard. No longer will Charleston's City Hall remain locked while its elected leaders meet in the historic wood-paneled chamber two stories above, Mayor William Cogswell's administration said. For years, the doors entering City Hall automatically locked at 5 p.m. a time when City Council and one of its commissions start their meetings. So at least twice a month, the practice has violated state and federal laws that ensure the public has access while their government makes decisions that affect them, an attorney with the South Carolina Press Association said. "A prior administration made a choice to lock the doors at 5 p.m.; going forward that will not be the case," said Logan McVey, Cogswell's chief policy advisor. The new administration, which took control of the building at 80 Broad St. on Jan. 8, said it did not know the doors locked during meetings or that the practice violated open meetings laws until it was brought to their attention by The Post and Courier following a March 12 City Council meeting. At least two people intending to speak during the forum found the doors barred when they arrived about 15 minutes late. A security guard, who is stationed by the door to grant people entry after hours, eventually let them in and they were able to speak during the disjointed public comment period. The speakers were part of a group calling for the council to pass a resolution calling for a cease fire in Gaza. A representative of the group, who has attended council meetings regularly since December, said they've never had an issue gaining access to prior meetings, but questioned why they met resistance this week. Deja Knight McMillan, spokeswoman for the city, initially said she believed the security guard stationed inside the locked door to let people in was sufficient. "People have access to this building period," she wrote in a March 13 email. The state's press association attorney Taylor Smith disagreed. "Using this procedure with the security guard, how can the city know how many people approach the place where the decisions are made about them in their local city, tried to access the notified time for the public meeting, found it was locked and simply turned away?" Smith said. A woman whose murder conviction in the brutal slaying of her Summerville roommate was overturned by the state Supreme Court. On March 15, she opted to plead guilty instead of standing trial a second time. Carmie Nelson, 57, was charged with murder for the April 2, 2017, killing of Jordan Brooke Lum, 51. The two women met while both were in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program and became friends. Lum invited Nelson to live with her. The relationship quickly soured, with both women calling 911 several times to lodge complaints against the other, Assistant 9th Circuit Solicitor Daniel Cooper said. In 2019, Nelson was tried, convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court last year overturned her conviction after finding Nelson was unfairly convicted because the judge allowed grisly photographs of the victim to be presented as evidence. The photographs could have inflamed the emotions of jurors, according to courts opinion. Nelson was set to stand trial again March 25. Instead, she pleaded guilty to murder in Charleston County Circuit Court. Judge Deadra L. Jefferson accepted the negotiated sentence of 30 years in prison. Nelson will get credit for the time she has been incarcerated since her arrest, but she will not be eligible for parole. Nelson texted her estranged husband, Daniel Nelson, to come to Lums Summerville home on April 2, 2017, and for the next three days the pair binged on alcohol as they attempted to clean the crime scene, the prosecutor said during the hearing. Lum had 113 wounds on her body caused by what the police investigation revealed were knives, a screwdriver and both sides of a hammer. It was clearly death by a thousand cuts, Cooper said. After two days, Daniel Nelson began to suspect Carmie Nelson intended to blame him for Lums death. He secretly recorded conversations which, along with text messages, he turned over to police. She testified at her 2019 trial that he killed Lum. He told the jury that Lum was already dead when he got to the Summerville home. I just put the Stars and Stripes back up outside my house. Though hard winds keep blowing it down, I put it up again. Having it regularly knocked down has me reflecting on what it means to be American in 2024. Read moreCommentary: Why I put my US flag back up again even as the hard winds blow Pham Van Thanh was conducting an engine check on the True Confidence after lunch when a deafening blast rocked the 57,000-ton vessel, sending tremors through his being. Thanh, 39, was one of four Vietnamese crew members aboard the bulk carrier when it was struck by a missile launched by Houthi forces in the Gulf of Aden on March 5. Tragically, chief officer Dang Duy Kien, 41, lost his life in the attack. The other three, including Thanh, survived. Thanh returned home to Hai Phong in northern Vietnam 10 days after the harrowing ordeal. Having signed on with Hai Phong Marine Services and Trading Investment company (HP Marine), which recruits crew members for foreign vessels, Thanh embarked on the True Confidence as its chief engineer in October 2023. The Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier, operated by a Greek company, departed from Egypt. The vessel then navigated through the troubled Red Sea and the conflict-laden Gulf of Aden en route to Asia for cargo loading. In early February, the vessel docked in China to load steel and automobiles before proceeding to Jazan Port in Saudi Arabia. At the time, the ship accommodated a crew of 20, including four Vietnamese: Thanh, Kien, 36-year-old Nguyen Van Tao, and 33-year-old Phung Van An. Assigned various tasks and schedules, the Vietnamese crew members often engaged in conversation during meals. "It was then that I discovered Chief Officer Kien and I hailed from the same place, Hai An District in Hai Phong," reminisced Thanh. Pham Van Thanh (R) tells his family members in Hai Phong details of the missile strike by Houthi forces on March 5, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan Given the vessel's transit through high-risk areas vulnerable to pirate attacks, crew members received training in self-defense measures. The ship was laced with barbed wire and equipped with a fortified area stocked with provisions. Additionally, three armed guards were hired to accompany the vessel through the Gulf of Aden, an area frequented by Houthi activities off the coast of Yemen. On March 5, as the True Confidence neared the Gulf, tension heightened. "Though aware of Houthi strikes targeting international shipping in support of Hamas, we anticipated the focus would be on cargo rather than human lives," Thanh remarked. Approximately 90 kilometers from Yemen's Aden Port, a radio broadcast warned that the ship had not been granted entry. Consequently, the Indian captain opted to alter course and resume the journey later, prompting crew members to proceed with their duties. Around 11:30 a.m. local time (3:30 p.m. Hanoi time), as Thanh descended into the ship's lower bunker with An and another crew member, a deafening explosion reverberated, engulfing the vessel in black smoke. Clinging to the rails, Thanh and his companions ascended to the deck amid chaos. "Screaming 'Bomb bomb bomb, go go,' we made our way," recounted Thanh. The True Confidence is on fire following a missile strike in the Red Sea, March 5, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Indian navy With sirens blaring and flames engulfing the vessel, the crew members sought to locate one another amidst the mayhem. Tao, unable to exit through the jammed main door, escaped through a window. Surveying the scene, Thanh inquired about Kien's whereabouts, only to learn that he had sustained injuries and was being evacuated. As the fire spread, retrieving personal belongings became untenable. As the fire raged, crew members assembled on the deck, preparing to abandon ship. Emotional distress was palpable, particularly among Filipino sailors mourning two missing comrades. Guided by the captain, lifeboats were deployed, ferrying 18 sailors and three armed guards to safety. Kien was evacuated alongside his fellow crew members. "We managed to carry Kien despite his injuries, while the rest of us sustained wounds," Thanh said. With Kien's condition deteriorating, medical supplies were inadequate to save him. Thanh, fulfilling a solemn duty, documented his colleague's passing for the bereaved family. After two hours at sea, the Indian Navy vessel INS Kolkata arrived. Survivors were rescued, marking the first recorded fatal attack as Houthi forces intensified strikes on international shipping in the Red Sea amid conflicts in the Middle East. Subsequently, survivors were accommodated at the LeLaurier Hotel in the port city of Djibouti. Amid ongoing investigations and procedural formalities, Thanh, having maintained contact with Kien's family, was resolute in extending support and facilitating repatriation. Reflecting on the ordeal, Thanh, undeterred by adversity, expressed hope for safer maritime routes. "I hope shipping companies would make itineraries that do not travel through these sea areas. I hope the world is at peace." When the novel coronavirus roared into South Carolina in March of 2020 and Gov. Henry McMaster sent the kids home from school, it seemed reasonable to believe that if everybody just stayed away from other people for a couple of weeks a month tops we could end this thing. Read moreEditorial: Four years after COVID stole Easter, a time to rejoice in progress made Ratepayers have never had a lot of friends on the S.C. Public Service Commission, whose job should be to protect the public from the monopoly utilities our Legislature forces us to buy our electricity from but which has always done a better job at protecting the utilities government-guaranteed profits. Environmentalists have seen even fewer friendly faces. Tom Ervin was the one clear exception. Mr. Ervin, a former legislator, Circuit Court judge and gubernatorial candidate, was one of the new commissioners the Legislature elected to the rate-setting PSC in the wake of the V.C. Summer debacle, a brief period when legislators seemed more interested in protecting the public than the utilities. Thats why it was noteworthy when Mr. Ervin sent a 1,557-word letter to Senate President Tom Alexander Wednesday announcing his immediate resignation and urging lawmakers to reject a bill by House Speaker Murrell Smith to roll back consumer protections that were passed after the now-defunct SCANA Corp. and Santee Cooper abandoned the overdue, overbudget nuclear construction project for which ratepayers already had paid billions. Were disappointed that Mr. Ervin is no longer a commissioner, but a Legislature that would pass anything near the current version of H.5118 wouldnt reelect him to another term anyway, especially if it includes the bills provision to slash the panel from seven members to three. You could be forgiven if you mistook Mr. Ervins resignation letter for a column from a conservationist or consumer advocate, but thats sort of the point: Mr. Ervin tells us he resigned because he has grave concerns about the damage H.5118 would do to the PSC and our entire state, and he believed it would run afoul of judicial ethics for him to share them while he remained on the commission. Happy Sunshine Week indeed. As we hope youve noticed, our newsroom spent the week recounting successes its had using South Carolinas Freedom of Information Act to illumine your understanding of what your government is doing on your behalf, in your name and with your tax dollars. And on the eve of this annual observation, a state judge tossed in her own reminder of how the public can use that same law to stop state and local agencies from doing our business in the dark. The Post and Courier's Ian Grenier reports that S.C. Circuit Judge Jocelyn Newman ruled that the Richland District One School Board did indeed violate the FOI law when it failed to adequately explain what it was going to discuss in a closed-door executive session and then came back into public and voted unanimously to approve what it described only as the recommendation as outlined in executive session concerning the $30 million Vince Ford Early Learning Center, on which work had been halted amid concerns by the state Education Department. It was only a preliminary ruling, with the whys and hows still to come, and even when they arrive, it wont be a landmark decision, and it doesnt concern a deep secret. Thats sort of the point. Even though this violation was more brazen than usual, this kind of stuff is routine: both governments violating the states open meetings and open records laws and, once someone files a lawsuit, courts ruling against the government. Indeed, its rare for plaintiffs to lose these suits. That should encourage more people to file suit, but it might be even more troubling than the underlying behavior. Designed with three milestones, the project, held from January to March 9, aimed at providing Vietnamese students, especially newcomers to Australia, with the necessary knowledge and skills while studying in the country. According to Quan Nguyen Quynh Anh, head of the project, the AVSQ is expected to give the students a better insight into the life of overseas students in Australia and help them get connected with each other. The Milestone 1 event, called Queensland Know All, was arranged in Vietnam to give the participants an overview of Queensland state and Brisbane City in particular. Meanwhile, Milestone 2, named "AVSQO-week", was organized in the Australian city to share experiences and information related to healthcare, finance, and learning methods with the Vietnamese students who set foot in the city for the first time. The Milestone 3 event brought together 40 Vietnamese in Australia for several traditional games, helping strengthen connectivity within the Vietnamese community. Established on June 18, 2021, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia and the Vietnamese General Consulate in Sydney, the AVSQ is a non-profit organization that focuses on skill development and career orientation programs for Vietnamese students in Queensland and Australia as a whole. PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-15 23:15:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 896 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2024 / Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. ("Lincoln" or the "Company") (TSXV:LMG) is pleased to provide an update on its previously announced acquisition of the assets comprising the Bell Mountain Project located in Churchill County, Nevada (the "Transaction"). This update follows the Company's news releases dated August 10, 2023, October 27, 2023, November 6, 2023, January 5, 2024, and March 15, 2024 (the "News Releases") pertaining to the Transaction.The Transaction is governed by a purchase agreement dated November 3, 2023, as amended on January 8, 2024, and March 15, 2024, between Lincoln Resource Group Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Eros Resources Corp. ("Eros"), and Bell Mountain Exploration Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eros. The Company received conditional acceptance to complete the Transaction from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on November 24, 2023.To ensure the parties have adequate time to satisfy the remaining TSXV requirements and obtain final approval, the parties have extended the outside date to complete the Transaction to May 31, 2024.The Company is to fulfill specific conditions to secure final approval from the TSXV. These conditions include providing the TSXV with an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA") for the Bell Mountain Project and a financial plan which outlines the Company's anticipated expenses in the first six months following closing of the Transaction.In order for the Company to satisfy the outstanding requirements of the TSXV, Lincoln intends to launch a private placement offering in the near future. Further details regarding the private placement will be disclosed in a subsequent announcement.For comprehensive details on the Transaction, please refer to the Company's prior News Releases, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca , or www.lincolnmining.com About LincolnLincoln Gold Mining Inc. is an advanced-stage gold mine exploration and development company holding a 100% interest in the Pine Grove Gold Project, in the Walker Lane structural zone of western Nevada. The Company has prepared a preliminary economic assessment of the Pine Grove Gold Project pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Lincoln holds its interests in the US projects through its wholly owned subsidiaries,Lincoln Resource Group Corp. and Lincoln Gold US Corporation are both Nevada corporations. For more information, please contact Paul Saxton, President and CEO of the Company.On behalf of Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.Paul SaxtonPresident and CEO, Lincoln Gold Mining Inc.Tel: (604) 688-7377Email: saxton@ lincolnmining.com Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's expectation that the Transaction will close, that the parties will satisfy the TSXV's requirements to close the Transaction, that the Company anticipates that the Transaction will receive final TSXV acceptance and that the Company will launch a private placement in the future..Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those relating to the Company's expectation that the Transaction will be completed, the failure to obtain approval of the Transaction from the TSXV, the inability for the parties to meet each requirement of the TSXV to close the Transaction, the expectation that the TSXV will not impose further conditions, the expectation that the Company will launch a private placement, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators.The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, the Company not being able to complete the Transaction within an acceptable timeline, the risk that the Company may not obtain approval of the TSXV or other necessary regulatory approval of the Transaction, the risk that the Company will not be able to launch and complete the private placement as currently expected, the risk the parties will not fulfil the TSXV conditions to close the Transaction, and general market conditions. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will not update or revise publicly any of the included forward- looking statements unless as expressly required by applicable law.SOURCE: Lincoln Gold Mining Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-16 18:19:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 721 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ZUG, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / March 16, 2024 / LocaMos Global Ag and LCM Technology PTE. LTD ("LCM") are thrilled to announce a strategic collaboration aimed at improving "LocaGo", the world's first location-based social networking application.LocaGo provides users with abundant exciting uses and applications aimed at enhancing everyday life, both virtually and physically.What MakesLocaGoStand OutHere are the most notable features of LocaGo:Location-based Messaging: LocaGo introduces an innovative messaging feature where users can drop messages to specific locations instead of sending them conventionally. Recipients are required to physically visit the designated location and utilize VR on their phones to view the message displayed in 3D images or text within the space.Location-based Gifts: Users can discover augmented reality gifts placed at specific locations. These virtual gifts, including vouchers and coins, add an element of excitement to the user experience, requiring recipients to physically visit the designated location to claim their surprise.Location-based Notes: Share moments and memories tied to specific locations through location-based notes. Users can attach images, videos, and other content to specific spots, allowing them to revisit and rediscover these memories whenever they return to the location.Location-based Reviews: Say goodbye to generic keyword searches with LocaGo's location-based review system. This feature provides users with personalized recommendations and insights based on their current location, ensuring that recommendations are relevant and contextualized to the user's surroundings.Making Local Connections: LocaGo facilitates connections with nearby users, fostering a sense of community and enabling users to form meaningful relationships based on shared interests and proximity.Hunting for Rewards: Engage in virtual treasure hunts and LocaGo's rewards system. Using the VR camera, users can hunt for items, vouchers, coins, and other rewards hidden throughout their surroundings.The "Why" BehindLocaGoLCM Technology created the LocaGo platform as a way to cultivate positive change and lasting connections in the world of social media. Noticing how social media platforms often leave us feeling more disconnected from real life, LCM wanted to create a platform that positively contributes to the lifestyles and mindsets of the younger generation.LocaGo is meant to be more than the typical social media application - it's designed to help us connect with the people and places around us. With location technology, LocaGo encourages users to engage with their surroundings and make genuine connections with people nearby instead of encouraging "glamorous facades." Making a Great App Even BetterNow, teaming up with LocaMos Global Ag, LCM is working to make LocaGo even better. Together, they're committed to creating a platform that prioritizes real connections and user-friendly experiences. This collaborative effort promises groundbreaking improvements to the LocaGo app, including enhancements in its user interface, operational efficiency, and the introduction of innovative features.Both entities are committed to working closely together to ensure the continued success and sustainable growth of LocaGo in the market. This partnership underscores the shared commitment of LCM Technology and LocaMos Global Ag to pioneer sophisticated, user-centric technological solutions.With the newest updates to LocaGo, LCM Technology expects the app to drive home its core mission of facilitating community connections, seamlessly bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds, and fostering sustainable development.Both LCM Technology PTE. LTD and LocaMos Global Ag are enthusiastic about harnessing the immense potential and myriad opportunities presented by this collaborative effort. Moving forward, both companies say they're committed to innovating diligently and delivering unparalleled value to the growing LocaGo user community.About LCM Technology PTE. LTDLCM Technology PTE. LTD, based in Singapore, is a company that specializes in software development and mobile applications, and integrating blockchain technology, AR, and VR to enhance user experiences and drive industry advancements. LCM is committed to bridging digital and physical worlds, fostering genuine connections and sustainable development.About LocaMos Global AgLocaMos Global Ag is a technology company headquartered in Switzerland, specializing in cutting-edge platform software and offering digital solutions to global enterprises. With a focus on innovation and credibility, LocaMos is dedicated to delivering advanced technologies essential for refining and optimizing the digital experience.For further inquiries, please contact:LCM Technology PTE. LTD Address: 68 Upper Serangoon View #11-24 Kingsford Waterbay SingaporePhone number: +6531581132Email: contact@ locago.tech CEO: Stanley HungLocaMos Global AG Address: Bahnhofstrasse 21, 6300 Zug, SwitzerlandEmail: social@ locamos.com Website: https://locamos.com/ CEO: Minh MacSOURCE: LocaMos Global AG PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-15 23:35:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 695 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 MANHATTAN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 15, 2024 / Madco3d LLC, a firm that specializes in architect-led 3D printed concrete construction, is set to unveil a series of novel projects and collaborations that mark notable advancements in sustainable building and environmental restoration. In the coming weeks, the Madco3d team will gather in Brooklyn, NY, to construct an 18' doorway demo, 3D printed at their New Hampshire production and manufacturing facility, as a part of a 14-story high-rise designed by company president Adam Kushner.Madco3d is preparing to launch large-scale 3D printing. Simultaneously, Madco3d is developing a new 3D printed coral reef/seawall design, which will be showcased to a visiting U.S. Senator who has shown a deep commitment to environmental issues. The initiative demonstrates the company's dedication to applying 3D printing technology toward ecological preservation and protection.Madco3d's environmental initiatives extend into the marine biology sphere, where they are collaborating with biotech firms and marine biologists to develop biosynthesized or bio-optimized coral. The cutting-edge research seeks to enhance the ecological benefits of their 3D printed reefs, and this has offered a promising avenue for coral restoration and ocean conservation.Madco3d is working on 3D-printed coral reefs and seawalls for marine preservation. The company will be featured in multiple upcoming presentations to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The Madco3d team plans to highlight their latest achievements and ongoing projects in 3D printed construction and environmental restoration.This will include information about the firm's pivotal collaboration with the UNH Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, renowned for its work with NASA, the Department of Defense (DOD), and other innovative entities. Such partnerships focus on pushing the boundaries of 3D printing technology and its applications in both construction and environmental sustainability.Another exciting development for Madco3d is the chance to work closely with a senior design team from UNH to create rapid disaster housing solutions using 3D printed concrete. The project is designed to address the urgent need for resilient and quickly deployable housing in disaster-stricken areas, and the Madco3d team is ready to demonstrate the potential of 3D printing in responding to global challenges.The company is also responding to the growing interest and demand for sustainable building solutions. Madco3d is working on a diverse range of projects based on client requests, from hotels and housing developments to accessory dwelling units (ADUs), landscaping elements, and innovative 3D printed roofing methods. There is currently a demand for well over one hundred of these homes in New Hampshire alone, and the team at Madco3d is ready to prove their versatility and their ability to meet the evolving needs of the construction industry with sustainable, technologically advanced solutions."For us, success in these endeavors reflects a willingness to follow a new, often unknown path using science, experience, creativity, intuition and collaboration to develop and implement a positive life experience that touches as many lives as possible," says Madco3d LLC vice-president Dan Bernard; president Adam Kushner is an architect/builder in NYC with over 35 years' experience who says he wants to "solve housing." Kushner, Bernard and the team at Madco3d - composed of engineers, developers, sustainability professionals, and creative thinkers - believe that 3D printing technology has nearly limitless potential in both the construction industry and environmental restoration efforts. Their work suggests that there are significant practical applications of this technology, and that it has the potential to tangibly impact the way we build our future and restore our planet.The company'sequity crowdfunding campaign is currently on StartEnginefor those interested in becoming a partner.About Madco3d LLCMadco3d LLC is a pioneering construction technology company specializing in 3D printed concrete construction and environmental restoration projects. Led by a team of experienced architects, engineers, and sustainability professionals, Madco3d is dedicated to advancing the application of 3D printing in the construction industry and leveraging the technology for ecological preservation. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and design excellence, Madco3d is committed to solving housing and environmental challenges through cutting-edge technological solutions.Website: https://madco3d.com/ Contact: Dan Bernard,dan@ madco3d.com SOURCE: Madco3d LLC Agricultural development agencies, researchers, and policymakers from Liberia are set to organise a business summit to draw a seed road map for the West African country. The consortium includes the Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), AfDB-funded Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) of IITA, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in Nigeria, and the Liberian government. The two-day Seed Business Summit themed, Building a Harmonised Roadmap for Seed Sector Transformation, being organised in collaboration with the Liberian Ministry of Agriculture, will be held between 25 and 26 March in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. The forum, which aims to catalyse an agricultural revolution in that country, is targeted at the establishment of an economically sustainable seed system for priority crops like rice, cassava, maize, soybean, and aquaculture. Factors limiting growth in Liberias agricultural sector include the underdeveloped seed sector characterised by poor quality seeds, a weak seed regulatory framework, a struggling research system for variety maintenance, and a feeble private sector participation in the seed system, said Godwin Atser, the Country Director of Sasakawa Africa Association in Nigeria. He said a solid seed system will surely change the countrys agricultural landscape. In this summit, SAA, BASICS-II, TAAT, and other partners will share the models currently strengthening the seed system in Nigeria. He said: For example, therell be powerful technical sessions where the host and other countries will be exposed to how BASICS-II is building a sustainable cassava seed system in Nigeria, and Tanzania. Mr Atser noted that they will also showcase how they are scaling and replicating seed system development in cassava, maize, soybean, and rice in other African countries. The BASICS-II Project Manager, Lateef Sanni, explained that the seed business summit would elevate the voices of value chain actors in the rice, cassava, maize, soybean, and aquaculture seed system by sharing success stories on increasing the availability of climate adaptive, improved, and disease-free seed to improve farmers livelihoods. The summit will produce outcomes that will form the basis of future investment in Liberias seed system. It will produce recommendations that will help forge a roadmap that will feed into the countrys agricultural policies and plans: the Liberia Agriculture Sector Investment Plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, and other developmental initiatives in the country. Moreover, other sub-Saharan African countries can take a cue from it, he said. The Liberian Minister of Agriculture, Alex Nuetah, will chair the opening ceremony of the summit with the support of other Liberian dignitaries from the parliament and related ministries. According to the organisers, apart from the IITA, Sasakawa Africa Association and the project leaders and partners of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and BASICS-II, several national stakeholders and International Development partners will participate at the summit. They include the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); the Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI); the Integrated Rice-Fish Farming System (IRFFS), and the World Bank. Others are the European Unions Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) initiative; World Food Programme (WFP), International Monetary Fund (IMF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the EU, France, GIZ, Ireland, JICA and China, as well as agencies of the UN system. Farmers, seed producers, Universities of Agriculture, and the National Seed Board of Liberia will also attend. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Amnesty International Nigeria has asked President Bola Tinubu to investigate extrajudicial killings in south-east Nigeria. The human rights group said in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday that Nigerian security forces led by the military carried out extrajudicial executions and violence in the region from August 2015 to August 2016. It said at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the South- east were killed by the security forces during the operations within the period. Giving an instance of the extrajudicial killings, Amnesty said residents of Abia State discovered 13 corpses in a pit along the Aba Port Harcourt Expressway on 13 February 2016, four days after shootings at the National High School in Aba, the commercial hub of the South-eastern state. Amnesty International repeatedly called on the government of Nigeria to initiate independent investigations into evidence of crimes under international law, and former President (Muhammadu) Buhari repeatedly promised that Amnesty International reports would be looked into. However, no investigation (was conducted). No justice for victims and their families, the group said. To uphold human rights, @officialabat (Tinubu) must investigate this and other gross human rights violations to tame impunity and ensure justice, it added. Background Several groups have sprung up in the South-east, agitating for an independent state of Biafra which they want carved out of the South-east and some parts of the south-south. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is among the groups leading the agitation. Nigerian security agencies have been linked to the killing of innocent residents in the South-east in an attempt to clamp down on the secessionist groups in the region. PREMIUM TIMES in 2016, for instance, published a detailed report on the massive extrajudicial killings in the South-east. The report captured how a group of soldiers stationed at the Head Bridge Market, Anambra State, on 17 December 2015, opened fire on jubilant crowds who had poured out into the streets of Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State, to celebrate a court ruling in favour of the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader. Three people died instantly while five more bodies were discovered meters away from the scene, bringing to eight the number of people killed on the spot, according to the report. Another report by the newspaper revealed how unarmed residents of the South-east were being killed by Nigerian troops deployed to check Biafra agitation in the region. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some residents of warring communities ambushed and killed 16 officers and personnel of the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the Nigerian Army on a peace mission to Okuoma community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta on Thursday. Those killed were the commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers. The Acting Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, made this known on Saturday in Abuja. He stated that the troops were ambushed and killed while responding to a distress call arising from a clash between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta. Mr Gusau, a brigadier general, stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, had directed immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime. He added that the incident had been reported to the Delta State Government. The military, however, remains focused and committed to its mandate of maintaining peace and security in the country. So far, a few arrests have been made while steps have been taken to unravel the motive behind the attack, he assured. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print March 15, 2024 | 03:16 pm PT As the year of the Dragon approached, my grandfather's 91-year journey on this Earth came to an end, leaving me and my family to mourn and reminisce with sadness on a life of love and hard work. As the bedrock of the family, and the breadwinner in a family with 4 children for decades, his departure leaves a hole too large to fill, or even completely to comprehend in the short run. In times like these, my family as would any family around the world, from Portugal to Vietnam came together to embrace and support one another. Throughout this sad period however, there was something that was never on anyones mind: Money. In such hard days, my family had the luxury of focusing on love. Focusing on being there for one another. What made that possible? Well, social protection. With a career of over four decades, and spending most of his life in a country with a comprehensive social protection system, my grandfather was entitled to a pension since the day he retired. My grandmother who was a stay-at-home mother her whole life will now be taken care of with her survivorship benefits. And there was even a funeral grant to help my family support the additional costs during such a hard time. If I am being honest, I am not sure most of my family members thought about this at the time. At this point, social protection has become such a normal part of life in Portugal, that we take it almost for granted. Because we know most of those in need, will be supported and protected. My generation, and those coming after, have been raised in a culture of social protection. A culture where social protection is the rule, and not the exception. So, as I look ahead, my wish is that in Vietnam, the Year of the Dragon is the year where social protection takes flight; the year that brings protection and comfort to all Vietnamese, especially in their hours of need; the year that makes Vietnam a country where a true culture of social protection a culture where we all contribute together to protect one another goes from being the exception to becoming the norm. So that when the children of today grow up, they too will only know of a Vietnam where social protection is there to protect us all. Social protection in Vietnam is looking at a year of potential enormous progress and development. On the heels of Party Resolution 42 on Social Policies promulgated in November 2023, social policies are poised to see renewed focus and development. At the same time, the expected promulgation of the revised Social Insurance Law by the National Assembly in May will take important steps in continuing to cement the compulsory social insurance system as the key building block to provide sustainable protection to a large share of workers in Vietnam. Equally important, the upcoming revision of the Employment Law will continue throughout 2024 to define the best ways to improve its unemployment insurance system. This will be vital to help those workers going through the ever more frequent labor market transitions have greater access to decent work, in particular during times where energy, demographic or technological macro transitions are set against a background of frequent global crisis such as pandemics and wars. And, for those unable to participate in social insurance, Vietnam is also planning a revision of its Social Decree 20 on Social Assistance in 2024, in an effort to continue to provide more and better protection for those most in need in the society. Illustrating all these efforts, Vietnam will continue to discuss the timeline to ratify ILO Convention 102 on Minimum Social Security Standards. This would make Vietnam the first ASEAN country to ratify the most important international treaty on social protection in the world. And all these massive positive changes are planned upon a background of fast economic growth, as Vietnam continues to be projected to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world for the coming years. Most importantly, they build on the great progress of Vietnamese social protection system over the past few decades. Looking at the available data, we see that there has been a significant increase in the number of people supported by social assistance over the last decade, from 2.2 million people in 2013 to 3.5 million people by 2023 (an increase of 60%). And simultaneously, social insurance coverage has grown at a rapid pace, from around 23% of the working labor force in 2015 to 39% in 2023. Two women walk with a bicycle at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in downtown Hanoi, September 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh But, going forward, continuing to progress through such a successful path will not be without challenges. The ongoing policy revisions must continue to be evaluated both against international labor standards, and also against international best practices, to ensure their design and implementation are the most suitable to reach their objectives. But, at the same time, such alignment needs to be adjusted to Vietnams reality one of fast economic growth, but one of a still middle income country nonetheless. Throughout, efforts need to be strengthened to ensure more vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities or persons of ethnic minorities benefit from the different social protection programmes as well as from Vietnams fast economic growth and are not left behind. To overcome these and other hurdles, it is of paramount importance that investment in social protection increases. This means not only more investment from state and province budgets, but also an increase in the number of workers and firms contributing and participating in compulsory social insurance. Because this is what social protection is all about. It is about societies as a whole contributing, pooling resources and funds together, to help those who need our support the most. After three years in Vietnam, I cannot avoid but to be truly amazed by the constant and reinforced commitment of Vietnam to improve its social protection policies and broader dedication to social justice. And it is a privilege, not only to witness, but to I hope contribute to such a positive change. At this point, readers might ask how many years would it take for Vietnam to catch up with other nations like, say Portugal, in terms of the development of its social protection system? But the truth is that Vietnam is following the same path as Portugal. Take unemployment insurance as an example. Unemployment insurance was first introduced in Portugal in 1984, 40 years ago. In Vietnam, unemployment insurance first came into effect in 2009, through the Social Insurance Law adopted in 2006 less than 20 years ago. So, the most important thing to understand is the parallel roads both countries have taken to develop social protection, even if starting at different points in time based on their historical context. Looking at that and taking into consideration Vietnams continued high level political commitment to the strengthening of its social protection system, I am confident that it will be only a matter of time, patience and investment before Vietnams social protection system gets closer and closer to international best practices. And so, here I am sharing you my hope, and most of all my confidence, that Vietnams continued commitment to improve and expands its social protection policies will be accompanied by the necessary investments and budgets, to show the Vietnamese people in 2024 that Vietnam continues to have one of the most comprehensive and sustainable social protection systems in the region. Let social protection become the dragon that flies above the country and protect all those in need from 2024 onwards. Let the Year of the Dragon bring prosperity and good health for all. *Andre Gama is the Social Protection Programme Manager of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Country Office for Vietnam. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun Area 1 Command, said it intercepted 940 rounds of ammunition worth N557 million concealed in sacks of garri (cassava flakes) at the Idiroko axis of the state. The Area Controller, Ahmadu Shibu, said thiuas at a media conference on Friday in Idiroko, Ogun. Mr Shuaibu said while carrying out an anti-smuggling operation on 14 March, along the border, operatives of the command intercepted smuggled 940 rounds of ammunition concealed in sacks of garri. He explained that the command had been on the trail of the smuggling cartel from the Republic of Benin, for more than two weeks. Mr Shuiabu stated further that while trailing the cartel, intelligence revealed the level of surveillance mounted and security beef-up by the unscrupulous elements, to safeguard the items and evade arrest. The superior security network of the Command eventually aided the seizure but we lost the suspects, as the items were abandoned by the suspected smugglers who absconded in a bid to evade arrest. In addition, the Command also recorded the seizure of 123 sacks and 3,172 parcels of cannabis sativa, hemp; 380 pieces of donkey skin; 304 bales of used clothes; and 910 cartons of frozen poultry products, among others, he said. According to Mr Shuaibu, the items were intercepted at the creeks, border lines and other strategic locations across Ogun, through the commands intelligence network and 24-hour patrol/anti-smuggling activities by its operatives. The controller added that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the total seizure amounted to N557 million. The controller said in recent times, the command carried out operations with zero casualties, and that the customs valued the lives of its personnel. He added that operatives of the command carried arms to protect their lives where and when necessary. The controller warned recalcitrant smugglers that their days were numbered as they would not go unpunished. He appealed to well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to join forces with the command in its fight against the smuggling of harmful substances, light weapons, arms and ammunition. He stressed that the items posed a great threat to national security and had the potential to destroy lives and property. Mr Shuaibu emphasised that the command was open to receiving intelligence and assured prospective partners of maximum security. He added that the command had generated N24,283,788 revenue from baggage assessment and auction of petroleum products from January till date. Mr Shuaibu commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and his management team, for his continuous support which had played a significant role in enhancing the commands operations and contributed to its achievements. He applauded the efforts of his gallant operatives, the Customs Intelligence Unit as well as the customs police Unit in enhancing the Commands operations. Mr Shuaibu also appreciated the efforts of various sister agencies and other critical stakeholders. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Gunmen kidnapped the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Tony Aziegbemi on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Aziegbemi was kidnapped at a spot close to his residence at the Government Reservation Area in Benin City. His abduction happened less than a month after the partys primary election was held ahead of the 21 September governorship election in the state. A source told NAN that the abductors, operating in two Toyota Corolla cars, double-crossed the PDP chairmans jeep at a speed bump in the area to effect the abduction. Mr Aziegbemi was returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki when the incident took place, the source said. Narrating the ordeal, Mr Aziegbemis driver said: when we left Government House and heading home at about 11 p.m, I noticed the cars trailing us, so I decided to take a diversion. We never knew they were kidnappers. Few minutes later, the same cars appeared behind us at a speed breaker and blocked our car in the front. Gunmen came out of the cars, pointed guns at us and ordered the chairman to enter their car and they took him away, he said. He added that other gang members took over the chairmans jeep and abandoned it on Sapele Road. The police spokesperson in Edo, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the abduction. It is confirmed; it happened in the jurisdiction of New Etete Police Division, also known as Godwin Abbe Police Station; that is where it happened. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Funsdo Adegboye, has ordered tactical teams to go after the hoodlums and we pray that by the grace of God we will rescue him unhurt, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Darlington Orji, special adviser to Governor Siminalayi Fubara on political affairs and strategy, said on Friday that the governor would not be distracted in his efforts to make Rivers a model. Mr Orji was reacting to the accusation by the Rivers APC chairperson, Tony Okocha, that Mr Fubaras administration has no vision and direction. Accusation by APC chairperson It would be recalled that Mr Okocha on Tuesday in a press briefing in Port Harcourt, accused the administration of being visionless. Mr Okocha also accused the administration of spending the states fund frivolously, saying that the governor was not consolidating on the achievements of his predecessor Nyesom Wike. Why Fubara is generally acceptable by Rivers people But Mr Orji, in a reaction, stated that Mr Fubara could not be visionless when he understood the need of promoting civil servants and the importance of paying workers and pensioners their salary arrears and gratuities. The governor has ensured that construction of roads and bridges are ongoing in Alesha Road in Eleme. When you go to Bori internal roads, you will see the signature of the governor which shows that he is focused and not ready to be distracted. I thank God that Okocha agreed that the governor is carrying out the ring road project; the ring road is one of the signature projects of the governor. Governor Fubara is focused and he believes in the feelings of the people. That is why he directed that the local government workers should be promoted and paid the 30 per cent minimum wage. The governor is generally accepted by the people because he is doing what the people want. We can see the rehabilitation of the Psychiatric Hospital ordered by the governor, and the reopening of the employment project at the Ignatius Aguru University and other programmes done by his administration, Mr Orji said. According to him, Mr Okocha may have deliberately decided not to see or appreciate the effort of the governor. The accessibility of the governor has shown clearly that he is working for the people and the people will continue to rally round him. We are satisfied with Fubaras developmental stride and the way he is carrying out his electioneering promises made to Rivers people. Government is a continuity and the governor has continued with the projects that were not completed by his predecessors. Let it be on record that the governor is not funding the thanksgiving that Okocha described as a jamboree, rather people are happy, thanking God for the victory at the courts; it is worth thanking God for. This is the reason the opposition parties have continued to align themselves with the governor for his good works. Yes, criticism is part of governance, but it should be in good faith. What we are seeing is criticism meant to undermine all the good development that the governor has brought to the people, Mr Orji added. Gov Fubaras projects in Rivers Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Johnson, in his reaction, said that Mr Okocha had lost touch with happenings in the state. According to Mr Johnson, Governor Fubara is the best thing that has happened to the state and the majority of Rivers people are appreciative of his ability to rewrite the political history of the state. We are rebuilding the entire state and the revival fire is sweeping through the entire 23 local government areas, not by making noise. The governor has completed most projects initiated by his predecessors within the few months of his administration. Some of these projects are the completion of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borikiri, Port Harcourt Local Government Area and the Government Secondary School, Eneka, Obio Akpor Local Government Area. Other projects completed are the Government Secondary School, Emohua, Emohua Local Government Area and Government Secondary School, Okehi, Etche Local Government Area. He has also completed the 19.1 kilometer Oyigbo-Okoloma (Afam) road in Oyigbo Local Government Area and the 8.1 kilometer Abua-Omoku-Iyak-Ighom-Elok road, in Abua-Odual local government area. Fubara has completed the Egbeda Internal road in Emohua Local Government Area and the 10.3 kilometer Indorama-Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebubu-East/West link road. Mr Johnson also listed the University of Port Harcourt Convocation Auditorium, the Mgbuodohia internal roads in Obio Akpor Local Government Area and the Gbene-nu/Ohoro road in Tai Local Government Area as projects completed by Fubara. The Dental Maxillofacial, Ear, Nose, Throat & Ophthalmology Hospital, Garrison junction and Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Mile 2, Diobu, in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, have also been completed by Fubara. The Commissioner also highlighted some of the projects initiated by Fubaras administration outside that initiated by his predecessor. They include the 50.15km Port Harcourt dual carriage Ring Road, the Elelenwo internal roads in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, ongoing Omuakali-Eberi Road, Omuma Local Government Area, ongoing 10 kilometer Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road (old Port Harcourt-Bori Road) in Eleme Local Government Area and ongoing Igbu-Ehuda internal roads in Ahoada-East. Fubara also initiated the ongoing Bori City Internal Roads in Khana Local Government, ongoing Emohua-Ogbakiri Road in Emohua LGA and the ongoing 6.5 kilometers Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery link road with 200 meters bridge, Mr Johnson added. Mr Johnson further said that the governor was eager to see the lives of Rivers people improve tremendously with the signing of N4 billion Small, Medium Enterprise Scales Fund with Bank of Industry to encourage small businesses. Currently, the Rivers State Micro Finance Agency has called for loan application from Rivers people. There is also the approval and implementation of promotion for all Rivers Civil Servants that were stagnated for eight years and payment of their financial entitlements. It is on record that Fubara approved the implementation of N100,000 Christmas bonus for all state civil servants, and appointed 16 permanent secretaries with provision of SUVs as official vehicles for their effective service delivery. He also approved and increased the number of scholarships for Rivers indigenes in PAMO Medical University, and released N2 billion grant to Rivers State University Nkpolu, Oroworukwo for 2023. The governor approved the implementation of free registration of WAEC/SSCE for all Rivers children and distribution of textbooks and school materials across the schools in the State. He also approved the promotion of 400 health workers at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and recruitment of 500 new staff for the hospital, Johnson added. The commissioner equally drew the attention of Mr Okocha to the procurement of firefighting trucks for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria by the governor. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Professor of Computer Science with specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Olabode Olatubosun, has recommended the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning as tools to tackle Nigerias security challenges and unemployment. Mr Olatubosun recommended this while delivering the 165th inaugural lecture of the university. He spoke on the topic: Machine Learning: Pattern Matching and Classification Experience with Technology to Solve Human Problems. The scholar said the use of AI can boost crime detection through facial recognition and object detection thereby improving proactive security measures in the fight against banditry and other forms of insurgency and serious crimes. He said: Implementing AI-driven surveillance systems with facial recognition and object detection capabilities, can enhance monitoring and surveillance activities by security agencies in public spaces. This can aid in the early detection of potential security threats. Machine learning algorithms can be configured to identify abnormal patterns in data, such as unusual behavior or activities. This can be applied to various contexts, including cybersecurity and physical security, to detect potential threats. We can also utilise predictive analytics powered by machine learning to forecast potential crime hotspots. He added that law enforcement agencies can allocate resources more effectively based on data-driven predictions, thereby preventing criminal activities. Job creation Mr Olatubosun said the proper use of AI and ML by governments can also help in achieving the goal of creating millions of digital jobs per year. Government can implement comprehensive skills development programmes to equip the current workforce with the necessary digital skills. This can include training in AI, ML, data analytics, and other relevant technologies. They could collaborate with educational institutions such as FUTA to update curricula and introduce programmes that align with the skills needed for the digital job market. He therefore called on the government to invest in digital infrastructure to support the adoption of AI and ML, adding that this may include upgrading network capacities, ensuring data security, and providing the necessary technological foundation for digital transformation. He said machine learning is a beacon, a testament to our ability to push the boundaries of what is possible, a dynamic field that empowers machines not only to process information but also to learn, adapt and contribute to the resolution of complex problems that have long challenged our intellect, even as he noted that the development and integration of AI, ML, deep learning and biometric systems have the potential to significantly enhance various aspects of economic activities. He said: Intelligent systems can automate routine and repetitive tasks, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. AI and ML excel at analysing vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. This capability can aid businesses and government agencies in making more informed decisions based on data-driven insights. Automation through intelligent systems can reduce operational costs associated with labour, errors, and inefficiencies. Businesses can benefit from lower costs, which may contribute to increased profitability and economic growth. Embracing intelligent systems fosters innovation, enabling organisations to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Businesses that leverage advanced technologies are better positioned to adapt to market changes. VC speaks The universitys Vice-Chancellor, Adenike Oladiji, introduced the lecturer as an outstanding scholar who has added value to his field of study over the years. She described the lecture as an excellent delivery, saying the lecture was no doubt loaded with solutions to the countrys myriad of problems. She said: No doubt, Nigeria cannot afford not to embrace the adoption of AI and ML to reposition her operations to achieve a lot. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his third wife, Olori Tobi, have welcomed twins. The monarch broke the news on his social media handles on Saturday. He wrote: To God be the glory, great things he has done. Hearty congratulations to the entire House of Oduduwa and Olori Tobiloba, who today birthed a Prince and Princess to the Royal throne of Oduduwa. Mother and children are doing well to the glory of God Almighty. The Ooni, however, did not share photos or details about the birth save for their sexes. Background Ooni married Olori Tobi, his youngest queen on 9 October 2022 after six years of working for him. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the queen, since marrying the king, has expressed gratitude to him on many occasions for making her dreams come true. Barely a month into their marriage, she took to Instagram to reveal how she prayed their union into existence. She further said she had wished for about eight years that Timi Dakolo would sing his wedding song, Iyawo Mi, at her wedding. Olori Tobi posted on her Instagram page snippets from her marriage to the monarch with her dream song (Iyawo Mi) playing in the background. Olori Tobi is a native of Okitipupa in Ondo State and an ex-beauty queen who was crowned the winner of the World Miss University Africa (WMUA) beauty pageant in 2012. She is a fashion entrepreneur, a model and a graduate of Marine Science from the University of Lagos. She is the owner of QTP Luxury Fashion, a fashion outfit. She is also a skilful 3D artist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Rivers-based advocacy group, the Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre has urged the Rivers Government to implement the National Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change. The Project Officer, Confidence Otikor, made the appeal at a policy engagement with stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Saturday. She urged the state government to embrace gender-responsive budgeting in order to cushion the effects of climate change on the people. Focus should be on frontlines in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, she added. It would be recalled that the Federal Government introduced the action plan in 2020 to steer the policys implementation at the federal, state and local government levels. The plan was designed to alleviate the adverse effects of climate change that are posing significant threat to the social and economic well-being of people, particularly women. According to Mrs Otikor, implementing the action plan will help to address the challenges encountered by women in communities that are prone to environmental challenges. This dialogue is organised to find out stakeholders level of preparation to comply with the action plan at the ministries. The extensive engagement reveals the need for substantial efforts with civil society organisations to collaborate with the ministries to achieve the plans objectives. As a group, Kebetkache is not satisfied with the current level of implementation in the state, so further actions are needed to address the gaps, she said. Mrs Otikor urged non-governmental organisations to always speak out by creating awareness about issues affecting women. Involvement of NGOs in the action plan will go a long way to bring out the need for its implementation. We urge the state governments to speedily domesticate the action plan across all the ministries, departments and agencies in the states, she said. Nkem Odoya, an official of the Forestry Department, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, said that the ministry had initiated a poverty reduction programme to support people affected by climate change. Ms Odoya stated that the state government was also running a programme that trained and empowered agriculture entrepreneurs at the local government level. We also have a nutritional programme targeting vulnerable children and women in five local government areas, he said. Constant Meju, the Coordinator, Centre for Media, Environment and Development Communications, expressed concerns over the limited support given to women by the state Agriculture Ministry. She said that the dialogue was a crucial platform for civil society organisations to engage with the state government on climate change and gender policies. Mrs Meju highlighted the importance of government-CSO collaboration to achieve shared objectives. She said that some communities in the state were facing severe environmental degradation due to oil extraction activities. The coastal areas have been damaged by flooding, yet the government seem not to be doing anything. The society wants to see the government showing empathy over the plight of women in communities affected by degradation, she said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The repair of the undersea cable cut that has affected internet services in Nigeria and many parts of sub-Saharan Africa may take about five weeks to be completed, MainOne said in a Friday statement. MainOne, whose facilities provide internet services to many parts of western and southern Africa, also provided details of the undersea cable cut and its efforts to repair it. In the statement on its website, the company said its MainOne submarine cable carries a significant portion of the international traffic into West Africa and provides services to multiple countries hence the magnitude of the impact. The company said it has a maintenance agreement with the Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement (ACMA) to provide repair services for the submarine cable. According to the service provider, the steps to be taken include first identifying and assigning a vessel to retrieve the necessary spares required for repair and then sailing to the fault location to conduct the repair work. It said that the next step to complete the repair involved the affected section of the submarine cable being pulled from the seabed onto the ship where skilled technicians would splice it. Ir said that post repair, joints would be inspected and tested for any defects and then the submarine cable lowered back to the seabed and guided to a good position. According to the statement, the total repair process may take about five weeks. This process might take 1-2 weeks for repairs while about 2-3 weeks of transit time may be required for the vessel to pick up the spares and travel from Europe to West Africa once the vessel is mobilised, it said. The data company also refuted claims that the disruptions may have been caused by humans or armed groups. It said most submarine cable faults occur as a result of human activities such as fishing and anchoring in shallow waters near shore, natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and then equipment failure. Given the distance from land, and the cable depth of about 3 kms at the point of fault, any kind of human activity ship anchors, fishing, drilling etc has been immediately ruled out. Our preliminary analysis would suggest some form of seismic activity on the seabed resulted in a break to the cable, but we will obtain more data when the cable is retrieved during the repair exercise, the company said. MainOne, a digital infrastructure service provider, also declared a force majeure, which absolves it of contractual obligations to its customers in certain circumstances. It said that commercial contracts typically included such a force majeure clause which enabled service providers to suspend contractual obligations for the duration of such disruptions. A force majeure is an unforeseeable circumstance that prevents someone from fulfilling a contract. The unforeseen circumstances may be natural disasters (fire, storms, floods), governmental or societal actions (war, invasion, civil unrest, labour strikes), or infrastructure failures (transportation, energy). Many Nigerians including telecommunications companies and banks were on Thursday hit by an internet outage as a result of damage to international undersea cables supplying them with connectivity. According to the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the damage affects major undersea cables near Abidjan in Cote dIvoire and is causing downtime across West and South African countries. The NCC said that the cuts occurred somewhere in Cote dIvoire and Senegal, with an attendant disruption in Portugal. It said that cable companies West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE) in the West Coast route from Europe had experienced faults, while SAT3 and MainOne had downtime. The regulatory body added that similar undersea cables providing traffic from Europe to the East Coast of Africa, like Seacom, Europe India Gateway (EIG), and Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1), were said to have been cut at some point around the Red Sea. This, it said, resulted in the degradation of services across these routes. In its statement, Mainone said it was working to restore services to as many of its customers as possible and to complete the repairs to the cable system as planned. We believe it is important to inform our customers of the fault details given the magnitude of the situation to set expectations and make contingency arrangements while the repairs are ongoing. We experienced a fault on the MainOne network, preliminary findings and further investigations revealed that the fault occurred due to an external incident. That external incident resulted in a cut on our submarine cable system in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Cote DIvoire, along the coast of West Africa. It said that the cable cut had disrupted international services on its cable south of the landing in Senegal, resulting in the outage of internet services for the majority of its customers. We recognise the impact of the outage and are working tirelessly to make available restoration capacity for temporal relief where feasible. We have some pre-configured restoration capacity on other cable systems, unfortunately, those cable systems are also down currently. We have since acquired capacity on available cable systems but we have not found readily available capacity to fully restore services to all our customers, Mainone said. The statement added that MainOne had some restoration agreements with other operators to mitigate service disruptions, but unfortunately, those cable systems were also impacted by outages at this time. It is believed that MainOne submarine cable carries a significant portion of the international traffic into West Africa and provides services to multiple countries hence the magnitude of the impact. READ ALSO: Tinubu affirms readiness to support Google to create 1 million digital jobs in Nigeria We are actively restoring services to the extent possible and mobilising a vessel for repairs and will update once there are more details, it said. The statement added that MainOne cable are very well protected as could be seen from the number of incidences on its cable system since its inception in 2010. According to the statement, MainOne has taken the lead in West Africa in championing the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) and organising submarine cable owners associations in Nigeria and Ghana. It said its activities were to promote awareness of the strategic benefits of submarine cables, and proactive regulations and measures to minimise submarine cable damage. We are very optimistic that our cable will be repaired as planned and services fully restored so that we can continue to operate with continued integrity of the submarine cable, it said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), has sealed 13 facilities in the FCT for non-compliance to environmental regulations. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facilities sealed were, Veritas Plastics, Almat Farms, Dayak Nigeria Limited, FIK Contracting Limited, Salis Ventilated Homes Ltd, and Peachville Estate. Others are, Net Construction Nigeria Limited, Sazak Acre Bilogue, Coppa Dalberto Ltd, Efab Properties Ltd, Homes, Phinada Mill and Skippers Electronics. The Director-General of NESREA, Aliyu Jauro, while briefing journalists after the exercise on Friday in Abuja, said the facilities were sealed for various environmental crimes. Mr Aliyu, who was represented by the Director of Inspection and Enforcement in the agency, Abdulsalam Isa, said due process was followed in closing down the facilities. Mr Jauro said the exercise was in line with the presidential bond and a fallout of the Federal Ministry of Environments retreat in Kaduna, on Environmental Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement for 2024. As part of the NESREA mandate to ensure compliance as well as enforce compliance with extant Environmental Standards, Guidelines, Rules and Regulations in Nigeria, the Agency embarked on enforcement to seal 13 recalcitrant facilities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Friday. NESREA sealed a total of 13 facilities in the FCT for various environmental crimes, he said. Mr Jauro explained that the facilities were shut down for failing to abate environmental concerns ranging from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Audit (EA), Environmental Management Plans, and Environmental Permit among others. According to him, these environmental concerns included both the Green and Brown environment. A total of 10 facilities in the green sector and three in the brown sector were sealed. READ ALSO: NESREA rescues lion cub from traffickers in Abuja The agency had followed due process in clamping down on these facilities after exhausting all relevant communications in respect of their environmental status. It was observed that some of the facilities earlier sealed had broken the Federal Government seals. However, such facilities are to face punitive measures for their actions, he said. The NESREA boss said the enforcement would be replicated in all the states of the federation. The agency frowns at the high level of non-compliance of facilities to environmental laws of the land, and will go ahead to replicate enforcement in all states of the federation, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Graduates of the University of Lagos, under the umbrella of UNILAG Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA), have concluded plans to host a three-day International Communications Festival. The event, which will be held on the university campus in April, will, according to the organisers, bring together prominent media practitioners, captains of industry, academics, and scholars to advance progress for the universitys school of communication and the entire institution. A statement credited to the President of the association, Wale Williams, said the event will be held for the first time since mass communication as a course of study was unbundled by the Nigerian government. Mr Williams said the programme which is scheduled to hold from 16 to 18 April, aims to foster dialogue, innovation, and collaboration within the field of communication. READ ALSO: He said: As the number one mass communication department in Nigeria, we are all coming back home to our alma mater to mingle, share thoughts, celebrate, bring our experience to bear and most importantly, see how best we can continue to support our department which is about to be upgraded. We are determined to join the university in helping our new faculty take off with the highest number of resources that they can get. Lectures, competitions Highlighting parts of the festivals agenda, Mr Williams added that the UMCAA entrepreneurship competition will provide an opportunity for financial assistance to winning teams for business startups. Additionally, exhibitions showcasing products will span across the department for three days. He said events will also feature Town meets Gown with renowned industry figures such as producer Remi Ogunpitan of IBST; Hollywood filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan; former Managing Director of Independent Newspapers, Ted Iwere, and Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, are slated to lead discussions on various aspects of communication and media. The third day of the event will feature the 6th edition of the UMCAA distinguished lecture series, featuring the publisher of TheCable online, Simon Kolawole, addressing the topic: The Dilemma between Journalism and Activism. To maximise participation, Mr Williams said invitations have been sent to various institutions to participate in the lectures. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Armed men, suspected to be soldiers, and numbering about 10, on Friday, abducted the Editor of FirstNews and a former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, Segun Olatunji. Mr Olatunji was picked up at his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State. Reacting to the abduction, the management of the online newspaper said the action may not be unconnected with a couple of reports recently published on its platform. The first report is titled, Revealed: Defence Chief running office like family business Public Interest Lawyers. The report was also published by many other online platforms. The second report, titled, EXCLUSIVE: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top govt officials Investigation, was later pulled down by the medium. Meanwhile, the arrest of the editor has thrown members of staff of the newspaper into panic. Mr Olatunjis wife, Abiodun Olatunji, said the armed men arrived at their residence, a few minutes after 6 p.m. and whisked her husband away without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him. She said her husbands abductors reached for his phone and seized it immediately they arrived before bundling him into a van and zoomed off. ALSO READ: IPI demands enforcement of judgement ordering FG to prosecute killers of journalists While narrating the incident, she said efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men. Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling 10 in number (two in uniform and the remaining eight in mufti, but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos state and took away my husband. They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so, Mrs Olatunji said. The Publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Mr Olatunji, as his telephone line has been switched off. He said no one has reached out to the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the reason for his arrest. Mr Iworiso-Markson condemned the way and manner his editor was whisked away, stating that he was never invited formally to answer any questions that bordered on national security. The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know Olatunjis whereabouts and why he was arrested. If there was any infraction that bothers on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather that this gestapo style of arrest that reminds of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Pedestrians are seen behind artificial cherry blossom decorations at a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2022. Photo by Reuters The number of Thais overstaying in Japan has increased sharply in recent years, raising concerns over a possible suspensionof visa-free travel policy from the Northeast Asian country. The number of Thais caught for overstaying after entering Japan on a visa waver program grew from 8,688 in 2021 to 11,472 in 2023, Bangkok Post reported citing a source from the Department of Consular Affairs. Reports pointed out the Japanese government has urged Thailand to promptly tackle this problem, warning that the visa-free policy could be scrapped by 2025 if left unaddressed, The Thaiger reported. Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said that the number of overstayers was relatively small, accounting for less than 2% of total 995,500 outbound tourists from Thailand in 2023. 90,600 Thais visited Japan in January, while 74,205 Japanese traveled to Thailand in the same period, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Since July 2013, Japan has offered visa exemption for Thai visitors to revive its tourism industry following the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. This policy was temporarily halted during the pandemic but reinstated in October 2022. Origin Tech Group, a knowledge-based and practical solution-driven leader in the agriculture food systems and operations in Nigeria has entered into an agreement with the government of Niger State. The agreement is in furtherance of both partners commitment to revolutionalise the agricultural and livestock value-chain space in the West African sub-region and beyond. The partnership agreement was officially signed at an event at the Oregun office of Origin Tech Group between the two parties. The deal aims to unlock and maximise the huge potentials of Niger State in the agriculture space for profitability and mitigation of the perennial food shortages presently exacerbated by socio-economic and political tensions in Nigeria and elsewhere. According to the Chairman of the Origin Tech Group, Prince S J Samuel: We are very elated to have you here and for us at Origin, it is a covenant and a mission, and we have vowed to ensure that we are in lockstep and to collaborate with States and other stakeholders who is aligned in that direction, and desirous of rapidly elevating and expanding food production by collaborating with state governments and other stakeholders who align in the direction of expanding productivity of the Nigerian food systems to create wealth for rural Nigeria. Nigeria agriculture requires a convergence for it work, so we are happy to have a worthy partner with Niger State under the visionary and capacity-driven leadership of His Excellency, Hon Mohammed Umar Bago. The issues are clear: How can we eliminate drudgery, eliminate post-harvest losses, increase youth participation in agriculture which ties in with Nigerias demography thereby halting the depletion of the population of farmers. How do we get farmers to transit from one-hectare micro-operators to the break-even point of minimum of five hectares per farmers, how do we increase farmers income from as little as 30% of revenue to 70% amongst others? The only solution is to fully mechanise Nigerias agriculture, and that is why Origin Tech Group is focused on helping Nigeria achieve this overarching objective. The move also aligns with the audacious pronouncement of Mr. President of a state of emergency on food security. Prince Samuel further affirmed that We are even happier that you are the first quintessential partner of our organisation who we believe is doing agriculture the right way and without a doubt is poised to achieving this onerous goal of transforming food production in Nigeria. He further stressed that Origin Tech Group will throw its full capacities behind the partnership which quite frankly will not be limited to equipment support services alone; the partnership will also extend to mobilizing support from Origin Tech Groups international financial partners including local funding institutions for adequate financing. Let me re-affirm that we have concluded arrangements with all our partners to place equipment, expertise and finance towards achieving your laudable goals, Mr Samuel assured. In his own remarks, the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago who was enthusiastic and excited at the visit, said: My inspiration for agriculture was borne out of an experience I had as a student at the Harvard Business School while attending a course few years ago. I observed that many of my course mates were leading agricultural revolutions in their various countries, thus lifting their communities out of food shortage, hunger, poverty, and unemployment. So, on a deeper reflection, I realized that the conversation must change and change it must. He further remarked: Imagine that in my state, we are blessed with the availability of abundant resources including vast cultivable land, water resources, hospitable people amongst others. Niger State, if you must know, has about 92 dams yet we have been able to translate this into a huge irrigable farmland for food production. Governor Bago indicated: That the quest to solve human challenge led me to pursue aggressive agricultural revolution in Niger State as a cardinal focus of my administration. With over 1,000,000 hectares of arable farmlands for agricultural cultivation and livestock processing within the shortest possible time, the idea is to turn Niger State into becoming a leading agricultural and livestock value-chain processor as this, in my view, will also reduce the perennial social and economic challenges around huge human capital and unemployment not only in my home state but across the Sub-Saharan communities and beyond. For instance, we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Produce-for-Lagos initiative. The Produce-for-Lagos Initiative is a long-term strategic partnership between our two states where Niger State will produce food items [Paddy, Tubers, Legumes, Grains etc] and Lagos State will position itself as huge off takers considering the states reputation and equity as a major organized market. Under this arrangement, the farmers in Niger State will have a ready market for their produce while Lagos State citizens will be assured of food availability and the attendant price stability. Similarly, diverse opportunities abound for technology-focused groups like the Origin Tech Group for the deployment of massive technologies to play a significant role in cultivating 1,000,000 hectares of arable farmlands including sundry livestock processing as well as in overcoming ecological factors that are synonymous with our clime. So, we are open to every form of partnerships like the one we are signing with the Origin Tech Group at this auspicious ceremony. The signing ceremony was undertaken by Prince S J Samuel, Chairman, Origin Tech Group on behalf of organisation while Governor Umar Bago and Mr Sammy Adigun, Executive Chairman, Niger Food Security Company, the Niger State private sector-led Agricultural Development Company signed on behalf of the state. For over 25 years, Origin Tech Group has been transforming lives across communities through knowledge-based and practical home-grown solution-driven as a market leader across major economic verticals, product and services covering food systems, automotive, civil engineering, and construction. Visit origingroupng.com for more about us. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Edo State Government says it is on top of the kidnapping of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Aziegbemi. The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this in a statement in Benin on Saturday. Mr Aziegbemi was kidnapped close to his GRA residence on Friday night while returning from a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House. The commissioner said the state government had stepped up surveillance and was collaborating with security agencies for the release of the kidnapped politician. We have also increased surveillance and beefed-up security measures across the state to ensure that these criminal activities are quelled and culprits are brought to justice. We encourage residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear and urge them to call the state emergency numbers 112 or 739 to report all suspicious persons or activities within their environs, he said. Mr Nehikhare reassured the public of the governments commitment to protecting the lives and property of Edo residents. He said the government would ensure the perpetrators of this dastardly act were apprehended and made to face justice. Police react Similarly, the Police Command in Edo State said its operatives were collaborating with the local security network to rescue the victim unhurt. The command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Funsho Adegboye, received the report of the incident with shock. Mr Nwabuzor, however, noted that the CP immediately ordered the commands tactical team leaders to conduct a rescue party in collaboration with local vigilance groups and hunters. The commands spokesperson said the CP solicited the cooperation of Edo citizens, urging them to give information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and the rescue of the victim. APC reacts Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo condemned the abduction in a statement by its state acting chairman, Jarret Tenabe. In the statement, the APC attributed the development to the weak security architecture in the state. The kidnap is a wake-up call on the Governor Obaseki-led administration that all is not well in terms of securing the state, which is the primary responsibility of government. The APC, Edo State Chapter, uses this medium to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, it read. The party, however, called on security agencies to do everything possible to ensure his release unhurt. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print To reduce the incidences of bullying among students, a Lagos-based school, Wellspring College, on Thursday held its maiden anti-bullying campaign involving the students, teachers, and parents. The event, according to the Principal, Innocent Agofure, is to raise awareness about the dangers of bullying and its direct impacts on child development, family values, and social life. He said: Bullying doesnt only take place in school. We have it at home, and in the larger society, and even on the internet. At Wellspring College, we are strongly against bullying, and it has yielded the desired results for us. In her presentation after the walk, the Head of the Counselling Unit, Education District VII, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Anike Bola-Lawal, highlighted the effects of bullying on child development. Mrs Bola-Lawal explained that kids who are regularly targeted by bullies often suffer both emotionally and socially. She said victims also tend to experience a wide range of emotions, and consequently, they may skip classes and resort to drugs and alcohol to numb their pain. Kids who are bullied often suffer academically, too. Bullied kids struggle to focus on their schoolwork, she noted. Ensuring safety in schools Mrs Bola-Lawal said there is evidence linking the rates of aggressive behaviour and bullying behaviour are higher among boys than girls. However, some researchers argue that there is not a gender difference between boys and girls, but instead, the two groups use different forms of aggression, she said. She added that forms of bullying include physical, emotional, cyber, and sexual bullying. READ ALSO: In his remarks, the former Head of Investigations and Enforcement at the Lagos State Safety Commission, Adeyinka Adebiyi, said the responsibility of the school management is to ensure that students, staff, visitors, and other stakeholders are kept safe. Mr Adeyinka said safety should be a continuous planned process and an integral part of managing any school curriculum. Schools are expected to put in place clear safety policies, and understanding of the stakeholders involved, with health and safety, clear, plain with a good monitoring mechanism, he said. Collaboration The Executive Director of Wellspring College, Ewere Akwukwaegbu, emphasised the need for stakeholders collaboration to create awareness about the dangers of bullying so that largely as a society we can also prevent it. Ms Akwukwaegbu said the school has zero tolerance for bullying, which she noted goes beyond the school. She said the school has plans to continue the campaign. It is important to keep the message alive. It is not just in school, even in workplaces, but for us to learn. We have to recognise bullying when we see it, she said. From the speakers, we have someone who works with the education system, and she spoke about the stance of the state. So these are the conversations we want to continue with. Even as a school, we would collaborate with the government to spread the message. Role of parents Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, one of the parents who is the Lead Faculty at Etiquette Poise and Protocol Resource Academy (EPPRA), Keji Oladimeji, said the initiative has been put in place in collaboration with EPPRA to groom the children and make them better individuals. Mrs Oladimeji said it is easy to mould children before they become adults. If you mould children, to talk to people with kindness, using decorum to talk with people, she said. The essence of the programme is to imbibe that spirit of friendship, and trust among each other, and then make the school safe to learn. And everyone is free to be themselves, no body shaming, no putting down on anybody, and everyone can have the high spirit to be productive in the school. A parent with two daughters in the school, Folashade Olusola-Aina, said she is delighted to join the students for the walk. Mrs Olusola-Aina said from experience, bullying isnt a good thing, and that it is traumatising. The walk is a call for people to see the implications of bullying. You should be a buddy, not a bully, she said. Another parent, Omolola Olajolo, Director of Business at EPPRA, underscored the neeed for parents to be friendly with their children. As parents, you should be friends with your children, as it will help their minds. When you are friendly with your child, they will be friendly to other children. It is also important to teach children how to speak up when bullied, Mrs Olajolo said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NEW YORK, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agricultural Adjuvant Market is set to grow by USD 1.22 billion from 2024 to 2028 progressing at a CAGR of 5.66% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by Increased use of herbicides. The global agricultural adjuvants market is driven by the increased use of herbicides, which are essential for effective weed control in various crops. Adjuvants like surfactants improve herbicide distribution and penetration, enhancing their efficacy. However, herbicide drift poses environmental risks, emphasizing the need for precise application. Despite concerns, the demand for herbicides persists, especially with the growing preference for fruits and vegetables driven by health awareness. This trend fuels herbicide use in agriculture, promising market growth. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Agricultural Adjuvant Market 2024-2028 Here is an Exclusive report talking about Market scenarios with a historical period (2017-2021) and forecast period (2024-2028). Download Sample Report in minutes! Report Coverage Details Page number 172 Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.66% Market Growth 2024-2028 USD 1.22 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2023-2024(%) 5.15 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key countries US, China, India, France, and Brazil Growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture is an emerging trend shaping the market growth: The market sees a rising focus on sustainable agriculture, aiming to reduce synthetic chemical usage. Adjuvants play a crucial role by enhancing chemical efficacy, allowing for lower usage while maintaining pest and weed control. Sustainability prioritizes environmental protection, driving demand for adjuvants that minimize chemical drift and runoff. Moreover, sustainable farming emphasizes crop health and yield protection, where adjuvants aid in optimizing pesticide and fungicide applications. Precision agriculture adoption further boosts adjuvant usage. Consequently, the trend towards sustainable agriculture is set to fuel market growth. Health risks associated with agrochemical exposure pose a significant challenge. Farmers and their families face increased risks of diseases due to pesticide exposure, including cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Children exposed to pesticides are especially vulnerable to health issues like brain cancer. Additionally, pesticide exposure can lead to multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), causing symptoms like dizziness and cardiovascular problems. Growing concerns over the health impacts of synthetic agrochemicals usage among farmers are expected to hinder market growth. Market Segmentation The agricultural adjuvant market analysis includes Type,Application and geography landscape. This study identifies the Increasing agricultural adjuvant product launches, Growing emphasis on sustainable agriculture, Increased use of biologicals in agricultural adjuvant as one of the prime reasons driving the agricultural adjuvant market growth during the next few years. The activator adjuvants segment is poised for significant growth. These adjuvants enhance herbicide effectiveness by improving weed control through better absorption and translocation. Valued at USD 2.39 billion in 2018, they're selected based on compatibility with specific herbicides, ensuring stability and efficacy. Activator adjuvants also reduce drift during application, minimizing off-target damage. This segment's growth will drive the overall market during the forecast period. in 2018, they're selected based on compatibility with specific herbicides, ensuring stability and efficacy. Activator adjuvants also reduce drift during application, minimizing off-target damage. This segment's growth will drive the overall market during the forecast period. North America expects to contribute 37% to global market growth. Increased demand for crop protection solutions drives the market, with farmers adopting sustainable practices. Adjuvants play a key role in reducing pesticide use and optimizing chemical applications, especially in diverse agricultural sectors. These factors fuel market growth in the region. This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources through an analysis of key parameters View Sample Report Companies Mentioned BASF SE Bayer AG BRANDT Inc. Clariant International Ltd. Corteva Inc. Croda International Plc GarrCo Products Inc. Huntsman International LLC Interagro UK Ltd. Lamberti SpA Land O Lakes Inc. Marubeni Corp. Nouryon Chemicals Holding BV Nufarm Ltd. Precision Laboratories LLC RAG Stiftung Simplot Grower Solutions Solvay SA Stepan Co. Wilbur Ellis Holdings Inc. BASF SE - The company offers agricultural adjuvants such as Agnique BL 3095 and Dash HC Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Analyst Review: The Agricultural Adjuvant Market is a crucial segment of the agrochemical industry, providing essential additives to enhance the effectiveness of crop protection products. Adjuvants, including surfactants, emulsifiers, and spreaders, play a vital role in improving the performance and efficacy of agricultural chemicals by optimizing their application and increasing their penetration and coverage on crops. As farming practices evolve and the demand for higher crop yields increases, the adoption of adjuvant technology becomes imperative for farmers seeking to maximize the efficacy of their crop protection strategies. Adjuvant formulations are continuously being innovated to address specific challenges faced by farmers, such as improving spray coverage, enhancing herbicide uptake, and reducing off-target drift. The agricultural adjuvant market is characterized by a diverse range of products catering to various applications and crop types. Adjuvant suppliers and manufacturers are investing in research and development to introduce new and improved adjuvant solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern agriculture while complying with stringent regulatory standards. While the agricultural adjuvant market presents significant opportunities for growth, challenges such as regulatory compliance, safety concerns, and pricing pressures pose constraints. However, with increasing awareness among farmers about the benefits of adjuvants and advancements in adjuvant technology, the market is poised for substantial expansion in the coming years, both globally and regionally. Market Overview: The Agricultural Adjuvant Market is witnessing significant growth driven by the increasing demand for crop protection solutions and farming aids. Agrochemicals, including adjuvants like surfactants and wetting agents, play a crucial role in enhancing crop protection efficacy. Adjuvant technology is advancing, leading to the development of innovative spray adjuvants with improved effectiveness. The market is characterized by a wide range of products, including adjuvant formulations and tank mix adjuvants. Surfactants and wetting agents ensure better coverage and penetration, enhancing the overall effectiveness of crop enhancers. As the industry evolves, adjuvant suppliers and manufacturers are focusing on meeting regulatory compliance and ensuring safety. The market outlook is optimistic, with ongoing research driving innovations to address emerging challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. Related Reports: The adjuvant market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.88 billion accelerating at a CAGR of 6.71% between 2023 and 2027. The agricultural surfactants market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.36% between 2023 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 438.99 million. Key Topics Covered: 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 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 DUBLIN , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "China In-Vitro Diagnostics Market (By Segment, Company), Size, Share, Regulations, Reimbursement, Major Deals, Trends, Key Company Profiles, Sales Analysis, and Recent Developments - Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. China's in-vitro diagnostics market is predicted to reach US$ 28.13 Billion by 2030, from US$ 11.96 Billion in 2023 3. China is the largest in-vitro diagnostics market in the Asia-Pacific region, and only second to the United States in terms of value. In-vitro diagnostics refers to the diagnosis of disease or other conditions of the human body through the collection, preparation, and testing of human samples with reagents, instruments, and systems. China is facing the challenges of fighting infectious diseases including HBV, TB, HCV, and HIV, as well as various chronic diseases and cancer. In-vitro diagnostics play an important role in the detection of infectious and chronic diseases. Due to the upsurge in the geriatric population and the high burden of chronic and infectious diseases, like diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19, the China IVD market is slated to show significant growth, as these chronic disorders can be diagnosed and monitored using in-vitro diagnostics products. Moreover, the Chinese government is taking several initiatives to improve the healthcare sector in the country. For instance, The State Council issued a guideline to implement the country's Healthy China initiative to diminish the incidence of disability among elderly people aged between 65 and 74 years by offering medical and health services. Such initiatives by the government are expected to boost market growth over the forecast period. However, a lack of proper reimbursement and a stringent regulatory framework restricts the market's growth. China In-Vitro Diagnostics Market - Recent Developments In January 2024 , bioMerieux announced the acquisition of LUMED, a software company that has developed a clinical decision support system to help hospitals optimize antimicrobial prescriptions and monitor healthcare-associated infections. , bioMerieux announced the acquisition of LUMED, a software company that has developed a clinical decision support system to help hospitals optimize antimicrobial prescriptions and monitor healthcare-associated infections. In August 2023 , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. In April 2023 , Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, and bioMerieux SA teamed up to improve health outcomes globally by exploring selected opportunities to bring nanopore sequencing to the infectious disease diagnostics market. , Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, and bioMerieux SA teamed up to improve health outcomes globally by exploring selected opportunities to bring nanopore sequencing to the infectious disease diagnostics market. In July 2022 , DiaCarta Inc., a molecular diagnostics company announced that the company had received CE-IVD Mark for its newly developed QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A/B test. By Segment: China In-Vitro Diagnostics Market and Forecast - Key Takeaways Immunoassay and Clinical Chemistry are the leading segments of the China IVD market. Together they contributed around 60 percent to the total China IVD market in 2023. Molecular Testing is the fastest-growing segment of the China IVD market, driven by increasing demand for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in China . . POCT and SMBG segments are competing closely to grab the maximum market share of the pie. POCT is transforming diagnostic practices through its convenience and efficiency. China's SMBG market is dominated by foreign IVD companies such as Roche. SMBG market is dominated by foreign IVD companies such as Roche. Microbiology testing is witnessing growth due to technological advancements and increasing infectious disease incidences. The growth of the hematology market is attributed to factors such as the increasing incidences of blood disorders, the growing adoption of automated hematology instruments by diagnostic laboratories, the emergence of high throughput hematology analyzers, and the introduction of technologically advanced hematology instruments. China In-Vitro Diagnostics Market - Company Analysis In the China IVD market, Roche Diagnostics is the leader with a majority share, followed by Mindray Medical International Limited and Shanghai Kehua Bio-Engineering Co. Ltd. Danaher Corporation, Sysmex Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. are the other top players in the China IVD market. Sysmex is focusing on Tier 2 and 3 hospitals in China , as they will play a crucial role in providing more advanced treatment, training future generations, and raising the level of regional medical care. , as they will play a crucial role in providing more advanced treatment, training future generations, and raising the level of regional medical care. In the diagnostics business, Abbott will focus on driving sales growth from its Alinity suite of diagnostics instruments and its portfolio of rapid diagnostic testing systems. In August 2023 , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. In April 2023 , bioMerieux submitted a 510(k) premarket notification to the U.S. FDA for the VITEK REVEAL, formerly known as SPECIFIC REVEAL Rapid AST System. China IVD Market - Key Company Profiles Roche Diagnostics Abbott Laboratories Sysmex Corporation Mindray Medical International Limited Shanghai Kehua Bio-Engineering Co. Ltd. bioMerieux SA Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc Danaher Corporation Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Snibe Diagnostic Dirui Medical Autobio Diagnostics YHLO Biotech Beijing Strong Biotechnologies, Inc. Profiles of Private Clinical Labs and Diagnostic Services Companies in China Dian Diagnostics Group Co. Ltd. (Formerly Zhejiang Di'an Diagnostics Technology Co., Ltd.) ADICON Clinical Laboratories Guangzhou Kingmed Diagnostics Center Co. Ltd. Kindstar Global BGI-Shenzhen OriGene Technologies This 282 Page report with 43 Figures and 5 Tables has been analyzed from 12 View Points: China IVD Market and Forecast (2014 - 2030) China IVD Market Share and Forecast (2014 - 2030) By Segment - China IVD Market & Forecast (2014 - 2030) Development Environment and Regulatory Status in China IVD market IVD market China IVD Market - Key Players Sales Analysis (2015 - 2030) Registration for In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents in China Regulatory History/Status/Trends in China IVD Market IVD Market Reimbursement of IVD Products in China Profiles of Select Private Clinical Labs and Diagnostic Services Companies IVD Market - Major Deals IVD Market - Recent Developments China IVD Industry - Market Dynamics China IVD Market - By Application Segment Clinical Chemistry Immunoassays Hematology Coagulation Microbiology Molecular Testing Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) Point of Care Testing (POCT) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kz3uhv 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 NEW YORK, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Data Catalog Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.38 billion from 2024 to 2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 20.78% during the forecast period. North America held the largest share of the global market in 2022, and the market in the region is estimated to witness an incremental growth of 39%. For more insights on the historic (2018 to 2022) and forecast market size (2024 to 2028) Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Data Catalog Market 2024-2028 Request a sample report Market Report Coverage Details Page number 155 Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 20.78% Market Growth 2024-2028 USD 1,383.67 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2023-2024(%) 19.32 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key countries US, China, India, UK, and Germany Segment Overview Technavio has segmented the market based on type, Component (Solutions and Services), Deployment (Cloud and On-premises), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The solutions segment, led by information catalog solutions, will see significant growth. These tools streamline data discovery, governance, and collaboration, enhancing overall management efficiency. With a market share of USD 311.88 million in 2018, they automate metadata extraction, ensuring real-time updates. They empower users by reducing search time and encouraging data reuse. These versatile tools streamline management processes, contributing to organizational effectiveness and driving market growth. in 2018, they automate metadata extraction, ensuring real-time updates. They empower users by reducing search time and encouraging data reuse. These versatile tools streamline management processes, contributing to organizational effectiveness and driving market growth. Cloud deployment ensures universal accessibility and resource optimization, key advantages including managed services and reduced operational burden. Providers handle maintenance and updates, ensuring seamless operation and driving market growth. Geography Overview By geography, the global data catalog market is segmented into North America, Europe, 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 data catalog market. North America contributes 39% to global market growth, driven by increased focus on governance, aided by information catalogs. Cloud adoption rises, propelled by AI and ML integration, enhancing data management. Industries like finance and healthcare seek advanced solutions, boosting market growth. Insights on the market contribution of various segments including country and region wise, historic (2018 to 2022) and forecast market size (2024 to 2028) Download a Sample Report Self-service analytics is the key factor driving market growth: The surge in demand for self-service analytics is propelling market growth. Data catalogs offer intuitive interfaces, empowering users to explore datasets independently, reducing dependence on IT. Self-service analytics aids ad-hoc analysis, essential for navigating complex data landscapes efficiently. The emergence of data mesh architecture is driving market growth. Decentralized data ownership is a key feature, with domains or units responsible for their data. Catalogs support this by providing metadata and quality metrics, facilitating evaluation and consumption. Additionally, scalability and flexibility are crucial for accommodating the growing complexity of data mesh deployments, further boosting market growth. data ownership is a key feature, with domains or units responsible for their data. Catalogs support this by providing metadata and quality metrics, facilitating evaluation and consumption. Additionally, scalability and flexibility are crucial for accommodating the growing complexity of data mesh deployments, further boosting market growth. Maintaining catalog precision over time is challenging as data sources frequently change. Prompt updates and seamless integration of alterations are crucial to avoid disparities. Preserving historical metadata and versioning is essential but may pose difficulties, hindering market growth. Insights on Market Drivers, trends, & Challenges, historic period (2018 to 2022) and forecast period (2024 to 2028) Request a sample report! Analyst Review: The Data Catalog Market plays a pivotal role in modern data management strategies, providing organizations with comprehensive solutions for organizing, governing, and optimizing their data assets. As enterprises grapple with the ever-growing volume and complexity of data, effective data cataloging becomes essential for facilitating data discovery, classification, and integration across disparate sources and formats. Robust data catalog solutions offer a wide array of features and capabilities, including data visualization, metadata management, and data lineage tracking, enabling users to gain valuable insights into their data assets while ensuring compliance with data governance policies and regulations. By centralizing data inventory and providing transparency into data usage and access controls, data catalogs empower organizations to democratize data access and foster collaboration among stakeholders. Furthermore, data catalog tools are instrumental in addressing data quality and integrity issues by facilitating data validation, synchronization, and enrichment processes. With seamless integration capabilities and advanced search functionalities, data catalogs streamline data retrieval and enhance data governance framework effectiveness, enabling organizations to derive maximum value from their data assets. However, while the data catalog market presents significant benefits in terms of improved data management and governance, organizations may face challenges related to implementation complexity, ensuring compliance, and keeping pace with evolving data governance trends and technologies. Nevertheless, with ongoing innovations and advancements in data catalog management, the market is poised for continued growth and adoption across industries. Market Overview: The data catalog market is witnessing significant growth driven by the increasing demand for effective data management solutions. Data governance and organization are becoming paramount for businesses to ensure compliance and enhance decision-making processes. Data catalogs play a crucial role in facilitating data discovery, classification, and visualization, enabling organizations to efficiently integrate and analyze their data assets. With a focus on data quality and metadata management, businesses are adopting data catalog solutions to streamline their data governance policies and enhance data transparency. Additionally, data integration and analytics capabilities provided by data catalogs enable businesses to derive valuable insights and improve overall data management efficiency, driving the adoption of data catalog tools and solutions in the market. Related Reports: The configure price and quote (CPQ) software market size is projected to increase by USD 2.96 billion, at a CAGR of 16.65% between 2023 and 2028. The Retail E-Commerce Software Market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.17 billion, at a CAGR of 11.22% between 2023 and 2028. 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 The Tuition-Free Program Provides Broad Range of Tech Courses, Broadband Access, and Devices to Connect Residents with Skills to Compete for In-Demand Jobs DETROIT, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wayne County Community College District is launching a broad-based digital equity pilot program that will promote digital literacy and inclusion efforts for students and anchor communities served by the College. Called the CMC Pilot program, the WCCCD program is supported by a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The pilot program consists of three core program components: broadband capacity building; creating greater access to broadband, and digital inclusion and digital skills training. WCCCD is working with community-based partners to equip students with vital digital skills necessary to compete in the expanding tech industry across a broad range of business sectors. "The mission of WCCCD has always been to provide pathways to better lives through higher education," said Yoseph Demissie, WCCCD, Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer. "These days, having access to high-speed broadband technology and growing a range of digital skills is vital to that process; especially at a time when the most in-demand jobs in growing fields demand digital literacy." WCCCD is hosting information sessions that will provide interested Wayne County residents with course and program information. Registration is now open for tech training courses in high-demand fields including entry-level digital literacy, Google Data Analytics, UX/UI Design, Cyber Security, CompTIA Security+, and Mechatronics with a specialization in Fanuc 01 Certified Robotics Technology. Each course is taught by expert professionals from leading tech companies and provides a rigorous, fast-tracked six- to eight-week curriculum designed for rapid certification and skill acquisition. The courses are offered at no cost to students, and are offered both virtually and in person, to meet residents where they are. WCCCD will provide more than 200 loaner laptops complete with Verizon internet connectivity to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals can register for these free training opportunities by visiting the link: Free Certification Training For further details on the program and eligibility criteria, please visit www.wcccd.edu. About Wayne County Community College District WCCCD, one of the largest urban-suburban community colleges in Michigan, is a multi-campus district with six campus locations and educational centers, including the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center, the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), the Curtis L. Ivery Health and Wellness Education Center and the Outdoor Careers Training Center. The District serves students across 32 cities and townships, and more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to the continued development of innovative programs, workforce transformation, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services. www.wcccd.edu. SOURCE Wayne County Community College District On March 16, 1988, the regime of then-President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, committed one of the worst atrocities of the modern era: the murder by poison gas of thousands of Iraqi civilians in the Kurdish-Iraqi town of Halabja. In 1988, Saddam Hussein initiated the al-Anfal campaign, a scorched earth policy aimed at silencing or eliminating rebellious ethnic minorities in northern Iraq. He charged his cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, with executing it. Al-Majid decided to eliminate much of the Iraqi-Kurdish population. On that March day, some 3,500 to 5,000 people died in Halabja, poisoned by nerve agents dropped from military aircraft. It was the first time in modern history that a government attacked its own people with chemical weapons. Ali Hassan al-Majid, known from then on as Chemical Ali, went on to commit more atrocities, including a bloody suppression of a 1991 uprising of Shia Muslims. When the regime of Saddam Hussein toppled, Chemical Ali was captured, tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal and found guilty of committing genocide and crimes against humanity. Chemical Ali was executed by hanging. The Tribunal dropped charges against Saddam Hussein himself only because he was executed after being convicted in a separate case. The same court also sentenced to 15-year prison terms the Minister of Defense at the time of the bombing of Halabja, as well as the then-head of military intelligence. It is said that the wheels of justice turn slowly but grind exceedingly fine. The killers of Halabja got what they deserved. Their fate should, and does, serve as a warning to others of their ilk. Nonetheless, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has failed to heed the lessons of Iraq. Since the beginning of the unrest in Syria in 2011, Syrian Arab Armed Forces and pro-Assad paramilitary forces have conducted more than 300 chemical attacks against the civilian population. Like Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali before him, Bashar al-Assad used poison gas against his own people, killing thousands. The head of any government has a responsibility to act in the best interest of his people. Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali paid the price for the atrocities they committed in their quest to tighten their grip on power. Al-Assad should consider that ultimately, few dictators die in bed, or exit the scene of their crimes gracefully. GUATEMALA CITY, March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo (Freedom and Development Foundation) played host to the event "Freedom in the World: What's Happening in Central America?" for the unveiling of the "Freedom in the World 2024" report compiled by Freedom House. The event took place on Tuesday, March 12th, at a prestigious hotel in the capital. The "Freedom in the World" report is an annual assessment of political and civil liberties worldwide, providing a detailed analysis of the human rights situation in different countries and regions. Meetings with civil society Dionisio Gutierrez. President of Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo The report presentation featured a delegation from Freedom House, comprising board members of the organization renowned for their expertise and dedication to promoting democracy and human rights globally. Additionally, former President of Bolivia, Jorge Tuto Quiroga, and the president of Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo, Dionisio Gutierrez, who is also a board member of Freedom House, were in attendance. The experience and leadership of both Quiroga and Gutierrez enriched discussions on the state of freedoms in Latin America and Central America. During the visit, high-level meetings were held with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo, Congress President Nery Ramos, and various social and economic sectors of the country. These meetings facilitated an exchange of ideas and perspectives with the aim of strengthening joint commitment to promoting and protecting human rights and democracy in the region. Thus, Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo and Freedom House reaffirm their commitment to defending fundamental freedoms and strengthening democratic institutions worldwide. With headquarters in Guatemala City, Madrid, and Miami, Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo is a private, proactive, and independent think tank dedicated to studying and analyzing social, financial, and political issues to promote values and principles for a free society. Based in Washington D.C. since 1941, Freedom House is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes freedom and democracy worldwide through policy analysis, research, and human rights advocacy. SOURCE Fundacion Libertad y Desarrollo DUBLIN, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "HIV Point of Care (POC) Tests Pipeline by Stages of Development, Segments, Region and Countries, Regulatory Path and Key Companies" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides comprehensive information about the HIV Point of care (POC) Tests pipeline products with comparative analysis of the products at various stages of development and information about the clinical trials which are in progress. HIV Point of care (POC) Tests is defined as medical diagnostic testing performed outside the clinical laboratory in close proximity to where the patient is receiving care. POC is typically performed by non-laboratory personnel and the results are used for clinical decision making. POC has a range of complexity and procedures that vary from manual methodologies to automated analyzers. POC devices are often 'handheld' or may be small portable analyzers. Scope Extensive coverage of the HIV Point of care (POC) Tests under development The report reviews details of major pipeline products which includes, product description, licensing and collaboration details and other developmental activities The report reviews the major players involved in the development of HIV Point of care (POC) Tests and list all their pipeline projects The coverage of pipeline products based on various stages of development ranging from Early Development to Approved / Issued stage The report provides key clinical trial data of ongoing trials specific to pipeline products Recent developments in the segment / industry Reasons to Buy Formulate significant competitor information, analysis, and insights to improve R&D strategies Identify emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter strategies to gain competitive advantage Identify and understand important and diverse types of HIV Point of care (POC) Tests under development Develop market-entry and market expansion strategies Plan mergers and acquisitions effectively by identifying major players with the most promising pipeline In-depth analysis of the product's current stage of development, territory and estimated launch date Key Topics Covered: 1 Table of Contents 1.1 List of Tables 1.2 List of Figures 2 Introduction 2.1 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests Overview 3 Products under Development 3.1 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 3.2 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products by Territory 3.3 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products by Regulatory Path 3.4 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products by Estimated Approval Date 3.5 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Ongoing Clinical Trials 4 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products under Development by Companies 4.1 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests Companies - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 4.2 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests - Pipeline Products by Stage of Development 5 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests Companies and Product Overview 6 HIV Point of care (POC) Tests- Recent Developments 6.1 Oct 10, 2023: Trinity Biotech Welcomes the Decision of the High Court of Kenya to Strike Out the Applications to Prevent the Procurement of Trinscreen HIV by the Kenyan Ministry of Health 6.2 Sep 27, 2023: Update on MedMira's Regulatory Path in Canada and the USA 6.3 Jun 14, 2023: Atomo and Newfoundland Sign Agreement for HIV Testing in Europe 6.4 Mar 22, 2023: Trinity Biotech welcomes TrinScreen HIV's inclusion in the New Kenyan HIV Testing Algorithm 6.5 Feb 28, 2023: Significant purchase order for HIV self-tests for Europe 7 Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Abbott Rapid Diagnostics GmbH Aldatu Biosciences Inc Altratech Ltd Atomo Diagnostics Ltd Baebies Inc BBB Technologies Inc Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co Ltd Binx Health Inc Bio-AMD Inc Biocartis Group NV BioHelix Corp Bluejay Diagnostics Inc Calypte Biomedical Corporation Centre International de Reference Chantal Biya Cepheid Inc ChipCare Corp CrossLife Technologies Inc Cue Inc Daktari Diagnostics, Inc. Diagnostics For All Inc Diagnostics for the Real World ( Europe ) Ltd ) Ltd Endeavor Sciences Inc Epinex Diagnostics Inc ERBA Molecular Ltd Fluxergy LLC GAIA Medical Institute LLC genedrive plc Group K Diagnostics Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co Ltd HA TECH Pty Ltd HeatFlow Technologies Inc Identifysensors LLC Imperial College London Integrated Diagnostics Inc (Inactive) Intuitive Biosciences Inc Jan Biotech Inc Jinvator Bio Med GmbH Johns Hopkins University Lynntech Inc Maxim Biomedical Inc MedMira Inc Micronics Inc Molbio Diagnostics Pvt Ltd MyMD Pharmaceuticals Inc Nanobiosym Inc Newmark Diagnostics LLC Northwestern University Osel Inc Philmedi Co Ltd Prenetics Ltd QuantuMDx Group Ltd Quidel Corp Radisens Diagnostics Ltd Rheonix Inc Roche Diagnostics International Ltd Sedia Biosciences Corp Sensible Diagnostics Inc Senzo Inc TheoremDx Inc Trinity Biotech Plc University of Connecticut University of Minnesota UrSure Inc Ustar Biotechnologies ( Hangzhou ) Ltd. ) Ltd. Virax Biolabs Group Ltd Wave 80 Biosciences Inc Yaathum Biotech Pvt Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/w2cr75 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 New Medical School Hosts First Match Day Event to Celebrate Future Physicians and Change Agents PASADENA, Calif., March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine (KPSOM) celebrated its first annual Match Day, a milestone event for the new medical school and its inaugural class of students. On Match Day, medical students learn where they will begin their careers as physicians. Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and its inaugural class of students celebrate Match Day. KPSOM students opened their results today at 9:00 A.M. PDT when most residency applicants across the United States received their results. The KPSOM inaugural class and their guests, along with KPSOM leadership, faculty and staff, gathered together shortly after to celebrate the significance and hard work involved in achieving this milestone. Match Day is a momentous occasion in a medical student's journey as they learn where they have been matched for a residency or fellowship training program in their chosen specialty. The National Resident Matching Program matches most medical students through a computerized mathematical algorithm that places applicants and programs together based on their ranked preferences. "KPSOM's inaugural class is a group of passionate, caring and creative students whose years of hard work have now led them to the threshold of residency," said Mark Schuster, MD, PhD, founding dean and chief executive officer of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. "It's our mission to support the development of our students as compassionate future physicians who improve the health and well-being of their patients and communities. We are extremely proud of our first class of students and their exciting residency placements." Among the graduating class, 62% of students will remain in California for their residencies, with 19% of students matched to a Kaiser Permanente residency program for all or part of their training. The top three institutions with the most matches for our students are University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Francisco, and University of Washington. Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Family Medicine are the top three most matched specialty programs, and 38% are matched into primary care specialties, including Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics. "It has been an honor to support and watch this class grow, learn and thrive over the last four years," said Anne Eacker, MD, senior associate dean for student affairs at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. "From beginning their medical education at the height of the global pandemic to starting clinical training just three weeks into their first year, this class was differentiated from other residency candidates from the start of their medical education journey. I believe our students are uniquely positioned for the challenges and rewards that come with joining the physician workforce." "Starting residency has multiple meanings to me," said KPSOM student Lucas Saporito. "It is the culmination of all the work and dedication in medical school. It's also the start of a new journey, one that is more focused and allows more personalization toward my future practice. This milestone is important because I get to train and learn while providing more hands-on care for patients ... It will be a challengingand often humblingopportunity, and one that I will cherish." The inaugural KPSOM class will graduate in May 2024. The students will begin their residencies following graduation with the skills learned from KPSOM's forward-thinking approach to medical education. The school's innovative approach includes: A core curriculum that emphasizes a holistic view of health and integrates biomedical science, clinical science, and health systems science (HSS) with a focus on case-based, interactive, small-group learning A commitment to addressing health inequities and advocating for equity, inclusion and diversity in medical education and healthcare through community engagement and a service-learning curriculum A multimodal anatomy program utilizing cutting-edge technology and anatomical structures preserved by plastination Precepted clinical learning starting within the first three weeks of medical school to facilitate early clinical reinforcement of concepts To learn more about KPSOM's curriculum and hands-on preparation for residency and beyond, visit medschool.kp.org/education/residency-preparedness. About the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is devoted first and foremost to offering an outstanding, forward-thinking medical education. Its curriculum is built on the three pillars of Biomedical Science, Clinical Science, and Health Systems Science. Students think broadly about the ways care can be more effective for everyone and learn how to advocate for better health in homes, school, workplaces, neighborhoods, and society. The school incorporates many of the most innovative and effective educational practices available today. In addition, the school's future physicians learn the knowledge and skills essential to the highest quality patient care and the transformation of the nation's healthcare so that all people thrive. Learn more at http://medschool.kp.org/. Contact Ashannti Hill Mims [email protected] (626) 826-7374 SOURCE Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine DUBLIN , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Kenya Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Kenya data center market is expected to reach a value of 440 million by 2029 from a value of $227 million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 11.66% from 2023-2029. This report analyses the Kenya data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. Nairobi is the hub for data center development and foreign investments in Kenya. Other cities are also expected to grow in the coming years. For instance, in August 2023, IXAFRICA DATA CENTRE signed a deal with Tilisi Developments to purchase 11 acres of prime land to construct its second data center in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya accounts for a growing cloud infrastructure, with various operators such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) operating through local zone presence. Oracle Cloud, for instance, has one planned cloud region in the country. Improvements in submarine and inland connectivity will boost the Kenya data center market growth. For instance, around two submarine cables will be operational in the coming years. Regarding support infrastructure, the Kenya data center market has witnessed the dominating presence of global vendors such as Carrier, ABB, Alfa Laval, Caterpillar, Eaton, Legrand, Piller Power System, Rittal, and others. Due to the presence of global vendors, the market has witnessed strong competitiveness in infrastructure offerings and solutions. The presence of IT infrastructure vendors such as Arista Networks, Atos, Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, and others has led to the availability of advanced IT infrastructure in the Kenya data center market. The market has the presence of several global construction contractors who have offered their services to several data center construction projects in past years. For instance, in September 2023, Sudlows Consulting was selected by Olkaria EcoCloud Data Centre to provide consultancy services for its new data center in Olkaria, Kenya. Over the years, the Kenya data center market has witnessed investments from local and foreign operators such as Digital Realty, Africa Data Centres, MTN, and Telkom Kenya. The rising adoption of cloud-based services is propelling the growth of retail and wholesale colocation services in the market. The market is witnessing increased demand for colocation spaces across existing and upcoming facilities. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are projected to attract investments in the Kenya data center market. The government has actively promoted SEZs to stimulate economic growth and provide favorable business conditions, including data center operators. For instance, in October 2023, the government of Kenya decided to add five more SEZs: Sagana, Thika, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Busia. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size regarding investment, area, power capacity, and Kenya colocation market revenue is available. colocation market revenue is available. An assessment of the data center investment in Kenya by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country. A detailed study of the existing Kenya data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about market size during the forecast period. data center market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about market size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Kenya Facilities Covered (Existing): 11 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 6 Coverage: 3+ Cities Existing vs. Upcoming (Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data Center Colocation Market in Kenya Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2023-2029) Retail Colocation Pricing The Kenya data center market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. data center market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the industry. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market. VENDOR LANDSCAPE IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Lenovo NetApp Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors Arup Chess Enterprises Copy Cat Group Eastra Solutions Egypro Future-tech Gruppo ICM HubTech Kinetic Controls Norkun Intakes Remax Consult Sudlows Consulting Tetra Tech Turner & Townsend Westwood Management X2X Group Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Alfa Laval Carrier Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics Eaton Legrand Piller Power Systems Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Data Center Investors Africa Data Centres Digital Realty IXAFRICA DATA CENTRE Safaricom Telkom Kenya New Entrants Airtel Africa Cloudoon Olkaria EcoCloud Data Centre EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Nairobi Other Cities List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Nairobi Other Cities REPORT COVERAGE IT Infrastructure Servers Storage Systems Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Transfer Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC & CRAH Units Chiller Units Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & Commissioning Services Engineering & Building Design Fire Detection & Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Geography Nairobi Other Cities For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x5oicy 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 PHOENIX, Ariz., March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today announced the appointment of insurance veteran and current Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Gary D. Anderson as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Anderson will begin leading the 153-year-old insurance standard-setting organization governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories by May 1, after completing his service as the Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner. Gary D. Anderson named Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners "Selecting the next NAIC CEO has been arduous but rewarding," said NAIC President and Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais. "We were looking for the best fit, and we found it in Gary Anderson. Gary's dedication to our state-based system of insurance regulation and his insurance expertise are top notch. We look forward to his leadership as we navigate the complexities of regulating the insurance sector and deliver on our mission to protect consumers." "I have been fortunate to serve the Massachusetts insurance-buying public under three governors: Gov. Deval Patrick, Gov. Charlie Baker, and now Gov. Maura Healey," said Anderson. "Throughout my career in public service, I have been rewarded with valuable experiences, new and lasting connections, and opportunities to contribute to a greater good. I am excited to embark on the next adventure as CEO of the NAIC, supporting the state-based system of insurance regulation. Thank you to the NAIC Members for the trust and faith you have placed in me." In 2017, Anderson was appointed Commissioner of Insurance by Massachusetts Gov. Baker. Anderson's insurance experience began in 1999 with a regional carrier in the Northwestern U.S. He served as a policy adviser and senior counsel in the Massachusetts State Senate President's office, where he was involved in several policy areas, from the state's broad efforts to control health care costs to all matters affecting the financial services sector. Anderson joined the Massachusetts Division of Insurance as First Deputy Commissioner in February 2014. His responsibilities included strategic planning and policy development for all aspects of the agency. Currently, Anderson is the Secretary of the Northeast Zone and serves on the Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation (F) Committee, Financial Condition (E) Committee, and the Audit Committee. Additionally, he has chaired the NAIC International Insurance Relations (G) Committee since 2019. He also serves on the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Executive Committee as its vice chair and on the IAIS Policy Development Committee (PDC), which he chaired from 2020 to 2022. In December 2022, Anderson was honored with the Raymond G. Farmer Award for Exceptional Leadership by the NAIC. Anderson earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Albany Law School of Union University (Albany, NY) and a bachelor's degree in history from Idaho State University. Andy Beal, NAIC Chief Operating Officer & Chief Legal Officer, has served as the organization's Acting Chief Executive Officer since March 2023. About the National Association of Insurance Commissioners As part of our state-based system of insurance regulation in the United States, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. The U.S. standard-setting organization is governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer reviews, and coordinate regulatory oversight. NAIC staff supports these efforts and represents the collective views of state regulators domestically and internationally. SOURCE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS NEW YORK, March 16, 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. Over 30,000 Participants Join for Historic Event NEW YORK, March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, commemorated its 40th anniversary at the Cheongpyeong Shincheonji Peace Training Institute on Thursday, March 14th. The ceremony included a commemorative video, special performances, and a sermon by Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee. "Just as Jesus sacrificed himself to follow God's will, we should also understand God's will and allow it to be done, not with blind faith but with knowledge of God and our hope," Chairman Lee said, stressing the importance of following God's will and loving one's neighbor. Chairman Lee concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude for the increasing number of people learning the objective of God recorded in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. He urged, "Let more people be saved by the Word. Let's work together to create a better world." Despite having more than 30,000 participants in attendance at the commemorative event, safety and order were prioritized and maintained throughout the gathering. The organizers announced that they had prepared for the event with meticulous safety management plans. Their efforts were based on their experience with successfully hosting three recent graduation ceremonies, each with more than 100,000 attendees. Since its founding on March 14, 1984, Shincheonji Church has experienced rapid growth in membership. The number of graduates produced through its Zion Christian Mission Center -- which teaches the Bible free of charge from Genesis to Revelation -- has also steadily increased over time. At its 110th graduation ceremony in 2019, Shincheonji Church produced 103,764 graduates. In 2022 and 2023, 106,186 and 108,084 students graduated, respectively, achieving over 100,000 graduates for two consecutive years. Shincheonji Church over time has also emphasized the value of unity and collaboration with other churches. Worldwide, Shincheonji Church has promoted the exchange of Bible teachings and signed MOUs with 443 churches in South Korea and 9,462 churches in 77 countries abroad. Additionally, 1,382 churches in 38 countries have changed their church signboards to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, acknowledging the excellence of its Bible teachings. The March 14th commemorative event held in South Korea was simultaneously broadcast online in 66 countries worldwide. For more information, please email [email protected]. Shincheonji Church of Jesus Commemorates Its 40th Anniversary Related Link: https://www.scjamericas.org This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Shincheonji Church of Jesus DUBLIN, March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market (By Technology, Application, Product, End User), Size, Share, Major Deals, Government Initiatives, Key Company Profiles, Revenue, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. South Korea's in-vitro diagnostics market is projected to reach US$ 5,014 Million by 2030, from US$ 3,466 Million in 2023 The rising geriatric population and the high burden of chronic and infectious diseases propel the growth of South Korea's in-vitro diagnostics market, as these chronic disorders can be diagnosed and monitored using in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) products. Moreover, the South Korean government is taking a number of initiatives to improve the healthcare sector in the country. For instance, The Korean 'Act on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices' came into effect on May 1, 2020, presenting an independent legal foundation to reinforce the IVD industry by promoting advanced technology to be applied promptly. Further, owing to the vast opportunities in this region, key players are coming up with market development strategies to leverage it. Recent Developments In January 2024 , Seegene Inc. announced the selection of Microsoft as a technology partner for its SG OneSystem business in London, UK , to realize a world free from all diseases. , Seegene Inc. announced the selection of Microsoft as a technology partner for its SG OneSystem business in , to realize a world free from all diseases. In January 2024 , bioMerieux announced the acquisition of LUMED, a software company that has developed a clinical decision support system to help hospitals optimize antimicrobial prescriptions and monitor healthcare-associated infections. , bioMerieux announced the acquisition of LUMED, a software company that has developed a clinical decision support system to help hospitals optimize antimicrobial prescriptions and monitor healthcare-associated infections. In August 2023 , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. In January 2023 , SD Biosensor and SJL Partners completed a transaction to acquire Meridian Bioscience. , SD Biosensor and SJL Partners completed a transaction to acquire Meridian Bioscience. By Technology: South Korea IVD Market - Key Takeaways On a technology basis, Immunoassay and Clinical Chemistry are the leading segments of the South Korean IVD market. Together they contributed nearly 60 percent to the total South Korea IVD market in 2023. Molecular Diagnostics accounted for around 10 percent of the South Korean IVD market in 2023. POCT and SMBG segments are competing closely to grab the maximum market share of the pie. POCT is transforming diagnostic practices through its convenience and efficiency. Microbiology testing is witnessing growth due to technological advancements and increasing infectious disease incidences. The growth of the hematology market is attributed to factors such as the increasing incidences of blood disorders and other diseases, the growing adoption of automated hematology instruments by diagnostic laboratories, the emergence of high throughput hematology analyzers, and the introduction of technologically advanced hematology instruments. By Application: South Korea IVD Market - Key Takeaways Based on application, Infectious diseases and Diabetes are the leading segments of the South Korean IVD market. Together they contributed around 55 percent to the total South Korea IVD market in 2023. The oncology application segment held 3rd highest share of the South Korean IVD market in 2023, followed by cardiovascular diseases. In South Korea , around 273,076 new cancer cases are anticipated to occur in 2023. , around 273,076 new cancer cases are anticipated to occur in 2023. Autoimmune Diseases were responsible for a single digit share of the South Korean IVD market in 2023, while Nephrology held the least share of the South Korean IVD market. By Product: South Korea IVD Market - Key Takeaways Reagents held the largest share of the South Korean IVD market in 2023 and are expected to remain dominant over the forecast period since reagents are a vital part of every in-vitro diagnostics test. The instruments segment was responsible for a quarter share of the South Korean IVD market in 2023. The introduction of advanced instruments offers an excellent avenue for the segment's growth. The software and services held the least share of the South Korean IVD market. By End User: South Korea IVD Market - Key Takeaways Hospitals and Clinics held the largest share of the South Korean IVD market in 2023, owing to the large volume of diagnostic tests carried out in these settings. Diagnostic Laboratories contributed nearly one-third to the overall South Korean IVD market in 2023. South Korea IVD Market - Key Company Profiles Roche Diagnostics division revenue declined to US$ 15,677 Million in 2023, following the sharp decline in demand for COVID-19-related tests. in 2023, following the sharp decline in demand for COVID-19-related tests. In the diagnostics business, Abbott's focus will be on driving sales growth from its Alinity suite of diagnostics instruments and its portfolio of rapid diagnostic testing systems. Seegene Inc.'s sales revenue increased by more than ninefold year-on-year in 2020. In August 2023 , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. , Sysmex Corporation announced an expansion of the Global Business Partnership Agreement (GBPA) with Roche Diagnostics International Ltd. SD BioSensor's sales revenue rose 23-fold year-on-year in 2020. This 297 Pages report with 72 Figures and 9 Tables has been analyzed from 10 View Points: South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market and Forecast (2018 - 2030) South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market Share and Forecast (2018 - 2030) By Technology - South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market & Forecast (2018 - 2030) By Application - South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market & Forecast (2018 - 2030) By Product - South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market & Forecast (2018 - 2030) By End User - South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market & Forecast (2018 - 2030) South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics Market - Key Company Profiles (2014 - 2030) In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Major Deals In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market - Recent Developments South Korea In-Vitro Diagnostics - Market Dynamics South Korea IVD Market - Key Players Analysis Roche Abbott Sysmex Corporation Danaher Corporation Thermo Fischer Scientific Inc. Siemens Healthineers Biomerieux SA Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc Becton Dickinson and Company and Company Nihon Kohden Corporation Seegene Inc. SD Biosensor Inc. Sugentech Inc. By Technology - South Korea IVD Market and Forecast Immunoassay Clinical Chemistry Hematology Coagulation/Hemostasis Microbiology Molecular Diagnostics Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) Point of Care Testing (POCT) Others By Application - South Korea IVD Market and Forecast Infectious Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Diabetes Oncology Nephrology Autoimmune Diseases Others By Product - South Korea IVD Market and Forecast Reagents Instruments Software and Services By End User - South Korea IVD Market and Forecast Hospitals and Clinics Diagnostic Laboratories Other End Users For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mkg8e2 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. 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Our correction policy can be found here A draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Robertson Mine Project that Nevada Gold Mines is proposing in Lander County has been released, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management plans two opportunities for public comments on the document. The BLM plans a virtual meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, April 1 and an in-person meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at the Crescent Valley Town Hall to talk about the project. The Robertson Mine Project will be part of the Cortez mining complex and provide work for miners now working in open pit operations at Cortez as their current mining areas slow down. NGM is planning an open-pit, gold-mining operation at Robertson that would employ roughly 150 contractors during the two-year construction period, and 415 full-time employees once mining begins, including 370 existing Cortez employees and 45 new hires, according to the draft study. Expanding current sites and developing new mining projects ensures NGM can continue to provide jobs, support the local economy, and help the communities of northern Nevada thrive well into the future, said Peter Richardson, managing director for Nevada Gold Mines. The draft EIS estimates that Robertson will generate $26.42 million in annual income. The BLM states that the Robertson mine life will be 12 years, including nine years of mining and three years of residual leaching, with another three years for reclamation. The project covers roughly 5,990 acres that includes past mining sites. Plans call for three open pits called Gold Pan, Porphyry and Altenburg Hill that will encompass older pits at Robertson, which was the site of early mining in 1905 and modern mining from 1986 into 1989. Coral Resources Inc. did the 1980s mining and later exploration and sold Robertson to Barrick Gold Corp. in 2017. Barrick and Newmont Corp. formed Nevada Gold Mines in 2019, and Robertson became part of NGM. The project site is 58 miles southeast of Battle Mountain and 70 miles southwest of Elko. The tiny town of Crescent Valley is near Robertson. The ghost town of Tenabo can also be seen nearby, but the draft EIS states that the remaining Tenabo structures will be removed and access in fenced areas within the project boundary will be prohibited during mining operations. Total surface disturbance is estimated at 4,127 acres of public lands and 179 acres of private land, according to the BLM. The draft EIS states that in addition to the pits, the project will include haul roads, a waste rock facility, heap leach facilities, a carbon-in-column plant and a three-stage crushing facility. Lower grades of gold ore will be processed at the plant on site, but higher-grade ore would be transported to the Pipeline mill for processing, according to the draft EIS. The project will require dewatering at 625 gallons per minute, with the water to be used in processing. That compares with dewatering of 7,000 gpm at NGMs new Goldrush underground mine at Cortez, Tamara Baker, environmental permitting manager for NGM, told the Elko County commissioners March 6. In her presentation, she said NGM started construction on Goldrush after receiving the BLMs record of decision on Dec. 8, but construction will be paused during sage grouse lek season, and Robertson will also require efforts to protect the sage grouse and the golden eagle. Additionally, Baker said the Robertson property includes multiple abandoned mine sites from historic mining, and the state has asked us to close those. She told commissioners that the release of the draft EIS would be a good time to write letters of support for Robertson mine project. Commissioner Rex Steninger said that were definitely interested in a letter of support. The draft EIS for Robertson moved through the BLM steps much quicker than the Goldrush EIS that took several years, with Baker reporting that the final EIS is expected in September, with the record of decision 30 days later. According to the draft EIS, the BLM considered and dismissed six alternatives, but lists a partial backfill alternative separately. This would involve backfilling the Gold Pan Pit to prevent a pit lake from forming. The document also reports that there would be 4,606 acres associated with surface disturbance and exclusion fencing removed from livestock grazing, with 746 of those acres permanently removed, while the other acres could be returned to grazing when mining is ended. With publication of the notice of availability of the draft EIS on Robertson on March 15, the 45-day public comment period kicks off. The comment deadline is April 29. No formal comments will be taken during the virtual and in-person meetings, but they may be submitted through the Participate Now option at the BLM National NEPA Register or emailed to BLM_NV_P&EC_NEPA@blm.gov. They can also be delivered to Gene Gilseth, BLM project manager, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 or faxed to 775-635-4034. Mumbai, March 16 : The Shiv Sena (UBT) is rattled as its senior functionary and Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas E. Danve is reportedly peeved at being ignored for a Lok Sabha nomination from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar constituency, here on Saturday. He admitted that he had been yearning for a LS nomination since 2014, then 2019, but was allegedly denied the opportunity owing to the local strongman and five-time MP, Chandrakant Khaire. A Member of Legislative Council Danve accused Chandrakant Khaire of constantly trying to politically browbeat him, but categorically stated he (Danve) would continue working under the leadership of SS-UBT President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray. He also assured that he is not planning to join hands with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, while shrugging that nobody can predict what would happen in future. Chandrakant Khaire, who lost the prestigious Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar seat to the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Syed Imtiaz Jaleel in 2019, is likely to be renominated from there as a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate, creating heartburns for Danve and his supporters. The statements by Ambadas Danve have created ripples in the MVA as just a couple of days back, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat set the cat among the pigeons by claiming that "a big leader from the MVA" would switch over by Monday. The Leader of Opposition in the Upper House also urged that new faces must be given a chance for the Lok Sabha and said he had apprised the party leadership of his keen desire to contest it. "I am a loyal Shiv Sainik and struggles are nothing new for me... But it is not possible to forecast what can happen in the coming times," said Ambadas Danve, dropping broad hints. Meanwhile, efforts are on to mollify Ambadas Danve by Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut and deploy his oratorical skills for the campaign of the Lok Sabha elections, the schedule of which will be announced this afternoon. ED suspends its official arrested by Rajasthan ACB in graft case; launches probe. Image Source: IANS News Patna, March 16 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the residence of two sand traders in Bihar's Bhojpur district on Saturday. Patna, March 16 (IANS) Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the residence of two sand traders in Biharas Bhojpur district on Saturday. The sand traders have been identified as Krishna Mohan Singh of Anand Nagar and Punj Singh of Dhandiha village. The ED investigated the documents related to movable and immovable assets the accused obtained allegedly through sand mining. Krishna Mohan Singh and Punj Singh were directors in the Brandson company in the past and can have alleged links with asand kinga and RJD leader Subhash Yadav. On March 9, the ED conducted raids at the premises of Subhash Yadav and recovered more than Rs 2.30 crores. He was facing charges of money laundering. New Delhi, March 16 : In a three-page statement, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, lodged in national capital's Mandoli jail, has levelled allegations against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal involving "threats, harassment and corruption". Chandrashekhar has said that despite threats and mental harassment allegedly directed through the Jail Superintendent, Dhananjay Rawat, he will not retract complaints and statements made under Sections 164 of the CrPC and Section 50 of the PMLA against Chief Minister Kejriwal and his associates. He has vowed to continue his fight to expose and ensure legal action against the Chief Minister and his close associates. Chandrashekhar, who is accused to be the kingpin in a Rs 200 crore extortion case, has alleged that threats to him and his family by associates of Kejriwal, are aimed at intimidating him through Jail Superintendent Rawat. "I will now expose your proximity with Rawat and how he had collected Rs 1.5 crore from me on your bestie Satyendar Jain's instructions in 2020. And how he collected two high-end Patek Philippe watches worth Rs 2 crore in 2021, everything with existence I will provide. I will also expose how brazenly you have purposefully appointed Rawat to the jail where I am currently lodged in," he has said. He has also accused AAP MLA Somnath Bharti of involvement in corrupt practices, including facilitating a fake international news article on former jailed Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's school model and handling illicit funds. Chandrashekhar has challenged Bharti to undergo a polygraph test over the allegations and threatened legal action for defamation against his accusers. "Mr. Bharti in your press statement you are asking which Rs 10 crore I was talking about let me brush your memory its the same Rs 10 crore your corrupt brother and associate Satyendar Jain received from me as jail protection money, which you are very well aware of," the statement said. Chandrashekhar has expressed his intent to contest against Kejriwal in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, irrespective of the outcome, aiming to expose the Chief Minister's "real worth". He concluded the press statement with defiance against Kejriwal's alleged lies and corruption, predicting a dismal performance for the AAP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and has challenged Kejriwal to face investigations by the ED and CBI if the allegations against him were baseless. Kolkata, March 16 : Despite a strong note of caution from the Election Commission of India (ECI) a whopping 30,000 Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) for arrest in West Bengal are yet to be executed, sources said on Saturday. They added that even as the ECI is scheduled to announce on Saturday the polling and counting dates for the Lok Sabha elections, the total number of NBWs yet to be executed in West Bengal is above 30,000. Sources also said that in Kolkata alone, the number of NBWs yet to be executed is over 3,000. Senior bureaucrats attached to the state government fear another slap on the wrist from the ECI on this issue, considering that the stateas law and order situation has been under the poll panelas lens for quite some time in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The state government said that bringing the number of non-executed NBWs to zero within a short span of time, as desired by the ECI, is not an easy task, considering that in many cases the accused had either gone underground or left the state. In early March, when the full Bench of the ECI was in West Bengal to review poll-preparedness, Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, gave clear instructions to the stateas police administration to execute the NBWs at the earliest. The state government was also asked to send a detailed report on this count to the ECI once the execution of the NBWs was completed. During meetings with representatives of the stateas administrative machinery, the ECI made it clear to the Police Commissioner and other top officials of the district police, that under no circumstances were the civic volunteers attached to the West Bengal Police, to be used for any kind of poll-related duty, directly or indirectly. The commission members also cautioned the police that while all attempts should be made to prevent pre-poll violence, each and every complaint by the people should be treated seriously. Kolkata, March 16 : Tension is brewing in Moktarpur village of West Bengal's Nadia district on Saturday following the recovery of a hacked body of a local Trinamool Congress leader from near his residence. The deceased has been identified as Saidul Sheikh (37). He was associated with the Trinamool Congress. Saidul was missing since late Friday evening, police said quoting his family members. "His body with fatal injuries was recovered from near his residence in the morning," the police said. "A group of anti-social elements linked to Congress in the area were responsible for the killing of Saidul," the victim's family alleged. However, the local Congress leadership has denied the allegations and said that it was probably because of his old rivalry within the Trinamool Congress. Saidul's body has been sent for post-mortem. The police have started a thorough probe in the matter and started interrogating some local people. Kolkata, March 16 : As the Election Commission is all set to announce dates for polling and counting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal on Saturday, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has issued a strong warning against the recurrence of poll-related violence for which the state has become infamous over the years. The Governor also said that besides violence, he will also not tolerate corrupt practices adopted by the political parties during the polling process. "I want violence and corruption to end in elections. These are my top priorities. The tradition of political 'Holi' with human blood cannot be tolerated anymore. These things should end now in the state," he added while speaking to mediapersons on Saturday. "I will hit the streets at 6 a.m. I will be available to the people. The political 'holi' with human blood that happened in the panchayat elections last year should not be allowed anymore," Governor Bose said. The Governor's comments are in line with the observations made by Election Commission. During the recent visit of Election Commission to West Bengal, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar gave a strong message to the state administrative machinery to ensure peaceful polls at any cost. "Under any circumstance the voting should be conducted in a festive mood. The higher administrative and police functionaries have been directed to spread the message to all levels of their subordinates so that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure violence-free polls. If the state administration and police fail to do that, we will make them do it," he said during the interaction with mediapersons after meeting senior bureaucrats and police officials of the state. New Delhi, March 16 : Glaucoma, the third most common cause of blindness in India is rising significantly, especially among young adults, said doctors here on Saturday. World Glaucoma Week is celebrated in March every year to raise awareness about the importance of early detection and treatment of glaucoma. According to various independent studies, reports and data by hospitals, glaucoma-related blindness continues to rise in India due lack of awareness and delay in detection. In many cases, about 90 per cent of the time in India, the disease goes undetected. "Akin to new lifestyle diseases, ophthalmologists are seeing an increasing trend of glaucoma, also known as the silent thief," Dr Abhishek B Dagar, Senior Consultant, Venu Eye Hospital, New Delhi told IANS. "Unlike other eye diseases, glaucoma is asymptomatic till a late stage and by that time visual loss is irreversible," he added. In glaucoma patients, the pressure inside the eyeball rises to an extent that it can lead to damage of the optic nerve which transmits visual information to the brain. If untreated, it can lead to irreversible blindness, the doctor explained. As per the World Health Organisation, glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness across the globe. "Glaucoma (known as kala motia in India), affects nearly 11.2 million people aged 40 and above in India. It's the third common cause of blindness in our country," Dr Abhishek said. Further, Dr Suneeta Dubey, Director Glaucoma Services, Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, New Delhi told IANS that the disease, while traditionally linked with ageing, can also afflict young individuals. "Young people are more prone to eye inflammation. The causes can be genetic or secondary to conditions like inflammation, steroid usage or trauma," the doctor said. The health experts called for regular eye checkups, as early management can arrest progression of the disease. Jalna : , March 16 (IANS) Just ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, Shivba Sanghatana leader, Manoj Jarange-Patil on Saturday warned that the Maharashtra government would face the wrath of the Marathas in the parliamentary polls. Speaking to the media in Jalna, he said if justice was not given to the Marathas in the name of the Model Code of Conduct that would come into force soon after the poll dates are announced then the Maharashtra government would face the long-term repercussions of its actions. "The government has still not fulfilled its promises of withdrawing cases against the Maratha men and women The draft on 'Sage-Soyare' (family bloodline) has not yet been notified. If you don't decide now, then the Marathas will take the decision," he said in a grim warning. He said that the previous rulers had concern for the cause of the Marathas, but the present regime is not bothered about the community and it is being blatantly ignored. "If Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis do not want to face the wave of displeasure of the community, then they must immediately implement all the promises made to the Marathas," demanded Jarange-Patil. He reminded the government that the Marathas had been protesting for over seven months since August and cautioned against humiliating them more "or they can turn the tide against you." Meanwhile, following a call by Jarange-Patil for candidates from five villages to file their nominations, members of the Maratha community are likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections in large numbers. This could upset the political calculations of the two major contending alliances the ruling Mahayuti of the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP(AP) and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-NCP(SP) and their Maratha candidates. Kolkata, March 16 : The Kolkata Police said on Saturday that the officers of its Anti-Rowdy Section (ARS) have arrested three persons and recovered cash worth Rs 54 lakh from them following night-long operations at two business hubs in the city hours before announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. A senior official said that on late Friday night, the ARS police officers raided a particular residence at the business hub of Posta in central Kolkata and seized an amount of Rs 24 lakh from two persons. The police officers questioned the two accused persons about the source of funds and when they were unable to give any satisfactory answer they were arrested. Similarly, the city police official said an amount of Rs 30 lakh was recovered from another person at a residential flat under Bowbazar police station in central Kolkata early Saturday morning. The accused person also could not give any satisfactory answer either on the source of the funds or the purpose for which he was carrying it. Therefore, he was also arrested. The police have started a detailed investigation about the sources of the funds and the purpose for which the three arrested persons were carrying them before the Lok Sabha polls. New Delhi, March 16 : The Delhi High Court has come across a case of forgery involving a lawyer appointed to assist undertrial prisoners. The lawyer has allegedly created and circulated a fake bail order, which was purportedly never issued by the high court. This incident has prompted the high court to order the lodging of a police complaint to investigate the matter thoroughly. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, upon learning about the incident, initiated a suo motu case. The court was informed that a fabricated bail order had been given to an accused by the lawyer, which was then handed over to the accused's mother during a jail visit. The court expressed shock and concern over the incident, stressing the gravity of forging a judicial document and the implications it could have on the integrity of the legal system. To address this egregious breach of trust and potential criminal act, the court has directed its Registrar General to file a complaint with the police for immediate investigation. Justice Sharma's order came after Saira Bano, the mother of the inmate, approached the high court seeking clarity on the status of her daughter's bail application, only to reveal the existence of the forged document. The document in question falsely claimed that a bail application was reserved for order by the high court on November 18, 2023, raising immediate suspicions as the court does not operate on weekends. Further scrutiny revealed no record of such a bail application ever being filed or reserved for order, confirming the document's fraudulent nature. The high court has now taken significant steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. It has issued procedures for verifying the authenticity of its orders and judgements, stressing the use of QR codes, digital signatures, and official emblems on documents obtained from the Delhi High Court's website. The court has made it clear that authentic documents can be accessed freely and without cost, providing a reliable means for individuals to verify the legitimacy of judicial orders. In addition to ordering a police investigation, Justice Sharma appointed advocate Harsh Prabhakar as amicus curiae to assist the affected inmate, ensuring that she receives proper legal representation moving forward. The court has also taken proactive measures to educate the public and inmates about verifying court documents, including translating its order into Hindi and disseminating it widely. ELKO The Utah owner of the Elko Inn and Studio faces civil action from the city of Elko for failure to provide adequate security less than a week after a SWAT team resulted in the arrest of the property manager and others. Ville 837 LLC, received additional orders that included boarding up all windows and entryways and removing unauthorized persons from the property within five business days in a motion unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday. The beleaguered motel was cited as a public nuisance in August following several complaints by neighboring businesses and residents along with increased criminal activity in the area. The council also reversed an amendment to the nuisance abatement order issued Oct. 24 that had allowed the company to provide security on the property through Utah-based Vernal Real Estate Partners LLC. Owners are now required to secure Nevada-licensed security services going forward. They must also use state- or city-licensed contractors for any work on the property, including repairs, construction or demolition. The motion also requested the City Attorneys office to move forward with a civil complaint against Ville 837, according to state statute 268.4124. If a chronic nuisance is found or there is an immediate threat to public health or safety the court would have the authority to close the property. The court could order the owners to pay a civil penalty of $750 per day and cover any costs incurred to abate the motel. Abatement originally included removing all unauthorized people living in the motel, contracting with a state-licensed security service to prevent unauthorized activities on the property, installing a fence and security cameras and allowing for inspection by city staff. City Manager Jan Baum said the raid showed the property management team that Ville 837 put together hasnt provided the best security at the property, adding she believed the property manager was arrested in the raid. On March 6, Sita Leusogi, 31, of Salt Lake City was taken into custody at the Elko Inn. Across the street at the Greenacres Apartments, Ian Park, 32, of Spring Creek was arrested. Both men were charged with felony possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance less than 14 grams and gross misdemeanor possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription. Elko Police Chief Ty Trouten recommended the City Council not allow the owner to continue managing the motels security, and that it must go to a professional, licensed security company that will do the job to end this problem at that property. Trouten said the raid, led by the Elko Combined Narcotics Unit, was the result of three search warrants and is part of a larger sales, use and movement of controlled substances investigation. He told the council the raid showed him that since the nuisance was declared theres no improvement at the motel. Its worse. Regarding the owners securing the property, Trouten said, Quite honestly, to me, it seems like we have the fox guarding the hen house. I have zero trust, zero faith that anyone they send over from this company if this is what they send over and how they brief and prepare them that we will get adequate security to keep problems out of this area. Trouten said residents thanked police for finally doing something about the motel. He said that the female mail carrier also thanked the police, telling them she didnt feel safe delivering mail in the area. Complaints by residents and business owners ranged from attempted break-ins to indecent exposure to drug paraphernalia strewn in yards and alleyways. Some reported seeing people stealing water from outdoor faucets.Owner Keith Warburton, property consultant Shawn Hammond and a representative from Vernal Real Estate Partners, LLC, all appeared on a video call to the City Council. Warburton, who said he hoped to turn the motel into low-income housing, told the City Council he believed things were going well. I didnt know there was a problem. We obviously would have taken action to remedy that if I was aware of it. Warburton also said he was told that to get a building permit, he would need a license, but City Clerk Kelly Wooldridge corrected him. She said she told Hammond and a contractor associated with Ville 837 several times there was no need for a business license to obtain a building permit. Instead, a licensed Nevada contractor must be secured for a building permit. Nagarkurnool : , March 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the corrupt will not be spared and sought support of the people of Telangana in punishing them. In an apparent reference to the arrest of BRS leader, K Kavitha, in the Delhi liquor case, the PM told a public meeting here that it was his promise to the people of Telangana that the corrupt would not be spared. "The BRS has partnered with corrupt parties outside the state. Its truth is coming out every day," he said. The PM said that the BRS was following in the footsteps of the Congress. "KCR says India needs a new Constitution. Is this not an insult of Babasaheb," he asked. He alleged that the former CM of Telangana cheated Dalits through the Dalit Bandhu scheme and also went back on his promise that the first CM of Telangana would be a Dalit. He remarked that family-centric parties would have a strong partnership of corruption. "The Congress and BRS are partners in scams. The Congress did the 2G scam and the BRS did the irrigation racket. They both support the land mafia," he said. Claiming that development of Telangana had been a priority of the NDA for the last 10 years, he said the state was caught between the two stones of a mill. "The BRS and the Congress together shattered Telangana's dreams of development. Now it is occupied by the Congress' hand. Earlier there was major loot by the BRS and now there is the evil eye of the Congress," the PM said and remarked that five years were enough for the grand old party to destroy the state. The PM appealed to the people of Telangana to send more BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha to stop the Congress from acting according to its whims and fancies. "This time the BJP's lotus should bloom in all Lok Sabha seats. This will help me and also give me an opportunity to serve you better," he added. He stated that if Telangana sends more BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha, they would be aware of the problems, hopes and aspirations of the people of the state. He promised that he would work day and night to fulfil their aspirations. Mentioning that the BJP's votes doubled in Telangana in the previous elections, the PM exuded confidence that this time the state would give double digit seats to the party. The PM began his speech with the remark that in the next few hours the poll bugle would be sounded but claimed that even before the announcement of the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the people had given their verdict. "The country has already declared ab ki baar 400 paar," he said. Referring to the huge turnout at the public meeting and massive response to his roadshow in Malkajgiri constituency on Friday, PM Modi said the people of Telangana have also decided "Teesri baar Modi sarkar." He slammed the Congress government in Telangana for insulting Dalit Deputy Chief Minister. "The people of Telangana have seen those photographs. How Congress leaders sat on chairs and the SC leader was made to sit on the ground," he said. The PM was referring to the recent incident at Yadadri temple where Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka sat at a lower height while Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other ministers were being blessed by the priests. Alleging that the Congress gave nothing to the country except for "jhoot" and "loot" for seven decades, he said the Congress can't develop Telangana. "For decades the Congress gave the slogan of 'garibi hatao' but there was no change in the lives of the poor. It used SCs, STs and OBCs as vote banks. The change came when the country blessed Modi with full majority and gave him an opportunity to serve," the PM said, adding that "Modi's guarantee is a guarantee for change." He claimed that for the first time bank accounts of the poor were opened, they were given houses, toilets, electricity connections, free vaccination and lakhs of villages got electricity. "In the last 10 years, 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty," he said while calling for a similar change in Telangana. The PM also stated that he did not have to ensure positions and bank balance for his family members as his family was 140 crore people of the country. He mentioned that for 23 years he had been serving people, first as a CM and now as the PM. "I have not used even one day for myself. If I have done something and worked day and night, it was for 140 crore family members," he said. PM Modi said he also fulfilled all the promises, be it scrapping Article 370, building the Ram temple and strengthening economy. He claimed that bank accounts of one crore people were opened in Telangana while 1.50 crore people were insured. He said 67 lakh small traders were provided Mudra loans and over 80 lakh people were covered under Ayushman health insurance. Stating that the biggest beneficiary of his government's welfare schemes were SCs, STs, OBCs, women and farmers, he called it a real fight for social justice. He alleged that these schemes were opposed by the Congress, BRS and other corrupt and dynastic parties who drew political mileage in the name of social justice. PM Modi introduced the BJP candidates from Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda Mahabubnagar and Secunderabad constituencies and appealed to people to elect them. Union Minister and state BJP President, G. Kishan Reddy, who is seeking re-election from Secunderabad, BJP National Vice President, DK Aruna, who is the party candidate from Mahabubnagar and other leaders also spoke. Bhubaneswar, March 16 : A 25-year-old youth was hacked to death following an altercation over a love triangle in the Laxmisagar area here. The deceased has been identified as Anjan Behera, a resident of Chintamaniswar under the Laxmisagar police limits. "I was in Khurda for some personal work when the prime accused, Pinku, contacted me over the phone and asked me to meet him in Chintamaniswar. I reached there along with Anjan at around 1.45 a.m. on Saturday. "Pinku and five others, including a girl, also reached the spot. During the conversation, Pinku suddenly got enraged and assaulted Anjan with a sword. I managed to escape while Pinku and the others brutally assaulted Anjan," said Gautam Sahoo, the deceased's friend. Sources said that Pinku, a habitual criminal, was allegedly in a relationship with a girl from Chintamaniswar for the past couple of years. Meanwhile, Gautam, a bartender, and Pinku's girlfriend came into contact and became friends. Their relationship irked Pinku, who had recently returned from jail. "On Friday evening, Pinku asked Gautam to meet him at a spot near his girlfriend's house in Chintamaniswar for a discussion. Accordingly, Gautam and the deceased, who had gone to attend a marriage function on the outskirts of the city, reached the spot at around 1.45 a.m. in the night. "They engaged in an argument which soon turned violent, as Pinku and the others brutally attacked Anjan with sharp-edged weapons. He was rescued by the locals and rushed to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Efforts are on to nab the absconding accused persons," said P. Shyam Sundar Rao, Inspector In-Charge, Laxmisagar police station. Seoul, March 16 : Medical professors across South Korea have decided to submit resignations starting March 25 in collective action pressuring the government to seek a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, a medical professors' group said on Saturday. But even if they resign, medical professors said they will faithfully treat patients at hospitals as more than 90 per cent of the country's 13,000 trainee doctors have walked off the job since last month to protest the government's decision to hike the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats. The decision came at an online meeting held by medical professors from 20 universities late Friday, according to the group. In South Korea, there are 40 medical schools across the nation, reports Yonhap News Agency. Of the 20 universities, professors from 16 medical schools "overwhelmingly" decided to submit resignations and the four others are collecting opinions over whether to join in, according to Bang Jae-seung, chief of the emergency committee of medical school professors. "The decision does not mean that we are abandoning patients. But if the current situation continues, there will be irreversible damage to public health," Bang told a press conference. He said medical professors will do their best in treating patients until the process of their resignations is completed. "We are to submit resignations to prevent a medical debacle as we think an agreement can be reached only after the government first backs down from the plan to raise the enrollment slots by 2,000," Bang said. Since early this week, medical professors have threatened to submit resignations en masse unless the government presents a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout. Prior to the resignation submission, the group said it plans to hold a meeting next Friday to check the development. March 25 is the deadline by which trainee doctors are required to submit their opinions on license suspensions. The government earlier sent prior notices of license suspension to some 5,000 junior doctors who have defied an order to return to work. The medical circle has been protesting the government's plan to hike the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 seats beginning next year. The government said the move is aimed at addressing a chronic shortage of doctors in rural areas and essential but less popular medical fields. However, the doctors claimed the quota hike would undermine the quality of medical education and other services and result in higher medical costs for patients. They have called for measures to first address the underpaid specialists and improve the legal protection against excessive medical malpractice lawsuits. The protracted walkout raised patients' concerns that they might not receive medical treatment at an appropriate timing. Major general hospitals have been experiencing cancellations and delays in surgeries and emergency medical treatment as they heavily rely on trainee doctors. New Delhi, March 16 : Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda on Saturday virtually laid the foundation stone for setting up the 'Centre for Preservation and Promotion of Tribal Culture & Heritage' at Padampur in Jharkhand and inaugurated the tribal museum in the national capital. Addressing the gathering via video conference, Munda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 10-year tenure has given utmost importance to the task of preserving and promoting Indian knowledge systems, traditions and cultural ethos at the national and international level. Following the vision of the Prime Minister, it is our duty and shared responsibility to encourage and empower the tribal community for a strong self-reliant India of tomorrow, the minister added. Union Ministry for Tribal Affairs has approved a budget of Rs 10 crores for the establishment of the Centre in Jharkhandas Kharsawan district to depict and preserve the rich legacy of the tribal community. The Centre will showcase the tribal culture and the history of the region. It would also be a knowledge and information centre for assisting the tribal communities in their development. The Centre is aimed to be developed in future as a live centre, with space for artisans to demonstrate their skills and to serve as a hub for tourism, according to an official statement. At another event on Saturday, the minister also inaugurated the recently renovated the National Unique Tribal Museum, e-Library and ST Girlsa hostel funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs at Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sanghathan (BAJSS) in the national capital. BAJSS was established in the year 1948 by Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar, popularly known as Thakkar Bapa, an Indian social worker who worked for the uplift of tribal people. Munda said that the BAJSS museum of tribal artefacts and library, located at Jhandewalan in New Delhi, has a collection of rare books, a cultural heritage which if not conserved, protected and taken care of, could have disappeared. He said the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry decided to revive the Tribal Museum at BAJSS Bhawan, and allocated an amount of over Rs. 3 crores for the project. Munda expressed happiness that while the initiative of the Ministry has led to the revival of this building and the museum, the library located here is also being digitalised so that rare books can be collected and preserved. Further, interactive digital kiosks have been installed at various places in the museum to provide various types of information, the Minister added. Rawalpindi, March 16 : Seven Pakistan soldiers were killed, including two officers, in a militant attack in Ali area of North Waziristan district on Saturday, as per media reports. A group of six terrorists attacked a security forcesa post in the general area of Mir Ali of North Waziristan District, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan Army said on Saturday. All six terrorists were neutralised, Dawn reported. As per reports, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in 2023 year, especially in KP and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, Dawn reported. The ISPR said earlier that this month, at least 10 militants were killed in two separate operations by security forces in the North Waziristan district. It added that Pakistan expected the Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists. Last month, a late-night attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan was repulsed. Gunmen had mounted an attack using heavy weapons but fled in the cover of darkness when police personnel fired back, Dawn reported. In December last year, 23 soldiers were killed and more than 30 troops wounded after militants belonging to the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) stormed a compound used by the military in Dera Ismail Khanas Daraban area. Chennai, March 16 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that the second 'World Classical Tamil Conference' will be held in Chennai in June 2025. Chennai, March 16 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that the second aWorld Classical Tamil Conferencea will be held in Chennai in June 2025. The Chief Minister said that the Tamil Conference will be held for five days in June 2025. However, the dates will be announced later. The Chief Minister said that his government has been taking up several measures for the promotion of Tamil language and culture. He said that several awards were bestowed upon Tamil scholars, writers and artists by his government. The Chief Minister said that the first aWorld Classical Tamil Conferencea was held in 2010 in Coimbatore when the DMK government was under Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He added that the museum at Keezhadi was constructed for showcasing culture and knowledge of ancient Tamils. New Delhi, March 16 : Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, while announcing the dates for 18th Lok Sabha elections, said that there is an elaborate security arrangement, which includes not just the security of polling personnel, voting stations and materials, but also the overall safety of the election process. For peaceful elections, this time the Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured that the security agencies deal effectively with three 'M' -- Muscle, Money, and Misinformation. Elaborating on the 'Muscle', the CEC said that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) are deployed to supplement the local police force in ensuring a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the smooth conduct of elections in a free, fair and credible manner. Based on the assessment of the ground situation, CAPFs and State Armed Police (SAP) drawn from other States will be deployed during the election. "The CAPFs shall be deployed well in advance for area domination, route marches in vulnerable pockets, point patrolling and other confidence-building measures to reassure and build faith in the minds of the voters, especially those belonging to the weaker sections, minorities etc," said Kumar. The CAPFs/SAP shall also be deployed in Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies and other vulnerable areas and critical polling stations as per the assessment of ground realities by the CEOs of all States/UTs in consultation with various stakeholders. "Besides, these forces will secure the strong rooms where EVMs and VVPATs are stored and for securing the counting centres and for other purposes, as required," said Kumar. To ensure optimum and effective utilisation of State Police Officials and CAPFs, the ECI has also directed to constitute a committee of CEO, State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) and State CAPF Coordinator to jointly decide the State Deployment Plan and to ensure the randomisation of state police. To deal with illicit cash flow, Kumar said that comprehensive instructions for the purpose of effective monitoring of the election expenditure of the candidates have been issued, which include deployment of Expenditure Observers, Assistant Expenditure Observers, formation of Flying Squads (FSs), Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), Video Surveillance Teams (VSTs), Video Viewing Teams (VVTs), Accounting Teams (ATs), Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC), District Expenditure Monitoring Committee (DEMC), involvement of enforcement agencies viz. State Police, State Excise Department, Income Tax, FIUIND, CBIC, DRI, CGST, SGST, State Commercial Department, ED, NCB, CISF, RPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, Assam, Rifles, ICG, Department of Post, BCAS, AAI, RBI, SLBC and State Forest Department. "State Excise Department has been asked to monitor production, distribution, sale and storage of liquor and inducements in the form of free goods during the election process. The functioning and operations of the FSs/ SSTs shall be closely monitored using GPRS Tracking," said the CEC. The Income Tax department has been also asked to activate Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) in the airports of the States and also to gather intelligence and take necessary action to check the movement of large sums of money in all the States and Union Territories. The Bureau of Civil Aviation has also been directed to check chartered planes and helicopters at commercial airports. "Control room and Complaint Monitoring Centre with 24 hours toll-free numbers shall be operative during the entire election process and in every district which will be headed by a senior police official," said the CEC, while elaborating the plan to deal with misinformation. "Social media will be monitored and strict action will be taken against rumour-mongering," said the CEC. Rome, March 16 : Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, on Saturday rejected the idea raised by French President Emmanuel Macron of the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, said Tajani as quoted by media reports. He added that it "would be a mistake" for NATO to send troops to Ukraine, which "we must help defend, " as quoted by Ukrainska Pravda report. "To enter the war with Russia means the threat of World War III," he said. "Our military is doing well what they are doing in the Red Sea to protect our ships; they are doing well what they are doing in Lebanon, Africa and Iraq. Our military are the bearers of peace, guarantees and freedom. We are not at war with Russia," the Italian Foreign Minister stressed. Earlier on Friday, Macron, while commenting on the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine, said that if such a scenario were to be implemented, French forces would not go on the offensive against Russia, the Ukrainska Pravda reported. French politicians attacked Macron after his recent interview regarding his support for Ukraine. Elina Valtonen, Finland Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said that Western countries, including the US, should not completely rule out the idea of sending troops to Ukraine if the situation there deteriorates. Chandigarh, March 16 : In agrarian Punjab, where Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes make up 55 per cent of the population, religion and the issues of farmers and farm labourers are likely to play a decisive role in a seemingly four-cornered contest for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the seventh and the last phase on June 1. Amidst the speculation that the once traditional alliance partners -- the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP -- maybe joining hands before the polls, a confident state ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is contesting the elections alone without any alliance with the opposition's INDIA bloc, has already announced the names of eight candidates in the first list. The Congress, which is yet to come out of the shadows after facing a humiliating defeat in the 2022 assembly elections, is facing friction within the state unit, besides the exit of senior leaders. Political observers told IANS that if the Akali Dal and the BJP do not have any pre-poll alliance, then there would be a four-cornered contest -- among the AAP, the BJP, SAD and the Congress. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the hardliner Shiromani Akali Dal-Amritsar (SAD-A), whose sitting MP Simranjit Singh Mann from the Sangrur seat, may also field candidates. The BSP has announced the termination of its alliance with the Akali Dal, alleging the latter's alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, the candidates to whom the AAP has given tickets, are all sitting legislators, mostly ministers. On the lines of Delhi, in Punjab too the party has fielded most of the legislators. The Ministers of Punjab whom the AAP has announced as candidates for the Lok Sabha polls are current ministers Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khadur Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Khudia from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur, and Dr. Balbir Singh from Patiala. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had won eight seats, the NDA, comprising the BJP and the SAD, won four seats and the AAP one. Out of the 13 seats, four seats are reserved for the Scheduled Caste candidates, while the remaining seats are unreserved. BJP leader and two-time Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is in favour of an alliance of his party with the SAD, once a long-time partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Amarinder Singh in a recent interview with a news channel claimed that even Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar is in favour of the alliance. Regarding the distribution of seats between both the parties, he said the matter would be discussed by the high command. "If the BJP and the Akali Dal come together, no one can defeat us," he claimed. On the demands of the protesting farmers, including the legal provision of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops, Amarinder Singh said he discussed issues related to the state and the farmers with the Prime Minister. In the last Assembly polls held in 2022, the number of SAD legislators in the 117-member House was reduced to three, down from its tally of 15 seats in 2017, its lowest ever number. Amarinder Singh and Jakhar, both former Congress leaders, are prominent rebels. Snapping its over two-decade long ties, the Akali Dal pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance in September 2020 after sharp differences emerged over the now-repealed three controversial farm laws. The Akali Dal was one of the oldest allies of the BJP. It was among the first to support the 13-day Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, the shortest Prime Minister's stint in India's history, in 1996. To rebuild the beleaguered Akali Dal and prevent further exodus of its leaders, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, who was known as the 'Super Chief Minister' when the party was at the helm, is on his toes. His wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who held the portfolio of the Food Processing Industry in both the Modi-led Central governments, is raking up state-specific issues in Parliament. The husband-wife duo won the parliamentary polls in 2019. Just ahead of poll announcement, senior Congress leader, former Union minister, and four-time MP from Patiala, Preneet Kaur, joined the BJP in Delhi. She is the wife of Capt Amarinder Singh. In another setback to the Congress, its sitting legislator Raj Kumar Chabbewal joined the AAP on Friday. After former MLA G.P. Singh from Bassi Pathana, Chabbewal is the second Congress leader to join the AAP. Prominent Dalit leader Chabbewal, who comes from the Doaba region, had also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Hoshiarpur on a Congress ticket but lost to the BJP's Som Parkash, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. He is likely to be fielded by the AAP from Hoshiarpur. Punjab had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 percent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The state's Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said Punjab has a total of 2,12,71,246 voters, including 1,19,29,959 men, 1,07,75,543 women and 744 transgender voters. A total of 24,433 polling stations have been set up for the 13 parliamentary seats. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com) Mumbai, March 16 : Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran, who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, is gearing up for his new movie 'The Goat Life'. Prithviraj was in Mumbai on Saturday where he spoke about being a part of the film and that working with the director of the film, Blessy is something that every Malayalam actor looks forward to working with him. The actor spoke to the media at a multiplex in the Andheri area of Mumbai at a press event which he attended along with the director, and the Grammy and Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman. The actor told the media: "In the Malayalam film industry when Blessy calls you, you pick up your phone. He is one of the most committed filmmakers that the Malayalam film industry has. For us actors in Malayalam cinema, a Blessy film is a box that all of us want to tick at least once in a lifetime and have it in our filmography." He further spoke about the film's journey as he said: "This was back in 2009 when I was still trying to come to terms with myself as an artiste and that's when he contacted me and said that he has thought of his film which is a grand vision and he wants me to be a part of the film. The idea took 10 years to take off because his vision was so massive that it was quite ahead of time to pull it off in terms of the logistics and the creative line of thought." ELKO Two more candidates filed for Elko County Commission, building two races and leaving one candidate running unopposed for office. Jay Dalton, a fifth-generation Clover Valley Rancher, filed on Wednesday as a Democrat to run for the District 1 seat on the County Commission that will not be challenged by incumbent Wilde Brough, who declined to run for a second term in office. Dalton, who sits on the Elko County Fair Board, will be running against Wells rancher Brian Gale and Wells City Councilwoman Laura DelRio. Both entered the race as Republicans. For District 5, incumbent Rex Steninger is being challenged by Chris Mullins. Both are running as Republicans. Jon Karr, who represents District 3, is running unopposed for a third term in office. Chris Mullins District 5 Mullins, 47, said hes running for the District 5 seat on the Elko County Commission held by Steninger, who is seeking his third and final term on the board. Mullins, who lives in Spring Creek, said in an interview on Friday he decided to run for office to fight for my familys rights. His big issue, Mullins said, is the countys use of voting machines rather than paper ballots. Beyond that, hes said hed fight for anything that the people request. Im a freedom fighter is what I am, said Mullins, who hails from Eastern Tennessee and moved to Elko County two years ago because of the beauty and wide-open spaces. I just realized that two years ago. That is who I am. He said he often works overtime at one of the mines, but many people might recognize him from his other persona. Im the crazy sign guy, he said. He said hed like to get rid of the voting machines, but also fight for more rentals, and more affordable rentals so young people moving out of their parents homes can afford to live in this community. He said he believes theres a cabal of real estate professionals in the community and on the commission who keep rentals out of the area. Regarding voting machines, he said he spoke with Steninger about voting machines and thought hed support removing them, but the commissioner then opted against the idea. He said Steninger told him he couldnt justify the cost. Steninger said in an interview Friday the conversation with Mullins was in a commission meeting over a year ago and he, too, would like to get rid of voting machines. I said back then, 2022, I shared the concerns of those in the meeting, he said. He said hes never spoken with Mullins except in a commission meeting. I believe the election was rigged. I am an election doubter, Steninger said. But he couldnt justify the costs, he said at the meeting, because the county has a contract with Dominion Voting Systems through next year. Im a believer in the paper ballots, the commissioner said. Jay Dalton District 1 Rancher Jay Dalton said running for office was his opportunity to give back to the community and serve the county. Dalton said his familys roots run deep. He has lived his entire life on the family ranch that started in 1892. I want to have the input from the [voters] of District 1. I think serving on these other boards brings experience to the meetings process, Dalton said. He said he hoped to bring the ranchers perspective and insight from those who ranch in District 1 to the Board of Commissioners. New Delhi, March 16 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the option of 'vote-from-home' for citizens above 85 years of age, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) with 40 per cent disability benchmark, marking the first instance of the poll panel offering such a facility. Announcing the Lok Sabha poll schedule here on Saturday, the ECI provided details on the country's voter list, polling booths, the number of EVMs to be used, and the security protocols to be implemented for the peaceful conduct of the polls, among other details. Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and newly-appointed Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu disclosed the details at a press conference here. Amid the ongoing crisis of ethnic violence in Manipur, voters living in camps will be allowed to vote from their camps. To address the basic public concerns, the Election Commission has issued instructions to the Chief Electoral Officers of all states/UTs to ensure that all polling stations are located on the ground floor, and ramps with proper gradients are provided for the convenience of the differently-abled electorate and senior citizens on wheelchairs. The PwD voters can also request for wheelchair facility by registering on the SakshamECI App, while the visually-impaired persons also take a companion along with him/her to cast his/her vote on his/her behalf as provided under Rule 49 N of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The booths are to be equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) like drinking water, a waiting shed, toilets with water facility, adequate arrangements for lighting, a ramp with proper gradient for the PwD electors, and a standard voting compartment, among others. The ECI has also directed the CEO/DEOs to make efforts to make permanent ramps and permanent infrastructure at every polling station. Further, to provide targeted and need-based facilitation to PwD voters and senior citizens, the poll panel has directed that all the persons with disabilities and senior citizens in an Assembly constituency should be identified and tagged to their respective polling stations, and necessary disability-specific arrangements be made for their smooth and convenient voting experience on the polling day. The identified PwD and senior citizens will be assisted by the volunteers appointed by the RO/DEO. Also, it has been directed that persons with disability and senior citizens be given priority for entering the polling booths. Special focus has been laid on sensitisation of polling personnel regarding the special needs of the differently-abled electorate. Besides, dummy ballot sheets in Braille will also be made available at the polling stations to assist the visually-impaired voters. CEC Kumar informed that there are 88.4 lakh PwD voters, 88 lakh voters above the age of 85, 48,000 transgenders, and 2.18 lakh centenarians who will participate in the upcoming elections. New Delhi, March 16 : Bigwigs of corporate India, either directly or through front companies or associates, have shown generosity in subscribing to the Electoral Bonds scheme, as revealed by a series of reports by the Reporters' Collective. Based on the published data, this website, managed by journalists, has identified major corporate entities such as Reliance, Kotak Mahindra, and the Aditya Birla Group among those contributing crores of rupees to the political parties. All eyes are now on the 'unique numbers' likely to be shared by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday. It will give some more clarity on which entities contributed to which political parties. The data posted on the EC portal pertains to the period from April 12, 2019 to January 2024 and includes information about Rs 12,769 crore funding via electoral bonds. New revelations have created quite a buzz in business and political circles, analysts say. Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited, a lesser-known company with links to Reliance Industries, has caught the attention of people because of its scale of donations. Notably, none of Reliance Group's listed firms are among the political donors as per the EC list but the Qwik Supply Chain has emerged as the third biggest donors to political parties via electoral bonds. The company reportedly bought electoral bonds of Rs 410 crore in FY 2021-22 and 2023-24 and also has a connection with Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infra which purchased bonds worth Rs 966 crore. The company has a registered address at Navi Mumbai's Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC). However, the Reliance group has denied any links and also ruled out the company being a subsidiary of any Reliance entity. According to available information, the Qwik Supply, incorporated in the year 2000, is a manufacturer of warehouses and storage units and recorded its revenue at over Rs 500 crore in 2022-23. The company bought electoral bonds worth Rs 360 crore in 2021-22 and purchased another bond worth Rs 50 crore worth in 2023-24. Honeywell Properties Private Limited is said to be another Reliance-backed firm that purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 30 crore in 2021. Satyanarayanamurthy Veera Venkata Korlep is one of the directors of this company and as per reports he is on the board of several Reliance Group firms. To name others few, Sun Pharma Laboratories Limited donated about Rs 31.5 crore to parties in financial year 2019-20 in two installments of Rs 21.5 crore and Rs 10 crore respectively. Vedanta Group is said to be the fourth biggest contributor to political parties via electoral bonds. Grasim Industries, one of the flagships of Aditya Birla Group is another company in the top 100 donors via electoral bonds. The firm donated Rs 33 crore via bonds. Aditya Birla Group donated Rs 534 crore in total, which includes Rs 224 crore by Essel Mining and Industries Limited, Rs 135 crore by Utkal Alumina International Limited, Rs 35 crore through Ultratech Cement, Rs 105 crore by Birla Carbon, and Rs 2 crore through Birla Estate Pvt Ltd, said the Reporters' Collective in its report. Billionaire banker Uday Kotak's firm bought electoral bonds in three windows -- first in Rs 25 crore (2019), second in 2020 (Rs 10 crore) and third in 2021 (Rs 25 crore). The bonds were purchased by Mumbai-based Infina Finance, jointly owned by Kotak Mahindra Bank and Kotak family. While the list of electoral bond purchasers has umpteen names, a few findings by the Reporters' Collective have caught the attention of many. Laxmidas Vallabhdas Merchant is among the few donors, who made a donation of Rs 25 crore in individual capacity and also features among Top 100 donors in the electoral bonds data, the report found. LinkedIn profile of Laxmidas Vallabhdas Merchant shows that he is the Group Controller of Reliance Group and takes care of its tax compliance regime. According to a report in Reporters' Collective, three out of the top 15 electoral bond donors belong to one conglomerate -- Keventer Group of companies, together contributing to about Rs 500 crore. Keventer Foodpark Infra Pvt Ltd made the biggest bonds purchase of Rs 195 crore while Madanlal Ltd came close second with Rs 185.5 crore. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited is the second-highest donor to parties, as per the report. The Hyderabad-based company purchased bonds worth Rs 966 crore and remains the second biggest contributor since 2019. Udaipur-based Wonder Cement, a relatively unknown company donated Rs 20 crore through electoral bonds while Future Gaming donated Rs 328 crore in 2022-23. Chennai Green Woods Private Limited, another lesser-known firm donated more than Rs 100 crore in three chunks -- Rs 40 crore, Rs 50 crore, and Rs 15 in 2022 and 2023. The construction firm is co-owned by a Guntur-based businessman and a YSR Congress MP. As per SC guidelines, the list of donors who purchased electoral bonds and that of political parties that encashed them are posted on the EC website. The political parties that redeemed electoral bonds include the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, Shiv Sena, TDP, YSR Congress, DMK, JD-S, NCP, Trinamool Congress, JD-U, RJD, AAP, Samajwadi Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, the BJD, among others. Former CM Jagadish Shettar, two others, take oath as Cong MLCs in Ktaka. Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, March 16 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Saturday said that he is confident of getting a BJP ticket to contest from Belagavi Lok Sabha seat. "The third list may be released on Sunday. I am confident that my name will be officially announced tomorrow. I have given my consent to contest from the Belagavi MP seat," he told media persons. Shettar had quit BJP after being denied a ticket to contest in assembly polls. He joined Congress and went on to become MLC. However, he re-joined the BJP recently. The BJP is contemplating other options in the backdrop of Congress trying to rope in Mrunal Hebbalkar, son of Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar. Shettar was aspiring for Dharwad or Haveri MP seats, though promised while returning to BJP, the party is now considering winnability. Shettar had attacked the National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh alleging that he is finishing off Lingayat leadership in the state. Sources said that Santhosh is now working against Shettar. Mangala Angadi sitting BJP MP, the wife of late former Union Minister Suresh Angadi is hopeful of getting a ticket for one of the daughters. Besides, Belagavi BJP workers are demanding the ticket for local leadership. Doha, March 16 : Mossad head David Barnea is expected to resume talks with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian officials for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in Doha on Sunday, a source told media. The source said the discussions will cover the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas on the ceasefire negotiations, including the number of Palestinian prisoners who could potentially be released in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza, The Times of Israel reported. Mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn't lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. It is believed that 130 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza -- not all of them alive -- after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a week-long truce in late November, and four hostages were released prior to that, The Times of Israel reported. Three hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 11 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 32 of those still held hostage by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza. One more person has been listed as missing since October 7, and their fate is still unknown. Hamas has also been holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers, Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, since 2014 as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Gaza, March 16 : One in three children below the age of two in northern Gaza is now "acutely malnourished", and famine is looming, the main UN agency operating in the Palestinian enclave said on Saturday as quoted by media reports. "Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said in a social media post. More than five months into Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas's devastating attack on October 7, much of the enclave is in ruins with most of its 2.3 million population displaced and facing a major humanitarian crisis, The Times of Israel reported. Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the UN saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles," including crossing closures, onerous vetting, restrictions on movement and unrest inside Gaza. Israel said it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among UN agencies, The Times of Israel reported. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started, but aid agencies say these are no substitute for bringing in supplies by land. Israel has accused UNRWA of complicity with Hamas, saying some staff members took part in the October 7 onslaught, and has called for the agency to be dismantled. Several major donors have paused funding over the allegations. New Delhi, March 16 : Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, who announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Saturday, said that around 5 to 6 lakh youths are still to be added to the voter list. "This time, the number of young voters in the Lok Sabha elections is 1.8 crore and this number could increase further. The Election Commission has received forms from 13.4 lakh youths whose age is not yet 18 but they will be eligible to vote by the time of elections," he said. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. According to the Election Commission, around 5 to 6 lakh youths can be added to the voter list from these 13.4 lakh youths. The Election Commission has also released figures for voters aged 20 to 29 years, which stands at 19.74 crore. The CEC said that the number of female voters aged 18 to 19 years is 85.3 lakh this time and has consistently increased compared to the previous elections. Comparing female and male voters, he said that previously there were an average of 928 female voters for every 1,000 male voters but the ratio increased in 2024 and now, the average number of female voters per 1,000 male voters has reached 948. Interestingly, in 12 states and Union Territories, the number of female voters exceeds that of male voters. The CEC said that celebrities have also been asked to motivate the youth and encourage them to participate in this biggest festival of democracy. He said that this time, the new voters will also be our ambassadors and it is hoped that they will motivate more and more people. New Delhi, March 16 : Asserting that India has a 'very challenging' and 'competitive neighbour' in China, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said on Saturday that New Delhi needs to be patient but persevering while dealing with the East Asian nation. Speaking at a media conclave, the Minister agreed that the relationship became much more complicated after 2020 but said that "it was building up over a period of time". "I agree (that) since 2020, the relationship has become much more complicated. I accept that. But it was building up over a period of time... We weren't honest about it even to ourselves. We weren't really articulating it, and frankly, even strategising accordingly," Jaishankar added. On being asked how he intends to tackle the challenge as the country gears up for its April-May general elections, the EAM said that the first thing India needs to do vis-a-vis China is to "stop pretending that everything is nice, stop being worried to express what we feel, and stop using terminology, which doesn't work for us". "The first thing is we've got to recognise today that we have a very challenging, competitive neighbour. There are serious issues... over a period of time in our history. Many of those issues have not been resolved, some have aggravated," the Minister added. He further highlighted that in addition to boundary issues, the two nations have major economic issues as well, and while dealing with China, "you got to have an economy which is geared up for it". Following the June 2020 clash of troops in Galwan Valley, India and China have held several rounds of military talks, seeking complete disengagement in the areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh as a basis for restoring peace and tranquillity in the border areas. Army Chief General Manoj Pande has called the situation along the LAC "stable" but "sensitive," adding that the Indian troops have been maintaining a "very high state" of operational preparedness to deal with eventualities. As a counter-deployment, India has amassed a large number of troops along the LAC to guard the strategically important India-China border. EAM Jaishankar told the media conclave that the focus in the military discussions has been on disengagement, followed by de-escalation. "... there are all the dangers associated with that. Both of us are very forward-deployed. This is not where, in the last many decades, was a natural deployment," he said. "... when you are deployed that close-up, there are patrolling issues, obstruction issues, workaround issues -- all of which add up to very complicated metrics," he said, adding that it "clearly is something where we have to be patient but also very persevering". Gaza, March 16 : The IDF said on Saturday that nearly 15 terror operatives were holed up in a Hamas site in central Gaza's Nuseirat were killed in an airstrike, media reported. The airstrike which took place on Friday was directed by the 215th Artillery Regiment, following intelligence information about the operatives, The Times of Israel reported. The IDF said that the regiment directed a separate airstrike, killing a Hamas sniper squad commander and another operative. In central Gaza, the IDF said that the Nahal Brigade killed nearly 10 gunmen on Friday. Meanwhile, in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, the IDF said that fighter jets struck and destroyed a Hamas weapons depot spotted by the 7th Armoured Brigade. In Khan Younis, the Givati Brigade directed strikes on two Hamas operatives spotted entering and exiting a site known to be used by the terror group, the IDF added. Guwahati/Agartala, March 16 : Elections to the 25 Lok Sabha seats across eight northeastern states will be held in the first three phases of the seven-phase 2024 parliamentary elections, with 15 seats, including one partly, going to the polls in the first phase, seven (one partly) in the second phase, and four in the third, it was announced on Saturday. Announcing the poll schedule for the Lok Sabha elections at a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that of the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, polling will be held in Outer Manipur (reserved for the tribals) in two phases a" April 19 and April 26. According to the schedule, in the first phase on April 19, elections will be held in 5 seats in Assam, all two in Arunachal Pradesh, in Manipur (including partly in Outer Manipur), and Meghalaya, one in Tripura, and the sole seats in Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim while in the second phase on April 26, voting will be held in another five seats in Assam, the other seat in Tripura, and Manipur (remaining part of Outer Manipur). In the third phase on May 7, polling will be held in the remaining four seats in Assam. In the 2019 polls, the elections were also held in the eight northeastern states in three phases. Of the region's 25 Lok Sabha seats, seven are reserved for the tribals, and one for scheduled castes. Election officials in different northeastern states said that they are ready to conduct the parliamentary polls as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission. A large contingent of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) reached different northeastern states last month and they, along with the state security forces, are now regularly patrolling the sensitive, vulnerable, mixed-population, and border areas as part of their "confidence-building measures". A senior election official told IANS that special security measures are being taken along the 1,643 km long border with Myanmar, the 1,880 km long border with Bangladesh, the over 1,300 km border with China, the 516 km border with Bhutan, and the 98 km border with Nepal to foil any cross-border illegal activities, infiltration, and misadventure during the run-up to the elections. Kankrej : Gathering during the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election campaign rally ahead of the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections, at Kankrej in Banaskantha district on Friday, December 02, 2022.(Photo:IANS/Twitter). Image Source: IANS News Gandhinagar, March 16 : As Gujarat prepares for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in the state on May 7, the state poll panel under Chief Electoral Officer P. Bharati is ensuring that the state is well-prepared with a robust voter base of nearly 4.95 crore, including over 11 lakh young voters and 10,322 centenarians. There are 87,042 Balloting Units, 71,682 Control Units, and 80,308 VVPAT machines being deployed across Gujarat. As the Election Commission announces the election schedule with counting of votes on June 4, Gujarat's political arena is set for a series of compelling electoral duels. Particular emphasis is being placed on inclusivity, with 182 model polling stations, 1,274 'Sakhi' polling stations run exclusively by women, and 182 polling stations managed by persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the introduction of live webcasting at around 25,000 polling stations and home voting facilities for senior citizens and differently-abled individuals underscores the comprehensive measures to enhance electoral participation. The c-VIGIL app ensures that election conduct violations and expenditure breaches can be reported effectively. The spotlight is on the Gandhinagar seat, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah will seek re-election. This sets the stage for one of the most closely watched contests. With all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat going to the polls in a single phase, the political landscape is full of anticipation. Key constituencies like Gandhinagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surat, and Bharuch are set to be the battlegrounds for political dominance. Gandhinagar, a traditional BJP stronghold, has garnered significant attention with Amit Shah looking to continue the legacy of veteran leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani. The BJP's stronghold in Porbandar is attributed to the dominant Leuva Patidar community, with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya representing the constituency. Rajkot and Surat have been BJP fortresses for decades, leveraging community support and strong leadership to maintain its grip. Bharuch presents a unique scenario where the combined forces of the Congress and the AAP challenge the BJP's long-standing dominance. The world must remember everything Russia did against Ukraine and every Russian murderer must be brought to justice for what they did, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said on the anniversary of Russia's air attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater. "Mariupol. The Drama Theater. The inscription 'Children'. Two years have passed The world must remember everything Russian did against Ukraine and Ukrainians, and every Russian murderer must be brough to justice for what they did. We will ensure such justice for them. In memory of those whose lives were claimed by Russian terror," he said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. As reported, on March 16, 2022, Russian aircraft dropped a massive bomb on the building of the Mariupol Drama Theater, where hundreds of Mariupol residents, who had lost their homes as a result of bombing and shooting by the Russian occupation army, found shelter at that moment. The blast destroyed the central section of the theater building. Many people were trapped under the rubble. Later, Mariupol City Council reported that, according to witness accounts, around 300 people were killed as a result of the attack on the theater. Chennai, March 16 : O. Panneerselvam, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who has been expelled from the AIADMK, has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) claiming the 'Two Leaves' symbol of the party. Chennai, March 16 (IANS) O. Panneerselvam, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who has been expelled from the AIADMK, has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) claiming the aTwo Leavesa symbol of the party. OPS, as Panneerselvam is popularly known, has already entered into an electoral alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu. The senior leader is now expecting a favourable decision from the ECI about allocating the 'Two Leaves' symbol to his group. In his letter to the ECI, OPS requested the poll panel for permission to sign Form A and Form B to authenticate the party candidates and to allocate the 'Two Leaves' symbol to his group. According to sources close to OPS, the former Chief Minister told the ECI about the several civil suits pending before the Madras High Court regarding the aTwo Leavesa symbol. OPS also told the poll panel that he was the coordinator of the AIADMK, and even now court cases are pending regarding his expulsion (from the AIADMK) and hence the Commission should consider his request. He also claimed that the party's general council meeting held on July 11, 2022, was 'illegal' and against the party by-law. aEdappadi K. Palaniswami and his faction have created confusion in the party. They convened an illegal general council meeting on July 11, 2022, and passed several illegal resolutions. Thus he got himself elected to the post of AIADMK General Secretary. Several civil suits are pending before various courts," OPS said in his petition. He added that to date, no final verdict has been given by the civil courts about the resolutions, and the consequent election to the post of General Secretary. OPS in his petition also said that he and Palaniswami were elected as the Coordinator and Joint Coordinator, respectively, as per the by-laws of the party during the AIADMK elections on December 6, 2021, for a tenure of five years till December 6, 2026. Palaniswami relinquished his post as Joint Coordinator unilaterally on June 28, 2022, which has been communicated to the poll panel, OPS said. The senior politician also informed the Commission that as things stand now, he remains the Coordinator of the party, a post which the Election Commission has approved. Kolkata, March 16 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested Sheikh Alamgir, the younger brother of now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the accused mastermind behind the attack on ED and CAPF teams at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on January 5. Alamgir, who arrived at CBIas Nizam Palace office on Saturday morning for questioning in connection with the case, was arrested after a nine-hour grilling. Two other persons -- Mafizul Molla and Sirajul Molla, who were also interrogated by the CBI on Saturday -- have also been arrested. Sources said that during interrogation, Alamgir and his associates tried to mislead the interrogating officers, either by avoiding the questions or by giving different answers to the same queries. At around 8.30 p.m. the CBI took Alamgir into custody. On March 13, the CBI issued a notice to Alamgir, asking him to be present at its Nizam Palace office on March 14, but he did not turn up on that date. Bhopal, March 16 : Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP made a near clean sweep in the previous two Lok Sabha elections, will go to the polls in four phases -- on April 19, April 26, May 7, and May 13. While the BJP won 27 out of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh in 2014, it increased its tally to 28 five years later. Reactions from politicians started pouring in soon after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections in the national capital on Saturday. Seasoned BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls after two decades, has appealed to the party workers to join the election activities in the state with 'double energy'. Expressing confidence that the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will return to power at the Centre for the third consecutive term with a record victory margin, Shivraj Chouhan said: "The election dates have been announced, and now we have to hit the ground with double energy. The lotus will bloom again on June 4 (counting day)." Veteran Congress leader and ex-Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is focusing hard on his family bastion Chhindwara, appealed to the party workers to ensure that his son Nakul Nath retains the seat. Chhindwara was the only Lok Sabha constituency the BJP could not win in 2019, as Nakul Nath emerged as the lone Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh by winning the seat. Before that, Kamal Nath had won from Chhindwara for a record nine times. "Now that the (election) dates have been announced, I appeal to the Congress workers to engage in election activity with full dedication and honesty. With the support of all of you, the Congress will put up a great show in the upcoming elections and achieve victory," Kamal Nath said. Another seasoned politician from the state, Jyotiraditya Scindia, who had lost on a Congress ticket from his family bastion Guna-Shivpuri in 2019 before shifting to the BJP in 2020, will be contesting his first Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket this time. The Union Civil Aviation Minister, who inaugurated a BJP office in Guna on Saturday, told his supporters, "The electoral dates have been announced, so all the preparations must be completed now." Spl polling stations to be set up in Manipur relief camps for violence-hit displaced people. Image Source: IANS News Imphal, March 16 : The Election Commission (EC) will set up special polling stations in relief camps to facilitate voters displaced by the ethnic violence in Manipur to cast their votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pradeep Kumar Jha said on Saturday. Announcing the poll schedule for the Lok Sabha elections at a press conference in Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that the displaced persons in Manipur would cast their votes in the special polling stations in relief camps in different districts. The CEO, while briefing the media in Imphal, said that designated Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) would be appointed for each district to take the votes of the displaced persons in the relief camps. Special polling stations would also be set up, adding that counting of votes will take place at the district headquarters. The displaced eligible voters, staying in the relief camps, are required to submit ID related forms to the designated AROs at least 10 days before the date of polling. According to the final photo electoral rolls of all 60 Assembly Constituencies, published on January 22, the total number of voters in Manipur is 20,26,623 including 10,47,929 women. The total number of polling stations is 2,955 in all 16 districts. The CEO said that of the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, polling will be held in Outer Manipur (reserved for the tribals) in two phases a" April 19 and April 26, while in the Inner Manipur seat, polling would be held on April 19. The Manipur government is currently operating around 320 relief camps with more than 59,000 men, women and children staying there. At least 220 people have been killed, 1,500 injured and 60,000 displaced after the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi community broke out on May 3 last year. Rayagada: A woman of Dongaria Kondh tribe with her child at a polling station to cast her vote during the first phase of 2019 Lok Sabha polls, at Bissam Cuttack, in Odisha's Rayagada district, on April 11, 2019. . Image Source: IANS News Bhubaneswar, March 16 : Following the announcement of the election schedule on Saturday, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal held a meeting with the members of all the recognised political parties in the state. According to the announcement made by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, Odisha will vote for the 224-member state Assembly alongside the 21 Lok Sabha seats in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. Dhal discussed all the poll-related details, including the recent guidelines of the Supreme Court for filing of nominations, affidavits, publication of criminal antecedents of candidates etc. during the meeting with the party leaders. Addressing a press conference later, Dhal said that around 3.35 crore voters in the state will exercise their franchise during the elections, adding that the number of women and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) voters has increased in the state as compared to 2019. The gender ratio of voters has also improved this time, he said. Out of the total 3,34,73,561 voters, 1,65,14,754 are females while 1,69,55,369 are male voters in Odisha. The number of PwD electorate stands at 5,19,861 as of March 15. "The most notable fact is that at around eight lakh, the number of young voters in the 18-19 age group is at an all-time high in Odisha. The young voters form 2.38 per cent of the total electorate in the state, which is also more than the national average," Dhal said. There are around 38,000 polling stations in the state, with an average of almost 900 voters per booth. "For the first, we are introducing webcasting at 60 per cent of the polling booths in the state. The officials at the CEO's office, the collectors, and the returning officers can keep a close vigil on all the activities at the polling stations through this technology," Dhal added. New Delhi, March 16 : Indian Navy's INS Kolkata on Saturday successfully rescued 17 crew members from ex-MV Ruen, which was hijacked on December 14 last year, and coerced all 35 Somali pirates to surrender. The 40-hour operation ended in the evening and all the crew members were rescued without any injury. According to the Navy, INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 2600 km from the Indian Coast and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft and MARCOS - PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft. The vessel has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. Earlier in the morning, the Navy said that it had thwarted designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The Navy said that the ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14 last year, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship for conducting acts of piracy on the high seas. However, the vessel was intercepted by an Indian Navy warship on Friday. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which took action as per international law, in self-defence and to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the piratesa threat to shipping and seafarers. The pirates onboard the ex-MV Ruen were called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they were holding against their will. An official said that the Navy was committed to maritime security and the safety of seafarers in the region. Bengaluru, March 17 : Deputy Karnataka Chief Minister and president of the Congress' state unit, D.K. Shivakumar, on Saturday expressed confidence that the party would register victory in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies (of total 28) in the southern state in the upcoming general elections. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said: "This is a festival of democracy. We need to enjoy, celebrate this festival and fight it out as well. We are very confident of winning 20 seats in the state. "We have almost finalised our list of candidates. The list will be finalised in the party's poll committee meeting on March 19," he added. Replying to a query on the two-phased elections in Karnataka, he said: "We have faced two-phase elections in the past, and we will plan accordingly." Also responding to a question about fielding former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda's son-in-law Dr. C.N. Manjunath on a BJP ticket, he said: "The JD-S workers are very disappointed and upset... they are getting ready to join the Congress." Rajasthan Assembly polls: Elderly, disabled people to be able to cast votes from home. Image Source: IANS News Patna, March 17 : More than 7.64 crore people in Bihar are eligible to exercise their franchise in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, as per the Election Commission data till January 22. Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) H.R. Srinivasa said on Saturday that there are 4,00,29,136 male and 3,64,01,903 female voters in the state. Besides, there are 2,290 transgender voters who are eligible to exercise franchise in the Lok Sabha elections. The highest 2,00,60,957 voters are in the 30-39 age group. The first-time voters in the 18 to 19 years age group are 10,03,175 while the number of voters in the 20-29 age group is 1,63,17,371, he said. The CEO further said that 1,63,64,409 voters are in the 40-49 age group; 1,10,23,508 voters are in the age group of 50 to 59; 69,54,672 voters are in the 60-69 age group; 36,17,832 voters are between 70 and 79-year-old; and the number of voters in the 80 or above age group is 14,35,807. "In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we provided the postal ballot facilities to the voters who are aged 80 or above but this time we have decided to provide this facility only to those who are above 85-year-old and their number is 6,66,949," Srinivasa said. The total number of polling stations in Bihar is 77,392 -- 11,162 in urban and 66,230 in rural areas. The Election Commission has also proposed to set up 243 model polling stations, 76 polling stations managed by youth, and 243 polling stations managed by women in the state. Agartala, March 16 : The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress and CPI-M in Tripura welcomed the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule for the two seats in the state on Saturday, saying they are fully prepared to contest the polls. BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee said that his party is fully prepared for the elections, adding that the 'Karyakartas' (party functionaries) like the 'Panna Pramukhs' and 'Vistaraks' have been deployed in the field long back, and the poll campaign is already at its peak. "Our party leaders and 'Karyakartas' have been on the ground for a long time now. They are reaching out to every family in the state with the message of strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are confident of victory as we feel the people of the country have made up their minds to see Narendra Modi as the PM for a third term," Bhattacharjee told the media. The BJP is confident that while it will win both the Parliamentary seats in Tripura, its opponents will not manage more than one lakh votes in either of the constituencies, he added. Tripura Congress President and Lok Sabha candidate from the West Tripura seat, Ashish Kumar Saha, said that the party has been getting good response from the voters during campaign. "We are campaigning for victory. People will give their mandate fearlessly. Unlike previous elections, we want free, fair, and violence-free elections this time," the Congress leader said, adding that a delegation of party leaders recently met Tripura's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and urged him to ensure violence-free polling. A CPI-M leader also said that the party has written several letters to the Chief Election Commissioner and the CEO, urging them to conduct violence-free elections in the state. The elections to the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat and the by-elections to the Ramnagar Assembly constituency will be held on April 19, while the Tripura East (ST) Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 26. The BJP won both the Lok Sabha seats for the first time in 2019, with present Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik and teacher-turned-politician Rebati Tripura emerging triumphant from Tripura West and Tripura East, respectively. However, both Bhowmik and Rebati Tripura have been dropped this time, as the party has fielded Kriti Singh Debbarma and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb from Tripura East and Tripura West seats, respectively. A resident of Chhattisgarh, social activist Debbarma is the elder sister of Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo and royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman. Will see how KCR comes back to power: Revanth Reddy. Image Source: IANS News Visakhapatnam, March 17 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday said that Andhra Pradesh needs a strong voice which can question the Centre to protect the state's interests. Criticising Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu, he said they only "want to become rulers and not the voice to question the Centre". He was addressing a public meeting organised here by the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee to oppose the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plan. Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Y.S. Sharmila and other leaders also addressed the public meeting. Alleging that the rulers in Andhra Pradesh mortgaged self-respect in Delhi, Revanth Reddy said since they had "no guts to raise their voice, the Centre ignored the state". He said the Polavaram project could not be completed even after 10 years while the state still has no capital. "BJP means Babu, Jagan, Pawan. This is the Modi team. Whoever wins will support him. You need a leader who can fight to solve the problems of the region. The people of Andhra Pradesh don't need rulers. They need a strong voice which can question," he said. The Telangana Chief Minister further claimed that "no leader from Andhra Pradesh questioned the Centre over its move to privatise Visakhapatnam Steel Plant". He recalled that the plant was achieved after 32 people laid down their lives. Revanth Reddy called for unity among Telugu people to fight for their rights. He said Sharmila Reddy came here as the people of Andhra Pradesh "are in difficulty". "Sharmila took a bold step by organising the meeting to protect the Steel Plant," he added. The Telangana Chief Minister called her the "true successor" of her father, former Chief Minister late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. He said he was impressed to see the huge response to the public meeting. Revanth Reddy further appealed to people to at least give five MP and 25 MLA seats to Congress so that the party can raise their voice to protect the state's interests. He said the Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh should not feel that when there is a contest between the two, where is the scope for them. He mentioned that the Congress, which had only five MLAs, fought both the BJP and BRS to win 65 seats and come to power. Western countries, including the United States, should not be entirely opposed to the idea of sending troops to Ukraine if conditions there worsen, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has said, Politico reported on March 15. "It's important that we not rule everything out for the long term, because we never know how serious the situation becomes," Valtonen was quoted as saying. The minister emphasized that "the Finnish position is clear: We are not right now sending any troops and not willing to discuss that." Politico noted that Valtonen's remark was about a longer-term, hypothetical choice. But her reasoning shows that, as the war drags on, European countries who could face immediate danger from Russia may be willing to consider the option more seriously. New Delhi, March 17 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for the extension of resettlement facilities to cadets who are invalidated on medical grounds due to causes attributable to military training. The decision has been taken as the cadets join military academies at a young age with the intention of joining as officers in the Armed Forces, showing a commitment to serve the nation in uniform, but are unfortunate in being invalidated, the Defence Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. For decades, cadets and their parents have been demanding such resettlement opportunities. Every year, young cadets at military academies undergo academic and military training with the prime objective of being commissioned as officers in the Armed Forces. As per extant rules, such a cadet is treated as an officer only after commissioning. Instances occur where, given the rigours of military training, some cadets (10-20 per annum) are invalidated on medical grounds due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training, the ministry said. In order to further enhance the opportunities for such cadets, the Defence Minister has cleared another proposal of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, allowing the extension of benefits of schemes run by the Directorate General Resettlement. "This will help 500 cadets who have been boarded out on medical grounds to access the schemes and ensure a brighter future for them. Future cadets in similar conditions would also get the same benefits," it added. Its been a challenging few years for public libraries. After doing heroic work in their communities during the darkest days of the pandemic, librarians now face tightening budgets, surging workplace stresses and safety concerns, political attacks on library boards and library associations like the ALA, and most prominently, an ongoing politically organized attack on the freedom to read that has turned many library and school board meetings into cultural battlegrounds. But in talking with librarians ahead of the 2024 Public Library Association conference, set to run WednesdayFriday, April 35, in Columbus, Ohio, a theme emerges: the nations public librarians have remained remarkably focused on their work. Its a tough time in libraries right now, without a doubt, says PLA president Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, director of the Baltimore County Public Library, a system that employs roughly 600 staff serving 19 branches. I think the strong registration numbers for PLA demonstrate that people in the profession are committed and looking for community, and for affirmation that all the work we do matters. I think the PLA conference offers that. It offers practical tools and tips and resources that people need to continue to be effective in their roles and to best serve their communities. And it offers hope. PLA reps say registration for the conference is around 6,500 so far. And while thats still slightly below what a PLA conference might have drawn prior to the pandemic, its a significant jump over the last PLA conference, held in Portland, Ore., in March 2022, which blew past expectations by drawing nearly 5,000 in-person attendees amid a spike in Covid cases. PLA says the high energy and strong attendance at the 2022 conference was a sign that PLA was getting back on track after the pandemic. And with strong registration numbers and a growing sense of excitement for Columbus, this may be the year PLA gets all the way back. Prior to the pandemic, PLA conferences, which are held every two years, had shown a strong pattern of growth, earning the conference a reputation as a favorite fixture among librariansincluding Alcantara-Antoine. I never miss a PLA conference, she says. I find that it is truly the best library conference around. Theres always so much energy, and it never fails to deliver. Its about getting inspired, getting good ideas, and getting what you need to recharge your batteries so that you can live to fight another day. At the same time, a look at the conference programand a scan of the headlines on any given dayshow that librarians in many communities are indeed in a fight. Last week, the ALA released its book ban data for 2023, which showed a 65% increase over 2022 in the number of unique book titles challenged. And, on a new front in the right-wing attacks on libraries, a number of states have recently introduced bills or rules seeking to cut ties with the ALA, of which PLA is a division. Kelly Jensen, a librarian, author, and editor for the website Book Riot, says that librarians and library supporters must steel themselves for whats still to come. Despite a few high-profile legal wins in book-banning cases to start the year, Jensen, who maintains a comprehensive rundown of book bans as part of her weekly censorship column, sees no imminent end to the attacks on libraries. Ive heard from so many librarians who are like, Why am I showing up? They love the kids and they love what they do, but theyve been so beaten down for three and a half years. Its exhausting, Jensen says. But I think its worth emphasizing that this is far from over. We recognize that librarians face a lot of really daunting challenges, but also opportunities. And I absolutely do believe that there is strength in unity. Furthermore, while the battle is often pitched as a fight over the freedom to readwhich it certainly isJensen says the key to pushing back is recognizing what these attacks on libraries really are: an attack on people. The higher-level stuff is really leaning into the fact that queer people exist, that Black and brown people exist, and that their stories deserve to be told, she says. It is not racist to talk about slavery. It is not racist to talk about systematic discrimination in policing. And anybody who feels that it is, thats the one who needs help. But libraries cant help that. What libraries can do is continue to make sure that the resources are there for the people who are being targeted. Alcantara-Antoine agrees, and she sees PLA as in a position to help. We have core values that unite all of us as librariansaccess to information, intellectual freedom, equity, and digital equity, making sure that were serving everyone in our community and having diverse voices reflected in our collection, she says. And its helpful for people to have resources like the PLA conference to reaffirm our values and why we do what we do. We recognize that librarians face a lot of really daunting challenges, but also opportunities. And I absolutely do believe that there is strength in unity. Speaker highlights All of the speakers in the main PLA program will appear at the Greater Columbus Convention Center Hall A. The program begins on Wednesday with a keynote by Joy Buolamwini (8:3010 a.m.). Buolamwinian MIT researcher and the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, a nonprofit chartered to raise awareness about the impacts of AI and to mitigate biases in the technologyadvises governments at home and abroad on preventing AI harms. She is also the author of the recently published Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines (Random House), which PWs review called urgent and incisive and a vital examination of AIs pitfalls. PLAs popular Big Ideas speaker series will open on Thursday with a talk by Ta-Nehisi Coates (89 a.m.)., the author of, among other works, the 2015 National Book Awardwinning Between the World and Me. His journalism career spans more than two decades and includes the National Magazine Awardwinning 2012 essay Fear of a Black President and the highly influential June 2014 essay The Case for Reparations. Coates also enjoyed a run writing Marvels Black Panther (20162021) and Captain America (20182021) comics series. The Big Idea series continues Friday with a talk with Mary Annaise Heglar (89 a.m.), a writer who focuses on climate change, climate grief, and climate justice. The cohost and cocreator of the Hot Take podcast and newsletter (which she retired in 2022), Heglar has written for major media outlets and is the author of the just-published childrens book This World Is Yours to Cherish, illustrated by Vivian Mineker (Random House Kids). Heglar is also the editor of the recently announced Til Earth and Heaven Ringan all-Black climate anthology to be published by Pantheon Books. The PLA main speaker program closes Friday evening with a talk with Dulce Sloan (56 p.m).has been a correspondent on Comedy Centrals The Daily Show since 2017. She is also the author of the just-published memoir Hello, Friends!: Stories of Dating, Destiny, and Day Jobs (Andscape Books), which PWs review praised as a collection of brash and funny reflections on such topics as her love life, going to a predominantly white school, and the vagaries of establishing a career in comedy. Exhibits and more The PLA 2024 conference will feature an exhibits hall at the Greater Columbus Convention Center with hundreds of publishers and vendors. In addition to vendor booths, the show floor will have event spaces, including the popular Book Buzz stage, and the How-To stage, which will feature a lineup of 20-minute hands-on sessions provided by and for conference attendees. The exhibits hall will open with a reception (Wednesday, 36 p.m.); the floor will then be open 9 a.m.5 p.m. on Thursday and will close the following afternoon with another brief reception (1:302 p.m.). For a full list of vendors, visit the PLA website. In addition to the main speakers, education programs, and exhibit hall events, PLA also offers a range of ticketed events for attendees. Consult the PLA website for more information and to register. The Columbus Metropolitan Library system is regarded one of the nations best, and those arriving in town early will have multiple opportunities to see for themselves. On Tuesday, April 2, there are two morning branch tours (8:15 a.m.12:15 p.m.) and two afternoon branch tours (12:155:15 p.m.). That evening, the PLA Host City Welcome Reception will be held at the systems main library, a renovated 114-year-old Carnegie library. Though so many libraries are facing challenges, the Columbus Metropolitan Library has thrived in recent years. We have built 14 new libraries since 2014, says CEO Pat Losinski. Were really very fortunate to be in Columbus, a place that really values its libraries and has a deep love for the library. Losinski says Columbus has been eager to host a major library conference like PLA and plans to make the most of its opportunity. Ive been at this a long time, so its very rewarding to finally get it. I think the PLA folks will tell you that we didnt sit on our hands. We got at it, he says. Losinski is also eager for librarians to enjoy the city itself. Skip Prichard from OCLC reminds me that I once said this: Im in the Columbus business. I just happen to work in the library. The Childrens Author Breakfast (Thursday, 78 a.m) will feature Gennifer Choldenko, Loren Long, Daniel Nayeri, and Maleeha Siddiqui. The event is currently listed as sold out, but a waiting list is available. The PLA author lunches offer attendees a chance to hear fascinating talks and meet and network with their colleagues from around the country. The first (Thursday, 12:301:45 p.m.) will feature Rainbow Rowell, the author of Eleanor & Park, the Simon Snow trilogy, and several other novels, short stories, and comics. The second (12:301:45 p.m.) will certainly appeal to librarians. It features Louisiana school librarian and freedom to read advocate Amanda Jones, whose book That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America will be published by Bloomsbury in August. A veteran school librarian, Jones was awarded the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award at last years ALA annual conference, which honors those who show personal courage in defending intellectual freedom, and she has become the face of librarian resistance for her anti-censorship work. This years Audio Publishers Association lunch will feature a panel of authors and audiobook narrators, including Bettina L. Love, acclaimed author of Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal; Molly Knox Ostertag, an Ignatz and Prism awardwinning graphic novelist; and Fiona Davis and Greg Wands, coauthors of the upcoming audiobook The Gimlet Slip. For those not able to be in Columbus, the 2024 PLA conference will once again feature an expanded virtual offering. For virtual attendees, the opening and closing sessions and the Big Ideas speakers will be livestreamed, and a selection of professional programs will be available for viewing for a year. And for those heading to the show, as always, consult the PLA website for room numbers and any last-minute additions or changes to the PLA program. PLA 2024: Program Picks PLA 2024: Legislative Attacks on State Library Associations are Dangerousand Illegal Abir Mukherjee wants you to know hes not a hero. The Indian Scottish novelist spent much of the 1990s and 2000sbefore he became a breakout crime writerworking in finance and being, as he puts it, a bit of a dickhead. Its tempting to imagine that Mukherjees irrepressible artists soul moved him to blow up his life in spectacular fashion on the floor of the London Stock Exchange one afternoon. The truth, he insists, is less sensational. On days when Mukherjee, a London School of Economics graduate, felt especially disillusioned with his routine of making a lot of money by making rich people richer at firms including Deloitte and Abingdon Capital, hed purchase lottery tickets or start writing novels. Neither effort bore much fruit. Then, in 2013, he stumbled across a Telegraph crime writing competition and decided to enter as a sort of personal litmus test. If he won, he thought, the rewarda 5,000 book deal with British publisher Harvill Seckercould launch a brave new future. But hed never win, of course. And when he didnt, hed finally put his writerly daydreaming to bed. Except Mukherjee did win, and that fuzzily defined new future blossomed into a five-book historical mystery series thats earned him two Edgar Award nominations and sold more than 400,000 copies. The day I got the email, I was in the office, and I reacted the way anybody from Glasgow does when faced with good news: I started swearing my head off, Mukherjee recalls on Zoom from his home in Surrey, peeking out from behind round tortoise shell glasses and a gray-flecked beard. It felt, to him, like an act of fate. I was never heroic enough to say, Im not doing this anymore. If I hadnt won, Id still be losing bits of my soul every day. Five minutes with Mukherjee is enough to confirm that his soul remains intact. Like many of his cohorts in crime fiction, he counterbalances his macabre work on the page with buoyant extroversion. Hes eager to talk at length about his literary heroes, and quick with a self-deprecating jab about his own Scottish brogue. He often turns questions back on his interviewer, either genuinely curious or sufficiently media trained to butter up the person with the notepad. And he has no qualms about charging straight toward big ideasparticularly political onesin conversations or in his books. Mukherjees first five novels centered on Sam Wyndham, a former Scotland Yard detective reassigned to the British force in Calcutta in the 1920s, and Surendranath Banerjee, his Indian sergeant. The books (most recently 2021s The Shadows of Men) use meaty whodunit plots to address the intricate tensions of early-20th-century British-Indian relations. The format mirrors the tartan noir Mukherjee read in his youthScottish novels by writers like Val McDermid and Ian Rankin that couched critiques of Thatcherism in hardboiled crime tropes. Essentially all of my writing comes from anger, but shouting doesnt achieve very much, Mukherjee says. You cant just have a diatribe. You have to have a story there. In Hunted (Mulholland, May), Mukherjees latest novel, he uses a kaleidoscopic thriller plot to explore his anxieties about everything from his childrens safety to the durability of democracy as a form of government. The book had its origins when Joshua Kendall, Mukherjees editor at Hachette, asked him what he feared most, and Mukherjee replied with an answer that will feel familiar to many readers: the past decades worldwide uptick in political populism. Hunted kicks off with a suicide bombing in an L.A. shopping mall. The attack attracts the attention of workaholic FBI agent Shreya Mistry, who nearly dies while investigating the malls ruins. From there, Mukherjee introduces a carousel of primary characters, each somehow linked to the initial explosion. Theres Aliyah Khan, a young Muslim woman from London living in a remote Oregon town with a group of political radicals; Greg Flynn, an Afghanistan veteran well-versed in explosives; Sajid, Aliyahs modest father; and Carrie, Gregs salt-of-the-earth mother. With more bombs exploding across the country, a shadowy Islamist group called Sons of the Caliphate starts taking credit for the attacks, and the chaos threatens to tip the balance in a close presidential race between a right-wing ideologue and the milquetoast vice president. As the election approaches, Mukherjees characters meet and join forces in various permutations, their individual motives unfurling slowly. Hunted marks many firsts for Mukherjee: its his first standalone, his first contemporary novel, and the first in which he indulges his lifelong fascination with the United States. To me, one of the major paradoxes about America is that everyone Ive met there is so pleasant one-on-one. Mukherjee says. At the same time, Ive never felt more scared someones going to shoot me. As he chewed on big ideas like Americans talismanic use of words such as freedom, he kept one eye on the ambient threat of violence thats long characterized the national mood. The more he considered it, the more he came to see it as a question of economic decay. Even if you were a working-class American in the 50s or 60s, you had a better lifestyle than 99% of people on the planet, he says. To go from those certainties to being a paycheck or an illness away from povertywhat does that do to people? And even more fascinating, what does that do in terms of identity? But Hunted is no pensive treatise on current affairs. Its ideas may have roots in Mukherjees experience growing up as the local color in West Scotland, but in execution, its a bang-up thrilleranother first for the author. And while mysteries and thrillers are often grouped together in conversations and bookstore displays, Mukherjee found the mechanics to be wildly different. With a thriller, you have to almost throw the kitchen sink at your characters in a way I never did in the Wyndham & Banerjee novels, because theyve got British characters from the 20s in them, and we wouldnt do anything so quite so ungentlemanly as to thrill people, he explains. Excitements for you Americans. Over here, were more cerebral. The mandate to hit readers in the face with a frying pan every five pages, as Mukherjee puts it, means Hunted is stuffed with sucker-punch twists and a stone-faced, breathless quality that ramps up as the novel enters its second act. While he had a lot of fun figuring out how to heighten the books action without straying into out-and-out insanity, he admits he missed the humor of the Wyndham & Banerjee novels. I see a lot of absurdity around me, he says, and I think the best way you deal with absurdity is humor. His next book, due out sometime next year, will be a Wyndham & Banerjee mystery, but hes also stewing on a satire about an Indian George Santoslike figure who moves to America and swindles his way to the upper ranks of the political system. He wants to get back in touch with his funny bone, continue working in the fertile playground of the American imagination, and further explore ideas about the difficulties and privileges of being an outsider. Because for all his success, Mukherjee still deeply identifies as one. Im just an idiot trying to get through things, he says. Theres a degree of, Fucking hell, how did this ever happen? Im just a wee boy from Hamilton in Scotland, and now people ask my opinion on stuff? Thats mental. Malia Maunakea, author of the Lei and the Legends series, had been working to find grant money to fund a Title 1 school tour and book giveaways across Hawaii. The resources were obtained with coordination between We Need Diverse Books and Writers and Artists Across the Country, and Maunakea visited 20 schools. Im not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best experiences of my life, Maunakea says. I got to go back to the elementary school where my dad was part of the first graduating classwith my dad!and give books [copies of Lei and the Fire Goddess] to all of the students. I heard exclamations of We get to keep it?! Some teachers got teary in the back of packed gymnasiums, coming up after to tell me this was the first book many of their students own. Kids would examine the cover and say Lei looks like them. Id tell them about some of the legends in Lei and the Fire Goddess and I didnt have to explain who Pele or Kamapuaa [a shape-shifting half man/half pig god of Hawaiian mythology] were because they already knew. One boy shared his own moolelo [story or myth] of when his dad saw Kamapuaa while out hunting. Being able to give this back to the children of Hawaii was the most incredible gift I could have ever asked for, and Im forever grateful for the team at WAAC for helping make it happen. Author Veronica Roth knew she wanted to be involved with WAAC since the groups debut. Id done a school visit tour where at least one school a day was a Title I school, places where they had typically never hosted an author before, Roth says. I found that more often than not, when you give a school that maybe doesnt have the same resources the chance to host an author, they do a pretty awesome jobthey just need someone to give them the opportunity. So, when I spoke to the WAAC founders early on about their mission to help schools connect to authors and facilitate those visits, I was excited about their work from the start. It benefits every single one of us if kids of all backgrounds, in all places, get the chance to connect with authors and other creative people. The closer we can get to that goal, the better. Roth has done two visits with WAAC, one in person and one virtual. Both went really well, she says. Its a privilege for an author to connect with readers directly. School visits are about making sure students have a good time, get more interested in reading, and do some dreaming about what creative work theyd like to do in their own lives. I certainly hope my visit helped with those things, even a little. And I wouldnt have gotten to meet those particular student groups without WAAC facilitating. Return to the main feature. In the wake of pandemic interruptions, and in the face of a contentious climate around book banning, providing young people with access to books and authors has never been more urgent. PW checked in with two literacy organizations that are working to make sure kids and teens everywhere receive the books and encouragement they need to become successful students and enthusiastic readers. Operation Literacy Like many writers, Utah-based author Jennifer Jenkins found camaraderie and support when she joined a local writers group to learn more about building a platform for her work. What she hadnt imagined, however, was that the crew would become the core of something much bigger. In 2009, Jenkins and four like-minded writers in her tightknit groupLois Brown, Margie Jordan, Jo Layton, and Tahsha Wilsoncofounded a nonprofit organization called Writers Cubed, now known as Operation Literacy, with the goal of helping aspiring teen writers to develop the skills to tell their own stories. We all live in close proximity to each other, and we had an interest in serving our community, Jenkins says. The original idea was that maybe we should sponsor a writing contest for teens through the high school. We pondered that approach, and, looking back, I cant believe I had the audacity to think we could do something even better. Jenkinss confidence led her to contact nearby Utah Valley University about teaming up. I walked into their community education department and said, You need us, she says with a laugh, recalling her pitch to develop a conference for teen writers. Our motivation was nothing other than we all wish we had had something that would have supported our writing when we were younger. There are so many camps and clinics for athletes, for kids to express themselves in that way. But there are very few opportunities that provide community for young writers and artists. To Jenkinss surprise, UVU was on board with the collaboration. I cant believe they said yes, she says. Jenkins and her fellow authors shifted into high gear pulling everything together, and their Teen Author Boot Camp debuted in 2011 on the UVU campus, with 135 kids from surrounding cities attending. We had great support from some awesome local authors, and it was wonderful, she says. Then, that idea grew. Once you dip your toe into the world of serving outside yourself, its kind of addictive, to be honest. We saw how grateful the kids were for what we had offered, and how when they walked into the room it was like they had found their people, their community, she says. It was just magical. The conference has increased in size each year, according to Jenkins. The event outgrew UVUs facilities several years back when it hit 800 attendees, and TABC now draws roughly 1,000 teen writers in person at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, with additional teens across the country and internationally attending virtually. This year, the 13th annual Teen Author Boot Camp, with the theme Gathering the Magic, is set for March 23, featuring Christopher Paolini and Darcie Little Badger as keynote speakers. As its flagship conference expanded, so did the scope of Writers Cubed. Jenkins stepped into the role of executive director for the group and formed partnerships with nearby bookstore The Kings English and Owl Hollow Press (which publishes an annual anthology of teen writing from TABC). She and her cofounders also leaned into learning how to fundraise, apply for grants, and meet the various business needs of the burgeoning organization. The amount of work it takes to lift something like this off the ground is not inconsequential, Jenkins says. With TABC steadily drawing more interest, the Writers Cubed team saw an opportunity to embrace younger kids and give them a conference of their own. In 2016, the Tween Author Boot Camp for aspiring writers ages nine to 12 was born. The half-day event is held in Provo in November and includes a First Paragraph contest in addition to activities and workshops with authors. Once Tween Author Boot Camp was established, Jenkins says that Writers Cubed began requesting that participating authors give the nonprofit the rights to record and distribute their TABC presentations. The result is the TABC Classroom arm of the organization, now a database of nearly 100 curated videos offered to educators to help them teach writing. We incentivize this program for Title 1 schools, Jenkins says. In other words, we give it away. Even though we work with sponsors and donors to provide scholarships for about 10% of our conference attendees every year, there are still so many students who just cant afford what we are offering. TABC Classroom helps broaden that net. To accompany each video, Writers Cubed hired professional educators to create lesson plans that align with the national Common Core standards. An energizing era The Covid era of shutdowns and disruptions turned out to be a time of still more expansion for Writers Cubed, a development that recently prompted the group to change its name to Operation Literacy. The program that Im most proud of, the one that is closest to my heart, is a new one called Book Drop, which we started in collaboration with author Jennifer Nielsen, Jenkins says. Jen and I are good friends, and when we first met at a writers conference, we realized that we had both been sitting on the same idea: that we wanted to reach kids from Title 1 schools, providing free books and author visits to them. But she notes that this plan comes with some key challenges. As authors, were part of a business, Jenkins says. When my publishers send me to do a book tour, they go to schools that can either pay my honorarium or that will reach a minimum book sale quota. But right now in our country, 63% of people live at or below the poverty line, and the children in those homes do not own a single age-appropriate book. Book Drop is a way to reach more of those kids and their schools. We bring in major authors to some of the poorest schools across the country and we provide a free author visit and free access to books, she explains. And the kids at these Book Drops dont know until the assembly ends and the author tells them that they all get a free book. The reactions are amazing. The most recent Book Drop, on January 19, featured Christopher Paolini, who visited Orem Junior High and presented the 900 students attending his program with free signed copies of his book Eragon. Author Brandon Sandersons Lightweaver Foundation funded that event. On the same day, authors Brandon Mull and Frank Cole did a Book Drop assembly and giveaway at Northlake Elementary in Tooele, Utah, bringing the total number of kids receiving free books to 1,350. In 2023, Book Drop reached 10,572 children living at or below the poverty line. Jenkins says that Operation Literacy pays attention to three metrics when selecting a school to receive a Book Drop: the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, state test scores and how they are trending, and the schools English-language-learner population. The funds we get from sponsors and donors are precious, and we have to be careful that we are using them in the schools that need them most. As an example, she points to a 2021 Book Drop featuring Newbery Medalist Matt de la Pena, who gave a bilingual presentation at Guadalupe School in Salt Lake City, where 97% of the students were English learners, and where kids received free copies of his picture book Last Stop on Market Street. For a typical Book Drop program, participating authors donate their time, speaking fee, and travel expenses, and Operation Literacy purchases their books with money from sponsors and donations. But Jenkins notes that some authors have stepped up to additionally fund an entire Book Drop. The program reaches beyond Utah as well. We work with anybody who has a desire to elevate literacy in their city, Jenkins says. We go wherever we can get funding. Other recent additions to Operation Literacys programming slate include Teen Poet Society, a national group that has quarterly readings and annually publishes a teen poetry collection, and the Teen Readers Choice Awards, which invites teens to nominate their favorite books of the past two years in seven different categories and then vote on finalists and ultimately decide the winners. An awards gala where the winners are announced takes place on the eve of Teen Author Book Campthis year its March 22. Looking ahead, Jenkins envisions growth for all the endeavors under Operation Literacys umbrella. And there is a larger team in place to help achieve that goal. We are spread across four time zones, Jenkins says of the now 26-person staff, which includes the core group of cofounders, who are also executive board members, and Nielsen, who is the founding director of Book Drop. Were a modern organization that lives on Zoom, Jenkins adds. We love TABC weekend, because thats when all of our staff comes into town and we get to reunite. Writers and Artists Across the Country Many people had varying reactions to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, but for literary agent Sarah Burnes and YA author and Blackstone senior acquisitions editor Daniel Ehrenhaft, that point in time sparked the idea to launch a nonprofit. The weekend after the election, Sarah and I were at YALLFest [in South Carolina] with Tori Hill, the festivals organizer and author coordinator at the time, and there was a pervasive sense of urgencyto get involved civically somehow, to do something, Ehrenhaft says. All the attendees kept asking each other, How can we make a difference? The festival itself was the initial inspiration for Sarah and me; we witnessed firsthand the magic that happens when young readers meet and interact with their favorite authors face-to-face. We figured if we could create a similar experience at under-resourced schoolswell-resourced schools often have authors come to visit and didnt need our helpwe could make a difference. With that, Writers and Artists Across the Country began to crystalize, taking the first steps toward its stated mission as a consortium of childrens books industry professionals who are building a nationwide network to facilitate author and artist visits in underserved schools. The group stipulated that a key component of the organization would be providing a book for each child who attended a WAAC visit. We felt strongly that students should get books to take home with them as opposed to providing a classroom or library set, Ehrenhaft says. WAAC surveyed educators from participating schools at the beginning of this year to gauge how the program is performing. Responses revealed that after a WAAC visit, 100% of educators said students had an increased excitement about books, 89% said students had an increased interest in writing and sharing their own stories, and 73% said the book their students received from WAAC was the first book some of the students had ever owned. Visits are typically initiated by requests from authors, educators, and local school organizations who ask WAAC to help them connect with each other, purchase books, and figure out the logistics of an event. Examples of individual scenarios abound. Local nonprofits work together with WAAC, too, for added support. One project in the works is WAACs fundraising effort with Maine nonprofit Im Your Neighbor Books so it can expand author-illustrator Omar Mohammeds tour in the state and reach 1,000 more students. The funds we get from sponsors and donors are precious, and we have to be careful that we are using them in the schools that need them most. Jennifer Jenkins, Operation Literacy When it comes to planning where authors will visit, the team says that schools with the greatest barriers to entryrural, low-income, serving a demographic now represented by many authorsare prioritized. WAAC has a current roster of 150 authors it can draw from, and it additionally works with We Need Diverse Books and individual publishers to connect with other authors who may want to participate. WAAC is funded solely by donations, with some of those contributions coming from publishing industry professionals or from authors, who offer to donate their time or defray the costs of a visit in some other way. But the WAAC team pointed out that in the organizations early days, a board member raised the issue that BIPOC authors are often disproportionately asked to do school visits for free, so, WAAC offers an honorarium when they think its appropriate. Since its launch, WAAC has teamed with communities in 40 cities in 17 states. The number of students WAAC has reachedand books it has given awayhas doubled each year for the past three years, according to Ehrenhaft, and the goal in 2024 is to reach 10,000 students. The WAAC team states that other milestones in its sights include expanding the donor base to include institutional giving from foundations and corporate sponsors. That would go a long way toward making our work even more far-reaching and sustainable, Ehrenhaft says. Read more from our School And Library Spotlight feature: Writers and Artists Across the Country Two authors discuss their experience doing school visits through the nationwide literacy nonprofit. A New Mexico State Police officer with area ties was shot and killed west of Tucumcari on Interstate 40 on Friday morning, and the attacker remains at large. A statement from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hours later expressing condolences confirmed th... Russia inflicted a missile strike on Slovyansk, Donetsk region, on Friday night, causing damage to an industrial building, Head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin has said. "The Kramatorsk district. Last night, the Russian forces inflicted a missile strike on Slovyansk an industrial building and three trucks were damaged. Predtechyne in the Kostiantynivka community, Torske and Zarichne in the Lyman community were shelled," he said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. As a result of enemy shelling, one person was injured in Krasnohorivka, Maryinka community. Also, a house was damaged in Pivnichne, Toretsk community, nine houses were damaged in the Chasiv Yar community, four houses and a non-residential building were damaged in Siversk. In the Kurakhove community, the occupiers shelled the vicinity of Hostre and Kurakhove. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy shelled settlements in Donetsk region 18 times. Some 1,171 people, including 198 children, were evacuated from the front line. With decisive wins during the March 12 primaries, former President Trump has cemented his status as the Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee. President Bidens slumping approval ratings and various polls that show roughly two-thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, makes a Trump victory in November a clear possibility. While polls will tighten in the coming months, business leaders should take seriously the possibility of a second Trump term and prepare accordingly. Business leaders need to carefully analyze Trumps previous presidential actions and his 2024 policy proposals to determine the impact they might have on the economy and the larger business climate. First, expect a second Trump administration to prioritize tax cuts and deregulation. That means the business community should have an open field to work with Congress next year to extend the 2017 tax reforms that encourage business investment and job creation. The Trump team also will want to repeal burdensome regulations that constrain growth. These are standard-issue GOP priorities, consistent with Trumps pledge to ensure lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for American workers. Second, business leaders should prepare for dramatic changes in energy and environmental policy. Trump made it clear he wants to expand energy domestic exploration and production which are areas that have been severely constrained under the current administration. Likewise, Trump has vowed to check the spread of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment policies. He argues that ESG injects politics and partisanship into the investing process at the expense of shareholders interests. Trump will take executive actions along these lines if he wins a second term. Third, a new Trump administration will attempt to complete the first terms mission to have fair and reciprocal trade. Trump was criticized for being anti-trade in his first term, but this is inaccurate. He sought to reset U.S. international trade policy to help sustain and nurture high-skilled domestic manufacturing jobs that suffered from decades of unfairly traded foreign imports. Especially with United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) extension talks set to begin next year, we should expect Trump to send unpredictable messages as part of his art of the deal to establish a fair playing field to protect American labor and manufacturers. Fourth, U.S.-based multinational companies should be prepared for heightened scrutiny of their supply chains in China. Business leaders should expect more stringent regulatory reviews of outbound U.S. investment in key sectors of the Chinese economy such as microelectronics, energy, and biotechnology. A second Trump administration will pursue government incentives and regulations to spur onshoring of supply chains. Business leaders might find it more constructive to downplay their defense of globalization in favor of pursing onshoring strategies that allow their companies sufficient time to transition supply chains domestically. To be sure, much of the Trump agenda will rely on cooperation from Capitol Hill. President Trumps pro-business agenda will face headwinds especially if Democrats control the Senate or House. A successful second-term agenda also will require unity with Republican free market stalwarts in the Senate, many of whom remain skeptical of their partys populist shift. But this uncertainty provides an opportunity for business leaders to position themselves to play the role of honest broker, working with the White House and lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to get things done. Thats one reason the business community should strive to establish trust by seeking a middle way rather than throwing all in with one side. Business leaders seeking to mitigate risk should start by taking Trumps policy program seriously, projecting a prudent and cautiously optimistic posture, and working on issues of importance to the country and the economy. By paying careful heed to the former presidents proposals and taking care to avoid wading too deeply into the political fray, business leaders can position themselves to engage with a potential second Trump administration in a way that is constructive and helpful to them. Joseph Lai served as a special assistant to President Trump for legislative affairs from 2017 to 2019. He is a principal at BGR Group, a government affairs and communications firm based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Austin, Atlanta and London. Property details: This beautiful piece of land is located in the serene neighborhood of Coyne Cir, Fairfield Bay, AR. With a staggering acreage of 22, this property offers ample space for all your needs. The zoning of this land is residential, making it an ideal location to build your dream home or holiday home. The property's location in Arkansas provides a perfect backdrop for a peaceful and tranquil lifestyle. The zip/postal code for the area is 72088, and the seller state of residence is also Arkansas. This l... 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Price: $ 1,500 Seller State of Residence: Arkansas Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 5334 N 15th street Philadelphia PA Zip/Postal Code: 19141 Zoning: Residential State/Province: Arkansas Location: 191**, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania You will be redirected to eBay When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Nearby Arkansas Porterville, CA (93257) Today Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Greece has joined the coalition for demining Ukraine headed by Lithuania. This became knonw after a meeting between Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias and Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Arvydas Anusauskas in Vilnius on March 15, according to a statement on the website of the Greek Defense Ministry. "We are pleased to have recently joined the Demining Capability Coalition under your leadership and signed the Agreement in your presence in Brussels," Dendias said addressing the Lithuanian counterpart. Dendias reiterated that Greece regards the invasion of Ukraine "as a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty and international law." A Delhi court on Saturday sent Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha to Enforcement Directorate custody till March 23 in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. IMAGE: BRS MLC K Kavitha produced before the Rouse Avenue Court, in New Delhi on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Special Judge for ED cases M K Nagpal passed the order on an application of the federal anti-money laundering agency seeking her remand. The agency produced Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, before the special court, and sought her custody for 10 days. However, the court remanded her in ED custody only till March 23. While being produced before the court, Kavitha termed her arrest as illegal and said, "We will fight it (case) out in court." Kavitha, 46, a Telangana Legislative Council member, was arrested by the central probe agency from her residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad Friday evening. During the hearing, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari, appearing for Kavitha along with advocate Nitesh Rana, told the judge her arrest was "illegal". The counsel also accused the federal anti-money laundering agency of flouting the Supreme Court direction while arresting her. They claimed the apex court had directed the ED to not take any coercive action against Kavitha before it hears her plea against the summons issued by the agency to her on March 19. "It is a black day that SC orders are violated, that an officer thinks he/she is above law," the counsel to court. The ED, however, said it has not made any statement before a court, including the Supreme Court, that no coercive action will be taken against K Kavitha. "There is enough evidence, witnesses' statements against K Kavitha in the case," the ED told the court. The agency also accused Kavitha of destructing evidence in the case. "We have summoned several witnesses to confront K Kavitha with," the agency told the court. Condemning the arrest, party leaders and cadre held protests across several other parts of Telangana. The protesters waved black flags and wore black cloth around their necks and took out rallies and squatted on roads. They raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP. The protesters also held placards that read 'We stand with Kavithakka', 'Stop illegal arrests immediately' and 'Central government's stubborn attitude should end'. The protesters also burnt the effigy of PM Modi at a few places. The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday dismissed a government school teacher in Kulgam district for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities, an official said. Image is strictly for representation. Photograph: ANI Photo Manzoor Ahmed Laway, a resident of Manzgam in the Damhal Hanjipora area of the south Kashmir district, was dismissed under Article 311 of the Constitution, they said. Article 311 of the Constitution provides for the dismissal of a person employed in civil capacities under the Union or a state. The activities of the government employee had come to the notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, officials said. They found him to be involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the state, such as involvement in terror-related activities, they added. Laway is named in two FIRs registered at Damhal Hanjipora Police Station. He is accused of instigating a mob on July 9, 2016 -- a day after Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter -- to cause damage and destruction to government property, the officials said. They said, the mob marched towards Damhal Hanjipora Police Station and looted arms, ammunition and other government property. They also set the police station on fire, officials said. In another incident on September 10, 2016, Laway along with his associates led an unruly mob which resorted to stone pelting on a joint party of police and security forces in which armed gunmen from amongst the mob fired indiscriminately upon the police party, they added. "Laway as teacher had the responsibility to guide the students not to indulge in activities directed against the security of the state and when the subject is himself instrumental in fomenting secessionism among the student fraternity, then his role as a teacher does not serve the purpose for which he has been appointed to government service," the officials said. They said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national elements who have been taking advantage of being in government service. Prior to this, 56 government officials were dismissed by invoking the provisions of Article 311 of the Constitution. Promises galore and guarantees by various political parties will compete and clash as high-decibel campaigns get underway. Here are the 10 key issues likely to be the centre of discussion in the seven-phase general elections that begin on April 19. Modi Ki Guarantee Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brimming with confidence that he will get a third consecutive term, has pitched 'Modi Ki Guarantee' as the main theme of his campaign. 'Modi Ki Guarantee', as described on the PM's website, is a guarantee for the development of youth, empowerment of women, welfare of farmers, and all those marginalised and vulnerable who have been ignored for decades. The idea is also about the government's aim of ensuring saturation of all welfare schemes. It is likely to be the 'catchphrase' in this election, the centre of much of the war of words between rivals. Congress' Nyay guarantees The grand old party found some of its mojo back in the state elections of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana when it pitched guarantees to the people which clicked electorally. For the Lok Sabha polls, the party has put forward its 5 'Nyay' guarantees aimed at ensuring justice for youth, farmers, women, labourers, as well as participatory justice. The 'Nyay' guarantees have been presented before the people during the Manipur to Mumbai Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The Congress' manifesto is likely to be framed around these guarantees and the party would design its campaign around them. Whether it will result in the party's electoral resurgence, only time will tell. Unemployment and price rise The INDIA bloc, including the Congress, has been raising the issue of unemployment and rising prices of essential commodities. They have stated repeatedly that lack of jobs is the single biggest issue and sought to corner the government over the issue. The BJP has hit back citing job growth and a fast-growing economy. The poll season will see intensifying debate over these bread and butter issues. Abrogation of Article 370, CAA and Uniform Civil Code These have been part of the BJP's longstanding promises to the people. The BJP has and will continue to project its achievement of implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the abrogation of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. The party's government has also passed a law on the uniform civil code in Uttarakhand as a precursor to its objective of devising such a law nationally. The Modi government has projected these actions to assert that it believes in the mantra of "walking the talk". The opposition has slammed these moves as attempts to create, divide and impose uniformity. The debate on these issues is likely to get sharper and more aggressive in the poll season. Ram Mandir The January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya was marked by the BJP with tremendous enthusiasm. The symbolism of Modi leading the ceremony and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath being at the forefront during the ceremony was not lost on anyone. BJP leaders have credited the prime minister for making a centuries-old dream come true. With saffron flags fluttering in most parts of the Hindi-speaking belt to mark the occasion, the impact of this can be felt by everyone. Even opposition leaders concede that the Ram temple has given the BJP the advantage in northern India. Analysts believe that much of the BJP's confidence of getting at least 370 seats stems from this 'Ram temple wave'. Electoral bonds data The Election Commission has made the data on electoral bonds public. The Congress has demanded a high-level probe by the Supreme Court against the ruling BJP and freezing of its bank accounts for alleged corruption in the electoral bonds scheme. The issue has come to the fore right before the polls and the opposition has seized on it but whether it will work at the grassroots level or not is still to be seen. It would, however, certainly be one of the talking points during the campaign. 'Amrit Kaal' versus 'Anyay Kaal' Another likely recurrent campaign theme during the poll season would be the BJP's assertion that the Modi dispensation assured good governance, fast paced growth and a vision for the future. The Congress on the other hand has dubbed the 10 years of the Modi government 'anyay kaal' marked by "unemployment, rising prices, capture of institutions, attack on the Constitution, and rising economic inequalities". While the opposition INDIA bloc is likely to highlight the government's 'failures' to claim that the last 10 years have been about show over substance, the BJP would counter it with arguments such as tiding over the pandemic, reducing poverty, free ration scheme and other welfare measures for the poor. Farmer issues and legal guarantee of MSP The farmers' agitation at the borders of Delhi just ahead of polls is also likely to dominate the discourse with the opposition alleging that the tillers had been "betrayed" by the government and promising to provide legal guarantee for MSP if its bloc comes to power. BJP leaders have been holding talks with farmer leaders to assuage their concerns and have been alleging that many of the agitators were politically motivated. The government has also stressed that its PM-KISAN scheme aid has transformed the lives of tillers. As with most elections, farmer issues would be critical to the discourse. Clash of ideologies This election also marks a crucial phase in what many call the "battle of ideologies" between the BJP and the Congress. Both parties would present their ideological principles before the people and ask them to choose one. Viksit Bharat vision Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that the goal of the country is to become a developed nation. He has stated that his government's actions are committed to achieve the goal by 2047. The vision for a Viksit Bharat is likely to dominate the BJP's campaign while the opposition has been dubbing it as "another jumla". However, it would remain a dominant theme during the course of the campaign. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said a seven phase election for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls meant that "Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to tour everywhere". IMAGE: Gurukul school of art students create voting awareness for Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo Kharge opined that the polls should have rather been completed in three or four phases. We are not anxious about what is going to happen, but Modiji putting seven phases, it means that he wants to tour everywhere. In this country, I have also contested nearly 12 elections and there hardly used to be four phases. Sometimes it used to be even one phase. I have seen two phases also but maximum it used to be four, he told reporters in Bengaluru. Kharge said conducting polls in seven phases meant that nearly all the development works will be stopped. Stopping nearly 70-80 days, imagine how the country will progress? Because of the election code of conduct...materials will not be supplied. Budget will not be spent. So according to me this is not good. He could have completed within three or four phases," he said. So, it is easy for people also to get their businesses completed, infrastructure everything. It should have helped but anyways Modi is Modi, he added. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress has expressed dismay over the Election Commission's decision to hold the elections in seven phases in the state, citing concerns over unfair advantage to wealthier parties. Senior TMC leader and West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya expressed concern that having multiple phases in elections gives an unfair advantage to parties with more money. "During eight-phase assembly polls in 2021, it was said it is being done due to COVID. So now, what is the valid reason for holding elections in seven phases? There is no valid reason," she said. BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya supported the move for a staggered election and said it is due to the history of the elections and post-poll violence that prompted the EC to such a decision. "It is the TMC that has brought the situation to such a level, where elections are held in Bengal in seven phases. It is due to the politics of violence that the condition has come to such a level," he said. West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, too echoed the BJP, and said, "Multiple phase elections would ensure it is held in a free and fair manner and won't allow the TMC to perpetrate violence during polls." The West Bengal CPI(M) said the Election Commission must ensure that people can cast their votes without fear. Although the opposition INDIA bloc faltered in Bengal as Banerjee decided to go alone, the state Congress remains interested in collaborating with the CPI(M)-led Left Front, with whom it formed alliances during the 2021 state polls, although an official announcement is pending. The 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19 with the counting of votes scheduled on June 4 for the world's biggest election exercise, according to the announcement by the Election Commission. India abstained in the United Nations General Assembly on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamophobia, asserting that the prevalence of 'religiophobia' against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged rather than singling out just one religion. IMAGE: India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj. Photograph: ANI Photo The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution 'Measures to combat Islamophobia', introduced by Pakistan on Friday, with 115 nations voting in favour, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj voiced condemnation of all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia but asserted that it is crucial to acknowledge that such phobias extend beyond Abrahamic religions. "Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh sentiments," she said, in an explanation of India's position on the resolution. India stressed that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, 'potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps'. "It is crucial for the UN to maintain its stance above such religious concerns, which have the potential to fragment us rather than unite us under the banner of peace and harmony, embracing the world as one global family," Kamboj said. India called on all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally. "While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality," she said. Kamboj told the UN General Assembly that 'it is crucial to recognise' that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism with more than 535 million and Sikhism with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religiophobia. "It is time that we acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia, rather than single out just one," she said. Kamboj said the contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident in the increasing attacks on religious places of worship such as gurudwaras, monasteries and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries. "The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions," she said. The destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by the Taliban in March 2001 led to global condemnation. Kamboj underlined that India stands against all forms of religiophobia, be it antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as 'we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments'. The resolution condemned the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence against Muslims. It also requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia. India said it 'in principle' is opposed to the creation of the post of a Special Envoy on the basis of a single religion, she said. Kamboj pointed out that the substantial budgetary implications of establishing such a position 'prompt us to pause and reflect on whether this is the most effective use of resources. Could we not achieve greater impact through a more inclusive approach that addresses religious discrimination in its entirety?' She underscored that India's rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation, embracing diverse religions, has long served as a refuge for those persecuted for their faith. "Whether Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews, or adherents of any other belief, they have consistently found in India a sanctuary free from persecution or discrimination," she said. Prior to adopting the resolution, the Assembly rejected two amendments to the draft introduced by Belgium on behalf of the EU. India voted in favour of both the amendments. One amendment proposed changes in the resolution's language to remove references to the desecration of the Quran. The other amendment would have called for the appointment of a 'United Nations focal point, within existing structures and resources, to combat anti-Muslim discrimination' instead of a UN special envoy. The General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2022 proclaiming March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in the wake of the 2019 mass shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that had killed over 50 people. In his remarks to mark the day, Guterres said that around the world, there is a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry in many forms such as structural and systemic discrimination, unequal immigration policies, unwarranted surveillance and profiling and restrictions in accessing citizenship, education, employment and justice. The UN chief also voiced concern over 'supremacist ideologies and attacks' against Jews, minority Christian communities and many others. "Hatred of one group fuels hatred of another. Hate normalises hate. Hate destroys the fabric of our societies," he said. India also described Pakistan as a 'broken record' that remains stagnant while the world progresses after Islamabad's envoy made references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Citizenship Amendment Act during remarks to the UN General Assembly. "One final point concerns a delegation (and its remarks) that, much like a broken record, remains sadly stagnant while the world progresses," Kamboj said. Akram made references to the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as well as to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Kamboj said it is 'unfortunate indeed to witness this delegation's limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so, when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership -- perhaps not the forte of this delegation'. Press Release March 16, 2024 Poe: Invest in women, push for progress Sen. Grace Poe called for opportunities to engage women in various fields of endeavors and leadership, saying their participation is vital to propel the nation's growth and stability. "There is a compelling need to mobilize more women into the workforce, move them to stable jobs and income, develop their talent and pathways for advancement," Poe said. "The return on investment our society is enormous if women's potential would be realized," she added. Gracing the opening of the art exhibit "Women 2024: Empower her Palette" organized by SPARK Philippines, Poe hailed the women who have ventured into the visual arts to express their aspirations and opinions more freely. "It has been said that women artists possess a singular strength. It is a strength born of defiance, of fury, and of an unrelenting determination to persevere and express all the creative beauty that belongs to them," Poe said. "And this is why it is worth investing in women. Because otherwise, we would be deprived of the distinct point of view that is borne from experiences unique to women," she added. The senator said Filipino women have made strides in their participation in business, politics, science, the arts and various fields that helped advance their rights and welfare. She cited the seven women in the Senate who are continuously pushing for advocacies such as healthcare, education, and food sustainability. "We authored the feeding program because we find it vital as we are the ones who are usually primarily responsible for household needs, like for example preparing the baon of our kids," Poe said. "The reproductive health bill was also fought for by Senator Pia Cayetano. This maybe controversial but the divorce bill is now being pushed in the Senate by Sen. Risa Hontiveros," she added. Poe continued, "We might not agree with some of the advocacies of these women, but I think it's important for us to discuss it." Poe authored Republic Act 11037 or Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which provides undernourished children aged three to five years old in day care centers with fortified meals. With the celebration of the Women's Month this March, Poe said it is fitting to honor women "whose courage and talent have broken the shackles of discrimination and inspired others to live more fulfilling lives." "This month is our opportunity to recognize, honor, and affirm women. Let us start by showing appreciation for the women in our homes, our mothers, offices, factories, and neighborhoods," Poe said. As Ukraine enters a third year defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion, it continues to not only fight for its own life, but also helps the world despite its own huge losses and destructions, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said in an article for The Telegraph. "By the end of 2023, over 170,000 tonnes of grain had been delivered to countries experiencing the most challenging food situations, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Yemen. In these early months of 2024, already two more countries Nigeria and Sudan have been added to the list, with grain and wheat flour received from Ukraine serving as a much-needed lifeline to vulnerable populations there," he said. According to Yermak, this support not only helps to fight against hunger and food insecurity, but also is a point of light for those facing extreme hunger, and a beacon of hope for the values that are being fought for on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine. "The free world must not let the light and hope to be extinguished," he said. The head of the Office of the President recalled that the Grain from Ukraine initiative was launched in 2022 as part of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. Assistance to Ukraine must be immediate for the situation in the country to improve, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said. During a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin he said that Europe and the Weimar Triangle are responsible for the security and future of the transatlantic relations, adding that the stronger and more united Europe is, the more opportunities Ukraine has. A police officer, left, gestures to a journalist to stop as peoples identifications are examined at a checkpoint along a street near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, June 4, 2023, during the anniversary of China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests. On dates considered politically sensitive by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, police and local officials across China call up or visit anyone they think might cause some kind of trouble for the authorities, and take steps to silence or control them. On sensitive dates such as June 4, the date of the 1989 Tiananmen killings, authorities target independent journalists, rights activists and lawyers, anyone with a grievance against the government, people who complain and petition the authorities, and anyone with a track record of posting online content that the government doesn't like. Meanwhile, an army of internet censors, many of whom work for private service providers, keeps a list of metaphors, code words, homophones and other workarounds to help them block and delete unwanted content. They are putting into practice China's "stability maintenance" system, designed to nip social unrest in the bud. Security personnel walk outside the Great Hall of the People after the second plenary session of the 14th National Peoples Congress in Beijing on March 8, 2024. (Jade Gao/AFP) Blogger and former police detective Deng Haiyan, who uses the online handle "Second Uncle," said the police are trying to get ahead of any potential unrest, and nip it in the bud. "Every time there is a major celebration or festival, they want to make sure nothing untoward happens," Deng said. "They assume that certain people will take the opportunity to cause trouble at a time like that." "Once trouble starts, it spreads very easily, so they want to lock it down beforehand." Former Sina Weibo censor Liu Lipeng said online service providers must keep a calendar of "sensitive dates" and be aware of certain keywords and workarounds that internet users may employ to evade censorship. "As a service provider, you have to have a manual to avoid getting into trouble," he said. "Sensitive dates" include major political meetings like the National People's Congress that ran in Beijing from March 5-11. Picking quarrels and stirring up trouble Fu Yuxia, who is pursuing a complaint against the government through official petitioning channels, hails from a small town outside Lianyungang city in the eastern province of Jiangsu. She was detained by police in her hometown of Niushan in late February on charges of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble." The reason? Fu had bought a rail ticket to visit her parents in Xuzhou, an action that was flagged by the stability maintenance system ahead of the Beijing parliamentary sessions. "They're afraid that I'll go to Beijing during the National People's Congress, so they have detained me in a rescue facility, with people from my local police station on guard outside, round the clock," Fu told RFA Mandarin from detention. "They keep coming to check that I'm still in my room," she said, adding that police had also questioned her and taken her fingerprints, warning that she would be jailed if she made plans to travel to Beijing. A petitioner holds photos of evidence in her grievance against local officials, outside a government petition office in Beijing on March 2, 2016, a few days before the National People's Congress opens its annual session. (Greg Baker/AFP) Calls to the Niushan police department rang unanswered during office hours one day ahead of the National People's Congress' opening session. Hangzhou-based freelance writer Zan Aizong also had his liberty restricted during the parliamentary sessions by police in his home city of Hangzhou, who kept coming to his apartment to check up on him. He complained in an online statement: "What do the parliamentary sessions have to do with me? I'm not a delegate to the National People's Congress or the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference." Zan couldn't see why he was being targeted, as he isn't someone who is pursuing a grievance, nor a member of a persecuted group. "I'm just a writer and a not-very-famous online commentator," he said. "Is it necessary to waste so much manpower and material resources? Is it necessary to maintain stability in this way?" Zan wanted to know. Placed under guard Meanwhile, state security police in Beijing were placing a guard outside the home of independent political journalist Gao Yu, according to her social media account. "How are Beijingers supposed to live a normal life?" Gao said in a Feb. 27 post to her X account, calling the surveillance "unbearable." Gao said national security police repeatedly called her phone and turned up at her home in a bid to prevent her from meeting a dissident who was believed to be in Beijing. Similar protocols are typically put in place every five years ahead of the Communist Party's national congress, dissidents and activists have told RFA. Petitioners and dissidents have told RFA Mandarin that they are also placed under guard, detention or house arrest up to two weeks ahead of China's National Day, when the ruling Chinese Communist Party marks the founding of the People's Republic of China by late supreme leader Mao Zedong on Oct. 1, 1949. Veteran Chinese journalist Gao Yu works at her desk in her home in Beijing on March 31, 2016. (Greg Baker/AFP) Qing Ming, the tomb-sweeping festival, can also be a political minefield for the authorities, because people often use it to commemorate high-profile dissidents like Liu Xiaobo and ousted former leaders like Zhao Ziyang. Every April 5, police across the country are out in force to stop people from visiting the former homes and graves of people regarded as politically "sensitive" by the government. In 2021, Geng He, wife of disappeared rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, vowed to make offerings every year outside the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco on Qing Ming, because she can only assume her husband has died. "I don't have any dreams now. I only hope that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can return Gao Zhisheng's ashes to me for humanitarian reasons." "I now have a premonition that is getting stronger and stronger, which is that Gao Zhisheng has been persecuted to death," she said in a public statement. "Otherwise, he would definitely have found a way to contact us." "From this day onwards, I will treat the Chinese Communist Party's consulate, the closest one to my home, as his cemetery." Sensitive international dates Internationally recognized dates are also a cause for concern in Beijing. In 2015, the detention of five Chinese women's rights activists ahead of International Womens Day sparked an international outcry. Zheng Churan, Li Tingting, Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting and Wang Man were rounded up by police on March 6, 2015, two days ahead of International Womens Day, as they planned a campaign against sexual harassment on public transportation. They were accused of picking quarrels and stirring up trouble. While they were eventually released on bail in April 2016, they remained criminal suspects under tight police surveillance and under the threat of prosecution, while at least one of them was prevented from leaving the country. According to Liu Liping, International Women's Day is another "sensitive date" in the Chinese government's calendar, when censors clamp down on online content even more than usual. "They're afraid that [talking about] women's rights will cause trouble on March 8," Liu said. "They're also worried that workers could cause trouble on International Labor Day [on May 1]." He said China's internet censors will often scout around on the internet outside the Great Firewall of Chinese censorship to find current keywords that they need to ban ahead of important dates. Geng He, front, the wife of missing Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and supporters protest in front of China's consulate in San Francisco, April 19, 2021. (Provided by Geng He) Then there are the dates that resonate with anyone familiar with China's recent history, like June 4, anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. All of those phrases have long been on censors' list of "sensitive words," and posts that contain them are highly unlikely to appear on any Chinese social media platform. There is also a carefully disguised effort on the ground to ensure the majority of China's 1.4 billion people go about their business as if the date was nothing special. Each year, police make arrangements for the relatives of those killed by the People's Liberation Army in 1989 to make offerings at their loved one's grave sites. The ceremonies are private, and low key, made under the watchful eye of the police minders assigned to members of the Tiananmen Mothers victims' group, which has campaigned unsuccessfully for more than three decades for a public account of the deaths, the pursuit of official accountability for the killings, and compensation for victims' families. Enforced vacations Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said in a recent recording of a conversation with friends that he is typically taken on an enforced "vacation" every year by state security police ahead of the date. Police also targeted late massacre victim Qi Zhiyong, who was left disabled after the massacre, and fellow dissidents who might otherwise try to lay floral tributes for the victims in Tiananmen Square. But Hu said the "stability maintenance" operation isn't as intensive as during major political meetings like the National People's Congress. According to Deng Haiyan, that's because the authorities want to erase people's memories of the massacre, so avoid any public show of force on that date. "They will target a specific group on that day with strict and comprehensive blockades and controls, but make sure that the public are totally unaware of it, so they can't see or how big the iceberg really is," Deng said. Even decades-old dates can touch a nerve with the authorities. Egg Fried Rice day is a colloquial term referring to the anniversary of the death of Mao Zedong's son Mao Anying in a U.S. bombing raid during the Korean War (1950-1953). According to an apocryphal story that still circulates widely in China, Mao Anying's location was only discovered by the U.S. military because he broke blackout rules with a cooking fire, because he wanted to make fried rice. In 2021, authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangxi jailed a man surnamed Zuo for 10 days after he posted an irreverent comment on the Sina Weibo social media platform under the username @yuediyouyou. "That fried rice was the best thing to come out of the whole Korean War," the user wrote on Oct. 8, 2021, in a joking reference to the Nov. 25, 1950 death of late supreme leader Mao's son Mao Anying in North Korea. Participants attend a conference held by All-China Women's Federation to commemorate the International Women's Day, March 3, 2024 in Beijing, (Zhao Jun/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) Internet chef Wang Gang caused a public storm last November after he made a video showing people how to make egg fried rice near the anniversary. China has laws banning insults to revolutionary heroes and martyrs, as well as to the national anthem, its soldiers and police force. Xi Jinpings birthday has also become a sensitized date in recent years, according to Liu Lipeng. "When it comes to June 15th, there are a bunch of references that won't get posted, even the fat tiger in the Japanese comic Doraemon whose birthday is the same day as his, Liu said. "On that day, its a sensitive word. "They have used the hero laws to arrest people on a large scale in recent years, just to create an atmosphere of terror," he said. "No one dares to say no to his ultra-nationalist narrative. And this is the atmosphere they want." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. They try to persuade them to return to Vietnam, saying they will be safe, but the asylum-seekersare skeptical. Maj. Gen. Rah Lan Lam, director of the Gia Lai Provincial Police, holding a mobile phone, and Police Lt. Col. Y Luong Nie, at right in white shirt, speak with Montagnards in Bang Len district, Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand, March 14, 2023. Police from Vietnams Dak Lak province made unexpected visits to two areas in Thailand where a number of ethnic minorities are seeking refugee status on grounds that they have been persecuted, they told Radio Free Asia. Members of the Montagnard community said they panicked when the agents visited their homes on Thursday to persuade and threaten them to return to Vietnam. The term Montagnard was coined by French colonialists to describe tribes who live in Vietnams Central Highlands, many of whom are Christians, but Vietnam has rejected use of the term. Police also searched for those wanted in last Junes armed attacks on two Peoples Commune headquarters in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands that left nine people dead, the refugees said. The area where the attacks took place is home to about 30 indigenous tribes who have a long history of conflict with the Vietnamese majority, and who claim they have been discriminated against. In January, 100 individuals were tried in the case, and 10 were sentenced to life in prison on terrorism charges. The remainder were handed sentences ranging from three-and-a-half years to 20 years, mostly on terrorism-related charges. Vietnamese lawyers criticized it as a hasty show trial. Montagnards living in Bang Len district Nakhon Pathom province, 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the Thai capital Bangkok, said Thai police brought the Vietnamese police officers to their homes. Thai police officers asked the Montagnards to gather in a front yard where two of eight Vietnamese officers dressed in plainclothes questioned them, one of the refugees told Radio Free Asia on Friday. Not convinced The two officers gave their names and said they were from the homeland security force in Dak Lak province and from the Gia Lai provincial police, while the other officers took photos and videos with smartphones and camcorders, the refugee said. They tried to persuade the Montagnards to return to Vietnam, saying they would take care of their transportation, food and accommodation expenses, he said. Once you return to Vietnam, we'll take care of everything, the refugee said, recalling the officers words. But he was skeptical. If we returned to Vietnam, we would die, he said We would never be safe. What the Vietnamese [authorities] want is to imprison us. Dinh Ngan, an ethnic Bana refugee, said the directorof the Gia Lai provincial police said he would be their guardian if they wanted to return. Otherwise, the director said the police would arrest them or they would face difficulties. Another refugee, Nay Phot, said the same official told the Montagnards to return to Vietnam where the government would be lenient towards them and provide them with land and vehicles. They threatened that if we didnt come back, the police would have to arrest us, and then the government would no longer forgive us, he said. In a statement posted nine days ago, Vietnams Ministry of Public Security branded Montagnard Stand for Justice and the Montagnard Support Group as terrorist organizations linked to the 2023 Dak Lak attacks. Asking about others The refugee, who requested anonymity out of fear of his safety, said the two officers asked him and others about the whereabouts of Y Quynh Bdap and other wanted Montagnards, showing them their images and arrest warrants on their cellphones. Y Quynh Bdap, co-founder of Montagnard Stand for Justice, was accused of being associated with the Dak Lak attacks and later sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison on a terrorism charge at a trial held in Vietnam this January. He has denied participating in the attack. Police Col. Adisak Kamnerd of the Bang Len police told RFA that he had not received requests from any agency to allow Vietnamese officers to go there. Another security official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, that this was the first known incident whereby Vietnamese police questioned Vietnamese refugees in Thailand, violating their basic privacy rights. He also called the action undiplomatic. I believe they are coming after the suspects in the Dak Lak attacks, he said. The incident occurred one day after the Public Security Online Newspaper reported that Minister of Public Security To Lam met with Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. During the meeting, Lam proposed that the two sides sign an agreement on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. RFA did not receive a response to an email sent to the U.N.s refugee agency in Bangkok. Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to an emailed request for information. Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. A year after the arrest of Evan Gershkovich in Russia, the Wall Street Journal reporters family pledged to continue to fight for release from a Moscow prison where he is being held on espionage charges the White House and his employer say are fabricated. Gershkovich became the first U.S. journalist arrested on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War when he was detained on March 29, 2023, by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which said he had been trying to obtain military secrets. The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government have vehemently rejected the espionage charges, saying he was merely doing his job as an accredited reporter when he was arrested. Gershkovich saw his detention extended to June 30 earlier this week by the Moscow City Court. The Kremlin said on March 29 it had no information on when the 32-year-olds trial will begin. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in jail. "We never anticipated this situation happening to our son and brother, let alone a full year with no certainty or clear path forward," his family said in a letter published by the Wall Street Journal on March 29 to mark the anniversary. "But despite this long battle, we are still standing strong." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on March 29 that "to date, Russia has provided no evidence of wrongdoing for a simple reason: Evan did nothing wrong. Journalism is not a crime." Born in the United States to Soviet emigres, Gershkovich reported from Russia for six years before being detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. Leon Panetta, former director of the CIA, said the United States must play a "tough game" with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to get Gershkovich released. "We have got to play a tough game with Putin to make sure hes not going to get away with this kind of game." Panetta said on Fox News. Gershkovich will ultimately be released through a prisoner swap, Panetta predicted, saying the United States could "develop some leverage" for such a deal by arresting Russian spies in the United States "so that [Putin] has a reason to come to the bargaining table." State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, also speaking on Fox News, said the United States engages daily with the "highest levels of the Russian government" in its effort to win Gershkovich's release, but he said it was "important not to talk about the deliberations in public." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also stressed the importance of silence about any negotiations, but Wall Street Journal Associate Editor Paul Beckett, who is leading the newspapers efforts to free Gershkovich, said talks involving Gershkovich on any level keep his supporters optimistic that something can be done. Russian authorities accuse Gershkovich of collecting state secrets about the military industrial complex at the behest of the U.S. government. Wall Street Journal Associate Editor Paul Beckett, who is leading the newspapers efforts to free Gershkovich, told Current Time in an interview broadcast on March 29 that the reporter is holding up OK under very difficult circumstances. He's in his cell for 23 hours a day. He has an hour outside in the courtyard, which is about the same size as his cell. So we've just been very grateful that he's been able to maintain his equilibrium, Beckett said of Gershkovichs incarceration in Moscows Lefortovo prison. Beckett said that besides one hour of courtyard time per day, Gershkovich has been in constant correspondence with his family, including swapping lines from shows that they enjoyed together, and weekly meetings with his lawyers. Earlier on March 28 in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about reports of a possible prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich, and he stressed the importance of silence about any negotiations. But Beckett said talks involving Gershkovich on any level keep his supporters "optimistic that something can be done." Gershkovich is one of two American reporters currently being held by Russian authorities. The other is Alsu Kurmasheva, an RFE/RL journalist who holds dual Russian-American citizenship. Kurmasheva, 47, was arrested in Kazan last October and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent under a punitive Russian law that targets journalists, civil society activists, and others. Shes also been charged with spreading falsehoods about the Russian military and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. RFE/RL and the U.S. government say the charges are reprisals for her work as a journalist for RFE/RL in Prague. She had traveled to Russia to visit and care for her elderly mother and was initially detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at Kazan airport, where her U.S. and Russian passports were confiscated. Gershkovich has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Kurmasheva, however, has not despite pleas from RFE/RL and Kurmashevas family. The Wall Street Journal on March 28 published a story about her detention and the difficulties her husband, Pavel Butorin, who also works for RFE/RL in Prague, and their two daughters, aged 12 and 15, have had without her and their efforts to have her designated as wrongfully detained. The designation would mean her case would be assigned to the office of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs in the State Department, raising the political profile of her situation and allowing the Biden administration to allocate more resources to securing her release. The designation currently applies only to Gershkovich and another American held in Russia, Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine and corporate security executive who is serving a 16-year prison sentence on espionage charges. Other events being held to mark the one-year anniversary of Gershkovichs detention include a 24-hour read-a-thon of his work by his Wall Street Journal colleagues at the newspapers headquarters in New York and swimming events at Brighton Beaches in New Zealand, South African, Canada, the United States and Britain. The beaches were chosen in recognition of his familys connection to Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York, which is home to a large Russian immigrant community. Gershkovich's parents emigrated from the Soviet Union, separately, in 1979. Tens of thousands joined an anti-government rally organized in Budapest by Peter Magyar, a former insider of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party. The businessman addressed the crowd on March 15, marked in Hungary as a national holiday. Magyar stood out as a surprise critic of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government after a presidential pardon for a child abuser's accomplice. A woman attending the rally told RFE/RL, "I'm fed up with the entire way they run this country." In the winter of 1924, inhabitants of a small village near Tehran looked up as a metal-bodied airplane swooped in to land, bumped along a field, then collapsed in a cloud of dust after its landing gear broke. The pilot of the plane was Swiss aviator Walter Mittelholzer, who had received an invitation from the Persian government to deliver a new Junkers aircraft to the country, which would be renamed Iran in 1935. Kaspar Surber, a Swiss journalist who wrote a book on Mittelholzer, told RFE/RL the aviator was chosen for the flight to Persia in part to "popularize flying" through aerial images he would take there. Mittelholzer was famous at the time for becoming the first person to extensively photograph Switzerland's mountains from an airplane. In the 1920s, Surber says there was something of a "race" between German and British aviation companies to begin air services in Persia, making Mittelholzer's photography skills a key promotional advantage. A Swiss newspaper wrote of the aviator, "The Swiss people know what to expect from their Mr. Mittelholzer, who can not only pilot a plane across unknown countries but also photograph and film in flight." After their ignominious landing 40 kilometers outside of Tehran, Mittelholzer and mechanic Ernst Bissegger had a tense confrontation with villagers before help eventually arrived from the Persian capital and their aircraft was repaired. Mittelholzer and Bissegger's flight of more than 3,000 kilometers from Switzerland to Persia included a standoff with Turkish authorities who confiscated their plane, troubles with poor-quality gasoline purchased in Baghdad, and erroneous maps that forced them into the ill-fated landing during which their plane's landing gear collapsed. Mittelholzers initial impressions of the territory of Persia from above were of "areas that lie desolate and empty and wander past the observing eye for hours. Huge alluvial fans, piles of rubble, and deltas of saline rivers [that] characterize the country." Isolated settlements occasionally came into view as the pair flew over Persian territory. "Here and there a green patch shines," Mittelholzer wrote, "a space in the center of which features residents' mud huts rising on narrow and winding streets. Silver bands mark the irrigation channels at the edges of the gardens." Mittelholzer seized the opportunity to photograph Persia extensively from above in photographs that are now held by the ETH Zurich library. The Swiss aviator and photographer also made use of his camera on the ground to capture a country on the cusp of dramatic change under Reza Shah Pahlavi, a ruler who would become known as Persia's "modernizing strongman." At the time of Mittelholzer's visit to Persia, the country was without major rail or road networks, and camel caravans were still in use as a means of foreign trade, making air transport an enticing possibility for the country's rulers. With the aviation industry still in its infancy in Persia, Mittelholzer and Bissegger had the sky virtually to themselves as they swept low over urban centers to snap images that would soon stun European audiences. Mittelholzer predicted that aerial photography would play a significant role in documentary imagery of the future. "Another hitherto unseen world opens up before us. It is as if the Earth has thereby gained a new face, and man a new, unflawed eye," he wrote in 1928. After spending several weeks inside Iran, the two Swiss aviators eventually made the long trek back to Central Europe by car. Mittelholzer would later co-found a company that became Swissair, Switzerland's national carrier until 2002. He died in a mountaineering accident in 1937 aged 43. In a newspaper obituary, a friend noted that Mittelholzer's death in the mountains that he loved, and that had sparked his extraordinary career, had a certain tragic poetry: "They have embraced him 0n his last wanderings and claimed him, and perhaps he would not have wished for a better end, but alas it came all too soon, there was so much more for him to do." Russians completed the second day of voting late on March 16 in a three-day presidential election that has seen sporadic protests as some people, defying threats of stiff prison sentences, showed their anger over a process set up to hand Vladimir Putin another six years of rule. Russian officials and independent media on March 16 reported some three dozen incidents of individual protests at polling stations, with some people attempting to destroy voting sheets by a variety of methods. Russian authorities also stepped up threats of long prison terms for those who attempt to disrupt the voting process, including during a planned noon action on March 17. More than one-third of Russia's 110 million eligible voters cast ballots in person and online on the first day of the country's three-day presidential election, the Central Election Commission (TsIK) said after polls closed on March 15 in the country's westernmost region of Kaliningrad. Balloting started up again on March 16 in the Far East of Russia and continued in all 11 time zones of the country, as well as the occupied Crimean Peninsula and four other Ukrainian regions that Moscow partially controls and baselessly claims are part of Russia. Putin is poised to win and extend his rule by six more years after any serious opponents were barred from running against him amid a brutal crackdown on dissent and the independent media. The ruthless crackdown that has crippled independent media and human rights groups began before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched, but has been ratcheted up since. Almost exactly one month before the polls opened, Putin's most vocal critic, opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, died in an isolated Arctic prison amid suspicious circumstances as he served sentences seen as politically motivated. Independent media on March 16 reported that Russian police had opened at least 15 criminal probes into incidents of vandalism in polling stations by midday, a number expected to grow. Some Russians expressed their anger over Putin's authoritarian rule by vandalizing ballot boxes with a green antiseptic dye known as "zelyonka" and other liquids. Among them was a 43-year-old member of the local election commission in the Lenin district of Izhevsk city, the Interior Ministry said on March 16. The official was detained by police after she attempted to spill zelyonka into a touchscreen voting machine, the ministry said. Police didnt release the womans name, but said she was a member of the Communist Party. Similar incidents were reported in at least nine cities, including St. Petersburg, Sochi, and Volgograd. In Moscow, police arrested a woman who burned her ballot inside a voting booth in the citys polling station N1527 on March 15, Russian news agencies reported, citing election officials in the Russian capital. The news outlet Sota reported that that woman burned a ballot with "Bring back my husband handwritten on it, and posted video purportedly showing the incident. There also was one report of a firebombing at a polling station in Moscow, while In Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, a 21-year-old woman was detained after she threw a Molotov cocktail at an entrance of a local school that houses two polling stations. "Its the first time I've see something like this -- or at least [such attacks] have not been so spectacular before," Roman Udot, an election analyst and a board member of the independent election monitor Golos, told RFE/RL. "The state launched a war against [the election process] and this is the very striking harvest it gets in return. People resent these elections as a result and have started using them for completely different purposes [than voting]." Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission, said that over the first two days of voting there had been 20 incidents of people pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight cases of attempted arson or the use of smoke bombs. Russia's ruling United Russia party claimed on March 16 that it was facing a widespread denial-of-service attack -- a form of cyberattack that snarls internet use -- against its online presence. The party said it had suspended nonessential services to repel the attack. Meanwhile, Russian lawmakers proposed amendments to the Criminal Code to toughen punishments for those who try to disrupt elections "by arson and other dangerous means." Under the current law, such actions are punishable by five years in prison, and the lawmakers proposed to extend it to up to eight years in prison. No Serious Challengers Before his death, Navalny had hoped to use the vote to demonstrate the public's discontent with both the war and Putin's iron-fisted rule. He called on voters to cast their ballot at 12 p.m. on March 17, naming the action "Noon Against Putin." HIs wife and others have since continued to call for the protest to be carried out. Viral images of long lines forming at this time would indicate the size of the opposition and undermine the landslide result the Kremlin is expected to concoct. The Moscow prosecutor's office threatened criminal liability for those who come to the polling stations at noon on the last day of voting. The office said it could regard long lines at noon as interfering with the work of election commissions. Putin, 71, who has been president or prime minister for nearly 25 years, is running against three low-profile politicians -- 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 -- whose policy positions are hardly distinguishable from Putin's. Boris Nadezhdin, a 60-year-old anti-war politician, was rejected last month by the TsIK because of what it called invalid support signatures on his application to be registered as a candidate. He appealed, but the TsIks decision was upheld by Russia's Supreme Court. "Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today," European Council President Charles Michel wrote in a sarcastic post on X, formerly Twitter, on March 15. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice." Ukraine and many Western governments have condemned Russia for holding the vote in regions it occupies parts of, calling the move illegal. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to the criticism on March 15, saying he "condemns the efforts of the Russian Federation to hold its presidential elections in areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation." His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, added that the "attempted illegal annexation" of those regions has "no validity" under international law. Many observers say Putin warded off even the faintest of challengers to ensure a large margin of victory that he can point to as evidence that Russians back the war in Ukraine and his handling of it. With reporting by Reuters and AP VAHDAT, Tajikistan -- Shahboz Sharifbek has never had a political agenda or supported any political, religious, or social group. He doesn't stand out from the crowd for any reason. Too poor to attend college, Sharifbek's life revolved around finding odd jobs in his home village on the outskirts of the capital, Dushanbe, to provide for his impoverished family that includes his younger brother and their 82-year-old grandmother, who raised Shahboz and his brother when they were orphaned as kids. But the 23-year-old was recently sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly making a "public call via social media for extremism activity," a charge based on a video he posted online in October that criticized the authorities, including President Emomali Rahmon. In the video recorded at his home in the village of Odili in the Vahdat district, Sharifbek accuses local officials of forcibly taking his brother from their home to enlist in the army and beating his grandmother in the process. Sharifbek's case has stunned many Tajiks as a glaring example of the government's complete lack of tolerance of any dissent and its retaliation against anyone who dares to voice discontent with officials or their actions. Tajikistan has over the years jailed dozens of independent journalists, activists, and political opponents while also shutting down media outlets critical of the government or its policies. But the jailing of Sharifbek means that the clampdown is being extended to ordinary citizens, in what many Tajiks see as a warning to others to keep silent. 'Acting Like Kidnappers' In his nearly 13-minute smartphone video, Sharifbek angrily claims that local officials seized his brother from their home illegally "without providing a summons" and "treated him like an animal." Sharifbek adds that officials had "beaten up, dragged," and "threatened" his elderly grandmother and aunt in the process. "If you want to recruit someone to the army, then do it according to the law -- send him a summons, call him to the enlistment office," Sharifbek says in the video. "Instead they beat up an elderly grandmother, her daughter, and shoved my brother into a van and took him away, acting like kidnappers," Sharifbek said, showing the two women, who seemed to be in distress. RFE/RL cannot independently confirm Sharifbek's claims. But Tajik officials are known to routinely round up conscript-age men from their homes and the streets during military call-up season and put pressure on families. In the video, Sharifbek also directs his anger at the country's long-serving president, saying Rahmon often "condemns Afghanistan for violating women's rights but doesn't see what's going on in his own country." He goes on to accuse local officials of exploiting their positions to enrich themselves and grab property while ordinary people struggle in poverty. Sharifbek warns that officials' mistreatment of people, violation of their civic rights, and poverty "can push young people toward extremism and terrorism." Sharifbek accuses Tajik bloggers of not writing about the people's difficult plight or the authorities' wrongdoings. Without providing any evidence, he then blames the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) -- which has been banned in Tajikistan -- for trying to recruit "impoverished young men" for potentially organizing "terrorist" activities. The IRPT didn't comment on the charges but has previously rejected such claims and has no history of violence. Sharifbek pleads with Rahmon to order a probe into what he called the beating of his grandmother and aunt. The footage was viewed more than 1 million times shortly after it was first posted on October 15. Sharifbek was detained the following day, and the post has since been removed. Sharifbek used strong language in his video toward both Vahdat officials and the IRPT, but his statements do not contain a call for extremist activities. A Warning To Others Several Tajik lawyers told RFE/RL that Sharifbek's video does not constitute the criminal offense he was charged and convicted of. They described the case as a government warning to others not to use social media to criticize the government. "There is no element of extremism in Sharifbek's action. Launching a criminal case against him is a message [from the authorities] to other Tajik citizens that they should not speak up about truth and justice and refrain from complaining about the wrongdoing of officials," lawyer Shuhrat Qudratov said. "It makes it clear that if a citizen tries to defend his own rights he will face extremism charges," he added. Sharifbek's grandmother, Safargul Ghafurova, and aunt, Shodigul Ghafurova, confirmed to RFE/RL that Sharifbek was serving his sentence in a prison in the northern Sughd region, while his younger brother is serving in the army. The family said they sent numerous letters to Rahmon and other officials asking them to release Sharifbek and order a probe into the "recruitment" incident, but their request was denied. They said they couldn't afford a lawyer to defend Sharifbek during his trial. The Russian invaders continue their attempts to force Ukrainians to participate in the so-called "voting" for the president of Russia on the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine has said. "On the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhia and Kherson regions, representatives of the Russian occupation authorities, accompanied by armed military personnel and Russian FSB [Federal Security Service] officers, come to Ukrainian citizens' homes to explain them 'whom they should vote for'. The occupiers also say they can 'draw' more than 200% in favor of their dictator and the results of the 'Putin election' will be unchanged," it said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. At the same time, the occupiers make it clear to the enslaved locals that their refusal to vote for Putin will be taken as a demonstration of their anti-Russian position. At the beginning of March, the invaders organized filtration operations on the occupied territory of Kherson region during which "unreliable" Ukrainians were detained. The main criterion for detention was the absence of the Russian passport. The Main Intelligence Directorate explained such actions by the occupiers' fear of Ukrainians who are "disloyal" to the occupation authorities and, in the enemy's opinion, can destabilize the situation during the "elections." "Ukrainian entrepreneurs and teachers on the enslaved land are subject to the 'election' farse pressure. The occupiers threaten the first to deprive them of the right to entrepreneurship in case they refuse to 'support' Putin. The latter are being intimidated by dismissal. The Kremlin agents have a different 'agitational approach' to the retirees on the temporarily occupied territories attempts are made to force them to 'vote' through bribery and lies about 'a better life' and 'social benefits'," it said. The Main Intelligence Directorate emphasized that residents of the occupied territories do not want to participate in the illegal legitimization of Putin's rule, despite pressure and repression from the invaders. "Most people offer mute resistance to the occupiers, locking themselves in their homes and trying in every possible way to obstruct representatives of the so-called 'mobile polling stations'," it said. The police evacuated 190 people, including 26 children, from the Velyka Pysarivka community, which is located on the border of Sumy region and Russia, over the past three days, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine has said. "The Juvenile Police along with the community police officer helped to transport children from remote villages to the evacuation bus. In safer places, the police met the families to help them with accommodation and providing them with necessary things," it said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. The people were evacuated because of a threat to their lives due to constant shelling by the Russian occupation forces. A young Roscommon woman is a student ambassador at Maynooth University. Sarah Swan from Roscommon Town, a former student at Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown, is an MA student at Maynooth University and a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts degree (Criminology and Sociology). She says she enjoys producing videos promoting different events within the university and speaking about her personal experience. She loves giving guided tours to prospective students and really believes she wouldnt be half the person she is today without the wonderful community and support she has received in Maynooth University. Since I first set foot on campus during the November Open day in 2019, Maynooth University has held that certain charm that I loved straight away, said Sarah. There was a vibrant and homely feel to the place, and it was honestly a gut feeling that I subsequently applied through the CAO to the MH101 Bachelor of Arts Degree in January 2020. In my application, I was so unsure about what subjects I wanted to do and worried that I would make the wrong decision. I felt so relieved that the MH101 programme offered a trial period across all subjects so I felt that this safety net definitely helped in making my decision. I chose Sociology and Criminology as well as double law in my first year which gave me a well-rounded introduction to my chosen subjects. Sarah was part of the Leaving Cert class of 2020, so the transition from secondary school to university was anything but normal When I eventually got onto campus as a student in my second year, I engaged in many other extra-curricular activities including MSU Academic Representative for Sociology as well as representing civic, social and cultural based societies on the Societies Management Committee. By the time I was in my final year, I was elected president of the Maynooth Cancer Society and helped to raise over 4,000 for cancer charities across Ireland as well as getting to represent the society on a national level, she explained. She always wanted to be the student on Open Days that gave the guided tours of the university campus, giving their little quirky stories and tips on college life at MU. So I applied to be a Student Ambassador in my final year and I currently enjoy being a representative for the university I have learned so much from. I enjoy producing videos promoting different events within the University and speaking about my personal experience (and I LOVE giving guided tours to prospective students!). I really believe I wouldnt be half the person I am today without the wonderful community and support I have received in Maynooth University. I am now pursuing a Masters Degree in Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice at MU and thoroughly enjoying every single minute, she said. The Student Ambassador Programme provides current Maynooth University students with the opportunity to provide information about their degree course, subjects, campus facilities and life at Maynooth University to prospective applicants, parents and guardians. Meet MU Student Ambassadors at the Spring Open Day on Saturday, April 27th www.mu.ie/opendays By David Young, PA Pro-Palestinian campaigners held aloft black shamrocks in Dublin as they protested against Irish politicians due to take part in a traditional St Patricks Day ceremony in the White House. The demonstration saw activists line both banks of the River Liffey at the landmark HaPenny Bridge on Saturday afternoon. It was staged ahead of the St Patricks event in Washington DC on Sunday when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will present US president Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock to celebrate the Irish patron saint. The demonstration around the HaPenny Bridge on Dublins River Liffey (David Young/PA) Senior politicians from both sides of the Border will be at the annual event in the White House. Activists denounced their planned attendance during the vocal and colourful protest back in Dublin. They insisted they should be boycotting the ceremony due to the USs continued support of Israel amid its ongoing bombardment of Gaza. As well as displaying black shamrocks, campaigners waved Irish and Palestinian flags and chanted slogans supportive of Palestine and critical of the US administration. Other demonstrators boarded boats that moved up and down the Liffey during the protest, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC). IPSC chairwoman Zoe Lawlor said: The black shamrock is our symbol of resistance and declaration that Ireland Stands with Palestine, that we support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality. We have been consistently demanding that no Irish politician should be meeting or sharing shamrocks with the Biden administration while the Palestinians in Gaza are being slaughtered with US weapons and funding. Aine Hayden from the IPSC handed leaflets to passing members of the public during the visual demonstration. Aine Hayden from the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (David Young/PA) Im here because my heart is completely shattered and broken looking at this genocide thats been taking place for nearly six months now, she told the PA news agency. For the 13,000 children whove been blown to pieces and the many more thousands that are still under the rubble yet to be found. For the two children every day who lose a limb. Every day two children lose one or both legs, for the 25,000 orphans who who are left with no family and the fact that theyre (the Israeli military) targeting ambulances, hospitals, theyre targeting the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) food aid centres. They took out the last one the other day. Theyre targeting starving people who are queuing, waiting for a bag of flour, and theyre shooting and bombing them. Weve never seen the like of this outrage, this is barbarity, and it needs to stop. We need a permanent ceasefire now. Upcoming Creta EV will be based on the facelift model and is expected to get an extended range of premium features Using existing popular brand names can help achieve a smooth transition from ICE to EV. There are some good examples such as Nexon EV and Tiago EV. Following a similar approach, Hyundai will be launching the Creta EV later this year. It will challenge rivals such as MG ZS EV, Mahindra XUV400 along with upcoming Tata Curvv EV and Maruti eVX. Creta EV Whats new? Excluding the closed-off grille and bumper, much of the front fascia will be the same as that of the new Creta facelift. Some of the key highlights include horizontal LED positioning lamps and DRLs, front turn signals with sequential function and muscular hood design. Side profile of Creta EV wont have any major changes, excluding a new set of alloy wheels. At rear, Creta EV will have connected LED tail lamps, LED turn signals with sequential function and aerodynamic spoiler with a LED high mounted stop lamp. Most of the features available with new Creta will be shared with Creta EV. Some of the key highlights include integrated infotainment and instrument screens, voice enabled smart panoramic sunroof, front row ventilated seats, Bose premium sound system and dual-zone automatic temperature control. Creta EV could get some more premium features, likely from Ioniq 5. A comprehensive range of connectivity and ADAS features will also be available with Creta EV. Creta EV specs, range It has been revealed that Creta EV will be getting a 45-kWh battery pack. These battery packs will be manufactured by LG Chem. Creta EV could have a certified range of around 450 km. Real-world range could be around 250 to 300 km. However, range will vary based on various factors such as driving conditions, driver skills, etc. Creta EV will be getting an advanced regen system, which will help optimize range. The SUV will have a fast charging option, allowing users to load up quickly within minutes. For example, Hyundai Ioniq 5 can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 21 minutes using an ultra-fast charger. Talking about performance, Creta EV will have a single-motor setup, mounted on the front axle. The motor will be the same as used with the new-gen Kona available in international markets. It generates 138 hp of max power and 255 Nm of peak torque. Other information such as acceleration, top speed, charging time, etc. will be revealed in due course. Hyundai EV charging network expansion For the benefit of its EV users, Hyundai is working to expand its EV charging network. New ultra-fast EV charging stations are being set up across cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Gurugram and Hyderabad. Charging stations are also being set up along major highways such as Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Chandigarh, Mumbai-Nashik, Mumbai-Surat and Hyderabad-Vijayawada. Users can find an available charging slot using the MyHyundai app. Hyundai EV users can also make online payments and monitor the charging status of their vehicle. To be positioned below the Compass, Jeeps upcoming Thar-rivalling SUV can deliver better results in comparison to Maruti Jimny and Force Gurkha With its iconic design and exceptional off-roading capabilities, Mahindra Thar has emerged as a bestseller. Rivals like Jimny and Force Gurkha have entered this space, but consumer preferences remain strongly in favour of Thar. However, things could change in the future with Jeep planning a Thar-rivalling SUV for India. This new SUV will also be introduced across multiple global markets. Jeeps Thar-rivalling SUV What to expect? It is likely that Jeeps new SUV will borrow design elements from the Wrangler. Exterior styling and equipment list will be oriented towards family needs. That said, Jeeps Thar-rivalling SUV will get comprehensive off-roading capabilities. Just like Thar, Jeeps new SUV will be based on a body on frame chassis. Both petrol and diesel engine options will be available. There will be 4WD with locking differentials. Jeeps new SUV could actually deliver superior off-roading capabilities than Thar to attract enthusiasts. More specific details about Jeeps upcoming Thar-rivalling SUV are not available. In the parent company Stellantis line-up, Jeeps new small SUV will be positioned above the upcoming C3 Aircross-based SUV. Considering that it will be a family-oriented SUV, a comprehensive range of creature comforts are expected. Some of the key highlights will include features like a large touchscreen infotainment system, wireless charging, power adjustable seats with memory function and ventilation, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic AC and engine start-stop system. Safety kit will include features such as front, side and curtain airbags, electronic parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring system, electronic stability control (ESC) and 360 surround view monitor. Jeeps Thar-rivalling SUV Pricing It is unlikely that Jeep will start a price war with Mahindra Thar. Jeeps new SUV will be positioned as a premium product and priced accordingly. In terms of pricing, there shouldnt be any major worries for Thar. However, Jeeps new SUV will be the most affordable in the companys India portfolio. This will allow it to access a larger customer base. Currently, the most affordable Jeep SUV is the Compass. It is available at a starting price of Rs 20.69 lakh. Mahindra Thar 4WD variants are available in the price range of Rs 14.30 lakh to Rs 17.60 lakh. Upcoming Thar 5 door version is likely to be priced around Rs 17 lakh to Rs 23 lakh. Jeeps new SUV could probably be offered at a starting price of around Rs 18 lakh (ex-sh). An iconic nameplate and Jeeps original DNA could prompt many enthusiasts to choose the new SUV. Jeeps Thar-rivalling SUV Focus on exports Jeeps upcoming mini-Wrangler will be manufactured at the companys facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune. While India will be a key market, the new small SUV will also be exported to multiple right-hand drive markets. It will also be exported in kit form to locations such as Latin America and Africa. Source Mahindra led the mid size SUV sales February 2024 charts with a 71.07% market share selling Scorpio and XUV700 Mahindra has been acing the SUV game in India. Were talking about the mid-size SUV segment that spans vehicles between 4.4m to 4.7m in length. The companys Scorpio (both Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N) and XUV700 contribute towards the success story that repeats itself every single month. Mid Size SUV Sales February 2024 Where manufacturers are concerned, Mahindra lead the mid size SUV segment with a total of 21,597 units and a staggering 71.07% market share. Closely followed by Tata Motors with 5,210 units and a 17.14% market share. Scorpio brothers (Scorpio Classic and Scorpio N combined) sold a total of 15,051 units last month. When compared to 6,950 units sold in February 2023 and 14,293 units sold in January 2024, Scorpio brothers registered 116.56% YoY growth and 5.30% MoM growth respectively. Volume growth stood at 8,101 units YoY and 758 units MoM. Scorpios alone contributed to 49.53% of mid size SUV sales February 2024 charts. Despite Mahindra Scorpio S5 trim launch being delayed, this SUV is garnering very good sales numbers. In 2nd place, we have Mahindras XUV700 with a 21.54% market share in this segment. This SUV saw 6,546 takers last month and registered 45.31% YoY over 4,505 units from last year, gaining 2,041 units in volume. Harrier and Safari register YoY growth It wasnt all sunshine for XUV700 as there was a 9.16% MoM decline when compared to 7,206 units sold a month before, losing 660 units in volume. Tata sold 2,648 units and Safari and more than doubled the numbers YoY with 111.5% YoY growth over 1,252 units sold last year. However, there was an 8.47% MoM decline losing 245 units in volume. Safaris 5-seat sibling, Harrier, saw 2,562 buyers and saw a healthy 24.73% YoY growth. There was a 2.44% MoM decline when opposed to 2,626 units sold a month before. MG sold a total of 1,826 units of Hector and Hector Plus. When compared to 2,558 units sold last year, there was a 28.62% YoY decline. However, the recent price revisions and new trim launches seems to have helped the cause and there was a 0.5% MoM growth. Hyundai Alcazar is the first vehicle on this list to fall in the red completely. Hyundai sold 1,290 Alcazars and there was a 17.25% YoY decline and a 29.39% MoM decline along with a 4% market share. Vehicles with sub 1% market share Jeep Compass saw 204 takers last month and fell into the red completely. Compass sales numbers halved YoY as it registered a 49.75% YoY decline and there was a 28.67% MoM decline as well. Following Compass trend, is Hyundai Tucson with 157 units sold and there was a 68.47% YoY decline and a 14.21% MoM decline. Volkswagen Tiguan sold 102 units and Skoda Kodiaq sold 89 units. Lastly, we have Citroen C5 at 0. In total, mid size SUV sales February 2024 charts accounted for 30,386 units. When opposed to 19,879 units sold in February 2023 and 31,245 units sold in January 2024, this segment saw 52.85% YoY growth and 2.75% MoM decline. Volume grew YoY by 10,507 units and declined by 859 units MoM. Volkswagen and Skoda experienced a dip in sales for February 2024, with the former selling 3,019 units and the latter accounting for 2,254 unit sales Volkswagen and Skoda, two automakers in India, regaled for their premium lineups that comprises tough models with dependable powertrains, have not been seeing favourable sales in the country. German automaker Volkswagen has recorded 3,019 unit sales in February 2024 while its sister brand Skoda had 2,254 units sold in the same month. Both these automakers, VW which featured at a No. 10 spot on the list of OEMs and Skoda at No. 12, have seen both YoY and MoM decline in sales. VW Sales February 2024 Led by Virtus Volkswagen sales stood at 3,019 units in February 2024, down 9 percent over 3,313 units sold in February 2023. It was also a MoM decline of 8 percent when compared to 3,267 units sold in January 2024. The company lineup includes Virtus mid-size sedan and Taigun compact SUV with a 5-star G-NCAP safety rating and Tiguan premium SUV with a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP. Of these, it was the Virtus that saw the highest sales last month at 1,631 units relating to a 4 percent YoY growth from 1,563 units sold in February 2023. MoM sales dipped by 13 percent from 1,879 units sold in January 2023. Taigun sales were at 1,286 units, a 22 percent YoY de-growth but a very marginal 1 percent MoM growth. On the other hand, Tiguan has seen a 10 percent YoY growth to 102 units last month from just 93 units sold in February 2023 but a 10 percent de-growth on a MoM basis. Skoda Sales in February 2024 Kushaq Leads Skoda sales also dipped both YoY and MoM in February 2024 to 2,254 units, down 34 percent over 3,418 units sold in February 2023. It was a 5 percent MoM de-growth over 2,377 units sold in January 2024. Kushaq was the best-selling Skoda car in India in February 2024 despite a 36 percent YoY de-growth with 1,137 units sold. There had been 1,783 units sold in February 2023. MoM sales improved by 5 percent from 1,082 units sold in January 2024. Slavia sales also fell by 19 percent YoY and 17 percent MoM to 1,028 units while Kodiaq sales were down 53 percent YoY to just 89 units sold in the past month. It did make up in sales numbers on a MoM basis by 66 percent over 53 units sold in January 2024. The contrasting sales performance of Skoda and Volkswagen in February 2024 reflects the diverse market dynamics and evolving consumer preferences in Indias automotive industry. Factors such as changing consumer demands, economic conditions, and competition from both domestic and international players continue to influence the sales trajectory of automotive brands in the country. Upcoming Facelifts / Launches These lower sales could be on accounts of buyers awaiting Slavia and Kushaq facelifts which are set to receive various feature updates to include Level 2 ADAS and 360 degree camera. This will allow the Slavia and Kushaq to compete efficiently with the rival sedans like the Honda City and Hyundai Verna, and compact SUVs such as Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate. In addition, Skoda is also working on a new sub 4m SUV. Skoda and VW also have plans to launch EVs in India. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to thank the United States for the recent military aid package, which will help Ukraine resist Russian aggression. The minister emphasized the need and urgency of continued U.S. and international support for Ukraine, including air defense and artillery ammunition, the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. The diplomats discussed further ways to approve a critically needed package of support for Ukraine from the United States. "We cannot allow Russia to use delays in aid to advance, putting all of Europe and the democratic world at risk of an even larger war. We discussed ways forward to approve the critically needed supplemental. Ukraine has demonstrated repeatedly in recent years that with sufficient support, we can defeat Russia on the battlefield. Failure to continue supporting Ukraine would severely undermine the U.S. leadership all across the world and jeopardize American national security," Kuleba said. The interlocutors also exchanged views on the anticipated outcomes of the NATO Washington summit later this year. Bajaj Pulsars took 4th position on the Top 10 Two Wheelers February 2024 charts and is Indias best selling premium commuter lineup India is the largest market for 2W vehicles in the world. Owing to their affordability, lower up-front costs and lower running costs, 2W vehicles witness greater acceptance from Indian audience. This price-sensitive market favours budget commuter 2W vehicles the most, as seen in the sales charts below. Top 10 Two Wheelers February 2024 Like clockwork, Hero MotoCorps Splendor grabbed the top spot with 2,77,939 units sold last month. Splendor alone accounts for 26.28% of the top 10 2W vehicles, up from 24.82% in January 2024. Splendor saw 3.70% YoY decline when compared to 2,88,605 units sold last year and an impressive 8.94% MoM gain when opposed to 2,55,122 units from a month before. Volume gain MoM was 22,817 units while losing 10,666 units YoY. Hondas Activa is the best selling scooter in India. The company sold 2,00,134 units of these trusty ol Activa and the scooter registered 14.69% YoY growth, up from 1,74,503 units and 15.18% MoM growth, up from 1,73,760 units. Volume gain was 25,631 units YoY and 26,374 units MoM. Activa accounts for 16.90% of the market share of this list. Hondas streak continues with Shine motorcycle in 3rd place selling 1,42,763 units. The newly launched Shine 100 has significantly contributed to sales numbers. And we can see sales figures tripled YoY at 301.09% growth. MoM analysis reveals a small 1.71% decline in numbers and market share in this list stood at 14.13%. In 4th place, Bajaj Pulsar rose to shine with 1,12,544 units sold last month. As opposed to 80,106 units sold in February 2023 and 1,28,883 units sold in January 2024, Bajaj saw 40.49% YoY growth with 32,438 units gained in volume and 12.68% MoM decline with 16,339 units lost in volume. Pulsars accounted for 12.54% market share of this list. Vehicles with sub 10% market share Heros second motorcycle on the list is HF Deluxe with 76,138 units sold. Unlike Splendor, HF Deluxe registered a 35.26% YoY growth and a minor 3.34% MoM decline and accounted for a 7.66% market share. Volume growth YoY was 19,848 units and volume lost MoM was 2,629 units. In 6th place, we have TVS Jupiter scooter, which is the 2nd best-seller of its genre. Jupiter sold 73,860 units last month and registered 37.05% YoY growth over 53,891 units sold last year and a 0.49% MoM decline when compared to 74,225 units sold a month before. Suzuki Access is the companys best-selling product and is the 7th best-selling 2-wheeler in India. With 56,473 Access sold, Suzuki saw 40.50% YoY growth and 1.96% MoM growth along with 5.34% market share. The 8th, 9th and 10th best-selling of the Top 10 Two Wheelers charts are bagged by TVS Raider, XL and Apache respectively. Raiders and XLs sales figures fell close to each other. Raiders at 42,063 units and XLs at 41,059 units. While Raider saw 38.61% YoY growth and 2.93% MoM decline, XL saw 16.16% YoY growth and 2.32% MoM decline. Lastly, we have TVS Apache motorcycles with 34,593 units. Apache registered 0.98% YoY decline along with 10.80% MoM growth last month. In total, Top 10 Two Wheelers February 2024 chart accounted for a total of 10,57,566 units. When compared to 8,29,810 units from February 2023 and 10,27,984 units in January 2024, there was 27.45% YoY and 2.88% MoM growth. Volume growth YoY was 2,27,756 units and 29,582 units MoM. Attack drones of the Security Service of Ukraine struck three more Rosneft oil refineries in the Samara region, informed sources told Interfax-Ukraine. It is about the Novokuibyshevsk, Kuibyshev and Syzran oil refineries, which, in total, process around 25 million tonnes of oil per year, or almost 10% of all oil refining in the Russian Federation. The sources also confirmed that a night attack on Russian refineries was successful. "The SBU continues to implement a strategy to undermine the economic potential of the Russian Federation, which allows it to wage war in Ukraine. The cotton season at Russian refineries is in full swing. Each such defeat reduces the flow of petrodollars that feeds the military economy of the Russian Federation," the source said. As part of the ongoing dialogue with allies, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan, the presidential press service has said on Saturday. During the conversation, Yermak noted that the day before Russia attacked Odesa with missiles, causing casualties and fatalities among civilians. He emphasized Russia's systematic violation of international law through deliberate acts of military aggression against civilians in our country. The parties discussed the situation on the battlefield and the urgent needs of Ukrainian defenders. The head of the President's Office emphasized the importance of prompt approval of the aid package for Ukraine by the U.S. House of Representatives. Yermak thanked the President of the United States, his administration, both houses of Congress, both political parties and the entire American nation for their continued support of Ukraine in its fight for independence and territorial integrity. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. The Western Azerbaijan Community, one of the first groups to be victimized by Islamophobia, truly welcomes the resolution "Measures to Combat Islamophobia" adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly yesterday, the statement of the Western Azerbaijan Community said, Trend reports. "The community has consistently made a significant contribution to global initiatives combating Islamophobia. Last year, the UN General Assembly officially distributed the plea on this matter. Armenia did not vote in favor of the aforementioned resolution, even though it was approved by most states. Armenia's stance on the resolution is understandable given that it is the birthplace of organized Islamophobia. It is important to remember that Armenia has completely eradicated Muslim places of worship and graves while enacting an official anti-Muslim agenda. Armenia honors those who have perpetrated crimes against humanity and war crimes against Muslims. Exiled Azerbaijanis are still not permitted to return to their country of origin by this one. We call on all states united in the fight against xenophobia and Islamophobia to denounce Armenia's Islamophobic policies and support the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis exiled from there to their homes," the statement of the community reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. The Western Balkans are essential for completeness of Europe, and therefore I believe it is in Europe's interest to include the Western Balkans in the European Union, the former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said during the XI Global Baku Forum, Trend reports. "But there is one 'but'. This 'but', in my opinion, is related to the capabilities of the European Union on the one hand, as well as the capabilities of specific countries from the so-called Western Balkans on the other," he emphasized. According to Ivo Josipovic, it is necessary to force the European Union not to be so unambiguous regarding the criteria. "This means that political criteria and security criteria are in some opposition to Copenhagen criteria, but not only technically but also politically," he noted. The former Croatian president mentioned that if you review the membership of some EU countries, you can see that they all fit the criteria. "Secondly, the European Union does not have a coherent and unified security and foreign policy. This is the weakness of the European Union," he added. To note, the XI Global Baku Forum is attended by representatives of many countries as well as prestigious international organizations: more than 350 guests from over 70 countries. The forum, which will last until March 16, will host global discussions on the results of COP28 and preparations for COP29, will consider factors that pose threats to the new world order, as well as issues of security and prospects for peace, building stability in a fractured world, its impact on the global world, will discuss ways to address the challenges facing humanity, will touch upon conflicts and mega-threats shaking the world, including climate, food and nuclear security. At the same time, there will be discussions on the role of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives, the European Union and its relations with its neighbors, youth policy, ways to build resilience to global challenges, inequality, natural resource scarcity and migration issues, artificial intelligence, and new security paradigms in the age of drones and cyberweapons. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. President of the United States Joseph Biden has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Novruz holiday, Trend reports. The letter reads: "Dear Mr. President. On behalf of the People of the United States, I send our warm wishes to you and the people of Azerbaijan for a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful Novruz Bayram. As we mark this season of renewal and reflection, the United States reaffirms our enduring commitment to the partnership between our nations and to a durable and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which will promote security across the region for generations to come. In the year ahead, I look forward to working with you to advance regional connectivity and expand economic growth. Novruz Mubarak!". STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The $150 million complete overhaul of the apartments at the Todt Hill Houses is being developed with the help of the residents who live there, and they couldnt be more excited. On Thursday, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) held an interactive design workshop at the Todt Hill Neighborhood Senior Center/Todt Hill Friendship Club, granting residents the opportunity to help shape their future home. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island real estate developer, restaurateur, army veteran and father, Ralph Buddy Zurlo, 78, died Thursday, March 14. Zurlo was born and raised in Brooklyn, eventually moving to Staten Island with his wife of 52 years, Andrea, upon honorable discharge from the military. Beyond being a veteran, husband and father, Zurlo served as a real estate developer of more than 1,000 homes on Staten Island. Additionally, Zurlo was a member of the Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR), former president of the New York City Builders Association and co-owner of Volpe Realty. The span of Zurlos reach even crossed into the culinary sphere as he was also a restauranteur of Violettes Cellar, Whiskey Hideaway and Billiard Hideaway. Zurlo was a partner in Violettes Cellar along with Chef and Founder of Bread and Butter Hospitality Peter Botros, as well as Philip Farinacci, partner in Violettes Cellar and former president of the Building Industry Association of New York City. I was very close with Ralph. He was a marvelous man, always had a story to tell, Farinacci said. He was always there to help anybody that needed help. Again, one of the founding builders of Staten Island post-Verrazzano Bridge. Just a great all around guy, really a great guy, someone you can sit and talk to for hours. Farinacci took comfort in knowing that Zurlo is with his late wife. Andrea is notably memorialized on the back of menus at Violettes Cellar along with the mothers of both Botros and Farinacci. Ralph and Andrea were the most wonderful people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing, Botros said. Both Ralph and Andrea were always in such great moods, and they were always so in tune with being friendly and complimentary to the staff and customers. They were just really, really great down to earth, loving people. The kindness exemplified by Zurlo extended beyond his general demeanor, manifesting in the form of various philanthropic efforts with charitable organizations such as SI Mental Health, the Jewish Community Center and Staten Island University Hospital Foundation. Carrying the generous spirit through daily life, Zurlo volunteered at Clove Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and served as an usher at St. Ritas Church. He is survived by his son Marc, daughter-in-law Irina, sisters Jeanette Reale and Debra Neglia, and numerous nieces and nephews. Ralph always took the extra time to get to know people, their families, and undoubtedly had a story from life experiences that he would tell to create lasting connections with the people around him, Botros said. He was incredibly generous and charitable. Ralph was universally loved. For the full obituary, click here. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Dozens of community leaders and residents came together to pray, break fast, and share a meal at an Iftar community event hosted by the Staten Island-based Asian American Labor and Community Organization (AALCO) in Graniteville Friday evening. We enjoy working together like family and giving back. We appreciate everyone. I am Hindu and AALCO is about celebrating inter-religious customs and celebrating each other, Radhakrishna Mohan, president of AALCO, said. We are here today to celebrate Iftar. Our folks will come to celebrate Diwali together too. Though we have different religious faith, we treat ourselves as one family. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here. Joseph T. Brennan, 77, died Feb. 22, 2024. Born on Staten Island, he worked as a dispatcher with the Staten Island bus division for 28 years until retiring from the NYC Transit in 1996. In 1988, he and his wife Margie began building their new house in Cape Cod which they moved into in 1997. Upon moving to Cape Cod, Joe started a new career as an X-Ray Technician which he did for the next 11 years. Read the full obituary for Joseph T. Brennan >> Betty Masini, 90, died March 14, 2024. She was born and raised in Brooklyn and had lived on Staten Island before moving to Manchester in 2000. She was a talented interior decorator for Randall Decorators on Staten Island, where she poured her creativity and passion into every project she worked on. Read the full obituary for Betty Masini >> Dorothy Scanlon, 85, died March 14, 2024. She was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived in Westfield, NJ, then Scotch Plains, NJ, prior to moving to Mountainside, NJ. Read the full obituary for Dorothy Scanlon >> Ralph Zurlo, 78, March 14, 2024. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, moving to Staten Island with his wife, Andrea upon his honorable discharge from the military. He was a real estate developer of well over 1,000 homes on Staten Island, member of SIBOR and former President of the NYC Builders Association, co-owner of Volpe Realty. He was also a restauranteur of Violettes Cellar, Whisky Hideaway and Billiard Hideaway, an army veteran and a world traveler with his loving wife Andrea of 52 years. Read the full obituary for Ralph Zurlo >> YESTERDAYS OBITUARIES Harriette Lerche Goldberg, a beloved English teacher at New Dorp High School for over fifty years, passed away on Tuesday, Mar. 12, 2024, in Lantana, Florida, just one day before her eighty-eighth birthday. Germaine Brennan Vindigni, a dedicated member of her community and a loving mother and grandmother, passed away on Thursday, Mar. 14, 2024, at the age of 88. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A bipartisan group of Staten Island elected officials called out Mayor Eric Adams agreement on migrants right to shelter announced Friday. Nicole Malliotakis (R - Staten Island/South Brooklyn), Borough President Vito Fossella, District Attorney Michael McMahon, State Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore), City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-South Shore), Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island/South Brooklyn) and State Assemblymen Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), Sam Pirozzolo (R-Mid-Island) and Michael Reilly (R-South Shore) issued a joint statement criticizing the Adams administrations agreement with the Legal Aid Society. Under the agreement, some requirements of the right to shelter in the five boroughs will be lifted for single adult migrants. Those 23 and older will be given 30 days of shelter without the ability to reapply unless they demonstrate an extenuating circumstance necessitating a additional stay, or if they need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability. Adults younger than 23 will be given 60 days of shelter. The agreement does not affect families with children. Specifically, the group pointed to a September decision from Staten Island Supreme Court Judge Wayne Ozzi that would have effectively eliminated the right to shelter for migrants and called for an end to shelters in Travis and Midland Beach, the latter of which the group argues is in violation of the buildings certificate of occupancy. Staten Islands Judge Wayne Ozzi made clear that Right to Shelter is for homeless New Yorkers, not eight billion people on the planet who may come to our city, the group said in a joint statement. While transitioning people out after 30 days is better than the unlimited stays they are offering now, this settlement is still a far cry from what the consent decree originally intended and will continue to take city resources and housing opportunities away from our citizens. STATEN ISLAND MIGRANT SHELTERS STILL A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE Earlier this month, the same group sans McMahon, Pirozzolo and Reilly sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, and John Greenwood executive director of Homes for the Homeless, the owner and operator of the Midland Beach shelter at 1111 Father Capodanno Blvd. contending that the shelter is operating in violation of a host of city codes and other regulations. Homes for the Homeless partnered with the city last year to open a migrant shelter at the site that had been used as senior housing for over a decade. In the 1990s, the site served as a traditional homeless shelter until former Mayor Rudy Giuliani discontinued the city contract there. The shelters in Travis at hotels off Wild Avenue have drawn similar backlash, but also previously functioned as homeless shelters. All three of the shelters have been identified by the city as housing for migrant families, so they wont be impacted by the new agreement reached by the Adams administration. AGREEMENT ALSO REQUIRES BETTER SHELTER ACCOMMODATIONS Mayor Eric Adams said the temporary agreement, which will last throughout the declared migrant crisis state of emergency, will lift a significant burden off the city, and reiterated his call for more help from the federal government. New York City has led the nation in responding to a national humanitarian crisis, providing shelter and care to approximately 183,000 new arrivals since the spring of 2022, but we have been clear, from day one, that the Right to Shelter was never intended to apply to a population larger than most U.S. cities descending on the five boroughs in less than two years, Adams said. Todays stipulation acknowledges that reality and grants us additional flexibility during times of crisis, like the national humanitarian crisis we are currently experiencing. Part of the agreement also requires the city to clear a backlog of new arrivals who are reapplying for placement in the citys shelter system, according to the Legal Aid Society. The Adams administration will also be required to place more stringent controls on emergency shelters it has set up to deal with the massive influx of people, including adequate staffing along with access to bathrooms, showers and meals or meal allowance. Since spring 2022, New York City has seen an influx of more than 180,000 people into the five boroughs, and the 65,000 still in the citys care have prompted the creation of more than 200 additional homeless shelters around the five boroughs. Chief Attorney of the Civil Practice at The Legal Aid Society Adriene Holder said the agency will monitor the citys compliance with Fridays agreement throughout the rest of the declared state of emergency. This settlement safeguards the right to shelter in the consent decree, ensuring single adults both long-time New Yorkers and new arrivals access to shelter, basic necessities and case management to transition from shelter to housing in the community, Holder said. It also requires the city to immediately eliminate the use of waiting rooms as shelters where new arrivals have been sleeping on chairs and floors while they wait for shelter placement. THE HISTORY OF THE RIGHT TO SHELTER IN NYC As a result of a 1979 lawsuit and subsequent legal action, New York City is one of three U.S. municipalities that has a right to shelter for all homeless people, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. A coalition co-founder, attorney Robert Hayes brought the suit that year on behalf of Robert Callahan, a homeless man suffering from alcoholism who Hayes discovered sleeping on the street in Manhattan, according to the coalition. In a 1981 settlement, the city and state agreed to provide shelter and board to all homeless men who met the need standard for welfare or who were homeless by reason of physical, mental, or social dysfunction. Women and children were added later, according to the coalition. Throughout the current crisis, Adams and members of his administration have maintained that the city has a moral and legal obligation to house migrants arriving in the five boroughs, but Fridays announcement discontinues the legal obligation after 30 days. Current Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless David Giffen said that, like the Legal Aid Society, the organization will be keeping an eye on the citys compliance with Fridays agreement. For more than 40 years, New Yorks legal Right to Shelter has distinguished our city as a community that demands basic standards of decency and humanity for anyone in need, and so we are relieved that this settlement finally puts an end to Mayor Adams efforts to dismantle this lifesaving cornerstone of New Yorks response to homelessness, Giffen said. We will vigorously monitor compliance to ensure that those without homes are not relegated to the streets, and look forward to the Mayor and Governor significantly increasing their efforts to help homeless longer-term New Yorkers and new arrivals alike transition from shelters into permanent housing and stability. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If youre in the market for a spacious condo, Staten Island is a good place to look. According to a new study, the borough is home to some of NYCs largest living spaces many of which surpass the national median home size and feature an affordable price point too. The biggest surprise was delivered by Staten Island, which had the smallest median sale price at just $374,000, despite also boasting the largest median condo size at 1,047 square feet, states a newly released report from Property Shark, a research tool used by real estate professionals, investors and homebuyers in New York and other major U.S. markets. Staten Islands attractive condo prices are prominently highlighted in Property Sharks citywide ranking, where the burb claimed five of the 10 most affordable neighborhoods for condos. The typical sale price for a New York City condo stood at $575,000 in 2023, the study found. But units in Grymes Hill, Mariners Harbor, New Dorp, Tompkinsville and Grant City sold for much less. But space was the biggest selling point in this study and Staten Island apparently has a lot of it. Heres a look at where youll find the NYCs largest condos and what you can expect to pay for them according to Property Sharks research: Manhattan, Hudson Yards 2,045 square feet for $5.9 million Staten Island, Todt Hill 2,016 square feet for $650,000 Manhattan, SoHo 1,954 square feet for $4.3 million Manhattan, TriBeCa 1,860 square feet for $3.6 million Manhattan, NoHo 1,778 square feet for $3.9 million Staten Island, Midland Beach 1,505 square feet for $524,000 Bronx, City Island 1,498 square feet for $590,000 Staten Island, Bulls Head 1,421 square feet for $455,000 Brooklyn, Borough Park 1,405 square feet for $783,000 Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights 1,378 square feet for $2.3 million Todt Hill stands out with condos that stretch to 2,016 sq. ft. surpassing the national median home size, a Property Shark rep noted. [And] Arrochar claims boroughs biggest condo sold in 2023 at 2,583 square feet. The study does point out, however, that Staten Islands most affordable condo neighborhoods dont necessarily have the biggest properties. Only Staten Islands New Dorp had a median size north of 1,000 square feet, the study states. Still, Staten Island condos are bigger than those found in the Bronx and Queens which have a 769 and 809-square foot median respectively. Press Release March 16, 2024 "REVILLA LAW" WHICH PROHIBITS THE "NO PERMIT, NO EXAM POLICY" GETS ENACTED SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. lauded the enactment of Republic Act No. 11984 which will allow students to take school examinations despite their unsettled financial obligations. Under the law, disadvantaged students with unpaid tuition and other school fees will now be allowed to take examinations. In the "Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act", which was principally authored by Senator Revilla, all private and public educational institutions are required to accommodate and allow disadvantaged students to take the scheduled periodic and final examinations. This covers basic education institutions (K to 12), higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions. In stressing that those who have less in life must have more in law, Sen. Revilla said that this newly enacted measure will tilt the scales in favor of the youth whose dreams should not be hampered by reason of lack of financial means. "Hindi patas ang mundo, kaya nasa kamay nating mga mambabatas na gawing pantay ang laban ng buhay para sa lahat, lalo na sa mga hikahos at salat sa buhay. Ang alay natin sa kanila ay kayamanang hindi kailanman mananakaw: ang edukasyon", he remarked. In celebrating the passing into law of one of his legislative priorities, Revilla said that the hope is that this will open more doors for our student dreamers who rely on education to go farther in life. According to him, the dreams of financially-challenged students should not be put on hold.. He added that their lack of financial means should even be supplanted with opportunities which the State must afford to them. "Salat man ang kanilang bulsa, hindi naman magiging salat ang kanilang kaalaman. Let us continue to advocate for the Filipino youth so that they may reach greater heights. Wala dapat kabataang nangangamba na hindi makapag-exam, o kaya naman ay hindi maka-graduate, dahil lamang sa kakulangan ng salapi. Poverty should never cripple them and shatter their dreams", Revilla said. The new law further provides that local social welfare development officers in the municipality, city, or province, or the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall issue the necessary certificate on the the disadvantaged status of the students due to calamities, emergencies, force majeure, and other good or justifiable reasons. "Dapat rin natin siguruhin na hindi mawawala ang pag-asa na sila ay makapag-aral ng mabuti at walang hadlang. Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, dapat ay buong-buo ang suporta natin sa kanila at sa kanilang edukasyon. Bigyan natin ng bagwis ang pakpak ng kanilang mga pangarap upang mas matayog ang maging lipad ng mga itinuturing nating pag-asa ng bayan," Revilla added. All covered educational institutions not complying with the provision of the law shall be suject to administrative sanctions that may be imposed by the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as the case may be. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has discussed issues arising from the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) with UN Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner, who is visiting Azerbaijan to participate in the XI Global Baku Forum, a source in the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. The source said that the meeting between Bayramov and Steiner also discussed the agenda of cooperation within the UNDP, current perspectives, and the regional situation in the post-conflict period. "Bayramov, speaking about the positive results of long-term cooperation between the UNDP and Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of continuing the existing partnership. The minister mentioned that in addition to completing the required organizational steps, our nation is actively participating in meaningful negotiating procedures with different parties in order to successfully chair COP29. This pertains to the preparatory work for the conference. Speaking of the post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building initiatives that our nation undertook, the minister pointed out that the lives and health of our people, as well as the ongoing reconstruction efforts, are in danger due to Armenia's widespread mining of our territories and its refusal to provide information about areas that have been mined. It was stressed how important it is to organize global mining activities. Steiner noted that Azerbaijan has demonstrated excellent growth, and that the UNDP places a high priority on tackling the threat posed by mines, including talks about potential initiatives in this regard. In addition, Steiner expressed his admiration for Azerbaijan's stance and strategy as the chair of COP29a nation well-known for its abundance of hydrocarbon resourcesand expressed his wishes for the country's success in this role. Other topics of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting," the source added. To note, the decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023. On January 4, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, was appointed as President of COP29. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp 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. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! Aged care providers are being urged to invest more in innovation, with new data showing Australias beekeepers spend nine times more on research and development than the multibillion-dollar sector. Encouraging providers to develop innovative care models and research best practices was among the 23 recommendations in last weeks federal Aged Care Taskforce final report, which also called for wealthier residents to foot their own daily expenses and advised against a dedicated tax. A new analysis from Sydney Policy Lab and Impact Economics and Policy reveals the extent to which the sector has failed to investigate more efficient models of care as Australias population ages. While the average Australian firm spends 0.4 per cent of its total expenditure on research and development, according to the most recent tax office data, in residential aged care it was 0.016 per cent. I find it ironic that Peter Dutton complains about implementing fuel efficiency standards, saying it distorts choices, when Australian consumers are being denied 400 of the more than 500 globally available electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models because of a lack of efficiency standards (Emissions cap stoush heats up, March 10). What about the health costs of continuing excessive auto emissions, not to mention the increased effect of fuel-hungry cars on the atmosphere when climate change is upon us? Does Dutton want us aligned with the only developed country not supporting increased fuel standards Russia? Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge Planning Minister Paul Scully, responding to developer attempts to buy properties in Glebe (in a heritage conservation area), says: It is expected that any new developments that might replace a building of little heritage value would improve or enhance the heritage items that surround it. I can see it now. The picturesque heritage cottages, and a tasteful block of three-storey apartments in the middle of the row. Great expectations indeed! Kay Abrahams, Freshwater Heritage controls will apply to the extent they are not inconsistent with the new standards, says Paul Scully to developers ( Glebe heritage homeowners in developers sights , March 10). The Minns governments new standards will allow six-storey apartment blocks to be built within 400 metres of certain train stations, including in heritage conservation areas. It appears that from his use of the word inconsistent, Scully is, in fact, saying: Heritage controls will apply to a heritage-protected home until a developer applies to knock it down and replace it with apartments; at which time they are free to do so. Heritage is either protected or its not if only the Minns government would finally tell us which it is. Catherine Halloran, Croydon Pay to play As a cyclist, environmentalist and one who appreciates clean air, I look forward to the demise of huge SUVs on city roads (Plan to get huge SUVs off roads, March 10). All possible means should be employed to discourage their purchase and use for commuting unless necessary for work purposes. Adjusted parking fees may help, but a huge hike in registration and insurance costs would be the best deterrent. These extra costs can be claimed as a work expense for those who genuinely need them. In addition, a campaign should be introduced to convince potential purchasers that a giant SUV is not to be admired due to environmental destruction, danger to others, and selfish occupation of excessive road and parking space. Geoff Harding, Chatswood We have too many big utes drinking too much fuel and thereby creating too much CO2. So lets have a long-winded argument about whether fuel efficiency standards might make them more expensive. Or, we could treat them equally to other vehicles in terms of taxation. First, reduce the immediate write-off threshold down to $50,000 or even $20,000 so that there is less incentive for businesses to buy $80,000 utes. Second, make them subject to fringe benefits tax (yep, commercial vehicles are currently exempt) so that there is less incentive for every business owner to provide one for their spouse. Theres a lot of sparkling new utes that have business names on the side and are mainly used for the school run and shopping. Steven Lee, Faulconbridge All one team Parnell Palme McGuinness has trotted out her predictable attack on feminists who advocate for better outcomes and involvement for women in the workforce (Corporate women have their special day, but what about the rest?, March 10). Such women, she claims without evidence, are seemingly indifferent to the needs of others trapped in patriarchal families and communities and are instead in a relentless quest to sever us from our choices. She would do well to recognise that feminists place such emphasis on womens abilities to access higher paid work and childcare because our choices are subject to our financial abilities to make them. Moreover, she should realise that feminists desire to improve the lives of all women, not just the ones who wear heels and designer clothes. Jennifer McKay, Ashbury A man allegedly stabbed to death by his brother in Sydneys west had only just been released on parole after serving years behind bars for a fatal crash that killed his partner. Hassan Wraydeh, 46, was rushed to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition after suffering a neck wound last Sunday. The scene of the alleged stabbing in Guildford on March 10, 2024. Credit: Nine News Emergency services said they were called about 1.10pm to reports of a stabbing at the property on Rawson Road, Guildford. In a statement on Saturday, police said they were advised on Wednesday the man had died in hospital. Queenslanders could face lengthy queues at the ballot box today, despite more than a third of voters having already made their choice. Queensland has Australias two biggest local councils, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with 3.5 million voters statewide expected to cast their ballots on Saturday. A big turnout is expected at over 1000 polling booths statewide. Credit: Jono Searle/Getty Images More than 1.4 million electors already voted before election day, the Queensland Electoral Commission said. While this number represents over 40 per cent of eligible voters, it also means that a big turnout is expected on election day when voting resumes ... at over 1000 polling booths statewide, it said. Alcohol keeps going up, theres a beer tax but we cant put prices up any more, because punters dont have money, he said. For example, if we had a sold-out show for 300 people, we would take 30 per cent less over the bar now than what we used to, he said. Most of our punters are in their 30s and 40s they all have mortgages too, so they are spending less. I feel sorry for them theyre hurting, but I cant go on any more. I just have to close the doors and settle my debts before we lose the house. The Age has previously reported skyrocketing insurance premiums have led to strict no dancing while drinking conditions at The Old Bar in Fitzroy, contributed to the closure of rock venue Whole Lotta Love Bar in Brunswick East, and pushed many others to the brink of closure. Music Victoria chief Simone Schinkel said her organisation was discussing the prospect of getting venues access to the state-owned Victorian Management Insurance Authority as the sector was in crisis. Melbournes home of heavy metal only has two weeks of trading left. Credit: The Bendigo Hotel (Facebook) Weve proved theres been a market failure here, she said, calling for all music venues to complete a current survey about their insurance hikes over the past five years that can be used as evidence to the government. We have [the governments] ear. Were now just gathering further evidence. There are so many factors [affecting premiums], but we really have left no stone unturned before turning to the government. The urgency is more pressing in Melbourne than [in] other parts of the country. We are seeing venues close now. The state government has been approached for comment. Guy Palermo outside the Bendigo Hotel in 2013. Credit: Simon ODwyer The Bendigo Hotel sits within the City of Yarra, a municipality that is home to the second-highest number of live music venues after the City of Melbourne. A council meeting this week confirmed the council could not issue council-backed insurance to venues, after a request last month from independent councillor Stephen Jolly. Loading Jolly, who is friends with Palermo, said he was devastated by the closure and warned it would not be the last venue to succumb to the rising costs in Melbourne. It is time for the state and federal governments to step up, he said. Where does this end? The Bendigo is an iconic venue, a Melbourne institution. Palermo said metal bands like Harlott, Alice Remains, Mortiis, Forklift Assassins and System Of A Dont offered to play gigs for free during the last two weeks of The Bendigos trade to help pay down some of the venues debts. My main problem is I feel sorry for the punters, the community, they lose their home, Palermo said. Im trying to get someone to take it on and buy it so they can continue what was there. Loading This is probably one of the most well-known heavy metal bars in Australia, and the community is like-minded. Its one of the most tight-knit communities you could find. He echoed calls for a major intervention on insurance to save live music in Melbourne. If they dont want to keep losing live music venues, someone has to do something, he said. Its too late for me, but its not too late for others. When contacted by this masthead, the state government did not comment on whether it was considering using its own insurer to secure coverage for live music venues at an accessible price. First-home buyers outbid seven others to buy a Petersham townhouse for $1,765,000 on Saturday. The three-bedroom home at 1/16 Sadlier Crescent was originally guided at $1.3 million, but due to a high level of interest, the guide was increased to $1.4 million and then $1.45 million before being removed. Eight buyers from the area registered to bid all young couples and families either first-time hopefuls or upgraders. Starting at $1.45 million, the auction rose quickly in varying and irregular increments. Only half of the registered bidders participated. In property-obsessed Sydney, success so often translates to high-end real estate, so it is perhaps no surprise to discover best-selling author, food blogger and Good Food columnist Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats has shown up on the high-end housing market. Records show Maehashi paid $7 million for a Victorian-era house in Hunters Hill that was sold off-market by BresicWhitneys Nicholas McEvoy just four years after the same house sold for $4.75 million. Nagi Maehashi and her dog Dozer at the Mona Vale house she sold for $6 million. Credit: James Brickwood Maehashi is a former Brookfield Multiplex senior executive who opted out of corporate life to focus on her love of cooking and developing her global hit website. The blog was turned into a book in 2022 called RecipeTin Eats: Dinner, which not only scored a place on the New York Times Best Seller list but was also last year awarded Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards all while amassing 5 million followers across Facebook and Instagram alone. Russian President Vladimir Putin is poised to extend nearly a quarter-century of rule for six more years on Sunday after wrapping up an election that gave voters no real alternatives to an autocrat who has ruthlessly cracked down on dissent. The three-day election that began Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine is allowed. Putins fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. A woman holds her dog as she leaves a voting booth in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. Credit: AP The 71-year-old Russian leader faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of his 24-year rule or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Putin has boasted of Russian battlefield successes in the run-up to the vote, but a massive Ukrainian drone attack across Russia early Sunday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow. The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Activation of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be beneficial for many countries, President Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze after the one-on-one meeting, Trend reports. The establishment and forthcoming development of transportation infrastructure will provide invaluable opportunities for numerous countries. Specifically, I believe that the activation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway in an expanded capacity within the next month or two marks a significant achievement, President Ilham Aliyev noted. Highlighting that the railway's capacity will soon increase from one to five million tons, the head of state emphasized that its activation will attract the interest of many countries simultaneously. Labors mixed messages on the Israel-Palestine conflict, inflamed by the barbarous Hamas attacks on October 7, were perfectly illustrated by a midair turn this week. Palestinians fleeing war-ravaged Gaza found themselves turned around during their journey to Australia, with visas that had been approved suddenly cancelled. The cruelty of turning around refugees seems inexplicable as images of Gazans increasing distress among the rubble of their city are carried on traditional and social media. The government has cited ongoing security checks, although it has not mentioned security concerns to the Gazans involved. Rather, it has told them there is a concern that they would have overstayed the visas that had been granted. Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Some Gazans attempting to flee, including to Australia, as international aid agencies say the territory is suffering from shortages of food, medicine and basic supplies. Credit: Fatima Shbair/AP This episode goes against the way many people understand the world. Either these Gazans are victims, in which case they must be innocents deserving of protection, or they are security concerns, implying that they might not be innocent victims of Israeli aggression. Entertaining the idea that someone can be both a victim and not innocent is challenging, but key to how we respond in the face of this evolving crisis. Humanitarianism, to paraphrase David Rieffs A Bed For the Night: Humanitarianism in Crisis, has proven more ambiguous than humanitarians could have imagined. What aid workers have learned, Rieff frets, is that while politics and political analyses matter desperately to them, moral fables matter more to the general public. But Rieff says adults who cross a border, or get caught in a crossfire, or risk starving to death as a war intensifies, have political opinions and often have themselves taken part in killing. PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) and St. Martin Tourist Office successfully joined forces to exhibit the unique tourism offerings of the dual-nation island at Salon Du Voyages et Des Vacances in Martinique from March 1st through the 3rd. Building upon the theme "twice the Caribbean," the collaboration between the two tourism offices aimed to promote the diverse tourism experiences available on the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin. The delegation was led by representatives from both offices, including Gregoire Dumel and Narissa Page from the St. Martin Tourism Office (North) and Gina Illidge from the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (South). Ms. Gina Illidge of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau expressed her delight in coordinating with Ms. Jacqueline Louis, CEO of IMBRACE, the STBs Caribbean Marketing firm. Gina said, Both the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the St. Martin Tourist Office wish to encourage our valued partners to seize the opportunity and join us in showcasing the vibrant spirit of our island at the next Salon du Voyages et des Vacances, as well as other tourism promotions." Working seamlessly together, all representatives showcased various aspects of the local tourism industry to thousands of event attendees. In addition, the Holland House Beach Hotel, 978 Sanctorum, Grand Case Beach Club, the Gunslingers steel band, and Chef Jackson Jean Marie exhibited various aspects of the unique tourism and hospitality experiences to event attendees, highlighting St. Maarten/StMartin as a prime Caribbean destination. Over the course of three days, the 'Salon Du Voyages et Des Vacances' event attracted over 10,000 consumers who eagerly lined up to explore the promotions offered by numerous tourism authorities, travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, arts and crafts vendors, tour/excursion operators, product/service providers, and media from throughout the Caribbean region and beyond. With vibrant presentations, engaging conversations, cultural displays, and cost-efficient travel discounts/promotions, La Madiana's event halls were brimming with excitement among vendors and consumers. St. Maarten/ St. Martin made an indelible impression, particularly among several airlines and travel agencies present to offer direct bookings to eager consumers keen on experiencing the 37-square-mile island paradise. The booth design is complimented by the passionate representation of St. Maarten/St. Martin dominated the event, capturing the attention and interest of attendees. The collaborative effort of the tourism offices, along with the renowned establishments, engaged travelers with sensational sights, sounds, and flavors. St. Martin/St. Maarten's representation as the special guests captured a prominent presence, which encompassed special mentions at the opening ceremony, a customized booth promoting key sites throughout the island, engaging discussions, promotions, and activities, such as the "SPIN & WIN with SWEET SXM" wheel of fortune. Through this attractive activity, attendees were drawn in to learn more about the destination and win prizes from various travel, hospitality, and tour partners, including Holland House Beach Hotel, Simpsonbay Beach Resort, Morgan Resort & Spa, Belair Beach Hotel, St. Maarten Nectar, Parrot Ville Bird Park and Gelateria Milano, as well as Grand Case Beach Club and 978 Sanctorum. Information was also shared about numerous events, activities, places to stay, sights to see, and things to do on the island. Also featured were riveting steel band performances by the talented Gunslingers thrice daily, which rocked the crowd with a cultural display of local music and dances. This was further complimented by a compelling culinary display orchestrated by the award-winning Chef Jackson Jean Marie, who engaged the masses in a gastronomic experience with delectable tastings of several local dishes, further exemplifying St. Maarten/St. Martin's prowess as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. The successful joint participation of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and the St. Martin Tourist Office at Martinique's Salon Du Voyages et Des Vacances once again highlighted the immense appeal of the island as a premier destination for travelers exploring memorable vacation experiences. Upon completion of the 'Salon Du Voyages et Des Vacances' tourism exposition, the following day, Mr. Bruno Brival, General Director/CEO of the Martinique Tourism Office, met to discuss opportunities for cross-promotions and cross-cultural exchanges among both islands. For further information, please log onto www.vacationstmaarten.com. 7 soldiers killed in attack on Pakistan security post: army Islamabad, March 16 (AFP) Mar 16, 2024 Seven Pakistani soldiers and six assailants were killed on Saturday in an attack on a security post close to the border with Afghanistan, according to the military. Members of an armed group attacked the security post near Mir Ali in the early hours of Saturday, the army's communication service (ISPR) said in a statement. "The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to (the) collapse of (a) portion of a building," the statement said, adding that five soldiers were killed. Clashes followed, and during an exchange of fire a 39-year-old lieutenant colonel and a 23-year-old captain died, the ISPR added. All six assailants died in the attack. Pakistan was once plagued by near-daily bombings, prompting a major military clearance operation in the former tribal areas starting in 2014. North Waziristan, where Saturday's attack took place, has historically been a hive of militancy and was the target of a long-running Pakistani military offensive and US drone strikes during the post-9/11 occupation of Afghanistan. Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban's return to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan's home-grown Taliban group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has waged a growing campaign against security officials. Islamabad has accused Kabul's Taliban government of harbouring TTP fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity. Kabul has consistently denied the allegations. Youths kill 16 Nigerian troops on communal peace mission Lagos, March 16 (AFP) Mar 16, 2024 Sixteen Nigerian soldiers have been killed on a mission to halt clashes between two communities in the southern state of Delta, an army spokesman said on Saturday. The troops deployed in the Bomadi region "were surrounded by some community youths and killed on Thursday, March 14," Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said in a statement. "The reinforcement team... was also attacked leading to the death of the Commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers," said Gusau, acting director of defence information. The soldiers had "responded to a distress call" following trouble between the Okuama and Okoloba communities. "The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has directed the immediate investigation and arrest of those involved in the heinous crime," the statement said. "So far, a few arrests have been made while steps (are) in place to unravel the motive behind the attack." According to local media reports, the two communities have clashed repeatedly over land ownership in recent weeks leaving several people dead. fvl/bp/imm The moves comes after NHS England issued guidance telling hospitals they should not be using physician associates (PAs) on medical rotas and outlining what tasks they cannot do, including prescribing and being used as replacements for doctors. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other`s sovereignty, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze after the one-on-one meeting, Trend reports. We have always made statements supporting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and supported each other during voting in relevant international organizations. Subsequently, this support will continue, the head of state emphasized. They found half of a two-roomed flat on the second floor of the block alight and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued two people from the building. The row this week over alleged racist comments by major Conservative donor Frank Hester that Ms Abbott made him want to hate all black women and should be shot has sparked questions over why the probe has already taken 10 months. The fact that he came perilously close to essentially assassinating two western leaders, it doesnt matter whether that is deliberate or accidental. What the hell is he doing, and why the heck would the West allow him to do that kind of thing? The woman that ran the pop-up gallery was doing an exhibition at the Houses of Parliament to celebrate the new city of Southend-on-Sea and she said, Ive got these old coins, can you paint something on them for this exhibition?' the 48-year-old who is based in Thundersley, Essex, told the PA news agency. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Our energy projects will continue to ensure energy security of many countries, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze after the one-on-one meeting, Trend reports. We are well aware of the dynamics of the global energy markets. It's evident that the demand for Azerbaijani gas will continue to rise each year in the European continent, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out. Highlighting Azerbaijan`s resources, financial capabilities, reliable friends like Georgia, and extensive transit opportunities, the head of state noted: "In such a scenario, our energy projects will play a pivotal role in ensuring the energy security of numerous countries. Georgia and Azerbaijan stand as reliable partners in this endeavor." 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The largest number of people was registered in the case of beneficiaries of allowances according to D.L. no. 118/1990 - regarding the granting of rights to persons persecuted for political reasons by the dictatorship established on March 6, 1945, as well as to those deported abroad or made prisoners, with subsequent amendments and additions, respectively 184,507. The average compensation was 1,546 RON. A number of 17,357 people benefited from an average allowance of 948 RON, according to Law no. 49/1991 and Law no. 44/1994 - regarding war veterans, as well as some rights of disabled and war widows, and 66,819 people were beneficiaries of allowances according to Law no. 189/2000 - regarding the approval of Government Ordinance no. 105/1999 for the amendment and completion of Decree-Law no. 118/1990 regarding the granting of rights to persons persecuted for political reasons by the dictatorship established on March 6, 1945, as well as to those deported in abroad or constituted as prisoners, republished, with subsequent modifications, the average amount paid being 879 RON.Regarding the beneficiaries of allowances according to Law no. 309/2002 - regarding the recognition and granting of rights to the persons who completed the military internship within the General Directorate of the Labor Service in the period 1950-1961, they were 48,598 in number, the average amount paid being 83 RON.Beneficiaries of allowances cf. Law no. 341/2004 - the recognition of heroes-martyrs and fighters who contributed to the victory of the Romanian Revolution of December 1989 was 12,831, they received an average amount of 2,156 RON.Also, in February 2024, 572 beneficiaries were registered according to Law 109/2005 - Artists, the average allowance being RON, 13,991 beneficiaries of allowances according to Law 8/2006 - Creative Unions, with an average allowance of 1,913 lei, and 79,861 beneficiaries according to Law 578/2004 - Surviving Spouse, with an average allowance of 128 RON. The draft Ordinance that provides for the elimination of the solar tax for prosumers brings clarity to the legislative framework and eliminates the uncertainties and potential threats of the development of prosumers in Romania, says the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, Agerpres reports. "When I was appointed Minister of Energy, I said from the first day that I would always listen to the voice of the citizens for a common national project: energy for a new Romania. Exactly 9 months since then, following numerous discussions, meetings and debates, including through approaches to the European Commission, we eliminate the tax on the sun for prosumers. We put the draft Government Emergency Ordinance for public consultation through which we started the legal procedures to eliminate the possibility of introducing this tax. Through this approach we bring clarity to the legislative framework and eliminate uncertainties and potential threats of the development of prosumers in Romania," Burduja wrote on his Facebook page. He emphasized that currently there are over 120,000 prosumers in Romania, with an installed power of 1,500MW, more than that of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant."I will continue to support prosumers, because the Romania of the Future needs energy in 3D: decentralized, digitalized and decarbonized," the minister said. The deputy general secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoana, declared on Saturday, in Constanta, that we must prepare for at least a few more years of a tense relationship with the Russian Federation, but he emphasized that a more aggressive Russia means a more prepared to discourage this situation, Agerpres reports. In the context of the presidential elections in Russia, which take place between March 15 and 17, Mircea Geoana was asked what it means to win a new mandate from Vladimir Putin. "If anyone thinks that these elections are elections in a democratic world, it is obvious that this is not the case. It is the continuation of this political regime in Moscow and, unfortunately, we do not see a change of approach neither in Ukraine, nor towards the West, nor towards NATO. So we have to prepare for a few more years at least for a tense relationship, NATO does its duty, we protect our territory and allies, we take measures accordingly. A more aggressive Russia means a NATO more prepared to discourage this aggression," declared Mircea Geoana.The Deputy General Secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoana, was in Constanta on Saturday, where he had a meeting, in the premises of Constanta Port, with operators from the Constanta Port Business Association and launched his book "Battle for the future of Romania. Thoughts of a Romanian at top of NATO". The Noua Casa program should be changed, left to the level of the local administration, and through it, houses can be bought by professional categories where Romania has a deficit, such as doctors or teachers, argues Sergiu Manea, CEO of Banca Comerciala Romana, Agerpres reports. "I would change the program and make affordable housing (housing at affordable prices - ed.n) and I would target affordable housing where we have quality deficits: nurses, medical assistants, doctors, teachers, professors, in the communities and I would take the program to the level of local administrations. I would leave it at the level of the community and at the level where the administrative community sees its strategic interests and directs them," said Sergiu Manea, during a meeting with the press. On the other hand, when asked by journalists about the evolution of lending, he said that it is increasing, but the problem is the small number of bankable companies."I have the following problem with intermediation, I don't think we will solve it through the bank credit channel for a very simple reason, and I'm telling you this because I feel the competition in the market every day. We would credit any creditable company. The problem is that unlike since 15 years ago there are some very, very strict rules that we have to follow. In other countries, the number of potential borrowers from the entrepreneurial area, small, medium, large companies is much higher than it is in Romania, compared to the gross domestic product When I talk about the capital market, in a broad sense, I think that it could bring the potential, let's say, bankability, level two, three, of this entrepreneurial environment that we are trying to create, because we are now talking about entrepreneurial environment 4.0," said Sergiu Manea. Details added: first version posted on 16:22 BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, and his Georgian counterpart Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to the country held a meeting in Baku, Trend reports via Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers. The meeting underscored the high level of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia across various domains, highlighting the positive momentum in economic collaboration and robust political dialogue. Both sides reaffirmed mutual support within international organizations. Azerbaijan's significant role as a major investor in Georgia's economy and a key trading partner was acknowledged, with special emphasis placed on successful joint energy and transportation projects. Notably, the strategic significance of the Southern Gas Corridor was highlighted. The sides expressed confidence that the green energy bridge to Europe, a collaborative effort between Azerbaijan and Georgia, will enhance energy security for numerous European nations. Transportation and transit emerged as crucial areas of cooperation. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line's importance was underscored, alongside joint initiatives to develop the Middle Corridor. Opportunities for enhanced cooperation stemming from the liberation of Azerbaijani territories from occupation were also discussed, with expectations of increased trade volumes and economic benefits for all regional countries. Cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian spheres was praised for fostering closer ties between Azerbaijani and Georgian people, with untapped potential identified for expanding bilateral cooperation. In light of these prospects, the joint intergovernmental commission, co-chaired by the prime ministers, was recognized as a vital platform. Prime Minister Ali Asadov proposed hosting the 10th anniversary session of the commission in Baku in the coming months and extended an invitation to Kobakhidze to visit Azerbaijan, which was warmly accepted. The meeting delved into discussions on the future trajectory of bilateral relations across trade, economy, investment, transportation, energy, agriculture, humanitarian endeavors, information technology, and other mutually beneficial areas of interest. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp Save Romania Union (USR), People's Movement Party (PMP) and Forta Dreptei have submitted, on Saturday, at the Central Electoral Office, the protocol for establishing Dreapta Unita alliance for taking part in the June 9 elections. "On the same day, the representatives of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) power have already committed a first abuse: the rejection of the PMP representative in the Central Electoral Bureau without legal basis. The United Right Alliance firmly requests the defense of democracy in Romania and political pluralism for the good representation of the voters' interests," according to a USR press release, sent to AGERPRES. And Forta Dreptei complained, through a press release, "the incredible abuse committed against the opposition political parties, regarding the participation of the representatives in the Central Electoral Bureau"."USR, PMP and Forta Dreptei will jointly run for both the European parliamentary and local elections on June 9, despite the attempts to block it from PSD and PNL. The slogan of the United Right Alliance for the elections on June 9 is "Don't let them -steals your future. Choose modern Romania!," states the Save Romania Union, in the quoted press release. The miracle of life is not that we have it, its that most of us wake up every day and agree to fight for it, to care for it, to hold it in our arms even when it squirms. Thats the sentence from Sloane Crosleys Grief Is for People that I suspect many reviews will quote. It doesnt get at how witty the book is, but it does highlight its central concern, which is how to grapple with the suicide of a friend, especially how to think about the everyday things youd usually share with a person with whom you can no longer share anything. Events of Crosleys life neatly fall in line for this juxtaposition. One month before her friend and boss Russell Perreault died by suicide, someone busted into Crosleys apartment, broke apart a cabinet she had purchased in the company of estate sale fiend Perreault and stole all the jewelry in it some precious and some only of nonsentimental value (of one item given to Crosley by her grandmother, Crosleys mother says, I might remind you that we didnt like my mother.) Fans of Crosleys tart essay collections, including I Was Told Thered Be Cake, will recognize her ironic humor and her instinct for the perfect detail as in the description of her building superintendents reaction to the theft: For months, every time he sees me, he will go over what we saw on the security footage like hes Oliver Stone watching the Zapruder film. Theres a screwball quality to the jewelry theft, which finds Crosley unwisely making like Nancy Drew and pondering the wisdom of staking out a suspected burglar. The writer realizes how insignificant the loss of a few brooches is, particularly after Russells death, which is why the book is called Grief Is for People (not things). But both events happening around the same time help her understand how unruly grief is, how impossible it is to compare one persons sorrow to anothers. As she reckons with that, Crosley begins to see grief as an almost tangible thing that will always be with her, which is where her book may be most compelling for others who are grieving. Written in the present tense, so everything feels like its coming at the author at once, Grief also shows Crosley drawing to a close a career as a book publicist (her assignments included picking up the pieces after the Star Tribune exposed pugnacious memoirist James Freys A Million Little Pieces as largely fictitious) and launching a career as a bestselling essayist. Hers is not a self-help book, by any means, but Crosleys three-steps-forward/two-steps-back journey to a kind of peace could be useful for others who, like her, feel broken and confused. The drive to Treehouse Point, half an hour east of Seattle, takes you through a forest fit for hobbits, crowded full of fir, spruce, cedar, maple and hemlock. Alongside the Raging River yes, thats its name you get to a gate, punch in the secret code and enter a realm where its perfectly normal to sleep in a tree, surrounded by clever carpentry and birdsong. Its a treehouse hotel, with seven elevated perches spread among the greenery. Like a Douglas fir in rich soil, Treehouse Point has been growing for 19 years, propelled in part by creator Pete Nelsons fame as a treehouse designer and the former host of Treehouse Masters on Animal Planet. The propertys treehouses, each unique and uniquely named, are priced at $325 to $625 a night, breakfast included. Five have water-flush toilets and sinks aboard. The Upper Pond unit has a composting toilet and the Bonbibi unit relies on access to the bathhouses toilets and showers. Now that Ive spent a rainy winter night in one of the treehouses, I can tell you that this setting was spectacular, the room was snug as a lumberjacks lunchbox. (And later, I learned why it made me feel like I was in a cabin on a ship.) The story of these treehouses begins in the mid-1960s in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where 7-year-old Pete Nelsons father put up a backyard treehouse. Years later, after meeting his wife-to-be, Judy, at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nelson set about building a treehouse himself. Then another. Treehouses, Pete Nelson wrote later, speak in an ancient language and the message is universal: Climb up and be in harmony with nature. By 1994, he had published Treehouses: The Art and Craft of Living Out on a Limb, a coffee-table book. How could Peter Nelsons Treehouses fail to please? wrote L.A. Times reviewer Tobi Tobias. Its subject is immediately attractive, with its implications of escape and fantasy. Several similar volumes have followed. Pete and Judy Nelson bought the Treehouse Point property in Fall City in 2005, beginning with four largely raw riverside acres. The first treehouse, Temple of the Blue Moon, was completed in 2006. Since then, despite early tangles with King County building inspectors and the economic slump of 2008, the Nelsons have built seven treehouses, a central lodge (with a guest bedroom), an event space (with a shower and toilet) and a bathhouse, neighbored by a pond and a wedding lawn. The most recent unit, Ananda, was built in 2021 to be wheelchair accessible. Theres also a path down to the rivers edge, where you could try to skip a stone or just marvel at the lichen-swaddled tree trunks leaning over the fast water. The most popular units? Temple of the Blue Moon, followed by Ananda. The most affordable treehouse? That would be my room, Bonbibi, named for a Bangladeshi goddess of the forest. As I approached its spiral staircase on a short path through the forest, I encountered a tour group, dazzled and beaming after a stroll to the river. Youre staying overnight? one of the visitors asked me, envy in every syllable. At the top of Bonbibis stairs, I found a 9- by-12-foot room affixed to the broad trunk of a western red cedar. Below, theres an outdoors sitting area with a pair of chairs. Once youve stepped inside, theres a queen bed, plenty of electricity, a coffee maker, several big windows with white curtains and just about everything youd expect in an upscale hotel. Those amenities include a relatively quiet heating-air conditioning unit. Still, for much of the night, I turned it off because the temperature was stable and the sounds of the river, rain and forest, with no hum at all, were irresistible. Its probably not a coincidence that TreeHouse Point has grown along with the Nelsons fame. With partners, the Nelsons now have a hand in three other treehouse getaways: Treehouse Utopia in the Texas Hill Country ; the Woods Maine in Norway, Maine; and Treehouse Grove at Norton Creek Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In addition, through Nelson Treehouse & Suppy, Pete Nelson spends much of his time designing and building treehouses nationwide. Meanwhile, it turns out that many brides and grooms love the idea of spending their wedding nights in a tree. TreeHouse Point has evolved into a busy wedding venue, hosting 80 or more ceremonies per year up to four a week, said general manager Bree Monahan. (Neither of the Nelsons, who travel often, was on hand during my visit.) For nonwedding guests, theres usually a two-night minimum. (Sunday nights are a good bet if you want to sidestep that.) Treehouse Point doesnt allow guests under age 16 or pets. In order to preserve privacy for guests, management doesnt allow check-ins before 4 p.m. or check-outs after 11 a.m., or drop-in visits by curious passers-by. There are, however, yoga classes on most Tuesdays and Thursdays, and visitors can book midday tours, typically an hour for $35. There probably wont be any new treehouses coming along, Monahan said, because the operation has reached its maximum number of permitted lodgings. Its a fascinating place to prowl, almost ridiculously photogenic. I couldnt enter any units other than my own, but to me, the architectural star of the show is Trillium, a two-level wonder with 80 window panes, all clinging to the ample trunk of a western red cedar. It was completed in 2009. Later, I learned that my room, Bonbibi, started out as a 2010 treehouse-building workshop project an elevated gazebo, built in five days, including a ships ladder, the interior finished with marine spar varnish. When the Nelsons expanded it into an overnight lodging in 2012, they replaced the ships ladder with the spiral stairs. But the upstairs still feels, as Nelson has written, like a state room in a 1930s lake-boat cruiser. This is, however, a state room with a shared bathroom. When nature called me in the wee hours, I was obliged to descend the 20 steps of that spiral staircase in the rain, then take another 20 steps to the shared toilets and showers of the neighboring bathhouse. At moments like this, its good to have a fully charged phone/flashlight. (Its also good to be unimpressed by stories of Bigfoot.) If Id spent $50 more for a different unit, Id have had an immediately accessible toilet. But I slept well. And waking up that moment of remembering where I was made me smile. Breakfast was a buffet in the lodge, which is a pleasantly woodsy home with a big fireplace, Wi-Fi (which is unavailable in the treehouses) and bookshelves full of volumes on trees and treehouses. And there was plenty of time before checkout for a little reading and another walk down to the rivers edge. If you go Where: Treehouse Point is at 6922 Preston-Fall City Road SE, Issaquah, near Fall City, Washington. Where to eat: Once you get onto the Treehouse Point property, you wont want to leave. But theres no restaurant on the site. So youll need to head back out for dinner or bring a picnic. If you go out for dinner, the fanciest nearby option is the Salish Lodge, a historic hotel and restaurant above Snoqualmie Falls, about 15 minutes away. The most rustic alternative is the Last Frontier Saloon in Fall City, about five minutes from Treehouse Point. Three New York City boroughs lost almost 80,000 residents from people moving away last year, according to new population estimates, but city officials think those numbers are a vast undercount that doesnt capture the influx of asylum seekers who came to the city. The city rented out entire hotels to house some of the tens of thousands of migrants who came to New York City last year and also put cots in schools and temporarily housed people in tents, a cruise ship terminal and a former police academy building. As many as 50,000 people were overlooked in the citys shelters, according to city officials, who plan to challenge the 2023 population estimates with the U.S. Census Bureau. We wanted to flag it, said Casey Berkovitz, press secretary for New Yorks Department of City Planning. Once you account for this underestimate the year marked a return to prepandemic levels. The three counties representing the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx in New York City lost 28,300 people, 26,300 people and 25,300 people respectively last year, according to the estimates released Thursday. Even though births outpaced deaths and people from abroad moved into these counties, these factors couldnt overcome an outflow of residents, though it was substantially smaller than in 2022. Only Los Angeles County had a larger population loss last year 56,000 fewer residents in 2023, the largest decline in the U.S. In the most popular destinations for immigrants counties in South Florida and counties that are home to Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Jose international migration grew by double digits year-over-year. The estimates dont distinguish between legal and illegal immigration, so its impossible to know if any of the growth came from unlawful border crossings. Arrests for illegal crossings hit a record high in December but fell by half in January. In Miami-Dade County, there were almost 54,500 new residents from outside the U.S., the highest in the nation last year and an almost 40% increase over the previous year. The international migration offset the departure of more than 47,000 residents who left Miami-Dade County for other U.S. counties. Among metro areas, which combine counties having social and economic connections, the Dallas metro area had the biggest growth last year more than 152,000 residents and surpassed 8 million residents for the first time. That growth was followed by metro Houston, with almost an additional 140,000 residents, and metro Atlanta, with an increase of more than 68,000 people. Metro Atlanta jumped two spots from last year to become the sixth most populous metro area, with 6.3 million residents. It is surpassed only by metro New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Houston. Polk County, Florida, was the county more people moved to last year than any other county in the U.S., according to the estimates. More than 29,300 people moved last year to the county located between Tampa and Orlando, two metro areas where housing has grown increasingly pricey and the county is considered a cheaper alternative. In short order, Polk County has come to have fewer orange groves along Interstate 4 and more subdivisions for local service workers as well as distribution warehouses for on-demand deliveries for residents in both metropolitan areas. Almost all the growth in Polk County 88% consisted of people moving from another part of the U.S. rather than from abroad, according to the 2023 population estimates. Subdivision growth has been springing up and it happens in such a manner that you dont always notice it. But when you are stuck in traffic, thats when you really pay attention that its going on, Matt Joyner, a seventh-generation Polk County resident, said about the influx of new residents. Only four other counties Harris and Montgomery counties in metro Houston; Collin County in metro Dallas; and Maricopa County, home to Phoenix grew by more people, thanks to their higher numbers of natural increase, or births outnumbering deaths. Harris County, which is home to Houston, grew by almost 54,000 people, the most of any county last year, with about two-thirds of the growth coming from births outpacing deaths. That natural increase of almost 34,700 people was the highest in the nation. With more than 62,000 acres of citrus groves, Polk County is one of the leading producers of oranges in Florida. The states citrus industry in recent years has been squeezed between a fast-spreading bacteria that has attacked the health of trees all over the state and relentless growth that has spilled over as its metro areas have expanded. Despite that, Polk County has held onto its citrus heritage. Most of the growth has been concentrated in the northeastern part of the county, just a few miles from Walt Disney World in metro Orlando. But many of the citrus growers there who sold their land to subdivision builders have just moved to the southern part of the county, where citrus groves are still plentiful, said Joyner, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, a growers advocacy group. Everywhere you go right now, the groves are snow white and the smell is sweet, Joyner said. It reminds you of the old days. Population growth is greatest in these US states Population growth is greatest in these US states Top 10 states with the highest population increase since 2022 WASHINGTON A major deadline under the half-century-old War Powers Resolution came this past week for President Joe Biden to obtain Congress' approval to keep waging his military campaign against Yemen's Houthis, in line with its sole authority under the U.S. Constitution to declare war and otherwise authorize military force. Came, and went, in public silence even from Senate Democrats frustrated by the Biden administration's blowing past some of the checkpoints that would give Congress more of a say in the United States' deepening military engagement in the Middle East conflicts. The Biden administration contends that nothing in the War Powers Resolution, or other deadlines, directives and laws, requires it to change its military support for Israel's 5-month-old war in Gaza, or two months of U.S. military strikes on the Houthis, or to submit to greater congressional oversight or control. That's left some frustrated Senate Democrats calibrating how far to go in confronting a president of their own party over his military authority. Democrats are wary of undercutting Biden as he faces a difficult reelection campaign. Their ability to act is limited by their control of only one chamber, the Senate, where some Democrats and many Republicans support Bidens military actions in the Middle East. While Biden's approach gives him more leeway in how he conducts U.S. military engagement since Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks, it risks making any crisis deeper if things go wrong. James A. Siebens, leader of the Defense Strategy and Planning project at the Stimson Center in Washington, called it a latent constitutional crisis. Art Dubai showcases artists of the Middle East and Global South CNN takes a closer look at this year's Art Dubai event that celebrates art and artists. The Middle East conflicts have revived a long-running clash between the president, as commander in chief, and Congress, which holds the power to stop and start wars, or lesser uses of military force, and controls their funding. U.S. and British warships, planes and drones opened attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen on Jan. 11. Hundreds of U.S. strikes have followed. The U.S. strikes are aimed at knocking back what has been a surge of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, a clan-based movement that has seized control of much of northern Yemen, on international shipping in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas war began. Biden formally notified Congress the next day. The administration took pains to frame the U.S. military campaign as defensive actions and not as hostilities that fall under the War Powers Resolution. The resolution gives presidents 60 days after notifying Congress theyve sent U.S. forces into armed conflict either to obtain its approval to keep fighting, or to pull out U.S. troops. That deadline was Tuesday. The White House continues to insist that the military actions are to defend U.S. forces and do not fall under the resolution's 60-day provision. Congress pushed through the War Powers Resolution over presidential veto in 1973, moving forcefully to reclaim its authority over U.S. wars abroad as President Richard Nixon expanded the Vietnam War. Since then, presidents have often argued that U.S. involvement in conflicts doesn't amount to hostilities or otherwise fall under the resolution. If lawmakers disapprove, their options include pressuring the executive branch to seek an authorization of military force, trying to get Congress at large to formally order the president to withdraw, withholding funding or stepping up congressional oversight. For Yemen, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy is looking at introducing legislation within weeks that would authorize the U.S. campaign against the Houthis under set limits on the time, geographical range and scope. The plan has not been previously reported. Murphy and other Democrats in Congress have expressed concern about the effectiveness of the U.S. attacks on the Houthis, the risk of further regional escalation and the lack of clarity on the administration's end game. They've asked why the administration sees it as the U.S. militarys mission to protect a global shipping route. This is hostilities.' Theres no congressional authorization for them, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, told a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on obtaining congressional authorization for the U.S. strikes on the Houthis. And its not even close." Asked this week what happens now that the 60 days are up, Kaine said it would be premature for Congress to consider authorizing the U.S. action against the Houthis without understanding the strategy. Idaho Sen. James Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had no such doubts. I believe that the president has all the power that he needs under the Constitution to do what hes doing in Yemen, Risch said. But it's Gaza, and the soaring death toll among Palestinian civilians, that has stirred the most protests from Congress. The Israel-Hamas war also has a far higher profile in U.S. domestic politics. While many Americans are dead-set against any cut in military support to Israel, a growing number of Democrats have begun withholding votes from Biden in state presidential primaries to demand more U.S. action for Gaza's trapped people. Some in Congress were frustrated early in the war that the administration bypassed congressional review to rush additional military aid to Israel, by declaring a national security emergency. The United Nations has said Israeli restrictions are keeping many aid trucks from getting into Gaza. The U.S. this month began air drops and work on a sea route to get more food and other vital goods into the territory. Some in Congress are pushing the administration to cut the military aid now, under existing federal law requiring countries that get U.S. military support to use it in compliance with international law, including by allowing humanitarian access to civilians in conflicts. I'm still flabbergasted that the administration hasn't acted, Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen, one of the senators pushing hardest on the point, said. Muslims around world observe holy month of Ramadan March 16, 2024: In early 2024 Ukraine announced the creation of another branch of its military. Now, in addition to the army, national guard, navy, and air force there will also be an Unmanned Systems Force. The UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) force also trains personnel to manage production of UAVs and USVs (Unmanned surface vessels) as well as development of new or improved models. The Unmanned Systems Force will develop and install useful changes in new or existing UAVs. Currently, the many nations using UAVs are constantly improvising while some develop new tactics and UAV designs as well as adopting new UAV related developments. Russia and Ukraine are the most active users, manufacturers, and developers of UAVs. Ukraine has also taken the lead in developing and using unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) which have enabled them to destroy about half the Russian Black Sea Fleet and force the remaining Russian ships to flee to distant naval bases in the eastern Black Sea. Even there the Russians are not safe because the Ukrainians develop longer range USVs or UAVs to attack the distant Russian bases. Ukraine also develops and uses long-range UAVs to carry out attacks deep inside Russia. The Ukrainians design and use these UAVs to avoid Russian air defenses and regularly embarrass and demoralize the Russians by destroying a growing list of Russian defense industry facilities. The Unmanned Systems Force will also provide much-needed coordination and support efforts by nearly a hundred Ukrainian UAV manufacturers. Most of these UAV manufacturers are small, often household operations creating UAVs for friends or family members in the military. These UAVs are unarmed but equipped to have explosives added by the user. UAV manufacturers are seeking to produce a million UAVs a year and provide the troops with UAVs that, in terms of quantity and quality, can be decisive on the battlefield. Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Force UAV experts exist to help solve problems instead of getting in the way like most new bureaucracies do. These experts can perceive problems and eliminate or limit the damage their help inflicts. Unmanned Systems Force personnel are trained and equipped to quickly fix problems encountered by combat troops. These problems include ways to deal with Russian UAVs. The growing use of small, armed UAVs as cheap cruise missiles created the need for equally inexpensive systems to deal with this threat. All navies and ground forces must address the need for Unmanned Systems defenses. Unmanned Systems are also known, more accurately as UAVs and USVs. UAVs have been used in large numbers by both Ukrainians and Russians in the Ukraine War. Fixed wing and quad/octocopter UAVs can be used for surveillance or attacks. A good example of this is how Ukraine, having no navy left after years of Russian attacks, managed to use armed UAVs and newly developed USVs to destroy over 30 Russian combat and military support ships. These attacks forced what was left of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to leave the western Black Sea. This allowed Ukraine to continue exporting its grain and importing needed supplies via a safe sea route. On land UAVs are constantly looking for enemy activity. If such activity is discovered, an attack by a swarm of armed UAVs often proves fatal for the enemy forces. This has reached the point that small UAVs attack individual Russian soldiers. There are videos of terrified Russians trying to swat attacking Ukrainian UAVs down with just their hands. Russia also uses lots of UAVs against the Ukrainians. This included using swarms of UAVs to destroy three of the 31 American M1 tanks sent to Ukraine. The M1s had not been equipped with enough overhead screens or proper electronic defense systems that the Ukrainians use on their tanks and other armored vehicles. The screens prevent explosives being dropped onto the tank by FPV (First Person View) quadcopters from operators a few kilometers away. The tanks electronic jammers on the M1s were using an obsolete Russian frequency which had no effect on the attacking Russian UAVs. When the jamming does work, most of the Russian UAVs fall to the ground or otherwise become useless. March 16, 2024: Recent aggressive North Korean announcements regarding South Korea have led South Korea to upgrade their defenses against North Korean attacks. The last time the North attacked South Korea was in 2010 when North Korea bombarded Yeonpyeong Island. North Korea is preparing to attack with the same weapons they have used before despite the South Koreans having superior weapons and more of them. North Korea also has a problem with China, which announced in 2014 that China would no longer automatically come to the aid of North Korea if the North Koreans got involved in another war with South Korea. There were disagreements in North Korea over the 2024 aggressive announcements, with some North Korean generals pointing out that their military is in bad shape, North Korean weapons are old and there are fewer artillery shells because of sales to Russia for their war in Ukraine. This brought in much needed money and food, but that did not solve North Koreas acute economic problems. What caused these problems is North Korea putting so many resources into their ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs. Both these programs produced poor results. Nuclear weapons are crude and unreliable while ballistic missiles are not much better. The Russians complained that the munitions and weapons they purchased from North Korea in 2023 were defective and substandard. About half the artillery shells purchased were duds. That was because of sloppy manufacturing practices. It was later revealed that such sloppy practices were tolerated as long as they were not made public. North Korea could not punish the Russians for complaining, although the north refused to give the Russians any refunds for unusable munitions and shabby production standards for weapons. These are the same munitions and weapons the north threatened to use against South Korea and the United States. South Korean intelligence knew the economic situation was bad in the north, but not as bad as the recent revelations described. The South Koreans had evidence of poor living conditions for North Korea soldiers. The southerners had cell phone photos of malnourished North Korea soldiers in shabby uniforms while working in factories or on farms where they grew their own food. North Korea has nearly a million men in the military but only about ten or twenty percent are combat ready. When all this was recently made public, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fired his top general and threatened several others with demotion or dismissal if they did not make needed improvements in the North Korean military. That is not possible given the current economic conditions in the north. The weapons are old and, as the Russians pointed out, often ineffective. The North Korean army has ancient tanks and artillery that is unlikely to remain operational after firing a few shells. The air force has no modern aircraft and the ones they do have are poorly maintained and are rarely able to fly. The navy is equally ramshackle, and the many North Korean submarines are poorly maintained. These subs are often spotted on running the surface, but they rarely submerge because the crews fear these subs wont be able to surface. The Rocket Forces have lots of missiles and often launch them from west coast bases. The missiles launched are usually older ones that have become too old and in danger of losing their ability to operate at all. Instead of scrapping the elderly missiles, North Korea launches them. Many are no longer capable of that, and this is not noticed because the North Koreans consider the fact that so many defective missiles exist to be a military secret. This delays the South Koreans from finding out, but the southerners do eventually learn the truth because such information leaks into China and eventually to South Korea. The United States also provides South Korea with high-resolution photos of North Korea military assets and activity. The Americans also have a fleet of intelligence gathering aircraft that often operate off the North Korea coast. South Korea has obtained some of those aircraft in the form of UAVs equipped for collecting intelligence on the situation in the north. To make matters worse, democratic South Korea is far more prosperous than the north and has a smaller but much better equipped and armed military. Over the last few decades, the south has developed modern and productive arms industries. Now South Korea is a major arms exporter of high quality weapons. These are being sold to nations in East Asia and around the world, especially in Europe where the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to European nations rearming. There was not enough arms production capacity in Europe and the United States to meet the demand, so the South Koreas stepped in and supplied what was needed, especially in terms of armored vehicles, artillery, and guided missiles similar to the GLMRS missile used by the Americans Himars system. Although South Korea produces many weapons, it still imports systems that it does not yet produce. One of these is the Israeli Spike NLOS short-range guided missile. South Korea received the first of these in 2023 and used them to augment the South Korea artillery systems defending the coastline and DMZ demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. Spike NLOS has a range of 50 kilometers with an extremely accurate Israeli guidance system that has been around for decades, and is combat proven. Spike NLOS has been exported to ten countries and all versions of the Spike missile family are exported to about forty countries. Spike NLOS is economical with each 72 kg missile costing about $230,000. The missiles are carried in storage/launch containers that come in systems containing four missiles or individually from pylons under the wings of aircraft. The four-missile containers can be used on trucks or ships. Spike missiles are also available as smaller anti-tank guided missiles. Spike NLOS began in the 1980s as a classified system that was used in combat but not discussed in the media. In the 1990s the missile system was revealed as the Tamuz system and that was eventually changed to Spike NLOS, the largest of the Spike family of missiles and one with the longest range and best accuracy because of its sophisticated guidance system. South Korea became a major export customer for Spike NLOS as well as the shorter range versions of Spike that are used as anti-tank weapons or portable artillery for the infantry. About 30,000 Spike missiles have been sold to export customers. HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited ("Butterfield" or the "Bank") (BSX: NTB.BH; NYSE: NTB) today announced the appointment of Simon Des-Etages to General Counsel and Group Chief Legal Officer effective March 18, 2024. Mr. Des-Etages succeeds Shaun Morris, who has served in the role for the last twelve years and made the decision to retire. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240315548238/en/ Simon Des-Etages (Photo: Business Wire) Michael Collins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said: On behalf of the Board and the Executive Team, we are pleased to welcome Simon to Butterfield and look forward to working with him. Given his relevant and extensive experience advising banks on legal and regulatory matters, Simon is a valuable addition to the Group. We extend our sincere thanks to Shaun for his leadership, advice and significant contributions during his time at Butterfield and we wish him all the very best for his retirement. Mr. Des-Etages has more than 30 years legal experience working in London, New York, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, primarily within the banking industry. He started his career in private practice as a solicitor in the London offices of Slaughter and May, followed by Baker and MacKenzie, before he joined American Express to support the securities, treasury and trade finance teams. Mr Des-Etages then moved to Merrill Lynch, where he spent eight years working as a senior counsel in the Global Private Client Group. Most recently, he worked as the Global Head of Legal for HSBCs Global Private Banking and Wealth Management business having held progressively senior roles within the bank since joining in 2004. He holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from University College London and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Essex, UK. About Butterfield: Butterfield is a full-service bank and wealth manager headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, providing services to clients from Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, where our principal banking operations are located, and The Bahamas, Switzerland, Singapore and the United Kingdom, where we offer specialized financial services. Banking services comprise deposit, cash management and lending solutions for individual, business and institutional clients. Wealth management services are composed of trust, private banking, asset management and custody. In Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Guernsey, we offer both banking and wealth management. In The Bahamas, Singapore and Switzerland, we offer select wealth management services. In the UK, we offer residential property lending. In Jersey, we offer select banking and wealth management services. Butterfield is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: NTB) and the Bermuda Stock Exchange (symbol: NTB.BH). Further details on the Butterfield Group can be obtained from our website at: www.butterfieldgroup.com. BF-All View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240315548238/en/ Investor Relations Contact: Noah Fields Investor Relations The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited Phone : (441) 299 3816 E-mail : [email protected] Media Relations Contact: Nicky Stevens Group Strategic Marketing & Communications The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited Phone: (441) 299 1624 E-mail: [email protected] Source: Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. I've heard great things about Baku as a gymnastics venue, so I'm excited to be coming here for the competition, participant of the International Gymnastics Tournament AGF Trophy, Uzbek athlete Milana Gainulina told Trend. "Today's uneven bar exercise was not very successful. I now have to focus on my performance for tomorrow, and I believe I'll do well on the second qualifying day. This year, I'm competing internationally for the first time at the AGF Trophy tournament," the athlete said. Gainulina stated that she has been doing artistic gymnastics since she was four years old and that she looks up to the female gymnasts on the squad. To note, the international tournament on artistic gymnastics, "AGF Trophy" is held in the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku from March 15 to 17. About 90 athletes representing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Georgia participated in the competition. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) (United Rentals or the company) today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Yak Access, LLC, Yak Mat, LLC and New South Access & Environmental Solutions, LLC (collectively, Yak) from Platinum Equity for approximately $1.1 billion in cash. The transaction and related expenses were funded through a combination of newly issued senior unsecured notes and existing capacity under the companys ABL facility. Yak is a leader in the North American matting industry with a fleet of approximately 600,000 hardwood, softwood, and composite mats providing surface protection across both construction and maintenance, repair and operations applications. Yak predominantly serves customers in the utility and midstream verticals. For the year ended December 31, 2023, Yak generated $171 million of adjusted EBITDA on $353 million of adjusted revenue across over 40 U.S. states. Matthew Flannery, chief executive officer of United Rentals, said, Today we are very excited to welcome Yak to the United Rentals family. This is an acquisition with both strong strategic and financial merits. Not only does it augment our growth capacity with the addition of a leading North American matting solutions provider but it also further differentiates our one-stop-shop value proposition to customers. Combined, this has proven to be a winning strategy for building long-term value for our investors. The company plans to update its 2024 financial outlook to reflect the combined operations when it releases financial results for the first quarter in April. About United Rentals United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,504 rental locations in North America, 38 in Europe, 23 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The companys approximately 26,300 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,800 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $20.66 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poors 500 Index, the Barrons 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240315234303/en/ Elizabeth Grenfell Vice President, Investor Relations (203) 618-7125 [email protected] Source: United Rentals, Inc. GENEVA, Switzerland, March 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The McWhorter Family Trust proudly announces its engagement with Rolex, celebrating the brand's dedication to artisanal heritage, uncompromising excellence, and the pursuit of ultimate luxury. Rolex's rich history and unwavering commitment to craftsmanship resonate profoundly with the McWhorter Family Trust, positioning it as an exemplary ambassador within the family's esteemed portfolio of luxury assets. Incorporating Rolex into the McWhorter Family Trusts Portfolio: The addition of Rolex to the McWhorter Family Trusts portfolio signifies a deliberate expansion of the family's investments in exceptional luxury assets. This strategic decision reflects the Trust's long-term outlook and commitment to investments that offer not only financial returns but also cultural and historical significance. Rolex, with its iconic legacy and unparalleled expertise in horology, epitomizes this vision, ushering in a new era of investment that bridges the past, present, and future. Strategic Investment Approach of C.K. McWhorter: C.K. McWhorter, in the process of structuring a Single Family Office (SFO), strategically announces a significant acquisition in Rolex, aligning with the Trust's vision for extraordinary long-term investments. This acquisition underscores the Trust's commitment to curating a portfolio of assets that embody the highest standards of excellence and enduring value. Discreet and Impactful Financial Engagement: Through meticulous navigation of financial frameworks, Ambassador Noble Carter Kennedy McWhorter has leveraged a sophisticated investment strategy to engage with Rolex in a manner that remains exempt from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reporting requirements. This discreet yet impactful approach exemplifies the strategic acumen befitting an investor of McWhorter's caliber and underscores the influence wielded by private transactions in the realm of luxury investments. Acknowledging Rolexs Commitment to ESG Strategies: Rolex demonstrates a steadfast commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, aligning its operations with sustainable development goals across various dimensions. Environmental Stewardship: Rolex prioritizes reducing its environmental footprint and advancing towards net-zero emissions by 2050. The company has committed to science-based targets for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and aims for complete renewable energy in its operations by 2030. Social Responsibility: The company fosters a culture of respect, inclusion, and employee well-being while maintaining high standards in its supply chain and supporting local communities. Governance and Community Engagement: Rolex's governance structure emphasizes responsible sourcing and engagement with stakeholders to strengthen the management of its supply chains. Crafting a Legacy of Distinction: The McWhorter Family Trust's endorsement of Rolex signifies a commitment to upholding excellence and fostering enduring partnerships that transcend generations. From the Family Crest to the Trust Crest, Foundation Logo, and Carter Kennedy Equity symbol, each emblem encapsulates the legacy and values that define the McWhorter family's approach to wealth stewardship and societal contribution. Quote from C.K. McWhorter: "Endowing Rolex with the role of Ambassador within our McWhorter Family Trusts luxury assets portfolio reaffirms our dedication to celebrating craftsmanship, heritage, and the pursuit of ultimate luxury. Rolex stands as a beacon of excellence, resonating with our values and vision for a future defined by enduring quality." Closing Statement: As the McWhorter Family Trust continues its journey of curating a portfolio of exemplary luxury assets, Rolex emerges as a symbol of timeless elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship. Together, they embark on a shared mission to shape the future of luxury, guided by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and enduring legacy. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3dad3a8-b982-4f33-a767-10612c3d2d6c For media inquiries and further information, please contact: Tyler Wells VP Public Relations [email protected] C.K. McWhorter Honoring Excellence Of Rolex: McWhorter Family Trust Recognizes Rolex as a Paragon of Timepiece Craftsmanship By Granting Illustrious Trust Warrant. C.K. McWhorter Honoring Excellence Of Rolex: McWhorter Family Trust Recognizes Rolex as a Paragon of Timepiece Craftsmanship By Granting Illustrious Trust McWhorter family is as Follows C.K. McWhorter Name - Carter Kennedy McWhorter , (Wife) Whitney McWhorter, (Son) Cass McWhorter, (Daughter) Scout McWhorter, (Daughter) Daelyn McWhorter (Son) Shiloh-Vincent-Alexander-McWhorter Source: McWhorter Foundation Your Digital CTO, acting as a Fractional CTO and CTO as a Service, ensures suppliers uphold customer promises through IT Supplier Audits and Reviews. Their expert team guides businesses, evaluating supplier compliance and mitigating risks, thus embedding trust in the supply chain and fostering business growth through reliable digital governance. Your Digital CTO has grown into a vital resource for companies that want to protect the integrity of their supply chain and keep customers trusting them in the digital industry. Their service, which is like a fractional CTO and a CTO as a service, gives its customers a strategic edge when it comes to handling IT Supplier Audits and Reviews, ensuring that supplier relationships do not compromise customer commitments. Your Digital CTO's philosophy is that technology should work for the business, not dictate it. This approach is very important in a world where digital suppliers are necessary for business but also pose potential risks that might compromise customer promises. Your Digital CTO makes sure that suppliers follow strict rules for cybersecurity, legal compliance, and operational success by doing thorough IT Supplier Audits. Given that businesses work in digital ecosystems that are getting more complicated makes, these kinds of audits are even more important. Suppliers of everything from cloud services to IT support and software development are carefully checked to make sure they can do what they say they can do and follow best practices. Your Digital CTO's fixed-price service is an example of their thorough review process that takes the work of due diligence off of business leaders by giving them a detailed compliance report showing areas of worry and excellence. Incorporating trust and dependability into the fabric of corporate relationships is the goal of this service, which is not simply about checking off a list of requirements. The comprehensive evaluations encompass areas of crucial importance, including communication networks, device management, software utilization, and compliance with legal requirements. For instance, the audit investigates the communication methods utilized by the provider, confirming that they are in accordance with the industry requirements for the encryption of data and the protection of networks. It assesses the robustness of their device and software management processes, including deploying security patches and scanning antivirus software in real-time. Also, the service provided by Your Digital CTO goes beyond simple evaluation to cultivate a constructive relationship between businesses and the providers they work with. They make it possible for new technologies and suppliers to be seamlessly integrated into the existing business ecosystem by first gaining a grasp of the company's technological risk profile and then aligning themselves with the company's improvement plans. The digital supply chain is guaranteed to undergo continual improvement thanks to this collaborative approach, which improves technical compliance and guarantees it. Everything that Your Digital CTO performs is based on a great deal of knowledge, expertise, and comprehension. They provide advice from their team of professionals that is both reasonable and helpful. Their expertise lies in providing assistance to firms of varying sizes, ranging from small startups to large corporations. This counsel is personalized to the risks, time restrictions, and external factors that impact the organization to provide leaders with the information they require to make intelligent decisions. The commitment of Your Digital CTO to preventing the embarrassment, costs, and time wastage that are associated with poor supplier choices is exemplified by the Digital Supplier Review Service. Through the verification of the credentials of the supplier and the assurance that they comply with cyber and GDPR requirements, they protect businesses from potential dangers. This service is all-encompassing, covering all areas of digital supply, from software and cloud services to IT support and development, and it requires the client to devote just a small amount of time in order to be utilized. To ensure that suppliers contribute to rather than subtract from customer satisfaction and company promises, Your Digital CTO serves as a guide of trust and dependability in the digital field. Regarding digital technology and suppliers, their services, which reflect the functions of a fractional chief technology officer and a chief technology officer as a service, offer a vital layer of assurance and advice. Your Digital CTO assists businesses in navigating the complexity of digital governance by cultivating a culture of cooperative participation and continual development. This eventually results in increased trust, leading to revenue growth. Contact Info: Name: Ryan Bishop Email: Send Email Organization: Your Digital CTO Website: https://www.yourdigitalcto.com Release ID: 89124226 Should there be any problems, inaccuracies, or doubts arising from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected]. Our efficient team will promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, taking necessary steps to rectify identified issues or assist with the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information is central to our commitment. Supporting our judges and jurors in this climate of dangerous rhetoric DALLAS , March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ABOTA has been attentive to the hostile rhetoric that attacks the independence of the judiciary and seeks to erode the Rule of Law. Personal attacks on judges of the law and jurors, who are judges of the facts, are never warranted and are entirely inconsistent with our American System of Justice. As advocates for the third branch of government, we are proud to stand with the judges and jurors who have faithfully and impartially performed their duties as charged under the law and the Constitution. We thank the judiciary for their fortitude and sacrifice while serving as stewards of the Rule of the Law, especially in these trying times. Where there is divisive rhetoric that denigrates the judicial branch, it is incumbent upon each of us who took the oath to support the Constitution, to right the ship with integrity and truth. It is with this blueprint that ABOTA continues its work to educate ourselves and others about the Rule of Law, be a voice for the unheard in the judiciary, and promote civil discourse. We encourage the judges to persevere in the efficient administration of due process and the constant improvement of the law. Where members of a jury have rendered a verdict, their service reflects the active spirit of a functional and free nation. The very act of 6 or 9 or 12 strangers reaching consensus about the truth of a matter is the embodiment of the Rule of Law where persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced, independently adjudicated, and consistent with international human rights principles. A jury verdict requires consensus by a body of people after deliberation a process that relies on critical examination of evidence, communication and consent. A jury verdict declares that no single person or entity can control the law for their own purposes. Further supporting that principle, our system of checks and balances guaranteed by the right to appeal is engrained in our history and consciousness. It signifies our nation's respect to the opinions of mankind. It remains our pathway to preserve the rights of all people in a democratic society. Thomas Jefferson remarked that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, meaning that being constantly aware remains our collective duty. More than 220 years later, Amanda Gorman , who is the United States' first youth poet laureate, shared that history has its eyes on the current generationand the next. Ms. Gorman wrote, Our blunders become their burdens. But one thing is certain: We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it. The independence of the judicial branch continues to be under threat from a variety of sources. Maintaining a fair and neutral judiciary as free from political influence as possible will ensure this essential component of America's form of government remains protected. May our united conviction and persistence forge the journey ahead. ABOTA is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges. ABOTA and its members are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ABOTA membership consists of more than 7,300 lawyers equally balanced between plaintiff and defense and judges spread among 95 chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia . Andrea La'Verne Edney National President For more information contact: Brian Tyson at (800) 932-2682 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-board-of-trial-advocates-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-judges-and-the-rule-of-law-302090809.html SOURCE American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) ASPCA, Union County Sheriff's Office partnering to remove mistreated dogs primarily Great Danes after they were observed living in extremely unsanitary conditions UNION COUNTY, Fla. , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At the request of the Union County Sheriff's Office, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is assisting with the rescue of approximately 120 dogs and puppies primarily Great Danes from a property in Providence ( Union County ), Fla. The dogs, which also include French and English bulldogs and Chinese Cresteds, were seized from the property of a breeder after they were observed living in extremely unsanitary conditions. Many of the dogs appear to be underweight and some have untreated medical conditions. "All dogs deserve proper care and a good quality of life, including those who are bred for sale, which unfortunately was not the case in this situation," said Matt Bershadker , ASPCA President & CEO. "Upon our arrival, we discovered some animals who appeared underweight with untreated medical conditions and living in extremely unsanitary conditions. The ASPCA's priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of animals nationwide, and we're proud to work alongside the Union County Sheriff's Office to protect these vulnerable dogs and provide them with the care they deserve." "We would like to thank the ASPCA for working closely with our agency on this complex investigation into animal cruelty. We have a proven track record of always taking animal cruelty seriously and it will not be tolerated in our county," said Union County Sheriff Brad Whitehead . "We continue to work closely with the ASPCA and thank them for their expertise and support so we can proceed with criminal charges and prosecution, and to ensure the wellbeing of these animals. We would also like to thank the Union County Animal Control for all their assistance and involvement in this case." The ASPCA is relocating the dogs to an emergency shelter where they will receive forensic exams to support the criminal investigation, as well as much-needed medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment. The ASPCA is also assisting with operational planning, evidence collection, crime scene processing, and investigative and legal assistance. The ASPCA is working in partnership with the Florida State Animal Response Coalition, Greenville Humane Society, Saint Frances Animal Center, Humane Society Naples, Washington State Animal Response Team, Chautauqua County Humane Society, and Good Shepherd Humane Society. In addition, FedEx assisted by providing complimentary transportation of critical resources to our emergency shelter operation. Animal cruelty charges are pending based on evidence collected by the Union County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of ASPCA experts in support of the investigation. Criminal charges that result from this case will be handled by the Eighth Judicial Circuit States Attorney's Office. The ASPCA is also providing support to ensure the best legal outcome for these animals. The ASPCA deploys nationally to assist local authorities in animal cruelty cases including animal fighting, hoarding, and puppy mills. It also provides local communities with resources including grant funding, training, and subject matter expertise to effectively assist animals during cruelty and disaster situations. About the ASPCA Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States . The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. ASPCA Footage (Credit/ASPCA) Video: https://aspca.box.com/s/tqieiddglycshal7kvdzmrxcmngemue1 Photos: https://aspca.widencollective.com/dam/externalorderpickup/6b55163b-d3cf-4e1a-9ccb-8491434bb862 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/approximately-120-mistreated-dogs-puppies-rescued-from-breeding-operation-in-florida-302090681.html SOURCE ASPCA The Tuition-Free Program Provides Broad Range of Tech Courses, Broadband Access, and Devices to Connect Residents with Skills to Compete for In-Demand Jobs DETROIT , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wayne County Community College District is launching a broad-based digital equity pilot program that will promote digital literacy and inclusion efforts for students and anchor communities served by the College. Called the CMC Pilot program, the WCCCD program is supported by a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The pilot program consists of three core program components: broadband capacity building; creating greater access to broadband, and digital inclusion and digital skills training. WCCCD is working with community-based partners to equip students with vital digital skills necessary to compete in the expanding tech industry across a broad range of business sectors. "The mission of WCCCD has always been to provide pathways to better lives through higher education," said Yoseph Demissie , WCCCD, Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Officer. "These days, having access to high-speed broadband technology and growing a range of digital skills is vital to that process; especially at a time when the most in-demand jobs in growing fields demand digital literacy." WCCCD is hosting information sessions that will provide interested Wayne County residents with course and program information. Registration is now open for tech training courses in high-demand fields including entry-level digital literacy, Google Data Analytics, UX/UI Design, Cyber Security, CompTIA Security+, and Mechatronics with a specialization in Fanuc 01 Certified Robotics Technology. Each course is taught by expert professionals from leading tech companies and provides a rigorous, fast-tracked six- to eight-week curriculum designed for rapid certification and skill acquisition. The courses are offered at no cost to students, and are offered both virtually and in person, to meet residents where they are. WCCCD will provide more than 200 loaner laptops complete with Verizon internet connectivity to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested individuals can register for these free training opportunities by visiting the link: Free Certification Training For further details on the program and eligibility criteria, please visit www.wcccd.edu. About Wayne County Community College District WCCCD, one of the largest urban-suburban community colleges in Michigan , is a multi-campus district with six campus locations and educational centers, including the Mary Ellen Stempfle University Center, the Heinz C. Prechter Educational and Performing Arts Center, the Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education (MIPSE), the Curtis L. Ivery Health and Wellness Education Center and the Outdoor Careers Training Center. The District serves students across 32 cities and townships, and more than 500 square miles. WCCCD is committed to the continued development of innovative programs, workforce transformation, hosting community-based training sessions, and improving student facilities and services. www.wcccd.edu. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-equity-pilot-program-launches-at-wayne-county-community-college-district-to-provide-tech-skills-access-to-students-302090723.html SOURCE Wayne County Community College District Fourth-year osteopathic medical students achieved a 92.3% match rate CHICAGO , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association is pleased to announce that a record high number of 7,705 osteopathic medical students and past DO graduates matched into year 1 (PGY-1) residency positions through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). This number reflects a 92.3% match rate for the 8,033 DO seniors who participated, a 0.7% increase from last year. Overall, the number of osteopathic fourth-year students who matched into PGY-1 positions increased by 600 compared with the previous year. According to NRMP, the match rate for fourth-year osteopathic medical students has increased by 4.2 percentage points since 2019. Participating fourth-year osteopathic medical students matched into 25 specialties and 16 combined specialties. In total, the 2024 NRMP match included 6,395 certified programs offering 41,503 PGY-1 and PGY-2 training positions, the largest number in the NRMP's 72-year history. Offerings included 125 more programs and 1,128 more positions than the 2023 main residency match. Following completion of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), final DO residency placement numbers will be available in coming months and are expected to reach or exceed the 98% rate reported in prior years. According to a whitepaper published by the NRMP last October, DO seniors had the highest placement rate of all applicant types in 2023. "Year after year, our remarkable osteopathic medical students continue to outperform previous placement rates, and we couldn't be more ecstatic to see them match successfully into residency positions spanning the full spectrum of specialties and geographic locations," said AOA President Ira P. Monka , DO. "As the osteopathic profession continues to grow, we are confident the caliber of medical students produced by our osteopathic medical schools will ensure a bright and successful future for our profession." DOs in high demand Reflecting the osteopathic medical profession's strong roots in primary care, a total of 3,048 (53.3%) DO students matched into primary care residency programs (family medicine, internal medicine, internal medicine-pediatrics, and pediatrics), with the remaining 3,464 (47.6%) securing positions in non-primary care programs across a variety of specialties. The number of DO senior placements increased significantly in emergency medicine (317 more matches), psychiatry (97 more matches) and internal medicine (95 more matches), compared with the 2023 match. Additional specialties with double-digit growth for DO seniors include obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, diagnostic radiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. "I've had the distinct pleasure of seeing so many of our wonderful osteopathic medical students in action during my travels over the past year, so it's no surprise to see that they are so highly valued by training programs seeking residents through the NRMP Match," said AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason , MBA. "The successful match and final placement rates for our students make it clear that GME programs are actively seeking the distinctive whole-person approach that DOs bring to the practice of medicine." Top 15 specialties The following breakdown shows the top 15 specialties matched into by fourth-year osteopathic medical students seeking PGY-1 placements: Internal medicine (categorical) Family medicine Emergency medicine Pediatrics Psychiatry Anesthesiology Transitional year Obstetrics and gynecology Surgery (categorical) Physical medicine and rehabilitation Neurology Diagnostic radiology Internal medicine preliminary year Orthopedic surgery Pathology About the AOA The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 186,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; and is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools. To learn more about DOs and the osteopathic philosophy of medicine, visit www.osteopathic.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/do-placements-in-2024-nrmp-match-reach-all-time-high-302090720.html SOURCE American Osteopathic Association LONDON , March 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Serac Healthcare Limited ("Serac Healthcare" or "the Company"), a clinical radiopharmaceutical company developing an innovative molecular imaging agent, and the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford announce that preliminary data has been presented from the "Detecting Endometriosis expressed integrins using technetium-99m" (DETECT) imaging study, indicating that 99mTc-maraciclatide is capable of imaging superficial peritoneal endometriosis, the earliest stage of the disease. The data was presented today by Dr Tatjana Gibbons , an investigator on the study from the University of Oxford, in an oral presentation at the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) annual meeting taking place from 12-16 March 2024 in Vancouver , Canada. The presentation summarised the preliminary findings from patients with known or suspected endometriosis who were imaged with a SPECT-CT camera and subsequently underwent planned laparoscopic surgery, a key-hole surgical procedure to establish the presence, absence and location of endometriotic lesions. The imaging findings were compared to the surgical and histology reports and indicate that 99mTc-maraciclatide holds potential as a non-invasive test for early-stage endometriosis. Specifically, these preliminary findings demonstrate that 99mTc-maraciclatide has the potential to: - Visualise superficial peritoneal endometriosis which is found in the thin peritoneum lining which covers the abdomen and pelvis, and currently can only be identified accurately by surgery. This subtype accounts for c. 80% of all endometriosis diagnoses. In the patients in this study 99mTc-maraciclatide correctly identified superficial peritoneal endometriosis in those who went on to have this early-stage endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy - Highlight areas of activity in patients with deep endometriosis (often found on the organs e.g., bladder, bowel, rectum, ovaries) and endometrioma (cysts which are commonly found in the ovaries) The presentation also outlined a case study on one patient with superficial peritoneal endometriosis which had not been identified by ultrasound, but which had been visualised with 99mTc-maraciclatide and later confirmed by laparoscopic surgery. The ongoing study which will recruit 20-25 patients in total is being led by Professor Christian Becker , Co-Director of the Endometriosis CaRe Centre in Oxford, together with Professor Krina Zondervan , Head of Department at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford. It is anticipated that the study will complete later this year. 99mTc-maraciclatide is a radio-labelled tracer which binds with high affinity to the cell adhesion protein v 3 integrin and images angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) which is known to be critical to the establishment and growth of endometriotic lesions. David Hail , Chief Executive Officer of Serac Healthcare, said: "These promising initial findings indicate that there is real potential for maraciclatide as a novel non-invasive method of diagnosing early-stage endometriosis. The ability to visualise the early stage of this disease is particularly significant as it cannot be seen by other imaging modalities, which contributes to the almost nine year average delay to secure a diagnosis. We are hugely encouraged by these results and look forward to continuing this work with the world-leading specialists from Oxford University." Professor Christian Becker , Co-Director of the Endometriosis CaRe Centre in Oxford added: "Endometriosis is a common disease affecting many millions of women worldwide with pain and infertility. The current delay in diagnosis results in prolonged suffering and uncertainty. Therefore, a novel imaging tool to assist healthcare professionals in identifying or ruling out the disease is urgently needed." Professor Krina Zondervan , Head of Department at the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford added: "Superficial peritoneal endometriosis is the most prevalent form of the disease. It often affects younger women for whom earlier diagnosis could enable intervention at an earlier stage, with the potential to significantly change outcomes and improve prospects. At the Endometriosis CaRe Centre at the University of Oxford our studies focus on identifying novel genetic, diagnostic and therapeutic targets for endometriosis. We are delighted about the early results of the DETECT study and are looking forward to recruiting more patients to consolidate the data." Maraciclatide is for investigational use only and is not approved by the FDA or UK and European regulatory authorities. About Serac Healthcare Ltd Serac Healthcare is a clinical radiopharmaceutical company with deep expertise in discovering, developing and commercialising innovative molecular imaging technologies. Using these targeted technologies to underpin personalised medicine in the fields of endometriosis and inflammatory arthritis, Serac Healthcare is focused on bringing to market effective tools to accelerate diagnosis, and to deliver earlier and more effective treatment decisions. Serac Healthcare Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Serac Life Sciences Limited. www.serachealthcare.com About Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health The Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) at the University of Oxford is a pioneering institution with a rich legacy dating back to 1937; and stands as a vanguard of excellence in perinatal research and clinical practice. Our vision is clear: a world where everyone enjoys high-quality, evidence-based women's and reproductive healthcare. Through cutting-edge research and transformative teaching, we're committed to elevating the standard and accessibility of women's healthcare worldwide. www.wrh.ox.ac.uk About endometriosis Endometriosis is a common inflammatory disease that affects up to one in 10 women of childbearing age, about 190 million women worldwide. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside the uterus, predominantly in the pelvis, but sometimes also elsewhere in the body, e.g. lungs. The presence of this ectopic endometrial tissue can lead to inflammation and distortion of normal anatomy, which can cause significant pain and infertility. The diagnostic journey in those with endometriosis typically results in numerous visits to physicians and hospitals, along with multiple scans. About the Society for Reproductive Investigation Meeting www.sri-online.org/meetings-calendar/2024 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2364034/Serac_Healthcare_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2364028/Nuffield_Oxford_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/imaging-with-99mtc-maraciclatide-correlates-with-identification-of-early-stage-endometriosis-by-laparoscopic-surgery-302090612.html SOURCE Serac Healthcare Limited PHOENIX, Ariz. , March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) today announced the appointment of insurance veteran and current Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Gary D. Anderson as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Anderson will begin leading the 153-year-old insurance standard-setting organization governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia , and five U.S. territories by May 1 , after completing his service as the Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner. "Selecting the next NAIC CEO has been arduous but rewarding," said NAIC President and Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais . "We were looking for the best fit, and we found it in Gary Anderson . Gary's dedication to our state-based system of insurance regulation and his insurance expertise are top notch. We look forward to his leadership as we navigate the complexities of regulating the insurance sector and deliver on our mission to protect consumers." "I have been fortunate to serve the Massachusetts insurance-buying public under three governors: Gov. Deval Patrick , Gov. Charlie Baker , and now Gov. Maura Healey ," said Anderson. "Throughout my career in public service, I have been rewarded with valuable experiences, new and lasting connections, and opportunities to contribute to a greater good. I am excited to embark on the next adventure as CEO of the NAIC, supporting the state-based system of insurance regulation. Thank you to the NAIC Members for the trust and faith you have placed in me." In 2017, Anderson was appointed Commissioner of Insurance by Massachusetts Gov. Baker . Anderson's insurance experience began in 1999 with a regional carrier in the Northwestern U.S. He served as a policy adviser and senior counsel in the Massachusetts State Senate President's office, where he was involved in several policy areas, from the state's broad efforts to control health care costs to all matters affecting the financial services sector. Anderson joined the Massachusetts Division of Insurance as First Deputy Commissioner in February 2014 . His responsibilities included strategic planning and policy development for all aspects of the agency. Currently, Anderson is the Secretary of the Northeast Zone and serves on the Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation (F) Committee, Financial Condition (E) Committee, and the Audit Committee. Additionally, he has chaired the NAIC International Insurance Relations (G) Committee since 2019. He also serves on the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Executive Committee as its vice chair and on the IAIS Policy Development Committee (PDC), which he chaired from 2020 to 2022. In December 2022 , Anderson was honored with the Raymond G. Farmer Award for Exceptional Leadership by the NAIC. Anderson earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Albany Law School of Union University ( Albany, NY ) and a bachelor's degree in history from Idaho State University. Andy Beal , NAIC Chief Operating Officer & Chief Legal Officer, has served as the organization's Acting Chief Executive Officer since March 2023 . About the National Association of Insurance Commissioners As part of our state-based system of insurance regulation in the United States , the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. The U.S. standard-setting organization is governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer reviews, and coordinate regulatory oversight. NAIC staff supports these efforts and represents the collective views of state regulators domestically and internationally. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/naic-announces-gary-anderson-as-ceo-302090836.html SOURCE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS RISE has narrowed the impressive candidate pool of nearly 60 nominations to the top five finalists. NEW ORLEANS , March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RISE is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2024 RISE Health Care Hero Award. The prestigious honor, presented annually at The RISE Summit on Social Determinants of Health, acknowledges an individual's effort to make a significant impact on the lives of underserved populations through health care and/or social services interventions, and through superior example of the RISE mission to promote health equity among all patients. RISE received 59 nominations for this year's award. The five finalists include: Cristina Conlon , care navigator, ReferWell , care navigator, ReferWell Tiffany Davis , executive director quality improvement and health equity, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois HCSC , executive director quality improvement and health equity, HCSC Dr. Kimberlee Wyche Etheridge , primary care provider and assistant professor, Meharry Medical College ; sr. VP health equity and diversity initiatives, ASTHO , primary care provider and assistant professor, ; sr. VP health equity and diversity initiatives, ASTHO Sirene Garcia, CIO, Finger Lakes Community Health Megan Shreve , CEO, South Central Community Action Programs, Inc. The 2024 award recipient will be announced at The RISE Summit on Social Determinants of Health in New Orleans on Tuesday, April 16 , the second day of the three-day conference. About the Health Care Hero Award The Health Care Hero Award is presented each year to an individual who has made a significant impact on the lives of underserved populations through health care and/or social services interventions, and through superior example of the RISE mission to promote health equity among all patients. Eligibility requirements include the following: 1) Nominee must work in a role that addresses social determinants of health. 2) Nominee must work for one of the following organizations: health plan, health care provider, social services provider/non-profit/CBO, government organization, foundation, pharmaceutical company, or vendor/supplier. 3) Nominee does not need to have a medical credential to be nominated. 4) Nominee must have fulfilled one of the following criteria: contributed to significant process improvement in addressing the care of underserved populations and/or dedicated 10+ years to exemplary work in this industry. Nominations are being accepted for the 2025 award. Nominations must be submitted by December 31, 2024 . The award will be presented at The RISE Summit on Social Determinants of Health. The 2025 date and location are forthcoming. About RISE RISE is the premier community for health care professionals who aspire to meet the extraordinary challenges posed by the emerging landscape of accountable care and government health care reform. Recognized industry wide as the number one source for information on risk adjustment and quality improvement within health care, RISE strives to serve the community on four fronts: networking, education, industry intelligence and career development. Through cutting-edge conferences, online courses, in-house training, webinars as well as an association comprised of over 2,500 members, RISE provides professionals with industry insights and critical information they need to stay ahead of the curve. RISE produces more than 30 conferences annually, focused on sophisticated topics and ample networking opportunities for thousands of executives from mid- to senior-level and C-suite. Our team of subject matter experts is often first to market with emerging topics, and we pride ourselves on consistently delivering top quality operations and logistics to produce a seamless event. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rise-announces-finalists-for-2024-health-care-hero-award-302090741.html SOURCE RISE BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, has visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, Trend reports. The Georgian Prime Minister commemorated Azerbaijani heroes who gave their lives for the countrys independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and placed flowers at their graves. He also laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. PM Irakli Kobakhidze then enjoyed a panoramic view of Baku as he was informed about the history of the Alley of Martyrs and the redevelopment works carried out in the city. By Mushtaq Ali PESHAWAR (Reuters) -Militants attacked a military post in Pakistan near Afghanistan early on Saturday using a vehicle laden with explosives as well as suicide bombs, killing seven security force members, Pakistan's military said. The incident in northwest Pakistan was carried out by six attackers, the military's media wing said in a statement, without naming the militant group responsible for the attack. "The terrorists rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to collapse of portion of a building, resulting into Shahadat (martyrdom) of five," the statement said, adding that another two security force members were killed in later fighting with the militants. Residents in Waziristan, an area bordering Afghanistan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told Reuters an explosion shook doors and damaged windows during the attack. Pakistani government and security officials say attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and launched from Afghan soil. That has damaged the relationship between Pakistan and the ruling Afghan Taliban, who deny they have allowed Afghanistan to be used by militants. Pakistan's national elections in February took place under tight security. Nine people died in blasts, grenade and gun attacks on election day. (Reporting by Mushtaq Ali; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by William Mallard and Bernadette Baum) U.S. President Joe Biden walks towards Marine One as he departs the White House in Washington, U.S., March 13, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz By Stephanie Kelly WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden took jabs on Saturday at former President Donald Trump with jokes about the mental fitness of his election opponent during a speech at the Gridiron Club dinner, a Washington tradition that began in the 1880s. Biden's appearance at the dinner, in which politicians and journalists trade humorous barbs in a white-tie formal affair, was the first time a president has attended in person since former President Donald Trump in 2018. Biden, 81, recently clinched the Democratic Party's nomination for this year's presidential election and will face off against Trump, 77, in a rematch in November. Biden is trying to court voters, boost his low approval ratings and allay concerns that he is too old to run again. "One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me," Biden said on Saturday, in front of more than 650 guests who included the Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose U.S. business could be banned by Biden. Trump's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has also questioned Biden's mental capacity to be president. Biden reinforced the importance of the press, which he said is not "the enemy of the people," in stark contrast to previous remarks by Trump about the news media. He also spoke about the war in Ukraine with Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas, who attended Saturday's dinner. "We will not bow down, they (Ukrainians) will not bow down and I will not bow down," Biden said. After his speech, Biden descended to the floor and took selfies with reporters and called one guest's mother. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, representing the Democratic Party at the event, also spoke on Saturday, as well as Utah Governor Spencer Cox, representing the Republican Party. Cox, 48, joked that he was announcing his candidacy for the presidency "in 2052, when I still will be younger than both President Biden and President Trump." Turning more serious, he said there is a hunger among Americans for something more positive in politics. The club's 65 members, all representatives from news organizations, performed satirical songs and skits. One song poked fun at Biden's and Trump's ages to the tune of "When I'm Sixty-Four" by The Beatles. At last year's dinner, Mike Pence, who served as Vice President under Trump, offered a forceful rebuke of his one-time boss, saying history would hold Trump accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Unlike its sister event, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April, the Gridiron dinner is not televised and tries to retain its yesteryear vibe with men in white tie and tails and women in long dresses. No photos are allowed during the dinner and participants are asked not to post on social media until after it has concluded. (Reporting by Stephanie Kelly and Steve Holland. Editing by Heather Timmons, David Gregorio and Edmund Klamann) File photo: Dr John Chipman, IISS Director-General and Chief Executive, Sweden's Minister for Defence, Dr Pal Jonson, and Fiji's Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua, speak at a plenary session during the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue SYDNEY (Reuters) - Fiji will maintain a policing cooperation deal with China after a review of the agreement which has sparked concern in Australia, the Guardian Australia news site reported. We are now back on the original police agreement [with China] that has been restored, we had reviewed it for 12 months, Fijian Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua was quoted as saying. Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka put on hold the decade-old police cooperation deal between Fiji and China shortly after forming government in December 2022, citing differences in policing, investigations and legal systems. Guardian Australia reported on Friday that Tikoduadua said there will only be Fijian officers training in China and no embedding of Chinese officers in the Fiji police force. Tikoduadua's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation of the report. In February, Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said there should be "no role" for China, a growing presence in the region, in policing the Pacific Islands. China's ambassador to Australia, a key United States ally, said earlier this year that China had a strategy to form policing ties with Pacific Island countries to help maintain social order and this should not cause Australia anxiety. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates) Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gestures during a press statement with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of their trilateral meeting of the consultation forum 'Weimar Triangle', at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germa BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Israel on Saturday to allow humanitarian aid access to Gaza on a larger scale, ahead of a two-day trip to the Middle East. Scholz will travel to the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba on Saturday to meet on Sunday with Jordan's King Abdullah before flying on to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now. That will be a topic that I also have to talk about," Scholz told journalists ahead of his trip. He also voiced concern about Israel's planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half the Palestinian's enclave's population of 2.3 million have taken shelter. "There is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah will result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be strictly prohibited," he added. Germany's air force said it dropped pallets with four tons of relief goods by air into the enclave on Saturday. "Every package counts. But airdrops are just a drop in the ocean," the foreign ministry said on the social media platform X. Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, has displaced most of the population and left people in dire need of food and other essentials. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Frances Kerry) Smoke rises as a volcano erupts along Route 41 in the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland December 19, 2023. REUTERS/Sigurdur Davidsson/FILE PHOTO COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, the country's meteorological office said, spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air in sharp contrast against the dark night sky. In a video shot from a Coast Guard helicopter and shown on public broadcaster RUV, fountains of molten rock soared from a long fissure in the ground, and lava spread rapidly to each side. The eruption began at 2023 GMT and the fissure was estimated to be about 2.9 kilometres long, roughly the same size as the last eruption in February, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement. Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent on the Reykjanes peninsula just south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik. The site of the eruption was between Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell, the same area as the previous outbreak on Feb. 8, the Met Office said. "This was definitely expected," said Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Centre. "Of course the exact time of the eruption is impossible to predict. The first cues of this moving towards the surface actually only happened about 15 minutes in advance," she said. Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport's website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals. Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly south towards the nearby Grindavik fishing town, where a few of the nearly 4,000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, the Met Office said. The town was again being evacuated, public broadcaster RUV reported. An outbreak in January burned to the ground several of its homes. "We're just like, this is business as usual," Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who was evacuated from Grindavik in November, told Reuters. "My son...just called me and said, Mamma, did you know the eruption has started? And I was like, yeah, I did know. Oh, my grandma just told me. So it's like we don't even bother telling each other anymore," she said. Icelandic police said they had declared a state of emergency for the area. The nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately shut its doors, as it did during previous eruptions. Iceland, roughly the size of the U.S. state of Kentucky, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism - a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers. In 2010, ash clouds from eruptions at the Eyafjallajokull volcano in the south of Iceland spread over large parts of Europe, grounding some 100,000 flights and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to evacuate their homes. Volcanic outbreaks in the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere. Gases from the eruption were travelling westwards out at sea, the meteorological office said. Scientists fear the eruptions could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dykes to divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure. The February eruption cut off district heating to more than 20,000 people as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines. Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two move in opposite directions. (Reporting by Louise Rassmussen, Terje Solsvik, Tom Little and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Alexander Smith, Daniel Wallis and David Gregorio) By Boureima Balima and Bate Felix NIAMEY (Reuters) -Niger's ruling junta has revoked with immediate effect a military accord that allows military personnel and civilian staff from the U.S. Department of Defense on its soil, junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said on Saturday. The decision follows a visit by U.S. officials this week which was led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and included General Michael Langley, commander of the U.S. Africa Command. Abdramane, speaking on television in the West African nation, said the U.S. delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol, and that Niger was not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda. He added that the discussions were around the current military transition in Niger, military cooperation between the two countries and Niger's choice of partners in the fight against militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition anonymity, said senior U.S. officials had "frank discussions" in Niamey earlier this week about the trajectory of Niger's ruling military council - known as the CNSP. "We are in touch with the CNSP and will provide further updates as warranted," the official added. Since seizing power in July last year, the Niger junta, like the military rulers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, have kicked out French and other European forces, and turned to Russia for support. "Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism," Abdramane said. "Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people," he added. There were about 1,100 U.S. troops in Niger as of last year, where the U.S. military operates out of two bases, including a drone base known as Air Base 201, built near Agadez in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million. Since 2018 the base has been used to target Islamic State militants and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al Qaeda affiliate, in the Sahel region. Abdramane said the status and presence of U.S. troops in Niger was illegal and violated constitutional and democratic rules because, according to the spokesperson, it was unilaterally imposed on the African nation in 2012. He said Niger was not aware of the number of U.S. civilian and military personnel on its soil or the amount of equipment deployed and, according to the agreement, the U.S. military had no obligation to respond to any request for help against militants. "In light of all the above, the government of Niger, revokes with immediate effect the agreement concerning the status of United States military personnel and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger," Abdramane said. (Reporting by Boureima Balima; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Alexander Smith Paul Simao and William Mallard) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday it had detained a 61-year-old Russian man for planning what it called a terrorist attack on Ukraine's behalf on a Trans-Siberian railway junction in the Ural mountains' Sverdlovsk region, state news agency TASS reported. TASS quoted the FSB as saying the man had been recruited by Kyiv's intelligence services in the Ukrainian city of Lviv and sent to Russia. The agency said he had confessed to the charges and was cooperating with the investigation. In recent months Ukraine has stepped up attacks on economic targets inside Russia, using long-range drones to hit a series of oil refineries in the western part of the country. Kyiv has previously said it is targeting the Trans-Siberian railway, a key route for Russian freight traversing the country. (Writing by Felix Light; Editing by William Mallard and Frances Kerry) By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) - Sixteen Nigerian Army soldiers were surrounded by youths and killed earlier this week after they attempted to quell community clashes in the oil-producing southern Delta state, an army spokesperson said on Saturday. The troops from 181 Amphibious Battalion had responded to the conflict in the Okuoma community when they were killed on Thursday, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said in a statement. "The reinforcement team led by the commanding officer was also attacked, leading to the death of the commanding officer, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers," Gusau said. The chief of defence has directed an immediate investigation and the arrest of those involved, Gusau said. "So far, a few arrests have been made while steps (are) in place to unravel the motive behind the attack," he added. There are frequent clashes, sometimes deadly ones, over land or over compensation for oil spills by energy companies in many Delta state communities. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh, writing MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Bernadette Baum) JAKARTA (Reuters) - A Taiwanese citizen missing for days following a passenger boat capsize off the Indonesia's capital Jakarta was found dead on Friday, the coast guard said in a statement. The boat, carrying 35 people, capsized on Monday near the Kepulauan Seribu area of Jakarta after the vessel was hit by a wave, Indonesian authorities said. All on board were rescued except the Taiwanese passport holder. "The body was found not far from the location of the capsized boat," Agung, head of the rescue team, said in a statement. High tides hampered the search for the Taiwanese citizen, who the coast guard identified as Shi Yi, 48. (Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by Stephen Coates) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Two people were injured on Saturday after a powerful blast at a barbecue shop in the eastern Chinese city of Huaian, local authorities said, the latest incident to spur calls for better restaurant-safety checks across the country. Videos online posted by state media showed that the blast that occurred at 4:20 p.m. local time (0820 GMT) ripped off the facade of the eatery's building, sending big black plumes of smoke into the air and spraying glass shards across the street. The two people who were injured were sent to hospital and the cause of the blast was being investigated, Huaian authorities said on their social media account. The latest blast follows a series of similar explosions since 2023 that have drawn scrutiny over national safety standards. Last week, a gas leak at a fried chicken shop in Sanhe, a city in Hebei province adjacent to Beijing, killed seven people and injured 27 others. That incident attracted further attention after reporters were blocked by local residents and security guards while trying to report on the blast's aftermath. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Bernadette Baum) 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. A view shows a damaged apartment building following the incident, which local authorities said was a Ukrainian missile attack, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Belgorod, Russia, March 16, 2024. Telegram channel of Governor of Belgorod Region Vy MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two people were killed and three wounded in a Ukrainian missile strike on the Russian border city of Belgorod, the regional governor said on Saturday, as Russian citizens vote through Sunday in a three-day presidential election. In a statement on the messenger app Telegram, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the city had been struck by missiles fired from a Vampire rocket launcher system. He said that vehicles and buildings had been damaged both in Belgorod and in surrounding villages. Video obtained by Reuters showed fires blazing and air raid sirens ringing out in Belgorod's deserted streets. Belgorod, a frontier province that borders Ukraine's Kharkiv region, has come under frequent attack from Kyiv's forces since 2022. In December, 25 people were killed in a single missile strike on the city. Earlier on Saturday, Gladkov said that five people, including one child, had been injured in a drone strike on a car that was travelling close to the Ukrainian border. President Vladimir Putin on Friday accused Ukraine of trying to sabotage the presidential poll, which runs until Sunday and is set to hand him six more years in power. (Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) (Reuters) -U.S. prosecutors in Virginia are probing whether Facebook-parent Meta's social media platforms facilitated and profited from the illegal sale of drugs, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing documents and people familiar with the matter. The prosecutors sent subpoenas last year and have been asking questions as part of a criminal grand jury probe, the report said, adding that they have also been requesting records related to drug content or illicit sale of drugs via Meta's platforms. The Food and Drug Administration has also been helping with the investigation, the newspaper added. It noted that investigations do not always lead to charges of wrongdoing. The paper quoted a spokesman for Meta as saying in a statement: The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services. Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs, he added. The prosecutors office and a spokeswoman for the FDA declined to comment to WSJ. Meta, the FDA and the Virginia Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, said on social media platform X on Friday that Meta had joined up with the U.S. State Department, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Snapchat to help disrupt the sale of synthetic drugs online and educate users about the associated risks. (Reporting by Kanjyik Ghosh and Disha Mishra in BengaluruEditing by Frances Kerry) (Chris Church/Stars and Stripes) Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Nov. 25, 2016: A sailor checks ordnance on the wing of a Rafale M fighter-bomber prior to flight operations onboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The carrier was operating in support of the coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Read more about the carrier here. USASAC coordinated with multiple government organizations and partner nations to successfully delivery food, water and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, Dec. 24. A Royal Jordanian aircraft executed the mission using a U.S.-made Joint Precision Airdrop System with GPS-assisted parachute kits to deliver the aid. The U.S. Department of Defense supports a whole-of-government humanitarian response to the Israel conflict and began transporting life-saving supplies to the people in Gaza in November. (Army Assistance Security Command) A humanitarian aid ship has completed the first aid delivery by sea to Gaza via a new maritime corridor, unloading 200 tons of food and water to the besieged enclave, the nonprofit World Central Kitchen said Saturday. A second aid ship is preparing to sail from Cyprus, the group said. All cargo was offloaded and is being readied for distribution in Gaza, World Central Kitchen said in a statement. The cargo included pallets of canned goods and bulk product - including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt. It also included 120 kilograms of fresh dates - commonly eaten to break fasts during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The maritime mission dubbed Operation Safeena, meaning boat in Arabic, was dispatched by World Central Kitchen, a U.S. nonprofit founded by chef Jose Andres, and the Spanish search-and-rescue group Open Arms this week. The Israel Defense Forces has previously said that the food aid would be transferred to trucks operated by the nonprofit, which would distribute them to northern Gaza. U.N. officials have warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, with the situation particularly dire in the north. On Friday, UNICEF warned that almost 1 in 3 children under age 2 in northern Gaza were suffering from acute malnutrition, up from 15.6 percent in January, based on nutrition screenings it and partners had conducted. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died of malnutrition or dehydration in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Aid deliveries to Gaza have become increasingly precarious, with the number of aid trucks plummeting; humanitarian officials say Israel has limited land entry points and targeted civilian police responsible for protecting the convoys. Countries, including the United States, have taken to air dropping aid a costly and dangerous procedure while President Biden has announced plans for the U.S. military to construct a floating pier off Gazas coast something that could take up to 60 days to construct. World Central Kitchen said that Saturdays aid was offloaded via a jetty the group built on the coast of Gaza and that the second ship could carry two forklifts and a crane to assist with future maritime deliveries. It said it had no information yet on when the second boat, which will carry 240 tons of food aid, might set sail. Heres what else to know Israel said Friday that it will send a delegation to Qatar to continue negotiations for the release of Hamas-held hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The move comes on the heels of the latest cease-fire proposal put forward by Hamas, which Israel has accused of making unrealistic demands. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the Hamas proposal was in broad brushstrokes, within the bounds of the deal that weve been working on now for several months. Biden praised a recent speech by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) that criticized Netanyahus government and called for Israel to hold a new election. Biden described it as a good speech that expressed a serious concern shared not only by [Schumer] but by many Americans. Israeli officials criticized Schumers remarks, with Israels ambassador to the United States calling it counterproductive to our common goals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, his office said Friday. The statement did not provide additional details about the offensive, which is opposed by several world leaders and humanitarian organizations, who say it could be devastating for the more than 1.4 million Palestinians estimated to be seeking refuge in the city. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Vienna on Friday that the Biden administration had not seen a plan from Israel detailing how it would protect civilians if the military moves into the densely populated city. At least 20 people were killed and more than 150 were injured late Thursday while awaiting aid in northern Gaza, in what Palestinian officials in the enclave said was an Israeli attack. Witnesses interviewed by The Washington Post said they saw an Israeli helicopter and drones randomly firing on Palestinians. The Israeli military denied responsibility for the killings and late Friday released edited footage of what it said showed Palestinian gunmen opening fire in the midst of Gazan civilians. The accounts from witnesses and the IDF could not be independently corroborated. More than a dozen authors have dropped out of a PEN America festival, citing the literary nonprofits inaction over the war in Gaza. Naomi Klein, Hisham Matar and Maaza Mengiste are among the writers who have said they will not be participating in the annual PEN World Voices Festival this year, criticizing the organization for failing to call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. The nonprofit has said on its website that it has done considerable work in response to the war. Some has been public, and some has been behind the scenes to protect the imperiled artists and writers we are assisting. At least 31,553 people have been killed and 73,546 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas Oct. 7 attack and says 249 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Azerbaijan will contribute to climate change by hosting COP29, former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic told Trend. He made a remark on the sidelines of the XI Global Baku Forum. He emphasized that Azerbaijan has always successfully hosted events of international importance. "International state and government representatives will visit Azerbaijan to take part in COP29. This is a really good indicator on its own. The outcomes of the talks and agreements that will occur at this occasion will benefit humanity as a whole. I believe that Azerbaijan will contribute to climate change by hosting COP29," Josipovic added. Meanwhile, COP29 will be held on November 11-12, 2024 in Baku. The official decision to hold the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan was announced on December 11, 2023, in Dubai. To note, the XI Global Baku Forum is attended by representatives of many countries as well as prestigious international organizations: more than 350 guests from over 70 countries. The forum, which will last until March 16, will host global discussions on the results of COP28 and preparations for COP29, will consider factors that pose threats to the new world order, as well as issues of security and prospects for peace, building stability in a fractured world, its impact on the global world, will discuss ways to address the challenges facing humanity, will touch upon conflicts and mega-threats shaking the world, including climate, food and nuclear security. At the same time, there will be discussions on the role of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives, the European Union and its relations with its neighbors, youth policy, ways to build resilience to global challenges, inequality, natural resource scarcity and migration issues, artificial intelligence, and new security paradigms in the age of drones and cyberweapons. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Mike Pence speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 27, 2023. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post) Former vice president Mike Pence said Friday he will not endorse Donald Trump, the president with whom he served, just days after Trump secured the Republican Partys 2024 nomination. Pence served under Trump but has been critical of the former president after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in which Pence was targeted by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. Pence rebuked his former boss in strong terms Friday, saying Trumps agenda doesnt align with conservatives. Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years, and that is why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, Pence told Fox News. The former vice president ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary but dropped out in October. Pences refusal to endorse Trump now stands out as many other former intraparty rivals and critics have consolidated behind the former president. Earlier this month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) endorsed Trump, a striking turnaround after McConnell blamed Trump for the Capitol attack three years ago. Pence most sharply split with Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused Trumps pressure to overturn his 2020 reelection defeat. But Pence said Friday that he has profound differences with Trump that go beyond the events of that day, including on the national debt, abortion and China. He told Fox News he will keep his November vote private but emphasized that he will not vote for Trumps Democratic opponent, President Biden. During his campaign announcement in June, Pence excoriated the former president for his actions during the Jan. 6 attack and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. At the time, Pence declared: Anyone who puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again. Pence also challenged Trump for his positions on abortion and entitlement programs, and his past comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his campaign, Pence sought to return the GOP to more Reagan-era policy priorities and warned against the siren song of populism. Pence had said he would sign a Republican National Committee pledge to support the eventual nominee. The former vice president dutifully served Trump for four years, until he broke with the president over certifying the 2020 election results. Trump picked Pence in 2016 to be his running mate. At the time, he was governor of Indiana. Dennis Fujii, left, speaks with retired Army Gen. David Bramlett before Fujiis induction into the Gallery of Heroes at the Army Museum of Hawaii at Fort DeRussy on March 15, 2024. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes) FORT DERUSSY, Hawaii A pair of Hawaii natives were inducted into the Army Museum of Hawaiis Gallery of Heroes in a ceremony Friday, two years after the soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in Vietnam. One, Dennis Fujii, 75, occupied a seat of honor during a ceremony on the grounds of the museum on Waikiki Beach. The other, Edward N. Kaneshiro, died in combat in 1967. The men had initially been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but the honor was upgraded in 2022 during a White House ceremony when President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Honor to Fujii, Kaneshiros son and two other Vietnam War veterans. Its my honor to be here today to share in the recognition of two of Hawaiis own, by Hawaiis own, Maj. Gen. Reginald Neal, deputy commanding general of mobilization and reserve affairs for U.S. Army Pacific, told the audience during the ceremony. By that I mean that our honorees and the honorees families have been in Washington, D.C., he said. Theyve been recognized by officials at the highest levels, including the secretary of defense, and yes, even the president of the United States. Even with all that recognition, on many occasions in multiple venues, theres something special about being at home. Theres something even more special about being in the presence of friends and family, and people with common origins and common roots. The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii was established in 1976 on the site of a former coastal artillery fortification. In 1988, its Gallery of Heroes began inducting recipients of either the Distinguished Service Cross or Medal of Honor for those who had significant ties to the state of Hawaii. The gallery now has 55 recipients of the Service Cross and 24 of the MOH. A display at the Gallery of Heroes at the Army Museum of Hawaii in Honolulu shows artifacts from the lives of its two newest inductees, Dennis Fujii and Edward Kaneshiro, who were awarded the Medal of Honor in 2022 for actions during the Vietnam War. (Wyatt Olson/Stars and Stripes) Left behind Fujii was born on the Hawaiian island of Kauai and was one of six children, according to an Army biography published in 2022. He enlisted in the Army while still in the middle of his senior year of high school in 1968. That same year, he deployed to Vietnam as an assistant machine gunner with the 4th Infantry Division. His second tour to Vietnam was with the 237th Medical Detachment, 61st Medical Battalion of the 67th Medical Group. Fujii was crew chief of a medevac helicopter helping South Vietnamese troops who had been wounded in a Laos valley on Feb. 18, 1971. Fujii was wounded several times in a hail of enemy gunfire and mortars, and he was unable to fly out with the wounded-laden chopper. Fujii spent the night in the field, the sole American among the South Vietnamese troops .The following evening, a reinforced enemy regiment began raining down artillery on Fujii and the troops. Although not trained to do so, Fujii manned a radio to direct airstrikes. For a period of over 17 consecutive hours, Fujii repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he left the security of his entrenchment to better observe enemy troop positions and to direct air strikes against them, the Medal of Honor citation states. At times, the fighting became so vicious that Fujii was forced to interrupt radio transmittal in order to place suppressive rifle fire on the enemy while at close quarters, the citation states. Fujii was loaded into a medevac chopper two days after the fighting began, but it took so much fire that it was forced to crash land about four miles away in another South Vietnam army encampment. Fujii spent two more days there before finally being flown to safety and medical care. Trench battle Kaneshiro was born in Honolulu in 1928 and was one of 16 children. He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and served in non-combat overseas tours in Japan and South Korea. He was an infantry squad leader with the 9th Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam in Kim Son Valley on Dec. 1, 1966, when nearby squads were ambushed by machine gun fire. Kaneshiro directed his men to the battlespace and saw the enemy was firing while ensconced in a trench. Swiftly reading the situation and seeing that fire from the big trench had to be stopped if anyone was to survive, he first deployed his men to cover, then crawled forward to attack the enemy force alone, Kaneshiros Medal of Honor citation states. He began by throwing grenades from the parapet while flattened to the ground, successfully throwing the first grenade through the aperture of the bunker, eliminating the machine gunner who had opened the action, the citation states. With his remaining five grenades and rifle, he swept solo through the trench and cleared it of enemy fighters, the citation states. He was killed in combat about three months later. At the Friday ceremony, Neal told the audience that the two newest inductees to the Gallery of Heroes possessed the innate sense of knowing that there was something worth fighting for, and if need be, worth dying for. At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and captain, embraced martyrdom on Saturday after gallantly fighting with terrorists as they attacked a security forces' post in the general area Mir Ali of North Waziristan District, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement on Saturday. According to the military's media wing, a group of six terrorists attacked the post in the early hours today with the Pakistani troops foiling their initial attempt of intrusion before they rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to collapse of portion of a building, resulting into the martyrdom of the brave sons of the soil. "During the conduct of ensuing clearance operation, own troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Kashif, effectively engaged and sent to hell all six terrorists," the statement read. The shuhada, as per the ISPR, included Havildar Sabir (resident of District Khyber), Naik Khurshid (resident of District Lakki Marwat), Sepoy Nasir (resident of District Peshawar), Sepoy Raja (resident of District Kohat) and Sepoy Sajjad (resident of District Abbotabad). Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali who was leading his troops from the front and 23-year-old Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat during an intense exchange of fire with the terrorists, the ISPR mentioned. Lieutenant Colonel Ali hailed from Karachi, while Captain Babar was a resident of District Talagang. "Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," ISPR added. The judge was addressing a company director who he had asked to come to court after a man was given a nine-month suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a co-worker on the premises. A well-known Dublin pub where a human rights worker sexually assaulted a colleague during an office party has been warned by a judge that a drinks licence is a privilege, not an entitlement. Judge John Hughes reminded pub management that it was an offence to serve a person they knew to be intoxicated. The judge was addressing a company director who he had asked to come to court after a man was given a nine-month suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a co-worker on the premises. Clement Bernaudin (31) had groped the womans bottom, tried to kiss her and pushed himself up against her in a prolonged and protracted pursuit in the pub. Judge Hughes told the director that there had been uncontroverted evidence the group of workers had been intoxicated on arrival at the pub that morning and proceeded to consume a large amount of alcohol throughout the day. The party was there for up to 12 hours until that night, he said. During that period, they were continuously served alcohol despite evidence that the accused was barely able to stand, the judge said. He was swaying from side to side and had no problem getting alcohol. A young woman was sexually assaulted on several occasions in open view of others in the pub. The judge said he wanted to make the pub aware that it was an offence to serve alcohol to an intoxicated person. Your holding of a licence is granted by the courts as a privilege, rather than an entitlement, he said. OK, the director replied. Bernaudin, from Paris but with an address at the time on Kimmage Road West, Dublin, had pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting the woman on a date in the late 2010s. The court had heard during the night, he put his hand around her waist and squeezed, grabbed her bum cheek, squeezed her thigh and tried to kiss her neck and lips. On one occasion when he grabbed her, his finger was pushing into her dress near her vagina. While she was standing at the bar, he came up behind her and pushed his penis against her bottom, she said. The first time she told him to stop, he smiled and did not reply. Later, he told her he couldnt take his eyes off her. The victim was severely traumatised and the assaults had life-changing effects on her. Bernaudin was not a drinker but was incredibly intoxicated on the day and thought there was chemistry between them but it was entirely one-sided, his defence said. He was horrified at his own out-of-character behaviour and apologised. As well as the suspended sentence, the judge told him to pay 20,000 compensation. Pauline Duddys 21-year-old daughter Jasmine died last year from a suspected drug overdose Pauline Duddy, lost her 21-year-old daughter Jasmin after taking the prescription drug pregabalin Pauline Duddy lost her 21-year-old daughter Jasmin after taking the prescription drug pregabalin A heartbroken mum is taking her fight for tougher prison sentences for drug dealers to the government. Pauline Duddys 21-year-old daughter Jasmine died last year from a suspected drug overdose. Since her death, Pauline has dedicated her life to campaigning for more jail time for the dealers who are murdering our young people. After months of trying, the Derry woman has now secured a meeting later this month with senior members of the Department of Justice at Stormont. She hopes that it will be worthwhile. I am not giving up on this, she told the Sunday World this week. Jasmine Duddy, described by her devastated family as a beautiful young woman, was found unresponsive at a house in the Galliagh area of Derry last February after taking pregabalin tablets. She died a short time later. The mother-of-ones death was one of four suspected drug-related fatalities in the city over a three-week period. Another spate of deaths among young people in the north west last August were also linked by police to a dangerous batch of pregabalin. While the main focus was in the north west, people in other parts of Northern Ireland are also understood to have died after taking the contaminated tablets. Jasmine Duddy Pregabalin, also known as Lyrica, is usually prescribed by doctors to treat epilepsy and nerve pain. However, the drug is widely abused and dealers often lace the tablets with other substances which make them even more dangerous. In 2019, it was made illegal to possess pregabalin in Northern Ireland without a prescription. Following her daughters death, Pauline launched a petition demanding tougher prison sentences for drug dealers. At present, anyone convicted in the UK of supplying class A drugs such as heroin or cocaine could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison. Someone convicted of supplying class B or C drugs, which include illegal prescription drugs, could be jailed for up to a maximum of 14 years. However, Pauline said no one in Northern Ireland is being sent to prison for even close to the maximum sentence. As part of her campaign, she has organised protests outside the courthouse in Derry something she plans to keep doing until action is taken. Pauline has urged people to support her campaign by signing her online petition. It will take two minutes and it could save a young persons life, she said. We need a lot more people to join us. A recent BBC Spotlight programme was told young people here are being forced into sex and criminality to pay off drug debts. In some cases, it was alleged young women are being raped to either pay off or reduce how much they owe the dealers. Pauline Duddy, lost her 21-year-old daughter Jasmin after taking the prescription drug pregabalin Do we really want our daughters raped, our granddaughters raped? said Pauline. Do we want our sons battered? Do we want them put out of our own cities over drug debt? These vile people get these young people hooked and then expose them to rape and beatings to pay back their debt. It increases crime because these young people have to steal to pay back the drug debt so they are not raped, so they are not beat up. Appealing for people to support her campaign, she said the scourge of drugs was everywhere. This is happening all around Northern Ireland and we need to stop it. I really dont care how up somebody thinks they are, this will affect everybodys family. Hopefully not death, because there have been too many deaths, but imagine if your daughter or granddaughter or niece was raped. That is a lifetime of trauma on its own. I dont understand why people are not getting involved. We have got a bit of hope, lets make this change and stop these death dealers. Get the dealers locked up. No dealers, no drugs, no deaths and I will stand by that until the day I die. The firearm was discovered by officers during the search of a home in Turloughmore shortly after 7am today. A man has been arrested and charged by gardai after the seizure of a suspected rifle in Co Galway earlier this morning. The firearm was discovered by officers during the search of a home in Turloughmore shortly after 7am today. During the course of a search of the house and the grounds of the home, the suspected rifle along with a silencer and scope were confiscated by gardai. A man in his 20s was later arrested in connection with this seizure and detained under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at a Garda Station in Galway. He has since been charged and is expected to appear before a special sitting of Galway District Court later this evening. The seized firearm will be sent to the Garda Ballistics Unit for analysis. A garda spokesman said the operation was part of ongoing investigations by the Galway Divisional Detective Unit into criminal activity in the Galway area. The Galway County Crime Unit, the Garda Armed Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit also provided assistance. Investigations are ongoing. The man who is in his 50s, is currently being quizzed at a Garda station in the Dublin region A man has been arrested after a garda raid on a house in Ballyfermot led to the seizure of drugs including cannabis resin, methamphetamine, and cocaine worth 70,000. The man who is in his 50s, is currently being quizzed at a Garda station in the Dublin region. Gardai from the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot Drugs Unit conducted an intelligence-led operation on Friday as part of ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of controlled drugs and related crime in the West Dublin area. During the operation, a residential property in Ballyfermot was searched. Quantities of cannabis resin, methamphetamine, and cocaine were seized, along with a sum of cash, gardai said. The seized drugs have an estimated value in excess of 70,000, pending analysis. A male, aged in his 50s, was arrested and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region. Gardai added that the seizure forms part of Operation Tara, the enhanced national anti-drugs strategy that was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national, local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 16. Kazakhstan's Bereke Bank will stop accepting payments on MIR cards, the statement of Bereke Bank said, Trend reports. "Bereke Bank informs about the termination of interaction with Russia's National Payment Card System (RNPCS) MIR. Acceptance of non-cash payments at the POS-terminals of Bereke Bank using MIR cards will be unavailable from March 17, 2024," the report says. At the same time, it is noted that operations on VISA, MASTERCARD, and UnionPay cards in the POS terminals of Bereke Bank are available in full. Meanwhile, earlier, Kazakhstan's Freedom Bank suspended P2P (person-to-person) transfers from and to Russian MIR payment cards. "P2P transfers to Freedom Bank from or to the MIR card are no longer available," the bank informed. As an alternative, the bank offered its clients the SWIFT system or the service of transferring money by phone number through Tsifra Bank. To note, the US Ministry of Finance has imposed sanctions against Russia's National Payment Card System (NPCS). The Russian National Payment Card System is the operator of the Russian national payment system, MIR. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel A British grandmother who is the alleged ringleader of a drug smuggling syndicate has been offered a glimmer of hope to escape a firing squad in Bali. Lindsay Sandiford (67) has spent more than a decade on death row after being imprisoned since 2013 for drug smuggling into Indonesia. She was caught trying to smuggle 1.6million worth of cocaine in her suitcase but is hoping her death sentence will be converted into a whole life term due to good behaviour behind bars. She now enjoys special benefits including medium-rare steak dinners, according to the Daily Mail, and is leading knitting circles with fellow inmates, who have dubbed her 'The Queen of Kerobokan Prison'. Her cellmate, an Indonesian woman who has been behind bars for two years, told The Mirror Sandiford is loved by everyone in the prison. She is the grandmother of the prison, the Queen, she said of Sandiford. She said that Sandiford teaches people in the prison how to knit and how to take care of themselves. She was even brought chocolate and fresh vegetables to the jail from supporters while human rights barrister Felicity Gerry KC has called for the grandmother to be returned to Britain. She currently awaits being brought to Nusa Kambangan, known as Execution Island, from her cell in the Kerobokan jail. Sandiford's cellmate told the newspaper that she is scared of dying but she has accepted it. However, another inmate claimed she is foul-mouthed, antagonistic and drives people out of her cell. The grandmother-of-two is locked up in one of the toughest prisons in Indonesia known as Hotel K after she was caught flying into Bali from Bangkok with 10.16 lb of cocaine. Around 80 per cent of the prison's population are locked up on drug charges waiting to be executed, according to the Mirror. Sandiford, from Yorkshire, who had no previous convictions, has claimed she was forced by a UK-based drugs syndicate to smuggle cocaine from Thailand to Bali. She received a death sentence despite cooperating with police in a sting to arrest people higher up in the syndicate. Human rights lawyers and former UK Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald who said she had been treated with quite extraordinary severity. Despite a ruling from Supreme Court judges in London who said 'substantial mitigating factors' had been overlooked in her original trial, the British government has repeatedly refused to fund Sandiford's appeal. Sandiford could face execution at any time after failing to lodge a final appeal but said: I really cannot face asking anyone for help or having to deal with another lawyer. I just can't face it. I've been burnt enough times. I've had 10 different lawyers. If I actually turned my mind to the legal process I would get angry and bitter and it would be destructive. Rachel Dougall, who was sentenced to a year in the squalid prison for failing to report a crime, told Daily Mail Australia in March, 2017, she suffered a nervous breakdown while inside after being locked up with drug addicts, HIV-positive inmates and sexually aggressive lesbians. Most of the women were on drugs virtually every day. If you had money the guards would get you anything you wanted, she said. The four accounts frozen belonged to one individual and contained a total of 41,428, a police spokesperson said. Police have frozen four bank accounts in an investigation into the criminal activities of the West Belfast UDA. The four accounts frozen belonged to one individual and contained a total of 41,428, a police spokesperson said. Detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force (PCTF), assisted by officers from the Police Services Economic Crime Unit, used an Account Freezing Order. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The move was described as part of an ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of the West Belfast UDA and the accounts will be frozen for an initial period of six months. Police can freeze a bank or building society account where the balances exceed 1,000, and the funds are suspected to be either the proceeds of criminal conduct or intended for use in unlawful conduct. A police spokesperson said: The origins of the frozen money will be subject to an investigation and, if shown to be criminal proceeds, the money will be subject to a forfeiture order. Our investigation continues and we rely upon your support. I would encourage anyone with information on these criminal activities to contact our detectives on 101. Security sources say there has been a deliberate step-up in terms of the pressure on dissident groups. Police at the scene of an incident in Belfast Masked police have been stepping up the pressure on groups such as the Real IRA, Oglaigh na hEireann, the New IRA and Arm na Poblachta. Pictures shared with the Sunday World show armed officers with their faces obscured and identifying staff numbers removed from sight. Dissidents say they are being routinely stopped up to three times a day. Our boys are being stopped doing the school runs when their kids are in the car and its happening as much as three times a day, a dissident source told us. Security sources say there has been a deliberate step-up in terms of the pressure on dissident groups. We have our foot on their necks, said a source. There is no doubt we are putting increased pressure on them. It comes as the threat assessment has been downgraded from critical to substantial. The threat of attack was increased after the attempted murder last year of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was shot by the New IRA in Omagh. It also comes a year after Arm na Poblachta (ANP) issued a blanket death threat against family members of the PSNI. The group reappeared when they claimed to be behind last weeks security alerts in Dungiven. A viable pipe bomb was discovered last Saturday, with information that there was another in the area. The alert ended on Monday but police continued searching the area for the second device that was not discovered. ANP claimed responsibility and stated they were intent on targeting PSNI officers out on patrol. While the discovery was disturbing to the PSNI and local community, dissident sources say ANP are more of an annoyance to police than a direct threat to their lives. This is due to lack of skill, manpower and weapons. Last year, in the immediate aftermath of the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell, ANP issued a bizarre threat to family members of serving officers, stating they too were legitimate targets. Their statement was treated with contempt by members of the New IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) who described the gang as a motley crew. The micro-offshoot organisation in Belfast were warned by ONH to disband or face severe consequences. ANP in Belfast heeded the warnings. However, a small cell remained intact in Derry although sources say it consists of a maximum of 10 members. The pipe bomb found in Dungiven is the height of their ability, according to rival dissidents. However, security sources are on high alert and taking no chances. The ANP in Derry/Dungiven are a bunch of hangers-on, said a dissident source. We cant see how they could be of any real threat. They are an annoyance more like a fly in your ear than something to take seriously. Police at the scene of an incident in Belfast They were told to shut down by ONH last year and most listened apart from this lot. They are of no notable threat in our opinion because of their lack of resources and that includes training, skills and access to weapons. The only way they could have got that previously was through Belfasts connections and they are gone now the boys in Belfast have walked away. Another source connected to the New IRA said: What went down in Dungiven says it all. A pipe bomb at the side of the road and a call into the police with a hoax claim. That about sums up their ability in our eyes. ANP consist of a small number of men, some of whom have previous links to the CIRA, ONH and the INLA. They had small pockets in Belfast, Tyrone and Armagh. Derry is the only one remaining. Their days are numbered, according to sources, with plans by the New IRA in Derry to order their immediate stand-down already being discussed. A person with inside knowledge said: They have been warned once. To be warned again, well someone could take offence at that. Its down to the boys in Derry to sort them out. Its their patch; weve cleaned up ours, got rid of a bunch of muppets and pill poppers up here. Its over to them. A source affiliated with ONH said: The New IRA, to sort that down there with ANP it wont be a hard job. Theres only a handful of them. The Sunday World has revealed members of ANP were expelled from the dissident organisations over the past few years due to criminality. The only murder associated with ANP since it was formedi n 2017 is that of Raymond Johnston in Poleglass in June 2018. He was blasted once in the chest with a shotgun. No one has ever been charged with his murder. In relation to the alert in Dungiven, two men aged 22 and 35, and two others aged 55, were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. They were released pending investigations. Police said the device in Dungiven was made safe and taken away for examination. Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and have asked anyone with information to contact them. Its understood a close relative, who was estranged from Henry, came forward and paid for the meagre funeral. Fritzl kept his daughter in a basement dungeon for 24 years, raping her 3,000 times (Reuters) Monster Alistair Henry is still causing trouble, even in death, after relatives of loved ones buried close to him accused the council of making a grave error putting him there. Last week we revealed how Henry dubbed Ulsters Josef Fritzl after the Austrian who kept his daughter captive for 24 years and raped her thousands of times had died and was buried without anyone present. Henry subjected his ex-wife to a catalogue of horrendous abuse, much of which cant be published as its far too disturbing. He referred to himself as the Devils Disciple and even blamed Lucifer for his catalogue of violent attacks. The thug died, at the age of 62, in his assisted living home two weeks ago. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Coleraine Cemetery. Alistair Henry's unmarked grave at Coleraine Cemetery Its understood a close relative, who was estranged from Henry, came forward and paid for the meagre funeral. There was no service for him, no gravestone, nobody spoke to say anything nice, or otherwise, and nobody said prayers or laid flowers. Shortly after the funeral 10 days ago, we were sent pictures of his unmarked grave, but his arrival at the council-run cemetery has not gone down well with everyone. My friends mum is buried close to where they have put Alistair Henry and they are furious that they will have to look at his grave and be made to think of him when they visit now, said a source. They think he should have been buried somewhere away from other families given his horrific past as an abuser of women. He has to be buried somewhere, but it seems some of those around him are not too happy about it and have told the council. They also worry that his grave will be attacked because of his past and all the people he treated badly. Its just worry and stress they could do without. Fritzl kept his daughter in a basement dungeon for 24 years, raping her 3,000 times (Reuters) On social media, some people have expressed fury at the choice of plot for Henry. One person said: He shouldve been cremated and his ashes disposed of. Nobody wants to have to visit a grave beside him or have their loved ones have to share the same soil as this degenerate. Another wrote: Burying it beside decent people! He should be thrown into the middle of the Atlantic with concrete blocks chained to his body. While another said: He should have been burned and put in a bin and f***ed off a cliff. Other comments were left on social media stating Henry would rot in hell and the only people that will miss him is the people that own the Winemark. He brutalised his ex-wife and made the lives of everyone he came into contact with a misery. She told of how, back in 2008, the abuse started. We were only married and I was sitting on the bed as he was getting ready to go to work, the next thing he punched me full-on, on the side of the face, she said. He broke my jaw and permanently damaged my eye that day for no reason. There was no warning, no row. That was the start of my hell, it was every day after that. Henry was also jailed in 2013 after he falsely accused a drinking pal hed fallen out with of murdering 73-year-old Norman Moffatt when, in fact, he had made it all up. Western Bay of Plenty youth have been able to learn a skill to explore the depths of the underwater world thanks to the generosity of strangers from their own district. Graeme Dingle Foundation WBOP regional manager Dan Allen-Gordon says five youth from Project K and four from the Big Buddy programme have learnt the skill of scuba diving via savvy fundraising by a Tauranga diving instruction business. It would never have crossed their minds to become a diver, Dan says of the youth who enjoyed day one of their PADI open water dive course recently. Now theyll be able to travel around the world to dive and maybe even teach others, says Dan, who believes Project K builds confidence and resilience in young people. It was started by adventurer Sir Graeme Dingle and Jo-Anne Wilkinson, Lady Dingle, in 1995 and has been running in Tauranga since 2009. Via their own pay it forward campaign on their business website, Dive Zone Tauranga raised enough money to sponsor the nine youth to participate in a free entry-level scuba diving course last month. Everyone remembers their first day of learning to dive, says Dive Zone owner Liz Plank. Our pool creates memories so we asked our clients to donate so that those who wouldnt normally get the opportunity could benefit from it. When Mount Maunganui College student Mia Donaldson found out she was going to learn to dive, she was very excited. Its a great opportunity. Its a little scary learning how to control everything in the water but its good. Her smile evident in the photograph above shows how she found the experience. Liz admits the dive course at Dive Zone Tauranga isnt always accessible to a lot of people due to cost. Once youve done it, though, youve got that skill for life as well as NCEA credits. I was proud to be able to offer these kids the opportunity to learn to dive and I would always like to be able to do more. To donate funds to get more Project K kids into the dive course, visit: https://www.divezonetauranga.co.nz/pay-it-forward The incredible photography of student Grace OSullivan is about to tour New Zealand on the 2024 NZQA Level 3 Top Art annual touring exhibition. Grace OSullivan completed NCEA Level 3 last year at Otumoetai College where she created an art project that has been selected for the exhibition and the opportunity of a lifetime. Top Art is an annual touring exhibition showcasing a selection of NCEA Level 3 portfolios that achieved an Excellence endorsement in Visual Arts in the previous year, says deputy chief executive assessment Jann Marshall. The portfolios cover five fields of Visual Arts: design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture, and are selected for the exhibition by the marking panels for each of these subjects." Jann says the portfolios are split into three tours that visit galleries, schools and community centres across the country between March and October. "Images of the portfolios and biographies for each of the students will be uploaded to the NZQA website during March. Top Art provides an opportunity for secondary students and teachers to gain an understanding of what is required to achieve Excellence at Level 3. Jann says Top Art allows students to celebrate their achievements with whanau and friends and for members of the public to see the high-quality artwork being created in schools throughout the country. The message For Graces NCEA Level 3 art project, she created a series of photographs representing a personal journey. The message behind my photography project was what it is like to be Pakeha and Maori, but I always had to spend most of my life living a Pakeha lifestyle. Grace says this meant she didnt ever feel the need to express her Maori culture until now. I was very interested in Maori culture and thought I needed to express myself and my heritage. Still, while trying, people discouraged me from doing it, saying I was too white and not Maori enough and would start testing me on how Maori I am. "I dont know much about my Maori culture. I lived such a Pakeha life I had no idea where to start with my Maori culture. "Still, once I started getting into photography at school, I began to use photography to help me express my Maori culture and also help me learn a lot more from my teachers and peers at school. I then started to add ideas and wanted to show how I am slowly stepping into a spiritual awakening of acceptance and being one with the land. I still have a lot of learning to go with my culture, but Im grateful that I had my photography teacher who encouraged me to keep going even when I felt like giving up. Her teacher Grace says this project has helped her to gain more self-confidence and she hopes to build confidence in others who are afraid to express themselves. When I found out my photography board got selected I was in shock. At the start of 2023 I was so unmotivated with my photography board that I didnt know what to do or where to start. "I couldnt find ways to make my photography board flow; I had many ups and downs with ideas but my teacher kept motivating me to keep going even when I was so close to giving up. "When I handed in my project I had very low expectations in my work. When I got the news that I got selected I was so grateful that Id such an amazing photography teacher who kept me going. I wouldnt have gotten this far without her help. Im really happy that I can show people around New Zealand my story and help other teenagers create their own stories through art. IHC New Zealand is dismayed that a new Government report, billed as a nationwide picture of the populations health, ignores the 47,000 people with intellectual disability in New Zealand. Te Whata Ora Health New Zealands Health Status Report acknowledges that significant inequities in health outcomes exist, but it doesnt delve any deeper. IHC Director of Advocacy Tania Thomas says its critical that intellectually disabled people, who experience the worst outcomes of all New Zealanders, are counted. It has been 13 years since the Government has adequately reported on the health indicators people with intellectual disabilities, and that data was collected in 2008, says Tania. That report told us that the life expectancy gap between the general population and intellectually disabled people was a staggering 23 years. In 2023, IHC released a groundbreaking report to fill in the gaps and better understand how to improve and advocate for better health outcomes for this vulnerable population. For the first time we have a life expectancy rate not just for the intellectually disabled population, but for the Maori intellectually disabled population, says Tania. The life expectancy for a Maori man with intellectual disability is just 62, and for women its 63. Its a travesty that this is below retirement age. Its time for the Government to highlight, prioritise and address the unfairness of health provision in this country. Have you spotted the new 'NO DOGS' stickers at Pilot Bay and Main Mount Beach? There are only 2,500 New Zealand dotterel left in the country, and Mount Maunganui is one of the popular spots where dotterels like to nest. The Tauranga community is committed to doing its part to make sure these numbers rise, not dwindle, and keeping dogs away is a major part of that. A newly hatched rare dotterel chick and its parent on Mount Main Beach. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford. Frequently nesting and feeding amongst the rocks around the Mount Main Beach area are oyster catchers, while Mauao and Moturiki is home to hundreds of little blue penguins. An often unknown feature of Mauao is that there is a colony of grey-faced petrels breeding there. This is an extraordinary feat, given how close the colony is to urban life and local cafes. Little blue penguins at Mount Maunganui. Photo: Melissa McLuskie. As so much of this area is a wildlife reserve, with all sorts of protected wildlife that live and nest there, just having a dog nearby can upset their nesting and breeding. And now Tauranga City Council's Animal Services team is reminding dog owners at ground level, that there is a $300 fine for taking their furry friend into this wildlife protected zone. Dogs are not allowed on the dunes, grass or boardwalk at Mount Maunganui Main Beach. This also means dogs are not allowed on the grassed area or boardwalk between the road and beach at Pilot Bay. New 'NO DOGS $300 FINE' stickers are now at Mount Main Beach and Pilot Bay at Mount Maunganui. Photo: Supplied. When downtown the Mount, make sure you keep an eye out for signage for where you can and cannot take your dog. Or head to the Tauranga City Council website for more information Dogs can be exercised off-leash in any park, reserve, beach or public area across Tauranga, except in areas identified as on-leash or prohibited. Check out our webpage for more info These are part of our education to dog owners, reminding them where they cant have their dogs. Lets do our part in protecting our wildlife! Ensure you know where you can and can't go. The red in the map outlines where you can't take your dog as there is protected wildlife in the area. Map: Tauranga City Council. Dog exercising areas Tauranga has plenty of parks and reserves that are perfect for exercising dogs. If your dog is likely to cause danger, distress or a nuisance, it must be kept on a leash. Also, please be mindful of our no dog and on-leash areas. When walking your dog, make sure you have a lead with you and attach it if you are approaching another dog, animal or person. It's your responsibility to ensure you have control of your dog at all times. Please remember to always take a plastic bag with you and pick up after your dog. Dogs are allowed over on the cafe side of Marine Parade at Mount Main Beach but not on the beach side of the road. Photo: Supplied. Exercising areas Off-leash areas Dogs can be exercised off-leash in any park, reserve, beach or public area across Tauranga, except in areas identified as on-leash or prohibited (see below). On-leash areas Your dog should be on a leash on any footpath, road reserve (road, berm and grassed area) or state highway, and must be on a leash at all times in these areas: Matua Salt Marsh Papamoa Dune Wilderness Area between Papamoa Domain and Taylors Road Omanu Surf Club car park When transiting the beach and foreshore in front of Omanu Surf Club/Papamoa Domain car parks When transiting the beach and foreshore in front of Papamoa Domain From Moturiki (Leisure Island) to the rocky outcrop heading towards Papamoa from 1 February to 31 July each year Motiti Reserve, and the beach in front of Motiti Reserve (only applies 15 December to 15 February 10am to 5pm) For full details of Tauranga City Council's on-leash areas, refer to the Dog Management Bylaw 2018. Tauranga has plenty of areas to take dogs for a walk and some fun. Photo: File. In prohibited areas where no dogs are allowed There are some areas in Tauranga where you are not allowed to take your dog, either because of ecological sensitivities or because the area is used intensively by the public. These areas include: Beaches Mount Maunganui Main Beach, from Moturiki (Leisure Island) to Mauao (Mount Maunganui) Beach foreshore from Moturiki (Leisure Island) to the rocky outcrop heading towards Papamoa (this area is known as Shark Alley) from 1 August to 31 January each year Pilot Bay from Mauao to Salisbury Avenue Beach in front of Omanu Surf Club, between beach access markers 0003 and 0004 (exception: dogs on leash can transit through this area) Beach in front of Papamoa Domain (exception: dogs on leash can transit through this area) Beach means any land on or adjacent to the seacoast and includes any walkway, boardwalk, the foreshore and dunes. This means that dogs are not allowed on the dunes, grass or boardwalk at Mount Maunganui Main Beach. This also means dogs are not allowed on the grassed area or boardwalk between the road and beach at Pilot Bay. Parks and reserves Mauao (Mount Maunganui) including the base track Moturiki (Leisure Island) McLaren Falls Park (within Western Bay of Plenty District Council) Omanawa Falls (within Western Bay of Plenty District Council) Papamoa Hills Park (within Western Bay of Plenty District Council) Within 10 metres from any public play equipment Within 10 metres of any exercise equipment in reserves Otumoetai Pa Historic Reserve at 29 Levers Road For full details of Tauranga City Council's prohibited dog areas, refer to the Dog Management Bylaw 2018. Disability assist dogs Some dogs do not have to be leashed in public and can be taken into areas normally prohibited to dogs. These dogs have been certified by one of the organisations listed below as being a dog that has been trained (or is being trained) to assist a person with a disability. Assistance Dogs New Zealand Hearing Dogs for Deaf People New Zealand K9 Medical Detection New Zealand Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust New Zealand Epilepsy Assist Dogs Trust Perfect Partners Assistance Dogs Trust Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Incorporated This also includes specified agency dogs on active service such as: Alekk M. Saanders Saturday, 16 March 2024, 12:22 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The Act of Supremacy of 1534, which created the Anglican Church and severed ecclesiastical ties with Rome, forced many Irish Catholics to flee from religious and political oppression. The common Roman creed served to justify their being received in areas governed by the Spanish monarchy. Lots of them sought exile in Andalucia, or rather in the main cities of Seville, Malaga, Huelva, and especially Cadiz. At the time Sanlucar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa Maria had become important centres of the Indian market following Columbus's discoveries. Warmly welcomed Andaluia is believed to have given the Irish a warm welcome. Apparently, their Roman Catholic status contributed to the locals' perception of them not as foreigners but as refugees under the protection of the Spanish monarch, supported at various times by alms and private pensions. In addition, the legendary ideological allusion of common descent, based on the belief that Hibernia, the Latin name for Ireland, derived from Iberia/Hiberia, the name of the peninsula on which Spain is located, is thought to have played a role. Either way, the common Catholic religion was mainly used as an argument to strengthen and improve the position of the Irish in Andaluia. Their Roman status apparently contributed to the locals' perception of the Irish not as foreigners but as refugees under the protection of the Spanish monarch The Irish were also favoured in their financial activities. Various decrees issued by the Spanish monarchs in the 17th and 18th centuries determined the assimilation of the Irish in Spain and particularly in Andaluia. For example, in 1680 Charles II granted the Irish the status of Spaniards, placing them on a par with the rest of the Crown's subjects, a measure ratified by his successor Philip V in the first year of his reign. In 1749, Irish Catholics who had lived in the country for more than ten years or married a Spaniard were granted the right to trade and royal consent to own land. Nobility Lands had been lost by some Irish noble families in Ireland. The harsh penal laws imposed stripped many nobles of land, titles and the possibility of studying or pursuing a military career if they did not renounce the Catholic religion. Among the families that decided to settle in Andalucia, were the Butlers. The roots of this powerful noble family go back to 12th-century Ireland. They held power over much of Ireland until the 1730s when one of its members, William Butler Langton, moved to Cadiz. Members of the Butler family are still in this Andalusian city and the rest of Spain, as well as in other continents, without forgetting their origin in the Celtic country. Descendants of the Butlers, a powerful noble Irish family in the Middle Ages, are still in Andalucia and the rest of Spain Cadiz paid tribute to another Irishman, Alexander O'Reilly, by naming one of its streets after him. The military reformer was born in Ireland but made his prominent career serving the Spanish Empire in the second half of the 18th century. He died in Cadiz in 1794. For his much appreciated services to the Crown of Spain, O'Reilly was ennobled as Conde de O'Reilly (Count of O'Reilly), and granted a coat of arms. Cadiz is also represented by another Spanish military officer with Irish roots - Raimundo Maria de Sotto y Langton, 2nd Earl of Clonard. His original Irish surname 'Sutton' became Spanish as De Sotto. Liaising with local people Historians say that group cohesion based on similarities and kinship, the ability to mobilise resources and to create inter-community ties, determined the integration of the Irish into Andalusian society. The Irish were known for tending towards endogamy, marrying within the same family, to secure inheritance and perpetuate a commercial firm. However they also sought mixed marriages with the elite of the host cities to advance their socio-economic interests and provide some stability. A prime example would be the story of William Garvey. This Irish aristocrat married an Andalusian woman, Sebastiana Gomez Jimenez. The marriage obviously helped him to become one of the most important wine producers; he eventually founded one of the largest bodegas in Jerez de la Frontera and named it after St Patrick. Irish social activism was visible, not only in the building of chapels, but also in the sponsorship of hospitals and urban improvements Also named after St Patrick was a school in Seville for Irish students. In Malaga, the church built by Eduardo Huelin, a local businessman who first improved workers' housing conditions in the city (the neighbourhood in Malaga bears his name), was named in honour of San Patricio (St Patrick). The choice of saint is no coincidence; Huelin came from a mixed family with Irish roots. Incidentally, Irish social activism was visible, not only in the building of chapels, but also in the sponsorship of hospitals and urban improvements. The church of San Patricio in Huelin, Malaga. M. Fernandez In a variety of fields Spanish-Irish economic relations strengthened from the 16th century at such a great rate that already at the beginning of the 17th century Irish merchants began to demand the appointment of their own consul to represent their interests in Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda, and Cadiz. There was also notable support and cooperation in Andaluia among the Irish merchants based in Seville, Cadiz, Huelva and Malaga. In Spain, the Irish mainly specialised in certain sectors of trade, where some families sought to become suppliers to the Crown. However, in Andalucia, the Irish were not only merchants, but also moneylenders, tax agents, shipbuilders and shipowners. Many were engaged in small-scale manufacturing and worked in local governments as well as in military service. An example is Henry (Enrique) MacDonnell (born to an Irish family), who was a Spanish admiral noted for his participation in several sea battles including the Battle of Trafalgar off the Andalusian coastline. Irish-born Roman Catholic prelate Michael Fitzwalter served as auxiliary bishop of Seville from 1596 to 1601. Thinker and poet Joseph Blanco White (born Jose Maria Blanco y Crespo in Seville, to Irish ancestry) was a colourful representative of the cultural Irish community in Andalucia. Chinese, Angolan presidents hold talks, elevating bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership Xinhua) 08:56, March 16, 2024 Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Noting that China and Angola jointly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, Xi said relations between the two countries have stood the test of international vicissitudes and benefitted the two peoples. China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries, which is about mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win cooperation, Xi said. In a world that is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, the two sides should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, firmly support each other, and achieve common development, Xi noted. China supports Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, and realizing national development and revitalization, he said. China is also willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Angola, upgrade bilateral strategic relations, and jointly promote the modernization process of each country, Xi noted. He stressed that cooperation between China and Angola enjoys a sound foundation, large scale and high complementarity, endowing huge potential and bright prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides should advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, synergize their development strategies, and improve the quality and effectiveness of their pragmatic cooperation. China is ready to work with the Angolan side to implement key infrastructure projects, support competent Chinese enterprises to carry out various forms of cooperation in Angola, and help the country advance agricultural modernization, industrialization and economic diversification, Xi said. It is hoped that Angola will take more effective measures to ensure the legitimate rights, interests and safety of Chinese citizens and enterprises, Xi said, adding that Angola is welcome to introduce more quality products to China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo and China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. China will continue to send medical teams to Angola and implement other projects, provide scholarships to Angolan students, and enhance people-to-people exchanges and friendship, he said. Noting that at present, the collective rise of developing countries is unstoppable, Xi said the Global South must not be absent from global governance, or development and prosperity. "China is a reliable friend and sincere partner for African countries in their efforts to safeguard independence, and promote development and revitalization." Xi said China supports African countries and the African Union in solving African issues in the African way, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. China stands ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with Angola and other African countries to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he added. Lourenco said that China was the first country to provide valuable support both when Angola was reeling from its civil war and struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude. "China's support and cooperation have greatly promoted Angola's infrastructure construction and economic and social development, setting a good example of mutually beneficial cooperation," Lourenco added. The Angolan side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola to help its national development and revitalization, the president said. Angola firmly adheres to the one-China principle and holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, he added. Angola highly appreciates China's consistent commitment to promoting world peace and progress, and safeguarding international fairness and justice. Angola is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as important norms governing international relations, he said. Lourenco also expressed the willingness to work with China to achieve more results in bilateral relations. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields. The two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Angola. Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People. In the evening, Xi held a banquet for Lourenco. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco jointly witness the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) By Alimat Aliyeva Deputy Finance Ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Japan Ruslan Tatikov and Masato Kanda held a meeting in Tokyo, where they discussed plans to create a Kyrgyz-Japanese Development Fund, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. According to the information, it is expected that this fund will contribute to increased investment, modernization and development of industry, as well as the effective expansion of economic cooperation and trade between the countries. It is reported that in addition, the issue of exchanging Kyrgyzstan's debt for climate projects was discussed. Issues of cooperation in the field of human resource development based on the implementation of the grant program of the Government of Japan for the training of civil servants (JDS*) were also discussed. Both sides noted successful trends in the development of cooperation between the two governments and expressed hope for further strengthening of friendly relations. Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on the exchange of experience in the field of reforming the financial management information system. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 16. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have discussed the adoption of coordinated measures to increase the volume of mutual trade turnover, Trend reports. The discussions took place during a meeting between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the government delegation of Kazakhstan led by Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov in Tashkent. During the meeting, the President of Uzbekistan congratulated Oljas Bektenov on his recent appointment and wished him great success in his responsible activities. The parties also discussed issues of further expansion of Uzbek-Kazakh multifaceted cooperation. In particular, special attention was paid to the formation of a new agenda for practical interaction in preparation for upcoming joint events at the highest level. The parties noted the need to remove barriers and take coordinated measures to increase the volume of mutual trade turnover, including during the activities of the working group headed by authorized ministers. Issues of deepening cooperation in industry, transport, and logistics, which are key areas in the strategic partnership of the two states, were also discussed. In conclusion, the expediency of actively promoting a new portfolio of investment programs in priority sectors and infrastructure projects of regional importance in the field of transport and energy was noted. Meanwhile, trade turnover volume between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan amounted to $271.2 million in January 2024. The export volume reached $76.3 million, while imports amounted to $194.9 million. 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. Syracuse, N.Y. A man who said he was bored called in bomb threats across Syracuse while laughing on Wednesday, police said. A few shopping areas, a library and a health care center all received bomb threats over the phone from a man, Syracuse police said. At times he was laughing, police said. Police were able to trace the phone calls to the cellphone of Avram Broome Jr., 21, police said. They traced him to an address in the 200 block of Union Place, police said. When police arrived Broome came out with his arms up saying I did the bomb threats, police said. Broome confessed to police he called in the threats because he was bored, police said. Broome was arrested and charged with four counts of making a terroristic threat, police said. Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com. Happy weekend, everyone! Enjoy some green buds with your St. Patricks weekends green beer, and check out the stories we at NY Cannabis Insider covered last week. First off, we released details about our upcoming NY Cannabis Insider get-together at Madam Mikettes in New York City on April 2. The evening will feature a special discussion with panelists who represent the biggest components of the adult-use ecosystem throughout the state: cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and laboratories. This State of the State will dive into whats working, whats not, what needs to happen next, and what those looking to get into the industry should consider before making the leap. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: Reporter Wes Parnell published an investigation into a product recall for Jennys, a processing company owned and operated by Jenny Argie. His investigation found evidence that the Office of Cannabis Management is using enforcement powers to retaliate against those who speak out about its part in the flawed rollout of the new marketplace. Audio recordings, emails and social media posts, along with more than a dozen interviews with business owners and others, evidence why these operators are scared to talk theyre afraid to lose or be denied a license, or experience selective enforcement, Parnell found. Parnell followed up that investigation with a story about Argie filing a lawsuit against the OCM, alleging regulators acted in retaliatory, arbitrary and capricious ways when they issued a stop-work order at her Hudson Valley processing facility. Argie said her company will go out of business by the end of March if the stop-work order and quarantine on her products are not lifted, according to documents shared with NY Cannabis Insider. Reporter Mel Hyman contributed a story about the State Senates proposed budget, which includes a total of $128 million in grants and loans for cannabis cultivators. The plan, which in tandem with the state Assembly budget blueprint will be presented to Gov. Kathy Hochul for final approval, contains three main components: $60 million for cannabis farmer loans. $40 million for cannabis farmer grants. $28 million for cannabis farmer tax credits. Markel Bababekov, owner of The Herbal Care, talked to NY Cannabis Insider about how the store is doing in its early days. Business is slower than expected, said Bababekov, who added that his largest business concern is competing with NYCs extensive unlicensed market. However, the store is drawing in some 100 customers on a daily basis, he said. We also checked in with Ellis Soodak, owner of Verdi, the first legal cannabis dispensary to open in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood. In a Q&A with NY Cannabis Insider, Soodak answered questions about what customers are buying, transitioning from the liquor store business to the cannabis industry and challenges in New Yorks legal weed industry. Lastly, we also added a new entry to our People to know in NY cannabis series: Sohan Bashar, the owner of Silk Road NYC, an adult-use cannabis dispensary. Have a great weekend everyone, well be back with plenty more next week. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 16. High-level representatives of CICA Member States, the Kazakhstan Chairmanship and the CICA Secretariat convened at the CICA Senior Officials Committee (SOC) meeting to consider issues such as the upcoming 2024-2026CICA Chairmanship, the implementation of the Road Map for CICA Transformation (RMT), establishment of a Partnership Network of Leading Universities of CICA Member States, future cooperation with other international organizations, and other Chairmanship priorities, Trend reports. The Kazakhstan Chairmanship reported on the progress achieved and presented plans on implementation of the CICA RMT. The organizations transformation is set to be a structured, results-oriented, gradual, but not protracted process. The SOC held its first detailed discussion of4 out of 8 clusters of the RMT, including elements of a future charter of CICA. In particular, the Member States paved the way for elaboration of the charter as a quintessence and culmination of the transformation process. New areas of cooperation within the organization and updating its Rules of Procedure were also deliberated at the meeting. The issue of the next CICA Chairmanship was considered by the SOC in detail. Following discussions, the SOC recommended to the CICA Ministerial Council that it adopt a decision on the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan in the years 2024-2026 through a silence procedure. The SOC also approved a draft Memorandum on the Establishment of a Partnership Network of Leading Universities of the CICA Member States for adoption by the Ministerial Council. This network will serve as a mechanism aimed at promoting cooperation among educational institutions, academic exchange, and joint research projects between universities inAsia. The Chairmanship then updated the SOC on the ongoing work on key initiatives of the Chairmanship outlined at the Sixth CICA Summit in October 2022. Delegates discussed the implementation of initiatives such as convening the Rally of Volunteer Movement Leaders of CICA Member States under the auspices of the CICA Youth Council, institutionalizing the CICA Finance Summit, and establishing a CICA Council for Sustainable Connectivity. Senior Officials emphasized the relevance of volunteerism and welcomed the initiative to share national policies, strategies, research and best practices in this area on the CICA website on the basis of consensus. The SOC also considered the draft annual action plan of the CICA Think Tank Forum for 2024. Facilitating effective intellectual collaboration among think tanks and research institutions of Member States remains a priority for the organization. In order to create and further develop effective synergies with other international organizations, Senior Officials approved establishing partnership relations between CICA and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay presented a financial report of the CICA Secretariat for 2023 and Member States expressed appreciation to the Secretary General for effective management of financial resources throughout the year. Nissan and Honda officially declared on Friday (Mar. 15) their collaboration in advancing electric vehicles (EVs) and auto intelligence technology, acknowledging areas where Japanese automakers have lagged. The CEOs of both companies revealed their intent to explore collaboration opportunities during a press conference in Tokyo. While the specifics of the Nissan-Honda partnership agreement are under negotiation, both sides emphasized jointly developing core technologies while maintaining separate product lines, according to AP News. Nissan's CEO, Makoto Uchida, stressed the urgency of speed in technological development, citing shared challenges. "It is significant that we have reached this agreement based on a mutual understanding that Honda and Nissan face common challenges," he remarked. Honda's president, Toshihiro Mibe, highlighted common values, suggesting synergies to counter competitors as the global automotive industry is rapidly transitioning to EVs due to emissions and climate change concerns. Despite Japan's success with combustion engine vehicles, companies like Tesla and BYD have led the development of EVs. Toyota, the largest automaker, has reservations about a complete shift to EVs due to infrastructure challenges but plans to intensify EV efforts. Nissan has a relatively stronger EV presence, notably with its Leaf model. The anticipation of the collaboration was reflected in significant stock price increases for both companies. While no mutual capital ownership is involved, both remain open to exploring possibilities. Uchida reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing competitiveness. EV Industry Adjusts Amid Slower Than Expected Consumer Adoption The NIssan-Honda partnership occurs as businesses supplying EV manufacturers face uncertainty. Despite expected component demand growth, recent trends show a slow conversion of driver enthusiasm into sales. Major automakers are revising EV plans in response to subdued consumer interest. Read Also: Tech Times Exclusives #71: Sansan Country Manager Jay Pegarido Discusses How Cloudbased Contact Management Solution Works Ford, General Motors, MTech Times Exclusives #71: Sansan Country Manager Jay Pegarido Discusses How Cloudbased Contact Management Solution Works ercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are adjusting strategies, shifting focus to hybrid and gas-powered vehicles. Government initiatives promoting sustainable alternatives fueled initial fervor, but higher upfront costs and repair expenses dampened consumer uptake. This adjustment may raise short-term supplier concerns but also present opportunities. Shared components between EVs and hybrids will see increased demand, offsetting short-term challenges with long-term growth prospects. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday that the Biden administration is supporting the country's electric vehicle industry in response to China's growing exports and government subsidies, as reported by Reuters. Changes in market preferences may provide new possibilities, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, noting that Toyota's focus on hybrid vehicles rather than EVs is projected to boost production and help its suppliers, per CNBC. Nissan Reports Massive Data Breach Meanwhile, Nissan confirmed a December 5, 2023, data breach involving 100,000 customers, employees, and dealers, with 10% compromised. TechTimes reported that the cyberattack incident affected Nissan Motor Corporation and Nissan Financial Services in Australia and New Zealand. Allegedly claimed by the ransomware group Akira, the breach involved 100 gigabytes of stolen data, including company files and personal information. While customers were informed of the incident in December, details on data breach emerged later. Nissan plans to notify affected individuals over the following weeks, noting that the figure may decrease due to duplicates. Compromised data includes government IDs for up to 10%, with specifics like 7,500 driver's licenses and 220 passports. Around 90% of those not contacted had additional personal data exposed, such as financial statements or work details. Dealers, current or former employees, and consumers of related finance operations under various brands are affected by the Nissan data breach. Related Article: CEO Angela Chao's Fatal Tesla Accident: New Details Emerge After Weeks of Speculation 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The latest deal from Reddit which offered for sale its user data for AI training has caught the attention of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) but is unfazed and believes that it did not violate any laws. This development came amidst the company's initial public offering (IPO) coming next week, with the FTC now questioning the company's decision towards growing more of its revenue with these licensing deals. In its first AI model training licensing deal, Google was its first partner where Reddit offered its user data for $60 million for the Big Tech company to obtain. Reddit's AI Training User Data Sale Now Under FTC Investigation Reddit revealed in a filing that it is now under an FTC investigation for its monumental deal in licensing its human-generated user content for AI training, particularly, with its $60 million deal with Google. On March 14, 2024, we received a letter from the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") advising us that the FTC's staff is conducting a non-public inquiry focused on our sale, licensing, or sharing of user-generated content with third parties to train AI models. Given the novel nature of these technologies and commercial arrangements, we are not surprised that the FTC has expressed interest in this area. Reddit The company believes that this process would be lengthy, and it may cause them to "incur substantial costs," one that could result in fines or "regulatory fines." It came a week before the company's IPO which is taking place next week, with Reddit expressing their concerns about how it will affect its business. Read Also: Reddit Ads to Look Like Regular Posts, Complete with Upvotes, Comments Reddit Remains Unfazed, Believes It Did Nothing Wrong However, despite this FTC inquiry, Reddit remains unfazed and believes it did nothing wrong. "We do not believe that we have engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practice," Reddit said. The letter, as relayed by Reddit, claimed that the FTC was interested in meeting with the company to learn more about this venture, particularly with its sharing of user data for $60 million to Google, and would request documents and files from the company moving forward. Reddit's AI Training Data Deal with Google and IPO Initially, amidst the company's plans to go public and bring its first-ever IPO, it was reported that Reddit sold its user data, particularly, human-generated content, to companies interested in using it for AI model training. In this way, Reddit is selling its user data and earns money in the process, but several questions have been raised regarding privacy and security on the platform. It was later revealed that it struck a deal with Google for this specific licensing of its content for AI training, with Reddit making $60 million off the partnership between the two. Additionally, this also came at the time when the company filed its IPO, the first indication that Reddit was going public, with many believing that this AI training deal was to boost more of its valuation and revenue. While many celebrated the IPO filing of Reddit, some questioned its deal with Google and this specific venture toward selling human-generated user data to license AI training. The FTC's probe will look into this offer by Reddit, with the company remaining unfazed and standing by their decision, facing this inquiry a week before its IPO. Related Article: Reddit IPO Excludes Australian Moderators, Raises Questions of Fairness 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX has been convicted of multiple charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. (Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 08: CEO of FTX Sam Bankman-Fried testifies during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill December 8, 2021 in Washington, DC. Bankman-Fried is Guilty FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been convicted on seven charges, which encompass wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Bankman-Fried established FTX due to dissatisfaction with existing exchanges utilized by his cryptocurrency trading company Alameda Research. However, allegations from the Securities and Exchange Commission assert that FTX was fraudulent from its inception. Federal prosecutors urged the judge to impose a sentence of 40 to 50 years on Sam Bankman-Fried, along with an order to pay a judgment exceeding $11 billion. They asserted that the FTX founder perpetrated one of the largest financial frauds in history, victimizing tens of thousands of individuals. According to Wall Street Journal, Bankman-Fried has displayed no remorse for his actions. Despite a privileged upbringing and promising prospects, the MIT graduate opted to defraud customers of the cryptocurrency exchange and deceive investors. They described his recent years as characterized by unparalleled greed, hubris, and a willingness to gamble with others' funds. The sentencing for Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled for March 28. Also Read: Sam Bankman-Fried is Guilty: Criminal Trial Conclusion Finds Ex-CEO Accountable for All 7 Charges Following a trial last autumn, a federal jury found the 32-year-old guilty of seven fraud and conspiracy charges. Testimonies from three of his key associates, including his former partner, indicated that they engaged in criminal activities under Bankman-Fried's direction. Prosecutors alleged that Bankman-Fried embezzled billions of dollars from clients and deceived both customers and lenders prior to the collapse of his cryptocurrency firm, FTX. Despite maintaining his innocence, Bankman-Fried, who testified in his own defense, intends to appeal the verdict. Following the trial, prosecutors informed the judge that they would not pursue further charges against Bankman-Fried. Instead, they urged the judge to factor in the allegations that would have been addressed in a potential second trial when deciding the sentencing. Bankman-Fried's legal team previously suggested to the judge that a sentence of approximately five to six years would be suitable. Additionally, they emphasized Bankman-Fried's autism as a factor that renders him especially susceptible to harm while incarcerated. As Judge Lewis Kaplan prepares to sentence Bankman-Fried, he faces the challenge of weighing the magnitude of financial losses incurred by customers and lenders. Federal sentencing guidelines heavily consider the extent of financial harm, often resulting in lengthy prison terms for white-collar offenses. According to probation officials, their calculations suggest a sentence of 100 years would be fitting. However, Bankman-Fried's legal team contests this assessment, arguing that the calculation, which hinges on a $10-billion loss, is flawed. How Did It Start? The whole situation started when CoinDesk published a big article about how Alameda, the company Bankman-Fried founded, was managing its money. The article showed that Alameda and FTX, another company Bankman-Fried was involved with, were closely connected, and a big part of their money was tied up in a token called FTT from FTX. When this came out, Binance's CEO decided to sell his FTT holdings. This caused a chain reaction, leading to FTX going bankrupt and Bankman-Fried stepping down from his position there. Exactly a year after CoinDesk's article, a jury in New York found Bankman-Fried guilty of all the charges against him. Related Article: Binance CEO Resigns: Changpeng Zhao to Plead Guilty, Settles $4.3B to DOJ 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla has resolved a racial discrimination lawsuit with Owen Diaz, a, African American employee who prevailed in two trials over allegations of racist discrimination. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Tesla electric cars stand outside the Tesla Gigafactory on March 07, 2024 near Gruenheide, Germany. Tesla has announced that it is suspending production at the Gruenheide factory until the end of next week due to the recent sabotage of an electricity pylon that is connected to the plant. A leftist activists association called the "Vulkan Group" ("Vulkangruppe") has claimed responsibility for the sabotage. Reaching a Settlement Initially awarded $3.2 million in damages by a federal jury, Tesla has reached a settlement with Owen Diaz, a Black worker who won two trials over racial discrimination. Representatives from Diaz's legal team at the California Civil Rights Law Group confirmed the resolution through CNBC. Diaz is an African American employee who served as an elevator operator at the company's Fremont, California plant back in 2015. Lawrence Organ, an attorney from the California Civil Rights Law Group representing Diaz, conveyed that the parties have reached a mutually agreeable resolution of their conflicts. Organ emphasized the remarkable bravery demonstrated by Owen Diaz in challenging a corporate giant like Tesla. He underscored the importance of individuals being willing to confront such challenges for civil rights laws to be effective. While the legal battle may have concluded for Diaz, Organ emphasized that there is still significant work ahead for Tesla in fostering an inclusive workplace environment. Organ expressed his belief that if Elon Musk publicly addressed the issue and made a commitment to his employees regarding intolerance of such behavior, the discriminatory conduct would cease. Despite significant verdicts and years of litigation, including a nine-figure verdict and another in the seven-figure range, no such statement has been forthcoming from Musk. Organ found it puzzling why such behavior persists at Tesla, a company seen as a symbol of futuristic innovation, while its actions reflect a discriminatory past. Denying Accusations Tesla faces legal action from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging the company's tolerance of pervasive racial harassment against its Black employees and retaliation against those who spoke out against it. Denying the accusations, Tesla has characterized the EEOC's claims as a misrepresentation, citing its history of providing equal employment opportunities. Also Read: Tesla Faces Another Lawsuit Over Racial Harassment at California Factory Diaz provided testimony in a federal court in San Francisco, detailing the pervasive racial harassment experienced by himself and fellow Black colleagues at Tesla. He recounted instances of being subjected to racial slurs, feeling physically threatened, and encountering racist graffiti in factory restrooms. Diaz recounted an incident where his Tesla coworkers left a racist depiction in his workspace. The drawing resembled Inki the Caveman, a character from a 1950s cartoon known for its offensive portrayal of a Black boy adorned with exaggerated features, including large lips, a loincloth, earrings, and a bone in his hair. He shared how he once encouraged his son to join Tesla, only to regret it later when his son also experienced a racially charged environment at the workplace. During his initial trial, Diaz and his legal team convinced the jury that he had faced severe racial discrimination at Tesla and that the company had not taken sufficient measures to stop and prevent such behavior, resulting in a substantial verdict of $137 million, inclusive of punitive damages. After Judge William H. Orrick lowered the jury's initial award to $15 million, both Diaz and Tesla pursued a retrial to determine the final damages. Despite the reduction, Diaz emerged victorious once more, obtaining a final verdict of $3.2 million. Related Article: Elon Musk's Tesla Accuses Civil Rights Agency of Unlawful Filing of Racial Bias 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Radia WindRunner is the world's largest plane now, and it is a new engineering feat that defies expectations and looks to make transporting the biggest of items possible in the future. It is twice the size of New York's Statue of Liberty, and was said to carry more than a Boeing 747, best known for being a commercial aircraft for humans or cargo, best regarded as the "Queen of the Skies." However, in this development from Radia, it is meeting the flying giant, with the WindRunner soon to make massive item transportation possible and faster. Radia WindRunner: Twice the Size of Lady Liberty Statue Radia's WindRunner was made to transport massive items, but more particularly, for the gigantic wind turbines that are needed in wind farms, one that is capable of doing so efficiently and faster compared to nautical ventures. It is a massive aircraft, 365 feet (108 meters) in length, and it is more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty (46 m). It comes alongside Radia's GigaWind, the company's touted wind turbine for onshore deployments, with the WindRunner helping create wind farms for power generation. The WindRunner will operate on regional hubs where its blades are imported or manufactured, capable of takeoff and landing on semi-prepared runways. Read Also: ZeroAvia Raises $115 Million for Zero-Emission Hydrogen Passenger Plane but Builds Hybrid Aircraft WindRunner Carries More Cargo Than Boeing 747 Radia's take on the WindRunner looks to bring the solution for massive item transportation, with better capabilities compared to the renowned Boeing 747. The largest Boeing plane is at around 232 ft. (71 m) only. In size alone, the WindRunner is already capable of storing longer items, and its hubs offer a patented system to ensure proper loading of the turbines and faster processes via its nose cargo door. Developments in the Aircraft Industry The latest trend in the aircraft industry is the development of electric airplanes, with many companies looking to deliver the first-of-its-kind clean energy flyer, one that could solve the challenge of heavy batteries onboard. Heart Aerospace already introduced its take on a zero-emissions plane, with the company best known for its backing from Air Canada. There was also a take in creating the world's first self-flying aircraft, with former Tesla and SpaceX engineers developing one using C-172 planes, under the company known as Reliable Robotics. The Cessna 172 is known for being a four-seater, single-engine aircraft, and this small flyer was able to take off, fly for around 15 minutes, and land at the same spot without any pilot on board. While there are massive concerns regarding the future of airplanes in the skies because of their contributions to emissions, there is still a need for this kind of transportation for commercial and cargo uses. That being said, Radia's take on creating the world's largest plane is looking towards offering its services for massive transportation needs, with the WindRunner set to prove itself on it in the future. Related Article: Nissan and Honda Announce Partnership to Advance Electric Vehicle Development 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TikTok finds itself navigating multiple challenges as it undergoes a national security review in Canada while also facing the looming prospect of a ban in the United States. Canada Conducts National Security Review on TikTok According to AFP, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced the national security review concerning TikTok's proposed expansion within the country. The review, which commenced discreetly in September 2023 under the Investment Canada Act, aims to assess the potential security implications associated with TikTok's plans for growth in Canada. Champagne revealed this development during a teleconference from Italy following discussions with his G7 counterparts. He emphasized that once the review concludes, Canadians will be duly informed about any subsequent actions taken. He refrained from providing a specific timeline for completing the review process. However, Champagne cited a previous announcement in March 2023, indicating that foreign investments in Canada's interactive digital media sector would undergo heightened scrutiny. Investments deemed to be engaging in activities detrimental to Canada's national security, such as disseminating disinformation or manipulating information, could face corrective measures or even a ban. It's essential to note that the Canadian review is distinct from a proposed US bill aimed at compelling TikTok's Chinese owners to divest their US operations or face a ban in the United States. Read Also: Steven Mnuchin Leading Investor Group to Acquire TikTok Amid Legislative Threats, but What Did China Say? TikTok Faces a Potential US Ban In response to the passage of a bill in the US House of Representatives that could potentially ban TikTok in the country, the platform has intensified its efforts to mobilize its user base against the proposed legislation. TikTok has implemented new in-app messages urging users to contact their senators and express opposition to the ban. This latest initiative follows a previous call to action directed at users to contact their representatives before the House vote, which resulted in a surge of calls to Congressional offices, primarily from young users. The latest alerts from TikTok are more explicit in their messaging, emphasizing the adverse consequences of a ban and encouraging users to take action to prevent it. TikTok CEO Shou Chew has also directly addressed users, emphasizing the platform's commitment to defending their constitutional rights. Chew reassured users of TikTok's determination to safeguard the platform's existence, including exploring legal avenues to challenge the bill if enacted. Related Article: Italy Antitrust Watchdog Slaps TikTok with 10 Million Euro Fine Over Content Moderation Failures 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Disappearance of little Emile: the child's bones have been discovered, announces the prosecution Initial research, role play, discovery of bones... The key dates of the disappearance of little Emile Medical innovation: New tests make it possible to detect cancer long before symptoms appear The week of God Twitter: from the tragedy on the Baltimore bridge to Holy Week that looks like the Flood Death of little Emile: how to explain the discovery of his bones near Haut-Vernet? Remy Martin celebrates its 300th anniversary with the most exclusive cognac in the world and only 8 bottles for Spain The revolution of the hungry is coming... even if it is delayed Pension payments will be reduced in real terms, and changes to the social security system for the new fiscal year will be The employment rate of people with disabilities required by companies will be raised to 2.5% or more. Journal de l'Afrique - Second reading of the New Constitution in Togo, a setback in the face of opposition pressure? The execution of young Palestinian men in Khan Yunis...a crime filmed by the killer who failed to bury the evidence Massive destruction by Israeli bombing that targeted the home of the Abu Aoun family in the Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip Infusions, ginger, lemon... an expert in digestive health teaches how to strengthen the microbiota to end spring colds Samantha Vallejo-Nagera's warning hours before the premiere of MasterChef 12: "This year's contestants are very crybaby" Stacy Martin, the French-British actress who is the muse of Louis Vuitton who excites the public and fashion: "Red carpets are a source of maximum pride and happiness, although they intimidate me" Palm Royale: another example of how Apple doesn't care about spending money on mediocre projects Antena 3 once again leads the ratings in the worst month of the year for La 1 Tour of Flanders: Mathieu van der Poel wins for the third time in his career Loudly slamming the door: Shevchenko won the mass start at the Chechen Biathlon Championships, and Garanichevs team won the relay Premier League: City and Arsenal pave the way for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool to the top of the table A curious own goal by Suleymanov and a saving strike by Glushenkov: Krasnodar missed out on victory over Lokomotiv in the RPL match Tennis: Sinner triumphs at the Masters 1000 in Miami by crushing Dimitrov in the final Lebanon: Easter celebrations tarnished by the situation in Gaza and the south of the country New employees take on the challenge of shearing sheep at a unique joining ceremony Shizuoka Fujinomiya Ten years at the helm of the "Yixin-Europe" China-Europe freight train: from a line to a network Hebei Chongli received more than 4.4 million tourists in the first full snow season after the Winter Olympics Chicken and egg or egg? 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Bandidos: a series so tacky that it seems taken from the Disney Channel of the 90s The Russian Embassy in Seoul condemned the cartoon of the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall Antibes: an orca dies at Marineland park, the second death in five months The captain of the expedition that crossed the Atlantic under sail as in the 17th century to make a documentary dies at the age of 75 on the high seas Daily Shincho: Mariupol residents do not feel the impact of the conflict on the life of the city Two Israelis were injured in a stabbing attack in Beersheba and the perpetrator was martyred Will Haniyeh and Nakhla's visit to Iran affect the course of the negotiations? 8 new massacres in Gaza and fierce battles between the resistance and the occupation forces 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. South Sudan schools close due to extreme heatwave Juba, March 16 (AFP) Mar 16, 2024 South Sudan on Saturday said it would close schools and told children not to play outside as temperatures were set to soar to an exceptional 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in the East African country, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change, but temperatures rarely exceed 40C. "High temperatures of 41C-45C are expected this week," the ministries of education, health and environment said in a statement, adding that the heatwave was expected to last "at least two weeks". "There are already cases of death related to excessive heat being reported," they added, without giving further details. The government will close all schools from March 18 due to the "serious health hazards" posed to students. "Parents are advised to stop their children from playing outdoors," the statement added, saying young children in particular should be monitored for signs of heatstroke. Episodes of drought and increasingly extreme rainfall are adding to already difficult living conditions in South Sudan, which has been plagued by violence and economic instability since it declared independence from Sudan in 2011. Scientists say that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming and that these heatwaves are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense. One of the poorest countries in the world despite large oil reserves, South Sudan has spent almost half of its life as a nation at war, and has also endured persistent natural disasters, famine, economic collapse and communal conflict. According to the UN, 80 percent of the country's estimated 11 million population will need humanitarian aid in 2024. A power-sharing peace agreement was signed in 2018, but many of its provisions remain unfulfilled due to ongoing disputes. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 16. Kazakhstan has agreed not to impose restrictions or bans on products from Kyrgyzstan, despite earlier proposals by the Kazakh government due to concerns about the quality of goods from Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the agreement was reached following consultations with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration. Following the consultations, the parties agreed to jointly implement a series of measures aimed at preventing the issuance of "gray certificates." The complete digitization of the conformity assessment processes (certification and declaration) from application submission to document issuance is one of these measures. Other measures include strengthening the obligations and requirements for laboratories, supervisory authorities, certification experts, and conformity assessment bodies. The government of Kazakhstan put out a draft resolution earlier this month for public comment with the intention of outlawing goods permitted in Kyrgyzstan. Concerns concerning the issuance of conformity assessment documents (also known as "gray certificates") in Kyrgyzstan without following the correct procedures or carrying out tests were brought up in the resolution's explanatory note. There are unique challenges that come with living in one of the smallest countries in the world, one at risk of being swallowed by the ocean as sea levels rise. Tuvalu, a collection of nine small islands or coral atolls in the South Pacific with a population of just over 11,000 people, has a single hospital. Residents can be forced to travel thousands of kilometres away, to a different hemisphere, for standard medical treatments. Funafuti, the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu, consists of strips of land encircled by a lagoon and the vast ocean. Credit: Alamy If they need to go for chemo [or] radiation, a lot of the women go to India, said Family Planning Australias international program director Anne Stuart. Its despite this remoteness and other significant challenges that the nation has recently become the first in the Pacific to reach the World Health Organisations global screening goal for cervical cancer screening of 70 per cent. Newsreaders generally dress fairly conservatively men usually in a suit and tie, women often in a tailored jacket their sneakers concealed under a desk and away from the camera. However, former SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin could never be described as a shrinking violet. A fashion legend as much as a polished presenter, Chin was admired by viewers who tuned in to see what she was wearing that day, just as much as to hear the news. Unlike some fashionistas who are decked out in top-to-toe designer labels, Chin has always avoided the obvious. I have a total distain for labels and loud branding displayed across a garment. I am not a billboard, she says. Former SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin is auctioning off items from her iconic wardrobe. Credit: Getty In good news for anyone envious of Chins wardrobe, she will be parting with many of her designer pieces, clothing she has acquired over the decades, when they are sold by Andrew Shapiro Auctioneers in Sydney on Monday, 25 March. This large offering, comprising over 67 items, including clothing, shoes and accessories, will be keenly watched not just by those who have a similar diminutive figure to Lee Lin, but by those wanting to purchase a small piece of fashion history. How often do you read about men going grey? Ill hazard a guess: never! Men with grey hair are distinguished, at the top of their game, all George Clooneys now. The reality could not be more different for women. From the moment we viciously pluck that first grey hair from our scalp, we go into battle mode. For who wants to be described as an old woman, a stereotype that demeans and disparages? Even in older age, women, their bodies and their behaviour are still policed if they do not conform to patriarchal norms. Credit: Stocksy Women, of course, are practised at being at war with themselves: the tummy, the bottom, the thighs, the breasts. No part of the body is immune. It didnt cross my mind when I discovered those early grey threads that I should do as nature intended. Instead, I camouflaged what is often the first sign of ageing, as if ageing was somehow shameful. Brunswick dog trainer Katia Grimmer finds it difficult to pinpoint what she loves most about Australian shepherds. She deals with all kinds of dogs from great danes to chihuahuas, teaching them obedience, social skills, agility but there is something special about those Aussies. Katia Grimmer with her Australian shepherds, Freya and Missy. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui They are just all-rounders, says Grimmer, who owns Urban Dogs HQ, a puppy and dog training school. They can prance around the show ring, theyll hang out a cafe, but theyre also equally happy to spend the day moseying around the house and sunning themselves on the porch before curling up at your feet at the end of the day. If hormone signals in breast milk do indeed help calibrate infant circadian biology, infants who drink mistimed hormonal breast milk may struggle more with sleep, as well as with development, growth and with long-term health consequences, the paper says. Booker said her teams previous research had shown that infants who were fed mistimed expressed breast milk (milk expressed during the day and given at night-time, for example) had significantly delayed sleep onset. This is the nutritional equivalent of switching the lights on right before bedtime, which could result in feelings associated with jet lag, said Booker, who hopes to expand the study. In Australia, 1.4 million employees have shiftwork as their main occupation. Booker said the vast majority of breastfeeding shiftworkers are employed in the health sector, as nurses, doctors and paramedics. For her study, funded by Mercy Health, melatonin in breast milk and saliva was measured in mothers doing shiftwork in roles such as nursing and ambulance work. The results suggested it could be beneficial for breastfeeding mothers to be assigned to morning, afternoon, evening and night shifts on rotation, rather than blocks of more than two night shifts in a row, Booker said. Professor Hannah Dahlen said shiftworking mothers should not refrain from breastfeeding, Credit: Anthony Johnson Midwifery professor Hannah Dahlen said more research was needed about the effects of shiftwork on mothers. She said other research had also suggested babies fed breast milk at night that had been expressed in the morning may take longer to fall asleep because of another hormone, cortisol. What this [research] adds is that the normal [breast milk melatonin] cycle can be disrupted by shiftwork, which also raises the question of expressed breast milk, and if the timing of that expressed milk not lining up can be potentially disrupting, said Dahlen, the midwifery discipline lead at the University of Western Sydney. Loading But she stressed that whatever the timing, breast milk was by far the healthiest option for babies. We call it liquid gold for a reason, it is utterly profound for the individuals, and this is not a message saying dont breastfeed if youre on shiftwork. This says womens breast milk is amazing, and we need to be protective about supporting motherhood and work out the most optimum conditions for mothers to work while theyre breastfeeding. Breastfeeding researcher Dr Karleen Gribble said Bookers work reflected the physiological link between mothers and babies, but also that factors other than melatonin in breast milk were important in establishing healthy infant sleep cycles. There are two things that regulate sleep in babies: melatonin and sunlight, she said. Babies dont produce melatonin when theyre newborns, so the melatonin in breastmilk may be quite important in helping them develop their regulation, but by the time theyre about four months old they should have the hang of whats night-time and whats daytime. Gribble said it was not known what impact variations in melatonin timing in milk could have on babies, and that by the time most Australian mothers returned to work, the childs melatonin production would likely have started. What [this research] does say is that for mothers working shiftwork, it impacts them in ways that can be measured in things like their melatonin levels, and workplaces need to be thinking about the wellbeing of staff and how we manage this better, she said. Katrina Cummings, a paramedic and nurse from Geelong who was breastfeeding at the time she participated in Bookers research, said the study indicated more investigation was needed into the effects of shiftwork on mothers. Driving in central Sydney will become harder under a plan to make the city more comfortable for pedestrians. The City of Sydney wants to narrow roads for wider footpaths and push for lower speed limits to discourage drivers from the CBD and transform Sydney into a walkable city. The council will also install more pedestrian crossings and prioritise people over cars at signals amid warnings driving motorists out of the city will cause economic damage. Pedestrians outnumber drivers in much of central Sydney, but cars still dominate the roads. Credit: Louie Douvis The councils draft walking strategy, which is open for public feedback until April 5, states that there are five times more pedestrians than motorists on the average street, yet just 40 per cent of road space is allocated to footpaths. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 16. The Turkmen-Japanese Business Forum, with the participation of representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises, is scheduled to be held on March 27 in Tokyo, Trend reports. According to the official source, Batyr Atdaev, Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan's Government, made this announcement during a Cabinet meeting held on March 15 this year. The Deputy Chairman noted that during the forum, opportunities for the development of bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, industry, transport, and logistics, as well as in the private sector, will be considered. According to Atdaev, it is also planned to hold an introductory presentation of the ongoing work on the creation of the national pavilion of Turkmenistan at the upcoming World EXPO 2025 in Japan. To note, the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov visited Japan in late January 2024. During the visit, the delegation held meetings in the government, parliament, relevant ministries and departments, as well as with the leadership of financial and export credit agencies and leading Japanese companies, where they discussed further prospects for the development of cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Dandenongs cemetery is not just a burial ground. The Bunurong Memorial Park and Cemetery also includes a cafe, childrens playground, trails for walking, running and cycling and space for picnics. Weve even had a wedding at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, said Matt Clear, spokesman for the Southern Metropolitan Cemetery Trust. Kirsten Bauer (L) from Aspect Studios Landscape Architects and Tania Davidge from Open House Melbourne at Bunurong Memorial Park in Dandenong, which has some interesting and unconventional design features including a playground. Credit: Paul Jeffers Were actually trying different ways to activate cemeteries, he said. We have people that ride bikes and do running and all sorts of things in our cemeteries, and we welcome that because we want to see them been seen as more than just the place where loved ones are buried, but more actually a place where you can honour and celebrate life. Clear said this year, Bunurong was offering Mothers Day picnic hampers and encouraging people to come on site, collect a hamper and then enjoy the surrounds. On Friday, the investigation into Kaurs death was widened to include other womens health services, not connected to the Hampton Park clinic, as medical authorities warned more practitioners, working across several locations, could be reprimanded. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency chief executive Martin Fletcher said he was gravely concerned by the picture that is emerging. Harjit Kaur, 30, died in January. Credit: Go Fund Me We have taken strong action to protect the public while our investigations continue, Fletcher said. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Rudolph Gerad Lopes was previously reprimanded for his repeated failure to respond to legitimate enquiries made by AHPRA into his professional conduct in relation to concerns which date as far back as 2016, the regulators public register shows. Conditions imposed between May 2022 and 2023 stipulated Lopes must only practise as a medical practitioner under supervision of another practitioner, approved by the Medical Board of Australia. Those conditions lapsed in December 2023, weeks before Kaur died. For several years he was also only permitted to practise at approved locations and ordered not [to] have contact with any female patient without the physical presence of a Medical Board-approved practice monitor. He was also previously ordered to undertake educational programs in relation to sensitivity of intimate examinations, informed consent, awareness on non-verbal cues in clinical practice, workplace safety, sexual harassment and anti-discrimination obligations. It was also revealed on Friday that Lopes had his registration temporarily suspended over serious sexual misconduct towards several women while he practised in Melbourne during a six-year period. He faced the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2021 over a spate of allegations, including that he told a patient her vagina was nice during an internal examination in 2017. The tribunal also heard that before performing the internal examination, Lopes said to the patient words to the effect of: Ha, I didnt even have to buy you dinner first. The tribunal also heard Lopes made sexualised comments to a colleague over several years including asking to see her vagina, have sexual intercourse with her and perform a Pap smear on her. The clinics medical director, Dr Michelle Kenney, also had historical conditions imposed on her. AHPRAs register shows that between October 2021 and December 2023 Kenney was permitted to only practise during daytime hours between Monday to Friday and not exceed three shifts per week. The rationale for these restrictions was not publicly available due to privacy reasons. However, when contacted by The Sunday Age yesterday, Kenney said the conditions were imposed due to her own health issues, and not in relation to any alleged misconduct. Kenney said AHPRA had failed to alert her that conditions had been imposed on the anesthetist, which meant he was only supposed to be working at Knox Hospital three days a week and did not have approval to work at her clinic. She said Kaurs death was tragic and unexpected, and that clinic staff had spent 45 minutes trying to resuscitate her after her heart stopped. Kenney accused health authorities and medical regulators of conducting a witch hunt, and said her clinic had been awfully smeared. On February 29, the Hampton Park Womens Health Clinic was banned from conducting day surgeries and specialty services such as anaesthesia and pediatric care, amid ongoing investigations and concerns over patients safety raised by the state health department watchdog Safer Care Victoria and the coroner. Health department officials inspected the clinic on February 8 and 21 and collected evidence and documents. Kenney said the clinic was shut down due to administrative issues, which she was working to fix, and not clinical misconduct. The Sunday Age has made repeated attempts to contact Lopes. The Sunday Age is not suggesting that the three practitioners were responsible for Kaurs death or that the conditions were imposed in relation to her case. Of 105 suppression orders issued in Victoria since the start of the year at Supreme, County and Magistrates courts most banned reporting of certain features in a case, including the name of an accused person or witness. The County Court signing off on 60, followed by the Magistrates Court with 31 and the Supreme Court of Victoria with 14. They included 22 interim orders. Of the 98 analysed by this masthead issued so far this year, not including VCAT cases: Eight gave media the required three days notice of an application being made 22 were interim orders Magistrates Court issued 31 County Court issued 50 Supreme Court issued 14 Most suppressed reporting of certain features, most commonly the name of the accused person or witness, from being reported anywhere in Victoria or Australia. They related to the below reasons: Name suppression of people on supervision orders in the community - 15 Mental impairment reasons - 17 Safeguarding trials - 5 Preventing the risk of prejudice or proper administration of justice - 27 Protecting the safety of a person - 12 In 30 instances reasons were not stated There were 15 orders made specifically to suppress the names and locations of people categorised as serious offenders in the community on supervision orders. Seventeen orders related to alleged offenders who may be found unfit to stand trial for reasons of mental impairment, and five were made to safeguard future trials. The data collected shows 27 were documented to relate to the prevention of prejudice to the proper administration of justice, with another 12 to protect the safety of a person. A further 30 did not state the reasons for a suppression order being made. Loading Justin Quill, from law firm Thomson Geer, said the gangland war of the early 2000s had facilitated an increased need for suppression orders to be made but believes the practice has since become ingrained in Victorian legal culture. If I just think about how many suppression orders Ive had to fight in Victoria versus other states, its 20-to-1, he said. Back in the day we used to laugh at South Australia which was known as the suppression capital. Then the gangland war happened ... and it changed things here. Its become a beast and its gotten worse and worse. Recently, this masthead has opposed numerous suppression order applications. They included a defence teams attempts to withhold the names of two people accused of kidnapping, assaulting and robbing Nemer Abusamha, 31. An interim suppression order was initially approved during a closed court hearing before being opposed by the press. More suppression orders are being dished out in Victoria than anywhere else in the country, data shows. Credit: Darrian Traynor The Age also fought a broad suppression order in a case involving a 12-year-old girl charged with murder which allowed the public to learn the child had been reported missing from her residential care home 275 times in less than three years before a woman was killed. The press argued that an order preventing any reporting of the case would also prevent public criticism of the governments handling of the at-risk child. Lawyers for the Australian Financial Review are currently fighting in the Federal Court to name a former tax partner of Ernst & Young being prosecuted by the Commissioner of Taxation for promoting a tax exploitation scheme. Other applications for suppression orders have not been opposed by this masthead, including a recent application to withhold the names of school children injured in a 2022 bus crash. Most suppression orders are being issued in the County Court of Victoria. Credit: Darrian Traynor The Open Courts Act 2013 is state legislation that requires the court to give open justice proper consideration. It exists largely to maintain impartiality and strengthen public confidence in the justice system while also helping hold those involved in the court process to account and to educate the community on what happens inside the states courts. The legislation also states the press should be given three days notice of a suppression order to determine its merits. Data collected by this masthead shows only eight of the 83 broad and proceeding applications made so far this year had given the media the appropriate notice period to facilitate objections on behalf of the public. The 22 interim orders made do not require that same notice period. Greg Barns, SC, national criminal justice spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, rejected suggestions Victoria had become a suppression order city. He said publication bans were fundamentally important in ensuring defendants received fair trials and for the protection of vulnerable people, including witnesses. This, he said, was of the utmost importance in high-profile cases to prevent an atmosphere of guilt being created around an accused person before theyre able to face trial. Barns said many suppression orders were in place for only a short period of time with hurdles applicants must get over to have them made. Greg Barns SC. Credit: Eamon Gallagher Given the importance of open justice, perhaps it would be useful for the courts to educate the community on why suppression orders are granted, he said. Its a really good exercise for the legal system to explain to people how the system works. It is fundamentally important that defendants receive fair trials in all cases. Shadow attorney-general Michael OBrien noted a 2017 review by former justice Frank Vincent recommended that judges be better educated about the objectives of an open court policy. But the continued use of broad suppression orders by Victorian courts, OBrien said, suggested this had been ineffective. OBrien said Victoria remained a state where justice was too often dispensed in secret due to the overuse of suppression orders. Victoria has an Open Courts Act much as we have a Freedom of Information Act both full of good intentions but too often ignored in practice, he said. Criminal barrister Nick Papas, KC, said ultimately deciding whether or not to suppress information from the public was a challenging balancing act. Papas, who favours press access, said the public had a right to know what was going on in cases, as long as it didnt put the safety of people or the proper administration of justice at risk. He said judges and lawyers were well aware of their obligations and that suppression orders should only be made if absolutely necessary. I accept the proposition that we should ensure the Act is given full effect and therefore the community is part of the court process. Thats part of justice. But there are many parts of this process that do need to be restricted at times [such as] informer names, Papas said. Its a balancing act. A Victorian government spokesperson said it was vital for public trust in our justice system to have a court system that balances the principle of open hearings with the right for everyone to get a fair trial. Having these issues unresolved puts extra pressure on me. Its having quite an impact on my mental and physical health. He is not alone. Community legal and welfare groups are calling for an end to the hounding of people for toll debts that have already been waived. Anthony Rogers was new to Melbourne and unaware he had to pay a toll to use CityLink on a trip to the airport. Credit: Justin McManus They have likened the potential impacts on vulnerable people to those of the disastrous robo-debt scheme, an automated system that identified people on supposedly overpaid Centrelink benefits, but based on incorrect Tax Office data. Improper debt collection practices are harming people with serious health and/or housing problems, said Shifrah Blustein, a lawyer at Inner Melbourne Community Legal, noting that it is illegal to pursue someone for a non-existent debt. The push comes as the most recent figures from the national Tolling Customer Ombudsman the agency that deals with toll road disputes show that complaints in Victoria have escalated dramatically, accounting for more than half the nations total for the 12 months to September. Blustein said she feared for vulnerable toll road users with backgrounds of mental health problems, domestic violence and homelessness including one of her clients. We know from robo-debt that repeated aggressive debt collection behaviour, especially where there is no debt actually owed, can have really harmful impacts, including suicide, she said. Stella whose real name cannot be published for legal reasons said she had racked up thousands of dollars in unpaid tolls, charges and fines. She told The Sunday Age that her mental health had reached such a low point in 2022 and 2023 that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appointed an administrator to handle her finances. In April 2023, Linkt and Victoria Police agreed to waive all of Stellas outstanding toll payments. Loading And then this toll debt saga happened, she said. On five occasions three after her debt was waived collectors contacted Stella telling her she had to pay outstanding debts including, in one case, a debt that had nothing to do with her. I felt confused and extremely distressed about this, she said. Being already in a very fragile place and close to the tipping point, this was nearly enough to do it. Stella said she was unhappy with the response when she took her case to the Tolling Customer Ombudsman. Established in 2004, it handles complaints about Transurban/Linkt toll roads in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The ombudsman which is funded by toll road operators is a part-time position that oversees a complaints service that toll operators volunteer to take part in. When we complained to the ombudsman about it, he didnt identify the source of the problem or consider whether the law had been breached, even though there was no dispute about the fact that my debt had been waived, Stella said. I want Linkt to be held accountable for harming me and other people they know are vulnerable. Blustein said she accepted that the debt collection problem was probably due to administrative errors. But the harm is real, and we dont know how many people it is affecting, she said. Blustein described the service as completely ineffective and without any of the characteristics of a real ombudsman. Tolling Customer Ombudsman Phillip Davies said he was not allowed to discuss the details of individual complaints for privacy reasons. In Stellas case, he recommended Transurban make a goodwill payment of $500 an offer she has rejected. Davies confirmed there had been complaints about debt collectors pursuing debts that had been waived, but did not say how many there had been. He said such complaints were captured in his quarterly reports under Accounts Management Problems. In the 12 months to September the most recently available data Victoria accounted for 55 per cent of such complaints nationally. Davies said he had raised the debt-collection problems in meetings with Transurban. Transurban has provided details of its actions in respect of these concerns, but some issues do still arise, he said. Davies rejected the criticism of his office being ineffective. I completely repudiate that, he said. Im completely independent from Transurban. I dont think its a correct assessment. Transurban customer experience general manager Chris Jackson said his company did not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons. We do acknowledge and apologise to customers when they have a challenging experience, and we get things wrong, Jackson said. We understand the stress this can cause people experiencing vulnerability, and were always willing to take on feedback and make improvements. Jackson said that people struggling with payments could access support measures, including more time to pay, debt waivers and toll credits. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 16. Uzbekistan plans to increase exports of local industry to $12 billion this year, Trend reports. This was disclosed during a presentation in which the head of state was briefed on plans for strengthening entrepreneurial activity and involving them in exports. According to the data, exporting firms received 665 billion soums ($53.1 million) in support last year, allowing them to assure exports of $3.2 billion. However, in some industries and locations, this money was not successfully utilized. Exports in electrical engineering, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and jewelry fell below normal. 2,709 potential exporters received no support from industry associations. As a result, regional manufacturing, industrial zones, and exports are all intended to be combined into a unified system. It is proposed that 12 sectoral and industrial associations be transferred to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry's system. This will shift project support and export responsibilities from the state to entrepreneurial self-government organizations. As a result, decision-making based on entrepreneurs' wants and concerns would be facilitated, and interaction among entrepreneurs would be enhanced. Uzbekistan will establish a trade development company based on the experience of developed countries instead of the agencies and funds operating in the sphere. It will attract qualified designers, technologists, and marketers from abroad to ensure that domestic products meet international requirements, help exporters enter new markets, and promote national brands abroad. Subsidies, compensations, and other types of support will be provided by this company based on the entrepreneurs' sustainability rating. The interaction between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Uzbekexpertiza joint-stock company will be strengthened. Project offices to support entrepreneurs will start working in each district. The importance of studying the relevance of the functions and performance criteria of associations and improving the qualifications of their managers and staff was emphasized. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 16. Uzbekistan and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) have discussed prospective directions for bilateral cooperation in the fields of irrigation, agriculture, energy, and the social sphere, Trend reports. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, the issues were deliberated during a meeting between the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Bobur Khodjaev, and a delegation led by Bito Yoshibumi, the head of the JICA representation in Uzbekistan. Participants also discussed other prospective directions for bilateral cooperation, including the "green" economy, investments in human capital, and public-private partnership projects in other spheres. The parties explored the possibility of engaging technical support from the agency to enhance and study international experience in industrial policy. At the conclusion of the meeting, they expressed readiness to continue active dialogue within the established directions of cooperation. JICA is a non-profit organization established in 1974 to support the development of other countries through technical cooperation and the exchange of experience. It cooperates with more than 160 countries and provides assistance in various fields such as education, health, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, and others, as well as contributing to the development of human resources in partner countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 16. Germany delivers airdropped humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip, the German Air Force said in a statement, Trend reports. It is reported that a Hercules C130 military transport aircraft took off from Jordan and dropped at an altitude of thousands of meters, delivering four tons of food over the Gaza Strip. It is noted that this first delivery of humanitarian aid with the support of the German Air Force occurred a few hours before the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Jordan, where he is planning a meeting with King Abdullah II to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. Integrating planet, people and profits with business functions is crucial Business Reporter Institute of Management Technology, (IMT) Nagpur in association with Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) and National Human Resource Development Network (NHRDN), Nagpur Chapter hosted a panel discussion on Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) into Business Strategies on Thursday. Dr Bigyan Verma, Director, IMT Nagpur, and President, NHRDN, Nagpur Chapter; Professor Amitava Banerjee, IICA-MCA certified Independent Director; and Dr D G Garway, Director, Anacon Labs, Nagpur; were the panelists while CA Girish Deodhar, Chairman - VIA MSME Forum, moderated the session. Dr Suhas Buddhe, past Vice President of VIA, Girdhari Mantri, Chairman - VIA CSR Forum, were also present. In his welcome address, Dr Bigyan Verma, highlighted the importance of looking out for the environment regardless of ones profession. Integrating planet, people and profits with general business functions is more crucial than merely looking at corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in isolation, he said. In a comparative analysis, Professor Banerjee drew a distinction between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Dr D G Garway, emphasised upon the challenges of adoption of ESG compliances, the regulatory framework for ESG, optimisation of natural resources, reduction of carbon footprint, ESG reporting, value proposition and various incentives for supporting MSMEs. Dr Vijay Phate, Vice-President NHRDN, proposed the vote of thanks. The panel discussion was attended by students from IMT Nagpur, faculty of B-schools and representatives of various businesses in and around Nagpur. 5,000 dismissed employees of Health Deptt reinstated Staff Reporter RAIPUR, In a heartwarming initiative, the Chhattisgarh Health Department has reinstated a total of 5,000 dismissed employees and released withheld salaries of 25,000 workers. Officials and employees of the Health Department had gone on strike from August 21, 2023, to September 12, 2023. The withheld salaries for this period have been issued, and leaves have been approved on the directive of Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal. Nearly, 30,000 health workers in State have benefited from this decision. The Chhattisgarh Health Federation has expressed gratitude to Health Minister Jaiswal. It is worth mentioning here that the employees who had been absent from the office to join the strike called by the Chhattisgarh Health Federation were dismissed and their salaries were withheld as disciplinary action. Federation office-bearers had met with the Health Minister regarding this issue. After the meeting, Health Minister Jaiswal directed health department officials to resolve these discrepancies. In compliance with the directive, 5,000 dismissed employees have been reinstated into service. Additionally, withheld salaries for 25,000 employees during the protest have been released. The Chhattisgarh Health Federation paid a courtesy call on Health Minister Jaiswal at his residence office yesterday and thanked him for the aforementioned decision. Federation officials mentioned that the salaries of 2,000 employees of the Medical Education Department have also been withheld for absence during the protest period. Federation officials have requested Health Minister Jaiswal to release the salaries of these workers as well. Ahead of LS elections CM makes several announcements Staff Reporter RAIPUR, Just a day prior to the announcement of Lok Sabha elections-2024, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai declared that the State Government would increase the Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees by four per cent and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners by four per cent. Addressing the media at his official residence in State Capital, the Chief Minister made several announcements, including a four per cent hike in DA for government employees based on the seventh pay commission and a four per cent increase in DR for pensioners. This adjustment will be effective from March 1, 2024, raising the DA and DR rates from 42 percent to 46 per cent on the seventh pay scale and up to 230 percent on the sixth pay scale. Approximately, 3,90,000 government employees and 1,20,000 pensioners in State will benefit from this decision, amounting to a monthly increase of Rs 68 crore and an annual increase of Rs 816 crore. The Chief Minister announced the release of the final installment of arrears on the seventh pay scale for officers and employees. A committee, led by the Principal Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development, Niharika Barik, has been formed to address government employees grievances, comprising members from various departments and employee unions. Furthermore, the State government will compensate Gram Panchayat Secretaries for the 55-day strike period by adjusting it against earned leave, incurring an expenditure of Rs 70 crore. Another committee, headed by the Secretary of the Home Department, will be established to address complaints of fake FIRs and harassment against media personnel during the previous Congress government, with journalists also included as members. Gang of fraudsters making fake death certificates busted Staff Reporter In a major breakthrough, Hanumantal police busted a gang involved in grabbing ex-gratia payment of around Rs 1 crore of Governments Social Security Scheme by making fake death certificates of alive persons. Police have arrested three accused of the gang and seized 40 fake death certificates from them. The arrested have been identified as Shekh Shahzad (34), son of late Shekh Shareef, a resident of New Neta Colony in Adhartal, Akib Rafeeq (26), Abdul Rafeeq (26), residents of New Anand Nagar Pump House in Hanumantal and Salman alias Mohammed Saddam Shekh (27), son of Mohammed Murtaza, a resident of Raza Chowk, Mecca Nagar, Hanumantal. Superintendent of Police Aditya Pratap Singh (IPS) disclosed this while addressing a press conference, on Friday. He informed that a man named Saiyyed Rizvi (45), a resident of MIG-04, Anand Nagar, Adhartal, lodged a written complaint that in year 2020, he received information about making of Mazdoori Card under Government Scheme. A man named Shahzad was online making Mazdoori Card at his shop and he reached the shop. Shahzad demanded his documents and cash of Rs 5000 for making the card. He gave his documents and photo. After six months in year 2021, Shahzad gave his Mazdoori Card. Soon after, he learnt that Shahzad was misusing Mazdoori Cards for withdrawing money from Government in the name of card holders. He reached at Jabalpur Municipal Corporation where he learnt that unidentified person withdrew money through his Mazdoori Card by showing his death certificate. Acting on the complaint, police started investigations and found that the money of Rs 6,000 on August 8, 2022, and Rs 2 lakh on October 13, 2022, was deposited in Union Bank Account of Akib Rafeeq through MP Building Hyderabad Payment Cell by electronic transfer. Hanumantal police registered a case under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 34 of IPC. Investigating the case, police arrested three accused and seized 40 fake death certificates. During interrogation, accused disclosed that they have claimed ex-gratia in around 30 cases of death claim through Government Scheme amounting to around Rs 1 crore. Police have obtained the remand of accused for further investigation into the case. The accused were apprehended with active working of police team led by SHO, Hanumantal, Manas Dwivedi, SI, Sachin Verma, SI, Durgesh Maravi, SI, Ravindra Dudwa, Head Constables, Nitin Joshi, Ved Prakash, Ajay Dabral, Constables, Amit Gautam, Jaikishore, Niranjan Singh and Saurabh. Hundreds of nursing students stage protest at MPMSU against anomalies Staff Reporter Hundreds of nursing students assembled at the premise of Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU) on Friday to stage protest against the corrupt system in which culprits were allegedly given shelter by the Government. The protest was staged under the banner of Nursing Student Organisation (NSO) on the call of NSO President, Gopal Parashar. The protesting students were demanded to register FIR against the guilty persons and to conduct examination of all the nursing students as per fixed time-table. NSO President, Parashar said that Medical Science University, Madhya Pradesh Government and MP Nurses Registration Council, Bhopal issued affiliation to the nursing colleges in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 session. Following affiliation, thousands of students took admission in these colleges Alleging that the State Government was involved in various corruptions, Parashar said that committing financial irregularities, the State Government approved nursing colleges opened across the State violating the rules and putting the students future on stake. Even the Government Nursing Colleges were targeted to commit financial irregularities. As a result, majority of the government nursing colleges along with private ones were found unsuitable during the CBI inspection. The students were in deep aggression and mental stress. Students demanded to allow the students of the Government Colleges to attend the examination as they were not guilty of whatever the corruption and irregularities committed in the campus of government colleges. Handing over memorandum, they demanded to conduct stern action against the guilty persons. They also warned to initiate aggressive demonstration if their demands are not fulfilled soon. Indian Army raises its first Apache attack chopper squadron in Jodhpur NEW DELHI, IN A major capability boost, the Indian Army on Friday raised its first Apache attack helicopter squadron in the desert sector in Jodhpur near the Pakistan front. The squadron was raised in Jodhpur in the presence of Director General Indian Army Aviation Lt Gen Ajay Suri and officials from the original manufacturer Boeing along with other senior officials, Indian Army Officials told ANI. The Indian Army Apache helicopters would camouflage desert colours and the first batch of choppers would arrive and join the fleet by May this year, they said. There is a slight delay in view of the ongoing global security situation but they are now on track, the officials said. Earlier, the Indian Army has signed a contract to acquire six Apache helicopters from the US. Also known as the tanks in the air, these advanced attack helicopters will land at the Indian Air Forces (IAF) Hindon Air Force Station and then will be deployed in Jodhpur in May, near the India-Pakistan border, the officials added. The Army Aviation Corps, which currently operates utility helicopters such as the Dhruv and Chetak, earlier inducted the indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand at Missamari, Assam last year. Notably, the IAF already operates a fleet of 22 Apache helicopters which have been deployed on the eastern and western fronts. Jilted lover brutally kills Rly employee, minor son; abducts daughter Staff Reporter In a spine chilling incident, a railway employee and his 9-year-old son were brutally killed in a house in Railway Millennium Colony under the jurisdiction of Civil Lines police station, on Friday. After killing the man and his son, the killer chopped 9-year-olds body into pieces and stuffed it in a refrigerator and abducted 16-year-old daughter of the deceased. Prime suspect of the incident has been identified as Mukul Singh on the basis of a voice message sent by the abducted girl to her uncle who lives in Piparia. In primary investigation, police learnt that Mukul was after 16-year-old daughter of Rajkumar. Rajkumar had lodged a complaint and Mukul was arrested and imprisoned under POCSO Act during September 2023. Mukul was recently released from jail and brutally killed complainant Rajkumar, his son and abducted the minor girl. In the morning, the minor girl had sent a voice message to her uncle that Mukul had killed her father and brother. The girls uncle immediately contacted the relatives in the city. Learning about the incident, Superintendent of Police, Aditya Pratap Singh (IPS) along with Additional SP (City), Priyanka Shukla (IPS) and FSL team reached the spot and started investigations into the case. It was informed that deceased Rajkumar Vishwakarma, native of Piparia was posted as Chief OS in Personnel Department in Railways. His wife had passed away in May 2023 and he stayed with his daughter and son in Railway Colony. Superintendent of Police Aditya Pratap Singh informed that in prima facie of investigation, police have identified the accused as Mukul Singh on the basis of voice message of missing girl while police have also found a CCTV footage in which the missing girl is sighted with the accused. Separate police teams have been constituted for finding the missing girl and accused. Police are scanning CCTV footages of the area to identify and apprehend the accused and safely rescue the girl. SP Singh added that police are searching the accused on war footing and assured to rescue the girl and arrest the accused soon. The news of murder and abduction spread like wildfire throughout the area and a large numbers of persons from Railway Department and relatives gathered at the spot and mourned the tragic demise of the man and his son. ONE ELECTION TIME-LINE for the transformation may become a matter of discussion and even debate, but it cannot be denied that the nation is slowly but invariably headed in the direction of the concept of onenation-one-election. This can be surmised from the stray details that have come out in the open following the submission of the report of Ram Nath Kovind Committee, to President Mrs. Droupadi Murmu. The report may have suggested, as can be gleaned from different interpretations available in the market, that polls of the future could be headed for one common election. There is every reason to believe that the common Indian people will support the idea overwhelmingly and the concept may soon become a reality on the ground. For that day, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has been waiting. The object of the Government seeking this arrangement is to help the country to dedicate most of its resources to the cause of overall and inclusive development. There is a near-complete agreement on this issue within the Government. Many other intellectual circles, too, are supporting this. All this boils down to one common comprehension -- that the people of India will soon start voting in common elections held simultaneously at the Centre and in the States -- unless some unforeseen circumstances force an early and untimely election. The most potent argument against hold in gstaggered elections without any common time-line was that the nation was all the time in the election mode. In other words, model code of conduct is always in operation in this or that part of the country.Tothat extent, theGovernment operates only tentatively in those times and in those areas since no fresh decisions can be taken to push development. And that may mean a staggered developmental trajectory -- which should be anathema to any dynamic, forward-moving society. In fact, when India started having elections post Independence, everything appeared smooth.Subsequently, however, different time-lines started surfacing -- to accommodate vagaries of numbers game in representative houses of different States. Such polls could at best be avoided for not more than six months. Thus, time-lines started getting distorted with every passing year. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi was one of the early people who saw no sense in holding elections in a staggered manner -- only to accommodate political exigencies. When he started airing these view in his speeches right in the first term as head of the Government, people realised that he is determined to bring about this reform -- of one-nationone-election.He took his own time to push the idea to some sensible expression. The committee headed by former President Mr.Ram Nath Kovind gave a good indication of the Governments intentions on the issue. A very strong lobby supports the idea of one-nation-oneelection. There may be some to oppose the idea, but the overall national mood is in favour of common elections. Once the idea is accepted fully by the nation, the nation will be spared from a lot of hassles that can actually be resolved. The process of transforming may not get going on an immediate and urgent basis, but the fact that this may get accepted and implemented will generate much confidence in common peoplesmindsabout the effort of theGovernment to introduce straightforwardness in all processes. The concept of one-nation-one-election is to be looked at from all these angles. The Ram Nath Kovind Committee appears to have done a comprehensive job while submitting it report. It appears to be only a matter of time when the new arrangement is put in place officially. PM e-Bus Seva Yojana.. 240 e-buses approved for four major cities of CG Staff Reporter RAIPUR, PM E-Bus Seva Yojana has been launched by the Central Government to improve the public transport infrastructure in cities. Under the scheme, the number of buses has been fixed for the states based on the population of the cities, according to which Raipur got 100 buses, Durg-Bhilai 50, Bilaspur 50 and Korba 40, thus a total of 240 e-buses have been approved. The Government of India has approved the operation of electric buses under the PM e-Bus Seva Scheme to four major cities of Chhattisgarh state, Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, Bilaspur, and Korba. This announcement is not only a proud moment for Chhattisgarh, but also a milestone for the entire country, an important step in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of a clean and green India. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on this occasion, the introduction of electric buses in our state will revolutionise urban transport. This initiative takes us a step forward towards environmental protection as well as providing better transportation facilities to the citizens. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Administration Minister Arun Sao said, due to the double engine government, we are touching new heights of innovation and stability. It is noteworthy that this scheme of the Government of India is part of the Centres effort to link the central assistance provided to the states with transparency and their performance. The intention of the Central Government is that this scheme should be developed as an alternative or supporting means of Metro in cities so that people can get the facility of affordable, reliable and easy transportation. The proposals of 3 cities of Chhattisgarh have been approved in the sixth meeting of the Committee (CSSC) in Raipur on March 1 and in the seventh meeting on March 14. In this first scheme of its kind, the Central Government will provide financial assistance to the cities for the purchase and operation of buses, a large part of which will also be spent for the development of infrastructure like bus depots in cities. The general conditions of the scheme also include that third party audit of the money given under the project will be mandatory, so that there is complete transparency. Cities will have to submit accounts of bus operations every three months. Under the scheme, three types of buses standard, medium and mini will be run. Cities are divided into four categories on the basis of population. Cities with population between twenty to forty lakh were eligible for 150 e-buses, cities with population between ten to twenty lakh and five to ten lakh were eligible for 100-100 and cities with population less than five lakh were eligible for 50 e-buses, on the basis of which Raipur 100 medium e buses. Durg Bhilai has received approval for 50 medium e-buses, Bilaspur for 35 medium and 15 mini e-buses and Korba for 20 medium and 20 mini e-buses. Upgrading 25 Dornier aircraft: MoD inks Rs 2,890 cr deal with HAL NEW DELHI : THE Defence Ministry on Friday inked a contract worth over Rs 2,890 crore with State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for mid-life upgrade of 25 Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy. Under the project, the HAL will incorporate state-of-the-art avionics systems and sensors onboard the aircraft. The Defence Ministry said the project will be implemented within six and half years. The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the HAL on March 15 for mid-life upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2,890 crore, an official readout said. The MLU for Dornier aircraft includes an upgrade to incorporate state-of-the-art avionics systems and primary role sensors, the ministry said. It said the upgrade would significantly enhance the operational capability of the Dornier aircraft. The upgrade would significantly enhance the operational capability of the Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy to perform primary roles of maritime surveillance, coastal surveillance, electronic intelligence and development of maritime domain awareness, the Ministry said in the readout. Haji Gallery, a leading distributor of global sanitaryware brands in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has signed an agreement with Gulf University, College of Engineering for the launch of its unique university support programmes. The birth of the idea emerged out of the managements strong belief in the importance of giving back to the community and the industry the company operates within, said a statement from Haji Gallery. The programme offers university students from different majors with tailored opportunities intended to enhance their exposure and skills. These include practical training/internship opportunities, competitions, group invites, global engagement, manufacturers' visits abroad, and interactive workshops with brand representatives, said the statement. Founded in 1975, Haji Gallery has grown into becoming the leading name for prestigious, affordable and world-renowned brands such as Hansgrohe, Duravit and Porcelanosa for tiles, furniture, faucets, showers, sanitaryware, kitchens, and bathroom accessories in the kingdom. The MoU with the Gulf University, College of Engineering is aimed at supporting its programmes such as Interior Design Engineering Programme, in addition to two hosted programmes in collaboration with Northampton University, UK. "These programmes will strengthen the students hands-on and practical experience," stated Mohamed Haji, the chairman of Haji Gallery said after signing the deal with Dr Osama Yaseen Al Rawi, the Dean of College of Engineering. "Corporate social responsibility has always been an integral part of our strategic plan, and we are proud of signing the agreement with the Gulf University which brings our vision of supporting Bahrain education to life," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Korean actor Oh Yeon-soo, 79, who played an old player number 001 in the TV series Squid Game, was sentenced to 8 months in prison and two years of probation for an incident that occurred in 2017. The actor was accused of harassment for touching and kissing a woman without permission. ADVERTISIMENT The victim's name has not been disclosed. According to Korean media, although Oh Yeon-soo pleaded not guilty, he apologized to the plaintiff. In November 2022, the actor was charged with forcible molestation of the victim without detention. Subsequently, they tried to close the case, but the woman demanded that the investigation be continued. The plaintiff claimed that Yong Su hugged her on the waterfront and kissed her on the cheek in front of her house during a tour in 2017. The defendant denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty. In his last statement at the trial, he said, "It's terrible to see my life end on this situation at this age, and I feel like my whole life is falling apart." ADVERTISIMENT The judge sentenced the actor to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to undergo a 40-hour treatment program for sexual assault. "The victim asked the defendant to apologize for the fact that in the fall of 2017 he invited her to sit on the bed in his studio and hugged her on the waterfront. He admitted it, but in court he tried to rationalize the situation by saying that he apologized to calm her down because he was afraid it would harm his work," Judge Jeong Yeon-ju said. It should be reminded that due to these court proceedings, the star's career in South Korea is already over as his show was canceled and he is no longer being called to act in movies. Only two years ago, Oh Yeon-soo became the first Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Coho Partners Ltd. boosted its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 265.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 890,563 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 646,972 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories accounts for about 2.3% of Coho Partners Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th largest position. Coho Partners Ltd. owned approximately 0.05% of Abbott Laboratories worth $98,024,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Halpern Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. CGC Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.70% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 12,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 78,704 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,444,480. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Daniel Gesua Sive Salvadori sold 963 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.50, for a total transaction of $114,115.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 125,697 shares in the company, valued at $14,895,094.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 78,704 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,444,480. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 56,435 shares of company stock worth $6,451,298. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Abbott Laboratories Price Performance Shares of ABT traded down $3.36 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $115.49. The stock had a trading volume of 22,415,678 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,358,690. The stock has a market capitalization of $200.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The companys fifty day moving average is $115.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $105.86. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $89.67 and a 52 week high of $121.64. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.19. The company had revenue of $10.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.19 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 20.65%. The companys revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.03 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 67.48%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. TheStreet upgraded Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $128.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $120.00. View Our Latest Analysis on ABT 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Abner Herrman & Brock LLC trimmed its position in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 209,338 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 2,348 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil accounts for approximately 2.9% of Abner Herrman & Brock LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Abner Herrman & Brock LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $20,930,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,928 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $850,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the period. Traynor Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 3,119 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $367,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Defined Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Defined Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,051 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $476,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Finally, Fluent Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Fluent Financial LLC now owns 3,610 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. 58.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Stock Performance Exxon Mobil stock traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $111.27. 38,264,401 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,089,314. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 12-month low of $95.77 and a 12-month high of $120.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The stock has a market cap of $441.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.96. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $103.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $105.97. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.28. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The company had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.03 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.40 EPS. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.12 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th were issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is 42.74%. Insider Activity In other news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total value of $1,231,800.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,652,596.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total value of $252,000.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,169,845. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently weighed in on XOM. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Monday, February 5th. Mizuho lowered shares of Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $116.00 to $119.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $127.53. Get Our Latest Research Report on Exxon Mobil About Exxon Mobil (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Acadian Timber Corp. (OTCMKTS:ACAZF Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 9,400 shares, a decline of 28.8% from the February 14th total of 13,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 10,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Raymond James reiterated a buy rating and set a $18.50 price objective on shares of Acadian Timber in a report on Monday, February 12th. Get Acadian Timber alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACAZF Acadian Timber Stock Down 1.1 % Acadian Timber Cuts Dividend OTCMKTS:ACAZF opened at $12.47 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $12.47 and its 200 day moving average is $12.47. Acadian Timber has a 12 month low of $11.13 and a 12 month high of $13.81. The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 29th were paid a $0.2103 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.62%. Acadian Timbers payout ratio is 168.37%. About Acadian Timber (Get Free Report) Acadian Timber Corp. supplies primary forest products in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. The company operates in two segments, NB Timberlands and Maine Timberlands. Its products include softwood and hardwood sawlogs, pulpwood, and biomass by-products. The company owns and manages freehold timberlands in New Brunswick and Maine; and provides timber services relating to Crown licensed timberlands in New Brunswick. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Acadian Timber Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Acadian Timber and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Adtran Networks SE (OTCMKTS:ADVOF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,500 shares, a decline of 28.6% from the February 14th total of 2,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently days. Adtran Networks Price Performance OTCMKTS:ADVOF opened at $21.57 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $21.02 and a 200 day moving average of $20.96. Adtran Networks has a 52 week low of $21.57 and a 52 week high of $21.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 89.88 and a beta of 0.82. Get Adtran Networks alerts: Adtran Networks Company Profile (Get Free Report) See Also Adtran Networks SE engages in the development, manufacture, and sale optical and Ethernet-based networking solutions for telecommunications carriers and enterprises to deliver data, storage, voice, and video services worldwide. It offers open optical transport solutions, such as FSP 3000 open terminals, FSP 3000 open line systems, pluggables and subsystems, and optical access solutions; packet edge and aggregation products, including carrier Ethernet and programmable multilayer edge, metro aggregation, and edge computing products; disaggregated networking, such as packet optical terminals and ensemble activators. Receive News & Ratings for Adtran Networks Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Adtran Networks and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banyan Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL Free Report) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,880 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the quarter. Markel Group accounts for about 9.5% of Banyan Capital Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Banyan Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.08% of Markel Group worth $15,449,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Asset Dedication LLC increased its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 72.7% during the 2nd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 19 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 8 shares during the period. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE boosted its position in shares of Markel Group by 150.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 20 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its position in shares of Markel Group by 244.4% during the 2nd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 31 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.96% of the companys stock. Get Markel Group alerts: Markel Group Price Performance NYSE:MKL traded up $16.85 on Friday, reaching $1,523.04. The stock had a trading volume of 64,658 shares, compared to its average volume of 53,436. The company has a market capitalization of $19.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.36 and a beta of 0.70. Markel Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $1,186.56 and a 1-year high of $1,560.00. 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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1,459.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,446.73. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Markel Group ( NYSE:MKL Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $23.58 by $32.90. The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.75 billion. Markel Group had a net margin of 12.63% and a return on equity of 11.22%. Research analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 80.93 EPS for the current year. Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. 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 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Markel Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated a neutral rating and set a $1,600.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $1,475.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,450.00. Check Out Our Latest Report on Markel Group Insider Buying and Selling at Markel Group In related news, Director A. Lynne Puckett bought 72 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 960 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,352,908.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $1,414.74 per share, with a total value of $141,474.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett acquired 72 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 960 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 1.75% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Articles 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. Marianna Vyshemyrska, a woman in labor from long-suffering Mariupol who was expecting a baby on March 9 when the occupiers bombed a children's hospital with a maternity ward, commented on this year's Oscar-winning documentary. The Ukrainian woman who sided with the Russian Federation was invited to join the program on the federal channel but apparently was not given a methodology, because she contradicted herself. ADVERTISIMENT To begin with, collaborator Vyshemyrska has not seen the movie at all, but she does not doubt that they showed "edited fakes." Probably, this phrase was put into her head by propagandists, whose plot was called "Oscar" for Ukrainian propaganda." On TV, the resident of Mariupol, whose photos once went around the world taken by the team of journalists and cinematographers Mstslav Chernov boasted that she did not have time to watch the film and the award ceremony because she was "doing important things." "I can't call it anything other than a 'fair of hypocrisy'. I didn't even watch this product for the reason that while they were editing fakes, I was busy with global things," Vyshemyrska said pompously. ADVERTISIMENT However, a few seconds later, she gave another reason not to watch 20 Days in Mariupol, which contradicted her previous statement about "fakes." "I already know what they will show there because I was there at the moment when they came to shoot with lightning speed after the explosion," the collaborator said. According to the second version, she sees no point in watching the tape, because it shows everything exactly as the hospital patient herself remembered the events. By the way, the traitor also decided to keep silent about the fact that it was Ukrainians who came to evacuate her, not the occupying army, which she considers liberators. Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Marianna now lives in Moscow and prays for dictator Vladimir Putin. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! BDL Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 53,603 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,672,000. Darling Ingredients accounts for approximately 2.2% of BDL Capital Managements holdings, making the stock its 10th largest position. Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in Darling Ingredients during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp bought a new position in shares of Darling Ingredients during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Darling Ingredients during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of Darling Ingredients during the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Darling Ingredients by 38.9% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 689 shares of the companys stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.78% of the companys stock. Get Darling Ingredients alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently weighed in on DAR. Stephens reduced their price objective on shares of Darling Ingredients from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Darling Ingredients from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and set a $95.00 price objective (down previously from $120.00) on shares of Darling Ingredients in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Darling Ingredients from $49.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $75.80. Darling Ingredients Stock Up 1.2 % Shares of DAR stock traded up $0.51 during trading on Friday, hitting $44.44. 2,269,956 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,966,247. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.17 and a beta of 1.28. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $43.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.90. Darling Ingredients Inc. has a twelve month low of $38.97 and a twelve month high of $71.60. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Kurt Stoffel purchased 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $41.62 per share, for a total transaction of $332,960.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,571 shares in the company, valued at approximately $439,965.02. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 2.62% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Darling Ingredients Profile (Free Report) Darling Ingredients Inc develops, produces, and sells natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients, and Fuel Ingredients. It offers ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Darling Ingredients Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Darling Ingredients and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) Senior Officer Jay Ellery Froc sold 3,240 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$99.79, for a total transaction of C$323,319.60. Canadian Natural Resources Price Performance Shares of TSE:CNQ opened at C$98.28 on Friday. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a fifty-two week low of C$67.13 and a fifty-two week high of C$99.96. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$88.21 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$87.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 31.01, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.96. The firm has a market cap of C$105.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.98. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.27%. This is a positive change from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 51.54%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts recently issued reports on CNQ shares. TD Securities raised their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$100.00 to C$110.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Desjardins cut their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$105.00 to C$97.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$102.00 to C$106.00 in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$98.00 to C$96.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Finally, National Bankshares raised their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$90.00 to C$94.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Canadian Natural Resources has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$98.65. Check Out 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). Featured Articles 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. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Alger 35 ETF (NYSEARCA:ATFV Free Report) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 80,958 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,968 shares during the quarter. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC owned about 0.09% of Alger 35 ETF worth $1,347,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Separately, Fred Alger Management LLC increased its position in shares of Alger 35 ETF by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 375,537 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,445,000 after acquiring an additional 6,398 shares during the period. Get Alger 35 ETF alerts: Alger 35 ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA ATFV traded down $0.22 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $19.69. The stock had a trading volume of 2,408 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,216. The company has a 50 day moving average of $18.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.67. Alger 35 ETF has a twelve month low of $13.53 and a twelve month high of $20.62. The firm has a market cap of $17.32 million, a PE ratio of 24.98 and a beta of 1.05. Alger 35 ETF Company Profile The Alger 35 ETF (ATFV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund is an actively-managed, non-transparent ETF that holds a concentrated portfolio of global growth stocks. The fund utilizes the Precidian non-transparent model. ATFV was launched on May 3, 2021 and is managed by Alger. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ATFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alger 35 ETF (NYSEARCA:ATFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Alger 35 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alger 35 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Bank & Trust Co. lifted its stake in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB Free Report) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 125,536 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 399 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in Williams Companies were worth $4,371,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in WMB. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in shares of Williams Companies in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co increased its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 300.0% during the second quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 800 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the third quarter worth $27,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in shares of Williams Companies during the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 52.5% during the second quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 915 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. 85.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Williams Companies alerts: Williams Companies Trading Up 0.3 % WMB traded up $0.12 during trading on Friday, reaching $37.00. 9,965,566 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,236,614. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.02 billion, a PE ratio of 14.12, a P/E/G ratio of 5.92 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks 50-day moving average is $35.00 and its 200 day moving average is $34.94. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $27.80 and a 12 month high of $37.45. Williams Companies Announces Dividend Williams Companies ( NYSE:WMB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.01. Williams Companies had a net margin of 29.22% and a return on equity of 16.20%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.53 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.78 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.475 dividend. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.14%. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio is presently 72.52%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $37.27. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Williams Companies Williams Companies Profile (Free Report) The Williams Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises Transco and Northwest natural gas pipelines; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region, as well as various petrochemical and feedstock pipelines. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Williams Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO Get Free Report) and Fresnillo (OTCMKTS:FNLPF Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability and risk. Volatility & Risk Eldorado Gold has a beta of 1.07, indicating that its stock price is 7% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fresnillo has a beta of 0.58, indicating that its stock price is 42% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Eldorado Gold alerts: Profitability This table compares Eldorado Gold and Fresnillos net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Eldorado Gold 10.54% 3.56% 2.54% Fresnillo N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Eldorado Gold 1 4 2 0 2.14 Fresnillo 0 1 0 0 2.00 This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Eldorado Gold and Fresnillo, as provided by MarketBeat. Eldorado Gold presently has a consensus price target of $13.90, suggesting a potential upside of 6.84%. Fresnillo has a consensus price target of $1,175.00, suggesting a potential upside of 19,321.49%. Given Fresnillos higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Fresnillo is more favorable than Eldorado Gold. Dividends Eldorado Gold pays an annual dividend of ($100.00) per share and has a dividend yield of -768.6%. Fresnillo pays an annual dividend of $0.03 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Eldorado Gold pays out -18,867.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Eldorado Gold and Fresnillos revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Eldorado Gold $1.01 billion 2.62 $104.63 million $0.53 24.55 Fresnillo $2.71 billion N/A $233.91 million N/A N/A Fresnillo has higher revenue and earnings than Eldorado Gold. Insider & Institutional Ownership 58.2% of Eldorado Gold shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of Eldorado Gold shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Eldorado Gold beats Fresnillo on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Eldorado Gold (Get Free Report) Eldorado Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mining, exploration, development, and sale of mineral products primarily in Turkey, Canada, Greece, and Romania. The company primarily produces gold, as well as silver, lead, and zinc. It holds a 100% interest in the Kisladag and Efemcukuru mines located in Turkey; Lamaque complex located in Canada; and Olympias, Stratoni, Skouries, Perama Hill, and Sapes gold mines located in Greece, as well as the 80.5% interest in Certej development projects located in Romania. The company was formerly known as Eldorado Corporation Ltd. and changed its name to Eldorado Gold Corporation in April 1996. Eldorado Gold Corporation was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About Fresnillo (Get Free Report) Fresnillo plc mines, develops, and produces non-ferrous minerals in Mexico. It operates through seven segments: Fresnillo, Saucito, Cienega, Herradura, Noche Buena, San Julian, and Juanicipio. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates. Its projects include the Fresnillo silver mine located in the state of Zacatecas; Saucito silver mine situated in the state of Zacatecas; Cienega gold mine located in the state of Durango; Herradura gold mine situated in the state of Sonora; Noche Buena gold mine located in the state of Sonora; San Julian silver-gold mine situated on the border of Chihuahua/Durango states; and Juanicipio mine located in the state of Zacatecas. It also leases mining equipment; produces gold/silver dore bars; and provides administrative services. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Fresnillo plc operates as a subsidiary of Industrias Penoles, S.A.B. de C.V. Receive News & Ratings for Eldorado Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eldorado Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of DRDGOLD (NYSE:DRD Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note published on Wednesday morning. Separately, HC Wainwright reduced their target price on shares of DRDGOLD from $17.00 to $13.25 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Get DRDGOLD alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on DRDGOLD DRDGOLD Stock Up 0.2 % DRDGOLD Cuts Dividend Shares of NYSE DRD opened at $8.11 on Wednesday. DRDGOLD has a 1 year low of $6.48 and a 1 year high of $13.85. The firms 50-day moving average is $7.49 and its 200-day moving average is $8.31. The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.1058 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Hedge Funds Weigh In On DRDGOLD Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in DRDGOLD in the 3rd quarter valued at $863,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of DRDGOLD during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,559,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of DRDGOLD during the 4th quarter valued at $959,000. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of DRDGOLD during the 1st quarter valued at $1,057,000. Finally, Portside Wealth Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of DRDGOLD during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,138,000. DRDGOLD Company Profile (Get Free Report) DRDGOLD Limited, a gold mining company, engages in the surface gold tailings retreatment business in South Africa. It also involved in the exploration, extraction, processing, and smelting activities. The company recovers gold from surface tailings in the Witwatersrand basin in Gauteng province. DRDGOLD Limited was formerly known as Durban Roodepoort Deep Limited and changed its name to DRDGOLD Limited in 2004. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for DRDGOLD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DRDGOLD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Knife River (NYSE:KNF Get Free Report) is one of 29 publicly-traded companies in the Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Knife River to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, dividends and analyst recommendations. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Knife River and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Knife River alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Knife River 0 1 5 0 2.83 Knife River Competitors 232 1073 1439 13 2.45 Knife River currently has a consensus target price of $72.20, suggesting a potential downside of 4.08%. As a group, Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies have a potential upside of 12.11%. Given Knife Rivers peers higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Knife River has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Knife River 6.46% 15.98% 7.14% Knife River Competitors 20.38% -22.53% 3.80% Insider & Institutional Ownership This table compares Knife River and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 67.1% of Knife River shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 50.1% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are owned by institutional investors. 7.0% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Knife River and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Knife River $2.83 billion $182.87 million -0.15 Knife River Competitors $2.25 billion $333.07 million 6.23 Knife River has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its peers. Knife River is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Knife River Company Profile (Get Free Report) Knife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting service, such as heavy-civil construction, asphalt and concrete paving, and site development and grading. It also sells merchandise and other building materials and related services. The company serves federal, state, and municipal governments for various projects, such as highways, bridges, airports, schools, public buildings, and other public-infrastructure projects, as well as industrial, commercial, and residential developers. The company was founded in 1917 and is based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Receive News & Ratings for Knife River Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Knife River and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Heavitree Brewery PLC (LON:HVT Get Free Report)s stock price passed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 274.30 ($3.51) and traded as low as GBX 230 ($2.95). Heavitree Brewery shares last traded at GBX 275 ($3.52), with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. Heavitree Brewery Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.26, a current ratio of 0.48 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 274.30 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 280.49. The firm has a market capitalization of 4.81 million, a PE ratio of 887.10 and a beta of 0.49. Get Heavitree Brewery alerts: Heavitree Brewery Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be given a GBX 3.50 ($0.04) dividend. This is an increase from Heavitree Brewerys previous dividend of $2.00. This represents a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Heavitree Brewerys dividend payout ratio is currently 1,935.48%. Insider Activity About Heavitree Brewery In other news, insider Graham J. Crocker sold 6,667 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 150 ($1.92), for a total value of 10,000.50 ($12,812.94). Company insiders own 94.54% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) The Heavitree Brewery PLC engages in the development and operation of a leased and tenanted estate in England. It operates leased and tenanted public houses. The company was founded in 1790 and is based in Exeter, the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Heavitree Brewery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Heavitree Brewery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ignite Planners LLC cut its stake in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,027 shares of the companys stock after selling 380 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLCs holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $356,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. RiverFront Investment Group LLC raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 12,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $606,000 after acquiring an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 16,983 shares of the companys stock valued at $855,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 7,719 shares of the companys stock valued at $393,000 after acquiring an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 3,764 shares of the companys stock valued at $192,000 after acquiring an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 8,428 shares of the companys stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of FLOT stock opened at $50.95 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $50.77. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $50.76 and a 12-month high of $51.10. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Company Profile The iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated, investment-grade floating rate notes with maturities of 0-5 years. FLOT was launched on Jun 14, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FLOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (BATS:EZU Free Report) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 41,476 shares of the companys stock after selling 529 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF makes up 1.5% of Interchange Capital Partners LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Interchange Capital Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF were worth $1,968,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Oakworth Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF in the third quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC boosted its stake in iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF by 308.2% during the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 1,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 937 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF Price Performance BATS:EZU traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $50.37. 1,861,868 shares of the companys stock traded hands. iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF has a 12-month low of $36.77 and a 12-month high of $47.13. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $47.93 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.52 and a beta of 1.03. About iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF iShares MSCI EMU ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the European Monetary Union (EMU) markets, as measured by the MSCI EMU Index (the Index). Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EZU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF (BATS:EZU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The famous American actress Kristen Stewart, known for her restrained looks and collaboration with the haute couture house CHANEL, impresses the public with bold and daring fashion statements this year. Her style is becoming less and less elegant and calm, giving way to rebellious and outspoken notes. ADVERTISIMENT The actress who played Bella Swan in the cult vampire saga Twilight demonstrates daring outfits not only on the red carpet, where shocking is generally welcome, but also on the streets in everyday life. Five of the 33-year-old actress's most revealing looks, according to the editors, are collected in an OBOZ.UA article. Bodysuit with a huge neckline from a Ukrainian brand Let's start with Stewart's frank look, which she chose for the premiere of Love Lies Bleeding, where she played one of the main roles. The bodysuit with huge cutouts and an open back is striking in its audacity. As it turned out, this outfit was created by the Ukrainian brand Bettter. The actress paired it with black tights and threw a jacket over it, which she took off from time to time to show off the seductive cutouts. ADVERTISIMENT Provocative costume with stockings How about this combination: a translucent bra, a black leather jacket, an ultra-short skirt, and sexy stockings? Complementing this seductive ensemble with heels, Stewart emphasized her courage by "forgetting" about underwear. It's hard to believe that the shy Bella from Twilight is walking the streets of Los Angeles in such a provocative look. A trend for briefs Briefs are a popular trend among foreign celebrities, which is not always understood in society. Kristen Stewart also decided to take a risk by wearing ultra-short shorts with beige nylon tights, a half-open cropped shirt and dark cherry shoes to match her sunglasses. Unfortunately, the unpleasant expectations were justified: fans criticized the 33-year-old actress, calling the lower part of her look a "diaper." ADVERTISIMENT Sheer shirt + bra top The annual CHANEL and Charles Finch pre-Oscar dinner at the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills was also accompanied by a bold look from Kristen Stewart. This time she wore wide shorts (but no longer underwear), a transparent black shirt and a bra top. Daring photo shoot for Rolling Stone Kristen Stewart doesn't stop with her provocations, and this time she shows off a daring look in a Rolling Stone photo shoot. She appears on the cover and pages of the magazine half-naked in her underwear, striking provocative poses and not hiding her haughty look. ADVERTISIMENT The conclusion is that Kristen Stewart's new style is a bold statement about her personality. She is not afraid to be herself, to challenge stereotypes or to experiment with fashion. Her looks are becoming more and more provocative, reflecting changes in herself and in the fashion world in general. Whether you like it or not is up to you, but the actress doesn't seem to be too concerned about the opinions of others. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE:HTD Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 23,600 shares, a drop of 38.1% from the February 14th total of 38,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 98,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Price Performance HTD stock opened at $19.00 on Friday. John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund has a 12 month low of $16.17 and a 12 month high of $22.13. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $19.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.46. Get John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund alerts: John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be given a $0.138 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $1.66 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.72%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Company Profile Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HTD. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 43,355 shares of the companys stock worth $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 2,113 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its position in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 14,125 shares of the companys stock worth $361,000 after purchasing an additional 1,479 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 52.0% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 255,827 shares of the companys stock worth $6,538,000 after purchasing an additional 87,477 shares in the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV grew its holdings in shares of John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 58,089 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 1,697 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at $271,000. (Get Free Report) John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management and Analytic Investors, LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors, with an emphasis on the utilities sector. See Also Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Wednesday morning. A number of other analysts have also issued reports on ORCL. William Blair upgraded Oracle from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Oracle from $126.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday. Erste Group Bank reissued a hold rating on shares of Oracle in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Oracle from $125.00 to $122.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on Oracle from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $128.33. Get Oracle alerts: Read Our Latest Report on Oracle Oracle Stock Performance Shares of ORCL stock opened at $125.62 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $112.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $111.27. Oracle has a 12 month low of $82.08 and a 12 month high of $129.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $345.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.15, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.34. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 11th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.04. Oracle had a return on equity of 336.11% and a net margin of 20.27%. The firm had revenue of $13.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.29 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.96 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Oracle will post 4.45 EPS for the current year. Oracle Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 10th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 9th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.27%. Oracles dividend payout ratio is presently 42.22%. Insider Buying and Selling at Oracle In related news, Director Naomi O. Seligman sold 16,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.02, for a total transaction of $1,728,126.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 34,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,686,421.42. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 42.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Oracle Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oracle in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE grew its holdings in Oracle by 298.4% during the 3rd quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 243 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management acquired a new position in Oracle during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Tidemark LLC acquired a new position in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Nordwand Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.44% of the companys stock. Oracle Company Profile (Get Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (OTCMKTS:TLKMF Get Free Report) was up 2.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as C$0.26 and last traded at C$0.26. Approximately 1,980 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 9,512 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.25. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Stock Performance The stocks fifty day moving average is C$0.25 and its 200-day moving average is C$0.24. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Company Profile (Get Free Report) Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk provides information and communications technology, and telecommunications network services worldwide. The company operates through mobile, consumer, enterprise, Wholesale and International Business, and Other segments. The Mobile segment offers mobile voice, SMS, value added services, and mobile broadband services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (OTCMKTS:PIFMY Get Free Report) shares fell 2% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $20.17 and last traded at $20.30. 9,112 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 332% from the average session volume of 2,107 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.71. PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk Price Performance The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.02. PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk Company Profile (Get Free Report) PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk operates as a food solutions company in Indonesia, the Middle East, Africa, rest of Asia, internationally. It operates through Consumer Branded Products Business Group, Bogasari Business Group, Agribusiness Group, and Distribution Business Group segments. It offers noodles; ultra-high temperature (UHT), sterilized bottled, evaporated, pasteurized liquid, UHT multi-cereal, and powdered milk; milk-flavored and cereal powdered drinks, sweetened condensed creamer, ice cream, and butter; potato, cassava, soybean, corn, and various extruded snacks; recipe mixes, soy and chili sauce, tomato sauce, and stock soup; baby cereals; rice puffs, crunchies, biscuits, puddings, noodle soup, and pasta; cereal snacks for children; and ready-to-drink tea, packaged water, and fruit-flavored drinks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Get Free Report) (TSE:ITH) saw a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 190,800 shares, a drop of 17.9% from the February 14th total of 232,300 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 125,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.5 days. Insider Buying and Selling In other International Tower Hill Mines news, major shareholder Paulson & Co. Inc. acquired 2,268,256 shares of International Tower Hill Mines stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $0.66 per share, for a total transaction of $1,497,048.96. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 64,198,980 shares of the companys stock, valued at $42,371,326.80. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 2.56% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in THM. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its holdings in International Tower Hill Mines by 314.9% in the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 61,808 shares of the mining companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 46,910 shares in the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in International Tower Hill Mines by 54.5% in the 4th quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 51,018 shares of the mining companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 18,000 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 25.2% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 161,859 shares of the mining companys stock worth $69,000 after acquiring an additional 32,559 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines by 15.8% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 202,713 shares of the mining companys stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 27,713 shares in the last quarter. 53.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on International Tower Hill Mines in a research report on Wednesday. They set a sell rating on the stock. Get Our Latest Analysis on THM International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance Shares of THM stock remained flat at $0.70 during trading hours on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 122,830 shares, compared to its average volume of 155,990. International Tower Hill Mines has a 12-month low of $0.31 and a 12-month high of $0.75. The stock has a market cap of $140.06 million, a PE ratio of -35.07 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50-day moving average is $0.42. International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile (Get Free Report) International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank Holdings Co. (NYSE:NBHC Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 300,500 shares, a decline of 18.5% from the February 14th total of 368,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 181,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Analyst Ratings Changes NBHC has been the subject of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of National Bank from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. StockNews.com cut shares of National Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Get National Bank alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on National Bank Institutional Investors Weigh In On National Bank National Bank Stock Up 1.5 % Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NBHC. FMR LLC lifted its stake in National Bank by 78.9% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 850 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY raised its holdings in National Bank by 27.5% in the 2nd quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 2,020 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 436 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in National Bank by 24.4% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,005 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its holdings in National Bank by 145.4% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,698 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $68,000 after acquiring an additional 1,006 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd increased its holdings in shares of National Bank by 2,677.4% during the first quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,722 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 1,660 shares during the period. 89.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. NYSE NBHC traded up $0.49 on Friday, reaching $34.13. The company had a trading volume of 385,346 shares, compared to its average volume of 170,747. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.17 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.95. National Bank has a 1-year low of $26.48 and a 1-year high of $38.71. The companys fifty day moving average is $34.52 and its 200-day moving average is $33.28. National Bank (NYSE:NBHC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by $0.03. National Bank had a net margin of 25.40% and a return on equity of 12.20%. The company had revenue of $107.23 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $103.96 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.91 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that National Bank will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. National Bank Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.16%. National Banks dividend payout ratio is 29.03%. National Bank Company Profile (Get Free Report) National Bank Holdings Corporation operates as the bank holding company for NBH Bank that provides various banking products and financial services to commercial, business, and consumer clients in the United States. It offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and other deposit accounts, including fixed-rate and fixed maturity time deposits. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for National Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Signature Wealth Management Group bought a new position in shares of Raymond James (NYSE:RJF Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,738 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $640,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fulton Bank N.A. lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 3,738 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $417,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 52.5% in the 4th quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 558 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,570,058 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,161,981,000 after acquiring an additional 246,349 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 26.0% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 165,966 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,668,000 after acquiring an additional 34,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 471,171 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $47,320,000 after acquiring an additional 9,626 shares during the last quarter. 75.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Raymond James alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts have recently commented on RJF shares. UBS Group dropped their price target on Raymond James from $116.00 to $115.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a $117.00 price objective (up from $112.00) on shares of Raymond James in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $116.00 price objective (down from $125.00) on shares of Raymond James in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. TD Cowen began coverage on Raymond James in a report on Thursday, January 4th. They issued a market perform rating and a $121.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Raymond James from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $119.25. Raymond James Stock Up 0.6 % NYSE RJF traded up $0.76 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $120.76. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,343,236 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,043,976. Raymond James has a 52 week low of $82.00 and a 52 week high of $122.40. The company has a market capitalization of $25.24 billion, a PE ratio of 15.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $115.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $107.77. Raymond James (NYSE:RJF Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $2.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.25 by $0.15. Raymond James had a net margin of 12.81% and a return on equity of 17.95%. The firm had revenue of $3.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.29 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Raymond James will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Raymond James Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. Raymond Jamess payout ratio is currently 22.56%. Insider Transactions at Raymond James In related news, Director Art A. Garcia purchased 879 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $112.30 per share, for a total transaction of $98,711.70. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,711.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Jonathan N. Santelli sold 1,891 shares of Raymond James stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.91, for a total value of $211,621.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,491 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,405,057.81. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Art A. Garcia acquired 879 shares of Raymond James stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $112.30 per share, with a total value of $98,711.70. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,711.70. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 9.74% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Raymond James (Free Report) Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RJF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Raymond James (NYSE:RJF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Raymond James Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raymond James and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Stellus Capital Investment (NYSE:SCM Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Wednesday morning. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Oppenheimer restated a market perform rating and set a $14.00 target price on shares of Stellus Capital Investment in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. B. Riley reiterated a sell rating and issued a $12.50 price objective (down from $13.00) on shares of Stellus Capital Investment in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Get Stellus Capital Investment alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Stellus Capital Investment Stellus Capital Investment Price Performance Stellus Capital Investment stock opened at $13.08 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $315.62 million, a P/E ratio of 16.77 and a beta of 1.17. Stellus Capital Investment has a 1 year low of $12.19 and a 1 year high of $15.40. The business has a 50-day moving average of $12.97 and a 200-day moving average of $13.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. Stellus Capital Investment (NYSE:SCM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, March 5th. The investment management company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.46 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $28.02 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $27.20 million. Stellus Capital Investment had a return on equity of 14.01% and a net margin of 16.56%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.44 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Stellus Capital Investment will post 1.77 EPS for the current year. Stellus Capital Investment Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.1333 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.23%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Stellus Capital Investments dividend payout ratio is currently 205.13%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Stellus Capital Investment Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC raised its stake in shares of Stellus Capital Investment by 129.8% during the 3rd quarter. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC now owns 43,058 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $586,000 after purchasing an additional 24,317 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Stellus Capital Investment during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $217,000. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Stellus Capital Investment during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $171,000. Muzinich & Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Stellus Capital Investment by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Muzinich & Co. Inc. now owns 71,420 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $971,000 after acquiring an additional 4,709 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PEAK6 Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Stellus Capital Investment during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $265,000. Institutional investors own 14.69% of the companys stock. Stellus Capital Investment Company Profile (Get Free Report) Stellus Capital Investment Corporation is a business development company specializing in investments in private middle-market companies. It invests through first lien, second lien, unitranche, and mezzanine debt financing, often with a corresponding equity investment. The fund prefers to invest in US and Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Stellus Capital Investment Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stellus Capital Investment and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coho Partners Ltd. trimmed its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report) by 6.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 309,568 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 20,006 shares during the period. Thermo Fisher Scientific makes up about 3.8% of Coho Partners Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Coho Partners Ltd.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $164,316,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Halpern Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 307.7% in the 3rd quarter. Halpern Financial Inc. now owns 53 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.06% of the companys stock. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Thermo Fisher Scientific In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,311,992.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $27,311,992.65. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 14,566 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $562.00, for a total transaction of $8,186,092.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,901 shares in the company, valued at $7,250,362. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 50,277 shares of company stock valued at $28,513,384. 0.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:TMO traded down $0.76 during trading on Friday, hitting $584.15. 1,920,147 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,682,461. The firms 50 day moving average price is $559.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $518.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $222.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.81, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.80. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12-month low of $415.60 and a 12-month high of $603.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.39. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical research company reported $5.67 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.64 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $10.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.73 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.99% and a return on equity of 18.78%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.40 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.39 dividend. This is a boost from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is currently 10.10%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have issued reports on TMO shares. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $530.00 to $575.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $575.00 price target on the stock. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, December 18th. They issued a buy rating and a $610.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $592.00 to $642.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Barclays cut shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $475.00 to $555.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $596.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on TMO About Thermo Fisher Scientific (Free Report) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Diversified Trust Co decreased its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 20.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 62,648 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 16,190 shares during the period. Visa accounts for approximately 0.5% of Diversified Trust Cos portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Diversified Trust Cos holdings in Visa were worth $16,310,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BCK Partners Inc. acquired a new position in Visa in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,717,000. Markel Corp grew its holdings in Visa by 0.3% during the first quarter. Markel Corp now owns 961,105 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $213,144,000 after acquiring an additional 3,065 shares during the period. AMI Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Visa during the 1st quarter worth $2,323,000. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new position in Visa during the first quarter worth about $538,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,496,000. 81.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Visa alerts: Visa Stock Down 1.2 % NYSE:V opened at $283.04 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $519.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.57, a PEG ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.96. Visa Inc. has a 1-year low of $208.76 and a 1-year high of $289.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $275.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $256.46. Visa Dividend Announcement Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $8.63 billion for 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 firms quarterly revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.18 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.94%. Insider Transactions at Visa In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,898 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction of $729,271.20. Following the transaction, 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Rajat Taneja sold 36,546 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, January 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.20, for a total transaction of $9,874,729.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 232,112 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,716,662.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 47,311 shares of company stock valued at $12,832,129. 0.19% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on V shares. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Visa from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Visa from $290.00 to $309.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. William Blair reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Visa in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup increased their target price on Visa from $296.00 to $306.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Visa from $304.00 to $319.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Visa has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $293.30. Get Our Latest Analysis on Visa 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. Ukrainian actress and presenter Lilia Rebryk, 42, and her choreographer husband Andriy Dykyi became parents for the third time. The star gave birth to a daughter named Adele. ADVERTISIMENT The parents of many children showed a photo from the hospital on Instagram. They did not reveal the girl's face but showed the newborn's tiny hand. "Our Adele. Dyka Adelina Andriivna. Be happy, daughter," the celebrity couple wrote. According to the information on the bracelet, the presenter gave birth the day before at 18:51. The girl was born weighing 3500 grams and 52 cm tall. The stars were congratulated by their colleagues: Yuriy Gorbunov, Hryhoriy Reshetnik, Nastya Tsymbalaru, Valentyna Khamaiko, Olga Atanasova, and others. The subscribers also joined in the congratulations. It should be reminded that Lilia Rebryk did not announce her pregnancy immediately. Ukrainians learned the good news in October last year, but some accused the artist of giving birth to her third child to "save" her husband. ADVERTISIMENT In an interview with OBOZ.UA, the host told why she left her apartment in Kyiv during the war, how she feels about unexpected and sometimes completely inappropriate comments from fans, and when she plans to move into the house she bought with her husband before the Russian invasion. As OBOZ.UA wrote, Lilia Rebryk was still working a few months before giving birth. The star told our editorial team why she did not leave her job for so long while pregnant. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:WTS Get Free Report) CAO Virginia A. Halloran sold 1,520 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $202.11, for a total transaction of $307,207.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 14,818 shares in the company, valued at $2,994,865.98. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Watts Water Technologies Stock Up 0.8 % NYSE:WTS opened at $204.04 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $201.63 and its 200 day simple moving average is $192.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 2.61 and a quick ratio of 1.63. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $153.25 and a one year high of $219.52. The company has a market cap of $6.80 billion, a PE ratio of 26.09, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.94. Get Watts Water Technologies alerts: Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $1.97 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.19. Watts Water Technologies had a net margin of 12.75% and a return on equity of 19.38%. The business had revenue of $547.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $532.58 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.60 EPS. The firms revenue was up 9.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Watts Water Technologies, Inc. will post 8.56 earnings per share for the current year. Watts Water Technologies Announces Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. Watts Water Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 18.41%. Several research firms have commented on WTS. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $199.00 to $206.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Watts Water Technologies from $191.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Watts Water Technologies has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $190.60. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Watts Water Technologies Institutional Investors Weigh In On Watts Water Technologies Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. New York Life Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 97.0% in the 3rd quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 5,302 shares of the technology companys stock worth $916,000 after purchasing an additional 2,611 shares during the period. Dark Forest Capital Management LP lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 116.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 19,454 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,362,000 after purchasing an additional 10,467 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 32.5% in the 3rd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 18,198 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,160,000 after purchasing an additional 4,463 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 7,956 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,375,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Watts Water Technologies by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 292,299 shares of the technology companys stock worth $50,515,000 after purchasing an additional 18,213 shares during the period. 75.06% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Watts Water Technologies (Get Free Report) Watts Water Technologies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies products and solutions that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through, and out of buildings in the commercial, industrial, and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Watts Water Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watts Water Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Famous Ukrainian restaurateur and cooking show host Yevhen Klopotenko was skeptical of Volodymyr Zelenskyy 's presidential candidacy in 2019, but his position has changed somewhat. He believes that during a full-scale war, one should not criticize the activities of the country's leadership, leaving these discussions until the day of victory over Russia. ADVERTISIMENT The chef, who also spoke with the wife of the Ukrainian leader, Olena Zelenska, admitted that he had noticed a transformation in her character since Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. Klopotenko shared his thoughts in an interview with the Pryamaya Chervona TV channel. The restaurateur admitted that he doesn't talk to the first lady every day, but he always feels her support when needed. "Yes, she has changed. It seems to me that she has become super strong, and better. Well, she was never bad. It's like I'm complimenting someone in politics. I'm saying that as a person. I don't know her in other things, we rarely talk, but I've always liked her. She supports all the ideas that I say. What else do I need?" the chef said. ADVERTISIMENT He doesn't deny that in 2019 he criticized the president's team for their inexperience in politics. Now, Klopotenko is not ready to make such loud statements, as he does not consider it appropriate to start discussions within the country that is confronting a dangerous enemy. "If I say that I support Zelenskyy and believe in him, what will it do? We are at war. When the day of victory comes, we will sit down and analyze who did what right and who did what wrong. Now we need maximum support from the president. If we are divided in our opinions, we will never win," the restaurateur emphasized. He added that he will definitely support the president until the day of victory, and only then he will be able to afford to publicly discuss the actions of the state leadership. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Yevhen Klopotenko, together with Olena Zelenska, was developing a new school menu, but before the first lady tasted it, two sanitary and epidemiologists took the dishes for examination. In addition to them, four security officers were also present. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ukrainian writer and screenwriter Andrii Kurkov believes that it is impossible to reason with Russians and convince them of the criminality of the Kremlin regime during active hostilities. Ukrainians will not support communication with the people of the terrorist state for another 30-40 years, the cultural figure suggested. ADVERTISIMENT In his opinion, Russian citizens who still do not understand why the war with Ukrainians is a disaster simply do not want to doubt the propaganda. The writer expressed this opinion in an interview with RBC-Ukraine. "We are now talking about at least 30-40 years. And during this time there will be no communication between Ukrainians and Russians," he began. The author of the well-known works does not deny that it makes sense to try to convey the truth to the world and to at least a small number of Russians who are open to it. However, it is "practically impossible" to fight such a large-scale propaganda on the territory of the Russian Federation. ADVERTISIMENT "It is almost impossible to reason with them during the fighting for two reasons. The whole of Russia follows the lies from the front line and sometimes the truth, if they really have success. This means that they are now all united by the fact that the whole world is fighting against them. They believe their president," Kurkov said. He believes that more Russians may want to ask questions that Ukraine could answer only after the war is over. "We will be able to show this only to those who voluntarily want to watch it. Some will, some won't. People are different," the writer, who has received support from emigrants from Russia abroad, said. ADVERTISIMENT Andrii Kurkov added that there are still people in Russia who support Ukrainians from the occupied territories and help them leave for Europe. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Hardly 11 hours after his earlier statement made on Thursday night Prof (Dr) Monimoy Bandyopadhyay, director of the state-run Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R) as well as SSKM Hospital on Friday clarified that all he meant was that the chief minister Mamata Banerjee may have felt a sensation of pushing from behind. His statement had triggered concerns in connection with the safety and security of the chief minister. Today, while giving clarifications on his push from behind theory he told reporters at SSKM Hospital, This is a sensation of pushing from behind that led to the fall (of chief minister). Our job is to treat and we have done our best. There was a misinterpretation of what I said last evening. Advertisement According to a doctor of the eight-member team of experts monitoring the 70 year-old chief ministers health condition, Her condition is stable today and we are planning to carry out several medical investigations to check whether she has any major ailments. She takes regular drugs for blood pressure and cholesterol. Some members of the team visited her today at her Kalighat residence and took stock of her health condition. She has been asked to take rest as much as possible. The ruling Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee was admitted to SSKM Hospitals Woodburn Ward on Thursday night after she reportedly suffered major cut injuries to her forehead at her residence. The Trinamul Congress soon after the incident shared photos of Miss Banerjee with a deep cut in the middle of her forehead with blood oozing out from the injured spot. She was rushed to the hospital by her nephew Abhishek Banerjee. She had suffered leg injury in Nandigram in East Midnapore during Assembly elections in 2021. She also had to undergo a surgery on her leg. In 2023, she had also undergone a micro surgery on her left knee at the SSKM Hospital. The department of commerce, University of North Bengal hosted a two-day international conference from today. The theme of the conference was Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Issues, Imperatives and Contemporary Business Perspectives. The conference was organized with the aim to enhance awareness of the importance of environment, social and governance issues and its impact on the environment, society, and the economy. It would aim to provide an opportunity for participants to imbibe the nuances, latest trends and best of ESG, finance, marketing and human resource management from researchers, academicians, industry leaders and policy makers, said Prof. Samirendra Nath Dhar, conference director, department of commerce, University of North Bengal. Advertisement The conference was attended by Prof. Rama Prasad Banerjee, director and chairperson, EIILM, Prof. Bhabatosh Banerjee, president, IAARF, Prof. Harunur Rasid, President, Bangladesh Accounting Association, represented by P Agarwal, Prof. Sayaduzzaman, department of accounting and information systems, Rajshahi University and secretary, Bangladesh Accounting Association, Prof. Dhrubaranjan Dandapat, secretary, Indian Accounting Association Research Foundation. On the other hand, Dr Tia Kansara, CEO , Replenish Earth, UK, Dr Alexandra Middleton, Oulu University, Finland, Prof. Saamdu Chettri former director, Centre for Gross National Happiness in virtual mode and other dignitaries from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and several states of India. The conference covered a wide range of topics related to ESG, including government policies and regulations, corporate practices and reporting, investment strategies, financial and marketing strategies and developments in HRM. A total number of sixty-four research papers were accepted for presentation in the conference. It was conceived that with the growing transformations in business policies and processes, rational investors and stakeholders not only hunt for wealth maximization, but also endeavour to be responsible for sustainability of the environment and society. Investors are increasingly applying these non-financial factors as part of their analysis process to identify material risks and growth opportunities. The environmental, social, and governance metrics are not commonly part of mandatory financial reporting, though companies are increasingly making disclosures in their annual report or in a standalone sustainability report. As the first train chugged out of Esplanade station at 7am today, the moment was historic and memorable in real terms for Dr Dipankar Bakhshi, who was witness to city Metros achievements for the second time. Dr Bakhshi, a resident of Salt Lake, was in college when he witnessed the commencement of the first Metro services in Kolkata in 1984. He turned up at the Esplanade station early morning today to relive his memories of the first Metro ride that he undertook in 1984 and to become a part of the carriers historic achievement of starting commercial services under a mighty river today. Remembering his first ride during the first commercial run of the city Metro in the 80s, Dr Bakhshi said, In those days, people were not much aware of what a Metro was. Many had gathered with great enthusiasm and curiosity wanting to know what it was all about. I had also reached the station on time to avail a ride from Esplanade to Bhawanipur. The event was a gala with many eminent personalities including writers, sportspersons, politicians and other VIPs. We enjoyed the ride with celebrations and the people on board were very excited. I was a bachelor then. Today, I brought my wife with me to witness the historic day. Advertisement The elderly citizen claimed to be a witness of the journey of Kolkata Metro Railway over the years. He is said to have enjoyed rides during the first commercial services of the Green Line earlier also. Talking about his experience this morning, he said, Today, we all know what a Metro ride feels like. I enjoy rides as they are hassle-free and well maintained. Therefore, I have tried to become a part of the first commercial rides of the Green Line earlier also. Metro is always one of the choicest transports for me. Being a regular commuter of the Metro, I know that it will bring much relief to the citizens while commuting. Students pursuing course of marine engineering need to be resilient and persevering to attain success in life, said Governor C V Ananda Bose, addressing the passing out parade ceremony of Indian Maritime University-Kolkata campus on Wednesday. He also showered praises on the ever-increasing growth of indigenous technology that India boasts off now, which Mr Bose said has made a tremendous stride in all these years and has become an envy of the world. Addressing the session of the passing out parade ceremony of Indian Maritime, the Governor said, The giant stride by India in the growth of technical knowhow is something that needs to be utilized optimally in courses like marine engineering to reap rich dividends in near future. The giant stride by India in the field of technology is now an envy of the world. The order thus has changed as what India thinks today, World thinks tomorrow, said Mr Bose. Advertisement Around 272 cadets took part in todays passing out ceremony. But the unique feature of the university is the growing number of women cadets nowadays, which Capt Pronab Raha felt was striking in contrast to the earlier years. Number of female cadets pursuing this course nowadays has increased. The number has increased to about 30 now, which was almost nil in the earlier times. It manifests that women are gradually taking interest in pursuing this course for a life in water. Dr Rajoo Balaji, the pro-vice chancellor of the university in his address reminded the role of the cadets of the university for contributing to the maritime trade of the country as being the countrys ambassadors and the world as well. Meanwhile, the Governor today on a question on the chief ministers fall yesterday, said that he prayed for her quick recovery and return to her sprightly best as early as possible. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday ordered a probe into the Google Play Store, accusing the tech giant of exploiting its dominant position in the countrys online market. The CCI said that Google allegedly imposed unfair terms and discriminatory practices in its Play Store, violating several provisions of the countrys anti-trust law. The CCIs investigative arm has been given 60 days to complete the probe. The company said that it was examining the CCIs order initiating the investigation. Advertisement The CCI has previously examined our service fee in detail between 2020 and 2022 and found no illegality. However, we take our commitment to comply with local laws and regulations in India seriously and will cooperate with the process in every way, a Google spokesperson told IANS. The CCI decision came after multiple Indian app developers and industry groups filed a complaint against Google and raised concerns about the unfair practices of the company after several of their apps were removed. The apps were later restored. The CCI probe is initiated over a new complaint by People Interactive and some other developers specifically about the service fee levied on Google Play. Prateek Jain, Associate Director, of The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), said in a statement that they applaud the commitment of regulatory authorities such as the CCI to promote a level playing field for businesses. We believe that fair implementation and monitoring of billing systems will result in competitive pricing of services in the market, boost innovation, safeguard consumer choice, and benefit the interests of all stakeholders in the digital ecosystem, Jain added. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will roll out the beta version of the T+0 settlement on an optional basis from March 28. The T+0 settlement means that the funds and securities for a transaction will be settled on the day the trade was entered into. The Board approved the launch of a Beta version of optional T+0 settlement, for a limited set of 25 scrips, and with a limited set of brokers. In parallel, SEBI shall continue to do further stakeholder consultation, including with the users of the Beta version. The Board shall review the progress at the end of three months and six months from the date of this implementation, and decide on further course of action, the market regulator said. Advertisement The T+0 settlement cycle will now be made available as an option alongside T+1. It must be highlighted that the T+0 settlement system is not as common as T+1 or T+2 settlement cycles, but there are a few countries and markets that have adopted T+0 settlement. The Moscow Exchange (MOEX) and Korea Exchange (KRX) offer T+0 settlements for certain securities in Russia and South Korea. India has been operating at a T+1 settlement cycle. SEBI shortened the settlement cycle to T+3 from T+5 in 2002 and subsequently to T+2 in 2003. It introduced T+1 in 2021 and implemented in phases, with the final phase completed in January 2023. Sebi also decided to give more FPIs exemption from the granular disclosures, relax the timelines for disclosure of certain material changes, and flexibility to FPIs in dealing with their securities after expiry of their registration. It said that in case the concentrated holdings of FPIs in a listed company with no identified promoter meet certain thresholds, then they will be exempted from granular disclosures. The composite holdings of all such FPIs (that hold in excess of the 50 per cent concentration criteria and are not exempted) in the company with no identified promoter, is less than 3 per cent of its total equity share capital, said Sebi. These exemptions come in addition to the ones given last year in the standard operating procedure where certain public retail funds and FPIs registered with specific regulators are excluded from additional disclosures. The Darima Airport in Ambikapur district has received licence for commencing flight operations. Tribal Development and Farmers Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam has expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for this achievement. The office of the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has issued the license to Maa Mahamaya Airport Darima Ambikapur to commence flight operations. The airport infrastructure and necessary parameters were continuously inspected by the DGCA team. Recently, a final inspection was conducted by the team from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to assess the infrastructure and facilities condition for passenger safety and flight operations. Advertisement The report was forwarded to BCAS Headquarters in Delhi for provisional approval, leading to the issuance of an order for aircraft operations the very next day on March 15. With the license for Ambikapur Airport, the state now has three licensed airports, including Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). Following the acquisition of the 3-C VFR category license, the operation of air services via 72-seater aircraft can now commence from Ambikapur Airport. The state government is actively working to initiate air service from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi, which is expected to boost tourism and commercial activities in the northern region of the state. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be on an official visit to the ASEAN countries of Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia from 23-27 March. The visit will focus on enhancing bilateral relations with the three countries, and would provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. India has cordial relations with all ASEAN countries and is a dialogue partner of the ten-nation Southeast Asian grouping. The situation in the South China Sea and the Red Sea is likely to figure in Mr Jaishankars talks with the leaderships of the three countries. Chinas muscle-flexing on maritime issues, particularly in the South China Sea, has been a cause of concern for all the ASEAN nations. Advertisement Indias defence and strategic ties with these three nations have also witnessed a significant upswing in recent years. Houses for mercenaries of the disbanded Russian Wagner PMC who remained in the country are being built in Belarus. In particular, the construction of a nine-story building in the village of Tsel, Mogilev region, was recorded. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported on March 15 by the National Resistance Center, citing locals. It is known that there is a landfill near the village of Tsel where Wagner's men were once stationed. Currently, up to 300 militants remain there to train the Belarusian military. Meanwhile, the military tents in the camp continue to be dismantled and removed, the NRC reported. They also expressed gratitude to Belarusians who continue to inform them about the actions of the common enemy. On March 11, the Belarusian army began checking the combat capability of formations and military units with the movement of military equipment. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the inspection would be comprehensive. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that the situation on the border with Belarus remains stable. Ukrainian intelligence is closely monitoring all the actions of the Belarusian army. In early February, the SBGS said that Belarus had moved its military equipment closer to the border with Ukraine. It was connected with the exercises near the village of Saki, Brest region. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! This year Satyajit Rays iconic film, Sonar Kella or the Golden Fortress completes 50 years. An instant hit when it was released on 27 December 1974, half a century later the movie remains fresh in the minds of audiences across the world. Sandip Ray, the master directors son and himself an acclaimed filmmaker, in an interview with The Statesmans Dola Mitra, analyses the classical appeal of the film which revolves around the adventures of the fictional detective Feluda and a child with memories of a past life, while also recalling the heady days of shooting the film in the then remote town of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Excerpts: Q: When Sonar Kella was made 50 years ago, you were a part of your fathers film unit. Do you recall those days? Advertisement A: Yes, vividly. I was one of the photographers on the sets and I travelled with Baba and his unit to Rajasthan where the film was partially set. It was an exciting and adventurous journey full of experience and intrigue. Q: As a 21-year-old, did you have any inkling at that time that the film would eventually gain such an iconic status? A: The film had tremendous appeal at that time too. Feluda was already a popular character by then. Babas stories had already come out in different magazines. In Sandesh, (the literary magazine then edited by his father and now by him), Feluda had reached a pinnacle of success even then. People wanted to hear about him, his stories and adventures. Baba used to be flooded with letters and phone calls with demands for more stories on Feluda. There were no other means of communication at that time. The requests came from different people of various ages. So my father realised that he would just have to keep on writing more and more Feluda stories. Q: How did this particular story, Sonar Kella come about though? A:Oh, Sonar Kellahas an intriguing back story. The first time that my father went to Rajasthans Jaisalmer was for the shooting of his childrens film, Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne (GGBB). And he was absolutely awestruck by the place. Especially, when he saw the ruins of this amazing fortress with a dazzling yellow colour. He was really drawn to it and wanted to capture it in his film. But that did not work out. The budget of GGBB wouldnt allow it. This regret remained but Baba never gave up the thought of making a film which would capture this beautiful, brilliant golden fort. Q: So Feluda travelled to Rajasthan? A:(Chuckles) Precisely. In any case by this time, Baba had started to send Feluda to all those different places where he himself had gone for whatever reason. Whether for shoots or just travel. They were not just any old place but the places which intrigued Baba, those destinations which he found fascinating. For instance, the first Feluda story, Feludar Goenda Giri that came out in 1965 was set in Darjeeling, one of my fathers most favourite places. The story was serialised for three months in Sandesh and immediately gained immense popularity. One of my fathers other favourite places was Puri. Feluda was sent there too, of course. Then he made a documentary on Sikkim. And he loved it. So he sent Feluda to Gangtok. This was more or less the case. So obviously, Feluda just had to go to Rajasthan, especially Jaisalmer and the golden fort. Q: While Ray is supposed to have been fascinated with both the sea (Puri) and the mountains (Darjeeling), was he also equally fascinated with deserts? Why did he choose Rajasthan? A: Yes, as far as the sea and the mountains are concerned, Baba was extremely fond of both. Rajasthan had other appeals too. It was like a fairytale land replete with forts and fortresses, palaces, deserts. There are the elements of intrigue. Q: Did he immediately start work on the film after GGBB? A: The book was written first. It was published in 1971. The film followed three years later. This was the first time that the character of Jatayu was introduced in the stories. It established the three musketeers of Feluda, Topse and Jatayu. In fact, this was one of Babas favourite novels. He was very fond of the Jatayu character. This was also about a child, Mukul. Actually in this novel, Mukul rather than Feluda was the main character. After the popularity of GGBB, it was felt that why not write a Feluda story for children? The biggest attraction of course was the golden fortress. Q: How did casting for the film begin? Was the child actor selected after auditioning? A: The planning for the film started as soon as the book was published. Kushal (Chakraborty) was Babas first and only choice to play Mukul. He was one of my fathers favourite persons. He did not come for the audition. His father had brought him to meet my father because he wanted my father to have a look at Kushals drawings. Kushal was an exceptionally gifted boy and his drawings were outstanding. My father found him fascinating. He was a child prodigy. Q: The trip to Jaisalmer was supposed to have been a completely unique experience. Could you tell us a little about that? A: Absolutely. In fact, the biggest impact that Sonar Kella had was on Jailsalmer. Earlier, it was not one of Rajasthans better known places. Not like Jaipur or Udaipur. There was hardly any tourist interest in it. Few people went to Jaisalmer. It was one of Rajasthans most neglected spaces, you can say. It was considered a godforsaken, back of beyond region where possibly convicts and criminals were banished. Some locals even said that the name possibly derived from something like Ja sala mar (Go die). Q: Then how did your father discover it (Jaisalmer)? A: For the shooting of GGBB in Rajasthan, Baba was very sure that he did not want to film in locations which were already very touristy. He didnt want to shoot in locations where filming had taken place earlier. I want to avoid Udaipur or Jaipur and other popular destinations, he had said. So he opted for places which were different and slightly less travelled or situated in the outskirts. Jaisalmer was one such place. Q: Did the shooting take place in one go or did you keep returning to Jaisalmer? A: No, it had to be completed in one go. It was not easy to travel to Jaisalmer and it was too costly. We took the train from Calcutta to Delhi, from Delhi to Jaipur, from Jaipur to Jodhpur, from Jodhpur to Bikaner and from Bikaner to Jaisalmer. And then the same route back. Q: What was the general reaction of the unit on reaching this amazing destination? A: When we first went, the golden fortress was desolate, in ruins. There was a military base behind it and a temple, a local temple where some gods or goddesses were worshipped from time to time perhaps. Out of all the outdoor shootings of my father in which I was assisting, this was the most difficult. This is because it was not in the familiar grounds of Bengal. It was in a different place. The people were different. The language was different. Of course, in those days there was no Internet, and connectivity was not as smooth. There were landline phones which did not always operate well. During shoots it was difficult. But it was impeccably planned and executed. Down to the last detail. Q: But now Jaisalmer is totally on the tourist map? A: Exactly. And Sonar Kella, the film is solely behind this. Things changed drastically for Jaisalmer after the film came out. When we had gone for the shoot, it was so remote, a railway track was just being built connecting Jaisalmer to Jaipur. But after the film, flocks of Bengalis started arriving at the spot. They carried the Sonar Kella book in hand as a sort of guide. It had suddenly become a destination. Q. When did you last go back to Jaisalmer? A: A few of us had gone to Jaisalmer just before the pandemic when one of my former assistants was shooting a documentary on Fifty years of Feluda. It was my first trip after the film was made 50 years ago. I also told my wife, who had not seen Jaisalmer before, that she should see it at least once. So we went there. That is when we witnessed the sheer transformation. I doubt that any other film anywhere in the world would have had so much of an impact on a place as did Sonar Kella, the movie on Jaisalmer. The original name of the fort had been something else but now no one refers to it by that name. Everyone just says, Sone ka Killa (the golden fortress). Q: If you had remade Sonar Kella, how would you have handled the lack of communication scenes in this day and age of mobile phones? A: First of all, I would never attempt to remake Sonar Kella. It is absolutely unthinkable. I personally dont think Babas films can ever be remade because they are iconic and classic and it would be almost impossible to achieve that level of class. As far as technology is concerned, I do slip in a mobile here or a new age gadget there just to make it and keep it real. Otherwise the younger generations wont be able to identify with it all. But this is done very subtly so that it is not intrusive or does not take away from the Feluda effect. Observing that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will open the Door of NYAY (justice) for India, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said this would be perhaps the last chance to save Democracy and our Constitution from Dictatorship. In a social media post on X , he said, We the people of India will together fight against hatred, loot, unemployment, price rise and atrocities. Haath Badlega Halaat (Hand will change the situation) BJP President J P Nadda said, I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission. Elections are the biggest festival of democracy. It is a medium to keep the country and the state moving on the path of development and good governance. Advertisement He called upon the people to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the worlds largest democracy. Under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP will form the government with an overwhelming majority and will work with determination to fulfill the aspirations of the people for the next 5 years, the BJP chief added. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, This is an election that will decide the future of India. What kind of India do you want to leave behind to your children? What kind of India do you want to live in? If BJP comes to power again, they have a vision of one language, one nation, one religion, one leader, one party and one election as well. That is going to be their approach whereas ours is, inclusion of celebrating diversity and pluralism and all the wonderful characteristics we in Kerala have got used to and love so much. Addressing a rally held in Belda Stadium, West Midnapore, Trinamuls national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, today, threw the gauntlet to the central government, particularly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The challenge came in the form of a demand for a white paper detailing the funds disbursed under key schemes, namely the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Awas Yojana), in West Bengal. Speaking before a crowd at Belda Stadium, Mr Banerjee asserted his commitment by boldly stating that he would step down from politics if the BJP-led Centre could furnish concrete evidence of releasing the due funds to the state. He lambasted the Modi government, accusing it of propagating falsehoods and failing to deliver on promises made to the people. Advertisement Mr Banerjees address was punctuated by the screening of a five-minute video on a giant screen, which he utilized to highlight what he described as the Prime Ministers unfulfilled assurances. He emphasized the importance of maternal power and reminisced about his past efforts to connect with constituents, particularly in the undivided Midnapore region during Naba jowar. He hailed the resilience of the people of Midnapore, recalling their historic struggles against the CPM and their sacrifices for the cause of progress. Addressing the crowd, Mr Banerjee recounted his own commitment to the people, narrating his relentless pursuit of justice during protests for the release of funds for 100 days work, under the MGNREGA. He juxtaposed his dedication with what he perceived as the lackluster performance of sitting MP and BJP leader Dilip Ghosh. Taking direct aim at Mr Ghosh, Mr Banerjee criticized his alleged failure to organize developmental meetings in the seven Assembly constituencies under the Midnapore Lok Sabha area during his tenure. He contrasted this with the track record of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whom he praised for keeping her promises to the people. Mr Banerjee did not mince words when discussing Ghoshs activities, describing his routine of morning walks and tea as insufficient for effective leadership. He questioned Ghoshs commitment to public service, suggesting that a more proactive and engaged representative, such as June Maliya, would better serve the interests of the people. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday declared four factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL), including JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan) and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikh as Unlawful Associations, Home Minister Amit Shah said in a social media post on platform X. The Minister further said that these outfits were involved in inciting terror and abetting secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir region, and added that the government is committed to suppress terrorism. Shah in a series of posts also informed that the central government has extended the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, led by Yasin Malik, for a further period of five years. Advertisement He said that the banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. The Home Minister also announced that the Modi government has also designated the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League as an Unlawful Association for five years. He said that the organization threatened Indias integrity by promoting, aiding and abetting the secession of Jammu and Kashmir through acts of terror. Shah while informing about the governments decisions also asserted that anyone who is found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will not be spared and face harsh legal consequences. Accusing the BRS of entering into a partnership with hardcore corrupt parties beyond the borders of Telangana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that no corrupt person will be spared. No corrupt person will be spared. I am making this promise to the people of Telangana, he said. His statement came a day after the arrest of BRS MLC K Kavitha in the Delhi Liquor Scam case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Chief minister Revanth Reddy, however, dismissed the arrest as a serial drama carried out by the BJP and the BRS before elections. Kavitha was arrested yesterday from her residence in Hyderabad and produced before Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi. Addressing a public rally at Nagarkurnool, Prime Minister Modi alleged that the dreams of Telangana for development were crushed by the Congress and the BRS. First, it was the BRS indulging in great loot and now it is the Congress, which is eyeing the state from frying pan to fire. If more BJP MPs are elected from the state, then the Congress cannot run the state wilfully, he said. Advertisement He also slammed the ruling party for insulting the Scheduled Caste community recently. Look at how the Deputy Chief Minister in the Congress government, who belongs to the SC community, is being insulted. Telangana people have seen those photographs of Congress leaders sitting at a higher level while those belonging to SC are made to sit on the ground, said the Prime Minister and went on to add that the BRS had fooled the Dalits by launching Dalit Bandhu Scheme. He criticised the BRS for forging a partnership with the AAP though he didnt directly name the party ruling Delhi. Both the Congress and the BRS are partners in scams. Congress did 2G scam; BRS did the same in irrigation. Both support land mafias. The BRS even went outside the State and formed partnerships with hardcore corrupt parties. The truth is now coming to the forefront. No corrupt person will be spared. I am making this promise to the people of Telangana. However, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said that Kavithas arrest was a drama being played out by the BJP and the BRS for their own benefit. They are trying to play cheap politics. The BJP and the BRS are trying to mislead people. PM Modi wants to take votes portraying that they took action against her for being involved in a scam and KCR wants to get votes out of sympathy, said Reddy. He wondered why KCR was silent on Kavithas arrest. Reddy also criticised Prime Minister Modi for failing to launch any investigation against KCRs ten years long rule. RS Praveen quits BSP In a surprising move, Telangana unit BSP president RS Praveen today announced that he has quit the party. A former IPS officer Praveen is tipped to join the BRS and fight the election from Nagarkurnool seat. The BRS was looking for a candidate after its sitting MP Pothuganti Ramulu left the party for the BJP. His son Bharat Prasad was given a BJP ticket to contest from Nagarkurnool. The BRS had then forged an alliance with the BSP leaving two seats -Nagarkurnool and Hyderabad to the BSP. Praveen wrote on X: With heavy heart I have decided to leave Bahujan Samaj Party. I dont want the image of this great party to suffer because of recent decisions (no matter how well informed they are) in Telangana under my leadership. At the same time, I also dont want to compromise on certain core principles and personal character. Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) commenced operations for Air India Expresss new flights to Muscat and Dammam on Saturday. The flights took off from Lucknow Airport with 77 and 171 passengers, respectively. The CCSIA spokesperson said, The flight will fulfil Lucknow Airports aim to offer seamless connectivity to those flying to Oman and Saudi Arabia. In the first flight to Muscat, 77 passengers departed at 7:30 hrs, while 123 passengers arrived in Lucknow on the 15:30 hrs flight. The first flight to Dammam departed at 19:50 hrs with 171 passengers and around 103 passengers arrived in Lucknow at 06:30 hrs on Saturday from Dammam. These are the new routes for Air India Express from Lucknow. With the addition of these two flights, the number of international flight movements increased to 30 from 26 earlier. The addition of international flights is the commitment shown by Lucknow Airport to connect Uttar Pradeshs capital city with international destinations. Advertisement The daily non-stop flight from Lucknow Airport to Muscat departed at 7:30 hrs and the flight to Dammam departed at 19:50 hrs. On an average, around 18,000 passengers travel through Lucknow Airport. The airport operates around 130 movements per day. In the first two months of 2024, Lucknow Airport has recorded around 11 lakh passenger movements. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs; Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Arjun Munda, virtually laid the foundation stone of Centre for Preservation and promotion of Tribal Culture & Heritage at Padampur, Kharsawan district, Jharkhand on Saturday. The museum is an effort to depict and preserve the rich legacy of the tribal community in the State of Jharkhand, while showcasing the rich tribal way of life and culture. Addressing the gathering via video conference, Mr Munda said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government has been working for the last ten years with the principle of Development along with preservation of Traditions and Cultural Heritage. The government has given utmost importance to the task of preserving and promoting Indian knowledge systems, traditions and cultural ethos at the national and international level. Following the vision of the Prime Minister, it is our duty and shared responsibility to encourage and empower the tribal community for a strong self-reliant India of tomorrow, he added. Advertisement The Union Ministry for Tribal Affairs has approved this initiative by allocating a budget of Rs. ten crores for the establishment of this Centre in Kharsawan district of Jharkhand. It would be showcasing the physical and intangible tribal culture, its history and heritage of the region. Further, it would be a knowledge and information centre for assisting the tribal communities in their development. The centre is aimed to be developed in future as a live centre, with space for artisans to demonstrate their skills and to serve as a hub for tourism. At another event, Mr Munda inaugurated the recently renovated National Unique Tribal Museum, e-Library and ST Girls hostel funded by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs at Bharatiya Adim Jati Sevak Sanghathan (BAJSS), in New Delhi. The BAJSS was established in the year 1948 by Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar, popularly known as Thakkar Bapa, an Indian social worker who worked for the upliftment of tribal people. Mr Munda acknowledged that the BAJSS museum of tribal artifacts and library, located at Jhandewalan, New Delhi, has a collection of rare books, a cultural heritage which if not conserved, protected and taken care of, could have disappeared. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday produced Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in Delhis Rouse Avenue Court in a money laundering case related to the now scrapped Delhi excise policy. The BRS leader has termed her arrest illegal. My arrest is illegal, she told reporters in the court. K Kavitha was arrested by the ED and brought to Delhi on Friday. According to the central probe agency, she allegedly paid kickbacks to several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders before the formulation of the excise policy. Advertisement She will be further questioned in connection with the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. Advocate Vikram Chaudhari, representing the BRS leader submitted before the court that Kavithas arrest violated the Supreme Court order. This arrest is a blatant abuse of power. They have clearly violated the Supreme Court orders which have protected us, Choudhari submitted before the court. Meanwhile, the BRS has stepped up its attack on Modi government and held state-wide protests against Kavithas arrest. BRS claimed that its Nalgonda district president and former legislator Ramawat Ravindra Kumar was arrested by the police while protesting against the arrest. In other related news, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also appeared physically before the Rouse Avenue Court in connection with EDs complaint over non-compliance of summons in the liquor policy case. In a special gesture, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for the extension of resettlement facilities to cadets who are invalidated from military training on medical grounds due to the causes attributable to or aggravated by the training. This decision has been taken as the cadets join military academies at a young age to join as officers in the armed forces, and showing a commitment to serve the nation in uniform, but are unfortunate in being invalidated. For decades, cadets/their parents have been demanding such resettlement opportunities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Saturday. Every year, young cadets at military academies undergo academic and military training with the prime objective of being commissioned as officers in the armed forces. Advertisement As per extant rules, such a cadet is treated as an officer only after commissioning. Instances occur where, given the rigours of military training, some cadets (10-20 per annum) are invalidated on medical grounds due to causes attributable to or aggravated by military training. In order to further enhance the opportunities for such cadets, the defence minister has cleared another proposal of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, allowing the extension of benefits of schemes run by Directorate General Resettlement. This will help 500 cadets boarded out on medical grounds access the schemes and ensure a brighter future for them. Future cadets in similar conditions would also get the same benefits. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar paid a visit to two of Indias important partners in East Asia, South Korea (March 5-6) and Japan (March 6-8), where he sought to step up security and economic cooperation and more generally boost ties as all three friendly nations have common concerns to cope with Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Jaishankars visit came at a time when the international situation looks quite uncertain and volatile, and the world is recovering from a once-in-a-century pandemic while still being subjected to continuous shocks. In view of the importance of this outreach initiative, this essay shall analyse what transpired both in Seoul and Tokyo in two segments. The first part examines what transpired in South Korea. While in Seoul, Jaishankar met South Koreas top leadership and batted for expanding Indias strategic partnership with South Korea in critical technologies, semi-conductors and green hydrogen to make the bilateral ties more contemporary. He co-chaired the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul. The two leaders held a comprehensive and productive discussion on cooperation in the fields of defence, science and technology and trade, business and trade, people-to-people exchange and cultural cooperation. Besides bilateral issues, both sides exchanged views on the developments in the Indo-Pacific, convergences to challenges in the region and regional/global issues of mutual interest. It may be recalled that during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to South Korea in 2015, the bilateral relations were elevated to a special strategic partnership. Since then, bilateral ties have assumed robustness. Advertisement Both nations have become important partners for each other, with bilateral exchanges steadily increasing. As a result, cooperation in the field of trade, investment, defence, science and technology have seen steady growth, while keeping the momentum in the traditional areas of cooperation. The meetings between Prime Minister Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Hiroshima and New Delhi in 2023 provided the roadmap and guidance for both countries to steer their policies for the future. The convergence of interests provided heft to this understanding. With a view to expand the ambit of cooperation, it was agreed that to make the ties more contemporary, new areas such as emerging technologies, semi-conductors, green hydrogen, human resource mobility, nuclear cooperation, supply chain resilience, etc. would be given a thrust and cooperation deepened. The fact that the JCM was attended by representatives from many ministries and departments of the two governments meant it provided the platform for a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Besides bilateral issues, common interests and concerns on regional issues were covered wherein both sides shared perspectives on their respective Indo-Pacific visions and strategies and commonality in their perspectives for the region. From the discussions, it transpired that there is a growing convergence of views in the international fora. The focus was on stability, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, which has come under stress because of Chinas unilateral stance on many regional and bilateral issues, impacting regional security. The commitment from both sides was how to use the enormous goodwill and translate the challenge into practical outcomes. As is customary in most political discussions, leaders from either side often remind the present generation of the age-old civilizational and cultural ties between the two countries, which both sides cherish. Jaishankar also met a delegation led by the Mayor of Gimhae City, sister city of Ayodhya. Needless to mention that India shares an ancient bond of kinship with the Korean people, manifested by Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya, who is known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok in South Korea. The Gimhae-Ayodhya connect is a testament to the shared cultural heritage and longstanding people-to-people relations between the two countries. According to Korean legend, the teenage princess from Ayodhya crossed the ocean in a boat some 2,000 years ago, sailed 4,500 kilometres to Korea and married King Kim Suro who founded the Gaya Kingdom in the north Asian country. Besides this matrimonial alliance, Buddhism is another historical connection that binds the two peoples together. Recently, the revered Monk Domyung, Chief Abbot of Yeo Yeo Jung Sa, has penned a book Gaya Buddhism, Unlatching the Gate on Koreas historical and cultural association with ancient India and Buddhism. Indias rich Buddhist heritage is showcased at the prestigious National Museum of Korea, where exhibitions regularly remind the present generation of visitors of the past relationship between India and South Korea. The MEA in a statement observed that soon after both countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023, Jaishankars visit to Korea provided an opportunity to create new pathways to further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries. In his meeting with the representatives of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Jaishankar urged them to strengthen the business bridge between the two countries. He also called on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, had meetings with Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Dukgeun, and Director of National Security Office Chang Ho-jin. He also held an interactive discussion with heads of Korean think-tanks, academics, businessmen and the Indian diaspora, sharing views on Indias development, foreign policy and potential and prospects for bilateral relations. Delivering a speech at Koreas National Diplomatic Academy on the theme Broadening horizons: India and Korea in the Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar demonstrated how India and South Korea can work together for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond by building supply chain resilience, leveraging complementary technology strengths, and linking geographies through connectivity. Indeed, the strategic outlooks of both India and South Korea converge a great deal with Indias focus extending eastward toward the Korean Peninsula, and South Koreas moving westward toward the Indian Ocean. This too makes the economic logic for the partnership strong. Stronger cooperation is therefore impelled by both national interests and global derisking. As bilateral contacts have steadily increased, both India and South Korea have become truly important partners for one another. (The writer is former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi) His friends called him simply "Dimi," but the whole world knows him as Dmytro Tiomkin. Today he holds an honorable place in the list of the most successful and productive composers in the history of American cinema. He wrote music for films by Howard Hawks and Stanley Kramer and was a friend of Alfred Hitchcock, with whom he collaborated four times. ADVERTISIMENT In total, he composed soundtracks for 160 Hollywood films, was nominated 22 times for the main Oscar award, and was awarded the coveted statuette four times: two for the western film "High Noon" and one each for "The High and the Mighty" and "The Old Man and the Sea". During the Second World War, Tiomkin composed music for 12 documentaries about the events at the front, for which he received awards from the US Department of Defense. He was also twice awarded the French Legion of Honor and the Cross of the Knight of the Order of Isabella Catholic. Tiomkin's works are also featured in contemporary cinema - Quentin Tarantino used the theme he composed for John Wayne's Fort Alamo in his film Inglourious Basterds. His music can even be heard in Soviet cinema - in the TV series Seventeen Moments of Spring - in a scene where German viewers watch an American movie. His songs were performed by Barbra Streisand, Nina Simone, and David Bowie. ADVERTISIMENT A musical boy from Kremenchuk Dmytro Zynoviiovych Tiomkin was born on 10 May 1894 in Kremenchuk, Poltava province (now part of the Poltava oblast), into a Jewish family: his mother Maria, nee Tartakovska, was a pianist and teacher, his father Zinovii was a famous doctor, and his uncle, Rabbi Volodymyr Tiomkin, was the first president of the World Zionist Union. The boy fell in love with music thanks to his mother: his home schooling was so successful that at the age of thirteen Dmitry became a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He quickly started working on his own to pay for food and rent for the room where he lived. After gaining fame as a virtuoso pianist, he became an accompanist for ballerina Tamara Karsavina and comedian Max Linder, whom he accompanied during their performances. He also worked as a tapper in movie theaters, playing during silent film screenings. ADVERTISIMENT The Revolution First, as a result of the October Revolution, the country in which Tiomkin lived fell, and then his family: his father, having remarried, moved first to Berlin and then to Paris. At first, Dmitry was still trying to establish his life under the new regime; he even organized large-scale musical and theatrical performances, such as the Storming of the Winter Palace, which involved thousands of performers: actors, musicians, and ballet dancers. However, the pianist could not fit into his new life and decided to emigrate to Europe while it was still possible. ...and emigration His first refuge was Berlin, where his father lived at the time, who collaborated with the famous German biochemist Paul Ehrlich. According to the musician's recollections, which he later shared in an interview, at that time he did not even have a decent suit. The one he wore when he left Petrograd was made of two curtains, and its bright green color made Tiomkin stand out from any crowd, which upset him terribly: "I felt like a clown," he complained. ADVERTISIMENT Temkin knew German and French perfectly, so he had no problems with assimilation. In the German capital, he took music lessons from the famous Italian Ferruccio Busoni. He also gave concerts, both solo and in a duet with his roommate, pianist Michael Cariton, and wrote both classical and popular music. At the same time, Dmytro met and became friends with Fyodor Chaliapin, who told him a lot about the United States, where European musicians are highly valued and paid at the highest level. Soon after, Tiomkin and Kariton received an invitation from Maurice Guest, the owner of the Broadway Theater, to come to New York for a tour, and in 1925, Dmitri found himself in the United States. Moving to New York In New York, where Tiomkin and Kariton performed with Albertina Rush's ballet company, the musician friends parted ways. The relationship between Albertina and Dmitry soon turned from professional to personal, and he became the head of a ballet company of 30 dancers and went on a tour of America with them. It was at this time that Tiomkin's creative style as a film music composer was formed: thanks to his close acquaintance with ballet, he has always perceived the movements of actors on the screen as a dance on stage. ADVERTISIMENT However, he was in no hurry to devote himself entirely to composing music, continuing to give successful concerts. Moreover, Tiomkin captivated audiences not only in the United States but also in Europe - in 1928, he and Albertina came to Paris, where the musician performed at the Grand Opera. "Struggle for Dignity" Tiomkin made his Hollywood debut in 1929 when the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio offered him a contract to write soundtracks for five films. At the same time, his wife Albertina Rush became a choreographer's assistant in several musical projects Dmytro wrote music for her projects as well, while managing to compose songs and give very popular concerts. ADVERTISIMENT Very quickly, the backstage Hollywood intrigues that Temkin encountered discouraged him from working for any of the film studios. He even wanted to give up cinema altogether and devote himself to theater, but a musical he directed on Broadway failed. Tiomkin returned to Hollywood, but as a freelancer - from now on, he could choose the films he wanted to work on and refuse those he didn't like. Moreover, it can be said that he made a kind of revolution in Hollywood, which allowed him to protect the rights of composers who write for film. The one-time contract that he drew up while working on his first movie as a freelance musician was copied by his followers, as its terms were favorable to them. Tiomkin himself called his victory over film officials "a struggle for dignity - not only for the composer but for all the artists responsible for the film." ADVERTISIMENT "Orgasmic theme" With the same sense of style and, as a result, success, Tiomkin composed music for films of all genres, from horror and detective to drama and adventure. The composer seemed to be able to express any topic through music, and an illustration of this statement can be found in a story that happened to Tiomkin when he worked with the famous Hollywood screenwriter and producer David Selznick. For his movie Duel in the Sun, he asked the composer to write... an orgasmic theme. He worked on the first version of the composition, which was recorded with 40 drummers, for more than a month, but Selznick rejected it, saying, "Gravity, but it's not an orgasm!" Temkin spent another month creating a second version, which ended with a hundred-voice choir singing, but the producer's verdict was the same: "This is not an orgasm! It's not like that for me." The composer's response went down in the history of cinema. "I don't know what kind of orgasm you have, but that's exactly what I have!" he said, after which his music was accepted without any comments, clarifications, or revisions. ADVERTISIMENT "Borscht" Tiomkin The composer never concealed the fact that his homeland was Ukraine - knowing this, his Hollywood friends called him "Borsch". He also admired Ukrainian women, assuring his interlocutors that they had very beautiful legs: "I have never seen anything like them anywhere else in the world. As a child, I could look at them for a long time, although I was ashamed of it." But the most important thing that, according to Tiomkin himself, his native land gave him was his phenomenal musicality, which made him an outstanding composer. Musicologists who study his works find that his American compositions are closely intertwined with Ukrainian musical traditions that date back to the era of the Zaporizhzhia Cossacks. ADVERTISIMENT Last years and memory After losing his wife Albertina Rush, who passed away in 1967, Tiomkin moved to London, where in 1972 he married the English aristocrat Olivia Cynthia Petch. The couple lived in two houses, one in London and one in Paris, and his favorite pastime at that time, as always, was playing the piano, to which he devoted most of his time. Unexpectedly for himself, Tiomkin acted as a producer for Jay Lee Thompson's famous film McKenna's Gold, starring Gregory Peck and Omar Sharif, and his last film work was the Soviet director Igor Talankin's Tchaikovsky, which allowed him to visit his homeland, albeit shortly before his death. He was also nominated for an Oscar in the Best Adaptation of a Musical Theme category for this film. The composer died on November 11, 1979. He is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in California. In 1984, the monograph "Dmytro Tiomkin. A Portrait", written by composer Carl Palmer, was published in 1984. In 1993, the United States Postal Service issued a series of six stamps, "Legends of American Music," in honor of prominent Hollywood composers, one of which was dedicated to Tiomkin. A lane in the composer's hometown of Kremenchuk is named after him. Women are more vulnerable to many sided health hazards of alcohol. According to the WHO status report on health and alcohol, there is evidence that women may be more vulnerable to alcohol-related harm from a given level of alcohol use or a particular drinking pattern. The vulnerability of females to alcohol-related harm is a major public health concern because alcohol use among women has been increasing steadily in line with economic development and changing gender roles and because it can have severe health and social consequences for newborns. However, for health outcomes such as cancers, gastrointestinal diseases or cardiovascular diseases, the same level of consumption leads to more pronounced outcomes for women. The vulnerability of women may be explained by a wide range of factors. For example, women typically have lower body weight, smaller liver capacity to metabolize alcohol, and a higher proportion of body fat, which together contribute to their achieving higher blood alcohol concentrations than men for the same amount of alcohol intake. Women are also affected by interpersonal violence and risky sexual behaviour as a result of the drinking problems and drinking behaviour of male partners. Moreover, alcohol use has been shown to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Also many societies hold more negative attitudes towards womens drinking alcohol than mens drinking, and especially towards their harmful drinking, which, depending on the cultural context, may increase womens vulnerability to social harm. Finally, women who drink during pregnancy may increase the risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and other preventable health conditions in their new-borns. In some cultures women have been protected from alcohol consumption by strong traditional values. For example, in the WHO region which includes India and nearby countries only 5 per cent of women consume alcohol whereas in the WHO region where the USA and nearby areas are included, more than 50 per cent of women consume alcohol. Imagine the public health and social disaster that could result if alcohol consumption by women in India reaches the level of the USA. Yet, promoting alcohol consumption among women as a sign and symbol of liberating modern trends is widely practiced in India. According to the WHO, alcohol consumption in adolescents, especially binge drinking, negatively affects school performance, increasing participation in crime and leads to risky sexual behaviour. The WHO quotes growing scientific evidence that has demonstrated the special harmful effects of alcohol consumption prior to adulthood on brain; mental; cognitive and social functioning of youth and increased likelihood of adult alcohol dependence and alcohol related problems among those who drink before physiological maturity. The WRVH says especially in the context of youth violence that drunkenness is an important immediate situational factor that can precipitate violence. In a Swedish study on youth-violence, about three-quarters of violent offenders and around half the victims of violence were intoxicated at the time of the incident. Several surveys indicate high end rapidly increased consumption of alcohol amongst youth. What is particularly worrying is high consumption at a very tender age which is likely to be very harmful for the brain and also lead to much higher risk of alcohol dependence in later years. Advertisement For example, in the UK, binge drinking thrice or more a month is reported among 33 per cent of adolescents in the 15-16 age groups. Binge drinking levels affecting between 25 to 40 per cent of youth are quite common now. Among elderly people the possibility of alcohol reaching and affecting sensitive organs including brain, liver and muscles is higher compared to younger people. The WRVH report says that reducing the availability of liquor can be an important community strategy to reduce crime and violence as research has shown alcohol to be an important situational factor that can precipitate violence. In a 4-year study conducted in New Zealand, crime rates in situations of high and low availability of alcohol were compared. This study revealed that crime rates fell significantly for two years in areas of reduced alcohol availability. According to a report prepared by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, USA (NCADD), alcohol and drugs are implicated in an estimated 80 per cent of offences leading to incarceration in the USA such as domestic violence, driving while intoxicated, property offences, drug offences and public order offences. Alcohol is a factor in 40 per cent of all violent crimes and according to the Department of Justice, 37 per cent of about 2 million convicted offenders currently in jail report that they were drinking at the time of the event. Alcohol, more than any illegal drug, was found to be closely associated with violent crimes including murder, rape, assault, child and spousal abuse. About 3 million violent crimes occurred each year in the USA in which victims perceived the offenders to have been drinking and statistics related to alcohol use by violent offenders show that about half of all homicides and assaults are committed when the offender, victim or both have been drinking. This report by NCADD points out that alcohol is often a factor in violence where the attacker and the victim know each other. Two thirds of victims who were attacked by an intimate (including a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend) reported that alcohol had been involved. More than 1 million are arrested for driving while intoxicated in a year in the USA. Drinking and drugged driving is the number one cause of death, injury and disability of young people under the age of 21. Keeping in view all health and social impacts it is clear that the high levels of consumption of alcohol and various intoxicants is very harmful. In developing countries like India as well in some of the poorest countries and regions, millions of families are being devastated economically too because of the consumption of alcohol and intoxicants, both in terms of the money they pay for intoxicants and also in terms of the ruin of health. The various stages of the cycle of manufacture, sale and consumption of various intoxicants also involves very heavy ecological costs. Hence there is a very strong case for public campaigns being carried out with continuity and sincerity in rural as well in urban areas to reduce the consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants as much as possible. Concluded (The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Protecting Earth for Children and A Day in 2071.). Asserting that it is ready to evacuate its nationals from violence-torn Haiti, if required, India said on Friday that it has set up a 24-hour control room in the Ministry of External Affairs and an emergency helpline in the Dominican Republic, to provide information and assistance. Haiti has been in the grip of increased armed attacks by criminal gangs that have left Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region paralysed and reportedly displaced more than 15,000 in the past few weeks. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that there are some 50 to 80 Indian community members in Haiti and the Indian Embassy is in touch with all of them. Advertisement We are monitoring the situation if required, we are ready to evacuate Our embassy in Santo Domingo is monitoring the situation. The ministry also is fully monitoring the situation, Randhir Jaiswal said addressing a weekly media briefing. He added that some of the Indians there are working with the Missionaries of Charity. The Ministry of External Affairs, in view of the ongoing developments in Haiti, shared the helping numbers in a release issued on Friday. The contact details of the Control Room are as under: 1800118797 (Toll free), +91-11-23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905, +91-9968291988. The release said that the Embassy of India in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which is concurrently accredited to the Republic of Haiti, has also set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per the following contact details: +1 (849) 398-9889, +1 (809) 870-3923, +1 (849) 507-7612, Landline: +1 8298934233, Extn: 203, Landline: +1 8298934233, Extn: 213. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Haiti in the wake of a weekend jailbreak, which saw nearly 4,000 criminals return to the streets. According to the UN, Haiti has been living under a 72-hour state of emergency and curfew, and around 80 per cent of the capital is now controlled by armed gangs. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently said that the violence has increased the price of food items by almost 25 per cent. Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held a telephonic conversation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Friday. The two leaders spoke about the preparations for the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, noting the high level of support for the event. Taking to his official X handle, Andriy Yermak posted, Had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India Ajit Kumar Doval. Spoke about the preparations for the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland at the level of state leaders and noted the high level of support for the event. Yermak informed Doval about the situation at the front amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, his countrys success in confronting Russia in the Black Sea, the fight against Russian aviation and strengthening Ukraines defence production. During the telephonic conversation, Yermak said Russia continues to strike his homeland with missiles and drones, particularly civilian infrastructure, the Ukrainian Presidential Office said in a statement. During the phone-call, Yermak thanked Doval for his deputys participation in the fourth meeting of national security advisors and foreign policy advisors to the heads of state on the implementation of the Peace Formula, which took place in Davos, Switzerland in January. The two officials agreed on continuing the dialogue and strengthening bilateral relations between India and Ukraine, according to the statement. Advertisement Andriy Yermak informed the interlocutor about the situation at the front, Ukraines success in confronting Russia in the Black Sea and in the fight against Russian aviation, as well as about strengthening Ukraines defense production. The Head of the Presidents Office emphasized that the aggressor continues to strike our country with missiles and drones, in particular, civilian infrastructure, the Ukrainian Presidential Office added in its statement. The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which started in 2022, has continued for over two years. Marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged his countrymen to remain hopeful of victory. In a video address recorded from the Hostomel airport, Zelensky thanked Ukrainians for their efforts to resist Russias full-scale invasion and said, We are 730 days closer to victory. Keep fighting you are sure to win!, the Ukrainian President said at the airport, which was targeted by Russia in the early days of the war. Zelenskyy said he was incredibly proud of the people of his country and admires and believes in each of them. Any normal person wants the war to end. But none of us will allow our Ukraine to end. Thats why when it comes to ending the war, we always add on our terms. Thats why next to the word peace, the word just always sounds. Thats why in future history, next to the word Ukraine, the word independent will always stand. We fight for this. And we will prevail. On the best day of our lives, the Ukrainian President said. During his address, he also thanked the countrys soldiers and everyone in the world who stands by us and with truth. Russians are voting in an election that holds little suspense after Putin crushed dissent Russia has begun three days of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend President Vladimir Putins rule for six more years after he stifled dissent A former transit police officer from Massachusetts has been convicted of raping two women more than a decade ago after giving them what prosecutors described as a joyride while on duty in his marked cruiser with its blue lights flashing, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said 50-year-old Shawn McCarthy was found guilty on three counts of rape stemming from the 2012 incident near the Museum of Science The "cotton" at the facilities in Russia on the night of March 16 was effective. The Security Service of Ukraine's strike drones worked on three more Rosneft refineries in the Samara region. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported to OBOZ.UA by sources. It is noted that Novokuibyshev, Kuibyshev, and Syzran refineries were under attack. In total, these refineries process about 25 million tons of oil per year, which is almost 10% of the total oil refining in Russia. "The SBU continues to implement a strategy to undermine Russia's economic potential, which allows it to wage war in Ukraine. The "cotton" season at Russian refineries is in full swing. Each such strike reduces the flow of petrodollars that feeds Russia's war economy," the source said. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, a refinery in the Samara region of the Russian Federation was attacked on the morning of March 16. Russian media published footage of a massive fire at the Syzran refinery. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! UPDATE: Check Lok Sabha election dates HERE; for assembly election dates, click HERE Amid the drama over the electoral bonds revelations and days after the sudden resignation of Arun Goel as the election commissioner, the Election Commission (EC) is set to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls today. In a post on X, the EC said a press conference to announce the schedule for Lok Sabha elections and some state assemblies will be held at 3pm on Saturday. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House has to be constituted before that. The term of the assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha is coming to an end on various dates in June. Last time, the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10 and held in seven phases beginning April 11. Votes were counted on May 23. Nearly 97 crore people are eligible to cast vote in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations. In the last parliamentary polls, the BJP had won 303 seats while the Congress got 52 seats. It could not muster enough numbers to claim the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Arun Goel's resignation The recent revelations in the electoral bonds data provided by the SBI to the Supreme Court has been hogging the headlines, and has queered the pitch for the political parties ahead of the general elections exprected to be held in April-May. ALSO READ: How Arun Goel's appointment as ECI in 2022 raised eyebrows But, it was the resignation of Goel weeks ahead of the crucial polls that surprised everyone. Though Goel, reportedly, cited 'personal reasons' for his decision, there are specualtions that he quit because of his differences with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on the conduct of the polls. Former bureaucrats Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar were named the new election commissioners by a panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The second vacancy arose after the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February. Both Kumar and Sandhu are 1988-batch officers of the Indian Administrative Service and belonged to the Kerala and Uttarakhand cadres, respectively. During his tenure in the home ministry, Kumar oversaw the abrogation of the Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Sandhu, a former chief secretary of Uttarakhand, is learnt to have overseen the ideation for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state. The Supreme Court had prescribed a collegium system for the appointment of the CEC and ECs. The collegium was to comprise the prime minister, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. The government, however, brought in legislation as per which the selection committee would consist of a member of the Union cabinet nominated by the PM, instead of the CJI. Interestingly, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is a member of the selection committee, had raised questions over the selection procedure of Sandhu and Kumar. He had said he had sought the names of the shortlisted candidates for the posts in the EC but was provided 212 names the night before the committee met. Ten minutes before the appointment they again gave me just six names, he said. What the opinion polls say The 2024 Lok Sabha polls are being seen as a do-or-die battle for the opposition INDIA bloc. According to a News 18 opinion poll, the BJP-led NDA is headed for a "historic mandate" in the upcoming pols. The opinion poll claimed that the NDA is set to win 411 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha with the BJP alone clinching a record 350 seats. According to an opinion poll survey by ABP-CVoter, the NDA is projected to secure a commanding lead with a vote share of 45.9 per cent and an estimated 366 seats in the Lok Sabha. The INDIA bloc together, including the UPA, is expected to claim a 39 per cent vote share and 156 seats, according to the opinion poll. It suggests a considerable swing in votes since the 2019 Lok Sabha results, with the BJP seeing a positive swing of 3.08 per cent, and the INDIA bloc (UPA in 2019) a rise of 2.5 per cent. (With PTI inputs) Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have sharply reacted to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) announcement on Saturday, saying there will be no simultaneous Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections alongside the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi to unveil the Lok Sabha poll schedule and those of four state assemblies, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that only four states would hold simultaneous polls with the Lok Sabha, excluding Jammu and Kashmir. He said that assembly elections would take place in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls. The Lok Sabha polls will commence on April 19 and will span seven phases, with the vote count scheduled for June 4. Kumar outlined that the polls for five Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir would occur across five phases, with one J&K constituency voting in each phase. The phases are slated for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. He said that the assembly election in J&K will be held after the Lok Sabha polls, as organising both elections simultaneously is not viable from a security standpoint. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed in 2019. There was a provision for 107 seats, 24 of which were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Then the delimitation commission came, and there was a change in the seats, he said. The Reorganisation Act and delimitation were not in sync. That happened in December 2023. So our meter started running from December 2023, he added. He said that all parties in J&K advocated for holding the assembly election with the parliamentary polls, but the entire administrative machinery said it could not be done simultaneously. Every assembly segment would have 10-12 candidates, which would mean more than 1,000 candidates. Every candidate has to be provided with forces. It was not possible at this time, Kumar said. Reacting to the CECs statement on assembly polls not being possible with Lok Sabha polls in J&K, the NC vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, wrote on X, So much for One Nation One Election. The EC is unable to conduct assembly polls in J&K with the general election, even when they acknowledge that elections are due. Senior leader of the J&K Apni Party Ghulam Hassan Mir said, "If conditions are suitable for Lok Sabha (LS) polls, why not for assembly (AL) elections? Not holding assembly elections is a betrayal of the people and keeps them disempowered. We are deeply hurt by the decision not to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir. While managing the day-to-day affairs of the government and addressing the needs of the people, assembly is necessary; one-man rule is not acceptable." JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani wrote on X, That the people of J&K were let down by the ECI to announce the assembly elections. He said it is a complete disregard of the Supreme Court directive to promptly reinstate democracy. The Supreme Court in its Article 370 verdict had asked the ECI to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024. The assembly election is now likely to be held around September after the annual Amarnath Yatra, which will begin in June or early July, concludes. The decision not to conduct assembly polls with the Lok Sabha polls has also not gone down well with many people in Kashmir. There is an opinion among political observers that a third-time win for the BJP will help the party lure voters in J&K, especially the Hindu majority in Jammu. The regional parties and the Congress who are allies will struggle to mount a challenge to the incumbent BJP at the Centre controlling all the levers of power. A boiler blast at a factory in Haryana's Rewari left many workers injured on Saturday evening. Several Fire and Rescue units were reportedly rushed to the spot to bring the flames under control. Ambulances were rushed to the factory in Rewari's Dharuhera area after the local hospital was informed about the development, a doctor told news agency ANI. As many as 40 people were hurt in the blast with most suffering burn injuries, the doctor confirmed. One man who suffered serious injuries was shifted to a hospital in Rohtak's Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS). All others have been admitted to different health facilities in the area. #WATCH | Haryana: Parmod Kumar, City Police Station, says, "We received info that a boiler exploded at a factory in Dharuhera. The injured have been admitted to the trauma centre in Rewari. Those who are in serious condition are being referred to Rohtak. No casualty has been https://t.co/FNzHalBRjk pic.twitter.com/FXJBVmzEKl ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 It was a dust collector at Dharuhera 'Life Long Company' that exploded to cause the mishap that shocked the area, NDTV said in a report. The explosion reportedly happened around 7:00 pm on Saturday. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the probe of POCSO registered against former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in Bengaluru on Friday. The former chief minister said he would face the charges legally. The Sadashivanagar police booked the former chief minister under Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and Section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on the victims mother complaint ON Friday. The state police chief transferred the case immediately to CID for further probe. As per the FIR, the complainant alleged that Yediyurappa listened to her problems for nine minutes and when she urged him to get the cheating case investigated by a special investigation team (SIT), he said he could not help her in the matter. Further, the woman alleged that all through the conversation Yediyurappa was holding her daughters hand and later took the minor girl into a room and sexually harassed her by touching her inappropriately. I did not have the courage to report the matter earlier. But now, I thought the issue is too serious to be ignored, stated the complainant in the FIR. Police sources said the girl's mother had in the past lodged over 50 complaints against various people including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar, and his staff, for allegedly manhandling her and abusing her. She lodged a complaint against Kumar twice -- in 2021 and 2022 -- and also against the retired Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao for allegedly "conspiring to ruin her life," in 2022. The former CM on Friday said, I will deal with it legally. But I am wondering how helping someone can backfire. I had even given them some money as they said they had hardship. Now this is the development. I did not anticipate this. But I will face it. -with agency inputs. The Election Commission of India has announced the dates for assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, which will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections in these states. In Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the assembly polls will be held on April 19, when the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held. Andhra Pradesh assembly elections will be held on May 13 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls there. For Odisha, the Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held in four phases from May 13 (Phase 4). The remaining phases in the state are May 20 (Phase 5), May 25 (Phase 6) and June 1 (Phase 7). Check out phase-wise dates HERE. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that by-elections will also be held for 26 assembly seats in states such as Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The poll verdict will be announced on June 4 after counting is completed. Though there were rumours that the assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls, it was debunked by the poll panel. The Chief Election Commissioner said the assembly elections in Union Territory will be held soon after Lok Sabha elections due to security concerns, with both events deemed unfeasible to be held simultaneously. "But we stand committed that as soon as these elections are over ... we will have availability of (security) forces then, we will hold elections there (in Jammu and Kashmir) as soon as possible," Kumar said. India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China on Islamophobia, asserting that the prevalence of religiophobia against Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and other faiths facing violence and discrimination must also be acknowledged rather than singling out just one religion. The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution 'Measures to combat Islamophobia', introduced by Pakistan on Friday, with 115 nations voting in favour, none against and 44 abstentions, including India, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine and the UK. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj voiced condemnation of all acts motivated by anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and Islamophobia but asserted that it is crucial to acknowledge that such phobias extend beyond Abrahamic religions. Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist and anti-Sikh sentiments, she said, in an explanation of India's position on the resolution. India stressed that the adoption of the resolution should not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps. It is crucial for the UN to maintain its stance above such religious concerns, which have the potential to fragment us rather than unite us under the banner of peace and harmony, embracing the world as one global family, Kamboj said. India called on all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally. While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, we must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality, she said. Kamboj told the UN General Assembly that it is crucial to recognise that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism with more than 535 million and Sikhism with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religiophobia. Kamboj said the contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident in the increasing attacks on religious places of worship such as gurudwaras, monasteries and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries. The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against non-Abrahamic religions, she said. The destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan by the Taliban in March 2001 led to global condemnation. Kamboj underlined that India stands against all forms of religiophobia, be it antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments. The resolution condemned the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence against Muslims. It also requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to appoint a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia. India said it in principle is opposed to the creation of the post of a Special Envoy on the basis of a single religion, she said. Prior to adopting the resolution, the Assembly rejected two amendments to the draft introduced by Belgium on behalf of the EU. India voted in favour of both the amendments. One amendment proposed changes in the resolution's language to remove references to the desecration of the Quran. The other amendment would have called for the appointment of a United Nations focal point, within existing structures and resources, to combat anti-Muslim discrimination instead of a UN special envoy. The General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2022 proclaiming March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in the wake of the 2019 mass shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that had killed over 50 people. In his remarks to mark the day, Guterres said that around the world, there is a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry in many forms such as structural and systemic discrimination, unequal immigration policies, unwarranted surveillance and profiling and restrictions in accessing citizenship, education, employment and justice. The UN chief also voiced concern over supremacist ideologies and attacks against Jews, minority Christian communities and many others. Hatred of one group fuels hatred of another. Hate normalises hate. Hate destroys the fabric of our societies, he said. Russia has complained about another drone attack. On March 15, an oil refinery in the Lipetsk region came under fire. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by Russian media. They claim that the attack resulted in "no damage or injuries." "An oil refinery in the Lipetsk region was attacked by drones. According to sources, in the morning of March 15, the remains of two exploded UAVs were found on the territory of the Stanova station (part of the Druzhba oil pipeline). There were no fires, no damage and no casualties," the propagandists write. They quote a statement by Lipetsk Region Governor Igor Artamonov, who claims that "two UAVs were jammed." "Two UAVs were jammed in the Stanovlyansky district at a safe distance from residential buildings. There were no casualties or damage on the ground. Special services are working at the site," the official said in the morning of March 15. ADVERTISIMENT The day before, on March 15, it became known that drones attacked a refinery in the Kaluga region. The moment of the powerful hit was caught on video. Local authorities reported "shooting down all four drones" that were flying to the refinery. However, some Russian media outlets published information that Russian air defense was able to shoot down only one drone, while three reached their target. The plant's equipment was damaged. According to OBOZ.UA's sources, the attack was carried out by soldiers of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. And the morning of March 16 began with a bang in the Samara region of the Russian Federation. There, unknown drones attacked two refineries at once: in Syzran and Novokuybyshevsk. A massive fire broke out in Syzran as a "petroleum product processing unit" caught fire. ADVERTISIMENT Ahead of what they have described as a do-or-die battle, the opposition I.N.D.I.A. has struggled to present a united face due to various reasons including desertions and the seemingly endless discussions on seat sharing. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the anti-BJP bloc also faces the stiff challenge of finding a narrative strong enough to counter the Hindutva-plus messaging. Around the same time last year, the opposition parties had embarked on a difficult and ambitious journey to find common ground and mount a joint fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The endeavour aimed to ensure that the opposition minimised the splitting of votes by entering into seat-sharing arrangements. The idea was to field a common candidate representing the opposition alliance to take on the BJP in around 400 seats. A year later, this objective has proved to be a struggle. The biggest blow to the endeavour was the exit of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had mooted the idea of the opposition parties coming together on a common platform and had even hosted the inaugural meeting of the alliance in Patna. The main architect of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance's decision to go back to the BJP-led NDA came as a huge setback to the opposition bloc. Another ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, also switched sides, crossing over to the NDA and weakening the opposition alliance in the electorally crucial Uttar Pradesh. There was unrest in the alliance over the Congress undertaking the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra so close to the elections, and some allies openly criticised the Rahul Gandhi-led cross-country journey, saying it was a time to prepare for elections. The Trinamool Congress stayed away from the yatra as it passed through West Bengal, and has declared it will not be in alliance with the Congress. The Mamata Banerjee-led party is also unlikely to participate in the I.N.D.I.A. rally that will be held in Mumbai on March 17 after the culmination of the Congress yatra. It was during the course of the yatra that Nitish switched back to the NDA and so did the RLD. In West Bengal, the Congress is now looking to partner with the Left once again. Seat-sharing arrangements have so far been finalised in Tamil Nadu, where the grouping is led by the DMK, and Uttar Pradesh, where the Samajwadi Party is the leading partner. While the Congress and AAP decided to split seats in Delhi, they will be contesting against each other in Punjab. Seat-sharing talks are yet to be finalised in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar. There is the mammoth challenge before the opposition of countering the popularity of Modi and offering an alternative to his leadership. There is also the difficult task of dealing with the BJP's highly successful Hindutva-plus agenda, which is now bolstered by the inauguration of the Ram Temple and the notification of the rules for implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Opposition leaders though insist the elections will be more about the people's issues and their economic and social distress. There is little time left though for the I.N.D.I.A. alliance to get its act together. Guided by the governments ongoing atmanirbharta or self reliance effort in the manufacturing of weapons, Jindal Defence Systems Private Limited (JDSPL) in collaboration with a Brazilian firm Taurus Armas S.A. have begun operations in a state-of-the-art facility in Haryanas Hisar. The joint ventureJ D Taurus, JDSPLis poised to transform the landscape of firearms manufacturing in India especially in the production of rifles, carbines, submachine guns, machine pistols and revolvers thereby contributing to reducing Indias reliance on imports. The facility, spanning over two acres, represents a fusion of world-class expertise and cutting-edge technologywith the capability to produce up to 2,50,000 weapons a year. In the next financial year, the company aims to manufacture between 25,000 to 30,000 weapons, a company release said adding that the plant is engineered for rapid scalability and product diversification. The Union home ministry has already cleared all necessary permissions clearances. The trials and tests have been carried out with stringent quality control measures that have been mirrored from Taurus Armas. The entire process, from design to integration, testing and firing checks, is being supervised meticulously. On the occasion, Chief Business Officer, JD Taurus, Col Amit Baveja (Retd), said: Our focus remains equipping the Government sector, particularly the military, paramilitary forces as well as various state police, with superior weapons to meet their evolving demands. Global CEO of Taurus Armas, Mr Salesio Nuhs said: We are proud to be part of this momentous occasion as we commence production at our joint venture facility in Hisar. By leveraging our combined strengths and the latest technological advancements, we are confident in our ability to meet the evolving needs of the defence sector. The Hisar facility includes a dedicated shooting range for rigorous testing, ensuring the reliability of each firearm and adherence to stringent quality control measures, quality labs for metallographic and meteorological testing, and an assembling area managed by an Access Control System. I had voluntarily taken a flight from Hyderabad so that I can be in Delhi at an appropriate time, K. Kavitha, a Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, wrote to the Enforcement Directorate officers on March 19, 2023 . This was in response to the agency issuing her summons to appear in New Delhi. But much has changed in the last one year and the journey from the summons to the arrest has not only been long but also tumultuous. When the ED first recorded Kavithas statements, they had asked her to submit her mobile phones. The ED wanted to question her about her investments related to the business of Indo Spirits, which is under scanner in the Delhi excise policy scam case, and subsequent money flow in properties in Hyderabad. On Saturday, while producing Kavitha before the district court in New Delhi, the ED informed the court that it has evidence of her intrinsic involvement in the conspiracy of policy formulation, kickback scheme and the final profits generated through money laundering. The ED claims the kickbacks are to the tune of Rs 100 crore. The ED has made out a case of destruction of evidence, claiming that despite her own disclosure that she uses FaceTime and WhatsApp from that device, there was no data found in those apps. The agency referred to presenting nine phones for examination which were found formatted, but Kavitha has claimed these devices were with her staff. The ED told the court it had sent ten devices to forensic units for extraction and forensic examination. As per the report, at least four of these devices were formatted after the March 11 summons to her last year with a specific instruction to produce the digital devices used by her in the last two years. The ED claimed that in this way she actively destroyed the digital evidence to conceal her role and involvement in this scam. The gloves are off with Kavithas return to Delhi after her arrest with focus back on the summons issued last year. Senior BRS leaders and her family have claimed that the arrest is a contempt of court since the Supreme Court will be hearing her petition against the ED summons on March 19. Kavitha was first summoned on March 7, 2023 to appear on March 9 but she requested to be examined at her residence in Hyderabad first, even though she was in Delhi from March 8 and organised a demonstration at Jantar Mantar for the women reservation bill on March 10, sources said. She was then asked to appear in person on March 11 when she was questioned for nearly eight hours. Kavitha was asked to present her mobile phone for examination, however , sources said she had not brought it with her and then on the request of the agency she submitted the same for examination. On examination, it was found that she had deleted the records from her device, the sources said. She was then requested to appear again as the examination was still not complete and she committed to appear on March 16 and bring all the digital devices along with her in the next appearance. However, despite being present in Delhi on the date of summons that day, she did not appear before the ED and sent her authorised representative. No fruitful investigation could be done that day because of her non-cooperation on March 16, said an official. The next day she was summoned again and asked to appear on March 20. Kavitha appeared before the ED on March 20, 2023 when she was questioned for more than six hours, where instead of answering the questions of the investigating officer, she is learnt to have questioned the motives of the agency by attributing political motives to the case. The souring of the exchanges did not allow the agency to make much headway, it is learnt and she was again summoned to appear on March 21 for further examination. Once again, she was asked to submit the mobile devices that she had used in the past. She submitted the mobile devices for examination but they were completely formatted or had been cleared out significantly, said sources, adding that in the interim, she approached the Supreme Court against the summons. Voting for the Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 and the counting will take place on June 4, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. Kumar said byelections to 26 assembly constituencies and four state assembly elections--Sikkim, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh would be held along with parliament polls in the respective states. "We are committed to give the nation a truly festive, democratic environment. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on june 16,2024. The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also due to expire in June 2024. Elections are due in Jammu and Kashmir," Kumar said. There are 97 crore registered voters and over 10.5 lakh polling stations would be set up for this election, CEC said. Rajiv Kumar added there are 1.82 crore first-time voters over 1 crore polling officials and security staff are involved. 55 lakhs EVMs will be used in this election and all minimum basic faciltiies will be available in polling stations, Kumar said. The CEC said there are four challenges - muscle, money, misinformation and model code violations. He added adequate number of CAPF personnel will be deployed. Drone-based checking will be conducted and NPCL would monitor transactions through digital wallets, Kumar said. "Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 crore was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura. This shows an increase of 835 pc", Kumar said. The CEC appealed political parties to maintain decorum during campaigning. Elections are being held in 543 constituencies across the country. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling National Democratic Alliance won in 353 seats with BJP alone winning in 303 seats. The Congress won only 52 seats. -with agency inputs. On a day when Jammu and Kashmir awaited news on whether the Election Commission of India would announce the holding of assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared Yasin Maliks Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) as an Unlawful Association for a further period of five years. The banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty, and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on X. Any organization threatening Indias integrity by promoting, aiding, and abetting the secession of Jammu and Kashmir through terrorism. The MHA also declared four factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League (JKPL) namely, JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan), and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikh as Unlawful Associations. These organisations were involved in inciting terror and abetting secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. The JKLF was banned by the MHA in 2019 under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). The move came days after the Centre banned Jamat-e-Islami (JeI-J&K) under Section 3(1) of the UAPA. The JKLF was also banned under the same sections, which gives power to the Centre to declare any association as unlawful by notifying it in the Official Gazette. The extension of the ban on JKLF and other groups signals the continued hardline approach by the centre against the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has been cracking down on the separatists in 2018 soon after the collapse of the BJP-PDP coalition in June of the same year. The NIA launched a crackdown on the JKLF and groups that were part of Hurriyat Conference factions led by the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. In the lead-up to the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, most of the separatist leaders and their supporters were arrested. After the Article 370 move, the Centre took a hardline on separatist groups and banned them for challenging the sovereignty of India. These groups include those led by Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan, On December 31, 2023, the pro-Pakistan separatist amalgam Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) founded by Geelani was also banned. Other groups that have been banned include the Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM). The DeM, an all-women separatist group operating in Kashmir, has been actively involved in advocating for the implementation of Sharia law and the secession of Kashmir from India. Led by Asiya Andrabi, the organisation has been accused of inciting anti-India sentiments and promoting radical ideologies. The bans enacted by the Home Ministry have elicited both support and criticism from various quarters. The government argues that such measures are indispensable for preserving law and order in Kashmir and countering separatist elements that pose a threat to national security. However, detractors voice apprehensions regarding the potential for these bans to exacerbate tensions and alienate segments of the Kashmiri populace. They contend that such measures could deepen the prevailing sense of alienation and resentment among Kashmiris, potentially fueling further disenchantment. In the backdrop of the details about the sale and purchase of electoral bonds becoming public in pursuance of the directions of the Supreme Court, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday emphasised transparency in contributions to political parties, saying there is no scope for hiding things in democracy. But the CEC also stressed the need to formulate an institutional mechanism where the donor's privacy is also considered. The Commission has always been in favour of transparency right from the stage when we submitted our stand in the hon'ble Supreme Court. In a democracy there is no scope for hiding things. Democracy is all about making everybody know, become aware. There should be transparency, and information must be given out. We are all for it, Kumar said in response to a question on the electoral bond issue at a press conference held to declare the schedule of the Lok Sabha elections. He also said that the country now has to find solutions through an institutional mechanism where the donor's privacy is also considered. The Commission, he pointed out, has made it compulsory for all political parties to submit their annual accounts of contributions and expenditure, which are then published on the EC website. ...how we also control the donations in the unaccounted form is something that the entire nation has to work out together, how the donor's privacy is also protected, he is not harassed, how it is channelised, how it is more and more white, Kumar said. He said that in the digital age, the cash component should be minimised. I am sure some better system will evolve where it becomes like that, he said. The Commission has, acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, published on its website the two lists provided by the State Bank of India of the purchasers of the bonds the donors who used the bond route, and the political parties which encashed the bonds. The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the plea by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha challenging the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in the Delhi Excise Policy case, till March 19. A Bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal adjourned the matter noting that the connected cases have not been listed, Live Law reported. Daughter of former Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao, Kavitha, 46, was arrested by the ED yesterday from her Hyderabad residence, and taken to Delhi for questioning in the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. What's Kavitha's alleged role in the case? The ED had claimed Kavitha was linked to a "South Group" lobby of liquor traders who were trying to play a larger role under the Delhi excise policy for 2021-22. It alleged that one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, received kickbacks of at least Rs 100 crore on behalf of AAP leaders from the "South Group", allegedly comprising Kavitha, Sarath Reddy (promoter of Aurobindo Pharma), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy (YSR Congress MP from Ongole Lok Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh), his son Raghav Magunta, and others. In the last round of questioning by the ED, officials said, Kavitha was confronted with Hyderabad-based businessman Arun Ramchandran Pillai, who was arrested in the case earlier and allegedly shared close ties with her. The ED also alleged in Pillai's remand papers that he "represented the benami investments" of Kavitha in the case. Kavitha's dramatic arrest After a four-hour long raid at her residence in Banjara Hills, Kavitha was arrested and her preliminary statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). She is expected to be produced before a designated PMLA court on Saturday where the agency will seek her remand for custodial interrogation. Kavitha's legal team said the arrest was illegal as her petition against the ED summons had been listed by the Supreme Court for hearing on March 19. The ED questioned Kavitha thrice last year in this case and again summoned her this year but she did not depose citing a Supreme Court direction that allowed her protection from any coercive action. Kavitha was earlier questioned by the CBI in connection with the case at her residence in Hyderabad. The ED alleged the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was subsequently scrapped and the Delhi lieutenant governor recommended a CBI probe, following which the ED registered a case under the PMLA. (With PTI inputs) The Centre on Saturday extended the ban on Yasin Malik's JKLF for another five years, declaring it as an 'unlawful association'. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said JKLF (Yasin Malik faction) is still engaged in terror activities and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. The minister posted on X, The Modi government has declared the 'Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction)' as an 'Unlawful Association' for a further period of five years." The banned outfit continues to engage in activities that foment terror and secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone found challenging the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation will face harsh legal consequences," Shah warned. In a subsequent post, he said, "Pursuing PM @narendramodi Ji's policy of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, the MHA has declared four factions of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Leaguenamely, JKPL (Mukhtar Ahmed Waza), JKPL (Bashir Ahmad Tota), JKPL (Ghulam Mohammad Khan) and JKPL (Aziz Sheikh) led by Yaqoob Sheikhas 'Unlawful Associations'. These organizations were involved in inciting terror and abetting secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir. Malik is serving life term for two offences, including IPC Section 121 (waging war against government of India) and UAPA Section 17 (raising funds for terrorist act). Earlier this year, the NIA had sought death penalty for Malik in an appeal filed in the Delhi High Court. Researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden have made an incredible breakthrough in creating super-thin materials that are only a few atoms thick! These materials have special properties that make them super cool for things like storing energy, cleaning water, and even making new fuels. In a study published in the journal Science, Professor Johanna Rosen and her team talked about how these super-thin materials, also known as 2D materials, are really thin but have a huge surface area compared to their size. This makes them really special because they can do all sorts of amazing things, like conducting electricity, being super strong, and even resisting heat. This makes them really useful for both science experiments and real-life stuff! Professor Rosen explained, "In a film that's only a millimetre thin, there can be millions of layers of the material. Between the layers, there can be a lot of chemical reactions, and thanks to this, 2D materials can be used for energy storage or for generating fuels, for example." The researchers also found out about a big family of 2D materials called MXenes. These are made from a three-dimensional material called a MAX phase, which has three different elements in it: a transition metal, an element called A, and carbon or nitrogen. By using a special process called exfoliation, they were able to make these into super-thin 2D materials. It's like turning a big cake into lots of tiny, thin slices! But the really exciting part is that the researchers didn't stop there. They used a super-smart method to predict other 3D materials that could also be turned into 2D materials. They found 119 possible materials and then tested them in the lab to see which ones worked best. One of the researchers, Jie Zhou, said, "Out of 119 possible materials, we studied which ones had the chemical stability required and which materials were the best candidates. First, we had to synthesize the 3D material, which was a challenge in itself. Finally, we had a high-quality sample where we could exfoliate and etch away a specific atom layers using hydrofluoric acid." After lots of hard work, they succeeded in making a new 2D material called Ru2SixOy. They even used a super powerful microscope called Arwen to check if the new material was made of the right atoms, and it was a perfect match! The researchers' discovery means that there could be many more amazing 2D materials out there waiting to be made. These could help us do all sorts of cool things in the future, like capturing carbon dioxide or cleaning up dirty water. Professor Rosen believes that the possibilities are endless! "In general, 2D materials have shown great potential for an enormous number of applications. You can imagine capturing carbon dioxide or purifying water, for example. Now it's about scaling up the synthesis and doing it in a sustainable way," said Johanna Rosen. JLL, a leading professional services firm specialised in real estate, investment management, and development consultancy services, has appointed Ahmed Hemmat as the new head of Project & Development Services (P&DS) for Egypt. An industry veteran, Hemmat brings over 20 years of experience in the construction and mixed-use development sector, with an impressive track record of leading large teams in high-value projects across Egypt and UAE. This includes the recent delivery of multiple large-scale projects in Uptown Cairo and Cairo Gate, demonstrating his ability to deliver exceptional results in complex and challenging environments, said JLL in a statement. Throughout his career, Ahmed has worked both as a consultant and a client, gaining valuable insights and perspectives from different roles within the industry. He has held key positions in market-leading organisations such as Emaar, Majid Al Futaim, Turner, and Gleeds, cementing his reputation as an accomplished professional in the industry, it stated. Welcoming Hemmat into the fold, Elaine OConnor, the Head of P&DS, Egypt and Africa, said: "He is a forward-thinking leader with a proven track record of delivering high-value projects. We are confident he will continue to drive our business forward in Egypt and build upon our success." "His strategic vision and dedication to excellence make him a valuable addition to our team and to our clients projects," he stated. On his new role, Hemmat said: "I am grateful for this opportunity to lead the P&DS team in Egypt at JLL. Working alongside the talented professionals within the organisation, I look forward to leveraging my experience to deliver exceptional results for our clients. Together, we will drive innovation, growth, and success in the region." JLLs Project & Development Services across the Middle East & Africa has more than 600 consultants delivering projects across the region with a capital value under management of $30 billion, offering development management, project and programme management, cost management, fit-out & workplace design, engineering design & sustainability, HSE and digital solutions, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Russian citizens may be involved in the murder of 27-year-old Ukrainian refugee Marharyta Razaz in Germany. Law enforcement officials suspect a couple of Russians of the crime, who were in possession of the victim's stolen newborn child. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by OE24. The 51-year-old mother of the deceased is still wanted. Police have confirmed that 27-year-old Marharyta from Ukraine, who was staying in the refugee shelter with her mother and her five-week-old daughter, died as a result of a violent death. Her mother and young daughter Mia also disappeared. However, law enforcement agencies managed to quickly find the child. The child was found in the care of two Russian citizens, a woman and a man aged 43 and 44 respectively. Both Russians were detained and are being held in custody. Marharyta, her daughter, and mother Maryna were last seen in a local restaurant, where the Ukrainian family met with an unknown woman who offered to help them with German refugee documents. Marharyta, 27, arrived in Germany with her mother from Slovakia. After the move, they lived in a refugee shelter in Mannheim, Germany. ADVERTISIMENT The search for 51-year-old Maryna is still ongoing. Journalists suggest that the Russian couple could have killed 27-year-old Marharyta and her mother, presumably to organize the abduction of the five-week-old girl. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the child of the murdered Ukrainian woman Marharyta Razaz was found alive in Germany. The baby, who was born only a few weeks ago, was under the "supervision" of a man and a woman. Earlier it was reported that in the German city of Hockenheim (Baden-Wurttemberg), a 27-year-old refugee from Ukraine named Ryta, who was previously considered missing, was found dead. The girl's body with traces of violence was found on the banks of the Rhine by a passerby. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Mumbai, 16 March, 2024: Driven by its core value of consumer obsession, Tata AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (Tata AIA), one of Indias leading life insurers, has introduced a host of funds, over time, for the benefit of consumers. One can avail of these funds through the companys unique Investment-Linked Plans (ILPs), ULIPs, and market-linked health plans, to generate wealth in the long term and ensure protection cover for loved ones. From capitalizing on small caps and emerging opportunities to investing in sustainably conscious companies, the spectrum of these funds is versatile. Tata AIA's investment philosophy reflects an unwavering commitment to policyholders, focusing on delivering superior, consistent, and risk-adjusted long-term returns, driven by a bottom-up stock-picking strategy. Notably, 95.25% of the rated Asset Under Management (AUM) of Tata AIA is rated 4 star or 5 stars on a 5-year basis as of January 31st, 2024, by Morningstar Ratings, the global benchmark. As of February 2024, the total Asset Under Management is INR 96,532 Cr. In December 2022, Tata AIA launched the Emerging Opportunities Fund, which invests in mid-cap companies and emerging market leaders with the potential to generate significant future growth. The investment objective of the Fund is to generate capital appreciation in the long term by investing in a portfolio of stocks that offer opportunities in the mid-cap space and emerging leaders in the new age sectors offering significant long-term wealth creation along with insurance benefits. The fund can invest up to 30% of the portfolio in equity and equity-related instruments falling outside the mid-cap range. In March 2023, Tata AIA launched the Sustainability Equity Fund which aims to generate capital appreciation in the long term by investing in companies that adopt sustainable or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) friendly practices. The fund invests 80-100% in equity and equity-related instruments following ESG criteria, and up to 20% in other equities or debt or money market instruments. In the same month, the Company also launched Dynamic Advantage Fund. The fund seeks to generate superior and steady returns by dynamically allocating the investment corpus between Equity and Debt depending upon market conditions. Investors can thus benefit from the growth potential of equity while benefiting from the downside protection that debt funds investments offer. As a result, they dont need to track the markets and rebalance their portfolios manually, a difficult task given the sharp and regular market movements. In July 2023, the Company launched its first dedicated Small-Cap fund, the Small Cap Discovery Fund. The fund offers policyholders the opportunity to generate capital appreciation in the long term by investing in small-cap stocks. The robust economic growth of India, despite global uncertainty, offers stability and attractive investment opportunities. Investment Linked Plans (ILPs) offered by Tata AIA such as Param Rakshak Solutions or Pro-fit allow policyholders the opportunity to invest in a variety of sectors that are likely to benefit from the country's robust economic growth. In addition, consumers have the security of life insurance cover, which enables them to live their lives Fikar-free and be Har Waqt Ke Liye Taiyaar. 2024 Morningstar. All rights reserved. The Morningstar name is a registered trademark of Morningstar, Inc. in India, and other jurisdictions. The information contained here: (1) includes the proprietary information of Morningstar, Inc. and its affiliates, including, without limitation, Morningstar India Private Limited (Morningstar); (2) may not be copied, redistributed or used, by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior, written consent of Morningstar; (3) is not warranted to be complete, accurate or timely; and (4) may be drawn from data published on various dates and procured from various sources and (5) shall not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any security or other investment vehicle. Neither Morningstar, Inc. nor any of its affiliates (including, without limitation, Morningstar) nor any of their officers, directors, employees, associates, or agents shall be responsible or liable for any trading decisions, damages or other losses resulting directly or indirectly from the information. About Tata AIA Life Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA) is a joint venture Company formed by Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA). Tata AIA Life combines Tatas pre-eminent leadership position in India and AIAs presence as the largest, independent listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world, spanning 18 markets in the Asia Pacific region. Tata AIA reported an Individual Weighted New Business Premium (IWNBP) income of INR 7,092 Cr in FY23, an increase of 59% over FY22. The Individual Death Claims Settlement ratio improved from 98.53% in FY22 to 99.01% in FY23. The Persistency ratio, reflecting the percentage of consumers who choose to renew their policies with Tata AIA, has earned the Company the top rank in four out of five cohorts, including 13th-month persistency. Compared to FY22, the 13th Month Persistency ratio (based on Premium) of the Company improved to 88.1%. About the Tata Group Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2022-23, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $150 billion (INR 12 trillion). These companies collectively employ over 1 million people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 29 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of $300 billion (INR 24 trillion) as on July 31, 2023. About AIA AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively AIA or the Group) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 marketswholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR (1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR (2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India. In addition, AIA has a 24.99 per cent shareholding in China Post Life Insurance Co., Ltd. The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$276 billion as of 30 June 2023. AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 41 million individual policies and 17 million participating members of group insurance schemes. AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock codes 1299 for HKD counter and 81299 for RMB counter with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol AAGIY. Notes: (1) Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (2) Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region. (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.). PTI PWR PWR Mumbai, 16 March 2024: Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA), one of Indias leading life insurers, is proud to announce its recognition as a Kincentric Best Employer 2023. Kincentric Is a globally renowned platform that showcases organizations which are industry leaders in employee engagement and development. Tata AIA's recognition as the Kincentric Best Employer for the 8th consecutive year is a result of its effective people management in an increasingly complex business environment. "Consumer Obsession" is a core value of the Company and initiatives are implemented under the 'Customer First' mission. By consistently placing customers first, Tata AIA builds trust and loyalty among its customer base, enhancing the entire customer lifecycle experience, emphasizing sales, service, and claims transparency. These efforts have yielded notable results, with an increase of 59% in individual Weighted New Business Premiums (IWNBP) in FY23. The Company ranks among the top three private life insurers by IWNBP income. Its unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction is reflected in its best-in-class persistency rate and claims settlement ratio. Announcing the win, Venky Iyer, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Tata AIA, said, Being named as Best Employer in India by Kincentric for 2023, eight years in a row, is indeed a matter of pride for us at Tata AIA. It is testimony to the continuous efforts of our HR and leadership teams to create a thriving, fikar-free, and rewarding environment for our employees. This Award reinforces our commitment to our people-centric practices, empowering our people to achieve their aspirations and give their best and enable our consumers to be Har Waqt Ke Liye Taiyaar. In order to cultivate an environment that values talent, skill, and contribution, Tata AIA prioritises creating an environment where its employees are nurtured, recognised, and respected. Kristyl Bhesania, President, and Chief Human Resources Officer, Tata AIA, reaffirmed this, saying, As an organization, we strive to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace where employees are recognised as individuals. A supportive and inclusive work culture is fostered through competitive compensation packages, comprehensive benefits, benchmark capability-building initiatives, and career development opportunities. We value work-life balance and promote employee wellness through our wellness programs, which ensure alignment with our strategic imperatives and foster employee belonging and purpose. Over the years, we have seen organizations that have a relentless focus on aligning business and people strategy and keeping pace with the dynamic business world emerge as the Best Employers, says Anurag Aman, MD and Market Leader for Kincentric India. A strong focus on people practices drives Tata AIA. In order to become the "Organization of the Future," the Company cultivates people-centric, high-performance cultures and develops future-ready leaders. An important part of the CEO's effort is ensuring employees fully understand how they contribute to the organization's ethos and are deeply involved in achieving its shared objectives. The Company has taken the following steps to empower its people to achieve its business priorities. Benchmark Training & Development Programs: Providing comprehensive training on insurance products, industry regulations, customer service skills, and technology tools. Clear Communication & Goal Alignment: Make sure employees understand the company's strategic objectives and how they contribute to achieving them. Performance Management Systems: Setting up performance appraisal systems that align individual goals with organizational objectives, reward high-performing employees, and provide constructive feedback. Performance Management is based on the Balanced Score Card, which helps to understand what the company aspires to be, how it attains the vision, and how it measures progress. Employee Engagement Initiatives: Strengthening collaboration and agility among teams, establishing channels for feedback, and communicating transparently and openly. Investment in Technology: Giving employees access to user-friendly, efficient technology tools to enable them to deliver exceptional service. Diversity & Inclusion Efforts: Building an inclusive workplace where employees from diverse backgrounds feel valued, respected, appreciated, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. With over 50 years of employee research and decades of experience and specialist expertise in culture and engagement, leadership assessment and development, HR and talent advisory, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, Kincentric partners with organizations to improve their health from the inside, transform at scale and achieve Best Employer levels of performance. About Tata AIA Life Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA) is a joint venture Company formed by Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA). Tata AIA Life combines Tatas pre-eminent leadership position in India and AIAs presence as the largest, independent listed pan-Asian life insurance group in the world, spanning 18 markets in the Asia Pacific region. Tata AIA reported an Individual Weighted New Business Premium (IWNBP) income of INR 7,092 Cr in FY23, an increase of 59% over FY22. The Individual Death Claims Settlement ratio improved from 98.53% in FY22 to 99.01% in FY23. The Persistency ratio, reflecting the percentage of consumers who choose to renew their policies with Tata AIA, has earned the Company the top rank in four out of five cohorts, including 13th-month persistency. Compared to FY22, the 13th Month Persistency ratio (based on Premium) of the Company improved to 88.1%. About the Tata Group Founded by Jamsetji Tata in 1868, the Tata Group is a global enterprise, headquartered in India, comprising 30 companies across ten verticals. The group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with a mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust. Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company and promoter of Tata companies. Sixty-six percent of the equity share capital of Tata Sons is held by philanthropic trusts, which support education, health, livelihood generation and art and culture. In 2022-23, the revenue of Tata companies, taken together, was $150 billion (INR 12 trillion). These companies collectively employ over 1 million people. Each Tata company or enterprise operates independently under the guidance and supervision of its own board of directors. There are 29 publicly listed Tata enterprises with a combined market capitalisation of $300 billion (INR 24 trillion) as on July 31, 2023. About AIA AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively AIA or the Group) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 marketswholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India. In addition, AIA has a 24.99 per cent shareholding in China Post Life Insurance Co., Ltd. The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$276 billion as of 30 June 2023. AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 41 million individual policies and 17 million participating members of group insurance schemes. AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock codes 1299 for HKD counter and 81299 for RMB counter with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol AAGIY. Notes: (1) Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (2) Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region. About Kincentric Kincentric, a Spencer Stuart company, helps organizations unlock the power of people and teams to ignite change and drive better business results. With decades of experience and specialist expertise in areas such as culture, employee engagement, leadership assessment and development, HR and talent advisory, and diversity, equity and inclusion, we use data-driven insights to architect solutions that add value, enhance agility and increase organizational effectiveness. For more information, visit kincentric.com. (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.). PTI PWR PWR Raipur, Mar 16 (PTI) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the aerodrome license for Ambikapur airport in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district to start flight operations, officials said on Saturday. Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur, has been developed in the 3-C VFR category to expand air services in the state, a public relations department official said. An application, seeking a license to start air services from the airport, was submitted to the DGCA in December 2022. The aviation regulator on Friday granted the license to the state government for Ambikapur Airport, he said. With this, the state now has three licensed airports -- Bilaspur, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), he added. The license has paved the way for the operation of 72-seater flights from Ambikapur, he added. The state government has already been making efforts to start air service from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi. With the commencement of flights from Ambikapur, tourism and commercial activities in the northern region of the state will get a boost and facilitate the development of the region, the official said. Meanwhile, the state government also signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with the Centre-run Alliance Air on Friday to start regular commercial flight services from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi and Kolkata, and Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi via Jabalpur by the end of this month, he noted. The chief minister inaugurated flight services from Bilaspur to Delhi and Kolkata on March 12, while the flight service Delhi-Jabalpur- Jagdalpur-Jabalpur-Delhi was also launched on the same day, the official said. Now, after the pact, the flight services on the three routes will be regular from the month-end, he added. As per the MoU, the state will provide financial assistance to the airline company to compensate for the loss based on the cost revenue model in case of non-availability of passengers on the flights. Jammu, Mar 16 (PTI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday launched green cultivation via lavender plantation along the national highways starting from the Ramban-Banihal section of the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar road in Jammu and Kashmir. Singh complimented agri startups-turned-agri entrepreneurs for planting lavender on either side of the highway and on its divider over an area of more than 1 lakh sq km. "This unique initiative has manifold objectives. It will try to help mitigate the damage caused to the environment by vehicular emissions, prevent road accidents by discouraging pedestrians from crossing the highway, and add to the beautification of the road, Singh said. "Today will be remembered for J&K having set a milestone in conserving the environment for the times to come, he said. The purple revolution (planting of lavender) has put Bhaderwah and J&K on the world map, he said, adding that the revolution has spread to other states, such as Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. By taking a lead in the Aroma Mission, J&K has exemplified that it would have a significant role as a great contributor to the agri economy of India in the next 25 years in the run-up to a developed India of 2047 as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. Meanwhile, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, on Saturday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Anphar Laboratories (P) Ltd, JK Aroma Farmers Producer Cooperative Ltd, and Himalayan Essential Oils Producer Company Ltd (HEOPCL). The institute is collaborating with the NHAI to carry out lavender plantation on NH-44 from Ramban to Banihal, aimed at sustainable environmental practices and advancing highway infrastructure development, CSIR-IIIM Director Zabeer Ahmed said. Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI) Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas will serve as the narrator of the upcoming documentary film "Tiger" for Disney-owned studio Disneynature. Described as a compelling story that lifts the veil on the planets most revered and charismatic animal, the film will start streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on Earth Day on April 22. "Tiger" will take the viewers on a journey alongside Ambar, a young tigress raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India. "In the film, the cubs-curious, rambunctious and at times a bit clumsy-have a lot to learn from their savvy mother who will do all she can to keep them safe from pythons, bears and marauding male tigers," Disney said in a press release. The documentary film is directed by Mark Linfield, with Vanessa Berlowitz and Rob Sullivan serving as co-director. It is produced by Linfield, Berlowitz and Roy Conli. "Its just wonderful to be able to be a part of something so special and to tell the story of this magnificent animal that comes from my country-I was very honoured. I have always loved tigers and I feel a kinship with the female tiger-I feel very protective of my family. Ambars journey is something I think every mom would really relate to, Chopra Jonas said in a statement. On the occasion of Earth Day, "Tigers On The Rise", a companion film to Tiger, will also start streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Narrated by American actor Blair Underwood, the film celebrates the remarkable comeback of one of the worlds most iconic animals. "Tiger populations have rebounded so successfully, many of the big cats are venturing from Indias forest reserves into farms and villagesa monumental challenge for both people and animals. The heroes in this story are the vets, scientists and community patrols dedicated to ensuring that tigers and people can coexist," the official description read. Tigers on the Rise is directed by Rob Sullivan, co-directed by Alistair Tones, and produced by Sullivan, Vanessa Berlowitz, Mark Linfield and Roy Conli. Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI) Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan on Saturday said she always wanted to work with versatile actor Tabu and is glad that her wish is coming true with their upcoming film Crew. Also starring Kriti Sanon, the movie is a comedy directed by Rajesh A Krishnan of Lootcase fame. It features Kareena, Tabu and Kriti as three air hostesses working for a fictional airline called Kohinoor. With the carrier being on the verge of bankruptcy, the trio's future seemed uncertain but then they find a dead passenger carrying gold biscuits. "I am super excited because I got to work with Tabu for the first time. Lolo (her sister Karishma Kapoor) has worked with her so many times. I had the opportunity and the honour of finally sharing screen space with her," Kareena said at the film's trailer launch event. The actor further said she was also excited to collaborate with Sanon, calling her "supremely talented" and "lovely". "I hope that film does well. Rajesh has made a super funny film so I am really excited and happy and hope it works, she added. Kriti said it was refreshing for her to work with female co-stars. "We always get to work with men mostly. It was very refreshing to work with women, who are so talented and who I have admired for years. I think we all look up to them (Tabu and Kareena) in what they bring to the table and the fact that they have been reinventing themselves," the actor said. Kriti said she is confident that "Crew" will break the myths about women-centric films. "Whenever a women-led film comes, then people think it would be serious or some issue being raised, or it would be out male-bashing or something like that. But here nothing is like that. You can see women can do comedy very well, she said. Director Krishnan revealed the film is sort of inspired by real incidents. We are trying to humanise them. You see the glamorous side. Three women working in the aircraft dealing with all kinds of people. In those people, some are good, some are bad and it is a lot of hard work. They are human beings at the end of the day. They do look glamorous from the outside but there is a lot of hard work which goes behind it, the filmmaker said. Also starring Diljit Dosanjh and Kapil Sharma, "Crew" will be released in theatres on March 29. It is produced by Anil Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. London, Mar 16 (PTI) A new exhibition that opened at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London this month celebrates the architectural style of Tropical Modernism, associated with newly independent Indias first major building projects including the city of Chandigarh. International modernism, associated with British architects Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry, was a colonial architecture developed against the background of anti-colonial struggle across India and West Africa. The crux of the style was adapting a modernist aesthetic that valued function over ornament to the hot, humid conditions of the region. We deliberately set out to complicate the history of Tropical Modernism by looking at the architecture against the anti-colonial struggle of the time, and by engaging with and centring South Asian and West African perspectives, said Christopher Turner, the V&As Keeper of Art, Architecture, Photography & Design. The story of Tropical Modernism is one of colonialism and decolonisation, politics and power, defiance and independence; it is not just about the past, but also about the present and the future. The exhibition looks at the colonial origins of Tropical Modernism in British West Africa, and the survival of the style in the post-colonial period when it symbolised the independence and progressiveness of newly independent countries like India and Ghana, he said. Drew and Fry worked primarily in India and Ghana, as following independence Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ghanaian prime minister Kwame Nkrumah commissioned major new projects in this style. Tropical Modernism became a tool for nation-building and a symbol of their internationalism and progressiveness. A new generation of national architects more sensitive to the local context gave birth to distinctive alternative modernisms and the exhibition seeks to spotlight these practitioners and the alternative modernisms they created. Nehrus declaration to build temples of modern India to unify and industrialise the country began with the construction of the city of Chandigarh as Independent Indias first large-scale modernist project in the 1950s. Drew and Fry famously enlisted Le Corbusier to design the city with young Indian architects such as Aditya Prakash and model makers Rattan Singh and Dhani Ram being recruited to acquire skills on the job. As we look to a new future in an era of climate change, might Tropical Modernism, which used the latest building and environmental science then available to passively cool buildings, serve as a useful guide, questions Turner, the curator of the exhibition, which runs until September. Through models, drawings, letters, photographs, film installations and archival ephemera documenting the key figures and moments of the Tropical Modernist movement, the aim is to highlight modernisms wider role in narratives about decolonisation and the construction of national identity. Looking into the future, the exhibition also raises the prospect of how the style's basic principles of climate regulation through open facades facilitating cross-ventilation might find a place in todays search for sustainable architectural solutions that fuse scientific approaches with local knowledge, culture and materials. Lahore, Mar 16 (PTI) A petition was filed in a Pakistani court here on Saturday seeking foolproof security for an event organised next week to observe the 93rd death anniversary of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru and Sukh Dev. The petition was filed in the Lahore High Court by the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan. It urged the court to direct the government to provide foolproof security and install walk-through gates for the event planned for March 23 at the Shadman Chowk here, to avoid any untoward incident. The court is likely to take up the petition on Monday. In his petition, the foundation's advocate Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi said that the Punjab government had not entertained his request for the provision of security at the event being organised at Shadman Chowk, where Bhagat Singh along with his two comrades were hanged 93 years ago. Qureshi told the court about the threats he received in the past from extremist elements for "a session in the memory of Bhagat Singh." Earlier this month, the LHC issued notices to the Punjab provincial government and the district administration on a petition seeking contempt proceedings against three top officials for not complying with the court's order regarding naming the Shadman Chowk in Lahore after Bhagat Singh. The LHC in 2018 had ordered the government to name the Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh where he was hanged. Bhagat Singh, who fought for the independence of the subcontinent, was hanged by British rulers on March 23, 1931, along with Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar after being tried under charges of hatching a conspiracy against the regime. Bhagat Singh was initially jailed for life but later awarded the death sentence in another fabricated case. Bhagat Singh is respected in the subcontinent not only by the Sikhs and Hindus but also by Muslims. Islamabad, Mar 16 (PTI) Saudi crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammad bin Salman on Saturday assured newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of full support for Pakistan which has been going through a tough economic phase. Riyadh has supported cash-strapped Pakistan in recent years by depositing and rolling over large sums of greenbacks to shore up the country's low foreign reserves. Earlier, Saudi Arabia rolled over its USD 3 billion in deposits at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for another year by the end of December 2024. Prime Minister Shehbaz received a congratulatory telephone call from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, according to a statement by the PM Office. The Crown Prince thanked the Prime Minister for his kind sentiments. He said both countries enjoyed close brotherly relations and reaffirmed Saudi Arabias support for Pakistan, it said. The prime minister said Pakistan was proud of its historic, deep-rooted and fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia and the two countries had always stood together through thick and thin. He lauded Saudi Arabia for its unwavering commitment and support to Pakistan. The prime minister also conveyed his sincerest wishes and prayers for the health and well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz. He said the people of Pakistan had great love and respect for His Majesty as well as the Crown Prince, the statement said. "Look forward to working closely with HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to transform the deep-rooted, historic fraternal Pakistan-Saudi ties into a comprehensive strategic partnership," Shehbaz Sharif posted on X. The call was made just days after Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 11 and while extending an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia, he assured the Prime Minister of the Saudi leaderships full support. He said that Saudi Arabia would always remain a reliable partner for building a stronger and prosperous Pakistan, according to a statement issued by the PM Office after the meeting. Karachi, Mar 16 (PTI) A Pakistani court has slammed the interior ministry for its failure to deport an Indian national arrested nearly 11 years ago despite court orders and warned that the secretary concerned would be summoned to explain how his department is working in such cases. The single-judge bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha on Friday directed the interior ministry to depute an officer well-versed with the facts of the case or file a compliance report at the next hearing, the Dawn newspaper reported on Saturday. Abdul Mughni was arrested in 2013 by the Mobina Town police station near Abul Hassan Ispahani Road and booked under various provisions of the Foreigners Act. A sessions court sentenced him to six months in prison in 2017. The convict filed an appeal against his conviction before the SHC. The court during the hearing observed that the appellant was an Indian national, while the interior ministry was not able to confirm his nationality apparently due to lack of efforts, the report said. The bench said that since the appellant had already served out his sentence, the jail superintendent had been directed to make arrangements for his deportation through the home department. However, at the last hearing, it also noted that the focal person of the home department of Sindh had submitted that a correspondence was made with the Ministry of Interior on the subject matter and it did not respond and thereafter, the court had issued a notice to the secretary to send an official familiar with this case to explain as to why the appellant had not been deported yet. On Friday, a section officer of the ministry turned up and said that the deportation did not happen due to certain procedural issues. The bench in its order said: I find it quite extraordinary that after a lapse of seven years, the Ministry of Interior has not been able to confirm whether the appellant is an Indian national or not. Prima facie this is because of lack of efforts on the part of the Ministry of Interior. The bench stated that when the Section Officer was confronted, he was not even aware if the Indian government had a similar computerised national identity card system (Aadhar) like the Nadra. In the event, the impugned order dated 24.08.2017 regarding the deportation of the appellant is not complied with by the next hearing, this court will have no option except to call the secretary, Ministry of Interior, government of Pakistan in person to explain as to how his department is working in such like matters, it added. The court asked its office to send a copy of this order to the interior secretary for information and compliance and set April 13 as the next date for the hearing of the case. It is expected that on the next date of hearing, the secretary, Ministry of Interior shall send an officer well-served with the facts of the case or file his compliance report via DAG [deputy attorney general] regarding the deportation of the appellant," the court said. More than half of Tripadvisor users say they are interested in helping the environment. As a result, the environmental friendliness of resorts is increasingly influencing travelers' choices when planning their vacations. When it comes to beaches, this means clear water and clean sand. ADVERTISIMENT Every year Tripadvisor publishes a rating of the best beaches in the world. This year, European destinations topped the list. In addition, in 2024, the category of the most environmentally friendly beaches was added for the first time, Euronews writes. Travel company BeCause reported on beaches awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, which recognizes their cleanliness and safety. The proof is positive reviews that mention such terms as "environmental friendliness," "ecotourism," and "clean water." Among the top 10 beaches, seven are in Europe. Sandbanks Beach, UK: a great choice for families ADVERTISIMENT Sandbanks Beach has been ranked number one on Tripadvisor's list of the most environmentally friendly beaches. It has retained its Blue Flag award for over 30 years, which is longer than any other beach in the country. It was also one of the few areas in the UK that the European Commission recognized for its high standards of cleanliness even before Brexit. Visitors describe it as "clean and tidy" and "sandy and beautiful". This is not surprising as a team of volunteers regularly cleans the coast from litter. The soft, clean golden sand is perfect for small children to build sand castles. There is even a children's playground. The beach also offers stunning views of Studland and Old Harry Rocks. On a clear day, you can even see the Isle of Wight. Galissas Beach, Greece: a scuba diving vacation in the warm, shallow waters ADVERTISIMENT Galissas Beach on the west coast of Syros, Greece, was ranked fifth on Tripadvisor. Located in a bay between high cliffs, it is a great place for scuba diving with calm shallow waters. Visitors note its clean, clear water, as well as good accessibility for people with disabilities. After you've swum and relaxed on the beach, head into the village to explore the unique flavors in the local taverns. Take in the beautiful views from the chapel of Agia Pakou or visit the ancient ruins of Galissas. Nissi Beach, Cyprus: a trip with a party atmosphere and white sand ADVERTISIMENT Nissi Beach is a popular spot in the resort of Ayia Napa in Cyprus. It got its name from the small island of Nissi, which is located nearby and can be easily reached on foot through the shallow water. The beach is known as one of the most picturesque in Cyprus. Its eastern side is quiet and peaceful in contrast to the western side and is famous for its nightlife. The Nissi Bay beach bar is a hotbed of music and parties, creating a busy program of events during peak months. What other European beaches are in the top 10 Seven of the 10 most environmentally friendly beaches are located in Europe, namely in the UK, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, and Spain. The list is completed by Saundersfoot beach in Wales at number 3 and Melliea in Malta at number 7, followed by Myrtos beach in Greece and Playa Blanca in Lanzarote, Spain. Outside Europe are Radhanagar beach in India, Corniche beach in the UAE and Camps Bay beach in South Africa. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kyiv, Mar 16 (AP) Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine, killed two people, Russian officials said Saturday. A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russia's war on Ukraine. Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometres (1.25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Gladkov said. Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, regional Gov. Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported. The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 20 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said. Forty people are still in the hospital following the attacks, Odesa regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a just response to the attack in a video address Friday evening. Saturday's attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin's rule by another six years after he crushed dissent. (AP) GSP Peshawar Mar 16 (PTI) At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including two officers, were killed when six terrorists launched multiple suicide attacks on a security check post in the restive tribal district of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, the military said. A Lieutenant Colonel and a Captain were killed along with five soldiers. All the six terrorists who attacked the check post in Mir Ali area were shot dead. According to the ISPR statement, after the troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks. During the subsequent clearance operation, troops effectively engaged and killed all six terrorists. However, during the intense exchange of fire, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar were killed, the statement said. The militarys media wing said a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed grief over the death of the soldiers. According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 marking a record six-year high. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations. Washington, Mar 16 (AP) Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections. They accused the Democratic leader of breaking the unwritten rule against interfering in a close ally's electoral politics. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reacted to Schumer by saying it was hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Schumer's call for new elections was inappropriate. Even Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu and member of Israel's war cabinet, said Schumer's remarks were counterproductive. Schumer's stinging rebuke of Netanyahu the senator said the Israeli leader had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace was certainly provocative but it was hardly norm-breaking. US leaders, as well as American allies, are more frequently butting into electoral politics beyond the water's edge. Look no further than the close and historically complicated relationship that American presidents and congressional leaders have negotiated with Israel leaders over the last 75 years. It is an urban legend that we don't intervene in Israeli politics and they don't try to intervene in ours, said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who worked as a Middle East negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations. We do intercede and they do intercede in ours. In 2019, with just weeks to go before Netanyahu faced a difficult election, President Donald Trump abruptly declared the US was recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, giving Netanyahu a political boost just when he badly needed it. In 2015. Republican House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to deliver an address to Congress during sensitive negotiations about Iran's nuclear program and shortly before a national election in Israel. Boehner did not coordinate the invitation with President Barack Obama's administration. Obama declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House during the visit, with White House officials saying that holding such a visit so close to Israel's election would be inappropriate. The standard Obama set for a White House visit wasn't one Bill Clinton subscribed to years earlier. In April 1996, Clinton invited Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to the White House to sign a USD 100 million counter-terrorism accord shortly an Israeli election. Years later, Clinton acknowledged in an interview that he was trying to give Peres a boost with voters. It didn't work; Peres lost to Netanyahu. In practice, keeping out of allies' elections has been more of a professed American value than enshrined protocol. US leaders have frequently demonstrated a varsity, versus junior varsity approach to how overtly they noodle in the internal politics of friends, says Edward Frantz, a University of Indianapolis historian. The bigger the ally's economy, the less likely American leaders are to meddle openly in its elections. American politicians want to have it both ways, Frantz said. There are moments when American leaders want to and need to speak out and have their say. But there is reason to stay close to the lines on elections. You don't want foreign governments to interfere in our own internal politics, either. The lines have only become blurrier in recent years, and are being tested by how world leaders are approaching November's Biden-Trump rematch. This past week, during a White House visit on the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession into NATO, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn't obscure his desire to see Biden win another term. I want you to know that your campaign four years ago was really inspirational for me and for so many Poles, said Tusk, with conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda by his side. "And we were encouraged ... after your victory. Thank you for your determination. It was something really important for not only for the United States." Tusk later singled out Johnson, the Republican House speaker, to blame for Washington's deadlock on a spending bill with $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, which is running low on ammunition and arms in its war with Russia. This is not some political skirmish that has significance only here, on the American political stage, said Tusk. He told reporters that inaction by Johnson could cost thousands of human lives in Ukraine. Last week, Biden slammed Trump for hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has described a possible comeback by Trump as the only serious chance for an end to the war in Ukraine. Hungary, like the US, is a member of NATO. Orban has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing illiberal democracy, replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. Biden during a recent campaign event noted that Trump was meeting Orban, and said the Hungarian leader is "looking for dictatorship. Hungary summoned the US ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, to register displeasure with the president's comments. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president stood by his comments. Our position is that Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions, and that remains a source of grave concern to us, Sullivan said. The Schumer comments in the midst of Israel's difficult five-month war offer new strain to the US-Israel relationship. That relationship already has seen tensions between Biden and Netanyahu mount as the Palestinian death toll rises and innocent civilians suffer while the US and others struggle to get aid past Israel's blockade and into Gaza. Biden, in a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, said he thought Schumer had delivered a good speech." The president and White House officials, however, stopped short of endorsing Schumer's call for elections. There have been other moments of deep tension in the US-Israeli relationship. President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories. But the press by Schumer for new elections ventures into uncharted territory. All of those other crises were sort of one-offs, Miller said. They were efforts to move Israel in a focused, discrete way on a specific issue. What you have now after years of Netanyahu's premierships is a fundamental crisis of confidence, which cuts to the core of the US-Israel relationship.(AP) RUP RUP Peshawar, Mar 16 (PTI) At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers, including two officers, were killed when six terrorists launched multiple suicide attacks on a security check post in the restive tribal district of North Waziristan bordering Afghanistan on Saturday, the military said. A Lieutenant Colonel and a Captain were killed along with five soldiers. All the six terrorists who attacked the check post in Mir Ali area were shot dead, the army's media wing said in a statement. According to the statement, after the troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion by unidentified terrorists, they rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks. During the subsequent clearance operation, troops engaged and killed all six terrorists. However, during the intense exchange of fire, Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali and Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar were killed, the statement said. The militarys media wing said a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, the dreaded Pakistani Taliban have claimed several such attacks in the past. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, in separate statements, condemned the attack. Terming the attack a coward move by the terrorists, Shehbaz prayed for the departed souls and offered condolences to the bereaved families. The security forces have foiled the sinister designs of the terrorists. I, and the whole nation, are proud of the martyrs who sacrificed lives, he was quoted as saying by the prime ministers office. President Zardari condemned the terrorist attack and extended condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, he expressed the nations commitment to completely eradicate terrorism and prayed to elevate the rank of martyrs and give patience to their families. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed grief over the death of the soldiers. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Earlier this month 10 militants were killed in two separate operations by security forces in the North Waziristan district. Last month, a late-night attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan was repulsed. Gunmen had mounted an attack using heavy weapons but fled in the cover of darkness when police personnel fired back. According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violence-related fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 - marking a record six-year high. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces were the primary centres of violence, accounting for over 90 per cent of all fatalities and 84 per cent of attacks, including incidents of terrorism and security forces operations. Islamabad, Mar 16 (PTI) Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that expanding cooperation with neighbouring Afghanistan is a top priority of the new government. Dar took to X after receiving a telephone call from his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi who congratulated him on his appointment as the foreign minister. Expanding cooperation in connectivity, trade, security, counter-terrorism and people-to-people contacts is a top priority for Pakistan, Dar said. He also stated that the two sides agreed to continue working together in building fraternal bilateral relations. Separately, deputy spokesperson at the Afghan foreign ministry, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, in a statement on X said that Muttaqi hoped that Dars assumption of office would have a positive and constructive role in strengthening the relations between the two neighbouring countries. The region is increasing its positive interactions day by day and the practical work of major infrastructure projects is starting at the regional level and we are expecting to take a constructive part in Pakistan, he quoted the Afghan foreign minister as saying. He also invited Dar to visit Afghanistan. According to the statement, both Pakistan and Afghanistan emphasised bringing facilities for passengers, patients and commercial traffic on the Durand Line and eliminating existing problems. Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated due to allegations by Pakistan that the ruling Taliban in Kabul has failed to stop the use of their soil by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. Afghanistan denied the presence of rebels on their soil. Angered by the spike in the TTP attacks, Pakistan last year expelled all illegal Afghans and refused to take back the decision despite protests and requests by the Taliban. However, efforts have been going on to mend the ties and Kandahar Governor Mullah Muhammad Shirin Akhund received Pakistans Charge dAffaires and head of mission in Kabul, Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, in Kandahar on Monday. Mullah Shirin, a close confidant of the Taliban supreme leader, last year visited Pakistan leading a delegation to ease the tension between the two countries. Fairless Hills, Mar 16 (AP) Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order following the shooting of multiple people in a suburban Philadelphia township. Middletown Township police said Saturday morning that there were confirmed shootings in neighboring Falls Township that resulted in several gunshot victims. Police said it wasn't known yet if the shootings were targeted or random. Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said a local mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice and the area's Target store had chosen to close as well. The county's scheduled St. Patrick's Day parade was cancelled following the shelter-in-place order as well. The county's scheduled St. Patrick's Day parade was cancelled. Further details about the shootings and suspect or suspects weren't immediately released. (AP) GRS GRS Cairo, Mar 16 (AP) Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn't lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Nearly one in three children under 2 years old in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency said Friday. In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies it's holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Those talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Netanyahu's government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Netanyahu's office also said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians more than half the enclave's population are sheltering. Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage. The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there. Netanyahu's office did not give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation but said it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday the US has yet to see "a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies. Israel's offensive has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gaza's population is starving, according to the UN. As part of efforts to get desperately needed aid into Gaza, a ship inaugurated a sea route from Cyprus on Friday and offloaded 200 tons of humanitarian supplies sent by the aid group World Central Kitchen destined for people in northern Gaza. The group said Saturday it was preparing another vessel in Cyprus with hundreds of tons of Gaza-bound aid. Also on Saturday, Germany joined a group of countries, including the US and Jordan, in conducting airdrops of aid over Gaza. The US also has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Displaced Palestinians living in tents along the Mediterranean coast remained hungry and bleak. The situation is so bad that no one can imagine it, and the ship, even if it helps, will be a drop in the ocean, said Zahr Saqr in Muwasi. We run like dogs behind air drops. (AP) RUP RUP New York, Mar 16 (AP) Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Friday, weighing in for the first time since the former president became the presumptive GOP nominee. Pence ran against Trump for their party's nomination but dropped his bid before voting began last year. The decision makes Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former boss's bid to return to the Oval Office. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid. It also marks the end of a metamorphosis for Pence, who had long been seen as one of Trump's most loyal defenders but broke with his two-time running mate by refusing to go along with Trump's unconstitutional scheme to try to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. When Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, trying to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's win, Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters chanted, Hang Mike Pence! outside. In order to participate in the Republican primary debates, Pence was required to sign a pledge saying that he would support the party's eventual nominee. And during the first debate in Milwaukee, Pence was among the candidates who raised their hands when asked whether they would support Trump even if he were convicted in one of his four criminal indictments. But Pence had made clear he had come to harbour serious reservations about Trump's actions and his policy stances. I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again, he said during his campaign launch speech. As the campaign progressed, he raised alarms about the party's resistance to sending aid to Ukraine and called on his fellow Republicans to reject what he called the siren song of populism espoused by Trump and his followers. In the interview on Fox's "The Story with Martha MacCallum," Pence said he was incredibly proud of his and Trump's record in office, but said, During my presidential campaign I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues, and not just our difference on my Constitutional duties that I exercised on January the 6th." I mean, as I have watched his candidacy unfold, I've seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. I've seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life, he went on, also referencing what he called Trump's reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administration's effort to force the sale of the popular TikTok app. In each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And that's why I cannot in conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign," he said. Pence declined to say whom he would be voting for I'm going to keep my vote to myself, he said but made clear it wouldn't be Biden. I would never vote for Joe Biden," he said. I'm a Republican. (AP) PY PY Ahmedabad, Mar 16 (PTI) Eighteen Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad were on Saturday conferred Indian citizenship at a camp attended by Gujarat minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi. Gazette notifications of 2016 and 2018 empower the district collectors of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kutch in the state to grant Indian citizenship to people of minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, said an official release. With this, a total of 1167 Hindu refugees from Pakistan residing in Ahmedabad district have so far been granted Indian citizenship, it added. At the camp organised at the district collector's office, Sanghavi conferred Indian citizenship to the migrants and urged them to work together to realise the dream of a new India. "It is expected that all of you will be determined to participate in the development journey of the country," he said, adding the Central and state governments were committed to bringing all those who have obtained Indian citizenship to the mainstream of the society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have made special efforts for the suffering minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship easily and quickly, he said. Incidentally, on March 11, the Union government announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, paving the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. With this, the Modi government will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from the three countries. Bhopal, Mar 16 (PTI) Senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Kamal Nath asked party workers to put in laborious and honest efforts in the Lok Sabha polls, the schedule of which was announced on Saturday, as time was less. In a post on social media platform X, Nath told party functionaries their collective and organised strength will pull off a spectacular victory. Polls for the 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP will be held in four phases between April 19 and May 13. "I appeal to workers of the state and Chhindwara to work laboriously and honestly as the time is less," Nath, a former chief minister of MP, said. Take the work carried out by the Congress for the country, state and Chhindwara, and put forth the promise of the party in crystal clear words with enthusiasm across to the people, he added. "Our collective and organized strength will pull off a spectacular victory in the elections," the former Union Minister added. Chhindwara, which has been represented in the Lok Sabha by Nath nine times and is currently held by his son Nakul Nath, will go to the polls on April 19 on the first phase. Nakul Nath has been renominated by the Congress and will face the BJP's Vivek Sahu. Incidentally, Chhindwara was the only seat the Congress managed to win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the rest were swept by the BJP. The evacuation of people from the border areas of Sumy region continues. Over the past three days, more than 180 residents have left the Velykopysarivska community of the Okhtyrka district alone. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Sumy Regional Military Administration. Currently, 4523 people, including 829 children, have already evacuated from the region's dangerous areas. "The community has organized the evacuation of the population. All of them have expressed a desire to move to safer places. The Regional Military Administration, in cooperation with the military and law enforcement, is organizing evacuation measures. Everyone is provided with comprehensive support," the RMA said. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, the head of the RMA, Volodymyr Artiukh, together with the head of the Velykopysarivska community and the heads of other settlements, agreed on plans for further actions regarding evacuation routes and the safety of the population. The largest number of people, 84 (including 20 children), left Velyka Pysarivka after the massive shelling of the community. The shelling of the community on March 11-15 killed 3 people and injured 13, including 5 children. As of March 15, all residents of 22 settlements located in three districts of 6 territorial communities that were subject to evacuation have left. "Once again, we urge residents of border settlements to take care of their safety. Contact the local authorities and move to safer places," the RMA summarized. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, on March 13, the occupiers attacked Sumy with Shahed kamikaze drones. There were explosions: a drone hit an apartment building. Preliminarily, 30 apartments were damaged in the five-story building, 15 of which were destroyed. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, on Wednesday, March 13, the Russian army once again attacked the border area of Sumy region. One person was killed. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Bhopal, Mar 16 (PTI) Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, Ajay Pratap Singh, on Saturday said he has resigned from the party's primary membership, saying he was not happy with the ruling outfit's process of selecting candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Singh shared his resignation letter in a post on his official X account on Saturday morning. "I am resigning from the primary membership of the party," he stated in the one-line letter addressed to BJP chief J P Nadda. He didn't mention any reason behind his resignation in the letter. Singh was nominated to the Upper House of Parliament by the BJP in March 2018. His tenure as Rajya Sabha member will end on April 2. He was not re-nominated by the party. Talking to reporters, Singh expressed displeasure over the party's process of selecting candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He said although he wanted to contest from the Sidhi Lok Sabha seat, the BJP fielded Rajesh Mishra from there. Guwahati, Mar 16 (PTI) The ruling BJP of Assam has welcomed the three-phased polls for the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state but the opposition Congress said that the first phase on April 19 was too close to the state's most important festival of Rongali Bihu. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this time Assam will go out to ensure ''Abki Baar400Paar'', referring to the BJP-led NDA's all-India target of winning at least 400 seats. ''Peace and progress have taken firm roots in the state & #VikisitAssam is a guarantee during #PhirEkBaarModiSarkar'', Sarma posted on X along with the schedule of the polls in the state. He further said, ''Since 2014, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji has delivered for Assam what was once deemed impossible''. Tourism Minister Jayanta Malla Barua told reporters that the timetable announced by the Election Commission was ''good for us as it has been scheduled after the Rongali Bihu festival''. ''The EC has kept in mind that the festival is held from April 13 to 15. The first phase of polling will be on April 19 when the festive fervour will come down," he said. There will be enough time for campaigning for the second and third phases after the festival, he added. Congress leader Debabrata Saikia, however, said that the first phase of polling is too close to the festival which is very important for the people of the state. ''This will most likely result in less voting and perhaps the government wants just that'', the leader of the opposition in the assembly said. In the first phase on April 19, five constituencies- Kaziranga, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur will go to the polls. In the second phase on April 26, too, polling will be held in five constituencies- Darrang-Udalguri, Diphu (ST), Karimganj, Silchar (SC) and Nagaon will In the third and final phase on May 7, polling will be held in Kokrajhar (ST), Dhubri, Barpeta and Guwahati constituencies. Votes will be counted on June 4. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the BJP has nine seats, Congress three and AIUDF one, while there is one independent legislator from Assam. New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Asserting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is fully prepared for the general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the opposition as "rudderless" and "issueless" and expressed confidence about retaining power. Soon after the Election Commission announced the seven-phase schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, Modi, in a series of posts on X, highlighted the "glorious turnaround" India has seen in the 10 years of his government and said the ruling alliance will go to people based on its track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors. "The biggest festival of democracy is here! EC has announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. We, the BJP-NDA, are fully prepared for elections," he said with the hashtag 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' ('once again Modi government'). Reiterating his confidence about winning the polls, the prime minister said the war against poverty and corruption will go on at an even faster pace in his third term and the emphasis on social justice will be strong. There is much work to be done in the third term, he said. "The last decade was about filling gaps created by those who ruled for 70 years. It was also about instilling a spirit of self-confidence that yes, India can become prosperous and self-reliant. We will build on this spirit," Modi said. "We are going to work towards making India the third largest global economy. We will further cement our effort for fulfilling the dreams of the youth." Prime Minister Modi claimed that 10 years ago before the BJP came to power at the Centre, the people of India were feeling betrayed and disillusioned "thanks to INDI Alliance's pathetic governance". No sector was left untouched from scams and policy paralysis and the world had given up on India, he said. "From there, it has been a glorious turnaround." In a swipe at the opposition, he said it is "rudderless and issueless". "All they can do is abuse us and practise vote-bank politics. Their dynastic approach and attempts to divide society are not being accepted. Equally hurting them is their corruption track record. People don't want such leadership," Modi said. Powered by 140 crore Indians, the nation is creating new records of development, he said. "We have become the fifth largest economy and crores of people have been freed from poverty. Our schemes have reached all parts of India and the emphasis on saturation has yielded great results," Modi said. People are witnessing what a determined, focused and result-oriented government can do, he said and added that they want more of it. "That is why from every corner of India, cutting across all sections of society, the people are saying in one voice- 'Ab Ki Baar, 400 Paar'," he said. Modi said he can see that the coming five years will be about the collective resolve of establishing the roadmap that will guide the nation's trajectory for the next 1,000 years and make India the embodiment of prosperity, all-round growth and global leadership. The prime minister said he derives great strength from people's blessings, especially the poor, farmers, youth and women. When they say they are Modi's family, it fills him with joy and makes him work harder to build a developed India, he said. Now is the era to make it happen and "together we will," he said, underlining his slogan "yahi samay hai, sahi samay hai" (this is the right time). New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday stressed the need for a mechanism to check "unaccounted" donations while also ensuring donors' privacy is protected and they are not harassed. Responding to a question on electoral bonds during the press conference to announce the schedule for Lok Sabha elections, Kumar said, "As far as electoral bonds are concerned, the Commission has always been in favour of transparency". "In democracy, there is no scope for hiding things, it is all about making everybody know, we are all for transparency. This is the first part of the exercise that it must be known, the country now has to ask and find solutions through an institutional mechanism where the donor's privacy is also considered," he said. In its landmark verdict on February 15, the top court had scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it "unconstitutional" and ordered disclosure by the EC of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients. Kumar said, "The unaccounted money which is used in the elections... during the elections we are very particular to control it but how do we also control the donations in the unaccounted form is something which the entire nation needs to work together... the donor's privacy is also protected so he is not harassed, how the money is channelised and how it is more and more white." The CEC expressed confidence that a "better" system will evolve. "In the digital age... it should be very very low cash economy... therefore one has to think of it and I am sure a better system will evolve," Kumar added. The CEC said that the Election Commission has made it compulsory for all political parties to inform it about the contributions they are receiving. The parties are also supposed to declare how much they have collected and how much they have spent in the annual accounts. "Also after every election they are supposed to give us an account of what they have spent during the particular action...we also publish this on the website of the Commission for everyone to know what is happening," he said. Following the Supreme Court directive, the State Bank of India (SBI), which was the authorised seller of electoral bonds, shared the data with the poll panel on March 12. The top court had given the Election Commission time till 5 pm on March 15 to upload the data on its website. The SBI said a total of 22,217 electoral bonds of varying denominations were purchased by donors between April 1, 2019, and February 15 this year, out of which 22,030 were redeemed by political parties. The Supreme Court, however, pulled up the SBI on Friday over non-disclosure of the numbers unique to each electoral bond that would help in matching donors with the recipient political party, saying it was "duty bound" to reveal them. The top court also issued a notice to the country's largest bank to explain the reasons for not revealing the unique alphanumeric numbers in compliance with its directions even as a political row erupted over the electoral bonds scheme. The CEC did not respond to a question about non-disclosure of the unique numbers. New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a five-day visit to Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia beginning March 23 with an aim to boost bilateral ties and discuss regional issues of "mutual concern". Jaishankar's first destination is expected to be Singapore. "External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, at the invitation of his counterparts, will be on an official visit to Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia from March 23 to 27," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a brief statement on Saturday. "The visit will focus on enhancing bilateral relations with the three countries, and would provide an opportunity for engagement on regional issues of mutual concern," it said. The overall situation in the strategic waters, including the South China Sea and Red Sea, are likely to figure in Jaishankar's talks with his counterparts in the three countries. There have been growing global concerns over China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims. India and many other democratic countries have been pressing for peaceful settlement of the disputes and for adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea). The defence and strategic ties between India and the Philippines have been on an upswing in the last few years. In January 2022, India sealed a USD 375 million deal with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of the missile. The supplies of the missiles to the Southeast Asian country are set to begin soon. Jaishankar and his counterparts in the three countries may also exchange views on the current situation arising out of the Houthi militants targeting various cargo vessels in the Red Sea and other strategic waterways in the region. Moradabad (UP), Mar 16 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday attacked the previous governments stating that they "imposed curfews" while the double engine government "held kanwar yatras". The chief minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth Rs 513 crore in the district. "How can we talk of development and don't discuss education and health in it. Previous governments did the same. They first spoiled the system of education and destroyed the arguments for health,' he said in his address at the event. "They made businessmen and daughters insecure. Riots began to happen. The curfews and riots surrounded the state and a problem of identity crisis appeared before the youth. Entrepreneurs started leaving the state. Nepotism entered into development works and slowly this state with unlimited potential lost its identity." Adityanath went on to add, "The previous governments imposed curfews, we started kanwar yatras. They looted earnings and provided jobs to the youth. We have also ended the wait of 500 years by building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya." While the chief minister addressed the rally in Moradabad, the programme was also linked online to a public event in Mirzapur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath spoke of the development works being done in the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and appealed to the people to vote for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out searches at six places in the city against a cartel allegedly trading in fake artwork and generating fake authenticity and provenance certificates, involving several prominent art galleries and individuals. In a statement, the ED said it conducted the searches under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at six locations in Mumbai on March 13 in a case involving Rajesh Rajpal and others. Digital devices and incriminating documents were seized during the searches and the seized items highlighted the operations of the cartel, including trading in fake artwork, generating fake authenticity and provenance certificates and transferring money through cash, with the involvement of prominent art galleries and individuals, the statement said. The ED initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered at the Tardeo police station under various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, wherein one Puneet Bhatia had alleged that Rajpal and Vishwang Desai had conspired to financially dupe him by defrauding him to the tune of Rs 17.9 crore through the sale of fake paintings along with forged and fabricated certificates. During the searches, the ED unearthed a cartel allegedly involving a prominent art gallery in south Mumbai, ace corporate lawyers and bullion traders, wherein fake artwork of original paintings was passed off as genuine. These included artwork of "national treasures" -- Jamini Roy, M F Husain, F N Souza, Jahangir Sabavala, S H Raza, N S Bendre, Ram Kumar and others. It has come to light that the cartel operated with the help of people falsely claiming links with royal kingdoms, antique art collectors and small-time artists who created these fake replicas and projected those as authentic with the help of fake certificates of authenticity, provenance and affidavit of ownership, the statement said. The money trail has revealed that amounts received were sent by domestic "hawala" operators to the members of the cartel in the form of commission or free and discounted artwork. Cash so generated from the sale of fake artwork was used to purchase antiques in connivance with bullion traders. Such antiques were then sold at auctions through reputed auction houses, proceeds of which were received in bank accounts, the statement said. Further investigation is under progress, the agency added. Chandigarh, Mar 16 (PTI) Polling for Haryana's Karnal assembly seat, which fell vacant following the resignation of former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, will be held on May 25. Khattar resigned as an MLA from the Karnal assembly seat, which he won twice in 2014 and 2019, on Wednesday after he was replaced by OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini as the chief minister. Khattar has been named as the BJP candidate from the Karnal Lok Sabha constituency. While vacating the Karnal assembly seat for Saini, Khattar had said newly appointed Chief Minister Saini will "take care" of the constituency now. "During the past nine-and-a-half years, I served as the Leader of the House. I will serve the people of Haryana till my last breath," Khattar had said. Khattar had won the Karnal seat in 2014 after defeating the Independent candidate by a margin of 63,773 votes. In 2019, Khattar retained the seat by trouncing the Congress nominee. After Khattar was chosen for the post of chief minister in 2014, Karnal received the tag of 'CM city'. Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning from April 19 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4. Polling to Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will take place on May 25. The by-election to the Karnal assembly seat will also be held on the same day. Karnal, located on Delhi-Ambala GT road, is famous for production of wheat, rice and milk. New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) The Indian Forest Service Association (IFSA) has written to the Meghalaya chief secretary, demanding a CBI inquiry into the death of the state's chief conservator of forests N Luikham. The top forest officer allegedly died by suicide at his residence on Wednesday. Secretary general of the IFSA, Suneesh Buxy, in a letter to Meghalaya Chief Secretary Donland Phillips Wahlang, said that one of the factors behind the officer taking his own life was the allegation of sexual harassment by an officer working in the Meghalaya government. "It is further learned that the late N Luikham underwent a lot of mental trauma and agony because of these fabricated allegations backed by some powerful mining lobby in the state. It is also learned that nothing substantive has been found against the officer in the said case," Buxy wrote in the letter, a copy of which was marked to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Buxy said that the circumstances surrounding the officer's death raise serious questions and urged the state chief secretary to assign the matter to the CBI for a detailed and impartial inquiry, and stringent action for acts of abetment or negligence, to prevent such incidents from recurring. The IFSA said that Luikham was an outstanding officer with high integrity and moral character. "His untimely demise is a blow to the battle for the conservation of natural resources," it said. Lucknow, Mar 16 (PTI) A MP-MLA court here on Saturday ordered the Wazirganj Police Station to file an FIR against former SP politician Swami Prasad Maurya for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments with a statement against goddess Lakshmi. Special Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ambrish Kumar Srivastava ordered the probe against former Samajwadi Party general secretary Maurya over a statement he made on X, as well as to the media. The complainant, Ragini Rastogi, alleged that a statement of his published on November 15 last year in newspapers hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus. According to her complaint, Maurya in a post also on X said that while people across religions were born with two hands and two legs, how can Lakshmi be born with four hands. The complainant alleged that Maurya has on several occasions hurt the sentiments of Hindus by making similar statements. The Russian terrorist army may be preparing for a new offensive in the summer of 2024. Throughout the spring, Russian troops will also continue to exert pressure along the entire front line to destabilize Ukrainian defensive positions. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, Western assistance is likely to play a crucial role in Ukraine's ability to hold the territory now and repel a new Russian offensive in the coming months. This is stated in the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War. According to analysts, the terrorist country Russia is trying to maintain the pace of its offensive operations along the entire front line. The enemy is concentrating its main efforts on advancing west of Avdiivka. Every day, the occupiers conduct mechanized and infantry attacks on this section of the frontline, trying to break through Ukraine's defense. The ISW noted that the lack of weapons caused by delays in Western aid forces Ukraine to prioritize limited resources in critical areas of the front, increasing the risk of a Russian breakthrough in other parts of the front. The shortage of weapons makes the front line as a whole more fragile than it appears despite the current relatively slow pace of the Russian offensive. ADVERTISIMENT Moreover, Putin's forces intend to try to take advantage of Ukraine's vulnerability this spring and summer. Analysts believe that Russian troops will attempt a breakthrough before difficult weather and terrain conditions in the spring limit effective mechanized maneuver on both sides of the front. At the same time, Russian troops may try to maintain the momentum of their offensive, regardless of the difficult weather and terrain conditions, to take advantage of the lack of Ukrainian equipment before the promised Western aid arrives. At the same time, Ukrainian and Western officials are increasingly warning of both a significant shortage of military equipment and a new large-scale Russian offensive in the summer of 2024. To date, the intentions of a Russian offensive in the summer of 2024 are not yet clear and probably will not be until Russian troops launch it. However, the ISW is confident that the military command of the terrorist country intends to benefit from any successes it achieves in the coming weeks. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine can stop the aggressor's efforts if they have enough resources both for defense and for their own assault operations. As reported, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi is currently developing two options for a plan for further actions of our army at the front. Which of them will be implemented will depend on whether the country receives assistance from the United States. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) A court here on Saturday sought an action taken report from the Delhi Police on a plea filed for summoning and prosecution of a sub-inspector who shoved and kicked some people offering namaz on a road in north Delhi. The incident took place during a Friday prayer around 2 pm on March 8 near the Inderlok Metro Station. The act of the policeman was captured on camera and the video has since gone viral on social media platforms. "Arguments heard. Let an action taken report be called from the concerned deputy commissioner of police (DCP) for May 1," Metropolitan Magistrate Manoj Kaushal said. Advocate Faraz Khan in his complaint said the "nonsense act" of the accused disturbed the harmony and peace in society, besides violating the fundamental rights of the people. The plea sought the court's directions to summon and prosecute the accused and registering of a case against him. According to police, the sub-inspector had been suspended immediately. Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 16 (PTI) The fight is already set in Thiruvananthapuram, one of the 20 Parliament constituencies in Kerala, which is considered the political nerve centre of the state. Shashi Tharoor, a stalwart of the United Democratic Front (UDF), is vying for his fourth consecutive term representing his constituency. The election is scheduled on April 26. Tharoor faces formidable opposition from Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the NDA, known for his expertise in technology and politics, as well as Pannian Raveendran of the LDF, a champion of the common man known for his soft-spoken demeanour. Raveendran previously served as the constituency's representative in a 2005 by-election following the demise of the incumbent MP, P K Vasudevan Nair, also from the LDF. The fight is between two highly-articulate, foreign-educated, flamboyant candidates of the UDF and NDA and the local leader, who hits the streets with a common man's demeanor. Thiruvananthapuram has always been shifting its allegiance between the UDF and LDF as both parties managed to win seats for equal terms in past elections. However, after Tharoor started contesting from the seat, with his 'Global Citizen' and the god-fearing, temple-going, believer images, the rivals had little chance of regaining the seat. Tharoor, however, had to sweat it out in the 2014 general elections, when he saw a deep decline in his margin compared to the 2009 victory. In 2014, Tharoor managed to scrape through with a meagre margin of about 16,000 votes to his rival candidate, O Rajagopal of the NDA, when the BJP-led alliance managed to secure a second position in the constituency for the first time. However, five years later, the Congress leader managed to bring back his days of glory with a victory by a margin of nearly one lakh votes against the second-place finisher, Kummanam Rajasekharan of the NDA. The NDA is mainly eyeing the majority Hindu votes in the constituency, which comes to around 76.8 percent of the voter list as per the 2019 election statistics. Both LDF and UDF are focussing on the Hindu majority votes and, at the same time, are also looking to tap into the Christian (14 percent) and Muslim (9.1 percent) votes in the constituency that may get consolidated against the BJP. Thiruvananthapuram has a majority of urban voters, and past voting patterns show that there is a considerable number of neutral voters who vote based on the capacity of the candidate over political affiliations. Tharoor rides on the hope that his global image will help him win the constituency for the fourth time. The NDA, on the other hand, is trying to cash in on the 'non-performance' of the three term MP and trying to woo the urban elitists and neutral voters with the foreign educated Chandrasekhar. NDA's candidate selection was done with the utmost care, as the BJP wanted a candidate who could take on Tharoor in full steam. Raveendran, on the other hand, hopes his work as an MP for the constituency during the 20052009 period will help him and that the people will reject both the UDF and NDA candidates this time. The elections this year will be mostly dependent on the swing in neutral votes and also on how the minority coastal Christian belt and Muslim voters decide to vote. Hyderabad, Mar 16 (PTI) The Congress and the BRS together shattered every dream of Telangana's development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, hitting out at the opposition parties. Addressing a rally in Nagarkurnool, he said 25 crore people were lifted out of poverty in the country. The same change has to be brought in in Telangana by all of us together. "The Congress and the BRS together shattered every dream of Telangana's developmentToday I see here that Telangana people have decided they want to bring back Modi for the third time," he said. Even before the announcement of the poll schedule, people have given their decision on the NDA crossing 400 seats, Modi said. Hitting out at the Congress, the Prime Minister said the party gave the 'Garibi Hatao' slogan and asked if any change had come in the lives of the poor. Gurugram, Mar 15 (PTI) In a dispute between two directors of a private company over an ongoing case, one of them allegedly assaulted the other and threatened to kill him during a party at a club here, police said on Friday. An FIR has been registered against Mukesh Kumar Kulari and his friend following a complaint by his co-director Mani Varshney, they added. According to the police, the incident took place on Wednesday around 9.15 pm at a club in 32nd Milestone here during a party organised by a software company. Varshney and Kulari, both the directors of a private company, were present at the party, they said. According to Varshney's complaint, Kulari came to him and allegedly threatened him to withdraw an ongoing case. When he refused, Kulari allegedly thrashed him. His friend Aditya also allegedly punched him, the complainant said. People present there intervened and separated them but the accused duo allegedly threatened to kill him, Varshney added. Based on the victim's complaint, an FIR was registered at the Civil Lines police station here against Kulari and Aditya under sections 323 (causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code on Thursday, the police said. "We have sought the CCTV footage from the club premises and are investigating the case from all angles. The accused will be arrested soon," said a senior police officer. FILE - A woman walks by a Yale sign reflected in the rainwater on the Yale University campus, Aug. 22, 2021, in New Haven, Conn. Connecticut lawmakers are considering banning the use of legacy and donor preferences in admissions to all colleges and universities across the state, including private ones like Yale University. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) FILE - Construction crews work on the eastbound lanes of the Washington Bridge in Providence, R.I., Aug. 4, 2007. The bridge, that was partially shut down over safety concerns in December, will need to be replaced, Gov. Dan McKee said Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, file) Westerly, RI (02891) Today Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 37F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Billions of pounds were wiped off the value of Reckitt Benckiser after it was ordered to pay 50million to the mother of a premature baby who died after being fed its Enfamil baby formula. Reckitt shares in the consumer goods giant, which also owns brands such as Nurofen, Dettol and Durex, tumbled 14.6 per cent to their lowest level since 2014 following the judgment from an Illinois court. This wiped 5billion off the FTSE 100 company's value amid fears it could face a wave of costly payouts relating to Enfamil. Hit: A jury found Mead Johnson, the Reckitt arm responsible for baby formula, negligent and of failing to warn of the risk of intestinal disease known as necrotising enterocolitis A jury found Mead Johnson, the Reckitt arm responsible for baby formula, negligent and of failing to warn of the risk of intestinal disease known as necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Following the decision, the business will need to pay 50million which includes compensation to Jasmine Watson, the baby's mother. Mead Johnson has said it plans to appeal the decision. But Ben Whiting, partner at Keller Postman, the law firm that represented the mother, said: 'This verdict confirms what Mead Johnson has known for years: cow's milk-based baby formula causes NEC in pre-term infants, often with fatal consequences.' The verdict is the first trial of more than 400 lawsuits in the US against Reckitt and its competitor Abbott claiming that they caused NEC with their formulas. Susannah Streeter, head of money at broker Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'This ruling has come at a bad time for Reckitt which had already been struggling with falling volumes across its household goods and hygiene ranges. 'It's not simply the size of this payout which has caused nervousness, but the fact a long line of other lawsuits is pending, which could mount up to be huge sum for the company.' The reputational damage caused by the lawsuit is problematic for the group, Streeter added. The judgment comes less than a month after profits hit 2.5billion for 2023, down 22 per cent compared to the year before. A Chinese retailer has become the second foreign predator in a week to abandon plans to buy Currys. Online giant JD.com said it would not make a formal bid for the High Street electrical retailer less than a month after expressing its interest. Its decision to walk away came days after Currys fought off a separate bid from US hedge fund Elliott Advisors. Walking away: With both suitors ending their interest, Currys shares fell 3.9 per cent, or 2.3p, to 56.6p and are down almost 20 per cent since late last month The New York-based activist investor, which owns book shop Waterstones, pulled out of the race after being rejected 'multiple times'. With both suitors ending their interest, Currys shares fell 3.9 per cent, or 2.3p, to 56.6p and are down almost 20 per cent since late last month when hopes of a bidding war were at their peak. But the failure of both JD.com and Elliott to get a deal over the line is the latest sign that British boards are taking a stand against foreign predators. This week Direct Line revealed it had shrugged off a second offer from Belgian insurance group Ageas. Elliott initially proposed an offer that valued Currys at 700million, or 62p a share, and raised it to 757million, 67p a share. But Currys rebuffed these approaches, saying they 'significantly undervalued the company and its future prospects'. JD.com said its decision was made after 'careful consideration'. JO Hambro Capital Management, a top ten shareholder in Currys, last week said the value of the bids showed the 'absurdity' of the UK stock market. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund (NYSE:NXG Get Free Report) is one of 1,263 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund to similar companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund 0 0 0 0 N/A NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors 1101 4796 6199 83 2.43 As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 68.98%. Given NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Funds peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Institutional & Insider Ownership Dividends 38.4% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.6% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund pays an annual dividend of $5.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 13.5%. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund pays out -2,137.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.3% and pay out 580.7% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Valuation and Earnings This table compares NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund -$28.13 million N/A -158.25 NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors $343.14 million $49.50 million 489.40 NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Funds peers have higher revenue and earnings than NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Profitability This table compares NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund N/A N/A N/A NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors 341.73% 7.80% 5.01% Summary NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund peers beat NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund on 8 of the 10 factors compared. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Cushing MLP Asset Management, LP. The fund invests in stocks of companies across the energy supply chain spectrum, including upstream, midstream and downstream energy companies, as well as oil and gas services and logistics companies, energy-intensive chemical, metal and industrial and manufacturing companies and engineering and construction companies. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund was formed in 2012 and is domiciled in the United States. Receive News & Ratings for NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. US President Joe Biden's administration commented on reports that European countries are discussing the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine. They said that they would not object to proposals from other NATO countries to deploy their troops in Ukraine and emphasized that this is a sovereign decision of each country. ADVERTISIMENT White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said at a briefing on Friday, March 15, that he could only speak for the United States and that the country would not send troops to Ukraine. His words were quoted by the Ukrinform news agency. At the same time, he emphasized that the White House is not asking other countries, such as France, to "stop talking about sending troops to Ukraine." When asked whether the United States opposes other countries doing so, the White House spokesman said that this is a sovereign decision that is evaluated and made by each nation. At the same time, he noted that the United States continues to stand by the position announced earlier by Biden. "I can only speak on behalf of this sovereign nation (the United States - Ed.) and this commander-in-chief. He has made it clear that we will not deploy our troops (in Ukraine - Ed.)," Biden's adviser said. ADVERTISIMENT As reported, the day before, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he did not rule out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine. According to him, Paris "does not rule out such a scenario." Earlier, the media reported tha Macron privately said that France could send troops to Odesa. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas also said that she could not guarantee that Tallinn would not send its military to Ukraine. She emphasized that "circumstances may change" and would not make any promises. Shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the nine brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $55.54. DAL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. TheStreet raised Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Price Performance NYSE DAL opened at $43.13 on Monday. Delta Air Lines has a one year low of $30.60 and a one year high of $49.81. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $40.63 and a 200 day moving average of $38.55. The company has a market capitalization of $27.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.03, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.39. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $14.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.55 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 46.35% and a net margin of 7.94%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.48 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines will post 6.57 EPS for the current year. Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.93%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is presently 5.59%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Delta Air Lines news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $2,816,128.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 428,768 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,807,705.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.89% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Delta Air Lines Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $502,000. Main Street Group LTD bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. increased its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 495.7% during 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 396.6% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 720 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 575 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.29% of the companys stock. About Delta Air Lines (Get Free Report Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Recommended Stories 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. Imperial Oil Limited (TSE:IMO Free Report) (NYSEMKT:IMO) Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q4 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Imperial Oil in a research report issued on Tuesday, March 12th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $1.54 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $1.53. The consensus estimate for Imperial Oils current full-year earnings is $8.34 per share. Get Imperial Oil alerts: Imperial Oil (TSE:IMO Get Free Report) (NYSEMKT:IMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The company reported C$2.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$2.08 by C$0.39. Imperial Oil had a return on equity of 21.91% and a net margin of 9.64%. The company had revenue of C$13.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$16.57 billion. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. National Bankshares upped their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$89.00 to C$90.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Desjardins upped their price target on Imperial Oil from C$77.00 to C$86.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$82.00 to C$85.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Imperial Oil from C$78.00 to C$80.00 in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Imperial Oil from C$97.00 to C$94.00 in a report on Monday, February 12th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Imperial Oil presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$87.46. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on IMO Imperial Oil Price Performance IMO stock opened at C$91.36 on Thursday. Imperial Oil has a 1 year low of C$60.19 and a 1 year high of C$92.62. The firm has a market capitalization of C$48.95 billion, a PE ratio of 10.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$80.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$79.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.49, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Imperial Oil Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.60 per share. This is a positive change from Imperial Oils previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. Imperial Oils payout ratio is presently 28.27%. About Imperial Oil (Get Free Report) Imperial Oil Limited engages in exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for, and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic crude oil, and bitumen. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, blending of refined products, and the distribution and marketing of refined products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Imperial Oil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Imperial Oil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $90.00. Several research analysts have recently commented on TXT shares. Bank of America upgraded Textron from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $85.00 to $105.00 in a report on Friday, March 8th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Textron from $102.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating and issued a $98.00 target price on shares of Textron in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. UBS Group raised their price objective on Textron from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Textron from $84.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Get Textron alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Textron Institutional Inflows and Outflows Textron Price Performance Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its holdings in Textron by 6.6% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 29,493 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,194,000 after purchasing an additional 1,826 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its holdings in shares of Textron by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 55,591 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $4,331,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Textron by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 26,689 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,985,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Textron by 0.8% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,503,096 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,748,161,000 after purchasing an additional 177,502 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Textron by 52.6% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,506 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 519 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.92% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE TXT opened at $92.91 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.29. Textron has a 52 week low of $61.27 and a 52 week high of $93.45. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of $80.19. 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 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.97 billion. Textron had a net margin of 6.73% and a return on equity of 16.05%. The businesss revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.07 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Textron will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Textron Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.02 dividend. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Textrons payout ratio is presently 1.75%. 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. See Also 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. Shares of Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE:OVV Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the thirteen brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $53.47. OVV has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Ovintiv from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. Mizuho cut their price target on Ovintiv from $67.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Ovintiv from $48.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Ovintiv from $63.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, National Bankshares reduced their target price on Ovintiv from $69.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Get Ovintiv alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on OVV Ovintiv Price Performance Ovintiv Announces Dividend Shares of NYSE OVV opened at $50.46 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.40, a PEG ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 2.66. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $44.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.44. Ovintiv has a 12 month low of $32.07 and a 12 month high of $51.91. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.38%. Ovintivs payout ratio is presently 15.21%. Insider Buying and Selling at Ovintiv In other news, EVP Renee Ellen Zemljak sold 76,264 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.96, for a total value of $3,886,413.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,672 shares in the company, valued at $1,206,325.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Renee Ellen Zemljak sold 76,264 shares of Ovintiv stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.96, for a total transaction of $3,886,413.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 23,672 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,206,325.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Rachel Maureen Moore sold 9,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.65, for a total transaction of $471,045.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 52,557 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,662,012.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 91,564 shares of company stock worth $4,660,818. Insiders own 1.70% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Ovintiv by 10.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,029,983 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,285,816,000 after buying an additional 2,484,554 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Ovintiv by 52.6% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 26,756,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,018,603,000 after buying an additional 9,221,114 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in Ovintiv by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 22,877,626 shares of the companys stock worth $1,088,289,000 after acquiring an additional 507,562 shares in the last quarter. EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI L.P. purchased a new position in Ovintiv during the 2nd quarter valued at about $559,852,000. Finally, EnCap Energy Capital Fund X L.P. acquired a new position in Ovintiv in the 2nd quarter valued at about $380,527,000. 98.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Ovintiv (Get Free Report Ovintiv Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores, develops, produces, and markets natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States and Canada. The company operates through USA Operations, Canadian Operations, and Market Optimization segments. Its principal assets include Permian in west Texas and Anadarko in west-central Oklahoma; and Montney in northeast British Columbia and northwest Alberta. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ovintiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ovintiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fragasso Group Inc. cut its position in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHQ Free Report) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,455 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,134 shares during the quarter. Fragasso Group Inc.s holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF were worth $728,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF in the third quarter valued at about $72,530,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 7.8% in the third quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 13,822,335 shares of the companys stock valued at $691,620,000 after buying an additional 1,002,069 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 125.4% during the third quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,233,177 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,708,000 after buying an additional 686,116 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 58.2% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,446,073 shares of the companys stock worth $72,954,000 after buying an additional 531,769 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF by 10.4% during the 3rd quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 5,552,952 shares of the companys stock worth $277,870,000 after buying an additional 524,331 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of NYSEARCA SPHQ opened at $59.16 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.07 and a beta of 0.94. Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF has a twelve month low of $44.48 and a twelve month high of $60.05. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $57.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.46. About Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF The Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap stocks selected by return on equity, changes in net operating assets and financial leverage. Stocks are weighted by these quality factors, scaled by market cap. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tompkins Financial Corp trimmed its position in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 2.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,962 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 50 shares during the period. Tompkins Financial Corps holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $514,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ITW. V Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. V Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,347 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $337,000 after purchasing an additional 43 shares in the last quarter. City Holding Co. raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 8,057 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,856,000 after purchasing an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,066 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Mcdonald Partners LLC now owns 4,796 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,104,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 992 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.56% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works In other news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,827 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.29, for a total value of $1,493,401.83. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at $2,273,292.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total value of $205,392.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,505,185.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 152,304 shares of company stock worth $38,860,831. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have recently issued reports on ITW. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Bank of America lowered Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $260.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Barclays boosted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Finally, 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 company from $277.00 to $240.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $245.50. Get Our Latest Report on ITW Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.8 % ITW stock opened at $266.92 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $258.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $246.73. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $217.06 and a fifty-two 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. The firm has a market cap of $79.76 billion, a PE ratio of 27.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.51 and a beta of 1.13. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $3.98 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 96.60% and a net margin of 18.36%. Illinois Tool Workss revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.34 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a $1.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is presently 57.49%. Illinois Tool Works Company Profile (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. See Also 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. Conifex Timber Inc. (TSE:CFF Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as C$0.55 and last traded at C$0.55, with a volume of 2000 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.57. Conifex Timber Trading Down 3.5 % The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$0.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 53.74. The company has a market cap of C$22.19 million, a PE ratio of -0.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 1.49. 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 Articles 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. China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CYYHF Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 40.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $0.33 and last traded at $0.33. 20,000 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 376% from the average session volume of 4,200 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.23. China Yongda Automobiles Services Price Performance The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $0.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.37. About China Yongda Automobiles Services (Get Free Report) China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, operates as a passenger vehicle retailer and service provider in the People's Republic of China. It operates through Passenger Vehicle Sales and Services and Automobile Operating Lease Services segments. The company focuses on luxury and ultra-luxury brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for China Yongda Automobiles Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Yongda Automobiles Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Traverso Chambers Private Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 683 shares of the companys stock after selling 22 shares during the period. Traverso Chambers Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $398,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in LLY. Thompson Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Retirement Group LLC raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 159.1% in the second quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 57 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the third quarter worth approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently weighed in on LLY. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $650.00 to $850.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $815.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. DZ Bank lowered shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $677.62. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of LLY stock opened at $754.17 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $323.26 and a 1 year high of $800.78. The firms fifty day moving average price is $708.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $624.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $716.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 130.23, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. The companys revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.09 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 34,538 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $631.81, for a total transaction of $21,821,453.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,719,884 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,004,019,910.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock worth $125,254,657 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company 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; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Featured Articles 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. Traverso Chambers Private Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Free Report) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,454 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 506 shares during the period. Traverso Chambers Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $1,778,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Macroview Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 7,833.3% during the 3rd quarter. Macroview Investment Management LLC now owns 238 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 235 shares during the period. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 290.9% during the 3rd quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 387 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the period. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 3rd quarter worth about $58,000. Finally, Robbins Farley raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 29.5% in the third quarter. Robbins Farley now owns 421 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. 68.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance JPM stock opened at $190.30 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $548.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1 year low of $123.11 and a 1 year high of $191.73. The stocks fifty day moving average is $177.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $160.72. Insider Buying and Selling at JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMorgan Chase & Co. ( NYSE:JPM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.73 by ($0.69). The company had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.73 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 17.80%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.57 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year. In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 6,030 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total value of $1,101,861.90. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 59,456 shares in the company, valued at $10,864,394.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 6,030 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $1,101,861.90. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 59,456 shares in the company, valued at $10,864,394.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now 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 three months, insiders have sold 845,383 shares of company stock worth $154,341,636. 0.79% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $191.00 to $221.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $192.00 to $194.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight equities 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 currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.11. View Our Latest Stock Analysis 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. Featured Articles 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. On Friday, March 15, an explosion occurred in the temporarily occupied Skadovsk near a so-called polling station. As a result, five of Putin's invaders were injured. ADVERTISIMENT The explosion occurred while the occupation forces were patrolling. This was reported by the National Resistance Center. Ukrainian patriots emphasized that they are preventing the terrorist country Russia from holding fake presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territories. The guerrillas staged an explosion in Skadovsk, Kherson region, on March 15 at about 15:00. The explosion occurred near the "polling station" as occupation troops were patrolling. As a result of the successful sabotage of the resistance movement, five occupiers were hospitalized. Moreover, the center of national resistance noted that due to the inability to ensure the safety of its personnel, the occupation administration of Skadovsk actually canceled the further holding of the "elections". Instead, the invaders organized the so-called voting at the place of residence. ADVERTISIMENT For their part, the Kremlin propagandists cynically lied that the explosion was allegedly aimed at civilians. According to the invaders' legend, the explosive device was planted in a garbage can and detonated when civilians were allegedly nearby. At the same time, the invaders remained silent about the injuries of five Russian soldiers. Russian propaganda also published photos of the aftermath of the explosion near the district house of culture, where the occupiers organized "elections." ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, construction workers from the aggressor country are being brought to the "elections" of the Russian president in occupied Mariupol. The invaders are trying to demonstrate the "high turnout" and "legitimacy" of the next election of Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Baldwin Brothers LLC MA cut its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Free Report) by 90.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,523 shares of the natural resource companys stock after selling 59,736 shares during the period. Baldwin Brothers LLC MAs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $278,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 0.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 119,369,409 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $4,451,285,000 after buying an additional 305,912 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 1.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 63,242,717 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $2,529,709,000 after purchasing an additional 887,136 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 6.5% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 59,495,524 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $2,379,818,000 after buying an additional 3,630,991 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 2.5% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,980,753 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $1,036,045,000 after buying an additional 642,288 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan by 4.2% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 17,756,034 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $662,123,000 after acquiring an additional 709,114 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.96% of the companys stock. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FCX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $41.00 to $48.50 in a research report on Monday, January 8th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Eight Capital set a $55.00 target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given 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 Hold and a consensus target price of $44.95. Freeport-McMoRan Stock Up 3.0 % Shares of NYSE:FCX opened at $44.62 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The businesss 50 day moving average is $39.35 and its 200 day moving average is $38.36. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 12-month low of $32.83 and a 12-month high of $44.90. The stock has a market cap of $64.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.13 and a beta of 2.02. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The natural resource company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.85 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 8.41%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Investors of record on Friday, January 12th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 11th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.34%. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.62%. 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. See Also 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. First Hawaiian Bank lowered its position in The Progressive Co. (NYSE:PGR Free Report) by 10.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,142 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 2,634 shares during the quarter. First Hawaiian Banks holdings in Progressive were worth $3,527,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Giverny Capital Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 2.9% during the third quarter. Giverny Capital Inc. now owns 501,431 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $69,849,000 after purchasing an additional 14,022 shares during the period. Confluence Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Progressive by 3.9% during the third quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,263,862 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $176,056,000 after purchasing an additional 47,658 shares in the last quarter. AIA Group Ltd increased its position in shares of Progressive by 4.9% during the third quarter. AIA Group Ltd now owns 155,427 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $21,651,000 after purchasing an additional 7,268 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its holdings in shares of Progressive by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 294,081 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $40,965,000 after acquiring an additional 14,720 shares during the period. Finally, Kinsale Capital Group Inc. raised its stake in Progressive by 32.5% during the third quarter. Kinsale Capital Group Inc. now owns 16,812 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,342,000 after purchasing an additional 4,124 shares during the period. 83.66% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Progressive alerts: Progressive Price Performance PGR opened at $204.88 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $183.47 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $163.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $119.99 billion, a PE ratio of 31.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.34. The Progressive Co. has a 52 week low of $111.41 and a 52 week high of $205.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. Progressive Dividend Announcement Progressive ( NYSE:PGR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The insurance provider reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.53. The firm had revenue of $16.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.10 billion. Progressive had a net margin of 6.28% and a return on equity of 21.25%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.52 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Progressive Co. will post 9.32 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 4th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 3rd. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.20%. Progressives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.08%. Analysts Set New Price Targets PGR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Progressive from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Raymond James downgraded shares of Progressive from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Progressive from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $144.00 to $176.00 in a report on Monday, December 18th. HSBC started coverage on Progressive in a research note on Thursday, December 28th. They set a hold rating and a $164.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Progressive from $111.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, November 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $176.17. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Progressive Insider Activity In other Progressive news, insider Karen Bailo sold 8,464 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total value of $1,603,843.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 32,342 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,128,485.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Progressive news, insider Patrick K. Callahan sold 29,675 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.26, for a total transaction of $5,645,965.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 15,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,889,859.14. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Karen Bailo sold 8,464 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $189.49, for a total transaction of $1,603,843.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 32,342 shares in the company, valued at $6,128,485.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 58,949 shares of company stock worth $10,671,740. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. About Progressive (Free Report) The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, business related general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PGR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Progressive Co. (NYSE:PGR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Progressive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progressive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Bank & Trust Co. lessened its stake in shares of Raymond James (NYSE:RJF Free Report) by 19.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 29,439 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 7,234 shares during the quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in Raymond James were worth $3,282,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its stake in Raymond James by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,419 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $365,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Raymond James by 32.9% during the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 416 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLC lifted its stake in Raymond James by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. SVB Wealth LLC now owns 2,046 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $206,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the period. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. lifted its stake in Raymond James by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 3,855 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $387,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares during the period. Finally, Greenleaf Trust lifted its stake in shares of Raymond James by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 3,683 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $370,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.00% of the companys stock. Get Raymond James alerts: Raymond James Trading Up 0.6 % Shares of RJF traded up $0.76 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $120.76. The stock had a trading volume of 1,343,236 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,043,976. The businesss fifty day moving average is $115.33 and its 200 day moving average is $107.90. Raymond James has a 52-week low of $82.00 and a 52-week high of $122.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $25.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.13, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.04. Raymond James Dividend Announcement Raymond James ( NYSE:RJF Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $2.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.25 by $0.15. Raymond James had a net margin of 12.81% and a return on equity of 17.95%. The company had revenue of $3.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.29 earnings per share. Raymond Jamess revenue for the quarter was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Raymond James will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.49%. Raymond Jamess dividend payout ratio is presently 22.56%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on RJF shares. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Raymond James from $116.00 to $115.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. TD Cowen started coverage on shares of Raymond James in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. They issued a market perform rating and a $121.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com cut shares of Raymond James from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Raymond James from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $110.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Raymond James from $106.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Raymond James currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $119.25. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on RJF Insider Transactions at Raymond James In other news, Director Art A. Garcia bought 879 shares of Raymond James stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $112.30 per share, with a total value of $98,711.70. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 879 shares in the company, valued at $98,711.70. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Art A. Garcia purchased 879 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $112.30 per share, for a total transaction of $98,711.70. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 879 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $98,711.70. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jonathan N. Santelli sold 1,891 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.91, for a total transaction of $211,621.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 21,491 shares in the company, valued at $2,405,057.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 9.74% of the companys stock. Raymond James Profile (Free Report) Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RJF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Raymond James (NYSE:RJF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Raymond James Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raymond James and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC Get Free Report) (NYSE:MFC) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$27.70 and traded as high as C$32.75. Manulife Financial shares last traded at C$32.74, with a volume of 5,348,663 shares. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have weighed in on MFC. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Manulife Financial from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from C$31.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Thursday, February 15th. CIBC upped their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$34.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$35.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. National Bankshares upped their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$29.00 to C$33.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Veritas Investment Research reiterated a reduce rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Friday, February 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Manulife Financial has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$35.80. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Manulife Financial Manulife Financial Stock Performance The company has a market cap of C$59.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.10. The companys 50-day moving average is C$30.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$27.75. The company has a quick ratio of 2.58, a current ratio of 3.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.69. Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC Get Free Report) (NYSE:MFC) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported C$0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.84 by C$0.08. The firm had revenue of C$14.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$10.24 billion. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 20.05% and a return on equity of 11.57%. Equities analysts predict that Manulife Financial Co. will post 3.6910936 EPS for the current year. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This is an increase from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.30%. Insider Activity at Manulife Financial In related news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$337,231.44. In other Manulife Financial news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$337,231.44. Also, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$108,664.92. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Manulife Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Bank & Trust Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO Free Report) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 53,829 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,120 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $6,998,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth about $28,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Valero Energy by 1,676.9% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in shares of Valero Energy in the 1st quarter worth $40,000. 77.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Valero Energy alerts: Valero Energy Trading Up 2.7 % VLO stock traded up $4.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $163.70. 9,134,365 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,470,407. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.56. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $104.18 and a one year high of $166.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.43 billion, a PE ratio of 6.62, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $139.38 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $133.83. Valero Energy Increases Dividend Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.76 billion. Valero Energy had a net margin of 6.10% and a return on equity of 31.62%. The firms revenue was down 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $8.45 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 15.34 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. This is a boost from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 31st. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 17.31%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have weighed in on VLO shares. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Valero Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.83. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Valero Energy Valero Energy Profile (Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt; aromatics; and sulfur crude oils. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (NYSE:BLX Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 130,700 shares, a decrease of 37.5% from the February 14th total of 209,000 shares. Currently, 0.5% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 129,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com lowered 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: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BLX Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Stock Down 0.0 % Shares of NYSE BLX traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $28.23. The company had a trading volume of 241,349 shares, compared to its average volume of 133,736. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $25.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.18. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. has a 12-month low of $16.26 and a 12-month high of $28.84. The company has a market capitalization of $1.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.19 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.62, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 2.08. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (NYSE:BLX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The bank reported $1.27 EPS for the quarter. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. had a return on equity of 14.49% and a net margin of 23.34%. The firm had revenue of $77.79 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. will post 4.6 EPS for the current year. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Investors of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.08%. This is an increase from Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.86%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BLX. Diversified Trust Co acquired a new position in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. in the third quarter worth approximately $488,000. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the third quarter valued at approximately $630,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 2.3% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 42,209 shares of the banks stock valued at $734,000 after purchasing an additional 957 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the third quarter valued at approximately $976,000. Finally, Thomas White International Ltd. grew its holdings in Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 0.3% during the first quarter. Thomas White International Ltd. now owns 353,718 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,510,000 after purchasing an additional 1,021 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.02% of the companys stock. About Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (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. Featured Stories 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. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC lowered its position in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 6,253 shares of the companys stock after selling 297 shares during the period. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $918,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of PG. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 96,526.4% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,535,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,840,449,000 after buying an additional 38,495,676 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter valued at about $3,752,321,000. Morgan Stanley grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 44,320,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,717,246,000 after buying an additional 4,959,527 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 118.1% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,334,342 shares of the companys stock valued at $961,170,000 after buying an additional 3,429,929 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Procter & Gamble by 9.4% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 35,608,913 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,193,916,000 after buying an additional 3,047,557 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.43% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Procter & Gamble In other news, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 101,704 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total value of $15,618,683.28. Following the sale, the insider now owns 163,428 shares in the company, valued at $25,097,637.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 74,443 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.30, for a total value of $11,412,111.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 973 shares in the company, valued at $149,160.90. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 101,704 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $15,618,683.28. Following the sale, the insider now owns 163,428 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,097,637.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 279,063 shares of company stock worth $43,187,745 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Stock Down 0.1 % NYSE:PG traded down $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $161.38. The stock had a trading volume of 10,956,888 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,035,699. The businesss 50 day moving average is $156.57 and its 200 day moving average is $151.73. The Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $141.45 and a fifty-two week high of $162.73. The stock has a market cap of $379.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.03, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.64 and a quick ratio of 0.44. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.14. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 34.04% and a net margin of 17.60%. The company had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.48 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.59 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 earnings per share for the current year. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 19th were issued a dividend of $0.9407 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.33%. Procter & Gambles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.98%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on PG shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $169.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $156.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $168.41. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Procter & Gamble 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. Read More 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. Agincourt Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 149,585 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,350 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF accounts for approximately 14.7% of Agincourt Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Agincourt Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $14,846,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after buying an additional 3,906 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock worth $5,570,000 after purchasing an additional 13,829 shares during the period. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% during the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock worth $1,568,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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 iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $97.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,756,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,005,483. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 1-year low of $91.58 and a 1-year high of $100.98. The business has a fifty day moving average of $97.87 and a 200 day moving average of $96.30. 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. See Also 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. Farmers Trust Co. grew its position in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 7.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,011 shares of the conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the period. Farmers Trust Co.s holdings in Danaher were worth $1,391,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of Danaher in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Danaher by 344.8% in the second quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new position in Danaher during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Insider Transactions at Danaher In related news, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 23,757 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $5,986,764.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,601,704. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Danaher news, Director Teri List sold 3,289 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.32, for a total value of $816,724.48. Following the transaction, the director now owns 19,726 shares in the company, valued at $4,898,360.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Daniel Raskas sold 23,757 shares of Danaher stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.00, for a total value of $5,986,764.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,601,704. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 32,957 shares of company stock valued at $8,265,802. 11.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Danaher Stock Performance Danaher stock traded down $3.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $249.40. 5,793,330 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,783,907. Danaher Co. has a fifty-two week low of $182.09 and a fifty-two week high of $259.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market cap of $184.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.88 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $243.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $231.25. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The conglomerate reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.91 by $0.18. Danaher had a return on equity of 12.25% and a net margin of 17.26%. The company had revenue of $6.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.87 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Danaher Co. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. Danaher Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.43%. This is an increase from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. Danahers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.90%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DHR has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Barclays downgraded shares of Danaher from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $240.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $215.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. TheStreet raised Danaher from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. KeyCorp increased their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $290.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Danaher from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Danaher has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $266.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Danaher Danaher Company Profile (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services that advance, accelerate, and integrate the development and manufacture of therapeutics; cell line and cell culture media development services; cell culture media, process liquids and buffers for manufacturing, chromatography resins, filtration technologies, aseptic fill finish; single-use hardware and consumables and services, such as the design and installation of full manufacturing suites; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes, and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers Trust Co. decreased its holdings in Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Free Report) by 6.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 26,958 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 1,722 shares during the quarter. Visa makes up 1.5% of Farmers Trust Co.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Farmers Trust Co.s holdings in Visa were worth $7,019,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Visa during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Visa by 545.5% in the 3rd quarter. Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC now owns 142 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Valued Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Visa in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors own 81.35% of the companys stock. Get Visa alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Visa from $290.00 to $309.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Susquehanna raised their price objective 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. Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Visa from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Visa from $243.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Visa in a research note on Tuesday, December 5th. They set an outperform rating and a $280.00 target price on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $293.30. Visa Stock Down 1.2 % NYSE V traded down $3.37 during trading on Friday, reaching $283.04. 9,845,181 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,496,000. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.45. The firm has a market cap of $519.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.96. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $275.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $256.46. Visa Inc. has a 12-month low of $208.76 and a 12-month high of $289.04. Visa (NYSE:V Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.07. Visa had a net margin of 53.92% and a return on equity of 50.02%. The business had revenue of $8.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.18 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 9.9 EPS for the current fiscal year. Visa Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Visas payout ratio is currently 23.94%. Insider Transactions at Visa In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total transaction 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.39, for a total value of $2,228,128.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were 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 directly owns 4,898 shares in the company, valued at $1,365,954.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 47,311 shares of company stock valued at $12,832,129 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.19% of the companys stock. 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. Featured 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. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the holding of "elections" of the president of the aggressor country Russia on the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russian troops. This "voting" has no legal force under international law. ADVERTISIMENT Guterres' statement was quoted by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday, March 15, Reuters reports. From the point of view of international law, attempts to illegally annex regions of Ukraine are not legally binding. "The United Nations remains unwaveringly committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions," Dujarric said. As a reminder, Ukraine's permanent representative to the UN, Serhii Kyslytsia, said at a Security Council meeting that the results of the Russian presidential "elections" should be questioned because they were held in violation of international law. The voting has nothing to do with the free and fair expression of the will of the people. ADVERTISIMENT He drew attention to the fact that the fictitious election process in the temporarily occupied territories is characterized by intimidation and coercion of the local population. The occupiers resorted to illegal detentions and threats to life and denied Ukrainians access to medical services. As reported, in the temporarily occupied Henichesk in the Kherson region, the occupiers are forcing Ukrainians to vote at polling stations. To do this, they conduct searches in the apartments of locals and kidnap people. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! &Partners raised its stake in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 48.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 38,792 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 12,658 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises about 1.0% of &Partners investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest position. &Partners holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $3,909,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC increased its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil by 17.4% in the first quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 7,909 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $680,000 after acquiring an additional 1,173 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Income Solutions Inc bought a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the first quarter valued at about $275,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 318.8% during the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 17,163 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,417,000 after acquiring an additional 13,065 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 95.6% during the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 15,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,308,000 after acquiring an additional 7,744 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC bought a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the first quarter valued at about $237,000. 58.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets XOM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho downgraded Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Erste Group Bank reiterated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Redburn Atlantic upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $116.00 to $119.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Exxon Mobil presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $127.53. Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of NYSE XOM traded down $0.20 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $111.27. 38,264,401 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,089,314. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The company has a market cap of $441.50 billion, a PE ratio of 12.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.96. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $103.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.97. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1-year low of $95.77 and a 1-year high of $120.70. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.20 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $84.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The firms revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.40 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.12 EPS for the current year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils payout ratio is currently 42.74%. Insider Activity In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,169,845. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 30,189 shares in the company, valued at $3,169,845. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at $22,652,596.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Profile (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Somerset Trust Co cut its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 37,688 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,183 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. comprises 2.8% of Somerset Trust Cos investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Somerset Trust Cos holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $6,411,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in 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 worth $13,141,876,000 after buying an additional 97,907,897 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in JPMorgan Chase & Co. during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,894,646,000. Morgan Stanley boosted its position 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 buying an additional 8,088,433 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 12.2% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 42,421,711 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,151,997,000 after buying an additional 4,603,090 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its position in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 51.6% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 8,422,975 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,225,037,000 after buying an additional 2,868,091 shares during the period. 68.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on JPM. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price 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. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $186.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $179.11. Insider Activity at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In related news, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 595,316 shares in the company, valued at $108,782,092.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other JPMorgan Chase & Co. news, CEO Jennifer Piepszak sold 1,649 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.59, for a total transaction of $274,706.91. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,467 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,741,857.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO James Dimon sold 821,778 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.73, for a total transaction of $150,163,493.94. Following the sale, 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 845,383 shares of company stock worth $154,341,636. 0.79% of the stock is owned by company insiders. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance NYSE JPM opened at $190.51 on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 1 year low of $123.11 and a 1 year high of $191.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm has a market cap of $548.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $177.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $160.72. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.73 by ($0.69). The firm had revenue of $38.57 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.57 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 EPS for the current fiscal year. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Company Profile (Free Report) JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). The CCB segment offers deposit, investment and lending products, cash management, and payments and services; 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. Featured Articles 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. Probably. The now there's more of "a framework" for lower court to make a decision that might need to be updated as social media continually evolves. TKC is not a lawyer . . . We were actually pre-med . . . But it seems that the "personal account" defense MIGHT continue to serve as a way for any politico to bypass the letter and spirit of what SCOTUS said today. This benefits politicos on the low-end but might not work for politicos on the national level who want to garner more influence with a large-scale online presence. Critics are calling this a victory. However, this is the best news passage we found today and it shows a more complex ruling that puts the burden back on lower courts . . . Check-it: "In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the first case, which involves a city manager from Port Huron, Michigan, the court laid out a two-pronged test for determining when a public official's speech on social media is attributable to the government and can therefore lead to litigation. "Under the new standard, an official is deemed a state actor online only if that official had 'actual authority to speak' on the government's behalf, and 'purported to exercise' that authority when speaking on social media. Social media users may then sue public officials for blocking them if those conditions are met, subjecting the government employees to First Amendment scrutiny. "The court said the standard that it laid out in its opinion differs from those applied by lower courts in the two cases involving public officials who blocked constituents on social media, and it sent the disputes back for additional proceedings consistent with its decision." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Supreme Court lays out new test for determining when public officials can be sued for blocking users on social media The Supreme Court outlined in a unanimous opinion a new test for when a public official can be sued for blocking users on social media. Supreme Court rules that public officials can block social media followers in some circumstances | CNN Politics The Supreme Court ruled Friday that public officials may block people on social media in certain limited circumstances in response to two challenges involving officials in Michigan and California who blocked followers who were critical of them on Facebook and X. Supreme Court outlines when officials can be sued for blocking people on social media Former President Donald Trump's frequent use of Twitter lurked in the background as the justices weighed whether an official's activities online can constitute government action. Supreme Court: Blocking People on Facebook Can Violate the First Amendment | National Review This is a bad result, and it is disappointing that it attracted no dissent across the Court's ideological lines. Supreme Court tosses rulings on public officials' social media blockings The Supreme Court clarified when public officials can block critical constituents from their personal profiles without violating their constitutional protections in a unanimous decision on Friday. After hearing appeals of two conflicting rulings - one filed against school board members in Southern California and another filed against the city manager of Port Huron, Mich. Developing . . . This week the Missouri politico shared more detail on the deployment along with a scathing rebuke of the White House. Here's part of what he had to say . . . Missouri National Guard (MONG) members, totaling 48 soldiers, began supporting border security efforts this week on March 14 after receiving official orders on March 11. "Missourians understand there is a crisis at our southern border and that it's not just impacting the State of Texas. It seems like every week we are hearing of more and more fentanyl deaths and drug trafficking instances that are ripping Missouri families and communities apart. It stems from the chaos at our southern border, and it must stop," Governor Parson said. "While President Biden and the federal government fail to do anything, we're proud the State of Missouri is doing something. We extend our sincere thanks to our MSHP troopers and MONG service members for their efforts in addressing this crisis. Missouri stands with Texas, and we are taking action." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Gov. Parson provides update on Missouri deployment on Southern Border Governor Mike Parson provided an update on Missouri personnel deployed to the Southern Border in Texas as part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star mission Parson provides update on Missouri deployment to southern border On Friday, Governor Mike Parson provided an update on Missouri personnel deployed to the southern border in Texas. Developing . . . Tax fighter Preston Smith deserves a great deal of credit for keeping his fans & followers informed about the latest developments in an ongoing fight. Here's the latest note he posted to social media and also sent to our www.TonysKansasCity.com blog community: AG TRIAL SET FOR D-DAY-6-6-24 A two-day bench trial by a Clay County judge between the Attorney General and Jackson County over their inaccurate and problem-plagued assessment has been set for the downtown Jackson County courthouse. Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued this statement: The Court has set a trial date of June 6, 2024 for our case against Jackson County and its illegal assessment scheme for property taxes. This is a huge step in the right direction for all Missourians who have been overtaxed. A court has already found that Jackson Countys assessments failed the citizens, were inaccurate, and that there was a lack in leadership and preparation of Jackson County officials. The evidence in this case is overwhelming, which is why Im confident in our ultimate success on the merits. My office has put in long hours on this case, and we will not stop until weve achieved justice for all Jackson County residents. A jury trial against Tyler Technologies has been set for April 2025. The judge deciding the case, Karen Krauser, was appointed by Jay Nixon in 2012 and was the first judge in Clay County to perform a same-sex marriage. The judge is requiring that the AG and the County meet for mediation before the trial. Nearly all of the County's motions to dismiss the case have been thrown out, with just one small legal item remaining. It does appear that this trial is going to happen. ############ Developing . . . There's a lot of local crime news worth considering right now . . . In today's update we focus on recent police conversations, crime reporting and some law enforcement news from throughout the region. Check TKC news gathering . . . KC following holistic approach to lower violent crime After the deadliest year on record for Kansas City, and as violent crime continues in the metro, KCPD, stakeholders, and the community are taking a comprehensive approach to not repeat 2023. MSHP investigating shooting involving KCPD officer, suspect in custody The suspect was treated for a gunshot wound to the hand, authorities said Update: Kansas City man convicted in East Bottoms double homicide | Northeast News Michael Bushnell Publisher A Jackson County jury convicted 36-year-old Cleon D. White on Wednesday, January 31 for a double homicide in 2020 in Kansas City's East Bottoms neighborhood. White was convicted... Bond reduction denied for Crown Center shooting suspect A Jackson County judge has denied a request for a bond reduction for one of the two men charged in the January shooting at Crown Center. KC police won't share lessons from Chiefs rally shooting, but experts have suggestions One month later, KCPD has no intention to release their review of security at the Chiefs parade to the public. Here's what experts suggest for future major events in Kansas City. Man recovering after being shot at Sutherlands location on Blue Ridge Boulevard Raytown police and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting inside a Sutherlands location on Thursday evening. Wichita man loses toy laser after pointing it at law enforcement plane, police say The Kansas Highway Patrol plane was helping Wichita police with a drive-by shooting when it happened. Liberty bus driver charged with assault of student after altercation on bus The Clay County Prosecutor's office has charged a bus driver in his late 60s with misdemeanor assault following an altercation on a bus Thursday. Man shoots into bus because passenger was 'staring at him the wrong way,' MO cops say Two men were shot and killed, Missouri police said. Bill would create harsher penalties for organized retail crime in Kansas The Kansas legislature held a hearing Tuesday morning on Senate Bill 415, a proposed law that would recognize organized retail theft as an official crime and increase the penalties. What is a straw purchase? How guns found at KC shooting were allegedly bought illegally Recent federal charges allege some of the guns found after the Chiefs rally shooting were bought using this illegal method. But what is it? Platte County prosecutor: 2023 shooting between Leavenworth police, domestic violence suspect was justified The Aug. 10, 2023, shooting of a 25-year-old man by Leavenworth police has been deemed justified, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd announced Wednesday. Kansas City leaders discuss grassroots efforts to fight gun violence & what comes next City leaders and organizations met Friday at a symposium to discuss solutions to ongoing violence in Kansas City. A community forum for the public is scheduled Saturday. Thousands of Missourians could have criminal records sealed under Clean Slate Initiative The Clean Slate campaign is backing four Missouri bills, which all provide for a more automated expungement process for low-level offenses. Community, loved ones mourn loss of 2 KCK teens killed in shooting A community is mourning the loss of two teens who were killed last Thursday. 19-year-old Kalob Ruth and 17-year-old Carlos Gonzalez, were transported to an area hospital and later died. One taken into custody following brief Kansas City, Mo., standoff One individual has been taken into custody after a brief afternoon standoff in Kansas City, Missouri. Developing . . . Ill bet just about every one of you reading this column has, at one time or another, been the victim of negative gossip. It happened to me in early high school, and I never forgot it. The teenage boy sitting in front of me turned around and said my freckles made me unappealing for any guy to date. I soon heard the same damning statement from other guys in the class. At 15, I was devastated, a victim of mean gossip among the boys. Gossip has been around for centuries. The word comes from the Old English godsibb, dating from the 12th century. Its a contraction from God and sibb, which, back then, referred to very close friends (i.e. godparents). But by the 16th century, gossip had accrued an insulting meaning: it referred mostly to women, especially those who delight in idle talk. Within a few centuries, the word went from having a divine origin to becoming an insult. Now, in a world where gossip and other information is instantly available on social media, some people spend hours casually badmouthing complete strangers online, for no apparent reason. Why, for example, do males and females alike, though unlikely to ever meet a superstar such as Taylor Swift, feel entitled to make and spread negative judgments about her? And dont forget the workplace, where hard-core office gossip has sometimes even driven someone to storm out of the building and quit. One expert on this topic, Dr. Ned Hallowell, child/adult psychiatrist and bestselling author, defines gossip as sharing information real or imagined without permission. Given the mean-spirited, negative view that women are the main purveyors of gossip, theyre often more likely to be the main targets. You can share the details of your life, but only to the extent that you'd be comfortable with a co-worker, or a relative, an ex-lover, or a stranger, seeing it. As a result, social media has become a lot less friendly, Dr. Hallowell said. So has gossip. And if its negatively affecting you personally, dont accept it. Walk away. Instead, reflect on whatevers good in your life. Heres what the magazine Psychology Today published about gossip in 2021: Talking negatively about other people makes us feel good about ourselves, and gives some people a sense of power. But, as many others say about gossips so-called benefits, only as long as you dont say anything bad about me. Meanwhile, gossip still relies on negative, demeaning information. According to the magazine, if the information being discussed were positive, it would be labelled praise or envy. Now, new research published in Social Psychology and Personality Science, has analyzed thousands of daily conversations to better understand the true nature of gossip, even though both types of information-sharing can potentially be damaging. So lets be privately honest with ourselves: Have you listened to gossip? Or added to rumours without any idea of their accuracy? Or repeated a story about someone, with no verification at all? Hopefully you regret those actions. On the other hand, has a negative story ever referred to you, with the fingers of inaccuracy, false information and painful reality pointing directly at you? Well, if so, according to this recent research view, it was deserved. We live in a world of information technology which can reveal our own true character, record our social and cultural foibles and our personal missteps that can arise publicly as fast as false and mean-spirited gossip. Meanwhile, theres currently an odd correlation to fascination with gossip-related studies. Research by the University of Maryland and Stanford University shows that gossipers get a bad rap. It suggests that gossip is good at disseminating information about peoples reputations, which can help recipients of these tips connect with co-operative people, while avoiding selfish ones. Thats an academic view. So how did gossiping evolve into such a popular pastime that transcends gender, age, culture and socioeconomic background? Michele Gelfand, a professor at Stanford Business School, said, Its unclear why gossiping, which requires considerable time and energy, evolved as an adaptive strategy. Finally, each of us might consider our own attitudes toward gossip, whether its useful or nasty. Heres a light joke to end the topic: Why does Pinocchio love gossip? Because hes so nosy. 'The Cure For Drowning' By Loghan Paylor Random House Canada 2024, 392 pages ISBN: 9781039006454 "The Cure For Drowning" is a very good book and the debut novel of Loghan Paylor. Set mostly in the 1930s and 1940s, the story begins with an immigrant Irish family farming in Southern Ontario. The McNairs have three children Landon, Kathleen (Kit) and Jep. One winter Kit falls through the river ice while out with her brothers, and drowns, but is nursed back to life by their mothers Celtic magic. When Rebekah, who is the doctors daughter, moves into town she begins a love triangle with Landon and Kit resulting in a family conflict and ending up with Kit and Landon going off to war. Kit, who has always dressed as a boy, changes their name to Christopher and joins the Royal Air Force while Landon joins the Navy. Rebekah also helps with the war effort serving with navel intelligence in Halifax. When Rebekah is forced to leave her job and her family wants nothing to do with her, she returns to southern Ontario where she lives with the McNairs. While farming life is difficult, especially with the McNairs children all going off to fight in the war, Rebekah is content. However, when Kit and Landon return after the war, her peace is shattered and her future on the farm is in doubt. The riveting story is told in the voices of Kit and Rebekah and is a very entertaining read. 'Identity' (audio book) By Nora Roberts, read by January LaVoy Macmillan Audiobook 2023, 12 CDs ISBN: 9781250893345 If your reading or listening preference for novels includes thrillers you will want to give this audio book a listen. Written by Nora Roberts and read by January LaVoy, "Identity" has a good plot and lots of suspense. Morgan Albright is a young woman who works as a bartender near Baltimore and who lives with her friend Nina. Morgans life is content and involves working long hours to pay the bills. Everything changes when she and Nina host a dinner party that includes Ninas boyfriend and Luke, someone who Morgan met recently. Luke is actually a con artist named Gavin and Morgan doesnt find this out until her home has been broken into, jewelry stolen along with assets and her identity, her best friend, Nina, has been murdered and the FBI becomes involved. What Morgan learns is that she is Gavins type and the only one of his targets to survive. Without any money to continue living where she is, Morgan goes to live with her mother and grandmother in Vermont. And while Morgan is able to find work at a local resort, she has to worry about Gavin who is still finding and killing victims, but who also has not forgotten about Morgan. Interesting characters, a chilling plot, lots of suspense and well read by January LaVoy make Identity a good listen! 'The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder' By C.L. Miller Simon & Schuster 2024, 289 pages ISBN: 9781668032381 "The Antique Hunters Guide to Murder" is a fun mystery by C.L. Miller. The mystery involves stolen valuable items, murder and, well, antiques. Freya Lockwood knows a lot about antiques, but she has been out of the business for the past couple of decades. That is until her aunt informs her of her mentor and antiques dealers death. Just prior to his death, Arthur Crockleford sent Freya a letter saying that she was in danger. The situation has Freya and her aunt wondering if Arthurs death was an accident or if he was murdered and so they begin to investigate. Their investigation leads them to find Arthurs hidden journals along with an invitation to an antiques enthusiasts weekend at Copthorn Manor the estate of the late Lord Metcalf. While at Copthorn Manor, Freya and her aunt meet various people who knew Arthur. During their stay at the estate, they make various discoveries including the fact that Arthur may have been involved with criminals and that reproductions of antiques was also something that Arthur may have been involved in. As Freya and her aunt continue their investigation, it becomes obvious that Arthurs warning about them being in danger is accurate! The first time I visited Copenhagen, I travelled specifically for a dinner. It was 2012. Noma had been voted the Worlds Best Restaurant three years in a row, as ranked by the Worlds 50 Best, and I had scored one of the hottest tables on Earth. Noma achieved acclaim by serving groundbreaking seasonal cuisine built on the New Nordic Food Manifesto a 10-point philosophy outlining a commitment to sustainable, ethical culinary practices, co-written by Nomas co-founder Claus Meyer. When it was penned, in 2004, Denmark was still best known for smorrebrod, roast pork and curried herring. Since then, New Nordic cuisine has transformed global perceptions of dining in the region. Born from the landscape, its people and culture, the philosophy champions cooking thats rooted in local, seasonal and organic ingredients. The constantly evolving movement blends traditional practices with modern sensibilities, endorses food education and sustainable agriculture through building relationships with local farmers and producers, and has popularized methods ranging from foraging to fermentation. Although the manifesto is a Scandinavian ethos, Copenhagen is often considered the movements epicentre. The citys rise as northern Europes gastronomic capital was made possible because of government support (such as policies and programs) from the beginning of the New Nordic movement, explains Birgitte Witt, owner of Delicious Denmark, who runs food tours with a focus on culture and history. The movement has inspired generations of chefs and restaurants worldwide. So, when Nomas chef-owner Rene Redzepi announced that the restaurant would be changing it will shift its focus to research and development in 2025 I knew I had to revisit Copenhagen for a last hurrah, of sorts. Although Ive returned to the citys excellent dining scene over the years, this time I noticed a greater degree of variety in the restaurants. Witt has also noticed a change in how people taking her food tours perceive the city specifically, they know dining here goes beyond the name recognition of Noma or Rene Redzepi. Its been cool to see that the interest has moved from just the restaurant to the general food culture (since starting my business), says Witt. On past Copenhagen trips, my memorable experiences have included the two Michelin-starred Kadeau, which takes diners on a multi-course journey, on an homage to the idyllic Danish island of Bornholm. At the theatrical Alchemist, where culinary wunderkind Rasmus Munk stimulates the palate and the mind during 50 thought-provoking courses, I learned the storytelling potential of food. At the elegant Jordnaer in the suburb of Gentofte, I encountered stunning cuisine crafted from pristine local seafood, and the warmest of Danish hospitality. On this latest trip, I found a new brigade of restaurants pushing the New Nordic envelope. Spearheaded by chefs who had arrived in the city to work at Noma and other acclaimed places, these restaurants combine the New Nordic approach with flavours from the chefs own cultural background the most prominent examples being Asian-inspired. Copenhagens so-called new Asian wave includes hot spots like Slurp Ramen Joint, where the noodles are made with Bornholm-grown wheat and rye, and the eight-seat Sushi Anaba, where Edomae-style sushi is prepared with sustainably sourced Scandinavian seafood. Despite the differences between Danish and Asian cuisines, Witt says the underlying thought processes share a compatible nature. For example, there tends to be a mutual appreciation of carefully layered flavours of fish with delicate herbs and something fermented or sour. Plus, Danish chefs whove travelled to Asia for inspiration have brought back techniques theyve now incorporated into their repertoire. (Also of note: Noma just announced it will head to Kyoto for another pop-up residency later this year.) Case in point: Korean-born Danish chef Kristian Baumann honed his craft at New Nordic pioneers like Noma, Relae and Manfreds before searching for his own culinary identity. Inspired by a trip to South Korea in 2017, where he explored the countrys culture and cuisine, Baumann recently opened two restaurants in Copenhagen: the casual Juju in 2022, and the upscale Koan last year. At the latter, he spikes the best Danish ingredients with Korean flavours. For Koans version of white kimchi, for instance, the kitchen incorporates seasonal herbs and elderflower oil, then serves the fermented vegetable on stunning porcelain dishware by Korean artist Taxoo Lee. Koan recently earned two Michelin stars. For Canadian chef Jonathan Tam, opening his own Copenhagen spot was an opportunity to look at the region and tell my own story. For a decade, he was the head chef of Relae until its 2020 closure. The restaurant, a favourite in the city, was known for a menu crafted with pristine ingredients from its own organic farms. At Jatak, Tams recently opened, Michelin-lauded restaurant, he continues to champion relationships with local farms, serving modern Cantonese-inspired dishes refreshed with Nordic ingredients. His riff on classic fish-fragrant eggplant, for example, incorporates an aromatic five-spice crust, blanketed with fresh herbs. Im also impressed by the dry-aged, organic Varde Adal farm chicken, served three ways: yakitori skewers; tender breast with impossibly crispy skin; and poached leg, kissed with a peppercorn, coriander and toasted sesame sauce. As I wash down my last bites of this trip with a splash of low-intervention wine, Im reminded that the principles of the Nordic food movement centre on using whats available. And when the ingredients are consistently this delicious, theres always a reason to go back for more. Renee S. Suen is a travel and food writer, and the Mid-USA and Mid-Canada Academy Chair for the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Some travel experiences were provided to the writer by Wonderful Copenhagen, which did not review or approve this article. A flight from Bangkok to Singapore was canceled on March 13, leaving passengers of Jetstar Asia flight 3K516 stuck at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The original flight, scheduled to leave at 1.35pm, was first delayed to 5.20pm due to technical issues. However, the situation worsened when the flight was canceled at 10 p.m., causing confusion and frustration among passengers. Jetstar Flight Cancellation Leaves Travelers Stuck in Bangkok Passengers experienced a long and stressful night after being informed of the cancellation. According to a passenger, the airport staff struggled to manage the situation, leading to chaos. Some passengers decided to cancel their flights, fearing safety issues. The airline arranged accommodations for the stranded passengers, but it took until 2am for the hotel booking process to be completed. The passengers were taken to the hotel by 3am, leaving them exhausted. According to Stomp, the stranded passengers, including families, were taken care of with free meals but received little information about their next flights. They had to repeatedly ask hotel staff for updates. Despite the efforts to accommodate them, the passengers' main concern was returning to Singapore. They finally arrived at Changi Airport at about 5 a.m. on March 15, ending their ordeal. The incident highlights the challenges passengers face when flights are delayed or canceled. The response from Jetstar Asia to the situation is awaited, as affected passengers seek better communication and handling of such disruptions in the future. This experience has left many questioning whether they would choose to fly with Jetstar again, underscoring the impact of customer service in the airline industry. Read More: LATAM Airlines Flight Shakes Up Passengers, Dozens Injured Jetstar to Start Direct Flights to Krabi and Clark, Expanding Travel Choices Jetstar Asia is set to launch new direct flights from Singapore to Krabi, Thailand, and Clark, Philippines. This move aims to increase travel options and connect people to popular destinations in Southeast Asia. Starting on June 7, the airline will offer six weekly return flights to Krabi. As per Travel Daily News, Jetstar plans to provide over 60,000 affordable tickets every year for travelers heading to this vacation spot from Singapore. The flights to Clark will begin on June 16. At first, there will be four weekly flights, but this will increase to five from Oct. 18. Clark is a place where visitors can dive into the rich culture and landscapes of the Philippines. By the end of 2024, Jetstar expects to serve more than 45,000 customers on this route. Both new routes will be flown with Airbus A320 airplanes. To keep up with the growing demand for these flights, Jetstar Asia is also hiring more staff. John Simeone, the CEO of Jetstar Asia, said that these new flights show the airline's dedication to growing in Southeast Asia. He mentioned that Clark flights are returning due to high demand. Krabi, being a short flight away, offers perfect spots for beach lovers and adventurers. Noel Manankil, the President of LIPAD, which runs Clark International Airport, expressed happiness over Jetstar's return. He believes this partnership will provide travelers with a smooth and enjoyable experience. Read Also: AirAsia Launches Direct Kota Kinabalu to Seoul Flights with Full Seats on First Flight Wanting to solo travel to Asia? Sri Lanka is the perfect destination for you! This island nation, celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, extensive history, and lively culture, provides an unparalleled experience for travelers on the hunt for adventure, relaxation, and everything in between. If you are also looking for a country with a low cost of living, then Sri Lanka is also a haven for solo travelers with a low budget. If you are still unsatisfied with these, check this article for more informative travel guides for your Sri Lankan adventure! A Paradise for Solo Travelers Sri Lanka shines as a beacon for solo travelers looking for adventure and self-discovery. This island offers endless beaches, ancient ruins, and welcoming towns. Safety and hospitality are top priorities, making you feel at home away from home. Public transport is reliable and extensive, connecting you to every corner of the island. Sri Lanka's diverse landscapes mean you can surf in the morning and hike mountains by sunset. The country's small size makes it easy to explore, offering a full palette of experiences without long travel times. Affordability at Its Best Traveling to Sri Lanka does not require a hefty budget. Accommodation options range from cozy hostels to budget-friendly hotels, ensuring a good night's sleep without draining your wallet. Eating like a local immerses you in Sri Lankan culture and is incredibly cheap. Public transport, including trains and buses, is an economical way to move around. Even entry fees for attractions are priced reasonably, allowing you to see more for less. Sri Lanka proves that experiencing a rich, full travel adventure can come with a modest price tag. Ideal for Digital Nomads Sri Lanka has become a hotspot for digital nomads worldwide. With the introduction of the digital nomad visa, the country welcomes remote workers with open arms. Internet connectivity is reliable in urban and popular tourist areas, ensuring you stay connected. Cafes and coworking spaces are sprouting up, offering comfortable environments for work. The cost of living is low, making it possible to enjoy a high quality of life while working. Sri Lanka's natural beauty and cultural richness provide the perfect backdrop for inspiration and creativity. Related Article: What Are Some Attractions in Sri Lanka That Visitors Always Love? Discover Sri Lankan Delicacies Sri Lanka is a feast for the culinary curious. In the national dish, rice and curry come in countless varieties, including the creamy coconut milk-based fish curry. Kottu Roti, a flavorful street food made from godhamba roti, vegetables, egg, and sometimes meat, is a must-try for those seeking a taste of local life. For a sweet treat, Watalappan, a coconut custard pudding flavored with jaggery and spices, reflects the island's Malay influences. Sampling a steaming cup of Ceylon tea in the hill country, where the tea leaves are harvested, provides an understanding of the spirit of Sri Lankan tradition. Must-Visit Places for Solo Travelers Solo adventurers in Sri Lanka are spoilt for choice with destinations that cater to every interest. The ancient city of Sigiriya, with its dramatic rock fortress and frescoes, is proof of the island's storied past. For beach lovers, the sandy shores of Unawatuna offer an escape, while surfers will find their paradise in Arugam Bay. The town of Ella, with its tea plantations and the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, offers breathtaking views and hiking opportunities. Yala National Park invites wildlife enthusiasts to spot leopards, elephants, and various bird species in their natural habitat. These locations showcase Sri Lanka's diverse landscapes and its commitment to conservation and cultural preservation. Read Also: 6 Destinations You Should Visit If You Want To Go Soul Searching ICD Brookfield Place, a premier lifestyle and business address in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Centre, has unveiled its Sky Suites, an exclusive collection of 11 fitted and furnished private offices located on level 50, poised to redefine the workplace experience. Building on the success of The Suites on levels 29, 30, and 31 of ICD Brookfield Place, The Sky Suites represent a commitment to delivering an elevated product setting a new benchmark for workplace hospitality, said the developer. Designed by leading architects Marmol Radziner and Associates (MRA), the spaces are exquisitely finished and promise an exceptional environment. Each suite, spanning 900 to 1,200 square feet include six to nine workstations, a private meeting room, private internal office and pantry. Tenants of the Sky Suites will benefit from exclusive access to a communal lounge on Level 50 offering breathtaking 360-degree city views, said a statement from ICD Brookfield Place. Scheduled for completion in April, the Sky Suites offer a distinctive experience for businesses seeking an elevated office environment, it stated. These meticulously designed offices offer businesses a functional workspace and an environment that exudes luxury and exclusivity. Brookfield Properties (Middle East) CEO Rob Devereux said: "We are thrilled to launch the Sky Suites, the most remarkable office spaces in the region, offering businesses an unmatched level of exclusivity, privacy, and sophistication in their workplace environment." "Those who work here will benefit from exclusive access to level 51 & 52 which promises to deliver a world-class hospitality ecosystem. The Sky Suites is set to redefine how the workplace can feel and function," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The current U.S. administration does not object to proposals by other NATO countries to deploy their troops on Ukrainian territory, adding that this is a sovereign decision of every nation. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said this at a briefing in Washington on Friday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. Asked if the Biden administration is asking other countries, particularly France, to stop talking about sending troops to Ukraine, Kirby said: "No." Asked if the U.S. prevents other countries from doing this, Kirby said "those are sovereign decisions that a nation has to make." At the same time, he added that the United States continues to stand by the position announced by President Joe Biden earlier. "I can just speak for this sovereign nation [the U.S.] and this commander-in-chief. He's made it clear that we will not put U.S. boots on the ground [in Ukraine]," Kirby said. The violations of the norms and principles of international law put under question the legitimacy of the overall outcome of the so-called "presidential elections" in Russia irrespective of their preordained results. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN, said this at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "What is now called an 'election' in Russia, does not comply with generally recognized democratic principles and election standards. It has nothing in common with the free and fair expression of the will of the people," Kyslytsya said. "It is rather Putin's self-reappointment under the sterile conditions of the absence of any competition." According to the ambassador, those who might have been his opponents "were killed, arrested or, at best, forced to leave the country." Those whom the Kremlin let participate, do not even hide their technical role as a mise-en-scene for the predetermined "winner," he added. Kyslytsya said that the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine have a special role "in this mockery of an election." Full closure from the outside world "enables the Kremlin to fabricate any turnout numbers and election results it desires," he said. The sham election process in the temporarily occupied territories is marked with intimidation and coercion of the local population, Kyslytsya said. The Russian occupiers have elaborated a lot of means to reach this end. "Among them threats against life, illegal detention, denial of access to healthcare and social services, threats of deportation and deprivation of property," he said. The Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, presented today in Geneva, contains "shocking evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which remain a grim reality in the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine," Kyslytsya said. Torture and willful killings of civilian residents, rape and sexual violence and crimes against children are on this list. The envoy quoted a passage from the commission's conclusions. "Russian authorities, mostly in groups, conducted house searches, sometimes on multiple occasions. They threatened and intimidated victims and their family members with weapons, including by shooting near their heads or legs. Perpetrators raped the victims in their homes, or forcibly took them to premises which they had occupied." There were also cases, when women "were subjected to sexual violence as punishment for support to the Ukrainian authorities." "Just bear this in mind when Putin's envoy tells you about the so-called 'free people's will' in the occupied territories," Kyslytsya added. Ukraine called on the international community to resolutely condemn Russia's illegitimate intention to imitate presidential elections in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, to refrain from recognizing the results of these "elections", and to impose sanctions on those involved in their organization and conduct. Putin has been in power for 24 years, not through the free expression of the people's will, but through manipulation of the Russian constitution, propaganda, elimination of political competition and through violence, including the assassination of prominent independent politicians, Kyslytsya said. He recalled that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in its Resolution 2519 (2023) called for the recognition of Putin as illegitimate after the end of his current presidential term and to cease all contact with him, except for humanitarian contact and in the pursuit of peace. The organization of illegal elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will be added to the materials of a future trial against Putin, the diplomat said. "We reiterate that the continued preservation of Putin's aggressive and revanchist regime poses an unprecedented challenge to the world. If not stopped, Russian terror and chaos will spread further," Kyslytsya said. According to him, the longer the convulsions of Putin's regime last, the longer and more painful will be Russia's return to the democratic path. The envoy emphasized that the Security Council meeting showed the complete isolation of the Russian delegation. "There is not a single delegation that has found a single word of support of the Russian illegitimate attempts to organize 'elections' in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine!" he said. On Friday, March 15, the UN Security Council met to discuss Russia's attempts to organize illegal "Russian presidential elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Greece has joined a coalition led by Lithuania and Iceland to help Ukraine with mine clearance. This was announced by Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas following a meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Vilnius, according to Ukrinform. The war in Ukraine is not over. The commitment of EU member states to support Ukraine has to be united, we support the position that the multilateral assistance to Ukraine must not dry out. I wish to thank Greece for joining the demining coalition for Ukraine that Lithuania and Iceland lead together. We need to send out a mutual message about our steadfast commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, said Anusauskas. The ministers also discussed bilateral defense cooperation, the security situation, and the NATO agenda. The ministers focused on air defense. An important decision was taken at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on the Rotational NATO Air Defense Model. We expect assistance from Greece in the practical implementation of it before the NATO Summit in Warsaw this summer, said Anusauskas. The ministers also discussed the security situation in the south. According to Anusauskas, although Lithuania's most pressing challenges come from the east, the situation in the south, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean is being monitored and taken seriously. Lithuania is exploring ways to contribute to international efforts in these regions. As reported by Ukrinform, in January, the Lithuanian-led coalition in support of Ukraine met in Vilnius to discuss Kyiv's needs and possible contributions from partners. The Lithuanian-led coalition aims to unite and coordinate existing and future demining assistance to Ukraine from donor countries. To achieve the coalition's goals, a support fund is being established, including the purchase of tools and equipment for mine clearance in Ukraine. Photo from kam.lt Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has emphasized the importance of participation of as many states as possible in the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Office of the President of Ukraine. Continuing the dialogue with the countries of the Global South, Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Chief Advisor to the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Celso Amorim. The interlocutors discussed preparations for the inaugural Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. Yermak informed that Ukraine is actively working on engaging as wide a range of countries as possible to participate in the founding summit. These are the countries that respect international law, the UN Charter, as well as the principles of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He emphasized the importance of the participation of as many states as possible to forge a common decision among their leaders regarding the fair end of the war and the restoration of sustainable peace in Ukraine. Yermak informed his interlocutor about the recent shelling of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine by Russia, including a residential area in Odesa. People were killed and wounded, including rescuers who arrived to assist those affected. Additionally, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine stressed the significance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and maintaining the grain corridor for global food stability. As reported, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Brazil to Ukraine Norton de Andrade Mello Rapesta discussed preparations for the first Global Peace Summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The ministry said this in a statement to mark ten years since the illegitimate referendum was held by Russia in Crimea, Ukrinform reports. It emphasized that the illegitimate referendums had set in motion the unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine and its territorial unity, which Russia criminally continued in 2022. Having launched its full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, Russia has illegally annexed the temporarily occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine. According to the statement, Latvia recognizes neither these illegitimate actions nor their outcome, and condemns in the strongest terms the lawless behavior by Russia, which is a blatant violation of international law and Ukraines independence and sovereignty. Latvia does not recognize and will not recognize the illegal occupation and annexation of the Ukrainian territories by the aggressor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia emphasized its unwavering support for Ukraine and its independence, sovereignty and territorial unity within its internationally recognized borders. "Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk are integral parts of Ukraines internationally recognized territory. Russia is fully responsible for its aggression against Ukraine. All those responsible for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine and Russia's crimes against Ukrainian civilians will have to bear full accountability," the Latvian Foreign Ministry said. Turkiye has underlined its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said this in a statement on the 10th anniversary of Russia's illegal "referendum" in Crimea, Ukrinform reports. "It has been a decade since the Russian Federation annexed the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukraine through an illegitimate referendum held on 16 March 2014. [] Turkiye reiterates that it does not recognize this de facto situation, which constitutes a violation of international law, and underlines its support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the statement said. The ministry said that Turkiye would "continue to closely monitor the developments in Crimea, especially the situation of the Crimean Tatar Turks, one of the main constituents of the peninsula, and keep them on top of our agenda." On March 16, 2014, a so-called "referendum" on the status of Crimea was held in Crimea temporarily occupied by Russia and in the city of Sevastopol, contrary to Ukrainian legislation and the legislation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine Civil rights groups are mobilizing against a surge of legislative actions aimed at curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education across multiple states. Despite vocal opposition, at least five state legislatures have recently passed bills targeting DEI efforts, sparking concerns about their potential impact on academic freedom and racial justice. Indiana Enacts Controversial Legislation Diminishing DEI Programs In Indiana, Republican Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Bill 202 into law, a move met with significant backlash from faculty members, civil rights organizations, and advocates for racial justice. The legislation seeks to curtail DEI programs and tenure protections in public colleges and universities while emphasizing "intellectual diversity." The passage of Senate Bill 202 has raised alarm among educators and activists, who argue that it could stifle discussions on racism and discrimination in higher education settings. The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and other advocacy groups have condemned the law as racially motivated and detrimental to academic freedom. READ ALSO: Conservatives Rally to Combat DEI Policies in Higher Education Resistance and Criticism Mount Against Similar Bills Nationwide Indiana is not alone in its efforts to enact legislation targeting DEI initiatives. Several other states, including Alabama, Florida, Utah, and Wyoming, have either passed or proposed bills with similar aims. These bills have faced opposition from student activists, educators, and civil rights organizations, who argue that they infringe upon free speech and hinder efforts to address systemic inequities in education. In Alabama, the passage of Senate Bill 129 has sparked protests on college campuses and drawn criticism from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. Similarly, Florida's House Bill 1291 has faced scrutiny for its potential to restrict discussions on systemic racism and privilege in teacher preparation programs. Meanwhile, Utah and Wyoming have also seen legislative efforts aimed at defunding DEI initiatives in higher education institutions. These developments underscore a broader trend of state-level interventions in academic affairs, raising concerns about the erosion of academic freedom and diversity on college campuses. Implications and Responses The enactment of anti-DEI legislation has significant implications for higher education institutions and marginalized communities. Critics argue that such laws undermine efforts to create inclusive learning environments and perpetuate systemic inequalities in education. Additionally, they warn of the chilling effect these laws may have on faculty members' ability to address sensitive topics in their classrooms. In response to these legislative measures, civil rights groups and advocacy organizations are mobilizing to challenge their legality and impact. Legal challenges, public campaigns, and grassroots organizing efforts are underway to protect DEI initiatives and safeguard academic freedom in higher education. Despite the obstacles posed by anti-DEI legislation, activists remain committed to advocating for equity and inclusion in higher education. They view these legislative efforts as part of a broader struggle for social justice and equality, and they vow to continue their fight to protect the rights and dignity of all students and educators. Moreover, the passage of these bills has prompted discussions about the role of state governments in shaping educational policies and practices. Some argue that legislative interventions in DEI initiatives undermine the autonomy of colleges and universities, while others contend that they are necessary to uphold conservative values and intellectual diversity on campuses. Moving forward, the battle over DEI legislation is likely to intensify as states grapple with competing interests and ideologies. It remains to be seen how these conflicts will play out and what impact they will have on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. RELATED ARTICLE: Republicans Attack DEI Practices in Public Colleges and Medical Schools In Congressional Hearing The Biden administration has unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul the accreditation process for higher education institutions, signaling a significant shift in federal policy towards ensuring accountability and improving student outcomes. Proposed Measures to Enhance Oversight Under the proposed reforms, accrediting agencies would be required to establish clear benchmarks for student achievement, such as graduation rates and job placement outcomes. These benchmarks aim to provide a standardized measure of educational quality and hold institutions accountable for delivering on their promises to students. Additionally, the reforms seek to address conflicts of interest within accrediting agencies by imposing stricter guidelines on board membership and decision-making processes. By promoting transparency and independence, the administration hopes to bolster public trust in the accreditation system and ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of students and taxpayers. Furthermore, the reforms aim to streamline complaint procedures and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to address instances of non-compliance with accreditation standards. By empowering federal agencies to take decisive action against underperforming institutions, the reforms seek to protect students from predatory practices and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively. READ ALSO: Postsecondary Commission Propels Accreditation Revolution with Student Outcomes and Economic Mobility Focus Debate and Controversy Surrounding the Reforms The proposed reforms have sparked intense debate among policymakers, education experts, and stakeholders, with some expressing cautious optimism about the potential for positive change and others voicing concerns about the unintended consequences of increased regulation. Proponents of the reforms argue that the current accreditation system is outdated and ineffective, failing to adequately assess the quality of education provided by colleges and universities. They contend that the proposed measures will help to modernize the accreditation process and ensure that institutions are held accountable for student outcomes. However, critics warn that the reforms could stifle innovation and flexibility within higher education and impose undue burdens on institutions, particularly smaller colleges and universities. They argue that a one-size-fits-all approach to accreditation may not be appropriate given the diverse needs and missions of different institutions. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for unintended consequences, such as the displacement of low-income and minority students if underperforming institutions lose access to federal financial aid. Critics also question whether accreditation alone can effectively address broader issues of affordability, accessibility, and equity within higher education. Path Forward and Implications for Higher Education As the debate over accreditation reform continues, it is clear that significant changes are on the horizon for higher education in the United States. The Biden administration remains committed to its goal of improving accountability and student outcomes, and the proposed reforms represent a major step towards achieving that objective. However, the path forward is likely to be fraught with challenges and complexities as policymakers grapple with competing priorities and interests. Finding the right balance between accountability and flexibility will be key to ensuring that the reforms achieve their intended goals without unintended consequences. Ultimately, the success of the proposed reforms will depend on their implementation and enforcement, as well as the willingness of colleges, universities, and accrediting agencies to adapt to the changing landscape of higher education. By working together collaboratively and thoughtfully, stakeholders can help to shape a stronger, more transparent accreditation system that serves the needs of students, institutions, and society as a whole. RELATED ARTICLE: Southern Accreditation Turmoil: Five Universities Placed on Probation for Financial and Governance Issues Kentucky's performance-based funding model for higher education faces constitutional scrutiny as state Attorney General Russell Coleman argues that it relies on race, contravening a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions. Challenges to Performance-Based Funding Regulations Coleman contends that Kentucky's funding regulations, which tie 35% of state higher education funding to institutional performance metrics, are unconstitutional due to their reliance on race. Specifically, Coleman points out that the state's Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) defines "underrepresented minority students" solely based on racial and ethnic categories. This, according to Coleman, effectively incorporates race into the admissions processes of public colleges, violating the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. In his opinion, Coleman emphasizes the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions, which struck down race-conscious admissions policies. He asserts that defining underrepresented minority students exclusively in terms of race, as done by the CPE, violates constitutional principles. Coleman suggests that promoting diversity in public colleges should involve considering factors beyond race, such as socioeconomic background, first-generation college status, and geographic diversity. While Kentucky's funding formula incentivizes racial diversity to achieve performance goals, Coleman suggests alternative methods that do not rely on race. This includes considering socioeconomic status and geographic background, which can contribute to achieving diversity without using race as a sole criterion. READ ALSO: Increased State Funding Boosts Graduation Rates for Underrepresented Students, Study Finds Implications and Response Coleman's opinion does not immediately alter the state's funding formula, but it has prompted colleges and universities in Kentucky to review its potential implications. University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel indicated in a campuswide email that the institution is assessing the opinion's impact in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The opinion comes amid broader debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in public institutions. Republican state Representative Jennifer Decker, who requested Coleman's opinion, has introduced legislation aimed at restricting DEI initiatives at public colleges. This legislative move underscores the ongoing tension surrounding diversity-related policies and practices in higher education. The Kentucky case reflects broader nationwide challenges in navigating diversity and inclusion efforts within the bounds of legal and constitutional frameworks. As institutions grapple with these issues, they must strike a delicate balance between promoting diversity and adhering to legal mandates, ensuring equitable access and opportunities for all students. Furthermore, Coleman's opinion highlights the evolving landscape of race-conscious policies in education following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent rulings. It raises questions about how states can pursue diversity goals while avoiding potential legal pitfalls related to race-based considerations. Overall, the situation in Kentucky underscores the complexity of addressing diversity and inclusion in higher education, requiring careful consideration of legal, ethical, and practical implications. Colleges and universities across the country are closely monitoring developments in Kentucky as they navigate their own approaches to promoting diversity and equity while complying with legal standards. Coleman's opinion adds a new layer to the ongoing dialogue surrounding race-conscious admissions and diversity initiatives in higher education. As institutions seek to foster inclusive environments and promote student success, they must navigate the legal landscape to ensure compliance with constitutional principles while advancing diversity goals. RELATED ARTICLE: Hybrid State Funding Model Bolsters Community College Enrollment December 22 2009 Coatbridges Time Capsule leisure centre is to undergo a 5m upgrade as local councillors seek to impress a new generation of fun seekers.The 18 year old facility has become something of a 1990s time capsule with rusting water slide supports and insufficient ventilation.But council bosses are to now invest 5m on an upgraded leisure pool and health suite alongside a new waterslide known as the Kidz Tantrum.The Time Capsules 25m pool, gym, games hall and cafe will remain open during the refurbishment which is scheduled to complete in the autumn. (@ChaudhryMAli88) KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Mar, 2024) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the provinces' share in the next NFC award would be granted as per the Constitutional provisions. This he said while speaking to media persons at the Election Commission of Pakistan where he went to submit nomination papers of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidates for the Senate Election, being held on April 2, 2024. When asked about the IMF's condition to reduce the provinces' share in the upcoming NFC (National Finance Commission) Award, Murad Ali Shah said that he has heard about it too. However, he added that the Federal government has reportedly informed the IMF that the matters constitutionally settled between the federal and provincial governments cannot be negotiated or discussed. The chief minister said that the 10th NFC award was announced before the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. After the 18th Amendment, the provinces have been given more responsibilities, therefore the upcoming NFC Award should be made accordingly, he said and added the federal government has its own point of view, but these issues will be discussed at the NFC forum. According to him, PPP has submitted the nomination papers of nine candidates for the general seats, three each for women and technocrats, and two for minorities. He expressed hope that his party would win almost all the seats. He added that the PPP would release the final list of its candidates after the scrutiny of the nomination papers on Monday. About the trend of PPP winning more votes in successive Senate Elections, he explained that unlike the election of the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister, assembly members are not always bound to vote in favour of their party. Sometimes, they may vote based on their personal preferences. In such cases, the party cannot disqualify those members, he said. To a question, the chief minister said that except PPP, no other party has filed nomination papers for the ladies, technocrat and minorities seats of the senate so far. They may file as there was enough time, but we have filed, he said and added he was hopeful that his party would clinch maximum seats. Replying to a question, Murad Ali Shah said that good police officers were being posted to improve overall law and order in the province. Yesterday, we made a reshuffle at the SSP level and other officers would also be changed to improve law and order and governance, he said. To a question, the CM said that PPP was a rich party in terms of loyal workers and among them, the Party leadership has selected candidates for senate election, while a party lacks such loyalty in its ranks. He further said that the Party was not thinking about the country but for their leader who wrote letters to the IMF and others against the sovereignty of the country. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Mar, 2024) In a quintessentially American tale of race and politics, the lowly menthol cigarette is playing a curiously large role in the US presidential election this year. A proposed ban from President Joe Biden's administration on the mint-flavored smokes has miffed some African Americans, a key Democratic Party base. To complicate matters, narratives linked to the tobacco lobby have ginned up fears that the ban could lead to over policing and racism. Those are normally left-wing concerns, but in an election year, anything goes -- and Republicans are using the issue to try to appeal to Black voters. The food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 released draft plans for axing the production and sale of flavored tobacco, to deter future smokers and help current smokers quit. Biden was due to greenlight a Federal rule to that effect last year, but fears of backlash among Black voters meant it was stalled until March -- and campaigners now fear the law won't be enacted at all. Black smokers are far more likely to buy menthol cigarettes than white smokers, leading to claims from some -- including those with links to the tobacco industry -- that a ban would disproportionately impact African Americans. Around eight in 10 African American smokers consume menthol cigarettes, compared with three in 10 white smokers. "Smoking is bad for you, no question about it, but if it's a health issue, why aren't you banning all cigarettes?" Al Sharpton, a famous civil rights activist and a vocal opponent of regulation, asked at an event in 2019. In the lead up to the FDA proposal, he wrote a letter to the Biden White House saying "a menthol ban would exacerbate existing, simmering issues around racial profiling, discrimination and policing." He pushed against a state-level ban proposed last year in New York, according to news outlet Politico. And with the presidential election approaching, Republican groups are looking to poach crucial African American votes. In South Carolina, conservative group Building America's Future sent letters to around 75,000 Democrat voters in February listing Biden's proposed menthol cigarette ban as a reason not to vote for him in that month's Primary vote. An ad from the group says Biden should focus on bigger priorities, rather than "telling adults what they can and can't do." Tobacco giant Altria, which owns Marlboro and other brands, sponsored a poll last year which found a menthol ban would sway minority voters against Biden, though other polls have found a majority of Black voters support a ban. - 'Health above politics' - Health experts have decried delaying the ban, as figures published by the FDA show smoking-related illnesses kill nearly 500,000 people in the US each year. "The closer you get to an election just ultimately the harder things get," said Emily Holubowich, of the American Heart Association. "This is the right thing to do. History is on your side, public health is on your side." Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP civil rights group, supports the ban, and called for the White House to "focus on the science, the research and the health outcomes of African Americans" by enacting it. Calling concerns over the menthol ban a "manufactured political argument," he doubted the there was much genuine outrage around the issue. "No one has raised this as a political issue," he said in a recent anti-tobacco campaign video, besides "the lobbyists of the tobacco industries and those they have paid to carry a... false message." In 2020 the EU banned the sale of menthol cigarettes and US states California and Massachusetts have since followed suit. Flavored cigarettes are considered by campaigners to be far more addictive as they mask the taste of tobacco, making it harder for people to stop smoking and acting as a gateway for young people. Black Americans have been specifically targeted in marketing for menthols, promoted as "refreshing" throughout the 20th century. The campaign worked: In 1953 some 5 percent of Black smokers consumed menthol cigarettes, rising to around 80 percent at the turn of the century. A study published in peer-reviewed journal Tobacco Control in 2022 estimated that a US ban on menthol cigarettes would save 654,000 lives, of which 255,000 would be African Americans, over the next four decades. Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before the Muslim holy month started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldn't lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. But both sides have made moves in recent days aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Nearly one-third of the children younger than 2 in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency said Friday. In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. Talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal "unrealistic" but agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar. His government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of "annihilating Hamas." Israeli protests Thousands of people demonstrated Saturday night in Tel Aviv to show their impatience with Netanyahu's government and demand a deal to free the hostages. Some expressed support for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's sharp criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the war and his call for a new election. "I think that we are in a situation where they are completely right, that we have a war that is continuing well beyond what is necessary," protester Yehuda Halper said. Netanyahu's office said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians more than half the enclave's population are sheltering. Israel wants to target Hamas battalions stationed there. Many fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostage; about 100 of the hostages have been freed. The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous. Netanyahu OKs Rafah invasion Netanyahu's office didn't give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation but said that it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to "humanitarian islands" in central Gaza. "Many people are too fragile, hungry and sick to be moved again," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media, adding that there are no fully functional, safe health centers elsewhere in Gaza. "In the name of humanity, we appeal to Israel not to proceed." The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people, including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies. Israel's offensive has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gaza's population is starving, according to the U.N. Aid arrives by sea As part of efforts to deliver desperately needed aid, a ship inaugurated a sea route from Cyprus on Friday and offloaded 200 tons of humanitarian supplies sent by the aid group World Central Kitchen destined for people in northern Gaza. The group said it was preparing another vessel in Cyprus with hundreds of tons of aid. Also on Saturday, Germany joined a group of countries, including the U.S. and Jordan, in conducting airdrops of aid over Gaza. The U.S. also has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Displaced Palestinians living in tents along the Mediterranean coast remained hungry and bleak. "The situation is so bad that no one can imagine it, and the ship, even if it helps, will be a drop in the ocean," said Zahr Saqr in Muwasi. "We run like dogs behind air drops." Inmates at Irans notorious Evin prison in Tehran allegedly assaulted a group of political prisoners on Friday as part of an ongoing practice reportedly orchestrated by prison officials, VOAs Persian Service has learned. Assailants assaulted political prisoners with their fists on Friday, leading to bruises and other visible injuries, according to reports. The attackers also reportedly labeled the political prisoners as terrorists and verbally abused them. Documents apparently hacked from an Iranian government database and published exclusively by VOA's Persian Service suggest that for approximately a year, prison authorities had been employing certain inmates, including the prisons Ward 4 lawyer and his deputy, to gather intelligence on political prisoners or physically attack them. A family member of one political prisoner told VOA that unlike the direct involvement of authorities in attacking political prisoners last October, the prison management's current tactic involves employing certain ordinary inmates from "Ward 4, Hall 3" to deter political prisoners from making demands or protesting. Reports show the attackers, chosen from among government supporters, aim to carry out the goals set by prison authorities and the warden of Evin prison in their efforts to confront and suppress political prisoners. They also inform the prison guards about the singing of anthems or conversations among political prisoners. VOA has learned that prison management allegedly addresses the concerns of the attackers, who in turn receive various benefits. Financial exploitation is another factor allegedly contributing to the crackdown on political prisoners, historically leading to their transfer to other prisons. Information obtained by VOA indicates that government-affiliated prisoners profit by seeking to depoliticize the cells designated for political prisoners. In some cases, bunk beds within the prison are traded among inmates for more than $71. Regarding the relocation of political prisoners to other facilities, one notable instance occurred in September 2023. According to a reliable source who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals, 12 political detainees from the town of Tajrish in Evin prison, including those housed in Wards 6 and 8, were transferred to Ghezel Hesar Prison, northwest of Tehran. The informed source revealed that the motive for the transfer was their involvement in supporting nationwide protests. The nationwide protests in Iran were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, while in police custody. She was arrested for allegedly wearing her veil improperly. Documents apparently hacked from an Iranian government database and published exclusively by VOA's Persian Service have shed new light on how Iran's Islamist rulers covered up casualties from violent crackdowns on mostly peaceful mass protests and falsely labeled them as riots in recent years. VOA received the documents on March 6 from the hacking group Edalat-e Ali, which last month began exposing what it said were confidential Iranian governmental records that it obtained from breaching the judiciary's computer system. VOA Persian reviewed the documents and deemed them authentic but could not verify their veracity independently because it is barred from operating in Iran. Iran's United Nations mission in New York did not immediately respond to a VOA request for comment emailed Friday. Tehran has responded to past leaks of purported Iranian government documents by dismissing them as fake. One document from the latest Edalat-e Ali leak appears to be from a November 25, 2019, meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which is overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It characterizes Iran's mostly peaceful nationwide anti-government protests of November 2019 as stemming from "disruptive and riotous behaviors." The U.S. State Department has said Iranian security forces used lethal force to suppress the protests, killing about 1,500 people. Some people involved in the November 2019 protests damaged public buildings and businesses. The Iranian government repeatedly has used the term "riots" to describe mostly peaceful popular protests of its authoritarian Islamist rule in recent years. The Supreme National Security Council document directed state media, the judiciary and other government agencies to "prohibit" the release of "any information regarding the number of fatalities" from the 2019 protest crackdown and to hold offenders accountable for disseminating "classified information." The document also directed government agencies to pursue legal actions against "rioters" accused of killing protesters, saying that in such cases, it would be "appropriate" to conduct investigations, offer condolences to families of victims, and provide media coverage. A second leaked document from Edalat-e Ali relates to an apparent September 26, 2022, meeting of the Iranian Interior Ministry's National Domestic Security Council. The meeting came 10 days after the eruption of nationwide anti-government protests over the September 16, 2022, death in morality police custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini. The document indicates that the National Domestic Security Council directed government agencies including state broadcaster IRIB to "counter" what it described as the "oppositional media narrative" of the protests by emphasizing "discourse supporting the Islamic revolution." The National Domestic Security Council said protesters should be classified as "rioters" and associated with groups linked to acts of violence resulting in deaths. It also urged state television to prioritize broadcasting footage of incidents labeled as "violent actions by rioters" against police and civilians. The U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, has reported that Iranian authorities killed at least 520 people in the crackdown on the Amini protests. Several men who participated in the protests were convicted of murder by Iranian authorities after what rights activists said were sham trials based on forced confessions. Their subsequent executions sparked condemnations from Western governments and international human rights organizations. This article originated in VOA's Persian Service. Click for the original version of the story. Michael Lipin of VOA's NewsCenter contributed. A first aid ship plying a new maritime corridor from Cyprus began unloading its cargo of desperately needed food in Gaza on Friday as Hamas proposed a new six-week truce in the war. AFP footage showed the Open Arms, which set sail from Cyprus on Tuesday, towing a barge that the Spanish charity of the same name says is loaded with 200 tons of food for Gazans threatened with famine after more than five months of war. World Central Kitchen, the U.S. charity working with Open Arms, said it was readying another boat with supplies of beans, canned meat, flour, rice and dates in the Cypriot port of Larnaca but stressed the need for more road access to bring aid into Gaza. "Our ambition is having a highway of aid going into Gaza," the group's Juan Camilo Jimenez said in a video posted on the social media platform X. The Israeli military said it had deployed troops to "secure the area" around the jetty while the cargo of aid was unloaded. The "vessel underwent a comprehensive security inspection," it said. A spokesman for the Hamas-ruled territory's Health Ministry said early on Saturday that 123 people had been killed across Gaza in the past 24 hours, including 36 people in a strike on a house sheltering displaced people in central Nuseirat. Witnesses reported air strikes and fighting in the southern Gaza Strip's main city, Khan Younis, as well as areas of the north where humanitarian conditions have been particularly dire. As Muslim worshippers marked the first Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, thousands attended prayers in the revered Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, amid a heavy security presence and restrictions on entry. "It's the first year I see so many forces [police], and their eyes... Two years ago, I could argue with them, but now... they're giving us no chance," said Amjad Ghalib, a 44-year-old carpenter. In southern Gaza's Rafah, the last major population center yet to be subjected to a ground assault, AFPTV footage showed worshippers praying by the rubble of a destroyed mosque. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he had approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah, where most of the Gaza Strip's population has sought refuge, without providing details or a timeline. White House officials, who have said an assault on Rafah would be a "red line" without credible civilian protection plans, said they had not seen the plan approved by Netanyahu. "We certainly would welcome the opportunity to see it," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, adding that the United States could not support any plan without "credible" proposals to shelter more than one million Gazans. "Obstacle" to peace In negotiations aimed at securing a new truce and hostage deal, Hamas has put forward a new proposal for a six-week cease-fire and the exchange of several dozen Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, an official from the militant group told AFP. Hamas would want this to lead to "a complete [Israeli] withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a permanent cease-fire," the official said. The proposal would involve the release of some 42 hostages, who would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners at a ratio of between 20 and 50 prisoners per hostage, the official said, down from a previous proposal of roughly 100 to one. Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the Hamas attack of October 7, dozens of whom were released during a weeklong truce in November. Israel believes about 130 captives remain in Gaza, including 32 presumed dead. Israel said it was sending a delegation to Qatar for a new round of negotiations. White House officials said they were "cautiously optimistic" about the chances for a cease-fire but stressed that talks were far from over. "We're cautiously optimistic that things are moving in the right direction," Kirby said, adding that the Hamas proposal was "within the bounds" of what negotiators had been discussing in recent months. The United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance, has grown increasingly critical of Netanyahu over his handling of the war. U.S. Senate leader Chuck Schumer called for a snap Israeli election, describing Netanyahu as one of several "major obstacles" to peace in a speech praised by U.S. President Joe Biden. "I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans," Biden said. Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party retorted that Israel was "not a banana republic but an independent and proud democracy." Dying "to keep families alive" The United Nations has repeatedly warned of looming famine, with only a fraction of the supplies needed to sustain Gaza's 2.3 million people being let in. With fewer aid trucks entering by road, efforts have multiplied to get relief in by air and sea. Cyprus, the nearest European Union member country to Gaza, has also said a second, bigger aid vessel is being prepared. "God willing, they will bring food for the children, that's all we ask for," displaced Gazan Abu Issa Ibrahim Filfil told AFPTV. Hamas's October 7 attack resulted in about 1,200 deaths. Israel's retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 31,490 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. The ministry on Thursday accused Israeli troops of opening fire from "tanks and helicopters" as Palestinians waited for aid at a roundabout in Gaza City, killing 20 people and wounding dozens. The Israeli military denied firing on the crowd. "Armed Palestinians opened fire while Gazan civilians were awaiting the arrival of the aid convoy," and then "continued to shoot as the crowd of Gazans began looting the trucks," a military statement said. Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election. "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence said Friday in an interview with Fox News, weighing in for the first time since the former president became the presumptive GOP nominee. Pence ran against Trump for their party's nomination but dropped his bid before voting began last year. The decision makes Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former boss's bid to return to the Oval Office. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid. It also marks the end of a metamorphosis for Pence, who had long been seen as one of Trump's most loyal defenders but broke with his two-time running mate by refusing to go along with Trump's unconstitutional scheme to try to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. When Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, trying to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's win, Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters outside chanted, "Hang Mike Pence!" To participate in the Republican primary debates, Pence was required to sign a pledge saying that he would support the party's eventual nominee. And during the first debate in Milwaukee, Pence was among the candidates who raised their hands when asked whether they would support Trump even if he were convicted in one of his four criminal indictments. But Pence had made clear he had come to harbor serious reservations about Trump's actions and his policy stances. "I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again," he said during his campaign launch speech. As the campaign progressed, he raised alarms about the party's resistance to sending aid to Ukraine and called on his fellow Republicans to reject what he called the "siren song of populism" espoused by Trump and his followers. Pence declined to say for whom he would be voting "I'm going to keep my vote to myself," he said but made clear it wouldn't be Biden. "I would never vote for Joe Biden," he said. "I'm a Republican." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Israel on Saturday to allow humanitarian aid access to Gaza on a larger scale, ahead of a two-day trip to the Middle East. Scholz will travel to the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba on Saturday to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah on Sunday before flying to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now. That will be a topic that I also have to talk about," Scholz told journalists ahead of his trip. He also voiced concern about Israel's planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half of the Palestinian population of 2.3 million have taken shelter. "There is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah will result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be strictly prohibited," he said. Germany's air force said it dropped pallets with 4 tons of relief goods by air into the enclave Saturday. "Every package counts. But airdrops are just a drop in the ocean," the foreign ministry said on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' terror attack on October 7, has displaced most of the population and left people in dire need of food and other essentials. The Indian navy has freed the hijacked MV Ruen cargo ship in Somalia's Puntland region Saturday after a 24-hour standoff and shootout, and it has detained 35 pirates, according to Puntland Ports Minister Ahmed Yasin Salah. The crew is reported to be unharmed. The pirates who allegedly hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on December 14 exchanged heavy gunfire with the Indian navy Friday. "The Indian navy successfully conducted the operation, which has been going on since last night. The navy captured 35 pirates and released the MV Ruen ship, and its crew are safe," Salah said. We received the information regarding the gunfight Friday afternoon. Once we followed up with our reliable sources, we were told that the Indian navy engaged in a gunfight with the Somali pirates. In an interview with VOA Somali, Salah said the pirates on the Ruen had been sailing back and forth across the Somali coast for months, and that the Indians intercepted them Friday, as they approached another pirate-held ship the MV Abdullah. It was not immediately clear if the Somali pirates were using the hijacked ship MV Ruen to take over the Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship, MV Abdullah. The MV Abdullah was sailing from Mozambiques capital Maputo to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tons of coal when Somali pirates attacked and seized it on the evening of March 12, taking 23 of its crew members hostage. Quoting an Indian navy spokesperson, Reuters reported Saturday that the Somali pirates opened fire on the Indian navy ship in international waters Friday. According to the Reuters report, the navy had called on the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding. Until the Ruen was seized, there had been no successful hijacking of a merchant ship by Somali pirates since 2017. At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking or suspicious approaches have been recorded by the Indian navy since December, Indian officials have said. India deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea in January to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels. Somalia had for years been blighted by piracy, with the peak being 2011, when the U.N. says more than 160 attacks were recorded off the Somali coast. The incidents have declined drastically since then, largely because of the presence of American and allied navies in international waters. A small number of Somalias maritime forces have been recently seen conducting patrols in the waters of the Indian Ocean close to Mogadishu, the countrys capital, as part of an ongoing measure by Mogadishu to rebuild its maritime security presence. In tandem with that effort, Somalia's executive and legislative branches approved last month a crucial 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said under the agreement, Turkey will build, train and equip the Somali navy and help to remove "any fears of terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and any external violations or threats" to Somalia's sea coast. Somalia has Africa's longest coastline. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters. Latvia's state security service has started criminal proceedings against an European Parliament lawmaker and a citizen of the Baltic country who is suspected of cooperating with Russian intelligence and security services, according to Latvian media reports Saturday. Latvian media outlets reported that the security service, known by the abbreviation VDD, has been investigating the activities of Tatjana Zdanoka, 73, and her alleged Russia ties over the past several weeks since reports were published in January by Russian, Nordic and Baltic news sites saying that she has been an agent for the Russian Federal Security Service since at least 2004. According to news agency LETA, the Latvian security service decided to start a criminal process against Zdanoka on Feb. 22. The security service couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Zdanoka has denied all of the allegations against her. The European Parliament said in late January that it had opened an investigation into news reports that a Latvian member of the assembly, Zdanoka, has been working as a Russian agent for several years. The European Unions legislative body, based in Strasbourg, France, said it was taking the allegations very seriously. Following a joint investigation, the independent Russian investigative journalism site The Insider, its Latvian equivalent Re:Baltica, news portal Delfi Estonia, and Swedish newspaper Expressen published on Jan. 29 emails that they said were leaked and showed Zdanoka's interactions with her handler. Expressen claimed that Zdanoka has been spreading propaganda about alleged violations of the rights of Russians living in Baltic countries and arguing for a pro-Kremlin policy, among other things. She has also refused to condemn Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the paper said. Latvia, a Baltic nation of 1.9 million people, and neighboring Estonia are both home to a sizable ethnic Russian minority of about 25% of the population. Both countries are ex-Soviet republics. Over the past few years, Moscow has routinely accused Latvia and Estonia of discriminating against their Russian-speaking populations. Zdanoka's resume, which is posted on the European Parliament website, lists her as the president of the EU Russian-Speakers Alliance, a nongovernmental organization, since 2007. She was first elected to the European Parliament in 2004. Alexey Navalny's team is used to working independently. The most potent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin was frequently absent for long stretches after being arrested, assaulted, poisoned, or imprisoned. But when Navalny died suddenly in February at age 47 in a remote Arctic prison, his team was left with a monumental challenge: sustaining an opposition movement against Putin who is all but certain to be reelected without the living example of their defiant and charismatic leader. After the initial shock wore off, Navalny's closest allies returned to the work that cost Navalny his freedom and life: undermining Putin's iron-fisted grip on power. A significant test will come Sunday, the last of three days that voters can go to the polls in an election that is widely viewed as more of a formality than an exercise in democracy. That's when Navalny's team with the endorsement of his widow, Yulia Navalnaya is calling for a protest dubbed "Noon Against Putin." They are asking Russians to flock to polling stations Sunday at noon local time across the country's 11 time zones to demonstrate their discontent with Putin's rule and his war against Ukraine. "It is a very simple and safe action, it can't be banned," Navalnaya said in a video address. "It will help millions of people to see their like-minded allies and to realize that we are not alone, we're surrounded by people who are also against the war, against corruption and against lawlessness." Navalny's followers have expressed a wide mix of emotions in the weeks since his death, from renewed inspiration to a sense of defeat. Maria Obukhova of Moscow, who paid tribute to Navalny on Wednesday at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, said the crowds she saw at his funeral which numbered in the thousands were motivational. "It was a huge surprise for me, because it seemed before like everything had died here, that Russia is no longer, that it had died," said Obukhova, who placed white daisies at Navalny's gravesite. Another Muscovite at the cemetery, a man named Valery who withheld his last name for security reasons, said he had little hope for the future and that after Navalny's death, "something has really broken" inside of him. Just several days after her husband's death, Navalnaya expressed determination to keep his mission alive. In the past month, she has addressed the European Parliament, met with United States President Joe Biden, and urged Western countries not to recognize the results of Russia's election. She also has called on the West to impose more sanctions on those close to Putin. Leading up to the election, Navalny's team urged supporters to cast their ballots for any candidate other than Putin, or to invalidate them by choosing two or more candidates. They also had dozens of volunteers call ordinary Russians to ask them about their grievances and try to turn them against Putin. The phone campaign was announced by Navalny over the summer, and since then "tens of thousands" of calls were made, Leonid Volkov, Navalny's top strategist, said a video. "We will not stop doing that," he vowed. Volkov also gave a video address shortly after Navalny's death to rally supporters and perhaps tap into his longtime ally's spirit of persistence. "It will be a monument to Alexey's cause if you and I live to see how this regime disintegrates before Putin's eyes," he said. Still, the Putin opposition's uphill battle has only gotten steeper with its leaders in exile. "(Putin's) regime pushes people out of the country because it understands very well that the possibilities of influencing political processes in Russia from abroad are minimal," said Nikolay Petrov, a visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Sunday's "Noon Against Putin" protest will be a test of how much Navalny's team can do in Russia from abroad, said Sam Greene, a director at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington. "One part of what they want to do is to send a message to those who remain in Russia that you're not alone, that the opposition in exile has their back to a certain extent and will support them," said Greene. "But then the question is, how do they support them?" Efforts are underway to disrupt the protest. Navalny's team said fake emails have been sent around purporting to be from them telling Putin opponents to show up at the polls at 5 p.m. instead of noon. Russia's independent election watchdog, Golos, reported that officials in at least one region are being instructed to report large gatherings near polling stations to the police. On Thursday night, the Prosecutor's Office in Moscow warned that unauthorized rallies near polling stations "may prevent citizens from freely exercising their voting rights and the work of election commissions," a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. The personal risks for Putin's opponents remain high. On Tuesday, Volkov was attacked near his home in Lithuania. Assailants smashed a window of his car, sprayed tear gas into his face and beat him with a hammer, according to Navalny's team. Volkov was taken to a hospital, and upon release said his arm was broken and his leg was injured so much it was painful to walk. He accused "Putin's henchmen" of the attack and said it was an attempt to intimidate the team ahead of the "Noon Against Putin" protest. With Navalny gone, some of his supporters are recalibrating their expectations. Valery, one of many people who visited Navalny's grave in southeastern Moscow in recent weeks, said he is less optimistic about the opposition's prospects going forward. "Even though Yulia, his wife his widow has picked up the baton, I'm not sure that it is going to be the same as it was when Alexey was alive," he said. As rural hospitals continue to struggle financially in the United States, a new type of hospital is slowly taking root, especially in the Southeast. Rural emergency hospitals receive more than $3 million in federal funding a year and higher Medicare reimbursements in exchange for closing all inpatient beds and providing 24/7 emergency care. While that makes it easier for a hospital to keep its doors open, experts say it doesnt solve all of the challenges facing rural health care. People might have to travel further for treatments for illnesses that require inpatient stays, such as pneumonia or COVID-19. In some of the communities where hospitals have converted to the new designation, residents are confused about what kind of care they can receive. Plus, rural hospitals are hesitant to make the switch, because theres no margin of error. Its ironic that the facilities that might need the most help cant afford to take the risk, said Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer at the National Rural Health Association. She pointed to having to give up certain services and benefits, such as a federal discount program for prescription drugs. The government, which classifies hospitals by type, rolled out the rural emergency option in January 2023. Nineteen hospitals across the U.S. received rural emergency hospital status last year, according to the University of North Carolinas Sheps Center for Health Services Research. The majority are in the South, with some in the Midwest. The designation is aimed at a very specific population, said George Pink, deputy director of the Sheps Centers Rural Health Research Program, and that is rural hospitals on the brink of closure with few people getting inpatient care already. Saving rural care That was the case for Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Georgia, which was the second rural emergency hospital established in the U.S. Weeks prior to converting, the hospital received at least $1 million in credit from the county so it could pay employees money that county board of supervisors' chairman Scott Carver doubted hed see returned. We operate on a $6 million budget for the county, so to extend that kind of line of credit was dangerous on our part to some degree," he said. But ... we felt like we had to try. Irwin County Hospital became a rural emergency hospital on Feb. 1, 2023. Quentin Whitwell, the hospital's CEO, said it was an ideal candidate. Were still finding out what some of the impacts are, given that its a new thing, said Whitwell, who through his company Progressive Health Systems owns and manages six hospitals in the Southeast, most of which are rural emergency hospitals or have applied for the designation. But the change to a rural emergency hospital has transformed this hospital. A combination of state programs and tax credits, plus the new designation, means the hospital has $4 million in the bank, Carver said. Simply put, the work was worth it to him. Traci Harper, a longtime Ocilla resident, isnt so sure. About a year ago, she rushed her son to the hospital for emergency care for spinal meningitis. Because the new designation requires the hospital to transfer patients to larger hospitals within 24 hours, Harpers son was sent to another in-state facility and three days later ended up getting the care he needed in a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. That's two hours away, she said. The whole time I could have taken him there myself, but nobody told me that. Barely surviving Nebraskas first rural emergency hospital opened in February in a city named Friend. Warren Memorial Hospital had reached a breaking point: Federal pandemic relief money had dried up. The city, which owns the hospital, had to start extending lines of credit so hospital employees could get paid. A major street repair project was even delayed, said Jared Chaffin, the hospitals chief financial officer and one of three co-CEOs. Back in the summer, we were barely surviving, said Amy Thimm, the hospitals vice president of clinical services and quality and co-CEO. Although residents expressed concerns at a September town hall about closing inpatient services, the importance of having emergency care outweighed other worries. We have farmers and ranchers and people who dont have the time to drive an hour to get care, so theyll just go without, said Ron Te Brink, co-CEO and chief information officer. Rural health care is so extremely important to a lot of Nebraska communities like ours. The first federal payment, about $270,000, arrived March 5. Chaffin projects the hospitals revenue will be $6 million this year more than its ever made. Thats just insane, especially for our little hospital here, he said. We still have Mount Everest to climb, and we still have so much work ahead of us. The designation alone is not a savior for the hospital its a lifeline. Rural troubles That lifeline has proven difficult to hold onto for Alliance Healthcare System in Holly Springs, Mississippi, another one of Whitwells hospitals and the fourth facility in the country to convert. Months after being approved as a rural emergency hospital in March 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reneged on its decision. Hospital CEO Kenneth Williams told The Associated Press that the government said the hospital isn't rural because it is less than an hour away from Memphis. A CMS spokesperson said the facility was inadvertently certified." The hospital has until April to transition back to full service, but many in the community of largely retirees believe the hospital has closed, Williams said. Patient volume is at a record low. If the federal payments stop coming, Williams isnt sure the hospital will survive. We might have been closed if we hadnt [become a rural emergency hospital], so ... something had to be done, he said. Do I regret all of the issues that for some reason weve incurred that the other [hospitals] have not? I dont know. Although Alliance appears to be one of few facilities that have been negatively affected by converting to a rural emergency hospital, Pink said its too soon to know if the federal designation is a success. If my intuition is correct, it will probably work well for some communities and it may not work well for others, he said. (L-R) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pose as they walk on the day of the opening of the new EU office in Nuuk, Greenland, 15 March 2024. The European Unions executive arm on Friday proposed weakening even more climate and environmental measures in the blocs latest set of concessions to farmers apparently bent on continuing disruptive tractor protests until the June EU elections. Angering environmentalists across the 27 EU member states, the Commission proposed to further loosen rules imposed on agriculture which it said, not so long ago, were instrumental to the blocs strategy to become climate neutral by 2050. That iconic challenge put the EU in the global vanguard of fighting climate change. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the EUs overall climate goals remained intact, even though she stressed she would continue to stand steadfastly by our farmers, who maintain EU food security and serve at the frontline of our climate and environment action. Under the proposals, the conditions to move farming to become more climate friendly were weakened or cut in areas like crop rotation, soil cover protection and tillage methods. Small farmers, representing some two-thirds of the workforce and the most active within the continent-wide protest movement, will be exempt from some controls and penalties under the new rules. Politically, the bloc has moved rightward over the past year. The plight of farmers has become a rallying cry for populists and conservatives who claim EU climate and farm policies are little more than bureaucratic bungling from elitist politicians who have lost any feeling for soil and land. The Christian Democratic European Peoples Party of von der Leyen has been among the most vocal and powerful in defending the farmers cause. I would actually call it populism, said Green MEP Thomas Waitz, saying the Commission proposals would cut deep into the agricultural commitment that is part of the EUs vaunted Green Deal to reach climate neutrality. Now they try to deflect the anger of the local farmers and instrumentalize it against the Green Deal. Scientists and environmentalists from around the globe, though, have insisted drastic measures are necessary just to prevent global warming from getting worse, and have pointed to Europe as one of the places with the bleakest prospects. The Commission proposals must still be endorsed by the member states, but considering previous concessions, they stand a good chance of being accepted quickly, observers said. Fridays plans were the EUs latest concessions in reaction to protests that have affected the daily lives of tens of millions of EU citizens and cost businesses tens of millions of euros due to transportation delays. Others have included shelving legislation on tighter pesticide rules and requirements to let some land lie fallow. On top of the EU itself, member states have also caved in to several demands as the tractor protests shot up the political agenda. Complaints have centered on excessive bureaucracy, intrusive environmental rules and unfair competition from third countries, including Ukraine. The Commission said that even though more flexibility measures for farmers were now proposed, the overall EU climate goals remained valid. We are the first continent to have made a binding legal commitment to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Not only have we done that, said Commission spokesman Eric Mamer, but we actually fixed a roadmap to 2030 with the legal act to ensure that we are on the right path to meet that objective. He insisted Fridays proposals would not veer from that commitment, even though that we ... adapt from time to time to changing circumstances is obvious. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Niger's ruling military junta has revoked a military accord that allows military personnel and civilian staff from the U.S. Department of Defense on its soil, junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said on Saturday. The decision, which takes effect immediately, follows a visit this week by U.S. officials led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and included General Michael Langley, commander of the U.S. Africa Command. Abdramane, speaking on television in the West African nation, said the U.S. delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and that Niger was not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival, or the agenda. He added that the discussions were around the current military transition in Niger, military cooperation between the two countries and Niger's choice of partners in the fight against militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Since seizing power in July of last year, the Niger junta, like the military rulers in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, have kicked out French and other European forces, and turned to Russia for support. "Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism," Abdramane said. "Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people," he added. The U.S. Department of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There were about 1,100 U.S. troops in Niger as of last year, where the U.S. military operates out of two bases including a drone base known as Air Base 201, built near Agadez in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million. Since 2018, the base has been used to target Islamic State militants and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al-Qaida affiliate, in the Sahel region. Abdramane said the status and presence of U.S. troops in Niger was illegal and violated constitutional and democratic rules because, according to the spokesperson, it was unilaterally imposed on the African nation in 2012. He said Niger was not aware of the number of U.S. civilian and military personnel on its soil or the amount of equipment deployed and, according to the agreement, the U.S. military had no obligation to respond to any request for help against militants. "In light of all the above, the government of Niger, revokes with immediate effect the agreement concerning the status of United States military personnel and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger," Abdramane said. The number of Chinese workers across Africa has hit its lowest level in more than a decade, new data from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics show. From a record high of 263,696 workers on the continent in 2015, only 88,371 were recorded in 2022, the most recent year on record. The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, which analyzed data from 2009 to 2022, attributed the drop in numbers partially to the pandemic as Chinese workers left during that period and the country only reopened in early 2023. But the plummeting numbers are also due to a variety of other factors, experts said, including oil prices and the downscaling of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings global Belt and Road Initiative, which initially saw thousands of Chinese sent out across the continent to work on large infrastructure projects. Uptick expected? We have no data for 2023, but anecdotally we hear that more postponed projects are resuming. Yet we are unlikely to see the high numbers of the past, said Deborah Brautigam, director at the China Africa Research Initiative, when asked whether the numbers could have rebounded last year and might continue to do so. Yunnan Chen, a researcher at ODI Global, a U.K.-based research group, was also bearish. It might be that some construction has restarted since 2022, but we know the number of overall Chinese-financed projects has been in decline for a number of years, and the last few years have put a damper on any new project deals. So I wouldn't expect any dramatic increases in these numbers anytime soon, she told VOA. The five countries with the most Chinese workers in 2022 were Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While still leading in the number of workers, Algeria and Angola also saw the biggest drops. Algeria had more than 91,000 Chinese workers in 2016 while Angola had a peak of 50,000. By 2022, only about 7,000 workers remained in each country. Brautigam told VOA the huge drops are explained by the price of oil. Theyre both highly reliant on oil exports and they use this oil to pay for nearly all government spending. In Angola, after its civil war ended in 2002, the Chinese helped the country rebuild, with the Export-Import Bank of China pledging $2 billion in oil-backed loans. But then global oil prices fell and Angola become mired in debt. The countrys president, Joao Lourenco, who was first elected in 2017, has sought to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on China, resulting in fewer Chinese projects and workers. But more Chinese workers may soon be in Angolas future. During a visit to Beijing on Friday, Lourenco and China's Xi agreed to upgrade bilateral ties, which will allow for more trade and investment. Bucking the trend Not all countries in Africa have seen recent declines in Chinese workers, however, with the DRC, Egypt and Zimbabwe being the most notable outliers. Egypt had more than 7,000 Chinese working in 2022, compared with around 2,000 pre-pandemic. The DRC had more than 8,000 in 2022, a rise from around 3,000 in 2012. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, has been stable with around 1,000 Chinese workers over the past four years. Zimbabwe is especially interesting as there is a big near-completion steel plant and other minerals processing going on, said Lauren Johnston, an expert on China with the University of Sydney, noting China was becoming less dependent on African oil and was shifting toward green energy and minerals. Zimbabwe has huge deposits of lithium, one of the critical minerals needed for the move to electric vehicles, and China has invested heavily in the industry there. There are large value-added mineral-processing facilities being constructed in Zimbabwe and also power projects which are needed for mining and mineral processing, Brautigam noted. The DRC is likewise rich in minerals, particularly cobalt, and in Egypt, the Chinese are building the government a whole new capital outside Cairo. Local jobs boost? China has often been criticized for failing to aid job creation in Africa or equip locals with new skills, despite its massive projects. While large numbers of local workers have indeed been employed, its often been in the most basic of roles, while more senior jobs have been reserved for Chinese. Generally, Chinese projects do hire local laborers, said Chen. Usually at the beginning of projects there is a higher proportion of Chinese engineers and skilled labor, but over time this tends to shift, as more local laborers are hired, she said, noting however that the majority are in unskilled roles. Even as China sends fewer of its own people to Africa, hiring Africans for higher-paid, skilled jobs by Chinese companies may not happen immediately, said Brautigam. What they need to increase is hiring managers locally, said Brautigam. But this will take time and the development of Chinese language skills among local managers. In Shanghai, two young women seeking an education abroad have decided against going to the United States, a destination of choice for decades that may be losing its shine. For Helen Dong, a 22-year-old senior studying advertising, it was the cost. It doesnt work for me when you have to spend 2 million [yuan] [$278,000] but find no job upon returning, she said. Dong is headed to Hong Kong this fall instead. Costs were not a concern for Yvonne Wong, 24, now studying comparative literature and cultures in a masters program at the University of Bristol in Britain. For her, the issue was safety. Families in Shanghai usually dont want to send their daughters to a place where guns are not banned that was the primary reason, Wong said. Between the U.S. and the U.K., the U.K. is safer, and thats the biggest consideration for my parents. With an interest in studying abroad rebounding after the pandemic, there are signs that the decadeslong run that has sent an estimated 3 million Chinese students to the U.S., including many of the countrys brightest, could be trending down, as geopolitical shifts redefine U.S.-China relations. "International education is a bridge" Cutting people-to-people exchanges could have a lasting impact on relations between the two countries. International education is a bridge," said Fanta Aw, executive director of the NAFSA Association of International Educators, based in Washington. A long-term bridge, because the students who come today are the engineers of the future. They are the politicians of the future; they are the business entrepreneurs of the future. Not seeing that pipeline as strong means that we in the U.S. have to pay attention, because China-U.S. relations are very important." Aw said the decrease is more notable in U.S. undergraduate programs, which she attributed to a declining population in China from low birthrates, bitter U.S.-China relations, more regional choices for Chinese families and the high costs of a U.S. education. But graduate programs have not been spared. Zheng Yi, an associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, has seen the number of Chinese applicants to one of the school's engineering programs shrink to single digits, compared with 20 to 30 students before the pandemic. He said the waning interest could be partly due to Chinas growing patriotism that nudges students to attend Chinese institutes instead. Andrew Chen, chief executive officer of Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education, which has advised Chinese students in the U.S. for the past 14 years, said the downward trend is here to stay. This is not a periodic wave," he said. This is a new era. The Chinese government has sidelined English education, hyped gun violence in the U.S., and portrayed the U.S. as a declining power. As a result, Chen said, Chinese families are hesitant to send their children to the U.S. China's criticisms of the U.S. Beijing has criticized the U.S. for its unfriendly policy toward some Chinese students, citing an executive order by former President Donald Trump to keep out Chinese students who have attended schools with strong links to the Chinese military. The Chinese foreign ministry also has protested that a number of Chinese students have been unfairly interrogated and sent home upon arrival at U.S. airports in recent months. Spokeswoman Mao Ning recently describing the U.S. actions as selective, discriminatory and politically motivated. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said fewer than one tenth of 1% of Chinese students have been detained or denied admission. Another State Department official said Chinese students selected for U.S.-funded exchange programs have been harassed by Chinese state agents. Half of the students have been forced to withdraw, and those who participated in the programs have been faced with harassment after returning to China, the official said, speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity. The U.S.-China Education Trust acknowledged the predicament facing Chinese students. Students from China have been criticized in the U.S. as potential spies, and in China as too influenced by the West, the organization said in a report following a survey of Chinese students in the U.S. between 1991 and 2021. Still, many young Chinese, especially those whose parents were foreign educated, are eager to study abroad. The China-based education service provider New Oriental said the students hope degrees from reputable foreign universities will improve their career prospects in a tough job market at home, where the unemployment rate for those 16 to 24 stood at nearly 15% in December. But their preferences have shifted from the U.S. to the U.K., according to EIC Education, a Chinese consultancy specializing in international education. The students like the shorter study programs and the quality and affordability of a British education, as well as the feeling of safety. Wong, the Shanghai student now studying in the U.K., said Chinas handling of the pandemic pushed more young people to go abroad. After three years of tight controls during the pandemic, most people have realized the outside world is different, and they are more willing to leave, she said. The State Department issued 86,080 F-1 student visas to Chinese students in the budget year ending in September, up nearly 40% from the year earlier. Still, the number remains below the pre-pandemic level of 105,775. Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin spoke to VOA during a visit to Washington about the results of U.S.-Ukraine cooperation in ensuring justice for crimes committed during Russia's war on Ukraine, the importance of U.S. assistance to Ukraine and the ways to make Russia pay for its aggression. Kostin highlighted cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute war crimes. "Not only Ukraine is bringing war criminals to justice, not only the International Criminal Court, but third countries as well," Kostin said, noting a recent decision by the U.S. government to charge four Russian soldiers with war crimes in Ukraine. Kostin also argued for seizing sovereign Russian assets to compensate victims of Russian aggression via a compensation mechanism set up in The Hague. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Oksana Bedratenko, Voice of America: What are your impressions from your meetings with American lawmakers and partners in the Department of Justice? Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine: In our area of ensuring justice, we see full support with regards to all elements of our system. Talking about specific results in December last year the United States was the first country to charge four people with war crimes for torturing an American citizen in the temporarily occupied Kherson region [in southern Ukraine]. This is very important because it means that not only Ukraine is bringing war criminals to justice, not only the International Criminal Court, but third countries as well. We are creating a network of over 20 countries to investigate war crimes committed by Russia on Ukraine's soil and there will be more charges issued. The Prosecutor's Office of Lithuania issued its first charges. Importantly, the United States takes part in the work of 16 prosecutors from six countries that work in The Hague in Eurojust [to] prepare the case materials for special tribunal. VOA: The U.S. Congress has not adopted the supplemental spending package for Ukraine. Does this have an impact on your cooperation programs? Kostin: This is a very important question and part of my communication with congressmen and senators. It is very important for assistance to be constant and for us to be confident that the help is there for years to come. The assistance in training investigators and prosecutors is important in the areas, where not only Ukrainian prosecutors lack experience, but also prosecutors in other countries [need training]. For instance, we investigate crimes against the environment as war crimes. Nobody has done this before, not even the International Criminal Court. In my meetings with senators and congressmen, I try to explain to them that it is important not only to bring the guilty to accountability, but also to stop these crimes from happening. This means weapons, long-range weapons, and air defense to protect the civilian population. If Russia goes further, it will commit the same acts not on our territory, but on the territory of other countries. It is important to explain to our partners that the sooner we liberate our land, the fewer war crime victims there will be. VOA: What should come first: peace or accountability? Kostin: We are bringing [perpetrators] to accountability even now, while the war is ongoing, and we are not the only ones issuing criminal charges. We have 530 charges and 82 convictions issued by Ukrainian courts. The International Criminal Court has issued two batches of arrest warrants. Our colleagues in the U.S. and Lithuania made some steps and I'm confident there will be more [charges] during this year. So, it is very important for us not to wait for the war to end and do our job already today. VOA: America is already seizing assets of Russian oligarchs. In Europe, there is a new impetus to discuss seizing Russian assets. However, in some cases, the West appears to not want to take on the responsibility of confiscation over fears of litigation. Kostin: There is a feeling that we are getting closer to a decision point. It is hard to say whether this will be seizing the assets, or using them as a guarantee to obtain money, which then could be transferred to the Ukrainian state for instance to the international compensatory mechanism, which is working in The Hague. This is very important, because already in April this year we are expecting the first applications of victims to the registry of losses. Then the compensation commission another element of the compensation mechanism will decide who and how much will be compensated. Compensations means money and these should be funds received from arrested sovereign assets of the Russian Federation. VOA: The U.S. has joined the coalition to return forcibly deported Ukrainian children. What specific steps are expected here? Kostin: It is very important that the United States has joined the initiative. The more countries with their own capacity to find the kids, the better. This is not always easy. Our American partners help us via a very important project, the Conflict Observatory of Yale University, which helps to identify the location of the children. Another issue is to prepare a strategy to return the children to Ukraine. There should be regulatory measures, for instance to prosecute such crimes, and also there should be documents adopted at the level of international organizations, like the U.N., to condemn such crimes and demand the return of the children. This is a complicated route, and we wanted the coalition to have happened earlier, but it's important that it has happened, and we hope to return all Ukrainian children. Our goal is to bring everyone home. Russia begins three days of voting in a presidential election all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by six more years after he stifled dissent. A closer look at what it means for Ukraine and Moscows broader relations with the West. Israel rejects the latest truce counterproposal from Hamas. Artificial intelligence is supercharging the threat of election disinformation worldwide, making it easy to create fake but convincing content aimed at fooling voters. As the U.S. presidential race heats up, FBI Director Christopher Wray recently warned about the growing threat, given how easy AI is for "foreign adversaries to engage in malign influence. Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule. The voting comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putin's fiercest foe, Alexey Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia. Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face. A 50-year-old university professor was arrested Saturday after she unsuccessfully tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg. She was imprisoned for 15 days for "petty hooliganism," but could face further charges, according to local news outlet Ura.ru. A pensioner in the Altai region in southern Siberia was also detained after attempting to damage ballots, Russia's state news agency Tass reported. In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was detained by police Saturday after she spoiled her ballot by writing an unspecified message, said OVD-Info, a police monitoring group that provides legal aid. She was charged with "discrediting the Russian army" and fined 30,000 rubles ($342). Russian lawmakers have suggested introducing a new law to punish election saboteurs with sentences of up to eight years in prison. Meanwhile, a video released on social media by Russian election monitoring group Golos appeared to show staff at a polling station in the southern city of Krasnodar stuffing multiple voting slips into ballot boxes. Earlier, Tass reported that a Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive on a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. Analysts say the Kremlin needs a high turnout in the election to signal that Russians approve of the war and to legitimize Putin for another term. The Russian defense ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russia's wartime economy has proved to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy. European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin on Friday on "his landslide victory" in an election that was technically still underway. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice," he wrote on the social media platform X. Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates or state-backed advisory bodies can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs. Pakistani authorities said Saturday a suicide truck bomb and gun attack on a regional army base near the Afghan border killed at least seven soldiers, including two officers, and wounded many more. The early morning raid occurred in the volatile North Waziristan border district, where militants linked to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, routinely target security forces. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the raid as a cowardly action of terrorists, his office said. A military statement said that a group of six militants, including suicide bombers, assaulted the base in the town of Mir Ali. The terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by multiple suicide bombing attacks, which led to the collapse of a portion of a building, the statement added. It said that Pakistani troops had quickly engaged and killed all the assailants in the ensuing intense exchange of fire. According to area security and hospital sources, the violence injured more than 17 soldiers. The army said its forces had launched a sanitization operation to eliminate any other terrorist present in the area. A militant group allied with TTP reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistans military and government officials say TTP and its allies use Afghan sanctuaries to stage cross-border attacks on security forces and civilians. Pakistan has experienced a dramatic increase in TTP-led militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021. The violence has killed about 2,000 Pakistanis, including police and military personnel. Taliban authorities deny they allow Afghan soil to be used by militant groups, including TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization. Pakistani officials and recent United Nations reports dispute the Taliban claims. In the region and beyond, there are well-founded concerns over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, told a March 6 U.N. Security Council meeting. These concerns have been reflected in the reports of the sanctions monitoring teams. It is not only Daesh that constitutes a threat but also TTP, a major concern for Pakistan, which has seen an increase in terrorist activity, Otunbayeva said. Daesh is an acronym for the Islamic State, and this militant group is an Afghanistan-based regional IS affiliate that conducts terrorist attacks on both sides of the long border between the two countries. As Syria enters its 14th year of civil war with no political resolution in sight, United Nations aid agencies are appealing to the international community to remember the plight of millions of people who continue to suffer from violence, devastation, destitution and abuse. Thirteen years of crisis have taken an unimaginable toll on the Syrian people, and U.N. agencies warn the crisis continues to wreak havoc on the population, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. In marking the grim anniversary, Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis Muhannad Hadi issued a joint statement Friday warning that the level of needs has never been higher. They estimate that 16.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, many of them victims of last years destructive earthquakes, which have created a crisis within a crisis. Today, a record number of people go to bed hungry every night, the health care system is unable to adequately meet peoples needs, basic services are unavailable, and millions of children remain out of school, they said. Additionally, they note that after 13 years of warfare, Syria is facing some of the worst conflict-related violence in years, leading to civilian casualties, displacement and destruction across the country. The United Nations reports more than 350,000 civilians have been killed and more than 12 million people have been forced to flee for safety inside and outside the country. The displaced have suffered hugely and continue to, Matthew Saltmarsh, U.N. refugee agency spokesperson, told journalists Friday in Geneva, noting that now more than ever, Syrian refugees and internally displaced people need the worlds support. He said that more than 5 million Syrians have taken refuge in five neighboring countries, while more than 7.2 million are displaced inside Syria. These numbers are huge, he said. Back in 2015, Syrian refugees dominated the headlines as they moved in search of safety. Sadly, they no longer command that attention, and their plight seems to have been relegated. Although Syria perhaps has been forgotten, he said, Syria remains the worlds largest forced displacement crisis and cannot be ignored. He said UNHCRs humanitarian operations are suffering from a severe cash crunch. He noted that 6% of the agencys $466.6 million appeal to aid displaced Syrians inside the country has been received, and 10% of its $1,49 billion appeal to assist refugees and host communities has been funded. The decline in funding has forced UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies to make difficult choices about what and who to prioritize, he said, warning that the lack of funding risks pushing children into labor, gender-based violence, early marriages, school dropouts. UNICEF reports that nearly 7.5 million children in Syria need humanitarian assistance, more than at any other time during the conflict. The U.N. childrens agency warned that repeated cycles of violence and displacment, a devastating economic crisis, disease outbreaks and last years earthquakes have left hundreds of thousands of children exposed to long-term physical and psychosocial consequences. It said more than 650,000 children under the age of 5 are chronically malnourished, and a recent survey in northern Syria found that 34% of girls and 31% of boys suffered from psychosocial distress. The sad reality is that today, and in the days ahead, many children in Syria will mark their 13th birthdays, becoming teenagers, knowing that their entire childhood to date has been marked by conflict, displacement and deprivation, said Adele Khodr, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. A generation of children in Syria has already paid an unbearable price for this conflict, she underscored. Ultimately, children need a chance. They need a long-term peaceful solution to the crisis. That assessment is shared by Geir Pedersen, U.N. special envoy for Syria, who, in marking this solemn anniversary of the conflict, said that only the unwavering pursuit of a political solution to end this conflict can restore hope to the Syrian people. Since he was appointed to his post in 2019, Pedersen has worked doggedly to draft a new constitution as part of a U.N.-mediated negotiated peace process for Syria. Previous meetings of the so-called Syrian Constitutional Committee have failed to make any inroads in the process. Prospects appear bleak. The committee last met in June 2022. Pedersen says he hopes to convene another meeting in Geneva next month. However, the proposition already has encountered a stumbling block. While the opposition Syrian Negotiations Committee has accepted the invitation to attend the upcoming meeting, his spokesperson Jennifer Fenton, told journalists in Geneva that Pedersen has also received communication from the co-chair nominated by the Syrian government declining the invitation. She said that Pedersen soon will travel to Damascus. Two people were injured Saturday after a powerful blast at a barbecue shop in the eastern Chinese city of Huaian, local authorities said, the latest incident to spur calls for better restaurant-safety checks across the country. Videos online posted by state media showed that the blast, which occurred at 4:20 p.m., ripped off the facade of the eatery's building, sending big black plumes of smoke into the air and spraying glass shards across the street. The two people who were injured were sent to hospital and the cause of the blast was being investigated, Huaian authorities said on their social media account. The latest blast, in Jiangsu province, follows a series of similar explosions since 2023 that have drawn scrutiny over national safety standards. Last week, a gas leak at a fried chicken shop in Sanhe, a city in Hebei province adjacent to Beijing, killed seven people and injured 27 others. That incident attracted further attention after reporters were blocked by residents and security guards while trying to report on the blast's aftermath. There is a book without which the new album by Kim Gordon would not be the same. The queen of no wave and legendary co-founder with her ex-husband, Thurston Moore, of the flagship of noise, Sonic Youth, has released her second solo record, The Collective. The title is something I got out of that novel, Gordon says of Jennifer Egans latest publication, The Candy House. One of the albums powerful and dark as well as very deep and distorting songs has the same title. I dont know, I think the album has a sci-fi vibe because of that novel. Its not the only book thats inspired things for me this time, though. Theres another one, and its one Ive wanted to read for a long time, and I finally read it: The Lover, by Marguerite Duras, she adds. It is an ordinary February morning in Los Angeles. Gordon is at home, relaxed, and extremely open to talking about all sorts of things. I love the new season of True Detective. Jodie Foster is mind-blowing, she says. Ive seen a lot of good movies this year. I loved Poor Things, but also Anatomy of a Fall, and The Zone of Interest, and Fallen Leaves its very curious because its a romantic comedy, but its a Finnish romantic comedy, with that cursed charm, that sadness The chat takes place via video call. On the wall behind Gordon is a huge poster for Jean-Luc Godards 1966 film Made in U.S.A and a handful of small paintings, scattered here and there, the sun shining. Why had she wanted to read The Lover for so long? Because of the time Duras spent in Vietnam as a child, she answers. I spent a year in Hong Kong when I was a kid. And Duras was born in Saigon [modern-day Ho Chi Minh City]. She grew up there and I had always been curious about what she recounted in The Lover. Its a great novel. The movie is also very good. I guess it somehow inspired part of the album, and in a very direct way a song, Tree House, she says. The track in question is an ethereal and electrifying evocation, a blurred weight, a distorted howl of metallic guitars that never quite meet. And an indispensable piece of an album that, as the English artist Josephine Pryde a good friend of Gordons says, sounds, at times, radioactive, especially in Shelf Warmer, pure disturbing dub calm, and that seems to place some order to the invaded thought of the present. An order that is pure interference, or lists of things to do, or of, simply, things. As is the case on Bye Bye, the albums opening track. The songs video stars Gordons daughter, Coco Gordon Moore. And what we see in it is an escape. The girl running away from home, and then going to places like gas stations to get the things her mother is talking about toothpaste, a toothbrush making the video itself a kind of short film, or art installation. Well, the filmmaker [Clara Balzary] is a friend, and she had told me about an idea for a short film she wanted to do with my daughter, and suddenly it was perfect for the song, so we did it. She told me the thing was to think about someone whos running away from a cult, or running away from home. Since were in Los Angeles, I told her, shes escaping from both. From home, and from the cult of life in the suburbs, she says, laughing. Sonic Youth in 1986: Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley and Kim Gordon. Foto: Getty Justin Raisen, who has worked with Lil Yachty, John Cale, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, among others, is again behind the controls. Raisen produced No Home Record, Gordons first solo album, in 2019, and on The Collective he sounds even more solid, and in some sense, freer. The record is peppered with damaged dub and trap constructions in which Gordons intuitive word collages shine, in their very dark, opaque, way. I guess Ive come out with a bit of a nihilistic record, she says. She also concurs that the songwriting has been, to some extent, free. I dont go around weighed down with notebooks composing or anything like that. Sometimes the words just come out of my mouth. Other times, I make lists, and I fit them into whatever Justin suggests to me. The interesting thing on this album is the role of the guitars. We gave them total freedom. I wanted the album to have that spirit. Something that captures the moment, she says. This despite the fact that the record possesses, as does Egans novel, a touch of the present from a future so close that its almost here. A fictional future in which we are not only being dominated by algorithms, but are deciding to move away from ourselves to the point of living the lives of others. Thats what the book is about. Theres an app that allows you to enter other peoples minds and have access to their memories. What it asks in return is that you upload all your memories so that others can use them, she explains. The title, The Collective, is also something that the novel inspired. Music is a collective to be a part of. Something that today is becoming somewhat domesticated. If youre lazy youre only going to listen to certain things. Its hard to explain the punk concept to todays kids. Its not about how you dress, its about not worrying about being part of the status quo, she says. In that sense, she values the role of Billie Eilish, who is offering something different to younger people. Kim Gordon could be a sort of explorer in the abyss, a sonic abyss that seeks precisely that: to break with any kind of preconceived idea, to destroy the norm. Yes, sometimes, I tell myself that we are doing an intervention on the world, she says. Before hanging up, she touches on feminism. Im A Man, one of the tracks on the album, is about all those men who think feminism has ruined their lives. I joke about Nancy Reagan and the time when men went about being protectors and saviors; they thought they were cowboys! she says, laughing. I love it, because it wasnt feminism that ruined anything for them, it was capitalism, and they dont realize it. Its comical. If theyve lost their role its because theyve become consumers, and thats how capitalism needs them: dissatisfied, lost. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The United Nations appealed Friday for Sudan's battling factions to allow delivery of humanitarian relief to fend off looming catastrophic hunger. About 5 million Sudanese could face calamitous food insecurity in coming months as a nearly yearlong war between rival generals continues to tear the country apart, according to a U.N. document seen Friday by AFP. The war between army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has since April last year killed tens of thousands, destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy. It also has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and acute food shortages, with the country teetering on the brink of famine. Noting that 18 million Sudanese are facing acute food insecurity a record during harvest season U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned in a letter to the Security Council that "almost 5 million people could slip into catastrophic food insecurity in some parts of the country in the coming months." He noted that nearly 730,000 Sudanese children, including more than 240,000 in Darfur, are thought to suffer from severe malnutrition. "Aid organizations require safe, rapid, sustained and unimpeded access, including across conflict lines within Sudan," said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. "A massive mobilization of resources from the international community is also critical." The U.N.'s World Food Program has warned that the war risks "triggering the world's largest hunger crisis." Jill Lawler, the emergency chief in Sudan for the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, said there were enough aid stocks in Port Sudan, but the problem was getting the aid from there to the people in need. Lawler said that last week that she led the first U.N. mission to reach Khartoum state since war erupted 11 months ago. They had seen firsthand that "the scale and magnitude of needs for children across the country are simply staggering," she told reporters in Geneva via video link from New York. The war "is pushing the country towards a famine" with hunger "the number one concern people expressed." Mandeep O'Brien, UNICEF representative in Sudan, said 14 million children needed humanitarian aid and 4 million were displaced. There was only a "small window left to prevent mass loss of children's lives and future," she warned on X, formerly known as Twitter. World Health Organization regional director Hanan Balkhy, who recently returned from Sudan, underlined the acute needs in Darfur, saying most health facilities had been looted, damaged or destroyed. Griffiths, the U.N. aid chief, lamented that fighting continued to rage during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan despite a Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities. "This is a moment of truth," he wrote on X. "The parties must silence the guns, protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access." The U.N. on Friday called for more financial support for aid operations in Sudan. U.N. spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told reporters in Geneva that the world body had appealed for $2.7 billion to provide aid this year but had received 5% of that amount so far. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The United States is sending an Army team to construct a floating pier for aid into Gaza, but as VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reports, that mission will take weeks to complete. Uzbek law enforcement officials this month confirmed to VOA that an Uzbek extradition request was behind the February 15 arrest in Kazakhstan of Karakalpak activist Akylbek Muratov, known as Aqylbek Muratbai on X and other social media. Karakalpaks are indigenous Turkic people of Karakalpakstan, since 1993 a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan with its own parliament, national symbols and language. This status has been a source of friction with the Uzbek government because it often stirs discussions of secession. Muratov, arrested in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, had been under Uzbek scrutiny since 2015. He is suspected of engaging in separatism and destructive activism, according to officials in Tashkent. Karakalpakstan's Internal Affairs Ministry indicted him late last year, accusing him of preparing and distributing materials that "threaten public safety and order." Uzbek authorities say he has used social media to foment mass unrest in Karakalpakstan, but he denies the charges. Uzbek officials told VOA that Muratov had been warned through the Uzbek Consulate in Almaty and by his father, but that he persisted in what Tashkent views as anti-government propaganda. Writing on the X social media platform, formerly Twitter, in October, Muratov described these messages as threats and vowed to "not stop my activities to disseminate information about repressions against ethnic Karakalpaks in Uzbekistan. Muratov is the sixth Karakalpak to be taken into custody in neighboring Kazakhstan at Uzbekistans request since protests in July 2022 against proposed constitutional amendments intended to strip the republic of its autonomous status and right to secede. At least 21 people were killed during the unrest in Nukus, Karakalpakstans capital. None of the five previously arrested in Kazakhstan has been extradited, but they have not received refugee status, which would offer more international protection, including the opportunity to resettle in another country. Muratov, who lived in Kazakhstan for 13 years, is seeking that status. As a result of the unrest, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev withdrew the proposed amendments that triggered mass discontent and pledged not to change Karakalpakstan's status. Sixty-four people were convicted for their roles in the violence. One defendant, former police officer Polat Shamshetov, died in prison in February 2023, shortly after receiving a six-year prison term. The longest sentence, 16 years, was given to the lawyer and blogger Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, whose case Muratov often highlighted. Karakalpaks in Kazakhstan on edge Muratovs detention, days after a new Kazakh government was sworn in, has drawn attention to Kazakhstan and put Karakalpaks in Kazakhstan on edge. Muratovs sister, Fariza Narbekova, told VOA that he has been charged by Uzbek authorities for publishing video of Karakalpak activists speeches at an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conference in October and for urging Karakalpaks on his Telegram channel to switch off lights at home on November 13 for 16 minutes to mark the first anniversary of Tajimuratovs 16-year imprisonment. Mihra Rittmann, senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a February 26 statement that the charges have no merit and should be dropped, and Kazakhstan should release him from custody immediately. Kazakhstan is bound by international human rights law not to return Muratbai to Uzbekistan, where he faces serious risk of politically motivated persecution, she said. Human Rights Watch said human rights organizations had documented numerous cases of torture and other ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention, of individuals accused of anti-state crimes in Uzbekistan in recent years. This is a clear-cut case of retaliation by Uzbek authorities against Muratov for exposing human rights violations in Karakalpakstan following the July 2022 protests, Rittmann said. Karakalpaks feel discriminated against in their own homeland because migrants from other parts of Uzbekistan are given jobs and farmland there, Galym Ageleuov, an Almaty-based Kazakh rights activist, told VOA. The proposed constitutional amendments triggered an outpouring of discontent that had built up in Karakalpakstan for years, he said, citing local frustration that Tashkent brings workers from elsewhere to develop gas fields in the Aral Sea region instead of employing locals. What Kazakh authorities are doing to Karakalpak activists living in Kazakhstan by detaining them is an incompetent policy to suppress the diaspora and its activists who are standing up for rights, and its the continuation of Uzbek authorities suppression of human rights in Karakalpakstan, said Ageleuov, who has researched the July 2022 events and monitored subsequent developments in Karakalpakstan. Person seeking asylum status In what is seen as a face-saving exercise, on February 23, Kazakh authorities granted Muratov person seeking asylum status for three months, preventing him from being handed over to Uzbekistan during that period, treatment similar to that of the five other Karakalpaks, who were released after a year in detention. Muratov was instrumental in publicizing the detentions and court proceedings involving Karakalpaks in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on social media. We fought for the rights of Karakalpakstan and Karakalpaks and activists, and ordinary Karakalpaks who were imprisoned after the July events rely on our help for their release, cardiologist Raysa Khudaybergenova, one of the five Karakalpaks detained in Kazakhstan, told VOA in an Almaty clinic where she works. They all want to get out of prison, she said of the activists who remain in Uzbek prisons. Like Muratov, Khudaybergenova is an Uzbek citizen and was not involved in political activism before the 2022 turmoil, focusing mostly on cultural, linguistic and health issues in Karakalpakstan. Denis Zhivago, an Almaty-based human rights lawyer, told VOA that according to Kazakh law, detention on extradition requests could last for a year, thats why other Karakalpak activists spent a year in detention. Muratovs lawyer, Inara Masanova, would not comment on the case because of its sensitivity. Akylbek is now likely to spend a year in detention, unfortunately, Zhivago said. As in the previous five cases, I hope wisdom would triumph with Kazakh authorities and they will give the man a chance to avoid extradition and leave for a third country. There is a big chance that will happen, but we shouldnt rule out any possibilities. In the past, Kazakhstan was notorious for handing over those without refugee status. It extradited about 30 Uzbek asylum seekers to Tashkent and at least one Uyghur to Beijing in the early 2010s. Last December, it extradited Russian security officer Mikhail Zhilin at Moscows request. Zhivago said Uzbekistan keeps submitting extradition requests because it is irritated and wants to silence activists publicizing violations of rights in Karakalpakstan. This has left Kazakhstan in a complicated situation because it is bound by agreements and friendly relations with Uzbekistan, he said. Our government, on the one hand, doesnt want to spoil relations with Uzbekistan and, on the other hand, wants to provide Karakalpak activists with a chance of obtaining asylum, Zhivago said. He noted Kazakhstans status as a signatory to the Geneva conventions against torture and on the status of refugees. Navbahor Imamova reported for this article from Washington. For years, Syrias civil war has been a largely frozen conflict, the country effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus government of President Bashar al-Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces. But as the conflict entered its 14th year on Friday, observers say violence has been on the rise again while the worlds attention is mostly focused on other crises, such as Russias onslaught on Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In the village of al-Nayrab in the northwestern, opposition-held enclave of Idlib, Ali al-Ahmad burns olive branches in a stove to keep his damaged house warm. The house was struck in a recent round of shelling by government forces. Still, it's in better condition than many of the surrounding houses that were reduced to rubble. When a new round of bombing starts, al-Ahmad leaves for a while to stay in one of the nearby displacement camps until the situation calms and he can return and repair the damage. We return for a day or two, then they start shelling us, he said. We leave for a few days, then return to our village to find our homes destroyed. The United Nations-backed body known as the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said this week that since October, the country has seen the worst wave of violence since 2020. The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million, began as peaceful protests against Assad's government in March 2011. The protests part of the Arab Spring popular uprisings that spread across much of the Middle East that year were met by a brutal crackdown, and the revolt quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war, which was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides of the conflict, as well as a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the Islamic State group until its defeat in 2019. Russia, along with Iran, became Assad's biggest ally in the war, Turkey backed an array of Syrian opposition groups while the United States supported Syrian Kurdish forces in the fight against IS. Israel has carried out airstrikes targeting the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iranian forces in Syria. Over the years, the battlefields became stalemated in the war-ravaged nation. The recent surge in violence began with a drone strike on a military academy graduation ceremony in government-held city of Homs in October that killed dozens. Syrian government and allied Russian forces then launched a bombardment of the opposition-held northwest that hit well-known and visible hospitals, schools, markets and camps for internally displaced persons, the commission said. Elsewhere, increasingly frequent Israeli strikes targeted Iran-linked targets in government-held parts of Syria attacks that sometimes also hit civilians. Turkey stepped up its attacks on U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, while militants from IS sleeper cells have launched sporadic attacks in different parts of the country. In recent weeks, opposition-held areas have also seen unrest, with protests breaking out in Idlib against the leadership of the al-Qaida-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group that governs the area. With all the multiple and complex layers of the conflict, there is no resolution of the crisis in sight for Syria. David Carden, the U.N.s deputy regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, said during a recent visit to northwest Syria that the U.N.s humanitarian response plan for 2023, which had appealed for more than $5 billion, only received 38% of the funds sought the lowest level since the United Nations started issuing the appeals. There are 4.2 million people in need in northwest Syria, and 2 million of those are children, of whom 1 million are not going to school, he said. This is a lost generation. Compounding Syria's misery was the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, that killed more than 59,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Some 6,000 of them were killed in Syria alone, mainly in the northwest, where most of the 4.5 million people rely on humanitarian aid to survive. U.N. agencies and other humanitarian organizations have been struggling to fund programs that provide a lifeline in Syria, blaming donor fatigue, the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts elsewhere that have erupted in recent years. The U.N.s World Food Program, which estimates that more than 12 million Syrians lack regular access to food, announced in December that it would stop its main assistance program in Syria in 2024. (St. Paul, MN) Minnesota House DFL leaders and legislators released the framework and targets for their budget proposal today. The budget includes significant investments in education and prioritizes assisting those impacted by COVID-19. The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, but some Minnesotans have been hit harder than others. Our budget will focus on helping those most impacted by COVID students, workers, families, and small businesses, said Speaker Melissa Hortman. We have to help Minnesotans recover from the pandemic and then thrive once its behind us. Together, we have to ensure that Minnesota is a state where everyone has economic security and opportunities to succeed. The budget includes: Significant increases in funding for E-12 education and child care, making new investments after a difficult year of remote learning. Support for those who have been most impacted by COVID-19: students, families, and small businesses. Investments to improve economic security, including paid family leave, earned sick and safe time, affordable housing, and worker protection and support. Progressive, sustainable revenue into the future to make ongoing investments. Minnesotans are tired of seeing the rich and well-connected do better and better while workers and families cant get ahead. Big corporations and the richest Minnesotans have seen their wealth soar during the pandemic, while so many others have struggled worse than ever, said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. President Biden's rescue plan is exactly what Minnesotans need now, but in the long run Minnesota must invest more in health and education or we will fall behind. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our entire state, but the hardship hasnt been felt equally. To pull through this crisis, we must prioritize those among us who have borne the worst brunt of the crisis, including students, workers, and small businesses, said Rep. Rena Moran, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. While were nearing the end of the pandemic, the struggles too many Minnesotans face will continue unless lawmakers take deliberate action to help end them. Through bold investments in education, child care, health, housing, and economic security, House DFLers are working to deliver a hopeful, strong future for everybody in our state. In developing this budget outline, House DFLers are recognizing the tremendous challenges Minnesotans have experienced over the past year, and investing in our states resiliency to help our students, workers, small businesses, and families recover, said Rep. Liz Olson, House Deputy Majority Leader. COVID-19 is just one chapter in our states story, and as we look beyond the pandemic, our budget lays the groundwork for everyone in our state to once again have the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they live or what they look like. As the chair of the Education Finance Committee, and a parent myself, its important for us to be thinking carefully about strategic investments that put our students first, said Rep. Jim Davnie, House Education Finance Chair. The measures and steps we can take now will help our kids bounce back more quickly from the pandemic, academically and emotionally and be better prepared for their future. House DFL Committee Targets Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images When life gives you meth lab memes, make a musical? Its been less than a month since Glasgows Willy Wonka immersive experience went viral for being so underwhelming that children were left in tears and some parents called the police. Now, the fiasco involving rationed jelly beans and AI-generated scripts for actors is being adapted into WillyFest - A Musical Parody. If Ed Wood and P.T. Barnum got into environmental experiences fueled by a million dreams and zero dollars, it might turn out like this, Richard Kraft, who is producing via Kraft-Engel Productions, said in a statement to the BBC. While most see nothing but wreckage in a disaster of this magnitude, we all think it screams out: Musical!! Kraft added that the musical is in talks with investors to make sure there is a proper budget to execute this well, noting that the team doesnt want to fall into putting on the very thing we are satirizing. So when can we expect to see the show exit the realm of pure imagination and become reality? Below, heres everything we know about this upcoming production. Who is involved? WillyFests creative team inclues Riki Lindhome, who said in a press release that she believes the musical could be Waiting For Guffman but with scam artists. Also on board are High School Musical: The Musical: The Series songwriters Tova Litvin and Doug Rockwell, Broadway songwriters Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, and Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical songwriter Daniel Mertzlufft. While it is quite common for there to be writers rooms in television, taking that approach with theatrical songwriters is fairly unique and likely to produce amazingly satirical and unexpected results, producer Richard Kraft (ABCs The Little Mermaid Live, the Willy Wonka live-to-film concert at the Hollywood Bowl) said. From Broadway to street corner pop-ups, audiences have become obsessed with immersive experiences that enable them to be a part of the story, Zachary and Weiner added in a joint statement. But it takes a special kind of magic to devastate children and adults alike and it feels like the only way to find meaning in this chocolate-less catastrophe is to sing about it. Whats the plot? Kraft told the BBC on March 15 that the team is coming up with main characters, antagonists and song moments. To Kraft, the Glasgow fiasco is about desperate dreamers who actually have fragments of a great idea, just executed beyond their budget and abilities. Beyond that, specific plot details remain sparse, but wed expect to see characters based on the actors who played the sad Oompa Loompa or the masked villain known as The Unknown, as well as the House of Illuminati organizers who decided to decorate a warehouse with cheap props and AI-generated images. When is it coming out? WillyFest is planned to premiere in late 2024. Will there be a song about the meth lab memes? One can only hope. Photo: Jason McDonald/Netflix The Oscars are over. Tuxes are back in the closet. Christopher Nolan has secured his trophies in a high-security vault accessible only through his dreams. People have finally stopped misquoting Jonathan Glazer. And your Gold Rush blogger is about to head out for a long weekend of rest and relaxation. Next week Ill say my official auf Wiedersehen, but in the meantime, here are five lingering questions after the 96th Academy Awards: 1. The Zone of Interest taking Best Sound wasnt just an underdog victory for the International Feature winner; it also capped Oppenheimer at seven wins for the night, one shy of the mark set by Slumdog Millionaire in the final year before the Best Picture expansion. Considering thats also how many Everything Everywhere All at Once won last year, it appears a standard has been set. For as much as these two films represent a break from the spread-the-wealth ethos of the 2010s, todays voters are still resistant to handing out huge double-digit hauls. The most trophies a live-action, English-language feature film can win is 16 (remember, you cant win both Screenplay prizes); consciously or not, the Academy has settled on one less than half of that as an acceptable upper bound. 2. In my post on Emma Stone beating Lily Gladstone, I noted that the result was in line with previous victories where the nominee with the perfect narrative lost out to a performance voters simply thought was undeniable. (You can also add Frances McDormand over Carey Mulligan in the 2021 Best Actress race, and Cillian Murphy over Paul Giamatti this year.) A common response was: What about another of this years winners, Robert Downey Jr., who certainly benefited from his comeback narrative? Or last year, when all four acting winners were arguably narrative picks? A fair critique, so perhaps its better to say that a strong narrative can still pay dividends, provided its combined with one of Oscars other favorite elements. For RDJ and the three 2023 winners from EEAOO, that was being swept along with a Best Picture winner; for Brendan Fraser, it was a drastic physical transformation that I will stop talking about right now. But put a pin on this, because well be talking more about whos due narratives next week. 3. Things couldnt have lined up better for the Oscars telecast this year: Two huge hits in the Best Picture race, one of which was a viral sensation, the other of which was almost certainly going to win. It was a far cry from just two years ago, when the race came down to Power of the Dog vs. CODA. And yet, despite all that, TV ratings were up only 4 percent from last year. Ive heard muted disappointment that the bump wasnt bigger, and while I do sympathize, I also think we need to come to terms with the fact that theres nothing the Academy can do to get the pre-pandemic audience back. Most of us agree it did a fine job of the things it can control, producing a telecast that appealed to die-hards and casuals alike. And whatever the ratings, the general response to this years show indicates the Oscars have remained a relevant and influential part of the culture something that was far from guaranteed during the COVID era. 4. Barbie ordered the Star Is Born Special Sunday night: One win for Best Original Song and one live performance that was the most talked-about moment of the broadcast. When I talked to a Star Is Born strategist after the 2019 ceremony, they were sanguine about the result the Oscars arent just about the trophies. The Barbie campaign may feel the same way. But I do wonder if there was a world where the comedy could have pulled off an Argo-style comeback after its big misses on nomination morning. My hottest Oscar take is that it might have been possible until Hillary Clinton sent her infamous tweet. The only way Ive survived 15 years in the New York media industry is by being hyperattuned to the most minute vibe shifts on Twitter, and I definitely noticed a turning point after the former secretary of State weighed in at 11:56 a.m. Eastern on nomination morning. Obviously, the vast majority of people in Hollywood voted for Clinton in 2016, but in 2024, her tweet exuded such loser energy that it single-handedly took the juice out of the justice for Barbie movement. Suddenly, all the momentum was with people who thought Barbie didnt go far enough in its feminism. Add in the lingering conservatism of the meat and potatoes voters, and Barbie got it from both ends of the spectrum. 5. He wants that trophy, but its not going to happen without a major shift in career strategy. Here are some suggestions to make it happen: Produce a Joker Sequel Thanks to his long association with Todd Phillips, Cooper was a credited producer on Joker, which meant he got nominated when the Scorsese-inflected supervillain origin story made it into Best Picture. He doesnt appear to be credited on the musical sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux, which appears to be Phillipss spin on New York, New York. But if they keep making them, youve gotta figure a Joker sequel will win Best Picture eventually, so why not climb aboard the bandwagon? A Joker movie about a Lufthansa heist sounds appealing but might not get it done, nor would a prequel set in the Gilded Age. And the one where Joker is named the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama will probably be ignored. But Ive got a strange feeling that Joker: Shipping Up to Boston could be the one to finally do it. Direct and Star in a Frank Rizzo Biopic I dont think Cooper has been helped by the fact that he makes sensitive, emotionally overwrought melodramas. Its clear he could benefit from butching up his image a bit. Ive been reading S.A. Paolantonios biography of former Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo, and someone could make a great microcosm of America biopic about the guy: an antihero who was a figure of immense personal charisma, but who also did more than anyone this side of Richard Nixon to realize the political power of white resentment. Why not Bradley Cooper, who loves to play up his Philly roots and would surely jump at the opportunity to transform himself into the 250-pound bruiser? Give an Honest and Vulnerable Profile to New York Magazine Im just saying, it worked for Simon Rexs Indie Spirit campaign! Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus. Photo: Janus Films Ryuichi Sakamoto died in March 2023, but many of us had been steeling ourselves for the news since the previous December, when he performed what he himself suspected might be his final concert. After years of dealing with cancer, the Japanese musician (known as the Professor to many of his fans) could no longer tour, nor could he do any kind of sustained live performance. So the solo concert, entitled Ryuichi Sakamoto: Playing the Piano 2022, had been created across a few days out of pre-recorded segments that were then assembled and streamed around the world. It was a beautiful, profoundly sad farewell. But it was his to give, and to share. You could see the emotion on his face as he sat at his piano and returned to the songs he had played so many times over the years. The setlist included pieces from his days at the vanguard of electronica as well as memorable works from a 40-year film-composing career. An expanded version of that concert now exists as a feature film, which premiered at the Venice and New York Film Festivals last year and is opening in U.S. theaters. A spare, lovely work directed by the late musicians son, Neo Sora, Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus is even more haunting on a big screen, where its shimmering black-and-white photography and elegant camera moves actually heighten the intimacy of the performance. As Sakamoto communes with his music, we feel like we might be intruding on a private requiem. At times, he seems to be playing for himself. Are those reflections in his glasses tricks of the light, or are they tears? Its all intentional, of course. Sakamoto was a savvy and thoughtful performer never doing anything by rote, often improvising, aware of his audience and in playful conversation with them. Throughout his final album, 12, which consists of 12 tracks, most of them a combination of solo piano and ambient soundscapes, we can hear his breathing straining over the keys, perhaps, but also simply reminding us that hes there, his presence lending a delicate, human rhythm to the pieces. This self-awareness runs throughout his late works. Sakamoto had always been fond of experimentation, but over the past couple of decades he had become even more fascinated by the possibility that any sound could become music. Alarmed by the effects of climate change, in 2008 he traveled to the Arctic sea with a hydrophone and recorded the sound of trickling water inside a glacier, turning it into several tracks. The 2017 documentary Coda shows him at his apartment in New York, experimenting with recording the sound of rain, scraping cymbals and other objects in his studio and listening to the noises they make. That same film shows him reclaiming a piano that was stuck in the floods caused by the 2011 Japanese tsunami. I felt as if I was playing the corpse of a piano that had drowned, he observes, noting that pianos are objects over which manmade design and natural imperative are constantly in conflict six planks of wood overlaid and pressed into shape that then fall out of tune as they return to their original state. Sakamotos 2014 cancer diagnosis not only made him reflect on his own mortality, but also on the fact that his own body was an object acted upon by time and nature. And thus, another instrument for him to play with. Sakamoto doesnt seem particularly frail during his performance in Opus. Hes gaunt, but he was always pretty gaunt. The fragility lies in the music, in the vulnerability with which he plays it, and in the austere cinematic presentation. Hes performing inside Studio 509 at NHK, the biggest and most impressive of the Japanese public broadcasting companys recording stages, and hes playing a Yamaha grand built specially for him, but theres no ostentation here; by the end, the only source of light seems to be one small lamp over his shoulder. In that sense, too, Opus represents the culmination of a lifelong journey from effusive maximalism to gentle simplicity. Sakamoto had initially risen to fame in the late 1970s as a technopop pioneer, a member of the Japanese trio Yellow Magic Orchestra, whose dense, synth-heavy beats, boldly layered compositions, and witty embrace of computer-age aesthetics revolutionized dance music. As a solo artist throughout the 1980s and 90s, his music was bewilderingly eclectic and vibrant, constantly mixing and matching influences and contributors from all over the world. This was the era of World Music, defined by its geographic multivalence. Sakamoto had been born and raised in Japan, but he had grown up immersed in European classical music, and eventually settled in New York. One of his best-known works is El Mar Mediterrani, composed for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in Spain. Artistically, he saw himself as something of a man without a country. Maybe that was his secret. For what might be his most beloved piece, the theme song to Nagisa Oshimas 1983 film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (in which he also co-starred, alongside David Bowie) Sakamoto fused the Western idea of Christmas bells with sampled Javanese percussion sounds; in interviews, he described it as music from a country that didnt exist. At the time, Sakamoto had never created a soundtrack (he would go on to become one of the great film composers of his age), and his inexperience resulted in a score that often worked against the action onscreen and that he later felt drew too much attention to itself. Of course, thats why it works. Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, about forbidden homoerotic longing in a Japanese POW camp, is filled with scenes of terrible cruelty, but beneath so much of the violence lies unfulfilled desire, and Sakamotos music opens new emotional doors that the onscreen story merely approaches. As played in Oshimas film, the central theme is loud, brash, and alien. When played on a solo piano, however which is how Sakamoto performed it in later years, and how he performs it in Opus you sense its velvet tenderness, its otherworldly optimism. Reduced to its essence, its a love song. Thats probably the most transfixing aspect of Opus, particularly for those unfamiliar with Sakamotos later solo performances. (There was a Playing the Piano in 2009, and a Playing the Piano in 2011, and in April 2020 another livestreamed concert called Playing the Piano for the Isolated, an effort to entertain a lonely world in quarantine.) Stripping his best-known and most beloved pieces down to their essentials, he showcases their resonant rising melodies, giving them a sound both timeless and modern. I became obsessed with Sakamotos music as a teen, through his scores for Bernardo Bertoluccis 1987 epic The Last Emperor (which won him an Oscar) and The Sheltering Sky (1990). Those memorable themes have been trusted standbys in his regular repertoire, and they make their expected appearances in Opus as well. But the piece I now find most fascinating is Happy End, which he plays near the end of the new film (right before Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, his biggest hit). Happy End dates back all the way to Sakamotos early years, both as a solo artist and with the Yellow Magic Orchestra. Back then, the song was a fast, visionary whatsit, all pulsing, pipe-like synths and simple, buzzing one-bit melodies. Sometimes in concert, it was performed with slashing drums and swirling, dissonant improvisation that buried its plaintive main theme. Later, Sakamoto would perform it as a staccato piano piece with string accompaniment and low electronic beats. As he transformed, the song transformed, seemingly fitting with whichever new direction had struck his fancy. Because at the heart of it was a melody that could hold up to any kind of arrangement: guitar, harpsichord, bouzouki, full orchestra, you name it. Here, as Sakamoto plays Happy End for one last time, reduced to its basics, were struck by what it really is a stirring pastoral, imbued with an aching sense of freedom and an almost rousing sense of possibility. Its a song of horizons and of movement, a passage perhaps from one country that doesnt exist to another. Top Brazilian military leaders declared to police that former President Jair Bolsonaro presented them a plan to reverse the results of the 2022 election he lost, but they refused and warned him they would arrest him if he tried it, according to judicial documents released Friday. The testimonies of Bolsonaros former Army and Air Force commanders to police, and released by the Supreme Court, is the first direct mention of the right-wing leader as the person planning to change the results of the December 2022 election won by his rival, current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The statements by Bolsonaros commanders add to his legal woes as prosecutors seek to find links between the far-right leader and the Jan. 8, 2023 riots that trashed government buildings in capital Brasilia one week after Lulas inauguration. A federal police report said former army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes testified that he and other top military leaders attended several last-minute and unscheduled meetings at the presidential palace after the second round of the elections in which then President Jair Bolsonaro offered possibilities of using legal tools... regarding the electoral process. Gen. Freire Gomes told federal police that in one of the gatherings Bolsonaro told the three commanders of his military and his then-Defense Secretary Paulo Sergio Nogueira he wanted to create a commission to investigate the confirmation and the legality of the electoral process. He added other tools could be used, such as issuing a decree of a state of siege. Freire Gomes said he rejected the idea from the start and told Bolsonaro that such a move could end in the legal responsibility of the then president, according to the federal police document. The Brazilian general also declared to police he always made it clear to the then-president that, under the conditions at the time, there was no possibility to reverse the result of the elections from a military standpoint. Former Air Force commander Brig. Carlos de Almeida Baptista Junior also told federal police he rejected Bolsonaros electoral moves. He added that he believes that Gen. Freire Gomes rebuke was key to stopping Bolsonaro from seeking the reverse the elections resutl. Bolsonaro started raising unfounded questions about Brazils electronic voting process years before the vote. Gen. Freire Gomes said that if such move was attempted he would have to arrest the president, the police document reads. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Affordable Care Act, a law once derided and demonized by Republicans as a big government power grab, is becoming a politically untouchable part of the American safety net, with more than 45 million people now relying on its provisions for health coverage. An election commission official inspects the passport of a person who came to vote at a polling station, during a presidential election in Makiivka, Russian-controlled Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 15, 2024. Russia has successfully imposed its passports on nearly the entire population of occupied Ukraine by making it impossible to survive without them, coercing hundreds of thousands of people into citizenship ahead of elections Vladimir Putin has made certain he will win, an Associated Press investigation has found. But accepting a passport means that men living in occupied territory can be drafted to fight against the same Ukrainian army that is trying to free them. A Russian passport is needed to prove property ownership and keep access to health care and retirement income. Refusal can result in losing custody of children, jail or worse. A new Russian law stipulates that anyone in the occupied territories who does not have a Russian passport by July 1 is subject to imprisonment as a foreign citizen. But Russia also offers incentives: a stipend to leave the occupied territory and move to Russia, humanitarian aid, pensions for retirees, and money for parents of newborns with Russian birth certificates. Every passport and birth certificate issued makes it harder for Ukraine to reclaim its lost land and children, and each new citizen allows Russia to claim a right however falsely to defend its own people against a hostile neighbor. The AP investigation found that the Russian government has seized at least 1,785 homes and businesses in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions alone. Ukraines Crimean leadership in exile reported on Feb. 25 that of 694 soldiers reported dead in recent fighting for Russia, 525 were likely Ukrainian citizens who had taken Russian passports since the annexation. AP spoke about the system to impose Russian citizenship in occupied territories to more than a dozen people from the regions, along with the activists helping them to escape and government officials trying to cope with what has become a bureaucratic and psychological nightmare for many. Ukraines human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said almost 100% of the whole population who still live on temporary occupied territories of Ukraine now have Russian passports. Under international law dating to 1907, it is forbidden to force people to swear allegiance to the hostile Power. But when Ukrainians apply for a Russian passport, they must submit biometric data and cell phone information and swear an oath of loyalty. People in occupied territories, these are the first soldiers to fight against Ukraine, said Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer who helped Ukraine bring a war crimes case against Putin before the International Criminal Court. For them, its logical not to waste Russian people, just to use Ukrainians. Changing the law The combination of force and enticement when it comes to Russian passports dates to the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russian citizenship was automatically given to permanent residents of Crimea and anyone who refused lost rights to jobs, health care and property. Nine months into the Russian occupation of the peninsula, 1.5 million Russian passports had been issued there, according to statistics issued by the Russian government in 2015. But Ukrainians say it was still possible to function without one for years afterward. Beginning in May 2022, Russia passed a series of laws to make it easier to obtain passports for Ukrainians, mostly by lifting the usual residency and income requirements. In April 2023 came the punishment: Anyone in the occupied territories who did not accept Russian citizenship would be considered stateless and required to register with Russias Internal Affairs Ministry. Russian officials threatened to withhold access to medical care for those without a Russian passport, and said one was needed to prove property ownership. Hundreds of properties deemed abandoned were seized by the Russian government. You can see it in the passport stamps: If someone got their passport in August 2022 or earlier, they are most certainly pro-Russian. If a passport was issued after that time it was most certainly forced, said Oleksandr Rozum, a lawyer who left the occupied city of Berdyansk and now handles the bureaucratic gray zone for Ukrainians under occupation who ask for his help, including property records, birth and death certificates and divorces. The situation is different depending on the whims of the Russian officials in charge of a particular area, according to interviews with Ukrainians and a look at the Telegram social media accounts set up by occupation officials. In an interview posted recently, Yevgeny Balitsky, the Moscow-installed governor in Zaporizhzhia, said anyone who opposed the occupation was subject to expulsion. We understood that these people could not be won over and that they would have to be dealt with even more harshly in the future, he said. Balitsky then alluded to making some extremely harsh decisions that I will not talk about. Even children are forced to take Russian passports. A decree signed Jan. 4 by Putin allows for the fast-tracking of citizenship for Ukrainian orphans and those without parental care, who include children whose parents were detained in the occupied territories. Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have disappeared into Russia or Russian-held territories, according to the Ukrainian government, where they can be given passports and be adopted as Russian citizens. Its about eradication of identity, said Rashevska, the lawyer involved in the war crimes case. Natalia Zhyvohliad, a mother of nine from a suburb of Berdyansk, had a good idea of what was in store for her children if she stayed. Zhyvohliad said about half her town of 3,500 people left soon after for Ukrainian-held lands, some voluntarily and some deported through the frontlines on a 40-kilometer (25-mile) walk. Others welcomed the occupation: Her goddaughter eagerly took Russian citizenship, as did some of her neighbors. But she said plenty of people were like her those the Russians derisively call waiters: People waiting for a Ukrainian liberation. She kept her younger children, who range in age from 7 to 18, home from school and did her best to teach them in Ukrainian. But then someone snitched, and she was forced to send them to the Russian school. At all hours, she said, soldiers would pound on her door and ask why she didnt have a passport yet. One friend gave in because she needed medicine for a chronic illness. Zhyvohliad held out through the summer, not quite believing the threats to deport her and send her brood to an orphanage in Russia or to dig trenches. Then last fall, the school headmaster forced her 17-year-old and 18-year-old sons to register for the draft and ordered them to apply for passports in the meantime. Their alternative, the principal said, was to explain themselves to Russias internal security services. By the end of 2023, at least 30,000 Crimean men had been conscripted to serve in the Russian military since the peninsula was annexed, according to a UN report. It was clear to Zhyvohliad what her boys risked. With tears in her eyes and trembling legs, she went to the passport office. I kept a Ukrainian flag during the occupation, she said. How could I apply for this nasty thing? She hoped to use it just once at the last Russian checkpoint before the crossing into Ukrainian-held territory. When Zhyvohliad reached what is known as the filtration point at Novoazovsk, the Russians separated her and her two oldest boys from the rest of the children. They had to sign an agreement to pass a lie detector. Then Zhyvohliad was pulled aside alone. For 40 minutes, they went through her phone, took fingerprints and photos and questioned her, but they ultimately let her through. The children were waiting for her on the other side. She misses her home but doesnt regret leaving. I waited until the last moment to be liberated, she said. But this thing with my kids possibly being drafted was the last straw. Weaponizing health care Often the life-or-death decision is more immediate. Russian occupation officials have said the day is coming soon when only those with Russian passports and the all-important national health insurance will be able to access care. For some, its already here. The international organization Physicians for Human Rights documented at least 15 cases of people being denied vital medical care in occupied territories between February 2023 and August 2023 because they lacked a Russian passport. Some hospitals even featured a passport desk to speed the process for desperate patients. One hospital in Zaporizhzhia oblast was ordered to close because the medical staff refused to accept Russian citizenship. Alexander Dudka, the Russian-appointed head of the village of Lazurne in the Kherson region, first threatened to withhold humanitarian aid from residents without Russian citizenship. In August, he added medicine to the list of things the waiters would no longer have access to. Residents, he said in the video on the village Telegram channel, must respect the country that ensures their safety and which is now helping them live. As of Jan. 1, anyone needing medical care in the occupied region must show proof they have mandatory national health insurance, which in turn is only available to Russian citizens. Last year, if you werent scared or if you werent coerced there were places where you could still get medical care, said Uliana Poltavets, a PHR researcher. Now it is impossible. Dina Urich, who arranges the escapes from occupied territory with the aid group Helping to Leave, said about 400 requests come in each month, but they only have the money and staff for 40 evacuations. Priority goes to those who need urgent medical care, she said. And Russian soldiers at the last checkpoints have started turning back people without the Russian passports. You have people constantly dying while waiting for evacuation due to a lack of health care, she said. People will stay there, people will die, people will experience psychological and physical pressure, that is, some will simply die of torture and persecution, while others will live in constant fear. Importing loyalty Along with turning Ukrainians into Russians throughout the occupied territories, the Russian government is bringing in its own people. It is offering rock bottom mortgage rates for anyone from Russia who wants to move there, replacing the Ukrainian doctors, nurses, teachers, police and municipal workers who are now gone. Half of Zhyvohliads village left, either at the start of the war when things looked dark for the Kherson region or after being deported across the frontline by occupation officials. The school principals empty home was taken over by a Russian-appointed replacement. Artillery and airstrikes damaged thousands of homes in the port city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian forces for months before falling under their control. Most of the residents fled into Ukrainian-held territory or deep inside Russia. Russians often take over the property. Russia also offered residential certificates and a 100,000 ruble ($1,000) stipend to Ukrainians willing to accept citizenship and live in Russia. For many people tired of listening to the daily sounds of battle and afraid of what the future might bring, it looked like a good option. This again follows Russias actions after the annexation of Crimea: By populating occupied regions with Russian residents, Russia increasingly cements its hold on territories it has seized by force in what many Ukrainians describe as ethnic cleansing. The process is only accelerating. After capturing the town of Adviivka last month, Russia swooped in with the passports in a matter of days. The neighboring Kherson town of Oleshky essentially emptied after the flooding caused by the explosion of the Kakhovka Dam. The housing stipend in Russia looked fabulous by comparison to the shelling and rising waters, said Rima Yaremenko. She didnt take it, instead making her way through Russia to Latvia and then to Poland. But she believes the Russians took the opportunity to drive the waiters from Oleshky. Maybe they wanted to empty the city, she said. They occupied it, maybe they thought it would be theirs forever. Ryabkov said he was offered the housing stipend when he filled out his passport paperwork but turned it down. He knows plenty of people who accepted though. By the time the Russian soldiers caught Ryabkov in the street, in December, everyone in his village was either gone or had Russian citizenship. When his mother arrived, he was barely recognizable beneath all the blood and the Russian guns were trained on him. She flung herself over his body. Shoot him through me, she dared them. They couldnt bring themselves to shoot an elderly woman, and she eventually dragged him home. They started preparations to leave the next day. It took time, but they made it out using the Russian passports. When I saw our yellow and blue flag, I started to cry, he said. I wanted to burn the Russian passport, destroy it, trample it. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The director of news and current affairs at Nine, Darren Wick, has resigned after 29 years at the network following weeks of speculation over his unexplained absence at Nines Sydney headquarters. Wick announced the decision to staff in an email on Friday evening. He had been in the role of news director for 13 years. Nine news chief Darren Wick has announced his resignation. The reason for Wicks absence before his resignation had been a topic of internal speculation at Nine and across the industry over recent weeks. Wick told staff in the email that he had been taking time to contemplate his future. Some of you are aware that I have taken a few weeks off to think about my future. And after many long beach walks and even longer conversations, I know in my heart that this is the right time for me to step down and leave Nine, he said in the email. Im extremely proud of the contribution every individual at PwC Australia makes to this firm and their ongoing commitment to producing exceptional results for our clients. This was the brave part of the statement PwC boss Kevin Burrowes made on Wednesday as he announced another 366 partners and employees would be cut at the embattled firm to right-size the shrinking business. PwC Australia CEO Kevin Burrowes announced this week that more than 360 employees and partners will go in the latest round of job cuts. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen This was on top of the 340 staff sacked in November due to the tax scandal, and economic conditions. As well as the 1300 staff that left when PwC was forced to spin off its lucrative government business for just $1 after it was banned from any further government work. The firms website still boasts of a workforce of 8000 employees, but those stats are from a year ago when the news surfaced that several PwC partners had allegedly used confidential government tax information to woo some of the biggest companies in the world as clients. The former health and safety manager of the Ballarat Gold Mine has savaged the mines owner, saying repeated safety concerns were raised about the companys practices before a rock collapse this week killed one worker and left another with life-threatening injuries. Rick Walker said he and two other staff members had told the company that ground conditions in Ballarat were unsuitable for a mining technique known as air-legging but the practice went ahead anyway. It was an accident waiting to happen, he said. Kurt Hourigan, a 37-year-old miner from Bruthen in East Gippsland, died in the rock collapse 500 metres underground on Wednesday night. Tributes flowed for Hourigan on social media this week as his family and friends struggled to come to terms with his death. Australias six former prime ministers cost taxpayers about $1.6 million in 2022, and thats before the more considerable costs of their staff two advisers and an executive assistant were factored in. In the latest data release on the cost of former PMs for 2022, Malcolm Turnbull was the biggest spender, declaring more than $410,000, while Julia Gillard came in lowest with about $113,000. John Howard spent $395,000 on flights, his office, communications and cars, Tony Abbott spent $348,000, Kevin Rudd spent just over $157,000 and Paul Keating spent about $176,000 for the year. Gillard and Rudd live overseas, which would partly explain their lower expenditures. Turnbull spent almost $22,000 on accommodation, meals, airfares and ground transport during his trip to Japan for former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abes funeral, compared with the slightly more than $2000 outlaid by Howard and Abbott. Senator Penny Wong married her long-time partner Sophie Allouache on Saturday. Credit: Cath Leo Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Sophie Allouache, partners for nearly two decades, were married on Saturday in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior ministers. The wedding was held at the Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills. Invitations were sent out late last year and details of the ceremony remained a closely guarded secret. In addition to Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon, the guest list was said to include senior ministers including Health Minister Mark Butler, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, as well as former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill. Several of Wongs senior staffers were also invited. Gaza Strip/Cairo/Dubai: Israel has approved a potential assault on the Gazan city of Rafah while also keeping ceasefire hopes alive with plans to send another delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible hostage deal with Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said he had approved a plan to attack the city on the southern edge of the shattered Palestinian enclave where more than half of its 2.3 million residents are sheltering after five months of war. A young Palestinian inspects a destroyed building in Rafah, Gaza on Friday. Credit: Getty Global allies and critics have urged Netanyahu to hold off attacking Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties. Israel says it is one of the last strongholds of Hamas whom it has pledged to eliminate and that residents will be evacuated. In Washington, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the US had not seen the Rafah plan, but would like to. He told a regular briefing a Hamas ceasefire-for-hostages proposal was within the bounds of what was possible and expressed cautious optimism about it. New Jersey: A man suspected of killing three family members in their Philadelphia-area homes Saturday was arrested in New Jersey after evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilised across two states, shutting down a parade and an amusement park, and ordering some residents to stay in their homes. Steve Wilson, police director for the city of Trenton, New Jersey, said the man was found near a house where he was believed to have barricaded himself and was taken into custody. He apparently escaped the perimeter around the home before it was set up, according to Wilson. Police surround a home in Trenton, New Jersey, where the gunman was believed to have barricaded himself before later escaping. Credit: AP Wilson added that he did not believe the suspect was armed at the time. No one else was injured. The suspect was identified earlier as 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. Authorities said they believe he killed his stepmother, his teenage sister and the mother of his children in shootings that stretched into two homes in eastern Pennsylvanias Falls Township in the morning, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and Georgetown Law School have co-hosted a seminar on "Innovating Trade: The Impact of Digital Laws and Emerging Technologies". Through a series of case studies presented and roundtable discussions, the seminar examined the profound effects of digital legislation and technological innovations on international trade. Discussions focused on how these factors influence trade flows and enable businesses to increase trade volumes both domestically and across borders. The seminar hosted international experts from the US and beyond, as well as high-profile attendees, including H.H. Shaikha Nayla bint Hamad bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, Chairperson and Founder of Royal Life Saving Bahrain, Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, Dr Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information, Steven Bondy, US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Georgetown Law Alumni, and senior representatives from leading law firms and government entities of Bahrain. The welcome address was delivered by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, and by Dean William M Treanor, Executive Vice President of Georgetown University and Dean of the Law Centre. Role of energing technologies Key topics discussed at the seminar included the implications of digital laws and regulations, the cross-border transfer of data, the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things and cloud computing in shaping international trade, discussing recent developments in global practices, and the necessity to adapt digital legislative frameworks to accommodate these technological changes. Notable participants included Dr Jameel Alalawi - a legal advisor, Abdallah Maher a Partner at a US Law Firm, Zain Satardien - Advisor at Hourani & Partners, Firas Gadamsi - Partner at GLA&CO in Dubai, Catherine Kuhlmann - Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown University, Mihaela Lodlova Senior Regulatory and Competition Lawyer, Mohammed Owais Taha - Co-founder of 10 BE5 Ltd, Nada Al Saeed - Chief of Strategy at Bahrain EDB, and Zeina Albuainain- Associate at Al Tamimi & Company. Bahrain has demonstrated a commitment to bolstering its ICT sector through the recent enactment of four pivotal laws aimed at enhancing the kingdom's value proposition for international investors. Pivotal laws These include the Personal Data Protection Law, which governs the commercial use of personal data, and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law, which regulates electronic communications, records and contracts. The Data Jurisdiction Law is designed to encourage international entities to use Bahrain-based cloud data centres. Lastly, Bahrain stands as the first nation to implement the Model Law on Transferable Electronic Records as developed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which includes the recognition and regulation of electronic forms of checks, bills of exchange, promissory notes, bills of lading, letters of credit, and warehouse receipts.--TradeArabia News Service The government of Daniel Noboa is secretly creating a database of genetic profiles by deceiving prisoners in Ecuadors prisons, according to three sources to which EL PAIS has had access. The officials who carry out this task tell the inmates that these DNA samples, which will go to a state information bank, will help them be identified in the event of a massacre, something that happens in penitentiaries in the country; or in the event of identity theft. Prison workers are instructed to convince them not to consult with their lawyer and to make them believe that the procedure is part of normal prison routine. What these officials are concealing from their charges is that the latter have the right by law to refuse to have samples taken from them, and that this genetic information can be used to implicate them in crimes that they committed in the past or that they will perpetrate in the future. Performing this procedure is mandatory for toxicologists, anthropologists, forensic chemists and forensic psychologists. Noboa, a 36-year-old businessman and son of the countrys richest man, surprisingly won Ecuadors presidential election in October last year. After taking office in November, he received a country mired in violence and controlled by gangs. Paradoxically, the gangs exercised their power from the prisons, whose cell blocks the authorities did not dare to enter. In January, gang members challenged the State by attacking the set of a television station while it was broadcasting live and sowing panic in the streets of Guayaquil with shootings and kidnappings. Noboa decreed a state of emergency due to internal armed conflict, which empowered him to take the army to the streets and turn the gangs into military objectives under the label of terrorism. In just two months, homicides have been reduced by half and the president has announced the creation of two prisons similar to those of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. Noboa, protected by soldiers and a bulletproof vest, when he was still a candidate in October 2023. SANTIAGO ARCOS (REUTERS) The military have also entered the prisons to try to regain control. The government has taken advantage of this circumstance to begin carrying out genetic registration. In recent weeks, forensic experts have received instructions on how to perform an oral swab. At the Cotopaxi prison, near Quito, which holds 4,346 inmates, only four have refused to undergo the test. In Riobamba, a prison in the Andean mountains, the entire prison population ended up being registered. You should not read the consent forms to the PPL [persons deprived of liberty], they do not even understand them, are the instructions that the forensic experts have received, according to three different sources. The National Service for Comprehensive Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI), the entity in charge of Ecuadorian prisons, declined to answer the questions posed by EL PAIS. DNA, indeed, can help identify prisoners in the event that they are murdered in riots, which in Ecuador are of unusual violence: beheadings with knives, dismemberments, burning of corpses. The information that is withheld from inmates is that these records can also be used to involve them in crimes that they are going to commit in the future or that they have already committed in the past. For example, a prisoner convicted of murder who provides his genetic material could have his sample match those that were collected in a rape case. A genetic sample can only be requested by a judge or prosecutor. The percentage of people who agree to provide this information is very low in cases that are settled in court, according to one expert, which is why it is more than suspicious that the government has convinced practically the entire prison population to do so. According to a source who witnessed the taking of samples this Friday at the Guayaquil regional prison, a police officer received the prisoners and informed them that they had to fill out a form, without explaining anything else. They then went to a table where they were assigned a code and their photograph was taken. They were then taken to another place where police officers entered their data into a computer, followed by a swab that an expert was in charge of storing to respect the chain of custody. None of them raised any objection and anyone who asked was told that the samples were necessary to identify them at some point. I mean, just in case they dismember us? said more than one. The answer was yes and the procedure continued. Soldiers subdue prisoners in the Litoral Regional Prison, in Guayaquil, on January 8 of this year. FUERZAS ARMADAS DE ECUADOR (EFE) The Permanent Committee on Human Rights, CDH, which monitors the situation in prisons, was not aware of these proceedings. The right to health could be violated, that sensitive data must be kept under absolute confidentiality and be consented to, and provided voluntarily, says Billy Navarrete, its director. The person should be accompanied or at least advised by their legal representative. The Ministry of Public Health is the only entity that should ethically guarantee access to this highly sensitive information, there is no other delegation here, he insists. The government also wants to avoid cases such as that of the criminal Leandro Norero, alias El Patron, who revealed the incompetence of the authorities. In 2020, Norero, one of the most important drug trafficking bosses, took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to declare his death due to the virus and evade the authorities of Peru, where he had an open case. The next time he was located, alive, was in a mansion in Samborondo, a wealthy neighborhood in Guayaquil. He was imprisoned again and on October 2022, in the medium-security cell in Cotopaxi, he died for the second time. El Patron fell into an ambush organized by the criminal gang Los Lobos, who were his allies and business partners, and who maintain control of the prison. In theory, he was dismembered and then part of his corpse was cremated. However, police suspect it was another ruse. The identification was made with a forensic anthropological study (descriptions of family members, tattoos, scars) and not a genetic profile, because it was not available. Without this biological data authorities cannot be one hundred percent certain that the criminal has died. Identity changes with plastic surgery and faking burials are common tricks of drug lords. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The presidential elections started this Friday in Russia with widespread distrust in the West about the reliability of the result. The elections, without any real opposition, without international observers and with an opaque electronic voting system for the first time in a presidential election, will perpetuate Vladimir Putin in power at least until 2030. The voting process, which will last until this Sunday, has 4.7 million potential online voters, of which two million are estimated to have already deposited their electronic ballot. One of them was Putin himself, who voted from the computer in his office at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, on the outskirts of Moscow. Taking into account the entire votein the ballot box and onlinethe authorities estimate that 35% of the more than 112 million voters have already cast it. One of the biggest disruptions of the day was recorded in Belgorod, just 50 miles from the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and where the voting day began with the wailing of sirens. At least one person died in a wave of attacks attributed to Ukraine and anti-aircraft fire never seen in these years of war, according to several residents of the Russian town. In this context, its inhabitants could only think about the Ukrainian attacks. You cant imagine how heated things have become here, said Evguenia, a woman in her 40s who lives in the city of Belgorod, on Thursday night. The woman was riddled with doubts. I dont dare leave the house. I dont know what to do, leave or not. When will this end? she lamented in a telephone conversation. Faced with the agitation in Belgorod, there was a truce in the neighboring city of Kursk, also under attack these days. Lets knock on wood, exclaimed bystanders at School Number 4 on Dmitrova Street, while an incessant trickle of people, almost all of them older, voted throughout the morning. I stand with my president, Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), was a phrase repeated by several of the voters. Kursk (population 434,000) is one of the 28 Russian administrative entities where controversial online voting has been enabled. According to the calculations of one of the voting stations, around 10% of its 773 registered voters will select this option. Added to these are another 20 people who, due to mobility problems, will receive a house call so they can vote. According to the independent organization Golos, extending these elections for several days makes it easier for the administration and many companies to put pressure on their employees to use the opaque online voting system, about whose trustworthiness there are doubts. The spokesman for the Russian president, Dmitri Peskov, avoided commenting on the attacks in the border area and delegated this issue to the Russian Ministry of Defense. On Friday, another refinery in the Kaluga region, south of Moscow, joined the list of Russian energy facilities hit by drones in recent days. On a day with strong security measures, several people were arrested for pouring liquids, including ink, into ballot boxes. The Central Election Commission indicated that all the attackers were arrested and that a criminal case will be opened against them. According to authorities, at least five voting centers located in Moscow, Voronezh and Rostov recorded incidents of this type. In addition, the opposition Civic Initiative party and its candidate, Boris Nadezhdin, banned from the elections, were victims of incidents. Its headquarters in Kazan was attacked by observers from the Public Chamber, a civil consultation body, and a volunteer was detained in Khanty-Mansiisk province while conducting a survey outside the polling station. Russian President Vladimir Putin votes in an office at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence, near Moscow, this Friday. MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN P (EFE) Instead, calm reigned at the entrance to the Kursk school, guarded by several police officers. At first glance, these seem like a normal election. In the hall, a screen shows the photos of the four presidential candidates with their resumes and the assets they have declared. The candidates of the Communist Party, the Liberal-Democratic Party and New People present endless texts. The text for Putin, however, is summarized in a few lines and highlights that he is president of the Russian Federation. Behind it, the figure of President Putin is magnified in a mural with the motto Russia, our great power!, another photo of the Russian leader and a map and the countrys flag. The electoral college is divided into two voting points, numbers 125 and 126. In each of them there is a screen where voters can mark their candidate with a cross on a huge ballot. It is deposited in a glass ballot box without any envelope to cover the election choice, as is the custom in countries like Spain. In fact, with simple backlighting it is possible to see the vote marked on the other side of the paper. Our ballot boxes are transparent so that you can check which ballots there are. If the voter does not want his vote to be seen, he can fold the ballot, says the head of the electoral commission at that voting station, Roman Filippov. In this polling place there are only observers from United Russia, the party that is nominating Putin as president, although they expect the presence of representatives from other official parties on one of the three days that the elections will last. Almost all the observers of Russias first voting day refused to speak, except for one young woman, Galina Ivanovna, who joined out of tradition. I just turned 18 years old. We have the habit of going to the elections together as a family, she says. Russian electoral committees are made up entirely of volunteers, most of them nominated by the parties. The start of the elections coincides with the complaint by an independent Russian media, Sirena, that some polling stations in the Kursk region use pens with ink that can disappear with the heat of a lighter. I cant say, it doesnt happen here. Maybe it is some kind of provocation, replies the person in charge of the voting station. At the moment everything is going well, without incidents. After casting their ballots, voters receive a certificate in which the authorities thank them for having participated despite the tension experienced with the drones. Unlike other regions (Moscow has a program of a million rewards for going to vote, including discounts on shows) in Kursk there is reportedly no compensation. Open support for the president It is working hours and practically everyone who goes to the polls is older, although in many regions it is common for civil servants and some company personnel to also receive permission to go vote. Support for Putin here is resounding. Why hide it? I voted for Vladimir Putin, a great president, declares Alexander, a pensioner from School Number 4, upon leaving the station. I was sure that he would go to the end [in the war against Ukraine], he adds with a smile. The Ukrainian attacks these days are something new for Kursk, but for Alexander the culprit is clear and it is Kyiv. We are perfectly fine, we are not afraid. It is necessary to respond to Zelenskiy, that drug addict, he adds. An older couple also comes to vote, but refuses to comment on the Russian leader. Each Russian makes his choice about who he wants in power, that is an absolutely personal matter, says the man. In any case, only people loyal to Putin are likely to speak openly in these elections. They are not a special election, says Anna, a middle-aged woman whose daughter is now a journalist for a Kremlin channel. I think we should support our president. Asked about the attacks experienced these days, she responds like many other Russians that only the Kremlin can have answers because citizens do not participate in politics. As a citizen I cant say if something is bad. I only admire my president and we must support him, she insists before resorting to a saying: In Russia we usually say that we do not change horses in the middle of the crossing. A woman votes at a Moscow polling station this Friday. MAXIM SHIPENKOV (EFE) Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A committed Chavista militant, poet, Buddhist, founder of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), governor, ombudsman, promoter of rock concerts and the current attorney general of his country, Tarek William Saab, a revolutionary since his youth, is one of the most controversial figures within the government of President Nicolas Maduro. He has been a big part in the political leadership that has controlled Venezuela for the past 25 years, since Hugo Chavez rose to power in 1999. A lawyer who specialized in criminal law and human rights, Saab was appointed attorney general back in 2017 by the now-defunct National Constituent Assembly, a forum that appropriated the functions of the National Assembly, which was elected in 2015. The same year he was elected, the legislative branch of government, dominated by the Venezuelan opposition, was shuttered, amidst a wave of massive anti-Chavista protests throughout the country. Since then, Saab has had to face the battery of accusations made against the Venezuelan state for committing excesses against opposition activists. He has also been held to account for alleged crimes against humanity that have occurred during the government of Nicolas Maduro (2013-present), who assumed power following the death of Chavez. Various accusations against the regime have been made by international bodies, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Criminal Court. Saab first became a public figure due to his participation as an activist in defense of victims of the Caracazo, on February 27, 1989, when widespread riots broke out in Venezuela in opposition to austerity measures. The government of Carlos Andres Perez handled the outburst clumsily, with the response resulting in a high number of deaths. After that, Saab became a frequent visitor to Caracas newsrooms. Affable and polite, he was a regular source for many journalists, working to address unsolved stories and failures in police work. Born in El Tigre, in the eastern state of Anzoategui, Saab is the son of a Lebanese immigrant couple. Now 62, hes divorced with children. In the 1980s, he was a follower of Douglas Bravo, a famous ex-guerrilla, and was active in Ruptura, a radical leftist organization that didnt believe in the electoral narrative of democracy. When Chavez became president in 1999, Saabs transition from the opposition to being in power, along with his permanent overexposure in the public eye, produced some changes in him. Once thin with straight hair, cordial and folksy, someone who understood the work of journalists, he is unrecognizable today. Relatives of political prisoners demand to meet with Tarek William Saab, in November 2022. Manaure Quintero (EFE) A devoted Chavista militant since the genesis of the movement in the 1990s, as the years went by he gradually entered into repeated disagreements with the press. His constant conflicts with the opposition turned him into a distrustful, irritable character, highly sensitive to criticism. This was especially the case during his tenure as governor of Anzoategui (2004-2012). Saabs appearance began to change: a frequent visitor to gyms, already divorced, he wore casual outfits as governor and became a determined promoter of rock concerts in the city of Puerto la Cruz, a traditional tourist destination in the east of the country. With several new tattoos, he liked to offer a youthful, approachable image to the electorate, in support of the revolutionary narrative. Tarek William Saab became a delicate, explosive character. Difficult to interview, sometimes haughty. The work of the press got on his nerves. He never trusted the oppositions intentions. He took every question posed to his government personally. He also reacted indignantly to anyone who questioned his performance as a human rights activist. It especially offends Saab that his adversaries say about him what they also say about other famous Chavistas, such as Jose Vicente Rangel or Jorge Rodriguez: that once he rose to power, by inhibiting the publics right to a political alternative, he has ended up committing excesses similar to. or worse than, the ones he denounced in the democratic framework of the past. Frequently questioned for being so closely aligned with Maduros government and for defending the regime on the international stage, Saab certainly isnt the attorney general for a conventional, democratic government. Rather, he represents a revolutionary state, a state that no one has decreed and that isnt in the Constitution. However, the ruling party, as the political body within the national state. has responded to this supposed revolutionary reality. Amidst the political crisis of 2017, one of Saabs sons, Yibram, expressed solidarity with the opposition protests and with the students killed in clashes with the police. He publicly questioned his fathers positions and made a statement inspired by the principles and values that he would have once instilled in him. Saab, the attorney general, asked that his sons opinions be respected. They were mercilessly used on social media by his opponents. A protester on fire during clashes with police during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, in May 2017. RONALDO SCHEMIDT (REUTERS) I received a kind of transnational criminal cartel, [a situation of] organized crime totally structured to commit crimes, Saab himself stated from the Attorney Generals Office, when commenting on anti-corruption operations that he ordered. He harshly criticized his predecessor, Luisa Ortega Diaz, in one of his reports to parliament. Sanctioned in several countries for conspiring to undermine democracy and for his lack of independence when it comes to investigating human rights abuses committed by the Venezuelan state, Saab is also the author of 13 books of poetry (a star recipient of state publishing funds) and a frequent presence in official cultural meetings. Under his management, a particularly aggressive and unprecedented policy for animal protection has been advanced, with legal instruments that impose severe penalties on offenders. He has assertively pursued popular demands or obvious injustices that go viral on social media, to establish some notion of timely justice. Without any legal reason, the International Criminal Court is coming, responding, in origin and essence, to political pressure from the centers of global power, to [interfere with] the independent work of the Venezuelan justice system, he said, in one of his recent pronouncements. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A man found with more than 45,000 unstamped cigarettes has received a suspended prison sentence and must forfeit over 80,000 in cash. Olegs Leontjevs, aged 56, of Corr na gClogh, Ballinrobe, previously pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the unstamped cigarettes. The court heard the Russian had been selling illegal cigarettes in the Ballinrobe area. Customs and Excise officers received a tip-off about Leontjevs activity and he was put under surveillance. On October 31, 2019, a search was carried out at his home and a total of 45,760 cigarettes were found which equated to 200 cartons. What is believed to be a float containing 141 was found in a drawer in the sitting room and more than 80,000 was discovered in two bedrooms. However, it was claimed that this money was part of a 380,000 workplace injury compensation payout that the accused received in 2011. Leontjevs also said he didnt trust the banks. When asked by Customs officers why he had so many cigarettes, Leontjevs said it was because he and his wife smoked a lot. He said he had bought the cigarettes online but was unable to say via which website. While being interviewed, someone arrived at the door of the house seeking to buy cigarettes. Leontjevs has no previous convictions. Sentencing was adjourned until last week with Leontjevs also contesting an application to seize the 81,000 in cash found in his home. Giving evidence through a translator, Leontjevs maintained the money was part of his compensation payout. He said he had made withdrawals to buy a home for his daughter, but this purchase did not proceed. The defendant also claimed a money counter found in the house was a "charming" internet purchase used to tot up his compensation cash. Judge Eoin Garavan dismissed Leontjevs' assertions and said he felt like he was judging book awards as the defendant's evidence was "a wonderful work of fiction". Brendan McDonagh BL, representing the accused, said it would be "punitive" to seize cash that his client claimed came from a compensation payout as the defendant was never charged with selling the cigarettes. However, Judge Garavan said the claims by Leontjevs were of "zero quality". He ordered the cash to be forfeited to the State. During the sentencing hearing, Mr McDonagh said the accused was a family man and a grandfather who has no previous convictions in any country. Judge Garavan said Leontjevs had displayed "a complete lack of honesty" and imposed an 18-month suspended prison sentence. The beautifully renovated heritage railway station of Ballyglunin in Co Galway welcomed councillors from across the West of Ireland on Thursday last for a meeting of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee. The committee comprises elected representatives from the seven county councils of Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal and Clare as well as Galway City Council. Members and guests were welcomed by Joyce Laffey, chair of the Ballyglunin Development Company, who described the combination of the remarkable community spirit that exists in the area and the support of Galway County Council and other development agencies as being pivotal to the success of the renovation project. An audio-visual presentation by board member Mark Gibson outlined the history of the famous station and how it has been painstakingly restored in recent years. The station was made famous in the iconic movie The Quiet Man. Mr Gibson also spoke of the ambitious plans for further development at the facility and the exciting prospect of the reopening of the railway in the short term. Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Connolly thanked the committee for their warm welcome and described their visit as historic, particularly as the area is currently eagerly awaiting confirmation that the restoration of the adjacent rail line is shortly to commence. As part of that restoration we look forward to seeing the development of a Park and Ride facility close to the station which will serve all the people of the area while also bringing visitors to this internationally popular tourist attraction. Local TD Deputy Sean Canney pictured with Board member Maria Heneghan at the meeting of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee at Ballyglunin. The special guest speaker on the day was local TD, Deputy Sean Canney, who commended both the local volunteers and the rail committee for their unstinting commitment to improving their area and region. I am absolutely confident that trains will again be running through Ballyglunin Station, sooner rather than later, he told members. The Minister, the Government and the Opposition are all behind this development, and once the All-Island Rail Review is published, I believe the project will be given the go-ahead without delay. The early restoration of the bridge here at Ballyglunin will be an important signal that the project is finally underway, he added. WEST READING, Pa. - It's a frenzied Friday at Taqueria Comalli in West Reading as Erik Arizmendi and his staff try to satiate the public's seemly endless desire for tacos, but you know what's on his mind? Olive oil. "Like right now olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, is through the roof. You're paying 90 percent more than we used to," said Erik. He says the high-priced liquid fat is a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four years out from the shutdowns, the impact lingers like the scent of tacos in the air. "It's definitely a lot more expensive to run a business since literally the day before the pandemic," Erik added. He says he's learned to adapt and collaborate with other businesses like Oakbrook Brewing to continue to grow. Meanwhile, down the Ave at the West Reading Motor Club... "I would say what really affected my industry the most, I think a lot of people really jumped ship from the restaurant industry during the pandemic," said Adam Cocuzza of West Reading Motor Club. Owner Cocuzza says the employment landscape has reshaped since the shutdown, which took effect in Pennsylvania on March 16th, 2020. "I would say our industry has lost a lot of its core staff in general and that's been a tremendous blow," Erik said. And yet, four years out, these local businesses and others continue to thrive. "I think we all sort of adapted a healthier personal boundary," Cocuzza said. "We've definitely become more creative because of it," added Erik. The Department of Education says it has finally started sending out FAFSA information to colleges after several months of delays. Normally, FAFSA applications open Oct. 1. This year, that was pushed back to Dec. 31 due to hiccups with a new, simplified application. Financial Aid Specialist at Penn State Lehigh Valley Scott Semerod says that's left many applicants and their parents stressed, waiting to see what aid will be offered to them, so that they can decide which school is the best fit. "Penn State has offered scholarship opportunities to students for awards that do not require a completed FAFSA on file, unfortunately a majority of our awards do require a FAFSA to determine financial need," Semerod said. "It's put pressure on us, we're planning for that pressure. We're making sure we're ready," said Dr. Lorna Hunter, Vice President for Enrollment Management at East Stroudsburg University. Hunter says they're been giving students an estimation of what they can expect to pay, but can't yet offer an official financial aid award. "Some students and families are really confused by just what they're hearing in snippets," Hunter said. Even though the information is beginning to come in, it may still take some time to receive your official award letter. "We're going to have to make sure that everything is correct in our system," Hunter said. "So that when we get the final award letters to our students, they're right." "We are also here as a resource for the students. If they have questions I'm more than happy to answer them," Semerod said. In order to accommodate the delay, some colleges have moved back the decision deadline from May 1. Both PSU and ESU moved back their deadline to May 15, but be sure to check with the schools you've applied to. EMMAUS, Pa. - The movie set at Emmaus's 1803 house is 225 years in the making. "What's it like for you to be on a movie set?" I asked Sarajane Williams. "It's very exciting," she said. For President of Lower Macungie Township Historical Society Sarajane Williams, her words have come to life, as she wrote the script and led the $200,000 in fundraising for the 30-minute educational film, The John Fries Rebellion. "The goal is for young people especially to learn about the roots and appreciate our environment and what our forebears produced for us," she said. The movie traces how in 1799, local farmer John Fries rallied others against paying a new federal house tax, culminating with Fries and his militia demanding the release of prisoners inside Bethlehem's Sun Inn. Two centuries later, filming took place inside the same structure. However, recreating history comes with modern challenges, like trains roaring through the set, as well as rain and bitter cold temperatures throughout the eight-day shoot. However, bright spots prevailed. Celebrity and Lehigh County native Carson Kressley rode in for a horseback cameo. "Did you know a lot about the John Fries Rebellion prior to this?" I asked first-time actress, retired nurse Linda Bloom. "No, I just knew where the highway is," she said. Bloom isn't alone, in knowing the highway name, just outside Quakertown, but not its namesake, or how to say it. It's Fries, like freeze, not like the food french fries. This included Pennsylvania native Dan Hertzog, the Hollywood veteran who directed the film. "I never heard of the Fries rebellion when I came on board," he said. "We've all heard of the Whiskey Rebellion. Like if we can get people to a, pronounce the name correctly, and b, understand what it was really about then I think it's a win," he said. The mission is to show the movie in area school districts by next fall. A trailer debuted earlier this year. This is a drama, so the suspense continues, as Williams says tens of thousands of dollars are still needed to edit the film and have it ready for an August debut. In a White House meeting on Friday, President Biden agreed with the Irish Prime Minister's call for a cease fire to get aid into Gaza. The Irish Prime Minister was straightforward with Biden and said that the need for a ceasefire was his priority in their meeting. Biden interjected with "I agree" in response. Closer to home, the idea draws different responses from pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups in our area. 69 News Reporter Cierra Genelle sat down with representatives of both groups in the Lehigh Valley. "We should be calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," said Raya Abdelaal, an independent organizer with The Palestinian Movement. "We feel concerned for Israel that in a ceasefire, it would only allow Hamas a terrorist organization, to rearm, reload replan for additional attacks and more rocket fire are on Israel," said Jeri Zimmerman, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. "Schumer hasn't called for a ceasefire, which is interesting," said Abdelaal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did, however, heavily criticize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a lengthy speech on the Senate Floor on Thursday and called for new elections in Israel "A Jewish Senator, make remarks calling for Israel to hold elections was somewhat disappointing Israel as a sovereign democratic state," said Zimmerman. "It's a testament that the American government is changing in terms of how they perceive Israel's actions towards the Palestinian people," said Abdelaal. As for whether the President agrees with Senator Schumer and would like to see Netanyahu out of power, White House spokesman John Kirby sidestepped that question Friday. "That's going to be up to the Israeli people to decide," said Kirby. Earlier on Friday, Biden did express his support for Schumer and said the Senator's concerns are shared by many Americans. TRENTON, N.J. Authorities say the suspect who killed three people in Bucks County, fled to Trenton, N.J. and barricaded himself inside a home has been taken into custody. According to police, 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr., killed his stepmother, teenage sister and the mother of his children in Falls Township on Saturday before feeling across the Delaware River prompting major police responses in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Gordon was believed to be homeless, police said. Upon fleeing to Trenton in one stolen car, police say Gordon stole another car in a store parking lot and barricaded himself into a home. Officers were seen surrounding the house Saturday afternoon, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker to convince him to come out. Residents of the Trenton home managed to escape without injury, according to police. HARRISBURG, Pa. A Montgomery County woman who struck and killed two Pennsylvania State Police troopers and a pedestrian with her vehicle in 2022 reported to prison Friday, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association. Jayana Webb pleaded guilty in November 2023 to multiple counts of third-degree murder and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence. On March 21, 2022, Webb, of Eagleville, Montgomery County, killed State Troopers Martin Mack and Branden Sisca and 28-year-old pedestrian Reyes Oliveras of Allentown. Officials say the troopers were trying to get Oliveras to safety after he had been walking on I-95 in Philadelphia, when Webb struck all three with her vehicle at a high rate of speed. The Pennsylvania State Troopers Association said the widows of Mack and Sisca were on hand Friday as Webb reported to prison to begin serving a sentence of up to 60 years in prison. Stephanie Mack and Brittany Sisca issued a statement Friday: Our families are forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support since that horrible day. We lost our husbands, our fathers and our brothers. They will always be our heroes. There are a number of individuals who stand out for their exemplary service in our time of need. Capt. Gerard B. McShea and the Command Staff at Troop K Philadelphia ensured that a thorough and rigorous investigation led to the conviction. Troopers Ross W. Greenwood, Vincent J. Scardilli and Shane P. Dunlevy from Troop K accompanied us to court, Police Week in Washington D.C., and other events. Wed also like to thank the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association for their work in advocating for our families and safeguarding that justice be done. Some may see this as a moment of closure, but we will always mourn terribly for our heroic loved ones. The Safeena mission, the first to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea, arrived on the coast of the Strip this Friday afternoon and began unloading 200 tons of food transported from Cyprus by the ship Open Arms, operated by a Spanish non-profit that normally conducts rescues in the Mediterranean Sea. Everything is going very well, we are very happy. This was a pilot test and it worked, said Gerard Canals, operations coordinator. The mission, promoted jointly by this humanitarian organization and by World Central Kitchen (WCK), a food aid group founded by Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, is of tremendous complexity, as both groups have repeatedly warned in recent days. The difficulty, beyond diplomatic and meteorological obstacles, lies in the way the cargo is being delivered, given that Israel does not allow the occupants of the tugboat to establish contact with the Gaza population. A second ship is being stowed in the port of Larnaca with 400 more tons of food aid, in a new operation also promoted by WCK and the governments of Jordan, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. The Open Arms arrived south of the capital on Thursday night, 72 hours after departing from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus, thus reopening an access route that had been closed since 2007, when the Islamist movement Hamas took power in Gaza and Israel imposed a land, sea and air blockade that tightened after the October 7 attack. This Friday morning the ship anchored approximately a mile away from the beaches of Gaza City, in the north of the enclave. The barge transporting the aid, a total of 130 pallets of non-perishable food, was towed by two semi-rigid boats from the Open Arms to a jetty built by WCK workers in the Strip. At 3:10 p.m. local time, the barge was moored to the jetty, which was erected in record time with the rubble of the buildings destroyed by the Israeli bombings. The pallets were transferred from the barge to the jetty with a crane truck placed at the edge of the dock. From there, the aid started going into trucks that will distribute it to the 60 kitchens that WCK operates in different parts of Gaza, and to other food distribution points. In total, there are 200 tons of flour, rice, lentils, chickpeas, canned tuna and other basic foods that will become a million meals, according to chef Jose Andres. The unloading work took place without incident and quite quickly, according to the crew members. However, the waves and nightfall slowed operations slightly in the last few hours. At 9.30 pm, a quarter of the merchandise still remained to be unloaded. The Open Arms is scheduled to return to Cyprus afterwards, concluding the pilot test of the operation. We had a plan of how everything should go; before departing, the authorities had given us detailed instructions about what to do, and everything was carried out almost on time, Canals described in a telephone conversation. With a bottleneck for taking aid by land and the limitations of parachute shipping, the opening of this maritime humanitarian corridor will not generate a substantial change in the situation in the Strip, where more than half a million people are on the brink of famine, according to the United Nations. The 200 tons of aid that has been brought to the beaches of Gaza are equivalent to the load of 12 trucks. The usual flow before the war was about 500 trucks a day. White House concerns One of Washingtons main concerns is humanitarian aid. A Israeli military spokesman recently said that his country (which has been using hunger as a weapon of war) will now flood Gaza with humanitarian aid. This week, the military began a pilot project allowing six United Nations trucks to enter directly into the north, where the situation is most dire. There are seven crossings with Gaza: Rafah, which borders Egypt, and another six with Israel. Only the first and one of the Israeli ones have been partially open since the beginning of the conflict. With half a million people on the brink of famine and the first deaths (especially children) due to malnutrition or dehydration, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, warned on Thursday that humanitarian aid shipments by air and by sea are not enough. Israel, he added, must open other land crossings with Gaza that it currently keeps closed. The amount of food or medicine that can be delivered by road is much greater than what can be dropped by parachute or delivered by sea. It is also cheaper and faster and less complicated from the point of view of logistics. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition HOLLAND TWP., N.J. Prosecutors say a Warren County woman was arrested for breaking into a home and trying to steal a dog in neighboring Hunterdon County last weekend. According to the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office, 45-year-old Jennifer L. Goldthwaite, 45, of Alpha, was arrested on Saturday, March 9. A joint investigation by the prosecutor's office and Holland Township Police found that Goldthwaite "unlawfully entered a residence in Holland Township with the intent to steal a dog." According to the prosecutor's office, Goldthwaite was taken to Warren County Jail and later released onto conditional pretrial monitoring. Goldthwaite is charged with third-degree burglary and disorderly persons criminal mischief, the prosecutor's office said. Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod killed two people, officials said Saturday, while Russia claimed to have thwarted a new attempt by saboteurs to cross the border. Saturdays attacks occurred as Russians entered the second day of voting in a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putins rule by another six years after he crushed dissent. A man and a woman died in the attack and three other people were wounded, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on the Telegram messaging app. It was the latest in exchanges of long-range missile and rocket fire in Russias war on Ukraine. Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, some 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Ukrainian border, Gladkov said. Russias Defense Ministry also said Saturday that it had thwarted attempts by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to enter the country from Ukraine's Sumy region. That followed an armed incursion claimed by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin on Tuesday in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. Russia's Defense Ministry said that Moscows military and security forces killed 30 fighters while thwarting the latest incursion. The Russian Volunteer Corps one of the groups who claimed to have crossed the border on Tuesday, who say they are fighting for the freedom of the Ukrainian and Russian peoples released a video on social media Saturday claiming to have captured 25 Russian soldiers. Another of the groups, the Freedom of Russia Legion, warned of a massive strike on military bases in Belgorod late afternoon Saturday and urged residents to take shelter. Shortly afterward, Russias Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian air defenses had shot down 15 rockets over the Belgorod region. Videos appeared on local news sites, appearing to show smoke rising from buildings and falling shrapnel. The authenticity of the videos couldnt be independently verified. Cross-border attacks in the area have taken place sporadically since the war began and have been the subject of claims and counterclaims, as well as disinformation and propaganda. Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil giant Rosneft in the Samara region, some 450 miles (725 kilometers) from the Ukrainian border, regional Gov. Dmitry Azarov said. He said an attack on another refinery was thwarted. No casualties were reported. In a statement posted Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the country's military for its new long-range capability. What our own drones are capable of is a true Ukrainian long-range capability. Ukraine will now always have a strike force in the sky, he said on social media. A Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive close to a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, Russian state news agency Tass said. No injuries or damage were reported. The attacks come a day after a Russian assault on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed at least 21 people. The ballistic missile attack blasted homes in the southern city Friday, followed by a second missile that targeted first responders who arrived at the scene, officials said. More than 50 people are still in the hospital following the attacks, Odesa Deputy Mayor Svitlana Bedreha said Saturday, according to Ukrainian state media. Voters across Russia cast ballots Saturday on the second day of an election set to formalize six more years of power for President Vladimir Putin, who faces no serious challengers after crushing political dissent over his nearly quarter-century of rule. The election comes against the backdrop of a ruthless crackdown that has stifled independent media and prominent rights groups. Putins fiercest foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison in February, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. The 71-year-old Putin faces three token rivals from Kremlin-friendly parties who have refrained from any criticism of him or his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin has cast his war in Ukraine, now in its third year, as an existential battle against the U.S. and other Western powers bent on destroying Russia. Officials said voting was proceeding in an orderly fashion. But despite tight controls, at least a half-dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported Friday and Saturday, including a firebombing and several people pouring green liquid into ballot boxes. The latter was an apparent homage to Navalny, who in 2017 was attacked by an assailant who splashed green disinfectant in his face. A 50-year-old university professor was arrested Saturday after she unsuccessfully tried to throw green liquid into a ballot box in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg. She was imprisoned for 15 days for petty hooliganism, but could face further charges, according to local news outlet Ura.ru. A pensioner in the Altai region in southern Siberia was also detained after attempting to damage ballots, Russias state news agency Tass reported. In Podolsk, a town close to Moscow, a woman was detained by police Saturday after she spoiled her ballot by writing an unspecified message, said OVD-Info, a police monitoring group that provides legal aid. She was charged with discrediting the Russian army and fined 30,000 rubles ($342). Russian lawmakers have suggested introducing a new law to punish election saboteurs with sentences of up to eight years in prison. Meanwhile, a video released on social media by Russian election monitoring group Golos appeared to show staff at a polling station in the southern city of Krasnodar stuffing multiple voting slips into ballot boxes. Also Saturday, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks once again hit deep inside the country. Tass said an armed group also tried to penetrate Russia's border region from Ukraine. Two people were killed in Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, ordering shopping centers and schools to shut down because of the security situation. Meanwhile, local officials denied reports of explosions at polling stations in the border city, Tass said. Dozens of people have been killed in Belgorod since the war began. Elsewhere, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery belonging to Russian oil company Rosneft in the Samara region, 1,065 kilometers (660 miles) southeast of Moscow, the regional governor said. One person was killed and four other people were wounded in the city of Kakhovka in the illegally annexed Kherson region of Ukraine, the Russia-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said, blaming a Ukrainian drone attack that he said was aimed at disrupting the election. Earlier, Tass reported that a Ukrainian drone also dropped an explosive on a polling station in the illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. In the period leading up to the vote, Putin boasted about battlefield successes in Ukraine, where Russian troops have recently made incremental gains relying on their edge in firepower. On Friday, Putin described the weeks cross-border shelling and incursions by Ukrainian forces as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten Russians and derail the vote. He vowed that the attacks wont be left unpunished. Despite the attacks, analysts say the Kremlin needs a high turnout in the election to signal that Russians approve of the war and to legitimize Putin for another term. The Russian defense ministry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition and cushioning Russians from the economic impact of the war driving down unemployment and driving up wages. Russias wartime economy has also proven to be resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. Russias opposition movement has urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to show up at the polls at noon Sunday, the final day of voting, as a form of protest. The strategy was endorsed by Navalny not long before his death. Voting is taking place at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. Western leaders have derided the vote as a travesty of democracy. European Council President Charles Michel mockingly congratulated Putin on Friday on his landslide victory in an election that was technically still underway. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice, he wrote on the social media platform X. Beyond the lack of options for voters, the possibilities for independent monitoring are very limited. No significant international observers were present. Only registered, Kremlin-approved candidates or state-backed advisory bodies can assign observers to polling stations, decreasing the likelihood of independent watchdogs. WASHINGTON (AP) As Salvatore LoGrande fought cancer and all the pain that came with it, his daughters promised to keep him in the white, pitched roof house he worked so hard to buy all those decades ago. So, Sandy LoGrande thought it was a mistake when, a year after her fathers death, Massachusetts billed her $177,000 for her fathers Medicaid expenses and threatened to sue for his home if she didnt pay up quickly. The home was everything," to her father said LoGrande, 57. But the bill and accompanying threat weren't a mistake. Rather, it was part of a routine process the federal government requires of every state: to recover money from the assets of dead people who, in their final years, relied on Medicaid, the taxpayer-funded health insurance for the poorest Americans. A person's home is typically exempt from qualifying for Medicaid. But it is subject to the estate recovery process for those who were over 55 and used Medicaid to pay for long-term care such as nursing home stays or in-home health care. This month, a Democratic lawmaker proposed scuttling the cruel program altogether. Critics argue the program collects too little roughly 1% of the more than $150 billion Medicaid spends yearly on long-term care. They also say many states fail to warn people who sign up for Medicaid that big bills and claims to their property might await their families once they die. LoGrande says thats how she ended up in a two-year legal battle with Massachusetts after her father died. Several years before he died in 2016, she had turned to a local nonprofit for advice on caring for her elderly father. The group suggested she sign him up for Medicaid. She even remembers asking about the house, but was assured the state would only seek the house if it sent her father to a nursing home. He never would have signed on with anything that would put his home in jeopardy, she said. For years, her father got an annual renewal notice from the states Medicaid office. She says it wasn't until after his death, when the state's demand for $177,000 arrived, that she saw the first bill for his care, which included a brief stint in the hospital for pain from cancer, medications and hospice. Thats what ripped my guts out, LoGrande said. It was dishonest. The state settled with the LoGrandes in 2019 and released its claim on the house. State policies around this recovery process vary widely, according to a 2021 report from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, which makes policy recommendations to Congress. Some states will put a lien a legal right on a home while others dont. Meanwhile, some Medicaid offices try to recoup all medical costs from patients, like doctor visits or prescriptions, while others just pursue the costs for long-term care. Alaska and Arizona pursued just dozens of properties in recent years while other states go after thousands of homes, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. New York and Ohio topped the country for such collections, recovering more than $100 million combined in a single year, a Dayton Daily News investigation found. An investigation into the Kansas program, released Tuesday by the Health and Human Services inspector general, found that program was cost effective yielding $37 million while only spending $5 million to recover the money, But the state didn't always collect the money from estates that were eligible. Last month, a foundation for one of the industry's biggest health insurance giants called on Massachusetts to overhaul its process, which includes collecting reimbursement for most Medicaid costs, beyond the federal government's minimum requirement to recover long-term care expenses. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts recommended the state Legislature pass a law that would prohibit those additional collections. Estate recovery has the potential to perpetuate wealth disparities and intergenerational poverty, said Katherine Howitt, a Medicaid policy director with the foundation. In Tennessee, which recovered more than $38.2 million from more than 8,100 estates last year, Imani Mfalme found herself in a similar predicament after her mothers death in 2021. As her mother's early-onset Alzheimer's worsened, Mfalme continued to care for her. But in 2015, when Mfalme was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy, she started looking at other options. She hosted a meeting in her mothers home with the local Medicaid office. The representative told her to drain her mothers bank accounts money Mfalme poured into assisted living facility payments for her mom so her mother would qualify for the program. She recalls being somewhat offended during the meeting after the representative asked her three times: This is your mothers home? The representative, Mfalme said, made no mention that she could be forced to sell the house to settle her mother's bill with Medicaid once she died. Now, Tennessee's Medicaid office says she owes $225,000 and the state is seeking a court order that would require Mfalme to sell the house to pay up. Mfalme, now 42, said she wants to pay what she can, but the house is a particular pain point. Her mother, a Black woman, purchased her dream home in Knoxville after she won a landmark discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Boeing, for paying her less than her male coworkers. She fought hard for equal pay and equal rights. Just to see that ripped away just because she was sick and I was sick, its just absolutely devastating, Mfalme said of her mother. TennCare, Tennessee's Medicaid office, said in an email to The Associated Press that it would not comment on specific cases. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's report recommended that Congress reverse the 1993 law that required states to recover money from estates, instead making it optional. Earlier this month, Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois reintroduced legislation that would end the federal government's mandate. Schakowsky believes the rule is a losing proposition for families, who give up their homes, and taxpayers, who don't see big returns from the recovery efforts. It is one of the most cruel, ineffective programs that we see, Schakowsky told the AP. "This is a program that doesnt work for anybody. In a gridlocked Congress, where some Republicans are clamoring to trim Medicaid entitlements, the bill is unlikely to garner the bipartisan support needed to become law. There's at least one person who acknowledges the rule isn't working: the man who engineered it. Many people don't know about the decades-old mandate, which was intended to encourage people to save for long-term care or risk losing the equity from their home, explained Stephen Moses, who now works for the conservative Paragon Health Institute. The plan here was to ensure that people who need long-term care can get it but that you plan ahead to be able to pay privately so you dont end up on the public health care program, Moses said. Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed In the kind of surveys that explore the greatest concerns of citizens, teleology never shows up. It makes sense, since no one has heard of it, but the truth is that teleology constitutes one of the biggest problems of our time. It is the common theme underlying creationism, conspiracy theories and, by extension, much of the irrationality that circulates in spurts through social, or antisocial, networks. Teleology, from the Greek telos (end), entails explaining things by their purpose, their goal, their ultimate end, believing that our life is endowed with a project, and that this holds for life as a whole, that everything that happens is part of a higher plan that we do not understand, but that we preach as a revealed truth. The easy thing to do would be to blame all this on Aristotle, who distinguished between efficient causesthose that trigger somethingand final causesthose that are directed toward a goal. If you walk to a bakery, the efficient cause is that you are moving your legs, and the final cause is that you want to eat a loaf of bread and half a dozen muffins. We humans always like to believe we are doing things for a reason, guided by a purpose, even when we suspect that deep down this is not the case. Does that second beer have a purpose? Is there a meaning in giving vent to your anger, insulting people on X, ignoring an argument for the simple reason that it doesnt fit in with your prejudices? Oh, come on. Lets not take it up with Aristotle either, for the man had enough with the massive failure of his gravitational theory, which Galileo had to refute 15 centuries later. When it comes to the subject of the ultimate cause, the poor Greek thinker did nothing more than encode one of the greatest automatic thought patterns with which we are burdened at birth. We all carry teleology burned into our skulls. Giving purpose to living beings and to other people is surely a useful way to navigate the world, especially when you are being stalked by lions, snakes, lovers and the enemy army. But that does not mean that teleology, Aristotles final cause, is an accurate idea. The psychologist Pascal Wagner-Egger and his colleagues at the universities of Freiburg, Rennes and Paris empirically examined the question a few years ago. Studying more than 2,000 volunteers, they showed that teleological thinkingexplaining things by their purposenot only underlies creationism, as might be expected after two millennia of Christian theology, but also conspiracy theories, the tendency to explain social, political, economic and historical events through a secret and perverse conspiracy. Conspiracy theories also have something to do with religion, political affiliation, age, education and lack of analytical thinking, but their correlation with teleology is the most significant and robust. Wagner-Egger argues that teleology is a primitive form of thought, one that we carry in our heads by default. Attributing anything to the fact that God has created it, and any social or political phenomenon to a dark hand that governs our destinies from its luxurious hiding place, are two manifestations of the same style of teleological thinking, which seeks to reduce a complex world to a simple cause, like a Creator, a banker or a pharmaceutical laboratory. Better not to think at all than to think that kind of nonsense. Does our life have a purpose? Since we are a product of evolution, and since evolution has none, the notion may be doubted. There are those who seek to achieve immortality through their work, but as Woody Allen said: I dont want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. These are bad times for Aristotle. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition High Net Worth Advisory Group LLC lowered its stake in shares of The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG Free Report) by 8.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 10,975 shares of the companys stock after selling 975 shares during the quarter. High Net Worth Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Procter & Gamble were worth $1,608,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PG. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Procter & Gamble by 1.1% in the second quarter. Proquility Private Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,008 shares of the companys stock worth $912,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. KFA Private Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 2.2% in the third quarter. KFA Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 3,054 shares of the companys stock worth $445,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Watchman Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.4% in the third quarter. Watchman Group Inc. now owns 18,052 shares of the companys stock worth $2,633,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Auxier Asset Management raised its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 0.3% in the third quarter. Auxier Asset Management now owns 20,448 shares of the companys stock worth $2,983,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Procter & Gamble by 1.5% in the third quarter. Syntegra Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 4,773 shares of the companys stock valued at $696,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 63.43% of the companys stock. Get Procter & Gamble alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently commented on PG shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Procter & Gamble in a report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $168.00 price objective on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Procter & Gamble from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Raymond James increased their target price on Procter & Gamble from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Procter & Gamble from $169.00 to $162.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Seven 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, Procter & Gamble currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $168.41. Procter & Gamble Stock Down 0.2 % PG traded down $0.33 on Friday, reaching $161.17. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,933,670 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,922,030. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $156.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $151.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a market capitalization of $379.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.89, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.44. The Procter & Gamble Company has a fifty-two week low of $141.45 and a fifty-two week high of $162.73. Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.14. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 34.04% and a net margin of 17.60%. The company had revenue of $21.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.48 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.59 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 3.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that The Procter & Gamble Company will post 6.45 EPS for the current fiscal year. Procter & Gamble Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 19th were given a dividend of $0.9407 per share. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. Procter & Gambles payout ratio is 62.98%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Procter & Gamble news, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 22,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total transaction of $3,549,040.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,943,835.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 22,000 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.32, for a total transaction of $3,549,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,943,835.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 101,704 shares of Procter & Gamble stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $15,618,683.28. Following the sale, the insider now owns 163,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at $25,097,637.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 279,063 shares of company stock worth $43,187,745. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. Procter & Gamble Profile (Free Report) The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands. See Also 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. Abner Herrman & Brock LLC decreased its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report) by 7.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,384 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 1,366 shares during the quarter. Abner Herrman & Brock LLCs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $9,227,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Phoenix Holdings Ltd. grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 21.4% during the third quarter. Phoenix Holdings Ltd. now owns 9,366 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $4,750,000 after buying an additional 1,654 shares during the period. DMC Group LLC grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 16.5% during the third quarter. DMC Group LLC now owns 592 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $300,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Montchanin Asset Management LLC grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.1% during the second quarter. Montchanin Asset Management LLC now owns 4,550 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,374,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Check Capital Management Inc. CA bought a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the third quarter valued at about $219,000. Finally, Tower Bridge Advisors lifted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% during the third quarter. Tower Bridge Advisors now owns 33,046 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $16,727,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.06% of the companys stock. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Thermo Fisher Scientific In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,311,992.65. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $555.63, for a total transaction of $5,556,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 49,155 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,311,992.65. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Debora L. Spar sold 164 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $546.97, for a total value of $89,703.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $660,192.79. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 50,277 shares of company stock valued at $28,513,384. 0.32% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have commented on TMO. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $670.00 price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a market perform rating on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Monday, January 8th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $575.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $515.00 to $605.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Monday, December 18th. They issued a buy rating and a $610.00 price target on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve 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 price target of $596.00. Get Our Latest Report on Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance NYSE TMO traded down $0.76 on Friday, reaching $584.15. 1,920,147 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,682,461. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12 month low of $415.60 and a 12 month high of $603.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.75 and a quick ratio of 1.39. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $559.33 and a 200 day simple moving average of $518.57. The stock has a market cap of $222.74 billion, a PE ratio of 37.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.80. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The medical research company reported $5.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.64 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $10.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.73 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 13.99% and a return on equity of 18.78%. The businesss revenue was down 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.40 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.52 earnings per share for the current year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.27%. This is a positive change from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.10%. Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile (Free Report) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the six brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and one has given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $116.00. Several research firms have recently weighed in on R. Vertical Research cut shares of Ryder System from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $120.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Ryder System from $117.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. StockNews.com raised shares of Ryder System from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Ryder System from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on Ryder System from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Get Ryder System alerts: Get Our Latest Report on R Insider Activity Institutional Trading of Ryder System In other news, CMO Karen M. Jones sold 7,737 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.48, for a total transaction of $877,994.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 12,396 shares in the company, valued at $1,406,698.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Insiders own 4.00% of the companys stock. A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of R. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Ryder System in the third quarter worth about $8,186,000. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in Ryder System by 24.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 78,946 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,443,000 after buying an additional 15,361 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its holdings in Ryder System by 174.7% in the third quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 7,717 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $812,000 after buying an additional 4,908 shares during the period. Earnest Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Ryder System by 2.5% in the third quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 1,666,621 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $178,245,000 after buying an additional 40,086 shares during the period. Finally, Aviva PLC purchased a new stake in Ryder System in the third quarter worth about $1,680,000. 83.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Ryder System Trading Down 0.6 % NYSE:R opened at $112.29 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.86 and a beta of 1.39. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $113.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.72. Ryder System has a 1 year low of $76.15 and a 1 year high of $119.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Ryder System (NYSE:R Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The transportation company reported $2.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.75 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $3.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.98 billion. Ryder System had a net margin of 3.45% and a return on equity of 19.68%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.89 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Ryder System will post 11.73 EPS for the current year. Ryder System Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were paid a dividend of $0.71 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.53%. Ryder Systems dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.53%. About Ryder System (Get Free Report Ryder System, Inc operates as a logistics and transportation company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Fleet Management Solutions (FMS), Supply Chain Solutions (SCS), and Dedicated Transportation Solutions (DTS). The FMS segment offers full-service leasing and leasing with flexible maintenance options; commercial vehicle rental services; and contract or transactional maintenance services of trucks, tractors, and trailers; access to diesel fuel; and fuel planning and tax reporting, cards, and monitoring services, and centralized billing, as well as sells used vehicles through its retail sales centers and www.ryder.com/used-trucks website, as well as digital and technology support services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ryder System Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryder System and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed their sell rating on shares of AstraZeneca (LON:AZN Free Report) in a research report released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat reports. AZN has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays restated a buy rating and set a 135 ($172.97) price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, November 20th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a 110 ($140.94) price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Friday, February 16th. UBS Group cut their price target on AstraZeneca from 107 ($137.09) to GBX 9,900 ($126.84) and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reiterated an outperform rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have assigned 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 117.13 ($150.06). Get AstraZeneca alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on AstraZeneca AstraZeneca Trading Down 1.0 % AstraZeneca Increases Dividend Shares of LON:AZN opened at 102.94 ($131.89) on Tuesday. AstraZeneca has a 12-month low of GBX 9,461 ($121.22) and a 12-month high of 123.92 ($158.77). The stock has a market cap of 159.56 billion, a PE ratio of 3,454.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.17. The business has a 50 day moving average of 103.27 and a 200-day moving average of 104.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 75.70. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd will be given a dividend of GBX 156 ($2.00) per share. This is an increase from AstraZenecas previous dividend of $71.80. This represents a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. AstraZenecas payout ratio is currently 7,651.01%. About AstraZeneca (Get Free Report) AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for AstraZeneca Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AstraZeneca and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC cut its holdings in shares of NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI Free Report) by 9.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 68,108 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 7,241 shares during the quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLCs holdings in NiSource were worth $1,681,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Veritable L.P. increased its holdings in shares of NiSource by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Veritable L.P. now owns 8,329 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $228,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares during the last quarter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of NiSource by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,178 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of NiSource by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Brinker Capital Investments LLC now owns 18,197 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $579,000 after acquiring an additional 426 shares during the last quarter. Spreng Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of NiSource by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Spreng Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,816 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $267,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of NiSource by 41.4% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,698 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. 94.91% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get NiSource alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades NI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on NiSource from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. StockNews.com upgraded NiSource from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, February 24th. Insider Transactions at NiSource In other news, SVP Melanie B. Berman sold 11,141 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.66, for a total transaction of $297,019.06. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 23,720 shares of the companys stock, valued at $632,375.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.24% of the stock is owned by insiders. NiSource Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of NI stock opened at $26.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.86 billion, a PE ratio of 18.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.49. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $26.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $26.05. NiSource Inc. has a 1 year low of $22.86 and a 1 year high of $28.95. NiSource (NYSE:NI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.55 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.59 billion. NiSource had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 10.10%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.50 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that NiSource Inc. will post 1.71 EPS for the current year. NiSource Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were given a dividend of $0.265 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. This is a positive change from NiSources previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.00%. NiSources payout ratio is 72.11%. NiSource Profile (Free Report) NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 3.3 million customers through approximately 55,000 miles of distribution main pipeline and the associated individual customer service lines; and 1,000 miles of transmission main pipeline in northern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. See Also Receive News & Ratings for NiSource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NiSource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (NYSE:BLX Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 130,700 shares, a drop of 37.5% from the February 14th total of 209,000 shares. Currently, 0.5% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 129,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.0 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BLX. Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the 3rd quarter valued at $488,000. Ramirez Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the 3rd quarter valued at $630,000. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 42,209 shares of the banks stock valued at $734,000 after acquiring an additional 957 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. during the 3rd quarter valued at $976,000. Finally, 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 acquiring an additional 1,021 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 7.02% of the companys stock. Get Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior S. A. alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com lowered Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Price Performance Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $28.23. 241,349 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 133,736. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $24.18. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. has a 12 month low of $16.26 and a 12 month high of $28.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.62, a current ratio of 2.08 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a PE ratio of 6.19 and a beta of 1.20. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (NYSE:BLX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The bank reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. had a return on equity of 14.49% and a net margin of 23.34%. The company had revenue of $77.79 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. will post 4.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be paid a $0.50 dividend. This is a positive change 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. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.08%. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.86%. About Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. (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. Featured Stories 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. BDL Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Stellantis (NYSE:STLA Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 39,804 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $928,000. Stellantis makes up approximately 0.8% of BDL Capital Managements portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Stellantis during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Stellantis by 307.4% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 1,707 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,288 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Stellantis by 953.6% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 2,318 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 2,098 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Stellantis by 81.1% in the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Stellantis by 183.5% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,646 shares of the companys stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 3,007 shares during the last quarter. 28.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Stellantis alerts: Stellantis Trading Up 3.6 % NYSE:STLA traded up $1.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $28.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,000,773 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,638,076. Stellantis has a fifty-two week low of $15.07 and a fifty-two week high of $28.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.24. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $24.33 and a 200-day moving average of $21.71. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently issued reports on STLA. Nomura reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Stellantis in a research note on Wednesday. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Stellantis in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Stellantis in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. They set an outperform rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of Stellantis in a research report on Monday, December 11th. They set an underweight rating for the company. Finally, HSBC lowered shares of Stellantis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $30.23. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Stellantis Insider Transactions at Stellantis In other news, major shareholder N.V. Stellantis acquired 800,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $4.83 per share, with a total value of $3,864,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 36,251,720 shares in the company, valued at approximately $175,095,807.60. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 2,400,000 shares of company stock valued at $11,832,000. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. About Stellantis (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. Further Reading 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. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP Free Report) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 11,159 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the period. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Roper Technologies were worth $6,084,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Roper Technologies by 10.0% during the third quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 231 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 0.6% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 3,437 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,664,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 1.7% in the third quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 1,223 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $592,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 0.5% in the third quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 4,193 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,030,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Roper Technologies by 0.7% in the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 3,310 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,582,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.59% of the companys stock. Get Roper Technologies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ROP has been the subject of several analyst reports. Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $580.00 target price on shares of Roper Technologies in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Roper Technologies from $572.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Roper Technologies from $620.00 to $622.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Roper Technologies from $560.00 to $615.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Roper Technologies from $500.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Roper Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $557.00. Roper Technologies Price Performance ROP traded up $0.27 on Friday, reaching $547.35. The company had a trading volume of 877,141 shares, compared to its average volume of 509,087. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $545.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $523.09. The company has a market cap of $58.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 0.50. Roper Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $417.34 and a 52-week high of $562.69. Roper Technologies (NYSE:ROP Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $4.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.34 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.58 billion. Roper Technologies had a net margin of 22.41% and a return on equity of 10.63%. The businesss revenue was up 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.92 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Roper Technologies, Inc. will post 18.07 EPS for the current year. Roper Technologies Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, April 5th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. Roper Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.27%. About Roper Technologies (Free Report) Roper Technologies, Inc designs and develops software, and technology enabled products and solutions. It operates through three segments: Application Software, Network Software, and Technology Enabled Products. The Application Software segment offers management, campus solutions, diagnostic and laboratory information management, enterprise software and information solutions, transportation management, financial and compliance management, and cloud-based financial analytics and performance management software; cloud-based software to the property and casualty insurance industry; and software, services, and technologies for foodservice operations. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ROP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Roper Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Roper Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (NYSEARCA:BINC Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 43,447 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,253,000. BlackRock Flexible Income ETF comprises 0.7% of Castle Rock Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC owned 1.70% of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BINC. Osaic Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $40,000. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $50,767,000. Royal Bank of Canada bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $354,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $825,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC bought a new position in shares of BlackRock Flexible Income ETF during the third quarter worth approximately $1,201,000. Get BlackRock Flexible Income ETF alerts: BlackRock Flexible Income ETF Price Performance Shares of BINC opened at $52.21 on Friday. BlackRock Flexible Income ETF has a 12 month low of $49.54 and a 12 month high of $52.62. The firms 50 day moving average is $52.24 and its 200-day moving average is $51.31. BlackRock Flexible Income ETF Company Profile The BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (BINC) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund provides an actively managed approach to multisector fixed-income exposure globally. It may hold debt and income-producing securities, of any credit quality or maturity, with the objective of maximizing long-term income and capital appreciation. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BINC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock Flexible Income ETF (NYSEARCA:BINC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Flexible Income ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Flexible Income ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed As the electoral farce designed to perpetuate Vladimir Putin on the Kremlin throne began in Russia, the leaders of Germany, France and Poland held a meeting in Berlin to send a message of unity in support of Ukraine. In the EU there is a broad political consensus on the need to take consistent steps to improve the continents ability to support Kyiv and guarantee its own future security in a context that features a resilient Kremlin and an evanescent White House. The consensus encompasses social democratic, popular or liberal forces, such as the three leaders of the Weimar triangle meeting in Berlin. However, significant discrepancies and cumbersome processes are complicating the path when circumstances demand urgent action. It is likely that the outcome of the war will be decided by what is done in these coming months. As for the underlying consensus, it is seen in the facts. Germany, with a social democratic chancellor at the helm, is leading a powerful increase in military spending and spearheading military aid to Ukraine from within the EU. France, with a liberal president, is showing determination to the point of refusing to rule out the possibility of sending of soldiers to Ukraine in the future. The European Commission, headed by the popular Ursula von der Leyen, is pushing, among other things, a new defense industrial strategy; and the high representative of Foreign Affairs and Security, the social democrat Josep Borrell, is among the most eloquent and effective promoters of the idea that it is necessary to make efforts, and urgently, to support Kyiv in its defense and rise to the transcendental challenge ahead. This consensus is taking place around a widely shared idea: giving up the military effort does not lead to peace, but to defeat. This was stated by Macron in a televised interview in France on Thursday. The president, author of a regrettable turn to the right on immigration matters, is right in this, expressing a concept on which the vast majority of the European political spectrum agrees. Of course there are some minor parties, representatives of major parties and in general an appreciable segment of European society who feel an understandable reluctance towards the prospect of rearmament. But those citizens with legitimate misgivings should first consider that it is up to the Ukrainians to decide their future, and they rightly do not want to give in to aggression with a possible pact that, in addition to greenlighting an amputation of territory, would not provide any guarantees of future peace. And then they should ask themselves if we should leave Ukrainians stranded in their resistance and if it is from weakness that peace can be achieved today in Ukraine and guaranteed tomorrow in Europe, when sitting on the other side there is not Gandhi, but Putin, an individual for whom only the perspective of losing, not respect for pacts, seems to be an inhibiting circumstance. If, with dwindling American aid, Europeans do not reinforce their support for Kyiv, it is most likely that Moscow will opt for subjugating Ukraineits long-standing desirenot for stopping and negotiating. And if it subjugates Ukraine, can we trust that from then on we will have a pacifist Kremlin? Sitting back and waiting while Russia is a war economy and Trump has a chance to win in the U.S. is taking a big risk, to say the least. Except for the shareholders of weapons companies, almost all of us dislike having to spend on weapons instead of putting everything into hospitals and schools. But the situation is what it is. Ukraine is suffering, its resistance faltering. And, in a sector like defense, decisions about new supplies or production take months or years to materialize. Much suggests that leaders understand the sense of urgency. At the Berlin meeting, Scholz said there was agreement to use interest collected on Russias frozen assets to help Ukraine. The Commission approved this week a new military assistance fund for Kyiv worth 5 billion, and another 500 million to promote ammunition production capacity. But between announcements and facts there is a distance. And strategic consensus does not dissipate tactical dissent. There are disagreements on how to raise the much needed money for example, whether to resort to a common debt issue on how to spend it, how much of it should go to effective weapons available on the market, and how much on European production that guarantees autonomy in the medium and long term; or even on how to help Kyiv specifically. Macron talks tough, but France has provided much less aid to Ukraine than Germany, even taking into account the different size of GDP, and it stopped the necessary purchase of material outside the EU. Scholz has done a lot, but his hesitationsoften saying no at first and accepting later and those of others have wasted precious time. Ukraine continues to defend itself and has managed to inflict considerable damage on Russia. But their situation is fragile. Very fragile. Every week matters. Nothing ensures that the paralysis of U.S. aid will be unblocked. If there is no change of step, a reversal, the conflict will gradually move closer to a defeat for Kyiv than to a just peace. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Celanese Co. (NYSE:CE Get Free Report) COO Scott A. Richardson sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.85, for a total transaction of $313,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 76,429 shares in the company, valued at $11,987,888.65. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Celanese Stock Performance NYSE:CE opened at $159.99 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.42 billion, a PE ratio of 8.94, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $149.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $137.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.53. Celanese Co. has a fifty-two week low of $97.12 and a fifty-two week high of $160.48. Get Celanese alerts: Celanese (NYSE:CE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The basic materials company reported $2.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.29 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $2.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.59 billion. Celanese had a net margin of 17.92% and a return on equity of 14.61%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.44 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Celanese Co. will post 11.51 earnings per share for the current year. Celanese Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Celanese The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Celaneses dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 15.64%. Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Celanese by 14,015.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 9,997,033 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,157,656,000 after purchasing an additional 9,926,210 shares during the period. Capital International Investors lifted its stake in Celanese by 67.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,965,307 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $574,983,000 after acquiring an additional 2,005,881 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its stake in Celanese by 43.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,137,688 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $953,653,000 after acquiring an additional 1,852,099 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Celanese during the 4th quarter valued at $155,102,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Celanese by 18.0% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 8,529,064 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,325,161,000 after acquiring an additional 1,302,758 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.87% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently commented on CE shares. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Celanese from $168.00 to $165.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Celanese from $167.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. cut shares of Celanese from a buy rating to a sell rating and set a $140.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Celanese from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Celanese from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $143.44. Read Our Latest Report on Celanese Celanese Company Profile (Get Free Report) Celanese Corporation, a chemical and specialty materials company, manufactures and sells high performance engineered polymers in the United States and internationally. It operates through Engineered Materials and Acetyl Chain. The Engineered Materials segment develops, produces, and supplies specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as for use in industrial products and consumer electronics. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Celanese Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Celanese and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Chicago Rivet & Machine (NYSEAMERICAN:CVR Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday. The firm issued a sell rating on the stock. Chicago Rivet & Machine Stock Performance NYSEAMERICAN:CVR opened at $17.05 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $16.54 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.95 and a beta of 0.10. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $24.91. Chicago Rivet & Machine has a 12-month low of $14.76 and a 12-month high of $32.94. Get Chicago Rivet & Machine alerts: Chicago Rivet & Machine Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.35%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 4th. Chicago Rivet & Machines dividend payout ratio is currently -9.26%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Chicago Rivet & Machine A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CVR. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in Chicago Rivet & Machine during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in Chicago Rivet & Machine in the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 206,600.0% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,067 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 2,066 shares during the period. Cannell Capital LLC purchased a new position in Chicago Rivet & Machine in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $202,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in Chicago Rivet & Machine by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 12,696 shares of the companys stock worth $363,000 after acquiring an additional 1,005 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.88% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) Chicago Rivet & Machine Co operates in the fastener industry in North America. The company operates in two segments, Fasteners and Assembly Equipment. The Fastener segment manufactures and sells rivets, cold-formed fasteners and parts, and screw machine products. The Assembly Equipment segment manufactures and sells automatic rivet setting machines and assembly equipment, as well as parts and tools for related machines. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Chicago Rivet & Machine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chicago Rivet & Machine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dollar General (NYSE:DG Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.74 by $0.09, RTT News reports. The firm had revenue of $9.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.77 billion. Dollar General had a return on equity of 31.68% and a net margin of 4.91%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.96 earnings per share. Dollar General Trading Up 1.3 % NYSE DG opened at $151.95 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. Dollar General has a twelve month low of $101.09 and a twelve month high of $222.99. The company has a market cap of $33.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.41. The businesss fifty day moving average is $140.46 and its 200 day moving average is $128.56. Get Dollar General alerts: Dollar General Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. Dollar Generals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.16%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have issued reports on DG. Telsey Advisory Group upgraded Dollar General from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $170.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday. Barclays upgraded Dollar General from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $124.00 to $154.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Dollar General from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Dollar General from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from $120.00 to $158.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on Dollar General from $117.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $149.68. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on DG Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dollar General Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Financial Freedom LLC bought a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. First Manhattan Co. raised its position in Dollar General by 447.4% during the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 104 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in Dollar General during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Dollar General during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Dollar General during the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.37% of the companys stock. About Dollar General (Get Free Report) Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper and cleaning products, such as paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food comprising cereals, pasta, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables that include milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, and wine. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Dollar General Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dollar General and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 16.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,816 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,281 shares during the period. Elevated Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $1,669,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 191.1% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 294 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. First Manhattan Co. grew its stake 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 worth $36,000 after buying an additional 328 shares in the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth $44,000. 83.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:AGG traded down $0.01 on Friday, reaching $97.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,756,900 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,005,483. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $91.58 and a 52-week high of $100.98. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $97.87 and a 200 day simple moving average of $96.30. About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. 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. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) (LON:JPS Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 561 ($7.19) and traded as high as GBX 565.32 ($7.24). JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) shares last traded at GBX 561 ($7.19), with a volume of 104,535 shares changing hands. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Trading Down 0.2 % The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 561 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 561. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.65, a quick ratio of 11.53 and a current ratio of 11.53. The stock has a market capitalization of 305.80 million and a PE ratio of -48.36. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Company Profile (Get Free Report) JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust plc is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. See Also Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Kimco Realty Corp (NYSE:KIM Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $22.08. KIM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TheStreet upgraded shares of Kimco Realty from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Kimco Realty from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Kimco Realty from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Kimco Realty in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $23.00 price target for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Kimco Realty from $20.50 to $21.75 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Get Kimco Realty alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on KIM Insider Buying and Selling Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kimco Realty In related news, Director Frank Lourenso sold 8,890 shares of Kimco Realty stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.42, for a total value of $172,643.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 203,534 shares in the company, valued at $3,952,630.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of KIM. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Criterion Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Kimco Realty in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.42% of the companys stock. Kimco Realty Stock Performance Shares of NYSE KIM opened at $18.88 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $12.70 billion, a PE ratio of 18.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.75 and a beta of 1.45. Kimco Realty has a 12 month low of $16.34 and a 12 month high of $22.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 5.05 and a quick ratio of 5.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $19.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.26. Kimco Realty Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 5.08%. Kimco Realtys payout ratio is currently 94.12%. About Kimco Realty (Get 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. Further Reading 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. Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC Get Free Report) (NYSE:MFC)s share price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$27.70 and traded as high as C$32.75. Manulife Financial shares last traded at C$32.74, with a volume of 5,348,663 shares trading hands. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently weighed in on MFC shares. CIBC lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$35.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. TD Securities lowered Manulife Financial from an action list buy rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Veritas Investment Research restated a reduce rating on shares of Manulife Financial in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Cormark upgraded Manulife Financial from a market perform rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from C$33.00 to C$36.00 in a report on Friday, February 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$35.80. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Manulife Financial Manulife Financial Stock Down 0.2 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.69, a current ratio of 3.79 and a quick ratio of 2.58. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$30.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$27.75. The company has a market capitalization of C$59.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a PEG ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.10. Manulife Financial (TSE:MFC Get Free Report) (NYSE:MFC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The financial services provider reported C$0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.84 by C$0.08. The business had revenue of C$14.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$10.24 billion. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 11.57% and a net margin of 20.05%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Manulife Financial Co. will post 3.6910936 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is a positive change from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.90%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.30%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Manulife Financial news, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$108,664.92. In other news, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$108,664.92. Also, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$337,231.44. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. About Manulife Financial (Get Free Report) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Gold Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,870,000 shares, a drop of 17.8% from the February 14th total of 4,710,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,590,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.8 days. Currently, 0.6% of the companys shares are sold short. New Gold Price Performance NYSEAMERICAN NGD traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $1.70. 25,751,494 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,328,509. The company has a market cap of $1.17 billion, a PE ratio of -18.89 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. New Gold has a fifty-two week low of $0.82 and a fifty-two week high of $1.76. Get New Gold alerts: New Gold (NYSEAMERICAN:NGD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by ($0.03). New Gold had a positive return on equity of 5.63% and a negative net margin of 8.20%. The firm had revenue of $199.20 million for the quarter. On average, analysts predict that New Gold will post 0.06 EPS for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets NGD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James lifted their target price on New Gold from $1.50 to $1.75 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. National Bank Financial reiterated a sector perform spec overwgt rating on shares of New Gold in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered New Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, January 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $1.55. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on New Gold Institutional Investors Weigh In On New Gold Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NGD. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in shares of New Gold by 47.4% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 43,611 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 14,033 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in shares of New Gold by 127.1% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 22,707 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 12,707 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of New Gold by 21.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 135,863 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $245,000 after buying an additional 24,155 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp lifted its stake in New Gold by 11.3% during the first quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 1,053,210 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,912,000 after purchasing an additional 106,563 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its stake in New Gold by 47.4% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 498,214 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $897,000 after purchasing an additional 160,141 shares during the last quarter. 31.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. New Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) New Gold Inc, an intermediate gold mining company, develops and operates of mineral properties in Canada. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and copper deposits. The company's principal operating properties include 100% interest in the Rainy River mine located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada; and New Afton project situated in South-Central British Columbia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for New Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 2,040,000 shares, a decline of 17.7% from the February 14th total of 2,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 779,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days. Approximately 4.2% of the companys shares are sold short. Nu Skin Enterprises Trading Up 3.3 % Nu Skin Enterprises stock traded up $0.42 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $13.25. 4,365,009 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 862,141. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.35. Nu Skin Enterprises has a 12-month low of $12.06 and a 12-month high of $41.50. The firm has a market cap of $654.82 million, a PE ratio of 73.62 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Get Nu Skin Enterprises alerts: Nu Skin Enterprises (NYSE:NUS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.08. Nu Skin Enterprises had a return on equity of 10.73% and a net margin of 0.44%. The company had revenue of $488.64 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $479.35 million. Research analysts expect that Nu Skin Enterprises will post 1.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Nu Skin Enterprises Cuts Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th were given a $0.06 dividend. This represents a $0.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. Nu Skin Enterprisess dividend payout ratio is currently 133.34%. A number of research analysts have commented on NUS shares. DA Davidson decreased their price target on Nu Skin Enterprises from $29.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 5th. StockNews.com cut Nu Skin Enterprises from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, February 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Nu Skin Enterprises has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.67. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Nu Skin Enterprises Insider Activity In other news, Director Andrew D. Lipman sold 2,000 shares of Nu Skin Enterprises stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.55, for a total transaction of $37,100.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 31,225 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $579,223.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 6,000 shares of company stock valued at $100,800. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nu Skin Enterprises Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al raised its position in Nu Skin Enterprises by 218.5% in the 3rd quarter. Tudor Investment Corp Et Al now owns 127,750 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,710,000 after purchasing an additional 87,645 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its position in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 71.4% during the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 237,920 shares of the companys stock worth $5,070,000 after acquiring an additional 99,138 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,124,000. Caxton Associates LP acquired a new stake in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises during the 3rd quarter worth about $995,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Nu Skin Enterprises by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 984,504 shares of the companys stock worth $20,881,000 after acquiring an additional 113,956 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.62% of the companys stock. About Nu Skin Enterprises (Get Free Report) Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the development and distribution of various beauty and wellness products worldwide. It offers skin care devices, cosmetics, and other personal care products, including ageLOC LumiSpa and ageLOC LumiSpa iO; and nutricentials skin care products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nu Skin Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. &Partners raised its holdings in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) by 197.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,306 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 12,822 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. makes up about 0.8% of &Partners investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. &Partners holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. were worth $3,294,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 105,652.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 98,000,567 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $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. in the 4th quarter worth $3,894,646,000. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 15.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 59,049,256 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,918,506,000 after purchasing an additional 8,088,433 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 12.2% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 42,421,711 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,151,997,000 after acquiring an additional 4,603,090 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co. by 51.6% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 8,422,975 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,225,037,000 after acquiring an additional 2,868,091 shares during the period. 68.94% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get JPMorgan Chase & Co. alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently issued reports on JPM. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. 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 report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $232.00 to $238.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $140.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $179.11. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Stock Performance JPM stock traded up $2.33 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $190.30. The stock had a trading volume of 17,214,229 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,125,589. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $160.72. The stock has a market cap of $548.13 billion, a PE ratio of 11.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 0.91. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a 52-week low of $123.11 and a 52-week high of $191.73. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.73 by ($0.69). The company had revenue of $38.57 billion for 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%. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.57 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that JPMorgan Chase & Co. will post 15.93 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 6,030 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 value of $1,101,861.90. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 59,456 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,864,394.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, General Counsel Stacey Friedman sold 6,030 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 value of $1,101,861.90. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 59,456 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,864,394.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Lori A. Beer sold 3,920 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.74, for a total transaction of $716,340.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 44,996 shares in the company, valued at $8,222,569.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 845,383 shares of company stock worth $154,341,636 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Stories 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. Donald Trumps criminal trial for paying porn actress Stormy Daniels hush money in 2016 will begin in April, after the judge in the case granted a 30-day delay. The lawyers for the former U.S. president and current Republican presidential candidate argued the late disclosure of evidence hurt the preparation of their defense. Judge Juan Merchans decision to delay the first ever criminal trial against a former president of the United States is another victory for the Republican, whose defense has been based on procedurally slowing down all the trials he faces: four criminal cases the one in New York plus three others in Washington, Georgia and Florida and a couple of civil ones, for which he has been sentenced to multimillion-dollar fines. Buying time is critical for Trumps political interests, as the November 5 election approaches, in which he will face Democrat Joe Biden, just as he did in 2020. This week, both men reached the number of delegates needed to guarantee their respective nominations. On Thursday, the Manhattan District Attorneys office that brought the Stormy Daniels case named for the actress whose silence Trump bought in 2016 so that their extramarital affair would not hurt him politically against the former president requested that the start of the trial, originally scheduled for March 25, be delayed for a month. They made the request to give the defense time to review mountains of new evidence, tens of thousands of pages of documents that were once investigated by federal prosecutors for the trial of Michael Cohen, Trumps right-hand man who paid Daniels hush money in 2016. Cohen later became a witness for the prosecution against his former boss and detailed Trumps payments not only to Daniels, but to two other women who claimed to have had relations with Trump. Manhattan District Attorney Democrat Alvin Braggs office had been pursuing the documents for a year. Once they were received, the prosecutors understood that the defense had the right to properly review the evidence, so they requested the postponement that Judge Merchan granted this Friday. The Manhattan District Attorneys office said that they were ready to proceed to trial as scheduled on March 25, when the jury was to be impaneled, but did not oppose a 30-day delay to ensure that Trumps team had enough time to review the new material. The 34-charge indictment in the Stormy Daniels case was the first of four criminal indictments filed against Trump last year. None of the other three cases have firm trial dates, but the delay in the New York trial could complicate scheduling for them. The Washington case is pending resolution of Trumps lawyers appeal to the Supreme Court. All told, the defendant has been charged with 91 felonies. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of falsifying business records. They were categorized as legal expenses to conceal his former lawyer Michael Cohens payment of $130,000 to the porn actress; the money served to buy her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she says they had a decade earlier, which she threatened to disclose in the final stretch of the presidential campaign. Trump also denies having had an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The criminal case for which Trump will stand trial stems from the proceedings against Cohen. In late 2018, Trumps fixer was sentenced to three years in prison for a campaign finance crime, since the transaction sought to protect the image of the then-Republican candidate. Cohen did not serve his full sentence because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Trumps lawyers have argued that Cohen paid Daniels to avoid embarrassing Trumps family, not to boost his electoral chances, as the Manhattan District Attorneys office alleges. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the sixteen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $36.88. A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen cut Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Guggenheim started coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $36.00 price target on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Get Pfizer alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PFE Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer Pfizer Stock Down 0.6 % Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of PFE. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 89,592.7% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 161,143,638 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $8,257,000,000 after purchasing an additional 160,963,976 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter worth about $2,129,927,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Pfizer by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 239,209,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $6,886,849,000 after purchasing an additional 11,099,024 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Pfizer by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 95,772,746 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,161,261,000 after purchasing an additional 9,393,992 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in Pfizer by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 68,506,441 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,972,300,000 after purchasing an additional 8,298,920 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock. Shares of PFE stock opened at $27.97 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $27.65 and a 200 day moving average of $29.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of $157.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 77.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer has a twelve month low of $25.61 and a twelve month high of $42.22. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.29. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.37 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 10.88% and a net margin of 3.62%. The businesss revenue was down 41.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.14 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Pfizer will post 2.22 EPS for the current year. About Pfizer (Get Free Report Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBNNF Get Free Report) shares were up 7.7% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $0.40 and last traded at $0.40. Approximately 5,699 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 67% from the average daily volume of 3,415 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.38. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Stock Up 10.7 % The company has a fifty day moving average price of $0.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.35. About PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Get Free Report) PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services in Indonesia, New York, Europe, and Asia. It operates through, Corporate & International Banking, Institutional Banking, Enterprise & commercial Banking, Consumer Banking, Treasury, Head Offices, and Subsidiaries segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swire Pacific Limited (OTCMKTS:SWRAY Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 27,900 shares, a decline of 28.5% from the February 14th total of 39,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 42,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Swire Pacific Stock Performance Swire Pacific stock opened at $8.45 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $8.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.05. Swire Pacific has a fifty-two week low of $6.20 and a fifty-two week high of $8.68. Get Swire Pacific alerts: Swire Pacific Cuts Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.2357 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 10th. About Swire Pacific Swire Pacific Limited engages in property, aviation, beverages, marine, and trading and industrial businesses in Hong Kong, Mainland China, rest of Asia, the United States, and internationally. The company's Property division develops, owns, and operates mixed-use properties. This division's property investment portfolio comprises office and retail premises, serviced apartments, and other luxury residential accommodations; and trading portfolio consists of residential properties. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Swire Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Swire Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tompkins Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report) by 13.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 6,193 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after purchasing an additional 744 shares during the period. Tompkins Financial Corps holdings in CVS Health were worth $489,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Pacifica Partners Inc. lifted its position in shares of CVS Health by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 37,348 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $2,949,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Leibman Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of CVS Health during the 4th quarter worth $549,000. Apella Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of CVS Health by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 3,378 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Greenfield Savings Bank lifted its position in shares of CVS Health by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Greenfield Savings Bank now owns 19,562 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,545,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH lifted its position in shares of CVS Health by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH now owns 35,656 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $2,815,000 after purchasing an additional 1,285 shares during the last quarter. 75.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get CVS Health alerts: CVS Health Trading Up 1.2 % Shares of CVS Health stock opened at $77.35 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $97.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.51. CVS Health Co. has a 52-week low of $64.41 and a 52-week high of $83.25. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $75.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $93.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.58 billion. CVS Health had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The firms revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.99 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that CVS Health Co. will post 8.33 earnings per share for the current year. Several brokerages recently commented on CVS. Leerink Partnrs reiterated an outperform rating on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of CVS Health from $86.00 to $84.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. StockNews.com lowered shares of CVS Health from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. HSBC began coverage on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $94.00 price target on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of CVS Health from $102.00 to $99.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $89.58. Get Our Latest Report on CVS Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Prem S. Shah sold 29,473 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.95, for a total transaction of $2,267,947.35. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 39,765 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,059,916.75. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders. CVS Health Profile (Free Report) CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Health Services, and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC lowered its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,585 shares of the companys stock after selling 278 shares during the period. Johnson & Johnson accounts for about 0.9% of Wallace Advisory Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Wallace Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $1,181,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hibernia Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Johnson & Johnson during the third quarter valued at $27,000. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Tower View Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 183.3% in the third quarter. Tower View Wealth Management LLC now owns 255 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 43.0% in the third quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 286 shares of the companys stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Johnson & Johnson in the second quarter worth about $48,000. Institutional investors own 68.40% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets JNJ has been the topic of several recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $215.00 target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $170.00 to $169.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $181.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. UBS Group raised shares of Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $167.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Johnson & Johnson from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price target for the company from $170.00 to $163.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Johnson & Johnson presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $177.31. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Johnson & Johnson news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total transaction of $9,281,969.19. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total value of $96,142.25. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,099,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $105,810,030.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Johnson & Johnson Price Performance Johnson & Johnson stock opened at $158.18 on Friday. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $144.95 and a 1 year high of $175.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.16. The companys fifty day moving average price is $159.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $157.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $381.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.01. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 37.79% and a return on equity of 37.27%. The company had revenue of $21.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.35 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were paid a dividend of $1.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.01%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.47%. Johnson & Johnson Profile (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Innovative Medicine segment offers products for various therapeutic areas, such as immunology, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis; infectious diseases comprising HIV/AIDS; neuroscience, consisting of mood disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and schizophrenia; oncology, such as prostate cancer, hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and bladder cancer; cardiovascular and metabolism, including thrombosis, diabetes, and macular degeneration; and pulmonary hypertension comprising pulmonary arterial hypertension through retailers, wholesalers, distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals for prescription use. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC trimmed its stake in Teradata Co. (NYSE:TDC Free Report) by 9.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 6,547 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 720 shares during the period. Wallace Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Teradata were worth $295,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in TDC. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC raised its position in Teradata by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 7,583 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $341,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in Teradata by 6.8% during the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,336 shares of the technology companys stock worth $195,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the period. Cipher Capital LP boosted its position in Teradata by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cipher Capital LP now owns 6,702 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its position in Teradata by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 12,347 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $556,000 after acquiring an additional 307 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gotham Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Teradata by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 9,538 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $429,000 after acquiring an additional 311 shares during the period. 91.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Teradata alerts: Teradata Stock Performance Shares of TDC opened at $37.94 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $42.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.02, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market cap of $3.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 62.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.94. Teradata Co. has a one year low of $36.72 and a one year high of $57.73. Analysts Set New Price Targets Teradata ( NYSE:TDC Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 12th. The technology company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.05. Teradata had a return on equity of 58.25% and a net margin of 3.38%. The firm had revenue of $457.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $455.84 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.05 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Teradata Co. will post 1.27 EPS for the current year. TDC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America downgraded Teradata from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $58.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $72.00 price objective on shares of Teradata in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Teradata from $46.00 to $43.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Citigroup upped their price target on Teradata from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut Teradata from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $74.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $57.30. Read Our Latest Report on Teradata Insider Activity In related news, CEO Stephen Mcmillan sold 40,597 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.22, for a total transaction of $1,551,617.34. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 528,302 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,191,702.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CRO Todd Cione sold 29,251 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.31, for a total transaction of $1,266,860.81. Following the sale, the executive now directly owns 76,221 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,301,131.51. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Stephen Mcmillan sold 40,597 shares of Teradata stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.22, for a total value of $1,551,617.34. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 528,302 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,191,702.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 105,866 shares of company stock valued at $4,170,505 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.92% of the companys stock. About Teradata (Free Report) Teradata Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics. The company offers Teradata Vantage, an open and connected platform designed to leverage data across an enterprise. Its business consulting services include support services for organizations to establish a data and analytic vision, enable a multi-cloud ecosystem architecture, and identify and operationalize analytical opportunities, as well as to ensure the analytical infrastructure delivers value. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TDC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Teradata Co. (NYSE:TDC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Teradata Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teradata and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Noting that China and Angola jointly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, Xi said relations between the two countries have stood the test of international vicissitudes and benefitted the two peoples. China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries, which is about mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win cooperation, Xi said. In a world that is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, the two sides should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, firmly support each other, and achieve common development, Xi noted. China supports Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, and realizing national development and revitalization, he said. China is also willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Angola, upgrade bilateral strategic relations, and jointly promote the modernization process of each country, Xi noted. He stressed that cooperation between China and Angola enjoys a sound foundation, large scale and high complementarity, endowing huge potential and bright prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides should advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, synergize their development strategies, and improve the quality and effectiveness of their pragmatic cooperation. China is ready to work with the Angolan side to implement key infrastructure projects, support competent Chinese enterprises to carry out various forms of cooperation in Angola, and help the country advance agricultural modernization, industrialization and economic diversification, Xi said. It is hoped that Angola will take more effective measures to ensure the legitimate rights, interests and safety of Chinese citizens and enterprises, Xi said, adding that Angola is welcome to introduce more quality products to China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo and China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. China will continue to send medical teams to Angola and implement other projects, provide scholarships to Angolan students, and enhance people-to-people exchanges and friendship, he said. Noting that at present, the collective rise of developing countries is unstoppable, Xi said the Global South must not be absent from global governance, or development and prosperity. "China is a reliable friend and sincere partner for African countries in their efforts to safeguard independence, and promote development and revitalization." Xi said China supports African countries and the African Union in solving African issues in the African way, and safeguarding regional peace and stability. China stands ready to strengthen multilateral coordination with Angola and other African countries to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, he added. Lourenco said that China was the first country to provide valuable support both when Angola was reeling from its civil war and struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude. "China's support and cooperation have greatly promoted Angola's infrastructure construction and economic and social development, setting a good example of mutually beneficial cooperation," Lourenco added. The Angolan side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola to help its national development and revitalization, the president said. Angola firmly adheres to the one-China principle and holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, he added. Angola highly appreciates China's consistent commitment to promoting world peace and progress, and safeguarding international fairness and justice. Angola is willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with China to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as well as important norms governing international relations, he said. Lourenco also expressed the willingness to work with China to achieve more results in bilateral relations. After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields. The two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Angola. Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People. In the evening, Xi held a banquet for Lourenco. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. [Xinhua/Ding Lin] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. [Xinhua/Ding Lin] Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco jointly witness the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields after their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. Xi held talks with Lourenco, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Friday. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] (Source: Xinhua) Donald Trump defined Mike Pence, who was his vice president between 2017 and 2021, as too honest. Now, citing reasons of conscience, Pence has announced that he will not endorse his former boss in the presidential elections on November 5. It is a symbolic and at the same time extraordinary gesture. Pence has been at odds with Trump since he refused to bow to the latters wishes on January 6, 2021, the day of the assault on the Capitol, when he decided to go ahead with the certification of Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of the election. Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. Thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, Pence said in statements to Fox News. During my presidential campaign, I made it clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. And not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised January 6th, the former vice president explained. As I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. And this last week, his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations efforts to force a sale of ByteDances TikTok, he added. Pence ran his own primary race and participated in the first candidate debates. He quickly realized, however, that he did not have the support of the rank-and-file of the Republican Party and threw in the towel at the first opportunity, in October, long before the Iowa caucuses. In June 2023, when launching his campaign, he attacked Trump for his refusal to recognize the election result, calling January 6 a tragic day in the life of our nation. Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol did so with Hang Mike Pence as a rallying cry, egged on by the then-president himself. The break since then has been total. At that first campaign event in June 2023, Pence expanded on the topic: The American people deserve to know that on that fateful day, President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and our Constitution. Now voters will face the same choice. I chose the Constitution and I always will, he said. I believe anyone that puts themselves over the Constitution should never be president of the United States and anyone who asks someone else to put them over the Constitution should never be president of the United States again. Trumps main rival in the primaries, Nikki Haley, also did not ask her followers to vote for Trump when she withdrew from the race. Instead, she said Trump had to earn it and that she did not feel bound by a commitment she signed before the leadership of the Republican Party changed, in which the former president has placed his loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, at the helm. Most other Republican candidates, including Ron DeSantis, have endorsed Trump. Some of them, like Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott and Doug Burgum, even seem to be trying to make a case for whether they can join Trump on the ballot as vice presidential candidates. Trump has mathematically secured the nomination this week by reaching more than half of the delegates who will nominate the candidate at the July convention in Milwaukee. But even after retiring, Haley still garnered 13% of the vote in the Georgia Republican primary. The rejection by a good part of independent voters and a segment of Republicans is one of the former presidents challenges before the November 5 elections. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Calls for swift action to revive town centres in Wales amid post-pandemic challenges More must be done to regenerate Wales town centres due to the impact of the pandemic, out-of-town developments and changing shopping habits, the Senedd heard. Mark Isherwood led a debate in the Senedd on a public accounts committee report following an inquiry on town centre regeneration in Wales. The committee chair said much good work is being done to improve town centres but the pace of regeneration must be accelerated. Mr Isherwood warned Wales high streets have been changed immeasurably by the pandemic and the increased prevalence of online shopping. The Tory raised concerns about poor transport links and a lack of car parking affecting footfall as he stressed the importance of developing an integrated, affordable system. Calling for a simple approach to taxation, Mr Isherwood, who represents North Wales, argued the current business rates system disincentivises investment in towns. Use them or lose them He recommended a more interventionist, pragmatic approach to planning favouring town centres over out-of-town developments with a focus on repurposing empty properties. Mike Hedges, a member of the committee, which visited Morriston, Mold, Carmarthen and Wrexham as part of its inquiry, said the days of retail-dominated town centres have ended. The Labour backbencher, who represents Swansea East, told the chamber: I recently made a list of retailers that have closed in the last 20 years. It was both long and depressing, and if I read out only the big ones I would run out of time. Mr Hedges warned shops in town centres are dependent on a rapidly ageing group as he raised concerns about the closure of banks and the growth of digital payments. Urging people to use them or lose them, he said: Card processing fees are typically 1.5-3.5%, but they can be as high as 6% per sale item. What we could do to help out is to use cash when making a purchase from a small local retailer it will help them and it will cost you the same. Problematic Natasha Asghar, a Conservative member of the committee, said the Welsh Government has 13 separate funding streams for town centres. Calling for consolidation and less bureaucracy, the South Wales East MS said the auditor general identified management of the funding as problematic. She told the chamber: Making this funding easier to access would ultimately encourage more organisations to apply for funding, making town centre regeneration more accessible. Luke Fletcher, a Plaid Cymru MS who represents South Wales West, suggested empty office space could be used to address an acute shortage of one- and two-bedroom flats. He said: By bringing people into the town centre to live, youre creating that in-built footfall, arent you, because those people are going to want services. Theyre going to want to go for a coffee, theyre going to want to go for food, theyre going to want to go for a pint. So, youre creating that in-built footfall. Unprecedented Replying to the debate on March 13 on behalf of the Welsh Government, Julie James warned that town centres face unprecedented challenges. Wales climate change minister said: The impact of out-of-town developments, changing retail habits and the Covid pandemic have all had consequences for our high streets. There are too many empty shops, too few homes and too little green space. Ms James told MSs the Welsh Government, which accepted the committees eight recommendations, has strengthened planning policies to put town centres first. She said: We want to see town centres considered first for the location of significant new commercial, retail, education, health, leisure and public service facilities. This diverse range of services will, indeed, drive footfall into our town centres. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter [email protected] KYODO NEWS - Mar 16, 2024 - 18:45 | All, World Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last shah of Iran, is stepping up his efforts for a shift to secular democracy in his home country, urging that a leadership change in Tehran is the only path toward stability in the Middle East and beyond. "The world has to come to the conclusion that so long as the Islamic regime exists in Iran, multiple problems for the world...will not disappear," said Pahlavi, 63, who was crown prince of Iran until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, in a recent interview with Kyodo News. To begin to address the problems, such as Iran's support for militant groups in the Middle East, its suppression of human rights, and the nuclear threat it poses, Pahlavi said Western countries must drastically change their approach toward Tehran. "So as far as the West is concerned, the only option is to ultimately understand that the solution is a change of regime, not a behavior change from the regime," he said. "That has been the most basic flaw in Western analysis and expectations from the Iranian regime" as other players on the world stage such as Russia and China advance their own interests, he added. Arguing that it is not realistic to force the regime to come to the negotiating table, Pahlavi voiced support for a dual-track approach to put "maximum pressure" on Iran's leaders while providing "maximum support" for the country's citizens to give them a chance to transform the current situation. Pahlavi, who has been in exile since the revolution and currently lives near Washington, said that people in Iran are "so fed up with the system, they cannot sit back and wait another few years." The assistance he has advocated includes providing internet access and financing labor strikes. He said such efforts require collaboration between key governments in the Western world and in the region. "I've always said that my red line is any kind of foreign intervention, but we need foreign support," he said. More than 45 years ago, Iran was a regional leader in terms of economic prosperity and modernity, he said, describing it as a country once slated to become the "Japan of the Middle East" but that instead turned into "the North Korea" of the region. During his efforts to unite the opposition both within and beyond Iran, and while traveling from the United States to other countries to meet with officials and experts, his personal security "has always been an issue," he said, and being on the regime's "hit list is obviously something that is no secret." But to carry out his "patriotic duty" to Iran, the last heir apparent of the Iranian monarchy said hiding is not an option. He has come to accept security risks as a fact of life, although the more influential he becomes, the more the danger increases. Pahlavi is one of the most popular critics of the regime, but he has insisted that he is not putting himself forward as the future leader of the country. "I made it very clear from the beginning that the only objective that I have is to see a smooth transition from the current regime to an ultimate secular democratic system in the future," he said. "I'm not doing it for any position for myself." "But I recognize the fact that people have a lot of faith and trust in me, and as such I'm using this political capital to manage this transition for them, to lead this process and make sure that we have the most transparent and possible democratic process to determine the future of the nation," Pahlavi said. Related coverage: Death toll in Gaza tops 30,000 as Israel-Hamas war continues U.N. chief repeats call for Russia to stop invasion of Ukraine U.S. launches strikes against Iran-linked sites in Iraq, Syria Vaughan Gething will be next First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething will become the new First Minister of Wales. The announcement has just been made in Cardiff, with 51.7%, against 48.3%. Gething said in his speech (pictured above), We turn a page in the book of our nations history, a history that we write together, not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country, but because the generational dial has jumped. Devolution is not something that I have had to get used to, or adapt to, or to apologise for. Devolution, Welsh solutions to our problems and opportunities is in my blood. Its what Ive always known through my adult political life. That is the same for a growing number of our citizens and I want us to use this moment as a starting point for a more confident march into the future. A march into the future on behalf of a generation that too often is being asked to pick up the pieces and the bill for those who came before them. We can do more. Wales has every right to be confident Yma o Hyd is no longer enough. Of course were still here. We have always been here. We always will be. The question for us today is what is next? Can we answer the call to the generation in waiting to deliver the Wales that they want? A Wales that they want to be proud of? Wales that we can all be proud. I believe we can. The voting breakdown released is as follows: Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the UK Labour Party, said: Huge congratulations to Vaughan Gething on his election as Leader of the Welsh Labour Party. His appointment as First Minister of Wales, the first Black leader in the UK, will be an historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern-day Wales. With his many years of experience in the Senedd, I know he will lead a hopeful, ambitious Welsh Labour government, in the face of a tired and failed Tory government in Westminster. On behalf of the entire UK Labour Party, we look forward to campaigning with Vaughan in this new chapter for Wales, to deliver Labour governments across Britain. Mark Drakeford, former Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister, said: I congratulate Vaughan on becoming Welsh Labour leader. He will provide the next generation of leadership for the party and I look forward to campaigning with him to deliver the UK Labour government Wales so desperately needs. Responding to Vaughan Gethings election, Andrew Davies MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said: While I congratulate him on his victory, Wales can expect more of the same with Vaughan Gething as First Minister. Gething has been part of a Labour Welsh Government that has presided over record NHS waiting lists, the steepest decline in educational standards in the UK, the highest business rates in Britain, and is committed to the 20mph speed limit. In contrast, the Welsh Conservatives have a plan to save Labours lost generation, cut NHS waiting lists, restore business rates relief and get Wales moving. Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said, First, I would like to congratulate Vaughan Gething for winning the nomination to become the new First Minister This a bold new beginning for us all, one which could make or break the very future of this country. We need to see a different approach to the issues facing our nation and not the same steady as she goes approach taken by Mr Gething predecessors. Issues facing rural Wales have, for far too long now, been ignored by Welsh Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay. I respectfully invite Mr Gething to come and visit rural Wales, to see for himself the issues affecting our rural communities and farming industry. We need a government thats willing to help Wales realise its potential, thats willing to protect its environment and healthcare system for future generations. The people of Wales want a healthy environment and a thriving NHS, and they want a government thats willing to lead the way in making this dream a reality. My question to Mr Gething is this, are you willing to give the people of Wales what they want? Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said, I congratulate Vaughan Gething on winning the Welsh Labour leadership election. If elected First Minister on Wednesday as expected, his partys own record means he inherits significant challenges. He has sat around the Cabinet table and held key portfolios while Waless economy has stagnated, NHS waiting lists have grown, and child poverty remains a national scandal. Nothing said during the leadership campaign suggests that we will now see a gear-change in addressing these huge challenges. But he also brings his own personal issues. It is a matter of deep concern that we now have an incoming First Minister who before even taking up the highest public office is facing serious allegations and questions about his judgement. At the very least, Vaughan Gething should surely return the 200,000 campaign donation which has rightly drawn so much criticism from within his own party and beyond. This is not as good as it gets for Wales. The people of Wales deserve a party that has a real vision for the future one thats based on fairness and ambition, and that is what a vote for Plaid Cymru can offer. More detail and reaction check back shortly First Minister Mark Drakeford announced he was stepping down, prompting this Welsh Labour leadership contest. Now the result has been announced Mark Drakeford MS will tender his resignation as First Minister to the Senedd and the King. Once the King accepts the resignation, the Senedd is informed. Nominations then open for the new First Minister from Members of the Senedd, with the Welsh Labour internal contest basically working out which name they will put forward. It is possible for others to be nominated as well, however due to the electoral balance and numbers of members in the Senedd they will not get the support to get them over the line. If there is more than one person nominated there will be a vote. If there is just the winner of this leadership contest then they are the nominee. The Llywydd (the Speaker of the Senedd) will then formally write to the King to recommend that the nominee becomes First Minister. The King then, theoretically, appoints the nominee as First Minister formally. Then the new First Minister will select their own team to Ministerial positions and and a new Cabinet will be formed up. Then the new First Minister and his Ministers will be a new Welsh Government and get on with the job of running Wales with the devolved powers they hold. [email protected] Wrexham edition of Leader newspaper drops below 2,000 circulation The Wrexham edition of the Leader newspaper now has an average circulation of 1,977 copies according to latest figures released. Trade publication HoldTheFrontpage has published their usual rundown of circulation figures as the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) have updated their circulation certificates for a range of publications. The Daily Post data that covers last year shows an average circulation on 8,350. The split given is: East 24% or 2004 copies (which is the traditional edition sold in Wrexham) West 64% or 5344 copies Final 12% or 1002 copies The ABC certificate notes both the east and final editions ceased at the start of December, likely meaning there is now a single edition produced. The Daily Post is owned and operated by Reach PLC, they say they are UKs and Irelands largest commercial news publisher with titles such as The Mirror, Daily Star and the Express. The ABC refresh data also covers the Leader, which has two editions stated, Wrexham and Flintshire. The average total circulation is 3,041 copies. 2002 are paid copies and 1039 copies are via paid subscriptions. The split of the 3,041 copies is given as: Flintshire 35%, or 1065 copies Wrexham 65%, or 1977 copies. This is the first time the Wrexham edition of the Leader has fallen below 2000 copies. It is also a drop of -48% for the Wrexham edition since March 2019 when we reported on former owners NWN Media dissolving. The Leader is owned and operated by Newsquest Media Group Limited, which is a subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc who describe themselves as publishing USA TODAY along with hundreds of local media outlets across the United States, and over 150 news brands in the United Kingdom. The drops in newspaper circulation in North Wales is not a local or regional specific issue, with HoldTheFrontpage this week publishing another grim looking table of circulation drops between -7% for the Irish News through to a -38% circulation drop for the Manchester Evening News (7,315 circulation)- a former behemoth of news. Gwent As readers will be aware Wrexham.com is conducting a FOI exercise to the cost of the 20MPH roll out around the cost of the Traffic Orders that have been placed in newspapers across Wales also known as statutory notices, as law requires the advert in newspapers circulation in an area. While conducting that exercise we discovered Reach PLCs Gwent Gazette had a circulation of a 347. The ABC data refresh says the Gwent Gazette has also seen a drop in circulation, and it is now down to just 279 ( two hundred and seventy nine copies). We FOIed Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council asking how much they had spent over the last few years on advertising, promotion and statutory notices in the widely read title. They replied: 2021-2022 13,821.24 2022-2023 15,642.34 2023-2024 23,272.44 We have asked the same question to Welsh Government, with no response as of yet. In Wrexham the issue of statutory notices has been raised in a Standards Committee, with the councils legal officer skeptical over the reach of such ad placements. Previously Wrexham Council Chief Executive Ian Bancroft has said there would be a tipping point on declining circulations and the use of local papers would be kept under review. We asked Wrexham Council how the review was progressing and for an update, noting when we first asked the prospective tipping point was could be between 0-7500 and now is 0-1977. The council said, We continue to comply with statutory requirements and in the current financial climate ensure we are being prudent. The Senedd is currently considering if a law change should be enacted that would make the legal requirement for statutory notices to appear in the back of local newspapers a thing of the past more as reported here: Six out of ten Newsquest newspapers in Wales would have been loss making last year without public notice revenue [email protected] On March 13, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) emailed supporters with the subject line WE BACK AOC. In the email, the NYC-DSA wrote: At a time when the difference between establishment stooges and people of principle could not be clearer, we are proud to announce that our chapter has once again elected to endorse NYC-DSA member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress!! Just last month, Time magazinenot exactly an enemy of the political establishmentpublished an article headlined: How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Became One of Joe Bidens Most Valuable Boosters. Writing that Ocasio-Cortezs main job in 2024 may be President Joe Bidens most valuable pinch-hitter, the author cited her recent statement to CNN: I know who Im going to choose. Its going to be one of the most successful presidents in modern American history. The congresswoman was not asked if she measured success by how many hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians had been killed in the US/NATO-instigated war in Europe, or how many Palestinian women and children in Gaza had been blown up by US-supplied bunker-buster bombs. Time went on to accurately assess Ocasio-Cortezs assigned role in the midst of a political crisis of historic dimensions and a Democratic reelection campaign that is hemorrhaging support, particularly among young voters, due to Bidens complicity in Israels Final Solution to the Palestinian Problem. It wrote: Ocasio-Cortez has been a case study of how a perceived radical can be useful for a national party in the middle of a branding crisis Which is to say, as his campaign weighs how to deploy the army of surrogates ready to shore up his support over the next nine months, one of the most powerful VIPs may be AOC. Ocasio-Cortezs slobbering praise for the war criminal Biden, who repeatedly boasts of his decades as senator from the corporate haven of Delaware and promotes his capitalist credentials, did not prevent her DSA chapter from calling the New York Democratic congresswoman one of the leading voices for working people, for a Green New Deal, for Palestine, and for true democracy on the national level. They, of course, omitted mention of Ocasio-Cortezs vote to ban railroaders from striking in 2022 and impose a contract that the workers had already rejected. In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, the NYC-DSA announced endorsements for our eight Socialists in Office, referring to eight Democratic Party politicians: Phara Souffrant Forrest, Emily Gallagher, Zohran Mamdani, Marcela Mitaynes, Sarahana Shrestha, Julia Salazar, Jabari Brisport and Kristen Gonzalez. The NYC-DSA also announced endorsed insurgents Claire Valdez, Eon Tyrell Huntley and Jonathan Soto. The email included a link that read Lets elect them all! which led to a donation page run by ActBlue, the main fundraising platform of the Democratic Party. The NYC-DSAs endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez has provoked dissent among left-leaning workers and youth. In a March 13 Instagram post announcing the endorsement, hundreds of comments were left denouncing the organization and congresswoman. These critical statements garnered thousands of likes. Does anyone know of an actually reputable socialist account and movement to follow instead of this one? This is a sincere question, asked one poster. Another wrote: [T]alk about completely going against your supposed core values and audience. AOC is a genocide supporter... Not renewing my membership. F*** Nancy Pelosi Jr, another poster wrote. Left-leaning workers and youth register their disgust with the NYC-DSA's endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez on their Instagram page. [Photo: Instagram] If your socialism includes supporting the Iron Dome, being more upset about the word genocide than the actual genocide, arming Ukrainian Nazis, pushing for a war against China... you have no justification in calling yourselves socialist at all. You are imperialist, wrote another user. Two days before the NYC-DSA chapter announced its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez, Jacobin magazine, the unofficial press organ of the DSA, published an article by Liza Featherstone titled, Jamaal Bowman Deserves the Lefts Support. Featherstone, a member of the DSA, acknowledged that Bowmans history on Palestine... has been complicated, a discreet reference to the congressmans two votes to send billions in military equipment to the Zionist regime. She went on, however, to call him a passionate advocate against the war, for a cease-fire and for Palestinian lives. In fact, just last month Bowman voted for legislation (H. Res 966), which propagates Israeli lies that Hamas deliberately carried out mass rape as a weapon of war on October 7. Today I voted for H.Res. 966 to condemn all instances of sexual violence committed by Hamas, Bowman wrote in a February 14 statement. In fact, this unsubstantiated war propaganda has been used to justify and whitewash daily Israeli war crimes, including mass executions and the deliberate starvation of the population. At the outset of the US/Israeli campaign of genocide last October, both Bowman and Ocasio-Cortez denounced pro-Palestinian protests that were held in New York. It should not be so hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it, Ocasio-Cortez said last October. Bowman issued a press release declaring he was shocked and disgusted by the rally held here in NY this weekend celebrating death. It was later reported that Bowman allowed his membership dues in the DSA to lapse following the October rally, in which the New York City DSA chapter participated. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, June 3, 2021. [Photo: Staff of Rep. Jamaal Bowman] When Bowman is not spreading Israeli propaganda, or voting to fund the Israeli military, he, alongside Ocasio-Cortez, is voting to send billions of dollars in military equipment to Ukraine in furtherance of the US/NATO war against Russia. In a statement released in 2022, Bowman boasted, Ever since tensions increased between Russia and Ukraine, I have been completely behind supporting the Ukrainian people. He added, I have supported more than $50 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine this year alone. Ocasio-Cortez also voted to send $40 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2022. The words Russia, Ukraine and NATO do not appear in either Feathertones column calling on the Left to support Bowman or in the NYC-DSAs endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez. Another proper noun missing from the Jacobin article and the NYC-DSA endorsement is Joe Biden. While Bowman has not officially endorsed Biden, he has, alongside Ocasio-Cortez, embarked on press tours touting Bidens supposed achievements and presenting him and the Democratic Party as the only means of defeating Trump. Last month, in an interview with PIX11, Bowman said that Bidens first two years were some of the most impactful two years of any president ever. He denounced the Republicans for blocking the passage of vicious anti-immigrant legislation included in Bidens nearly $100 billion national security supplemental funding request. The DSA, as the World Socialist Web Site analyzed last month, is in the throes of an extreme political crisis. Workers and youth, including those who mistakenly thought they were joining a socialist organization, are fleeing in droves. The WSWS wrote: The DSA is not a socialist organization. It is a faction of the Democratic Party. It represents the interests of privileged layers of the upper middle class, not the working class. As with all organizations of the upper-middle class, it is thoroughly nationalist, supporting American imperialism while promoting the politics of racial and gender identity. KYODO NEWS - Mar 16, 2024 - 08:32 | Arts, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism A central area of Japan's Nagano Prefecture has raised its profile in recent years as a moviemaking hotspot, with major productions including the Oscar-winning "Godzilla Minus One" filming there and the local economy seeing tourism by movie lovers from Japan and overseas. The Suwa area, comprising six municipalities on the shores of Lake Suwa and in the nearby mountains, has become popular not only for its scenic terrain, but also for its convenient proximity to Tokyo and its readiness to accommodate film projects. A key scene in the latest Godzilla movie, which nabbed a U.S. Academy award earlier this month for best visual effects, was filmed in the region at a former government office building in Okaya. The film's director Takashi Yamazaki was drawn to the untouched, old-fashioned style of the location for the story set in the 1940s. "I'm happy that people all over the world are watching a movie filmed in my hometown," said Mika Oguchi, 51, a local who appears in the film as an extra. Other notable works filmed in the same area include "Kaibutsu" (Monster), awarded best screenplay at last year's Cannes International Film Festival, and "Hyakka" (A Hundred Flowers), for which Genki Kawamura became Japan's first winner of best director honors at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain in 2022. Although the Suwa area has only recently become known as a staging ground for world-famous movies, its status came about through long-standing efforts to promote and facilitate filming in the area. According to Yosuke Miyasaka, 45, of the Suwaken Film Commission, there were "no major film projects at all" for several years following the body's launch in 2006. But by accepting any and all inquiries, and personally scouting locations to meet the requirements of every filmmaker, he helped to elevate the area's reputation. By the end of fiscal 2022, which ran through March last year, the film commission had attracted a total of over 100 productions. The success has also prompted an increase in tourism as movie fans, including those from countries like South Korea and the United States, make pilgrimages to various sites in the region where popular films were shot. The local economy reaped at least 104 million yen ($700,000) in fiscal 2022 from such visits, according to an estimate by the commission. Kazuo Terashima, head of tourism in the Suwa city government, welcomed the boost from internationally prominent films. "Being chosen as a filming location can help spread the word about the area's appeal," he said. The growing popularity of the area among filmmakers, said Ruriko Sekine, secretary general of the Tokyo-based Japan Film Commission, owes in part to its location just a two-hour drive from the capital, though she also noted its natural beauty. "Many producers are also impressed by the terrain, with mountain ranges seemingly on all sides of Lake Suwa," she said. Miyasaka of the local commission said, "I want to attract movies that will be handed down for generations, ensuring the Suwa area's place in history" as the filming location of masterpieces. Related coverage: Japan's latest Godzilla film wins Oscar for best visual effects Anime giant Hayao Miyazaki wins 2nd Oscar, Godzilla visual effects winner "Oppenheimer" wins best picture at U.S. Academy Awards The question of delivering Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine has dominated the domestic political debate in Germany for days. The handover of this high-precision weapon, which can reach Moscow from Ukraine and destroy well-protected bunkers, would mean a massive escalation of the war. Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the plenary chamber of the Bundestag [Photo by Deutscher Bundestag / Thomas Trutschel / photothek ] Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party, SPD) has so far rejected sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His reasoning is that due to its long range, it would be irresponsible to relinquish control of the weapon. Its deployment in Ukraine would therefore require the deployment of German soldiers. This he rejects on the grounds that it would be tantamount to Germanys direct involvement in the war. The Christian Democratic (CDU/CSU) opposition, leading members of Scholzs governing coalition, in particular, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats (FDP), a large part of the media and numerous self-proclaimed war experts are up in arms at Scholzs refusal to send the missiles. What he presents as prudence and deliberation they denounce as weakness and cowardice. Typical is a joint guest article published by the foreign policy experts of the Greens and the CDU, Anton Hofreiter and Norbert Rottgen, in the Frankfurter Allgemeine on March 11, under the title, The Chancellors Catastrophic Defeatism. They seek to outdo each other in war rhetoric, and do not shy away from any risk. Scholzs rhetoric makes us weaker than we are, they write, adding that nuclear war, escalation, war party are just some of the buzzwords coined by the chancellor, signalling to Putin that he need not fear any serious consequences. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group has twice tabled a motion in the Bundestag to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Both motions failed because, with a few exceptions, the Green and FDP deputies adhered to party discipline, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Left Party and Sarah Wagenknechts BSW party also voted against. The CDU/CSU openly justified its motion by arguing that Ukraine must be put in a position to take the war deep into Russia. The Ukrainian forces lack the ability to attack supply lines, command and control facilities and logistical structures in a targeted manner in order to create the basis for further successful offensives, the motion reads. For this reason, it continues, Ukraine has already expressed its desire for stand-off precision armaments on several occasions and requested delivery of the Taurus cruise missile. In reality, both Scholz and his opponents are deceiving the public. They know much more than they publicly admit and are working closely behind the scenes to escalate the war. This became clear on Wednesday when the dispute over Taurus was at the centre of a parliamentary questions session in the Bundestag. After Norbert Rottgen (CDU) fiercely attacked the chancellor, Scholz dropped the mask. Breaking with protocol, he switched from the formal you (Sie) to the familiar form (Du) and accused dear Norbert, as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, of knowing the reasons why Taurus could not be delivered at the moment. He was hiding behind the fact that this information was secret, Scholz said. But what annoys me, dear Norbert, dear Member of Parliament, Scholz continued, is that you know everything and are engaging in public communication based on the fact that your knowledge is not public knowledge. I dont think that should be the case in a democracy. What do Scholz and Rottgen know that the public is not allowed to know? The public has a right to know, because nothing less than the danger of a devastating nuclear war is at stake. The recklessness, risk-taking and ruthlessness with which the government, opposition and media are inflaming the war against Russia and playing Russian roulette with nuclear weapons is breathtaking. A commentary in Der Spiegel called it fatal that Scholz was allowing himself to be portrayed in public as a peace chancellor and thus triggering the social democratic pacifist dreams of past decades. This is said in Germany, which is responsible for the greatest war crimes in human history! Calling Scholz a peace chancellor is, however, a fairy tale. He never tires of emphasising that Germany is by far the largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine among European countries and insisting that and he will not let up until Russia is militarily defeated. Scholzs differences of opinion with Rottgen and other Taurus supporters are purely tactical. Scholz does not want to expose Germany prematurely because he does not trust the promises made by the US, France and the UK. As the war against Russia escalates, the rivalries between the NATO powers are increasing, rather than decreasing. There were similar disputes in the autumn of 2022 because Scholz opposed the delivery of Leopard tanks. Even then he warned against the use of Russian nuclear weapons. It is now known that he knew more than he said. On March 9, 2024, under the headline Bidens Armageddon Moment: When Nuclear Detonation Seemed Possible in Ukraine, the New York Times reported that the CIA in the fall of 2022 estimated the possibility of a Russian nuclear strike at 50 percent or more if Russian forces were pushed back further. The US government had prepared for a counterstrike. Never since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis had the danger of nuclear war been so great. Scholz, who was on his way to China, was briefed by the US administration. He was supposed to convince President Xi Jinping to publicly warn Russia against the use of nuclear weapons, which he did. When the crisis eased somewhat and the US made heavy tanks available to Ukraine, Scholz agreed to the Leopard delivery. Today, not only Leopards, but also German-made Marder and Gepard tanks, rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, air defence systems, assault rifles and grenade launchers are in use in Ukraine. The delivery of Taurus missiles is being prepared despite Scholzs official veto. According to a report in Die Welt, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is having all Taurus missiles upgraded for possible export. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is also looking for ways to facilitate the delivery of Taurus missiles. Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile under a Eurofighter Typhoon [Photo by GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0 Scholzs pose of prudence, as he himself calls it, serves to deceive and reassure the population. Unlike the sentiment in the political establishment and the media, there is enormous popular opposition to the arms deliveries in Germany. According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the dpa press agency, only 28 percent are in favour of the delivery of Taurus missiles, and 58 percent are against. Thirty-one percent are fundamentally opposed to supporting Ukraine with German weapons. Opposition to the delivery of Taurus missiles has grown in recent weeks, despite the fact that the propaganda in favour has been in full swing. The only party a majority of whose supporters welcome Taurus deliveries48 percent in favour to 36 percent againstis the Green Party. The survey found that 72 percent of all respondents are in favour of ruling out the deployment of ground troops to Ukraine once and for all. Only 16 percent want to keep this option open. While 43 percent think that too many weapons have already been delivered to Ukraine. Just as many consider the quantity to be either right or too low. In any event, the German government will not allow itself to be swayed from its pro-war course by public opinion. What is driving it and all other imperialist powers to war is the deep crisis of capitalism on a global scale. Since 2014 at the latest, when it supported the coup in Kiev that brought a right-wing, pro-Western regime to power, it has based itselfas in the First and Second World Warson the violent subjugation of Russia. Only the independent mobilisation of the working class, which bears the cost of crisis and war, on the basis of an anti-capitalist, socialist programme can stop the danger of war and nuclear annihilation. This mobilisation must demand the disclosure of all secret agreements, plans and information. Workers at Stellantis Warren Truck and Ford Dearborn Assembly warmly received Socialist Equality Party vice presidential candidate Jerry White Friday afternoon as the partys petition campaign to achieve ballot status in Michigan continued to ramp up. Many workers stopped to greet White and members of the SEP campaign team as well as to add their signatures to the petition to place White and SEP presidential candidate Joseph Kishore on the ballot. They expressed disgust with the choice being presented in the 2024 elections between Biden and Republican candidate Trump. They are no good, it is all very disappointing one worker said. Hang on, we are in for a rough ride, another said about the elections. Many responded with anger to the invitation by Biden to Shawn Fain to attend the State of the Union speech last week. Biden hailed Fain as a great friend and a great labor leader. Both men have claimed the 2023 sellout contract was a historic advance for autoworkers. The Democrats and Republicans are for the rich and whatever they say are lies, just like what Fain said was a complete lie about the contract, White told workers. Jerry White at Rouge Electric Vehicle Center March 15, 2024 Biden is killing Palestinians and Fain is making believe that Biden is for the working class. In the wake of the 2023 sellout, anger continues to boil among autoworkers as job cuts mount, including the mass termination of temp workers. In response, laid-off and terminated supplemental workers have organized the Rank-and-File Committee Against Job Cuts. Workers were lied to by United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, who claimed that upon ratification of the 2023 national auto contract, supplemental workers would be made full time. Instead, thousands have been terminated at Warren Truck and other Stellantis plants in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Now, workers at Warren Truck reported that as many as 2,500 workers at the plant have accumulated points, putting them on track toward termination, under the new strict attendance policy imposed under terms of the sellout deal negotiated by Fain. Workers said part of the cause of attendance issues was short staffing caused by the firings of supplementals. One worker told White, It is a set up to fail. You miss one day and you get two points. You have a car breakdown and are two minutes late, you are tardy and get points. White remarked, They are treating full timers now like pariahs, just like they treated temps. What do they expect, they are working 9-10 hours and workers bodies are breaking down. A worker asked what was the difference between the SEP campaign and the Democrats and Republicans. White explained, They are liars and corrupt because while they claim to be for the people, they in fact speak for the big corporations and banks. What they do, including funding these wars, is for the interests of big business. What we are fighting to do is build a mass political party of the working class, uniting workers of all races and nationalities, because we all have the same interests. It is not in our interests to be killing one another in a war over who will control cobalt, lithium and oil. The worker wanted to know, How is this going to be accomplished? White responded, We are building a party and organizing workers independently of the UAW bureaucracy, because the UAW bureaucracy is in bed with management. Thats why Fain was at Bidens State of the Union last week. She responded, Of course he did, because hes Obamas boy and Obama did the debacle with the bailout. So its the old shaking of the hands. But whats the difference between you and Ralph Nader (former Green Party presidential candidate)? White replied, One of the things Nader promoted, like Trump, was that the cause of our problems is Mexican immigrants. Thats a lie. The source of our problems is the billionaires. We are socialists, we are saying these giant industries that were built up collectively by the labor of generations of workers should belong collectively to the working class. So that wealth that workers create flows back to the workers, to the schools, to education. Another worker said that she worried about her son who is serving in the military. The question of war is on my mind. A nuclear war would kill everybody. There is enough to go around. I hate to break it to them, but there is. White responded, The wealth is being hoarded by a handful of oligarchs, billionaires. Perhaps three families have more wealth than 50 percent of the population. Workers are creating all that wealth. White also spoke to Ford workers at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REV-C) where more than a thousand jobs are being cut on April 1 when the plant goes to one shift. Several workers told the campaign team that this would be their last day on the job at Rouge. Fifteen hundred workers on the B and C crews at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center were originally scheduled to work through the end of March. But the date of their termination was advanced two weeks because of the precipitous slump in sales of the electric pickup trucks they produce. This is my last day, said a worker facing permanent layoff, and I dont know what is going to happen next. Workers have been kept in the dark about transfers to the Michigan Assembly Plant. Workers at REV-C and the adjacent Dearborn Truck Plant also expressed anger over the betrayal of their contract struggle by the UAW bureaucracy. Of course, Fain was at Bidens State of the Union, one Ford worker told the WSWS. He sold us out. SEP supporters distributed hundreds of statements introducing the election campaign. Many workers expressed disgust with Biden and Trump and stopped to speak to White about the SEP campaign. Its great that youre running, a young worker told supporters. With Biden and Trump youre just choosing your poison. A supporter of the Ford Rank-and-File Committee at the plant stopped by to voice her support. I dont fully understand socialism, but I am glad we have an alternative to Biden and Trump. All they care about is money and war. In these wars every bullet, every bomb and every tank is being paid for with money that was taken from us. We have to stop it and the union is doing nothing for us. An ABC affiliate reported Friday that Boeing whistleblower John Mitch Barnett told a close family friend, If anything happens to me, its not suicide. The report came six days after Barnett, who was preparing for the third day of a deposition in his civil suit against Boeing, was found dead in his truck in his hotel parking lot. Officials quickly declared his death a suicide. I know he did not commit suicide, continued Barnetts friend, Jennifer (no last name given). Theres no way. He loved life too much. He loved his family too much. He loved his brothers too much to put them through what theyre going through right now. John Barnett in the 2022 Netflix documentary "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing." [Photo: Netflix] Jennifer also commented: Money can buy anything nowadays. There is a lot of evil in this world. ... Somebody didnt like what he had to say and wanted to shut him up. They didnt want it to come back on anyone, so thats why they made it look like a suicide. I think everybody is in disbelief and cant believe it. I dont care what they say, I know that Mitch didnt do that. Barnett was found dead last Saturday after failing to appear at a deposition in Charleston, South Carolina, in his defamation lawsuit against the aerospace giant. He had accused Boeing of deliberately undermining his career and reputation for raising serious safety concerns about Boeings production facility in Charleston. Barnett was giving testimony as part of a so-called AIR21, which is how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) refers to cases it receives as part of its Whistleblower Protection Program. According to an interview with Brian Knowles, Barnetts lawyer, in the Corporate Crime Reporter: John had been back and forth for quite some time getting prepared. The defense examined him for their allowed seven hours under the rules on Thursday. I cross-examined him all day [Friday] and did not finish. We agreed to continue this morning at 10 a.m. [Co-counsel] Rob [Turkewitz] kept calling this morning and his phone would go to voicemail. We then asked the hotel to check on him. They found him in his truck dead from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot. We drove to the hotel and spoke with the police and the coroner. While the exact details of Barnetts current testimony remain private, he has been one of the most outspoken whistleblowers against Boeing for many years. He worked at Boeing from 1985 to 2017, mostly as a quality manager, a position that is supposed to ensure that defects and errors in an aircrafts production are caught and fixed before the plane is certified for flight. Barnett left the company in 2017 after a seven-year tenure at Boeings Charleston plant, which produces the 787 Dreamliner, during which he made numerous internal reports about safety violations, all of which were ignored by Boeing. After he left, Barnett gave an interview to the New York Times revealing that he alerted Boeing management to clusters of metal slivers that could have cut into wiring that commands flight controls, a situation that would have been catastrophic, including causing electrical shorts and fires. During the interview, Barnett commented: As a quality manager at Boeing, youre the last line of defense before a defect makes it out to the flying public. And I havent seen a plane out of Charleston yet that Id put my name on saying its safe and airworthy. Barnett had given many other interviews to different news outlets since then. In a lengthy interview in the Corporate Crime Reporter, he noted: [Boeing management] started pressuring us to not document defects, to work outside the procedures, to allow defective material to be installed without being corrected. They started bypassing procedures and not maintaining configurement control of airplanes, not maintaining control of non-conforming partsthey just wanted to get the planes pushed out the door and make the cash register ring. He continued: My team and I found out that the emergency oxygen equipmentwhen the mask fallswe discovered that 25 percent of the oxygen systems dont work properly. In the event of a decompression event when those oxygen masks fall, 25 percent of them are not going to work. They are not going to supply oxygen. At most altitudes, not having oxygen during a decompression event can cause passengers to suffer hypoxia, which can lead to death, in as little as 10 seconds. What has been revealed exposes Boeing as a corporate entity solely focused on profits and recklessly negligent when it comes to the safety of human beings. The massive corporation is shielded by regulators from the FAA and the US government, which has never prosecuted a single Boeing official for the numerous and sometimes lethal problems that have emerged in the companys line of aircraft. The most notorious are the crashes of 737 Max 8 aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which killed a total of 346 men, women and children, i.e., all of the passengers and crew on both planes. Even though it was revealed that then-CEO Dennis Muilenberg was aware of issues in the production of the Max 8, not only was he not jailed for allowing the planes to fly, ultimately costing 346 lives, he was allowed to make more than $80 million in salary and benefits during the years he ran the company. Muilenbergs successor is no better. David Calhoun made nearly $22.5 million in 2022. He was on Boeings Board of Directors during the entire development and production of the Max aircraft and has remained CEO even as numerous problems have surfaced this year alone, showing that virtually every commercial aircraft the company produces is a potential death trap. The ongoing crisis at Boeing, once one of the most respected and trusted producers of airplanes in the world, is a concentrated expression of the decline of American capitalism. It is a byproduct of the drive by Wall Street to maximize profits at any cost, including human lives. At Boeing, this is manifested in the fact from 2014 to 2018, when the Max aircraft were being finalized, Boeing diverted 92 percent of operating cash flow to dividends and share buybacks to benefit investors, according to the Seattle Times. More generally, Boeings immunity from consequences is bound up with its strategic position within US imperialism. It is a major producer of aircraft for wars abroad, including war materiel for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It is also one of the countrys largest exporters, which makes maintaining Boeings stock price critical for Wall Street. Barnetts lawsuit could have dealt a significant blow to these interests. There are no doubt many government officials and politicians who are breathing a sigh of relief that the whistleblowers most damning testimony will not be entered into the public record. What his death does highlight, however, is the need to put an end to the social system that allows companies like Boeing to persistnamely, capitalism. The airline industry, like all aspects of modern life, must be placed at the service of social needs, not private profit. The working class must be mobilized to expropriate the banks and financial institutions that control these industries and run air travel on a socialist basis. French President Emmanuel Macron (left), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk [AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi] German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met yesterday in Berlin to declare their united support for escalating war with Russia as NATO-backed Ukrainian forces are collapsing on the front. The Berlin summit came as the European powers bellicose statements threaten to unleash total war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine. Only two weeks ago, at the February 26 Paris summit, Macron said the NATO powers did not rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. A leaked recording of German officers then confirmed that Berlin is preparing to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine for strikes on targets deep inside Russia. In a press conference yesterday, Scholz, Macron and Tusk said they were united in support of escalation plans. Having confirmed their staggeringly aggressive position, they ended the press conference after less than 20 minutes, taking no questions from journalists. Scholz said, Our three states are among the greatest political, military and financial supporters of Ukraines struggle against the Russian imperialist aggressor. We are closely and unshakably by the side of Ukraine. Solidarity and common action are essential to defend liberty and peace in Europe. More than ever, our unity is what gives us strength. While cynically declaring his love of peace, Scholz laid out the three governments war agenda, pledging to jointly buy weapons for Ukraine on the world market, set up armament factories in Ukraine, deliver long-range artillery to Ukraine and send more military trainers to Ukraine. He pledged to raise European Union (EU) financial support for Ukraine by a further 5 billion. Scholz pledged to use interest income on Russian funds from oil sales to Europe that are frozen in euro zone banks to pay for thisitself an enormous act of international theft. Macron confirmed his support for Scholzs proposals, declaring: As the Chancellor has said, the three of us share the same will. We are willing, coordinated and ready to do something. Macron did not say what they were ready to do, but in standing beside Scholz and Tusk, he took the opportunity to dispel media reports that other EU officials opposed his February 26 threat to send ground troops to Ukraine. He added: The meeting today is for us an opportunity to reinforce our unity. We also want to say that all three of us are in agreement in the context of the Weimar Triangle [the official name for the talks between Berlin, Paris and Warsaw]. Tusk hailed the three powers united support for escalation, stating: Today, we truly spoke with one voice, especially on the security of our continent, of our countries. I want to thank the chancellor for not hesitating. Sometimes, in politics, it happens that negotiations take a long time, and there are hesitations. This was not the case here. He called to spend our money hic et nunc, that is, here and now, so the situation in Ukraine gets better, not worse in the coming weeks and months. Tusk, like Macron, called to take care of the Republic of Moldova, a small landlocked state bordering on western Ukraine where Russian peacekeepers are deployed in the Transnistria region. Amid the debacle of the Ukrainian army, there is speculation that Russian troops could ultimately overrun the port of Odessa and the entire region of Ukraine around Moldova. Tusk also obliquely mentioned the growing crisis in Poland, amid growing opposition to the war, as Polish farmers blockade the Polish-Ukrainian border to protest imports of Ukrainian produce. We also discussed trade with Ukraine. This is now a problem in Poland, as you well know. Thank you for understanding my argument and being ready to support the Polish position, Tusk said. This support goes far beyond what Scholz, Macron and Tusk publicly announced in Berlin. Behind the scenes, far-reaching plans are being drawn up that could lead to direct conflict with Russia, a nuclear power. In recent days, the Kremlin has repeatedly threatened that it is willing to launch a massive retaliation, including the possible use of nuclear weapons, if NATO attacks Russian targets or engages with ground troops. On March 13, in an interview for state television, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Macrons remarks on deploying ground troops: From a military-technical point of view, we are of course ready. ... As for governments who claim they have no more red lines with Russia, they must know that in this case, Russia will not have any more red lines with them, either. Nevertheless, the leading European NATO powers are pressing ahead with their escalatory plans. While Scholz officially rejects the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev, the German daily Die Welt reports that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has given the order to make all Taurus [missiles] operational. Although the certification of the weapon systems by manufacturer MBDA is not yet an indication of a change of heart on the part of the Federal Chancellor, Die Welt wrote, the decision to make all of the Bundeswehrs Taurus operational now opens up further options for the Federal Government. It could give more of the cruise missiles to Ukraine in the future without exposing its own national defence. And a so-called swap agreement, as recently offered by the British government, is more likely to be possible. Macron himself renewed his call to send ground troops to Ukraine before traveling to Berlin. On a prime time interview on national television Thursday evening, he stated: All these options are possible. In order to achieve peace in Ukraine, we cannot be weak. He called to say with determination, will and courage that we are ready to use the means necessary to achieve our goal of ensuring that Russia does not win the war. The threats of Macron, Scholz and Tusk are accompanied by a vast NATO mobilisation against Russia. The Steadfast Defender exercise, NATOs largest military manoeuvre since the end of the Cold War, is currently taking place. Over 90,000 soldiers from 32 countries are taking part. This week, 20,000 soldiers crossed the Vistula in Poland as part of the Dragon 24 exercise. NATO military leaders left no doubt that the alliance is preparing for a direct war against Russia. The exercise is a signal of internal security and external deterrence, said German Brigadier General Gunnar Brugner, one of the officers leading the exercise. Every ship that sails, every aircraft that flies, every helicopter in the air, every tank that rolls sends a message. We show what capabilities we have, and we combine that with the determination to deploy them if necessary. The ruling class is keeping the public in the dark about its war plans and its catastrophic consequences, including nuclear escalation, because it knows there is already massive opposition among workers and young people. According to a recent ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll, 61 percent oppose the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Opposition to the deployment of ground troops is even greater, at 81 percent in Germany and 68 percent in France. The decisive question is how to mobilize the deep opposition in the working class internationally to the war plans of the NATO imperialist powers, prevent a catastrophic escalation that could destroy civilization and end the bloody US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. The broadest organization of anti-war protests and meetings is necessary to alert workers and youth to the danger, here and now, that the war will spread across Europe and the world. The denials of various capitalist politicians of the fact that they are discussing total war between NATO and Russia are lies exposed by their unanimous support for escalation. The only way to stop this is to build a united, international anti-war movement in the working class in Europe and internationally in political struggle for socialism against the capitalist governments waging the war. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Oct. 24, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough] On Thursday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer gave a speech in which he criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right members of Israels cabinet, calling them an obstacle to peace. Netanyahu had lost his way, the New York senator declared. The speech was closely coordinated with the White House, with Biden saying Schumer had contacted my senior staff. Biden added that it was a good speech, which expressed serious concerns shared by many Americans. In the course of his remarks, Schumer admittedfor the first timethat members of the Israeli government have stated their intention to carry out the ethnic cleansing of the population of Gaza. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Ben Gvir are clear in their desire to displace [Palestinians] from their homes and replace them with Israeli settlers, Schumer said. These statements are a staggering self-indictment. Smotrich called for the immigration of Gaza Arabs to the countries of the world on November 14, the same day that Schumer was a headline speaker at the March for Israel pro-genocide rally in Washington D.C. To chants of No ceasefire, Schumer told Israel: We stand with you. we will not rest until you get the assistance you need. He implied that left-wing opposition to the Gaza genocide was antisemitism. On that day, the death toll from Israels onslaught on Gaza stood at 11,500. Since then, a further 20,000 Palestinian men, women and children have been killed. Schumer and the White House provided over 100 arms transfers, totaling billions of dollars, to fund and arm a government that had publicly declared its intent to ethnically cleanse the population of 2 million people. It is time to call things by their right name: The Netanyahu government is carrying out the Final Solution of the Palestinian Problem. Regardless of the occasional and cynical finger-wagging in Washington, it is doing so with the support of the Biden administration and both political parties in the United States. The calls by Smotrich, Ben Gvir and Netanyahu for the murder and expulsion of the population of Gaza are not the statements of mere individuals. They represent the actual policy of the Israeli government. The leading figures of the Israeli state are the ideological and political descendants of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. Despite their criticisms of Netanyahus policies, both Schumer and the White House made it clear that their statements did not reflect any change in US policy. The US would continue to provide weapons to Israel without any conditions, US officials stressed. Earlier this week, the White House rushed to reaffirm that the US does not have any red lines on the number of people Israel is allowed to kill. I dont think its productive to assign red line terminology to what is a very complex set of policies, said Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton at a White House briefing on Monday. The statements by Biden and Schumer are political ploys whose purpose is to cover up for the fact that the administration is deeply complicit in the Gaza genocide, which is overwhelmingly opposed by the vast majority of the worlds population. In his speech, billed as a condemnation of Netanyahu, Schumer spent the bulk of his time condemning the Palestinians and those seeking a democratic, multi-ethnic state for both Jews and Arabs in the Levant. He denounced those on the left who reject a two-state solution in favor of one state, where Palestinians and Israelis would supposedly live in democratic peace side-by-side. To this, Schumer replied: This state would be majority Palestinian, and in the past, some Palestinians have voted to empower groups like Hamas, which seeks to eradicate the Jewish people. ... It is longstanding American policy to support democracy overseas, but in this hypothetical single state, democracy could cost Israeli Jews their safety. Schumers condemnation of a democratic solution to relations between the Jewish and Arab populations of Israel and Palestine is highly significant. In reality, the genocidal policies that Schumer claims to condemn flow organically from the entire Zionist project, which from its outset to the present day has served as a bastion of US imperialist domination over the population of the Middle East. To cite the words of Joe Biden, If Israel didnt exist, we would have to invent it. With 30,000 Gazans already dead, the entire population of over 2 million people is on the brink of starvation. Israel is committing massacres on a daily basis, killing dozens at a food distribution hub on Thursday. Workers and young people all over the world must take up the struggle against the Gaza genocide as a critical component of the fight against imperialist war and the capitalist system. Yesterday marked five years since fascist terrorist Brenton Tarrant murdered 51 men, women and children, and injured 40 other people, in mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, which was attacked on March 15, 2019, along with the Linwood Islamic Centre [Photo by James Dann / CC BY-SA 4.0 The March 15, 2019 terror attack was the countrys worst mass shooting and one of the most deadly in the world. It horrified billions of people internationally and sparked mass demonstrations against racist violence. The Christchurch attack also served as an inspiration for other fascist and white supremacist attacks, including the August 2019 massacre in El Paso and the May 2022 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. Five years later, however, basic questions remain unanswered about the attack. Discussion about the political and social environment that produced Tarrant, what groups and individuals he was connected with, and why the state did not prevent the massacre, has been deliberately suppressed by the political and media establishment. Meanwhile, as US imperialism and its allies accelerate their drive towards world war, governments in New Zealand and Australia are lurching further to the right, stoking racism and militarism, which is fuelling the growth of extreme right-wing tendencies. They are supporting Israels genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and have sent troops to assist in training Ukrainian conscripts for the US-NATO proxy war against Russia. Media coverage of the fifth anniversary in New Zealand mainly focused on the National Party-ACT-NZ First coalition governments plan to rewrite firearms legislation, which might permit greater access to semi-automatic rifles. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, from the far-right ACT Party, is leading the review of the law; ACT was the only party that opposed the previous Labour Party-led governments ban on the military-style weapons used by Tarrant. NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon privately met with families of the victims and issued brief public statements. We remember the great courage and compassion from our Muslim community, that continues to this day, he said, adding that his government would continue implementing recommendations from the 2020 royal commission of inquiry into the attacks. The Australian Labor government did not issue a statement and the media was almost completely silent on the fifth anniversary of the worst mass shooting committed by an Australian citizen. Tarrant had connections with Australias neo-Nazi Lads Society, now called the National Socialist Network, which tried to recruit him in 2017. The Australian fascists operate with impunity and protection from the state, while people protesting against the Gaza genocide are vilified and threatened. Beginning just days after the massacre, Jacinda Arderns Labour-led government in New Zealand, which included the Greens and the right-wing nationalist NZ First Party, moved to construct a narrative that Tarrant had acted alone, and that his actions did not reflect anything about New Zealand societydespite the fact that he spent two years in NZ where he trained and bought weapons for the attack. To shut down discussion, Ardern declared she would not speak about Tarrant and urged the media not to report on his views. For this, and for her various platitudes about the need for love and kindness, Ardern was glorified as a sort of Mother Teresa figure by the worlds mediawhich covered up the fact that her party ruled in a coalition with the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim NZ First. New Zealands state censor outlawed possession of Tarrants manifesto, which cannot be read by the public to this day. The purpose of this attack on democratic rights was to prevent the public from understanding the connection between Tarrants anti-immigrant racism and the policies of the establishment capitalist parties in New Zealand, as well as internationally. Tarrants right-wing extremist and white supremacist views were spelled out in the manifesto, released online minutes before the attacks, which demonised Muslims and non-white immigrants. The document, titled The Great Replacement, expressed admiration for US President Donald Trump and reflected hatred of immigrants that is widespread in the Republican Party and among far-right politicians including in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Tarrant also noted that many right-wing extremists internationally were active in the armed forces of the state. A guilty plea by Tarrant ensured that there was no trial where he could have been publicly questioned about who inspired his fascist ideology, how his attack was planned, whether he had accomplices, and what organisations he was involved in. The royal commission of inquiry was conducted behind closed doors, and the vast majority of its evidence was kept secret, including an interview with Tarrant, and evidence submitted by the police and intelligence agencies. The commissioners final report was a whitewash of the state agencies; it asserted that Tarrant acted alone and there was no way he could have been stopped from carrying out his acts of mass murder. The inquiry covered up the role of successive governments in stoking Islamophobia, including through their participation in the illegal US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The main recommendations from the inquiry related to strengthening the powers of the police and intelligence agencies, whose budgets and resources have been significantly expanded since 2019. Ardern, despite her sudden decision in January 2023 to retire from politics, continues to lead the so-called Christchurch Call initiative, which is coordinating with 130 governments and giant tech companies (including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Google) to censor so-called violent extremist content on the internet. This has nothing to do with stopping terrorism. Rather its aim is to clamp down on opposition to war abroad, including the genocide in Gaza, and attacks on the working class at home. Temel Atacocugu, a survivor who was shot nine times in the Christchurch attack, told the Guardian this week that there had been no accountability from government agencies. Even some of the conclusions reached by the official inquirythat the terrorist was a lone wolf and didnt tell anyone what he planned to dohave been cast into doubt by new research this year that found online postings he made which had never come to light before. That needs more investigation, he said. Researchers from the University of Auckland recently uncovered online posts made by Tarrant on the 4chan website, making clear his intentions to attack mosques in New Zealand. The posts raised serious questions, not only about why this posting was not detected before the attack, but also why it has not been discovered in the five years since the March 15 attacks. It beggars belief that the New Zealand intelligence agencies and the police, with all their resources, could not discover the public postings made by Tarrant, which have been found by a small group of academic researchers. At the very least, it is clear that the authorities turned a blind eye to his activities. In 2016, he was reported to police in Australia for sending a death threat to someone on Facebook, but no action was taken. The following year, a member of the Bruce Rifle Club, where Tarrant trained for his attack, warned New Zealand police about violent and racist language used by some of the clubs members. The royal commission repeated the claims made by police that they never received such a report. In addition to his links to Australian fascists, Tarrant corresponded with and donated to far-right organisations in Europe and North America, and travelled widely, including to Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe. The commissioners made the unsubstantiated assertion that he had no contact with far-right groups during his travels, despite visiting areas where they are known to be active. In fact, Tarrants mother told Australian police that he had attended a right-wing gathering in Poland. A coronial inquiry into the attacks has yet to release its findings, but its scope specifically excluded the question of whether there were missed opportunities by intelligence, counter-terrorism agencies and other public sector agencies to stop Tarrant. Meanwhile, Atacocugu said he no longer feels safe in New Zealand, adding I dont leave the house unless I have to. Apart from the gun law changes, he struggled to think of any other change since 2019 that had made the country safer. Like other survivors he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, but is forced to get a medical certificate every three months to prove I am still unable to work due to PTSD so that I qualify for income support. According to the Islamic Womens Council, data from the police shows that more than one third of online hate is directed towards Muslim women, who make up less than 1 percent of the countrys population. The threat from the far-right is increasing worldwide, rooted in the crisis of capitalism, which has worsened dramatically in the five years since the Christchurch terror attack. To protect and expand their wealth, the imperialist powers, led by the United States, are unleashing violence across the world. The ruling class is promoting extreme nationalism, xenophobia and racism to divide the working class, to prepare for war, and to defend unprecedented levels of social inequality. In the coming election in the United States, voters have a choice between Biden, a supporter of genocide, and the fascist Donald Trump. Biden is collaborating with the Republicans, adopting their vicious anti-immigrant agenda, which is based on the same Great Replacement conspiracy theory espoused by Tarrant. In Germany, there have been mass protests against the fascist AfD, which plays a major role in politics; Italy is led by the neo-fascist Georgia Meloni; Geert Wilders anti-Muslim Freedom Party is now the largest party in the Dutch parliament; in India, the Hindu supremacist Narendra Modi, known for inciting violence against Muslims, is being courted by Biden and other world leaders. The lessons of history, including the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, demonstrate that fascism cannot be stopped by appealing to capitalist politicians. This includes the governments in Australia and New Zealand, which have embraced the far-right, genocidal regime in Israel, and are cracking down on the rights of immigrants and stoking racist divisions at home. Fascism can only be stopped by a revolutionary movement of the international working class to put an end to the capitalist system, which is its root cause. The repressive organs of the statethe military, the police, the border patrol and intelligence agencieswhich protect and encourage the extreme right, must be abolished. The extraordinary wealth and power of the super-rich, which is fundamentally incompatible with democracy, must be expropriated and placed under the control of workers governments, as part of the socialist reorganisation of society. Over the past few weeks, hundreds of students in Australia have again gone on strike to voice their opposition to the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza. High school and university students protest outside the State Library in Melbourne against the Gaza genocide More than five months since it began, Israels imperialist-backed onslaught has killed at least 31,000 Palestiniansmost of them women and children. The Zionist campaign is a genocide in every sense of the word. Hundreds of students took part in strikes from high schools and universities across the country on February 29, including about 300 in Melbourne and 600 in Sydney. Walk outs also took place in Adelaide and Canberra, as well as on March 1 in Perth. In Melbourne, another strike took place on March 14 involving about 600 youth. These strikes followed significant protests by high school students in November and December. More than 1,500 students went on strike nationally despite widespread denunciations of youth opposing genocide by the mainstream media and political establishment, spearheaded by the Labor Party state and federal governments, but also involving the extreme right. Anger at the genocide and the complicity of the governments in Australia and elsewhere is intersecting with broad social discontent. Young people are among the hardest hit by the financial crisis, skyrocketing cost of living, soaring house prices, and are increasingly hostile to government inaction over human induced climate change. Students march through central Melbourne in opposition to the Gaza genocide Students and youth join in a sustained mass movement of workers and youth globally against Israels genocide of Palestinians which is being perpetrated with the support and complicity of the major imperialist powers including the US, UK and Australia. It does not detract from the political importance of the student strikes to note that they have become smaller. Responsibility for this lies not with ordinary students and youth who are overwhelmingly hostile to Israels onslaught and the support of the major capitalist powers for it. Blame for the decrease in attendance lies with the pseudo-left organisationslike Socialist Alternative, Socialist Alliance and Solidaritywho, at present, form the leadership of these protests. The perspective they promotethat endless protest will pressure governments to back down from their support for the genocidehas been proven to be futile. Youth and students looking for a way forward are met with the dead end of protest politics. It has become painfully obvious to millions of people that this orientation has failed. This is a process underway more broadly. For 22 weeks in a row, workers, youth and layers of the middle class in Australia have protested the genocide. Numbers at the weekly rallies have dropped substantially in recent weeks. This does not represent any decrease in opposition to the onslaught. The opposite process is underway. It reflects growing frustration with the bankrupt political perspective repeated by the speakers week after week that all that can be done is to appeal to the same governments who are supporting the genocide. Such a perspective is intended to wear down and suffocate the mass movement and prevent ordinary youth from encountering a genuine socialist perspective to end the capitalist system which is the cause of the genocide. This was on display at the February 29 rally in Melbourne where Socialist Alternative member Jerome Small was the first speaker. While referring to the genocide as one of the great crimes of capitalism, all Small could muster in response to this was: So, yeah, join in the rage and denunciation of that. Small presents rage against and denunciation in place of a fight against the capitalist system. No attempt is made to mobilise students to the great social force of the world working class, including in Australia. All Small and the other speakers offered was keep protesting and help us organise more protests. The purpose of this line is to subordinate young people to the Labor government, even as it continues to support the genocide. Despite their occasional rhetoric, pseudo-left organisations like Socialist Alternative have nothing to do with socialism or the interests of the working class. They represent a privileged layer of the upper middle class who have gained wealth under capitalism and fear, above all, a movement of workers against the profit system. This is why they seek to pull the wool over the eyes of youth who are grasping for a way forward. Discussion is kept by the pseudo-left organisers to the lowest level in a bid to limit the understanding and perspective of students and youth to dead-end appeals directed to the powers-that-be. The speakers rinse and repeat the same bankrupt positions at every event. The only political tendency at the student strikes providing a way forward for youth was the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE). IYSSE members distributed hundreds of copies of its beginning-of-year statement, Capitalism leads to genocide and waryouth and students must fight for world socialism! and won a warm response from students for its genuine socialist, revolutionary perspective to end the genocide. In Sydney, 19-year-old Amanda told IYSSE members: I think what is going on in Gaza is an absolute travesty, where genocide is allowed to happen because of a world-wide government complacency towards it. Thats why you have rallies like today, students are coming out. I dont think theres any point in pressuring the Albanese government, the student added. Albanese knows whats going on. He knows the publics reaction. Its clear that hes not going to budge from his current position which is supporting the genocide. Amanda was supportive of the IYSSEs perspective of developing a socialist movement of the international working class against the capitalist system. There is definitely the movement towards your perspective of a worldwide movement against capitalism, but I think there would need something to galvanise the workers of the world. If workers understood that what is behind this attack on Gaza is the US war drive, there would be more workers on the streets. A Year 12 high school student, also in Sydney, said: There has been little discussion in my school about the genocide. I came here today because I wanted to support Palestine and I wanted to see what other people thought about how we should have a ceasefire and how we should stop the genocide. I think its important to get workers and young people together. The government hasnt been doing much. We need to continue the protests, especially young people. An international student originally from Indonesia, said: I think it is important for me to understand the solidarity among the students here. There has been support for Palestine in Indonesia is obviously for a long time, the student said. It is not only about the Muslim communities but because we care about humanity in general in Indonesia. As we have seen in many parts of the world, the capitalist interests are coming to many sectors especially in funding war. It is a capitalist budget happening around the world today, the student added. It is not only a direct consequence of the war, but I think it will be a burden on the working people. For working people it is becoming more fragile and insecure. Inequality is very obvious which we are struggling with. Last Thursday marked exactly a year since the announcement that Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines under its militarist AUKUS pact with the US and the UK. Australia is set to buy three to five Virginia class subs from the US early next decade, to be followed by jointly-manufactured subs in a program that will extend for decades. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with US President Joe Biden at Point Loma naval base, March 13, 2023, San Diego. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] On March 14, 2023, when the announcement of the submarine program was made, the population was witness to a spectacle of bombastic militarism. Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood beside US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, at a port in San Diego, and unveiled what he described as the biggest single investment in Australias defence capability in all of our history. Albanese cynically sought to present the submarine acquisition as a vast jobs program, comparing it to the establishment of the Australian car industry in the post-World War Two period. In fact, even by the governments own figures, just 20,000 jobs will be created over three decades. Given that the submarine bill is up to $368 billion, that would equate to a spend of more than $18 million per job. It was left to Sunak to spell out the real purpose of the announcement. Directly referencing China, along with Russia, the British prime minister accused those countries of threatening to create a world defined by danger, disorder, and division. Faced with this new reality it is more important than ever that we strengthen the resilience of our own countries. Sunak said the submarine announcement was a key pillar of a far broader buildup of military capabilities. Sunak was engaged in projection. The submarine announcement had nothing to do with defence, much less decreasing danger, disorder, and division. The sole conceivable purpose of the Australian acquisition is to engage in menacing operations throughout the Indo-Pacific, including off the coast of the Chinese mainland, aimed at threatening and menacing Beijing. The nuclear-powered submarines can deploy further than conventional craft and for longer, are faster than them and can evade detection. More generally, it is the US that has been engaged for years in a vast military build-up directed against China, which the strategists of American imperialism openly proclaim as the chief threat to US global dominance that must be countered and defeated. In 2023, the submarine announcement produced considerable shock and anger among ordinary people in Australia, because it lifted the lid on longstanding war preparations. In 2011, then President Barack Obama announced a US pivot to Asia from the floor of the Australian parliament, and the Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard immediately signed on. Successive Australian administrations have deepened Australias integration into the US anti-China war preparations. But that build-up was largely hidden from the population. The AUKUS submarine announcement, however, could not be hidden from the population. In addition to its militarism, many ordinary people expressed hostility to the vast expenditure on weapons of war, amid a cost-of-living and social crisis and the degradation of public schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure. For that reason, the one-year anniversary was decidedly muted. Albanese and other senior Labor leaders did not draw attention to it. There were no large public events or discussions of the implications and purposes of the submarine acquisition. The limited coverage in the media was dominated by the news that the Biden administrations draft budget for 2025 stipulated funding for the construction of only one Virginia class sub. Various commentators speculated that this could jeopardise the US ability to deliver the subs to Australia early next decade as scheduled. The tenor of the coverage, expressing impatience for the arrival of the subs, itself underscored the uncritical alignment of the official press with the war drive. The exclusive focus on the prospective Australian submarine fleet and its start date has also served to obscure the broader ramifications of AUKUS. US military figures have repeatedly stated that Washington and its allies must be prepared to wage war against China within years, not decades. The AUKUS program, in addition to locking a long term submarine commitment for Australia, includes far more immediate measures that align with that timeframe. A key component of the submarine announcement was the declaration that US and British nuclear-powered subs would begin rotating through Stirling naval base in Western Australia in 2027. Rotating is a euphemism for basing. The US has for years pushed for increased access to Stirling, which is strategically located on the coast of the Indian Ocean. 2027 may be when facilities required to sustain up to 700 US sailors at any given time are completed, but for all intents and purposes, the rotation is already beginning. Coinciding with the one-year anniversary, the USS Annapolis, part of the US nuclear-powered fleet of submarines, arrived in Perth, where it docked at the Stirling base. A US statement declared that such visits would be frequent, leading up to the formal basing arrangement in 2027. That is part of a far broader expansion of US basing, particularly focussing on the north and west of Australia, near sea lanes and ocean passageways that would be crucial to a war with China. A US marine base in Darwin, established under the 2011 pivot, now hosts 2,500 marines, up from 500. US nuclear-capable B-52 bombers are stationed nearby, effectively ending Australias nuclear-weapons free status. Upgrades are being conducted to bases near Darwin, to facilitate operations of US bombers and fighter jets, while a vast fuel storage network is under construction. Last July, several months after the AUKUS submarine announcement, Australia-US Ministerial Consultations were held in Brisbane. There, the Labor government agreed to a deal providing US forces with their most extensive basing rights in the history of the US-Australia alliance. A joint statement recalled the Force Posture Agreement, which recognises the mutual benefits to Australia and the United States from access to facilities and areas in Australia by the United States Armed Forces and that such access and use is on a rotational basis It then spelt out carte blanche US access to Australian military facilities, across all branches of the armed forces. More generally, the militaries of the US and Australia, and sections of the economy critical to war, are being integrated to an unprecedented extent. In the months after the submarine announcement, the two countries unveiled a plan for a joint intelligence centre that would operate within Australias Defense Intelligence Organization, to be opened this year. They also unveiled a joint missile production program. And the Biden administration has moved to designate Australia as a domestic source for rare minerals, meaning the US can directly finance and help to manage the extraction of minerals deemed to be of strategic significance. For the Australian military, the nuclear-powered subs are only one component of a far-reaching overhaul. A month after the announcement, Labor unveiled a Defence Strategic Review (DSR) that it had commissioned in record time. In recommendations accepted by the government, the DSR outlined a fundamental shift in the purpose of the military, from a nominal aim of protecting the Australian continent and its approaches, to being able to deploy impactful projection throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Concretely, that means a vast missile acquisition program for all branches of the military. Meanwhile, the year of the AUKUS subs program has witnessed a further escalation of Australias role as a regional attack dog of the US. Labor ministers have continuously toured the region, hectoring, intimidating and bullying nations especially in the Pacific and south-east Asia to turn away from China and to commit to the US war drive. Military exercises have occurred almost continuously. War games, such as the biannual Talisman Sabre in Australia, have taken on the character of mock battles against China, which themselves pose the danger of a military clash or miscalculation. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the AUKUS anniversary is the unanimity of the ruling elite and its political representatives behind the war program. That extends from Labor, to the Liberal-National Coalition and the entire official media. To the extent that there have been objections to AUKUS from within the establishment, the criticisms have been of an entirely tactical character. Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating and several others have warned against the implications of fully committing to a conflict with China, which remains Australias largest trading partner. Keating and those like him do not differ with the US alliance, or even the expansion of militarism. He has called for a vast acquisition of diesel-powered submarines, arguing that they would be a better deal. The limited disputes within the ruling elite have also found expression in the activities of the Greens, several unions, the fake-left groups and various pacifists. Last year, they established an anti-AUKUS Coalition. As with Keating, this outfit does not oppose militarism or war. Its statements have the character of a warning to the ruling elite that it should not put all of its eggs in the AUKUS basket. At the same time, the anti-AUKUS Coalition serves to divert anger and opposition to the war drive behind rank Australian nationalism. The Socialist Equality Party is the only political tendency that has opposed AUKUS and the submarine program, from the standpoint of building an international anti-war movement of the working class, directed against the source of war, the capitalist profit-system. Amid the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, backed by Labor, Washingtons proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, which threatens a nuclear catastrophe, and the ongoing threats against China, this struggle is more urgent than ever. More than 100 music acts and individual musicians dropped out of the popular South by Southwest (SXSW) arts festival this year in Austin, Texas to protest the events sponsorship by the US Army and major defense contractors. A report in The Hill indicated that as of March 13, five music labels and 105 bands and individual musicians, including more than 60 acts from the United Kingdom and all 12 Irish bands originally slated to perform, chose to forego the nine-day festival in opposition to the Pentagons support for Israels war in Gaza. The SXSW event, held March 8-16 this year, is a coming together of film, music and technology coinciding annually with the spring break at the University of Texas at Austin. The music festival is the largest of its kind globally with approximately 1,500 acts participating and over 300,000 people expected to attend the 38th edition this year. US military at SXSW The artists boycotting the SXSW festival were responding in part to a campaign mounted by the Austin For Palestine Coalition (AFPC) launched on February 21 called No Warmongers at SXSW 2024. The AFPC campaign pointed to the presence of substantial sponsorship funding at SXSW by the US Army and military contractors Raytheon (RTX), its subsidiary Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems. The bands and musicians to withdraw from the event include Chicago-based songwriter Ella Williams, known as Squirrel Flower, Los Angeles-based indie band Mamalarky, Eliza McLamb from North Carolina and hip hop trio Kneecap from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The record label Flatspot Records issued a statement via Twitter/X saying it was removing its official showcase from SXSW and adding, We will not support the involvement of the U.S. Army and defense companies at SXSW. Among the Irish artists who withdrew were all the groups scheduled to appear in official showcases at SXSW, including Sprints, Kneecap, NewDad and Chalk. On March 10, the acclaimed trio Kneecap announced their plan to cancel, explaining their decision was taken to highlight the unacceptable deep links the festival has to weapons companies and the US military who at this very moment are enabling a genocide and famine against a trapped population. The Kneecap statement went on to say, We cannot in good conscience attend an arts festival that has The US Army as a Super Sponsor and is platforming RTX (formerly Raytheon), Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems, the very companies selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians, over 21,000 of them women and children. Adam ORegan, guitarist for Irish band Soda Blonde, told Newstalk that it had been a big deal for the band to be accepted by SXSW, but that its members quickly decided to boycott the event. A few short days actually before flying off, we learned about some of the partnerships [with the military and military contractors] that we just kind of felt conflicted with our core principles and values ... And, you know, we met up and we discussed at length for about four hourswhat it would look like to go and what it would look like to not go. Ultimately, for us, [we] just came to the decision that, you know, we just couldnt in good conscience go and stand on a stage and perform knowing that there are profiteers for, you know, in the tents next door, as it were. ... Were under no illusion that what our decision was gonna do was going to influence the U.S. Army or the culture in America necessarily, but, as I say, for us personally, it felt like the only decision we could make. According to an analysis by the American Friends Service Committee, the US military contractors present at SXSW provide the following weaponry to the Israel Defense Forces in the murderous assault on Gaza: RTX (formerly Raytheon) and Collins Aerospace: The worlds second largest weapons manufacturer and largest producer of guided missiles, RTX supplies the Israeli Air Force with guided air-to-surface missiles for its F-16 fighter jets, as well as cluster bombs and bunker busters, which have consistently been used against Gazas civilian population and infrastructure. BAE Systems: The worlds seventh largest weapons manufacturer, UK company BAE Systems manufactures the M109 howitzer, a 155mm mobile artillery system that the Israeli military has been using extensively, firing tens of thousands of 155mm shells into the Gaza Strip. Some of these shells are white phosphorus bombs, the use of which is forbidden in densely populated civilian areas and potentially amounts to a war crime. BAE also manufactures electronic missile launching kits and other components for Israels F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets, which the Israeli Air Force has used extensively in all of its attacks on Gaza, including in 2023. A complete list of the artists who have joined the boycott can be reviewed on the Instagram post below: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4bDNtagkUw/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet Going Through It, Eliza McLamb Reacting in a predictable manner, fascist Republican governor of Texas Greg Abbott posted on social media, Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship. Bye. Dont come back. Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. San Antonio is Military City USA. We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you dont like it, dont come here. In an effort at damage control, SXSW organizers responded on social media that it did not agree with Governor Abbott. The festival group claimed they fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech, and then defended the US Army and the military contractor festival sponsorships. The SXSW organizers absurdly attempted to present the participation of the American military and its contractorswho have vast quantities of blood on their hands for decades of imperialist violence in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africaas a progressive contribution to contemporary life: The Armys sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world. In regard to Collins Aerospace, they participated this year as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work. The musicians decision to boycott SXSW, which means passing up an opportunity to gain significant exposure, and to stand up against the genocide in Gaza is admirable and sets an example for other musicians and artists. The barbaric imperialist slaughter in Gaza and the threat of nuclear world war can and must be stopped. It will not be stopped, however, by pressuring corporations and the Biden administration, which are entirely impervious to such opposition. Artists and musicians should direct their determination to fight these crimes toward the only social force capable of putting an end to them once and for all: the international working class in the struggle for socialism. On Monday, the US House Committee on Education and the Workforce announced that Columbia University in New York City will be the focus of an April 17 hearing entitled, Columbia in Crisis: Columbia Universitys Response to Antisemitism. In a post on Twitter/X on the hearing, the House Committee stated that Columbia President Dr. Nemat Shafik and Columbias Board of Trustees Co-Chairs will answer for how they have mishandled antisemitic incidents on their campus. Columbia University students rally against the genocide in Gaza, Friday January 19, 2024. This is only the latest development in the US ruling classs McCarthyite witch-hunt and propaganda campaign, which has nothing to do with combatting genuine antisemitism. The state is seeking to suppress and shut down wide-spread left-wing opposition on campuses to Zionism and Israels ongoing genocide in Gaza by falsely and explicitly equating all expressions of anti-Zionism with antisemitism. It is part of a massive attack on academic freedom and democratic rights on college campuses aimed at silencing all opposition to war and the crimes of imperialism. In December of last year, the House Committee held a hearing chaired by New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who is a proponent of the anti-immigrant and antisemitic Great Replacement conspiracy theory claiming that Jewish people, immigrants and left-wing groups are invading the US and seeking to replace white people. Stefaniks hearing targeted the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, claiming they allowed rampant antisemitism on their campuses by not sufficiently cracking down on pro-Palestinian protests. This resulted in the subsequent ouster of both UPenn President Liz Magill and Harvard President Claudine Gay. After the hearing, House Committee on Education chair and far-right North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx announced the opening of a formal investigation into the learning environments at Harvard, UPenn, and MIT and their policies and disciplinary procedures. Menacingly, Foxx added that other universities should expect investigations as well, as their litany of similar failures has not gone unnoticed. Foxxs press release this week on the upcoming April 17 Columbia hearing states that some of the worst cases of antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism on campus have occurred at Columbia University. The brief press statement quotes Columbia undergraduate Eden Yadegarwho is Students Supporting Israel (SSI) Columbia chapter president and campus liaison for the right-wing American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)who was invited to speak at a February 29 House Committee roundtable, saying, We have been attacked with sticks outside of our library. We have been surrounded by angry mobs. Yadegar has been prominently featured by mainstream news outlets, including CBSs 60 Minutes, saying she fears for her safety on campus because she sometimes has to walk past not one, but two anti-genocide pro-Palestinian protests! Foxxs press release turns reality on its head. What has been the reality facing Columbia students sickened by the US-funded genocide of over 32,000 Palestinians and expressing their right to protest? What has been the reality facing Palestinian students or anti-Zionist Jewish students? In November, Columbia University made a sweeping attack on academic freedom and democratic rights by banning the campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) due to unauthorized peaceful protests. This week, the New York Civil Liberties Union and Palestine Legal sued Columbia over this unlawful and targeted suspension. On January 19, a large peaceful pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia attended by studentsincluding Jewish studentsand faculty was attacked by a chemical Skunk weapon by two students who were former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, hospitalizing dozens in attendance. Skunk, which smells like a putrid mix of rotting corpses and sewage, has been used by the Israeli military on Palestinians for crowd control. It is extremely difficult to get off clothing and can cause severe nausea and vomiting. In response, Columbia blamed the student victims, calling the protest unsanctioned and merely stated that the NYPD was leading an investigation. Almost two months on, Columbia has not issued any statement on what occurred at the protest or the results of the investigation, and no charges or arrests have been made. In February, Barnard College banned all dorm decor on room doors and windows following widespread pro-Palestinian signs and banners, citing isolating those who have different views and beliefs. A Columbia student who previously spoke to the World Socialist Web Site, stated, Students here are overwhelmingly pro-Palestine and that scares donors. The donors do not like seeing the protests, so Columbia is clamping down on student speech and student expression by intimidation, sending people conduct notices, trying to get people in trouble, academic sanctions, etc. This week, the SJP leaked audio of Columbia Vice President Gerry Rosberg justifying the crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech, absurdly stating, I could imagine that an Israeli student being told that their state is an apartheid state, a racist state committing genocide seems to them like an incitement of violence against them. Columbias responses have only emboldened far-right figures like Columbia Business School Assistant Professor Shai Davidai, who calls for the eradication of pro-Palestinian student organizations. The use of a chemical weapon on peaceful pro-Palestinian students at an elite university on American soil has not merely been met with silence and cover-up by both Columbia and the state, but triggered Representative Foxx to double down and send Columbia a summons only a few weeks after the January 19 attack. This February 12 Committee letter addressed to the Columbia and Barnard administration is a sweeping and exhaustive attack on academic freedom by the US Congress. In addition to requesting all records of requests to conduct protests at Columbia, including their disposition, since October 7, 2023 and Jewish enrollment numbers since 2003, the letter requests: All documents and communicationsreferring and relating to: a. The activities of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, Columbia-Barnard Jewish Voice for Peace, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, Columbia Law Students for Palestine, and/or Columbia Social Workers 4 Palestine since October 7, 2023; b. Posts by Columbia students, faculty, staff, and other Columbia affiliates on Sidechat and other social media platforms targeting Jews, Israelis, Israel, Zionists, or Zionism; c. Anti-Israel protests at Columbia since October 7, 2023, and any assaults, harassment, and other disruptions to education and student life related to them; Columbia SJP posted on social media that Columbias internet services were also being surveilled to provide evidence for the Congressional investigation, without any notice to students. Attempting to justify these requests, the letter cites dozens of numerous incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment, and vandalism at Columbia. Citing a handful of examples gives a clear idea of how the House Committee is smearing all anti-Zionist actions as rampant antisemitism: On October 19, 2023, Student Workers of Columbia United Auto Workers Local 2710, which represents over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate student workers at Columbia, issued a statement saying, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and affirm their right to self-determination and freedom from apartheid. The statement condemned what it called 75 years of Israeli settler-colonial rule and dehumanizing, unsupported claims of Israeli victimhood. The union represents teaching assistants and instructors in positions of authority over Jewish and Israeli students. At an October 12, 2023, anti-Israel protest by Columbias chapters of SJP and JVP, students chanted from the river to the sea and held a die-in. Following the rally, the crowd of protestors moved toward the universitys Kraft Center for Jewish Life, causing the building to be locked down and Jewish students to shelter inside. During the protest, a Jewish student wearing an Israeli flag was yelled at and called a murderer, while another Jewish student leaving the protest had an Israeli flag he was wearing torn off and thrown down a subway staircase. On January 31, 2024, posters appeared across campus with an image of a blue and white skunk with a Star of David on its back and the captions Beware! Skunk on Campus and brought to you in collaboration by Columbia University and the IOF [Israeli Occupation Forces]. On December 8, 2023, in violation of their suspension, SJP used a table reserved by another group to distribute anti-Israel pamphlets saying [f]rom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. On November 16, 2023, members of the Columbia Law Coalition for a Free Palestine occupied Columbia Law Schools lobby for nearly three hours in an anti-Israel protest in violation of multiple university policies, disrupting classes using a megaphone. The House letter wholly avoids any mention of instances of Islamophobia or the January 19 Zionist attack. This Orwellian propaganda campaign, taking place amidst the beginning stages of a new world war, must be strongly opposed and Columbia students under attack defended. This requires a turn to the the working classthe only social force capable of fighting against war, fascism and attacks on democratic rightsarmed with a socialist program. This is the perspective the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Socialist Equality Partys presidential candidates, Joseph Kishore and Jerry White, fight for. Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest aviation group in Africa, and Boeing, a leading global aerospace company, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purchase of the latest Boeing 777-9 airplanes. The agreement includes the purchase of eight 777-9 passenger airplanes and the potential for up to 12 additional jets by Africas largest airline, Ethiopian. Ethiopian Airlines selection of the 777X positions the carrier as the first 777X customer in Africa and builds on its landmark 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX airplanes in growing its modern fleet. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said: We are pleased to continue setting the trend in African aviation for adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and customer satisfaction. Improving our operational performance and commitment to environmental sustainability, the 777-9 offers more flexibility, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions. We are grateful to Boeing for their long-standing partnership and support, and we eagerly anticipate flying the 777-9 across the African skies and beyond. Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines that will enable the airplane to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than other fleet families. The 777-9 will support the Ethiopian Airlines plans to grow and renew its fleet in size, range and passenger and cargo capacity to reach high-demand markets in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. As part of its Vision 2035, Ethiopian is planning to fly to more than 209 international destinations flying more than 271 modern and eco-friendly aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines marks yet another first in our longstanding partnership by selecting the 777-9 to be the flagship of its growing fleet, said Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. Building on a relationship that goes back 75 years, we value the unwavering trust and confidence Ethiopian Airlines puts in our airplanes. Boeing airplanes make up more than half of Ethiopian Airlines current fleet, including 29 787 Dreamliners, 20 777s, 27 Next-Generation 737s, 15 737 MAX and 3 767 jets. Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing continue to explore opportunities to further develop the countrys aerospace industry, including support for Ethiopian Airlines MRO capabilities, industrial development, training capabilities at the Ethiopian Aviation University and STEM education, as well as equipping the Ethiopian Museum of Science with aerospace exhibits. Boeings Commercial Market Outlook forecasts Africa's overall air traffic growth at more than 7% through 2042 the third highest growth rate among global regions and above the global average growth rate of approximately 6%. Providing growth opportunities for airlines and offering enhanced features for passengers, with a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles) the 777-9enabls flights from Addis Ababa to as far as Seattle in the US. TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Mar 16, 2024 - 20:42 | All, World, Japan Japan's imperial couple "felt a sense of unease" about their links to the British royal family ahead of their state visit in 1998, newly released documents at the National Archives in London showed Saturday. The files opened to public view show that, despite their past visits, then Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko felt they lacked the more intimate connections enjoyed by other members of the imperial family with Britain and its royal family. Akihito acceded to the throne in January 1989 and abdicated in April 2019. Sadaaki Numata, a minister at the Japanese Embassy in London at the time, spoke to David Wright, then one of the most senior civil servants at the Foreign Office, to air the imperial couple's concerns and sought to strengthen connections, according to the telegram Wright sent to the British ambassador in Japan in 1994. Wright wrote to then Ambassador John Boyd and then Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd's private secretary, John Sawers, with a view to raising the matter at the ministerial level. Wright wrote, "He (Numata) identified one problem about the Emperor and Empress. They felt a sense of unease about their links with the British Crown." "They lacked the firm foundation of the long-standing personal links" of other imperial members such as Akihito's aunt Princess Chichibu, and younger brother Prince Hitachi and his wife Princess Hanako, Wright said in the telegram. "In a sense, and to make matters worse, their lack of close personal ties was highlighted by the experience of the next generation," Wright wrote. Wright's telegram refers to Akihito's son, Emperor Naruhito, who studied at Oxford University between 1983 and 1985, as did his wife, Empress Masako. Akihito's younger son, Crown Prince Fumihito, and his cousin-in-law, Princess Hisako, had built ties with the British royal family while they attended Cambridge University and Oxford, respectively. "The successful British ties of the younger generation served to enhance TIHS's (Their Imperial Highnesses') sense of unease about the lack of a close relationship with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh," Wright wrote. Although Akihito attended Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 when he was crown prince and stayed at Windsor Castle with his wife in 1976, other members of the imperial family had lived in Britain and built more durable ties with the British royal family. Numata told Wright he felt the royal couple's ties to the British royal household were weaker than in the 1980s when their two princes studied in Britain. Despite a Japanese state visit to Britain being considered for several years, it was only in 1998 that it actually took place as it was considered controversial by some in Britain due to the history of the two countries fighting in World War II and former prisoners of war demanding apology and compensation. Related coverage: Japan's Empress Masako turns 60, expresses eagerness to move forward Japan crown prince says review of official royal duties required Jiang Keyu (C) and Simon Abbe teach young people contemporary dance in Yaounde, Cameroon, Feb. 14, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) by Arison Tamfu, Wang Ze YAOUNDE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Simon Abbe's smile was both nostalgic and bashful as he began to tell a tale of love in which his affection for his Chinese dance teacher not only blossomed but also became a catalyst, harmonizing Chinese and Cameroonian cultures. "It's a long story," Abbe said. Abbe's passion for dance was ingrained in him from a young age. In 2000, he, along with his childhood friends Julio Dimitri and Joseph Mario Bayong, who shared his fervor for dance, founded a hip-hop dance group called Black Star. Together, they roamed from street to street and neighborhood to neighborhood, showcasing their freestyle moves. "We danced for fun and to impress girls," recalled Bayong, now 42, reminiscing about the challenges of street life. Despite their amateur status, the group aspired to a brighter future. Five years later, they joined the Cameroon National Ballet. Around the same time, the Cameroonian government initiated a cultural exchange with China, enabling Chinese professional choreographers to teach contemporary dance to Cameroonian dancers. This partnership led to the arrival of Chinese dance teachers Naersi and Jiang Keyu in 2005, who came to train a new generation of Cameroonian dancers, including Abbe and his friends, and revitalize the Cameroon National Ballet. "Everything changed thanks to the Sino-Cameroonian cooperation training. Once I joined the national ballet, I started to learn to dance," emphasized Dimitri, now 43, noting that beyond dance techniques, the Chinese teachers imparted life skills, helping them mature quickly despite their youth. "We are actually products of the (Sino-Cameroon) cooperation. It is the foundation of my career as a dancer and choreographer," Abbe said. "The rebuilding of the ballet was a great success; during those years, we choreographed 17 dances and traveled with the President to many countries for important occasions. We also performed in Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympics," Dimitri added. Training these Cameroonian dancers, however, was no easy feat. "When we first tried to rebuild the Ballet, we started with modern dance training, then we added ballet training, and created choreography," Jiang said. "Back then, the actors and musicians who came to the auditions were quite similar, mostly with African dance or hip-hop elements." As the training progressed, Jiang and Abbe's relationship blossomed. "We met when we were young," Abbe recalled. "We found out that we had a special connection." They began dating, but Jiang's stay in Cameroon ended in 2009, and she returned to China. Around the same time, Abbe went to France to further his career. "When I was in France, we realized how much we missed each other," Abbe said. That's when they decided to get married. Today, they live in China with their two children, a boy and a girl. "I have been with Simon for more than 10 years, and Chinese and African cultures have always been fermenting in our small family," Jiang said. They now run a dance troupe called Body Boulevard Company, with branches in China and Cameroon. Abbe and Jiang shared their story with Xinhua in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, where they were training a new generation of dancers for their troupe. "Now, we can see that the young dancers here are very diverse physically, and that diversity probably comes from the training we initially gave them," Jiang added. Their training session proved fruitful. Dressed in various costumes, the young performers seamlessly transitioned between the spirited, energetic rhythms of Cameroonian traditional dance and modern music. Abbe, Jiang, Dimitri and Bayong watched closely and intervened when necessary to correct the trainees' steps. Jiang described the performance as "Children of the Sun." "Africans and Chinese both look to the sun; we all need to be warm and grow under its rays. From another perspective, I am also contemplating life through the lens of Chinese philosophy, 'from birth to death,' and I want to incorporate this into my work," said Jiang, now 43. The troupe aims to tour the world not only to perform but also to bridge the gap between Chinese and African cultures, hoping for integration and mutual learning through the universal language of art and culture. "We want to bring choreographers from China and send choreographers from Cameroon to China. Culture is a powerful tool for bringing people from different areas and countries together," said Abbe, now 42. "It's been an important journey for me, moving from my 20s, where I had a deep interaction and growth with African culture, to this stage where I've moved from my personal growth to being able to eventually turn it into a production, spreading the idea of African culture and incorporating Eastern Chinese philosophy," Jiang said. She hoped that the members of the dance troupe would surpass expectations. "I hope that their passion, energy and artistic flair can reach a wider audience, and I will do my best to help them be seen by the world," she said. As the sun began to set, Abbe wrapped up the day's training session. "Our story is beautiful, and our passion is beautiful," Abbe concluded of his love story with Jiang. "It's a story of civilizational exchange," Jiang added. Jiang Keyu (C) teaches dance steps to young dancers in Yaounde, Cameroon, Feb. 14, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 13, 2024 shows young dancers practicing dance steps in Yaounde, Cameroon. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) Jiang Keyu (R, front) teaches dance steps to young dancers in Yaounde, Cameroon, Feb. 14, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) A young dancer practices dance steps in Yaounde, Cameroon, Feb. 13, 2024. (Photo by Kepseu/Xinhua) This aerial panoramic photo taken on Jan. 10, 2023 shows a view of Lujiazui area in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China's securities watchdog will issue three guidelines to boost supervision of initial public offerings (IPOs), listed companies, brokers and public offering funds. It will also release a guideline to improve its own capacities, said Li Chao, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Friday. The regulator will intensify its crackdown on financial fraud, particularly targeting five types of illegal practices, said Guo Ruiming, head of the CSRC Department of Listed Company Supervision. They are long-term systemic fraud and third-party cooperation in fraudulent activities, fraudulent issuance of stocks and bonds, abuse of accounting policies to manipulate profits, falsification through activities like financing trade, and fraudulent actions that harm the interests of listed companies, according to Guo. The regulator noted that it will enhance random sampling and on-site probes of companies slated for listing. Yan Bojin, head of the CSRC Department of Public Offering Supervision, said that the CSRC will conduct thorough investigations into companies that withdraw their listing applications when they are subject to on-site probes, which implies that even if they withdraw their applications, they will still be investigated. Bill Jorgensen Dies: TV Anchor For WNEW In New York Was 96 Veteran New York City broadcast news anchor Bill Jorgensen, remembered for his shows nightly admonishment, Its 10 oclock do you know where your children are? died on Wednesday at age 96. Jorgensen was the founding anchor of the Ten OClock News on WNEW, now Fox 5 New York, which he hosted for over 12 years. He was recruited from Clevelands KYW-TV in 1967 to fill the slot. He signed off nightly with Thanking you for your time this time, until next time. More from Deadline The 10 oclock message was read on Jorgensens cast by the late Tom Gregory. It aired from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Jorgensens daughter remembered him in a Facebook post. His never-give-up spirit lasted until his end of life, and I just hope to be able to follow his example as long as possible, his daughter, Rebekah Jorgensen, wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. She did not give the cause of death or location. I grew up knowing him, behind the scenes, as a man deeply committed to finding the story that put people and their rights in danger, intent on finding innovative ways of telling it, she said. His daughter recalled his coverage of environmental stories including Cleveland pollution, as well as the story of Robert Manry, a copy editor from Ohio who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1965 in a 13-foot sailboat. He also reported on the famous case of Dr. Sam Sheppard, who was accused and then acquitted of his pregnant wifes 1954 murder. Jorgensen moved from WNEW to WPIX-TV in 1979, where he anchored national and local segments. He later was one of the co-founders and first anchors of the Independent Network News, which was produced at WPIX. The nightly broadcast was helmed by Jorgensen, Pat Harper, and Steve Bosh. He retired in 1987. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Late-night host Bill Maher sparred with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) over the one-time Donald Trump critics MAGA flip-flop, noting on Friday night that she was very hard on the former president following the Jan. 6 insurrection. During an appearance as a panelist on Real Time with Bill Maher, Mace insisted that her shift toward Trump in recent years was largely due to President Joe Biden and his policies, complaining that his administration has been that bad. Maher, meanwhile, wondered if her recent embrace of Trump had more to do with the changing demographics of her congressional district. When you ran in 2020, you won by one point. Then they redistricted your area, and I think it was less Black people, and then you won in 2022 by 14 points, Maher stated. Does that explain the shift in your politics? Because you used to be a little more to the middle. Claiming shes very much the same person as she was the last time Maher spoke to her, Mace insisted that the reason she increased her margin of victory in 2022 was that she was swinging hard to fight for women after Roe v. Wade was overturned. But you did switch on Trump. I mean, after Jan. 6. I could read you the quotes. You were very hard on him, Maher reacted, referencing Maces highly critical comments about Trump following the Capitol riots. I was very hard. I didnt like it, she replied, prompting Maher to quote her previously saying we need to find a way to hold Trump accountable for the attack on the Capitol. Nancy Mace confronted by Bill Maher for "switching on Trump": "That's not where you are now." "Well, we've had 3 years of Joe Biden." "Wow, that bad huh?" "It's been that bad" "Really?" *Audible groans from the Bill Maher crowd* "Most of my district is unaffiliated or independent pic.twitter.com/TQdlkzCX9C Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 16, 2024 Thats not where you are now, Maher added. Well, weve had three years of Joe Biden, the South Carolina lawmaker shot back. The Real Time host also asked Mace, who is reportedly on Trumps short list of potential running mates, whether she would have refused Trumps request to refuse to certify the 2020 election results if she had been vice president on Jan. 6. Would you have done what Mike Pence did that made Trump so angry? Maher wondered. I certified the Electoral College in every single state, she responded. I mean, that was the right thing to do, the constitutional thing to do. And I would do it again, 100 percent. Maher, meanwhile, jokingly warned Mace, Donald Trump sometimes accidentally watches this show, adding that he wont be happy with that answer. Elsewhere in the conversation, Maher brought up Maces heated confrontation with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos. The interview featured the congresswoman, a sexual assault survivor, accusing Stephanopoulos of trying to shame a rape victim when he asked her how she could endorse Trump after he was found liable for sexual abuse. She has since continued to relentlessly rail against the This Week host, including in a House hearing. He was questioning you about the idea that youre supporting Trump, who was found guilty of sexual assault by a jury in New York in the E. Jean Carroll case, and youre a rape victim yourself. And I guess his implication was that in being so, you should not support someone who was convicted of this crime. Mace, for her part, said, Trump wasnt convicted of sexual assault and instead was found liable for defamation and sexual abuse in a civil case. The $83 million was a defamation suit. It was about defamation, she continued. There was a sexual abuse claim, and she got a little bit for that, but the vast majority of it was for defamation, not rape, not sexual assault. 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. Dominik Bartz, head of Hub International, Duisburg, experiences an intelligent vehicle at an intelligent and connected vehicles testing and demonstration area in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) WUHAN, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of over 20 people from the German city of Duisburg, who recently visited Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, said that they anticipated deeper cooperation with the city. From March 11 to 14, the guests, marking the largest delegation sent by Duisburg over the past 15 years, visited companies in Wuhan related to renewable energy, intelligent vehicles and logistics, among other fields. They also held trade talks with local companies to further consolidate the cooperation between the two cities. "We attach great importance to the cooperation with Wuhan. I have always been happy to come here, and over more than 40 years, our cooperation in many fields has been great," said Soren Link, mayor of Duisburg, who has visited Wuhan five times. Although Wuhan and Duisburg are thousands of kilometers apart, they share many similarities -- both cities are home to world-renowned steel producers, and both are located on the confluence of two major rivers. In 1982, Duisburg became the first city in the Federal Republic of Germany to establish a "sister cities" relationship with Wuhan. During the visit, Dominik Bartz, head of Hub International, Duisburg, traveled in a fully self-driving car for the first time. "The first two to five seconds were really strange, seeing the steering wheel move by itself, but after that, it was a brilliant experience and was really joyful," said Bartz, adding that he hopes to broaden the existing cooperation, especially on battery-powered cars, and is looking for cooperation in the field of hydrogen. Frank Ahrenhold, head of Sustainable Steel Production at Thyssenkrupp Steel, was impressed by the visit to the Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Company. "It's an extraordinary site, with the cleanliness and a lot of green around it. We also saw the central control room with 5G technology that is something unique as well. I'm very impressed with the upfront production," Ahrenhold noted. "There's a lot of potential (for Wuhan and Duisburg) to do something together in green transformation. Because a lot of effort has been made, especially in China and Europe, and we should really team up there," Ahrenhold added. There are currently over 110 German companies established in Wuhan, making Germany among the top 10 largest trading partners of the city. Meanwhile, a Sino-German international industrial park, with a planned area of 20-square-km, has become a new highlight of Wuhan's economic development. "We started our branch in Wuhan in 2014, and since then, we've been developing on the superfast track," said Jack Ge, the managing director of Webasto (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch, which is among the first batch of companies in the industrial park. "We used to produce only automobile roof systems, but now we can manufacture more products, such as high-voltage heaters, charging piles and radar sensor modules," he said. "What's more, our production lines in Wuhan were all designed by Chinese people, and they have been purchased by many companies in Germany and the United States. Even though we only have around 400 employees, our annual output value surpassed 1.2 billion yuan (about 169 million U.S. dollars) last year," Ge added. "The industrial park looks great. I see great potential," said Daria Kreutzer, head of Foreign Trade, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Niederrhein. "In particular, I think the Germans are really impressed by the very strong ties between your research and your practice, and this is something that the German companies can also learn from," she said. For Kreutzer, the trip to Wuhan has been a useful opportunity to gain insights and gather data. "It is actually good that I'm here to get all this information, because then I can just take everything I get here, take it back and then present in front of our companies," she added. A delegation from the German city of Duisburg visits an intelligent and connected vehicles testing and demonstration area in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) A delegation from the German city of Duisburg visits a factory of Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Company in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) Daria Kreutzer (L), head of Foreign Trade, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Niederrhein, watches a vehicle at an intelligent and connected vehicles testing and demonstration area in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun) American indie filmmaker Crystal Moselle has been on both sides of the scripted/non-scripted aisle of storytelling. Her 2015 documentary The Wolfpack, about six Angulo brothers confined to a Lower East Side New York housing project apartment while passing their days reenacting scenes from their favorite movies, won the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at Sundance that year. Her Gotham-nominated feature Skate Kitchen took a scripted narrative approach to rolling back the ins and outs of a chaotic subculture of female skateboarders, all coming of age, in New York City. Her latest feature The Black Sea, co-directed by the films star Derrick B. Harden, takes an entirely unscripted approach to the drama of a Brooklyn barista, Khalid (also played by Harden), with dreams of his own left stranded in Bulgaria, passport stolen, after a catfishing scheme implodes before his eyes. With Moselle and Harden behind the camera and Harden also in front of it, The Black Sea improvises all its dialogue, with Bulgarian producer Izabella Tzenkova working with the filmmakers to cast non-actors from Sozopol, where this earnest drama about the necessity of community in the worst and best of times takes off. The improvisatory approach works both for and against The Black Sea, which hinges on the shaggy charisma of Harden as Khalid, a Black man from Brownsville who in the opening scene triumphantly quits his job as a barista, announcing bigger things to come in Bulgaria. Hes met a woman through Facebook, whos paid his airfare and promised to pay even more money in exchange for adult time. Problem is, Khalid shows up in Sozopol with nothing but a duffel bag, and the woman is either dead or never existed. More from IndieWire That the movie was entirely improvised around general story beats shows in the way The Black Sea improves across its 90-minute running time, the filmmaking by the last act more assured and its actors more settled into their characters. In Sozopol, adrift in the streets with no job after his bag is stolen in the night, Khalid befriends a not-at-first-suspicious travel agent, Ina (Irmena Chichikova), who points him in the direction of a local pier-dwelling layabout, Georgi (Stoyo Mirkov), who may offer employment but has a grimy vibe. What The Black Sea teaches us is to not necessarily trust the largesse of just anyone a lesson Khalid couldve benefitted from before answering that Facebook message. Its a tale of a fish-out-of-water against a new worlds mistrust familiar in the history of movies about immigrants or people displaced, hanging their hopes on any local with a vague offer. The central premise of The Black Sea poses a challenge to viewers if they cant buy why Khalid would take on such a shady catfishing offer to begin with. He is high on the prospects of adventure, sure, but the films rushed setup offers no window into the urgency of Khalids situation, why he might want to leave Brooklyn altogether. Though as Moselle and Hardens film unfolds, that becomes clearer, despite not in retrospect properly setting up Khalids wanderlust. Knowing later that The Black Sea was improvised better contextualizes snippets of dialogue that almost feel too literary to belong in a script: How are you confidently introducing me to this madness? a stressed-out Khalid asks Ina, who turns out to be a decent friend and maybe more after bait-and-switching him to Georgi. Eventually, Khalid overtakes Inas travel business with his charms to turn it into a beloved local cafe, bringing the Brooklyn-gentrified craze of matcha to the locals. They have dreams in Bulgaria, like the American Dream, but Bulgarian, a local tells Khalid. My dreams never got answered, Khalid replies. In that sense, The Black Sea does become a cinematic slam poem about how shattered dreams lead people to become castaways, or refugees, or immigrants, far from their place of origin. Khalid is a frustrating protagonist at first why, upon finally finding safe haven after landing on his feet, does he start to masturbate? but Hardens performance becomes increasingly compelling. The actor/co-director, a rapper and musician of his own, also contributed the films original music, which lend energy to a leisurely time spent on the Balkan coast. He may be the only Black man in Sozopol, a place that is decidedly white and decidedly hardened to outsiders, but by the end of The Black Sea, he isnt alone. And he was probably more alone in Brooklyn than he realized. The loose style of filmmaking, while too wandering at first in the form of shots that feel mostly like coverage with no decided vision, lends to Khalids unloosening. Everyone here, from in front of and behind the camera, is discovering life in real time. Grade: B- The Black Sea premiered at SXSW 2024. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Le Bar a Vin in Palm Beach has joined forces with a famed Italian chef to set a new course for the South County Road wine bar and nightclub, and is introducing a new menu. The menu by Antonio Mellino, patriarch chef of a three-Michelin-starred family-owned restaurant on Italys Amalfi Coast, offers mostly small plates fueled by a simple, delicious and full of flavor philosophy, he told the Daily News. With most of 20 items offered priced between $20 and $40, the menu includes a variety of fare dominated by seafood and vegetable dishes served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., which sometimes is when live music is featured. More: Patriarch of 3-Michelin-star Italian restaurant joins forces with Le Bar a Vin Along with the menu, weekly specials are available, such as Mellinos famed tagliolini with zucchini, zucchini flowers, French butter, basil and parmesan. The response has been great, Le Bar owner Ann DesRuisseaux told the Daily News on Friday. Its all about simplicity and the freshness of ingredients, said DesRuisseaux, who was vacationing with her family in Aspen, Colorado. Antonio spent a lot of time in our area to meet local farmers to source the right ingredients so the flavors in his dishes would pop every time you take a bite. Mellino recently returned to Italy, but plans call for him to be back in Palm Beach either in April or next fall to hone the culinary scene at Le Bar. Pistachio gelato with toasted Sicilian pistachios. A charcuterie board, burrata-and-grilled vegetable salad, tuna tartare, eggplant parmesan, lobster-cake slider and steak tartare are among the new menu items he has created for Le Bar, 380 S. County Road. Other dishes now offered include Alaskan king crab salad with avocado mousse and herb salad; Baltic salmon crudo with caper, shallot, citrus jus and micro arugula; and shrimp tempura and vegetables with an orange agrodolce. A Roman-style pizza called pinsa is offered, as well as parmesan-truffle fries. For a sweet ending, gelato is served, including pistachio and hazelnut. Two menu items ossetra caviar with accompaniments and an oysters-and-caviar plate are priced at more than $40. Theyre $120 and $150, respectively. Le Bar a Vin features periodic pasta specials by Chef Anthony Mellino, including spaghetti al Pomodoro. Mellino partnered with Le Bar after becoming friends with DesRuisseaux during her familys visits in recent years to the Amalfi Coast. Thats where Mellinos Quattro Passi in seaside Nerano is a destination restaurant with patrons including royalty, artists, athletes and the likes of Beyonce and Jay Z. When Mellino began working with Le Bars culinary team last month, he noted, You have to have true passion about ingredients and flavors and build a team that sees that same vision and wants to fulfill it night after night. That is what I want to happen here (at Le Bar). Though Mellino is slated to return to Palm Beach this year, one of his two sons, Rafaele and Fabrizio, who are also chefs, may come in his stead, DesRuisseaux said. Le Bar currently is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 561-490-1456 or visit lebarpalmbeach.com This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Le Bar a Vin in Palm Beach teams with famed Italian chef on new menu Welcome to Delaware Wing Madness. As March Madness turns the country into a den of brackets and semi-legal sports betting, we are pitting bar against tavern, brewery against grill, to find the best wings in all of Delaware. Wings and sports go together like sports and wings so universal they need no metaphor, and no comparison. Wings are sloppy America, big-plate America, moist towelette America. Indulgent, spicy, and beautiful America. Wings at Kid Shelleen's in Wilmington But there can be only one wing champion of Delaware. We've already narrowed the contest down to 32 wing contenders. But from here on out, only your votes will determine the winner. Brewpub honored: This Delaware brewpub named best brewpub in the country by USA TODAYs 10Best awards This is a single elimination tournament. And each week, the number of wing contenders will reduce by half. Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, until finally there is one wing to rule them all. The process is simple: For each matchup in the brackets below, vote for the wing you love or vote against the wing you hate. Voting on the Round of 32 ends Wednesday, March 20, at 9 a.m. How we chose the 32 contenders for best wings in Delaware Buffalo and sesame soy wings sit on the prep table at Two Stones Pub in Middletown on Wednesday, Jan. 1. We asked readers for nominations, of course. (And a special shoutout is due here to the dedicated wing hounds of the Delaware subreddit, for their strong and compendious feelings on the subject.) We looked at the results of previous reader polls, and at wing contests and taste tests all over the state. We also bothered every wing enthusiast we know, including teenaged nephews. Favorite Pizza 2023 Challenge: Cafe Napoli or Margherita's Pizza? The winner of our Delaware's Favorite Pizza Challenge is ... And, of course we went out and ate wings probably too many wings! Some notes on our priorities: National and international chains were looked at with flinty suspicion. But a couple sneaked in anyway, based on simple merit or popularity among the people of Delaware. Hooter's was not among these. B-dubs neither. We did not stop for Wingstop. And America's Best was not considered, for the purposes of this conversation, to be "best." We are not purists. Neither is the city of Buffalo, we point out. Classic Frank's-and-butter hot wings figure prominently in these brackets. But so do baked wings, rotisserie wings, Parmesan-smothered wings, Korean and Thai and Peruvian wings, and some Southern-fried wingettes. All tasty wings are welcome, until your votes decide their fate. Top seafood restaurants: Delaware oyster house visited by President Biden is one of Yelp's top seafood restaurants But no "boneless wings," which do not exist. Fingers are not wings. Breasts are not wings. Tenders may be delicious, but they are not wings. And they're usually less tender than wings. Vote for the best wings in Delaware A plate of 'triple play' flavored chicken wings feature mild, bourbon barbecue and poached pear molasses sauce at 2 Fat Guys restaurant in Hockessin. Without further ado: Wing Madness. Vote for your favorite wings below, based on the love in your heart. The One Wing will be crowned in April. Miffed that your favorite wing didn't get a shot at the prize? Feel free to fill up my inbox at mkorfhage@delawareonline.com. This won't accomplish anything in particular, but I'll probably go eat the wings. I like wings. Now, get to voting in the poll below and be sure to share with the fellow wing fans in your life. Voting on the Round of 32 ends Wednesday, March 20, at 9 a.m. And next week, the Sweet Sixteen. Matthew Korfhage is business and development reporter in the Delaware region covering all the things that touch land and money.. A longtime food writer, he also tends to turn up with stories about tacos, oysters and beer. Send tips and insults to mkorfhage@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What's the best wing in Delaware? WIng Madness: Round of 32. We all wear green on Saint Patrick's Day. And if you're looking to eat, drink, read or even sing Irish this March, we've got you covered. Here, we've gathered stories from our archives about Irish names, music, food, drink and even the saint himself. Let's call it our own little pot of gold. So, like you might with a big plate of corned beef and cabbage, dig right in. Icon of Saint Patrick from Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Wayne, West Virginia. He is the primary patron saint of Ireland, but was most likely born in Roman Britain and didnt make it to the Emerald Isle until he was kidnapped by Irish pirates at the age of 16. Does that mean he was Roman? British? Could St. Patrick have actually been Italian? More: Was St. Patrick Italian? Historians have long debated his Roman lineage The 2024 Bergen County St. Patrick's Day Parade took place on Sunday, March 10, in downtown Bergenfield. NorthJersey.com's annual live parade broadcast captured all of the action on Washington Avenue, along with historical images of the parade and interviews with parade officials, dignitaries and more. More: St. Patrick's Day Parade replay The 2024 Bergen County St. Patrick's Day Parade marches along the green line through downtown Bergenfield on Sunday March 10. If you're Irish or like the way the Irish party you're probably looking forward to all of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The most common traditions for this holiday across New Jersey are the annual St. Patrick's Day parades. NorthJersey.com's annual live broadcast of the Bergen County St. Patrick's Day Parade was on March 10 in downtown Bergenfield is among them. More: Eat, drink and be Irish: Where to watch a St. Patrick's Day parade in New Jersey "A name that a shame never has been connected with." That's Harrigan according to the old George M. Cohan song. Though it might just as easily be Murphy, Kelly, O'Brien, Ryan, Byrne, O'Connor, Walsh, O'Sullivan, McCarthy, Doyle the 10 most common Irish surnames, according to IrishCentral. Names no less than music, poetry, shamrocks and soda bread are part of the Irish legacy in this country. More: This year's Bergenfield St. Patrick's Day parade music, magic, and some grand old names Morristown Colonials Marching Band during the 2023 Morris County St. Patricks Day Parade in Morristown, NJ on March 11, 2023. What's an Irish celebration without music? Not for nothing is Ireland's national emblem a harp. "When we heard Irish music, there's something about the lilt, the melody, that grabs us and makes us identify it as Celtic and Irish," said Brian Patrick Timmons, marching band recruiter for the parade, and district music coordinator at Bergenfield Public Schools, who describes himself as part-Irish by blood, 100 percent Irish by marriage (his wife is Megan; his three children are Kaleigh, Alanna and Declan). St. Patrick's Day is music to his ears. More: Tunes of glory, at Bergen County St. Patrick's Day Parade Jim Roberts, right, featured vocalist with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, sings "Danny Boy" to his half-sister, Mrs. Stella Farley of Primrose Ave. in Nashville. Roberts, who arrived in town with the orchestra April 2, 1963, visits his half-sister, whom he had not seen for 20 years. Its lyrics were composed more than a century ago by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly. But to most Irish Americans, Danny Boy holds a hallowed place in Irish culture. And its hard to imagine a St. Paddys party or parade at which the song isnt prominently featured. Ditto for the music of The Chieftains and the Clancy Brothers. Still putting together the playlist for your St. Paddys bash? Dont overlook The Irish Rovers, The Dubliners and Sweeneys Men, all of whom helped revive Irish folk music in the 1960s. And, while youre at it, throw in some fancy string work from such legendary fiddlers as Mary Custy, Paddy Canny, Peadar OLoughlin and Brian Conway. More contemporary minded? The tunes of Hozier, U2, The Cranberries and Dropkick Murphys wont disappoint. More: St. Patrick's Day music: Party-perfect traditional and contemporary Irish music Slices of corned beef, served over a bed of cabbage and side of boiled potatoes. New Jersey may be known for pizza, pork roll and great tomatoes, but when March begins, so does the hunt for the best corned beef. It is a St. Patrick's Day staple, after all, along with soda bread, green bagels and Irish beer. Now that the countdown to St. Patrick's Day is on, where can you find these dishes? Luckily, Irish eyes are smiling: Plenty of restaurants will serve Irish favorites on March 17, and some keep them coming all year long. More: Where to eat, drink and celebrate St. Patrick's Day in North Jersey Stephanie Kurowsky's Irish Soda Bread. When I asked a colleague for his wife's recipe for Irish Soda Bread I'd had it once at a staff pot luck and it was outrageously good he said he wasn't sure he could give it out. "She said its her mom's recipe and has to check with her before sharing it so widely," he wrote on Microsoft Teams (ah, the times we live in). No matter. There are more recipes for Irish Soda Bread online than you can throw a cup of raisins at. Google away and you're sure to find one. But what you won't find on a search engine are the stories behind the recipes. More: Irish Soda Bread, for some, is more than just a recipe. It's a family treasure Another successful loaf of Julia O'Neill's Irish soda bread. For a single day each year during the 1970s, Julia ONeills Irish soda bread was, hands down, the most famous soda bread in the New York metro area. No dont even think about arguing the point. Here's how. More: It's no malarky: My grandmother's Irish soda bread was touted on the airwaves McDonald's iconic Oreo Shamrock McFlurry and Shamrock Shake, limited-time desserts. This year, we've got a trusty recipe to help you DIY your own Shamrock Shake from the comforts of your home (shoutout to our parent paper, USA Today). So, while the golden arches might be pumping their florescent drink with we don't really know what, you can keep full tabs on what's going into yours. More: How to make your own copycat Shamrock Shake at home We know corned beef and cabbage is going to be on many an Irish dinner table that evening, you might want to shake things up just a bit this year and have beef stew. But not just any beef stew beef stew that has been cooked slowly and lovingly all afternoon in a simmering bath of Guinness Draught, which is a rich dark Irish dry beer that will add a deep and wonderful flavor to your stew. More: For Saint Patrick's Day, a beef and Guiness stew recipe I know my Irish mother is probably reading this column right this second, several days before The Day (as we refer to Saint Patricks Day in our Irish family), and wondering what on earth is her daughter thinking with this delicious travesty that is shepherd's pie quesadillas. Crisp tortillas stuffed with a mixture of tender beef and carrots, mashed potatoes, and a little bit of cheddar cheese. Irish cheddar cheese, please ... we need to be authentic. More: For St. Patrick's Day, make these easy, tasty Shepherd's Pie Quesadillas This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: St. Patrick's Day in NJ: Everything need to know, recipes The filmmaker became a father for the first time in 1981 Vince Bucci/Getty George Lucas arrives with his children Katie, Amanda and Jett at the 33rd AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to George Lucas on June 9, 2005 in Hollywood, California. Throughout his career, George Lucas brought to life two of the most renowned franchises in cinematic history: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. In his personal life, meanwhile, hes a father to four children. The filmmaker welcomed his first child, Amanda, via adoption in 1981 with his ex-wife Marcia Lou Griffin. Although the couple ended their marriage and divorced in 1983, Lucas went on to adopt two more children: a daughter, Katie, in 1988 and a son, Jett, in 1993. In August 2013, three months after marrying Mellody Hobson, the pair welcomed a daughter together via surrogate: Everest Hobson Lucas. Lucas opened up to CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose about fatherhood in 2015, explaining the impact it has had on his work. "I gave up directing in order to become a dad. ... For 15 years directing, I just ran a company and was an innovator. But it was not doing what I really like to do, which is actually make movies," Lucas said. "It was one of those things where you don't expect it to happen. But once I was a dad it was like a bolt of lightning struck me." The dad-of-four also made it clear where his priorities lie. When Rose asked him what he would want his obituary to say, he responded, "I was a great dad or I tried." Here's everything to know about George Lucas' children: Amanda, Katie, Jett and Everest. Amanda Lucas, 42 Etsuo Hara/Getty Amanda Lucas poses with the belt in her post match media conference after the DEEP57 fight against Yumiko Hotta on February 18, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. Lucas and his ex-wife Griffin adopted a baby girl, Amanda, in 1981. She was born on July 1 of that year. Currently splitting her time between Las Vegas and San Francisco, Amanda is a professional mixed martial arts fighter. Known by the nickname Powerhouse while in the ring, she has gone on to win many DEEP matches against Japanese veteran MMA fighters. In 2013, a documentary was released about Amandas profession. Titled LUCAS, the documentary detailed Amandas life growing up and her journey into the world of MMA. I think I never really measured up to the other kids, and so when I really fell in love with jiu jitsu that was kind of what really got me into wanting to do this, she said in the trailer, which also featured her famous father. I didnt know a lot about mixed martial arts until a few years ago, the Star Wars creator told the camera. I was a bit surprised when she came to me and said I want to do this.' I said, Well, okay, you do what you love.' " On July 11, 2014, Amanda and her husband Jason welcomed their first child, a son named Felix. Baby Felix has arrived & is healthy! she posted on X along with a photo of the newborn. 8lbs 3ozs 10 fingers & 10 toes Thanks everyone for all the love! Amanda & Jason." Michael Kovac/Getty George Lucas and Katie Lucas attend the USC Shoah Foundation Institute Ambassadors for Humanity Gala on June 6, 2012 in Hollywood, California. Katie was born on April 13, 1988. Lucas adopted her as a single parent during that same year. Following a similar path to her father, Katie is an actress and screenwriter. She has had several roles in the Star Wars trilogy. In 1999s The Phantom Menace she portrayed Amee, a friend of young Anakin Skywalker. For the role, she was credited with an alias of Jenna Green. In Attack of the Clones, she played a purple Twilek girl named Lunae Minx, and in Revenge of the Sith, she made a cameo as Senator Chi Eekway. Later in her career, Katie penned several episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Katie has made lots of red carpet appearances besides her father. One of their first pictured red carpet moments is from the 75th diamond jubilee celebration for the University of Southern California School of Cinema-television, which took place in September 2004. Since then, the father-daughter duo stepped out at the 2017 LACMA Art + Film Gala, which honored Lucas work within the film and television industry. Jett Lucas, 31 Michael Kovac/Getty George Lucas and Jett Lucas attend American Film Institute's 44th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams on June 9, 2016 in Hollywood, California. Jett was born on Feb. 17, 1993, and adopted by Lucas that same year. The only son of Lucas, Jett has had a number of roles within his fathers productions and the wider Star Wars franchise. Like his older sister Katie, Jett made small appearances in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He played the uncredited character of Zett Jukassa, which is a clever play on his name. Jett also worked in the visual effects department for The Mandalorian as a visual effects production assistant for the first season, which premiered in 2019. Showing his support for the franchise that his father created, Jett was a celebrity guest at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim in 2022. To celebrate May 4, 2018, which is the month and date known as the official Star Wars day in popular culture, Jett posted a sweet tribute to his family. My father has it ... I have it ... my sisters have it, he wrote in the caption. The fourth is with me and I am one with the fourth, the fourth is with me and I am one with the fourth. Photocred: @wonder_woman_mary #maythefourthbewithyou #tbt. Everest Hobson Lucas, 10 Gregg DeGuire/WireImage George Lucas and Mellody Hobson arrive at the 2018 LACMA Art + Film Gala on November 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Shortly after marrying Mellody Hobson, Lucas and his new wife welcomed a daughter: Everest Hobson Lucas, born via surrogate on Aug. 9, 2013. Everests birth made Lucas a father for the fourth time, aged 69. During the same year as his youngest daughters birth, the filmmaker made the decision to sell his film and television production company Lucasfilm to Disney. The deal was made for $4 billion. "I made that decision because I looked at the future, I looked at the fact that I was going to have a baby, I looked at the fact that I was married, and I looked at the fact that I wanted to build a museum, and I looked at the fact that I wanted to make experimental films," he told CBS This Morning in 2015. "So my life was going on a different track. So that started that ball rolling." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. An unexpected surge of support has launched HBOs popular Tokyo Vice, currently airing its second season, to unlikely streaming heights on Max. Starring Ansel Elgort as Jake Adelstein, the real-life American reporter who in the late 1990s became the first foreigner to work at Tokyos newspaper of record, the Yomiuri Shimbun, the crime drama is a consistent, intelligent addition to HBOs lineup that stands a chance of going the distance amid the networks current sci-fi/fantasy-heavy rotation. Ansel Elgort is an unlikely success HBO Elgort, a delicate, slightly awkward presence whose acting career has always been a mixed bag, is the unexpected key to the shows success. Six-foot-three inches, with a theater kids self-consciousness and an elongated, gawky stride, he sticks out like a sore thumb among the shows almost entirely East Asian cast. Initially, his outsider status is a sharp disadvantage, but as he consistently secures opportunities rare for early-career Japanese reporters and works himself into the confidence of organized crime detectives like Katagiri (the always-strong Ken Watanabe), the shows subtextual message becomes clear Jakes foreignness is not his handicap but his secret weapon, rendering him a lost-lamb figure who Japanese locals ache to take under their wings. (This is despite the fact that the real Adelstein studied in Japan and is fluent in Japanese Elgort, to his credit, also learned the language for the show. Elgorts Jake uses faux-broken Japanese and a succession of Western accents to pose as a hapless tourist the better to chase stories.) Katagiri tells him semi-sarcastically, Youre like the son I never had, and though its meant to be a dig, one senses the reality in the sometimes unfair leg-up Jake gains over his native Japanese colleagues. Its a smart, subtle approach to the white savior brush with which one could easily tar the show. Broadening horizons in the second season HBO J.T. Rogers, the Tony-winning playwright whose previous plays Blood and Gifts and Oslo have plumbed West Asian politics with a journalists aplomb, turns his attention to East Asia as the creator and showrunner of Tokyo Vice. Despite the shows name, the obviously expanded budget for Tokyo Vices second season has allowed Rogers to venture further afield than Tokyo itself to luxe shoreline villas and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, which hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. Expanding its horizons has served the show well, though the first seasons relatively confined boundaries never seemed claustrophobic. This is a story that is equally comfortable on large and small canvases. Intimate but globe-spanning stories HBO Thats fitting, since despite the shows umbrella focus on the violence and dominion of rival yakuza families, its real interest is small, personal stories that nonetheless span thousands of miles. Tokyo Vices Jake is fully at home in his new country, even becoming skilled in Judo a welcome justification for how the skinny American manages to hold his own against gangsters who sometimes get a little too close for comfort. But Jakes interest in Japan may have more to do with the simple fact that Japan isnt Columbia, Missouri, where he grew up, and his avoidance of a personal crisis involving his sister (Sarah Sawyer) and parents (Jessica Hecht and Danny Burstein, Broadway regulars) sometimes seems juvenile and driven by an irrational denial of his authentic self. (Jacob is his middle name his real name is Joshua, but only folks back home use it by the time we meet him.) Jake hops heedlessly from bed to bed in a way that Tokyo Vice admirably avoids making the least bit sexy. He can run as far as he wants, climb a ladder no one thought hed climb, but he is still, ultimately, a lost kid. Seeing a man being thrown off a building to land on the pavement only feet from him, he is reduced to shouting, Fuck Fuck! the best ending line for an HBO episode in recent memory, certainly since Succession went off the air. By contrast, Jakes friend, source, and occasional makeout partner Samantha (Rachel Keller, so excellent on Fargo), owner of a hostess club where wealthy men pay beautiful women for drink and conversation, is on the run for a far more legitimate reason. A former Mormon missionary who defrauded her church to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars and is still on the run from her oppressive Utah family, Samantha has been too close to the wrong side of the law for too long, and she is given the luxury of few female supporting characters on TV get to make morally questionable, misguided decisions. Samantha is a stellar and intriguing character, and Keller seizes the role with a gilt-edged authority and never lets go. A strong Japanese ensemble HBO Watanabes Detective Katagiri is so stoic and honorable a yakuza calls him the only incorruptible man I have ever met that he would more than likely be the main character on a network version of Tokyo Vice. He proves here that a truly selfless character is always more interesting when hes more incidental to the main thrust of the story. Aside from Watanabe, among the Japanese cast, the standout is Sho Kasamatsu, as Sato, a yakuza whose rapid rise through the ranks parallels Jakes in fascinating ways. He and Kellers Samantha dance around one another in a dangerous waltz, occasionally sexual, occasionally antagonistic, and one remains perpetually concerned that they will lacerate one another with their glass-cutting jawlines. Tokyo Vice still has that Michael Mann touch HBO Its the shows aesthetics that ultimately keep you watching. The pilot was directed by Michael Mann, and the subsequent episodes in both seasons one and two benefit from echoing his neon-soaked nighttime landscapes best utilized in Manns Thief (1981) and the Orientalism-avoiding view of the far East in his Blackhat (2015). The standout director since Manns departure has been Josef Kubota Wladyka (previously of The Terror and Fear the Walking Dead), one of many writers and directors on Tokyo Vice of Japanese descent. Tokyo Vice season 2 is currently streaming on Max. The finale airs April 4. "I was like, 'If this show doesn't go on, at least I'll have a small piece of its character,' " the 'Wish' voice actor tells PEOPLE Gregg DeGuire/Variety via Getty Harvey Guillen in Burbank, California, on Feb. 4, 2024 Harvey Guillen won't be letting Guillermo go that easily! Speaking with PEOPLE recently amid the release of Wish on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD, the 33-year-old actor revealed that he and his What We Do in the Shadows castmates are "in the middle of shooting" the sixth and final season of their hit FX vampire mockumentary series. Asked whether he'd be taking anything from the set to remember his time by, Guillen jokes while nodding vehemently, "I would not dare. How dare you? I am not going to even acknowledge that." The actor admits he did snatch his character's "original glasses" from the show's pilot episode, which aired in March 2019. "I didn't know the pilot would get picked up, but I fell so in love with the character that I was like, 'If this show doesn't go on, at least I'll have a small piece of its character,' " Guillen says. John P Johnson/FX From L: Kayvan Novak, Harvey Guillen and Matt Berry in the pilot episode of What We Do in the Shadows (2019) Related: Harvey Guillen Shares How He Got Casted By Taika Waititi in 'What We Do In The Shadows' "I like to always take a little piece," he continues. "So I have Guillermo's original glasses from the pilot still with me, and I've been lucky enough to have one of Guillermo's original sweaters. So I have a little bit of him forever." Luckily for Guillen, What We Do in the Shadows has become quite the supernatural sensation. Created by Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement and based on the 2015 film of the same name (which Clement, 50, co-directed with Taika Waititi), the show follows the everyday lives of four vampires in Staten Island, New York, who struggle to fit in with the human world, with many hilarious hijinks along the way. Guillen plays Guillermo de la Cruz, a mild-mannered familiar to vampire Nandor the Relentless (real-life best friend Kayvan Novak) with a lifelong goal of becoming a vampire himself only to find out that he is descended from famous vampire hunter Van Helsing. The show also stars Matt Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth, Natasia Demetriou as Nadja of Antipaxtos, Mark Proksch as "energy vampire" Colin Robinson and Kristen Schaal as The Guide, among many recurring and one-off guest stars like Beanie Feldstein, Nick Kroll, Mark Hamill, Fred Armisen, Doug Jones, Vanessa Bayer, Haley Joel Osment, Sofia Coppola, Patton Oswalt and even Waititi, 48. Related: Harvey Guillen Says Friendship with Ariana DeBose Is 'Opposite' of Their Wish Characters (Exclusive) While "it's hard to hang out as a group" for Guillen and his castmates, since most of them live in the U.K. and he's based in Los Angeles, they still make time for one another off set when they can. "Whenever we're working, Kayvan and I go to dinner. We have little buddy brunches," says the Blue Beetle actor. "I'm really close to him and his fiancee." "And we plan dinners. When I went to London, I stayed in their flat and they cooked me dinner. So I think that by luck, we became familiar and master, and by choice, we became best friends," he adds. Guillen tells PEOPLE that the Shadows cast and crew "haven't had a wrap party in years," due to the COVID-19 pandemic that erupted early on in the show's tenure. That being said, the series finale might just be the perfect time to hold the biggest and best bash there is. "I think this might be our last year that we can do that. So here's hoping," Guillen says. 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. Season 1 through 5 of What We Do in the Shadows are streaming on Hulu. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. UPDATED: A judge delayed Donald Trumps New York criminal trial, in which he faces charges related to hush money payments paid to Stormy Daniels, by 30 days from today. The trial was scheduled to start on March 25, the first of four criminal cases the former president faces. More from Deadline Instead, the judge, Juan Merchan, will hold a hearing on that date and schedule a new date after ruling on Trumps motions. His lawyers have raised objections over discovery issues. The delay in the start of the trial was expected, after prosecutors informed the judge that they would support a delay after getting a trove of new documents in the case from the Justice Department. The trial delay cast new doubts on what, if any, cases will come before a jury before the November election. Trump also faces charges related to his withholding of classified documents after he left the White House. The judge has not set a new date for that trial. The former presidents federal trial on election conspiracy charges also is on hold, as the Supreme Court takes up the issue of whether Trump had immunity. And no date has been set in Trumps trial in Georgia, where he and a host of other defendants face racketeering and other charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in that state. That case has been delayed as a judge determined whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had a conflict of interest after the disclosure of a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor, Nathan Wade. The judge, Scott McAfee, ruled that Willis could remain on the case if Wade resigned, which he did later in the day. Trumps charges in New York are related to payments made to Daniels in advance of the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump on 34 counts last year, including charges of falsifying business records. Trump plead not guilty. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. From royalty to social media commenters, people are still getting their jokes off about Princess Kate Middletons photoshop controversy. Netherlands King Willem-Alexander joined the pile-on in a video posted via X on Tuesday, March 12, in which he was speaking to a group of children at a royal engagement in Zutphen. When one of them remarked on a photo of the king, 56, he replied, At least I didn't photoshop it. The satirical barrage directed at Kate, 42, began with a photo that the royal family released on Sunday, March 10, showing her celebrating Mothers Day in the U.K. with her and Prince Williams three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. "Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day," Kate wrote in the caption. Everything Kate Middleton Has Said About Her Amateur Photography Passion Through the Years Keen-eyed viewers soon began pointing out inconsistencies in the photo, leading to speculation that it had been photoshopped. The public noticed that Charlottes sweater didnt appear to line up properly on her left sleeve and that Kates hair was oddly blurred. Others also noted inconsistencies in the patterns on Louis and Georges sweaters. Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace / MEGA The next day, Kate issued a statement apologizing for the confusion surrounding the editing. "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing, she said. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mothers Day. Anwar Hussein/WireImage The timing of the controversy only added fuel to the speculation. Kate spent 13 days in a London clinic after abdominal surgery for an undisclosed issue. Just days before the photo debacle, Kate was spotted publicly for the first time since the procedure, but updates on her progress have been sparse. Princess Kate Through the Years: From Commoner to Future Queen Consort to Royal Mom "The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate, began a release from her office at Kensington Palace at the time of her January surgery. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness progress when there is significant new information to share." Kate first took up photography as a hobby during the pandemic, labeling herself as an amateur and sharing tips shes learned along the way. She even joked that her kids have begged her to stop bombarding them with photos. Everyones like, Mummy, please stop taking photographs! she said in a June 2021 interview. Several news outlets eventually pulled the doctored image from their sites. Christopher Astin Motry has been charged with murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend Christina Elizabeth Barber Facebook Christina Elizabeth Barber Christina Elizabeth Barber was found dead near the Flint River in Michigan on March 4, per investigators Police say they found several bloodied items in a motel room that had been rented by Barber, who was in a relationship with Christopher Astin Motry Motry, who is married, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder in connection with Barber's death A Michigan man has been charged with murder after a fisherman found the body of the mans girlfriend with her toes sticking out of a bag near a river, authorities say. Flint City Police officers recovered the body of Christina Elizabeth Barber, 48, near the Flint River in Michigan on March 4, Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said at a press conference. Authorities, who were already investigating Barbers disappearance, later arrested her boyfriend Christopher Astin Motry, 34, in connection with her death, Leyton said at the conference, which was broadcasted by FOX 66 and NBC 25. Motry, who is married to another woman, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, domestic violence, evidence tampering and concealing a death, online court records show. Genesee County Prosecutor's Office Christopher Astin Motry On March 2, a co-worker of Barbers requested a welfare check because she had not been answering her phone or been to work in a week, Leyton said. The following day, local police responded to a motel in Flint where they found several bloodied items in a room that was rented by Barber, Leyton said. At the scene, police recovered a comforter laying on the ground soaked in what appeared to be blood outside the motel room, Leyton said. Inside the motel room, police found a bloodstained mattress with cat litter on it and cat litter on the floor. There were also bloodstained sheets next to the bed and bloodstains on the floor and the wall, according to police. On March 4, police found Barber's body after a 911 call was made by a person about to go fishing, Leyton said. The witness found a black garbage bad with what appeared to be toes from a person sticking out of the bag, Leyton said. During their investigation, Leyton said that Genesee police reviewed security footage from the motel and saw Barber and Motry entering the motel room on Feb. 28. On Feb. 29 evening, Motry is allegedly seen coming out of the room with what appears to be a body in a plastic bag in a firemans carry and puts it into the bed of his truck, Leyton said. You never see Ms. Barber again, Leyton said. 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. A GoFundMe has been set up by Barber's daughter to help the family with funeral expenses. Barber was unmarried and had seven adult children. Co-workers told investigators that Barber and Motry were in a difficult, tumultuous relationship that she was trying to leave, Leyton said. He added that they also claimed Motry had threatened to kill her several times. Motrys wife has been cooperating with the investigation and is not a suspect, Leyton said. Motry was arraigned on Friday and is being held without bond, court records show. He has been assigned a public defender, who was not named in court records. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "If they invade Rafah, I will die here." Residents in Rafah in the Gaza Strip expressed their fears that if Israel expands its military operation to Rafah, it will result in more and more civilian deaths, leaving the locals with nowhere else to seek refuge. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazers Oscars speech was a mistake, Son of Saul director Laszlo Nemes said. Though he praised Glazers film as an important movie, Nemes told The Guardian in a statement that Glazer should have stayed silent. In Glazers speech, he said that he and producer James Wilson stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people, whether the victims of October 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza. Nemes explained in full, The Zone of Interest is an important movie. It is not made in a usual way. It questions the grammar of cinema. Its director should have stayed silent instead of revealing he has no understanding of history and the forces undoing civilization, before or after the Holocaust. Had he embraced the responsibility that comes with a film like that, he would not have resorted to talking points disseminated by propaganda meant to eradicate, at the end, all Jewish presence from the Earth. It is especially troubling in an age where we are reaching pre-Holocaust levels of anti-Jewish hatred this time, in a trendy, progressive way, Nemes added. Today, the only form of discrimination not only tolerated but also encouraged is antisemitism. Like Glazer, Nemes film was about the Holocaust specifically about a Jewish prisoner who is forced to work in the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where approximately 1.1 million people were killed. Son of Saul is set late in the 1940s, with Saul serving a member of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jews who the Nazis have commanded to organize the deaths of other Jews. Saul Auslanders story was based on the real story of Mordechai Podchlebnik, who unloaded the bodies of his wife and children after they were killed in the gas chambers. Zone of Interest is also set at Auschwitz-Birkenau, though most of the movie takes place on the other side of the walls of the camp, where Nazi commander Rudolph Hoss lives with his wife and children. The suffering of millions of people literally next door is captured largely as sounds throughout the film, and no prisoners are seen. Nemes added that perhaps the lack of Jewish representation in Zone of Interest makes Glazers statement less of a surprise. Maybe it all makes sense, ironically, there is absolutely no Jewish presence on screen in The Zone of Interest. Let us all be shocked by the Holocaust, safely in the past, and not see how the world might eventually, one day, finish Hitlers job in the name of progress and endless good. Nemes is hardly the only person who has taken issue with Glazers speech. The Holocaust Survivors Foundation tore into the directors statements. President David Schaecter wrote, You should be ashamed of yourself for using Auschwitz to criticize Israel. Schaecter, who is the only member of his family who survived the Holocaust, added, I watched in anguish Sunday when I heard you use the platform of the Oscars ceremony to equate Hamas maniacal brutality against innocent Israelis with Israels difficult but necessary self-defense in the face of ongoing barbarity. The films executive producer also spoke out against Glazer. While speaking on the Unholy podcast, Danny Cohen explained, Its really important to recognize its upset a lot of people and a lot of people feel upset and angry about it. And I understand that anger, frankly. Cohen added, The war and the continuation of the war is the responsibility of Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization which continues to hold and abuse the hostages, which doesnt use its tunnels to protect the innocent civilians of Gaza but uses it to hide themselves and allow Palestinians to die. I think the war is tragic and awful and the loss of civilian life is awful, but I blame Hamas for that. The speech was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), who tweeted on Monday, Israel is not hijacking Judaism or the Holocaust by defending itself against genocidal terrorists. Glazers comments at the #Oscars are both factually incorrect & morally reprehensible. They minimize the Shoah & excuse terrorism of the most heinous kind. The post Son of Saul Director Slams Jonathan Glazers Oscars Speech: Should Have Stayed Silent After Zone of Interest Win appeared first on TheWrap. These days, many Real Housewives are noticing that their drinking habits have been over the top. Therefore, several have entered into sobriety, which weve loved watching on Bravo. On the flip side, its also been fun to watch these stars who have known their limits, giving us comedy gold, not felon vibes. In honor of Erika Jaynes hysterical moments in Barcelona, these are the other Real Housewives whose tipsy antics have made us chuckle. Meredith Marks Drunken British Accent Meredith Marks accent changed 3 times in just one dinner scene. All her personalities came out. #RHOSLC pic.twitter.com/4nMSVB7KPQ (@ChrysoulaPapas) September 23, 2023 During Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 4, a slightly inebriated Meredith Marks confronted Angie Katsanevas at dinner. While angrily telling Angie that she can leave their table, Merediths voice randomly slipped into multiple British accents. We couldnt help but laugh at home, because this is the type of drunken fighting that makes Real Housewives fun. Teresa Giudices Bachelorette Shower Teresa Giudices costars on Real Housewives of New Jersey attended her bachelorette party in Season 13, and zero tables were flipped. Instead, these girls invited the locales to join them in a chugging contest. Watching fans of this series drink alongside this often volatile cast showed us all a fun, lighter side to these ladies. We need more unifying scenes on this series, where the liquor results in comedy, not fights. Melissa Gorgas DGAF Drunken Honesty When Melissa Gorga entered back into the workforce with the opening of her shop on RHONJ, her husband Joe Gorga belittled her income, basically calling it crumbs to his cake. So when tipsy in Season 9, Melissas drunken honesty saw her yelling f*ck your crumbs to Joe, who thankfully laughed. Melissa also grabbed Teresas chest, a cake was thrown, and everyone enjoyed their night. We loved this scene, where the tipsy Real Housewives came together, and their antics were light. When Luann de Lesseps Met the Bushes When the OG cast of Real Housewives of New York traveled to Mexico in Season 9, the liquor was flowing. After a conversation on the steps leading into their house, a tipsy Luann de Lesseps took one step up, and then one step over, landing directly into the bushes. This moment has been reenacted and shared online so many times, weve lost count. Even Luann laughed, making this one of the funnier drunken moments seen on this series. The Tres Amigas Ringtone Dance Vicki Gunvalson, Shannon Beador, and Tamra Judge are the Tres Amigas on Real Housewives of Orange County. Well, they were, since this once unbreakable friends group is now DOA, yet, prior to this, these ladies really knew how to whoop it up. One of our favorite scenes of theirs was when they were all slightly drunk and a cell phone rang, causing them to dance and laugh, as Vicki forgot how to accept an incoming call. We died, and now, we miss these types of fun antics from the Tres Amigas. Girls Gone Ojaild Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 3 was one of the greatest seasons for this series, as the laughter far outweighed the drama on this cast. One of our favorite moments with these ladies though was when they traveled to Ojai. Here, a drunken night out ended with a gymnastics and arm-wrestling contest in one of the ladies bedrooms, and it was the opposite of ladylike. We loved every bit of these RHOBH stars in this scene. Kenya Moore at a Slumber Party Sheree Whitfield hosted a slumber party during Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 14, but it was drunk Kenya Moore who was the real star of this event. While others fought, Kenya took jabs on the chin, laughing and saying that she was the moment, before running all over the house, giggling. We love fun Kenya, and we also think that her silly tipsy moves saved this scene on RHOA. The Barcelona Dinner of our Dreams This is probably our favorite moment on this entire list. A tipsy and happy Erika is our favorite, which she was both of during the recent cast trip to Barcelona. At a dinner hosted by Sutton Stracke, which included Suttons aristocratic friends, Erika interrupted a sweet conversation about Merce Cunningham. Merce was a friend of Suttons who had passed away, and Sutton was in pocession of his ashes, which were sealed up nearby. Look, can I say something? I know you love Merce, but Merce was in a Ziploc bag, Erika said. At this point, the other ladies began raising their eyebrows, while also attempting to hide their laughter. In addition, Erika shocked everyone with her wealth of knowledge, which included facts on Beirut and even architecture. This caused Dorit Kemsley to state, Its like watching drunk Rain Man. We basically laughed all throughout this entire dinner. Truly, Erikas tipsy statements helped to bring lightness to what could have been a very somber dinner, and on this, we were grateful. TELL US ARE THERE ANY OTHER DRUNKEN ANTICS THAT MADE YOU LAUGH, NOT CRINGE, ON REAL HOUSEWIVES? The post Tipsy Real Housewives Antics That Made Us Laugh appeared first on Reality Tea. Most experienced drinkers will tell you to never opt for anything made with well liquor known as a "well drink" and go for a cocktail made with a quality liquor brand instead. After all, well liquor is generally known for being low value. A lot of customers will either opt for "call liquor", which is mid-range, or top-shelf liquor, so named because it's generally placed on a bar's top shelf (thanks to the fact that it's rarely used) and known for being quite expensive. Well liquor is named after the "well" of the bar, which is the area underneath the bar counter that's meant to be easy for bartenders to grab. Generally, when you order a mixed drink or cocktail and don't ask for a brand of alcohol by name (for example, a Jack and Coke), you're going to get the relatively affordable but perhaps not top quality well liquors. However, despite their reputation, well liquors actually work quite well for some pretty popular cocktails, and are sometimes even preferred. Using a combination of recommendations from experienced bartender, online research, and personal experience with cocktails, we put together a list of drinks you should always get with well liquor. Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have Moscow Mule Moscow mules in copper mugs - Mphillips007/Getty Images Perhaps most famous for the distinctive copper mugs they tend to be served in, Moscow mules actually work quite nicely with well liquor thanks to the bold flavors of the other ingredients mixed into this cocktail. The ginger beer, sugar, mint, and lime give the Moscow mule a big kick with a combination of sweet, sour, and slightly spicy ingredients. Ginger beer is a drink brewed and fermented from ginger extract, and it's this spice that gives the end result a peppery and somewhat herbal taste. Because of the pronounced flavors of these ingredients, you should always opt for well liquor with a Moscow mule. Since you can barely discern the vodka flavor in the finished product, ordering anything more expensive is a waste. Not to mention, vodka is such a subtly flavored liquor in the first place that most people taste its alcohol content rather than any particular flavoring. At the end of the day, the vodka in a Moscow mule is mostly there to give you a buzz. Cuba Libre Cuba Libre with lemon slices - Goskova Tatiana/Shutterstock The Cuba libre is a combination of two simple ingredients: rum and Coca-Cola. That's why it's very commonly referred to as a rum and coke. Bartenders started making the drink during World War II, when sugar was strictly rationed and the U.S.' favorite soda became a good way to sweeten rum cocktails. However, the drink was also originally made with Cuban rum, which is not available in the United States today. At the same time, Coca-Cola cannot be found anywhere in Cuba due to the U.S.-Cuba embargo. Which means that if you want to make a Cuba libre the authentic way, no matter where you are in the world, you may be out of luck. However, most bartenders simply use another Caribbean rum instead. The sugary sweet taste and fizzy feel of the Coca-Cola blend beautifully with well rum, meaning you don't have to splurge on a top-shelf brand to make a great cocktail. If you want some extra flavor in your Cuba libre as well as a fresh twist, try asking for a lime wedge and squeezing a little bit of its juice into your drink. Gin And Tonic Gin and tonic glasses - Instants/Getty Images The slight bitterness and citrus-like kick of tonic blend well with various liquors, particularly clear ones like gin and vodka. And if you're ordering any alcohol mixed with only tonic, the well liquor option is generally the way to go. The classic gin and tonic is no exception. Part of the reason gin and tonic works with well liquors is because they tend to be higher quality than most other liquors. A lot of these brands tend to include standards like Beefeater, which is a classic London dry gin that most bartenders prefer to use in a gin and tonic. Another well liquor possibility is Tanqueray, another pretty tasty yet affordable gin, according to several knowledgeable bar managers interviewed online and bartenders we spoke to for this article. Vodka Cranberry Vodka cranberry with lime - Elena Gordeichik/Shutterstock A very highly-ranked mixer for vodka, cranberry juice has a sweet and sour taste that complements the alcohol in this cocktail very well and gives a fruity punch to the somewhat straightforward taste of the distilled beverage. In fact, this is such a popular flavor combination that you can now find (and make) cranberry-infused vodka. Some bartenders will add a little bit of soda water or a fresh lime twist to the drink, but it's generally pretty straightforward to make. Not to mention, bartenders can easily make vodka cranberries in bulk, meaning they will almost always use the well liquor for this cocktail. According to many experienced bartenders, the sweet, fruity, and slightly sour taste of the cranberry juice covers up almost any trace of vodka flavor, so even the most inexperienced drinker will likely find this mixed drink very easy to ingest. Given both the taste and price of this particular beverage, well liquor is highly recommended. Screwdriver Vodka and orange juice - 5PH/Shutterstock It seems fitting to include the orange juice-filled screwdriver here. According to several bartenders, the taste of an acidic fruit juice like OJ will completely disguise the strong alcohol content of the vodka. That's partly because the drink is usually only made with 2 ounces of vodka, while the rest of the tall glass is filled with orange juice. It's one of the simplest two-ingredient cocktails to make with components you can find in the fridge, making it popular both at parties and at home. You can make screwdrivers with a whole variety of vodkas, from some of the most well-known brands like Grey Goose to craft vodka, and, of course, whatever well vodka the bar has on hand. If you want to add an even fresher twist to the drink and enhance the screwdriver's fruity flavor, you can ask for it with an orange slice. Put some ice in it and enjoy it on a great summer night out. Margarita Margaritas with salt rims - Instants/Getty Images Is there a more classic brunch and happy hour beverage than the margarita? One of the reasons for its ubiquity, especially as a daytime drink, is its strong flavor sweet, salty, and sometimes even spicy depending on the variation. Margaritas with a salt rim have become very popular both as ordering choices and menu offerings at bars, further diluting the flavor of the alcohol once it hits your tongue. Definitely choose well tequila brands like Casamigos and el Jimador for this ice-cold cocktail. The flavor generally comes from the quality and proportions of the drink's other ingredients, like the triple sec and lime juice, not to mention whatever fruit flavorings the bar uses. The sweet taste completely covers up any trace of alcohol, which is what makes these cocktails a popular choice for novice drinkers. The refreshing temperature of a margarita also makes it a great choice for warm climates and the summer months. Paloma Refreshing Paloma with grapefruit - Bhofack2/Getty Images Use well tequila for this bright, summery drink that has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Since a paloma is a two-ingredient cocktail at its core, it's also quite straightforward for bars to make another reason they don't use top-shelf liquor. The light yet flavorful grapefruit soda along with the optional lime wedges and Tajin seasoning mix very nicely with a well tequila. Not to mention the proportions of a paloma greatly favor the grapefruit soda over the tequila. Only 2 ounces of tequila are used in the mixture, while the rest of the highball glass is filled with grapefruit soda. If you would rather be more particular with your measurements, you can also use one part tequila and two to three parts grapefruit soda, depending on how strong you want the resulting drink to be. This is also a cocktail you will definitely receive with a fair amount of ice another reason to order it with a well tequila instead of an overpriced brand you won't even really taste. Scotch And Soda Scotch and soda cocktail - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock Though you may think scotch and soda by itself would end up tasting fairly alcoholic, the lemon twist in this particular cocktail gives it a note of citrus and less of a strong flavor than you might expect. Most well scotches work in this drink. In fact, a very pricy scotch is likely to have a much stronger taste and complex flavor profile, which can ruin mixed scotch drinks. If you're wondering why this is the case, premium whiskey is made with higher-quality ingredients and production methods, which often translates into better flavor. In addition to what personal experience has shown, many bartenders will tell you that people usually splurge on scotch when they're ordering it straight or on the rocks. So for a scotch and soda, definitely get the well scotch it's truly a shame to order a really expensive scotch for a mixed drink. Long Island Iced Tea Long Island Iced Tea - 5PH/Shutterstock Let's be honest: If you're ordering a Long Island ice tea, it's unlikely you're looking to discover the subtle notes of finer liquor brands. This mix of a lot of popular liquors vodka, white rum, gin, tequila, and triple sec has become famous mostly for its ability to get those who imbibe it drunk relatively fast. The combination of so many different clear alcohols (almost all of them, in fact) cancels out the specific taste of any one in particular. As we have previously mentioned on Tasting Table, "the flavor of the alcohol is almost indiscernible." This means you can definitely opt for the more affordable and less flavor-forward brands for a Long Island iced tea, which is one of the strongest well drinks out there. It's also a cocktail you should drink with caution this mix of so many types of alcohol can hit you much faster than a regular cocktail and make you feel intoxicated sooner than you might have anticipated. Whiskey Smash Top view of Whiskey Smash - Heleno Viero/Shutterstock The whiskey smash is named after the way it's made, namely by crushing (i.e. smashing) lemon wedges to release that bright citrus flavor from both their juices and peels. Thanks to the citrus taste that overtakes this drink coupled with garnishes of mint that add yet another herbal flavor you don't need to splurge on an expensive, high-level whiskey like Macallan just to get your whiskey smash at a bar. According to an experienced bartender who has worked all over Los Angeles, most well whiskies work very nicely for a whiskey smash as long as they have that slight smokiness that the alcohol is known for to complement the lemon mixer. Served over ice, the cocktail is surprisingly cool, bright, and refreshing for a whiskey-based drink. For drinkers who would like to venture into whiskey cocktails but are a little intimidated by the strong, smoky flavor of this liquor, a whiskey smash may actually be one of the best choices. Mojito Mojito with mint leaves - T_kimura/Getty Images It's become clear through several drinks on this list that almost any cocktail with soda can probably be served with a well liquor. Not only do mojitos have soda, but they also have mint, lime, and sugar flavors mixed in with white rum, creating a refreshing, sweet, tropical cocktail. The key component of a mojito cocktail is the mint syrup, usually made by dissolving granulated sugar into water over heat, then adding the mint leaves into the remaining mixture while everything simmers. Lastly, the whole mixture rests for a while so the mint leaves can soak and the flavor can dissipate into the surrounding syrup. Most bartenders will add more mint leaves into the final mixtures, at the very least as a garnish. The strong herbal flavors of mint and the sour, acidic flavors of the lime flavorings mean you can use a well brand of white rum without worrying too much about the final flavor of your mojito. Daiquiri Daiquiris besides a pool - popout/Shutterstock Don't confuse this daiquiri drink with the fun, beach resort frozen version. Classic daiquiris are made with light rum, lime, and Demerara syrup. This tasty combination means a well liquor is the way to go. In one article on Punch, bartenders praise Plantation 3 rums, among other brands, for being great yet affordable mixing rums, particularly for making daiquiris. Since all the ingredients are vigorously tossed around in a shaker with ice, they are well-blended in the resulting drink and should always feel chilled when served. Many bars will serve daiquiris with a final lime garnish for a boost of extra delicious flavor at the end. In case you're wondering whether this means you could also use well liquor with the summery, frozen version of a daiquiri, rest assured you can those cocktails are even sweeter, colder, and more full of crushed ice than the classic version. Mai Tai Mai Tais with cherry garnishes - Bhofack2/Getty Images The Mai Tai is made with a combination of light and dark rum, with some bartenders blending up to three different kinds of rums in their preferred mix. Given that so many bartenders like to employ at least two different brands for Mai Tais, if not more, well liquor is the way to go unless you want to pay an extravagant amount for three different kinds of top-shelf rum. Classic Mai Tais are usually made with orange curacao, though there are many variations on the original recipe, some of which lean even more strongly into the orange and citrus flavors. The white rum is shaken together with any orange-flavored liquids, and the dark rum (or rums) usually tops off the Mai Tai after it has been poured into its glass. Chilled, citrus-flavor-filled, and served on the rocks, the Mai Tai is definitely another cocktail that doesn't need anything fancier than well liquor to taste delicious. Sex On The Beach Sex on the Beach cocktail - Bhofack2/Getty Images You may be sensing a trend in which breezy, refreshing, summertime cocktails seem to be less likely to require top-shelf liquor and work just as well, if not even better, with well liquor mixed into them. Well, according to several experienced bartenders, this observation is correct, as yet another popular well drink to serve and order is sex on the beach. Even those who have never tasted this cocktail have likely heard of it thanks to its somewhat provocative name. However, if you can muster up the curiosity to order this drink, you will be surprised to discover just how tasty it can be. Dreamed up by a Florida bartender trying to win a competition, sex on the beach features peach schnapps, vodka, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Two fruit juices in the same drink, as well as the use of plenty of ice, preclude the need for any overpriced vodka brands. Rusty Nail Rusty Nail with lemon peel - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock A great two-ingredient cocktail for those looking for a scotch-based drink without the very strong flavor of that liquor, the rusty nail is almost always served with a lemon peel garnish. You should order well liquor for this drink, and the bartender will likely use it anyway unless you specifically request something else, as the mixer of Drambuie dilutes and softens the strong flavors of the scotch. Unlike what many people think, Drambuie is not just another type of scotch, but actually a scotch liqueur. That means that instead of featuring that smoky, aged taste that scotch has, Drambuie is more likely to have other infused notes, leading to a more muddled flavor profile than pure scotch at least in the way a purist or scotch aficionado may describe it. However, it is also pretty tasty, especially for those who don't always favor brown liquors. Since you're already mixing scotch with a modified liqueur, there's no reason to bother with a pure, high-class scotch for this drink. Dark And Stormy Dark and Stormy cocktail - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock Despite the ominous name of this drink, the dark and stormy is actually a pretty fun cocktail with a lot of bright notes. Essentially, it's a riff off a Moscow mule, using rum instead of vodka as the base liquor. Bartenders add ginger beer and lime to the well rum of their choice, as well as Angostura bitters. Made in Trinidad and Tobago, Angostura bitters are very popular and on hand at most bars you will visit, especially if you're heading to a cocktail bar. As you may imagine from the name, they taste a little bitter. Though they would be hard to ingest alone, they generally work wonders when used as a garnish or small addition to another cocktail and add another layer of flavor to the drink. You will often get a dark and stormy in a tall tumbler glass, unlike the shorter glasses pictured. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Ireland and the United States are two countries with a deeply intertwined history and heritage. Over the centuries, millions of Irish citizens have crossed the Atlantic, some not by choice, some fleeing famine and poverty, and others simply looking for opportunities. Despite the move, those people and their descendants' links to the Emerald Isle have remained strong which can be clearly seen in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago. Naturally, St. Patrick's Day is a major occasion, both for Irish Americans and others who enjoy Irish culture or just like a good drink. What better way to celebrate than with an Irish American whiskey? The relatively new but rapidly growing concept is simple: Take the traditional spirit and add an American twist somehow. The twist in question can be added by blending distillation methods, aging a traditional whiskey in a New World way, or just throwing a liberal amount of American spirit into the mix. Drinking whiskey is a long-standing hobby of mine. I've sampled many a dram from both Ireland and the United States. I've also written about the magical liquid, read even more about it, and never need an excuse to go on a distillery tour. Here's a selection of unique Irish American whiskeys I've highlighted, along with how each distillery has managed to celebrate Irish American culture and history with its product. So whip up some Irish cuisine, slap "Thousands are Sailing" by The Pogues on, and raise a glass of something distinctly Irish American this St. Paddy's Day. Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked Talnua Distillery Single Pot Still Whiskey Talnua whiskey bottle - talnuadistillery/Instagram When it comes to Irish whiskey, blends like Jameson are far from the gold standard. To experience this spirit at its absolute best, you'll need to get your hands on a single pot still Irish whiskey. These traditional whiskeys are made from a mashbill of malted and unmalted barley, which is fermented and then sent to a copper pot still and this is where all of the magic happens. The result is a spirit that is richer and far more complex than your basic mass-produced blend. The first American company to use this traditional Irish method of producing whiskey is Talnua, a Colorado-based distillery. Talnua produces a wide variety of single pot still whiskeys, including a few special editions. But our pick, if you want a true Irish American toast this St. Patrick's Day, is its Virgin White Oak Cask Whiskey. White oak casks aren't uncommon in the whiskey world, but before the casks host a batch of the Irish tipple, they tend to spend their early days as bourbon barrels. Talnua hasn't called up Jack Daniels for hand-me-downs; instead, the company matures this particular pot of whiskey in unused virgin casks. So expect more intense notes of vanilla, akin to what you get from bourbon when sampling this special drink. It's a neat little American twist on what is the most Irish of distillation methods. McKenzie Pure Pot Still Whiskey McKenzie whiskey bottle - flxdistilling/Instagram Talnua isn't the only American distillery producing traditional Irish single pot still whiskey these days. New York's Finger Lakes Distilling, which is arguably better known for its bourbon, has its own take on the traditional Irish tipple. The distillery's single pot still effort carries the same McKenzie label as its bourbon but should be distinct from the traditional corn-based American drink. As for Finger Lakes Distilling and Talnua, if you want some kind of distinction between the two single pot still options, McKenzie is by far the more American. So if you're a touch more Stars and Stripes than Tricolor, then this is the obvious choice for you. It doesn't just use the traditional 50/50 mix of malted and unmalted barley in its mashbill. Instead, the distillery also adds oats, creating a unique and complex take on a long-established tradition, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit. The company is also registered as a farm distillery in New York -- a status that obliges it to use a large number of locally sourced ingredients in its products. Brothership Irish-American Whiskey Brothership whiskey bottle - New Liberty Distillery/Facebook How do you make an Irish American whiskey? Well, there's no set way to do things, but the simplest method is obvious. Take an Irish whiskey and an equivalent American whiskey, and then mix the two together. Boom, your firewater is now as Irish American as dyeing beer green and eating corned beef. New Liberty Distillery, the Philadelphia-based company behind the transatlantic blend, offers a few options, including a four-year-old whiskey that is distilled in Ireland, imported, and bottled in the City of Brotherly Love. However, the standout effort that nets New Liberty its spot on this list is its Irish-American Blended Whiskey, which combines a 10-year-old Irish whiskey with a 10-year-old American whiskey. This creates something unique that may just bring out the best in both spirits, with notes of tropical fruit, caramel, and spice. The blend has even netted a couple of awards. So it's probably worth your consideration if you're looking for something a little different this St. Paddy's Day. Four Walls Irish American Whiskey Four Walls whiskey glasses - fourwallsthebetterbrown/Instagram As with many Irish American whiskeys, Four Walls is a blend of Irish whiskeys that has received a decent dose of rye. The rye provides the American component, with rye whiskey being a very traditional American spirit. According to its website, you can enjoy Four Walls "on its own, in a cocktail, or with your favorite beer," which presumably means you're meant to chase it down with a Yuengling or some other traditional American lager. In addition to its flavors and the fact that it gets you in the Irish American mood on a day like St Patrick's Day, Four Walls has a bit of a pop culture tie-in that some people may find interesting. This whiskey is backed and partially developed by the stars of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." The hilarious trio of Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day is aiming to recreate the spirit of the show's Irish Bar -- Paddy's Pub -- in an actual spirit you can drink. While you might expect notes of chaos, inappropriate humor, and episodes that aren't allowed to be aired anymore, you'll actually get a mix of sweet, toasty, fruity, and earthy flavors. As far as we can tell, this venture probably wasn't bankrolled with Danny DeVito's character, Frank, particularly in mind. Though Frank would probably still be overleveraged on Wolf Cola anyway, and DeVito's already staked his claim in the limoncello business. Keeper's Heart Irish + American Whiskeys Keeper's Heart whiskey bottles - keepersheartwhiskey/Instagram Keeper's Heart may be one of the better known Irish American whiskeys out there. Its standard Irish + American spirit is also one of the simplest to explain. The Irish component consists of a blend of whiskeys from the Emerald Isle itself. The blend is then mixed with rye whiskey something that is, of course, distinctly American. If rye really isn't your thing, then there's another option Keeper's Heart offers, which is perhaps an equally obvious combination. Bourbon, the other famous American whiskey, takes the place of rye in its Irish + Bourbon bottle. Beyond that, there are a variety of other options, including a cask strength release and, for those with a sweet tooth, a version that is finished in maple syrup barrels. If you want to say slainte with a glass of something that has an even more Irish slant, then opt for the Keeper's Heart whiskey that is finished in former stout barrels. Barrel aging plays a major role in defining a whiskey's flavor and other characteristics, so all of this means that you get a lot of variety in what is already a unique product. Personalized bottles can also be ordered if you're looking for a nice gift for Irish, American, or Irish American friends and family. Natterjack Irish Whiskey Natterjack whiskey bottle grass - natterjackirishwhiskey/Instagram Almost all of the entries on this list involve Irish whiskeys being imported to the United States and combined with a local drink or an American distiller putting its own stamp on a traditional Irish distilling method. Natterjack Irish Whiskey isn't like that; in fact, it's quite the opposite. The spirit definitely ticks the Irish American box, as it combines aspects of both nations' spirit-crafting histories. It's an Irish whiskey produced in Ireland that uses a selection of what it dubs "American techniques" to set itself apart from the green-bottled pack. For a start, the mashbill is very American, with only 20% barley and 80% corn. The triple-distilled spirit is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being moved to virgin oak casks for finishing. Flavor-wise, it may be more akin to a bourbon than an Irish whiskey, though the barley component in the mashbill will certainly give it some grounding in the Emerald Isle. According to the distillers, you're likely to experience fruit, cinnamon, and vanilla on the nose, and cedar, citrus, spice, and tobacco on the palate. Stone Breaker Irish & American Blended Whiskey Stone Breaker bottle cocktail - restless_distilling/Instagram Missouri-based distillery Restless Spirits is locally known for producing, as its website boasts, "Kansas City's first single malt whiskey." It also has a line of Irish American whiskeys available under its Stone Breaker label. The basic Stone Breaker consists of a blend of imported four-year-old Irish whiskeys alongside its own single malt. The malt itself goes through a double distillation in pot stills, giving it a further link with the most traditional Irish spirit production method. Given that it blends a traditional European style of whiskey -- albeit one produced in the United States -- with imported Irish whiskeys, Stone Breaker will taste closer to a pure Irish whiskey than its competitors' efforts. Those tend to add rye or bourbon to provide that distinct American twist. However, a 10-year-old variant is also available if you want to spend a little more on something a little more mellow. Restless Spirits also has a pure Irish whiskey on import. Its Sons of Erin iteration is part of a collaboration between the Missouri-based distillery and the Great Northern Distillery of Dundalk. It's distilled in Ireland and finished in rum barrels, which provides a little taste of the Americas, before being shipped off to the Midwest. A 10-year-old Sons of Erin, along with a 15-year-old single malt version, are both available. Read the original article on Tasting Table. The local food scene has been heating up like Southwest Florida's temperatures these last few weeks, including seven highly anticipated openings and reopenings, a couple of closings, plus the tipoff of our Best Burger in Fort Myers and Naples brackets. So sit back, relax, and lets get caught up. The Waterfront Restaurant The Waterfront Restaurant offers outdoor waterfront dining in St. James City. This St. James City favorite reopened Saturday, March 9, after being heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian 17 months earlier. Owners Declan Kiely and his wife Nicki Fleming have completely redone this waterfront wonder, making it fresher and brighter with a more roomy feel. Colorful tables and chairs adorn the back deck for waterfront dining. The same beloved menu is back with apps, soups & salads, a handful of sandwiches, tacos, baskets, burgers, seafood entrees and, of course, its famous coleslaw. Open 11 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily at 2131 Oleander St., St James City. Go to waterfrontrestaurantmarina.com or follow on Facebook. Over Easy Cafe Sanibels all-day breakfast cafe also just reopened after being closed for 530-plus days after Hurricane Ian. A grand reopening will be held Sunday, March 17. In the meantime, the soft opening continues with breakfast from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 630 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel. Follow on Facebook or go to overeasycafesanibel.com Hooked Island Grill When Hurricane Ian destroyed their Matlacha restaurant, Erik Lebsack and Kyle Sherman opened a Hooked Island Grill four months later in the Gulf Coast Town Center. And now theyve opened another one closer to home. Hooked made its South Cape debut on Tuesday, March 12, opening at the intersection of SE 10th Place and SE 47th Terrace in South Cape near Club Square. Its the former home of Big Storm Brewing, Big Blue Brewing, and a bingo hall before that. Light from hanging blue globes is reflected onto the bar top at Hooked Island Grill in Cape Coral. To get this one open and see how excited everyone is makes you feel like youre doing something right, said Lebsack, who co-owns this one with Sherman and Franco Russo. Everything inside has been redone and the seafood-heavy menu just debuted in Fort Myers and Cape, too. Read more at news-press.com/taste. Taco Works was set to open in the Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers this week. Taco Works The highly anticipated opening of the downtown Fort Myers location took place on Friday, March 15. Taco Works took over the Hendry Street spot in the Richards Building previously occupied by Peters German Ice Cream & Coffee Shop (which moved to 1412 Dean St.). Taco Works with locations in downtown Cape Coral and on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers is known for its tacos (especially the Korean beef), huge burritos and nachos. Check them out at 1617 Hendry St., Suite 102, downtown Fort Myers, tacoworksfl.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram. Let's Waffle in Cape Coral has sweet and savory options including this Fruit Love sweet waffle. Lets Waffle This sweet little shop opened Saturday, March 9, in the Santa Barbara Plaza, around the corner from 10 Twenty Five in Cape Coral. Signature sweet and savory waffles are offered, along with a freestyle option where customers can craft their own using a variety of toppings, including sauces, fruits, candy, cheese, meats, greens and more. Its open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday at 1031 Santa Barbara Blvd. Go to letswaffleflorida.com or follow on Facebook for more. The Hungry Captain The family behind Holy Moly Ice Cream and Raabery Ink Society in Cape Coral has ventured into the Maine lobster roll business. Sonja and Stefan Raab are part of this northeast Cape Coral restaurant in Pine Island Park plaza. The Hungry Captain is serving Maine lobster rolls and more in Cape Coral. It opened Monday, Feb. 26, behind the new Total Package Car Wash off Pine Island Road, just west of Del Prado Boulevard. It does very well, Stefan said. Customers love it. We sell only the knuckle and claw of the lobster. There are several lobster rolls, ranging from classic New England and Connecticut styles to Buffalo spicy, garlic and truffle. Soup, salad, crab cakes, and fried chicken, fish, and lobster grilled cheese sandwiches are also available. It opens at 1260 NE 8th St., Cape Coral, beginning at 11 a.m. Monday to Friday. Weekend hours are coming soon. Go to thehungrycaptain.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram Lombardough's is a new outdoor pizza and beer joint on S. Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers. Lombardoughs This pizza and beer joint held its grand opening Saturday, March 9, at 17081 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite P, in Fort Myers. Its custom brick oven produces a variety of wood-fired pizzas, including veggie and seafood pies like the frutti di mare comes with shrimp, scallops, clams, mozzarella, roasted garlic and ricotta cream or red sauce and meat specialties (think ultimate BLT, spicy Hawaiian, meatball, Buffalo Bill and more). The outdoor restaurant features a large meticulously landscaped patio and cool vibe thanks in part to a mural by Ruben Ubiera (who also did Backyard Socials murals). It opens at 11 a.m. Monday to Saturday. Online and kiosk ordering are encouraged. Learn more at lombardoughs.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram Closed I Heart Mac & Cheese has closed for a second time in just over a year in Cape Coral. I Heart Mac & Cheese: A tattered notice from the County Court in and for Lee County hangs on the front door of 2209 Santa Barbara Blvd., Unit 107, in Cape Coral, with the words eviction summons halfway down. The counter, equipment, tables and chairs are gone from inside. This fast-casual restaurant originally opened in The Shops at Santa Barbara in February 2023 before closing eight months later. It reopened with new owners in December and held a grand reopening Jan. 5. Lions Den: A March 5 post on the restaurants Facebook page reads, We regret to inform you that the Lions Den has temporarily closed. We are exploring options for the space and will keep you updated. It continues with workers Tim (Luke) and Jess (previously with I Ragazzi) are seeking new opportunities. Subsequent posts are of various items for sale, including pizza paddles, oven and stones. Lions Den opened at 1127 Del Prado Blvd., Suites A & B, Cape Coral, in the space briefly occupied by Joe Schmoes. A March 5 post on the Lion's Den's Facebook page announced the closure of the Cape Coral restaurant. Best Burger bracket challenge Our Best Burger in Fort Myers and Naples brackets tipped off earlier this week with the Sweet 16. Voting is closed not for that round but will reopen Monday with our Elite 8. In the news: Fort Myers seafood restaurant named one of best in U.S. according to Yelp The competition will continue weekly until a champion in each county is announced April 8. Voting runs Monday morning to noon Friday each week. Go to news-press.com and naplesnews.com to participate. Bargain burger Did you know that KJs Steakhouse, 10950 S. Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers, has a dine-in only burger special from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily? For $8 (or $8.52 after tax), customers get a burger, fries, and a soda or pint of KJs Zombie draft (a lite beer made just for them). And that burger is no slouch. The $8 lunchtime burger (with fries and soda or house draft) at KJ's Steakhouse is one of the best deals around. Its a 7-ounce, Florida-sized patty, manager Dino Komosinsky said. Angus meat. Fresh, never frozen beef. The fresh-baked, toasted brioche bun makes a big difference too. It comes cooked to order with onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles. Youre welcome. Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to rhgeorge@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Over Easy Cafe to Waterfront: Recent restaurant openings, closings It's hard to talk about the cuisine of the Southwest United States without talking about hatch chiles. The versatile peppers, whose green variety shares the mildness of a poblano, hail from the Hatch Valley region of New Mexico, giving them the same regional significance as the San Marzano tomatoes of Campania, Italy, or the Champagne of Champagne, France. It's no wonder hatch chiles are an indisputable ingredient in New Mexican green chili. Though they're sold frozen or pre-packed far beyond the Land of Enchantment, there's nothing like happening across a farmers market that sells the green kind fresh. If you're lucky enough to find them during their peak harvest season between August and September, do yourself a favor and get a big bag. Go home, roast them, and let them fill your kitchen with their signature smoky-sweet aroma. You could certainly toss them in olive oil and salt and roast them on a sheet tray in the oven, but if you have access to an open flame from a gas stove, a charcoal grill, or an outdoor fire pit, that's even better it's a nod to the hatch chile roasting events across the Southwest, in which piles of chiles are roasted in large crates over an open flame. Turn them slowly with a pair of tongs until their skin is evenly charred, then let them cool completely before removing the skin, stems, and seeds. Read more: 12 Vegetables And Fruits That Used To Look Very Different From Mac And Cheese To Chile Relleno Salsa verde in white bowl with green peppers - Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Although not quite as successful as the oven or open flame methods, it is in fact possible to cook hatch chiles in the microwave. While you'll miss out on the smokiness and char from fire roasting, zapping the peppers in a covered, microwave-safe dish for seven or eight minutes will soften them and loosen their skins, allowing for easier peeling. Once your chiles are roasted, peeled, and seeded, there are plenty of ways to eat them. If the process of roasting them was effort enough, keep it simple by chopping them up and stirring them into macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs, polenta, your favorite creamy dip, or a bit of mayonnaise for an elevated condiment to slather on sandwiches. If you have more time on your hands and want to use them as the ultimate star ingredient of a dish, bust out your blender. When blitzed with other ingredients, they make a classic base for several Southwest- or Mexican-inspired sauces. Take charred salsa verde, which, along with green tomatillos, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and other ingredients, usually calls for jalapeno peppers. Using hatch chiles instead will bring a bit of smokiness to the sauce, which is fantastic on green enchiladas. If you want to keep the chiles whole, use them for chile relleno, the beloved Oaxacan street food of stuffed peppers that normally calls for poblanos. Freezer Friendly Pile of green hatch chiles - Sally Mitchell/Shutterstock Fresh green hatch chiles are nearly impossible to come by outside the Southwest, which makes them all the more special. If you hear word of a hatch chile purveyor near you in another region of the country, chances are they sell pre-roasted, pre-blended peppers in a jar or an airtight freezer pack. You should by all means take advantage of their offerings; they'll still make your salsa verde dreams come true. If you have some (very nice) friends in the Southwest, however, ask them to roast some fresh chiles for you and freeze them in an airtight container for your next visit. If they say yes, tell them three things: One, that you'll never let them go; two, that the peppers will keep in the freezer for up to a year; and three, that they don't need to peel, stem, or seed the peppers they plan to freeze. In fact, some say that keeping the skin on will help preserve their delicious flavor and make them easier to peel later on. Read the original article on Daily Meal. There are moments in the photographer Danny Lyons transfixing new memoir when it seems almost impossible that one man can have fitted so much into his 81 years (and counting). When I went south in 1962, it was because I knew a great historical event was occurring, Lyon writes in This Is My Life Im Talking About, describing how, when barely out of his teens, he set off to photograph the fight for civil rights. Weeks later, he could be found locked up in a basement cell in Albany, Georgia, 60ft from Martin Luther King, in the segregated section of the jail. Can this be the same Zelig-like figure, one wonders, who writes about his time inside the Hells Angels-style Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club from 1963 to 1967, which he documented for a near-legendary book, The Bikeriders (1968), that has now inspired a Hollywood film of the same name, starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy? The same Lyon who befriended murderers in Texas prisons to photograph the groundbreaking collection Conversations with the Dead (1971)? The same man who could be spotted in the late 1960s roaming the historic, abandoned buildings of old New York, braving hostile demolition crews, who threatened to throw him from their roofs, as he captured The Destruction of Lower Manhattan (1969)? In the end, even they warmed to him. I really like people, he tells me, I got friendly with them. Thats not hard to believe. Lyon has an easy way about him; hes a natural storyteller with a puckish sense of humour. To read his latest book is to encounter a character who could have stepped out of a Jack Kerouac novel, one of the mad ones who burn, burn, burn, and who is now chatting to me from his home in New Mexico, huddled in his studio because its too cold to sit outside, while sipping a mug of Earl Grey tea. Lyon lives with his wife, Nancy, on the edge of the desert, where the temperature dipped to below freezing overnight. Hes just got back from shooting his latest film project in Texas, deep Trump country, as he puts it, where even the smaller towns have 10 megachurches. He is confident the former president will lose again in the November election: Are the middle people really going to go for this guy? he asks. Hes so insulting to women. Its really in your face, like, F--- you, Im back. Its a mercy, Lyon says, that Trump is a nincompoop and not a very good speaker, since the real danger of fascism is a fascist who can speak well. Lyon with Chicago Outlaw Brucie Walver in 1965 - Danny Lyon Does he think that Americas longstanding love of outlaw figures has turned toxic? Trumps fanbase certainly seems to include a lot of biker types I agree, he says. Just look at the perpetrators of the January 6 2021 attack on the Capitol, he says, They look like a motorcycle gang. Theyve got crazy outfits, doing insane stuff. He contrasts it with the March on Washington in 1963, the peaceful protest at which an estimated 250,000 people gathered to demand progress in passing the Civil Rights Act and heard Martin Luther King deliver his I have a dream speech. How can you compare that to these animals? They were defecating inside the Capitol; they were stealing stuff. I dont think the majority of American people are turned on by that. Lyon hastens to add that the Chicago Outlaws he knew in the 1960s were nothing like this bunch of animalsNor is it what I portrayed. Ive gotten emails from bikers, and they talked about how my work was really about freedom. You know, it wasnt about brutalising people and all this macho s---. The real-life Outlaws provide the characters for Jeff Nicholss film The Bikeriders: Hardy plays Johnny, the leader of the gang; Butler, the tough and reckless Benny; and Comer is Kathy, the Chicago girl who falls in love with him. Lyon had always resisted selling the rights to his images for fear it would hurt the photographs, but Nichols made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to fictionalise the story and then he sent me the script. I have it here, its like 200 pages, a lot of speaking. And it begins with a really violent scene; I said, They never did this! Johnny Davis, head of Chicago Outlaws, and his wife Gloria (1965) - Danny Lyon As played by Mike Faist, Danny in the film certainly seems a little more clean-cut than he was in real life. How did Lyon feel about that? I hated it, he says, youre totally right. It gets worse and worse. He tells me a story. I remember going to a biker funeral in Detroit when a girl committed suicide. I went to photograph it. Anyway, I was sitting in a bar with a couple of the girls and one of them says to the other, You know, hed be pretty cute if he washed his hair. He laughs before admitting that, compared to the bikers, I was dirtier than they were. And Im a f---ing Jewish kid from Queens. My father was a doctor. The truth is, he says, while riding with the Outlaws, I think I was playing a role. It allowed him to be accepted, although he points out, I wasnt the FBI or CIA; I wasnt out to do good. He was a risk-taker, a motorcycle fanatic, who had already built and raced his own bike, although, he notes, they all had Harleys and I had a Triumph a 650cc TR6. But he says, I really, really liked these people. And if they didnt like me, I stayed away from them. Some of them were creepy, and I was afraid of them and I avoided them. In a 2014 interview, Lyon talked about how he ultimately became uncomfortable in the Outlaws and had a row with this guy who rolled out a huge Nazi flag as a picnic rug to put our beers on. Yet, he points out now, in his 1999 book Knave of Hearts he included an image of himself with his TR6 from the time, showing a German First World War Iron Cross decal on the side; while Cal, his closest friend in the club, gave me a silver medallion with little swastikas on it. I wore that as a pin, and I wore a little crucifix on my outfit. Its just decoration, he adds. But in choosing the name of that book, he says he was aware that a knave is someone whos not completely honest or straightforward. You got to watch him. He embarks on another tale Heres a very funny story, he begins explaining how Nichols restages some of Lyons photographs for key moments in the film: He copies shots all over the place. Lyon was determined to see the process with his own eyes, so headed to the filming location in Cincinnati. They tried to keep me away, but I finally get there. And its f---ing freezing. I just want to meet Tom Hardy. And he gets [in position] and they say, You cant look at him. I said, What do you mean? Why cant I look at him? They say, Oh, he doesnt like it. Lyon sighs. So they make me hide behind a tree and all this bulls---. Hes getting to the nub of it. So they have taken a bar and totally recreated one of my photographs. And its so realistic, I get teary-eyed. I feel like Im 25 years old, back in the bar. It looks exactly like it. He starts to describe how Nichols recreated his famous 1965 photograph Benny at the Stoplight, which shows the blond biker wearing a singlet and leaning on a pool table, his head bowed. And they do it 12 times, the same shot. Its my photograph. They move in, they move in, and then Austin Butler, who is as handsome as God, lifts his head up and looks into the camera. Thats the shot! The story gets good now, he says. Lyon had tried to reach Kathy and Benny several times over the years, unsuccessfully, but when the movie came out in the US, it emerged that the couple had had a son, Kirk, who got in touch. Sadly, Kathy, Lyon discovered, had passed away, but Benny was still alive and living in Florida. So I call Benny up. We have a great talk. Hes totally upbeat. And then he says, Hey, you know the picture of me at the pool hall? I said, yeah. He says, Its not me. What? Check out the tattoos. Its not me. 'As handsome as God': Benny at the Stoplight (1965) - Danny Lyon Lyon laughs. It was nice of Nichols, he adds, to show some of his original photographs at the end of the film, and he gives credit to Comer who has been criticised by some for her Chicago accent for absorbing his taped conversations with Kathy and catching her voice to perfection. We chat about the rise of the smartphone, which means that, now, everybodys a photographer. In some ways, he finds it really annoying, because I spent my life avoiding photographers, real photographers with real cameras. I didnt shoot anything that other people photograph. I didnt like it. This was true even of the civil rights movement, he notes, I got there so early, there was nobody there. It was also a dangerous time, in which the activists of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Lyon included, had good reason to fear for their lives. His friend and future US congressman John Lewis was later beaten unconscious while crossing the bridge at Selma on the 1965 voting-rights march. Tom Hardy in The Bikeriders - 20th Century Studios I ask him about the modern perspective adopted by those who suggest that, as a white photographer, Lyon could only frame the black experience through a white lens. Id like to strangle those people, he says. He talks about the world of jazz, which was a black invention all over America in the 1950s and 1960s, it was totally integrated. White jazz musicians, he insists, werent white guys in a black world, they were musicians. When I suggest that he could always return to the educated white world from which hed arrived, whereas for the black activists, the struggle against discrimination was inescapable, he swiftly points out that most of the organisers of the SNCC were highly educated, recalling, On one of my earliest trips in Mississippi, and of course, Im scared to death, there are four or five SNCC people organising, and theyre young. And the guy I latch onto is a Howard University student, Charlie Cobb. Cobb would go on to become a journalist for National Geographic and is still, at 80 years old, a visiting professor at Brown University. Hes just like me, only hes a black kid. So there was nothing foreign or weird or anything, you know, were chattering away, very close. I knew Stokely Carmichael really well, adds Lyon, who was there to witness the shift to a more radical stance in the civil rights movement. Carmichael coined the slogan Black Power and would later agitate to expel whites from the movement, as eventually happened in the SNCC. I wasnt there for that. But I did see the writing on the wall. 'I really liked these people': Kathy (1967) - Danny Lyon/Magnum Photos Lyons photographs bear witness to one of the most extraordinary and positive moments in American history, and shape our perception of the time. His memoir reveals him to be a die-hard radical artist. His WhatsApp profile shot of him sitting beside Muhammad Ali at a training camp for the boxers comeback fight in 1970 is a rare example of him accepting a commercial assignment for a British newspaper. When I note the parallels between his career and that of Bob Dylan, whose links to the civil rights movement were superseded by his Triumph motorcycle-riding, leather jacket-wearing, Dylan-goes-electric phase, he replies, What can I say? Hes a genius. He met Dylan several times, but Lyon notes, people really didnt care about photography then. We did not become celebrities, we didnt become superstars, we werent even successful: I couldnt make a living for 30 years. It was a tough road for a father of four, but he adds, Dylan sold the rights to his work. That kind of makes me jump, because I dont think Ill ever do it with my work, or let my children do it. That surprised me. No sell-out, no compromise. This Is My Life Im Talking About by Danny Lyon is out now. The Bikeriders is in cinemas from June 21 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. Matching Bilt status on the European airlines can lead to perks on other airlines within the SkyTeam Alliance. Getty Images Theres a new way to get free elite status with Air France/KLMs loyalty program, Flying Blue, which offers enticing perks even for U.S.-based fliers. Bilt Rewards, the first-ever loyalty program allowing users to earn points on rent, has launched a new promotion exclusively for its top-tier Platinum status members. By transferring 10,000 Bilt Points to the Flying Blue loyalty program, travelers can then earn 12 months of Flying Blue Gold status. While its likely that most U.S.-based travelers wont fly these European airlines very often, having Flying Blue status can still be quite useful for frequent fliers. Air France and KLM are part of the SkyTeam Alliance, which means elite status holders get a suite of perks when flying on nearly two dozen member airlines, including Delta Air Lines. Travelers looking for more legroom will enjoy getting a 50 percent discount on all Delta Comfort+ seats thanks to Flying Blue Gold status. In addition, they can enjoy SkyTeam priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to SkyTeam airport lounges on international flights even when flying in economy. We are very excited to deepen our partnership with Flying Blue providing Bilt members the opportunity to reach destinations all over the world just by paying rent and spending in their neighborhoods. said Brandt Smallwood, Bilt's Chief Strategy Officer, in a statement provided exclusively to T+L.With this new status tier benefit, being a Bilt Platinum member is even more valuable, with premium status benefits like priority check-in and boarding, free seating selections and checked baggage, and lounge access on Air France, KLM, and the SkyTeam Alliance airlines." Earning Bilt status is done in one of two ways either by total points earned or total purchases on their Bilt Rewards Mastercard in a calendar year: Bilt Silver status: 50,000 qualifying points or $10,000 of eligible spending Bilt Gold status: 125,000 qualifying points or $25,000 of eligible spending Bilt Platinum status: 200,000 qualifying points or $50,000 of eligible spending Cardholders of the no-annual-fee travel card can earn 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on all other purchases, including rent payments without additional fees. Bilt has many travel partners in addition to Flying Blue, and members can transfer over their points at a 1:1 rate. Other major players include American Airlines AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, and more. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Welcome to your weekly check-in on the latest health news you might have missed. This week marked the fourth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning of the U.S. Women who have gone through IVF are continuing to speak out about crackdowns on fertility treatments. And new research casts doubt on some of the wellness claims associated with the Wim Hof Method and cold therapy (even though you might have just seen actor Josh Brolin do a cold plunge during his Saturday Night Live monologue last weekend). Keep reading for a rundown of the new health findings that might impact your own well-being. Should you order that lavender latte? Is it worth spending more time with Fido? Are you getting enough exercise? Here's what to know. Want to reduce stress? Play with a dog. There's a good reason why a dog is mans best friend. A new study from Konkuk University in South Korea has found that spending time with pups can help reduce stress and improve concentration. The researchers had 30 adults interact with well-trained dogs in various activities, all while measuring brain activity using electroencephalography. The results? Activities like playing and walking the dogs increased relaxation, while tasks like grooming boosted concentration. As far as mood, the participants also reported feeling less tired, sad and stressed after interacting with the dogs. All the more reason to find your own Fido to snuggle with! Women may be more impacted by their partners stress. In a new study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, researchers looked at data from more than 2,000 elderly couples in order to see how stress affected the pair's health over time. While the researchers found that stress levels in married couples are interconnected, the impact of marital stress on physiological markers of stress differed between men and women. Women tended to display more negative physiological markers of stress than their male partners (also known as allostatic load), suggesting that women's health may be more affected by a spouse's stress levels in long-term relationships. Are people in your state getting enough exercise? New research, which was gathered from Apple Watch data, reveals that not enough people in the United States are getting the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 150 minutes of recommended aerobic exercise per week. These results varied greatly across different states. Residents of Massachusetts were the most likely to hit their exercise goals, with more than 67% of people in the study meeting the recommendations, followed by New York, Connecticut and California. Meanwhile, people living in Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma and West Virginia were the least likely to hit their target goals. As a reminder, a 30-minute walk five days a week is all you need to achieve your aerobic exercise target and bonus points if you can add two days of strength training in between. Women may be more likely to develop heart issues from depression. Depression is linked to heart problems, and a recent study from the American College of Cardiology has found that women are more likely than men to experience heart-related issues after being diagnosed. While its unclear why this is the case, researchers suggest that women may be more likely to have depression during periods of hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, as well as experience longer or more intense symptoms of depression overall. Mainly, the studys authors hope the findings allow people with depression to be better assessed for heart issues. Should you try a lavender latte? Starbucks just rolled out its Iced Lavender Oat Milk Latte, but are there any health benefits to drinking the plant? Maybe but probably not in your morning coffee. While research shows that inhaling lavender scent may reduce stress, promote better sleep and even help lower blood pressure, experts tell Yahoo Life that the stimulating effects of coffees caffeine likely outweigh any of these benefits. If you want to enjoy the relaxation benefits of lavender, try a naturally caffeine-free lavender tea before bed instead. Everything you need to know about eating dandelions. Edible flowers are nothing new, and they continue to be a great way to spruce up salads, sandwiches, and stir frys. The bonus is often a beautiful pop of color. But what about dandelions? Are these flowering plants ok to eat? Turns out that they are alright to consume. In fact, dandelion consumption goes back a long way, to the time of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. But dandelions arent just edible; they are healthy too. They are said to be full of vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and K. Meet The Expert Diego Campos is the Chef de Cuisine at CAMP in Greenville, South Carolina Is It OK To Eat Dandelions? Yes, it is OK to eat dandelion leaves, roots, and flowers. Diego Campos, the Chef de Cuisine at CAMP in Greenville, South Carolina, says as long as you get the plants from a reliable vendor, such as a farmers market, or forage for them in a clean environment, you are good to go. Diego says, You want to stay away from dandelions that grow next to highways or roads. In addition, if you have dandelions growing wild in your yard, Campos says to make sure that you have not sprayed your yard with pesticides or any type of harmful chemicals, otherwise it doesnt count as clean foraging. If foraging, avoid choosing dandelions found near animal waste or other pollutants, advises Campos. Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Dandelions What Do Dandelions Actually Taste Like? Campos describes dandelion greens as tasting slightly bitter and citrusy. Theyre almost peppery, in flavor, says the Chef a mix between arugula and sorel. A member of the sunflower family, the sometimes-misunderstood plant is related to lettuce like chicory and endive. Choose younger leaves, which contain less bitter compounds that build up over time as the plant works to defend itself against predators, since these will taste less bitter. As for the yellow flower petals? Also edible. Related: It's Time to Give Dandelions Some Love How To Store Dandelions Dandelions foraged should be rinsed well under cold water. Follow these steps: Fill a large bowl with cold water and let the dandelions hang out for about five minutes to rid them of any debris or lingering dirt. Lay the dandelions out on paper towels or a dish towel so they dry and dont become moldy from the water soak. Related: 10 Easy Edible Plants to Grow on Your Windowsill or Back Porch How To Cook With Dandelions Raw: Campos likes to mix them into leafy green salads, often with the yellow petals as well. Garnish: If plate presentation is important to you, put dandelion petals to work as a garnish on a salad or a pasta dish. "Unlike other edible flowers, dandelion petals are tasty and they actually enhance the dishes." Diego Campos Creamed: Try creamed dandelion greens instead of the classic creamed spinach. Add it to a broth and bean soup. Try it in a pesto (if you enjoy an arugula pesto, youre bound to enjoy this too). Roasted: Roast the roots for a healthy and delicious side dish. Dried: Dried dandelion flowers can be saved for later use in teas, infusions, and broths. Campos points out that many cultures drink dandelion tea for its nutrients and vitamins. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. A worker deposits fabric products into a three-dimensional warehouse at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) A technician makes adjustments on an in-house developed machine at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) A researcher conducts experiments at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) A technician makes adjustments on an in-house developed machine at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Robots handle dyes on an automated weighing and mixing system at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) A worker collects samples of printing at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Robots deposit fiber products into a three-dimensional warehouse at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Researchers conduct experiments at the modern textile technology innovation center in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 15, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Workers operate the centralized control system at the control room of a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Workers work at a control center of intelligent production at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) A worker operates an automated winder at a company in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Workers monitor fiber production at a workshop in Keqiao District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 14, 2024. Keqiao District of Shaoxing is a cluster base for the textile industry, housing more than 8,000 textile businesses with an output value of over 100 billion yuan(about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars). In recent years, the district has promoted transformation and upgrading, introducing environmentally friendly machinery and innovative technologies. The local traditional industry, initially labor-intensive, is making a switch to a low-pollution, high-tech, and high-value advanced manufacturing segment. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) It's always heartbreaking to see a dog spend a long time at a shelter waiting for their forever family, and it's even more heartbreaking when that dog is in their golden years. Billy Bob, located at the League For Animal Welfare in Batavia, Ohio, has been at the shelter for over 1,000 days and counting. This precious pup needs to find a family to love him right now. The League for Animal Welfare posts on Facebook, "Billy Bob is still hereAfter some promising meet-and-greets with some big-hearted humans, we really hoped he was on his way to his new family. But no such luck. Instead, Bobbers is going on day 1,056th at our shelter (he'll hit his 3-year anniversary with us in April). That's not fair to any dog, let alone a senior dog. Please, help us find his family." Related: 5 Long-Term Shelter Dogs to Adopt for National Dog Day Senior dogs just make the best pets ever! Most of them all ready know basic commands, they are usually house trained, and they aren't as destructive as young puppies. Plus, they are usually so grateful to be given a second chance at having a forever family, and adopting one means you'll be saving the life of a dog who deserves to spend the rest of his days with all the love and care he needs. Shelter Dogs Need Time To Adjust To Their New Homes It's common knowledge, well, to most people, that any dog that has spent anytime at a shelter, much less 1,000 days, will need time to adjust and get over any kennel stress they have experienced. The most important thing you can do is be patient and follow your adopted dog's lead. Apprehensive or fearful dogs need to be able to go at their own pace so they don't become overwhelmed or overstimulated. Don't try to introduce your dog to a room full of people at once. Take introductions slowly. Make sure your pup has a quiet place to retreat to, like a kennel or a quiet room where their dog bed is kept. Leave the door open so they can retreat if they feel it is necessary. If your timid pup is fearful on walks, try to walk your dog when there are fewer triggers around. If your dog is terrified of the trash truck, avoid the hours when they collect trash. If traffic noises terrify him, walk in more secluded areas. Remember the rule of 3-3-3 when adopting a shelter dog is so important! This rule basically means that the first three days is their time to decompress and get used to the new environment. After three weeks the dog has learned their new routine and their personality is starting to come out. After three months, your dog knows they are home. If you would like to meet Billy Bob, or any of the other wonderful animals at the League for Animal Welfare, 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. McDonald's issued an apology for a global technology outage that occurred around midnight CDT on Friday, March 15, which forced some of its restaurants around the world to close for several hours, as well as causing global ordering complications. Japan announced on "X" that it was temporarily suspending operations across the country. McDonald's Hong Kong announced on Facebook that the mobile ordering and self-ordering kiosks at McDonald's were not working. McDonald's McDelivery service in Taiwan also announced on its website that online and telephone ordering services were being temporarily suspended. Australia and the U.K. (which has an exclusive McDonald's app deal) were reported on Downdetector to be experiencing problems with the McDonald's app (an app that knows way more about you thank you think). Downdetector is a website that claims to "tell you when your favorite services are down or having problems" in real time. The site also showed a map highlighting multiple U.S. cities that were experiencing outages at McDonald's, including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The fast-food chain giant, which was reported to have about 40,300 restaurants worldwide as recently as 2022, released a statement in which its Global Chief Information Officer Brian Rice reassured McDonald's global employees. Rice stated, "What happened today has been an exception to the norm, and we are working with absolute urgency to resolve it. Thank you for your patience, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused." Read more: The Ultimate Ranking Of American Fast Food Restaurants McDonald's Says That Its System Outage Was Not The Result Of A Cybersecurity Issue McDonald's app on phone - Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images The global tech outage failure may raise concerns about cybersecurity for McDonald's. However, Brian Rice also said in the statement that the system-wide failure is unrelated to cybersecurity. Rice explained, "This issue was not directly caused by a cybersecurity event; rather, it was caused by a third-party provider during a configuration change." Although the global outage inconvenienced McDonald's employees and customers around the world for several hours, the tech issue was eventually resolved in some locations. An employee who works at a McDonald's location in Milan said that a technician repaired the store's system after it was down for a few hours. A McDonald's spokesperson for the fast-food chain's restaurants in Denmark also announced that the tech issues were fixed in Denmark, and that the country's restaurants were fully operational. McDonald's is making continued efforts to restore its systems, including its app (which has terms and conditions ruffling some feathers online). Rice added, "Many markets are back online, and the rest are in the process of coming back online. We are closely working with those markets that are still experiencing issues." Read the original article on Daily Meal. Michael B Jordan has spoken candidly about how he struggles with loneliness as a single man. On a recent episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, the 37-year-old actor was asked what were the best and worst parts of being Michael B Jordan. He admitted that it was the loneliness that comes with fame and his current singledom that is the worst part. I love multitasking; I love juggling, the balancing act that I do, he explained to Shetty. The worst part is the loneliness that comes with that. The Black Panther star continued:Theres a loneliness that I have. The responsibility that you have is isolating, and the weight is isolating. So I think the worst part of that is the feeling like nobody really understands, and sometimes falling into the spaces of just being alone, feeling alone. He admitted that being someone who has been named Peoples Sexiest Man Alive in the past can be a very lonely and isolating experience. When asked by Shetty about it, the actor said: I revert back to the last question. Its very lonely! He added that he also finds that he has a hard time figuring out what he wants, with the actor often going back and forth between wanting partnership and then not knowing whats the best partner for me. He said that his fame often causes strain in his relationships and he has to be careful before bringing someone who isnt accustomed to that level of attention into the public eye. And its not just: I love you, you love me, that should be enough, right? he explained. Its not quite that simple. Finding the right person to understand all of me, but then all that comes with me, as well. The Creed actor added that when hes dating, he does try to strike a balance by making time for his partner as well as stepping back from work to focus on his personal life, but it isnt easy. The sacrifice, the compromise that comes with a partnership and a relationship, and understanding how to make that all work, sometimes it gives me anxiety and pause, he said. He expressed that he also wants to enjoy being single, not necessarily by dating, but by exploring the world around him and learning more about himself. Im looking forward to that part of my life... I gotta start living, he continued. Ive sacrificed, and Ive zoned in for so long. I owe it to myself a little bit to do that... Im not looking [for a partner], but it would take a very special person to understand and grow with me. Jordan was last linked to Lori Harvey, who he split from in 2022 after a year and a half of dating. The Lone Star State is known for bourbon and barbecue, but if you've been sleeping on Texas's cakes, allow us to open your eyes and stoke your sweet tooth. Texas funeral cake (aka Texas sheet cake or buttermilk brownies) is a chocolate sheet cake topped with a layer of fudgy chocolate frosting and coarsely chopped pecans for texture, adjacent to a German chocolate cake sans coconut. It comes together quickly to feed a crowd, and leftovers hold up well, which might be part of why this hearty cake is so commonly found at funerals. The tradition can be traced back to the seed-loaded funeral cakes of northern Europe, which had more in common with cookies and were more about utilitarian nourishment than soul comfort. Today in Texas, showing up with a massive chewy chocolate sheet cake remains proper form for attending a funeral. The cake's ties to Texas might be due to the pecans, which are indigenous to south-central North America. Still, the cake's actual origins remain a little murky. Alternate theories include that the cake is physically "big like Texas" and that it was invented by Lady Bird Johnson. Whatever the case, recipes for Texas sheet cake or comparable thin, chocolatey, nutty cakes started cropping up in cookbooks around 1930 and continued appearing through the '50s and '60s. By the 1970s, the Texas funeral cake that fans know and love today had officially taken shape. Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained A True Comfort Food Through And Through Slice of Texas sheet cake - Trending Now/Shutterstock Unlike most cakes, Texas funeral cake is thin like a brownie. Either a 2-inch deep sheet pan measuring 18 inches by 13 inches or a jelly roll pan can be utilized. The secret is to pour the icing over the cake while it's still oven-warm, allowing the fudgy frosting to slightly seep into the cake for a moist, luxurious bite. The rich batter often includes a dairy component like sour cream, buttermilk, or evaporated milk as well. Some folks use walnuts or almonds, or leave out the nuts altogether. The most important part is the chocolate-on-chocolate, a comfort food tailor-made for soothing an aching soul. The Texas funeral cake is a symbol that demonstrates care for the living as well as a celebration for the recently deceased (much like the Mormon funeral potatoes popular in Utah). They're such a staple that in many Southern households it could be considered disrespectful if the cake is absent from the funeral potluck table. As now-retired Dallas-based pastor Mark Wingfield insisted in the Baptist News Global back in 2013, "[F]unerals call for a certain kind of food. There had better be chocolate cake involved, or the family is going to be left to scramble on their own for comfort foods." Read the original article on Tasting Table. The career of Jorge Bergoglio Pope Francis since 2013 resembles that of the Peter Sellers character in the 1963 Boulting Brothers film Heavens Above!. Appointed in error as vicar of a comfortable parish, he causes chaos by appointing a black dustman as his churchwarden and taking in a family evicted from their illegal encampment. When Bergoglio was elected Pope, he took the name Francis, after the Poor Man of Assisi. He refused to move into the grand papal apartments or wear special red shoes, and set about transforming the Catholic Church into a poor Church for the poor, a field-hospital Church, an outgoing, missionary Church. This has caused friction, not least among those who are not poor. Bergoglios radical Christianity brought more life-and-death encounters than in the comedy film. As a teenager, he had become the friend of a biochemist, Esther Ballestrino, at the lab where he worked. She was a Marxist and later a founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who protested in response to the disappeared in Argentinas Dirty War. Bergoglio risked his life to remove incriminating Marxist literature from her home. In 1977, she was seized, tortured and dropped from a plane. In 2005, after her remains had been identified, he was able, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to see that she was buried in the grounds of the church from which she had been abducted. What comes over in this series of autobiographical highlights, told to a 41-year-old journalist, Fabio Marchese Ragona, is how very Argentine Pope Francis is. He has tried to replicate in his humble Vatican rooms the simple life of his childhood in Buenos Aires, with a record-player still playing the tangos of his youth. The book, also called Life in English in the Italian edition, matches 14 scenes in his life with world events (from the outbreak of the Second World War to the Covid pandemic). This brings home the length of his 87-year life, but is not particularly illuminating biographically though it is interesting that he now discerns a dispersed Third World War that has been convulsing the world for too long. (The Malvinas get one passing reference, from the interviewer, in the context of Maradonas hand of God.) But the Popes little homilies on historic events might be a bit offputting to the unconverted. The young Jorge Mario Bergoglio was 'exiled' for his radical attitudes - API/Gamma-Ralpho It certainly helps if readers know the outline of his life already. They might wonder why, having been put in charge of the whole Jesuit province of Argentina in 1973, he was exiled as a punishment, in his own words, in 1990 to Cordoba, more than 400 miles from Buenos Aires. In explanation, the interviewer, in one of his linking passages, mentions a charge, from within the Society of Jesus, of having Salesianised the societys education. That is pretty obscure, but I think it refers to Bergoglios preference (in place of a Marxisant theory of liberation theology) for social action among the poor and sympathy for popular religious practices, such as processions and pilgrimages. So it was that during the Covid lockdown in Italy, Pope Francis performed a service alone in St Peters Square before the ancient icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani (salvation or health of the Roman people), and the miraculous crucifix from the Church of San Marcello al Corso, credited with ending a plague in 1522. As well as being very Argentine, the Pope is very Catholic. That might go without saying, and it is no surprise, for example, to find him declaring, I shall never tire of saying that abortion is murder. But the Pope has annoyed some Catholics in Britain in two ways. One is clamping down on the old-fashioned Tridentine rite of Mass, which his predecessor Benedict XVI had only just confirmed as a valued variant of the liturgy. Franciss move seemed narrow, considering his hospitable friendship with Eastern-rite Catholics, not to mention with evangelical Protestants and with Jews such as his friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka, with whom he regularly broadcast Bible discussion programmes. The other vexatious move has been to countenance the blessing of cohabiting homosexual couples, while at the same time insisting that there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to Gods plan for marriage. Francis has pushed back against reforms by his predecessor Benedict XVI (r) - AFP Since seeing scenes of an adult nature on television in 1990, the Pope has forsworn the gogglebox, not even (we learn) watching the Coronation of the King. In this he has followed Britains Sage of Robertsbridge, Malcolm Muggeridge, once the deputy editor of this paper, and as it happens, the man who provided the plot for Heavens Above! In narrating the Popes snapshots, the translator Aubrey Botsford lets things flow smoothly, using moderate American diction: Mom, gotten, that sort of thing. But priests dont take Confessions, they hear them; lay women dont celebrate Mass. The Popes Latin motto, from our own St Bede, Miserando atque eligendo, is turned upside down as Looking at Him with mercy and choosing Him as though a sinner were having mercy on God. Life is published by HarperOne at 25. To order your copy for 19.99, call 0808 196 6794 or visit Telegraph Books Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. In recent years, the martini has entered something of a midlife crisis. Once branded by a humble combination of spirits with an optional splash of olive brine, the drink has evolved into a cocktail menu theme all its own, sporting variations that, some would argue, have gone too far. We wouldn't blame you if the sight of a filthy martini with a skewer of anchovies and pepperoncini left you pining for a simpler time before TikTok. (For the record, we happen to like them.) On the other hand, the trend has given way to some inventive takes that enhance, rather than negate, the drink's essential elegance. Take the sakura martini, an elevated version of the saketini -- the latter is thought to have been introduced at the 1964 World's Fair, according to a conversation between Alcohol Professor and Michael Anstendig, who co-authored "The Japanese Art of the Cocktail" with veteran bartender Masahiro Urushido, though Benihana's late founder, Rocky Aoki, also took credit for the vintage cocktail's creation. While both drinks use sake (the Japanese fermented rice alcohol) as a base, the sakura martini calls for maraschino cherry liqueur and a pickled cherry blossom, the national flower of Japan. Speaking with Grub Street in 2015, the drink's architect, Tokyo-born NYC bartender Kenta Goto, said, "I couldn't think of any other garnish that would be better for that type of drink." Even if you can't find that particular specialty ingredient, consider Goto's creation a sign to use sake in your next martini. Read more: The Ultimate Vodka Brands, Ranked A Well-Rounded Cocktail Sake being poured into cup - sky-and-sun/Shutterstock A classic martini calls for gin or vodka and a small amount of dry vermouth. Meanwhile, sake martinis give vermouth the boot and can (but don't necessarily have to) match the primary ingredient in equal parts. While it might seem like a daring combination, sake is often used as a substitute for dry vermouth. The two alcoholic beverages share a similar ABV and a clean, slightly floral taste. Used in a martini, sake brings a certain rounded sweetness that beautifully complements the herbaceousness of gin. Add more sake than gin for a sweeter, lower ABV martini, or keep the sake levels to a minimum for a boozier, more astringent tipple. You might lean further into the sweetness by introducing an additional spirit, such as Kenta Goto's maraschino cherry liqueur, or a non-alcoholic add-in like simple syrup and a splash of yuzu or other fruit juice. Not into sugary drinks? Keep it super simple by shaking sake and gin with ice and garnishing with a strip of Japanese cucumber or a lemon peel. Choosing The Right Sake Bottles of sake lined on shelf - VTT Studio/Shutterstock If you've made it this far, chances are you've been convinced that putting sake in your martini is a good idea. But before you go busting out your cobbler or Boston cocktail shaker, know that not just any sake will do. Kenta Goto's sakura martini opts for an aged Genshu sake, which has a slightly higher ABV and a bolder taste than other varieties of the brewed booze, ensuring its flavors won't be obliterated by your choice of gin. Others recommend using Junmai, a pure variety of sake made simply with rice, water, yeast, and koji, the naturally occurring culture used in soy sauce and countless other Japanese food products. Still others prefer Ginjo, a decidedly fruitier category. Meanwhile, there are some who reach for Nama, an unpasteurized category of sake that boasts the brightest, boldest flavors of the bunch. Like Genshu, these varieties tend to have higher ABVs than other sakes. Aside from that commonality, they bring distinct, nuanced flavors to the table or the martini glass. Read the original article on Daily Meal. When Hyve Group, one of the worlds largest trade show organizers, asked fashion buyers if they would attend an event that connected them to hundreds of responsible textile, garment, trim, accessory and packaging manufacturers, they all said yes. But many also laughed. Because how do you then find these people? How do you make sure that theyre responsible businesses? said Suzanne Ellingham, sourcing director at Source Fashion. When youre looking at the big producing countriesChina, India, Bangladesh, Pakistantheyre not easily accessible when you live in the U.K. More from Sourcing Journal In the end, Hyve Group, which also organizes the Pure London, Moda and Scoop shows, had, if not the last guffaw, then at least a good chortle. On a day in February, holding court in a corner of Olympia London, a sprawling event space and conference hall just off Kensington High Street, Ellingham is fielding her final media appointment as Source Fashions third iteration in two years comes to a close. In a few hours, exhibitors from 25 destinations, including Egypt, Nepal, Spain, Turkey, Ethiopia, Madagascarand yes, China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistanwould be awhirl with activity, collapsing tables, dismantling fixtures and filling massive suitcases with the wares they had spent three days touting. Ellingham is both tired and wired. In Julya mere five months awayshell be doing this all over again. Source Fashion grew from a single question: Why didnt it work? It being Pure Origin, Hyve Groups original foray into the upper streams of the fashion supply chain. But brands and retailers didnt need more noise. What they were hungry for was a more targeted approach, one that didnt require jetting off packs of executives to dozens of far-flung locales or swiping left on innumerable would-be collaborators before landing on the right match. If the suppliers were pre-vetted for reliability and ethics, complete with up-to-date certifications that have become table stakes for responsible and compliant businesses, all the better. The U.K. isnt known for having manufacturing shows where we bring in international suppliers, Ellingham said. Its important to have a safe space for buyers. For buyers with even less time for discovery, Source Fashion offers a concierge service. Just tell it what specs are non-negotiablesay, childrens onesies dyed with azo-free dyes or recycled cashmere from Italyand a buyer relationship manager will offer tailored recommendations. The big buyers, [they can] pick up a phone with someone on our team and say, This is what Im looking for, and well say, O.K., we only have three people who do that but its absolutely worth it to see those three people, she said. And they will because to find a factory in a particular country that has a specific kind of capability can take six to eight months on an engagement visit. Sustainability has a tendency to be siloed, particularly at trade shows, Ellingham said. At Source Fashion, theres no conscious section or green pavilion. Every manufacturer there has been through at least one audit from a recognizable international body in the past 12 months, though it recommends Sedex or BSCI because theyre what U.K. and other European buyers look for. Removing barriers to business makes it that much easier to get down to it. Plus, it simplifies Source Fashions value proposition. We just are a responsible manufacturing show, and thats it, she said. When we do our checks, we make sure that businesses on our show floor are credible, responsible and ethical. And thats just our show. You can walk around and see certifications. Youll see people using recycled materials. Youll see cooperatives from around the world where it makes a huge difference for them to be here. Ellingham describes Source Fashion as less of a curation and more of making sure everyones on track. The only place trends reared their heads was the daily catwalk, which trotted out looks broadly based on spring/summer 2025 prognostications: swishy fabrics, 3D knits, funkadelic colors, beachwear galore. Otherwise, declaring whether something is in or out is anathema to what its trying to accomplish. When youre in the world of responsible or sustainable fashion in any way, shape or form, trends and microtrends that come and go are not sustainable, Ellingham said. Our buyers, they buy 12 to 18 months in advance; theyre looking at range creationacross multiple categories. Its really not for these manufacturers to come up with the trends. Its for them to bring those ranges to life that the designers and the buyers want to see. Education has also been baked into the schedule. Each day featured a slate of seminars, from a primer on how to source in new regions in Africa to how to solve the landfill crisis to the selling power of retail transparency. When Ellingham realized that 70-75 percent of U.K. buyers she spoke to were unaware of Britains developing countries trading scheme, which cuts tariffs for 65 developing nations, she threw in a session that clued them in. Speakers included designer Patrick McDowell, fashion futurist Geraldine Wharry and former Asos responsible sourcing chief Simon Platt. New to this season is Source Luxury, a selection of exhibitors who specialize in high-quality garments and trims. These are people who do much lower minimum order quantities at higher prices, Ellingham said. One thing we realized when we were coming to the shows is we had people like Burberry, Chanel and Lulu Guinness all on our list. These are not companies that are looking for bargain basement models. They are looking for people who make things in a good way, who give them the finished quality they want. Ellingham has picked up ways to improve the show that shes raring to incorporate in the next version. Some of it is boring, she said, like website taxonomy that provides more visibility into a factorys capabilities. But others can better signpost what buyers are drawn to, such as the origins and contents of the materials. Most of all, she wants to help producers, especially those from communities that live on the margins, tell their own stories. There are those who will drive people to the bottom of prices, she said. But I think what were seeing is a much more responsible group of [buyers] who want to make sure that the people making those products are paid fair wages and they understand the costs of super-low prices. Hundreds of university staff are at risk of being fired as educational institutions scramble to cut costs following a substantial drop in the number of foreign students enrolling on courses. University chiefs have warned of a range of cuts, from shutting down courses to shedding teaching staff, as the institutions are pushed into deficit, The Times reported. This academic year, at least 15 universities in the UK have announced job cuts and additional cost-saving measures in an effort to salvage their finances. Earlier in March, more than 120 staff at Sheffield Hallam University were served with risk of redundancy letters, which gave them until 18 March to take voluntary redundancy or apply for a limited number of roles. In February, the University of Kent proposed cutting 58 jobs along with nine courses in response to financial challenges. Following a freeze in tuition fees, most universities have covered their costs by enrolling overseas students, who pay far more than domestic students. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, overseas students comprised 24 per cent of all students in higher education during the 2021-2022 academic year. However, early acceptance data indicates a 37 per cent decrease in overseas recruits for the coming financial year. Northumbria University said the cuts were necessary because of a sudden reduction of the number of students arriving in the UK from Nigeria, where the currency has collapsed against the pound. Acceptance data suggests there could be a 71 per cent reduction in the number of students arriving from Nigeria, The Times reported. John Rushforth, executive secretary of the Committee of University Chairs, said: Ive been in higher education for 30 years and senior leaders are more worried than Ive ever seen them. He told the newspaper that bankruptcy is a realistic possibility for some universities, which are being pushed to do really difficult things to stave off the prospect. Taking fewer British students is a last resort, but if youre making a loss on something, people have to consider it. Everything has got to be looked at because the situation is so serious, he said. Universities have to think hard about what they want to protect, and make choices about divesting themselves of things that are not core to the institution. There will be less choice for students. Fundamentally, either you have to increase income, or you reduce quality or volume. Last year, thousands of staff belonging to the University and College Union participated in a walkout to protest against the punitive pay deductions imposed on those who had engaged in a summer marking boycott. Ive not received full pay for five months for taking part in an entirely lawful boycott, Tanzil Chowdhury, a senior lecturer in law at Queen Mary University of London, told The Independent. If youre interested in Central Asian food, Uzbekistan is a must-visit destination. Among this nations historic towns and sweeping deserts sits a dish called plov. Deeply rooted in the areas history and culture, plov is Uzbekistans national treasure. But this isnt just any ordinary meal. Locals whisper of its hidden virtues, claiming that plov holds mysterious aphrodisiac qualities. The origins of plov, also known as pilaf, trace back thousands of years. This dish traveled through the Silk Road, absorbing various cultural influences and culinary techniques. A symbol of Uzbek hospitality, it is a focal point for gatherings. Plov is traditionally a mans job, and when big events or festivals roll around, its not uncommon to see enormous quantities of it cooked outdoors. Where The Reputed Aphrodisiac Properties Come From At its core, plov is a hearty ensemble of rice, meat (commonly lamb or beef), carrots, onions, and a generous mix of spices, including cumin, coriander, and barberries. However, the preparation and addition of local ingredients imbue each dish with a unique character. You can find variants with quince, chickpeas, or raisins, depending on the location. In addition, some swear by the inclusion of heads of garlic buried amidst the steaming rice. The secret to its purported aphrodisiac qualities lies in the layering of ingredients and the slow cooking process. This method melts the flavors, creating a comforting and refreshing dish. The spices used are not random; they have been selected through centuries for their health benefits and stimulating properties. Cumin, for example, is known for its digestive benefits and is believed to increase libido. The rich, fatty content of lamb, a common ingredient in plov, nourishes the body and boosts energy levels. But perhaps the real magic of plovs aphrodisiac qualities lies in its role as a social catalyst. In Uzbek culture, sharing a meal of plov is a communal experience that fosters connection and camaraderie among those who partake. This sense of togetherness and the intimate act of sharing food may well ignite the sparks of romance and affinity. The Best Places to Taste Plov Experiencing authentic Uzbek plov is a real treat. The best places to sample this dish are at local gatherings or weddings. At these events, plov is cooked in enormous kazans (cast iron pots) over an open flame. However, for those unable to attend a local wedding, Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, offers numerous restaurants that serve this delectable dish. The most adventurous foodies may even seek out plov centersestablishments dedicated entirely to the art of plov making. You can witness its creation at these places and enjoy the freshest servings. For travelers visiting Uzbekistan, embarking on a plov pilgrimage is a must. Start in Tashkent to taste the classic version, then travel to Samarkand to experience a sweeter variation enriched with more fruits and nuts. Continue your journey to Bukhara, where the plov is darker and oilier, reflecting the desert environment. Each city offers its rendition, telling a story of its people, climate, and history. Longboarder and two-time world champ Kelia Moniz was a Roxy girl for 17 years. In January, she said "aloha" to Roxy after being asked to take a 90% pay cut. In the video below, she shares more about the breakup. Related: Surfing Great Lisa Andersen is Selling a Bunch of Her Surfboards. Any Takers? Non-profit RiseHi captioned the clip: "A new path Kelia Moniz shares her transition from a longtime partnership to embracing new beginnings. Its about facing change with courage, setting clear intentions, and building the future with ones own hands. "As she steps into her role as a business owner and mom, Kelia proves that true growth often comes from the waves of change..." In the clip, Moniz says: "I was sponsored by Roxy for over 17 years and they were my bread and butter in terms of finances for a very very long time. "Just the end of 2023 I got a termination letter after Roxy was bought out by a really big corporation. And then I got an offer back form the brand saying, 'Hey, we really want to keep you but this is all that we have.' "The problem that would have occurred if I signed, is once you agree to a really, really, really low pay for something that you've done for years and now you go, 'Alright, I'll do it because it's comfortable." I would be in a very compromising position because I would've agreed to a 90% pay cut and there's there's a likeliness this brand will never pay me anything more than I agreed to. Because why would they if i agreed to a pay cut of 90%?" Moniz explains that she "politely declined" and is entering a "new chapter" of her life. "I really want to showcase what life looks like as a mom from Hawaii who's a surfer who's starting a very small business," she says. Moniz continues: "All I have control over is what I'm able to accomplish in one day and everything else will happen. Whatever's meant to be will happen. So if I focus on myself, work really hard, have very clear intentions. "The future's great. I'm excited." *** Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos. MOSCOW, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Russia has neutralized three U.S. Patriot air defense complexes in Ukraine in the past week, local media quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying on Saturday. According to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, Ukraine's forces have sustained significant losses in equipment and personnel, said Alexey Kim, chief of staff of Russia's joint group of forces, reporting to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting. Over the last week, three American Patriot complexes, a Vampire multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle, more than 10 foreign-made artillery systems, and warehouses of fuel, lubricants and ammunition were destroyed, the ministry said in the report. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) One person has died and three people were hurt in a shooting early Saturday morning, March 16 in East El Paso, according to police. The shooting happened along the 2200 block of Trawood during a dispute outside a bar, police said. When police arrived, they found three people with gunshot wounds. They were transported to a local hospital where one of the victims died from their wounds. Police had initially said the victims had suffered Level 1 trauma (life-threatening injuries). One other victim sought medical care on their own. Police did not say how badly hurt that person was. The Crimes Against Persons Unit is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (915) 832-4400 or to stay anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-8477. This is a developing story and we will update it was soon as we learn more. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Three people were killed, 12 were hospitalized, and one person is still missing as emergency services announced the end of rescue operations after Russia's March 13 attack on Sumy, the local military administration reported. A Russian Shahed-type drone hit a five-story apartment building overnight on March 13. Thirty flats were destroyed, while two nearby residential buildings were damaged. The Sumy Oblast Military Administration said that the rescue operation was completed on March 16, adding that gas, electricity, and water supplies were restored in the building, except for the destroyed sections. After four days of the rescue operation, one girl's body who lived on the fifth floor of the ruined building was still missing, the regional department's spokesperson Oleh Strilka told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne. Settlements in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast suffer from almost daily Russian attacks due to their proximity to the border with Russia. Russian forces struck 14 communities in Sumy Oblast in 69 separate attacks throughout the day, the local military administration said on March 15, adding that at least 378 explosions were reported in the region. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 21, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An 11-year-old Chicago boy died in his home on Wednesday while protecting his pregnant mother from her ex-boyfriend, who had been released from prison the day prior, Chicago Police announced. Crosetti Brand, 37, was arrested hours after the incident on several charges, including murder, in connection to the fatal stabbing of the 11-year-old and the attempted murder of his mother, who survived the attack but was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The victims were identified as Jayden Perkins and his mother, 33-year-old Laterria Smith, in a fundraiser launched by the community and loved ones to help support the surviving family as they navigate through this difficult time. Jayden Perkins, 11-year-old fatally stabbed via Helen C. Peirce School Of International Studies Helen C. Peirce School Of International Studies Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Brand was serving a 16-year sentence for a home invasion in which he injured someone, but was paroled the day before the attack. Chicago Police Chief Detective Antoinette Ursitti said at the conference that Smith had been in a relationship with Brand more than 15 years ago and that hewas released on his first parole in October of last year. Brand was sent back to prison in February after he violated Smiths order of protection against him by threatening her in text messages and showing up at her home, Ursitti said. He was released on parole again on March 12. A day later, he allegedly forced his way into Smiths home as she was leaving to take her kids to school, Ursitti said. While inside, Brand allegedly killed Perkins and stabbed his mother multiple times. An innocent childs life was taken, as he tried to protect his mother, far too soon, Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx said at the press conference. And a mother was attacked in what should have been the safest place for her. Perkins 5-year-old brother was also present at the home at the time of the incident but wasnt hurt, Ursitti said. Ursitti said surveillance footage showed Brand leaving the area with the knife he allegedly used in the stabbings. Neighbors who spoke to local news station WGN 9, said that Smith is 8 months pregnant and was living in her apartment with her fiance and two kids. The fundraiser described Jayden as as an exceptional young man who was known for his leadership qualities and compassionate nature. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and had a knack for resolving conflicts among his friends, the fundraiser stated. His positive energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. Lori Zaimi, principal of the Helen C. Peirce School Of International Studies, where Jayden was a student, said the school community is in complete shock in a statement shared with HuffPost. Jayden wasnt just an exceptional student at Peirce, he was a valued member of the school community, she said. His dance studio, the Gus Giordano Dance School, honored the 11-year-old with a video highlighting his dancing. We are incredibly blessed to have been a part of Jaydens life, the post said. Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Related... "Caiman Crunch." We had bid farewell to our Sao Lourenco River lodge, marking the end of our Pantanal adventure, but as we were leaving we heard that a jaguar had been spotted roughly 30 minutes away. We raced to the scene and encountered this sleek female jaguar stalking her prey. Our boat and my camera was perfectly positioned as she pounced on an unsuspecting caiman. A sperm whale calf nursing from its mother, a great blue heron gobbling up a fishy breakfast, and a pair of otters splashing in the water: The wildlife images from the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards showcase the tenderness, brutality, and beauty of the animal kingdom. This week, the World Photography Organisation announced the year's category winners of the Sony World Photography Awards , honoring photographers across 10 categories. Ian Ford of the United Kingdom took home the top spot in the Wildlife category for his breathtaking image of a jaguar taking a bite out of a caiman crocodile on the banks of the Sao Lourenco river in South America. [Related: Nature wasnt healing: What rea lly happened with wildlife during pandemic lockdowns ] The overall winner will be announced on April 18. More than 395,000 images from around the world were submitted for this year's competition. "Otters at Play." Two otters playing together just under the surface of the water. The photograph was taken during golden hour, as the sun was setting behind the otter enclosure at Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. Image: Jonathan McSwain, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Down the Hatch." A great blue heron swallows its early morning catch at the base of a small spillway that flows into wetlands in Madison, Alabama. Image: Christopher Baker, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Musketeers." A close-up portrait of three male muskox captured during a snowstorm. The muskox is perfectly adapted to cold environments and is covered with an underlayer of qiviut a wool as warm as cashmere and a dark fur of about 50 cm long. Image: Chris Schmid, Switzerland, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "The Alpha Male Orangutan." On my last trip to Indonesia we were looking for orangutans to photograph. They are mostly arboreal and rarely come down to the ground, but this male was foraging for ant nests. Image: Jayaprakash Joghee Bojan, India, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Mother Love." A rare scene of a sperm whale calf nursing from its mother in the Indian Ocean. The young calf pushes its lower jaw into the nipple cavity and the mother squirts milk into the baby's mouth underwater. As young whales cannot breathe and nurse at the same time, these feeding events are typically quite short. Image: Thien Nguyen Ngoc, Vietnam, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Untitled." This zebra was walking peacefully among a group of wildebeest in Kenyas Masai Mara during the Great Migration. Image: Pui Sun Tang, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Bumblebee." A close-up portrait of a bumblebee. This shows part of the right side of the bees face with the eye and antenna clearly visible. Image: Francis Principe-Gillespie, United Kingdom, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "The Scream." There are two characteristics that clearly distinguish bats from other mammals: they are the only ones that can fly and they rest hanging upside down. Unlike birds, bats cannot take flight from the ground because their wings are not strong enough, so they hang from trees to facilitate their flight. Image: Pedro Jarque Krebs, Peru, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Leap of Faith." These horses in Inner Mongolia, China, decided to take a short-cut from the high ground, running through the thick snow. Image: Chee Kin Wong, Malaysia, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "Saludo Sony." A mother elephant greets her daughter. I called the little one Sonia, or Sony. Image: Jesus Frias, Spain, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 "The Fiery Fox." This was taken in Washington, and my main goal was to photograph foxes in their natural environment. As the light was fading I got very lucky, as a parent and pup appeared on the path with a brilliant sunset glow behind them. Image: Christopher Ratcliff Iverson, United States, Shortlist, Open Competition, Natural World & Wildlife, Sony World Photography Awards 2024 BRANSON WEST, Mo. A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. Hamels and his family donated the home to Missouris Camp Barnabas in 2017 and have since moved from the state. The current owner bought the home from Camp Barnabas a few years later and has since worked to renovate the property. The 36,000-square-foot mansion is located in Stone County, Missouri, off of State Highway DD, and it offers access to Table Rock Lake. PHOTOS: Annual Ancient Order of Hibernians parade in Dogtown Its currently listed for sale through Reece Nichols Real Estate and lead agent Jim Strong. On the market since Feb. 23, the entire property includes 19 bedrooms and 24 bathrooms over two stories. Theres also an eight-car garage, an infinity pool, and a childrens playground. The listing touts sophisticated and custom details around the home, such as wood beams, barrel ceilings, copper guttering, and vented glass fireplaces. The home formerly served Camp Barnabas, a Christian summer camp for children with special needs and chronic illnesses. Its listed as a single-family residence, but the property has the potential to also serve as an event venue. Theres still some construction work to be done, but the listing says all projects are close to completion. A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) A southwest Missouri mansion, once the home of MLB All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels, has hit the market for $14.5 million. (Photos provided by: Jim Strong/ReeceNichols) The home has been listed online for more than three weeks and is offering tours to prospective buyers. For more information on the home, click the link to the listing above or call Jim Strong at 417-337-4311. Cole Hamels, one of the homes previous owners, pitched 15 seasons at the MLB level. He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, earning four All-Star nods, winning the 2008 World Series, and taking home MVP honors from that World Series. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. 14-year-old runs away from would-be kidnapper on the way home from school, police say GLENDALE, Ariz. (WFLA) A teenage girl narrowly escaped a would-be kidnapper earlier this month. Police in Glendale, Arizona, said a 14-year-old girl was walking home from school when a man drove up behind her in a car. Operators of Luke Bryans Nashville bar say missing student Riley Strain was only served 1 alcoholic drink Surveillance video showed the man, identified as 28-year-old Timothy Guan, following the girl as she began walking faster. Eventually, the girl began running for safety until she came across another resident who was walking their dog, officers said. The girl and the person with the dog then called the police. Detectives said they arrested Guan on a charge of attempted kidnapping. Guan was said to have extensive criminal history, including three counts of aggravated assault on a minor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Within three days, police evacuated 190 people, including 26 children, from the Velyka Pysarivka hromada in Sumy Oblast (a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories). Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs Details: Juvenile police officers, together with a community police officer, assisted in transporting children from distant villages to the evacuation bus. Already in safer places, the families were met again by police officers who helped them with the arrangement and provision of necessary things. Background: Recently, the Russians dropped bombs on the Velyka Pysarivka hromada. As a result of the attack, five children were injured. Support UP or become our patron! LAKE COUNTY, Ind. Authorities in Northwest Indiana are investigating on Friday afternoon after three men were killed in a shooting at a home in unincorporated Griffith. According to the Lake County Sheriffs Department, deputies responded to a home in the 600 block of Colfax Street where they found three people with apparent gunshot wounds. Read more: Latest Chicago news headline Deputies say two of the victims suffered fatal wounds and a third was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The third vicitm later succumbed to their injuries. SkyCam9 was overhead at around 4:45 p.m. on Friday when authorities could be spotted working the scene. On Saturday, the Lake County Coroner identified the three men as 69-year-old Marshall Lawson Jr., 63-year-old Robert Sacviar, and 67-year-old John Stefanich. The coroners office confirmed that all three men died from gunshot wounds and said forensic autopsies are scheduled to take place on Sunday. Deputies say they are investigating several factors surrounding the deadly shooting, including whether the incident may have been a murder/suicide. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11) Two innocent bystanders were shot in Tompkins Square Park on Saturday afternoon, according to the NYPD. Around 12:47 p.m., officers responded to a 911 call located on Ninth Street and Avenue A. Two men were assaulting another male who pulled out a gun and opened fire on the two assailants, police said. Man shot to death in the head outside Brooklyn night club: NYPD Two innocent bystanders were shot, and as a result, the victims were transported to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 26-year-old man received a gunshot wound to his back and a 53-year-old woman received a gunshot wound on her hip, according to authorities. The gunman who opened fire and the assailants fled the scene; police are currently looking for people who witnessed the incident. No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing. 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. Few genres shred our nerves quicker than doomsday films. The on-screen apocalypse whether caused by Mother Nature, humans, aliens or some other mysterious cause scares us like none other. The only upside is the endings of disaster movies often signal the start of something new. Part of what people love in these movies is that they give us a new perspective on our day-to-day lives; the before times are never quite left behind, and its fascinating to see the remnants of our lives presented like a Roman ruin, says author and vice president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association John Murphy. Everyday detritus becomes rare treasures; familiar things get repurposed in wild, sometimes in genius ways. Its a way of stepping back and getting some distance, and remembering that humanity has been through tough times; weve seen the lights go out, and we came through all right. Although, thats not always the case with the following films. Below, our list of 20 world-ending nail-biters, some with bright lights and some without, you can stream or rent right now. Fail Safe (1964) When American planes are mistakenly sent to bomb the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons, the president of the United States has to make the hardest decision of his life. Rent or stream it on Tubi The Mad Max Franchise (1979-Present) With four completed films and a fifth on the way, the Mad Max franchise explores the wasteland of a post-apocalyptic Australia, where roving gangs with outlandish vehicles battle over resources specifically, fuel. Mel Gibson stars as the title character in the first three films: Mad Max (1979), The Road Warrior (1981) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). Tom Hardy takes over in the 2015 reboot (trailer above), which focuses on Charlize Therons Furiosa. And the newest installment, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring Anya Taylor-Joy, is due May 24. Stream Mad Max: Fury Road on Hulu Threads (1984) When nuclear war breaks out, the town of Sheffield, England, is hit hard. Not only does this story focus on individuals and families, it looks at the failures of governments, the rise of looters, and the new dark age civilization regresses into. Rent it on Amazon Prime/Shudder The Quiet Earth (1985) The Quiet Earth features no bombs or invasions, just a man who wakes up one morning to find hes the last person on Earth. Or is he? Determined to find out what happened to mankind, he embarks on a quest that takes him places he may not want to go. Rent or stream it on Tubi When the Wind Blows (1986) Based on the same-name graphic novel, this animated British film features a sweet older couple living in a remote cottage. When a missile strike is announced, they race to their shelter and follow the rules to stay safe but as the days go on, they begin to lose hope. Stream it on Amazon Freevee Akira (1988) Based on the 1982 manga, this animated film skips over the world war that led to apocalypse and takes viewers directly into a rebuilt, futuristic metropolis called Neo-Tokyo. Tetsuo, the leader of a biker gang, develops telekinetic abilities that feed a fomenting rebellion and eventually threaten to take over him and the city. Rent or stream it on Hulu 12 Monkeys (1995) A convict is sent back in time to learn more about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the population on Earth. But is any of this happening, or is he insane? Rent it on Amazon Prime The Postman (1997) Considered a box-office flop, The Postman deserves another look. A post-apocalyptic film thats less about destruction and more interested in rebuilding, it follows a loner who poses as a postman and ends up offering the residents of an isolated town hope that could lead to a new life. Rent it on Google Play Deep Impact / Armageddon (1998) In 1998, Hollywood had us believing that great big space rocks were the greatest threats to civilization, especially because Deep Impact and Armageddon were released within two months of each other. With CGI making disaster films more realistic than ever, watching a bunch of astronauts launch into space to divert the impending doom of a comet (like in Deep Impact) or asteroid (as in Armageddon) from absolute destruction became a mini trend. Though varying in degrees of mission success and body counts, these two films are very similar yet still all their own. Rent Deep Impact and Armageddon on Amazon Prime 28 Weeks Later (2002) Following a disease outbreak that turns its victims into fast-moving, aggressive zombies, American soldiers land in Britain to restore order in this sequel to 28 Days Later. (Word is 28 Years Later is on the way.) Stream it on Hulu The Day After Tomorrow (2004) When a giant storm system sends Earth into a new Ice Age, a paleoclimatologist takes on a dangerous mission to find his son caught in the middle of the shocking climate change. Rent it on Amazon Prime Children of Men (2006) After women around the world become infertile, society undergoes a slow collapse. But when a single woman turns up pregnant, a former activist is enlisted to ensure her safe passage to a sanctuary out at sea. Rent it on Amazon Prime I Am Legend (2007) A plague kills off most of humanity or turns it into vampiric monsters while the last surviving man in New York City tries to find a cure. (In 2022, a sequel was confirmed to be in development.) Rent it on Google Play The Cloverfield Franchise (2008-Present) What if the arrival of a kaiju (that is, a strange beast; in this case, a Godzilla-type monster) on the shores of New York City became a found-footage phenomenon? Thats the conceit of the Cloverfield franchise. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) sees three survivors hole up underground as the world above becomes unlivable. The Cloverfield Paradox (2018) heads into space and (maybe) explains how the monster got loose in the first place. But the saga, of course, begins with Cloverfield, a rampage through the streets of New York City. Rent or stream it on Amazon/MGM+ Wall-E (2008) In Pixars Wall-E, the apocalypse has never looked so charming. But the underlying message of a planet abandoned to its trash (and robot custodians) while humanity floats pampered among the stars is more than the sum of its mechanical love its a message for everyone right now. Stream it on Disney+ The Road (2009) There have been few bleaker post-apocalyptic tales than The Road, based on Cormac McCarthys novel, which features an ailing dad trying to get his son to safety by the ocean before he dies. Dark in every way possible. Stream it on Starz The Book of Eli (2010) Decades after a final war that laid waste to civilization, a man protects a special book as he travels (and fights his way) across the former United States. Rent it on Google Play Take Shelter (2011) Curtis suffers from visions of the end of the world, but he cant be sure theyre only in his head. Desperate to protect his wife and daughter from impending doom, he builds a shelter as a storm real or not looms on the horizon. Stream it on YouTube Greenland (2020) A new comet hurtles toward the world, sending humanity scrambling for shelter and survival. But one family struggles to reach the plane that will evacuate them to Greenland and possible safety. Stream it on Max Dont Look Up (2021) When a comet threatens Earth (again!), concerned, earnest scientists find they first have to convince a public that has lost interest in facts not that the comets really coming, but that its actually an existential threat. Stream it on Netflix Please note, the linked locations of the films and their availability is subject to change. This article was originally published on TODAY.com UNITED NATIONS, March 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese official has expressed support for the United Nations' efforts to empower women and youth. "Against the turbulent international situation, it is necessary to further support the empowerment of women and youth, help them better respond to the changing world, and tap their wisdom and potential in furthering peace and development," Huang Xiaowei, minister and deputy head of the National Working Committee on Children and Women of the State Council, said recently at the UN Security Council open debate on "Promoting Conflict Prevention -- Empowering All Actors Including Women and Youth." Huang underscored that supporting the economic empowerment and capacity-building of women and youth, as well as ensuring their education and employment opportunities, will help lay a solid foundation for maintaining stability, promoting development, and achieving lasting peace. Noting that China has always been a firm advocate and an active practitioner for the empowerment and development of women and youth, Huang said China is committed to ensuring that women can share the benefits of economic and social development by adopting legislation, policies and measures. "We have lifted more than 44 million Chinese rural women from absolute poverty. Currently, women account for over 40 percent of the Chinese workforce, about 45.8 percent of the tech workers and about one-third of operators of new business models such as digital trade, e-commerce, and live-streaming," she said. Huang said China attaches great importance to the advancement of youth and has enacted and implemented national plans dedicated to their all-around growth, with more than 240 pro-youth policies regarding education and employment. "Over 187 cities nationwide have taken the initiative to explore youth-geared urban development. More and more young people are becoming the leading force for scientific and technological innovation, rural revitalization and international cooperation," said the minister. Huang is leading a Chinese delegation to attend the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which concludes on March 22 at the UN headquarters in New York. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A 20-year-old was arrested Friday after he allegedly fired shots into someones home in Oldsmar and then stole their car, according to the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office. Kemani Yamir Wright, of St. Petersburg, allegedly texted the homeowner and said her child was going to end up dead, deputies said. He then was dropped off down the street from the home by a suspected rideshare vehicle. Clearwater man accused of vandalizing LGBTQ+ pride mural nearly misses arraignment Wright fired shots at two men in the front yard, who ran into the home and hid in the bathroom, according to deputies. Wright allegedly followed them into the home, kicking a door down in the process while continuing to fire shots. Wright fired shots into the bathroom where the men were hiding, deputies said. He then stole their car and drove off. Wright didnt hit anyone with any of the shots, deputies said. No injuries were reported. Clearwater preschool employee charged with child abuse Wright was arrested by the U.S. Marshal Service Task Force in Marion County. Hes facing charges of attempted murder, armed burglary, shooting into an occupied dwelling, and grand theft auto. The shooting remains under investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. (KRON) San Jose has just secured a $12.7 million fund for constructing 200 small homes for for the unhoused. These units will be located at a six-acre vacant site known as the VTA Cerone work yard, located in North San Jose, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahans office said on Friday. How Oakland is cracking down on parking violations San Jose, like the rest of California, is tackling the humanitarian, fiscal and environmental crisis of homelessness, said Mahan, who was just re-elected to a four-year term with 87% support last week. San Jose has already built 499 small homes and has 584 more beds in the pipeline, excluding the 200 paid for by the state. In Mayor Mahans latest budget message earlier this week, he pushed for San Jose to explore even lower-barrier solutions for homeless residents, like safe sleeping and parking sites. This is a crisis that will take focus and action from every level of government to solve and Im grateful to the Governor for leaning in to help cities address the immense human suffering on our streets faster and more cost-effectively, Mahan said. After the Governors announcement was made last March, San Jose selected a site that was approved by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board in October. The site, known as Cerone, is located in north San Jose. Together, we can end the era of encampments by building safe, dignified shelters and prioritizing in-patient mental health care and addiction treatment. The Cerone Interim Housing Community is expected to open in 2025. The Governors press release on the states effort to deliver small homes can be found here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Voting signs and American flags line the sidewalks outside the Randolph Fire Station and Community Center on election day, Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Randolph, Ohio. Six Republicans will face off Tuesday in the only contested races on the primary ballot in Portage County. GOP candidates will face off in bids for the Republican nomination for county commissioner and state representative in November. Portage County commissioners Sabrina Christian-Bennett and Tony Badalamenti face opposition from within their own party, as does State Rep. Gail Pavliga, R-72nd, which includes most of Portage County. Voters will go to the polls from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. For information on your polling place, check the Portage County Board of Elections' website. Two commissioners face opposition Portage County Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett speaks at the Veterans Day remembrance ceremony held on the Portage County Courthouse Lawn Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Christian-Bennett was appointed in 2014, and was subsequently elected to two terms. She is owner and president of Bennett Land Title LLC. "As a small business owner, I have worked hard to make my company a success, and I know how important it is to make every penny count," she is quoted as responding to a questionnaire from the Portage County League of Women Voters. "I am a fiscal conservative that is experienced, proven and genuine." Christian-Bennett cited the lack of affordable housing as "an often overlooked necessity for economic development," adding that it is a drag on the economy. She also would like to see workforce issues, and declining local government funds, addressed. Sherry Griffith, her Republican opponent in the primary, did not respond to calls or emails seeking comment, and did not complete a profile with the League of Women Voters. Badalamenti, of Aurora, has a chiropractic business. He describes himself as a "problem solver within Portage County," and added that he hopes to address economic development, public safety, affordable housing and food insecurity. Tony Badalamenti, Portage County commissioner. Crawford, a Ravenna resident, is a certified public accountant with more than 30 years of experience. She said that experience is relevant to the job of commissioner, which she said involves serving as "essentially the custodian of the county's checkbook." Jill Crawford, a Republican, is running for Portage County Commissioner. "The skill set I have developed as a professional in the financial area will be relevant and valuable to making these types of decisions," she said. Heated primary for state representative State Rep. Gail Pavliga and her Republican challenger, Heidi Workman, are locked in a contentious race for the seat that represents the 72nd District, which includes most of Portage County. Much of the acrimony between the two stems from last year's vote to elect Jason Stephens as speaker of Ohio's House of Representatives. Pavliga, a mental health counselor from Atwater, was elected four years ago, flipping the seat to the GOP. The terms of state representatives run for two years. Pavliga said she is a member of the House's Finance Committee, and has been able to bring millions in funding back to Portage County. Those projects have included the new dental school at Northeast Ohio Medical University, funds for AxessPointe location in Ravenna, millions of dollars in projects at Kent State University and the Salmon Carter House, on the grounds of the Portage County Historical Society in Ravenna. Workman has degrees in journalism and nursing, and has served as a political activist and communications director for non-profit groups. "We must make Ohio more business friendly and affordable," she said. "We must compete with other states in our region, all across America and throughout the world." This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 3 contested Republican primaries on March 19 ballot in Portage County FALLS TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A man accused of killing three people during a violent rampage in Falls Township, Pennsylvania Saturday morning before barricading himself inside a Trenton home has finally been captured, officials say. It all began on Viewpoint Lane in Falls Township just before 9 a.m. when Falls Township police responded to reports of a shooting. There, police say Andre Gordon Jr., 26, forced his way into the home and fatally shot two people and fled in a stolen vehicle that was carjacked in Trenton earlier in the morning. The victims have been identified as his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other people, including a minor, were inside the home and able to hide, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. He then drove to a home on Edgewood Lane around 9 a.m. where authorities say he forced his way inside and shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel the mother of his two children. Authorities say four other people were inside that home and one person was injured after they were struck by Gordon with a rifle. After fleeing that scene, around 9:15 a.m. police say he carjacked a 44-year-old male driver at gunpoint outside a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. He fled that scene in the drivers dark gray Honda CRV. Andre Gordon, 26, is wanted in connection with two fatal shootings that left three people dead in Falls Township, PA Saturday morning. A short time later, authorities confirmed that Honda was found unoccupied in Trenton and that SWAT teams were converging on a nearby home to search for Gordon. Police had believed Gordon barricaded himself inside a home near the 100 block of Miller Street in Trenton where the carjacked vehicle was found. Authorities say they received information that Gordon may have taken multiple people hostage inside. Police later confirmed the home's residents had been taken to safety with no injuries. Gordon was taken into custody around 5 p.m. By mid-afternoon, officers surrounded the house on a taped-off block, calling to Gordon through a loudspeaker and trying to persuade him to come out. "Andre, get away from the windows. If you would like to surrender, dial 911 now," one message went. Police determined later that Gordon was not in the house on Phillips Avenue. He was found walking a street just blocks away after police say he slipped through the barricade. On Sunday, New Jersey officials announced several charges against Gordon, including carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of an assault firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and possession of hollow-point ammunition. According to police, it is believed that Gordon knew all of the victims who were fatally shot. He is also believed to currently be homeless and has ties to Trenton, New Jersey. Authorities believe he has ties to the home police had surrounded. Officials said they couldn't yet speak to a motive for the attacks. While Gordon had had some minor brushes with the law, they were "nothing that would indicate that anything like this would happen," Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said at a news conference. A shelter-in-place order was sent to residents in Falls Township by phone and by mobile alert around 9:30 a.m. and was lifted by 12:30 p.m. The Bucks County St. Patricks Day Parade was canceled as a result of the shelter-in-place, and several local businesses in the area also closed temporarily. Governor Josh Shapiro noted he was informed of the shooting and said on X that he directed Pennsylvania State Police to work with local law enforcement, and to provide whatever support they might need. UPDATE: Police on Monday said that a 16-year-old male was pronounced dead in this shooting. A 17-year-old male is stable at Regional One hospital, while a 15-year-old female was released from the hospital. No arrest has been made, police said. See earlier coverage below. ***** MEMPHIS, Tenn. Three people, including a child, were injured in an overnight shooting at a short-term rental home in Midtown, Memphis Police say. According to reports, officers responded to the shooting in the 800 block of Roland Street at 12:37 a.m. Saturday. Street fight ends with 1 woman dead, 3 shot, 2 arrested Police say two men were taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. A 17-year-old was also taken to Le Bonheur in non-critical condition. One neighbor who goes by Crenshaw says the house is a short-term rental, and the shooting was the result of a party. He says he had just got home from work when he heard gunshots. 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. I ran to the front and told them somebody outside was shooting. I tell them to get on the ground. So, my little grandbaby was in the bed by the window. The shot was so close. So, I got him out of the bed and put him on the floor with me, said Crenshaw. He says that before this incident, he had never had any issues with any of the guests who stayed at the house. The owner of the property responded to our story after it aired, saying that contrary to the neighbors interview, there was no party and her home was collateral damage to issues on the street. Not only was there not a party happening, but my home was collateral damage to some type of issue on the street, Nicole Bernal said. Police have not said what led to the shooting. There is no suspect information available at this time. If you have any information regarding this incident, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MIAMI BEACH A court battle was underway Saturday afternoon after three South Beach nightclubs decided to challenge Miami Beach's newly instated midnight curfew to crack down on spring break. Despite their efforts, the judge denied their request. According to CBS News Miami's news partners at The Miami Herald, who first reported the complaint, Miami Beach city spokesperson Melissa Berthier confirmed Saturday that it was filed by the nightclubs M2, Mynt Lounge and Exchange. The Herald reported that a court hearing was held at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Downtown Miami, where city manager Alina Hudak was on the witness stand and being questioned by attorney Ben Kuehne, who represented the nightclubs. Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez was very outspoken about the situation. "We have implemented the strictest measures ever to protect life and property from stampedes, the shootings, the stabbings, we've seen in past years," he told CBS News Miami's Peter D'Oench. Fernandez had strong words as the City of Miami Beach imposed a midnight curfew for this weekend, which impacts the area between 23rd Street and Government Cut. "There are shared sacrifices we make as a community to protect the life and property from criminals that we see year after year," he added. "How do you put a price on an innocent life the life of a spring breaker?" But, the curfew is taking its toll on nightclubs, said Michael Witt, the operator of M2. "In lost revenue up to half a million dollars this weekend," he told D'Oench. The Herald reported that the nightclubs filed the complaint around 11:30 p.m. Friday nearly 30 minutes before the midnight curfew began in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, according to a copy of the document obtained by the newspaper. The curfew "unduly punishes and penalizes the plaintiffs' lawful business operations and was done without reasonable or appropriate advance warning and in the absence of good cause," the complaint stated. Also, several big events at the clubs had planned for this weekend will be canceled, the filing noted, adding that the venues had collectively welcomed thousands of patrons so far this month "without causing any harm to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, residents, and visitors of Miami Beach," the Herald reported. The nightclubs' legal challenge sought to nullify the curfew for the rest of the weekend. M2's Witt, along the owners of Exchange and Mynt Lounge, all shared the same concerns of losing business for themselves and their staff. "It was really to defend, most importantly, our employees," Romain Zago, the owner of Mynt Lounge, told D'Oench. "They need the income [because] after COVID, they are all suffering and struggling." At a court hearing on Saturday, Judge David Miller denied the nightclubs' challenge, saying that Miami Beach officials acted in good faith and that the curfew did not cause irreparable harm as it was tailored to allow for some businesses to continue. The city noticed larger crowds starting Thursday night, and last year during spring break, there were two deadly shootings and nearly 500 arrests made. The third weekend of March has had a problematic past for Miami Beach, marked by several other incidents related to spring break revelers. City officials had warned residents, visitors and businesses since last year that a curfew was likely during spring break this year, the Herald noted. When curfew enforcement began on Friday, it went smoothly and police almost had the entire strip cleared by 12:15 a.m. "We are grateful to the judge for understanding the importance of the curfew," said Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak. "We know this weekend has been an issue, so we are all here to protect and make sure we do everything to protect the public." Kuehne told D'Oench that the hearing was "necessary" because it showed how to hold city leaders accountable. "What it shows is that every government cannot just run amok and essentially close down businesses without having some individual review," he said. "There is no doubt that [Judge Miller] and the city heard that there are businesses that are lawful members of the community and that we think these measures are too extreme." The curfew 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m. is just in place for this weekend. According to the Herald, this is the fourth year in a row that Miami Beach has declared a curfew during spring break; however, unlike past years, the 2024 curfew was imposed despite a relatively quiet March so far thanks to the city's "break up with spring break" campaign. Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits Proposed California bill would ban Flamin' Hot Cheetos in schools Face The Nation: Krishnamoorthi, Gallagher, Swisher In 2022, four young men went to a Cherokee County neighborhood and, according to the District Attorneys Office, performed an armed robbery. Now theyve all been sentenced to decades in prison and banned from the county upon their release. According to the DAs office, Smar Sheriff-Tyhear Faines, Kristopher Devon Maxey, Nasir Deshawn Stover and Courtney Anthony Watson drove to the Waverly Park neighborhood together in a Nissan Altima around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2022. When they got there, Faines and Stover left the car and started walking through the neighborhood while Maxey and Watson stopped at a house to pick up a man and woman who Watson knew. The four went to a local store to buy snacks, then Maxey drove them all back to the house. When the car stopped, Faines and Stover, in masks, ran out of the wood line to the rear passenger doors while armed and brandishing guns, stealing an iPhone 13 and switchblade from the male victim. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The armed Faines and Stover then got in the car and the four drove away. The DAs office said while they were leaving the neighborhood, the group realized one of their cell phones had been left behind by accident. Watson contacted the female victim, offering to exchange the stolen iPhone for the phone left behind. When they returned to the house, the DAs office said the victims noticed one of the men in the group was wearing a gold Halloween mask on top of his ski mask. Watson snatched the phone from the victims hands but did not return the stolen cell phone, and the victims called 911. The Cherokee County Sheriffs Office responded and started an investigation into the incident. TRENDING STORIES: Minutes after that, the Holly Springs Police Department saw the same Nissan Altima at the Barrett Farms subdivision and the four suspects were detained. In the car, officers found a 9mm handgun, black ski masks, the gold Halloween masks and the stolen items. Quick work from the Cherokee Sheriffs Office and the Holly Springs Police ensured that these dangerous individuals were quickly apprehended. As the investigation and prosecution of this case proceeded, it became apparent that at least some of these defendants were associated with the Bloods, a criminal street gang, Assistant District Attorney Chavis, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the State, said. During the armed robbery, while shaking down the victims and threatening them with a firearm, the defendants kept asking where is the blicky, which is a Blood term for a firearm. Law enforcement continued to investigate and determined that all four co-defendants had ties to the Bloods, with individuals who Maxey and Watson knew confirmed their association with the gang, the DAs office said. While incarcerated in a Georgia state prison, Watson called Faines on a jail texting device to recruit him into a subset of the Bloods called Sex, Money, Murder, according to the DAs office. At a series of March 8 hearings, Faines, Maxey and Stover each pled guilty to charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony and robbery by sudden snatching. At the plea hearing, Stover admitted that he was jumped into the Bloods, specifically the Rollin 20s, at the age of 13, the DAs office said. Watson entered a non-negotiated guilty plea on Sept. 20, 2023, where he admitted to the same charges, as well as possessing a firearm by a first-offender probationer. On Friday, all four men were sentenced to decades in prison and a ban from reentering Cherokee County when their sentences are over. According to the DAs office, each man pled guilty and received the following sentences: Omar Sheriff-Tyhear Faines, 20, of Acworth: 20 years in prison, with the first 10 years to serve in confinement Kristopher Devon Maxey, 21, of Canton: 20 years in prison, with the first 10 years to serve in confinement Nasir Deshawn Stover, 17, of Holly Springs: 20 years in prison, with the first 10 years to serve in confinement Courtney Anthony Watson, 19, of Acworth: 30 years with the first 20 years to serve in confinement and the remainder on probation Gang crimes are nearly always violent, which was the case here when these criminals lured two people into a situation for the explicit purpose of robbing them at gunpoint. Thankfully, no one was physically harmed, but this incident is traumatic and unsettling not only to the victims but also for the community, Cherokee County DA Susan K. Treadaway said. Through this sentence, four known gang members are now serving prison sentences, and have been banned from our county for the protection of our citizens. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: 40 people injured in the Russian missile attack on Odesa on March 15 are currently being treated in hospitals, including nine in serious condition, the head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, announced on the morning of March 16. The city and the region are in mourning for the 20 people killed in the massive Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city. Read also: Russian missile attack in Odesa kills 14, including first responders The Russian army launched a missile attack on Odesa on March 15, allegedly with two Iskander missiles. The spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, Natalia Humeniuk, said that the missiles were launched from the temporarily occupied Crimea. As of 7:20 p.m., at least 20 people were reported dead. Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin reported that the number of wounded had increased to 73. The strike destroyed a three-story building of a recreational facility, and damaged at least ten private houses and a service station. Gas and electricity supply lines were also damaged. 535 subscribers were left without electricity and 800 without gas supply in the city of Odesa. Read also: Russia attacked Odesa with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles fired from occupied Crimea - Humeniuk 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 (KRON) The U.S. Coast Guard announced that a 225-foot navigational buoy tender accidentally spilled approximately 500 gallons of diesel fuel 30 miles west of Fort Bragg on Friday afternoon. How Oakland is cracking down on parking violations The Coast Guard Cutter Alder is homeported in San Francisco and was en route to Humboldt Bay when the incident occurred earlier in the morning before officials were dispatched, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Coast Guard Sector of San Franciscos Incident Management division members have notified nearby stakeholders and are evaluating potential impacts on sensitive sites. There are currently no anticipated shoreline impacts at this time, officials said. We are investigating the incident and are working diligently to minimize any potential environmental impacts, said Coast Guard Adm. Andrew Sugimoto, commander of District 11. Our priority is to protect the environment and prevent any future incidents. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), oil spills in the sea can harm sea creatures, such as insulating a sea otters fur, debilitate birds from flying, and make any seafood from the water unsafe to eat. Anyone with helpful information on the spill is encouraged to contact Chief Petty Officer Levi Read at Levi.A.Read@uscg.mil or (510) 772-8865. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. People visit a night market in the ancient city of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2024. (Photo by Cai Zengle/Xinhua) "Living conditions in Xinjiang are steadily improving, and the local government and people are striving to achieve balanced development in many fields and create a prosperous life with concerted efforts," she said. CAIRO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The remarkable development in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has significantly improved the living standards of the local residents, said an expert who visited the region in 2023. "I was impressed by the economic development that has been taking place across China with no exception and no discrimination," Warda al-Husseni, managing editor of Egypt's state-run Akhbar El-Yom newspaper, told Xinhua in a recent interview. As a member of a journalist delegation, al-Husseni visited several Chinese regions and provinces, including Xinjiang. "Chinese development plans are inclusive, covering all areas across the country and leaving no city or region behind," al-Husseni said, expressing her admiration for the Chinese government's efforts to build a better and more prosperous future for its citizens. This photo taken on Feb. 9, 2024 shows a night view in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Cai Zengle/Xinhua) "Living conditions in Xinjiang are steadily improving, and the local government and people are striving to achieve balanced development in many fields and create a prosperous life with concerted efforts," she said. Noting that the Chinese government paid much attention to delivering the benefits of development to the local residents, she said that the people in Xinjiang, both the elderly and the young, were enjoying their lives. "Every inch of the region reflects its history, including the Shaanxi Grand Mosque built in the Qing Dynasty in the capital city Urumqi, which we visited and is frequented by the citizens," she said. Al-Husseni highlighted China's success in integrating different ethnic groups into one society while preserving their unique cultures. "China considers this diversity of people as a source of strength," she said. She believed that Xinjiang's progress would significantly bolster cooperation under the Belt and Road given its geographic location and rich history in Silk Road trade. Al-Husseni expressed hope that Egypt would benefit from bilateral cooperation with China. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A team of trackers found 500 pounds of snake in a South Florida marsh last month, according to the Miami Herald. The report said the discovery happened on Feb. 21 on public land in Naples when officials discovered a 7-foot wide mound of 11 pythons. Bodycam video shows woman moments after pit bull left her hospitalized with severe bite marks The team closely monitors snakes during breeding seasons and uses active searching and telemetry to remove the invasive species before the females have a chance to lay their eggs. For 10 years, weve been catching and putting them [Burmese pythons] down humanely. You cant put them in zoos and send them back to Southeast Asia. Invasive species management doesnt end with rainbows and kittens, Conservancy Biologist Ian Bartoszek said. These are remarkable creatures, here through no fault of their own. They are impressive animals, good at what they do. Conservancy wildlife biologist Ian Bartoszek with a large mating ball of pythons captured in southwest Florida (Credit: Conservancy of Southwest Florida) The Conservancy of Southwest Florida focuses on the research and removal of critical invasive species, and to understand their behavior and ecological impact, according to their website. Since 2013, the team has captured and removed more than 34,000 pounds of python from the region. WATCH: Sharks feast on whale carcass off Venice Beach The Burmese python can grow up to 19 feet long, making them one of the largest snakes in the world. In the 1970s, hundreds of these snakes were brought to Florida from their native habitat of Southeast Asia through a pet trade. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida said these pythons are now an established predator in the Everglades and are responsible for the 90% decline in mammal populations in that area. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Over the course of Mar. 15, 78 combat engagements took place at the frontline. The Russians focused mostly on the Novopavlivka and Avdiivka fronts, according to a report of the General Staff as of the morning of the 752nd day of the full-scale invasion: On the Kupyansk front, Defense Forces repelled three enemy attacks near the towns of Synkivka and Tabayivka in Kharkiv Oblast, where the enemy was trying to improve its tactical position On the Lyman front, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine enemy attacks near the towns of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Terny and Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the Ukrainian defenses On the Bakhmut front, three enemy attacks were repelled near Andriyivka and Klishchiyivka in Donetsk Oblast On the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian defenders repelled 26 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonenke, and Pervomayske On the Novopavlivka front, Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiyivka, and Novomykhailivka, where the enemy, supported by aviation, tried to break through Ukrainian lines 24 times On the Orikhiv front, the invasion forces attacked Ukrainian positions seven times near Staromayorske in Donetsk Oblast and Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya Oblast On the Kherson front, the enemy does not abandon its intention to drive Ukrainian units from their footholds on the east bank of the Dnipro River. Three unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian units positions were made over the past day Read also: Oryx analysts: Russia could run out of combat vehicles in six months at current loss rate Russian troops continue to shell civilian objects and Ukrainian troops' positions. Over the past day, the aggressor launched a total of 10 missiles and 68 air strikes and fired 89 times from multiple rocket launchers. Ukrainian aviation also struck seven enemy manpower clusters during the day. 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 ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Recent accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists have prompted Abilene Police to take steps for prevention and increased patrols. Abilene community sees increase in vehicle & pedestrian/cyclist accidents Public concerns over the increase in collisions involving people on the street have some questioning their routine when walking out their front door. Andrew Mason, a Sergeant with the traffic division for APD, explained the statistics we are looking at compared to previous years. In 2023, we saw a dip in our fatality collisions. 2022 was an unprecedented year with 23 fatality collisions. 2023 had seven, and this year thus far, weve had four fatality collisions, Mason said. Mason outlined that if this rate continues, Abilene will be on pace to surpass the number of fatal incidents for the previous year. Its a problem occurring all over the state of Texas. TxDOT records show that the state has not gone a single day without a traffic-related fatality since 2020, and with statistics like that, APD is urging drivers to take caution, especially when it comes to speed. With several of these incidents being hit-and-runs, Mason outlined how many individuals driving these vehicles could have avoided harsher charges. The driver of the vehicle who fled the scene in some of these instances wasnt even in violation for the collision itself, and so the violation then was the failure of the driver to stop and either render aid to the victim who was struck or provide that information to police, Mason said. In several of these instances, had drivers just stayed on scene, they probably would have had no charges. No citations anything like that. Its because they left the scene [and thats why] some of them are facing second-degree felony charges. UPDATE: Driver accused of killing bicyclist in Abilene, fleeing the scene arrested APD wants to remind pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings and that people walking along the street dont always have the right of way. The safest place to cross the road to avoid accidents is at a crosswalk or an intersection with a signal. However, if you decide to cross at an unmarked junction, you run a significantly higher risk of being struck. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. A New York judge on Friday delayed the start of Donald Trump's New York hush-money trial by 30 days to at least mid-April to allow the former president's legal team to parse through a massive batch of newly disclosed evidence, The Associated Press reports. Judge Juan Merchan agreed to the delay just under two weeks before its scheduled start date and a day after the prosecutors who brought the case against Trump voiced support in a court notice for a 30-day delay should the judge grant one. Merchan also scheduled a hearing to discuss questions about federal prosecutors' recent evidence dump on March 25, the previously scheduled start date for the trial. The Manhattan district attorney's office, which accuses Trump of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment during his 2016 presidential campaign, was initially expected to oppose the Trump team's recent request for a delay in the trial. But in the Thursday court filing, District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed with a shorter postponement out of an abundance of caution and to ensure that defendant has sufficient time to review the new materials," which amount to tens of thousands of pages. His office has repeatedly requested those records from federal prosecutors, who investigated the hush-money payments at the center of the case years prior, for more than a year and had only received a portion of the material before now, according to The New York Times. Prosecutors' evidence dump is "astonishing" and "absolutely shocking," Bennett Gershman, a law professor at Pace University and former New York prosecutor, told Salon. "The public interest in a fair and timely criminal trial has been undermined by this development which may not only delay the most historic criminal trial in American history but even worse, to scuttle it entirely," he said ahead of Merchan's Friday decision. The evidence contains records about ex-Trump lawyer and current prosecution witness Michael Cohen that are exculpatory and favorable to the defense, attorneys for the former president told the AP. Prosecutors said most of the newly disclosed evidence is largely irrelevant to the subject matter of this case, but some are pertinent. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York started producing records for the case 10 days ago, turning over about 73,000 pages of files. They provided about 31,000 additional documents on Wednesday and said they would send more next week, according to Bragg's office. Trump is "at least partially responsible" for the federal prosecutors' delay, Stephen Gillers, a New York University law professor, told Salon. Trump only subpoenaed the records from the U.S. attorney's office in January after receiving the first subset of materials in early June last year, Bragg noted in the filing. Upon receipt of the latest batch, the former president requested the trial be delayed 90 days. The district attorney's support of a postponement, despite Trump's common tactic to stall his cases by making such requests, raised the likelihood of Merchan granting it. Bragg, however, also made sure to emphasize in Thursday's notice Trump's fault in consenting "to repeated extensions of the deadline" for federal prosecutors. Context: The DA blames Trump's team for this turn of events. "We note that the timing of the current production of additional materials from the USAO is a function of defendant's own delay." The defense subpoenaed the USAO again on Jan. 18, 2024 and "then consented to pic.twitter.com/4qnbFtGaIh Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) March 14, 2024 It remains unclear why the Southern District did not turn over the records to Bragg earlier, The New York Times reported. "What on gods green earth were the Southern District federal prosecutors thinking in turning this over so late?" former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann wrote on X. "If Im the Manhattan DA, himself a former Southern District prosecutor, Im LIVID." What on gods green earth were the Southern District federal prosecutors thinking in turning this over so late? If Im the Manhattan DA, himself a former Southern District prosecutor, Im LIVID. https://t.co/kQtnzeQQRJ Andrew Weissmann (weissmann11 on Threads) (@AWeissmann_) March 14, 2024 Unless federal prosecutors have a "legitimate and explainable reason" for doing so, their delay "is a terrible commentary on the conduct of the law enforcement community in New York," Gershman added, arguing it prompts "serious questions" about what, if any, potential tensions, conflicts or biases between the prosecuting offices could have provoked this response. While Brookings senior fellow and CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen agreed federal prosecutors' behavior does seem "a bit dubious," he said on X Thursday that a short trial postponement to "deal with" these kinds of document surges is "not unusual." The fact that they did & are surging these docs at the last min does not reflect well on SDNY Be that as it may, I have been practicing criminal law & doing trials for over 30 yrs, & you do sometimes get these last min document surges. It's not unusual to have a short Norm Eisen (norm.eisen on Threads) (@NormEisen) March 14, 2024 "DANY is not ASKING for a continuance, they're saying they won't object if the judge decides to order one of up to 30 days in response to Trump's demand for even more time," Eisen wrote, explaining that Bragg is trying to "cabin the amount of delay and keep this trial moving." DANY is not ASKING for a continuance, they're saying they won't object if the judge decides to order one of up to 30 days in response to Trump's demand for even more time DANY are attempting to cabin the amount of delay and keep this trial moving That's eminently reasonable Norm Eisen (norm.eisen on Threads) (@NormEisen) March 14, 2024 Any delay "longer than 30 days would certainly be unnecessary & contrary to the interest of judgment," he later concluded. SDNY's behavior here does seem a bit dubious & they should not have failed to cooperate w prosecutors when they requested these materials a yr ago But this is the situation now & it is in the hands of Judge Merchan to decide whether he will give this relatively modest 30-day Norm Eisen (norm.eisen on Threads) (@NormEisen) March 14, 2024 Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Bragg's case against the former president revolves around a $130,000 hush-money payment Cohen, made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election. When Trump repaid Cohen, his family business falsely characterized the payments as "legal expenses" in internal records, prosecutors say, furthering a cover-up that hid potentially damaging information of an alleged sexual encounter between Trump and Daniels from voters ahead of the election. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in 2018 after federal prosecutors in Manhattan caught wind of the arrangement and threatened to indict him. Those prosecutors investigated Trump's role in the hush-money deal but ultimately chose not to bring charges against him. They noted in court filings, however, that Trump did instruct Cohen to offer Daniels the hush money. Gillers and Syracuse University College of Law professor Gregory Germain expect Trump will make further attempts to delay the trial going forward. It's unclear exactly what these efforts will look like or how accommodating the court will be, Gillers explained, but it's incredibly likely Trump will push to "avoid a trial before the election." Merchan, who ultimately has the authority to determine whether to delay the trial further, has routinely opted to keep the case moving along. "The unknown is whether Bragg will aggressively push forward with a pre-election trial. Bragg took years before bringing the charges (and changing prosecutors), and has always seemed reticent about the case," Germain added, noting this is Bragg's "most high profile" prosecution and a challenge because of the uncertainty around Trump's intent for covering up the payments and its reliance on a complex campaign finance law. Because he may be in the "uncomfortable position" of bringing the case without "being confident" of the outcome, "Bragg might get cold feet as well, and not fight that hard for a pre-election trial," Germain explained. "We'll just have to see." Nearly 14 years after an Air Force Osprey crashed near Qalat, Afghanistan, due to a mechanical issue, two airmen who died in the accident will be honored by the service. Maj. Randell Voas and Senior Master Sgt. James Lackey will posthumously be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Operations Command announced last week. Investigators said an unknown mechanical malfunction occurred causing an emergency landing. Voas and Lackey's actions on April 9, 2010, saved the lives of two other crew members and 14 other passengers on the Osprey, the service said. In addition to Voas and Lackey, an Army Ranger and a civilian contractor also died as a result of the crash. The news of the awards comes as the service currently grapples with a deadly CV-22 crash that killed eight airmen off the coast of Japan late last year, and as the services struggle to find mechanical fixes for the Osprey. Read Next: Air Force Missile Base Personnel Have Elevated Breast, Prostate Cancer Rates, Initial Study Results Indicate Maddeline Voas, who was 16 when her father died and is now 30, said her family is grateful for the honor even though it invokes painful memories. She recalled being woken up when she heard her mother cry as news of her father's death was delivered by military personnel. "I think it's going to feel really wonderful and just really fulfilling for our family for my dad to receive that," Maddeline Voas said in a phone interview. "In the years since, I've heard so many stories from people that he flew with and about how much of an amazing pilot he was." Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall gave retroactive authority to the AFSOC commander, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, to approve the award nominations, the service said in a press release last week. "Randy and JB's actions in the face of chaos is what all Air Commandos train for," Bauernfeind said in a statement, referencing Voas and Lackey's nicknames. "I am grateful that we are able to recognize their final acts." The announcement of the posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross awards for the two airmen comes two days before the Air Force announced plans to start putting its CV-22 fleet back in the air, following a three-month stand-down of the aircraft shortly following a deadly crash in November. Rebecca Heyse, an AFSOC spokeswoman, told Military.com that the awards for Voas and Lackey were in the work prior to the November crash and that Bauernfeind received the authorization from Kendall in January to review the new award packages. Voas and Lackey's aircraft took off as the lead aircraft of a three-ship formation from a forward operating base on a 14-minute route to a landing zone near Qalat, according to an accident investigation report. After hitting unexpected tailwinds, the crew changed its flight plan and ended up crashing roughly a quarter of a mile from the intended landing area. The Osprey rolled on its landing gear across the sand, leaving "marks indicative of a nearly perfect roll-on landing," the accident report detailed. The CV-22s nose gear collapsed and the nose section hit a ditch, causing the aircraft to flip tail over nose. Additionally, the left wing broke off and caught fire. The right wing and taiI section also separated from the fuselage, investigators detailed. The Accident Investigation Board president could not determine the cause of the crash, citing a lack of "clear and convincing evidence" because the flight incident recorder, the Vibration Structural Life and Engine Diagnostics control unit, and the right engine were destroyed and couldn't be examined, an Air Force news release detailed in 2010. At the time, the Taliban claimed its forces had shot the Osprey down, but the Air Force ruled out "loss due to enemy action, environmental brownout conditions and vortex ring state," the service said. Heyse said new information came to light, prompting the awards. "We received additional information last year that allowed us to pursue these decorations," Heyse told Military.com. "It doesn't change the conclusions of the [Accident Investigation Board] at all but shed light on the actions of Maj. Voas and SMSgt. Lackey during the mishap." The most recent crash off the coast of Japan on Nov. 29 killed all eight crew members aboard and triggered a grounding of all Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy V-22 Ospreys. Military officials announced last week that the Ospreys would be returning to flight, even though the investigation into November's crash has not concluded. That investigation has revealed a new mechanical failure that is not fully understood -- showcasing the second known, persistent mechanical issue that is plaguing the V-22. 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 when the Air Force briefly grounded its fleet of Ospreys in the summer of 2022. 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 recent news of the November Osprey crash that left eight airmen dead was tough for Maddeline Voas. She remembers what it was like losing her dad, and she doesn't want anyone else to experience that pain. "Even though it's been so long, it still feels like yesterday," she told Military.com. "Anytime I see anything with, honestly, aircraft in general, the Osprey included, it is triggering. And I know what the families are going through, and I wish they didn't have to feel the way that my family felt." Related: Ospreys Cleared to Fly Again After Deadly Crash Despite Mechanical Failure with Unknown Cause ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed an ordinance speeding up the process for demolishing problem properties. Now, instead of presenting a resolution of condemnation to Albuquerque City Council, cases will be heard by an independent hearing officer. City of Albuquerque looks to redevelop hotel or office space into affordable housing A long-time problem property the city says they plan to demolish is near Ute Rd. and 50th Street. But because of the various processes, this can take a long long time. But this is an example of something that has had 46 board-ups, 234 code enforcement calls, one AFR call, and 125 police department calls, said Mayor Keller. The plan was to demolish the property on Friday but the property owners received their demolition permit Thursday which means they are accepting responsibility for the demolition. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Gwyneth Rees braved the wind and the rain to see the monolith that has appeared on top of Hay Bluff - Andrew Fox On a sunny day, there would be many good reasons to don my walking boots and hike up Hay Bluff to its summit. Not only is it set in the beautiful border territory of Wales and England, with sweeping views down onto the Wye Valley, its also just four miles south of the historic market town of Hay-on-Wye, packed with delightful book shops. Then theres the fact that its a convenient walk 1.7 miles there and back and part of the Offas Dyke national trail, with a satisfying trig point on the top. But today, in the lashing rain, with minimal visibility and the mossy ground treacherous underfoot, there can be only one reason to make this journey to see for myself the monolith that has mysteriously emerged on this mountain top and become the talk of the town, if not the world. The 10ft non-magnetic structure, made from metal sheets forged into a triangular prism, appeared on the hilltop last weekend, prompting claims a UFO had landed. The 10ft structure is made from metal sheets forged into a triangular prism - Andrew Fox Speculation as to its origin particularly on TikTok was feverish. Had it been dropped by a helicopter? You certainly couldnt drive it to the hilltop. Had it been carried up by local artists? Was this paying homage to the monolith in Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey, to which it bears a striking resemblance? The strange feature was spotted by local builder Craig Muir, who said he was taken aback as it looked like some sort of UFO. It seemed like a very fine metallic [material]. It looked perfectly levelled and steady, despite the weather being windy. Craig Muir said he assumed the monolith was 'some sort of UFO' - PA Since its discovery, locals tell me the car park has been full, and that tourists are heading to the town just to see it. But on the day of my visit with The Telegraph photographer, because of the lashing rain, we are relatively alone. The only people we meet are two walkers, both teachers from Clevedon High School, who have just dropped a pile of sixth formers to undertake a hike for their Duke of Edinburgh award. 'We have no idea how it got there': local teachers Mark Davies and Tony Battista had come to see the monolith for themselves - Andrew Fox Tony Battista, 50, says: Its bizarre, really extraordinary. Well worth seeing. Maybe its done by a rural Banksy? His colleague, Mark Davies, 49, adds: It is fascinating and quite eerie. No doubt the kids will see it later and be full of conspiracy theories. But we have no idea how it got there. As we continue our walk, the monolith mystery is none the clearer to me or the photographer, who is cursing the rain and worrying about his camera. The main ascent up Hay Bluff is almost vertical, the sort of track that makes you wish you were a goat. A winding path does snake off the side, omitting the worst of the ascent, but even that is full of twists and precipitous drops, with large steps carved in to supposedly ease the journey. Gwyneth makes her way up Hay Bluff in the lashing rain, with minimal visibility - Andrew Fox Given that February was one of the wettest on record, everything is precarious. Could people have carried such a structure up here? Only if they were mad. But it seems the only viable option. It would be unlikely that the structure was made up there, given you would need equipment, and would still have to carry the metal sheets. But a helicopter expert, who did not wish to be named, dismissed the idea of a helicopter being involved. He said the only way to fit a 10ft monolith inside a helicopter would be in a military one, but a helicopter with lifting tackle could potentially dangle it underneath for a short distance. The expert also advised a helicopter would not fly to the top of a mountain at night as it would be deemed too dangerous. When we make it to the top, it would be nice to describe the views, but we cant see anything. A surveying trig point stamped with the red Welsh dragon reveals a height of 677 metres. Im so pleased to have made it, and so drenched, I almost forget why we are here. There it is, cries the photographer, pointing off to the right. Oh yes, I say. And what a strange sight. Set a hundred metres or so from the trig point, and in among tussocks of boggy heather, its there. We inch closer, dodging the pools of stagnant water and moss. Its real, at least. Hollow, but seemingly held up by an interior pillar. To inspect it, I take off my shades, which have been keeping the rain from my eyes. Theres more metal in the ground, which has clearly been exposed by those keen to check its foundations. These appear to keep it weighted and upright, but even then it is blowing about in the wind. Nestled among tussocks of boggy heather, the monolith fits the scene well but there's no real function to it - Andrew Fox It does fit the scene quite well, given that its misty. But its not very Bauhaus, as in theres no real function to it. You cant even check your make-up in the reflection. We have no idea why anyone would set it here. Unless they are making a point against health and safety? What do you think? I ask the photographer. Its just to get people talking, he says. And walking? I add. Yep. That too. If it is to get people talking, it has done the job. Not least because it is not a one-off but part of a global collective. The first monolith was spotted in Utah, Arizona, in 2020 by scientists during a helicopter survey of wild bighorn sheep. Satellite imagery later revealed it had been there since 2016. Two weeks after it was discovered and removed, another monolith appeared, this time 13ft tall and in Romania. Since then, dozens more have been spotted across the world, including in South America and Europe. There are monoliths in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Turkey. In the UK, they have been planted on a beach in the Isle of Wight, at the top of Glastonbury Tor, in the middle of Merry Maidens stone circle in Cornwall and on the fields at Dartmoor National Park. That one had the words Not Banksy carved into it. But despite their proliferation, no one is really clear why they are there or who might be behind them. The Most Famous Artist an artist collective group in Tucumcari, New Mexico, which specialises in low-cost high-impact art projects has suggested it may have created the initial Utah monolith. Im here to say: I didnt do the monolith, but I didnt not do the monolith, the collectives founder, artist Matty Mo, helpfully said in a 2020 Instagram post. But no one has claimed responsibility for the ones in Europe. And indeed, Banksys representative has denied he is involved. It is hardly the first time, however, that mysterious art has appeared on our shores. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the arrival of crop circles, with their intricate patterns, baffled farmers and sparked calls of alien activity and a connection to ancient hill forts and burial mounds. The arrival of crop circles, like this one in London's Kew Gardens, have sparked calls of alien activity - Reuters But in 1991, two farmers, Dave Chorley, and his friend Doug Bower, from Winchester in Hampshire, admitted they had been making them since 1976. At the time, Dave told local news: We wanted the UFO society to think a UFO had landed. After a few years they didnt know whether to believe it or not. The tricksters revealed they travelled the countryside at night using a plank and a piece of rope to make the curious shapes, which appeared throughout Wiltshire and Hampshire. Later, Daves son, Jim Chorley, told the BBC: They were out on a Friday night and come back at 4 or 5 in the morning, and would put a little piece of corn on the kitchen table. They saw it as kind of a folk art form; it was the biggest canvas they could possibly ever use. They werent prepared for some of the backlash [when they came out]. I can understand why people still need to believe in the magic of it. Inevitably, there may be some who believe the appearance of these puzzling monoliths may be the work of external forces. Daniel Jolley, social psychologist at the University of Nottingham, who specialises in conspiracy theories, says: To me, this is entertaining. We dont know why its been done. But to some who believe in conspiracy theories, this is even more exciting. It draws them in, like a movie. He says people who believe in conspiracy theories for example, that these monoliths are from outer space but covered up by governments are generally more anxious people who need answers to our complex world. He adds: People try to make sense of events, they seek answers. They struggle with uncertainty and have a distrust of authorities. They look for patterns and motives so they feel a little bit of control. Other people can just accept that these monoliths are there and we dont know why. One mystery monolith appeared in Utah, 2020 To contemporary art curator and critic Ellen Stone, however, they are an accessible and entertaining form of art. She says the monoliths resemble huge pieces of metalwork made by American artist Richard Serra. Currently, magnificent pieces of his are spread across a kilometre of desert on Qatars Zekreet Peninsula. She says: For me, art is about three things the creator, the context and the community of people who view it. But when these monoliths are unclaimed, you have the death of the author, so it is up to the viewer to decide what they mean. She says the fact the monoliths have popped up around the world is probably because they are relatively easy to make. Any artist with basic metal work skills can make one. And just like with the crop circles, it enables people to be part of something larger. She adds that where they are placed is incredibly important. The landscape is so important, she explains. The monoliths hark back to druid structures and single stones across our rural landscape. Plus its looking at 2001: A Space Odyssey in referential form. The monolith there was a stand-in for God and knowledge. It is a mysterious object and open for debate and meaning, just like these monoliths. Either way, back in Hay, locals seem delighted with the new addition. James Walton, owner of The Old Black Lion Inn, says: Its certainly strange. But its nice that its been done in Hay. Locals are talking about it and are very intrigued as to how it got there. This is a special town, and it has definitely added to the mystique. He wishes to encourage people to come and see the monolith, and perhaps drop in for a pint on the way. But as my photographer and I had to slide down the treacherous Hay Bluff on our backsides, narrowly avoiding ending up in A&E with sprained ankles, I can only suggest coming on a sunny day. 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. Almost 20,000 diagnoses of prostate cancer may have been missed during the pandemic, research suggests. The study by the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford, which analysed 24 million patient records since 2020, shows the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic on the detection of other major killer diseases. Researchers said unprecedented disruption in the diagnosis of cancer with a drop in urgent referrals from GPs, longer waiting times and difficulties accessing care could mean tens of thousands of men have missed diagnoses which could save their lives. Scientists analysed prostate cancer incidence between January 2015 and July 2023, using a database that covers 40 per cent of the English population. They found a 31 per cent drop in diagnoses of prostate cancer in 2020, with 4,722 fewer diagnoses than would be expected. The following year saw 3,148 fewer diagnoses than normal a drop of 18 per cent. While diagnosis rates returned to expected levels in 2022, this left 7,940 fewer diagnoses in the previous two years meaning 19,800 fewer cases when extrapolated across the country. The estimates in the study, published in BJU International (formerly known as the British Journal of Urology) compare with previous estimates of 14,000 missed diagnoses during the pandemic. Separate research has shown that death rates among men with prostate cancer tripled during the first year of the pandemic. Prof Pat Price, a leading oncologist and chairman of the charity Radiotherapy UK, said: This is shocking data and shows the worsening situation we have been warning about in cancer. Sadly when these 20,000 men are eventually diagnosed they could have more advanced disease and need more treatment. NHS leaders have not sufficiently increased cancer treatment capacity in response to the backlogs and so more and more people will need to wait longer for their cancer treatment. Tragically, it does not have to be this way. The Government needs a dedicated cancer plan to help this recovery, reduce treatment waits and save lives. The study also identified peaks in mortality from prostate cancer during the two most stringent lockdowns. During April 2020 prostate cancer-related mortality went from 5.5 to 8.5 per 100,000, with a second peak in January 2021 of 7.5 per 100,000. Six months older The study also found that men who were diagnosed with disease in 2021 were on average around six months older than those before the pandemic suggesting crucial time lost in diagnosis and treatment while disease was spreading. When prostate cancer is caught in the first two stages, survival rates are close to 100 per cent. But they drop to around 50 per cent for those treated at stage four. Lead author Dr Agnieszka Lemanska, senior lecturer in health data science at the University of Surrey, said: Understandably, during the pandemic, resources and attention in healthcare systems shifted towards preventing and managing the virus. This was to the detriment of other areas of the health service including cancer care. She said: Early cancer diagnosis is key to improving cancer-related outcomes and long-term survival. It is important that we learn the lessons from the pandemic. However, to do this, we need to fully understand the scale of how services and diagnosis rates were impacted during this time. Separate research has shown that death rates among men with prostate cancer tripled during the first year of the pandemic. The figures show almost 5,000 extra deaths of men with prostate cancer during the pandemic at a time when the number of diagnoses fell. Only around 1,000 were caused by Covid, researchers said. That study of NHS hospital data by charity Prostate Cancer UK found alarming changes in diagnosis and treatment of the disease, with cases spotted far later, when the disease is less treatable. Cancer operations fell more in Britain than almost anywhere else in Western Europe during the pandemics first year, international research shows. In total, the number of prostate cancer operations fell by more than 40 per cent in 2020, against an OECD average of 16.6 per cent. The study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows how efforts to protect the NHS from Covid meant cancer operations were reduced on a far greater scale than in other countries. The international study, which compared 25 OECD nations, examined four common procedures for treatment of cancer and other health conditions in 2019 and 2020. It shows that for each of them Britain reduced surgery levels on a scale seen by almost no other country in Western Europe. Much routine surgery was stopped during the early stages of the pandemic, with cancer patients among those who saw operations cancelled. GP care access Meanwhile, difficulties accessing GP care fuelled delays in diagnosis, meaning thousands more patients are now coming forward, often at a far later stage of disease. Chiara De Biase, of Prostate Cancer UK, said: The pandemic brought huge challenges to the NHS and to every one of us. As this important research outlines, one major consequence was that thousands of men didnt come forward for prostate cancer testing. To find these men, we launched a major campaign with the NHS in 2022, and created our online risk checker which enables men to quickly find out their risk of getting prostate cancer and what to do about it. The risk checker has now been used more than 2 million times, and referral rates across the UK have risen above pre-pandemic levels. An NHS spokesman said: While fewer people came forward for cancer checks during the pandemic, the NHS has been working hard to encourage people to get checked and more recent data shows the total number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer since March 2020 has now overtaken the number we would have expected to see diagnosed during this period. The NHS is seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer, and it is vital that people come forward if they are concerned about unusual symptoms getting checked early saves lives. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: We are committed to improving outcomes for prostate cancer and in November we joined with Prostate Cancer UK to unveil a 42 million screening trial to find ways of speeding up its detection. The NHS has seen and treated record numbers of cancer patients over the last two years and cancer is being diagnosed at an earlier stage, more often, with survival rates improving across almost all types, including prostate cancer. We have invested 2.3 billion into speeding up diagnosis, launching 154 Community diagnostic centres across England and we will build on our progress through our forthcoming major conditions strategy. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A group of more than 50 United Nations member states, including all members of the European Union, has condemned Russia's holding of elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in a joint statement. Source: a statement published by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN, reported by European Pravda Details: The signatories of the statement condemned Russia's illegitimate attempts to organise presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine "in the strongest possible terms". "Holding elections on the territory of another UN member state without its consent is a blatant disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such elections have no legal force under international law," they stressed. The states reiterated their call not to recognise any change in the status of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts of Ukraine by Russia. "We demand that the Russian Federation refrain from holding illegitimate elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," the signatories added, stressing their support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Background: Earlier, the United States and the European Union separately condemned Russia's holding of the sham presidential elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The foreign ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia also condemned Russia's intention to hold sham presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! A brief retro-style video shared to the brand's Instagram account shows Meghan stirring a pot in what appears to be her kitchen To the jazzy sounds of Nancy Wilson's 1960s tune I Wish You Love, the Duchess of Sussex emerges from the kitchen of her Californian mansion in a teaser unveiling her new lifestyle brand. Although little was revealed in the 16-second long video, an Instagram account for Meghan's new brand has already amassed hundreds of thousands of online followers. The branding for American Riviera Orchard features a gold-coloured crest, with the word "Montecito" - the name of the upscale town where Meghan, Prince Harry and their children live near Santa Barbara, which is referred to as the "American Riviera". A post on the American Riviera Orchard Instagram account features a brief, retro-style grainy video showing hands arranging flowers, Meghan stirring a pot in a kitchen, and a woman in a ballgown standing at the end of a long colonnade. It remains unclear what exactly she is selling - but internet sleuths scouring pending US trademark applications have found that American Riviera Orchards plans to sell cookbooks and home goods such as decanters and kitchen linens, as well as foods including marmalade and jellies. Some have been speculating on whether the placement of certain items in the teaser video will also form part of her new line in the months to come. In the kitchen behind Meghan we can see elegant bowls and a glass decanter. The sense of mystery in the video is very deliberate, says Lindsey Imler, a digital marketing specialist for Intero Digital, based in Columbia, Missouri. It is "very discreet", she says, and "very alluring" - playing into Americans' fairy tale perceptions of the curious foreign royals. It has led to a flood of Google searches from people wondering what she's up to now. Prof Pauline Maclaran, a marketing and consumer research professor at Royal Holloway, University of London, says the duchess appears to be tapping back into her former brand The Tig, which she shuttered following her engagement to Prince Harry. When it ended, Meghan - who is better known as a former Hollywood actress than a lifestyle influencer - had over 3 million Instagram followers. "I would see this as a much more domestic goddess kind of market," Prof Maclaran tells BBC News, "with these new regal connections now, and, you know, promoting elegance." The video is "evoking heritage" which "is linking to the royal aspect", she adds. She says that the "domestic goddess in the kitchen" image, similar to that of Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson, appears to be directly pitching to US buyers. Kerrie Kelly, who has worked as an interior designer in California for 30 years, agrees that the promo appears to be "rooted in history, or more European as far as the aesthetic", but still has a healthy dose of "easy breezy" California chic added to the mix. Meghan appears to be marketing a "feeling of domestic bliss", leaning into her role as a wife and mother. Mrs Kelly says she wouldn't be surprised to see Meghan's company include, for instance, a children's clothing line or a nursery collection. Her husband might also later appear in marketing materials, something consumers would probably expect of a lifestyle brand. The shortness of the launch video has not stopped critics from ridiculing the brand. Some have joked that the 10-syllable American Riviera Orchard sounds like the names of children born to Hollywood celebrities. Commentators have also already begun to draw comparisons to Gwyneth Paltrow's company Goop, and the products sold by celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Reese Witherspoon. American journalist Elizabeth Holmes, who wrote a best-selling book about royal fashion in 2020, says royal watchers have been assuming that Meghan's "next chapter" would likely include bringing back the Tig website "in some form". Since returning to the US, Meghan "has had this sort of like laid back, California, sophisticated ease about her", Mrs Holmes says. The launch came just a few days after her sister-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales, had to address a photoshopping mishap in the UK - which stoked the public's curiosity about the private lives of the royals. Lindsey Imler, the digital marketing specialist, finds the "juxtaposition" in media attention between the two royal women interesting. Both have been guarded recently about sharing information from their daily lives. "For so long Meghan was, you know, the negative, and Kate was the positive and now it feels like there's been a noticeable shift" in the last few days, she says. The launch has prompted some public speculation that the lifestyle brand could be in breach of an agreement with the Royal Family to not use their royal titles, His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, for profit. So far, the business has not used the titles. When they left their role as working royals, they were instructed to uphold the values of the Royal Family, and the limited information available about the new brand seems so far to follow that guidance. Buckingham Palace could theoretically complain if Meghan's products are seen to be in competition with those they sell through their own Royal Collection website, but it is far too early to say whether any clash may occur. With additional reporting by Daniela Relph BEIRUT, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Salem Hijazi, a 50-year-old man displaced from Lebanon's southern village of Aitaroun, sits with his family around a wood-burning heater in a temporary shelter in the southern city of Nabatieh, discussing ways of securing his family's urgent needs during the holy month of Ramadan. Hijazi had not anticipated that the conflict in southern Lebanon would extend into the holy month. He had wished for a ceasefire that would allow him to return to his home and observe the traditions of Ramadan with joy and tranquility. "We miss the festive mood of Ramadan, which we will not feel this year, unfortunately," he told Xinhua. Hijazi is among thousands of residents in the border region of southern Lebanon who were forced to leave their houses and migrate to safer areas due to the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, which started a day after the outbreak of the Gaza conflict between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. "We cannot enjoy the festive atmosphere of Ramadan, and I can sadly say Ramadan has become a heavy burden since we cannot even secure our basic needs away from our jobs," Mariam al-Qadi, Hijazi's wife, told Xinhua. Around 83,000 people were displaced from border areas in southern Lebanon, and half of them are women and children, according to official estimates. Out of the displaced population, only around 3,000 individuals were housed in shelter centers located in the southern cities of Tyre, Nabatieh, and Hasbaya, while the remainder either rented accommodations or sought refuge with relatives. Salima Abou Hamid, a lady in her 30s, closed her shop in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, and sought refuge in Tyre. She longs for the communal Ramadan experience with her neighbors in her hometown, where they come together to recite Quran verses and break their fasts together in the spiritual month. "The war has ruined our festive mood during Ramadan, and we are no longer able to afford our basic food needs after we lost our businesses," she said. The conflict on Lebanon's southern border is taking place at a time when the country is suffering from an unprecedented economic crisis that plunged 80 percent of its population into poverty. The cash-strapped government has limited capacity to assist the tens of thousands of Lebanese displaced from border areas, leaving civil societies, associations and philanthropists to fill the gap. Sheikh Hassan Dallah, the mufti of Hasbaya and Marjeyoun in Lebanon, told Xinhua he had reached out to local and international philanthropists to provide financial support to secure food for the families in need, which totaled 1,600 in southeast Lebanon. Jamil Daher, head of the al-Aman Foundation, which means "Security" in Arabic, told Xinhua his foundation is providing 500 meals daily this year for displaced individuals from border areas. Mortada Mhanna, head of the disaster unit at the Union of Tyre Municipalities, mentioned that he had contacted international agencies to ensure the provision of daily meals from a communal kitchen in Tyre to the displaced individuals residing in shelters in southeast Lebanon. The Russian Volunteer Corps claimed to have captured 25 Russian soldiers during their incursions into Kursk and Belgorod oblasts, the militia said on its Telegram channel on March 16. Anti-Kremlin militias, including the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Freedom of Russia Legion, and the Siberian Battalion, launched raids into the two border regions of Russia from Ukraine on March 12. In a video published on Telegram early on March 16, the Russian Volunteer Corps's commander Denys Nikitin, also known by his nom de guerre "White Rex," talks to a man introduced as captured Russian senior lieutenant Alexei Volkov. Both Nikitin and Volkov denied earlier statements by the Russian Defense Ministry that the incursions were all repelled while inflicting heavy losses on the militants. Other alleged Russian prisoners were also shown in the video with blurred faces. According to the militants, they have captured 25 Russian military personnel. Nikitin appealed to Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov to meet and facilitate the handover of the prisoners. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us "Fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps continue carrying out military operations in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts," Nikitin said in the video. Over the past few days, fighting was reported in several settlements of Kursk and Belgorod oblasts. The Freedom of Russia Legion said they destroyed two military warehouses in Tyotkino, Kursk Oblast, on March 14. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had thwarted attempts at incursion by who they called "Ukrainian sabotage units," allegedly inflicting hundreds of casualties. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Ukraine's military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov said the militias are comprised of Russian citizens under Ukrainian defense and security forces, but their incursions into Russia are not taking place under Kyiv's orders. "On the territory of the Russian Federation, they act absolutely autonomously, on their own, and pursue their social and political program tasks," Yusov told the media. Read also: What do we know about the Siberian Battalion that reportedly crossed into Russia? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. FIRST ON FOX: An area in Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs district is being described as looking more like a Third World country as opposed to a thriving American neighborhood, as desperate migrants block up sidewalks selling food and shilling clothing items while prostitutes openly solicit sex from passersby reportedly including teens. The neighborhoods of Corona, Jackson Heights and Elmhurst a once-vibrant community in northwestern Queens has now essentially deteriorated into a large flea market with trash overflowing on street corners, leading to unsavory and unhygienic conditions, as video obtained by Fox News Digital shows. Meanwhile, the neighborhoods main strip along Roosevelt Avenue has become so renowned for its prostitution that locals have nicknamed the area "the market of sweethearts," and viral online videos advise prospective johns on how to make use of sex workers' services there. NYC POLICE BEGIN KNOCKING DOWN THE DOORS OF ILLEGAL BROTHELS, STARTING IN QUEENS In exclusive Fox News Digital photos, sex workers were seen on Wednesday standing outside storefronts soliciting men. Residents say the prostitutes usually take their clients into makeshift brothels for sex. These alleged sex workers operate during all hours of the day, even as families walk by with their children in strollers, and often hang out in front of area supermarkets. Prostitution is against the law in New York. In video obtained by Fox News Digital, one local resident, Ramses Frias, takes a short walk along two streets in the neighborhood, shedding light on the conditions there. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The video shows an almost endless stream of vendors with piles of clothes stacked along the streets, while others sell sneakers, pots and pans and toys and photo frames. At the end of the clip, three people can be seen sitting in the trunk of a car. The trio has a stall set up encroaching onto a pedestrian crossing and their used boxes block the path of walkers crossing the road. Only licensed vendors are permitted to sell food or goods in public spaces in New York. "Like most of my like-minded residents, we see this as a third-world market," Frias, 43, tells Fox News Digital. "Basically, you just see clothes thrown across the floor the items are stolen from donation bins or stolen from stores, and they just set up shop outside brick-and-mortar businesses. They take away trade from these businesses and don't pay taxes." "There are no repercussions; they get a free pass," says Frias, who says the streets have become overrun by illegal street vendors while crime has been steadily increasing in the neighborhood. People block streets in the Queens neighborhood in September. NYC MAN CHARGED WITH RAPING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN HER HOME AFTER MEEETING HER ONLINE: POLICE The video was taken on the edge of Ocasio-Cortezs 14th Congressional District. The area is mostly represented by progressive politicians, including Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assembly members Catalina Cruz, Steve Raga, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Council Member Shekar Krishnan. Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office, but did not receive a response for publication. The neighborhood is often touted as the most diverse in Queens and has long been a melting pot for migrants, but a portion of the migrant population there are reportedly in the U.S. illegally and dont have permits to work, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets to make ends meet, residents say. Meanwhile, Frias says that the prostitutes blatantly flaunt their bodies on the streets at all times of the day. "They do whatever they please, they are open about it and not discreet," Frias says. "They line up all along 90th street in front of a pizzeria, a 99-cent store and just try to pull men. Youll see multiple women in scantily clad clothing. Now it's cold, they are a bit covered up, but it will get worse in the summer." In January, the NYPD raided six establishments allegedly engaged in prostitution, which were issued closing orders. The raid was well publicized with New York City Mayor Eric Adams present. "Among these legal businesses, you have these single beds it is clear what is taking place there and this is really bringing down the quality of life of this community and anyone who says this is a victimless crime, just really needs to see the inhumane conditions," Adams said at the time. "Sex trafficking is real and were not going to sit idly by and pretend that it's not happening." Adams at the time was joined by Council Member Francisco Moya, who has been a vocal opponent of prostitution and illegal vendors in the neighborhood, often at odds with fellow Democrats. NYPD officers raided a brothel in Queens on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, which was the first of several targeted for sex trafficking. NEW YORK EYES DECRIMINALIZING PROSTITUTION AFTER MAINE TAKES SIMILAR STEPS Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, says that the city has not been aggressive enough in tackling the prostitution issue since police say no arrests were made in relation to the raid. "When the NYPD finally padlocked some of the houses of prostitution, they did not arrest the prostitutes, johns or the madams," said Sliwa, who was approached by residents last year to get involved in the situation. . . . They did not fine the landlords who were housing the prostitution. Many of the businesses where prostitutes now openly use their space are once again open for business 24/7." "The cops won't arrest the Johns and the District Attorney won't prosecute the Johns," Sliwa added. "The area is now a well-advertised red-light district for migrants. The girls are mostly Asian, the Johns are mostly Hispanics some of whom are migrants. Ramses Frias, left, who is running for the state assembly in New York, and Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels. Nevertheless, Frias, a former Democrat, has become so enraged by the conditions that he is running for the Assembly District 39 seat as a Republican in a bid to reclaim the streets. The seat is currently held by Cruz, who tells Fox News Digital that a group of elected officials, separate from Moya, have been meeting with city and state agencies to work on "safe solutions for quality of life concerns." Cruz has previously called for more permits to be issued for street vendors, and she has also sponsored legislation to decriminalize prostitution. Ocasio-Cortez herself has also called on the city to issue more vendor permits. "Our goal is and always has been to establish solutions that ensure our communitys economic and physical well-being," says Cruz, adding that the January raid was a "city-controlled issue" and that the police and the mayor's office did not inform her about it. An alleged sex worker stands on a street in the Corona section of Queens, on March 13, 2024. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But Frias says it is time for radical change in the neighborhood and a Republican approach to the matter. He has been endorsed by Sliwa. "I have lived here my whole life, I've seen the changes go from good, too bad to worse, and it's at that peak of worse right now, and I dont want it to go past that," says Frias, adding he is very much pro-immigrant. His father is from the Dominican Republic, while his mother emigrated from Haiti and was an attorney who helped people in the neighborhood for years obtain their citizenship. "I love the hustle of the immigrants in this neighborhood, but people cannot just do as they please, and the area has effectively deteriorated into an open flea market," Frias says. "You literally step in either direction, and you're in a different country. Different types of food, different types of culture. It makes me open to everybody's ideals on things, because at the end of the day, everybody just wants a safe place to live." An alleged sex worker talks to a man outside a suspected brothel in the Corona Plaza section of Queens, New York on March 13, 2024. Original article source: AOC district neighborhood labeled 'Third World' as migrants clog streets and prostitutes overrun every block PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Columbia Rivers first federally approved sea lion killings of 2024 will likely begin next week, NOAA Fisheries told KOIN 6 News. The sea lion removals or cullings are carried out by state and tribal officials each year to protect the threatened and endangered salmon that inhabit the river and its tributaries. In mid-March, Portlanders documented dozens of male sea lions taking residence on the docks of Hayden Island. These sea lions are moving upriver to feast on spawning smelt and migrating salmon, wildlife officials said. Many will head back out to sea in May and June. However, a growing number of sea lions have been documented hunting in the river each year and for longer periods of time. Steller sea lions, for example, which were first spotted at the Bonneville Dam in 2003, are now known to hunt near the dam 11 months out of the year, NOAA Fisheries states on its website. The U.S. population of California sea lions on the west coast has grown from fewer than 75,000 to an estimated 257,000 animals over the last 30 years, NOAA said. The abundance of California sea lions in the Columbia River basin alone has increased from less than 500 to around 4,000 animals in the past decade. FILE In this April 24, 2008, file photo, a sea lion eats a salmon in the Columbia River near Bonneville Dam in North Bonneville, Wash. Federal authorities on Aug. 14, 2020, granted permission for Washington state, Oregon and several Native American tribes to begin killing hundreds of salmon-hungry sea lions in the Columbia River and its tributaries. (AP Photo/Don Ryan) Dog Mountain hiking permits sell out in a single day The annual sea lion population has caused concerns for fishermen and conservationists looking to protect the Columbia Rivers threatened and endangered salmon. Lawmakers initially passed a bill in 2018, which allowed tribal and state leaders in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to apply for as many as 100 permits each year to kill sea lions feeding on local salmon. NOAA Fisheries expanded upon that authority in 2020, revising the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow local states and tribes to kill any California or Steller sea lions in zones of the Columbia River where they are known to specifically prey on at-risk salmon and steelhead. Regional NOAA Fisheries spokesperson Michael Milstein told KOIN 6 News that 25 Steller sea lions and 22 California sea lions were legally killed in the Columbia River in 2023. None have been removed yet in 2024, Milstein said. They are just starting to ramp up efforts and probably will begin next week. KOIN 6 file photo: A sea lion at McCormick Pier in Portland. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife data shows that 411 sea lions have been killed in the Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls areas since 2008. The removal of these sea lions has saved thousands of threatened and endangered salmon in the Columbia River since the program began, according to NOAA. Before sea lion management, data showed that sea lions were consuming significant numbers of fish up to 44% of the Columbia River spring Chinook run and 25% of the Willamette winter steelhead run each year, the ODFW website states. Since sea lion management began, these rates have been significantly reduced. Annual sea lion removal data for the Columbia River. (ODFW) Sen. Merkley gives stance on controversial TikTok ban As of August 2020, state and tribal officials estimate that approximately 290 California sea lions and 130 Steller sea lions hunt within the Columbia River Basin each year. Because these numbers represent less than 0.1% and 0.18% of the total species populations, respectively, the annual number of sea lion killings in the Columbia River is said to have no impact on the population health of either species. However, not killing the sea lions could be disastrous for the region, the ODFW states. The ongoing imperiled status of these culturally and economically important fish is not only costing the region millions in direct investments, but also in opportunity costs associated with lost fisheries, restricted power generation and constraints on land and water use, the ODFW said. If predation by sea lions at these environmental pinch points is not addressed as a tipping point, there is a high risk that these investments will fail, many efforts will be negated and additional and irreplaceable native fish runs will be extirpated at increasing rates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A Pennsylvania public library is hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour later this month, with some people for the event and some against it. NBC affiliate WGAL reports that when Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons first heard about it, he was immediately concerned. This is obviously an adult performer, obviously adult themes. Its obviously inappropriate for children, he said to WGAL. Lancaster Public Library executive director Lissa Holland likened the event to a theater performance, saying This is not an adult drag program. This is wholesome, happy, fun times like all of our others. Holland also told WGAL that the library isnt making a political or sexual statement by hosting the event, saying The librarys mission is to serve the entire community, especially marginalized communities. This is one way to bring people who may not feel comfortable in group settings that its a safe place. The library is a safe place. Holland said those who dont want to be exposed to it dont have to be, but Parson still has concerns, WGAL reports. I think the community has to speak and say that this is inappropriate. The library is funded through contributions. Its also funded in part by municipalities, so they have to make a decision about whether they think its appropriate, he said. Parsons said hes not against any group or person but doesnt believe this is the right place or right audience for this message, WGAL reports. The event, which is on March 23, has a waitlist to attend. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh Steelers fans react to news of Kenny Pickett trade to Philadelphia Eagles 2 Rivers Casino employees charged with cheating on table game Primanti Bros. offering deal in exchange for Kenny Pickett jerseys VIDEO:Armed robbery at Pittsburgh beer distributor under investigation DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts ARKANSAS (KSNF) New research shows Arkansas is the worst state for poor road design. A study by Dismuke Law analyzed the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data on fatal crashes where poor road design, such as inadequate warning of exits, obscured pavement marking, and inadequate construction, was reported as a contributing factor to the accident. The state that tops the list is Arkansas. Out of 2,664 fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021, there were 101 fatal crashes where poor road design was a contributing factor. As a result, 3.79% of deadly collisions in the state involved difficulties with road design. The states worst year for incidents in the category was 2020, when 30 out of 598 fatal crashes could be attributed to poor road design. The study found that nationally, there were 672 fatal crashes where poor road design was a related factor, with the highest number also coming in 2020. States with the highest percent of fatal crashes due to poor road design Rank State Total fatal crashes involving poor road design Total fatal crashes Percentage of fatal crashes involving poor road design 1 Arkansas 101 2,664 3.79% 2 Alaska 8 318 2.52% 3 North Dakota 5 473 1.06% 4 Wisconsin 28 2,746 1.02% 5 Illinois 50 5,183 0.96% 6 Wyoming 5 541 0.92% 7 Maine 6 719 0.83% 8 Kentucky 25 3,495 0.72% 9 Minnesota 13 1,843 0.71% 10 Tennessee 36 5,304 0.68% The study analyzed the number of fatal crashes involving the following factors in each state from 2017 to 2021: Inadequate warning of exits, lanes narrowing, traffic controls Shoulder design or condition Other maintenance or construction-created condition No or obscured pavement marking Inadequate construction or poor design of roadway, bridge Surface washed out (caved-in, road slippage) For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. NELSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) An Athens County corrections officer who is accused of taking money from inmates and providing them with drugs was arrested on Thursday. Command staff at The Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail discovered evidence a corrections officer was involved in the transportation and distribution of illegal items in the jail, according to the Athens County Sheriffs Office. The jail alerted The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force, and they initiated an investigation. Lakeview residents picking up the pieces after violent storms The task force confirmed evidence of multiple inmates providing money to a corrections officer through a digital currency application. In return, the officer distributed nicotine pouches and illegal narcotics to inmates, the sheriffs office said. The suspect was identified as William McMillan Jr., 24, of Glouster. On March 14, he was transported from Trimble Township to the Athens County Sheriffs Office for an interview. During the interview, he reportedly admitted he did receive money from inmates and provide them with nicotine pouches and illegal drugs, according to the sheriffs office. McMillan was arrested and charged with one felony count of drug trafficking and one felony count of illegal conveyance of drugs onto grounds of a detention facility. Due to his recent employment at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, McMillan was transported to the Muskingum County Jail. McMillan appeared in court on March 15 and was released on his own recognizance with an ankle monitor as a condition of release. The case will be forwarded to the Athens County Prosecutors Office. The sheriffs office said additional charges are expected. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Signs are posted in the young adult section of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library on Feb. 23, 2024. (Ralph Chapoco/ Alabama Reflector) Three employees of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library said Friday they will not return to work unless terminated Director Andrew Foster does. The employees accused Board of Trustees Chair Ray Boles of threatening their jobs when they refused to reopen the library Thursday night in protest of the boards decision to terminate Foster at a special called meeting on Thursday. We werent surprised, but at the same time it hit like a ton of rocks because we found out by three of the board members walking into our back office and informing us, said Lacie Sutherland, the cataloging and acquisitions librarian for the library, of Fosters termination. The three employees said Boles began to berate the staff Thursday for their actions. He is speaking like an authoritarian, saying you will open up the library, Sutherland said. You do not have the right to do this. Messages were left with Boles seeking comment. Sutherland said Boles then told the staff that a new director would be hired the following week, but before then, the assistant director would serve as the leader of the library. I immediately corrected him, saying that she could not be the interim director by the previous boards policies, when she was hired last spring, she was told that she could not ever be interim director, because she does not hold a masters degree when she was given the job as assistant director, she said. Boles then told the staff he was in control of the library until a new director was hired and ordered the staff to open the facility and continue operating, according to Sutherland. It ended with him asking us, if you do not come and show up to open up tomorrow then you will be fired, Sutherland said. He looked at me and asked me for my name. Then he looked at Rachel Daniels who had a folder in her hands. Boles then told her to write Sutherlands name. He then said, What is your name and are you going to open up tomorrow? Sutherland said. I told him no and he did that to three other coworkers. Boles told the staff he had the support of the mayor of Prattville, the Autauga County Commission, and the city council before making a call, Sutherland said. A second employee, Luke Rollins, said that Boles told him and the other employees that the county had said that we should continue regular hours, and that we should reopen. A third employee, Adrienne Barringer, a library associate, said that Boles approached each of them individually and told them to reopen the library. Rollins said the employees refused. That was when Boles gave them the ultimatum, to either reopen the library or be terminated. When he gets off the phone, he comes back and says, get out of here. Sutherland said. The Montgomery Advertiser reported Friday morning that Boles made an offer to allow them to keep their jobs. As of Friday afternoon, none of the employees had been given a notice of termination. Tension between the library staff and a new group of library trustees appointed by the Autauga County Commission had been building for months. Several former commissioners resigned in protest over appointments made by the county commission. The new board members assumed control Feb. 8 and adopted new policies at their February meeting. On Thursday, they voted to terminate Foster. Foster said it was because he responded to a public records request. The staff locked the doors of the library, which was still in its regular hours, a few minutes later. Barringer spoke with the public shortly afterward, telling people that the doors will remain closed as staff in protest after Foster was dismissed. The library staff will not stand for this, she said Thursday evening. We will not. The series of events is the latest in a community drama that has been playing out for about a year. It began in 2023 when a mother checked out a pronoun book from circulation without realizing the book included pronouns other than male and female. She then relayed her concerns to other parents, who then went on to review several books on the library shelves before approaching elected officials with the problem. They then organized, forming Clean Up Alabama, and began attending commission and council meetings to read passages they claim are sexually explicit. Messages were left with Clean Up Alabama seeking comment. Opponents formed a group called Read Freely Alabama, which accused Clean Up Alabama of engaging in a veiled attempt to remove books that highlight issues related to sexual orientation and race. The new board is largely sympathetic to Clean Up Alabama. There is a small, and very loud, minority of people who live in Autauga County, who have particular ideological beliefs that are offensive to LGBTQ+ people, Sutherland said. Several groups have weighed in on the side of Foster and the staff. The termination of Library Director Andrew Foster and members of his professional staff is an unjust, politically motivated attack on the livelihood of individuals who did nothing wrong, and undermines this librarys capacity for properly, effectively serving the public, Matthew Layne, president of the Alabama Library Association, said in a statement on Friday. Further, its a frightening example of what could happen at public libraries across our state. As a lifelong Alabama resident, I know this is unequivocally not what our states residents want. Another group, EveryLibrary, also supports the staff. We are calling on the City Council, Mayor, and County Commissioners to return these librarians to their jobs and rescind the discriminatory anti-LBGTQ+ policies imposed by the board, said John Chrastka, executive director of the EveryLibrary and the EveryLibrary Institute. We must take action to ensure that all citizens rights are protected and that the library is free from workplace harassment and politicized actions. Fosters termination has catalyzed other developments, with the trustees of the library board convening a meeting Saturday to name a new director. Members of Clean Up Alabama were also seen at the library on Friday, helping the remaining staff care for the shelves and books. A GoFundMe account has been established to assist staff who do not plan to return to their post. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Autauga-Prattville Public Library employees launch work stoppage over directors firing appeared first on Alabama Reflector. The authorities have called the Russian strike on Odesa on 15 March, which killed 20 people, the deadliest in the city in terms of casualties. Source: Odesa Oblast Military Administration Details: As of 09:00 on 16 March, 40 people injured in a missile attack continue to receive treatment in medical facilities, with nine of them in a critical condition. The city and the oblast have declared a period of mourning on 16 March for the 20 people who were killed. Background: Russia attacked Odesa in Ukraine's south with missiles on 15 March. Later, the Defence Forces of Ukraines South reported that Russia attacked Odesa with an Iskander M tactical missile system. Support UP or become our patron! Golden Chippy owner and head chef Chris Kanizi with his patriotic mural - The Telegraph/David Rose Londons best fish and chip shop has been ordered to remove a Union flag mural by council officials. The owner of the Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, was left bemused after a design featuring the flag held by a humanoid fish and a slogan saying A Great British Meal were allegedly deemed inappropriate for the area. Chris Kanizi and his staff have had a strong footfall of visitors, including many overseas tourists, since the shop was deemed Londons top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in 2016. Painted only a month ago, at a cost of 250, the mural was providing a further boon to his business by giving social media-conscious customers a selfie opportunity. It is not the first time Mr Kanizi, who arrived in the UK in 1977 from northern Cyprus, has fallen foul of Greenwich council with his zeal for celebrating fish and chips. In 2016, the town hall ordered him to remove a much larger sign about 17 feet high featuring a very similar design, from above the door. He relented after a two-year battle and a petition of support, which attracted more than 3,000 signatures when he was faced with being taken to court. Its just something to put a smile on peoples faces, he said. But the council said this is a preservation area you cant have that and youve got to paint over it. They also said people had been complaining, but I dont believe that. Everyone who has talked to me say they love it. Mr Kanizi arrived in London with the ambition of studying medicine, but says he instead became an expert fish surgeon. Greenwich council have told Chris Kanizi to take down his much-loved mural - NIGEL HOWARD The 65 year-old has run the Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down. Im going to stick it out for as long as I can, he said. They havent given me a date to paint over it yet, but they will. Ive got so many international customers. They all like taking a photo with the mural in the background. The shop is located in a 19th-century conservation area. However, Mr Kanizi has previously pointed to pictures of the corner property from the 1940s, when the premises was a cafe, which included numerous large trade signs. At the time of the last furore, a local residents group described the councils definition of heritage as narrow and out of touch. A Greenwich council spokesman said: Following a number of complaints made to local ward councillors, an enforcement case was raised about the mural in question. Our Planning Enforcement team is investigating this as it is effectively an unauthorised advert for the chip shop. The owner has agreed to paint over it. We will always try to negotiate with the owner before proceeding to a formal planning enforcement notice. 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 mom from Russell Springs and her boyfriend have been arrested after Kentucky State Police say they lied about their dogs attack on the womans baby, which left the child with serious injuries. Instead, state police said the couple claimed a stray dog was responsible for hurting the 10-month-old. The child was taken to the Russell County Hospital Tuesday and then transferred by helicopter to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, state police said in a news release. The hospital and the Russell Springs Police Department were told the baby had been attacked by an unknown stray dog, state police said, which prompted first responders in Russell County to go out searching unsuccessfully for a stray animal. State police said they got a call Friday from someone in Green County who was concerned for the safety of his children, according to the release. State police said they then went to a home on Bluebird Drive in Russell Springs, where they talked with Emily McKinney, the mother of the 10-month-old, and her boyfriend, Joe Johnson. As the investigation progressed, Troopers determined the dog that had attacked the child actually belonged to Ms. McKinney and Mr. Johnson and was not a stray, the release stated. Mr. Johnson had concealed the location of the couples dog after the incident causing local first responders to use resources searching for a stray dog that did not exist. State police said McKinney, 27, was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse of a child age 12 or under and endangering the welfare of a minor. Johnson, 30, was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence. Both are also facing a charge of making a false report which generates an emergency response. Trooper Jonathan Houk said the dog was taken into the custody of animal control officers. The World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI) has launched a summit aimed at addressing critical security challenges in the global travel industry. The exclusive event, set to take place on April 18, in Brussels, Belgium, will foster collaboration among key industry stakeholders. The Global Tourism Forum Security Summit will convene esteemed professionals, government officials, security experts, academics, and media representatives from around the world. The summit aims to delve into multifaceted security concerns impacting the travel industry, ranging from terrorism and cyber threats to safety protocols and emergency management. Bulut Bagc, Founder and President of the World Tourism Forum, said: "As the travel industry navigates complex security challenges, the GTF Security Summit stands as a beacon of collaboration and innovation. We believe this summit will provide a unique platform for industry leaders to exchange insights, explore solutions, and collectively pave the way for a more secure travel landscape."1/1 Key Objectives URUMQI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday welcomed its first group of foreign tourists with port visas this year. The group of six tourists from Uzbekistan arrived in the regional capital of Urumqi on Friday night. At the beginning of the year, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) introduced a set of measures to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into China for business, education and tourism. The issuance of port visas for foreign tour groups this year aims to meet the needs of foreign businesspeople visiting Xinjiang, providing more convenient and flexible services, according to the visa office at Urumqi's international airport port. Xinjiang regional entry-and-exit management authorities have said they will make good use of existing facilitative measures, and provide convenient application processes for foreign nationals seeking urgent port visas or residence permits to undertake visits, exchanges, business cooperation, investment, entrepreneurship or personal affairs in Xinjiang. (Bloomberg) -- Prosecutors said Sam Bankman-Fried should get as much as 50 years behind bars for his role in the collapse of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange in what is likely the largest fraud of the last decade. Most Read from Bloomberg A sentence ranging from 40 to 50 years is necessary for Bankman-Frieds historic crime involving more than 1 million victims and losses of more than $10 billion, prosecutors said Friday in a court filing. The request is far less than the 100 years recommended in US criminal sentencing guidelines, but much more than the 6 1/2-years his lawyers suggested. In every part of his business, and with respect to each crime committed, the defendant demonstrated a brazen disrespect for the rule of law, prosecutors said in the filing. He understood the rules, but decided they did not apply to him. US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in New York is scheduled to sentence the 32-year-old on March 28. With such a wide disparity in the recommendations, the judges decision could be a bellwether for other cryptocurrency executives who defrauded investors or mismanaged client funds. A jury in Manhattan convicted Bankman-Fried in November of seven charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy. Prosecutors said he directed the transfer of FTX customer money into Alameda Research, an affiliated hedge fund, for risky investments, political donations and expensive real estate before both companies collapsed into bankruptcy in 2022. Before then, FTX was valued at $32 billion. During the trial, several close colleagues and friends at FTX and Alameda testified against him, some in hopes of lenient sentencing for their own admitted crimes. Mark Botnick, a spokesman for Bankman-Fried said that his lawyers will file a response to the governments memo next week. Pernicious Megalomania Prosecutors said Friday that he showed unmatched greed and hubris and broke the law based on a pernicious megalomania guided by the defendants own values and sense of superiority. Even now Bankman-Fried refuses to admit what he did was wrong, prosecutors said. When it comes to sentencing, it may not help that Bankman-Fried had a sometimes contentious relationship with the judge. After Bankman-Fried was charged in December 2022, Kaplan allowed him to remain under house arrest at his parents home in Palo Alto, California, while awaiting trial. But months later, he was found to be using encrypted messaging apps and VPN programs, which conflicted with the conditions of his release. Ellison Diary The judge ordered him locked up in August after the former crypto mogul leaked to the New York Times parts of a diary written by Caroline Ellison, the former chief executive officer of Alameda Research and Bankman-Frieds ex-girlfriend. Ellison had pleaded guilty to related crimes and was cooperating with prosecutors. She later testified against Bankman-Fried at trial. At the time Kaplan called him someone who has shown a willingness and a desire to risk crossing the line in an effort to get right up to it no matter where the line is. Near the end of his month-long trial, Bankman-Fried took the witness stand in his own defense, often appearing vague and evasive. The judge frequently interrupted to caution him to answer the questions asked. Jurors took less than five hours to reject his claim that he wasnt aware of wrongdoing at FTX. Bankman-Fried lied repeatedly under oath, the government said in its court filing. If Kaplan determines he did lie on the stand, that could result in a harsher sentence. Prosecutors argued that Bankman-Fried made more than $100 million in illegal political donations to more than 300 politicians and political action groups - the biggest-ever violation of campaign finance laws. He spent an additional $150 million to bribe officials of the Chinese government, also a record by an individual, they said. The court filing includes a chart showing 13 people convicted of frauds with $100 million or more in losses and argues that most got sentences ranging from 40 to 50 years. Bernard Madoff had the top sentence, 150 years, for the biggest Ponzi scheme in US history. Madoff died in prison in 2021. Bankman-Frieds fraud should be ranked second, after Madoffs, which had losses of $13 billion, according to the government. Last month in a court filing, defense lawyers argued for a relatively lenient sentence, calling the potential for a 100-year term under the guidelines grotesque and barbaric. They said that figure was based on a false view that Bankman-Frieds conduct caused a $10 billion loss. Bankman-Fried has been confined since August in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Judges, advocates and former inmates have been harshly critical of conditions at the MDC, which holds people charged with crimes and awaiting trial. Bankman-Frieds lawyers complained he wasnt getting access to medication for his depression and ADHD. And the jail offered very limited food options for their vegan client. Bankman-Fried has appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight while locked up. The case is US v. Bankman-Fried, 22-cr-00673, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). --With assistance from Chris Dolmetsch and Ava Benny-Morrison. (Updates with details from prosecution sentencing request) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Mike Judge speaks onstage at the "Beavis and Butt-Head" Do Comic-Con panel during 2022 Comic-Con International: San Diego at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2022, in San Diego, California. Mike Judge speaks onstage at the "Beavis and Butt-Head" Do Comic-Con panel during 2022 Comic-Con International: San Diego at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2022, in San Diego, California. Its no secret that some of the most famous cartoons have strong connections to Texas. King of the Hill, situated in the fictional town of Arlen, Texas, draws inspiration from Mike Judge's former residence in Richardson. Matt Stone, the co-creator of South Park, hails from Houston. Sandy Cheeks, a prominent character in SpongeBob SquarePants, takes pride in her Texan roots, despite her friends SpongeBob and Patrick Star playfully teasing that "Texas is dumb." And in a different episode, they organize a Texas-themed party for her, complete with square-dancing, barbecues and pecan pie albeit misinterpreted, a gesture of true southern hospitality. The data clearly shows that Texas is one the most ideal states for animated sitcoms. So, that brings us to the question after fans began theorizing years ago: Is Beavis and Butt-head, also produced by Judge, based in Texas? Listen: Introducing Weird West Texas: The Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/758Dfz4T7LFX2L34A48GC3?si=PEh_5fQ_T2Krdw4nZaLSuA 'One of those towns like Lubbock' Growing up near Albuquerque, Judge's father worked for Southern Methodist University, leading the family to frequently travel between their residence in New Mexico and Dallas, in which Judge described the back-and-forth movement in a July 2022 interview with Texas Monthly as "a lot of time in Texas. Later in life, Judge relocated to Richardson, which, of course, became the inspiration for the fictional town depicted in King of the Hill a widely recognized detail among many fans. In a 2011 interview at the Austin Film Festival, an audience member had asked if the Beavis and Butt-Head shared the same Texas heritage. For the most part, Judge wasnt sure. I was just wondering the landscape of Beavis and Butt-head looks a lot like the landscape of King of the Hill, the journalist said before questioning. I just wanted to ask if Beavis and Butthead take place in Texas. Well, originally, I mean, I grew up mostly in Albuquerque. I was thinking was somewhere between, and I was in Dallas when I created it," Judge responded. "So, its somewhere in between like just one of those little towns like Lubbock or Portales, New Mexico. But, by the time the first film, Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, came out in 1996, it was evident that the setting was based in the Lone Star State. Although Judge said in his Texas Monthly interview that he had never meant for Beavis and Butt-head to be Texans, he finally embraced the idea that it was somewhere in the Texas Panhandle-South Plains region instead of eastern New Mexico when a background artist, without his knowing, had written Texas on each of the cars license plates. And he did, again, note that he did originally envision the hometown somewhere between Lubbock and Clovis" a recognizable stretch of his commute throughout his childhood. If there are any still doubts about Judge choosing the region for the cartoon setting, the resemblance of a Texas restaurant solidifies it. In a recent episode of the Beavis and Butt-Head series revival Season 1, Episode 7: "Kidney; The Good Deed" a scene near identically matches that of the Funky Door Wine and Bistro in Lubbock. Have a different opinion about this topic or a different tale to tell as part of the 'Weird West Texas' series? Send it our way we'd love to hear all about it! Or if you're curious about one of our region's many oddities, submit your question via email to BAddison@gannett.com with "Weird West Texas" in the subject line or via text at 806.496.4073. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Is Beavis and Butt-Head based in Texas? Mike Judge hints at it A push to slash the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 achieved a breakthrough this week, gaining a foothold in the Senate with a proposal that would require businesses to offer the 32-hour workweek but preserve employee pay. The bill, put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., drew praise from labor advocates who tout the benefits of the reduced hours not only for workers' wellbeing but for the productivity benefits enjoyed by their employers. However, political analysts who spoke to ABC News cast doubt on the measure's chances of passage in a divided Congress where opposition from Republicans is all but certain and even the extent of support among Democrats remains unclear. "It's so hard to get anything passed, especially when you have such high levels of polarization. It doesn't take a lot to stop legislation," Richard Hall, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan, told ABC News. "You'd have to imagine a very different political world than what we have now," Hall added. MORE: Does a 4-day workweek work? Companies share results after 1 year Proponents of the measure point to the output gains generated by workplace technology, including recent improvements in automation and artificial intelligence. The standard 40-hour workweek became a federal requirement in 1940, when rudimentary machinery made for diminished worker productivity. Today, much more output can be achieved in fewer hours, advocates say. A study out of the United Kingdom last month found nearly 9 in 10 companies opted to retain a four-day workweek after participating in a temporary pilot program. Support for the measure in Congress, however, remains scant. The proposal made by Sanders on Wednesday carries the support of just two other lawmakers, California Democrats Sen. Laphonza Butler and Rep. Mark Takano. "I don't see this current iteration of the law getting through Congress," Lynne Vincent, a professor of industrial and labor relations at Syracuse University, told ABC News. A near-identical bill proposed by Takano in the House last year gained the support of just seven colleagues in that chamber. Some Republican lawmakers voiced opposition to the newly announced measure in a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Thursday. The proposal amounts to an effective pay increase forced upon businesses, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said, predicting that the 32-hour workweek would "destroy some employers." "They would ship those jobs overseas or they would automate to replace those workers for whom they have an increased expense, or they would dramatically increase prices to stay afloat," Cassidy added. PHOTO: Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, during a hearing in Washington, DC, March 14, 2024. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Sen. Mike Braun, R-In., said a 32-hour workweek could be appropriate as a voluntary policy adopted by some large businesses, but he expressed strong opposition to a federal requirement. "I disagree with trying to do anything from this place that would impose upon the preponderance of businesses out there where I just don't think they could survive," Braun said. The push for a shortened workweek has gained momentum in recent years, driven in part by the rise of employee flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spain, Iceland and South Africa are among the nations that have implemented a trial of the four-day workweek for select companies and workers. Belgium enacted a law in 2022 that requires employers to offer full-time workers a right to request a four-day workweek. At the state level, lawmakers in Massachusetts introduced a bill last year that would provide employers with a tax credit if they shift at least 15 workers to four days a week without cutting their pay. In California, lawmakers have introduced a bill that would set the standard workweek at 32 hours. MORE: Debunking 4 myths about TikTok "Reducing the number of working days is not a new idea," Vincent said. "We have evidence from different sectors and countries that this can work." Still, Vincent added, the measure stands little chance of passage under the current Congress. "Whenever there's anything related to a large change, it's going to meet a lot of resistance," Vincent said. For the bill to reach President Joe Biden's desk, it would need to garner majority support in the Republican-controlled House as well as a filibuster-proof 60 vote approval in the Senate. If the measure were to reach Biden, it remains unclear whether he would sign it. "It will never get through Congress -- not in my lifetime," Tracy Roof, a professor of political science at the University of Richmond who focuses on labor issues, told ABC News. "Maybe it will happen in my children's lifetimes." -ABC News' Leah Sarnoff contributed to this report. Will Bernie Sanders' proposed 32-hour workweek pass Congress? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Biden-Harris Administration announced on Friday the approval of $10 million for multi-purpose facilities in tribal communities under the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Capital Projects Fund (CPF), part of President Bidens Investing in America agenda. The announcement was made at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fridays announcement will fund New Mexicos Tribal Library Broadband-Ready Facility Improvement Program, which will construct a new childcare center and improve and expand six libraries and family resource centers within tribal communities to help ensure Native Americans have access to educational programming, health and career services, and social supports in their communities. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Upon completion of the projects, all facilities will provide broadband internet and computers to directly enable work, education, and health monitoring within their communities, currently among the states least served in terms of broadband access. New Mexico estimates that the facilities will serve thousands of Tribal community members annually across seven Pueblos, Tribes, and Indian Nations across the state. Connecting workers and families to job training, education, and health care is key to expanding economic opportunity, said U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. These resources from President Bidens American Rescue Plan will increase access to high-speed internet for some of the least connected Tribal communities in New Mexico, helping Indian County thrive. I'm very proud that, through the American Rescue Plan, President Biden signed into law the largest single investment in Indian Country in our history, said Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Coordinator for the American Rescue Plan Gene Sperling. The American Rescue Plan funds deployed by Governor Lujan Grisham to uplift and modernize libraries and childcare centers in the pueblo communities is a tremendous way to use these funds to ensure their children emerge from the pandemic with brighter and stronger futures. Im honored to join Governor Lujan Grisham, the leaders of these pueblos, and the Albuquerque community to see firsthand how they are building economic and educational opportunity from the bottom up and middle out as President Biden so strongly believes. Investment in broadband and other critical infrastructure is essential to the overall health and well-being of tribal communities, said New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The funding announced today will improve access to education, workforce development tools, career counseling, telehealth and other services that create opportunities and improve lives. I thank the Biden Administration for their commitment to assisting New Mexico tribes. The Pueblo of Sandia Tribal Council recognizes that studies have shown the shape of a building (particularly a school building) can have an impact on brain development. Many of todays schools were built 50-60 years ago. These buildings were not designed for change and are very static and linear in design, said Sandia Pueblo Governor Felix Chaves. Twenty-first Century educators are developing new and innovative ways to teach, only to be hindered by obsolete spaces that prevent them from giving students the best learning experiences. Rather than selecting a traditional linear design for the new CDC, the Blossom Circular plan was developed to inspire creativity in children who are developing new ways of thinking about their world and are no longer bound by linear patterns of thought. Thinking has become more multi-dimensional, and building design should reflect this. Access to reliable, high-speed internet is a necessity to keep up with everyday life. But right now, too many Tribes in New Mexico lack access to this essential service, said Senator Martin Heinrich. Im proud to welcome $10 million from our American Rescue Plan to help Tribes and Pueblos close the digital divide and ensure that every family has the tools needed to thrive in their communities. This critical investment, made possible by the American Rescue Plan, gets us closer to 100% connectivity by delivering $10 million in funding to support libraries on Tribal lands, said Senator Ben Ray Lujan. Senator Heinrich and I have long worked to expand federal support for broadband at Tribal libraries. Whether completing homework, conducting research, or operating in the digital economy, these libraries serve as an essential hub for communities around New Mexico. That's why Im honored to welcome this funding that will ensure seven libraries and family resource centers in Tribal communities have access to a reliable internet connection. I am honored to announce $10 million for New Mexicos Tribal Library Broadband-Ready Facility Improvement Programa vital step in bridging the digital gap across seven Pueblos, Tribes and Nations in our state," said Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02). "By prioritizing broadband internet and computer access, we're ensuring Native American communities have the tools they need to access education, health services and career opportunities. I stand committed to supporting the sovereignty and prosperity of Indian Country and ensuring they have equal access to essential resources. The American Rescue Plans (ARP) Capital Projects Fund provides $10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states, and Tribal governments to fund critical capital projects that expand economic opportunities and provide internet connectivity in communities with unmet needs. Through high-speed internet, multi-purpose community facilities, and digital technology investments like the one being announced today, CPF funding is both closing the digital divide and bringing workforce, education, and health care services to communities in need. Fridays announcement is in addition to the $117 million in CPF funding for broadband infrastructure in New Mexico announced in 2022, which the state estimates will connect over 40,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. To date, the Treasury Department has awarded more than $9.2 billion in CPF funding for broadband, digital technology, and multi-purpose community center projects in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, which will reach more than 2 million locations with improved internet access. In addition, hundreds of thousands of individuals will be served annually by multi-purpose community facilities and digital technology programs. An additional $78 million in CPF awards have gone to 440 Tribal governments. This CPF funding is one example of how the Biden-Harris Administration has made strengthening the self-determination and economic vitality of Tribal Nations and Native people a key priority, including through the implementation of President Bidens American Rescue Plan (ARP). The ARP included over $30 billion for Tribal governments, including $20 billion from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program the largest single infusion of federal funding into Indian Country in U.S. history. This week, during virtual remarks at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Developments (NCAIED) 2024 Reservation Economic Summit (RES), Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen announced new small business funding for Tribes under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), reauthorized and expanded by the ARP. To date, the Treasury Department has approved $265 million in SSBCI funding for 80 Tribes. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net US President Joe Biden has taken advantage of yet another opportunity to urge Congress to approve military aid to Ukraine and to criticise the president of the aggressor state, Vladimir Putin. Source: the US president during a speech at the Friends of Ireland St Patrick's Day luncheon, as reported by European Pravda Details: Biden drew parallels between the Americans and the Irish as people who support the pursuit of freedom, saying that "this is what we see in our support for Ukraine and amid Putin's brutal offensive against Ukraine". The US President turned to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and thanked him for his unwavering humanitarian support for Ukrainians. "I'm committed to continue to do our part. I'm confident the vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part and Im sorry to say this, but I think the vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part and continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin. He's a thug," Biden added. "And I urge you to send me the national security bill. Now the bill includes funding for Ukraine and Israel and maybe equally important, humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Theyre badly, badly needed," the US president concluded. Background: In a speech at a public event, US President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "crazy S.O.B.". The Kremlin labelled these words a "disgrace". Putin himself said the fact that Biden had called him a son of a bitch was an "entirely reasonable reaction". Support UP or become our patron! President Biden is slated to give remarks at the annual Gridiron Club dinner, one of the most high-profile Washington media events. The roast will take place on Saturday night as Washingtons oldest association of journalists looks to continue traditions and its 130-year-plus history. What is it? The white-tie dinner brings together reporters and lawmakers, from both sides of the aisle, in a soiree that has them giving roast-style speeches and trading lighthearted barbs. Comedy sketches and skits are included in the programming, and remarks from public officials attending the dinner are expected to be comedic. Almost every president has given at least one speech at the annual event. Notable guests (other than Biden) Other than Biden, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) will be at the 139th dinner. Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will make their first appearance at the dinner, according to Politico. Bidens daughter Ashley will also be present too. Two foreign leaders will be in attendance. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas. Kallas will be sitting at Bidens table. This invitation from the Gridiron Club the oldest journalist association in DC is a great honour as well as recognition of Estonias steadfast support for #Ukraine, she said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Five governors, five senators and three lower chamber members will attend. Twenty-one foreign ambassadors, along with, 12 cabinet members are also expected to attend the dinner. Notable moments from past dinners The dinner, normally shrouded in secrecy, has produced some notable moments in the past. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) roasted former President Trump while attending the event in 2022. Hes fing crazy, Sununu said, lighting into Trump. I dont think hes so crazy that you could put him in a mental institution, Sununu added. But I think if he were in one, he aint getting out. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2014 said, Canadians are so polite, mild-mannered, modest, unassuming, open-minded. Thank God my family fled that oppressive influence before it could change me. Retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-V.W.), who mulled a run with the centrist political organization No Labels, said Youd think that No Labels is the cause of every problem that we have in Washington, Manchin said. How did you end up with so many classified documents in Mar-a-Lago? It was No Labels. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. To debate or not to debate is a complicated question for President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump as they barrel into an eight-month general election. Trumps position: On social media, Trump promised he would debate Biden ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE. He reiterated that commitment Sunday, telling Fox News that he would do it anytime, anyplace and would even debate minutia. It is a bold claim that is not backed up by Trumps record. He failed to participate in any of the Republican National Committee-sponsored primary debates in this election cycle. Hes also the only modern, major-party nominee to back out of a general election debate, during the pandemic four years ago. The RNC voted in 2022 to end its relationship with the nonpartisan system that has sponsored general election debates since the 1988 presidential campaign. Trump has since cleaned house at the RNC. More on that later. Bidens position: Biden only faced token primary opposition this year, and the Democratic National Committee didnt sponsor any primary debates. But he has remained coy about whether he will debate Trump in the general election. I dont know if hes serious, Biden told CNN after the Gridiron Dinner on Saturday when asked whether he expects to debate the former president ahead of the 2024 election. I dont know if hes serious. Whether either man will show up to the debate stage is an open question, but there is a detailed plan for three presidential debates and a vice presidential one already in place from the Commission on Presidential Debates. Its a nonpartisan organization that has leaders from both sides of the political aisle and gets funding from the communities that host debates and also to a lesser extent, from corporate, foundation and private donors, per its website. For more on the context and history of presidential debates, I talked on the phone with two experts: Alan Schroeder wrote the book Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail. Hes also a professor emeritus of journalism at Northeastern University. Aaron Kall is director of debate at the University of Michigan and editor of the book Debating the Donald. Heres what to know about the US presidential debate system: How did this system of debates come into being? SCHROEDER: The history in a nutshell is basically that there were four debates in 1960 between (John F.) Kennedy and (Richard) Nixon. Those were sponsored by the TV networks. And then there were no more until 1976. In 76, the president was Gerald Ford. He had come into office because of Nixons resignation. So he was in kind of a weak position. Hes the one that actually challenged Jimmy Carter to debates, and that set in place this tradition that has existed ever since then of presidential debates. There was one year, 1980, where there was only one debate between (Ronald) Reagan and Carter, but normally there are two or three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate per cycle. The other thing that has changed is the sponsorship. Since 1988, the Commission on Presidential Debates has been the sponsor of the debates. (Note: Before the commission was formed, debates were organized either by TV networks or between campaigns.) Sen. John F. Kennedy, left, and Vice President Richard Nixon, right, participate in a presidential debate in Washington, DC, in October 1960. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Where and when will the debates happen this year? While we dont yet know the exact format or topics for the debates or who will moderate them, the commission announced the schedule last November: September 16 First presidential debate at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. September 25 Vice presidential debate at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. October 1 Second presidential debate at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia. October 9 Third presidential debate at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. There are legitimate questions about whether debates should happen earlier, particularly when so many voters now tend to cast early ballots something the commission addressed by scheduling the final debate of this cycle for nearly a month before Election Day. The commission selects these debate locations after accepting bids from locations, which are almost always college campuses. Who can qualify to participate in the debates? The commission sets criteria for candidates to meet, and Republicans and Democrats are usually the only candidates to qualify. In the commission era, the only non-major-party candidate to take part in debates was Ross Perot in 1992. Perot was not included when he ran again in 1996. Presidential candidates Bill Clinton, right, Ross Perot, center, and President George Bush, left, participate in a debate in 1992. - Wally McNamee/Corbis/Getty Images For a candidate like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or a Libertarian, Green Party or No Labels candidate to meet the threshold, he or she would have to be constitutionally eligible to serve as president; appear on the ballot in enough states to mathematically win the election; and get at least 15% support in national polling from five different polling organizations selected by the commission. Why are debates important? SCHROEDER: The beauty of debates is its the only time during these lengthy, two-year-long campaigns where you see the candidates next to each other and confronting each other. I think thats a really important piece of any election, because its so different from everything else. Its the one moment when the campaigns arent in complete control which is why candidates dont particularly like debates. Do debates change election outcomes or confirm the trajectory? SCHROEDER: Rather than change the outcome of the elections, debates tend to, as you said, confirm the existing perceptions that people have of candidates especially in this day and age when, frankly, there arent that many undecided voters left. What do debates accomplish? SCHROEDER: I think they motivate voters. Maybe youve already decided you prefer one candidate over the other. But does that mean you actually go out and vote? If you watch the debate and youre fired up by a strong performance or scared by what the other candidate is saying, then the debate could conceivably lead you to vote. We have to remember that the ratings for debates are enormous. Typically, in years when debates occur, theyre the second-highest rated programs after the Super Bowl. Smart politicians can use the debate as a platform in front of tens and tens of millions of people to overcome negative perceptions that exist about them, or conversely, to reinforce the negative perceptions about their opponents. (Note: Around 73 million people watched the first debate between Trump and Biden in 2020, when it was broadcast on 16 channels. Many more probably watched online or encountered snippets. A record 84 million watched the first debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016.) Who have been notable debate winners and losers? KALL: Going back to the first one, Nixon, he was in a car accident and he didnt perform very well. People thought Kennedy looked better. Kennedy won. (Note: Nixon was hospitalized for weeks before the debate due to an infection that developed after he hit his knee against a car door.) Gerald Ford made a mistake about the Russian presence in Europe. (Ford lost to Carter in 1976.) Ronald Reagan won a landslide reelection. He had a really good zinger answering concerns about his age. (Reagan defeated Walter Mondale in 1984.) George H.W. Bush, looking at his watch, seeming out of touch, got dinged in 1992. Bill Clinton was great at connecting with the audience and with the questioners in the town hall format. (Ross Perot was also on the stage. Clinton won the three-person election.) People didnt like Al Gore sighing and that hurt him. (Gore got more votes, but lost the election in 2000.) Barack Obama did terribly in his first debate against Mitt Romney. He was even down in some polls, and then had to really come back for debates two and three to try to win that election. (Obama won reelection in 2012, but its also worth recalling Bidens strong vice presidential debate against Sarah Palin in 2008.) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama talk over each other as they answer questions during a town hall style debate at Hofstra University on October 16, 2012, in Hempstead, New York. - John Moore/Getty Images It seems like Biden faces extreme risk since any gaffe will be used to raise questions about his age, no? SCHROEDER: We watched him at the State of the Union address last week and not only did he get through it, and it was a long speech, but then he hung out for another hour afterwards. Just glad-handing with people in the chambers. But youre right. Its a very physically exacting thing to have to do, to be on your game for 90 minutes uninterrupted. General election debates dont typically have commercials on like the primary debates, so you dont even have a bathroom break. Debates are always risky. Theyre risky even for people at the top of their game or people who are really good at debates, simply because unscripted politicians at that level are not used to operating in an ad-libbed environment. KALL: I think they both face risk, although at this time, I think Trump probably faces a little more risk, partly because of the expectations that hes created. Hes been so eager about wanting to debate. If he doesnt totally crush Biden on the debate stage, then it could look like a loss, and President Bidens kind of benefited from low expectations his entire political career. Has a presidential candidate ever skipped a commission debate? SCHROEDER: In 2020, there were only two debates. There were three scheduled, but the second one, the middle one, got canceled because it was during Covid. And the commission decided to do it as a virtual debate instead of an in-person debate. And so Trump basically said I dont want to do that. So there were only two that year. But of course Trump did do debates against Biden, as well as against Hillary Clinton in 2016. (Note: Trump was still recuperating from Covid-19 when the second debate was canceled in 2020. Four days before the second debate was canceled and 10 days before it was to have taken place, he returned to the White House from being treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The commission wanted to do the town-hall style debate virtually, in part because it was not clear if Trump was still contagious. Bidens campaign refused to move that debate even closer to Election Day.) KALL: The big barrier, I thought, to having debates this cycle was Trumps aversion to the Commission on Presidential Debates and the RNCs aversion to them. But he seems to have kind of backtracked on that, or he just thinks that he wants to beat Biden so much that hes willing to put that aside, because he thinks he benefits so much from debates and Biden would make a disqualifying gaffe. Will Trump and Biden end up debating in 2024? Trump has long argued the commission is biased, even though multiple Republicans are involved with it. The RNC withdrew from cooperating with the commission in 2022, although Trump has since cleaned house at the RNC, streamlining the organization with his campaign and installing a new chair and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as co-chair. It remains to be seen if Trump will indeed make use of the commission debates or propose some other platform, or if Biden will agree to debate Trump. Trump has a history of complaining about debate moderators who he frequently argues are biased. At one point in 2016, Trump suggested debates proceed without moderators. But a candidate would have to be completely confident of victory to forego general election debates altogether. SCHROEDER: It would be really hard for either candidate to walk away from an audience of 70 to 80 million people, which would be the largest opportunity that either of them would have to make their case before the public, so I remain optimistic. I really would hate to see us not have a cycle with debates, because then I think that it becomes harder to restart things in the future. This story has been updated with new reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On average, military families must move every 2.5 years, and that can often mean military spouses are faced with fees needed to transfer job licenses or certificates. It can really create this constant restart for families and create these gaps in employment if they go through a recertification process, said Shannon Razsadin, President and Executive Director of the Military Family Advisory Network. We see a lot of out-of-pocket expenses that military families go through every time they move and many of those are not reimbursed. Now, there is a push in Congress to help military families keep up with those expenses. Read: Man suspected of kidnapping girlfriend barricades himself in home in The Villages The bipartisan Military Spouse Job Continuity Act was introduced by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO). The bill would provide reimbursement up to $1,000 to active-duty service members spouses for relicensing and business costs. This is one of the top concerns that I hear about from military families, Ossoff told our Washington News Bureau. If for a family military service is prohibitively expensive, inconvenient, if it disrupts the ability to earn an income necessary to support kids, we cant retain families. We cant retain service members in the Armed Forces and thats a national security issue. WATCH: Video shows boy, 16, pull gun on spring break crowd on New Smyrna Beach, deputies say Service members have dedicated their lives to our country we should continue to find ways to make their lives easier, said Schmitt. Military spouses should not be required to shoulder the cost of fees and other charges related to professional licensing or certification when moving between duty stations. Advocates say the proposal would go a long way in helping military families keep up with rising costs. It would make a huge difference and it would continue to make life a little bit easier for families, said Razsadin. We know Americans today require two incomes to sustain their household and so we need to make sure that military spouses can contribute to their families finances. According to the bills sponsors, the Defense Department says almost 40 percent of military spouses require a professional license for their jobs. Read: Jury finds woman who killed baby girl in 2019 DUI crash guilty on all counts Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WASHINGTON A Black former U.S. appeals court judge appointed by President George W. Bush privately reached out to Senate leaders this month to urge them to confirm President Joe Bidens Muslim judicial pick Adeel Mangi, saying he is deeply disturbed by the GOPs ugly and baseless attacks on him. In a letter obtained by HuffPost and sent last week to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), former federal judge Timothy Lewis said he felt compelled to reach out because of how badly Mangi has been treated in his confirmation process compared to what Lewis experienced in his. I have been deeply disturbed by the unfounded and disturbing attacks against Adeel Mangi, and I strongly support his nomination, said Lewis. This is a nominee who should and ordinarily would have widespread bipartisan support, he said. Instead, he is being subjected to attacks against his character. His accusers claim he supports terrorism and is anti-Semitic. Those allegations are absolutely unfounded. The letter comes as Democratic support for Mangi who would be the first-ever Muslim appeals court judge if confirmed appears to be shaky amid a wave of misleading and Islamophobic attacks from Republicans. Some Senate Democratic aides told HuffPost on Friday they werent sure if he had the votes to get confirmed. I think it will be very tough at this point, one aide, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about intra-party disputes, conceded. Lewis was a judge for seven years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, the same court to which Mangi has been nominated. Like Mangi, he was a judicial nominee in a presidential election year, in 1992. And like Mangi, he was a historic pick. He was one of two Black judges nominated to an appeals court by Bush. The other was then-D.C. Circuit nominee Clarence Thomas. Mangi is a 23-year civil litigator based in New Jersey. He was unanimously rated well-qualified by the American Bar Association and has been praised by a number of organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the Coalition of Underrepresented Law Enforcement Associations and more than a dozen Jewish groups, for both his legal and pro-bono work. But for months, Mangi has been the target of blatantly Islamophobic attacks by Republican senators and right-wing groups like the Judicial Crisis Network. This group has run ads accusing Mangi of being a radical and an antisemite, and of being involved in an organizations efforts to teach students to hate Israel, to hate America and to support global terrorism. None of this is true. I cannot help but contrast Mr. Mangis experience as a nominee with my own, Lewis said in his letter to Senate leaders. I was treated with respect not just by senators of the party of the president who nominated me, but also by the Democratic senators who held the majority. I was confirmed by unanimous consent less than a month before Election Day. Lewis warned that a Senate rejection of Mangi would have a toxic long-term impact on the entire federal judiciary. He suggested that people from underrepresented communities are likely to think twice about accepting a judicial nomination if they believe they will be unfairly attacked and stereotyped in the way that Mangi has been. It does not have to be this way, he said. You can read Lewis full letter here: Judge Timothy Lewis letter on Adeel Mangi by jen_bendery on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. Conservatives efforts to cast Mangi as antisemitic seemed to lose traction after Jewish groups rose up in his defense, so theyve pivoted to a new attack: painting him as an enemy of law enforcement. Judicial Crisis Network president Carrie Severino has been aggressively pushing a narrative that Mangi supports an anti-law enforcement group, the Alliance of Families for Justice, on whose advisory board he has served since 2019. Severino and other Republicans are accusing Mangi of supporting the killing of police officers because Alliance of Families for Justice in 2021 advocated for the parole of aging Black Panther members like Mumia Abu-Jamal, who caught COVID-19 in prison and was at risk of dying. Abu-Jamal has been in prison since 1981 after being convicted of killing a police officer. (His conviction has been the subject of decades of scrutiny, and groups like Amnesty International have long argued he never got a fair trial and deserves a new one.) The false narrative about Mangi has gotten so twisted that it bears no resemblance to what this organization does or what his connection is to it. AFJ is a nonprofit that offers counseling services to family members of people who have been incarcerated. It provides services like arranging care packages, making sure people have adequate visitation and providing housing reentry or legal support when people get out. Mangis connection to it is very loose. In 2020, his law firm, Patterson Belknap, took on a wrongful death case referred by AFJ that involved a mentally ill inmate who was killed by a correctional officer. Mangi took the lead in the case and won, earning the inmates family the largest settlement in New York state history. Given the huge success of this case, AFJ asked Mangi to join its advisory board. He joined, but never took another case from the group. This is what has been distorted into accusations that Mangi supports cop-killers. GOP operatives have been lobbying law enforcement groups to publicly oppose Mangi on these grounds. Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), who was already incredibly offensive in his treatment of Mangi in his nomination hearing, are now amplifying these attacks. Joe Biden's nominee for a federal appellate court, Adeel Mangi, was a board member of a group that advocated for cop-killers. Cop-killers should never be released into society. Its a no-brainer. He is so far left that even some Democrats are opposing his nomination. pic.twitter.com/nGjFRRS35n Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 15, 2024 But Cruz and other Senate Republicans are hoping nobody notices the hypocrisy in what theyre doing: virtually all of them voted twice to confirm judges appointed by President Donald Trump who previously did legal work directly on behalf of people convicted of killing police officers. Senate Republicans overwhelmingly voted in 2018 to confirm Ryan Nelson to his current seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Nelson worked on a case, Dean v. United States, and said in his Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire that it was an honor to represent Marthell Dean in two consolidated appeals. Dean was convicted of murdering D.C. police officer Brian Gibson as Gibson sat in his patrol car. Senate Republicans also overwhelmingly voted in 2019 to confirm Anuraag Singhal to his current seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Singhal represented Jeffrey Lee Weaver, who was charged with murdering Fort Lauderdale police officer Bryant Peney. News coverage of this case described Singhal crying as he argued in favor of life imprisonment for Weaver, rather than the death sentence. I hope you can find some love in your heart for Jeff Weaver, Singhal said with tears in his eyes, and I hope youll let him die in prison. Lewis decision to weigh in on Mangis nomination appears to be in response to the egregious distortions of his record. Its rare for federal judges, current or former, to get involved in another judicial nominees confirmation process. He said as much in his letter to Schumer and McConnell: Mr. Mangi bears no resemblance whatsoever to the caricature being painted of him in some quarters. Unfortunately, there is a constituency in this current politicized environment for such a smear campaign directed at someone who would become the first Muslim American ever to serve on a federal appellate court, Lewis said. But this is not a constituency whose fears and ignorance any United States senator should entertain, let alone advance. President Joe Biden's judicial nominee Adeel Mangi, shown here in his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in December 2023. C-Span For the moment, Mangis nomination may be in trouble. But the White House is still strongly supporting him and lobbying senators to vote for him. President Biden is proud to have chosen Adeel Mangi, an extraordinarily qualified nominee who is devoted to the rule of law, lived the American dream through hard work, proven his integrity, and would make history on the bench, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told HuffPost in a statement. Mr. Mangi was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the White House continues to fight for his confirmation and to repudiate the vicious hate and bigotry with which he has been targeted because of his Muslim faith, Bates said. Senior staff are calling members on his behalf every day, and no senator should cave to hateful, undignified lies. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who recommended Mangi to the White House for this court seat, said hes prepared to fight to get Mangis nomination across the finish line. Adeel Mangi is an exceptional nominee. He is a person of integrity and deep conviction with an unflinching commitment to fairness and equality, he told HuffPost in a statement. Since his nomination, Adeel Mangi has been subjected to an outrageous and unrelenting campaign of ugly, untrue Islamophobic smears, Booker said. I know the White House, Senate Democratic leaders, and I stand behind Adeel Mangi 100 percent and look forward to the confirmation of Americas first Muslim federal appeals court judge. Related... Debris is seen after Israeli strikes at Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, March 16, 2024. (Xinhua) GAZA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,553, Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 63 Palestinians and wounded 112 others, raising the total death toll to 31,553 and injuries to 73,546, since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has urged for an international humanitarian intervention via a binding resolution in the UN Security Council to compel Israel to halt its attacks in the Gaza Strip, guaranteeing the safety of civilians and the delivery of aid in a sustainable manner. In a press statement, the foreign ministry highlighted that Israel persistently threatens to invade the city of Rafah without offering a realistic plan to safeguard civilians and address their fundamental humanitarian requirements. Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. Debris is seen after Israeli strikes at Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, March 16, 2024. (Xinhua) A 750-pound, 11-foot-long alligator named Albert was seized from a New York home this week, setting the stage for a confrontation between the state's Department of Environmental Conservation and the animal's self-proclaimed owner. The alligator lived in an in-ground pool in the backyard of owner Tony Cavallaro's Hamburg, New York home, and has multiple health problems, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications, officials said. Cavallaro allegedly allowed members of the public "to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator," according to the department. Albert was seized on Wednesday in "the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator," the department said. He has been placed with a specialized caretaker who can care for him while the damage was assessed. Cavallaro refuted claims that he had not properly cared for the animal, writing in an online petition calling for Albert's return that he treated the alligator better "than most people take care of their kids." He also criticized the department for the way the seizure was managed, writing that 20 agents came to his home in full body armor and carrying weapons. "It was like I was a gun dealing drug dealing criminal the way they acted. The scene that they made on my street is very disturbing and totally wrong," he wrote. Officials said that Cavallaro had a license to own the alligator that expired in 2021. Cavallaro said that two years ago, the rules around owning an alligator had changed, and he attempted to renew his license in 2021 but was unable to contact the necessary authorities. "I've had him 34 years and abided by all of them and renewed my permit annually as required," he wrote. Cavallaro said that he plans to fight to regain custody of Albert. "I ask it all of my friends and people who love Albert will support me when this date comes available and if you can join me at the Hamburg town court to help me fight them to get him back," he wrote. A court date has not yet been announced. FBI agents raid FCI Dublin, a womens prison known as the rape club | 60 Minutes Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings A local man is behind bars after police said he assaulted a female and impersonated an officer. Pittsburgh police said Andrew Ranallo, 31, from Bloomfield, met a female at a restaurant, where, after a period of time, he identified himself as a police officer through identification cards. The victim told police she felt safe to go to another location with him after he identified himself as an officer. Ranallo assaulted the victim inside his car and refused to let her out. She took the opportunity to jump out of the car while stopped at a red light and ran for help, police said. Ranallo is charged with indecent assault, criminal attempt indecent assault, false imprisonment and impersonating a public servant. Hes being held at the Allegheny County Jail. The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be coming, police said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Pittsburgh Steelers fans react to news of Kenny Pickett trade to Philadelphia Eagles 2 Rivers Casino employees charged with cheating on table game Primanti Bros. offering deal in exchange for Kenny Pickett jerseys VIDEO:Armed robbery at Pittsburgh beer distributor under investigation DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The mother of a former Manchester United youth player who died of cancer said the outpouring of love since his death "just melts my heart". Bobby Power died aged 40 last month after what his family said was "six months of hell" as they begged two Manchester hospitals to treat him. They said he could not start treatment due to seven inconclusive biopsies. A Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said the family's concerns were being looked into. The father of three and personal trainer was told in August last year he had cancer, but doctors said he needed further tests to confirm what type. His family told BBC Radio Manchester he had seven inconclusive biopsies at North Manchester General Hospital, and was told at one point his tumour was benign. However, his family said a radiologist later told Bobby he did have pancreatic cancer, but doctors would not start treatment due to the inconclusive biopsies. They said they continued to plead with medics to take action when he was transferred to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and in January this year it was agreed he could have surgery. But he rapidly deteriorated and surgery was ruled out, before Bobby died on 29 February at Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Oldham. "It was disgusting how they handled his diagnoses", his mum Estrella Barry said, while his wife Jemma Power-Bliss said the family were "hitting brick walls every where we went, it was heart-breaking". His 20-year-old daughter Loren Power said: "for us to watch our dad die like that, it's just absolutely disgusting". "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Bobby's family at this difficult time", a spokesman for the trust, which the two NHS hospitals operate under, said. "Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service team are looking into the concerns raised by his family." Bobby married Jemma weeks before he died at a service arranged by Kershaw's Hospice. Loren Power said the wedding was "beautiful", but "sad because we knew what was going to happen". She paid tribute to her father as a "single parent who was the most amazing dad, and was our best friend". "We never thought in a million years he'd get poorly like this and die, and we're absolutely heartbroken." Bobby had grown a large social media following before his diagnosis for his positive outlook, his family said, and continued to share his journey with cancer. His death has prompted an outpouring of support, with many explaining how they had been touched by his "infectious personality", Loren said. "He made everyone laugh and smile, he had such a big presence every where he went," his 19-year-old daughter Kaitlyn said. A funeral planned as a "massive celebration of his life" is set to be held next Thursday at the Catholic Church of St Patrick on Livesey Street in Collyhurst, his mother said. "The outpouring of love from so many people is just amazing, it just melts my heart," she said. Why not follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk New police body camera footage shows a drunk passenger swearing and wetting herself while being escorted out of an airport. In September, an inebriated woman was attempting to fly from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to Colombia when she got into an alleged altercation with airport staff. The woman had become belligerent after she was told to consolidate her carry-on items, and had taken swings at the airline staff who tried to talk to her. She was arrested for public intoxication after two staff members said they wanted to press charges against the woman for assault, according to The Daily Mail. She claimed to have only had two vodka tonics at the airport bar, but was slurring her words and speaking incoherently during the interaction. New footage shows that as she was marched away from her gate, the continued to scream at one of the arresting officers, mocking him for his salary and the size of his penis. Pieces of mediocre sh*t of your life, you feel good make $60,000 a year? she spat. You f*cking tiny piece of sh*t. You feel good f*cking your wife with you're f*cking five-inch d*ck? She then fell to the ground, and officers quickly became aware that she had wet herself. She p*ss herself? one officer asked. She insisted that she did not, but the officer said he could smell urine. Its probably your f*cking wifes fucking the guy who f*cked her before he fc*ked you, she grumbled incoherently. She continued her profanity laced tirade toward the officer as she laid on the ground, refusing to get up. You feel good about yourself? You f**king six five eight fucking d**k stack f**king short tiny a** dick... cause you wear a uniform makes you feel good about yourself? You and your f**king facial hair, she said. Im not fighting you that bad you fucking pussy, she said as she laid on the ground. The womans legs had to be constrained as she was carried to security. She eventually started walking again, and was escorted from the building by officers. 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 Boeing logo is seen, Jan. 25, 2011, on the property in El Segundo, Calif. A Boeing 737-800 was found to have a missing panel after a United Airlines flight arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday, March 15, 2024, airport officials said. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File) PORTLAND A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on a Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found. Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. According to airfleets.net, the plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Boeing said, also via email, that it would defer comment to United about the carrier's fleet and operations. In January a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said. Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Boeing plane found to have missing panel after Oregon flight A Medford Jet Center worker walks under a United Boeing 737-824 that landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport from San Francisco with a missing panel Friday, March 15, 2024, in Medford, Ore. (Andy Atkinson/Rogue Valley Times via AP) PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A post-flight inspection revealed a missing panel on an older Boeing 737-800 that had just arrived at its destination in southern Oregon on Friday after flying from San Francisco, officials said, the latest in a series of recent incidents involving aircraft manufactured by the company. United Flight 433 left San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford shortly before noon, according to FlightAware. The airports director, Amber Judd, said the plane landed safely without incident and the external panel was discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. No injuries were reported. The airport paused operations to check the runway and airfield for debris, Judd said, and none was found. Judd said she believed the United ground crew or pilots doing a routine inspection before the next flight were the ones who noticed the missing panel. A United Airlines spokesperson said via email that the flight was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, and no emergency was declared because there was no indication of the damage during the flight. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the United spokesperson said. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration also said it would investigate. The missing panel was on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the body and just next to the landing gear, United said. The plane made its first flight in April 1998 and was delivered to Continental Airlines in December of that year, according to the FAA. United Airlines has operated it since Nov. 30, 2011. It is a 737-824, part of the 737-800 series that was a precursor to the Max. Boeing said, also via email, that it would defer comment to United about the carrier's fleet and operations. In January a panel that plugged a space left for an extra emergency door blew off a Boeing Max 9 jet in midair just minutes after an Alaska Airlines flight took off from Portland, leaving a gaping hole and forcing pilots to make an emergency landing. There were no serious injuries. The door plug was eventually found in the backyard of a high school physics teacher in southwest Portland, along with other debris from the flight scattered nearby. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation. On March 6, fumes detected in the cabin of a Boeing 737-800 Alaska Airlines flight destined for Phoenix caused pilots to head back to the Portland airport. The Port of Portland said passengers and crew noticed the fumes and the flight landed safely. Seven people including passengers and crew requested medical evaluations, but no one was hospitalized, officials said. ___ Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington. A Boeing aircraft operated by United Airlines landed at an Oregon airport on Friday missing an external panel, the airline said. United Flight 433 departed San Francisco and landed safely at its destination, the Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport in Medord, Oregon, around 11:30 a.m., a United spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel," the airline said. "Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service." The Boeing 737 was carrying 139 passengers and 6 crew members. No one was injured. Operations at the airport were briefly paused while a safety check on the runway was completed and no debris was found, Medford airport Director Amber Judd said. BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER JOHN BARNETT FOUND DEAD AFTER TESTIFYING AGAINST COMPANY READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A United Airlines flight to Newark Liberty International Airport was diverted Friday over rowdy behavior by passengers on board. A United plane made by Boeing landed in Oregon on Friday without an external panel, the airline said. The aircraft didn't declare an emergency at the airport as there was no indication of damage during ther flight, United said. An investigation will be opened to determine how the panel came apart, the airline said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will also open an investigation, an FAA spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The 25-year-old aircraft involved in Friday's incident was first delivered to Continental Airlines, which merged with United in 2012, in December 1998, according to Airfleets, which tracks information on civil aircraft. FAA GIVES BOEING 90 DAYS TO DEVELOP PLAN TO ADDRESS 'QUALITY-CONTROL' ISSUES A Boeing 737 MAX-10 performs a flying display at the 54th International Paris Airshow at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France, on June 20, 2023. Boeing aircraft have been involved in a series of mid-flight incidents that have raised questions about the company's safety record. On Wednesday, an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles after a possible mechanical issue aboard a Boeing 777 airplane. On Monday, United Airlines Flight 830, which was heading from Sydney to San Francisco, was forced to turn around mid-flight due to a fuel leak. The Boeing 777-300 plane was carrying 167 passengers and 16 crew members when it returned to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia. Hours earlier, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was traveling from Sydney to Auckland experienced a technical issue that resulted in injuries to 50 passengers. Boeing referred questions about Friday's incident to United. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about concerns over airline safety and the rash of Boeing mishaps. "I think what Americans should know is that FAA is doing everything that it can to make sure that Americans feel safe. They are these actions," she said. "We stand by those actions to make sure that there is increased safety oversight of Boeing. And that's what the American people should feel reassured by that. The FAA is doing everything that they can to make sure that we get to the bottom of it." Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard contributed to this report. Original article source: Boeing plane missing external panel lands in Oregon airport, United Airlines says A new report into antisemitism at Columbia University has revealed the embattled Ivy League schools failure to properly enforce its new demonstration policies following an eruption of protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. The report, which is the first of a series being released by the Universitys Task Force on Antisemitism, called out repeated violations by student groups and highlighted the isolation and pain felt by the Jewish community at Columbia. While supporting the new protest policy the report stressed it needs to be enforced. Although we generally agree with the language of the Universitys rules, we have serious concerns about their enforcement, the report states. An interim policy was established in February shortening the protest approval window and establishing designated spaces for demonstrations. The University generally has not tried to stop violations as they have occurred, and instead has focused on imposing discipline after the fact, the report said. The priority during protests has been to avoid violence and escalation. In our view, avoiding violence is necessary, but not sufficient. Michelle Ahdoot of the activist group End Jew Hatred called the report a failure. Its important to point out what this first report from the Task Force on Antisemitism is not: its not action, she said. While we appreciate the admission that Jew-hatred has gone too far at Columbia, this report fails to propose any meaningful immediate solution to decrease the hostile environment targeting Jewish students. The report also cites that protestors have disrupted classes and events, taken over spaces in academic buildings, held unauthorized demonstrations, and used ugly language to berate individuals who were filming these protests or just walking by. Columbia Universitys Task Force on Antisemitism has blasted the Ivy League for failing to properly enforce its new demonstration policies following an eruption of on-campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. AP Jewish students at Columbia University have also been targets of racist epithets and graffiti, antisemitic tropes, and confrontational and unwelcome questions, the report noted. While others have found their participation in some student groups that have nothing to do with politics to be increasingly uncomfortable, it stated. Israeli students, staff and faculty who have been required to serve in the military have also been criticized, while many who heard chants at protests like Globalize the Intifada and Death to the Zionist State have seen those as calls for violence against them and their families, the report added. Columbia has been the site of heated activism since the brutal attacks waged by Hamas on Israel on Oct 7 with protests from both sides erupting on campus. An Israeli student was beaten with a stick outside the Universitys main library and hundreds of faculty signed a letter condemning students support of Hamas in the wake of the conflict. University President Minouche Shafik (pictured) helped establish the five panel taskforce headed by campus professors in November. Mark Bader/Columbia University In the months to follow an eruption of protests and multiple lawsuits launched from both pro-Israel and anti-Israel students. Just this week, faculty member Shai Davidai an Israeli-born Columbia University professor who gained notoriety for ripping the schools failure to address rampant antisemitism on campus revealed hes under investigation a probe he said is a clear act of retaliation and an attempt to silence me. University President Minouche Shafik helped establish the five panel taskforce headed by campus professors in November. At the time the school said it was pushed to establish the task force after a notable increase in the amount of reported antisemitic attacks both physical and ideological on its Manhattan campus after Hamas surprise Oct 7 attack. Shafik welcomed the report in a statement to the Post, accepting that more needs to be done. The report acknowledged the importance of campus demonstrations, however, called out repeated violations by student groups and highlighted the isolation and pain felt by the Jewish community at Columbia. Corbis via Getty Images As the task force makes clear, it is essential to ensure that debates and disagreements across Columbia are rooted in academic rigor and civil discourse, and that Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and all members of our community, feel safe, supported, and included, she said. Shafik, who helped establish the taskforce, went on to acknowledge that they would be working across a number of fronts to address this ancient, but sadly persistent form of hate. Next month Shafik is expected to testify at a Congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. The House Education and Workforce Committee announced it will hold a hearing on April 17 featuring the Columbia President and the two co-chairs of the board of trustees, Claire Shipman and David Greenwald. Shafik had been invited to testify at a disastrous December hearing where the presidents of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania struggled to answer questions on antisemitism, but was unable to attend. On the morning of 7 October, Amal Alabadla was heavily pregnant and snuggled up in bed with 18-month-old Noah when they were woken by a wall of sound. Hamas had launched its attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets over the border. Israeli jet fighters launched retaliatory attacks soon after. In Khan Younis, Amal had no idea what was going on. She was anxious and terrified and, eight months pregnant, she started bleeding heavily. She had to get to hospital but her husband was working outside Gaza, in the occupied West Bank, and she was alone. After a three-hour wait, the first taxi driver could only take her part of the way. The streets were full of people who didn't know what to do or where to go. All the time, she was bleeding. When Amal, an architect, got to the hospital she was sent for a caesarean section immediately. Mohamed was born into a world irrevocably changed. Since then his mother has been in a daily battle to keep him and his two-year-old brother alive. As with 90% of people in Gaza, Amal and her family haven't had a healthy, balanced diet in months. The problem is particularly acute in the north, where 90% of children and 95% of pregnant and breastfeeding women face severe food shortages. Earlier this month the World Health Organization said children were dying of starvation in northern Gaza after visiting hospitals there. But even in the south finding baby formula is a struggle. The fight for formula In many of the emergencies the UN responds to, the rate of breastfeeding is high. But in Gaza, as in the UK, only about half of women breastfeed beyond six weeks. "As soon as the conflict started we knew this was going to be a challenge," says Anu Nayaran, Unicef's senior adviser on child nutrition in emergencies. "If you are not breastfeeding your child, you're in the middle of a conflict, you are not going to suddenly be able to start feeding your infant," she says. "You are wholly reliant on baby formula." About 24,000 children are thought to have been born in Gaza during the war Amal managed to breastfeed Mohamed for a month but then found she wasn't producing enough milk. "I was afraid and nervous all the time. I wasn't focusing on good food for me. So I didn't have milk for him," she says. "But I tried." As the war progressed it got harder. Gaza's water system is barely functioning. Most new mothers are dehydrated, which hampers their ability to produce milk. "People are getting less than two litres of water a day and that's barely enough to drink, let alone wash," says Ms Nayaran. Not enough baby formula is getting into Gaza. There is little left on the market. Although the UN has responded by sending it in as aid, the number of trucks entering Gaza is much lower than before the outbreak of war. Meanwhile the fighting and the breakdown of social order mean convoys inside Gaza have been attacked and looted. Israel denies impeding the entry of aid to Gaza and blames aid agencies on the ground for failing to distribute what does get in. But on Friday Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said there were large stocks of food waiting to go in to Gaza, "but there is no way to move it across the border into Gaza and deliver it at scale without Israel's co-operation, and we implore Israel to allow more aid into Gaza now". Because of the lack of clean water, Unicef is sending pre-mixed baby formula to Gaza. It is safer to use but harder to transport in large quantities. Three days into recovery from her c-section, Amal was displaced for the first time, forced to evacuate her mother's home. The fourth time they were displaced they left in the night, two hours before the place was bombed. "I couldn't take the milk and diapers with me because they destroyed the whole building to the ground," she said. Amal initially took her children to Rafah, thinking it would be safer, but returned to the Khan Younis area. She couldn't find the things she needed in Rafah. Mohamed has a dairy allergy; ordinary formula makes him sick. She found one tub of non-dairy formula but it was $40 (31), ten times the price before the war. By mid-January the family were living on a patch of scrubland outside Khan Younis and Amal had only two days of baby formula left. At three months old, Mohamed could eat nothing else. "I'll dig the mountains to provide it," she texted. "My baby needs it." She sent her brothers to search in the rubble of buildings but they came back empty-handed. She decided to go to Rafah to search the shops and markets again. That journey would usually take just 20 minutes by car, but Israeli forces were now active on the route. On the way they encountered three tanks; one fired in their direction with the shot landing near the car. The driver reversed and they escaped. Panicked and desperate to get back to her children, she didn't manage to find any formula. Little food, less water Fighting in Khan Younis intensified in February and the noise from the explosions was especially difficult for Noah. He has epilepsy and the bombing makes his seizures worse. His epilepsy medication has run out and Amal can't find it anywhere. The family have little food and less water. Amal has been boiling it over the fire to try to get it clean. "It's still dirty but I'm doing my best," she said. About 24,000 children have been born since the beginning of this war, according to estimates by the WHO. Gaza's entire population is facing crisis levels of hunger but the risk is especially acute for young children. "Children can get sick very fast," says Anu Nayaran at Unicef. They have fewer stores of fat and muscle and can slip quickly into acute malnutrition." Even when they are treated there are long-term consequences. Malnutrition can lead to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and even obesity in later life. A study of adults in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who were treated for severe acute malnutrition as children, found it had a long-term effect on their cognitive development, negatively affecting educational achievement and self-esteem. Amal has given up on finding formula for now. But Mohamed would not go hungry, yet. She found a mother in the same area who is breastfeeding him alongside her own baby. Amal was paying her with some baby clothes and a little money. They were camping on a patch of sand in the coastal area of al-Mawasi in tents made from planks and rubber sheets, eating canned food and bread from donated flour if they could get it and cooking with foraged wood. Al-Mawasi had been designated as a "humanitarian area" by the Israeli military earlier on in the war. Even that set-up would not last long. Last Sunday they were displaced yet again when their camp came under attack. The tent next to Amal's was shelled and four people were killed. "It's a miracle we are alive," she texted. Like many other Gazans she has now resorted to online crowdfunding to try to raise the thousands of dollars her family will need to pay brokers to get on a list of people approved to leave Gaza for Egypt and safety. One evening Amal sent the last picture she took of her life before the war, dated the night of 6 October. Noah was lying on the soft carpet, propped up on a big cushion, watching cartoons on TV and swigging milk from his bottle. He's kicking his legs in the air under the soft glow of fairy lights on the living room wall. He fell asleep tucked up with his mother that night in a world far away from the dust, dirt and brutality that mark their life now. "I'm trying to do what is possible," said Amal. "I just need to rescue my kids from this horrific war." Boston police are asking for the publics help identifying two individuals in connection with an assault and battery in Roxbury. Police said the incident happened on Thursday, March 14 at 9:45 a.m. at 655 Warren Street, Roxbury. Investigators did not release any additional information about the incident itself. Boston police ask anyone with any information to contact District 2 detectives at 617-343-4275. 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 BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The latest petition from five U.S. labor unions requesting the Biden Administration to review China's so-called subsidies for its shipbuilders has prompted a backlash from China, calling the move ill-founded and hazardous. Under a so-called section 301 case, the unions urged the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to take measures, including the imposition of port fees on Chinese-built ships that dock at U.S. ports, despite there being no such precedent, and the creation of a fund with contributions from the aforementioned fees to help the domestic industry and its workers compete. ILL-FOUNDED ACCUSATIONS Chinese legal and industrial experts view the petition as a choreographed move aimed at seeking "remedies" for an industry on the decline, in total disregard of the real causes of the decline, including the evolving global comparative advantages and the lack of skilled U.S. workers. Employment of marine engineers and naval architects is projected to show "little or no change" from 2022 to 2032 in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, such jobs are expanding in countries including the Republic of Korea and China. Sun Lei, senior partner with Dentons, said that the current global share of the U.S. shipbuilding industry has declined drastically, but no causal link can be established between the decline and China's industrial policies or subsidies. After looking into this petition, Sun said that the goal of the U.S. domestic industry may not be to impose tariffs or other taxation measures on China's shipping services or ships, but to urge the U.S. government to increase policy and subsidy support for its domestic shipping and shipbuilding industries. "I understand there is a need on the U.S. side to adjust its supply chain, but I think the Americans know clearly that it's unrealistic to bring the whole supply chain back," he said. "The problems concerning supply chains need to be solved with all relevant countries, such as the Republic of Korea (another shipbuilding giant)." China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday voiced resolute opposition to the move, saying this unilateral trade protectionism in the shipbuilding sector ignores World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Noting that the U.S. side blames China for its own industrial development problems in the absence of any factual basis, the MOC said that the accusations against China are "totally untenable." MOC Spokesperson He Yadong told reporters that China pays close attention to this matter and will take all necessary measures to firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests. Loud objections were also voiced on social media platforms, with some comments on China's Weibo describing the unions' demand of a port fee on Chinese-built ships that dock at U.S. ports as like robbery. One comment on X stated, "The United States don't get to be No. 1 forever & always & it's not necessarily bad for you to not be." Some have indicated politics at play in an election year in the United States, while others expressed deep worries over the move's potentially hazardous impact on global trade. Liu Cungen, professor with Shanghai Jiaotong University, attributed the rapid growth of China's shipbuilding industry to the country's technological progress and complete industrial chain. Cui Fan, professor with the School of International Trade and Economics at the Beijing-based University of International Business and Economics, said that the growth of China's shipbuilding sector was the natural result of China's comparative advantages formed along with the development of global industries over the past decades. "The production cycle of the shipbuilding industry is long, and it takes a long time for ship businesses to recover costs. In this case, all shipbuilding countries have used export credit measures to a certain extent, which are also allowed by the WTO," Cui was quoted as saying by Yicai, a Shanghai-based business and financial media outlet. CONCERNS OF HAZARDOUS IMPACT In an era of increasing uncertainties, experts say, the world's major shipbuilding countries should strengthen solidarity and maintain healthy competition among shipbuilding enterprises, instead of trying to hold back others' development. If the measures are introduced, future orders for new ships will be hit, while freight forwarders will also be greatly affected, experts warn. In October 2023, a shipbuilding leaders' summit in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, brought together representatives from Japan, Europe, China, the Republic of Korea and the United States. The meeting issued a statement asserting that, faced with multiple challenges and opportunities, all parties believed that the world's major shipbuilding countries should strengthen unity and deepen the sustainable development of the world's shipbuilding industry. It also called for maintaining fair and healthy competition among shipbuilding enterprises. Sun Lei said that from the supply side, companies in the upstream of the supply chain are closely related to the shipping industry. "From the demand side, for those export companies that rely on Chinese-made ships for international trade, trade remedy measures may lead to an increase in transportation costs and affect the competitiveness of products in the international market, especially the U.S. market." In the view of experts, the shipbuilding industry needs more cooperation from major shipbuilding countries to cope with challenges such as economic uncertainties, environmental regulations, technical rules and maritime safety. A recruitment poster used in 1914 to encourage civilians to enlist for the First World War - Shawshots/Alamy Stock Photo Britain should consider conscripting citizens into the military to deter Russian aggression, a key Nato ally has said. In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Latvias foreign minister called on Nato countries to consider a total defence model in which large numbers of citizen-soldiers can be called up at short notice. Krisjanis Karins also said it was inevitable that the UK would have to increase its defence spending to three per cent of GDP. Latvia, which is on the frontline of Vladimir Putins confrontation with the West, shares a 133-mile border with Russia, and reintroduced conscription following the invasion of Ukraine. All able-bodied men aged 18 to 27 are required to complete 11 months of service. In January, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the head of the British Army, said the military needed to be able to train and equip a citizen army if needed. Asked whether the UK and other countries should look at the Latvian model, Mr Karins said: We would strongly recommend this. We are developing and fleshing out a system of what we call a total defence involving all parts of civil society. Krisjanis Karins talks to The Telegraph at the Latvian embassy in London - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Mr Karins, who until September was Latvias prime minister, said that his country had borrowed elements from the Finnish conscription system, which could be a very good model for many of us. Finland has a small standing army but a very large, very well-trained war-time reserve so they can easily call up a 250,000 trained military. Tobias Ellwood, a former minister and ex-chairman of the Commons defence committee, said on Saturday that the UK should take Mr Karins suggestion seriously. Visiting Finland recently, it was clear to see they have the most impressive total defence model in Nato, said Mr Ellwood. Sitting on the Wests front line during the Cold War necessitated retaining the ability to mobilise much of the population at short notice. With Putin securing another six years in office and seeking to emulate Stalin and expand his influence, we too should be reviewing our total defence model. However, Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, said Britains situation was significantly different from that in Latvia. From Latvias perspective so close to Russia, total defence makes complete sense, he said. For us, one step back, we should focus on total deterrence. We should increase our defence spending and capability to ensure that we deter war. Mr Karins said that in Latvia, after undergoing basic training, conscripts are folded into professional units with a ratio of three professionals to each new recruit, ensuring the newbie quickly learns. When theyre discharged, they have their full equipment, they have their unit, they go back to civilian life, they get called up on a regular basis to make sure their training is up to par. They would be useful in terms of an actual conflict, he said. Having the proven elasticity of being able to rapidly mobilise a citizen army is what Russia needs to see, he added. The Latvian foreign minister said Britain was crucial to the security of the Baltic states and that Nato would defend itself from the first square centimetre. We need to plan and train and supply and plan and train and supply and make that visible to the Russians, he said. We will not stop them from wanting to have imperialistic ambitions, but we can make sure they dont consider coming our way. Rishi Sunak is under pressure to increase defence spending. Last week, two of his ministers, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Tom Tugendhat, wrote an article urging him to increase spending as a proportion of GDP from its current position of two per cent to 2.5 per cent and beyond. Three former Conservative defence secretaries have said a commitment to three per cent should be in the election manifesto, with the incumbent, Grant Shapps, also in favour. Asked whether he would support the UK moving to 2.5 or three per cent, Mr Karins said: I think its inevitable, and it is a necessity. He said Europe would have to deal with a dangerous Russia for a long time to come, predicting that the countrys imperialistic ambitions would outlive Putin. A staunch supporter of Ukraine, Mr Karins said the country was at a very tough portion in the war and in urgent need of weapons and ammunition, but insisted: They can win. Mr Karins said that if Ukraine were forced to negotiate now, Russia would simply use peace to rearm in order to attack, and played down the prospect of the US withdrawing support to Kyiv if Donald Trump is re-elected. But he stressed that Europe needed to spend more on its collective defence to alleviate pressure on America as the US turned its gaze towards China. He added that he did not think Mr Trump would try to pull the US out of Nato, saying: Candidate Trumps policy is making America great, he said. I do not see within that policy how weakening the US military presence abroad would contribute to a greater America. 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. Demonstrators dressed as chickens protest opposite Downing Street in London as Labour is calling on Rishi Sunak to name the General Election date On one thing virtually everyone can agree, whether on the political Left or Right Britain has a growth problem. If left unaddressed, this will continue to erode living standards relative to others, cause a precipitous slide down the international league tables of economic performance, destabilise the political system and steadily weaken the UKs influence in world affairs. The problem is already so evident and acute that youd imagine it would galvanise our politicians into action. Sadly, there is very little evidence of it. Instead, the ruling Tory party has allowed itself to be side-tracked by the energy-annihilating divisions and processes of Brexit, and now busies itself with comparative irrelevancies such as small boats and political extremism. To be clear, Brexit is not the cause of our economic ills, which long pre-date the EU referendum. Nor would our position be much improved by reversing the decision. Rather, Brexit has been a disastrous distraction from the real causes of UK decline, an all-consuming national obsession during which nothing else of any significance got done at all. Deep structural problems within the UK economy that might otherwise have commanded attention have been substantially ignored, as if politically too difficult to face up to. The challenges first of the pandemic, and then the energy price crisis do admittedly provide some sort of an excuse, but we are through these shocks now, and still there is a glaring absence of the required reform. On the other side of the fence, Labours government-in-waiting defines itself by a growing list of what it would not do, rather than what it would, choosing to rely instead for its electoral appeal merely on the fact that it is not the party directly responsible for todays economic malaise. In any case, it offers no credible path back to a higher-growth economy. This is the backdrop to an illuminating Policy Exchange paper last week co-authored by Roger Bootle, founder of Capital Economics, and James Vitali, the think tanks head of political economy. The paper details eight recent examples from history of rapid per capita economic growth, and attempts to draw lessons for the UK from their success. These include post-war Germany and France, Thatchers Britain, Poland after the fall of communism, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. Economic lows of the 1970s helped to spur on Thatcher's market liberalisation - Lawrence Harris/AP As you might guess, there is no silver bullet, no one-size-fits-all approach to economic transformation. But there are perhaps two factors they have in common. First is that each starts from a position of economic crisis and/or underdevelopment. This creates a clean slate in which the only way can be up, together with the political will and public support needed to make it happen. With post-war France and Germany, it was the need to rebuild after the destruction of the Second World War. Jaw jaw replaced war war, and the protectionism of the past gave way to free trade principles that were to lead to a European common market. Strong political leadership enabled post-colonial Singapore to apply its own unique brand of state-directed capitalisation and make the leap from third-world poverty to advanced economy status. Institutional reform, privatisation and economic liberalisation instructed Polands dash for freedom after the tragedy of communist rule, while low tax, small state, free market, rule-of-law principles were a touchstone of Hong Kongs economic success. Driving all these success stories was strongly rooted political support for economic transformation, catch-up and advancement. This was born of crisis, drift, national humiliation and destitution. The same was true of Thatchers Britain; the economic liberalisation of the 1980s could not have been driven through without the degradation of the 1970s, when Britain seemed irredeemably to be slipping beneath the waves. What perhaps explains todays lack of political urgency is that it is not yet clear that Britain is in anything like as perilous a position as it was back then. We are merely stagnating, rather than plunging into the abyss. In any case, it may require British decline to get a lot worse before it generates the political will needed to do anything about it. The same is true of Germany, where the air of lost prowess is if anything even worse than in Britain, and where there is an equally potent sense of hopelessness when it comes to addressing the underlying weaknesses. The second unifying factor between Policy Exchanges eight economic success stories is with the possible exception of Thatchers Britain relatively high levels of domestic savings and investment. It has been a long-standing hobby horse not just of mine but of much of the economics profession, that Britain is a profoundly unbalanced economy which routinely puts current consumption ahead of investment in the future. Repeatedly, we fall victim to the Juncker curse, named after the former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker; we know what has to be done, we just dont know how to get re-elected after doing it. Mortgaging the future to prop up the present is a cultural addiction that instructs both policy and behaviour. Debt-funded welfare has become an accepted substitute for the virtues of work and saving. Britain has some of the lowest savings rates in the G7, with gross savings of just 17pc of GDP, against 23pc in France, 29pc in Germany and 43pc in Singapore, according to data cited by Policy Exchange. Domestic saving and investment are just two sides of the same coin, so it should come as no surprise that business and government investment in the UK are also exceptionally low. As a proportion of GDP, consumption is higher in Britain than any other advanced economy with the possible exception of the US. Again, there is little sign of the political class doing anything that might change this balance. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, pledged last weekend to entirely eliminate employee National Insurance contributions, while barely pausing to explain how he might pay for it beyond a vague commitment to unspecified cuts to benefits. Tax cuts are all well and good, but I can think of few as inappropriate as this one, since National Insurance does at least pay lip service to the contributory, social insurance principle. Thats why pensioners get so upset by the idea that the state pension might in future become means tested. Weve paid our stamp, they say in unison, and we expect our return. To eliminate employee NI would finally break the link, artificial though it might be, with tax as a form of saving that provides for the future. Everyone agrees that Britain is in a fix. It would be nice if the coming general election gave voters a clear choice on what to do about it. Instead, the mainstream parties compete only for the prize of how best to sustain the status quo. 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. Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on March 16 on national television that anti-Kremlin militias were becoming "a force" and Ukraine would help them in their operations on Russian territory. The Freedom of Russia Legion, the Siberian Battalion, and the Russian Volunteer Corps launched cross-border incursions into Russia's Belgorod and Kursk oblasts on March 12, allegedly resulting in clashes with Russian forces in several settlements. "No doubt the subjectivity (of anti-Kremlin militias) has been shaping up, they cannot be called a 'grouping' anymore, now they are becoming a force," Budanov said, adding that anti-Kremlin militias act together relying on the common vision of Russia's transformation. Anti-Kremlin Russian units do not plan to stop in the near future and "will do everything in their abilities", Budanov said. Ukraine's military intelligence chief also added that anti-Kremlin militias had been helping Ukraine from the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, and Ukrainian forces would try to support them as well "to the extent possible." The Freedom of Russia Legion on March 16 reiterated its call to the citizens of Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts to evacuate from the region, as a "mass attack on Putin's troops" would continue. Earlier on March 16, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, claimed that Belgorod and the surrounding region came under a rocket attack. It was the second reported attack against the city in a single day. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the claims, which cannot be independently verified. Belgorod lies less than 40 kilometers (around 25 miles) north of the border with Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast. Local officials have alleged strikes against the city multiple times throughout the full-scale war, for example, on March 14. Read also: What do we know about the Siberian Battalion that reportedly crossed into Russia? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SUTTON Class was in session Friday for both students and teachers at Sutton High School, as Connection Convention 2024, also known as ConCon, held its fifth year at the school. The event is a day of workshops geared toward social justice awareness. (ConCon) teaches students how its important to keep an open mind with new people: their stories, their background, and make everyone feel at home in the school community and that they can be heard, said Nixon Huggins, 18, a senior at Sutton High, who has been a part of ConCon since their sophomore year of high school. Since it began in 2019, ConCon has continued to grow, and this year hosted over 600 students and teachers from over 50 schools in New England, but it remains student-run. It gives kids the chance to see the difference that they can make in their own communities, said Sutton High Principal Ted McCarthy. Here in Sutton we have done a lot of work over the past couple years to bring issues of racism, homophobia and transphobia to light so we can improve things for the kids here at our school. Author Cynthia Smith leads her workshop on storytelling at Sutton High. That was the primary draw for Cynthia Smith, a New York Times bestselling childrens author, who was the events starting keynote speaker as well as a workshop host. It was clearly centered around the potential of young people coming together and raising their voices for a better future, she said. Though Smith is no stranger to teen conferences, this was the first she attended that has been so completely focused on issues of equity and social justice. Young people have always been at the forefront of social justice but (this generation) is just much more aware, sensitive and proactive than I was or my peer group as a Gen-Xer at their age, she observed. Smith attributed this in part to the greater flow of information through the internet and social media. Now kids have their own information ecosystem, she said. Smiths stated goal is representation of underrepresented and marginalized people in books for young readers, particularly Indigenous peoples, as the author-curator at Heartdrum, a Native-focused imprint of Harper Collins Children's books. I want to show that Indigenous people have a past, present and future and we didnt all die out in the 1700s, she said. She brought her own medium of story telling to her workshop, guiding participants in crafting their own narratives and how those can relate to larger themes, referring to some of her own work focusing on commitment to respect for elder generations as a key value of intertribal cultures. I was a little out of my element, but I guess that was kind of the point, said Grayson Shettler, 18, a senior at Tantasqua High School. As a painter, Shettler said he was used to expressing concepts through images rather than words, but he welcomed the challenge of a different medium. Grayson Shettler, 18, senior at Tantasqua High School, works on his story during Cynthia Smith's workshop. Shettler hopes that ConCon can inspire similar events at other schools. I feel like at my school, there are a lot of people who need to hear certain things that get talked about here and I feel like (these events) would definitely help, he said. Stories were a strong theme at ConCon 2024. Huggins referred to another workshop, geared toward building empathy through storytelling. Participants broke up into pairs, and each related a story about themselves. Their partner would then retell the story they had just heard using first-person pronouns. It helped us relive the story through the perspective of our partner and created a connection, they said. Ending keynote speaker, trans-youth activist Kai Shappley, 12, fiercely recounted her own story. Shappley, born in Texas, discussed growing up while having her existence as a transgender student politicized by changing laws and policy in her home state, and having to become an advocate at a young age. Im in the seventh grade, said Shappley. I have eight years of political experience and Im not even old enough to vote yet. The documentary about her journey, Trans in America: Texas Strong, won an Emmy for outstanding short documentary and a new full-length documentary that chronicles her story, Mama Bears, recently premiered on PBS. She has also been a guest star on the Netflix series The Babysitters Club and released her first book in May 2023, Joy to the World, a middle school novel published by HarperCollins. Kai has been interviewed by Vice, The Today Show, Teen Vogue and Good Housekeeping. We need allies, like yall, she said. But we dont need quiet allies. The LGBT community has a lot on our mind, and yes, a Pride sticker on a classroom door or pronouns added to your ID badge may be that one thing that keeps us hopeful. The thunderous applause throughout her address showed that the assembled students, at least, had no intention of remaining quiet. All these kids have the opportunity to go back to where theyre from and do something positive for their communities, said McCarthy. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Hundreds attend student-run social justice event at Sutton High School Plans for bullet-train stations in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley are providing local leaders and would-be passengers a glimpse of what the facilities could look like by 2030, when the California High-Speed Rail Authority hopes to begin carrying riders on its 171-mile initial operating line between Merced and Bakersfield. Each of the rail agencys four stations in downtown Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield and on the outskirts of Hanford will include common structural, architectural and visual components from what Margaret Cederoth, the authoritys director of planning, described as a kit of parts. But at each station, those parts will be configured in different ways depending on the idiosyncrasies of the location. In downtown Fresno, for example, plans call for a covered pedestrian bridge connecting entry plazas along Mariposa Street on each side of the station, spanning not only the existing Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks and the future high-speed rail tracks, but also G Street on the west side of the station. A concourse including fare gates will be on the upper level of the station, with the train tracks and boarding platforms at ground level. Stations in Merced, Hanford and Bakersfield, however, will feature viaducts on which elevated tracks and boarding platforms will sit, with entry plazas and concourses at ground level. Merceds station in particular is being designed as a hub for multiple passenger rail services: high-speed rail, the existing Amtrak San Joaquin service, and a future southern terminus for the Stockton-based ACE Rail trains. A fifth station at the northern edge of Madera will be shared with Amtrak and is being developed through a separate process by the San Joaquin Rail Authority, which oversees the Amtrak San Joaquin trains that run through the Valley. Up and down the line, city leaders are counting on the stations to serve not only as transportation sits, but also as an impetus for economic growth. I know (high-speed rail) is going to be a game-changer for the Valley and for Fresno, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer told the rail authoritys board via Zoom at its Feb. 29 meeting in Sacramento. Im thankful were going to have the first high-speed rail station in the nation here in downtown Fresno. An artists rendering shows a possible view of a future high-speed rail passenger station from H Street at Mariposa Street in downtown Fresno. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY. A schematic cross-section of a planned Fresno passenger station for high-speed rail shows a covered pedestrian bridge spanning both the existing Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks, at right, and G Street descending to a plaza in Fresnos Chinatown district, at left. The high-speed tracks are at ground level, while fare gates and other facilities are on the upper level under a large canopy. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY Similarly, Merced leaders are eager for the station in their downtown. We are a multi-modal station, where we have three trains coming into one location, said Frank Quintero, Merceds deputy city manager, and we see it as a major economic catalyst. Merceds station along 15th Street between O and R streets will not only serve passengers on the future bullet-train line, but also the existing Amtrak San Joaquin passenger trains as well as a future southern terminus of the Stockton-based ACE Rail commuter train service. But Quintero said there remains much work to be done. We are concerned about pedestrian access, he said. He spoke of growth in the central part of downtown and noted that bridges and really good access to the site will be important considerations for the flow of foot traffic to and through the station. Where do they go? How do they get there? These are all things I know well be working on with the rail authoritys staff. See Lee, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County, said the clubs operations at the McCombs Youth Center are only one block from the future rail station. For the last 20 years we have provided programs and services at this location, Lee told the board via Zoom. And as we are excited and in support of the high-speed rail, as well as the expansion of ACE and Amtrak, we hope we can get your support in relocating our facility to continue serving our young people in the next generation to come. In Merced, boarding platforms and tracks for high-speed rail and Amtrak trains will be located on the upper level of the station, while ACE trains will be served at ground level, next to the existing Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks. An artists rendering shows the entry plaza for a future high-speed rail passenger station in downtown Merced. The station is also expected to serve the Amtrak San Joaquin trains as well as a future extension of Stocktons ACE Rail commuter train service. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY A north-facing cross-section view of a future high-speed rail station in downtown Merced shows how it wills serve not only high-speed passenger trains and Amtrak San Joaquin trains on elevated tracks above a concourse, but also a future southern extension of Stocktons ACE Rail passenger trains at ground level, near the Union Pacific Railroad freight rail tracks. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY An area of Bakersfield north of downtown also could undergo a metamorphosis, said that citys mayor, Karen Goh. Our city envisions the station and surrounding area as a destination and an economic hub with retail, restaurants, office space and housing, Goh told the rail board. The elevated Bakersfield station will extend about 4,000 feet atop a 60-foot-high viaduct, providing opportunities for a shaded recreational area and possible space for vendors, Cederoth said. This station will really be an anchor for a new node of development near the citys downtown. This is where they want to grow up taller with a mix of uses. Goh said the citys planning efforts for the station have been driven by community engagement with residents who have longed for the transformation of our downtown into a multi-modal corridor that will revitalize our community. In Hanford, where a station is intended to serve the population of Kings and Tulare counties, deputy city manager Jason Waters said the city is in the early stages of determining the types of land use that will make sense around the station area at the eastern fringe of the city north of Highway 198. I am happy to see the design and scope of the Kings-Tulare station is beginning to materialize because that will make coordination (between the city and the rail authority) much easier. An artists rendering depicts the entry plazas for a future high-speed rail passenger station at the eastern edge of Hanford, with tracks and boarding platforms atop an elevated viaduct already under construction north of Highway 198. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY A cross-section view looking north shows a future high-speed rail station near Hanford, with a concourse on the ground level and tracks and boarding platforms atop an elevated viaduct. CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY Fresno mayor voices concern While Dyer expressed his support for the high-speed rail project, he also voiced concern about aspects of the station design. Its been brought to my attention that the design of the high-speed rail station tentatively is not set to extend over into the Chinatown area in terms of the pedestrian bridge, he said on Feb. 29. I think that is critical in reconnecting a community that oftentimes has been forgotten and left behind. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that there is shade that protects the pedestrian bridge from the Valleys summer sun. Small-scale station models and renderings on display at the Sacramento meeting, however, show that the pedestrian bridge is indeed to be covered by a canopy and descend into a Chinatown plaza on the west side of G Street. Thats something that were analyzing with the community now, Cederoth told The Fresno Bee. Theres some functional elements to it, and we want to think very carefully about the power supply to (the plaza), because its meant to be a high-capacity, zero-emission vehicle mobility hub. In her presentation to the authority board, Cederoth said she appreciated Dyers comments. The station and plaza design, she said, considers the importance of the station having two sides, equal and equitable investments in Chinatown and in downtown, so those passenger facilities are on both sides of the track and that investment helps to reinforce the local economy and the surrounding neighborhoods. And she pointed out that the bridge will be covered because we respect that its incredibly hot in Fresno, Bakersfield, (Hanford) and Merced. Cederoth said design work on renovations to the historic Southern Pacific railroad depot at H and Tulare streets on the Fresno station site is going hand-in-hand with plans for entry plazas that are expected to be built and opened for public use in 2027, prior to construction on the station itself starting in 2028. Tom Richards, a Fresno developer who is the chairman of the rail authority board, described the Fresno station as the rebirth of downtown Fresno. This is viewed as being clearly the place to be, which is something that hasnt been in Fresno for over half a century, he said. It is a hope, it is a belief, it is a revitalization. Its a redirection of economic development in our state as a whole. A long waiting game You cannot believe how anxious and anticipatory the people in the Valley are for this (project) to happen Richards added. The thing that has become clear is theres less concern about it not happening. The concern is, how fast can we make it happen, because people have been waiting for a long time. How long? California voters passed Proposition 1-A, a $9.9 billion bond measure to support development of a statewide high-speed rail system, in November 2008. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation pledged the first of several installments of federal grants to help pay for planning and construction of the project in the San Joaquin Valley. The first construction contract for work in the Valley was awarded in 2013, and a formal groundbreaking in Fresno was held in early 2015. The vision at that time was for a statewide, electrified system of trains carrying passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles at speeds up to 220 mph. That remains the long-range plan, but financial realities in recent years forced California Gov. Gavin Newsom to scale back short-term efforts to focus on completing an initial operating segment from Merced to Bakersfield. The rail authority has also contributed to railroad improvements in the Los Angeles area in anticipation of future operations there, as well as electrifying the Caltrain commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula so those tracks can be shared with future high-speed trains. County Durham is missing out on 11m of council tax due to student exemptions A campaign has been launched to to reimburse millions of pounds of council tax lost through student exemptions. City of Durham Parish Council is calling for student properties to no longer be exempt from paying after data found 11m was going uncollected. The council argues the income being lost is enough to plug the financial deficit in Durham County Council's budget. The county council said it could not change council tax criteria, which is set nationally by the government. A total of 6,196 properties benefit from student exemptions, while an additional 1,857 properties were exempt for being purpose-built student accommodation or disregards, according to data from the county council. Nearly all of the county's houses in multiple occupation are located in Durham City, with most used by students, the Local Democracry Reporting Service reports. Councillor Alan Doig, the parish council's chair, said he recognised the importance of Durham University but described the figures as "quite horrifying". Mr Doig said: "We are now in the position that a significant number of properties are being used as student accommodation and are therefore exempt from paying any council tax towards all the local services they receive from the county council. "It is a scandalous loophole in the tax regime that landlords are not required to contribute towards any funding of these vital services, which are available to all." Victoria Murray, from Durham County Council, said: "The criteria for council tax exemptions and disregards is set nationally by government and is applied by local authorities across the country. "We do not have any local discretion in this regard and must apply the national rules here in County Durham." Follow BBC North East on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. More stories from BBC North East and Cumbria Related Internet Links On the 10th anniversary of the Russian pseudo-referendum that aimed to "legalise" the occupation of Crimea, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated that his government has not and will not recognise the annexation of the peninsula. Source: Press office of the Prime Minister of Canada, ited by European Pravda Details: Trudeau stressed that Russia's hybrid invasion of the peninsula was more than an aggression against Ukraine, as the Kremlin had called into question the international legal order by these actions. He also reiterated that after the occupation, mass repressions against all disloyal people, including Crimean Tatars, began on the peninsula. Quote: "Today is a reminder that Russias war against Ukraine did not start on February 24, 2022 it started a decade ago. As Putin still tries to redraw the map as he pleases, we remain unequivocally clear: Ukraines territory will remain Ukraines, and we will stand with Ukrainians for as long as it takes," Trudeau said. The Prime Minister also recalled Canada's financial and military assistance, sanctions and diplomatic support for Ukraine over the years. He concluded his statement with the slogan "Glory to Ukraine". Background: Canada is one of the countries that has already signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in continuation of the G7 declaration on "security guarantees" for Ukraine, which was signed during Trudeau's visit to Kyiv on the second anniversary of the full-scale war. Canada also declared its intention to join the so-called "drone coalition" and considered the return of its military instructors to Ukraine under certain conditions. Support UP or become our patron! Justice Sheilah Martin (bottom right) with other justices of the Supreme Court in Ottawa, Canada - CANADIAN PRESS/SHUTTERSTOCK Canadas Supreme Court has been ridiculed after ruling that referring to a female sexual assault victim as a woman was confusing and the term person with a vagina should be used instead. It is believed to be the first time the new terminology has appeared in the countrys judicial rulings and has prompted sharp criticism for blurring the language around sexual attacks. Canadas oldest rape shelter told The Telegraph it followed a trend of erasure of the violence that men are committing against women. It definitely doesnt serve the fight to end male violence against women when youre blurring the language, said Hilla Kerner, a spokeswoman for the Vancouver Rape Relief and Womens Shelter. Melissa Lantsman, a deputy leader of the Conservative Party, said: There is nothing confusing about the word woman, its common sense. This is just complete nonsense that moves nothing forward. Its not progress. The Supreme Court ruling, which was published on International Womens Day, related to a sexual assault case which was overturned on appeal. A man was accused of assaulting a woman; no-one involved in the case identified as transgender. Supreme Court Justice Sheilah Martin diverted from the original ruling's terminology - CANADIAN PRESS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO The case involved Christopher James Kruk, a 41-year-old from Maple Ridge, a city in British Columbia, who was convicted of sexual assault in March 2020. The woman testified at the trial that she woke up in Kruks home in May 2017 to find him having sex with her and attempted, unsuccessfully, to push him off. Kruk denied having sex with her, claiming that the victim had removed her trousers herself and that what she assumed was rape was in fact him startling her awake. The presiding judge gave numerous reasons for finding Kruk guilty, including that it was extremely unlikely that a woman could be mistaken about the sensation. She said she felt his penis inside her and she knew what she was feeling, the judge wrote, finding it is extremely unlikely that a woman would be mistaken about that feeling. The Court of Appeal overturned the ruling in January 2022, finding the judges reasoning was speculative and ordered a new trial. Restored Kruks conviction Prosecutors petitioned the Supreme Court, which unanimously found the appeals court had erred and restored Kruks conviction. However, while Supreme Court Justice Sheilah Martin concurred with the trial judges conclusion, she diverted from the original rulings terminology. She wrote: Where a person with a vagina testifies credibly and with certainty that they felt penilevaginal penetration, a trial judge must be entitled to conclude that they are unlikely to be mistaken. Justice Martin continued: While the choice of the trial judge to use the words a woman may have been unfortunate and engendered confusion, in context, it is clear the judge was reasoning... people generally, even if intoxicated, are not mistaken about that sensation. Later in the ruling, she stated the fact that the judge relied on a generalised expectation is not itself problematic, however, she said this is not to say that this is an incontrovertible fact about all women in all instances. The ruling had been seen as a test case for an emerging rule challenging judges use of common-sense assumptions in rulings which are not grounded in the evidence. The Womens Legal Education and Action Fund (Leaf), said it had intervened in the case to argue around the lack of clarity around the rule. It had warned about the additional barriers to justice for survivors, who are more likely to be women, girls, trans, and non-binary people. Roxana Parsa, one of the lawyers representing Leaf, said in a statement the decision will have significant impact for all sexual assault survivors. Ignited a firestorm online However the rulings use of the term person with a vagina ignited a firestorm online, with even US politicians picking up on it. Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate, said: You know whats unfortunate and confusing? Whats happened to Canada. Ms Kerner, from Vancouver Rape Relief and Womens Shelter, said the organisation appreciated the restoration of Kruks conviction, saying too few assault cases in Canada resulted in holding rapists accountable. But she added: If we do not name these crimes against women as they are, if we do not understand them in the context of womens inequality, we are undermining our ability to fight against them. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Studio City home belonging to model and actress Cara Delevingne was found engulfed in flames early Friday morning, leaving two people injured. The fire was reported at around 4 a.m. at a two-story, 6,650-square-foot home, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department Arriving fire crews discovered heavy flames in the back of the home that had engulfed a room and spread into a nearby attic. The roof eventually collapsed as crews worked to extinguish the fire. Only a house sitter was inside the home at the time and was uninjured, authorities said. Neighbors who spotted the massive fire captured cell phone footage of the blaze, concerned the embers would threaten other nearby homes. It was the craziest thing, said Jeff Christian, a neighbor. This is close enough that we can smell the smoke. A massive fire destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. (AP, KTLA) A neighbors photo capturing the massive fire that destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. A massive fire destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. (KTLA) Cara Delevingnes two cats were saved from the fire on March 15, 2024. (Cara Delevingne) Cara Delevingnes two cats were saved from the fire on March 15, 2024. (KTLA) Nearly 100 firefighters battled a massive blaze that destroyed Cara Delevingnes Studio City home on March 15, 2024. (TNLA) Nearly 100 firefighters battled a massive blaze that destroyed Cara Delevingnes Studio City home on March 15, 2024. (TNLA) A neighbors photo capturing the massive fire that destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. An aerial view shows a fire-damaged property, which appears to belong to Cara Delevingne, Friday, March 15, 2024, in the Studio City section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A massive fire destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. A massive fire destroyed the Studio City home of Cara Delevingne on March 15, 2024. (KTLA) Delevingne, 31, was out of the country at the time, performing in Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre in London, but was thankful that fire crews were able to act quickly. She posted her reaction to the fire on Instagram stories, initially believing her two cats had passed away saying, My heart is broken today. I cannot believe it. Life can change in a blink of an eye so cherish what you have, she captioned a photo of the two cats, along with a broken heart emoji. She later posted an update confirming the cats had been rescued saying, Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the firefighters and people that have showed up to help. They are alive!! Thank you to the firefighters. KTLA crews captured footage of the moment the two felines were carried safely outside of the burning home. Man devoted to eliminating squatters taking over Southern California homes Nearly 100 firefighters arrived to battle the blaze. The flames were extinguished over two hours later and left two firefighters injured. One person was transported to the hospital in fair condition after an incident with a ladder, while the other person suffered minor smoke inhalation. Sky5 footage showed the home was almost completely destroyed, with a majority of the structure reduced to a mass of charred debris. Some of the challenges were the very large driveway and getting all of our hoses up there, explained LAFD Captain Adam VanGerpen. Neighbors said it appeared the fire started near the back patio area before quickly spreading to the main home. Witnesses recall teen held hostage for days being rescued in Big Bear Lake US model/actress Cara Delevingne attends the 3rd Annual Academy Museum Gala at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, December 3, 2022. (Photo by Michael Tran / AFP) Cara Delevingne arrives at Paper Towns and live concert event held at YouTube Space LA on Friday, July 17, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Model Cara Delevingne wears a design created by Burberry Prorsum Womenswear during London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2014, at Perks Field, Kensington Palace, in Hyde Park, central London, Monday, Feb. 17, 2014. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) Cara Delevingne attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images ) English model and actress Cara Delevingne poses for photographers during the photocall of the film: Paper Towns in Madrid, Spain on Monday, June 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Abraham Caro Marin) British model Cara Delevingne arrives to attend the catwalk presentation for British fashion house Burberrys Autumn/Winter 2024 collection, at London Fashion Week in London, on February 19, 2024. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) At first it seemed like small-ish fire, said a neighbor who did not wish to be identified. But very quickly, maybe 15 to 20 minutes, the flames were probably 20 feet high, 30 feet high. It was massive. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire. All we know is that it started towards the back of the home, but we have our arson investigators on the scene so theyre going to make that cause of determination, VanGerpen said. The home, valued at around $8 million, was last sold in 2019, according to Zillow. In 2021, Delevingne gave Architectural Digest a tour of the home which featured an array of eclectic rooms and custom renovations. Delevigne is a supermodel and actress known for her roles in Paper Towns, Suicide Squad, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Most recently, she stars opposite Orlando Bloom on the Amazon Prime Video series, Carnival Row. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LA PAZ, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Bolivian government reaffirmed on Friday its commitment to biofuels and its plan to progressively reduce diesel and gasoline subsidies in the South American country. Adams Hurtado, the country's industrialization and transportation vice minister, said Bolivia has opted for biofuels derived from vegetable sources to reduce import costs, avoid foreign currency outflows and generate savings in subsidies. The government "is committed to the transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources as a viable alternative to fossil fuels," Hurtado said. In this context, he said Decree 5135 was approved to authorize the incorporation of plant-based additives, such as biodiesel and ethanol, in a proportion of up to 25 percent in conventional fuels. As part of its policy to promote renewable energies, the ministry is constructing three plants, two for biodiesel and one for hydrogenated vegetable oil. The first plant will be inaugurated soon, and its production will be blended with fossil diesel available in the domestic market. According to the vice minister, the exact blending percentage will be determined by additional regulation through ministerial resolution, considering technical and economic factors. CAIRO Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar as soon as Sunday, according to Egyptian officials. The talks would mark the first time both Israeli officials and Hamas leaders join the indirect negotiations since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. International mediators had hoped to secure a six-week truce before Ramadan started earlier this week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. In recent days, however, both sides have made moves aimed at getting the talks, which never fully broke off, back on track. Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal the contents of the sensitive discussions. 'A good speech': Biden praises Schumer's blistering criticism of Netanayhu The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire that would see the release of 35 hostages women, those who are ill and older people held by militants in Gaza in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas would also release at least five female soldiers in exchange for 50 prisoners, including some serving long sentences on terror charges, for each soldier. Israeli forces would withdraw from two main roads in Gaza, let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the fighting, and allow the free flow of aid to the area, the officials said. Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike on the village of Alma al-Shaab near the border with Israel on March 15, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Nearly one in three children under 2 years old in the isolated north have acute malnutrition, the United Nations children's agency said Friday. In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent cease-fire and Hamas would free the remaining Israeli soldiers held hostage in exchange for more prisoners, the officials said. In the third phase, Hamas would hand over the bodies its holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade of Gaza and allowing reconstruction to start, the officials said. A Palestinian woman holds a child as they mourn their relatives killed in Israeli bombardment in front of the morgue of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on March 15, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the proposal unrealistic. However, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar for more talks. Those talks were expected to resume Sunday afternoon, though they could get pushed to Monday, the Egyptian officials said. Northern Gaza: Israel denies Palestinian claim its forces killed 20 near Gaza aid distribution center Netanyahus government has rejected calls for a permanent cease-fire, insisting it must first fulfill its stated goal of annihilating Hamas. Netanyahus office also said Friday he approved military plans to attack Rafah, the southernmost town in Gaza where some 1.4 million displaced Palestinians more than half the enclave's population are sheltering. Many Palestinians fled to Rafah when Israel attacked Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage. The United States and other countries have warned that a military operation in Rafah could be disastrous, but Israel says it plans to push ahead to destroy Hamas battalions stationed there. Netanyahu's office did not give details or a timetable for the Rafah operation but said it would involve the evacuation of the civilian population. The military has said it planned to direct civilians to humanitarian islands in central Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday the U.S. has yet to see "a clear and implementable plan to safeguard innocent people in Rafah from an Israeli incursion. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that at least 31,553 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. An Israeli strike early Saturday flattened a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 19 people including nine children, according to records at the al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. An Associated Press journalist there saw the bodies. Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving, according to the U.N. As part of efforts to get desperately needed aid into Gaza, a ship inaugurated a sea route from Cyprus on Friday and offloaded 200 tons of humanitarian supplies sent by the aid group World Central Kitchen destined for people in northern Gaza. The group said Saturday it was preparing another vessel in Cyprus with hundreds of tons of Gaza-bound aid. Also on Saturday, Germany joined a group of countries, including the U.S. and Jordan, in conducting airdrops of aid over Gaza. The U.S. also has announced separate plans to construct a pier to get aid in. Displaced Palestinians living in tents along the Mediterranean coast remained hungry and bleak. The situation is so bad that no one can imagine it, and the ship, even if it helps, will be a drop in the ocean, said Zahr Saqr in Muwasi. We run like dogs behind air drops. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas expected to resume ST. LOUIS Charges have been amended for the woman who is accused of causing a car crash in December that ultimately killed a 12-year-old. Endrina Brancho is facing seven felony charges, including: Involuntary manslaughter in the first degree Two counts of assault in the second degree Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, serious physical injury, no sexual conduct Operating a vehicle on the highway without a valid license Owning/operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility PHOTOS: Annual Ancient Order of Hibernians parade in Dogtown Brancho was allegedly driving in the wrong lane with her two kids inside the vehicle when she struck a Jeep, which held 12-year-old Travis Wolfe and his parents. Travis and his parents were all transported to the hospital with injuries, and the 12-year-old was put on life support. He never woke up and passed away March 6. The two children that were inside Branchos car are now with their father, police said. According to legal documents, Brancho is here illegally from Venezuela. Brancho exercised the right to remain silent and did not have an attorney in court Friday. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for April 8. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The Charlotte metro posted the nations sixth-largest increase in population count last year, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows. What a $100K salary is actually worth in Charlotte The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia region grew by 50,458 residents during the one-year span between July 1, 2022 and 2023 to reach a population of about 2.8 million, according to the newest set of Census estimates, released Thursday. The five metro areas with higher increases in population count during that time are all in the South. They are Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, up by 152,598 people to reach a total population of about 8.1 million; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, up by 139,789 people with 7.51 million residents; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, up by 68,585 people with 6.3 million residents; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, up by 54,916 people with 2.81 million residents; and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, up by 51,622 people with 3.34 million residents. From a growth percentage, the Charlotte metros population rose 1.8% over the year span, ranking 35th out of nearly 400 metros, the Census figures show. Keep reading on CBJs website here. Chicago will move forward Sunday with its previously delayed plan to evict thousands of migrants from city and state-operated shelters, a move that has been met with outrage by advocates and some local elected officials, and with confusion by migrants who will have to scramble to find other housing. City officials said Friday that 2,026 people will be evicted from their current shelters by the end of April. The first of those 35 people will have to move out Sunday. Overall, 244 migrants will be evicted by the end of the month and the remaining 1,782 will leave throughout the month of April. The mass eviction is starting months after the city announced in November that it would limit shelter stays to 60 days and require migrants who reached that limit to find other housing or go back to the citys landing zone for newly arrived migrants and request placement at another shelter. The city has postponed the policy three times due to extreme winter weather, staffing concerns and backlash from advocates and some elected officials. There were 11,210 people living in 23 active shelters run by the city and state as of Friday, according to a city census. The city has received more than 37,100 new migrants since 2022. Many of them have arrived as part of a campaign by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking tighter security at the southern border. The influx of migrants to Chicago, along with Denver, New York and other cities, has put a strain on social services and increased demand for housing. Mayor Brandon Johnsons office said Friday that about 4,500 people who otherwise would have had to exit shelters in the first wave of evictions will qualify for exemptions that could give them additional 30-day stays in a shelter, which for some could stretch through the end of June. Those exempt include families with children under 18, those who are currently in the process of securing housing, and people with certain medical issues, including those in quarantine because of a recent measles outbreak. City officials said the exemptions will minimize disruption for the rest of the school year. While we know Chicagos limited resources cannot meet the full scale of need across the New Arrivals Mission, Johnson said in a statement Friday. We are constantly evaluating options that will lead to better care for all Chicagoans. Some people who have been working with migrants to help them access city services and find housing say the city has not been transparent about the eviction process and that the exemptions bring little comfort or clarity. Its a Band-Aid on an open wound, honestly, said Vianney Alarcon, who has been helping the migrants since last May. Erika Villegas, one of the lead volunteers assisting the migrants, said volunteers have been inundated with texts from migrants who want to know what to do next and if they will end up unhoused. Everyones anxious and nervous, Villegas said. She also criticized the city's process for assisting evicted migrants who seek to remain in shelter. This idea of migrants having to leave their current shelter to go to the landing zone to then have to enter the system again is a chaotic and backwards-thinking system that only creates more confusion and tax dollars that are being spent irresponsibly, Villegas said. Brandie Knazze, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, said migrants will be given notices to remind them of their exit dates and will have to make their own way to the landing zone, where staff will be able to help them if there are beds available to re-enter the shelter system. When asked what would happen if beds were not currently available, Knazze said, Well be working with them to make sure that they can connect with family and friends. Thats part of what the case management is preparing for them but theyll be able to wait for a bed throughout our shelter system. According the city, 14,700 people have "exited shelter due to resettlement" in the Chicago area since the migrant crisis began, another 5,200 people have reunited with family and friends. Earlier this week, a group of more than 20 local elected officials and 40 organizations sent a letter to the mayor calling for him to end the 60-day shelter stay policy and instead decide shelter stays on a case-by-case basis. If the 60 Day Eviction Policy is enforced, the majority of new arrivals, who cannot yet secure work or housing, will face involuntary shelter exits, interruption to community integration and potentially unsheltered homelessness, the letter said. One of Chicago's migrant shelters has been at the center of a recent measles outbreak in the city. Ten of the 12 people diagnosed with measles in the city since the beginning of March were connected to the Pilsen shelter housing new arrivals, the Chicago Department of Health said in a news release Thursday. The city announced on Friday that going forward it will require that all residents who enter or stay in a city-operated shelter system are vaccinated for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. It said that all exposed nonimmune residents would remain in their shelters through their quarantine periods plus seven days as long as they get vaccinated and comply with quarantine and isolation policies. Chicagos Department of Public Health said this week that it has assessed nearly every resident at the shelter and vaccinated around 900 people while confirming immunity for the remainder of people. Alarcon, the volunteer, said, The biggest concern right now is making sure they contain the measles outbreak, she said, adding, but our main concern overall is finding the proper housing so that they do not end up stuck in the shelter system. Given the lack of clarity in the process until the news conference on Friday, she said, I dont have any high hopes with the logistics of what theyre going to implement because of how everythings been going on. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com CHICAGO Cheers and Irish tunes rang out across downtown Saturday as thousands of residents and tourists enjoyed the festive St. Patricks Day weekend in their traditional Chicago way: watching the Chicago River turn from a murky gray to bright green before frolicking to the citys parade route to see floats, bagpipers and Illinois politicians. By 8 a.m. Saturday morning, hundreds of spectators lined up along the river and bridges, waiting for boats to spray the dye through the channel on a windy but seasonably warm March day. Others took the opportunity to cruise down the river on a boat or peer through hotel windows, avoiding the excited crowds. An avid St. Patricks Day fan, Lisa Henry of North Center sees the river turn clover-leaf green every year since she moved to Chicago decades ago. Sitting on a pontoon about to launch from the Freedom Boat Clubs Streeterville Dock to cruise down the river, Henry wore a sparkly headband lime green wig that would soon match the water below. Its another wonderful reason why Chicago is one of the best cities in the world, Henry said of the tradition. This year, the celebration was even more special because it was the first time watching the tradition in person for her best friend, Jen Stull. Usually I would go to a bar, Stull said with a laugh. The dyeing was also a first for the James family, who traveled from Ormond Beach, Florida, for the annual parade. Mia James carried a life-size inflatable leprechaun with her as she waited with her parents to catch a ride share. Her dad, Gary, was decked out in a gold and green beaded tie for the day. The river took roughly 45 minutes to settle into a completely green state. The Riverwalk, closed for the dyeing, will reopen Sunday. After the spectacle, dense crowds began the blockslong trek to Grant Park to watch the Irish parade. The half-mile downtown parade, in its 69th year, stepped off around 12:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive, heading north to Monroe Drive. Donning navy plaid kilts and carrying emerald bagpipes, the Shannon Rovers kicked off the parade with people crowded up against fences on either side of the road, and kids pushing their heads through the gaps to see. In his first parade as mayor, Brandon Johnson led the parade wearing a black suit and green tie and waving to the loud crowd, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker close behind. In 2023, Johnson greeted crowds as the mayor-elect, following then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot on the route. Several politicians running in Tuesdays primary election, including Cook County states attorney candidate Eileen ONeill Burke and County Clerk Iris Martinez, joined the festivities. High school marching bands from across the country kept the music going throughout the course. The sun was out in all its glory by early afternoon, and many ditched their green jackets to bask in temperatures in the upper 50s. Teenagers made up a large portion of parade-watchers, with several hanging off street lamp poles for a better vantage point. Some people in attendance said Saturdays crowds far exceeded their expectations. Mike and Alice Cullen saw a glimpse of the St. Patricks Day parade for the first time in 45 years as the couple hung back from the main parade route while their young grandsons ate green cotton candy. The last time they saw the parade, they were a young couple with no children. As Chicago-area natives, the Texas couple flew back to the city with their family for the weekend, but a solid wall of people blocking the parade viewing area made them give up after holding their grandsons up to see for a few minutes. This is like 10 times bigger than it was 45 years ago, Mike Cullen said. I guess its a nice day and people saw a reason to come out. North Side resident Julio Cordero dyed his beard the same color green as the river to view his first St. Patricks Day parade downtown, which the Chicago native called a bucket list item. Its like Chicagos Mardi Gras, it really is, he said. The revelry will continue Sunday when the 46th annual South Side parade gets underway at noon at 103rd Street and Western Avenue before marching south to 115th Street and Western. The City of Chicago announced Friday that 34 people will be leaving migrant shelters in the city Sunday, after receiving extensions from their originally planned releases earlier this year. Our city is committed to compassion, Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. By encouraging resettlement while also providing case-specific extensions with a focus on health and safety, we are advancing a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency. Chicago, one of the many cities across the U.S. housing an influx of migrants, has sheltered and later released 14,700 people due to resettlement. More than 5,000 people have been reunited with family and friends in different states, Johnsons release said. The people expected to be released Sunday have received case-specific extensions, some that include extensions granted for families and children. Migrants released from the shelters have the option to return to the Landing Zone, where they will be reprocessed and placed in shelter again if beds are available. Still, the city is struggling to keep up with the influx of migrants. Chicago has implemented increased shelter time for many migrants after putting more resources into its resettlement services and case management. While we know Chicagos limited resources cannot meet the full scale of need across the New Arrivals Mission, his statement said. We are constantly evaluating options that will lead to better care for all Chicagoans. The city is one of several experiencing an influx of migrants after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) began sending buses and planes to Democratic cities in order to lessen the effects of immigration on his border state. Johnson has criticized Abbott heavily for the decision, calling it reckless to send thousands of migrants to the sanctuary cities across the United States. Local, state and federal officials have had very little warning of Abbotts busing program, and Johnson has said the Texas governor is sowing seeds of chaos by sending more buses. According to Johnsons release, Chicago has announced two additional considerations for migrants in shelters. Families with children who are in shelters will receive 30-day extensions, which may be renewed up to three times through June. Families who qualify for asylum programs are also eligible for extension options. Todays announcement means about 4,500 additional individuals with shelter exit dates originally planned for March, April, and May will have options for extensions, the release said. Chicago is also requiring people who stay in its facilities to be vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella after an outbreak. If residents get sick before their release date, they are also granted an extension due to a medical quarantine. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Archbishop of Canterbury has pledged to address the Church's "shameful past" - PA A Tory peer who led a controversial government inquiry into racial disparity has claimed the Church of Englands investment fund to address its historic links to slavery is almost like bribery and only for show. The churchs initial 100 million fund - set up to invest in members of disadvantaged black communities - was deemed too small and slow by an independent oversight group earlier this year, with the group saying the Church Commissioners had moved to embrace a target of 1 billion. Lord Sewell of Sanderstead, who chaired the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred), which was set up by then-prime minister Boris Johnson in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, told The Times the church had made a political decision to start the fund and was doing it for show. In an interview with the newspaper on the upcoming release of his book, Black Success: The Surprising Truth, the peer said the fund is almost like bribery and claimed Britain was much less racist than it was 40 years ago. He told the outlet: We need to have a conversation with the Archbishop (of Canterbury) and ask what he is doing. It would be so much better to focus on bringing people back to a time when the church was packed. Daniel Hannan The Church of England is replacing its Christian nature in a fit of woke frenzy Read more The Cred published a report in 2021 which faced a backlash after it concluded that while racism is a real force, Britain is no longer a country where the system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities. The commission said geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion all impact life chances more than racism. It also found no evidence of institutional racism and criticised the way the term has been applied, saying it should not be used as a catch-all phrase for any microaggression. The panels report sparked a fierce response with politicians and other public figures branding it insulting and divisive. 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 City of Jacksonville released a statement on how its addressing the Florida measles outbreak as spring breakers travel to Northeast Florida. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< So far in 2024, there have been 41 cases of measles reported in the United States with 24% of those occurring in Florida. The City of Jacksonville, however, reported that the county hasnt had any cases yet. This month, with spring break and other large events, people from all over the world will be coming to Northeast Florida, and as a result, the area may see local measles cases. Read: Measles cases continue to rise in Florida as vaccination rates dip below herd immunity threshold Once infected, an individual can spread this virus to 9 out of 10 unvaccinated contacts. Therefore, the City of Jacksonville said it strongly encourages getting 2 doses of the measles vaccine, which is 97% effective in preventing measles and significantly reduces the risk of bad outcomes from the highly contagious virus. If you or a loved one has not been immunized against the measles, please talk to your healthcare provider about getting protected. Now is the time, said Dr. Sunil Joshi, the chief health officer for the City of Jacksonville. You can find more information on how to spot measles, its symptoms and vaccination information on the CDC website. Read: Florida county sees outbreak of measles at elementary school [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. Birminghams St Patricks Day Parade is coming back to the city on Sunday after a five year break. Organisers The Birmingham Irish Association said the free community event would be "a celebration like no other. It has not taken place since 2019 with the 2020 event having been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and then roadworks in Digbeth in subsequent years. This years event, in Digbeth, will be the 50th parade to take place in the city. The Birmingham event, which dates back to 1952, has been known to attract up to 80,000 people in the past. What day is the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade? This years parade takes place on St Patricks Day itself, 17 March - this Sunday. The Irish Association previously said it would have "Irish myths and legends" as its theme. What time does the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade start? The parade will begin at 12:00 GMT and is expected to last until about 14:00 GMT. What is the route of the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade? The parade will start from the top of Bradford Street (near Camp Hill) in Digbeth at 12:00 GMT. It will continue past St Anne's in the heart of the Irish Quarter before finishing at the junction of Rea Street at about 14:00 GMT. Organiser said updates on the parade will be on their dedicated website here. What is happening at the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade? A tribute will take place during the parade to The Pogues singer Shane MacGowan A mass is set to take place at St Anne's Catholic Church on Alcester Street at 10:00 GMT with the service expected to last about an hour. Kicking off with a confetti blast at midday, the parade will feature Irish and Caribbean dancers and Welsh and Chinese dragons, the St Patricks Parade Birmingham website added. Among those due to take part are the West Midlands Fire Service Pipe Band, the Birmingham Irish Heritage Group and the West Midlands Peaky Blinder Group, as well as local schools. The parade will halt at 12:45 GMT for a special tribute in memory of Shane MacGowan, frontman of The Pogues, who died on 30 November. The tribute will be led by Birmingham Irish Pipes & Drums and those taking part will sing Dirty Old Town, organisers said. Previous parades have seen lots of floats covered in symbols of Irish culture, plenty of music from marching bands - and a lot of green being worn! How to get to the Birmingham St Patricks Day Parade People travelling in the area are advised to allow extra time for journeys. A number of bus services would be diverted on Sunday, Transport for West Midlands said. National Express West Midlands bus services 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6 and 50 will be subject to diversions from the start of service until the routes have reopened. Buses are also replacing trains between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton due to repairs because of a landslip. There will also be a partial suspension of the Metro because of planned engineering works, with no service between Edgbaston Village and Black Lake. A service will operate between Wolverhampton and Black Lake only. Where to park for Birminghams St Patricks Day Parade? Due to security measures, there will be no parking available at or close to St Anne's Catholic Church on Sunday, a spokesperson for the organisers says. A car park is available from 09:00 GMT onwards at Charles Henry Street on a first-come first-served basis. Will there be road closures in place? Road closures would be in place across the whole route as well as side roads from early in the morning, TfWM said. "Roads are likely to be reopened late afternoon with normal traffic operations returning shortly after," a spokesperson added. "It is important to note that there is the possibility of road closures being extended for longer than planned due to event delays and those travelling in the area are advised to allow extra time for journeys." National Express West Midlands said Bradford Street would be closed between Camp Hill and Moat Lane between 07:30 GMT to 17:00 GMT on Sunday. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram, Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk Related internet links Civil service guidance directed officials to a website on which homosexuality is described as a scourge and western modernity likened to a disease, The Telegraph can disclose. A document drawn up by the civil services Muslim Network and distributed to officials across Whitehall as official guidance cited Islam21c as a useful source of information. The disclosure comes after the cross-government group, which represents and supports Muslim officials, was suspended by Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, on Friday, over meetings which featured anti-Semitic tropes. The website also published an analysis of Hamass Oct 7 terror attack on Israelis, which stated that the good news coming from the region makes us optimistic. The analysis was written by Haitham al-Haddad, a Saudi-born preacher whose views were described by Dame Sara Khan as misogynistic, racist and homophobic, in comments published on the official government website while she was counter-extremism commissioner in 2018. Despite this, Islam21c was listed as one of several resources in a bibliography in the guidance distributed to officials, with a link to a page on the website offering advice on what to do when not fasting. Other, uncontentious, resources in the same list included the BBC website and an online version of the Quran. This weekend, the Cabinet Office said the document distributed to officials did not amount to official civil service guidance. The network was not aware of the content of this website and accepts it should never have linked to it. The link was removed from the guidance this weekend. But the National Secular Society said it was alarming that officials were being directed to the Islam21c website, describing some of its content as hardline and homophobic. In a statement, Islam21c said: We unequivocally reject the baseless claims of our content containing extremism or homophobia, which not only lack any substance but also unjustly tarnish the reputation and mission of Islam21c. A page on the website dated September 2014 describes the site as the flagship website of MRDF (Muslim Research & Development Foundation) which operates as a non-profit UK registered charity [sic] 1119977 under the guidance of Sheikh (Dr) Haitham Al Haddad. On Friday, MRDF said in a statement that it relinquished ownership of Islam21c at the close of 2015. It appears that the page you referenced contains old outdated information on the Islam21c website, and we intend to request its removal from their platform. Sheikh Haitham Al-Haddad Dr al-Haddad no longer has direct involvement in the charity. MRDF said it is not Islam21c nor does it have any ownership or operational ties with the website. Endorsed project MRDFs latest accounts, filed last year, describe Islam 21c as an endorsed project. The Charity Commission is now considering the National Secular Societys concerns about Islam21c and its links to MRDF. One article on the site, dated March 1 2014 and written by Dr al-Haddad, states: Some absurdly argue that homosexual inclinations are inherited through ones genetics. However ridiculous such a claim may be, even if accepted for the arguments sake, it still does not justify the criminal act. Many scientists have argued a genetic basis for a disposition to commit crimes such as burglary, theft, and sexual abuse, yet the law rightly condemns and punishes these acts. The article adds: In order to combat the scourge of homosexuality Allah has ordained us to speak out, and that we should co-operate with others in righteousness and God-consciousness. A second article on homosexuality, written by a separate author in February 2023, states: If a young Muslim feels attraction to someone of the same sex, they can and must fight that desire. Another article, published in October 2021, states: I also argued that the priority for Muslims should not therefore be to refute atheism, but rather to unmask Western modernity and show it for what it is. We need to treat the disease rather than merely alleviating its symptoms. A separate article, entitled Israel declares war on Gaza: a call for Muslim unity and action, appears from its listing on Google to have been originally published on Oct 7 but is now dated Jan 23. We are at war It reports the declaration by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that we are at war after what the article describes as an unprecedented multi-pronged attack by Hamas. An analysis by Dr al-Haddad within the article states: This is an urgent and important call upon all Muslims around the world, particularly those in Europe, to make dua [prayers] for our oppressed brothers and sisters in Palestine ... Palestinians particularly in Gaza are defending themselves. They have initiated a new tactic to counter the illegal occupation and, alhamdulillah, they are doing well. Thats why we need your dua to support them, my dear brothers and sisters. In addition, we urge you to stay updated with the news and think of various ways to support them, whether politically or through lobbying and media exposure. Be prepared for mass demonstrations to support them. Organisations working to support Muslims globally should mobilise and be ready. The good news coming from the region makes us optimistic, as Allah has promised victory to those who are oppressed around the world. Our dua and yours is much needed. Dr al-Haddad issued a similar statement in a video on his YouTube account on Oct 7, in which he also hailed the good news. Stephen Evans, the chief executive of the National Secular Society, said: Efforts to combat extremism should prioritise ensuring that organisations promoting divisive, hateful, or harmful ideologies do not qualify for charitable status. Its alarming that civil servants are being directed to sites containing hardline and homophobic material. Those drafting guidance to accommodate religion in the workplace need to be more discerning to ensure theyre not doing so at the expense of equality, mutual respect and professionalism. A Charity Commission spokesman said: We are aware of potential concerns about content on a website said to be associated with a registered charity. We are assessing information to inform whether or not this is a matter for the Commission. MRDF added: Islam21c is regarded as a supported project rather than an endorsed project by MRDF... we currently extend support to Islam21c by providing articles on pressing community concerns. Please understand that we do not manage content or articles for Islam21c. 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. UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Freedom of expression should not be used as a talisman for hate speech against Muslims, still less as an excuse for government inaction, said a Chinese envoy on Friday. China urges all countries to adopt a zero-tolerance attitude, take concrete actions to combat discrimination and violence against Muslims, prohibit incitement to hatred on the basis of religion or belief, and put an end to impunity, said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. "China advocates strengthening dialogue and exchanges among different civilizations and religions, rejecting discrimination and prejudice against specific civilizations and religions, opposing the erroneous and one-sided arguments about the so-called clash of civilizations and the superiority of certain civilizations, and championing equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations," he told a high-level event to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Political figures and the media should shoulder their due legal, moral, and social responsibilities, he added. China calls for ensuring the right to development for all, eradicating the breeding grounds for discrimination and intolerance, such as poverty, marginalization and economic disparities, and promoting inclusive and equitable development, he said. Chinese and Islamic civilizations are both treasures of humanity, and both have made great contributions to human progress and development. From the ancient Silk Road to today's Belt and Road Initiative, the friendship between China and Muslim countries has transcended time. This has not only vigorously promoted the cultural prosperity and economic development of both sides, but also provided useful experience for exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations and countries, said Dai. China's Global Civilization Initiative points the direction forward for different civilizations, ethnic groups, and religions to live in harmony and develop together. It is also the basis and guide for countries to address common challenges and open up a shared future, he said. "China looks forward to working with all countries, including Muslim countries, to uphold openness and inclusiveness, promote exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations, and build a beautiful and harmonious world together." Clay County residents, brace yourselves for upcoming road improvements that may cause delays in the coming weeks. Heres what you need to know about the scheduled projects: Sandridge Road/Russel Road Intersection (Lake Asbury): Crews will be widening the road shoulder at the intersection of Sandridge Road and Russell Road to ease traffic congestion. Expect a single-lane closure on Friday, March 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for asphalt paving operations, weather permitting. Drive cautiously and watch for flaggers. County Road 315/Sharron Road (Green Cove Springs): Soil sampling work will be conducted on County Road 315, 0.7 miles east of State Road 21 at the Ates Creek Bridge, from March 18 through March 22, weather permitting. Anticipate a northbound lane closure between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays during work. County Road 217 (Clay Hill/Maxville): Soil sampling work will take place on County Road 217 at the bridge over Long Branch from March 18 through March 22, weather permitting. Expect a southbound lane closure between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays during work. County Road 220 (Fleming Island): Occasional nighttime, single-lane closures with flaggers will occur in the westbound lane of County Road 220 from Habersham Harbor Drive west to Silver Point. This is due to CCUA water line upgrades, scheduled from March 10 through September 10, 2024. The project includes temporary pavement in the median and a traffic shift to maintain two westbound lanes for the majority of the project. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 MPH throughout the work zone. Public Meeting (Orange Park): The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, April 2, at 4:30 p.m. virtually and in person at the Orange Park Library to discuss the Blanding Boulevard (State Road 21) project from South of Wells Road to Ortega River in Clay and Duval Counties. exercise caution in work zones and be aware that these dates are subject to change. For the latest updates and more information, visit Clay County Road Projects. To receive weekly updates directly to your email, sign up for the Road and Lane Closure Report here. [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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The Clearwater Police Department is mourning after one of its officers was killed in a car crash Saturday morning. A Facebook post from the City of Clearwater said Scott Hollingsworth was driving home from his shift when he was hit. The WaKeeney Police Department, in a Facebook post, said he was allegedly hit by a drunk driver. KSN has been unable to confirm the details of the crash with the Sumner County Sheriffs Office. U.S. Army veteran fired howitzers into North Vietnam Hollingsworth had been a police officer in Clearwater since March 6, 2023. On behalf of our entire community, we offer our prayers, love and condolences to Scotts wife, Hadley, daughter, Claire, parents, Greg and Nataly, and siblings, Jordan and Sydney during this time of unbelievable loss, the Facebook post from Police Chief Kirk Ives and Mayor Burt Ussery said. The Bel Aire Police Department also made a Facebook post in support of Hollingsworths family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Clearwater Police Department, City of Clearwater, and the family and friends of Officer Hollingsworth, the post reads. According to the WaKeeney Police Department, Hollingsworths funeral will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1409 S. Rock Road in Derby. A GoFundMe has been created to help support Hollingsworths family. Click here to donate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. CLEARWATER, Fla. - A Clearwater woman was arrested for stealing more than $700,000 from her employer over six years, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Detectives with PCSO's economic crimes unit said Monika Hladik, 41, is accused of writing company checks to herself and then cashing them into her bank account. The sheriff's office said they first received a complaint from the president of Inspecs USA, which is an eyewear manufacturing company based in Palm Harbor. The president told investigators that Hladik, who was the company's managerial accountant, had written company checks to herself and forged his signature. Courtesy: Pinellas County Jail. READ: Driver accused of intentionally ramming another car in St. Pete drive-thru Hladik had been employed with Inspecs USA for 12 years and was responsible for writing checks and bringing them to the company's president for his signature, according to authorities. She was never authorized to write checks to herself or sign them. PCSO officials said they learned Hladik wrote 232 checks to herself between 2016 and 2022, all different amounts that totaled $710,531. She deposited them into her Wells Fargo bank account. Hladik is also accused of manipulating QuickBooks accounting entries to cover up the fact that she was taking money for several years. Deputies said she was arrested Thursday on one count of scheme to defraud. SIGN UP: Click here to sign up for the FOX 13 daily newsletter Demonstrators block the intersection of Kumpfmuhler Str. and Fritz-Fend-Strasse. The Last Generation protests against the climate policy of the traffic light government. Daniel Vogl/dpa The Last Generation activist group demonstrated again on Saturday with road blockades in several places in Germany in favour of more action on climate change, but unlike previous actions, the participants did not glue themselves to the ground. Some 130 participants blocked a busy bridge linking Berlin's Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg districts, the Warschauer Brucke, at midday, police reports said. They repeatedly stood and sat down in both lanes of the road. In the Bavarian cities of Munich and Regensburg, the police counted 120 and 150 demonstrators respectively at reported and unreported gatherings. There were no major traffic problems in Munich, according to the local police. Not far from the terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the Baltic Sea island of Rugen, 30 activists obstructed traffic on an access road to the Sassnitz ferry harbour, according to the police. The police initially allowed the group to continue, but ended the action after several hours. The majority of the participants were carried off the road by officers, a police spokeswoman told dpa. Some of the group had left the road voluntarily. A spokesman for the Last Generation had previously said that the protesters wanted to stay longer, possibly until Sunday. The liquefied natural gas terminal was "the height of fossil fuel madness," he said. There were also demonstrations in the south-west of the country, in the cities of Freiburg and Karlsruhe, and at Stuttgart airport. The police there spoke of a peaceful protest. In the north-western city of Bremen, around 100 climate activists occupied a road junction in the city centre. Further blockades were planned in the cities of Cologne in the west and Leipzig in the east of the country. Last Generation demands radical climate action, including the complete renunciation of coal, oil and gas. The group has been organizing street blockades since the beginning of 2022, with participants gluing themselves to road surfaces. However, it recently announced that it would change its strategy and refrain from glue protests in future. It called for "disobedient rallies" throughout Germany. Demonstrators block the intersection of Kumpfmuhler Str. and Fritz-Fend-Strasse. The Last Generation protests against the climate policy of the traffic light government. Daniel Vogl/dpa Climate activists and supporters of the "Last Generation" protest in Terminal 3 of Stuttgart Airport against the climate policy of the traffic light government. Christoph Schmidt/dpa Perched on sea-ice off Canada's northern coast, parka-clad scientists watch saltwater pump out over the frozen ocean. Their goal? To slow global warming. As sea-ice vanishes, the dark ocean surface can absorb more of the Sun's energy, which accelerates warming. So the researchers want to thicken it to stop it melting away. Welcome to the wackier side of geoengineering - deliberately intervening in the Earth's climate system to try to counteract the damage we have done to it. Geoengineering includes more established efforts to lock up planet-warming gases, such as planting more trees and burying carbon underground. But more experimental measures aim to go a step further, seeking to reduce the energy absorbed by the Earth. Many scientists are strongly opposed, warning that such attempts distract from the critical step of cutting carbon emissions and risk doing more harm than good. But a small number of advocates claim their approaches could give the planet a helping hand while humanity cleans up its act. The ultimate goal of the Arctic experiment is to thicken enough sea-ice to slow or even reverse the melting already seen, says Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, whose team at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Climate Repair is behind the project. Will it work or is it, as one scientist put it, "quite insane"? "We don't actually know enough to determine whether this is a good idea or bad idea," admits Dr Fitzgerald. "It's quite cold," the researchers say. Wind chill in Cambridge Bay can make it feel like -45C The researchers have been braving bitter conditions in Cambridge Bay, a tiny Canadian village in the Arctic Circle. "It's quite cold," Andrea Ceccolini of Real Ice, a British company leading the trip, tells me via a patchy Zoom connection from inside a flapping white tent. "It's about -30C with a strong wind, which brings the temperature to -45C with wind chill factor." They are drilling a hole in the sea-ice that naturally forms in winter, and pumping around 1,000 litres of seawater per minute across the surface. Exposed to the cold winter air, this seawater quickly freezes, helping to thicken the ice on top. The water also compacts the snow. As fresh snow acts as a good insulating layer, now ice can also form more easily on the underside in contact with the ocean. "The idea is that the thicker the ice [at the end of winter], the longer it will survive when we go into the melt season," Mr Ceccolini explains. Speaking to me towards the end of their trip, they've already seen the ice thicken by a few tens of centimetres across their small study area. The ice will be monitored by locals in the months ahead. But it's still far too early to say whether their approach can actually make a difference to the rapid decline in Arctic sea-ice. "The vast majority of polar scientists think this is never going to work out," cautions Martin Siegert, an experienced glaciologist at the University of Exeter, who is not involved in the project. One issue is that the saltier ice may melt more quickly in the summer. And then there's the huge logistical challenge of scaling the project up to a meaningful level - one estimate suggests that you could need about 10 million wind-powered pumps to thicken sea-ice across just a tenth of the Arctic. "It is quite insane in my opinion that this could be done at scale for the entire Arctic Ocean," says Julienne Stroeve, a professor of polar observation and modelling at University College London. Map showing extent of the Arctic's sea-ice in September 1979 versus September 2023. Much less sea-ice is present in 2023, especially to the north-east of Russia. Some of the more experimental geoengineering suggestions include trying to make clouds more reflective by generating extra sea spray, and mimicking volcanic eruptions to reflect more of the Sun's energy back into space. A number of scientists - including the UN's climate and weather bodies - have warned that these approaches could pose grave risks, including disrupting global weather patterns. Many researchers want to see them banned altogether. "Geoengineering technologies come with enormous uncertainties and create novel risks for ecosystems and people," explains Lili Fuhr, director of the Fossil Economy Program at the Center for International Environmental Law. "The Arctic is essential to sustaining our planetary systems: pumping sea water onto sea-ice on a large scale could change ocean chemistry and threatens the fragile web of life." And there's a more fundamental, widespread concern with these types of projects. "The real danger is it provides a distraction, and people with vested interests will use it as an excuse to keep burning fossil fuels," Prof Siegert warns. "Frankly, it's insane and needs to be stopped. The way to solve this crisis is to decarbonise: it's our best and only way forward." The Arctic researchers are acutely aware of these concerns. They stress that they are simply testing the technology, and wouldn't unleash it more widely until the risks are better known. "We're not here promoting this as the solution to climate change in the Arctic," Dr Fitzgerald stresses. "We're saying that it could be [part of it], but we've got to go and find out a lot more before society can then decide whether it's a sensible thing or not." They agree that geoengineering is no silver bullet to tackling climate change, and that steep cuts to fossil fuels and carbon emissions are most important to avoid the worst consequences of warming. But they point out that even with rapid action, the world still faces a difficult future. The Arctic Ocean is likely to be effectively free of sea-ice by the end of summer at least once by 2050, and possibly even sooner. As the graph below shows, it's already experienced steep declines since the 1980s. Line graph showing a fall in minimum Arctic sea-ice extent from 1979 to 2023 "We need other solutions," argues PhD student Jacob Pantling, a researcher at the Centre for Climate Repair who braved the icy winds in Cambridge Bay. "We have to reduce emissions, but even if we do them as quickly as possible, the Arctic is still going to melt." Map by Erwan Rivault Around 200 people take part in a collective siesta in Mexico City to mark World Sleep Day (Rodrigo Oropeza) In one of Mexico City's busiest neighborhoods on Friday, about 200 people took a collective nap in the middle of the street to celebrate World Sleep Day. Lying in the heat on synthetic mats, their necks resting on pillows and their eyes covered by masks, participants tuned out the chaos of Mexico's capital as part of what organizers described as "a peaceful demonstration for the right to sleep." "The idea is that sleeping well, or having this event attract attention, can help launch new public policies" to promote rest, said Guadalupe Teran, a doctor with the Center for Sleep and Neuroscience, which organized the event with the Mexican government. "We have long working days, but there are no spaces at workplaces to guarantee the time for a siesta," she said. Thanks to a guided meditation session, some nap participants sank into a deep sleep while others at least managed to relax for a moment. "Sleeping and resting well is very good for mindfulness. I need to do it more, but I think this dynamic is very cool, it encourages rest," said Alexia Gonzalez, a 24-year-old psychotherapist from the central state of Morelos, who was visiting the capital. Another napper, retiree Victor Sanchez from southern Mexico City, said he was interested in professional advice on how to get a good night's sleep. "It's a bit far, but I had to come because it's important to me," the 64-year-old said. ad-jla/ag/lgo/am/tym/sco PHOENIX - March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and these days, an alarming number of young adults are getting the devastating diagnosis. One Phoenix area woman who had no family history and maintained a healthy lifestyle got that diagnosis, and she is sharing her story. "You dont want to believe it, of course, but then, really worried. Scared," Lorena Gillen said. At just 34 years old and 24 weeks pregnant, Gillen got a devastating diagnosis: she had Stage Four colon cancer. "It was hard for me even to sleep," Gillen said. "The pain was, like, really, really bad. I couldnt sleep, I couldnt eat. I knew something is wrong." During her pregnancy, Gillen was told that the pain was normal. She got another opinion. At 30 weeks pregnant in 2017, Gillen gave birth to her daughter. A few weeks later, she began treatment. However, when that treatment in California was not going as planned, the Valley native reached out to Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "If I hadnt come back to Phoenix and started going to Mayo Clinic, I wouldnt be here," Gillen said. Gillen has been with her team at Mayo Clinic in Arizona since 2019. Today, her daughter who she carried when she was pregnant is seven years old. "I know, I know Im going to be here for them," Gillen said about her daughters. "At first, I didnt think I would see my little one start kindergarten. Now shes a first grader, I didnt think Id see my oldest graduate high school. Now shes a college kid." Dr. Christina Wu with Mayo Clinic specializes in gastrointestinal cancer. "I dont think we fully understand," Dr. Wu said about younger people getting diagnosed with colon cancer. "I think there are likely environmental factors that are related to this." Diet and a sedentary lifestyle could also be a reason younger people are getting diagnosed, but more research needs to be done. "Recently, Mayo Clinic Arizona has just started an early onset and hereditary GI cancer program, where patients under the age of 55 are eligible for this program," Dr. Wu said. "If you feel something is not right with your body, even if doctors tell you this is normal, get a second, third or fourth or fifth opinion," Gillen said. Lorena Gillen Gillen is grateful that she continued to ask questions and search for better care. "Im just thankful to live another day," Gillen said. "Like when I was losing my hair, every single strand of hair is a day that I gain. Thats how I look at it." At one point, there was a tumor in her brain, but its gone now. Every three weeks, the now 41-year-old Gillen receives chemotherapy, and she will likely need some kind of treatment for the rest of her life, However, the treatment plan she is on is working, at least for now. Colorado could become the first state to build separate prison units for transgender felons Colorado is poised to become the first state in the country with segregated holding cells for transgender women in prison, if a judge signs off on it. After a class action lawsuit was filed by several transgender inmates in 2019 against the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) alleging discrimination, harassment and assault, a judge is scheduled to rule on a consent decree that would bring further changes including surgical sex changes and hormone treatment to the state's penitentiary, Fox News Digital has learned. The consent decree, a court-ordered settlement in a legal dispute, would also require all trans women currently or previously in CDOC to receive a $2.1 million payout, depending on the severity of the alleged assault, discrimination and harassment while in prison. Rewards could range from $1,000 to $10,000 per plaintiff. TRANS INMATE WHO KILLED BABY AND IDENTIFIES AS MUSLIM WOMAN SUES CHAPLAIN FOR ALLEGEDLY NOT ALLOWING HIJAB Several of the plaintiffs seeking judicial approval of the consent decree are currently serving life without parole for homicide and assault, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. Keith Rivers, 46, now known as "Cupcake," is currently serving a life sentence for murdering a victim outside a tavern in 1999. According to the class action lawsuit, Rivers came out as transgender in 2004 and has made "numerous requests for surgical treatment for her gender dysphoria," which have been denied, "and she longs for competent talk therapy related to her gender dysphoria." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Another plaintiff, Andre Karpierz, 47, who goes by "Lavinya," is also serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for first degree murder. Karpierz is currently being held in the Denver Womens Correctional Facility, according to CDOC records. The class action lawsuit states Karpierz began hormone replacement therapy in 2016 and "continues to suffer from severe depression related to her [gender dysphoria] and has lived in constant fear of being raped in the male facilities." Jordan Gallentine, known as "Jane," 33, is also serving prison time for "attempted suicide by cop" and assault. According to the lawsuit, Gallentine "lives in a constant state of severe anxiety and depression due to lack of medical treatment, lack of mental health treatment, and a persistent fear of sexual assault and a violent death." ACLU SUES INDIANA OVER DENIAL OF SEX REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR INMATE WHO STRANGLED 11-MONTH-OLD TO DEATH Transgender policies have been criticizes amid the disproportionate violent crime rate among transgender women in comparison to biological females. Plaintiff Corwin Raven, 35, known as "Kandice," is currently serving time for two separate assault charges and is scheduled to be released in 2026. According to court documents, Raven "has attempted suicide twice and attempted selfcastration as a means to deal with her severe gender dysphoria." "Her numerous requests for transition-related surgery have been denied by CDOC," the lawsuit alleges. A spokesperson for CDOC told Fox News Digital in a statement they "anticipate [a decision] will happen soon, but there is no specific timeline," for its finalization. According to court documents, the decree "substantially improves the medical and mental health care provided" to plaintiffs and guards them "from cross-gender searches access to womens canteen items (such as cosmetics), requires CDOC to appropriately identify" transgender inmates, "and provides improved training on transgender issues to CDOC staff, medical and mental health providers, and leadership." Colorado isn't the first state to expand its facilities to include transgender hormone treatment or surgical sex changes. A similar case in Washington last year resulted in the requirement to provide these same treatments to inmates. And this week, the Department of Justice ruled Utah's corrections department discriminated against a transgender inmate by refusing hormone therapy. Colorado Republican Party chairman Dave Williams called the consent decree another step the "woke left" is taking toward "up-ending our criminal justice system." "We're making accommodations for folks that we shouldn't be making accommodations for," Williams told Fox News Digital. "This is an outrageous situation." "Taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill so these people can feel better about themselves," Williams said. "Especially if they've committed homicide." The decree would enact several changes. First, it would create two separate housing units for transgender women inmates: the "Voluntary Transgender Unit" (VTU) at the men's Sterling Correctional Facility, and the "Integration Unit" (IU) at the Denver Womens Correctional Facility. DETRANSITIONERS SAY THEY FACE VITRIOL FROM TRANS ACTIVISTS THEY PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A 'SECOND FAMILY' Prison The original lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of more than 100 trans women in CDOC, alleged the CDOC "expose[d] them to harassment, rape, sexual assault, and other violence," at the hands of guards and other inmates. According to one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Paula Greisen, the decree is "designed to bring new safety measures to protect these women from victimization in the mens prisons." Greisen told Fox News Digital the decree would also "allow the class members to transition to gender-affirming housing at the womens facility, and ensure that necessary medical and mental health treatment will be provided." "These changes have the overwhelming support of the transgender community, and we are all confident that the Court will sign the decree," she said. Original article source: Colorado could become the first state to build separate prison units for transgender felons Conversations about race tend to oscillate between two frustrating, polarizing extremes, between a right that often exacerbates racial animus and a left that frequently treats race as the central, enduring fact of American life. Its this latter tendency that Coleman Hughes explores in The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America. The popular podcaster and contributor to The Free Press certainly recognizes the former problem, but the thrust of his new book focuses on the trouble with overstating the role of race in our country. If we truly want to advance racial justice, Hughes contends, were better off abandoning any consideration of raceboth in politics and in our personal conduct. In short, we should unabashedly embrace colorblindness. Lets clarify what colorblindness is and isnt for Hughes. Colorblindness isnt credulity about race; its not a claim that we could or should literally stop seeing it. And contra many progressive critics of colorblindness, its not indifference toward race, either. Hughes turns to colorblindness to improve our conversations about race, not to sidestep them. Colorblindness, or more precisely what Hughes calls the colorblind principle, commits itself to treating individuals without regard to race, both in our public policy and in our private lives. For Hughes, thats consistent with the legacy of abolition and civil rights, while todays hyperfocus on race deviates from those achievements by entrenching race-consciousness into our laws and minds. With intentional appropriation, Hughes refers to the colorblind principle as the real anti-racism. What passes for that termpopularized by writers like Ibram X. Kendi and used frequently by proponents of critical race theoryhe relabels as neoracism instead. Out of everyone in Western society, Hughes writes, neoracists (along with old-school racists) are the most fixated on enforcing the rules and norms surrounding the concept of race. Hughes excels at outlining the pitfalls of neoracist public policies. He covers flashy topics like reparations and affirmative action but expands his critique of neoracism beyond them. Whether its CDC officials considering that race might trump age as an eligibility factor for a COVID-19 vaccine or more than 40 percent of college campuses offering, in effect, racially segregated dorms and orientations, Hughes details how neoracism reinforces both a reductive preoccupation with race and a willingness to discriminate on its basis. And he explores the mindset behind neoracism as well. The idea, for example, that hard work and self-reliance stem from a white dominant culture, or Kendis infamous adage that the only remedy to racist discrimination is antiracist discrimination both get their deserved critiques. These claims arent just infantilizing and illiberal; theyre anachronistic. They ignore that in 1958, for example, only 4 percent of Americans approved of interracial marriage, but by 2021 that figure had climbed to 94 percent. Similarly, in 1958 only 38 percent of Americans said they would support a qualified black candidate running for office; in 2019, 96 percent did. Does racial bias still exist? Does America, as David French argued in 2020, still have far to go to address racism? Undoubtedly. But by the same token, Hughes persuasively shows that we should neither downplay racial progress nor undermine it through ideas like antiracist discrimination. In that regard, The End of Race Politics positions itself as a rejoinder to the Kendiesque race-consciousness thats in vogue in much of our discourse. It offers a compelling case for the colorblind principle as a matter of public or institutional policies. Does it follow, however, that we should likewise remove the concept of race from our personal conduct? Hughes seems to think so. We need to strive to ensure that our personal relationships dont get infected with toxic race thinking of any sort, he writes. In a sense, hes certainly right. Treating the people in our lives on the basis of raceeven when well-intentionedis often reductive and presumptuous, making group identity a bigger deal than it might be for a given person. Moreover, Americas racial categories stem from a one-drop rule worldview that is both arbitrary and that has contributed to racist assumptions throughout our history. But in another way, Hughes vision for a colorblind future takes things too far. Race shouldnt have any part in an individuals self-conception, he argues, since it tells you nothing about a persons individuality, nothing about his or her character, interests, or aspirations. Therefore, even slogans like diversity is our strengtha sentiment echoed by politicians from George W. Bush to Barack Obamamiss the mark. They might be nice-sounding platitudes, but they nonetheless double down on race, a meaningless trait that does not map neatly onto anything that we should care about. I generally agree with Hughes worries about overstating the importance of race, but Im not sure its accurate to regard it as meaningless for many peopleor to treat personal considerations of race as essentially gateways to neoracism. To focus on black America, race was clearly used to justify the horrors of slavery and the bigotry of Jim Crow. Nevertheless, the concept of race seems inextricable from the philosophy of abolition, the development of jazz and the blues, literary movements like the Harlem Renaissance, and even the linguistic contributions of black America. Its undeniable that these cultural componentsof American culture generally and black culture specificallywere influenced by some concept of race. Out of the oppression and cruelty of a warped racial paradigm came a valuable collective identity. At least some black individuals must hang on to a notion of race not out of an internalized Kendi-ism, but out of a sense of attachment to these cultural achievements. And if those kinds of attachments are valid and valuable (which I think they are) then perhaps our task isnt so much to eliminate the notion of race per se as to seriously rethink itto find a new vocabulary and attitude around it that parses through this mixed history while fending off neoracist temptations. But Hughes rejects this possibility. The way to avoid this kind of unfairness isnt to come up with different race categories; its to get out of the business of racial classification altogether, he writes. The result is a binaryneoracism vs. colorblindnessthat doesnt consider constructive, present-day alternatives to think about race, often from abroad. Take Mexico, whose approach to race has been influenced by an idea called mestizaje. Whereas some parts of the world, including the U.S., categorize people into a few discrete racial categories, mestizaje holds that Mexico is a mixed-race nation. Its a complicated idea that shouldnt be romanticized, but as Ive written before, its also helped make Mexico far less race-conscious. Race is talked and thought about in less rigid ways, avoiding the conflict-oriented mindset that pits an amorphous whiteness on one side against people of color on the other. (And not just Mexico; mestizaje is also influential and tempers race relations in other Latin American countries.) Mestizaje might currently seem removed from Americas experience. But with the Latino population (most of which is of Mexican heritage) set to continue growing in the coming decades, its possible that something like mestizaje will play a role, even a big role, in our conversations about race in America. And if thats the case, then colorblindness wont be the only potential idea to counter neoracismtherell be an alternative approach that hangs on to an idea of race, but in a more moderated and less rigid way. In short, a better racial category. But theres a more fundamental problem with Hughes attempt to remove race from our personal lives: His unabashed notion of colorblindness is unabashedly individualistic. Throughout The End of Race Politics, Hughes treats group-based collective identitieslike race, ethnicity, and heritageas problematic by default. He thinks they downplay the importance of our common humanity, or a belief that what it takes for human beings to flourish has nothing essential to do with our skin color or ancestry or any of the other traits that people have used throughout history to divide themselves. Hughes underlying assumption is that these collective identities are primarily divisive. And they often are, as the many neoracist examples he chronicles show. But especially for minorities familiar with alternative conceptions of raceoften immigrantscollective identities can instead be cohesive and integral to their self-conception. That includes race, albeit understood in a different, more expansive way that blends qualities we in America associate with things like ethnicity and national origin. Again, to focus on Latinos: In the Census Bureaus 2021 American Community Survey, most identified their race as either two or more races or some other race, rather than selecting one of the five census-designated racial categories. Many also wrote in that their race was their country or region of heritage, like Mexican or Latin American, or that their race was Latino (technically an ethnic label). Even so, a 2018 Pew survey found that more than 80 percent of Latinos are proud to be Latino and American. Letting go of that conception of race will be a hard pill for many Latinos to swallow, and I suspect for other minorities as welland rightly so. Why? Because this more expansive attitude toward race reflects what various conservative writersfrom Yuval Levin, to Ross Douthat, to Michael Brendan Doughertyhave in other contexts referred to as unchosen obligations, a sense that part of what makes you you has nothing to do with, well, you individually. It has to do with the traditions and culture that formed you before you could even notice, which behoove certain duties of you, and through which you derive a connection with other people regardless of your individual foibles and flaws. One of the biggest lessons of the past eight years in particular has been that people yearn to be part of a group larger than themselves. Does this have a toxic drawback? Surely. But the response shouldnt be to entirely avoid collective identities. Without identity-based ties, we leave ourselves vulnerable to destructive influences (including, at their most extreme, ideologies like white nationalism). Rather, we should think of collective identities that minimize conflict, that are more cross-cutting and less central, that are a characteristic of people rather than the characteristic about them. As Americas racial demographics become more and more mixed, well have to envision notions of race that can satisfy an understandable desire to belong without devolving into the excessive race-consciousness that Hughes so deftly criticizes. Needless to say, thats a tall order, but one necessary for multiracial, pluralistic democracies to thrive. I genuinely hope that in a few decades well look back at conversations about race sparked by books like The End of Race Politics and see them as the end of a debate between real anti-racists like Hughes and neoracists like Kendi. Given a binary choice, I would undoubtedly prefer to live in the world of the former, which would be far more likely to improve the incessant polarization of our conversations about race. But Im not convinced we face that binary. So I also hope that when we look back at this moment in time, we might see Hughes book as marking the beginning of a new conversation about race, one between colorblindness on one hand and a yet-unnamed approach for people to think of race as a part of their personal livesone that doesnt fetishize race, but that doesnt entirely do away with it either. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The BBC has paid tribute to Sir Lenny Henry as he hosted his final ever Comic Relief annual Red Nose Day fundraiser. Tonight's (March 15) three-hour telethon saw Henry's co-presenters Romesh Ranganathan, Maya Jama, David Tennant, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Rosie Ramsey and Paddy McGuinness praise the "extraordinary legacy" of Henry throughout the show. Following a performance of 'It's All About You' by McFly, it was revealed that the actor and comedian had raised over 1.5 billion since his debut show in 1988. "Tonight really is about Lenny," McCall said as Tennant called Henry's tenure leading Comic Relief an "amazing tour of duty." James Stack - BBC Related: The Traitors movie trailer airs during Comic Relief "It's been an honour and a joy," Henry replied. "It's not all about me, it's about comedy and compassion." Comic Relief was founded back in 1985 by Henry and Love Actually's Richard Curtis in response to the famine in Ethiopia with the goal of making the public laugh while raising money. Later on in the programme, McCall and Tennant invited several individuals that Henry had helped over the years back into the studio to thank the actor for all of his work raising money for charity in a surprise segment. "Please can you stand up or raise your hand if you're here because you have been part of one of our wonderful projects. If Lenny and Comic Relief have helped you change your life," McCall said as several members of the audience stood up in applause. James Stack - BBC Related: BBC Radio 1 star Mollie King breaks down in tears live on-air over charity challenge "We could've filled a thousand studios with people you and Comic Relief have helped," McCall continued, before playing a video message from Aberash, a woman from Ethiopia who Henry had helped. "I'm speechless, it's so lovely to see everybody," a tearful Henry replied, overcome with emotion after seeing the video. "What an extraordinary evening this is... Thank you so much." The show also revealed that a grand total of 37,019,832 had been raised for Henry's final show, an increase on 2023's total of 31,952,141. Comic Relief airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. You Might Also Like This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2024 shows empty platforms at Berlin Central Train Station in Berlin, Germany. Train drivers in Germany went on strike for three days, severely restricting passenger transport across the country. (Photo by Stefan Zeitz/Xinhua) The German Economic Institute estimates that a single day of a nationwide rail strike costs up to 100 million euros (109 million U.S. dollars) in economic output. BERLIN, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Frequent strikes by rail and air staff in Germany could bring negative consequences for the country as a business location, an employers' association warned Friday. Steffen Kampeter, managing director of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA), told Rheinische Post newspaper: "The strikes in critical infrastructure are not only annoying, they are also a brake on growth." The economic damage "not only concerns the companies directly affected, but the entire economy," he added. The German Economic Institute (IW) estimates that a single day of a nationwide rail strike costs up to 100 million euros (109 million U.S. dollars) in economic output. This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2024 shows trains at Frankfurt central station in Frankfurt, Germany. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) "The loss of confidence in the reliability of the infrastructure is a disadvantage for the location," said Kampeter, criticizing the unions' actions as "disproportionate." He called on legislators to "make a clear commitment that industrial action must remain the exception." Although the government cannot interfere in an ongoing wage dispute, Minister of Transport Volker Wissing told public broadcaster ARD that "we will take a very close look at this." "Once this wage dispute has been resolved, we will have to examine whether we need a change or not," he added. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) It's not every day that an awe-inspiring science lesson just slides into the sky. In fact, anyone who misses out on the eclipse event coming next month, on April 8, can expect to wait for the next total solar eclipse to be visible from the contiguous U.S. in 2044. Though the First State may not be in "the path of totality," as experts determined, a partial eclipse sighting is expected in the afternoon. And Peter Kelly is one teacher looking to take advantage. "Having students experience it, it's really a wonderful and exciting moment," said the seventh grade science teacher at Brandywine Springs. "There are no screens involved. They can experience it live. And it's a great opportunity for learning and education because it can really have them think about their place in space." Where some might close shades, even close schools to limit viewing this building's lead science teacher has been encouraging schools throughout Red Clay Consolidated School District to jump on board. He started discussions with the administration as early as last year, and by the fall, he was looking for equipment. Beachgoers along the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk look skyward at the Monday's solar eclipse. Eclipse facts vs. fiction: Eclipse myths busted by NASA, other experts as Delaware anticipates event Through partnership and grant funding, Kelly managed to ensure all students at Brandywine Springs will get protective solar glasses for viewing. This meets upcoming lessons, ongoing work and reading on the celestial wonder. "All my classes that day: We'll talk about the eclipse," he said. Kendra Moritz Rosner couldn't agree more. She hopes everyone in the building is talking solar eclipse. Not only is the educator at Lorewood Grove Elementary ready to take students out during the natural event, Moritz Rosner has been prepping lessons and material for teachers across her school. After 17 years of teaching, the STEAM coordinator now looks to teach students across grade levels about the engineering and design processes behind subjects like science, technology, engineering, art/agriculture and math/music. Leading up to April 8, that also will look like counsel on viewing safety, from solar glasses and goggles, to pinhole-projector creation with older students. "It turns out, as a school, we're going to go ahead and do this," Moritz Rosner said with a smile. "So while I'm kind of bringing the 'What is this exactly that we're going to see in the sky,' all of the teachers at least third, fourth and fifth are going to get the kids ready to actually go outside. And as long as it's a beautiful day, we'll be able to see the solar eclipse." She knows something like this can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And the Appoquinimink educator hopes it will get students engaged, maybe even having them bring that excitement out of the classroom. "Here's an opportunity for you to see a real-life science experiment in the sky," Moritz Rosner said. What to know about Delaware's eclipse Both of these educators made sure to get their hands on the right eyewear ahead of this eclipse. Why? Viewers cannot look directly at the sun without eye protection specifically designed for solar viewing. Without it, the suns radiation can instantly burn the retina, leading to permanent eye damage or blindness. Even sunscreen and protective clothing are encouraged for those planning to be outside for hours. Eclipse prep: Where to get solar eclipse glasses, eclipse safety and how to make your own solar viewers Wherever onlookers choose to get glasses from, as previously reported, they need to make sure the frames meet safety requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard and are sold from a reputable seller acknowledged by the American Astronomical Society. Make plans soon, as reports showed places selling out close to similar events. One can also indirectly view the eclipse using a pinhole projector, easily made at home. Like Delaware, a partial eclipse will be visible across nearly all of the U.S. and a small portion of western Europe. During such a partial eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and does not completely cover it, resulting in the sun appearing to have a crescent shape. The path of totality when the moon completely covers the sun, creating a total eclipse, as previously reported runs from Mexico (Sinaloa to Coahuila) to the United States (Texas to Maine) to Canada (Ontario to Newfoundland). The solar eclipse seen from Glasgow Park in Bear. Lorewood Grove's Moritz Rosner is looking forward to teaching students about more aspects than an eye in the sky. She'll also aim to discuss elements from a darkening sky and temperature change, to phenomena like Bailys beads and rippling shadow bands. "We want to give them, 'Here's what to expect' because a lot is going to be happening in those two to three minutes," she said. "We want to prepare them for what they're going to experience, so they can really recognize the true beauty." Thinking about his Brandywine Springs middle-schoolers, decked out in their glasses, heading outside the Wilmington-area school Peter Kelly just hopes for a clear, sunny day. And sparks of scientific curiosity. "An eclipse is also a great phenomenon, where it's really trying to spark student curiosity and wonder," Kelly said. "How does this happen? How do we know that we have these eclipses and predict when it's going to happen? It's an inspiration of curiosity. It kind of sparks that flame." Total eclipse travel plans: Want to head out of town for a better view of the April solar eclipse? Here's where to go Delaware can expect eclipse action around the following times: Partial eclipse begins at 2:07 p.m. Maximum eclipse begins at 3:23 p.m. Partial eclipse ends at 4:34 p.m. A partial solar eclipse is seen as the sun rises behind the Delaware Breakwater Lighthouse, Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Lewes Beach in Delaware. The full annular or ring of fire solar eclipse was visible to some parts of Greenland, Northern Russia, and Canada. Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Solar eclipse to bring Delaware teachers a science lesson in the sky Congregants sit in church pews during a service. This year, a Pew Research Center survey found that 28% of Americans identified as nonreligious, for the first time making up the country's largest "faith" group. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) How does someone grieve without God? As an atheist whose devoutly Christian mother died in August , I can answer this question with alacrity: We grieve just fine. By fine, I mean we run the same gamut of emotions as anyone who believes in heaven and hell. Grief is a deeply human experience that binds people, whether or not they live with the reassurance of an afterlife or a loving God. Simple acts of empathy by those around us help move the process along. Perhaps, then, the question should really be, how does one grieve without Gods people? In other words, how do we pick up our lives without the built-in communities that churches, temples and other houses of worship almost always provide? Read more: Opinion: A good death on hospice for my mom after the horror of brain cancer This question deserves serious contemplation as younger Americans leave the faith congregations of their parents in droves. Based on my experience, its hard in ways I hadnt imagined. We can debate the implications of Americas increasing irreligiosity and whether religious institutions brought about their own decline by protecting their leaders at the expense of their followers. But we still must deal with death and grief wherever they find us, and until recently, they found most of us within those temples, churches and other houses of worship. No longer. This year, a Pew Research Center survey found that 28% of Americans identified as nonreligious and, for the first time, made up the countrys largest faith group. Read more: Op-Ed: Why America's record godlessness is good news for the nation Even amid this secularization, with church attendance dropping about as fast as print newspaper circulation, I found one of the most eager comfort-givers as my mom lay dying to be the pastor of the Lutheran church I hadnt attended in more than 15 years. In the scramble to plan my moms memorial service at the church, the most pleasant, reassuring voices belonged to the women who taught me Sunday school long ago and knew exactly what memories to bring up. It was as if I had never left. This brief reunion with my former faith community helped my family navigate the dark weeks after my mom died, but it lasted only until the end of the memorial service. I had a markedly different experience growing up in the church. About 30 years ago, my grandfather, who put down roots in the church after emigrating from Norway in the 1950s, died in tragic circumstances. Then, it was as if someone had put up the grief bat signal, and a posse of humble Lutheran superheroes sprang into action. This meant more than just the pastor delivering a service and parishioners politely giving condolences. It meant being surrounded by people who didnt have to be told what we were going through they just knew and tried to make our lives a little easier. It meant people offering to bring us dinner and help care for my brother and me. It meant comforting scratches on the back of my neck from a few old ladies in the pews, rare moments of tenderness from people who would normally scowl at kids like me for fidgety behavior during church. It meant being eased out of our sadness for as long as it took. Now that kind of enveloping support is harder to find. I worry about how this affects my three children and, for the first time in their lives, I wonder if raising them without a faith tradition is a disservice. As with anything else, nonreligious parenting comes with trade-offs. My kids never had to worry, as I did, about displeasing God or the eternal fates of their nonbelieving loved ones. But in this life, right here and now, theyre grieving as I did when I was their age, but without the support built into faith communities. And so are countless others experiencing age-old traumas outside the local institutions that once helped guide them. For me, losing those people has been more profound than losing God. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Pigeons appeared to coo glumly nearby as the over 100-pound pile of Kroger-brand bread was removed from the besieged Henderson business, but now one truck driver is alleging there are more unreported stale mounds across the Western United States. Curtis Dennis, manager of PBF Manufacturing, said he now has an answer as to why his funeral casket warehouse was targeted with unwanted loaves. [The driver] just got mad and decided he didnt want to go through the process of returning the bread, Dennis said. So, he just decided to dump it wherever he was. Curtis Dennis, manager of PBF Manufacturing, said he now has an answer as to why his funeral casket warehouse was targeted with unwanted loaves. (KLAS) Buffalo Market, a food distributor, called and explained to Dennis they owned the bread route the driver was contracted to deliver products on, and offered to clean the mess on his property. Dennis told the Buffalo Market representative he was thankful they sincerely offered to come down, but he had already been reached out to by Logistic Solutions who removed the mountain of manna. They [had] to make special arrangements with the landfill, he said. I believe it has something to do with methane gas and CO2 emissions. Logistic Solutions offered to help remove the loaves of bread left at the Henderson business. (KLAS) Dennis then asked the distributor if they spoke to the driver responsible, to figure out why they dropped the bread at his Henderson business. Buffalo Market contacted me and basically told me that they cant find the driver, he said. They dont know where he is. The distributor also said the driver had a bread route in the Northeast Las Vegas Valley, nowhere near Henderson. Dennis said he was thankful Buffalo Market reached out to him and is grateful for the communitys support to solve his bewildering issue. I am glad everybody stepped up to do their part to help me out at least, he said. If it hadnt been for the story at Channel 8, this wouldnt have gotten out and I would have been stuck with wet bread. Curtis Dennis, manager of PBF Manufacturing, said he now has an answer as to why his funeral casket warehouse was targeted with unwanted loaves. (KLAS) Vicious Cycle One veteran truck driver with more than 17 years of experience, who spoke with 8 News Now anonymously, says he drove a delivery route for Buffalo Market and was not surprised when he heard about the product dump in Henderson. I had North Las Vegas, Sky Canyon, and Centennial Smiths routes, the truck driver said. They hired a bunch of knuckleheads and they let it go bad and dump it everywhere. The truck driver said the distributor, Buffalo Market, and the producer, Franz Bakery, have been rapidly expanding in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada at the cost of quality assurance. They owe me three paychecks, I know Im probably not going to get back, the driver said. When they quit [drivers] just dump it everywhere. The distributors guidelines, according to the truck driver, are to take any excess product and donate it to a church, but the truck driver alleges many are stuck in a vicious cycle when the distributor leaves drivers on the hook with overordered products. All they care about is the deliveries to the store and up until the register, the driver said. But they dont care about the drivers. Five different Buffalo Market employees have not yet replied to comment for this story. The City of Henderson Police Department has not yet replied about the status of their investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Forty-one cop killers in New York state have been released since 2017, with one more possibly on the way. Eddie Matos who is serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for the October 1989 murder of NYPD Officer Anthony Dwyer, 23, who was shoved from a Times Square roof is up for parole later this month after he successfully appealed the boards denial last year. Its just mind-blowing and very disheartening. Theyre letting out all cop killers, Dwyers younger sister, Maureen Brisette, 45, told The Post. Eddie Matos, who could soon be a free man, is serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for the 1989 murder of NYPD officer Anthony Dwyer. change.org NYPD officer Anthony Dwyer, with his younger sister, Maureen. Courtesy of Maureen Brisette Matos has been denied parole seven times since 2014, but last years decision was scrubbed due to a legal technicality. The cop killer again goes before the parole board the week of March 25. The cops family submitted their victim impact statement on Friday. God willing, he gets denied, Brisette said, adding, He should get life. We all got a lifes sentence. On Oct. 17, 1989, Matos and three accomplices shattered the glass door of a McDonalds on Seventh Avenue and 40th Street with a sledgehammer and rounded up the employees at gunpoint, court papers show. A maintenance worker escaped, returning with Dwyer who worked at Midtown South Precinct for two and a half years and two other officers, who saw Matos run toward the back of the restaurant and scramble up a ladder to the roof. Dwyer quickly followed. Once on the roof, Matos shoved the young officer down a 25-foot air shaft. Marge Dwyer with the many plaques and awards of her hero-NYPD cop son, Anthony. Stephen Yang Marge Dwyer and family members of NYPD officer Anthony Dwyer, speak to reporters after attending a previous parole hearing of his killer Eddie Matos. William Farrington It took emergency services workers 45 minutes to retrieve his body, and he was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. Matos was captured the next day. He was sentenced in 1990 to 25 years to life after being convicted of second-degree murder. His three accomplices were also indicted. He can rot in hell, Dwyers still devastated mom, Marge, said of Matos. Stephen Yang A loved one wears wristbands in memory of the fallen NYPD officer. Stephen Yang Dwyer was a volunteer firefighter and devout Catholic who taught Sunday school at St. Vincent de Paul in Elmont, Long Island. My brother was great. He was an amazing person, Brisette said. He [Matos] is saying hes changed and hes not the same kid. Hes still going to be a cop killer. He can rot in hell, Dwyers mom, Marge, said. My brother was great. He was an amazing person, Maureen Brisette said. He [Matos] is saying hes changed and hes not the same kid. Hes still going to be a cop killer, she noted. Stephen Yang If denied, Matos is next scheduled to go before the parole board in July, according to the NY state Corrections and Community Supervision. Said Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry: It is a travesty that this hero family has to keep reopening their wounds every few months, because the facts of the case will never change. P.O. Anthony Dwyer was a hero police officer who was murdered protecting this city. The individual who took Anthonys life is a cop-killer and always will be. Those facts were true a year ago, and they will still be true in three months or 30 years. Hendry called for all New Yorkers to message the parole board and demand that they face reality and keep this killer behind bars where he belongs. One of the marks of anti-Semitism, George Orwell observed in 1945, is an ability to believe stories that could not possibly be true. Which brings us smartly to Hamas and how the broadcast media, aid organisations, international bodies and world leaders take its disinformation as gospel. Last week it became clear that this gullibility may have led to a crime against reality. A new analysis of the groups casualty statistics indicates that the rag-tag terror army may have pulled off one of the biggest propaganda coups of modern times. The figures, repeated by everyone from the White House to the BBC, are freighted with familiarity: 30,000 dead in Gaza, 70 per cent of whom are women and children. Yet it now seems overwhelmingly likely that these statistics are fabricated. Professor Abraham Wyner, a data scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, has conducted a thorough analysis. He found that Hamass official civilian death toll was statistically impossible. Most likely, the Hamas ministry settled on a daily total arbitrarily, he wrote in an incendiary essay in Tablet. We know this because the daily totals increase too consistently to be real. Then they assigned about 70 per cent of the total to be women and children, splitting that amount randomly from day to day. Then they in-filled the number of men as set by the predetermined total. This explains all the data observed. The giveaways were many. For example, the reported death toll mounted with almost metronomical linearity, Prof Wyner found, showing little daily variation. Obviously, this bore no resemblance to any plausible version of reality. Then there was the fact that, according to Hamas data from 29 October, 26 men came back to life; and the fact that on several days, no men were apparently killed at all, but only women. Were we really supposed to believe any of this? In February, Hamas admitted to losing 6,000 of its fighters, representing more than 20 per cent of the total casualties reported. Given its claims that 70 per cent of the dead were women and children, there were two possible conclusions: either almost no male civilians had died, or almost all the men in Gaza were fighting for Hamas. Both were obviously absurd. Therefore, the number of women and children killed was likely grossly exaggerated. If that is the case if, as Prof Wyner suggests, the casualties are not overwhelmingly women and children, and the majority may be Hamas fighters where does that leave western outrage? Has the West fallen victim to a monstrous con? The true ratio of civilian casualties to combatants is likely to be exceptionally low, at most 1.4 to 1 and perhaps as low as 1 to 1. This, Prof Wyner says, is a successful effort to prevent unnecessary loss of life while fighting an implacable enemy that protects itself with civilians. By rights, if the central pillar of the anti-Israel edifice has been discredited, the whole structure should come tumbling down. But dont hold your breath. The reason why Hamass dodgy data is so easily believed is confirmation bias. The drip-drip of Israelophobic propaganda over the years has created a powerful tendency to view the Jewish state, Britains democratic ally, as a colonialist aggressor and the Palestinians even as they butcher children as the freedom fighters. Regardless of the evidence, to many people this has become second nature. It speaks of millennia of inherited anti-Semitism. A 2012 study by economists Nico Voigtlander and Hans-Joachim Voth found that Germans from towns where Jews were blamed for the Black Death and burnt alive in the 14th century were significantly more likely to vote for the Nazis 600 years later. In his 1945 essay, Orwell recalls a young intellectual, communist or near-communist remarking: No, I do not like Jews. Ive never made any secret of that. I cant stick them. Mind you, Im not anti-Semitic, of course. Depressingly little has changed. That is the advantage enjoyed by the jihadis of Gaza. They didnt even need to keep their strategy a secret. Everyone knows they try to get civilians killed for propaganda gains, aiming to curtail Israeli operations with international outrage. Everyone knows that their censors keep dead terrorists away from the cameras, giving the world the impression that Israel is only attacking civilians (look up former AP reporter Matti Friedmans seminal 2014 essay, What the media gets wrong about Israel, for a sense of how long such games have been played). A gang that murdered and mutilated babies may also, on occasion, be tempted to lie. So much should be obvious. But all this is smoothly eclipsed when a greater narrative is at work. Its not that there is a lack of journalistic curiosity in large parts of the media. Its just that, when it comes to Israel, facts are subordinated to assumptions. In February, BBC Verify quoted a World Health Organisation official: The [Hamas] ministry has good capacity in data collection and its previous reporting has been credible and well developed. This was the same WHO that had singled out Israel for condemnation at an international assembly largely devoted to Covid. And this was the same BBC Verify that had partly based a story on an eyewitness who had reportedly worked for an Iranian state news outlet and celebrated the deaths of Jews on social media. It is time for us to say: JAccuse. Just as Emile Zola laid the charge of anti-Semitism at the feet of the French establishment during the Dreyfus Affair in 1898, we must do so to the international establishment today. Jake Wallis Simons is editor of the Jewish Chronicle and author of Israelophobia 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. Christina Shepherd has taken over as Jefferson County Library System's new director. After spending seven years as a teacher in Kentucky, Christina Shepherd found herself unemployed. While searching for new job, she found open arms and a new world of support in her communitys public library. I had a family with three small children and we must have used every program the library offered, Shepherd said. It was a place where my kids didnt hear no and I fell in love with that. Her children checked out books and movies and she used the librarys computers to build her resume and apply for jobs. Its one of the best places to do that, she said. My middle son, who was very, very shy, had no qualms about talking to the librarian. It was a place that always made us feel welcome and we really appreciated that and we didnt feel like we were any different than anyone else. She felt so welcome there that she ended up getting a job there. She worked there for four years and eventually went back to graduate school to study library science. After 10 years working in libraries, including most recently an assistant director position in Albany, she has been hired as Jefferson Countys new Library Director. There are so many people who still think a library is all about books, Shepherd said. Ill ask them to come by and theyll say, Well. I dont read. Its so much more than that. We have movies and were getting them within a month of some of them coming out. More than anything, a library is a community hub. Its a place where anyone can come. There is no such thing as loitering in the library. We welcome you to loiter. Come, hangout. Angela Jones, the Louisville Library branch Circulation Desk Clerk, helps a young patron access fun learning activities on one of the branch's many computers. She used programs that are available in local branches to help build her own resume years ago, and when she decided to go back to graduate school, she found programs at the library that helped her study for her GRE exams required for entrance. I hadnt taken that kind of test since I was in school and that was kind of scary, she said. Learning Express has a GRE practice on there and tutorials to walk you through. The same program can help people who have not put together a resume build one they can be proud of. It asks questions like, what is your name and what is your address and then it will do all of the initial formatting for you, Shepherd said. With a library card, people can check out up to 50 books at a time. I recommend people get whatever they think they can read in two weeks, she said. One of the more popular items, Shepherd said, are the free passes the different library branches have to Georgia State Parks, learning centers across the state and even places like the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. These arent things you can reserve ahead of time, but come by and see what we have available, Shepherd said. You can check out a pass that will allow up to three people to go to a state park for free. We have a DVD you can check out and when you return it you can get a free pass to the Atlanta Zoo. We have lots of stuff. The Covid pandemic shut down a lot of public events, but Shepherd said that she is working to start weekly story time programs at each of the three library branches in the county. Lately it has been more of a special occasion thing, but its something I think we should have constantly, she said. I know a big thing is going to be our summer reading program. Thats the librarys time to shine when the kids are out of school. Im really looking forward to my first summer reading here in Jefferson County. She is also working to implement other events and programs to attract people of all ages to the local branches. Theres a computer game called Roblox that the kids are playing and I would like to have an afternoon where kids can come in and they can be loud and play together, she said. We also started a Lego challenge this month. Im trying to do at least one thing each month that involves STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) curricula. She also sees a need for computer assistance classes. Ive added to our website links for a typing tutorial as well as what we cause mouser-cise, where people who are not used to using a computer mouse can get practice following lines and knowing where to look for things and know how to use the arrows on the side, she said. The library will be offering free computer basics courses this month: on Monday, March 18 at 4 p.m. in the Louisville branch, Wednesday, March 20 at 2 p.m. in the Wrens branch and Tuesday, March 26 at noon in the Wadley branch. The course will include subjects like navigating the desktop, organizing files and folders, managing windows, saving and closing files, deleting files and what all of these terms mean. The first class is that kind of information that helps people get a little more comfortable with the computer, she said. Next will be a class about email. How to get an email account. What you should look for online. What you should avoid when you have one. There are at least six of these courses that I have ready. Shepherd said that she is looking to find more ways to make the local branches as helpful and inviting as the one that helped her family years ago. The Wrens, Louisville and Wadley branches of the Jefferson County Library all open weekdays at 8:30 a.m., close for lunch between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and are open until 5:30 p.m. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: County hires new library director, launching new programming CASTALIA, Ohio (WJW) A lucky couple is planning their next big vacation after winning the top prize on a scratch-off ticket in Erie County. According to Ohio Lottery, Robert and his wife bought the winning Lady Luck 25X ticket from Castalia Market on N. Washington Street in Castalia, a village in the Sandusky area. Couple buys winning lottery ticket from Erie County market Browns hire former head coach, Super Bowl champ They won the $150,000 prize and, after state and federal taxes, will take home $108,000. Robert told Ohio Lottery that, before now, the most hes ever won was $20. Lost part of my soul: Kylie Kelces tribute to her dog The couple says theyre now planning a trip to Zion National Park in Utah this summer, according to lottery officials. There are still eight top prizes left for the Lady Luck 25X scratch-off game. Learn more about it and other lottery prizes in the state here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ruled on March 15 to release Oleksandr Liyev without bail. Liyev is an ex-Defense Ministry official formerly tasked with weapons procurement. Liyev was arrested in February 2024 in charges related to a corruption scheme revealed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in January that involved the procurement of almost 100,000 mortar shells, amounting to almost Hr 1.5 billion ($40 million). His bail was originally at set at Hr 50 million ($1.3 million). Liyev's laywer told the Suspilne media outlet that he had been released without bail on March 15. The SBU said in January that the investigation had "exposed officials of the Ministry of Defense and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, who stole nearly Hr 1.5 billion in the purchase of shells." According to the SBU, a contract for shells was secured with Lviv Arsenal in August 2022, six months into the full-scale invasion. The payment was made upfront, including the transfer of funds abroad. No arms were delivered, however, and some funds were subsequently moved to other foreign accounts. Liyev was reportedly arrested in relation to the scheme while trying to flee the country. He has denied the validity of the charges. Read also: Deputy Minister Klimenkov takes charge of defense procurement. Can he fix whats broken? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A first bargeload of desperately needed food was successfully unloaded in Gaza in a test run for a new maritime aid corridor from Cyprus (-) A second ship loaded with aid for Gaza could depart as early as Saturday, Cyprus said, as the first vessel returned from the war-ravaged territory after successfully delivering its cargo. The Jennifer was set "to depart for Gaza today or tomorrow," foreign ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis told state radio. US charity World Central Kitchen said the Jennifer had been loaded with 240 tonnes of food but that rough weather made it hard to predict when it would set sail for Gaza or when the first vessel, the Open Arms, might make a return trip. "Maritime weather reports show bad weather from Sunday until end of next week - so exact timing of sailing for either boat to return to Gaza is not available at this time," the charity said in a statement. The maritime aid corridor from Cyprus is meant to at least partly address stark shortages in Gaza after more than five months of war, as UN agencies warn of looming famine. Earlier on Saturday, World Central Kitchen said its team had finished unloading food and other desperately needed supplies from the barge towed by Spanish aid vessel Open Arms, which left Cyprus on Tuesday in a trial run for the aid corridor. "All cargo was offloaded and is being readied for distribution in Gaza," World Central Kitchen said in a statement, noting it included "almost 200 tonnes of food". The cargo on the Jennifer includes "pallets of canned goods and bulk product -- including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt," the charity said. It also includes a forklift and a crane to assist with deliveries, it said. The United Arab Emirates has sent "a special load of 120 (kilogrammes of) fresh dates," it added. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told reporters that Open Arms "has begun to return" to Cyprus "and we are ready to send the second ship with humanitarian aid to Gaza." The Spanish charity that owns the first vessel, also named Open Arms, said it would get back to Cyprus on Sunday and could participate in future aid deliveries. - A first 'test' - With the humanitarian situation in Gaza increasingly dire, donors have pursued alternatives including airdrops and maritime shipments. World Central Kitchen built a makeshift jetty southwest of Gaza City to receive Friday's shipment but US troops are on their way to build a larger pier. The Israeli military said troops had secured the area around the jetty while the Open Arms shipment was unloaded. It said it had inspected the cargo before delivery. World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres said on X that the first shipment was "a test" and that "we could bring thousands of tonnes each week." The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign against Hamas has killed at least 31,553 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. mg-rcb/kir TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man has been sentenced to life in prison for murder in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court after stabbing his sister-in-law, the Tulare County Districts Attorney Office announced on Friday. The DA says on May 12, 2021, after an altercation in the kitchen of their shared Visalia residence, 25-year-old Swarndeep Basra stabbed his sister-in-law while her two children ate breakfast and proceeded to kick her while she was on the ground. One of the children ran to a neighbor for help. You could never catch her without a smile: Friends remember the victim of fatal stabbing in Visalia The victim was transported to Kaweah Delta, where the DA says she was pronounced deceased. According to the districts attorney, Basra said that he went crazy after the initial altercation in a statement to police. The DA says he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with the use of a knife and no contest to child endangerment on Feb. 9. According to current California sentencing laws, Basra must serve 20 years in prison before receiving a parole hearing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47. BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's automobile exports jumped 30.5 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, industry data shows. A total of 822,000 vehicles were exported during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Exports of passenger vehicles soared 31.5 percent year on year to 686,000 units, and exports of commercial vehicles totaled 136,000 units, rising 25.9 percent from the same period last year. The data has also revealed that China exported 182,000 new-energy vehicles during the period, up 7.5 percent year on year. DALLAS - A Dallas police officer was taken to a hospital as a precaution after their patrol vehicle was struck while blocking traffic in South Dallas. Police said this happened just before midnight on Friday, when the officer was blocking traffic following a crash along I-45, near Overton Road. The officers squad car was struck from behind. The driver was taken into custody. The charges they will face have not yet been released. The officer was taken to a hospital for precaution. No further details have been released at this time. A marine iguana, one of the more than 3,000 species found in the Galapagos Marine Reserve (Ernesto BENAVIDES) Industrial fishing boats hover menacingly on the edges of Ecuador's Galapagos Marine Reserve, where schools of multicolored fish and hammerhead sharks frolic in the protected Pacific waters. The reserve is a haven for the flurry of creatures and plants living in the waters around the Galapagos Islands where naturalist Charles Darwin found the inspiration for his theory of natural selection. But outside its boundaries, not delineated by any physical barrier, there is no protection on the high seas where these same species also venture. The sharks, turtles, iguanas, sea lions and fish that thrive in the Galapagos "don't understand political boundaries," Stuart Banks, a senior marine scientist at the Charles Darwin Foundation, told AFP on board Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise research vessel. "So they're going to be moving between different territories and that's when they're most at risk, particularly to things like industrial fishing and bycatch." The solution, according to Greenpeace, is to secure a much larger area of ocean by creating the first-ever marine protected area on the high seas bordering the Galapagos Marine Reserve. But for this to happen, at least 60 countries must ratify the High Seas Treaty adopted by United Nations member states last June. Only two have done so to date. - Like a jigsaw puzzle - AFP accompanied an Arctic Sunrise scientific mission to the area this month to investigate the threats posed to the Galapagos Marine Reserve, which Greenpeace describes as "probably the best conservation project carried out in the oceans." The reserve of nearly 200,000 square kilometers (some 77,000 square miles) is one of the world's largest and most biodiverse with more than 3,000 species, many of them found nowhere else. Biologist Paola Sangolqui explained she was testing water samples to analyze "which marine species have been in this area and have left some kind of DNA trace." For his part, Daniel Armijos was in charge of underwater video monitoring of fish numbers and prevalence. "It is kind of like putting together a big jigsaw puzzle because everything is integrated in some way," explained Banks. "And if you're looking to prioritize the most important regions to start working, to know where those corridors are (along which species migrate), you need to use genetics so you can start to look at how particular populations are connected from one region to another." - Hammerhead haven - From the Arctic Sunrise, scientists also descended a robot to explore the coral reefs that serve as key feeding and breeding grounds for many fish, said expedition leader Sophie Cooke, for whom "the abundance of marine life in this national park is simply staggering." Marine reserve employee Eduardo Espinoza, in charge of day-to-day monitoring, told AFP the archipelago is a rare sanctuary for hammerhead sharks, whose fins are a delicacy in some Asian countries. Hammerheads were at particular risk of "overfishing and illegal fishing," Espinoza said as he fixed an identifying label to a young specimen. "In the Galapagos, hammerhead sharks are always abundant. They have a refuge here to reproduce, from where they move throughout the Pacific," he added. - Free species worth more - Cooke said the Galapagos was an important migratory stop for many species, which is "why we need to connect all these different marine protected areas and protect these reserves: so the migration routes of these species can be kept safe." The Galapagos Islands are designated a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site. Another reason to protect the area is its attraction for tens of thousands of visitors every year, like American diver Ryan Doyle, 24. "In comparison to Florida, where I'd also dive recreationally, there's so much life here," Doyle told AFP. "There's so many sharks and everything looks so healthy. So you can kind of like see the conservation" at work. Diving instructor Anthony Gavilanes, 30, said locals like himself nowadays "live off tourism" more than fishing, as before. "For us, species swimming freely in the water are worth more than they are on a plate served at a table." bur-hba-mlr/tjj LANSING, Mich. (AP) Justice David Viviano said Friday he will not seek reelection to the Michigan Supreme Court. Viviano has served on the court since his appointment in 2013 by then-Gov. Rick Snyder. He won statewide elections in 2014 and 2016 with the endorsement of the Republican Party. Viviano and Justice Brian Zahra are the courts most conservative justices and often join each others opinions, especially dissents. Theyre in the minority: Four of the courts seven justices were blessed by the Democratic Party or appointed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Although I have respectfully disagreed with many of the courts decisions in recent years, it has been a privilege to participate in the discussion of legal issues of major significance to our state, Viviano said. I remain committed to the rule of law and am optimistic about the future. He was a judge in Macomb County before joining the Supreme Court. Vivianos term ends at the end of 2024. Two Supreme Court seats will be on the fall ballot. Justice Kyra Bolden, who was appointed by Whitmer, is running to fill the balance of the term of former Justice Bridget McCormack. Bolden has been on the court since January 2023. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. President George W. Bush watches the graduates throw up their hats at Michie Stadium for the 2006 Graduation Ceremony of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., on May 27, 2006. On March 16, 1802, the U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI March 16 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1802, the U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. In 1827, Freedom's Journal, the first Black-owned and -operated newspaper in the United States, was published in New York. In 1926, Robert Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fuel rocket. In 1935, Adolf Hitler denounced the military clauses of the Versailles Treaty and immediately ordered general military conscription in Germany. On March 16, 1827, Freedom's Journal, the first Black-owned and -operated newspaper in the United States, was published in New York. File Photo courtesy of The Afro-American Press/Wikimedia In 1945, the Island of Iwo Jima was declared secure by U.S. forces in one of the major World War II conflicts in the Pacific. In 1956, the Rev. A. Edward Banks became the 25th minister to be arrested for allegedly violating the seldom-used Alabama state anti-boycott law. The boycott of Montgomery, Ala., buses began after Rosa Parks was fined $10 for refusing to surrender her seat to a white person. U.S. soldiers bring back the sand of the disembarkation beach at Iwo Jima, Japan, on March 19, 2016. On March 16, 1945, the Island was declared secure by U.S. forces in one of the major World War II conflicts in the Pacific. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI In 1966, NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott docked their Gemini 8 space vehicle with an Agena craft, a first in orbital history. File Photo courtesy of NASA On March 16, 1968, about 300 Vietnamese villagers died at the hands of U.S. troops in what came to be known as the My Lai massacre. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. government In 1968, about 300 Vietnamese villagers died at the hands of U.S. troops in what came to be known as the My Lai massacre. In 1984, CIA station chief in Beirut, William Buckley, was kidnapped by members of Hezbollah. His captors claimed that they had executed Buckley on Oct. 4, 1985, though it's believed he died of a heart attack sometime in June 1985, following nearly 15 months of torture. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk holds a government meeting in Kiev on March 16, 2014. Ukraine held a referendum vote today on the status of Crimea and whether to give the land to Russia. File Photo by Ivan Vakolenko/UPI In 1985, Terry Anderson, Beirut bureau chief for the Associated Press, was kidnapped by members of Hezbollah. He would remain in captivity for more than six years, before securing his release on Dec. 4, 1991. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan ordered 3,200 U.S. troops sent to Honduras in what the White House described as "a measured response" to a Nicaraguan invasion directed against U.S.-backed Contra rebels. On March 16, 1926, Robert Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fuel rocket. File Photo by NASA/UPI File Photo by Cliff Owen/UPI In 1994, the International Atomic Energy Agency said North Korea barred its inspectors from checking one of the nation's seven nuclear sites. In 2009, Japan reported its gross domestic product fell at a 12.7 percent annual rate in the last quarter of 2008, plunging the country into what experts said was its worst financial crisis since World War II. In 2014, results of a referendum showed that people in Crimea voted overwhelmingly for the autonomous Black Sea peninsula to break from Ukraine and join Russia. In 2021, a series of shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area left eight people dead. Six of the slain victims were Asian women, prompting questions of whether the shootings were a hate crime amid rising anti-Asian sentiment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China. The accused gunman told police he was motivated by a conflict between sexual addiction and his Christianity, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. In 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden announced another $800 million in military aid for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky made a rare appeal for assistance before a joint session of Congress. File Photo by J. Scott Applewhite/UPI Drug enforcement agents conducting surveillance earlier this week of a luxury apartment in Hells Kitchen ended up arresting two suspects and seizing a cache of cocaine and methamphetamines with a street value of more than $1 million, authorities said Friday. A court authorized search of the W. 54th St. apartment revealed about 30 pounds of meth and more than eight pounds of coke packed in a suitcase inside a bedroom closet. Agents also discovered nearly $28,000 in cash in a backpack in the closet. Our investigations take us all over New York City and the world, but this investigation led us to a million-dollar cocaine seizure in Hells Kitchen, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. DEA and our law enforcement partners are steadfast in bringing to justice those responsible for pushing illegal drugs onto our streets. Arrested were Jovanny Salas, 29, of Denver, Colo., and Sergio Betancourt Peralta, 34, of Manhattan, who were each charged with several counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. Members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force were watching the 27th-floor apartment on Tuesday when they spotted Salas leaving the residence shortly before 6 p.m., officials said. Agents and officers apprehended him in the lobby and recovered a wallet filled with identifications belonging to Peralta, according to authorities. The wallet was attached to a key, which opened the apartment that Salas had left. A few minutes later, agents armed with a search warrant used the key to enter the apartment, where they found Peralta, who was taken into custody. Salas and Peralta were arraigned Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court. The drug den was located in the Mercedes House, an S-shaped luxury rental building with cascading floors of glass and steel. A two-bedroom corner terrace unit, with floor-to-ceiling windows, rents for more than $7,400 a month, according to the buildings website. The buildings amenities include a spin studio, resident lounges and an outdoor pool and sundeck. Consequences of the Russian attack on Odessa on March 15 The death toll from the Russian missile strike on Odesa on March 15 has risen to 21, with another first responder dying in the hospital, Odesa Deputy Mayor, Svitlana Bedreha, said, the Telegram channel We Are Ukraine reported on March 16. The Russian army launched a missile attack on Odesa on March 15, killing at least 20 people. Regional governor Oleh Kiper reported 75 wounded. Over 40 people affected by the strike are still receiving treatment in medical facilities, nine of them in serious condition, he said. Read also: Russia targets aid workers in second missile strike that kills 14, injures dozens in Odesa The deadly "double-tap" attack on Odesa was carried out by two Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles fired from temporarily occupied Crimea, said the Ukrainian Operational Command South spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk. At least 20 deaths were reported as of 7:20 p.m. The number of wounded increased to 73, said Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin. The Russian strike destroyed a three-story recreation facility. Ten houses, a gas pipeline and two fire trucks were also damaged, leaving 535 households without electricity and 800 without gas supply. Read also: G7 warns Iran over missile shipments to Russia 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 39-year-old driver and firefighter Vitalii Alymov passed away in hospital on the morning of 16 March. He suffered severe injuries on 15 March while performing his duties as a result of a second missile strike by the Russians on Odesa. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Details: The number of fatalities as a result of the Russian attack on 15 March has risen to 21 people. Reportedly, medics did everything possible, but unfortunately, they could not save the mans life. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine Background: The authorities called the Russian strike on Odesa on 15 March, which killed 20 people, the deadliest in the city in terms of casualties. The city and the oblast have declared a period of mourning on 16 March for the 20 people who were killed. Support UP or become our patron! The death toll of Russia's March 15 missile strike on Odesa rose to 21, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on March 16. At least 73 people were injured to various degrees of severity as a result of the attack, the Interior Ministry said. The number of wounded reportedly included at least seven first responders, as well as an unspecified number of police officers. Klymenko said on March 16 that the death toll had risen to 21 after another wounded person died in the hospital. The death toll previously stood at 20 as of 9:22 p.m. local time on March 15. According to local council member Andrii Vagapov, Odesa's former deputy mayor, Serhii Tetiukhin, and Oleksandr Hostishchev, the commander of the police special forces battalion Tsunami, were among those killed. Rescuers immediately arrived at the scene of the impact and began extinguishing the fire, sorting out the debris, and searching for the injured, according to the State Emergency Service. During the rescue operation, Russian forces struck the site again. Russian forces had launched Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces said. Read also: Opinion: How many planes does Russia have? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Correction: Comments from Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), were misattributed in a previous version of this article. Democratic anger over Israels war in Gaza reached a new level Thursday with a dramatic speech from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on the Senate floor. Although he didnt call for a cease-fire, Americas top Jewish leader opened a new broadside against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the war still raging, calling for new elections in Israel and criticizing Netanyahu as losing his way and too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza. As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7, Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor, accusing Netanyahu of fighting on in Gaza for his political survival. The speech comes as the party grows increasingly concerned about the impact of the war on the 2024 election and as Democrats particularly on the left express growing fury over the wars civilian toll. Some 31,000 Palestinians have been killed amid Israels push to destroy Hamas for a deadly Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,100 in southern Israel and took another 250 hostages, with about 100 still held alive by Hamas in Gaza. President Biden has expressed growing frustration with Israeli leadership and has ramped up efforts to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza, calling Israels military campaign over the top and accusing its leaders of using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip. But Schumers speech and Bidens efforts are unlikely to blunt criticism from the left or heal the fractures among Democrats, with critics saying anything short of a cease-fire wont address the spiraling situation on the ground. The Biden administration and the establishment Democrats like Schumer theyre saying theyre so fed up with Netanyahu, yet theyre providing all the tools he needs to stay in power, providing all the tools he needs to continue the war, said Tariq Kenney-Shawa, a U.S. policy fellow at the Palestinian think tank Al-Shabaka. The war allows him to stay in power. But Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), said the Biden administration is moving in the right direction by supporting Israel while facilitating more aid into Gaza. Still, Ruhe was also critical of Schumers remarks which Biden said were good on Friday arguing it was counterproductive to a strong partnership. The administrations criticism that Israel is not showing proper regard for minimizing civilian suffering in Gaza, I think, is misguided, he said. The best way to minimize civilian suffering is to ensure that Israel can end this war completely and successfully and as quickly as possible. A permanent cease-fire remains off the table for most Democrats, even with the staggering death toll and the United Nations warning of a coming famine. Biden remains firm in backing Israel at the same time as hes trying everything he can to get more aid into Gaza short of calling for a cease-fire or placing conditions on weapons for Israel. The plight in Gaza continues to spiral. A late February scramble for aid in Gaza City left more than 100 people dead, while another 20 died in a similar rush for aid this week. Biden last week launched the effort to construct a pier off the coast of Gaza to deliver up 2 million meals a day to the besieged territory once it comes online. The U.S. military is also conducting airdrops with critical necessities like food, medicine and water, but those are criticized as a drop in the bucket for needed relief and that they come with a high cost after delivery drops reportedly killed five people last week. Overall, critics say the efforts are not nearly enough to help Palestinians and are no substitute for land crossings and a cease-fire. Theyre worse than band-aids, said Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, saying the aid push highlights the weakness of this administration in the face of an intransigent Israeli government that is creating deliberately a humanitarian catastrophe. So instead of just saying this is wrong, we wont stand for it, they find backdoors and ways to circumvent Israeli intransigence, he added, and I think thats reckless and irresponsible and will only fuel the intransigence. Ruhe, from JINSA, agreed the airdrops were not as effective but backed the idea for a port. His organization has also called for an independent group of vetted officials from Arab nations to be deployed into Gaza to facilitate more aid. Army ships loaded with materials are already on the way to the eastern Mediterranean Sea to build the pier. The Pentagon said the construction will require 1,000 troops and take up to two months to build. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is among the humanitarian aid groups calling for a cease-fire and maintaining the pier is not enough to address the crisis. IRC Senior Vice President of International Programs Ciaran Donnelly said in a Wednesday press briefing that he has more questions than answers about the pier, including how aid will move from the sea to the land and whether there is infrastructure on the ground to facilitate delivery. He added the group has seen no indication it will be a meaningful effort. The real solution to delivering sufficient volumes of aid to people in Gaza is to stop the fighting, Donnelly said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a briefing this week that the maritime corridor is just one part of a larger effort, saying it was not a substitute but a complement that will help close the gap. When asked if the Biden administrations efforts to facilitate more humanitarian aid while supplying weapons to Israel were two goals in conflict, he demurred. These two objectives are not in conflict. The question is whether Israel, on the one hand, can effectively deal with its security needs in defending the country, while at the same time maximizing every possible effort to ensure that civilians are not harmed and that assistance gets to those who need it, Blinken said. Only limited amounts of aid are entering Gaza through two land crossings at the border, in the city of Rafah bordering Egypt and in the north at Kerem Shalom bordering Israel. The IRC said 2,300 trucks entered Gaza through land crossings in February, which is about 80 trucks per day compared to 500 trucks each day before the war. CIA Director Bill Burns told a Senate committee this week that a cease-fire is the best solution to the humanitarian crisis, though he noted he supports the administrations stance on the war. Its very difficult to distribute humanitarian assistance effectively unless you have a cease-fire, Burns said. The potential political consequences of Bidens support for Israel have come into as he has faced a large protest vote in primaries in Michigan and Minnesota, which both have large Muslim populations. Yet Imad Harb, director of research and analysis at the Arab Center, said the president doesnt appear any closer to calling for a cease-fire or pressuring Israel to end the war. As far as Im concerned. I look at [Bidens criticism] as just simply linguistic acrobatics, Harb said. Its not necessarily actionable, because the administration has had over five months of occasions to act on whats going on. And I dont think that the President has arrived there yet. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrats are in survival mode in trying to rebuild the coalition that helped President Biden win the White House in 2020, working to bring critical voters back to the fold at this point rather than substantially trying to grow the base. The strategy is unfolding in part from Bidens travel patterns and appearances. This week, he visited two states that were pivotal to his victory, Michigan and Wisconsin. But hes also spent considerable time in Democratic strongholds like New York and California and is next expected to spend time in Phoenix and Las Vegas, home to two other closely-watched states in 2024. In Washington, D.C., he met with the Teamsters to try and sway them to officially endorse him, in an effort to lock in more critical support from a major labor union, a contingent of workers he often lauds as having bolstered his political career. The efforts mark a broader plan to stitch back together a path for victory in 2024 in a race that has Biden running neck-and-neck with former President Trump. Its a smart focus, its a smart strategy, said former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In electoral politics, you cant win by losing and so you start with your critical battlegrounds and then expand your infrastructure and visibility. The campaigns focus on Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania is in large part because of their large Black communities, which the campaign sees as essential to shoring up the base. Biden traveled to Atlanta last week another area where Black voters are a major bloc. The president has been endorsed by most major unions, including the United Auto Workers after making history by joining their picket line last year, but still has yet to get the Teamsters endorsement. Bidens meeting with the Teamsters this week was paired with the major nod he gave to U.S. workers on Thursday by pushing back against the potential sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan. The potential sale raised alarms among Pennsylvanians about threats to union workers jobs. Were not assuming anyones vote. We are earning their support by meeting them where they are investing early to reach key coalitions like Black and Latino voters, building capacity in our battleground states, and running a robust paid program across TV and digital platforms with diverse viewership, said Seth Schuster, a Biden campaign spokesperson. Thats in stark contrast to the Trump approach: attack people who disagree with you, gut programs to reach critical voters, and run on a toxic and losing agenda, he added. Biden is also set to travel to Arizona and Nevada next week, trips that are part of his effort following the State of the Union to visit every battleground state. The priority should be to defend the states he won in 2020 starting with the most obvious targets Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Arizona went blue, as did the Georgia Senate race in the 2022 midterms, so those states remain very winnable for the President again in 2024, said Michael LaRosa, first lady Jill Bidens traveling press secretary during the 2020 campaign. But still has a ways to go. He did not see what some allies hoped would be a bump in his polling after his State of the Union address last week, with new surveys showing no improvement in his approval rating or standing against Trump. Ahead of the State of the Union, Trump and Biden were statistically tied in a head-to-head 2024 match up in a Yahoo News/YouGov poll from January with 45 percent and 44 percent, respectively. In a poll on Tuesday, they are statistically tied with Trump at 46 percent and Biden at 44 percent. In battleground states alone, Biden is also struggling to make grounds on Trump. A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll in late February found Biden trailing Trump Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada and Wisconsin with 48 percent of voters saying they would back Trump across the seven states, compared to 43 percent for Biden. Additionally, a USA Today/Suffolk University poll this week found Trump polling at 40 percent to Bidens 38 percent nationally. I think theyre all going to be competitive, said Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg when asked if any states that Democrats took in 2020 make him the most nervous in 2024. But, he expressed optimism considering Democrats better-than-expected results in the 2022 midterms. We had a test run for 2024 a little bit in 2022 in the battleground states, this post-Dobbs, post-insurrection Republican Party, and it went very, very poorly for them. Its a central reason why I think the likely scenario of this election is that we win, he said. Because in competitive races all across the country since the spring of 2022, weve overperformed and theyve struggled and its because I think that something broke inside the Republican Party when Dobbs happened that for too many Republicans, it meant their party had gone too far, Rosenberg explained. Still, the Biden campaign in a memo dubbed pathway to 270 sent out after the State of the Union focused less on Republicans and more on shoring up the blue wall and expanding the map. The so-called blue wall refers to the Midwest states that Biden won in 2020 and the campaign is looking to invest big in the Sun Belt battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Denver on Tuesday as part of a five-state swing, which also includes trips to Arizona, Nevada, California, and Minnesota after Bidens joint address. The campaign is also eying a new, complex set of voters who either havent yet tuned into the election or have no interest in voting at all this November, considering its a 2020 rematch. That voting bloc is seen as persuadable to the Biden campaign, though the campaign believes that contingent might not tune into the election until after Labor Day. Theres still a pretty decent lane of undecided voters, believe it or not, Israel said. And those voters by their very nature dont tend to activate until after Labor Day. Because theyre independent, because theyre moderate and so once you consolidate your base, then youve got to build on that by engaging, actively turning out undecideds. North Carolina, which Trump won in 2020, is a state that the Biden campaign sees as a potential flip in November. The governors race in the state will include far-right Republican, Mark Robinson, on the ballot. And, the Biden campaign is eying Florida as a state where Biden may be growing in popularity due to its extreme abortion law post-Roe. We barely lost North Carolina in 2020.and the Republicans have an extremist as their gubernatorial nominee in 2024 and we have a very strong candidate. So, I think that North Carolina is going to be competitive, Rosenberg said. Other Democrats were also hopeful that Biden can not only rebuild, but also expand the coalition in 2024, mainly because Trump is his likely opponent on the ballot in November. President Bidens winning coalition was record-breaking; reaching 2020 Biden-Harris voters while simultaneously making Trump play defense will continue to be important and thats what the Biden campaign is doing, said Adam Abrams, a communications official on Obamas 2008 campaign, a spokesperson for the Obama White House Abrams, a partner at Seven Letter, added, the president has the resources as well as the accomplishments to speak to his voters while growing his coalition. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HARARE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday vowed to continue implementing reforms to enhance public sector efficiency. The government will continue to play a central role in deepening the implementation of the public sector reform agenda, said Mnangagwa on the occasion of the signing of performance contracts for the 2024 fiscal year by government ministers, heads of public entities, local authorities and other senior government officials. "Government will, therefore, continue with the reform agenda until our public sector institutions, systems and processes have reached maximum efficiencies, which are commensurate with the service delivery demands and expectations of the people. These must always guarantee that no one and no place is left behind," said Mnangagwa. He said despite a number of government ministers and other senior officials receiving awards for their commendable performance last year, overall performance across the public sector "is not to my expectation." "This demands that we all roll up our sleeves and work harder to deliver a higher quality of life for our people and realize our optimal economic potential," he said. Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka was pronounced the best-performing government minister for 2023 for the second year running, while Amon Murwira, minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, was adjudged the runner-up. Since the introduction of performance contracts for senior public sector officials in 2021, there has been notable progress in the utilization and institutionalization of the instrument across the public sector, said the president. "This will ensure that government ministries, departments and agencies are accordingly guided to meet the expectations and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe," he said. The deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine could escalate into World War III, the Italian news outlet AGI wrote on March 15, citing the country's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. "I believe that NATO troops should not enter Ukraine. It would be a mistake to enter Ukraine. We should help protect it, but going to war with Russia means risking World War III," he said. Read also: NATO support work in Ukraine possible, in line with international rules, says Czech President Pavel Tajani praised NATO troops for their missions in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Africa and Iraq, calling them "bearers of peace, guarantees and freedom". "We are not at war with Russia. All people with common sense would not want" the escalation of the conflict. He also commented on the Pope's "white flag" statement, saying, "The Pope is the Pope, he has to say it. It doesn't bother me." Read also: Macron pushes West to lose self-imposed red lines in Ukraine Lithuanian FM Likelihood of NATO troops in Ukraine: What is known Following a conference in support of Ukraine held in Paris on Feb. 26, Macron announced that Western allies of Ukraine would form a coalition to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with long-range weapons. He also indicated that the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine in the future remains open. Several NATO countries publicly rejected Macron's proposal about sending troops to Ukraine, including Poland, the United States, Germany, Czechia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Read also: If Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, there will be a war in Europe, Ukrainian FM says NATO countries should consider all options to assist Kyiv, but Kyiv hasnt asked the Netherlands to send troops and there is currently no reason to discuss it, Dutch Defense Chief, General Onno Eichelsheim, said European NATO member countries have been studying the possibility of sending Alliance troops to Ukraine for weeks, AFP reported, citing a source. French troops may be deployed to Ukraine to guard certain borders, participate in military exercises, or operate ground-based air defense systems, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Feb 28. On March 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine did not need Western troops on its territory, but was ready to accept "instructors" and "technical personnel" from NATO allies. Read also: Ukraine to finally receive more long-range weapons after Macron announces allied coalition 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 Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, has sharply rejected the idea raised by French President Emmanuel Macron of the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. Source: Tajani, quoted by the AGI portal, European Pravda reports Details: Tajani said that it "would be a mistake" for NATO to send troops to Ukraine, which "we must help defend". "To enter the war with Russia means the threat of World War III," he added. Quote: "Our military is doing well what they are doing in the Red Sea to protect our ships; they are doing well what they are doing in Lebanon, in Africa and in Iraq. Our military are the bearers of peace, guarantees and freedom. We are not at war with Russia," the Italian foreign minister stressed. Background: The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron, commenting on the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine, stressed that if such a scenario were to be implemented, French forces would not go on the offensive against Russia. French politicians attacked Macron after his recent interview regarding his support for Ukraine. Elina Valtonen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, has said that Western countries, including the United States, should not completely rule out the idea of sending troops to Ukraine if the situation there deteriorates. Support UP or become our patron! German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is trying to persuade Chancellor Olaf Scholz behind the scenes to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. At a recent meeting, Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron discussed the possibility of a "circular swap." At issue is the circular supply of long-range missiles - a deal in which London supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles in exchange for Germany replenishes British long-range missile stocks. Scholz is against sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv because he fears the move will draw Germany into the war. Ukraine has received other long-range missiles, such as the Storm Shadow from the U.K. and the French-made SCALP. Baerbock is exploring ways for Germany to potentially provide Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine while respecting chancellor's "red lines," according to Der Spiegel. One option under consideration involves Germany transferring the Taurus missiles to the U.K., who would then pass them on to Ukraine. However, the British would maintain control over the deployment and selection of targets for the missiles. The German parliament's lower chamber, the Bundestag, on March 14 rejected the proposal to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles for use against Russia in its ongoing conflict. The Taurus missiles, boasting a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles), have been under intense scrutiny since Ukraine initially requested them in May 2023. Out of the 687 participating lawmakers, 494 voted against the delivery, while 188 voted in favor, with five abstentions recorded. The recent rejection by the Bundestag marks the third instance in which the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine has been voted against. The motion, initially proposed by the opposition parties Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), faced defeat in January and February as well. Among the opponents of the motion were German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), alongside the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the socialist Left Party. Read also: Scholz, Macron, Tusk vow more arms purchases, new initiatives for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is deploying dozens of Florida Highway Patrol troopers to spring break hot spots this month with the message that we live in a law-and-order state. Who knew? DeSantis said the troopers will be deployed to Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Panama City and other spring break watering holes to arrest those who are committing crimes, causing havoc. You are going to pay the price, and we will hold you accountable, because thats what we do here, DeSantis said. Well, thats refreshing news. And yet, I havent seen any of the havoc-stopping strike force marshaling forces outside the gates of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Troopers in Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Panama City but not at Mar-a-Lago Why not? Mar-a-Lago is the crime-committing, havoc-causing capital of Florida. If youre going to take a stand against wanton lawlessness in Florida and put down a meaningful endorsement for the rule of law theres no better place to start than Insurrection Central, headquarters for the malcontents looking to start a new civil war. But instead, DeSantis is dispatching troopers to popular beach spots where teens and young adults from across the land gather for an annual rite of spring. Let us work until we die. Conservative pundit says retirement 'is a stupid idea.' I agree. Well, at least hes not sending Florida troopers to Texas this time. There's an easy target to punch down at closer to home. And yes, Floridas spring break revelers sometimes get carried away in a ritual thats fully marinated in alcohol, and sometimes spawns violence and crime. Miami Beach spring break curfews, bag checks, DUI checkpoints, parking fees Miami Beach officials have already put spring breakers on notice that the city plans to enforce its laws against loud music, smoking cigarettes and marijuana on the beach, and drinking alcohol in public. The city has tried to scare away spring breakers with curfews, bag checks, DUI checkpoints and $100 parking charges. The annual event brings billions of dollars of income to local businesses, but last year it led to two fatal shootings and stampedes created by confusion over fireworks and other loud sounds. Miami Beach officials put out a video recently in an effort to get spring breakers to go somewhere else. Were breaking up with you, an actor tells spring breakers on a YouTube video made by the city. And dont try to apologize and come crawling back, another actor chimes in. Students and locals share the beach in Fort Lauderdale Beach during spring break. So yes, spring break has led to some bad behavior. But it helps to keep things in context. Spring break in Florida is far less harmful to the average Floridian than the annual spring session of the Florida Legislature. Do you think Im fooling? Heres a taste: This session, state lawmakers OK'd allowing lenders to charge up to 36% interest on consumer loans. Thats institutional thievery on a grand scale, where those who pay the price are not criminals. DeSantis vetoed it. Furthermore, if teenagers and young adults are so dangerous, why are Florida lawmakers always trying to lower the age of buying assault rifles to 18? If you look at comparative harm, spring breakers arent a top-tier law-and-order menace in Florida. They certainly dont measure up to the security threats coming from former President Donald Trump and his oceanfront Palm Beach lair. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Your average Mar-a-Lago bathroom is a much more consequential crime scene than any beach bars wet-T-shirt contest. Youre not going to find misplaced national secrets at the Elbo Room Beach Bar in Fort Lauderdale. And the visitors to Mar-a-Lago pose a much bigger threat to all of us than some fraternity bro from an out-of-state university. Trump met with Hungary's prime minister For example, last weekend, Trump got pointers on how to sharpen his dictator skills from a seasoned pro, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban disabled his countrys democratic institutions and cracked down on press freedoms to remain in power for as long as he wants. He has also aligned himself with Russias Vladimir Putin rather than the democracies of Europe. I voted for Trump twice. Liz Cheney's book and DOJ's Jan. 6 indictment changed my mind Orban is an anti-democratic strongman who should serve as a model of what to avoid. But instead, he flew to Florida on March 8, when he got a heros welcome from Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Hes a non-controversial figure because he says, This is the way its going to be and thats the end of it. Right? Trump said of Orban. Hes the boss. Its too bad that the DeSantis strike force wasnt deployed outside Mar-a-Lago to remind Trump that we have three branches of government, not a boss who dictates on every issue. And that just like with misbehaving spring breakers, theres a point where enough is enough. Frank Cerabino is a columnist with The Palm Beach Post, where this column originally appeared. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami spring break commercial cancels fun. What about Trump crimes? FOX 2 (WJBK) - A Detroit woman who pulled the trigger in a fatal shooting outside a party store on Merriman Road in Livonia, learned her fate Thursday. Lania Juleiah Conn pleaded guilty for manslaughter, and was sentenced to three to 15 years for second-degree murder, which took place in July of 2023. She received an additional two years for the charge of felony firearm. Conn and the victim, Markayla Sadler, a Redford woman, got into an altercation inside the party store, located in the 13820 block of Merriman Road just before 1 a.m. on July 18. The argument spilled outside, where it became a physical fight. During that fight, Conn is accused of shooting Sadler in the head. Cory Leniel Campbell, a 25-year-old Detroit man who was an acquaintance of Sadler, returned fire at Conn and a 24-year-old Warren man who was with her, police said. Conn and her acquaintance were wounded, treated at a local hospital, and released. Police said Campbell had an expired concealed pistol license. He was sentenced to two years probation in December for carrying a concealed weapon. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Conn was convicted of second-degree murder. Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, has told the BBC that press attention suffered by his sister was "more dangerous" than the scrutiny surrounding the current Princess of Wales. But, in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he also said he worries about "what happened to the truth", amid conspiracy theories about Catherine. He also told me this week about violence he and his sister suffered at home. As children, he and his sister Diana were punished by a nanny in "painful" ways, he said. He has just written a book, A Very Private School, about the shocking levels of violence and sexual abuse that he suffered as a young boy when he was sent to boarding school at the age of eight. Earl Spencer, one of the most prominent aristocrats in the country, said "damaging violence to children" affects them, whatever family they are born into. He is perhaps best known for his criticism of the press after his sister's death in 1997, when he gave a controversial speech at her funeral, promising to protect William and Harry from the kind of intrusion their mother received. The earl is loathe now to talk specifically about the pressures on his two nephews and the rift between them. But after weeks of speculation online about the health of the current Princess of Wales, I asked if he thought today's pressures were more potent. Banner for "Off Air with Laura K" Sign up for the Off Air with Laura K newsletter to get Laura Kuenssberg's expert insight and insider stories every week, emailed directly to you. SWLK bottom promo strap He told me the situation had been more risky for Diana, saying, "I think it was more dangerous back in the day." Diana died when her car crashed as it entered an underground tunnel in Paris while it was being pursued by photographers. "I think, if I look back to '97 and Diana's death, I think that was so shocking too - the circumstances of her death were so shocking, that it did make the industry that supports the paparazzi really consider more carefully what it could and couldn't do," he said. "Not because they had a moral judgement, but because it was unacceptable to the public." Following weeks of conspiracy theories about his nephew's wife, Catherine, Spencer added: "I do worry about what happened to the truth." Earl Spencer, Diana's younger brother, told me at length about the regular beatings and grooming he says he experienced as a child at the hands of staff at Maidwell School. He has alleged in his book that a female member of staff groomed and abused him and other young boys in their dormitory, and also that the school's then headmaster, John Porch, inflicted "brutal beatings". Maidwell School said in a statement: "It is sobering to read about the experiences Charles Spencer and some of his fellow alumni had at the school, and we are sorry that was their experience. "It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time. Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children, and promotion of their welfare." In our interview, Earl Spencer also revealed he and his sisters suffered violent punishments at home as young children. He said one of the nannies that looked after him and Diana, named in his book as Nanny Forster, "used to crack our heads together, if we were both found to have done something naughty, obviously without my father's knowledge, but it really hurt". "It wasn't a tap on the wrist," he said, "it was a cracking crunch, you know, and I remember it still." Spencer told me he doesn't blame his parents, who "did their best, like 98% of parents do". But his treatment highlighted the "disconnect" between parents and children in some aristocratic families, he said. Another nanny, who looked after his older sisters, but not Diana, used laxatives to punish them, he told the BBC. "A different nanny was punishing them by ladling laxatives down them, and my parents couldn't work out why they were constantly ill." SWLK top promo strap As well as Earl Spencer , on this week's show are Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Labour's Jonathan Ashworth , the shadow paymaster general On the panel are Labour's Harriet Harman , businessman Theo Paphitis and author Samuel Kasumu Watch live on BBC One and iPlayer from 09:00 GMT on Sunday Follow latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:30 SWLK bottom promo strap There is no question that the levels of abuse and violence that Spencer suffered at school were appalling. Hearing his testimony in person was both compelling and uncomfortable, especially to discover that he and his sisters had also sometimes been hurt at home by people employed to care for them. But there was also something incongruous to hear about his brutal experiences in the lavish surroundings of one of the most exclusive addresses in London, Spencer House. It is a property built for his aristocratic ancestors in the 18th Century, with glittering chandeliers, priceless art works and - quite literally - gilded walls. There is little sense that Spencer is looking for sympathy. He seems to be seeking to tell his story for himself, almost as a form of therapy, and on the behalf of others who suffered the same kind of abuse. He is clearly aware that other children from all walks of life suffered in silence all too often in that era. Yet speaking to him reveals the specific pressure of keeping terrible secrets in the name of the English aristocracy's so-called "stiff upper lip". The expectation to carry that tradition down the generations was intense, even if it meant small children suffered, or were even in danger. Perhaps privilege is no protection from violence or abuse, nor, as the world witnessed through his sister's troubled life, any guarantee of being happy. If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can find information about the support available at BBC Action Line. When Sophie was hospitalized for kidney problems in January, her doctor insisted on ordering a pregnancy test. This is standard practice for many patients presenting to the emergency room, but Sophie knew it was unnecessary for her. At 24, she had never had sex and wasnt planning to. As someone who identifies with the asexual community, she is averse to sex. Yet her doctor wasnt familiar with asexuality and didnt believe her until a case manager was assigned to handle the dispute, she said. I understand that for a CT scan, you can never be too sure, but the way it was approached was absolutely not okay, Sophie, who is using a pseudonym to protect her privacy, told Salon in a phone interview. He absolutely would not believe me, and the way he worded it was like, Well, everyone lies about that. Ultimately Sophie, a musician pursuing her master's degree in criminology, was given nephrostomy tubes to treat her kidney problems and discharged. But the experience stuck with her. The doctors office is a vulnerable space, and to be disbelieved after disclosing her sexuality there left her feeling like her identity was invalid. Sophies umbilical cord never closed when she was born and scar tissue build-ups have left her with urinary problems that worsened over the past decade. As someone who has been in and out of doctors' offices throughout her life, her experience in January wasnt the only time her asexuality has been dismissed or misunderstood. During another kidney treatment, doctors were concerned she was hemorrhaging but waited three hours to get a CT scan because they were waiting for pregnancy test results. It just makes me feel really invalidated and helpless, Sophie said. It feels like if I make one wrong move, theyre going to discharge me because of my sexuality. People who are asexual experience little or no sexual attraction to others. The ace spectrum includes asexuals, who experience no sexual attraction to others; demisexuals, who experience sexual attraction but only after forming a close bond; graysexuals, who may experience infrequent sexual attraction; and other identities. Asexuality is distinct from aromanticism, in which people experience little or no romantic desire, although there is some overlap between these communities, says KJ Cerankowski, an American and gender sexual studies at Oberlin College who studies asexuality. There are different ways people experience their asexuality, Cerankowski told Salon in a phone interview. Some experience it as something that feels innate and something that might be lifelong, whereas some people experience it in a temporary period of their life. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. Anecdotally, people in the asexual community report their identities are pathologized by medical professionals, who order unnecessary tests or fail to perform necessary screenings because patients report feeling little or no sexual desire. When people on the ace spectrum turn to their doctors for help understanding their identities, they can be met with stigma and stereotypes. Some are misdiagnosed with conditions like depression and their asexuality is seen as a symptom that needs to be fixed. Flibanserin, a drug prescribed to increase sex drive, has been described by bioethicists as the "asexual equivalent of conversion therapy." One percent of the population was thought to identify as asexual based on a 2004 survey by Anthony Bogaert, a professor at Brock University who authored one of the first books on the subject, "Understanding Asexuality." However, that data didnt include other people in the ace community who identify as demisexual or graysexual, and other data sets have suggested that the number could be higher. Its also a number that would be expected to change, as sexuality is wont to do in general, and as awareness increases and people find communities that help them understand their identities. Its important to study asexuality because it allows us to understand sexuality better, Bogaert told Salon in a phone interview. It allows us to understand the whole spectrum of sexuality, and that includes asexual people. For decades, a lack of sexual desire was explicitly considered a disorder in the American Psychiatric Associations (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It wasnt until 2013 that through advocacy from the Asexuality Visibility Education Network (AVEN), the APA added a clause that stated people with a lifelong absence of sexual desire who identified as asexual should not be classified as having a disorder. Still, many criticize the new DSM because it requires people to know about asexuality and identify with it in order not to be pathologized. In reality, asexuality is still largely invisible in many settings, says David Jay, AVENs founder. In the ace community census the organization regularly conducts, people report that providers often hyperfocus on their asexuality and see it as an issue to be cured, Jay said. The current criteria is insufficient in protecting us, Jay told Salon in a phone interview. What were seeing anecdotally and through the ace community census is that very often, mental health practitioners just dont have a concept of what a fulfilled life could look like without a sexual relation at the center of it. Demographic surveys and research often exclude asexuality in drop-down menus of identities to choose from, and there is a paucity of asexuality research as a result, said Lauren Beach, an assistant professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Thats a problem because if those with the power to make change dont know these people exist, they cant know what unique health needs they may have and how to help them, Beach said. Theres just really nowhere for asexual people to be seen, Beach told Salon in a phone interview. We do have a signal that there are health disparities in this population, and it is important that ace people are counted. As it stands, many people in the ace community are navigating a world that has sexuality embedded in most of its systems and was not designed for them, said Megan Carroll, a sociologist at California State University, San Bernardino. This exclusion extends beyond the doctors office: Assumptions that all people experience sexual attraction and romantic desires, also known as allonormativity, are embedded in housing, taxing and marital systems. More than half of states still have marriage consummation laws that require sex to in some way prove the authenticity of a partnership. For most asexual people, if theyre not aware of what asexuality is, they reach the conclusion that something must be wrong with them, and that is because we live in a society that tells you something must be wrong with you if youre not interested in sex, Carroll told Salon in a phone interview. Compulsory sexuality is this phenomenon that you are compulsorily required to be a sexual person, and that is threaded through all of these major institutions like medicine. Jay, of AVEN, is a co-parent in a three-parent family in California. When his son was born, the hospital didnt allow both he and his co-dad to be in the delivery room at the same time, he said. We had to trade off because they were institutionally structured to only allow one partner, Jay said. So my co-dad wound up not being there when our son was born. In one 2020 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, more than one-third of participants said their doctors misdiagnosed them with a medical condition instead of recognizing their asexuality. The majority reported feeling uncomfortable discussing issues related to sexuality in the doctors office. Katherine Linder, a doctoral student at the University of Iowa whose thesis examines the medicalization of asexuality, said many people in the ace community also report not getting routine screenings or going to OBGYN appointments because they are not sexually active, even though some screenings are recommended regardless. Some doctors have misconceptions that all asexual people don't have sex, and there's a lot of treating the asexual community like a homogenous group, Linder told Salon in a phone interview. Its very much a spectrum and there are so many identities that exist on it that healthcare professionals and people in general should be aware of. Yet multiple studies show there is little consensus on how medical school curriculums should incorporate sexuality, with most focusing on its pathological aspects. According to one survey published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, just one-third of medical students who responded felt comfortable addressing patients' concerns related to sexuality. The issue extends beyond medical school: Just 29 states require sex education programs in schools, with most approaches excluding queer communities. According to a 2021 study published in the American Journal of Sex Education, only 17 states require sex education to cover sexual orientation. Seer, a family medicine physician based in Oakland, California, who uses a single name only, co-taught an optional course in medical school at Mount Sinai on sex and medicine that helped students learn more about the gender and sexuality spectrums and how to be more inclusive of diverse queer identities and experiences, including sex work and kink. Seer hopes courses like these become more integrated into mainstream curricula, rather than extracurricular. For many folks, this is an important part of their identity that is already marginalized and unsupported, and that can be reinforced by pressures from the medical institution to pathologize it, Seer told Salon in a phone interview. To have a provider who sees it from more of a liberated and supportive perspective can be really healing and normalizing, and it stops [providers from] othering or marginalizing folks for being who they are. A lot of queer culture is itself very sexually saturated, explained Liza Blake, an associate professor of medieval and Renaissance literature at the University of Toronto who co-created the Asexuality and Aromanticism Bibliography. While many in the ace community are sex-positive without necessarily wanting to have sex themselves, sometimes queerness gets reduced to an eroticism that leaves out ace identities, she said. As a result, people who identify as ace are not always welcomed in straight communities or queer communities. I was in Berlin this Christmas and went to a queer market, where there were just penises and vaginas everywhere, Blake told Salon in a phone interview. The idea that queer equals erotic rather than all the sorts of identities that fall under the queer umbrella [is false]. The marginalization currently faced by many in the ace community has serious consequences, including forcing many in the community into violent situations. In the 2021 Asexual Lived Experiences Survey, 39% of respondents who reported ever being in a relationship experienced intimate partner violence, or forced and nonconsensual sexual situations. Representation allows asexual people to know that asexuality is just part of the normal spectrum of human sexuality and that they are not broken and nothing is wrong with them, Carroll said. Without that knowledge, we have plenty of evidence that asexual people under systems of compulsory sexuality can find themselves in violent situations. The intersections of race and disability with asexuality present their unique challenges. People with disabilities who are asexual have to navigate a system that very recently could have institutionalized them for telling their doctors they didnt feel sexual attraction for others, for example. Indigenous, Black and Latinx people who identify as asexual may have to combat other stereotypes and hypersexualization to express themselves, said Brittney Miles, a sociologist studying race and sexuality at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. As a Black person whose ancestors survived the transatlantic slave trade, it is seen as your responsibility to procreate and exist in this world that has tried to eradicate you, Miles told Salon in a phone interview. The reality is, there is this burden of guilt in some contexts for marginalized people, racially marginalized people and people who are asexual. Thats a piece of the puzzle that doesnt often get talked about. Ultimately, the erasure of asexual identities stems from the same powers that have oppressed women, people of color and queer communities for centuries, said Jessica Hille, a gender and sexuality researcher at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute. There are appropriate ways of being in service to a particular vision of society, which has historically in our Western European colonial history been heterosexual, monogamous, marital and reproductive, Hille told Salon in a phone interview. Anything that deviates from that is seen as a threat to the status quo, which is a threat to people in power and has to be regulated. Cerankowski, at Oberlin, traced the roots of many of societys sex-imbedded systems to colonialism and an agrarian society that prioritized childbearing to have extra farmhands. It was also strongly tied to generational wealth and having heirs to pass down ones fortune to. The very idea of the American dream and American citizenship is to be a product not just a productive citizen, but a reproductive citizen, Cerankowski said. The very ideology that America is founded on is sort of anti-asexual in that way. Theres evidence to suggest there were broader understandings about gender and sexuality among cultures pre-colonization, Hille said. Still, history is rife with attempts to erase queer expressions of love and relationships, including asexual identities. Yet that hasnt stopped the ace community from ensuring their voices are heard. Jay, of AVEN, emphasized the importance of updating sexual education materials to be more inclusive to the ace community and recently passed a non-discrimination ordinance in Massachusetts to protect alternate family structures that exist outside of the nuclear family. Beach is the prime investigator for Project Recognize, which aims to improve data collection for asexual and sexual minority identities. Research is also starting to catch up with ace advocacy, with a review of 44 papers describing best practices for healthcare providers who have patients in the ace community published last year. There is still a ways to go before equity is reached. Yet increasing visibility for sexual minorities makes space for the infinite forms that love and relationships for everyone can take. Ultimately, making systems in and outside of medicine more inclusive expands them for people both in and outside of queer communities. If you start to see the world in a different way, where there are these different options of how you can be and exist, then I think that it frees up a lot more room for even sexual people to define their relationships and their sex lives and even their own identities, Beach said. We are giving language to these experiences. (NEXSTAR) A smile goes a long way especially if its printed on your restaurant check. The results of a recent study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management suggest that restaurant patrons can be encouraged to tip a little extra if theres a smiley-face emoji printed alongside the suggested gratuity on their check. We hypothesized that if we gave them this smiley face, or if it was kind of cute, it would elicit a more positive reaction, co-author Sarah Lefebvre, Ph.D, an associate professor of marketing at Murray State University in Kentucky, told Nexstar of the studys aim. Lefebvre and co-authors Laura Boman, Ph.D, and Marissa Orlowski analyzed tipping behavior in three different circumstances, which including on-site dining and online ordering. In each case, when the total bill was presented, the subjects were prompted to select from a set of suggested gratuities with different emoji printed next to each amount: the lowest suggested gratuity was paired with a neutral emoji (not smiling or frowning), and increasingly larger amounts were accompanied by happier-looking emoji. Tipping backlash: These Americans gave the least in 2023, study finds These types of prompts are not entirely unlike existing practices, whereby a restaurant operator might print the suggested monetary tip amounts (e.g., 18% = $9.00, 20% = $10, etc.) or even verbal prompts (e.g., 18% for good service, 20% for great service, etc.), Lefebvre said. Some servers might even draw a smiley face in pen on the check. These methods work to a degree, though some have the unintended effect of irritating the customer, she said. But smiley faces, as previous research has shown, may be similarly processed by the human brain as an actual smiling face provoking a more positive response. The results of the newer study seem to support the authors hypothesis, too: When presented with a spectrum of emoji alongside the suggested tip amounts (either on a printed receipt or a digital screen), the studys subjects tipped an average of 11% more. The results of a recent study suggest that restaurant operators can encourage patrons to tip a little extra by implementing a simple practice. (Getty Images) As Lefebvre notes, the studys findings present yet another opportunity for restaurant operators to maximize tips for their employees or at least prevent their clientele from getting agitated. A lot of customers are really pushing back against tipping, because theyre being asked to tip in so many circumstances, Lefebvre said. Providing a method that is easily implemented gives operators an easy way to take action to benefit the employee. Lefebvre herself, however, admits that tipping culture in the U.S. has gotten out of control, pointing to COVID-era tipping practices that persist in a post-COVID world. We had altruistic motivation, Lefebvre said of tipping service workers during the pandemic. We were tipping them in a reciprocal behavior. They were taking a risk and we werent. Many of todays consumers, though, are starting to resent being asked to tip at quick-service or minimal-service establishments where they previously hadnt been prompted, experts believe. People think its manipulative, they resent it, and their perceptions of service go down, Michael Lynn, a professor of marketing and management communication at Cornell University, previously told Nexstar. Which states leave the best and worst tips at restaurants? The trouble is, these prompts arent likely to go away anytime soon. Lynn, citing a study from researchers at Purdue and Temple Universities, said these newer practices are generally effective at soliciting higher gratuities from customers, despite leaving them with negative emotions. Smiley-face emoji, at least, might alleviate some of that aggravation, especially in settings where the waitstaff or service workers deserve a little extra, Lefebvre and her co-authors suggest. Theres an uncomfortable feeling, or an irritation when dealing with tip requests, Lefebvre told Nexstar. We wanted to know, how do we make this a more positive experience? For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Nearly 60% of colorectal cancer cases in Arkansas are found at later stages in patients, making it one of the top causes of cancer death for both men and women in the state. In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Sam Makhoul, CARTIs Medical Director of Clinical Research, stopped by KARK 4 News to dispel myths about the disease. Makhoul explained that a family history clear of the disease does not mean patients should not consider screening and also debunked the ideas that patients tend to be older or exhibit symptoms before a diagnosis. For more information, including what treatments are available for those facing colorectal cancer, visit CARTI.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Vaughan Gething is expected to become first minister next week The results have been declared and Vaughan Gething is the new Welsh Labour leader. Next week, in the Senedd, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford will step down and members of the Welsh Parliament are expected to nominate Mr Gething, as the new leader of the largest party in Cardiff Bay, as Mr Drakeford's replacement. But what does Wales' first minister actually do? Are they a sort of Welsh prime minister? The first minister in Wales, and similarly in Scotland, (Northern Ireland is slightly different due to the power sharing arrangements) is the equivalent in the Welsh government of the prime minister in the UK government. Indeed, the Welsh word for the head of the Welsh government is "prif weinidog", which literally translates to prime minister. The first minister is the face of the Welsh government, the person seen as representing the character, the spirit of that administration. During the pandemic this was perhaps the case with Mark Drakeford to a far greater extent than we had previously seen over the 25 years since the Welsh assembly, now Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament was created, as he fronted televised addresses to the nation to hundreds of thousands of viewers. What will the new first minister do first? Once Mr Gething is confirmed as first minister by the King, one of his first jobs will be to appoint his new cabinet. Those appointments, again, require the approval of King Charles, though we can safely say His Majesty is unlikely to provoke a constitutional crisis by refusing any of those nominations. The questions as to who from Mr Drakeford's old cabinet is in, or out, or moved for that matter, will be decided by the new first minister, apart from any ministers who might have decided now is the time to move to the back benches and end their time in government of their own accord. The Welsh government cabinet meets regularly to consider the issues of the day and is chaired by the first minister, in a similar way to how prime ministers chair their cabinets in Downing Street. What are the first minister's main responsibilities? Mark Drakeford led televised news conferences during the pandemic to large audiences The first minister is ultimately responsible for everything the Welsh government does, working with ministers and civil servants to put the policies of that administration into practice across a range of areas such as health, education, local government and agriculture. This includes deciding which new laws are put through the Senedd, with ministers going through something of a bidding process to get legislation that they want for their area of responsibility onto the statute book as a priority. With the new first minister taking over just two years away from the next Senedd election, due in 2026, and the long time it takes for proposed laws to clear the various stages, major legislative change from what is already in train is not expected. Not everything requires new laws, of course, and the first minister, supported by his cabinet, discuss and decide the way public services should be run, how much should be spent on them and so on. Monitoring how ministers are performing - as well as whether they should be promoted, demoted, left where they are or dismissing - is a matter for the first minister. What if a minister does something wrong? Should there be the suggestion that a minister might have done something they should not have done, it is the first minister who decides whether or not they have broken the Ministerial Code, that sets out the standards members of the government are expected to meet. The first minister might appoint a civil servant to investigate and write a report on what has occurred to help reach a conclusion on whether the code has been breached. This is a power criticised by opposition politicians, who say the first minster is "both judge and jury" on matters that might relate to the Ministerial Code. What else does the first minister do? Other important functions include handling relations with the other governments in the United Kingdom, the UK government, Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive, and appointments to public bodies. Perhaps the most visible regular duty for first ministers is First Minister's Questions in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday afternoons, when Senedd members quiz the head of the Welsh government, the devolved parliament's equivalent of Westminster's Prime Ministers Questions. Since 2021, the first minister is also scrutinised three times a year by a committee made up of the chairs of the various Senedd committees, sometimes alongside Plaid Cymru's leader. This is because the Labour Welsh government and Plaid have a co-operation agreement on a range of policies, including childcare, free school meals and expanding the Senedd. This agreement, another matter the first minister is responsible for, was struck in 2021 and is due to end towards the end of this year. Listen on Sounds banner Listen on Sounds footer RAMALLAH, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency warned on Friday against the Israeli government's decision to carry out a military operation in the city of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. In a statement published by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the presidency called for the urgent intervention of the international community to prevent such "dangerous aggression," which exacerbates the suffering of the people in Gaza. The presidency reaffirmed its rejection of any "displacement" and emphasized the necessity of stopping the ongoing war and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, obliging Israel to implement international resolutions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, according to a statement from his office. Netanyahu had previously asked the army to prepare a dual plan for a military operation in Rafah, including evacuating civilians and pursuing Hamas elements. About 1.4 million Palestinians, mostly displaced people, are sheltering in Rafah. An at-home DNA testing kit for dogs claimed that human saliva returned various dog breed results and when pressed, the firm held firm. As Boston's WBZ-TV reports, the Toronto-based DNA My Dog company told not one but two humans who sent cheek swabs in that their results contained dog DNA, calling into question the accuracy of its tests. The dog DNA debacle began last fall, when the local broadcaster reported that a New Hampshire woman decided to do an informal experiment, sending in a sample from her own cheek saliva without telling the company just to see what would happen. The company claims it sequenced her genome and found that she was 28 percent bulldog, 40 percent border collie, and 32 percent cane corso. When asked about the results, a DNA My Dog representative told WBZ-TV that one of the woman's two cheek swabs contained canine DNA an eyebrow-raising claim and the breakdown it supplied her with "would not be possible on a human sample." To get to the bottom of the strange case of the woman with alleged dog DNA in her cheeks, the broadcaster decided to send in samples from one of its own human reporters to multiple companies including DNA My Dog. Although the others said there wasn't enough canine DNA to test, the Toronto-based firm had no problem sequencing the reporter's genome and supplying her employer with her breed results: 40 percent Alaskan Malamute, 35 percent shar-pei, and 25 percent labrador. DNA My Dog failed to respond to WBZ's several entreaties. When Futurism reached out to DNA My Dog, however, the company offered a lengthy and sometimes confusing explanation. "If non-canine DNA is provided on a sample, our algorithms will automatically report a 100% genetic mismatch," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement, "and may randomly associate the genetic sequences with canine ones, usually those found in our positive control samples." "The sample from the first test this team submitted to us failed our analysis and a re-test was performed. This sample was indeed non-canine DNA," the emailed statement said, seeming to reference the cheek swabs submitted by the New Hampshire woman last year. "The second sample submitted yielded a strong genetic match to canine breed markers, indicating that this sample was, in fact, a canine DNA sample. We assume that this is why they submitted more samples." "It should be noted that our Canine DNA Test was not designed to determine the species present in DNA, but rather what breeds are present in a canines DNA," the statement continues. "Our test is designed to measure canine DNA specifically, not DNA from humans nor any other species. These non-canine samples have absolutely no bearing on the accuracy of our canine breed identification testing, and to say so would be a false equivalency." DNA My Dog added that since "the airing of the first media report about this, we have been inundated with non-canine DNA sample submissions, whether from this team or unrelated parties." "It is unfortunate that the accuracy of our canine DNA test has been called into question over the repeated submission of human DNA samples," the company said. Back in September, when the news station first reported on DNA My Dog's defiant mixup, Harvard Medical School bioethicist and veterinarian Lisa Moses explained that testing dog DNA is particularly difficult because there aren't any genetic codes ascribed to breeds. "A breed is something that we've decided, which is based upon essentially the way a dog looks," Moses told the CBS affiliate. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to know what their genes look like." With issues abounding in the human DNA space and, of course, the prevailing view that race and ethnicity are social and cultural constructs it's no wonder that things get even fuzzier with dogs. More on DNA tests: 23andMe CEO Says Company Is Doing Fine Despite Losing 93% of Stock Value Forgetting words is a common experience but when your speech starts slowing, it could signal something worse. As dementia researchers explain in The Conversation, a new study had found that slowed-down speech may be a greater early indicator of dementia than "lethologica," the medical term for forgetting words. Conducted by researchers out of the University of Toronto, the new study showed pictures over video chat to 125 healthy adults between the wide age range of 18 and 90 and then asked them to describe the scenes they'd just viewed. Those descriptions were then analyzed using artificial intelligence to pinpoint details such as speech speed, how long participants paused between words, and how many different words they used. Also over video chat, those same 125 study participants completed questionnaires that measured "executive functioning" tasks, such as their ability to concentrate, how fast they thought, and how well they could plan and carry out tasks. As it turned out, there seemed to be a correlation between executive functioning and the speed of their speech especially in older participants. In particular, the two University of Sussex dementia researchers who wrote the editorial, neither of whom was involved in the Toronto study itself, said that although the experiment's picture-describing tasks were compelling, the findings based on that task might not reflect real-world language processing. Known as a "picture-word inference task," the experiment showed photos of objects like a broom and then played audio either of an unrelated word like "mop" or a word that sounds similar, such as "groom." "Interestingly, the study found that the natural speech speed of older adults was related to their quickness in naming pictures," Claire Lancaster and Alice Stanton, the Sussex researchers, wrote. "This highlights that a general slowdown in processing might underlie broader cognitive and linguistic changes with age, rather than a specific challenge in memory retrieval for words." In everyday life, one isn't likely to experience that sort of test in everyday life. The Toronto researchers could, as the Sussex experts suggested, have chosen other tasks such as verbal fluency tests that measure whether people are able to retrieve words that are on the "tip of their tongue." "Personal reports of the 'feeling' of struggling to retrieve words could offer valuable insights complementing the [behavioral] data," the unrelated researchers wrote, "potentially leading to more powerful tools for quantifying and detecting early cognitive decline." More on dementia: Weird Particle Floating Through Air May Cause Alzheimer's Former President Donald Trump visited Ohio on Saturday to tout his chosen U.S. Senate candidate as the bruising Republican primary nears its end. Trump called on the crowd to back businessman Bernie Moreno, who is running for the GOP nomination against Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls. The winner of Tuesday's primary will take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a costly, nationally-watched race that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. While Ohio's Senate race was the onus for his visit, Trump also used the occasion to rally supporters in a state he won by 8 points in 2016 and 2020. He bemoaned his docket of court cases, railed against President Joe Biden and called for one-day elections even as Ohio Republicans promote early voting for 2024. "If I get elected now if I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath," Trump said as he pledged to impose tariffs on foreign-made cars. "That's going to be the least of it. It's going to be a bloodbath for the country." Trump endorsed Moreno back in December, which many observers thought would make Moreno the clear front-runner. Instead, the candidates are locked in a tight battle as the race nears its end, with many Republicans still unsure who to support. That left allies of Moreno and Trump who brags about the power of his endorsements scrambling to push Moreno across the finish line. Bernie is a political outsider whos spent his entire life building up Ohio communities, Trump said. Hes highly respected all over the country, and hes going to be a warrior in Washington. Former President Donald Trump campaigns at the Dayton International Airport on March 16, 2024, in Ohio. The state holds its Republican Senate primary on the following Tuesday. Ahead of Trump's remarks, Moreno blasted his opponents as he called for deporting all undocumented immigrants and eliminating the Department of Education. Other speakers, including Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, cast Moreno as an ally of the former president who will advocate for his interests in Washington. "This is the last gasp of breath of the swamp-RINO establishment in Ohio," Moreno told the crowd. "I need you on Tuesday to stab it right in the heart and make it clear that in Ohio, we put America first." Ohio Senate race heats up as Trump visits Ohio Trump's visit added gasoline to a primary contest that's heated up in recent weeks. Independent polling has been limited, but two surveys released this week showed Moreno and Dolan fighting for the lead with a plurality of voters undecided. While LaRose boasts the highest name recognition, his campaign appears to be languishing as Dolan enjoys late momentum. Dolan also secured key endorsements from Gov. Mike DeWine and former Sen. Rob Portman. Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Bernie Moreno campaigns outside Wright Bros. Aero Inc. at the Dayton International Airport on Saturday. Dolan was the focus of Trump's attacks on Saturday. Trump never mentioned LaRose, whom he endorsed for secretary of state in 2022. The former president criticized Dolan's support of certain gun reforms and argued he would be "weak on borders, weak on crime." Dolan's father owns the Cleveland Guardians, and Trump went after Dolan for the team's decision to change the Indians mascot. (Dolan says he doesn't have a day-to-day role with the Guardians.) "Bernie's running against a weak RINO named Matt Dolan," Trump said. "He's trying to become the next Mitt Romney. I think Mitt Romney is his hero." Unlike Moreno and LaRose, Dolan didn't endorse Trump in the presidential primary. Dolan has said he supports the former president's policies but doesn't necessarily click with his personality. "If that person supports Trump because that person liked the policies that were put in place that we were stronger in the world, that we had less taxes, that we had a secure border then look at me because these are a lot of the things I was able to accomplish in my time in Ohio," Dolan told reporters Wednesday. Who is running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio? Click or tap the links to learn more about the Republican primary candidates: 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: Ohio primary 2024: Who does Trump support in Ohio? Not long ago it seemed Donald Trumps campaign to win another term as president would be made impossible by the battery of legal cases against him. The 77-year-old confronted 91 separate charges spread out in four cases and in four different locations. Supporters and critics alike wondered how he would hop from a hearing in New York to one in Atlanta and still find time to campaign. Now that seemingly insurmountable challenge looks very different, and it is unclear whether the former president will undergo a single trial before November. Just this week, a trial over payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels that was meant to begin later this month was put back by 30 days. Since the different prosecutions were brought against him, it has been Mr Trumps strategy to delay all proceedings, with the plan being to offer himself a pardon if he is re-elected, or at least muddy Democrats attacks against him. A senior source in the Trump 2024 campaign told The Telegraph they were feeling optimistic about the prospect he will avoid facing trial before election day on Nov 5. Trump in court in New York earlier this year. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him - GETTY IMAGES He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and dismissed them as a witch hunt by Joe Biden, who he will face off against once again. Every week, something happens to slow cases down Mr Trump knows some polls show a majority of Americans - 53 per cent - would would not vote for him as president if he was convicted on any of the charges. Other polls, including those taken among Republican primary voters in South Carolina, said two thirds would still vote for him in such circumstances. When the four indictments were brought against him in quick succession, legal experts were trying to game out which would come to trial first, said Professor Will Thomas of the University of Michigan. But almost every week it seems something unexpected has happened with the effect to slow things down. The former presidents prospects received a boost this week from an unexpected source when prosecutors in New York looking at whether so-called hush-money payments to Ms Daniels constituted business fraud and violated federal campaign finance laws agreed to a 30-day delay. (Mr Trump had requested a 90-day pause.) The trial had been due to start on March 25, and was the only one of the four prosecutions with an actual calendar date that had been fixed. But with Mr Trumps lawyers seeking more material from the office of Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, it has been delayed until at least mid-April. In an embarrassing development for Mr Bragg, the prosecutors themselves backed Mr Trumps request, as it emerged there had been a clash between local and federal officials relating to an earlier investigation in the case in 2018 that focused on Michael Cohen, Mr Trumps former personal lawyer. Cohen had previously pleaded guilty to improperly making payments to Ms Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Mr Trump before the 2016 election. Trump has three Georgia counts dismissed In Atlanta, Georgia, Mr Trumps efforts to dismiss a case about allegedly pressuring officials to lie about the results of the 2020 election to his benefit have not been successful. He has had three out of the 13 counts he faced dismissed, but not the central charge of the racketeering indictment. This week, Mr Trump had another partial success when a judge said that Fani Willis, the prosecutor, can only continue on the case if she removes a lawyer, Nathan Wade, whom she appointed to lead the prosecution. A court has been hearing testimony about a private relationship between Ms Wills and Mr Wade that Mr Trumps lawyers claimed amounted to a conflict of interest. A judge disagreed, but scolded Ms Willis for displaying poor judgment and Mr Wade resigned on Friday. Mr Trumps supporters say her reputation is now damaged. Another outcome is that Mr Trumps case has been delayed as a result of the own goal by prosecutors. The prosecution has proposed an Aug 5 start, but that is likely to be pushed back. Prof Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional law expert and professor at Georgia State University, said: Its not implausible to say that well have a September trial or an October trial perhaps. But I wouldnt bet any money on a timeline. Supreme Court wrangling has delayed federal trials There is also uncertainty about the two federal cases Mr Trump faces - one relating to his alleged holding on to classified documents and one relating to his role in alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. The latter case was due to have begun this month with special counsel Jack Smith last year saying the prosecutions were intended to show a commitment to the rule of law. We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone, he said when the two federal cases were brought. Mr Trump has sought to have both thrown out, most recently by arguing he had immunity to prosecution in his former position as president. He has now included this as part of his speech to voters and in regular posts on social media. A president of the United States must have full immunity, without which it would be impossible for him/her to properly function, he wrote in January. Even if the Supreme Court throws out Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution, his trials could be significantly delayed - GETTY IMAGES The Supreme Court has agreed to look into the issue and re-examine a ruling by lower courts that found he did not have immunity, with oral arguments set to begin on April 25. The justices earlier declined a request from the prosecutors to speedily rule on the matter. That means the Supreme Court may not issue a decision until the end of June. Even if the top court rules in favour of Mr Smith and not the former president - which most experts think it will - the original election case has already been pushed back from its original start date of March 4 by judge Tanya Chutkan. She has said she will wait for the Supreme Court ruling and that it will take an estimated 88 days to get ready for trial after that is issued. In the classified documents case, US District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled this week against the former presidents claim that the Espionage Act did not apply to the facts of his case. At the moment, the start date is May 20, but both the prosecution and defence have asked for that to be pushed back. The special counsel has offered July 8 as a rescheduled start, while Mr Trumps lawyers have said the earliest they would be ready to begin is August. Judge Cannon, a Trump appointee, has not shown any inclination to move proceedings along more quickly than required. Prof Susan Estrich, of the University of Southern California School of Law, said it remained unclear whether Mr Trump would actually begin any of his cases before election day. Anyone who says they know the answer to that question is just speculating, she said. It really depends on the Supreme Court and what it does with the immunity case. Under US law, nobody can be involved in multiple criminal trials at the same time. While Mr Braggs case looks the most likely to be ready, he has said he will defer to Mr Smith in the DC election case if the special counsel gets a green light and the Supreme Court decides Mr Trump does not have immunity. Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for Mr Trumps 2024 campaign, said: The truth about all of the Biden-led witch hunts against President Trump is slowly being revealed, and President Trump remains laser focused on winning in November to make America great again. 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. For years, iPhone users have been saddled with an unusual feature: The popular Apple smartphone used a proprietary cable, called the Lightning cable, for charging. By the 2020s, most manufacturers of comparable devices had switched to a universal standard, USB-C. Even some other Apple devicesincluding the iPad, which in many ways resembles an oversized iPhonemoved to the common USB-C. But the iPhone remained stubbornly attached to its Apple-specific cord. Inevitably, this caused headaches and complications for some iPhone users, even those fully ensconced in the ecosystem of Apple devices. What if you want to borrow a friend's charging cable and that friend uses an Android phone? What if you're also lugging around an iPad? How many charging cords does one person really need to carry? But the iPhone 15, released in 2023, uses the USB-C port for chargingin Europe, the U.S., and everywhere else. Starting with this model, Apple customers won't have to worry about what type of phone their friends have when asking to borrow a charger. This change didn't come from a new innovation or from consumer demands. It was mandated by European regulators. In September 2021, the European Commission proposed a common charger regulation, claiming it was appropriate to reduce electronic waste and consumer frustration. The proposal was passed in 2022, and the mandate goes into effect in 2024. This might sound like a boon for users. But in the long term, this sort of rule threatens to thwart future innovation by locking tech companies into government-determined feature sets that can be updated or improved only with regulatory approval. Rules like this turn bureaucrats into product designers. The charging rules are a symptom of a larger problem. E.U. bureaucrats' "regulate-first" approach has been spreading beyond Europe's borders to impact American companies and American consumers. Unfortunately, many American policy makers seem to be looking to Europe as a model. A Rising Wave of E.U. Regulation Many Americans first experienced the impact of the European regulatory approach in May 2018, when they started noticing more click-through requirements to accept cookies and updated privacy policies. All those annoying security pop-ups and repeated notice of updates to terms of service on websites were the direct result of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an E.U. policy that required companies to adopt specific practices around interactions with user data and users' rights related to those data. The GDPR didn't just bring a bunch of annoying pop-ups, it also caused huge corporate compliance costs. When the GDPR went into effect in 2018, companies reported spending an average of $1.3 million on compliance costs. A Pricewaterhouse-Coopers survey found that 40 percent of global companies spent over $10 million in initial compliance. These weren't one-time costs; some companies spend millions annually to comply. Unsurprisingly, some organizations decided to pull out of the E.U. market entirely rather than comply with these rules. Others chose to deploy these changes all around the world rather than try to tailor compliance to the European Union. In other words, they treated the E.U.'s rules as global requirements. This is a common result of tech regulations: Laws passed in one region end up affecting citizens located in other areas as companies standardize practices. Consider the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a European regulation that went into effect in 2022. Under this law, regulators can put additional restrictions on otherwise legal business practices for companies labeled "gatekeepers." In September 2023, regulators gave six companiesAlphabet (the parent company of Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok), Meta (the parent company of Facebook), and Microsoftthe gatekeeper label. Notably, five of these six companies are American, and none are European. Meta and ByteDance have challenged their designation as gatekeepers, while Microsoft and Google have announced they do not plan to challenge the change. The DMA's rules aren't yet finalized. But they could keep companies stuck with the gatekeeper designation from prioritizing their own products or services, and they might impose restrictions on messaging and advertising. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is another European regulation that could significantly change the way users experience the internet both in Europe and beyond. The DSA was part of a legislative package with the DMA, but it's focused on disinformation and supposedly harmful online content. The law gives regulators more power to require that online platforms respond to their requests for information about content moderation actions and speakers and even allow regulators to mandate takedowns. Even prior to the DSA, European governments had far greater ability to intervene in moderation decisions than U.S. officials, who are mostly limited to making nonbinding requests. In contrast, companies subject to the DSA risk fines of up to 6 percent of their annual turnover. Europe also adopted an AI Act in December. While E.U. bureaucrats trumpeted the law as the "first of its kind," that's not something to brag about. The regulation will create a series of stringent requirements on various artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. If there's good news, it is that some nations in Europe, including Germany, France, and Italy, are pushing for AI self-regulation instead. Although they probably won't stop new AI controls completely, their objections could at least reduce the regulatory burden that AI companies face and signal awareness of the impact such regulations can have on innovation. Europe seems committed to forcing innovators to prove to regulators that a technology will not cause harm rather than making rules designed to stop proven harms. This approach to regulationsometimes described as "the precautionary principle"presumes a technology is guilty until it is proven innocent. Europe's Tech Policy Isn't Just About Europe In 2015, President Barack Obama applauded U.S. technological success and warned that European lawmakers were trying to use regulation to hamstring American business. "We have owned the internet," he told Recode. "Our companies have created it, expanded it, perfected it in ways that they can't compete. And oftentimes what is portrayed as high-minded positions on issues sometimes is just designed to carve out some of their commercial interests." He cast European regulation as a way to "set up some roadblocks for our companies to operate effectively there." Obama isn't the only American leader to worry publicly about the E.U.'s overreach. In 2019, President Donald Trump said, "Every week you see them going after Facebook and Apple and all of these companies.They think there's a monopoly, but I'm not sure that they think that. They just think this is easy money." In 2022, a bipartisan group of senators warned that the DMA and DSA, "as currently drafted, will unfairly disadvantage U.S. firms to the benefit of not just European companies, but also powerful state-owned and subsidized Chinese and Russian companies, which would have negative impacts on internet users' privacy, security and free speech." Such concerns are far from misguided. Remember, five of the six designated gatekeepers under the DMA are American. Similarly, the DSA designated 19 companies as "very large online platforms" or "very large search engines" subject to increased regulatory scrutiny and specific requirements within the areas they are deemed potential gatekeepers. Of the 19 companies slapped with a "very large" designation, 15 are American and only two are European. At times, some of these regulations seem constructed in such a way to directly target American companieswhile giving a boost to the few European companies that might otherwise be subject to their regulations. Global Consequences This growing array of requirements could have unintended consequences for how products function far beyond Europeand how we can use them to speak online. Supporters of the GDPR claimed the law would preserve privacy and online safety. But some E.U. tech rules could actually make software and devices less safe. For example, requiring platforms to allow third-party payment processors or "side loading"essentially installing software that isn't explicitly authorized by the phone or operating system manufactureris intended to level the playing field for smaller competitors. But making devices and software more open to third-party modification could also make them vulnerable to hacking. The likely global reach of these rules would mean those vulnerabilities wouldn't be limited to Europe. More rules on product design, meanwhile, could produce a chilling effect on new tech. Companies may be less likely to try new products or privacy tactics that might not comply with European regulations if they know that will foreclose a big market. Even an innovation that improves privacy and cybersecurity might struggle to comply with GDPR requirements designed with a different model in mind. It is not just innovation and security that are at risk. Americans may soon find themselves subject to European bureaucrats' norms when it comes to free speech. Already, many European and Latin American countries have created laws governing hate speech or harmful content. These laws are likely to result in more aggressive takedowns by social media companies, especially on hot-button political issues. If tech companies decide to enforce a single global standard for community guidelines, American internet users will end up communicating in online spaces where the rules were designed to comply with foreign hate speech laws that aren't restrained by the First Amendment's protections. What Not To Do in Tech Policy While some American officials have criticized these E.U. regulations, others have seen them as an opportunity to argue that the U.S. should change its own approach. A growing number of American policy makers are looking to Europe as an exampleor even actively collaborating with E.U. tech regulators. In March 2023, the Federal Trade Commission sent officials to Brussels to aid in implementing and enforcing the DMA. At the same time, the agency has taken an increasingly aggressive approach domestically, attempting to enforce antitrust standards that resemble Europe's by waging a yearslong legal campaign against mergers in the tech sector. (This campaign has failed repeatedly in U.S. courts.) Some policy makers have directly applauded the European approach. In June 2022, Sens. Ed Markey (DMass.), Bernie Sanders (IVt.), and Elizabeth Warren (DMass.) sent a letter asking the secretary of commerce to "restore the sanity" and follow the E.U. in requiring a universal charger for smartphones and certain other electronic devices. Meanwhile, European regulators seem eager to gain a greater foothold in the United States. The E.U. has opened an office in San Francisco to promote compliance with its technology regulations, a move that seems to more than just tacitly acknowledge that these regulations will have a big impact on American companies. The stakes are high. A 2022 study found that 16 percent of European companies would be willing to switch to a Chinese tech provider due to anticipated cost increases from the DMA. Others might turn to providers that are not subject to the regulations but provide inferior products either in quality or security. These policies would punish successful American companies while benefiting those of more questionable regimes. The U.S. needs to be an alternative to such heavy-handed controls. It should stick with the relatively hands-off approach that has helped make America a global leader in tech. In 1996, when the modern internet was in its infancy, Congress made clear it was the policy of the United States "to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet and other interactive computer services, unfettered by Federal or State regulation." As Rep. Christopher Cox (RCalif.) said at the time, America does "not wish to have a Federal Computer Commission with an army of bureaucrats regulating the Internet because, frankly, the Internet has grown up to be what it is without that kind of help from the Government." Similarly, the Clinton administration's Framework for Global Electronic Commerce not only described the potential benefits of the internet for global commerce but criticized the consequences of overregulation by declaring that the internet is presumed free. This nonregulatory position allowed the internet to flourish without tight constraints. "For this potential to be realized fully, governments must adopt a non-regulatory, market-oriented approach to electronic commerce, one that facilitates the emergence of a transparent and predictable legal environment to support global business and commerce," read the Clinton report. "Official decision makers must respect the unique nature of the medium and recognize that widespread competition and increased consumer choice should be the defining features of the new digital marketplace." Further, it cautioned that governments could "by their actionsfacilitate electronic trade or inhibit it." This approach told innovators and investors they were free to try. It is miles from what we're seeing from politicians eager to crack down on tech companies today. What's Really at Risk We have a new iPhone charger now. For some users, it might be more convenient. But consider what would have happened if this decision had been made a decade earlier. In 2012, smartphones were still evolving. Apple used cumbersome 30-pin chargers for their phones. Other companies used older USB options, such as micro- and mini-USB, which were clunky in different ways. When the Lightning cable arrived, it was faster, smaller, more durable, and more physically secure. It offered an improved user experience relative to the other options, which in turn spurred adoption of the USB-C standard. A more regulated marketplace might have stopped this development in its tracks, letting bureaucrats who prioritize uniformity over all else decide on a single standard rather than letting the market evolve. The debate about European tech regulations and their ripple effects on American companies and consumers is often framed in terms of safety or privacy or the consumer experience. But at heart, it's about a much simpler question: Who gets to design the futurethe government, or innovators? The post Don't Let E.U. Bureaucrats Design Americans' Tech appeared first on Reason.com. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Downtown Las Vegas businesses said they are concerned after a nearby property was shut down due to crime in the area. Edna Nettles who lives at the Travelers Bed and Breakfast is doing all she can to keep it together after Las Vegas Metropolitan police shut down the property last week. We call Metro police when we see a crime in the area and they automatically put that stigma on us, that were the bad guys Nettles shared. We cant help what goes on outside the walls. We can only help what goes on inside, she added. 8 News Now spoke with property owner, Hope Kwon regarding the recent matter. She told 8 News Now that the city stated that her business is a hub for illegal activity and they want to shut it down permanently for the safety of its community members, and business owners nearby agreed. I would like it shut down. I feel like it would clean up the area around here if it were gone, Samvel Sardaryan, Owner of Pops Automotive shared. The Travelers Bed and Breakfast even posted a drug-free zone sign on its premises, but business owner, Destiny Andrade told 8 News Now she has heard from homeless individuals directly that drug deals are going on inside there. When you see people leave out of there, I dont know what they are doing and then you see the same people acting out of whack, like an hour later, Sardaryan added. Across the way, over at Horse Trailer Hideout, owner Marissa Pretkus said ever since the police came, shes seen a change for the better. I feel like once it was shut down, weve seen a huge cleanup in the area, Pretkus said. I do believe as a community, we need to come together to make sure problems dont arise. A full report will be presented at the next city council meeting on Wednesday. It will also be a time for those with the Travelers Bed and Breakfast to plead their case and fight for their property. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Dr. Elizabeth Rule credits the Chickasaw Nation for introducing her to Washington, D.C., as part of its summer internship program, as well as supporting her as she completed her undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies. These forms of assistance eventually led her to move to the nations capital where, as assistant professor of critical race, gender and culture studies at American University, she noticed a glaring deficiency. There were no mentions of the important contributions made by First Americans in the numerous famous landmarks for which the city is famous. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. I really wanted to highlight the contributions we have made, Rule said. I wanted to show that native people are both historical and contemporary, that were cultural but also political and, most importantly, to shine a light on history that is often overlooked. Her solution was to create Guide to Indigenous DC, an app to be installed on portable electronic devices as a way of filling in neglected gaps of information about selected sites in the nations capital. In total, there are 17 sites I include in the application. Some are artistic sites, some sites are where moments of activism have happened and some are actual landmarks, she said. Since then, Rule has expanded her work, developing Guide to Indigenous Baltimore and Guide to Indigenous Maryland. Georgetown University Press recently published her first book, Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the Nations Capital in April 2023. It is an expansion upon the Indigenous DC mobile application, she said. It is also an award winner, having earned the Association for Ethnic Studies Outstanding Book Award in 2023. Among others, her book has garnered academic praise from Kyle T. Mays, (Black/Saginaw Chippewa) associate professor, departments of African American studies, American Indian studies, and history, University of California, Los Angeles. Sitting at the intersection of Indigenous studies, critical geography, and digital humanities, Dr. Rule has written a well-researched and transdisciplinary book, demonstrating how Indigenous peoples have a past, presence, and future in the nations capital, Mays wrote. Her second book, Reproducing Resistance: Gendered Violence and Indigenous Nationhood, received the Julien Mezey Award for best dissertation from the Association for the Study of Law, Culture, and the Humanities in 2020. Rule is currently in her second year of a three-year Social Impact Fellowship Residency with the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where she is writing a television screenplay titled, Moon Time. I have presented live table readings of the pilot episode of Moon Time at the Kennedy Center and at the National Gallery of Art, she said. I recently went on leave from American University to begin a new political appointment, Rule said. She did so upon being appointed to New York Governor Kathy Hochuls Executive Chamber, making her the first deputy secretary for First Nations in the history of the state. It is a policymaking position dedicated to the support of Indigenous self-determination and well-being. I look forward to working with Indigenous Nations on topics ranging from health, education and environment to land, economic development and more, she said. All these issues are central to Indigenous Nations exercise of sovereignty and self-determination. Rule earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her masters and doctorate in American studies from Brown University. Rule is frequently called upon as guest speaker to address members of, among others, the United Nations Association, United States State Department, U.S. embassies and the National Gallery of Art. Sir Iain Livingstone, 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 For a quarter of a century now, this country has indulged in a culture of official inquiries and reports into the war in Northern Ireland, at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds. This month, Jon Boutcher published the latest, an interim report of his Operation Kenova investigation into the agent known as Stakeknife. It caused a certain amount of media attention largely because of Boutchers claim that the infamous double-agent inside the IRA may in fact have cost more lives than he saved. But there has also rightly been criticism that the entire report is based on the premise that the security apparatus of the British state may have failed to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights Article Two right to life obligations. Having had an opportunity to go through the 212-page report in detail, I would suggest not only that there is much wrong with it, but that it exemplifies a thoroughly misguided approach. Firstly, because, like all such inquiries, the dice are loaded from the beginning. Lord Savilles inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday famously took over a decade to produce and cost around 200 million. After my book on that inquiry was published, a number of government officials assured me that, comprehensive though the Saville report was, it had reassured them that the culture of inquiries should end. It didnt. In 2010, there was the inquiry into the 1997 killing of Billy Wright in the Maze prison. Coming in at a mere 30 million of costs, the inquiry could not even address such central questions as how the guns used in the killing got into the prison. The family were not happy, and nothing significant was revealed. Since then we have also had the Rosemary Nelson inquiry (46.5 million) and the Robert Hamill inquiry (32.6 million). So what do we get for this? As usual with such reports, the team behind Operation Kenova decide to start from the very beginning. Boutchers report takes 163 pages to really even begin. Along the way, we are treated to such things as a five page brief history of the conflict, endless, repetitious passages about the families of the victims, and overviews of practical obstacles to the inquirys work. Once the actual subject of the report emerges, it provides almost nothing. Boutcher does not even confirm that Freddie Scappaticci who died last year, and was named as the agent over 20 years ago was Stakeknife. Nor does he identify any of the victims of the head of the IRAs internal nutting squad (the IRA unit dedicated to questioning, torturing and killing alleged informers). Boutcher comes to a few conclusions, but few of his workings are made clear. There is little to no fresh insight into the Force Research Unit (the shadowy organisation tasked with handling agents in Northern Ireland) and no obviously useful recommendations. His main conclusions are perhaps inevitably critical of this countrys various security agencies. But his advice is so thin as to be either useless or purest, peacetime hindsight. For instance on the matter of agent-handling, he concludes that The state has a duty under Article 2 to conduct an effective formal investigation of any suspected wrongful killings and this duty is enhanced in cases where state agents may have been responsible for perpetrating or failing to prevent the death. There are at least three main problems with this. The first is the obvious fact that none of this is useful in conflict. Especially not in a conflict against a terrorist organisation which hid among civilians, killed and intimidated anyone they liked and then got away with it. The second is that the Stakeknife inquiry, like all the other costly and high profile legacy investigations to date, largely focuses on failures of the British state during a war. Everyone knows the answer to this complaint which is that the state is expected to be held to a better standard than a terrorist group. But if that equation once held true, it no longer does. Sinn Fein the political wing of the IRA has been in government in Northern Ireland since the return of power to Stormont and is a political force in the Republic of Ireland. One of those Boutcher spoke with for his inquiry (though to no evident effect) was Gerry Kelly, former member of the Provisional IRA. At the time Boutcher spoke with Kelly, he was spokesperson for policing and member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. There is nobody in government in the UK with any connection to Stakeknife. There are plenty of people still at the top of Sinn Fein and in positions of influence in Northern Ireland with personal knowledge and involvement in killings during the Troubles. Still, the main failing of the report is indeed Boutchers insistence that even a dirty war in the past ought to have been fought under the standards of Article 2 of the ECHR. Personally, I am amazed that this claim is still being made. It is now 23 years since the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled against this country in the case of Kelly and others vs UK. That case related to an IRA unit of eight men who were killed in 1987 in Loughgall. They were killed by the SAS as they were advancing to a police station with guns and a primed bomb. More than a decade after their relatives were killed, the families of the dead terrorists took the British government to the court in Strasbourg, which ruled that the ECHRs Article 2 right to life had not been observed. The court ordered the British government to pay 10,000 of compensation to the families of each of the dead terrorists. Now the UK faces yet another investigation into the killing of lawyer Pat Finucane. This will be another costly and doubtless unilluminating mess. And we can of course expect no such inquiry into Finucanes activities as a member of the IRA. A fact that was revealed by this paper 21 years ago. Until the Stakeknife report, it was clear that the culture of inquiries was not just expensive but exceptionally one-sided. We can now add un-informative to the list of complaints. Douglas Murray is the author of Bloody Sunday: Truths, Lies and the Saville Inquiry 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 embedded content is not available in your region. Egypt's Al-Ahram Studio, which is one of the oldest in the world, has been destroyed in a fire. It took hours for firefighters to get the blaze under control and several buildings near the studio in Cairo's Giza district had to be evacuated. Emergency services treated people at the scene for smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The studio was founded in 1944. Several films and TV series were produced there and broadcast across the world. The studio contains three production stages, a screening room and an editing suite. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited the site alongside other officials to assess the damage. According to local media reports, the fire broke out 24 hours after the production company had finished filming its Ramadan TV series. Firefighters try to extinguish a fire at bulding near Al-Ahram Studio in Giza, Egypt, 16 March 2024. AFP reports that residents in neighbouring buildings were still sleeping on the ground in nearby streets at dawn on Saturday. The fire damaged the facades of seven buildings. In a statement reported by Arab News, the prime minister announced compensation for affected families. The statistical dead heat in Sacramento Countys most-watched race is quickly solidifying. While a November runoff is all but expected, the top two candidates have become clearer. The latest results released Friday afternoon, 10 days after the primary showed Flojaune Cofer increased her lead over her top rivals, and Assemblyman Kevin McCarty moved up to the second spot in what was a four-way race when the polls closed. Here are the percentages each candidate had following the latest tally: Flojaune Cofer with 28.28% of the vote Kevin McCarty, 21.81% Richard Pan, 21.63% Steve Hansen, 21.24% While McCarty, who served on the City Council for 10 years before being elected to the Legislature in 2014, grabbed roughly 5,000 new votes in the latest tally, he was outpaced by Cofer, who pulled in more than 8,740 votes since the previous update on Tuesday. That was nearly double the votes gained by Pan and Hansen each. Still, the race for second place remains tight 531 votes separate McCarty from Hansen and only 162 votes separate McCarty from Pan, who led the race immediately after the polls closed March 5. Nearly 93,000 mayoral ballots have been counted in the six-person race, and the number of uncounted city ballots is estimated by Political Data Inc. to be roughly 7,500 votes. Election officials said Friday that about 27,000 votes countywide remain uncounted. PDI founder Paul Mitchell said Friday it was too soon to declare who would face Cofer in Novembers runoff. In the 4th City Council District race to represent the central city and East Sacramento, Phil Pluckebaum remains in the lead with 53% over Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela who is at 44%. If the trend holds, Pluckebaum could win the seat outright, avoiding a November runoff. 6th District Councilman Eric Guerra has reached well over that 50% plus one threshold with 67.39%, avoiding a runoff with second-place Kevin Rooney (15%) In the City Councils 2nd District race to succeed former Councilman Sean Loloee, Roger Dickinson is still leading with 45% followed by Stephen Walton with 16% and Kim Davie at 10.68%. A runoff with Dickinson is likely, based on Bee projections. The races to decide winners in the other city races will take place during the Nov. 5 election for president. Sacramento Measure C But the local measure to help shore up Sacramentos budget shortfall with an increase on business and professional taxes is likely to fail. Sacramento voters continued to oppose by 3 to 2 the city-backed Measure C, aimed at increasing tax rates for the first time since 1991 and would have raised about $3.7 million in the first year and an estimated $6 million in its fifth fiscal year. City officials have said most businesses would have received a tax drop and major corporations would instead be liable for coughing up more money. The initiative singled out categories of professionals such as lawyers, surgeons, dentists, architects and others to be responsible for higher rates no matter their annual earnings. Fridays results showed 61% of voters in the city voting down the initiative, which requires a simple majority. Ballot returns since Election Night have been consistently rejecting Measure C by the same margin. Sacramento County 4th District Board of Supervisors race Folsom City Councilwoman Rosario Rodriguez increased her lead to nearly 52% of the vote in her three-way race for the 4th District seat on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the updated returns showed. If her lead holds, Rodriguez would win outright, avoiding a November runoff. The outgoing supervisor, Sue Frost, said in July that she would not run for re-election for the district, which includes Citrus Heights, Folsom, Orangevale, Antelope, Rio Linda, Elverta, Gold River, Rancho Murieta, North Highlands, Carmichael, Foothill Farms and Fair Oaks. Rodriguez, a conservative, was endorsed by Frost. Rodriguez ran against political newcomer and registered Democrat Braden Murphy and the conservative Citrus Heights Mayor Bret Daniels. Daniels had 26% of the vote in Fridays updated results; Murphy had 22%. The Board of Supervisors controls a nearly $9 billion budget and oversees the agencies that provide health and human services for all county residents. The supervisors also preside over the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office and the two county jails. If Rodriguez is elected, it would maintain the conservative trend in the northeast corner of the county. The next batch of election results in Sacramento County is expected to be released Tuesday. Sacramento County races and measures Source: Sacramento County Registrar of Voters Source: Sacramento County Registrar of Voters Placer County races and measures Source: Placer County Registrar of Voters Source: Placer County Registrar of Voters El Dorado County races Source: El Dorado County elections office Yolo County races, measures and recall Source: Yolo County elections office Source: Yolo County elections office The Bees Theresa Clift contributed to this story. ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Members of the executive council of the African Union Commission (AUC) have discussed election modalities to choose the body's new senior leadership. The discussion took place on Friday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, during the 22nd extraordinary session of the executive council. Senior officials, including Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the AU Commission, were present. Speaking on the occasion, chairperson of the executive council of the AUC Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug underscored the need to strengthen the AU institutions to help the commission fully discharge its responsibilities and accelerate Africa's integration. "The process of selecting leadership of the AUC in 2025 should be defined by prioritizing considerations of cohesion, equity, rationality, and a spirit of consensus," said Merzoug, also Mauritania's minister for foreign affairs. The 2025-2028 election of senior leadership for the AUC will take place in February next year. New AUC leaders are expected to succeed the incumbent chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners. "Our vision for the future of our continent is intricately linked to our fervent belief in the African Union, a union that cannot exist without us, by us, and for us," said the chairperson, noting that a strong AU cannot be materialized without the deep commitment of its member states. The AU's senior leadership is elected to serve a four-year term, with the option for re-election for another four-year term. The senior elective posts include the position of the African Union Commission chairperson, the deputy chairperson and six commissioners. According to a statement released late Friday by the AU, the executive council also discussed the modalities of regional rotation and gender parity to ensure all five regions of the AU have a fair chance of having leadership roles at the continental organization. TWO RIVERS, Wis. - As the search for 3-year-old Elijah Vue continues, police announced a vigil has been planned for Saturday, March 16. The Two Rivers Police Department said it followed up on numerous tips and leads this week for the boy missing since February. Searches were completed in wetlands, rural areas, the West Twin River and a farm waste container. Saturday's vigil will be held at Walsh Field in Two Rivers at 6:30 p.m. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Have you seen him? Authorities said Vue's caregiver last saw him at 8 a.m. at his home on Tuesday, Feb. 20 near 39th and Mishicot in Two Rivers. He was last seen wearing gray sweatpants, a long-sleeved, dark-colored shirt, and red-and-green dinosaur slip-on shoes. Vue, who is of Hmong descent, is described as 3 feet tall and 45 pounds with sandy hair and brown eyes. Officials said he has a birthmark on his left knee. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 844-267-6648 or 920-686-7200. You can also submit a tip through the FBI website, or to Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers through the P3 app. Katrina Baur and Jesse Vang in Manitowoc County Court (virtually) on Monday, Feb. 26. Katrina Baur, 31, was bound over for trial on Thursday. She is charged with chronic neglect of a child, neglecting a child and two misdemeanor counts of resisting/obstructing an officer. A preliminary hearing for 39-year-old Jesse Vang, also charged with neglecting a child, was postponed on Thursday. Prosecutors said Baur would send Vue to Vang for disciplinary purposes because she wanted him to teach her son "to be a man." Rewards offered Rewards in the search for Vue have risen to a combined $40,000. The Two Rivers Police Department on Monday, March 11 announced the city has raised $15,000 in reward money through community donations. Donations to that reward fund are still being accepted. The donation-driven reward is in addition to two other rewards already announced for information in the case. There is an FBI reward of up to $15,000, and a Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers reward of up to $10,000. ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) An Elmira man was indicted on an attempted murder charge and weapon charges in connection to a drive-by scooter shooting that happened in Downtown Elmira this past fall. A Chemung County Grand Jury indicted Reginald McBride, 26, on the charges of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in March 2024. He is currently being held at the Chemung County Jail. McBrides indictment followed a multiple-month-long investigation into a shooting that injured one person. Shooting blocks parts of downtown Elmira, one person injured According to the Elmira Police Department, McBride allegedly shot another man on the 200 block of West Water Street at about 11 a.m. on Nov. 27. A police investigation determined that McBride was riding a motorized mini-bike when he shot at the victim on the sidewalk. The shooting victim was located in critical condition and was taken to a local hospital via ambulance after receiving emergency medical care at the scene. Search for drive-by scooter shooter in downtown Elmira Police say that they established that McBride was a suspect through an investigation, and McBride and the victim knew each other. The Elmira Police Department searched a Southside address later in the day on Nov. 27 after getting a search warrant. The officers who searched the home found evidence of a shooting and sent it to the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center for analysis. The Chemung County Sheriffs Office, the New York State Police Department, the West Elmira Police Department, the Elmira Fire Department, and Erway Ambulance assisted the Elmira Police Department at the scene of the shooting and during the subsequent investigation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. About 70 firefighters battled the blaze in Erith, which started in a flat on the second floor Two people have been rescued from a London block of flats after a fire broke out. Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters battled the blaze inside a flat on the second floor in Sun Court, Erith at 09:20 GMT, the London Fire Brigade said. Five people were treated by the London Ambulance Service at the scene. It was brought under control at about 11:35 and the cause was under investigation, the fire service said. In a statement, the brigade said: "Half of a two-roomed flat on the second floor of a residential block was alight. "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued two people from the building and assisted further residents to safety." 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 The wife of the Brooklyn subway rider who went off the rails during Thursdays commute and ended up shot in the head told The Post on Friday she dumped him last year because he was becoming too aggressive. Lisa Sweat, the estranged spouse of unhinged armed straphanger DaJuan Robinson, 36, said her husband had been a construction worker who didnt exhibit any mental issues when they were together but that she had to give him the boot because he changed. He didnt have any mental issues. We were good when we were good, Sweat said from her Staten Island home. Dajuan Robinson is accused of going on a rampage and ending up shot in the head with his own gun. Then the last couple of months, he just got aggressive with me, and I let him go, she said of Robinson who Mayor Eric Adams and top cops said was clearly exhibiting signs of mental illness during Thursdays rampage. Robinson was accused of pushing his wife and throwing something at their TV in November 2022 when she failed to say hi as he entered their Staten Island home, law-enforcement sources said. At the time, cops were told Robinson had previously been seen with a gun a few months earlier, but it was unclear what the outcome of the report was. A month earlier, he had been accused of cutting the cords to the familys washing machine, dishwasher and electric grill during a fit, sources said. Robinson attacked a stranger on the subway before being shot, according to cops and video. That was at the end of our relationship and yes, that was only when he was drinking, Sweat said of domestic incidents between the pair. Those couple of times was because of the drinking, and that was my last straw. He gets aggressive when he gets mad. Its only when hes drinking. Thats the only problem, Sweat said. He mightve been drinking Thursday, she said. Thats the only thing I can think of that can make him like that. Robinson had entered the subway system illegally in Brooklyn before the evening rush and targeted a straphanger on a crowded A-train, taunting the stranger, displaying a knife and finally whipping out a handgun as chaos ensued, according to cops and video. Law-enforcement sources told The Post on Friday that Robinson appeared to have been harassing the stranger because he wrongly thought the 32-year-old man, Younece Obuad, was a recent migrant. As the pair scuffled, Obuad ended up shooting Robinson four times with his own gun, including through the eye, leaving him critical. Prosecutors declined Friday to prosecute Obuad, saying it was a case of self-defense. Robinsons wife said she was shocked to hear of her estranged husbands behavior. Thats not the Daquan that I know, Sweat said. I just cant believe it unbelievable to me, said the wife, describing herself as a military vet who served in Iraq and is now working as a bartender and waitress at Applebees. He didnt carry guns when he was with me. We didnt do that, she said. He was working construction. We were in the shelter together. We came up, we got an apartment. We did what we had to do. Then he kind of changed a little bit. But hes not a bad dude, hes not a bad guy. I would have never seen this coming, Sweat said. He was never on medication. Im so upset The detectives came to my house. I didnt know why they were coming here weve been separated for a year now. Last time we spoke, it wasnt a bad conversation, she said, adding that the pair had no children. He was like, I hope you alright, and that was it. That was like last year. Its been a while since Ive spoke to him. I saw it on the news, I saw the videos. This is crazy. Hes not a bad person, thats not the person I know. Robinsons mother died from cancer a few months ago, one of her neighbors told The Post. She said Robinson lived on and off at his mothers house over the years and would take her to doctors appointments. He wasnt that nice of a person, said the neighbor. You would talk to him and hed say mean things. I felt like he had a mental problem or something. Other than that, I didnt know too much about him. The neighbor, who said she would try to avoid Robinson, recalled cops being called to his moms house a couple of times but wasnt sure why. Additional reporting by Steven Vago The EU is increasing pressure on European buyers to limit purchases of Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) in 2024, Bloomberg reported on March 16, citing EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. Western countries imposed extensive sanctions against Russian fossil fuels after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine to undermine one of Moscow's chief revenue sources. While the flow of Russian pipeline gas into the EU dropped in 2022, several European countries saw record purchases of Russian LNG last year. The EU has not imposed any restrictions on buying LNG from Russia. "My message was that this year must bring further disengagement from Russian exports," Simson told Bloomberg following an EU-U.S. Energy Council meeting in Washington. "In the EU, we are progressively building up pressure on European players to reduce Russian LNG purchases, and here again confidence in U.S. supplies is important." The U.S. plays an important role in the EU's plan to phase out Russian gas by 2027, being its leading LNG supplier, followed by Qatar and Russia. According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, half of Russian LNG exports between December 2022 and October 2023 were directed to the EU market. To reduce the flow of Russian LNG, the EU is preparing to allow member states to ban Russian and Belarusian companies from buying capacities in their gas pipelines and LNG terminals, the Financial Times wrote. Several countries, such as Latvia and Lithuania, have already stopped buying LNG from Russia. Finland said it would also impose an import ban in 2025. Read also: Opinion: Europe has a Russian fossil fuel addiction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine will receive 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) from the European Union through its four-year Ukraine Facility program next week, Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, announced on March 15. "Very glad to pave the way for next weeks first disbursement of funds under the Ukraine facility," Johannes Hahn said on X (formerly Twitter). "We stand with Ukraine and invest by this also into our security. A lot of money, yet nothing compared to the Ukrainian peoples sacrifices for Europe." Kyiv is set to receive an additional 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to come over the next months. The European Union Council on Feb. 28 greenlit a substantial aid package of 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in loans and grants earmarked for Kyiv, marking the formal adoption of the Ukraine Facility tool. This financial support spans from 2024 to 2027, comprising 33 billion euros ($35.8 billion) in loans and 17 billion euros ($18.5 billion) in grants. Following prolonged opposition from Hungary, European leaders reached a consensus during a summit on Feb. 1 to endorse the four-year financial assistance plan for Kyiv. The European Parliament ratified the decision on Feb. 27. Among the allocations, 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) are designated for migration and border management, 7.6 billion euros ($8.2 billion) for neighborhood and international relations, 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion) for the European Defense Fund, 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) for the flexibility instrument, and 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion) for Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve. "Grateful for the huge support, which paves the way for prevail and comprehensive recovery of Ukraine," Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said. In 2023, Ukraine secured $42.5 billion in external financing, with $11.6 billion constituting non-refundable grants, according to the data provided by the Finance Ministry on Feb. 19. Foreign aid is crucial for Ukraine as the economic pressure caused by the full-scale Russian invasion grows. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 20, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian authorities continue evacuations of communities in the northeastern Sumy Oblast close to the Russian border after Moscow intensified its attacks against the region, local officials said on March 15. Over 180 residents from areas adjacent to the Velyka Pysarivka community have been evacuated. The town of Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of about 4,000, experienced the bulk of the attacks on March 15 with 208 explosions reported in the area. The community is located directly on the Ukraine-Russia border. Authorities in Sumy have long been issuing daily reports of Russian shelling, but the attacks have intensified in recent weeks. In the past five days, three people were killed and 13 were wounded, including five children, in the Velyka Pysarivka community, local administration said via Telegram. During the early hours of March 6, a drone strike launched by Russian forces in Sumy resulted in four injured individuals and inflicted damage on numerous residences, schools, and medical facilities. Another assault on March 7 claimed the lives of two people and left 26 others wounded, with six civilians requiring hospitalization. The administration said a total of more than 4,500 residents, including 829 children, had been evacuated from 22 villages in Sumy Oblast, but gave no time frame. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 20, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The parents of a woman with mental health problems who died have called for families to have more of a voice. Evangeline Wilson, 24, was found dead at her Bristol home in 2022 while on a "period of short leave" from a hospital in London where she was being treated. A coroner conducting the inquest into her death said she died of cardiac failure due to morphine toxicity. Her mother Sally Watson said: "We were parents to a young vulnerable woman but our voice was never listened to." The West London NHS Trust and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) offered their condolences for what they called a "tragic incident". Known as Evie, Ms Wilson had a complex mental health history including bulimia, depression, self-harm, suicide attempts and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the inquest heard. Her father Dr Nick Wilson, an experienced GP, described his daughter as "an incredibly energetic, vivacious young woman" who was "incredibly creative" and used her art to express "difficult, dark subjects but also joy". Speaking after the inquest, he said: "One big issue is how the different parts of the health system don't work with each other. "We struggled for six years trying to support Evie. "We had to try and unearth information about what was going on. When someone reaches 18 there are difficult issues around consent." Dr Nick Wilson and Sally Watson want the parents of people going through mental health difficulties to have more of a say Ms Wilson had a history of interacting with local mental health services in Bristol, the inquest was told. She had secured a place to study fine arts at Goldsmiths, University of London, which had been deferred so she could go to the Cassel Hospital, London, which offers residential, therapeutic care, in June 2022. A few weeks into her stay, she was found intoxicated during a therapy session. "As this was a breach of her agreement and likely to cause disruption in her treatment, there was a discussion between Ms Wilson and the treatment team and all agreed that she would take a period of short leave," a spokeswoman said. At the inquest, coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said she was not considered a risk to herself at this time and that the London hospital had put in place all the "appropriate measures". 'No causal link' Ms Wilson returned to Bristol for a long weekend and AWP was asked to phone her on Saturday and Sunday. But neither call took place. One because of illness and the other for "reasons not explained", said the coroner. The professional asked to make the call did not give evidence. But Dr Harrowing added: "There is no causal link between [the lack of calls] and [Ms Wilson's] death." Her last contact was with her grandparents on the Saturday at about 21:00 GMT. They said she sounded calm but wanted more support and that she had planned to return to Cassel the following week "110% committed" to the programme. Ms Wilson was found dead by police carrying out a welfare check at her flat on 10 July 2022. Dr Wilson said: "The inquest was the most awful, harrowing and sad experience of my life. Most people don't have to pick apart the last few days of your loved one's life. "It's extremely hard that we have to learn so many important things after she died. I lie thinking about this, I have just learned all of this too late. "If I have a message it is about how families and carers [can be] empowered to help." Ms Watson added: "We could've shared information on the vulnerabilities of our daughter." Serious incident review A spokesperson for AWP said: "We are committed to learning the lessons from Evangeline's death and addressing the issues raised during the inquest and following our own internal investigations." While a spokesperson for West London NHS Trust said: "We strive to give the best possible care to all our patients and have completed a serious incident review jointly with mental health services in the patient's local area. "In this review we have identified areas to improve our care and treatment and are implementing these to reduce the risk of tragic incidents like this happening again." If you have been affected by the topics discussed in this article, you can visit the BBC Action Line for help and support. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. There is no evidence for former President Donald Trumps repeated claims that the Congo has emptied prisons to allow violent criminals to come to the US border as migrants and the governments of both the Democratic Republic of Congo and the neighboring Republic of Congo say Trumps assertions are entirely false. Everything he is saying isnt true, Democratic Republic of Congo spokesperson Patrick Muyaya Katembwe told CNN in a text message on Thursday. Asked specifically about Trumps claims about Congolese prisons being emptied of violent criminals, he said, Never ever, its not true. And, he said, we want him to stop telling these stories, since its very bad for the country. Serge Mombouli, the Republic of Congos ambassador to the US, said in an email to CNN on Friday: There is no truth or any sign nor a single fact supporting such a claim or statement. A CNN fact check found the same. Facts First: Trumps claims are baseless. Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, plus both pro-immigration and anti-immigration organizations in the US, told CNN they have not seen any evidence of Congolese prisons being emptied. Trumps presidential campaign and an allied super PAC did not respond to requests to provide any evidence. A CNN search of two media databases turned up no evidence. And federal figures show that there is no very big influx of Congolese migrants of any kind, let alone former prisoners in particular. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, keeps making claims about emptied Congolese prisons as he criticizes President Joe Bidens handling of immigration. For example, Trump said during a Fox News town hall in late February: We have people coming in from everywhere. Theyre coming in from the Congo. They interviewed some people last night. Where are you from? Congo. Where did you live? Prison. Theyre emptying out their prisons into our country. During a visit to the border later in February, Trump said, The Congo a very big population coming in from jails from the Congo. You look at the jails now, you take a look at the jails throughout the region, but more importantly, throughout the world. Theyre emptying out because theyre dumping them into the United States. But media databases contain no corroboration for these stories. And human rights organizations that monitor the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Republic of Congo say they know of no evidence for them. Ive not heard anything about emptying of Congolese prisons, Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director for Human Rights Watch, said of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Amnesty International senior researcher Abdoulaye Diarra, who studies the Republic of Congo, told CNN in a text message on Friday: To my knowledge and according to other Congolese organisations, there has been no mass release of prisoners from Congolese prisons in the Republic of Congo. Even if there had been such a prisoner release, it would not prove Trumps claim about a very big population of Congolese former prisoners arriving at the border. Official federal data shows that Congolese migrants in general, not ex-prisoners in particular, represent a tiny fraction of overall arrivals. In the first four months of the 2024 fiscal year, through January, there were just 320 Border Patrol encounters at the southern border with people from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Republic of Congo, according to official data provided to CNN by US Customs and Border Protection this week. That is a minuscule fraction of the more than 753,000 total Border Patrol encounters with people from around the world in those four months CNN also reached out to two US organizations that advocate reduced immigration levels in search of any evidence for Trumps claims about emptied Congolese prisons, since these groups sometimes serve as sources for Trumps rhetoric about the border. One responded: We dont have any information about this one way or the other, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. And the pro-immigration Migration Policy Institute, which said it is unaware of any country emptying prisons to send people to the US, noted that Trumps stories about the Congo are just the latest in his series of unsubstantiated claims about foreign countries supposedly emptying prisons and mental health facilities for nefarious migration purposes. This week, the Congo. In the past, Latin America. Tomorrow, likely another country, spokesperson Michelle Mittelstadt scoffed of Trumps claims. Trumps evolving claims Indeed, Trump has a habit of making his false or unsubstantiated stories more dramatic or colorful over time. His claims about the Congo are part of a long-running series on the same theme. He has for years made baseless claims that various foreign countries are intentionally sending violent and otherwise undesirable people to the US as migrants. During his 2016 presidential campaign, for example, he made such claims about Mexico. Then, while running again in 2023, Trump repeatedly told an unsubstantiated story about mental health institutions in South America, including insane asylums, being deliberately emptied for nefarious migration purposes. Trumps campaign was unable to provide any corroboration for that story, though he had repeatedly cited a supposed media report. Trump also made unproven claims in 2023 about migrants being emptied out of foreign prisons. By January 2024, he was referring specifically to migrants who had been prisoners in the Congo. Then, by February 2024, he was claiming that the Congolese migrants acknowledged having been incarcerated for murder. He has never provided a specific source for any of these remarks. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A former Conservative councillor was repeatedly discriminated against on the basis of his Muslim faith or Pakistani background, a confidential independent report has found. Mohammed Arif, a Walsall councillor, claimed he was blocked from standing for re-election by the local party in 2015 and discriminated against. He said he had not received an "open and frank" apology from the party. A Conservative Party spokesperson said they were unable to comment. They said it was because of an ongoing court case. The Conservatives have recently faced scrutiny over alleged Islamophobia in the party's ranks, following the suspension of the former deputy chairman Lee Anderson who has since joined Reform UK, for claiming "Islamists" had "got control" the Mayor of London. Mr Arif took legal action against Walsall Conservative Federation and the national party in 2019. The Conservative Party settled the claim and ordered an investigation into the allegations by an independent barrister. 'Slow progress' While some allegations were dismissed, the report, which was written in 2021, found several occasions over a number of years when Mr Arif was discriminated against because of race or religion by Walsall Conservative Federation, including when he was later expelled from the party. The report's findings said the party's national headquarters "lacked the appropriate tools" to deal with "persistent discrimination" by Walsall Conservative Federation which she said was maintained despite "repeated interventions" by Conservative head office. The report said at the time there were few mechanisms that could be used against local associations. It echoed concerns raised by a report into allegations of Islamophobia within the Conservative Party by Prof Swaran Singh, which had been published a few months earlier in 2021. Since then, the party said it had implemented several of the recommendations, though an update by Prof Singh last year found progress had been "slow". The Federation in Walsall refused to participate in the investigation, and said it could not comment further. It has "vehemently denied" allegations of discrimination. 'Personal vendettas' Mr Arif said: "No one wants to be discriminated against, and I certainly have felt discrimination, and the impact of that on health, mental health and financial health is immense." He said action from the national Conservative Party had been inadequate, and while it offered him a written apology as recommended by the report he had refused because it wasn't a "full and open" apology. "I think the national party pays lip service to discrimination, particularly Muslim discrimination, particularly Islamophobia. "I think they're of the mind that they see no evil, hear no evil when it comes to discrimination against the Muslim community, against Muslim individuals who have served the Conservative Party for the last 30-plus years. "Discrimination against any other individuals or groups within the Conservative Party is not tolerated. I don't hold much hope for the Conservative Party to take Islamophobia seriously." The BBC obtained a copy of the barrister's report which forms part of an ongoing court case between Mr Arif and the Walsall Conservative Federation. It sets out several years of claim and counter-claim between individuals in Walsall relating to the running of the Conservative federation, the process of selecting candidates to stand for the party, the approach to planning applications and allegations of "corruption" and "personal vendettas". 'Nerviness' It says in 2014 there was a "witch hunt" against Muslim party members, with a number being kicked out of the party. The national Conservative Party intervened, saying the members should be re-instated. In 2015, an email from the party's then chairman of its national disciplinary committee, Simon Mort, said that pursuing "any kind of inquiry" into an alleged "Islamist plot" was the "road to nowhere". He added: "Everyone in Western Europe has to a varying degree a nerviness about Muslims perpetrating some kind of mischief and reifying this sort of angst in the Party's context gets us nowhere we are endeavouring to be a broad and representative party." Mr Mort told the BBC the matter was still before the civil courts but it was important to note the world scene he was summarising in 2015 was "inhabited by Al-Qaeda and Islamic State [group] with threats of black flags over Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Vatican etc". Later in 2015 Mr Arif, who had been a Conservative councillor in Walsall for 12 years, was prevented from standing for re-election. He complained, and an investigation by the national party found that he should be allowed to apply again to ensure he had a fair hearing, but the original decision not to approve his candidacy had not been "motivated on religious grounds". This decision was disputed by the findings of the barrister's report six years later. Allegations denied Aileen McColgan KC said while it wasn't possible to distinguish between discrimination on the grounds of race or religion, she was satisfied Mr Arif was treated less favourably because of his identity as a Muslim or as a person of Pakistani origin. Walsall Conservative Federation has denied allegations of discrimination, and the court case is ongoing. BBC News has also challenged Mr Arif about whether some of his own use of social media could be considered discriminatory and offensive. He recently reposted a message on X, formerly Twitter, describing the killing of Palestinian children in Gaza as a "holocaust". Mr Arif said he totally condemned terrorism and only intended to highlight the suffering of innocent people. But after the interview he told the BBC he had unshared that particular post because he "did not want to hurt the feelings of Jewish people". A girl flies a kite amid blooming yellow canola flowers in Changsheng Town of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. Changsheng Town has made efforts to inject new vitality into rural revitalization in recent years. The town has built a demonstration base where farmers cultivate paddy rice and cole in rotation, and held a variety of agritourism activities to improve farmers' incomes. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A girl flies a kite amid blooming yellow canola flowers in Changsheng Town of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, March 16, 2024. Changsheng Town has made efforts to inject new vitality into rural revitalization in recent years. The town has built a demonstration base where farmers cultivate paddy rice and cole in rotation, and held a variety of agritourism activities to improve farmers' incomes. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) An aerial drone photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows fields of yellow canola flowers in Changsheng Town of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing. Changsheng Town has made efforts to inject new vitality into rural revitalization in recent years. The town has built a demonstration base where farmers cultivate paddy rice and cole in rotation, and held a variety of agritourism activities to improve farmers' incomes. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) A former Richland doctor approved orders costing more than $750,000 in six months for Medicare patients he may never have seen or talked to, according to a federal settlement agreement. Dr. William Edward Salko, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, and Jackson & Coker LocumTenens have agreed to pay $700,000 to the federal government to resolve allegations they participated in a kick-back scheme to bill Medicare for tests and equipment that were not medically necessary. Medicare provides health insurance for elderly and disabled U.S. citizens. Nationwide Health Companies used telemarketing companies to contact people with Medicare benefits and speak to them about obtaining medical equipment or testing at no cost, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Washington. The telemarketers obtained personal information to generate documentation that made it appear that the people they called were the patients of a doctor who was treating them for a specific medical problem that would require a lab test or medical equipment. Jackson & Coker, a company that recruits doctors and other health care professionals for temporary medical assignments, contacted Salko about a telemedicine opportunity that would require him to prescribe medical equipment. Although the settlement agreement did not detail what equipment would be authorized, it points out that knee and lower back braces require a face-to-face visit with the patient and a physical exam for Medicare reimbursement of prescriptions. Nationwide generated fraudulent orders for genetic tests and equipment and then emailed a link to Salko with medical information that included a purported medical history, personal information, symptoms and exam notes, according to the settlement agreement. Salko would review the charts using software called Zoho. Dr. Salko then electronically approved the orders, causing his signature to be electronically added to the documentation, the settlement agreement said. These exam notes and other medical documentation were false and fraudulent in that they documented physical exams that Dr. Salko did not conduct, medical assessments that Dr. Salko did not make and treatment plans that Dr. Salko did not devise or carry out. Salko approved nearly every order, usually within a few minutes of accessing the order information, according to the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement is not clear about whether Salko approved only prescriptions for medical equipment or also participated in approving genetic testing orders. Jackson & Coker charged Nationwide a daily fee of $45 plus $35 for each order approved by Salko, although Nationwide stopped making payments on the contract, according to the settlement agreement. Salko was paid $15 by Jackson & Coker for every order he approved, according to the settlement agreement. The $700,000 to be paid to the federal government by Salko and the recruitment company includes $250,000 of restitution. Sending message to doctors The former owner and president of Nationwide, David Santana, agreed in September to plead guilty to felony health care fraud conspiracy in Massachusetts. Jackson & Coker cooperated with the investigation and has taken action to improve its controls related to placing providers with telemedicine clients, according to the Eastern Washington District U.S. Attorneys Office. Vanessa Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern Washington District, said the settlement is a signal to physicians they will be held accountable for participating in Medicare fraud schemes. Physicians and health care staffing cannot ignore red flags about whether they are engaged in a Medicare fraud scheme, she said. Schemes like that employed by Nationwide only work when doctors are willing to turn a blind eye and issue prescriptions and orders for patients that they are not treating. Health care providers and businesses that exploit Medicare through fraudulent telemedicine schemes waste valuable taxpayer dollars, said Steven Ryan, special agent in charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The investigation that led to the settlement was conducted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Washington and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler Tornabene, and Law Clerk Jacquelyn Nader, handled the matter. By Joey Roulette and Marisa Taylor WASHINGTON (Reuters) - SpaceX is building a network of hundreds of spy satellites under a classified contract with a U.S. intelligence agency, five sources familiar with the program said, demonstrating deepening ties between billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company and national security agencies. The network is being built by SpaceX's Starshield business unit under a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), an intelligence agency that manages spy satellites, the sources said. The plans show the extent of SpaceX's involvement in U.S. intelligence and military projects and illustrate a deeper Pentagon investment into vast, low-Earth orbiting satellite systems aimed at supporting ground forces. If successful, the sources said the program would significantly advance the ability of the U.S. government and military to quickly spot potential targets almost anywhere on the globe. The contract signals growing trust by the intelligence establishment of a company whose owner has clashed with the Biden administration and sparked controversy over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said. The Wall Street Journal reported in February the existence of a $1.8 billion classified Starshield contract with an unknown intelligence agency without detailing the purposes of the program. Reuters reporting discloses for the first time that the SpaceX contract is for a powerful new spy system with hundreds of satellites bearing Earth-imaging capabilities that can operate as a swarm in low orbits, and that the spy agency that Musk's company is working with is the NRO. Reuters was unable to determine when the new network of satellites would come online and could not establish what other companies are part of the program with their own contracts. SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract, its role in it and details on satellite launches. The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the NRO and SpaceX. In a statement the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop a sophisticated satellite system and its partnerships with other government agencies, companies, research institutions and nations, but declined to comment on Reuters' findings about the extent of SpaceXs involvement in the effort. "The National Reconnaissance Office is developing the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen," a spokesperson said. The satellites can track targets on the ground and share that data with U.S. intelligence and military officials, the sources said. In principle, that would enable the U.S. government to quickly capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe, aiding intelligence and military operations, they added. Roughly a dozen prototypes have been launched since 2020, among other satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, three of the sources said. A U.S. government database of objects in orbit shows several SpaceX missions having deployed satellites that neither the company nor the government have ever acknowledged. Two sources confirmed those to be prototypes for the Starshield network. All the sources asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the U.S. government program. The Pentagon is already a big SpaceX customer, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch military payloads into space. Starshield's first prototype satellite, launched in 2020, was part of a separate, roughly $200 million contract that helped position SpaceX for the subsequent $1.8 billion award, one of the sources said. The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX's growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies. The classified constellation of spy satellites represents one of the U.S. governments most sought-after capabilities in space because it is designed to offer the most persistent, pervasive and rapid coverage of activities on Earth. "No one can hide," one of the sources said of the systems potential capability, when describing the network's reach. Musk, also the founder and CEO of Tesla and owner of social media company X, has driven innovation in space but has caused frustration among some officials in the Biden administration because of his past control of Starlink in Ukraine, where Kyivs military uses it for secure communications in the conflict with Russia. That authority over Starlink in a war zone by Musk, and not the U.S. military, created tension between him and the US government. A series of Reuters stories has detailed how Musk's manufacturing operations, including at SpaceX, have harmed consumers and workers. The Starshield network is part of intensifying competition between the U.S. and its rivals to become the dominant military power in space, in part by expanding spy satellite systems away from bulky, expensive spacecraft at higher orbits. Instead a vast, low-orbiting network can provide quicker and near-constant imaging of the Earth. China also plans to start building its own satellite constellations, and the Pentagon has warned of space weapon threats from Russia, which could be capable of disabling entire satellite networks. Starshield aims to be more resilient to attacks from sophisticated space powers. The network is also intended to greatly expand the U.S. government's remote-sensing capabilities and will consist of large satellites with imaging sensors, as well as a greater number of relay satellites that pass the imaging data and other communications across the network using inter-satellite lasers, two of the sources said. The NRO includes personnel from the U.S. Space Force and CIA and provides classified satellite imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence agencies. The spy satellites will house sensors provided by another company, three of the sources said. (Reporting by Joey Roulette and Marisa Taylor; Editing by Chris Sanders and Alistair Bell) An explosion thundered in the center of Skadovsk (illustrative photo) Five Russian soldiers patrolling the temporarily occupied Skadovsk in Ukraines Kherson Oblast were hospitalized with injuries after an early afternoon explosion on March 15 near the so-called "polling station" on the city's central square, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on March 16. Read also: Air-raid alert and explosions interrupt first day of sham presidential vote in Russian Belgorod "Due to its inability to ensure the safety of its personnel, the occupation administration canceled further elections in the city and allowed only voting at the place of residence," the report said, adding that none of those involved in organizing the sham "elections" would escape responsibility. The explosion was first reported by the advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko. Read also: Voting under occupation: How Russia's election unfolds in Donetsk and Luhansk "An explosive device detonated. There will be consequences," he wrote in his March 15 Telegram post. On the same day, air-raid alert and explosions interrupted the first day of voting in Russia's sham presidential "elections" at polling stations in Belgorod, the propaganda outlet RIA Novosti reported. On March 16, Ukrainian media reported that Main Intelligence Directorates (HUR) cyber-specialists hacked into the Russian public service system used for electronic voting in the sham "presidential elections. So-called presidential elections are being held in Russia and Ukraines temporarily occupied territories between March 15 and 17. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 24 years, announced his participation in the elections last December. No opposition leaders or anti-war candidates were registered by the countrys Central Election Commission. The European Parliament announced on March 14 that it would not send its observers to the sham vote. Read also: Russians caught on video sabotaging sham Putin election in rare acts of defiance, spoiling ballots The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the vote in the occupied territories would be "illegal and invalid. On Mar. 14 Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada [Parliament] called on foreign governments and parliaments, international organizations, and parliamentary assemblies to condemn Russia's illegal sham presidential "elections" in the Temporarily Occupied Territories (TOT). 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 Claim: In 1998, Donald Trump said he would run as a Republican in a presidential campaign because they are the "dumbest group of voters in the country." Rating: Rating: False On March 11, 2024, an X (formerly Twitter) post claimed that in 1998, real estate mogul Donald Trump, who would later run for the presidency as a Republican Party candidate, told People magazine in 1998 that Republicans are "the dumbest group of voters in the country." (@EileenMarieSar1/X) Snopes previously wrote about the quote in 2015 and 2020. The quote began spreading again on X, Facebook, TikTok and other platforms in January 2024, around the same time reputable news publications like Axios reported Trump had "cemented" his status as the Republican presidential front-runner. However, we found no evidence that Trump said Republicans are "the dumbest group of voters" to People magazine in 1998, or any other year. While some have claimed he said it in other media venues, such as "The Howard Stern Show," we have found no evidence to substantiate that he said it there or anywhere else. "If I were to run, I'd run as a Republican," the purported 1998 Trump quote begins. "They're the dumbest group of voters in the country. They believe anything on Fox News. I could lie and they'd still eat it up. I bet my numbers would be terrific." People confirmed to FactCheck.org that the magazine had no record of having published any such interview or exchange with Trump: People looked into this exhaustively when it first surfaced back in Oct. [2015]. We combed through every Trump story in our archive. We couldn't find anything remotely like this quote -- and no interview at all in 1998. While there is evidence Trump was interested in politics during the late '90s, People magazine covered Trump mostly for his relationships with his first and second wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples. Snopes has fact-checked other rumors about the former U.S. president, including whether he said fellow contender for the 2024 Republican nomination Nikki Haley was "in charge of security" during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sources: Doherty, Erin. "Trump Wins New Hampshire Republican Primary, AP Projects." Axios, Axios, 23 Jan. 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/01/24/trump-new-hampshire-primary-win-results-2024-election. Emery, David. "Did Trump Say Nikki Haley Was 'in Charge of Security' on Jan. 6?" Snopes, 20 Jan. 2024, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-nikki-haley-security-january-6/. Farley, Robert. "Bogus Meme Targets Trump." FactCheck.Org, Annenberg Public Policy Center, 25 Nov. 2015, https://www.factcheck.org/2015/11/bogus-meme-targets-trump/. Farrell, Mary H.J. "The Trumps Head for Divorce Court." People, https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-trumps-head-for-divorce-court-vol-33-no-8/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2024. LaCapria, Kim. "Did Trump Say Republicans Are the Dumbest Group of Voters?" Snopes, 16 Oct. 2015, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/republicans-dumbest-group-of-voters/. Schneider, Karen. "The Donald Ducks Out." People, https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-donald-ducks-out-vol-47-no-19/. Accessed 25 Jan. 2024. Staff, Snopes. "Fact Check: Trump Did Not Call Republicans 'The Dumbest Group of Voters.'" Snopes, 28 May 2020, https://www.snopes.com/news/2020/05/28/trump-republicans-dumbest-group-of-voters/. Transcript: Donald Trump Announces Plans to Form Presidential Exploratory Committee - October 8, 1999. https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/10/08/trump.transcript/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2024. By Nathan Layne (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are both expected to easily win primaries in four states on Tuesday, including battleground Wisconsin, after clearing the field of challengers and clinching their parties' nomination. Both candidates continue to contend with protest votes, however, and political observers will be paying close attention to their margins of victory for potential signs of weakness heading into their general election rematch in November. In Biden's case, some Democratic voters who oppose his backing of Israel's military offensive in Gaza have marked "uncommitted" on their ballots in a show of protest. For Trump, the focus will be on how many votes he loses to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the Republican primary this month and was his last remaining challenger. In addition to Wisconsin - one of six or seven swing states expected to determine the outcome of the presidential election - voters will go to the polls in the solidly Democratic states of Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. Lawmakers in Delaware canceled the state's April 2 primary after Haley dropped out of the race, leaving Trump as the Republican candidate. All of its delegates will be assigned to Trump and Biden, who did not have a challenger in the state. Here is a look at what is happening on the ground in Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries. CONNECTICUT Republican delegate count: 28 Democratic delegate count: 60 The polls close at 8 p.m. ET. Some Connecticut Democrats are expected to vote "uncommitted" as a way to protest Biden's handling of the Israel and Gaza war, though there is no sign of organizing on the scale seen in Michigan, where the state's substantial Arab American population drove the "uncommitted" vote to 13% of the Democratic Party's total. Democrats wishing to register a protest vote can also select Marianne Williamson, the self-help author who relaunched her campaign in late February; U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who ended his long-shot challenge to Biden in March but is still on the ballot; or progressive media personality Cenk Uygur, who has also exited the race. Republicans not supportive of Trump will also have the choice of marking "uncommitted" on their ballots as well as selecting former presidential candidates including Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, or Texas-based businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley. Connecticut is a Democratic stronghold. Biden beat Trump by 20 percentage points in the 2020 general election. NEW YORK Republican delegate count: 91 Democratic delegate count: 268 The polls close at 9 p.m. ET. While "uncommitted" is not an option on the ballot in New York, a group of activists has launched a "Leave it Blank" effort encouraging Democrats to submit blank ballots instead of registering a vote for Biden. However, the state's Board of Elections has said it would not include such votes in its unofficial election night results. Williamson and Phillips join Biden on the Democratic ballot, while several of Trump's former Republican rivals also remain on their party's ballot. Biden won New York by 23 percentage points in 2020. RHODE ISLAND Republican delegate count: 19 Democratic delegate count: 26 The polls close at 8 p.m. ET. Voters in Rhode Island will have an "uncommitted" option on both ballots, as well as voting for former rivals of both Biden and Trump. Biden won Rhode Island by nearly 21 percentage points in 2020. WISCONSIN Republican delegate count: 41 Democratic delegate count: 82 The polls close at 9 p.m. ET. Organizers in Wisconsin calling for a protest vote against Biden are urging voters to choose "uninstructed," Wisconsin's version of an uncommitted vote. They have set a modest goal of 20,682 "uninstructed" votes the margin Biden won the state by in 2020, less than 1% of the vote in that election. Wisconsin has an open primary system, meaning voters can participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Primary participants will also vote on two referendum questions. One would amend the state constitution to say that only election officials can conduct election-related tasks - a step Republicans have said is necessary to restrict any outside influence. Opponents of the change say the wording is vague and could limit the vital role played by volunteers. The other ballot measure would prohibit the use of private funds - dubbed "Zuckerbucks" by critics - to run elections. Republicans are eager to ban outside election funding after a foundation funded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg donated hundreds of millions of dollars in various states to help local governments administer the 2020 election. Republicans have claimed the funds were aimed at boosting turnout in Democratic cities. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Daniel Wallis) A kite-maker prepares kites with election symbols of Indian political parties at his shop ahead of India's general election MUMBAI (Reuters) - Nearly a billion people will be eligible to vote in India's general elections, to be held over almost seven weeks from April 19, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a record-equalling third straight term. The elections for 543 seats in India's Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament, will run through June 4, a mammoth exercise spanning the country's varied terrain. More than 2,400 political parties are expected to put up candidates. Here are a some facts about India's general elections, the world's largest democratic exercise. NUMBERS Almost 970 million Indians are registered to vote at over a million polling stations across the country. India's election commission will rope in nearly 15 million government employees, many of them teachers and junior workers, to help conduct the election. The election will be held in seven phases, with votes to be counted and results expected on June 4 and the entire election process completed by June 6. PARTIES Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the dominant political group, is widely expected to win more than the required 272 seats needed for a simple majority. Modi predicts the BJP will win 370 seats and its National Democratic Alliance more than 400, aiming for a four-decade high. His main opposition, the Congress party, which has ruled India for much of its time since independence in 1947, formed a 28-party alliance called INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) to jointly fight the BJP. It has been riven by differences over giving up seats to field common candidates. PROCESS India uses electronic voting machines, introduced in 1982, and 5.5 million such machines will be used in this election. Electors cast their votes by pressing a button next to a candidates name and party symbol. Election Commission of India guidelines say every voter should be within 2 km (1.2 miles) of a polling station, so polling officials often must trek for days or climb hills to reach remote locations in hilly areas. In one case, that means travelling through a jungle in the western state of Gujarat so a lone voter could cast his vote in a polling booth. (Reporting by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by William Mallard) An acquaintance from church let Marie Dufresne, a single mother from Haiti, and her 10-year-old son stay at his place for 15 days. Once that ends, they will have nowhere to live. Dufresne, who speaks Haitian Creole said through an interpreter that she has been relying on getting off the state emergency assistance shelter waitlist to find a place to stay. While Dufresne was staying at her acquaintances home, she met with a homeless liaison from Boston Public Schools, who told her she qualified for shelter and put her on the list. But it can take up to a year for her to get into a shelter unit, according to the homeless liaisons at the school district, said Dufresne. She and her son are one of 764 families on that waitlist, equivalent to approximately 2,200 individuals. However, experts and social workers believe that this is an underrepresentation, a snapshot from a point in time when the data was captured. Waitlist presents 'grave concerns' for families According to the state, getting on the emergency assistance shelter waitlist is a process based on eligibility and the order of the waitlist is based on whether a family has a clinical and safety risk priority designation combined with when they were found eligible. The waitlist presents grave concerns for families who are found eligible but have no place to stay, said Andrea Park, the director of community driven advocacy at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. Contrary to the way the system has worked since its inception, families may now be determined to be fully eligible and have no safe place to stay but are told they must fend for themselves until a space is available, she said. While I believe the prioritization system was a sincere attempt to mitigate harm, in practice I think many babies, children, and families are staying in unsafe places. Factors of chance raised for getting on waitlist There may also be the factor of chance that plays into getting on the waitlist. If you're a family and call on the phone, you may not actually get on, said Larry Seamans, the CEO of FamilyAid, a nonprofit for homeless families in Greater Boston. Callers may not ask the right question, or get a staff member is might not take the call seriously, Seamans said. It depends on who they call and where in the state, he said. The state has established four overflow sites, in Roxbury, Cambridge, Quincy and Revere. The state has also partnered with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay to create short-term overnight sites called SafteyNet Sites for waitlisted families and pregnant individuals with no alternative shelter options. To date, the program has launched eight sites across the state, according to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Combined, the state-operated overflow and United Way SafetyNet Sites can accommodate approximately 370 families, according to the state agency. Around 350 families are currently in overflow shelters, according to state data. How people make things seem less concerning is they use families, but the reality is there are at least three human beings for each family, right? said Seamans. There are currently around 3,000 people waitlisted or in overflow shelters. This number still underrepresents the homeless population, advocates say. Because when people arent able to go to overflow shelters, they are either at an emergency room or the airport or show up at local town administrative offices in an attempt to seek shelter through the local community, said Danielle Ferrier, the CEO of Heading Home, a nonprofit service provider for homeless or previously homeless families in Greater Boston. Massachusetts leaders, from left, Lt. Gov. Kimberly Driscoll, House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, Gov. Maura Healey and Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, discuss the influx of migrants straining the Massachusetts emergency shelter system on Sept. 19. One woman's experience Dufresne is one of those people. Social workers previously sent her and her son to the emergency room, telling her she had to be kind of patient because although they are qualified for shelter, the waitlist is long, said Dufresne. The lack of stability has been really, really difficult for her and her son because when it is time to switch from her current place of shelter, she is left in a predicament where she doesnt know what to do and where to go, she said. Working with liaisons comes with a communication barrier because not all of them speak Haitian Creole. This has left Dufresne confused about her familys situation. She said she knows the social workers filled out paperwork for her, but she isnt clear on what kind of paperwork because the process was rushed. Sometimes they dont take the time to really understand what Im saying," Dufresne said. Dufresne, originally from Haiti, went to Chile and then Mexico, where her friends told her she should go to Massachusetts for a better education for her and her son. A pastor she met in Mexico had an organization that arranged bus services to go from Texas to Massachusetts, which Dufresne took. At the border This is quite common, according to social workers. Families coming to border states, like Texas, are allowed legal entry where there are federal resources set up to help them. Then, they are usually told to go to other states like Massachusetts and New York, where they would find more people like them and get jobs, said Seamans. The reality is that there is no federal support right now of any great import to help those families, he said. Along the border states, we've set up opportunities and resources, and those states are sending, across state boundaries, human beings to Massachusetts for which there is no organized federal response. The federal immigration systems policies have split the migrants' legal right to be here and their right to work, which feeds the complexity of homelessness. Not having a legal right to work upon arrival slows down their ability to work and families cannot self-sustain, hence end up on the streets due to lack of a job and income, said Seamans. Previous administrations have dismantled the immigration process, there are fewer immigration workers, and the courts are backlogged, so it takes about two years for everyone to get their work visas, said Seamans. Aligning work authorizations with legal entry into the country at the federal level solves a larger issue, but it's an election year and a challenging thing to do. Homelessness, housing and immigration Homelessness and housing are now state legislative issues intersecting with a federal immigration issue due to the influx of newly arriving families, said Ferrier, the CEO of Heading Home. The state right to shelter wasn't designed to absorb the number of newly arriving families who also have very clear legal immigration needs and support that needs to happen more through the Office of Refugees and Immigrants, she said. "So you're seeing the evolution of a system responding to a crisis, Ferrier said. According to state data, around 3,700 families are in shelter units, but the state has added more motels and hotels supporting about another 3,800 families over the past year because the volume of both homeless new arrivals and Massachusetts U.S. citizen families has grown. Total shelter population in Massachusetts The total shelter population is currently 7,500 families of which 49.2% are newly arrived. There is an almost 50-50 split between new arrivals and Massachusetts U.S. citizen families, according to state data. Sen. Peter Durant, R-Spencer, believes the right-to-shelter law is making Massachusetts a magnet state. What we're seeing is that the migrants come in, and they get just this whole cacophony of free services that are available to them under this program, Durant said. These costs add up enormously." The timing is when, he said, the state is starting to struggle with a budget issue for fiscal 2025 with questions about revenue collections, how to spend the money and what the priorities are. According to Seamans, the law was designed in 1983 because elected officials saw that having children on the streets with their parents would be a greater cost than the cost of running a shelter, as homeless children are more likely to become homeless adults unless there is intervention. There are people who believe that the reason why homelessness is so high in Boston and in Massachusetts is because of our right to shelter, and that is an overly simplified, easy target for underlying issues of family poverty, Seamans said. It's an easy way to not address the underlying issues that drive families into homelessness. Boston's poverty rate According to 2021 data, Boston's poverty rate is the fourth highest among the 25 largest cities in the country. The cost of living index value is 48% higher than the national average, and housing is the most expensive category, 127% higher than the national average. According to Seamans, the mix of a high cost of living and a high level of poverty is driving families into homelessness. Boston is the nations 24th largest city, yet it has the fourth highest number of children and parents experiencing homelessness. Massachusetts as a state ranks third highest for the largest homeless population nationally. Really what we should be focusing on and targeting is how to get more affordable housing, and how to manage and deal with entrenched poverty here in the Boston economy, Seamans said. Although there is a right to shelter in Massachusetts, there is an income cap. If you have one dollar over 115% of the federal poverty level you're not allowed into shelter, so there is a right to shelter, but it's a very high bar to get into it, said Seamans. Making families self-sufficient Other financial issues factor into resolving homelessness and making families self-sufficient, like the cost of transportation and child care. Dufresne said one of her biggest problems is finding transportation for her son to go to school. The lack of which impacts her job and limits the amount of money she makes. Work starts at eight and I get there at nine because I have to take the bus, then take the train to drop off my son at school, and then take the bus, take the train and then head to work again, she said. Boston Public Schools gave her two Uber gift cards to help her son get to school, but she has been struggling since those ran out. Dufresne said her work, a cleaning job at a restaurant she found on Indeed by herself, may fire her because she doesnt get there on time, which would create more financial problems. Im losing money because I cant work on Sunday since I cant leave my son alone. I need somebody there to watch him, said Dufresne. Im not necessarily chasing the money, but you also need money to make everything work. Job training, working or in class Families currently in shelters are obligated to spend 30 hours a week in job training programs, working or in classes. According to Seamans, the challenge that often precludes a family from getting jobs while living in shelters is that sometimes their children cannot get access to child care and minors cannot be left unaccompanied. Massachusetts has the highest child care cost in the U.S. It takes a very concerted understanding of the dynamics of families and what they need to get to self-sufficiency. It's the ability to work, the authorization to work, jobs that can meet our standard of living and child care costs, he said. Aligning resources can help people get out of the shelter system and homelessness more quickly, said Seamans. For example, if you are allowed into the shelter, he believes you should be eligible for other resources like food and nutrition services such as SNAP and WIC, and have child care and workforce training without individually applying for each of those services. Is there an opportunity for the commonwealth to consider bundling resources for families living in poverty in a way that either prevents them from becoming homeless or, if they do become homeless, it's organized in a way that helps them get out of it more quickly? he said. Help for waitlisted families While the states shelter system is at capacity, nonprofit organizations such as Heading Home and FamilyAid have set up programs to help waitlisted and ineligible families access shelter and resources. FamilyAid is currently supporting around 1,450 family members, including Dufresne and her son. Besides putting her on the waitlist, Boston Public Schools referred Dufresne to FamilyAid, who said they will negotiate with Dufresnes acquaintance to let her and her son stay at his house longer. If they cannot reach an agreement, they will work on identifying other safe places she and her son can stay while continuing to wait to get off the shelter waitlist. My main priorities are finding a place to stay, having money, and being able to work, said Dufresne. The Cape Cod Times is providing this coverage for free as a public service. Please take a moment to support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Shelter system evolving with arriving families, nonprofit CEO says LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A North Las Vegas family is asking the community for help after a fire destroyed their home early Saturday morning, leaving them with nothing. It was kinda horrifying, Robert Dorfman said of the blaze. Robert and his wife, Sasha Dorfman spoke with 8 News Now Friday, describing what they called one of the scariest days of their lives. We went out to the living room, Sasha Dorfman recalled. We noticed all the smoke. A North Las Vegas family is asking the community for help after a fire destroyed their home early Saturday morning, leaving them with nothing. (Ed Pratt) They said they were barely able to escape when their home, near Ann Road and Commerce Street in North Las Vegas, became engulfed in flames. I tried to force it open and flames were coming out of the top, Robert Dorfman said, recalling the trauma of watching the fire spread. And it started singing my hair, and she said, Just let it go, we gotta let it go. Now the family of 14; eight children, six adults, and three dogs, have nothing. A North Las Vegas family is asking the community for help after a fire destroyed their home early Saturday morning, leaving them with nothing. (Credit: GoFundMe) We dont have shoes, we dont have towels, Robert Dorfman said. We dont have shampoo or body wash or anything. The family said the Red Cross of Southern Nevada helped them with the essentials immediately after the fire, which included a temporary spot at a nearby Airbnb, which is paid for through the week. However, starting over is expensive and their insurance hasnt kicked in yet, so they are asking the community to lend a hand with donations. We really need help with the kids, with their clothing, blankets, furniture maybe as well, Sasha Dorfman said. Just stuff like that would really help out. A North Las Vegas family is asking the community for help after a fire destroyed their home early Saturday morning, leaving them with nothing. (Ed Pratt) This way the group can start to build things back up after devastation they never could have expected. We have to start all over again, Sasha Dorfman concluded. Sadly, the family did lose one of their dogs, a puppy, in the fire, which is still under investigation. A GoFundMe account has been set up to assist the family. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Melissa Rondan has been laid up on her couch for two days, nursing injuries to the left side of her body. The 60-year-old Mattapan resident said she was the victim of a hit and run while trying to cross Cummins Hwy by Bismarck St. Wednesday morning. I said, Oh my God, the car hit me. Then I dropped on my left side, Rondan said. Rondan said she was trying to get to her bus stop to go to work when a dark green minivan clipped her in the middle of the crosswalk. Rondan said the driver stopped for brief moment, then drove away. Boston Police responded to scene and filed an incident report. No arrests have been made. I want that person to know Im a human being. I dont care if they dont have a license or insurance, but you should have stopped to see if I was hurt, Rondan said. To just keep going? You cant do that to people. Rondan was treated and released from Brigham and Womens Hospital and is expected to recover. Her daughter, Shanira Eccleston, said that section of Cummins Hwy has always been a dangerous place to cross. One neighbor said theyve been asking the city for years to install lights at that intersection. Eccleston cant understand why the driver didnt stop, especially when the incident happened at 7:30 a.m. If it was an accident, just stop and check to see if shes okay. They didnt and thats what hurts me and I think hurts her the most, Eccleston said. BPD did not respond to a request 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 The family of 24-year-old Ukrainian fixer and journalist Oleksandra Kuvshynova, who was killed in March 2022, has filed a lawsuit against the US television company Fox News. Source: Business insider Details: The lawsuit was filed in the New York State Supreme Court by Kuvshynova's parents and Shane Thomson, a security adviser at SEPAR, a UK security agency that was contracted by Fox News at the time. The lawsuit accuses the broadcaster of negligence for sending a team of journalists working under contract to Fox News into an active combat zone despite numerous warnings from local officials and a security consultant who advised them not to do so. Oleksandr's father believes that his daughter was unnecessarily put in danger. Fox News issued a statement saying that they continue to mourn the deaths of Kuvshynova and Pierre Zakrzewski but will "respectfully defend against the false allegations in this lawsuit". Support UP or become our patron! An employee works on a production line of Chongqing Hawe New Energy Co., Ltd. in Bishan District of Chongqing, southwest China, March 15, 2024. The products of the company will be transported to Europe via China-Europe freight train service. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) A worker carried a packaged motorcycle off a production line of Chongqing Hawe New Energy Co., Ltd. in Bishan District of Chongqing, southwest China, March 15, 2024. The products of the company will be transported to Europe via China-Europe freight train service. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) A China-Europe freight train loaded with machinery, automobiles and auto parts waits for departure at a railway station in Chongqing, southwest China, March 7, 2024. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) An aerial drone photo taken on March 7, 2024 shows a China-Europe freight train loaded with machinery, automobiles and auto parts pulling out of a railway station in Chongqing, southwest China. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) An aerial drone photo taken on March 7, 2024 shows containers waiting to go through customs clearance at a railway station in Chongqing, southwest China. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Workers test motorcycles at the Chongqing Hawe New Energy Co., Ltd. in Bishan District of Chongqing, southwest China, March 15, 2024. The products of the company will be transported to Europe via China-Europe freight train service. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Employees work on a production line of Chongqing Hawe New Energy Co., Ltd. in Bishan District of Chongqing, southwest China, March 15, 2024. The products of the company will be transported to Europe via China-Europe freight train service. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Employees work on a production line of Chongqing Hawe New Energy Co., Ltd. in Bishan District of Chongqing, southwest China, March 15, 2024. The products of the company will be transported to Europe via China-Europe freight train service. Benefiting from the increase of train trips and the launch of new freight train routes, including two direct rail routes to Spain and Turkiye, the city of Chongqing has seen increase in its export via China-Europe freight train service this year. Currently, the China-Europe freight train service has connected Chongqing with more than 100 cities and regions in Asia and Europe. Thousands of varieties of goods, including automobiles, auto parts, furniture, as well as medical equipment, have been transported via this service. (Xinhua/Huang Wei) Farmers in the protest called for more support for British agriculture and protection from cheaper imports Farmers have held a tractor protest as they called for more government support and protection from cheaper imports. The Farmers Movement Cornwall (FMC) said it opposed "green policy overreach" and attacks on the sector. It added farmers were "up in arms over the threat to their livelihoods" due to government policies aiming at reaching environmental targets. The government said it would always back British farmers and "support farm businesses to grow and thrive". FMC said it wanted ministers to focus more on how food was produced instead of on environmental issues. The group added it was backing a campaign for changes in the government's farming policy. The government said it would always back British farmers and "support farm businesses to grow and thrive" Tractors drove between Arch Hill and Trafalgar Roundabout in Truro between 12:30 and 13:00 GMT on Saturday before heading into the town centre. One protestor said farmers in England needed "our full support". "I think it's absolutely disgraceful, these are family-run farms in the main in Cornwall and all over the country," she added. Another person at the protest said he was worried farmers would "go out of business" and that he wanted his "food grown local". "If there's not farmers, there's no food, and there's no future," another woman said. Tractors drove between Arch Hill and Trafalgar Roundabout in Truro on Saturday before heading into the town centre Earlier this year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used a speech at the National Farmers Union annual conference to outline government plans to boost the UK's food security. It came as farmers were struggling with rising costs, low supermarket prices and a new post-Brexit farm payments scheme that many said had focused on environmental policy over food productivity. In response to Saturday's protest, Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the government's updated policy would provide "more money for farmers to deliver change". "Fair and proportionate enforcement should always underpin our regulations, but when it comes to regulation, my approach is to get farmers the support and advice they need to comply with the law and work with farmers to prevent harm," he said. Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Twenty-two missing and historic Japanese artifacts were recently recovered by the FBI in Boston. The FBI says they had not been seen for almost eighty years after being looted following the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. The FBI says a local family found the items when going through their late fathers things after he passed away. Their father was a World War II veteran but never served in the Pacific Theater. The family then checked the National Stolen Art File and discovered that at least four of the items were missing 18th century portraits that had been listed in the database. The artifacts include six portraits, a hand-drawn map of Okinawa dating back to the 19th century, and various pieces of pottery and ceramics. Its incredibly gratifying when the FBI is able to recover precious cultural property that has been missing for almost 80 years, said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. This case highlights the important role the public plays in recognizing and reporting possible stolen art. Wed like to thank the family from Massachusetts who did the right thing in reaching out to us and relinquishing these treasures so we could return them to the people of Okinawa. In 2001, the Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education registered some of the artifacts with the FBIs National Stolen Art File, a database of art and cultural property that have been reported stolen to the FBI by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. A formal ceremony returning the items to Japan will be held at a later date. It is very meaningful that the FBI, along with others in the U.S. Government, have cooperated to realize this return, said Denny Tamaki, the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A federal judge denied Sen. Bob Menendezs motion to dismiss the second superseding indictment in his case this week. Menendez argued that the actions he took while serving as a U.S. senator were constitutionally protected and that he was fulfilling his duty as a lawmaker. Judge Sidney Stein of the Southern District Court of New York said that while taking part in votes or the functions of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are legislative acts, the allegations that he agreed or promised to use his power were not. This is because those meetings, in implementing a corrupt bargain, are not legislative fact-finding or information gathering meriting the Speech or Debate Clauses protection, Stein wrote. Surely meetings with, and the provision of information to, Egyptian officials in relation to a corrupt bribery scheme must be viewed as occurring outside of the legislative process. Senator Bob Menendez is shown as he walks towards federal court in the Southern District of New York, in lower Manhattan, Monday, October 23, 3023. Menendez also called for one of the charges to be dismissed because it violated the separation of powers doctrine ruling the branches of government, which was also denied. How we got here Menendez, his wife and two New Jersey businessmen entered not guilty pleas in a Manhattan courtroom Monday for the third superseding indictment related to the federal corruption charges they face. The states senior senator as well as Nadine Arslanian Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes now face 18 counts up from four brought by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York including conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice and amid allegations that Menendez was working to benefit Qatar in addition to Egypt. Who to know: List of who is charged with what in Sen. Bob Menendez's bribery case after new indictment The newest superseding indictment by the Southern District of New York alleges that Menendez, his wife and the three businessmen Hana, Daibes and Jose Uribe were part of a bribery scheme. Menendez and his wife allegedly received, among other things, cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for using his political influence. Uribe withdrew his previous not guilty plea for seven counts last week and agreed to cooperate days before the new superseding indictment was released. According to a plea agreement, Uribe could face up to 95 years in prison, though he could win leniency by cooperating and testifying against the other defendants, which hes agreed to do. When's the trial? After the not guilty pleas, Judge Stein also denied the request to adjourn the trial and set a timeline leading up to the May 6 trial. Any motions regarding the superseding indictment are due by March 25 with responses due on April 1. The last week for the government to produce 3,500 material, a witness list and exhibit list is April 15, despite Menendez's lawyers attempt to produce the documents earlier. The final pretrial conference will be on April 30 with the trial to begin at 9:30 a.m. on May 6. Is Menendez running for office? Menendez's term is up this year, rumors suggest that instead of filing to run for reelection as a democrat, he may wait to run as an independent. The deadline to file for the June primary election is days away, on March 25. If Menendez, doesn't file to run then, rumors about Menendez are surfacing saying he plans to run as an independent. The deadline to file as an independent is in June, a month after Menendez's trial begins on May 6. If he does file then, he will have until August to pull his name from the ballot. When questioned by an NBC reporter on Thursday in Washington, D.C., Menendez said, When I decide to declare whatever my path is, I will do it then. I don't have to do it on television for you." in the meantime, New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy and Rep. Andy Kim have been battling at conventions throughout the state to claim the coveted county line for June's primary election as they seek the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, while Menendez continues to fight charges in the Southern District of New York. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bob Menendez case: Judge toss motion to dismiss second indictment If theres one thing everyone in Fort Worth might agree on, its that residents want better streets. And most would also say that the city has to find a way to get on top of maintenance needs and stay on top, before things get any worse. Even if that means new fees on property owners, as staff recently pitched to the City Council? Thats where agreement falls apart. Read our lips: No new fees. The city is slated to collect and spend more than $2.5 billion this fiscal year. Residents are paying enough to keep streets maintained; its a matter of setting priorities. The proposal outlined before the council would charge homeowners $9.22 a month; apartments would be charged $5.65 per unit a month. Businesses such as offices, retail stores and restaurants would pay a range from about $9 to nearly $16 per 1,000 square feet of space. The result would be an estimated $66.1 million annually for road maintenance, more than double what the city currently has budgeted for projects (not counting new construction funded by bonds). All the usual arguments were deployed: This will force those who benefit most from good roads to pay. Its just a user fee such as those charged for water and sewer service. Other large cities, including some in Texas, charge such fees. The plan is an effort to paper over poor planning and mislaid priorities. How does a city with more than 8,000 lane-miles to maintain end up with just $28.3 million budgeted for repairs? Nearly 40% of Fort Worth streets need work. So, its not a sudden problem or one with a single cause. Start with the citys rapid and sustained population growth more drivers, more cars, more wear on streets. Between inflation and high demand for construction material, costs are constantly higher. Years of insufficient funding means problems compound. Only the highest priorities can be fixed, so lesser needs are neglected, and they get worse and more expensive. Pothole crew members Michael Cruz, left, and Vernon Sawyer work together to fill a pothole in the street at a neighborhood in Fort Worth on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. The City Council should reject this proposal and demand that City Manager David Cooke and his staff develop a better plan to prioritize street maintenance. Yes, that means some other needs may be sacrificed. But Fort Worth simply cant argue it doesnt have enough money. The city substantially reduced the property tax rate this year but is still collecting more overall, thanks to growth in property values. Thats an effective tax increase for businesses and homeowners. Between that and new development, Fort Worth collects 9.2% more this fiscal year than last. And thats not counting boosts in sales-tax collections thanks to a robust local economy. Thats not to say the citys options are unlimited. Most of the sales tax you pay goes to the state, and half of whats collected locally is earmarked for public transit and supplemental police funding. Creating any new levy on residents, though, should be a last resort. Once in place, they are inevitably raised. What starts at $9 a month per homeowner rarely stays there. And the calculations seem off: Do homeowners drive less than apartment dwellers? Do certain businesses not contribute to road usage? Besides, fees on business will be passed on to consumers already struggling with rising prices. Piling on more could crimp economic growth. Transportation funding, including road maintenance, presents a challenge for governments at all levels. Federal and state funds are often provided through gasoline taxes, a source that is questionable in an era of fuel-efficient cars and, increasingly, electric vehicles. And as council members noted, the city has done a poor job ensuring that developers provide for adequate roads in fast-growing areas. The cost for maintaining and expanding those streets inevitably trickles down to taxpayers. To govern is to choose, to set priorities. For most residents, there are fewer higher needs than well-maintained roads. Creating new fees and thus opening the door to higher and higher costs on homeowners and businesses isnt the answer. 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. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) Law enforcement officers pulled bags of evidence out of an illegal smoke shop in Manhattan on Thursday. It was at least the second raid on the store at 927 Second Ave. technically for selling tobacco without a license. However, people who live in the area said its an open secret you could get illegal marijuana there, which is exactly what police say they found, in addition to several bags of cocaine laced with fentanyl. Watch the video player for more on this story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) His two co-defendants were sentenced to life terms in prison, but Christian Gaines, who pleaded no contest Friday to voluntary manslaughter in connection to a deadly car-to-car shooting, will get a total of six years. Gaines will be sentenced to three years in prison on the manslaughter charge, plus three years on a firearm enhancement, according to the District Attorneys Office. Charges of first-degree murder and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle were dismissed against Gaines, who is represented by attorney Tony Lidgett. CA Lottery announces $1.76B Powerball ticket sold in Frazier Park has been claimed Gaines, David Gray and Demitris King stood trial last year in the Nov. 3, 2021, killing of Justin Anthony Griffin Jr., a gang member who prosecutors said went to rival gang territory and posed in photos meant to be disrespectful. He posted them to social media. Griffin then attended a party with his father attended by rival gang members. They left soon after arriving, but as they drove away another vehicle trailed them to Stine Road, where a car-to-car shooting occurred. Griffin was hit in the head and died. Gray and King were found guilty of murder and other crimes, and the jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of acquittal on the charges against Gaines. Earlier this month, Gray was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and King to 20 years to life. Gaines sentencing is scheduled for late April. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Elina Valtonen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, has said that Western countries, including the United States, should not completely rule out the idea of sending troops to Ukraine if the situation there deteriorates. Source: Valtonen in an interview with NatSec Daily, quoted by Politico Quote from Valtonen: "Its important that we not rule everything out for the long term, because we never know how serious the situation becomes. But the Finnish position is clear: We are not right now sending any troops and not willing to discuss that." Details: Politico pointed out that Valtonens statement was more about a long-term prospect. "Valtonens remark was about a longer-term, hypothetical choice. But her reasoning shows that, as the war drags on, European countries who could face immediate danger from an emboldened Moscow may be willing to consider the option more seriously," Politico noted. Support UP or become our patron! Editor's note: The story was updated at 16:50 Kyiv time after several media outlets reported that the attack was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), citing anonymous SBU sources. The governor of Russia's Samara Oblast reported on March 16 that two Rosneft oil refineries in the area were targeted by Ukrainian drones, resulting in no casualties but leaving one facility on fire. Ukraine has launched a concerted effort to degrade Russias oil production capabilities, targeting refineries across the country. Earlier this week, oil refineries were attacked in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts. The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported. The Volga River region's Syzran refinery was on fire, but an attack on the Novokuibyshevsk refinery had been thwarted, regional governor Dmitry Azarov said via Telegram on March 16. There were no casualties, according to him. The Russian city of Samara is located around 850 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Unverified footage shared by several Telegram channels depicted a significant fire at what appeared to be the Syzran refinery, with emergency services seen at the scene. Several Ukrainian media outlets reported later on March 16 that, according to their sources in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), SBU drones carried out successful attacks against the Syzran, Novokuibyshevsk, and Kuibyshevsk oil refineries. The Kyiv Independent reached out to an SBU representative for comment but did not receive a response at the time of the publication. According to the SBU sources, the three plants produced around 25 million metric tons of oil per year, representing almost 10% of all oil refining in Russia. Russia is voting today in three-day presidential elections. Vladimir Putin is running for president for the fifth time, seeking to extend his rule by six more years - until at least 2030. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 20, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Newburyport firefighters worked Saturday morning to extinguish a vehicle fire that damaged several boats. Around 10:45 a.m., Newburyport Police and Fire received reports of a boat fire in front of Windward Yacht Yard, 58 Merrimac St. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a boat owner reported that he had been working on his boats transmission when the generator in the bed of his Ford F-250 pickup truck caught on fire, which quickly spread to nearby boats. The pickup truck was a total loss, and there was significant damage caused to the owners 32-foot sport fishing boat and an adjacent 32-foot boat, the Newburyport fire chief said. A 38-foot catamaran that was nearby sustained heat damage. No one was injured in the fire. The Amesbury, Newbury, Rowley, Salisbury, and West Newbury Fire Departments provided mutual aid at the scene. Station coverage was provided by the Georgetown, Merrimac, and Seabrook, NH, Fire Departments. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Newburyport Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshals Office. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Russian city of Belgorod came under fire on the morning of 16 March, and after the air defence system responded to the attack, fires broke out and road accidents occurred, damaging buildings and cars. The authorities also reported that two Russians had been killed. Source: Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of Russias Belgorod Oblast; Russian Defence Ministry; Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian news outlet; Baza, a Russian Telegram channel Details: Gladkov reportedly said on the morning of 16 March that an air-raid warning had been issued in Belgorod. It was in effect for about 20 minutes. The Russian Ministry of Defence said that air defence systems had shot down eight RM-70 Vampire missiles and two drones over the city. Later, the authorities claimed that two people had been killed and three more injured. Photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack were posted on social media. Residential buildings and at least 15 cars were damaged. Support UP or become our patron! CARACAS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned on Friday the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States against Nicaragua, which aim to affect "the security and stability of the nation." "President Nicolas Maduro Moros, on behalf of the Venezuelan people and government, condemns the new interference undertaken by the U.S. government against the people and government of Nicaragua, by imposing unilateral coercive measures in defense matters, which seek to affect the capacity of that State to guarantee the security and stability of the nation," said the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry in a statement. Maduro regarded the U.S. move as an "expression of imperial arrogance" that demonstrates "the continued contempt of the U.S. government for international law and other fundamental principles of peaceful coexistence among States contained in the United Nations Charter." The South American nation reaffirmed its support for the Nicaraguan government and people and expressed admiration for President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo for their "loyalty, resistance and daily defense of sovereignty, peace, stability and the sacred right of the Nicaraguan people to continue working for their well-being." The electric vehicle was donated in memory of Mavis Lesbirel, and will be the first electric car in the ambulance fleet A new electric vehicle has been donated to Guernsey's ambulance service in memory of a patient. Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service said the vehicle would perform a range of roles including assisting in supporting independence for people over 80. The vehicle was donated in memory of Mavis Lesbirel, and will serve as the first electric car in the fleet. Specialist Paramedic Kelly Marquis said the vehicle had a multitude of uses. She said: "The great thing about this vehicle is that it can be used as an emergency response vehicle, but it's also got the space that I can carry other bits of equipment that I would use in my preventative care role as well - so it's really the best of both worlds. "It can be used as a car or it can be used as a van, it can be used as a front-line vehicle and it can be used as a general all purpose vehicle as well." Mark Mapp, Ambulance service Chief Executive Officer, said the vehicle would support the "changing needs of our community". He said: "We are extremely grateful to the family of Mavis Lesbirel for the generous donation of this electric car for the preventative care service. "The work of the ambulance service is supported by charitable donations, which allows us to develop additional community services, not covered under our contract with the States of Guernsey." Follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Vilnius has bid farewell to Tadas Tumas, the volunteer soldier who died in Ukraine on 23 February. Source: LRT, European Pravda reports The farewell to Tadas, the first Lithuanian volunteer to die in Ukraine, lasted for two days at St. Ignatius Church, the church of the Lithuanian Military Ordinariate. Gitanas Nauseda, the President of Lithuania, also attended the ceremony to bid the soldier farewell. Farewell to Tadas Tumas Photo: E. Blazevic, LRT On Saturday morning, a memorial service was held, after which the procession headed for the military cemetery adorned with the flags of Lithuania and Ukraine. At least a hundred people came to the ceremony. Tadas Tumas fought in Ukraine as a member of the International Legion. He was killed on 23 February near Bakhmut when he was driving a car near the contact zone with a Ukrainian brother-in-arms the car was hit by a Russian drone loaded with explosives. Man, holding a photo of Tadas Tumas Photo: E. Blazevic, LRT Reminder: On Friday, the death of a German volunteer who fought as part of the International Legion was reported. Earlier, a Czech volunteer was killed near Avdiivka. In December, a volunteer from the Republic of Ireland was killed in Ukraine. Back in the spring of 2022, Mantas Kvedaravicius, Lithuanian documentary filmmaker, was killed in the besieged city of Mariupol, but his footage was saved. Support UP or become our patron! The Open Arms maritime vessel that set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus carrying humanitarian aid approaches the coast of Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Following the arrival by sea of a first aid shipment of aid for the Gaza Strip, almost 200 tons of food for the sealed-off territory's population have been brought safely ashore. "The entire shipment has been unloaded and is being prepared for distribution on the Gaza coast," the Spanish organization behind the mission, World Central Kitchen (WCK), said on Saturday. The Open Arms ship set sail from the Cypriot port of Larnaca on Tuesday and reached the waters off Gaza on Friday. The organization, which was founded by Jose Andres, a Spanish celebrity chef living in the United States, is currently preparing another ship with relief supplies for Gaza in Larnaca. It is not yet clear when it will set off for the conflict zone with a further 240 tons of food, the WCK said. Together with local partners, the organization operates 60 community kitchens in Gaza, which prepare meals for the Palestinian population. Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October, the WSK says it has brought 1,500 lorry loads to the strip and provided 37 million meals. The Open Arms mission, which is using the sea route for the first time, is considered a pilot project. The European Union is also planning a sea corridor to improve supplies to the more than two million people in Gaza. Irrespective of this, the United States is planning a maritime corridor to Gaza. The US military is to build a floating dock near the Gaza coast. The Open Arms maritime vessel that set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus carrying humanitarian aid approaches the coast of Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The Open Arms maritime vessel that set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus carrying humanitarian aid approaches the coast of Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The first ship carrying 200 tons of food gathered by World Central Kitchen (WCK) arrived in Gaza Friday and, the organization announced, more will be coming soon. WCK, the charity founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, released a statement that its team unloaded the aid in Gaza. The food was carried on a ship by the Spanish aid group Open Arms and is part of the WCKs effort to bring as much aid as possible to Palestinians by sea. The ship departed from Cyprus on Tuesday and WCK announced preparations are already underway to dispatch a second boat carrying hundreds more tons of aid, along with heavy machinery to expedite the offloading process. Andres posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, shared the news of the ships arrival. We did it! Teams of @WCKitchen and @openarms_fund working hard to offload all 200 tons12 trucks! This was a test! To learnwe could bring thousands of tons a weekwith what we learn we will get better, he said online. I want us to build a highway of constantly flowing aid on the sea as just one more access point into Gaza that is so desperately needed, WCK CEO Erin Gore, who was recently on the ground in Cyprus, said in a statement. The delivery includes rice, flour, legumes, canned vegetables and proteins. It was organized alongside the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, the release said. The United States and other allies began sending air drops of aid to civilians in Gaza in early March. President Biden announced that the U.S. military would build a temporary port on Gazas coast to increase aid deliveries by sea. Still, the floating pier is expected to take up to two months to construct. The WCK voyage from Cyprus to Gaza was about 200 miles across the Mediterranean Sea Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported. According to the United Nations, a quarter of the territorys population is starving. The aid deliveries come as the U.S. and other countries continue to negotiate with Israel and Hamas about a temporary cease-fire, which has yet to be reached. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. THE VILLAGES, Fla. (WFLA) A Florida man who was wanted in the violent abduction of his girlfriend has been arrested after a nearly day-long standoff, deputies said. Wildwood police first announced that they were looking for suspect James Savage, 54, after he attacked his girlfriend and forced her into a car Thursday night. 500-pound ball of pythons found in Florida marsh Marion County deputies later found the victim and the suspect in the Villages. While the victim was rescued, Savage remained barricaded in a home for hours, lasting all the way into Saturday morning. Deputies said at 10:30 a.m., Savage finally surrendered peacefully. He was then arrested on kidnapping and domestic battery charges, as well as charges related to the standoff. Its been a long night for the Marion County Sheriffs Office and we cannot thank them enough for bringing this barricaded suspect, James Savage out without injury putting an end to this case that began 34+ hours ago, the Wildwood Police Department said. Thank you from our Wildwood Police Department team to yours! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Foreign holders of Ukrainian bonds are in talks to form a creditor committee ahead of debt restructuring negotiations with Ukraine, Reuters reported on March 15, citing four people familiar with the matter. According to the report, a two-year freeze on payments, agreed by the holders of outstanding bonds totaling $20 billion, is set to expire in August. Journalists added that the negotiations could begin before the International Monetary Fund's spring session, which starts on April 17 in Washington. Read also: Over $2.6M allocated for Shelter program December payments, benefiting 84K homeowners The sources say that efforts to unite creditors are coming from several directions. The agency added that Ukraine's Finance Ministry has reached out to some investors to form a creditors' group. This group could include between eight and twelve major asset managers. A source in the ministry told the journalists that the country continues "to gather investor opinions on approaches to commercial debt management." Read also: The Ministry of Finance explains where the majority of Ukraines national debt came from This would be the first attempt to formalize debt negotiations between "private bondholders and 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 A little more than a week after the Dolphins released Jerome Baker, the longtime starting inside linebacker has found a new home. Baker is signing a one-year, $7 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, ESPN reported Saturday. The Dolphins released Baker on March 5, parting ways with the 2018 draft pick who spent the first six years of his career in Miami. The Dolphins saved close to $10 million in cap space by releasing Baker. According to a source, Baker agreed to take a pay cut from his $10.8 million base salary in 2024 but the sides could not agree on an exact number. A return to Miami was not ruled out but the Dolphins quickly moved to find his replacement in free agency, signing former Seahawks starting inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks to a three-year, $26.25 million deal. Miami also signed former Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. to a one-year deal. Miami Herald sportswriter Barry Jackson contributed to this report. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Former Arkansas Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, 50, was arrested on March 7 in Springdale for driving while intoxicated, open container containing alcohol in motor vehicle and implied consent. Former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr According to an arrest report, police responded to a traffic accident at 4566 Powell Street where an SUV was flipped on its side in a ditch. Police said when they approached the SUV, they smelled the strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. The report said officers helped Darr out of his car and noticed an open bottle of alcohol in the center console. When asked, Darr told police he had one drink before driving. He told police he had an 8 ounce Titos and Redbull two hours prior to the accident. UPDATE: Arrested suspect identified in Fort Smith bank robbery Darr agreed to a field sobriety test and told police a deer ran in front of him, according to the report. The report says Darr was told several times to keep his head still and forward during the test but failed to do so. Police also had to tell Darr several times the starting position of the walk and turn test before he was able to complete it, according to the report. Darr-Mark-1Download The report said Darr lost his balance several times throughout the test, and stepped off the line, missed the heel to toe, had an improper turn and raised his arms. The report says Darr was not able to keep his foot off the ground for more than a second during the one leg stand. Darr was taken to the Springdale Police Department where he was arrested and refused to give a breath sample. Darrs court date is set for April 9 at 8:30 a.m. Darr served as lieutenant governor from 2011-14. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, he resigned with almost a year left in his term after he became involved in investigations relating to alleged ethics violations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. A few hours into her labour with her second child, former midwife Robyn Davis began to feel drowsy and confused, as though she was drunk, and repeatedly told midwives she felt sure something was wrong. But every time she raised concerns, they were brushed aside. The midwives attending her birth were former colleagues and friends of hers, they were relaxed and insisted there was nothing to worry about. Robyn grew increasingly panicked as her questions were dismissed. In a two-hour video which she had set up to record what she thought would be the birth of her child at home, midwives are caught on camera telling her things like: I dont know why youre worrying so much, its going to make it worse, and: You need to stop worrying and take off your midwife hat pretend you know nothing. Hours later, Robyn was in a coma and her baby son Orlando was in intensive care with a severe brain injury caused by oxygen starvation. He died 14 days later. An inquest this week concluded that neglect had contributed to his death. Midwives and doctors had failed to notice that Robyn had developed the rare and potentially fatal condition hyponatraemia during labour, where an imbalance of fluids alters blood sodium levels. I was gaslit, says Robyn, 28. I trusted these people so much that at one point I felt it must be me going insane. I kept voicing my concerns but they shot them down without carrying out any observations [health checks]. Normally I would have stood my ground but I was too poorly to question it, I didnt have the strength to argue. I felt maybe I should just be quiet, because if they were so sure nothing was wrong then it must be me being crazy. I was totally powerless. When we meet in their immaculate bungalow in Steyning, West Sussex, Robyn and her husband Jonny, 30, a sales manager, describe their life as picture perfect before Orlando died. The couple met in Brighton as teenagers in 2012, when they were 17 and 19, through a mutual love of music (Jonny played in bands, while Robyn was studying drumming). After several happy years together, they got engaged in 2017, around the same time as Robyn got her first job as a qualified midwife. She had loved studying midwifery at the University of Brighton and had really enjoyed her placement at Worthing Hospital, which was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. After graduating with first class honours, she was delighted to get a position within the same trust. But on her very first shift, she realised everything felt wrong. The department was understaffed, meaning there was little to no support for newly qualified midwives. Robyn Davis with her son Orlando, just days before his death - PA Robyn says: Often I was too busy to give the care I wanted to give. On postnatal ward, I could be looking after 10 women and their babies. My anxiety levels were so high, knowing there was so much more I should be doing but just couldnt. Throughout the time I worked there, I was made to feel I shouldnt be asking questions. I would come home and cry. Robyn handed in her notice less than four months after joining and, when her request to transfer to community midwifery were refused, she quit the profession and retrained as an early years teacher, working primarily in nurseries caring for babies. She and Jonny married in 2019 and had their first daughter, Dixie, in May 2020. Although strict lockdown restrictions in place at the time prevented Robyn from being able to have the homebirth she wanted, or attend hospital with her husband until her labour was advanced, she describes the birth as textbook it was straightforward and she delivered Dixie quickly in a home-from-home birthing room at Worthing Hospital without requiring pain relief or medical assistance. Despite her negative experiences as a midwife a few years earlier, Robyn had felt confident giving birth at Worthing. I knew it well, I knew the staff, which I thought was a positive, she recalls. I knew I was low-risk and felt sure I could advocate for myself because of my midwifery training. In the end, we had a wonderful experience. So, when she discovered she was pregnant again when her first child was just eight weeks old, Robyn was surprised but delighted. We always wanted a big family we hoped for four children. Again, Robyns pregnancy was largely straightforward and midwives were very happy for her to plan for a homebirth. When she went into labour just after 10am on September 9, 2021, she was excited and looking forward to meeting her son. But things began to go wrong while she was labouring at home. Robyn and Jonny repeatedly told the attending midwives she hadnt been able to pass urine when she tried to go to the toilet. Robyn said the baby felt stuck and questioned if he was in the right position. In hindsight, they believe his unusual position may have blocked her bladder, preventing her from being unable to urinate. She kept saying she felt unwell and was unnaturally tired, finding it harder and harder to speak as time passed. But every time she questioned if everything was OK, her concerns were dismissed without midwives carrying out thorough checks. At the inquest, one admitted she thought Robyns changed behaviour was caused by her using hypnobirthing (a breathing and meditation technique), despite the fact it wasnt in her birth plan. When the babys heart rate became raised on multiple occasions which can be a sign something is wrong midwives urged Robyn to drink more and stay hydrated. In fact, each of the seven midwives and two doctors the couple saw during her 16-hour labour said the same. The message that Robyn had not been able to go to the toilet was not passed on between staff changing shifts. By the evening, midwives became concerned enough about the babys heartbeat to transfer her to hospital by ambulance. Robyn had drunk four litres of water. In hospital, a lack of communication between staff meant another three litres of fluid were pumped into her intravenously. Not long afterwards, Robyn violently vomited two litres of liquid. By the time a doctor decided a C-section was necessary, Robyn was too delirious to sign the consent form. All she could say was help me. As Jonny bent down beside her with the form to try to encourage her to sign it, he saw Robyns eyes roll back into her head. She let out a high-pitched, desperate scream and began convulsing violently. What happened next is a blur to the couple many details they have only found out much later during investigations and the inquest. They know the closest operating theatre was shut for an annual clean so Robyn had to be taken to another floor. There were delays as the lift wasnt working properly. At one point, a member of staff had to sit on the trolley to restrain Robyn during a seizure. It was some time before she was stable enough for doctors to perform an emergency C-section. Orlando was born without a heartbeat. 'I'm glad that there is learning happening that will hopefully help people in future,' says Robyn Davis, 'but my son wasn't born to be a learning curve. He should be at home thriving' - Christopher Pledger/The Telegraph He was born dead, Robyn interjects. They told me he was born in poor condition but that downplays it. After around 20 minutes of resuscitation, medics revived Orlandos heartbeat but he was severely brain damaged, paralysed from the head down and couldnt swallow on his own. He was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit 15 miles away at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Robyn was placed in an induced coma for three days. When she woke, she was still experiencing the effects of hyponatraemia, including confusion and paranoia. No one had told me how ill my son was, she says. When I was finally able to see him, I went into the room smiling because I was excited to meet him and the doctor had to take me very gently to one side and explain there was nothing they could do for him. I started screaming. I was devastated. I became very angry that people had met my son, had touched him, before I could. I had a lot of resentment and I felt really upset that Id been away from him for so long. Orlandos parents were told palliative care was the only option. The doctors told us there was a choice of withdrawing food, stopping clearing his airway or reducing his oxygen supply, says Robyn, her voice breaking. Can you imagine how awful it is being asked to choose how you want your child to die? It goes against every single instinct you have as a parent. The decision was made with Orlandos medical team to withdraw all treatment. Orlando was introduced to his big sister, who had not been allowed into the hospital previously due to Covid restrictions. He passed away in his parents arms the following morning. Now, Robyn and Jonny have photos of Orlando up on the walls of their living room. They keep his ashes in a heart-shaped box. While her son was transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit, Robyn Davis was put into an induced coma for three days - Solent News & Photo Agency After three years of delays and the couples long fight for justice at this weeks inquest the coroner did not, as they had hoped, conclude it was a case of gross negligence manslaughter. Instead, she recorded a narrative verdict which noted that the failure of healthcare staff to recognise Robyns declining condition during labour was fundamental, that there were lost opportunities to treat her both at home and in hospital, and that Orlandos death was contributed to by neglect. While University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has offered its sincere condolences for the couples loss, there has been no apology for the events that led to Orlandos death. For Robyn, the pain she feels about this is compounded by the fact those involved were people she knew. In my training, I was taught that if you make a mistake, you hold your hands up to it, she says.I dont claim these people went to work and wanted what happened to happen, but they didnt at any moment do anything to stop it. Every single one of them had the opportunity to do something different and they didnt. In fact, when one midwife was questioned at the inquest as to whether she would do anything differently if she could go back in time, knowing as she did now that the events had led to Orlandos death, she said no. Im haunted by that - not only as a midwife, but as a friend, Robyn adds quietly. She hasnt spoken to any of her former colleagues or friends from the hospital since Orlando was born. At both the inquest and in the official statement the Trust has released since, it has emphasised how hyponatraemia is an extremely rare condition which is little understood. Robyn believes this deflects from a failure to carry out basic midwifery care. I wasnt taught about hyponatraemia - it is rare - but I was taught that you need to be really vigilant about monitoring fluid input and output during labour, she adds. The inquest took place when the couples third child, Nova, was just nine weeks old. She was born via a planned C-section at a hospital in Brighton, where Robyn said the couples anxieties were taken seriously and they received very good care. As a result of Orlandos birth, Robyn incurred birth injuries, including lasting damage to her pelvic floor and bladder. She cannot stand for long or lift anything heavy and has had to leave her job because it is both too physically demanding and mentally difficult. The thing I was really good at was working with children but I just cant now, she says. It is too triggering. I find it so hard to be around little boys knowing we should have a two-year-old at home. Both she and Jonny have been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression following Orlandos death and have spent thousands of pounds on therapy so far. They also both struggle with health anxiety and find it very difficult to cope when their daughters are unwell. The couple are also suing the Trust in a civil case. The Trust says it has since implemented training for staff in hyponatraemia and the coroner is recommending national guidelines be put in place. Im glad that there is learning happening that will hopefully help people in future, but my son wasnt born to be a learning curve, he should be at home thriving, she adds. Asked what justice they would like to see, the couple say they cant imagine what justice could look like. All these people who were involved in our care, they get to go home at the end of the day and carry on with their lives, Robyn adds. Our lives will never be the same again. Every day I wake up with the knowledge that my son is dead for us it is a life sentence. I put all my trust in these people to keep me and my baby safe. They failed us. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. People across the state of Georgia and the country are reacting to Judge Scott McAfees ruling in connection to the election interference case involving former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen others. The ruling stated that either Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis or special prosecutor Nathan Wade had to step down from the case because of the appearance of impropriety. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Friday afternoon, Wade submitted his resignation. He wrote in part: I hereby offer my resignation, effective immediately, as Special Prosecutor for the Fulton County District Attorneys Office. Although the court found that the Defendants failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest, I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy. Willis accepted the resignation. Channel 2s Audrey Washington spoke with former Georgia NAACP president James Woodall and former DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James to get their takes on the decision. The voters and citizens of Georgia ultimately care about whether or not the former president is in fact found guilty or not of these offenses, and thats really why we are here, said Woodall. Woodall also weighed in on optics and whether criticisms surrounding Willis relationship with Wade would in any way taint the case moving forward. There were improper things done in this case on the part of our district attorney while, at the same time, there were very racist, anti-Black ways that this played out in the public view, he explained. RELATED STORIES: James said the co-defendants in the case will do whatever it takes to be found not guilty. Theyre going to say that they targeted her because shes African American. I dont know if that is necessarily true, but I do know she was, that they will do whatever they have to to get an acquittal in this case, James added. Following the ruling former President Trumps attorney hinted at an appeal. There was not evidence rather to suggest or determine that an actual appearance of conflict existed. So, for the burden of the defendant that brought forth these motions to say there was a conflict of interest, there was financial gain that wasnt proven time and time again, so I dont believe that the court of appeals would actually take this case up, Woodall said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A mountainous township in China's Xinjiang put together a convoy of vehicles to ensure the safe travel of students to school amid challenging natural conditions. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Former Vice President Mike Pence says he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 election. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, Pence said in an interview with Fox News Channel Friday. Pence ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination but dropped his bid before voting began. The decision makes Pence the latest in a series of senior Trump administration officials who have declined to endorse their former boss. While Republican members of Congress and other GOP officials have largely rallied behind Trump, a vocal minority has continued to oppose his bid. When Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Pence was forced to flee as rioters chanted, Hang Mike Pence! 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 Its just as well they had changed the name. A little over a fortnight ago, the Conservative Party held its annual Winter Ball at Raffles, the swanky Old War Office hotel in Westminster. The event, at which wealthy donors rub shoulders with Cabinet ministers and bid on auction lots (one attendee stumped up 25,000 for a Japanese meal with Jeremy Hunt), used to be called the Black and White Ball. Sitting at the top table with Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister enjoying a meal of rainbow trout with squid ink, Hereford beef fillet and chocolate pudding was the businessman Frank Hester. Earlier that day, the Electoral Commission had announced the health-care technology entrepreneur had become the largest ever Tory donor after boosting the partys coffers to the tune of 10 million over the previous year. This included a 5 million donation he made personally and another 5 million that came from his software firm, which has won large contracts from the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care. He also gave Sunak the use of a helicopter for a political visit, valued at 15,000. There are reports he was planning to donate another 5 million before the general election. This week, the 58-year-old founder and chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) became not just the Tory partys biggest donor, but also its most notorious, following newspaper reports about comments he is alleged to have made in company meetings. On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that Hester said looking at Diane Abbott [made him] want to hate all black women, and that the former Labour (now independent) MP should be shot. The same newspaper has since reported that Hester, who made last years Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of 415 million, asked staff on a crowded balcony at the TPP headquarters if there was no room for the Indians, before suggesting they climb on a train roof during a meeting. It is alleged he also said he made a lot of jokes about racism. A protester holds a placard outside Downing Street calling Conservative Party to give donations by Frank Hester to anti-racist charities after donor allegedly made racist remarks about Britain's first black member of parliament Diane Abbott - Avalon All rights reserved Hester has since said he is deeply sorry. In a post on the social-media site X (formerly Twitter), a spokesman for the businessman admitted Hester had made rude comments about Abbott, but added they had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin. At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Keir Starmer asked: Is the Prime Minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language? He added that the Prime Minister should pluck up the courage to hand back the 10 million. So far, Sunak and the Conservative Party have resisted calls to return Hesters donation. However, the lingering scandal will continue to raise difficult questions about political funding in the UK, whether donors can effectively buy access to ministers, and if parties are doing enough to vet those who bankroll them. In many ways, Hester is an atypical Tory donor. Hailing from an avowedly working-class background, he is a fierce critic of Margaret Thatchers handling of the miners strike. Speaking to The Telegraph last month, he said: That left a very bitter taste in my mouth, seeing South Yorkshire and Durham devastated by the pit closures. Communities that could never recover from that. Its one of the most dreadful things thats happened in our country, I think. Conversely, he is full of praise for the reforms of the National Health Service that took place under Tony Blair and his health secretary Alan Milburn. Leeds-based TPP is reported to have won 400 million of NHS and prison-service contracts in the past eight years. Company records show that The Phoenix Partnership (Leeds), Hesters main operating company, made profits before tax of 40 million on revenue of 80 million in the 2022/23 financial year (the last for which accounts have been filed). Hester was made an OBE in 2015 - PA Archive/Press Association Images Hester has denied his political donations are an attempt to win favour for his business, pointing out that most of his contracts are awarded by GP practices, which are private organisations, or individual hospital trusts, not central government. He has in the past voted for the Green Party or spoilt his ballot paper. He is said to have been impressed by Sunak and believes the Prime Ministers enthusiasm for using data and technology to transform access to health care is genuine. In last weeks Budget, Jeremy Hunt announced an additional 6 billion for the NHS to improve productivity and cut waiting lists using AI. Hester was raised in Leeds by parents who had emigrated from Ireland. His father left school when he was 14 to build hay sheds and subsequently developed respiratory problems from the work. Hester with his father Michael Hester was a whizz with Rubiks Cubes and jigsaw puzzles as a child and found his vocation when he was given his first computer. He used this to build a program to handle the payroll for his parents plastering business. = Those who have met Hester describe the thickset businessman as a typical computer nerd, who is somewhat socially awkward and finds it difficult to maintain eye contact. After initially training to become a priest, Hester joined the Halifax bank. The idea for his company came from seeing his former wife, a GP, struggling with the glitchy software used by her practice. In 2005, he started building an alternative with a university friend. By the late 2010s, it was one of the two main providers in the country, with software that ensured medical records of patients were available across the NHS. Hester remains the sole director and shareholder of TPP, meaning he is answerable to no one but himself. He has been described as gruff and no-nonsense by staff, but also as extremely generous providing a free bar at a local pub on Fridays and inviting employees on sailing trips. When TPP reached a valuation of 1 billion, Hester threw a unicorn party for staff at his house near Leeds, complete with live horses fitted with horns. . Hester with Boris Johnson in 2022 - @AshleyBrookTPP @HuiChi_TPP Those close to the Conservative Party point out that it cant really afford to be that picky about who it accepts money from these days. One longtime Tory donor says he gives less than he used to and many of the people that attended Conservative Party fundraising events in the past have been conspicuous by their absence at recent shindigs. He points out that there has been a large increase in British-Asian donors since Sunak entered No 10. Another Tory donor suggests this may be one reason why Tory MPs have been reluctant to depose the Prime Minister. Of course, this new cadre of benefactors also represents one of the important constituencies that may have been angered by Hesters comments. Certainly, the recent schism in the Tory Party has been matched in its donor base. Peter Cruddas, the businessman and philanthropist who has given more than 3 million to the Conservatives since 2010, was a strong supporter of Boris Johnson, while Jon Moynihan, the businessman and chairman of Vote Leave, backed Liz Truss. A number of former Tory donors are also known to have defected to Labour, including Kasim Kutay, who runs the life-sciences investor Novo Holdings; Gareth Quarry, the entrepreneur and investor; and Richard Walker, the boss of the Iceland supermarket chain. The billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy, who donated to the Conservatives under Boris Johnson, said earlier this year that he might support Labour at the next election: Maybe its time for some change. Last Thursday, Candys wife, Holly Valance, a former star of the daytime-television soap Neighbours, announced her support for Reform UK and said she hopes Nigel Farage will play a key role in the upcoming election. Political advisers say that even many of those donors who remain loyal to the Conservative cause are starting to think one step ahead, assuming that the party will be ousted at the next election and beginning to channel their money towards those Tory MPs who have already started jostling for position ahead of the next leadership contest. Despite trailing Labour in the polls for months, the Conservative Party can still draw on significant financial firepower. But the Hester scandal has yet again highlighted a very murky area of British political life. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Freddy Nock, the Swiss high-wire artist, who has died suddenly at home aged 59, collected a score of world records for a succession of stomach-churning stunts in which he scorned all safety equipment. Notably, he broke a record that had stood for three decades, for highest tightrope walk (ground-supported), set by Philippe Petit in 1974 when he walked a high-wire 411m (1,350ft) above ground between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York. In 2015, in the Eastern Alps, Nock walked between two snowy peaks on a 349m-long tightrope no wider than his thumb over a drop of more than 1,000m. Nock balances on the ropeway of a cable car on Germany's highest mountain, Zugspitze, in 2011 - Michaela Rehle/Reuters The circus was in his blood; the Nocks had established Switzerlands first official circus in 1840. A century later The Nerveless Nocks had wowed the United States, headlining The Greatest Show on Earth in 1954 and performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, in the same episode as The Beatles. That year his great-uncle Pio Nock appeared in the movie Circus World, with John Wayne, Rita Hayworth and Claudia Cardinale. His father Alfredo Nock had split from Zirkus Nock and set up a circus of his own. Freddy walked his first rope aged four, and was proficient on the high-wire at 11. By 1994, he had won the Silver Clown (second prize) at the Circus Oscars in Monte Carlo. Photogenically chiselled and bronzed, he had a look of Burt Reynolds, with the addition of a David Niven-esque pencil moustache. Among the records he held at various times were the fastest skywalk between two hot-air balloons, the longest cable walk (3.5km up a cable-car rope in Switzerland), the longest time running on a Wheel of Death (25 hours), and the longest time spent sitting continuously on a chair balanced on a high wire (8hr 30min 55sec). He set tightrope records blindfold, on bicycles, at record speeds, and at the steepest ever gradients. He walked backwards in gale-force winds. No skyscraper, no mountain and no lake is safe from him, read his flyer. His philosophy was that You cant live your life just focusing on all the dangers. Death is a part of life and when your time is up, its up. But he was not without fear. Curiously, for someone whose motto was the sky is the limit, he was scared of flying in aeroplanes, and in the sea he was anxious about sharks. Performing in front of the Tempodrom venue in Berlin in 2016 - Britta Pedersen/DPA/AFP via Getty Images He drilled himself meticulously to catch the rope with his hands when he lost his balance, as he did in 2010, when a gust of wind blew him off a cable-car wire in Hunan. He only had one major accident, aged 18, when he was thinking more about a blonde girl in the front row than about the rope. He fell and broke his wrists. His feet were as precise as a Swiss watch but his heart was a less reliable part of the mechanism. His first marriage failed; in 2019, his second wife accused him of trying to kill her, and he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Zofinger District Court. His defence lawyer admitted that it was a wild marriage and a toxic relationship, characterised by violence, but a year later, at the Argau High Court, he was declared innocent of attempted intentional homicide and compensated for his cancelled performances. This year he had planned a comeback stunt, walking a high-wire suspended under a hot-air balloon at an altitude of more than 5,000m. Nock balances blindfold on a cable-car ropeway at Les Diablerets in 2020 - Denis Balibouse/Reuters Alfred Nock was born on December 10 1964 in Granichen, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, to Alfredo Nock and Margrith Nock-Gautschi. At 16, after his fathers circus had folded, he toured with his aunts, balancing over lion cages, riding loops in an iron ball on his motorcycle and shooting apples off peoples heads with a crossbow. He set his first Guinness World Record in 1998 by running 734m up the suspension cable of the St Moritz Signal cable car, and went on to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity with his stunts. He is survived by four daughters from his first marriage, including the circus performer Stephanie Nock, and a young son from his second, who joined him, aged six, on the Wheel of Death. Freddy Nock, born December 10 1964, died February 7 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. The man who is allegedly responsible for the deaths of a National Guard mother and her 11-year-old daughter is expected to return to Massachusetts to face charges. According to the Worcester District Attorney's Office, Dejan Belnavis appeared in a San Diego, California courtroom Friday and signed a waiver of extradition, clearing the way for him to return to Massachusetts. Belnavis, 27, has been jailed in California since being apprehended Monday afternoon near the San Diego Zoo. A multi-state manhunt transpired after the double-murder of Connecticut Army National Guard member Chastity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella. MAN ARRESTED IN CALIFORNIA IN CONNECTION TO FATAL SHOOTING OF MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN, DAUGHTER The Worcester Police Department has released new images in the search for Dejan Belnavis. Belnavis has been on the run since the slaying of Nunez and her daughter in Worcester, Massachusetts on March 5. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The mother-daughter duo were sitting in their parked SUV at 3 p.m. when two gunmen fired into their vehicle. "Upon arrival, officers located a parked vehicle with two female gunshot victims inside," the Worcester Police Department said. "The victims were identified as a mother and her daughter, and they were both pronounced deceased at the hospital." The Worcester Police Department quickly linked Belnavis and 28-year-old Karel Mangual to the murder. On March 6, one day following the shooting, Mangual was found and arrested. "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." Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, were shot and killed while sitting inside a parked SUV in Worcester, MA. Nunez was mourned and remembered for her resiliency and dedication to serving her country. "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," National Guard spokesperson Maj. David Pytlik told Fox News Digital. MASSACHUSETTS POLICE RELEASE NEW IMAGES IN HUNT FOR SUSPECT WANTED IN DOUBLE MURDER OF SERVICEMEMBER, DAUGHTER 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. 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." "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." Chasity Nunez was remembered for her "wit, social nature and dedication to duty." 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. Original article source: Fugitive charged in double murder of National Guard member, daughter signs extradition to Massachusetts G7 countries have warned Tehran against supplying ballistic missiles to Moscow, threatening Iran with repercussions if it continues to enable Russias aggression against Ukraine. The corresponding joint statement was published on the European Council's website on March 15. "Were Iran to proceed with providing ballistic missiles or related technology to Russia, we are prepared to respond swiftly and in a coordinated manner including with new and significant measures against Iran," the statement reads. Read also: EU mulls new sanctions against Iran over ballistic missile transfers to Russia Reuters The G7 countries added that they are deeply concerned by reports that Iran is once again considering the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. Read also: Russian ballistic missile strikes 500 meters from Zelenskyy, Greek PM in Odesa "We call on Iran not to do so, as it would add to regional destabilization and represent a substantive material escalation in its support for Russias war in Ukraine an aggression which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter," the document said. Read also: Russia attacked Odesa with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles fired from occupied Crimea - Humeniuk On Nov. 21, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that according to U.S. assessments, Iran is preparing to supply Russia with short-range ballistic missiles. On Feb. 25, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said Iran has not provided Russia with ballistic missiles yet. 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 Fifty-six years ago, March 16, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy (Sr.) announced his candidacy for the presidency. Speaking from the same room his murdered brother had eight years earlier, Kennedy said: I run to seek new policies to end the bloodshed in Vietnam and in our cities, to close the gaps between black and white, between rich and poor, between young and old, in this country and around the world. Gene Nichol This was the existentially wounded RFK, not the younger pugilistic figure of the McCarthy and Teamster hearings, or his brothers campaign and cabinet. He was the candidate whose life by then reflected the Aeschylus lines he often repeated: pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom, through the awful grace of God. No other major presidential candidate in my lifetime, or before, would launch a crusade focusing, foundationally, on the inexcusable and ugly deprivation that causes children to starve in Mississippi, black citizens to riot in Watts, young Indians to commit suicide on reservations because they lack all hope, and proud and able-bodied families to wait out their lives in empty idleness in eastern Kentucky. He could not stand aside from the contest that will decide our nation and our childrens future. Im modestly obsessed with four episodes of the last months of Robert Kennedys life, most of which echo in his announcement speech. His famed trip to the Mississippi Delta in April 1967, his subsequent February visits to eastern Kentucky, his 1968 Delano California meetings with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, and his haunting speeches April 4 and 5 in Indianapolis and Cleveland following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. These four episodes mark a politics unseen in America. Their lessons are even more essential in a darkened Trump era than when they were issued. Beginning in Cleveland Miss., Amzie Moore and a skeptical Marian Wright (Edelman) escorted Kennedy into what Charles Evers called the worst places Ive ever seen. Witnessing Third World starvation, he would touch the childrens cheeks as if they were his own, Evers said. In one house Kennedy entered without press or politicians, he tearfully knelt down trying for perhaps five minutes to get a response from a child. Edelman said that was the moment she knew Kennedy was real. In eastern Kentucky he saw proud lands and proud men who had rallied to the nations flag at every danger stripped of dignity and hope, their children ravaged by worms and parasites, their communities a ruin of strip mines and stinking creeks. In Delano, Kennedy was inspired and enlightened by Chavez. Delores Huerta said: Robert didnt come and tell us what was good for us, he asked what do you want and how can I help? Thats why we loved him. Robert F. Kennedy Kennedys greatest address, an impromptu announcement of Dr. Martin Luther Kings assassination to a mostly Black audience in strife-torn Indianapolis, was delivered despite local authorities demand that it be canceled. David Margolick wrote Kennedy was the only white man who had the credibility and courage to go into the black community and talk about King. He spoke, amazingly, of Aeschylus, and his murdered brother, asking a stunned audience to reject bitterness, hatred and revenge and to commit, with him, to what the Greeks wrote long ago, to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world. The next day in Cleveland, he would decry the mindless menace of violence in America which again stains our land and every one of our lives. Too often, he said, we honor swagger and bluster and the wielders of force. When you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, you learn to confront others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies, to be subjugated and mastered. Elie Wiesel wrote Kennedy had discovered another dimension of injustice, pain and human folly. He sought to show his solidarity with victims everywhere, the poor the sick, the hopeless. Kennedy saw an unfolding, long-brutalized, multi-racial democracy and sought, in Kings words, to make it real. He believed that he who rejects the stranger, rejects America. Rather than courting violence, he sought to tame the savageness of mankind. When faced with danger and division, as we are, he asked us to bind up the wounds among us and become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again. 1968. 2024. Contributing columnist Gene Nichol is a professor of law at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. (WFLA) Former General Hospital actress Robyn Bernard was found dead in an open field, according to authorities in California. She was 64. The Riverside County Sheriffs Office said Bernard died Tuesday after her body was found behind a business in San Jacinto, California. The actress cause of death was not revealed, though RCSO told Nexstar Friday that there was no evidence of foul play. Jennifer Lopez cancels Tampa concert, 6 other shows from upcoming tour Bernard was known for playing Terry Brock on the daytime soap opera for six seasons. According to IMDB, Bernard was featured in 145 episodes from 1984 to 1990. Los Angeles, CA 1988: (L-R) Scott Thompson Baker, Robyn Bernard, Jackie Zeman appearing in the ABC tv series General Hospital. (Photo by Bob DAmico /American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images) Variety reported that the actress also appeared in the French miniseries Maigret in 1992 and in a Gallic film entitled Kings for a Day in 1997. Her final on-screen performance was in 2002s Voices from the High School, where she played a psychologist. After that role, she retired from acting and moved to San Jacinto. Bernard was born in Gladewater, Texas. RCSO says an investigation into Bernards death is ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. FR Leavis wrote that the Four Quartets demand as complete an inwardness with the English language as any poetry that was ever written. That observation highlighted the complexity of T S Eliots poetic thought, which unfolds in these meditations on mans relationship with time and the universe. Eliot wrote the first of the poems, Burnt Norton, in 1935, after visiting the country house of that name in Gloucestershire. In 1937, he visited East Coker, in Somerset in whose parish church his ashes would be interred in 1965 and around the time war broke out, he was writing a poem inspired by his visit there. The third poem, The Dry Salvages, takes its name from a group of rocks off Massachusetts, where he had gone sailing as a child, before his migration to England. The final poem, Little Gidding, published in 1942, was inspired by a religious community at the eponymous village in Huntingdonshire that was founded in 1626 and, with disruptions during the Civil Wars, lasted until 1657. Eliot called them quartets because, as he explained, they were all in a particular set form each has five sections and that the title would start people on the right track for understanding them (he rejected sonatas as being too musical). The track Eliot had in mind was making a poem by weaving in together three or four superficially unrelated themes, making a new whole. All four have the theme of time; but they also explore the path to spiritual contentment from a state of tribulation, involving a rejection of materialism and recognising the importance of prayer. Orwell was appalled by Eliots use of poetry to advance, as he saw it, religion: presumably because he found it impossible to relate to such things. The opening lines of Burnt Norton Time present and time past / Are both perhaps present in time future, / And time future contained in time past are the foundation upon which all four poems come to be built, and the next pair of lines gives the purpose of the whole exercise: If all time is eternally present / All time is unredeemable. This is not merely about the function of memory, but about the road to death: which invites the spiritual matter that runs through the Four Quartets. East Coker is more overtly religious. It alludes to centuries of comings and goings: Houses rise and fall, crumble, are extended, / Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place / Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Life is summed up as feet rising and falling. / Eating and drinking. Dung and death. The Dry Salvages uses the sea as a means of depicting eternity, with man supposed to sail and avoid the rocks: The river is within us, the sea is all about us. If that poem is water, Little Gidding is fire: the fire of bombs on London, and the hellfire of purgatory. A fire-watcher himself in the war, Eliot noted three districts whence the smoke arose, but foresaw the bird sent flying through the purgatorial flame one would be redeemed from fire by fire. In the horror of a bombing war, religion, Eliot says to Orwell and others, is entirely necessary. 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 mosaic on the east side of the Leon County Courthouse, was on display from 1961 to the 1990 remodeling of the courthouse, is still behind the wall on Calhoun Street. There has been talk of re-displaying the mosaic, though parts of it were damaged in the remodeling. (This column was first published in the Tallahassee Democrat on June 7, 2015.) It's still there, you know. The biggest dang mosaic in Tallahassee. A tile map of Florida, it occupied two stories of the east side of the Leon County Courthouse for nearly 30 years. But when the new courthouse was completed in 1990, the mosaic was hidden behind a wall. You can walk up to the three false windows just south of the Calhoun Street entrance, cup your hands and peer through the darkness at the tiles. Citizens of Leon County cast their ballots during the first day of early voting at the Leon County Courthouse on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022. But it's unlikely to ever see the light of day again. "We've explored opening it back up," said Tom Brantley, Leon County director of facilities. "But it would be very expensive. It's not a current pursuit of the county." Which is a shame. The mosaic was a unique bit of public art. The first Leon County Courthouse was built in 1839 on the site of today's federal bankruptcy court on the north side of Park Avenue, between Monroe and Adams streets. It was destroyed by fire in 1879. The new courthouse was built in 1882-1883 on the site of today's county courthouse. It was remodeled in 1924 and expanded in 1942. In 1961, an annex was added to the east side on Calhoun Street. And the county commission apparently was moved to add a mosaic to the annex. Records on that decision are not readily available. The minutes of the Leon County Commission meetings have been digitized back to only 1997. Rebecca Vause of the county clerk's office searched her "big books" of printed records and found no mention of the mosaic. Covered tile mosaic map of Florida behind the Leon County Courthouse at 301 S. Monroe St. in Tallahassee. This map of Florida, set in tile at the rear of the County Courthouse addition, caused a lot of talk in Tallahassee. The map cost about $5,000. Some people have been critical of the spelling of the word Courthouse as Court House. Others say it's a bad location. Notice that a light pole is directly in front of it. Skip Young knows a bit about the mosaic. It was installed by his former father-in-law, Ellsworth Harvey, whose Harvey commercial tile company operated from 1949-1991. The mosaic was designed by American Olean, one of the largest tile companies in the nation. The mosaic was made with one-inch-square tiles, arranged in 1-foot-by-2 feet slabs, which were transported to Tallahassee on railroad cars. Ellsworth Harvey and his crew then assembled the mosaic slabs on the annex wall. Young, who owns a funeral home in Crawfordville, ran the company from 1972 to 1991. Ellsworth Harvey is now 89 but in poor health. "It was a beautiful mosaic," Young said. "We were disappointed when they covered it up." The mostly blue- and pink-tiled mosaic was cool. Sea gulls and a sailfish were pictured off the east coast. There were ships and turtles around the Florida Keys. Tallahassee is the featured item: The old capitol the only capitol in 1961 was pictured on the map in the middle of a sunburst with rays emanating over the rest of Florida. At the bottom were the words: Leon County Court House. Which was an issue with some folks. "(Courthouse) was written as two words; apparently, it was one word," Young said. Indeed, the mosaic drew sneers from many. "Some thought it was gaudy. Some thought it not appropriate for a courthouse. People made fun of it for various reasons," said Loretta Galeener, a longtime courthouse employee who retired last year after a career that began in 1958. "I thought it was kind of unique myself. I didn't think that it was gaudy and ugly." Dave Lang Dave Lang, former Leon County Clerk of Court and current president of the Tallahassee Historical Society, was in the ugly camp. "It was like old bathroom tile," Lang said. "It wasn't anything wonderful and it didn't face anything. You'd have to be coming up Jefferson Street to see the darn thing. It mostly wasn't even seen." Young disputes the "bathroom tile" slur. Young doesn't remember the mosaic's cost, but American Olean is the nation's leading tile company. "They made the most elite, expensive domestic tile there was," Young said. When the new courthouse was built expanding a block south and rising to five stories all of the old courthouse was demolished. Except for the east side annex, which was incorporated into the new courthouse. "The super structure (of the annex) still had value, and we re-used it," said Warren Emo, the Tallahassee architect who designed the new courthouse. "But it was determined it didn't have any historical value. And we had to make everything watertight. So . . . (a wall was built over the mosaic)." Emo said county officials offered the mosaic to anyone who would remove it from the building. They got no takers which is no surprise. "When they installed it, it was a concrete wall they mudded an inch or two deep and then beat the tile into the wet mud," Young explained. "It would have been virtually impossible to remove it." A few years ago, Brantley sent an employee into the cavity to examine the mural. He reported large chunks had fallen out, apparently during reconstruction of the courthouse. Indeed, a former county commissioner claimed chunks from the sunburst and the Old Capitol during reconstruction. Still, it's comforting to know the mosaic is still back there. Time doesn't erase everything. Tallahassee Democrat columnist and staff writer Gerald Ensley passed on Feb. 16, 2018. Gerald Ensley was a reporter and columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat from 1980 until his retirement in 2015. He died in 2018 following a stroke. The Tallahassee Democrat is publishing columns capturing Tallahassees history from Ensleys vast archives each Sunday through 2024 in the Opinion section as part of theTLH 200: Gerald Ensley Memorial Bicentennial Project. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gerald Ensley: Mosaic still behind Leon County courthouse wall First aid supplies from Germany were dropped by parachute on Saturday over the embattled Gaza Strip as the German military starts its aid mission there, according to dpa information. The German Armed Forces or Bundeswehr deployed two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft stationed in France to the region. Each aircraft can transport up to 18 tons of cargo. The aircraft are flying from Jordan, which initiated the air drops. The United States and France are also taking part in the initiative. Aid organizations describe the situation of the people in the Gaza Strip as increasingly desperate. The United Nations has said that a hunger crisis is looming in the coastal strip if aid deliveries by truck are not expanded. About 2.2 million people live in Gaza, with more than 1 million now in the south in and around the city of Rafah after fleeing the war in the northern part of the strip. KHARTOUM, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of displaced Sudanese are observing the holy month of Ramadan amid the woe of the nearly year-long conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to UN estimates, more than 8.1 million Sudanese were forced to flee their homes. Many of the displaced live in shelter centers or neighboring countries where they sought refuge to escape the devastating clashes. With the beginning of Ramadan, thousands of these displaced Sudanese are missing out on the traditions and ambiance of this sacred time. "My three children and I were forced to leave as living in Khartoum has become impossible because of the deteriorating security conditions," Samia Jaraqandi, a 39-year-old housewife, who moved from her home in Khartoum to Kosti, the capital city of the White Nile State, told Xinhua. "We miss the atmosphere and rituals of the month of Ramadan, where we used to prepare for the holy month three months before it begins. We have lost security, and we have lost our homes. We miss Ramadan and the warmth of our homes," sighed the housewife. A'isha Mohamed, who moved from her home south of Khartoum to Sinnar State in central Sudan, said that the conflict spoiled the Sudanese people's excitement for the arrival of Ramadan. The conflict "has displaced thousands of people from their homes, so this year there will be no family gatherings during Ramadan like it used to be," she told Xinhua. According to recent estimates by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 6.3 million people have been displaced inside Sudan, while 1.8 million Sudanese have fled to neighboring nations including Egypt, Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Eritrea. The situations for those compelled to seek refuge abroad were even bleaker. Mohamed Al-Mustafa Ismail, a 51-year-old Sudanese businessman, who moved to Ethiopia, said that he and his family had never expected that they would fast the holy month outside Sudan. "We miss our Sudanese customs during Ramadan. We miss the street Iftar (the evening meal marking the end of daily fast during the holy month), the gatherings of families and neighbors, and the manifestations of solidarity during the holy month," Ismail told Xinhua. The Sudanese residing in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa are trying to make up for the loss of the distinctiveness of Ramadan in their homeland by organizing communal Iftars in the places where they are gathered, Ismail added. Ramadan "is a family gathering," Al-Nour Ahmed, a Sudanese refugee in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, told Xinhua by phone, stressing the longing for the joy of being together with relatives in their homeland. "We feel extremely sad because we are far away from our homes, our environment, our homeland, and our relatives. We do not feel the same atmosphere that we used to during Ramadan," complained Ahmed. Sudan has been mired in deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023. Recent estimates by OCHA suggest that more than 13,000 lives have been lost since the outbreak of violence. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz makes a press statement before departing for Jordan. In addition to Jordan, the Chancellor is also visiting Israel. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called for a swift ceasefire in the Gaza war as he prepared to visit the crisis-ridden region. "It would be important for an agreement to be reached very quickly now on a ceasefire that would enable the hostages to be released and at the same time allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza," Scholz said ahead of a two-day trip to Jordan and Israel. "We have a difficult situation. It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now." A ceasefire was needed that would last "for the foreseeable future," said Scholz. At the same time, the chancellor again warned Israel against conducting a military operation in Rafah in the south of the coastal strip. "We are concerned about the further progress of military developments. In particular, there is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah could result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be avoided at all costs." It is important that "a major human disaster does not occur," Scholz said. Many people had fled to Rafah who would otherwise no longer have a safe place in the Gaza Strip, he stressed. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) arrives at the airport in Aqaba. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called for a swift ceasefire in the Gaza war as he prepared to visit the crisis-ridden region. "It would be important for an agreement to be reached very quickly now on a ceasefire that would enable the hostages to be released and at the same time allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza," Scholz said ahead of a two-day trip to Jordan and Israel. "We have a difficult situation. It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now." A ceasefire was needed that would last "for the foreseeable future," said Scholz. At the same time, the chancellor again warned Israel against conducting a military operation in Rafah in the south of the coastal strip. "We are concerned about the further progress of military developments. In particular, there is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah could result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be avoided at all costs." It is important that "a major human disaster does not occur," Scholz said. Many people had fled to Rafah who would otherwise no longer have a safe place in the Gaza Strip, he stressed. Scholz first plans to meet King Abdullah II in Jordan on Sunday. In Israel, talks are planned for the same day with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and hostage relatives. On Saturday, the chancellor reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself after the terrorist attack by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and other extremists on October 7. At the same time, the rules of international law must be observed, civilian casualties must be avoided and humanitarian aid must reach the Gaza Strip, he said. Scholz was also due to discuss "how a peaceful coexistence between a Palestinian state and Israel can succeed" during his trip. This is the chancellor's second trip to the region since the war started. A meeting with representatives of the Palestinian Authority has not been planned. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz walks down the gangway of the air force Airbus A350 after landing at Aqaba airport. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) arrives at Aqaba airport. Kay Nietfeld/dpa German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is working to persuade Chancellor Olaf Scholz to greenlight shipments of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, Spiegel reported on March 15. The report says that Baerbock has refrained from public statements on the Taurus issue for several months, which Scholz might interpret as "unacceptable pressure." Read also: Macron has raised the stakes. Allied troops in Ukraine: to be or not to be? Another German outlet, FAZ, reports that Baerbock is nevertheless developing a concept for how Germany might send Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine without crossing Scholz's "red line." One option under consideration is for Germany to give their missiles to the UK. London would then send them to Kyiv, while maintaining control over which targets Ukraine will be allowed to strike. So far, Baerbock has not succeeded in persuading Scholz. The publication suggests that for the German minister, this issue is about much more than just one weapons system. Ukraine is increasingly on the defensive. Sources close to the minister believe that in this situation, it would be important for the chancellor to communicate to the Germans what Ukraines defeat would mean for European security. Read also: Despite using French- and UK-supplied cruise missiles for several months, Ukraine remains unable to receive more capable German Taurus missiles to use against Russian military targets deep behind the frontlines. 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 German intelligence services have prepared an analysis of the military threat from Russia for the government, which predicts that "from 2026 onwards", it may attack the territory of NATO member countries. Source: Business Insider; European Pravda Details: The analysis by German intelligence services indicates that Russia is preparing for a major conflict with the West, as indicated by the reorganisation of the Russian army, troop movements, and missile deployments in the western part of the country, as well as the expansion of Russian arms production. The latter could lead to Russia doubling its military strength over the next five years compared to the present day, especially in conventional arms, according to a secret report. "It can no longer be ruled out" that Russia will attack at least part of NATO territory "from 2026 onwards," such as in the Baltic states or Finland, the report cited by Business Insider says. It emphasises that German agencies have not yet made such specific statements publicly. Business Insider says that NATO headquarters also shares concerns about the increasing military capabilities of Russia and further confrontation but does not necessarily see it leading to war. In particular, Business Insider quotes assessments from American intelligence services, which "in the medium term" do not see the danger of a Russian attack on NATO and believe that Russian armed forces will need another five to eight years to restore the military strength they had before the invasion of Ukraine. Background: In recent weeks, several European NATO countries have been warning about the risk of Russian aggression. For instance, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated in January that the Alliance should prepare for a Russian attack on a NATO country within 58 years. Against this backdrop, the Bundeswehr is developing a new comprehensive defence operational plan for the first time since the end of the Cold War. This plan considers the lessons learned from Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! A C-130 of the bi-national squadron "Rhein" drops relief supplies over the Gaza Strip. Christian Timmig/Bundeswehr/dpa Germany delivered its first aid supplies for Gaza by parachute on Saturday after joining other countries in a humanitarian mission to the embattled Palestinian territory. Four tons of rice, flour and other food were dropped from a military C-130 Hercules transport aircraft over the north of the Gaza Strip. The next delivery is scheduled for Sunday. "We delivered the four pallets with pinpoint accuracy from an altitude of around 1,000 metres," the German Air Force wrote on X, formerly Twitter. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius gave the go-ahead for the mission to the Gaza Strip. Germany deployed two C-130 aircraft stationed in France to the region. Each can transport up to 18 tons of cargo and will operate out of Jordan, which initiated the airdrops. The United States and France are also taking part in the initiative. However, opinions are divided in Gaza about the usefulness of the airdrops, which can be hazardous for the population. A week ago, a pallet whose parachute failed to open killed five people. In another instance, dropped goods reportedly fell in an active combat zone with Israeli soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Authorities in Gaza have called the airdrops "futile" due to the relatively small volumes of food delivered. Many residents are also simply unable to access the areas where the supplies land. One aircraft load, which is brought to its destination at great expense, is roughly equivalent to the amount that a truck can transport. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday called for a swift ceasefire in the Gaza war as he prepared to visit the crisis-ridden region. "It would be important for an agreement to be reached very quickly now on a ceasefire that would enable the hostages to be released and at the same time allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza," Scholz said ahead of a two-day trip to Jordan and Israel. "We have a difficult situation. It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now." A ceasefire was needed that would last "for the foreseeable future," said Scholz. At the same time, the chancellor again warned Israel against conducting a military operation in Rafah in the south of the coastal strip. "We are concerned about the further progress of military developments. In particular, there is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah could result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be avoided at all costs." It is important that "a major human disaster does not occur," Scholz said. Many people had fled to Rafah who would otherwise no longer have a safe place in the Gaza Strip, he stressed. Scholz is due on Sunday to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and hostage relatives. On Thursday, Israel said it had sent 244 trucks of aid to the Gaza Strip, but only 33 of these reached the northern part of the coastal region, where the need is particularly great. Before the war, around 500 trucks of aid had been arriving in Gaza every day. About 2.2 million people live in Gaza, with more than 1 million now in the south in and around the city of Rafah after fleeing the war in the northern part of the strip. The United Nations has warned of a major hunger crisis looming if aid deliveries by truck are not expanded. The Gaza war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by the Islamist Hamas movement and other extremist Palestinian organizations in Israel on October 7. More than 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side and some 240 taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority there, more than 31,100 people have been killed on the Palestinian side since the start of the war. The German airdrops on Saturday coincided with the completion of the unloading of a first seaborne consignment of almost 200 tons of food for Gaza. The Open Arms ship operated by the Spanish organization World Central Kitchen (WCK) set sail from the Cypriot port of Larnaca on Tuesday and reached the waters off Gaza on Friday. The organization, which was founded by Jose Andres, a Spanish celebrity chef living in the United States, is currently preparing another ship with 240 tons of food for Gaza. Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October, the WSK says it has brought 1,500 truck loads of food to Gaza and provided 37 million meals. The European Union is also planning a sea corridor to improve supplies to Gaza, as is the United States, which will build a floating dock off the coast. A Deutsche Bahn (DB) train pulls into Bremen's main station. The strike by the train drivers' union GDL has come to an end - Deutsche Bahn intends to largely resume its usual services at the start of operations. Sina Schuldt/dpa German rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) said on Saturday that it is close to a resolution with train drivers' union GDL after months of conflict over wages. According to Deutsche Bahn, an agreement is imminent and there will be no strikes for the time being. Rail services in Germany were heavily disrupted by two driver walkouts in the past fortnight. "Both parties are confident that they will be able to announce a result next week," the railway announced in Berlin, adding that the GDL will refrain from further strikes until then. "An agreement has been reached on many issues," DB said about the "intense but constructive" talks underway behind closed doors. The sides failed to reach agreement during prolonged negotations in February that were mediated by former interior minister Thomas de Maiziere and the state of Schleswig-Holstein's Premier Daniel Gunther. In the current phase of talks, the GDL had rejected any formal and binding arbitration and wanted to seek an agreement without mediation. The most recent sticking point in the negotiations was the dispute over a reduction in working hours for shift workers from 38 to 35 hours per week with the same salary, as demanded by the GDL. The railway had previously shown itself willing to reduce working hours to 36 hours without financial losses in two stages by 2028. However, GDL boss Claus Weselsky did not agree to this and did not rule out strikes over Easter. There have so far been six strikes organized by the GDL in the current wage dispute. Aperson passes by the Deutsche Bahn (DB) logo stuck on one of the trains, during a strike by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL). The GDL has called for a further 24-hour strike in both passenger and freight transport. Peter Kneffel/dpa Russia is preparing for a large-scale conflict with NATO and could attack at least part of the Alliance's territory as early as 2026, Business Insider reported on March 15, citing a secret analysis by German intelligence services. Russia is significantly increasing its weapons production and could double its military power over the next five years, the German intel claims. Read also: Russia is Frances top threat today - French Interior Ministry The aggressor state is reorganizing its army, moving troops, and deploying missile launchers in the west of the country. Russia may primarily attack the Baltic states or Finland, the analysis notes. NATO headquarters is also concerned about Russia's growing military power and the possibility of conflict but does not believe that this will necessarily lead to war. Read also: NATO finally accepts possible clash with Russia, expert says U.S. intelligence stated earlier that Russia does not want a direct military conflict with the United States and NATO and will continue asymmetric activities, which, according to its estimates, will not cross the threshold of military conflict on a global scale. Citing its own sources in the intelligence of a European country, Bild earlier reported that Russia may try to attack Europe in late 2024 or early 2025, when the United States will be "without a leader" and will be able to come to the aid of European states only after some delay. Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, said that civilians in the West should prepare for an "all-out war" with Russia. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Europe is once again "facing a military threat that has not been seen for 30 years" and warned of the possibility of a Russian attack in five to eight years. Lithuanian Chief of Defense Valdemaras Rupsys said nonetheless that the possibility that Russia could start a war against NATO next year is extremely low. Read also: German intelligence treated as second-class by Western counterparts 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 German Foreign Ministry has called the Russian missile attacks on Odesa to be perfidious and expressed support for Ukraine. Source: German Federal Foreign Office on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: The German Federal Foreign Office noted that civilians, including rescue workers, were killed as a result of Russian strikes again. Quote: "Such perfidious attacks are an integral part of Russia's war of aggression. Today, we stand more firmly than ever on the side of Ukraine," Berlin said. Russia has again attacked innocent civilians in #Odessa - over 20 people, including rescue workers, were murdered by Putin this time. Such perfidious attacks are an integral part of Russia's war of aggression. Today, we stand more firmly than ever on the side of #Ukraine. GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 16, 2024 Background: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on US House Speaker Mike Johnson to finally take steps to approve aid to Ukraine, advising him to look at the consequences of Russia's strikes on Odesa. The death toll from the strikes rose to 21 on 16 March as another rescue worker from the State Emergency Service passed away in the hospital. He was injured while performing his duties in the second missile strike by the Russians on Odesa. Ukraines Defence Forces reported that Russia attacked Odesa with an Iskander-M tactical missile system. Support UP or become our patron! The leadership of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) said it does not rule out the possibility of banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, although it said this should be a last resort. It should be "a clear option" to examine the unconstitutionality of the AfD if the findings by the intelligence service make the chances of success of such proceedings appear certain, according to a resolution passed by the SPD leadership on Saturday. The classification of the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence service is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute. It is clear that a party ban is the last resort in a democracy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party said: "However, democracy must never stand idly by while a party seeks to destroy it from within." "For us, there is no question that the AfD is an extreme right-wing party that is steeped in nationalist ideology and threatens democracy," the resolution passed on Saturday states. The intelligence service continues to monitor the AfD, collate its findings and evaluate them, it noted. Germany's intelligence services classified the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist party in March 2021. A lower administrative court in Cologne, where the intelligence service is located, confirmed this assessment in 2022, allowing the office to monitor the party as a suspected case. The AfD is mounting a legal defence against this. The proceedings at the Higher Administrative Court in Munster are still ongoing. It is unlikely that an application for a ban will be submitted without the intelligence service categorizing the party as a whole as right-wing extremist. Such an application could be submitted by the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, the federal government or the upper house, the Bundesrat. The Federal Constitutional Court would then have to make a ruling. In the city-state of Bremen, the three governing parties - the SPD, Greens and Die Linke (The Left) - are endeavouring to ban the AfD. The parliamentary groups announced last week that the Bremen Senate should lobby for this at the federal level. In the last few months, thousands of people have rallied against far-right extremism in Germany, and the AfD in particular. The wave of protests was prompted by revelations in news reports that AfD officials joined a private meeting in Potsdam just outside Berlin in November with far-right extremists to discuss strategies to force immigrants out of the country. The AfD's signature issue is a hard-line anti-immigration stance, and the party is profiting from increased concern among many German voters over rising numbers seeking asylum in the country. The party is polling nationally at around 20%, amid high dissatisfaction with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's three-party coalition. German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (L) and German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser attend the closed meeting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) executive committee at the Willy Brandt House. Joerg Carstensen/dpa German Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (L) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrive at the Willy Brandt House for the continuation of the closed meeting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) executive committee. Joerg Carstensen/dpa Were getting ready for the big day: New Yorkers gear up for St. Patricks Day weekend NEW YORK (PIX11) Irish eyes are smiling all over Gotham as we all prepare, Irish or not, for the wearing of the green. One way to get ready for St. Patricks Day weekend is to see The Taste of Ireland at the Sheen Center. This quintessential Irish tale of storytelling and step dancing is, to some, the ultimate Irish experience and there was lots of Irish Craic in it as well. The word craic is actually the word fun in Irish, Brent Pace, producer Taste of Ireland, told PIX11 News. We explain it in the performance. It is about having fun with others. One audience member, Kate Riehle, who brought her two sons, 7-year-old Finn and 9-year-old Rory, was having a great time. We try to go to events like this, Riehle told PIX11 News. And I am pretty lucky my dad actually owns an Irish pub, so we get to go visit grand-da, she added. More and more people in the United States seem to be getting into the Irish spirit, according to the National Retail Federation. Sixty-two percent of adult Americans or 162 million people will be celebrating St. Patricks Day weekend, spending $7.2 billion which breaks down to $44.40 per person, most of that being spent on food and drink. Were getting ready for the big day, Catherine Kenny, a young Irish American, told PIX11 News. Kenny and others were at Paddy McGuires, festooned with lights both outside and in. There were at least five thousand green lights which took close to two weeks to string While some were downing shamrock shots on the eve of Saint Paddys, a quartet of Colleens was dressed for the parade and already step dancing in the aisles and talking about their heritage. Irish culture, glitter, fun, drinking, smiles, green and gold and grandmothers, Anna Whitescarver, another Irish American, told PIX11 News as she started to list everything, she loves about bringing Irish. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. TAIPEI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Taiwan region is witnessing a continuous drop in its number of births as young adults on the island become increasingly reluctant to marry. According to official statistics released by Taiwan authorities, the number of live births in Taiwan hit an all-time low in 2023, with only 135,571 babies born there last year. In February 2024, Taiwan recorded 9,663 births and 17,462 deaths. This was the 38th consecutive month that saw the island recording more deaths than births. The drop in birth numbers is attributed to local young adults' reluctance to commit to marriage. The island's official statistics revealed that from 2013 to 2023, the ratio of married women aged 25 to 29 had dropped from 23.76 percent to 17.72 percent, while that of married women aged 30 to 34 had decreased from 52.63 percent to 41.41 percent. This reluctance to marry stems from a number of factors, including concerns about salaries, housing prices and the cost of raising children. According to a man surnamed Lin, he and his wife are concerned that neither of them will have time to take care of a child. They are also worried about the financial impact of one of them quitting their job to focus on raising a child, as this could result in their income not being enough to cover all their expenses. Currently, regional authorities on the island are offering parents subsidies for raising children. In Taipei, couples having their first baby will be awarded 40,000 new Taiwan dollars (1,263.52 U.S. dollars), while those having a second or third child will be given subsidies of 45,000 and 50,000 new Taiwan dollars, respectively. The China Times, a Taiwan-based Chinese-language daily, noted that although economic subsidies can spur an increase in the birth rate, it is the environment for raising children and the balance between career and children that mainly impacts young people's willingness to have children. Westminster Police Department is shown. According to Westminster Police Sgt. Jerad Kent, a Westminster man was trying to intervene in a dispute between roommates when he was fatally stabbed. (Google Maps) A man trying to rescue a neighbor from a violent assault in a Westminster apartment complex was stabbed to death early Saturday morning, authorities said. Alvaro Martin-Perez, 48, was trying to intervene in a dispute between roommates when he was fatally stabbed, according to Westminster Police Sgt. Jerad Kent. Mr. Perezs actions were nothing less than heroic, Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi said in a statement. Tragically, his efforts to protect his neighbor cost him his life. A suspect was arrested after he was detained by other neighbors. Im sure there are a lot of grieving families in those apartments today, Kent said. About 1 a.m, Westminster police officers responded to reports of a stabbing in the small 1980s-era apartment complex in the 7300 block of 21st Street. Upon their arrival, they found several apartment residents holding down the suspect, whom police identified as Isaias Saquic-Saquic, 35, of Westminster. The investigation revealed that there had been an argument between Saquic-Saquic and one of his roommates, which escalated into a physical altercation," Kent said. Saquic-Saquic is suspected of stabbing his roommate multiple times with a knife, Kent said. During the altercation Kent said that Martin-Perez attempted to help the victim outside of the apartment and was stabbed repeatedly." Other neighbors were able to disarm the suspect and hold him down until officers arrived, Kent said. The injured roommate, who was not identified, was transferred to a hospital, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Saquic-Saquic was being held in Orange County Jail on suspicion of one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, Kent said. I have no doubt his bravery saved the life of others in the area, Lenyi said of Martin-Perez. On behalf of the members of the Westminster Police Department, we extend our deepest condolences to the victims family. 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. Ukraine's government has greenlit a comprehensive program aimed at bolstering the Ukrainian language's role as the state language across all aspects of public life until 2030. Crafted by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy, the initiative aims to counteract Russification effects while promoting wider adoption and utilization of the Ukrainian language. Acting Culture Minister Rostyslav Karandieiev emphasized the program's dual focus on domestic language promotion and international outreach, highlighting Ukraine's linguistic resilience. By 2030, proficiency in the state language, adhering to Ukrainian spelling and standards, will be mandatory for all civil servants. Ukrainian will be the primary language for communication, office tasks, and information retrieval, with measures planned to assist business employees in mastering it. The ministry aims for Ukrainians to predominantly speak Ukrainian in daily life, facilitated by access to high-quality cultural products and Ukrainian-language content. The program targets an ambitious goal: by 2030, 80% of Ukrainians should speak Ukrainian at home, and the proportion of Ukrainian-language cultural products is expected to rise from 55% to 85%. Ukrainians are widely opposed to the use of the Russian language in official settings, with 81% against Russian being used as an official language in their region or as a state language, a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) released on March 12 found. Read also: Poll: Vast majority of Ukrainians against Russian as official or state language Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Over the past 14 years, a war on the free press has been quietly escalating in the U.S. This brewing conflict is fueled by increased and unchecked government surveillance, a post-truth intolerance of any criticism of media coverage, and prosecutions of media sources, journalists and publishers which have been endorsed by politicians on both sides of the political spectrum. Beginning a decade ago with the prosecution of whistleblowers, the U.S. campaign to tamp down leaks has spread to the criminalization of standard investigative journalism. While the U.S. still presents itself as the global standard-bearer for free speech and freedom of the press, recent fissures expose a looming calamity. Due to aggressive national security investigations and two draconian laws, journalists and media sources are at severe risk of increased criminal investigation and prosecution. We have seen these risks realized in the cases of Timothy Burke, Julian Assange and Catherine Herridge, three individuals who might not seem to belong in the same category at first and who may not all look, to many readers, like "real journalists." Whether or not one personally approves of what they do, all three are being punished for the work of journalism, and the laws and systems being used to target them do not discriminate based on whether the mainstream media considers them legitimate. The precedent set by these cases will apply in future to anyone engaging in such entirely normative journalistic activities as cultivating sources while protecting their anonymity, and seeking to publish information in the public interest that governments or other powerful forces seek to control. Investigative journalist and media consultant Timothy Burke was indicted last month on accusations that he acted illegally in obtaining information that was available online by using dummy login credentials that had been openly published, and which were shown to him by an anonymous source. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Burke gained access to a number of protected commercial broadcast video streams, apparently including behind-the-scenes video content from Fox News of an infamous October 2022 Tucker Carlson interview with the rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West). Burkes lawyers maintain that no illegal hacking occurred, and the investigation targeting Burke has drawn condemnation from dozens of press freedom groups, including ours, following a raid on Burkes house during which his computer equipment and other electronic devices were seized. The charges against Burke center on alleged violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a law we view as over-broad and fatally vague. The CFAA was first passed in the 1980s amid a hacking hysteria driven as much by pop culture as by the nascent computer age. Ronald Reagan was reportedly worried about hacking after seeing the movie "War Games," which depicted a teenager hacking into the U.S. air defense system and nearly sparking nuclear war. Congress amended the law numerous times in the years following, including in the 2001 Patriot Act, which made it easier for prosecutors to allege felonies and doubled the penalty under the law. Even with those amendments, the CFAA has failed to keep pace with technology and remains so extraordinarily broad that it has become the governments bludgeon of choice to punish hacktivists such as Aaron Schwartz, who died by suicide after years of government investigation, and whistleblowers such as Chelsea Manning. Julian Assange, the legendary or notorious founder of WikiLeaks, now faces the last phase of an extradition battle in the U.K., where he has been in custody for nearly five years. If he is returned to the U.S., he faces potential charges both under the CFAA and the equally problematic Espionage Act. The Espionage Act was originally passed in 1917, amid the patriotic fervor and social chaos of America's entry into World War I. Its supposed purpose was to prosecute German spies, but the law wad immediately used instead to tamp down dissent and has been criticized by many legal experts as poorly drafted, overly broad and vague. The Espionage Act cast a chill over journalists, publishers and whistleblowers throughout the Cold War years, most spectacularly in the case of Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. The case against Ellsberg collapsed, largely due to extreme (and illegal) misconduct by the Nixon administration. But after lying dormant for 40 years of dormancy, the law was deployed with renewed vigor: Barack Obama's administration prosecuted twice as many Espionage Act cases as all previous administrations combined. Those included the prosecutions of NSA whistleblowers Thomas Drake and Edward Snowden, U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning and CIA whistleblowers Jeffrey Sterling and John Kiriakou. Many Espionage Act cases of that period also ensnared reporters, resulting in their communications being subpoenaed as in Sterlings case or reporters actually being labeled co-conspirators, as in the case of former State Department employee Stephen Kim. The Trump administration further normalized the use of Espionage Act prosecutions to suppress media disclosures, bringing cases against FBI whistleblower Terry Albury and NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, and resurrecting the dormant case against drone whistleblower Daniel Hale. Trump officials also took the law a step further by indicting Assange under the Espionage Act for conduct that national security reporters engage in on a regular basis, such as publishing classified information, protecting sources identities and using encryption. The Assange indictment has since been condemned as a threat to press freedom by NGOs, media outlets, academic experts and members of Congress. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Now we come to Catherine Herridge. Herridge is an acclaimed investigative journalist who was held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal her source in a Privacy Act lawsuit brought by the Chinese-American scientist Yanping Chen, who for years was the target of an FBI counterintelligence investigation that was abandoned in 2016 with no charges filed. Herridge, who then worked for Fox News, reported several stories on the investigation, including information that Chen claims was provided to Herridge by the federal government in violation of the Privacy Act. Herridge had moved on to CBS News when she was called to reveal her sources in the Chen lawsuit. Although CBS initially supported Herridges position, she was laid off by the network last month. Initial reports suggested that CBS had seized or retained Herridge's files, computer and records, including information on her confidential sources, but the network has denied that and Herridge's possessions have since reportedly been returned. The use of the CFAA and the Espionage Act against journalists, coupled with contempt orders aimed at compelling reporters to reveal confidential sources, has created a perfect storm of anti-free-press activity in the U.S. Because the current climate has emerged from a slow burn of byzantine laws used to selectively prosecute the most controversial media sources and whistleblowers, the American public has become too inured to perceive how much the fundamental rights of press freedom have been chipped away. There are small pockets of protest with every individual case, but most Americans, regardless of their party affiliation or ideological views, do not understand the dimensions of this assault on the freedom of the press. Monique Clesca lives in a suburban area in the mountains just above Port-au-Prince, away from the center of violence in the flatlands below. But Clesca said she fears the armed groups that control much of the capital city of Haiti will make good on their promise to go up into the hills and wreak havoc. Clesca said she is largely confined to her home. A lot of stores have been closed. I went to the supermarket last Saturday, half an hour, just in and out. I rushed out, she told NBC News. She said farmers and fishermen based in the rural areas outside the capital have not been able to bring their goods to Port-au-Prince for weeks. There is a lot of poverty, she said. Haitian residents facing poverty and even starvation are desperate for food, shelter and medical supplies as political tensions grow and violence continues to escalate. Much aid is needed, but advocates and residents say the best humanitarian aid is one that supports the work of grassroots groups already established and helping civilians every day. Foreign aid, they say, usually falls into the hands of armed groups. Haitis decadeslong political crisis and dire humanitarian emergency have come to a head since its de facto leader said he would resign. Amid the uncertainty, residents live in fear of armed groups who control everything, from where people can go safely to what resources they can access. But people have been trying to flee Port-au-Prince, the epicenter of the violence, for well over a year, and about 160,000 people have been displaced in the last several months, according to the U.N. Violent armed groups have occupied the Autorite Portuaire Nationale, the countrys largest port, obstructing access to most humanitarian aid. humanitarian food aid help hunger youth (Odelyn Joseph / AP) In response, the European Commission has allocated 20 million euros to Haiti; the Biden administration has committed $33 million, and the United Nations announced on Thursday that it would establish an air bridge between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to make sure resources get into the country. The border between the two countries is closed now. Greg Beckett, an associate professor of anthropology at Western University in Canada, told NBC News that while it seems foreign nations are allocating a lot of aid, that does not always mean it will reach the people who need it. Theres always these pledges of money, whether the money gets dispersed or not is one thing. Its gonna go to the government, and you have a completely unconstitutional government in Haiti thats not accountable and its not really clear how its spending any of that money, Beckett, who has spent years intermittently working in Haiti, told NBC News. When the gangs took over, they attacked the Autorite Portuaire Nationale and ransacked the shipping containers that were stored there, Beckett explained. The food coming in can always be seized in some way, he said. Still, there are groups on the ground, many of them run by Haitians who are familiar with the complexities of the country, already operational. Fokal, Fonkoze and Partners in Health, an international nonprofit with several hospitals that employ almost all-Haitian teams, have worked consistently with those in and outside of Port-au-Prince amid the recent crisis. Louino Robi Robillard, a Haitian community development activist, is the program director for Rasin Devlopman and co-founder of Gwoup Konbit, both of them organizations that advocate for resource-sharing, solidarity, and sustainable, Haitian-led development. We work with people in the countryside to empower them to use their local resources. Farm the land, plant more foods, look for resources that they have in their own communities, Robillard said. People have to see development in a holistic way. We want people to not see Haitians as a group that are suffering with nothing to contribute. Haitians are very strong and weve been dealing with a lot but were still a very strong population. If we still can stand, its because people are together, Robillard added. food hunger crowd people crowd (Odelyn Joseph / AP) Long existing groups like Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Program have embedded themselves in the country over the decades and are able to provide assistance through the chaos. Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres, services the most impacted areas of Port-au-Prince and has continued its work despite attacks on their ambulances and armed break-ins at their medical centers. Meanwhile, as of March 12 the World Food Program has served 62,000 hot meals to 14,000 displaced people, according to a recent news release. Jean-Martin Bauer, the organizations country director for Haiti, told The Kingston Whig-Standard that the group relies on a localized supply chain to make their operation sustainable. Because it is local farmers providing food to local schools, we dont have any vulnerability in our supply chain linked to gang attacks on infrastructure, he said. Jake Johnston, researcher with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a nonpartisan think tank, and author of Aid State: Elite Panic, Disaster Capitalism, and the Battle to Control Haiti, said that partnering with local groups and supporting local efforts will bolster long-term growth and reconstruction efforts even after money from foreign countries dries up. Haitians taking care of Haitians thats the primary mode of support that exists across the country. One way in which outside actors could support those actors is by sourcing things locally, Johnston said. Its not just about how you can get food into the capital, but how do you support farmers in rural areas to let them get food to the capital, he added. He also said that humanitarian assistance should not be a short-term solution that causes long-term problems. The crisis in Haiti is unfolding as the country continues to recover from the devastating earthquake in 2010 that killed about 220,000 people and another deadly earthquake in 2021. The countrys already fragile government, which was beset by brutal dictatorships for decades, took another hit with the assassination of democratically elected President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Ariel Henry, with the acquiescence of the U.S. and several nations, became the unelected prime minister and leader of the country. His unpopularity only worsened as he delayed the presidential election to replace Moise and armed groups already active in Port-au-Prince dialed up the violence in the last year. Those groups, which include paramilitary and former police officers, are behind the escalation of murders, kidnappings and rapes since Moises death, according to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program at Uppsala University in Sweden. Haitians like Clesca and many others hold that Haitians should be in charge of their own solutions, rather than foreign leaders who have repeatedly ignored their voices and desires. In 2021, Clesca joined Haitian and non-Haitian religious leaders, womens rights groups, lawyers, humanitarian workers and more to create the Commission to Search for a Haitian Solution to the Crisis. The commission has proposed a two-year interim government with oversight committees tasked with restoring order, eradicating corruption and establishing fair elections. Clesca said Haitians must be the people in the drivers seat. There is an aspect of sovereignty thats extremely important, she said. Yes, we need to work with different partners; yes, we will need help; but it is not them who will dictate what kind of help we should get and when we should get it. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) Gresham Fire honored a fallen colleague one grueling step at a time while also raising funds to save future lives. Local firefighters joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Societys 33rd Firefighter Stairclimb Sunday, March 10, in Seattle. Team Gresham climbed 69 flights (1,356 steps) at the Columbia Center in downtown Seattle. At 788 feet of vertical elevation, it makes it the second tallest building west of the Mississippi. The reward for making to the top: unparalleled sights from the Sky View Observatory. Albina Vision Trust seeks to reclaim historically Black neighborhood The more than 2,000 participating firefighters all wear their heavy equipment and gear, adding to the challenge. The Gresham climbers this year were Ty Symons, Christie Choma, Nicolas Haney, Alux Pisoni, Dillon Pendleton, Ryan Cox, Tyson Guillory, Natalie Dickson, Jordan Flikkema, Jaden Markham, Jonah Sigler, Tyler Carlson, Rylee McGowan and Tyler Myers. All of the donations and funds raised by the participating teams go directly to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in an effort to climb up to take cancer down. Their collective decades-long mission has led to more than $25 million for cancer research. While Gresham Fire is a longtime participant in the event, this years climb had extra meaning. 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. REI workers from stores around the country showed up uninvited at their corporate office in Issaquah, Washington, last Thursday. The signs they were carrying made it clear to the white-collar employees looking down from the windows above that they werent there to tour the campus. Where the hells our merit pay? one sign asked. Ask me about my raise (REI took it away!) read another. Plenty of REIs devoted customers members, in company parlance, since REI is structured as a cooperative would have been surprised to see disaffected employees protesting such a beloved retailer. But a growing union campaign that has so far organized nine stores and counting is testing the progressive reputation that REI built through its environmental and conservation advocacy over the years. Workers who are trying to improve their jobs through a union contract say the cooperative is failing to live up to its values and damaging its reputation in the process. I think they are trying to figure out how to be dug in on this and maintain their public image, said Steve Buckley, a senior sales specialist and union leader at the companys flagship store in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. That is getting increasingly harder to do as the days go on. Buckleys was the first of REIs 181 stores to unionize, in March 2022, joining the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The RWDSU and its parent group, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, have organized eight more stores, with election wins in Berkeley, California; Cleveland; Chicago; Durham, North Carolina; Boston; Bellingham, Washington; Maple Grove, Minnesota; and Indianapolis. I think they are trying to figure out how to be dug in on this and maintain their public image.Steve Buckley, REI worker in New York City Employees at REIs store in Santa Cruz, California, on Thursday became the latest to petition for an election, with a vote likely to happen in the coming weeks. But none of those stores has secured a contract more than two years after the SoHo victory. In the meantime, the unions have accused REI of threatening pro-union workers, firing union supporters and bargaining in bad faith in an effort to slow the organizing campaign. The company has denied those allegations and said its serious about reaching agreements with all the union shops. REI is and will always be committed and engaged in good-faith bargaining with stores that have chosen union representation, the company said in a statement. It added that the firings in question were completely unrelated to whether or not that employee was involved with the union individual employee union interest or activity is not a factor. REI workers outside the company's corporate office in Issaquah, Washington, last week. Courtesy REI Union The company made its stance against the union evident early on, when it released a podcast with its CEO, Eric Artz, and chief diversity and social impact officer, Wilma Wallace. People were quick to point out on social media that Artz and Wallace introduced themselves with a land acknowledgment noting they were on land stolen from Indigenous people as they tried to discourage collective bargaining by their employees. REI views climate change as an existential threat to life outside and has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 47% by 2030. It has also publicly committed to becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and maintains a factory code of conduct for sourcing products based on standards set by the International Labour Organization. The code includes a stipulation on collective bargaining that requires suppliers to recognize and respect the legal rights of employees to free association. The retailer maintains that it respects those rights here in the U.S., but workers at the union stores disagree and theyre increasingly sharing their views with the cooperatives progressive customer base. The unions say they recently got more than 4,000 members to email REI telling the company to negotiate contracts. Theres a large gap between what REI tells the members and what REI is actually doing that we see as employees, said Si-Hua Chang, 31, a sales specialist in the Durham store. Way more REI members are starting to hear about our working conditions. Workers recently put out a list of bargaining demands labeled 10 essentials for a sustainable REI, a riff on the 10 essentials needed to survive in the backcountry. The list includes navigation (predictable scheduling), shelter (minimum hours with a livable wage) and a repair kit (commitment to diversity). I thought they strive toward this progressive image, this idea that our workers are our lifeblood. To see this campaign against workers has been a stark reality change.Alaina Preddie, REI worker in Indiana Lack of consistent hours is a common grievance among the union stores and across retail more generally. Anni Saludo, who also works at the Durham store, said she typically gets her schedule eight days in advance, making it hard to plan her life and impossible to know what her paycheck will look like. How can I stay on course if one week Im scheduled 24 hours and six the next? Saludo said. How can I stay on course if I cant schedule a medical appointment because I dont know what days Ill have off? The company and the union reached some tentative agreements in bargaining when REI was represented by the law firm Perkins Coie. But employees say progress slowed significantly after the company switched to Morgan Lewis, the same firm whose attorneys have argued on behalf of Trader Joes and Elon Musks SpaceX that the National Labor Relations Board itself is unconstitutional. One of the most contentious issues is pay raises. After stores began unionizing, REI increased employee pay but withheld the hikes from organized stores, saying the raises needed to be negotiated at the bargaining table. The unions allege this was a retaliatory move meant to cool other locations on organizing. REI eventually extended the raises but later took them back. The unions say it did so after workers refused to waive their right to strike as a precondition; REI says it was a temporary agreement that the union refused to extend. REI workers in Chicago marched to their store to announce their intention to unionize last year. Chicago Tribune via Getty Images Alaina Preddie, who works at the Indianapolis store that unionized last month, said shes been surprised by what she views as the companys hardball tactics, as well as its hiring of a famously hard-nosed law firm. Its been pretty shocking, actually, Preddie said. I thought they strive toward this progressive image, this idea that our workers are our lifeblood. To see this campaign against workers has been a stark reality change. Along with Starbucks, Amazon, Apple and Trader Joes, REI is one of several previously non-union companies where unions have made organizing breakthroughs in the last two years. But parlaying those election wins into written agreements has proved much more difficult. When they met at Issaquah last week, REI union members discussed different ways they could continue to pressure the company into settling contracts. They have already waged a number of temporary strikes and could expand them to more stores. And although the unions have not asked co-op members to boycott REI, Buckley said that thinking may or may not change as workers see fit. They found some cause for optimism last month when Starbucks reached a detente with its union, pledging to hammer out a contract framework and extend raises and benefits that had been withheld from union stores. The coffee chain may have grown tired of bruising its own progressive image through a growing list of unfair labor practice charges, including claims of retaliatory firings, threats and store closures. Buckley believes REI will start to squirm as more stores file election petitions and the unions allegations of illegal union-busting are litigated. But he said the point of the campaign is not simply to harangue the company about hypocrisy. REI holds itself out as a different kind of company, he argued, so it should set a higher standard for retail work. It doesnt need to be a short-term churn-and-burn retail establishment, Buckley said. What this movement is all about is holding REI to their own level of commitments. CORRECTION: This story originally misspelled Si-Hua Changs name. Related... Be careful what you tell AI chatbots, because apparently it's easy for hackers to spy on those conversations. "Currently, anybody can read private chats sent from ChatGPT and other services," Yisroel Mirsky, the head of the Offensive AI Research Lab at Israel's Ben-Gurion University, told Ars Technica in an email. "This includes malicious actors on the same Wi-Fi or LAN as a client (e.g., same coffee shop), or even a malicious actor on the internet anyone who can observe the traffic." These types of hacks, as the report explained, are what's known as "side-channel attacks," which involve third parties inferring data passively using metadata or other indirect exposures rather than breaching security firewalls. While this sort of exploit can occur with any kind of tech, AI appears particularly vulnerable because its encryption efforts are not necessarily up to snuff. "The attack is passive and can happen without OpenAI or their client's knowledge," the researcher revealed. "OpenAI encrypts their traffic to prevent these kinds of eavesdropping attacks, but our research shows that the way OpenAI is using encryption is flawed, and thus the content of the messages are exposed." Although side-channel attacks are less invasive than other forms of hacks, they can, as Ars reports, roughly infer a given chatbot prompt with 55 percent accuracy, which makes any sensitive questions one might ask an AI easy to detect for bad actors. While the Ben-Gurion researchers are primarily focused on encryption errors in OpenAI, most chatbots on the market today with the exception, for whatever reason, of Google's Gemini can be exploited this way, the report indicates. This issue arises from chatbots' use of encoded pieces of data known as "tokens," which help large language models (LLMs) translate inputs and swiftly provide legible responses. These are often sent out very fast so that a user's "conversation" with the chatbot flows naturally, like someone typing out a response rather than an entire paragraph's length appearing all at once. While the delivery process is generally encrypted, the tokens themselves produce a side channel that researchers had not previously been aware of. Anyone who gains access to this real-time data could, as the Ben-Gurion researchers explain in a new paper, be able to infer your prompts based on the tokens they access, sort of like inferring the topic of a hushed conversation heard on the other side of a door or wall. To document this exploit, Mirsky and his team at Ben-Gurion ran raw data acquired through the unintended side-channel through a second LLM trained to identify keywords, as they explain in their paper, which has yet to be formally published. As they found, the LLM had a roughly 50/50 shot at inferring the general prompts and were able to predict them nearly-perfectly a whopping 29 percent of the time. In a statement, Microsoft told Ars that the exploit, which also affects its Copilot AI, does not compromise personal details. "Specific details like names are unlikely to be predicted," a Microsoft spokesperson told the website. "We are committed to helping protect our customers against these potential attacks and will address it with an update." The findings are ominous and in the case of fraught topics such as abortion or LGBTQ issues, which are both being criminalized in the United States as we speak, it could be used to harm or punish people who are simply seeking information. More on AI exploits: Microsoft Says Copilot's Alternate Personality as a Godlike and Vengeful AGI Is an "Exploit, Not a Feature" Former police officer Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier is alleged to have played a role in multiple massacres - RALPH TEDY EROL/REUTERS Haitian police are trying to regain control of the capitals main port, officials said on Saturday, after they killed several bandits while conducting a major operation in the stronghold of gang leader Jimmy Barbeque Cherizier. Special forces, soldiers and police officers carried out a raid against gangs in Bas-Delmas on Friday evening with the aim of unblocking a road, said Lionel Lazarre of the Haitian police union. Several bandits were killed, he said, without providing more details. Another operation was underway on Saturday morning as law enforcement officers attempted to regain control of the capitals main port, where gang members had looted several containers, a source at the port told AFP. The port has been shut since March 7 because of the violence. The operation came as attacks continued in Haitis capital Port-au-Prince on Friday in the aftermath of the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Violence targeted the airport and a top police officials home, while residents mounted roadblocks in two spots both to impede the criminal gangs and signal their own frustration, an AFP reporter said. The countrys unelected prime minister said he would step down on Monday as he faced international pressure while stranded in Puerto Rico, as an escalation of fighting in the capital prevented him from returning home. Police are battling for control of the streets amid general lawlessness - RALPH TEDY EROL/REUTERS His resignation is pending the appointment of an interim replacement chosen by a transition council, but the members of the council have yet to be decided. Some political groups have rejected the plan or been unable to unite their factions. Local outlet Gazette Haiti reported that meetings on a compromise were set to take place on Saturday. Cherizier this week threatened politicians who take part in the council and said Henrys resignation marked just a first step in the battle for the Caribbean nation. The gang alliance leader has called for the unelected and largely absent government to be toppled. The 46-year-old was formerly an officer of the Haitian National Police force. He is alleged by the United Nations to have played a role in multiple massacres, including the killing of over 70 people in 2018, when over 400 homes in the capitals La Saline neighbourhood were set on fire. Cherizier, who is originally from the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince, went on to announce the creation in 2020 of a gang alliance called G9 Family and Allies. Ariel Henry resigned but we are still in political distress, said Port-au-Prince resident Claude Atilus. We must take our destiny into our own hands. I want the political players to rise to the task and commit themselves to organising the country. The situation is not good for us, said vendor Jean-Phillipe Jean-Louis, adding he was exhausted, prices were exorbitant and working on the streets was dangerous. The United Nations childrens fund has warned of record hunger and life-threatening malnutrition concentrated in the capitals poorest, most dangerous and busiest neighbourhoods, with one in four children nationwide suffering chronic malnutrition. Some 1.4 million Haitians are on the verge of famine, and more than 4 million require food aid, sometimes eating only once a day or nothing at all, aid groups say. 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. I feel like since I came to Centre Safe as executive director in November 2022 I have been mapping out busy times and always looking ahead. Guess what? It is always a busy time at Centre Safe. We are blessed with amazing staff who work so hard each day to provide critical services to individuals and families across Centre County. The phones are always ringing and there is always a need, but that is what we are called to do respond to the need. No two situations are the same and every person calling our hotline or receiving services in person has their own path to healing. Still, we give thanks every day we are here to be the safety net for those walking the tightrope of trauma. One of just many reasons I personally feel thankful to work at Centre Safe is the availability of professional development opportunities and the desire to always learn. I was able to recently attend the delegation meeting for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, this year held in person in the Harrisburg/Hershey area. It felt wonderful getting to connect with so many of my peers from across the state and not be seeing each other as small images on Zoom. From fellow executive directors to center staff and PCADV staff, we were all able to come together to learn from one another; topics ranged from financial issues we all are facing to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts and a desire to have every center be a truly safe space for all staff and clients. I left re-energized and ready to do my part to navigate all the many challenges Centre Safe and other centers face daily. *** Centre Safe was thrilled to find out our application for a multi-year Rape Prevention Education grant through the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect was approved! Our grant project will involve sexual assault education and prevention efforts geared toward those who are 60 years old and older. Over the cycle of the grant, we will be connecting with individuals in that population, loved ones, and staff of churches, centers and facilities working with that population. If you are interested in learning more about the grant project, please e-mail edteam@centresafe.org. *** We continue to partner with Youth Service Bureau on Smarter Parents, Safer Kids workshops. The 2-hour workshops help prepare adults for challenging conversations with youth covering topics like healthy child sexual development, improving communication, and fostering more protective environments. The workshop is geared toward parents, caregivers and others who work with youth ages 0-18. For more information, visit ccysb.com/project-safe-and-smart. *** Students in Bald Eagle Area School District did a fantastic job taking part in our Allies in Action program, which just wrapped up the first 4-week session. High school students became trained in the anti-bullying curriculum and facilitated each week to sixth graders in their district. We are so thankful to Bald Eagle Area students, staff and administrators for supporting the program. We would love to branch out to other districts within Centre County. Please help by spreading the word and speaking with your district administrators about the importance of implementing Allies in Action. Reach out to edteam@centresafe.org to learn more about the program. *** Whether you are attending events or donating your time, talents or treasures, know that when you can help spread the word, show kindness to others, and/or contribute to worthwhile organizations, you really are making a difference in this world. Keep it up! Jennifer Pencek is the executive director of Centre Safe. A plea agreement filed last month tells how Topeka businessman and Salina Speedway promoter Tommy Hendrickson bilked a federal COVID relief program out of almost $238,000. Hendrickson pleaded guilty Feb. 14 in federal court in Topeka to two counts of the theft of more than $1,000 from the U.S. government. Sentencing has been set for 9:15 a.m. May 22. The agreement says Hendrickson defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program, which the federal government created during the COVID pandemic to make taxpayer-funded loans to help qualifying businesses pay employees and cover other costs. Only businesses with employees could receive the loans, which the government later forgave. A federal charge of receiving stolen government money in the amount of more than $1,000 remains pending against Bill Nissen, Hendrickson's co-defendant. Federal attorneys have filed civil asset forfeiture proceedings involving SSW Promotions and Offender Monitoring Services, seen here at 405 S.E. 10th Ave. What does the plea agreement say? Hendrickson and Nissen held ownership interests in Topeka-based Offender Monitoring Services, a bail bond company, state business entity records show. Hendricks owned SSW Promotions LLC, which had offices in Topeka and Salina. Both companies have forfeited their right to do business in Kansas for not filing a timely annual report. Hendrickson admits in the plea agreement that he applied for and received a PPP loan of $93,356 in February 2021 on behalf of SSW Promotions to help cover costs regarding 11 employees, when he actually had none. The loan was forgiven in August 2021. Later in February 2021, Hendrickson admitted, he applied for and received a PPP loan of $144,541 on behalf of Offender Monitoring Services to help cover costs regarding 14 employees, when it actually had none. That loan was also forgiven in August 2021. Hendrickson and Nissen were prosecuted after investigators found no record of either company's paying any wages to employees for the time period involved. Hendrickson's plea agreement said, "The defendant retained $134,541 and provided B.N. $10,000 in exchange for B.N. allowing the defendant to use B.N.'s name on the PPP application." The FBI in August filed a civil asset forfeiture case against Hendrickson in U.S. District Court in Wichita seeking forfeiture of a John Deere 770CH road grader and a Polaris utility vehicle, which it had seized last June in Salina. In the affidavit it filed seeking forfeiture, the FBI alleged Hendrickson used some of the SSW Promotions' PPP loan proceeds to buy the motor grader for about $48,000 in Park City and some of the Offender Monitoring Services' PPP loan proceeds to buy the Polaris for about $19,000 in Olathe, Hendrickson's plea deal calls for sentence recommendation on 'low end' Hendrickson was charged Oct. 25 in federal court with two counts of the theft of U.S. government money in the amount of more than $1,000. Nissen was charged Dec. 7 in federal court with one count of receiving stolen government money in the amount of more than $1,000 and converting it to his own use while knowing it was stolen. Records show both were released from custody, Hendrickson in November and Nissen in December, on orders requiring them to comply with conditions that included appearing at planned status conferences in their cases. Nissen last appeared at a Feb. 14 status conference, where another status conference in his case was set for April 10. Meanwhile, Christopher M. Joseph, an attorney representing Hendrickson, notified the court Jan. 8 that he intended to enter a plea. Hendrickson then pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to both charges he faced, court records show. Hendrickson agreed to pay restitution totaling $237,987, the amount that was stolen, but asked that he and Nissen share joint liability for $10,000 of that. Henderson also agreed to forfeit ownership of the motor grader and Polaris which had already been sold for $29,634.75, and $15,292.40, respectively with the total of $44,927.15 going to help pay off his restitution costs. Hendrickson agreed in the plea agreement to accept whatever sentence is imposed upon him using federal sentencing guidelines. Hendrickson's plea agreement calls for prosecutors to not pursue any further charges against him regarding the case involved and to recommend a sentence of not more than the "low end" of the applicable federal sentencing guidelines range. Sentencing guidelines pinpoint a defendant's presumptive sentence using sentencing grids, which take into account the defendant's "criminal history score" and the severity of his or her new conviction or convictions. Because of Hendrickson's "acceptance of responsibility" and his having "timely notified the government of his intention to enter a plea of guilty," the plea agreement includes terms allowing for potential reductions in the severity level of the crime to which pleaded guilty. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Plea agreement tells how Topekan stole money from COVID relief program BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Saturday renewed a yellow alert for thick fog in some parts of the country. Parts of the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and coastal areas of Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces will experience fog on Saturday, with visibility falling to less than 1,000 meters, the National Meteorological Center said. Heavy fog will also shroud parts of Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, reducing visibility to less than 200 meters, the center said. China has a three-tier, color-coded warning system for thick fog, with red being the most serious warning, followed by orange and yellow. A developer told to restore external tiles he tore from a Brighton pub wants permission to remove the remaining ones and replace them all with replicas. Charlie Southall began removing the green tiles from the former Montreal Arms, in Albion Hill, when converting the building into a home for Ukrainian refugees in 2022. Brighton & Hove City Council said he must restore the tiles and that replacements should match the colour and finish of the originals. Councillor Steve Davis praised the plan and said residents deserved a "satisfying conclusion to this bizarre and disappointing saga". The remaining tiles would be replaced by replicas under both planning applications. Mr Southall has submitted two planning applications for the building. One would see replica tiles placed in the position of the originals, but in the other the replicas would be moved to the upper half of the wall. Given the extent of damage, the majority of tiles will require replacement, he said in the application. This proposal advocates for the installation of an entirely new, exact replica of the tiled frontage. 'Bizarre saga' The application to reinstate the tiles on the lower half of the wall include plans to reopen the ground floor as a pub. In the other instance, the ground floor would become a commercial unit and the external walls painted brown. The first floor would be accommodation in both applications. Mr Davis, leader of the opposition at the council, said: "After nearly two years of the vandalised Montreal Arms sitting as an eyesore in the heart of Hanover, were pleased to see a planning application finally put forward which will restore this community asset to its former glory." Decisions on both applications are yet to be made. 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. See also Related internet link UPDATE 3/18/2024, 1:35 p.m.: Columbus Police Department confirmed the second victim of the Schaul Street shooting is Gerald Ford. Ford is currently in critical condition at Piedmont Columbus Regional. The case is still under investigation by the Violent Crimes Unit. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Sgt. Michael Dahnke at (706) 225-4929 or email mdahnke@columbusga.orga. Anonymous tips are being accepted through City Protect or by texting VACS with your message to 274637. 3/16/2024, 3:11 p.m. : COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Authorities are investigating a homicide after at least one person has been killed and another person injured following a shooting on Schaul Street in Columbus. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirms 32-year-old Shantavia Walden has been killed in the shooting. She was pronounced dead at 2:10 Saturday afternoon. A second person has also been shot and is currently in critical condition at Piedmont Columbus Regional. Stay with WRBL.com for updates on this developing story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Gregory Wong was sentenced to just over six years in prison Hong Kong actor Gregory Wong and 11 other people have been jailed for their role in the storming of the city's legislature during protests in 2019. Wong was jailed for just over six years - one of the longer sentences handed down by the district court on Saturday. Activists Ventus Lau and Owen Chow were also among those given prison terms linked to the pro-democracy protest. Meanwhile, two journalists were fined for illegally entering the Legislative Council chamber at the time. Most of the defendants were found guilty of rioting. The incident happened in July 2019 and was seen as a key moment in the pro-democracy protests that erupted over a controversial law allowing the extradition of people to mainland China. Hundreds of protesters entered the building, spray-painting messages on the walls and carrying supplies for those occupying the premises. Extensive damage was done to the building, with portraits of political leaders torn from the walls and furniture smashed. Judge Li Chi-ho on Saturday said that, as well as physical damage, the storming had caused "long-lasting" social effects. "Aside from the actual damage to the building, it had a symbolic meaning... [which was] challenging the Hong Kong government and even weakening its governance," Mr Li said, according to the AFP news agency. The protests led to the introduction of a tough national security law that made illegal a wider range of dissenting acts and reduced the city's autonomy. The law allows for China to have jurisdiction over Hong Kong national security cases in some circumstances. Beijing, which imposed the law on Hong Kong, and the city's authorities argue the law is necessary to maintain stability and deny it has weakened autonomy. It is thought that more than 100 people have been arrested under the 2020 Beijing-imposed legislation. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 under the principle of "one country, two systems". Critics accuse the Chinese Communist Party of violating the agreement to give the city a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems. Hundreds of protesters broke into the Legislative Council building in July 2019 UPDATE: This article was updated to clarify details about Hong Kong's national security law. High winds in early January forced the rooves off of two Hot Springs-owned facilities, including city hall, pictured here. HOT SPRINGS - High winds have wreaked havoc on a number of Hot Springs' town buildings and facilities, including city hall and its wellhouse, as the winds blew the roofs off both buildings In its March 4 meeting, the Hot Springs Town Board approved entering into a contract for more than $4,000 to replace the roof at the town's well house, located at 131 French Broad Circle. The board approved a $50,000 transfer from its fund balance to be appropriated in its Water and Sewer Fund. According to Norton, the purpose of the amendment was to budget for emergency repairs to its water system, which include a pump at its main well, and a new control panel and backup panel at its small well, as well as the labor associated with the installation. Norton told The News-Record the pump at the main well failed, and the control panel for the pumps partially failed. "We thought it would be best to go ahead and buy another pump, in case that one also goes down," Norton said. "If we have it, we won't have to wait two weeks, three weeks." Board member Dan Myers questioned whether the $50,000 would cover the costs of the panel and the pump. "That $50,000 we just approved to go into the Water and Sewer Fund is more than we're going to need for the pump and the panel, correct?" But Mayor Abby Norton said the proposed figure was initially lower than $50,000, but she raised it, as the town wasn't sure the $50,000 would cover the costs. "That's why I increased it to $50,000, so that we would have enough for sure to cover it," Norton said. "Sidney Mashburn, the accountant, said we can do that and then replace what we don't use, and put it back into the fund balance." Board member Jeanne Gentry said the town has money in the budget for repairs such as replacing a roof, but a new pump and panel will present a bigger hit to the town's expenses. "We have money in the budget for stuff like that, but the problem with the pump going down and the cost involved is way more than what we would have enough money to pay for it, within the budget," Gentry said. Myers said since the town has purchased a new pump and panel, it should have a new roof over the facility as well. "Well, we're putting a new panel in there," Myers said. "We need to have a solid roof over it, with a brand new panel." Insurance questions To replace the well house roof, the town agreed to enter into a contract with Jimmy Moore, a former Hot Springs board member who served on the board through November, for $4,400. The town also received a $5,200 bid from Eddie Rice of Rice's Roofing and Sheet Metal in Mars Hill. The decision to enter into a contract with Moore comes after the board tabled a vote in its February meeting on the matter, as the board wanted to determine whether the two contractors had insurance. According to Norton, Moore does not have insurance, a factor in his price being more affordable than Rice's. "Anything under $30,000, they don't have to have a general contractor's license," Norton said. "They do if it's $30,000 and over." But this raised the question of liability, Myers said. "So, if something happens and one of the workers gets injured, they're on our property," Myers said. "Who's liable?" Board attorney Ron Moore said as Moore operates as an independent contractor, the town would not be liable if one of Moore's crew members were to get injured on town property. More: Robert E. Lee Plaque discussion Hot Springs hears from organization about plans to fund half of Robert E. Lee plaque costs More: Hot Springs 'star of PBS show' Hot Springs in national spotlight as 'star of the show' in new PBS program The town also received $3,100 from its state insurance company, Interlocal Risk Financing Fund of North Carolina, to replace the wellhouse roof. The insurance company issued a $5,400 check to the town to replace its city hall roof as well, according to town clerk Nancy Thomas. Both checks were deposited into the town's general fund to reimburse the town's expenditures. The Hot Springs Town Board's next meeting is April 1 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 186 Bridge St. Johnny Casey has covered Madison County for The Citizen Times and The News-Record & Sentinel for three years. He earned a first-place award in beat news reporting in the 2023 North Carolina Press Association awards. He can be reached at 828-210-6074 or jcasey@citizentimes.com. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hot Springs approves repairs to roofs at well house after high winds Miracle Johnson (left) and Messiah Johnson (center) and mother Markayla Johnson (right) in photos from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WNCN) A missing young mother and her two children were found dead nearly two weeks after they first were reported missing in Charlotte, police said Saturday. Human remains were discovered Friday afternoon at the location where the family was reported missing in northeast Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. NC mom and her 2 young children missing more than a week, police say The discovery was made just before 1:45 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane, off Reagan Drive. Saturday, Charlotte police said the three found dead were 7-month-old Messiah Johnson and 4-yeah-old Miracle Johnson along with their mother Markayla Johnson, 22. Family of the victims joined Charlotte Police Chief Johnny Jennings during a news conference on Saturday, WJZY reported. WJZY photo of police at the scene Friday. Jennings called the triple killing a heinous act while speaking near where the three vanished and were found dead. Were going to do everything we can to bring closure to family and find the person responsible for these murders, Jennings said, according to WJZY. After the trio were found dead Friday, search warrants were requested for the investigation which is the same location where a mother and her two children vanished nearly two weeks ago. Johnson, her daughter, and son were reported missing on March 3 with police announcing their disappearance five days later. The trio was last seen in the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane, which is the location of Orchard Trace Condominiums near the University City area of Charlotte, according to a police news release eight days ago. Johnson has failed to contact any known family members and her family is concerned for her welfare, officers said in the original news release. A 2011 Chevrolet Camaro was listed in the police report as related property, WJZY reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Police officers helped to evacuate 26 children from the border Velykopysarivske municipality in Sumy Oblast A total of 190 people, including 26 children, were safely evacuated from the border municipality of Velykopysarivske in Sumy Oblast, Ukraines Internal Affairs Ministry reported on Telegram on March 16. Read also: Russian drones target Sumy: Seven injured including a child, structural damage Juvenile police officers and a municipality police officer facilitated the transportation of children from remote villages to the evacuation bus. Upon arrival at safer locations, families were met by police officers who assisted in their resettlement and provided necessary supplies. Sumy Regional State Administration said on March 15 that all residents from 22 settlements in the oblast were evacuated. In total, 4,523 individuals, including 829 children, were evacuated from border territories. Read also: Russian missile strike in Sumy kills 2, injures 26; vital infrastructure damaged The decision to evacuate was prompted by sustained Russian shelling of the municipality over five days (March 11-15), during which three people were killed and 13, including five children, were injured. Volodymyr Artiukh, head of Sumy Regional Military Administration, reported on March 14 an alarming increase in shelling incidents in the oblast, located near the border with Russia. Within two days, the region experienced approximately 800 explosions, surpassing its typical six-month norm. A Russian drone struck a residential building in Sumy overnight on March 13, killing two and injuring several more people, with three in critical condition. Sumy declared mourning on March 14 and 15 for those killed in the Russian drone attack on March 13. 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 Hungary has sent a letter to the other EU member states complaining about the protection of Ukraines Hungarian national minority. Source: Radio Liberty, which has the letter in its possession, as reported by European Pravda Details: In the letter, Hungary reiterates its demand that the rights of national minorities of Ukraines Hungarian community should be restored to pre-2015 levels. This includes the free use of the Hungarian language in Ukraine and the right to political representation at regional and national levels. "Despite past promises, the needs of the Hungarian community in Ukraine have been ignored, for example, with regard to determining which subjects are to be taught in Ukrainian in Hungarian-minority schools," the letter states. Budapest has also complained about changes in the population ratio following administrative district boundary changes in Ukraine that remove the justification for the minimum 10% minority representation for language rights, and is demanding its own delegate to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament). Guaranteeing minority rights is one of the key requirements for Ukraine's further progress towards EU membership. Background: In December, an updated law on national minorities came into force in Ukraine that took recommendations made by the Venice Commission into account. The law also received a positive assessment from Hungarian communities living in Ukraine. Hungary's letter emerged after it became known that a bilateral meeting between Ukrainian and Hungarian officials is to take place next week. Support UP or become our patron! Hungary has lodged a complaint with the member states of the European Union regarding alleged "rights violations" of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine, Radio Svoboda reported on March 15. Read also: Ukrainian, Hungarian officials to meet next week Presidents Office The document underscores the importance of protecting national minorities for Ukraine's EU accession. Hungary demands the restoration of Hungarian minority rights to pre-2015 levels. This includes the reinstatement of the right to freely use the Hungarian language and to political representation at regional and national levels. There are currently 20,000 students with Hungarian as the language of instruction in Ukrainian schools, however, the subjects that should be taught in Ukrainian in Hungarian minority schools have not yet been determined. Read also: Trump vows to abandon Ukraine he wont give a penny, says Orban Approximately 20,000 students in Ukrainian schools are currently taught in Hungarian. However, there remains ambiguity regarding which subjects should be taught in Ukrainian in Hungarian minority schools. After the reformatting of administrative districts in Ukraine, the population ratio in the region has changed. Hungary believes that the requirement for a mandatory 10% ratio, which national minorities must reach among the local population to qualify for language rights, "is not justified in the case of national minorities." Hungary demands the appointment of a Hungarian delegate to the Ukrainian Parliament to ensure political representation. It also advocates for the allowance of the national language's use during election campaigns, referendums, and public life. Ukraine has not issued any official response to the document. Hungary's demands could become a significant obstacle to Ukraine's accession to the EU. Read also: Rutte's NATO ambitions challenged by Hungary over LGBT rights dispute Hungary has been blocking Kyivs cooperation with NATO for years, claiming a "policy of violating the rights of national minorities." The bill on national minorities is one of the main requirements for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. In December 2022, it was adopted in its entirety, but the EUs Venice Commission was not fully satisfied and recommended revising a number of provisions, most of which relate to the use of minority languages. 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 Main Intelligence Directorates (HUR) cyber-specialists hacked into the Russian public service system used for electronic voting in the sham "presidential elections," Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne and the Ukrinform news agency reported on March 16, citing HUR sources. "The Russian public service website is down. The voting system is down. Cyber-specialists have bypassed all security systems," HUR said. This will continue until the end of the voting." Read also: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says Moscows vote in occupied territories illegal The cyber-attacks also targeted the electronic services of Putin's United Russia party. "The work of HUR cyber-specialists continues." Read also: Russian occupiers allowed to vote in staged elections without physical presence and documents - HUR The websites of Russian so-called "election commissions" collecting "votes" from the occupied Ukrainian territories are down, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on March 15, naming in particular the sites dnr.izbirkom.ru, lnr.izbirkom.ru, crimea.izbirkom.ru, zaporozhye.izbirkom.ru, kherson.izbirkom.ru. So-called presidential elections are being held in Russia and Ukraines temporarily occupied territories between March 15 and 17. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 24 years, announced his participation in the elections last December. No opposition leaders or anti-war candidates were registered by the countrys Central Election Commission. The European Parliament announced on March 14 that it would not send its observers to the sham vote. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the vote in the occupied territories would be "illegal and invalid. On Mar. 14 Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada [Parliament] called on foreign governments and parliaments, international organizations, and parliamentary assemblies to condemn Russia's illegal sham presidential "elections" in the Temporarily Occupied Territories (TOT). Read also: Unregistered people allowed to vote in sham Russian presidential elections on occupied part of Ukraines Luhansk Oblast 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 Editor's note: This story was updated March 17, 2024 to provide additional detail, and a headline was corrected from an earlier version. HYANNIS A 26-year-old Hyannis man was arrested around 8:30 p.m. Friday on assault to murder after he entered the Plymouth Police Headquarters lobby, took his shirt off, knelt to the ground, and placed his hands above his head, holding his phone. "When Lieutenant George Driscoll and Officer Kyle Kreitzer approached, they could hear a man on the phone, identifying himself as a Barnstable Police detective telling our officers that the man had just shot someone, was wanted for attempted murder, and to put him into custody," according to a Facebook post from the Plymouth Police Department. The suspect was taken into custody by police in Plymouth and returned to Barnstable. He is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon: gun, assault to murder, assault and battery, and several other gun-related charges in connection with the shooting of a 41-year-old man at a Winter Street home in Hyannis Friday night, according to police. He was held on $100,000 cash bail in the Barnstable Police Department lockup and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at Barnstable District Court. The suspect was taken into custody by police in Plymouth and returned to Barnstable. Police said the victim, who police have not named, had been shot several times. The man was initially taken by Hyannis Fire Department rescue personnel to Cape Cod Hospital. He was treated and then later transferred to a Boston medical facility. Police on Saturday said he was in stable condition. The two men knew each other, police said. Barnstable police and members of the Cape Cod Regional SWAT Team went to locations on Locust and Winter streets after a 911 call reported a man suffering from gunshot wounds, according to a Barnstable Police statement released Saturday morning. Police on the scene Friday night outside a Winter Street home in Hyannis. Barnstable Police said a 41-year-old Hyannis man, who had been shot around 6:20 p.m., stumbled to the home of a woman who called police. Police said the wounded man was in stable condition at a Boston hospital on Saturday. A 26-year-old Hyannis man, who police say knew the victim, was charged with assault to murder and other offenses. He was being held on $100,000 bail at the Barnstable Police Department and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Barnstable District Court. The call came in about 6:20 p.m. from a woman on Winter Street who said the wounded man had stumbled to her home, according to Barnstable Police press release. Barnstable Police Lt. Mark Mellyn declined to provide names in the case, citing Massachusetts law. Section 97D requires police to not make public all reports of abuse perpetrated by family or household members and reports of rape and sexual assault or attempts to commit such offenses. Cape Cod Times staff writer Zane Razzaq contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hyannis shooting victim listed in stable condition at Boston hospital "The best aspect of the civilizational dialogue between Greece and China is that neither country forcefully imposes its own culture externally. It's a dialogue of mutual learning and appreciation," said former Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos. Pavlopoulos and Chinese Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng were invited by Xinhua to attend a roundtable discussion on the exchange and mutual appreciation of civilizations. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Donald Trump exposed his profound condescension and blatant manipulation with the notorious 2016 declaration, I love the poorly educated. Election results and polling data consistently show that the most poorly-educated Americans at least, those who are white love him back with almost religious reverence, treating him as guru, despot and pop-culture idol all in one. While it is easy to chortle at the hillbilly-Deadhead vibe surrounding Trump rallies, it is more important to consider how the better-educated are weakening their country by rejecting the tools necessary to maintain the structure of liberal democracy. Decades ago, universities across the country began making cuts to the liberal arts. The humanities, fine arts and social sciences are endangered everywhere, as evident by the staggering variety of state colleges and private universities no longer invested in their survival. In 2023, West Virginia University eliminated its world languages department, reduced its education department by a third and slashed its programs in art history, music, architecture and natural resource management. In the same year, Lasell University, a small private school in Massachusetts, killed five majors, including English and history. In Ohio, numerous of the state's best-known institutions of learning have announced cuts to the liberal arts, including Kent State, the University of Toledo, Miami University, Youngstown State, Baldwin Wallace University and Marietta College. But the academic carnage in the Buckeye State is hardly an outlier. A quick Google search reveals intellectual wreckage piling up across the nation. The University of New Hampshire permanently closed its art museum, the University of Tulsa eliminated degrees in history, and the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin system has instructed all 25 of its campuses which enroll more than 160,000 students every year to prepare for reductions in liberal arts programs. My alma mater, Valparaiso University, is now preparing to join in the self-destruction. A Lutheran liberal arts college on the shores of Lake Michigan, 50 miles or so southeast of Chicago, Valparaiso recently announced that it is considering the discontinuation of 28 programs, including philosophy, public health, theology and the graduate program in English Studies and Communication, where I earned a master's degree. When I graduated in 2010, Valparaiso had a regional reputation as a small, private institution with excellent educational standards, bolstered by an emphasis on the arts and humanities. The English Studies and Communication program was a hybrid, requiring study of creative writing, journalism, English literature and mass communication theory. Professors collaborated with the directors of the campus art museum and instructors in the social sciences and business departments, to demonstrate that knowledge is impossible to segregate or compartmentalize. A truly educated person should be adept at making connections across disciplines, cultures and different sectors of society. Gore Vidal defined an intellectual as someone who can deal with abstractions. Valparaiso, at its best, did exactly that equipping its graduates with an ability to handle abstractions, while showing that abstractions arent all that abstract. What might seem abstract in the academic context, as recent American history ought to have taught us, may soon transform into the concrete, creating situations of urgent social consequence. Arguments about democracy, disinformation, the public good and moral philosophy are inseparable from such issues as climate change, gun violence, the effects of new communication technology and the struggle to defeat autocracy. In the 14 years since my graduation, Valparaiso has suffered from poor leadership that has caused consistent damage to its reputation. In 2020, it shut down its law school after years of lowering its standards to attract enough more students. Last year, the university's current president, Jose Padilla, launched a bizarre crusade to fund the renovation of a first-year dormitory by selling off a Georgia OKeeffe painting, along with other signature works of art from the campus museum. Despite widespread opposition from students and faculty, and condemnation from the American Alliance of Museums, Padilla seems determined to proceed with this philistine maneuver (I wrote about the proposed sale for the New Republic.) The potential gutting of Valparaiso's liberal arts programs is one small part of a much larger social and cultural trend of viewing education as nothing more than a business proposition. As Matthew Becker, a theology professor at Valparaiso, wrote, this decision, "if implemented, will completely dismantle the stated mission of the university": Valpo will no longer be "grounded in the Lutheran tradition of scholarship, freedom, and faith," nor will it really be preparing students "to serve in both church and society." With the elimination of foreign languages, music, the theology programs, and other programs in the humanities, Valpo will no longer be a liberal arts university. My nephew, Justin McClain, a recent graduate of the endangered public health program, stated the obvious: On the heels of a pandemic that resulted in millions of lives lost and trillions in economic losses educational institutions should be embracing students interested in joining a field that has proved far too valuable to the functioning of society at large yet remains chronically understaffed. Becker identified Valpo's plan of self-destruction as completely market-driven, and that's a critical point. Padilla and other university leaders have offered exclusively economic reasons to explain their agenda. Time and again, college and university leaders across the country have cited financial justification and a business-model imperative for transforming their institutions into glorified vocational schools. And this wrecking-ball campaign runs in parallel with an ideologically motivated war on learning. Right-wing governors and legislatures in many states, including Florida, Texas and Tennessee, have attempted to strip-mine universities, often by eliminating diversity, equity and Inclusion programs, prohibiting instruction in topics related to race and gender, and even threatening to deny loans to students who want to major in an impractical discipline. This anti-intellectual campaign of destruction against higher education takes place alongside book-ban campaigns in many of the same states, where astroturf organizations funded by right-wing groups have worked to remove books from school curricula and libraries that focus on issues of racial justice or LGBTQ equality. It may be worth noting that many of those who claim to hate education are blatant hypocrites. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds a bachelors degree in history from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a defender of book bans who routinely bashes institutions of learning, also has a Harvard Law degree, as well as a B.A. in public policy from Princeton. Even Donald Trump despite his incoherent rambling and his impressive lack of knowledge on almost every conceivable topic doesn't technically qualify as poorly educated. Although exactly how and why Trump was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania in the first place remains unclear, he holds a B.S. in real estate from Penn's Wharton School. For all their phony anti-educational posturing, Republican officials and pundits have succeeded in selling ignorance as virtuous to their voters and viewers. A 2022 Pew Research survey found that 76 percent of Republicans now believe that colleges affect the country negatively, while 76 percent of Democrats said they believe colleges affect the country positively. A good rule to follow is never to trust highly educated people who tell you that education is a waste of time. A good question to ask, after that, is why they want so many people to remain ignorant. If democracy is to function as intended, it demands a well-informed and reasonably sophisticated citizenry. Without an intelligent electorate, democratic governance is under threat from despots and demagogues who can acquire power by appealing to base emotions and instincts. Thomas Jefferson called information the currency of democracy. America is now at risk of bankruptcy. Jefferson was also one of the founders of the University of Virginia, where organized a committee to develop a holistic program of learning that, in todays ruthless, profit-obsessed climate, would not survive at Valparaiso, at West Virginia University or at countless other schools. Its program was to include ancient and modern languages, mathematics, physio-mathematics, physics, botany and zoology, anatomy and medicine, government and political economy and history, municipal law, and Ideology (rhetoric, ethics, belles lettres, fine arts). Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. George Washington advocated for a national university that would teach the arts and natural sciences, along with literature, rhetoric and criticism. But the father of our country might now have pariah status on most campuses perhaps as an adjunct instructor with no health benefits, begging for a summer course. In an age of extreme partisan rancor, there is dispiriting bipartisan unity on one point: Most Americans are increasingly hostile to the liberal arts. While only Republicans are overtly hateful of higher education as a whole, many students and administrators no longer claim to see the value in programs that, according to their standards, lack immediate and practical application to the job market. Recent data indicate that only 10.2 percent of college students major in any humanities discipline, and barely over 1 percent major in history or political science. High schools across the country, meanwhile, have been cutting courses in civics, the social sciences, humanities and fine arts for decades. Richard Hofstadter, one of the premier historians and public intellectuals of the 20th century, explained in his 1963 classic, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, that most Americans view intelligence as merely functional. Brainpower, in this view, should serve some practical and tangible purpose, typically one that can be measured in dollars and cents. Abstractions, to return to Gore Vidals remark, are seen as irrelevant distractions from learning the skills that can earn a bigger paycheck. One of the numerous things people seem to have forgotten amid this rat-race competition is the question of how to maintain a democratic system of governance. Representative government is complicated, and often moves slowly. It requires sustained wrestling with the complex and thorny questions of ethics, personal freedom versus social responsibility, and balancing the progress driven by new knowledge and new ideas with the benefits of existing norms and traditions. That kind of intellectual labor is taxing enough for those with a decent formal education, but with no training in the study of government, culture or mass communication, Americans are increasingly likely to fall for bad arguments and stupid ideas. Divorcing education from philosophical, political and social ambitions creates a culture in which people view public-health measures during a pandemic as stepping stones to the gulag, convince themselves that a racist con man most famous for hosting a game show could not possibly have lost a free and fair election, or believe that information about transgender people is more dangerous than assault rifles. Democratic voters hope as should everyone else with a conscience that Joe Biden can overcome his poor approval ratings and doubts about his age by appealing to Americans' belief in democracy. He will have to consistently remind the electorate that his opponent presents an unprecedented threat to the system that millions of voters take for granted. For many Americans, however, democracy is a hazy concept at best. Survey results consistently show that large proportions of the American public don't understand the Bill of Rights, cannot name the three branches of government and are unfamiliar with the most important and basic facts of U.S. history. Tech journalist Kara Swisher, author of the new history and memoir Burn Book, recently observed that leading figures in Silicon Valley, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, have "no sense of history." If so, they are little different from the average citizen in that regard, yet they are routinely heralded as geniuses. It is hardly surprising that theyve allowed hate speech, deceitful propaganda and other harmful material to proliferate on their platforms. A society actually grounded in the liberal arts might see Zuckerberg and Musk as allegorical characters, perhaps as archetypal warnings against the reckless pursuit of wealth and the refusal to balance technical wizardry with more mature forms of insight and wisdom. But that is not our society. The outsized influence of Zuckerberg and Musk not to mention Donald Trump makes clear that we are at risk of handing our country over to cynical, power-mad morons who are, at best, indifferent to hate, poverty and violence. A little education might help. India's general election will take place in seven phases over April and May, the Election Commission says. The results will be announced on 4 June, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a news conference. With some 968 million eligible voters, India's election will be the largest the world has seen. Opinion polls predict a win for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, which is eyeing a record third term in power. More than two dozen opposition parties, including the Congress, have formed a coalition bloc - called the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA - to take on the BJP at this election. India's lower house has 543 elected seats and any party or a coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a government. The BJP, led by Mr Modi, had won a staggering 303 of the 543 seats in the 2019 election. This year, the party says its target is to win at least 370 seats. Some states will hold polls in several phases. The 2024 Indian elections will see 26 million new voters Voting will be staggered, beginning on 19 April and ending on 1 June, Mr Kumar said. "We will take democracy to every corner of the country," he said. "It is our promise to deliver a national election in a manner that we... remain a beacon for democracy around the world." Some 968 million people - 150 million more than the last elections in 2019 - are eligible to vote. "Over 26 million new voters have been included in the electoral roll, of which approximately 14 million are women, surpassing the newly enrolled men by over 15%," the Election Commission said. Electronic voting machines will be used and will contain a None of the Above (Nota) button. India appointed two new election commissioners on Thursday to fill vacant spots in the three-person Election Commission. Days before the poll dates were announced, the sudden resignation of Arun Goel, the second-highest officer in the Election Commission, had left the poll body with only one of the three mandated members, the chief election commissioner. Meanwhile, India's Supreme Court continues to hear a case regarding the controversial electoral bonds scheme that allowed people and companies to make political donations anonymously. The Election Commission has released a list of India's leading political donors. Mr Modi's BJP was the biggest beneficiary, securing almost half of the bonds worth 120bn rupees donated between 2018 and 2024. Read more India stories from the BBC: (Bloomberg) -- As India heads into an election, follow Bloomberg India's channel on WhatsApp for how money and business intersect with politics and power. Sign up here. Most Read from Bloomberg India will hold general elections over six weeks from April 19, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi bidding for a third term in office buoyed by a strong economy and his partys Hindu nationalist policies. The national polls will be carried out over seven phases until June 1, Rajiv Kumar, Indias chief election commissioner, told reporters in New Delhi on Saturday. The votes will be counted on June 4, he said. Preliminary results are usually known the same day. Modi has said his Bharatiya Janata Party and allies will sweep the elections with more than 400 of the 543 parliamentary seats up for grabs in the polls. He faces a weakened opposition alliance, which has been struggling to put across a cohesive message that resonates with voters. About 970 million Indians are registered to vote and over 1 million polling stations will be set up, the commission said. The elections will be carried out over several weeks to ensure citizens get access to electronic voting machines. India will also hold state assembly polls in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, Odisha in the east and Andhra Pradesh in the south. The BJPs seat target is an ambitious goal when compared with the 303 seats won in the 2019 elections. Modis support among the majority Hindu population is high, and his party has taken several steps to promote a Hindu-first policy. Modi earlier this year opened a temple on a site where a 16th-century mosque once stood, and the government this week enacted a law that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants. Another five-year term would give the BJP room to push through other controversial policies. The party has proposed a population register that critics say would discriminate against minorities and also wants to implement a legal code that may replace all religion-based laws. A third term also gives Modi the chance to continue an economic program that investors have broadly embraced. India is posting growth rates of more than 7%, making it one of the fastest expanding economies in the world. The stock market has more than doubled since Modi took power in 2014, exceeding the 176% increase in the S&P 500 in the past decade. India has also become an important security partner to Washington and a manufacturing alternative to a slowing China economy. One of Modis main economic challenges is finding jobs for the tens of millions of young people who join the workforce every year a major concern for new voters in the country, some 18 million who are eligible to cast their ballots for the first time. The government is also struggling to quell farmers protests over food crop prices. Modi will face an alliance of more than 20 opposition groups in the polls, the biggest of which is the Indian National Congress. The alliance has struggled to capitalize on voters discontent about bread-and-butter issues as they work out seat-sharing deals. Several high-profile alliance members defected to the BJP in the past several months and numerous opposition leaders are under investigation by federal agencies or have been arrested. Some opposition parties are focusing on the regions they dominate. Those who remain in the alliance are looking to circumvent Modis star power with a state-by-state campaign aimed at celebrating Indias religious diversity. They are also offering support to low-income households, although they face a well-funded campaign by the BJP-led government, which is giving cheaper loans, affordable cooking gas and cash handouts to citizens. The Election Commission also gave its first clear statement on polls in the contentious region of Jammu and Kashmir, saying voting for the state assembly will take place soon after the federal elections. Indias only majority Muslim state, Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its autonomy in 2019. Elections in the state couldnt be held simultaneously with the federal polls because of security concerns, Kumar said. Each state candidate for the assembly polls would require individual security cover, he said. --With assistance from Ronojoy Mazumdar and Dan Strumpf. (Updates with additional details.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Reuters) -Indian naval forces including special commandos seized a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members, a spokesperson for the navy said on Saturday. The navy said in a post on social media platform X that all 35 pirates aboard the ship, the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel Ruen, had surrendered, and the ship had been checked for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. The Ruen had been hijacked last year and the navy said it had intercepted the vessel on Friday. The vessel may have been used as the base for the takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia earlier this week, the European Union naval force said. The hijacking of the Ruen was the first successful takeover of a vessel involving Somali pirates since 2017 when a crackdown by international navies stopped a rash of seizures in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Somali pirates had caused chaos in important global waterways for a decade but had been dormant until a resurgence of attacks starting late last year. India deploys at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea to provide security against pirates as Western powers focus on attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis. At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking and suspicious approaches had been recorded by the Indian Navy since Dec. 1, Indian officials previously said. (Reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi and Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru, with M. Sriram in Mumbai; Editing by Stephen Coates and David Holmes) CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (WCMH) A man who is currently in jail has been charged with aggravated murder related to a cold case that dates back 34 years. The Guernsey County Sheriffs Office said that a 1990 murder case has been solved and that the suspect, 60-year-old Carl Butch Hoopingarner, has been charged with aggravated murder. In August 1990, firefighters and deputies responded to a vehicle burning outside the former Raven Cafe on Old National Road in Cambridge Township. Ohio woman sent to prison after baby was born addicted to drugs Firefighters received reports a man, 30-year-old James Bradley, was trapped inside the car as it was burning. Bradley was pronounced dead at the scene with the Guernsey County coroner at the time ruling it as a natural death from massive body burns. This embedded content is not available in your region. More than 30 years later, Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey Paden reopened the case in 2021 after a tip the fire was not accidental. After two years of investigating, the sheriffs office said they had sufficient evidence to charge Hoopingarner with aggravated murder. Hoopingarner is already in Belmont County jail on unrelated murder and drug charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. In a city silenced by gangs, everyone notices the thrum of a helicopter beating overhead in the night a brief sign that someone very lucky has been able to leave Port-au-Prince. CNN was able to land in the Haitian capital by helicopter on Friday after days of on-again, off-again plans that required detailed security arrangements and multiple layers of diplomatic approval. Since our previous visit to Haiti last month, the situation has deteriorated sharply. Beleaguered Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his decision to step aside, but it is not clear who will fill the void or when. A promised transitional government has yet to materialize, and plans for a Kenyan-led stabilisation force are in limbo. Ordinary people leave their homes only rarely in Port-au-Prince these days, where daily battles between police and gangs send plumes of smoke into the air, gunshots echoing through quiet streets. Boulevards that would ordinarily be packed with cars and vendors are empty, the citys painted tap tap taxis rarely full. Port-au-Prince seen from helicopter on March 15, 2024. - Evelio Contreras/CNN There are few places left to go. All roads leading out of the city are blocked by gangs, as is access to the port, and the citys international airport has been shuttered, its walls pocked with bullet holes. Nothing is coming in either; the citys grocery stores are running out of food. Gas stations are out of fuel. Hospitals are short on blood. On Friday evening, gunshots could be heard ringing in the citys hills. Lower down, a police operation was also in course in the territory of notorious gang leader and former police officer Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbeque. The United Nations is working to create an air bridge between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, in the neighboring Dominican Republic, that would convey vital supplies to the city. But for now, the only thing coming into Port-au-Prince are the private evacuation helicopters a bitter reminder of the gross inequality that has plagued Haiti for decades, where most people live on less than $4 per day. Hundreds of people are putting their names on lists to flee Port-au-Prince by air, several pilots told CNN a small class of wealthy foreigners and diplomats with the resources and network to contemplate chartering a private flight where a single seat currently can cost over $10,000. The helicopters can be heard regularly in the evening and early morning, residents in Port-au-Prince say, with an audible difference between the small private helicopters arriving from the Dominican Republic and larger military helicopters believed to be used by some diplomatic missions, including the United States. No amount of money or planning can erase the danger of flying through a war zone, however, and pilots say they are increasingly wary of taking on evacuation flights. From one day to the next, it is never clear when the next flight will be possible. Two pilots told CNN they had heard shots fired while they were performing an evacuation. When you hear the ping, ping, ping of bullets going by, you dont want to do it anymore, one said. As far as Im concerned, the entire city is run by gangs, said another, showing CNN a map of the dense urban sprawl of Port-au-Prince, where he says he is unable to predict where fire might come from. Eighty percent of Port-au-Prince is currently controlled by gangs, according to UN estimates. Haiti was thrown into crisis at the start of March, as gangs called for the resignation of Prime Minister Henry and his government. For the first time, according to security sources, rival gangs and coalitions began to wreak coordinated havoc, sharing territory for tactical advances. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 15, 2024. - Evelio Contreras/CNN Haitis national police have battled back bravely, but with limited resources. They cannot be everywhere at once and they themselves are often the targets, with several police stations attacked or burned down in the past two weeks. Haitis current security crisis is the most crippling it has faced in years a once unthinkable escalation for a country that has long suffered chronic violence, political crises and drought, leaving some 5.5 million Haitians about half the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Henry came to power unelected in 2021 following the assassination of Haitis then-President Jovenel Moise. His premiership has been marred by months of spiraling gang violence, which grew more intense after he failed to hold elections last month, saying the countrys insecurity would compromise the vote. On Monday, amid enormous pressure to do something to staunch the violence in Port-au-Prince, Henry did announce his resignation. He would hand over power to a transitional council, he said. But by weeks end, the council had yet to be formed. One last hope for Port-au-Prince may be the deployment of foreign troops to reinforce police and confront the gangs, in a mission requested by Henry, green-lighted by the UN Security Council and led by Kenya. Restoring peace to the streets would be the first step in allowing Haiti to hold a vote and eventually elect a new government. In fact, when the worst of the violence erupted last week, Henry was in Kenya to sign an agreement to send 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti. But as chaos continues, hopes for the cavalry in Port-au-Prince are fading. Following Henrys resignation announcement, Kenya said its forces deployment would be postponed, citing the Haitian governments instability. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Borderland lived an intense 24 hours on Thursday, March 14 following Amber Alerts sent out by El Paso Police as early as 6 in the morning, that led to a desperate search for 2-year old Kenji Montoya, whose life was in danger after being allegedly kidnapped by his father Miguel Montoya. After an hours-long SWAT standoff and negotiations with Montoya, El Paso Police took him into custody at the Studio 6 motel, located along the 11000 block of Gateway Blvd West at Lomaland, just before 9 p.m. Thursday evening. UPDATE: Missing 2-year-old from Amber Alert found safe The boy was located unharmed and was returned to his mother Cheyenne Roman, who described the moment she received the call. They called us and theyre like, We have your son, and I just started crying. They thought (family) it was a bad call, but I was like, No they have him! So we we drove around until we got here and, oh, my god, words cant describe how happy I felt, Roman said. Hes doing good (Kenji). Hes eating pizza. Hes saying hi to everybody. Hes happy. He doesnt want to be out of my arms for sure. I dont think Ill ever let him go again. El Paso Police said that a call came in at 12:52 p.m. about a suspicious person at the Studio 6 motel, that potentially matched Montoyas description. KTSM was following the SWAT situation in the afternoon as it unfolded, but El Paso Police asked the media not to report on it for the boys safety. We dont have very many Amber Alerts, and these types of investigations are very emotionally charged, especially when it involves family members. A young child, we dont know the mental state of the suspect, and what we dont want is for any news to be released that could possibly escalate that person and have them decide to harm the child, said EPPD spokesman Sgt. Robert Gomez, at a press conference moments after the boy was rescued. There was a lot of reports of SWAT teams being there and we asked you all (media) to hold off on reporting and I, just from the bottom of my heart, want to say thank you to all the news agencies that cooperated with us, Gomez said. Roman spoke with KTSM on Thursday as the manhunt was taking place, recounting the events of the day, when she said Montoya tried to kidnap her, Kenji, and even her niece, to use them as bait to kidnap his 12-year old daughter from a previous relationship and kill her. Amber Alert mom: He was going to murder us Roman said that both her and Montoyas daughter have pending sexual assault cases against him. Montoya currently faces charges for aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon, family violence, and the unauthorized use of a motor-vehicle. His bond is set at $230,000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. An investigation has been launched into the cause of a fire which broke out onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth while it was moored in Argyll and Bute. The aircraft carrier was en-route to Rosyth to undergo repairs when the blaze broke out during a stop on Loch Long at Glenmallan on 8 March. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the blaze was quickly extinguished and no ordnance was involved in the incident. A spokesman added that personnel in the vicinity were able to return to work. A Royal Navy Spokesperson said: "An isolated fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished and there are no reported injuries. "We take the health and safety of our personnel extremely seriously and are investigating to understand the cause. "This will have no impact on HMS Queen Elizabeth's programme and the Royal Navy continues to fulfil all its commitments." A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We received a call at 11.50pm on Friday, 8 March to assist partners at Glen Mallan Jetty, Argyll and Bute. "Operations Control mobilised three appliances and a height vehicle. "Crews remained on standby to assist and left at 2.15am on Saturday, 9 March." The ship had to withdraw from a Nato exercise last month because of an issue with a starboard propeller shaft coupling. HMS Prince of Wales was sent on the Steadfast Defender exercise instead, with HMS Queen Elizabeth setting sail from its base at Portsmouth to the Rosyth dockyard to fix the issue. President Joe Biden watches as one of the three U.S. service members killed in a drone strike by an Iran-backed militia is brought home at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, on Feb. 2, 2024. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) Iran and the United States held secret, indirect talks in Oman in January, addressing the escalating threat posed to Red Sea shipping by the Houthis in Yemen, as well as the attacks on U.S. bases by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, according to Iranian and U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The secret talks were held Jan. 10 in Muscat, the capital of Oman, with Omani officials shuffling messages back and forth between delegations of Iranians and Americans sitting in separate rooms. The delegations were led by Ali Bagheri Kani, Irans deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, and Brett McGurk, President Joe Bidens coordinator for the Middle East. The meeting, first reported by The Financial Times this week, was the first time Iranian and U.S. officials had held in-person negotiations albeit indirectly in nearly eight months. U.S. officials said Iran requested the meeting in January, and the Omanis strongly recommended that the United States accept. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip after Hamas Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, the United States and Iran have reassured each other that neither was seeking a direct confrontation, a stance conveyed in messages they passed through intermediaries. But in Oman, each side had a clear request of the other, according to U.S. and Iranian officials. Washington wanted Iran to rein in its proxies to stop the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the targeting of U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. Tehran, in turn, wanted the Biden administration to deliver a cease-fire in Gaza. No agreement was reached, however, and within hours after McGurk left the meeting with the Iranians, the United States led military strikes Jan. 11 on multiple Houthi targets in Yemen. In early February, the United States launched strikes on Iranian-linked military bases in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the killing of three U.S. service members in an attack by Iraqi militia close to Iran. Attacks on U.S. bases have since ended in Iraq, and there have been reports of only a few such attacks in Syria. A senior U.S. official said the United States had engaged in the talks to show that even as tensions spiked, Washington was still open to pursuing diplomacy with Iran but that if the dialogue did not produce results, the United States would use force. Two Iranian officials, one with the foreign ministry, said Iran had maintained in the talks that it did not control the activity of the militia, particularly the Houthis, but that it could use its influence on them to ensure that all attacks would come to a halt if a cease-fire were reached in Gaza but not before. Iran and the United States have continued trading messages regularly about the proxy militias and a cease-fire since they met in January, with the Omanis as intermediaries, U.S. and Iranian officials said. Having channels of communication, even if indirect, can certainly be useful to mitigating the possibility of miscalculation and misunderstanding, said Ali Vaez, the Iran director for International Crisis Group. But, as weve seen since then, especially but certainly not exclusively over Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, tensions between the two sides remain significant. The United States and Iran both made decisions to avert a direct war in February. U.S. forces avoided direct hits on Iran in their military response, and Iran persuaded the militia in Iraq to stop attacks on U.S. bases and the militias in Syria to decrease the intensity of attacks to prevent American deaths. But the Houthis have carried on with 102 attacks against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, according to the Pentagon. As of March 14, the United States had conducted 44 strikes on Houthi targets, but these attacks have not deterred the Houthis, who have threatened to use more advanced weaponry. A senior U.S. official said the Houthis had conducted a test launch of a new medium-range missile. The official said the reports in the Russian news media this week about the Houthis gaining access to hypersonic missiles were most likely not accurate. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said Thursday that the group would be expanding its targeting range to stop Israeli-linked ships from passing through the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope, along Africas far southern coast. Analysts said the Houthis had turned out to be a winning card for Iran in the current conflict because they had inflicted damage to international shipping and increased the stakes of the war in Gaza beyond the region. It is leverage that Iran will not give up easily, analysts said. Last spring, Iran and U.S. delegations in Oman negotiated a deal to release American detainees held in Iran in exchange for the release of about $6 billion of Irans frozen oil-revenue funds in South Korea. They also reached an unofficial agreement to defuse tensions in the region and lower the severity of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria. The goal of the recent negotiations in Oman was for both sides to return to that unofficial agreement and keep tensions at a low level, said Sasan Karimi, a political analyst in Tehran. We shouldnt expect any breakthroughs between Iran and the U.S.; its all narrowly focused on the region for now. They want Iran to use its convincing power with the militia, and Iran is saying, Not so fast, not until you give us a cease-fire. c.2024 The New York Times Company President Biden met with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar Friday, where the leader said he thinks there should be a cease-fire as soon as possible between Israel and Hamas. Varadkar said he was keen to speak with Biden about the war in Gaza, as the two leaders met at the White House to celebrate St. Patricks Day. You know, my my view that we need to have a cease-fire as soon as possible to get food and medicine in, to get the hostages out, Varadkar said. Biden interjected, saying And I agree. The Prime Minister continued, saying he and Biden need to talk about how we can make that happen and move towards a two-state solution, which I think is the only the only way well have lasting peace and security. I agree, Biden responded. Both leaders have faced increased pressure from their respective countries to get Israel to agree to a cease-fire, so remaining hostages can escape Hamas control and so necessary humanitarian aid can reach Palestinians in Gaza. After Bidens recent State of the Union address, he was caught on a hot mic during a conversation with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who urged the president to keep pressure on Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden told Bennet that he told Netanyahu that they were going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting. His remarks follow a shift in intensity, as the president ramps up his public frustrations with Netanyahu and Israel plans to invade the city of Rafah, where more than a million civilians fled to after the start of the war. In recent weeks, Biden announced that the U.S. and other allied countries would begin air dropping humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and said the military will build a temporary pier near the territory to deliver more supplies. Top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for new elections in Israel and criticized Netanyahus handling of the war with Hamas. Biden said he was informed about Schumers opinion and said it was a good speech, and thinks many Americans share the senators concern. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TOKYO, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The decision by Japan's notorious Yasukuni Shrine to appoint a former Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) commander as its chief priest is a violation of the Asian country's pacifist constitution, a Japanese historian said. Former Vice Admiral Umio Otsuka, 63, will assume the post of the 14th priest, the highest-ranking position of the war-related Yasukuni Shrine, on April 1, Jiji Press reported citing the shrine's announcement on Friday. It marks the first time a high-ranking ex-military official to assume the post, local media reports showed. Ryuji Ishida, a researcher at the International Peace Research Institute of the Meiji Gakuin University, told Xinhua that such an appointment is a complete denial to the Tokyo War Crimes Trials. "This blatant expression of affinity towards militarism completely disregards the heinous crimes committed during World War II and violates the fundamental principle of completely severing ties with militarism," said the historian. It also goes against Japan's post-war political and religious separation principle by sabotaging Japan's pacifist constitution, Ishida added. Otsuka graduated from the National Defense Academy and joined the SDF in 1983. He served in various positions such as Chief of Staff of the Maritime SDF Fleet Headquarters and Director of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defense, before retiring in 2019, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Back in 1978, former SDF member Nagayoshi Matsudaira served as shrine priest at the Yasukuni Shrine. It was during Matsudaira's tenure that 14 Class-A war criminals were enshrined in the controversial shrine, local media reports said. Local scholars pointed out that the appointment aims to completely deny the Tokyo Trials, while disregarding the sentiments of the Asian peoples who suffered Japanese aggression and sowing seeds of future discord. The Yasukuni Shrine, located in central Tokyo, honors 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals of World War II. It has long been a source of diplomatic disputes for Japan and its neighbors. Visits and ritual offerings made by Japanese officials to the shrine have consistently sparked criticism and hurt the feelings of the peoples of China, South Korea and other countries brutalized by Japan during the wartime. The first of four ferries being built for Scotland's west coast routes has been successfully launched in Turkey. The MV Isle of Islay will serve on CalMac's Islay and Jura routes after work is finished at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalovan. Two other vessels, MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, being built at the Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde have been subject to long delays. The MV Isle of Islay is due to enter service in Scotland in October. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) chief executive Kevin Hobbs hailed the launch as a "significant milestone" for the project. Once complete, the vessel will have capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles. An official naming ceremony will take place on Islay towards the end of the year. The Isle of Islay's sister ship, MV Loch Indaal, is expected to follow suit in February 2025. It comes after months of frustration among island communities at the state of west coast services - many of which have been continuously cancelled or delayed. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the ferry's completion would create a "more reliable and resilient" service for passengers. She said: "I'm delighted to see MV Isle of Islay enter the water and look forward to her arrival in Scotland later this year. I know she will be warmly welcomed by the communities she will serve. "This is another important milestone reached in the Scottish government's commitment to deliver six new major vessels to serve the Clyde and Hebrides network by 2026. "With MV Isle of Islay progressing towards delivery in October, and her sister ship MV Loch Indaal following soon after, ferry users can anticipate increased capacity for the Islay routes from 2025." CMAL currently owns 12 major vessels, six of which are due to be replaced by the four ferries being built in Turkey and the two being constructed on the Clyde. Two other ferries being built in Turkey, MV Claymore and MV Lochmor, are expected to be completed in June and October next year. CalMac CEO Robbie Drummond said: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming MV Isle of Islay into our fleet. "When she enters service, she will deliver a real step change in resilience and capacity for the community of Islay enabling future growth." By Andrew Mills and Maayan Lubell DOHA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine. On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene his security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the latest Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands." Efforts failed to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, and Israel said on Friday it planned a new offensive against an Hamas stronghold in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in Gaza after five months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties". On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no sign of imminent preparations on the ground. The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera the group's proposal is so realistic that "no one can object to it" and claimed mediators had reacted positively. He said it consists of two stages, with a complete "cessation of aggression" at the start of the second one - something Israel has rejected, vowing to resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any truce expires. Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release. At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members. The assault has forcing many inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a hunger crisis. "Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Later, Palestinian media outlets said aid trucks had reached the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya for the first time in four months. The 13 trucks carrying flour arrived at an UNWRA facility, according to the reports. Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the U.N. saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles" including crossing closures, onerous vetting and unrest inside Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on a lack of capacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. A first sea shipment of aid into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, using a new route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday. A second cargo of food aid was ready to depart, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid. Queen Rania of Jordan told CNN the airdrops were "literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs" and accused Israel of "cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water." (Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay and Matt Spetalnick in Washington, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Writing by Angus McDowall and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, David Gregorio, Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis) The Israeli military has revealed a new plan to evacuate a significant number of the 1.4 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah ahead of the looming ground offensive approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week. In a statement on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that the military will move vulnerable civilians to humanitarian islands elsewhere in Gaza, where they will supposedly be provided with temporary housing, food, and water. Hagari claimed Israel will create the humanitarian zones with the international community. The vague briefing, however, has raised questions about how the IDF will facilitate the evacuation on the groundand whether the operation will be conducted in a way that actually safeguards civilians in compliance with international law. One major concern about the alleged plan for Rafah evacuations is that Israel hasnt detailed who or what force will provide security for the Palestinians as they transit from Rafah to the purported humanitarian islands, according to John Spencer, the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute and a combat veteran. For the evacuation of civilians to any area outside of where they currently are whos going to provide the security framework? Is it going to be safe to conduct the operation? As with any plan, the devil is in the details, Spencer added. And so far, the Israeli government hasnt looped the Biden administration. Palestinians in Rafah line up to receive food distributed by aid organizations. Jehad Alshrafi/Anadolu via Getty Secretary of State Tony Blinken noted this week that Israel must have a clear and implementable plan for safeguarding civilians from an Israeli attack on Rafah.Weve not yet seen such a plan, Blinken told reporters. The White House National Security Council confirmed on Friday that Israel had not shared its plans with the Biden administration. The concerns coincide with a growing backlash against Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been deteriorating ever since the war began on Oct. 7. Aid distribution in Gaza has been restricted, and human rights organizations have been warning that the amount of aid flowing in is not enough. At least 16 children have now died of malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to The Washington Post, adding to an already catastrophic civilian death toll. The United Nations previously warned that conducting a ground offensive in Rafah would lead to slaughter. More than 600,000 children are in Rafah, according to the UNand an attack there could lead to further disruption in a struggling humanitarian aid ecosystem. Toeing the Line At this point, the ostensible evacuation plan appears to be consistent with the law, according to Michael Schmitt, the G. Norman Lieber Distinguished Scholar at West Points Lieber Institute who served 20 years in the United States Air Force as a judge advocate. So long as it isand this is a caveatso long as its executed in a way that takes into consideration the wellbeing of the civilian population so long as they do it in a manner that is in good faith, Schmitt told The Daily Beast. There is a legal obligation to warn a civilian population about attacks if they are going to affect civilians, and it looks like Israel plans to stay in line with this obligation, Schmitt added. When you are going to conduct the attacks, which the IDF certainly is, there is a legal obligation to warn the civilian population that those attacks are going to occur, so long has the attacks will affect the population, which these very obviously will, Schmitt said, referring to the Fourth Geneva Convention. Israels Day After Plan for Gaza Is Full of Holes The question of whether Israel will be obligated to provide aid to evacuees under international law will depend on where exactly the humanitarian islands are located, according to Schmitt. If they move into territory that the Israelis are in effective control ofthat being the legal standardthen Israel now is obligated to care for them, he said. But if the Israelis are not in effective control of territory, Schmitt added, the Israeli obligation is to allow aid to be given to the civilian population, and [it] cannot impede arbitrarily the transfer of aid into those areas. Sean Watts, a professor in the Department of Law at the United States Military Academy at West Point, affirmed that the alleged plan seems to harken back to the Geneva Conventions. This plan is reminiscent of provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions that envision establishing safety zones for civilians and persons endangered by combat, Watts said. U.S. officials have made clear to Israel that the Biden administration expects Israel to provide food, water, and other resources to the Palestinians if they leave Rafah. Given the large number of civilians that are now in Rafah, many of them displaced from other parts of Gaza we need to see a plan that will get civilians out of harms way if theres to be a military operation in Rafahand not only gets them out of harms way but also ensures that they have what they needthat they have shelter, that they have food, that they have medicine, Blinken told reporters this week. 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. Internally displaced Palestinians gather to collect food donated by a charity group before breakfast, on the fourth day of the holy month of Ramadan in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, 14 March 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for more aid to reach Gaza on the ground, as he criticised Israel's plans for a full-scale offensive in the southern city of Rafah. Israel has previously defended its plans for an offensive in Rafah, calling it necessary to bring an end to Hamas in the strip. Mr Scholz's remarks come a day after the first maritime aid package to Gaza. The shipment contained 200 tonnes of food, including rice, oil and dates. The mission was carried out by US charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) in co-operation with the United Arab Emirates. Aid has trickled into Gaza slowly since the start of the war, which began after Hamas gunmen attacked southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages. Since then, more than 31,400 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Speaking to reporters ahead of a visit to the Middle East, Mr Scholz described the situation in Gaza as "difficult", adding that it is "necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now". He said he will be bringing up the subject during talks with his counterparts in the region. Mr Scholz went on to stress that Germany is concerned about military developments in Rafah, which is on the border with Egypt. More than a million people from other parts of Gaza are sheltering there. "There is a danger that a full-scale offensive in Rafah will result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be avoided at all costs," Mr Scholz said. It comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans for a military operation in Rafah, adding that the army was preparing for the evacuation of civilians. Defending its strategy, Israel says Hamas cannot be fully removed in Gaza without targeting Rafah. Israel's plans have been criticised by the international community, with the UN and US also warning that a full-scale assault in Rafah could be disastrous. Speaking on Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it planned to move displaced Palestinians in Gaza to what it called "humanitarian islands" in the middle of the strip. It is not clear what the "islands" will look like, or how they will operate. Map of the Gaza Strip showing Israeli ground operations and evacuation zones A population plagued by deprivation, Gazans are in desperate need of food with the United Nations previously warning that the enclave is on the brink of famine. Cogat, the Israeli body that coordinates humanitarian aid to Gaza, says that so far this month an average of 126 food trucks have entered each day. It says this is more than the 70 trucks carrying food specifically that entered Gaza before the war. Some 500 trucks in total entered Gaza each day before the war. Getting aid in by land is most effective. But military operations and the breakdown of social order have severely hampered aid distribution, leading some countries to try alternative routes - by air and sea. Israel denies impeding the entry of aid to Gaza and accuses aid organisations of failing to distribute it. Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas could meet in Doha for talks on a potential truce deal as soon as Sunday. Hamas said it had given a "comprehensive vision" to mediators. But Mr Netanyahu accused the group of making "unrealistic" demands. Nevertheless, he agreed to send Israeli negotiators to Qatar. In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, Dr Margaret Harris, spokeswoman for the World Health Organization (WHO), said it is "good news" to hear there is movement towards a ceasefire. She described that measure as "the only answer" to the current situation in Gaza. Dr Harris said her colleagues on the ground have never seen misery like it. "They have never seen the speed and the horror and the misery the people are living in there, living massively crowded together, starving in places covered in human waste faeces, unable to clean the place because we can't even bring chlorine in". TEXARKANA, Texas (KETK) The Perot Theatre announced on Friday that they will host Jay Leno in an October show to fund renovations. Alec Baldwin seeks dismissal of grand jury indictment in fatal shooting of cinematographer According to a release, the theater will have the former late night show host and stand-up comedian, Jay Leno, on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. The show is in conjunction with the Four States Auto Museums Fall Car Show that will be held on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. The one-show charity event aims to fund theater renovations as part of its 100th anniversary. The theater was originally built as a Saenger vaudeville house in 1924 and eventually purchased by the city in 1977. These renovations, once completed, will include a new grid and rigging system on the stage, new sound, and lighting systems, remodeled, expanded restroom facilitates and much more. Renovation efforts began with the critical set-aside of $3 million by the City of Texarkana, Texas towards the fundraising and renovation goals, The Perot Theatre said. Tickets will go on sale on March 28 at 10 a.m. They are priced from $77 to $157 and VIP tickets at $297, which will include a meet and greet with Leno and an autographed poster. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Pastor shouldn't pass on white guilt "What I'll tell my son about our history, his white heritage," March 13: I am white. I agree it is not an ethnic group, since everyone who is not a darker color or pronounced geographical group like Pacific Islander is grouped into white, and that includes a lot of different ethnicities. I strongly disagree that white was merely created by people in power to maintain dominance. Some have done this, but to judge all whites as guilty is no different than saying Blacks, Asians or others bear the guilt of a minority within their communities that may have done something wrong. His son can be every bit as proud of his white heritage as Blacks or Asians or American Indians. Every group probably had a few bad actors in history but also has a lot to be proud of to use to teach and help others. More: I'm a Christian pastor. Here's what I'll tell my son about history and his white heritage. If his son is a decent and honorable person then he need not feel guilt, shame or repentance for the actions of some of his forebearers. White is just as beautiful as any other race." White lives matter too. There is nothing wrong or bad with being white. Jesus loves and saves white people too. White is not the primary way I describe myself; it is one of the least meaningful descriptions. I think of friends who are Black or Italian, but those are not their primary descriptions. Pastor Eric Tucker should get over his woke guilt and for Gods sake please dont pass it on to his son or his parishioners. Rev. Ralph Salzgaber, Westerville Biden's Hurdle by Christopher Weyant, CagleCartoons.com Is Joe Biden even fit to be president? After listening to Special Counsel Robert Hurs testimony to the House this week, one might come to two conclusions. First, if J President Joe Biden while a senator and vice president took classified documents and stored them in unauthorized and highly suspicious spaces, he should be tried for violation of the Espionage Act. More: What special counsel Robert Hur claimed about Beau Biden and what transcript actually shows Hurs conclusion was that Biden willingly knew he was violating the law, after all he claims graduating at the top of his law school class. Second, if Hurs conclusion Biden is immune from prosecution due to his mental impairment and cognitive decline, how in the world can he lead our country, particularly in this most dangerous of times. Timothy Michael, Columbus Letters to the Editor What do you think? How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch Young men are too cool to be fathers Other than a relationship with the Almighty, the most important experience in life is caring about others and having others who care about you. Unfortunately, today's culture has been transformed and so many young men who become fathers aren't interested in being dads. It is such a great joy to teach your child how to tie a shoe, tell time, and a thousand other things; but they are too cool for that. And what of the joy of being husband to and sharing life with your child's mom that they miss out on as well? Today's mindset of what's in it for me? which so many have fallen victim to doesn't allow them to enjoy the real joy of just seeing another happy. Appreciating the values of respect and integrity add so much as well to living; but that too has been diminished, further stealing true joy and fulfilment from so many. Dennis Singleton, Dayton This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 'Woke' white pastor wrong to pass on white guilt| Ohio reverend In a recent interview with New Yorker Magazine, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argued that if former President Trump were reelected, his second term would be much like his first, except itd be on turbo. Johnson, who was elected to his House leadership position nearly five months ago, spoke with the outlet, where he discussed what his top priorities would be if Trump were reelected, Republicans maintain their majority in the House and win back the Senate. Hed prioritize cracking down on illegal immigration, raising tariffs on China, cutting taxes, expanding oil and gas drilling and rolling back regulations, the magazine reported. Trump learned a lot of painful lessons in his first term, Johnson said, adding that liberal bureaucrats in government agencies might be working against him. Just days ago, Trump clinched the Republican nomination for president, effectively ending the primary race and embarking on his mission to defeat President Biden. The rematch between the two candidates is expected to be another close race, but Johnson said he thinks we are going to be right off to the races. He hopes that he can restore the constitutional authority of Congress as a co-equal third branch of government, the magazine reported. After House Republicans booted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position in a historic vote, the lower chamber was without leadership for weeks as Johnson and other GOP representatives attempted to secure the gavel. Johnson emerged victorious but has received mixed feedback during his time in power. The magazine noted that many have considered Johnson too inexperienced for the leadership role, too subservient of the far-right members in the House and too frightened of Trump. During the interview, Johnson dubbed himself the first genuinely pro-Trump Republican leader in Congress. Johnson won Louisianas 4th Congressional District in 2016, the same year Trump took over the White House. He argued that other older GOP leaders in Congress are holdovers from past versions of the Republican party. What we accomplished in those first two years of his Presidency is amazing! he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), and Groundwork Jacksonville (Groundwork) have received a transformative federal grant of $147 million to advance the Emerald Trail project. This marks the most substantial one-time federal grant ever received by Jacksonville. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< In a collaborative effort, JTA and Groundwork applied for the Neighborhood Access & Equity Program Grant from the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) back in September 2023. Their proposal aimed at financing the construction of five crucial trail segments, solidifying the citys commitment to urban revitalization. Mayor Donna Deegan, JTA CEO Nat Ford, and Groundwork CEO Kay Ehas spearheaded a lobbying effort in Washington DC in November, engaging with federal representatives to underscore the significance of the Emerald Trail for Jacksonvilles communities. The joint application for the Emerald Trail: Reconnecting and Revitalizing Jacksonvilles Urban Neighborhoods emerged as one of 132 awardees out of hundreds of applications from across the nation and its territories. Mayor Donna Deegan expressed gratitude, stating, This record-setting grant is the result of fantastic collaboration with our partners JTA and Groundwork Jacksonville, the relationships weve built with the Biden Administration, and the experienced team we hired to bring more federal tax dollars home. She added, Im grateful to President Biden for investing in cities and to our federal representatives for securing this critical funding. JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford highlighted the significance of the grant in expediting the completion of the Emerald Trail segments. This funding will accelerate the completion of these five segments of the Emerald Trail ahead of schedule, allowing our citizens to enjoy enhanced mobility and green spaces much sooner than anticipated, Ford stated. The grant will facilitate the construction of five essential trail segments, connecting various neighborhoods across Jacksonville. These include Segment 3 (Southwest), Segment 4 (S-Line Connector), Segment 6 (Westside), Segment 7 (Northwest), and Segment 8 (Eastside). Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, hailed the grant stating This is a win for all of us, especially the residents of our urban neighborhoods who have been underserved for far too long. At the time of this story, 40% of the Emerald Trail is complete, under construction, or in the design phase. The completion of these trail segments promises to reshape Jacksonvilles urban landscape, connecting historic neighborhoods, parks, and vital destinations. The Emerald Trail, once complete, will span 30 miles, linking 14 historic urban neighborhoods to downtown, the St. Johns River, and other destinations. This ambitious project underscores Jacksonvilles commitment to enhancing mobility, green spaces, and community connectivity. For more information about the Emerald Trail and related initiatives, visit the official websites of Groundwork Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. [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. A U.S. District Judge will appoint a special master to oversee a federal womens prison in California following reports of sexual abuse against inmates. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, an Obama appointee, did not name the specific person to fill in the role but said the court will swiftly appoint someone at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, located around 20 miles east of Oakland. The situation can no longer be tolerated. The facility is in dire need of immediate change, she wrote in the order released Friday, according to The Associated Press (AP). She also knocked the Bureau of Prisons for their disregard of the inmates constitutional rights. The Federal Bureau of Prisons said it declines to comment on a pending case, in a statement to The Hill. The new order is part of a lawsuit from mid-August filed by eight inmates and California Coalition for Women Prisoners, an advocacy group, saying that the abuse has not halted despite several former officers being prosecuted. We cannot prosecute our way to a solution to the crisis at FCI Dublin, attorney at Rights Behind Bars, Amaris Montes, said at the time. This isnt a case of a few bad apples, we need systemic change that ensures survivors are released and receive care and that promotes safety for all those remaining inside. The lawsuit followed The APs 2022 investigation into the prison, which shed light on a culture of abuse in the prison, finding inmates were abused by officers and the warden. They faced retaliation if they spoke up. The prison opened in 1974. It was converted in 2012 to being one of six women-only prisons in the federal prison system. The prison also faced struggles with breaches and staffing shortages. The Hill has reached out to the Federal Correction Institution in Dublin for comment. Updated 10:23 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Editors note: the following story contains light spoilers for Problemista. Julio Torres loves toys. From his 2019 comedy special My Favorite Shapes to the sketches he wrote for Saturday Night Live to the lead character in Problemista, toys have been an integral part of Torres storytelling. But in this A24 feature film that Torres wrote, directed, and starred in as the lead character of Alejandro, that fun reverence for toys is elevated to new heights. The peculiar quirks and add-ons that hes attached onto objects are translated into hilarious problem-solving methods. The metaphorical playground that he seems to inhabit becomes a surrealistic New York City. And the hidden meanings hes identified in shapes are applied to actual paintings, monuments, and even personas. Idea for a monument: a series of oversized puzzle pieces spread throughout town. Like Ales little fort, but disassembled, the marvelous Catalina Saavedra, who plays Dolores in the movie, says in a monologue. Most will only see roadblocks. Some will see stairs or benches. But some will see a challenge and will learn that the puzzle has no instructions that itll look different for everyone. Just when they think theyre done, another piece appears. She concludes, "A monument to the artist. A monument to doing what scares you and assembling yourself in the chaos. To trial and error. To doing it your way. A monument to waiting it all along and finding it in all the problems along the day. Catalina Saavedra in Problemista A24 On paper, a 2024 surrealist comedy exploring the humanization of toys and the gamification of society would carefully consider the similarities of a very recent predecessor known as Greta Gerwigs Barbie. Yknow, that tiny little movie that not too many people watched last year. Thankfully, Torres work remains radically original and beautifully specific in Problemista. The film centers on a Salvadoran immigrant named Alejandro, who is living in the U.S. under a work visa and pursuing his lifelong dream of getting a job at Hasbro to become a toy designer. Still, its amusing to think of the ironic coincidence had the script taken Alejandro to dream of working at Mattel. Well, now Im grateful that I didnt go for Mattel because [the film] would just feel like commentary on a very small entity that came out last year by the name of Barbie, Torres tells PRIDE in an interview. But I dont know why I chose Hasbro. I think that it felt very specific and a little off center. Its like, Yeah, why that one? And its like, Oh, because thats the one with this talent incubator program thing that I made up. He continues, I dont know like, if I were to be writing something about someone dying to go to a college, I wouldnt want it to be Harvard, because thats so cliche. I would find the one thats just [he motions to the left]. Larry Owens and Julio Torres in Problemista A24 When asked the totally unserious question about whether he feels slighted that Hollywood A-listers like Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie are coming for his gig as it relates to giving background stories to toys and finding some humorous truth in them, Torres stays true to the universal mantra of a playground: everyones welcome to join in. That is what a toy is supposed to be, he explains. No one owns a toy. Everyone gets to play with a toy. And Im glad that they got to play with that toy. Like, what a fun gig! What an absolutely fun gig. Torres is also not worried about whether Problemista got clearance from Hasbro to mention the company and throw some lighthearted shade at it so many times in the film. I left that up to the lawyers, he waves it away, the entity that is The Lawyers of A24. They did not have a problem with it. I choose to be uninvolved in that and Im hoping for the best. I hope that I dont hurt anyones feelings, but I dont think anyones feelings will be hurt. Corporations dont have feelings. Though I highlight that corporations are legally considered persons in the United States, I agree with Torres that they indeed must not have feelings. Yeah, he muses, remember the documentary that diagnosed what kind of person a corporation would be, and the answer was a sociopath? Miles G. Jackson in Problemista A24 Laughing about the personhood and personalities of corporations is a hilarious transition to talk about the inhumanity of the immigration system in the U.S., which both Torres and I had dealt with in real life. Both Torres and I moved to this country with a student visa to attend college. As our lives and careers progressed, we navigated the truly insane process of obtaining work visas a throughline explored in Problemista that is, ironically, the least surrealistic element in the entire film. But at the same time that Torres writing underscores the challenges of this legal process, he also finds plenty of comic relief. I think, as a person, I look for the humor. Im very easily humored, but Im also a very anxious person. It was only natural that this came about in that way, he explains. Someone was saying that she found Problemista to be she liked it, but she found it to be very stressful. And its like, Oh, okay. Well, I felt very stressed during that part of my life, so maybe thats why. Julio Torres in Problemista at the immigration attorney office A24 When your residence, career, education, relationships, friendships, and dreams all rely on a set of government-set guidelines determining your ability to stay where you are an ability that is already layered with multiple conditions and time limits its easy to find oneself in a constant state of panic and stress. The character of Alejandro finds and loses himself in many of these moments, making Problemista resonate on an emotional level for audiences who walked through similar paths. Torres says, I remember in college hanging out with some people late at night. My friends were peeing on the street, and I also wanted to pee, but I was like, Ive got to hold it because I dont want peeing on the street to be the reason why I cant achieve my dreams. Its like, the stakes are so high. I told myself, Im going to have to hold it. Problemista is undeniably specific, but somehow still manages to be a story about loving toys, growing up as an artistic kid, being Latino, immigrating to the United States, commenting on corporate America, living in New York City, and engaging in the gig economy. And then enters Elizabeth, a Karen-esque character played by Tilda Swinton, who adds even more texture and themes to the film. Generally speaking, there is a lens through which a mob of Extremely Online well, actually! individuals could theoretically watch Problemista and find Elizabeth to be well, rather problematic! Tilda Swinton in Problemista A24 In Problemista, Elizabeth is constantly gaslighting those who are in her way, mistreating servers, making unreasonable demands, throwing temper tantrums, and complaining to customer service. She ruins the career of a young artist as a result of jealousy, makes many selfish decisions that disregard peoples feelings, and regularly flip-flops on her promises to Alejandro. At first, Elizabeth comes across as an epic Fast and Furious car crash that you cant look away from. It also seems like Alejandro is initially just putting up with her for the chance of finding a sponsor for his work visa. Between Swintons brilliant performance and Torres nuanced writing, however, you slowly realize that this so-called hydra really isnt as dangerous as you may have assumed. [Swinton] became involved in the movie soon after I had a readable draft of it, so pretty early, Torres notes. She knew of my work and she actually loved My Favorite Shapes, and she loved Los Espookys. It goes without saying that I have loved her for a very long time. And then we met and we hit it off. We found a way forward for her to play the character that made sense to her and made even better sense with the movie. And now I have this collaborator that Im so, so proud to call a friend. Even though this was Torres directorial debut for a feature film, working with Swinton felt like a fun, easy, unintimidating, warm, welcoming experience to him. He adds, There was none of the, Oh, rookie director is working with huge star. Uh-oh, uh-oh. No, it was just playing around with a friend. Thats how making this movie really felt, like playing around with so many of my friends. James Scully in Problemista A24 James Scully, who plays Bingham in the movie, is another actor who absolutely stands out. Between his roles as JD in the Heathers TV series, Forty in You, Charlie in Fire Island, and Marys Teacher in the critically-acclaimed Cole Escola play Oh, Mary!, Scully is having a moment right now. I mean, talk about range! Torres and Scully happen to be dating in real life. However, their relationship didnt seem to affect the work. I like working with people that I enjoy, working with people that I love, Torres says. My parents work together all the time. I collaborate with my mom all the time. I collaborate with my sister all the time. My social friends become collaborators and people that I love in different ways become collaborators. Thats just how I operate, so it wasnt strange in any way. Greta Lee in Problemista A24 In the end, all roads lead to Greta Lee. The fan-favorite actress had a breakout performance in the Oscar-nominated film Past Lives. In Problemista, she is a scene-stealing performer who brings to life the character of Dalia. When asked about Lees rising career in Hollywood, Torres says that hes been observing it with absolute joy, and awe, and not surprised in the slightest. Theres a sense of irrepressible wisdom that oozes out of Torres, even in moments when he appears to be doing a bit or telling a joke. Nonetheless, he doesnt want to influence how audiences will experience this movie. I hope that you walk through it with curiosity, he explains. I hope that you just allow me to guide you through it and do with it what you may. But our verdict has been reached: Problemista is a hilarious, poignant, and stunning origin story for Julio Torres, a true superstar in the making. Problemista is now in theaters. MOSCOW, March 16 (Xinhua) -- A Ukrainian drone targeted a vehicle in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, injuring five people inside the car, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Saturday. "A passenger car moving along the road was attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the help of a kamikaze drone ... As a result of the explosion, the car caught fire and five people in it were injured," the governor wrote on Telegram. Gladkov said that the injured, including a teenage boy who suffered a concussion, are being taken to the local hospital. The Ukrainian side has yet to respond to this incident. Ruben Rich Hensley will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury found him guilty Friday of the 2021 fatal shooting of his and his wifes mutual friend, Marjester Marty Thornton. The jury deliberated about three hours Friday afternoon before announcing it had a verdict around 5:15 p.m. on all of the charges. The 32-year-old was found guilty of: Malice or deliberate murder for intentionally killing Thornton. Felony murder for causing Thorntons death while committing the felony of aggravated assault. Aggravated assault for shooting Thornton. First-degree arson for burning his car after learning police were looking for it. Using a gun to commit a crime. He was sentenced to life without parole. Ruben Rich Hensley re-enters the courtroom after a break in his Columbus murder trial in the fatal 2021 shooting of his friend Marjester Marty Thornton. Hensleys defense attorney didnt deny he shot Thornton, but argued he did so in the heat of passion, believing his friend was having an affair with his estranged wife, Jasmine Hall. Hensley had been working out of town for a solar energy company, often flying out of Atlanta to other states. While he was gone, his wife and best friend grew increasingly close. When Hensley discovered how close theyd become, on Sept. 25, 2021, he drove from Atlanta to Columbus and started looking for them, calling Hall repeatedly and fuming when she did not answer, attorney Jennifer Curry said during Hensleys trial this week in Muscogee Superior Court. He also called Thornton, who was on the phone with Hensley as he walked out of his parents Urban Avenue home around 9:30 p.m. A neighbors security camera recorded the noise that came next: three booming gunshots, apparently from a rifle; a car speeding away; and the screams as Thorntons family found him dying in the front yard. Two witnesses said the car they saw racing away was a red Mustang. When Hall got there, in about 30 minutes, she called Hensley and told him his red Mustang had been caught on camera. Around 1 a.m., Hensleys car was found on fire on Moye Road. Inside it police found a shell casing for a .223-caliber rifle round. A medical examiner testified the bullet that killed Thornton could have been of that caliber. It fractured a rib and four of the 12 bones in his spine. It must have been a high-velocity round, the pathologist said. Close friends Hall married Hensley in August 2019 and did not divorce him until March 6 this year. She testified that she and Thornton, 37, were close friends and had never been lovers. The prosecutor, Meghan Bowden, said no evidence proved the two ever had an affair. On Friday morning, she argued to Judge Bobby Peters that jurors should not be given the option of convicting Hensley on voluntary manslaughter, for killing Thornton in a sudden, irresistible passion. Its all speculation, Bowden said. With a photo of shooting victim Marjester Thornton on the screen behind her, prosecutor Meghan Bowden gives a closing argument in Ruben Hensleys Columbus murder trial. Peters rejected that, saying he needed to give the jury that option to avoid the case coming back on appeal. Curry, in her closing arguments, said something Hensley learned in September 2021 triggered him, causing him to rush home from Atlanta and to call Thornton 10 times and Hall 16 times. He got no answer until that night, when finally he got Thornton on the phone at 9 p.m. They spoke for 26 minutes, before the gunfire. It happened so fast, Curry told jurors, arguing Hensley lost his composure upon seeing Thornton, and afterward panicked when he heard police were looking for his car. Besides the alleged affair, Hensley further was provoked by Thorntons giving Hall advice on dating other men Hensley knew, Curry said. Defense attorney Jennifer Curry gestures toward client Ruben Hensley during closing arguments in his Columbus murder trial. This isnt malice murder, she told the jury. This is voluntary manslaughter. Bowden countered that Hensley stalked Thornton that night, parking his car down the street and waiting. He hunted Marty down all day long.... He did it in the cover of night, and he fired at him three times. DALLAS - A racing horse owner said justice is not being served in a crime that involved the theft of three of his horses, two of which were killed. One year ago, police said three teens stole the horses and rode off with them. A vehicle struck them while they were riding, killing two horses and one of the teens. The other two were arrested, and one was set to go to trial, but now, he has the chance to have his case dismissed. The horses owner was prepared to attend a trial on Monday, a trial that kept getting postponed. But he said he got a call this week that there wouldnt be a trial. As she limped out of her stall Friday, it was clear it has been a long and painful year for Logo Winner. Its also been a long year for Lorenza Gooch, who still grieves the loss of two of his horses he trained for harness racing. This week, once again, Gooch felt defeated when he said he received a call from the Dallas County District Attorneys Office. "Its like giving a young kid a license to steal," Gooch said. Gooch said the DAs office told him one of the teenagers who stole his horses one year ago was given deferred adjudication, essentially a period where if he doesnt commit another crime, this one will get wiped from his record. "Its just a slap on the wrist," Gooch said. Back in March 2023, Dallas police said three teens took off with three of Goochs horses in the middle of the night. Near Great Trinity Forest Way and Interstate 45, a vehicle struck the group riding on horseback, killing two of Goochs horses, along with a 14-year-old. A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old were hospitalized and taken into custody. Gooch said the 16-year-olds trial was set for Monday, March 18, and he was asked to attend. "He never called to say, Hey, I made a mistake, and apologize for what he done. They arent holding him responsible for the crime he committed," he said. The district attorneys office couldnt give FOX 4 any details about that case because it involved a minor. The horse that survived, 4-year-old Logo Winner, is still recovering from a broken hip. "She has really a lot of sentimental value," Gooch said. Gooch said hes been given the option to put her down, but right now, he doesnt have the heart to let her go. "Some days, she is better than others," he said. As for the 17-year-old who was taken into custody, his name was never released by police. Its still unclear when and if there will be a trial in his case. Kamala Harriss stepdaughter has called for donations to a UN agency whose workers were accused by Israel of participating in the Oct 7 terror attacks. Ella Emhoff, 24, posted a link on her Instagram page raising money for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) a branch of the UN that deals with refugees in Palestine. Ms Emhoff is the daughter of Douglas Emhoff, who is married to the US vice president. The US and other Western countries have suspended donations to UNRWA after Israel accused the agency of employing workers who participated in the Hamas terror attacks. Ms Emhoff has previously raised money for the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund - PETER ZWOLINSKI/SHUTTERSTOCK Israeli officials claimed that more than 10 per cent of the agencys workers were members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad two of the groups that have launched attacks on Israel in the last five months. A dossier handed to the US government by Israel in January alleged that UNRWA employees had kidnapped a woman, while another was accused of taking part in a massacre at an Israeli kibbutz where 97 people died. Matthew Miller, a state department spokesman, said at the time that the US was extremely troubled by the allegations. The UN fired several of the employees who were accused of participating in the attacks. UNRWA is the largest employer in Gaza and has suffered a funding crisis in recent weeks after donations from Western countries, including the UK, were cut in response to the allegations. Canada, Sweden and Australia have since restored donations. Congressional Republicans are pushing for the temporary suspension of US funding to UNRWA to be made permanent, while Democrats argue that donations to the body are key to securing aid for civilians in Gaza. Ms Emhoff is a model, artist and fashion designer. She has previously raised money for the Palestinian Childrens Relief Fund. After the link on her Instagram page to a UNRWA fundraiser was reported by the New York Post on Saturday, it appeared to have been removed. Darrell Issa, a Republican representative, said UNRWA has blood on its hands and that Ms Harris should tell as many people as she can about the allegations against the agency. The White House was 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansans are hitting the road this spring to get the full view of one of the most impressive stellar events of the year. People are eagerly anticipating the arrival of a total solar eclipse set to blanket much of the U.S. in darkness on Monday, April 8. This is the last time such an event will appear above the U.S. for the next two decades with the next total solar eclipse set to appear on Aug. 23, 2044. Though Kansas is near the path of the eclipse with many living in the Sunflower State being able to see upwards of 90% of it, some are taking part in eclipse tourism this year to get the full experience. While hoping for an unforgettable adventure, they are bracing for crowds and backed-up traffic during their travels. What to do if you see a mountain lion in Kansas Danl Blackwood is one such individual. At the age of 70, he cant wait to get his next photography project underway. He was present for the previous total solar eclipse that happened in August 2017. When you get into that total darkness, that is a giant huge jump in weirdness, Blackwood said. It can only be described by someone who has seen a total eclipse. Its been a really long time since Ive seen one. A composite of the August 21, 2017 total eclipse of the Sun, showing the second and third contact diamond rings and Bailys Beads at the start left and end right of totality, flanking a composite image of totality itself. (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/UIG via Getty Images) Blackwood said he plans to travel to Russellville in Arkansas with his camera equipment in April. Rather than taking photos of the eclipse itself, he has some other plans in mind. Ive been trying to find a spot to see this eclipse that isnt ridiculously far away, Blackwood said. My interest is not the eclipse itself, its what happens to the world visually and physically. Watching people watch the eclipse. Two EF-2 tornadoes hit northeast Kansas, NWS says Similar to Blackwood, Shawnee County resident Dan Fellers, 74, is also planning to head out of state by driving to Texas with a group of friends. Hes already made plans to stay the night near the City of Austin and will be prepared to move around depending on weather conditions. Were going to be mobile, Fellers said. Were basically going to drive around, find a clear spot. Fellers said he plans to avoid the interstate by taking side roads only the entire time to avoid crowds and traffic jams. Driving during the event can be dangerous to attempt as the lighting will be unusual and many people will be distracted by the eclipse. Theyre actually kind of scary if you actually see one, youll never forget it, Fellers said. Being able to go into darkness within minutes is pretty scary. Even if it is a cloudy day, you can still see the shadow coming. Its ominous seeing a shadow coming by at 2,000 miles-per-hour. What to know for Kansas next total solar eclipse Rick Heschmeyer, 66, of Douglas County told 27 News he will be heading to Broken Bow in Oklahoma alongside his two sons. Having seen what kind of crowds can be drawn by past eclipses, Heschmeyer is already expecting to stay mobile to find the right spot to view the event. If the 2017 eclipse was any indication, I am definitely expecting a lot of traffic, Heschmeyer said. I fully expect it to be just as bad because this will be the last eclipse to cross the continental U.S. for the next 20 years. The path crosses about 30 million people in the U.S., twice as much as the 2017 eclipse, and its getting a lot more publicity. JACKSON, WY AUGUST 21: A woman views the solar eclipse in the first phase of a total eclipse in Grand Teton National Park on August 21, 2017 outside Jackson, Wyoming. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images) Washburn University Physics Professor Karen Camarda, 55, of Douglas County said she and her husband are going to drive to Clinton, Arkansas in April. They are bringing equipment with them to view and take photos safely of the eclipse as it occurs. Im really hoping that well have some clear skies and see the eclipse happen, Camarda said. I also really like the shadows that occur just before and just after the eclipse. The shadows of the tree leaves during the eclipse is really fascinating to me. Tips for Kansas morel mushroom hunting in 2024 Camarda insists people take the necessary precautions when viewing the eclipse such as wearing eclipse glasses. Not using eclipse glasses or other methods to safely watch the eclipse happen can result in permanent eye damage for some people. The eclipse will be completely viewable from parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada in April. To see the full eclipse next month in the U.S., youd have to go to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine. Learn more about the eclipse by clicking here. A map showing the path of the eclipse, courtesy of NASA, can be found below. You can download this map online and other versions of it by clicking here. For more Kansas 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. Kasym-Jomart Tokayev proposed to change the state coat of arms of Kazakhstan at the third meeting of the National Kurultay in the city of Atyrau Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has suggested altering the state emblem due to its "signs of the Soviet era," the Telegram channel Aqorda said on March 15. "I find it prudent to heed the valid arguments of professionals and concerned citizens, including the youth, who find Kazakhstan's emblem overly intricate and difficult to perceive, said Tokayev at the third session of the National Kurultai in the city of Atyrau. Read also: Russia tests missiles on Kazakhs before targeting Ukraine It displays eclecticism and signs of the Soviet era. If there is widespread consensus, it would be possible to establish a specialized commission to thoroughly assess all factors, engage in public discourse, and then launch an open competition for the most fitting design of Kazakhstan's new State emblem." Discussions about changing the Kazakh state emblem date back to the presidency of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Radio Azattyk reported on March 15. The proposal to inscribe the name of the country in the Latin script on the emblem was tabled in Astana in June 2018. This change was implemented in September of the same year. During his visit to Kazakhstan in November 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Tokayev for refusing to side with Moscow in the Russian war against Ukraine. Kazakhstan refused to recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories and has pledged to adhere to Western sanctions against Moscow, considering both Russia and Western countries as its strategic partners. 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 Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) slammed the claims that hes resigning from Congress to hinder Rep. Lauren Boeberts (R-Colo.) chances of claiming his 4th Congressional District seat. Buck initially announced last year that he would not be running for reelection. He announced his early retirement from Congress on Tuesday, triggering a special election to fill his spot. Boebert characterized Bucks decision as weak sauce, calling it a gift to the Uniparty. The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election Im winning by 25 points, she said in comments earlier this week. Buck fired back on Thursday, telling the Colorado Sun its ridiculous to say his early resignation is intended to make it tougher for Boebert to get elected after she switched to run in his district. Buck also said he is not giving anybody an advantage or disadvantage in his districts race. I have done my very best to stay out of this primary election, he told the Colorado news outlet. Buck also explained his decision to announce an early retirement, saying he wanted the special election to overlap with the primary set for June 25. I thought that was really important, Buck said. Boebert said she will not compete in the special election, opting to focus on the primary. Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in a lame duck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th District with no representation for more than three months, she said. The 4th District deserves better. Boebert is in a tough bind politically. Her switch to the 4th district has been deemed by some an attempt to avoid losing to Democrat Adam Frisch, who was in close contest against her in 2022, but ultimately lost. In the special election, each party chooses a candidate to compete who will eventually represent the district for the remainder of the current term. Whoever the GOP picks will have an advantage as its being held on the same day as the state primary. For Boebert to compete in the special election, she would need to vacate her 3rd District seat, but the move would shrink the Republican majority in the lower chamber that has already downsized with Bucks departure. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspecting a training exercise of the Korean Peoples Army at an undisclosed location (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw air warfare drills and urged realistic preparation for combat in response to the annual joint drill between South Korea and the US. Only realistic training directly related to warfare can prepare soldiers as real combat fighters, Mr Kim said, according to state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The military drills in the Hermit Kingdom were conducted after South Korea and the US concluded their joint drills earlier this week. The joint drills, known as the Freedom Shield exercises, were the first since Pyongyang in November scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at de-escalating tensions. The 11-day event saw participation from an unprecedented number of member states from the US-led United Nations Command, which has been operational as part of the armistice that concluded the 1950-1953 Korean War. Mr Kim views his rivals exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion. The parachuting training was the latest and the fourth reported instance of Mr Kim observing North's military exercises since the start of the South Korean-US drills. North Korea has intensified missile launches since 2022 and ramped up belligerent rhetoric this year. After supervising the air warfare drills on Friday, Mr Kim expressed satisfaction with the troops readiness and ordered training to cope with all kinds of topography, weather, time, and the most severe conditions, according to KCNA. Earlier this week, he drove a new tank model while overseeing a simulated battle showcasing the North's military prowess. The simulated harsh combat showcased a new type of vehicle which the North Korean leader called the most powerful tank in the world. Meanwhile, the leader's sister and senior official, Kim Yo-jong said her brother used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by Russian president Vladimir Putin as she praised the cars special function and the deepening ties between the nations. In February, Mr Putin sent his North Korean counterpart a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he had showcased to Mr Kim during their summit in Russia in September. Observers have noted that the shipment violates a US resolution intended to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury items to the country. North Koreas Kim Jong-un overseeing militray drills along with his daugter (KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image) The special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted, Ms Kim Yo-jong said, without specifying. Kim Jong-uns using of the private car sent by the president of the Russian Federation as a gift is a clear proof of (North Korea)-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage. According to Russian state media, Aurus is the first Russian luxury car brand, and it has been used in the motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018. Mr Kim possesses a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into his country. During his visit to Russia, he travelled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that was brought with him in one of his special train carriages. Other limousines he has reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62. Salary sacrifice schemes offer a way for workers to swap some of their income for benefits such as boosting their pensions, getting a new bike for their commute, or buying an annual travelcard. Giving up your salary in this way can also reduce your tax bill, as your pay is usually taken before income tax and National Insurance is deducted; lower pay means theres less to be taxed on. However, issues may arise if it turns out youve left yourself short on account of sacrificing some of your income and some workers may not earn enough to take advantage of these schemes at all. Here, Telegraph Money explains what salary sacrifice is, and how getting paid less can actually earn you more. What is salary sacrifice? Salary sacrifice is a contractual agreement between you and your employer, where you agree to give up some of your wages for certain non-cash benefits. While youll receive less on payday, you could benefit more by getting additional pension contributions, a company car or whatever the scheme is for. Salary sacrifice schemes are voluntary for both employers and employees and whats on offer will vary, so its best to find out from your employer directly. How does salary sacrifice work? If your employer offers a scheme you like the look of, youll need to ask them and sign an agreement. This will detail the non-cash benefit youll receive, how much salary youll sacrifice, and over what period of time. The amount of pay youll give up, and for how long, will depend on what the benefit is for example, youll likely need to sacrifice more pay for longer to fund a company car in comparison to, say, an annual bus pass. Is there a limit on how much I can sacrifice? The amount of money you can sacrifice will depend on what the employer schemes are, and how much you earn. In general, the only big rule to be aware of is that you cannot sacrifice so much that your take-home pay is reduced to less than the National Minimum Wage. Currently, this is 10.42 per hour for workers aged 23 and over, rising to 11.44 an hour from April 2024. What benefits can I get through salary sacrifice? There are lots of potential ways you could use salary sacrifice to fund one-off purchases, subscriptions, travel costs and pension contributions and your employer might offer more options than we can list here. However, these tend to be the most common salary sacrifice options: Boosting your pension contributions Using salary sacrifice for pension contributions is very common. Youll reduce your salary, and your employer will pay that amount into your pension, pre-tax. This means youll pay less income tax and National Insurance Contribution (NICs), as will your employer. In some cases, employers will add the NICs theyve saved to boost your pension even further. This mechanism works differently than if your workplace pension uses tax relief at source, when 20pc tax relief is paid by the Government on your contributions. However, you wont claim back NICs and if youre a higher or additional-rate taxpayer youll need to file a tax return or contact HMRC to get the extra 20-25pc relief. Recommended Want a better pension than your colleagues? Here's how to get it Read more Childcare vouchers Your employer can provide you with childcare vouchers, which many registered providers accept. However, the scheme closed to new applicants in October 2018 but you can carry on using the scheme if you registered before then, and are still with the same employer. If youre not eligible, it is worth looking at the Governments tax-free childcare scheme, which has largely replaced childcare vouchers. You may also qualify for free childcare if you have young children. Cycle to work scheme If you can cycle all or part of your commute, you could sign up to the Cycle to Work scheme, which is offered by a lot of employers. Under the scheme, your employer will pay for the bike and any other equipment (from a retailer also taking part in the scheme), then you hire it from them for a set period of time, paying towards the cost each month via salary sacrifice. There are various ownership options, so you should speak to your employer about what to do next for instance, you might be able to pay a nominal fee in order to keep the bike. Depending on how much you earn, the savings in income tax and NICs could mean youll save up to 42pc off the price of your bike and accessories. Car leasing It may be possible to get a car via your employer, which will lease the car on your behalf. Youll make payments towards it via salary sacrifice but, unlike other schemes you wont save as much income tax, as youll need to pay income tax on either the value of the car or the salary thats been sacrificed. Its a better deal if you use the scheme to get an electric car, since you can benefit from reduced income tax, and the savings can be substantial. Other salary sacrifice benefits Salary sacrifice options dont end there depending on the company its not unusual to see benefits such as health and dental insurance, life insurance, annual travelcards, laptops and other mobile phones and even gym memberships. What are the drawbacks of salary sacrifice? Its important to remember that for all intents and purposes you are drawing a lower salary, which could have some unintended consequences. Reduced life cover Many employers offer life cover, which is often known as Death in Service. If you were to sign up for salary sacrifice, your beneficiaries might receive less in the event of your death. This is because its usually worked out as a multiple of your annual wage, which will be lower if youve reduced your income. More difficult to borrow Your salary and disposable income will be assessed if you need to borrow money, such as taking out a mortgage. Lenders wont be able to see if youve chosen to sacrifice some of your salary, and will base their offers on what you can provide in bank statements. As such, by reducing your income, you may reduce the amount you can borrow. Reduced state benefits If your earnings are reduced, it could affect the benefits you receive. For example, the first six weeks of maternity pay, in which you receive 90pc of your average weekly wage, would be less if youd signed up to salary sacrifice. Whats more, if the scheme takes your income below 123 a week, you could lose your entitlement to Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Sick Pay. You cannot sacrifice an amount of your salary that would take you below the National Minimum Wage. Leaving a pension fund In some cases, this means if you leave the job within two years, you might not be able to withdraw them. Your pension will still continue to function as normal if you cant, or decide not to, and itll be available when you retire. How much could I save? If you paid 5pc into your pension every month for a year via simple salary sacrifice, heres what would happen during the 2023-24 tax year: Katharine Photiou, of Legal & General Retail, said: Taking advantage of a pension salary sacrifice scheme can be a great way to get a few more pounds in your pot. Understanding what you and your employer are paying in is critical, too make sure you take full advantage of any contribution matching your employer offers. And, if you are lucky enough to get a pay rise or bonus, consider increasing your contribution rate, or making a one-off top up as well. Heres an example of someone using the cycle to work scheme over the course of a year. Were assuming they earn 20,000, have no other deductions and spend 1,000 on the bike and accessories. Adrian Warren, former chair of the Cycle to Work Alliance, said: This saving, particularly for an individual earning less than the national average, is significant and can help empower individuals to stretch their earnings further and save money at a time when it is needed most. There is also the added saving that is made by switching to cycle commuting rather than by car or train. Other considerations Will salary sacrifice affect my state pension? Salary sacrifice isnt likely to affect your state pension entitlement the only instance would be if your reduced salary takes you under the Lower Earnings threshold for making NICs, which is 123 a week, and if youre not eligible to receive NI credits. Can I change my mind if I decide I no longer want to sacrifice my salary? It can be tricky to exit a salary sacrifice scheme before the agreed date. Charles Cotton, of the professional body Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, said: It depends on the employer. Sacrificing salary involves signing a contract, and most arrangements tend to run for at least 12 months. However, employers often allow people to opt out of the arrangements if theres a change in personal circumstance, such as pregnancy or divorce. Do all employers have to offer it? No, salary sacrifice schemes are optional for companies. Where it is offered, it is also completely optional for employees. 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. Texas has pushed a number of efforts from legislation to legal challenges in its feud with federal authorities over how to tackle the migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border. For nearly two years, the Lone Star State has also sent asylum seekers to so-called sanctuary cities across the country, such as New York City, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Denver. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has argued the move is to demonstrate and shift the burden that the Biden administrations border policies continue to place on the state but the program has proved a financial burden for Texas. CNN reported Friday that although Abbott had said the controversial migrant busing program likely wouldnt cost taxpayers, the governors operation has raised less than half of 1% of the millions spent it. Heres what you should know about Texas migrant busing program: Why is Texas sending asylum seekers to other cities? Texas announced that it would begin sending migrants to Washington, DC, in April 2022 a move that would eventually expand to New York City and others in response to the Biden administration saying it would lift Title 42, a pandemic-era border rule implemented by former President Donald Trump that effectively blocked most migrants from entering the US and seeking asylum. The rule expired in May 2023, more than a year after busing began. Abbott argued at the time of his announcement that local leaders in the state were fed up with the federal government for releasing migrants into their communities. In defending the program in 2022, Abbott said that it was just Texas and Arizona that bore the brunt of all the chaos and problems that come with (southern border crossings). Now, the rest of America can understand exactly what is going on, he said. What is a sanctuary city? The definition of sanctuary city or state can vary somewhat across jurisdictions. The term is broadly applied to jurisdictions that have policies in place designed to limit cooperation with or involvement in federal immigration enforcement actions. How such policies are enforced can vary. At least 12 states have been designated as a sanctuary, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington, according to the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports curbing immigration to the US. Several major cities outside of those states are also so-called sanctuaries, including the ones targeted by the Abbott administration. How many migrants have been transported? Texas has transported more than 100,000 migrants so far, according to a news release from Abbotts office. The bulk of migrants were sent to New York City and Chicago, according to the release. Who is paying for the busing? While Abbott initially said that the busing program would likely incur no cost to the state, Texas taxpayers have largely footed the nearly $150 million that the state has paid to send migrants to cities across the country, according to CNNs review of state records. Abbott began soliciting private donations to fund the program nearly two years ago, but has only managed to raise, at most, around $550,000 to date, according to CNNs review of records. Read more from CNNs Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Kyung Lah and Allison Gordon here. What are people saying about it? Some of the cities have struggled to meet the needs of the sudden influx of asylum seekers. Earlier this year, New York City Mayor Eric Adams filed a lawsuit against a dozen charter bus companies over transporting asylum seekers, seeking more than $700 million in damages to cover the care for those who have arrived in the city since 2022. Chicago has issued an ordinance that bans unannounced migrant drop-offs, as a charter bus company hired by the state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against the city over the ordinance, arguing that it is unconstitutional and punishes transportation companies working with Texas. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have ramped up their attacks in recent months on President Joe Bidens broader immigration agenda as they look to make the issue a flashpoint ahead of the 2024 election. A group of bipartisan senators reached a border compromise earlier this year, but with the urging of Trump, House Republicans have been unwilling to back the measure, which Democrats have used to defend Biden. CNNs Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Kyung Lah, Allison Gordon, Gloria Pazmino, Alisha Ebrahimji, Amir Vera, Amy Simonson, Artemis Moshtaghian, Priscilla Alvarez and MJ Lee contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Attention hunters: the spring turkey season is approaching. Do you know the rules? WHAT WILL REPLACE THE MOBILE CIVIC CENTER According to a press release from Outdoor Alabama Weekly, there seems to be some confusion around the dates of the Special Youth Hunt that precedes the opening day of the regular season. Marianne Gauldin of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division said the confusion stems from the fact that the opening day of the regular season falls on a Monday this year. The Special Youth Hunt will be on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding the opening day, according to the release. However, it is not as simple as giving one day. Here is a rundown of the key things to know about turkey season: Although the date marking the beginning of youth hunting season is where most of the confusion stems from, officials said it is important to be familiar with the general rules around the season. Hunting Zones: According to Outdoor Alabamas website, there are three zones for turkey season in Alabama. Zone 1: Spring Turkey Season: March 25 (Monday) through May 8. Decoys are allowed from April 4 through May 8. Special Youth Hunt: March 23 and 24 (Saturday and Sunday). Special Disabled Hunt: March 24 (Sunday). Decoys are allowed during special youth and disabled hunts in the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Crenshaw, Cullman (except north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, St. Clair, Shelby, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington and Wilcox. Zone 2: Spring Turkey Season: April 1 (Monday) through May 8. Decoys are allowed from April 11 through May 8. Special Youth Hunt: March 30 and 31 (Saturday and Sunday). Special Disabled Hunt: March 31 (Sunday). Decoys are allowed during special youth and disabled hunts in the following counties: Colbert, Cullman (north of Lewis Smith Lake and north of Cullman County Road 437 and west of Interstate 65), Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Winston. Zone 3: Spring Turkey Season: March 25 (Monday) through May 8. Decoys are allowed from April 4 through May 8. Special Youth Hunt: March 23 and 24 (Saturday and Sunday). Special Disabled Hunt: March 24 (Sunday). Decoys are allowed during special youth and disabled hunts in the following counties: Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph and Talladega. 6 little dogs found in Gulf Shores now in foster or furever homes Wildlife Management Areas: For hunters who want to hunt in wildlife management areas, officials recommend getting familiar with the regulations. Its important for WMA users to understand there is a WMA regulation in addition to the rules listed on the maps of the individual WMAs, Gauldin said. The regulation extends to all WMAs, and all WMA users should read the regs on the map and also be familiar with the WMA regulation. There are both old and new regulations, according to officials. Gauldin said there is one older regulation and two newer ones. The regulations have to do with turkey callers during preseason scouting, the use of certain game cameras and the use of drones. To read the full regulations, visit the WMA regulations page on Outdoor Alabama. According to Outdoor Alabamas website, WMA and U.S. Forest Service Ranger Districts include: Bankhead Ranger District; WMAs Lauderdale, Freedom Hills, Black Warrior, Coon Gulf, Riverton CHA and Martin CHA: April 8 May 8 (daylight 1 p.m.) National Forest Districts: The following are listed as National Forest Districts on Outdoor Alabama. (Talladega Ranger District, Shoal Creek Ranger District, Oakmulgee Ranger District, Tuskegee Ranger District and Conecuh Ranger District) and WMAs THAT ALLOW TURKEY HUNTING: April 1 May 8 (daylight 1 p.m.) Bag Limits: Officials said they want hunters to have a good time, but there are a few restrictions in place in terms of what you can catch. According to Outdoor Alabama, hunters are allowed one gobbler or male turkey per day, and there is a four-gobbler bag limit during the combined fall and spring seasons. No more than two gobblers can be caught from any one WMA, CHA, or National Forest Ranger District. Lastly, No more than one gobbler during the first 10 days of each season from each WMA, CHA, and National Forest Ranger District. Workforce-targeted rideshare service, with some free trips, coming to Mobile For more information, visit Outdoor Alabamas website. To buy a hunting or fishing license, visit the registration page on Outdoor Alabama. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. KIEV, March 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and 55 injured in Russia's missile attack on Ukraine's southern city of Odesa Friday, Odesa governor Oleh Kiper said. Russia's armed forces fired missiles at Odesa at 11:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT), damaging civilian infrastructure, including residential and commercial buildings, Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X on March 16 that he held a telephone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the potential unblocking of aid for Ukraine that has been stuck in the U.S. Congress since autumn 2023. A foreign aid bill that includes roughly $60 billion for Ukraine has been stalled for months due to divisions in Congress, namely objections from the Republican Party. The U.S. Senate approved the overall $95 billion funding package, including aid for Ukraine, as well as funds for Israel and other allies, on Feb. 13, but it still faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to put the legislation to a vote in his chamber, considering alternative options, including passing a future Ukraine aid bill with Democratic votes and splitting Ukraine and Israel aid into two separate bills. Kuleba also thanked Blinken for the latest U.S. military aid package worth $300 million, including a large number of artillery rounds and GMLRS rockets for HIMARS launchers. This is the first U.S. package since December, when the U.S. provided Ukraine with military assistance worth $250 million. Kuleba also urged the U.S. to continue its support, stressing Ukraine's critical need for air defense and artillery ammunition. "We cannot allow Russia to use delays in aid to advance, putting all of Europe and the democratic world at risk of an even larger war," Kuleba said. "Failure to continue supporting Ukraine would severely undermine the U.S. leadership all across the world and jeopardize American national security," the foreign minister added. Blinken also highlighted the need for the House of Representatives to "swiftly pass" the supplemental security package in a statement released by the U.S. State Department. "The Secretary once again underscored the United States' enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity as its people fight to secure their democratic future in the face of Russia's brutal war of aggression," the readout said. As $60 billion in funding from the U.S. for Ukraine remains stalled, Kyiv faces critical ammunition shortages. In February, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka, a key front-line city in Donetsk Oblast, and several nearby villages amid the shortages of weaponry, while Russian troops continued to intensify their attacks, advancing in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. Read also: Abandon all hope: Ukraines wounded warriors compare military medical system to the Inferno Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kyle Rittenhouse, center, speaks during the 'Defend our 2A: Michigan's Right for Self Preservation' event on July 19, 2023, at Freedom Farms in Ionia Township. Rittenhouse is scheduled to speak at Kent State University on April 16. Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty of a 2020 shooting that killed two men and wounded another during a protest, is scheduled to speak at Kent State University on April 16. The Kent State student chapter of Turning Point USA is sponsoring the appearance. The group announced the event on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C4eNEn7OLGl/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9fde7fd6-4248-4721-92e1-569624bb5a9a "We are excited to announce our speaker for the semester will be @thisiskylerittenhouse!" the post stated. "Join us April 16th at 6PM in the Kiva auditorium! Get your free tickets in our bio!" Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty of a 2020 fatal shooting, will speak at Kent State University on April 16. The speech is sponsored by a student group. What happened in Kenosha? In 2021, Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges against him in a case that largely divided America along political and racial lines more than a year after he shot three men during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during a string of often-violent protests in the summer of 2020 following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Rittenhouse, 17 at the time, faced charges ranging from reckless endangerment to intentional homicide. His attorneys argued he feared for his life and faced death threats from one of the men he killed that night. More: Witnesses describe the night Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire during protests after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha Kent State response Emily Vincent, a spokeswoman for Kent State, said Rittenhouse is being brought to campus by a registered student organization. The university, Vincent said, "upholds the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceful assembly for all" and permits groups and individuals on campus to address topics of importance to them. "Kent State has a long history of allowing peaceful dialogue from all points of view, including those whom some may feel are offering different and/or sometimes controversial opinions," she said. "As with any speaker invited to our campus, the university does not endorse or condone an opinion or point of view represented by the speaker, nor does the university advocate for any topic the speaker might discuss during their visit to campus. We continue to support and encourage freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas. Consistent with our core values, we encourage open dialogue and respectful civil discourse in an inclusive environment. " Petitions pop up The Instagram post promoting the speech was quick to cause controversy, with many comments pointing out the university's past history of students being shot and killed during a protest on May 4, 1970. Two petitions were quickly posted calling for Kent State to cancel the appearance. A Microsoft Form asks the university to denounce the event and also requests that Turning Point USA be barred from KSU for "supporting hate speech." "While free speech laws limit the actions the university can take in preventing this event from happening, this is an egregious act of hate towards the Black and Brown communities in this area," that petition states A second petition, posted on Change.org by KSU student Ally Grecco, urges the university and Turning Point to reconsider the decision to host Rittenhouse. Grecco points out KSU's "painful history with gun violence" on May 4, 1970, which had profound impacts on national politics. "The decision to host an individual associated with such violence is not only insensitive to our community's past but also threatens to further divide us in these already tense times," the petition states. "We must remember that our university should be a place for learning and growth - not for promoting divisive figures or ideologies that could potentially incite more violence." Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com. This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kyle Rittenhouse to speak at Kent State University April 16 The devolved Welsh government was put on this earth, it sometimes seems, to make the Scottish government look competent. Vaughan Gething will begin his stint as First Minister under some very large clouds. Healthcare, which was Gethings former brief? The NHS in Wales has done so poorly that English hospitals in 2022/23 found themselves treating 40,000 refugees from across Offas Dyke. Waiting lists are longer with patients waiting an average of 24 weeks for hospital treatment in 2022, compared with 13 in England. As for Covid, which occurred on Gethings watch, Wales continued to discharge hospital patients into care homes without testing them for two weeks after Matt Hancock finally got his act together. Education, where Scotland recently made headlines because the performance of pupils in the international PISA tests had plummeted after the SNP revamped the curriculum? The one consolation for the SNP was that Welsh pupils performed even worse. In 2022, Welsh pupils were near bottom-of-the-class among OECD countries in mathematics and reading both with scores of 466. Pupils in England scored 492 in maths and 496 in reading. The economy which is Gethings most recent brief? Wales has the weakest economy in Britain. Council tax has risen faster in Wales, too: up by 32.4 per cent in Wales since 2018 compared with 29.8 per cent in England. Mercifully for Welsh taxpayers, the Welsh government doesnt have the same powers to vary income tax that the Scottish government has otherwise, they would no doubt be paying more from their pay packets, too. Crime? Yes, youve guessed it. Recorded offences have increased faster in Wales than in England, up nearly 50 per cent since 2016. And so it goes on. Wales miserable performance relative to England and also Scotland matters because we will soon be in an election campaign in which Sir Keir Starmer is determined to make competence a central issue. He will presumably be counting on voters not taking too much notice of the living laboratory that is Wales, because it offers very little to suggest that Labour is capable of making a better fist of things than either the Conservatives in England or the SNP in Scotland. He will be hoping that the Scots, in particular, wont have heard of what has been going on in Wales, given that Starmer may very well need a good number of Scottish seats to be sure of an overall majority. Trouble is, there is little in Gethings record to suggest that things will get any better in Wales after he takes charge, and a good deal to suggest that things could get worse. The Covid Inquirys Welsh leg couldnt have come at a more unfortunate time for him. True, you can attack Boris Johnsons government for being a bit slow off the ball, but Gething has admitted he hadnt even read the report produced for Exercise Cygnus carried out in 2016 to prepare Britain for a future pandemic. The Welsh cabinet didnt discuss Covid until 25 February 2020, a month after the countrys Chief Medical Officer warned that the disease posed a serious risk. So much for the narrative which Gething and Mark Drakeford tried to promote that they were somehow the wise, sensible ones dragged down by a bumbling Boris Johnson in London. And then there were the chips. In May 2020, Gething and his family were photographed eating bags of chips on a picnic bench on Cardiff waterfront all very nice except that, at the time, Gethings own government had banned people from sitting on a park bench for a prolonged period. It may have been a stupid, petty rule, but as we found out with Partygate, the public takes a pretty dim view of ministers who break rules which they have imposed on others. Labour will be advertising its wares in this years general election by claiming that it is the new broom to sweep up the mess left behind by the Tories. Yet in one-party Wales which has been governed by the party for over a quarter of a century -- Labour is an extremely old broom, and one whose few remaining bristles are incapable of making much of an impact on its own detritus. 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 staggering increase in the number of students involved in crashes in Clark County school zones has police asking drivers to put away their phones and pay attention. It comes as children are set to return to class on Monday from spring break. Anything that we can do to focus more on our roadways. Focus more on your surroundings, it will help keep you safer, Clark County School District Police Officer Keith Habig told 8 News Now. Las Vegas middle school student fights for life after hit by truck Eleven-year-old Rayan Kim was hit by a vehicle on Jan. 30 while riding his bicycle to Gunderson Middle School. His road to recovery continues to be a long and rocky one. Eleven-year-old Rayan Kim was hit by a vehicle on Jan. 30 while riding his bicycle to Gunderson Middle School. His road to recovery continues to be a long and rocky one. (GoFundMe) He left home with a bicycle and said I love you, Mom, Kims mother said last month. She spoke to 8 News Now two days after her son was struck. According to his GoFundMe page, Kim has since made progress. A post made on Tuesday says Kim is eating through a syringe, and an earlier post stated he is re-learning how to speak. After Clark County Commissioners voted to allocate more money for crossing guards in middle schools, a family friend had advice for drivers. More crossing guards coming to CCSD middle schools after 80 kids hit by cars this school year It doesnt matter what is going on your phone. It doesnt matter what music is playing on the radio, put your phones down, Kristen Penny said. According to CCSDPD, 97 kids have been hit by cars in school zones since the start of the school year August 7, 2023, to March 6, 2024. One of the main things we try to tell parentsslow down. Be focused, Habig said. Be alert of your surroundings, understand that sometimes some of these juveniles are making mistakes and theyre running out from behind parked cars. Habig says its important to focus on your surroundings, but there are things kids can do as well. Parents talk to your students about using the crosswalk and how to use the crosswalk safely, Habig said. As for 11-year-old Kim, a GoFundMe update said he has a strong determination to recover. Hes playing Pokemon and reading books about his favorite K-pop artists. Henderson boys death triggers call for increased reckless driving penalties Nevada lawmakers this past legislative session passed tougher sentences for reckless drivers in school zones. The bill was called Rexs Law, which is named after a 13-year-old Henderson student killed in front of his school. A GoFundMe account has been set up to assist the family. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. UPDATE: A previous version of this article contained imprecise information. These figures have been corrected. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) 150 graduating medical students at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine learned their match on Friday morning during the nationwide Match Day. Match Day is when student doctors learn where they will be going to complete their residency programs and transition to becoming physicians. It happens simultaneously across the country, and all student doctors share in the annual tradition. Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine held its Match Day event at Horseshoe Casino at 9 a.m. on Friday. The school has a 99.4 percent match and placement rate, and 34 percent of its students will stay in Nevada to help with the doctor shortage. Pranati Shah is a fourth-year medical student from California who came to school in the Las Vegas valley. She says she is excited to begin this part of her journey of becoming a doctor of internal medicine. There is all sorts of excitement and nervousness and jitteriness. I think really there is a sense of satisfaction that four years have gone by amazingly and flown by. Wherever I end up, I know I will be the strongest physician and resident that I will be able to be, she explained. Shah received her top choice. Residencies last from three to seven years before these student doctors become fully practicing doctors. Touro University Nevada School of Medicine & Health Sciences is Nevadas largest school of medicine and physician assistant studies. It is a private, non-profit, Jewish-sponsored institution that was established in 2004 to help address the critical needs in health care throughout the state. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) began investigating Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament accused of spying for Russia, the Latvian news outlet Delfi reported on March 16. A collaborative media investigation published by The Insider in January alleged that Zdanoka, who represented Latvia in the European Parliament from 2004-2018 and again from 2019 until the present, has been a Russian asset since at least 2015. The Latvian security service said at the end of January that it would evaluate the claims made in the media. The criminal case was opened on Feb. 22, Delfi wrote, adding that the VDD provided no further details. The media investigation cited leaked emails and other communication between Zdanoka and her supposed handlers in Russian intelligence to support its allegations. Zdanoka did not deny that most of the leaked documents were authentic but instead insisted that they were either "innocuous" or that the MEP was unaware that the individuals she communicated with were Russian intelligence operatives. The day after The Insider published its investigation into Zdanoka, the European Parliament announced it was looking into the matter. Zdanoka's public activity, both concerning her official work as a lawmaker and statements in her private life, display a long-standing pattern of supporting Russia and promoting Russian propaganda. While a sitting member of the European Parliament, Zdanoka participated as an international observer in a sham referendum on Crimea's annexation by Russia in 2014. She also was one of a small group of lawmakers who voted against the European Parliament's condemnation of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. Read also: WSJ: Russias spy network expands after full-scale invasion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Soldiers who took up positions around a Ukrainian military base walk towards their parked vehicles in Crimea on March 2, 2014 in Perevalne, Ukraine. Stock photo: Getty Images In a statement on the tenth anniversary of the sham referendum on the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has reiterated its support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Source: a statement by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the illegitimate referendum in Crimea had launched an unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and its territorial integrity, which Russia criminally continued in 2022. Quote: "Right now, the Russian presidential election is being held illegally in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied and annexed by Russia in an attempt to legitimise both this election and the illegal annexation of the Ukrainian territories. Latvia recognises neither these illegitimate actions nor their outcome, and condemns in the strongest terms the lawless behaviour by Russia, which is a blatant violation of international law and Ukraines independence and sovereignty." More details: Latvia also reiterated its unwavering support for Ukraine and its independence, sovereignty and territorial unity within its internationally recognised borders. "Russia is fully responsible for its aggression against Ukraine. All those responsible for the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine and Russias crimes against Ukrainian civilians will have to bear full accountability," they added. Background: Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the possibility of lasting peace in Ukraine without its return to internationally recognised borders, including Crimea. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes that Putin's position in Crimea is weak, and if the West continues to support Ukraine with the necessary weapons, he believes that the return of the peninsula is quite realistic. Support UP or become our patron! The graffiti-covered Circumvesuviana is chaotic even by Neapolitan standards - Felix Lipov / Alamy Stock Photo It has recently been voted the worst train network in Italy, a creaking, leaking route that carries bewildered tourists and weary commuters between Naples and various towns around Mount Vesuvius. Boasting a man selling fish, ancient stations, and breakdowns so bad that travellers are sometimes forced to get out and walk to the next station, the graffiti-covered Circumvesuviana is chaotic even by Neapolitan standards, a city known for its lawlessness and lack of order. Seasoned passengers know that when it rains, they need to unfurl their umbrellas inside to shield themselves from the water streaming through the roof of the carriages. A passenger stays dry as the train creaks its way from Naples around the Bay of Naples towards the Amalfi Coast - Facebook Another local comes along for the ride - Facebook Locals think nothing of wheeling onboard broken-down scooters that they need to take to the mechanic. Pigeons nonchalantly walk on and off the carriages, searching for crumbs, and the occasional rat causes panic. The beleaguered train network, which has six lines covering more than 100 stations, is so dysfunctional and disaster prone that it has inspired a hugely popular Facebook page and a book. Both are the creations of Giovanni Masturzo. He is a 40-year-old who has been using the network for the last two decades to commute from his home in Castellammare di Stabia to Sorrento, where he works in a chocolate factory. His Facebook page has gained 200,000 followers since he set it up in 2015, prompting so much attention that he has written a book: Vesuviana State of Mind a Semi-serious Guide to the Craziest Train in the World. Among the weird and wonderful things he documents is a man who boards the train attempting to sell freshly caught fish from a plastic bag. Hes one of the characters of the Circumvesuviana, Mr Masturzo told The Telegraph. He goes fishing in the morning and comes on board with a bag full of fish, dripping water all over the carriage. He asks passengers whether they want to buy any. Then there is the rogue octopus. Someone had obviously just caught it in the bay and they were taking it home to cook. But it managed to heroically escape. It squirmed around the carriage for a while until it was eventually recaptured. Some of the oddities have achieved cult status. At one station, there is an electronic sign that has not changed since 1995. Test OK, it says cryptically. Under destination it lists a non-existent station. As the network services the coastal resort of Sorrento and Herculaneum and Pompeii, the Roman sites smothered in pumice and ash by Mount Vesuvius eruption over 2,000 years ago, it is frequently used by foreign tourists. Circumvesuviana Cicciano train station - Shutterstock But they are often left confused by the experience. They ask us for the code to the wifi, said Mr Masturzo, laughing. But of course there is no wifi. Half the time we dont even know if the train will arrive. Sometimes they break down between stations and passengers have to disembark and walk. The pitfalls of riding the train were highlighted this month when a locomotive hit a fridge that had been dumped on the tracks in Pompeii, the modern-day town that crowds up against the ancient archaeological site of the same name. No passengers were hurt but the train was damaged. Just a few days earlier, a bathtub was left on the tracks in the same area. 'Delinquents, organised crime, group of youths- who targeted the Circumvesuviana?' Local news reports the unusual item left on the tracks... - Facebook Mr Masturzo says the Facebook page is a way of transforming all the stress and frustration into something funny, light-hearted. It helps people put up with all the hassle of a train that is often delayed and overcrowded, a bit of a jungle. Its an emotional refuge, a way of defusing peoples anger, he added. And its very Neapolitan the ability to use humour as a form of coping with difficult circumstances. But it appeals to commuters all over Italy because they are going through similar experiences. Fellow commuter Dr Sophie Hay, a British archaeologist who has worked for many years at Pompeii, agrees that it does showcase the real Naples. I call it the tonka toy train. Its true that it has its problems. Its often overcrowded and in the summer the smell of sweat is pretty ripe. The app is rubbish and mainly doesnt work, she told The Telegraph. Having said all that, I like it. Its gritty and you feel you are part of the landscape. The staff are always really nice, I have to say. First founded in 1885, the Circumvesuviana - which means around Vesuvius - was recently voted the worst train line in the whole of Italy by Legambiente, an environmental organisation. Its dysfunctional state is down to years of bad management and a lack of investment, according to Mr Masturzo. The president of the company that runs the train line admitted that it suffers from problems but said more money was being invested and more staff taken on. A decade ago, the rail network was technically bankrupt with 750 million euros worth of debts and 40-year-old trains, said Umberto De Gregorio, the head of Ente Autonomo Volturno, which took on the running of the train lines in 2011. Today there are 57 new trains being built, new signalling is being built and there are investments in the network of more than a billion euros, he told The Telegraph. There are problems, certainly. But we have launched efforts to transform the train line. Mr Masturzos Facebook page and book were satirical, sometimes amusing. But the reality is very complex. The Circumvesuviana will have a new future. But patience is needed, said Mr De Gregorio. Mr Masturzo said he had noticed some changes. Its getting better, he said. Theres a bit of hope. 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. Photo of Kindred Spirits sculpture, Midleton, County Cork. (Photo/Wikipedia) St Patricks Day is a day to remember the death of St. Patrick, Irelands patron saint. It is also a day to remember the close relationship the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has with the people of Ireland. The relationship goes back to the Great Famine. During the years 1845 through 1852, the Irish people were experiencing a potato famine. It was during this time that a disease poisoned the Irishs potato crops which caused mass starvation and death. Their population decreased by 20 - 25 percent. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Even before the Irish famine, the Irish were plagued by colonization efforts perpetrated by England. The Irish language, culture, and traditions were nearly eradicated. The history of the Irish is something that resonates deeply with Native communities. Because of this empathy, the Choctaw people decided to do what they could to assist the Irish. In 1847, they sent them $170which is close to $5,000 in todays dollarsacross the Atlantic Ocean through a group of Quakers. The money was used to help feed the starving people in Ireland. Even though the Choctaw people had been forced on their Trail of Tears, a deeply devastating event, only 16 years prior, they still did what they could to help. The Irish were eternally grateful, and still express their gratitude in many ways today. In 2017, a sculpture was erected in Midleton, Ireland. Called "Kindred Spirits," the sculpture was erected to remember the special bond the Choctaws maintain with the Irish. "Kindred Spirits" was dedicated to the kindness and goodwill of the Choctaw people. In 2018, then Irelands Prime Minister Leo Varadkar visited the Choctaw Nation and created a continuing series of yearly scholarships for Choctaw students to study in Ireland Most recently in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that severely plagued the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation disproportionately compared to the wider American public, the Irish made a large donation to those communities. About the Author: "Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies. " Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net The Childrens Safety Village will be teaching kids how to swim again thanks to Orlando Health. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS The non-profits resurfaced Pool Central building was unveiled earlier this week. The hospital partnered with the Childrens Safety Village to help tackle preventable drownings in Central Florida. Read: Local Zoo celebrates its 30th anniversary One mother told WFTV that she had been bringing her son there since he was a baby. Drowning is very silent. So, we wanted to make sure if he fell into a body of water somewhere, he was able to learn to roll over and float until somebody was able to get to him, Kelly Keaney said. Read: Dance the Night away with Dua Lipa at Madame Tussauds Orlando Officials said nearly 100 children drowned last year across in Florida, nearly 40% were here in Central Florida. Read: 106-year-old woman celebrates birthday at Walt Disney World for the first time Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Artists perform the dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, March 15, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) NEW YORK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The contemporary operatic dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" greeted the audience at Lincoln Center in New York City on Friday, following its U.S. premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The latest work by the well-known choreographer Shen Wei, the dance revolves around 12 original poems by Su Dongpo, incorporating traditional Chinese music and calligraphy. Around 1,500 people attended the show. "I can't think of a way to better introduce Su Dongpo, the most preeminent and legendary Chinese poet to the United States," said Huang Ping, the Chinese consul general in New York, at the reception prior to the performance. "I believe that tonight, through the dialogue between 'Su Dongpo' and 'Shen Wei,' transcending time and space, the audience can have a peek of the inner world of the Chinese people," said Huang. Jing Xiaoyong, chairman of China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd., which performed and produced the show jointly with China's Meishan Song and Dance Theatre, said the piece intends to interpret Su Dongpo, an icon in Chinese culture, and share his story and spirit with overseas audiences. "I had the opportunity to see it at the Kennedy Center, and I honestly cannot wait to see it again. It is a breathtaking journey. It is quiet. It is a visual feast for the eyes," said Jodee Nimerichter, executive director of the American Dance Festival. Jing said that the dance has been staged 20 times in China since its premiere in Shanghai in July 2023, winning the hearts of Chinese audiences. Artists perform the dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, March 15, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Artists perform the dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, March 15, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Artists perform the dance "Dongpo: Life in Poems" at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, March 15, 2024. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua) Three roads in Leicester have reopened following a fire at a disused building. Westcotes Drive was shut after crews were called to the former Bradgate House retirement home at 09:34 GMT on Saturday. Harrow Road and Sykefield Avenue were also closed while emergency services responded to the fire at the three-storey building. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said no-one was injured in the blaze. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. A Lexington woman died after being involved in a single-vehicle collision on Interstate 75 in Northern Kentucky Friday. Ashley Wyatt, 36, was driving north in a 2002 Toyota 4Runner when she lost control of the vehicle, which flipped, and Wyatt was ejected, the Erlanger Police Department said in a news release. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene at the 184.8 mile marker at 7:27 p.m. Wyatt was pronounced dead at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, police said. The Kenton County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction team helped with the investigation. Anyone who saw the crash was asked to call Kenton County Dispatch at 859-356-3191. Family and friends shared memories of Wyatt on social media. We all love Ashley Wyatt so much, Marian Sims, a former Fayette County Public Schools teacher, wrote in a Facebook post. She holds a huge spot in my heart. Unforgettably wonderful. I learned to love her In 6 th grade and she kept our friendship alive. Heaven greets her as we have. I can hear her laughing right now. Jason Umstot, Superintendent/CEO of the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, accepts the 2024 Peggy Martin Advocacy Award alongside ViaQuest CEO and Founder Rich Johnson and award namesake Peggy Martin. The award recognized his advocacy supporting developmental disability service providers and young people in need of out-of-home supports. ViaQuest, a healthcare company supporting people with disabilities in three states, has named Pataskala resident Jason L. Umstot as its top advocate of the year. Umstot, Superintendent/CEO of the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD), was presented with the Peggy Martin Advocacy Award on March 7 at ViaQuests annual conference in downtown Columbus. "I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the award, an accolade that holds significant meaning to me," Umstot said during the award ceremony. "Peggy Martin has been an advocacy pioneer who we have all learned from." Martin, who facilitates ViaQuests family advocacy program, has spent more than 30 years supporting families in Ohios DD system. She was the first parent advocate for the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities and was a longtime Family Advocate at the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Recipients of the annual award truly care about people and their wellbeing, said Rich Johnson, CEO and Founder of ViaQuest. Umstot is not only an advocate for people with disabilities but also for the families and direct care staff that support them, Johnson said. Umstots innovative ideas, including the LCBDD program DSP Employment Connections which focuses on recruiting and retaining Direct Support Professionals are often beneficial to Ohios entire DD system, Johnson said. He is also firmly committed to supporting youth with disabilities in need of out-of-home placement in ways that keep them closely connected to their families, friends and communities, Johnson said. ViaQuest, which provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as hospice and mental health services, has several teams supporting people with disabilities in Licking County. Umstot expressed his gratitude to the members of the Licking County ViaQuest teams for all the do. "From the outset, our partnership has been defined by a shared commitment to empowering and uplifting those who are too often marginalized or overlooked in our society. I am deeply grateful for the positive, productive working relationship we have cultivated over the years," Umstot said. Umstot has been Superintendent/CEO of LCBDD since 2016. He has spent more than 26 years in the developmental disabilities field, providing services in multiple states. He is expected to graduate with his doctorate of education in health and human services from Youngstown State University in May 2024. Information submitted by the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County Board of DD superintendent earns advocacy award Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, and King Charles III. Days after Kate Middleton's photo-editing scandal first picked up steam, we're finally hearing what the man in charge, King Charles, thinks of the whole ordeal. The ever-escalating situation, which has now been dubbed "#KateGate," unfolded on what was Mother's Day in the United Kingdom after royal watchers believed her to be "missing" following the lack of recent sightings since her hospitalization and the admission that the royal family's recent release of a "new" photo had been edited. Then, days later, another photo of the Princess of Wales, this time joined by husband Prince William, went viral for similar reasons as conspiracy theorists refused to believe it was an unaltered image of the royal couple. Related: Video of Kate Middleton Discussing the Power of Proper Photography Resurfaces Amid Editing Scandal Now, we know from a source at Buckingham Palace who spoke with Harper's Bazaar for a piece published on Thursday, March 14, that the monarch is being kept abreast of the swirling rumors as he's currently undergoing cancer treatment. However, the source did note that, ultimately, the king isnt too concerned about the situation. He may be one of the few that are just brushing off the accusations, as the source also added, Some staff cant quite believe how badly [Kensington Palace] have cocked things up by not paying close enough attention to what was being released to the world. Didnt anyone there think to check the photo before it went out? [While] this is all rather unfortunate, there is also a sense that, despite the hysteria and fevered online response, it will also blow over soon, the insider continued. This is not the first storm to hit these parts! Next: Public Relations Expert Reacts to Kate Middletons Edited Photo Controversy Special prosecutor Nathan Wades resignation Friday from the Georgia racketeering prosecution of Donald Trump and others was the right decision and, indeed, a virtually forced one. Judge Scott McAfees resolution of a defense motion to disqualify Wade's boss, Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis, left no practical alternative. But it would be a mistake to assume that Wades withdrawal puts an end to the ugliness and doubt surrounding Willis handling of the case. To dispel the appearance of a conflict of interest arising out of a romantic relationship between the two prosecutors, McAfee held that either Wade or Willis, along with her entire office, would have to step aside. That made Wades withdrawal, which many observers had been urging, the best way to begin to clean up a distracting mess while allowing Willis to continue leading her office and its highest-profile prosecution. Read more: Litman: For the second time in days, the Supreme Court helped make another Trump presidency possible But the order, and the circus-like atmosphere of the multiday evidentiary hearing that preceded it, in some ways served only to intensify the controversy surrounding the case and ensure that the rhetorical challenges will continue. Notwithstanding the decorous and professional language of McAfees order, it lands several haymakers on Willis judgment and probity. Probably the most notorious and enduring is his assertion that an odor of mendacity remains around the testimony of Willis and Wade, specifically as to the timing of their relationship. It's a phrase that could have a continuing political impact in Georgia and nationally. Whatever the judge's intent, his analysis bolsters Trump and other Republicans in Georgia, which is among the most fiercely contested states in the coming election. With a special committee created by the state Senate investigating Willis and a new law enabling oversight of district attorneys' offices, Georgia Republicans will have plenty of opportunities to keep sounding the refrain that the problem is not Trump but Willis. A prosecution revolving around an infamous Trump sound bite I just need 11,780 votes is now tainted by an "odor of mendacity. Read more: Litman: Without even ruling on Trump's immunity claim, the Supreme Court handed him a huge victory That reality may be deeply unfair, and it is certainly steeped in a Southern stew of racial and sexual politics, but Willis' conduct will continue to be under intense and even undue scrutiny, particularly as both she and McAfee face an election this year. The motion to disqualify her has already drawn attention to questions that really had no bearing on the legal issues at hand, including precisely when she and Wade began their relationship. Part of the responsibility for the abiding eyesore that the case has become must be laid at the feet of McAfee. The Fulton County Superior Court judge has earned generally high marks for his even temper and solid preparation for a monster of a case. But the meager allegations in Trump co-defendant Michael Romans original motion could have been resolved without the chaotic evidentiary hearing that McAfee convened. The judge even could have denied the motion to disqualify and left it at that. McAfees ultimate rejection of the motion is unassailable because there never was a plausible claim of a financial conflict of interest in Willis' relationship with Wade, and nothing short of that could justify disqualifying the district attorney. Whatever Wade spent on Willis for flowers, fancy meals or even airfare it was not just baseless but also silly to suggest that such benefits drove the district attorneys management of the case. And that's all the judge needed to know to reject the defendants' far-fetched argument. McAfee, however, permitted the show to go on. And though he properly rejected the claim of a conflict, he roamed into amorphous appearance of conflict territory to justify the difficult choice he served up to Willis and Wade in forcing one of them to exit the case. But Wades withdrawal can't cleanse the case of the stink bomb dropped into the proceedings by Roman and Trump. Even if Willis retakes the reins and pursues the case with impeccable judgment and prudence from this point forward as there's no reason to doubt she will it will be while Trump and his champions shout this counternarrative from the rooftops. The whole misadventure is only the latest in a recent series of unearned breaks for Trump in his single-minded quest to keep all his trials from going forward before the November election. Willis and a Fulton County grand jury leveled grave charges against the former president. The odds that they will reach trial and a verdict that the American people can consider in choosing their next president are now perilously close to zero. Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast and the new Talking San Diego speaker series. @harrylitman 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. Thirty minutes before a curfew in South Beach took effect Friday, a parade of police ATVs rolled down Ocean Drive, blaring a prerecorded message. Good evening. As we continue to prioritize public safety, there is a curfew in effect from midnight until 6 a.m. Please return to your hotel or residence, police announced. Police officers enforce a midnight curfew near Mangos Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Relative to last weekend, Friday night saw larger spring break crowds in South Beach, despite an announcement Friday morning that a midnight curfew would be in place below 23rd Street throughout the weekend. But enforcement of the curfew got off to a smooth start. By 12:15 a.m., Ocean Drive had been cleared out almost entirely. Police urged stragglers to leave the area, but there were no immediate indications of physical altercations. A video posted on Saturday morning to the social media account Only In Dade showed officers in South Beach handcuffing a woman after an exchange about compliance with the curfew. Ocean Drive was the first priority of the curfew push. By 12:30 a.m., officers were making the curfew announcement on Collins and Washington avenues. Youve got to get the f--- out of here, a Miami-Dade police officer told a group of women at Collins and Eighth Street around that time. Groups of spring breakers stood at street corners trying to figure out their next plans. Many waited for ride-shares to escape to Wynwood and downtown Miami. Police officers enforce a midnight curfew near Mangos Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. While word about the curfew spread among many spring breakers, not everyone knew about it. Outside M2, a club on Washington Avenue, a young Israeli couple said they were on vacation in Miami and werent aware of the curfew. They paid $100 Friday morning for tickets to a party at the club. Most businesses were abiding by the curfew, although a few remained open after midnight. Police walked into a Burger King at 11th Street and Washington around 12:30 a.m. and told employees to close up shop, but let them complete an order for a group of hungry spring breakers waiting outside. Everybodys happy, a Miami Beach police officer said as he walked out with a spring breaker carrying several BK bags. On Friday afternoon and evening, people packed the sidewalk next to bars and restaurants on Ocean Drive, though the mood remained calm in comparison to recent years in which fights, stampedes and shootings have soured the party during the third weekend in March. Spontaneous dance circles broke out along the strip as music blared from boomboxes, attracting small crowds. But the bouts of fun were short-lived as nearby police officers hurried over, flickered their flashlights and demanded that people turn the music down. About an hour before curfew, the crowds on Ocean Drive started to thin. Some businesses closed their doors early in anticipation. A group of women dance on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. I miss everybody The owner of at least one business, Mangos Tropical Cafe, decided to close up shop entirely in advance of the curfew. On Friday, the clubs doors were gated shut, and a large sign outside announced that the business would remain shut through the weekend while the curfew was in effect. Owner David Wallack sat in a chair outside Mangos on Friday night, observing the scene. He said he feared that, if there were a stampede, I could not protect my staff or our customers. Unlike last year, Ocean Drive remains open to cars, with metal barricades separating pedestrians on the sidewalk from the street. Its very hard on businesses right now on South Beach, Wallack said. But it would be much more costly for anyone to get injured at Mangos because of something I didnt do because I was trying to make a little bit more money. A sign explaining the closure of Mangos Tropical Cafe during all days that the curfew has been ordered by Miami Beach, on Friday, March 15, 2024. Measures in place last weekend were once again in effect, including parking closures, 6 p.m. beach entrance closures, license-plate readers on causeways entering the city and a DUI checkpoint on Fifth Street. A massive law enforcement presence flooded Ocean Drive and nearby streets in the South Beach entertainment district. A Miami Beach police officer confiscates a liquor bottle at a DUI checkpoint at Meridian Avenue and Fifth Street during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. While visitors said Friday they were well aware of the citys viral marketing campaign about breaking up with spring break, it didnt stop them from coming to Miami Beachs sunny shores. READ MORE: Miami Beach imposes a midnight spring break curfew starting Friday night Kiya Bloodworth, 25, reacts to a snake being draped over her shoulders during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Madison Winston, a 22-year-old from Dayton, Ohio, was unfazed by the parking restrictions, sea of metal barriers and heavy police presence. They put in these fake little rules, right, but the rules arent ruling because I see everybody out here still, Winston said early Friday afternoon. Winston said she attended last years spring break and knew about two deadly shootings that occurred. However, that didnt change her opinion of coming back to party again, nor did additional restrictions the city put in place. Im not gonna lie, last year it was really crowded, she said. But I think they scared a lot of people off. Its less crowded and cool, but its better with more people. I miss everybody coming here. A man flashes cash while recording a video on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Bianca Ward, a 21-year-old from North Carolina, said it was her first time in the city, and while the restrictions are quite noticeable, they havent stopped her from having a blast. We still find a way to make it fun, she said. Its just about who you came with. Ward and her group of friends said they had not heard about the curfew. But they said it wont dampen their spring break. Just now hearing about it, it definitely doesnt change anything, Ward said. People walk past the Colony Hotel during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Brittani Miller-Gonzalez, 31, was well aware of the violence and unrest that occurred in Miami Beach last year, she said. But with the citys focus on safety, she felt this year would be a great time to bring her 3-year-old daughter for good weather during spring break. I think that sometimes we cant have nice things and ... restrictions are required, said Miller-Gonzalez, who is from New York. If you look around, its very chill. There are families out here. People walk along the sidewalk on Ocean Drive during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Midnight curfew Despite warnings over the past year that a curfew was likely coming during spring break in 2024, Fridays announcement jolted some business owners in the South Beach nightlife scene. Police officers ride bikes down Ocean Drive before the start of a midnight curfew during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Romain Zago, the owner of Mynt Lounge at 19th Street and Collins Avenue, said he didnt understand why the city imposed a curfew when other measures seemed to be effective in keeping crowds small and calm. I dont understand why this week they would not apply the same system, the same measures, Zago said Friday afternoon. What happened all of a sudden today that we have to have a curfew? Mynt is open from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m., meaning the curfew will force the club to close this weekend. Zago said the move would be damaging for his business and his employees. My staff all live check by check. They cannot afford a week off, he said. The city, Zago said, is removing food from our plates. Police officers gather on Ocean Drive before the start of a midnight curfew during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Daniel Ribenboim Simon, general partner and co-owner of the Meridian Hotel, at 418 Meridian Ave., was also surprised by Fridays curfew announcement. His hotel is inside the curfew zone and on Friday, the staff was scrambling to inform guests. The Meridian is also home to Minibar, a popular bar among locals that is normally open till 3 a.m. That business will definitely take a significant hit this weekend, said Ribenboim Simon. Like other local business leaders, he said he understood and agreed that things needed to change to avoid a repeat of past years. But he felt several of the initial measures, especially the citys breakup social media campaign, were working, something he said was evident in the first two weeks of spring break. We thought we had found a happy medium, he said. He also felt the city should have done a better job involving local businesses, especially small businesses. Nobody asked for our input, he said. An employee at Wet Willies starts to close shop before city officials enforce a midnight curfew during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Mitch Novick, who owns the Sherbrooke Hotel at Ninth Street and Collins Avenue, said he was offering refunds to some guests who were having trouble finding parking in South Beach because of the closures. I think its only reasonable, Novick said. Some business owners were less critical of the curfew or the other strict measures. Paolo Orsolini owns the Italian deli Prima Classe on First Street near Washington Avenue, which usually closes around 9:30 p.m., and a newly opened cigar lounge next door that goes until midnight. Both are in the curfew zone, yet Orsolini said he was neutral about it. Things in the past were out of control, he said, so he supports several of the harsher rules and the large police presence. He predicted that for us, the curfew will probably be beneficial and not detrimental. That is in part because Prima Classe is tucked away from Ocean Drive, and its clients are mostly people who live nearby. Tourists, and particularly spring breakers, dont typically frequent his establishments. Still, Orsolini said he would like to see more rigorous justification of the curfew. Did you analyze the impact it will have on businesses and on locals? he asked. Aniya Drake, a 24-year-old nurse from Dayton, Ohio, said she felt the curfew wouldnt have a big effect on her friends plans or other spring breakers. Curfew just means more stuff is closed so we have less opportunities, but that doesnt mean anything, she said. Were still gonna have fun. Miami Beach resident John Parker, 88, rides down Ocean Drive during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Mangos Tropical Cafe during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. A group of women dance on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Miami Beach police officers talk to a group of women who were dancing near TGI Fridays off Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Nurses Aniya Drake, 24, right, and Madison Winston, 22, left, from Dayton, Ohio, pose at the water's edge as Myreanna Reshae, 27, far right, takes photos during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Police officers patrol Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Juan Gama, from Coral Gables, break dances on Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Aerial view of South Beach during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Aerial view of South Beach during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. A girl makes her way down Ocean Drive near the Boulevard Hotel during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. People visit South Beach during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. Girls make their way down Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. A biker makes her way down Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach. A group of girls walk down Ocean Drive during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. People hang out on the beach during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. People walk and sit at the beach during spring break in Miami Beach on Friday, March 15, 2024. Health officials in Los Angeles County are asking for the publics help to identify a man who has been hospitalized for more than two weeks. On Friday, Los Angeles General Medical Center, a public hospital run by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, released images of a man who has been in the hospital since Feb. 27. The man was found on the ground on the 400 block of East 5th Street in downtown L.A., in front of the Skid Row Peoples Market. Los Angeles General Medical Center is hoping to ID this man who was found down in front of the Skid Row People's Market on Feb. 27, 2024. Hes described as a Black man in his mid-70s with a petite build, standing around 5 feet 7 inches and weighing only 100 pounds. His hair is gray, his eyes are brown and he has various small tattoos on his body. Some of the tattoos are written in Spanish, health officials said, but are hard to decipher due to the mans age and skin tone. The patient is believed to be of Cuban descent and he appears to only speak Spanish. Anyone who may recognize the man is urged to contact Jonathan Evanculla, a clinical social worker at L.A. Generals Department of Social Work, at 323-409-3859. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. - A Virginia school board has plans to omit a video display during the public comment section of its board meetings. The change in Loudoun County comes after a 6-3 vote Tuesday night by the county school board. Right now, meetings show the back of public speakers in a wide shot of the school board meeting. Under the new policy, video streams of the meetings will provide only audio and closed captioning for public speakers. The three members who objected are Deana Griffiths, Kari LaBell, and Lauren Shernoff. "Im inclined to support turning the cameras back on," Shernoff said. "I know some people also want accountability of the board. I dont know if its something that can be a split screen, where its us and them. So, its not like were not getting off the hook. Over the past four years, I think decisions were made in general to make the public less than. So, when they came to speak at a meeting and then they werent shown, I think that furthered that feeling, which we have heard. By turning them back, we can start rebuilding that trust and transparency." Loudoun County School Board votes to get rid of video display during public comment The last school board stopped showing the faces of public speakers in June 2021, after a meeting on transgender students rights drew a large crowd and resulted in the arrest of Scott Smith after a confrontation. READ MORE: VRGINIA'S LOUDOUN COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SILENCES PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER RAUCOUS MEETING, 2 MEN ARRESTED Smiths daughter, who was a student in the school district at the time, was sexually assaulted in a school bathroom. Smith has since received a full pardon from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who described Smiths arrest as "unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter." "Youre not going to shut my family down by turning off the cameras. Were everywhere," Smith said Friday, reacting to the boards decision on cameras during public comment. "Our Title 9 lawsuit is quickly making its way through the federal docket. Well be in trial probably late August. If they want to get out of the news, they need to start making better decisions. Nothing can restore trust in this school board or administration. They have made it clear over and over again, theyre doing this because they dont want to get yelled at anymore. They dont want to be on the news anymore. They dont want to be caught on camera with their phones and laughing at us." Board member April Chandler said during the meeting Tuesday, that public comments were an important part of meetings. When they become the focus of the meetings instead of the information and action items, Chandler argued the process "undermines the work of the school board and transparency." "When public comment lasts for hours and decisions are made at midnight, decisions of the school board are not accessible to citizens. That said, public comment is only one part of the conversation between elected officials and constituents," Chandler said. "I have heard from many Algonkian constituents who have said this I want our neighborhood schools, and I want our division out of the news. For that reason, I will not support any efforts to turn the cameras back on. Im open to changing the format in other ways but turning the cameras back on now only invites and undermines transparency of the school board." Chandler added that she wants to hear comments made to the board but "not for demonstrative purposes." LCPS School Board member Anne Donohue Fellow member Anne Donohue voted in favor. "I think unfortunately, there has been a history of the last few years of people who are outspoken in this forum of later being harassed, and I dont necessarily specifically mean that in the legal definition, but having consequences following them in their personal lives," Donohue said. The new policy is expected to begin in April. FILE - In this aerial photo, responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on Interstate 55 in Manchac, La., Oct. 23, 2023. A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with negligent homicide for his role in the fiery highway pileup that left eight dead after a super fog of marsh fire smoke and dense fog snared more than 160 vehicles, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) RESERVE, La. (AP) A Louisiana truck driver has been charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fiery highway pileup that left eight dead last year after a super fog of marsh fire smoke and dense fog snared more than 160 vehicles, authorities said. On Oct. 23, Ronald Britt was operating a truck at unsafe speeds on Interstate 55 west of New Orleans when he slammed into the back of a car that had stopped in the left lane behind several other vehicles involved in minor crashes, Louisiana State Police said in a statement Tuesday. That collision killed 60-year-old James Fleming and seriously injured his wife. Britt, a 61-year-old commercial truck driver from Lafayette, was arrested on multiple charges, including negligent homicide, negligent injuring, reckless operation and other traffic-related offenses, state police said. Britt voluntarily surrendered to authorities Monday. It was unknown if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Eight people died in the multi-collision pileup and 63 were injured. It took a month for the interstate to fully reopen after repairs were made to the road and bridge, both damaged by the crashes and vehicle fires. Teams work on last minute changes to their robots during the FIRST Robotics competition hosted by LSSU on March 14, 2024. SAULT STE. MARIE Lake Superior State University recently hosted hundreds of high school students for its annual FIRST Robotics competition. The competition drew in teams from 40 different high schools, mostly from Michigan but also from Minnesota and other states. The competition, which started on Thursday, March 14, sees students spend months building and rebuilding machines to compete in a variety of planned tasks. FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Math, is a robotics organization that holds competitions and other events around the world to encourage students to enter the field of robotics and engineering. The Superior Roboworks team from Houghton and their robot Francois the 24th pose for a photo during the first day of the FIRST Robotics competition at LSSU on March 14, 2024. Students who are part of their local robotics teams at their high schools have the chance to join this program. They spend about two months developing and adding to their robots before the competition. Robots are usually passed down from one team to another as students graduate, and each team adds to the machine for the specific tasks of that year. This is the sixth year LSSU has hosted regional matches for FIRST. Students in this part of the competition have already been competing with their robots for several weeks. After winning in this competition, students can go on to compete at the state and national levels. More: LSSU to host FIRST Robotics contest March 14-16 Robotics teams from various high schools prepare their machines to use in the competition area before matches begin for the FIRST Robotics competition at LSSU on March 14, 2024. The competition asks students to complete a variety of tasks that change every year but usually resemble the same issues that real world engineers have to face. Students must be skilled with teamwork, problem solving and making changes to programming on the fly. "Our robot is building on some ideas we had in previous years. It's interesting to see how people came up with ideas to solve the problem," said Rachel Bertram of the Superior Robotics team from Houghton. Robotics teams from various high schools prepare their machines to use in the competition area before matches begin during the FIRST Robotics competition at LSSU on March 14, 2024. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our coverage The kinds of challenges that students are asked to face sometimes change based on the theme of the year. In previous years, LSSU had themes like video game power ups. Machines must be able to perform specific tasks like launching disks, being operated remotely and being able to drive themselves without a controller. Despite being given the same set of tasks, robots tend to look very different from team to team. "I think the beauty of the competition is that they give us the same task but, everybody has their own spin on it, that's why they all look so different," said Bela Soderquist of the Great Lakers team from Mackinac Island. The Great Lakers team from Mackinac Island use a small practice field for last minute adjustments on their robot before the FIRST Robotics competition begins at LSSU on March 14, 2024. Before they reach this point of the competition, students are also expected to develop real world skills that don't directly relate to the science, such as marketing to raise funds for the robot and team travel expenses. The competition started March 14 and lasts through March 16 at the Norris Center at LSSU. Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com This article originally appeared on The Sault News: LSSU hosts students from across the state for robotics competition SAN FRANCISCO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 737-800 plane flying from San Francisco was found to have a missing panel after landing safely at its scheduled destination in southern Oregon, said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday. The plane of United Airlines, a Flight 433, "landed safely at Medford Airport in Oregon around 11:30 a.m. local time (1930 GMT) on Friday, March 15. A post landing airline inspection revealed a missing panel," the FAA, Boeing's primary regulator, said in a statement. "The FAA will investigate," it added. Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions. Click here to view the video Its the luckiest weekend of the year for revellers far and wide hoping to enjoy the spirit of St. Patricks Day. Folks planning to head outside for backyard gatherings and community parades alike are looking for a bit of atmospheric fortunes heading their way this weekend. But whos going to find a pot of gold waiting at the end of the forecast? Theres a clear winner this yearand its great news for one of the countrys largest St. Patricks Day events. St Patrick-s Day 2024 Pattern DONT MISS: Warmest winter ever: Canada's record season reaches new heights The skies over Canada this weekend are sharply divided between a taste of spring and a dollop of gloom. Communities in the western half of the country will enjoy calm conditions and above-seasonal temperatures, while an active storm track back east promises unsettled conditions and cooler weather. A warm spell for Western Canada Luck is on your side across Western Canada this weekend. A ridge of high pressure building over the western shores of North America will flex its influence across British Columbia and Alberta heading into the St. Patricks Day weekend. Air sinking toward the ground beneath this strong ridge will heat up as it descends, pushing temperatures into record territory for some communities across the region. St Patricks Day 2024 West Temp Records Conditions will come in more than 10 degrees above seasonal for many spots across B.C. and Alberta heading into this weekend, with the years first daytime highs in the 20s likely for inland portions of B.C. Readings in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and even across the border into B.C.s Fort St. John may all set heat records on Sunday. Vancouver is on track to enjoy a stunning weekend with highs of 20C on Saturday and 19C on Sunday. The comfortable stretch is excellent news for folks hoping to enjoy the twentieth anniversary of CelticFest, a large family festival held in the city centre. Gloomier conditions back east Weather extremes beget weather extremes, and folks across the Great Lakes will see a gloomy weekend as the pattern makes up for the unseasonable warmth bathing Western Canada. St Patrick-s Day 2024 Great Lakes Precip Temperatures will remain above-seasonal for much of southern Ontario and Quebec this weekend. Folks in Toronto should see daytime highs a few degrees above freezing around the middle of Marchbut this weekend will see highs in the upper single digits. That warmth comes at a cost. Toronto St Patrick-s Day 2024 Parade A large trough swinging into the Great Lakes will bring plenty of clouds and unsettled conditions. Expect to dodge occasional showers on Saturday and Sunday if youve got outdoor plans across the region. This includes Toronto's annual St. Patricks Day parade. The cold air should allow snow chances to return for southern and eastern Ontario by the beginning of the week. Who has the most Irish weather? The appealing shades of emerald green that are an iconic part of St. Patricks Day festivities stem from Irelands temperate climate. Ireland sits at the end of the warm North Atlantic Current, affording the country temperate and frequently wet conditions that lend the country its rich greenery. RELATED: St. Patrick's Day green traditions linked to these weather patterns Dublin Ireland 7day A typical St. Patricks Day across the heart of the island would see a daytime high temperature hovering just above 10C with a nighttime low of about 4C, according to data collected by Met Eireann, Irelands meteorological service. Rain is common across the country during the middle of March. Dublin Airport in the east and Shannon Airport in the west both recorded rain about half the time on March 17 over the past couple of decades. Whose weather across Canada will most closely resemble Irelands typical St. Patricks Day this year? ItsLondon, Ontario! The town can expect highs of 10C on Saturday and 9C on Sunday, accompanied by frequent clouds and opportunities for showers. Nighttime lows will be a bit chillier than theyre used to across the Atlantic, but the days will feel quintessentially Irish for this festive weekend. Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on your weekend forecast across Canada. WATCH: How weather was instrumental in St. Patricks Day traditions Click here to view the video Luke Bryan's downtown Nashville bar said that the missing Missouri college student was served just one alcoholic drink, despite his parents saying that the bar had overserved him prior to his mysterious disappearance. TC Restaurant Group, the operator and owner of Lukes 32 Bridge, released a statement on 22-year-old Riley Strain's disappearance, saying that he had purchased one alcoholic drink during his visit on March 8. "During Rileys visit to Lukes 32 Bridge, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters," the group said. The bar's statement comes after Riley's parents insisted that their son had been "overserved." "The bartender said he had been overserved," Chris Whiteid, Strain's stepfather, told FOX 17. "He was trying to pay his tab." COLLEGE STUDENT VISITING NASHVILLE DISAPPEARS AFTER LEAVING LUKE BRYAN'S BAR READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Authorities released surveillance video Tuesday morning showing Strain walking across 1st Avenue North to Gay Street at 9:47 p.m. Friday, where he was seen wearing the same black and brown shirt his friends last saw him. Luke Bryan's bar in Nashville, Tennessee released a statement on the disappearance of 22-year-old Riley Strain. The bar said that the security team "made a decision based on our conduct standards" to remove the senior University of Missouri student from the Music City bar. "At 9:35 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building," the bar said. "He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs." TC Restaurant Group indicated that they are working closely with authorities in the search for the missing college student. NASHVILLE POLICE, FAMILY OF MISSING COLLEGE STUDENT SPEAK TO HOMELSS PEOPLE NEAR RIVER WHO MAY HAVE SEEN HIM "In our effort to help the Nashville Metro Police Departments Missing Persons investigation of Riley Strain, we proactively provided detailed information quickly after his visit to our business on March 8. This information included all security camera footage, photos of Riley at our establishment with detailed time stamps, transaction records, and staff accounts," the group said. "Additionally, we proactively engaged in communication with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission and will continue to communicate and provide any records needed to aid their ongoing investigation." After Riley Strain, a 22-year-old Mizzou student who went missing after a night out at Luke Bryan's Nashville bar, the country music star is speaking out on his disappearance. After being asked to leave the bar, Strain told his friends that he would head back to their accommodations at Tempo by Hilton, which is about five blocks away from Luke's 32, FOX 17 reported. When his friends did not see him again at their hotel later that evening, they filed a missing persons report, Strain's cousin, Chelsea Strain said. "My family left as soon as they heard the news, along with his dad and stepmom. He is not one to leave and not call anyone," she said. "I talked to him every week, if not every other day, to check on him. He talks to his mom more than once a day. All of us are worried. My family, along with his dad, stepmom and step-siblings, all just want him home. We want to hold him and love him. We want to watch him graduate in May at Mizzou. He has a bright future ahead of him." Mizzou student Riley Strain, 22, has been missing since March 8 after he disappeared in downtown Nashville. When Strain left the bar, however, he appeared to walk in the opposite direction of his hotel. His phone last pinged between 10 and 10:30 p.m. in the area of Public Square Park, located near the sheriff's office and the Cumberland River, according to FOX 17. "This is definitely the worst nightmare," Whiteid said. "He talks to his mom three or four times a day. For him to go this long without talking is not normal by any means." Authorities are asking anyone with information about Riley's disappearance to contact 615-862-8600. Fox News has reached out to TC Restaurant Group for comment. Fox News' Audrey Conklin contributed to this report. Original article source: Luke Bryan's Nashville bar says college student had 1 alcoholic drink, 2 waters before removal, disappearance French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that his country "has no limits" when it comes to helping Ukraine and will respond to Russia's behaviour. Source: Macron in an interview with Ukrainian journalists broadcast on Saturday night during the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "I've said what our goal is. Russia cannot and must not win this war. Plus, our goal is to bring sustainable peace back to Europe... To achieve this goal, we will not go down the path of escalation, because we don't need another war, but we are prepared to say that we have no limits, and we will react to how Russia behaves. At some point, Ukrainians will definitely have to be in a strong position at the end of this war when they negotiate a sustainable peace. But for now, I am not taking offensive initiatives because this is not the spirit of collective solidarity." Details: Macron said that the situation in Ukraine today is "more complicated than ever": Russia has switched to a military economy, and there is "a lot of uncertainty about the prospects" in the international arena. "That is why we need to determine not only how to move towards peace, but also what real peace, which will ensure security for you and for Europe, will be like. That's why we need this new impetus at the level of European countries to speed up their assistance. If the enemy says that they have no limits, why should we say that we have limits?" the French president said. Asked whether he would pick up the phone if he received a call from internationally wanted criminal Vladimir Putin, Macron said: "Yes, I would pick up the phone. Because I feel it is my responsibility. And I would listen to what he has to say. I believe that France's role is to be the sinews of war, as Churchill put it. On the one hand, we need to give Ukraine everything it needs to strengthen its defence capabilities, and on the other hand, we need to help de-escalate. We need to reach a sustainable, lasting and just peace. So if he suddenly wanted to propose something, I would listen to the meaning of his proposals. But then, of course, I have to say that the only negotiations are those that the heads of the two states [Russia and Ukraine ed.] are willing to hold." Macron also added that "France has its own position on nuclear deterrence" and reiterated that it is Putin who threatens other countries "completely inappropriately" with nuclear weapons. "We see that we have to provide additional guarantees to Ukraine today, so that Ukraine has clear sight of the military aid schedule and of what it can count on, and can proceed with confidence to the point at which negotiations become possible. But it will be a very fundamental discussion, in which Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity will be the fundamental underlying value," he said. Asked whether France had a plan in place in case the US stopped supporting Ukraine and withdrew from NATO, Macron stressed that it was in the USs interest to continue to help Ukraine in the long term because "the fate of international law and liberal democracy is being decided in Ukraine". "But we Europeans still need to prepare for different scenarios. Because for us, Ukraine is an existential issue. If you lose this war, we will not be able to have any European security. So we have to prepare for all possible scenarios. We need to persuade all European countries to build their own defence policy," the French president stressed. When the journalists suggested requesting a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Olympic Games in Paris, Macron responded: "Yes, we will ask for one." Background: On 26 February, after a meeting in Paris, Macron admitted that Western troops could be sent to Ukraine in the future, although he stressed that there was currently no consensus among the allies on this issue. He later added that his remarks, which caused an outcry, had been carefully thought out. In an interview published on 14 March, Macron said that Ukraine must regain Crimea if there was to be lasting peace and urged the international community not to be weak. He also responded to recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin about Russia's readiness for nuclear war. " We must first and foremost feel protected, because we are a nuclear power. We are ready; we have a doctrine [for the use of nuclear weapons]," the French president said. This news has been updated since publication. Support UP or become our patron! Fox News Laura Ingraham issued an on-air apology Friday after the network bungled a graphic that was supposed to feature Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis across from Nathan Wade, a prosecutor who resigned from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump. The host had appeared on screen next to a graphic that showed a picture of Willis in one half of a broken heart, while a photo of attorney Terrence Bradley, Wades former law partner and divorce attorney, was shown in the other half of the heart. Judge Scott McAfees picture appeared in the middle of the graphic. Wade, who had a romantic relationship with Willis, resigned after McAfee ruled Friday that the prosecutor had to remove himself from the case or else Willis had to step away from it. Now a note about a graphic we showed at the top of the show, Ingraham said on Fox News. It was supposed to be of Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, but accidentally we broadcast Terrence Bradley. That was obviously not intentional. We made a mistake, and we are sorry for that. Is that Bradley in the heart? Did they confuse Bradley with Wade? pic.twitter.com/R0PSyewrSP Acyn (@Acyn) March 15, 2024 Ingraham: Now a note about a graphic we showed at the top of the show. It was supposed to be Fani Willis and Nathan Wade but accidentally we broadcast Terrence Bradley. That was obviously not intentional. We made a mistake and we are sorry for that. pic.twitter.com/O2Fbiij6Zb Acyn (@Acyn) March 15, 2024 Social media users suggested that Fox News mix-up could have stemmed from Wade and Bradley both being Black. The network has previously flubbed on-air graphics, looping in a photo of singer Patti LaBelle for an Aretha Franklin tribute back in 2018 and showing a map of the Middle East that labeled Iraq as Egypt. Related... (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro agreed to run for a third consecutive term this July, in an election where he is all but assured victory after disqualifying his main rival. Most Read from Bloomberg Maduro was nominated by Venezuelas ruling Socialist party at an event in Caracas on Saturday. I accept the presidential candidacy for the July 28 elections, Maduro said at the same event. With the support of the people, we will go to a new victory for the Bolivarian and Chavista forces. The government set the date for the election earlier this month, putting pressure on the opposition which has until March 25 to select a new challenger. Leading contender and opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado was banned by the government and is facing growing pressure to select a replacement. Socialist party Vice President Diosdado Cabello said Maduros candidacy received unanimous support from more than four million activists during assemblies last weekend, as well as from the PSUVs leadership. Read More: Venezuela Opposition Split on Who Will Challenge Maduro in July Venezuela cleared the way to the vote after the opposition and the government agreed on an electoral roadmap. But much remains uncertain. While the electoral council said it had invited eight international monitor groups to oversee the vote last week, none have yet confirmed they will attend. The US could also reimpose sanctions if it deems Venezuela has broke an accord to hold free and fair elections. In the meantime Machado has moved forward with her candidacy, holding out hope that a unified opposition will sustain the momentum her primary win created and force Maduro to allow her to participate. The latest survey by Caracas-based firm ORC Consultores Frequency 58 showed Machado with 67.7% of voter intention in February, compared with Maduros 19.2% and less than 6% for other candidates. (Adds Maduros comments from the first paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A man is behind bars after officials say he shot his uncle to death. Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials said on Wednesday around 8 p.m., Brooks County sheriffs deputies received reports of a person shot on Bair Road. When deputies arrived, they found 56-year-old Jed Maichele of Quitman, who had been shot multiple times. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the investigation, Maichele had gotten into an argument with his nephew, 27-year-old Jonah Kenney of Quitman, earlier that day. Authorities did not say what the two were arguing about. Officials said Georgia State Patrol troopers pulled over Kenney on Wednesday for unrelated traffic violations. After being by GBI agents, officials said Kenney was arrested. TRENDING STORIES: Kenney was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Thomasville at 229-225-4090. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The Fairfax County Police Department said a man is in custody after a domestic-related fatal shooting that happened Friday afternoon in Annandale. Police said that at about 4:45 p.m., they responded to the 3200 block of Woodburn Road for a shooting. Officers said the victim called to report that her ex-boyfriend was blocking her car with his car and not letting her leave. She told 911 the man was wanted, and she had an active protective order against him. While officers were responding, 30-year-old Tylen Jennings of Maryland shot the victim from his car. Jennings fled the scene before police arrived. Man dies after motorcycle crash in Fairfax County When police arrived at the scene, they found 30-year-old Anesha Isaacs, of Maryland who had been shot. She died at the hospital. Officers quickly identified the car Jennings had fled in and provided a lookout. The Prince Georges County Police Department took Jennings into custody in Maryland. A firearm was recovered inside his car. Jennings has been charged with Second Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Abduction and Protective Order Violation. He is being held at the Prince Georges County Correctional Center without bond. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfax County Police Department Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) A man broke into a home in Taylorsville on Friday and entered a bedroom where six children were sleeping, according to Taylorsville Police. Allen Vance Gardner, 31, was arrested in Salt Lake County on six counts of voyeurism against a child under 14 years of age (third-degree felony) and burglary of a dwelling (third-degree felony). On Mar. 15, Gardner entered a Taylorsville home by breaking in through a back window. Police said he then made his way to the childrens bedroom of the home. Over 50 pounds of meth seized after high-speed chase in Grand County Gardner allegedly observed the children, then had physical contact with one girl by touching her chest. Gardner told police that this was an attempt to wake her so that she could get him a drink of water, according to the probable cause statement. In the bedroom there were six children, all under the age of 14, the affidavit states. [Gardner] advised that he did this because he does not like his group home and does not want to live there anymore. [Gardner] appears to be willing to commit crimes to get his way. This makes him a high danger to our community. Gardner was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the charges previously stated. No further information is available at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A man suspected of killing his girlfriends 3-year-old son has now been formally charged with the boys murder. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced Friday that Rena Lydell Naulls, 39, has been charged with one count of murder, one count of assault on a child causing death and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon with prior convictions. He also faces special circumstances for allegedly using a knife during the commission of the crime, which the D.A.s Office said involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm and other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness, and callousness. The boy, identified as David Jacques Hernandez, was found dead on Feb. 20 at his home in Lancaster on 43400 block of 57th Street West. Lancaster child dies Naulls, the boyfriend of Davids mother, was also home at the time and was found by first responders suffering from what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries. At the time of the gruesome discovery, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said David died from a slash wound to his upper body. Investigators believe Naulls killed David and then tried to take his own life. Naulls was transported to the hospital for treatment and was later identified as a person of interest. Davids three siblings were also home at the time and were uninjured. They were later placed in protective custody. My heart is broken for the toddler whose life was taken before he even had a chance to live, Gascon said in a news release Friday. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the victims family during this unimaginably difficult time. We will pursue justice for the victim and his family with unwavering determination. Naulls is being held on $3.2 million bail and is expected to be arraigned in an Antelope Valley courtroom on April 24. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The case remains under investigation by the Sheriffs Department. Anyone with information was asked to call homicide investigators at 323-890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man who was in critical condition after a water rescue Friday near the Courtney Campbell Causeway has died, according to Clearwater police. The man went swimming in the beach area off the causeway at about 5 p.m. and went missing, police said. The man was found by a rapid diver shortly after and was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital in critical condition, police said. The man, who was only identified as a 32-year-old from Haines City, died about an hour later, according to police. The man was swimming with his family when he was having trouble in the water. He was found about 30 yards offshore, police said. No other details were immediately available. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is set to embark on a five-day journey to Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia starting March 23. The primary objective of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relationships and address regional concerns of shared interest. Singapore will be Jaishankar's initial stop on the tour. In a concise statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed Jaishankar's visit, highlighting that it comes at the invitation of his counterparts in the respective countries. "The visit aims to bolster ties with Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and presents an opportunity to discuss regional issues of mutual concern," the statement read. Among the key topics likely to be discussed during Jaishankar's meetings are the situation in vital waterways such as the South China Sea and the Red Sea. Concerns have been mounting globally regarding China's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which is rich in hydrocarbon resources. Various nations in the region, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei, have conflicting claims in the area. India, along with other democratic nations, advocates for a peaceful resolution of disputes and adherence to international laws, particularly the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). The defence and strategic cooperation between India and the Philippines have witnessed significant progress in recent years. In January 2022, India finalized a USD 375 million deal to supply three missile batteries to the Philippines, marking an important milestone in their bilateral relations. Discussions during Jaishankar's visit may also cover recent incidents involving Houthi militants targeting cargo vessels in the Red Sea and other strategic water passages in the region. Jaishankar's visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening ties with its Southeast Asian counterparts and addressing pressing regional challenges through diplomatic engagement. EAM Jaishankar Meets Late Shinzo Abe's Wife in Tokyo, What's on the Agenda? S Jaishankar Highlights India's Growing International Reputation During South Korea Visit Man exposed himself, grabbed woman before she broke free, Santa Monica police say The Santa Monica Police Department is looking for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman on March 1. At about 8:15 p.m., the victim was waiting for a ride in the 1700 block of Ocean Park Boulevard when the man approached her, pulled down his pants and made lewd statements, police said in a news release. The woman tried to leave, but the suspect grabbed her from behind and began touching the victim inappropriately over her clothing before she broke free and fled the area, police said. The Santa Monica Police Department released these March 1, 2024, images of an alleged sexual assailant. The Santa Monica Police Department released this March 1, 2024, image of an alleged sexual assailant. Surveillance video showed the man was wearing white shoes and dark clothing, as well as what appears to be a necklace. Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Tavera at ismael.tavera@santamonica.gov, Detective Sgt. Gradle at ryan.gradle@santamonica.gov or the watch commander at 310-458-8427. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A man is facing 62 charges after allegedly masturbating in front of 50 elementary school students on a field trip. Florian Sterling, 51, was arrested on 50 counts of lewdness involving a child, a class A misdemeanor; two counts of lewdness, a class B misdemeanor; and 10 counts of bail-jumping, a class B misdemeanor, the Salt Lake City Police Department said. Jonas Brothers to headline Stadium of Fire 2024 The Salt Lake City Police Department conducted a lewdness investigation involving Sterling, who was allegedly found to be masturbating in front of an elementary school class as they were on a field trip. The field trip consisted of 50 students and two adults, SLCPD said. The police department said the charges against Sterling are not felonies, however given the situation, he showed no regard for the safety of children or others around him, the affidavit states. [Sterling] is a dangerous sexual predator. Additionally, police said Sterling was also found to have several other active warrants for his arrest. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the previously mentioned charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) After a week-long trial, a man has been found guilty of a 2022 domestic violence murder in Grand Rapids, the Kent County Prosecutors Office said. On Friday, Khalil Yusef Ali Childrey was found guilty of first-degree murder and felony firearm in the May 2022 death of Stacey Majewski. He will be sentenced later this spring. He faces life in prison. Woman killed in shooting, Grand Rapids police say The murder happened on the evening of May 1, 2022, in the area of Plymouth Avenue NE and Leonard Street in Grand Rapids. Officers were called to a home for reports that a woman had been shot. The woman, later identified as Majewski, was taken to the hospital where she died. Her children were both at the home during the shooting. The children told police that Childrey was Majewskis boyfriend and had been living with them for several years. Both brothers heard the gunshot and came out of their respective rooms to see Majewski bleeding on her bed and Childrey standing with a gun, according to the children. They told police that Childrey ran after that, and they then called 911, reporting the shooting and identifying Childrey. Officers found Childrey near Service Drive and Ball Avenue wearing a blood-stained T-shirt and socks without shoes, leading investigators to believe he was in a hurry when he left. He was arrested and gave himself up. Man charged for weekend shooting death in Grand Rapids During his interview, Childrey told police that he and Majewski were in a relationship and that Majewski became strict, recording him and tracking his vehicle around town. He said he wanted to leave but had nowhere to go, according to court documents. On the night of the shooting, Childrey said the couple was having an argument where Majewski ultimately told Childrey to leave. They argued some more and Childrey said repeatedly that everything went black, court documents say. Police found a pistol at the scene that was registered to Childrey. The Grand Rapids Police Department has a record of multiple contacts with the couple where Majewski reported that Childrey physically assaulted her, according to court documents. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A Georgia man has been found guilty of robbing a Macon Truist Bank in 2023 while he was on supervised release. Back in 2023, 29-year-old Gabriel Bell of Macon entered the Truis Bank on Riverside Drive, demanding money while threatening to shoot employees, according to court documents. Gabriel Bell terrorized Truist employees when he entered the bank and demanded money while threatening to shoot them, said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. People should be safe to conduct their everyday business without fear or intimidation; sending Bell back to federal prison will further that goal. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] During the robbery, Bell was seen wearing a blue surgical mask and he had handed the teller a note that said PUT ALL BIG BILLS IN ENVELOPE (ROBBERY) Do anything stupid, and Ill shoot you! He was also seen on a surveillance camera grabbing a gun from his hip. Bell was eventually arrested after the Bibb County Sheriffs Office posted a picture of him, prompting his identification. TRENDING STORIES: Bell was on supervised release after he robbed a Huddle House in 2015. Additionally, he was found in possession of an illegal firearm by a felon in North Carolina in 2021. Bell faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A man is facing felony charges after police allegedly found hundreds of fentanyl pills, cocaine, and several firearms from a car they stopped for traffic violations. Aumhil Kennidy Stewart, 21, was arrested Thursday on two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a second-degree felony; purchase, transfer, possess, and use of a firearm by a restricted person, a third-degree felony; and possession of controlled substance marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor, the Salt Lake City Police Department said. Missing Utah mans bones found in Grand County desert On Thursday, March 14, a Salt Lake City police officer said he initiated a traffic stop on a car that stopped past a clearly marked stop line and into a crosswalk before making a wide right turn into an incorrect lane. The officer talked to the cars occupants and said that while he was issuing the citation, he was notified by different officers that there was marijuana on the passengers phone screen, the affidavit states. That officer said he was also informed that both people in the car admitted to smoking earlier in the day. The people in the car were reportedly asked to step out and officers said they saw suspected cocaine on the floor on the drivers side. Officers searched the vehicle and found a bag of hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, as well as a bag containing a significant amount of cocaine, a bag containing a green plant-like substance, and two firearms, the affidavit states. Officers said one of the firearms was a Hi-Point long gun and the other a Glock 45 handgun with a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber. The passenger, identified as Stewart, was also found in possession of a large sum of cash in multiple bundles in multiple denominations, the affidavit states. Officers interviewed Stewart, and he allegedly admitted the Glock 45 was his, but said he did not know about the Hi-Point, the affidavit states. Stewart also reportedly mentioned the narcotics were taken from a known drug house and that he was planning on turning them over to law enforcement the following day. Stewart told officers the narcotics did not belong to the driver and that he had placed them under the drivers seat when they left the house, the affidavit states. The officer said in the affidavit that the amount of narcotics and cash were consistent with amounts for distribution. Stewart was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the previously mentioned charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A Columbus man has been found not guilty in a fatal shooting at a motorcycle club in October of 2020. David Bullock, 36, was acquitted by a jury on Thursday of two murder charges and had felonious assault charges dropped. Bullock surrendered to police on Oct. 8, 2020, in connection with a shooting at the home of the Howling Wolves motorcycle club on the 1700 block of Parsons Avenue. Inmate charged in 1990 Cambridge cold case where man was burned to death According to police, the shooting resulted in the death of Andre Clayborn, 38, as well as two other people being wounded. Just before 2 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2020, Columbus police responded to a ShotSpotter alert at the Parsons Avenue location. At the scene, officers found Clayborn and the other victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said that several shots were fired into and outside of the home. According to the affidavit filed by police, witnesses said Bullock chased Clayborn through the inside of the home, with Bullock reportedly firing multiple gunshots at Clayborn as he tried to get away. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was found shot in Southwest D.C. in the early hours of Saturday. MPD said that at about 1:40 a.m. there was a report of a shooting on the Suitland Parkway southbound. Man killed in motorcycle crash in Prince Georges County Police arrived at the scene and found no victims. A while later, officers were flagged down in the 200 block of M Street by a man who had been shot. He was transported to the hospital. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Barnstable police are investigating a shooting that sent a man to hospital on Friday night. Officers received a call around 6:20 p.m. from a female on Winter Street in Hyannis reporting that an adult male had stumbled to her home and appeared to be suffering from several gunshot wounds. Upon arrival, police found that a 41-year-old man had been shot by another person directly known to him, a 26-year-old Hyannis resident of Winter St. The victim was transported to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was initially treated and then later transferred to a Boston medical facility. At this time the man is in stable condition. Upon further investigation, police arrested a 26-year-old male. He was charged with assault by dangerous weapon, assault to murder, assault and battery, and several other firearms-related charges. He was held on $100,000 cash bail at the Barnstable Police Department and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Barnstable District Court This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW AUSTIN (KXAN) The 390th District Court in Travis County sentenced a man to 10 years in prison in connection to a deadly shooting at a Waffle House that happened in November 2020. Jalen Highsmith entered his guilty plea and was sentenced Feb. 13, according to court documents. Waffle House shooting suspects caught in Tennessee, charged with capital murder Highsmith was one of two men involved in the shooting after they both attempted to rob a vehicle in the Waffle House parking lot, located at 8800 E. U.S. 290. According to police, the two pulled up next to a group of friends in two separate cars and demanded their belongings at gunpoint while they were both holding firearms. The group didnt resist, but one of the drivers tried to drive away, and one of the men fired into the vehicle, hitting Mario Robinson, 23. He died at the scene, according to police. Unique charm and charisma: Family of man shot dead at Austin Waffle House shares memories of him One of the men was later identified as Highsmith. He was originally charged with capital murder; however, court documents state his guilty plea was for aggravated robbery. If Highsmith serves his sentence in a county jail or is given credit toward fines and costs, he could receive up to 1,153 days of jail credit, according to court documents. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. HICKORY, N.C. (WGHP) An Arkansas man was sentenced to two decades in prison after a sting operation in North Carolina, according to the United States Attorneys Office. Court documents revealed that Cannon Earl Kress, 50, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, started a Kik group chat in 2022 where members posted child pornographic material and discussed their sexual interest in children. Missing Charlotte teen was victim of forced prostitution: Rowan County Sheriff An undercover investigator infiltrated the group chat and saved evidence of child pornographic material that was uploaded by Kress. The investigator also privately messaged Kress on Kik and Kress expressed interest in engaging in illicit sexual acts with a five-year-old, and agreed to meet the investigator in North Carolina for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. On Nov. 2, 2022, Kress came to Hickory and law enforcement was waiting at the pre-arranged location where they arrested him. His phone was seized and child pornographic material was discovered on the device. On Oct. 10, 2023, Kress pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. On Thursday, the court granted the U.S. Attorneys Office request and sentenced Kress to the maximum penalty of 20 years. He was also ordered to pay $18,000 in assessments and restitution. Kress will be subjected to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Tensions are escalating in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, following the resignation of Prime Minister Henry, with uncertainty looming over the country's leadership. The resignation has sparked unrest, with protests and roadblocks disrupting daily life. Residents are apprehensive about the future, calling for political stability and decisive action from leaders. "Ariel Henry resigned, but we are still facing political turmoil," expressed resident Claude Atilus, urging political figures to prioritize the nation's well-being. The streets tell a tale of distress, with scenes of unrest and economic hardship. Merchants like Jean-Phillipe Jean-Louis lament the dire situation, citing high prices, danger, and a lack of opportunities to support their families. Amidst this turmoil, concerns about hunger and malnutrition are growing. The UNICEF has raised alarms about skyrocketing hunger rates, particularly affecting vulnerable children in impoverished neighborhoods. Satellite images reveal disruptions in essential services, with the main cargo port closed due to security breaches, exacerbating the country's logistical challenges. In the face of escalating violence, the government's response remains uncertain. Prime Minister Henry's resignation, while abroad, has left a power vacuum, with no clear plan for succession. Efforts to establish a transition council have faltered, with disagreements among political factions hindering progress. In this volatile environment, gang activity adds to the instability, with clashes reported between police and criminal groups in the Delmas area. Gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier has issued threats against politicians involved in the transition process, signaling further challenges ahead. As Haiti grapples with leadership uncertainty and social unrest, the road to stability appears fraught with obstacles. The resignation of Prime Minister Henry may mark a turning point, but the path forward remains uncertain, leaving Haitians anxious about what lies ahead. Russian Nationals in Kerala Vote in Presidential Election US and French Forces Intercept Houthi Drones After WarShip Attack (FOX40.COM) The Elk Grove Police Department said it is looking for a suspect who allegedly set off two explosions in back-to-back days near Jones Park. Elk Grove PD said the suspect is a man whom surveillance cameras captured riding a bicycle into a residential area near Jones Park. On Tuesday around 7:30 p.m., police responded to an explosion that took place inside a bathroom at Jones Park. The next day, surveillance footage caught the suspect wearing a black hoodie and slowly approaching a trash can on his bicycle on Baneberry Court. The best son: Mother of teen who went missing in Calaveras River prays for his safe return The video shows him placing something into a trash can on the street before a loud explosion goes off, followed by the suspect quickly leaving the area. The video also captures the moment that the explosion sets off the alarm of a nearby car. Police said the explosion caused significant damage to the trash bin. The explosive device in both incidents has been identified as high-grade illegal commercial fireworks, and the suspect has been linked to the explosion at Jones Park the day prior, Elk Grove PD said on social media. The agency said detectives hope to identify the suspect responsible for these explosions and ask anyone with information to contact them at 916-627-8097. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man was stabbed to death at the Steel Bridge on Friday afternoon, Portland police announced. Officers responded to a stabbing report involving a pedestrian on the bridge around 1:15 p.m. and located a man with serious injuries. Officers applied tourniquets to help control bleeding until EMS arrived. The man was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Despite lifesaving measures, the man died at the hospital, police said. Officials say Tom McCall Waterfront Park is closed near the Steel Bridge as the investigation continues. 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. Data Scientist Dug Through 2.2M of Virginia's Sentencing Records to Determine if Income or Race was a Dominant Factor: Guess What he Uncovered?A A man is accusing an officer from a South Carolina-based jail of brutalizing him while in custody last year. The allegations made by Eldred Joe are included in a federal lawsuit filed on Tuesday, March 12. The complaint lists the Marlboro County Sheriffs Office and detention officer Morgan Ridges as defendants. It demands a jury trial and seeks punitive and compensatory damages. On May 3, 2023, Joe was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. It came following a report of a man pulling bushes from multiple businesses. He was homeless and not taking medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at the time of his arrest. According to the lawsuit, Joe was transported to Marlboro County Detention Center by Bennettsville Police and underwent the booking process. During this time, Joe became uncooperative and was put on his stomach while detention staff collected his property before placing him in a holding cell. Photo courtesy of TheInsider.ug After the police officers left the building, the filing alleges that Ridges started to beat Joe. At one point, according to the lawsuit, the officer was standing on his head, putting his right foot on top of him. Defendant Ridges additionally stomped and struck [Joe] in the head with his right foot,causing [Joes] head to strike the floor, the suit obtained by Atlanta Black Star said. Defendant Ridges then attempted to put a spit mask on [Joes] face but [Joes] head kept moving. Defendant Ridges responded by striking [Joe] in the face with a closed fist. The following day, two officers arrived at the jail to take Joe to McLeod Health, a mental health facility. They found him rocking and curled on the floor, shouting, Lord help me. The floor tiles inside the cell were broken or scattered, the lawsuit said. Upon arrival, and after his restraints were removed, doctors noticed that he had abrasions on his wrists, and his arm and hand were swollen due to the tight handcuffs. He had open cuts, specifically on his right wrist. Plaintiffs wrist wounds required antibiotic treatment and surgical intervention,which included debridement of necrotic tissue, the lawsuit noted. Plaintiff thereafter underwent complex closure of his traumatic wrist wounds, to include skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle fascia. Joe stayed in the hospital for nearly two weeks before he moved back to Lake County, Florida. The charges against him were cleared at the top of the year. His legal team includes national civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers. They have called on the sheriffs office to be transparent with the public and to release the video of the incident that left Joe injured. Stories like this where men and women are beaten, brutalized, dehumanized and even killed in jails across America, often by the officers pledged to guard and protect them, are all too common and thats just the ones we know about, Sellers said in a statement. Eldreds Joes only crime was that he was sick. Officer Ridges didnt beat him because he was violent or some kind of threat. He did it because he could and because he believed no one would care. According to WMBF, Ridges was terminated from his job and charged with misconduct in office and third-degree assault and battery. Man Sues Sheriffs Office, Alleges Jail Guard Stomped Him in the Head So Hard That the Floor Tiles Were Broken During Short Stay In South Carolina Cell NORTHERN TIER, Pa. (WETM) Maple producers in the Northern Tier are opening their doors for visitors this weekend. Maple Weekend is inviting maple lovers to visit 22 maple farms across Potter County and Tioga County, Pennsylvania, for the annual events 20th year. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, visitors can watch tree tapping, sugar boiling, and other maple-related activities. NYS highlights maple syrup industry during month of March The Potter/Tioga Maple Producers Association is encouraging people to visit multiple sugar shack because each maple product producer uses a unique process and offers a variety of products. According to the PTMPA, some farms use modern tubing and vacuum pump systems to harvest maple and others still hang buckets in trees. Each farm also has a specialty, and visitors on the maple trail can expect to find confections like maple cotton candy, cookies, milkshakes, jellies, barbeque sauces, salad dressings, and more. The PTMPAs map and list of participating locations with directions, hours, and contact information can be found below: maple_weekend_tri_fold_2024Download For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Marine Le Pen would win a majority in Frances parliament if National Assembly elections were held now, according to a secret poll commissioned by a rival conservative party. Her once-fringe National Rally would win up to 305 seats, landing her a majority for the first time, while Emmanuel Macrons party would be nearly halved, according to an Ipsos survey commissioned by the centre-Right Les Republicains. Mr Macron, who defeated Ms Le Pen in presidential elections in 2022, lost his parliamentary majority in National Assembly elections two months after winning his second term. National Rally went from eight seats to 89 in that vote. The new poll, which was meant to remain confidential, predicted Ms Le Pens hard-Right party could win between 243 and 305 seats if a vote was held tomorrow. Emmanuel Macron's centrist party could face heavy losses at the polls - snapshot/Future Image/B Elmenthaler/Shutterstock Mr Macrons centrists were predicted to take just 135 seats, almost half the 246 MPs it currently has. The hard-Left coalition would also lose support, taking an average of 68 seats compared to 131 two years ago. Les Republicains, once one of Frances two major establishment parties, would lose 10 seats, dropping to about 53 MPs. The party, led by Eric Ciotti, commissioned the poll to gauge the risks and rewards of voting to censure the government. This could lead to the dissolution of the French parliament and assembly elections, although Mr Macron would remain as president. We wanted to take the pulse of the country, a Republicain source told the LObs newspaper. The insider said that the poll showed an encouraging stabilisation for the once-dominant party, which has provided a string of presidents, and pointed to the collapse in support for the hard Left. But the polls also convinced the party leadership not to call early elections. Although a minority force, it could topple the government if it joined forces with National Rally and the Left. National Rally is predicted to trounce Mr Macrons centrists in the European Parliament elections in June, with polls showing it taking more than 30 per cent of the vote and being the biggest French party in the pan-EU vote. Ms Le Pen is reported to view the European elections as a springboard for her next tilt at the Elysee. Mr Macron must step down as president in 2027 and cannot run for a third term. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A sprawling manhunt continued on Saturday along Interstate 40 in New Mexico as authorities look for a Marion County man blamed for shooting a police officer who later died. Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said at Saturday afternoon news conference where officials offered more details into the circumstances around the roadside shooting of Officer Justin Hare. Smith, 32, is also a person of interest in the death of a Phonesia Machado-Fore, a Marion County paramedic whose body was discovered Friday in neighboring Dillon County. Smith, who Weisler said has ties to the Albuquerque area, was driving Machado-Fores white BMW when he shot Hare early Friday morning. Hare was sent to the scene near mile marker 312 around 5 a.m. for reports of a motorist with a flat tire. Weisler said Hare parked behind the disabled BMW and offered the suspect a ride into town. Then, without warning, the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare. The suspect then walked to the drivers side and shot Officer Hare again, and then he pushed Officer Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in Officer Hares patrol unit, which was abandoned a short time later, Weisler said. Weisler said Smith then put Hare in the passenger side of his patrol car and took off a high rate of speed along a frontage road. A distress beacon was activated at some point, sending other officers to his aid. Weisler said Smith crashed the patrol car about 14 miles away near mile marker 304. Hares body was found at mile marker 312. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later died from gunshot wounds at 7:12 a.m. on Friday. On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need. That person killed him in cold blood, an emotional Weisler said. Authorities said Smith has a long history of violence in South Carolina, including charges of: taking hostages and rioting in jail burglary breaking and entering armed robbery resisting arrest evading police officers auto theft shooting at or from a motor vehicle New Mexico Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Jason R. Bowie issued a warning for anyone trying to shelter Smith. To anyone who has information, we ask them to come forward and do the right thing, now is the time to do that. Because here on forth, for anyone who is found aiding or harboring Jeramy Smith, we will also charge them and prosecute them to the fullest extent, and you can be sure of that, he said. Bowie said New Mexico authorities have been in regular communication with South Carolina law enforcement. Jaremy Smith is just a violent person with a long criminal history that obviously has no regard for anyone he comes in contact with. We have victims in South Carolina and of course we have a victim in our very own state. Anyone with information on Smiths whereabouts is asked to call New Mexico State Police at (505) 425-6771. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. (NEXSTAR) Its tax season again, with Tax Day only about a month away. If you havent filed yet, you may want to double-check your filing status. Your filing status, which largely depends on your marital status, determines at what rate your income is taxed, the IRS explains. It can also influence how much you owe, the credits you can claim, your standard deduction, and whether youll get a refund. There are five filing statuses, of which you will usually select one: Single Married, filing jointly Married, filing separately Head of household Qualifying surviving spouse When you filed your first-ever taxes, you likely selected single. This applies to taxpayers who are unmarried, divorced, or legally separated. If youre unmarried and a qualifying dependent person lived with you through most of 2023, you likely qualify for head of household status. But, once you are married, your status changes and you and your spouse will have to decide: file jointly, or file separately? NC Dept. of Labor releases cause of Carowinds Fury 325 support beam crack It can seem simple. If youre married, youre married. If youre not, youre not. But it can also be very complicated and if you pick wrong, it can cost you money, Mark Steber, chief tax information officer for Jackson Hewitt Tax Services tells Nexstar. Those who mare married and file separately are doing just that filing their taxes separately from their spouse. Its not very common, though. According to Steber, about 3.9 million people did so in 2021. For comparison, thats roughly the population of Los Angeles, or about 2% of the total pool of taxpayers. The married couple filing separately status has very, very, very limited utilization, Steber says, adding that it doesnt offer a great deal of tax benefits and instead can be restrictive. Steber outlines two scenarios in which filing separately may, however, be beneficial. The first is because the status is the direct opposite of choosing to file jointly. On a joint return, your income, deductions, and tax liability are combined with your spouses. So if your spouse underpaid taxes in 2023, youre both technically on the hook for paying it back. That tax liability would continue, even if you divorce this year. By filing separately, yours is yours and your spouses is your spouses, Steber explains. If youre separated, thinking about being separated, youre getting a divorce but not quite divorced, then married filing separately keeps your stuff separate, he adds. Mooresville swimmer among female athletes suing NCAA over transgender competitors You may also consider filing separately despite being married if you or your spouse has a funky set of tax facts, like vastly different incomes or deductions that wouldnt apply to a joint return. There are other situations in which you may benefit from filing separately from your spouse. TurboTax points to student loan payments, explaining that if your repayment plan is determined based on the income on your tax return, filing on your own can keep your payments more manageable. By filing separately, you may miss out on certain tax credits you would get while filing jointly, like the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Dependent Care Credit. You may also find yourself ineligible for the standard deduction. The standard deduction, which reduces the amount of income on which youre taxed, increased across the board in 2022 (for the 2023 tax year). For married couples filing jointly, its $27,700. For those filing separately, its only $13,850. While those deductions do add up (13,850 is half of 27,700), if your spouse itemizes their deductions, you are no longer entitled to the standard deduction, the IRS explains. There are also some states known as community property states, which may also encourage you to file jointly. In these states Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin spouses who decide to file their own returns must report half of the combined community income [income, salaries, payments, real estate] and deductionson their federal return, H&R Block explains. Because you have to account for those combined community incomes, filing separately in these states can be more complicated, Steber explains. Matthews Police officer honored for saving unconscious woman from burning car Ultimately, youre allowed to select whichever filing status fits you and will result in the lowest taxes. If youre married, youre most likely best off filing jointly. If you got married at any point in 2023, even at 11:30 p.m. on New Years Eve, you can file as married on your taxes. If you werent officially married until New Years Day, or have gotten married in 2024, youll have to wait until 2025 to file jointly (or separately). Regardless of your filing status, if youre uncertain about your taxes, Steber recommends seeking out a tax pro. You can also use this interactive tool from the IRS to determine your filing status. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The leader of the Massachusetts Republican Party said lawmakers should revisit and amend the right to shelter laws for housing migrants. Cory Alvarez, 26, was arrested Thursday by Rockland, Mass., authorities and has pleaded not guilty to a single count of aggravated rape of a child. He has been ordered held without bail, the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said Friday. Alvarez's accuser said he sexually assaulted her at a Comfort Inn that is part of a state and federal program to house migrants. He lived at the hotel, prosecutors said. Massachusetts, like other states, has received an influx of migrants from the southern border, which has strained services and housing resources. MAYORKAS CALLS POLICY TO LET 30K MIGRANTS FLY IN EACH MONTH A KEY ELEMENT OF BORDER PLAN AFTER LEGAL WIN Cory B. Alvarez allegedly raped a teenage girl at a motel he lived at, which housed migrants. Alvarez entered the United States lawfully in 2023 in New York City and is being held without bail. MassGOP Chairwoman Amy Carnevale said the arrest of Alvarez exemplifies the state's struggle with how to manage the migrant crisis. "It is imperative to discern between appropriate and inappropriate methods of addressing this endeavor, she said in a Thursday statement. "The recent incident exemplifies our states struggle to effectively manage the migrant crisis, and the influx of additional migrants may exacerbate the likelihood of such distressing occurrences. There is a pressing need to revisit and amend the legislation pertaining to the right to shelter." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital has reached out to the Massachusetts Republican Party. State Rep. David DeCoste, a Republican who represents the Rockland area, said he was troubled by the alleged rape incident. "As it illuminates the genuine public safety ramifications for both residents and migrants themselves, stemming from the enduring migrant crisis," he said. "I am absolutely appalled by the incident that took place in Rockland. Above all, my heartfelt sympathies extend to the young girl who has reportedly been subjected to abuse. The Commonwealth has failed this young girl." DHS WARNS HAITIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING BY BOAT FACE IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION Alvarez lawfully entered the United States on June 26, 2023 through New York City, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Fox News. He entered the U.S. via the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) parole processes, Department of Homeland Security sources told Fox News. The policy was initially announced for Venezuelans in October 2022, which allowed a limited number to fly directly into the U.S. as long as they had not entered illegally, had a sponsor in the U.S. already and passed certain checks. In January 2023, the Biden administration announced that the program was expanding to include Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans and that the program would allow up to 30,000 people per month into the U.S. On Friday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, called the alleged rape a "terrible incident." "Its a horrible situation. Its a horrible allegation. My thoughts are with the victim and her family," she said. This undated image shows Cory Alvarez, charged with aggravated rape of a child. When asked by Boston 25 if the vetting process was adequate, Healey said: "I think we have the right systems in place." DeCoste disagreed. "This is tragic and unfortunately not uncommon," he told the news outlet. "And to be able to say honestly that you are truly vetting anyone I think is dishonest." ICE has lodged a detainer request for Alvarez with Plymouth County authorities. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 22. Original article source: Massachusetts GOP leader says right to shelter law should be revisited after arrest of migrant accused of rape Massachusetts Authorities Investigate 'Slave Auction' on Social Media That Targeted Black Students: 'It Was $2 to $4 a Bid'v Authorities in Massachusetts have charged six middle school students for allegedly posting and facilitating a mock 'slave auction' last month that targeted their Black peers. That mock auction happened between Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 on Snapchat and was created by a group of white eighth-grade students in the New England mill town of Southwick, located more than 100 miles southwest of Boston. Authorities are investigating an explosive episode of racial bullying connected with a school in Southwick, Massachusetts, after white students allegedly hosted a "slave auction" on social media in which bids were placed on Black classmates. (Photo: Google reviews) Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said he learned about the cyberbullying incident some days after it took place and called in state detectives to investigate. On Thursday, Gulluni's office announced charges against the six teens who took part in promoting the auction, calling their behavior "vile, cruel, and contemptible" and adding that the auction was started in a "hateful, racist online chat that included heinous language" and "threats." "The investigation revealed that several students expressed hateful and racist comments, including notions of violence toward people of color, racial slurs, derogatory pictures and videos, and a mock slave auction directed at two particular juveniles," Gulluni said in a statement. All six teens were charged with threat to commit a crime. Two of them face an additional charge of interference with civil rights and one was also charged with witness interference. One mother told local news outlets that her daughter was a target in the auction, and the kids who participated in the chat placed "$2 to $4 a bid." School administrators formally suspended several teens involved in the auction. Two students were suspended for 25 days, and one student for 45 days. In light of the incident, Gulluni stated that county and state officials have enacted steps to hopefully "prevent future harm, encourage empathy, and build stronger communities free of hate." Gulluni spoke with the state attorney general, Andrea Campbell, and others in her office to create a program focused on addressing and remediating bigotry, racism, and bullying in schools. The Hampden District Attorney's office also plans to enlist the help of a state police program called HART, also known as the Hate-crimes Awareness and Response Team, to jointly instruct police departments and school personnel across western Massachusetts on best practices regarding hate crimes and bullying within schools. Gulluni's office will also deliver a curriculum on hate and bullying to the Southwick school community. Hatred and racism have no place in this community. And where this behavior becomes criminal, I will ensure that we act, and act with swift resolve, as we did here, to uncover it and bring it to the light of justice," Gulluni said. Massachusetts Teens Charged for Allegedly Posting Hateful, Racist Online Slave Auction That Targeted Black Middle School Students As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, the oil and gas industry is gearing up to make its case to voters. The American Petroleum Institute (API) just launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to promote expanded oil and gas development and to take on the Biden administration's climate policies. API represents nearly 600 corporations involved in production, refinement, distribution, and many other aspects of the petroleum industry, What's happening? API's new Lights On Energy campaign, which the group's CEO Mike Sommers told Fox Business will be "an eight-figure" national TV and digital ad blitz, portrays the oil and gas industry as vital to the economy and key to reducing greenhouse gas pollution. The messaging focuses heavily on natural gas as a less-polluting alternative to coal for electricity generation. "One of the biggest things that we can do for the environment is to send more U.S. [liquefied natural gas] overseas to displace coal, and to help cut global greenhouse gas emissions," Sommers said at API's annual State of American Energy event. "Americans are going to go to the polls, and energy is on the ballot. Jobs are on the ballot; American security is on the ballot; manufacturing is on the ballot. They all depend in some way on energy." However, the campaign glosses over the climate risks of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure. It also criticizes President Biden's policies as too restrictive on carbon and methane pollution, while notably not challenging the need to address air pollution directly. Why is the API's campaign concerning? Many environmental experts see API's campaign as simply repackaging the group's long-term strategy of delaying meaningful climate action. "The agenda now is no longer denial, but delay," climate scientist Michael Mann told Inside Climate News. "Anything they can do to delay meaningful decarbonization of our energy infrastructure." While supporting "cutting emissions" in the abstract, Mann says that API opposes most tangible policies to accomplish those reductions, like restricting drilling on public lands or reevaluating permits for new liquified natural gas export terminals. Experts argue that a rapid transition away from natural gas is essential to limit carbon pollution to relatively safe levels. The U.S. and other top carbon-producing nations are already on track to extract far more oil and gas than is compatible with the Paris Agreement's targets. What can I do to help? As API floods airwaves and social media feeds with natural gas-friendly messaging, we can respond by elevating the facts: Rapidly phasing out carbon pollution is crucial to preventing increasingly dangerous climate impacts. Half-measures won't cut it. Clean energy technologies like wind, solar, and electric vehicles are readily available, increasingly affordable alternatives to oil and gas. Energy efficiency and conservation are also key climate solutions that save money. Consider having an energy audit done on your home to identify opportunities. Most importantly, make your voice heard. Let your elected officials know that you want to see them supporting a swift, just transition to an economy powered by clean energy. Together, we can build a safer, more sustainable future for ourselves and the planet. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) After several years, the murder trial for Matt Frank Hoover the man accused of killing Officer Joseph Shinners has come to a conclusion with Hoover being found guilty on all four counts by a jury. Hoover was convicted on Friday, March 15, of aggravated murder, failure to respond to an officers signal to stop, possession or use of a controlled substance and possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person. RELATED: Utah police departments remember officers killed in line of duty on Jan. 5 The verdict comes after Hoovers defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the murder case at the end of February due to complications with a confidential informant. The motion to dismiss was denied and the court moved forward with the trial. Court documents say police conducted an investigation into Hoover starting in 2018 using, in part, two confidential informants. Police say they learned Hoover sold methamphetamine and used the information from the informants to track him down to a location in Orem. When police attempted to arrest Hoover, he rammed into a police vehicle and crashed into a building in an attempt to evade arrest. After the crash, Officer Shinners entered Hoovers truck to help another officer restrain him when Hoover fired his gun. Officer Shinners was shot and returned fire. Shinners later died from his injuries and Hoover was treated and taken into custody. According to the Utah Law Enforcement Memorial, Shinners was a husband and father of two boys. He was 29 years old when he was killed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. AUSTIN (KXAN) Someone new will have to take the reins at the Republican Party of Texas after its current chairman announced Friday hell step down from the post. Matt Rinaldi put out a statement on X sharing that he will not seek another term as chairman of the state party. The former state representative from Irving became the partys leader in July 2021 after Allen West resigned as chairman and unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Greg Abbott in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2022. I will be forever grateful for the honor of serving the millions of Texas Republicans working to preserve a society that values faith, family, and liberty, Rinaldi said. Together, we have made the Republican Party of Texas and its millions of grassroots members more than just a cheerleading section for anyone with an R next to their name. Regarding his future plans, Rinaldi wrote in his letter that he would like to focus on spending more time with his wife and six-year-old son. He also said his successor will be chosen at the upcoming Republican State Convention, which will begin on May 23 in San Antonio. Rinaldi announced Friday afternoon hes endorsing Abraham George to succeed him. George, who unsuccessfully challenged Texas Rep. Candy Noble in the GOP primary earlier this month, previously served as the Collin County GOP chair. I have a proven track record of raising funds and organizing the grassroots behind a unified message and agenda. Lets get to work, George wrote on X. Rinaldi said of George, He has a proven track record of fundraising and leadership as Collin County GOP Chair and will keep our state party one that wins elections, serves grassroots Republicans first, and leads on policy. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also shared his preference in the race, posting on X that hes backing George to become the next chairman. Another candidate for the party chairman is Dr. Dana Myers, whos a medical business consultant in Houston for a health law firm. She said in January she planned to challenge Rinaldi. She currently serves as the state partys vice chair. Her campaign website for the chairman position said, Dr. Dana Myers is running to be your next Republican Party of Texas Chair to strengthen our party, to unite in purpose the statewide grassroots and Republican organizations, and to build a lasting statewide infrastructure while growing membership. In a post on X at the end of January, Myers criticized Rinaldi for not endorsing former President Donald Trump sooner. Whats truly disappointing is Matts focus on party division & willingness to ignore the grassroots, she wrote on X. Its time for a change! The Texas Tribune previously reported Myers had also been critical of the partys ties to Defend Texas Liberty PAC, an embattled hard-right group thats been tied to white supremacists. Gilberto Hinojosa, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party, shared a statement Friday evening about Rinaldi stepping down. Matt Rinaldis legacy reflects the devolution of the Republican Party of Texas plunging the party into the depths of MAGA extremism with no room for moderation or compromise, Hinojosa wrote. Throughout his term, Rinaldi deepened ties with Nazi sympathizers, supported expelled Rep. Bryan Slaton, and championed Ken Paxtons crimes all while leading the charge to defund public education, curtail voting rights, and restrict reproductive healthcare decisions for Texans. Now, Matt Rinaldi can cozy up to Farris Wilks and Nick Fuentes without facing public scrutiny. We say to Matt Rinaldi: Good riddance. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. McDonalds stores in parts of the world had to suspend operations or online orders Friday due to what the company called a technology outage. Locations in Japan, China and Australia temporarily halted use of their in-store kiosks, while others reported McDonalds app blackouts. This caused some locations to shut down their drive-thrus and others to temporarily cease operations. We are aware of a technology outage, which impacted our restaurants; the issue is now being resolved, a McDonalds representative tells TODAY.com. We thank customers for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Notably, this issue was not directly caused by a cybersecurity event, Brian Rice, EVP, global chief information officer at McDonalds, said in a separate statement posted on its website, rather, it was caused by a third-party provider during a configuration change. On March 15, McDonalds Australia posted on X that earlier in the day it had experienced an outage which impacted all of its restaurants, but that by late evening, most of its restaurants had reopened. Throughout the day, people in Australia reported closed drive-thru lanes and nonfunctioning kiosks and apps. McDonalds Japan also posted on X that there was a system failure in the country, apologizing for any inconvenience and asking people to please wait for a while until the service is restored. McDonalds Japan later said that many stores across the country had temporarily suspended operations. The South China Morning Post also reported that the mobile app and self-order kiosks of McDonalds restaurants in Hong Kong also broke down. According to the SCMP, McDonalds said on its Chinese-language Facebook page that due to a computer system failure, its mobile and self-ordering kiosks were not working, asking its customers to order directly at restaurant counters. Later that day, the company said the problem was fixed. Other places that saw similar outages included the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Singapore, where a reporter from Channel News Asia said that McDonalds locations they visited were not operating, with self-service kiosks showing black screens. This article was originally published on TODAY.com McDonalds held a ribbon-cutting on Friday at its new store on the corner of Bear Valley Road and Second Avenue. The new restaurant will host a community celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. McDonalds owner/operator Marisol Sanchez will host a community celebration at her new store located across from Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville. The community celebration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, at the restaurant on the corner of Bear Valley Road and Second Avenue. We are thrilled to host a day of celebration to welcome everyone into our new McDonalds restaurant, Sanchez said. With a full crew of 70 new restaurant team members, we look forward to getting to know our fellow neighbors and creating a space for locals and travelers to connect over quality food. The community event comes after a Friday afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Ronald McDonald, Victorville Mayor Liz Becerra, the Academy for Academic Excellence ROTC Space Force Color Guard, and the Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce. During the ceremony, Sanchez presented donations to the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House and the Lewis Center Foundation. McDonalds is currently celebrating the surprising statistic that one in eight Americans have worked at a McDonalds restaurant, company officials said. On Friday, McDonalds employee Laura Alcocer and Academy of Academic Excellence Principal Chet Richards were recognized as official members of the 1 in 8 club and surprised with a limited-edition McDonalds varsity letterman jacket. To learn more about the initiative, visit mcdonalds1in8.com. Marisol Sanchez Sanchez is a second-generation McDonalds owner/operator, opening her first restaurant in 2006. Sanchezs restaurants have donated more than 15,000 meals to local non-profit organizations like the Food Bank of Southern California through McDonalds Food Donation Program. Since 2022, Sanchez has served on the Lewis Center for Educational Research Board of Directors, supporting the non-profit mission of providing a bright future for local students. Opened in December The new McDonalds was the first business to open in the Victor Valley Connection development located on Bear Valley Road between Second and Third avenues. The drive-thru was opened on Dec. 28, and the lobby was opened to the public soon after, Assistant Manager Julia Vega said. Vega added that the store is very drive-thru, curbside pickup and McDelivery friendly. Inside, the new McDonalds includes McDelivery and Pick Up windows, two self-service kiosks, and a dining room with a maximum occupancy of 49. Outside, the restaurant offers several parking spots dedicated to curbside pick-up orders and courier parking. The drive-thru has one pay and two pick-up windows. Entrances to McDonald's are located on Bear Valley Road and Second Avenue across from the hospital. The newMcDonalds is located at 16670 Bear Valley Road in Victorville. Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: New McDonald's in Victorville celebrates grand opening At least 15 criminal cases on alleged "obstruction of the electoral comissions' work" were been opened on the first day of the Russian presidential election, Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on March 15, citing regional investigation committees. Russia began three days of voting on March 15 in a theatrical "presidential election" that is expected to grant Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, six more years in office. Moscow is also organizing voting in occupied Crimea and parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in violation of international law. Some locals tried to start fires using Molotov cocktails at polling stations or attempted to pour paint, iodine, and ink into the ballot boxes, according to Novaya Gazeta Europe. Criminal cases for alleged arson attempts were opened in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Voronezh, Ivanov, and Kogalym, while cases of ballots' spoiling were recorded in several cities, including occupied Simferopol in annexed Crimea. Citizens accused of "obstruction of the electoral comissions' work" can be sentenced to five years of imprisonment. The State Duma, the lower chamber of Russia's parliament, is also considering tightening punishment for this violation, increasing the term of imprisonment to eight years, Russian state news agency TASS reported on March 16. Over 200 ballots were spoiled as of March 16, the Russian Central Election Commission reported. Despite the ballot boxes being poured with coloring substances, local election commissions will not cancel the results, Russian media outlet Verstka said. The spoiled ballots will be annulled, and others that allow the vote being recorded will be counted, according to Verstka, citing its sources from local electoral commissions. Ukrainian resistance movements earlier orchestrated an explosion near a polling station in occupied Skadovsk, Kherson Oblast, according to Kyiv's National Resistance Center. Skadovsk, a city with a pre-war population of 17,000, lies at the Black Sea shores of Kherson Oblast. It has been occupied by Russia since March 2022. Moscow held sham "regional elections" in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in September last year in an attempt to consolidate its control over these regions. 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. Photo illustration by Getty Images. More than 120,000 Montanans lost their Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids health care coverage in the past few months. Shockingly, 70 percent of those terminations were due to administrative reasons: failures on the part of the Gianforte administration. The administrations poorly thought-out, under-staffed Medicaid redetermination process has hurt thousands of Montanans, especially our elders and children. During the pandemic, in the interest of keeping as many people insured as possible, the federal government suspended the requirement to check individuals eligibility for Medicaid. Now that the emergency is over, states are again required to check the eligibility of people on Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids, a process called Medicaid redetermination. Sadly, Montana has one of the worst records in the country for cutting coverage for likely qualified people during the redetermination process. Advocates and elected officials begged the Gianforte administration to slow down on the redetermination process. The administration ignored these warnings and spurned tools and support available to the state from the federal Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. As a result, thousands of qualified Montanans lost their health care coverage for no good reason. Due to this catastrophe, 18 Montana nursing homes and assisted living facilities reported through the Montana Healthcare Association that: 154 nursing home residents have been cut off from Medicaid and are in the arduous process of reapplying. Staff trying to help residents reapply wait on hold for an average of 3-6 hours. It takes months to get a caseworker assigned to a Medicaid application. Delayed payments to these 18 facilities because of redeterminations and pending applications total $2.3 million. Similar stories are coming from group homes and agencies that provide services for adults with developmental disabilities, and from substance abuse residential treatment facilities. Most older adults in Medicaid beds have worked their entire lives, contributed to their communities, and raised their families here in Montana. They have already exhausted their lifes savings and assets paying for care. They are unable to navigate the administrative maze required to keep their Medicaid health care coverage. Some of them are veterans. Adding insult to injury, when caregivers or loved ones who are providing care for these folks try to help get them reinstated on their insurance, they are met with bureaucratic roadblocks. After helping residents track down their most recent Social Security statement or last six months of bank statements, some caregivers find out that because they didnt schedule an appointment, the resident has already been denied coverage. Senior long-term caregiving facilities were already reeling from dramatic, persistent shortfalls in state reimbursement rates that eroded their staffing, their capacity and their reserves. Montana lost more than 10 percent of its nursing homes in 2022. The loss of insurance for clearly qualified patients in nursing home beds is now costing these same care providers millions of dollars at a time when they have no cushion left. The states heedless push to block qualified individuals from retaining their insurance could trigger even more closures in assisted living and skilled nursing home care. This will affect not just Medicaid patients, but others who need skilled nursing facility care to recover from an injury or surgery. The effects on elderly Montanans are just one example of how this process has harmed our people and our economy. What happens to children who cant get immunizations and well-child appointments? Or parents who face medical debt for the care they and their children need? How about people who have lost their mental health counselors and access to needed medications? Montana already has a crisis in mental health care. This will surely make matters worse. Along with the human cost is the major cost to our economy. Three-quarters of the funding for Medicaid is provided by the federal government. Due to this loss of eligibility, Montana stands to lose millions of federal health care dollars that support our rural hospitals, local pharmacies, nursing homes and treatment centers. If these places are forced to close or cut services, it will affect thousands of Montanans. Gov. Greg Gianforte ignored many warnings and proceeded with a botched Medicaid redetermination process that has hurt untold numbers of Montanans, especially our elders and children. Governor, you are the only one who can step forward and fix this disaster. Please do so. Terry Minow is chair of Big Sky 55+, a group that engages Montanans 55 and older to advocate for forward thinking policies such as health care and economic security for all. She is a fourth generation Montanan who ranches in the Boulder Valley south of Helena. The post Medicaid unwinding hits older Montanans hard appeared first on Daily Montanan. The commission currently helps those detained under the island's mental health act A scrutiny board has called for its remit to be widened to better help those detained under the Isle of Man's mental health laws. The Mental Health Commission reviews, adjudicates, and makes recommendations about complaints regarding Manx Care. Members of the group gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee this week. Lay member Ian Buxton said there were elements of the Mental Health Act 1998 that needed "updating... specifically with regard to deprivation of liberty". He said: "We only have responsibility for patients that are detained under the Manx Mental Health Act." This prohibited the committee from full scrutiny of patients travelling off-island for needs which could not be treated locally, he added. 'Investment in mental healthcare' Mr Buxton outlined the commission's duties, which was to oversee what happened in hospital. It was "primarily to keep patients safe, to make sure that the Mental Health Act is applied appropriately, that drugs, if prescribed, are given safely, if people are detained that they're detained fairly and safely with right to review", he said. However, he said there were a number of areas where the commission was restricted, adding: "We have no mental nursing homes on the Isle of Man but we do have patients that have been in mental health care and are discharged to a nursing home". Currently the commission had "no right to review that care", he said. The commission would like to see the service "expanded" to help those with needs currently untreated on the island, he said, adding there had been "signals from the community that mental health has become more of a challenge". Therefore "we may want to see a greater investment in mental health care in the future". While there were "some changes" under way that would effect the "size and scope" of the committee's remit, Mr Buxton said there would be a "lack of scrutiny" until the "framework of law is changed". Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk More like this Related internet links MERIWETHER COUNTY, Ga. (WRBL) The Meriwether County Sheriffs Office is searching for a 19-year-old suspect wanted for murder following a homicide investigation after a man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest. MCSO says on Wednesday around 5:40 p.m., deputies responded to a report about a being shot on College Street in Luthersville, Georgia. After arriving on the scene, deputies found the victim, 19-year-old Bryant Elder in a storage shed located behind a residence with a gunshot wound. Upon finding Elder, deputies immediately performed CPR on Elder until Meriwether County EMS arrived and determined the victim deceased. MCSO says law enforcement was able to identify the shooter as Omar Maurice Rosser Jr. through eyewitness accounts and learned that he left the scene in the victims white Mazda vehicle. The MCSO narcotics team later located Elders vehicle abandoned near Zion Hill in Meriwether County, which MCSO says is near the crime scene. Witnesses on the scene where the abandoned vehicle was found reported that the suspect got into a white Honda and left the Zion Hill area. MCSO investigators later obtained arrest warrants for Rosser Jr. charging him with murder and believe he is still in the Meriwether County area. MSCO describes Rosser Jr. as a male standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing around 145 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. FREMONT State Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova, is running for Congress in the 9th Congressional District. The three candidates running in the primary were each been asked to present what they consider the three most important issues in this campaign. Merrin is term-limited in the state legislature, where is serving in his fourth term. He was also the mayor of Waterville for four years. He lives in Monclova Township and is a graduate of the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University. In the 9th Congressional District of Ohio, State Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova, is one of three Republican candidates in the 2024 primary. Im a constitutional conservative. I believe that the constitution has laid the foundation for our country to be successful and we need to get back to following the constitution as federal lawmakers, Merrin said. The three most important issues right now are illegal immigration at our southern border. I support sending our military down there immediately to stop illegal immigration and I want to finish Trumps wall and I want to cut off all welfare benefits and financial incentives to illegal immigrants. Merrin said he wants to reign in the growth of government. Its a topic he has been working toward in state government. Second is the fiscal irresponsibility of our federal government. We are more than $34 trillion in debt and we are seeing the devaluation of the U.S. dollar. I want to support a constitutional amendment to force lawmakers to balance the budget. He is supportive enough that he said he has signed a pledge in opposition to raising federal taxes. The third issue is that we have to take on the political class, thats Republicans and Democrats. And I support a constitutional amendment to force term limits on members of Congress, because we have too many people who care more about their own pocketbooks, their careers, their titles than they do in solving or doing what is best for the American people, Merrin said. He points out his past support of such issues includes what he calls spearheading over 20 law changes in the state legislature. Ive been very productive and been very successful in passing bills in the state legislature. He also references his leadership in lowering the state income tax. On the 2nd Amendment, he helped lead the passage of Constitutional Carry, as a co-sponsor to the amendment, which he defined as allowing people to carry and possess handguns without a permit. He is a past chair of the Ways and Means Committee and previous chair of the House Health Committee. We worked hard to lower costs for health care. Thats another thing, running for Congress, we really need to work on lowering prescription drug costs. People are able to buy prescription drugs for a lot less money in other countries. We really need to help our seniors out by lowering those costs, He says that he is a proponent of price transparency in health care. A bill he co-sponsored would have enforced federal regulations to force hospitals to display prices. He said half the hospitals in Ohio are not in compliance. It would allow patients to shop around. He wants to also expand medical schools, in order to increase the number of doctors. He would accomplish that by tying schools state subsidies to school expansion. There are many people who want to become physicians who arent allowed to, Merrin said. He said they have the grades, but with a limited number of openings in the schools and residencies, otherwise qualified individuals cant get in. Merrin lost a heated battle for the speakership of the House. The right way to describe me is I am the leader of the Ohio House Republicans. I lost the speakership because all the Democrats teamed up with the RINO Republicans to deny the conservative control of the House, Merrin said. What some have called the "Gang of 22" Republicans worked with the 32 Democrats in the House to elect Speaker Jason Stephens in November 2022. This was despite Republicans, as a group, deciding on Merrin as speaker. Most recently, Merrin held a campaign event at the Live Edge Center in Fremont during the first week of March. Merrin is running in the Republican Primary against former State Rep. Craig Riedel and Steve Lankenau. J.R. Majewski recently dropped out of the race, but in doing that less than 40 days before the election, his name is still on the ballot. According to the Sandusky County Board of Elections, he could affect the outcome of the election, because a vote for Majewski is like not voting in that race. Incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur is running unopposed in the primary as a Democrat. rlapointe@gannett.com 419-332-2674 This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ohio's Derek Merrin running for US House in 9th Congressional District HELLS KITCHEN, Manhattan (PIX11) Over 30 pounds of methamphetamine and eight pounds of cocaine were seized from a luxury apartment in Manhattan on Tuesday, according to prosecutors. Members of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force were preparing to search an apartment at 550 West 54th St. in Hells Kitchen when a man, identified as 29-year-old Jovanny Salas, was seen leaving the apartment, officials said. Authorities stopped Salas in the buildings lobby, where they discovered he had a key to the apartment and an ID belonging to 34-year-old Sergio Betancourt Peralta, according to officials. Man shot to death in the head outside Brooklyn night club: NYPD Agents and officers then searched the apartment, where they seized the meth and cocaine, officials said. The drugs were worth $1.1 million, according to officials. Authorities also found $27,880 in cash, Betancourt Peraltas Mexican passport and an expired visa and Salas Mexican voter registration, Colorado driving license and U.S. passport, officials said. The two men face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance. They were arraigned in court on Wednesday, according to officials. 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. In this article, we will be analyzing the population dynamics in the US and the 15 US cities where the population decreased the most. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most. Population Dynamics in the US The United States ranks among the most populous countries worldwide. As reported by the US Census Bureau, the countrys population is 336,167,022, as of March 14. Region-wise, the South accounted for 38.9% of the population growth in 2023. Population growths of 23.6% for the West, 20.6% for the Midwest, and 17% for the Northeast were reported in 2023. Some of the most populous US states include California, Texas, Florida, and New York. You can also take a look at the most densely populated cities in the US. 2022 showed the first signs of US recovery from the global pandemic in terms of population growth. This was when the US population was reported to have increased by 0.4%. The primary driver of this growth was the net international migration which added 1,010,923 people to the national population. Future prediction represents a slow-paced population growth for the country over the coming years. On November 9, 2023, the US Census Bureau reported that the US population has been forecasted to approach almost 370 million in 2080 before moving downward to 366 million in 2100. It has been projected that immigration will be the largest contributing factor to the US population growth. Simultaneously, a natural decrease in the countrys population will be supported by declining fertility rates and an aging population. The reduced fertility rates will also impact the nations age structure, leading to more adults aged 65 and above as compared to children under the age of 18. Declining Populations: Past Trends and Future Projections One year into the pandemic, the US Census Bureau reported that some of the fastest-growing US cities during the pre-pandemic period, witnessed slower growth rates after the pandemic. Population growth especially slowed in the cities of Leander in Texas and Meridian in Idaho. Story continues With respect to the fastest declining cities, San Fransisco ranked at the top in 2021 when it was not even a part of the list in 2019. Even for the city of Cupertino which had been a declining city in both 2019 and 2021, the drop in its population growth was almost triple. Overall, six of the top fifteen declining cities were based in California. The largest numeric decrease in population was recorded in New York City, San Fransisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles. A recent study reveals that almost half of the 30,000 US cities will be subject to depopulation by 2100. This study initially began as a project commissioned by the Illinois Department of Transportation to carry out an analysis of the challenges in transportation that could arise from population changes in Illinois. However, a deeper analysis showed that the biggest population losses will be taking place in the Northeast and Midwest of the country as the population moves to the South and West. States such as Texas and Utah where the population tends to be growing as of now, will be seeing a fair share of their cities undergoing depopulation in the future. The population will also be declining in the cities situated in Illinois, Mississippi, Kansas, New Hampshire, and Michigan. Overall, some sort of depopulation has been forecasted for all US states except for the District of Columbia and Hawaii. Business in the Depopulating State of California California is home to a majority of cities where the population has decreased the most in recent years. It is an important US state in terms of business as well. The state boasts a robust technology sector. Some of the dominant technology firms in California include Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL ), HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ ), and NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA). Lets take a look at what these firms have been up to. Some of the biggest California companies and stocks have also been previously discussed. The tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is headquartered in Cupertino, California. Recently, the company made a development in the laptop space and launched a new and more powerful MacBook Air. On March 4, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced that the new 13- and 15inch MacBook Air will be available beginning March 8. Using the powerful M3 chip, the MacBook Air tends to be up to 60% faster than the model having an M1 chip. It also ranks as the worlds best consumer laptop for AI while allowing up to 18 hours of battery life. Based on the improved performance and features, the 13-inch model serves as the bestselling laptop globally while the 15-inch model is the bestselling 15-inch laptop around the world. The Palo Alto-based HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) offers more than 100 AI-enabled solutions under its artificial intelligence portfolio. On March 7, the company unveiled the industrys largest portfolio of AI PCs. This includes HP Elite PCs which serve as the leading business laptops for collaboration in the world, and Z by HP mobile workstations. HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) has also announced program enhancements for channel partners under which they will now be capable of accessing the first role-based AI partner training and certification program. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is another California-based technology company that is enabling the penetration of generative AI, an emerging tech trend. On March 7, the company reported the introduction of a new professional certification in generative AI. Developers and professionals can polish their proficiency in AI through this professional certification program from NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) which encompasses two associate-level generative AI certifications. The certification will focus on large language models and multimodal workflow skills. You can also take a look at the fastest-growing technology companies in the US. Now that we have navigated through the population dynamics in the US, depopulating cities and their business potential, we can move to the 15 US cities where populations decreased the most. 15 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most 15 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most Our Methodology: In order to compile a list of the 15 US cities where populations decreased the most, we sourced data from the US Census Bureau. For our rankings, we focused on cities that recorded the most recent population declines. Hence, we acquired the city-wise population estimates for 2020 and 2022. Comparing both populations, we found the percentage change in city populations from 2020 to 2022. Finally, we ranked the cities with the highest declines in population from 2020 to 2022, in ascending order of their population declines. 15 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most 15. Berkeley, California Population (2020): 124,324 Population (2022): 118,950 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.3% Berkeley is located on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. The population in the city recorded a decline of 4.3%, from 124,324 in 2020 to 118,950 in 2022. Hence, Berkeley ranks among the 15 US cities where populations decreased the most. 14. Sandy, Utah Population (2020): 97,253 Population (2022): 93,022 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.4% The population has also been declining in Sandy. It is situated in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area in Utah. As reported by the US Census Bureau, the population of Sandy declined from 97,253 in 2020 to 93,022 in 2022. 13. Union City, California Population (2020): 70,140 Population (2022): 67,039 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.4% Californias Alameda County hosts the Union City which has recorded a recent decrease in its population. The citys population went down by 4.4%, from 70,140 in 2020 to 67,039 in 2022. 12. San Mateo, California Population (2020): 105,665 Population (2022): 100,984 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.4% San Mateo ranks as one of the US cities where populations decreased the most. The city is based in San Mateo County, California. The city recorded a 4.4% decrease in its population between 2020 and 2022. 11. Redwood City, California Population (2020): 84,303 Population (2022): 80,512 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.5% Positioned in Northern California's Bay Area, Redwood City is another US city where the population has declined. As reported by the US Census Bureau, the citys population decreased by 4.5% between 2020 and 2022. 10. San Leandro, California Population (2020): 90,998 Population (2022): 86,762 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.7% The 15 US cities where populations decreased the most rank San Leandro as well. The city is situated in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Leandros population dropped from 90,998 in 2020 to 86,762 in 2022. 9. Lynwood, California Population (2020): 67,256 Population (2022): 64,086 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.7% The city of Lynwood is located in the Los Angeles County in California. The citys population decreased from 67,256 in 2020 to 64,086 in 2022. Therefore, Lynwood is one of the US cities where the population has declined the most. 8. Daly City, California Population (2020): 104,973 Population (2022): 100,007 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.7% Daly City is based in San Mateo County in California and ranks as another city that has recorded a decrease in its population. As evident from the population decline of 4.7%, the citys population went down from 104,973 in 2020 to 100,007 in 2022. 7. Union City, New Jersey Population (2020): 68,631 Population (2022): 65,366 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -4.8% Union City is situated in the northern part of New Jerseys Hudson County. It ranks among US cities where the population decreased the most. Between 2020 and 2022, the population in the city went down by 4.8%. 6. St. Louis, Missouri Population (2020): 301,574 Population (2022): 286,578 Percentage Change (2020-2022): -5.0% The diverse economy of St. Louis is based on strong sectors including service, manufacturing, trade, and transportation. The population of St. Louis dropped from 301,574 in 2020 to 286,578 in 2022. This represents a population decline of 5.0%. Click to continue reading and see 5 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 15 US Cities Where Populations Decreased the Most is originally published on Insider Monkey. Miami Beach officials decision to impose a midnight curfew this weekend as spring break crowds swelled was reasonable, a judge ruled Saturday afternoon after a four-hour emergency hearing, denying an attempt by three South Beach nightclubs to have the curfew overturned. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge David C. Miller ruled before 6 p.m. that, while its unfortunate that businesses like the three clubs who filed suit M2, Mynt Lounge and Exchange stand to lose out on a weekend of revenue, city officials acted in good faith after seeing substantially larger crowds Thursday than they had seen last weekend and deciding Friday morning to announce a midnight curfew for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. We want our city to be vibrant, but we know that this weekend historically has been an issue, City Manager Alina Hudak, who signed an emergency order declaring the curfew, told reporters after the hearing at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in downtown Miami. We are all here collectively to do everything we need to do to protect the public. The hearing Saturday amounted to a mini-trial in which Miller heard testimony from Hudak and Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones, as well as from multiple nightclub owners. The clubs were seeking injunctive relief to block the curfew on Saturday and Sunday nights, which would have required the judge to find they had a substantial likelihood of ultimately winning the case. Instead, Miller said he believed Hudak and Jones used sound professional judgment in imposing the curfew even though, unlike in recent years, it came before a shooting had taken place amid large crowds on Ocean Drive. The solution is to reduce the size of the crowds, and thats what the city is trying to do, Miller said. Police officers ride bikes down Ocean Drive before the start of a midnight curfew during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach, Fla. The judge also rejected an argument by the clubs that, if a curfew is in place, it does not need to extend to the northern parts of the citys entertainment district where the clubs are located and crowds are typically less substantial. They need to make sure that people arent drawn to the area, he said. Hudak testified that she saw bigger crowds and a more rowdy atmosphere among spring breakers on Thursday night, leading her to believe a curfew would be necessary. Jones took the witness stand after Hudak and painted a similar picture, saying he urged Hudak to impose a curfew Friday and to keep it in place through the weekend after seeing Thursday nights crowds. The curfew is absolutely necessary, Jones said, in my professional opinion based on years of experience working many spring breaks and high-impact weekends. Hudak said the effectiveness of the curfew was evident Friday night when crowds began to thin as midnight drew near. Clearly, the crowds chose at some point in the night to go somewhere else, she said. It just wasnt fun. A store hangs a sign explaining its closure due to curfew during Spring Break 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida, on Friday, March 15, 2024. The clubs filed their complaint around 11:30 p.m. Friday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. The curfew unduly punishes and penalizes the plaintiffs lawful business operations and was done without reasonable or appropriate advance warning and in the absence of good cause, the complaint states. Several big events the clubs had planned for this weekend will be canceled, the filing notes, adding that the venues have collectively welcomed thousands of patrons so far this month without causing any harm to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, residents, and visitors of Miami Beach. Ben Kuehne, an attorney for the nightclubs, said in court that while the citys stated goal of trying to prevent any deaths during spring break was honorable, the question for the judge to consider is whether the city has gone too far. A group of women dance outside of a TGI Fridays off Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach, Fla. He pointed to Hudaks testimony that around 600 law enforcement officers from more than a dozen different agencies were patrolling the area, saying the city has failed to take a measured, evidence-based approach. Miller, the judge, acknowledged the citys spring break plan, including parking closures, license-plate readers and DUI checkpoints, was almost tyrannical. But even that didnt keep people away, he said, pointing to growing crowds this weekend. READ MORE: Miami Beach imposes a midnight spring break curfew starting Friday night Romain Zago, the owner of Mynt Lounge at 19th Street and Collins Avenue, told the Miami Herald on Friday that he didnt understand why the city imposed a curfew when other measures seemed to be effective in keeping crowds small and calm the prior weekend. This embedded content is not available in your region. I dont understand why this week they would not apply the same system, the same measures, Zago said Friday afternoon. What happened all of a sudden today that we have to have a curfew? Mynt is open from midnight to 5 a.m., meaning the curfew will force the club to close this weekend. Zago said the move would be damaging for his business and his employees. My staff all live check by check. They cannot afford a week off, he said. The city, Zago said, is removing food from our plates. Miami Beach police officers talk to a group of women that were dancing near TGI Fridays off Ocean Drive during spring break on Friday, March 15, 2024, in Miami Beach, Fla. Large spring break crowds gathered in South Beach, especially on Ocean Drive, on Friday night. But enforcement of the curfew went smoothly, and police had almost entirely cleared the strip by 12:15 a.m. READ MORE: Photos: Miami Beach curfew clears out Ocean Drive during peak spring break weekend This is the fourth straight year in which Miami Beach officials have declared a curfew during spring break. But unlike in past years, the 2024 curfew was imposed despite a relatively calm month of March so far, thanks in part to the citys viral breaking up with spring break campaign on social media. The third weekend of March has been particularly problematic in the past, marked by stampedes and shootings. Miami Beach officials have warned residents, visitors and business owners since last March that a curfew would likely be implemented during spring break 2024. Police in Miami Beach started enforcing a new curfew at midnight, implemented by the city over concerns caused by the massive influx of spring break revelers. Photo courtesy of Miami Beach Police Department March 16 (UPI) -- Police in Miami Beach have moved in to start enforcing a new midnight curfew, implemented by the city over concerns caused by the massive influx of spring break revelers. Shortly after 12:00 a.m. Saturday morning, officers began rolling down the city's Ocean Drive on ATVs, using megaphones to inform people they were required to leave. "Good evening. As we continue to prioritize public safety, there is a curfew in effect from midnight until 6 a.m. Please return to your hotel or residence," police announced repeatedly. The Miami Beach Police Department said there were no major physical altercations and the street was largely cleared within 15 minutes, with officers moving on to nearby Washington and Collins avenues by 12:30 a.m. The weekend-long curfew begins at 11:59 p.m. each night and runs until 6 a.m. the following day and is being strictly enforced through Monday. The weekend-long curfew begins at 11:59 p.m., running until 6 a.m. the following day and is being strictly enforced through Monday. Photo courtesy of City of Miami Beach Miami Beach city staff have the option to impose the "discretionary emergency measures" for up to 72 hours. The Miami Beach City Commission can then vote to extend that time period. City of Miami Beach Declares Midnight Curfew - Beginning tonight, March 15 through Monday, March 18 - Details: https://t.co/m2LXoVtwIy pic.twitter.com/aS5WOcLzOn City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) March 15, 2024 The curfew also applies to businesses in the designated area of the south Florida island city with a population of 80,600. Alcohol sales and distribution are also banned in all forms during the curfew hours. "Our first priority is public safety and law and order and our residents are demanding it and we are delivering it," Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner told WFOR-TV. The curfew does not apply to people heading to or returning home from work. The Miami Beach City Commission passed a resolution last year to bring in the curfew. The popular spring break destination has also been actively warning and educating businesses ahead of time. "Hey Spring Break, we're over," says a March 1 video on X posted by the City of Miami Beach, attempting to discourage rowdy crowds from descending on the destination. Lawmakers say the opening weekend of spring break is typically when they see the most violence and calls for police. "In consultation with our public safety leadership, we have determined that a midnight curfew is necessary and appropriate to assist in maintaining public safety on this Spring Break weekend,' Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak said in a statement. "We did not make this decision lightly, but it should not come as a surprise. We have been very clear about our intent to protect the public from the dangerous mayhem that has accompanied Spring Break crowds in recent years." Theres a famous movie scene of a U.S. colonel in a courtroom defending his actions as commander of an American outpost on Cuban soil. As hes pressured by a much younger prosecutor to admit to misconduct, the fictional Col. Nathan R. Jessup, erupts: You want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. Michael Von Zamft never had a wall to protect. But if victims in the Miami-Dade criminal justice system had one, hed have stood sentry at it for the past five decades. Two weeks ago, though, the 76-year-old prosecutor finally rankled the wrong person when a Miami-Dade judge removed him from one of the states most high-profile murder cases. She had several reasons, including his attempt to arrange a jailhouse gathering of three witnesses in a murder trial. It reeks of the appearance of impropriety, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Wolfson wrote in her 15-page opinion. Von Zamft would eventually retire from the state attorneys office, likely ending a colorful 51-year legal career as both a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. The Florida Bar is reviewing the judges order and is expected to determine whether Von Zamft keeps his Bar card. Its a hard pill to swallow for some old school co-workers who nicknamed Von Zamft Mad Dog. And easier to digest for some counterparts who consider the seasoned prosecutors win-at-all costs attitude a pillar of the past. Is there a line youre supposed to get to and not cross? If so, he gets right up to the line, said Abe Laeser, a lifelong friend and former Miami-Dade prosecutor who retired 15 years ago. Hes a [Miami] Beach kid from when the Beach was crap. Hes hardscrabble. He worked his way up. Hes a courageous lawyer who fought tooth and nail for every issue and every client. Others see Von Zamft differently. David Oscar Markus, a committee member with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, called prosecutorial misconduct an epidemic in our system. If a defense lawyer had come close to this conduct, he would be in handcuffs and charged with obstruction. But little is done to prosecutors who cross the line, Markus said. More needs to be done. Thankfully, judges like Wolfson... are pushing back against these bad actors. With Von Zamfts legal standing up in the air, the prosecutor chose to turn down interview requests for this story. Based on the situation Im in with the Bar complaint, its inappropriate for me to say anything at this time, he said. Prosecuted some of Miamis biggest cases During more than three decades of prosecuting some of South Floridas most dangerous criminals, Von Zamft has never shied from trying to flip witnesses with deals, fighting opposing counsel from obtaining evidence, or skirting with the boundary of legal limits. In one of the nations busiest prosecution offices, where state litigators are used to making national, even international headlines, Von Zamfts strategies have led to some historic victories and some embarrassing defeats. He was the lead prosecutor in the 2008 murder conviction of FBI agent John Connolly in Miami, who a jury determined partnered with Boston mobster Whitey Bulger to kill two men, including World Jai Alai owner Roger Wheeler. And in 2014, Von Zamft successfully prosecuted Clifford Friend, 58 at the time, for killing his then-35-year-old wife Lynne, 20 years earlier. Her body was dumped in the Atlantic, seven miles off Miami Beach and never found. Deter Heller, left, defense attorney for Clifford Friend, the Lighthouse Point man charged in the 18-year disappearance of his wife, and Michael Von Zamft, prosecutor, right, during a hearing in Judge Beth Blooms courtroom, Friday, April 13, 2012. Von Zamft won a conviction in the case. There were also big losses, two in particular that involved animals and left two men exonerated but scarred for life. Von Zamft took the lead of a 2009 case in which prosecutors claimed an 18-year-old Palmetto Bay man killed as many as 33 cats, some dissected and left in posed positions in nearby homes. Vilified internationally, Tyler Weinman was charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, four counts of burglary and 19 counts of wrongfully disposing of dead animals. The state eventually dropped the case after expert testimony determined the cats were more likely killed by a group of rogue dogs. A year later, Von Zamft was forced to drop another case involving another animal. This time, his case against a 65-year-old man charged with having sex with a Great Dane named after super model Christie Brinkley collapsed when a half dozen witnesses took issue with the states findings. Murder case that led to prosecutors removal Now, Von Zamfts attempt to re-try the sentencing of former John Doe gang leader Corey Smith, convicted of four murders more than two decades ago, was sidetracked after defense attorneys Craig Whisenhunt and Allison Miller petitioned the court to remove the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office for misconduct, in the lead-up to their clients re-sentencing. Though Wolfson said she found no evidence of a culture of corruption at the state attorneys office that would lead to its removal from the case, the judge said there was reason enough to remove Von Zamft and his co-counsel Stephen Mitchell, who heads up the departments gang unit. Wolfsons concerns ranged from a recorded jailhouse phone call in which Von Zamft is alleged to have attempted to get potential witnesses to coordinate testimony, to the manipulation of witnesses, to hiding records from opposing counsel about efforts to reduce sentences for testimony. The prosecutors in this case have lost sight of their responsibility, and justice demands their disqualification, Wolfson wrote. She tossed Mitchell, she said, not for anything he did during the hearing, but because, Mr. Mitchell has unfortunately shown that he shares Mr. Von Zamfts prosecutorial philosophy of winning at all costs, at least when it comes to the defendants case. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Wolfson ordered Miami-Dade Assistant State attorneys Michael Von Zamft and Stephen Mitchell removed from the re-sentencing trial of convicted killer Corey Smith. The judge said they refused to hand over evidence in a timely manner and that Von Zamft admitted in a recorded jailhouse phone call trying to gather several potential witnesses together in the jail courtyard. Word of Wolfsons March 6 decision had the hallways buzzing at the downtown criminal courthouse. It also caught the attention of some criminal justice groups. The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers called for an independent review of the state attorneys office and all past convictions involving Von Zamft and Mitchell. Some want to review past jailhouse calls between Von Zamft and witnesses. It is time for State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle to address the pervasive ethos that runs through her office, the board of directors of the criminal defense attorneys group wrote in a post on its website. Fernandez Rundle responded by saying top litigators in her office will study what went wrong in the Smith case and suggest the best path forward. The 24-year-old [Corey Smith] case is massive, and it will take my office some time to ensure that we are proceeding in accordance with the law and with justice, the state attorney said. Be assured that we will get the job done. A Perry Mason moment: Judge Von Zamfts troubles with Wolfson stemmed from claims that prosecutors used questionable tactics to convict Smith, a Liberty City gang leader, more than two decades ago. The issue came to light after a 2017 change in death penalty requirements by the states Supreme Court, which led to the re-sentencing of Smith and dozens of other convicted murderers. Smith, the boss of Liberty Citys John Doe gang, was first convicted in federal court in 1999 on drug and firearm charges. A year later, he was indicted by a Miami-Dade grand jury on 17 counts of mostly violent crimes, including murder. The John Does were a hardcore group that successfully fought for and overtook Liberty City drug holes, and who are named after the toe tags tied to bodies at the morgue. By 2004, prosecutors led by Bronwyn Miller, who is now a judge on the 3rd District Court of Appeals, convicted Smith of murdering two men and two women either with connections to gang activity or who Smith feared would testify against him at trial. Smiths re-sentencing was forced by a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court decision that led to a change in Floridas death penalty law. The federal justices deemed Floridas law unconstitutional because it only required a bare majority vote. A year later, the Florida Supreme Court said a unanimous jury verdict was needed for a death sentence and ordered new sentencing trials for two murders in which Smith was found guilty by less than unanimous jury verdicts. Preparations for that trial were upended yet again in early 2023 when Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida legislators incensed that convicted Marjory Stoneman Douglas High killer Nikolas Cruz received a life sentence again changed the death penalty law. Now, only a two-thirds super majority vote is needed to sentence someone to death, providing a jury agrees unanimously on an aggravating factor like the crime being unusually cruel and heinous, That all led to a pre-trial hearing for Smiths re-sentencing earlier this month. In the hearing, Smiths attorneys successfully argued that Von Zamft hid records from opposing counsel that showed a former girlfriend of Smiths was to receive a more lenient prison sentence from an earlier case, for testifying at Smiths trial two decades ago. Wolfson also said prosecutors appeared to stall handing over evidence during the discovery phase of the trial. The judge also said she had problems with the brassiness of a recorded jailhouse phone call between Von Zamft and a co-defendant turned witness named Latravis Gallashaw. In that conversation, they discussed rehabilitating another witness and having Gallishaw meet with two others in the jail courtyard. Von Zamft told the judge he was trying to keep the witnesses safe. On television, Perry Mason, defense attorney extraordinaire, always managed to find the smoking gun at the end of every episode, Wolfson wrote in her order. In real life this happens very rarely. It happened here. The brassiness was even surprising to the judge Laseser, the former colleague whos been friends with Von Zamft since they were 10, said it was common for senior prosecutors who wanted nothing to do with a difficult case, to pass it along to Von Zamft. Within the legal community, everyone knew Michael was going to fight like hell, Laeser said. Good lawyers go at it very hard. They kick each other in the shins. Von Zamft graduated from Miami Beach High in 1965, earned his law degree from the University of Miami and joined the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office by 1973, where he defended clients in first-degree murder and capital cases. In 1981, he went into private practice, where he continued to defend death sentences, even to the states Supreme Court. By 1995, Von Zamft joined the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office. There, he continued to work on death penalty cases, but this time fighting for convictions instead of trying to get a client off the hook. More recently, Von Zamft sold his Surfside home. But before moving to Georgia and retiring full time, he agreed to take on the Smith case. Though some believe Von Zamft plays fast and loose with ethical standards, his only real public admonishment came back in 2002, when he was dinged by the Florida Supreme Court over an action he took in a murder case that he was not involved with. Von Zamft, who was friendly with the judge, ignored a request by the judge to drop the subject, and asked the judge over lunch one day to delay a trial date so the sides could have more time study evidence. After the judge was recused from the case, Von Zamft was admonished by the state Supreme Court and was fined $2,387.30 for inappropriately engaging the judge. Miami defense Attorney Alex Saiz claims Von Zamft again acted inappropriately in a 2019 case in which the two attorneys faced off. Saiz said the case was derailed when Von Zamft took issue with Saizs client, who was accused of stealing something from a potential key witness in the Smith case. Saiz, who is also a member of the defense lawyers association, says he was told that the state filed charges because it was trying to keep Von Zamfts witness content. The witness was a former girlfriend of Smiths who was being sketchy about testifying. At one point, Saiz said Von Zamft pulled him aside outside Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge William Altfields courtroom and said hed drop the case if Saizs client produced the missing items. Saiz said when his client refused, Von Zamft became incensed, admitted to him that this was all a favor for the potential witness and dropped the case right in front of the judge, saying he would simply re-arrest Saizs client after Smiths trial. That threat, Saiz said, continues to hang over his clients head. It starts as an ethical issue, abusing the process to keep a witness from being deposed, said Saiz. We knew this was dirty. Its just surprising how brazen this was. I think its absolutely malpractice. Never in my career have I had a prosecutor act this way in a case. The brassiness was even surprising to the judge. During Smiths re-sentencing, Miami-Dade detective Kevin Rodriguez testified that his former girlfriend and others received death threats from the gang boss. Had Von Zamft not dropped the 2019 case involving Saizs client, its likely Rodriguez would have had to testify about the threats, something prosecutors opposed. Miami, Florida, Feb. 14, 2024- Judge Andrea Wolfsons courtroom, during a pre-sentencing trial hearing for Corey Smith at the Miami-Dade County Criminal Courthouse in Miami. Miami Herald Staff Writer Jay Weaver contributed to this story Michael Gove says the activities of some groups will be assessed against the new definition Michael Gove once made the front page of the Scottish Sun newspaper for being pictured at a nightclub at 02:30 in the morning. A related image comes to mind when trying to sum up what the communities secretary is trying to achieve with his redefinition of extremism in British public life. Think of him as the nightclub bouncer: Mr Gove's announcement on Thursday aims to establish a strict door policy for who gets access to government. If your name is on that list, you're not getting in. Anyone labelled as an extremist will be barred from meeting ministers, helping to shape public policy or seeking public funds. Mr Gove told MPs he was driven to action because the UK's values were "under challenge" from extremist groups, which were radicalising young people. But this is not a new plan. For 20 years, a succession of governments have tried to define and, at times, ban extremism. Tony Blair was the first, after the 2005 terrorist bombings of London. David Cameron twice promised an extremism ban. Each time, the government has faced the same intellectual and legal problem: nobody agrees what the word means. Terrorism is very clearly defined in British law as the use or threat of violence to intimidate government or society to follow a particular course in the name of an ideological cause. But extremism is not a crime. And one politician's extremism is another activist's legitimate cause. Think of the Suffragettes a century ago (although some were involved in a bombing campaign) or radical climate change protesters blocking roads today. "Most extremist materials and activities are not illegal and do not meet the terrorism or the national security threshold," Mr Gove admitted in his Commons speech. The most we have had as an official working definition of extremism dates from 2011, when David Cameron's government declared it meant, among other things, "vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values". What's a fundamental British value? Does everyone even know what they might be, never mind agree on them? This is the problem that policymakers and government lawyers have struggled with. Mr Cameron had to abandon a proposal in 2015 to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, the most important international Islamist network - when officials looked for the evidence linking the Brotherhood and its British offshoots to violence they didn't find it. And so it could not be banned under terrorism laws. Nine years on, Mr Gove's argument is that his new definition of extremism is more workable than the 2011 version because it doesn't criminalise groups involved in activities he says are driving division in society, but rather allows ministers and policy-makers to say they won't engage with them. He listed five groups he said were cause for concern, including a small far-right group that calls for the expulsion of ethnic minorities and Islamist organisations that he says want to tear down democracy. It's not clear what his list will really lead to - other than accusations thrown back at him that he is driving the wedge. Mr Gove's plan has no effect on the right to free speech and protest For a start, none of the groups he has so far named are at the centre of policy-making. As no new crime is being created, police will be under no obligation to round up suspected extremists. For weeks the government has been lobbied to use new extremism powers to stop the Gaza protests. But Mr Gove's plan has no effect on the right to free speech and protest. Demonstrations can only be banned if police chiefs have credible evidence they are likely to lead to uncontainable disorder. Other public bodies are under no obligation to adopt the definition - not least universities. This brings us to one of the first potentially unintended consequences. Last year, the government placed a new legal duty on universities to protect free speech. Mr Gove could today label a group as extremist but under this plan, be unable to stop its members promoting their views to students on campus. Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism laws, has identified other problems. "A bank might decide we're going to get rid of you as a customer, because we don't want to have extremists on our books," he says. A genuinely hateful person who is a foreign national, and who crosses the threshold for ejection from the UK, might also be able to use the label to their advantage, warns Mr Hall. They might try to challenge their removal to a despotic regime saying their naming-and-shaming in the UK means they could be tortured back home - something our law absolutely forbids. "What happens if a group is not labelled?" he asks. "Does that mean that that group, even though they may have some quite unacceptable ideas, can run around saying [they've'] been cleared by the government?" Mr Gove says his aim is to protect democracy, but even some in his own party are unconvinced this will work. MP Miriam Cates has warned it could have a "chilling effect" on gender-critical feminists who want to reverse law that allows people to change sex on their birth certificate. Mr Gove says "gender-critical campaigners, those with conservative religious beliefs, trans activists, environmental protest groups, or those exercising their proper right to free speech" are not his target. And it is true that he has long campaigned, as a journalist and a politician, for what he regards as a tougher response to the threat of terrorism. His views that some lawful Islamist groups may pose a threat to society are hotly contested, but he is not alone in his thinking. It is a racing certainty that now the policy has been made real it will be challenged in the courts. One of the Muslim groups he named on Thursday, MEND, is already preparing a case. But it could take nine months or longer for any group that's labelled extremist to get a judgment that forces government to rethink the plan. That would take it beyond the general election, and if the polls are correct, it would no longer be Mr Gove's problem. But his critics will say he benefitted from pre-election headlines in a policy area that has been contested for 20 years. Mike Pence will not endorse for president Donald Trump, the man he served as vice-president for four years but whose supporters chanted for Pence to be hanged as they attacked Congress on January 6. Related: Who is running for president in 2024? Biden, Trump and the full list of candidates It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, the former Indiana governor and former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination told Fox News on Friday. Asked why, given that he previously promised to endorse the eventual nominee, Pence mentioned 6 January 2021, the day a mob attacked Congress and Trump was reported to have told aides Pence deserved to be hanged for refusing to block certification of Joe Bidens 2020 election win. But Pence placed more emphasis on policies pursued by Trump as he has secured the Republican nomination, a success achieved despite now facing 88 criminal charges under four indictments and suffering multimillion-dollar civil penalties over his business affairs and a rape allegation a judge called substantially true. Pence said he was incredibly proud of the record of our administration. It was a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure, and saw conservatives appointed to our courts in a more peaceful world. But that being said, during my presidential campaign which he ended in October, months before the first vote, in Iowa I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues, and not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised on January 6. As I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt. Ive seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. The US national debt ballooned under Trump and Pence. On abortion rights, the supreme court to which Trump appointed three rightwingers did remove federal rights in 2022. But Republicans have since suffered a succession of election defeats as Democrats campaign on the issue. As Trump claims credit for appointing those justices, Democrats are positioning to make reproductive rights a central issue in November. Pence also cited Trumps reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations effort to force the sale of TikTok. Pence refused to speculate on why Trump has come out against forcing the sale by ByteDance, TikToks China-based parent company. He said: What I can tell you is that in each of these cases, Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. And thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign. Most of Trumps former rivals for the Republican nomination have now endorsed him. The last to drop out, the former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, has not. Opponents of Trump welcomed Pences decision not to endorse. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican who retired from Congress over his opposition to Trump, said simply: Good job Mike Pence. Tommy Vietor, an aide to Barack Obama turned political commentator, said: I did not expect this from Mike Pence. Credit to him for showing some backbone. This is a big deal. But Pence, who has outlined plans to spend $20m this year in an attempt to shape the conservative agenda, told Fox News he would not vote for Biden. Im a Republican, he said. How I vote when that curtain closes, thatll be for me. FILE - President Donald Trump listens as Vice President Mike Pence speaks about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 27, 2020, in Washington. As Mike Pence approaches a likely 2024 run for president, he's opening up to audiences about the parts of his career before he served as Donald Trump's vice president. He hopes his 12 years in Congress and four years as Indiana governor will project the record of a conservative fighter. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) | Alex Brandon, Associated Press Former Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday that he will not endorse former President Donald Trump in his third bid for the presidency, although he made it clear he does not support President Joe Biden either. I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, Pence told FOX News in an interview on The Story. While Pence served as vice president during Trumps presidency, their relationship soured after the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump pushed Pence to refuse to certify the results of the 2020 election. Pence refused to do so. Pence said his statement should come as no surprise given the many comments he made on his issues with Trump during his own presidential bid. While Pence said he remains proud of the work he and Trump accomplished during their administration, he named several areas where their approach to policy differ. There were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues, and not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised on January the 6th, Pence said. As I have watched his candidacy unfold, Ive seen him walking away from our commitment to confronting the national debt, I have seen him starting to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life and this last week, his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations effort to force a sale of ByteDance. Pence declined to say who he planned to vote for in November, but clarified that he would never vote for Joe Biden and has no plans to run as a third-party candidate. Several Republican leaders have criticized Trump on similar issues but have nevertheless affirmed their support for him. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Trump for president last week, despite McConnells former statements regarding his disapproval of Trump for his role in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence ended his interview by stating that he plans to spend the next few months advocating for his political values for citizens of all parties. It is a commitment to limited government and the Constitution, a commitment to a strong defense and American leadership in the world, a commitment to traditional values that has always made this country prosperous and free, and Im gonna advocate for that, he said. WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A husband is pleading for help after his wife was hit by a car in West Allis while doing what she loves most. Jenny Grosschadl will turn 30 years old on Sunday. She loves animals and volunteering but her passion is running. "She made a list of five things she was going to do in her 30s, and told me the other day was to run a marathon in all 50 states, and wanted to tackle two of them a year," said Joshua Grosschadl. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Joshua said it is likely that Jenny will never run again. He was riding a bicycle, following his wife on her evening run Tuesday, when she was hit by a car on 76th Street near the Kinnickinnic River Parkway. "When you're running, as a pedestrian, be careful," he said. "You don't know what decision people are going to make." 76th Street near Kinnickinnic River Parkway Joshua said the car that struck Jenny was going about 40 mph, and his wife careened over it at one point 10 feet in the air before she came down on her head and neck. "The number one thing going through my mind was, Is my wife dead?" he said. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. West Allis police said the driver stayed at the scene and was one of the people who called 911. Jenny was rushed to a hospital. She suffered a broken leg, elbow, ribs, sternum and vertebrae likely paralyzed from the chest down for the rest of her life. "Of course, always hoping for some sort of miracle, but likelihood is very slim of that," said Joshua. Police said the crash is still under investigation, but alcohol does not appear to have played a role. What was supposed to be a 30th birthday trip to Mexico with family and friends will instead be spent in the hospital planning for what life will be like when she can return home. "She gives back so much, now I think she needs help," Joshua said. A GoFundMe online fundraiser was started to help raise money for medical bills and the costs of making the couple's home wheelchair accessible. Greece has recently joined the Lithuania-led coalition to assist Ukraine with demining efforts, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said on March 15. Lithuania, one of Kyivs staunch supporters, announced the creation of the demining coalition in July 2023 to help Ukraine clear its territory from mines, threatening thousands of people with deaths or injuries. Nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory, approximately 174,000 square kilometers, had been mined since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Dendias on March 15 met with his Lithuanian counterpart Arvydas Anusauskas in Vilnius, where they discussed Russias war against Ukraine, among other topics, the Greek Defense Ministry wrote in a press release. After the meeting, Dendias reiterated his countrys position that views Russias invasion of Ukraine "as a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty and International Law." "And we are pleased to have recently joined the Demining Capability Coalition under your leadership and signed the Agreement in your presence in Brussels," he added. The coalition, currently consisting of around 20 countries, reportedly aims to assist Ukraine in both humanitarian demining of liberated territories and clearing mines on the front lines. Deep minefields stand between Ukrainian forces and entrenched Russian troops. The lack of demining capacity slows down the advance of Ukrainian troops in their attempts to liberate occupied territories. Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Police vehicles stand near a camp organized by organized by the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa Additional police may be brought in to protect electric carmaker Tesla's plant outside Berlin, the interior minister for the German state of Brandenburg has said. Minister Michael Stubgen, of the centre-right Christian Democrats, wants to use the additional officers to protect Tesla from attacks and deter violent demonstrators. Activists set up camp in the nearby woods, which are state property, to protest Tesla's plans to expand the plant and clear the forest. Tesla's expansion plans have also prompted environmental concerns about potential risks for sensitive nearby wetlands. The camp's protest authorization was set to expire on Saturday, raising the prospect of police action to clear the forest. However Stubgen announced that permission would be extended through Thursday. The activists had registered the camp as a political gathering, which is protected by German law and does not require special police permission. Such gatherings, however, can be prohibited under certain circumstances. A vigil has been set up in front of a camp organized by organized by the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa A view of the camp of the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa "Elon Eloff" is written on a sign at a camp set up by the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Marion man suspected in the shooting and killing of a New Mexico State Police officer is also a person of interest in the death of a Pee Dee paramedic, the Marion County Sheriffs Office told News13. The body of 52-year-old Phonesia Machado-Fore was found Friday night outside of Lake View in Dillon County, authorities said. Jaremy Smith was driving her white BMW linked to the fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare. Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss, Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace said in a statement. My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice. Dillon County Sheriff Jamie Hamilton and his staff offered their condolences to Marion Countys first responder community via Facebook on Saturday. Sheriff Hamilton and Staff at Dillon County Sheriffs Office extends our condolences to the family and friends of Phonesia Machado-Fore and to our Brothers and Sisters in blue of the New Mexico State Police, the post said. We will keep the family, friends and colleagues of Phonesia Machado-Fore and New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare in our thoughts and prayers. Marlboro County Emergency Medical Services also offered online condolences. Without question, Phonesia touched, improved and saved many lives throughout her career as a first responder, the agency said on Facebook. Being a paramedic is often a thankless job, but it goes without saying that she impacted too many lives to count. Phonesia, we have it from here. Jaremy Smith is wanted in New Mexico on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and criminal damage to property. New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said in a social media post that Smith set an ambush for Ofc. Justin Hare along Interstate 40. Hare was sent to the scene around 5 a.m. for reports of a motorist with a flat tire. Weisler said Hare parked behind the disabled BMW and offered the suspect a ride into town. Then, without warning, the suspect pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare. The suspect then walked to the drivers side and shot Officer Hare again, and then he pushed Officer Hare into the passenger seat and drove away in Officer Hares patrol unit, which was abandoned a short time later, Weisler said. New Mexico State Police are holding a news conference at 1 p.m. The last words that Officer Hare uttered on this Earth was an offer to help the man who was about to kill him, Weisler said. I am disgusted and I am sickened by the actions of this cold-blooded murderer. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. If there is one trait that investors have to really think about when it comes to the energy sector, it has to be volatility. That's because oil and natural gas prices, the foundational products in the energy patch, are commodities prone to swift and dramatic price swings. Most investors looking at the energy sector will want to stick with integrated energy giants like Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE). Here's why these two stocks, with prices comfortably below $200 a share, are worth adding to your portfolio. Similar in one important way There are a lot of differences between Chevron and TotalEnergies. But there is one very important similarity -- they are both integrated energy majors. This means that their businesses span from the upstream (drilling for oil and natural gas) through the midstream (transportation of oil and gas in things like pipelines) and all the way to the downstream (processing oil and gas into chemicals and refined products, like gasoline). Each of these segments of the energy sector have different operating dynamics. Image source: Getty Images. Performance in the upstream tends to go the way of energy prices. The midstream is fairly stable, driven by fees for the use of the assets that companies own. And the downstream can be volatile but often benefits from low energy prices, as these commodities are key inputs. All in all, the diversification across these segments helps to smooth out the peaks and valleys in the energy sector. Add in geographic diversification and the story gets even better, since these companies can shift their business investment around to where it will produce the highest returns. If you are looking for a reliable energy investment, the first place to look is the integrated energy majors. Of that group, Chevron and TotalEnergies stand out but for different reasons. Chevron is a rock-solid company Chevron's most notable differentiation from its closest peers is its financial strength. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.12 times, which is lowest in the group. That means its balance sheet is rock solid. This is notable because the normal playbook during industry downturns is to take on debt to support the business while energy prices are weak. Chevron has also used this tactic to support its dividend, which has been increased for 36 consecutive years. Story continues In other words, when times get tough, Chevron has proven it can withstand the blow. And when energy prices improve again, it reduces leverage in preparation for the next storm. The dividend yield is around 4.3% today, which is notably more than you would get from an S&P 500 Index fund. If you are trying to find an energy investment you can count on through thick and thin, Chevron is a great option. TotalEnergies is shifting with the world French energy giant TotalEnergies doesn't have as strong a balance sheet, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43 times. That said, European energy companies tend to hold more cash than U.S. energy companies, helping to reduce the risk of higher leverage. Still, European peers BP and Shell both cut their dividends during the COVID-19 pandemic. TotalEnergies stood out from these competitors by standing by its dividend through this difficult period. What's interesting about BP and Shell's dividend cuts was that they came at about the same time these two integrated energy giants announced plans to increase their investment in clean energy. TotalEnergies made the same commitment, just without the dividend cut. But the real truth is that TotalEnergies has been investing in clean energy for years, so the change was just an acceleration of the investment in an area it already knows well. This is the point that may make some investors prefer TotalEnergies, since Chevron is, for the most part, still focusing its efforts around oil and natural gas. Essentially, if you want an energy stock that is adjusting to the changing energy landscape, TotalEnergies appears to be among the best of the bunch. The dividend yield is an attractive 4.8%, though U.S. investors should note that they will have to pay French taxes on the dividends they collect. Focus on oil or adjust with the world, your choice There are many different options in the energy patch. However, if you are looking for reliable companies with generous dividends, Chevron and TotalEnergies are two strong choices. One, Chevron, is perfect for the investor trying to focus on oil and natural gas. The other, TotalEnergies, is a bit more nuanced, as it is mixing renewable power into the story as the world slowly shifts toward lower carbon energy sources. Either way you go, however, both of these sub-$200 stocks are great options in the energy space. Should you invest $1,000 in Chevron right now? Before you buy stock in Chevron, 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 Chevron 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 March 11, 2024 Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in TotalEnergies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends BP and Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 No-Brainer Energy Stocks to Buy With $200 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Riley Strain, a University of Missouri who went missing after reportedly getting kicked out of a Nashville bar, was just served one drink before being escorted out, the bar owners say. The 22-year-old student was partying with friends at Luke Bryans 32 Bridge Food + Drink bar just before 10pm on 8 March. The bars owner, TC Restaurant Group, told KOLR 10 Mr Strain was served one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was asked to leave. No members of Rileys party were required to stay inside the venue to close any open tabs, and no one from Lukes 32 Bridge team prevented anyone from Rileys party from leaving the venue with him, the owners added. Mr Strain and his fraternity brothers were reportedly on a trip to Nashville for a spring formal. The news comes days after the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced on 13 March that it was looking into whether or not Mr Strain had been served alcohol while visibly intoxicated at the bar. Mizzou student Riley Strain, 22, was last seen on Friday 8 March 2024 in Nashville, TN (AP) A search has been underway for more than a week. Police in Nashville said there are currently no signs of foul play amid the ongoing hunt for Mr Strain. Metro Nashville Police Sergeant Bob Neilsen said on 14 March: In a missing persons case, people go missing for various reasons. Some are voluntary, some are not. Some could be due to a medical incident. Right now, we have no idea what happened with this gentleman. We dont believe there was any crime involved, however. All of our resources right now are dedicated to locating him. Police also revealed that homeless residents at two encampments near the Cumberland River confirmed that they saw Mr Strain on the night he disappeared. They were not sure where he went after they spotted him. Mr Strains stepfather said in an interview on Monday that the days since Rileys disappearance had been pure hell. A vigil was held for the college senior earlier this week in Springfield, Missouri. British defence chiefs have faced calls to ban the video-sharing app TikTok amid fears that sensitive data could be useful to Chinese spies. One former defence chief told The Telegraph that TikTok was a key intelligence source for Chinas vast intelligence network and that its use by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should end immediately. The move follows the ruling by the US government last week that the app faces a ban unless its Chinese owners sell the platform to an independent company. TikTok usage is banned across Whitehall but the MoD still uses it to communicate with British troops around the world, despite growing security concerns. Intelligence experts fear that Chinese spies will be able to harvest data from the app which could undermine and threaten Britains security. Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy and Chief of Defence Intelligence, told The Telegraph and National Security News: It would seem extraordinary if there is sufficient concern for the US to ban TikTok that we dont take action regarding MoD and service personnel use. Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who fought in the Falklands, added: Absolutely and without any hesitation, TikTok should be banned by the MoD. It gives away far too much intelligence, such as people making videos in front of their equipment, vehicles and ships. It can provide details of troops IDs and their locations. TikTok is also a route-one source into the Chinas Peoples Liberation Army - theres no question. TikToks links to the Chinese government make it an agent of influence amongst our population and it should be banned - it seems extraordinary that this hasnt taken place already. Intelligence experts fear that Chinese spies will be able to harvest data from the app which could undermine and threaten Britain's security - Stuart Brock/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, has also said that the MoD must close down its official TikTok account immediately. He said: Of course they have to close the account down when the Government has banned TikTok from all devices. Otherwise the ban seems half-hearted. Why does the MoD need a TikTok account? I think TikTok should be banned on both official and personal devices on security grounds. The MoD said that its TikTok account was managed using third-party software and devices outside its sensitive computer network. Its officials said it uses the channel to reach bigger audiences as the app is used by up to a billion people across the world and has 23 million British users per month. Last September Grant Shapps, who had previously been an avid user of the app, was forced to give it up when he was appointed as the new Defence Secretary. The MoD says its personnel are banned from using TikTok on official phones. But soldiers are allowed to use them on their personal mobiles. Hundreds of videos have been posted on TikTok by British troops, which include clips by those claiming to be stationed in Estonia and sailors on board ships. Around a thousand British troops are deployed in Estonia as part of a Nato defence force on standby related to Vladimir Putins aggression in Ukraine. The UK Special Forces have reportedly been ordered to remove the app from all military-issued and personal phones amid fears that covert operations could be compromised. The MoD says personnel are banned from using the app on official phones but may use it on their personal mobiles - Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The app collects masses of user information and can identify the internet protocol address, which can be used to identify every device on the internet. TikTok can also collect biometric information and personal identifiers, such as face prints and voice prints. Although other social media platforms such as Instagram collect similar information, it is TikToks links to China that concern MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. MI5 has warned of the cyber security threat posed by China and is creating a new agency to help UK businesses protect themselves against espionage and state-sponsored hacking. TikTok is available in over 150 countries and has more than one billion users, 150 million of whom are in the US. Around 23 million people in the UK use the app every month. TikTok is owned entirely as a subsidiary of Chinese tech firm ByteDance Ltd. US politicians believe that ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, which could push for US user data to be released to them at any time. The worry stems from Chinese national security laws that compel organisations to assist with intelligence gathering. But TikTok has long denied that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government. The company has said it has never shared US user data with Chinese authorities and will not do so if it is asked. A TikTok spokesperson said: Like 1.5 million businesses and millions of creators across the UK, the Ministry of Defence uses TikTok to reach audiences it would struggle to connect with in other ways. Security concerns are misplaced - neither TikTok nor our parent company ByteDance are Chinese. But we are addressing them by investing more than 10 billion in Project Clover, which will see European users data stored in Europe by default with the NCC Group, a respected cyber security company, providing independent third-party oversight of data controls, protections and flows. 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. Over the course of nearly a decade, a Montana ranch owner and at least five other people conspired to clone sheep and create a larger hybrid species of what is already considered the worlds largest sheep species for financial gain, according to federal prosecutors. Arthur Jack Schubarth, 80, of Vaughn, Montana, pleaded guilty to felony charges related to trafficking sheep parts from Asia into the United States a violation of the Lacey Act with an aim of selling the species to captive hunting facilities primarily in Texas, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice. The Lacey Act prohibits trafficking of illegally taken wildlife, fish or plants, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Schubarth faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of the two felony counts and up to a $250,000 fine. CNN has contacted an attorney listed for Schubarth for comment. Between 2013 and 2021, Schubarth and others set out to create a larger hybrid species of the Marco Polo argali sheep with trafficked sheep parts from Kyrgyzstan to garner higher prices from shooting preserves, according to the Justice Department. The sheep species, often trophy hunted for its size and long spiraling horns, is listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, according to court documents. Marco Polo argali sheep, which can weigh more than 300 pounds and have horns spanning more than 5 feet, are banned in Montana to protect native sheep from disease and hybridization, according to the Justice Department. Schubarth, who owned a 215-acre game farm where mountain sheep, mountain goats and other hoofed mammals were bought, sold and bred, is the only person named in the court documents. The five others involved are described in the documents as residents of Montana, Texas and Minnesota who were involved in alternative livestock husbandry and commercial livestock sales, according to court documents. Schubarth is accused of conspiring to bring parts of the internationally and domestically protected Marco Polo argali sheep, which are native to Central Asias Pamir Mountains region, into the US without declaring the parts, court documents state. Schubarth is accused of engaging a third party to create a cloned argali sheep from the trafficked parts. Schubarths farm Sun River Enterprises, also known as Schubarth Ranch mainly marketed and sold live animals and genetic material, like semen, to shooting preserves, court documents state. He and co-conspirators allegedly performed artificial insemination and other types of artificial breeding to create larger and more valuable lines of argali sheep, according to the documents. The kind of crime we uncovered here could threaten the integrity of our wildlife species in Montana, Ron Howell, chief of enforcement for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said in a statement. In January 2013, the co-conspirator from Montana entered the US with undeclared biological tissue from a Marco Polo argali sheep that had been hunted in Kyrgyzstan , according to court documents. Days later, Schubarth entered a cell storage agreement with a company to store and preserve the tissue from a male sheep named Rocky, according to the documents, which add that Schubarth entered an ovine cloning contract in October 2015 to have an unspecified number of sheep cloned from the tissue. He received 165 cloned Marco Polo embryos in November 2016 at his ranch, the documents state. In May 2017, a pure male Marco Polo argali sheep was born from the embryos, and Schubarth named it Montana Mountain King. In 2018, authorities say Schubarth began harvesting semen from Montana Mountain King to artificially inseminate ewes in hopes of creating hybrid offspring. Using Montana Mountain Kings semen, Schubarth and co-conspirators artificially inseminated female sheep species that are also banned in Montana in an attempt to create hybrid animals, the Justice Department said. Schubarth and others moved the illegal sheep into and out of Montana by forging veterinary inspection certificates, according to court documents. Schubarth also violated Montana law by obtaining genetic material from the states Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, which are the largest native wild sheep species in North America, according to the court document. Montana prohibits game animal parts being sold there and also prohibits the use of Montana game animals on alternative livestock ranches, according to the Justice Department. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and Montanas Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are investigating the case. Schubarth is set to be sentenced on July 11. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Boban Radovic, Secretary General of the Free Montenegro party and a member of the Podgorica City Council, traveled to Russia to the so-called presidential election as an "international observer", the leader of the Free Montenegro party, Vladislav Dajkovic, told the Pobjeda portal on March 16. Dajkovic told reporters he did not see any controversy in the visit, stating that his priorities did not include appeasing those who may perceive issues with it. Read also: Fake Tucker Carlson lures Russians to fake election in Siberia - Video "We have our own views, we are not subject to, we do not depend on the opinions of other political actors, so I do not see that we could have problems because of this," he said. If someone thinks that we should apologize because we want to cooperate with a centuries-old fraternal partner like Russia, then this is their problem, not ours. Radovic is "a person who follows a true Montenegrin tradition," the party leader added, without specifying who exactly invited Radovic to be an observer in Russia. Read also: Russian occupiers allowed to vote in staged elections without physical presence and documents - HUR The Free Montenegro party is blocking the country's accession to NATO. Dajkovic, its leader, has repeatedly written about this on his social media accounts and posted photos from his trips to Russia. Media reported on March 8 that three MPs from the right-wing radical party Alternative for Germany (AfD) were also planning to travel to Russia to observe the "elections." The so-called presidential elections started in Russia on March 15 and will last until March 17. They are held without EU observers. Dictator Vladimir Putin, who has been ruling for 24 years, announced his participation in the elections in December 2023. The Russian Central Election Commission did not register any opposition or anti-war candidates. 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 UPDATE: The Montgomery County Regional Dispatcher has resumed normal operations after a disruption in services, according to an alert message to students from the University of Dayton. UPDATE: The Montgomery County Regional Dispatcher is now able to receive emergency calls, according to a Dayton Police Department on social media. The dispatch center is still not able to get non-emergency calls. Again emergency responders asked that people do not try and test call 911 unless it is a real emergency. INITIAL REPORT: Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center announced that their call center is currently not receiving emergency and non-emergency calls. Those in need of emergency assistance are asked to call or find a nearby police officer, fire station, or hospital. >> Person hit by train in Carlisle; roadways shutdown in area Montgomery County is working to get their center up, according to a media release. The sheriffs office advised that people do not try and test calls to 911 because it may make the problems worse. A full list of jurisdictions covered by the regional dispatch center can be found here We will continue to follow this story. More charges added to 1st-degree murder for Park View man A 30-year-old Park View man faces now more charges in addition to first-degree murder, according to court records. Christopher Behal (Scott County Jail) According to Scott County Court records, Christopher Behal, who was arrested on Thursday, now faces these charges: A felony charge of first-degree murder A felony charge of assault while participating in a felony serious injury A felony charge of going armed with intent An aggravated misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse assault display or a use of a weapon first offense An aggravated misdemeanor charge of operating while under the influence second offense A serious misdemeanor of driving while his license was denied or revoked. A crash leads to a tragic discovery According to a news release, the Scott County Sheriffs Office responded to a crash with injury near the intersection of 90th Street (210th Street) and Harrison Street in Mt. Joy on Thursday near the entrance to Mt. Joy Airport. The driver of the 2013 silver Chevrolet Impala was identified as Behal. The car appeared to have crashed into a light pole, deputies allege in arrest affidavits. During the investigation of the accident, information led to deputies to the body of 31-year-old Taylor Escontrias (McKee,) Behals girlfriend, of Park View, according to the news release and arrest affidavits. Behal was taken to Genesis Medical Center East Campus for treatment of his injuries. He was then taken into custody by the sheriffs office and processed into the Scott County Jail. Behal admitted he had consumed alcoholic beverages earlier that evening. Behal admitted he consumed too much alcohol, deputies allege in affidavits. After Behal consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, a deputy says in affidavits that the deputy observed 6 of 6 clues indicating impairment. Behal was unable to complete the Walk and Turn Test and the One Leg Stand Test. Behal refused other tests for alcohol, according to affidavits. Arrest affidavits show Behalf used multiple dangerous weapons during the assault resulting in the victims death. Behal and the victim were in a domestic relationship living together at the time of the murder, according to arrest affidavits. Behal, who appeared in Scott County Court on Friday morning, is being held in Scott County Jail. He is set for a preliminary hearing Friday in Scott County Court. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. "Black Lives Matter" street sign near the White house in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis that Memorial Day ignited nationwide protests against police brutality. Following a pivotal year in the movement to discard the term excited delirium, momentum is building in several states to ban the discredited medical diagnosis from death certificates, law enforcement training, police incident reports, and civil court testimony. In January, California became the first state to prohibit the medical term from many official proceedings. Now, lawmakers in Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, and New York are considering bills that also would rein in how the excited delirium concept is used. The new spate of state proposals, driven by families who lost relatives after encounters with law enforcement, marks an important step in doing away with a concept that critics say spurs police to overuse lethal force. Its the law following the science, which is what we want to see, said Joanna Naples-Mitchell, an attorney who worked on an influential Physicians for Human Rights review of how the term excited delirium evolved into a concept whose legitimacy is largely rejected by the medical community. But initial momentum in statehouses is being met with fresh resistance from law enforcement agencies and other defenders, including some who agree that excited delirium is a sham diagnosis. The bills clearly run afoul of the First Amendment and violate free speech, said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations. He also argued that law enforcement officers do encounter symptoms and behaviors associated with excited delirium. Excited delirium is a four-decade-old diagnostic theory that has been used to explain how a person experiencing severe agitation can suddenly die while being restrained. Last year, the American College of Emergency Physicians withdrew a 2009 report that had been the last remaining official medical pillar of support for the theory used increasingly over the prior 15 years to explain away police culpability for many in-custody deaths. Excited delirium was cited as a legal defense in the 2020 deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis; Daniel Prude in Rochester, New York; and Angelo Quinto in Antioch, California, among others. The theory proposed that individuals in a mental health crisis, often under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can exhibit superhuman strength as police try to control them, then die suddenly from the condition, not the police response. Investigation: 'Excited delirium' cited as factor in many fatal police restraint cases. Some say it's bogus. The New York City Police Department issued training materials in 2021 and 2022 that tell officers to restrain and stun people they encounter who exhibit signs of excited delirium, such as elevated body temperatures, increased physical strength and lack of physical fatigue, according to New York Focus, a nonprofit newsroom. The NYPD did not respond to requests for comment on its training or the new state bill. "They still have this on the books," said Democratic New York state Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who introduced the bill that calls for banning the term from death certificates, autopsies, law enforcement training, incident reports, and court proceedings. "And its pretty concerning the types of restraints they are recommending, given lack of evidence that this is an actual medical syndrome." The Minneapolis Police Department, which according to the Star Tribune used the term in trainings, declined to comment on its training materials and the pending state legislation. That bill would prohibit excited delirium and similar terms from being cited as a cause of death, used as a medical diagnosis, or included in law enforcement training. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara raises his fist in solidarity on the three-year anniversary of George Floyd's death at George Floyd Square in Minneapolis. But the theorys presence in training materials may also be starting to change. In Colorado where the term was used, in part, to justify the 2019 killing of Elijah McClain in Aurora a state board eliminated the term from law enforcement training starting this January. Law enforcement officers restrained the 23-year-old, and paramedics injected him with a lethal dose of ketamine. This year, Colorado lawmakers are debating a measure that largely mirrors Californias bill but allows the term to remain in civil court proceedings. At the bills hearing before the Colorado House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 6, Rebecca De Luna described her familys anguish over the 2017 death of her daughters father, Alejandro Gutierrez, in Thornton police custody. She said excited delirium was classified as the cause of his death. His face was bruised with an imprint of a shoe. His appearance was unrecognizable, De Luna testified. The term has been used far too long as an excuse for law enforcement to protect themselves when someone dies in their custody, quite frankly, as a result of excessive force and what I consider police brutality resulting in death. Several medical service providers and educators testified in opposition. John Seward, the University of Denvers emergency medical services program manager, told the committee that he did not object to banning excited delirium in death certificates and police training, as police are not health professionals. But banning the terms use from medical personnel training would amount to legislating medicine and impeding academic freedom, he said. If we cannot study and learn from the past, even when that past is hurtful, we are now condemning ourselves to repeat it, Seward told lawmakers. Notices reading "Justice for Daniel Prude" are pasted on the exterior walls of City Hall in protest of the police killing of Daniel Prude in the early morning of Sept. 9, in Rochester, New York. Julia Sherwin, a California civil rights attorney who testified in support of the Colorado bill, was surprised by opponents arguments that such bills could limit free speech and discussion about the history of the idea. That to me felt a little ridiculous, said Sherwin, who co-authored the Physicians for Human Rights report. Such bills keep a discredited theory from being falsely used to respond to a crisis and keep junk science out of official records, she said. The Colorado bill passed the states House in a 42-19 vote in mid-February and is now before the state Senate. It was amended to clarify that excited delirium may be used when teaching about the history of the term and that EMS courses are allowed on safe and effective medical interaction with individuals exhibiting an altered mental state who have symptoms that include agitation, aggression, or violence. Some of the push for such legislation comes from families whose loved ones deaths were blamed on excited delirium, rather than on use of force during a police encounter. The Hawaii bill was introduced after William and Verdell Haleck learned about Californias effort and began contacting lawmakers in Hawaii. Their son Sheldon died there in 2015 after he was pepper-sprayed, shocked, and restrained by Honolulu police. In a civil trial that the Halecks lost, officers blamed his death on excited delirium. The Hawaii bill would ban excited delirium from being used in death certificates, police incident reports, and civil cases. It had not been scheduled for a legislative committee hearing as of mid-March, but the Halecks are hopeful it will eventually pass. It would give us some sort of closure and justice, said William Haleck. Demonstrators carry a giant placard during a rally and march over the death of Elijah McClain outside the police department in Aurora, Colo., on June 27, 2020. The Honolulu Police Department is monitoring the bill and hasnt taken a position on it, said Michelle Yu, a spokesperson for the department. And the bill would have little impact on Honolulus Department of the Medical Examiner, said its director, Masahiko Kobayashi, because doctors there dont use excited delirium as a cause of death. One reason such bills are still important is because they prevent policies from fluctuating with each new leadership change, said David Siffert, legal director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, which helped draft model legislation banning excited delirium and is pushing for the New York bill. Even if you are doing everything right, you dont know if your successor will be, Siffert said. Historically we have seen those ups and downs in our agencies. Supporters of such state legislation say that banning the term excited delirium is just a first step toward reducing deaths in police custody. The underlying context doesnt change with legislation alone, Naples-Mitchell said. It is going to take a very long time to address the root causes. Mountain States editor Matt Volz contributed to this article. KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News, is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF an independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Excited delirium discredited after George Floyd but police resist ban The Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and History Nebraska on Thursday released a list of known, named students who attended the Genoa Indian Industrial School, The school was located in Genoa, Nebraska, some 100 miles from Lincoln, Nebraska. Completed in 1884, the Genoa Indian Industrial School operated for 50 years until 1934. Thousands of Native Americans from various tribal commuiteis and states attended the school in its half century of operation. The 177-page list of names and the sources listed were compiled through research efforts of the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation and the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project. In the document, information collected from the GIS Foundation is in black, and information collected from the Genoa Digital Reconciliation Project is in purple and blue. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. The list is derived from a variety of sourcesschool newspapers, graduation documents, student records, and moreand only shows the name, listed tribal affiliation (when known), and the source naming the student. As such, the list does not necessarily show the full years of each students attendance, nor dates the student entered or left the School. Genoa Industrial Indian Boarding School students. (Photo/University of Nebraska - Lincoln) As I understand, there are still names from census records from 1885, 1900, and 1910 that need to be added to the list, with an additional approximately 500 children appearing on the 1885 and 1900 census lists alone, Judi M. gaiashkibos of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs said in a statement about the release of the list of names. Researchers at the Foundation and Digital Reconciliation Project are actively working on updating these lists with those names, and any others that turn up through their continued research. It is our hope that the NCIA and HN can be a better bridge between these two separate but interconnected research projects to allow for more regular, complete progress updates on all of the efforts surrounding the search for the children lost at Genoa. Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and History Nebraska are continuously updating the list. Anyone with additional information or records should contact the Commission or History Nebraska. CLICK to go to the student list. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net ARCADIA, Calif. - A mother from Indiana was arrested in Los Angeles Friday in connection with the death of her then-5-year-old son, Cairo Jordan. Dejaune Anderson was arrested by US Marshals in Arcadia. Indiana State Police say their investigation began in April of 2022, when a man hunting for mushrooms located a suitcase in a heavily wooded area in rural Washington County. Dejaune Ludie Anderson (Indiana State Police) The suitcase contained the body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan, who was unidentified at the time of the discovery. SUGGESTED: In October of 2022, a warrant was issued for Anderson's arrest. The charges listed Murder, Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, and Obstruction of Justice. It's unclear how she avoided police for two years, but earlier this week detectives received information that Anderson was in California. Detectives with the Indiana State Police and US Marshals located Anderson and finally took her into custody. Also in October of 2022, 41-year-old Dawn Elaine Coleman of Shreveport, Louisana, was taken into custody in California on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the boy's death, according to Washington County jail records. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, investigators discovered that Coleman and Anderson were acquainted and stayed in a home together with the boy in Louisville. "A probable cause affidavit states that Coleman admitted to walking into a bedroom of the home where she witnessed Anderson lying on top of the child, who was face down on the bed with his face into the mattress," sheriff's officials said in a statement. "She said Anderson asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase." The two then drove to a wooded area and dumped the suitcase, according to the sheriff's office. Dejaune Ludie Anderson and Dawn Elaine Coleman (Indiana State Police) Coleman and Anderson had known each other for about a year and would travel extensively with the 5-year-old, authorities said. Coleman pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. "We are committed to following this case through until the end," Washington County Prosecutor Tara Hunt said at the time. "None of the law enforcement officers and agencies involved in this sad case will find closure until we have ensured Cairo's mother is held accountable for her actions." It was unclear when Anderson might be extradited to Washington County. City News Service contributed to this report A mother was arrested in California on Thursday, almost two years after her 5-year-old son was found dead inside a novelty suitcase in the woods of Indiana. Dejaune Anderson was located in Arcadia, a suburb outside Los Angeles, and taken into custody on charges including murder over the death of Cairo Jordan, Indiana State Police announced Friday. In late 2022, authorities said that Cairos body had been discovered inside a distinctive Las Vegas-themed hard-shell suitcase in southern Indiana. Cairo Jordan, via GoFundMe. GoFundMe Though he had been found in April, months went by until investigators were able to identify the body or any suspects in Cairos death. No family members, witnesses, or acquaintances came forward to identify the boy or provide any information, police said at the time. Leads from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also proved unsuccessful, as well as tips called in by the general public. An autopsy revealed that Cairo died just days before his body was discovered, and that his death stemmed from dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea. While police had identified Anderson as a suspect in the case, they noted that she is currently at large, and her location is unknown. But Dawn Elaine Coleman, whod lived with Cairo and his mother, was soon arrested for her involvement. Investigators said that the three resided in Louisville, Kentucky. According to an arrest affidavit cited by Georgia news station 11Alive, Coleman had walked in on Anderson lying on top of Cairo as he was face down. Anderson allegedly asked Coleman to help put her son in a trash bag and then into a suitcase before driving to the woods of Indiana. In the days leading up to Cairos death, Anderson posted on social media about her child being possessed by demons, according to 11Alives report. I cant wait to tell this story about that exorcism, read one post attributed to the mother. When Cairos body was identified, the boys father said thatwords could not explain the pain he felt. I would have never thought in a million years that I would have to experience such a thing as this, he wrote online in October 2022. But the father, a Georgia resident, also noted that hed received an immense amount of support from a community many miles away from him, saying that the people of Indiana saw Cairo as family. Anderson remained on the run until Indiana authorities got information from a concerned citizen that led to her location, police said. She was taken into custody this week while attempting to board a train. In addition to murder, Anderson is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice. Its unclear when she will be extradited back to Indiana. Last year, Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and wassentenced to 25 years in prison. Related... In this article, we will take a look at 20 Countries with Highest Net Migration. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to the 7 Countries with Highest Net Migration. Fascinating archaeological findings over the years have sought to establish the movement of humans across regions, revealing their innate tendency for migration. The contemporary world has evolved to facilitate this transition, without significantly dampening its pace. In fact, international migration has increased over the years, reaching, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM), a figure of 281 million migrants in 2020, which accounts for 3.6% of the total population. This marks an increase of 128 million people since 1990 who have moved away from their birth country, and it is over three times the estimated number in 1970. Various drivers motivate movement across borders and regions, ranging from personal aspirations to the realities of life. However, a discernible pattern emerges, indicating a higher rate of migration towards affluent countries. Check out our article on 30 Countries with Highest Rates of Emigration. Regionally, Europe and Asia stand out as the areas with the highest number of international migrants, with 86.7 million in Europe and 85.6 million in Asia recorded in 2020. Among individual countries, the United States hosts the largest number of international migrants, totaling nearly 51 million in 2020. Additionally, the Latin America and Caribbean region has experienced significant growth as an international migrant hub, with its migrant population nearly doubling since 2005. Social Drivers for Migration Several key factors motivate people to leave their homeland and establish themselves in a new location. These include seeking a higher quality of life than what their original country can offer, as well as reuniting with family members already settled abroad. Developing and emerging countries often lack the standards of good quality of life found in developed, wealthier economies, which serves as a pull factor for migrants towards these destinations. Story continues Political Drivers for Migration Political reasons for migration encompass a multitude of factors, including war, regional conflict, oppressive regimes, denial of basic human rights, and freedom restrictions. In recent years, a growing number of people have been displaced due to forced migration, driven by persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and natural disasters. This includes refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons within their home countries. By the end of 2021, approximately 1.1% of the world's population (87.5 million people) were compelled to leave their homes, a stark increase from the 0.4% recorded in 1990. Humanitarian migration to Germany and the US, two of the leading countries offering asylum, nearly doubled in 2022, with arrivals from countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Afghanistan, and Nicaragua. Climatic Drivers for Migration Climate disruption in recent years has triggered numerous adverse and hazardous situations, leading to increased human mobility. In 2022, the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, estimated that 31.8 million people were forcibly displaced annually due to weather-related sudden-onset hazards. The primary causes include floods affecting 19.2 million people, storms affecting 10 million, droughts affecting 2.2 million, and the remaining displacement attributed to wildfires, landslides, and extreme temperatures. Economic Drivers for Migration The disparity between developed and developing nations extends beyond access to basic amenities to encompass a wider range of job opportunities and significantly higher wages compared to individuals' home countries. The promise of faster career growth has driven many migrants towards developed economies like the United States. Home to some of the largest tech conglomerates globally, the US serves as a magnetic destination for skilled labor from around the world. Companies such as Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) are revered names in the tech industry and represent dream job opportunities for many tech workers. The resources and growth prospects offered by these companies serve as a compelling draw for career-oriented migrants. Notably, these Silicon Valley giants-- Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META)-- have been observed to sponsor numerous workers through H-1B visas. According to data from the US Department of Labor, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) led the way by sponsoring a total of 8,493 H-1B visas in 2019, followed by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) with 3,110 visas, and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) with 1,704 visas. 20 Countries with Highest Net Migration Methodology To identify the 20 Countries with the Highest Net Migration, we analyzed data from the World Bank Data site, which provides net migration numbers by country from 1960 to 2022. We have ranked our list in ascending order of net migration figures from 2022, the latest year available. Additionally, we examined the Quality of Life Index and Climate Index for these countries, sourced from Numbeo's 2024 data, and the Safety Index ranking from Global Finance Magazine's Safety Index for 2023. Furthermore, we also talked about the foreign-born employment rate for the year 2022, utilizing data available from the OECD. Finally, we look at the 2023 net migration rate from the CIA-World Factbook as well. Note: We do not take into consideration countries which lie low on the safety index (ranked above 110) like South Africa, Moldova and Venezuela or where rise in net migration might be due to deportation of their refugees like Syria. 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. Let us now take a look at our list for 20 Countries with Highest Net Migration. 20. Saudi Arabia Net Migration: 28,998 As a relatively developed Gulf nation, Saudi Arabia offers significant advantages to immigrants. The country boasts a favorable quality of life, ranked 28th among 85 countries, which attracts many individuals from around the world, particularly from emerging economies. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is recognized as one of the safest countries, holding the 19th position globally in safety rankings. However, it's worth noting that the climate tends to be hot. The country also maintains a notable net migration rate of 6.1 migrants per 1,000 population. 19. South Korea Net Migration: 29,998 South Korea is rapidly emerging as a destination with a rising influx of immigrants. While the quality of life in the country is not exceptionally high, it still ranks favorably at number 37 on the index. Moreover, South Korea stands among the top twenty safest countries, holding the 17th position. However, the climate is not particularly appealing, often characterized by hot and humid conditions. The recorded net migration rate in the country stands at 2.6 migrants per 1,000 population. 18. Netherlands Net Migration: 29,998 Ranked 2nd on the Quality of Life Index, the Netherlands is renowned for offering a high standard of living to its residents and therefore, is one of the countries with the highest net migration. Additionally, it secures the 33rd position among the safest countries globally. The country's favorable weather further adds to its appeal for many individuals. Moreover, the high percentage of foreign-born individuals employed in the workforce (70.3%) indicates promising job prospects for immigrants. With a net migration rate of 4.1 migrants per 1,000 population, the Netherlands stands as an increasingly desirable destination for those seeking a better future. 17. Belarus Net Migration: 30,308 Belarus ranks relatively high on the Quality of Life Index, securing the 54th position, indicating a promising prospect for immigrants seeking high-standard amenities of life. The country's temperate weather also encourages people to settle down. With a net migration rate of 0.9 migrants per 1,000 population, Belarus presents itself as a potential destination for those looking for a better quality of life and marking as a country with a high net migration. 16. Switzerland Net Migration: 39,998 As one of the most advanced nations in Europe, Switzerland has consistently attracted migrants seeking a high standard of living. Ranked 7th on the Quality of Life Index, the country offers excellent amenities and opportunities. Switzerland also stands out as one of the safest countries globally, securing the 14th place according to Global Finance Magazine data. While the climate index may not be exceptionally high, it remains at a moderate level and is preferable compared to many other countries. Moreover, immigrants in Switzerland have a high chance of employment, with a foreign-born employment rate of 75.3%. With a net migration rate of 6 migrants per 1,000 population, Switzerland emerges as one of the places of high net migration. 15. Sweden Net Migration: 39,998 Being one of the popular migrant destinations in Europe, Sweden stands out as a country with one of the highest net migration rates. With a quality of life score of 175 (ranking 14th on the index), Sweden promises to provide its citizens with a high standard of living. While the country may not rank exceptionally high on the climate index, it boasts a fairly good safety situation, securing the 31st place globally. Additionally, the foreign-born employment rate is quite favorable at 68.8%. With a net migration rate of 3.8 migrants per 1,000 population, Sweden continues to be an attractive destination for those seeking a better quality of life. 14. Spain Net Migration: 39,998 As another European nation that fulfills the desires of immigrants seeking a high quality of life, Spain ranks among the countries with the highest net migration rate. With a quality of life index ranking of 12 and a climate index ranking of 14, Spain emerges as one of the most desirable options for migration. While the safety index may not be exceptionally high, the employment rate for foreign-born individuals at 63.5% indicates a positive outlook. The country boasts a net migration rate of 4.2 migrants per 1,000 population, further solidifying its appeal as a destination for those seeking a better quality of life. 13. Malaysia Net Migration: 48,997 With a quality of life index score of 125.8 and a ranking of 48th among 85 countries, Malaysia stands out as one of the popular Asian destinations for immigrants, earning its place among the countries with the highest net migration. Although the country does not boast a particularly favorable climate, its safety index remains reasonably favorable. Malaysia maintains a net migration rate of 1.5 migrants per 1,000 population, further solidifying its appeal as a destination for those seeking opportunities and a better quality of life. 12. Italy Net Migration: 58,496 Although the quality of life and safety index may not be as high as observed in other European countries, Italy remains one of the countries with the highest net migration. The climate, however, is pleasant, and the employment rate for foreign-born individuals, standing at 62.4%, indicates favorable prospects for work settlement. Italy maintains a net migration rate of 3.2 migrants per 1,000 population, highlighting its appeal as a destination for those seeking opportunities and a better quality of life. 11. France Net Migration: 66,601 Ranked 32nd on the quality of life index, France is committed to providing a good standard of living for its citizens. While the safety index places France at the 57th position, the climate index indicates favorable weather conditions in the country. Additionally, 61.6% of foreign-born individuals are able to secure employment in France. The reported net migration rate for the country stands at 1.1 migrants per 1,000 population. 10. Japan Net Migration: 99,994 In the Asian region, Japan stands out as one of the top countries for providing a high quality of life for its residents, ranking 11th on the index. Additionally, it is recognized as one of the safest places in the world, securing the 22nd position on safety rankings. However, the climate index is somewhat lower. Japan maintains a net migration rate of 0.7 migrants per 1,000 population. 9. Australia Net Migration: 139,991 This Oceanic country not only boasts one of the highest standards of life, ranking 22nd on the quality of life index, but also enjoys a favorable climate, securing the 17th place on climate rankings. Furthermore, it is recognized as one of the safest countries in the world. Immigrants flocking in would also find promising employment opportunities, with the foreign-born employment rate noted at 77.2%. The country maintains a high net migration rate of 6.4 migrants per 1,000 population. 8. Germany Net Migration: 154,592 As one of the most advanced economies in Europe, Germany boasts a high quality of life index ranking, securing the 13th place, and ensures a safe environment for its residents, ranking 20th on the safety index. The climate in the country is generally temperate, adding to its appeal. Additionally, 69.8% of foreign-born individuals have been able to secure employment, depicting a positive scenario for immigrants. Germany maintains a net migration rate of 1.8 migrants per 1,000 population. Click to continue reading and see our 7 Countries with Highest Net Migration. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Countries with Highest Net Migration is originally published on Insider Monkey. SELLERSBURG, Ind. (AP) The mother of a 5-year-old Atlanta boy whose body was found in a suitcase in southern Indiana in 2022 has been arrested in California after nearly two years on the run, Indiana State Police said Friday. U.S. Marshals located and arrested Dejaune Anderson in Arcadia, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, on an October 2022 warrant out of Washington County charging her with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, police said. The body of of Cairo Ammar Jordan was found inside a suitcase in a wooded area about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of Louisville, Kentucky, in April 2022. Read more: Latest Chicago news headline A state police detective received a tip that led to locating Anderson in California. It wasnt clear Friday whether she has an attorney who might comment on her behalf. Its a somber moment, Sgt. Carey Huls said. We did know that this day was going to come, but to have it come at this time and to have her in custody, Im just excited (for the detectives). Were all very excited, lifted up and buoyed by the fact that shes behind bars and can be brought back to Indiana so we can continue this trail for justice for Cairo. Huls said detectives were traveling to California to continue their investigation. Anderson will be brought back to Indiana, he said. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police said. Investigators said the boy had died about a week or less before a mushroom hunter discovered his body. A second woman charged in the case reached a plea deal with prosecutors in November. Dawn Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended to probation after pleading guilty to aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. Mother of boy in suitcase, Dejaune Anderson, arrested after 2 years on the run Dejaune Anderson, the mother of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase in southern Indiana has been arrested after being on the run for two years. Anderson, who is the mother of 5-year-old Cairo Ammar Jordan, on Thursday in Arcadia, California, just outside of Los Angeles. She was charged with murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. The young Atlanta boy would have turned 7 years old this past October. TIMELINE: INVESTIGATION OF ATLANTA BOY FOUND IN SUITCASE, MOTHER'S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, PREVIOUS ARRESTS What led to Dejaune Andersons arrest? According to the Indiana State Police, a concerned citizen called a tip to the police giving away Andersons location in California. Indiana police alerted the U.S. Marshalls in California and local authorities, who were able to capture Anderson as she attempted to board a Los Angeles Metro Rail train. Detectives have flown out to California to question her and to petition for her extradition back to Indiana. Dawn Coleman pleads guilty, must testify Dawn Coleman, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was arrested in San Francisco in October 2022. She's charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice. Coleman was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with a year-and-a-half credit for time served, followed by five years of probation. Jordan had never been reported missing, slowing the months-long investigation into the case. She is also obligated to testify against Anderson. Cairo Ammar Jordan (Family photo) Boys body found stuffed in suitcase in Indiana The probable cause affidavit for arrest filed by the Indiana State Police in Andersons arrest outlines discussions of demonic possession, exorcism, and "death attacks" by her young son. Those warrants were issued on Oct. 14, 2022. Police said a man came across the suitcase while hunting wild mushrooms on his property on April 16, 2022. The suitcase was at the end of a dead-end road in a very rural area of Washington County, Indiana. The man opened it to find a pillow and a black trash bag containing the young childs body. Video obtained by police from a property owner near the scene shows part of the street. It showed a vehicle stopping into the area where the suitcase was found around 4:53 p.m. on April 14, 2022. The affidavit also states cellphones belonging to Anderson and Coleman were in the same area between 4:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. that day. Investigators said they were able to lift prints from two different people on the suitcase and trash bag. Police said those match prints belonging to Anderson and Coleman. The affidavit states the same Las Vegas-style hard-side suitcase found with the 5-year-old boy inside appears in photos on Colemans social media. This image released by Indiana State Police shows the suitcase the body of 5-year-old Cairo Ammar Jordan was found stuffed inside on April 16, 2022. (Indiana State Police) An autopsy found that the boy died from an electrolyte imbalance most likely due to gastroenteritis, or vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police said in May. Investigators said the boy had died within a week prior to his bodys discovery. He was buried in June at a Salem, Indiana, cemetery about 35 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky, after a memorial service where a police chaplain called the then-unidentified child an "unknown angel." DeJaune Anderson's prior arrests Investigators started looking into the history of Anderson and Coleman after matching their prints. They found the 5-year-old boys mother had been arrested in two states just a month before the gruesome discovery in south Indiana. Anderson led troopers on a high-speed chase after failing to stop on March 12, South Carolina Highway Patrol records indicate. Troopers said her car was clocked going 92 mph in a 60-mph zone. The pursuit lasted for about 30 miles, until her 2019 Dodge Challenger ran out of gas. The occupants of the car refused to comply with troopers. Investigators said the troopers had to smash the back drivers side window to get inside and get the three occupants out. Anderson was accompanied by her son and Coleman, who she identified as her sister, the troopers said. Troopers said the car was registered with Ashley Logistics Corporation, for which Anderson is listed as the CEO and her son listed as secretary, according to the Georgia Corporations Division. She was booked into the Colleton County Jail on charges of child endangerment, speeding over 25 mph, and failure to stop for blue lights. Dejaune Ludie Anderson Just 19 days later, Anderson would again be booked in jail, but this time in Louisville. According to the affidavit, Anders was arrested by the Louisville Metro Police Department outside of Von Maur at the Oxmoor Mall for taking clothes from the store. When she was approached by mall security, she became violent, punching the officer in the face, police said. She was booked into the Jefferson County Jail in Kentucky charged with robbery in the second-degree. A jail phone call obtained by police appears to be a conversation between Anderson and Coleman, who discussed that they were OK and staying with a cousin. Claims of demonic possession of 5-year-old boy The affidavit contains posts that Anderson allegedly made on her Facebook account that make references to blood magic, the occult, demons, exorcism, possession and other supernatural topics. Andersons account was named "Thesonymichelle" with the vanity name of "Katu Katu," according to the affidavit. About three weeks before her arrest in South Carolina, she police said she wrote: "Can't wait to tell my story: I had to raise my frequency, heal myself and past lives, heal my ancestors, heal s*** in the universe, heal Gaia to exorcism a very powerful demonic force from within my son. (Had ppl in enough alignment with their soul to assist me.) Still I chose my soul and was able to completely heal myself and remove old paradigms from my mind. I know you can chose your soul with no questions asked." Cairo Ammar Jordan (Family photo) Two days after the arrest, she reportedly wrote: "Stop getting caught up in the vessels of this realm. You guys get caught up with how old the body is, if they adult and kids, etc. Don't even know it's a full grown demon in the child body telling you what to do because you didn't choose your soul. Better start using your 311 eye." Three days later, several more posts were made to her account, including: "Can't wait to tell this story" "About that exorcism" "A book about living with a demonic child" "And a podcast" Dawn Elaine Coleman (Indiana State Police) While Anderson was in jail for a second time, Coleman took to Facebook offering several strange posts. The affidavit states her account was "ank.bella.7" and went by the vanity name "Ankh Kek." On April 4, she wrote: "Don't let the avatars fool you there is a face under it you need to see some have souls some don't. Evil & wicked is hiding in plain sight must keep rising AK MG" Four days later, Coleman made a similar, but expanded post: "Just because the avatar is of what we call a child does not mean that it is actually a child there are beings that are here that are not supposed to be here that pick avatars to hide behind to play roles to steal energy and to ruin lives you better check to see if the children that you think are children actually have souls or if they're not menevolent beings with a soul and in a child Avatar. Magic is real curses are real and there are some very powerful evil beings there that will curse your womb and then some. Nothing is what It seems and we are catering to evil beings in children avatars that aren't even children. Vail need to rise most of won't most will be wiped out because of your demons in this paradigm has no room for that. AK MG." The day before Anderson was released, Coleman reportedly wrote: "Most of the children aren't even really children at that just in an avatar playing a character" Anderson was released from jail on April 11, 2022. The affidavit states she quickly took to Facebook to mark the occasion, writing: "Just got out of a jail mission" "Yes had to do some healing and killing" Just four days before an Indiana property owner made the gruesome discovery of the body of 5-year-old Cairo Ammar Jordan stuffed into a suitcase at the dead-end of a rural road, Anderson made a disturbing public tweet using her account using the vanity name "Miss Deja Day." That tweet was addressing a well-known Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Father Vincent Lampert was a designated exorcist who has published several books and has made many television appearances on the subject. In her tweet, the affidavit states Anderson wrote to Fr. Lambert: "good day sir. I need to speak with you urgently. I have survived the death attacks from my 5-year-old throughout the 5 years he has been alive. I have been able to weaken his powers through our blood. I have his real name and he is 100 years old. Need assistance." Fr. Lambert appears to have not been active on Twitter since July 2017 at that point. Dejaune Ludie Anderson (Indiana State Police) Anderson appeared to have made one final Facebook post on the day between when police say her cellphone pinged in the area where her sons body was eventually discovered and the day it was discovered, according to the affidavit. It reads: "This is a whole demon in a child body. Why you think she need a cigarette?! ! Losing energy huh! 64 years old in a child body. Was full of gifts and magickal rites stronger than many of you because your frequency not high enough. Start asking spirit to reveal these things to you hiding behind a body." Two months after a roofing worker found the body of a baby boy in a Hollywood dumpster, the babys mother and a man police say disposed of the body are facing criminal charges. Brenda Feliciano, 36, was already in jail on unrelated charges and is now charged with failure to report a death, while Terence Briggance Warren, 60, was arrested Thursday on charges of failure to report a death and improper disposal of a body. The cause of the babys death remains unknown: medical examiners saw no signs of foul play or decomposition but were still testing to determine if he was born alive, police say. Related Articles Police had responded to the dumpster the morning of Jan. 8 after receiving a 911 call from a supervisor at the roofing company, who said that his employee had discovered the body in a bag in the dumpster in the 1700 block of Rodman Street, according to a probable cause affidavit. Yes, good morning. I am calling because one of my job sites, were a roofing company, we have a found a child in a dumpster, the caller said. Child, a kid, a human, he repeated to the dispatcher. The roofing employee who discovered the baby told detectives that he had noticed that the garbage chute from the roof to the dumpster was clogged, and when he went to unclog it, he smelled a foul odor, according to the affidavit. He then saw the bag with the baby inside and told his supervisor. Related Articles Fire Rescue found the baby in a reusable Aldi shopping bag, which they removed from the dumpster, pronouncing him dead on scene. He looked healthy with no signs of trauma, injury, or decomposition, first responders and medical examiners found. His umbilical cord was still attached, and the shopping bag also contained the placenta, blood, and other products of conception. The medical examiners office conducted an autopsy, according to the affidavit, which also did not show any signs of trauma. They said that the cause of death remained undetermined, and were performing further tests, including toxicology, to try to figure out if the baby was born alive or stillborn. Video surveillance taken outside of the dumpster showed a man later identified as Warren stop his Kia Sorrento, get out, reach into the passenger window and throw a bag into the dumpster, according to the affidavit. Warren lives a block away from the dumpster. Detectives met with Warren, who allowed them to search his car and cellphone. On Jan. 2, a contact saved as F. Brenda texted Warren, Im almost F******* 40 weeks pregnant. What are you talking about! The affidavit does not provide the relationship between Warren and Feliciano or between Warren and the baby. On Feb. 8, Warren identified Feliciano to police as the mother of the baby, according to the affidavit. That same day, officers in the Street Crimes Unit arrested her on an unrelated narcotics warrant. The statement she gave to detectives afterwards is redacted. The handles of the Aldi bag later came back as a match with Felicianos DNA, according to the affidavit. She is being held in the Paul Rein Detention Facility, where she faces charges of possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia on top of the failure to report charge, inmate records show. Warren, meanwhile, has been released from Broward Main Jail on bond. Staff writer Angie DiMichele contributed to this report. MOUNT CARMEL, Tenn. (WJHL)Mount Carmel Elementary School (MCES) will host its STEAM night on March 26, the school announced on its Facebook page Thursday. The event will be from 6-8 p.m. on March 26. The event will include: Hands-On Museum activities 4-H camp activities Robotics Math Games Art Science Fire Trucks Police Cars Home Depot and Lowes activities 20+ Northeast Tennessee schools awarded STEM grants by TVA In addition to the fun and games, Mrs. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus will be making a special appearance for the Wildcats. According to the post, MCES will provide small snacks, but a food truck will be available for hungrier students and families. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A Mountain View man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after being found guilty of four homicides in 2022. In a press release, ASP officials said that 56-year-old Donnie Lee Trammell of Mountain View pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder Thursday. Previous reporting: Neighbors in Stone County shocked, confused over pair of double killings ASP officials said that Trammell was responsible for the shooting deaths of his parents, William Clinton Trammell and Sharon Trammell, as well as their neighbors Shirley Watters and James Watters. Authorities said that on April 21, 2022, ASP Criminal Investigations Division agents were called to a home on Northcutt Road by the Stone County Sheriffs Office to investigate after discovering the shooting deaths of Shirley and James Watters. Previous reporting: Man charged in 2 Stone County double homicides, son of two of the victims Hours later, detectives said they discovered the bodies of William and Sharon Trammell inside their home a short distance from the Watters residence. Officials said that in May of 2022, Donnie Trammell was charged with the shooting deaths of all victims while being held at a local jail on unrelated probation violations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. An apoplectic Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) complained on Friday that Judge Scott McAfee should have recused himself in the Fani Willis case because he once worked for the Fulton County district attorney and donated to her campaign. The MAGA congresswomans arguments were summarily dismissed by legal experts, however, who noted that Greene did not cite a sufficient basis for judicial recusal and that McAfees ruling was highly critical of Willis unprofessional behavior. Following Willis combative testimony in which she defended her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she assigned to the election interference case against Donald Trump, McAfee ruled that there was a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team. He added that it could only be resolved if one of them left the case, resulting in Nathan Wade tendering his resignation hours later. McAfee also admonished Willis not only for her fiery courtroom testimony last month but also for her January speech at an Atlanta church where she suggested she was being targeted because of her race. This finding is by no means an indication that the court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorneys testimony during the evidentiary hearing, he declared. In the end, though, Willis is allowed to remain on the Trump criminal caseand that decision did not sit well within MAGA circles. Greene, however, was particularly outraged. Judge McAfee worked for Fani Willis and donated to her campaign AND has now ruled that Fani can keep prosecuting Trump but only if she removes her lover Nathan Wade off the case! Greene posted on social media shortly after McAfee released his ruling. Judge McAfee should have recused himself in the first place because of his obvious bias. Fani Willis lied under oath in his courtroom! She continued: Fani and Wade conspired with the Whitehouse and Jan 6th Committee, talk about RICO charges! Fani Willis overpaid her lover Nathan Wade as he had zero experience with RICO cases, abuse of taxpayer funds! And the Georgia Ethics board needs to seriously investigate both Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, Ive filed multiple complaints! The corruption in Fulton County, Georgia is some of the worst in the nation. It makes most of us in Georgia sick. Lawyers and legal experts, however, took umbrage with Greenes assertion that McAfee had a conflict of interest in the case and should have recused himself. Sigh. Judge McAfee donated a small sum to Fani Willis campaign in 2020*before* he was appointed to the bench, Lawfare legal fellow and courts correspondent Anna Bower tweeted. Georgia courts have held that nominal campaign contributions are an insufficient basis for judicial recusal. Theres no basis for McAfee to recuse. Bower also addressed Greenes accusation that McAfee worked for Willis in the past. Yes, Scott McAfee worked in the same office as Willis before he became a judge. (That was long before Willis ran for DA.), she wrote. Again, not a sufficient basis for judicial recusal, as the Georgia Supreme Court has held! One of the 34-year-old judges first jobs after he left law school was with the Fulton County District Attorneys Office. According to the New York Times, McAfee was soon promoted to the complex trial division, which was led by Willis at the time. By the time Willis became the district attorney, McAfee had left the office to become a judge. At the same time, during his tenure at law school, he was the vice president of the conservative law group Federalist Society and was treasurer for the Law Republicans. The order strongly, strongly implies that Wade and Willis lied under oath, lawyer Andrew Fleischman reacted to Greenes claim. You would not write these things about someone you were sucking up to. Law professor Anthony Michael Kreis, meanwhile, added that it was fairly obvious that McAfees small campaign contribution had no bearing on his ruling, and that it wasnt a reason to call for his recusal. A de minimus contribution before accepting a judicial seat is not a due process issue, Kreis posted. Judge McAfee has been extremely cautious, methodical, and thorough. There is zero basis to believe he hasnt been playing this down the middle even if you disagree with some of his decisions. 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. TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- A 26-year-old suspect wanted in the shooting deaths of three of his relatives surrendered to authorities in Trenton, New Jersey, officials said Saturday evening. The shootings occurred Saturday morning at two separate homes in nearby Levittown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Trenton police said Andre Gordon Jr. was taken into custody a couple blocks from the home where the standoff had been taking place. Police said he had left the house before the standoff, and officers spotted him. UPDATE: Andre Gordon was arrested, but not at the home in Trenton where the SWAT team thought he was barricaded. A patrol officer spotted him walking on New York Avenue, a few blocks away. Hell be extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges for the triple murder in Bucks County. pic.twitter.com/DltaiN9Sd6 Madeleine Wright (@MWrightReports) March 16, 2024 "The suspect has been located at another location in Trenton, and he surrendered peacefully," a Trenton police spokesperson told CBS News in an email. SWAT teams had surrounded a home on Phillips Avenue in Trenton where they believed Gordon may be inside with hostages. Trenton police later said all residents who were inside the home had been safely evacuated. Trenton police say all residents who were inside the attached home where Andre Gordon is barricaded have been safely evacuated. The SWAT team is still urging the Falls Township murder suspect to come out of the home on Phillips Ave. and surrender. pic.twitter.com/sPqhQru8p1 Madeleine Wright (@MWrightReports) March 16, 2024 According to Falls Township Police, the situation unfolded Saturday morning, when a suspect allegedly forced himself into a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown. Karen Gordon, 52, and Kera Gordon, 13, were fatally shot. Karen Gordon is Andre Gordon's stepmother, officials said, while Kera Gordon is his sister. The suspect then allegedly moved on to a second home on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where officials say he shot and killed the 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, who is the mother of Andre Gordon's children. Following the shootings and carcjackings in Trenton and Bucks County, Pennsylvania,, law enforcement tracked Gordon to the Phillips Avenue home. The manhunt put multiple Bucks County communities on high alert, leading to a shelter-in-place, the closures of several local businesses, and the cancellation of the Falls Township St. Patrick's Day Parade. LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - Police officers from the Falls Township Police Department tape off and inspect the scene of one of three shootings in the Vermillion Hills neighborhood on March 16, 2024. / Credit: / Getty Images Man suspected in fatal shooting of stepmother, partner and sister The violence began before 9 a.m. at a home on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, authorities said. In a news briefing, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said the suspect armed with an AR-style rifle and possibly other guns pulled up to the home in a vehicle that he had carjacked from Trenton. He then broke inside the residence and shot and killed Karen and Kera Gordon. Three others in the home were unhurt. "Three other people were in that home during the shooting," Schorn said. "They were able to hide from Gordon and avoid being shot as he searched for them in the house." About 10 minutes later, the suspect drove to another home on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he again broke in, Schorn said. There, the mother of the suspect's two children were shot and killed, Schorn said. Those two children, the victim's mother, and another relative were inside the Edgewood Lane home at the time, Schorn disclosed, and the suspect bludgeoned one of them with the rifle. That person is expected to survive their injuries, Schorn said. No one else in that home was injured. A police officer patrols a neighborhood during an active shooter situation in Levittown, a community within Falls Township, Pennsylvania, where a shelter-in-place order was issued on March 16, 2024. / Credit: JOE LAMBERTI/AFP via Getty Images The suspect then fled the scene after that shooting, Schorn said. About 10 minutes later, police believe the suspect committed a second carjacking at a Dollar General store on Bristol Pike in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, fleeing in a Honda CRV. That Honda was later found close to the Trenton home where the suspected hostage situation took place. Police were seen leading people out of a second-floor window on that block. It was not clear if those people were hostages or neighbors. Police remove people from a home in Trenton New Jersey, on March 16, 2024, after reports of a gunman, who is suspected of a shooting spree in Pennsylvania, was barricaded in a house on the block. / Credit: JOE LAMBERTI/AFP via Getty Images Authorities are still investigating how the suspect acquired the rifle. Details on the first carjacking that occurred in Trenton were not immediately provided. Middletown Township police said Gordon is homeless but has ties to Trenton and Bucks County. Shootings prompt shelter-in-place order in Falls Township Following the shootings Saturday morning, Falls Township residents received emergency notifications to shelter-in-place. The push notifications told residents to stay inside their homes, away from windows. As police began searching for Gordon, the Falls Township St. Patrick's Day Parade was getting underway. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said officers went up and down the parade route, warning the crowd to leave the area and head home. The shelter-in-place lasted about three hours before it was lifted. By then, the investigation had moved across the Delaware River to Trenton. "I got all my kids together and we got into the center of the house and locked all our windows and doors," resident David Armitage Jr. said. Businesses in Sesame Place, Langhorne and Middletown Township close Middletown Township police said they directed the Sesame Place amusement park and the Oxford Valley Mall to close Saturday morning. A Target store and several other businesses in Middletown also elected to close, police said. Sesame Place opted to remain closed for the rest of the day after the shelter-in-place was lifted, the department said. "For something like this to happen here and in a couple other sections in this short amount of time. It's crazy," resident Luis Mingo said. Pennsylvania State Sen. Steve Santarsiero informed constituents on Facebook about the cancellation of the parade. The Pennsbury School District postponed all activities and students who were participating in activities were taken inside the building. The Makefield Elementary School play was set to continue as scheduled unless otherwise noted, Superintendent Thomas Smith wrote in a note on the district website. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he ordered Pennsylvania State Police to support local law enforcement in their investigation and reiterated calls to shelter in place. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024 Langhorne police said they did not believe the shooter had entered the borough. "DO NOT travel to Falls Township until further notice," the department said. Home buying might be cheaper for millions soon as realtor association settles lawsuits Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon "Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings PINOPOLIS, S.C. (WBTW) Myrtle Beach leaders on Friday discussed their concerns and where they see the city in 2 years during Day 3 of the citys budget retreat. About 45 city officials and staff members traveled to the Lowcountry to talk budget specifics, staffing updates, and upcoming fees. The team gathered inside the Wampee Conference Center for the last time this year at about 9 a.m. City Council discussed their concerns and where they see the city in 2 years. Focus topics included parking, potholes, and nuisance properties. Mayor Brenda Bethune said they all need to be handled in a proactive way. Bethune said she hopes to see an increase in the quality of life for Myrtle Beach residents. Its a shared responsibility. Keeping our city clean, keeping it well-maintained is the responsibility of every property owner across the city, its not just something the city can do for you, she said. We heard about things like downtown revitalization is so important to bring in higher paying jobs, new jobs, younger residents that want to live here. She added that they want to hear to more from the community and theyre going to be making plans on how to do that effectively. Before the discussion, there was a presentation about the coordinated efforts for tackling opioids, homelessness and mental health. The day started with Michelle Smith, the opioid program coordinator, voicing her concerns about the increase in overdose deaths. Smith said from 2019-2020, there was almost a 54% increase in the total number of overdose deaths. According to the Horry County Coroners Office, 237 people died from overdoses in 2022, leading the state in overall vulnerability. Smith said the program consists of a 3-tiered approach to educate, prevent outreach and respond. She also talked about the state opioid recovery fund. Various municipalities across the area are receiving allocated percentages of the states guaranteed political sub fund, we are getting 1.9% of that sub fund, Horry County gets 5.2%, and then city of Conway and the city of North Myrtle Beach both will receive less than 1% of the state funds, Smith said. Smith says in 2023, almost 150 people were treated through the program and hopes to see that number grow. The budget retreat was adjourned just before noon. * * * Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A nervous Jack Hathaway had one last obstacle to overcome before becoming a NASA astronaut candidate: finding the time to hear the news. Hathaway was awaiting a call in 2021 from NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, then chief of the astronaut office, to hear if he could also join the agency. But Hathaway was on the carrier ship USS Truman, far at sea and flying with Strike Fighter Squadron 81. So the U.S. Navy commander and pilot kept missing the crucial call, he told Space.com. "Finally, at the end of the afternoon, he sent me an email," Hathaway said on March 5. Hathaway finished his daily piloting duties, read his emails and scurried to a ready room to use an open line, which is "you know, a group area." Unluckily, the moment Wiseman told Hathaway the carrier pilot would need to start packing for NASA training, a group of officers walked by on patrol and saw an excited Hathaway silently putting his hands on his head. The officers knew Hathaway, who graduated from astronaut candidate training this month, all too well: they were "paddles," the people responsible for grading every Navy aviator's carrier landing. "They watched my reaction," Hathaway recounted, "and they immediately walked down the length of the ship to talk to all the other ready rooms. They told everyone they saw. So I was not successful, keeping it a secret." Related: NASA graduates new astronaut class as it begins recruiting for more Hathaway and 11 other astronaut candidates 10 from NASA and two from the United Arab Emirates finished 2.5 years of basic training this month and are eligible for future missions. They have a rich array of spaceflight possibilities to enjoy: possible moon or lunar space station flights for the Artemis program, months-long missions on the International Space Station (ISS) and missions to future commercial space stations that are in development. To be sure, the process will not be obstacle-free: the first two planned Artemis crewed missions were delayed in January due to technical gremlins, and NASA is facing a smaller budget in fiscal year 2025 that may further affect mission planning. But the new astronauts feel energy, and optimism, when looking on a longer timescale of a decade or more. "There's just so much to be excited about," Hathaway said. "There's a lot of hard work that the whole team is going to have to do. The whole thing is just such a cool time to be part of the [astronaut] office. You're coming into the office with all the commercial partners doing lunar landings and lunar missions, and the opportunity to have multiple commercial partners building lunar landers and human landing systems. I'm just really excited about this." Related: Get to the choppa! Artemis 2 moon astronauts practice splashdown with U.S. Navy (images, video) four white jets fly above a large orange rocket standing on a launch pad New astronaut and U.S. Navy lieutenant commander Jessica Wittner, an aviation machinist by training, said she is excited for how her past "tinkering around the garage" will help with several spacecraft programs. The aging ISS will need more maintenance work, and commercial stations will need attention when they come online in the 2030s. Meanwhile, every experiment she works on in space or on the ground will require people who are comfortable with being "really hands-on with the equipment." One of her first tasks after graduation will also be working on new spacesuits for astronauts. "It's an incredibly busy time to be part of NASA, and to be part of the space industry just in general. And I think that the astronauts are going to continue to play a large part in that industry," she said, pointing to the flight experience they can bring to different engineering teams and companies looking to expand their own low Earth orbit experience for future commercial space stations. an astronaut in flight suit reaching for the nose cone of a plane NASA astronaut Jessica Wittner inspects a T-38 jet trainer in 2023. (Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel) As people fly to a variety of environments, both lunar and orbital, flight surgeon and new astronaut Anil Menon said there will be new medical conditions to manage along the way. Companies like Axiom Space are also now flying civilians to the ISS, presenting a wider range of people (medically speaking) than you typically would see in the NASA astronaut group. "I think that opens up doors for learning, for all of us," Menon told Space.com. "When we go to the moon, when we go to Mars, when we think generations down we'd like that to be everybody being able to fly and participate in the space program . . . (but) we need to start learning about how different people react when they get up there. This is the first step in that direction." Related: Europe's new astronaut class features 2 women and a paralympian trauma surgeon an astronaut leaning over while wearing a spacesuit and helmet NASA astronaut Anil Menon doing training with an Artemis moon program Orion spacesuit. (Image credit: NASA/David DeHoyos) Artemis is the big program on the immediate horizon for the new astronauts. Artemis 2's four astronauts have been named and are deep in training for their 2025 round-the-moon mission. Artemis 3 has not yet named its crew for landing on the moon no earlier than 2026, leaving a slight chance for the new astronauts to join. Artemis 4 and beyond, not to mention missions to NASA's planned Gateway lunar space station, are stronger possibilities for the new astronaut group. "What excites me is that it's new. I've always been fascinated with new things; I like to develop things," new NASA astronaut Andre Douglas told Space.com about Artemis. Douglas, in fact, always has learning opportunities in his mind for career moves. That's why he left the Coast Guard to join the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as an engineer prior to signing up for NASA. an astronaut in a spacesuit inside a large warehouse NASA astronaut Andre Douglas during spacewalk or extravehicular activity training at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. (Image credit: NASA/James Blair) "I needed to solve new problems and tackle new challenges, because I really believe in pushing ourselves, in understanding what is our true potential both me as an individual and within all of us as a species," he said. "Going to the moon, and then going to Mars, that just blows my mind. We're going to take the things we've seen in Hollywood and try to make that a reality. So instead of fearing the unknown, let's try to tackle it. That's kind of my motto." When asked what excites him about the Artemis program, naval aviator and new astronaut Jack Delaney quipped, "What isn't exciting?" But the retired U.S. Marine major said that, as a pilot, he's interested in learning how to manage power during a tricky moon landing, which was a difficult task for the military pilots of the Apollo program in the 1960s and early '70s as well. "You can't put unlimited amount of power on a vehicle," he said. "So what instrumentation do you put on there, to effectively [and] basically on the moon avoid obstacles while landing at the south pole, where the sunlight is at such a low angle?" RELATED STORIES: US must beat China back to the moon, Congress tells NASA Astronauts won't walk on the moon until 2026 after NASA delays next 2 Artemis missions 55 years after Apollo 8's Christmas at the moon, a new Artemis crew readies for launch (exclusive) Thinking over the "dark pockets" and "visual illusions" the deep polar shadows would bring, Delaney emphasized that success must come from a "human in the loop to make real-time decisions" with a capable spacecraft "outfitted with the appropriate instrumentation." These are all matters, he added, "I'm interested in getting involved in, and starting to make choices for our long-term presence there." New astronaut and medical physicist Christopher Williams emphasized that his team is ready to go to the moon, and to use their skills to get there. "It just gives me goosebumps that some of the folks that I walked across the stage with today, I think, are going to be on the moon," he told Space.com. "We're not only growing, but adding to our portfolio, getting beyond low Earth orbit. I think it connects with a lot of people in terms of exploration and getting out there." Onboard view showing the side of a spacecraft glowing orange as it reenters earth's atmosphere, with the ocean in the background. SpaceX's third Starship test flight notched "several important firsts" on the long road to landing astronauts on the moon, NASA officials say, but there's a lot more work to do. Starship flew successfully to space yesterday (March 14) from SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas and reached orbital velocity, among other achievements. NASA especially paid tribute to Starship's propellant-transfer demonstration in space, which will be important for future moon missions run by NASA's Artemis program. That said, engineers need to review data in the coming weeks to see exactly how well the test flight went. "With each flight test, SpaceX attempts increasingly ambitious objectives for Starship to learn as much as possible for future mission systems development," Lisa Watson-Morgan, human landing systems (HLS) program manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, said in a March 14 agency statement. "The ability to test key systems and processes ... allows both NASA and SpaceX to gather crucial data needed for the continued development of Starship HLS," Watson-Morgan added. Starship is the HLS vendor tasked by NASA to land astronauts on the moon during Artemis 3, which is now scheduled to launch no sooner than September 2026. Related: Relive SpaceX Starship's 3rd flight test in breathtaking photos SpaceX attempted to transfer fuel in space from one of Starship's tank to another, and both SpaceX and NASA will review the flight data in the coming weeks to see how well that went. The fuel is cryogenic (super-cooled), and engineers want to ensure Starship's stability in space is not unduly affected by the operation, NASA officials wrote. Engineers will also seek to make the transfer as efficient as possible by examining "the fluid's movement within the tanks," the agency added, with the aim to "ensure [Starship's] Raptor engines receive needed propellant conditions to support restart in orbit." During Starship's test flight yesterday, however, vehicle roll rates during the coast phase forced engineers to abandon a "planned on-orbit relight of a single Raptor engine," SpaceX wrote in a mission summary. SpaceX is pledging rapid flights with Starship soon, with four more of the 400-foot-tall (122 meter) vehicles already built in anticipation of test flights in the coming months. Siva Bharadvaj, a space operations engineer at SpaceX, said during yesterday's launch broadcast that one of those spaceships already underwent a static fire test this week. Starship Die Cast Rocket Model Now $69.99 on Amazon. If you can't see SpaceX's Starship in person, you can score a model of your own. Standing at 13.77 inches (35 cm), this is a 1:375 ratio of SpaceX's Starship as a desktop model. The materials here are alloy steel and it weighs just 225g. Note: Stock is low so you'll have to act quickly to get this. View Deal RELATED STORIES: SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket into space on epic 3rd test flight (video) Starship and Super Heavy: SpaceX's Mars transportation system SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company NASA, however, has been saying it wants repeated successes before putting astronauts on board Starship. In June 2023, for example, agency official Jim Free said SpaceX will have to finish "a significant number of launches" ahead of Artemis program activities. NASA has also raised concerns about the pace of Starship development a few times in recent months. Artemis 3 was delayed this January to a September 2026 launch, about a year past its previous target, in part due to Starship's slower development pace and in part due to various technical issues with NASA's Orion crew spacecraft, private industry spacesuits and other critical items. Last month, however, NASA highlighted success with Starship docking system tests and said SpaceX finished "more than 30 HLS specific milestones" on various hardware pieces. SpaceX is not the only HLS vendor; Blue Origin got a NASA contract for crewed moon-landing services as well. SpaceX was initially and unexpectedly chosen as the sole winner in 2021 for HLS contracts, after NASA pledged to select multiple vendors. In response to competitor protests, the Government Accountability Office found no "competitive prejudice" in NASA's decision. But in October 2021, the U.S. Senate directed NASA to select a second company, and the agency eventually chose Blue Origin for its Blue Moon lander system. In this article, we will be analyzing the US rental market while covering the 20 most affordable US cities for renters. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters. The US Rental Market at a Glance As 2024 commenced, the rental market in the US seems to have cooled. However, a shortage of supply and high demand from renters continue to persist. During January, the national median price of rent for apartments declined by 0.3% year-over-year. On February 22, CNN reported that the demand will continue to be strong since renting is still affordable as compared to buying a house, especially for many would-be buyers who were pushed out of the market during the national housing crisis. You can also take a look at the best states for first-time homebuyers. Rents have grown in the Midwest where rental demand is high since unemployment rates are low. The median rent has fallen in the South due to the growing supply of new multifamily housing. Rents in the West have also gone up influenced by the high demand and issues related to affording a new house. Metros in the Northeast such as New York and Boston have faced a surge in rents since building new apartments is relatively difficult amidst strong labor markets. Current Market Dynamics As reported by Zillow, the income currently required to afford a typical rental in the US is $78,379 and rents are 3.5% higher, as compared to 2023. As of February, apartment rents have gone up by 23.6% since the global pandemic first came. As the US millennial generation approaches the age for buying a home, single-family rents have also witnessed a rise twice that for apartment rents. Metro-wise, 47 of the 50 largest metro areas saw an increase in rents in February since last year. Providence, Cleveland, Louisville, Hartford, and Cincinnati recorded the highest annual rent increases. At the same time, asking rents went down month-over-month in Milwaukee by 0.4%, Austin by 0.2% and Dallas by 0.2%. Expensive US cities for renters have been previously covered. Story continues As of February, single-family rents increased year-over-year in 49 of the 50 largest metro areas. Some of these include Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee. Multifamily rents also went up on a yearly basis in 39 of the 50 largest metro areas including Providence, Louisville, and Hartford. State Wise Analysis As reported by CNBC, housing is a major household expense for many Americans. A notable trend in the state rental market reflects that states with the highest rent costs are those where mortgage costs are high. Among all states, Hawaii holds the highest average monthly rent. The average cost of household bills also tends to be high in the state. Rents are high in the US states of California and Massachusetts as well. Residents of California pay an average monthly rent as high as $1,927. On the other extreme, West Virginia was found to have the lowest rent costs. Furthermore, the state is relatively affordable in terms of mortgage payments. West Virginia's average cost of bills which included rent, tends to be 25.2% lower than the national average. Arkansas and South Dakota are other US states where the average monthly rent is relatively cheaper. The Homebuilding Industry Amid a Rebound The rental market in the US might take some time to fully rebound. The crisis of many remains the same. Those who wish to buy a house might consider renting one unless the market is stable, house prices are low, and the supply in the market is enough to cater to the rising demand. Americans looking to settle in some of the most desirable locations across the country can consider exploring options offered by KB Home (NYSE:KBH), Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN), and LGI Homes, Inc. (NASDAQ:LGIH). Lets take a look at what these homebuilders have been up to. KB Home (NYSE:KBH) aims to build personal relationships with customers by building each home uniquely. The homebuilder has constructed more than 680,000 quality homes in its history. On March 15, KB Home (NYSE:KBH) reported the grand opening of its new home community in Jacksonville, Florida. The community Hawkes Meadow offers a short commute to River City Marketplace and downtown Jacksonville. Jacksonville International Airport and major employers in the area can also be accessed. Pricing for new homes starts from the $280,000s. Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) constructs affordable, move-up, and active adult homes in the US. Additionally, the company develops high-quality multifamily rental properties. On March 12, the company reported the initiation of sales in its new community in Plant City, Florida. The new single-family, master-planned community Park East allows convenient access to major highways and the BayCare South Baptist Hospital. Prices for the Park East homes from Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) start in the low $300,000s. LGI Homes, Inc. (NASDAQ:LGIH) is a leading American homebuilder. The company has closed more than 65,000 homes since it was founded. On March 4, LGI Homes, Inc. (NASDAQ:LGIH) reported that the companys luxury brand Terrata Homes has initiated the sales of homes in its new community in Seattle. The community Skyway Village offers family-friendly amenities including a childrens playground, open green spaces, and a half-court basketball court. Residents can visit Renton, Bellevue, and downtown Seattle with ease while staying in the community. While move-in-ready opportunities are available, new homes in the community are priced from the $970,000s. Now that we have analyzed the US rental market and real estate options, we can move to the 20 most affordable US cities for renters. 20 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters 20 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters Our Methodology: In order to compile a list of the 20 most affordable US cities for renters, we acquired the latest data on the rental market from Zillow, a leading real-estate source. We sourced the typical rents for apartments in cities from Zillows Rental Market Report for February 2024. Hence, we ranked the US cities with the lowest average rents in descending order of their rents, as of February 2024. 20 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters 20. Salt Lake City, Utah Typical Rent: $1,656 Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and is one of the most affordable rental markets in the US. As of February, the city has a typical rent of $1,656. This rent has experienced a year-over-year growth of 1.6%. 19. Houston, Texas Typical Rent: $1,649 Houston is situated in Southeast Texas. The city tends to be affordable in terms of rent since the typical rent was last recorded at $1,649 in February. The typical rent has gone up by 2.3% year-over-year. 18. New Orleans, Louisiana Typical Rent: $1,619 New Orleans is positioned in the southeastern region of the state of Louisiana. As of February, the typical rent in New Orleans is $1,619 which is relatively cheap. Hence, New Orleans is one of the most affordable US cities for renters. 17. Richmond, Virginia Typical Rent: $1,616 Renters in the US can also consider Richmond. The city lies at the James River's fall line. As of February, Richmond records a typical rent of $1,616 which deems the market affordable for renters. 16. Minneapolis, Minnesota Typical Rent: $1,615 While witnessing a year-over-year growth of 2.9%, the typical rent in Minneapolis was recorded at $1,615 in February. Hence, the city ranks among the 20 most affordable US cities for renters. 15. Indianapolis, Indiana Typical Rent: $1,497 Indianapolis is situated in Central Indiana and ranks among the most affordable US markets for renters. The typical rent in the city was last recorded at $1,497 in February. This rent grew by 5% year-over-year. 14. Cincinnati, Ohio Typical Rent: $1,488 Hamilton County in Ohio hosts the US city of Cincinnati. The city is a cheap market for renters. This is evident from the fact that the city recorded a typical rent of $1,488 in February. 13. Columbus, Ohio Typical Rent: $1,452 Colombus serves as the capital of the US state of Ohio. As of February, the city records a typical rent of $1,452. The year-over-year growth in this rent was reported to be 4.9%. 12. Memphis, Tennessee Typical Rent: $1,444 The city of Memphis is positioned along the Mississippi River. The typical rent in the city is $1,444 as recorded in February. Therefore, Memphis is another affordable city for renters in the United States. 11. San Antonio, Texas Typical Rent: $1,428 San Antonio is a populous city based in Texas. The city offers a typical rent of $1,428 which ranks it among the cheapest US markets for renters. 10. Kansas City, Missouri Typical Rent: $1,412 Kansas City ranks as another affordable market for US renters. The city records a typical rent of $1,412, as of February. This rent increased by 6.30% year-over-year. 9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Typical Rent: $1,401 The typical rent in Pittsburgh was recorded at $1,401 in February. Although this rent grew by 4.8% year-over-year, it is relatively affordable for renters. 8. Detroit, Michigan Typical Rent: $1,381 The 20 most affordable US cities for renters rank Detroit as well. As of February, the city boasts a typical rent of $1,381. The year-over-year growth in this rent was reported to be 4.00%. 7. Birmingham, Alabama Typical Rent: $1,376 Birmingham is located in the north-central region of Alabama. The city ranks as one of the most affordable US cities for renters. The typical rent in the city is $1,376 as recorded in February. 6. Cleveland, Ohio Typical Rent: $1,363 Cleveland is a city based in Northeast Ohio which tends to be affordable for renters. According to Zillow, the city has a typical rent of $1,363 as recorded in February. Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Most Affordable US Cities for Renters is originally published on Insider Monkey. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope has confirmed Hubble Space Telescopes measurements that find the current rate of expansion of the universe is faster than expected. Still, scientists don't understand what is causing the universe's expansion to accelerate. Physicists have been trying to understand the "Hubble tension," which refers to the questions surrounding Hubble's observations over 30 years that indicate the universe is expanding faster than expected based on our understanding of the universe. Many questions remain about why the universe is expanding. The mystery phenomenon is known to cosmologists as "dark energy." According to NASA, astronomers use objects known as Cepheid variable stars to measure relative cosmic distances. These pulsating stars are used as universal markers because they go through cycles of dips and peaks in brightness, which help astronomers determine the distance to the star. They can also determine distances from our galaxy to other galaxies. HOW THE TELESCOPE BECAME OUR WINDOW INTO THE UNIVERSE The SH0ES (Supernova H0 for the Equation of State of Dark Energy) team, led by Nobel Prize physicist Adam Reiss, used Webb telescope observations of Cepheids also observed by Hubble to "check its homework," the space agency said. The image above shows side-by-side photos of a Cepheid variable star taken by both telescopes, used to measure the universe's expansion rate. The initial Webb observations, fact-checking Hubble data, confirmed the first rungs of the "cosmic distance ladder" the process of measuring nearby galaxies and then moving farther and farther away, also known as the "Hubble Constant." "Weve now spanned the whole range of what Hubble observed, and we can rule out a measurement error as the cause of the Hubble Tension with very high confidence," Riess said. New Webb observations included five host galaxies with 1,000 Cepheids, including the farthest galaxy where Cepheids have been measured. Galaxy NGC 5468, pictured below, is 130 million light-years away. "This spans the full range where we made measurements with Hubble. So, we've gone to the end of the second rung of the cosmic distance ladder," said Gagandeep Anand of the Space Telescope Science Institute. STUNNING IMAGES, DISCOVERIES FROM JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE IN 2023 NASA said scientists are seeking the missing pieces to link the beginning of the universe to the present day, which has yet to be observed. In the coming years, two dark matter detectives could help reveal the cause of the universe's expansion. European Space Agency's spacecraft Euclid, launched last year, will create a 3D map of the sky, viewing its evolution over 10 billion years. NASA is also launching the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in 2027 to study the influence of dark energy and other mysteries of the universe. Original article source: NASAs Webb telescope confirms Hubbles baffling observations about Universes expansion rate The University of Missouri student who went missing after being kicked out of a Nashville bar was served only one drink before he was asked to leave country music star Luke Bryans bar, the owners said. Lukes 32 Bridge + Drink and its owner, TC Restaurant Group, said in a statement that Riley Strain, 22, was served one alcoholic drink and two waters while at the downtown Nashville bar during a trip with his fraternity for a spring formal. He was last seen on security video just before 10 p.m. March 8. In the footage, he appears to sway and do a full 360-degree turn before continuing to walk. Lukes 32 Bridge + Drink's statement said that based on our conduct standards, Strain was escorted out by security at 9:35 p.m. It did not provide details about Strain's alleged behavior before he was removed. Riley Strain (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department) The bar's owners said Strain was escorted out through the Broadway exit at the front of the building. A friend accompanied him down the stairs, according to the statement, but the friend did not leave with Strain, instead returning upstairs to the bar. Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission communications director Aaron Rummage said earlier this week that the agency was investigating whether Strain was "served alcohol while he was visibly intoxicated." The bar said in the statement that it "proactively engaged in communication" with TABC and will continue to do so, as well as provide any records necessary to assist in the investigation. The bar said it had also "provided detailed information" to the Nashville Metro Police Department in an effort to help locate the missing man. "This information included all security camera footage, photos of Riley at our establishment with detailed time stamps, transaction records, and staff accounts," the statement said. When Strain left the bar, he told his friends he was going to return to his hotel, his stepfather, Chris Whiteid, told NBC affiliate WSMV of Nashville. Whiteid said in an interview on "Top Story with Tom Llamas" on Tuesday that Strain never made it back to the hotel. Security footage released by the MNPD showed Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street at 9:47 p.m., which is about 0.7 miles from Luke's 32 Bridge and in the opposite direction of Tempo Hotel, where he and his friends were staying. Robert Neilsen, a sergeant with Nashville police, said Thursday that that the last video police have of Strain is from 9:52 p.m., when he is seen walking north between the James Robertson Parkway and Woodland Street Bridge. He said that other nearby cameras did not pick up Strain's route and that police were continuing to look for more security cameras they may have missed for more information. A search mission by ground, air and along the riverbank near where Strain was last seen has been ongoing. Neilsen said that the department has been using boats with sonar capabilities as well as drones to look for Strain. He said the department is waiting on records from Strain's cellphone and his Apple Watch to determine where he may have gone. Nielsen said there was no sign of foul play at this point and it was still a missing person investigation. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Ukrainian resistance orchestrated an explosion near a polling station in occupied Skadovsk, Kherson Oblast, on March 15 as Russia illegally opened polls for a presidential election in occupied territories of Ukraine, the National Resistance Center said on March 16. Russia began three days of voting on March 15 in a pseudo-democratic presidential election that is expected to grant Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, six more years in office. Moscow is also organizing voting in occupied Crimea and parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in violation of international law. The explosion occurred at 3 p.m. local time on Skadovsk's central square near the polling station while Russian forces were patrolling nearby. Five soldiers were injured and hospitalized as a result, the center said. Being unable to ensure the safety of its personnel, occupation authorities canceled voting in public spaces, allowing it only at places of residence, according to the center's statement. Skadovsk, a city with a pre-war population of 17,000, lies at the Black Sea shores of Kherson Oblast. It has been occupied by Russia since March 2022. Moscow held sham "regional elections" in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in September last year in an attempt to consolidate its control over these regions. Russia declared annexation of partially occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts in September 2022, a step denounced by Ukraine and the international community as illegal and void. The Crimean peninsula was illegally annexed in March 2014 following a sham referendum staged by Russia in the absence of any international observers and with armed Russian soldiers present at polling locations. Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. North Carolina lawmakers have received an award that likely wont be going on their mantles. The Society of Professional Journalists announced Saturday that it is giving its annual Black Hole Award to the North Carolina General Assembly for violating the publics right to know in the change of the states public records law. SPJ gives the award each year during Sunshine Week to government institutions or agencies for acts of outright contempt of the publics right to know. Last years budget adopted by the Republican legislative supermajority exempted legislators from the states public records law. Lawmakers also exempted documents related to redistricting from public records law. The North Carolina law worsens a national patchwork of threats to state government transparency, said SPJ Freedom of Information Committee member Howard Goldberg in a press release. Legislatures in effect are exempting themselves from accountability to citizens who want to know how their laws are made and who is influencing their lawmakers. The News & Observer reached out Saturday to the offices of House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate leader Phil Berger for comment but has not yet received a response. Lawmakers limit access to public info The change in the public records law means it is now entirely up to lawmakers to decide what public records, if any, to reveal, The News & Observer previously reported. To test how responsive lawmakers would be under the new law, The N&O requested emails from all 170 legislators for Sept. 19 the day the budget impasse between the House and Senate was resolved. Only 38 lawmakers, mostly Democrats, responded to the N&Os request. More than 70% of lawmakers did not respond. The governor and other members of the Council of State officials who are elected statewide are still subject to public records law. The exemption of redistricting records is especially important, the N&O reported, because the N.C. Supreme Court ruled last year that partisan gerrymanders are allowed This means the Republican supermajority can draw lawmaker districts to suit their party, with some limitations. Previously, SPJ noted, communications created during the legislative redistricting process became public once the new maps became law. The North Carolina Legislative Building, where the General Assembly meets, on Jones Street in downtown Raleigh, N.C. on Sept. 1, 2021 Unethical and shadowy governance The changes were panned by SPJ members. They also have been criticized by groups across the political spectrum, from the John Locke Foundation to the ACLU of North Carolina. The assembly netted a hat trick of unethical and shadowy governance by introducing a measure to hide their day-to-day decisions with taxpayer dollars, and the process for redrawing the election map that affects their partys job security as well as the citizens right to choose, all within the annual budget, essentially holding it hostage for these provisions and disallowing the government to continue properly providing services, said Sterling Cosper, SPJ Freedom of Information Committee co-chair. North Carolina lawmakers are shirking their moral and constitutional duties as public employees to inform their constituents what they are doing with taxpayer time and money while on the clock, according to Tim Gruver, SPJ Freedom of Information Committee member. Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, SPJ Freedom of Information Committee co-chair, said lawmakers have given new meaning to the states First in Flight slogan. State leaders now soar in the spirit of the Black Hole Award, an egregious recognition earned by trampling on the public right to information, Rave Spotted Bear said in the news release. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A Holly Springs man who works as a TSA agent at Raleigh-Durham International Airport was arrested as part of a sex trafficking sting. You know the guy that you gotta go through the line at the airports, this is him, said Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference. The Polk County Sheriffs Office in Florida announced that 37-year-old Edmundo Dasilva sent a social media message in response to an ad posted on Reddit by an undercover detective. Court records show the undercover agent was posing as a human trafficker who was offering their foster daughter, a fictitious 15-year-old, for commercial sex acts. Text messages included in those records show the suspect told the undercover detective he and the teen could make out, then maybe go from there. He thought he was going to pay $100 to dad to have sex with his daughter; well it so happens dad and daughter are undercover folks. But what did we do? We saved children from being victims, Judd said. Man sentenced to 20 years in prison after traveling to NC for sex acts with young child in sting operation According to the sheriffs office, Dasilva told the undercover detective he would be traveling through Florida and would like to meet. He informed the detective that he had just turned 18 years old. Arrest affidavits claim Dasilva met the undercover detective at an undisclosed hotel, where he handed the detective $60 in cash. Dasilva was arrested as he entered the room; detectives say he believed the teen was staying. After Dasilva was arrested, the sheriff said he told investigators he was there to try and help the 15-year-old: Hey, Ive had TSA training, and I was here to do my own investigation. The PCSO says two condoms were found in the suspects pockets at the time of his arrest. AFFILIATE | How many brain cells do you have?: Grady Judd says men caught in sex sting mentioned him before arrest According to PCSO, Dasilva told detectives that he is married and that he works for Homeland Security as a Transportation Security Officer. Dasilva was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with human trafficking, use of computer to solicit guardian, and traveling to meet a minor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Neighbors worry about their homes during jail demolition in Chinatown CHINATOWN, Manhattan (PIX11) Crews are tearing down old jail facilities to build a new one south of Canal Street in Chinatown, Manhattan. A partial stop work order was issued this week at the site by the city after inspectors investigated some neighborhood concerns. Residents and workers in the building next door are worried about noise and some cracks in the walls. Chung Pak is home to senior living, small businesses and a health center. Demolition on the work site cannot resume within 10 feet of the buildings wall. Other tasks can be performed by the contractor. NYC wont offer right to shelter to some immigrants in deal with homeless advocates The city said the issues are not a threat to the buildings structure. Cheng Foi Lin has lived in the affordable housing complex for nine years. The last year has been tough for her and her neighbors during demolition. The floor is always shaking and it feels like an earthquake is coming, she said. On Friday, they rallied outside their home with the construction site in view. We are taught to respect elders. They are being disrespected here, said New York Assembly Member Grace Lee. They want an independent monitor to be set up and air filters in the area. They had a federal monitor for Rikers. Why cant we have it here in Chinatown? asked Jan Lee. The city said environmental monitoring is happening. Air quality, emissions, and vibration/noise levels are tracked and reported bimonthly. If there was a building on the Upper East Side or West Side, they would get an order for a full stop, said New York City Council member Christopher Marte, who represents the area. In a statement to PIX11 News, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Buildings wrote that contractors are working diligently to assess damage and make repairs as soon as possible. We are confident that there is no immediate danger or threat to safety at Chung Pak. When this construction project started, the building had some existing damage. When a recent inspection found additional, non-structural damage with no clear cause, DOB halted some of the construction work right away, and the contractor immediately began to evaluate next steps. We will continue to work with Chung Paks management to ensure contractors can make these repairs promptly, the Department of Buildings statement said. The city said the timeline for the project will not be significantly impacted. Rikers Island is legally required to close by 2027 and be replaced by four borough-based jails, including the Chinatown location. The plan is part of a city law passed by the City Council in 2019. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has postponed his State of the State address, the governors office confirmed to The Hill Friday night. Newsoms address was originally scheduled to be delivered on Monday. A new date for the speech has not been provided. His office is coordinating with the legislature to nail a new date for the governors address, per an email to The Hill. The office wants to be able to discuss where the state is headed, particularly with tackling some of the biggest issues like the budget gap, mental health and homelessness, according to a source familiar with the matter. The address will be delivered when the governor has more clarity on these issues, the source said. The postponement of the address comes as his push to overhaul how California treats disorders related to mental health is still active, even with Proposition 1 having a slim lead. Newsom is making a last-minute effort to correct rejected ballots, notes Politico. This ballot initiative is SO CLOSE that your commitment to volunteer could mean the difference between people getting off the streets and into the treatment they need or not, reads a Friday email from Campaign for Democracy, Newsoms federal PAC, obtained by Politico. Truly. It is that close. Newsom, a two-term leader of the state, is facing another recall, after defeating a 2021 attempt. He also has to wrangle with a record $68 billion budget deficit, which has made buying goods in the state and hiring workers by businesses harder. Updated 9:28 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. This week the nation learned the heartbreaking news that Nex Benedict, who used he/they pronouns, died by suicide the day after they were victim to a physical and emotional attack by their classmates in their school restroom, according to their family. This horrific loss has seized national attention, yet tragedies like this are not uncommon; its estimated that at least one LGBTQ+ young person attempts suicide every 45 seconds. As a psychologist working to support LGBTQ+ youth in crisis, I know suicides like Nexs could be preventable, but only if we ensure that all youth including transgender and nonbinary youth feel safe, accepted and supported at home, in schools and in our communities. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers not because of their identity, but because they face increased rates of rejection and discrimination that contributes to suicidal ideation. Societal rejection of the LGBTQ+ community has been prevalent for decades, but the increasingly calculated, coordinated and vehement political attacks targeting LGBTQ+ young people today particularly transgender and nonbinary youth can lead to lethal consequences. Research shows that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth in Oklahoma, where Nex lived, reported that recent politics negatively impacted their well-being sometimes or a lot. And in the past year, a staggering 48% of LGBTQ+ youth in Oklahoma seriously considered suicide, including 55% of transgender and nonbinary youth. This surpasses the nationwide figure of 41% of LGBTQ+ youth who seriously considered suicide within the past year throughout the United States. Nex Benedict deserved better: The world Nex Benedict deserved isn't hard to create. It just takes love and respect. The LGBTQ+ culture wars will only worsen with 2024 election The state of Oklahoma, among several others, has been particularly unsupportive of LGBTQ+ youth, currently considering more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ bills. The truth is, young transgender and nonbinary people find themselves at the center of a culture war that was created through a highly-coordinated, well-funded political strategy to undermine their existence. Misinformation surrounding trans and nonbinary young peoples experiences has begun to infiltrate public discussions at an unprecedented scale. While many of these political attacks are malicious, most adults who buy into these false narratives around trans youth think they are protecting young people when in fact, this large-scale rejection is a significant risk factor that contributes to deadly consequences. This hostile climate is especially potent amid a general election year and the negative effects of the unyielding anti-LGBTQ+ legislation of the last few years has created a fertile environment for anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric to thrive. Its on all of us to make sure that were not abandoning young people to fight this alone. Nex Benedict's is another life lost to cruelty, stigmatization The Trevor Projects research also consistently shows that LGBTQ+ young people with access to safe, affirming schools, community events and online spaces report lower rates of attempting suicide. Support, acceptance and affirmation promotes positive mental health and well-being, while rejection and violence like what Nex faced threatens safety and well-being. Nexs death could have been preventable, and every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to live a long, happy life. Transgender young people deserve a world where they can safely exist publicly. I hope that this moment is a wake-up call for all lawmakers and adults in positions of power to change their tune and start elevating LGBTQ+ youths right to live as their authentic selves. By Dr. Stacie Freudenberg Nex deserved better, and we must see this severe outcome for what it is: another young LGBTQ+ life lost to cruelty and stigmatization. Nex is every child we know our nieces, nephews, grandchildren, children, neighbors and more. We can all reach out to those young people, today, and tell them that they are loved, just as they are. We can all call our legislators to say, enough is enough; we must protect not attack LGBTQ+ youth. We can all learn the warning signs of suicide, and how to talk about it safely. And by doing so, we can all play a part in preventing the next senseless loss of a young person's life. Dr. Stacie Freudenberg is the Senior Clinical Director of Crisis Intervention at The Trevor Project. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nex Benedict's death shows how anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric can kill our kids The New Hampshire House narrowly approved a bill Thursday that would eliminate any exceptions to the states voter ID laws and require documentary proof of citizenship to vote, 189-185. The bill, House Bill 1569, would require a person registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship, using a method such as a birth certificate or passport. Republican supporters have presented the bill as a way to solidify the states existing ID laws, and eliminate a process known as affidavit voting. The New Hampshire House narrowly approved a bill that would eliminate any exceptions to the states voter ID laws. But Democrats warned the bill, if signed into law, would disrupt the coming presidential elections and prevent some residents from voting. And a day before the vote, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu suggested he did not think the bill was necessary. Our system works very well, so Im not looking to make any changes, he said at a press conference in response to a question about the bill, in comments reported by WMUR. Currently, new registrants must sign an affidavit on penalty of perjury that they are citizens, but they do not need to bring in hard proof. The Attorney Generals Office has the power to investigate and prosecute any voter suspected of voting illegally, including by falsely claiming citizenship. The bill would require identification in order to vote with no exceptions. If passed, the bill would prevent voters who show up to vote without identification from signing an affidavit attesting to their identity and domicile in order to do so. Those voters would need to return with identification or be barred from voting. Opponents of the bill argued that it would disenfranchise people who live in the state but do not have documentation to prove their citizenship. More than 2,000 people used affidavits to vote in the 2022 midterms, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire. Opponents to the bill noted that obtaining a birth certificate or a passport can take weeks and cost hundreds of dollars, which could prevent people from voting. And they argued the bill violated the Help America Vote Act and would not likely survive a court challenge, pointing to a similar bill in Kansas that was overturned by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal of that decision. Passing this bill will create upheaval in our fall elections because it will go into effect immediately before our primaries, and it is overturning our entire way that we hold elections, said Rep. Connie Lane, a Concord Democrat. House Republicans said the ID requirements would not be too onerous and matched the documents needed to cross the Canadian border or board a plane. And they said the bill would eliminate the possibility that someone could fraudulently vote using an affidavit. Our bill for consideration clarifies those four qualifications for voting: citizenship, age, domicile, and identity, said Rep. Robert Wherry, a Hudson Republican. And once a person is registered to vote in the great state of New Hampshire, they need only answer that one question: Who are you? Sununu has twice before opposed major Republican-led voting bills, only to sign them later. In 2017, he told progressive activists he would veto a bill that would require college students and others to vow they intended to live in the state for the foreseeable future in order to vote, in an exchange caught on a hidden camera by one of the activists. Months later he signed the bill. In 2023, Sununu expressed opposition to a bill that introduced provisional voting in the state, requiring town officials and the Secretary of States Office to void the ballot of anyone who voted without documents and failed to produce those documents after the election. He later signed the bill, stating that he no longer held his concerns. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Sununu said he did not see the need for more changes to the states election law, but stopped short of promising a veto should the bill reach his desk. The governors office did not respond to a request Thursday to clarify his position. After approving the bill, the narrowly divided House voted not to reconsider it, a move that prevented Democrats from attempting to redo the vote with better turnout. The bill heads next to the Senate. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House passes bill removing exceptions to state voter ID law Brothers Walter (L) and Arturo Perez, both in their 60s, were once champion bodybuilders in Nicaragua; now they have a fast-growing TikTok following as the 'Bodybuilding Grandfathers' (OSWALDO RIVAS) A half-century ago, two skinny brothers named Walter and Arturo Perez started lifting stones in their rural Nicaraguan town; now they are local legends and TikTok sensations known as the "Hercules brothers" and the "Bodybuilding Grandfathers." Because both are deaf, Walter, who is 61, and Arturo, a year older, have not always had it easy. But their bodybuilding achievements have earned them admirers and drawn dozens of young people to train with them in their small gym in Santa Teresa, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Managua. The brothers' audience has exploded since they began five months ago to post videos on TikTok, where they now have 175,000 followers. "They are a legend here in Santa Teresa, and I think that motivates all of us young people to come here to the gym, because... at their age they look magnificent," 33-year-old Ana Saborio told AFP. Added 28-year-old Porfirio Cortes: "They have long served as an inspiration to me. I was super skinny, but they started training me and telling me what I needed to do." Although they no longer take part in bodybuilding competitions, the brothers have become hugely popular online since Walter's son Yahir created online profiles and posted images for them. Their TikTok videos, including exercise routines and recipes for organic smoothies -- which family members and friends help produce -- have drawn 5.3 million likes. Coming from an impoverished family of five children, Arturo and a sister were both born deaf, while Walter had some hearing but lost it while still a child. Their mother taught them to read and write at home, because there were no special schools at the time, Walter told AFP, using a combination of words and gestures that Yahir helped translate. In their youth, the boys sold newspapers in the street, and suffered harassment -- even physical attacks -- because they could not talk. That changed when, after seeing a burly new neighbor lifting weights, the brothers began exercising, Walter said. Lacking money to buy weights, they fabricated them from stones, concrete and tubes. Hernan Flores, a well-known Nicaraguan weightlifter, heard about them and invited them to train in his Managua gym. And in 1988, Arturo won his first national prize, while Walter placed second. - $2 a week - When they first competed, in their twenties, the brothers had to learn to time themselves because they couldn't hear the music indicating when it was time to change poses. But with hard work, they ultimately won 16 medals and around 20 trophies in Nicaragua and neighboring countries between 1988 and 2010. The awards never paid much, however, and in order to survive in one of the poorest Latin American countries they now supplement the income from their gym with modest jobs -- Arthur works part-time as a barber and Walter does welding and repairs bicycles. The gym occupies an old house, its green and white walls covered with old photos of the brothers in competition. Walter used his welding skills to build many of the exercise machines. Gym users pay just $2 a week, an amount barely sufficient to keep the place going. Still, the brothers are enjoying their newfound fame. Juan Solis, an 82-year-old friend of the family, recalled that when the brothers were young and in "a pitiable state" he worried about what they would become when they grew up. "But now," he told AFP with a smile, "they have it better than anyone else." bur-fj/lbc/nn/bbk/md Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool Joining Costco can be a smart personal finance decision. But within the realm of signing up for a membership, you have choices. You can stick to a basic Costco membership for $60 per year. Or, you can upgrade to an Executive membership for $120 a year. In exchange for that higher cost, an Executive membership gives you 2% cash back on your Costco purchases, including purchases made on Costco.com. You may have decided to limit yourself to a basic Costco membership to save money on your annual fee. But here are a few reasons to consider an upgrade to an Executive membership sooner rather than later. 1. You're spending more at Costco than you used to Perhaps when you first joined Costco, you'd shop there once a month to stock up on a limited assortment of household essentials. But if you're now visiting Costco every week, and you're buying more items there than you used to, then it could be a good idea to upgrade your membership pronto. It only takes $3,001 in annual Costco spending for an Executive membership to make financial sense. That's because $3,000 is your break-even point where you recoup $60 in cash back -- the exact amount of your upgrade. If you think there's a chance you'll spend above $3,000 at Costco this year all in, then go for the costlier membership. You could always downgrade after the fact if your spending starts to decline. 2. You're planning to book a vacation through Costco We just learned that $3,000 in annual Costco spending is your break-even point when considering an Executive membership upgrade. But if you're planning to book a vacation this year through Costco Travel, then you might easily cross the $3,000 threshold with that purchase alone. So it makes sense to buy the Executive membership and get cash back for it. Even if you book a vacation through Costco Travel costing less than $3,000, chances are, if you spend even half of that, you'll get to upward of $3,000 in total spending this year if you also shop at the store somewhat regularly. So either way, an Executive membership could pay off. Story continues 3. You want to lock in today's rate in case membership costs rise The last time Costco raised the cost of its membership fees was 2017. As such, Costco is overdue for an increase. And while the company hasn't made an official announcement about fee hikes, during Costco's last earnings call, CFO Richard Galanti said that an increase in membership fees is "a question of when, not if." Given that it's been more than six years since Costco raised membership fees, there's a reasonably good chance a fee hike will happen in 2024. You may want to lock in your Executive membership at today's rate while it's still available. Paying for an Executive membership at Costco doesn't make sense for every person who shops there. But if these factors apply to you, then you may want to think about making that upgrade soon. Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good its so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Gala. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Reasons to Upgrade Your Costco Membership ASAP was originally published by The Motley Fool SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The sister of Bob Lees accused killer is in her own legal trouble after she was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run crash in San Francisco. Prosecutors charged Khazar Momeni with driving under the influence of drugs, hit-and-run driving, and possession of nitrous oxide, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office told KRON4 on Friday. She pleaded not guilty to all charges during a February 26 arraignment. A judge ordered Khazar Momeni, 38, to return to court on April 17 for a pre-trial conference. Khazar Momeni walks through a San Francisco courthouse hallway to attend her brothers arraignment. (Getty Images) Nitrous oxide can be used as a recreational party drug, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. Inhaling nitrous oxide produces a rapid rush of euphoria and feeling of floating or excitement for a short period of time, the ADF wrote. The charges stem from a Nov. 27, 2023 crash on Geary Street near Larkin Street at 11:08 a.m. San Francisco Police Department officers arrested Khazar Momeni and booked her into the same jail where her brother is behind bars. Khazar leaves the arraignment of her brother Nima Momeni on May 18, 2023 in San Francisco. (Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images) Khazar Momeni is slated to deliver key testimony at her brothers upcoming murder trial. Nima Momeni is accused of stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee to death near the Bay Bridge on April 4, 2023. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. On Friday, a judge denied a change of venue request from Nima Momenis attorneys who sought to have his trial moved out of San Francisco. Attorneys said Lees popular status in the tech industry and photos published of their client in his jail cell could taint the jury pool. The judge disagreed, and set a trial date for May 20. Bob Lee was a divorced father of two and a star in the tech industry. Khazar Momeni is currently out of custody. She is married to a wealthy plastic surgeon and she is well-known in San Franciscos elite social scene, Rolling Stone magazine reported. If there was a Real Housewives of San Francisco, she would have a leading role, Saam Zangeneh, one of Nima Momenis lawyers, told Rolling Stone. Investigators said Nima Momeni, 38, of Emeryville, attacked Lee because he was angry about Lees inappropriate behavior with Momenis sister. Lee and Khazar Momeni attended several parties together in the hours leading up to his violent death. At one of the parties, cocaine, GHB, LSD, and whippets were used by party guests, according to testimony. Khazar Momeni took three doses of a date rape drug known as GHB and passed out, a police officer testified. Khazar Elyassnia, center, arrives for the arraignment of Nima Momeni, her brother, at the Hall of Justice in San Francisco on May 18, 2023. (AP Photo /Godofredo A. Vasquez) Bob Lee was not slain in honor killing, defense says The tech mogul and Nima Momeni were seen leaving the sisters apartment at Millennium Tower around midnight. Two hours later, surveillance cameras recorded Lee bleeding, stumbling down a sidewalk, and desperately searching for help. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the accused killer was armed with a kitchen knife when he left the tower with Lee. Once he had Lee in a dark and isolated area under the Bay Bridge, Nima Momeni stabbed Lee in the heart, and left him dying in the street, according to prosecutors. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) A bipartisan bill heading to the Senate floor in the State House looks to expand New Jerseys Sexual Assault Victim Bill of Rights. For someone who has been sexually assaulted, it is such a unique experience to them and that trauma shows up in all aspects of their life, said Lauren Bivona, executive director of SAFE in Hunterdon, a center that serves victims and survivors in Hunterdon County. The passage of that bill would be incredible. Man who shot subway rider in the head wont be charged: Brooklyn DA The bill, specifically, would give victims more access to developments in investigations. It would give the victim a right to be informed if DNA from an assailant was obtained during collection of evidence, and if there was evidence submitted to a forensic laboratory that was compared to samples in a DNA bank, to name a few. Although the Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights includes a provision allowing sexual assault victims to receive information about their case upon request, some have faced difficulty actually obtaining that information due to a lack of clarity regarding what information and updates they are entitled to, said Senator Linda Greenstein, Chair of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. This bill aims to fix that so that survivors of sexual assault can be notified of significant developments as they happen and law enforcement has a clear understanding of what their obligations are. For many survivors, being regularly updated helps keep them ensured their case is being taken seriously and actively investigated. This legislation further recognizes that survivors of sexual assault deserve to be kept up-to-date and aware of all major developments in the investigation of their case, both for their peace of mind, and most importantly, their safety. Before Bivona came to SAFE in Hunterdon, she served as a Flemington Police Officer for 20 years. It would be phenomenal for victims to feel included in that process so that they can continue making choices that are best for them moving forward, said Bivona, and also allows them to feel more of a connection and a relationship developing with the people that are processing their case. Republican State Senator Declan OScanlon is sponsoring the bill with Democratic State Senator Linda Greenstein. They shouldnt have to deal with the bureaucracy that stonewalls them, and right now they do, said OScanlon. Its a problem. This would very clearly state what their rights are and these are important rights. A vote on the bill is set for Monday. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and needs assistance, you can call SAFE in Hunterdons hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 908-788-4044. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A 94-year-old man has been arrested and charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a first-grade dual language teacher in Englewood, N.J., Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday night. Police say Ernest F. Hofmann, of Bergenfield, N.J., was the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck that hit 54-year-old Elizabeth Feliciano-Rosa Thursday evening. Feliciano-Rosa, a longtime teacher at Grieco Elementary School in Englewood, was struck while crossing the street at the intersection of Washington and Madison Aves. just after 5:15 p.m., according to Musella. The victim was transported to Hackensack University Hospital but later died from her injuries. Hofmann, a carpenter, fled the area before the arrival of police but was later arrested following an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Dumont Police Department, prosecutors said Friday. He was charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law, as well as multiple motor vehicle summonses. Known affectionately by her students as Mrs. Rosa, the victim was described by the Englewood Public School District as a beloved educator who dedicated nearly two decades of her life to nurturing young minds. A mother, wife and grandmother, Mrs. Rosa was known for her infectious smile, boundless energy, and unwavering dedication, she touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and families, the district said in a statement. Hofmann was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. NEW YORK A 94-year-old man has been arrested and charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a first-grade dual language teacher in Englewood, New Jersey, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Friday night. Police say Ernest F. Hofmann, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, was the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck that hit 54-year-old Elizabeth Feliciano-Rosa Thursday evening. Feliciano-Rosa, a longtime teacher at Grieco Elementary School in Englewood, was struck while crossing the street at the intersection of Washington and Madison avenues just after 5:15 p.m., according to Musella. The victim was transported to Hackensack University Hospital but later died from her injuries. Hofmann, a carpenter, fled the area before the arrival of police but was later arrested following an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Dumont Police Department, prosecutors said Friday. He was charged with second-degree knowingly leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, and fourth-degree obstructing the administration of law, as well as multiple motor vehicle summonses. Known affectionately by her students as Mrs. Rosa, the victim was described by the Englewood Public School District as a beloved educator who dedicated nearly two decades of her life to nurturing young minds. A mother, wife and grandmother, Mrs. Rosa was known for her infectious smile, boundless energy, and unwavering dedication, she touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and families, the district said in a statement. Hofmann was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) No one was hurt when a motor home fire broke out early Saturday morning in Holland and spread to the adjoining home, firefighters say. Around 4:40 a.m., crews were sent to a home on Concord Drive near West 26th Street after receiving reports that a motor home fire was spreading rapidly to the adjacent residence, according to a release from the Holland Fire Department. Authorities were told that everyone was able to evacuate: The occupants said their family dog alerted them of the fire. Firefighters say both the motor home and the residence were on fire when they arrived. Crews began by containing the fire and checking the interior, making sure everyone was accounted for. The conditions were challenging, firefighters say. Crews worked all morning to extinguish the fire, clearing the scene just after noon, according to the release. The fire department says nobody was hurt, but both the residence and the motor home were significantly damaged. This embedded content is not available in your region. Its not clear what started the fire. Authorities are investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) The primary has come and gone, the political signs are coming down, and, after a runoff election or two, all eyes in North Carolina will be on November. Eyes outside of North Carolina have now focused on the Tar Heel State, particularly with a high-profile gubernatorial race projected to be one of the most expensive races in the country. National outlets like CNN and NPR have now focused on North Carolinian candidates ahead of the general election. Former Rep. Mark Walker concedes NC District 6 seat to Trump-endorsed rival, accepts role with Trump campaign While Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has long garnered attention for controversial remarks since he came into the public eye in 2018, which was reported on in NPR this week, his campaign and past comments have come into sharper focus in the 10 days since he defeated his primary opponents, shoring up his bout against Attorney General Josh Stein that has long been predicted, Michele Morrow, another North Carolina GOP candidate, is garnering nearly as much attention in the press since her surprise victory. Morrow bested incumbent Catherine Truitt to vie for North Carolina state superintendent, running as a more conservative option in the GOP race. Morrow homeschools her children and has worked as a missionary. According to reports, she was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, though she was not involved in the riot. The two candidates are now in the national spotlight for commentary on social media in the earlier days of their political careers and facing similar accusations of conspiracism and charged rhetoric about other politicians and public figures. Mark Robinson Robinson was thrust into the political spotlight after a charged speech during a 2018 Greensboro City Council meeting. Since his election as lieutenant governor, hes become known for fiery rhetoric and bombastic speeches in which he does not hold back on his opinions about any number of topics, such as the LGBTQ+ community and his political opponents. Hes been scrutinized for brushes with conspiracy theories in the past with analysis of his past social media posts now in the forefront. While his comments on the campaign trail have been markedly more measured, emphasizing his platform that focuses on the economy and education, NPR points out that hes still treading the same controversial waters at smaller events. When the chips are down, when the FBI is knocking on my door, will I cower? Will I comply or will I stand up and fight? Folks, its time to stand up and fight, Robinson said in audio obtained from a speech earlier this month in Naples, Florida. Opponent Josh Stein took to X to say, My opponent @markrobinsonNC told people to stand up and fight the FBI and has said hed use AR-15s if the government gets too big for its britches to fill the backside of them britches with some lead. His rhetoric is dangerous and its a direct threat to law enforcement. Steins comments are responding not only to the new audio from the NPR article but also a statement Robinson previously made about his AR-15 ownership in 2022, which Gov. Roy Cooper described at the time as advocating to overthrow the government. Robinsons campaign responded by saying that Stein twisted Robinsons words and that the lieutenant governor was calling for citizens to defend their rights rather than advocating violence against federal agents. Mike Lonergan, communications director for Robinsons gubernatorial campaign, wrote: He was clearly encouraging folks to mobilize at the ballot box to vote against Biden and the Democrats and their continued weaponization of the justice system against their political opponents; like their political witch hunts against President (Donald) Trump; or when Bidens attorney general likened parents concerned about their kids schools to domestic terrorists. This comment appears to reference a response Merrick Garland penned to a letter by the National School Board Association discussing parent groups at school board meetings and the decision of the Southern Poverty Law Center to label Moms For Liberty a hate group. NPRs article addresses additional claims of Robinsons long history of stoking controversy, such as alleged skepticism of the Holocaust. Robinsons campaign says this is inaccurate and taken out of context. The comment, a Facebook post about how Germans disarmed Jewish people before the Holocaust, was not a denial of the Holocaust happening. While Politifact characterizes the argument that gun control in Nazi Germany preceded the Holocaust as false, its inaccurate to say that Robinson was skeptical that the Holocaust happened as his argument was about gun control. Robinson has not walked back any of the old comments hes made on social media, even as he shies away from them on the campaign trail, which includes calling survivors of school shootings prosti-tots, perpetuating conspiracy theories that the attack on Nancy Pelosis husband was dishonest and referring to Michelle Obama as a man. He has shared stages with election deniers at events, expressing his own doubts about the 2020 election at times, and said that comments he made about Hitler at a Moms For Liberty event in 2023 were taken out of context. He has claimed that North Carolina hospitals are performing transgender surgery on five-year-olds, and he met with Ginni Thomas, prominent election denier and wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, in the weeks following the Jan. 6 insurrection. There is no low to which the Democrats will not stoop to smear Mark Robinson. The only extremist in this race is Josh Stein. He supports President Bidens open-borders policies that would turn North Carolina into a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants; and is backed by far-left radicals that want to defund the police. North Carolina voters have had enough of the lies from career politicians like Joe Biden and Josh Stein. Mike Lonergan, Communications Director, Mark Robinson for Governor Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, ReproForAll and Peoples Alliance are cited in a post by Lonergan alongside screenshots of those organizations addressing the phrase defund the police, a police reform slogan that came into the popular consciousness in the wake of George Floyds murder in 2020. Josh Steins campaign page does not mention the defund the police movement. Michele Morrow Morrow has similarly faced mounting criticism as her candidacy for North Carolina superintendent enters national news after her primary win. Both Media Matters, a progressive outlet, and CNN have gone over prior statements from the candidate with CNN emphasizing past violent rhetoric and Media Matters outlining her connection to QAnon. Posts on her personal, now inactive X formerly Twitter account show that she has used the hashtag #WWG1WGA multiple times, which stands for where we go one, we go all. #WWG1WGA has long been used as a rallying cry for QAnon followers, taken from the trailer of the 1996 movie White Squall. She has also referenced the consumption of adrenochrome, a real biomolecule that QAnon mythos treats as a mythical substance harvested from children by the elites to consume in rituals, and she has promoted the conspiracy that a Chinese military force was marching on America from the northern border. She frequently used the hashtag #deathtotraitors in which she rails against criminal accusations against then-President Trump. She repeatedly called for the death of former President Barack Obama. In a recent post on her campaign X account, she defended her comments, saying she was accusing Obama of treason for his drone strikes against Yemen despite not mentioning Yemen in prior posts. She voiced concern for innocent Muslim civilians in her Tweet, while previously calling Islam a cult and stating that she believed Muslims should not be able to run for office. She has also claimed that the Deep State, a go-to boogeyman of far-right conspiracy theories promoted by figures like Alex Jones, is intent on destroying America. She wrote in one post, Kill all traitors! and has called tolerance deadly. She unsuccessfully ran for Wake County Board of Education in 2022, prior to which she had no political experience. She has called for an end to public education, referring to schools as socialism centers and accusing public education of indoctrinating children. FOX8 reached out to Morrows campaign for comment but did not receive an immediate response. Morrow will face off against Mo Green, a Democrat and former superintendent of Guilford County Schools, the third-largest district in the state. Robinson will be in the governors race against Stein. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. LAURINBURG, N.C. (WBTW) A Fayetteville woman is in the hospital with critical injuries after police found her unresponsive inside a vehicle on Thursday night. Authorities said the 37-year-old was traveling on Wagram Street when multiple shots were fired into her car about 10:15 p.m. No further information was available, but officials say the incident remains under investigation. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome outside the city of Tsiolkovsky, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the city of Blagoveshchensk in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, Sept. 13, 2023. Kim used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by Putin recently, Kims sister said Saturday, March 16, 2024, praising the cars special function and the two countries' deepening bilateral ties. (Vladimir Smirnov/Sputnik Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used a Russian luxury limousine gifted by President Vladimir Putin, Kims sister said Saturday, praising the cars special function and the two countries' deepening bilateral ties. In February, Putin sent Kim a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he had shown to the North Korean leader when they met for a summit in Russia in September. Observers said the shipment violated a United Nations resolution aimed at pressuring the North to give up its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury items to North Korea. In a statement carried by state media, Kims sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, said that her brother used that limousine for the first time during an open event Friday. The special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted, Kim Yo Jong said, without specifying. Kim Jong Uns using of the private car sent by the president of the Russian Federation as a gift is a clear proof of (North Korea)-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage." According to Russian state media, Aurus was the first Russian luxury car brand, and its been used in motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018. Kim Jong Un, 40, possess a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into his country. During his Russia visit, he traveled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that was brought with him on one of his special train carriages. Other limousines he's reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62. Over the past year, North Korea and Russia have sharply boosted their military and other cooperation as they face separate confrontations with the West North Korea for its advancing nuclear program and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Drawing the biggest outside concerns was North Korea's purported shipments of conventional weapons to support Russia's war with Ukraine to receive high-tech Russian weapons technologies and other support. Russia, together with China, have repeatedly blocked the United States and its partners' attempts to impose fresh U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its barrage of banned ballistic missile tests. North Korea's state media separately reported Saturday that Kim Jong Un guided his troops conducting parachuting training the previous day. It's unclear if Friday's training was the same event in which Kim rode in the Russian limousine. The parachuting training was the latest in a series of military drills that Kim has supervised in recent days, likely in response to the annual 11-day South Korean-U.S. military exercises that ended Thursday. Kim views his rivals exercises as an invasion rehearsal. After watching Fridays training, Kim ordered his military to conduct future training more intensively and make full preparation for a war, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. Kim made similar demands after he guided other recent drills involving tanks, long-range artillery guns and combat soldiers. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The North Las Vegas Police Department is asking for the publics help to find a missing 13-year-old girl. According to police, Valentina Preciado was last seen on Wednesday, March 13 at around 10 p.m. near the area of East Dorrell Lane and Seeds Fates Street in North Las Vegas. NLVPD listed her as a runaway on a missing poster. Valentina Preciado, 13, was last seen on Wednesday, March 13. (NLVPD) NLVPD described Preciado as a Hispanic girl, who is 4 feet-ten inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. Preciado has red hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black zip-up top and black pants. Anyone with information on Preciado should contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. WOLFE CITY, Texas - With livelihoods at stake, North Texans are stepping up to help ranchers affected by the deadly panhandle wildfires. About 65 tons of feed has been collected and will be shipped off in big rigs to the panhandle. All of it is for the thousands of heads of cattle that survived the fires but are starving. There are many organizations helping ranchers rebound as well as a group of strangers from North Texas who have bonded over a common goal. Inside Russell Iron Works Shop in Hunt County, owner Jeremy Russell is working with a different kind of material than he's used to. "A lot of feed. We have 130,000 pounds of feed here. I think its about $23,000 worth," he said. The 65 tons of feed is bound for the Texas Panhandle where the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest recorded wildfire in state history, burned more than one million acres. "I dont have much. I just started my business, but I have a truck and a trailer. I have time," Russell said. "So what better way to help out." Russell and a couple dozen other Texans will transport the feed on 15 trailers and two semi-trucks to ranchers desperate for help. Harlan Smith is along for the ride. He first met Russell two weeks ago when the men joined other like-minded strangers to deliver approximately 400 bales of hay to the scorched region. He couldn't believe the need and the response to their journey. "Ive even been contacted by people as far as Illinois that brought things down," he said. The feed will be dropped off directly on the ranchers' land to make it easily accessible. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Panhandle known as "cattle country" is home to 11 million head of cattle. Thats 85% of the state's population. Early estimates show more than 7,000 head of cattle died in the fire. The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association said many of the livestock that were killed were cows with their calves or pregnant cows, and the ones that survived are hungry. "If Texans, they need help, were going to help. And its just being there for the people," Russell said. "They cant do it themselves because their vehicles are burnt up. Their trailers are burnt up. They cant get what they need." "The big challenge I put out there to everyone is just step up and help," Smith said. "Its just a community support. Thats what its all about." The group will be working late into the night loading all of the feed onto the trucks and trailers. Each one had to be individually wrapped to protect it from the rain. They leave from Wolfe City first thing Saturday morning. Space tourism company Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) reported full-year 2023 earnings at the end of February. This closed out a "record" year for spaceflight, in which the company flew its VSS Unity spaceplane seven times, and tripled its annual revenue. And what did this mean for the company's multi-year history of losing money and burning cash? Losses increased by $2 million, and cash burn grew by 24%, to $492.5 million. That's according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, a provider of financial data on U.S. companies. But beyond the headlines, S&P Global also provided audio from the post-earnings conference call that Virgin Galactic held with Wall Street analysts. It was there that investors learned three more things about Virgin Galactic, its plans, and its future prospects. 1. Virgin Galactic is planning a big price hike In 2021, Virgin Galactic famously offered to fly tourists to the edge of space for as little as $200,000 a ticket. According to the company, 600 would-be astronauts took Virgin Galactic up on its offer, encouraging the company to raise prices for its next batch of tickets to $450,000 apiece in 2022. This new offer wasn't as popular. So far, only about 125 customers have signed up to buy Virgin's pricier tickets. But with Virgin still losing money (and indeed, losing money a bit faster than it used to), the company has decided to raise prices again -- this time, to $600,000 a ticket. Virgin still thinks this price offers "outstanding value for the product and lifetime experience." Citing media reports, CEO Michael Colglazier says archrival Blue Origin is probably selling tickets on its own New Shepard space tourism rocket for more than $1 million each. Virgin itself has successfully sold Unity tickets for $800,000 and up to various scientific researchers. Now, Colglazier confides that in rare instances when existing reservation holders give up their place in line, Virgin might sell new tickets for those placeholders at the new and improved $600,000 price. Story continues This could potentially produce positive revenue surprises in future quarters. 2. Virgin Galactic is building new spaceplanes Virgin Galactic's longer-range plans continue to hinge on the Delta spaceplane. Resembling Unity in most respects, Delta will differ from Unity (which was supposed to carry six passengers, but actually carries only four) in that Delta will strip out excess weight to enable a full complement of six paying passengers per flight. Combined with $600,000 ticket prices, this could generate $3.6 million in revenue per flight. Multiply that by an anticipated eight flights per month, and that would mean $28.8 million in revenue per month, $86.4 million per quarter, and $345.6 million per year, per spaceplane. Virgin says Delta will begin flight tests in 2025, and enter service in 2026, flying out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company says it will need four or five spaceplanes and two motherships to support this pace of operations. Management did not say how much it expects to spend on the motherships, but each Delta will cost $50 million to $60 million. Thus, the total cost of outfitting just one Spaceport will exceed $300 million -- perhaps by a factor of two or three times. How many flights will it take to recoup that capital investment? Without more data, it's impossible to be certain, but with five spaceplanes flying fully loaded flights, and 400 or more total flights per year, it seems likely the company could make back its capital investment within one year of completing its fleet. That's assuming, of course, that Virgin can find 2,400 customers willing to pay $600,000 a pop. 3. Virgin Galactic thinks its passenger market exceeds 300,000 Is this a realistic assumption? Virgin Galactic thinks so. CFO Douglas Ahrens estimates there's a total of about 300,000 people potentially willing and able to ante up that kind of cash worldwide, and the market is growing 8% annually. If he's right, then 2,400 customers a year is only 1% of a growing market -- and if the market grows 8% per year, Virgin could literally never run out of customers. For this reason, Colglazier believes now is the time for Virgin Galactic to shift into "Phase 2" of its plans. Having proven its concept by flying 32 humans to space and back, Virgin Galactic will now move past its "R&D and prototype roots" and begin to scale up operations. First, the company will build out Spaceport America and the fleet based there. Operations will accelerate with the arrival of Delta in 2026. As the tempo increases, and annual revenue passes $1 billion at Spaceport, the company will build a second spaceport in 2029 -- aiming to create a whole chain of spaceports, each contributing annual revenue in the $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion range. Admittedly, for a company that's losing money, burning cash, and counting its revenue in just the single-digit millions today, the plan sounds a little farfetched -- but at least Virgin Galactic has a plan. Should you invest $1,000 in Virgin Galactic right now? Before you buy stock in Virgin Galactic, 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 Virgin Galactic 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 March 11, 2024 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends S&P Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Things You Need to Know From Virgin Galactic's Earnings Call was originally published by The Motley Fool SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) On Monday, Feb. 26, 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers disappeared from his Sumner County home. Despite first responders searching approximately 2,000 total miles over the last two-and-a-half weeks, there are still no signs of the missing teen, who is now the subject of an AMBER Alert. TN AMBER Alert: Timeline of search for missing teen Sebastian Rogers The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said at this stage in the investigation, there are little clues to indicate what happened to Sebastian or where he may be. Agents, detectives, and intelligence analysts are continuing to work around the clock to review every bit of information available. We have not forgotten about Sebastian. Much of the work currently being done to bring Sebastian home may not necessarily be public or visible, the TBI said in a statement. Sebastians family has remained cooperative since the search began and has done whatever law enforcement has asked of them, according to authorities. Investigators said there is no proof at this time that any criminal element or foul play was involved in Sebastians disappearance, but added there is not any proof that there is not a criminal element involved. Volunteers keep fliers of Sebastian Rogers up to date The TBI provided answers to the following commonly asked questions regarding the search for Sebastian. What areas have been searched? Within the first several days of the search, more than 2,000 miles were searched on foot. Many of these areas were initially searched, and searched again. Law enforcement officers have searched the neighborhood, surrounding neighborhoods, schools, and many other areas of the county by foot. Bloodhounds and handlers have searched the same areas. There have been aerial searches with helicopter, drones, and a fixed wing plane. These aerial searches have been conducted on multiple days and multiple nights using thermal imaging technology. Sebastians residence, the yard, the house, and the vehicles, have all been searched multiple times. The neighborhood where Sebastian lives has been canvassed. Neighbors houses have been searched. Sebastian is autistic, and his family says he is drawn to water. Pools in the neighborhood were searched. Dive teams were brought in, and bodies of water around the neighborhood and beyond that area were searched, including caves. What about the technology aspect? Have you collected security video from area homes and businesses? Have cell phones been checked? Many neighbors and businesses have provided video from home and business surveillance systems. We are grateful for that cooperation. The video has been collected, and from the beginning of the investigation, has been analyzed, and enhanced where possible, by tech experts with the TBI, FBI, and Secret Service. To date, nothing gathered from these video systems has been determined to be significant. We do caution that some surveillance video being shared in the public may have been misinterpreted or misidentified, or not shown in its entirety. It has been determined that it does not hold any evidentiary significance to the investigation. Numerous search warrants have been executed. Cellphone data has been analyzed, and any other available digital evidence has been collected, searched, and documented. Information was collected from Sebastians gaming system and has been analyzed. With help from the FBI, vehicles that were placed in the area at or around the time of Sebastians disappearance have been accounted for. These videos and all the electronic evidence that has already been reviewed, is often also being re-investigated. Sebastian Rogers (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation) Whats going on now in the investigation? Whats next? The search for Sebastian has not stopped. Every day tips and leads are investigated. People are being interviewed and re-interviewed. Evidence that has been reviewed once already is being gone over again. We continue to ask residents in the area of the search to keep an eye on your property, to see if anything may have been moved or displaced. Is this a place where a child could have hidden? If you have property that has ledges or holes that a teenager might find interesting and you cant search it yourself, please contact the tip line, and we can have someone check it out for you. If you know Sebastian and have information about him, what he likes, how he acts, that you think could be relevant, let us know. We know how many people are so very invested in getting Sebastian home. We will update this information as there may be any developments. Please use the tip line at 1-800-TBI-FIND to provide any relevant information you may have. Or, you can send it to TipsToTBI@tbi.tn.gov. (Please do not send tips to our social media pages). Finally. We are extremely grateful to so many members of the Sumner County community for the time, attention, and prayers being offered to help find Sebastian. The members of multiple law enforcement communities, emergency management personnel, wildlife organizations, so many other groups, along with the very generous businesses and individuals who have provided well wishes for Sebastian, along with water, food, other comforts to searchersall these contributions are so greatly appreciated. Thank you. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers, 15, was reported missing on Monday, Feb. 26 from the Beech area in Hendersonville. Sebastian Rogers: Description Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26 near Stafford Court wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants, said the TBI. AMBER Alert Issued The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) originally issued an Endangered Child Alert for Sebastian on the morning of Feb. 26 as multiple agencies took to the area to look for him. Based on additional investigative information developed during the search, the TBI issued an AMBER Alert for Sebastian on the afternoon of Feb. 27. An AMBER Alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ. Multiple agencies including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Fire Department, City of Hendersonvilles first responders, Sumner County Sheriffs Office and Shackle Island Volunteer Fire have assisted in the search for Sebastian. Who to Contact If you have seen Sebastian or have info about his whereabouts, call the Sumner County Sheriffs Office at (615) 451-3838 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WASHINGTON Some voters probably still hope Joe Biden or Donald Trump - or both - will do what Lyndon Baines Johnson did nearly 56 years ago: Pull out of the presidential race under public pressure. After all, Biden has heard widespread concerns about his age, and Trump faces four separate criminal trials. The dynamics have led political observers on both sides of the aisle to ask: Should Trump and Biden step aside, or be pushed away? It almost surely won't happen, barring death or a medical emergency. And it was never going to happen, thanks in large part to political changes that followed Johnson's surprise decision to retire. In the decades to come, LBJ's stunning announcement on March 31, 1968 led to full-time reliance on primaries and caucuses to pick presidential nominees, a system that tends to benefit incumbent presidents and well-heeled candidates. That includes Biden and Trump this time around. The political parties "established new rules that basically created the primary-and-caucus system," said presidential historian Joshua Zeitz. Thanks to the ghost of LBJ, it's essentially too late for Biden or Trump to pull out of the race for the White House, after the current and former presidents locked down the Democratic and Republican nominations Tuesday. And it was never really in the cards because of the ways in which political parties responded to the tumultuous 1968 election. President Lyndon Johnson, days after announcing his withdrawal from the 1968 presidential election 'Accordingly, I shall not seek ...' Johnson became president upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and won a landslide election of his own in 1964. But he fell into political peril in early 1968. Rising opposition to the Vietnam War undercut Johnson, who faced two-prominent anti-war challengers for the Democratic nomination, Sens. Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy, younger brother of the slain president. Both won the support of cadres of young people opposed to the war. On the Sunday night of March 31, 1968, Johnson delivered a prime-time address to announce a bombing pause and urge the North Vietnamese to negotiate. He tacked on a surprise ending. After saying "I should not permit the presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year," Johnson added that "I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes." "Accordingly," he said, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president." Short-term: A nominee who entered no primaries In the months after Johnson withdrew from the 1968 election, Kennedy was killed, McCarthy's popularity faded, and the Democrats wound up nominating Vice President Hubert Humphrey a late entrant who did not compete in a single primary. Back then, Zeitz explained, only 15 states used primaries to choose convention delegates. This was back in the day when party power brokers, including Johnson, still a had significant say in picking presidential nominees. "Humphrey did not run in a single primary," said Zeitz, author of "Building The Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson's White House." "And there he was, anointed at the convention." It all changed after Humphrey lost the 1968 general election to Republican Richard Nixon, a complicated three-candidate race that included states-rights segregationist George Wallace. All primaries (and caucuses), all the time Democrats, and eventually Republicans, responded to the chaos of 1968 by changing the nomination process, building it on meaningful primaries and caucuses and, in theory, giving voters the power to pick nominees. Longshot candidates like George McGovern (in 1972), Jimmy Carter (in 1976), and Barack Obama (in 2008) used primaries to overtake favored opponents. They built momentum on the state level instead of among prominent party brokers, and Carter and Obama went all the way to the White House. On the Republican side, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan used the primary system in 1976 to mount a serious challenge to incumbent President Gerald Ford. Reagan won the White House in 1980. A political upstart like Trump would have had little chance to win in 2016 under the pre-LBJ nomination system. But his wins in primaries enabled him to seize control of the party that he still has a firm grip on, despite a raft of investigations and civil judgements of more than a half-a-billion dollars. Time and money Over the decades, primaries have tended to benefit incumbents and some wealthy challengers because of two essential elements: Time and money. Seeking to leverage their influence, states have held delegate selection contests earlier and earlier in an ever-lengthening election season. The earlier an election starts, the less time little-known challengers have to build support and raise money. While some upstart candidates are able to notch victories in a longer election cycle, it makes for a major hurdle for lesser-known candidates. "It's much more expensive to wage a fight for the presidency," said presidential historian Mark K. Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation in Austin. Lyndon Johnson pulled out of the 1968 presidential race on March 31. By that time these days, nominations are pretty much locked up, as happened for Biden and Trump this year. LBJ's other reasons for dropping out still matter today Updegrove, author of "Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency," noted that Johnson withdrew in 1968 for other reasons that echo today. A workaholic and a heart attack survivor, Johnson worried about his health and whether he would survive another term in the presidential cauldron. He in fact died in early 1973. Johnson, Updegrove said, also wondered about whether his re-election might "further divide the country, an already polarized country." Over the past few years, some Democrats have whispered the hope that Biden would pull an LBJ over concerns about his age and health. Poll after poll has shown that voters are worried about Biden's age as he seeks another four years in office, though the president has not been formally diagnosed with serious health challenges. In the end, given Biden's post-LBJ advantages of incumbency, no major Democrat has been able to pull enough support from the president. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips took the plunge, though he got nowhere. Donald Trump has racked up delegates Trump, meanwhile, began his official campaign in late 2022, running as a quasi-incumbent and sucking up money and attention. That made it hard for prominent challengers like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to break through. After Trump rolled to the nomination, some Republicans wondered if the former president could be dropped from the ticket if he's convicted in one of the four trials pending against him. Not likely. Trump already has the delegates he needs to be nominated, the fruits of the post-LBJ primary system. In another era, the national Republican Party could have exerted more control as the former president faces four sets of indictments, a sweeping defamation trial over a sexual assault allegation and a loan fraud trial. However, the Republican National Committee has thrown major support behind the former president. After Donald Trump endorsed Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, as co-chair of the RNC, she vowed that "Every single penny will go to the number one and the only job of the RNC:" Reelecting the former president. 'The system has changed so much' In his time, what Lyndon Baines Johnson did in 1968 wasn't that unusual. During the 20th Century, four U.S. presidents took office upon the deaths of predecessors: Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson. As Updegrove pointed out, all four then won elections on their own and all four bowed out of the next election. The long-term fallout from Johnson's decision probably means he will be the last president to retire before even reaching the Constitution's term limit for commanders in chief. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Trump glided to 2024 nominations. Here's why they can thank LBJ Some illegal immigrants to New York may be denied emergency housing resources due to a change in state practice. New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday that the city's infamous "right to shelter" policy which mandates a bed be provided for any individual who requires it would be significantly rolled back. Under the new terms, individuals would have a right to 30 days of housing services upon entry into the city's aid system. NYC SECURES $106M IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MIGRANT COSTS AFTER MONTHS OF DELAYS Single migrant men, mostly from West Africa, congregate in Tompkins Square Park as volunteers give away food and clothing in the East Village neighborhood of New York City, New York. Following the 30-day window, the city can refuse individuals' re-entry into the system, "unless the individual has demonstrated they have some sort of extenuating circumstance necessitating a short additional amount of time in shelter, or have received a reasonable accommodation due to a disability," according to Adams' office. Families will still be comprehensively covered under the relaxed law and cannot be turned away if seeking housing. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This new agreement acknowledges the realities of where we are today, affirms our shared mission to help those in need and grants us additional flexibility to navigate this ongoing crisis," Adams said in a video statement. NEW YORKERS RAIL ON LOSING BATTLE AGAINST CRIME AFTER GOV. HOCHUL DISPATCHES NATIONAL GUARD Mayor Eric Adams, flanked by his Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright (L) and Ingrid Lewis-Martin, are pictured during his weekly in person press conference at City Hall Blue Room. While the compromise puts limits on the "right to shelter" for individuals, it also mandates housing officials work to render as much procedural and material aid as possible during the month of housing provided. The New York City system must help searching for a location to permanently rehouse each migrant while in its care. Expected efforts include arranging meetings with immigration lawyers and applying for resettlement programs. Adams sought to completely end the "right to shelter" requirement in October 2023, citing a state of emergency due to the influx of migrants. The Legal Aid Society, a non-profit civil legal group, challenged the attempt and helped negotiate the current deal. "The reasonable plan outlined in this settlement significantly enhances the citys ability to manage the extraordinary influx of people that have come into our care and will help stabilize our shelter system for those who need it," said New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, according to Politico. The change comes in the face of overwhelming illegal immigration to New York City an influx of migrants that has strained the city infrastructure to its breaking point. Original article source: NYC to deny some immigrants 'right to shelter' after compromise with activists NEW YORK Donald Trumps trial related to a hush money payoff to porn star Stormy Daniels was pushed back on Friday by the presiding judge who said significant questions of fact must be resolved before the former presidents historic Manhattan case moves forward. As evidenced by (Trumps) most recent letter filed this afternoon, there are significant questions of fact which this court must resolve before it may rule on his efforts to get the case tossed, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan wrote, adjourning the trial by about three weeks. The judge told the parties to come to court on March 25, when the trial was slated to begin, to address a dispute related to old records tied to Michael Cohens case. The trials anticipated star witness was convicted in 2018 when federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York first investigated the notorious hush money scheme. The old filings related to Trumps former fixer turned nemesis have altered the timeline for whats set to be his first criminal case of four to make it to trial. Trumps defense team subpoenaed the records in January and have claimed what theyve received so far contains evidence impeaching Cohen and should buy them a three-month delay. In March 8 filings made public Thursday, Trumps lawyers said prosecutors should have obtained the records last year when they requested evidence from the feds while preparing their case. They accused them of instead cherry-picking favorable material and declining to procure anything that could be helpful to the defense. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs office is expected to respond to the prosecutorial misconduct allegations in court filings on Monday. Braggs office, which consented to a 30-day delay of the trial Thursday, says the 104,000 documents produced so far are largely irrelevant, which is why they were never requested. Prosecutors said they requested relevant material last year, some of which they said the feds declined to provide. Still, they noted that Trump didnt take issue with what they did get until the eve of trial, jibing with the former presidents dogged attempts to delay his many cases. In a letter to the court Friday, Trump lawyer Todd Blanche who has also asked Judge Merchan to dismiss the Trump case altogether asked the jurist to hold a hearing to determine whether prosecutors should face sanctions or the case should be tossed before setting a trial date. (There) are disputed issues of fact regarding the (DAs) obligation to obtain and produce these materials much earlier, Blanche wrote. (Federal prosecutors) should be permitted to address the extraordinarily serious claim by [(he DA) that (federal prosecutors) wrongfully withheld relevant evidence from Cohens case. In granting Blanches request for a hearing, Merchan ordered each side to file a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the Cohen docs, including all correspondence between Braggs office, the feds, and Trumps lawyers. He said hed set a trial date if necessary after resolving the dispute. The requested documents are necessary for this court to properly assess who, if anyone, is at fault for the late production of the documents, the judge wrote, and what sanction(s) if any, are appropriate. A spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams declined to comment, as did Blanche and Braggs office. When Cohen pleaded guilty to his role in the hush money scheme, the feds notoriously implicated Trump in the case as Individual-1, but declined to bring charges against Trump per a Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Cohen admitted he paid Daniels to stay silent about an alleged extramarital tryst with Trump in coordination and at the direction of the then-2016 presidential candidate and lied to Congress about Trumps business dealings with Russia out of loyalty, among other crimes. He served a three-year sentence. Following a yearslong Trump investigation that he inherited, Bragg last spring filed 34 felony counts against Trump in the state courts alleging he hid reimbursement to Cohen for the payoff to Daniels once in the White House to disguise the underlying hush money scheme, which also included payments to Playboy model Karen McDougal and a doorman at Trump Tower. The Republican presidential nominee has pleaded not guilty to 91 felonies in four criminal matters and claims hes the victim of a witch hunt. The trial timeline is unclear in his three other criminal cases accusing him of plotting to overthrow the 2020 election and mishandling stolen classified documents with his appeals bogging down the process. _____ Martin Luther King HS entrance in Manhattan, top left inset; exterior of Stuyvesant High School in Lower Manhattan, bottom left inset; La Guardia HS entrance with groups of students walking near entrance as main pic. The city should expand zoned high schools so more students can count on a seat in their neighborhood school, parents demanded this week. Parents on the Citywide Council for High Schools, a volunteer advisory group, voted Wednesday in favor of a resolution calling on the city to expand zoned schools and create a working group on how it can be done. This is not intended to solve all the problems that many families experience around admission, said the resolutions sponsor, Brooklyn representative Linda Quarles. It is one piece. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio eliminated geographic priorities in an effort to advance diversity and equity in admissions decisions and expand opportunity for all students. Angel Chevrestt Only 38% of high school applicants in the Big Apple have access to a school with a zoning guarantee or priority, according to the group. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio who sought to increase diversity and equity in admissions axed zoned schools in 2021 on his way out of office, claiming it limited opportunity for hard-working students to attend some of our most in-demand schools. Before then, about half of the citys high schools had some type of district, borough or other residency requirement, including District 2 in Manhattan, where competitive schools mainly prioritized district kids. Now, there are no zoned schools in Manhattan and only two in the Bronx. There are five in Staten Island, six in Brooklyn and 15 in Queens. Between January through February, I received about 1,000 emails all these emails being sent by families just from District 2 saying they cant live in limbo, not knowing if their children will be commuting out of borough or an hour or two a day round trip, Manhattan rep Ben Morden told The Post. Thats an example of why people move out or look for other options, like private school. Parents are calling for more schools to grant guarantees or priorities in admissions for local students in an effort to cut commute times and boost local schools. Angel Chevrestt Students in the Bronx and Brooklyn are especially in need of zoned schools, as well as those in Manhattans District 2, Quarles noted, and some schools could be boosted by giving a geographic preference. Some of the schools that Ive spoken to that have low enrollment would be very excited to be considered as zoned or zoned priority because they know that in their community, there are students that would be a great addition to their community school, she noted. Queens representative Lisa Stowe said her son travels about an hour and 20 minutes from Astoria to Bay Ridge every day for school. About half of the citys 400-plus high schools previously granted some type of geographic priority. Now, only 28 high schools are zoned and parents are calling for that to be expanded. Stefan Jeremiah For her family, it works, but she said she supports a zoning option for families who do value location. A DOE spokeswoman said the resolution is being reviewed. At New York City Public Schools, we value parent voice and take their concerns very seriously, she said, adding, We have a citywide high school choice process in place that ensures that students have access to a wide range of options that meet their needs. New York lawmakers sounded the alarm about needing to boost subway safety in the aftermath of Thursdays shooting underground which came a little over a week after Gov. Kathy Hochul flooded the citys public transit system with National Guardsmen. Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said the shooting was a wake up call to New Yorks lefty politicians, while Albany Democrats questioned whether Hochuls subway safety plan was enough. Yesterdays subway shooting in #Brooklynshould be a wake up call to New Yorks left wing leaders that we need adequate policing levels in our subways & on our streets, as well as laws that keep criminals OFF our streets, Malliotakis wrote on X Friday morning. We need to prioritize spending on the needs of citizens, not illegal immigrants. We need laws that protect the law-abiding, not the law-breaking. We need safe subways, not congestion pricing, she insisted. Malliotakis comments came on the heels of the terrifying Thursday evening incident in which a 36-year-old man was shot in the head with his own weapon while wrestling another man in the middle of a crowded subway at Brooklyns Hoyt-Schermerhorn station. A deadly subway shooting on Thursday has city dwellers on edge. As of Friday afternoon, Dejuan Robinson, was hospitalized in critical condition, while the shooter had not been charged due to evidence of self-defense, officials said. Its critical that we do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities; there are entirely too many guns in New York, and too easy access to them, Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn), who represents the area where the shooting took place, said Friday. The Governors recent deployment of the National Guard was unwarranted and caused fear rather than a sense of safety, she added. Assemblyman Brian Cunningham (D-Brooklyn) told The Post that the situation was horrific, and said Albany needs to invest in a safer subway system. I dont think there will be enough National Guard or police to fill every single subway car in New York City, quite frankly. I think it was a response, but I dont know if that would have deterred yesterdays event, he said. The shooting took place during rush hour on Thursday. Cunningham said hed like to see more investment in mental health services and federal action on gun safety. Assemblyman Lester Chang (R-Brooklyn), however, insisted that there should be even more guards in the subways. There is not enough 750 National Guards to do a bag search for every subway stations, we need at least 3,000 Guardsman, he wrote on X. That might have prevented a shooting yesterday at a downtown Bklyn station, he claimed. Hochul, who had yet to comment on the shooting, announced she assembled a task force on subway and transit safety. The group, made up of law enforcement and prosecutors from the five boroughs as well as the MTA, met for the first time Friday to discuss strategies for enhanced and early coordination across and within boroughs, strategies to stop recidivists, and tackling issues with evidence. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently deployed the National Guard at some subway stops. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock Like all New Yorkers, Im horrified by yesterdays shooting on the A Train. No subway rider should commute in fear that theyll be the victim of a shooting or slashing and were taking coordinated action to keep straphangers safe, Hochul wrote in a statement. The only way to solve the recent spike in subway crime is to collaborate across all levels of government. Working together with Mayor [Eric] Adams, police, prosecutors and transit officials, well make sure every New Yorker is protected. Straphangers, meanwhile, were wary of using the transit system Friday, particularly the subway stop where the shooting took place. I didnt even want to come to this train station anymore, Myah Nelson, 41, told The Post at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, adding that she was so afraid and scared while visiting the city from her new home in New Jersey. Ive moved to New Jersey. Thats how bad it is. I dont even live in New York no more. Im visiting, said Nelson, who grew up in Brooklyn but moved because of the citys crime issues. [The National Guard] should have been here earlier. Once COVID was going on, it was like a free for all in attacking people. After COVID nothing was implemented so the problem got worse, she added, saying they need more cops, especially in Brooklyn. Nostrand Avenue train station is the worst. This one is horrible even with the police station upstairs, Nelson shook her head. Hopeton Clark, 78, agreed that more police should be in the stations. We need a few more boots on the ground not just on the platform, not just standing in one place but moving around to different cars, to different stops I believe their presence will cause people to change their minds if they are up to no good, Clark said. Every time I hear something like this, shooting, it makes me feel more scared. Adrian Bennett, who lives in Far Rockaway but takes thee A train almost every day to pick her granddaughter up from school, said she was disgusted by what happened. Even though they say crime is down, it does not seem that way especially in the subway, Bennett said. When asked about the National Guards presence, Bennet said, I think thats just for show and thats all I am going to say. I have a certain place that I sit, she added of her own strategy for staying safe during rush hour. I look around because I have my granddaughter with me. I dont want her to get hurt and I dont want to get hurt. (BCN) Following heart-wrenching testimony by several employees of McDonalds, Wendys and other chain restaurants at the first-ever meeting of Californias newly formed Fast Food Council, workers rallied outside the Elihu M. Harris State Building in Oakland on Friday. Formed by Assembly Bill 1228, and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2023, the new council will establish statewide procedures for adopting and reviewing fast food restaurant health, safety and employment standards. It will operate through Jan. 1, 2029 and will have limited rulemaking powers. Roasted and Raw in Oakland burglarized for 3rd time in 3 years The council will govern restaurants that belong to chains with 60 or more locations nationally. It is part of the Department of Industrial Relations, a state labor agency, and will include two fast food workers, two franchise owners, two fast food corporate representatives and a neutral member of the public. The hope is to establish a vertical path of communication about worker conditions, in an industry where corporate heads can be distant from conditions within independently owned franchises. The law included a wage hike. As of April, fast food workers will see a minimum wage hike to $20 per hour. Thats above the new state level of $16 per hour, which started Jan. 1. According to the California Fast Food Workers Union, there are about a half a million such workers in the California food industry. Although new the law prohibits a fast food restaurant owner from retaliating against employees for participating in the council, many of the workers who testified in Fridays meeting, described retaliation from employers by having their hours cut ahead of the hike. Their testimony also described employee abuse and emotional suffering. Ive been working for McDonalds 18 years, said an older woman through a Spanish translator. I have been humiliated for having breast cancer. All through the chemotherapy, I didnt stop working. I didnt lose a day of work. She describes being sent outside in the cold to mop because she had no hair, despite asking to be indoors where it was warmer. Some McDonalds restaurants close for hours after system failures reported worldwide I saw the paperwork and saw that they had been taking hours of my salary, she said through tears. They gave me 3 or 4 hours work and they also took my half hour break. My manager said I cannot give you the hours because you cannot cook the potatoes. Im not going to give you the hours because the only thing that youre good for is to make the burritos and the cheese. Thats all you are good for.' After public comment, some of the new councilmembers replied to the speakers, including Richard Reinis, a corporate litigator representing various franchises, including Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I want you to know that were here to learn, said Reinis. We arent people who know everything by any means, and were listening. Thats the point of my efforts here today, to hear what you have to say, to listen to it, interpret it, and hopefully, recommend to the Legislature and to the Department of Labor changes that will improve your lives. But we can only do it hearing your voices. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. About three weeks before he was found with 12 slashes between his wrists in a West Virginia hotel room bathtub, journalist Danny Casolaro told his brother that "if an accident happens, it's not an accident," according to a new documentary. Casolaro had spent years entangled in his investigation of an international cabal he called "The Octopus," a thick web of conspiracies that he told prospective publishers of his book would be "the most explosive investigative story of the 20th Century," according to the Netflix docuseries "American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders." On Aug. 10, 1991, housekeeping staff at the Sheraton Hotel in Martinsburg, West Virginia, found Casolaro in a bloodied bathtub with his wrists slashed. He told friends and family that he had traveled there to interview a crucial source for his upcoming book. Tommy Casolaro, the journalist's brother, received word within a day that 44-year-old Casolaro had died, and that police deemed it a suicide. CONVICTIONS IN MENENDEZ FAMILY MURDERS IN JEOPARDY AFTER NEW LETTER, ABUSE CLAIM BOLSTER BROTHERS' DEFENSE Casolaro was facing financial difficulties at the time of his death, writing to his agent that "in September, [he would] be looking into the face of an oncoming train." Regardless, whether Casolaro took his own life has been hotly debated since his death, according to the Washington Post. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "In my six years as a medic, I've never seen anybody ever cut their wrists that many times the left arm appears to have had eight cuts and the right arm appeared to have had four cuts. It just did not appear that he physically could have done that," Don Shirley, a firefighter who responded to the scene, told documentarians. "These were deep cuts to the point where the tendons had been severed You cut your tendons, you can't hold something. Those are simple facts," Shirley continued. SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER Casolaro, who covered Watergate in the 1970s and was writing for a tech publication he owned called "Computer Daily" at the time, began the investigation that would consume the rest of his life when he was assigned to research Inslaw. The tech company that was bankrupted after building a novel software called PROMIS short for Prosecutor's Management Information System for the U.S. Justice Department. For the first time, the software made case information searchable in a computer database. In 1986, the Justice Department was accused of intentionally driving the software's parent company into bankruptcy "through trickery, fraud and deceit" by withholding payment, former Attorney General Elliot Richardson said at the time. In light of the PROMIS investigation, Richardson said that then-President Reagan's DOJ was up to something "much dirtier than Watergate." SCOTT PETERSON TAKES ANOTHER RUN AT FREEDOM DESPITE MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE IN MURDERS OF WIFE, UNBORN SON FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X Inslaw founder Bill Hamilton, who became a driving source in Casolaro's research, alleged in court that the DOJ shirked payments for the software to intentionally drive the company under so that Earl Brian, owner of competing computer corporation Hadron and former director of California's Department of Health Care Services when Reagan was California's governor, could take control of their assets. Moreover, Hamilton claimed that Brian had called before the company filed for bankruptcy seeking to purchase Inslaw, saying that he "had a way of making [Hamilton] sell" when he refused. MOTHER OF CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR ACCUSED IN HUBBY MURDER MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED: POLICE Inslaw would later win a case against the Department of Justice for stealing its software in 1998 over claims that the government intentionally stole its software and distributed it illegally but the case was overturned on appeal. A theory, one component of Casolaro's so-called Octopus, is that the Justice Department sold the software abroad to illegally spy on agencies that purchased it. Tommy Casolaro told filmmakers that about three weeks before his brother's death, he told him that "if an accident happens, it's not an accident." From there, Casolaro began uncovering prospective theory after prospective theory from interviews with his many furtive contacts. With Casolaro's family publicly questioning the suicide designation, citing the growing number of threatening phone calls Casolaro was receiving and the sensitive nature of his work, newscasters and reporters widely speculated about his death. However, as years passed, the case went cold. 'LOVER, STALKER, KILLER" EXPOSES WOMAN'S ELABORATE PLOT TO ELIMINATE ROMANTIC RIVAL However, 10 years ago, begetting the Netflix documentary, journalist Christian Hansen grew fascinated with the case and became determined to finish Casolaro's book in an effort to learn how he died. Zachary Treitz, Hansen's childhood friend and the director of the four-part Netflix series, jumped onto the investigation out of concern for his obsessed buddy, but also to figure out if he was onto something. In his research, showcased by calls to Casolaro's often-cryptic sources and pages upon pages of laid out documents, Hansen became reminiscent of Casolaro to make matters stranger, the dead journalist's longtime friend Ann Klenk remarked that the men even looked alike. Casolaro's expansive theory is held up by a bizarre cast of prominent government officials and their affiliates and their links to a criminal underworld. Among them are suspected serial killer and government operative Philip Arthur Thompson, globe-trotting John Philip Nichols, potential spy Robert Booth Nichols and prominently-featured tech wizard Michael Riconosciuto. GET REAL TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB The Iran-Contra affair and the 1991 collapse of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International a financial institution that Casolaro thought made the web of schemes possible were linked to the wide-spanning conspiracy. So is a secret government arms factory at the Cabazon Indian reservation in Indio, California. Tribal official Alfred Alvarez and his friends Patricia Castro and Ralph Boger were allegedly killed by Cabazon casino security lead Jimmy Hughes at the behest of Nichols, the tribe's non-Indian financial consultant, when he asked too many questions about where the casino's money was going. Hughes faced felony charges that were later dropped. Nichols was later jailed in the plot, according to the documentary and local news outlets. Hansen and Treitz vacillate on how much they buy theories bandied by Casolaro's informants, like Riconosciuto, who the pair interviewed after he was released from a decadeslong prison sentence for 10 criminal counts related to methamphetamine and methadone. Riconosciuto was jailed just eight days after providing an affidavit for the House Judiciary Committee supporting Inslaw's claims, saying he worked under the direction of Brian in connection with the software. He said his arrest was retaliatory despite drug charges earlier in his life. Ultimately, the pair uncovered new details about the case never revealed to the public after police in Martinsburg granted Hansen's public records request from 2013. Among the paper documents in a box of evidence were statements from another woman in Casolaro's hotel, claiming that she saw a dark-haired man enter blonde Casolaro's room on the evening of his death. This detail was not previously included in news coverage, or even in FBI files on the controversial case. The filmmakers guess, based on circumstances and a composite sketch, that Joseph Cuellar a former military intelligence official who spoke with Casolaro about his theories in a diner weeks before his death may have been the second man in the room. Treitz told the Mirror he was "haunted" since he and Hansen made the connection in the documentary, Cuellar's son said that his father specialized in "psychological warfare" and detailed his abilities. Ultimately, Treitz and Hansen told GQ, neither has decided whether Casolaro was murdered or killed himself. In completing the documentary, the pair learned what Casolaro must have and what may have caused him to take his own life. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP "You have to make a decision for yourself, which I did are you going to go back to your normal boring life and enjoy small things like movies or barbecues instead of phone calls from the netherworld?" Cheri Seymour, a California-based writer and investigative reporter whose "The Last Circle" is about Casolaros reporting and death, told the filmmakers. "I made a choice between learning the secret of everything, which I realized I would never do, or being happy and having fun," Hansen said at the end of his 10 years of research and the documentary puzzling and convoluted enough to reflect its own narrative. Original article source: 'Octopus Murders' conspiracy puts spotlight on journalist's mysterious 'suicide' NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A judge convicted 48-year-old Clifford Symmons Hunter on Wednesday, March 13, for setting his own property on fire in order to collect insurance benefits, officials said. On Feb. 17, 2018, Hunter conspired with two accomplices to have them set fire to an unoccupied house Hunter owned on Hydro Street. A Norfolk Fire-Rescue investigator found that the fire was not due to accidental or natural reasons. Hunter intended to use the fire to put in a fraudulent claim to his insurance company. Clifford Symmons Hunter On July 27, 2019, Hunters accomplices burned another unoccupied property on Riverside Drive at Hunters direction. A Norfolk Fire-Rescue investigator determined the cause to be arson after finding containers that had been filled with gasoline in the home. Hunter was found guilty of committing arson and conspiring to commit arson on the first home and conspiring to commit arson on the second home. Hunter is scheduled for sentencing on May 31. Hunter was also found in contempt of court for failing to appear at a previously scheduled trial while on bond, and was sentenced to 10 days in the Norfolk City Jail. Setting fires to collect insurance money is arson. It is incredibly dangerous, because if the fire spins out of control it can damage other peoples property and get people hurt, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. And any time someone attempts to cheat their insurance company, they are jacking up the costs of insurance for people who follow the rules. We all deserve better. Check with WAVY.com for more updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) A Muskingum County woman who gave birth to a child addicted to drugs has been sentenced to prison. According to the Muskingum County Prosecutors Office, Kayleigh Knox, 37, of Zanesville, pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges and child endangerment stemming from three incidents over the past three years. In December 2022, Knox was accused of placing an 11-year-olds life in jeopardy when Zanesville police officers came to their aid based on Knoxs drug addiction. She was also caught using drugs in a supermarket parking lot in 2023 and was released on bond, but then failed to show up for her appointed drug test. Kayleigh Knox (Courtesy/Muskingum County Prosecutors Office) On Jan. 1, Knox gave birth to a child who was clinically addicted to drugs. The baby was immediately placed in the neonatal intensive care unit at a Columbus hospital. The child is now in the care of Muskingum County Childrens Services. Knox was sentenced this week to one year in prison after pleading guilty to two counts each of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia as well as child endangerment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Chaay_Tee / Getty Images/iStockphoto If youre looking for a new career, the healthcare field can be a great choice for stability, abundant job opportunities and a high salary potential. Healthcare jobs can also be fulfilling and diverse, and many options dont require getting a doctorate. Check Out: 26 Ways To Make $1,000 Fast In a Week or Less Read Now: 5 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money U.S. News & World Report published its 2024 Best Healthcare Jobs list, which considers factors such as pay, job growth and employment levels. Here are the top four healthcare jobs worth pursuing along with current salary and job growth information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 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. Nurse Practitioner Average salary (2022) : $124,680 Expected job growth (2022-2032) : 45% Jobs added (2022-2023): 118,600 Requiring a masters degree and certification, a nurse practitioner career offers the fastest job growth in the healthcare field and a six-figure average salary. This role is great for specializing in certain types of patients, such as children or the elderly. It also provides opportunities to work in various facilities, including hospitals, urgent care centers and doctors offices. Depending on state laws, you could complete various care tasks, including doing tests and exams, giving medications, diagnosing conditions and providing patient education. Working with physicians can also be part of the job. 2. Physician Assistant Average salary (2022) : $125,270 Expected job growth (2022-2032) : 27% Jobs added (2022-2023): 39,300 Physician assistants earn the most out of the healthcare jobs on this list. This role can be a good alternative to becoming a physician if you prefer certification and a masters degree over many years of medical school and residencies. Its especially suited to those with prior healthcare experience. Story continues A physician would oversee your work as a physician assistant. While the care tasks can be similar to a nurse practitioners, this role involves more responsibility since you might write prescriptions and help with surgeries. State laws and your specialization can affect your duties. 3. Speech-Language Pathologist Average salary (2022) : $89,460 Expected job growth (2022-2032) : 19% Jobs added (2022-2023): 33,100 A speech-language pathologist career can be a fulfilling option if you want to help your patients overcome issues with swallowing and talking. Its also known for its very high employment growth and average salary near $90,000. This job requires a masters degree and often certification, with several specializations available. Working at an educational institution or therapists office is common. This is a team-based role that involves evaluating your clients, making treatment plans and monitoring their progress. Youll often work with children and their families. 4. Occupational Therapist Average salary (2022) : $92,800 Expected job growth (2022-2032) : 12% Jobs added (2022-2023): 16,100 As an occupational therapist, you would help clients improve their ability to work or complete daily living tasks. Work settings are diverse since you might work in clients homes as well as in schools and healthcare settings. A masters degree and certification are needed, and you can specialize in an area such as physical rehab or assistive technology. Learn More: Mark Cubans 5 Best Passive Income Ideas Your main tasks would be to evaluate your clients, make custom treatment plans, suggest assistive equipment and show clients how to do exercises. You would also give advice about making the clients environment more suitable for their needs and keep an eye on their progress. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Ways To Make Money in Healthcare That Are Worth Pursuing It's too bad Walters has to stir up drama. We already have plenty Ryan Walters has done nothing but break down, what was already broken, The Oklahoma educational system. MY JOB, as a parent, is to protect her from immorality and bad things as much as humanly possible. MY beliefs matter, and NO ONE has the right to teach my children what matters in OUR part of what has become warzone Oklahoma. It would befit Walters to have a time out and rethink what he is spewing. It's too bad he has to stir drama when we already have plenty in our meager Oklahoma existence. Kassandra Turner-Bradley, Tulsa More: We're tired of Oklahoma politicians embarrassing the state. The toxic rhetoric needs to stop. You will lose, Ryan Walters Twenty-first century to Ryan Walters: America has already become the mongrel nation the John Birch Society warned us about. You and they and all the reactionaries in America cant reverse the enlightened course of progress. (LGBTQ+ people) live in every neighborhood now, eat in the same restaurants, date and marry both men and women. Why? Because Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment stated ... nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Editorial: Ryan Walters' response to Nex Benedict's death only causes more pain for Oklahoma's LGTBQ+ families Federal law supercedes state law, so the new radical conservative strategy is just to wish away constitutional freedoms. Despite your David Dukes attempts to re-homogenize diverse children into straight Americans who will march with Trumps radical drumbeat, you wont reverse desegregation. More (LGBTQ+ people) will be born. Some will choose to be nonbinary. Despite your efforts to ban ideas, some will read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Truth About Alice." Gary Robert Pinnell, Oklahoma City State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is pictured at the February meeting of the Oklahoma state school board. Our son died in the Oklahoma County jail; we want answers I am the father of DEREK RAYMOND STROTHER, the latest inmate to perish while in custody at the Oklahoma County jail. My wife and I want answers and accountability. I guess I'm just reaching out for more information about this location. I'm finding tales that this institution is one of the deadliest in the country. I would like to converse with other families that have lost a loved one there. This loss of life, while in their custody, must stop, so that no more families suffer. Weldon Stanton, Newcastle, Texas Consider the VPs as you cast your ballot for our next US president It has become apparent to me that the 2024 election will come down to Mr. Trump and President Biden. But that is not completely true. As a former member of a federal grand jury, I can state that, after doing a little follow up, the majority of the charges in an indictment ultimately result in a guilty verdict or an accepted plea deal. So this does not bode well for Mr. Trump. On the other side of the coin, President Bidens age, regardless of his health right now, will continue to decline for no other reason than hes getting older every day. What does that mean to the American people? It means that either of the vice presidential candidates could easily become president should convictions or health become an issue for either of the presidential contenders, utilizing the 25th Amendment or the president simply resigning. Additionally, I think if one looks at history where a vice president has moved into the presidency, those individuals had their own agendas, oftentimes not mirroring those who they replaced. So Oklahoma and America, just remember that you might be looking at a No. 2 moving into No. 1 sooner than later and ask yourself if you could live with that individual as your president. Mark Rupert, Edmond Proposed Bricktown tower hazardous to flight paths The proposition of a 1,900-foot-tall tower in Bricktown is a little on the ridiculous side. Why? It will be just another hazard for aviation in the Oklahoma City area. There are already hazards that aviation must be cognizant of. Like the antenna farm in north Oklahoma City. We regularly see videos of the tops of the clouds from those towers for television, radio and other functions when we watch the news. Then came the Devon Tower. Airliners are already restricted in the paths they fly going into and out of Will Rogers World Airport. Now it is proposed to add one more hazard to the flight paths of those aircraft, along with the noise abatement procedures and entry for the patterns of Will Rogers World Airport. There is, after all, a limit to the types of hazards you can place in an airport approach and departure flight pattern. And these types of towers are a hazard, not only to commercial aircraft but also to private flying aircraft. I am glad that this headache is Oklahoma City's headache and not Norman's. The encroachment of Westheimer is what can cause that airport to shut down as has happened to other airports in the Oklahoma City area. Is that an option Oklahoma City wants to consider? Andre Snodgrass, Norman More: Could the country's tallest skyscraper become an OKC reality? Developer talks funding, plans As execution approaches, did no one consider effect of disability? Well, Oklahoma, we're about to execute a man who being intellectually disabled gave conflicting testimony? That's how mental disability works. Those with this disability can't focus, they hallucinate, they seek attention often in groups that take advantage of them. So, was no consideration of these traits not considered? How was he even brought to trial!! We're not doing fine, Oklahoma!!! Sister Veronica Higgins, Oklahoma City Who I support: People who listen, compromise, reach shared decisions I want to thank the voters of Oklahoma for sending James Lankford to the U.S. Senate. As a moderate Democrat from the state of Hawaii, one might think I have nothing in common with Senator Lankford. However I support any person in Congress that is willing to listen, compromise, and to reach shared decisions to address the many challenges of our country. I will attempt to do my share, too, voting for candidates from our state who will do the same, no matter what their party affiliation. Mahalo to Senator Lankford for his work on border security. Barbara Tavares, Hawaii More: EDITORIAL: Lankford leadership in border efforts deserves applause, not censure Spend taxpayers' money on skills, not a rodeo for OK's prisoners Well here we go again in Oklahoma. Short-sighted legislators spending tax dollars on a feel good for the moment item. How can spending $8 million dollars to build/renovate a rodeo arena in 2024 even be something that was brought to the floor, let alone passed as legislation this session. Really legislators, you think this money is going for a good cause for the incarcerated? Wouldnt $8 million dollars go a long way to rehabilitation by spending the money on training and education of inmates? But no, lets spend money teaching the incarcerated how to stay on a horse or bull for more than 8 seconds. This is a great skill when they are released. And if you really want to look at the long range costs of an arena, what about the cost to house and feed the horses, or the bulls that are paid to be brought in. What about the injuries to the riders? Is this a long-term cost for taxpayers when someone gets permanent injuries from their 8 seconds of fame ride? I keep reading about the homeless camping out on our streets, a homeless population that might be made up of former incarcerated inmates, or veterans that have lost their way, or families with children. Can we spend the $8 million dollars on teaching the inmates carpentry, plumbing, electrical skills so they can build homes and have a career when their time is over. Im sure we are teaching these skills at present, but at what funding or staffing level. Lets spend the $8 million to expand these types of programs. Programs that would keep recidivism rates down. Come on legislators, address issues that have a bigger impact. Spend the tax money we entrust you with where it will do the most good for the longest term for the most Oklahoma citizens. Deborah Wolek, Edmond This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Time-out is needed for Oklahoma schools chief Ryan Walters Shasta County voters have booted from office a key figure in the county's hard-right shift, even as the fate of a second far-right crusader on the powerful Board of Supervisors still hangs in the balance. Patrick Jones, a former chair of the five-member board, was soundly defeated in the Super Tuesday election, according to results released by the county registrar Friday afternoon. With 98% of the vote counted, Jones' opponent, Matt Plummer, a nonprofit advisor, was winning outright with nearly 60% of the vote. It was a stunning turn for Jones, a gun store manager who in his one term in office has emerged as a leading voice in an ultraconservative insurgence that transformed this largely rural Northern California county into a national symbol of hard-right governance and election denialism. In recent months, Jones led the conspiracy-laden charge to dump Dominion voting machines and return the county to hand-counting its ballots. He helped push through a county resolution pledging fealty to the 2nd Amendment and a measure to allow concealed weapons in local government buildings, in defiance of state law. More broadly, he worked with militia members and secessionists on campaign efforts that dramatically reshaped governance in a county long run by mainstream Republicans. In another closely watched primary race, Jones' political ally, Supervisor Kevin Crye, was surviving a recall election by just 46 votes. Crye made headlines last year when he enlisted support for nixing Dominion machines from Mike Lindell, the MyPillow chief executive and pro-Trump election denier. Meanwhile, Allen Long, a retired Redding police lieutenant and relative moderate, was the front-runner in a race to fill an open board seat representing western Shasta County. In a four-way race, Long had 50.3% of the vote on Friday and was narrowly avoiding a runoff. On the campaign trail, Long said, many voters shared his horror at what they heard coming out of supervisors' meetings and felt "a desperation for change." The county government, he said, should focus on issues like homelessness and making local communities safer from wildfires. "I was watching the politics here in our county, and I thought, 'Wow, this has really become extreme,'" he said. "I wanted to guide us back to the middle." Running a distant second, with 19% of the vote, was Laura Hobbs, who said in her candidate statement that she is a stay-at-home mom who is "100% MAGA and America First." She recently accused incumbent Supervisor Mary Rickert a moderate Republican who regularly opposes Jones and Crye of worshiping Satan because her license plate has the number "666" on it. In her own reelection bid, Rickert led with 40.4% of the vote, but appears to be headed for a runoff against quarry owner Corkey Harmon. Win Carpenter, a prominent far-right voice in the State of Jefferson secessionist movement, was running third. Taken as a whole, the election results could signal a shift toward the political center in Shasta County or at least a desire for a local government more focused on day-to-day life and operations. "The last couple of years have been exhausting. And difficult," said Jenny O'Connell, a Redding resident who voted in favor of Crye's recall. "People are saying, 'I just need this to stop. I need just sanity and normalcy.'" "Part of the problem of dealing with constant insanity," she added, "is that after a while you forget how crazy it is." Even if Crye survives the recall, Jones' loss is expected to upend leadership on the board, where ultraconservatives currently have a 3-2 majority. Shasta County Supervisor Patrick Jones, shown here at his family's Redding gun store, has helped spearhead a far-right shift in local governance. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In an interview Friday, Jones took his loss in stride. He has about nine months left in his current term and said the conservative bloc still has time to carry out its agenda. "I'm real happy," he said. "We got a lot of stuff done last year. This year, we still have all year to continue with our policies." The registrar's office said 1,208 ballots were still unprocessed, including some that are damaged and others that need further review. As the votes were being counted, questions swirled about Jones' connection to a controversial radio ad, aired a week before the election, that claimed a large number of incorrect ballots, including some for dead people, had been mailed to residents. The ad, aired on news radio station KQMS, provided listeners with a phone number to call if they received voting materials that did not belong to them. The county administrative office quickly put out a statement saying that the ad had not been approved by elections officials or the Board of Supervisors and that the phone number provided was registered to a private citizen. Read more: 'Flying syringes' and conspiracies: The far-right battle for a mosquito control board In a news report, KQMS said Jones and Bev Gray Jones' appointee to a newly created citizens' elections commission were responsible for the ad. Jones said that Gray wrote the ad but that he took her to the radio station to show her how to record it. The radio station said an invoice showed it was billed to Jones Fort, his family's Redding gun store. Jones dismissed concerns about the propriety of the ad, accusing his opponents of "trying to make something out of nothing." The Shasta County district attorney's office said in a statement that the incident had been referred to it for investigation, but offered no details. Jones told The Times that Dist. Atty. Stephanie Bridgett, "to try to intimidate" him, sent two detectives to the radio station. "Of course, that stuff doesn't work, and she should know better," Jones said. "If she has that much time on her hands, we may want to take a look at her budget, come June." Jones, a former Redding mayor, was the first hard-right figure elected to the board, as conservative backlash over COVID-19-related lockdowns, masks and vaccines coalesced with rage over President Trump losing the 2020 election. (Shasta County overwhelmingly supported his reelection bid.) Jones' introductory meeting was Jan. 5, 2021 the day before the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. Jones showed up to what was supposed to be a virtual meeting, unlocked the supervisor chambers and let an angry crowd into the county building. Residents poured in, unmasked, and some threatened supervisors over their so-called government tyranny. When the ballot box is gone, there is only the cartridge box," one audience member snarled. "You have made bullets expensive. But luckily for you, ropes are reusable. In early 2022, ultraconservatives bankrolled by Reverge Anselmo, a former Hollywood filmmaker who left the county after a land dispute shocked the states political establishment by pushing the successful recall of Supervisor Leonard Moty, a Republican former police chief, in part because he abided by state coronavirus mandates. Crye, the current board chair, and Supervisor Chris Kelstrom were elected to the board later that year. Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye poses for a photo on the Sundial Bridge in Redding. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) For the local vector control board, the board majority appointed a right-wing political activist who warned of mosquitoes being used as "flying syringes" for mass vaccination. And they named an outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccine mandates to be the county's new health officer. And then there were the voting machines. Last year, the Board of Supervisors upended the county's elections process, canceling its contract with Dominion Voting Systems because of unfounded voter fraud claims pushed by Trump. The supervisors opted to pursue hand-counting ballots for the county's more than 112,000 registered voters, making Shasta the largest government entity in the U.S. to employ hand counts. Voters rights organizations were aghast. In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law which Jones vowed to challenge that limited counties from hand-counting votes. Read more: Shasta County ditched its Dominion voting machines. Now, residents are braced for turmoil on Nov. 7 For years, Jones directed his ire at the longtime registrar-recorder, Cathy Darling Allen, the only Democrat elected to countywide office, publicly accusing her of lying about voting machines. Elections staffers have been harassed, and during a June 2022 election, someone hung a trail camera the kind hunters use to track wildlife in the alley behind the registrar's office. Darling Allen, 55, recently announced that she will retire this spring because she has been diagnosed with heart failure and needs to reduce her stress level. Jones' opponent, Plummer, told The Times that he had knocked on nearly 9,000 doors while campaigning and that people didn't want to talk about partisan politics but preferred to discuss issues integral to their daily lives such as crime and roads. "We disassociated politics from those everyday issues, because a lot of politics has become about rhetoric and ideology instead of the core issues," Plummer said. Many residents have grown tired of the drama. John Deaton joins a February demonstration in Redding calling for the recall of Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye. (Rich Pedroncelli / AP) Last spring, after the Dominion vote, residents in Cryes district launched a recall just months after he took office in an election he won by 90 votes. Organizers said they were angered by his decision to upend the voting system, as well as his exploring the idea of hiring a California secessionist leader as the county's chief executive. He hadnt told us that he was going to do all these things, said retired public defender Jeff Gorder, a leader of the recall effort. In our view, he lied about what he was going to do and he started pursuing this extremist agenda. Crye did not respond to requests for comment. But he did talk about the recall on his radio show last month, saying the attacks on him have been painful. He called the people behind the recall flat-out liars. Supervisor Kelstrom, a local chamber of commerce director whose 2022 campaign platform included a desire to bring the punishment back to crime and punishment, remains on the board as an ultraconservative member. He was not up for reelection and could not be reached for comment. 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. Editors Note: Norman Eisen served as counsel to House Democrats in the first Trump impeachment and as White House ethics czar and ambassador to the Czech Republic in the Obama administration. E. Danya Perry is the founding partner at Perry Law, former deputy chief of the Criminal Division for the Southern District of New York, former deputy attorney general for the State of New York and chief of investigations for the Moreland Commission. Joshua Kolb is an attorney at Perry Law who served as law clerk for the Senate Judiciary Committee. Georgia Judge Scott McAfee has continued his run of Solomonic decisions in his ruling Friday rejecting the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is overseeing the case accusing former President Donald Trump and a group of his associates of election interference in the state. Defense lawyers had asked for her to be tossed from the case because of alleged conflicts of interest resulting from revelations that she had a romantic relationship with the private attorney shed hired as lead prosecutor, Nathan Wade. Norm Eisen - Courtesy of Norm Eisen McAfee recognized Friday that there was no actual disqualifying conflict of interest proven, even though he criticized Willis for her conduct, since her relationship with Wade looked terrible. To resolve the situation, McAfee told the DAs office Wade must step down if Willis is to remain on the case. Wade immediately did so, recognizing that it was the right indeed the only thing to do. E. Danya Perry - Courtesy E. Danya Perry We have recommended since the beginning of this sideshow that Wade depart in order to return the focus to what the case is about: the mountain of evidence that Trump and his co-conspirators engaged in one of the most serious alleged crimes in American political history. (Trump and other defendants have pled not guilty.) Now Wade has demonstrated his commitment to the prosecution by stepping away from it. Portrait of Joshua Kolb. - CJ Studios Thankfully, nothing that transpired during these disqualification proceedings diminishes the underlying strength of the case against Trump and his alleged co-conspirators. And McAfees other ruling earlier this week, in which he dismissed six of the 41 counts, did not fundamentally weaken the case either. Although he tossed a few counts for lacking specificity, he refused to throw out the most crucial racketeering charge alleging a wide-ranging conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results and the key underlying evidence. We all heard the tape of Trump saying that he just wanted to find 11,780 votes which remains part of the charged conspiracy and the Fulton County prosecutors have already secured guilty pleas from four former Trump associates confessing to violations of Georgia criminal law. Now that the judge has ruled against disqualification, this powerful case can resume. Once it goes to trial, the defense will likely not be allowed to raise anything about the disqualification issue during the course of the proceedings. It simply has nothing to do with the merits of the case and the relevant evidence of the alleged conspiracy. And while some have raised legitimate concerns about these allegations affecting the jury pool, as trial lawyers, we think that can be overcome. People have short memories in this era of turbo-charged news cycles, and any potential jurors swayed by the disqualification effort should be possible to screen out by voir dire, the preliminary questioning of prospective jurors. As Fridays ruling underscores, under Georgia law, a disqualifying conflict of interest exists only when a relationship means a prosecutor would have motivation to seek a conviction that clashes with the prosecutors duty to seek justice. In previous cases, Georgia courts have definitively rejected romantic relations between attorneys as ever constituting a basis for disqualification. The defense alleged that Willis and Wade hatched an improper scheme in which Wade used his significant government compensation to pay for Willis to take trips and receive other financial benefits. Relying largely on Willis testimony, McAfee held that the evidence demonstrated that the financial gain flowing from her relationship with Wade was not a motivating factor on the part of the District Attorney to indict and prosecute this case. He also determined that the defendantsfailed to demonstrate that the District Attorneys conduct has impacted or influenced the case to the Defendants detriment. McAfee was also correct to suggest that the weight of the evidence did not conclusively show that Willis and Wades relationship began before Wade was hired contrary to the defenses assertions that the DA hired her boyfriend, and puncturing the theory that she did so to benefit her romantic partner. Moreover, it is not unusual in Georgia for private attorneys to be hired to supplement government resources, and McAfee noted the $250 hourly rate being paid to Wade is a relatively low amount. Similarly, any travel Willis and Wade may have done together doesnt give rise to a conflict of interest since, like Wades compensation, it had no effect on Trumps prosecution. McAfee found that Williss and Wades testimony that they shared expenses on these trips was corroborated by other evidence and not so incredible as to be inherently unbelievable. During her testimony, Willis had explained that there was no paper trail of how she split costs with Wade because it was her practice to pay with cash. To us, her explanation was credible and especially powerful. The authors include children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Our families maintained large stashes of cash and frequently used it to pay for things a practice borne out of their historical experience. Special prosecutor Nathan Wade speaks during a motions hearing for former President Donald Trump's election interference case at the Lewis R. Slaton Courthouse on January 12 in Atlanta. - Elijah Nouvelage/Pool/Getty Images But the absence of any legal grounds for disqualification hardly represents a free pass for Willis or Wade. As McAfee recognized, reasonable questions about whether the District Attorney and her hand-selected lead SADA [Wade] testified untruthfully about the timing of their relationship further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety. The appearance of impropriety can threaten confidence in the legal system itself, he noted, and could lead members of the public to wrongly but reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. While we disagree with the judge on this point, it was the right move for Wade to quickly resign. We hope Willis wont protract the distraction by seeking leave to appeal. More likely, the defendants might want to appeal. But that will not stop the case. Nor, in our estimation, will that effort succeed, given the stringent legal standard required in Georgia and the evidence that McAfee already heard and evaluated. Now that this sideshow has begun to pass with Wades resignation, the most important next step is for the trial to be scheduled quickly. The case neednt be delayed by Wade leaving the team the very able group of assistant district attorneys and the other prosecutors who have long handled this case can continue their work. The Fulton County prosecution is critical to adjudicate the charges pertaining to the 2020 election allegations that strike at the heart of our democracy and abuse of power. Therefore, the trial must begin as soon as possible so voters know Trumps role before they once again cast votes in a presidential election in which hes on the ballot. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Ukrainian military shot down five Russian military aircraft in the span of three days in early March, begging the question: How many planes does Russia have? This is a complex question, but I'll let you in on a little secret: The numbers listed in international indexes are often quite far from the reality. Objective data can only really be obtained by comprehensively analyzing open-source intelligence (OSINT) which, until 2022, was relatively easy to obtain. Prior to the start of full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry often published information on its aircraft orders and transfers, as well as their tail numbers and distribution by regiment. While accessing such information is more difficult now, it is possible to scrape together fairly complete data on how many aircraft the Russian military has. The Russian military's tactical aviation is comprised of several main types of aircraft, most of which are derivatives of the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft. In addition to the Su-27 itself (which is gradually giving way to newer aircraft), the Russian military has Sukhoi Su-30, Su-35, and Su-33 fighter aircraft, which are primarily intended for air-to-air combat. Meanwhile, the Su-25 attack aircraft and the Su-24 bombers are primarily used for engaging ground targets and bombing, respectively. The Su-25, Su-24, Su-27, and Su-33 are no longer being produced, meaning that the loss of such aircraft can only be made up for by restoring them at storage bases or by new types of aircraft. The Su-34, one of the most commonly used aircraft by Russia in Ukraine, is also a derivative of the Su-27. In Ukrainian publications, it is referred to as a fighter-bomber, but Russians consider it a "pure" bomber and equip bomber regiments with these aircraft. Russian military personnel site inside a Sukhoi Su-34 aircraft before taking to Ukraine on March 8, 2024. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) Another fairly common type of fighter aircraft is the Mikoyan MiG-31 heavy interceptor, a specialized type of fighter aircraft designed primarily for intercepting and engaging large, high-altitude, and fast-moving aircraft. A small number of MiG-31s have been converted into hypersonic missile carriers for Russia's air-launched Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Finally, the Russian military also has a handful of fifth-generation Su-57 fighter aircraft, as well as three derivatives of the MiG-29 fighter aircraft the classic MiG-29, the naval variant MiG-29K, and the multirole MiG-35. Now let's break down the numbers, starting with fighter aircraft. At the beginning of 2022, the Russian Air Force had over 100 Su-27s in service, including 37 Su-27S and -27Ps, 40 modernized Su-27SM and Su-27SM3s, eight Su- and nine Su-27UB and UPs. Some of these aircraft have been recorded near Chkalovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, the 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai, and the 38th Fighter Aviation Regiment in Belbek in occupied Crimea. The air bases in Krasnodar Krai and occupied Crimea are involved in Russia's war against Ukraine. According to the Dutch OSINT defense analysis website Oryx, no Su-27 losses have been recorded thus far. This is likely because Su-27s are mainly operated over Russian-controlled territory, do not perform strike missions, and are limited to air defense. Several dozen Su-27s are at storage bases, and could theoretically be put back into service. The potential transfer of nearly two dozen Su-27s from Belarus, decommissioned in 2012, should also not be neglected. The Russian military had 107 Su-30SMs, a two-seater fighter aircraft equipped with more powerful engines and avionics, and Su-30SM2s, a variant equipped with more advanced Su-35S engines and avionics, in combat units at the start of the full-scale war. This number excludes those stationed at training and testing centers. In Russia's Western Military District, these aircraft are located at airbases in Khalino in Kursk Oblast and Chernyakhovsk in Kaliningrad Oblast. In the Southern Military District, they're located at two airbases in Rostov Oblast and in Saky in occupied Crimea. In the Eastern Military District, in Domna in Russia's Zabaykalsky Krai. All of these airbases, with the possible exception of that in Chernyakhovsk, have been involved in Russia's war against Ukraine. According to Oryx, there are 11 Su-30SMs and Su-30SM2s confirmed to have been lost. Current 30SM2 deliveries do not appear to exceed half a dozen per year. As of the end of 2021, Russia received 101 Su-35Ss, which are considered the best aircraft of its class in the Russian Air Force (with the exception of the Su-57, which is not yet fully operational). At the beginning of 2022, the Su-35S were stationed at the Petrozavodsk Petrozavodsk Airport in the Republic of Karelia, the Borisovsky Khotilovo airbase in Tver Oblast, Uglovoye airbase near Vladivostok in Primorsky Krai, and Dzyomgi Airport in Khabarovsk Krai. Several dozen Su-35Ss are at testing and training centers. All of the regiments armed with Su-35Ss are actively involved in Russian hostilities in Ukraine in particular, those stationed at Uglovoye airbase and Dzyomgi Airport, which were the main group deployed in Belarus at the start of the full-scale invasion. Confirmed losses, as per Oryx, amount to seven, with a maximum annual production capacity of 10-12 aircraft. Russia produced 26 Su-33s between 1993 to 1996, but their use in Russia's war against Ukraine has yet to be recorded. MiG-31s fighter aircraft, including MiG-31BMs, MiG-31BSMs, and MiG-31DZ, have been used extensively by Russia since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022. MiG-31K carrier aircraft are used to launch Kinzhal ballistic missiles, while MiG-31BMs and MiG-31BSMs are used for air defense. They are located at both Russian and Belarusian airfields, as well as in occupied Crimea. In total, Russia had over 100 of aircraft, as well as around 12 MiG-31Ks. While a significant number of MiG-31s are in storage and could theoretically be put back in service, this is likely impractical given they are not modernized. The loss of only one MiG-31BM, which crashed at an airfield in occupied Crimea, has been confirmed thus far. As of 2023, MiG-31s are based in Monchegorsk airbase in Murmansk Oblast, Kansk-Dalny airbase in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Perm International Airport in Perm Oblast, Uglovoye airbase in Primorsky Krai, and Elizovo Airport in Kamchatka Krai. Russia has several dozen, perhaps around 100, MiG-29 fighter aircraft in storage. Will Russia return them to service? In my opinion, it's unlikely, as it would be logical to prioritize restoring more advanced Su-27s. Russia also has some MiG-29s stationed at Erebuni Airport in Armenia, which is used by the Russian Air Force. MiG-29Ks are comparatively new. The Russian Navy ordered 20 MiG-29KR fighter aircraft and four MiG-29KUBR trainer aircraft, which now take part in combat missions. There is no concrete information on the number of MiG-29Ks that have been destroyed. Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force has a small batch of MiG-35, a very modernized version of the MiG-29, but they are nowhere to be seen in combat or at testing centers. Read also: Opinion: How many tanks does Russia have left? Russia's only fifth-generation fighter jet, which is deemed comparable to the U.S.' F-22A Raptor, is the Su-57. By the end of 2022, 10 Su-57s were delivered to training centers and to the Dzyomgi Airport. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that these aircraft are used on occasion in its war against Ukraine, but this has not been confirmed. Now let's focus on tactical strike aircraft Russia's most significant losses since February 2022. Russia's newest tactical aircraft are the Su-34 tactical bombers. Russia had 151-159 of them as of the end of 2023. Even after the start of the full-scale war, the rate of production of these aircraft has not increased and does not cover those lost in the war. Seven aircraft were destroyed before 2022 and 25 have been confirmed destroyed after the start of the full-scale war. However, actual losses could be twice as high. While the Russian Air Force planned on replacing its Su-24s with Su-34 aircraft by 2020, this plan failed to materialize. Su-24s were, therefore, still being used in the southern, western, northern, eastern, and central military districts. In total, Russia could have up to 130 aircraft, half of which are reconnaissance models. Several Su-24s were transferred to the Wagner Group. Confirmed losses, as per Oryx, amount to 14 aircraft, although the number is likely much higher. Lastly, the Russian Air Force had 134 Su-25 attack aircraft at the start of 2022. The largest grouping of this aircraft is concentrated in Russia's Southern Military District Budyonnovsk airbase in Stavropol Krai, Primorsko-Akhtarsk airbase in Krasnodar Krai, and Hvardiiske airbase in occupied Crimea. Prior to Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian Air Force abandoned most of its attack aircraft, and 10-12 were handed over to the Wagner Group from April 2022 to June 2023. Russia's confirmed Su-25 losses thus far amount to 31. These losses can only be compensated for by returning the aircraft from storage bases, as neither the Su-24M and the Su-25 are in production. So, let's summarize: Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with approximately 780 tactical aircraft in service, divided between fighter and tactical strike aircraft. Confirmed losses, according to the most conservative estimates, amount to 90-100 aircraft, with two-thirds of those lost being tactical strike aircraft. Likely, Russia has lost anywhere from 130-150 aircraft. However, this does not take into account the aircraft that have been sent in for repair, or those that have been "cannibalized" for parts for other aircraft. Russia's current annual production of combat aircraft is 20-30 aircraft, although precise statistics are hard to come by as they are not published. That being said, Russia's aircraft production does not remotely cover its losses. While some of its losses could be covered by returning aircraft at storage bases to service, this is only really feasible for Su-24Ms and Su-25s. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. This article was originally published in The Conversation. Every now and then, an elected official will suggest bringing in the National Guard to deal with violence that seems out of control. A city council member in Washington suggested doing so in 2023 to combat the citys rising violence. So did a Pennsylvania representative concerned about violence in Philadelphia in 2022. In February 2024, officials in Massachusetts requested the National Guard be deployed to a more unexpected location to a high school. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Brockton High School has been struggling with student fights, drug use and disrespect toward staff. One school staffer said she was trampled by a crowd rushing to see a fight. Many teachers call in sick to work each day, leaving the school understaffed. As a researcher who studies school discipline, I know Brocktons situation is part of a national trend of principals and teachers who have been struggling to deal with perceived increases in student misbehavior since the pandemic. A review of how the National Guard has been deployed to schools in the past shows the guard can provide service to schools in cases of exceptional need. Yet, doing so does not always end well. How have schools used the National Guard before? In 1957, the National Guard blocked nine Black students attempts to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. While the governor claimed this was for safety, the National Guard effectively delayed desegregation of the school as did the mobs of white individuals outside. Ironically, weeks later, the National Guard and the U.S. Army would enforce integration and the safety of the Little Rock Nine on orders from President Dwight Eisenhower. One of the most tragic cases of the National Guard in an educational setting came in 1970 at Kent State University. The National Guard was brought to campus to respond to protests over American involvement in the Vietnam War. The guardsmen fatally shot four students. In 2012, then-Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat from California, proposed funding to use the National Guard to provide school security in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting. The bill was not passed. More recently, the National Guard filled teacher shortages in New Mexicos K-12 schools during the quarantines and sickness of the pandemic. While the idea did not catch on nationally, teachers and school personnel in New Mexico generally reported positive experiences. Can the National Guard address school discipline? The National Guards mission includes responding to domestic emergencies. Members of the guard are part-time service members who maintain civilian lives. Some are students themselves in colleges and universities. Does this mission and training position the National Guard to respond to incidents of student misbehavior and school violence? On the one hand, New Mexicos pandemic experience shows the National Guard could be a stopgap to staffing shortages in unusual circumstances. Similarly, the guards eventual role in ensuring student safety during school desegregation in Arkansas demonstrates their potential to address exceptional cases in schools, such as racially motivated mob violence. And, of course, many schools have had military personnel teaching and mentoring through Junior ROTC programs for years. Those seeking to bring the National Guard to Brockton High School have made similar arguments. They note that staffing shortages have contributed to behavior problems. One school board member stated: I know that the first thought that comes to mind when you hear National Guard is uniform and arms, and thats not the case. Theyre people like us. Theyre educated. Theyre trained, and we just need their assistance right now. We need more staff to support our staff and help the students learn (and) have a safe environment. Yet, there are reasons to question whether calls for the National Guard are the best way to address school misconduct and behavior. First, the National Guard is a temporary measure that does little to address the underlying causes of student misbehavior and school violence. Research has shown that students benefit from effective teaching, meaningful and sustained relationships with school personnel and positive school environments. Such educative and supportive environments have been linked to safer schools. National Guard members are not trained as educators or counselors and, as a temporary measure, would not remain in the school to establish durable relationships with students. What is more, a military presence particularly if uniformed or armed may make students feel less welcome at school or escalate situations. Schools have already seen an increase in militarization. For example, school police departments have gone so far as to acquire grenade launchers and mine-resistant armored vehicles. Research has found that school police make students more likely to be suspended and to be arrested. Similarly, while a National Guard presence may address misbehavior temporarily, their presence could similarly result in students experiencing punitive or exclusionary responses to behavior. Students deserve a solution other than the guard School violence and disruptions are serious problems that can harm students. Unfortunately, schools and educators have increasingly viewed student misbehavior as a problem to be dealt with through suspensions and police involvement. A number of people from the NAACP to the local mayor and other members of the school board have criticized Brocktons request for the National Guard. Governor Maura Healey has said she will not deploy the guard to the school. However, the case of Brockton High School points to real needs. Educators there, like in other schools nationally, are facing a tough situation and perceive a lack of support and resources. Many schools need more teachers and staff. Students need access to mentors and counselors. With these resources, schools can better ensure educators are able to do their jobs without military intervention. The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. An Orange County doctor was sentenced Friday for murdering his wife in a staged accident. In December 2023, Eric Scott Sills, 58, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Susann Sills, 45, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. On Nov. 13, 2016, Eric called 911 and said he awoke to find Susanns lifeless body after she had allegedly fallen down the stairs. Homicide detectives arrived at the scene where Susann was pronounced dead. The Orange County Coroner later determined her death was a homicide. Prosecutors said the injuries found on Susanns face and neck didnt match up to the claim that she had died by falling down the stairs. Evidence presented at Erics trial showed that his wife died from strangulation. Blood stains were found on their daughters bedroom wall and curtains where Susann was sleeping that night due to a migraine. SANTA ANA, CA November 28: Eric Scott Sills reacts during opening statements in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) SANTA ANA, CA November 28: Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker gives her opening statement in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Eric Scott Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) SANTA ANA, CA November 28: Attorney Jack Earley gives his opening statement in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Eric Scott Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) Eric Scott Sills listens during opening statements in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) Eric Scott Sills, 58, is seen in an undated booking photo form the Orange County Sheriffs Department. SANTA ANA, CA November 28: Attorney Jack Earley, standing, and his client Eric Scott Sills listen to Sills 911 call from the day of his wifes death during opening statements in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Eric Scott Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) SANTA ANA, CA November 28: Eric Scott Sills listens during opening statements in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, CA on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Sills is on trial for the death of his wife, Susann Sills. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) A clump of her hair also was found in the room, indicating that there had been a violent struggle between the couple, court documents said. The couples son told investigators he was woken up that morning to the sound of his parents arguing in another room, the O.C. Register reports. Investigators said Eric appeared detached during the 911 call to report his wifes death. The couple was married for more than 10 years and worked together at a Carlsbad fertility clinic called Center for Advanced Genetics. Eric was the medical director and Susann, who was the co-founder, ran the business side of the clinic. The family lived in an upscale San Clemente neighborhood. They had twins, a boy and a girl, who were 12 years old at the time of Susanns death. Kindapped teen girl held hostage for days rescued in Big Bear Lake The motive behind the murder remains unclear, although the O.C. Register reports there was allegedly evidence of marital issues including a text to her husband saying that she wants out, the prosecutor said. She is frustrated, upset, feels trapped and feels like he is killing her, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker told jurors. She tells him in these texts, You are killing me, dont you see? Prosecutors also alleged Eric may have been upset about a topless photo Susann reportedly posted of herself in a chat room after losing a bet. At one point, Erics attorney argued that Susanns medication to treat her migraines impacted her balance that night, which caused her to fall down the stairs and suffer a spinal injury that left her unable to breathe, the O.C. Register reports. However, evidence from the coroners office concluded Susann had died of strangulation. On March 15, Eric was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Mr. Sills not only killed his wife but he went one step further and tried to cover up his horrific crime, said O.C. District Attorney Todd Spitzer. His actions have irreparably torn apart his family as his children have to grapple with the immeasurable pain of losing their mother at the hands of their father. This was the ultimate betrayal by their father and now he will spend his remaining days in state prison. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Police surrounded entrances to the local town hall as members arrived A new Orange Lodge has opened in Stonehaven after a march through the town was banned. The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland lost its appeal against Aberdeenshire Council's decision to prevent 200 members parading to Dunottar Cemetery. The organisation said it was considering its legal position. Police officers surrounded the entrances to the local town hall as members arrived at the building for a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday. Some businesses decided to close while the new lodge was opened amid concerns over potential disorder. Organisers had maintained the march would be a "peaceful and respectful procession". But Aberdeenshire Council's Kincardine and Mearns area committee decided unanimously on 5 March that the planned procession could not go ahead for safety reasons. Councillors felt it would place an excessive burden on local policing. An online petition against the parade had received thousands of signatures. After lengthy deliberations at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday, the Lodge's appeal against the ban was refused. Lawyers for the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland argued in court that blocking the march was a breach of human rights and domestic law. They said the reasons for blocking the parade were "inadequate, unbalanced and lacked transparency". PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) The Oregon Zoo welcomed its newest Humboldt penguin on March 4, when a tiny chick small enough to fit in the palm of your hand emerged from its shell. The little beak came out first, Marcus Jason, who oversees the zoos penguin habitat, said in a press release announcing the new chick. Everything went well with the hatching, and the chicks parents are doing a great job caring for it in their nest. Portland man arrested for second alleged bias crime attack against same victim It takes chicks a few days to fully hatch. The newest chick pipped, meaning broke through the membrane of the shell, on March 2, and fully hatched early on March 4. After a Humboldt penguin egg is laid, the parents incubate the egg for around 40 days before its ready to hatch. Traffic Alert! OR 217 in Tigard to close for the weekend The Oregon Zoo has been breeding Humboldt penguins since the 1980s. The new chick is the 194th Humboldt to hatch at the zoo. The zoo is currently home to 20 Humboldt penguins, with two more eggs incubating. 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. The Olympia School District has updated its 2024-2025 budget projections after securing more funds from the state legislature. With other budget cuts, the new projections could take Madison and McKenny elementary schools off the chopping block. OSD Executive Director of Business and Capital Projects Kate Davis reviewed the budget with the board Thursday, March 14. Three House bills and a Senate bill could bring in an estimated $1,542,000 more per year if approved by the Governor. Senate Bill 5882 increases the ratio of paraeducators and school office professionals in the prototypical funding model. It could bring in $316,000 per year beginning with this school year. House Bill 2494 increases state funding for operating costs by $21 per student, which could bring in $202,000 per year beginning with this school year. HB 2180 increases the special education enrollment funding cap from 15% to 16%, bringing the states contributions closer to the 16.23% the school district currently subsidizes. It would bring in $1,024,000 per year beginning next school year. And HB 5852 limits what can be reviewed in regards to applications for special education Safety Net awards. During the 2022-2023 school year, OSD received a $1,498,205 Safety Net award. This school year the district budgeted for the same award level, but it applied for $1,907,155 and anticipates receiving $1,870,000. That would bring in about $370,000 more to the district compared to previous years. The district is also expecting to receive an extra $746,000 in transportation funds. But to achieve an ending fund balance of 4% next school year, the district still has to cut $2.2 million. Davis budget presentation included three school closure scenarios to make up the budget deficit. The first was to move forward with closing both Madison and McKenny elementary schools, which would save about $1.8 million. The second scenario was to close only Madison, which would save $1.2 million. The third was to close only McKenny, which would save $769,000. In addition to school closures, the district is considering a number of reductions the community at large suggested that could save nearly $4.2 million. At the Central Office, the district is considering restructuring leadership positions and furlough options, which could save about $623,000. The district is evaluating responsibilities that can be shifted from central office to building leadership, and and considering scaling Principal ratios based on enrollment, which combined could save $472,000. And reducing formerly federal ESSER funded support for historically underserved students could save $543,000. The district could save another $2.5 million by reducing school-based support. That would include reducing custodial staffing, reducing pandemic-era ESSER Social Emotional and Community supports, and increasing class sizes in middle and high schools, as well as the ORLA program. It would also entail restructuring the Art, Music and PE programs even further and restructuring the elementary librarians. Support staffing ratios would change, and the Cispus outdoor education program would be discontinued. There will be an in-person Community Cafe at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Olympia High School Commons at 1302 North St. SE. The public will have an opportunity to speak with district leaders about the budget, school consolidation and program reductions. Environmental conservation police seized an 11-foot long blind alligator on Thursday that the owner was letting play with human guests, including kids. Owner Tony Cavallaro had installed an in-ground swimming pool inside of his home in Hamburg, New York, where hed been keeping the 30 year-old alligator on an expired permit. The owner allegedly allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator, according to a press release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Public contact with such an animal is prohibited by DEC guidelines. The scaly creature, which has blindness in both eyes and spinal complications, has been remanded to a licensed caretaker until it can find a permanent home. Cavallaro told the Associated Press that he treated Albert, the 750-pound alligator, like a child. Im not dangerous. Im not being unsafe with people, he said. State environmental officials have yet to decide whether they will press charges. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. christiannafzger / Getty Images/iStockphoto When looking for a place to live, many Americans have deemed walkability an essential component of where they ultimately choose to settle. According to the National Association of Realtors, 85% of those surveyed said sidewalks and places to walk are a must-have. Read Next: 25 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Live in the South Check Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy Here are the cities that are the most walkable and the most affordable, according to data from ApartmentAdvisor. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. Boise, Idaho Average Rent: $1,307 Walkability Score: 89 According to ApartmentAdvisors data, Boise, ID has the highest walkability score based on renter data. Boise, Idahos relatively small capital city, is known for its walkable downtown district as well as bike-friendly trails scattered throughout the neigborhoods. Its also rated as a bikers paradise based on its infrastructure of bike lines and trails, among other factors, wrote ApartmentAdvisor. Minneapolis, Minnesota Average Rent: $1,125 Walkability Score: 71.4 According to ApartmentAdvisor, Minneapolis is ranked No. 11 on the list of most walkable cities in the U.S. and No. 1 for most bikeable. Not only is Minneapolis a cheap city to live, with rent being $1,125 for a one-bedroom apartment, it is also incredibly walkable.Nine of Minneapoliss neigborhoods are rated highly in walkability. Its also a great place to ride your bike. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Average Rent: $1,370 Walkability Score: 74.8 Philadelphia is a walkable city, whether you live in the heart of it or on the outskirts. Philly is rated the No. 8 most walkable city in the U.S., with few daily errands requiring a car, ApartmentAdvisor wrote. Philadelphias public transportation system is also well-connected throughout the city. St. Louis, Missouri Average Rent: $882 Walkability Score: 65.7 Story continues The cheapest rent for a one-bedroom apartment on this list, St. Louis is a cheap city for young professionals. According to ApartmentAdvisors data, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in St. Louis is $882. With a robust nightlife, St. Louiss neigborhoods are walkable, including the downtown area of the city. Buffalo, New York Average Rent: $1,050 Walkability Score: 66.6 Nearly one half of Buffalos neigborhoods are considered walkable as well as bikeable. Buffalo residents are able to walk to an average of two restaurants, bars, and coffee shops within five minutes, ApartmentAdvisors wrote. Buffalos walkable infrastructure allows its residents to do errands or meet friends for lunch with ease. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Affordable Walkable Cities in America An Oxnard man known for his gang ties has been convicted for a murder in 2012 that authorities say was a random attack. Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that 31-year-old David Guadalupe Calderon has been convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Edwin Herrera. Authorities say that on Feb. 29, 2012 Calderon, a registered gang member, was driving around Oxnard with a fellow gang member, Carlos Hernandez. The pair had a sawed-off shotgun inside the vehicle. According to the DA, Calderon was looking to restore credibility with his gang. On that evening, Calderon and Hernandez were driving in the Lemonwood neighborhood of Oxnard, when they spotted Herrera, who went outside to move his car to avoid getting a parking ticket. Calderon and Hernandez pulled up to Herrera, and Calderdon exited the vehicle with the shotgun while asking Herrera which gang he belonged to, authorities say. Herrera told Calderon that he had no affiliation with any gang. Despite that, Calderon shot Herrera in the neck from close range. Calderon and Hernandez then fled the scene. Herreras family heard the gunshot and rushed outside to help, only to see the victim slumped over in his car. Herrera, who was a young father, was rushed to a local hospital where he eventually died from his injuries. David Guadelupe Calderon was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Edwin Herrera on March 15, 2024. (Oxnard PD) David Guadelupe Calderon, seen in court, was convicted of the murder of Edwin Herrera on March 15, 2024. (Oxnard PD) The Oxnard Police Departments investigation resulted in surveillance footage being located of Calderon and Hernandez purchasing the unique ammunition for the shotgun on the day of the murder. Just 25 minutes after shooting Herrera, cameras captured Calderon ordering a pizza from a local restaurant. Police say in the days following the murder, Calderon sold the weapon used in the shooting to another gang member. A little more than a month later, Oxnard police obtained a search warrant for the house where the gang member who purchased the shotgun from Calderon lived. Officers located the murder weapon and forensic testing linked the shotgun as the weapon used to kill Herrera. Police got their big break in September of 2012 when Calderon was in custody for an unrelated robbery charge. Authorities captured a recording of Calderon bragging to another inmate about Herreras murder. He was indicted and charged in August of 2015. Calderon will be sentenced on April 24. He faces a maximum sentence of life in jail without the possibility of parole. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. By Tim Reid WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mike Pence, who served as Donald Trump's vice president for four years, said on Friday he will not endorse his former boss ahead of November's U.S. presidential election. Pence, who ended his own 2024 presidential campaign amid dismal opinion poll numbers, told Fox News: "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year." Trump this week won enough delegates to mathematically clinch the Republican nomination and will face a general election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden on Nov. 5. Pence served Trump loyally but publicly broke with the former Republican president over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. On that day, Pence, who as vice president held the ceremonial role of president of the U.S. Senate, was overseeing the certification of Biden's 2020 election win over Trump. He refused Trump's instructions to delay or halt the certification, drawing an angry rebuke from Trump during the riot. Some rioters shouted, "Hang Mike Pence." Pence said during his presidential campaign that his life was put in danger that day, and he urged Republican primary voters not to choose Trump as their White House candidate this year. Pence ended his bid for the Republican nomination in October before any primary votes were cast. (Reporting by Tim Reid in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Nia Williams) (The Hill) Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he will not be endorsing his former boss and two-time running mate in the 2024 general election, a nod to the deep divisions between the two men that has formed since they left office. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, Pence, who ran an unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign of his own, said on Fox News. Look, Im incredibly proud of the record of our administration. It was a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure, and saw conservatives appointed to our courts in a more peaceful world, Pence said. But that being said, during my presidential campaign i made clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for Novembers election, setting up a rematch with President Biden. Pence has for roughly two years been outspoken that he did not have the authority to reject the 2020 election results on Jan. 6, 2021, despite a pressure campaign from Trump to do so. In launching his own campaign, Pence argued Trumps actions on Jan. 6 were disqualifying. The former vice president told Fox News that his differences with Trump go beyond that day, citing the former presidents lack of a plan to confront the national debt, his evasive comments about restrictions on abortion and his recent opposition to a ban on TikTok, something their administration pursued in 2020. In each of these cases Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years, Pence said. And thats why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign. Pence was an unflinchingly loyal vice president for Trump throughout their time in the White House, but he emerged as one of the former presidents most outspoken critics during his own 2024 GOP primary campaign, which ended last October. The former vice president frequently warned the party against following what he called the siren song of populism and questioned whether Trump was committed to conservative policy goals. Pence joins former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley as ex-challengers to Trump for the nomination who have yet to endorse him. Others who ran against Trump, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R), have all endorsed the former president. Pences advocacy group announced last month it would spend $20 million to shape the conservative agenda and help elect conservative candidates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The man accused of fatally shooting his family members, including a 13-year-old girl, in Pennsylvania before he fled to New Jersey Saturday was charged with multiple criminal offenses Sunday, authorities said. New Jersey authorities charged the suspect, Andre Gordon, 26, with carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin's office said. Charges in Pennsylvania are pending. Gordon, 26, is alleged to have carjacked a driver in Trenton to get to Levittown, Pennsylvania, where he's suspected of killing the victims at two locations Saturday morning, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said in an interview. Police said he then carjacked another driver at gunpoint and fled to New Jersey, where he lives. Gusciora said SWAT team members and other officers surrounded the home and evacuated neighbors because people inside told authorities they believed Gordon was inside on the first floor. Police were in standoff mode, surrounding the residence and blocking off streets, but the suspect wasn't home. "Its apparent that he left before the police arrived," Gusciora said. "The people that were still in the house on the second floor believed, and they relayed to them through 911 calls, that he was still downstairs." Gordon was spotted on New York Avenue at the back entrance of a hospital less than a quarter-mile away at 5:15 p.m. and taken into custody without incident, Trenton police officials said. "My understanding is he was walking down the street," Gusciora said. Police remove people from a home in Trenton New Jersey. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) Lisette Rios, a spokesperson for Trenton police, said earlier Saturday that authorities believed no one who could be used as a hostage was in Gordon's home and that he was believed to be there alone. Despite the arrest elsewhere, Gusciora said he didn't regret evacuating some of Gordon's neighbors while telling others to shelter in place. "We value life, and we wanted to make sure that we err on the side of caution to tell people to stay in your home," Gusciora said. "The suspect was still out and about." The incident began around 8:52 a.m., when officers were dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown following a report of a shooting, Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said in a news release. Jennifer Schorn, the district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, forced his way into the home and killed his stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other people in the home, including a minor, were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. Andre Gordon Jr. (Falls Township Police Department) After that incident, Gordon went to a residence on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he shot and killed Taylor Daniel, 25, with whom he shares two children, Schorn alleged. Four other people were in the home, including a person who was injured when Gordon bludgeoned her with an "assault rifle," Schorn said. The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries and is expected to recover. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said Gordon was armed with an AR-15-style rifle. At around 9:13 a.m., he carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Morrisville, authorities alleged. The driver wasn't injured, they said. The shooter fled the area in a 2016 gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate and a Namaste sticker in white letters on the right bumper, according to authorities. The vehicle was found unoccupied in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said. The district attorneys office said that at about 12:22 p.m., it received information that Gordon had barricaded himself with hostages in a home in Trenton. A police officer patrols a neighborhood (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) We are referring all information regarding that aspect of this investigation to the Trenton City Police Department, the district attorneys office said. Police in Pennsylvania had said earlier that Gordon was homeless, with connections to Trenton. They said he had a semiautomatic rifle, which they alleged he used in the shootings. Police said he could have additional weapons and cautioned that he was extremely dangerous. The shootings led to a shelter-in-place order in Falls Township. Police had told residents to lock their doors and move to secure locations away from windows. The shelter-in-place order was lifted Saturday afternoon. A Bucks County St. Patricks Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled, and the Pennsbury School District postponed activities. Police evacuate a person from a home. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) In nearby Middletown Township, residents were told not to travel to Falls Township. Middletown Township police later said they had received information that we are all clear. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said he was in touch with law enforcement. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was briefed and had asked state police to assist local law enforcement. Whitney said that authorities had minor contact with Gordon in the past but that it was nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen. Levittown, a model American suburb named for developer William Levitt, is known for its cost-efficient, assembly line housing, erected amid high demand for living quarters after World War II. It's in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, about 26 miles from the city. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Peter Navarro, an adviser to former president Donald Trump, speaks to the press as he is surrounded by demonstrators after being found guilty of contempt of Congress in September. Navarro filed a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday to delay his prison sentence after a panel of judges denied his request Thursday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI March 15 (UPI) -- Former Trump administration adviser Peter Navarro filed a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court Friday, just days before his scheduled prison sentence. Navarro is supposed to report to federal prison in Miami Tuesday to begin serving a four-month sentence for defying a House Jan. 6 select committee subpoena. In the emergency application to the Supreme Court obtained by ABC News, attorney Stanley Woodward argued Navarro "is indisputably neither a flight risk nor a danger to public safety should he be released pending appeal." "For the first time in our nation's history, a senior presidential adviser has been convicted of contempt of Congress after asserting executive privilege over a congressional subpoena," Woodward's filing said. "Dr. Navarro has appealed and will raise a number of issues on appeal that he contends are likely to result in the reversal of his conviction, or a new trial." Navarro was convicted in September on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to provide testimony and documents to the committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He had asked two lower courts to allow him to remain free while he appeals his conviction, but U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta -- who presided over Navarro's trial -- and a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected his request. He has unsuccessfully argued that Donald Trump asserted executive privilege making him exempt from the committee's subpoena, but Mehta and the appeals court said they found "no evidence" Trump did so. His appeal to overturn the conviction is pending. Former Trump White House aide Peter Navarro is begging the highest court in the United States to intervene so he doesnt have to report to prison next week. Filing an emergency appeal to the United States Supreme Court on Friday, Navarro is asking the court to allow him to remain out of jail as he attempts to overturn his conviction of contempt of Congress. The MAGA loyalist appeared to run out of options on Thursday when his last-gasp effort to avoid prison time was unanimously rejected by a federal appeals court. In its ruling, the three-judge panel said that Navarro had failed to answer substantial questions of law that could overturn his conviction for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 House committee. The ex-White House adviser was ordered on Monday to surrender to a federal prison in Miami on March 19 to serve his four-month sentence. The Trump ally was convicted last September of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before the select committee and provide requested documents. Navarro, who proposed a plan he called the Green Bay Sweep to delay Congress certification of President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory, has long argued that he was given executive privilege by former President Donald Trump to defy the Houses subpoena in its probe of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. We think that the evidence established that, in fact, President Trump instructed Dr. Navarro to invoke executive privilege, Navarros legal team insisted after his September conviction. This case is not over by a long shot. The federal appeals court, however, disagreed. That did not happen here, the court ruled on Thursday, noting that he had no evidence that Trump had provided him with executive privilege to ignore a congressional subpoena. In the Supreme Court filing on Friday, Navarros attorney Stanley Woodward asserts that his client is neither a flight risk nor a danger to public safety should he be released pending appeal, adding that Navarro has made a compelling case that his conviction can still be overturned. For the first time in our nations history, a senior presidential advisor has been convicted of contempt of Congress after asserting executive privilege over a congressional subpoena, Woodward wrote. Dr. Navarro has appealed and will raise a number of issues on appeal that he contends are likely to result in the reversal of his conviction, or a new trial. Navarro is the second Trump adviser to be convicted for defying the Jan. 6 committee. Steve Bannon, Trumps former chief strategist, lost his contempt of Congress trial in 2022. However, Bannon has been allowed to remain out of jail while he appeals the ruling. 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. Former President Trump's White House trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to have him avoid reporting to federal prison next week. According to the filing, Navarro and his legal team argued that he should be released pending his appeals. "For the first time in our nations history, a senior presidential advisor has been convicted of contempt of congress after asserting executive privilege over a congressional subpoena," the filing to the Supreme Court said. "Dr. Navarro has appealed and will raise a number of issues on appeal that he contends are likely to result in the reversal of his conviction, or a new trial." The filing argued that Navarro is not a "flight risk" and should be allowed to remain free as he appeals his conviction. "Dr. Navarro is indisputably neither a flight risk nor a danger to public safety should he be release [sic] pending appeal," the filing said. TRUMP WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL PETER NAVARRO SENTENCED TO 4 MONTHS FOR DEFYING JAN 6 SUBPOENA READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Peter Navarro, an adviser to former President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters as he is surrounded by protesters after being found guilty of contempt of Congress at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2023. Navarro has been ordered to report to a federal prison in Miami by Tuesday. The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Biden administration by 2 p.m. Monday. A federal appeals court on Thursday denied Navarros efforts to remain out of prison while he continues to challenge his conviction and sentence. FORMER TRUMP ADVISER NAVARRO CONVICTED OF CONTEMPT AFTER DEFYING JAN. 6 SUBPOENA Last year, Navarro was found guilty by a jury for defying a subpoena for documents and testimony from the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots. After refusing to comply with the congressional request, the House of Representatives held him in contempt and referred the matter to the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., for prosecution. Original article source: Peter Navarro, former Trump White House adviser, files emergency request with SCOTUS A council will buy 15 new homes for refugees by the end of the month. The properties will add to the 25 homes bought by Peterborough City Council last year as part of its refugee resettlement scheme. The scheme has been aimed at people who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's offensive in 2021 and Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Councillor John Howard said the homes were "vital" and more than just "bricks and mortar". The scheme has been funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' (DLUHC) local authority housing fund. The council will use some of the money from the fund to refurbish the properties it has bought. The city council said that support would be available for refugees that have been resettled in Peterborough under the national schemes. This included help with opening a bank account, accessing health and social care services and education, learning English and gaining qualifications in order to work. Advice would also be offered on how to integrate into the UK and specifically Peterborough, the council added. The council said the households would be responsible for paying rent and bills on the properties. It added that part of the funds from the DLUHC would also go towards buying 25 one-bedroom homes for rough sleepers with multiple and complex needs. At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Mr Howard, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate government and finance, said: "These funds serve as a lifeline and empower us to address critical challenges and elevate the quality of life for our residents. "The dwellings are more than bricks and mortar, but are vital for safe homes for families, individuals and vulnerable populations." Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830 Lady of Legend was only completed in 2019 and is the headline attraction this weekend A heritage railway has marked its 50th anniversary as a tourist attraction with a celebration this weekend. A special gala is being held at Cranmore Railway Station on Saturday and Sunday by East Somerset Railway. The late wildlife artist David Shepherd started the railway in 1974 by giving people rides on his own steam engines. The event includes a locomotive, Lady of Legend, which was recreated from parts in 2019, as the headliner. Britain's newest steam engine - Betton Grange - was set to feature as the star locomotive but works were not completed on time. It was expected to make its maiden voyage on the railway after a 21-year rebuilt project that cost more than 1m. Steam trains Andrew Barclay (left) and Large Prairie (right) are at Didcot Railway Centre for the gala Many people have come to see the steam trains in Somerset The railway's signalling and telegraph team worked on upgrading the line for the event so trains could use both sets of tracks and platforms for the first time simultaneously. A heritage centre dedicated to the railway's founder Mr Shepherd was also built on the second platform. Simon Bending, the railway's business manager, told the BBC: "It is a very special event. Huge progress made over the last 50 years. "It is great that we have so many visitors today, so many active volunteers to help us. "It is just fabulous to see all the happy faces to see the steam trains." Lady of Legend is a recreated locomotive, constructed from refurbished historic engine parts and newly produced ones One of the locomotive drivers at this weekend's event said it was a celebration of "what we do" Phil, one of the train's drivers, said: "It is a celebration of what we do as a heritage railway. "It is for everyone that likes the place, that likes engines, to come together and have a big festival. "It is a celebration of our history as a preserve railway." Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and, X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. A quirky Pittsburgh tradition returned on Friday. The Ides of March happens every year on March 15. In Shakespeares Julius Ceasar Ceasar is told to beware the Ides of March, which was the day he was killed. To have a little fun Pittsburgh residents hold the Ides of March march. Participants are encouraged to dress as flamboyantly as possible. We care about our neighbors, we care about our community, and we have to warn them to beware! Beware of the Ides of March march, said organizer Phat Man Dee. This was the 29th year for the parade. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 65-mile detour suggested as Pennsylvania Turnpike sees lane closure for emergency road repairs Pittsburgh police station found closed during the day raises concern among residents State police search for tractor-trailer involved in fatal hit-and-run crash in Mercer County VIDEO: Solar eclipse will be visible in Pittsburgh region next month DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Wirestock / Getty Images Have you ever considered downsizing from your current home to a tiny home? Youre not alone. Over the past decade, the tiny home movement has gained a lot of steam. For some people, the idea of maintaining and paying for a large home has lost its appeal. Check Out: 5 Types of Homes That Will Plummet in Value in 2024 Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy If youre considering purchasing a tiny home, and want to find the best community with like-minded individuals, keep reading as we look into some of the best cities for buying tiny homes. Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity. Durango, Colorado Located in the San Juan mountains of Southwest Colorado, Durango is the perfect location for anyone who loves the outdoors. There are an endless number of hiking trails, and the Animas River is excellent for whitewater rafting or kayaking. Plus, youd only be 30 minutes from Purgatory Ski Resort. What most people love about Durango is that despite 20,000 residents, it still feels like a small mountain town. Plus, the unemployment rate is low, and its a safe place to live. Ocean View, Hawaii If you join the tiny house movement, there might not be a more desired location than Hawaii. Thats probably a big reason why tiny homes made up 12% of all single-family homes on the market in Ocean View over the past year. Located on the Southern end of Hawaiis Big Island, Ocean View is the perfect location for anyone looking for sunset views and warm weather year-round. Rockledge, Florida Located 30 minutes west of Cocoa Beach, Rockledge is ideal for someone looking to join the tiny home movement. Until 2015, the city had an ordinance where the minimum square footage of a home needed to be 1,200 square feet. Thats when the city council adopted zoning ordinances that allowed for the development of two tiny home communities. Today, tiny homes are allowed as long as theyre at least 170 square feet, a minimum of 8.5 feet wide and have a towable hitch. Story continues Asheville, North Carolina Moving up the East Coast a little, Asheville, North Carolina, is another city popular with tiny home owners. One big reason for this is that home prices are 26.7% higher than the national average and more than 48% more expensive than the average home in North Carolina. This makes tiny home living a much more affordable option for some people. Located in the Blue Ridge mountains, Asheville is full of history, great restaurants, outdoor activities and a vibrant nightlife. Fresno, California Its no secret that California is one of the most expensive states in the country to live in. Thats probably a big reason why Fresno was one of the first cities to pass progressive tiny home regulations. While many cities require tiny homes to be stationary, Fresnos tiny home code allows them to be on wheels as well. Fresnos unemployment rate is 8.2% which is significantly higher than the national average, but the crime rate is on the lower end. Plus, being located roughly an hour from Yosemite National Park, its a great home base for any outdoor lover. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Best Cities For Buying Tiny Homes in 2024 NEW SMYRNA BEACH An 18-year-old man on the way here to spring break was arrested Friday after police found a handgun inside the car he was driving. Ronny Bengochea-Chinea, 18, of Lakeland, is charged with carrying a concealed firearm, according to Volusia County jail records. In a Facebook post, Port Orange police stated that they found the handgun along with marijuana and an extended magazine in the car after stopping Bengochea-Chinea and a 16-year-old passenger. New Smyrna Beach Police were also involved in the arrest. Bengochea-Chinea was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail where he was held overnight on $5,000 bond, jail records show. The 16-year-old was taken to the Volusia Family Resource Center, according to the Port Orange police Facebook post. Ronny Bengochea-Chinea The arrest occurred one day after a 16-year-old, also from Lakeland, pulled a gun amid a crowd of spring breakers on New Smyrna Beach. The teen was arrested Thursday after running into the ocean and tossing the gun along with marijuana into the surf, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. More: Armed teen arrested at gunpoint after spring break crowd fight on New Smyrna Beach According to Florida Statutes, a person must be 21 or older to obtain a concealed weapon permit, with the exception of honorably discharged U.S. military veterans. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Spring breaker in New Smyrna charged with carrying concealed firearm FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Police in Fairfax County said a Maryland woman was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend. The Fairfax County Police Department said officers responded to the 3200 block of Woodburn Rd. in Annandale just after 4:30 p.m. for a shooting that they believe was domestic-related. Leesburg police leave letter for speeding driver When officers arrived, they attempted life-saving measures on her. The woman was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but died. Police said the suspect, who resides in Maryland, drove out of the county in a white SUV. Officers from the Prince Georges County Police Department in Maryland arrested the suspect. A firearm was recovered from his car. In a news conference, police said the woman was in her call when she called 911 because her ex-boyfriend had showed up to her place of work and was not letting her leave. He had a protective order issued against him and was also wanted. During the call with dispatchers, the ex-boyfriend shot her. Police said the case was still being investigated. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A Charlotte woman and her two children reported missing this month were murdered, Police Chief Johnny Jennings said Saturday, a day after police found human remains believed to be the family. Police have launched a nationwide search for a person of interest, although the wanted man is believed to be in the Carolinas, Jennings said during a news conference at an apartment complex where the chief said the family was found. We will bring justice to the person responsible for these murders, Jennings said. Well do everything we can to bring closure for the family. Jennings confirmed that officers found the bodies of Markayla Johnson, 22, and her 4-year-old, Miracle Johnson, and 7-month-old, Messiah Johnson. Jennings said the man police are searching for had been in a relationship with Johnson. Jennings declined to say how the family died, or speculate on why. We have no idea of the motive, Jennings said. At this point its very early (in the investigation). ... We want to talk to this person (of interest) to find out what happened out here. The Johnsons were last seen on the 400 block of Orchard Trace Lane, CMPD said on March 8, when they asked the public for help in finding them. Family members of the victims sobbed as Jennings conducted Saturdays news conference at the apartment complex on Orchard Trace Lane. Behind me are the grieving family that lost their loved ones and now have to move forward, because of the hands of another person, without their family, Jennings said. I praise the family to have the strength to come out and stand behind me, Jennings said. As difficult as it is for me to talk about, I cant imagine the difficulty it is to stand here and listen to me talk about this. On Friday, police said they found remains about 1:45 p.m. while conducting an investigation on the same block. Orchard Trace Lane is off Reagan Drive near Interstate 85 in northeast Charlotte. Jennings said he expects the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiners Office will officially confirm their identities on Monday. As you look at the homicides that have been occurring across the city, nothing is worse than homicides of small children and family members, Jennings said. Homicide investigators collect evidence On Friday, CMPD crime scene investigators combed a second-floor apartment in the complex, footage from Charlotte Observer news partner WSOC showed. When officers found the remains, CMPD homicide unit detectives were brought in to investigate, according to Fridays CMPD news release. CMPD crime scene officers collected physical evidence, police officials said. CMPD urged anyone with information about the homicides to call homicide unit Detective Adam Planty at 704-432-8477 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This embedded content is not available in your region. This afternoon, Chief Jennings provided an update on the triple homicide of a mother and her two young children. Full press release in our newsroom: https://t.co/wFNhfRePNJ https://t.co/l6CjfSK8e1 pic.twitter.com/PBqWVORQk0 CMPD News (@CMPD) March 16, 2024 Police have identified a 24-year-old man who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Stanton on Wednesday. Matthew Iannone of Claymont was named as the victim in the March 13 accident. He was wearing a Delaware Department of Transportation-approved helmet, police said. Delaware State Police investigate after a fatal motorcycle accident on Limestone Road at Tarry Lane in Stanton, which occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2024. At around 4 p.m., a 2024 GMC Sierra was pulling an empty horse trailer south on Limestone Road. The truck made a U-turn at Tarry Lane on a green left arrow, according to police. When turning, a 2004 Yamaha sport bike, traveling north at a high speed, struck the right side of the horse trailer during the U-turn. The motorcyclist, Iannone, was pronounced dead at the scene. Delaware crash: Man killed after losing control of car, crashing into Middletown-area home Delaware crash: 85-year-old woman dies 12 days after accident The GMC driver, a 60-year-old Wilmington man, was not injured, according to police. The scene was closed for four hours while investigators examined and cleared the roadway. The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit is still investigating the crash. Those who witnessed it are asked to call Senior Cpl. M. Calio at 302-365-8483. Information can also be sent to Delaware State Police via private Facebook message or to Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Stanton motorcycle crash: Matthew Iannone of Claymont named as victim The police launched an investigation into the circumstances of a supposed attempted suicide by a man in the Khust military enlistment office in Zakarpattia Oblast, Hromadske reported on March 16, citing a statement from the police. The enlistment office's press service claimed that the man was detained on March 13 while attempting to illegally cross the border. Border guards took him to the enlistment office to verify his registration data, according to the official statement cited by Suspilne. Ukrainian men aged 18-60 are forbidden to leave the country due to the martial law that has been imposed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, with some exceptions. After the man went to the restroom, he was allegedly found with cuts and blood on his hands. After being taken to the hospital, the doctors said the man attempted suicide, enlistment officials said. According to the man's girlfriend, he was kidnapped by border guards from a hotel in the city of Vynohradiv, taken to a border crossing, and pressured to confess to trying to cross illegally. The girlfriend said the accusations were untrue. Read also: Ukraine struggles to ramp up mobilization as Russias war enters 3rd year The man's partner also said that he was beaten and abused by employees of the Khust enlistment office in the presence of police officers. The police denied that their staff would be present during the alleged beatings but opened an investigation under the criminal article of driving a person to suicide. The enlistment office also said that an internal inspection is ongoing. There have been multiple cases of suspected abuses committed by enlistment officials toward civilians and conscripts. One conscript died at a military enlistment center in Ternopil Oblast following a many-day stay at the center earlier this year. The man was reportedly found to be epileptic, with bruises all over his body. Last October, a commander of the security department at the Ternopil military enlistment office was charged with torture, and another staff member of the same department was charged with illegal imprisonment of a civilian. As the full-scale war entered its third year, Ukraine seeks to ramp up its mobilization efforts while reforming the system to take into consideration the needs of the soldiers. The parliament is now considering a new draft of the mobilization law after its initial, contentious version was withdrawn. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. This satellite image courtesy of Maxar Technologies shows roadblocks and burning debris in the Delmas area of Port-au-Prince on March 14, 2024 (-) Police in Haiti seized firearms and cleared roadblocks in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood controlled by notorious gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, in an operation that left several criminals dead, authorities said Saturday. National police units entered the Delmas neighborhood Friday evening with the aim of unblocking a road, said Lionel Lazarre of the Haitian police union. Several "bandits" were killed, he said. A later police statement said officers exchanged gunfire with men from Cherizier's gang, seized firearms and succeeded in unblocking roads. "New strategies are being implemented by the police with the aim of recovering certain areas occupied by these armed gangs in recent days, in order to facilitate the free movement of peaceful citizens," the statement said, without providing details. Another operation was underway Saturday morning as law enforcement attempted to regain control of the capital's main port, where gangs had looted several containers, a source at the port told AFP. The port has been shut since March 7 because of the violence. Haitians have been on edge in recent days awaiting the naming of a transitional governing body meant to restore stability to the impoverished country, wracked by gang violence and left largely isolated from the outside world. Some are hoping a transitional council can fill the void left by departing Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is leaving amid pressure from an offensive by gangs that control 80 percent of the capital. Yet many have decried the pending establishment of a transitional council, a move supported by Caribbean regional body CARICOM, the United Nations and the United States. The country has a long, brutal history of foreign interventions, from a 20-year American occupation in the early 1900s to a deadly cholera outbreak linked to a UN peacekeeping mission in the 2010s. bur-st/acb A police officer patrols a neighborhood in Levittown, Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia, following two shootings that left a total of three people dead (Joe LAMBERTI) An "extremely dangerous" suspect armed with an assault rifle was holed up in a New Jersey home on Saturday, authorities said, as police negotiators tried to coax him out after he allegedly killed three family members in two earlier shootings. Police had tracked 26-year-old Andre Gordon to the three-story house after a trail of violence that set off shelter-in-place orders in two states. "Andre, get away from the windows. We know you're inside, if you'd like to surrender, dial 911 now," police said over a loudspeaker. "You're a young man, you have too much to live for." Authorities said Gordon, who is believed to be homeless, began the day by carjacking a vehicle in Trenton before driving some 40 miles (65 kilometers) to the northern Philadelphia suburb of Levittown. There, police said, the suspect killed two people -- identified as his 52-year-old stepmother and his 13-year-old sister. Three others in the house, including a minor, managed to hide "as he went through the house searching for them," Bucks County, Pennsylvania district attorney Jennifer Schorn said in a briefing. The suspect then drove to a nearby residence where he broke in before shooting and killing a 25-year-old woman -- who Schorn said was the mother of his two children -- before bludgeoning her mother with the butt of his rifle. She was expected to recover. Driving to a nearby discount store, the suspect carjacked a Honda vehicle from a 44-year-old man before fleeing. The man was not injured, according to Falls Township, Pennsylvania Sheriff Nelson Whitney. The suspect then drove across the state line back to Trenton, where he barricaded himself in the three-story house. Whitney said the suspect was believed to be armed with a powerful AR-15 style assault rifle. SWAT negotiators "will attempt to negotiate a peaceful surrender," Detective Lieutenant Lisette Rios of the Trenton police department said. People in the house were "successfully evacuated with no injuries," Rios added. Armed SWAT officers were seen using a ladder to climb onto the roof of the porch to help people inside escape through a window. Because the suspect crossed state lines, federal authorities -- including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- are aiding in the matter, along with local, county and state police. Residents in the area, a densely occupied neighborhood, remained under a shelter-in-place order although crowds of curious locals had gathered to watch the unfolding police operation. arb/bbk/md/acb Police in Edinburgh have seized a "beer bike" over road safety concerns. Officers stopped the pedal-powered bar on Leith Walk at about 11:20 on Saturday. The vehicles, which allow revellers to sightsee while enjoying an alcoholic beverage, are popular in several European cities. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said the vehicle had been stopped due to road traffic offences but inquiries are ongoing. Police are seizing thousands of lethal e-scooters each year that are being ridden illegally, official data obtained by The Telegraph reveals. Officers have confiscated the devices after they were ridden illegally on pavements, without insurance, while riders were drunk or high, or been involved in collisions, some of which have been fatal. A series of Freedom of Information requests have also shown how some e-scooters have been modified to exceed the 15.5mph speed limit and used by criminals involved in drug-dealing or mobile phone thefts. A total of 20 police forces responded to the request for statistics on annual e-scooter confiscations since 2021, producing the clearest picture yet of how this relatively new mode of transport is being abused. In 2023, the 20 constabularies seized a total of 1,111 e-scooters. The previous year 1,134 were confiscated, a marked rise compared to the 760 taken off the streets the year before. Although the majority of users were stopped for riding without insurance on an illegal device, some were linked to road traffic collisions and crimes. The true extent of illegal e-scooter confiscations will be far higher because many of the 43 police forces in England and Wales do not collate the specific information or failed to respond to the information request. In 2020, Grant Shapps, the then transport secretary, announced e-scooter trials which have now culminated in 22 regions joining the schemes. While some have welcomed the new mode of transport as environmentally friendly, others claim they are a menace because they are often ridden on pavements, create trip hazards when discarded or are prone to battery fires. The City of London confiscates about five e-scooters a week, with some linked to phone-snatching and drug-dealing. Its officers seized 286 e-scooters last year, a dramatic increase compared to the 46 recorded seizures the year before. Essex Police confiscated 673 devices over the three years, mostly between March and October, when seizures ranged from between seven and 46 a month. Two collisions in the county involving e-scooters resulted in deaths between 2021 and 2022. Norfolk Police seized 341 e-scooters over the three years. Of those, seven were connected to non-road crimes and needed for evidential purposes. A further six were involved in collisions. Suffolk Police confiscated 187 over the three years, six of which were linked to criminal behaviour. Both Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies recorded one e-scooter having been involved in a serious or fatal collision. These two forces used to instruct officers to issue warnings before prosecuting repeat offenders, but are now encouraged to seize and prosecute whenever they encounter an illegally used scooter. While illegal devices are often handed back to the owner because they can be ridden on private land, many are disposed of, auctioned off by the force or remain impounded in storage. Sarah Gayton, of the National Federation of the Blind which has campaigned against the continued roll-out of lethal e-scooter trials, said Government policy had increased the risk of collision and injury for pedestrians. E-scooters have turned our pavements into danger zones with out-of-control riders terrifying anybody who gets in their way, she said. Blind and visually impaired people are terrified to walk the streets due to this menace; they know not when one will whizz past on the pavement or pedestrian crossings. The City of London seized 286 e-scooters last year, compared to just 46 in 2022 - Paul Iwala/Alamy Only official rental scooters can be ridden legally on public roads and cycle lanes by those with a provisional or full driving licence. The rental company providing the e-scooters in the trials is required to provide insurance. While riders are encouraged to wear a helmet, it is not mandatory. It is illegal to ride any e-scooter on the pavement. It is also illegal to use privately owned e-scooters or other so-called powered transporters on public roads. However, they can be ridden on private property. A Department for Transport spokesman said anyone who breaks the law on an e-scooter faces an unlimited fine and disqualification from using them. Safety is our top priority and, by extending the current trials to May 2026, were able to continue gathering evidence to better inform regulations, she added. 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. Ukrainian emergency workers dealing with the aftermath of the Russian attack on Odesa. Photo: Ukraines State Emergency Service Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called on US House Speaker Mike Johnson to finally take steps to approve aid to Ukraine, advising him to look at the consequences of Russia's strikes on Odesa. Source: Tusk on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda Details: Tusk's tweet appeared on the afternoon of 16 March. By this time, 21 people had already been killed in Odesa as a result of Russian missile strikes on 15 March another wounded rescue worker passed away in hospital. "Look at Odesa, Speaker Johnson. How many more arguments do you need to take a decision?" Tusk asked. Look at Odessa, @SpeakerJohnson!How many more arguments do you need to take a decision? Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 16, 2024 Background: It was reported this week that US House Speaker Mike Johnson has actually agreed to unblock the decision to provide aid to Ukraine, but with significant changes it should be a House of Representatives bill and should take the form of a loan or lend-lease. He also admitted that aid to Ukraine and Israel would still be divided into separate bills. Any new bill will have to receive enough votes in both the House and Senate. This week, for the first time since December 2023, the United States announced a new $300 million aid package for Ukraine. It was explained that these funds are the result of unanticipated cost savings in contracts from previous aid packages. Polish leaders, President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk, spoke with US President Joe Biden earlier this week about how to maintain and strengthen support for Ukraine, among other things. Support UP or become our patron! Compound interest might not exactly be the financial miracle that some people claim it is, but it's still a powerful force and an essential concept for retirement planning. You can use it to your advantage to fuel wealth creation, but it can also be harmful for people who aren't careful. Make sure that you understand the ways that compound returns function, so that you can unlock the advantages and avoid associated pitfalls. Einstein's observation The quote, "Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it," is often attributed to Albert Einstein. He was a pretty smart guy, so it's fair to assume that there's some wisdom in that assertion. Regardless of the specific context of that quote, Einstein astutely cited the consequential power of compound interest in finance, investing, and economics. Image source: Getty Images. Compounding is a repetitive process that can magnify gains -- or expenses -- over the long term. It's a fairly simple mathematical concept, but the full consequences of compounding aren't always apparent. Failure to respect those consequences can be catastrophic for a financial plan. Exponential growth Compounding creates exponential growth. Interest-bearing financial products, such as savings accounts, CDs, or bonds, produce income based on a percentage of the capital invested in those products. Consider a $100,000 account that pays 5% interest each year. After the first year, there will be $105,000 in that account, and the 5% in the next year gets paid on a larger number. As the asset grows, so too does the amount of returns generated each year. The chart below illustrates the growth over a 30-year period for an account with simple 5% annual interest. Note the exponential nature of the curve. The annual return grows from $5,000 in year one to nearly $20,000 by the final year. This embedded content is not available in your region. Chart by author. If you are the someone "who earns it" from Einstein's quote, then you are utilizing a powerful force to build assets. Generating income on interest that you've previously earned can totally transform a retirement plan for the better. Story continues Compounding growth in equities Compound interest doesn't technically apply to stocks, because common stocks don't pay interest to shareholders. However, the same compounding principle applies to equities. Stock prices tend to reflect the future cash flows that are expected to be produced by the underlying businesses. Equity valuations rise and fall in the short term thanks to supply and demand in capital markets, but long-term performance almost always reverts to cash flows eventually. At some point in a successful corporate lifetime, cash is distributed to shareholders, either as dividends or in a lump sum when the company is acquired by another. When push comes to shove, these events produce returns for shareholders, and a stock's price generally can't stray too far from those expected future returns over the long term. Historically, growth rates for corporate profits and dividends have moderately outpaced the growth rate of the economy in general. Mature stocks that pay dividends distribute a proportion of free cash flow, and those distributions tend to rise as the company builds profits year after year. Businesses that don't pay dividends still deliver compounding returns by expanding operations, which leads investors to expect larger cash flows in the future, which leads them to drive the stock price up. S&P 500 Earnings Per Share Chart If you reinvest dividends and continue to hold stocks as their underlying businesses grow, your returns should reflect a powerful compounding effect. Compounding expense Don't overlook Einstein's more ominous reference to people who pay compound interest. Unhealthy debt can wreak havoc on a financial plan. Deferring interest payments on loans or credit cards means that interest accrues and adds to the outstanding balance. This increases the total interest paid. Incurring compound interest can have dire effects on a financial plan. Higher interest payments obviously increase expenses, but the opportunity cost might be even more important. Every dollar that goes out the door as interest can't be invested. If you pay compound interest, you have even fewer resources to benefit from compound interest. The power of compounding cuts both ways. Make sure that you use credit responsibly. The importance of starting early The exponential curve underlines the importance of starting to save for retirement early. The more periods that you have for compounding, the larger its effect. You can't get to the huge returns of the 30th year of compounding without building through the first 29 years of growth. Every year that you delay saving for retirement removes one lucrative year from the back end of the curve. Start saving as early as possible, even if it's modest at first -- it can make a huge difference a few decades down the road. The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $22,924 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Is the 8th Wonder of the World, According to Albert Einstein. And Utilizing It Correctly Can Help Make Saving for Retirement an Absolute Breeze. was originally published by The Motley Fool Former President Donald Trump didnt quite live up to his polling numbers in the Republican primaries. Yes, he swept past his GOP opponents, but usually by smaller margins than the polls predicted. For some Democrats, this looks like a hopeful sign for the general election. Polls show Trump narrowly leading President Joe Biden, too. Maybe, these Democrats reason, Trump is also being overestimated in these surveys. They shouldnt count on it. Its true that surveys overestimated Trumps actual vote share in eight of the 10 states where there was enough polling for FiveThirtyEight to produce an average. And after a spate of national polls showed Biden behind Trump, the presidents campaign asserted that polling consistently overestimates Donald Trump while underestimating President Biden. Aides cited the results of the presidential primaries and special elections held since 2022 as proof. But both are misleading indicators. Thats because the reason polling overestimated Republican margins in the primaries and special elections is unlikely to be duplicated in the general election: It was hard for pollsters to know which voters were going to show up. Using polling to estimate election results requires making informed choices about the composition of the electorate. But the Republican primary electorate is much smaller and harder to predict than the much broader segment of voters likely to turn out in November for the general election. The former was generally populated by high-information voters and, in states with open primaries, independents and Democrats crossing over in greater numbers to vote for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The latter will be different, much larger and in some ways more predictable, since most voters participate in general elections. The differences between the two are apples and oranges, said Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray, who attributed Trumps underperformance to a surge in Democrats and independents participating in the Republican primary. What we believe happened is they came out in higher numbers than wed ever seen crossover voters come out before, Murray said. Its not like we missed it because were missing voters who had turned on Trump, he added, pointing to surveys Monmouth conducted for The Washington Post in New Hampshire and South Carolina ahead of those states primaries. We would still have had them in our general election poll. Those general election surveys have been a struggle for pollsters in the Trump era, underestimating his support in both 2016 and 2020. Haleys better-than-expected showing in the primaries doesnt mean theyve solved that problem for the general election let alone overcorrected for it. It just means more voters who would be open to or even inclined to vote Democratic in the general are participating in GOP contests in the primary. Consider the biggest polling misses from this years primaries. In Michigan, Trumps margin over Haley was 15.3 points smaller in the actual results than in the final polling average. Pollsters also had double-digit whiffs in Massachusetts (a 14.3-point difference), Tennessee (11.3 points) and Virginia (20.8 points). Of these four states, only Massachusetts has party registration, but it also allows independents to vote in the presidential primary of their choosing. In the other three, any voter could participate in the Republican presidential primary. And theres evidence of some crossover voting. Just six-in-10 Virginia GOP primary voters identified themselves as Republicans, according to network exit polls. Other prominent misses were in states that had only a small sample of GOP primary polling. In Vermont, there was just one poll: A University of New Hampshire survey that showed Trump 30 points ahead of Haley. She ended up winning the state. Vermont has no partisan voter registration, so Democratic-leaning voters could cast Republican primary ballots to oppose Trump. But trying to extend the consistent overestimation of Trump in the primaries to the general election where the latest RealClearPolitics national polling average shows Trump ahead by just under 2 percentage points is problematic. The electorates are simply not comparable. Fewer than 1.1 million Virginians voted in Super Tuesdays presidential primaries, just over 17 percent of all registered voters. Compare that to the 75 percent turnout in the 2020 presidential election, when 4.5 million Virginians voted. Of course a pollster trying to discern which 17 percent slice of Virginias electorate will show up for mostly uncompetitive presidential primaries and which partys ballot they will pull would face greater challenges than polling a general election in which most voters participate. For people to over-read or over-interpret the Republican primary results youre making a stupid mistake, said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. The Republican primary drew lots of voters who are not Republican primary voters. There is very little you can read into this data that has any impact on the general election at all. The Biden vs. Trump polls could still be wrong for other reasons or at least not predictive of an election thats still less than eight months away. Trump could be stuck in court in a criminal trial as early as next month. And Bidens campaign is kicking into gear now that both men have vanquished their opponents. Plus, maybe its not about Trump and the presidential primary: Bidens campaign, in its statement, noted that the party has also done better than expected in special election results since the 2022 midterms, including Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzis more-decisive-than-expected victory in New York last month. But an analysis from The New York Times suggests a similar shortcoming in trying to connect the performance of polls from special elections to the presidential general election. That analysis shows voters who said they supported Biden in the 2020 presidential election turned out for special elections at a significantly higher rate than those who said they voted for Trump. The Times Nate Cohn wrote last month that the differential turnout rate explains the entirety of the Democratic performance overall. In other words, the special election results only would suggest that the general election polls are wrong if Democrats have the same turnout advantage in November. Thats an unlikely proposition. None of this means the polls are correctly measuring the electorate in this snapshot in time, either. But if theyre wrong, the fact that Trump didnt win the Republican primaries by the margins the polls suggested isnt evidence of that. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Portland-area law enforcement agencies are joining forces to crack down on dangerous driving behaviors throughout the holiday weekend. The Multnomah County Sheriffs Office, TriMet Transit Police, Oregon State Police and multiple other agencies will join Portland Police Bureau in the high-visibility DUII mission that lasts through St. Patricks Day on Sunday. Auditors determine Portlands Civic Life bureau mismanaged historic Kenton Firehouse During a press conference on Friday, PPB Sergeant Ty Engstrom reported Portland has already seen around 15 deadly crashes so far this year. At this same point in 2023, the city had seen 10 and the year went on to set a three-decade record for traffic fatalities. Engstrom mentioned that local officers have recorded cars driving in excess of 100 miles per hour on the freeway every day, but speed is just one dangerous driving condition that law enforcement will focus on this weekend. Officers will also watch out for occupant safety, lane usage, distracted driving and impaired driving. Obviously, with recent changes in laws, weve seen an uptick in drug use and that translates to an increase in drug-impaired driving as well, Engstrom said. We have quite a few officers who are certified drug recognition experts that are out there ready to do those investigations for those that have been consuming drugs of various types. According to the sergeant, PPBs Traffic Division will focus on the downtown area that is hosting major events and gatherings. Central Precinct officers are expected to begin foot patrols. United plane departing from SFO lands in Oregon with missing panel Dylan Rivera, the Portland Bureau of Transportations spokesperson, also noted that St. Patricks Day is one of the deadliest on U.S. roads. He recommended that people use the agencys Uber, Lyft and taxi discounts that will be available through 3 a.m. on Monday, March 18. Engstrom also advised pedestrians to be cautious by being visible and adhering to traffic signals. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Russian citizens poured dye into ballot boxes, lit explosives and attempted arson in sporadic acts of protest during a presidential election guaranteed to deliver President Vladimir Putin his fifth term in office. The incidents occurred on the first day of a three-day voting period across Russia and parts of occupied Ukraine on Friday. Officials said the incidents would have no impact on the election, in which Putin is competing against three candidates who have little chance of winning. With no doubt around the outcome of the election, the focus for both protesters and officials is on turnout and the number of legitimate ballots. High turnout, including votes for a candidate who is running against Putin, is seen as beneficial to the Kremlin as it gives the appearance of legitimacy to the election results. Two women were arrested after pouring green dye into ballot boxes on the outskirts of Moscow with the aim of destroying voting slips, according to Russian media, in an act of protest that is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, authorities said. These are the methods used by our traitors who fled the country, who are used both in the tail and in the mane by those who fight Russia, said Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russias Election Commission, at an election briefing on Friday in which she described the protesters as scum. In a separate update, she said there had been eight attempts at arson and that 214 ballots had been irretrievably damaged, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Elsewhere, in a remote region of the Urals and in Putins hometown of St. Petersburg, protesters attempted to destroy ballot boxes using homemade Molotov cocktails in separate incidents, according to state media. Tensions around the election have been growing in Russia since the death of primary opposition figure Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony last month. Navalny, an outspoken critic of Putin and of the Kremlins ongoing war in Ukraine, lost consciousness and died on a walk while imprisoned, according to authorities. Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, alongside numerous international governments including the U.S., blamed Putin for his death. Relatives and friends pay their last respects at the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. (AP) A local election official in Moscow was detained for visiting a polling station wearing a T-shirt with Navalny written on it, according to Russian civil rights organization OVD-Info. On Sunday, crowds of people appeared outside polling stations in Moscow and across Russia in a protest action called Noon against Putin, which was proposed by Navalny in one of his last public messages before his death. The action, posthumously promoted by Navalnys wife, was aimed at overwhelming polling stations, making it more difficult to vote or record voting data. The action was designed to help millions of people see like-minded people and realize that we are not alone, Navalnaya said in a March YouTube address announcing the plans for polling day. We are surrounded by people who are also against war, against corruption and against lawlessness. A Telegram post from Navalnys team showed Yulia Navalnaya at a Noon against Putin event at the Russian Embassy in Berlin on Sunday, alongside crowds of supporters. But the intended effects of the action remain vague, with little guidance from Navalny or his wife about whether assembled protesters should stage a sit-in, vote and spoil ballots, or attempt to block access to polling sites. NBC News was not able to independently verify images of people crowding polling stations, nor was it able to determine if crowds were there to vote or had the intention of overwhelming election officials. On Saturday, wives of mobilized soldiers attempted to lay flowers outside the Kremlin before being blocked by secret service agents, according to activist group The Way Home, which campaigns for Russian men to be allowed to return from the front lines. The women were forced to move their protest to Victory Park, in southwest-central Moscow, the group said on Telegram Saturday, and were harassed by police who were breathing down their necks. It was not clear how many people turned out at that protest. The organization said simultaneous actions were staged by military wives across the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Pavel Byrkin / AFP - Getty Images) The Kremlin is treating voter turnout in the presidential election as a referendum on the Ukraine war, with a high turnout to vote for Putin potentially indicating continued support for the president despite ongoing Western sanctions and growing diplomatic isolation. In 2018, 67% of eligible voters came out to vote, and the Kremlin will want to boast it has topped that number. In the Russian-ruled republic of Chechnya, turnout on Saturday reached 75%, according to the local election commissions Telegram channel. In Ukraines southern city of Mariupol, the city council posted on Telegram accusing authorities of working with construction companies to bus in teams of Russian builders to vote in the precinct, inflating turnout in the area. Numerous reports from parts of occupied Ukraine, such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, included accusations from locals that members of the Russian military went door to door and forced Ukrainian citizens to vote at gunpoint. Police officer explains a woman how to cast a ballot during a presidential election. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP) Photos uploaded to Telegram by Mariupols city council on Saturday claimed to show small-scale acts of protest by Ukrainians coerced into voting, including spoiling ballots. Only one of the three candidates who oppose Putin in the election, Vladislav Davankov, supports peace negotiations with Ukraine. Davankov, a former businessman, has called for a peace deal with Ukraine that is on our terms and with no rollback, while saying that Russia should not cede to Ukraine any territory it has already occupied. More than 114 million Russians are eligible to vote in the election, including nearly 2 million abroad. Results are expected to be announced on Sunday, with a landslide for Putin functionally guaranteed. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Shoppers peruse Ramadan decorations at Al-Zawiya Market, an old market in downtown Gaza City, on March 20, 2023. (Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times) JERUSALEM Every night during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the man would come along Rawoand Altatars street, banging on his drum and calling out to the faithful to wake them up for suhoor, the predawn meal. His nightly mission used to be lit up by Ramadan lamps and twinkling decorations. But this Ramadan, Altatars street is eerie. The man, called a musaharati in Arabic, is absent. There are no decorations or electricity, and the street is surrounded by buildings destroyed or damaged in Israels bombardment. Their own home has been destroyed as well. There is no sense of Ramadan, she said, referring to the month when Muslims fast all day. We are missing our family and gatherings, the food, even the simplest thing like the sweet juices, the Ramadan decorations and lamps, which filled the streets, said Altatar, a photographer who worked at a private school before the war. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Israels war in the Gaza Strip has transformed Ramadan, which began Monday, from one of color and boisterous gatherings into one observed against a backdrop of gray rubble and dark, empty streets. With no hoped-for cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the armed group that has controlled Gaza for years, a time of religious devotion, dawn-to-dusk fasting and charity is now a daily struggle for survival. For many Palestinians in Gaza, attempts to bring some cheer into the enclave are up against a mountain of despair. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels bombardment, according to Gaza health authorities, and the threat of famine looms as a result of Israels near-complete siege. The war, now in its sixth month, began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 240 captives, according to Israeli officials. Families, which once gathered over big feasts to mark the end of a days fast, have been separated and dispersed as most of Gazas 2.2 million residents have fled their homes. Many now live in crowded tent encampments. Many mosques where nightly Ramadan prayers were held have been bombed to rubble. Israel has accused Hamas of operating from some of Gazas mosques, a charge Hamas denies. The most basic sustenance, like the dates and drinking water with which Muslims traditionally break their fast, are nearly absent. Also missing is the happiness of children, especially when they come out in the streets after iftar the breaking of the fast with their Ramadan lamps and toys, Altatar said. Now everyone is inside their homes even before the sun goes down, feeling afraid, she said. Ramadan this year also comes as many Gaza residents have lost everything and the enclave is nearing a famine, United Nations officials say. At least 27 Palestinian children have died from malnutrition, dehydration and lack of baby formula, Gaza health officials have said. Human rights groups, U.N. experts and most recently the European Unions foreign policy chief have said that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians. Israel has insisted throughout the war that it is committed to allowing as much aid into Gaza as possible, and it has blamed delays on U.N. staffing and logistics. Aid groups and U.N. officials have argued that it would be better for Israel to ease entry restrictions for trucks at established crossing points into the enclave and to do more to speed the delivery of goods inside Gaza. People in Gaza are so hungry that some have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed. Weve been practically fasting for months, Altatar said. Before Ramadan, we were eating two meals a day if we were able to find enough food. Otherwise, we would eat only once a day, at sundown. Almost no aid is reaching northern Gaza, where Altatar lives with her parents. U.N. agencies have largely stopped sending aid to the north, citing Israeli restrictions and security fears. Many Muslims customarily try to read the entire Quran over the month of Ramadan and perform extra nightly prayers called taraweeh. In the north, people rarely gather to pray taraweeh in an open area because they are afraid of being hit by an airstrike, she said. Of course, there are almost no mosques left. They have all been bombed. Her days now are filled with gathering firewood, making fires and roaming markets trying to cobble together a meal her family can afford, she said. As she walks, she dreams that one of the aid airdrops will come down near her. In what seemed like cruel mocking for many Palestinians in Gaza, days before Ramadan began, a resident said Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets over parts of northern Gaza that read, May your fast be accepted, your sins forgiven and iftar delicious. Asked about the leaflets, the Israeli military did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Despite the war and continued presence of Israeli ground forces, some Gaza residents have tried to imbue the holy month with as much festivity and religious observance as the conflict will allow. In northern Gaza, hunger and fear has taken over us, Maher Habboush, a bodybuilder in Gaza, said in a video on his Instagram account. The video showed dozens of children and adults cleaning the streets of one neighborhood and painting the walls pink, blue and yellow. But we will greet the blessed month with happiness and optimism, because Ramadan is a blessing. In previous years, Gaza residents competed with each other when decorating their homes and streets. Now a Ramadan lantern, called a fanous and once ubiquitous throughout the streets and homes of Gaza, is a luxury few can afford. All day my little daughter is crying for a fanous, said Nisreen Abu Tooq, 28, a mother of five who fled with her family from the north to a school in southern Gaza. I cant even afford to buy it. We cant cheer up our little kids up with the simplest things. On Sunday, Abu Tooq said she was filled with sadness when she heard that the next day was Ramadan, because she had not expected the war to last this long. Its a big difference to be in a place you dont belong and far from your home with relatives, neighbors and friends, she said. Fadia Nassar, 43, wanted to buy Ramadan lanterns for her daughter, nieces and nephews, who are all sharing a room in a home with other displaced Gaza residents in the city of Deir al-Balah, but the prices were out of reach. She also thought that such decorative touches might seem insensitive to other children living in the house who had lost parents or other relatives. She had just returned from the market and could not buy any supplies because of how expensive everything was. Instead, she said, they would rely on canned goods to break the fast, she said. The markets were packed, but rather than the crowded and festive atmosphere of Ramadans past, when songs would blare through the streets, there was tension and a fear of lawlessness now, she said. There is no joy, no songs of Ramadan, no sweets of Ramadan, she said. This has all been exterminated. A local Gaza band, Sol Band, came out with a song for this Ramadan, including a short music video filmed in Gaza, that captured the grim holy month they were observing. The video shows parents and children making decorations out of plastic bottles and construction paper and hanging them up on tents. There are no homes left in our neighborhood, and the homes have turned into tents, the lyrics say. Your crescent moon has appeared, Ramadan. What is the crescent of our joy? c.2024 The New York Times Company Primanti Bros. is offering a deal to fans willing to part ways with their Kenny Pickett jerseys. The restaurant and bar said it would give $25 to fans who turn in their Pickett #8 jerseys. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Kenny Pickett to be traded to Philadelphia Eagles, according to report On Friday, reports said that Pickett would be traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jerseys will only be accepted at the Primanti Bros. location in Pittsburghs Strip District on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PHOTOS: Kenny Pickett during his career in Pittsburgh We know many Pittsburghers spent their hard-earned dollars on a Pickett jersey, said Adam Golomb, CEO, Primanti Bros. And we hate the idea of that hard work going to waste. So, we figured wed help ease the pain. Golomb says the event is a way to support Steelers fans despite the changes on the team. Since 1933 weve been supporting the hardworking people of Pittsburgh and even when things change with the Black and Gold were here for you, said Golomb. The $25 exchange will only be limited to one per person. The money can only be used at the restaurant. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 65-mile detour suggested as Pennsylvania Turnpike sees lane closure for emergency road repairs Pittsburgh police station found closed during the day raises concern among residents State police search for tractor-trailer involved in fatal hit-and-run crash in Mercer County VIDEO: Solar eclipse will be visible in Pittsburgh region next month DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts While politicians from both main political parties have been targeted, the data shows that Labour has borne the brunt of the protests - Vuk Valcic/Avalon A damning dossier has revealed almost 40 incidents of MPs and councillors being targeted with intimidatory tactics by pro-Palestinian activists, The Telegraph can disclose. Counter-extremism analysis has revealed a litany of menace since the start of the year, involving elected representatives experiencing verbal abuse, intimidation and disruptive protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. Earlier this month, Rishi Sunak condemned a shocking increase in extremist disruption since the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing military action in Gaza. The analysis shows how widespread and routine the disruption of political meetings and barracking of MPs has now become. The dossier of incidents compiled by a counter-extremism analyst who asked not to be named reveals that at least 38 such incidents took place across England between Jan 1 and March 15. While politicians from both main political parties have been targeted, the data shows that Labour has borne the brunt of the protests. On Friday, Chi Onwurah, the shadow science minister, required the presence of police outside her constituency surgery. Responding on X, formerly Twitter, to a protester who accused her of being a coward for getting a police escort out of your surgery, Ms Onwurah wrote: The police came because your protest was becoming aggressive, banging on the library walls and hurling abuse, then running around the building, attacking my staff members car and jumping in front of traffic. In another incident on Thursday, a meeting of Haringey Council, in north London, was repeatedly disrupted by protesters. A person who was present and asked to remain anonymous told The Telegraph that the viciousness of the protest was astonishing, adding: They were literally frothing screaming: Haringey Council, youre complicit, youre committing genocide Its really extreme, frighteningly so. In a third incident in February, Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, and David Lammy, the the shadow foreign secretary, were forced to abandon an event in Tottenham after protesters picketed the venue. One placard photographed at the event read: Lammy supports racist killings while another said: Genocidal Starmer Not Welcome In Tottenham. A number of incidents tracked by the research involved the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) or local affiliates. The dossier has been shared with Lord Walney, the Governments independent adviser on political violence and disruption, who said: This litany of menace highlights a clear pattern of intimidation of elected representatives by pro-Palestine activists. Storming council chambers and haranguing MPs has nothing to do with changing peoples minds. Its about trying to bully and threaten them into submission. If this was protesters with the St Georges flag hijacking council meetings for a Right-wing cause that was nothing to do with local government, everyone would rightly demand action. So its time for all mainstream parties to stand up for their people against this thuggery and work to cut funding and support for organisations like the PSC who facilitate it. A Home Office spokesman said: It is totally unacceptable that a tiny minority seek to intimidate democratically elected representatives and impose their views. Protests should never take place at an elected representatives home address or seek to intimidate people at democratic venues and prevent people from entering. This is exactly why we brought in tough new powers and record funding to ensure the police can act swiftly to prevent disruption and protect our democracy. A PSC spokesman said: PSC believes in peaceful protests, including disruptive protests that hold politicians to account for their stated views and their actions, including actions they are currently taking or failing to take to address Israels mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. No elected official should be made to feel any genuine fear for their personal safety, and we do not support any protest that seeks to physically intimate politicians or their 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. One day after securing its guilty verdict against the Oxford school shooter's father, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office said it would not file any criminal charges against any school officials over their decisions before the 2021 massacre. "Our office has reviewed all of the evidence in the case," Assistant Prosecutor David Williams said in a statement to the Free Press. "We did not find sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against any school district employees. We believe the Oxford community deserves full accountability, and we stand with the families in their pursuit of changes that would make that possible." The statement came the day after a jury convicted James Crumbley on four counts of involuntary manslaughter, concluding his actions and inactions led to the deaths of four students murdered by his son in 2021. The shooter carried out the rampage using a gun that his father had purchased for him as an early Christmas present just four days before the shooting, though the defense has maintained the gun was not the teenager's to use as he wished. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald speaks to the media on Thursday as Nicole Beausoleil, mother of Madisyn Baldwin; Steve St. Juliana, father of Hana St. Juliana; and Craig Shilling, father of Justin Shilling, look on after James Crumbley was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 murders of four students at Oxford High School by Crumbley's son. Within an hour after the verdict was announced, the parents of the four students who died in the shooting lashed out at the school, stressing that Oxford High School officials should be held accountable for the series of events that led to the deaths of their children. The parents are plaintiffs in litigation against the school. "It's time for the school to pony up," said Buck Myre, whose 16-year-old son Tate was killed in the shooting. Buck Myre, father of Tate Myre, who was killed in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, speaks to the media after James Crumbley, the shooter's father, was found guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, March, 14, 2024. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, asked after the verdict Thursday whether charges might be filed against school officials, said, "We want to hold everyone accountable. Ive made a commitment to these parents and were going to keep it," she said. Im going to look at the facts and work with them to get the accountability they deserve. Friday's statement closed the door on charges. While the parents are upset about many issues involving school officials' role in the shooting, among the controversial issues have been the actions of two school officials who met with the shooter and his parents in the hours before he carried out his rampage, and concluded he was no threat to the school. Counselor Shawn Hopkins and Dean of Students Nicolas Ejak had pulled the shooter out of class after a teacher reported a disturbing drawing he had made on a math worksheet. It featured a gun, a human body bleeding, and the words, "The thoughts won't stop. Help me." Multiple other red flags had also been raised about the shooter in the 24 hours before the shooting, including that he had been seen watching a video of a man gunning down people and researched bullets on his cellphone in class. It was the violent drawing, however, that prompted the two school officials to call the teen's parents, who came to the school but went back to their jobs after a brief meeting in the counselor's office, vowing to get their help within 48 hours. Hopkins and Ejak concluded the boy was not a threat to the school and allowed him to return to class. They never searched his backpack or asked his parents whether he had access to a gun, though the parents did not disclose that, either. Hopkins and Ejak both testified at the trials of James and Jennifer Crumbley, who was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter last month. In closing arguments at Jennifer Crumbley's trial, McDonald noted that while she was not happy with the actions of school officials, the case was about the mother not the school. And she urged the jury to convict the mother for her actions and inactions, which the jury did. James and Jennifer Crumbley are the first parents in America to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting carried out by their child. They face up to 15 years in prison when both are sentenced on April 9. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time of the killings, pleaded guilty to his crimes and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Prosecutor won't charge Oxford school officials in deadly shooting A Prosser educator was arrested this week after police allegedly found thousands of fentanyl pills and hundreds of grams of methamphetamine at her home. Amy Marie Buxton, 43, was taken into custody Monday by the Benton County Sheriffs Office on suspicion of manufacturing or possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver it. Prosser Superintendent Kim Casey confirmed to that Herald that Buxton has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the police investigation. The districts website lists Buxton as a paraeducator at Keene-Riverview Elementary School. Amy Marie Buxtons photo from the Prosser School District website. Buxton was released on Wednesday after posting bail on a $10,000 bond, according to court records. The sheriffs office said more than 2,000 fentanyl pills and 292 grams of meth were found when investigators searched her home after tracking a stolen car to the home. Search and arrest On March 6, deputies located a stolen vehicle at a home on the 14900 block of West Johnson Road, northwest of Prosser, show court documents. Deputies began to watch the property and spoke to a man who told them he stayed at the home from time to time. They observed Buxton coming and go from the location, which is listed as her address in Washington public records. Because deputies believed a gun and other items were stolen along with the vehicle, investigators obtained a search warrant for the home. The man they believed was in possession of the vehicle has not yet been arrested. When searching the home they saw what appeared to be a large amount of meth in plain site in a pan in the kitchen, and requested the scope of the warrant be expanded to look for drugs, said the documents. In addition to the meth in the kitchen, they found more drugs in a bedroom that appeared to belong to Buxton and the man. There also were multiple baggies apportioned with 2 grams of methamphetamine, as well other drug paraphernalia and scales in the home. They also found 20 unusued syringes containing what appeared to be heroin, as well as glass jars and a purse containing baggies of methamphetamine, they said. Buxton is expected back in court next week. Russian President Vladimir Putin is shown voting online in this weekend's presidential elections in the Russian Federation as well as occupied territories of Ukraine. Western leaders have dismissed the poll as a sham designed to secure Putin an unprecedented fifth term. Photo provided by Kremlin Pool March 16 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin cast his vote online as weekend presidential elections denounced as a "sham" by his opponents and Western observers continued on Saturday, The Kremlin released a photo and video of Putin voting online as he seeks an unprecedented fifth term in power in a switch from his traditional practice of making a visit to a polling station on election day. The presidential election is being held Friday through Sunday both in the Russian Federation as well as in territories of eastern Ukraine occupied by invading Russian forces in a process that critics called a "loyalty check" for locals living in the region. "For the first time, the polling stations are open for three days including remote online voting, which is available in almost a third of the regions," the Kremlin touted in its announcement of Putin's vote, adding that more than 4.5 million people have registered to vote via online polling. Putin's opponents, meanwhile, have dismissed the online voting rollout as a possible means for making it harder to identify fraud in the results, Bloomberg reported. On Friday's first day of voting, turnout in the country was 36.1%, according to election officials, with as many as 38.6 million people taking part in the voting -- including 3.4 million online. Russian officials warned Saturday they would not stand for any "election interference" from "unfriendly powers," including the United States. "Let me point out that the enemies' efforts cannot disrupt the elections of the President of Russia, which are successfully and actively conducted throughout the country as well as abroad," Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said in a Telegram post. Ukrainian intelligence cyber specialists told official media Saturday their hackers had succeeded in bringing down the Russian electronic voting system. Putin is running alongside three other candidates but is all but assured another six-year term amid the bloody and brutal invasion of Ukraine, which has been ongoing since February 2022. He faces little to no opposition as Boris Nadezhdin, who has been a vocal critic of the war in Ukraine, was disqualified from running on a technicality, with election officials claiming he had failed to collect the required 100,000 signatures. In the occupied areas of eastern Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea, the holding of a presidential ballot has drawn strong criticism from Western backers of Kyiv. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield called it "a blatant propaganda exercise, undertaken in the hopes of somehow strengthening Russia's false claim to the parts of Ukraine it illegally invaded." "To hold Russian elections in Ukraine's sovereign territory is proof of the tie between the Kremlin's external aggression and internal repression," she said in remarks to the Security Council on Friday. "It is an affront to the U.N. Charter principles that underpin global security and stability." "Putin forcing Russia's sham election on illegally occupied regions of Ukraine is a disturbing reminder of what is at stake for Ukraine," British Defense Minister Grant Schapps wrote in a social media post. "Whilst brave Ukrainians fight for freedom and democracy, Putin fights to force his tyrannical rule onto millions of innocents," he added. Overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and with the opposition excluded, Russia continued its presidential election on Saturday to keep Russian President Vladimir Putin in power. By the afternoon of the second of three voting days, Russia's central election commission announced a voter turnout of more than 50%. However, observers pointed to evidence of fraud and manipulation, with reports that state employees in particular have already been urged to vote en masse. Before a planned protest on Sunday, opponents of Putin in Moscow also reported receiving threatening messages. At 4 pm in Moscow (1300 GMT) on Saturday, more than one in two eligible voters had already cast their vote either at a polling station or online, the deputy head of the election commission, Nikolai Bulayev, said, according to the Interfax news agency. Voter turnout is an important figure for the Kremlin so that Putin can ultimately show that the majority of the population allegedly actively supports him and his war against Ukraine. Based on data from state pollsters, the Kremlin is aiming for a turnout of more than 70%. However, according to reports by independent observers, employees of state-owned companies were urged to vote in large numbers. Hundreds of companies have already published group photos of their employees in front of the respective polling stations on social networks. Videos also showed people being driven to polling stations in buses. There were also reports of great pressure being exerted on Ukrainian people, who are supposed to take part in votes in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, which are illegal under international law and therefore not recognized outside Russia. The vote in Russia proper, which is intended to secure Putin a fifth term in office as president, is scheduled to continue until Sunday evening at 1800 GMT. The 71-year-old Russian president has no real opponents. Serious opposition figures have either not been authorized as candidates, have fled abroad or are in prison camps. Opponents of the Kremlin are therefore calling for protests. Russian citizens who may be thinking of supporting a planned protest on Sunday have reportedly received warnings on their mobile phones ahead of the event. The independent news website Meduza, among others, published screenshots of messages sent on Saturday from Moscow to its readers saying: "Regardless of the fact that you support the ideas of extremist organizations, we are pleased that you will be voting in Moscow." This is followed by an invitation to take part in the election "calmly" and "without queues and provocations." It was not initially known who was behind the messages sent on Telegram and Signal and how the recipients were selected. Russian opposition activists have called on people to assemble at their polling stations at exactly noon in their time zone on Sunday as part of a resistance action. The massive country has 11 time zones. It is hoped that the long queues will show the dissatisfaction in the country. Russian authorities, on the other hand, have already threatened to prosecute participants in advance, claiming that the campaign shows "signs of extremist activity." Isolated protests were observed on the first day of voting on Friday, In some polling stations, men and women tipped paint into the ballot boxes or even set small fires. Several arrests were made. On Saturday, a woman in Yekaterinburg in the Urals was prevented by police officers from trying to pour green liquid into a ballot box. In total, Moscow is calling on 114 million people to take part in the vote, which has been criticized as completely undemocratic. More than 4.5 million of the eligible voters are in the newly occupied parts of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson. Voting is also being organized on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow annexed in violation of international law back in 2014. Opponents of the Kremlin are calling on the international community not to recognize the result. But even on Russian territory, the vote is overshadowed by the war that Putin ordered more than two years ago. On the second day of voting, the border region of Belgorod again reported heavy shelling. According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, two people were killed on Saturday. Far from the front in the Samara region, there were also drone attacks on two oil refineries, according to the Russian authorities. A fire broke out at one plant. Sources in the Ukrainian secret service SBU spoke of three refineries being attacked. For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and 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. While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away. So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like OVB Holding (ETR:O4B). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. See our latest analysis for OVB Holding OVB Holding's Earnings Per Share Are Growing Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. We can see that in the last three years OVB Holding grew its EPS by 6.2% per year. While that sort of growth rate isn't anything to write home about, it does show the business is growing. 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. EBIT margins for OVB Holding remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 3.4% to 345m. That's a real positive. You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. XTRA:O4B Earnings and Revenue History March 16th 2024 Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of OVB Holding's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting. Story continues Are OVB Holding Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It's a good habit to check into a company's remuneration policies to ensure that the CEO and management team aren't putting their own interests before that of the shareholder with excessive salary packages. For companies with market capitalisations between 184m and 735m, like OVB Holding, the median CEO pay is around 1.1m. OVB Holding offered total compensation worth 957k to its CEO in the year to December 2022. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making. Is OVB Holding Worth Keeping An Eye On? One positive for OVB Holding is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. On top of that, our faith in the board of directors is strengthened by the fact of the reasonable CEO pay. So based on its merits, the stock deserves further research, if not an addition to your watchlist. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for OVB Holding that you should be aware of. Although OVB 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 German 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. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is trying to use the raid by Russian volunteers to intimidate Russians Dictator Vladimir Putin is trying to use the raid of Russian volunteers on Russian territory, Russian political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky said in an interview with Radio NV on March 15. "I would say that there is a struggle of interpretations," Preobrazhensky said. "Vladimir Putin is obviously trying to use this event to intimidate Russians and declare Ukrainians terrorists. And, of course, to blame it primarily on the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on the Ukrainian army, recognizing that there may be some traitors there." Read also: Putin claims Russian volunteers in Kursk Oblast want to disrupt his 'elections' and 'gain a trump card' in peace talks The dictator is confident that he has enough forces to hold back the breakthrough of Russian volunteers. Preobrazhensky also recalled that recently, according to Western diplomats, Russia faced a major threat of a terrorist attack or some other similar event in Moscow, and before that, experts said that the Russian authorities themselves could organize a terrorist attack and blame it on Ukraine ahead of the "elections." "Perhaps now the Russian authorities are trying to use this volunteer operation in this sense," the political scientist said. Read also: Raid in Russias Kursk and Belgorod oblasts may last until sham presidential elections Russian Freedom Legion And now we will see some more crucified boys or something that should cause Russians to rally around the flag. If this succeeds, the raid of Russian volunteers on the territory of the Russian Federation will have "the exact opposite result to what was originally programmed" an increase in support for Putin and an increase in the legitimacy of these "elections" among Russians. "But if the Kremlin fails to do this, if its propaganda campaign fails, the result will be the opposite," Preobrazhensky added. It will mean that the Kremlin is abandoning Russian citizens to their fate in the frontline zone for the sake of the 'elections' and Putin's reappointment. Three units in which Russian citizens are fighting the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), and the Siberian Battalion crossed the border into Russia on March 12 and announced the start of an operation to "liberate the Russian Federation from dictatorship." It is reportedly taking place in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts of the Russian Federation. The RDK announced on the evening of March 12 a second raid into Russia to "bring about the death" of Putin and the entire "Kremlin regime." For its part, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the "destruction of 234 Ukrainian saboteurs" in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts. Read also: Pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer fighters launch liberation operation in Belgorod and Kursk The Freedom of Russia Legion announced on March 12 that it had taken control of part of the village of Tiotkino in Kursk Oblast, and the advance continues. Local outlet ASTRA cited a source as saying that at least four Russian soldiers were killed and nine others wounded in massive drone attacks and volunteer raids on March 12. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin commented on the volunteer raid in an interview with propagandists, calling it an attempt to disrupt the "elections" in Russia and "gain a trump card" in the upcoming negotiations. The Freedom of Russia Legion said on March 13 that the raid in Russia would last at least until the presidential "elections" scheduled for March 15-17. Read also: FSB claims detention of four RVC members in 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 PARISWhat does NATOs most sought after specialist on Vladimir Putin expect to happen after the despot wheedles his fifth six-year term as the president of Russia on Sunday? An ocean of tyranny and bloodshed, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told The Daily Beast, before echoing his prognosis to some 1,300 military officers and policymakers assembled for the Paris Defense and Strategy Forum. The two-day gathering was faced with the unenviable task of finding a way to cripple Putins jackboot march on Western democracies without launching nuclear weapons. Nausedas verdict: Russia will not stop, he says. It can only be stopped. But whos going to do the stopping? That question has resonated throughout Putins 24-year reign of malignance. Those Russians with an answer are either dead or in exile, trying to avoid liquidation. The Kremlin continues to strictly enforce Z Culture. Fighting Putin over social media is a troll fest. And lets face it: As we enter a third year of Putins Ukrainian onslaught, weve run out of words to describe the casual and caustic ghoulishness of his butchery, which Nauseda describes as genocidal. The annihilation of an ethnic group? Thats against the law. Alert the legally frazzled prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague and theyll quote Cicero: inter arma enim silent legesIn times of war, the law falls silent. So, however youd like to put flesh on the Putin phenomenonnow mostly guaranteed to last until 2030there is nothing new here. Insiders Are Secretly Working Against Putins Soviet Tactics If the current Russian presidential polls are reliableand even if they arent, the sheer size of the margin makes the numbers themselves unimportantPutin will grab between 70 percent and 80 percent of the rigged vote in a country thats never had a free or fair election. If President Joe Biden had a campaign staff half as sophisticated as those managing the Kremlin account he wouldnt be fluttering in the backwash of Putins winged monkey corps of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, ultra-right Dutchman Geert Wilders, fascist Marine Le Pen, and MAGA mob boss Donald Trump. There is a new Axis of Weasels ready to seize the world stage. Indeed, numerous NATO officers here speaking off-record voiced no surprise that Putins chief television propagandist Vladimir Solovyov recently persuaded millions of people that Trump and Putin, once respectively re-elected president, will jointly gift Hungary the Ukrainian Carpathians as soon as Kyiv falls under Russian control. Putins and his cronies remain stinking rich. The ballyhooed Magnitsky Act of 2012 and 2016, designed to sanction and freeze the funds of human rights offenders in Russia, was a flop, but Navalny won an Oscar in 2023 for Best Documentary. Ukraine is rationing guns and ammo, and the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community concludes: Moscow has successfully diverted most of its seaborne oil exports. The fiendish pattern of Putins Russia does not change. Its a corrupt and incompetent mockery of a political system, but thats what great rackets are made of. Libraries of books have been written on how Putin spent more than two decades assassinating his rivals at home and abroad with impunity. Film vaults are filled with footage of Wall Street and its global regulators allowing Kremlin quartermasters to execute blooded financial transactions on sanctioned world markets. Indeed, the U.S. Congressional Record contains volumes of testimony on Putins efforts to destabilize American elections, bribe officials and weaponize immigrants and other displaced people in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Imagine a Putin foreign policy strategy session; I do on a regular basis for training purposes, says a veteran CIA operative, who spent a decade mostly undercover in Russia. Deceive, disrupt, distract, disturb, divide and create distrust, suspicion and conspiracy theories. Sell vranyo; peddle the bullshit. The public buys it. And you dont have to be Russian to swallow the product. Nearly half of Americans believe the U.S. is spending too much money fighting Putin. Even Pope Francis is preaching that Ukraine should have the courage to raise the white flag. Carlos Galan, whos spent the past decade studying the Kremlins techniques of hybrid warfare and information manipulation at the University of Nebrija in Madrid, told NATOs top brass theyd better come to grips with the fact that the West has yet to find a way to beat Putin off the battlefield. Putin maintains hundreds and hundreds of domestic and global propaganda outlets, Galan explains. The number of these groups actually increases day by day. Putins propaganda operation is the Hydra of the 21st century, Galan adds, referring to the mythical multi-headed beast finally slaughtered by Hercules. Cut off one of its heads and two new heads grow back. The Hydra is poisonous and its not going to disappear. Stopping reelected Putin remains a heinously complicated endeavor and, as NATO commanders tell it, impossible without giving Ukraine inconceivable amounts of weapons to do the job for them. That, too, is nothing new. Putin will be back in the Kremlin on Monday morning, maintaining the madness that everything is right when its wrong. Galan says a lot of folks will be eating it up. 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. Rachel Reeves has ruled out a wealth tax, but Labour has refused to do the same for council tax revaluation - STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA WIRE Rachel Reeves advocated an overhaul of council tax bands, a move that could cost more than four million households an average of 1,200 a year, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose. In a pamphlet written before joining the Labour front bench, Ms Reeves, now the shadow chancellor, said that council tax was at the very least overdue a re-evaluation and revision of existing bands, which were set in 1991. Ms Reeves has been at pains to insist that Labour will not raise taxes, using an interview with The Telegraph last summer to rule out any version of a wealth tax if Labour forms the next government. But a council tax revaluation, which has also been previously advocated by Jim McMahon, now Sir Keir Starmers shadow local government minister, would be likely to result in tax increases for millions of households. Asked if the party would rule out a council tax revaluation, in a similar vein to Ms Reevess pledge not to introduce a wealth tax, a Labour spokesman simply said that it has no plans to introduce this in government. The spokesman declined to categorically rule out such a move. Review already under way in Wales Asked last year about introducing any form of wealth tax, Ms Reeves told The Telegraph: We wont be doing that. Its a denial. A council tax band revaluation is under way in Wales, where the Welsh Labour government says it wants to correct the current situation under which a higher share of tax is charged relatively to households living in lower value properties. David TC Davies, the Welsh Secretary, has said it would cause astronomical council tax hikes for his constituents in Monmouthshire. A revaluation of council tax bands across England - which would involve valuing every home in the country - could prove hugely controversial. People living in lower-priced homes would pay less after revaluation but there would be steep rises for those in higher-banded housing - TEAM JACKSON/ISTOCKPHOTO Similar plans were postponed by Tony Blair in 2005 after a 2003 revaluation in Wales led to tax rises for many households. The backlash prompted Labour to pledge in its 2010 manifesto not to hold a council tax revaluation in the next parliament. David Cameron dropped the plan altogether after coming to power in 2010, following estimates that it would have left more than seven million families in England paying an extra 320 a year or more. However, a national revaluation has been regularly presented to Conservative chancellors by Treasury officials since then, as a way to ease the tax burden on those in lower value homes. The plan has been rejected on the basis that it would lead to increases for millions. In a pamphlet published in 2018, while Ms Reeves chaired the Commons business committee, the future shadow chancellor wrote: Council tax, based on 1991 valuations, is at the very least long overdue a re-evaluation and revision of existing bands a power which could be devolved to local government to match local needs. We should also consider the case for its overhaul and replacement with a property tax, levied on property owners. Bands based on 1991 property prices Currently, council tax bands in England are based on the price each property would have sold for in 1991. In a report in 2020, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said properties in band H, the highest band, produced three times as much tax as those in band A, despite being worth at least eight times the value of band A homes. The IFS said council tax was both increasingly out of date and arbitrary, and highly regressive with respect to property values. The IFS modelled changes which could see 4.2 million households - 17 per cent of the total in England - losing an average of 1,230 a year, while up to 10 million households would gain more than 200 a year. In Feb 2020, Mr McMahon said: We should look back and recognise that there has been a collective failure on council tax revaluation and the need to modernise. Governments duck this because it is not popular, but we now have a system that is very unfair. A Labour spokesman said: The ideas in this pamphlet are not policy and will not feature in our manifesto. We have been clear that we want taxes to be lower for working people. Our plans to close tax loopholes and create a fairer tax system proved to be so common sense that the Tory government copied them in the Spring Budget. The only threat to the UK economy is five more years of Tory economic vandalism that has left working people worse off with higher bills, rising mortgages and the country in recession. 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 white-tailed eagle found dead in County Roscommon was shot The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Ireland is investigating the discovery of a dead white-tailed eagle near Cranberry Lough in County Roscommon. The NPWS confirmed the bird was shot. It is awaiting the results of forensic tests for more information. The two-year old female was released on the shores of Lough Derg in 2022 as part of a reintroduction programme. Satellite tags are attached to the chicks at birth to track their progress. Data from the satellite suggests the eagle died on March 11 or 12. Irish Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said he was devastated by news of the death "of one of our beloved white-tailed eagles". "These majestic birds have been part of a reintroduction project to restore their populations in Ireland and to think that one would be shot is unconscionable," he said. Mr Noonan appealed to anyone who has information to contact the NPWS or Gardai (Irish police). Large birds of prey Data from the eagle's tags showed that since her release, the bird travelled from the river Shannon estuary in Limerick, then headed north up through the Burren in County Clare before arriving in Donegal in mid-April 2023. In 2024, the eagle spent most of its time along the borders between Galway, Offaly and Roscommon before it died. White-tailed eagles are Ireland and Britain's largest birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 2.5m (8.2ft). They are known to play an important role in nature and balancing natural ecosystems. Last year, a police investigation was launched after two white-tailed eagles were found dead in County Antrim. The birds had no obvious signs of injury but suspicions were raised given the unlikely position where they were found, police said. REMER, MINN. - Along a lonely stretch of road inside the Chippewa National Forest, a stand of black ash trees is under attack. Discovered last fall, it signals the farthest and coldest known place a hungry forest menace has come in northern Minnesota. For now the infestation is helping University of Minnesota researchers study the emerald ash borer's ability to adapt to cold and whether milder winters will hasten its spread into the vast acreage of ash trees so prevalent in the north. Minnesota has almost a billion ash trees in forests and urban settings, the most of any state. The invasive beetle has been destroying green ash tree canopies across the southern half of the state for 15 years. Minneapolis has condemned about 16,000 trees since its discovery and another 12,000 infested trees will likely follow in the next five years. Duluth has removed and replaced more than half of its earliest known population of infested ash trees since 2016. The ash borer has been found in 50 of the state's 87 counties, including recent discoveries in Pine and Renville counties. But the Remer discovery has another distinction: it's the first time the ash borer has been found in one of Minnesota's national forests, 30 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. "It really signaled to us a new era of change that we are going to experience in our ash forests in northern Minnesota," said Rachael Dube, a regional forest health specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. State and tribal forestry and invasive species experts worry that north-central and northeastern Minnesota will be hardest hit, eventually wiping out hundreds of millions of black ash trees. Black ash trees thrive on wet landscapes and act as straws, drinking up groundwater. Without them, entire ecosystems will be altered as forestland morphs into wetlands, disrupting the habitat of birds and other wildlife the trees support. Tribes will lose bark for traditional practices like basket-making. Wild rice lakes both ecologically and culturally critical to Anishinaabe tribes will be threatened by rising waters. "There's a lot to worry about," said Rob Venette, director of the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center at the U and a Forest Service research biologist. Earlier this month, he spent time in the black ash stand next to Big Rice Lake south of Remer, encompassing a couple of square miles and likely infested for several years. He scraped the bark of trees that bore the tell-tale signs of ash borers: "blonded" wood and shallow holes from woodpeckers that eat the bug. He looked for their signature squiggle, a path they carve out as they feast on the inner bark, devastating the tree's pipeline of food to its roots. Venette captures the beetles in their winter larval stage and brings them back to his lab, where he tests their tolerance for cold. Typically, 90% of an emerald ash borer population will die when temperatures hit 30 below, Venette said. During the record-breaking cold of 2019, most in the Remer stand probably died. But those that remained have rebounded after several milder winters. The invasion north can be slowed. The brilliant green beetle flies short distances, but it's easily carried via firewood or other forms of food. Even in counties where it's already present, it's not everywhere, Venette said, so it's still important to report it to the agriculture department if you see it, and refrain from transporting wood. Stripping away the bark on an ash tree reveals a signature squiggle on an infested tree: the path the larvae, at right, take as they eat their way through the inner bark of the tree. This destroys the tree's circulatory system, eventually killing it. Hard to manage Jonathan Osthus of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture discovered the infested trees near Remer last fall. He was driving home from survey work farther north and took a route through "cabin country" to check for signs of ash borers. He easily spotted some, so he parked and went into the forest to collect larvae. With changes to USDA plant hardiness zones, that part of Cass County has warmer average minimum temperatures. Cold can affect mortality, he said, but the ash borer "is still going to be able to establish and get to tree-killing levels." The state agriculture department has released parasitoid wasps in other infested parts of the state, a natural enemy of the ash borer. It's seeking approval to do that in Remer. "The question still remains if it'll ever be able to provide enough control to help keep ash in the forest system in the long term," Osthus said. "But it's something we're trying and it's kind of our only option at that forest landscape level." It's harder to manage large swaths of forest than urban areas, where trees can easily be removed and replaced with a different species. Not all black ash are big enough to be logged, and in wet areas, equipment can't be brought in. Planting more diverse species of trees is another method. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been working to keep ash borers out of its expansive forestland since 2011, and has so far succeeded. It quarantines wood, regularly surveys its forests and injects trees with insecticide. But with the beetles' recent discovery just off the reservation in Cloquet, it's inevitable they will spread onto reservation land, said Kelsey Taylor, invasive species coordinator for the band. "The hope is it will come slowly," she said, giving other tree species that have been planted time to grow. The band has also collected black ash seed to preserve the species, because in cultural uses, no other tree can replace it, said Alex Mehne, forest manager for the band. Blue ash has potential, but it's hard to find, he said. Venette is hoping his research shows that northern Minnesota's shorter growing season keeps the bugs localized, having longer life cycles and killing trees more gradually. But if mild winters are the new normal, he said, "it's definitely going to continue to move north, and it will intensify." "There's a lot to worry about," says Rob Venette as he surveys an infested area near Remer, Minn. A short growing season helps keep ash borer in check; if mild winters are now the norm, he said, the march of the invasive beetles will intensify. House with a "for sale" sign in front of it A settlement in a case against US estate agents could mean a reduction in the cost of buying and selling houses. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and property companies were accused of artificially inflating sales commissions in a series of lawsuits. A settlement including $418m (328m) in damages was announced on Friday. The NAR agreed to lower commissions and make it easier for buyers to negotiate fees, moves which may eventually result in lower buying and selling costs. The settlement is expected to increase competition in the US housing market, where a 6% commission on the sale price is considered standard. At the median US house price of $417,700 (328,000), the standard commission works out to just over $25,000, a cost that is often passed on in whole or in part to the buyer. In November 2023, a federal jury in Missouri ordered the NAR and brokerage firms to pay $1.78bn (1.4bn). Under US anti-trust law, those damages could have been potentially tripled by a judge. That case eventually led to the settlement announced on Friday. The NAR, headquartered in Chicago, says around 1 million of its members are covered by the settlement, which is subject to final approval by a court. The association runs a property database called the multiple listing service, or MLS, and requires home sellers to offer a non-negotiable commission rate before their properties are included. Without that requirement, buyers will have more freedom to negotiate lower commission rates or flat-price fees on sales. The settlement also includes other provisions that have the potential to drive down transaction costs. "NAR has worked hard for years to resolve this litigation in a manner that benefits our members and American consumers," NAR interim chief executive Nykia Wright said in a statement. "It has always been our goal to preserve consumer choice and protect our members to the greatest extent possible. This settlement achieves both of those goals." Under the terms of the settlement, which will take effect in July, the NAR and property companies are not required to admit wrongdoing. Robert Braun, a Chicago-based lawyer representing homebuyers in two class-action cases against estate agents, called the "a big change from the old norms". "But whether this will actually change prices in the housing market remains to be seen," Mr Braun said in an email. The settlement did not resolve a number of other lawsuits against property companies or a potential federal investigation into the NAR. Estate agents in Canada also face similar legal action over buying and selling fees. We are united on this day, Emmanuel Macron said after meeting Olaf Scholz in Berlin, and determined never to let Russia win the war in Ukraine. The studied show of togetherness came after months of all-too public tensions between the two leaders, epitomised by the French president apparently blindsiding the German chancellor by declaring the West had not ruled out putting boots on the ground. Also present at Fridays meeting was Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister. Some joked that he was there to keep the peace. This is a serious moment. A new era is dawning, and well be there, Mr Macron said after the three men locked hands for the cameras. To support the Ukrainian people to the end is a strength for us, our peoples, our security and our Europe. Mr Macron, who has a fondness for disruptive grandstanding, is engaged in a power struggle with the more cautious Mr Scholz that is throwing a spanner in the Franco-German engine of European policymaking. At the heart of the battle is the French presidents sudden transformation from Ukraine dove to hawk. Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Donald Tusk at the Chancellery Office in Berlin - Stefan Boness/Shutterstock Mr Macrons comments about the possibility of sending European troops into Ukraine at a hastily-convened Paris summit in February represented an astonishing about-turn for a president who once warned against humiliating Moscow and insisted on keeping diplomatic channels with Putin open. To understand the reasons behind this unexpected volte-face, The Telegraph spoke to numerous sources in the Elysee and the Bundestag. They paint a picture of a leader desperate to be seen as the dominant power in Europe amid a shifting political landscape, both internationally and at home. Germany has repeatedly made it clear it does not think that France, the EUs major military power, is pulling its weight on weapons supplies a view reportedly shared by the US. When Mr Scholz gave a speech in February urging European allies to step up their insufficient efforts to supply Ukraine with crucial arms, it ruffled French feathers. Mr Macron responded by recalling Germanys initial derisory offer of helmets to Kyiv two years ago when the Ukraine war broke out. He has also highlighted French donations of long-range Scalp missiles and urged Mr Scholz to follow suit with its Taurus missiles, considered one of the Bundeswehrs most modern weapon systems. The German chancellor, who has a track record of dithering over arms to Kyiv, has repeatedly refused for fear of escalating the conflict, with the Bundestag this week voting down the third proposal so far this year. Berlin sources point out that Germany, unlike France, does not have nuclear weapons, making it more exposed to Russian retaliation. Whenever he is challenged over Taurus, Mr Scholz brings up the fact that Germany is the second largest donor of weapons after the US. It is true that Russias invasion has triggered a revolution in German defence policy. Mr Scholz announced an 85.5 billion modernisation of the long-neglected military shortly afterwards before ordering 35 American-made F-35 fighter jets worth more than 10 billion. Germany also spearheaded a European anti-missile shield project using US and Israeli technology, which Paris has pointedly not joined. Not only have such initiatives shown France up, they have also undermined Mr Macrons attempts for a buy European policy at the heart of the EUs defence strategy. Paris sees this as German trespassing on its turf. Berlin was breaking the gentlemans agreement that is the bedrock of the Franco-German engine, one source close to Mr Macron said. Simply put, Berlin takes the economic leadership in Europe, while Paris takes the strategic leadership. The frontiers are now blurred and there are attempts to intrude into each others domain, said the source. French and German sources both admit there are differences, but deny the relationship is irretrievably broken. As a result, Mr Macron was intent on reclaiming the European strategic leadership role on Ukraine, the source said, adding: We are in the midst of a veritable Franco-German duel. Macron is perfectly well aware of the power struggle with Scholz. To retake the initiative, Mr Macron carefully planned a bombshell announcement. At a summit in Paris on supporting Kyiv, he suggested that European nations could send troops into Ukraine, saying: There is no consensus today to send ground troops officially but ... nothing is ruled out. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that Russia cannot win this war. Elysee sources claim Mr Macron gave Mr Scholz two days warning of his intentions. That did not stop the exasperated chancellor feigning surprise, they said, and he wasted no time in ruling out boots on the ground in Paris before other leaders followed suit. It was a deeply unhelpful comment for an under-pressure leader of a country with a horror of militarism, Berlin sources said. The day after the Paris summit, Mr Scholz said the issue had been discussed, but the participants had agreed that there will be no ground troops, no soldiers on Ukrainian soil who are sent there by European states or Nato states. France was now isolated, an unimpressed German source said. French sources insist Mr Macron knew there was no consensus for his latest big idea. He was certainly aware of his closest allys opposition to blurring the long-held Nato red line on ground troops. But in a sign of the parlous relationship between Europes two most influential leaders, Mr Macron went ahead anyway. He has a taste for transgression, said a French source close to the president. Theres a price to pay for spelling out his vision, but he always hopes that the others will end up following him and that history will end up proving him right. Mr Macrons jostling isnt just about making a tilt for leadership within Europe but also to be seen as the regions leader on Ukraine globally, particularly ahead of a US election that could see the unpredictable, Nato-baiting Donald Trump return to the White House. Donald Trump has accused Nato of not pulling its weight - Mike Stewart/AP In February, the Republican presidential candidate said he would let Russia do whatever the hell it wanted to any nation not meeting its Nato defence spending targets. Republicans have already blocked more US aid to Kyiv in Congress at Mr Trumps urging. Mr Macron, an ardently Europhile centrist, is devoted to the concept of building the EUs strategic autonomy to ensure the bloc can punch its geopolitical weight independently of the US. He is saying that Europeans need to take their destiny back into their own hands, and if they need to send troops to safeguard their own destiny, they must be in a position to do so, said a Macron insider said. That is in stark contrast to Mr Scholz, who believes Europe should follow US leadership. He rarely misses an opportunity to highlight that Germany is the largest weapons donor to Ukraine after the US. On Wednesday, the chancellor noted in the Bundestag that Germany had sent 7 billion in aid to Ukraine this year, compared to Frances 3 billion. One thing both sides agree on the continent has to at the very least match US support to Ukraine to keep much-needed finance from Washington flowing to Kyiv amid a flailing counter-offensive and growing international war-weariness. Polls report that while most people are opposed to Putin, about 68 per cent oppose the idea of Western boots on the ground. The Ifop polling company says there is a progressive erosion of support for the Ukrainian cause. This is another reason why Mr Macron decided to shake things up. France and Europe needed a sursaut a mental leap from the cosy certainties of the old, dying era and into the harsh realities of the new. French sources said the situation on the ground in Ukraine was what finally convinced Mr Macron to go public over his boots on the ground talks. Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure in the relentless land war, with Russia making gains in the east. Mr Macrons Churchillian intervention was designed simultaneously to hearten the Ukrainians and stiffen European resolve. No one can now say France is fatigued with supporting Ukraine, one diplomatic source said. But the French president also fears that Russia will not be satisfied by conquering Ukraine, and that Europe would be sleepwalking into catastrophe if it allows the country to lose the war. French sources said he wanted to introduce strategic ambiguity into the stand-off with Russia. Far better to keep Putin guessing than let him believe Ukraine would be allowed to fall, he reasoned. The French leader no longer trusts Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky told French TV this week, adding It took some time, but the result is there. The Ukrainian president revealed he had thanked Mr Macron for his support, saying: He understands perfectly well that defending Ukraine means defending Europe and France. I think thats what he arrived at. As long as Ukraine holds out, the French army can stay on French territory. In a live televised address this week, Mr Macron told France Ukraine had to be supported now to prevent Putin being tempted to invade EU countries bordering Russia. German sources say Mr Macrons new combativeness and willingness to increase weapons shipments is a sign he is finally beginning to take the war seriously. There is another, more domestic concern that Mr Macron is trying to allay with his new stance. Marine Le Pens National Rally, a party with a history of admiring Putin, is on course to trounce the presidents centrists in the European Parliament election in June. Ms Le Pen, Mr Macrons rival in the 2022 presidential elections, hopes to use the victory as a springboard for her next tilt at the Elysee, when Mr Macron will reach his two-term limit. Gabriel Attal, the prime minister and Mr Macrons possible successor, recently accused the nationalist party of being Putins foot soldiers in Europe. Macron has long been attacked for his ambiguities towards Moscow, the source close to the president said. So three months before the European elections, he is offering a clear choice which is for or against Ukraine, even if it means pushing the boat out a long way. 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. Reform UK has struck its first election pact with Northern Irelands Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), a hardline party that opposes Rishi Sunaks Brexit deal. The TUV is led by Jim Allister, who got to know Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform, when the two were members of the European Parliament. Announcing the deal, at the TUV party conference in Co Antrim on Saturday, Mr Allister said: Like TUV, Reform UK speaks its mind, takes on the establishment and is driven by principle, not power. Our principles are neither optional nor for sale, but they are the stuff of conviction politics. We speak truth to power. We will formally endorse a joint platform by publicly signing a memorandum of understanding, and going forward we will announce agreed candidates from both parties across constituencies. Richard Tice, the Reform leader, and Ben Habib, his deputy a vocal critic of Mr Sunaks Windsor Framework spoke at the conference. Mr Tice ruled out any electoral pact with the Conservatives before an election the Tories are expected to lose to Labour, telling The Telegraph: Absolutely not! No deals with Tories. I have said this hundreds of times. Mr Habib told the conference that the only way to get back our country is by obliterating the Tory party. Nigel Farage and Jim Allister got to know each other while members of the European Parliament Mr Tice said he had mixed feelings about the pact, which could see Reform stand candidates against the DUP and other parties in Northern Ireland. We had hoped to stay out of party politics in Northern Ireland and instead to support all of political unionism. The DUPs decision to endorse the Windsor Framework and falsely claim the end of the Irish Sea border leaves us with no option, he said. Reform and the TUV have agreed on six principles, which include upholding and strengthening the Union, rejection of the Irish Sea border, a robust immigration system and completion of a full Brexit. Mr Allister was dubbed Norn Iron Nigel after he held the DUPs feet to the fire over the Irish Sea border in a similar way to how Ukip forced the Tories to promise the Brexit referendum. The DUP ended its two-year Stormont boycott over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland in February after winning some extra concessions from Mr Sunak. Mr Allister argues that the Windsor Framework has loosened Northern Irelands ties to the rest of the UK because the region continues to follow hundreds of EU laws to prevent the need for a hard land border with EU member Ireland. Instead, customs checks are carried out on some British goods and animals entering Northern Ireland to ensure that they meet EU rules. A critic of the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Allister is the TUVs sole member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. The party did not contest the 2019 general election but will campaign on a rejection of the Windsor Framework, which replaced the Northern Ireland Protocol, in a vote expected later this year. Mr Allister said the vote would be a roll call election for unionists who have not given up on the Union and accused the DUP of becoming protocol implementers. He attacked the DUP for joining a power-sharing administration, which has a Sinn Fein First Minister for the first time in Northern Irelands history. A roll call of those who repudiate a partitioning border in the Irish Sea. A roll call of democrats who reject being governed by foreign laws we dont make and cant change, and a roll call of unionists who refuse to take the knee to Sinn Fein or EU rule, he said. Together we can do it. Let the battle begin! 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. OAKLAND (KTXL) J.D. Davis has a new team, and it is not that far away from his most recent team. Davis has reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Oakland As less than one week after being released by the San Francisco Giants. Davis, who is from Elk Grove, is an eight-year MLB veteran. In 2023, his second season in San Francisco, he hit .248 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI. The deal is reportedly for one year, $2.5 million. Download the FOX40 App For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. Senator Rand Paul a staunch opponent of the recent House bill that could result in TikTok vanishing from US app stores battled with Fox News Host Brian Kilmeade over the details of the legislation. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applicants Act was passed with overwhelming support in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. If signed into law it will give ByteDance 180 days to divest from TikTok by selling 80 per cent of their shares to an American company, or otherwise face removal from US app stores. When Kilmeade stated that TikTok is owned by ByteDance, which he claimed is owned by China, the Republican pushed back. No, its not. See, thats a lie, the Senator from Kentucky said. Youre defaming the company. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Paul expressed his disdain for the bill. He called it an unrealistic and narrow path for divestment, that threatens the very core of American digital innovation and free expression. When Kilmeade continued to argue with the Senator, he emphasized that TikTok is owned privately. Youve just told a lie, Brian, Mr Paul continued. You cant say on TV something that is a lie about a company. It is unclear if the bill will now make it through the Democratically controlled Senate, as it has faced backlash from both sides of the aisle. Democrats like Representative Ilhan Omar and Representative Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, both voted no, while Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene joined. Meanwhile, proponents of the bill argue it is essential for protecting national security. However, if the bill does pass the Senate, Joe Biden has said he will sign it into law. As Dr Aynne Kokas, a professor at the University of Virginia, told The Independent last week, the Chinese government may retaliate through trade if the bill becomes law. We could see more bellicose rhetoric or greater kind of trade pressures that are placed on the US by China, Dr Kokas said on Wednesday. At an early St. Patricks Day event with the Irish prime minister and officials including House Speaker Mike Johnson, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass the foreign aid package that would provide $95 billion for U.S. allies, including Ukraine and Israel. I urge you to send me the national security bill now, Biden said, referring to the legislation that has been passed by the Senate but held up in the House by Johnson. The bill includes funding for Ukraine and Israel and maybe equally important, humanitarian assistance to Gaza. They badly, badly need it. And it sends a clear message that America stands up for freedom and we bow down to no one, to no one in the world. Biden also called on lawmakers to sustain the fight against Russian aggression. I continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin. Hes a thug, he said, drawing a round of applause from the attendees, including Johnson. Leo Varadkar, Irelands taoiseach, or prime minister, echoed Bidens call for aid. Ukraine must not fall, and together we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes, he said. Although Ireland maintains a policy of neutrality and is not a member of NATO, it has provided support for Ukraine, including more than $200 million in humanitarian assistance. Last fall, Reada Cronin, a member of the Dail Eireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, explained the countrys stance on Ukraine, comparing it to the historical relationship between Ireland and the U.K. While we are militarily neutral, Ireland is fully supportive of Ukraine and its right to defend itself, she told Al Jazeera. We had a belligerent neighbor and we can see a lot of commonalities with Ukraine. We want to try to help them as much as we can while maintaining our neutrality. A bleak outlook: U.S. officials are warning that if Congress fails to provide more aid for Ukraine quickly, the results could be dire, ranging from enormous Ukrainian casualties to a total breakdown in the countrys defensive lines amid a Russian onslaught. This doesnt go well for Ukraine over time without a supplemental, and it could lead to potential collapse, a senior U.S. official told The Washington Post. The lack of anti-aircraft weapons is making the daily Russian drone and missile attacks more deadly, and a shortage of artillery shells is forcing Ukrainian troops to ration, officials say. Russia possesses an enormous advantage when it comes to the production of military basics like artillery shells, an imbalance exacerbated by the halt of American assistance and the failure of European allies to deliver some of the supplies they pledged to provide this year. Earlier this week, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee that Ukraine is already starting to lose some of the gains it has made against Russian forces. Ukraine's retreat from Avdiivka and their struggle to stave off further territorial losses in the past few weeks have exposed the erosion of Ukraine's military capabilities with the declining availability of external military aid, she told lawmakers. Without that assistance, it is hard to imagine how Ukraine will be able to maintain the extremely hard-fought advances it has made against the Russians. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Transportation authorities have canceled a controversial project after an Environmental Impact Report found that there would be "significant" consequences. Streetsblog LA reported on Feb. 23 that Metro and Caltrans walked back their plans to build a 2,000-foot flyover offramp from below 28th Street to Figueroa Street near downtown Los Angeles. The 110 Adams Terminus Improvement Project, an iteration of which had been proposed decades ago, had received pushback from a number of organizations, including the Los Angeles Conservancy. In 2015, the conservancy argued that noise and visual pollution would negatively impact the area and the experience at the historic St. John's Cathedral. Additionally, the MyFigueroa project, a $20 million initiative completed in 2018, was focused on creating a more walkable and bikeable corridor. In 2018, the year MyFigueroa was ultimately completed, a lawsuit was filed against Caltrans and the Metro (as a party of interest) by the West Adams Heritage Association, the Adams Dockweiler Heritage Organizing Committee, and Friends of St. John's Cathedral. "Our overarching arguments were that the flyover would have adverse impacts on the surrounding historic resources that it would divide and severely impact the existing University Park community, would conflict with the city's MyFigueroa Plan, and would also have aesthetic, traffic, [planet-warming pollution], and urban decay impacts," Amy Minteer, the plaintiffs' attorney, said of the case, as reported by Streetblogs LA. The lawsuit led to a reexamination of the offramp project, with Caltrans and the Metro being required to conduct the Environmental Impact Report. The 110 offramp in L.A. is yet another example of a major highway project being scrapped. In 2022, the Colorado Department of Transportation halted its plans to expand Interstate 25, instead investing the money in public transit a system that many Americans would like to see built out across the country. Even though the United States is notoriously car-dependent, a poll by Hattaway Communications revealed that more than 80% of respondents are ready to turn the page on highway expansion initiatives as the main solution to traffic congestion, with bike lanes and sidewalks receiving interest along with public transport. Cleaner air would be the result. Each year, gas-guzzling vehicles produce thousands of pounds of pollution linked to health concerns like asthma, and people in neighborhoods with heavy traffic are disproportionately impacted. "It took years of organizing, reaching out, getting expert opinion, and coordinating a campaign against a terrible idea that ought not to have gained traction," West Adams Heritage Association Vice President Jean Frost told Streetsblog LA of the decision to cancel the offramp. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Hungary has sent a document to the EU member states criticizing Ukraine's policies on national minorities, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on March 15, citing a Hungarian statement they had obtained. Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority concentrated in southwestern Ukraine, an accusation that the Ukrainian leadership denies. Much of these disputes center around Ukraine's language laws that require at least 70% of education above fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian. While Budapest has called this measure discriminatory toward the Hungarian minority, Kyiv retorted that it only aims to ensure that every Ukrainian citizen has sufficient knowledge of the official language. Hungary has formulated an 11-point request to Ukraine regarding the rights of national minorities, which included the restoration of the status of a national school, the ability to take a high school diploma in Hungarian, and the ability to use Hungarian in public life. In the document reviewed by RFE/RL, Budapest demanded the restoration of the rights its minority had before 2015, noting that the protection of national minorities' rights is one of the priorities mentioned in the negotiating framework for Ukraine's potential accession to the EU. Apart from the language rights, Hungary also called for the possibility of political representation at the regional and national levels, according to the document. There are active political parties in Ukraine advocating for the interests of the Hungarian minority, represented on the regional and municipal levels. The Party of Hungarians of Ukraine (KMKSZ), an ally of Hungary's ruling party Fidesz, holds seats in the Zakarpattia Oblast council. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us "Despite previous promises, the needs of the Hungarian community representatives in Ukraine were ignored. For example, in the case of subjects determination that should be taught in Ukrainian in schools of the Hungarian minority," the statement reads, adding that 20,000 pupils are currently studying in Ukraine with Hungarian as the language of instruction. Budapest alleged in the document that the mandatory 10% ratio that national minorities must reach among the local population to claim linguistic rights was "unjustified," as the population ratio in the region had changed after Ukraines administrative reforms. Hungary also insisted on its own delegate in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, RFE/RL reported. Kyiv has not publicly responded to the document. The news of Hungarys document criticizing Ukraine's policies on national minorities was spread ahead of a bilateral meeting between the representatives of the Ukrainian and Hungarian governments. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, announced it on March 14 without specifying the date. The last face-to-face talks between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, and Yermak were held in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia Oblast, on Jan. 29. Disputes over the minorities' rights have long complicated the relationship between Ukraine and Hungary, as Budapest has often used the issue to obstruct Kyiv's EU aspirations. The tensions escalated after the outbreak of the full-scale war, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban took a distinctly amicable stance toward Russia, criticizing allied sanctions and aid for Ukraine. Read also: Orban: Trump will stop funding Ukraine if elected Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Since war broke out in Gaza conditions for Palestinian detainees have deteriorated dramatically, say rights groups (-) In the shadow of the war raging in Gaza, record numbers of Palestinian detainees are filling Israeli prisons, where they face "systemic abuse" and torture, rights advocates warn, calling for international action. Members of several Israeli NGOs travelled to Geneva this week to raise concerns before the United Nations about a major "crisis" inside the country's prisons. "We are extremely, extremely concerned," said Tal Steiner, the executive director of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI). "What we're looking at is a crisis," she told AFP. She said nine people had allegedly died behind bars since October 7, according to Israeli sources. And "there are almost 10,000 Palestinians in Israeli custody right now... a 200-percent increase from any normal year". While the UN and others have long raised concerns about conditions for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, Steiner said the situation had worsened dramatically since war erupted in Gaza. The conflict began on October 7 after an unprecedented attack by Hamas resulting in about 1,160 deaths inside Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official figures. The militants also seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages. Israel believes about 130 of them remain in Gaza, including 32 believed to have died. Israel's offensive inside Gaza has since killed more than 31,500 people, mainly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. - 'Widespread and systemic' - "During the military onslaught on Gaza, there's been a crisis within Israeli detention facilities and prisons that has been really left ignored," said Miriam Azem of the Adalah legal centre. The centre is dedicated to protecting the rights of Israel's Palestinian citizens. Her organisation had managed to document "19 clear cases" of torture within the Israeli prison system just since October 7, including sexual violence, she told AFP. "We're seeing really widespread and systemic use of many, many tools in order to inflict torture and ill-treatment on Palestinians." This crisis, she said, "requires the immediate intervention of the international community". Steiner agreed, warning that this was "an ongoing crisis. "People are (suffering) in detention right now... An urgent intervention is very much needed." The Israeli Prison Service told AFP: "All prisoners are detained according to the law." The service was "not aware of the claims", against it, a spokesperson said, but stressed that any complaints filed by detainees "will be fully examined and addressed by official authorities". The NGOs also voiced alarm at reported conditions inside the military camps holding those detained inside Gaza. At least 27 Palestinians have reportedly died in such camps since October, Steiner said, adding that this was "unprecedented and extremely severe". There was no access to the camps, nor had her organisation, or foreign journalists, been permitted to enter Gaza to speak with those released, she said. But reports relying on testimony from former camp inmates suggest that detainees are often held "in open-air cages", where "they are handcuffed and blindfolded 24 hours a day". Prisoners reportedly had to sleep on the floor of the cages in the cold, were beaten, and deprived of medical care, she added. - Unlawful combatants - The Israeli army said detainees are questioned in the facilities operating since the October 7 attack and those "found to be unrelated to terrorist activity are released back to the Gaza Strip". Some of the detainees who died had injuries or complex medical conditions, it added, saying each death was investigated by the Military Advocate General's Corps. "At the end of the investigations, their findings will be forwarded to the Military Prosecution's Office," the army said. While there are no official numbers, NGOs estimate that around 1,000 people are currently detained in the camps. Another 600 people from Gaza arrested on Israeli soil on October 7 are being held in the Israeli prison system. Steiner pointed out that all those detained in Gaza, including children and reportedly even an 82-year-old woman, were being held under Israel's unlawful combatants law. That law denies protections typically granted to detainees and prisoners of war. "The law in its current form is unconstitutional," she said. Steiner and Azem, both Israeli nationals, said defending Palestinians' rights in Israel had become increasingly difficult since October 7, and that they had faced threats and verbal abuse. "It's not an easy place to be," Steiner said. The trauma caused by Hamas's attack and the frantic concern over the fate of the hostages is understandable, she said, but "that does not give you an excuse to torture". "This is not just the question of us versus them. This is us versus us," Steiner said. "If Israel can prove that it holds even the worst of its enemies in humane conditions, that will be a triumph." nl/imm/bp NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) As the search for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain continues, his family is still desperately awaiting answers. Friday, March 15 marked one week since the 22-year-old was last seen by his friends after being kicked out of Luke Bryans bar on Broadway. He was in Nashville for a fraternity trip, but Strains cousin Jake Bradley said theres more to him than this picture of a college kid having fun. TIMELINE: The disappearance of Missouri student Riley Strain, what we know so far Yeah, he likes to have fun with his buddies and all that, Bradley said. Thats not if you saw him outside of that, his love and his care and his kindness were of a five-year-old boy that loved every toy he ever had, you know? According to Bradley, Strain FaceTimed his mother around 7:30 p.m. the night of his disappearance just to tell her, Hey, mom Im having a good time, before she went to bed. I only know a handful of people that do that, Bradley said. (Courtesy: Family of Riley Strain) Strains close relationship with Bradleys 2-year-old son is also a demonstration of what his family described as his fun-loving personality. Every time he saw the toddler, Bradley said Strain would bring him a gift. Riley made it a goal for my son to be his best friend, Bradley said. That doesnt happen. Thats not the kind of kid thats out partying with his friends and he disappears. Hes just not that kind of person. Why didnt somebody help?: Parents want change after concerning video of missing University of Missouri student released As the days continue to compile with still no signs of Strain, his father, Ryan Gilbert, said, things are starting to feel more intense. He and other family members have been going through nearly every scenario that could come to mind. Gilbert said theres still some frustration in wondering why none of Strains friends were with him after he was kicked out of Lukes 32 Bridge on Friday, March 8. But it doesnt get us to finding Riley and thats where were focused right now, Bradley said. The family was contacted by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Friday morning as the agency continued its separate investigation to determine whether Strain was overserved at the bar. In a statement released that same day, TC Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Lukes 32 Bridge, said records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters. Security reportedly escorted him out of the front of the building around 9:35 p.m. and his friends did not come with him. VIDEO: Retracing Riley Strains steps in downtown Nashville As far as the search, Bradley said they are still trying to get as much video footage as possible from the 100-yard circle where Strain was last seen on surveillance cameras. Strains last phone ping was near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street. A sizeable group of friends and family have been assisting authorities in their search along the Cumberland River, and Bradley said several people have continued to reach out with tips and other bits of information that could be helpful. (Courtesy: Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop) Were not exaggerating when we say each of us probably, I know my phone, I bet I get 20 different numbers or messenger messages an hour, Bradley said. Its a lot to take in and go through, but right now its all weve got, Gilbert added. Riley Strain Continuing Coverage | The latest in the search for the missing Missouri student With a number of people passing by in the videos of Strain released so far, his family believes there likely is someone who saw something important. They are continuing to ask anyone with information to come forward. Weve got to find an answer and weve got to find him somehow, someway. Theres an answer, right? Bradley said. Theres an answer somewhere, and as family, weve got to have it and were going to get it someway. Strain is 6-feet, 5-inches tall, with a slender build, blonde hair, and blue eyes. If you see Strain or have any information about where he may be, you are asked to call the MNPD at 615-862-8600. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. W. T. Casstevens made a career out of the job opportunities produced by new technology. In his case, it was cars. Early automobiles had a reputation for breaking down on rough, often unpaved, roads. Casstevens started his career as a streetcar conductor, but became an automobile mechanic during the early years of the automobile industry. He then switched to selling used cars. Many of the automobiles he bought were junkers, so Casstevens decided that turning his business at 508 North Main into an auto parts salvage yard would be more profitable. He boasted that, We tear em up and sell the pieces. He also opened a gas station, another necessity for travelers. W. T. Casstevens, 1934. Randy Casstevens, remembers his great uncle as a dapper man who wore a diamond pinkie ring and was a professional gambler. He bought and sold large pieces of land and always entertained new business opportunities. For a time, W. T. and his wife Euzella lived on Park Place in Berkeley, just south of downtown Fort Worth, but later settled around other family members on Casstevens Street in Westworth Village, west of downtown. Transcontinental highway comes through Fort Worth During the late teens, planners decided to run the nations first all-weather, transcontinental highway through Fort Worth. It was named for Alabama senator John H. Bankhead. The Bankhead Highway was also designated as Texas Highway No. 1 within the state. The Bankhead name was used until 1939, when much of the route was designated as U. S. Highway 80. Rather than build an all-new highway, the Bankhead sought to link stretches of existing roadway with sections of new construction. The early Bankhead route ran along Vickery Boulevard, but it later switched to one which went down West Seventh and along Camp Bowie Boulevard past the city limits and on to Weatherford and Mineral Wells. New construction was needed just west of the Fort Worth city limits, so Camp Bowie was extended in 1930. Roadside amenities grow with auto travel Travelers could now take long-distance car trips. In addition to taking care of their automobiles, they needed a place to sleep and eat, and Casstevens was happy address those needs. Early tourist camps were often literally just that camping sites. Thus, the name. But travelers wanted better accommodations than camping offered. Tourist camps or courts soon offered sleeping rooms that looked very different from downtown hotels. They were usually one-story buildings with a place to park the car near the room. They gave the traveler a haven of comfort and rest suitable for a short stay. Casstevens wasnt the first to put a tourist camp along the Bankhead route, but he had one of the earliest lodgings on the west side of the city limits. One of the first tourist camps in town was the AA Tourist Camp at 2136 West Seventh St. (west end of the Seventh street bridge), which opened in mid-1927. Casstevens preferred a location he already owned his farm just outside of the western city limits, which had electrical service and a water well. He opened Cottage City by December of 1927, and the water tank was a landmark on the almost empty horizon. His 1929 postcard, printed in economical black ink, shows Cottage Citys location along the Bankhead with Fort Worth smokestacks (which then suggested prosperity as opposed to pollution) in the background. Cottage City was a series of bungalow cottages with a restaurant and gas station. It was located in what is now the 6000 block of Camp Bowie Boulevard on the south side of the street roughly where the Exxon gas station next to the Ridglea Theater now stands. A bit closer to town, at 5821 Camp Bowie Blvd., the Fort Worth Tourist Lodge run by Carl McReynolds was completed in 1930. McReynolds finances were strained, and he did not get his operation established before the Great Depression hit. By 1933 he was asking potential buyers to, make [him] an offer. Two slightly later tourist courts (the general name evolved from camp to court) in this area included Rockaway Courts & Cafe (5900 Camp Bowie) and the Hatch Brothers Tourist Court (5800 Camp Bowie). Fort Worth Tourist Lodge. This trick postcard from the 1930s showed either a smiling or frowning face depending on whether the person stayed at the lodge. State Highway 10 was a short-lived designation that frequently changed routes in Texas. Rockaway Courts Cafe, at 5900 Camp Bowie Blvd., offered gasoline, fried chicken, and a room for the night through the mid-1960s. After being open for a few years during the 1930s, its name was changed to Rockway Court. A 1930 photograph that shows Camp Bowie Boulevard looking west includes three of the tourist lodges and the boulevard under construction. This was a part of Camp Bowie outside the city limits and past where the streetcar ran to Arlington Heights. The Highway Department paved this section of the highway with brick in 1930. It was heralded as a Gateway to West Texas. Construction work extending Camp Bowie Boulevard west of the Fort Worth city limits in 1930. Both the Fort Worth Tourist Lodge (near left) and Cottage City (left in the background, with tank on tall framework) are visible, as is the Rockaway Courts & Cafe on the right. Tourist lodges become temporary homes As the Great Depression deepened, families traveling west became economic migrants rather than travelers. Sometimes, when travelers ran out of money, they plopped down in a tourist court and looked for work. Cottage City became Fort Worths official housing place for transient families between 1933 and 1937. There were also separate facilities at other locations in town for single men, women, and Black people. Men were sent to work projects, while educational courses were offered for women and children. The tenant mix changed again once World War II started. Most were employed in the defense industry, but all were longer term residents. Rationing made long distance travel difficult unless it was for war work. By the wars end, older tourist courts were being eclipsed by the latest thing in travel lodging motels. Highway 80 (which followed the Bankhead route in this part of town, but took a different path elsewhere) collected a dazzling array of u-shaped courtyard motels with a swimming pool and fantastic neon signs. Many still remain, though their glory days have passed. Casstevens remodeled and expanded Cottage City over the years and eventually changed its name to Casstevens Hotel and Courts. Many occupants were long term tenants seeking an affordable place to live. Casstevens Hotel survived the 1954 explosion of a hot water heater, which rocketed through an exterior wall, but it didnt outlive the expansion of Ridglea with its juggernaut of commercial development along Camp Bowie and surrounding residences. Note: Special thanks are due to Dan L. Smith and Marcel Quimby for their work on the Bankhead Highway history. Carol Roark is an archivist, historian, and author with a special interest in architectural and photographic history who has written several books on Fort Worth history. Russian forces struck 14 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast in 69 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on March 15. At least 378 explosions were reported in the region over the past 24 hours. The communities of Khotin, Myropillia, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Shalyhyne, Vorozhba, Trostianets, Konotop, Svesa, and Znob-Novhorodske were targeted. Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, grenade launcher, tank, drone attacks. Drones also dropped explosives onto two of the communities. Several communities saw mines dropped and the city of Konotop, located about 129 kilometres from the regional capital of Sumy, was targeted by missiles. There were no details on damages to civilian infrastructure or casualties at the time of the publication. The town of Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of about 4,000, experienced the bulk of the attacks with 208 explosions reported in the area. The community is located directly on the Ukraine-Russia border. In recent weeks, Russian assaults on Sumy Oblast have escalated in their destructive impact. During the early hours of March 6, a drone strike launched by Russian forces in Sumy resulted in four injured individuals and inflicted damage on numerous residences, schools, and medical facilities. Another assault on March 7 claimed the lives of two people and left 26 others wounded, with six civilians requiring hospitalization. Read also: Russian anti-Kremlin militia break into Russia, claim to occupy villages Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia is using the issue of prisoner exchange to undermine the situation in Ukraine, telling relatives that it is allegedly ready to return the soldiers, while Kyiv is blocking the process, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported on Telegram on March 16. The Russians are thus trying to undermine the social and political situation in the country. Read also: Red Cross still has no access to Ukrainian prisoners in Russia, Lubynets says They are persuading parents and relatives of prisoners of war to come out to protests, as well as to block streets and administrative buildings, allegedly to influence Ukraine's decision to conduct exchanges. "However, Ukraine has never stopped the exchange process!" said the commissioner. Lubinets met earlier in Chernivtsi with relatives of prisoners of war who went missing under special circumstances and worked in military units in Chernivtsi Oblast, news outlet Informator reports. Read also: Ukrainian prisoners of war tortured in Russia - UN report The Ukrainian official also spoke about his meeting with Russian Ombudsperson Tatiana Moskalkova. "At all three meetings, I handed over the lists and raised the issue of the return of all prisoners of war held on the territory of the Russian Federation," said Lubinets. I have repeatedly initiated large exchanges, including being the initiator of all-for-all exchanges. It was only because of the unwillingness of the Russian side to do so that we did not conduct such exchanges. The last prisoner swap took place on Feb. 8. Ukraine returned 49 soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine, 25 border guards, and 26 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including 11 territorial defense fighters. Read also: Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner Lubinets reveals struggles in prisoner exchanges with Russia The ombudsman said earlier that 2,800 bodies and fragments of Ukrainian soldiers had been identified in Ukraine. Russia has not yet provided Ukraine with official lists of allegedly killed prisoners of war during the crash of the IL-76 military transport aircraft in Belgorod Oblast. 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 UK has reiterated that Russia's organisation of voting in the sham presidential election in the occupied territories of Ukraine is illegal. Source: a statement by the UK Foreign Office, reported by European Pravda Quote: "Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. These areas are a part of Ukraine." Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. These areas are a part of Ukraine.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/gXrh6AX3Yb Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 16, 2024 Background: On Friday, the United States condemned Russia's organisation of sham elections in occupied territories. Almost 60 UN countries also expressed their condemnation in a joint statement. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, sarcastically congratulated Putin on his "victory in the elections", stressing that this process cannot be considered a democratic expression of will. Support UP or become our patron! Russia says it killed large numbers of Ukrainian soldiers with a destructive so-called vacuum bomb in a claim Ukraine swiftly called nonsense. The deputy chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces told Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a meeting that up to 300 soldiers were killed as a result of an accurate strike by an aerial munition, Russias Defense Ministry said on Saturday. The spokesperson of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, told CNN the claims were absolute nonsense and propaganda as well as Russian information about killing 1500 Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk and Belgorod regions yesterday. The spokesperson of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, told CNN the claims were absolute nonsense and propaganda. CNN cannot independently verify the incident. Colonel General Alexei Kim did not indicate where the strike took place but described the location of the strike as the deployment point of the Kraken nationalist formation, according to the ministry, referring to a special unit of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence. Kim said a volumetric detonation bomb was used in the airstrike, RIA Novosti reported Saturday. Volumetric weapons are also known as vacuum bombs, thermobaric weapons or fuel-air explosives. The destruction caused by a thermobaric weapon is caused by the blast wave it creates and also the vacuum resulting from the fuel-air mixture sucking in oxygen to sustain the detonation, according to the Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. The force of such a blast is enough to collapse buildings and rupture organs. Walls or even caves dont provide protection, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Details of the Russian airstrike emerged during a meeting at the headquarters of the Joint Group of Forces, where Shoigu heard reports from commanders on the current situation in the zone of the special military operation, the ministry said, Russias phrase for its war in Ukraine. Kim also did not mention when the strike was carried out but noted that over the past week alone, as a result of effective work of reconnaissance and strike systems, three American Patriot complexes, a Vampire multiple rocket launcher, more than 10 foreign-made artillery systems and fuel and ammunition depots were destroyed, according to the ministry. Kim also told Shoigu during the meeting that Ukraine is suffering significant losses in both equipment and manpower as a result of the use of high-precision weapons and strike drones, the ministry said. This story has been updated with new developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Russia has shut schools and shopping centres in the border region of Belgorod as it faces an uptick in attacks from Ukrainian forces which it says are designed to disrupt the ongoing presidential election. Two people were killed and three injured in a Ukrainian missile strike this morning, the regional governor said, prompting the closures across the city. Earlier on Saturday, the governor said that five people, including one child, had been injured in a drone strike on a car that was travelling close to the Ukrainian border. Videos showed fires blazing and air raid sirens ringing out in Belgorods deserted streets. The Russian defence ministry on Saturday also said that it had thwarted more Ukrainian attacks on the Belgorod border region. Attacks were repelled and attempts to infiltrate into the territory of the Russian Federation by Ukrainian militant sabotage and reconnaissance groups...were foiled, the ministry claimed in a statement. The uptick in attacks come as Russians are heading to the polls in a second day of elections in which President Vladimir Putin is all but guaranteed to secure his 24-year-rule until at least 2030. The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported. Follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section. 04:59 PM GMT Todays live blog is now closed Thats all for today. Thanks for following along. Here is a summary of the day: Russia has shut schools and shopping centres in the border region of Belgorod as it faces an uptick in attacks from Ukrainian forces which it says are designed to disrupt the ongoing presidential election. Two people were killed and three injured in a Ukrainian missile strike this morning, the regional governor said, prompting the closures across the city. Earlier on Saturday, the governor said that five people, including one child, had been injured in a drone strike on a car that was travelling close to the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian drones this morning struck two Russian oil refineries, causing a fire at one that took hours to extinguish. Some 500 miles east of Ukraine, the incident marked the latest long-range drone attack on Russian refineries which have become near-daily incidents. Azarov said workers at both plants had been evacuated and there were no casualties. Overall turnout - an important indicator for Putin as he attempts to demonstrate the whole country is behind him - rose above 50% on the second day of voting in the presidential election. The head of the electoral commission, Ella Pamfilova, said there had so far been 20 incidents of people trying to destroy voting sheets by pouring various liquids into ballot boxes, as well as eight cases of attempted arson and a smoke bomb. The head of an independent vote-monitoring group that Russia has labelled a foreign agent says the presidential election is the least transparent the country has seen. Ukraine is running so low on ammunition that it will run out of air defence missiles to defend its cities by the end of the month, according to reports. Supplies of missiles defending cities such as Odesa - where 20 people were killed on Friday - are dwindling fast, according to Ukrainian sources quoted by The Washington Post. Russias governing party has been hit by a cyber attack as the countrys presidential elections, in which Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win, heads into a second day. United Russia said it was facing a widespread denial of service attack - a form of cyberattack that snarls internet use - against its online presence, and had suspended non-essential services to repel the attack. Europe should avoid grand statements and contradictions but rather have a clear and unified strategy against Russia with regards to its war in Ukraine, Italys defence minister said, adding that Rome would never send troops to the conflict zone. There has been a record growth in the number of Russian men ages 31 to 59 with disabilities, the UK defence ministry said in its daily intelligence briefing. The increase in the number of men with disabilities was most likely due to the growth in military invalids, the MoD said. 04:43 PM GMT Pictured: Ukraines training exercises in Chernobyl 120th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Battalion 120) of Ukraine conduct training exercises near the Belarus border in Chernobyl, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine on March 16, 2024. - Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto/Anadolu via Getty Images 120th Independent Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces (Battalion 120) of Ukraine conduct training exercises near the Belarus border in Chernobyl, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine on March 16, 2024 - Photo by Gian Marco Benedetto/Anadolu via Getty Images 04:40 PM GMT Russia accuses Ukraine of dropping shell on polling station Russia has accused Ukraine of dropping a shell from a drone onto a polling station in the Russian-controlled region of Zaporizhzhia. In addition, the Russian foreign ministry has accused Kyiv of increasing terrorist activities during the Russian presidential election to attract more aid and weapons from the West. It is obvious that the corrupt regime in Kyiv has intensified its terrorist activities in connection with the ongoing presidential elections in Russia in order to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 04:10 PM GMT The latest from the prisoners of war vigil A young girl, whose family member is a Ukrainian prisoner of war attends a vigil in Maidan Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday March 16, 2024. - AP Photo/Tony Hicks Relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia protest to demand information about their situation at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti square on March 16, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. - Photo by Adri Salido/Getty Images Relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia protest to demand information about their situation at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti square on March 16, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. - Photo by Adri Salido/Getty Images Relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia protest to demand information about their situation at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti square on March 16, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. - Photo by Adri Salido/Getty Images 03:50 PM GMT Tycoon Deripaska says Western firms shouldnt be pressured to sell Russian assets Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska has said that Western investors should not be pressured to sell their Russian assets, a practice he said was dishonest, short-sighted and harmful to the Russian and global economies. Pushing foreign companies to sell their Russian assets is dishonest, shortsighted and extremely harmful to the economy not only the global economy, but also to Russias, Deripaska was quoted saying by the Russian edition of Forbes magazine, remarks confirmed as accurate by a spokesman for Deripaska. It is important that the few Western investors who still work in Russia remain owners of their enterprises and be able to survive these difficult times. Some Western investors who have remained in Russia say they have come under pressure to sell up, being offered bargain-basement prices and threatened with effective expropriation. In the wartime economy of Russia, some businessmen have become billionaires by acquiring the prime assets of Western companies at extremely discounted prices. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Deripaska himself has been sanctioned by Britain for his alleged ties to Putin. 03:22 PM GMT Moscow says it thwarted Kyivs 15 rocket attack on Belgorod Russia shot down 15 rockets over Belgorod around 20 minutes ago, according to Moscows ministry of defence. The statement said that they used the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch system. Ukrainian cross-border strikes have become part of daily life in Belgorod recently. Over the past day three people were killed. 03:10 PM GMT Russian strikes on Kherson injured three, Ukrainian officials say Russian attacks on the Kherson Oblast this afternoon injured three civilians, local authorities reported. A 71-year-old man was injured in a Russian drone attack against the city of Beryslav. Officials said he was hospitalised with a blast injury and a leg wound. A 27-year-old woman was also injured in a drone strike in the city. She suffered a blast injury, a shoulder wound, and a contusion. The city of Antonivka also came under an attack, officials said, causing an 83-year-old woman to be hospitalised. Ukraine liberated Kherson in the autumn 2022 counteroffensive and pushed Russian troops to the east bank of the Dnipro, which they continue to fire across. 02:59 PM GMT Ukraine was behind attack on oil refineries, source says Ukraines SBU security service was behind the attack on three oil refineries overnight. The news comes from Reuters news agency, which cites a Ukrainian source, who said: The SBU continues to implement its strategy to undermine the economic potential of the Russian Federation, which allows it to wage war in Ukraine. He said the attacks had results but did not give further details. 02:50 PM GMT National Resistance Center: Resistance disrupts voting in occupied Skadovsk, injures five Russian troops Resistance forces set off an explosion yesterday near a polling station in Russian-occupied Skadovsk in the Kherson oblast, injuring five Russian soldiers, according to the national resistance centre of Ukraine. The explosion forced the Russian administration in Skadovsk to cancel voting at polling stations and allow it only in places of residence, the centre said. 02:18 PM GMT Turnout in Russian election above 50 per cent on second day of voting Overall turnout - an important indicator for Putin as he attempts to demonstrate the whole country is behind him - rose above 50% on the second day of voting in the presidential election. The head of the electoral commission, Ella Pamfilova, said there had so far been 20 incidents of people trying to destroy voting sheets by pouring various liquids into ballot boxes, as well as eight cases of attempted arson and a smoke bomb. The rate in Belgorod region, where Ukrainian cross-border strikes have become part of daily life, was over 70%. Turnout was also high in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine where Kyiv says voting is illegal and void. The main focus will be on Sundays third day of voting, when Navalnys supporters have called on people to turn out en masse at noon in a rolling protest against Putin in each of the countrys 11 time zones. Pamfilova, the top election official, has said that people who try to disrupt voting are scumbags and could face up to five years in prison. She said, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian intelligence and its accomplices and handlers - a reference to the West - were behind the rash of protest actions seen so far at polling stations. 02:06 PM GMT Pictured: Vigil for Ukrainian prisoners of war Relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers held captive by Russia protest to demand information about their situation at the Maidan Nezalezhnosti square on March 16, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. - Adri Salido/Getty Images 01:51 PM GMT Russian shelling of Donetsk Oblast village kills a civilian, injures another A Russian artillery strike against the village of Novoselivka Persha in Donetsk Oblast today, killed a 51-year-old man and injured another resident, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. The injured man was hospitalised, the governor said. The village is around nine miles west of Avdiivka, a small city that fell into Russian hands in February. The Institute for the Study of War today said that Russian forces are particularly concentrating on pushing as far west of Avdiivka as possible before Ukrainian forces can establish a harder-to-penetrate line in the area. 2/ Russian forces are particularly concentrating on pushing as far west of Avdiivka as possible before Ukrainian forces can establish a harder-to-penetrate line in the area. pic.twitter.com/4exthxX582 Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 16, 2024 01:35 PM GMT Continued attacks on polling stations in Russia: reports Russians continue to attack polling stations Over two days, there have been eleven attempts to set fire to polling stations, along with 19 cases of ballot boxes being spoiled with greenery and paint. In response, the Russian State Duma has proposed an 8-year prison sentence for pic.twitter.com/aHLR1tedVK NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 16, 2024 12:50 PM GMT Russias MoD says two Ukrainian drones shot down 20 minutes ago over Belgorod Moscow claims it shot down two Ukrainian drones around 20 minutes ago over the Belgorod region. Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russias border cities and its oil infrastructure amid Moscows presidential election. The claim, from the ministry of defence, could not immediately be verified. 12:46 PM GMT Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman blasts UK interference in elections The spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry has responded to the British foreign office post, which we shared earlier, which said Russia had no right to hold elections on sovereign Ukrainian territory. I have the following question for the British Embassy: has your ambassador been to Smolensk Square for a long time? It doesnt give us pleasure to see him, but we can call him for prevention if this doesnt stop, a post on Telegram by Maria Zakharova read. The Foreign Office cannot accept that the days are gone when London decided who and what belonged, cutting borders at its whim and based on the principle of divide and conquer, laying the foundation for many of the conflicts of our time. The spokeswoman claimed that the UK was interfering in the Russian elections and said that the controversy surrounding the Princess of Wales photoshopped image points is another example of British blatant misinformation. 12:28 PM GMT Leonid Slutsky, a supporting character or rival in Putins 2024 rubber-stamp elections casts his vote Leonid Slutsky, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and candidate in the presidential election, walks to vote during a rubber-stamp presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 16, 2024. - AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Leonid Slutsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and candidate in therubber-stamp presidential election, casts a ballot during a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, March 16, 2024. - AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko 12:24 PM GMT Ukraine faces ammunition crisis as air defence missiles dwindle Ukraine is running so low on ammunition that it will run out of air defence missiles to defend its cities by the end of the month, according to reports. Supplies of missiles defending cities such as Odesa - where 20 people were killed on Friday - are dwindling fast, according to Ukrainian sources quoted by The Washington Post. That means that instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles as it does now, Ukraine will soon have to ration its air defence systems to shooting down just one in five. This will have a significant effect on Ukraines urban centres, The Washington Post quoted two Ukrainian officials as telling US officials at a security conference this year. Politicians in the US are locked in a fierce debate on whether to maintain military aid to Ukraine, currently at around 31.3 billion. This week Viktor Orban, Hungarys Prime Minister, said that Donald Trump, the presumed Republican candidate at this years US presidential election had told him that he wouldnt give any more cash to Ukraine. Read more from James Kilner here. 12:14 PM GMT Death toll in yesterdays Odesa attack rises to 21 Today, one more employee of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, another victim of yesterdays Russian attack on Odesa, died in the hospital from serious injuries, Ihor Klymenko reported. Thus, the death toll from the attack on Odesa on March 15 increased to 21. More than 70 people were injured 12:13 PM GMT Fire at Syzran has been extinguished, Russian press says A fire caused by a Ukrainian drone strike on Russias Syzran oil refinery has been put out, Russian news agencies said on Saturday, more than five hours after it was first reported. The extent of damage and impact on production were not clear. 11:45 AM GMT More than 100 settlements in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire yesterday, Ukraines armed forces says Russian forces launched 10 rockets and 68 aviation strikes, carried out 89 shellings and engaged in 78 combat clashes in Ukraine yesterday, general staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said in its morning briefing. Around 100 settlements of Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts came under artillery fire. Meanwhile, Ukrainian defence forces struck seven areas where Russian personnel were concentrated, and struck down two Shahed attack drones in the Kharkiv oblast, it said. 11:04 AM GMT Belgorod closes schools and shopping centres as Ukraine ups attacks during Russian elections Authorities in the Russian border city of Belgorod have announced they are closing schools and shopping centres due to an uptick in Ukrainian strikes coinciding with Russias presidential election. Based on the current situation, we have decided that shopping centres in Belgorod and the Belgorod district will not work on Sunday and Monday, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on social media, noting that schools would also be closed on Monday and Tuesday next week. 11:03 AM GMT Russia says it repelled more attempts to penetrate its territory from Ukraine Russia repelled several attempts to penetrate its territory from Ukraine, the defence ministry claimed on Saturday, the latest in a series of raids it has reported in recent days. In a statement, the ministry said the attempted incursions were made by Ukrainian sabotage and militant groups. 11:01 AM GMT Putins party website hit by major cyber attack Russias governing party has been hit by a cyber attack as the countrys presidential elections, in which Vladimir Putin is all but certain to win, heads into a second day. United Russia said it was facing a widespread denial of service attack - a form of cyberattack that snarls internet use - against its online presence, and had suspended non-essential services to repel the attack. Putin, who is running in Russias presidential election as an independent candidate with United Russias support, has accused Ukraine of seeking to sabotage the polls. He is almost certain to extend his 24-year-rule until at least 2030. It marks the first presidential elections in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and while Putin faces no meaningful opposition, there have already been incidents of arson at polling stations and voters sabotaging ballot boxes recorded across five regions. Russias electoral commission on Friday reported that it had faced more than 10,500 cyber-attacks in the first day of voting, and a key government website used for online voting was unavailable in some Russian regions for much of the day. 10:39 AM GMT Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory, British foreign office reiterates Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. These areas are a part of Ukraine.#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/gXrh6AX3Yb Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 16, 2024 10:33 AM GMT Europe needs clear, united strategy against Russia, Italy minister says Europe should avoid grand statements and contradictions but rather have a clear and unified strategy against Russia with regards to its war in Ukraine, Italys defence minister said, adding that Rome would never send troops to the conflict zone. The West should avoid grand statements - such as sending NATO to Ukraine trying to make itself look better. Or avoid splitting into meetings of two or three when there are 27 of us in Europe, Guido Crosetto told the daily la Repubblica on Saturday in an interview. In order to counter Russia, a monolith, Crosetto said Europe needed a clear, non-contradictory strategy, and perhaps built together as a coalition. Crosetto criticised a meeting between Germany, France and Poland held on Friday, saying it was impractical to divide the European coalition that was supporting Ukraine. Like Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, in a separate interview to Corriere della Sera on Saturday ruled out that Italian troops would ever be sent to Ukraine and said that our objective is to reach peace, not widen the war. The comments came after French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated again that sending Western troops into Ukraine shouldnt be ruled out, though he said todays situation doesnt require it. 10:29 AM GMT Belgorod governor gives more details on this mornings fatal Ukrainian missile strike As we reported earlier, Ukrainian bombardments killed two people in a Russian border region this morning, according ot its governor, rocking the country as it headed to the polls. A man and a woman died, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov. The man was driving a truck when he was hit by a shell, after which the car crashed into a passenger bus, he posted on Telegram. Another woman died in a garage cooperative, where she and her son came to feed the dogs. Unfortunately, the woman died on the spot. Doctors are fighting for the life of her son - the man has shrapnel wounds to the back of his head, shoulder and chest. Two more men had head injuries as a result of the strikes, Gladkov said. Their condition is assessed as satisfactory. All victims were taken to city hospital No. 2 in Belgorod, where doctors provided them with all the necessary medical care. On the destruction in the city of Belgorod, he said that in seven apartment buildings, windows were broken and glazing on balconies were damaged. Two social facilities and two business facilities were also slightly damaged, he said. According to preliminary data, 15 cars were damaged. 10:13 AM GMT Russia, China and Iran finish joint maritime drills in Gulf of Oman Warships during the ''Maritime Security Belt 2024'' combined naval exercises between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman. - Iranian Army Office/Avalon 10:08 AM GMT Independent vote monitor says Russian elections are most secret ever The head of an independent vote-monitoring group that Russia has labelled a foreign agent says the presidential election is the least transparent the country has seen. Stanislav Andreichuk, co-chairman of Golos (Voice), said the use of electronic voting for the first time in a presidential election, and the fact that voting is spread over three days, both serve to make the process more opaque. These are the most closed, most secret elections in Russian history, Andreichuk told Reuters in a telephone interview, referring to the 33 years since the break-up of the Soviet Union. The Kremlin says the election, which began on Friday, is a proper democratic process and predicts that Putin will win on the basis of overwhelming popular support. Election authorities say it will be scrutinised by 706 foreign observers and as many as a third of a million Russian observers nominated by candidates, political parties and social organisations. Andreichuk said high turnout figures on day one of the election reflected pressure on people by managers in the workplace to make sure they voted. People are going and voting first thing in the morning because their bosses make them. Its very convenient to keep track of them because its a working day, he said. 10:03 AM GMT Evacuation of civilians continues in Sumy Oblast as Moscow intensifies attacks Ukrainian authorities are continuing evacuations of communities in the northeastern Sumy Oblast close to the Russian border after Moscow intensified its attacks against the region, local officials said yesterday. Over 180 residents from areas adjacent to the Velyka Pysarivka community have been evacuated. Overnight and this morning, Russia carried out 13 incidents of shelling of the border territories and settlements of the Sumy region, local officials said this morning. The communities of Velikopysarivsk, Bilopolsk, Esmansk, Yunakivsk and Svesk came under fire, the authorities said. 09:56 AM GMT Were the only opposition to Putin left, say Russian soldiers fighting for Kyiv Ukraines Russian units said they are the only remaining opposition to Vladimir Putin as they pleaded with the West for military support in interviews on Friday as they conducted a daring raid. Speaking from Russian soil and operations rooms during the biggest cross-border raid since the war began, commanding officers said they were attacking Russia to resist the presidents perverted vision of the world. Three Ukrainian units made up of Russian citizens Freedom of Russia Legion (LSR), the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Siberian Battalion began an operation into the Kursk and Belgorod regions of Russia on Tuesday. It was launched to coincide with Russias elections, with polls open from Friday until Sunday. It is part of a multi-pronged attack that includes Ukrainian drones shutting down three oil refineries deep within Russian territory. Speaking from somewhere near Tyotkino, Aleksey Baranovsky, a former lawyer and political dissident who is now an LSR fighter, said they were seeking to interrupt the election and show there were still people willing to oppose dictator Putin. We are sending a message to those inside Russia, who are demoralised and lost since [Alexei] Navalnys murder, that we are still here, willing to fight the regime, he said. We also want to show Western governments and people, like those in the UK, that we are fighting the regime, the election is not legal and that, of course Putin will win, but he is not a legitimate leader, he added. Mr Baranovsky urged the West to support their resistance movement at least behind closed doors. Read more from Liz Cookman here. 09:54 AM GMT Yesterdays Odesa attack left at least 20 dead, more than 70 injured Russian missiles pounded Ukraines Black Sea port city of Odesa on Friday, killing more than a dozen people including rescue workers in an attack President Volodymyr Zelensky described as vile. Local authorities said Russian aerial bombardments struck residential buildings, ambulances and a gas pipeline, leaving at least 20 people dead and wounding another 73 people, including rescuers. Maria Slyzovska, who witnessed the attack, said the first strike rocked her mothers home leaving everything broken before the second missile hit. There were a lot of people there. There was blood and ambulances. We all live in the realities of this Russian roulette, she told AFP. Zelensky said Russian forces had launched a type of attack known as a double-tap strike on the port hub, with the second projectile ploughing into rescue workers at the scene. City officials said Moscow targeted Odesa with Iskander missiles launched from the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. Russian terror in Odesa is a sign of weakness of the enemy, which is fighting Ukrainian civilians at a time when it cannot guarantee security for people on its own territory, said presidential aide Andriy Yermak. 09:41 AM GMT War spikes record growth in Russian men with disabilities, British MoD says Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 16 March 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/KmmciaHxmW#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/BXkLyLdMl6 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) March 16, 2024 09:33 AM GMT Ukraine drones hit Russias Syzran oil refinery, governor says Ukrainian drones this morning struck two Russian oil refineries, causing a fire at one that is still raging. Some 500 miles east of Ukraine, the incident marked the latest long-range drone attack on Russian refineries which have become near-daily incidents. While the Syzran refinery was on fire, an attack on the Novokubyshev refinery was thwarted, Governor Dmitry Azarov said in a statement on Telegram. Both are owned by the Russian state-owned oil giant Rosneft. Unverified footage published online showed what appeared to be a major fire at the Syzran refinery, with emergency services working at the scene. Azarov said workers at both plants had been evacuated and there were no casualties. The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported. Ukraine has in recent weeks heavily targeted Russias oil infrastructure, striking refineries throughout European Russia. The facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past days account for about 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, Bloomberg reported. 09:26 AM GMT Two killed in shelling of Russian border city Belgorod, governor says Two people were killed and three wounded in a Ukrainian missile strike on the Russian border city of Belgorod, the regional governor said on Saturday, as Russian citizens vote through Sunday in a three-day presidential election. In a statement on the messenger app Telegram, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the city had been struck by missiles fired from a Vampire rocket launcher system. He said that vehicles and buildings had been damaged both in Belgorod and in surrounding villages. Video obtained by Reuters showed fires blazing and air raid sirens ringing out in Belgorods deserted streets. Earlier on Saturday, Gladkov said that five people, including one child, had been injured in a drone strike on a car that was travelling close to the Ukrainian border. This handout photograph posted on the official Telegram account of the Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, on March 16, 2024, shows aftermath of fresh aerial attacks on Belgorod. - HANDOUT/Telegram/@vvgladkov/AFP via Getty Images 09:20 AM GMT Good morning Hello and welcome to the Telegraphs daily live coverage of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Today Russians are heading to the polls in a second day of elections in which President Vladimir Putin is all but guaranteed to secure his 24-year-rule until at least 2030. Follow along as we bring you all of the latest developments throughout the day. 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. Name of business: Beach Vibes Soaps Address: Bolivia Type of merchandise: Handmade cold processed soaps, 100% soy candles, bath bombs, and bath accessories. Soap rests, acrylic soap rests made with seashells collected at local beaches, loofah washcloths and hand crocheted wash cloths. Price range: $3-$25 Hours: On demand (online business and at area farmers markets) Contact: beachvibessoaps@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/BeachVibesSoaps/ About the owner, the history and the place Sandra Willard, has been making cold processed soap for about 10 years, but started her business a year or so after she moved to the area in 2020. Sandra Willard is the owner, but the entire family helps work the business. They are a military family; her husband is a veteran, and their son is currently serving in the Army National Guard. They have been making soaps for 10 years. What started as hobby grew into a business about two years ago. They converted a sunroom into a soap and candle factory and added a new wall of cabinets in the dining room to store supplies. Willard is the soap maker, designer, salesperson and customer service agent. Her husband, Terry, helps with logistics, driving, setting up at farmers markets or other vending events from Wilmington to Sunset Beach. Her son and daughter have been known to help out at busy markets or when she is double booked. "The business does not have a storefront but is easy to find during the warmer months at Oak Island Farmer's Market and Ocean Isle Farmer's Market and various vendor markets around Wilmington and Leland," Willard said. The recipe is a secret, but some of the ingredients include lye water, coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil and avocado oil. The soy wax is made from soybeans grown in the USA. "We use a local candle company to support local businesses like ourselves," Willard said. "My fragrance oils are clean scents, meaning they are made without any of the harmful chemicals that some have. I also use a biodegradable film to wrap my soaps," Willard said. It takes four weeks for the soaps to cure. Story continues More: From literacy director to bilingual agent, here are new hires and appointments in Wilmington More: Thousands of dollars worth of bees, supplies stolen from Brunswick County small business More to know Specialties: Cold processed bar soaps and 100% soy candles Most popular item: Lavender driftwood soap. The candles are a close second. Why should a customer purchase your items? "We are a small family business that started to provide friends and family with great skin care items. Our hobby evolved into a business. We are providing the same great service to Brunswick and New Hanover counties and beyond with our website," Willard said. "I don't have employees or machines making my soap, only my hands. Each batch is made personally by me." STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Beach Vibes Soaps in Brunswick County, NC handmakes soaps and candles The United States has stated that Russia's so-called elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and missile attacks on peaceful settlements are interconnected, as they are part of the Kremlin's comprehensive strategy to seize the land of a neighbouring state. Source: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Representative to the UN, at a meeting of the UN Security Council, quoted by Ukrinform Quote: "I want to start by condemning Russias devastating missile attacks on Odesa today (15 March) attacks that left at least 14 people dead (death toll has already risen to 20 ed.), and dozens more wounded. This violence is unconscionable, and it is inextricably linked with the matter we are here to discuss: Sham presidential elections in Ukraines temporarily occupied territories." Details: Thomas-Greenfield noted that there is an old saying for those who still do not understand Russia's true intentions in Ukraine: "Once is a fluke. Twice is a coincidence. And three times is a pattern." In this context, Thomas-Greenfield stated that the attempted annexation of Crimea and the sham referendum were not a coincidence, and the presidential elections on the peninsula four years ago were not a coincidence. After all, both of these illegitimate actions were caused by the Kremlin's attempts to legitimise Putin's attempt to seize the land. Therefore, she said, "Russias tactic of holding sham elections in Ukraines occupied territories is, in fact, a pattern." At the same time, Russias aggression and violence in Ukraine complement their malicious intentions. Thomas-Greenfield stressed that the United States would never recognise Russia's claims to any sovereign territory of Ukraine. "And we unequivocally condemn Russias continued occupation of parts of Ukraine," she highlighted. She called on the international community to join the United States in bringing to justice those responsible for organising and conducting the sham elections in the temporarily occupied territories. Thomas-Greenfield also urged the so-called election observers to refrain from legitimising the process: "Anyone propped up by the Kremlin to lend a flimsy veneer of legitimacy is simply a pawn in their game." Support UP or become our patron! Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast in the afternoon of March 16 injured three civilians, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. A 71-year-old man was injured in a Russian drone attack against the city of Beryslav. He was hospitalized with a blast injury and a leg wound, officials said. A 27-year-old woman was also injured in a drone strike against the city during the day. She suffered a blast injury, a shoulder wound, and a contusion. The city of Antonivka also came under an attack, after which an 83-year-old woman was injured and hospitalized. Explosions were reported in Kherson at around 4:30 p.m., but no further details were provided at the moment. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River in the fall 2022 counteroffensive. Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths as well as large-scale destruction of homes and infrastructure. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 20, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast over the past day injured two men, aged 45 and 38, and damaged critical infrastructure, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on March 16. Ukraine's Air Force also said that it shot down two Shahed-type attack drones over Kharkiv Oblast overnight. Border regions of Kharkiv Oblast suffer daily attacks by Russian forces. According to Syniehubov, the two men were injured by a Russian drone attack on the village of Okhrimivka, located less than 10 kilometers from the Russian border. A Shahed-type drone also struck an unnamed critical infrastructure site in the village of Kozacha Lopan, causing damage. Syniehubov said that a Russian guided aerial bomb damaged a home in the village of Synelnykove. Read also: Russian missile attack sets fire to medical facility in Kharkiv Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has claimed that a Ukrainian drone crashed into a car in the oblast, injuring five people. Source: Gladkov on Telegram Quote: "The car caught fire as a result of the explosion, injuring five people inside." Details: Gladkov reported that the people who were injured, including a minor boy, sustained concussions and shrapnel wounds. Support UP or become our patron! All schools and colleges in parts of the Russian region of Belgorod will be closed Monday and Tuesday following an increase in Ukrainian attacks on the territory, the regions governor has announced. Shopping malls will also be closed Sunday and Monday, Vyacheslav Gladkov added in a statement on Telegram. The affected districts lie alongside the border with Ukraine. The city of Belgorod itself is also subject to the closures. The frequent attacks have brought the war in Ukraine to Russians largely isolated from the conflict. Ukraines Spy Chief Kyrylo Budanov said Saturday that Russians are among the sabotage groups attacking the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk, which borders Ukraine. This is a story about how Russians solve this domestic issue. We may like some of them more, others less. But still, both are Russians, Budanov said. He added, during a broadcast, that attacks would continue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the attacks on the Belgorod and Kursk regions have been largely unsuccessful and that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being constantly updated on the situation, Russian state news RIA Novosti reported. In his earlier statement, Belgorods governor Gladkov said the situation is quite difficult both in the city and in Belgorod district. Naturally, the issue of safety is the most important for all of us. It is clear that teachers, nannies and technical staff are all worried, he said. Schools and colleges in the affected districts have effectively been closed from Tuesday evening last week, when Gladkov announced students would undertake what he called days of self-learning through Friday. At the time of the announcement he said he hoped schools would be able to resume normal activities on Monday. A man rides a bicycle near a damaged market pavilion hit by recent shelling in the town of Shebekino in the Belgorod region of Russia on March 11. - Maxim Shemetov/Reuters Ukraine has been attacking the Belgorod region off and on since the first half of 2023 but scaled up shelling and strikes most about a week ago. As in other parts of Russia, people in Belgorod are voting in a poll widely expected to see Vladimir Putin returned to power as president. Voting continued for a second day on Saturday, with authorities having arrested several Russians for carrying out acts of civil disobedience. On Saturday, Gladkov also said two people were killed in early morning attacks, including a truck driver whose vehicle was hit by a shell. Russias Defense Ministry said in a post on its own Telegram channel Saturday that Russian forces had repelled attempts by Ukraine fighters to infiltrate Russia in several locations, saying it had carried out a complex fire attack on concentrations of enemy manpower and equipment. Also on Saturday, a Ukrainian source told CNN that Ukraines security service (SBU) carried out drone strikes on three oil refineries in Russias Samara region. The three refineries which all belong to the Rosneft oil company are sited along the Volga River at Novokuibyshevsk, Samara, and Syzran, and are located up to 1,000 kms from Ukrainian-held territory. Local residents in Belgorod have been posting videos to regional social media platforms showing explosions in the city and fires burning outside residential buildings where Ukrainian strikes have taken place. In one video a woman is heard telling her mother she is scared to leave her apartment. Earlier in the week Ukrainian groups of Russian fighters on Tuesday mounted a cross-border attack in Belgorod while Belgorod city suffered heavy drone strikes and shelling. At least five people have been reported killed in the last week, according to a CNN count, and several dozen wounded. This report has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Russian forces will likely continue ongoing offensive efforts to destabilize Ukrainian defensive lines in Spring 2024 while also preparing for a forecasted new offensive effort in Summer 2024, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on March 15. Read also: Senate aid bill better suited to Ukraines needs White House The provision of Western security assistance will likely play a critical role in Ukraines ability to hold territory now and to repel a new Russian offensive effort in the coming months. Russian forces are attempting to maintain the tempo of their offensive operations throughout eastern Ukraine in an effort to prevent Ukrainian forces from stabilizing their defensive lines. Russian forces are particularly concentrating on pushing as far west of Avdiivka as possible before Ukrainian forces can establish a stronger defensive line in the area. Although Ukrainian forces have recently been able to slow Russian advances west of Avdiivka, pervasive materiel shortages caused by delays in Western security assistance appear to be forcing Ukraine to prioritize limited resources to critical sectors of the front, increasing the risk of a Russian breakthrough in other less-well-provisioned sectors and making the frontline overall more fragile than it appears despite the current relatively slow rate of Russian advances. Read also: US announces first Ukraine military aid package since late 2023 Russian forces will continue to use the advantages provided by possessing the theater-wide initiative to dynamically reweight their offensive efforts this spring and into the summer, likely in hopes of exploiting possible Ukrainian vulnerabilities Russian forces may be pressing their attempts at a breakthrough before difficult weather and terrain conditions in spring will likely constrain effective mechanized maneuver on both sides of the line and further limit Russian capabilities to make significant tactical advances while the ground is still muddy. The intent and design of the Russian Summer 2024 offensive effort is not immediately clear and likely will not be until Russian forces launch it, but the Russian military command likely intends to capitalize on any gains it makes in the coming weeks as well as on forecasts that the Ukrainian military may be even less-well-provisioned this summer than it is now. Well-provisioned Ukrainian forces have shown that they can prevent Russian forces from making even marginal gains during large-scale Russian offensive efforts, and there is no reason to doubt that Ukraine could further stabilize the frontline and prepare for repelling the reported Russian offensive effort this summer if materiel shortages abated. The threat of significant Russian gains in the coming months does not mean that there is no threat of Russian forces making such gains through offensive operations this spring. Relative Russian successes this spring, even tactical, may set conditions for Russian forces to pursue operationally significant gains in the summer. Read also: Stoltenberg asks allies to urgently ramp up arms shipments as Ukraine faces dwindling ammo stocks Western and Ukrainian officials are expressing concerns about delays in Western security assistance to Ukraine ahead of this expected Russian offensive effort. Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of weapons and ammunition amid delays with a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine approval by the U.S. Congress and not fulfilled promise by Kyiv partners to produce one million rounds of ammunition by the end of 2023. On March 12, Reuters reported that Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives had kicked off a signature-gathering drive for a procedural move aimed at forcing a vote on aid to Ukraine, despite House Speaker Mike Johnsons reluctance to bring the bill to the floor. The U.S. Senate in a final vote on Feb. 13 supported a bill that provides aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan amounting to $95 billion, with $60 billion designated for Kyiv. That same day, House Speaker Johnson once again criticized the Senates proposal, stating he had no plans to bring the Senate-backed bill to the floor for consideration. U.S. House of Representatives went on recess on Feb. 15 without passing the aid for Ukraine, postponing the matter until at least mid-March. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson promised a timely vote on extending aid to Ukraine following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Feb. 27. Read also: Ammunition under Pragues initiative could reach Ukrainian battlefields in June Czech PM adviser During the meeting with congressional leaders from both parties, Biden emphasized the urgent need to allocate the aid for Ukraine. Speakers of 23 parliaments and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola have called on U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to introduce a bill that would allocate $60 billion to help Ukraine, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, who initiated the letter of appeal, reported on Facebook on Feb. 28. 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 Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, claimed on March 16 that two people were killed after missiles struck the city of Belgorod. Russia's Defense Ministry blamed Ukraine for the reported strikes, which took place amid reports of ongoing fighting in Belgorod Oblast between the Russian army and an anti-Kremlin militia. Kyiv does not typically comment on reports of attacks within Russian territory. Gladkov said that air defenses in the oblast had shot down eight missiles supposedly launched from multiple-launch-rocket systems. The governor claimed that a man and a woman had been killed in the strikes, and that three others had been injured and sent to the hospital. He also reported damage to buildings and civilian vehicles. Gladkov said on March 14 that the city of Belgorod had been struck three times in the same day, and claimed that two people had been killed as a result. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims of the Russian authorities. Read also: What do we know about the Siberian Battalion that reportedly crossed into Russia? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polling staff await for voters where the voting for the 2024 Russian presidential election began from 1517 March 2024. Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The presidential election in Russia enters its third and final day on Sunday. Putin, 71, has dominated Russian politics for almost a quarter of a century. The vote is intended to secure him another six-year term in office until 2030. According to independent electoral law experts in Russia and abroad, the conditions for the vote are neither free nor fair: The opposition is excluded and the three authorized opposing candidates are considered loyal to the Kremlin. Numerous reports show that pressure is being exerted on Russians to take part in the election. As early as Saturday afternoon, the central election administration reported that more than half of the approximately 114 million eligible voters had voted in polling stations or online. Various opposition forces have called for people to go to the polls at exactly noon in their time zone on Sunday. The queues forming in front of the polling stations should give an impression of the fact that many people do not agree with Putin and his policies. The elections are taking place across 11 time zones in the world's largest country. The first polling stations opened in the easternmost regions of Chukotka and the Kamchatka Peninsula at 2000 GMT on Saturday; the last ones in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are due to close on Sunday evening at 1800 GMT, after which exit polls and initial counts are to be released. The final count is expected to be completed by Monday morning. Kharkiv Oblast was attacked by Shaheds at night Russian forces conducted an overnight attack on Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv Oblast, with Shahed drones, reported Oleh Synehubov, the head of the regional military administration, on March 16. The strike damaged a critical infrastructure facility, but there were no casualties. Read also: Ukraine downs 151 Shaheds out of 175 since early March, more air defense systems on the way Zelenskyy Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia launched an artillery strike against the village of Novoselivka Persha in Donetsk Oblast's Ocheretyne community on March 16, killing a 51-year-old man and injuring another resident, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. The injured man was hospitalized, the governor said without elaborating on his condition. No further details were provided at the moment. The village lies around 15 kilometers (nine miles) west of Avdiivka, a small city that fell into Russian hands in February. Donetsk Oblast settlements suffer Russian attacks on a daily basis, often resulting in casualties and large-scale damage. One civilian was injured in Russian attacks against Krasnohorivka on March 15, Filashkin said in his morning report. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 20, injures over 70 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Hims & Hers Health Inc (NYSE:HIMS), a telehealth company that provides modern personalized health and wellness experiences to consumers, has reported an insider sale according to a recent SEC filing. Chief Legal Officer Soleil Boughton sold 63,621 shares of the company on March 13, 2024. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this SEC Filing. Over the past year, the insider has sold a total of 280,061 shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc and has not made any purchases of the stock. The company's insider transaction history shows a pattern of 61 insider sells and no insider buys over the same timeframe. On the day of the insider's recent sale, shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc were trading at $15.17, resulting in a market capitalization of $3.134 billion. The stock's price-to-GF-Value ratio stands at 1.21, indicating that it is modestly overvalued according to the GF Value estimate of $12.55 per share. The GF Value is a proprietary intrinsic value estimate from GuruFocus, which is determined by considering historical trading multiples such as price-earnings ratio, price-sales ratio, price-book ratio, and price-to-free cash flow. It also includes a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's historical returns and growth, as well as future business performance estimates provided by Morningstar analysts. Chief Legal Officer Soleil Boughton Sells 63,621 Shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc (HIMS) The insider trend image above reflects the recent selling activity by insiders at Hims & Hers Health Inc, which may be of interest to investors monitoring insider behaviors as an indicator of company performance or future stock movement. Chief Legal Officer Soleil Boughton Sells 63,621 Shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc (HIMS) The GF Value image provides a visual representation of the stock's current valuation in relation to its intrinsic value, offering investors a quick glance at the potential overvaluation or undervaluation of Hims & Hers Health Inc. Investors and analysts often monitor insider transactions as they can provide insights into how the company's executives and directors view the stock's value and future prospects. However, it is important to consider that insider selling can occur for various reasons and may not necessarily be indicative of a negative outlook for the company. 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. For people living in the Baltic states, the threat posed by Russia has never been a theoretical concept. Krisjanis Karins is no exception; it is deeply personal. The Latvian foreign minister was born in the US in 1964 to parents who had fled Latvia in 1944 to escape the Soviet re-occupation of the country. That family history has given Mr Karins - Latvias prime minister until last September - an acute awareness of the pathologies of the modern Russian psyche. Russia right now - and its a rather deep philosophy, bought into by society - they are still an imperialistic country, viewing the world the way some European countries did maybe 100, 150 years ago, he explains. The corollary to that statement is the grim understanding that if and when Vladimir Putin leaves the stage, Russias imperial pretensions - currently playing out with devastating effect in Ukraine - will continue to menace Europe. From Natos point of view, we will have to deal with a problematic Russia, a dangerous Russia for a long time to come, he warns. Even after the end of this war - and all wars end eventually - we will still have a problem in Russia which will not be related directly to the rule of Putin. The death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Artic penal colony last month and this weekends sham presidential election in Russia only serve to underline this stark fact. We see no indications that theres any movement within Russia which would produce a leader espousing enlightenment, liberal ideas, Mr Karins says. This is not in the foreseeable future at all. For the minister, it is that enduring challenge from the East which necessitates a robust and transparent policy of containment from Nato. Mr Karins - who has previously indicated his interest in becoming Natos next general secretary - says that if Moscow clearly see what we have, what were capable of, and how were willing to put it to use, then Russias imperialistic ambitions would simply no longer have the opportunity to turn to the West. Thats the theory anyway. Meeting The Telegraph at the Latvian Embassy in London during a packed two-day visit to the UK, Mr Karins cuts a tall, spare figure. Born and raised in Joe Bidens home state of Delaware (he remains a dual citizen), he does not betray an American accent, though the occasional word or turn of phrase (newbies, we still have a ways to go) hints at his upbringing on the other side of the Atlantic. Mr Karins completed a PhD in linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania before relocating to Latvia in the 1990s after it regained its independence, entering first the world of business and then politics. Coolly cerebral in rimless spectacles, it is no great stretch to picture him in his former life as an academic. The minister is visiting London - where he met with the Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron - during a crucial phase in the Ukraine war. Its a very tough portion in the war, he admits. Mr Karins accentuates the positives: Ukraine has an absolutely top-notch fighting spirit, and the country has excelled at asymmetrical warfare, including terrorising the Russians in the Black Sea. Theyll be teaching us how to use drones in these types of conflicts, he says. But there is no escaping the fundamentals. Ukraine needs weapons, Ukraine needs ammunition. The country may be developing, advancing, innovating, but they still need our basic support, because their military industry and arms manufacturing industry is not capable of supplying the arms at pace that they need. US deadlock It is not just the military facts on the ground which make this stage of the war critical. While the Russians are yet to make a major breakthrough, the tectonic plates within American politics seem to be in motion and the rumblings have been ominous. A $60 billion (45.9bn) package of military aid for Ukraine is mired in Congress. Donald Trump - who leads President Biden in the polls in key states - has promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours if re-elected, while providing no details. After meeting Mr Trump in Florida last week, the Hungarian prime minister Victor Orban claimed that if returned to the White House he would not give a penny to Ukraine and then the war is over. Mr Karins plays down such comments. Choosing his words with the care befitting Latvias top diplomat, he says: Viktor Orban is quite well known for going against the grain, shall we say? He was blocking EU funding for Ukraine, but he ended up stepping back. So Europe came through with its funding pledge, and now its the USs turn. Mr Karins upbringing gives him an intimate understanding of American politics. While he distinguishes between Mr Trumps rhetoric in an election year and his track record (he points out that the US military presence in the Baltics increased during his time in office) he says Europe must adapt to shifting priorities in Washington DC. Its not based upon any one individual or either of the parties, longer term they will be wanting to and needing to put more assets into the Pacific. And we need to pick up the slack. Europe, he says, is collectively wealthy enough to actually be able to afford our own defence. This is what we have to strive for in Europe, and get away from the thinking that sort of US does security - in Europe we do prosperity. Thats a model which I think is not at all sustainable. And there is an element of, you know, unfairness to it. If we were a poor continent, that would be one thing, but collectively, were a rather wealthy continent. That means both ramping up the European defence industry to supply Ukraine and making sure that Nato countries on the continent pick up our own bill when it comes to contributions to the alliance. Latvia is on track to hit 3 per cent of GDP being spent on defence and he supports the UK moving towards the benchmark. Total defence It is unsurprising that Latvia and the other Baltic states are among the most hawkish Nato countries when it comes to opposing Russian aggression. That is not just the consequence of the trauma of occupation, but a product of brute geographic facts. Latvia shares a 133-mile land border with Russia. It has a population of 1.8 million compared to Russias more than 140m. How does a small country hope to stand up to such a behemoth? For Mr Karins, the answer lies in total defence - a concept pioneered by Finland (another country with compelling historic and geographic reasons to fear Russian expansionism) where the whole of society is mobilised for the potential purpose of war. This year, Latvia reintroduced conscription, and Mr Karins urges the UK and other Nato countries to consider following suit. Of course, the real key to Latvias security is its membership of Nato. Mr Karins is phlegmatic about the threat. There is no notion that the Baltics could be next, he says. But if Russia were to invade a Baltic country, Russia would be invading Nato. The alliance, he says, will defend Nato territory from the first square centimetre. He believes the US will remain engaged in Nato whatever the election result this November. For now at least, the Russian onslaught is confined to Ukraine. He dismisses the siren voices calling for Kyiv to negotiate. Russia has proven that it uses peace to rearm in order to attack, he says. Again, we return to psychology. In many Russians minds, it has the feeling of a crusade, he says. We have to understand that theyre not in any mood to stop. Im convinced that Russia will not stop, it can only be stopped. 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 Russian Volunteer Corps, which is conducting a military operation in Russias Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, has shown a new batch of Russian prisoners of war and is ready to exchange them at a meeting with the oblasts governor. Source: Russian Volunteer Corps Details: The Russian Volunteer Corps reported that the Russian Ministry of Defence had lied when they claimed that the corps had been completely eliminated. The Russian Volunteer Corps also showed an "interview" with one of the prisoners, who said that he had not seen any soldiers killed from the Russian Volunteer Corps. The Russian soldier said he was captured while performing a mine-clearing mission their vehicle came under fire, and he was the only one of the group to survive. The Russian Volunteer Corps fighters showed more than ten captured Russian soldiers, but their faces were hidden in the video. Captured Russian soldiers Screenshot: video by the Russian Volunteer Corps They are also once again calling on Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, to attend a meeting. Quote: "All the statements by the Russian Ministry of Defence about the complete annihilation of the Russian Volunteer Corps are another lie. The limited military operation in Russias Belgorod and Kursk oblasts continues, and here is confirmation a new batch of prisoners from the Russian Armed Forces. And once again, we invite Governor Gladkov to a meeting to hand the prisoners over to him." Support UP or become our patron! The Russian Volunteer Corps showed new prisoners in the Belgorod Oblast Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) members claimed to have captured 25 Russian soldiers during raids in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts, shown in a video on RVC Telegram on March 16. Read also: Pro-Ukrainian Russian Volunteer fighters launch liberation operation in Belgorod and Kursk The video shows new group of captured Russian soldiers, whose faces are hidden. The RVC shared a conversation with one of the captured, Senior Lieutenant Alexei Volkov of the Russian Armed Forces. "The limited military operation in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts continues, and here is the confirmation a new batch of prisoners from the Russian Armed Forces," the statement said. The RVC volunteers also invited the governor of the Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, to a meeting to hand over the prisoners. Pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer units Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL), Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), and the Siberian Battalion announced on March 12 another raid into Russian territory, describing it as an operation to "liberate the Russian Federation from dictatorship." Read also: Russia under attack for 4th straight day: Belgorod village heavily damaged, drones over two oblasts The RVC claimed to have advanced several tens of kilometers and taken prisoners. The Russian side reported casualties among the Russian army soldiers. The FRL later announced its control over part of the village of Tiotkino in Kursk Oblast, with the advance ongoing. The ASTRA Telegram channel, citing sources, reported that at least four Russian soldiers were killed, and nine others wounded in massive drone attacks and volunteer raids on March 12. The RVC called on residents of Belgorod and Kursk oblasts to evacuate immediately on March 14 and announced that it would open fire on military targets in those oblasts in response to Russian shelling of Ukraine. The FRL said that the raid in Russia would last at least until after the Presidential "elections" scheduled for March 15-17. Read also: More drones spotted over two Russian oblasts 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 Russians fired heavy artillery on Novoselivka Persha in Ocheretyne hromada, Donetsk Oblast, on the morning of 16 March. There is one killed and one wounded [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.]. Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration Details: The Russians killed a man, 51. Another man was injured and taken to hospital. The Ocheretyne hromada is cut by the frontline. The authorities emphasise that every day there is a threat to life, and they ask people to evacuate. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians will continue their offensive to destabilise Ukrainian defensive lines, while preparing for a new offensive in the summer of 2024. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: ISW analysts suggested that Russian forces were likely to continue their offensive to destabilise Ukrainian defensive lines in the spring of 2024 while preparing for a predicted new offensive this summer. ISW noted that Western security assistance was likely to play a crucial role in Ukraine's ability to hold territory now and repel new Russian offensive efforts in the coming months. Nevertheless, Russian forces are trying to maintain the pace of their offensive operations in Ukraines east to prevent Ukrainian forces from stabilising their defensive lines. The Russians are particularly focused on pushing as far west as possible from the town of Avdiivka before Ukrainian forces can establish a line in the area that will be harder to break through. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated on 15 March that Russian forces had concentrated their efforts on the Avdiivka front and are conducting daily mechanised and infantry attacks in an attempt to break through the Ukrainian defences. While Ukrainian forces have recently managed to slow the advance of Russian troops west of Avdiivka, widespread logistical shortages caused by the delay in Western security assistance are forcing Ukraine to focus limited resources on critical areas of the front line, increasing the risk of a Russian breakthrough in other less well-supplied areas and making the front line as a whole more vulnerable than it appears, despite the current relatively slow pace of Russian advance. ISW experts said that Russian forces would continue to take advantage of the initiative on the battlefield to dynamically redeploy their offensive efforts this spring and summer, likely in the hope of exploiting possible Ukraines vulnerabilities. Ukrainian and Western officials have increasingly warned of both a significant shortage of Ukrainian materiel and a new large-scale Russian offensive this summer. ISW experts therefore emphasised that the Russians were intending to take advantage of any gains it would make in the coming weeks, as well as predictions that the Ukrainian Armed Forces might be even worse supplied this summer than they are now. However, with Western assistance, Ukraine will be able to stabilise the front line and prepare to repel Russian offensives. In addition, ISW stressed that a severe shortage of air defence systems and missiles was likely to sharply reduce Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian attacks both in the rear and on the front lines in the coming weeks if not addressed quickly. In the meantime, Russian forces have recently made efforts to strain Ukrainian air defences both in rear areas and along the front line. Quote: "A 60 percent reduction in Ukraines ability to target let alone shoot down Russian missiles will further exacerbate these allocation issues. ISW continues to assess that the US remains the only immediate source of necessary air defence systems like Patriots." To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 15 March: Russian forces will likely continue ongoing offensive efforts to destabilise Ukrainian defensive lines in the spring of 2024 while also preparing for a forecasted new offensive effort in the summer of 2024. The provision of Western security assistance will likely play a critical role in Ukraines ability to hold territory now and to repel a new Russian offensive effort in the coming months. Well-provisioned Ukrainian forces have shown that they can prevent Russian forces from making even marginal gains during large-scale Russian offensive efforts, and there is no reason to doubt that Ukraine could further stabilise the front line and prepare for repelling the reported Russian offensive effort this summer if materiel shortages abated. The threat of significant Russian gains in the coming months does not mean that there is no threat of Russian forces making such gains through offensive operations this spring. Pressing shortages in air defence systems and missiles will likely dramatically reduce Ukraines ability to defend against Russian strikes both in rear and frontline areas in the coming weeks if not addressed rapidly. Russian forces have shown the capacity to adapt to fighting in Ukraine and will likely aim to scale lessons learned from the war in Ukraine to ongoing efforts to prepare the Russian military for a potential long-term confrontation with NATO. Senior European officials stressed that a Russian victory in Ukraine would result in Russia posing a strategic threat to NATO security. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev questioned the sovereignty of Latvia, a NATO member state, and threatened Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics following Medvedevs 14 March call for the total elimination of Ukraine and Ukraine's absorption into Russia under Medvedev's "peace formula." French President Emmanuel Macron stated on 15 March that he is not ruling out sending Western troops to Ukraine but that the current situation does not require it. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed continued limited raids from Ukrainian territory into Russias border region on 15 March. Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike against a Russian oil refinery in Kaluga Oblast, and recent Ukrainian strikes against oil refineries reportedly caused a spike in Russian domestic oil prices. Several Russians made limited attempts to disrupt the first day of voting in the Russian presidential election on 15 March. Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Kupiansk and Avdiivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian Treatment of Prisoners of War Coordinating Headquarters Representative Petro Yatsenko stated that Russia has intensified its efforts to recruit military personnel from abroad. Ukrainian sources and Russian opposition media reported that occupation officials continue coercive efforts to artificially inflate voter turnout and perceptions of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin in occupied Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Numerous explosions were heard in Russias Belgorod Oblast shortly after regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced an air-raid alert, the Baza Telegram channel reported on March 16. Read also: Air-raid alert and explosions interrupt first day of sham presidential vote in Russian Belgorod It was particularly loud in the administrative center of Belgorod. Damages were reported by witnesses in the nearby village of Rozumne. The town of Shebekino was also under attack, with a fire seen near the Gofrotara packing plant, according to numerous video and photo posts by locals on social media. Baza Air defense systems shot down 15 RM-70 Vampire rockets, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Telegram. Read also: Ukraine hit Kursk and Belgorod oblasts with drones, Tochka-U missiles and Vampire MLRS, Russian Defense Minist Earlier in the day, pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) and the Siberian Battalion warned Belgorod residents of a massive attack on military facilities and positions of the Russian forces in the city, urging civilians to take shelter. "You do not need to become a human shield for Putin's security forces. Take care of yourself and your loved ones," their statement said. Schools and shopping centers across Belgorod and its suburbs will be closed for several days amid intensified shelling, Gladkov wrote on Telegram in response to the warning. Read also: Russia awakes to biggest attack on Russian soil since World War II The pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer FRL, Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), and Siberian Battalion units announced on March 12 another raid into Russian territory, describing it as an operation to "liberate the Russian Federation from dictatorship." The RVC claimed to have advanced several tens of kilometers and taken prisoners. The Russian side reported casualties among the Russian army soldiers. The FRL later announced its control over part of the village of Tiotkino in Kursk Oblast, with the advance ongoing. The ASTRA Telegram channel, citing sources, reported that at least four Russian soldiers were killed, and nine others wounded in massive drone attacks and volunteer raids on March 12. The RVC called on residents of Belgorod and Kursk oblasts to evacuate immediately on March 14 and announced that it would open fire on military targets in those oblasts in response to Russian shelling of Ukraine. The FRL said that the raid in Russia would last at least until after the Presidential "elections" scheduled for March 15-17. Their main mission to reach Moscow. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine (FOX40.COM) A two-vehicle rollover accident in Sacramento County caused first responders to close down some area roadways. At around 11:20 a.m., Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to Sunrise Boulevard and Sun Center Drive for reports of a car crash. Three people were transported to a local hospital. Sacramentos red light camera program shut down by sheriffs office As of 12:30 p.m., southbound traffic lanes on Sunrise Avenue are closed with no estimated time of reopening. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. A county in California just launched a guaranteed income program to help low-income Black and Native American families. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Family First Sacramento pilot program on Tuesday. The program, which launches this July, will allocate a basic income of $725 to eligible African American and Native-American families with children up to age 5 in the Valley High, Florin, North Sacramento, Del Paso Heights, Arden Arcade areas, as well as the Wilton Rancheria tribe. Stock photo of cash (Photo: Pexels) These are families that are living within high rates of poverty across all the zip codes, Michelle Callejas, director of the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services with Sacramento County, said. In this case, African American and Native American children zero to five and their families are most disproportionately impacted by the child welfare system. The state of California and a nonprofit fund the program, which Callejas said is meant to promote family stability and self-sufficiency. Guaranteed income programs are nothing new in the U.S. Several cities and localities have adopted such programs to help families living in poverty. Unlike basic income programs which allocations a set amount of cash to people regardless of their income, guaranteed income programs address income inequality and redistribute wealth to those in need. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a proponent of guaranteed income, arguing that racial income disparities required the establishment of an economic floor for Black people living in poverty. The cash most of these programs offer is only for a limited time and it's only intended to fill gaps not covered by other social safety benefits. The payments often cover bills, debt repayment, childcare, or other expenses. This is not a new type of thing. It has been shown to work over and over again, there are 150, or more of these programs going on right now, Dr. Steve Wirtz, a Development Psychologist and Commissioner with First 5 Sacramento, said. Investing in children early is the best bet we can make, and it pays off for all of us. Not just in terms of the government, but in terms of you and I not experiencing the problems of homelessness on the streets or crime. One of the biggest guaranteed income experiments in the country was launched in Atlanta, Georgia in 2022. The "In Her Hands" program enrolled 650 Black women in three Georgia communities who either received $850 per month for two years or an upfront payment of $4,300, followed by $700 monthly payments. One of the communities the program targeted was Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward district where Census data showed 37 percent of Black children lived in poverty and no white children did. Some critics argue that these programs aren't the ultimate solution to remedy income inequality. Rather, they're just a temporary fix to a longstanding issue. Many opponents believe recipients could depend on the payments as cushions to their financial hardships instead of using them for the short term while they work to advance their education or career. In Sacramento County, officials plan to analyze data from their pilot program and track who gets the payments, how they spend the money, and the best ways to refine the project as it progresses. The median household income in Sacramento County was $84,010, according to 2023 Census data. A little more than 12 percent of the population is living in poverty. Sacramento County to Give Out Free Money to Black Americans Living in Poverty to Address Wealth Disparities Did Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan help a former client try to avoid city code enforcement fees on their nuisance property? Tiny favors surely pass all the time between city officials and their friends, but when does it cross a line? Even if those favors arent technically illegal, can they still be morally gray or ethically dubious? And what about an elected officials duty to avoid even the appearance of bias or favoritism? Kaplan seems to have skirted too close to the edge of these questions when she had her office interfere with a code enforcement case last year on behalf of a derelict business property in Downtown Sacramento outside of Kaplans district. Opinion Vanir LLC is owned and operated by Dorene Dominguez, who has donated to Kaplans campaign fund and is a previous client of Kaplans law firm, the Kaplan Law Group. The company owns a former Bank of the West branch building at 601 J St., a mere 400 feet from the citys crown jewel: The Golden 1 Center. Nearly a decade ago, Dominguezs company had hoped to build a high-rise office building on the property, a plan that has changed direction almost as many times as the Kings have missed easy baskets. The Vanir Tower has never risen, and the old bank branch remains a graffitied nuisance to the city causing at least a dozen visits by city Code Enforcement to clean up over the past several years. By August 2023, Vanir found itself on the wrong end of a $350 monthly code enforcement fee that it did not care for. That prompted an email to Dominguezs favorite councilwoman. But instead of referring Vanirs email to City Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela, who represents the downtown street the property sits on, Kaplans office directly contacted City Code and Housing Enforcement Chief Peter Lemos to question the charges. The lack of concern about a clearly questionable action and, frankly, the excessive defensiveness on Kaplans part when questioned about it speaks to a behavior unbecoming of a top city official. And Sacramentans deserve to know just how well Kaplan plays this game of favors when it involves a wealthy donor. A favor for a friend After Dominguezs letter showed up, Kaplans District Director Mateo Ramirez-Mercado reached out to Lemos for clarity on codes process for fining property owners who are facing the impacts of homelessness on their properties, citing Dominguezs email. Lemos responded later the same day, stating that the case was scheduled to go to an administrative hearing on Oct. 11, 2023 because Dominguez had already filed an appeal in opposition of our notice to begin monthly monitoring of their property. He also included a representative from Valenzuelas office on the email; a sign, perhaps, that even city staff knew Kaplan wasnt the right council member to be asking about this. Lemos also said the case had been assigned to the citys dangerous buildings team and had to be secured 11 times in the last couple of years by city-hired contractors. Properties that are left vacant are subject to a monthly monitoring fee to recover costs, and in addition to this fee, they may incur penalties for not correcting violations and maintaining a nuisance property within the City of Sacramento. According to an email released by Kaplan, Vanir would eventually decide to drop its appeal and come into compliance with city code. There is, however, currently an active code enforcement case on the 601 J St. property that was opened in June of last year labeled Categories: Emergency On Call, Substandard Vacant Building, HSG Boarded. Kaplans questionable ethics Sacramento City Code city code 4.02 deals with the ethics of city employees, including city council members. City employees are to use the citys powers and resources for the benefit of the public rather than any city employees personal benefit, said Mary-Beth Moylan, a professor of law at the University of the Pacifics McGeorge School of Law. If a councilmember is reaching out on behalf of any constituent to navigate the system, that might be for the public benefit (and) it might be for the benefit of the individual theyre trying to help, Moylan said, speaking generally about the citys ethics code. But the key is, they cant be doing it for their own benefit. Its unclear if this incident constitutes an ethical violation by Kaplan. But since November, I have gotten the run-around from the Sacramento City Clerks office as I tried to gain access to documents shared in this column. Once I did get them, Kaplan repeatedly declined to speak with me over the phone. Among the questions she insisted I send to her only via written communication was: Can you understand that reaching out on behalf of Vanir for an issue outside of your district could appear as a conflict of interest or as ethically questionable? Kaplan didnt answer the question directly, but she did say this in an email: As an elected councilmember for the City of Sacramento, I believe it is my obligation to help people that call my office seeking information or assistance no matter where they reside in the city. But Kaplan clearly sought favor for Vanir in avoiding fees on a nuisance property that has added to the blight of Downtown Sacramento. The problem isnt necessarily that Vanir got the political favor it was seeking, its that Kaplan had no problem being the conduit for that favor. Perhaps the citys Ethics Commission should review her behavior. And perhaps she should be compelled to release her firms client lists, so we know just how many little favors Kaplans actually done? SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A local museum was praised as one of the best in the country by a globally recognized magazine. According to Travel + Leisure, a travel magazine based in New York, the San Diego Air and Space Museum has been named one of the 10 Best Aviation Museums Around the U.S. Navy SEAL museum coming to downtown San Diego The museum joins the list alongside world-famous institutions including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. Located in Balboa Park in the former Ford Building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, the San Diego Air and Space Museum is known for its preservation of San Diegos rich aviation history. Founded in 1961, it was formerly known as the San Diego Aerospace Museum until it changed its name in 2006 to better reflect its growing collection. Send your name to the Moon aboard NASAs first robotic Moon rover The San Diego Air and Space Museum is the only California-based museum on Travel + Leisures list. The list was compiled with input by Shea Oakley, an aviation historian and the executive director emeritus at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, and Dan Bubb, a former airline pilot and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who specializes in commercial aviation and airport history. The museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza at Balboa Park. It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and Californias official air and space museum and education center. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. China's space station completes material exposure tests Xinhua) 09:26, March 16, 2024 This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 taikonaut Jiang Xinlin performing extravehicular activities assisted by the robotic arm of the space station. (Xinhua/Li He) BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China has completed the material extravehicular exposure tests on its space station, with the experimental equipment and the first batch of material samples safely retrieved to the orbiting spacecraft, the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Friday. The experimental equipment and samples were transferred from the exterior of the space station to the station's airlock module at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, with the collaboration of scientists on Earth and assistance from an onboard robotic arm. The orbiting taikonaut crew subsequently moved the experimental assembly to the lab module, where they disassembled and stored the samples. These samples will be returned to Earth onboard the Shenzhou spacecraft and handed over to scientists for further research, the center noted. The material extravehicular exposure experimental equipment was launched on March 8, 2023 and has been in orbit for one year. The first batch of over 400 material samples installed were divided into non-metallic and metallic materials. According to the center, the orbiting taikonauts will install a new batch of samples into the experimental equipment in May 2024 and conduct a new round of space exposure tests. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) The main point of investing for the long term is to make money. Furthermore, you'd generally like to see the share price rise faster than the market. Unfortunately for shareholders, while the Nufarm Limited (ASX:NUF) share price is up 16% in the last five years, that's less than the market return. The last year has been disappointing, with the stock price down 1.1% in that time. Although Nufarm has shed AU$141m from its market cap this week, let's take a look at its longer term fundamental trends and see if they've driven returns. See our latest analysis for Nufarm While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the five years of share price growth, Nufarm moved from a loss to profitability. That's generally thought to be a genuine positive, so we would expect to see an increasing share price. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). ASX:NUF Earnings Per Share Growth March 15th 2024 It is of course excellent to see how Nufarm has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. If you are thinking of buying or selling Nufarm stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Nufarm the TSR over the last 5 years was 21%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective Nufarm shareholders are up 0.9% for the year (even including dividends). But that was short of the market average. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 4% over five years. Maybe the share price is just taking a breather while the business executes on its growth strategy. If you would like to research Nufarm in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company. But note: Nufarm may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Ukraines SBU security service has managed to halt the supply of a large batch of technological components to Russia, which were meant for Moscows cruise missile and drone production, SBU reported on March 15. According to Illya Vityuk, the head of SBUs Cybersecurity Department, Ukrainian specialists have successfully blocked the delivery of servomotors for the production of 1,600 Shahed kamikaze UAVs and 4,000 microchips for cruise missiles. Read also: Iran provided Russia with over 400 kamikaze drones, White House says He added that SBU operatives continue to work on the frontlines, destroying enemy electronic warfare systems and intercepting Russian drones responsible for the coordination of missile and artillery strikes on Ukrainian troops. Read also: SBU detains Kharkiv-based top Russian spy monitoring Ukrainian military Intelligence gathered by the cybersecurity experts help to prevent combat casualties. "Imagine: Russian special services hack messengers [apps] of one [Ukrainian] servicemember and thus figure out the exact location and time of a planned meeting, and as a result a strike follows, killing dozens," he explains how his department contributes to Ukraines wider war effort. 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 this image from video provided by Senate TV, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol in Washington, March 14, 2024. Schumer is calling on Israel to hold new elections. Schumer says he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "lost his way" amid the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and a growing humanitarian crisis there. Schumer is the first Jewish majority leader in the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. (Senate TV via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) Republicans and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new elections. They accused the Democratic leader of breaking the unwritten rule against interfering in a close allys electoral politics. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell reacted to Schumer by saying it was hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Schumer's call for new elections was inappropriate. Even Benny Gantz, a political rival of Netanyahu and member of Israel's war cabinet, said Schumer's remarks were counterproductive. Schumer's stinging rebuke of Netanyahu the senator said the Israeli leader had lost his way and was an obstacle to peace was certainly provocative but it was hardly norm-breaking. U.S. leaders, as well as American allies, are more frequently butting into electoral politics beyond the waters edge. Look no further than the close and historically complicated relationship that American presidents and congressional leaders have negotiated with Israel leaders over the last 75 years. It is an urban legend that we dont intervene in Israeli politics and they dont try to intervene in ours, said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, who worked as a Middle East negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations. We do intercede and they do intercede in ours. In 2019, with just weeks to go before Netanyahu faced a difficult election, President Donald Trump abruptly declared the U.S. was recognizing Israels sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, giving Netanyahu a political boost just when he badly needed it. In 2015, Republican House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to deliver an address to Congress during sensitive negotiations about Irans nuclear program and shortly before a national election in Israel. Boehner did not coordinate the invitation with President Barack Obama's administration. Obama declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House during the visit, with White House officials saying that holding such a visit so close to Israel's election would be inappropriate. The standard Obama set for a White House visit wasn't one Bill Clinton subscribed to years earlier. In April 1996, Clinton invited Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres to the White House to sign a $100 million counter-terrorism accord shortly before an Israeli election. Years later, Clinton acknowledged in an interview that he was trying to give Peres a boost with voters. It didn't work; Peres lost to Netanyahu. In practice, keeping out of allies elections has been more of a professed American value than enshrined protocol. U.S. leaders have frequently demonstrated a varsity versus junior varsity approach to how overtly they noodle in the internal politics of friends, says Edward Frantz, a University of Indianapolis historian. The bigger the ally's economy, the less likely American leaders are to meddle openly in its elections. American politicians want to have it both ways, Frantz said. There are moments when American leaders want to and need to speak out and have their say. But there is reason to stay close to the lines on elections. You dont want foreign governments to interfere in our own internal politics, either. The lines have only become blurrier in recent years, and are being tested by how world leaders are approaching November's Biden-Trump rematch. This past week, during a White House visit on the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession into NATO, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk didn't obscure his desire to see Biden win another term. I want you to know that your campaign four years ago was really inspirational for me and for so many Poles, said Tusk, with conservative Polish President Andrzej Duda by his side. "And we were encouraged ... after your victory. Thank you for your determination. It was something really important for not only for the United States." Tusk later singled out Johnson, the Republican House speaker, to blame for Washington's deadlock on a spending bill with $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, which is running low on ammunition and arms in its war with Russia. This is not some political skirmish that has significance only here, on the American political stage, said Tusk. He told reporters that inaction by Johnson could cost thousands of human lives in Ukraine. Last week, Biden slammed Trump for hosting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has described a possible comeback by Trump as the only serious chance for an end to the war in Ukraine. Hungary, like the U.S., is a member of NATO. Orban has become an icon to some conservative populists for championing illiberal democracy, replete with restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. Biden during a recent campaign event noted that Trump was meeting Orban, and said the Hungarian leader is "looking for dictatorship. Hungary summoned the U.S. ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, to register displeasure with the president's comments. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president stood by his comments. Our position is that Hungary has engaged in an assault on democratic institutions, and that remains a source of grave concern to us, Sullivan said. The Schumer comments in the midst of Israel's difficult five-month war offer new strain to the U.S.-Israel relationship. That relationship already has seen tensions between Biden and Netanyahu mount as the Palestinian death toll rises and innocent civilians suffer while the U.S. and others struggle to get aid past Israel's blockade and into Gaza. National elections are set for 2026 in Israel though they could well come earlier. Biden, in a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, said he thought Schumer had delivered a good speech." The president and White House officials, however, stopped short of endorsing Schumer's call for elections. There have been other moments of deep tension in the U.S-Israeli relationship. President Dwight Eisenhower pressured Israel with the threat of sanctions into withdrawing from the Sinai in 1957 in the midst of the Suez Crisis. Ronald Reagan delayed the delivery of F16 fighter jets to Israel at a time of escalating violence in the Middle East. President George H.W. Bush held up $10 billion in loan guarantees to force the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories. But the press by Schumer for new elections ventures into uncharted territory. All of those other crises were sort of one-offs, Miller said. They were efforts to move Israel in a focused, discrete way on a specific issue. What you have now after years of Netanyahus premierships is a fundamental crisis of confidence, which cuts to the core of the U.S.-Israel relationship. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A San Diego police officer was arrested Monday on suspicion of domestic violence, authorities said. Around 8 p.m. Monday, SDPD was called to the 1900 block of Pacific Highway in Little Italy for a domestic violence disturbance, police said. After an investigation, officers arrested Seth Tate, a San Diego police officer assigned to the departments Central Division. Officers booked Tate into San Diego County Jail on a domestic violence charge. Wrong turn leads man to spend a year in Tijuana jail Tate, who has worked for the department for almost three years, was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The San Diego Police Department takes these kinds of incidents very seriously, SDPD added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Life in the cold can be difficult for animals. As the body chills, organs including the brain and muscles slow down. The body temperature of animals such as reptiles and amphibians mostly depends on the temperature of their environment but mammals can increase their metabolism, using more energy to warm their body. This allows them to live in colder areas and stay active when temperatures drop at night or during winter months. Although scientists know mammals can increase their metabolism in the cold, it has not been clear which organs or tissues are using this extra energy to generate more heat. Staying warm is especially challenging for small, aquatic mammals like sea otters, so we wanted to know how they have adapted to survive the cold. We assembled a research team with expertise in both human and marine mammal metabolism, including Heidi Pearson of the University of Alaska Southeast and Mike Murray of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Understanding energy use in animals adapted to life in the cold may also provide clues for manipulating human metabolism. Sea otter metabolism It is especially difficult for water-living mammals to stay warm because water conducts heat away from the body much faster than air. Most marine mammals have large bodies and a thick layer of fat or blubber for insulation. Sea otters are the smallest of the marine mammals, and do not have this thick layer of blubber. Instead, they are insulated by the densest fur of any mammal, with as many as a million hairs per square inch. This fur, however, is high maintenance, requiring regular grooming. About 10% of a sea otters daily activity involves maintaining the insulating layer of air trapped in their fur. Dense fur is not enough, by itself, to keep sea otters warm. To generate enough body heat, their metabolic rate at rest is about three times higher than that of most mammals of similar size. This high metabolic rate has a cost, though. To obtain enough energy to fuel the high demand, sea otters must eat more than 20% of their body mass in food each day. In comparison, humans eat around 2% of their body mass about 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of food per day for a 155-pound (70 kg) person. Feeding on Dungeness crab in Monterey Bay, California. Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images/Moment via Getty Images Where does the heat come from? When animals eat, the energy in their food cannot be used directly by cells to do work. Instead, the food is broken down into simple nutrients, such as fats and sugars. These nutrients are then transported in the blood and absorbed by cells. Within the cell are compartments called mitochondria where nutrients are converted into ATP a high-energy molecule that acts as the energy currency of the cell. The process of converting nutrients into ATP is similar to how a dam turns stored water into electricity. As water flows out from the dam, it makes electricity by spinning blades connected to a generator similar to wind turning the blades on a windmill. If the dam is leaky, some water or stored energy is lost and cannot be used to make electricity. Similarly, leaky mitochondria are less efficient at making ATP from nutrients. Although the leaked energy in the mitochondria cannot be used to do work, it generates heat to warm the sea otters body. All tissues in the body use energy and make heat, but some tissues are larger and more active than others. Muscle makes up 30% of the body mass of most mammals. When active, muscles consume a lot of energy and produce a lot of heat. You have undoubtedly experienced this, whether getting hot during exercise or shivering when cold. To find out if muscle metabolism helps keep sea otters warm, we studied small muscle samples from sea otters ranging in size and age from newborn pups to adults. We placed the muscle samples in small chambers designed to monitor oxygen consumption a measure of how much energy is used. By adding different solutions that stimulated or inhibited various metabolic processes, we determined how much energy the mitochondria could use to make ATP and how much energy could go into heat-producing leak. We discovered the mitochondria in sea otter muscles could be very leaky, allowing otters to turn up the heat in their muscles without physical activity or shivering. It turns out that sea otter muscle is good at being inefficient. The energy lost as heat while turning nutrients into movement allows them to survive the cold. A mother sea otter hand-feeds her baby bits of crab. Moro Bay, California. PhotoviewPlus/Moment Open via Getty Images Remarkably, we found newborn pups have the same metabolic ability as adults, even though their muscles have not yet matured for swimming and diving. Broader implications Our research clearly demonstrates that muscle is important for more than just movement. Because muscle makes up such a large portion of body mass, even a small increase in muscle metabolism can dramatically increase how much energy an animal uses. [More than 140,000 readers get one of The Conversations informative newsletters. Join the list today.] This has important implications for human health. If scientists discover ways to safely and reversibly increase skeletal muscle metabolism at rest, doctors could possibly use this as a tool to reduce climbing rates of obesity by increasing the amount of calories a patient can burn. Conversely, reducing skeletal muscle metabolism could conserve energy in patients suffering from cancer or other wasting diseases and could reduce food and resources needed to support astronauts on long-duration spaceflight. 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: Traver Wright, Texas A&M University; Melinda Sheffield-Moore, Texas A&M University, and Randall Davis, Texas A&M University Read more: Randall Davis has received research funding from the National Science Foundation and NOAA. Melinda Sheffield-Moore and Traver Wright do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Authorities are searching for an incarcerated man who reportedly walked away from a Community Reentry Program (MCRP) in San Diego on Friday. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Quintin G. Wilkerson, 53, was reported missing at around 12:45 p.m. after an alert was received regarding the removal of an ankle monitor. 11 people displaced in Oceanside apartment fire CDCR said staff immediately initiated an emergency count that confirmed Wilkerson was missing. A search was launched shortly after. Wilkerson was described by authorities as a Black man standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 154 pounds. He was reported to have brown eyes and a bald head. He was last seen wearing black jeans, as well as a black and white shirt with a white logo on the sleeve. Quintin G. Wilkerson The incarcerated man was serving time for corporal injury on specific persons resulting in traumatic condition with an enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury involving domestic violence, CDCR noted in a news release. He was given a 6-year sentence. Wilkerson has been housed at the MCRP in San Diego since Jan. 23, 2024. CDCRs Office of Correctional Safety and local law enforcement agencies have been notified and are assisting with the search. Anyone who sees Wilkerson or has knowledge of his whereabouts is encouraged to contact law enforcement or call 9-1-1. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. On Saturday afternoon, the State Emergency Service completed search and rescue operations in the 5-storey building that was hit by a Russian Shahed drone on 13 March. Source: Oleh Strilka, spokesman for the Sumy Oblast branch of the State Emergency Service, in a comment to Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster Details: Rescue workers dismantled everything they had access to. However, the body of the girl, who lived on the fifth floor, was not found. The search and rescue operations lasted for four days. During this time, the bodies of three dead people were removed from under the rubble. In the first days after the attack, more than a hundred firefighters were at the site of the hit, and there were repeated fires at night, so rescue workers worked continuously. Only dismantling works would stop at night. Background: On the night of 12-13 March, Russian forces attacked Sumy with Shahed loitering munitions, one of which hit an apartment building. Early reports indicated that two people had been killed and eight injured. On 14 March, the number of fatalities in this attack increased to 3. Support UP or become our patron! Five Republican candidates are competing in Tuesday's primary election to fill the seat held by Scott Wiggam as state representative for Ohio's 77th District. Only one Democrat, Mark Gooch, is running for the position. The five Republican candidates are Bill Albright, Meredith Craig, Dennis Finley, Frank Grande, and Joshua Hlavaty. Albright is one of the candidates who expressed concern about Ohio's fiscal status. "The two most pressing issues facing our community (are) the rise in property taxes and the lack of affordable housing," said Albright, who earned a degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration. He serves on the executive board of the Wayne County Humane Society and the Wayne County Republican Party. The Ohio primary election will be held Tuesday. Albright: Eliminate income tax, up homestead exemption Citing a significant increase in property taxes in the past year because of state-mandated funding formulas and an overall increase in property values, Albright said he would, as a state representative, promote eliminating the income tax, increasing the homestead tax exemption for seniors and increasing the home occupancy tax, "leading to an overall deduction in expenses for the average Wayne Countian." Albright is also interested in housing, including "incentivi(zing) workforce housing, multi-use units and multi-unit housing options." He additionally will promote revitalizing existing buildings and using historic tax credits to renovate older homes. He said his public policy experience will "reduce the polarization and petty politics within the legislative process," while his background as a combat veteran and military leader, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will help him to bring together diverse groups of people from different backgrounds. Craig: Lack of leadership prevents moving forward Lack of leadership in the Statehouse was addressed by Craig, who said it "has caused a stalemate, preventing meaningful legislation to pass." One of the reasons she decided to run is issues impacting Wayne County cannot be solved unless legislators work together. In traveling the county for the last year, Craig said the top two issues she has heard about are "the rising property taxes and balancing the growth of manufacturing and housing while preserving our farmland." Craig would like to examine the state budget to help provide tax relief and, among other proposals, expand the homestead exemption to keep seniors from being forced out of their homes. Craig said a critical concern is "to continue the new beginner farm tax credit to incentivize our younger generation to continue to farm," in addition to investing in 4-H and county fair programs, in which she was involved as a youth. City growth must be "sensible," said Craig, who wants to look at tax incentives for repurposing land used previously. Craig has experience in the Statehouse, including a legislative fellowship and the opportunity to work for former State Representative Ron Amstutz when he served as speaker pro tempore. She is the director of healthcare policy for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. "I love Wayne County; there is no better place to live," she said. "I want to do all I can to support our agricultural heritage, our working families, and our Christian values." Finley: Business isn't getting done Leadership issues are also on the mind of Finley, who will pursue as a priority in the Statehouse "the ability to work together and build consensus." "Right now there is so much tension and division in Columbus, preventing them from doing the people's business," Finley said. One of the first items on Finley's agenda is "trying to find people to work together," he said, noting one of the issues he will pursue is addressing the budget. "So many people have crossed the border," he said, putting added "stresses and strains" on the federal budget, which in turn negatively impacts the state budget, particularly in the areas of Medicaid and education. "We're going to have to start looking at spending," said Finley, who taught career tech education for 30 years and has a master's degree in education. He pointed out mandates connected with the former No Child Left Behind legislation resulted in the need for school districts to purchase new textbooks and new tests. "Special interest groups have infiltrated state government," he said, "and are making money on the backs of taxpayers." "I have not taken a penny for the campaign. I don't want to find myself beholden to an individual (or group)," Finley said. "I am going to treat everyone the same." His political experience includes having served as mayor of Dalton. Grande: Address taxes, project farmland Grande cited as his priority lowering real property taxes. "(They are) too onerous on people starting out or people starting to retire," Grande said. Grande wants to protect Ohio farmland and advocates restricting or limiting foreign ownership. Several states, including Arkansas and Iowa, already have related laws, he said. Grande said one of his contributions as a state representative is being the only candidate who is a lawyer, having earned his law degree and legal master's degree from the University of Akron School of Law, Doctor of Laws. He said being a lawyer in the Statehouse is as important as having a surgeon perform an operation. "I haven't taken any money from corporations or corrupt career politicians," Grande said, also emphasizing his roots in Wayne County, where he supports its agriculture, industry and small businesses. "I swear to God I will do what's right by the people of this county," Grande said. Hlavaty: Put 'circuit breaker' on tax issue Hlavaty is integrally tied to Wayne County with his family's 200-year-old history of residing in and being involved in every facet of the community over the years. Asked to identify the biggest problem on the state level, he said it's the "pretty big percentage jump" in property taxes, from 30-50% in some cases. "It's the question I hear most about when I knock on doors," Hlavaty said. "The biggest solution I'm proposing is a piece of tax policy" called a circuit breaker, which "controls and cross-references" the amount to be paid with income and adjusts it downward if the homeowner is "making too little to pay that amount." It would mean people are "not going to be taxed out of their homes." So far this is not on any legislative agenda, as far as Hlavaty is aware. "I would say that is priority No. 1 for me," he said, adding another role he thinks the state representative for Wayne County should play is a unifier. "There is a little bit more to the job (than talked about)," he said, describing an additional responsibility as "being the voice of reason, or the adult in the room." The state representative is the person in the best position to get people serving in government roles across the county "on the same page... to build bridges and bring people together...." "I'm only as good as my weakest link," Hlavaty said. As a state representative, "I would see myself as a liaison for the whole county," he said. A farmer and business owner, Hlavaty describes himself as a Christian, a collegiate athlete and a public servant. He said his initial interest in politics was motivated by his parents' commitment to protecting the unborn. Similarly, background information on the candidates shows Craig and Albright are also pro-life. Finley promoted family values; and Grande, family, God and the Constitution. Craig, Albright, Grande and Hlavaty have a farm heritage, and Finley calls agriculture a strength for Wayne County. Craig, Albright and Hlavaty promote school choice, and Finley suggests changes to be made in the educational system. Craig, Albright, Finley and Hlavaty talk about reverence for first responders, the military and law enforcement. Grande stands for family, God and the Constitution and not wasting taxpayers' money on things not wanted or needed. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: District 77: Five Wayne County Republicans seeking Scott Wiggam's seat ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Theres an old warehouse hidden away in Albuquerques northwest commercial district. Two World War II-era corrugated steel Quonset huts house an unusual museum, the likes of which you have never seen. Welcome to the New Mexico Museum of Military History. Never heard of it? Thats because the privately owned museum collection is closed to the public. In fact, despite support from the cities of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, the National Guard, and the State Legislature, the stealth museum has no phone, no signs, and no visiting hours. Its not listed in tourist brochures and the door is always locked. Heinous act: Charlotte mother and two young children confirmed dead after human remains found: CMPD Take a peek inside, and the first thing to hit you will be clutter and disarray. You see, this collection is less a museum and more a vast hodgepodge of military memorabilia including trucks, jeeps, trailers, ambulances, motorcycles, parts, uniforms, hats, ribbons, ammo boxes, maps, paperback books, and miscellaneous papers. New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE New Mexico Museum of Military History collection on 6th Street in Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE At the core of the museums collection are nearly 100 historic military vehicles that once saw service in far-flung conflicts across the globe. Some vehicles are in working condition, some not. The assemblage is owned by a non-profit group called the New Mexico Museum of Military History. The World War II generation is all but gone, said museum Board Member Gregg Hartz. This is what they took and fought a war with. Wed like to preserve it here in New Mexico for future generations. Faced with the challenge of owning historic military equipment with no place to display it, the museum sought public funding for a permanent location to showcase its vast collection. The New Mexico State Legislature chipped in $830,000 and the City of Rio Rancho offered to donate five acres for a museum complex. But those commitments turned into just another expensive government boondoggle. The New Mexico Museum of Military History was a project that could have been but never was. Matthews Police officer honored for saving unconscious woman from burning car The first legislative appropriation was in 2006 when state lawmakers authorized $100,000 for architects to design a 76,000-square-foot museum complete with exhibit halls, storage areas, and a gift shop. However, after the private museums board failed to come up with $8,000,000 to cover construction costs, the architectural plans were discarded. The military history museum has lost more than $700,000 in state appropriations because the non-profit group couldnt meet New Mexico funding deadlines. Lawmakers reallocated the funds to other capital projects. Meanwhile, the New Mexico National Guard helped out by allowing the museum to temporarily store vehicles at the Rio Rancho Armory. However, the non-profit museum wore out its welcome after temporary storage stretched into almost 20 years. Because it had breached its agreement, the museum was directed to remove all its equipment from the Armory. Despite the eviction notice the museum still stores many of its military vehicles on National Guard property. After being stored for years, unprotected from the elements at the Guards Armory, those trucks have lost much of their historic value. Vehicles at the Rio Rancho Armory | KRQE Vehicles at the Rio Rancho Armory | KRQE Vehicles at the Rio Rancho Armory | KRQE Vehicles at the Rio Rancho Armory | KRQE In 2006, the City of Albuquerque agreed to store the private collection in a warehouse complex on 6th Street, NW. In exchange for rent-free use of city property, the museum agreed to display its memorabilia in parades and other events for the benefit of the public. Bottom line, there has to be a benefit to the general public when we lease (city) property, Director of Albuquerques Municipal Development Pat Montoya said. It was only after the lease was signed that city officials discovered the private military history organization is a museum in name only. For example, the non-profit group has packed the warehouse with so much military stuff it cant keep track of it all. Despite accumulating thousands of items, board members admit there is no organization to the collection and they do not have an inventory. When asked how the museum could know whats in the warehouse if they dont have an inventory, Hartz responded, Its a good question. Even though the collection includes almost 100 historic military vehicles, museum officials admit they cant find the paperwork documenting ownership. We had titles on everything that we had in the collection at one time, but they have all disappeared, Hartz said. I saw paperwork on almost every vehicle that we have at one time when I first started. Is that still here in the building? No, its not. NC Dept. of Labor releases cause of Carowinds Fury 325 support beam crack The non-profit museum generates a little income by loaning vehicles to Hollywood movie productions like Oppenheimer, but its not enough. Plagued with a dwindling membership, lack of financial resources, shoddy record keeping, disorganization, and dependency on a small, yet dedicated, group of volunteers, the museum is unable to meet its obligations. Today, the museum is not in compliance with the City of Albuquerques lease, Albuquerques Municipal Development Director Pat Montoya said. This group intended well. However, for a number of reasons, they just werent able to comply. In 2021, museum officials ignored requests for required annual reports, vehicle titles or insurance coverage. However, rather than enforce the lease, city officials looked the other way. That was three years ago. The city was at fault here, Montoya admitted. This one fell through the cracks and we just did not enforce the policy or the procedures or what was identified in the lease. In September last year, the museum was given another deadline to comply. It didnt. In October, city inspectors cited the organization for fire code violations. There was discussions within city government that (the military museum) was completely out of compliance and that we needed to hold them accountable since they were not going to be able to comply, Montoya said. The decision was made giving them a 90-day notice that they had to vacate the property. In January, the museum moved out and relocated its collection of military artifacts to private properties in Albuquerque and Cabezon. NC Dept. of Labor releases cause of Carowinds Fury 325 support beam crack This is very unusual, Montoya said. In my five years here this is the first time that weve had to deal with an organization where weve actually evicted them. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers. We have an obligation to protect their money. And when we have a nonprofit that is in a (public) building, there is still a responsibility for them to comply, he continued. Nexstars KRQE asked Hartz how the future looked for the New Mexico Museum of Military History. Theres a pretty black cloud over the top of it right now, Hartz said in November. Last week, Board President Mike Fuller made it official, confirming the New Mexico Museum of Military History has decided to disband and transfer its entire historic military collection to another non-profit organization, the New Mexico Wounded Warriors Project. New Mexico does have a bonafide military history museum operated by the states Department of Military Affairs in Santa Fe. Its open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, and admission is free. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Authorities are asking for the publics help in locating a driver suspected of fatally hitting a man on State Route 163 last month. According to the California Highway Patrol, a man was found dead near downtown San Diego on Wednesday, Feb. 28. He was located within the center median of the roadway. 11 people displaced in Oceanside apartment fire Based on the preliminary investigation, CHP determined the pedestrian was walking within the traffic lanes of southbound SR-163, north of Interstate 5. CHP believes the man may have been struck by an individual driving a newer model black, compact BMW coupe a 2 series or possibly a 230i model. The driver reportedly fled the scene southbound on SR-63 into downtown. According to investigators, the vehicle may have damage to the front-end, left side mirror, and left side front headlights. CHP is now asking for the publics help for information related to this case. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has seen a vehicle matching this description is encouraged to call CHP San Diego Areas Special Investigations Unit at (858) 293-6000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Senators on both sides of the aisle have signaled their support for taking action to force the divestment of social media app TikTok from Chinese-based ByteDance, under the threat of a U.S. ban. The move comes following a vote on Wednesday that sailed through the House with a 352-65 bipartisan split, with one member abstaining. It would force Chinese divestment from TikTok or see the app banned. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns over ByteDance's ownership of TikTok, stressing the national security threat is serious. HOUSE GOP LEADERS TARGET BIDEN ENERGY POLICIES IN LEGISLATION BLITZ NEXT WEEK Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he was pleased to see the House pass the bill, adding that he looks forward to seeing the Senate proceed with it. "I have been explicit and unequivocal about my concerns about TikTok, both that it is used by the Chinese Communist Party to engage in espionage and surveillance and that it is used to push incredibly harmful propaganda, particularly on our young people," he told Fox News Digital. The icon for the video sharing TikTok app is seen on a smartphone. HOUSE PASSES BILL THAT COULD SEE TIKTOK BANNED IN US Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she wants to see the app forced to divest: "I do want to see us divest force them to divest. We shouldn't have those ties with Communist China," she said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., echoed that sentiment, saying, "It has to be addressed." Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who serve as chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, applauded the House's passage of the TikTok bill in a joint statement on Wednesday, saying, "We are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok." They added that they hope to see the measure passed in the Senate and signed by President Biden. Committee Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., left, looks on as ranking member Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questions witnesses during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing concerning worldwide threats on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 2023. The top senators on the intelligence committee have been sounding the alarm on the social media app for years. Warner, a Democrat, claimed in 2022 that "President Trump was right" when he sought to ban TikTok with an executive order in 2020 that was ultimately blocked by the courts. JOHNSON SAYS HOUSE WILL 'APPLY EVERY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE' TO SENATE TO PASS TIKTOK BILL During the annual Senate Intel worldwide threats hearing with various national security officials earlier this week, FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed to Rubio that ByteDance, "the parent company is, for all intents and purposes, beholden to the CCP." "I think what we're hearing is genuine risk," said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. The senator noted he is hopeful for the Senate to take action, particularly because of the large bipartisan support evidenced by the House's vote. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks during a news conference to discuss legislation that would temporarily halt U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12, 2022. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., added he also wants to see TikTok required to be divested from China so that "national security and information [and] data on ordinary Americans can be protected." TIKTOK CEO TELLS USERS 'PROTECT YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS' AGAINST TIKTOK BAN IN VIDEO Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said that he sees TikTok as "a national security threat," adding that he wants "to make sure that we can sever that relationship" with China. Despite the high level of concern over TikTok among members of both parties, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was vague about the bill's fate in the upper chamber on Wednesday, and did not offer any clues on whether it would be fast-tracked in the body. "The Senate will review the legislation when it comes over from the House," he said in a statement following the measure's passage. REPUBLICANS UNVEIL EFFORT TO REVERSE BIDEN CLIMATE RULES TARGETING MANUFACTURING Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks following a Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2023. In 2020, Schumer notably wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "A US company should buy TikTok so everyone can keep using it and your data is safe." "With TikTok in China, its subject to Chinese Communist Party laws that may require handing over data to their government," he wrote at the time. SCHUMER SPEECH ON ISRAEL SLAMMED BY REPUBLICANS, EXPERTS AS 'UNPRECEDENTED' AND 'RIDICULOUS' The House's bill was read twice on Thursday and then referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, meaning it isn't being fast-tracked for swift passage. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attends a Senate Judiciary Committee markup in the Hart Building in Washington, D.C., on May 11, 2023. Cruz said there should be "a full and open amendment process" a criticism of the Senate's recent proclivity for skipping procedure. However, there are concerns over the extra time afforded to TikTok and tech lobbyists as consideration of the measure is dragged out. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., criticized the flow of money from TikTok and other tech lobbyists in Congress while talking to Fox News Digital, claiming that "there ought to be a sign right there that says property of Big Tech" as he gestured toward the Senate chamber. DEMOCRATS PANICKED ABOUT THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES SWINGING ELECTION FOR TRUMP: 'SINGLE BIGGEST THREAT' Hawley said he hoped to see debate and a vote on the bill sometime soon. On Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Chew told Fox News correspondent Aishah Hasnie that his team had reviewed the House bill and called it "not feasible." "This bill, in all the details you can read, go through the details, this would lead to banning of the app in the country," he claimed. Hawley posted on X, writing, "The answer is, the CCP wont allow a sale. Which tells you how valuable TikTok is to them." While there appeared to be broad support for the House bill addressing TikTok, a smaller but somewhat bipartisan group of lawmakers came out against it. That group included Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Rand Paul, R-Ky.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah, who warned that it could violate various constitutional amendments and increase the size and scope of the federal government. Original article source: Senators signal bipartisan backing for TikTok divestment from China One of the leaders of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). Demand for the company's graphics processing units (GPUs) and data center services is surging along with interest in generative AI. Shares of Nvidia have soared 280% over the last year. Given the unrelenting momentum pushing the stock higher, some investors might be wondering if it's time to take some profits. Let's dig into the full story surrounding Nvidia to determine if trimming your position makes sense. Nvidia's train is moving at full speed, but... Last year was a milestone for Nvidia. The company increased its revenue by 126%, all while expanding its margins and increasing cash flow sixfold. With such a dominant performance and an optimistic outlook, it's not surprising that investors have poured into the stock. And to add some color here, Nvidia has added $1 trillion of market cap to its valuation in less than two months. That is a rise of epic proportions. Nvidia is now the world's third-most-valuable company, sitting behind only Microsoft and Apple. The recent momentum pushing shares higher is likely causing some investors to consider taking profits. I don't blame them, but as an investor in Nvidia myself, I'm going to share why I see even better days ahead. Image Source: Getty Images ...it could easily kick into another gear Investors should realize that the majority of Nvidia's growth last year stemmed from its computing and networking business. But outside of GPUs and data center services, it has loads of opportunity. The company ended 2023 with $26 billion in cash on the balance sheet, double what it had at the end of 2022. Over the last several months, it has been aggressively investing in new areas in AI that it can use to complement its hardware operation. Specifically, Nvidia invested in two different software businesses: voice-recognition company SoundHound AI, and big data analytics start-up Databricks. I see these as particularly savvy moves. AI-powered voice control is an area where many of Nvidia's big tech cohorts have demonstrated an interest. Story continues Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft have all invested in this technology and deployed it across their respective lines of smart-home and personal-computing products. Considering that the addressable market for voice-recognition applications is expected to reach $50 billion by the end of the decade, Nvidia's moves in this lesser-known pocket of AI are understandable. Another area where Nvidia is investing is robotics. The company recently joined Microsoft, Intel, and OpenAI in a funding round for Figure AI, which is developing humanoid robots that it plans to commercialize in manufacturing, warehousing, and retailing. Goldman Sachs estimates that humanoid robotics could be a $38 billion market by 2035. Nvidia's GPU hardware coupled with its fast-growing software services business puts the company in a unique position to help move Figure AI's ambitions further along in more ways than one. Is now the time to take some profits? All of the investments outlined above tell me one thing: Nvidia's journey isn't over. The company is planning for the future and is not sitting on its hardware cash cow. This is why I am optimistic about the company. Yes, the stock has gone parabolic, and many investors are likely up a significant amount of money. But selling a stock simply because the price changed isn't sound financial judgment, it's emotional. I understand that taking some profits is tempting at the moment. There are a lot of unknowns regarding AI -- like emerging developers and potential regulatory actions. Also, the moves that the Federal Reserve will or won't make this year are a mystery at best, and this can add to market volatility in the short term. But investors should be thinking about the long-term implications here. The artificial intelligence (AI) narrative is just beginning, and it would behoove investors to continue monitoring the next several chapters of the story. For these reasons, I would continue holding Nvidia as it remains one of the strongest opportunities in AI at the moment. 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 March 11, 2024 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Goldman Sachs Group, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short May 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is It Finally Time to Take Profits in Nvidia? was originally published by The Motley Fool Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said that the West should soon change its approach to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in order to prevent a larger conflict. Source: Serbian news station and broadcaster B92 with reference to Vucics meeting with Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder in Belgrade on 15 March, as reported by European Pravda Details: Asked to comment on the discussions about the possible deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, Vucic predicted that in the near future "we will have some changes in some of our doctrines." "There are two scenarios. Either the West will go in the direction of a complete conflict with Russia, or with the help of the USA and China, some kind of truce will be established, which would mean a huge relief for the world. If they enter into [a] conflict, I'm afraid nobody will gain anything from it," he added. Vucic believes that such a potential conflict could have "more casualties than the Second World War, which is unimaginable for the 21st century." "We are small and insignificant in that sense, but in any case, it will affect Serbia. We have to be ready for either solution, and we will find out within 100 days," Vucic concluded. Background: Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, while allowing Moscow's propaganda channels such as RT and Sputnik to spread its narrative in the Balkans. EU officials have repeatedly stated that Serbia must align its policies with the EU if it truly wants to join, and have warned of growing Russian influence. Support UP or become our patron! Supporters rallied at the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial asking for the clemency for AIM activist Leonard Peltier on Sunday, November 13, 2022. (Photo/Darren Thompson) Seven U.S. senators on Friday sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland urged him to allow for the compassionate release of American Indian Movement (AIM) rights activists Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians). Led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D- Vt.). Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Mr. Peltier, who has been imprisoned for the past 49 years and is suffering from severe health conditions, should be able to return home and live out his remaining days among his own people, the senators wrote in the letter to Attorney General Garland. It is time that the federal government rectifies the grave injustice of Mr. Peltiers continued imprisonment, and strongly urge you to allow for his compassionate release. Leonard Peltier (Photo/Fule) Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two life sentences in 1977 for the murders of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents Ronald Williams and Jack Coler. The agents were killed on June 26, 1975 during a confrontation with members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in 1975. His conviction followed a trial marked by procedural errors and a lack of evidence. As the authors note, Over the course of his incarceration, particularly in recent years, key figures involved in Mr. Peltiers prosecution have stepped forward to underscore the constitutional violations and prosecutorial misconduct that took place during the investigation and trial that led to his conviction. Civil rights leaders across America and around the world, from Nelson Mandela to the Dalai Lama to Rev. Jesse Jackson, have condemned the verdict as a miscarriage of justicea miscarriage all too familiar to Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities. The letter cited Peltiers 49 years of imprisonment and the severe health issues as reasons for the compassionate plea. The letter says Peltier should be able to return home and live out his remaining days among his own people. Peltier is currently imprisoned at Coleman Federal Correction Complex in Coleman, Florida. The senators wrote in part: The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) procedures allow its Director to grant a reduction in sentence, or compassionate release, to prisoners that meet certain criteria, including advanced age and deteriorating health; Mr. Peltier is nearly 80 years old and suffers from numerous health conditions, including a potentially fatal abdominal aortic aneurysm. If the Director of the BOP approves a compassionate release, and the Parole Commission agrees, Mr. Peltier could be released immediately. The full letter is also available here. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Northern Colorado saw several feet of snow late this week in a storm that sparked power outages and shut down major roadways to ski resorts. Higher-elevation areas outside of Denver and Boulder saw more than 4 feet of snow after the storm beginning Wednesday. Parts of Denver saw about a foot of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Interstate 70 closed due to the snowstorm from Denver to Silverthorne, which is just east of the ski resort town of Vail in the Rocky Mountains. Meanwhile, the Denver Post reported over 800 flights were canceled at the Denver International Airport. Tens of thousands of people were without power Friday, according to the Associated Press. On Friday, Denver Public Schools closed due to severe weather. Please see this frame grab showing The Colorado State Capitol is covered in snow early Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Denver. A major snowstorm has hit Colorado, closing numerous schools and government offices Thursday and shutting down sections of highways leading to the Denver area as meteorologists warned of difficult to nearly impossible travel. By Friday, the storm had ended in and around Denver as warmer temperatures arrived in the area, with officials warning of icy conditions on Saturday. AccuWeather reported March is a particularly snowy month for Colorado. Many of Denvers largest snowstorms in recorded history have occurred this month. A March 2003, snowstorm dropped nearly 32 inches of snow in Denver, the NWS said. Over the weekend, snow is expected to hit the central Rockies before intensifying near the Four Corners and southern Rockies. Mountainous areas of Colorado and New Mexico can expect to see treacherous conditions due to heavy snow, a NWS forecast on Saturday said. Road closures are likely, as are power outages. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much snow fell in Colorado? Up to several feet amid power outages MEMPHIS, Tenn. At least eight more people have come forward accusing a Memphis man of pretending to be an attorney and scamming them out of thousands. WREG first reported on Glenis Chip Campbells arrest in February. At the time, he was charged with three counts of impersonating a licensed professional and two counts of theft of property in three different cases. Man accused of posing as attorney, taking $40k from clients According to court records, several of the new victims contacted Memphis Police and the Shelby County Sheriffs Office after they saw the stories about Campbell and discovered he was not a licensed attorney. I was shocked. I was shocked, you know, said one victim. A Memphis woman who didnt want to be identified said she paid Campbell to represent her son after a drug arrest in 2021. He fooled me bad: Bartlett man says fake lawyer scammed him out of $25k She said she handed over 11 money orders totaling around $8,500, but Campbell never showed up in court, and her son was sentenced to prison. Chip has eaten at my table, he has promised my grandchildren, you know, his dad wouldnt be going to jail. Its just a lot, she said. Another victim told investigators he hired Campbell to represent him in a wrongful termination lawsuit, and he swindled him out of nearly $43,000 over a five-year period. A couple told sheriffs deputies Campbell told them he was a lawyer and could help them create a living will and get some assistance from the VAs Office, but instead, he stole more than $30,000. Another woman said she paid Campbell over $7,000 to handle a lawsuit, and Campbell kept giving her excuses for delays in her case. MPD and SCSO investigators said they contacted the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee and could not find any record of Campbell being a licensed attorney in the state. Campbell is also accused of pretending to represent a man in a criminal case in Mississippi and conning him out of $3,200. Memphis Police said they contacted the Mississippi Bar Association and discovered Campbell was not a lawyer in Mississippi. In 2008, Campbell was found guilty of impersonating a lawyer and sentenced to 150 days in the Shelby County Correctional Facility. Campbell is now facing 20 charges in 11 cases. He is being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $283,500 bond. Campbell is scheduled to be back in court in April. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Attack on Kharkiv Oblast during the day of 15-16 March. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration A Russian Shahed drone has hit the territory of the village of Kozacha Lopan in Kharkiv Oblast, damaging a critical infrastructure facility. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Details: The Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration reported that the strike occurred at 02:25 on 16 March. There were no casualties. The Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration also added that at 17:40 on Friday, 15 March, the Russians attacked the village of Okhrimivka in the Chuhuiv district. Two men, 48 and 35, were injured as a result of the Russian UAV attack. Support UP or become our patron! Shawnee County property owners are likely about to get a tax refund. The Topeka Capital-Journals Stacey Saldanha-Olson reports the Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Kansas found the Shawnee County Commission had violated state law when setting the property tax rate last year and the county has been ordered to return the extra collected funds to county taxpayers. This is because a 2021 Kansas law requires local governments to follow a list of actions if their property tax rate exceeds the previous year, including holding a public hearing where citizens can comment and publicly voting to exceed the rate among other things. When Shawnee County Commissioner Aaron Mays left the commission room after a property tax rate hearing last year, some in the audience thought the meeting was over. The Board of Tax Appeals found Shawnee County to have violated Kansas law by ending the hearing and one commissioner leaving the room leading many to believe the meeting was over only for the commission to reopen the meeting and vote. "Video of the meeting shows that numerous members of the public, including members of the press, and Commissioner (Aaron) Mays left the room," the document states. "Shortly, thereafter Commissioner Mays returned to the room. At approximately 8:25 p.m., Commissioner Riphahn made a motion to reopen the meeting." Saldanha-Olson reports the county argued a vote was properly taken after the revenue-neutral rate hearing and the county commissioners complied with the statutory procedure to exceed the rate. Does this seem like a lot of semantics? Possibly. But semantics matter and nearly $6 million is at stake here. That could impact the countys plans to fix roads, bridges and other infrastructure. It also could mean needed funds going back into taxpayer pockets as the prices of goods rise. Did Shawnee County commissioners try to trick participants of a public hearing about the mill levy? We don't know. We do know commissioners should go to great lengths to ensure community members are engaged in their meetings. If they end a hearing (and not the meeting, they claimed), they should have bent over backward to tell participants they would be conducting further business. If audience members, including the media, leave the premises, common sense should have told Commissioners Aaron Mays, Bill Riphahn and Kevin Cook that many thought the meeting was over. They should have attempted to inform attendees it was, in fact, a recess and not a closure. At a minimum, they should have held the vote for a later meeting. The Board of Tax Appeals of the State of Kansas made the right call. Commissioners owed residents better transparency. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Shawnee County owed residents transparency on property tax rate vote A shelter-in-place was ordered Saturday morning in a Pennsylvania township after multiple people were shot, according to local police. Middletown Township Police Department said there are several gunshot victims in Falls Township, per its Facebook post. There are several gun shot victims and it is unknown at this time if they are targeted or random, the police said in the post. MTPD is monitoring our traffic and borders and it does not seem that the shooter has entered our township limits. The police said they have ordered multiple stores and an amusement park to close in the Middletown area, and others have voluntarily closed following the shootings. The Bucks County District Attorneys Office and other law enforcement officials are assisting the Falls Township Police Department, per its social media post. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said he has been briefed on the matter. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground, he said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to law enforcements direction. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) said he is in contact with police and is following the situation. We are monitoring a carjacking and a shooting in two sections of Falls Township, he said on X. Im in touch with law enforcement officials as they pursue the suspect. This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The commission reviewing the events that led up to Octobers Maine mass shooting found that local law enforcement could have taken the shooter into custody and seized his weapons prior to the shooting. Army reservist Robert Card murdered 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Oct. 25, marking the deadliest mass shooting in the states history. Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after the shooting took place. A seven-member commission that has been reviewing the events leading up to the mass shooting and the resulting response released its preliminary report on Friday. The commission has found that Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office had sufficient probable cause to take Card into custody under Maines Yellow Flag law and to remove his firearms. The commission also said that the sheriffs office had probable cause to believe that Mr. Card posed a likelihood of serious harm, according to the preliminary report released Friday. Cards family members and the people he served with raised concerns about his behavior prior to the incident, the report noted. The report also details the scrutiny directed towards Sgt. Aaron Skolfield. Skolfield was responding to reports five weeks ahead of the shooting that Card previously threatened to open fire at the Saco Armory and had previously assaulted a friend. Skolfield should have realized that he had probable cause to start the Yellow Flag process. Sgt. Skolfield made only limited attempts to accomplish a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Card. He failed to consult the agencys records concerning a previous complaint about Mr. Card, failed to contact the individual who was assaulted by Mr. Card and heard his threat, and he failed to follow up on leads to determine how to contact Mr. Card, the commission said in the report. It continued, He also failed to seek assistance from prosecutors or other law enforcement agencies to determine how best to proceed. Maines yellow flag law requires petitioners to notify law enforcement of threatening individuals, who may then be subject to a mental health evaluation. The commission noted the report is not a finished product. Its set to hold more meetings before releasing the final report. The commission is composed of former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Daniel E. Wathen and the states Chief Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Debra Baeder, along with five more members, all appointed by Gov. Janet Mills (D) and Attorney General Aaron Frey (D). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Maine independent commission investigating the events leading up to the states deadliest mass shooting which left 18 people dead and 13 others injured revealed in a damning report that the shooter should have been in protective custody weeks before the massacre transpired. Robert Card, a 40-year-old Sgt 1st class in the Army Reserve, took his own life after going on a killing spree across Lewiston, Maine in October 2023. Questions swirled as to how Card was able to possess multiple firearms, given a cascade of concerns over his well-being. In its 15 March report, the commission documented a series of events that it believes should have set off alarm bells for state agencies to intervene including the states yellow flag law. Yellow flag laws require a family member to report the individual to law enforcement, who would then be able to take the person into protective custody. Then, the individual must be evaluated by a mental health professional, who determines whether this person poses a risk. The commission wrote that it was unanimous in finding the Sagadahoc County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) had sufficient probable cause to take Robert Card Jr. into protective custody under Maines Yellow Flag law and to remove his firearms in September 2023 one month before the shooting. It added that the SCSO had probable cause to believe that Mr. Card posed a likelihood of serious harm. Robert Card being interviewed by police at Camp Smith in Cortlandt (WMTW-TV 8/New York State police via AP) The report specifically called out SCSO Sgt Aaron Skolfield. The sergeant responded to a report that Card was suffering from some sort of mental health crisis, had recently assaulted a friend, had threatened to shoot up the Saco Armory and harm others, and was in possession of numerous firearms, should have realized that he had probable cause to start the Yellow Flag process, the report says. Sgt Skolfield not only provided limited attempts to see Card in person but he also failed to look into a previous complaint about Card, failed to contact the person whom Card allegedly assaulted, and failed to follow up on leads to determine how to contact Card, according to the report. When Sgt Skolfield went on leave on 18 September 2023, his supervisors failed to assign another deputy to take further action. The SCSO failed to take the necessary steps to take Mr. Card into custody and begin the Yellow Flag process. Given the circumstances known to Sgt Skolfield, making the family responsible for removing Cards firearms was an abdication of law enforcements responsibility. This decision shifted what is and was a law enforcement responsibility onto civilians who have neither the legal authority to begin the Yellow Flag process nor any legal authority to seize weapons, the commission wrote. The SCSO then should have followed up to ensure that the weapons had been taken from Card, the report says. The commission also laid out a timeline of concerns from family members and colleagues about Cards behaviour and mental health in the run-up to the massacre. In May 2023, Cards son and his mother got in touch with SCSO and a Topsham School Resource Office reporting that Cards mental health had been declining in recent months and that he had been complaining that people were talking about him behind his back. Cards son also was concerned that his father had moved 10-15 firearms from his brothers house to his own, the report says. A SCSO deputy told the family he would check with the Saco Army Reserve Unit, where Cards colleagues informed the deputy that Card had been complaining about hearing voices and accusing other soldiers of calling him a paedophile. The deputy then met with Cards family members, including his brother who said Card had agreed to see a doctor, he sent a department-wide note to use caution when approaching Cards home. Cards brother reached out to the deputy a month later in June, expressing concern about his behaviour again and a desire to get him into a hospital. But that no one ever followed up on these requests, the commission wrote. In mid-July, Card was acting erratically at work, prompting the captain to order his mental health be evaluated, leading to a weeks-long hospitalisation. While there, mental health providers advised that Cards access to all military weapons and ammunition be restricted and they insisted to the captain that measures be taken to safely remove all firearms and weapons from Cards home. The captain, however, did not report this recommendation to SCSO, the report says. The report then noted that in September an Army reservist sergeant, and friend of Card, texted the captain and Sgt Mote expressing concern about Card. He wrote: I believe he is messed up in the head, adding that he threatened the unit. He also texted ominously, I believe he is going to snap and do a mass shooting. After receiving the text, Sgt Mote and the captain decided that the SCSO would be asked to conduct a well-being check on Card to gauge his mental state and determine if he was a threat to himself or others. Sgt Mote then prepared a statement of probable cause for the SCSO to begin the process of securing a Yellow Flag order as police prepared to conduct the well-being check. Thats where Sgt Skolfield came into play. Despite being told that Card had been recently admitted to a psychiatric facility, given Sgt Motes probable cause statement, and provided the text from Cards friend, Sgt Skolfield determined that the situation was not as pressing as it first appeared, the commission wrote. He went to Cards home but he wasnt there, so he instructed officers on the later shift to do the same, and again, Card wasnt home. So, Sgt Skolfield issued a file 6 alert, sent to law enforcement across Maine, relaying that Card was considered armed, dangerous and suffering from an altered mental state. In the next two days, Sgt Skolfield attempted to check up on the status of the removal of Cards weapons and spoke to Cards brother to determine whether Mr. Card needed a psychiatric evaluation and if so, he should call SCSO. After September 17, 2023, neither Sgt. Skolfield nor any other member of his department took any further steps in this matter, the commission wrote. He allegedly considered the matter resolved as no one said that they wanted to press charges, the report says Sgt Skolfield then cancelled the file 6 alert on 18 October 18 one week before the mass shooting. The commission said it will continue to hold public hearings and gather testimony and information for its final report and future recommendations. More work needs to be done and it will be done -- the victims, their families and the people of Maine deserve no less, the commission wrote. People are being encouraged to shop in Midhurst as the town recovers from a "dreadful" fire which tore through a historic building a year ago. The blaze broke out in the 400-year-old Angel Inn hotel in the West Sussex town. More than 30 people were evacuated from the building, which was housing migrants from Ukraine at the time. A Chichester District Council spokesperson said: "Since the fire in Midhurst last year, we have been continuing to support local businesses to help them to get back on their feet and encouraging residents and visitors to support local." The incident, which West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said was not suspicious, needed 15 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms to help tackle the flames. The council said: "We know how much this dreadful event impacted on the local community and businesses, and so we made sure that significant resources were directed at the town, including a package of support of over 300,000, as well as business support on the ground and through marketing activities." David Behan, an eyewitness to the fire, said the refugees spent the night in a nearby Indian restaurant before they were taken to a leisure centre, from where they were re-homed. The council spokesperson added: "Local residents and businesses have been resilient throughout and they have been committed to helping the town bounce back as quickly as possible. "We will continue to champion the town, and we are confident that it will continue to go from strength to strength." 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. More on this story: Related internet links Even though Tesla share prices have been cut in half since peaking in late 2021, they're still up 1,000% over the past decade. That's pretty incredible and the type of performance that every investor likely would be happy with from stocks they own. It's also why so many investors are pouring over the electric-vehicle (EV) space trying to find the next tiny upstart that's destined to become an industry giant. EV-maker Fisker (NYSE: FSR) might be worth adding to such a list. Some may already have taken the plunge and bought the stock and are deciding if they should buy more or hold what they have. Others are becoming hesitant and considering a sale. Here are the arguments for investors who are considering selling, holding and/or buying this stock. The case for selling Fisker stock One reason you might want to sell Fisker stock is to capture the capital losses you've suffered to help offset gains elsewhere in your portfolio. This is often called tax-loss harvesting, and the nearly 99% decline the stock has seen since its peak in 2021 makes it an excellent candidate for this portfolio-level decision. Fisker stock has lost almost all of its value in a relatively short period. Image source: Getty Images. As to other potential reasons to sell Fisker stock, from a company-specific standpoint, this EV maker is clearly on shaky ground. For example, in 2023, the company generated nearly $273 million in revenue from selling its vehicles. But the cost of making those vehicles was about $376 million. That's a more than $100 million difference in the wrong direction. Then there's the company's balance sheet. At the end of 2022, Fisker had $736.5 million in cash. A year later, it had about $395 million, including restricted cash that it can't use for everyday purposes. It burned through around $340 million in cash in a single year. If it were to do that again, it would be nearly out of cash by the end of 2024. Then there are two issues around the financial statements the company is required to provide to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). First, the company has identified "a material weakness" in its accounting practices that will result in a delayed filing. That's not a good sign. Story continues Second, the company has issued a going-concern warning, which is basically an admission from the company that there's a real chance it will have to declare bankruptcy within the next 12 months. A company will only make that admission if it has to because of the material implications it can have on its business, notably on its ability to raise additional capital. Based on the company's warning -- let alone its actual financial performance -- only the most aggressive investors should be looking at Fisker stock today. Everyone else should probably stay away. The case for buying or holding Fisker If you've owned Fisker for a long time, you're probably sitting on material losses. You might think that you're down so much already, what does it matter if you keep holding it? The worst outcome is that the stock will become worthless. That looks like a real possibility here. If you want to salvage any of your investment, selling is probably the way to go. As for a turnaround in the business, well, it could happen, but Fisker will need to see lots of things break its way for a business turnaround to take shape. FSR Chart That, by the way, is the main reason to buy Fisker. The belief would be that this beaten-down EV maker will somehow manage to muddle through the terrible predicament in which it finds itself. That's probably going to require a material cash infusion, though it isn't clear who will provide that cash. With the stock so low, selling shares seems likely to be off the table. And with the going-concern warning, rapid cash burn, and accounting weakness, not many lenders will likely give Fisker an attractively priced loan. Buying in the hope of a turnaround is kind of the investment equivalent of throwing a Hail Mary pass with your eyes closed. Only the most aggressive investors should try it. How companies say stay away Equity investors should ignore a going-concern warning at their own peril, given that they're the ones who are usually wiped out in the bankruptcy process. It's among the highest-concern warnings that a company can make. All of the other performance issues noted above back up the risk this warning highlights. Most investors should stay away from Fisker. Should you invest $1,000 in Fisker right now? Before you buy stock in Fisker, 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 Fisker 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 March 11, 2024 Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Fisker Stock: Buy, Sell, or Hold? was originally published by The Motley Fool It was 1:15 a.m. and Marine Lance Cpl. Jayden Pearman gasped for air as he lay on the ground in a Port Royal apartment complex parking lot. Moments before, a bullet had ripped through his chest and lodged in his lung, creating a sucking chest wound. The 23-year-old Marine with a wife and newborn would die without immediate help. But lucky for Pearman, he had the right kind of neighbors in Matt Domanski and Julia Dale. Those two, who lived in the same apartment complex, rushed outside to investigate. It so happens that Domanski is a paramedic with the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department. And Dale is an emergency room nurse at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Domanski and Dale are among the emergency medical personnel and police officers who are being credited for saving Pearmans life after he was shot multiple times Nov. 1. At the time, Pearman and his wife lived at Abberly Pointe Apartments off of Highway 170 in Port Royal. She was awake tending to their baby when she heard his pickup being started and alerted Pearman, who rushed outside and confronted the suspects. His car was not stolen but he was shot during the struggle. Jayden Pearman presents a life-saving award to Matt Domanski, a paramedic with the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department. On Nov. 1, 2023, Domanski performed a procedure called a needle decompression on Pearman that allowed him to breathe. Luke Baxley, a Beaufort Memorial Hospital emergency room physician who serves as medical director of the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department, described the actions of Domanski and Dale as a crazy awesome story. Domanski and Dale demonstrated they had the right training and skill to work under the pressure of the clock to save a life, Baxley said. Those types of experiences, he added, are very rare despite impressions people may have of ER doctors and paramedics running around and saving people all the time. But what impressed Baxley more is that Domanski and Dale ran outside in the wee hours of the morning to help a stranger when most people, after hearing gunshots, would lock the door then they properly assessed the medical situation before them and showed the necessary intestinal fortitude to save Pearman. And that, said Baxley, deserves a round of applause. The Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department, Port Royal police and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort handed out awards for those involved in saving Pearman before a packed house at the Port Royal Town Council on Wednesday. Those in attendance included Pearmans wife, child and mother. Somebody yelled out the Marine motto, Semper fi always faithful as the civilians were honored for saving the Marine. To save Pearmans life, Domanski poked a needle between his ribs and through the chest wall. That relieved air pressure that was making it difficult for Pearman to breathe. The procedure is known as a needle decompression. Domanski and Dale then got IVs into both of the young Marines arms, to assist with the blood loss before he was rushed to Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Then, en route, Aaron McIntyre, another Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department paramedic, performed a second needle decompression to relieve additional pressure. Those two needle decompression procedures were the first to ever be performed by the department, said Ross Vezin, a spokesman for the Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department. By the time he reached Beaufort Memorial, Pearman was in stable condition. Pearman has been at the USMC Air Station in Beaufort for a little over a year. Its his first duty station. The experience, he said, was humbling, giving him a new perspective on life. The best way to thank Port Royals and Beauforts finest, who helped him in his hour of need, is to just continue to be the best person I can be and to keep being a better father and husband and a better Marine. The shooting is still under investigation while evidence is being processed at the lab, said Capt. John Griffith of Port Royal police. From left to right, patrolman Russel Simmons (Police Department Life Saving Award), Cpl. Kierian Kirby (Police Department Life Saving Award), Lt. Matt Domanski (Fire Department Life Saving Award), Deputy Fire Chief Ross Vezin and Beaufort Memorial Hospital emergency room nurse Julia Dale (Fire Department Life Saving Award). The local fire and police personnel contributed to saving the life of Marine Lance Cpl. Jayden Pearman, who was shot Nov. 1, 2023. A person lies in a hammock at the camp of the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa The standoff between environmental protesters and German authorities at the Tesla car plant near Berlin deepened on Saturday, with both sides refusing to back down in the dispute over the giant site's expansion. Activists at a forest camp organized to protest the US electric carmaker's plans said they will take legal action to prevent authorities from forcing them to dismantle tree houses they built and leave. Protesters will "exhaust all legal means to prevent an eviction," according to a statement from the "Stop Tesla" initiative. The group has not said what specific steps it intends to take. On Friday, it said "60 to 80 people" were occupying part of the forest near the plant located in Grunheide in the state of Brandenburg and that more and more people are joining the protest. The activists had registered the camp as a political gathering, which is protected by German law and does not require special police permission. Such gatherings, however, can be prohibited under certain circumstances. Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stubgen said he saw the refusal to dismantle the tree houses as a breach of the conditions, which could possibly mean the protest has to end. According to Stubgen, he had also noticed an increasing radicalization among some participants around the camp and said many wanted to create a "European centre against eco-fascism." Additional police may be brought in to prevent possible attacks on Tesla and deter "previously uninterested, violent" people who now felt motivated to come to the location. "Leave it alone, it's not worth it," said Stubgen. The protesters want to prevent the state-owned forest from being cleared under a major expansion of the Tesla site, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk. In a non-binding resolution, a majority of Grunheide's residents voted against its development. As a compromise, the municipality suggested that only around half of the earmarked forest area be cleared for the expansion, which has prompted environmental concerns about potential risks for sensitive nearby wetlands. Authorities had confirmed an extension of the protesters' camp until Thursday under certain conditions, including that they must dismantle their tree houses by Monday. The activists had already announced that they would not fulfil this condition. Some of them slept in the tree houses on Friday night, despite a ban on this by the authorities due to safety concerns. The Tesla plant made the headlines last last week, when previously unknown perpetrators set fire to a freely accessible electricity pylon in a field in East Brandenburg, which also supplies the car factory in Grunheide. The left-wing extremist Vulkan group declared that they were responsible for the attack, which paralysed production at the plant for days. According to the company, around 12,500 people currently work at the factory, which opened in March 2022. A person abseils from a tree house at the camp of the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa A view of the camp of the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The permit for the camp expired on Friday at midnight and is expected to be evacuated next weekend. Sebastian Gollnow/dpa A suspected gunman in a series of deadly shootings in Pennsylvania has been captured alive in neighbouring New Jersey, US police said. The police said the suspect shot three people dead in Levittown on Saturday before fleeing across state lines to the home in nearby Trenton. Residents were home when the suspect entered the house but they were later safely evacuated, police added. Police said Andre Gordon surrendered peacefully and unharmed to officers. The 26-year-old suspect, who was known to the victims, had barricaded himself inside a home before turning himself in to police. The Trenton police said he had left the house and had been spotted by police nearby. The suspect is thought to be homeless, but primarily stays in the Trenton area, according to Philadelphia police. Earlier, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn told a news conference people related to Mr Gordon were among the victims in Levittown, including a child. Levittown is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Mr Gordon allegedly shot and killed his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, as well as his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, after breaking into a house in Levittown. Shortly after, officials say, he broke into another home about two miles away, where he allegedly shot and killed the mother of his children, 25-year-old Taylor Daniel. He allegedly also bludgeoned her mother with the butt of his rifle, and she is now recovering in hospital. The Bucks County DA's Office said following the shootings, Mr Gordon allegedly carjacked an individual at a dollar store before making his way to the home in Trenton, where he barricaded himself. Images captured the police response to the siege in Trenton, and appeared to show hostages climbing out a first floor window before being cared for by police. The weapon used by Mr Gordon is believed to be an AR-15-style assault rifle, officials told the news conference. Sir Keir Starmer is only paying lip service to dealing with the issues in Pendle, the Tories claim - SUZANNE PLUNKETT/REUTERS Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of failing to take action against Labour councillors who supported a parliamentary candidate suspended from the party for anti-Semitic comments. The Conservatives claimed there were systemic issues in the Labour Party in Pendle, Lancashire, after it emerged a number of councillors had supported Azhar Ali, who had been candidate for the Rochdale by-election, or shared controversial material about Israel online. At the start of this month, The Telegraph revealed that Labour was investigating Mohammed Iqbal, one of the partys councillors in the Lancashire district. He had been filmed wearing a red rosette in the company of Mr Ali outside a polling station on the day of the Rochdale by-election. The Telegraph revealed that Labour was investigating Mohammed Iqbal - Facebook Labour had suspended Mr Ali and officially withdrew all support from his election campaign after a recording surfaced of him claiming Israel had allowed the Oct 7 Hamas attacks, and railing against people in the media from certain Jewish quarters. The by-election was won by George Galloway, of the Workers Party of Britain. The Telegraph can now disclose that Faraz Ahmad, another Labour councillor in Pendle, also appeared to be supporting Mr Ali on the day of the by-election. Mr Ahmad was caught on camera in a separate video standing with Mr Ali outside the same polling station. He did not respond to repeated requests from The Telegraph to explain his presence with the candidate. Faraz Ahmed was pictured apparently campaigning with Azhar Ali on polling day in Rochdale It has also emerged that three other Labour councillors in Pendle have shared controversial material relating to Israel online. Yvonne Tennant, Labours councillor in the Marsden and Southfield ward, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she totally agreed that the comments which resulted in Mr Alis suspension were not anti-Semitic but pro-Palestine. Ms Tennant also liked a tweet that compared Britons fighting in the Israel Defense Forces to Shamima Begum joining Islamic State. In 2021, Mohammad Hanif, a councillor in the Brierfield West and Reedley ward, posted a graphic on Facebook calling for holidaymakers to boycott Dubai because the UAE was supposedly buying Palestinian property and land secretly on behalf of Israeli settlers. The image included the Star of David depicted on a shadow of Dubais Burj Al Arab building. Ruby Anwar, another councillor, posted a video on Facebook in December remarking that there were no signs of brutality when Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas and saying: Never have I ever seen hostages leave their captors like this before. Ms Anwar also shared a video of a protest she attended in November, in which demonstrators are heard chanting From the river to the sea. In the past, Labour has suspended elected representatives for using the controversial slogan. None of the councillors responded to The Telegraphs requests for comment. On Saturday, Labour said it was looking into the information. A spokesman said: The Labour Party treats all complaints seriously, and they are assessed in accordance with our rules and procedures. The party confirmed that all the individuals continued to sit as Labour councillors. The Tories accused Labour, which was informed of the incident involving Mr Iqbal more than two weeks ago and those relating to the other councillors a week ago, of dragging its feet. Richard Holden, the Tory chairman, said: The fact that Sir Keir is still to take action tells you all you need to know about the so-called changed Labour party, where nothing is different from the previous leadership when Sir Keir fought to make [Jeremy] Corbyn prime minister twice. If Sir Keir cared about dealing with this rather than paying lip service to it, he would immediately suspend and investigate the entire constituency party, as clearly there is a systemic issue that shows theyre not fit for public office. 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. African American smokers are more likely to choose menthol cigarettes compared to white smokers (JOE RAEDLE) In a quintessentially American tale of race and politics, the lowly menthol cigarette is playing a curiously large role in the US presidential election this year. A proposed ban from President Joe Biden's administration on the mint-flavored smokes has miffed some African Americans, a key Democratic Party base. To complicate matters, narratives linked to the tobacco lobby have ginned up fears that the ban could lead to over policing and racism. Those are normally left-wing concerns, but in an election year, anything goes -- and Republicans are using the issue to try to appeal to Black voters. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 released draft plans for axing the production and sale of flavored tobacco, to deter future smokers and help current smokers quit. Biden was due to greenlight a federal rule to that effect last year, but fears of backlash among Black voters meant it was stalled until March -- and campaigners now fear the law won't be enacted at all. Black smokers are far more likely to buy menthol cigarettes than white smokers, leading to claims from some -- including those with links to the tobacco industry -- that a ban would disproportionately impact African Americans. Around eight in 10 African American smokers consume menthol cigarettes, compared with three in 10 white smokers. "Smoking is bad for you, no question about it, but if it's a health issue, why aren't you banning all cigarettes?" Al Sharpton, a famous civil rights activist and a vocal opponent of regulation, asked at an event in 2019. In the lead up to the FDA proposal, he wrote a letter to the Biden White House saying "a menthol ban would exacerbate existing, simmering issues around racial profiling, discrimination and policing." He pushed against a state-level ban proposed last year in New York, according to news outlet Politico. And with the presidential election approaching, Republican groups are looking to poach crucial African American votes. In South Carolina, conservative group Building America's Future sent letters to around 75,000 Democrat voters in February listing Biden's proposed menthol cigarette ban as a reason not to vote for him in that month's primary vote. An ad from the group says Biden should focus on bigger priorities, rather than "telling adults what they can and can't do." Tobacco giant Altria, which owns Marlboro and other brands, sponsored a poll last year which found a menthol ban would sway minority voters against Biden, though other polls have found a majority of Black voters support a ban. - 'Health above politics' - Health experts have decried delaying the ban, as figures published by the FDA show smoking-related illnesses kill nearly 500,000 people in the US each year. "The closer you get to an election just ultimately the harder things get," said Emily Holubowich, of the American Heart Association. "This is the right thing to do. History is on your side, public health is on your side." Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP civil rights group, supports the ban, and called for the White House to "focus on the science, the research and the health outcomes of African Americans" by enacting it. Calling concerns over the menthol ban a "manufactured political argument," he doubted the there was much genuine outrage around the issue. "No one has raised this as a political issue," he said in a recent anti-tobacco campaign video, besides "the lobbyists of the tobacco industries and those they have paid to carry a... false message." In 2020 the EU banned the sale of menthol cigarettes and US states California and Massachusetts have since followed suit. Flavored cigarettes are considered by campaigners to be far more addictive as they mask the taste of tobacco, making it harder for people to stop smoking and acting as a gateway for young people. Black Americans have been specifically targeted in marketing for menthols, promoted as "refreshing" throughout the 20th century. The campaign worked: In 1953 some 5 percent of Black smokers consumed menthol cigarettes, rising to around 80 percent at the turn of the century. A study published in peer-reviewed journal Tobacco Control in 2022 estimated that a US ban on menthol cigarettes would save 654,000 lives, of which 255,000 would be African Americans, over the next four decades. pno/ev/bjt/nro/tjj In the desert around Scottsdale, Ariz., on Monday, police officers hunted for a member of an international heist ring suspected of swiping jewels and luxury goods from homes across Los Angeles. Using helicopters and drones, they eventually found him hiding under a tree. The wanted man, it turned out, was a 17-year-old from Chile. Authorities say the teenager and his two adult accomplices later admitted to breaking into multiple homes, part of a growing trend of "burglary tourism" from South America. The Los Angeles Police Department said the teenage fugitive was first arrested Feb. 29 in Pacific Palisades along with three other Chileans as they cased homes in the wealthy enclave. Police tracked down the crew after a security camera captured the license plate of their 2024 Hyundai Tucson amid a series of burglaries across East Hollywood. Increasingly over the last five years, police officials say, thieves from South American nations have entered the U.S. for the purpose of committing robberies. In the case of Chile, authorities suspect some criminals are taking advantage of the tourist visa system, which does not require a background check for travelers. Once in the country, police say, they plan heist sprees and fence the loot before dispatching their earnings back home. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told The Times that South American theft groups are not new in L.A., but they have become more active in recent months. Although crime statistics show burglaries are on the decline overall, Hamilton said: "The number of crimes tied to these kind of crews are way, way up." He cautioned that it's difficult to know for certain how many robberies can be attributed to foreign burglars, but said evidence indicates they are behind scores of break-ins. He estimated that north of the 118 Freeway in L.A. last year there were 94 burglaries, many probably committed by these crews. Read more: Billionaire L.A. family claims racism at elite Westside country club "They often target homes often connected to open spaces, hiking trails and canyons that give them access," Hamilton said. The groups mostly hit wealthy neighborhoods where homes have jewelry and high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash, he said. "They tend to not carry guns. They don't want to get gun charges," Hamilton said. "They sometimes carry jamming devices to disable home security systems." While Chileans are among the most common members of these criminal enterprises, Hamilton said, they are seeing other South Americans including Peruvians, Ecuadoreans and Colombians as well. The LAPD and other local law enforcement agencies have formed a task force dedicated to the problem. I can tell you that we have a significant increase in burglaries from organized groups that are outside this country, that are coming into the country, and they are targeting high-end residents," LAPD Chief Dominic Choi said at Tuesday's Police Commission meeting. In one case on Aug. 17 of last year, Burbank police officers arrested a man identified as Felipe Leiva Solis, a 33-year-old Chilean national, after a woman hiding in the bathroom of her home called to report that four men had broken in through a sliding door. Leiva Solis was found in a nearby yard on Burbank's North Parish Place and is suspected of four other burglaries across the city, according to court documents. Leiva Solis was released on bail but picked up again on Dec. 19 in Glendale by police officers who suspect he was behind a string of burglaries in the city. He was among a group of three men who tried to flee on foot when their vehicle was stopped, according to Glendale Police Investigator Jackie Nguy. In court papers asking for Leiva Solis to remain in custody, Nguy alleged the Chilean was part of "an organized burglary ring responsible for a minimum of ten residential burglaries in Glendale," and also tied to other thefts in Beverly Hills and other counties. Read more: 4 Chileans stole from homes across L.A. in a case of 'burglary tourism,' police say LAPD Det. Robert Hoebink said in a court declaration that Leiva Solis' crew was tied to at least 30 burglaries in West Los Angeles alone. Hoebink alleged the Chilean used a fake passport to open a Bank of America account and wired more than $23,000 back home despite being here on a tourist visa. LAPD officers on Dec. 27 nabbed three more of the crew allegedly tied to Leiva Solis near Coldwater Canyon Drive south of Mulholland when called to assist Beverly Hills on a manhunt for burglars. Inside a Ford Explorer, police said they found $1 million worth of stolen designer purses, clothing, watches and jewelry all believed to be from a single heist. Three more arrests would come the next day as LAPD investigators recovered more high-end items from the group's base of operations. On Dec. 30, another West L.A. burglary led Beverly Hills police to identify a white Mercedes GLS as tied to the crime, arresting a female driver and four other suspects nearby. Leiva Solis is being held without bail and is slated to be back in court next week. He's pleaded not guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit burglary. Investigators say Chilean or South American crews are also behind hundreds of break-ins in Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Diego counties. In Orange County, Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer has aggressively prosecuted South American thieves and sued the federal government for failing to disclose its negotiations with Chile over visa requirements for travelers. He has called for measures to stop criminals from entering as tourists. Read more: As Chevy Camaro thefts skyrocket more than 1,000% in L.A., police unlock a secret of car thieves Spitzer said the Chilean government has refused to abide by a requirement to provide the U.S. with the criminal history of Chilean citizens who use a visa program called Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA. The program allows Chileans residents to enter the U.S. for 90-day periods an unlimited number of times. Visa requirements vary between countries, but travelers from several other South American nations typically require visas with tighter restrictions before coming to the U.S. Without criminal histories of Chileans, prosecutors have been largely handcuffed in trying to prove defendants are linked beyond a single burglary charge, Spitzer said. The Chilean Embassy in Los Angeles did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities said the Chilean teenage fugitive arrested in Arizona had fake Venezuelan paperwork when he was arrested in L.A. and had repeatedly tried to evade police. After he was arrested Feb. 29 in L.A., he told authorities his parents had left him alone in the U.S. with a family friend. Once he was turned over to L.A. County Children and Family Services, he vanished after going for a walk in Lakewood, police said. When he was eventually recaptured this week, Scottdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said the teenager had "court documentation from his crimes he committed in California and before fleeing to Arizona ... and some property we are trying to tie to other burglaries." 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. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Springdale police release new details on a shooting where an officer fatally shot a man on March 12, according to a news release. Springdale police identify officer involved in deadly shooting Springdale Police Department says through the initial investigation and reviewing video evidence and statements, it found that in the moments leading up to the shooting that killed Dimitri Calvert, 30, he took an uninvolved man and held a knife to his throat before Cpl. Danny Wright shot him. Police kill man in Springdale shooting on Norfolk Avenue Police responded to Norfolk Avenue around 1:52 p.m. on March 12 in reference to an armed man who was reportedly damaging vehicles and threatening people in the neighborhood. Once an officer arrived on the scene, he located Calvert armed with a knife. He refused to drop the knife and Wright shot him. Calvert was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. No further information was released. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Julie Owen, whose daughter Angharad spent nine years at St Christopher's, said it was "brilliant news" A group of parents are celebrating after successfully campaigning to protect the site of a former special needs school in Bristol. St Christopher's School in Westbury Park closed in 2020 after 70 years as it was deemed economically unviable. The site has now been declared an asset of community value (ACV), so it cannot be sold without the local community getting a chance to buy it first. The parents' campaign was backed by Aardman Animations founder Peter Lord. The new legal status will help protect the site for Special Educational Needs (SEND) as any future development has to take the existence of the ACV into account as part of the plans A spokesperson for the SEND Alliance for St Christopher's, the group who put together the bid, said: "We are over the moon that the legacy of St Christopher's school has been officially recognised. "ACV status means that we now have a real chance to ensure this wonderful site returns to being a community asset so it can serve SEND families again in the future." Julie Owen, whose daughter Angharad Owen spent nine years at St Christopher's, was part of the long campaign with other SEND campaigners, former school staff, cross-party city councillors and Bristol North West MP Darren Jones. "It's brilliant news. St Christopher's School was a very special place and helped so many families, like ours, over so many years," she said. "It's really important for us that Bristol City Council has acknowledged the unique education it provided, especially for children with severe autism. "I really hope this means the community will be able to buy the site and do something amazing there in the future because there's so much need among SEND families in Bristol," she added. Currently no plans for the site, owned by a London-based investment firm, have been submitted to the council. A proposal to turn the buildings into luxury retirement flats was turned down by councillors in August 2023. The site now cannot be sold without the local community being given a chance to buy it first Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and, X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately. ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) St. George Police tracked down a womans location on Thursday after she allegedly sent a text reading kidnapped by ex, held captive, was at [address], now in white van. According to the probable cause statement, police arrested a 50-year-old male after locating a woman who contacted 911 several times for help. The suspect is facing three charges of violation of a protective order, a third-degree felony. READ NEXT: Missing Utah mans bones found in Grand County desert The name of the suspect is being withheld to protect the alleged victims identity. Police say they received a text message to 911 that informed them of a possible kidnapping on Thursday night. The same number also called 911 that day but did not respond when dispatch answered, the affidavit said. Police visited the address provided in the text, however, they say the suspect and woman were not there. They said several other 911 calls had been made from the house but the police who responded to those calls did not find any evidence of a crime. The affidavit said the suspect lived at the address and had previously been convicted of kidnapping, trafficking and domestic violence-related charges. Authorities then pinged the cell phone of the woman who texted 911 and found her location south of St. George in the desert area of Arizona. Deputies found the woman in the white van but were unable to confirm that there was any issue, the affidavit said. They then tracked down the suspect and detained him. Police allegedly attempted to speak with the victim but she would not provide any information regarding any crime occurring. I noted based on my training and experience, that [the woman] showed signs of trauma, as she would not make eye contact with me, appearing scared to talk, the affidavit read. Police requested a female officer respond and talk to the woman. They said the alleged victim told the female officer that she was the one who contacted 911 but when asked for specifics would shut down and not provide any information. When they conducted a lethality test a domestic violence assessment that determines the risk of an abuser fatally attacking a victim the woman began to sob, documents state. Police say they noted burn marks near her wrists as if bindings were used on her arms. The affidavit said the suspect was arrested for violating protective orders as they found three active protective orders against him filed by the woman. He is not facing any additional charges at this time related to the incident. The suspect was booked in Washington County Sherriffs Office on Thursday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A St. Helena Island 18-year-old has been arrested in the shooting death of a child at a Beaufort apartment complex earlier this month. Benjamin Shamar Seabrook IV has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, unlawful conduct toward a child, tampering with evidence, and filing a false police report, according to the Beaufort Police Departments Facebook page. As of Saturday morning, Seabrook was being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center. Around 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, police were called to Cross Creek Apartments at 325 Ambrose Run, where the child had been shot. Six-year-old Frankie Washington initially survived the gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 10:28 p.m. March 3 at the Medical University of South Carolina Childrens Hospital, according to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott. At the time, police called the shooting an isolated incident with no threat to the public. When we publish mugshots The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances: In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that dont meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot. Frustrated Oakland business owners threaten to stop paying taxes amid rampant robberies, break-ins in the city Rising crime in Oakland, California is keeping customers away and hurting sales leading many small business owners to demand more action from the city and threaten a business tax boycott. "Enough is enough. We're frustrated, so were not going to pay taxes to the city until they give us what we want," Jose Ortiz, owner of La Perla Restaurant, told KTVU Fox 2. Dont miss La Perla, a family-owned restaurant on Fruitvale Avenue, has been robbed twice at gunpoint, and Ortiz says he rarely sees police patrols. Ortiz, and many other Oakland business owners, are now warning the city they wont pay their taxes unless they see the services theyre paying for effectively deal with the increase in crime. Increased crime is hurting sales, closing dining rooms "We're scared for our lives, says Nestor Sanchez, manager at Cybelle's Pizza in the Dimond District. Sanchez is considering joining the tax protest. In January alone, his restaurant was burglarized twice and robbed twice, and he recently fought a thief who tried to grab the cash register by pulling out a hammer. "We're really struggling. Sales have dropped 20%," Sanchez adds. For his part, Oritz told NBC Bay Area hes seen a 25% drop in business, with customers staying away because they dont feel safe. And its not just small businesses at stake. Business Insider recently reported Taco Bell is shutting dining rooms of at least three locations in the city (the drive-thrus remain open), following several robberies. Target, In-N-Out, and Denny's have also closed Oakland locations over safety concerns. Story continues Read more: Generating 'passive income' through real estate is the biggest myth in investing heres how you can do it in as little as 5 minutes Efforts to oust Oakland mayor are ramping up Some citizens have denounced Mayor Sheng Thao for not doing enough to tackle Oakland crime and are pursuing a recall campaign. She has ruined our city," says retired Alameda Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte, who is leading the recall petition. Thaos critics blame her for failing to as yet appoint a permanent police chief after she fired the last chief in February 2023. The city also missed a deadline to secure $15 million in state funding to fight retail crime. In response to the proposed business tax boycott, Thao issued a written statement to KRON4 News, pointing to a reduction in most property crimes in Oaklands business districts since the summer of 2023. Promoting a safer and more prosperous city is my top priority and Oakland is making progress, she says. What to read next Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month Millions of Americans are in massive debt in the face of rising costs. Here's how to get your head above water ASAP This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. An array of hats decorated for St. Patrick's Day is displayed at a park in New Orleans during an Irish-themed fundraiser for a local school on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Although New Orleans is better known for French, Spanish, African American and Caribbean influences, the Irish have played a major role in the city's history, and the city celebrates the legacy with parades and parties centered around the March 17 St. Patrick's Day holiday. (AP Photo/Kevin McGill) NEW ORLEANS (AP) The grandly colonnaded old city hall was designed by an Irish architect. A neighborhood near the wharves is still known as the Irish Channel. Landmark towers and spires of Catholic churches built for Irish immigrants dot the skyline. New Orleans is well known for a culture that evolved from early French and Spanish colonization, Caribbean commerce and the legacies of enslaved Africans. But immigrants from a variety of countries also influenced New Orleans' art, architecture, food and music. March brings an annual focus on the Irish, with St. Patrick's Day celebrations that include shamrock-themed block parties and neighborhood parades. If you look back on the Irish history in New Orleans or the Irish politics in New Orleans, a lot of our mayors and representatives and council people were from Irish descent, said Ronnie Burke, the grand marshal of this weekend's Irish Channel parade. He grasped a string of rosary beads made of marble from Connemara in Ireland's County Galway. His family emigrated from there five generations ago to escape the Great Hunger, which set off a wave of Irish migration in the 19th century. He was among scores of green-clad New Orleans residents gathered at a park near the Mississippi River on Thursday during an Irish-themed block party and fundraiser for St. Michael, a school serving students with learning disabilities. The event also served as something of a reunion for former Irish Channel residents who attended a Catholic school in the area. And it was a prelude to this weekend's parades in and around New Orleans. Irish lore abounds in the city, especially this time of year. A lot of it centers on the work of Irish immigrants in the digging of the New Basin Canal in the early 1800s, part of a national wave of infrastructure improvements that drew Irish immigrant workers. The hardships the New Basin laborers faced aside from backbreaking work, there was a deadly cholera outbreak are points of pride among the city's Irish. The canal eventually was outmoded and filled in decades ago, but a park on a tract of the reclaimed land, marked by a 7-foot (2.1-meter) marble Celtic cross, honors the memory of the laborers. The hardscrabble lives of Irish laborers gave rise to a St. Patrick's Day tradition unique to New Orleans: Float riders in the annual Irish Channel parade toss cabbages and potatoes to the people on the street, an Irish American twist on the Mardi Gras practice of throwing strings of beads and other favors to revelers. It's unique to New Orleans, and it's unique within New Orleans, said Laura Kelley, an adjunct professor in Tulane Universitys history department and author of the book The Irish in New Orleans. The tradition dates to the 1940s, she said. The Irish Channel was a real working, working-class neighborhood. And there were tough times we're coming out of the Great Depression," she said. "Its a way that you can give food to the people in your neighborhood and give it freely and equally and, well, its a face-saving measure." Irish immigration to New Orleans had been happening since the city's early days as a French and later a Spanish colony, Kelley said. Infrastructure improvements and the famine brought new waves of immigrants bolstering the Irish presence. By 1850, roughly a quarter of the city's population was Irish, she said. Per capita, the Irish population of New Orleans was higher than Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Boston, Kelley said. It was higher than any other place but New York City. Still, even the Irish are sometimes surprised at the strength of Irish American culture in New Orleans. Sean Kennedy, an accountant by trade, arrived from Ireland in 1991. He hadn't planned to stay but has been in New Orleans ever since. He owns an Irish bar now. Kelley, who has Irish roots, had no inkling of the city's Irish heritage when she arrived in the city to work on a doctorate about 30 years ago. She struck up a conversation with a cab driver and, because of his accent, mistook him for a New Yorker, not realizing that the port city's patois influenced by Irish, Italian and German immigrants, among others often sounds more akin to the Northeast than the Old South. I was completely confounded because he sounded like he was straight out of New York City, Kelley said. And here hes telling me that he has never left New Orleans. And it was the first time I heard about the Irish Channel. But the Irish influence has long been cherished by Bethany Brinkman. At Thursday's block party for St. Michael, she said her great-grandparents had immigrated to New Orleans from Ireland. And she recalled her grandfather singing Irish lullabies. Hed put on an Irish brogue," she said, "that he kind of adopted from his grandparents." Meows coming from inside the walls of Grace M. Davis High School led to the discovery and rescue of a trapped cat last week, Modesto City Schools confirmed. Staff at Davis High were initially alarmed when they heard noises coming from inside the walls near the schools library, but couldnt make out what they were. However, they reported the sounds to the maintenance staff. Custodians checked the wall it was believed the sounds were coming from, but could not see or hear anything. The next day, a custodian working on the roof of the school saw paw prints near a vent and deduced that the sounds reported earlier mustve been that of a distressed cat. Shining a flashlight down the vent, the custodian spotted a trapped furry four-legged feline. Below, maintenance crews opened a portion of the wall in an effort to launch a rescue mission. Visuals were established on the whiskered creature, but it was just out of reach. They determined the cat accidentally fell through the vent and was trapped. The city of Modestos Animal Control department was called in for backup. Chris Haubrich, an animal control supervisor for the city, was not scheduled to work that day but decided to see if he could help, according to Sharon Bear, spokesperson for the Modesto Police Department. Haubrich was able to pull the cat out and rescue it from its confined predicament. I am told everyone was really relieved, said Sharokina Shams, spokesperson for Modesto City Schools. When that animal was rescued, there was a sense of urgency. There was a feeling of lets get this cat out of here. The cat was then handed to a custodian, but what happened to it after could not be confirmed by officials. Bear said the cat was not taken into custody by animal control. Officials could also not confirm if the incident counted as one of the felines nine lives, per legend. Child star Jake Lloyd had already appeared in multiple episodes of ER and shared the screen with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Jingle All the Way before he was cast as a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace nearly 25 years ago. For the next few years, he lent his voice to more Star Wars projects before disappearing from the public eye following a schizophrenia diagnosis, his mother shared in a recent interview. The former actors mother, Lisa Lloyd, opened up about her sons mental health struggles while speaking to Scripps News, revealing that he is currently 10 months into an 18-month stay at a mental health rehabilitation facility. According to the outlet, Jake Lloyd is aware that his mother is discussing his health issues. Lisa Lloyd said she first noticed her son was having some troubles when he was in high school. Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con 2011 - Day 1 (Gilbert Carrasquillo / FilmMagic) He started talking about realities. He didnt know if he was in this reality, or a different reality. I didnt really know exactly what to say to that, she recalled. She took him to a doctor who thought her son could have bipolar disorder and Jake Lloyd was prescribed different medications. When he left home to attend Columbia College Chicago, he struggled. Lisa Lloyd remembered her son saying he saw black eyes looking at him on the street and had conversations with Jon Stewart while watching The Daily Show. He didnt tell us he was hearing voices at the time. But he was, Lisa Lloyd said. In 2008, he left school and moved in with his mom in Indiana. There, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which is now called schizophrenia. He has a history of schizophrenia on his fathers side, Lisa Lloyd later revealed in the interview. The mental illness can change how a person thinks, feels and behaves, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Some diagnosed with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, the institute said. Jake Lloyd also battles anosognosia, a condition where a person cannot recognize their illness and the need for medication, according to Cleveland Clinic. He didnt think he needed to take medication because he wasnt sick, Lisa Lloyd explained. He didnt think he needed to go to the therapist because theres nothing wrong with him. Seven years later, he was arrested after leading police on a chase and crashing his car. He spent 10 months in jail. In March 2023, the two were driving when Jake Lloyd told her he wanted to stop the car. And he turned the car off in the middle of the three lanes, and we were in the middle lane, she said. The police got there, and they asked Jake some questions. He was talking to them, but none of it made sense. It was all word salad. He was initially taken to the hospital before entering an inpatient program at a mental health rehabilitation facility. His mom said he is still receiving treatment and has completed 10 months of his 18-month stay. She said he has made improvements. She shared, Hes doing much better than I expected. Jake Lloyds mom added, He is relating to people better and becoming a little bit more social, which is really nice. Its kind of like having more of the old Jake back, because he has always been incredibly social until he became schizophrenic. She said they recently went to the movie theater to see Wonka. Lisa Lloyd also shared that her son is still a Star Wars fan and watched the Ahsoka series, which was released in August 2023. Jake Lloyds mom said she would love for her son to possibly participate in a Star Wars project in the future. Jake loved filming Star Wars. He had so much fun, she said. She continued, I would love for him to get well enough to be able to do a little bit of something, and Im sure he would maybe like to do that. He couldnt at this point, but you never know how much hes going to improve. So well see. According to IMDb, Jake Lloyds last acting credit was voicing Young Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars: Racer Revenge video game in 2002. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan) Republican and Democrat legislators largely disagreed on how party make-up in interim committees impact the bills that come out of them during a discussion on the topic Friday. During the last session, the Republican supermajority passed a bill to change the makeup of interim committees from bipartisan, with equal Democrats and Republicans on the committee, to giving the majority party committee a majority in the committees and four partisan bills. That means with one partys support, those can come from each committee, without any support of the minority. Last week, the new committee structure came to a head when a lawmaker proposed committee bills those sponsored by the interim committees to help childcare. Democrats proposed the measure, and Republicans refused to support any of the ideas, saying they should be reserved for the majority party preferences, in this case, Republican bills. Democrats argued during the Friday meeting bipartisan committees produced bills that require less vetting during the session, saving time and resources during a time-crunched legislative session. They also noted that the previous interim committee bills had to achieve bipartisan consensus to pass. But Republicans said the consensus requirement meant some good bills couldnt get out of the interim committee, and breaking party lines to get bills passed could have consequences. Rep. Kelly Kortum, D-Bozeman, brought the topic up during the State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee and said he thought the beauty of interim committees was being able to debate and write legislation thoughtfully prior to the time crunch during the legislative session. Republicans hold a Supermajority in the legislature, and under the new law the majority in all the interim committees. If were not guaranteed consensus built out of this committee, well just repeat all the same fights that we had here on the floor, and thats not a good use of our time, in my opinion, Kortum said. Kortum also asked to have a study be conducted comparing the outcome of bills of partisan and bipartisan committees. Sen. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, said it was premature to look into changing the new system without a study in place. He said he didnt think too highly of the bills that came out of interim committees, and chairperson of the committee Rep. Julie Dooling, R-Helena, agreed, saying sometimes there was too much of a compromise. Ive seen really good legislation, really good things that should have happened in interim committees, go down because there werent enough votes, Dooling said. Somebody had to break party lines, and if you break party lines theres repercussions for that. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, said seven of the eight interim bills out of the 2021-2022 Children and Families Interim Committee were signed into law, with Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoing one. Its possible to have really good work in these committees, it just depends on the committees, he said. Staff for the committee confirmed with the legal department the interim committees have been bipartisan with an equal split between parties since 1973. Democrats hope to gain legislative ground this session, likely not enough for a majority, but the party looks to add 10 seats, with Minority Leader Rep. Kim Abbott, D-Helena, citing wins from the redistricting process during a recent speech. Democrats believe incumbent candidate U.S. Sen. Jon Tester being on the ticket will also drive positive turnout. But Kortum said during the meeting if the party gains ground it might not be reflected in the interim committee makeup. What if, say, my party has 45% of the vote share next time, Kortum said. Thats only 10 points down, but wed still have way, way less representation proportionally in this committee. Legislative staff is requesting clarification from legal because section one of the bill says there should be a 3-1 ratio of majority and minority party representation, but there is also language that points to proportionality, reading members may be chosen in a manner that reflects the majority and minority composition of the legislature. The committee Friday did not vote on whether to advance a study bill on the topic. The post State lawmakers debate whether committees should be more bipartisan appeared first on Daily Montanan. Kaskanak Creek in the Bristol Bay's Kvichak watershed is seen from the air on Sept. 27, 2011. The Kvichak watershed would be damaged by the Pebble mine project, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined. (Photo provided by Environmental Protection Agency) Kaskanak Creek in the Bristol Bay's Kvichak watershed is seen from the air on Sept. 27, 2011. Threats to the watershed and other sites were cited by the Environmental Protection Agency when it issued a decision barring permitting of the Pebble mine. But the Dunleavy administration and Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. have taken legal action to try to reverse that decision. (Photo provided by Environmental Protection Agency) The federal government owes Alaska more than $700 billion in compensation for the 2023 Environmental Protection Agency action that blocked development of the massive and controversial Pebble Mine in Southwest Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration claims in a lawsuit filed in a federal court. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in the District of Columbia, is part of a flurry of legal actions by the state and the mines would-be developer that seek to revive the massive copper and gold project. The state and company legal actions follow an unsuccessful attempt by the Dunleavy administration to have the matter decided directly by the U.S. Supreme Court. In an unusual legal maneuver, the Dunleavy administration last July petitioned the Supreme Court to rule on the matter without having lower courts weigh in. The Supreme Court in January declined to take on the case. In its complaint filed Thursday with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the state cited an estimate for 100 years of production to support the $700 billion figure. And it said Alaska had been depending on Pebble development for its economic future. No land-use project in recent memory was more important to the State than the Pebble Deposit. It would have generated billions of dollars in revenue for the State and tens of thousands of jobs for Alaskans, many of whom are rural residents with limited economic opportunities, the complaint said. Vancouver-based Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and the Pebble Limited Partnership, of which Northern Dynasty is the sole owner, filed parallel lawsuits with the same aims. One, filed on Thursday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, seeks compensation for loss of opportunity to develop Pebble. Unlike the state case, it does not seek a specific dollar amount, but it says that the Pebble Limited Partnership has spent over $1 billion to date to acquire the property and pursue the mines development. The second, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage, seeks to overturn the EPAs January 2023 decision to invoke a rarely used Clean Water Act provision to bar permitting of the Pebble project. The state anticipates filing its own challenge to the EPA action in U.S. District Court,the Department of Law said in a statement released Friday. Northern Dynastys chief executive officer said of the two company lawsuits, the substantive claim challenging the EPA action is the more important legal effort. Salmon sculptures that line the outside of the Bristol Bay Native Corp. building in Anchorage are seen on Feb. 21, 2024. Bristol Bay Native Corp. has opposed the Pebble mine, citing the region's dependence on salmon. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Salmon sculptures that line the outside of the Bristol Bay Native Corp. building in Anchorage are seen on Feb. 21, 2024. Bristol Bay Native Corp. has opposed the Pebble mine, citing the regions dependence on salmon. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Our priority is to advance the District Federal Court Complaint, because overturning the illegal veto removes a major impediment from the path of getting the permit to build the proposed mine, Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen said in a statement. The filing of the takings complaint puts the US Government on notice that we will be seeking very substantial compensation if they continue to illegally block the lawful permitting process. It is basically an insurance policy, ensuring that this case is available to us when, or if, we decide to pursue it further. The state and company legal moves drew rebukes from Pebble opponents, who have characterized the mine project as a dire threat to the Bristol Bay habitat on which major commercial, sport and subsistence salmon harvests depend. The States legal filing is unhinged, sounding more like conspiratorial rantings from some dark corner of the internet than a legitimate legal argument, Tim Bristol, executive director of the advocacy group SalmonState, said in an emailed statement. What the Governor and his appointees are saying is Federal rules and regulations do not apply to Alaska and when the law proves otherwise, they deserve astronomical amounts of money from American taxpayers. This is political posturing at its worst and pure legal fantasy. Reality is Bristol Bays wild salmon runs, the people who depend on them, and the jobs and income they provide. Its deeply disappointing the Governor and his people have decided to turn their backs on one of Alaskas most incredible renewable resources in favor of some wild, ideologically-driven delusion, Bristol said. Jason Metrokin, president and chief executive officer of the Bristol Bay Native Corp., also criticized the legal actions. In a statement, he said the EPAs actions are grounded in science and are supported by a majority of Alaskans. It is simply a mistake for [Northern Dynasty Minerals] and the State of Alaska to continue to pursue the development of what could be North Americas largest open pit mine near the headwaters of Bristol Bays incredible salmon fisheries, Metrokin said, adding that commercial fishing generates $2 billion in annual economic activity and over 15,000 jobs. In a separate statement, Delores Larson, interim director of United Tribes of Bristol Bay, predicted that the new legal attempts would fail. We are confident the courts will uphold the EPAs protections and reject Pebbles attempts to revive a mining project that Alaskans do not support and the science has shown time and time again would be devastating for the waters that support salmon habitat and our way of life. Our lawmakers must step up and take action to permanently protect Bristol Bay our future depends on it. Dunleavy, when asked at a Friday news conference about the states $700 billion claim, declined to make a prediction about its success. I have no idea. Right? You have a November election that may change the complexion of the world in this country, he said. He acknowledged that many Alaskans oppose Pebble but said he disagreed with that sentiment. Im not going to stop saying that the proper development of any mining claim in the state of Alaska, including Pebble, is a bad thing, he said. The post State lawsuit claims federal government owes Alaska $700 billion for quashing Pebble mine appeared first on Alaska Beacon. OKEECHOBEE The Florida Department of Health issued a health alert for Lake Okeechobee after harmful blue-green algae toxins were found in the waterway. Officials from the state's Department of Health tested the waters March 12 and issued a statement Saturday that residents should exercise caution around Lake Okeechobee Park in Okeechobee. Toxic algal blooms regularly infest the 730-square-mile lake during the summer, producing fumes and poisons that can kill pets and hospitalize people who inhale the toxins. What is blue-green algae? Is it harmful to humans? Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria common in Floridas freshwater environments. A bloom usually occurs when algae accumulate and create floating matts that emit foul odors. Environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms include sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Blue-green algae can produce toxins and impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals. For additional information on the potential health effects of algal blooms, visit floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins. Precautions for Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae The Florida Department of Health advised residents and visitors to take the following precautions: Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom. Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water. Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present. Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins. Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well. Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms. What to do if you spot blue-green algae? In this photo from July of last year, docks and walkways on the north end of the Pahokee City Marina sit closed because cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, was found in the waters of Lake Okeechobee in Pahokee. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection encourages people to report a bloom to DEP by calling the toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903 or online. It collects and analyzes algal bloom samples. If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, call the Florida Department of Health in Okeechobee County at 772-873-4927. To report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center, call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately. If you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae-contaminated water, contact your veterinarian. Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her atvpalm@pbpost.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @ValenPalmB. Support local journalism:Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida to residents: Toxic blue-green algae found in Lake Okeechobee A state trooper investigating the death of a Boston police officer is now under investigation himself, authorities said Thursday, adding another layer of complexity to a case that has sharply divided a Massachusetts suburb. The Massachusetts State Police said it has opened an internal investigation into a potential violation of department policy against Trooper Michael Proctor, one of the lead investigators in the death of Officer John OKeefe. It did not elaborate on what he is being investigated for. Investigators allege OKeefes girlfriend, Karen Read, hit him with her SUV in the Boston suburb of Canton in January 2022 and left him outside in the snow to die. But Reads defense team alleges that he was fatally beaten in the Canton home of a fellow Boston police officer, and that Read is the victim of a coverup to protect those inside the home that night. Read has said she dropped OKeefe outside the home shortly after midnight after they left a bar then drove off to his house to sleep because she was not feeling well. OKeefes body was found about six hours later outside the home. Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision. The Massachusetts State Police did not specify whether Proctors alleged violation is related to Reads case. Trooper Proctor remains on full duty, a State Police spokesperson said in a statement to CNN on Thursday. Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe had gone out with his girlfriend hours before his body was found in Canton, Massachusetts. - Boston Police Department/AP Please note that we are not stating whether the potential violation relates to a specific case, nor are we specifying the nature of the alleged violation. David Traub, a spokesperson for the Norfolk District Attorneys Office, which is prosecuting Reads case, told CNN theyre aware of the investigation. Proctor remains on full duty and his responsibilities within our office have not changed, he said. The investigation comes the same week Reads defense team alleged that Proctor did not fully disclose his relationship with key witnesses in the case. During a hearing Tuesday, attorney Alan Jackson alleged that text messages revealed Proctor has close ties with the family of the homeowner, and has communicated with them before and after OKeefes death. Weve been saying since September 2022 motions that we filed before this court and filed with the Commonwealth that there is a conflict. Youre not investigating the conflict. That conflict was never described to the grand jurors. And weve been rebuffed at every single turn, Jackson said in court on Tuesday. Karen Read is shown with her defense attorneys, Alan Jackson, (left) and David Yannetti at Norfolk County Superior Court. - MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/MediaNews Group/Getty Images/File Proctors attorney, Michael DiStefano, said his client is cooperating with the investigation. Trooper Proctor remains steadfast in the integrity of the work he performed investigating the death of Mr. John OKeefe, he said in a statement obtained by CNN. To the extent that Trooper Proctors personal text messages are alluded to in court proceedings regarding Ms. Read, he respectfully submits that the objective investigative steps he and members of his unit took are in no way undermined by the content of the personal messages. Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally has said the defense is using the relationships to distract from Reads alleged guilt, CNN affiliate WFXT reported. Its a three-card Monte trick. You know, card trick. On the corner, on the side. Look at all of this. Look at this relationship. Look at that relationship, Lally said. Reads trial is scheduled to start next month. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Stray bullets hit two in Tompkins Square Park in East Village; NYPD says injuries not life-threatening A gunman opened fire in a Manhattan park Saturday, wounding two innocent parkgoers enjoying the balmy weather, police said. Gunshots rang out in Tompkins Square Park near Avenue A and E. Ninth St. in the East Village about 12:47 p.m. as scores of visitors enjoyed Saturdays 60-degree temperatures, cops said. Sparrow Byrnes, 10, said he was watching a hockey game in the park from his familys apartment window when he heard gunfire followed by a person yelling, Theres a shooting! Theres a shooting! Someone has a gun! I heard five bangs. I didnt see them shoot it. I didnt see what they looked like, said Sparrow. Everyone ran out of the park. Some people stayed in the skateboard park. People ran from the Avenue B side of the park which was away from the shooting scene because no one wants to be harmed, said parkgoer Trevonni Stokes, 26. Its too much of a beautiful day to die. When police arrived, they found a man in his 30s shot in the buttocks and a woman in her 50s with a gunshot wound to the right hip. EMS took both victims to Bellevue Hospital. Neither injury was believed to be life-threatening, cops said. Both victims were hit by stray bullets, cops said. It was not immediately clear who was targeted by the gunman, who ran off west on E. Ninth St.. It was crazy. I was very scared, said Sparrow. No arrests have been made. Cops said the gunman was wearing a black ski mask, a black hoodie with white lettering and was carrying a tan tote bag. Cops on Saturday were scouring the area for surveillance footage that could help them identify the shooter. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Match Day is a tradition for medical students all over the country. Students find out where they will be spending the next phase of their medical training. At the Foster School of Medicine at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso, 114 medical students were matched to residencies on Friday, March 15. Of those students, 10 will be staying in El Paso with nine doing their residencies at Texas Tech and one who will receive their training at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Texas Tech Health El Paso officers 22 residency and fellowship programs. About 10 percent of Foster School of Medicine graduates match to Texas Tech each year, according to a news release sent out about Match Day. That aligns with Texas Techs mission to grow our future generation of physicians, according to a news release. At Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, more than 100 area student doctors were matched up with local and national residencies. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) People interested in pursuing a public safety job were offered a chance to explore careers at Bakersfield Colleges Weill Institute Friday. On March 15, the open house event, hosted by BCs Public Safety Training Pathway, was tailored for students and the public who share an interest in pursuing careers as paramedics, firefighters or emergency medical technicians. Video released of intentional head-on collision with CHP vehicle One of the things we do here at Bakersfield College is we prepare students to go out into those professions and be great, said Charles Truvillion, lead faculty with the Fire Technology Program. We have a great program here at Bakersfield College, we want them to know about how great the program is, and then we work with them so they can also be great. BC said this event was an exciting opportunity for those who want to discover their potential and chart the course toward a fulfilling career. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. The effort by the California Trucking Association and OOIDA to keep AB5 away from California trucking took a big blow in a federal court. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) In a sweeping decision, a federal judge in California on Friday rejected arguments that the states independent contractor law, AB5, should be barred from regulating Californias trucking industry. Judge Roger Benitez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California not only failed to order a new injunction, he also tossed out the case brought by the California Trucking Association (CTA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), with state Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Teamsters as the defendants. Benitez handed down the New Years Eve 2019 preliminary injunction that kept AB5 out of the states trucking sector for several years. Remedying complexities and perceived deficiencies in AB5 are the kind of work better left to the soap box and the ballot box than to the jury box, Benitez wrote in his decision. If sufficient political or economic pressure can be brought to bear by [CTA and OOIDA] and their supporters, the more onerous provisions of the statute can be amended. The courts, on the other hand, are not the proper bodies for imposing legislative amendments. Benitez expressed little sympathy with the CTA and OOIDA arguments in his decision. The basis for Benitezs 2019 preliminary injunction blocking AB5 was that it conflicted with the provisions of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA), an argument that was later rejected by a three-judge appellate panel of the 9th Circuit. Benitez reviewed some of the arguments regarding FAAAAs preemption of state action that impacts a carriers prices, routes or service. It is that phrase in the FAAA that originally led Benitez in 2019 to block implementation of AB5 in 2019. But the judge ultimately comes back to the conclusion of the appellate court: That the FAAA does not explicitly preempt AB5 was resolved earlier in this case. And that decision, the judge writes, is binding on this court. The CTA and OOIDA also argued that there was an implied preemption in the FAAAA that would block AB5. Implied preemption might have a place, Benitez wrote. But an argument that it is impossible to comply with the FAAAA because of AB5 falls short. It is not impossible for truck drivers to comply with both federal and state law because there is simply no federal standard of classification requiring compliance. The FAAAA does not dictate that truck drivers must be classified as independent contractors or that drivers are not subject to state wage and hour laws. Story continues An argument that AB5 works to set up a patchwork quilt of regulations is inadequate as well, he added. The particular regulations about which Congress is concerned are those addressing carriers prices, routes and services. Congress does not appear to be concerned with a patchwork quilt of truck driver classification for purposes of wage and hour protection. Benitez rejected the argument that AB5 conflicts with the dormant Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which regulates state intrusion in interstate commerce. The plaintiffs object to the employee classification approach as burdening independent drivers everywhere, Benitez wrote. Yet even plaintiffs acknowledge that California has no interest in applying its labor laws to out-of-state workers and gains no benefit from classifying those workers. Citing a precedent in another case, Benitez said the dormant Commerce Clause is not a roving license for federal court to decide what activities are appropriate for state and local governments to undertake. Another precedent is cited by the 9th Circuit, which said that laws that increase compliance costs do not qualify as a significant burden on interstate commerce. If there is an individual winner in the Benitez decision, it is former California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez. Her statements about AB5 and trucking were cited in the case as evidence that the plaintiffs were targeted by Gonzalez and her allies and that there was animus directed at the trucking industry. Again citing a precedent, Benitez writes that the statements of a single legislator do not necessarily represent the reasons motivating other legislators who vote to pass a bill into law. The statements of Assemblywoman Gonzalez alone are insufficient to prove legislative animus for an Equal Protection violation. There were other arguments rejected by Benitez as well. One involved an exemption in AB5 granted to trucks in the construction industry that the plaintiffs said was not rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. Another involves a complex argument regarding the 12-point business-to-business exemption a difficult test to reach that does pave the way for utilization of independent contractors and whether it conflicts with federal leasing laws. In a brief comments, a spokeswoman for OOIDA said the organization disagrees with Judge Benitezs ruling and the reasoning behind it and is exploring all options moving forward-including an appeal. An email sent to the CTA had not been responded to by publication time. How we got here AB5 is passed and signed in the first half of 2019. It sets the ABC test to determine who is legitimately an independent contractor. The B prong of the ABC test is particularly problematic for trucking. It says an independent contractor is one who performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entitys business. That could be a difficult test to meet for trucking companies that hire independent owner-operators to move freight. The CTA filed suit against AB5, citing preemption by the FAAAA. The defendants are then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a position later held by Bonta, and the Teamsters union. On New Years Eve 2019, Benitez hands down a preliminary injunction blocking AB5 from enforcement against trucking, citing the FAAAA argument. In April 2021, a 9th Circuit appellate court overturns the injunction on a 2-1 vote. CTA appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court for review, but that request is denied on June 30, 2022, kicking the case back to the lower court. AB5 goes into effect against the states trucking sector. In September 2022, the OOIDA is added as a plaintiff. Oral arguments are heard in early November 2023. Benitez rejects the request for a new injunction on March 15, 2024, and rules in favor of the defendants: Bonta and the Teamsters. More articles by John Kingston Federal court in Texas nixes NLRB rule on joint employee status Jobs report: Truck transportation employment flat, warehouse jobs drop again SEC backs off on requiring companies to report scope 3 emissions The post Groups lose latest court attempt to block Californias AB5 from states trucking sector appeared first on FreightWaves. The recent gang violence in Haiti and the 2024 election heating up will likely be the focus of this weeks Sunday Shows. Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced he will resign on Tuesday amid the chaos in the Caribbean country, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs saying in an update last week that more than 360,000 people have been displaced because of the violence. Author Mitch Albom, who was airlifted out of Haiti alongside seven other Americans earlier this week, will make an appearance on this weeks Fox News Sunday. He said that Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) helped him, his wife and eight other volunteers, two of whom are not American, leave his Have Faith Haiti orphanage in Port-au-Prince. I am back on American soil. Thank you to all have supported us during this difficult week. My wife and I are safe tonight, Albom said Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter. Many Americans, Canadians, and others who are still stuck are not. The people of Haiti are not, he continued. I hope that our attention can turn to them and how we can help restore peace and safety to a beautiful country and its people, who deserve so much better. Republicans have pushed back against demands from the Biden administration for an extra $40 million in funding for a Kenyan-led multinational police force in Haiti as the violence in the country continues. The U.S. has previously committed $300 million to the security force, but the Biden administration has asked Congress to release an additional $50 million for the effort, with $10 million of the request being passed in September. The human suffering and devolving crisis in Haiti is tragic. Yet, after years of discussions, repeated requests for information, and providing partial funding to help them plan, the administration only this afternoon sent us a rough plan to address this crisis, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who will appear on Fox News Sunday this week, and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a joint statement Tuesday. Both President Biden and former President Trump secured their respective nominations for their parties this week, setting up a rematch of the 2020 election. However, Trumps former running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence, said he will not endorse the former president Friday. It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, Pence, who will appear on CBS Face the Nation this week, told Martha MacCallum on Fox News. Look, Im incredibly proud of the record of our administration. It was a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure, and saw conservatives appointed to our courts in a more peaceful world, Pence said. But that being said, during my presidential campaign I made clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), who faced pressure from Trump to overturn his states election results in the wake of the 2020 election, will make an appearance on NewsNations The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt this week. Raffensperger took a swing at the former president in an editorial in January, saying he was repeating recycled conspiracy theories about his loss in the 2020 election. The big lie about the 2020 election, repeated now for more than three years, has brought forward no proof and nothing that hasnt been publicly known since January 2021, Raffensperger wrote in the editorial published in the National Review. The current variations, on display regularly during Trumps 2024 presidential campaign thus far, are merely part of the dancing fountain of lies that have been disproven by the count, the recount, and the audit of the 2020 vote in Georgia. Not one single shred of evidence has been offered in its support, in my state or in any other, he wrote. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week White House national security spokesman John Kirby; Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). NBCs Meet the Press Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.); Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen. CBS Face the Nation Former Vice President Mike Pence; Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.); UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. CNNs State of the Union House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.); Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio.). Fox News Sunday Kirby; Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas); author Mitch Albom. Fox News Sunday Morning Futures Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.); Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.); Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R); Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson (R); former Department of Defense Chief of Staff Kash Patel. NewsNations The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R); Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R). For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, prepares to speak to supporters of Senate Bill 442 on Monday, May 1, 2023, just ahead of its final Senate passage. Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, prepares to speak to supporters of Senate Bill 442 on Monday, May 1, 2023, just ahead of its final Senate passage. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The Montana Supreme Court on Friday afternoon denied the State of Montanas request to pause a lower court decision ordering the governor and secretary of state to send out an override poll for a marijuana fund redistribution bill Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed at the end of the 2023 legislative session. Gianforte and Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen officially filed their notice of appeal on Wednesday of Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahans district court rulings, which said the two officials have interrupted the political process in an impermissible way by blocking a chance for lawmakers to override the Senate Bill 442 veto. On Thursday, the two defendants asked the Supreme Court to pause Menahans order pending the full appeal, arguing that if the override poll was sent out and lawmakers override the veto, their legal claims will be rendered moot. But the justices disagreed, saying attorneys for Gianforte and Jacobsen have not proven that is the case, and saying the court is certainly able to address the appeal of Menahans ruling on veto procedure while a poll is conducted. At issue is whether to change how revenue from recreational marijuana taxes is distributed. A supermajority of lawmakers, including both Democrats and Republicans, supported the idea of allocating more of the revenue toward outdoor and wildland habitat acquisition and distributing it to counties for road improvement, ideas which Gianforte rejected. Because the fate of SB 442 could ultimately go either way, a stay denial does not moot Appellants appeal. Appellants have not demonstrated irreparable harm, six justices wrote in Fridays unanimous opinion. The only justice who did not sign the opinion was Dirk Sandefur. The justices did allow the appeal to proceed, but the high courts order means that the governor will have to send his veto message to Jacobsen, who will have to send out an override poll to lawmakers by March 19, next Tuesday, per Menahans order. We are thankful to the Montana Supreme Court for upholding the constitution and requiring the governor and secretary of state to issue the override poll with haste, said Noah Marion, the political and state policy director for Wild Montana, one of three plaintiff groups in the case that helped craft the bill last year. We look forward to helping Sen. (Mike) Lang and the Legislature finally make SB 442 law; sending millions of dollars across Montana benefitting infrastructure, veterans, mental health, agriculture and timber industries, wildlife, public access, hunter and anglers. Once the override poll is sent out next week, it will have been more than 10 months since Gianforte vetoed the bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, which passed with 130 votes out of 150 possible, in what would be the final hours of the legislative session. Senators did not learn the bill had been vetoed until they adjourned sine die last May 2, causing a storm of confusion among lawmakers and lobbyists who worked for months to get the bill into its final form and brought in a wide range of supporters on the industry side and among lawmakers because it both put more money toward a Habitat Legacy conservation program and funded county road maintenance. Competing bills supported by the governor and some Republicans sought to put more money toward the Department of Justice and the General Fund but were pushed aside by lawmakers in favor of the final version of SB 442. The question at the heart of Gianfortes veto was whether he properly vetoed the bill while the full Legislature was still in session or not, as his office had said he vetoed the bill before the Senate adjourned, but the veto message was never read across the Senate rostrum where the bill originated. The governor and a legal opinion from the code commissioner each maintained that since the House was still in session, the full body was in session. But the plaintiffs Wild Montana, the Montana Association of Counties, and the Montana Wildlife Federation sued to challenge their stance, saying lawmakers must have an opportunity to override a veto, and had not gotten one. After hearing arguments in the case in December, Menahan in January ordered Gianforte to transmit the veto to the Secretary of State and for her to send the override poll out to lawmakers. Two-thirds of the Legislature will have to vote to override the veto for it to be successful. The governor balked at the order, asking Menahan to pause his own order in February. But Menahan also denied the stay request, saying time was running out before the 2025 session starts and the lawmakers must have the chance to vote on an override or the crucial balance of powers will be upset between the branches of government. Staying the courts judgment would allow Gianforte to continue to exercise an unconstitutional level of control over the lawmaking process, Menahan wrote in the order earlier this month. Regardless of Gianfortes motives in relation to SB442 specifically, he advocates for a troubling precedent. The Governors Office had told the Daily Montanan in February it planned to appeal Menahans Janaury decision to the Supreme Court, but it did not file that notice until this week, along with the request for the stay. The Supreme Courts four-page opinion returned one day after the request for the stay says the court can get to the bottom of the constitutional veto issues without one. Although the Legislature must vote on whether to override SB 442, the outcome of the underlying appeal will determine whether the District Courts ruling was correct, and therefore whether the governors veto ultimately stands over the Legislatures vote, the justices wrote. This Court can address the underlying issue in due course regardless of whether we issue a stay. The courts ruling clears the way for the groups and Lang to try to keep hold of the strong bipartisan support they received for the bill at the end of last years session. The governors request for a stay postulated that perhaps support has waned in the months since the session. But the plaintiffs in the case say they are pleased that they will have the opportunity to prove that theory wrong. Despite ongoing attempts to stall, the courts have upheld the necessity for legislative involvement in the veto override process, said MACo Executive Director Eric Bryson. We appreciate and commend the Supreme Court for promptly addressing the matter. wildmontana-state-stay-denied The post Supreme Court clears way for override poll of vetoed marijuana funds bill appeared first on Daily Montanan. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled Friday that thousands of low-level drug dealers are ineligible for shortened prison terms under a Trump-era bipartisan criminal justice overhaul. The justices took the case of Mark Pulsifer, who was convicted in a southwest Iowa federal case of distributing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, to settle a dispute among federal courts over the meaning of the word and in a muddy provision of the 2018 First Step Act. The law's so-called safety valve provision is meant to spare low-level, nonviolent drug dealers who agree to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors from having to face often longer mandatory sentences. Some courts had concluded the use of the word indeed means and, but others decided that it means or. A defendant's eligibility for a shorter sentence depended on the outcome. Today, we agree with the Government's view of the criminal-history provision, Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the majority in the 6-3 decision that did not split the justices along liberal-conservative lines. In dissent, Justice Neil Gorsuch referred to the First Step Act as possibly the most significant criminal-justice reform bill in a generation. But under the court's decision, thousands more people in the federal criminal justice system will be denied a chancejust a chance at a reduced sentence, Gorsuch wrote, joined by Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor. Nearly 6,000 people convicted of drug trafficking in the 2021 budget year alone are in the pool of those who might have been eligible for reduced sentences, according to data compiled by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The provision lists three criteria for allowing judges to forgo a mandatory minimum sentence that basically looks to the severity of prior crimes. Congress wrote the section in the negative so that a judge can exercise discretion in sentencing if a defendant does not have three sorts of criminal history. With eligibility criteria for lighter sentence unclear, justices opt for stricter interpretation Before reaching their decision, the justices puzzled over how to determine eligibility for the safety valve whether any of the conditions is enough to disqualify someone or whether it takes all three to be ineligible. Pulsifer's lawyers argued that all three conditions must apply before the longer sentence can be imposed. The government said just one condition is enough to merit the mandatory minimum. Kagan wrote that the language creates an eligibility checklist, and demands that a defendant satisfy every one of its conditions. Two of the three conditions applied to Pulsifer. The trial court and the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled he was eligible for a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years. He actually received a 13 1/2-year sentence for unrelated reasons. Now 61, Pulsifer is not scheduled to be released from prison until 2031, according to federal Bureau of Prison records. Congress could still change the law if it thinks the court was wrong. The case is Pulsifer v. U.S., 22-340. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Supreme Court upholds mandatory prison term in low-level Iowa case The suspect in the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer had been driving a car belonging to a South Carolina woman who was later found dead, police said Saturday. Jaremy Smith of Marion County, South Carolina, remains at large, according to police. Smith has an "extensive" criminal history dating back decades in his home state and has ties to the Albuquerque area, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said at a Saturday press conference. When the trooper was murdered, Smith was driving a car belonging to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a missing South Carolina first responder. Machado-Fore was found dead outside of Lake View in Dillon County on Friday after she had been reported missing by family, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday. PHOTO: In this previous booking photo released by the New Mexico State Police, Jaremy Smith is shown. (New Mexico State Police) Warrants have been issued for Smith in the murder of New Mexico State officer Justin Hare. Hare was fatally shot after responding to a call early Friday on Interstate 40, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. MORE: Suspect sought after New Mexico State Police officer fatally shot on highway: Authorities Hare was killed after he was dispatched to help a person with a flat tire on Friday, according to police. PHOTO: In this photo released by the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Phonesia Machado-Fore is shown. (Marion County Sheriff's Office) At around 5 a.m., Hare was dispatched to help a motorist in a white BMW who had a flat tire and had been attempting to wave down other motorists. At the scene, the suspect approached Hare's passenger side window and they had a short conversation about repairing his tire and possibly getting a ride back to town when the suspect -- without warning -- pulled out a firearm and shot Hare, Weisler said during a press conference Saturday. The suspect then walked to the driver side of the car and shot Hare again. Smith then pushed Hare into the passenger seat and drove the patrol car away, with Hare still in the vehicle, according to Weisler. When Hare did not return several attempts to contact him, an officer was sent to the scene. When the officer responded, he saw Hare's patrol car driving at a high speed on a fringe road which runs alongside the interstate. Hare also set off a distress signal, sending an emergency signal to dispatch, Weisler said. PHOTO: New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare is seen in this photo. (New Mexico State Police) The officer then took an exit and tried to catch up to the patrol car. When he caught up with the car it had crashed off the side of the road around mile post 304. But, the patrol car was empty as the suspect had fled and there was no sign of Hare, according to Weisler. Hare was later found on the fringe road around mile post 312. He was transported to a hospital where he died, Weisler said. The link was made between Hare's murder and the missing first responder when New Mexico State Police called the Marion County Sheriff's Office on Friday to inform them that Machado-Fore's car was involved in the murder of one of their officers. PHOTO: First responders are shown at the scene where Phonesia Machado-Fore's body was found in Dillon County, South Carolina, on March 16, 2024. (WPDE) Federal, state and local authorities worked together to identify the driver and locate Machado-Fore, ultimately finding her body in the course of their investigation. The manhunt for Smith continues, with police calling on the public with any knowledge about his whereabouts to step forward. "Jaremy Smith, we are coming for you. I implore you to turn yourself in and surrender peacefully," Weisler said. Police said Smith should not be approached and is considered armed and dangerous. Suspect in New Mexico trooper shooting had 'extensive' criminal history, linked to woman found dead originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A politician suspended by Labour following claims that he had published anti-Semitic posts continued to promote himself to voters as a councillor for the party. Tanweer Khan was suspended last month after Labour launched an investigation into claims he had published posts attacking Jewish-owned social media outlets. It was also claimed he had described Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, as a Zionist billionaire. Mr Khan has denied that he wrote or published the statements, claiming they had been posted by disgruntled former Labour Party members to discredit him. The Labour investigation into the claims is ongoing, and Mr Khan remains suspended pending its conclusion. But it has emerged that, following his suspension, he continued to describe himself as a Labour Party councillor for the east London borough of Redbridge. His local party also presented him as one of its councillors for at least a month after his suspension. Mr Khans photograph continued to appear on the X account of the Labour Party in Redbridges Mayfield Ward until a few days ago. The references to him being a Labour councillor were removed on Thursday afternoon after The Telegraph brought the matter to the partys attention. Until Thursday Mr Khan continued to be listed as a Labour councillor on both his own account on X, formerly Twitter, and on Mayfield Labours website, where he was described as chairman of pension fund committee and chairman of Mayfield Labour. Tanweer Khan still featured on the Mayfield Labour Party website after his suspension Mr Khan appeared alongside a Labour councillor in a photograph of a surgery meeting with local residents, published on Mayfield Labours X account on March 2. Until March 7, Mayfield Labours website and X account continued to state that they were promoted by Tanweer Khan, giving the same correspondence address as the constituency offices of Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary and MP for Ilford North. Mr Khan, a former investment banker and tech entrepreneur who has been tipped as a future Labour MP, was also shown standing near Mr Streeting in a group photograph that continued to be on Mayfield Labours website home page until this week. He also continued to be listed as a Labour councillor on Redbridge Councils website until it was updated in the past few days. The party said he had been sitting as an independent councillor for council business since his suspension. On Friday, Labour sources said that Mr Khan remains suspended pending investigation and the party was aware that he had continued to present himself as a Labour councillor on some forums. They described this as wholly inappropriate for a suspended Labour member. Mr Khan was suspended following allegations that he had described Facebook as being under the control of the Israeli government and used what is widely seen as an anti-Semitic trope when he allegedly described Mr Zuckerberg as a Zionist billionaire. None of these comments were posted by me It is claimed that, in May 2021, Mr Khan stated in a post on Labayk, his own social media app aimed at Muslim users: I dont understand why people are asking others on this platform to join their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp groups etc. These are pretty much all Jewish-owned platforms. The following month, when Labayk was forced to close because of insufficient support, Mr Khan allegedly posted a long statement again condemning rival platforms as Jewish-owned. It added: If you use Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp, do not forget that you are directly strengthening the position of the Israeli government in killing innocent Muslims. The statement was later deleted, but had by then been reposted by several Facebook users and can still be found on their pages. In response to the claims, Mr Khan denied that he had written or posted the anti-Semitic statements. He told The Telegraph: The comments that you have highlighted are offensive, anti-Semitic and also perpetuate anti-Semitic tropes. Suffice it to say, none of these comments were made or posted by me. When I first became aware of these, back in late 2021, I immediately reported them to the Labour Party myself. These comments were posted through the nefarious actions of some disgruntled former Labour Party members in Ilford South. I was able to provide the Labour Party with evidence to substantiate this. Mr Khan 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. MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Suspended Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon had his state charges dismissed, the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office told News13 Friday. Lemons state trial, which was set for Monday, will no longer happen, the attorney generals office said. The U.S. Attorneys Office will handle the federal charges in federal court in June. The attorney generals office said they dismissed their charges in conjunction with the U.S. Attorneys Offices prosecution. PREVIOUS: Ex-Marlboro County deputy pleads guilty in federal court in 2020 Tasing of prisoner; suspended sheriffs trial set for June Deputy David Andrew Cook and Lemon were indicted in January in U.S. District Court in Florence. Court records indicate that Lemon was offered a plea agreement and that his trial could take three to four days. Cook pleaded guilty in federal court last month. State authorities initially charged both men with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and misconduct in office in December 2021, and Lemon was suspended by Gov. Henry McMaster. News13 reported in November that Lemon was scheduled to stand trial in a state court in March. Lemon had been reelected sheriff in November 2020, beating out his Republican challenger, Henry Love. Former Bennettsville Police Chief Larry McNeil was appointed as the countys interim sheriff following Lemons suspension. A tentative date for Lemons federal trial is June 3. Count on News13 for updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Yahoo Sports Jason Fitz is joined by Senior NFL Reporters Charles Robinson and Jori Epstein to go behind the scenes on the latest rumors and news around the NFL. The trio start with takeaways from the NFL owner's meetings as Jori was on the ground in Orlando. The hosts discuss the fallout of the new kickoff rule (are rosters going to change because of it?), the two Christmas Day games and what the heck Jerry Jones was doodling in his notebook. Next, it's time to pull out the crystal ball as the hosts attempt to look into the future for some key quarterbacks, starting with Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy's draft stock has been skyrocketing lately as some rumors emerged that he could go as high as second overall. Charles gives his thoughts and what he's hearing from GMs around the league before moving onto Brock Purdy and whether San Francisco will be willing to pay him when the time comes. Charles dives deeper into the 2024 quarterback class and why every prospect has a massive red flag, and Jori gives us the latest on the Dak Prescott contract negotiations, which seem to be heading in the wrong direction. All signs are pointing towards Dak hitting free agency next offseason. Finally, Fitz wraps things up by asking about Deion Sanders' comments about choosing where his sons get drafted and whether or not player empowerment could be ascending to a new level with the emergence of NIL. (NEXSTAR) Despite some major recent closures, retail giant Target is still expanding in many places in the U.S. Personal finance resource Finance Buzz recently rounded up the 39 cities that are getting Target stores. Of the 18 states covered, Florida is getting most of them, with a total of six new locations in the works. Should married couples file joint or separate tax returns? Florida residents can expect new Target stores at: Bradenton Beach Miami Beach North Miami Downtown Miami Grove Central Wildwood Trailwinds Village Wesley Chapel The Grove at Wesley Chapel Finance Buzz explains that the new Miami locations join that citys existing eight Target stores. Last September, Target announced the October closure of nine stores in four states. According to the company, an increase in theft was a chief contributing factor in the decision. Montana man pleads guilty to creating giant hybrid sheep We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all, Target said in a statement last year. Target said that the areas affected by the closures which included stores in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland would still be served by over 150 nearby Target locations. For a full list of new Target locations nationwide, visit Finance Buzz. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. One of three teenagers charged with setting a Denver house on fire and killing five people was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday. Gavin Seymour, 19, pleaded guilty in January to one count of second-degree murder for his role in the Aug. 5, 2020, fire that killed five members of a Senegalese family in an apparent revenge plot for a stolen cellphone mistakenly traced to the home. Denver District Court Judge Karen Brody gave him the maximum sentence allowed, according to The Denver Post. "This is a tragedy that is, I'm sure for everyone involved, incomprehensible," Brody said. "There was a loss of the most innocent of lives." Seymour and two other teenagers Kevin Bui and Dillon Siebert were charged after setting fire to the house in the middle of the night, killing Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; Khadija Diol, 1 (previous reporting identified her as 2 years old); Hassan Diol, 25; and 6-month-old Hawa Baye. Three other people escaped by jumping from the second floor of the home. DENVER POLICE ARREST 3 TEENS TIED TO FIRE THAT KILLED 5 SENEGALESE IMMIGRANTS: COPS Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the fire, was 17 when he was sentenced in February 2023 to three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a state prison program for young inmates. Bui, the alleged ringleader, and Seymour were both 16 when the fire was set. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The case against Bui is still pending as he faces multiple counts of first-degree murder. "Even if you kill five sheep or goats, you should get a maximum sentence," the victims' relative Hanady Diol told the court Friday through a translator over the phone from Senegal. "This person here, they are talking about 40 or 30 years. That just means there is no justice there. There is no judging that the people who died are human beings." The teenagers were identified as suspects after police obtained a search warrant asking Google for accounts that had searched the home's address within 15 days of the fire. FIVE DEAD IN DENVER HOUSE FIRE, ARSON INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY Bui told investigators he had been robbed the month before the fire while he was attempting to purchase a gun and that he had traced his iPhone to the home using an app, according to court records. He admitted to setting the fire but found out the next day through news reports that the victims were not the people who robbed him, police said. Attorneys for Seymour and Bui challenged the search warrant, but the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the search. Bui is due in court on March 21. Seymour apologized in court Friday for his role in the house fire. "If I could go back and prevent all this, I would," he said. "There is not a moment that goes by that I don't feel extreme guilt and remorse for my actions I want to say how truly sorry I am to the family members and community for all the harm Ive done." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Teen sentenced to 40 years in prison for Denver house fire that killed 5 Isaac Tarrant said education should be "accessible to everyone - regardless of their financial background". A sixth-form student is set to face his fear of heights to raise money for his school's charitable foundation. Isaac Tarrant hopes to raise 5,000 for the Victoria College Foundation by falling 10,000ft (3km) out of a plane and onto St Aubin's Bay, Jersey. Mr Tarrant said education should be "accessible to everyone - regardless of their financial background". Victoria College said it was "very grateful" to the 18-year-old and described him as "extremely brave". Mr Tarrant said as a bursary student himself, he wanted to raise money by pushing himself out of his comfort zone. "It really started 11 years ago when I first joined VCP [Victoria College Prep]. Even at VCP there was a massive music culture and I first found my love for music," he said. "Now here I am in Year 13 thinking about music as a potential career path. "Without this financial support that I had, I wouldn't be thinking about where I was going in the future, my life would be completely different. "I really want to just make sure I'm sharing that with others moving forward." 'Keep supporting students' He said with the rising costs of living, the demands for bursaries were "higher than they've ever been before". "We really need that support and to keep supporting students who might need that financial support," he said. Victoria College said Mr Tarrant facing his fears "for the benefit of others" was an "investment in the future". "We are all hugely proud of Isaac's endeavours to facilitate the work of the Foundation, which needs ongoing fundraising in order to pursue its mission, now and into the future," they added. "To jump from a plane at 10,000ft to raise money to support the educational opportunities of other young people is not only extremely brave, but wonderfully altruistic." Mr Tarrant will do his skydive on 30 March and said he was "terrified but also looking forward to it". Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Source: Hoshino Resorts. Hoshino Resorts is small but punches above its weight. It only has 68 hotels, but several of them regularly top the most-recommended lists of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. The 110-year-old company began with traditional inns. Since becoming its CEO in 1991, CEO Yoshiharu Hoshino has led the business in championing Japanese hospitality against a rising sea of sameness from global brands. The group has grown its property count by 74% since 2019. It has another 11 in the pipeline. Notably, its developing hotels nationwide, not just the best-known tourism centers. Yoshiharu Hoshino, the CEO of Hoshino Resorts Hoshino Resorts notable brand power The brands strength is revealed in that 60% to 70% of the Hoshino-branded reservations come directly through its website, a share of direct distribution exceeding that of the global hotel groups. One reason weve worked so hard to have this large brand awareness is to boost our flow of direct bookings because that is one of the important sources of profitability, Hoshino said. Hoshino Resorts rising status as an iconic national brand is one reason its CEO was named Japans master entrepreneur of the year in 2022 by the consulting firm EY. Rapid portfolio growth Hoshino made opportunistic moves during the pandemic. The crisis caused distress for many hotel operators and investors, who sought Hoshino Resorts to either take over the management or ownership of their properties. The company saw a once-in-a-generation chance to claim desirable locations at discounted prices. In 2019, the company had 3,074 rooms. It has added 4,010 rooms since then. a guest room with an onsen hoshino resorts the kai matsumoto resort in japan source hoshino resorts Supporting national tourism Hoshino Resorts has a long-term strategy of spreading out its footprint nationwide. In cities and prefectures across the country, manufacturing used to be the main industry, Hoshino said. But we expect tourism to become much more important in the coming years. Hoshinos strategy sometimes involves jointly developing projects with the Development Bank of Japan. With 10 hotel projects so far, collaboration has provided risk money to support revitalization. Story continues In September 2023, for instance, Hoshino teamed up with DBJ to develop a Risonare-branded luxury resort in Shimonoseki, a waterfront city in Kanmon whose domestic tourism industry needs revitalization. When the project opens in 2025, all guestrooms will have an ocean view. This year, the company will open its Omo7 brand in Kochi, a city whose tourism sector remains nascent. a guest room at Kai Hakone part of Hoshino Resorts Partnering with a global hotel group? One of the most intriguing questions for hoteliers outside of Japan is whether Hoshino Resorts which had a half-billion dollars (82.2 billion yen) in gross transaction volume last year would enter into a licensing partnership with an international hotel group. Given that it already has over 60% of its bookings coming directly through its site, its not clear that a partnership would boost direct bookings enough to justify fees. What about a soft-branded collection. one where where Hoshino maintains control of brand standards but benefits from the marketing power of an international hotel group? Hoshino said he was open to consultations, but he was skeptical. The international hotel groups are trying to sell their names to smaller companies and sometimes call it a soft-branded collection, Hoshino said. This business model is very close to Booking.com and Expedia, where we would let our brand join an international hotel groups network in return for paying fees. This business model could be a problem for us. Expanding its brand portfolio Occupancies and average daily rates at all Hoshino Resort brands are above pre-pandemic levels. That fact illustrates Japans travel boom. Since becoming CEO, Hoshino expanded his groups portfolio to five sub-brands, each targeting a different market. Were not interested in increasing the number of sub-brands we have, he said. These five sub-brands can probably meet the needs of most investors and hotel owners. Hoshinoya is a luxury brand that aims to encapsulate omotenashi, the Japanese philosophy of providing extraordinary hospitality. The brand, created in 2006, has won multiple awards. Its ninth location is planned for 2026, namely, the 62-unit Hoshinoya Lodge Niseko, a ski-in, ski-out resort with a mixed-gender rooftop onsen overlooking a village and toward Mount Yotei. Kai is a set of 22 luxury inns beside hot springs modeled on onsen ryokan, or traditional Japanese inns. The inns offer Kaiseki-style meals and premium service. Launched in 2011, the brand has been well received. Last year, Travel + Leisure picked a Kai in Yufuin as one of the 100 best new hotels in the world. Risonare is a brand created in 2011 to offer countryside resorts, where guests can enjoy up-close experiences with nature and private saunas. Omo is a set of urban lifestyle hotels that come in different degrees of service, ranging from premium economy to midscale. It launched in 2018. Beb is a casual hotel brand that offers a premium hostel set-up and a premium economy price, launched in 2019. Expanding its operations Hoshino Resorts has also invested in more than 35 properties other than those operated by the Hoshino Resorts brand family, believing they will likely secure steady cash flows over the long term. For example, it owns a Grand Hyatt Fukuoka thats operated by Hyatt. The parent company currently runs only 42% of the properties across its branded and externally operated network but aims to reach 50% soon. Hoshino Resortss real-estate investment trust is in the process of trying to finalize an alliance with Greens, a hotel operator, and MUFG (a megabank), to develop 20 roadside hotels branded Comfort Inn (in cooperation with Choice Hotels International) with Greens as the management company and Hoshino as the owner. That would expose the companies to the budget segment in second-tier markets nationwide as tourism increases in importance. Hoshino Resortss real-estate investment trust is also in the process of taking the 22 Chisun roadside hotels that it owns and transferring their branding to the Comfort Inn brand and their operations to Greens. Overcoming a labor shortage In the past year, Japans international travel visitation has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, partly thanks to the weak yen. But Hoshino, like other hotel companies, has struggled to keep up with demand. The aging workforce has created a labor shortage. Japan encourages formal training for many hospitality positions, so there can be a lag in the process of adding workers. Were accepting 700 new employees in April from universities and schools across Japan, Hoshino said. Thats the largest group weve ever accepted in one year. We have no facility to train them all at the same time, so weve had to be creative in our process. Hoshino prefers to directly employ staff, but at a few mid-market and economy properties in major cities, it had to turn to outsourcing firms for housekeeping. Finding ways to run hotels with fewer staff is crucial because an aging society will lead to labor shortages for all Japanese companies. It seeks to train staff to multitask, with a single staff member handling reception work, room cleaning and serving. Automating as many processes as possible, such as check-in, is key. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Skift.com. When Gov. Greg Abbott approached the podium at Fort Worths Nolan Catholic High School last April to rally support for education savings accounts, he probably did not anticipate having to call the Legislature back not once but three times to pass his plan. Even then, it was to no avail. A fourth special session closed in November with lawmakers at an impasse, and some of his fellow Republicans in the House were largely to blame for the proposals continued failure. Only months before, school choice in Texas (at least in some form) seemed an inevitability. Prominent influencers from Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Michael Olson to national school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis testified before the Legislature or went stumping for the governor at events all over the state. But the expansive plan was pared down in an effort to compromise before it was gutted, dying a slow, unremarkable death and leaving the Republican party divided; its leader in the governors mansion looking impotent and weak. But after the recent primary elections, the governor appears to be having the last laugh. Abbott-backed challengers trounced school choice opponents all over the state, and the future for education savings accounts in Texas is bright once again. Even brighter, perhaps, than this time last year. It was a blessing in disguise, said DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Federation For Children, reflecting on last summers school choice fiasco. Texas [now] has a true conservative House with a body more supportive of school choice than its ever been. As it stands today, hes probably right. When legislators return to Austin next year, at least nine incumbents who stood in opposition of last sessions school-choice bills will not be among them. Their likely replacements (assuming victories in the general election in November, an almost sure prospect given their districts) are all proponents of parental empowerment and school choice. Abbott backed them all in an effort to fulfill his promise to oust those in his own party who stood in the way of his agenda. At least three more incumbents were forced into runoffs; theres more than a chance that one or more of those races will swing in Abbotts favor as well. DeAngelis likens this political tidal wave to what recently happened in Iowa. Last January, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law an expansive educational choice bill that will phase in over three years and eventually include up to $7,598 a year in an education savings account for private school tuition. The Iowa law also allocates $1,205 to public schools for each student within the district who takes advantage of a savings account and allows public schools to use funding more flexibly to raise teacher pay. Like Abbott in Texas, Reynolds and her fellow school choice advocates endured several years of setbacks and failures before she had the legislative support to pass her proposal. And like Abbott, Reynolds supported primary challengers to those who opposed school choice, growing the Republican majority in the state to the point that it could ultimately pass a sweeping bill. Iowas new policy is structured a lot like several bills considered here, down to the debate over how to compensate public schools for the loss of funds they would sustain from children taking advantage of savings accounts. Last I checked, the cash infusions to public schools proposed by Texas legislators were quite generous. They probably wont be next time around. As some have argued, that there were other issues at play in the Texas primary. The Republican Party of Texas at least its activist members has moved closer to the fringe and been less willing to compromise in recent years, a microcosm of a national political party that is remaking itself in the image of Donald Trump. Republican primary challengers had a slew of other issues both real and imagined on which to attack their incumbent opponents: whether they were tough enough on border security, property tax cuts and how they voted on the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton. All those issues probably had an impact; how much the school choice fight played into challenger victories is difficult to quantify. DeAngelis believes it was the most salient issue this cycle. Given that the vast majority of Republican primary voters (not to mention Texans in general), support school choice, it seems likely. The real question is whether Texas will follow in the footsteps of Iowa and pass something even more expansive than it could have last year. They will start from a different bargaining position, DeAngelis said, suggesting that the compromises made in last years proposals will be much further and far between. Even school choice opponents who were able to fend off primary challengers, such as Fort Worth Rep. Charlie Geren, may be chastened and not eager to mount another defensive campaign in the years to come. All this is good for Texas children and families who deserve more education options. But it does make one wonder whether making compromises would have been the more prudent route for some Texas Republicans. 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. WORCESTER In 2023, Worcester saw homicides cut in half from the previous year and most categories of property crime largely decreased. However, several types of violent crimes, including crimes involving guns, have increased. When the City Council returns Tuesday, it will be reviewing last year's crime statistics, two weeks after a double homicide shocked the city. According to police, Dejan D. Belnavis, 27, and Karel Mangual, 28, opened fire on an SUV parked on Englewood Avenue around 3 p.m. March 5, killing 27-year-old Chasity Nunez and her daughter, Zella, March 5. So far this year there have been four homicides in Worcester, including Chasity and Zella. On Feb. 12, a 17-year-old male was shot on Shannon Street. On Feb. 14, a woman was stabbed to death in her Douglas Street apartment. Belnavis was arrested March 11 in San Diego following a traffic stop. Mangual was arrested March 6 in Worcester. Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier, Mayor Joseph Petty and City Manager Erica Batista wait outside Callahan Fay & Caswell Funeral Home for the wake of Chasity and Zella Nunez on Thursday. While the tragedy still looms over Worcester, City Manager Eric D. Batista wrote that the city remains safe compared to others of similar size. "While we have experienced tragedy in recent weeks, violence remains a rare occurrence in the City of Worcester," Batista wrote. Annual crime statistics are published each spring. In 2022, crime went down in most categories, with homicides being the big exception. Police attributed that rise in part to the special circumstances of the deadly Gage Street fire in May of last year. Four people died in that fire, and a former resident of the building at 2 Gage St. accused of starting the fire is charged with four counts of second-degree murder. According to Interim Police Chief Paul B. Saucier, reported homicides went from 12 in 2022 to six in 2023. While reported stabbings dropped in 2023 to a multi-year low of 77, nonfatal shooting rose. There were 34 non-fatal shootings in 2023 with 39 victims, compared with 25 nonfatal shootings with 34 victims in 2022. Reported gunshots rose in 2023 and are 26% above the five-year average, with 736 last year compared with 655 in 2022. Reported robberies increased from 173 in 2022 to 225 in 2022, still below the five-year average. Reported property crime categories such as breaking and entering, vandalism and larceny from a motor vehicle all dropped considerably. There were 585 breaking and entering incidents last year, compared to 644 in 2022; house break-ins have dropped by 38% over the past five years; vandalism incidents dropped from 1,351 in 2022 to 1,253 in 2023; and larceny from a motor vehicle dropped from 1,004 in 2022 to 885 in 2023. However, motor vehicle theft rose from 421 in 2022 to 507 in 2023, above the five-year average. In other categories, traffic accidents rose from 7,896 in 2022 to 7,981 in 2023. Crashes were 3% below the five-year average. Noise disturbance reports were flat in 2023, at 4,606 compared to 4,609 the year before. Saucier also described several strategies Worcester police are using to address violence. The chief pointed to the community policing model, the use of technology such as ShotSpotter and ResourceRouter, working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to address gun violence, and the prevalence of handgun conversion devices and at-risk youth programs. Public safety items at City Council Other public safety-related topics will also be on deck for City Council. Batista submitted a petition to exempt the position of chief of police and deputy police chief from the Massachusetts Civil Service exam. In his communication, Batista wrote that the current system only allows promotions through a pipeline of candidates who passed the exam, thus limiting the pool of candidates. While Worcester would not fully move away from civil service through this petition, Batista notes that at least 36 police departments and eight fire departments have moved away from civil service. An over-100 page racial equity audit of the police, conducted by independent research organization CNA, was also submitted to the City Council. In February, a spokesperson for Batista said the city manager would soon brief City Council on the status of a search for a full-time chief, noting a national search would be hampered by the civil service exam. Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King submitted an order requesting that Batista provide language that would remove the civil service requirement for the position in order to "consider the expansion of the applicant pool" for police chief. The City Council sent the order to Batista in October. Batista also provided a review of the Police Department's off-duty detail and overtime assignments. The report came after Colby Turner, a Worcester police officer, was arrested on five felony charges of larceny over $1,200 and a misdemeanor charge of submitting false claims for reimbursement. Turner is accused of requesting and receiving reimbursement for off-duty assignments that he did not actually work. Batista wrote that while the independent review found the Turner case showed that the off-duty system the department had in 2022 was susceptible to fraud and needed improvement, no other criminal activity was found. Illegal gun resolution comes back Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey's nonbinding resolution on illegal gun laws returns for consideration after King used his privilege as a City Councilor to delay a vote on it. Toomey is requesting that the City Council and the city "call upon the State Legislature to fully enforce and enact any additional required legislation to ensure full sentencing be mandatory for the illegal possession of firearms." Following the March 12 City Council meeting, Toomey shared her speech introducing the resolution on X, formerly known as Twitter. "You can write all the gun laws you want, but when the ones on the books regarding mandatory sentencing for illegal gun possession arent being enforced to their fullest intent, especially for repeat offenders and when the court system lets dangerous felons with a history of gun violence out early on parole, we will continue to have tragedies because there are very few consequences," Toomey wrote. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 2023 Worcester crime stats: Homicides down, nonfatal shootings up Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip block a road and set fire to the street during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas and against Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Cindy Riechau/dpa Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday in favour of the release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement and in opposition to the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Relatives of the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip demanded a new hostage deal and called on the government to act quickly. Several demonstrations spread across Tel Aviv and blocked central traffic arteries in the coastal metropolis. Chaotic scenes broke out between the police and demonstrators at some of the rallies. In some places, people set small fires, set off smoke bombs and chanted for the release of the hostages. The police also used water cannon to disperse individual gatherings. At times, the important Ayalon motorway was also blocked. Relatives of the hostages abducted to the Gaza Strip accuse Netanyahu and his government of not doing enough to secure their release. "Our prime minister has forgotten that he is also the prime minister of 134 hostages," said a relative at a rally. "They have no more time, we have no more time. Do something now, we need you!" Elsewhere, several thousand people demonstrated against the Netanyahu government and called for early elections. On a large screen, they played a video excerpt from a speech by US Senator Chuck Schumer, who said that he believed early elections were in Israel's interests. In front of the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, a group of war veterans set up a dummy tank. Hundreds of people also gathered outside the residence of President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem. Dozens of demonstrators blocked roads there and, according to media reports, were dragged off the streets by the police. Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip block a road and set fire to the street during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas and against Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. Cindy Riechau/dpa The number of Western snowy plovers in Oregon appeared to dip for a second year in a row in 2023, but biologists arent worried yet about the threatened shorebird. As plover nesting season began Friday in Oregon leading to around 40 miles of beach being roped off the birds remain a major success story even if their numbers have come down somewhat. Federal officials counted 433 plovers during the 2023 breeding season survey, down from a high of 532 in 2021. The number was 483 in 2022. I do not think it is cause for concern, said Cheryl Strong, a wildlife biologist and plover lead for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Oregon. If it keeps dipping for a few more years, maybe. This count is really an index of the population we certainly miss birds on some years and weather can play a major role in this. Plovers are one of Oregons biggest success stories. Their numbers dropped to as low as 55 in 1993 and 76 in 2003, leading to them being listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Beaches roped off to protect nesting A main reason for the rebound has been the policy of roping off 40-50 miles of dry sand on coastal beaches in management units that allow plovers to hatch and thrive in peace. That policy, which started in 2010, began anew on Friday. Plover nesting season lasts from March 15 to Sept. 15. The plover management units prohibit people and dogs tramping into the dry sand of plover nesting units, though in some cases they can bypass the areas on wet sand. The numbers of plovers began to improve dramatically following the establishment of the roped-off units, the numbers show. Theyre a ground-nesting bird that lays their eggs in small depressions on open sand we call them scrapes in the sand and rely on camouflage for protection. They need undisturbed time for the young to develop, Strong said. If the birds are disturbed by people, dogs, kites or drones all of which are perceived as predators they may fly away from their nest and put the eggs or young at risk. Newborn western snowy plovers need space to thrive. Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches during nesting season: The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones. Foot and equestrian traffic is permitted below the high-tide line on wet, packed sand. Respect signs and barriers to protect nesting habitat. Were making great strides in reversing the decline of this species, Siuslaw National Forest biologist Cindy Burns said in a news release. But it takes all of us, so we urge people to do their part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer. Have plovers hit capacity? Beyond plover numbers improving is the fact that theyve expanded their range, Strong said. Weve seen them expand their range to the north and south. We now have plovers in every coastal county in Oregon. Its quite a turnaround, Strong said last year. Indeed, the slight downtick could mean plovers have reached their capacity of sorts and that somewhere around this number is how many plovers the Oregon Coast can support, Strong said. But that is not a well-supported hypothesis, just a thought! In Oregon and Washington, plover numbers have surpassed the totals that would cause them to be delisted, but for that to happen, theyd also need to reach management target numbers in each unit of California, which so far hasnt happened. For now, the roped-off units will remain in place. In the future, the size and scope of the closed areas could be amended, but not at this point, Strong said. New plover activity With plover numbers expanding, visitors might see new areas roped off, officials said. "For example, visitors to Sand Lake Recreation Area may see small roped off areas near the lakes inlet to protect active nests, and may encounter plovers on the beach," a news release said. "Beachgoers are encouraged to protect these birds by restricting recreation activities to wet sand areas, avoiding roped off nesting areas, packing all trash out and keeping dogs on leash." Where to see western snowy plovers in Oregon As far as where people can see plovers in action, Strong suggested visiting South Beach near the jetty in Newport during the winter, when large flocks of plovers can come together. She also said the Portland Audubon Society does guided walks to view plovers in the wild. Theyre a very hearty little bird, Strong said previously. If we just give them a little space, theyre quite resilient. 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: Western snowy numbers dip slightly in Oregon as nesting begins A suspect is now in custody following a Saturday morning shooting that left three dead and the Philadelphia suburb of Falls Township temporarily under a shelter-in-place order. After fleeing the scene, 26-year-old Andre Gordon eventually holed up in a New Jersey home and held hostages for hours. Police were ultimately able to safely evacuate all of the hostages while the suspect remained barricaded in the house. Through mid-afternoon, local law enforcement was still negotiating with the alleged murder suspect in an attempt to get him to come out of the home and surrender peacefully. Trenton police say all residents who were inside the attached home where Andre Gordon is barricaded have been safely evacuated. The SWAT team is still urging the Falls Township murder suspect to come out of the home on Phillips Ave. and surrender. pic.twitter.com/sPqhQru8p1 Madeleine Wright (@MWrightReports) March 16, 2024 Shortly after 5:00 p.m. local time, police confirmed that the suspect had been taken into custody following the hours-long standoff. During the standoff, negotiators spent hours pleading through a loudspeaker for the suspect to surrender peacefully and come out with his hands up. Sources told CNN, meanwhile, that Gordon may have actually been apprehended a short distance from the house in an attempt to flee the scene. Law enforcement has confirmed that Gordon has been detained and was unharmed. During a press conference in Falls Township at 2 p.m. local time, authorities said that Gordon killed Taylor Daniel, the mother of two of his children, describing the shooting as a domestic violence incident. According to police, Gordon also injured the grandmother of his children, hitting her with the butt of his assault-style rifle. She is currently being treated in a local hospital. Prior to killing Daniel, police said, Gordon had forced his way into the home of his stepmother Karen Gordon and shot her and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon dead. Three other people were in the home and were able to hide, police added. According to local law enforcement, police were dispatched to investigate reports of a shooting. The initial investigation determined that Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle, had allegedly killed two people at a residence in the township around 8:52 a.m. local time. Gordon, according to police, then shot and killed another individual before fleeing the scene, eventually stealing another car at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General. Police believe that Gordon knew all of the victims, outside of the person he carjacked. The vehicle Gordon stole was a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV with a Namaste sticker on the rear bumper. Police described Gordon as a Black male, 61, with a thin build and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt. BREAKING / SHOOTER IDENTIFIED Andre Gordon,26, armed with assault rifle now driving stolen dark gray Honda CRV he carjacked, license plate KFR 1533. Namaste sticker in white letters on right side of back bumper. Gordon is 6 feet one inch tall with thin build. pic.twitter.com/2Wrvmj3GDb Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) March 16, 2024 FOX 29 reporter Steve Kelley first reported that shortly before noon local time, police in Trenton, New Jersey, had found the carjacked Honda unoccupied. SWAT units had also begun entering the house where the vehicle was located, according to law enforcement. Additionally, the Bucks County St. Patricks Day parade has been canceled due to the shelter-in-place order that was imposed on the township. With the suspects vehicle located in New Jersey, Falls Township lifted the lockdown order early Saturday afternoon. This coincided with Trenton police noting that Gordon had barricaded himself inside a Trenton residence and was holding hostages. During the afternoon press conference, authorities said that Gordon was currently homeless, but he was familiar with the people who resided in the home he barricaded himself in. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on X that he had been briefed on the shooting and has directed state police to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. he also advised local residents to continue to shelter in place. Ive been briefed on the developing incident in Falls Township, Bucks County and directed @PAStatePolice to coordinate with our law enforcement partners and provide whatever support is needed on the ground. For those in the area, please continue to shelter in place and listen to https://t.co/RnmJJFfS9d Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 16, 2024 The Daily Beast has reached out to Falls Township Police and Trenton Police Department for additional comment on the situation. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Hello from San Francisco, where we will celebrate St. Patrick a day early, with a parade down Market Street.TikTok fans are on tenterhooks after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would require the beloved short-video apps Chinese parent to divest itself of the service in the US or remove the app altogether. TikTok has access to extraordinary amounts of US data and poses a security threat, according to Congress. Privately traded ByteDance doesnt want to sell and will put up a fight in the courts. Stay tuned. Most Read from Bloomberg Stocks fell for a second week as investors sold off tech companies and a pile of options expiring Friday amplified market swings. The S&P 500 dropped 0.1%, paring gains this year to 7.3%. An index of unprofitable tech companies tracked by Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, has tumbled 18% in the year-to-date and is on track for its worst quarter since mid-2022. Whither Apple? Shares of the iPhone maker are down 10% this year as investors rethink its future in the wake of AI, writes Bloombergs Jeran Wittenstein. CEO Tim Cook has promised Apple will break new ground in AI this year and market professionals are anticipating big news at the companys annual software developers conference in June. Some investors are losing patience and have turned to stocks with a clearer path in AI, like Nvidia. Apple has become more of a value stock, a bit like Coca-Cola, said Phil Blancato, chief market strategist at Osaic. Bitcoins rally has attracted so much attention, its even beating out Taylor Swift in Google searches. What does it take to be a certified cryptocurrency expert these days? Good question. The lack of a widely recognized professional accreditation in the industry has left a vacuum that a variety of organizations are trying to fill. The cost of the fuel you probably use to heat your home has tumbled to the lowest in four years. Consumer gas bills dropped 9% in February versus a year ago, giving households a much-needed break. Natural gas is also used to make ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers, which is key to global food production and should also translate to savings ahead at the supermarket. And lastly, a Texas startup called Aerolane is betting gliders pulled from small freighter planes could save air-cargo companies millions in fuel costs. Were just dusting off some of the most proven concepts in aviation history and modernizing them with todays technology, said Todd Graetz, CEO and co-founder. Its far less radical than anyone thinks. Check back with us tomorrow for a look ahead to the coming week. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. About 48 hours after enlisting the publics help to identify a person of interest in a sexual assault investigation, Boise police on Thursday arrested a man and booked him into the Ada County Jail on a pair of felony charges. Alexander Rutledge, 25, of Boise, faces one count of rape and one count of assault, according to online records and a Boise Police Department news release Friday. Boise police on Tuesday issued a release and photos of a man they said they wanted to question after a woman reported being raped at a motel near the Boise Airport. Police said the woman was attacked in a room but was able to fight and run away, even though the suspect had a knife. She was taken to a local hospital, the release said. Detectives from the Boise departments Special Victims Unit investigated and said that work led to the arrest of Rutledge. In the release Friday, they thanked the public for the numerous tips that were called in. It was tips from the public that initially helped police locate the subject in the surveillance photos. Rutledge is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 29, according to online court records. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The community is invited to the St. Pitties & Kitties Adopt-A-Thon event taking place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the Mission Valley Adoption Center, 9068 Socorro Rd., El Paso Animal Services announced in a press release. This is the first large event the organization will host at its Lower Valley location, according to the press release. The organization is hoping to find homes for the over 30 pets the center currently houses. Adoption fees for dogs and cats will be waived at this event, which also features local vendors, food, puppy painting and more. El Paso Animal Services Resource Rover team will also be providing free pet microchipping services and Eastlake Animal Clinic will have low-cost vaccines from noon to 4 p.m. for pet owners aiming to protect all pets throughout the El Paso community, according to the organization. The organization says vaccination options include the rabies vaccine ($24) for dogs and cats, Bordetella ($18) and parvo vaccines ($19) for dogs, and the FVRCP vaccine ($19) for cats. Pets are expected to be leashed or crated and above six weeks of age for microchipping and vaccination services. We are excited to present another great opportunity for the community to adopt, microchip, and vaccinate their pets, said Terry Kebschull, El Paso Animal Services director. By hosting this event at our Mission Valley Adoption Center, we hope to create a more accessible location for many El Paso residents. Additionally, all thats required to adopt from El Paso Animal Services is a valid photo ID and be above the age of 18. Adopted pets come spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and with their city registration, according to the organization. For additional information on El Paso Animal Services upcoming events, please visit ElPasoAnimalServices.org. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) From 7 a.m. on Friday, March 15, to 7 a.m. Saturday, March 16, 2024, 18 people were booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center. Below is a summary of the booking charges and the individual arrest records. Charge categories (Note: several that have been taken into custody have multiple charges filed against them that fit into more than one general category. See the individual records for details) MISC PAROLE VIOLATION: 2 MISC BORDER PATROL HOLD: 2 DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED: 1 DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED BAC >=0.15: 1 ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON: 1 POSS MARIJ <2OZ: 1 EVADING ARREST DET W/VEH: 1 RECKLESS DRIVING: 1 (MOTION TO REVOKE) CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD ABUSE: 1 (MOTION TO REVOKE) MAN DEL CS PG 1 >=4G<200G: 1 RACING ON HIGHWAY: 1 *COMM*POSS MARIJ <2OZ: 1 *J/N*POSS CS PG 1/1-B <1G: 1 *J/N*POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G: 1 (GO OFF BOND) POSS CS PG 1/1-B <1G: 1 FAIL TO IDENTIFY FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE: 1 *COMM* POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G: 1 PUBLIC INTOXICATION: 1 MISC FTA: 1 BURGLARY HABITATION INTEND OTHER FELONY: 1 (GRAND JURY INDICTMENT) ASSAULT PUBLIC SERVANT: 1 Michael Gutierrez mug shot Michael Gutierrez SO Number: 107897 Booking Number: 450189 Booking Date: 03-16-2024 3:48 am Charges: DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED Bond: $1000.00 Albert Samaniego mug shot Albert Samaniego SO Number: 107896 Booking Number: 450188 Booking Date: 03-16-2024 2:44 am Charges: DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED BAC >=0.15 Bond: $1500.00 Nicanor Carrillo mug shot Nicanor Carrillo SO Number: 107895 Booking Number: 450187 Booking Date: 03-16-2024 2:21 am Charges: ASSAULT OF PREGNANT PERSON Bond: No Bond Matthew Hernandez mug shot Matthew Hernandez SO Number: 76469 Booking Number: 450186 Booking Date: 03-16-2024 1:12 am Charges: POSS MARIJ <2OZ EVADING ARREST DET W/VEH Bond: $1000.00 Mike Rodriguez mug shot Mike Rodriguez SO Number: 105357 Booking Number: 450185 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 9:48 pm Charges: RECKLESS DRIVING Bond: $500.00 Jacqueline Trevino mug shot Jacqueline Trevino SO Number: 103828 Booking Number: 450184 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 8:53 pm Charges: *MTR*CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD ABUSE *MTR*MAN DEL CS PG 1 >=4G<200G Bond: No Bond Steven West mug shot Steven West SO Number: 90814 Booking Number: 450183 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 8:37 pm Charges: RACING ON HIGHWAY Bond: $500.00 Esiah Mendoza mug shot Esiah Mendoza SO Number: 105529 Booking Number: 450182 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 8:32 pm Charges: *COMM*POSS MARIJ <2OZ Bond: No Bond Monica Huro mug shot Monica Huro SO Number: 104916 Booking Number: 450181 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 7:55 pm Charges: *J/N*POSS CS PG 1/1-B <1G *J/N*POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G Bond: No Bond Miguel Rivas mug shot Miguel Rivas SO Number: 90526 Booking Number: 450180 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 7:27 pm Charges: *GOB*POSS CS PG 1/1-B <1G FAIL TO IDENTIFY FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE Bond: $30500.00 Jose Barrera mug shot Jose Barrera SO Number: 79205 Booking Number: 450179 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 6:58 pm Charges: MISC PAROLE VIOLATION Bond: No Bond Benito Cordero mug shot Benito Cordero SO Number: 80446 Booking Number: 450178 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 5:08 pm Charges: MISC PAROLE VIOLATION Bond: No Bond Isaiah Lopez mug shot Isaiah Lopez SO Number: 94800 Booking Number: 450177 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 2:24 pm Charges: *COMM* POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G Bond: No Bond Juan Ortiz-martin mug shot Juan Ortiz-martin SO Number: 107894 Booking Number: 450176 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 12:59 pm Charges: MISC BORDER PATROL HOLD Bond: No Bond Maximino Espinoza-sanchez mug shot Maximino Espinoza-sanchez SO Number: 107893 Booking Number: 450175 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 12:59 pm Charges: MISC BORDER PATROL HOLD Bond: No Bond Ramon Avila mug shot Ramon Avila SO Number: 107861 Booking Number: 450174 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 10:52 am Charges: PUBLIC INTOXICATION MISC FTA Bond: $1064.00 Pedro Ramos mug shot Pedro Ramos SO Number: 101435 Booking Number: 450173 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 9:54 am Charges: BURGLARY HABITATION INTEND OTHER FELONY Bond: No Bond Johnny Rodriguez mug shot Johnny Rodriguez SO Number: 94231 Booking Number: 450172 Booking Date: 03-15-2024 7:10 am Charges: *GJI* ASSAULT PUBLIC SERVANT Bond: $50000.00 Disclaimer: Information presented on this website is collected, maintained, and provided for the convenience of the site visitor/reader. While every effort is made to keep such information accurate and up-to-date, the Tom Green County Detention Center can not certify the accuracy and/or authenticity of any information. The reader should not rely on this information in any manner. Under no circumstances shall Tom Green County, the Sheriff of Tom Green County, the web development supplier for Tom Green County Sheriff, the employees of Tom Green County nor the employees of Tom Green County Detention Center be liable for any decisions, actions taken or omissions made from reliance on any information contained herein from whatever source, nor shall the Tom Green County Detention Center be liable for any other consequences from any such reliance. *Booking and release times are approximate. These records are from the Tom Green County Jail system. Source: Tom Green County Sheriffs Office Contact information Address: 122 W Harris Ave, San Angelo, TX 76903 Phone: (325) 659-6597 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. The leader of the House GOP campaign arm is urging his colleagues to embrace former President Trump, which he contends is a winning strategy across all districts. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) is encouraging his conference colleagues to support Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee in 2024, in his push to regain the Oval Office and welcome his presence in their races. I was one of the first people that endorsed Trump this cycle, and Im proud to run with him. I think hes a net positive everywhere for us, Hudson told Politico Thursday during the House GOPs retreat in West Virginia. So if somebody asked, I tell them, embrace him, hes our nominee. I mean, hes wildly popular everywhere right now. Hes winning every battleground state. His comments were geared towards House Republicans running for reelection in battleground districts who are not certain how to contend with Trumps presence in their district. Hudson, the House Republican Congressional Committee chair, expressed confidence that the Republican Party will be able to retain its majority in the lower chamber. The North Carolina lawmaker is eyeing four competitive seats that he thinks the GOP can flip in 2024 that are currently represented by Democrats, according to Punchbowl News. Hudson listed Michigans 7th District represented by Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Congressman Dan Kildees (D-Mich.) 8th District, Californias 47th District represented by Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Virginias 7th District repped by Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), all posts held by lawmakers leaving the lower chamber. He added one of the keys will be the way GOP lawmakers talk about abortion. Hudson said it is paramount for candidates to share their position on the issue and not let the Democratic opposition define it for them. Last cycle, Democrats spent over $500 million telling voters what their voting position was, Hudson said, according to Politico. And Republicans kept quiet on it, and looking back on that that was a big mistake. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hult International Business School set a new world record with a class that contained 60 nationalities. Hult photo From London: Hult International Business School has broken the Guinness World Records title for the Most Nationalities in a Business Lesson. Over 90 members of the Hult community came together at Hults Holborn campus in London on March 13, 2024, smashing the minimum of 50 nationalities in one business class to set the record. The 60 nationalities represented include Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea Bissau, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The record-breaking event took place in a class taught by Hult Professor Chris Kinsville-Heyne, titled The Crisis for Leaders, which focused on crisis management, mitigation, and response. All attendees, which included undergraduate and postgraduate representatives, were required to stay for the entire 45-minute class to meet the requirements of Guinness World Records. Read more The Haas School at UC-Berkeley will host the 2025 ClimateCAP summit UC-Berkeley Haas to host the next MBA ClimateCAP summit From Berkeley, California: The Haas School of Business at the University of California-Berkeley has been chosen to host the prestigious 2025 Global MBA Summit on Climate, Capital and Business, or ClimateCAP, which prepares MBA students and business leaders to understand and respond to the business and investment impacts of climate change. Haas was named host school during the 2024 ClimateCAP Summit held in February at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. At that event, the largest summit to date, Haas Dean Ann Harrison participated in a virtual Deans Roundtable on Climate and Business Education. Story continues Asked by Professor Stuart Hart, a visiting lecturer at Michigan Ross, whether sustainability is here to stay or something that you dont want to bet the company on, Harrison said: Business has to accelerate the transition to net zero. It has to reckon with the impact of climate change and shift away from fossil fuels. That is not a fad, it is not niche, and it is clearly, in my opinion, going to be a part of the business curriculum now and way into the future. Read more IMDs campus in Lausanne, Switzerland. File photo IMD introduces summer internship for its 1-year MBA students From Lausanne, Switzerland: The IMD MBA has addressed a fundamental conundrum: how to design a program that allows students to pursue summer internship opportunities without disrupting what is already an intense 11-month schedule. Starting with the Class of 2024, students have two options when it comes to filling their summer schedule: take a four-week break in July followed by four weeks of elective courses, or undertake an eight-week, full-time summer internship, which, upon completion of specific assignments, will count towards academic credit. From the participants point of view, its an opportunity to get a head start in the job market, since many companies that offer summer internships use it as a feeder to the permanent roles, says Omar Toulan, Professor of Strategy and International Management, MBA Dean, and Hilti Chair. For recruiters, on the other hand, its a relatively low-risk opportunity to have first access to a highly skilled talent pool which has already gone through a rigorous selection process. Read more DONT MISS WHOS MORE INNOVATIVE: CHATGPT OR MBA STUDENTS? The post Hult Breaks Guinness World Record For Classroom Diversity appeared first on Poets&Quants. Joe Biden should use his leverage and the law to pressure Israel to change how it is prosecuting the war in Gaza, the Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen said. Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, is among a group of senators urging Biden to stop providing Israel with offensive weapons until it lifts restrictions on the delivery of food and medicine into Gaza, where children are now dying of hunger and famine looms. We need the president and the Biden administration to push harder and to use all the levers of US policy to ensure people dont die of starvation, Van Hollen said in an interview on Friday. This week, Van Hollen and seven of his colleagues sent a letter to the president arguing that Israel was in violation of the Foreign Assistance Act, a section of which prohibits the sale and transfer of military weapons to any nation that restricts the delivery of US aid. Their call comes as the administration faces mounting domestic and international pressure over what critics have described as an absurd and inherent contradiction at the heart of US policy on Israels war against Hamas: while the US attempts to ease the deepening humanitarian crisis caused by Israels military campaign in the Palestinian territory, it continues to arm the country. Related: Schumer faces backlash after calling for new Israeli elections to oust Netanyahu In a sign of the widening rift between Israel and its most important ally, Van Hollen said Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was openly defying Bidens pleas that Israel do more to protect civilians in Gaza and work toward a long-term solution to the conflict that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been an obstacle to the presidents efforts to at least create some light at the end of this very dark tunnel, Van Hollen said. In recent weeks, Biden has escalated his criticism of Israels military offensive, saying last weekend that Netanyahu was hurting his countrys standing by failing to prevent more civilian deaths in Gaza. But the US president has so far resisted Democrats calls to leverage future military aid as a means of reining in Israels conduct in the war. The United Nations warned last month that more than a quarter of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in Gaza face catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation. It said without action, widespread famine would be almost inevitable. Israels military campaign, which came in retaliation for the Hamas attack on 7 October that killed about 1,200 people, has devastated Gaza and killed more than 30,000 people, most of them civilians. With the prospects of a truce elusive and far too little aid trickling in, Biden has authorized airdrops and the construction of a maritime corridor to deliver desperately needed food and medicine to the Palestinian people living in the besieged territory. But critics say those methods are less effective, less efficient and more dangerous than the unhindered delivery of supplies by land. The very fact that the United States is airlifting humanitarian supplies and is now going to be opening a temporary port is a symptom of the larger problem, which is [that] the Netanyahu government has restricted the amount of aid coming into Gaza and the safe distribution of aid within Gaza, Van Hollen said. Israel, which tightened its already strict controls on access to the enclave after 7 October, has denied that it is impeding the flow of aid. Amid intensifying international pressure, Israel said this week it would expand the amount of supplies into the country. A small convoy of six trucks, coordinated by the Israeli military, brought humanitarian aid directly into the isolated northern Gaza earlier this week. Separately, an aid ship loaded with 200 tons of rice, flour, chicken and other items arrived in Gaza on Friday, in the first test of a new sea route. But that is a far cry from what is needed, humanitarian workers say. Before the five-month-old conflict began, roughly 500 truckloads of humanitarian aid per day crossed into the territory. Now the number is far less, sometimes peaking above 200 trucks per day but often well below, according to UN figures. Van Hollens insistence that the US do more to push Israel on humanitarian aid was informed by his visit to the Rafah crossing from Egypt in January, and the onerous Israeli inspection process he witnessed. You witnessed these very, very long lines of trucks trying to get in through Rafah and through the Kerem Shalom crossing, and quite an inspection review, including arbitrary denials of humanitarian aid being delivered into Gaza, which just makes the process even more cumbersome, he said. For example, we visited a warehouse in Rafah that was filled with goods that had been rejected at the inspection sites. The rejected goods included things like maternity kits, included things like water purification systems. Van Hollen said no specific reason was given as to why the items were rejected, but said Israel has broadly claimed that they could be considered dual use or having a civilian or military purpose. The maternity kit, Van Hollen said, contained a teeny little scalpel that he speculated was the reason the package was turned back. Across the border in Gaza, the situation is dire. UN agencies have estimated that 180 women give birth every day, sometimes without access to adequate pain medication, food or hygiene products. Malnourished, dehydrated and increasingly anemic, many pregnant women in Gaza face elevated risks of postpartum hemorrhaging. Related: One in five pregnant women in Gaza clinic are malnourished, doctors warn Another problem, Van Hollen said, is that so many of the people delivering aid or accompanying the aid convoys have been killed, making coordination and distribution of the aid that does enter difficult. Netanyahu and his government, the senator said, need to open more crossings, they need to end the arbitrary rejection of goods like maternity kits and solar powered desalinization units, and they need to make sure that food can be safely delivered within Gaza without people getting killed. Van Hollens comments came the day after Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the US and a longtime ally of Israels, was unsparing in a speech in which he declared that Netanyahu had lost his way, and urged Israelis to hold elections to replace him. Biden, who has been increasingly open about his frustration with Netanyahu, called it a good speech. Van Hollen called Schumers speech an important moment that made clear the US believes there needs to be a change in course in the way Israel is conducting the war. The administration will have to decide In the letter to Biden earlier this week, Van Hollen and his colleagues wrote: According to public reporting and your own statements, the Netanyahu government is in violation of [the Foreign Assistance Act]. Given this reality, we urge you to make it clear to the Netanyahu government that failure to immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access and facilitate safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza will lead to serious consequences, as specified under existing US law. Van Hollen also argued that the Israeli government is not in compliance with a national security memorandum (NSM 20) issued by the president last month that requires any country that receives US military assistance to provide written assurances it will not arbitrarily deny, restrict, or otherwise impede the delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel reportedly provided that commitment in a letter to Biden signed by Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday, according to Axios. Van Hollen said the onus is now on the US to assess the credibility of Israels assurances. Part of that evaluation will depend on whats happening on the ground right now, and their assessment of whether or not, in fact, the Netanyahu government is meeting that requirement, he said. And if the signatures and commitments are found to be lacking, then the administration cannot provide military assistance until they determine that theyre credible. Van Hollen stressed that enforcing the statute would not prevent the US from continuing to send defensive military assistance to protect Israeli citizens from rocket attacks, such as the Iron Dome. The memorandum was issued last month, after Van Hollen and more than a dozen Democratic senators introduced an amendment to a wartime aid package that included military assistance for Ukraine, Israel and other US-allies. The senators proposal, which would have required any country receiving US weapons to comply with humanitarian laws, risked a messy floor fight among Democrats divided over the USs approach to the war amid Gazas rising death toll. Instead, Van Hollen said, the administration offered to turn the amendment into a memorandum that, with the force of law, would apply the terms to the sale and transfer of all US military aid. Biden issued the memorandum, and the Senate later approved the foreign aid package, with Van Hollens support. That measure is now languishing in the House. Biden has warned that Israel would cross a red line if it proceeded with a large-scale invasion of the southern city of Rafah, where the war has pushed nearly half of Gazas population. Reports suggest Netanyahu has approved a plan to invade the city, setting him up for direct conflict with the US president. Biden has not made clear what consequences Netanyahu might face if he ignores the USs position. An invasion of Rafah, Van Hollen said, would present one of those moments where the Biden administration is going to have to decide whether its going to back up the presidents strong words with the leverage that it has. Editors Note: This story is part of Living Local, a regular series featuring a look inside local businesses the things they make, services they provide and their impact on the community. Maro Barragan puts his heart and soul into his cooking; a passion that led him to open a family-owned Mexican and Latin American restaurant in Macon. In April 2017, the owner and chef opened Tzango: Cocina Del Mundo. Barragan said his inspiration behind opening Tzango was sharing his culture and culinary expertise with others. I feel elated with each dish I cook, and it is quite therapeutic, so I thought, why not turn my passion into a business, he said. I also wanted to create a family business so I can pass it down to my children. Food, sharing with others, and my wife and my children have always been my inspiration and motivation behind my business, Barragan added. Maro Barrgan puts his heart and soul into his cooking; a passion that led him to open family-owned Mexican and Latin American restaurant Tzango in Macon in 2017. Tzango offers a variety of authentic dishes from the heart of Mexico and other regions of Latin America, including pipian mole braised chicken tamales, torta Cubana, sizzling carne asada paired with corn or flour tortillas, and more. Barragan said the restaurant also offers dishes from other cuisines he is fluent in, such as Thai and Lao food. Tzango is unique because everything is small-batch made and fresh. We avoid mass producing our food or buying it in jars, like our salsa, he said. Our salsas, like our roasted salsa verde and salsa picosa, are made from scratch using real and fresh ingredients, so that every bite has that farm fresh taste. Scratch-made roasted salsa verde and salsa picosa are just a few authentic Mexican menu items made at family-owned restaurant Tzango in Macon. Our flavor profile also makes our dishes truly unique, Barragan said. We carefully measure our ingredients and spices so that each dish is consistently delicious every time you return. Flavor isnt the only thing that Barragan takes pride in - he also wants a beautifully presented plate. I also am passionate about how the food looks when platingwe dont send messy plates out, he said. Barragan said the restaurant fosters a sense of pride in its shared hometown of Macon and its continued efforts to put back into the economy. I feel Tzangos benefits extend far beyond simply serving Mexican cuisine, he said. Because we are locally owned, each dollar earned is not just a transaction, but mutually beneficial as we put the money right back into the local economy. Many of our guests consider Tzango a retreat with a treat as families gather for special occasions, friends reconnect over hearty meals, or even strangers become friends over shared experiences. Mexican and Latin American restaurant Tzango is located at 336 2nd Street in Macon and offers authentic cuisine from the heart of Mexico. Barragan went on to say he doesnt just want to run a successful business, but also wants to make a meaningful impact in others lives. From the moment we opened our doors, we made a conscious decision to prioritize the well-being of the community we call home, he said. When you dine at Tzango, you are not just supporting another business; youre investing in the collective prosperity of our community. Owner and chef Maro Barrgan said his inspiration behind opening Tzango located in Macon was sharing his culture and culinary expertise with others. Barragan said the last seven years serving the community have been extraordinary, and havent felt like work at all. The process of cooking, seeing the final outcome of the dishes, and seeing the satisfied, happy guests - it feels like Im playing a game when each ticket comes in and I start cooking, he said. I love that my work doesnt feel like work. I love when our guests enjoy their meals and are so nourished afterwards because we cook with real food and real ingredients. My passion in this business definitely lies in sharing my skills with others, Barragan said. A lunch crowd gathers at Mexican and Latin American restaurant Tzango located in Macon. Barragan said he believes every meal is an opportunity to create cherished memories and forge deeper connections. Whether youre a first-time visitor or a familiar face, we cant wait to welcome you into our Tzangos family and share in the delight of authentic Mexican and Latin American cuisine together, he said. Restaurant staff are fluent in both Spanish and American Sign Language. Tzango is located at 336 2nd Street in Macon and can be reached at 478-254-3444. A pair of Porsche-driving Long Island squatters accused of duping a Nassau County judge so they could legally live in an abandoned home now face eviction after the jurist reversed his decision. This court orders that . . . Denton Gayle and Margaret Grover immediately vacate the property at 39 Brussel Drive, New Hyde Park, wrote Nassau County District Court Judge Christopher Coschignano in his March 6 decision. Gayle and Grover ran to Nassau County Housing Court in November, claiming to Coschignano in court papers that Edward Iacono rented them his home and then illegally kicked the couple out of the two-story, seven-room Cape Cod for no reason. The Cape Cod-style home had been declared unlivable by the town. Kathianne Boniello A judge ordered Denton Gayle, along with girlfriend Margaret Grover, to vacate the home. Kathianne Boniello Edward Iacono died in 2016; his son by the same name, along with his wife and another son, all died by 2018, leaving the home abandoned and in a prolonged foreclosure proceeding, outraged neighbors later told the judge in their own court papers. Grover, 19, claimed during a Wednesday hearing shed paid $20,000 to Iacono, but when she couldnt provide Coschignano proof, the judge repeatedly told her, Thats because Edwards dead. The couple has appealed, claiming neither the neighbors nor the town has legal standing to get them evicted. The Nassau County Sheriffs Office said Friday it had yet to receive a warrant to evict the pair. Margaret Grover apparently could not provide proof in court that shed rented the home from its owner, who died in 2016. The home has been in foreclosure since 2013, but the process has languished in state court for years. Wells Fargo transferred the mortgage to US Bank Trust in 2021. Ultimately, the home stood empty for a decade before Gayle, 29, and Grover, appeared there in August with their 2013 Porsche Cayenne, and baby and dog in tow. Now the Town of North Hempstead said it is giving the bank 90 days to finish the foreclosure or they will take over the property under the states Zombie housing law. The town has agreed to foot the bill for the commercial movers and 30 days of storage required before an eviction can proceed, at a cost of $2,500 or more, a spokesman said. Kathianne Boniello Concerned neighbors phoned authorities about squalid conditions. Courtesy of Sidney Southerland The Town of North Hempstead, which declared the Brussel Drive house unlivable in October after police were called to check on the couples baby, said it has no authority to force its way into the home to inspect it. The town has agreed to foot the bill for the commercial movers and 30 days of storage required before an eviction can proceed, at a cost of $2,500 or more, a spokesman said. The permanent fix has to involve selling the property to a new owner so squatters dont try to reoccupy the house in the future. The situation just speaks to the weakness in state laws governing these matters, said town spokesman Umberto Mignardi. KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Northeast Tennessees population grew by more than 6,500 people from 2022 to 2023, marking a second straight year of strong growth after years of much slower increases. After barely growing in the last decade, Northeast Tennessees population has taken off in the past three years, and particularly in 2022 and 2023. (WJHL) The seven-county regions population grew by 12,682 people from 2021 to 2023 according to annual U.S. Census Bureau estimates more than the entire population added from 2010 to 2020. The 2023 numbers were released Wednesday. They showed that unlike the previous decade, when growth was almost exclusively centered in Washington County, most of the other counties have also seen increases. And on the whole, Northeast Tennessee has grown as fast as the state since the 2020 census, in sharp contrast to the previous decade when the states population grew four times faster than the regions. Weve been discovered, Don Fenley, a data analyst for the Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors, told News Channel 11. Part of it is cyclical; however, now that we have become known its going to continue. THP: Juvenile injured in Washington County school bus crash The regions estimated population has reached 524,885, up more than 14,000 since the 2020 census. Most of that growth has been since 2021, as the region grew by 1.2% in 2022 and 1.3% in 2023. Tennessees statewide growth was a hair higher (1.22%) in 2022, but was lower (1.1%) in 2023. Nationally, growth has slowed since 2020 compared to the decade before, putting Northeast Tennessee in the unfamiliar territory of growing faster than the national average. During the last decade, the national population grew by an average of .71% a year, more than triple the .22% rate in Northeast Tennessee. Tennessees average was four times the regions at .89%. The national population growth rate has slowed significantly in the past three years, while Tennessees has increased slightly and Northeast Tennessees has more than quadrupled. (WJHL) But since 2020, the U.S. average is half what it was, at only .35%, while Northeast Tennessees is more than quadruple the previous decades average: .95% a year. Thats nearly equal to Tennessees 1.04%. Area leaders continue attributing the turnaround to the regions quality of life and outdoor beauty combined with post-pandemic trends, including the rise in people working remotely and the availability of sufficient high-speed broadband internet. The lack of a state income or property tax is another attraction. Anecdotes are not data, but most of the people Ive talked to have moved here based on lifestyle decisions, Fenley said, adding that national real estate trends are also a factor. Basically, its what the Wall Street Journal in their emerging market index explains: this is a guide where housing is still a good investment and its a good place to live, Fenley said. Washington County continues to lead the way in raw numbers and percentage growth. It added 2,273 people in 2023, on top of 2,587 in 2022. That equates to 1.7% growth in 2023 and 1.9% in 2022. How a trip to the recruiters office started a lifelong military career That gave the states oldest county 38% of the areas total population gain over two years. But that pales in comparison the 2010-2020 decade, when the 10,022 people Washington County added represented 93% of the regions total growth and several counties lost population. Those other six counties combined for population growth of just 800 people in that decade. In just the three years from 2020 to 2023, theyve added 9,199. In 2023, Greene County grew by almost 1,300 people to 72,577 for a 1.8% growth rate. Hawkins Countys addition of 697 people to 58,600 was a 1.2% clip. Carter County grew by 1%, adding 537 people to reach 57,022. The regions largest county, Sullivan, added 1,263 people to reach 162,135, for a 0.8% growth rate. In 2022 Sullivan County had added 1,650 people for 1% growth. In Greeneville, readying for continued growth In Greeneville, Town Manager Todd Smith says town leaders and their county counterparts are in high gear figuring out what infrastructure improvements will be necessary to prepare for continued growth. Smith said the addition of 1,200-plus people came even before the construction of what is expected to be at least 600 new homes over the next half-decade. Excluding Washington County, the six counties of Northeast Tennessee barely had combined annual growth last decade. Thats changed drastically since 2020. (WJHL) Highway 11E, which traverses Greeneville from east to west, will need new signals, new additional turn lanes and possibly even a third lane in each direction, Smith said. Fire and police coverage for a population that looks set to grow by 10% or more in a decade is another consideration, he said, along with making sure general water, electric and other infrastructure keeps pace. The biggest issue were dealing with last year and itll be with us for a while is how do we just keep up with the demand for service that this growth brings, Smith said. He said while a minority of people may see the influx as a negative, it beats the alternative of a declining tax base and struggles to pay the bills in the public sector. The influx of new people, I think, is an indicator that were doing something right in terms of cost of living and tax rate, in the level of service in our school system, in our crime rates. All of the above, the livability is what makes us attractive. And so I think the secret is getting out about places like Greeneville. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. The head of a Native American tribe is demanding that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem apologize for her malicious and defamatory allegation that tribal leaders are in cahoots with drug cartels. Her remarks were made from ignorance and with the intention to fuel a racially based and discriminatory narrative towards the Native people of South Dakota, Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Scott Herman told The Daily Beast. Noems remarks at a town hall meeting Wednesday have further damaged her relationship with the states tribesone of which had already banned her from its reservation after similar insinuations. The Republican governors spokesman, Ian Fury, did not respond to a request for comment, which is not unusual for him. South Dakota Dems Have a Theory About Kristi Noems Flackery Noem has been highlighting drug use and trafficking on reservations for months. Murders are being committed by cartel members on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and in Rapid City, and a gang called the Ghost Dancers are affiliated with these cartels, she said in a Jan. 31 speech to a joint session of the South Dakota Legislature. They have been successful in recruiting tribal members to join their criminal activity. In response to those comments, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out barred her from the Pine Ridge Reservation. Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe! Star Comes Out said in a statement addressed to Noem. If that was meant to chasten Noem, it didnt work. At this weeks town hall in Winner, a small town in south-central South Dakota that has a large Native American population, she went even further. Weve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being here, and thats why they attack me every day, she said. Gov. Kristi Noem at the town hall in Winner Kristi Noem via Twitter She painted a stark picture of life on tribal lands. My next step would be to do what I can to get a tribe to participate with me to help their kids be more successful, she said. Because they live with 80 percent to 90 percent unemployment. Their kids dont have any hope. They dont have parents who show up and help them. They have a tribal council or a president who focuses on a political agenda more than they care about actually helping somebodys life look better. Herman, the Rosebud Sioux leader, said that was an insult to Native American students, their parents, and the tribal councils and presidents or chairmen of the nine reservations of South Dakota. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe strongly condemns the governors statements, and we demand an apology from the governor, Herman said. Those statements were made at a campaign function in Winner, South Dakota, purportedly to discuss two education bills, but Governor Noems statements strayed from education into an unwarranted and untruthful attack on Tribal Nations. Gov. Noems racially prejudiced remarks about Tribal presidents and tribal councils being focused on a political agenda are simply not true, he added. Gov. Noems malicious remarks that Tribal officials benefit from the presence of cartels without any evidence is made without any basis in truth, and is defamatory and libelous. If the governor is truthful about wanting to work with tribal nations on issues of education, economic development, and law enforcement, she should take the time to contact tribal leaders before making racist, unsubstantiated and discriminatory attacks on tribal people. Harold Frazier, who served as chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for 12 years and plans to seek the office again, said he also is outraged at Noems comments. To be such a huge leader, a prominent, so-called prominent leader, thats kind of going down into the weeds, he said. I dont think theres a reason for her to go down like that. Harold Frazier, former chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Tasos Katopodis/Getty Frazier noted that Noem has said she wants to work with the tribes to mend the damaged relationship, which included a battle with the Cheyenne River Sioux after it set up coronavirus checkpoints at reservation borders to keep out unnecessary visitors. Then she turns around and says something like this, Frazier said. If she has any informationand she claims to be a law-abiding citizenwhy doesnt she turn over the evidence to the proper authorities, the FBI, and let them go investigate if there is someone out there working with the cartels. A. Gay Kingman, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and executive director of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmens Association, said she was stunned by Noems remarks. Theres just a lot of disappointment, she said. 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 Peter Navarro, the Donald Trump adviser sentenced to incarceration following his conviction for defying a congressional subpoena, has asked the Supreme Court to intervene after a federal appeals court rejected his bid to put the four-month prison sentence on hold. In an emergency application filed with the Supreme Court late Friday, Navarro's lawyers say his case marks "the first time in our nations history" that "a senior presidential advisor has been convicted of contempt of Congress after asserting executive privilege over a congressional subpoena." The subpoena was issued by the House Jan. 6 committee in February 2022. The Supreme Court said the Justice Department should respond to Navarro's filing by Monday at 2 p.m. He has been ordered to report to a Bureau of Prisons facility in Miami before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. A three-judge panel said this week that Navarro had not shown that his appeal presents substantial questions of law or fact likely to result in reversal, a new trial, a sentence that does not include a term of imprisonment or a reduced sentence of imprisonment that is less than the amount of time already served plus the expected duration of the appeal process. An election denier involved in Trump's efforts to overturn the former president's election loss based on long-debunked conspiracy theories, Navarro was subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 committee and refused to provide testimony or documents. He was convicted in September and sentenced in January. You are not a victim, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told Navarro at his sentencing. You are not the object of a political prosecution you arent. You have received every process you are due. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno and his legal team are pushing back against a report, ahead of the state's GOP primary, that tried to link him to previously holding an account on an adult hookup website. The Associated Press published a report Thursday claiming that an Adult Friend Finder (AFF) account was created in 2008 using an email linked to Trump-backed candidate Moreno, who is running in a heated primary contest for a critical Senate seat in Ohio. The AP could not confirm that the account was created by Moreno himself, but only that his email address was used to make the account. Former intern Dan Ricci then came forward saying he was the one who created the account as part of a "prank," which he said in a letter that he is "thoroughly embarrassed" by. "Its a sick, last-minute attack by desperate people. This is what they do. Look at what they did to Judge (Brett) Kavanaugh, look at what they did to President Trump," Moreno told Politico in a statement blasting the report. TRUMP HEADING TO OHIO WITH HIS GOP CLOUT ON THE LINE IN CONTENTIOUS REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY Former President Donald Trump, left, endorsed Republican candidate Bernie Moreno for the Ohio Senate race. Charles Harder, legal counsel for Bernie Moreno, also shot down the claims and detailed the prank that he says Moreno "had nothing to do with." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "16 years ago an intern at Moreno Auto created an account at AFF as a prank, which he quickly abandoned that same day. We have provided AP a copy of a signed letter from that intern, admitting to this, as well as another signed letter from a former VP of Mr. Moreno's company, confirming this interns employment at the time the account in question was created," Harder said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. "The email address in question was not Bernie's personal email address, but rather an email address that appeared on company websites and literature and was managed by staff. Multiple people had access to it, including this intern. Bernie Moreno had nothing to do with the AFF account." SCHUMER-AFFILIATED PAC JUMPS INTO CRUCIAL GOP SENATE PRIMARY TO BOOST TRUMP'S ENDORSED CANDIDATE "According to metadata, the AFF account was never even used there were no communications or contacts sent to or from any other AFF accounts, and no photos or content were uploaded to it," Harder added. "The AFF account existed for less than a half-day, 16 years ago." A senior Republican strategist, who asked not to be named due to fear of retaliation, said the "story seems to be shifting." "Bernies story seems to be shifting. For weeks, his campaign told everyone that the metadata of the website would prove his innocence, but then the AP blew up that claim," they told Fox. "Now, Bernie is saying an intern went to where Bernies parents lived in Florida and created a gay dating profile for him as a prank. It just doesnt pass the smell test." Moreno is running to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Moreno's Republican primary opponents did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The Ohio Senate race is one of the GOP's best pickup opportunities in 2024 and is labeled a "toss up," according to Cook Political Report. Original article source: Trump-backed GOP candidate rips 'sick' report tying him to gay hookup website: 'Desperate people' Donald Trump, who was impeached for inciting supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn his 2020 electoral loss, warned on Saturday that there will be a bloodbath for the auto industry if he doesnt win the election this November. In his first campaign appearance since officially becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, the former president headlined a rally in Ohio to whip up support for Bernie Moreno ahead of Tuesdays GOP Senate primary. Moreno, a hardliner endorsed by Trump, is locked in a three-way primary race with state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Honest Don: Why Trumps New Nickname for Himself Makes Awful Sense However, Trump was far more interested in airing his grievances about the dozens of criminal indictments hes currently facing, and the decisive election he lost to President Joe Biden than in campaigning for Moreno. Furthermore, he painted an extremely dark, dystopic vision for the nation if he were once again to lose to Biden this fall. Complaining about automobile manufacturing plants in Mexico and China, Trump said that if he gets back into the White House he will impose massive tariffs on any Chinese-built vehicles imported into the United States. Let me tell you something China. If youre listening President Xi, and you and I are friends, but he understands the way I deal, Trump exclaimed before grousing about China building auto plants in Mexico. Were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line. Youre not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected! Trump, however, issued a stark warning for America if he doesnt win the 2024 election. Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the wholethats going to be the least of it. Its gonna be a bloodbath for the country, he declared. Trump went on to reiterate that China will not be able to sell any of its vehicles in the United States if he emerges victorious this November. Notably, Trumps rally comes just a day after his former Vice President Mike Pence said that he could not in good conscience endorse the former president this year. Pence has come under fire from his ex-boss for certifying Bidens electoral victory and refusing to help steal the 2020 election. During my presidential campaign, I made it clear that there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issuesand not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised on January the 6th, Pence stated on Friday. Furthermore, in a somewhat ironic twist, the ex-presidents troubling remarks about the countrys future sans Trump come just days after GOP officials described the MAGA takeover of the Republican National Committee in similarly stark terms. With the RNC expected to fire roughly 60 staffers after the former presidents daughter-in-law Lara Trump was installed as co-chair, sources told The Guardian that the move represented an absolute bloodbath. 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. For weeks last year, the Manhattan district attorney scrambled to stop Donald Trump from engaging in what prosecutors saw as an invasive revenge scheme against a former confidant whos become a lead witness in the Stormy Daniels hush money case: an attempt to seize Michael Cohens personal emails and text messages. But Trumps lawyers managed to circumvent local prosecutors by going straight to the feds who had previously sent Cohen to prison, scoring more than 30,000 emails they now plan to use to discredit him at the upcoming trial. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York is now flooding the much smaller Manhattan DAs Office with tons of paperwork, which then gets turned over to the former presidents defense team. This strategic maneuver is fueling a crisis in the DAs casewhich was set to be the first criminal trial against a former American president. Todd Blanche, Trumps lead defense lawyer, is now accusing prosecutors of committing serious violations by holding back evidence that could help the former president mount a successful defense in a case that threatens to send him to prison as he campaigns for another four years in the White House. The peoples conduct relating to data from Cohens phones is particularly suspect, Blanche wrote, referring to the DAs office in a March 8 court filing made public only this week. Donald Trump, with his lawyer Todd Blanche, before a hearing last month. Angela Weiss/Getty As of Friday evening, Trumps legal team is expected to review more than 119,000 documents that SDNY has released since March 4, bizarre timing that demands a herculean effort to prepare for the trial. However, on Friday afternoon, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan announced the start date for the proceedings would be delayed from March 25 until at least April. According to a court filing, that rapid review will examine Cohens bank records, personal communications, and extensive material the FBI seized from his two iPhones and three email accounts when agents arrested him in 2018. Although the DAs office is portraying this fiasco as a deliberately late document grab by Trump meant to freeze the clock on the case, in some ways there was always going to be a degree of chaos stemming from a case with as messy a start as this one. When the public discovered that Trump had secretly funneled a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential election, SDNY only went after Cohen for coordinating the deal. Michael Cohen arrives for the second day of testimony against Trump in his civil fraud trial at New York State Court on Oct. 25, 2023. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Federal prosecutors in New York didnt follow the money trail all the way up to the White House, which had exerted pressure on that office to drop the investigation entirely, according to a memoir by the head of SDNY at the time, Geoffrey Berman. But by taking down Cohenand only Cohenthe feds sat on a ton of dirt that Trump could later seek when the Manhattan DA eventually indicted him nearly a year ago on 34 felony counts for faking business records to hide the Stormy deal. To some extent, the former presidents attorneys have also managed to overcome the barriers put up by Merchan, who sided with the DA in December when he concluded that Trump was after nothing more than dirt to discredit the prosecutions case. It would appear that defendant here seeks nothing more than the opportunity for an unrestrained foray into confidential records in the hope that the unearthing some unspecified information will enable them to impeach witnesses, Merchan wrote in his Dec. 18 order, quoting separate legal precedent and calling the attempt an invasion that could not be justified. But after reviewing that order, federal prosecutors still concluded that they could turn over some of what Trump was looking for without running up against Merchans limitations. That is, as long as the DAs office was allowed to review the material first before passing it along to the defense team. Damian Williams, Manhattans top federal prosecutor, authorized the release of Cohens data in a signed Feb. 23 letter that stopped well short of giving the former president everything he wanted. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams David Dee Delgado/Getty For example, Trumps lawyers asked the feds to turn over large swaths of Cohens personal tax filings, in part to explore whether the former lawyer told the IRS that the $420,000 he got for coordinating the hush money was taxable income or a non-taxable reimbursement. However, Williams rejected that idea. Manhattans U.S. attorney was also fiercely opposed to handing over Cohens tax filings from 2012 to 2016, a period during which Cohen in federal court would later admit to having evaded paying substantial taxesa figure pegged at $4 million by the Department of Justice. Williams considered the request even less relevant or material than the subpoena requests quashed by Judge Merchan, particularly since it happened long before the hush money payment. However, Williams agreed to turn over nine different banks records and emails related to Cohen, material that the feds had acquired through search warrants. Instead of putting his office through what he called a painstaking and extremely time-intensive task of identifying specific documents, Williams simply delivered a huge chunk of them to the DAmeaning that some of the material might have already been in Trumps hands. Trump Just Officially Got Away With Jailing Michael Cohen in 2020 Similarly, Williams employed a dump-it-all policy when it came to personal messages the FBI seized from Cohens two iPhones. When Trumps team sought communications that they argued would probe Cohens fraudulent schemes as well as his potential bias and motive, Williams reasoned that it would be unreasonably burdensome for this office to review the seized materials to identify potentially relevant material. So instead, he handed it off to the DAnoting that he could have said no, but thought it best to share the material. Although the overbreadth and burden objections would be sufficient bases to deny this request, under the extraordinary circumstances of this case, I authorize disclosure of the seized materials, he wrote, on the condition that the highly private material wouldnt get leaked. In a letter to the judge on Friday, Blanche and fellow defense lawyer Susan Necheles pointed to SDNYs willingness to turn over documents to bolster their arguments that the DA failed to meet its obligations to do it sooner. The USAO-SDNY produced this large volume of records voluntarily, in response to a straightforward request by President Trump that the office exercise its discretion under federal regulations in a manner that promotes the interests of justice and the truth-seeking function at the criminal trial in this case, they wrote, accusing the DAs office of partaking in a failed effort to prevent the truth from coming out. But theres one potential goldmine that thus far has evaded Trumps team: a draft manuscript of a pro-Trump memoir Cohen was writing in early 2018back when he was still loyal to the real estate tycoon. At the time, The Daily Beast obtained the book proposal that was being shopped around to publishers. In it, Cohen described himself as the family fix-it guy and the first true Trump special counsel. He also teased that he saw it all, handled it all. And still do. But more interestingly, the book seemed to position itself as a counter to what was then the most popular expose of the chaos and dysfunction of the Trump White House: Michael Wolffs Fire and Fury, which had detailed Trumps deteriorating mental healthand the way the president would stop housekeepers from touching his toothbrush out of fear that hed be poisoned. Stormy Daniels Is Going to Screw Trumps Campaign Schedule By contrast, Cohens book proposal promised that it would detail the complexities and nuances of the Trump family. Its no wonder, then, that the former presidents defense team wants a copy of that manuscript. In a court filing, Blanche described it as having obvious and important impeachment value at trial. However, Trumps lawyers have yet to acquire it, according to a source briefed on the matter. When Trumps lawyers subpoenaed Cohen for the manuscript and other materials, the DA rushed to Cohens defense and won over the judge in November. And prosecutors have also apparently stood in the way when Trumps team has approached book companies too, an action that Blanche described in one court filing as consistent with the existing strategy to hide the truth. Trumps lawyers fared no better when they approached SDNY, where Williams declined to turn over any book drafts. However, in his letter last month, Manhattans U.S. attorney did leave open the possibility that Cohens manuscript could be buried in the personal communications theyve since turned over. The search is on. 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. Donald Trump would normally have little reason to be at a rally in Ohio a state the presumptive Republican nominee twice carried comfortably eight months before the November election. But the former presidents endorsement, the most coveted in a GOP primary, hasnt yet sealed the deal for businessman Bernie Moreno, whos locked in a three-way primary that will be this years first test of Trumps cachet in a contested Senate race. Tuesdays winner will take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown one of two Democrats running for reelection in Trump states whose fates are crucial to Senate control this fall. Democrats are carefully eyeing the high-stakes Republican primary, with an outside group running ads that boost Moreno over state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Their spending suggests they see Moreno as the preferred candidate to go toe-to-toe with Brown in a state thats been trending red. The state went for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 before swinging to Trump four years later. Though Trump appeared at a Saturday rally north of Dayton hosted by a super PAC supporting Moreno, national Republicans who have endorsed in primaries in many of their other targeted seats this cycle have stayed out of this race, believing that any of the three men can defeat Brown. But Dolan recently secured the backing of two prominent Ohio Republicans former Sen. Rob Portman and Gov. Mike DeWine. Their engagement has thrust into this race the split in the Ohio GOP between the Trump and more establishment wings, effectively pitting the two self-funding candidates against each other in the final stretch. So Bernies running against a weak RINO (Republican in Name Only) named Matt Dolan, Trump said Saturday in a speech that was much more about himself than his endorsed Senate candidate. Hes trying to become the next Mitt Romney, Trump added, trying to tie Dolan to the Utah senator and 2012 GOP nominee, while ignoring LaRose. Bernie Moreno greets voters and candidates for other offices before an endorsement meeting of the Warren County GOP adjourns on January 18, 2024, in Lebanon, Ohio. - Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer/USA Today As of Thursday, GOP campaigns and outside groups had combined to spend more than $34 million on the primary, led by Dolan, who had spent $9.6 million on ads, and Moreno, who had spent $7.8 million, according to AdImpact data. LaRose, a former Green Beret who started with early name recognition as the only statewide elected official in the race, hasnt had the same personal resources to compete, but he has benefited from significant outside spending. Not surprising for a GOP primary even one more than 1,000 miles from Mexico immigration has been a dominant theme in advertising, with candidates and their allies either touting their commitment to securing the border or attacking their opponents for supporting amnesty. But amongst all that noise on TV, it may be the underlying fissures in the party that ultimately determine Tuesdays primary and what the fall matchup looks like. The big question mark in all of this: Who is that undecided category is it the Trumpier side of the party or the less Trumpier side? said Ohio Republican strategist Bob Clegg, who is not involved with any of the campaigns. The Trump vs. DeWine dynamic Trump has been omnipresent in Morenos campaign long before his Saturday rally. We love Ohio and we love Bernie Moreno, Trump says in both the opening and closing of one ad from the Moreno campaign, in which the candidate says, The first thing we have to do is we have to finish the wall. The former president backed Moreno, a Colombian immigrant who made a fortune from car dealerships, in December at the urging of Sen. J.D. Vance, who had been boosted by his own Trump endorsement in Ohios 2022 GOP primary (after which Moreno dropped out of that race). But a recent ad from the Club for Growths political arm attacking Dolan was the first clue something was up, said Clegg. Then came the endorsement from DeWine, who had previously suggested he wouldnt get involved in the Senate primary. Both developments pointed to momentum for Dolan, who finished in a stronger-than-expected third place in that crowded 2022 race, when he had been the only candidate to reject Trumps lies about the 2020 election. Trump had made clear early on in that cycle that he wouldnt be backing Dolan, criticizing his family for changing the name of the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians while calling him a RINO an attack that the Club for Growth, which is backing Moreno, has picked up this year. State Sen. Matt Dolan speaks to reporters following a debate at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, on March 28, 2022. - Paul Vernon/AP Trump again invoked the baseball teams name change Saturday to take a dig at Dolan. Hes easily pushed around by the woke left lunatics who renamed his familys baseball team, the former president said. And my attitude is anybody that changes the name of the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians should not be a senator, should not be a governor. While all three candidates have previously been more critical of Trump than they are now, Dolan is the only one who hasnt endorsed Trump for president in 2024. Matt has been very clear that hes very much in support of Trumps policies, said Chris Maloney, a strategist with the Dolan campaign. The Dolan campaign has touted their Buckeye State endorsements especially DeWines in fundraising emails this week. They are servant leaders and they know how to win tough races, Maloney said. But Clegg noted that the late-breaking DeWine endorsement could be a double-edge sword. The governors support among seniors and more educated Republicans who tend to be higher-propensity voters could help Dolan, especially if Trumps base isnt enthused about turning out Tuesday because hes already clinched the partys presidential nomination. At the same time, DeWine could also turn off some conservatives. Trump rebuked the governor for vetoing legislation that would have barred transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care. DeWine also was a target of the right during the Covid-19 pandemic for following public health measures and other restrictions that Trump criticized. Everyone loves Mike DeWine, but thats not where the party is right now, said Ohio Republican consultant Bob Kish, whos not working for any of the candidates. Theres been plenty of money spent trying to tie each of the candidates to previous versions of the Republican Party one that was less hardline on immigration, abortion and LGBTQ rights and more critical of Trump. As CNNs KFile has reported, even Moreno said in 2016 there was no scenario in which he would support Trump and called him a fake Republican. He sung a different tune at Saturdays rally. This is a good man. This is a great American, Moreno said. He loves this country like no other leader of this nation has ever loved this country. But thats not unlike the about-face Vance made during the 2022 cycle. Its the Trump candidate versus somebody else, Kish said, noting the power of the former presidents endorsement to quell doubts about previous loyalty. And thats where Saturdays rally comes in. Voters are tuning in and what they are going to be tuning into is Trump is endorsing Bernie, said a senior strategist for the Moreno campaign. The fight to defeat Brown Whoever emerges from Tuesdays primary, Brown is in for a tough race in a state that Trump twice carried by 8 points. But like Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the other Democrat running in a Trump state this year, hes done it before. Republicans need to flip just one or two seats depending on who wins the White House to control the Senate, and theyve already effectively picked up one, assuming West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin follows through on his announcement not to run for reelection. The early money laid down in Ohio shows just how competitive both parties are expecting it to be. Senate Majority PAC, the super PAC tied to Democratic leadership, has reserved $65 million for TV ads by far the most of any of the seven states where it made early reservations. On the Republican side, Senate Leadership Fund and an affiliated group have booked about $80 million. Campaign resources will also be incredibly important in this race, especially since candidates receive more favorable advertising rates than outside groups. Brown raised nearly $5.7 million in the first two months of this year, ending the pre-primary reporting period with $13.5 million in the bank far more than any of his would-be GOP challengers. Dolan and Moreno, however, have both loaned their campaigns millions of dollars, and theres likely more where that came from. Secretary of State Frank LaRose attends an election night party for J.D. Vance in Columbus on November 8, 2022. - Gaelen Morse/Reuters Each Republican has their own theory about why theyre uniquely positioned to beat Brown. LaRoses team, for instance, touts his statewide elected experience and service at the border and sees his lack of personal resources as a relative positive. Ohioans want someone they can relate to, who knows what its like to sit at their table and wonder how theyre going to pay their bills, LaRose campaign communications director Ben Kindel said. Dolans team champions his fiscal conservatism while arguing he can compete where the others cannot. He can run aggressively in Ohios suburbs, Maloney said, noting that Dolan had voted against a version of a so-called heartbeat bill in the state Senate because it did not include abortion exceptions for rape and incest, in addition to life of the mother. Moreno has leaned into his background as an immigrant who came here legally and pitched himself as an outsider who hasnt held political office and can unseat a three-term incumbent. Besides Brown, no Democrat has won a nonjudicial statewide office in Ohio since 2008. He won his 2018 race by 7 points, but it was against a weaker GOP challenger who didnt have major national party support. Since then, the state has voted for Trump again, by the same margin. And this time, Brown will be on the ballot with him. I know for a fact hes beatable, said Clegg, who managed the only campaign to have ever beaten Brown Bob Tafts secretary of state race in 1990. I think the biggest problem Sherrod is going to have the general electorate has just changed so fast. Sen. Sherrod Brown during a Senate hearing on September 12, 2023 on Capitol Hill. - Julia Nikhinson/Sipa/AP But Democrats still see it as a competitive state. Two years ago, they forced Republicans to invest tens of millions of dollars in the 2022 race to hold an open seat, while Democrats won three competitive House seats. And since then, Ohio has passed a ballot measure enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution an issue that the Brown campaign has already seized on as they try to paint all of the Republicans as too extreme and a threat to the will of Buckeye State voters. Democrats have shown every single time, with the exception of Hillary Clinton in 2016, that if all things are equal, or at least close to equal in terms of resources and engagement by the national party, that these races are competitive and winnable, said a national Democratic strategist with experience working in Ohio. They dont deny Ohio has shifted more red and that running on the ticket with Trump presents its challenges. But there are also opportunities in being a noncompetitive presidential state. The Senate race will be the main event in Ohio, said a national Democrat working on Senate races. That benefits Brown because his campaign will be the voice dominating the paid communications in the state, and voters wont be getting hit by ads from the presidential race. This story has been updated with remarks from Saturdays rally. CNNs David Wright contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Carl Icahn is one of the top activist investors in the world. Icahn is a legend in the investing world for his ability to identify undervalued companies and push for changes in management or strategy that can help make those companies more valuable. Icahn has 57% of his investment portfolio invested in a single stock: Icahn Enterprises (NASDAQ: IEP). The stock offers an impressive dividend yield nearing 29% but has faced significant scrutiny over the past year. As a result, its price has fallen 66% since May 2023. Although Icahn Enterprises offers an appealing dividend, there are some things you'll want to consider before buying the stock. Carl Icahn's investing approach Carl Icahn has an impressive history of investing success. Icahn takes a value approach, much like Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett does. However, their investment styles do have some significant differences. Buffett tends to take a hands-off approach in the stocks Berkshire buys a share of, allowing management teams to operate independently without his interference or constant monitoring. Because Buffett and his team at Berkshire take a long-term view of stocks, they invest in management teams they trust can run the business smoothly. On the other hand, Icahn takes an active role in shaking up management teams and working to institute other changes he believes will turn around the business. Icahn was one of the first activist shareholders, earning him the nickname "corporate raider." One of his more recent successes was in 2014, when he purchased eBay and encouraged it to spin off PayPal, which had stellar returns in the years that followed. Evaluating Icahn Enterprises' business performance Icahn does most of his activist investing activity within the investment segment of Icahn Enterprises. There, he seeks out undervalued companies and looks to improve their valuations by cutting costs or making strategic acquisitions that could help make the company more efficient. Story continues Through the end of last year, investments in this segment were valued at $3.2 billion and included both long and short positions. Some of its holdings include Crown Holdings, Southwest Gas Holdings, Illumina, and Bausch Health Companies. Icahn's investing segment struggled mightily over the past five years, losing $2.3 billion. One reason for its struggling investment performance was Icahn's short-selling activities. Over the past several years, Icahn has taken significant short positions, including credit default swaps (CDSs) that he used to short commercial mortgage-backed securities. Icahn said in a 2023 letter to unitholders that his team had "strayed over the past several years from our activist methodology and shorted (hedged) far more than was necessary." He went on to say, "Going forward, we intend to stick to our knitting and focus on our activist strategy while remaining appropriately hedged." Image source: Getty Images. In addition to investing, Icahn Enterprises holds controlling interest in several companies in the energy, automotive, food packaging, and real estate sectors. Its largest holding is CVR Energy, where it owns 66% of the company's outstanding stock. CVR Energy is primarily engaged in petroleum refining and marketing, along with nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing, and has been one of the better holdings for Icahn Enterprises over the years. Icahn stock has become a target of short-sellers Icahn Enterprises has fallen significantly over the past year. One of the primary causes was the report from the famed short-seller Hindenberg Research. According to the report, Hindenberg alleged that Icahn Enterprises' net asset value was overstated. Hindenberg went on to say that Icahn Enterprises traded at a 218% premium to its net asset value (NAV) at the time, primarily due to retail investors attracted to its high dividend payout and the opportunity to invest in the legendary activist investor and alleged that the company didn't have enough cash flow to support its distribution. IEP Dividend Chart Is Icahn Enterprises stock a buy? Icahn Enterprises offers a juicy dividend yield that could entice income-focused investors. Carl Icahn says the company is returning to its activist investor roots, which should help improve its investment performance, which has been a drag on the business for years. However, the company has its work cut out for it, as its debt-to-equity ratio rose significantly last year, and its dividend is vulnerable to further cuts. Therefore I would avoid buying the stock today. Should you invest $1,000 in Icahn Enterprises right now? Before you buy stock in Icahn Enterprises, 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 Icahn Enterprises 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 March 11, 2024 Courtney Carlsen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends Bausch Health Companies, Illumina, and eBay and recommends the following options: short July 2024 $52.50 calls on eBay and short March 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Icahn Enterprises Stock a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool (Bloomberg) -- A Georgia judges refusal to bar Fani Willis from prosecuting Donald Trump will restart her stalled election-racketeering case but leaves in doubt whether he will face trial in Atlanta before the November election. Most Read from Bloomberg Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did not disqualify Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, but issued withering criticism of her romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor, Nathan Wade. McAfee said Friday that either Willis or Wade must step aside to correct a significant appearance of impropriety. Wade resigned hours after the ruling, clearing the way for resumption of the case against Trump and 14 others on allegations of illegally trying to overturn Joe Bidens victory in Georgia in 2020. Yet the timing of any trial is clouded by Trumps crowded calendar he faces four criminal indictments and is the presumed Republican nominee to challenge Biden in the presidential election. Its not implausible that there could a late summer trial in Fulton County, but the window on that is closing rapidly, said Georgia State University law professor Anthony Kreis. Read More: Trump Georgia Prosecutor Willis Stays on Case After Wade Out Willis and her prosecutors had pushed for an August trial, but the judge still hasnt set a date. Trumps other three criminal cases are also up in the air because of pre-trial disputes and appeals over such issues as whether he had immunity from criminal charges as president. The need is for speed, said Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics official under President Barack Obama. If I were Fani Willis, I would embrace this ruling, I would respectfully register my disagreement with one or two points, and on Monday I would move to either renew the August request shes made, or go even sooner. Several obstacles remain. Trump could further slow the proceedings by asking McAfee to allow an immediate appeal. If McAfee assents, the Georgia Court of Appeals would have to agree as well. Trump attorney Steve Sadow said McAfees ruling was wrong, but he didnt telegraph how he would proceed. Continuing the Fight We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place, Sadow said. McAfee still has to rule on several pending motions that seek to limit or dismiss the sprawling racketeering indictment. On Wednesday, he dismissed six of the original 41 counts in the indictment, including three against Trump. While Willis argued that all 15 defendants should be tried together, McAfee suggested during a Dec. 1 hearing that such a sprawling trial would not happen. He said he feels eight is the most we could do at once. My initial thought is the state would able to choose an A league and a B league and decide which defendants should be tried first. At that hearing, Sadow said the US Constitutions Supremacy Clause would shield Trump from trial if he wins the White House. I believe that under the Supremacy Clause and his duties as president of the United States, that this trial would not take place, if at all, until after he left his term of office, Sadow said. The case has essentially been frozen since a Trump co-defendant, Michael Roman, filed a motion on Jan. 8 disclosing the romantic relationship and claiming it amounted to a conflict of interest. With the ruling on Friday, the normal business of prosecuting a multi-defendant case may start to resume. Four defendants have already pleaded guilty, including the lawyers Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro and Jenna Ellis. More may now consider plea deals to avoid the most serious charge of racketeering. DAs Reelection Bid Willis, a Democrat, is also running for reelection, and she may be chastened as she moves forward. The judge was critical of a Jan. 14 speech that Willis gave at a historically Black church in Atlanta in which she said her critics were playing the race card. The effect of the speech, McAfee said, was to cast racial aspersions on Roman for filing his motion. While it didnt deny the defendants the chance at a fair trial, it was still legally improper and was the type of comment that creates dangerous waters for the district attorney to wade further into, McAfee wrote. The time may well have arrived for an order preventing the state from mentioning the case in any public forum to prevent prejudicial pretrial publicity, the judge wrote. Kreis, the law professor, said he expects Willis to be more constrained and disciplined on the campaign trail. Judge McAfee made clear that his tolerance for that is zero, Kreis said. Shes at a point where shes made some very foolish decisions, and almost everybody agrees with this. If she makes further missteps in the coming weeks, that will be a massive liability. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trump on Saturday said it will be a bloodbath for the United States if he doesnt win in November. Now, if I dont get elected, its gonna be a bloodbath. Thats going to be the least of it, Trump said during a rally near Dayton, Ohio. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. While it was unclear what the former president meant exactly, the remarks came as Trump was complaining about the automobile industry. He then returned to telling the crowd that China would not be able to sell any vehicles imported into the U.S. if he wins reelection. Trump frequently paints a dark picture of the country as he lays out his case against President Joe Biden ahead of Novembers presidential rematch. And he often employs increasingly heightened rhetoric when addressing the felony charges he is facing in his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The events of Jan. 6 are a heavy presence throughout his campaign events, as Trump continues to decry the election he lost four years ago. As he often does, Trump opened Saturdays rally with a recording of Jan. 6 prisoners singing the national anthem. Saluting the crowd, Trump then said he would issue pardons for the Trump-supporting hostages on the first day of his presidency. You see the spirit from the hostages. And thats what they are hostages, Trump said in the opening words of his rally. The Biden-Trump rematch is set to be an ugly race, in which both candidates will elevate the Capitol attack. Biden has continued to invoke Jan. 6 in his own speeches, warning that the outcome in November matters for the fate of democracy. The attack remains a political danger for Republicans and Trumps campaign this year. Former Vice President Mike Pence broke with Trump on Friday, announcing that he would not endorse him in 2024. On Jan. 6, Trump supporters at the Capitol called for Pence to be hanged after Trump made him a target for his refusal to aid efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The Biden campaign seized on Trump's Saturday remarks. This is who Donald Trump is: a loser who gets beat by over 7 million votes and then instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience doubles down on his threats of political violence," Biden campaign spokesperson James Singer said in a statement. As many as three nights a week, Donald Trump has been hosting private dinners at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, schmoozing with some of the Republican Partys biggest financiers as he races to address a sizable cash shortfall against President Joe Biden. There is no request for money from the attendees at these meals, which have included Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, and Pepe Fanjul, a sugar magnate, according to people familiar with the sessions. But advisers to Trumps campaign and his super political action committees hope the charm offensive will eventually pay political and financial dividends. One of the most pressing issues facing Trump is the financial disparity he and allied groups now face with Biden and the Democratic Party. Democrats have boasted of entering February with $130 million. The Trump operation did not release a full total, but his campaign account and the Republican National Committee had around $40 million. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Trump enters the general election ahead of Biden in public polls. But Biden has taken full advantage of one of the benefits of incumbency, both socking away cash and building out a political operation earlier than his challenger. Despite years of professing massive wealth and boasting of his desire to drain the swamp, the deeply transactional former president is leaning yet again on the cash of others, turning Mar-a-Lago into a staging ground for billionaires and others with their own agendas. One potential leverage point with the biggest GOP financiers is the package of tax cuts Trump signed into law in 2017. Many of those cuts expire at the end of 2025, and Biden has vowed not to extend them for the nations highest earners. Money often winds up mattering less in presidential races than in down-ballot races. Voters pay attention to the candidates naturally, especially Trump, and the key states all wind up awash in advertising by the fall. Yet recent presidential contests have been so excruciatingly close that everything has mattered, and Trump is preparing to face an especially large avalanche of Democratic spending this year. Just a single union this past week announced plans to spend $200 million, 10 times what the main Trump super PAC had on hand. A cash edge can help Democrats tilt or expand the battleground map in their favor. In a sign of the Trump orbits urgent need for cash, at least two donors who made seven-figure pledges to support Trump this year were nudged to see if they could cut an eight-figure check meaning $10 million or more instead, according to a person familiar with the request. It is an unusually perilous moment for Trump. The former president is facing converging financial crunches just as he has become the presumptive Republican nominee. The first is the political cash situation. The others are far more personal. Trump recently posted a $91.6 million bond in a civil case in which he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation of New York writer E. Jean Carroll. He also must summon the resources to post a roughly $450 million bond, the judgment in a New York civil fraud case against his businesses, in the coming days. And he has mounting legal bills as his first criminal trial nears. Trumps Save America PAC, which has been paying his lawyers and those of some witnesses, is set to run dry by summer at the current pace of spending. Some Trump allies predict they will have enough campaign cash to win, even if its less than Biden. Hillary Clinton way out-raised President Trump, but he connected with the American people and that was the difference right there, said Tommy Hicks Jr., a former Republican National Committee co-chair and finance director. Brian Ballard, a Republican lobbyist, fundraiser and Mar-a-Lago member, said Trump was incredibly engaged in the political money fight. He understands the one advantage the Biden campaign has is financial resources, Ballard said, adding and he understands we need to do all we can to negate that. To prepare for the fall, Trumps advisers have embarked on an aggressive and speedy takeover of the RNC that included installing his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as co-chair, with the intention that shell focus in part on shoring up fundraising. The Trump team imposed mass layoffs in some departments Monday, and is shipping all of the partys finance and digital fundraising staff to the former presidents Florida headquarters by the end of the month. In a sign of the early Democratic edge, Biden traveled to Wisconsin this past week to promote the 44 party and campaign offices they are opening in the state, at the same time Trumps team was laying off or forcing the RNCs regional political staff to reapply for their jobs. For now, the Trump operation is ramping up its program for bundlers of midsize donations and planning to conserve cash by holding fewer rallies than they did at the end of the primary season. On Thursday, Trump formed a new joint fundraising account with the national party and roughly 40 state parties, calling it the Trump 47 Committee, allowing him to directly raise money in chunks of more than $800,000. A splashy dinner in Palm Beach is being planned in early April to fill the new accounts coffers. One person familiar with the planning said donors have pledged more than $25 million. Trump is said to be concerned about the fundraising gap between his orbit and Bidens, although he has told advisers that he believes he and his allies will ultimately raise what they need, according to one person with knowledge of the discussions. But some top donors remain hesitant. Among their privately expressed concerns is a fear that large donations could wind up covering Trumps legal fees, even as his advisers have publicly said the RNC wont do so. Trumps main super PAC has, as of January, refunded more than $47 million of the $60 million it had received before the 2024 run began to Trumps PAC, which is paying Trumps lawyers. So far, Trump has reported only a limited well of major contributors during the 2024 race. He has, in the meantime, become increasingly attentive to them. He recently had a meeting with one of the worlds richest men, Elon Musk, and a brief backstage encounter with Jeff Yass, a billionaire investor in TikTok. Trump said on CNBC that he and Yass had not spoken about the company, although he later posted on social media regarding his skepticism about federal legislation that could ban the app, especially if it would benefit the parent company of Facebook. On Super Tuesday, Trumps main super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., rented out a room at Mar-a-Lago for some of the larger donors to mingle in. Trump stopped by and thanked some of them, including Trish Duggan, a prominent Florida philanthropist and Scientologist, who has contributed more than $5 million, according to a person who was in the room. The night he won the New Hampshire primary, Trump gave shout-outs in his victory speech to casino magnate Steve Wynn and hedge fund manager John Paulson, both of whom are billionaires. You know what? Put him at Treasury, Trump said of Paulson that night. The April fundraising dinner, which was first reported by Bloomberg, will be hosted by Paulson. On the night of the South Carolina primary, Woody Johnson, the billionaire owner of the New York Jets to whom Trump gave an ambassadorship during his term, stood behind Trump. Another billionaire and regular at Mar-a-Lago, Ike Perlmutter, is supporting a separate super PAC, Right for America, that is being run by Trump ally Sergio Gor. Trump blessed Perlmutters effort, despite the fact that its existence has caused tension within the broader Trump circle. The general election cash chasm was apparent in the advertising announced in March. The main Trump super PAC has purchased about $380,000 in radio advertising targeting Black voters in three states this month. The Biden campaign has announced a $30 million ad campaign over six weeks a nearly 100 to 1 edge in the first stretch of the race. That ratio does not include the roughly $500,000 the pro-Trump super PAC spent on an ad that trolled Biden the day of his State of the Union speech, questioning whether the president would live to 2029, when his second term would end. The provocative commercial exemplifies what underfunded groups typically do: spend symbolically to generate free media coverage. Some Republican donors have emphasized that wealthy contributors may write large checks, but they often dont want to see that fact disclosed, given the controversy that attaches itself to Trump. A number of donors faced public blowback in 2016 for their support. An official with the Trump super PAC would not say whether Yass has given money to the group, but a person close to the campaign said he is expected to make a seven-figure contribution. Its unclear if that would be to a super PAC or a dark money group that does not have to identify its donors. After Musks meeting with Trump was reported, Musk wrote, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President. But should he choose to donate, Musk, too, could decide to give to an entity in which the money cannot be tracked. Not everyone is on board just yet. Can I just have a moment to be sad over Nikki not being in the race? hedge fund executive and GOP financier Ken Griffin said at a conference in Florida this past week, referring to Trumps last major Republican rival, Nikki Haley. But Griffin predicted that Trump would win this fall and left open the possibility of backing him. The current financial situation is a reversal of the one in 2020. Back then, it was Trump who held the White House and had amassed a $187 million advantage by roughly this same point, creating a far larger gap than Biden has built now. But spending decisions by the Trump team and a deluge of Democratic giving inverted that by the fall. The Republican National Committee announced that last weekend the first since Michael Whatley was installed as chair, and Lara Trump as co-chair was its strongest for a fundraising weekend since 2020. Lara Trump said on Fox News that she had personally received pledges of $2.7 million. And a Trump campaign spokesperson said that February had been its strongest month for small dollar fundraising of the race. Records show the previous high for online fundraising was in August, when Trump raised $22.3 million. Still, Democratic donors have been pouring money into Bidens coffers. The Biden campaign announced it had raised more than $10 million online in the 24 hours after the State of the Union address. To put that sum in perspective, it more than doubled the biggest day Trump had in 2023, when his mug shot was released from his Georgia indictment, and he raised $4.2 million online. c.2024 The New York Times Company Tim Knight, 55, hopes that his Isa will allow him to retire early - Jay Williams Making the right investment decisions is key to retiring early. Tim Knight, a 55-year-old pilot from Wiltshire, hopes that his Isa will be enough to bridge the gap in his finances in order to leave work in just two years. Ive been investing for decades, starting with a Pep in the 1990s. Since then my strategy has just been to buy and forget, he says. I just kept contributing until the financial crisis in 2008, when I had no spare cash. I stopped for a while and then the pandemic happened. I bought a few stocks during the crash some of them worked, some of them didnt. I lost a lot on Cineworld. Mr Knight and his wifes portfolios are together now worth around 312,000 after years of steady contributions and a long bull run in the stock market. We have a lot in a few single shares, such as Unilever, because of an inheritance, he said. But I want to simplify the portfolio so that it is more focused on supporting us in retirement. Mr Knight owns his home in Wiltshire, which is estimated to be worth around 1.2m - Jay Williams Ideally, Mr Knight and his wife are looking for a retirement income of around 50,000 each year. Having worked for the Royal Air Force for 16 years, Mr Knight is already paid an index-linked pension of 18,000. I left the RAF in 2007, and in my next job I chose cash payments in lieu of a pension, so I could pay off my mortgage. Mr Knight owns his home in Wiltshire, which is estimated to be worth around 1.2m. He joined his current employer around a year ago, where he earns 80,000 and contributes around 600 per month into a defined contribution pension with Nest. This pension is negligible though, really. I would like my Isa to help me reach my goal of 50,000 in retirement, with as much of that as tax free as possible. My wife and I are going to contribute the maximum to our Isa in the run-up to the summer of 2026, when Im hoping to leave work. Paul Derrien, director at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management A target income of 50,000 a year is going to be tight, but potentially achievable. If the Isa assets produce 5pc income (which is currently at the top end of what is realistic) and lets assume the portfolios have reached 400,000, then there would be 20,000 of net annual income from the Isas and a similar indexed number from the RAF pension. Any shortfall could be made up from the defined contribution scheme that Mr Knight is currently contributing towards. Their state pensions should also help bridge the gap. There might be a better alternative than adding to the Isas, which is Mr Knights pension. Given his salary, he is able to move up to 60,000 gross into a pension each year, which could be funded by their existing investments and savings. There are two major benefits. Firstly, it is a way of reclaiming tax paid on earnings (some of which is at 40pc) and secondly, if he moves some of his assets into a self-invested personal pension, or Sipp, the money will be exempt from inheritance tax. It is also worth noting that because Mr Knights salary exceeds 60,000 and there have been no pension contributions in previous years he could use some of the previous years allowances that are carried forward. Now turning to the Isa portfolio, it seems that most of the investments are in shares, infrastructure and commodities. While Mr Knight is working and not needing other income, this is fine. But as retirement is fast approaching, his risk outlook will likely change and some portfolio reconstruction should happen sooner rather than later. If Mr and Mrs Knight want to get 5pc from the Isas, they need to look at the investments that fail to meet this criteria. Generally, investing in direct stocks is riskier than funds. So it makes sense to move these investments into funds and low cost investment trackers. At the moment, it is possible to achieve around 5pc from fixed income and more from infrastructure (such as The Renewables Infrastructure Group, which is already held). I would keep 60pc of the portfolio in shares and invest 40pc into fixed income and infrastructure investments that provide the level of income needed. In our portfolios, some fixed income funds that we look at are the iShares UK Ultrashort Corporate Bond fund, iShares US Treasury 7-10 year Hedged ETF, GAM Star Credit Opportunities and TwentyFour Strategic Income. When constructing income focused portfolios we look at a number of funds which include: Artemis Income, Schroder Global Equity Income, Aberdeen Asian Income, City of London and Law Debenture (which are already held by Mr Knight), iShare UK Dividend and Ecofin Utilities and Infrastructure. Zoe Gilliespie, director at RBC Brewin Dolphin As Mr Knight approaches retirement, he may wish to review his overall attitude to risk and investment strategy for the portfolios. When he starts to draw on the assets, he may not have the same capacity for loss as he did when he was not reliant on the investments. Adding some fixed income assets such as bonds or government gilts to the portfolio could provide a high income yield, while potentially reducing volatility. The current portfolio has around 10pc in funds that are in areas outside of stocks, such as infrastructure, property, and commodities. Overall, Mr Knights holdings are imbalanced having a more even distribution of assets will reduce the skew in performance from larger holdings. For example, the largest individual holding is Unilever, which accounts for over 15pc of the portfolio, so the underlying performance would be influenced by its share price. Despite having a dividend yield of over 3.5pc, the share price has produced very little in the way of a capital return over the last five years. I would also be worried about the high exposure to the Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund, whose performance over the last five years has been mixed. The current portfolio has a large bias towards British stocks and has less in overseas markets. Around half the worlds global equities are listed in the United States which has a high weighting to the strongly performing growth-focused technology companies. Global funds generally have a US tilt, however the Axa Framlington Health fund invests in a narrow sector of the market, and therefore a more general global fund could give a better spread of assets. Something like the Fundsmith Global Equity fund would give a wider exposure to global stocks, including US companies. Alternatively, Mr Knight could invest directly in US funds, either through a passive strategy or using an actively managed fund. A simple S&P 500 tracker would give a passive approach to the US whilst the GQG Partners US fund could be an active option. The portfolio also has a large weighting to Asian and emerging markets funds which historically have been more volatile. I would consider selling out of some of these holdings. Mr Knight also mentioned that he is investing some spare cash into the City of London Investment Trust which he deems as being safe. However, the trust invests heavily in stocks and therefore can be affected by market volatility. If he is looking for something more secure, I would suggest moving this money into another asset class, such as bonds. 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. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson to "take a decision" on unblocking Ukraine aid after Russia struck Odesa on March 13, killing 21 people. Aid for Ukraine has been stuck in the U.S. Congress since autumn 2023. The U.S. Senate on Feb. 13 passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes $60 billion for Ukraine, as well as funds for Israel and other allies, but Johnson has so far refused to put it to a vote in the House of Representatives. Some House Republicans are reportedly working on another version of the bill that would treat the non-military portion of the package as a loan in hopes of winning support from more hesitant lawmakers. Johnson also considered passing a future Ukraine aid bill with Democratic votes, assuming that Ukraine and Israel aid could be split into two separate bills, according to Politico. "Look at Odesa. How many more arguments do you need to take a decision?" Tusk wrote on X on March 16, tagging Johnson. Twenty-one people were killed and at least 73 injured after the Russian missile attack on March 13. As of March 16, the emergency services are still working at the impact scene, according to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper. The U.S. earlier pledged a defense aid package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine worth $300 million. This is the first U.S. package since last December. As $60 billion in funding from the U.S. for Ukraine remains stalled, Kyiv faces critical ammunition shortages. In February, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Avdiivka, a key-front-line city in Donetsk Oblast, and several nearby villages amid the shortages of weaponry, while Russian troops continued to intensify their attacks, advancing in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. Read also: Scholz, Macron, Tusk vow more arms purchases, new initiatives for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Mr Allister told party members the UK is "being dismantled" as a result of post-Brexit trade rules for NI Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister has announced a formal "partnership" with Reform UK in the upcoming general election. He made the announcement as Reform UK leader Richard Tice attended the TUV's annual conference in County Antrim. The two leaders signed a "memorandum of understanding" at the conference. And the parties will later announce "agreed candidates" for constituencies in Northern Ireland in the forthcoming Westminster election. During his speech to party members Mr Allister said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had "no mandate" for its return to Stormont. Mr Allister told party members the UK is "being dismantled" as a result of post-Brexit trade rules for NI. The conference comes six weeks after devolved government was restored when the DUP ended its two-year boycott. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Stormont's largest unionist political party, had been protesting against trading arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework. But the party agreed to revive the power-sharing institutions after securing a deal with the UK government aimed at addressing unionist concerns. Mr Allister, whose party has strongly opposed the DUP's decision, said that the "leverage to force change" has been "surrendered". The assembly member for North Antrim told TUV members that "having fought not one but two elections on rejection of the protocol, the DUP has no mandate for its return to Stormont". Reform UK leader Richard Tice addressed the conference Mr Allister argued there "ought to have been a fresh assembly election", but the DUP's "acceptance of the Irish Sea border" will come under scrutiny at the next general election. Speaking at the conference, Reform UK leader Richard Tice outlined his party's priorities including healthcare, immigration and defence. Concluding his speech, he said: "I believe in the United Kingdom. "I believe with the right leadership we can truly make the United Kingdom great again." The TUV conference also heard from Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib, a former Brexit Party MEP. Mr Habib told the conference the DUP had "completely lost my support" and that he was now "firmly hitched at the hip" with Mr Allister. Earlier this week former Conservative Party deputy chairman Lee Anderson defected to Reform UK, becoming the party's first ever MP. Mr Anderson was suspended from the Conservative Party after refusing to apologise for claiming Islamists had "control" of London mayor Sadiq Khan. Mr Allister has previously welcomed "building a relationship" between TUV and Reform UK. The TUV's vote share increased in the last Stormont election in 2022 but it did not result in additional seats, with Mr Allister again returned as the party's only assembly member. Two unidentified individuals were captured on surveillance footage leaving a Manhattan apartment just days before the 52-year-old tenants body was found stuffed in a duffel bag in her closet, police sources said Friday. The pair, described as a black male and a black female both in their 20s, were then spotted getting into the dead womans Lexus SUV with New York license plates and driving west on East 31st Street. The NYPD has identified the deceased as Nadia Vitel, 52, who officers found unresponsive inside her Kips Bay apartment at 206 East 31st St. around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The NYPD says the body of Nadia Vitel, 52, was found stuffed in a duffel bag in her Manhattan apartment Thursday. Cops made the grim discovery during a welfare check prompted by concerned relatives who called the police after not hearing from Vitel for approximately 48 hours, sources said. While waiting for police, Vitels son Michael Medvedev entered her apartment with the building superintendent to have a look around. As Medvedev was about to leave the residence, he peeked inside a front hall closet where he saw a duffel bag on the floor with a coat draped over it. He removed the garment and saw a foot sticking out of the bag, sources said. Police arrived and obtained a search warrant for the apartment and the units basement trash area, where several garbage bags containing Vitels belongings were located. Vitels body was transported to the morgue for autopsy in the duffel bag she was discovered in, sources said. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post The Medical Examiners Office arrived at the scene and decided to transport Vitels body in the duffel bag to the morgue for the autopsy. According to sources, Vitel was in the process of moving into the apartment on Sunday. She was seen on security camera footage that day repeatedly entering and exiting her apartment carrying her belongings before departing the building shortly after 11 a.m. Members of NYPDs Crime Scene Unit collected evidence from the apartment, located at 206 East 31st Street. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post Just after 2 p.m. that day, the two unidentified individuals were seen in the complexs lobby trying to enter the building. About an hour later, an elevator surveillance camera saw the duo entering Vitels apartment. Vitel was last seen entering her apartment on Tuesday at approximately 11:30 a.m. The two individuals were last sighted on tape exiting the building around 5:45 p.m. that evening. An alarm was activated in Vitels SUV when they left the scene, according to sources. There is no known motive at this time and no cause of death has been made public. As of late afternoon Friday the NYPD has not officially launched a homicide investigation. "Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News and the Evening Journal. March 17, 2004, The News Journal Future of Dover Air Force Base secure Delawares leading elected officials said Tuesday they came away from a meeting with Air Force leaders reassured that Dover Air Force Base is all but assured of surviving a new round of military base closings slated for next year. A group of about 25 state and local government, corporate and civic leaders were briefed Monday by Gen. John W. Handy, head of the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command, which directs operations at the Dover base. Page B1 of The News Journal from March 17, 2004. The briefingreinforced previous Air Force statements that the base remains a major cog in the countrys airlift operations, according to Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, a Democrat. What we heardwas music to our ears, Carper said. Minner said Handy offered assurances that the base here is very important to the overall global airlift mission. We were assured that its unlikely that the base will be going away, Minner said. March 18, 2008, The News Journal Financial crisis deepens The Federal Reserve is taking unprecedented steps as it battles a full-blown financial crisis: invoking rarely used legal authority to lend directly to investment banks, helping finance the bargain-basement sale of Bear Stearns to JP Morgan Chase and making the steepest interest-rate cuts in its modern history. Front page of The News Journal from March 18, 2008. As the Federal Reserve meets today to consider yet another deep cut in the short-term lending rate that influences a broad swath of consumer and business loans, fears are growing that even its most aggressive efforts may not be sufficient to ease an unprecedented global credit crunch and to keep the U.S. economy and world financial system on track. March 20, 2003, The News Journal War begins; missiles target Iraqi leaders The United States Wednesday night launched the opening salvo of a war to topple Saddam Hussein, firing cruise missiles and precision-guided bombs into Baghdad. U.S. officials said the Iraqi leader himself was among the targets. Front page of The News Journal from March 20, 2003. This will not be a campaign of half-measures and we will accept no outcome but victory, President George W. Bush said in an Oval Office address shortly after explosions ricocheted through the pre-dawn light of the Iraqi capital. Saddam appeared on state-run television a few hours after the attack. He said the United States had committed a shameful crime by attacking Iraq and urged his country to draw your sword against the enemy. The missiles struck less than two hours after Bushs deadline for Saddam to surrender power or face war. It was clear from Bushs words he called it the opening stages of a broad and concerted campaign that the war to topple the Iraqi dictator and eliminate his weapons of mass destruction had begun. Earlier in the day, Bush told Congress the attack was part of a worldwide war against terrorism, and American forces launched a raid in Afghanistan at the same time they struck in Iraq. About 1,000 members of the 82nd Airborne Division moved into villages in southeastern Afghanistan, looking for members of the al-Qaida network. In Iraq, an American-led invasion force of 300,000 troops awaited the order to strike more broadly. Apart from the desire to capture weapons of mass destruction, Bushs submission to Congress said a military attack could lead to the discovery of information that would allow the apprehension of terrorists living in the United States. Despite deep divisions at the United Nations, Bush also claimed the authority indeed, given the dangers involved, the duty to use force against Iraq to protect the security of the American people and to compel compliance with United Nations resolutions. The diplomatic wheels still turned at the United Nations, where foreign ministers met in the Security Council at the request of French and Germans, prominent critics of the American military operation. This is a sad day for the United Nations, said UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. I know that millions of people around the world share this sense of disappointment and are deeply alarmed. March 22, 1965, Wilmington Morning News Dr. King leads trek of thousands in Alabama for voting rights Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led thousands out of Selma, Alabama yesterday in a massive highway pilgrimage heavily guarded by Army troops. He told his tired followers at the end of the day they were part of an unstoppable movement. Front page of the Wilmington Morning News from March 22, 1965. Dr. King walked at the head of his civil rights legions on the first leg of a 50-mile, five-day march to the Alabama capital to protest denial of Black voting rights. When they reached their first overnight campground a cow pasture dotted by four large tents Dr. King said the march would give people all over the country a sense of inspiration. Four Delawareans from the Wilmington area are known to have gone to Selma to participate. Leaving on the same Montgomery-bound airplane late Saturday night were the Rev. Dennis J. Loo and the Rev. Frederick H. Bronkema Jr., Presbyterian ministers; the Rev. Richard Reissmann, assistant pastor of St. Patricks Catholic Church, and Edward Summerton, principal of Castle Hills Elementary School, New Castle. Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: U.S. at war in Iraq: News Journal archives, week of March 17 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that next week Ukraine expects to receive the first tranche under the Ukraine Facility programme, with a planned amount of 4.5 billion, and that the IMF funds are expected to arrive next week. Source: Shmyhal on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: "This year we expect to receive 5.6 billion hryvnias (about US$143.2 million) from the IMF," Shmyhal said. Shmyhal also noted that Ukraine is expecting the next tranche from the IMF next week, as well as the first tranche under the four-year EU Ukraine Facility programme. As previously reported, Ukraine will receive 4.5 billion under the EU programme in March. Background: Ukraine and the European Union have signed a loan agreement and a memorandum of understanding on transitional financing for Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. The total amount of concessional funds provided is 6 billion. On 28 February, the Council of the European Union approved the mid-term budget review until 2027, which also includes the establishment of the Ukraine Facility, a four-year assistance plan worth 50 billion. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine is running so low on ammunition that it will run out of air defence missiles to defend its cities by the end of the month, according to reports. Supplies of missiles defending cities such as Odesa where 20 people were killed on Friday are dwindling fast, according to Ukrainian sources quoted by The Washington Post. That means that instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles as it does now, Ukraine will soon have to ration its air defence systems to shooting down just one in five. This will have a significant effect on Ukraines urban centres, The Washington Post quoted two Ukrainian officials as telling US officials at a security conference this year. Politicians in the US are locked in a fierce debate on whether to maintain military aid to Ukraine, which currently stands at around 31.3 billion. This week Viktor Orban, Hungarys Prime Minister, said that Donald Trump, the presumed Republican candidate at this years US presidential election had told him that he would not give any more cash to Ukraine. Instead of trying to shoot down four out of five Russian missiles as it does now, Ukraine will soon have to ration its air defence systems to shooting down just one in five - Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images The warning comes as Russia ramps up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. A double tap missile strike on Odesa on Friday killed 20 people, the heaviest death toll of the war on a single day in Ukraines main port city. Several emergency workers were killed by a second barrage of Russian Iskander-M missiles as they responded to an initial strike. Photographs from the attack showed the dead body of a paramedic near a badly damaged ambulance. Russian officials have said they know Ukraine is running out of ammunition and have decided that this is the time to strike. Along the frontlines in Donbas, Moscows forces have continued to push back and outgunned Ukrainian forces who have complained of dwindling stocks of shells. However, Rybar, a Russian Telegram channel linked to the Russian Ministry of Defence, said Ukrainian forces were still putting up stiff resistance and appeared to be relatively well-armed. The enemy has an abundance of drones. Not only vehicles and armoured vehicles, but even individual soldiers are subject to drops and strikes from first-person view drones, which indicates that there is no shortage of weapons, it said. Ukrainian forces have reportedly been hastily digging new trenches and erecting anti-tank traps to slow the Russian advance and to counter criticism that they had failed to plan their defences properly during their counter-offensive last year. 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 main point of investing for the long term is to make money. Better yet, you'd like to see the share price move up more than the market average. But Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) has fallen short of that second goal, with a share price rise of 48% over five years, which is below the market return. Unfortunately the share price is down 6.5% in the last year. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, Lockheed Martin managed to grow its earnings per share at 10% a year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 8% over the same period. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Lockheed Martin the TSR over the last 5 years was 69%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in Lockheed Martin had a tough year, with a total loss of 3.8% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 32%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 11%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Lockheed Martin . Lockheed Martin is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Ukraine attacked targets in Russia overnight with various weapons, including drones, the Tochka-U tactical missile system, and the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 16. According to the Ministry's report, Russian air defenses allegedly "intercepted and destroyed" five Ukrainian drones over Kursk Oblast and three drones, a rocket, and a Tochka-U missile over Belgorod Oblast. Read also: Russia awakes to biggest attack on Russian soil since World War II The same night, a Ukrainian drone hit a car in Belgorod Oblast, the regional authorities reported. Russian territory has been under the biggest attack since World War II, with drones targeting industrial infrastructure in Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, and Ryazan oblasts. According to Bloomberg, Ukrainian drone attacks on March 12-13 have affected 12% of Russia's oil refining capacity. 14 Ukrainian drones attacked Russias Belgorod and Kursk on March 14, Russias Defense Ministry claimed. Drones attacked the Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Oryol oblasts of Russia, as well as Moscow, on the night of March 12. In the city of Orel, explosions were heard near an oil depot, which caught fire. An oil depot owned by the company Lukoil in the Nizhny Novgorod region was shut down following a large fire. Read also: 1 dead, 2 injured in Belgorod Oblast as Russia comes under drone attack for third straight night The Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL), Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), and Siberian Battalion announced another raid into Russian territory on March 12, describing it as an operation to "liberate the Russian Federation from dictatorship." The incursion was accompanied by several waves of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russias industrial infrastructure. The FRL later announced it controlled part of the village of Tiotkino in Kursk Oblast, with the advance continuing. At least four Russian soldiers were killed in the fighting, and nine others wounded, in massive drone strikes and volunteer raids on March 12, the ASTRA Telegram wrote, citing sources. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin referred to the volunteer raid in an interview with propagandists, labeling it an attempt to disrupt the elections in Russia and gain leverage in the upcoming peace talks. The RFL said that the raid in Russia would last at least until after the Presidential "elections" scheduled for March 15-17. Read also: Air-raid alert and explosions interrupt first day of sham presidential vote in Russian Belgorod 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 Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, has said that Freedom of Russia Legion, Russian Volunteer Corps and the Sibir (Siberian) Battalion, which are undertaking operations in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts of the Russian Federation, are growing stronger, adding that Ukraine will be helping them. Source: Kyrylo Budanov on the national 24/7 newscast Quote from Budanov: "There is no doubt they are hitting their stride, theyre no longer just a group, now theyre a force. There are a few of them now, theyre acting together, and theyre close to joining together on the basis of a joint vision of how the Russian Federation should transform. Many Russian opposition forces, both inside Russia and those that are currently temporarily abroad, will join them." Details: Budanov said that Ukrainian intelligence has information that representatives of these Russian movements "are not planning to wrap up any time soon, and will do everything within their power". "Theyve been helping us since the first day of the events that unfolded on 24 February [2022], and theyre good warriors. They have fought in many of Ukraines hottest spots. Were going to try and help them as much as we can," Budanov said. Budanov also explained why no significant protests have occurred in Russia. The first reason, he said, was "moral", because "Russia is really the country of slaves". He named the lack of jobs and opportunities to make money other than by joining the Russian military in Russian regions as the second reason. Background: On 12 March, soldiers of the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Sibir (Siberian) Battalion reported that they crossed the Russian border. The military volunteer groups posted an address online, and a video appeared on Telegram channels purporting to show military personnel firing their weapons on Russian territory. Military volunteers from the Freedom of Russia Legion claimed they had taken full control of the Russian town of Tyotkino in Kursk Oblast. The founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) said that fighters of the RVC will make efforts to ensure that no sham elections of Russian president Vladimir Putin take place on the territories bordering Ukraine. On the morning of 14 March, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, said that Russian air defence assets and personnel had shot down eight aerial targets over the city of Belgorod and the surrounding district of the same name. At the same time, Russian Telegram news outlets reported an alleged attempt by a "Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group" to enter the territory of the oblast, but Russian volunteer soldiers who are fighting on Ukraine's side said that it was them attacking military targets in Russia. They explained that they were forced to open fire because Russia continues to hit peaceful settlements in Ukraine. Later, the Freedom of Russia Legion posted a video featuring burning buildings and reported that they had destroyed two Russian army ammunition storage points in the village of Tyotkino, in Russia's Kursk Oblast. At the same time, the governor of Kursk Oblast said that "Ukrainian terrorists" were supposedly breaking into the oblast, while Rosgvardia claimed that it was "repelling an attack by Ukrainian saboteurs". On 16 March, the Russian Volunteer Corps released footage of a new group of Russian prisoners of war they had captured and said they were ready to exchange them at a meeting with the Belgorod Oblasts governor. Support UP or become our patron! During a visit to Odesa, Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, instructed his ministry to review, and where necessary amend, the emergency services approach to emergency response, taking the situation on the ground into account. Source: Ihor Klymenko on Telegram; Odesa Oblast police Quote from Klymenko: "I held a meeting in Odesa with the heads of the State Emergency Service and National Police and the local representatives of the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service. We discussed the attacks on Ukraine. Over the course of the past 24 hours alone, enemy forces have carried out 400 attacks on 10 of Ukraines oblasts. The Ministry of Internal Affairs emergency services are fully ready to respond to emergency situations. I have also instructed [the ministry] to undertake a careful analysis of the existing instructions and, where necessary, to amend the approach [to emergency response], taking the operational situation into account." Details: Odesa Oblast Police reported that Klymenko and National Police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi visited the site of the Russian missile strikes in Odesa. They inspected the effects of the attack on the citys recreational grounds and spoke to representatives of Ukraines security and defence forces. "We can clearly see that the enemy forces targeted civilian infrastructure. When [emergency] service workers arrived to deal with the aftermath and assist injured civilians, the Russians deviously deployed another missile to carry out a second strike on the same area. This resulted in casualties among civilians, State Emergency Service workers, doctors, and National Police officers," Klymenko said. The minister also visited those currently being treated for their injuries in hospital. Background: On the afternoon of 15 March, Russian forces launched a missile attack on civilian infrastructure in the city of Odesa. After the first attack, while emergency workers were assisting injured civilians and clearing away the debris, the Russians carried out a second missile strike. A total of 21 people were killed and more than 70 sustained injuries as a result. 39 people are currently in hospital, including 8 whose condition is critical. 16 March has been declared a day of mourning for the victims in Odesa Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Attack on one of the refineries in Russia on March 16 Ukraines SBU security service attacked three Rosneft oil refineries in Russias Samara Oblast Novokuibyshevsky, Kuibyshevsky, and Syzransky with drones, NV sources reported on March 16. The overnight attack on Russian refineries was effective. In total, these three refineries process approximately 25 million tons of oil per year, which is almost 10% of all Russian oil refining. Read also: Drone attacks spark fires at two refineries in Russia's Samara Oblast "The SBU continues to implement a strategy to undermine Russia's economic potential, which allows it to wage war in Ukraine," the source said. The pop season at Russian refineries is in full swing. Each such strike reduces the flow of petrodollars that feeds the Russian war economy. Read also: Petrochemical plant hit in nighttime drone attack in Russias Kaluga Oblast, UA intel tells NV Russian media reported fires at two oil refineries due to a drone attack on March 16. The Russian Defense Ministry did not initially comment on the incident. Only in the morning did it claim the destruction of two drones over Belgorod Oblast. NV's source said earlier that on March 13, three Russian oil refineries in Ryazan, Kstovo (Nizhny Novgorod Oblast) and Kirishi (Leningrad Oblast) were attacked by the SBU. The source noted that these attacks are a continuation of a series of special operations against enemy refineries that the SBU had previously launched. Another source also said that on the night of March 13, the SBU, along with other representatives of the Defense Forces, attacked the Russian Air Force airbase in Buturlinovka and a military airfield in Voronezh with drones. Read also: Ukraine hit Kursk and Belgorod oblasts with drones, Tochka-U missiles and Vampire MLRS, Russian Defense Minist Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia launched an attack on Ukraine overnight, deploying two Shahed drones, which were successfully destroyed by Air Defense Forces, Ukraines Air Force reported on Telegram on March 16. Read also: Multiple Russian kamikaze drones shot down near Kyiv overnight, no casualties or damage reported The threat of a new Russian assault prompted air alerts in several Ukrainian oblasts on the evening of March 15, particularly due to reports of drone activity from the south. The Shahed drones were observed heading towards Kryvyi Rih, where the Air Defense Forces were mobilized. The Russian army launched a missile attack on Odesa on March 15 with two Iskander missiles, killing at least 20 people. Regional governor Oleh Kiper reported 75 wounded. March 16 was declared a day of mourning for the victims in the city. 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 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X on March 16 that he held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine and the upcoming NATO summit in Washington. Kuleba thanked the U.S. for the recent military aid package, aimed at helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression. He emphasized the urgent need for continued U.S. and international support for Ukraine, including air defense systems and artillery ammunition. Read also: House Democratic Leader urges republicans to pass Ukraine aid bill by March 22 "We cannot allow Russia to use delays in aid to advance, putting all of Europe and the democratic world at risk of an even larger war," he said. Kuleba and Blinken discussed the ways to secure critical supplemental aid, highlighting Ukraine's demonstrated ability to defeat Russia with sufficient support. Failure to continue supporting Ukraine would severely undermine the U.S. leadership all accross the world and jeopardize American national security, he said. Read also: House Speaker Johnson to unblock Ukraine aid but with significant differences Kuleba exchanged views with Blinken on the expected outcomes of the upcoming NATO Washington summit, scheduled for 2024. U.S. President Joe Biden urged Congress on March 15 to swiftly approve a bill containing funding for assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza residents. The U.S. House is drafting its own Ukraine aid bill which will look substantially different than from the one passed by the Senate, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on March 14. That same day, House Speaker Johnson again criticized the Senate's proposal, stating that he did not intend to bring the Senate-backed bill to the House floor for consideration. Washington announced a new $300 million military support package for Ukraine on March 12, which includes artillery shells and GMLRS munitions for HIMARS rocket artillery. This was the first tranche of U.S. security assistance to Kyiv since late 2023. The U.S. Congress has yet to approve a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine. The Senate endorsed the corresponding bill on Feb. 13, but House Speaker Mike Johnson remains reluctant to put it to a vote before the House of Representatives, even though the bill would likely secure broad bipartisan support in the chamber. Read also: No more emergency aid packages for Ukraine, Pentagon says The U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said in February that at the summit in Washington this summer, the Alliance would probably not invite Ukraine to join, but would give a clear signal of future membership. Ukraine expects defense and political decisions following the NATO summit in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in January. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine TAMPA, Fla. - As the crisis in Haiti unfolds, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to dissuade refugees from fleeing to Florida. After the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission stopped a boat full of migrants and guns off the coast of Florida, analysts say, guns from Florida are also flowing to Haiti. READ: Governor Ron DeSantis signs 3 bills cracking down on illegal immigration A 2023 report by the UN found a majority of violent Haitian gangs are armed with weapons they bought in the US and especially guns they bought in Florida. Recent operations by the FBI and prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice has led to federal convictions for Florida residents accused of buying high-powered guns to arm the gangs in Haiti. "It's kind of a perfect storm," said retired FBI agent Jim Derrane who spoke with FOX 13 about law enforcement efforts to stop gun smuggling. "These international gangs and these criminal organizations have very sophisticated means and networks to be able to facilitate smuggling, whether it's through shipments, out of the ports, airlines, different things like that. Haiti has a very open border as well," he said. READ: Governor Ron DeSantis deploys hundreds of officers to stave off potential influx of Haitian refugees Earlier this year, the self-described king of the notoriously violent 400 Mawozo Gang, pleaded guilty to his role in a sophisticated scheme of illegally running firearms from Florida to the island. The U.S. Attorneys office says Joly Germaine orchestrated the illegal gun purchases to arm the same gang accused of kidnapping 16 U.S. citizens. The FBI arrested two Florida residents for purchasing high-power rifles, handguns and shotguns at Florida gun shops around Orlando, then smuggling them to Haiti, in whats described as an illegal strawman scheme. One of those residents, Jocelyn Dor, was sentenced on Feb. 28 to five years in prison. "In this case, the individual went in knowing they were going to provide the guns to somebody else and particularly somebody else in a foreign country, and attested to the fact that they were going to buy it for themselves. So, you know, there are numerous gun laws, even in the lax gun law states. And it is incumbent to enforce the laws that we have, in order to minimize the smuggling as much as possible," said Derrane. Germaine is expected to be sentenced in federal court in May. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS SIGN UP: Click here to sign up for the FOX 13 daily newsletter An external panel was found to be missing from a Boeing United Airlines flight after it landed in southern Oregon on Friday. United Flight 433, which departed from San Francisco at 10:20 a.m., landed in Medford, Ore., just before noon. The external panel was determined to be missing from the underside of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft after it was parked at the gate at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, according to United Airlines. The aircraft, which was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, did not declare an emergency, as there was no indication of damage during the flight. In a statement provided to The Hill, the company said it will conduct an investigation into the incident. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred, United said. Airport Director Amber Judd said no debris was located after the plane landed. Normal operations at MFR resumed a few minutes later, Judd told The Hill. Boeing referred The Hill to United Airlines for information about their fleet and operations when contacted for comment. The incident occurred two months after a Boeing 737 Max plane, operated by Alaska Airlines, lost a door panel mid-flight. The Department of Justice has since opened a criminal investigation into the Jan. 5 incident. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Boeing plane landed without one of its fuselage panels at an airport in the US state of Oregon on Friday, says United Airlines. A spokesperson said United flight 433, from San Francisco, arrived at the Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Oregon, at about 11:30 (18:30 GMT) on Friday. The 25-year-old Boeing 737-800 was carrying 139 passengers and 6 crew. No-one was injured - the missing panel went unnoticed during the flight. Boeing is under fierce scrutiny after a series of high-profile safety incidents. Amber Judd, a senior official at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, said the plane landed safely and the external panel was only discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. "We'll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service," she said. An investigation would be carried out "to better better understand how this damage occurred", she added. The missing panel was next to the landing gear, on the underside of the aircraft, according to images of the aircraft on social media. All outgoing and incoming flights were paused at the airport to search for debris, none was found. The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said it was investigating how the panel came apart. Boeing came under renewed scrutiny after a January incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 9 - part of a new range of planes to succeed older 737s - saw an unused cabin door blow out a few minutes after take-off in January. The incident on board Alaska Airlines flight 1282 left a gaping hole in the side of the plane and forced an emergency landing. A safety board investigator examines the broken panel two days after the incident in January Testifying before US lawmakers on 7 February after the Alaska Airlines blowout incident, the head of the FAA, Mike Whitaker, said inspections of 737 Max aircraft had shown that "the quality system issues at Boeing were unacceptable and require further scrutiny". Initial findings of a probe found that four key bolts that were meant to lock the unused door to the fuselage appeared to be missing. Mr Whitaker said that Boeing would be held accountable for any future failure or refusal to comply with the FAA. Earlier this month, fumes detected in the cabin of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 bound for Phoenix forced pilots to return to Portland airport. On Monday, at least 50 people were injured after a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from Australia to New Zealand suddenly dropped without warning, leaving passengers who were not wearing seatbelts tossed into aisles and flung into the ceiling. In response to that incident, Boeing has told airlines that pilots need to check their seats - after reports said a flight attendant accidentally hit a switch in the cockpit which pushed the pilot's seat forward into the controls - forcing the plane's nose down. Despite the reported incidents, commercial aviation remains one of the safest ways to travel, experts and regulators say. BBC iPlayer Flight 1282: The Blowout Every passenger's worst nightmare: the terrifying moment a plane door rips away mid-air. Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK Only) BBC iPlayer United flight 433, a flight from San Francisco's International Airport to Medford, Ore. that landed without incident with an external panel missing. Photo by Andy Atkinson with Rogue Valley Times. SAN FRANCISCO - A United Airlines flight landed with a missing panel from the plane, believed to have fallen mid-flight. The missing panel was discovered when the plane was being parked, according to a United Airlines spokesperson. The plane was a Boeing 737 that left San Francisco International Airport for Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Medford, Oregon Friday around 10:20 a.m. The plane was carrying 139 passengers with six crew members. United Airlines said a thorough examination of the plane will be conducted and perform needed repairs before it returns to service. An investigation will also be done to understand what caused the panel to fall off. Rouge Valley International-Medford Airport's Director Amber Judd said the plane landed safely and without incident around noon, and the missing panel was discovered during a routine post-flight inspection. FlightAware shows the plane landed 17 minutes earlier than expected, at 11:36 a.m. A United Airlines plane was grounded Friday in Medford after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down on a flight from San Francisco. There were no reported injuries. https://t.co/c0iDhBqTDk pic.twitter.com/ypZbl0HgFI Rogue Valley Times (@RogueValTimes) March 15, 2024 No debris was found at MFR and operations continued as normal a few minutes later. United Airlines clarified flight UA433 did not result in an emergency landing, as "there was no indication of the damage during flight." United Airlines and Boeing have been in the spotlight with several incidents stemming from recent flights. On March 4, a flight from Houston to Florida was forced to return after flames were seen "spewing" from one of its engines within 15 minutes of the flight. Then, on March 7, a plane bound for Osaka, Japan departing SFO lost a tire, landing atop cars and forcing a landing at Los Angeles International Airport. The following day, a United Airlines flight in Houston went off the taxiway and into a grassy area. No injuries were reported. That same day in the afternoon, another United flight involving an Airbus made an emergency landing at LAX after a hydraulics problem was discovered. That flight was destined for Mexico City and carried 105 passengers with five crew members. Separately, an SFO-bound United flight from Sydney, Australia was forced to turn around after a maintenance issue was discovered on Tuesday. Weeks earlier, a United flight from SFO to Boston was diverted to Denver after one of its wings was damaged and in January, an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a blown-out door that eventually led to hundreds of canceled flights and the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9s. When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), applications in machine learning, large language models, and compute networking garner most of the attention. But what investors may not realize is that use cases packaged around AI are evolving in real time. One area that is getting particular interest is robotics. Indeed, companies such as Amazon and Alibaba have implemented robotics throughout their warehouses for years, creating efficiencies as it relates to packaging and logistics. However, a rising number of the world's largest technology companies are increasingly focusing on the next frontier of robotics: humanoid bots. In late February, Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO, Jensen Huang, said "humanoid robotics should be right around the corner" during a panel discussion about AI. Let's dig into the rise of humanoid robotics and analyze the moves Nvidia is making in the space. How does AI play a role in robotics? Robotics is an interesting part of the overall AI narrative because it is uniquely positioned at the intersection of software and hardware. And believe it or not, there are lots of companies working to develop humanoid bots. Two of the more recognized brands in robotics include Boston Dynamics and Tesla. Over the last year, Tesla has teased investors with previews of its humanoid bot Optimus -- which is planned to be used across the company's factories and assembly lines in the future. One lesser-known robotics start-up called 1X hails from Norway. The company has raised $125 million in venture capital (VC) funding over the last year from high-profile investors including OpenAI, Samsung, and Tiger Global. Image source: Getty Images. What is Nvidia doing with robotics? About a week after Huang's comments regarding humanoid robots, Nvidia was cited as an investor in a $675 million funding round for start-up Figure AI. Nvidia joined Microsoft, OpenAI, Intel, and Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos as investors. Figure AI is developing humanoid robots that it plans to commercialize in industries such as manufacturing, warehousing, and retail. Figure AI's robots are being trained on generative AI models to learn how to perform basic tasks. The theme? The company is seeking to disrupt the workforce -- a market estimated to be worth $42 trillion annually. Story continues How could Nvidia benefit? Nvidia has incredibly lucrative opportunities in robotics. Currently, the company is primarily a hardware player -- developing high-performance semiconductors called graphics processing units (GPUs). However, Nvidia is quietly expanding outside compute networking. Specifically, the company's enterprise software and services business is already operating at an annual revenue run rate of $1 billion. While this is impressive, it pales in comparison to Nvidia's data center business -- which generated $47 billion in sales last year. Moreover, Nvidia is aggressively pursuing the enterprise software market through a combination of investments and strategic partnerships. The company is an investor in start-up Databricks, which largely competes with Palantir Technologies. Additionally, Nvidia also partners with Snowflake, helping bring AI capabilities to the company's data cloud platform. Given Nvidia's distinctive position as both a hardware and software developer, the company has a massive opportunity to play an integral role in the development of humanoid robotics. I see the investment in Figure AI as a first step that could lead to further strategic partnerships and revenue opportunities across both sides of its business. The important idea here is that Nvidia is subtly building an end-to-end AI solution -- spanning across both software and hardware. As such, I think the company is setting itself up for long-term sustained growth in a variety of areas in the overall AI realm. My guess is that Huang will continue to drop breadcrumbs, alluding to AI-powered applications that he believes Nvidia can play a role in. Despite the run-up in the stock, I think now is a terrific time to scoop up some shares and plan to hold long term. 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 March 11, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Adam Spatacco has positions in Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Snowflake, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group and Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short May 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Jensen Huang Just Said "Humanoid Robotics Should Be Right Around the Corner." Here's How Nvidia Could Benefit. was originally published by The Motley Fool United Airlines detected a missing external panel after one of its planes landed in Oregon, adding to the growing pile of recent mishaps for Boeing. The flight leaving San Francisco on the morning of 15 March landed safely at its scheduled destination in Medford, Oregon, a United spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel, the spokesperson said. Since there was no indication of damage during the flight, the aircraft did not declare an emergency. United will conduct a thorough examination of the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 plane,and repair it as needed before it returns to service. The airline will also launch an investigation to understand how the damage occurred, the spokesperson added. The plane was carrying 139 passengers and six crew. None of them were injured. When asked for comment, Boeing instead referred The Independent to United. Fridays flight is the latest in a series of recent problems that Boeing has faced, as the aircraft company has been under intense scrutiny after a spate of issues have occurred on its planes. The January incident in which a panel on a Boeing 737 MAX plane blew out mid-flight prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to ground 170 of the same type of aircraft. The Department of Justice has also launched a criminal inquiry into the matter. Earlier this month, 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. In yet another incident in March, a LATAM Airlines flight from Australia to New Zealand dropped abruptly mid-air following what was described as a technical event. The incident jostled passengers, causing many to hit the roof of the plane, leading to injuries. As scrutiny mounts, Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary, has urged Boeing to cooperate in the many probes into the company. Boeing must go through a serious transformation here in terms of their responsiveness, their culture and their quality issues, he said earlier this week. The fuselage panel of a United Airlines flight a Boeing 737-800 was discovered missing Friday afternoon after the plane landed at an airport in Medford, Oregon, after having departed San Francisco, officials said. United Flight 433 from San Francisco International Airport to Rogue Valley International Medford Airport landed safely as scheduled in Medford, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. It was only during a "post-landing airline inspection" that the missing panel was discovered, the FAA said. CBS News learned the missing panel is from the underside of the aircraft, just adjacent to where the main landing gear deploys. "After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel," United said in a statement, adding that it would conduct a "thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service." The plane was carrying 139 passengers and six crew members, United said. Airline monitoring website Flight Aware indicated the flight departed San Francisco at 10:20 a.m. and landed ahead of schedule in Medford at 11:36 a.m. Amber Judd, Rogue Valley airport director, also confirmed in a statement to CBS News that the missing panel was discovered during a "routine post-flight inspection." Airport operations were briefly paused while a search of the runway was conducted, but "no debris on the airfield" was found, Judd added. The FAA said it would be launching an investigation. The plane is approximately 25-years-old. United noted in its statement that no emergency was declared during the flight "as there was no indication of the damage during flight." The airline did not indicate if it knew when the plane may have lost the external panel, or if the panel was missing prior to taking off from San Francisco. On Jan. 5, the door plug of an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Ontario, California, blew out just minutes after the Boeing 737 Max 9 had taken off from Portland, Oregon. The plane was able to safely return to Portland International Airport, and there were no serious injuries. The lost door plug was later found in the backyard of a home in the Portland metro area. The Boeing plane in Friday's incident is from a generation manufactured prior to Boeing's Max aircraft. This marks the latest United flight to report an issue amid a series of recent problems for travelers on the airline. A seemingly disproportionate number of those flights have either originated from, or been bound for, San Francisco, including three since Monday. United Flight 1816 from Dallas to San Francisco landed without major problems after it "encountered a hydraulic leak as it neared its destination" Thursday morning. That flight landed safely after its trip from Texas, and the jet's passengers were able to deplane normally at the gate. However, United noted that emergency vehicles were standing by as a precaution during the landing after smoke was seen around the landing gear. On Monday, another United flight bound for San Francisco from Australia had a "maintenance issue" and was forced to return to Sydney. The rash of incidents on United flights stretch back to March 4, with multiple United aircrafts facing problems that forced flights to return to their point of departure or make emergency landings. On March 4, United Flight 1118 bound for Fort Myers, Florida, had to return to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport after the engine burst into flames shortly after takeoff. An airline investigation later determined that the fire was caused by bubble wrap that was sucked into the engine. Two other flights were diverted to LAX after leaving SFO. On March 7, a jet lost a wheel during takeoff, with the wheel crushing one car and damaging several others in an SFO employee parking lot. The following day, March 8, problems with a jet's hydraulics system forced a plane bound for Mexico City to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles. Also on March 8, United Flight 2477 from Memphis to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston veered off the runway just after landing. 160 passengers and six crew members on the flight were forced to depart the plane using air stars on the open runway. There were no injuries in any of these recent incidents. United has maintained that the rash of safety incidents were unrelated, with aviation experts backing up the airline's statement. Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report. Trump team reacts to Georgia judge's Fani Willis ruling Former Trump co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro's lawyer on Fani Willis decision Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls on Israel to hold election to replace prime minister SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A United Airlines flight that departed from San Francisco International Airport Friday morning lost a panel, which was discovered after landing in Oregon, the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport confirmed to KRON4. Flight 433 landed safely at Medford Airport around 1:45 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The missing panel has not been found. At this time, it is unknown how the panel fell off the plane. No damage to the plane was reported, and normal airport operations resumed, Medford airport officials said. United did not declare an emergency landing as there was no indication of damage to the aircraft during the flight. According to the airline, there were 139 passengers and six crew members on board. The plane involved was a Boeing 737-800. This afternoon, United flight 433 landed safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. United Airlines Spokesperson This is the latest in a recent series involving a United Airlines flight in connection to SFO. On Thursday, an SFO-bound flight encountered a hydraulic leak as it was about to land. Last Friday, a Mexico-bound flight that departed from SFO was forced to divert to LAX due to a hydraulic issue. The flight, which had 105 passengers and five crew members on board, landed safely in Southern California. KRON4 reached out to United for a comment about the situation. We have not heard back. Check back for updates. KRON4 has sent a crew to the scene to gather more information. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A United Airlines flight that departed from San Francisco International Airport Friday morning lost a panel, which was discovered after landing in Oregon, the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport confirmed to Nexstars KRON. Flight 433 landed safely at Medford Airport around 1:45 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The missing panel has not been found. At this time, it is unknown how the panel fell off the plane. No damage to the plane was reported, and normal airport operations resumed, Medford airport officials said. United did not declare an emergency landing as there was no indication of damage to the aircraft during the flight. According to the airline, there were 139 passengers and six crew members on board. The plane involved was a Boeing 737-800. This afternoon, United flight 433 landed safely at its scheduled destination at Rogue Valley International/Medford Airport. After the aircraft was parked at the gate, it was discovered to be missing an external panel. Well conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. Well also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred. United Airlines Spokesperson This is the latest in a recent series involving a United Airlines flight in connection to SFO. On Thursday, an SFO-bound flight encountered a hydraulic leak as it was about to land. Last Friday, a Mexico-bound flight that departed from SFO was forced to divert to LAX due to a hydraulic issue. The flight, which had 105 passengers and five crew members on board, landed safely in Southern California. KRON reached out to United for a comment about the situation. We have not heard back. This is a developing story. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The University of Maryland has lifted suspensions on 32 fraternities and sororities after concerns about misconduct surfaced earlier this month. Five other groups remain under investigation. Photo by blacktupelo/Wikimedia Commons March 16 (UPI) -- The University of Maryland has lifted restrictions on 32 fraternities and sororities after it completed investigation into hazing accusations. The university earlier this month said it banned 37 chapters of the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association from recruiting new members, speaking to new members and hosting events were alcohol was present after allegations surfaced of hazing and alcohol related activities that "posed a potential threat to the safety and well-being of members of our community." As of Friday, the university cleared 32 IFC and PHA chapters to return to normal activities. Five other chapters remain under investigation and will continue to have "limited restrictions" on their activities. "We recognize that temporarily pausing select activities has had an effect on our fraternity and sorority members, particularly new members," the university said in a statement. "However, we chose a course of action that prioritized safety and prevention, with the aim of assessing the reports we had received and preventing a significant health and safety incident from occurring." The decision comes days after the national Fraternity Forward Coalition, a group representing several fraternities, filed a federal complaint against UMD over the suspension. Students in the complaint sought a restraining order and temporary injunction against UMD. The suit listed James McShay, the interim director of fraternity and sorority life, James Bond, the director of student conduct; and Darryll Pines, the university president, as defendants. "Finally, on the eve of Spring Break, the University of Maryland does the right thing. Sadly, it took them two weeks and the threat of a judge's ruling to do it," Wynn Smiley, spokesperson for Fraternity Forward Coalition, said in a statement issued to media outlets. "We are astonished by the school's willingness to repeatedly violate their students' civil liberties -- their rights to freedom of association, due process and privacy -- and their own administrative procedures in chasing a meritless investigation." UMD said all fraternity and sorority groups were warned in an "emergency meeting" in February that further allegations of misconduct would result in restrictions on the groups activities. Despite the warning, the university said it received reports of "additional incidents" after the meeting took place, which resulted the university issuing a cease and desist order. Attorneys representing some of the fraternities argued the university's ban on communications with new members violated their clients' First Amendment rights. The hearing is scheduled to take place Monday in the U.S. District Court for Maryland. It is not clear how the lifting of the ban will affect the hearing. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosted their match day for senior medical students on Friday. This year, over 100 College of Medicine seniors participated, receiving residencies to some of the top hospitals in the U.S. The National Resident Match Program has matched 157 UAMS seniors with high-ranking programs. UAMS researchers discover potential drug to prevent Alzheimers 77 seniors got residencies in Arkansas, while 87 received residencies in 26 different states. A promised first job out of medical school, and the first step to becoming licensed physicians. I feel like Ive dreamed about this day for probably the last 10 to 15 years, Brianna Long, a graduating senior said. For many this day is surreal, they say getting here wasnt easy, but well worth the sacrifices made. Just being able to be that person now that Ive been looking up to, Im excited, Long said. Researchers say experimental drug at UAMS sees cancer disappear in afflicted patient And as this competitive process comes to an end, students said theyre ready for what the next chapter holds. Being able to contribute to my community, to society as a whole, is one reason that I came into medicine, Pamela Rosales, a graduating senior said. Luckily Rosales is one of the 77 students staying close to home, shes hoping her journey will inspire others. You can do it, all of us have done it today, and theres hope for all of us, Rosales said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Funding for a Kenyan-led multinational police force in Haiti could be an unintended victim of partisan budget fights on Capitol Hill, as Republicans resist Biden administration demands for an additional $40 million for a deployment to the Caribbean nation overrun by gang violence. Port-au-Prince has devolved into chaos, with Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigning this week and the U.S. government urging Americans to leave the country. The U.S. has already committed $300 million to the Kenyan-led security force. The Biden administration has requested that Congress release an additional $50 million for the effort, but just $10 million of the request was passed in December. Now, Democrats are urging the House and Senate foreign relations committees to follow through with the remaining funds, while the top Republicans on the panels question the spending and its transparency. The human suffering and devolving crisis in Haiti is tragic. Yet, after years of discussions, repeated requests for information, and providing partial funding to help them plan, the administration only this afternoon sent us a rough plan to address this crisis, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a joint statement Tuesday. Whether its credible and implementable remains to be seen, they continued. Given the long history of U.S. involvement in Haiti with few successful results, the administration owes Congress a lot more details in a more timely manner before it gets more funding. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) painted the security funding as dire in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday, saying its needed in order to respond to both a human rights emergency and a pressing threat to security and stability across the Western Hemisphere. Months have passed since Secretary [of State] Antony Blinken notified Chairman Michael McCaul of his intent to support the [security] effort, Jeffries wrote. The situation on the ground in Haiti has rapidly deteriorated while House Republicans have refused to deliver the resources necessary to carry out this mission. Now is the time to release the full $50 million in security support. Henry remains unable to return to Haiti due to violence at the countrys largest airport, stuck in Puerto Rico after a trip to Kenya to officially establish the police mission. He has been a core proponent of the Kenyan security force, which was organized by the United Nations Security Council last year, but has faced bureaucratic and legal hurdles since. A House Foreign Affairs Committee aide told The Hill that both the House and Senate panels are skeptical over the additional $40 million request, claiming the State Department has not been transparent about how the money will be spent, and how exactly it will be used to fix the countrys instability. The aide said the committee is most concerned with preventing an open-ended presence in Haiti funded by the U.S. government, in addition to questions over logistics and effectiveness. The National Security Council (NSC) rejected McCauls claims of poor transparency in a statement to The Hill. The Administration has worked closely with congressional partners to expedite U.S. support for the MSS [Multinational Security Support] mission to Haiti, and we have fully and frequently briefed Congress on all aspects related to the MSS mission, an NSC spokesperson said. Given the positive momentum following the Haitian-led meeting to establish a transitional presidential council, we urge Congress to partner with us and lift the holds on funding for the MSS; the people of Haiti cannot wait, they continued. The State Department added that the Biden administration has held 68 briefings for members of Congress about the security force. U.S. financial allocation to the security mission was increased on Monday from $200 million to $300 million, with the new funding coming from the State Department. Blinken also announced an additional $33 million in humanitarian aid for the country. A senior State Department official told reporters Tuesday that its $100 million portion will be used to directly compensate Kenya for its contributions via a yet-to-be established U.N. trust. The remaining $200 million provided by the Department of Defense will be used to fund on-the-ground spending, including building facilities and paying salaries, he said. The NSC spokesperson, however, emphasized that the $40 million being held up by Congress is still essential to the mission. Beyond funding, however, it remains unclear if the 400 Kenyan law enforcement officers that have been trained will even be allowed to leave their home country, as the effort faces questions over legal authority in Kenya. If the forces are authorized to be deployed, getting them to Haiti raises its own problems. With the airport closed to international flights for weeks due to violence in the area, simply getting the manpower and equipment to the Caribbean nation brings its own challenges. The mounting questions between authority, logistics and funding have raised some doubts over if the massive undertaking will go ahead at all. It might be blocked in Kenyan courts. It might be blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives, and it appears to me that they need an appropriation for this to go forward, said Brian Concannon, executive director of the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti. Despite delays, the State Department said it has no concerns over the security plan. In our conversations with Kenyan officials, both sides have stressed the importance of moving to deploy as quickly as practicable, the State official said. We remain confident that the mission will go forward, and in all the conversations Kenyan officials have said that they intend to go forward. Rafael Bernal contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Lady Justice statue is seen at the Delaware Supreme Court in Dover, Delaware By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - The U.S. federal judiciary on Friday made clear that trial courts had discretion to decide how to implement a policy it adopted earlier in the week to curtail the practice of "judge shopping" cases that challenge government policies. Judicial policymakers issued the guidance following a backlash from some conservative judges and Republican lawmakers including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called it a "half-baked" policy that would advantage Democrats in legal battles. The policy announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Judicial Conference followed complaints by Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, about conservative litigants filing lawsuits challenging President Joe Biden's agenda in one-or-two judge courthouses, or divisions, in Texas with Republican-appointed judges, allowing them to effectively pick their judge. The new policy aimed to curtail such "judge shopping" by assigning cases challenging federal or state laws to a judge randomly throughout a federal district. McConnell and other Republican senators in letters sent on Thursday to chief district court judges argued that a federal statute gave the local courts sole discretion to decide how cases are assigned, allowing them to not follow the policy. In a memo on Friday to district court judges nationwide, the chair of the Judicial Conference committee that developed the policy, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove of the Eastern District of Kentucky, acknowledged that statute and said the Judicial Conference's policies "should not be viewed as impairing a court's authority or discretion." "Instead, they set out various ways for courts to align their case assignment practices with the longstanding Judicial Conference policy of random case assignment," he wrote. Van Tatenhove, an appointee of Republican former President George W. Bush who was recommended to the bench by McConnell, said practices that do not reflect random case assignment "tend to undermine the independence of the branch and the trust of the public in the judiciary." Representatives for McConnell and Schumer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Republican state attorneys general and activists had seized on local rules in Texas to sue in small courthouses in the state whose one or two judges were appointed by Republican presidents, enabling them to essentially choose judges who have reliably ruled in their favor on issues like abortion, immigration and gun control. In one of those cases, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk - an appointee of Republican former President Donald Trump - in the single-judge division of Amarillo, Texas, in April suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the pill to remain on the market while it considers an appeal in the case, set for argument on March 26. The Texas cases prompted calls from Democratic lawmakers, the Biden administration, the American Bar Association and others for the judiciary to ensure cases challenging national policies are heard by a random judge. The chief judge of Texas' Southern District, Randy Crane, in a statement said Friday's guidance made clear that the policy was not a mandate and "does not violate our statutory authority to manage our dockets." "It was unclear from the adoption of the policy whether that was the case," said Crane, another appointee of Bush. "This guidance makes it clear that courts are merely encouraged to consider the new policy in managing their cases." (This story has been refiled to add 'Van' before 'Tatenhove' in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Rosalba O'Brien) US-led resolution seeks international AI policy as tool to end poverty and hunger: 'urgent' and 'unique' need More than 50 members of the United Nations have joined the U.S. in pursuing a draft resolution to establish artificial intelligence (AI) safety guidelines. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Thursday read a statement that discussed the draft resolution titled "Seizing the Opportunities of Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Systems for Sustainable Development," which would aim to "articulate a shared approach to AI systems." "The resolution calls on Member States to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems to address the worlds greatest challenges, including those related to poverty elimination, global health, food security, climate, energy, and education," Thomas-Greenfield said in a prepared statement. "We are resolved to bridge the artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries through capacity building, increasing digital literacy, and other actions," she added. IS GOOGLE TOO BROKEN TO BE FIXED? INVESTORS DEEPLY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY, FORMER INSIDER WARNS International consensus on AI policy has remained a central focus for major nations as public attention on the technology rose sharply in 2023. The U.K. hosted an international safety summit in Bletchley Park, where world leaders discussed their concerns and signed a declaration. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East and the Israel-Hamas war at the U.N. headquarters in New York City on Nov. 29, 2023. Signatories to the Bletchley Declaration which included the U.S., the U.K., China, Saudi Arabia and members of the European Union, among others needed to establish their own safety commissions as well as commit to pursuing a shared policy for nations to follow. The European Commission last week opened its AI office, which the bloc believed would serve as a "global reference point" for AI safety policy, along with the E.U. AI Act, which the commission touts as the worlds first comprehensive law on artificial intelligence. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? The U.S., for its part, established the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute under the National Institute of Standards of Technology following the safety summit, looking to "facilitate the development of standards for safety, security, and testing of AI models," among other tasks. In pursuit of international policy, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told The Associated Press that the U.S. turned to the General Assembly "to have a truly global conversation on how to manage the implications of the fast-advancing technology of AI." A declaration on artificial intelligence safety was issued during the AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park, England, on Nov. 1, 2023. Under the declaration, 28 countries and the European Union agreed on the need for a new global effort to ensure AI is developed and used in a safe and responsible way. To that end, the U.S. negotiated with the full 193-member body of the United Nations about three months ago, receiving input from about 120 nations and working through several drafts. The resolution will receive formal consideration later this month. "As AI technologies rapidly develop, there is urgent need and unique opportunities for Member States to meet this critical moment with collective action," Thomas-Greenfield argued. OPINION: HERE'S HOW AI WILL EMPOWER CITIZENS AND ENHANCE LIBERTY The U.S. has proposed that creating a shared policy would also align with the mission of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a U.N. plan of action that seeks to "strengthen universal peace in larger freedom." Chiefly, the agenda mandates that the member states do what they can "between now and 2030, to end poverty and hunger everywhere" and combat inequalities between and within countries. The U.S. and the fellow members who have supported the new AI resolution therefore have argued that AI can help achieve that ambitious goal. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield addresses the U.N. General Assembly meeting on the "temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Feb. 23. The resolution would seek to establish AI systems as "human-centric, reliable, explainable, ethical, inclusive, privacy-preserving and responsible, with a sustainable development orientation, and in full respect, promotion and protection of human rights and international laws." Other nations supporting the U.S. resolution include Morocco, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic, Australia, Romania, Israel, Canada, Finland, Greece and other members of the European Union. "Today the EU joined @USUN and ~70 UN Member States to call for a UN General Assembly resolution on seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence systems for sustainable development," the European Mission to the United Nations wrote in a statement. "We urge all U.N. Member States to co-sponsor & support adoption." "Safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems are essential to harnessing the full potential of this emerging technology," Australian Ambassador James Larsen wrote on the social media platform X. "Australia [is] proud to co-sponsor the first ever #UNGA resolution on Artificial Intelligence alongside 50 other U.N. member states." "AI has tremendous potential to help humanity, but it must also be used responsibly," the United Arab Emirates Mission to the United Nations said, lauding the cooperation of member states to pursue the resolution. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: US-led resolution seeks international AI policy as tool to end poverty and hunger: 'urgent' and 'unique' need As Haiti continues to struggle with rampant gang violence and with the sudden resignation of its interim Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, this week, experts are warning about the serious consequences a failed Haitian state could have on U.S. national security. Haiti has been in a near constant state of chaos since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which not only brought with it unchecked corruption and poverty but also an increase in violence. Some 70,000 Haitians flocked to the U.S. border in 2023 as gang violence surged, and American leaders like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis remain concerned there could be another influx of migrants, though experts are warning the threat to U.S. security could reach beyond migration woes. Men on motorcycles drive past burning tires during a demonstration following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 12, 2024. BILLIONS INVESTED IN HAITI SINCE 2010 EARTHQUAKE HAVE NOT IMPROVED COUNTRY: 'WE'RE STILL WORKING' "A failed state controlled by criminals, drug traffickers, mass murderers and gangs so close to U.S. soil is not in the foreign policy interests of the U.S.," Eddy Acevedo, chief of staff and senior adviser at the Wilson Center think tank told Fox News Digital. "[The] greatest threat facing the U.S. regarding Haiti is further instability in the country, which could endanger the lives of millions of Haitians and risk a mass migration," said Acevedo a former national security advisor for USAID. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP While migration remains a top concern for many in the U.S., Juan Cruz, a former National Security Council senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, told Fox News Digital the consequences of the complete collapse of Haiti cannot be overlooked. "It's not in anyone's interest to have Haiti upside down," Cruz said. "Do we want a lawless Haiti that makes it a friendly place for drug traffickers to be that much closer to the U.S. or use it as a steppingstone to what we usually call our third border? Or do we want them to create a crisis in the Dominican Republic next door, where we have a friendly government to the U.S.?" Haitian gangs have not only killed over 3,700 people. They have taken over 80% of the capital city of Port-au-Prince, shut down the airport and released thousands of inmates from two of the nations biggest prisons, prompting an international response. DHS WARNS HAITIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING BY BOAT FACE IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION "The utmost priority now must be to address the security situation in Haiti. Without stabilizing Haiti's security environment, elections and a viable political solution cannot move forward," Acevedo explained. "Haitis National Police are trying to confront and push back the gangs, but the cavalry must arrive soon or else Haiti will fall." Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto in a move to encourage the African nation to send in the 1,000-strong police force it pledged last year under a Multinational Security Support Mission. The U.S., the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Canada, France, Brazil and Mexico have also pushed for the establishment of a transitional government to thwart the gang takeover. Cruz noted it is not only in the interest of Haitians to establish a stable government to quash the violence because it could mean a lengthy stay for any nation that becomes directly involved. Police officers throw tear gas at demonstrators during a protest in Carrefour-Feuilles, a district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Aug. 14, 2023. "The problem is those countries, they've all been bit," Cruz said, referring to the U.S., France, Brazil and Canada, "Everybody's been in, and everybody's paid the price. Weve all been there. Weve all seen this movie play out, and it doesnt end well. I fear that, at some point, we're going to see boots on the ground that are not Kenyan." Original article source: US national security faces major risks as gangs battle for control over Haiti Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is one of the leading and most recognizable names in healthcare. It generates billions in revenue and profit every year and its products are used all over the world. It's a truly global organization that has achieved considerable success over the years. It also pays a dividend that it has increased for decades, giving investors plenty of incentive to buy and hold the stock, simply collecting that recurring payout along the way. In the past 10 years, the stock's total returns (which include dividends) have come in around 125%, creating significant value for shareholders. It has been a great investment, particularly for risk-averse investors who wanted a stock they could just buy and forget about. Here's why it isn't a great buy anymore. Talc lawsuits pose a serious threat to the business For decades, Johnson & Johnson has arguably been a beloved name in healthcare. Many consumers associate the brand with quality and safety. However, that may not necessarily be the case anymore. Of late, the healthcare company has been battling countless lawsuits, particularly with its talc-based products, which plaintiffs allege were contaminated with materials that led them to develop cancer. These are serious claims and J&J is fighting against them vigorously. This isn't just about protecting its image, however; it's also about the significant amount of money that is at stake. Johnson & Johnson has gone to considerable lengths to try and put the issue to rest. It tried to use a subsidiary, LTL Management, to assume responsibility for all the lawsuits and then bankrupt it, thus limiting its overall liability. Judges rejected this attempt -- twice. If the plan had been approved, Johnson & Johnson would have put $8.9 billion into LTL to fund a settlement. If it's willing to settle on that amount, you can be sure that it's worried its total liability is likely to otherwise be far higher than that. With tens of thousands of lawsuits outstanding just related to talc, it becomes nearly impossible to estimate the total liability the business faces. One way the company has been able to effectively offload some liability is through the spinoff of its consumer health business into Kenvue (NYSE: KVUE), which will be responsible for any talc lawsuits that arise outside of the U.S. and Canada. Story continues Given the uncertainty regarding the talc lawsuits, investors should tread very carefully with Johnson & Johnson's stock. It's tempting to assume that since it makes billions, it can absorb these legal costs, but these legal bills keep on mounting. It has also faced litigation related to other products, including Risperdal, opioids, and vaginal mesh implants. The company's financials may not be as strong in the future Last year, Johnson & Johnson reported $13.3 billion in profit, with revenue totaling $85.2 billion. But what the future holds is a question mark because the company is facing the loss of exclusivity for top-selling psoriasis medication Stelara, which could face competition in the U.S. as early as next year. In 2023, Stelara generated $10.9 billion in revenue. Between 2025 and 2030, Johnson & Johnson projects that it will generate annual growth between 5% and 7%, hoping the development of new drugs to will help offset the loss of exclusivity for Stelara. But the relatively modest single-digit expansion rate may not be sufficient for the company to both be an attractive growth investment and be financially strong enough to absorb the possible legal battles ahead. While Johnson & Johnson's recent results are still impressive, the company's future has never been cloudier than it is now. Rising legal costs could burden the business and potentially impact the safety of its dividend, especially as it focuses more on growth and creating innovative medicines. Johnson & Johnson isn't the safe stock it used to be In the past, Johnson & Johnson may have been a good healthcare stock to comfortably hold in your portfolio. But that's no longer the case. Until there is a resolution to the talc-related issues, the stock is simply too big of a risk these days. The legal bills pose a threat to the company's dividend and its long-term growth objectives. And with many other dividend stocks and top healthcare companies to invest in, there's just not a compelling reason to put money into J&J when there are much better and safer options out there. Should you invest $1,000 in Johnson & Johnson right now? Before you buy stock in Johnson & Johnson, 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 Johnson & Johnson 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 March 11, 2024 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kenvue. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $13 calls on Kenvue. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Johnson & Johnson Stock Is Great. Here's Why You Shouldn't Buy It. was originally published by The Motley Fool (Bloomberg) -- The US told the European Union that if it reopened a case at the World Trade Organization against Washington over a Trump-era steel and aluminum dispute then it would risk sinking the blocs attempt to fix a pillar of multilateral trade cooperation. Most Read from Bloomberg US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told her Group of Seven counterparts last month that if the EU filed the complaint, it would have consequences on efforts to reform and revive the WTOs dispute settlement system, according to European diplomats and officials familiar with the discussion. She added that the US would calibrate its cooperation with the EU on WTO reform based on the blocs actions, they said. The appellate body the preeminent forum for settling worldwide trade disagreements is currently hamstrung due to American maneuvering. Restoring a fully functional dispute settlement system has been a key priority for the Europeans. Tais comments risk reinforcing skepticism in Europe that the transatlantic trade relationship has improved since President Joe Biden came to office. Trump sparked a trade war with Europe when he came to office, leading to tariffs on billions of dollars of exports. But Biden has since opted to not remove some of Trumps coercive measures, irking his European allies. Spokespeople from the USTR and from the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, declined to comment. Tais comments were meant to advise the EU about the repercussions of restarting the WTO complaint with American constituencies, and not meant as a threat of the action that the USTR would take, according to Biden administration officials familiar with the conversation. The trade conflict started when Trump imposed levies on European steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns, prompting the EU to retaliate with restrictive measures of its own. The bloc joined a WTO case against the US in 2018, then the EU reached a temporary truce with the Biden administration in 2021. As part of that truce, the US partly removed its measure and introduced a set of tariff-rate quotas above which duties on the metals are applied. Alternately, the EU froze all of its restrictive measures. That has created an unbalanced situation, according to the EU, that has seen the blocs exporters pay over $350 million a year in duties. Tais remarks didnt take the Europeans by surprise since the US in their view hasnt shown readiness to be flexible on reforming the WTO, said the European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The discussion took place weeks before the WTOs ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi, where restoring the appellate body was one of the key issues on the agenda. During the meeting, members committed to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024, and instructed officials to accelerate work on unresolved issues, including the appeal level. The commission told member states late last year that it was considering relaunching a case against the US at the WTO, but that idea lacked broad support among member states, Bloomberg reported at the time. They were wary of inciting a fresh dispute with Washington given the current geopolitical context. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Spencer Cox at a news briefing during the final day of the Utah legislature, on 1 March 2024, in Salt Lake City. Spencer Cox at a news briefing during the final day of the Utah legislature, on 1 March 2024, in Salt Lake City. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP The Utah governor, Spencer Cox, has signed a controversial bill aimed at encouraging teachers to carry a gun or keep one in their classroom. The legislation will fund annual training for teachers on how to defend classrooms against active threats, as well as safely use firearms in a school setting. Related: Trained to shoot: the Utah teachers taking up guns in their classrooms The proposal builds upon a state law enacted last year that waived concealed-carry permit fees for teachers. Taken together, the laws are aimed at incentivizing teachers to bring guns into their classrooms a move that has been hotly contested by gun violence prevention advocates, who argue that more guns on campus does not equal better safety for students. Utah is one of 16 states that allow school employees to carry guns in K-12 schools. State law currently allows people to carry firearms on public-school property if they have permission from school administrators or hold a concealed firearm permit, which requires a criminal background check and completion of a firearms familiarity course. The new bill does not prevent teachers with a permit who are not involved in the program from carrying a gun on school grounds. Those who participate in the training program will be shielded from civil liability if they use the gun at school while acting in good faith and without gross negligence, according to the bill. School districts also cannot be held liable if a participating teacher fires their weapon. We worked closely with the department of public safety to make sure we have all the necessary safeguards in place in this bill, Coxs office said in a statement. We all want schools where our kids are safe and can thrive. Utahs public schools have not seen any mass shootings on campus. But two students were killed and one was injured after they were shot by a then 14-year-old in a January 2022 shooting outside a high school. The next year, several schools were the targets of automated hoax calls reporting an active shooter. The bill would cost the department of public safety about $100,000 annually. County sheriffs would appoint instructors to lead the course, which participating teachers would be expected to retake each year. Some Utah educators, including retired public school teacher Stan Holmes, voiced concern that the half-day training would not be enough to prepare teachers to respond properly in an emergency. Holmes, a US army veteran, said he had taken a tactical training course offered by the state, which he referred to as a joke. I left unconvinced that all graduates could handle themselves in a crisis situation, he said. Parents of children in Utah schools have no reason to trust that the so-called educator-protector program trainings would be any better. Teachers participating in the program who choose not to carry the gun on their person would be required to store it in a biometric gun safe, which uses unique biological data such as a fingerprint or retinal scan to verify the owners identity. They would have to pay out-of-pocket for the storage device. Jaden Christensen, a volunteer with the Utah chapter of Moms Demand Action, said in a statement published by Everytown for Gun Safety: Lets keep our educators centered on what they do best teaching. We should be working on finding ways to keep guns out of the wrong hands and out of the classroom not inviting them into our schools. Its shameful that this new law will do the opposite. HB 119 is one of two bills that focuses on how to navigate campus-safety guns being in the hands and classrooms of teachers. The other, HB 84, which was signed on 13 March, updates the parameters for storing a gun in a classroom and creates a protocol for teachers, staff and parents to report concerning or threatening behavior. In a statement to the Guardian, Coxs office referred to HB 84 as a significant piece of a multi-pronged effort to increase school security. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Thousands of fentanyl pills, dozens of pounds of methamphetamine and an AK-47 rifle equipped with a grenade launcher were just some of the things found in a Washington stash house as part of an investigation of alleged drug dealers. Flores El Cholo Carrillo, 48, and Valenzuela Ayala, 23, were both arrested in connection to the residence, which was searched by law enforcement via warrant, and they are both accused of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, the Department of Justice said. Both made appearances Friday in a federal court in Tacoma. Lawsuit claims Northeast Portland nail salon gave woman herpes due to poor hygiene practices The arrests were made following a year-long undercover investigation in Vancouver that included the Vancouver Police Department, the Clark County Sheriffs Office, the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Carrillo had been identified by investigators early last year as a suspected major fentanyl pill dealer in southwest Washington. Through collaborating with confidential informants, law enforcement made several large quantity drug purchases, allegedly from Carillo, including when an informant bought 3,000 fentanyl pills and, on separate occasions, a kilogram of crystal meth and two different times where he sold high-powered firearms. Gresham police arrest man accused of shooting at driver with 3 children in car Soon after Carillo allegedly sold another batch of 10,000 fentanyl pills earlier this month, he was arrested. After that, Carillos alleged stash house was searched, with law enforcement finding large quantities of drugs including seven pounds of fentanyl pills and 43 pounds of meth and the grenade launcher-equipped AK-47 was wrapped as if for resale, officials said. It was during this search that the lone occupant of the stash house, Ayala, was arrested. Officials said both men are citizens of Mexico and do not have legal status in the United States. They each face a possible sentence of a minimum of 10 years, with a maximum of life in prison, should they be found guilty of the federal conspiracy charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. FILE - President Nicolas Maduro, accompanied by first lady Cilia Flores, greets supporters during an event marking the anniversary of a 1958 coup ousting dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez, in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 23, 2024. After officials said election day would be July 28, the birthdate of the late President Hugo Chavez, the government announced it would send invitations to international electoral observers. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas, File) CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday became his partys official nominee for Julys highly anticipated presidential election, which would allow him to stroll into a third consecutive term with no real competition on the horizon. Not unusual to Venezuela, the election has been plagued with controversy since Maduro's main opponent, Maria Corina Machado who swept an opposition coalition's primary election with more than 90% of votes was disqualified by Venezuelan authorities to hold public office for 15 years. Maduro accepted the nomination as the ruling United Socialist Party's candidate for the July 28 presidential election during a party gathering in Caracas, saying he has the support of the people. According to the party, its decision was backed by over 4 million members who chose their candidate last week. A man alone would not be here. I am here for the people," Maduro said. Here, the candidate is not Maduro. Here, the candidate is the people. Maduro, the hand-picked successor to President Hugo Chavez, rose to power in March 2013 following the death of Chavez, whose homespun charm earned him the affection and votes of millions. Winning another term would leave Maduro at the helm of Venezuelas government until 2031. Under his rule, Venezuelan has descended into a deep economic crisis, only deepened by American sanctions. The crisis has pushed millions of people to migrate from the South American nation, with many now headed toward the United States. The American government rolled back some sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors last year after Maduro agreed with the opposition to work toward electoral conditions that would allow for a leveled playing field. But the Biden administration ended some of the relief after Venezuela's high court upheld a ban on Machado. It has also threatened to pull back additional relief if the Maduro government continues to defy the agreement. The deadline for the registration of candidates is March 25, but so far Machado has maintained that she will continue until the end, although without making clear how she would circumvent the ban on holding office. In recent day's, the opposition coalition has questioned the electoral process and called for the law to be respected. Other opposition figures have also been disqualified, such as Henrique Capriles, a two-time presidential candidate, who declined to participate before the primary election. Capriles is among a growing number of voices of government opponents and foreign leaders to urge Machado to step aside to allow voters to rally behind an alternative. He urged her to a sense of realism" this week as Machado has pushed forward. They believe this is just one more election, one more electoral fight where they can run us over, or cheat, that we're going to stay quiet and lower our heads. They haven't understood anything, Machado has told supporteres at several rallies. Since 2013, Nicolas Maduro has presided over severe economic crisis, worsened by US sanctions, that has seen seven million people flee the country as GDP plummeted by 80 percent in a decade (YURI CORTEZ) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro will seek a third term in July 28 elections after 11 years in office marked by sanctions, economic collapse and accusations of widespread repression. "We'll go to a new victory," the 61-year-old said as he accepted his ruling PSUV party's official nomination to be its candidate in elections from which the state apparatus has excluded his main rival -- the favorite in opinion polls. There was no challenger from within the "Chavista" movement, in power for 25 years and named for Maduro's popular predecessor Hugo Chavez. "I am here for the people, that is why today, March 16 of this year, 2024, I accept the presidential candidacy for the elections of July 28," the incumbent said. Maduro will have served 18 years as president of the once-prosperous South American country at the end of a third, successive term. Since 2013, he has presided over a severe economic crisis, worsened by US sanctions, that has seen seven million people flee the country as GDP plummeted by 80 percent in a decade. With backing from a system of political patronage and the military -- as well as Cuba, Russia and China -- he has consolidated power over parliament, the judiciary and other state institutions, and jailed and neutralized critics and challengers. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who polls show would beat the incumbent in a fair race, has been disqualified by Maduro-aligned courts on charges of corruption widely dismissed as spurious, and for supporting Western sanctions against the regime. She cannot hold public office for 15 years, nor can the man widely seen as her natural replacement, two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles. - 'One day at a time' - Maduro's re-election to a second six-year term in 2018 -- widely considered fraudulent -- was not recognized by the United States and dozens of other nations, and was met with a string of sanctions. Many countries instead recognized parliamentary leader Juan Guaido as interim president. Yet Maduro remains firmly in charge of oil-rich Venezuela after his rival government imploded, and the war in Ukraine choked energy supplies and shifted global priorities. After the government and the opposition agreed in Barbados last year to hold a free and fair vote in 2024 with international observers present, the United States eased sanctions to allow Chevron to resume limited crude extraction. But Washington is mulling reinstating penalties since the Maduro-aligned Supreme Court upheld Machado's disqualification. In January, Maduro said the Barbados agreement was "mortally wounded" after government authorities claimed to have foiled numerous US-backed plots to assassinate him. In a sign of things to come, the leader has increased his public appearances ahead of the electoral campaign period that only officially opens on July 4. The CNE electoral council has said it would invite election observers from the European Union and United Nations, the US-based Carter Center NGO, BRICS and the African Union, among others, though no official invitations have been sent out. Machado, 56, has refused to bow out, for now, despite having little chance of overcoming the hurdles the state has placed in her way. "One day at a time," she told reporters on a tour of the industrial state of Carabobo this week, where she was met by hundreds of avid supporters who refer to her as Venezuela's "iron lady." Analysts say that unless Machado's disqualification is somehow overturned, the opposition coalition may have to pick a substitute candidate -- from among those not yet barred by the state. The opposition could also call for an election boycott as it had in 2018. On Friday, a Venezuelan politician who says he is aligned with the opposition but is accused of being in cahoots with "Chavismo," asked the Supreme Court to bar Machado's coalition from putting up a candidate. Presidential hopefuls can officially file their candidacy with the CNE between March 21 and 25. The vote will take place on the birthday of Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez, still hailed by many Venezuelans as a revolutionary hero. bur-mlr/st The 160th anniversary of a flood in which more than 250 people drowned and 5,000 homes were put under water has been marked in South Yorkshire. The Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 happened when the Dale Dyke Dam at Bradfield collapsed on 11 March. More than 690 million gallons (3.14 billion litres) of water from the collapsed dam surged towards the city. On Saturday Colin Ross, Lord Mayor of Sheffield, laid a wreath for the flood victims at Sheffield general cemetery. A weekend of events is taking place to remember those who died and the damage done Sheffield General Cemetery Trust said a weekend of activities to mark the tragedy would include an exhibition attended by ancestors of some of the flood victims, along with a new publication and a performance, to make "the story of the flood better known". A spokesperson for the trust said as well as the loss of life and destroyed homes, 40 children were orphaned. "It was a catastrophe that has perhaps been forgotten by present day Sheffield residents and those further afield. "Sheffield changed forever that night, whether by an act of nature or human error," they said. Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. The ad starts with model and actor Madison Tevlin addressing a bartender. Hey bartender, you assume that I cant drink a margarita so you dont serve me a margarita so I dont drink a margarita, she said in the video. Your assumption becomes reality. Tevlin, 22, who has Down syndrome is the face of a new campaign challenging people to confront the way they think about people with Down syndrome. The ad produced by CoorDown and Small New York in association with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and other organizations was created in honor of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21. As it goes on, Tevlin addresses other stereotypes that persist, including the idea that people with Down syndrome cannot live independently. Parents, you assume that I cannot live on my own, so you dont encourage me to live on my own, she says. Marta Sodano, an Italian woman with Down syndrome, partially inspired the campaign after she spoke at the World Down Syndrome Day Conference at the United Nations, according to a NDSS press release. CoorDown, an Italian organization, leads the Assume That I Can campaign. I discovered that in psychology there is a concept called self-fulfilling prophecy, whereby a teacher who thinks that a student cannot understand would just act accordingly and therefore would not teach the student. And there you go: the prophecy self-fulfills, she said. In my opinion, there are not difficult or easy concepts, there is always a simple way to explain things. If I think of all the things that were not explained and taught to me, well I get really angry. Since its viral release on March 15, the ad has already shifted some perspectives, Kandi Pickard, the president, and CEO of NDSS, tells TODAY.com. The whole point of this video is to end those stereotypes of people living with Down syndrome, she tells TODAY.com. Many times, people with disabilities are presumed to be unable to care for themselves or unable to make their own decisions and thats not the case. The ad also highlights that people with Down syndrome arent a monolith. Their wants, needs and abilities vary just like any other person. This video is opening up these conversations in such a healthy way for public to see not only the beauty but the ability of people with Down syndrome, Pickard says. This is what we do as an organization day in and day out. We want to shift the public perception of Down syndrome. Stereotypes about people with Down syndrome limit what they can achieve. When Tommy and Maryanne Pilling who both have Down syndrome fell in love three decades ago, many people criticized their families for allowing them to marry. But Maryanne Pillings family encouraged them and they were married for 25 years until Tommy Pilling passed away in 2020, TODAY.com previously reported. My mum has been 100% supportive, Maryanne Pillings sister Lindi Newman, shared with TODAY.com in 2017. Anyone should have the right to marry the love of their life without prejudice or discrimination. Defying assumption also helped Chris Nikic become the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman. His dad, Nik Nikic, recalls how when Chris Nikic was young all they heard were negatives. When your child is born with Down syndrome everyone tells you what they cant do and how tough it is going to be. Chris is going to prove if he can do an Ironman and he can do anything else, Nik Nikic told TODAY.com in 2020. Being first opens a lot of doors for him and people like him. And, Chris Nikic likes being a role model. Parents are reaching out saying I am a hero to their kids, he told TODAY.com in 2020. Its pretty awesome. Many people on social media appreciate how the "Assume That I Can" video encouraged them to confront their biases about Down syndrome. Being an older sister of a DS person. I am guilty of treating my sister this way sometimes, one person shared on Instagram. But dont worry, she sets me straight. Another person wrote on Instagram: I just posted something today regarding doubting my sons capabilities sometimes and this is such a great way to redirect our way of thinking, even as parents. Thank you for such a wonderful video. The ad includes other things that people with Down syndrome can do, such as swearing and having sex, and some people online have called it out with one user saying it is crass. But another Instagram user notes this reaction is why the ad is needed. The pearl clutching in these comments is exactly why this video needs to exist. The fact that people feel empowered to tell this intelligent, capable, GROWN woman how she needs to deliver her message proves the messages entire point. Pickard says by far most of the feedback is positive and adds that swearing, drinking and sex are normal things in life for most people. Theyre going to be going to college and theres an opportunity to go to the bar and have a drink. They want to live on their own. They want to do these things, Pickard added. She's a mom of three, including a 12-year-old with Down syndrome. For some families its hard to look past that disability and really to be able to see sometimes the opportunities that are out there. On TikTok, many are saying theyre surprised they watched the entire advertisement. I cant remember the last time I willing sat through a long ad before, one person shared. This was great. Another wrote, Damn she even made me feel empowered. This is probably the best awareness campaign ad Ive ever seen for anything. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Icelandic police declared a state of emergency Saturday as lava spewed from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December. A "volcanic eruption has started between stora Skogfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula," said a statement from the Icelandic Met Office (IMO). Live video images showed glowing lava and billowing smoke. Iceland's Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management announced it had sent a helicopter to narrow down the exact location of the new fissure. The authority also said the police had declared a state of emergency due to the eruption. According to the IMO, it occurred close to the same location as a previous eruption on February 8. Lava appeared to flow south towards the dykes built to protect the fishing village Grindavik, it said. Just after 2200 GMT, "the southern lava front was just 200 metres from the barriers on the eastern side of Grindavik and moving at a rate of about one km per hour," it added. - Almost no warning - Lava was also flowing west, as it had on February 8, and the length of the fissure was estimated to be 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles), said the IMO. "From initial assessments of web camera imagery and aerial photographs from the helicopter flight, the eruption is thought to be the largest (in terms of magma discharge) of the three previous fissure eruptions from the Sundhnukur crater row," IMO said, stressing the assessment was based on the first hour of "eruptive activity." Minutes before the eruption, the agency had issued a statement saying that seismic activity indicated that there was an increased chance of an eruption. "The pre-eruptive warning phase was very short," the IMO said. On Friday, the IMO said that magma was accumulating under the ground in the area "which could end with a new magma intrusion and possibly an eruption". That could happen "with very little warning", it said. Local media reported that Iceland's famed Blue Lagoon geothermal spa had been evacuated as well as Grindavik. The roughly 4,000 residents of Grindavik were only cleared to return to their homes on February 19 after having been evacuated on November 11, though only around a hundred chose to do so. On that occasion, hundreds of tremors damaged buildings and opened up huge cracks in roads. The quakes were followed by a volcanic fissure on December 18 that spared the village. - New era - But a fissure opened right on the town's edge, in January, sending lava flowing into the streets and reducing three homes to ashes, followed by a third eruption near the village on February 8. As of Friday, more than 300 of Grindavik's inhabitants had put in requests to sell their house to the state. The eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula have also raised fears for the Svartsengi power plant, which supplies electricity and water to around 30,000 people on the Reykjanes peninsula. The plant was evacuated and has been run remotely since the first eruption in the region, and dykes have been built to protect it. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. It straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. But until March 2021, the Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries. Further eruptions occurred in August 2022 and in July and December 2023, leading volcanologists to say it was probably the start of a new era of seismic activity in the region. jll/aph WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Vice President Kamala Harris, with the help of rapper of Fat Joe, held a conversation on marijuana reform at the White House. When the Vice President calls me, I stop everything, said Fat Joe. Rapper Fat Joe, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and the vice president formed an interesting trio. Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed, said Harris. Bidens 2024 campaign to be headquartered in Delaware Harris hosted the roundtable to highlight the administrations efforts to free individuals jailed for nonviolent marijuana possession and expand opportunities once they are released. We have now and recently announced making small business administration loans available to the previously incarcerated individuals, said Harris. Since taking office Harris says tens of thousands have been pardoned or had their sentences reduced at the request of President Biden. The White House is urging the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to quickly reclassify the drug to prevent future arrests. Kevin Sabet is the founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, and a former drug policy expert for the Clinton and Obama administrations. He says descheduling or legalizing marijuana is unlikely, and he says its not consistent with the presidents stance. Hes also made clear in his actions and words that he doesnt want to legalize marijuana either, said Sabet. In August, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Department of Justice reclassify marijuana. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. ST. PAUL, Minn. These are not words politicians use. But Vice President Kamala Harris, already a historic figure, went there when she broke a political barrier by touring a Minnesota-based Planned Parenthood clinic. Everyone get ready for the language, Harris, the nation's first female vice president warned. "Uterus." The crowd broke into laughter. That part of the body needs a lot of medical care from time to time," Harris said. "Issues like fibroids" muscular tumors that grow in the wall of a woman's uterus must no longer be taboo. She insisted: "We can handle this." Decades ago, it might have made them squirm or denounce it as vulgar. The 59-year-old Democrat stood in front of a bouquet of microphones and went into detail about the many services Planned Parenthood provides that are unrelated to abortion. Harris decision to visit the clinic and her public use of medical terms for the human reproductive system were the clearest sign yet of how much America's abortion debate has been scrambled ahead of the 2024 election. The decision by the most powerful woman in elected office in the US was a remarkable departure for Democrats, who have historically kept abortion providers at arm's length. And the public is ready for it. For Paige Robinson, a 22-year-old University of Minnesota student, abortion is a key issue shell be considering when she votes this fall. Harris's visit, she told USA Today: "does show a very clear stance from the administration on their support of it, which is a strong thing to do." US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during her visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 14, 2024. Harris toured an abortion clinic, highlighting a key election issue in what US media reported was the first such visit by a president or vice president. Experts and activists reiterate how Thursday's trip further reflects how the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe vs. Wade threw out the old rules around abortion. "It's both unprecedented and unsurprising given the earthquake of the Dobbs decision," said Matthew Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University. Others say this moment also showcases Harris's expanding role as the Biden campaign's progressive crusader-in-chief on social issues. On the trail, she has been urgent about women's health being in crisis as part of her "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour, which concluded in Minnesota this week after previous stops in battleground states such as Wisconsin, Georgia, Michigan and Arizona. Poll shows opening with independent women An exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll released this week underscores one reason why Harris is running toward the abortion issue. The vice president is already well liked among fellow Democrats, particularly Democratic women who give her a 78% job approval rating, the survey shows. Her popularity nosedives, however, when she tip-toes outside the partys tent. Roughly 54% of all respondents, for instance, said she isn't qualified to serve as president versus 38% who believe she has what it takes. That gap shrinks a bit when measured against the views of independent women, who have been at odds with Republicans on reproductive rights. Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. The poll shows 45% of independent women think Harris isnt qualified to be president compared to 40% who think she is qualified. Outside of core Democratic voters, she has an opportunity to flip independent women into positive territory. She's negative there, but it's close, said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. When compared with all voters, Harris gets slightly higher marks on job approval and favorability with women who don't belong to either party, the survey finds. Among everyone, Harris has a net negative 16% rating in both the job shes doing as vice president and her popularity. But with independent women, that drops to a net negative 5% on approval. On favorability, the net negative with independent women is 15% but with a larger group of 9% still undecided. A "Just Say Roe" t-shirt hangs in the front office at the Hope Clinic for Women, Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in Granite City, Ill. Paleologos said the vice president's failure to gain traction with other constituencies matters at a time when there are legitimate concerns by voters surrounding Biden's age and ability to serve. He said that means her role, and eventually the same for Trump's running mate, will be magnified in the coming months. "The fact that she can't really add to the Biden equation for November statistically is a problem, and it's a concern," he said. "They are aligned and very popular within the Democratic Party, but its questionable among independents, and they're going to get nothing among Republicans." 'We can't do this without' Harris, advocates say US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during her visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 14, 2024. Harris toured an abortion clinic, highlighting a key election issue in what US media reported was the first such visit by a president or vice president. Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 supporters at a rally in St. Paul, Harris praised what Minnesota Democrats had accomplished by fortifying women's healthcare access. She also hinted at her hopes about what that could mean for the national elections in November, such as Congress eventually codifying Roe into law. "So the victory that you all have wanted to, particularly in the statehouse, have once again demonstrated to our nation just how much progress a Democratic trifecta can make," Harris said. The vice president didn't mince words when drawing out the choice voters have this fall, saying that the country should, "all recognize who is to blame" for the patchwork of laws. "The former president, Donald Trump, hand-picked three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would overturn Roe," she said. "He intended for them to take away your freedoms. And it is a decision he brags about." Abortion rights advocates said Thursdays event is illustrative of how valuable Harris is to the president in ways snapshot polling cant capture. After Bidens annual State of the Union address, for instance, some progressives were reportedly left flat about the president failing to use the word "abortion" in his remarks. Biden instead opted for less politically charged verbiage, according to the Associated Press, such as reproductive freedom and the freedom to choose. Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly known as NARAL Pro-Choice America), said going to a clinic distinguished Harris as someone who could talk to an experience all women share. "This has become the most reproductive freedom forward administration in the history of the country, and much respect and affection for Joe Biden, but that wouldn't be happening without Kamala Harris being the tip of the spear, she said. Jacqueline Ayers, a senior vice president at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, echoed how the Biden administration has been, "an invaluable champion for sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion." She emphasized how Harris has, "prioritized traveling across the country to see this access crisis first-hand since the fall of Roe." Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, president of Justice & Joy National Collaborative, a national racial and gender advocacy organization, said given the impact restricting abortion has on women of color, Harris's visit feels more poignant. "It is a watershed moment not just because the vice president is a woman, but in particular for me a woman of color at this time when there's a lot of hostility, risk and polarization," she said. "It's a big statement of courage, control and power for her to walk in those doors." Abortion rights supporters gather at a rally at Bicentennial Plaza put on by Planned Parenthood South Atlantic in response to a bill before the North Carolina Legislature, Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker) Polling has consistently shown Americans broadly support some level of access to abortion rights. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey last year, for instance, found 64% of adults think it should be legal in at least some circumstances. Coupled with voters in seven states siding with the liberal position on ballot questions since 2022, Biden and his allies have confidence that this will be a decisive subject in November. Advocates say Harris's visibility as the woman who is a heartbeat away from the presidency, is an asset too. She's authentic on this issue. She understands it. She's the moral conscience of it," Timmaraju said. "She doesn't just speak to the base, she speaks to soft Republican and independent woman as well. We can't do this without her." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris Minnesota abortion clinic visit broke political barriers When lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Chew during a lengthy hearing last March, Rep. Darren Soto argued what has now become the crux of a bill that overwhelmingly passed in the House this week. TikTok needs to be an American company with American values, Soto, a Democrat from Florida, told the TikTok chief executive. Chew, meanwhile, clapped back, American social companies dont have a good track record with data privacy and user security. I mean, look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. Roughly one year later, House lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States or force its sale, citing national security concerns due to the social media platforms parent company, ByteDance, being based in Beijing. Proponents of the bill argue that TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, poses a national security threat because Chinas intelligence laws could force ByteDance to hand over US user data to the Chinese Communist Party. The move to ban TikTok might win political points with some China-hawk voters in an election year. But if lawmakers were serious about protecting the digital data of millions of American social media users, targeting TikTok alone is a limited way to achieve this goal. Whether its dressed up as a ban or a forced sale, targeting TikTok is shortsighted and dangerous when what we really need is strong privacy legislation to protect our data from all Big Tech companies, not just one, Evan Greer, the director of the digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future, told CNN. While lawmakers rallied at dizzying speed to get the TikTok bill passed through the House, they have largely sputtered on any broader legislation aimed at reining in the power of Big Tech companies. The US House of Representatives is set to vote on legislation that would ban TikTok, a major challenge to one of the worldas most popular social media apps used by 170 million Americans, unless it part ways with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. - Will Lanzoni/CNN In the absence of comprehensive data privacy laws that apply to all social media companies, not just TikTok, Greer said, Our data will be vulnerable to surveillance, whether its from China, Russia, or even our own government. Story continues The US government has not publicly detailed any specific claim that China has actually accessed TikTok user data. And earlier this year, it came to light that a US government agency itself routinely buys the sensitive digital data of Americans from the largely unregulated data broker market data that would otherwise require a warrant to obtain. Separately, US intelligence authorities have said that Russian operatives were able to exploit US-based social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter as part of an election meddling campaign in the lead-up to the 2016 US presidential vote. And Meta is in the midst of paying a $725 million settlement related to the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal that affected some 87 million Facebook users (and which Chew referenced in his testimony last year). And while lawmakers have doubled down their focus on TikTok this election year, Facebook-parent company Meta has quietly rolled back some of its election-related content moderation policies and now will allow political ads on its platforms that question the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election. A person walks past a newly unveiled logo for "Meta", the new name for Facebook's parent company, outside Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park on October 28, 2021. - Noah Berger/AFP/Getty Images Greer slammed the bill that passed the House Wednesday as not a serious effort to address the harm of Big Tech data harvesting or legitimate concerns about Chinese government policies. Its just unconstitutional and xenophobic showboating that serves no purpose beyond giving politicians something to fundraise off of while leaving all of us vulnerable, Greer said. Justin Sherman, an adjunct professor at Duke University and CEO of Global Cyber Strategies, a DC-based cyber research firm, told CNN that, Many things can be true at once: TikToks ownership by ByteDance should prompt real national security questions, and the US also needs comprehensive privacy and cybersecurity regulations for all companies. Sherman was among the researchers TikTok invited last year to be briefed on its Project Texas initiative to safeguard US user data and address lawmakers security concerns. Sherman said he thinks some lawmakers are raising important national security concerns regarding TikTok. Still, he says, Its also simultaneously shameful that Congress has failed so miserably to generate bipartisan consensus and follow-through on protecting kids privacy and other critical privacy and cybersecurity issues while spending so much time talking about TikTok. Even if TikToks ownership structure changes, Sherman says, there are still fundamental questions that will remain about software updates, data storage, data transmission and national security. Ultimately, Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, called the bill a missed opportunity for Congress to take real action regarding their concerns about US user data. The bill is also a missed opportunity because Congress can address the most serious problems associated with TikTok without restricting Americans access to one of the worlds most popular communications platforms, Jaffer said in a statement Wednesday that slammed the bill as a betrayal of the First Amendment. Jaffer continued: It should begin by passing a comprehensive privacy law. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Finland increased the production of ammunition against the background of the war in Ukraine Finland has significantly increased its ammunition production by fivefold and may double it further with the support of the European Union (EU), the Finnish newspaper Yle wrote on March 15. The Finnish defense industry is among the announced recipients of the European Commissions Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) grant, which is intended to boost ammunition production on the continent. Read also: Stoltenberg asks allies to urgently ramp up arms shipments as Ukraine faces dwindling ammo stocks The countrys Defense Ministry had already allocated EUR 24 million ($26 million) to increase domestic ammunition production last December. The EU Commission's funding decision "is in line with the plan drawn up by the Defense Ministry in December," said Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. "Compared to the pre-war period, domestic ammunition production has already increased fivefold," said the ministry's special expert Frans Peltonen, adding that the EU and state funding decisions will double the current level of ammunition production. If the investments planned with the grant money are realized, Finland will produce ten times more ammunition than before Russia's full-scale war against 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 The first concrete slab was laid for the new Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, beginning a new era for Duval County Public Schools. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The new school construction is being funded by Jacksonvilles half-penny sales tax, which funds enhanced safety, security and learning environments for DCPS. Stay up to date with school project updates on the projects page of the DCPS website. Watch construction workers lay the first slab in the Facebook Reel HERE. Read: City of Jacksonville give statement on Florida measles outbreak as spring break kicks off [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. Dozens of migrants were seen breaching the United States-Mexico border wall in Arizona over the weekend, where a video caught them crossing unimpeded and taking selfies once they got onto American soil. Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin shared the video, which was taken in Lukeville, Arizona, on Friday. It appears to show dozens of women, children and whole family units, dressed casually and in clean clothes, carrying their belongings. Several of the migrants are seen holding cellphones and celebrating their entry. The breach comes amid record illegal immigration entries under President Biden, especially in the Tucson Sector, which remains one of the busiest areas of illegal crossings. It also comes just days after U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested five child sex offenders at the southern border at the Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, Del Rio, and Rio Grande Valley sectors and as the FBI warned Monday of a "wide array" of dangerous threats coming from the U.S. border, including drug trafficking, violent gangs, and smugglers with ties to ISIS. BORDER OFFICIALS SEE MASSIVE NEW SURGE AT SOUTHERN BORDER A surge of migrants illegally pass through openings cut by smugglers on the southern border wall. Earlier this month, border officials encountered upwards of 14,000 illegal migrants at the southern border over just a two-day period, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Leading the encounters was the Tucson Sector, with more than 2,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants, Melugin reported. Migrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Lukeville, Ariz. Migrants enter the U.S. through the border wall in Lukeville, Ariz. The border officials estimated an additional 1,000 gotaways on one of those days. PENTAGON COMMANDER WARNS OF 'ALARMING' NUMBER OF DRONE INCURSIONS AT US-MEXICO BORDER These border figures have followed a trend since President Biden took office, with illegal border crossings dipping during the colder months of January and February, then ticking back up in March before massive surges in the spring. "If no action is taken buckle up for the rest of the year, if the last 3 years are any indication," Melugin tweeted. "Especially if migrants feel they need to get in before Biden is potentially voted out of office." President Joe Biden speaks with Border Patrol agents along the southern border in January 2023. Immigration and border security have become central issues of the 2024 presidential election, with both Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump visiting the border. President Biden, after reversing several of Trump's immigration policies, has ruled out further executive actions to secure the country and has urged Congress to pass a long-term solution. Fox News Digital's Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Original article source: WATCH: Dozens of migrants breach border wall, take selfies on US side as mass illegal crossings continue Aid is ferried from the World Central Kitchen barge to the makeshift pier on the beach Food aid was unloaded on a Gaza beach yesterday after the first sea delivery using a new aid route across the eastern Mediterranean. The shipment of 200 tonnes of food by the World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity was a pilot for future shipments to the territory, which is on the brink of famine with millions going hungry. That shipment includes pallets of canned goods and bulk product, including beans, carrots, canned tuna, chickpeas, canned corn, parboiled rice, flour, oil and salt, WCK said. The charity had to build a jetty on the beach in southern Gaza with material from destroyed buildings and rubble, but the US military has plans to construct a temporary pier for future shipments. WCK workers unload food aid on to the makeshift jetty they constructed on the beach - WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Video footage provided by the Israeli army showed military personnel helping to coordinate the shipment and its unloading. Details of where and when the first distribution of food aid will take place are scant. According to Jose Andres, the founder of WCK, the plans are being kept private to stop a repeat of the Feb 29 incident that saw Israeli troops firing on a large crowd of Palestinians racing to pull food off an aid convoy in Gaza City. More than 100 people died, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. WCK is preparing a second boat with 240 tonnes of food to set sail from Cyprus once the first distribution has been carried out successfully. We did it! Teams of @WCKitchen and @openarms_fund working hard to offload all 200 tons12 trucks! This was a test! To learnwe could bring thousands of tons a week..with what we learn we will get betterworking with the local communities of Palestinians "Operation Safeena" is pic.twitter.com/tX5FdGlhGB Jose Andres (@chefjoseandres) March 15, 2024 Mr Andres, a Spanish-American chef and restaurateur, posted on X on Friday that the first shipment was a test and that the charity could bring in thousands of tonnes of food each week. While the aid was welcomed in Gaza, aid groups say that maritime and air-dropped aid should be complementary to land deliveries, not a substitute, as they are far less efficient. States cannot hide behind airdrops and efforts to open a maritime corridor to create the illusion that they are doing enough to support the needs in Gaza, a joint statement from 25 NGOs said, calling on governments to prioritise a ceasefire and land-based aid deliveries. Small boats pull up to the barge to ferry the aid to the shore - AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/ISRAELI ARMY The food aboard the first ship was intended for distribution in northern Gaza, where 300,000 people have been mostly cut off by Israeli forces since October. Israel vehemently denies charges by aid agencies that it has been routinely blocking aid and has placed the blame squarely on the United Nations. One in three children under the age of two in the northern Gaza Strip is now suffering from acute malnutrition, UNICEF said on Saturday, in what they described as a staggering escalation from 15.6 per cent in January. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) First responders briefly closed lanes on the Howard Frankland Bridge while attempting a water rescue. The St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and other agencies were on the scene of a person in crisis and two left lanes on the northbound lanes near the hump were blocked, causing delays. Lanes have since reopened and land units have returned to normal service. The United States Coast Guard has taken over water rescue operations. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, following the Hamas attack of 7 October, the overriding fear has been that the conflict could spill over into something even deadlier. The day after the Hamas assault, Lebanon's most powerful armed group Hezbollah fired guided rockets and shells into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, prompting Israeli drone and artillery retaliation. Could Israel, traumatised and vulnerable, with a prime minister fighting for political survival, decide the threat from across its northern border in Lebanon needs to be neutralised? The fear has been that Benjamin Netanyahu's government might be tempted into a second front in the war, against Hezbollah - which, like Hamas, is intent on destroying the Jewish state. And if so, would it draw in Iran, Hezbollah's key patron in the region and sworn enemy of the US? This week Israel carried out more air strikes on the Bekaa valley, deep into Lebanon, taking the death toll in Lebanon since the start of the conflict to more than 240. In retaliation, Hezbollah fired a barrage of 100 Katyusha rockets on northern Israel, its heaviest attack since the war began, with targets including Israeli army bases in the Golan Heights. At least 17 Israelis have been killed in attacks from Lebanon and Syria since October. Israel carried out more air strikes on the Bekaa valley, taking the death toll in Lebanon since the start of the conflict to more than 240 The rockets this week prompted an angry post by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, addressed to the Defence Minister Yoav Gallant: "The military is your responsibility. What are you waiting for? We have to start responding, attacking - war, now!" Last month, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Herzi Halevi said: "We are now focusing on being prepared for war in the north." For long, it seemed that the clashes on the border were carefully calibrated around unspoken red lines to avoid escalation into all-out war. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, has not called for it. Memories in Lebanon are still fresh of the disastrous 2006 war with Israel, which left more than 1,000 Lebanese dead. And Israel knows that Hezbollah's military capability is far greater than that of Hamas. Holding back - just A poll published in the country's Maariv newspaper last month showed that 71% of respondents favoured a large-scale military operation to drive Hezbollah back. Sarit Zehavi lives close to the Lebanese border and heads the Alma research centre, which specialises on the threat there. She says Hezbollah's aim is "to drag Israel into war without actually initiating it". But, she argues, Israel is not looking for all-out confrontation. "Israel's interest is to avoid full scale war - but achieve an improved security situation, while damaging Hezbollah's brigades as much as possible. For Israel, it is about choosing the least worst option: we understand the capability of Hezbollah here and the cost of war." She believes that Hezbollah's use of rockets, which have a longer range than anti-tank missiles used previously by the group, is evidence of a shift in the group's military tactics and capability. "Hezbollah takes into consideration the cost of a war, but they don't look into the near future - they look years ahead." "They have already gained by forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of Israelis," she adds - about 60,000 Israelis living in communities close to the border have fled the fighting since October, the largest such displacement in Israeli history. Around 100,000 Lebanese residents have also been moved from the other side of the border. To allow for the evacuees to return, Israel wants to push Hezbollah's forces back beyond the Litani river, which marks a buffer zone of sorts between Beirut and the Israeli border. As part of the agreement to end the 2006 war, the area south of the Litani was supposed to be clear of military presence except for that of the Lebanese army and UN forces - which Hezbollah has violated. That's been part of discussions with Amos Hochstein, the US Special Envoy, who has been repeatedly dispatched to the region to avert an escalation. But a deal on Hezbollah's withdrawal and disarmament remains elusive. So far, both Benjamin Netanyahu and Hezbollah appear to be holding back from the precipice. The Israeli army is already stretched in Gaza, without opening a new front - and a new wave of international tension. And Hezbollah is in reactive mode, opting more for a low-lever war of attrition. But the real risk is miscalculation, and caving into competing pressures. Mr Netanyahu is battered by the perception that he left his country vulnerable to the worst attack in its history, reviled by families of the hostages who want him to strike a deal to bring them back, and excoriated by the West over the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza. The fear is that he may see expanding the fight in Lebanon as key to his political survival - and that Israel, in the wake of the 7 October attacks, would not countenance the continued threat on its northern front without taking military action. Israeli strikes hit about 4,000 positions across Lebanon since October Professor Hilal Khashan, from the American University in Beirut, believes Israel's relative restraint so far doesn't tell the true story. "Netanyahu clearly wants war," he says, pointing to Israel's strikes on about 4,000 positions across Lebanon since October. "He is finished politically and when the war stops, he will have to face his reckoning," he says. "I don't think he'll give a damn about what the US or Europe will think - he has made up his mind on Hezbollah." A further, and potentially more serious, unknown would be the response from Iran, which relies on Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon, as a bulwark against Israel. Since the Hamas attack, Tehran has flexed its muscles across the Middle East. Iran-backed groups have hit US military bases in Iraq and Syria, and Yemen's Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have launched countless strikes on ships in the Red Sea. It has so far stopped short of an unfettered war. But major Israeli strikes on Hezbollah could change Tehran's calculus. In Lebanon, there is little appetite for full conflict with Israel, particularly among religious groups that don't belong to the Shia branch of Islam that Hezbollah belongs to. "Non-Shias are almost unanimously opposed, and want Hezbollah to disarm," says Professor Khashan. But Shias are unhappy about the fighting too, he says. "By and large, they don't want war either." Hassan Nasrallah has said that he will not agree to a ceasefire with Israel before there is a truce in Gaza. He is reported to have told an Iranian military leader last month that he did not want Iran to get sucked into a war with Israel or the United States - and that in the case of a full offensive with Israel, Hezbollah would fight on its own. Still fear stalks those living on either side of a perilous border. "Every night, I take the images of 7 October massacre with me to bed," says Sarit Zehavi, "and every morning I wake and say 'ok, the terrorists didn't invade again last night'. It's an existential threat in the deepest possible way." More from the Israel Gaza briefings Tonight features showers chances persisting through midnight. Well begin to dry out after midnight, but patchy dense fog is possible, especially in those river valley spots. Temperatures will be chillier overnight, with lows in the upper 30s. Saturday provides partly sunny skies after morning fog dissipates. Temperatures will rebound nicely after a chilly start as we make a run at 60 degrees with high pressure in control. Its a great day to enjoy outside and will certainly be a day of better weather conditions than last weekend! St. Patricks Day on Sunday brings a cold front through the region during the late morning. Most of the energy with this system will be too far north to provide shower chances. However, perhaps a stray sprinkle or two will be possible over Pocahontas County. It will be a breezy day thanks to that system being associated with a strong low pressure system, with high temperatures in the mid 50s. Wind gusts up to 35 mph will be possible. Monday provides the chance for a couple of flying flurries as a stout north/northwest breeze with a low pressure system off to east keeps the clouds around. That wind flow will drag some cold air into the region as we end our last full day of winter with highs only reaching the mid to upper 30s. Tuesday brings a secondary front through the region, though once again, most of the energy with this system will be north of our region due to the proximity of the aforementioned low pressure system. This means its not much in the way of precipitation once again just a flurry or two in the morning with the passage of the cold front, with highs in the low to mid 40s a pretty cold start to our first day of spring! Wednesday brings the sunshine back into the picture as high pressure goes back into control. As a result, we will see mostly sunny skies with a southwest breeze pushing temperatures up into the low 50s. Thursday is partly sunny to begin the day but by the afternoon, skies will see an increase in clouds, with perhaps a sprinkle or two toward dusk as our next system approaches. High temperatures will jump to around 60 degrees. Friday looks wet with an area of low pressure scooting through. As a result expect a wet day with mostly cloudy skies and high temperatures in the mid 50s. Looking ahead in your extended forecast, temperatures will hang around normal in the 40s and 50s. However, it is a wet pattern that continues to develop, with yet another storm system looking likely by Monday. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the mid to upper 40s and well jump into the 50s on Monday. Help us with our growing community of weather photos with #weathertogether. Head to our website and search for the Weather together tab and upload your photos of weather going on around our region. We are now in spring forest fire season in West Virginia this means dont burn between 7 AM and 5 PM. Low humidity values during the daytime, along with breezier and warmer conditions will at times increase the fire threat, hence the burn ban during most of the daytime. Follow all regulations or be faced with potential consequences, such as fines! TONIGHT Showers before midnight. Patchy fog toward dawn. Lows in the upper 30s. SATURDAY Partly sunny. Highs around 60. SUNDAY Partly sunny. Breezy. Highs in the mid 50s. MONDAY Few snow showers. Cold! Highs in the mid to upper 30s. TUESDAY Few flurries early, afternoon sun. Highs in the low 40s. WEDNESDAY Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 50s. THURSDAY Partly sunny. Increasing clouds late. Highs near 60. FRIDAY Showers likely. Highs in the mid 50s. SATURDAY Few sprinkles. Colder. Highs in the 40s. SUNDAY Partly sunny. Highs near 50. MONDAY Rain showers likely. Highs in the 50s. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. The election of Vaughan Gething as the new leader of Welsh Labour is a milestone. As he noted in his victory speech yesterday, when he becomes Waless First Minister it will make him the first black leader in any European country. This is a tribute to the openness of British society today, and another rebuke to those who insist that the UK is an intolerant, bigoted place. What really matters for voters, however, is whether a politician delivers on their priorities. On this front, Mr Gethings record is less than encouraging. He has been a key player in Labours misgovernment of Wales, which has brought economic stagnation and left public services in decline while the bill for woke jobs has spiralled. From 2018 to 2022, Englands economy grew by 2 per cent. Over the same period, the Welsh economy shrank by 1 per cent. Council tax has risen faster in Wales, and business rates are at the highest level in the UK. There are many unknowns about how Labour would actually govern nationally if it wins the general election. The worrying evidence from Wales is that taxes are likely to go up even as public services get even worse. A pattern of poor delivery can be seen across Welsh schools and the NHS. Welsh pupils scores in international league tables have declined since 2018. The gap between Welsh and English childrens PISA scores is the widest in a decade. NHS patients consistently wait longer for treatment in Wales and the numbers seeking treatment across the border in English hospitals instead has soared. These failures are not unrelated to the Welsh Labour administrations fondness for top-down control. During Covid, Wales became notorious for its extreme approach to lockdowns, maintaining the measures longer than almost anywhere else in Britain. Mr Gething himself clashed with Boris Johnson in early 2022 after the then prime minister lifted the requirement for those in England who contracted Covid to self-isolate. The latest symbol of ideological overreach by Welsh Labour is its hugely unpopular 20mph limit on nearly all restricted roads. Some polls have showed almost two thirds of the population opposing the policy. Yet Mr Gething still backs the radical shift, and simply says that its communication was badly handled. By contrast, Rishi Sunak continues his efforts to defend the motorist, with the announcement of a new sanction to punish councils that ignore local residents concerns over low-traffic neighbourhoods. The Conservative Partys record in standing up for motorists has been mixed at best. However, the evidence from Wales is that Labour will surrender to the eco-zealots seeking to limit road users at every turn. Mr Gething used his victory speech to call for Labour to sweep the Tories out and put Sir Keir Starmer in No 10. Labours record in Wales should make voters think twice. Fresh leadership cannot fix flawed policies. 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. Several countries, including the U.K., the U.S., and Canada, issued public statements denouncing Russia for holding an illegal vote in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Russia began three days of voting on March 15 in a pseudo-democratic presidential election that is expected to grant Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, six more years in office. Moscow is also organizing voting in occupied Crimea and parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts in violation of international law. "Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the sovereign Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea. These areas are a part of Ukraine," the U.K. Foreign Office said on X. The U.S. State Department said that "Russia is continuing to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence through sham elections held in occupied Ukrainian territories." "The U.S. does not and will never recognize the legitimacy or outcome of these sham elections," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us According to the Canadian Foreign Ministry, the sham election is "another direct attack on Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence that contravenes international law, including the United Nations Charter." "The world is not duped. We will continue to stand with Ukraine until its victory," the Canadian ministry said on X. Ukraine, 56 more countries, and the European Union condemned the vote following a U.N. Security Council meeting on March 15, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also denounced "the efforts of the Russian Federation to hold its presidential elections in areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation," according to his spokesperson. Moscow held sham "regional elections" in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine in September last year in an attempt to consolidate its control over these regions. Russia declared annexation of partially occupied Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts in September 2022, a step denounced by Ukraine and the international community as illegal and void. The Crimean peninsula was illegally annexed in March 2014 following a sham referendum staged by Russia in the absence of any international observers and with armed Russian soldiers present at polling locations. Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Some Westmoreland County residents gathered in Irwin to celebrate St. Patricks Day festivities. The Saint Patricks Day Food and Family Fun Fest returned to Irwin on Saturday. The festival featured Irish music and food. Kids were entertained by a balloon artist and mime. Saint Patrick himself also made an appearance to greet families. He said he visits Irwin annually. We do this every year- the St. Paddys Family Fun Fest. Were glad to see so many people. The streets are packed and were having a good time. The event was held on Irwins Main Street which business owners say gives them a big boost this time of year. Very busy - we get a lot of people here in downtown Irwin with all the different events that we have. There are a lot of things going on down here, said Ron Palarino, owner of Club Pure Imagination. The festival ran all day on Saturday. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 3-year-old girl hit by police motorcycle after St. Patricks Day Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh Woman dead after being rear-ended on I-70 in Westmoreland County, coroner says 3 people killed in Philadelphia suburb; victims identified, shooter barricaded VIDEO:Armed robbery at Pittsburgh beer distributor under investigation DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Key Insights The projected fair value for Van Elle Holdings is UK0.34 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of UK0.36 suggests Van Elle Holdings is potentially trading close to its fair value Peers of Van Elle Holdings are currently trading on average at a 24% discount In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Van Elle Holdings plc (LON:VANL) 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. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you 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. Check out our latest analysis for Van Elle Holdings What's The Estimated Valuation? We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK2.45m UK3.45m UK4.15m UK3.23m UK2.74m UK2.46m UK2.30m UK2.21m UK2.16m UK2.13m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -22.24% Est @ -15.08% Est @ -10.06% Est @ -6.55% Est @ -4.09% Est @ -2.37% Est @ -1.17% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% UK2.3 UK3.0 UK3.3 UK2.4 UK1.9 UK1.6 UK1.4 UK1.2 UK1.1 UK1.0 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK19m The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK2.1m (1 + 1.6%) (7.7% 1.6%) = UK36m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK36m ( 1 + 7.7%)10= UK17m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK36m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK0.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. AIM:VANL Discounted Cash Flow March 16th 2024 Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Van Elle Holdings as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.7%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.113. 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 Van Elle Holdings Strength Currently debt free. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year underperformed the Construction industry. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Construction market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Good value based on P/E ratio compared to estimated Fair P/E ratio. Threat No apparent threats visible for VANL. Looking Ahead: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Van Elle Holdings, we've compiled three fundamental aspects you should further research: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Van Elle Holdings . Future Earnings: How does VANL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. A 23-year-old Everson man has been found not guilty of murder for the January 2022 shooting death of his father. A jury acquitted Ethan Michael Knight of premeditated first-degree murder (domestic violence) and of a lesser charge of second-degree murder in Whatcom County Superior Court on Friday afternoon, March 15. We have believed in Ethan since the beginning and are very relieved by the good work of the jury. So happy that we were able to get Ethan released on bail throughout this very difficult process so that the last two years were not lost to him more than it was, Starck Follis, Director of the Whatcom County Public Defenders Office and one of Ethan Knights defense attorneys, said in a statement to The Herald. Prosecutors originally charged Ethan Knight on Jan. 11, 2022, with second-degree murder (domestic violence) for the Jan. 6, 2022 shooting death of his 46-year-old father, Michael Knight. Ethan Knights charges were upgraded in November 2022 to first-degree murder (domestic violence) after further investigation found cellphone video footage of the shooting that prosecutors said undercut the argument that he was fighting off a drunken attack from his father, The Herald previously reported. He pleaded not guilty to the amended charges Nov. 16, 2022, and had been out of custody since late January 2022, after his mother posted a $25,000 cash bond for him. The court previously reduced Ethan Knights bail from $1 million down to $250,000 with a $25,000 cash alternative, after his public defense attorneys said no danger existed of him committing a violent crime if released, The Herald previously reported. The first-degree murder charge alleged Ethan Knight acted with premeditated intent, and included aggravating factors for allegedly committing the crime against a family or household member and while armed with a firearm, according to court records. But in opening arguments in early March in Ethan Knights three-week jury trial, his defense team painted a picture of escalating violence in the home in the months and hours before the shooting that ended in a split-second life-or-death moment where the man had to defend both himself and his mother with a gun, ultimately resulting in his fathers death. The defense team argued Ethan Knight acted in self-defense something both he and his mother told law enforcement from the beginning. After roughly two days of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict, which was read aloud to a packed courtroom late Friday afternoon. Ethan Knight, the Whatcom County man accused of shooting and killing his father in 2022, was found not guilty of first-degree murder or second-degree murder in Whatcom County Superior Court on March 15, 2024. Knight, along with his supporters and defense attorneys, is seen in the courtroom after the not-guilty verdicts were announced. The court benches were filled with family, friends, legal officials, law enforcement and members of the public. Some attorneys and law enforcement members also stood, lining the sides of the courtroom. After the court clerk read the initial verdict acquitting Ethan Knight of first-degree murder, short gasps of relief could be heard from his family and friends. Following the reading of the verdict acquitting Ethan Knight of the lesser charge of second-degree murder, more gasps could be heard and numerous people were in tears. One member who was sitting in the court benches nodded and smiled at Ethan Knight in support as the two looked at one another. After Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Rob Olson excused the jury and released members of the public from keeping decorum in the courtroom, numerous people cheered, exhaled and broke into tears. At least half of the right-hand side of the courtroom stood up and clapped in support of the verdict after the jurors had been released from service and left the courtroom. Several family members and friends came forward to shake hands with Follis, the public defense director, and Maialisa Vanyo, chief deputy of the public defenders office, who both handled Ethan Knights case. Some also gave them hugs. Prior to leaving the courtroom, Ethan Knight also shook hands with the prosecution team, consisting of Whatcom County Chief Criminal Deputy Erik Sigmar and senior deputy prosecuting attorney Kacie Emerick. While shaking Emericks hand, Ethan Knight told her she did a really great job and that she had a great future ahead of her. Once Ethan Knight and his family left the courtroom and were outside of the courtroom doors, they let out a loud cheer in celebration. I knew from our first meeting with Ethan that we would not rest until he was exonerated, Vanyo, one of his defense attorneys, said. We are very proud of the work of the defense team and grateful for the jurys unanimous decision to find Ethan not guilty. Ethan and his family have been through so much. Now we hope they can find some peace and we wish Ethan every success. The Herald reached out to the prosecution team for comment. Amanda Bynes' career was one envied by child stars and actors alike. With her comedic chops and infectious personality, she became a beloved child star, cementing herself as one of Nickelodeons top talent in the early aughts. Bynes was 13 when she rose to fame as a cast member on the hit childrens variety show All That, co-starring alongside Kenan Thompson, Nick Cannon, Kel Mitchell and many others, before starring in her own comedy series, The Amanda Show. Bynes' discovery was seemingly referenced in an episode of the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. The controversial doc looks at the working condition of Nickelodeon, its stars and influence of producer Dan Schneider. All That (Everett Collection) Following Bynes' work on the teen network, was known as a comedy teen queen, covering magazines, starring in rom-coms, and winning awards for her roles. While Bynes' career was one filled with starring roles, the actor would go on to quit acting. Health setbacks, legal troubles and a conservatorship would ensue. Bynes has not responded to TODAY.com's March 2024 requests for comment. Here's a look back at Amanda Bynes' career, health and recovery. A rising Nickelodeon child star Born in Thousand Oaks, California, the 37-year-old actor began her career at the age of 7. Her big break came when she was offered a role in the Nickelodeon variety sketch show All That, appearing in skits from 1996 to 2000. It was a dream come true, she told Paper magazine in 2018 of being cast on the show. It was unbelievable for me. Bynes became a stand-out star on All That and eventually landed her own spinoff sketch show, The Amanda Show. The show, which ran from 1999 to 2002, also included Drake Bell (who earlier this month revealed he was sexually abused as a child star) and Josh Peck. Amanda Bynes (Everett Collection) Much like All That, The Amanda Show was known for its skits such as Judge Trudy, a Judge Judy spoof, as well as Moodys Point, The Girls Room and Totally Kyle. During her Nickelodeon run, the fan-favorite was nominated for and won multiple Kids Choice Awards. Teen queen of the rom-coms Bynes would go on to transition to the big screen, making her feature film debut in the 2002 comedy Big Fat Liar with Frankie Muniz. She was 15 at the time. At the same time, she transitioned into a more adult TV role when she starred as Holly Tyler in The WBs What I Like About You, co-starring former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth. Bynes continued her reign of popular romantic comedies, starring in 2003's What A Girl Wants, about a teen who goes to England to find the father shes never met. She's the Man (Everett Collection) The actor also starred in the comedy Shes the Man opposite Channing Tatum, a movie set in high school inspired by William Shakespeares Twelfth Night." Bynes also had a role in the 2007 musical feature film Hairspray and Sydney White, released the same year. But while Bynes' on-air characters seemingly ended up with fairytale endings, behind the scenes, the teen star was at odds with her family. Bynes reportedly ran away from home, according to multiple accounts featured in Quiet on Set." In a video shared to his YouTube page on March 19, former Nickelodeon showrunner Dan Schneider recounted how the then-teenage Bynes called him after she'd left her home during the early morning hours following a fight with her parents. "The phone rang, I answered. It was Amanda and she was upset, she was in distress she had had some conflict with her parents I think her father and she called me," he recalled. "I was immediately concerned about her safety. I called someone who I knew was fairly nearby. That person was able to go and pick her up, then I knew she was safe... she ended up being taken to the police." Bynes also tried to be emancipated from her parents when she was around 16 or 17, both "Quiet on Set" and Schneider said, which ultimately was not approved by a judge. In his March 19 video, Schneider said that Bynes had turned to "her team," including him for support as she tried to get emancipated. Amanda was between the ages of 16 and 17 and she wanted to get emancipated from her parents, which was a fairly common thing with successful young actors, at least at the time," he said. "She wanted that for herself, so she turned to her team which included her lawyer, her agent, her manager, her publicist, me because she included me as part of her team, thought of me that way. We supported her, she tried to get emancipated, it ended up not working out and she didnt." Drug use and departure from Hollywood Bynes final film before taking a step back from Hollywood was 2010s Easy A starring Emma Stone. Bynes portrayed Marianne, a devout Christian and leader of the Cross Your Heart Club. She was set to appear in the 2011 comedy "Hall Pass," but later dropped out and subsequently quit acting. In her Paper magazine interview, Bynes revealed that she started smoking marijuana when she was 16 but didnt get addicted then. Later on it progressed to doing molly and ecstasy, she said, adding that she tried "cocaine three times but I never got high from cocaine. I never liked it. It was never my drug of choice. She did, however, say she abused Adderall around the time of Hall Pass. Bynes explained that the Adderall tablets she took left her scatterbrained and wasnt able to focus on her lines or memorize them. At the same time, she felt self-conscious about her appearance. She recalled seeing herself on screen and literally tripping out and thinking my arm looked so fat. She said, she rushed off the set and thought, Oh my god, I look so bad. Her discomfort in seeing herself on screen continued when she saw a screening of Easy A. Bynes said that she was high on marijuana when she saw it and couldnt stand her appearance, so much so that she was convinced she should never be on camera again. Easy A (Everett Collection) I was high on marijuana when I saw that but for some reason it really started to affect me. I dont know if it was a drug-induced psychosis or what, but it affected my brain in a different way than it affects other people. It absolutely changed my perception of things, she said after watching herself in Easy A. After deciding to quit acting, she shared that she got really into my drug usage and it became a really dark and sad world for me. In November 2018, Bynes said she had been sober for almost four years. Her conservatorship, explained Bynes was placed in a conservatorship under her parents, Lynn and Rick Bynes, in 2013, following her substance abuse issues and legal troubles. Bynes, who was 26 at the time, was arrested in April 2012 on a misdemeanor DUI charge after hitting a cop car. Two years later, she pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving and was sentenced to three years of probation and three months of attending alcohol education classes, according to The Associated Press. In May 2013, she was arrested in New York after allegedly throwing a bong out of her window. She was charged with tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of marijuana. The case was dismissed months later. In July of 2013, she was detained for a mental health evaluation after allegedly starting a fire in a neighbor's driveway in Thousand Oaks, California. With her parents' support, Bynes filed to end her conservatorship in February 2022. A judge terminated the conservatorship the following month, according to NBC News. In the last several years, I have been working hard to improve my health so that I can live and work independently, and I will continue to prioritize my well-being in this next chapter, Bynes said in a statement following the ruling. I am excited about my upcoming endeavors including my fragrance line and look forward to sharing more when I can. Enrolling in school and personal life Bynes enrolled in Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles in 2014 and received an associate degree in merchandise product development. In 2019, she posted a photo of herself in her cap and gown at her FIDM graduation. In February 2020, she announced that she was engaged to a man named Paul Michael. They would go on to call off their engagement and break up in 2022, according to E! News. Continued health issues In May 2020, Bynes revealed in a quick update that she had spent two months in treatment. Months prior, her lawyer said she was seeking treatment for ongoing mental health issues and debunked rumors that she was suffering from drug or alcohol addiction issues. Worked on coping skills to help with my social anxiety that caused me to drop out of school months ago, she shared in a since-deleted Instagram. Back on track and doing well! Im now living in transitional living and doing therapy during the week. In March 2023, Bynes was placed in a 72-hour psychiatric hold. At the time, her longtime attorney told NBC News that he was not in a position to comment on the situation On April 11, a source close to the situation confirmed to NBC News that Bynes had been released from a medical facility and was receiving outpatient care. Amanda Bynes (Raymond Hall / GC Images) Where is Amanda Bynes now? Since then, Bynes has kept a low profile. She occasionally shares updates with her followers on her social media, but is known to delete videos and posts after sharing them. In late 2023, Bynes shared in an Instagram video that she was working on a podcast. However, she and her co-host, Paul Sieminski, only produced one episode before taking a pause. In a December TikTok, she explained that they were not able to get the type of guests that they wanted on the show. That same month, she revealed that she had plastic surgery on her eyelids. So I saw a couple of stories online that say I have a new look. And I was never open about this before, but I actually had blepharoplasty surgery on the skin folds and the corners of my eye so I dont have those skin folds anymore, she explained in a since-deleted TikTok. Bynes said that it was one of the best things she couldve done for her confidence. Since then, she has shared minor looks at her life on her Instagram. Her last post was in January, when she posted a photo of her with two friends at dinner. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the closing arguments in the Trump Organization civil fraud trial at New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., January 11, 2024. Donald Trump's long journey through the American legal system took a few new twists and turns this week. And each new development is making it less and less likely that the former president will stand trial before he stands before the American people in November's presidential election. Here's a look at the latest on each of the big prosecutions targeting Mr Trump and when, or if, they might begin. Banner for New York hush money case New York document dump Mr Trump's New York City trial on charges that his hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels constituted business fraud and violated federal campaign finance laws was scheduled a week from Monday, on 25 March. That's no longer the case. The US justice department just turned over more than 73,000 pages of documents related to its own hush-money investigations that the Trump legal team had subpoenaed back in January. Another 15,000 pages are still expected. "Prosecutors have been stumbling a bit," says John Coffee, a professor at Columbia University. He adds that the confusion and delays in producing documents make it seem as though the justice department and the New York district attorney's office are feuding. The former president's lawyers requested a 30-day trial delay, which the New York prosecutors agreed not to block. That's just the start, though. Mr Trump's lawyers want hearings into why the documents, which include witness interviews, took so long to produce. They also want an additional delay for time to review the new evidence and prevent the trial from starting on Passover and, for good measure, a dismissal of the case entirely. Trial date: Originally scheduled for 25 March, on Friday it was delayed until April, at the earliest. Banner for Georgia 2020 election case Fani's choice After days of tense legal hearings, the judge presiding over the sprawling 2020 election-interference case against Mr Trump and 18 of his co-defendants issued his decision on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could remain in charge of the prosecution. The answer was yes - but with a catch. Either she or Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired - and had a romantic relationship with - would have to step aside. Mr Wade resigned on Friday. Judge Scott McAfee said that there were "reasonable questions" about whether the two attorneys had testified untruthfully and an "appearance of impropriety" that had to be remedied. While he ultimately concluded that evidence did not support removing the district attorney entirely, such language will provide plenty of ammunition for Mr Trump and his team to use in the court of public opinion, where they might be able to shape the views of prospective jurors. "Everybody here is likely to be influenced by the news coverage of the judge's decision," says Adrienne Jones, an assistant political science professor at Atlanta's Morehouse College. "It's not likely people are ignorant of what's happening." The judge's announcement comes just a few days after he dismissed three of the 13 charges against the former president for being too vague. Prosecutors will have an opportunity to clarify and re-indict Mr Trump, however. Trial date: The prosecution has proposed an 5 August start. Banner for classified documents case Classified files slow-walk Down in Fort Pierce, Florida, Judge Aileen Cannon has been reviewing a series of attempts by Trump's legal team to get the federal case against the president for obstruction of justice and mishandling classified documents dismissed. On Thursday, she rejected one of the motions - but she must decide on six others and seems in no big hurry to do so. She is also expected to issue a decision at some point on a schedule for when the trial will begin. At the moment, the start date is 20 May, but both the prosecution and Mr Trump's teams have suggested pushing that back. Ms Cannon, who was appointed to the federal bench by the former president, is considering how to handle disclosure of the troves of classified documents that are part of the case, and any decision - or appeal of that decision - could lead to even more extensive delays. Trial date: Special Counsel Jack Smith has offered 8 July as a rescheduled start. Mr Trump's lawyers have said that if the case isn't pushed after the election entirely, the earliest they would be ready to begin is August. Banner for Capitol riot and 2020 election case Supreme Court limbo The biggest case against the former president, the federal prosecution for his role in the 6 January, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, is also the one that is in the most doubt. The US Supreme Court has agreed to review whether Mr Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for actions he took as president. The high court stepped in after two lower-level courts ruled that the trial could proceed. Last week, the court set oral arguments for the case on 25 April, and at this rate the justices may not issue a decision until the end of June, near the end of their formal session. Once the Supreme Court hands down its ruling, assuming it does not say that Mr Trump is immune, the judge presiding over the trial has estimated that it will take an additional 88 days to get ready for a trial. This all plays into Mr Trump's primary legal strategy, which has been to push back all the legal cases against him for as long as possible and, if preferable, until after the November election. If he wins there, and returns to the presidency in January 2025, there are multiple ways he could make the federal cases against him disappear. "They are the masters of delay," says Prof Jones. Trial date: Not scheduled and not expected anytime soon. With additional reporting by Kayla Epstein Long Lockdown takes many forms, all of them baleful. One of its grimmest aspects is that the proportion of the working age population in employment still has not returned to its pre-pandemic rate. The number of people off work with assorted sicknotes and invalidity claims has risen since Covid by 700,000, reaching 2.8 million. This week we learned that two thirds of incapacity benefits applications now involve mental or behavioural disorders, and that 20,000 claimants are being added to the rolls each month. Meanwhile, the backlog of people waiting for mental health treatment on the NHS stands at an astonishing 1.9 million. Quite apart from the individual suffering represented by those figures, there is a colossal national cost. We are spending around 30 billion each year on various incapacity benefits. By the end of the decade, on present trends, it will be 48 billion. To put those numbers in context, the price of taking two pence off National Insurance a cut that was itself a response to the worklessness crisis is 10 billion a year. What is going on? Were hundreds of thousands of us driven insane by two years of lockdown? Have we become a nation of Rab C Nesbitts, gaming the benefits system by feigning invisible conditions? Or is it that we are belatedly opening up about disorders we used to suffer in silence? Before answering, stand back and consider how quickly the crisis has come upon us. At the Chalke Valley History Festival a couple of years ago, I listened awestruck to a Second World War airman describing how he had been shot down and interned in a POW camp before escaping and returning to the fray. When he finished, a young woman in the audience asked whether he had been offered any counselling after his trauma. Counselling? replied the veteran, genuinely baffled. Oh, no, dear, we had enough on our plates with the Germans. You might see his attitude as admirably stoical or as heart-breakingly repressed. Either way, it is all but incomprehensible to a generation taught to focus on the inner self. Powerful campaigns by members of the Royal family and assorted celebrities have succeeded in removing stigma from mental health problems. We have gone, in a dizzyingly short time, from being a buttoned-up people who regarded emotional display as self-indulgent to a people who talk endlessly about their mental wellbeing. Talk has consequences. In one survey, 65 per cent of British adults claimed to have experienced some form of mental health problem. The number of patients taking anti-depressants has surged, and there is so much of the stuff in our waste water that it is reportedly affecting fish in the Channel. Which seems likelier? Have conditions that were previously festering in the dark been exposed to fresh air and sunshine? Or is mental disability becoming more widespread out of a kind of tragic fashion? The answer, though saying so always causes great offence, is a bit of both. Awareness of mental health has, on balance, been positive. Schools are geared up to recognise and treat sufferers. We are much likelier to acknowledge the value of people with personality disorders in the workplace. At the same time, opening up about mental health encourages some people to medicalise what are, in reality, emotional states that everyone experiences. Listen to the way our language has shifted. Clinical depression is a wretched affliction that leaves sufferers overcome by waves of hopelessness. But the word depression is also now used to signify nothing more than the sadness that is part of the human condition. Some people say Im depressed when they mean Im unhappy. Others say I have anxiety when they mean Im nervous. Yet others say I have PTSD when they mean I have had a nasty experience. In such a climate, it is hardly surprising that more people might believe they have a psychiatric disorder. Yes, some are now being diagnosed with conditions that would otherwise have gone undetected. But others are using the phrase mental health to mean, in effect, feelings. When I described it as a fashion, I was not being flippant. Psychiatrists know that social media can be a spread vector for mental disorders. When an online community sacralises psychiatric conditions (we live in an age when suffering is the highest virtue), some teenagers, craving acceptance, might start to display symptoms. The surge in benefits claims has not happened in a vacuum. We are in a cultural moment when both claimants and assessors are primed to assume that a self-diagnosed mental disorder is debilitating. Any benefits system is bound to have unintended outcomes. We are made, as Kant said, of crooked timber. Under any conceivable set of rules, some deserving people go without, and some undeserving people qualify. Pointing to such people makes a powerful emotional argument; but they are inescapable, wherever we draw the line. The reforms introduced by Iain Duncan Smith made taking a job more attractive, and living on benefits less so. Even with this latest rise, Britain still has proportionately more adults in work than the EU, and more than under the last Labour government. But, precisely because the rules were tightened after 2010, some workshy people switched to incapacity benefits, which are not conditional on looking for a job, and which can be paid on top of universal credit. Look online and you find numerous guides to what to say if you want to be put on various benefits: you get this number of points for not being able to sit still at a desk, this many for not knowing what to wear and so on. At the same time, there may well have been a real upsurge in anxiety and depression. For the better part of two years, we told people that it was dangerous to set foot outside their homes. Young people, denied social lives, were forced online. My own guess, though, is that the single biggest driver of these numbers is neither skiving nor lockdown-induced psychosis, but a wider societal decision to expand the definition of mental health, to accept self-diagnosis, and to treat any behavioural disorder as the equivalent of a physical disability. Oddly enough, it doesnt matter which of these explanations is correct. The solution is often the same: a job. If people are pretending to be ill, they should work. If they have clinical anxiety or depression then, in many cases, the worst possible thing is to pay them to stay at home, feeling superfluous. The psychiatrist Clay Routledge argues that focusing on what others need from you is the best way to keep your mental stability. This conclusion may be surprising in an era that extols the necessity of self-care, but the more people direct their energy toward having a positive impact on the lives of others, the more they will reap benefits for their own mental health. Ministers know it. Mel Stride, the quietly effective Work and Pensions Secretary, is tightening the work capability assessment procedure, a move the OBR says will cut the number of claimants by 371,000. But this is not primarily about saving money; it is about saving people. Winston Churchill battled all his life with what he called the Black Dog of depression. The only way he could fend off that shadowy hound was by throwing himself into activity writing, speech-making, politicking. What we do is a big part of who we are. When we ask children What do you want to be? we dont invite the answer a Liverpool fan or a jazz aficionado. We expect them to name a profession. The tragedy of the current numbers is that, instead of finding identity in work, and in the people who depend on them because of that work, many of our fellow citizens are finding identity in their conditions. It is a burden for taxpayers, for their families and, above all, for them. But we know, in most cases, how to lift that burden. The best therapy of all can be a steady job. 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. Gorrell third grader Eliana DeMando, middle, fist bumps Ohio's Division of State Fire Marshal safety educator Ashley Terry as fire safety educator Kyle Wobler looks on. Eliana was honored earlier this week as one of six winners in the agency's poster contest. MASSILLON "Fire won't wait, plan your escape." That is the message Gorrell Elementary student Eliana DeMando used on her award-winning fire safety poster. Ohio's Division of State Fire Marshal representatives visited the school this week to surprise Eliana with news of her big win. The Massillon Fire Department encourages local students to create a fire safety poster for the state's yearly contest. The department selects the two posters that are submitted to the state contest for consideration. Officials from the fire marshal's office select winners. Eliana was among six winners in the kindergarten through third grade division. Officials surprised the 9-year-old during an assembly Tuesday at the school. "Whose poster is this?" safety educator Kyle Wobler asked. Eliana raised her hand shyly. She was praised for her artwork and received several gifts, including a Target gift card, a smoke detector, a proclamation from Massillon Mayor Jamie Slutz proclaiming March 12 as Eliana DeMando Day. Eliana said she was excited when she learned that she won the contest; she was already planning to use her gift card on gum, slime and maybe a craft kit. She said her mom, Jill, helped her come up with the idea. Her mom was surprised to learn Eliana had won. "I forgot about it," she said, noting they submitted the poster in October during fire prevention week. "We know it's important to know a way out. We had fun doing it." Massillon City Schools: 'Best of class': Construction begins on Massillon's new elementary schools After the award presentation, students were treated to a visit from Kasey the fire dog. The Kasey program is designed to teach students from preschool to sixth grade life-saving skills in an entertaining way. Jeff Owens, program founder and a Carmel, Indiana, firefighter, brings Kasey, a black Labrador, and some other doggie friends to demonstrate fire safety tips. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com. This article originally appeared on The Independent: Gorrell student one of six winners in state fire safety poster contest Feeling extra lucky this weekend? It's officially the start of St. Patrick's Day weekend and even if you're not Irish, you now have an excuse to get your green on. Across the state, there's several St. Paddy's Day events to attend, including pub crawls, block parties where you can indulge in Irish cuisine and parades to catch. Here's a look at how this beloved holiday came to be and how it has changed over time. When is St. Patrick's Day 2024? Is it always on the same day? March 11, 2023: Parade attendees reach for cash thrown by Mike Pagliccia during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Naples, Fla. St. Patricks Day will fall on Sunday, March 17. The reason it is celebrated on the 17th is because it is the day St. Patrick is believed to have died. Is St. Patrick's Day a federal holiday? St. Patrick's Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. Post offices, banks, and most businesses and stores will be open on Friday, even amid parades and other celebrations. What is the meaning behind St. Patrick's Day? St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, brought to the Emerald Isle when he was kidnapped and enslaved. Though he eventually escaped, he returned and advanced Christianity throughout the island. Brian Witt, the cultural exhibits coordinator for Milwaukee Irish Fest, told USA Today the day gives Irish and Irish Americans the opportunity to "celebrate their heritage." Elizabeth Stack, executive director of Albany's Irish American Heritage Museum, also agreed that the parades in places like the states and England convey "that the Irish people have made a contribution to the society that they were sort of welcomed, that they were accepted as citizens." It is still a bank holiday and a big family day in Ireland, even though St. Patrick himself was supposedly born in Britain. Why does the United States celebrate St. Patrick's Day? How did an Irish holiday make its way to America? The National Portrait Gallery says Irish soldiersoften indentured servantsin the British Army brought the holiday to America back in the late 1700's. Saint Patrick was originally celebrated for bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century and, up until the mid-20th century, the NPG says the holiday remained modest and grounded in religion. It wasn't until the 1960s that in Ireland, St. Patricks Day took on more celebratory, fun traditions. Why do we wear green? Plenty of green beer will be poured this Saturday for St. Patrick's Day in Southwest Florida. Wearing green on St. Patricks Day actually comes from 18th century Ireland, when Irish people made green a symbol of Irish rebellion and nationalism under Britains rule. Wearing green on the holiday was loosely tied to Saint Patrick, but a more direct symbol of the patron saint of Ireland was the three-leaf shamrock. The significance of the three-leafed shamrock comes from St. Patrick himself, Irish Historian Elizabeth Stack said in a History.com article. He used the shamrock to describe the three forms of God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit to convert early Irish people to Christianity. Theres also a superstitious reason for wearing green on St. Paddys, but its origin is more American than Irish. The legend suggests that wearing green will keep you safe from being pinched by a leprechaun. No one in Ireland is worried that they will be pinched if they don't wear green, History.com says. The mischievous mythical creatures dont actually have anything to do with the feast day of Irelands patron saint, who is credited with spreading Christianity on the island in the Fifth Century, in part by blending its rituals with customs of the ancient Celtic pagan religion. Irish people in America, Florida by the numbers According to a press release from the United States Census Bureau, many Americans have something to celebrate this St. Patrick's Day: 30.7 million U.S residents claimed Irish ancestry in 2022. Cook County Illinois, which includes Chicago, is the nation's county with the largest Irish-American population, according to 2022 data. The population comes in at 418,997. 112,251 U.S. residents were born in Ireland. A 2023 Forbes report based on Census numbers, said Florida ranked fourth for states with most people of Irish Heritage in the country with 1.8 million Floridians. Where was the first St. Patricks Day celebrated in America? Corvera d Asturies Pipe Band - St. Augustine St. Patrick Parade Would you have guessed it was in Florida? While the first St. Patricks Day parade in Ireland was in Waterford in 1903, according to IrishCentral, the first American version of a St. Patricks Day was in 1601, in a Spanish Colony that is now St. Augustine, Florida. And the first recorded celebration of St. Patricks Day in the country was also in St. Augustine, one year earlier than the first parade. The sensational information was uncovered in December 2017 by historian Dr. J. Michael Francis in a gunpowder expenditures log in Spain's Archivo General de Indias, or AGI, IrishCentrals website says. Thats well over 100 years before the first recorded St. Patricks Day parades in Boston and New York City. Still looking at St. Patrick's Day parades to watch this weekend? See these Florida parades this weekend: Community members crowd the sidewalk along Atlantic Ave. to take in the 53rd Annual Delray Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade March 11, 2023. Saturday, March 16 Sunday, March 17 This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: St. Patrick's Day 2024: Everything to know about the Irish holiday Born in 1593, Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi was the first woman to establish herself as a successful artist in a profession long dominated by men. One of the most striking aspects of her work is the way she paints women. Her male contemporaries tended to portray women as passive victims or tentative actors. Artemisias women, on the other hand, defend themselves, scheme and relish in perpetrating violence. When Italian painter Caravaggio painted the biblical scene of Judith beheading Holofernes, he depicted Judith as uneasy even squeamish as she decapitates him. But in Artemisias rendering of Judith Beheading Holofernes, Artemisia paints a determined Judith slaughtering the Assyrian general. The brutal and bloody act takes place with the assistance of Judiths female accomplice, who pins Holofernes down. In our new book, Women as War Criminals: Gender, Agency, and Justice, we chose Artemisias depiction of Judith for the cover because the painting shows that women, just like men, are capable of perpetrating violence and inciting genocidal acts. Yet four centuries after Artemisia painted Judith, gender stereotypes and outdated assumptions about women as peaceful and innocent prevent women from being seen as blameworthy. This matters, because if women are treated as less capable in one regard even one that involves horrible atrocities it can extend to other realms, too. Women war criminals go free International courts, military trials and domestic criminal justice systems often ignore or downplay womens acts of violence. Take the Nuremberg trials, the series of international military tribunals that prosecuted Nazi war criminals. Many Nazi women escaped trial and punishment for their roles in the Holocaust because prosecutors focused on high-level Nazi leaders, exempting those in roles commonly held by women, such as secretaries and clerks. Decades later, the United Nations international tribunals that investigated atrocities committed in Rwanda and Yugoslavia in the 1990s brought, in each instance, only one woman to justice. Women were overlooked by international tribunals despite their involvement in perpetrating violence because they were rarely in positions to command others. Nonetheless, Rwandan women participated in murders of adults and children, revealed hiding spots to killing squads and refused to feed refugees. Some of the thousands of women who served in military units across the former Yugoslavia participated in ethnic cleansing by committing extrajudicial killings and acts of torture. The same double standard prevails in the 21st century. The only woman indicted in the 20-year history of the International Criminal Court is Simone Gbagbo, the former first lady of Cote dIvoire. Gbagbo was indicted in 2012 on four counts of crimes against humanity, sexual violence and persecution for her role in the violence that followed her husbands loss in the 2011 elections. In 2015, she was convicted of undermining the security of the state and sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Ivorian court. She was later acquitted of crimes against humanity and in 2018 received a presidential pardon. She was ultimately never brought before the International Criminal Court. Simone Gbagbo never faced the International Criminal Court. Sia Kambou/AFP via Getty Images Strategies to skirt blame When women are taken to court, some will use gender strategically in an effort to secure favorable treatment. Some, for example, claim that men made them do it. Despite her political rank, Biljana Plavsic, former co-president of Republika Srpska in Bosnia, argued during her trial that she was manipulated by men in similar leadership positions. Lesser-known women have used similar arguments. Samantha Elhassani, an American sentenced to 6 years in prison for aiding and abetting the Islamic State, had her sentence reduced by arguing that her husband, who was killed fighting for the group, had misled and abused her. Similarly, the defense team for Lynndie England, who was court-martialed and sentenced to three years in prison by the U.S. Army after she posed in the infamous photos of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, argued that she was just following the lead of her manipulative boyfriend. Studies have also shown that when women choose to plead guilty or show remorse, they are more likely to see reduced charges and sentences, especially if their behavior contrasts with defiant male defendants. For example, after Plavsic pleaded guilty to one count of persecution on political, racial and religious grounds, the prosecution dropped the remaining eight charges, which included genocide. In contrast, Radovan Karadzic, who served as co-president alongside Plavsic, pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He received a 40-year sentence that was increased to life in prison on appeal. After Biljana Plavsic pleaded guilty while claiming she had been manipulated she received a light sentence. Michel Porro/Getty Images Closing the gap Advocates of criminal justice reform argue that societies around the world and the United States in particular would benefit from lighter sentences and less punitive criminal justice systems. Justice, then, would imply not harsher sentences for women, but rather fewer disparities in the treatment of men and women. The fact that women can occupy the dual role of oppressor and oppressed is a reality that is still not fully understood. Yet 400 years ago, Artemisia skillfully portrayed women as victims and as victimizers. Adamant about her own capabilities, she once told one of her patrons, Ill show you what a woman can do. Centuries later, her words are just as resonant. Though Artemisia was popular in her era, art historians tended to overlook her contributions to the canon. No longer. In 2020 the National Gallery in London finally devoted a full-scale exhibition to this Baroque master. Her works reflect that womens agency is a double-edged sword. Women are capable of not just of achievement but also of depravity. 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: Jessica Trisko Darden, Virginia Commonwealth University and Izabela Steflja, Tulane University Read more: Jessica Trisko Darden is affiliated with the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. Izabela Steflja is affiliated with the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University. Workers prepare sides of fresh farmed salmon for filleting and packaging in the processing plant at a fish farm operated by Salmar ASA on the island of Froya, Norway, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. Norwegian salmon farmers slumped in Oslo as Russia retaliated against economic sanctions with import bans on food products including fish. Credit - Kristian Helgesen-Bloomberg/Getty Images The popularity of farmed Atlantic salmon on dinner tables worldwide has been a disaster for the king of fish. A new study determined that 865 million farmed salmon have died in mass die-offs in the last decade. The scientists blame the deaths on several factors, from ocean warming caused by climate change to the aquaculture industrys overuse of antibiotics and pesticides and its aggressive attempts to increase production. Beyond the staggering number of dead fish, the findings raise questions about the future of growing salmon in cages on the oceanand aquaculture in general. Salmon farming has expanded rapidly in the past 25 years into a $20 billion-a-year industry. Farmed salmon are advertised as an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to the need for animal protein for the worlds growing population. But mass die-offs and other controversies have challenged these claims. Salmon are raised in crowded cages floating near coastlines, called open-net pen farms. A single farm can contain a million or more fish, leading to high concentrations of diseases and parasites that kill farmed salmon and endanger nearby marine life and migrating wild salmon. The nets extend 30 feet below the surface and allow currents to sweep excess feed, excrement, and chemicals into the surrounding waters. The peer-reviewed paper published this month in Nature was the first to analyze global data on these sudden die-offs. The scientists found that these events are increasingly common and killing more fish. The data came from the four largest salmon-producing countries, Norway, Chile, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as two smaller producers, Australia and New Zealand. Among the common causes were lax government regulation, competition among companies to meet rising demand, and warming waters caused by the climate crisis, Dr. Gerald Singh, an assistant professor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and a co-author of the study, told us. With climate change, I suspect more of these events will occur, he said. Read More: 3 Reasons to Avoid Farmed Salmon Ocean temperatures show no sign of cooling. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature of the oceans surface in 2023 was the highest since record keeping began in 1850and 2.21 degrees F above the average for the 20th century. It is a trend with potentially catastrophic consequences, not just for farmed salmon but other marine species and the planets ability to avoid extreme weather events. Salmon are cold-water fish. Warm water contains less oxygen, making it harder for salmon to breathe. Marine biologists have tracked both Atlantic and Pacific salmon migrating to the Arctic in search of a more hospitable environment. Farmed salmon, however, are trapped in cages and cannot make the journey toward colder water. Last year, when a record 17.4 million farmed salmon died in Scotland, processors blamed warming water. The deaths of 100,000 salmon at two farms off the coast of Maine were attributed to low oxygen in the water, likely a result of rising temperatures. At least 2.6 million salmon died at 10 farms along the coast of Newfoundland in eastern Canada in late summer of 2019 during a prolonged spell of warm water. An inquiry into the die-off concluded that the salmon were already under stress from chemical treatments for parasites and suffocated after swimming to the bottom of the pens in search of cooler water. Warming waters also allow parasites and viruses to thrive inside the cages, requiring farms to use more chemicals to try to stop outbreaks that can wipe out entire farms. Rising temperatures also contribute to algal blooms, which threaten salmon by further depleting oxygen levels. The salmon farming industry has had limited success combatting die-offs, which cost it billions of dollars every year. Instead, it has responded to the losses by increasing production, which has led to greater profits. For instance, Norways Mowi ASA, the worlds biggest salmon farming company, reported a record profit of more than $1 billion along with record production in 2023. Concerns about fish welfare, threats to endangered wild salmon, and ocean pollution have sparked calls from environmentalists and animal rights activists to remove salmon farms from the ocean. Some groups advocate moving salmon farms to land-based facilities where water temperature and other conditions can be controlled. Bill Taylor, president of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, an international organization dedicated to protecting wild salmon, said the salmon farming industry is only accountable to shareholders and is focused on short-term profits. The only way salmon farmers can really do this is to pump more fish into more cages, accept massive losses, and eke out a few more fillets at the end of a growing cycle, Taylor said in an email interview. There is no future for salmon aquaculture in ocean sea cages. But Dr. Charles Mather, a professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland and a co-author of the Nature paper, told us that the highly profitable industry has absorbed mass mortalities for years and that these events wont be what forces salmon farms out of the water. I would look to Washington State to see how to get nets out of the water, he said in an email interview. Washington State banned non-native fish farms from its waters after the collapse of a salmon farm in Puget Sound sent 250,000 alien Atlantic salmon into the home waters of Pacific salmon. A state investigation concluded the collapse was caused by negligence, not climate change. But public outrage was so strong that elected officials enacted the ban within weeks. Similar attempts to remove or restrict salmon farms in Canada, Scotland, Norway, Chile, and Australia have struggled. But opponents of ocean-based salmon farming hope that the new data on die-offs will buttress their case with consumers and producers that salmon farming on the ocean is unsustainable for the fish and the marine ecosystem. The increasing frequency and size of mass mortality events on open-net salmon farms is the result of an unsustainable industry operating beyond natural limits, in an increasingly unpredictable and uncontrollable environment, Rachel Mulrenan, Scotland director of the UK environmental charity WildFish, which was not involved in the study, said in an email interview. Contact us at letters@time.com. After weeks of spring-like warmth, parts of the United States will briefly plunge back into winter this week, with below-freezing temperatures possible for much of the eastern half of the country. Tuesday marks the official start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere after the warmest winter on record. But it seems Mother Nature has the seasons mixed up, because spring will feel more like winter early this week. More than half the US population will experience temperatures at or below freezing. The cold isnt just an anomaly, it will pose a risk for agricultural interests in the Southeast with the growing season underway there. Freeze warnings stretch from Texas to North Carolina because of the risk to crops. The chilly weather will be a shock for many in the eastern half of the country experiencing warmer than average temperatures this past week. Many southern cities had highs in the 70s on Saturday but that changed Sunday as cold crept into the Midwest and progressed south and east. Colder air has become widespread across much of the eastern half of the country Monday and will keep most of the region quite chilly Tuesday. St Louis could see more than a 20-degree swing from the high 60s Saturday to the low 40s Monday. Atlantas high temperature could drop by as much as 15 degrees from Saturday to Monday, from the low 70s to the mid-50s. These temperatures might not be frigid, but in parts of the South theyre more typical for the heart of winter. Memphis, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, are both forecast to see a high temperature around 50 degrees on Monday more typical for mid-January. The cold air will continue to spread east Monday night into Tuesday, finally reaching much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. New York City will drop from a high of 61 degrees Saturday to the mid-40s Tuesday. CNN Weather Philadelphias high temperature on Tuesday is expected to be in the upper 40s, more typical of late February. Low temperatures will also be dropping. Temperatures in the Southeast Tuesday morning will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal for this time of the year. Atlanta, Charlotte, and Birmingham, Alabama, are all expected to see temperatures drop into the low 30s Tuesday morning, presenting the greatest risk to plants. The timing of this potential freeze is not out of the ordinary. Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta experienced their final freeze right around the spring equinox last year. But the threat to plant life is more substantial given the warmth preceding it. Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing, the National Weather Service in Atlanta said. Bringing plants indoors is the easiest way to protect them from a hard freeze, but if you cant do that, covering them can also help. Sheets, towels or blankets can be used to help trap the radiant heat from the ground around the plants. Use stakes with your plant coverings or drape them over patio furniture so they dont crush the plant. Temperatures will rebound rather quickly across the Southeast by the end of the week, so hang on to that sunscreen and allergy medicine, as spring will be in full swing shortly. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LAKE WINNEBAGO, Wis. (WFRV) The supper club community is rallying around the owner of Wendts on the Lake, Ann Wendt-Cross, who was brought to tears by social media posts that said they were on the verge of closing. Several members of the global Facebook group Wisconsin Supper Club Enthusiasts gathered at the supper club along Lake Winnebago on the final weekend of sturgeon spearing season to show their support. Only Local 5 News was invited along for supper. Twin Brothers Cafe and Supper Club opens in Green Bay while still finishing remodeling Poor Ann was so emotional, said Alicia Heesacker from Green Bay, We saw her on Local 5 News saying were not closing, so I was like, lets go and bring them more business. Alicias husband, Don, was along for the ride. The couple dressed in 1940s-inspired fashion. They have gotten into the habit of dressing up now for supper in tribute to the heyday of this beloved tradition of enjoying a leisurely supper with friends at a neighborhood place where the owner is either in the kitchen or behind the bar. People used to get all dressed up, Don said. When we started coming to supper clubs, I wore a T-shirt and jeans. Then, I was like, I want to be more like people were. One of the administrators of the Enthusiasts page also felt it was important to make the trip. Keith Arnold is a Wisconsin native who drove more than four hours from his current home in Minnesota. He said he wanted to do whatever he could to protect his home states way of life. That is one of the main focuses of this group, explained Arnold. We want to support local business owners because these small businesses in Wisconsin are what brings the whole state together. The day ended with a spearer proudly displaying his sturgeon, which he had finally gotten after 15 days of trying. He turned out to be a cousin of the supper clubs owner. Finally got one, declared Brian Wendt to the congratulations of a small group that gathered outside the supper club to hang his prize. Right moment. Got the spear. Got the fish! Cattails Supper Club in Winnebago County serves corned beef all year long A short time later, another cousin arrived to celebrate their wedding with the bride and groom, who were still in their ceremonial finest. This is no fish tale. It all really happened and its a story that might make you say only in Wisconsin. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Key Insights The projected fair value for Marshalls is UK2.17 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Marshalls' UK2.91 share price signals that it might be 34% overvalued Our fair value estimate is 46% lower than Marshalls' analyst price target of UK4.04 Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Marshalls What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK42.9m UK49.1m UK43.9m UK40.9m UK39.2m UK38.2m UK37.8m UK37.6m UK37.7m UK38.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x5 Analyst x1 Est @ -6.74% Est @ -4.23% Est @ -2.47% Est @ -1.23% Est @ -0.37% Est @ 0.23% Est @ 0.65% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.1% UK39.7 UK42.0 UK34.7 UK29.9 UK26.5 UK23.9 UK21.8 UK20.1 UK18.7 UK17.4 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK275m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. 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 1.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK38m (1 + 1.6%) (8.1% 1.6%) = UK594m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK594m ( 1 + 8.1%)10= UK272m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK547m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK2.9, the company appears potentially overvalued at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. LSE:MSLH Discounted Cash Flow March 16th 2024 The 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 Marshalls as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.185. 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 Marshalls 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 Basic Materials market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the British market. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. 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. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Marshalls, we've put together three fundamental aspects you should look at: Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Marshalls that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does MSLH'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 LSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. A 31-year-old woman from Belarus has died after she was chased by a bear in the north of Slovakia, officials said. The Slovak Mountain Rescue Service said the woman's body had been recovered from the forest in Slovakia's Low Tatras mountains on Friday evening. She had been walking with a male companion when they were set upon by a bear. According to the man, he and the woman fled in different directions. The area has thick forest and steep ravines. Slovak authorities said the two were walking in Demanovska Valley when they were chased. The woman's body was discovered by a search dog shortly after her companion went for help. The bear was still nearby, and was frightened off by the Mountain Rescue Service with warning shots from a gun. It remains unclear how the woman died - whether she fell to her death or was killed by the bear. The deputy environment minister said if it had been the latter the authorities would make that information public immediately and would not conceal it. There have been a number of bear attacks in recent years including one fatal attack in 2021, reported to be the first in Slovakia for a century. Members of Slovakia's new populist nationalist government have spoken out against what they say is excessive EU environmental protection for predators such as wolves and bears, which have returned to Slovakia via the Carpathian mountains in the decades since the fall of Communism in 1989. Bears are common across the Carpathian mountain range, stretching from Romania through western Ukraine on to Slovakia and Poland. The Environment Ministry said that together with Romania it would present a proposal at the next EU Council of environment ministers to reclassify bears on the protected species list, as their numbers mean they are no longer endangered and can be selectively culled. Researchers however say there has been no explosion in Slovakia's estimated bear population, which they say remains stable at around 1,275. Map of Slovakia showing Low Tatras The U.S. Department of Justice announced a man and woman had been sentenced for their parts in a conspiracy to import and sell fentanyl and methamphetamine from Mexico. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Alba Ordonez-Ordonez was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to transport and distribute fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills and methamphetamine in the Atlanta area. Jose Guadalupe Canizales-Rivera was sentenced for helping her with her methamphetamine operation, justice officials said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said the charges and evidence presented in court are from a Feb. 17, 2021 U.S. Customs and Border Protection operation in Erlanger, Ky. CBP agents conducted a border search in Erlanger of a shipment the USDOJ said was bound for Georgia, which contained an air condition unit that had entered the U.S. from Mexico. A search of the unit revealed more than two kilograms of a white powder hidden inside the compressor of the air conditioner, which tested positive for methamphetamine. TRENDING STORIES: The shipment was supposed to arrive at a home in Norcross, Ga., so Homeland Security Invesitgations special agents and task force officers in Atlanta made a controlled delivery of the drugs to the house. At the home, Ordonez-Ordonez and Canizales-Rivera signed for the package, receiving the air unit. USDOJ said the two then went to disassemble the air conditioner, and agents executed a search warrant at the house. Inside, agents discovered over 700 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a mailed package containing more than 4,000 pills with markings like oxycodone that actually contained lethal amounts of fentanyl and drug trafficking paraphernalia. The investigation by federal agents also showed that Ordonez-Ordonez had traveled to Texas to obtain and transport about 16 kilograms of meth to her home, then manufactured and crystallized the meth in her kitchen. While doing so, the Justice Department said she exposed her six-year-old daughter to the drug fumes, making her sick. Together, we were able to prevent very dangerous drugs from reaching the streets. Im proud to stand alongside our partner agencies as we work to stop these criminal enterprises that pollute our neighborhoods with their poison, Acting Special Agent in charge Anthony J. Patrone who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama said. HSI will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these drug trafficking organizations and prevent them from flooding our communities with illicit drugs. On March 12, Ordonez-Ordonez, of Honduras, was sentenced to 11 years, six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Canizales-Rivera, of Mexico, was previously sentenced in August 2022 to five years, three months in prison, also followed by five years of supervised release. These sentences reflect the grave risks to public safety created by drug traffickers who disguise dangerous narcotics as legitimate medication, Buchanan said. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their collaboration in helping to keep our communities safer from deadly drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A Georgia woman is facing serious charges after police say she shot three people at a nightclub early Friday morning. Warner Robins police were called to the CRU Lounge on S. Highway 247 in response to a possible active shooter situation just before 2 a.m. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When they arrived, they saw cars speeding away and people running from the business. Officers found one victim, a 28-year-old man, near the parking lot. He had been shot in the leg and was taken to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon. Two other victims, both 27-year-old women, went to Houston Healthcare-Warner Robins in personal vehicles. TRENDING STORIES: One of the women had been shot in the chest and was transferred to Atrium Health Navicent. The other woman had been grazed by a bullet. There is no word on any of the victims current conditions. Detectives say the shooting began when a fight broke out between Katlyn Green, 24, and other unknown people. At some point, they say Green pulled out a gun and began shooting. Green was arrested and is currently being held in the Houston County Jail on three counts of aggravated assault. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Israeli police disperse ultra-Orthodox Jewish men and boys blocking a road during a protest against the country's military draft in Jerusalem on February 26 - LEO CORREA/AP The Israeli governments future is hanging in the balance as it faces a major test over whether to start conscripting tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox citizens to plug a growing gap in the armed forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has until the end of the week to explain why he has not yet done so despite several legal rulings, growing pressure from his defence minister and the public, and a shortfall of 7,000 soldiers. He is in a tight spot. Increasingly unpopular with secular Israelis, Mr Netanyahu has in recent years banked his political survival on a coalition with Right-wing, religious parties. His current coalition allies include the ultra-Orthodox Shas and the United Torah Judaism party, both of whom have indicated that they would quit and trigger a general election if he revokes the exemption. The High Court of Justice first ruled that the current blanket draft exemption for the ultra-Orthodox community - known in Hebrew as Haredim - was discriminatory and therefore illegal back in 2017. Successive governments since then have passed various makeshift pieces of legislation to avoid tackling the highly divisive issue, the most recent of which was in June last year. Police officers in Jerusalem struggle with ultra-Orthodox males blocking a road during a protest against Israel's military draft on February 26. - LEO CORREA/AP But the war in Gaza - along with fighting on the Lebanese border and sporadic clashes across the West Bank - has made the issue critical. All yeshiva students in Israel under 26 are exempt from military service, a ruling that dates back to the creation of the State of Israel when the community was just several hundred people. However, the explosive growth of the ultra-Orthodox community since then means some 66,000 young men currently do not have to serve in the army - an all-time high, according to the IDF. Out of 2,000 Haredi volunteers who wanted to enlist after October 7, the IDF said 450 have been accepted, out of about 170,000 active duty personnel. On Thursday, thousands of people rallied in Tel Aviv calling for an equal sharing of the burden. Rare intervention A top general leading Israeli troops in Gazas Khan Younis even made a rare intervention this week, calling on the Israeli leadership to ensure that everyone takes part in the army. But those in the community say it is not so simple. Haredi rabbi Nechemia Steinberger is one of those taking part. He joined the IDF during the Covid-19 pandemic and did reserve service after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Smartly dressed in a grey suit and white shirt, he does not look like his more conservative peers who wear black suits, sidelocks, or payot, under their felt hats and have strings hanging from their shirts. When he came back from his service, a man tried to block him from entering his local synagogue while wearing his uniform, because he was setting a bad example to children. Charity founder Moshe Lefkowitz blames the government for a system that allows Haredi youth to keep studying the Torah just to avoid the army, even though many would be better off entering the workforce - QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM He said Haredi families fear that sons would lose their religious identities if they spent months or even years rubbing shoulders with secular Israelis. The army changes everyone, said Rabbi Steinberger. The sad truth is Haredim will not be able to sacrifice the change of their children because their ethos for the past 150 years was: We do not change. Thats their raison detre. They see the army as a secular place, as part of the Jewish Zionist state that they dont fully identify with, he added. You dont want your children to die for something youre not part of. Many Haredim in Israel live in isolated, run-down neighbourhoods where laundry hangs in the street, starkly different from the modern cities of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Maths or science Most men do not work and boys are not expected to go to school, with many lacking basic skills in maths or science. About half of the community are estimated to live below the poverty line. They are a close-knit community devoted to the study of the Torah and tend to eschew participation in Israels secular affairs. The focus on their assimilation into the Israeli army has led to angry statements from some quarters. Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef threatened to lead an exodus of ultra-Orthodox Jews if the exemption was scrapped. If they force us to go to the army, we will move abroad We will buy a ticket. We will go there, he said this week. It is an issue that should not be handled clumsily, warns Moshe Lefkowitz, the ultra-Orthodox founder of a charity that works with underprivileged children, including many Haredim. Nechemia Steinberger says Haredim "see the army as a secular place, as part of the Jewish Zionist state that they don't fully identify with" - QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM The moment you try to force something on the community against its wishes, it will feel under attack, they will rally together and push back, he said. He blames the government for creating a system that allows Haredi youth to keep studying the Torah just to avoid the army, even though many would be better off entering the workforce. A whole generation grew up with an idea that they dont want to work because theyre afraid they will be sent to the army. As a result, they are not studying, and they are not working, he said. The hot potato issue has become a useful political tool for Mr Netanyahus opponents to pressure him - possibly even undo him completely. Benny Gantz, Israels most popular politician, on Thursday boycotted a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and ultra-Orthodox parties after the government refused to discuss his partys proposal for Haredim conscription. Yaov Gallant, the defence minister, who did attend the meeting, warned that Israel is in the middle of a war we have not known for 75 years which requires agreements and decisions that we have not made in 75 years. Young and healthy Speaking at Thursdays Tel Aviv rally, opposition leader Yair Lapid told local TV that the IDF was stretched. There are not enough soldiers, and at the same time there are 66,000 young and healthy members of the Haredi community, at enlistment age, who are not joining, he said. After years of delays and workarounds, the coming weeks may finally see some movement on the exemption. With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that we will need a new reality in Israel, Yohanan Plesner, head of the think tank Israel Democracy Institute, wrote in a recent report. Israels security burden is growing, and extended service is required from populations that are already bearing the brunt of security and economic concerns. It is time for a new, more just social contract in Israel. 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. Minnesota state Rep. Kaela Berg, a Democrat, listens to testimony on a mental health education bill during a House Education Policy Committee meeting at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. Berg, a single mother and flight attendant without a college degree, is one of the few state lawmakers across the nation who qualify as working class, according to recent research. Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer Quality Journalism for Critical Times In her first few months as a Minnesota state legislator in 2021, state Rep. Kaela Berg often wondered: What the hell am I doing here? A single mother and flight attendant without a college degree or prior political experience, Berg now had a seat at the legislative table, shaping policy decisions in her home state. As she ran against a former two-term Republican representative a commercial real estate agent she also was struggling for housing and living in a friends basement. Im living in [her] basement, running for office, and the pandemic hits, said Berg. I went from three jobs to one. I found that while I can pay my bills, I cant qualify for a new apartment because you have to show two or three times the rent and I cant do that. While it was gratifying to receive support from working families in her district, her transition to state policymaker felt overwhelming. I had the worst case of impostor syndrome, Berg, a member of Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, said in an interview. Im thinking, Who do I think I am? Im a working flight attendant. I dont have a college degree. Why did I let somebody talk me into this? Berg is a rarity in politics: a working-class state legislator. Just 116 of the nearly 7,400 state legislators in the United States come from working-class backgrounds, according to a biennial study conducted by Nicholas Carnes and Eric Hansen, political scientists at Duke University and Loyola University Chicago, respectively. The researchers define legislators as working class if they currently or last worked in manual labor, service industry, clerical or labor union jobs. They found that 1.6% of state lawmakers meet that definition, compared with 50% of U.S. workers. Only about 2% of Democrats and 1% of Republicans qualified as working class. Ten states Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia have no working-class state lawmakers. Workers demonstrate in Fort Lauderdale in support of a $15 minimum wage. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images, 2019 The dearth of working-class legislators raises concerns that economic challenges such as wage stagnation and the rising cost of living will get short shrift in state capitols. Working-class politicians are more likely to have personally experienced economic hardship, so they are more interested in policies to mitigate it, Carnes said. And they often propose solutions that differ from those put forward by colleagues who arent working class, even if it means diverging from party doctrine. State legislatures make consequential decisions, and if you have an entire economic class of people that are not in the room when policy decisions are being made, thats going to tilt the kind of problems politicians pay attention to, said Carnes. It also dictates the kinds of solutions they consider against the interests of whoevers out of the room. Working-class representation in state legislatures has always been low, he noted, but the most recent count is even lower than it was two years ago, when the percentage was about 1.8%. The state legislature with the highest percentage of working-class lawmakers is Alaska, with 5% thats three of 60 lawmakers. New Hampshire has the highest total number of working-class legislators, eight of 420 legislators, with a transportation worker and a bartender among the ranks. Working-class issues After a 32-year career as an electrician, Democratic state Rep. Nate Roberts was part of a new wave of first-time Idaho lawmakers entering office in 2023. Nate Roberts is a longtime electrician who won a seat in the Idaho legislature. The Democrat is among the small number of working-class lawmakers around the country. Courtesy of Nate Roberts Roberts knew that it wasnt just his relative political inexperience that separated him from the rest of his colleagues. He also was one of the only state lawmakers who had worked a union job. And during his first few weeks in office, he was shocked by how rarely issues such as wage theft, low pay and housing affordability had been talked about in committee meetings. Thats when I realized that the only person thats going to advocate for working-class people is a working-class person, he told Stateline. When I moved from state to state working different jobs, I realized how differently states were influenced when it came to policies for working people. Roberts learned the power of unions as a journeyman and fighting to increase worker protections has become his life, he said. Idaho is one of 26 so-called right-to-work states, where no person can be forced, as a condition of employment, to join a union. Such laws limit unions bargaining power. Roberts would like Idaho to follow the lead of Michigan, which in 2023 became the first state in decades to repeal a right-to-work law. That is unlikely in Idaho, given the states conservative political orientation. But Roberts also is pushing to update Idahos child labor laws, which were enacted in 1907 and have been superseded by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Roberts said his experience as a laborer in his younger years has emboldened him to speak out against legislation such as a Senate bill that would repeal limits on the number of hours and how late in the day a child under the age of 16 can work. Im still shocked when I get pushback for going against these bills, particularly ones that I feel regress our child labor laws, said Roberts. Ive experienced it. We need to not only protect our kids, but we also need to protect our workers. The political climate is far different in Minnesota, where the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has controlled the governors office, the state House and the state Senate since January 2023. Last year, the state enacted a major package of labor-friendly laws. Minnesota also passed a slew of tenant-landlord laws, with protections favoring the states renters. Berg said the backgrounds of working-class legislators like herself can inform statehouse conversations, even if lawmakers with different backgrounds support pro-labor policies. I dont think theres enough value in having people with lived experience in the legislature, Berg said. When you take someone who still lives paycheck to paycheck, they are bringing that personal experience to fight for a bill that will impact working families. For Wisconsin state Rep. Jenna Jacobson, joining the legislature in 2023 was a lot like drinking from a fire hose, she recalled. One of her policy priorities expanding aid for free school meals was influenced by her experience as a schoolkid. I was one of the kids on free and reduced lunches growing up. I had the special colored cards because of that, said Jacobson, a Democrat. I know so many of our kids who are in a similar spot. Barriers abound For working-class Americans, financial and societal barriers are a major disincentive to pursuing state offices, said Amanda Litman, co-founder and co-executive director of Run for Something, a progressive organization that recruits candidates for down-ballot races. Protestors carry signs as they demonstrate against proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare in September 2011. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A 2021 national survey by Tufts University found that local candidates who experienced poverty in their youth felt especially constrained. Structurally, its really hard for people who arent already rich, or already independently wealthy, have rich partners or rich families to enter politics, Litman said. And the gatekeepers at the state level have typically recruited candidates who were safe bets, which is a candidate who can independently raise money. The eligibility criteria for statewide office vary greatly by state. Only five states Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine and Minnesota allow public financing options for candidates vying for state legislative seats. Becoming comfortable wielding political power as a working-class person is a transition that can take a while, Indiana Republican state Rep. Peggy Mayfield told Stateline. Mayfield, who worked as a secretary at the insurance company she and her husband owned together, is now a 12-year veteran in the legislature who knows how to navigate state politics and get bills passed. But running for office, much less holding state office, is time-consuming and requires sacrifices, she said. If I had an employee who came to me and said, I wanna run for office, Im faced with saying, Im gonna let you off four months a year, or make a difficult choice, said Mayfield, describing how hard it is for many workers who dont have that privilege. Running for office itself becomes a full-time job and for some in the working class it may not make sense to go into politics, if they can pursue more profitable opportunities in the private sector. Some states have worked to raise legislative pay, which could entice more working-class people to take a shot at elective office. Earlier this year, Kansas raised salaries for rank-and-file lawmakers from about $29,000 to $57,000 after some said the lower pay wasnt enough to live on. Arizona, Kentucky, New Jersey and Vermont are among the states with measures this session that could increase lawmakers pay. New York passed legislation in 2022 that made its lawmakers the highest paid in the country. Pennsylvania has cost-of-living adjustments. Roberts, the electrician-turned-lawmaker in Idaho, said: We dont do this for the pay, and some of us certainly arent getting rich off this job. Some of us are making ends meet. But we have residents who are also making ends meet, and they rely on us to speak on the issues affecting them, and thats what keeps you going, Roberts added. Lawmakers in Idaho make $19,927, after a pay raise passed in 2022. Another barrier for would-be working-class lawmakers, Carnes said, is running a viable campaign against more established political candidates. The working class needs infrastructure and coalition-building to compete politically, he said, similar to women candidates who get support from EMILYs List (a pro-abortion rights group). The solution is pretty straightforward, said Carnes. If you commit to working-class people and partner with labor unions and political parties on recruiting and training working-class people to run for office its possible you will see more working-class state legislators. In Minnesota, Rep. Berg soon realized that her best legislative asset was her ability to vouch for the working experiences of everyday Minnesotans. A flight attendant for Endeavor Air, Berg has signed on to a bill that, among other provisions, would delete the exemption for air flight crews in the states law on employee sick time. Her experience allowed her to confidently explain to legislative peers how the exemption had hurt flight crews. Government works best when all types of personal experience are at the legislative table, Berg said. I knew that I was uniquely able to speak on issues that my other colleagues never experienced. Editors note: This story has been corrected to describe New Hampshire as the state with the most working-class legislators. This story was published earlier by Stateline, a partner of the nonprofit States Newsroom network, which includes the Florida Phoenix. The post Working-class people rarely have a seat at the legislative table in state capitols appeared first on Florida Phoenix. Stratolaunch flew its Talon-A hypersonic vehicle for the first time after dropping it out of the belly of Roc, an utterly massive aircraft with a 385-foot wingspan. Meanwhile, SpaceX flew its Starship for the third time in a test that pushed the limits of the megarocket. Catch up on these and other top science stories from this week. - Rose Pastore The cargo pallet after being tossed by the by the Canadarm2 robotic arm in 2021. - Photo: NASA On Friday, March 8, a pallet of used batteries from the International Space Station (ISS) reentered Earths atmosphere over the Gulf of Mexico following an unpredictable journey through orbit. - Passant Rabie Read More The TA-1 hypersonic vehicle being released from the aircraft Roc (video is twice the normal speed). - Gif: Stratolaunch/Gizmodo California startup Stratolaunch completed the first powered flight of its Talon-A hypersonic vehicle as it works to develop a reusable version thats capable of carrying science payloads and flying them at five times the speed of sound. - Passant Rabie Read More Voyager 1 is the farthest object made by humans. - Illustration: Caltech/NASA-JPL The Voyager 1 spacecraft sent a new signal that contains valuable data, which may save the aging probe. Engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory are currently looking for discrepancies in the message in order to find out why the spacecraftthe farthest piece of human technology from Earthhas been speaking gibberish for the past few months. - Passant Rabie Read More Photo: Daniel Valverde Fernandez / British Wildlife Photography Awards Each year, photographers across Britainand, unknowingly, Britains wildlife vie for the attention of the British Wildlife Photography Awards, a competition celebrating the Britains biodiversity. Only a handful of the 14,000-odd photos could be selected as honorees, with the grand prize winner taking home over $6,000. - Isaac Schultz Read More Starship during its second test flight, November 18, 2023. - Photo: SpaceX Starship flew faster and longer than ever before on Thursday, but with both stages lost during the mission, theres clearly much more progress to be made. Heres our detailed breakdown of Integrated Flight Test 3 and what happens next. - George Dvorsky Read More A picture of tapeworm (Taenia) eggs under a microscope enhanced to show their internal structure. - Image: Kateryna Kon (Shutterstock) A Florida mans agonizing migraines turned out to have a terrifying cause: actual brainworms. In a recent case study, his doctors describe how he developed a parasitic infestation of tapeworm eggs in his brain, possibly caught from eating undercooked bacon. Thankfully, the man was successfully treated. - Ed Cara Read More Image: Dudarev Mikhail ((Shutterstock)) New research seems to throw cold water on the Wim Hof method, an endurance training technique that intentionally exposes people to frigid temperatures. The study, a review of the scientific literature, did find some evidence that the method could have anti-inflammatory properties, but did not find strong data supporting any other supposed benefits, such as better exercise performance. - Ed Cara Read More For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As a means to give back to the community, the Wounded Warrior Project donated 3 sets of hand-made Mandalorian armor to 3 Clay County patients at Wolfsons Childrens Hospital. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Emily Swallow, who plays the Armorer on the Disney+ show the Mandalorian, also joined forces with the Wounded Warrior Project for the donation. Wolfsons Childrens Hospital specializes in treating pediatric patients fighting serious illnesses. Read: Verdicts reached; Zahn found guilty, Wannemacher not guilty in JEA trial Here is a little about each of the patients who received armor: Kendall is 5 years old. He has a rare disease known as WARS-2 (fewer than 50 cases worldwide). He uses a wheelchair, has muscle weakness and can deal with seizures. His mom said he is still an energetic, fun-loving kid. The whole family loves Star Wars. Kendall was identified because he wore a Star Wars shirt to an appointment that happened to be on May 4. Jedidah is 9 years old. His nickname is Jedi. He also has a rare disease, known as Cri-du-chat or 5P Minus. He had a chromosome (the 5th one) that did not develop properly. He uses a trach and ventilator to help with daily life. He has a small head and is generally undersized. He has developmental delays and is non-verbal. His mom said he does use sounds and cries to communicate. Jedi also uses a wheelchair. Immanuel is 14 and the oldest of the 3. He was born with spina bifida and a brain stem malformation. His speech was delayed as he was growing up. His mom said he is artistic and loves costumes. Immanuel uses hand crutches. Read: New boardwalk at Cuba Hunter Park gives onlookers a close look at local wildlife [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. FSU College of Medicine Interim Dean Alma Littles tells medical students to open their match letters during a Match Day ceremony at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall Friday, March 15, 2024. As Florida State Universitys College of Medicine celebrated the nationwide event known as Match Day, over a hundred of its graduating medical students got the official word on where they will receive residency training. Shouts of joy, happy tears and group hugs filled FSU's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall Friday afternoon as students simultaneously tore open their envelopes, reading their letters with loved ones about where they will practice for the next several years in their chosen medical specialty. This moment has been years in the making, filled with countless hours of studying and sacrifice, said FSU medical student Nicholas Thomas, who will be practicing orthopedic surgery. FSU medical student Nicholas Thomas announces where he matched during a Match Day ceremony at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall Friday, March 15, 2024. Other FSU news: How Florida State University quietly dismantled its diversity, equity and inclusion office Thomas waited until he got on stage to anxiously open his letter, where he happily found out he matched at his No. 1 choice Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and confidently pulled out a VU hat from his jackets inner pocket to place it on his head. Match Day falls on the third Friday of March every year. Students who will soon receive their doctor of medicine degrees from over 150 medical schools across the nation got their match information through the National Resident Matching Program, which is the primary system that matches applicants to residency programs at teaching hospitals in the country. A total of 109 students matched from FSUs six regional campuses, which are located in Tallahassee, Daytona Beach, Fort Pierce, Orlando, Pensacola and Sarasota. This year, 49 out of the 109 graduating medical students are staying in Florida to begin their residency training a little over 45%. As efforts are being made to keep students in the state during an ongoing shortage of professionals in the medical field, Floridas opportunities for graduates are growing as more programs are being added throughout the state including FSUs new psychiatry residency program in partnership with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) and Apalachee Center that starts in July. More: 'A significant step': FSU, TMH, Apalachee Center to launch psychiatry residency program Some of the locations in Florida where students matched include TMH and HCA Florida Capital Hospital in the capital city, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Holy Cross Hospital through the University of Miami, University of Florida Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and AdventHealth Orlando. Among the students including many who matched at their top choice are several who matched at teaching hospitals outside of Florida as far as New York, Wisconsin, Colorado, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. A few of the students announcements were made by couples as most of the FSU lovebirds found out they were officially matched at the same teaching hospitals or in the same city. FSU medical students Sarah Ripps and Roei Golan are a couple that matched at the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital to begin their residency programs, where Ripps will train in obstetrics-gynecology while Golan will be training in urology. FSU medical students and couple Sarah Ripps and Roei Golan announce where they both matched during a Match Day ceremony at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall Friday, March 15, 2024. The Friday ceremony was also live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook, where family and friends both near and far virtually shared the defining moment with the students including the grandmother of FSU medical student Sheena Chege, who watched from Kenya in East Africa. Chege announced that she matched at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she will train in pediatrics. After all the announcements were made, FSU's College of Medicine Interim Dean Alma Littles congratulated the Class of 2024 medical students on their hard work and success in securing residency positions. I know you will continue to make us proud, and I look forward to seeing you and your families at your regional campus centers and back here for your graduation in May, Littles told the students. Dr. Alma Littles is interim dean of the Florida State University College of Medicine. The College of Medicines spring commencement ceremony for students earning their doctor of medicine degree will take place Friday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at FSUs Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU medical students get matched with residency programs on Match Day After a second dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, a swarm of antibodies attacks the virus. Photo by Kateryna Kon | Science Photo Library via Getty Images For the third time in less than a year, Arizona Republican lawmakers listened intently and offered no pushback during a special hearing at the state Senate that was billed as examining the states response to the COVID-19 pandemic but was instead rife with conspiracy theories, misinformation and fear-mongering about vaccines and public health. In May 2023, the Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee featured testimony from a group of supposed health experts who spread misinformation about vaccines and the pandemic during the committees time. Then, in October 2023, the committee met again, bringing some of the same experts. On Friday, the committee once again convened, bringing more of the same people to speak. The committee had previously faced criticism for its awkward name, which has been promoted in abbreviated form by the QAnon-friendly political nonprofit The America Project. The abbreviated name, NCSWIC, is a commonly used abbreviation in the QAnon world, where it means Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming, alluding to predictions of arrests and executions of members of the Deep State. The Republican elected officials on the panel were state Sens. Frank Carroll and Janae Shamp and state Rep. Steve Montenegro, who chairs the state House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee. Sen. T.J. Shope was scheduled to be on the panel but Carroll said he filled in for the senator, who was not able to attend. Shamp, who was present at the U.S. Capitol for Jan. 6, has spread a multitude of QAnon conspiracy theories online for years, including a post with NCSWIC in it. Montenegro works for the America Project which has promoted QAnon and QAnon influencers. U.S. Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar were listed on the agenda as being a part of the committee but were nowhere to be seen and did not provide pre-recorded video messages, as they have done in the past two committees. As a frontline caregiver who worked in the ICU during the height of the pandemic, I was very disappointed today during the Novel COVID South Western Intergovernmental Committee that there was a palpable lack of celebration or even gratitude for the folks who comforted loved ones and held their hands during a frightening time of uncertainty, Brandi Giles, a registered nurse and Director of Preventable Diseases for the Arizona Families for Vaccines, said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror. These attempts to undermine our health care heroes do a disservice to the people of Arizona, science and public health across the nation, Giles said. The Return of Misinformation Dr. Peter McCoullough yet again boldly proclaimed that the COVID-19 virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China. There is no consensus on the origin of the virus. The spike protein was intentionally engineered in a Chinese security lab in Wuhan China, McCoullough said, adding that the United States worked alongside China and claimed that Dr. Anthony Faucci, who led the federal governments work to combat COVID-19, was part of it. McCoullough is known for spreading unfounded claims, especially around the origins of the virus. He previously has stated that he believed the pandemic was planned and has promoted the QAnon conspiracy film Plandemic. McCoullough has become a darling to those in both QAnon and the broader conspiracy world, appearing regularly on shows like the one hosted by antisemite Stew Peters, who said the COVID vaccine is a bioweapon. Peters also was behind multiple QAnon conspiracy documentaries that made dubious claims about the vaccine, including that it included snake venom. McCoullough has also appeared on disgraced retired Gen. Michael Flynns Reawaken America tour, where he has denounced drag shows and gender identity issues. And McCoullough has spread a false claim that millions of people have been killed by the vaccine. The notion comes from a highly flawed analysis of data claiming that mortality rates were spiking because of the vaccine. He also spread similar claims, such as saying that more than 500,000 people in the United States were killed by the vaccine, an idea based on a misrepresentation of United Kingdom data. He has also alluded to a conspiracy theory widely adopted by QAnon adherents, which was featured in a discredited film, claiming that blood clots found in peoples bodies were caused by the COVID vaccine. That film, Died Suddenly, suggests the vaccine is all part of a shadowy plot to depopulate the world. But experts who have examined the films claims have said that many of the clots appear to be post-mortem clots. Cases of blood clots caused by the vaccine are very rare, according to one study that found only approximately 1,000 cases out of 2 million. The movie also deceptively featured incidents that occurred before the pandemic in 2020, but presented them as consequences of vaccination. The panel Friday also featured a presentation by Sedona-based Dr. Robert Apter, who prefaced his presentation with a slide stating that his opinions do not represent those of any organization he is associated with and none of the material presented should be construed as medical advice. Apter rose to prominence among the anti-vaccination crowd for his use of the drug ivermectin. The drug became popular with conservatives and anti-vaccination advocates as a COVID-19 treatment, which led some people to seek out a version of the drug intended for horses instead of humans and poison control hotlines saw an increase in calls. Ivermectin, which is primarily used for treating parasitic worms and is not an antiviral drug, has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat COVID-19. One form of the medication that is approved by the FDA is used for treating people with intestinal diseases and roundworms. Apter and others claimed that the drug was effective in treating their COVID-19 patients, which they met digitally through the service MyFreeDoctor.com. The founder of the website has spread misinformation about COVID-19 and had told conspiracy theorist Alex Jones that the pandemic could be ended with bombings and assassinations. Apter claimed Friday that Indias adoption of ivermectin led to the countrys reduction in cases, though there have been no conclusive reports connecting ivermectin and a decline in cases in India. Apter and another panelist, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, have been engaged in a legal battle with the FDA over statements the agency made about ivermectin during the pandemic. A federal appeals court recently reversed a lower courts decision that their case could not move forward. Bowden said they are in the discovery phase currently. Bowden has had her license suspended, resigned from a hospital she worked at and has faced multiple complaints. Apter also claimed that there is a worldwide coordinated agenda that created the virus, vaccine and response. Speakers also chose to rail against hospitals and pharmacies, claiming that hospitals should not have seen a single death during the pandemic and that pharmacies were beholden to Big Pharma. The panel claimed that antiviral drug remdesivir was dangerous and was the cause behind deaths in hospitals. Studies have shown that the drug has increased positive outcomes for patients with long COVID and has helped in early treatment of the virus. Bowden also spoke about how she filed up to 20 complaints against pharmacists for not prescribing medications such as ivermectin. All the complaints were dismissed. I would find other means to, you know, incentivize them to comply, Bowden said. Now Bowden runs a non-profit that she said aims to get politicians to pledge to ban the jab. Banning the COVID-19 vaccines and remdesivir were talking points across the panel. Do not get a COVID-19 vaccine. And we eventually will come together and we will get it pulled from the market, Shamp said, also repeating a widely debunked claim that patents were filed for COVID-19 in 2015. Later, Shamp falsely said that inserts for the vaccine were left blank and patients could not get any information on the vaccine. The committee also heard from Prescott-area Dr. Stephen Hale, who, before speaking, said his employer, the Veterans Administration, were making him read a statement saying the views and opinions are his own and do not reflect the views of the VA. There is no reason for anyone at all to get a COVID vaccine, Hale told the committee, adding that a paper published by The Lancet on the ineffectiveness of hydroxychloroquine at treating the virus was a hit piece and totally bogus. McCoullough and others also advocated for a regimen that includes hydroxychloroquine and other drugs that have not been proven to adequately treat COVID. Those who say the protocol is effective often cite a study by McCoullough on its use. However, later studies featuring much larger sample sizes have concluded that the protocol done by McCoullough, as well as hydroxychloroquine, were not effective and had no impact on treating COVID. Fridays meeting mostly touched again on claims that were said in the last two committees which have all largely been debunked. Shamp, who came to Senate leadership with the idea for the committee, said she intends to hold another one later this year. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Yet again, the AZ legislature hosts a COVID hearing full of misinformation appeared first on Arizona Mirror. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Police say that a principal for an elementary school in York County is facing DUI charges from a traffic stop in February. Lee Jordan, 39, of Lititz, was found to have a blood alcohol content level of .126% after he was pulled over by police on Feb. 28, borough police said in a news release. According to the Eastern York School Districts website, Jordan is a principal of Kreutz Creek Elementary School. A request for comment was left with the school on Friday. UPMC nurse allegedly stole, used deceased patients debit card A patrol officer pulled Jordan over around 2:15 in the morning for an equipment violation and discovered that he was allegedly under the influence during the traffic stop, the release states. Jordan was taken into custody and transported to the police station where he provided evidential samples that showed he was over the legal limit. In Pennsylvania, the legal limit is .08%. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nittany Insiders Jordan was then released from police custody and faces two misdemeanor counts of DUI and a summary count of driving without proper headlights, court documents show. He has a preliminary arraignment and hearing scheduled for April 4. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The artificial intelligence (AI) market exploded last year and became one of the biggest growth drivers of the Nasdaq Composite's recovery. The market faced an economic downturn the previous year, which sent countless stocks plunging. However, the Nasdaq Composite is up 44% year over year and climbing, primarily thanks to excitement over AI. According to data from Grand View Research, the AI market is projected to have a compound annual growth rate of 37% through 2030. The industry hit nearly $200 billion last year, but this trajectory would see it achieve close to $2 trillion by the decade's end. So, despite the market's meteoric rise over the last year, new investors still have much to gain from AI. The "Magnificent Seven" stocks of the tech world -- Apple, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Tesla -- are a great place to start. These companies are investing heavily in AI and have the brand power to go far in the industry. It's not too late to invest in AI, so here are two Magnificent Seven stocks to buy and hold forever. 1. Nvidia Nvidia's business was brought front and center last year when it snapped up an estimated 90% market share in AI graphics processing units (GPUs), the chips necessary for training and running AI models. Meanwhile, competitors like Advanced Micro Devices and Intel scrambled to catch up. Soaring demand for AI services led to a similar demand for high-powered chips, with Nvidia perfectly positioned to supply its hardware to most of the market. As a result, earnings hit record heights over the last year. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 (ended in January), Nvidia's revenue increased by 265% year over year to $22 billion. Meanwhile, operating income jumped 983% to nearly $14 billion. The monster growth was primarily from a 409% rise in data center revenue, reflecting increased chip sales. The chipmaker's massive success in AI has also seen its free cash flow soar 430% in 12 months to $27 billion. Comparatively, AMD's is at just over $1 billion, while Intel's is negative $14 billion. Story continues So, despite new GPU releases from both competitors, Nvidia's head start in AI potentially pushed it further ahead with greater cash reserves to continue investing in its technology and retain its market supremacy. After a monster growth year, some analysts are questioning whether Nvidia has much more to offer. However, the significant potential of AI and the company's powerful market position means it remains an attractive long-term play. NVDA PE Ratio Chart Moreover, this chart shows Nvidia's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow plunged 45% and 48% over the last year, meaning the company's stock is trading at its best value in months. Alongside a solid role in AI, Nvidia is a Magnificent Seven stock that is too good to pass up. 2. Alphabet It's impossible to deny Alphabet's top spot in tech, with brands like Android, YouTube, and Google attracting billions of users worldwide. The popularity of these products enabled Alphabet to achieve a leading 25% market share in digital advertising and become the world's sixth most valuable company by market cap. However, all eyes have been on its expanding AI efforts over the last year. At the end of 2023, the company debuted Gemini, a large language model that looked likely to make Alphabet competitive against cloud rivals Microsoft and Amazon. Yet the Google parent's stock was down 7% in the last month after a disappointing launch for Gemini. Alphabet recently held a presentation for the new AI model, and Gemini gave inaccurate depictions of historical figures and failed to recognize key differences between other prominent figures. The blunders forced Alphabet to take its AI image services offline for now. Despite recent failures, Alphabet remains an attractive way to invest in AI over the long haul. Last year, the company hit $70 billion in free cash flow, more than Microsoft or Amazon. The company has the financial resources to keep investing in its business and the brand power to attract users to its services. NVDA PE Ratio Chart Furthermore, the table above shows that Alphabet has the lowest P/E and second-to-lowest price-to-free-cash-flow of all of the Magnificent Seven. As a result, Alphabet's stock is a bargain compared to its rivals, making it a lower-risk way to invest in AI. In addition to a range of immensely popular brands, Alphabet is one of the best Magnificent Seven stocks to buy now and hold forever. 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 March 11, 2024 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Dani Cook has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and recommends the following options: long January 2023 $57.50 calls on Intel, long January 2025 $45 calls on Intel, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short May 2024 $47 calls on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. It's Not Too Late to Invest in Artificial Intelligence: 2 "Magnificent Seven" Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers remarks during an awards ceremony for the athletes that took part in the Deaflympics winter games at the Awards Hall of the Mariinsky Palace. -/Ukrinform/dpa Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the extended range of Ukrainian combat drones as an important military boost for his country, which is under attack from Russia. "In these weeks, many have already seen that the Russian system of warfare has weak points and that we can reach these weak points with our weapons," Zelensky said in his evening video message on Saturday in apparent reference to several successful attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian refineries located far in the enemy's hinterland. Three oil facilities in the Russian region of Samara on the Volga, more than 1,000 kilometres east of Ukraine, were attacked on Friday night. With such attacks, Ukraine wants to disrupt Russian fuel production so that the military receives fewer supplies. Ukraine also wants to reduce the income from oil production, which Moscow uses to finance its war. Little is known about the technical development of the Ukrainian drones; However, their successful use over long distances has only been proven in recent weeks. Zelensky thanked the defence industry and the military for achieving this long-range capability. "From now on, Ukraine will always have its own strike power in the sky," he said in Kiev. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for more than two years. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his nation would serve Russia a just response in retaliation for the latest Russian missile strike on Odesa that left at least 20 dead Friday. Russia attacked the Black Sea port city with ballistic missiles that killed at least 20 people and injured at least 70. The missiles were launched from the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula. The attack damaged Odesas electric supply and infrastructure. It left 10 people seriously injured along with killing a rescuer who was assisting people on the scene, regional governor Oleh Kiper said, according to Reuters. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces will do everything to make the Russians feel their response to the missile attack. He said the rescue operation is ongoing, but called the attack an act of cowardice. Its a despicable act of cowardice: two missiles, with the second one hitting when rescuers and doctors arrived at the scene, Zelensky said in a statement Friday. Among the casualties and injured are emergency paramedics and rescuers from the State Emergency Service. My condolences go out to all their families and loved ones. Our Defense Forces will do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response. The attack left multiple law enforcement officials dead, along with the former deputy mayor of the city. Kiper said some Odesa residents are dealing with gas supply cuts due to the Friday attack. Odesa, a port city in southern Ukraine, has long been a target of the Russian military since the invasion started in 2022, with the attacks becoming more frequent after the Kremlin paused its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export wheat and other goods to other countries using its ports on the Black Sea. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Serhii Haidai, the former head of Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, as the Head of Mukachevo District State Administration in Zakarpattia Oblast. Source: decree of 15 March published on the President's website; Haidai on Facebook Details: With another decree, Zelenskyy dismissed Edhar Tokar from the post of head of Mukachevo District State Administration. Haidai commented on the appointment on his Facebook page: "I have a new task. Mukachevo district, let's start working!" For reference: Serhii Haidai was the Head of Luhansk Oblast State Administration from 25 October 2019 to 15 March 2023. He previously served as the Head of Mukachevo District State Administration from September 2015 till November 2018. Background: On 15 March 2023, Zelenskyy signed a decree dismissing Haidai from his post. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that he could become Ukraine's ambassador to Kazakhstan. On 22 May 2023, the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia outlet, citing its own sources, reported that Kazakhstan had not agreed to appoint Haidai as ambassador to the country. At the time, Haidai stated that there was no official refusal to appoint him as ambassador to Kazakhstan, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan refused to comment. Support UP or become our patron! Following a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will from now always have its attack force in the sky. Source: Zelenskyys video address Quote from Zelenskyy: "Many saw in the last few weeks that the Russian war machine has vulnerabilities and that our weapons can reach those targets. I am grateful to Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Defence Intelligence for the newly long range of Ukrainian weapons. Of course I am also grateful to our defence industry, to everyone working to make Ukraine stronger, because this long range was really made possible by and in Ukraine, this is what our Ukrainian-made drones can do. From now on, Ukraine will always have its own attack force in the sky." Details: Zelenskyy also said that there will be a "strictly military" response to Russias attack on Odesa on 15 March, which claimed the lives of 21 people. Background: Recently, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has been actively attacking oil refineries in Russia with drones. Thus, on the night of 12-13 March, the SSU attacked three refineries with drones: in Ryazan and Kstovo in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Kirishi in Leningrad Oblast. On the night of 15-16 March, three Rosneft oil refineries in Russias Samara Oblast were targeted by attack drones of the SSU. According to Ukrainska Pravda's source, these refineries process about 25 million tonnes of oil a year, which is almost 10% of Russia's total oil refining. This news has been updated since publication. Support UP or become our patron! Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Stock photo: Office of the President of Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a feeling that the Armed Forces are becoming stronger this was his statement after a conversation with Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: President Zelenskyys video address Quote: "Today, I discussed the operational situation in detail with General Syrskyi: our capabilities, and existing threats. There's a feeling that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are becoming stronger." Details: Zelenskyy also named the fronts where the most intense fighting is taking place. "Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, [both in] Donetsk Oblast, [also] near Kupiansk, and in the South. I thank all our brigades, all combat units, who are killing the occupiers, giving us greater stability on the line of contact," he said. Support UP or become our patron! On the second anniversary of the Russian attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater that killed at least 300 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to hold Russian "murderers accountable. "Mariupol. The Drama Theater. The inscription Children. Two years have passed..., Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on March 16. The world must remember everything that Russia has done against Ukraine and Ukrainians, and every Russian murderer must be held accountable for what they have done. We will make sure that they are held accountable. May the world remember all those whose lives have been taken by Russian terror." Read also: Russias Butcher of Mariupol first to go in reported major Defense Ministry purge Zelenskyy also posted a video with footage of the destroyed theater and fragments of eyewitness accounts of this Russian terrorist attack. Enemy aviation bombed Mariupol Drama Theater when up to 1,300 people could have been inside the shelter. According to Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko, about 300 people died in the attack. The Associated Press investigated and claimed that 600 people were killed in the targeted Russian attack on a civilian population a war crime. After seizing the city, the Russians began demolishing the theater building to destroy evidence of their war crime. Read also: Documenting Russia's deadliest strikes against Ukrainian civilians 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 Waylon Cunningham SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - When McDonalds first opened for business in the 1940s, its workers stood at physical counters, its burgers and fries were listed on paper menus, and its customers paid cash to its human cashiers. How quaint. Today technology so infuses every aspect of McDonald's business that it would only be a slight exaggeration to call it a tech company that happens to sell burgers. McDonald's mobile app; its human-less, order-taking kiosks; its digitized menus that change based on trends, the weather and more; and even its generative AI - together, these enable McDonalds to eke out additional sales and efficiencies worth billions of dollars to the company, which has 40,000 locations in roughly 100 countries. Yet that same tech can also bring McDonald's to its knees. On Friday, system outages plagued McDonald's locations across some of its biggest global markets, including Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom, forcing many stores to temporarily take only cash or shut down entirely. McDonalds hasnt disclosed how widespread the outages were, but on Friday afternoon, 12 hours after the outages were first reported, a franchise in San Antonio, Texas wouldn't accept orders in its app and couldn't accept cash. McDonalds said in a statement the outage was caused by an unnamed third-party provider during a "configuration change". Asked for comment, McDonald's referred to that statement. McDonald's Japan on Saturday apologized for the inconvenience, saying all its restaurants and its delivery service were operating normally. The burger giant did flag that something like this could happen, at least to Wall Street. We are increasingly reliant upon technology systems, company lawyers wrote in its annual Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Feb. 22. Any failure or interruption of these systems could significantly impact our or our franchisees operations, or our customers experiences and perceptions. Even AI gets a warning in the filing, which states that "the artificial intelligence tools we are incorporating into certain aspects of our restaurant operations may not generate the intended efficiencies and may impact our business results." Yet Friday's widespread outage is unlikely to bump McDonalds out of its long-term strategy to deepen its reliance on tech. McDonalds wants more customers to order through digital avenues like its app and kiosks, which already made up a third of its sales in top markets in 2022. In December McDonalds announced a partnership with Google to move restaurant computer systems into the cloud, where the global scale of data will allow McDonalds generative AI system to better understand the broadest range of patterns and nuances, resulting in what McDonald's at the time said would be "hotter, fresher food." Generative AI already powers much of the restaurant operations and personalized pitches made from internal profiles of customers. It's not just McDonald's. Tech is the strategy du jour of virtually every major fast food chain. Starbucks in 2019 announced its own internal AI platform, called Deep Brew," which then-CEO Kevin Johnson said would increasingly power its personalized offers, store staffing and inventory management. Over the next 10 years, we want to be as good at AI as the tech giants, Johnson told a retail conference in 2020, according to Retail Dive, a trade publication. Starbucks in 2022 hired a former McDonald's executive to oversee its use of technology. Risks from this new technology don't just come from system outages. Wendys got public backlash after its CEO said during an earnings call in mid-February that the chain would soon use "dynamic pricing" on its digital signs - yet another technology that would not have been possible before the age of information. The chain later clarified that it did not intend to use digital signs to implement "surge pricing" that could let it charge higher prices during busy times. Rather, Wendy's said, its CEO's remarks referred to its plan to offer discounts to patrons during slow parts of the day. (Reporting by Waylon Cunningham in San Antonio; Additional reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard) Its Election Day in Arizona and elderly voters in Maricopa County are told by phone that local polling places are closed due to threats from militia groups. Meanwhile, in Miami, a flurry of photos and videos on social media show poll workers dumping ballots. The phone calls in Arizona and the videos in Florida turn out to be deepfakes created with artificial intelligence tools. But by the time local and federal authorities figure out what they are dealing with, the false information has gone viral across the country. This simulated scenario was part of a recent exercise in New York that gathered dozens of former senior U.S. and state officials, civil society leaders and executives from technology companies to rehearse for the 2024 election. The results were sobering. It was jarring for folks in the room to see how quickly just a handful of these types of threats could spiral out of control and really dominate the election cycle, said Miles Taylor, a former senior Department of Homeland Security official who helped organize the exercise for the Washington-based nonprofit The Future US. Dubbed The Deepfake Dilemma, the exercise illustrated how AI-enabled tools threaten to turbocharge the spread of false information in an already polarized society and could sow chaos in the 2024 election, multiple participants told NBC News. Rather than examining a singular attack by a group or hostile regime, the exercise explored a scenario with an array of both domestic and foreign actors launching disinformation, exploiting rumors and seizing on political divisions. The organizers and participants in the war game spoke exclusively to NBC News about how it played out. They said it raised worrisome questions about whether federal and local officials and the tech industry are prepared to counter both foreign and domestic disinformation designed to undermine public confidence in the election results. Current U.S. officials say privately they share those concerns and that some state and local election agencies will be hard-pressed to keep the election process on track. The exercise illustrated the uncertainty surrounding the roles of federal and state agencies and tech firms seven months before what is expected to be one of the most divisive elections in U.S. history. Does the federal government have the ability to detect an AI deepfake? Should the White House or a state election office publicly declare that a particular report is false? Unlike a natural disaster, in which government agencies work through a central command, Americas decentralized electoral system is entering uncharted territory without a clear sense of whos in charge, said Nick Penniman, CEO of Issue One, a bipartisan organization promoting political reform and election integrity. Now, in the last few years, we in America are having to defend assaults on our elections from both domestic and foreign forces. We just dont have the infrastructure or the history to do it at scale because weve never had to face threats this severe in the past, said Penniman, who took part in the exercise. We know a hurricane is eventually going to hit our elections, said Penniman. But in the exercise, because patterns of working together havent formed, few people understood exactly how they should be coordinating with others or not. In a mock White House Situation Room around a long table, participants played assigned roles including as directors of the FBI, CIA and the Department of Homeland Security and sifted through the alarming reports from Arizona and Florida and numerous other unconfirmed threats, including a break-in at a postal processing center for mail-in ballots. Conferring with the tech companies, players who were government officials struggled to determine the facts, who was spreading deepfakes and how government agencies should respond. (MSNBC anchor Alex Witt also took part in the exercise, playing the role of president of the National Association of Broadcasters.) In the exercise, it was unclear initially that photos and video of poll workers tossing out ballots in Miami were fake. The images had gone viral, partly because of a bot-texting campaign by Russia. Eventually, officials were able to establish that the whole episode was staged and then enhanced by artificial intelligence to make it look more convincing. A woman walks past a In this and other cases, including the fake calls to Arizona voters, the players hesitated over who should make a public announcement telling voters their polling places were safe and their ballots secure. Federal officials worried that any public statement would be seen as an attempt to boost the chances of President Joe Bidens re-election. There was also a lot of debate and uncertainty about whether the White House and the president should engage, Taylor said. One of the big debates in the room was whose job is it to say if somethings real or fake, he said. Is it the state-level election officials who say weve determined that theres a fake? Is it private companies? Is it the White House? Said Taylor, Thats something that we think were also going to see in this election cycle. And although the war game imagined tech executives in the room with federal officials, in reality, communication between the federal government and private firms on how to counter foreign propaganda and disinformation has sharply diminished in recent years. The once close cooperation among federal officials, tech companies and researchers that developed after the 2016 election has unraveled due to sustained Republican attacks in Congress and court rulings discouraging federal agencies from consulting with companies about moderating online content. The result is a potentially risky gap in safeguarding the 2024 election. State governments lack the resources to detect an AI deepfake or to counter it quickly with accurate information, and now technology companies and some federal agencies are wary of taking a leading role, former officials and experts said. Everybodys terrified of the lawsuits and ... accusations of free speech suppression, said Kathy Boockvar, former Pennsylvania secretary of state, who took part in the exercise. The New York war game, plus similar sessions being carried out in other states, is part of a wider effort to try to encourage more communication between tech executives and government officials, said Taylor. But in the world outside the war game, social media platforms have cut back teams that moderate false election content, and theres no sign those companies are ready to pursue close cooperation with government. State and local election offices, meanwhile, face a significant shortage of experienced staff. A wave of physical and cyber threats has triggered a record exodus of election workers, leaving election agencies ill-prepared for November. Concerned about understaffed and inexperienced state election agencies, a coalition of nonprofits and good-government groups are planning to organize a bipartisan, countrywide network of former officials, technology specialists and others to help local authorities detect deepfakes in real time and respond with accurate information. Were going to have to do the best we can independent of the federal government and the social media platforms to try to fill the gap, said Penniman, whose organization is involved in the election security effort. Boockvar, the former secretary of state, said she hopes nonprofits can act as a bridge between the tech companies and the federal government, helping to maintain communication channels. Some of the largest AI tech firms say they are introducing safeguards to their products and communicating with government officials to help bolster election security before the November vote. Ahead of the upcoming elections, OpenAI has put in place policies to prevent abuse, launched new features to increase transparency around AI-generated content, and developed partnerships to connect people to authoritative sources of voting information, said a spokesperson. We continue to work alongside governments, industry partners, and civil society toward our shared goal of protecting the integrity of elections around the world. The internet, however, is filled with smaller generative-AI companies that may not abide by those same rules, as well as open-source tools that allow people to build their own generative-AI programs. Image: Voters cast their ballots at a polling location inside the Museum of Contemporary Art on Nov. 8, 2022 in Arlington, Va. (Nathan Howard / Getty Images file) An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on a hypothetical situation, but said the bureaus Foreign Influence Task Force remains the federal lead for identifying, investigating, and disrupting foreign malign influence operations targeting our democratic institutions and values inside the United States. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said its working closely with state and local agencies to protect the countrys elections. CISA is proud to continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with state and local election officials as they defend our elections process against the range of cyber, physical, and operational security risks, to include the risk of foreign influence operations, said senior adviser Cait Conley. For many of those in the room for the exercise, the scenarios drove home the need to develop an ambitious public education campaign to help voters recognize deepfakes and to inoculate Americans from the coming onslaught of foreign and domestic disinformation. The Future US and other groups are now holding talks with Hollywood writers and producers to develop a series of public service videos to help raise awareness about phony video and audio clips during the election campaign, according to Evan Burfield, chief strategy officer for The Future US. But if public education campaigns and other efforts fail to contain the contagion of disinformation and potential violence, the country could face an unprecedented deadlock over who won the election. If enough doubts are raised about what has transpired during the election, theres a danger that the outcome of the vote becomes a stalemate with no clear winner, said Danny Crichton of Lux Capital, a venture capital firm focused on emerging technologies, which co-hosted the exercise. If enough things go wrong or people are stuck at the polls, then you just get to a draw, Crichton said. And to me that is the worst-case scenario. ... I dont think our system is robust enough to handle that. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Intel has shelved plans to build an advanced packaging and chip assembly plant in Italy, reports Reuters. The Industry Minister announced the postponement at a presser in Verona, in the north of the country, this week. We first became aware of Intel's outline plans to build mega fab locations in Germany, France, and Italy in February 2022. The following month, we learned that Italy was preparing a $4.5 billion fund to welcome the chipmaker. This was in addition to the probable EU Chips Act money that would become available. So far, only Germany has been seen to benefit from solid development and construction plans. Minister Adolfo Urso explained to reporters that Intel has "given up or postponed its investments in France and Italy, compared with others that it plans in Germany." Urso seemed keen to keep the door open for Intel. The industry minister talked about how Italy was still keen on Intel's investment and how its advanced packaging and chip assembly plant could still be developed if Intel changed its mind about the project. However, Urso also made it clear that several other semiconductor players are interested in developing facilities in Italy. Earlier in the week, for example, Singapore's Silicon Box announced a $3.5 billion investment in a new plant in northern Italy, providing 1,600 direct new jobs. Urso told reporters this major foreign investment was just one of several coming in the next few months. The Italian Industry Minister didn't name other semiconductor players interested in setting up in the country, but he did mention that his government has been in talks with Taiwanese groups over recent months. Intel has yet to comment on the Reuters report regarding the postponement of development in Italy. It was also interesting to hear the casual announcement that the previously touted investments in France have been put on hold. France was set to be the base for a prestigious R&D centera smaller-scale investment that is still important to Intel's European vision. In contrast, Intel appears to be progressing steadily with its German plans. The chipmaker reportedly published plans for its multi-billion site near Magdeburg, Germany, earlier this month. The sophisticated yet expansive Fab 29.1 and Fab 29.2 are expected to become production-ready by Q4 2027. An ambitious plan coming out of Denmark would create so-called "energy islands" in the high seas that will be surrounded by wind turbines to gather abundant, renewable energy. These artificial power waystations allow for groups of hundreds of wind-catchers to be installed far from the coast, collecting electricity that will be distributed to the mainland via a cable from the island storage hubs, according to a description from the Danish Energy Agency. In the latest step to bring the concept to fruition, the investment firm working on a group of isles has started a new company, called Copenhagen Energy Islands. It is tasked with seeing the plan to the finish line. One of the first islands in the works would be more than 62 miles into the North Sea, serving as a conduit for enough energy for 10 million homes, per a video clip from investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the group that started the new company. The partners' plan calls for 10 islands to be created, according to a news release. Denmark has set benchmarks in offshore wind since the early 1990s, when the country built the world's first offshore wind farm. Officials now see the islands as vital to the renewable power sources becoming a game-changing force for the planet's electricity system. "The challenge for offshore wind is less about building the incremental offshore wind farm, but more how to integrate large-scale offshore wind energy into the global energy systems. We see energy islands as a key tool in solving this challenge and realizing the ambitious offshore wind targets across the globe," Jakob Baruel Poulsen, founder of Energy Partners, said in the release. Bloomberg reported that the multi-island plan, set to take shape in "coming decades," has a $163 billion price tag. In addition to collecting wind power, the islands will produce "green" hydrogen, per the story. Benefits listed by the partners include reducing transmission costs, realizing synergies between hydrogen and wind power production, and utilizing existing technology more efficiently. Officials said in the release that the 10 islands will be located "around the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and South-East Asia." Renderings of an island look futuristic and idyllic, complete with observation overhangs, green spaces, and a helicopter pad. It seems to be about the size of a town and is surrounded by turbines. The island concept and this isn't the only iteration of it hasn't come without setbacks. The Danish government announced in the summer that one proposal would be vetted more thoroughly, noting higher-than-expected costs. Bloomberg reported on hurdles with producing green hydrogen offshore, including finding a freshwater supply needed for the process. The story also noted that the islands could be susceptible to "attacks." But the new company is evidence that investors are committed to expediting offshore energy hubs. "If we want to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we will need to scale up the deployment of offshore wind and other renewables to an unprecedented level," Poulsen said in the release. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Share prices of Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) took off in the past year, gaining 1,180% as of this writing, and a big reason behind the stock's red-hot surge is the booming demand for Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) artificial intelligence (AI) graphics cards. Supermicro's modular server rack-scale systems are being used to mount AI-related graphics cards from Nvidia, as well as other chipmakers. As the demand for Nvidia's cards has increased, Supermicro has also witnessed a terrific jump in demand for its server solutions, leading to rapid growth in the company's top and bottom lines. SMCI Revenue (Quarterly) Chart And now, a recent revelation from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggests that Supermicro's eye-popping growth will continue. Nvidia's adoption of liquid-cooled systems should give Super Micro Computer a boost Nvidia's current flagship AI graphics card, the H100, reportedly performs well under air cooling. What's more, the upcoming H200 processor is also anticipated to perform optimally while being air-cooled, according to Tom's Hardware. But at an economic summit at Stanford this week, Huang said that one of Nvidia's next-generation computers is going to be liquid-cooled. Nvidia's next-generation AI graphics processing units (GPUs) based on the Blackwell architecture are expected to consume 40% more power than the existing offerings based on the Hopper architecture. According to some other claims, Nvidia's next-generation AI chips could even consume double the power of the current lineup. This is where liquid-cooled server systems are going to come into the picture. When launching what Supermicro claimed to be the first liquid-cooled server systems for Nvidia's H100 processors last year, the company said: Savings for a data center are estimated to be 40% for power when using Supermicro liquid cooling solutions compared to an air-cooled data center. In addition, up to 86% reduction in direct cooling costs compared to existing data centers may be realized. Story continues A look at third-party studies suggests something similar. Liquid cooling reportedly consumes just 20% of the energy required for air cooling. In other words, liquid cooling is known to reduce energy consumption in data centers significantly, while also helping reduce operating expenses by using less water than air-cooled data centers. Supermicro seems to have been ahead of the curve, as it took the initiative to launch liquid-cooling solutions for Nvidia's AI chips last year. The company is now working to boost the manufacturing capacity of liquid-cooled server racks. On its January earnings conference call, Supermicro management remarked: "By this June quarter, we will have high-volume, dedicated capacity for manufacturing 100-kilowatt to 120-kilowatt racks with liquid-cooling capabilities, providing DLC, direct liquid cooling racks capacity, up to 1,500 racks per month, and our total rack production capacity will be up to 5,000 racks per month by then." The company's focus on expanding its capacity of liquid-cooled servers will not only let it take advantage of Nvidia's power-hungry AI chips but also allow it to make a dent in the fast-growing market for liquid-cooled data centers as a whole. The liquid-cooled data center market is expected to generate annual revenue of $40 billion in 2033, compared with just $4.5 billion last year, clocking an annual growth rate of 24% over the next decade. As such, it won't be surprising to see Supermicro maintaining its healthy pace of growth for a long time to come. The stock's valuation makes buying it a no-brainer Though Supermicro has been on a tear on the stock market over the past year, its sales multiple stands at just 6.7. That's cheaper than the technology sector's price-to-sales ratio of 7.1. Moreover, Supermicro's forward earnings multiple of 36 points toward a big jump in its bottom line, considering its trailing earnings multiple of 84. As the following chart suggests, Supermicro's earnings are set to take off big time from the previous fiscal year's reading of $11.81 per share. SMCI EPS Estimates for Current Fiscal Year Chart It's also worth noting that analysts have raised their earnings growth expectations from the company, and there's a good chance that they may keep raising those estimates considering added catalysts such as the growing demand for liquid-cooled systems. That's why now would be a good time for investors to buy this AI stock, as it seems capable of sustaining its stunning rally in the long run. Should you invest $1,000 in Super Micro Computer right now? Before you buy stock in Super Micro Computer, 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 Super Micro Computer 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 March 11, 2024 Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Nvidia Just Dropped Great News for Super Micro Computer Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool K-pop phenomenon Chung Ha admits she never thought she would become a solo artist This screen grab taken from AFPTV shows tires on fire near the main prison of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 3 after a breakout by several thousand inmates. 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. Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) was once considered a slow-growth tech giant, but its stock has rallied more than 140% over the past five years and recently hit an all-time high. That rally lifted its market cap to about $350 billion -- but it's still a lot smaller than trillion-dollar leaders Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Alphabet. Could Oracle continue growing and join that elite four-comma club by the end of the decade? Let's discuss its business model, growth strategies for the cloud and AI markets, and its valuations to find out. Image source: Getty Images. Oracle's core growth strategies Oracle is the one of the world's biggest database software companies. Its largest competitors are Microsoft and Amazon, which both integrate their own database services directly into their public cloud infrastructure platforms. Microsoft and Amazon's cloud-based services initially lured businesses away from Oracle's on-premise software. But over the past decade, Oracle transformed those applications into cloud-based services. It also expanded its cloud ecosystem with more enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management, healthcare IT, and infrastructure services. Oracle accelerated that transformation by acquiring higher-growth companies such as cloud software giant NetSuite and healthcare IT services provider Cerner. Today, Oracle is a more broadly diversified enterprise software company, even though it still trails far behind Amazon and Microsoft in the public cloud infrastructure market. As Oracle expanded inorganically, it repatriated a lot of its overseas cash for big buybacks. Over the past five years, it bought back 20% of its outstanding shares to consistently grow its earnings per share (EPS) even as it generated uneven sales growth. All eyes are on Oracle's cloud business Oracle started disclosing its growth in cloud services -- which include its software as a service (SaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) segments -- separately from its license and support revenues in fiscal 2022, which ended in May 2022. Story continues The company's total revenue growth in fiscal 2023 was inflated by its acquisition of Cerner, but its organic growth in total cloud services revenue, including Cerner, has remained robust throughout the first three quarters of fiscal 2024, even as the macro headwinds drove many companies to rein in the cloud-based spending. Metric FY 2022 FY 2023* Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Total revenue growth (YOY) 7% 22% 8% 4% 7% Total cloud services revenue growth (YOY) 22% 50% 29% 24% 24% Data source: Oracle. Constant currency terms. *Includes its acquisition of Cerner. Oracle's total cloud services revenue accounted for 38% of its top line last quarter. The expansion of that closely watched business offset the slower growth of its on-premise, license, and support divisions. Within its cloud services, the growth of its SaaS segment is being driven by the rising usage of its back office database and ERP applications, while the growth of its IaaS business is supported by its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) platform. OCI is still a lot smaller than Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Alphabet's Google Cloud, but it notably pulled ByteDance's TikTok away from Alibaba in 2022, recently signed a new AI infrastructure contract with Nvidia, and is rolling out more generative AI tools. All those moves could help OCI carve out a niche in the crowded cloud infrastructure market. How much bigger will Oracle grow by 2030? Oracle's remaining performance obligations for its cloud services -- or the remaining value of its contracts that haven't been booked as revenue yet -- rose 29% year over year last quarter as it secured more large cloud infrastructure contracts from the booming AI market. CEO Safra Catz said the company expected to "continue receiving large contracts reserving cloud infrastructure capacity because the demand for our Gen2 AI infrastructure substantially exceeds supply, despite the fact we are opening new and expanding existing cloud datacenters very, very rapidly." From fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2026, analysts expect Oracle's revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5%. They expect its EPS to increase at a CAGR of 23% as its cloud margins rise and it buys back more shares. Oracle's stock isn't a screaming bargain at 28 times next year's earnings, but the ongoing expansion of its cloud and AI businesses could justify that slight premium. If it maintains that forward multiple, matches analysts' estimates, and grows its EPS at a CAGR of 20% from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2030, its stock price could rise nearly 160% and boost its market cap to around $900 billion. If it grows slightly faster or commands a higher valuation, it could easily become a $1 trillion stock. Oracle has a clear path toward joining the 12-zero club, but investors should pay close attention to the growth of its SaaS and IaaS businesses. If either of those growth engines sputters out, it could be revalued as a dusty old tech stock again. Should you invest $1,000 in Oracle right now? Before you buy stock in Oracle, 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 Oracle 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 March 11, 2024 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Leo Sun has positions in Amazon and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Will Oracle Be a Trillion-Dollar Stock by 2030? was originally published by The Motley Fool It is usually uneventful when a single insider buys stock. However, When quite a few insiders buy shares, as it happened in Cass Information Systems, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:CASS) case, it's fantastic news for shareholders. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. Check out our latest analysis for Cass Information Systems The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Cass Information Systems Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by President Martin Resch for US$80k worth of shares, at about US$37.50 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of US$46.36. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. While Cass Information Systems insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Cass Information Systems 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 2.8% of Cass Information Systems shares, worth about US$17m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Cass Information Systems Tell Us? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Cass Information Systems shares in the last quarter. 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 Cass Information Systems insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Cass Information Systems, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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. Today A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Tonight A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 71F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. FOTO | Un cuplu s-a trezit cu 10 milioane de euro in cont: Nici nu i-au calculat bine si au inceput vestile proaste Un barbat si o femeie au avut o surpriza incredibila cand au constatat peste noapte ca conturile lor bancare s-au umplut cu 10 milioane de euro. Cu toate acestea, [citeste mai departe] Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Ministrul Energiei, Sebastian Burduja, a prezentat realizarile din primele noua luni de mandat in 20 de puncte . Ministrul Energiei, Sebastian Burduja, a prezentat un bilant impresionant al activitatii sale in primele noua luni ale mandatului sau. Cu un portofoliu extrem de complex, Burduja a subliniat - Romania does not anticipate a reduction in gas consumption, relying on its own sources, said on Monday in Brussels, at the meeting of EU energy ministers, Sebastian Burduja, the Ministry of Energy informs in a press release sent to AGERPRES. "We are talking about a recommendation, not an obligation, - Romania will consolidate the Schengen Area and it is not at all fair to continue to have only a partial integration in this European area of free movement, our country being prepared to cooperate for the protection of the borders and the fight against illegal migration, the minister of Internal Affairs - Primul proiect al minireactoarelor nucleare (SMR) americane NuScale ar fi trebuit implementat in Statele Unite, insa acesta a picat, lasand proiectul de la Doicesti pe primul loc. Teofil Muresan, CEO al grupului E-Infra, investitorul privat implicat la Doicesti alaturi de Nuclearelectrica, a aratat - President Klaus Iohannis says Romania will continue its support for Ukraine as long as it takes and the country's efforts to integrate with the European family. "We mark 2 years since Ukraine tirelessly fights to defend its people and territory. 2 years since we are united against the aggressor and - Romania will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in its EU accession negotiation process, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said during his meeting with the Moldovan deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Mihai Poposoi, who is currently paying an working visit to Bucharest. - Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu spoke on Wednesday, on the first day of her participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, about the support Romania is giving to the Western Balkans countries in terms of their European path, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs in a press release sent - The minister of energy, Sebastian Burduja, called a meeting of the winter energy command on Monday, in order to prevent any problems that could be caused by extreme weather conditions, if the case.The very low temperatures are coming and we must be prepared. We have convened the meeting of the winter The Budapest municipal council will conduct on online survey on plans for a major property development project in the capitals Rakosrendezo area in the 14th district, the citys mayor, Gergely Karacsony, told a press conference. The survey will be open to all Budapest residents over the age of 14 with a permanent address in the capital. He criticised the 5 billion euro rehabilitation project planned by UAE developer Eagle Hills as a bad legal arrangement that prioritised the interests of investors over the public interest. He said the same developer had carried out a project in Belgrade under a similar arrangement, which would be remembered as a textbook example of botched urbanistic solutions. Budapest needs rustbelt zones where quality homes can be built in order to halt the decline of the citys population, Karacsony said. The municipal council agrees with the public developments linked to the project, such as the plan to extend the M1 metro line, he said, adding that the city disagreed with the way the government had selected the developer without a tender, thereby allowing it to dictate the terms. He said that if the municipal council put together a joint development plan for the area in question, major international property developers would be lining up to work on the project. Karacsony said the city council wanted to turn the Rakosrendezo neighbourhood into a green residential area with affordable housing and public parks. In response to a question, he said that in 2019, the new city administration had prepared a development plan for the area that included 8,000-10,000 homes, commercial services and quality green areas and enjoyed broad professional consensus. MTI Photo: Zoltan Mathe ******************************************************************************************** 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! Fidesz MEPs dissented yesterday as the European Parliament passed a law on media freedom, designed to impede authorities from exerting pressure on journalists and editors. The new regulation was introduced by the European Commission in 2022 in response to creeping state control over media organisations and attacks on press freedom, Politico reports. Under the new law, passed with a large majority of 464 in favour, 92 against and 65 abstentions, media outlets will have to transparently disclose information about ownership, funding and state advertising. The new law bans governments from deploying spyware on journalists phones, with some exceptions. Journalists may not be forced to reveal their sources by detention, sanctions, house searches, deployment of surveillance software and other methods. Leaders of public service media and members of the leading bodies must be appointed via a transparent procedure free from discrimination on an appropriately long-term basis. They can only be dismissed before the expiry of their contracts for professional reasons. In Tuesdays debate on the motion, Fidesz MEP Andrea Bocskor called the law another attempt at interfering in the sovereignty of member states. European Commission Vice-President Vera Jourova, who submitted the proposal, said the law sends a clear message to those who want to weaken democracy that they will not be allowed to do so. ******************************************************************************************** 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! A pro-government columnist warns against using NATO as a means to exert pressure on Hungary. In Magyar Nemzet, Laszlo Szocs writes that Hungary is not a stowaway in NATO as it makes sustained efforts to boost its military capabilities. He laments that the weight of the United States in the alliance largely supersedes that of all its European partners which raises doubts about Europes ability to defend itself. Szocs criticises recent US attempts to put political pressure on Hungary and argues that NATO can only be strong as an alliance of sovereign countries. He also mentions Hungarys opposition to the candidacy of former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for the post of NATO Secretary General. (The Hungarian government refuses to support him because of a statement Mr Rutte made as Prime Minister three years ago when he accused the Hungarian government of homophobia and said Hungary should be brought to its knees.) By contrast, Mandiners Gergely Szilvay writes that Hungary is in the right place in NATO. The Atlantic Alliance, he argues, is the last traditional western international institution devoid of social engineering ideologies. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story ******************************************************************************************** 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! The pro-war, pro-gender and pro-migration US Democratic administration is still pursuing a smear campaign against Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, the foreign minister, said on Facebook. This time it was the national security advisor who joined the chorus, Szijjarto said. Jake Sullivans statement made it clear that the US Democrats do not take it well that, in the midst of the European progressive liberal ocean, there remains an island where we are proud to say: no war, no gender, no migration! We continue to take a firm stand for peace, we will protect families from aggressive gender propaganda and will not let illegal migrants into our country, whether the Democrats like it or not! Szijjarto said. Meanwhile, PM's Political Director Presents English-Language Edition of Book on Hungarian Strategy It is not in Hungarys interest to follow the Wests strategy of a return to geopolitical blocs, the prime ministers political director said at a presentation of the English-language edition of his book on Hungarian strategy, Hussar Cut: The Hungarian Strategy for Connectivity. Balazs Orban said the end of the unipolar world had opened the door for smaller countries to develop and pursue their own strategies on their way to success. He warned that in the changing world order, certain political forces were working to divide the world into blocs again. This, he said, would limit smaller countries room for manoeuvre, as they would only be able to maintain political, economic and cultural ties with the other countries in their bloc. This, he added, went against Hungarys interests as an open, export-oriented economy built on knowledge and ambition. Hungarys priority, Orban said, was to bring in new branches of industry, identify breakout sectors for Hungarian companies and pursue a foreign policy based not on ideology, but national interests. The world is going through changes which Hungary can use to turn its capabilities into advantages, Orban said. He said that in just two decades, the world had lost faith in neoliberalism, which many attributed to the strengthening of the BRICS countries, division in the West and conflicts caused by religions. ******************************************************************************************** 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! Mental health at the workplace is important, with stress and burnout becoming increasingly common. To achieve a healthy work-life balance, prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and manage workload effectively. Encourage open communication, offer flexibility, and provide resources like counseling. By implementing these practices, employees can maintain mental well-being and productivity. Abha Dandekar, CEO & Founder, Elephant in the Room says, "With over 50% of our waking hours spent at work, it's not incorrect to say that a professional environment directly impacts ones mental health. The need for a mentally safe and healthy workplace extends far beyond the individual requirement of an employee. The focus on implementing a proactive and preventive approach to ensure mental well-being in the workplace is essential for maintaining a healthy and productive work environment. A positive environment drives productivity, creativity and contributes to greater organisational advancement." Sumit Singla, Culture Transformation Expert and Senior Partner at BOD Consulting says, "For managers, 'work-life balance' can often be confused with 'flexible' work. Flexibility simply means that people have the freedom to choose when/where work gets done. However, a flexible workplace can still be high-intensity and lacking in work-life balance." Strategies for Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace To ensure mental well-being in the workplace and have a good work-life balance, it's important to adopt safe practices that promote a positive environment and support employees' mental health needs. Here are some key strategies: 1. Provide a Safe Space: Create an environment where employees feel safe and comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. Encourage open communication and ensure that employees know they can seek help when needed. 2. Set Boundaries: Help employees manage their workloads effectively and avoid burnout by setting clear boundaries between work and personal life. Encourage them to take breaks and prioritize self-care. 3. Offer Stress Management Resources: Provide access to resources such as counseling services, employee assistance programs, and workshops on stress management. These resources can help employees cope with stress and improve their mental well-being. 4. Invest in Training and Development: Focus on building resilience and inclusivity in the workplace through employee training and development programs. This can help employees develop the skills they need to cope with challenges and thrive in their roles. 5. Lead by Example: Managers should model the behavior they want to see in their employees. By promoting healthy working habits and prioritizing mental health, managers can create a positive work environment. 6. Enhance Company Policies: Review and update company policies to support mental health, such as flexible work hours, burnout breaks, and recognition programs. These policies can help employees feel valued and supported in their roles. "Employees with adequate work-life balance feel supported and respected, leading to a higher quality of output. In addition, by being able to cater to personal priorities and take leave, they tend to take fewer sick days off and employee retention goes up as well. Research says that working 38 hours a week is ideal so LESS is definitely more when it comes to productivity vs the number of hours worked", concludes Mr Sumit. NEW DELHI: In a theatrical twist to the ongoing saga of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering allegations, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Saturday delivered a poetic riposte that captivated the audience and left them in stitches. Amidst the charged atmosphere of a press conference in the heart of New Delhi, CEC Rajiv Kumar took centre stage to address the persistent murmurs of EVM tampering that often precede elections. Responding to a query on this contentious issue, Kumar embarked on a lyrical journey, weaving together words that echoed with both wit and wisdom. "Adhoori hasrato ka iljaam, har baar hum par lagan thik nhi, wafa khud se nhi hoti, khata EVM ki kehete ho, aur baad mein jab parinaam aata hai toh uspe kaayam bhi nhi rehte (Blaming your incomplete desires on us (EVMs) every time isnt right. You cannot guarantee faithfulness, but you keep blaming EVMs. Later, when the result comes, you dont even accept that), CEC Kumar quipped, eliciting a chorus of applause and laughter from the assembled crowd. An ode to #EVMs CEC Rajiv Kumar answers all questions raised on EVMs, watch out for his self composed shayari during the press conference on announcement of Election Schedule! #ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #LokasabhaElection2024 #ElectionCommission #electiondate pic.twitter.com/9np3bPF7aL Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) March 16, 2024 But amidst the lighthearted banter, Kumar struck a chord of sincerity, urging voters and social media enthusiasts to be vigilant against the scourge of fake news. With a solemn plea, he implored them to verify the information before amplifying it, stressing the importance of relying on credible sources to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process. Verify Before You Amplify is the mantra to combat fake news. Lets rely on authoritative sources to ensure accurate information prevails. Stay vigilant and help us maintain the integrity of the electoral process,'' the CEC said. Jhuth ke bazaar mein raunak to bahut hai, Goya bulbule jaisi turant hi fat jati hai..Pakad bhi loge to kya hasil hoga siwaye dhokhe ke ( In the marketplace of lies, theres much brightness. Just like bubbles burst instantly, even if you catch hold, what will you gain except deception), he said. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Full Schedule The CEC also announced the dates for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which will be held in 7 phases starting from April 19. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. Counting of votes will be held on 4 June. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. With the formal announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has also come into effect across the country. It may be noted that the tenure of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House must be constituted before that. In 2019, the general elections were held over seven phases from April 11 to May 19, with results declared four days later. The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats, in the 2019 general elections. Total 96.8 Crore Voters Eligible To Cast Votes: CEC A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference here to announce the dates of Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls to four states, Rajiv Kumar said there will be 10.5 lakh polling stations and 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff will be deployed to conduct the elections in the world's largest democracy. "We are committed to giving the nation a truly festive, democratic environment. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 16th June 2024. The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also due to expire in June 2024. Elections are due in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Kumar said approximately 49.7 crore voters are male and 47.1 crore voters are female. "We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years," he said, adding that 88.4 lakh voters are of PwD category, 2.18 lakhs are centenarians and 48,000 are transgenders. BALTIMORE The committee representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimores bankruptcy case is seeking to give victims an opportunity to tell their stories in court. In a legal brief filed Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Baltimore, attorneys for the group of survivors representing all of the dioceses victims, known as the Creditors Committee, asked a judge to allow survivors to give testimony about their abuse over several hours during hearings in April and May. The Baltimore diocese, Americas oldest, declared bankruptcy on the eve of Marylands Child Victims Act, which lifted a longstanding time limit for abuse survivors to sue perpetrators and the institutions that enabled their torment, taking effect Oct. 1. Survivor advocates had long fought to pass the law, eventually overcoming a strong lobbying effort from the church. Bankruptcy was a strategic decision from the church to limit its liability and protect its assets. The move, however, also allowed the church to effectively sidestep an expected flood of lawsuits under the victims act. As a result, instead of abuse allegations being made in public lawsuits in state court, they now must be filed as claims in the bankruptcy proceedings. They may or may not be made public before they are evaluated by experts and assigned a dollar amount based on the extent of their suffering. Survivor voices have been silenced for many years, attorneys for the survivors committee wrote. This proceeding is likely the only opportunity that Survivors in Baltimore will have to seek acknowledgement and justice for the decades of isolation and pain they endured. The decision of whether to allow survivors to give statements in court falls to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michelle M. Harner, who has presided over the archdioceses case and has, as the filing from the committees attorneys notes, encouraged victims to participate in the proceedings. Based on past experiences of its counsel, as well as feedback received from Survivors and their attorneys in this case to date, the Committee believes that accommodating the direct involvement of Survivor claimants in these proceedings will properly balance the case narrative and deepen the collective understanding of the histories and perspective of a critical constituency in the case, attorneys for the survivors committee wrote. Story continues The Committee, their filing continued, further believes that providing Survivors with a meaningful voice in these proceedings will serve to build trust in the process and, ultimately, enhance prospects for a timely and fair global settlement that includes expanded protocols to support the protection of children within the Archdiocese going forward. The diocese, which is referred to as the debtor in bankruptcy court, has not filed a response to the survivors committees request. Attorneys for the archdiocese, and a church spokesperson, did not immediately return requests Friday evening for comment. Paul Jan Zdunek, chair of the committee of seven survivors tasked with representing the rest, told The Baltimore Sun the committee worked it all out with archdiocese lawyers before filing its request Friday. In a normal bankruptcy proceeding, you wouldnt have this kind of testimony, Zdunek said. But we felt it was important, as we have from the beginning, to represent the victims not only from a legal perspective, but also to have their voices be heard. Zdunek offered a preview of how he expects the survivors testimony to unfold, describing the statements as an important breakout from a technical process thats focused on monetary determinations. We tend to get caught up, especially for bankruptcy proceedings, with all the legalese, and then we forget about the human side of what has happened here. This is just straight stories, uninterrupted, Zdunek said. There wont be any challenges from legal teams, from the debtor, from the court, from anyone, which is extraordinary. The filing from the survivors committee cites two previous Catholic Church bankruptcy cases where judges have given victims the opportunity to present statements in court. One was involved the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the other was for the archdiocese in Guam. Attorneys for the Baltimore survivors committee wrote that victim statements in those cases served as an important step in the process of healing, communication, and atonement for Survivors and the Church. An opportunity exists in this case to allow Survivor claimants a meaningful voice early in the process, their filing said. Pursuing this opportunity would communicate clearly to Survivor claimants that their voices are valued, that their suffering was (and remains) real, and that their histories will no longer be silenced or overlooked in deference to transactional or institutional priorities. Teresa Lancaster, an Annapolis attorney who survived abuse in the Catholic Church as a child and advocates for other victims, called the potential for survivor testimony particularly meaningful, given that many victims wanted to pursue lawsuits in state court under the Child Victims Act. Its a great move for survivors, Lancaster told The Sun. Many of the survivors have related to me that they wanted to tell their stories, because if we had gone to court, we wouldve been able to tell our stories before juries. Also, survivors attorneys said they expected such testimony would draw further attention to the case ahead of the deadline for survivors to file abuse claims in bankruptcy court. Though the bankruptcy proceedings are expected to span years, the deadline, known as a claims bar date, is May 31. Reserving the right to present further survivor statements, the committee asked Harner to set aside two hours during hearings April 8 and May 20 for victim testimony. Committee lawyers requested that the survivors statements not be transcribed by a court reporter. Typically, all parts of federal court cases are transcribed by official stenographers. As the Baltimore dioceses case advances in federal bankruptcy court, scores of lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act involving other defendants have inundated Maryland courts. Complaints targeted private schools and public school systems, correctional facilities for children, and churches. They allege abuse by teachers, guards, priests and others in positions of authority over children. Almost as quickly as the Baltimore diocese declared bankruptcy, the neighboring Archdiocese of Washington challenged the child victims law as unconstitutional. The legal fight first came up in a lawsuit filed in Prince Georges County Circuit Court, where three men say in a proposed class-action lawsuit that they were sexually assaulted as children by employees of the Washington diocese, which is headquartered in Hyattsville, and that their torment fit a broader pattern of abuse and coverup by the church. A circuit court judge denied the Washington dioceses request to throw out the lawsuit, saying she believed the child victims law is constitutional. Taking advantage of a provision in the law allowing for a mid-lawsuit appeal, the Washington diocese said it planned to promptly take its legal challenge to the intermediate Appellate Court of Maryland and then to the states Supreme Court. Experts expect Marylands high court to ultimately settle constitutional questions about the law. _______ (Baltimore Sun reporter Jonathan M. Pitts contributed to this article.) _________ (Baltimore Sun reporter Jonathan M. Pitts contributed to this article.) _________ New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed confidence and readiness as the Election Commission (EC) unveiled the complete schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, marking the commencement of what he referred to as "the biggest festival of democracy." In a statement following the EC announcement, PM Modi emphasized the preparedness of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "We, the BJP-NDA, are fully prepared for elections," he affirmed. PM Modi underscored their campaign strategy, which hinges on showcasing their accomplishment in governance and service delivery across various sectors. "We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors," he stated on X. The biggest festival of democracy is here! EC has announced the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates. We, the BJP-NDA, are fully prepared for elections. We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and service delivery across sectors. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2024 The Prime Minister's remarks signal a proactive approach from the ruling coalition as they gear up for the electoral battle ahead. With the announcement of the election schedule, political parties across the spectrum are expected to intensify their campaigning efforts in the run-up to polling day. The tweet from the PM came shortly after the Election Commission on Saturday announced the dates for polls for the Lok Sabha polls. Voting will be held in 7 phases starting from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said while addressing a press conference. The results will be announced on June 4, the CEC said. Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. Phase-Wise Election Schedule Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. The tenure of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House will have to be constituted before that. The tenure of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha assemblies will also end in June. With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect. Phase 1 elections will be held on April 19, and the last date for making nominations is March 27. Polls will be held in 21 States and Union Territories. Phase 2 elections will be held from April 26, last date for nominations for candidates is April 4. The second phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 3 elections will be held on May 7, last date for nominations for candidates is April 19. The third phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 4 elections will be held on May 13, last date for nominations for candidates is April 25. The fourth phase will cover 10 States and Union Territories. Phase 5 elections will be held on May 20, and the last date for nominations for candidates is May 3. The fifth phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 6 elections will be held on May 25, and the last date for nominations for candidates in May 6. The sixth phase will cover 7 States and Union territories. Phase 7 elections will be held on June 1, last date for nominations for candidates is May 14. The seventh phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 1 elections will be held in 102 constituencies, and a total of 89 constituencies will undergo polls in phase 2. In Phase 3, polling will be held in 94 constituencies. 96 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 4, and 49 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 5. In Phase 6, polls will be held in 57 constituencies and also in Phase 7, 57 constituencies will undergo polls. Assembly elections will be held in Sikkim, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13. while the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19 the counting of votes on 4 June. Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately. CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure a level playing field. CAPF will be deployed adequately & assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts & drones to ensure vigil. Ensuring voters' trust is paramount. Violence in elections is unacceptable. Impersonators to be swiftly punished. Transparency in permissions to parties/candidates through the SUVIDHA portal. ECI has offered 27 apps and portals for all stakeholders. cVigil empowers citizens to report MCC violations and assures action within 100 Mts. KYC app facilitates informed voting. A revamped results portal to enhance the experience on results day. He further mentioned that the poll body is sensitive to environmentally sustainable elections. "We are making efforts to minimise single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly practices in the election process," he said. CEC Kumar informed that to curb the flow of illicit money, the poll body has held extensive reviews with enforcement agencies. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today appeared before a Delhi court in connection with a case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate for skipping the probe agency's summons. CM Kejriwal physically appeared before the court after failing to get relief from a physical appearance. Rouse Avenue Court's ACMM Divya Malhotra granted bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in two complaints filed by the ED. He was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of Rs 1 lakh. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legal head Sanjeev Nasiar said, "The court had summoned CM (Arvind Kejriwal). The last time he attended it through video conferencing when he was directed again he said that he would appear physically. He appeared today & submitted the bail bond. The bail was granted." CM Kejriwal appeared before the court following a summons issued to him by the court on the basis of two ED complaints in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case. Nasiar said that regarding the ED summons, AAP's stand is clear that they are not as per law & are illegal. "The court will decide that now...We have full faith in the court. Whatever decision the court takes, our decision will be according to that," he said. Reena Gupta, AAP leader, said that this case is a bogus one and the ED has been conducting raids for the past two years but found nothing. She added that the main issue today is the scam done using the electoral bonds. Kejriwal has challenged the summons issued by the court after taking cognizance of two complaints filed by the ED for avoidance of the summons issued to him. According to the ED, the agency wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalized, and allegations of bribery. The Sessions Court of Rouse Avenue Court on Friday refused to stay the summons issued to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on complaints filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Kejriwal has challenged the summons issued by the court for not complying with the summons issued by the central probe agency in the Delhi liquor policy money laundering case. PATNA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations in Bihar's Arrah district on Saturday in connection with a money laundering probe against sand trader Krishna Mohan Singh as part of an investigation in illegal sand mining and its sale. The raids are underway at various places under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency raided Singh's residence in Arrah among other places in close coordination with state police based on inputs against the trader. Singh's assets in Arrah's Anand Nagar locality are also under ED's radar. The agency arrived at Singh's residence early today to investigate the unaccounted wealth earned by the trader from the sand business. The case appears to have a connection with a money laundering case against Broadsons Commodities Pvt Ltd. Last month, the ED had provisionally attached two immovable properties to the extent of Rs 26.19 crore acquired by Radha Charan Sah, MLC, Bihar Legislative Council under the PMLA, 2002. ED initiated an investigation based on 19 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by Bihar police under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Bihar Mineral (Concession, Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rule, 2019 against Broadson Commodities Private Limited and others. It is alleged that Broadson Commodities Private Limited has been involved in illegal sand mining and selling of sand without using the departmental pre-paid transportation e-challan issued by the mining authority, Bihar and has caused huge revenue loss to the extent of Rs 161.15 crore to the government exchequer. ED investigation revealed that the illegal sale of sand and its mining was mainly controlled by a syndicate. Radha Charan Sah, being a syndicate member, generated huge proceeds of crime through Broadsons Commodities Private Limited which was involved in the illegal sale of sand. He layered and laundered the proceeds of crime with the assistance of his son Kanhaiya Prasad using the Hawala network. He used it in the acquisition and development of a resort in Manali (Himachal Pradesh) through a company where his sons are shareholders and to carry out construction in the school in Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) run by his family-owned trust. He used the facade of a firm and a trust owned by his family members to layer the proceeds of crime. Earlier in the instant case, searches were conducted at the premises linked with the company and syndicate members and cash of Rs. 1.49 crore was seized. Further, Radha Charan Sah, his son Kanhaiya Prasad and the Directors of Broad Son Commodities Private Limited namely Mithilesh Kumar Singh, Baban Singh and Surendra Kumar Jindal were arrested and presently all are in judicial custody. Prosecution Complaint was filed in the instant case on November 10 last year 2023 before the PMLA court in Patna. The opinion polls for the Lok Sabha elections have been announced and one thing was common in most of them- they predicted a return of the BJP government. However, when it came to the party's 'Mission 400', a majority of the opinion poll predicted that the NDA might not win 400 seats. The BJP is also well aware of the challenges it faces in achieving the target of 400 seats and thus is doing every possible calculation to reach the ambitious target. Southern India will play a crucial role in PM Narendra Modi's 'Mission 400' and thus the BJP has prepared a mega-plan to conquer the fortress of the South. Modi's South Sojourn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day-long thunderous tour of South India has begun. PM Modi is touring the 5 southern states - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka with an aim to make BJP win. 129 Lok Sabha seats in these five states will be covered by PM Modi in 120 hours. Prime Minister Modi held a roadshow in Malkajgiri, Telangana on Friday after visiting Tamil Nadu and Kerala. From Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, he claimed that this time there is a wave of BJP in the South and this wave will shatter the arrogance of the opposition. 400 Seats Via South Just before the announcement of Lok Sabha dates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the poll bugle from the Southern states. The BJP has worked hard in states like Telangana and Tamil Nadu to increase its vote share. If the voters of South India open their doors to the BJP, only then the NDA can cross the 400-seat target. To achieve this, PM Modi covered the political ground of a total of 76 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Telangana within just 7 hours or 420 minutes in the last two days. Learnings From 2019 For The BJP Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats but the BJP did not win a single seat in the 2019 elections and its vote share remained around 4%. Similarly, there are 20 seats in Kerala but the BJP failed to open its account there but received 13% of the votes. There are 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana and the party had won 4 of them with a vote share of 20%. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha seats and the saffron party did not win a single seat in 2019 and only received 1% of the votes. However, it won 25 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka and managed to compensate for the losses in Andhra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. With the Modi settng a target of 400 seats, it now wants to make its presence felt in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Without South, 'Mission 400' may go north. Therefore, the BJP has also forged alliance in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to improve its winning chances. In Tamil Nadu, the BJP has got support from Tamil actor R. Sarath Kumar's Akila Indiya Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) and TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). In Karnataka, the BJP has got support from the JDS while in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP and Jana Sena have joined the NDA. New Delhi: In a daring display of prowess, the Indian Navy executed a meticulously planned operation in the Arabian Sea, culminating in the surrender of 35 pirates and the safe rescue of 17 crew members from a distressed vessel. The operation, spearheaded by the Indian warship INS Kolkata, unfolded over 40 intense hours, showcasing the Navy's unwavering commitment to maritime security and humanitarian rescue missions. A Showdown In High-Seas The drama unfolded nearly 2600 km from the Indian coast, where the INS Kolkata intercepted the pirate ship Ruen, which had been commandeered by Somali pirates months prior. With precision and determination, the Indian Navy halted the pirate vessel's advance, compelling its crew to surrender through calculated manoeuvres and strategic pressure. #INSKolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender & ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening today #16Mar 24 from the pirate vessel without any injury.#INSKolkata had carried out the https://t.co/eKxfEdMRES pic.twitter.com/tmQq2fG8yE SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024 Multi-Faceted Rescue Effort The success of the operation was not solely attributed to INS Kolkata's valor. It was supported by a formidable array of assets, including the INS Subhadra, HALE RPA drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and elite MARCOS PRAHARs airdropped by C-17 aircraft. This coordinated effort ensured the swift and safe evacuation of the distressed vessel's crew, leaving no room for error or compromise. Securing The High Seas Beyond the immediate rescue mission, the Indian Navy took decisive steps to sanitize the vessel, eliminating any threat posed by illegal arms, ammunition, or contraband. This proactive measure underscores India's commitment to upholding international maritime laws and combating piracy in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Navy's Resolute Stand Against Piracy The confrontation with the pirate vessel serves as a resolute message from India, signaling its determination to safeguard maritime interests and protect seafarers navigating through perilous waters. By swiftly neutralizing the pirate threat and ensuring the safety of those aboard the distressed vessel, the Indian Navy reaffirms its status as a formidable guardian of the seas. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections. CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure level playing field. CAPF to be deployed adequately & assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts & drones to ensure vigil. Assembly polls will be held in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha. Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh & Odisha will vote on 13 May while Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim on 19 April. Watch Live Press Briefing: 3.42pm: Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura. This shows an increase of 835%: CEC 3.40pm: The CEC issued SOP to stop spread of fake news. 3.35pm: There is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections...From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them, said CEC. 3.20pm: We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years: CEC. 3.15pm: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, "In 12 states the ratio of women voters is higher than men voters. 3.10 pm: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, "We have a total of 96.8 crore electors. 3.05pm: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, "We have 97 crore registered voters, 10.5 lakhs polling stations, 1.5 crores polling officials and security staff, 55 lakhs EVMs, 4 lakhs vehicles." The election dates announcement will mark the implementation of the Mode Code of Conduct for the polls. The Election Commission's decision to announce the poll dates comes after holding extensive talks with political parties across India. The EC team visited several states including Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir. 2019 Poll Dates In 2019, Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 and the results were declared on May 23. The first phase of polls was held on April 11, the second on April 18, the third on April 23, the fourth on April 29, the fifth on May 6, the sixth on May 12 and the seventh on May 19. In 2019 polls, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. Campaign, Candidate List Political parties have already started announcing candidate lists and their political campaign. While the BJP has released a list of 266 candidates so far, the Congress has announced 82 candidates. Other parties like Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Left have also announced several candidates for their respective states so far. New Delhi: In a devastating turn of events on Saturday, more than 40 workers were injured after a boiler exploded at a spare parts manufacturing factory in Haryana's Rewari. The incident, which unfolded on a fateful Saturday evening, sent shockwaves through the industrial hub, leaving a trail of destruction and injuries in its wake. Eyewitnesses recounted the horror of the explosion, which occurred around 5:50 pm, engulfing the Rewari facility in chaos and despair. The force of the blast rippled through the air, shattering the tranquillity of the evening and propelling the unsuspecting workers into a nightmare of flames and smoke. #WATCH | Haryana: Visuals from Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center, Rewari where the patients injured in the boiler explosion at a factory in Dharuhera, have been admitted. Dr Surender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, says "A boiler has exploded in a factory in Dharuhera, Rewari. We have alerted https://t.co/DR5Jgp86od pic.twitter.com/7WEWQkSblT ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2024 Initial reports indicate that the explosion originated in the dust collector of the factory, triggering a chain reaction of explosions. The aftermath bore witness to a scene of carnage, with several workers sustaining severe burn injuries amidst the chaos and confusion. In the frantic aftermath of the tragedy, emergency responders sprang into action, mobilizing a swift and coordinated response to tend to the wounded. Senior doctors and ambulances rushed to the scene, while nearby hospitals were placed on high alert to accommodate the influx of casualties. Amidst the chaos, one individual's condition was deemed critical, prompting authorities to expedite their transfer to Rohtak for urgent medical intervention. Meanwhile, 23 others are currently under medical care at the local hospital, their conditions stabilized under the watchful eyes of dedicated medical personnel. Civil Surgeon Surender Yadav conveyed the gravity of the situation, confirming the toll of the tragedy. "A boiler has exploded in a factory in Dharuhera, Rewari," he revealed, painting a grim picture of the unfolding crisis. "Several people have burn injuries," he added, underscoring the severity of the incident and the urgent need for medical attention. We received info that a boiler exploded at a factory in Dharuhera. The injured have been admitted to the trauma centre in Rewari. Those who are in serious condition are being referred to Rohtak. No casualty has been reported, Vijendra, SHO Dharuhera, Rewari told the news agency. #WATCH | Haryana: Parmod Kumar, City Police Station, says, "We received info that a boiler exploded at a factory in Dharuhera. The injured have been admitted to the trauma centre in Rewari. Those who are in serious condition are being referred to Rohtak. No casualty has been https://t.co/FNzHalBRjk pic.twitter.com/FXJBVmzEKl March 16, 2024 As the dust settles and the extent of the damage becomes clear, authorities are left grappling with the aftermath of the catastrophe. Fire engines and ambulances raced to the scene, accompanied by a contingent of police and administrative officials tasked with restoring order and providing support to the affected workers. New Delhi: Every year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) administers the highly esteemed UPSC examination, an arduous test that only a select few manage to conquer. Among these aspirants was Ram Bhajan, a remarkable individual who transcended his humble beginnings as a daily wage laborer to pursue the lofty goal of becoming an IAS officer. Hailing from the quaint village of Bapi in Rajasthan, Ram Bhajan Kumhara's journey embodies the essence of resilience and determination. In the rustic confines of his village, where basic amenities were scarce, Ram Bhajan and his mother eked out a living amidst adversity. Their meager existence lacked even the comfort of a proper dwelling. Fast forward to the present, and Ram Bhajan has emerged triumphant, securing the 667th rank in the UPSC examination. His saga is one of unparalleled inspiration, a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable odds. In a candid conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, Ram Bhajan shared poignant details of his past. He reminisced about his days toiling as a daily laborer alongside his mother, tirelessly breaking stones and bearing the weight of their struggles. Despite the grueling nature of their work, they persevered, earning a paltry sum that barely sustained them. Ram Bhajan's journey took a tragic turn with the demise of his father, a pivotal figure in their modest household. Struck down by asthma during the Covid-19 pandemic, his father's passing plunged the family into deeper despair, exacerbating their financial woes. Forced to resort to manual labor for sustenance, Ram Bhajan refused to succumb to despair. Despite the adversities stacked against him, Ram Bhajan's indomitable spirit remained unbroken. Fuelled by a fervent desire to transcend his circumstances, he embarked on a relentless pursuit of knowledge. His dedication bore fruit when he secured a position as a constable in the Delhi Police, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards realizing his aspirations. Undeterred by setbacks, Ram Bhajan continued to pursue his ultimate goal of becoming an IAS officer. With unwavering resolve, he persisted through eight attempts, each one a testament to his unwavering determination. Finally, in 2022, his perseverance paid off as he emerged triumphant, clinching victory in the UPSC examination. Ram Bhajan's achievement not only elevated him to the esteemed rank of an IAS officer but also lifted his family out of the clutches of poverty. His remarkable journey serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring countless others to dare to dream and strive for greatness against all odds. NEW DELHI: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, on Saturday announced that Lok Sabha elections in the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh would be held in seven phases, beginning from April 19. According to the CEC, three states - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal - will vote in all seven phases. The CEC also announced the dates for polls for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which will be held in 7 phases starting from April 19. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. Counting of votes will be held on 4 June. Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Full Schedule Phase 1 voting: April 19 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzzafarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Muradabad, Rampur, Pilibhit Phase 2 voting: April 26 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh, Mathura Phase 3 voting: May 7 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Amla, Bareilly Phase 4 voting: May 13 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Shahjahanpur (SC), Lakhimpur Kheri, Dhaurahara, Sitapur, Hardoi, Misrikh, Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur, Bahraich Phase 5 voting: May 20 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Kaiserganj, Gonda Phase 6 voting: May 25 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shravasti, Dumariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj (SC), Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhilshahr, Bhadohi Phase 7 voting: June 1 Lok Sabha constituencies to vote: Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Robertsganj (SC) Lok Sabha Election 2024 Full Schedule Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 voting will be held on May 7, Phase 4 voting will be held on May 13, Phase 5 voting will be on May 20, Phase 6 voting will take place on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. With the formal announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has also come into effect across the country. It may be noted that the tenure of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16 and a new House must be constituted before that. In 2019, the general elections were held over seven phases from April 11 to May 19, with results declared four days later. The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats, in the 2019 general elections. Total 96.8 Crore Voters Eligible To Cast Votes: CEC A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference here to announce the dates of Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls to four states, Rajiv Kumar said there will be 10.5 lakh polling stations and 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff will be deployed to conduct the elections in the world's largest democracy. "We are committed to giving the nation a truly festive, democratic environment. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 16th June 2024. The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also due to expire in June 2024. Elections are due in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Kumar said approximately 49.7 crore voters are male and 47.1 crore voters are female. "We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years," he said, adding that 88.4 lakh voters are of PwD category, 2.18 lakhs are centenarians and 48,000 are transgenders. Lok Sabha Elections In UP Uttar Pradesh is considered the most crucial state politically as it sends 80 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha. The largest state electorally remains one of the key focus areas of political parties as it has the power to be a game-changer for them. It is often said that the road to Delhi passes through Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, which is the most populous state of India. According to major opinion polls, the ruling BJP is projected to sweep the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh with a record mandate this time. UP Lok Sabha: Looking Back At 2019 And 2014 Results In the 2019 general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 62 seats in the state while its ally Apna Dal (S) bagged two seats. Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) secured 10 seats while Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) had five seats to its name. Congress, on the other hand, managed to secure only one seat. Meanwhile, in 2014, the Narendra Modi-led party won a massive 71 seats in the state. The SP won five seats, Congress won two seats, others won two seats and the BSP did not win any seats. The BJP is hopeful of repeating the success of the last two general elections in the Hindi heartland state of Uttar Pradesh. Very recently, the saffron party also emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha polls conducted in the state as it managed to grab eight out of the ten seats on which polling took place. The opposition SP took away two seats. The state has a total of 80 constituencies. Of these, 63 are unreserved seats while 17 seats are reserved for the SC candidates. The key constituencies to watch out for in the state are Varanasi, Rae Bareli, Lucknow, and Amethi. All eyes will be on the Varanasi seat -- which is the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- where Congress and BJP are set to put up a strong show. Recently, Congress and SP announced a seat-sharing pact for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh -- under which Congress will contest Varanasi, Rae Bareli and Amethi seats. Under the pact, the grand old party will fight on 17 seats while the Akhilesh Yadav-led party and other INDIA bloc allies will contest on 63 seats. As the state gears up for another electoral battle, the attention will be on whether Congress bastions of Rae Bareli and Amethi will get a Gandhi contender this time or not. The constituency of Rae Bareli was won by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi five consecutive times, however, she decided not to contest again and has now been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Since her move, speculations have been rife that her daughter and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi may make her electoral debut from the seat this year. Political parties have already begun announcing their candidates for the general elections. BJP has so far released two lists of candidates. Congress has also released two lists of candidates for the polls. Meanwhile, the Election Commission on March 14 uploaded data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI. Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd were among the top donors to political parties. Various petitions were filed before the top court challenging amendments made to different statutes through the Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016 on the ground that they have opened doors to unlimited, unchecked funding of political parties. What Happened to Macron and What Can Ukraine Expect Now? EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL Author Oleg Shamshur Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2004-2005), Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States (2006-2010), Ambassador of Ukraine to France (2014-2020) Anatomy of the initiative Two years. It took approximately that much time for the topic of sending units of the armed forces of Western countries to Ukraine to become a subject of substantial discussion among politicians and the media. This required an electric shock in the form of statements by the French president, who at first did not rule out such an option during a press conference after the Paris meeting dedicated to increasing aid to Ukraine. This signal was confirmed at his meeting with the leaders of French political parties and during his visit to the Czech Republic. Emmanuel Macron said there were no restrictions or red lines on France's support for Ukraine. He called on the allies not to be cowards in relation to Russia and to exert maximum effort in providing assistance to our country, which is still awaiting the arrival of additional Western weapons necessary to resist the Russian onslaught. Such an evolution of the position of a politician who, even after the start of Russia's large-scale aggression, tried to hold telephone talks with the Kremlin dictator and urged not to humiliate Russia is no accident. It is based on the advent of Macron's appropriate awareness of the threats that Putin's Russia poses to Europe and France, as well as the criticality for Ukraine of the situation that has developed on the fronts of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the possibility of its acute deterioration in the near future (according to his assessment, by summer). The French president expressed his current views on the war in Ukraine in a TV interview last Thursday. The most important, in my opinion, are the following statements: 1. This war, responsible for which rests squarely with Putin, is an existential threat to Europe and France. 2. Russia must not win this war. If Russia wins this war, trust in Europe will drop to zero. 3. If Russia wins, the lives of the French will change. France will no longer be safe. Europe will not be safe. 4. Those who set restrictions on aid to Ukraine choose defeat, not peace; capitulation of Ukraine will not bring peace; wishing for peace means not leaving Ukraine in trouble. 5. France and Europe must be strong and ready to respond to escalation by Putin. A turning point for Macron, according to his advisers, was a visit to Sweden, where he saw firsthand how concerned the politicians there are about the possibility of Russian aggression against their country. Added to this, along with the disappointment in telephone diplomacy, were cyberattacks by Russian hackers and the exposure of a Russian disinformation network in France, threats to French aircraft in the Black Sea region and provocations by the Russian Navy, Russian plans to destabilize Moldova and the death of Aleksey Navalny. Taken together, these caused the mutation, according to the expression of the French newspaper Le Monde, of a dove into a hawk. Other reasons for Macron's noticeably renewed vigor on the Ukrainian front can be noted. The first of them is related to purely domestic political considerations some months before the elections to the European Parliament (June 2024). The president is faced with the task of weakening the position of his main rival, Marine Le Pen's National Rally, which is significantly ahead of the presidential Renaissance in polls of potential voters. Macron is counting on the fact that the internal French debate on Ukraine policy, the main event of which was the discussion of the agreement on French-Ukrainian security cooperation in the National Assembly and the French Senate, will create an opportunity to expose the ties of Le Pen and her political power to Putin. This, for its part, should discredit them in front of the French public, which for the most part continues to have a negative attitude towards the Putin regime and supports Ukraine. It cannot be ruled out that by putting forward the mentioned initiative and stimulating the discussion within the anti-Putin coalition, the French president is trying to put additional weight behind his ambitions to occupy the vacant position of the informal leader of the European Union. For this reason, he works on contrast, contrasting his dynamism and determination with the procrastination and hesitation inherent in Olaf Scholz's political behavior. True, for the sake of objectivity, it should be noted that Macron's struggle for leadership in the EU and his veiled criticism of the indecisive Scholz are unfortunately inconsistent with the actual amount of aid to Ukraine from France. According to expert estimates, Germany's aid to Ukraine is almost eight times greater than French aid. In addition, Germany provides most of the finances to our country in the form of grants, while France provides loans, which Ukraine will then have to repay. Macron sees a proactive approach to the Ukrainian issue as a convincing argument in favor of the implementation of his idea regarding Europes strategic autonomy, especially against the background of the strengthening of neo-isolationist sentiments in the United States. According to the information of Macron's advisers, he was impressed by Donald Trump's call to Putin to do whatever he wants with those countries that do not make sufficient contributions to strengthening NATO's capabilities. The Eurocentricity of the French leader is largely motivated by his belief that only leadership positions in Europe can ensure France a place among the main figures of world politics. On the other hand, he cannot fail to understand that the attitude of the Allies to his new strategic approaches will largely depend on their support by Germany and the effective functioning of the Franco-German tandem. Coordination of positions regarding Ukraine was in the center of attention of the participants of the Weimar Triangle meeting on March 15. In this context, the extent to which Macron was able to compensate for the negative impression made on the German chancellor by the barely veiled mocking remarks of his French colleague in Paris on February 26 is significant. Currently, it can be stated that the overwhelming majority of France's partners and allies did not support Macron's most radical proposal regarding the possibility of sending units of the armed forces of Western countries to Ukraine. Judging by the statements made, the position of the Baltic countries is the most favorable to the French one; the Czech Republic and Poland are favorable, but more vague. The French side itself made an important clarification: in any case, units of the armed forces of the partner countries will not take part in hostilities, carrying out demining, cyber defense, and weapons production tasks on Ukrainian territory. During a speech in the parliament, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal emphasized that France supports Ukraine, but does not wage wars with Russia and completely rejects the logic of escalation (apparently, hostilities Oleh Shamshur). Macron himself called Russia an adversary in a TV interview, but, like the prime minister, he emphasized that France is not at war with Russia or the Russian people, and assured the French that we will never conduct offensive actions, we will not take the initiative. I would advise those who are preparing to meet French combat units in Odessa to pay attention to all this. As for considering the issue of the possibility of their deployment in Ukraine at the French Defense Council in June of last year (this, too, was reported by Le Monde), it does not contradict the usual practice, when military specialists present to the state leadership the maximum number of options for behavior in a certain situation. The parliamentary debate and Macron's televised interview became landmark events in the intense discussion about the forms and limits of the aid that the countries of the anti-Putin coalition are ready to provide to Ukraine to combat Russian aggression. Let's try to make conclusions about the intermediate balance. Let's start with the positive things. It consists in the fact that both President Macrons statements and their further discussion (despite the rejection of his most revolutionary proposals) showed an understanding in Western capitals (with the exception of Budapest and Bratislava) of the exceptional acuteness of the current military-political situation and the catastrophic consequences of even a partial victory Putin not only for Ukraine, but also for the entire democratic community. In contrast to the possibility of deploying units of the allied armed forces in Ukraine, the calls of the French president to exert maximum effort in providing assistance to Ukraine did not cause objections. It is also important that the topic of the presence of units of the armed forces of Western countries in Ukraine ceased to be a taboo or a possibility that Western officials categorically rejected. Another positive aspect of the moment Macron has created is that it has enabled politicians to remind the citizens of Western nations how high the stakes are in this war for them, for their way of life and for their stability. This task is extremely important in view of the ambiguous dynamics of sentiments regarding the continuation of active support for Ukraine, which is observed in Western societies. As the example of the United States shows, the lack of a systematic dialogue with society significantly complicates or completely blocks the adoption of political decisions necessary to continue supporting Ukraine. Evaluating the earthquake caused by Macron's initiative from the point of view of its impact on the informational and psychological confrontation between Ukraine and its partners, on the one hand, and Putin's Russia, on the other, it must be recognized that the public promotion of initiatives not agreed upon even with the closest allies can significantly reduce the positive effect from them. Apparently, the attention of the Russian leadership was drawn not only by the substance of the French president's proposals, but also by the fact that at this stage they were rejected by the key states that support Ukraine. In my opinion, calculations to put pressure on Russia by creating so-called strategic ambiguity regarding the involvement of Western armed forces in Ukraine are also unrealistic: this effect could have been achieved if the corresponding wording had been made public immediately after the start of Russia's large-scale aggression. Now, as they say, the train has already left: Putin has drawn the necessary conclusions from the previous statements of Western leaders that their military will never appear in Ukraine. In order to improve the situation at the frontline and prevent the Russian forces from breaching its defenses, Ukraine does not need statements or even useful discussions with very uncertain (even in the long term) practical consequences. Military aid is needed in time, in the necessary volumes and of the necessary type. It is necessary that the correct rhetoric is constantly transformed into concrete actions, and the announcement of the creation of another coalition has the effect of operational acceleration of the supply of weapons and equipment crucial for the Armed Forces. Specific superpowers of our partners are needed. The oscillation over whether or not to supply Ukraine with certain types of weapons seems almost grotesque and does not correlate well with public statements about Russia's increasing belligerence. The factor of time now weighs more than ever. Read this article in Ukrainian and russian. Share Noticed an error? Please select it with the mouse and press Ctrl+Enter or Submit a bug Single mom from New Orleans says she was forced to sell her dream home over the extreme price of insurance Rochelle Trotter fought hard for her dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana. The house was more than just four walls and a roof. It was a safe haven for everybody, she told WDSU News, and a place where family and friends laughed, talked, danced and made many happy memories. Don't miss 'It's not taxed at all': Warren Buffett shares the 'best investment' you can make when battling rising costs take advantage today Car insurance premiums in America are through the roof and only getting worse. But 5 minutes could have you paying as little as $29/month Suze Orman says Americans are poorer than they think but having a dream retirement is so much easier when you know these 3 simple money moves That was until Trotters home insurance and mortgage payments started seeping the life out of her American dream. After a decade of living on the property, she claims she had to sell the house because she could no longer afford the soaring housing costs. I feel robbed because I worked so hard to get my home, she said. To have the increase of the insurance just take it away, its a lot. Sadly, thousands of families in Louisiana are fighting and losing the same battle as Trotter. Tim Temple, the states new insurance commissioner, told a legislative committee on Feb. 27: Louisiana is experiencing the worst insurance crisis in its history. Heres what is causing the states insurance crisis and how lawmakers plan to fix things. The eye of Louisiana's insurance storm Louisianas geographic location along the Gulf Coast which is susceptible to catastrophic weather events like hurricanes and tropical storms presents challenges for both homeowners and insurance companies. In 2020 and 2021, the Pelican State was battered by a string of devastating hurricanes including Laura, Delta and Zeta and several other named storms that caused billions of dollars in insured and uninsured damages. Temple says the four mammoth hurricanes over a 12 month period triggered an unprecedented explosion of 800,000 property insurance claims, which caused 12 insurers operating in the state to go insolvent. Story continues Those are 12 markets that took consumers premium dollars with a business plan that was supposed to pay claims and they didnt, Temple told state lawmakers. Read more: 'Baby boomers bust': Robert Kiyosaki warns that older Americans will get crushed in the 'biggest bubble in history' 3 shockproof assets for instant insurance now When the number of insurers in a market shrinks, this can have several detrimental impacts on consumers as Trotter and many other Louisiana residents have discovered in recent years. Less competition often leads to higher prices for insurance products and services. In addition, when there are fewer options, consumers may struggle to find policies that meet their specific needs or even get coverage at all. I think its the deepest, most profound insurance crisis that all of our citizens are facing, Temple said. The average citizen in Louisiana spends more of their paycheck buying insurance than other states, so thats the crisis that were facing. According to a Bankrate analysis of data from Quadrant Information Services, the average cost of an insurance policy with $250,000 in dwelling coverage for a home in Louisiana is $3,247 annually, which is about 85% higher than the national average of $1,759 per year. Fixing a broken system For Trotter, the cost of home insurance grew too high. She was forced to sell her home and move into a mixed-income apartment. Theres hundreds or thousands of people who are experiencing the exact same situation [as Trotter], John Ford of the state's insurance department told WDSU News. Its a really difficult time right now. But he also insisted Temple has a plan for how to lure more insurers to the state and for insurers already operating in Louisiana to do more business. The more insurance companies we have writing here, the more competition well have [and] the quicker well be able to stabilize rates in the market, Ford said. Temples plan would involve eliminating a rule that stops insurance companies from dropping customers who have held a policy with them for at least three years. The former insurance exec also suggested a change that would allow insurers to make pricing changes according to the economy and without prior approval. According to WDSU News, critics are concerned Temples proposals would hurt customers further by taking away certain consumers rights and granting more flexibility to the insurers. Ford insists the goal is to make Louisiana more attractive to insurers. Either way, people in the state are hurting right now. As Trotter pointed out: Its going to be a sad situation in the state of Louisiana. What to read next Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how Here's the annual income you need to fall in America's lower, middle, and upper class plus 3 easy tips to rocket you up the ladder 'We're looking at a downsized America': Kevin O'Leary warns any new house, car you enjoy will be significantly 'smaller' what he means and how to protect yourself in 2024 This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Osaka Wayne Studios/Getty Images The US debt could eventually "break" markets if it keeps growing at this pace, Joao Gomes warned. The Wharton finance professor said he worried the debt-to-GDP ratio would double in the next 20 years. The US may no longer be able to rely on countries like China and Japan to buy up Treasurys, he added. The US's soaring debt threatens to break something in the market if the government doesn't pull back its pace of spending soon, according to a Wharton finance professor. Speaking to CNBC on Thursday, Wharton's Joao Gomes warned of future trouble stemming from the US's $34 trillion debt load, which experts have been watching grow at an alarming clip. Given the government's current pace of spending, the federal debt is growing by around $1 trillion every 100 days, Bank of America analysts said this month. Public debt accounted for 121% of GDP at the end of 2023, according to data from the US Office of Management and Budget. "What I'm really worried about is it's going to double its share of GDP in 20 years. That I can't see as us being able to afford," Gomes said. While the US can afford its debt now, the growing pile could spell trouble years down the line, Gomes said, as investors could grow worried over the rising cost of servicing that debt and dial back holdings of US Treasurys. That could mean the US may one day no longer be able to rely on countries like China and Japan to buy up debt securities that help fund the government. "At some point, markets will break," Gomes said. US debt costs could notch a new record by 2025, Goldman Sachs estimated, with total interest payments on the debt potentially amounting to $10.6 trillion over the next decade, per a separate analysis from the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Other market commentators have sounded the alarm on the growing national debt balance as the pace of government spending shows no sign of slowing. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio predicted last year the US would eventually see a debt crisis, which could push US growth to near-zero. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- HashiCorp Inc., a provider of software that helps companies operate in the cloud, has been considering options including a sale, people with knowledge of the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg The San Francisco-based company has been working with a financial adviser in recent months to gauge interest from potential buyers, according to the people, who asked to not be identified because the details are private. HashiCorp has already held exploratory talks with other industry players, they said. Shares in HashiCorp, which had fallen about 11% in New York over the last 12 months through Fridays close, rose 16% in after-market trading. The company has a market value of roughly $5.3 billion. Deliberations are ongoing and theres no certainty theyll result in any transaction, the people said. A representative for HashiCorp didnt respond to requests for comment. HashiCorps software helps companies in a range of industries set up their digital infrastructure in the cloud, which can lower costs and speed up the time it takes them to bring products to market. The value of software deals has risen 30% this year to roughly $74 billion, as mergers and acquisitions activity picks up globally, Bloomberg-compiled data show. The sector has already delivered one of the biggest announced transactions of 2024: Synopsys Inc.s agreement to buy software developer Ansys Inc. for about $34 billion. --With assistance from Brody Ford. (Updates trading in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. O'Brien, Zuckerman to Join 420 Brewery Workers Fighting for Fair Contract FORT WORTH, Texas, March 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman will join rank-and-file Molson Coors Teamsters in Fort Worth, Texas, for a rally on Sunday, March 17, to demand a fair contract and an end to the nearly month-long strike. International Brotherhood Of Teamsters. (PRNewsFoto/International Brotherhood of Teamsters) On Feb. 17, the 420 brewery workers were forced onto the picket line after the beer giant made an insulting 99-cent pay package proposal. Molson Coors has remained unwilling to reach a strong, respectful agreement with the men and women who brew, package, and warehouse the beer. As the Teamsters keep the pressure on this multibillion-dollar corporation to do right by its American workforce, union families in Texas are asking the public not to drink Molson Coors products until workers are given the wages and benefits they've earned. WHO: Molson Coors Teamsters Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman Teamsters Southern Region International Vice President Brent Taylor Elected leaders and rank-and-file members of Teamsters Local 997 U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX, 30th) Texas State Rep. Cassandra Hernandez (TX-HD 115) Fort Worth City Councilman Jared Williams Tarrant County Commissioner Candidate Roderick Miles WHAT: Rally for Molson Coors Teamsters WHEN: Sunday, March 17, 2024, 12 p.m. CT / 1 p.m. ET WHERE: 7301 South Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76134 (rally site in Bimbo Bakery parking lot adjacent to Molson Coors brewery) VISUALS: Molson Coors Teamsters in union gear, chanting while holding signs that read, "Don't Mess with Texas Teamsters" and "Don't Drink Molson Coors!" Contact: Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610 kdeniz@teamster.org Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sunday-molson-coors-teamsters-to-rally-in-texas-after-nearly-month-long-strike-302090625.html SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters Teslas swinging stock price drew opposing reactions from two of the electric car companys major investors. Cathie Wood, the longtime Tesla bull and one of its biggest investors, is continuing to buy up the stock even as it keeps falling. Meanwhile Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, voiced his concerns over Musks leadership and the falling stock price. So far this year Teslas stock is down 30%. As of Thursday it reached a 10-month low of $160 a share. The decline is all the more notable because it follows an extreme high the company saw in November 2021 when its stock soared to $407. The late 2021 peak capped a rally of 2,600% from just $15 a share in August 2019. In the last roughly 28 months since then, the stock plunged about 60%. For Gerber, much of Teslas stock slide could reverse if Musk adjusted his behavior. This could turn around very quickly if either Tesla gets a real CEO whos actually going to help the company, or Elon changes his tune and actually comes back to working at Tesla and promoting the brand in a positive way, Gerber said on Thursday. In the past Gerber has placed such a focus on Musks individual decisions because of the level of influence he has at the company. This isnt the first time Gerber has been frustrated with Musk and the level of control he has at Tesla. On a January appearance on CNBC Gerber said that the company was almost entirely controlled by Musk. Even though Musk technically only owns 13% of the shares, with an option for a further 7%, his tight grip on the board makes Tesla a company 100% controlled by Elon, according to Geber. As recently as February, Gerber still expressed belief in Teslas long-term growth possibilities and in Musks position at the company. Though he did offer the Tesla CEO advice: just to shut up, Gerber told Yahoo Finance. In his most recent comments Gerber referenced some of Musks activities outside of Tesla as being a distraction. Gerber previously said Musk was out over his skis in running social media platform X. This time around Gerber was irritated over Musks effort to seek an unprecedented pay package. Tesla investors sued Musk, claiming $56 billion was too much to pay a single executive. A Delaware judge voided the pay package early this year. Story continues "The original story that I think most investors bought into with Tesla didn't really include Elon and Twitter, Gerber said. For a long time, we all hoped that it really wouldn't affect Tesla and the demand for its products. We all know that that has now happened. The demand for Tesla products is obviously lower. They've had to discount and do many things that hurt margins and returns and, ultimately, profits for Tesla." Demand for electric vehicles waned across the board. Some of the biggest electric vehicle manufacturers are scaling back production. Consumers are turning back to either traditional combustion engine cars or hybrids over concerns about battery resilience and range. Meanwhile, Wood and her fund ARK Invest have long backed Tesla and Musk. In 2023, when the stock had rebounded from drastic declines in 2022 she began harvesting returns, selling off some shares. Then as the stock continued to decline from January to this month she bought the dip and strengthened her position. In January Woods ETF bought about $141 million worth of Tesla sharesa move she repeated this week when she picked up another $35 millions worth. Wood has been unmoved by the slowing demand for electric vehicles. She has called the decision by some Detroit automakers like GM and Ford to curb their electric vehicle plans a mistake. Though, it was a misjudgement she welcomed as a major Tesla bull. The fact that theyre pulling back means theres more [market] share for Tesla and others who choose to go for it, Wood told Bloomberg in December. Musk and Wood have a good relationship. The two recently held a public conversation on Spaces, with topics ranging from passive investing to the complexities of running a public company. In the past Wood has praised Musk as a problem solver. During a CNBC interview in October she said the intensity of his brain cells takes him to new answers when facing business challenges. At Tesla that means the company is closer to its goal of autonomous vehicles, which Wood called a game changer. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com 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. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. So should Canyon Resources (ASX:CAY) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. See our latest analysis for Canyon Resources Does Canyon Resources Have A Long Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. When Canyon Resources last reported its December 2023 balance sheet in March 2024, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$31m. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$6.2m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of about 5.0 years as of December 2023. A runway of this length affords the company the time and space it needs to develop the business. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. ASX:CAY Debt to Equity History March 15th 2024 How Is Canyon Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Although Canyon Resources reported revenue of AU$141k last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. To us, that makes it a pre-revenue company, so we'll look to its cash burn trajectory as an assessment of its cash burn situation. With cash burn dropping by 14% it seems management feel the company is spending enough to advance its business plans at an appropriate pace. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Canyon Resources due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Story continues How Hard Would It Be For Canyon Resources To Raise More Cash For Growth? Even though it has reduced its cash burn recently, shareholders should still consider how easy it would be for Canyon Resources to raise more cash in the future. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future 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. Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$98m, Canyon Resources' AU$6.2m in cash burn equates to about 6.4% of its market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan. Is Canyon Resources' Cash Burn A Worry? As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Canyon Resources' cash burn. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. Its weak point is its cash burn reduction, but even that wasn't too bad! After taking into account the various metrics mentioned in this report, we're pretty comfortable with how the company is spending its cash, as it seems on track to meet its needs over the medium term. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 3 warning signs for Canyon Resources you should be aware of, and 1 of them doesn't sit too well with us. Of course Canyon Resources 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. We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. So should Tyranna Resources (ASX:TYX) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. View our latest analysis for Tyranna Resources Does Tyranna Resources Have A Long Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. In December 2023, Tyranna Resources had AU$11m in cash, and was debt-free. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through AU$5.0m. So it had a cash runway of about 2.1 years from December 2023. Arguably, that's a prudent and sensible length of runway to have. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. ASX:TYX Debt to Equity History March 15th 2024 How Is Tyranna Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Whilst it's great to see that Tyranna Resources has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$24k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. The skyrocketing cash burn up 149% year on year certainly tests our nerves. That sort of spending growth rate can't continue for very long before it causes balance sheet weakness, generally speaking. Tyranna Resources makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Story continues How Easily Can Tyranna Resources Raise Cash? While Tyranna Resources does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. 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. Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$36m, Tyranna Resources' AU$5.0m in cash burn equates to about 14% of its market value. As a result, we'd venture that the company could raise more cash for growth without much trouble, albeit at the cost of some dilution. Is Tyranna Resources' Cash Burn A Worry? Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Tyranna Resources' cash runway was relatively promising. 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. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 4 warning signs for Tyranna Resources (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CRSP) is gaining in prominence. The gene-editing specialist has made tremendous clinical and regulatory progress since its 2016 initial public offering, leading to market-beating returns even if it hasn't always been smooth sailing. And there may yet be plenty of upside left for the company. Gene editing could help revolutionize how we treat many challenging conditions -- and the frontrunners in the field will likely be well-rewarded. However, investors might also be worried that the best is in the rearview mirror for CRISPR Therapeutics. Can the mid-cap biotech still deliver outsized returns? Let's find out. CRSP Total Return Level Chart Casgevy could be hugely successful CRISPR Therapeutics' crowning achievement, at least so far, has been the approval of Casgevy, a one-time curative therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDT). Various regulatory bodies in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East have granted Casgevy the green light since late last year. TDT and SCD are blood-related diseases that cause severe hardship to patients, are extremely difficult to manage, and impose costly burdens on health systems. Casgevy's approval was a breakthrough for that reason, but that's not all. It also became the first CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy on the market. The pioneers of this particular gene-editing technique won a Nobel prize in chemistry for their work. It will take some time before Casgevy, developed with the help of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, starts contributing to CRISPR Therapeutics' top line. The partners will split the profits and costs associated with it on a 60/40 basis, with 40% going to CRISPR Therapeutics. Gene-editing treatments require a long and complex administration process. But once the logistics are up and running, CRISPR and Vertex could make a fortune. They estimate that 35,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe could benefit from Casgevy. The therapy will cost $2.2 million in the U.S. It may not be priced at the same level elsewhere, but it won't be cheap either. Story continues At the very least, the market opportunity here is worth tens of billions of dollars. Could the competition steal significant market share from CRISPR and Vertex? That seems unlikely. The only competitor to note (for now) is Bluebird Bio, a small-cap biotech that doesn't have nearly as much money in the bank as Vertex. Further, Bluebird Bio only operates in the U.S., and its competing SCD therapy, Lyfgenia, comes with a boxed warning for blood cancer. It's also priced higher at $3.1 million. There are other gene-editing specialists on the trail, but they will need to cross plenty of clinical and regulatory hurdles before challenging Casgevy. The bottom line is that this medicine could go on to reach blockbuster status even if it captures only a relatively small portion of its target market, say 30%. That should lead to solid financial results for CRISPR Therapeutics. There's more where that came from Maybe CRISPR Therapeutics just got lucky by stumbling upon an effective gene-editing therapy for a couple of diseases that had largely eluded researchers. But that seems unlikely, especially since Casgevy is the first CRISPR-based treatment on the market. Others have tried to emulate these feats. So far, most attempts have been abject failures. The best explanation for CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy success, in my view, is that it has a team of excellent scientists and researchers, an important factor for any biotech company. CRISPR Therapeutics is running clinical trials for a handful of gene-editing candidates. It is targeting various cancers, a pair of cardiovascular diseases, and type 1 diabetes. There are more programs in pre-clinical testing that should start human clinical trials in the next few years. Don't expect a 100% success rate. No drugmaker can pull that off. However, given the company's pipeline -- and the fact that it shouldn't have trouble with funding, partly thanks to Casgevy -- we can expect CRISPR Therapeutics to make solid clinical progress from here on out. So, it isn't too late to buy the company's shares, at least for long-term investors. There's plenty of upside left. Should you invest $1,000 in CRISPR Therapeutics right now? Before you buy stock in CRISPR Therapeutics, 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 CRISPR Therapeutics 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 March 11, 2024 Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Bluebird Bio. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is It Too Late to Buy CRISPR Therapeutics Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska has said that Western investors should not be pressured to sell their Russian assets, a practice he said was dishonest, short-sighted and harmful to the Russian and global economies. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many Western companies have fled Russia and some of their holdings have been put under state management, with allies of President Vladimir Putin gaining day-to-day control. Some Western investors who have remained in Russia say they have come under pressure to sell up, being offered bargain-basement prices and threatened with effective expropriation. "Pushing foreign companies to sell their Russian assets is dishonest, shortsighted and extremely harmful to the economy not only the global economy, but also to Russia's," Deripaska was quoted saying by the Russian edition of Forbes magazine, remarks confirmed as accurate by a spokesman for Deripaska. "It is important that the few Western investors who still work in Russia remain owners of their enterprises and be able to survive these difficult times." In the wartime economy of Russia, some businessmen have become billionaires by acquiring the prime assets of Western companies at extremely discounted prices. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Deripaska himself has been sanctioned by Britain for his alleged ties to Putin. He has mounted a legal challenge against the sanctions which he says are based on false information and ride roughshod over the basic principles of law and justice. Deripaska, who studied physics at Moscow University, branched out into metals trading as the Soviet Union crumbled, making a fortune by buying up stakes in aluminium factories. Forbes ranked his fortune this year at $2.8 billion. He founded Basic Element, an industrial group with interests in mining, energy, property and agriculture, on the base of his Siberian Aluminium which had gained control over some of the jewels of the post-Soviet aluminium sector. Story continues Deripaska in 2022 called for peace in Ukraine and casts the war as a tragedy for both the Russian and Ukrainian people. Deripaska has also been subjected to sanctions by the United States, which in 2018 took measures against him and other influential Russians because it said they were profiting from a Russian state engaged in "malign activities" around the world. The sanctions, an attempt to punish Moscow for alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, were "groundless, ridiculous and absurd", Deripaska said at the time. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by David Holmes) Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next four days. The ex-dividend date occurs one day before the record date which is the day on which shareholders need to be on the company's books in order to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Therefore, if you purchase Spark New Zealand's shares on or after the 21st of March, you won't be eligible to receive the dividend, when it is paid on the 5th of April. The company's next dividend payment will be NZ$0.1588235 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of NZ$0.27 to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Spark New Zealand has a trailing yield of approximately 5.5% on its current stock price of NZ$4.90. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. So we need to investigate whether Spark New Zealand can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. Check out our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Spark New Zealand paid out 117% of profit in the past year, which we think is typically not sustainable unless there are mitigating characteristics such as unusually strong cash flow or a large cash balance. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. It paid out an unsustainably high 343% of its free cash flow as dividends over the past 12 months, which is worrying. Unless there were something in the business we're not grasping, this could signal a risk that the dividend may have to be cut in the future. Story continues Cash is slightly more important than profit from a dividend perspective, but given Spark New Zealand's payouts were not well covered by either earnings or cash flow, we would be concerned about the sustainability of this dividend. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. NZSE:SPK Historic Dividend March 16th 2024 Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. This is why it's a relief to see Spark New Zealand earnings per share are up 3.4% per annum over the last five years. With limited earnings growth and paying out a concerningly high percentage of its earnings, the prospects of future dividend growth don't look so bright here. Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Spark New Zealand has delivered 5.4% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders. The Bottom Line Is Spark New Zealand worth buying for its dividend? The dividends are not well covered by either income or free cash flow, although at least earnings per share are slowly increasing. It's not that we think Spark New Zealand is a bad company, but these characteristics don't generally lead to outstanding dividend performance. Although, if you're still interested in Spark New Zealand and want to know more, you'll find it very useful to know what risks this stock faces. We've identified 3 warning signs with Spark New Zealand (at least 1 which is a bit concerning), and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Fareway Stores, Inc. plans to build a new, approximately 21,000-square-foot store located on the southeast corner of North 270th and East Meigs streets in Valley. Fareway is finalizing due diligence and plans to close on the property in early 2024. We are excited to be coming to Valley, as we believe its a seamless addition to the Fareway family. Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high quality products and unmatched service. Fareway values the communities and people it serves, and we look forward to building a new Fareway store for Valley, Fareway CEO Reynolds W. Cramer said in a news release. We feel this is a perfect fit for Fareway and are excited to continue to grow in Nebraska. The new Fareway location will provide a vast grocery selection, with fresh-cut produce, healthy varieties and locally sourced items, in addition to a variety of craft beer, fine wines, top-shelf spirits and a full-service butcher counter. Online ordering with curbside pickup will be available. Additional information can be found at shop.fareway.com. Fareway has delivered the highest quality customer service for over 85 years, and were excited that Valley will soon be part of the Fareway family, Rick Kiolbasa from Access Commercial said in the release. We look forward to having Fareway be part of the Valley community and continuing grow to the best place to live, work and do business. As our community grows, were excited to bring new businesses and opportunities to the people of Valley, Mayor Cindy Grove said in the release. We believe Fareway is a great addition to the community and look forward to their opening. Breakfast and lunch menus for the week of March 18-22 Fremont Public Schools Monday: Hamburger on a bun, potato chips, peas, carrots, juice and milk. Tuesday: Pepperoni pizza, potato rounds, green beans, applesauce and milk. Wednesday: Breaded beef patty, mashed potatoes and gravy, romaine lettuce, roll, apple juice and milk. Thursday: Burrito, baby carrots, peaches, baked beans, potato chips and milk. Friday: Pizza sticks, cookie, oven fries, peas, diced pears and milk. Cedar Bluffs Public Schools Monday: Cereal bar, toast, fruit and juice; chicken drumstick, mashed potatoes, corn, cookie, salad bar, fruit and milk. Tuesday: Bagel bites, toast, fruit and juice; walking frito pie, salad bar, fruit and milk. Wednesday: Egg taco, toast, fruit and juice; ham and cheese on a croissant, broccoli cheese soup, salad bar, fruit and milk. Thursday: Piggly Wigglys, toast, fruit and juice; orange chicken, rice, California vegetables, salad bar, fruit and milk. Friday: Cinnamon roll, toast, fruit and juice; cheese pizza, green bean casserole, salad bar, fruit and milk. Logan View Public Schools Monday: No school. Tuesday: Breakfast pizza; raviolis. Preschool Cereal and fruit; raviolis, vegetables and fruit. Wednesday: Eggs and toast; Easter dinner. Preschool Yogurt and fruit; Easter dinner. Thursday: Oatmeal rounds; chicken alfredo. Preschool Oatmeal round and fruit; chicken alfredo, vegetables and fruit. Friday: Doughnuts; fish sandwich/fish sticks or tuna croissants. Preschool Doughnuts and fruit; fish sticks, vegetables and fruit. Mead Public Schools Monday: Mini waffles; chicken and cheese quesadilla, corn, peaches and cookie. Tuesday: Mini bagels; corn dog, tater tots, baked beans, apple slices and graham crackers. Wednesday: Muffin; super nachos, peas, mango and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Thursday: Breakfast pizza; chicken alfredo, lettuce salad, grapes and breadstick. Friday: No school. North Bend Central Schools Monday: Dutch waffle; chefs choice. Tuesday: Biscuits and gravy; soft taco, Spanish rice, black beans and corn. Wednesday: Choice of muffin; spaghetti with meat sauce and breadstick. Thursday: Breakfast burrito; hot ham and cheese sandwich and chips. Friday: Yogurt parfait; chicken fried steak or fish sticks, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn. Oakland-Craig Public Schools Monday: Waffle, cereal, fruit, cherry juice and milk; tater tot casserole, green beans, strawberries, dinner roll and milk. Tuesday: Cheese omelet, toast, cereal bar, fruit and milk; popcorn chicken, tri taters, mixed vegetables, apple slices, brownie and milk. Wednesday: Waffles, sausages, Pop Tarts, fruit, tropical juice and milk; ravioli lasagna, peas and carrots, mixed fruit, dinner roll and milk. Thursday: Sausage gravy and biscuits, cereal, fruit, cherry juice and milk; pulled pork sandwiches, french fries, corn, diced pears and milk. Friday: Doughnuts, yogurt, fruit, apple juice and milk; hot dogs or fish sticks, baked beans, chips, macaroni and cheese, strawberry apple sauce and milk. Scribner-Snyder Public Schools Monday: Biscuits and gravy; Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and mixed fruit. Tuesday: Pancake on a stick; walking taco, refried beans, lettuce and pineapple. Wednesday: Muffins and yogurt; open face pot pie, peas, cookies and pears. Thursday: Stuffed bagels; hamburgers, chips, baked beans and apricots. Friday: Cereal and toast; no meat chili cheese fries, cookies, corn and peaches. Saturday HomeStore open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. Drink specials will be offered all day for a St. Patricks Day celebration. A Circus Clowns Youth Dart Soup Cookoff Fundraiser will take place from 1-3 p.m. The kitchen will be open from 5:30-7 p.m. Corned beef and cabbage or pork roast will be served. The Chad Lee Band with Scott Gaeta will play from 7-11 p.m. on the main floor. Everyone is welcome. Circus Clowns Soup Cookoff Fundraiser, 1-3 p.m., Fremont Eagles Club. All kinds of soups are welcome. The entry fee is $5 for the soup cookoff. There will be awards for the top three places. Soups need to be at the Eagles Club by 12:45 p.m. The cost is $10 for all-you-can-eat soup. All proceeds will go towards the Circus Clowns Junior Dart Team. There also will be raffles. Everyone is welcome. Fremont Pathfinders Chorus concert, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Fremont High Schools Nell McPherson Theater, 1750 N. Lincoln Ave., Fremont. This years show is entitled A Pathfinder Family Reunion where the Family Patriarch (played by Andrew Nehls) is working closely with Cousin Lenny (Ken Von Seggern) to gather the Pathfinder Family back to Fremont to sing together again. Members of the chorus take on humorous characteristics of the family members that have spread across the globe. The show also will include guest quartet Spitfire. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at pathfinderchorus.org. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Wine & Music with Mike and Amy Spies, 6-8 p.m., Fremont Wine Experience, 415 N. Main St., Fremont. A freewill offering will be taken for a Fremont charity. Spiritual 12-Step Recovery Program, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous The Lie is Dead meeting, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Sunday Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity meeting, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511. 36th Annual St. Lawrence Parish Chicken Fried Steak Dinner, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mohr Auditorium, Scribner. Homemade chicken fried steak will be served along with mashed potatoes, brown gravy, green beans, roll, dessert and beverage. Dine-in and takeout meals will be available. The cost is $14 for ages 10 and over, $6 for children ages 4-9, and free for children ages 3 and under. In-town delivery will be offered for elderly and disabled individuals. Pre-order by March 16 by calling or texting Laura Sweet at 602-206-5622. The event also will include a raffle and silent auction. Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a corn hole tournament at noon. Izaak Walton Easter Egg Hunt, 1 p.m., Izaak Walton Park, 2560 W. Military Ave., Fremont. The egg hunt will be divided by ages. Kids who find an egg with a ticket will receive a special prize. Sinai Festival Sounds Concert Series, 3 p.m., Sinai Lutheran Church, 950 E. Eighth St., Fremont. The concert will feature organist Ann Marie Rigler and violinist Eric T. Williams. Their varied program will feature works for organ and violin as well as works for solo organ. Music will be drawn from different seasons of the church year. The concert is free and open to the public. Freewill offerings and other donations support the series. Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont. Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont. More than 100 people gathered at Milady Coffeehouse on Friday evening, March 15, for a memorial celebration and remembrance of the devastating floods of 2019 in Fremont and Dodge County. Sponsored by the United Way of Fremont, the event featured light snacks and food treats as well as three storyteller speakers who relayed their experiences with the 2019 floods that left Fremont an island for almost a week. Pastor Al Duminy of the Sinai Lutheran Church in Fremont was the main presenter for the event, and as folks settled in shortly after 5 p.m., he asked crowd to repeat after him we are united in community. It seems fitting to remember why we are here and where we have come from, Duminy said. It has truly been an honor to be a part of the recovery. As we look back and listen to these stories tonight, images of that time may come back to you. We were a community that came together and was united. After Duminys introductory comments, a short three-minute video about the flood was played for attendees on two big screen TVs. The video included a brief recollection of the flood from March 2019, as well as interviews with local residents who were impacted many of whom praised the United Way for helping them restart life after the waters receded. Duminy then told attendees that three storytellers would each speak about their experiences during the flooding, which would be followed by some music from a solo pianist. Because of the concern about past flood trauma being stirred in attendees minds and memories, Duminy told the crowd it was OK to let emotions take over and that they could step out if needed. Memories are being stirred up ... it is going to be a challenge tonight, he said. Laughter and tears are welcome tonight. The first storyteller was Fremont Area Habitat For Humanity Executive Director Joy McKay, who described how when news of the rising waters was being reported, she did not believe the flood would be that serious. I was awed by the support of the community. When something was needed, word was put out and people came through. When we need air mattresses, blankets and phone chargers, people in the community went out and bought out the stores, McKay said. Multiple churches of various denominations opened up their doors for shelter. People in the medical field stepped up and helped get the people the medications or the medical equipment they needed. McKay also said there were feelings of fear, hopelessness and despair during the week of the flood, but the community rallied together. We saw so many people helping out, she said. Two other speakers also addressed the attendees after McKay, relaying their tales of survival, hope and determination to rebuild. Judge Patricia Herron allowed jurors to believe there was a reasonable explanation why no DNA from the defendant was on the victim, while suppressing the fact that DNA from other people was present Next week is the second legislative deadline of the year. This means we spent most of our time focusing on subcommittee and committee meetings this week to move bills from the House of Representatives through the Senate. One of the bills the Commerce Committee talked about this week is HF 2554, talking about what utility companies charge consumers for energy. It aims to ensure Iowa energy policy is focused on the consumers and provides affordable and reliable energy to Iowans. We have been working hard on creating an energy policy that provides stability for both consumers and energy companies. The bill also works to provide a long-term plan for Iowas energy supply and usage. Illegal immigration is one of the top issues on the minds of people across the country. The crisis at the border caused by the inaction of the Biden Administration has threatened the well-being and welfare of families not just in states and cities along the U.S.-Mexico border, but everywhere. It has caused a rise in human trafficking, the free flow of illegal drugs, and other crime. This week, the Senate passed Senate File 2340, criminalizing the act of being an illegal alien in Iowa. Currently, this is only a federal crime. Making it a crime at the state level provides additional tools for Iowa law enforcement as our communities deal with the ramifications of the border emergency. The crisis at the border is affecting every state in the United States, not just those along the southern border. As the crisis continues to grow and the Biden Administration does nothing, the Iowa Senate will not stand idly by and let the negative consequences reverberate through Iowa, our communities, neighborhoods, and families. The passage of Senate File 2340 is one way the state can do its part to protect our citizens until a new President of the United States is elected and the federal government resumes its constitutional duty. A recent poll of Iowans conducted for Iowans for Tax Relief showing broad and strong public support for an amendment to the Iowa Constitution requiring a supermajority to raise taxes or pass a new tax on Iowans. The poll also showed support for putting into the Constitution a requirement for a single income tax rate, commonly referred to as a flat tax. This week the Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced those policies as amendments to the Iowa Constitution. It is no small thing for the government to demand a portion of the income of working families. Too often the debate over tax rates describes taxes in terms of money available for the government to spend, the impact of tax rates on government, or how the government will be able to afford a reduction in income or property taxes. The focus for every discussion on taxes must be on the taxpayer. Iowans work diligently to put food on the table and provide shelter, clothing, and transportation for their families. Every dollar the government demands from them is one less dollar to provide for those necessities and an impediment to their ability to live the American Dream. In Iowa, gubernatorial appointees to various departments, boards and commissions require a supermajority vote by the Senate to be confirmed to those jobs. If it takes a two-thirds vote of the Senate to approve someone to serve on the Elevator Board, it certainly should require a two-thirds vote of lawmakers to approve the governments ability to confiscate more of the money Iowans dedicate their lives to earning. If these amendments are passed by both chambers, they would need to be approved again during the next General Assembly and they could be voted by Iowans in the 2026 General Election. Senate Republicans look forward to continuing to do the will of the people by ensuring they keep more of what they earn. Thank you to the Mason City Public Library librarian, the Mason City city administrator, and the Cattlemen this week for coming to our capitol and visiting with me. It always nice to see constituents in Des Moines. Waylon Brown (R), Iowa State Senator Xu Wei, director of the tear-jerking film "Remember Me," told China.org.cn that love is at the heart of his new film and urged people to act when they feel love for someone. A still image from "Remember Me." [Photo courtesy of QC Media] "We Asian people usually hold love inside our hearts and are shy to express it in words or actions," Xu said. "This film is really about love and how to express it before it's too late." "Remember Me," starring Hong Kong veteran Kara Wai and young actress Liu Haocun, explores love and affection in a broader sense, rather than romantic love. Based on the 2016 South Korean film "Canola," this Chinese remake follows an elderly woman, played by Wai, who raises her young granddaughter alone by the seashore after her son's death. The girl goes missing one day when out on the street but reappears 12 years later, claiming she was taken by her biological mother who is now deceased. The reunion initially seems happy, but a darker, more complex truth is later revealed about what actually happened and what the young girl has experienced all these years. "I cried when I first read the script; it's very touching," the director recalled. But later, when Wai, Liu and the other actors came together to shoot the film, Xu felt even luckier due to the especially strong cast. Kara Wai in particular gave Xu a sense of security and lots of help during the filming. "I was a relatively new director," Xu said, having just transitioned from award-winning cinematographer to director, and with only one other film under his belt ("Lost in White," 2016). "Wai gave me confidence. She helped me build up confidence. There's no need to mention her acting skills; they're brilliant. But as a person, she helped me a lot. She cared for us, even cooking for us." "Remember Me" is a heartfelt drama with elements of suspense, touching on subjects such as left-behind children, powerful family love, Alzheimer's disease, bullying, criminality, destructive lies and redemption. It is filled with twists and tender moments. "I want this film to attract people's attention and immerse the audience in the plot, encouraging them to feel for and care about the characters and their destinies," Xu said. The film was shot in Pingtan, known as the "County of Islands," the largest island in Fujian province, and features the local scenery and ways of life. The director remembers the location as very beautiful, yet also cold. "When we arrived there, it was the coldest time in nearly a decade. So, our actors worked very hard as they had to wear thinner costumes for filming and change into thicker clothes after each shot," Xu said, noting that most of the filming days were cloudy. However, on the one day when they had to shoot a scene where a character applied sunscreen on a sunny day, the sun eventually emerged. "Now you know why I say we were lucky!" The cast and crew of "Remember Me" pose for a photo at the film's premiere in Beijing, March 9, 2024. [Photo courtesy of QC Media] "Remember Me" was released nationwide on Friday. "This film is full of positive energy and I hope people will feel its warmth. This is a journey of love, mutual healing and mutual salvation, struggling to get out of darkness," Xu said. "I hope that after seeing my film, people will be inspired to do something for the ones they love." Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton warned residents Friday that someone is calling people and lying to them about being a sheriff's sergeant and seeking money. "There is an individual who represents himself as Sergeant Jesse Diaz, who claims to be with the Lewis & Clark County Sheriffs Office. He is not," Dutton said in a Facebook post. "He gives a bogus badge number of 70267. Sgt. Jesse Diaz leaves a Montana number, but he is not with the Sheriffs Office at all." Dutton says the caller tells people there is a federal warrant for their arrest and to call him at a number he provides. He said the victim is asked to purchase a "green card" (credit card) from a store and pay them. Dutton said sheriff's deputies will not call people, but will show up at your door. "The best thing you can do when these people call is just hang up," he said. Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include: Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. An aging hot water heater sitting next to electrical equipment in the Lodge Grass Health Clinic on the Crow Reservation. A broken pipe dumping sewage into the pharmacy of one Billings-area Indian Health Service facility. Obsolete optometry equipment and a malfunctioning dental X-ray machine in the Northern Cheyenne Health Center. These are just some of the findings revealed last fall in a Government Accountability Office report on Indian Health Service the federal agency responsible for providing health care to 2.8 million members and descendants of federally recognized tribes. Indian Health Service (IHS) is chronically underfunded, understaffed and under-resourced. In its last budget report, IHS said it would need nearly $50 billion to be sufficiently funded. The Biden administration last year allocated $9.3 billion to the agency $40 billion short of the request, yet still the largest investment in the agency to date. The report, which examined the conditions of Indian Health Service facilities and equipment, found that: A majority of IHS buildings are in fair or poor condition. IHS does not keep complete or reliable data on its medical equipment Many facilities report having seriously outdated equipment. While IHS has tried to mitigate some of these issues, the report found that old infrastructure, outdated equipment and insufficient data can limit the quality of care provided, risk patient health and safety and contribute to poor health outcomes. The agencys ability to provide quality care is especially important, as Native Americans face persistent health disparities. A recent Lee Montana investigation revealed that in Montana, Native Americans die on average 17 years sooner than their white neighbors. What did the report reveal about Montana IHS facilities? In the Billings area, the median age of IHS facilities is 44. By comparison, U.S. private-sector hospitals have a median age of 8.5 years. The Blackfeet Community Hospital building is 86 years old. But because other IHS buildings have been on a priority list for replacement since 1993, the agency said it cannot replace older hospitals like the one on the Blackfeet Reservation until every building on the 1993 list has been replaced, which could take about 10 more years. The report found that as IHS buildings age, the estimated cost of maintenance and repair grows. Older medical facilities, the report says, may also have insufficient space and outdated infrastructure making it hard to integrate modern technology. Billings-area officials called facilities there small, undersized (and) not up to par with modern medical standards. In the Lodge Grass Health Clinic on the Crow Reservation, limited space means that a water heater approaching the end of its life is just feet away from electrical equipment. The report said a water leak could destroy the technology systems, which could lead to facility closures and affect patients access to timely care. Limited funding Tribal health experts say it often feels like all the IHS facilities are fighting over one small pot of money, and theyre right. IHS was allocated $170 million in 2022 for maintenance and improvement across federal and tribal facilities. But the backlog repair estimate for federal facilities alone was $737 million. Limited funding means that some area officials have to prioritize certain repairs over others. In 2022, the Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital did not receive any maintenance funds because Billings-area officials prioritized the repair of a fire alarm system at the Blackfeet Community Hospital. Even if facilities get new equipment, officials said they may not be able to replace that gear within the appropriate time frame. The Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital, for example, recently purchased a new CT scan that will need to be replaced in five years. Some CT scans purchased by IHS have cost $500,000, but in 2022, the Crow Northern Cheyenne Hospital was allocated less than $119,000 for medical equipment. Northern Cheyenne Health Center officials noted that the quality of medical equipment varied by department. While the urgent care department has updated equipment (in part due to the COVID pandemic), its optometry equipment is obsolete. Staff said they cannot transfer patient images electronically from the equipment to their computers or to other specialists. Sometimes, they said the equipment malfunctions, producing inconclusive results. Bad data While the report aimed to assess the state of IHS medical equipment, it instead found that data on equipment was incomplete and unreliable. IHS policy requires service units to use a system called Nuvolo to maintain their equipment inventory. But the report found that not all equipment was entered into the system and fields were often left blank. Additionally, unbeknownst to area officials, two Billings-area facilities were found to be using different systems for tracking inventory. At the Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital, 38% of equipment data did not list an end-of-life date, 42% of said data did not have an acquisition date and 30% did not have an installation date. The report found that by not maintaining reliable data, IHS not only violates its own policy but also puts its ability to deliver high-quality health care at risk. By not accurately monitoring equipment, the report said an IHS facility also risks losing its accreditation, potentially disrupting patient care. To mitigate these equipment issues, the report found that IHS facilities would refer patients elsewhere or add services via telehealth. In some cases, facility staff came up with work-arounds, which the report said can hurt patient care. When a label machine broke at the Northern Cheyenne Health Center, for example, employees started writing patient identification bracelets by hand. And when an electronic pill counter broke, pharmacy staff at the same center began counting pills manually, which, according to the report, increases the risk of error and can risk patient safety. Upon completion of the report, the Government Accountability Office made three recommendations to IHS, and the agency concurred. The recommendations include: The director of IHS should assess the extent of medical equipment data problems, and implement a plan to address those issues. The director of IHS should make the completion of equipment data mandatory. The director of IHS should ensure officials regularly monitor service units adherence to medical equipment inventory policy requirements. Toby's Tavern came into Noxon on a flatbed railcar from Thompson Falls in 1922. It went down in flames in 2024. The bar in the heart of the small lower Clark Fork town burned early in the morning on Feb. 27 alongside the adjacent Angry Beaver General Store and Noxon Mercantile & Cafe. The fire gutted the core of the former railroad and logging town, leaving its 250-or-so residents suddenly without their only tavern, grocery store and cafe. All that's left is a hardware store, an unstaffed laundromat and a post office. Now the nearest local bar is in Trout Creek, about a 20-minute drive away on high-speed, two-lane, wildlife-filled Highway 200. But Toby's was far more than just the local bar. In interviews with more than a dozen current and former Noxon residents and others in the lower Clark Fork region, every person used the same word to describe the small green bar facing the river at the corner of Railroad Road and Broadway: "museum." Maybe it was the more than 10,000 Susan B. Anthony dollar coins embedded in the bar top and walls, most of them bearing names of the people who put them there that conjured stories of past visitors. Maybe it was the bills, many of then $100 notes, pinned all over the ceiling and walls also bearing names of those who put them there. That's not to mention the taxidermy mounts lining the walls, making Toby's the de facto Noxon fish and game club, or the troves of historical photos, artifacts and military memorabilia. That's all charred rubble now, with only a few half-identifiable items a DVD player, some barstools, melted beer pitchers littering a jumbled mass of charred timbers. Yellow fire line tape flaps in the wind where a hand-painted sign at the front of the building used to read, "Life is but a dream." "Toby's represented a lot of history," said Kevin Johnson, owner of Johnson Hardware one block away. "A lot of people would say, 'Hey, I'm going to Noxon,' and they'd say, 'Where's Noxon?' They'd say, 'I'm going to Toby's.' 'Oh, Noxon!' They would know. Toby's was really a historical place and a museum. It was just a really neat place." Framed photos covered nearly every square-inch of the walls. Cheeky stickers and signs plastered the shelves behind the bar in between liquor bottles. Two stuffed mountain lions occupied the limelight above the jukebox next to a life-sized cardboard cutout of former President Donald Trump donning a "Make America Great Again" hat. "Tobys has been there for years," said Heron resident Kelly Randall, 60, who previously lived in Noxon and other small lower Clark Fork towns. "Thats a landmark." Gail Therrian, daughter of the Toby of Toby's Tavern, owned and operated the business after her father died at 75 in 2006. Toby bought the bar in 1969, named it Toby's Tavern and began filling it with memorabilia from his Air Force days, including a parachute lining a swath of the ceiling. Area residents contributed their own items. "For Gail I have to imagine it wasnt a matter of going to work," Johnson said, "it was just a matter of getting up and that was part of her life, she would go there and just keep on going. That was Tobys daughter and she ran that thing." Efforts to reach Therrian during multiple visits to Noxon were unsuccessful. Friends told the Missoulian during a March 2 community meeting about the fire that she was not ready to talk about the loss of the tavern. But everyone interviewed heaped praise on Therrian while mourning the loss of her bar. "Gail, shes just a really sweet lady and you feel bad for em," said longtime Noxon, Heron and Trout Creek resident Sharon Tessier, 74. Tessier said she wasn't much for bars herself and hadn't been into Toby's, but "Im sorry now that I didnt go in and see it, just for whats in there." But for many other Noxon residents Toby's was the core of their community a gathering place to celebrate, mourn, mark the passing of years and people, and keep in touch with neighbors new and old. "That was our town," said Tim Wanamaker, fighting back tears. "Tobys was our hub where we came together in the community. Sometimes, two or three times a week, you might see somebody there you havent seen in a couple weeks or a month. That was our social center." Wanamaker grew up in Noxon, moved away for a bit but returned 22 years ago. His father owns the laundromat and he helps maintain it. Wanamaker turned 57 two days after Toby's burned. His birthday party was supposed to be there Saturday, March 2. "Tobys was the place where we had memorials, we had birthdays, we had wedding receptions, retirement parties," Sherry Sutherland, 67, said. "We celebrate everybodys birthdays, theres about 16 of us that we always celebrate birthdays at Tobys." Instead, Wanamaker had his birthday party at a friend's garage. No Susan B. Anthonys. No bills to pin on the ceiling. No Gail, pouring beers behind the bar. Wanamaker, Sutherland said with a laugh, was "an expert at getting those on the ceiling." "The ceiling was about 12 feet and Gail had a way of folding a bill," Wanamaker explained. "She had a way of folding the bill with a 50-cent piece and a tack in it, and if you could throw it just right it would stick to the ceiling. I got many a free beer for doing that for someone." And he, too, lamented the loss of a place that had recorded decades of local history. "It was literally a start in a point in history in March of 69 when Toby bought it, until two, three days ago," Wanamaker said, choking up again. "Anything and everything on the walls, 10,200 Susan B's. My name was in the bar. All the bills on the ceiling." Almost everyone in the area had a memory of Toby's. Donna King, a deli worker at the Trout Creek Local Store, remembered having her first legal drink there with her father. Judy Hutchins, a 50-year resident of Heron who built the building that houses Heron's new general store, said, "Tobys was unique, it can never be replaced." Even newer residents knew Toby's status and significance for Noxon. Shawn Atkinson, who opened the store in Hutchins' building about 18 months ago, noted that "Toby's was a landmark, it was their museum, really." His wife and store co-owner, Melissa, added, "It was amazing, it was such a historical place. It was like a museum, a cool museum." Jenny Richter moved to Noxon from Minnesota about 18 months ago with her husband, a longtime on-and-off Noxon resident. During her shift at the Noxon Quik Stop gas station, she recalled how Toby's was the social center of the town, valued for a lot more than just a cold beer or bite to eat. "We used to go there about once a week, and thats where you could gather to visit people you dont normally get together with," she said. "I miss that, I miss that the most." SHELBYVILLE Ongoing debate within Shelby County on the future of the dive team and county farm, among other issues, has produced multiple contested races on the ballot for the Republican primary election on Tuesday. The contested races include candidates aligned with the Shelby County Republicans and candidates affiliated with Shelby County United, a new coalition of Republicans and Democrats that has formed in recent months. The increased number of Democratic candidates will produce additional contested races in the Nov. 5 general election. The issues include the entire Shelby County Dive Team resigning in September amid a dispute with the county board over some board members' concerns that the team did not have proper insurance coverage. In addition, the board also had heated debates on the legality and future use of farmland owned by the county. Lee Enterprises sent questionnaires to the candidates seeking information about them and their reasons for seeking election to the board. The following are their responses. District 4 (Oconee, Cold Spring, Lakewood and Clarksburg precincts) Republican incumbents Clark Amling of rural Pana and Charles Davis Jr. of Oconee currently represent District 4. Davis is not seeking reelection. Amling was appointed to fill vacancy created by Matt Kesslers resignation earlier this year. Rather than file to complete the final two years of Kesslers term, Amling is seeking a four-year term. Austin Pritchard, former commanders of the Shelby County Dive Team, is running uncontested in the Republic primary for Kessler's unexpired two-year term. Amling is vying in the Republican primary with challenger Christy Wafford, who is not part of Shelby County United. Amling, a retired bank examiner, said it's important to him that the county's finances are in order and that residents have a voice on the board. He said he takes very seriously the fact that the money the board spends belongs to taxpayers. He wants to continue the reform efforts the board has started and ensure county business is conducted in compliance with state and federal statutes. The incumbent said his belief in fiscal responsibility extends to the county farm, where he said the board needs to look at solutions for this land that protect taxpayers interests while also respecting the historical traditions associated with the farm. Regarding the dive team, Amling said Lake Shelbyville is a big part of the Shelby County economy, but it also comes with safety issues and concerns. "I am a recreational diver and fully appreciate the expertise of the dive team and acknowledge the valuable work they do," Amling said. "The board needs to ensure the legal framework is in place to protect each diver from potential personal liability." Wafford has been a member of Laborers Local 159 for more than 20 years. The challenger said she believes that the county board is in disarray, and she feels called to contribute to its repair. If elected, Wafford said she would like to find a method to reinstate the county's dive team because this emergency response organization is a crucial part of local tourism and the overall safety of Lake Shelbyville visitors. "I would like the Shelby County farm to be farmed yearly for profit to benefit the county. I believe the farm is more beneficial as a source of yearly income than it would be as a one-time sale," Wafford said. Her other goals include improving county road and bridge conditions and promoting the creation of more small businesses. The winner of the race between Amling and Wafford will face Democrat Uvanna McKinney, a Shelby County United candidate, in the general election for the four-year term in District 4. No Democrats have filed to run for the unexpired two-year term. District 5 (Dry Point, Herrick and Holland precincts) Incumbent Annette Martin of Herrick and Shelby County United challenger Larry Syfert are running against each other in the Republican primary in this district. Martin, a former admin for tech support at GSI Group, Inc. in Assumption, said she is committed to ensuring community safety and fiscally responsible budgeting for the "peoples money." If re-elected, Martin said also would like to focus on economic development and utilizing the tremendous resources of Shelby County to make this area more attractive for new job opportunities. Regarding the dive team, Martin said she will continue to work with the team to get this issue resolved. Martin said she understands the importance of the dive team, but the board needs to make sure that the county is following the right rules and regulations. "There is strong support for the farm in our county. If we are going to keep the farm, then we should look at allowing community organizations to lease the land and use the money to help serve the people of our county," Martin said. She noted that, "The original intent of the farm was to help the poor in our community." Syfert, who is road commissioner in Holland Township, is a retired farmer who worked for 40 years as an operator for S.J. Groves and Christy-Foltz, Inc. If elected, Syfert said he hopes to add common sense to the board. "I do not want to see the farm sold. I want to see it farmed and produce revenue for the county," Syfert said, he would like to ensure it's farmed for generations to come. He said his other goals include getting the dive team back working with either the city or county, supporting law enforcement and fair pay for deputies, keeping a balanced budget, and curbing unnecessary spending. No Democratic candidates have filed to run in District 5. District 7 (Ash Grove, Big Spring and Windsor precincts) Incumbent County Board Chairman Robert Orman of Windsor and Shelby County United challenger Tricia Miller of Windsor are running against each other in this district. Miller, a stay-at-home mom who previously worked as a transportation coordinator with Archer Daniels Midland, said she hopes to restore respect in an atmosphere that has been hostile for county employees and taxpayers in Shelby County. She said her goals include building trust and relationships in the county so the atmosphere can be a place people want to live, work, and serve. "We need the dive team in the water, so restoring trust with the team is imperative," Miller said. She added that, "I want to see our countys farm farmed, and there is no reason not to since the legislature passed a bill for us to do that last year." Orman, a farmer and independent contractor, said there used to be this attitude that local government could do whatever it wanted regardless of the law or the Constitution. He said he ran to restore accountability and integrity to the county board and that is what they have done. The incumbent said the county needs the dive team, but it cant operate a team without insurance and other legal documentation. He said they need to get this issue resolved "sooner than later." He added that the county farm is here to stay for the foreseeable future, but he would like to see this land's proceeds used to benefit local charitable organizations instead of going to an individual. "I want to get the farm and dive team issues resolved in the short-term, and in the long-term I want to focus on growing our economy and lowering taxes," Orman said. The winner of the race between Miller and Orman will face Democrat Guy Anderson in the general election. District 8 (Richland, Shelbyville 5 and Windsor 2 precincts) Incumbent Mitchell Shuff of Shelbyville and Shelby County United challenger Christine Matlock of Shelbyville are running against each other in the Republican primary in this district. Matlock, a homemaker who is trained as a registered nurse, said she is running because she is frustrated by a lack of transparency on the board and feels that many of the board members are not being provided accurate information to make decisions, which has hurt the county. The community has a fully trained dive team, Matlock said. The challenger said she wants to see either the county board sign an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Shelbyville or the board change the makeup of its public safety committee to enable them to negotiate a solution to get the dive team back in the water. Regarding the county farm, Matlock said the board should follow the law as presented by the state legislature in public act 103-0415, which allows counties with poor farms to cash rent, custom farm or enter into a crop sharing arrangement. She said county poor farm is a legacy in Shelby County and she will work to see it put back to full operation. "I would (also) like to see grant writing maximized to add necessary services to our county as no or low cost to us," Matlock said. "And I believe we owe our county employees a true human resource professional within the courthouse to provide them with a trained resource person." Shuff, a past trustee with Shelbyville Township, said he is seeking re-election because he has been an advocate for taxpayers for many years. The incumbent said he helped save taxpayers $700,000 while serving on the township board. Shuff said he remains committed to protecting taxpayers as a member of the county board. If re-elected, Shuff said he wants to focus on job creation, reducing spending and lowering taxes. His goals also include a commitment to resolve the dive team issue. "There likely wont be any movement on the dive team issue until after the primary election," Shuff said. "We need to bring everyone to the table and start over." On the issue of the county farm Shuff said the board needs to lease the ground to a charitable organization so that the money generated from this is going to help people in the community in financial need. No Democratic candidates have filed to run in District 8. District 9 (Okaw, Ridge, Todds Point and part of Shelbyville 5 precincts) Incumbent Cody Brands of Findlay and Shelby County United challenger Gene Price of Shelbyville are running for a four-year term in the Republican primary in this district. Brands, an operator at Primient in Decatur, said he is proud of the fact Shelby Countys budget is balanced and he is running for re-election to continuing standing up for local taxpayers. The incumbent said he does not want the balanced budget to be a "one-year thing," adding that the board should have a balanced budget every year. Regarding the dive team, Brands said this situation is unfortunate and needs to be resolved. He said the county needs a dive team but it has to do things the right way. "We (also) need to restructure how we do the farm," Brands said. "It should be leased to a charitable organization and used to help people in our community. That in my mind would be the best use of the farm." Price, a livestock consultant and auctioneer, said he wants help Shelby County citizens following his return to his Shelbyville hometown. Price said helping the community needs to include the board sitting down with dive team members and resolving their differences so the team can be ready to serve at Lake Shelbyville, the Kaskaskia River and other waterways. Regarding the farm, Price said this land has been an asset for the county for years. He said this land should continue to be farmed so that the resulting revenue can assist with expenses for the county. "I also feel we need to give our Shelby County deputys competitive wage and respect that they deserve so they will want to stay here and work in their own community," Price said. He added that the board needs to treat all county employees with respect, so they feel comfortable at their workplaces and do not feel intimidated. The winner of the race between Brands and Price will face Democrat Chrissy Latzke, Shelby County United candidate in the general election. Incumbent Shawne Martz of Findlay is running uncontested for an unexpired two-year term for District 9 in the Republican primary. He will face Democratic challenger Chrissy Grant, a Shelby County United candidate, in the general election. District 10 (Shelbyville 2, 6, 7 and part of Shelbyville 5 precincts) Incumbent Martha Firnhaber and Shelby County United challenger Jeff Gregg are running against each other in the Republican primary in this district. Firnhaber, a senior underwriter at Acuity Insurance, said she got involved in local government because I was upset about how the county was being mismanaged. She said she decided to do something about it instead of complaining. "I want to keep moving us toward more transparency and more accountability to the people funding our local government," Firnhaber said. "We can accomplish this through better compliance with state and federal statutes and more emphasis on cutting wasteful spending." Regarding the dive team, Firnhaber said she supports this much needed team and feels that it's unfortunate that the county has not been able to get a resolution to this situation. The incumbent said she is committed to ensuring that the county has a dive team and that it has the insurance and proper legal documents in place to allow the team to operate. Firnhaber said she voted to not lease the county farm to a private farmer in compliance with the Illinois State Constitution. She said she strongly support efforts to find a use of the county farm that fits the "public use" language in Article VIII Section 1 of the state constitution. Gregg said he began attending the county board meetings last year. "I am running for the county board, because when I began attending meetings and saw that disrespect was present in many areas, including being directed at the dive team and law enforcement." The challenger said he wants to treat people with the respect they have earned and deserve. "We have a top-notch dive team locally. They are currently not in use," Gregg said. "The Shelbyville City Council has reached out to the board and is willing to oversee the team, but with no resolution currently. I would be in favor of turning the dive team and their equipment over to the city, as the current board is unwilling to take the necessary steps to resolve the issue." Gregg said the county farm should be farmed and the revenue used for the citizens of the county. He said this is done throughout Illinois, and bills have been passed to clarify the legality of those operations. "The current board has thrown roadblocks at farming our ground and we have grown weeds in multiple seasons. I believe we can legally farm the farm, unless it can be proven otherwise in a court of law," Gregg said. No Democratic candidates have filed to run in District 10. District 11 (Shelbyville precincts 1, 3 and 4) Incumbent Carol Cole, a Shelby County United candidate, and challenger Nick Fiala are running against each other in the Republican primary in this district. Cole, co-owner of Jakes Antiques, said she is seeking re-election in hopes of finishing projects started in her first term, namely farming the county farm and getting the dive team back in the water. "My goal for the dive team, I feel if we could get at least two or three members from each the board and the dive team together, they could hash out the differences and come to an agreement," Cole said. She added that, "The Shelby County farm (established in 1867) needs to be farmed and the revenue from the crops goes into the general fund to pay for services throughout the county." Cole said she would like to see respect for our county employees where they feel at home in their workspace, not anxious to come to work because they feel like someone is watching their every move. She said employees are more productive when treated with respect and fairly. "The time clock issue needs to be resolved and if it doesnt do the job, get rid of it. It seems to be a total waste of taxpayer dollars to spend $23,000 plus just for the clock and then a yearly fee on top," Cole said. I would like to see all 22 members of the county board work together for the good of the county, no personal agendas, but work for the citizens of the county, to resolve issues and not be divided by an R or a D. Camaraderie among the board is essential for the good of the taxpayers. Fiala, a legal assistant, he believes that new blood is needed in county government. The challenger said he wants to make sure county government operates within the limits of the law and does not violate the Constitution. "My work as a legal assistant for both the U.S. Attorneys Office and a private law firm has prepared me to assess legal drafts, as well as written laws and statutes, with precision and discernment" Fiala said. "I bring a level of experience unique to the county board and professionalism dearly needed in todays government." As a legal assistant, Fiala said he understands the need for the dive team to be properly organized and properly insured. He said not being properly insured exposes the county to liability issues that it cannot afford. He said there is a path to getting these issues resolved, it just requires the political will to get it done. Fiala said he would like to explore the option of allowing a charitable organization to lease the county farm and use the farm profits to help people in the county. He said this would get rid of the countys tax liability on the property and ensure the money the farm generates goes to programs and services to benefit the whole county. JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts preparing to close The financial troubles of Ohio-based JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts soon will be felt by Decatur-area crafters. Signs hanging throughout the Decatur store, located at 428 N. Prospect St., proclaim it will be closing soon. Store management said the estimated store closing date is April 21. Attempts to determine why the Decatur store was selected for closure were unsuccessful. The craft supply store has been located in the Decatur Crossing strip mall anchored by Walmart since 1992. Jo-Ann Fabrics first store in Decatur arrived in 1976 in the former K-Mart Plaza on Mount Zion Road. It closed in 2002. Bloomberg News reports the retailer may file for bankruptcy, giving control to lenders as it looks to get out from under heavy debt. The hope would be to reorganize and raise more capital, but court-ordered restructurings can include the closure of underperforming stores. Joann Fabrics reported $976 million in debt at the end of last year, down from $1.1 billion in debt at the end of the third quarter. The company lost $200 million last year as net sales declined by 8.3% to $2.2 billion. Joann Fabrics and Crafts operates 850 stores across the country, including locations in Mattoon, Bloomington, Springfield and Champaign. Founded in 1943, it offers an array of sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafting goods, as well as decorations for all seasons. Tasty's on Pershing Road set to reopen DECATUR After vandals destroyed much of the building housing Tasty's Chicago Grill, the business owners say they are ready to reopen on Monday, March 18. We had extensive damage during the break-in, owner Fatima Brown sadi of the restaurant located at 1510 E. Pershing Road in Decatur. The drive-thru restaurant has been closed since the beginning of the year. We repaired windows, our menu board, and had to replace all equipment and register, Brown said. All of our product was trashed and thrown against the wall and floors. It was pretty bad. Tastys Chicago Grill has been operating since 2010. The menu consists of gyros, burgers, chicken, hot dogs and other sandwiches, as well as traditional fast food sides. The drive-thru hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. We look forward to being able to serve the community some good eats again, Brown said. Decatur Auto Body to close after 73 years The auto care business has changed, according to the owners of Decatur Auto Body. That is one of the reasons Duane Hicks has decided to close the business, located at 735 E. Cerro Gordo St., after 73 years. Its just no fun anymore, he said. But thanks for the business. The business is accepting no new customers ahead of its planned June 1 closing. Well just be doing the previous jobs that are written up already, Hicks said. I picked June 1, so you got to stop at that point. Hicks said he has been losing employees to retirement. And Im tired of dealing with insurance companies, he said. Everything in this business has changed. Newest Starbucks opens The newest Starbucks has opened on Mount Zion Road. According to the staff, the business began serving customers on Monday. Were a little bit still in construction, said James Bleecker. But were fully opened now. The business offers a dining area and drive-thru with the Starbucks menu the customers come to expect. And the mobile orders and all, Bleecker said. The store hours are 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday of the week. Construction continues on a second location in Forsyth. 11 memorable Decatur companies that are no longer with us General Electric Block & Kuhl Goldblatt's Linn & Scruggs Borg-Warner Corp. Marvel-Schebler Decatur Brewing Co. Houdaille-Hershey Kelly Food Products Bridgestone/Firestone Decatur Signal Depot DECATUR A common theme in the Bible is unity among believers regardless of differing backgrounds. We're tearing down denominational walls and racial walls, said Bishop James Wills on Saturday during a prayer and praise event at his church, Love Fellowship Christian Church in Decatur. The event was organized by Wills, president of the Illinois Pastors Coalition, and Pastor Tim Bamba Lusitana, president of the Decatur Area Christian Ministers Alliance and pastor of Life Builders Church of God. It was the first gathering of Decatur pastors in response to a forum held by Decatur Public Schools Superintendent Rochelle Clark, who asked the community to join with the school district to address problems in schools in light of recent violence. Wills' organization is predominantly Black pastors, while Lusitana's organization is predominantly white, and the men wanted to join together my lighter brothers and sisters with my darker brothers and sisters, as Wills says, to form one unified group of the faithful. A year ago, Clark announced a crackdown on discipline in Decatur schools due to fighting. She said that plan would include expulsions, though she would rather not have to resort to those. Since the beginning of this school year, the district has expelled 36 students, with 22 expelled in the 2022-23 school year. The last straw, so to speak, that spurred Clark to put together the forum was a fight at Stephen Decatur Middle School in January which included not only students, but parents, as classes were dismissing for the day. That was my point, she said at the February forum. I've had enough. She has sent out robocalls and spoken at school board meetings and news conferences, pleading with parents to rein in their children and to ask the district's Student Services for help if they are overwhelmed. At the forum, she extended that plea to pastors and the community to volunteer in schools and to be willing to help the district address the issues. Ask God to give you the content of what to say and the courage to say it, Wills told the pastors before the prayer and praise service began. We're better together. Prayer changes things, said Elder Jeffrey Rufin Sr., pastor of Church of the Living God Temple 3. Have mercy on us and on our children that's looking for somebody to love them, he prayed. Remove the guns and the drama and the hatred and the fighting. Youth pastor Micah Ray of Salem Baptist Church prayed that children without a mother or father would have someone in their lives to provide the spiritual education that is meant to begin in the home, while the Rev. Kevin Horath of Hillside Bethel Ministries said blessings are given not to hoard, but to pour out. The problems are too big for us to face alone, said the Rev. Jameson Wheeler of Abundant Life Christian Center. We've come here together under the power of the 'big C': Church. After the formal part of the service, Wills asked all the pastors present to come to the front for an altar call. Clark, who had been sitting in the back of the church, came forward and the pastors gathered around her to pray. Clark said she's gratified at the response to her request for churches to get involved. I did not expect this level, but I'm loving every minute of it, Clark said. It's going to take all of us to help change the direction of our kids. I think it's the beginning, but I don't see an end, and that's what I love. Lusitana and Wills had already become friends before an incident at Stephen Decatur Middle School in January where students and parents were involved in a large altercation. That incident prompted Clark's forum in February when she requested pastors' help. We'd already talked before this incident, Lusitana said. Our goal is to have unity, not just for tragedy or things that happen, but to already have the unity in place so when something does happen, we can be a place for people, to console, to offer resources and also just be a good example in our community. The next step, Wills said, is for pastors to come up with ideas for ways to get involved in schools, with kids and families to offer their help, and to consult Clark and other school personnel on which ideas would work best. As (Lusitana) said, for us to come together for something that's meaningful, Wills said. Some of the things, one pastor just came up and said, in other states they have prayer clubs in the schools. I'm not saying that's what we're going to do, but we're coming up with ideas. I need to talk to our superintendent because we need to hear her heart. The schools, as far as spiritually, can't do a whole lot. We want to make sure we're in line with her vision as well, but also make sure we can do something as well to affect our families, because I believe our families and the structure of our families have been under attack, and a lot of the things that have been happening, I believe, we can trace back to the home and what's been happening in the home. PHOTOS: Prayer vigil on Monday in Decatur to stop the gun violence Wilson_Rodriques 2 122820.JPG Charlie McGorray 1 122820.JPG Faber_Bill 122820.JPG Julie Moore Wolf 1 122820.JPG Sanders_Shemuel 122820.JPG Sutton_Thelma 122820.JPG Walker_Rodney 1 122820.JPG Wilson_Rodriques 1 122820.JPG DECATUR Sydney Walker was introduced to orthodontia when she had braces herself. When they came off to reveal her new dazzling smile, she was pleased and happy. Once I got my braces off and the smile was there, I thought, I want to make other people feel like this, said Sydney, a senior at Eisenhower High School who is part of the Inspired Futures internship program through Decatur Public Schools. She spends three afternoons a week with Dr. Hillarie Ryann at Hudson Orthodontics in addition to so many other activities that Sydney laughingly asserts that she doesn't have time to sleep. She's a volleyball player, a junior board member, works at her dad's restaurant, Sky City Grill, and of course has to keep up with school. I took the internship because I knew it would tell me one of two things, Sydney said. Either 'yes, I want to do this' or 'heck, no, I don't want to do this.' At Hudson Orthodontics, there's a lab on site, and Sydney has been able to see every aspect of the work as she follows Ryann around and assists her chairside on occasion. She said she's busy every minute of her time. She's allowed me to put brackets on braces, she's allowed me to assist her, and here at Hudson, they do on-site training, so I feel like I've gotten a lot of the training they have, Sydney said. I've learned to fill in charts, I've learned to sanitize everything, I'm constantly working. There's no downtime here. And the internship has, indeed, shown her that this is the career she wants, she said. It's going to be several years of college and training before she'll reach that goal, but she's prepared for that. Next year, she's going to Lake Land College on a full ride scholarship to get started, and after Lake Land, a university for her bachelor's degree, and dental school. Ryann, whose father is also an orthodontist at Hudson, grew up watching her dad, and also knew at a young age that she wanted to follow in his footsteps. She helped her father by answering phones, scheduling appointments, filling in charts and doing almost everything else at the practice while she was growing up, and she joked that during dental school, when she had to learn how to do fillings and crowns and everything associated with dentistry, she knew orthodontia had been the right choice. You should do what you're good at, Ryann said. This is what I'm good at. Inspired Futures began in Decatur schools 10 years ago and has 40 students this year, with 50 business partners, said Leslie Risby, innovative programs supervisor. In those 10 years, she said, when a student has requested a specific internship and none of the businesses already on board offer that particular career, she calls and asks if they're willing to accommodate, and seldom hears no. Sometimes, due to safety issues or confidentiality concerns, a business does have to say no, but for the most part, whatever career a student wants to explore, she is able to find them a place to intern. The students spend Mondays and Fridays in the classroom, learning soft skills like how to make a resume, how to dress for the job, and such, and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, they are on site interning. And as Sydney said, one of the goals of the program is to allow students to see what that career is actually like. Sometimes they realize it's not the field for them, and that saves them considerable trouble and expense later on, while for a student like Sydney, it confirms that the field is, indeed, what they want to pursue. That's also the way it worked for Aria Brown, also a senior at Eisenhower, who is interning at Main Place Real Estate with Chris Harrison, and has discovered a talent for marketing while she's been there in addition to getting experience with the real estate business. She created a PowerPoint presentation, Welcome to Decatur, for the company to show to people who are moving to the city, that includes everything from places to eat, to a tour of the many parks, to a new senior center. It required a lot of research and she learned things about her hometown she didn't know. I think it's knowing that there are people out there that you can brighten and help make their day better, Aria said. Helping them through such a gruesome process. It's a lot of work, buying or selling a home, and seeing these people day in and day out, being so patient and helping people in that aspect of their life that might be one of the hardest, is nice. She's done some listing photos, worked on the company's social media presence, and learned a lot about graphic design, she said. Harrison said he wants to impress upon Aria, and the other interns he's had, that real estate isn't about making a sale, it's about people. The agents' job is to make things go smoothly for their clients and make it as easy for them as they can. That's particularly important when it comes to death or divorce, he said, and emotions are near the surface for the family. If someone has passed and we're helping an estate sell a home, we help coordinate getting the work done, he said. If it needs painted, or cleaned out, we help with that. It takes a certain level of attention and compassion to work through those things. Not all teachers want to be principals, but what comes next otherwise? Not all teachers want to be principals, but what comes next otherwise? SPRINGFIELD The race for one of the seven Illinois Supreme Court seats pits an appointed incumbent against a second-time candidate as the two Democrats vie for their partys nomination next week. Because no Republican has filed to run for the Cook County-based seat, its more than likely that Tuesdays contest determines the ultimate winner of Novembers election too. The matchup between Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham and 1st District Appellate Justice Jesse Reyes has turned up the volume on a conversation about diversity on the state Supreme Court, as Reyes has made a push for Latino representation a cornerstone of his campaign. Cunningham, meanwhile, is the states second Black woman justice, and one of five women on the court. Ahead of the March 19 primary election, Reyes sat down with Capitol News Illinois for an interview. Cunningham declined, citing timing issues with the court in session, but agreed to respond to written questions. Cunningham and Reyes, who both earned their law degrees from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1982, have spent comparable amounts of time on the bench. They overlapped as 1st District Appellate Court justices from 2012 until Cunningham was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022. Both have pegged themselves as progressive jurists who maintain judges have a responsibility in creating access to justice. Both have also emphasized a commitment to ruling in the public interest and with impartiality. But there is daylight between the candidates much of which has been created by Reyes positioning himself as challenger to Cunninghams incumbent status. In the final countdown before Election Day, for example, Reyes criticized the Illinois Supreme Courts inability to decide on whether to revoke the law license of now-convicted Chicago Ald. Ed Burke. He is the husband of former chief justice Anne Burke, whose seat the court appointed Cunningham to fill when Burke retired in 2022. Reyes has made the appointment process a major issue in his campaign, as Illinois is the only state whose supreme court itself appoints a long-term replacement in the event of a vacancy. But Cunningham leads in both campaign contributions and endorsements from political heavy hitters including the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party and recent history in the states high court elections has been mostly favorable to incumbents. Career trajectories Cunningham was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court in late 2022 after spending 16 years as an appellate judge. She had run for a seat on the high court in 2012 but finished a distant second in a four-way Democratic primary that was ultimately won by now-Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis. Her appellate court win in 2006 was her first for elected office, although she served as an appointed associate judge for civil trials in Cook County from 1996 to 2000. Both before and after that four-year period on the bench, Cunningham was a top lawyer for two major Chicago-based hospitals. That experience echoes her prior life in the health care field, where Cunningham was a critical care nurse. Responding to a CNI questionnaire, she wrote that her time as an ER nurse instilled a deep understanding of the human condition and the real-life consequences of legal decisions on individuals and families. Cunningham, who volunteered at Planned Parenthood decades ago when still employed as a nurse, hasnt shied away from that experience. She wrote that she had the privilege of advocating for reproductive rights and women's health issues at the clinics. This experience has reinforced my commitment to protecting individual liberties, promoting equality, and defending fundamental rights, she wrote. I bring this dedication to justice and equity to every case that comes before me, ensuring that all parties are treated fairly and impartially under the law. In 2004, Cunningham became the first Black woman elected to serve as president of the Chicago Bar Association. After Reyes graduated law school the same year as Cunningham, he briefly worked in private practice as a personal injury and workers compensation attorney before jumping to a career as legal counsel for the city of Chicago. For a decade beginning in 1985, Reyes worked as a senior attorney in the citys law department. After that, he served a few years as counsel for the Chicago Board of Education before his appointment as Cook County associate judge in 1997. In an interview with CNI, Reyes touted decisions he made during his time with the citys board of education, where he said he oversaw policy and reform. Reyes said he discovered individual principals throughout the Chicago Public Schools system were making ad hoc decisions about whether to expel students. Some principals were making those determinations individually, while others had set up committees. Keep in mind that someone gets expelled from school, this is a mark that they carry for the rest of their life, right? Reyes said. It could have hindered them getting into good colleges or grad schools. My team decided we're going to provide a system where the students get their day in court, basically, and there are due process rights. Reyes recalled setting up a hearing process with an objective, independent hearing officer who would make a recommendation after giving both school officials and the student the right to present evidence and have legal representation. That decision would then be passed on to the board of education, which would make the final determination. That system is still in place now, Reyes said. They've tweaked it a little bit, but it's still in place. I saw and I felt that we needed to provide access to justice, in this case, to young school students who would potentially be expelled. Racial representation and judicial philosophies Reyes, who is of Mexican American descent, is a Chicago native raised in the citys Pilsen and Bridgeport neighborhoods. After his appointment as an associate judge in 1997, he went on to win a circuit court judgeship in 2008 and an appellate court seat in 2012. In early 2019, Reyes launched his first bid for Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by retired Justice Charles Freeman the first Black justice on the states high court. By then, the court had appointed P. Scott Neville, who is also Black, to replace Freeman. At the time, the rest of the justices were white. Reyes announced his candidacy a few months before Latino and Black politicians publicly decried Justice Anne Burkes appointment of white judges to represent predominantly Latino and Black areas in the Cook County judicial system. Reyes came in second to Neville in a seven-way primary contest in which Reyes pushed for Latino representation on the court. Four years later, Reyes message is the same. We need to have diversity at all levels of the court, and in particular, at the highest court, Reyes said. I think we need to have a perspective and a voice that hasn't been heard before. The 2020 U.S. census saw the number of Illinoisans who identified as Hispanic or Latino increase from not quite 16% in 2010 to more than 18%. In Chicago, those identifying as Hispanic or Latino overtook African Americans as the second-largest racial or ethnic group, according to census data. Reyes framed lack of Latino representation on the bench in Illinois as a barrier for access. I think it's important to have a lived experiencein terms of those issues and those concerns that people have with regards to our justice system, Reyes said. As an associate judge in Cook Countys traffic court division, Reyes said he worked to ease language barriers after noticing that some defendants didn't really understand what they were doing in terms of pleading guilty to DUIs and things like that. Reyes also said hed push for the Illinois Supreme Court to change current rules from merely permitting circuit court judges to offer brief training on implicit bias to potential jurors to requiring the practice. The Reyes campaign and its backers have been sharply critical of Cunninghams answers about diversity on the court in the final months of the campaign. At a candidate forum in January, Cunningham said it was distracting to inject race into the race, no pun intended. And interviews with the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and The Daily Line last month, Cunningham said it makes no sense to suggest the court is not diverse because it does not have a Latino on it. I think when the court was completely male and completely white, then you could call it a non-diverse court, she told The Daily Line. But now it has five women; it has three Black people. Justice Reyes argument taken to its logical extreme would mean that every single ethnic group in Illinois should have a representative on the court. And of course thats impossible. Cunningham, who grew up in New York City as the daughter of immigrants from Panama and the Cayman Islands, is one of three Black justices on the court. Justice Lisa Holder White became the first Black Republican on the court when she was appointed in the summer of 2022. Responding to CNIs questionnaire, Cunningham wrote at length about her judicial philosophy mirroring the blindfold of Lady Justice, the centuries-old symbol that evolved from depictions of Greek and Roman goddesses. The blindfold serves as a powerful visual metaphor, conveying the idea that justice should be blind to the identities, appearances, and statuses of the individuals who seek it, Cunningham wrote. And by the same theory should be blind as to who are the justices that administer it. Appointments and the power of incumbency Illinois is the only state in which the Supreme Court picks its own new long-term replacements when a judicial vacancy occurs. An appointed justice serves until the next general or judicial election if it is scheduled more than 60 days from the appointment, at which point they must face voters to retain the seat. Cunningham was appointed in December 2022, giving her a two-year runway to her first electoral test on the high court. In most other states, the governor appoints a new justice in the event of a vacancy on the court, in some cases from a list of nominees put together by a commission. In two states Virginia and Georgia a justice is selected via the state legislature. Louisianas high court appoints its own replacements, but they serve only temporarily and are barred from running for a full term when the state holds a special election within a year of the vacancy. Not all state supreme courts are elected in the first place. Reyes is eager to change the way vacancies are filled, not just on the states high court, but across Illinois courts. In an interview with CNI, he proposed establishing committees made up of retired judges, lawyers and community members who could give recommendations for potential replacements. He said picking new judges by committee could only help the judiciary, because, you know as we all know, we're constantly being criticized by the media and by the public for lack of transparency, for lack of openness. A coalition of Latino advocacy groups criticized Cunninghams appointment in 2022, with Sylvia Puente, the leader of the Latino Policy Forum saying she was dismayed that her community continues to be excluded by the states highest court. Cunningham declined to answer a question about the fairness of the appointment process in her candidate survey, citing her position on the court. But if the recent past is an indicator, Cunninghams incumbency will be an advantage come election night. In 2020, Justice Thomas Kilbride became the first-ever Illinois Supreme Court justice to fail to reach the 60% vote threshold for retention. A 2014 campaign to unseat Justice Lloyd Karmeier came close. Both campaigns were extremely expensive efforts. The Cunningham-Reyes race isnt a retention race, but other high court contests in recent history also bode well for incumbents in non-retention partisan races for a 10-year term. Both Reyes and Cunningham have fallen to incumbents in their separate past races for the court. Nevilles 2020 primary race to retain his seat after being appointed was a decisive nearly 49,000-vote victory over Reyes, while Cunningham received only 23% of the vote to Theis 48% in the 2012 primary. Republican Justice Michael Burke lost his race to a Democrat in 2022 after Democrats in the legislature redrew the courts districts in 2021 following Kilbrides retention race loss, further cementing the partys control of the court. The only other time in recent history an appointed incumbent lost to a challenger was 2000, when Republican Justice Bob Thomas, a former Chicago Bears kicker, beat Justice S. Louis Rathje. CHICAGO The Chicago-based National Association of Realtors will pay $418 million as a part of a settlement agreement to resolve litigation against the organization and its members brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions. The settlement comes after a Missouri federal jury issued a landmark $1.8 billion verdict in October of last year, finding the National Association of Realtors and several large real estate brokerages conspired to artificially inflate commissions on home sales. A similar case was expected to go on trial this year in Illinois federal court. The settlement resolves NARs role in both of those suits plus two other class actions, which are ongoing against other defendants, according to attorneys representing the plaintiffs. NAR has worked hard for years to resolve this litigation in a manner that benefits our members and American consumers, said Nykia Wright, interim CEO of NAR, in a Friday news release announcing the settlement. It has always been our goal to preserve consumer choice and protect our members to the greatest extent possible. This settlement achieves both of those goals. The settlement will be paid out over approximately four years and is subject to court approval. The agreement is expected to fundamentally change how homes are bought and sold by removing the assumption that buyers and sellers agents will split a 5-6% commission on home sales, which had been standard practice in the industry. For years, anti-competitive rules in the real estate industry have financially harmed millions of Americans, said Benjamin Brown, co-chair of the Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll antitrust practice group, one of the law firms representing home sellers in the settlement agreement. This settlement will bring sweeping reforms that will help countless American families. Around 50 million people will be eligible to receive money from Fridays settlement, with some individuals also eligible for money from settlements that have been reached against other defendants in the litigation, Brown said. Brown told the Tribune it will take months for NAR, local MLSs and brokerages to put these changes into effect and develop new alternatives and models for broker compensation, predicting that consumers will start to see benefits in at least some markets within a year and others within the next couple of years. NAR has also agreed to create a new multiple listing service rule, which prohibits offers of broker compensation on the MLS. Real estate professionals can still discuss broker compensation with their clients off of the MLS. Additionally, NAR will require MLS participants working with buyers to enter into written agreements with buyers. These agreements dictate how real estate professionals will be paid and are already in use in Illinois. Wright, the former CEO of the Chicago Sun-Times who was appointed interim CEO of NAR in November, said continuing to litigate would have hurt members and their small businesses. While there could be no perfect outcome, this agreement is the best outcome we could achieve in the circumstances. It provides a path forward for our industry, Wright said in the news release. Real estate firms RE/MAX and Anywhere Real Estate (formerly known as Realogy Holdings Corp.) already agreed to settle both the Missouri and Illinois cases. Anywhere agreed to pay $83.5 million, and RE/MAX agreed to pay $55 million. Browns firm still has ongoing litigation related to broker commissions against HomeServices of America, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway, as well as a handful of other real estate groups such as Compass and Redfin. The litigation has come to a head amid internal turmoil at NAR, which has recently undergone a series of leadership changes. Over the past several months, NAR has seen two presidents and a CEO resign following allegations of sexual harassment against its former president Kenny Parcell. NAR is focused firmly on the future and on leading this industry forward, said Kevin Sears, NARs president, in the news release. This will be a time of adjustment, but the fundamentals will remain: buyers and sellers will continue to have many choices when deciding to buy or sell a home, and NAR members will continue to use their skill, care, and diligence to protect the interests of their clients. Chicago Tribune reporter Brian J. Rogal contributed. The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill which could potentially lead to the nationwide ban on short-video app TikTok, citing unfounded national security concerns due to its Chinese ownership. The move has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters both within and outside the United States, with people questioning the motivations behind Washington's suppression of the popular app, and raising concerns about constitutional rights and the principle of fair competition being violated. DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES The bill, which still needs passage in the Senate to become law, would prohibit TikTok from U.S. app stores unless the social media platform -- used by roughly 170 million Americans -- is spun off from its parent company ByteDance. The bill gives ByteDance, which allegedly raises security risks for the United States, roughly five months to sell TikTok. If divestiture is not achieved by that time, it will be illegal for app store operators such as Apple and Google to offer the app for download. The proposed TikTok ban under the guise of national security has faced backlash from the company and its vast user base. TikTok has vehemently opposed the legislation, denouncing it an infringement on the constitutional right to freedom of expression. "This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it's a ban," the company said in a statement Wednesday. "We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service." The logo of TikTok is seen on the screen of a smartphone in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, March 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday responding to the House's vote, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the company has invested in keeping user "data safe and our platform free from outside manipulation." He warned that if the bill is signed into law, it will impact hundreds of thousands of American jobs and take "billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses." "We will not stop advocating for you, and we will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform we have built for you," Chew said. The TikTok community, particularly content creators and small business owners who have thrived on the platform, fear for the devastating consequences of a ban. Entrepreneurs like Callie Goodwin, who launched her greeting card company on TikTok, and Tiffany Yu, a disability advocate, have shared how TikTok has been instrumental in building communities and amplifying underrepresented voices. The potential ban threatens not just their livelihoods but also the rich tapestry of connections and expressions that TikTok fosters. "SINGLED OUT" FOR BEING CHINESE Critics, including technology and cybersecurity experts, have pointed out that banning TikTok does little to enhance the security of American users and may instead be seen as a move to stifle competition against American social media giants. In a story carried by www.vox.com, Casey Fiesler, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, highlighted the lack of nuanced understanding among policymakers regarding TikTok. Concerns U.S. lawmakers cited to impose the ban, such as content moderation, algorithmic unfairness, and data privacy concerns, are prevalent across all social media platforms, said Fiesler, who herself has nearly 115,000 followers on TikTok. "The thing that's unique to TikTok is their relationship to China, which is what makes them concerned about those particular things, I guess." she added. Prominent dissidents within Congress, such as representative Jamaal Bowman, a savvy TikToker himself, have also spoken out against the ban, arguing it constitutes an attack on freedom of speech, reported USA TODAY. Bowman urged Congress to question why TikTok is the only platform being scrutinized by Congress while most agree that all social media causes some harm. "We're isolating TikTok and singling them out," Bowman said in an interview with USA TODAY. "And they are no worse or better than any of the other social media platforms who have committed blatant, egregious violations in terms of impact on our society and democracy." Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression have urged solidarity against a TikTok ban, arguing the move would raise serious First Amendment concerns and almost certainly face legal action. A similar attempt by the Trump administration to ban TikTok in 2020 was thwarted by the courts. This file photo shows a logo of TikTok's Los Angeles Office in Culver City, Los Angeles County, the United States. (Xinhua) FAIR COMPETITION IN PERIL The proposed TikTok ban has also sparked an international outcry, with many seeing it as an extension of the U.S.-initiated tech war with China that undermines the principles of free trade and fair competition. Critics have contended that the principle of fair competition is fundamental to innovation and consumer choice. When governments target specific companies based on their country of origin rather than their actions, it sets a dangerous precedent that could stifle global technological advancement. Moreover, using national security as a blanket justification for economic actions against specific foreign companies undermines the trust that's crucial for international trade, they say. The unfounded suppression of TikTok underlines the need for a more nuanced understanding of digital geopolitics and a recommitment to principles that ensure a level playing field for all participants in the global digital economy, according to the critics. The bill puts the United States on the opposite side of the principle of fair competition and international economic and trade rules, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday. If so-called "national security" excuses can be used to arbitrarily suppress outstanding companies of other countries, then there is no fairness to speak of, he added. CHICAGO Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration announced Friday that 35 migrants will be evicted from Chicagos migrant shelter system this weekend while scores of others will receive new exemptions allowing them to stay, the latest update in his handling of a 60-day shelter limit policy that has seen months of delays and backlash. The group of 35 will be the first migrants required to leave the shelters, after a week of uncertainty over whether the Johnson administration would move ahead with limited evictions this Saturday amid outcry from a group of aldermen opposed to the policy. During a Friday briefing with City Hall reporters, Johnsons team confirmed the change. It came two days after the mayor said the city was proceeding with the policy that was to see its first wave of evictions on Saturday, without elaborating on how many would be affected. After Sunday, a larger wave of about 2,000 migrants will be required to exit in waves between next week and the end of April, the administration said. Their evictions will be staggered, with 244 set to be removed by the end of March and 1,782 more are scheduled to be forced to leave shelters between April 1 and April 30, the administration said. But given how Johnson has so far failed to meet the shelter deadlines he has set, it remains to be seen how the situation will play out. New exemptions from eviction were granted to all families with children, on top of existing ones for those who have medical conditions, are in the process of securing housing or leaving Chicago, experiencing domestic violence or are pregnant. The late change comes as residents of a Lower West Side shelter currently grapple with a measles outbreak. As of Thursday, 12 cases of the highly infectious disease have been reported in Chicago the first such cases in five years ten of which are from the migrant facility that is in the midst of a lockdown. It is unclear how many migrants would have been affected were the Johnson administration to have proceeded. While his team previously estimated as many as 5,600 migrants could be removed under the shelter limit policy, he hinted Wednesday that scores would have been spared thanks to exemptions granted by the city. Those required to leave were going to be directed back to the citys landing zone if they wished to restart the process of waiting for a shelter bed. The mayor had indicated those affected would not make up a substantial number, given the exceptions made for those in the process of securing permanent housing or facing health circumstances. The mayor in November initially unveiled the new requirement that migrants leave the shelters after 60 days as a way to push them to find permanent housing and relieve pressure on the expensive, overburdened shelter system. Since then, Johnson has delayed enacting the policy three times. The previous pushbacks, each announced in January, came amid cold weather and aldermanic complaints just days before migrants faced removal. This Saturday was the next deadline, though it too was surrounded by mixed messaging from the Johnson administration. While suggesting Wednesday that the deadline would stand, Johnson pinned the unsustainability of the citys asylum seeker support on the absence of federal support while calling on Congress to punish Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his hand in sending migrant buses north to Chicago. The pace of new arrivals has also slowed in recent months a reprieve that many receive with wariness, given the threat of Abbott escalating the buses before the Democratic National Convention arrives in Chicago this summer. The population in the city shelters has declined from a late-December high of 14,900 to 11,200 Friday. As Irish as we might consider St. Patricks Day, it's actually an American creation. The annual celebration, which we often associate with the start of spring, is marked on March 17. The date is believed to be the death date of the actual Saint Patrick in the fifth century. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was originally born in Roman Britain, but at the age of 16, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland. He escaped, then returned, and is credited with bringing Christianity to the people of Ireland. One of the most well-known legends of Saint Patrick is that he educated the Irish people of the Holy Trinity using the native Irish shamrock. The native shamrock of Ireland has three leaves which Saint Patrick used to depict the Christian Holy Trinity. Records show that a St. Patricks Day parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in what is now St. Augustine, Florida. In 1772, Irish soldiers serving in the English army marched in New York to honor the patron saint. That led to parades in other early American cities. St. Patricks Day is also widely celebrated with different types of food, including Irish soda bread, cabbage and corned beef. It's not St. Patrick's Day without wearing green, a color that represents Irish nationalism. Legend says anyone who wears green is considered invisible to leprechauns, mythic troublemakers. One of the notable American commemorations of the day is when the city of Chicago releases green vegetable dye into the Chicago River. This year, that will be done Saturday. We'd be remiss if we didn't remind readers of the critical warning that goes with observances that center on socializing. St. Patricks Day is the countrys peak point for driving under the influence arrests. The police are on extra patrol. Even if they dont send out a reminder when they are. The idea is not to escape the polices notice for inebriated driving. The idea is the reminder of the possibilities if a person gets behind the wheel and puts the police in a position where they have to make an arrest. Make a plan, and make another plan. Even with the best intentions and the best-laid plans, a person can still end up driving while intoxicated. Have several different backup plans. Not only designate a driver but have a backup sober driver. Pre-program taxi or Uber drivers into your phone. Shad Norris is our nephew. Actually he is my wifes nieces husband, but we consider him our nephew, not nephew-in-law. Chelsea, his wife, has called him Hub ever since he became her hubby almost fifteen years ago. So we call him Hub, too, not Shad. A little over four months ago, Hub received a call he had waited for three years to receive, a call telling him to get to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill for a liver transplant. After the drive from Thomasville, North Carolina, it was confirmed that the liver being donated was best for him, and a few hours later, he had a new liver. That was, in and of itself, a modern-day medical miracle. But there were a great number of events still in the future that could not have even been imagined at that time. Recovery from the surgery was awesome. The new liver performed wonderfully and got along fine in its new home. One grueling and unforeseeable development was to occur, though, just a few days after the major surgery. Google lists back-breaking as a synonym for grueling, and that is precisely what his grueling experience was: a fractured vertebra. He should have been in the hospital less than a couple weeks with the liver transplant. With the setbacks caused by the back injury, things progressed very differently than expected. Long story short: He spent more than four months in ICU and rehab. Finally, Chelsea sent a picture of Hub, outside the hospital, holding a sign that read: 125 DAYS 4+ MONTHS 3,000 HOURS 180,000 MINUTES IM FINALLY HEADED HOME WITH MY NEW LIVER!!! Chelsea also sent a video of her saying, Guess what? followed by Hub, Im out of jail and Chelsea, Whoooo! Were both crying. Faced with the same scenario of setbacks, many people would have become bitter and blamed God for the situation. Hub could have given in to those kind of feelings, but he refused. He worked hard to qualify for the transplant and continued make that continues, present tense for a healthy recovery. For example, he has lost over 100 pounds to get to where he is now. Even more than hard work, he trusted God instead of turning away from Him. We saw Hub once while he was in the hospital and have kept in touch by phone, texts and video messages. Speaking by phone since he got home, Hub said that the greatest lesson he learned from this challenging adventure was that Its all in Gods time. Be patient! The one word that he used to describe the experience was blessed. Blessed! Not horrible or nightmare or unbearable, but BLESSED! He actually was thanking God for what he went through because of what he learned. Considering his attitude I wasnt surprised when I asked Hub what he missed most while he was in the hospital. Of course he missed being with friends and family, especially when he was separated from Chelsea, but what he missed most and looked forward to more than anything was being in church. He did not hesitate with his answer. So many folks take the freedom of worship for granted or do not appreciate the opportunity. If you are one of those folks, I suggest you speak with Shad Norris. If you are one of the many folks who have prayed for Hub, thanks! Your prayers continue to work. Keep praying. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Jack Irons, a Lincoln High School senior and member of Boy Scouts Troop 159, will receive his Eagle Scout rank in a ceremony at St. Andrews Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24. For his Eagle Scout service project, Irons built four bat houses at St. Andrews Church to prevent bats from getting into the building. He used construction plans from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A 19-year-old Kansas man was charged Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, according to court documents. Nicholas Southwick was charged with first-degree sexual assault after the girl's mother reported in February that her daughter had sex with Southwick, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Police believe Southwick began communicating with the 13-year-old girl through TikTok in the summer of 2023. In February, the victim told police Southwick had assaulted her in his pickup truck at a northwest Lincoln high school and later at a Lincoln hotel, according to the affidavit. Investigators interviewed Southwick at Fort Riley in Junction City, Kansas, on Feb. 16. He was taken into custody Thursday. Judge Laurie Yardley set Southwick's percentage bond at $1 million, meaning he would need to pay $100,000 to be released. He is being held at the Lancaster County jail. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday said state agencies can impose a special service charge to cover the costs of reviewing public records requests to determine if records can legally be withheld. In a 23-page order, the Supreme Court said state lawmakers had explicitly prohibited agencies from charging requesters for the services of an attorney, but that state law did not prevent agencies from charging for a legal review done by other staff. "Had the Legislature intended to exclude time spent by any employee reviewing the records for a legal basis to withhold them, it could have done so," the court said. "But the statute specifically limited the exclusion to 'services of an attorney.' And we cannot read those words out of the statute." Flatwater Free Press, a nonprofit news organization, sued the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy in November after the department charged the outlet more than $44,000 for five years of records regarding drinking water and nitrates. NDEE initially estimated the cost of producing the public records to be $2,000, but when Flatwater attempted to narrow the scope of the request to lower the cost, the price began to rise substantially. The records manager at NDEE eventually told Flatwater it would need a submit a deposit of $44,103.11 before the state would begin a search for and review of the records. Dan Gutman, the attorney representing Flatwater, said what became clear was that NDEE was charging for what was being withheld under the Nebraska Public Records Act. "We think it is very clear that withholding documents is not 'providing them,'" he said during a February bench trial. Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Christopher Felts, who represented NDEE in the case, said it concerned a single legal question: whether a public body can charge non-attorney time to review records something he said was permissible under state statute. "You keep talking about a review, which makes sense that a review would happen," Lancaster County District Court Judge Ryan Post said at trial. "But the Legislature didn't put 'review' in the statute." Felts said a debate on the bill passed by the Legislature in 2013, which made the first four hours of any public records request free, made it clear that was the intent, but Gutman rebutted that by saying that the state has to point to a text that authorizes agencies to charge for those efforts. "And they can't do it," Gutman said. Post was not convinced by the state's argument and ruled in favor of Flatwater, saying, "Other than for time spent 'physically redacting,' Nebraska law does not allow public officials to charge fees for time spent determining whether to make records unavailable." He also cited that the statute specifies a charge for labor may be included for "searching, identifying, physically redacting, or copying." Post added that "reviewing" was not part of that process. But on Friday, the Nebraska Supreme Court found otherwise, writing that while it was sympathetic to Flatwater's policy arguments, that statute read otherwise. The order says reviewing public records "is intrinsic" to the acts of searching for and identifying records related to a request from the public. "While some portion of these functions could be performed without a review e.g., a keyword computer search or running documents through a photocopier identifying a document or physically redacting a document would require some level of review," the court said. The court's order, which remanded the case to Lancaster County District Court, also said it was the government's burden to show "by clear and conclusive evidence," that the fees it charges are authorized by state law. "There is no dispute that Flatwater satisfied its initial burden," the court said. "But whether NDEE then satisfied its burden depends upon the correct interpretation of (the Nebraska Public Records Act)." Gutman said Friday that those issues still need to be worked out in district court. "The court left open the question of the scope of permissible review," Gutman said. "In other words, the court did not say that the government can slap the word review on any charge it wants to assess and call it good." Still, Matthew Hansen, Flatwater's executive editor, said the decision which came at the end of Sunshine Week, a nationwide celebration of open government and public records laws was a blow to journalism and the public's right to know in Nebraska. "It will now presumably be even easier for any state agency or elected official or bureaucrat to charge any newsroom, and any regular citizen, the price of a Cadillac for public records," Hansen said. Journal Star reporter Alex Vargas contributed to this story. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Weeks after filing paperwork to seek a second full term in Congress, Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood formally launched his reelection campaign Saturday in Lincoln the 1st Congressional District's largest city that has emerged as a focal point for the Norfolk native. Speaking to a crowd of supporters at a downtown bar Saturday morning, Flood keyed in on both national and local issues immigration and housing affordability as he pledged to be a workhorse for Nebraskans in Washington D.C., where he is intent on protecting "our way of life," he said. "As a member of Congress, I've worked with folks from around the country every day and I listen to the problems that they have in their districts, and I thank God I live where I do," Flood, a Republican, said at Saturday's launch party at The Post, a cocktail bar in Lincoln's Telegraph District. "We are so fortunate to live where we do," he said. "And sometimes we don't say that enough." A former radio personality who has built a statewide media company, Flood's remarks largely signaled a rosy campaign platform that could center as much around success in his district as it could divisive national and international issues that the congressman often stokes on social media and in Fox News editorials. He did attack Biden's administration over what he cast as "overreach" into private industries such as trucking, banking and insurance while again criticizing the president over his inaction on immigration. Flood took his second trip in two years to the U.S.-Mexico border in January, when he said immigration is the No. 1 issue I hear about from folks" in Nebraska and called on the U.S. Senate to take action. "I went to bed after being at the border and I thought, 'If people in Nebraska knew that was the kind of service they were getting from the U.S. government, they'd be disgusted," he said Saturday. "And I'm sure you are." Flood was among 219 House Republicans who voted largely along party lines last May to send the Secure the Border Act to the Senate, which never voted on the bill. Last month, most Senate Republicans including Nebraska Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer joined a handful of Democrats to vote down a sweeping national security and border reform package that had bipartisan support until former President Donald Trump criticized and mischaracterized the bill, arguing that only reelecting him president can fix the border. "Ultimately, I'm willing to vote for legislation that will stop what's happening at the border today," Flood told the Journal Star. "This is not a November issue for me. This is a today issue." Still, Flood named immigration and economic frustrations as the issues he expects to define November's election, in which he will likely square off with Democratic state Sen. Carol Blood, who launched her campaign for the seat in January. Flood lamented Nebraska's labor shortage and the state's lack of affordable housing a shortfall that he suggested needs to be solved before Nebraska can tackle its workforce woes. And he highlighted legislation he's working on that would allow on-time rent and cellphone payments to be factored into credit scores, lowering the barrier of entry for first-time home buyers. "It's hard to convince that new college graduate that Lincoln, Nebraska, is where they need to stay that Columbus, Nebraska, is where they need to stay when there's no hope for them buying (a home) anytime soon," he said. Former Gov. Dave Heineman, who worked alongside Flood when he served as the speaker of Nebraska's Legislature from 2009 to 2013, introduced the Congressman at his campaign kickoff Saturday, praising Flood as "dedicated to our state and the United States." "He's been a leader, and now, he's our Congressman," Heineman said. "From the very first day that he announced (his initial run for Congress), I was proud to be a supporter of his because I believe he's gonna be a leader in Congress just like he was in the Nebraska Legislature." "He cares about all of us," the former governor added. Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who also spoke at Saturday's campaign launch, called Flood "exactly what we need in politics today" and a champion of Lincoln, where Hilgers said Flood has been "almost more than anywhere else" since he was elected to Congress. Flood's presence in the Capital City where he held his first Congressional townhall last year has been intentional, he said Saturday. "I want to do a good job by the people of the city Lincoln and Lancaster County," he said, later adding: "Being good to Lincoln is very important to me." He is serving out his first full term in Congress after he initially won his seat in a special election in June 2022 following former Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys resignation. Flood beat Democratic challenger Patty Pansing Brooks with 52.7% of the vote in the June 2022 election before again defeating Pansing Brooks in November 2022, winning nearly 58% of the vote in that election to win a full two-year term in Congress. He will likely square off with Blood in November, though Flood will first have to stave off a primary challenger, Michael Connely, a York man who secured about 1% of the vote in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary. Nebraskas 1st Congressional District encompasses Lancaster, Madison, Cass, Seward, Butler, Dodge, Colfax, Stanton, Cuming, Platte, Stanton and the eastern parts of Sarpy and Polk counties. It includes Lincoln, as well as Bellevue, Fremont and Norfolk. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in Beijing on Friday, calling for deepened political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Noting that China and Angola enjoy a profound traditional friendship and are good brothers and partners who trust each other, Li said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two countries' presidents, the two sides have adhered to the principles of sincerity, friendship, equality and mutual benefit, achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields, and continuously upgraded the level of strategic partnership. China is willing to work with Angola to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples, he said. Li pointed out that China appreciates Angola's long-standing adherence to the one-China principle and will, as always, firmly support Angola's efforts to safeguard national security and stability, oppose external interference and promote economic and social development. "China is ready to work with Angola to upgrade practical cooperation and expand cooperation on infrastructure, agriculture, trade, new energy and digital economy under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to achieve win-win results," Li said. He said that China stands ready to import more quality products from Angola and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola. "The two sides should deepen exchanges on medical and health care, human resources development, culture and tourism to consolidate public support for friendship between the two countries," Li added. Lourenco said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 41 years ago, bilateral relations have been strengthened, with huge potential for cooperation. Angola appreciates China's precious support when Angola was in the most difficult period, helping Angola to achieve rapid economic and social development, and to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. The Angolan side will firmly abide by the one-China policy and support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, Lourenco said, adding that Angola welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in its country and is willing to further strengthen cooperation with China on infrastructure, agriculture, energy and new energy to achieve common development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Nebraska lawmakers slow-walked their way through Friday's agenda as Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha waged a proxy filibuster against a bill that the Legislature had been scheduled to take up. Wayne, the chairman of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee who is serving out the waning days of his second term in the body, engaged his colleagues in often off-topic debate as they considered consensus bills for much of the day Friday, slowing the pace of lawmaking in an open effort to avoid debate on LB137, which he opposes. "People are probably wondering why I'm doing this and blah, blah, blah," Wayne told his colleagues around 1:15 p.m. Friday, after his proxy filibuster had already dragged on for more than four hours. "It's Friday," he said, "and I don't want to end on a sour, negative note. I'm just being honest. I want my weekend to be fun. I don't want to think about negative comments and things being personal. "And the honest truth is ... 137's on the agenda. It'll go four hours. And I know we haven't necessarily, all-the-way moved forward from some other votes that we took. And it's gonna turn real negative." The bill championed by Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, who has designated the proposal as her personal priority bill this year would enhance penalties for drug dealers tied to overdoses and, critics say, contribute to the overcrowding that plagues the state's prisons. Lawmakers were scheduled to begin second-round debate Friday on the measure, which is expected to face its own filibuster that could last as long as four hours, the time allotted for debate on bills amid second-round consideration. Instead, Wayne filed a series of floor amendments to a handful of uncontroversial bills that were scheduled for final reading the last hurdle a bill must overcome before it is sent to the governor's desk for his consideration to ensure the body didn't consider LB137 on Friday. Since Wayne filed the amendments on bills set for final reading, all 49 members of the Legislature were required to stay in the legislative chamber or directly across the hall in the senators' lounge, keeping the entire body within earshot of the manufactured debate. Numerous senators ultimately leaned into the reprieve, using the slowdown in lawmaking to debate the merits of three bills that the Judiciary Committee hasn't advanced to the full Legislature, among other proposals that inadvertently found their way into Friday's unplanned discourse. "It was interesting that some of the delaying brought us a pretty interesting conversation about the (state's) Board of Educational Lands and Funds, which I think is gonna be very educational in the future," said Sen. Fred Meyer of St. Paul, who added that he didn't wish to speak ill of his colleagues but said Friday's pace was "a little frustrating." "It's not a total loss," he said around 3 p.m. Friday, checking his watch. "But I've got a speaking engagement at 6 (p.m.) I've got to be at, so the sooner we get out of here the better. But I think we're getting close." Wayne even called the committee into executive session Friday afternoon to hold a vote on some of the proposals the Legislature ended up debating on the floor. The often-deadlocked committee subsequently advanced one bill that had been a topic of conversation on the floor. LB341 from Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings that would allow child sex abuse victims to hold institutions such as schools civilly liable for their abuse in state court. Still, Wayne's frivolous amendments Friday set the stage for the looming second-round fight over LB137, which in first-round debate faced vocal opposition that stopped short of an all-out filibuster. Initially introduced by former Sen. Suzanne Geist but taken up this year by her successor, Bosn, the bill would increase the potential prison sentence dealers might face if drugs they're accused of distributing kill or seriously injure a drug user. A group of urban lawmakers including Wayne, Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh and Terrell McKinney of Omaha and Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln repeatedly lined up to speak out against the bill, warning that the proposal would bring unintended consequences to the state's judicial system and mark the Legislature's latest contribution to the overcrowding plaguing Nebraska's prisons. The Legislature ultimately voted 35-2 last month to advance the bill after about four hours of debate across two days. That vote, though, came before Bosn flipped her vote this week on Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt's bill (LB307) after Gov. Jim Pillen vetoed the measure. The proposal, which would have allowed local jurisdictions in Nebraska to distribute hypodermic needles to drug users, had amassed bipartisan support but failed to overcome Pillen's veto. Bosn and six other conservative lawmakers voted against Hunt's motion to override the veto after voting to make the bill law less than two weeks ago. Bosn had previously pointed to her support for Hunt's LB307 amid debate on her own bill, LB137, and called for the Legislature to attack drug use "from every angle simultaneously." Wayne alluded to Bosn's reversal on Hunt's bill Friday as he explained his decision to throw a wrench in the Legislature's agenda. "(When) we get to 137, 307's going to be referenced and I get it," he said, adding: "That's really what it is. I don't want to go into the weekend spending time with my family upset about what was said here on the floor, because we all, unfortunately, carry things home." Bosn who said earlier this week that her reversal on LB307 was not tied to the governor's opposition of the bill had little to say Friday afternoon as Wayne's proxy filibuster neared its end. "I just kind of try to stay out of the fray and not get into an argument because I know that they're gonna do what they're gonna do," she said. The Legislature is set to begin second-round debate over LB137 when the body reconvenes at 10 a.m. Monday. Cavanaugh and Wayne have combined to file five amendments to the bill since the Legislature advanced it to the second round of debate, suggesting a filibuster looms. Top Journal Star photos for March 2024 The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has landed its second five-star academic recruit with a commitment last week from Lincoln Southeast High School senior Lillias McKillip to attend UNL this fall. McKillip scored a perfect 36 on the ACT and signed with UNL under the Presidential Scholars Program, a new scholarship announced last month by Gov. Jim Pillen and university leaders that covers the total cost of undergraduate attendance at NU plus a $5,000 annual stipend. McKillip plans to study elementary education and Spanish at UNL, with a dream of becoming a teacher. She celebrated her commitment at a signing ceremony at Southeast with her parents Austin and Jessica, sister Bea, Southeast Principal Tanner Penrod and staff, Pillen, University of Nebraska Interim President Chris Kabourek and Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln. McKillip is the second Presidential Scholar to sign with Nebraska in two weeks, following a commitment from Pender senior Caleb Kelly on March 5 to enroll at UNL this fall and study computer science and physics. Its one thing all Nebraskans agree on: You are the future, Pillen told McKillip at her March 8 signing ceremony. We want to make sure we do everything we can to help our most talented and successful students. We couldnt be more proud of you, and thank you for answering the call to become a teacher. Kabourek said: Nebraska is a big winner this week. This is what the Presidents Scholarship is all about: Keeping our best and brightest students right here in Nebraska. Lillias is going to do great things in her future. I couldnt be more thrilled to welcome her to the University of Nebraska and to have this special opportunity to celebrate with her and her wonderful family. At Southeast, McKillip participates in speech, plays cello in the chamber orchestra, and runs track and field. UNL has long been her dream school; her mom and dad are Husker alumni who studied agribusiness and agricultural economics, respectively. But she was considering Tulsa, where she had a full ride offer. The Presidents Scholarship helped give Nebraska the edge. It makes me proud to be the first student from Lincoln to receive the Presidents Scholarship, she said, thanking her teachers at Southeast who inspired her to pursue teaching as a career. Her parents, principal and counselor praised her high character, humility and natural leadership abilities among her fellow students. Lillias is an amazing young woman, and I am so pleased that she has chosen to become a Presidential Scholar staying at home to continue her education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett. I look forward to welcoming her to campus this fall. Regent Clare echoed the enthusiasm for Nebraska competing successfully for its homegrown talent: Every day is a great day to be a Nebraskan. The Presidential Scholars Program provides a full cost of attendance scholarship tuition, fees, books, housing and all other costs plus a $5,000 annual stipend, to Nebraska students who score a perfect 36 on the ACT. The scholarship may be used for undergraduate study at any University of Nebraska campus. The goal of the program is to advance the governors vision to make Nebraska more competitive for its best and brightest young people. The universitys goal is to raise the private funds necessary to expand the program to cover Nebraska students who score a 33 or above on the ACT. MONDAY Al-Anon: 8 p.m., Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3350 Lathrop Ave. Retired Nurses Association: Meets first Monday of every month. For more information, call Marge Orth, secretary, 262-884-0742. WEDNESDAY Caledonia Senior Card Club: Sheepshead, for ages 55 and older, noon to 3 p.m., Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave., Franksville. For more information, call 414-856-9550. Kiwanis Club of West of Racine: 7:30 a.m., in-person at Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave. Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to serving the children of the world. To attend a meeting, contact Shirley Meyer, membership chair, at 262-260-8101 or email aquashirl4@yahoo.com. FRIDAY Racine Founders Rotary Club: 7 a.m., Racine Country Club, 2401 Northwestern Ave. DAILY/OTHERS Caledonia Historical Society Meeting: 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Franksville Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave. The meeting is open to the public. There will be no meetings December through March. https://caledoniahistoricalsociety.org. Overeaters Anonymous: 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday, Living Faith Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., a free fellowship group for all eating disorders using the 12 steps and 12 traditions. For more information call 262-652-5635. Racine Duplicate Bridge Club: Each week two ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games are played in Racine at 12:15 p.m. Monday and Friday at The Lanes, 6501 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant. People must have proof of COVID-19 vaccination to play. Call Henry Kensler, club manager, at 262-652-6173 for reservations. Recent winners include: Mar 8: George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, first place; Richard Arneson and Gloria Arneson, second place; Mary Matthews and Henry Kensler, third place. Mar 11: Paul Dorsey and Lee Petzold, first place; George Urquhart and Janet Urquhart, second place; Peter Christensen and Stephanie McFall, third place. Lighthouse Quilters Guild: Open to quilters of all skill levels, 7 p.m., on the last Monday of each month at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St. For more information, lighthousequiltersguild.com. VFW Post 10301: VFW Post 10301 meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Fifth Street Yacht Club, 761 Marquette St. Racine Catholic Womans Club: The Racine Catholic Womans Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at Infusinos Banquet Hall, 3201 Rapids Drive. The speaker will be Laura Sumner Coon, executive director of the Racine Literacy Council. For information, call 262-758-6187 or 262-632-8960. Ladies New Heart Luncheon: The Ladies New Heart Luncheon will meet at noon Tuesday, March 19, at the Parkway Chateau, 12304 75th St., Kenosha. Sharon Vaught will discuss Fighting Through the Brokenness. The cost is $14 and no child care is provided. For reservations call Nancy at 262-914-1821 or Kathy at 262-653-0503. Racine Welcome Club: Racine Welcome Club is hosting drop in coffee from 9-11 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Milaegers, 4838 Douglas Ave. The group is open to women interested in making new friends, learning about community resources, and being involved in philanthropic and social activities. Call 262-994-0957 for more information. UNION GROVE When Mallory Dam and Olivia Bushey signed up for the club last school year, they didnt know much about it. Nor did Dam and Bushey, Union Grove High School seniors, have high expectations upon joining DECA. Less than two years later, though, the students have qualified for an international competition in back-to-back years and been greatly affected by the club. We never expected to do as well as we did, Bushey said. Dam and Bushey, who qualified this year in a team hospitality services event, are two of the 10 Union Grove high schoolers who will compete at DECAs International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, California, from April 27-30. That is a record number for the school, which had nine students make it to the international conference last year in Florida. What is DECA? DECA is an organization for students interested in business careers like marketing, nance, entrepreneurship, hospitality and management. The DECA club at UGHS has 72 students this school year, according to Eric Swanson, DECA advisor. Mason Wolf, UGHS senior, encouraged Dam and Bushey to join DECA. Wolf will compete in Anaheim in an integrated marketing campaign project event with Will Casterton and Max Reesman, both seniors. After participating in the DECA State Career Development Conference last month, Casterton anxiously waited and was thrilled to hear they placed second. The suspense is building, the pressure is building, seeing if hard work pays off, then once they finally call your name, its knowing that it did pay off, Casterton said. Then youre really excited to see where its going to take you in the future. The top six project finishers at state qualified for the international competition. Casterton and Wolf joined DECA as sophomores. Reesman joined DECA as a freshman and started competing as a sophomore. His older brother Cole was on a team that placed first at the international conference in 2022. Reesman was proud of his brother and enjoyed when they both participated in state two years ago, but there was also some sibling rivalry. Seeing my brother do it was super cool, and also that simple, competitive aspect of being in the family I cant let him have it all, Reesman said. As sophomores, Reesman and Wolf were on a team but did not qualify for the international conference. That was disappointing but motivated them to improve, and they qualified for internationals as juniors and seniors. Having those setbacks and then overcoming those just makes qualifying and doing well so much more rewarding, Reesman said. Weve gotten a lot better at it over time. Dealing with nerves There are several DECA event types. Wolf, Reesman, Dam and Bushey qualified for the international conference in multiple events, but students can only compete in one event in Anaheim. At competitions, teams receive their prompts and have 30 minutes to come up with a solution before presenting to a judge for up to 15 minutes. Individuals receive their prompts and have 10 minutes to determine a solution before presenting for up to 10 minutes. Because of the quick turnaround time, improvisation and problem-solving are vital to success. Thinking on my feet, I didnt have that before DECA, Bushey said. That can be stressful, but students said presenting multiple times has helped them deal with pre-competition anxiety. Getting over that hump of confidently presenting while being nervous is key, Dam said. Wolf, Reesman and Casterton practiced at Reesmans home to try to get used to the minimal preparation time. Reesmans siblings served as practice judges, and they may have been harsher than DECA judges. You usually dont get insulted or made fun of by your judges, Reesman said with a smile. Memorable experiences Swanson was excited that so many students qualified for the international conference but anxious about the cost. The five-day trip to Anaheim will be paid for with fundraising and income from the high school store, which DECA runs. He said it is great to know students outside of class and provide memorable experiences for them. I think its important that schools also give students opportunities other than just being in the classroom, Swanson said. Those experiences are what a lot of the students are going to remember. Indeed, Dam said her time with the club has been a memorable part of her high school career. I can say I made the most out of my four years, Dam said. I went to Florida (last year), now California. DECA seems like its own family We love it and enjoy our time together. Wolf agreed. I think you really have to experience DECA to understand it and get the most out of it, he said. Alex Grochowski, UGHS junior, qualified for Anaheim as an individual, taking first for his entrepreneurship business growth plan project at the DECA State Career Development Conference. Grochowski enjoys getting to know DECA students and advisors from around the state, some of whom congratulated him after he won. Impact of DECA Students said DECA has helped their confidence, leadership and communication. Participating in the group has also influenced some students future plans. Bushey plans to study dentistry in college but might minor in business since she may want to eventually open her own practice. Casterton said he plans to study mechanical engineering but knows that business plays a role, is woven into everything you do. Wolf wants to pursue a finance career and said DECA solidified his interest in that. Before joining DECA, Dam planned to pursue a medical career. However, her plans began to shift while participating in the club, and she now intends to study business in college. Eleven photos of the Union Grove HS agriculture program Weighing an egg A student weighs an egg as part of an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. The egg dissection occurred in the Agricu Katie Hagemann Teacher Katie Hagemann works with a student Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Teachers aim for students to be educated Carrie Jacobs Agriculture teacher Carrie Jacobs talks to students at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. When the agriculture program started in fa Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building The Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources building at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave., was funded as part of a $7.85 millio Shannon Roberts Shannon Roberts is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Roberts wants to be an agriculture instructor in part because of the ag c Katie writing on egg carton Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, helps students during an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Col Bearded dragon A bearded dragon is among the animals in Union Grove High School's companion animal class, which involves taking care of small animals like ra Katie Hagemann and student Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, center, works with a student during an egg dissection at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Ashley Gunderson Ashley Gunderson is a Union Grove High School senior and FFA officer. Gunderson, who lives on a grain farm, said the school's agriculture clas Katie Hagemann with eggs Katie Hagemann, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, prepares for an egg dissection Wednesday at Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove High School Union Grove High School, 3433 S. Colony Ave. Union Grove HS agriculture program RACINE Corey Prince is a man who wears many hats. He runs his own business, works at a school district and is a community organizer. Prince, who was born and raised in Racine, said his overarching goals are to bring resources to underserved communities, especially Black people, and to help youth. I just try to put the community at the forefront and provide opportunities, education, ways to give back, Prince said. Dadra Lockridge said Prince is a selfless advocate. Hes for our community, Lockridge said. Its not about him. Its about the people. For his efforts, Prince was a 2022 Gateway Technical College Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award recipient. Lockridge, a minister who is the owner of Evolving Adult Family Home LLC, expressed pride in Prince. Whatever he puts his (mind) to, I know that its gonna be blessed, Lockridge said. Transformation It took time for Prince to arrive at this stage of life, and his path involved being incarcerated multiple times for nine years total. Lockridge, who was incarcerated multiple times for five years total, knew Prince when they were younger. We chose to go the wrong way, Lockridge said. They reconnected several years ago after incarceration. Lockridge said Prince has an upbeat attitude and is quick to crack a joke to put people at ease. Prince and Lockridge occasionally discuss spirituality and how to make positive impacts. Part of that involves sharing their own stories of transformation so people they work with are inspired to do the same. People change, and if I can change, if Corey can change, so can they, Lockridge said. Balancing duties Prince is working to make change in a multitude of ways. Through his business, Community Consulting, LLC, Prince said he has worked with entities like the NAACP, S.C. Johnson and HIT strategies to reach underserved populations. As Black Student Union coordinator for the Racine Unified Office of Extended Learning, Prince has assisted area high schoolers and helped broaden their horizons. He works with his business connections to provide opportunities, such as a few dozen high schoolers recently receiving a tour of the Milwaukee Bucks office and talking with employees. As a community organizer, Prince has been involved with numerous events, including Juneteenth Day parades in Racine the last two years and a recent Black History Month pep rally at Case High School. He is a former vice president of the Racine NAACP and former Wisconsin state chair of the NAACP criminal justice committee, among other roles. Prince has also advocated for social justice and spoken out on many local issues, including the income gap between white and Black residents, law enforcement transparency and police brutality. Balancing his duties can be difficult, but Prince said that comes with being an active part of a community. How can you be a good organizer if youre actually not around and within the people? Prince said. Prince is also aided by a village of support. He is married with one son, and many family members live in the area. He began community organizing in 2017. According to Prince, one of his first activities involved working with the state Democratic Party to recruit about three dozen people to increase voter turnout in the five Racine aldermanic districts with the lowest turnout in the 2016 election. He smiled while reminiscing about the people he initially worked with, most of whom he is still in touch with. That type of impact is why I do this work, to be able to see people empowered through something as simple as organizing, Prince said. Criminal justice reform Prince also works with people in correctional facilities, and he advocates for criminal justice reform. That includes Prince believing people with felony convictions should be eligible to run for public office in Wisconsin. An amendment to the state constitution in 1996 prohibits people convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving a violation of public trust from holding state or local elected office unless they have been pardoned. Because of his criminal record, Prince is not eligible to run for office. All I can do is vote for somebody who tells me that theyre going to do what they say, Prince said. I can never be the change that I want to see. For that to change, Prince would have to be pardoned, or the Wisconsin Constitution would have to change. Amending the state constitution requires a majority of state lawmakers in the Wisconsin House and Senate to approve the change in consecutive two-year legislative sessions. Then, a majority of voters must approve the change via a statewide referendum. Prince also wants to humanize people with conviction histories. We can atone and do good, actually better than good, and that should come with restoration as well, he said. That should come with a fullness that we should be able to enjoy. Lockridge shared a similar sentiment about recognizing the humanity of people with criminal records. People whove been to prison, we are still people, Lockridge said. We are somebody. You cant just push us back in a corner and say, No, you cant do this because of what you did in the past, because people change We are people who are living and trying to make our community, our world a better place. Being an advocate That is what Prince is trying to do. While incarcerated, Prince became adaptable and learned how systems operate with the hope that he could one day change them. Most importantly, Prince learned to advocate for himself and other people while behind bars. I push back at systems, Prince said. I dont allow people to be abused. I dont allow myself to be abused. More than anything, I think thats what I learned, is to be an advocate, to stand up. Lockridge said Prince is a man of action who is willing to collaborate to make change a reality. Prince wants to address the root causes of issues like poverty and racism. However, that is highly difficult when, according to Prince, most leaders work for the systems that perpetuate issues. He said most companies and officials know the language of social change but rarely back up words with actions. There is a disconnect between the problems and the leaders, Prince said. We cant allow systems and systems leaders to say the buzzwords and say the trending statements and use the right language but then not hold them accountable. The labor can be frustrating and feel fruitless at times. Prince wishes there were more community organizers in the area, but he plans to continue working. My philosophy is: throw enough against the wall, somethings going to stick, Prince said. Talk to enough people, somebodys going to say, You know what man, thats actually a good idea. Thats actually something that maybe I could implement. Ive been able to, I think, make some great headway. Lockridge has learned from Prince that it is possible to accomplish goals if you put your mind to whatever it is that you are trying to do. From where he was as a young man, nobody would ever guess that Corey would be in this role that hes playing today, Lockridge said. Hes a living example. He does not give up. Eleven photos of a Black History Month pep rally at Case HS Samya Gray and BSU Samya Gray, Black Student Union president, speaks during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Booker and Hayes Longtime coaches Wally Booker, left, and Bob Hayes were honored during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case High School. Alexander, Prince, Gray Mikayla Alexander, from left, Corey Prince and Samya Gray helped organize a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Playing a game Black Student Union member Seniyyah Simmons, holding microphone, leads a game while BSU advisor Corey Prince, right, reacts during a Black His Case Black Student Union Members of the Black Student Union helped organized a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case High School, 7345 Washington Ave. Harris, Prince April Harris, Racine Unified School Board member, left, talks while Corey Prince, Black Student Union advisor, looks on during a Black History Seniyyah Simmons Black Student Union member Seniyyah Simmons smiles during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Legacy awards Black Student Union members Samya Gray, left, and DeBonair Dunum presented BSU Black History Legacy Awards to longtime coaches Wally Booker an Rim Rockers The Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers performed during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Soaring for a dunk A member of the Rim Rockers dunks during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Preparing to jam A member of the Rim Rockers prepares to dunk during a Black History Month pep rally Friday at Case, 7345 Washington Ave. Bucks Rim Rockers Lift Every Voice and Sing" (Photo-illustration from licensed Shutterstock account.) He issued one of the strongest terrorism warnings earlier this week, but few seemed to notice and even fewer seemed to care. Instead, the legacy media remained fixated on the testimony of former special counsel Robert K. Hur, who concluded that Joe Biden committed multiple federal crimes but was too incompetent to stand trial. While Hur's findings were certainly newsworthy, they were not news. Most of the country already knew Old Yeller's best days are behind him. Wray's warning, however, was dire. He told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that known or suspected terrorists were infiltrating the country across the wide-open southern border using counterfeit documents. One of the smuggling networks, he said, has ties to ISIS. Add to this the thousands of unknown border crossers from countries that hate us, and the more than 80,000 military-age males from China, and you have a terrorist hellbroth just waiting to bubble over. "The threats from homegrown violent extremists that is jihadist-inspired, extremists, domestic violent extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and state-sponsored terrorist organizations all being elevated at one time since October 7, though, that threat has gone to a whole other level," Wray said. "And so, this is a time I think for much greater vigilance." We should thank Director Wray for his timely information and for his candor. This is precisely why we have fought so long and so hard to restore our Second Amendment rights, so that law-abiding Americans no longer have to bend a knee and beg the Crown to sell them back their constitutional rights in the form of a permit to carry defensive arms. ..... 1. Yes. The area is still in a drought, and long-range forecasts are predicting a hot, dry summer . 2. Yes. Despite modest rainfall, area lake levels are far below normal. Restrictions are likely. 3. No. Frequent rainfall has helped this spring. Unless summer is unusually dry, it should be OK. 4. No. The area was very hot last summer, but water restrictions never reached Stage 3. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how much rain the area gets in April and May. Vote View Results China has completed the material extravehicular exposure tests on its space station, with the experimental equipment and the first batch of material samples safely retrieved to the orbiting spacecraft, the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Friday. The experimental equipment and samples were transferred from the exterior of the space station to the station's airlock module at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, with the collaboration of scientists on Earth and assistance from an onboard robotic arm. The orbiting taikonaut crew subsequently moved the experimental assembly to the lab module, where they disassembled and stored the samples. These samples will be returned to Earth onboard the Shenzhou spacecraft and handed over to scientists for further research, the center noted. The material extravehicular exposure experimental equipment was launched on March 8, 2023 and has been in orbit for one year. The first batch of over 400 material samples installed were divided into non-metallic and metallic materials. According to the center, the orbiting taikonauts will install a new batch of samples into the experimental equipment in May 2024 and conduct a new round of space exposure tests. The 6% commission, a standard in home purchase transactions, is no more. In a sweeping move expected to dramatically reduce the cost of buying and selling a home, the National Association of Realtors announced Friday a settlement with groups of homesellers, agreeing to end landmark antitrust lawsuits by paying $418 million in damages and eliminating rules on commissions. The NAR, which represents more than 1 million Realtors, also agreed to put in place a set of new rules. One prohibits agents compensation from being included on listings placed on local centralized listing portals known as multiple listing services, which critics say led brokers to push more expensive properties on customers. Another ends requirements that brokers subscribe to multiple listing services many of which are owned by NAR subsidiaries where homes are given a wide viewing in a local market. Another new rule will require buyers brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. The agreement effectively will destroy the current homebuying and selling business model, in which sellers pay both their broker and a buyers broker, which critics say have driven housing prices artificially higher. By some estimates, real estate commissions are expected to fall 25% to 50%, according to TD Cowen Insights. This will open up opportunities for alternative models of selling real estate that already exist but dont have much market share, including flat-fee and discount brokerages. Homebuilder stocks rose Friday midday on the news: Lennar shares gained 2.6%, PulteGroup shares added 1.1% and Toll Brothers shares added 1%. For the average-priced American home for sale $417,000 sellers are paying more than $25,000 in brokerage fees. Those costs are passed on to the buyer, boosting the price of homes in America. That fee could fall by between $6,000 and $12,000, according to TD Cowen Insights analysis. While the settlement comes at a significant cost, we believe the benefits it will provide to our industry are worth that cost, said Kevin Sears, president of the NAR, in a statement. In November, a federal jury in Missouri found the NAR and two brokerages liable for $1.8 billion in damages for conspiring to keep agent commissions artificially high. Because it was an antitrust case, the NAR was potentially on the hook for triple those damages $5.4 billion. The NAR had pledged to appeal the case, but other brokerages settled and, eventually, so did the NAR, on Friday. NAR has worked hard for years to resolve this litigation in a manner that benefits our members and American consumers, said Nykia Wright, interim CEO of NAR, in a statement. It has always been our goal to preserve consumer choice and protect our members to the greatest extent possible. This settlement achieves both of those goals. The NAR had required homesellers to include the compensation for agents when placing a listing on a multiple listing service. Although NAR has long said commissions are negotiable and that the structure helped making housing more affordable for buyers, critics have long argued that the fees were expected and homesellers felt they would lose buyers if they didnt offer them. Settlement could lead to lower homebuying costs Homesellers who brought lawsuits against the NAR have argued that in a competitive market, the cost of the buyers agents commission should be paid by the buyer who received the service, not by the seller. The sellers who brought the lawsuit against the NAR and the brokerages said that buyers should be able to negotiate the fee with their agent, and that the sellers should not be on the hook for paying it. This settlement, which is subject to a judges approval, opens the door to a more competitive housing market. Realtors could now compete on commissions, allowing for prospective buyers to shop around on rates before they commit to buying a home. Brokers could begin to advertise their fees, allowing customers to choose lower-cost agents. The NAR, in its announcement, did not set a suggested fee. The agreement will bring sweeping reforms for millions of Americans, said Benjamin D. Brown, managing partner of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll and co-chair of its antitrust practice, who helped craft the settlement. For years, anticompetitive rules in the real estate industry have financially harmed millions of Americans, said Brown. Individual sellers often feel powerless to negotiate a better deal for themselves, given the risk that offering lower commissions could cause brokers to steer buyers to other properties, said Robert Braun, a partner in Cohen Milsteins antitrust practice. For far too long, home sellers have faced a system recognized by many as blatantly unfair. This class action and settlement provides justice for our clients and will require important changes that help future home sellers, said Braun. Although most realtors are included in the settlement, agents affiliated with the brokerage HomeServices of America continue to fight the case in court, the NAR said. The NAR said it had encouraged HomeServices of America to join the settlement, but said it was pleased to have more than 1 million of its members on board with the agreement. Ultimately, continuing to litigate would have hurt members and their small businesses, said Wright in a statement. While there could be no perfect outcome, this agreement is the best outcome we could achieve in the circumstances. Years of trouble for NAR The NAR has been fighting off US antitrust officials and litigation for years regarding alleged anti-competitive practices. But Novembers verdict marked the associations biggest setback yet and ultimately led to the downfall of the rules that have long protected its compensation model. The association also faces scrutiny from the US Department of Justice, and its unclear whether this settlement with sellers will impact the governments scrutiny of the brokerage industry. The trade group has also undergone severe leadership turmoil over the past year. In January, the former president of the NAR, Tracy Kasper, stepped down, after she said she received a threat to disclose a past personal, non-financial matter unless she compromised her position at NAR. Sears replaced Kasper earlier this year. Kasper had just taken over the role in August 2023, after Kenny Parcell, the former president, resigned amid sexual harassment allegations that were first published by the New York Times. NAR employees reportedly said Parcell improperly touched them and sent lewd photos and texts. In the Times article, Parcell denied the accusations. In November 2023, the chief executive of NAR, Bob Goldberg, also stepped down, and was replaced by Wright. Goldberg stepped down two days after the $1.8 billion judgment against the NAR. ___ Metros where homes are selling for the most over asking price #50. Warren, Michigan #49. Los Angeles, California #48. Olympia, Washington #47. San Diego, California #46. Vallejo, California #45. Rockford, Illinois #44. Charlottesville, Virginia #43. Durham, North Carolina #42. Washington, DC #41. Cincinnati, Ohio #40. Lancaster, Pennsylvania #39. Baltimore, Maryland #38. Seattle, Washington #37. Lansing, Michigan #36. Elgin, Illinois #35. New Brunswick, New Jersey #34. Omaha, Nebraska #33. Minneapolis, Minnesota #32. Allentown, Pennsylvania #31. St. Louis, Missouri #29. Columbus, Ohio #28. Santa Rosa, California #27. Ann Arbor, Michigan #26. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania #25. Camden, New Jersey #24. Reading, Pennsylvania #23. Bridgeport, Connecticut #22. Frederick, Maryland #21. Albany, New York #20. Rockingham County, New Hampshire #19. Richmond, Virginia #18. New Haven, Connecticut #17. Boston, Massachusetts #16. Madison, Wisconsin #15. Springfield, Massachusetts #14. Milwaukee, Wisconsin #13. San Francisco, California #12. Worcester, Massachusetts #11. Green Bay, Wisconsin #10. Grand Rapids, Michigan #9. Syracuse, New York #8. Portland, Maine #7. San Jose, California #6. Newark, New Jersey #5. Manchester, New Hampshire #4. Oakland, California #3. Hartford, Connecticut #2. Buffalo, New York #1. Rochester, New York The Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help identifying a person involved in suspicious activity Friday at Bradys Bluff in Perrot State Park. Authorities said a woman reported she was approached by a man who made concerning comments to her. The woman fled the area unharmed while the sheriffs office, Trempealeau Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services arrived at the scene. A suspect was not located. The suspect is described as a man in his 40s wearing a gray sweatshirt with green letters and having a scruffy beard. Police reported several strange items were located as part of the investigation and provided to the DNR for further evaluation. Police are asking anyone on Bradys Bluff between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Friday and who might be able to help identify the suspect to contact the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office. An additional law enforcement presence is expected at Perrot Park following the incident, authorities said. NASHVILLE, Tenn. In Republican-led states across the U.S., conservative legislators are refusing to reevaluate abortion bans even as doctors and patients insist the laws exceptions are dangerously unclear, resulting in denied treatment to some pregnant women in need. Instead, GOP leaders accuse abortion rights advocates of deliberately spreading misinformation and doctors of intentionally denying services in an effort to undercut the bans and make a political point. At the same time, however, some states are taking steps that they say will provide more clarity about when abortions can be legally performed. The Republican-controlled South Dakota Legislature wants to create a video in which medical experts and the state's attorneys would explain to doctors and patients when abortions can be legally performed. The measure was passed last month and is now awaiting the signature of Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has indicated she will sign it. The first-in-the-nation idea is wholeheartedly supported by SBA Pro-Life, one of the country's largest anti-abortion groups, which says the video will help to combat confusion caused by the abortion industry. South Dakota is showing the rest of the nation how to protect womens lives from the misinformation surrounding abortion laws, said the organization's public affairs director in South Dakota, Kelsey Pritchard. Oklahoma and Kentucky are also taking steps to clarify their abortion bans, though in both states the attorneys general, not physicians, are the ones dictating the terms. In Oklahoma, the AG sent out a memo in 2022 informing prosecutors and police that doctors should have substantial leeway to provide certain abortions. Last year, the office added that patients don't have to be septic, bleeding profusely, or otherwise close to death but reiterated a past warning that doctors should be prosecuted if there's evidence they violated the law by providing an abortion when a woman's life wasn't actually in danger. Kentucky's attorney general has stated that miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies when a fertilized egg grows outside the uterus are both exempted from the state's abortion ban, but has been silent on the majority of other pregnancy complications that physicians and patients have pointed out. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, states have been free to enact their own restrictions. South Dakota is among the 14 that ban abortion at all stages of pregnancy. The law does allow an abortion exception to save the life of the mother, but like similar statutes in other states, it does not clearly define which pregnancy complications are considered life-threatening. State Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, a nurse anesthetist, said she decided to propose the informational video after hearing from physicians about the ongoing confusion. She said the video offered the best solution because any attempt to tweak the abortion ban itself would provoke strong disagreement among her GOP colleagues. It remains to be seen how much help the video will be to patients and doctors, however. It's not expected to specifically list pregnancy complications that would legally qualify women for abortions, and it's unclear if it will contain a legal disclaimer warning that anyone who watches the video may still face potential criminal charges. Its not going to deal with hard calls, said Greer Donley, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who is an expert on abortion law. They actually dont want to deal with the hard calls because their movement is not sure ... how those hard calls should be resolved. South Dakota Republican state Sen. Erin Tobin, one of the measure's proponents, acknowledged to a Senate panel last month that the video will not contain specific examples. Thats the problem with health care, is that there are so many different circumstances, that you have to allow doctors discretion, Tobin said. As some states mull how to clarify without weakening their abortion bans, abortion rights advocates in several states continue to challenge the bans with lawsuits. Twenty Texas women denied abortions are suing the state seeking clarification, while advocates filed a lawsuit in Tennessee arguing that the state ban's vaguely defined exceptions put pregnant women's lives at risk. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti pushed back. He argued that it wasn't the law, per se, that is harming women but rather other factors like doctors independent choices not to provide permissible abortions." The lawsuit is ongoing, with attorneys expected to make their arguments before a three-judge panel next month on whether the state ban should be temporarily blocked as the legal battle continues or if the case should be dismissed entirely. Donley spurned the idea that doctors bear the responsibility for endangering patients. I completely reject any narrative that theres any sort of provider out there thats intentionally harming women and pregnant people for the sake of a news story, she said. Thats just not happening. But are mistakes being made because people are terrified? Yeah, probably. 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 From allegations of plotting to overturn a lost election to illegally stowing classified documents at his Florida estate, former President Donald Trump faces four criminal indictments in four different cities as he vies to reclaim the White House. Heres a look at each case: Chinese premier meets with Angolan president in Beijing Xinhua) 09:31, March 16, 2024 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco in Beijing on Friday, calling for deepened political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. Noting that China and Angola enjoy a profound traditional friendship and are good brothers and partners who trust each other, Li said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two countries' presidents, the two sides have adhered to the principles of sincerity, friendship, equality and mutual benefit, achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields, and continuously upgraded the level of strategic partnership. China is willing to work with Angola to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples, he said. Li pointed out that China appreciates Angola's long-standing adherence to the one-China principle and will, as always, firmly support Angola's efforts to safeguard national security and stability, oppose external interference and promote economic and social development. "China is ready to work with Angola to upgrade practical cooperation and expand cooperation on infrastructure, agriculture, trade, new energy and digital economy under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to achieve win-win results," Li said. He said that China stands ready to import more quality products from Angola and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Angola. "The two sides should deepen exchanges on medical and health care, human resources development, culture and tourism to consolidate public support for friendship between the two countries," Li added. Lourenco said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 41 years ago, bilateral relations have been strengthened, with huge potential for cooperation. Angola appreciates China's precious support when Angola was in the most difficult period, helping Angola to achieve rapid economic and social development, and to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. The Angolan side will firmly abide by the one-China policy and support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, Lourenco said, adding that Angola welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in its country and is willing to further strengthen cooperation with China on infrastructure, agriculture, energy and new energy to achieve common development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting President of the Republic of Angola Joao Lourenco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) Artificial intelligence (AI) is adding to the threat of election disinformation worldwide. The technology makes it easy for anyone with a smartphone and an imagination to create fake but convincing content aimed at fooling voters. Just a few years ago, fake photos, videos or audio required teams of people with time, skill and money. Now, free and low-cost generative artificial intelligence services from companies like Google and OpenAI permit people to create high-quality deepfakes with just a simple text entry. Expanding threats A wave of AI deepfakes tied to elections in Europe and Asia has already appeared on social media for months. It served as a warning for more than 50 countries having elections this year. Some recent examples of AI deepfakes include: A video of Moldovas pro-Western president throwing her support behind a political party friendly to Russia. Audio of Slovakias liberal party leader discussing changing ballots and raising the price of beer. A video of an opposition lawmaker in Bangladesh a conservative Muslim majority nation wearing a bikini. The question is no longer whether AI deepfakes could affect elections, but how influential they will be, said Henry Ajder, who runs a business advisory company called Latent Space Advisory in Britain. You dont need to look far to see some people ... being clearly confused as to whether something is real or not, Ajder said. Challenge to democracy As the U.S. presidential race comes closer, Christopher Wray, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning about the growing threat of generative AI. He said the technology makes it easy for foreign groups to attempt to have a bad influence on elections. With AI deepfakes, a candidates image can be made much worse or much better. Voters can be moved toward or away from candidates or even to avoid the polls altogether. But perhaps the greatest threat to democracy, experts say, is that the growth of AI deepfakes could hurt the publics trust in what they see and hear. The complexity of the technology makes it hard to find out who is behind AI deepfakes. Experts say governments and companies are not yet capable of stopping the problem. The worlds biggest tech companies recently and voluntarily signed an agreement to prevent AI tools from disrupting elections. For example, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook has said it will start labeling deepfakes that appear on its services. But deepfakes are harder to limit on apps like Telegram, which did not sign the voluntary agreement. Telegram uses encrypted messages that can be difficult to uncover. Concerns about efforts to limit AI Some experts worry that efforts to limit AI deepfakes could lead to unplanned results. Tim Harper is an expert at the Center for Democracy and Technology in Washington, DC. He said sometimes well-meaning governments or companies might crush the very thin line between political commentary and an illegitimate attempt to smear a candidate. Major generative AI services have rules to limit political disinformation. But experts say it is too easy to defeat the restrictions or use other services. AI software is not the only threat. Candidates themselves could try to fool voters by claiming events that show them in bad situations were manufactured by AI. Lisa Reppell is a researcher at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems in Arlington, Virginia. She said, A world in which everything is suspect and so everyone gets to choose what they believe is also a world thats really challenging fordemocracy. Im John Russell. Ali Swenson and Kelvin Chan reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________ Words in This Story fake n. not true or real bikini -- n. a piece of clothing in two parts that a woman wears for swimming label -- v. to use a word or phrase that describes or identifies something or someone encrypted -- v. to change (information) from one form to another illegitimate -- adj. not allowed according to rules or laws smear -- v. to make untrue statements about someone India has put into effect a new law that makes it easier for non-Muslim minorities to seek Indian citizenship. The much-debated law was first approved by Indias parliament in 2019. But the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delayed implementing the measure because of huge protests by groups opposed to it. Tens of thousands of people took part in demonstrations against the law shortly after it was approved in December 2019. At the time, news organizations reported at least 23 people were killed during days of protests. The law seeks to give Indian citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and other minorities who fled Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to escape mistreatment based on religion. Muslims are not covered by the law. Modis Hindu nationalist-led government has said the law is designed to ease the suffering of many people who long faced unfair treatment in India. Critics say the measure is a government attempt to marginalize Indias 200 million Muslims. A message issued by the prime ministers office confirmed the new law had been activated. "The Modi government announces implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act," a spokesperson wrote in a text message. The measure is an important policy of Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The spokesperson said the measure clears the way "for the persecuted to find citizenship in India." A statement by the Home Ministry said the law aims to remove legal barriers to citizenship for refugees in order to provide a "dignified life" to those who have long suffered in India. The statement added that "many misconceptions had been spread among the public about the law. This Act is only for those who have suffered persecution for years and have no other shelter in the world except India," it said. The government said citizenship seekers can begin the process by entering their information online through an official website. Human rights group Amnesty India criticized implementation of the law, saying it legitimizes discrimination based on religion. Opponents have argued that if the law aims to protect persecuted minorities, it should have included Muslim religious minorities. The critics say these groups including Ahmadis in Pakistan and Rohingyas in Myanmar have already faced persecution in their own countries. The opposition Communist Party of India which rules the southern state of Kerala - called for state-wide protests to demonstrate their opposition to the measure. Keralas Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, said in a statement he sees the law leading to more divisions and believes it is not in line with the countrys constitution. "This move to stratify Indian citizens who have equal rights, must be opposed unitedly." Indias 200 million Muslims make up a large minority group in the countrys 1.4 billion population. Muslims live in almost every part of the country. They have been targeted in a series of attacks since Modi first came to power in 2014. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press and Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________ Words in This Story implement v. to start using a plan, law or system marginalize v. to treat someone or something like they are not important persecute v. to treat someone poorly or unfairly dignified adj. something controlled, serious and calm that deserves respect misconception n. an idea that is wrong because it is based on a failure to understand a situation legitimize v. to make something legal or acceptable stratify v. to arrange different part of something in separate parts of groups And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Have you ever looked closely at a piece of wood? If you have, you might have noticed its beautiful grain. When talking about wood, grain describes the appearance of cell fibers in the wood. A woods grain is important when choosing the right sort of wood for a project. Different kinds of wood have different grains, which affect their appearance, strength, and usefulness. Paying attention to a woods grain helps you to know how to work with it. For example, if you are cutting a wood board with the grain, you would use a tool called a rip saw. If you are cutting across the grain, you would use a crosscut saw. Cutting against the grain is more difficult. If you work against the wood grain, you might tear out pieces of wood or even damage your tools. And that brings us to our expression: to go against the grain. If you go against the grain, you do something differently from what is normal or usual. An idea or action that goes against the grain is difficult to do or accept. Usually, it goes against a persons ideals, beliefs, or principles. If an idea or action goes against the grain, it is the opposite of what you believe is right or normal. You might find it difficult to accept. In some situations, it takes courage to go against the grain of what others are saying or doing and stand up for what you believe in. Lets say a friend of yours is offered a sales job. To do the job well, he must convince people to buy things they dont need. He is a very honest man. So, for him this job goes against the grain. To go against the grain can also mean to do things differently from others. Sometimes we want to go against the grain. We dont want to do things the way everyone else does. Artists often try to go against the grain and ignore the common, popular trends of the day. Now, lets hear the expression used between two friends. A: Did you hear about Jenny taking that corporate banking job? B: I did! Im really happy for her. A: Happy? You must be kidding. Jenny is an artist. In college, we used to protest against big banks. B: I know we did. But life is different now. Were older and have bills to pay. And I think Jenny wants to send her little sister to college. A: I know. But a corporate job? Jenny? It just goes against the grain for her. B: Look, we need to support our friend. Anything less would go against the grain for me. And thats the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time Im Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________ Words in This Story board n. a flat piece of wood used for building things convince v. to persuade a person to do or believe something trend n. the way things are going; a general direction of change We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here. Near Interstate 80 in Lexington, Jennifer Leibert has been the owner for several months of Fluid Power Fusions, selling healthy energy drinks and protein shakes. Leiberts story is one of roots and ambition. Born in Las Vegas but a Nebraskan at heart, she pursued her passion for cosmetology at Josephs College in Kearney. However, her entrepreneurial drive led her beyond the salon chair. With a desire to provide a healthier beverage alternative for her community, Leibert founded Fluid Power Fusions. She and her husband, Vince Leibert, co-owner of the business, have six children. The store, located at 110 E. River Road a half-mile east of Kirks Restaurant just off I-80, has quickly become a local favorite, offering a range of refreshing beverages crafted with natural ingredients. Leiberts dedication to research ensures that every drink served aligns with her vision of promoting wellness. We really researched ingredients ahead of time, I wanted to make sure the store was on the healthy side and provided natural ingredients, Leibert said. When speaking about popular drinks at the store, Leibert said she noticed many community members favor drinks that feature strawberry as one of the main ingredients. What sets Fluid Power Fusions apart is not just its products but also its commitment to service. Leibert recognized the need for convenience and introduced free delivery services, catering to busy individuals in Lexington, Gothenburg and Cozad. Deliveries are amazing because we get to provide a service for people that are stuck in their jobs and arent able to leave, Leibert said. At the moment, the store does free delivery on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in several cities within Dawson County. Leibert said this routine is in a testing phase and its no guarantee itll be an every week thing. This customer-centric approach has garnered praise and loyalty from patrons, including a long list of customers that she and Vince named: Lexington, Cozad and Overton public schools; in Cozad, Security First Bank and Homestead Bank in Cozad, as well as city offices; Gothenburg Health; Dawson Public Power District; Dawson County Courthouse and Sheriffs Office; Dawson County Opportunity Center; in Lexington, Orthman, State Farm, Go Home Realty, Plum Creek Medical Group, Dairy Queen, Lexington Regional Health Center, YMCA and Lexington Fire Department. Since first promoting the business in October 2023 on Facebook, Leibert said, she has received a lot of praise from community members. Some of them have shared stores with her about completely cutting out soda in their everyday routine and instead drinking products from Leiberts family business. As the business grows, Leibert remains focused on both short-term and long-term goals. One short-term goal is expanding our product line and providing more protein shake options for the store, Leibert said. Long-term goal is hopefully moving our location more in town and finding a place that can provide more seating options and give us a cafe-style setup for customers. Leibert shared invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and community support. She encourages others to take the leap, start small and trust in their abilities, echoing her own journey of perseverance and faith. For opening any business in general: sit down for a minute, take a bet on yourself and go for it, Leibert said. You only live once for these opportunities, and its not as scary as people think. Its OK to start small and work your way up. Be confident in your abilities and just know its OK to lean on families and friends in your community to help you out. Faith plays a significant role in Leiberts success story. Grateful for the blessings bestowed upon her business, she acknowledged divine guidance that has led Fluid Power Fusions to recognition locally and beyond. She and Vince said they will be speaking to a class at Lexington High School sometime next month about necessary steps to take in entrepreneurship. Leibert also said her store got an order to go international from a cafe called Cha Cafe in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. The Central American store will be selling to-go packs of drinks that were originally made at Fluid Power Fusions. A former bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who was featured in an Associated Press investigation into how the church protects itself from allegations of sexual abuse was arrested by police in Virginia this week after being indicted on charges he sexually abused his daughter while accompanying her on a school trip when she was a child, according to court filings. Police and federal authorities had been searching for John Goodrich after a grand jury in Williamsburg on Jan. 17 found probable cause that he committed four felonies, including rape by force, threat or intimidation, forcible sodomy, and two counts of felony aggravated sexual battery by a parent of a child. Those charges were filed weeks after the AP investigation revealed how a representative of the church, widely known as the Mormon church, employed a risk management playbook that has helped it keep child sexual abuse cases secret after allegations surfaced that Goodrich abused his daughter Chelsea, now in her 30s, at their home in Idaho as well as on a school field trip to the Washington, D.C., area 20 years ago. I hope this case will finally bring justice for my childhood sexual abuse, Chelsea Goodrich said in a statement. Im grateful it appears that the Commonwealth of Virginia is taking one event of child sexual assault more seriously than years of repeated assaults were treated in Idaho. A call Wednesday to John Goodrich's cellphone went immediately to voicemail. Tommy Norment, a Williamsburg defense attorney for John Goodrich, declined to comment, saying he was still familiarizing himself with the case. The Williamsburg Police Department also did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Goodrich's case. Goodrichs arrest in Virginia comes nearly eight years after he was arrested in Idaho on similar charges. Chelsea and her mother, Lorraine, went to Idaho police in 2016 to report wide-ranging allegations of abuse during her childhood. Those charges were eventually dropped after a key witness in the case, another Mormon bishop to whom John had made a spiritual confession about him and his daughter, refused to testify. While the details of that confession have not been made public, the church excommunicated Goodrich. The APs investigation was based in part on hours of audio recordings of Chelseas 2017 meetings with Paul Rytting, a Utah attorney who was head of the churchs Risk Management Division, which works to protect the church against sexual abuse lawsuits and other costly claims. Chelsea went to Rytting for help in getting the bishop to testify about Johns spiritual confession. During the recorded meetings, Rytting expressed concern for what he called Johns significant sexual transgression, but said the bishop, whose position in the church is akin to a Catholic priest, could not testify. He cited a clergy-penitent privilege loophole in Idahos mandatory reporting law that exempts clergy from having to divulge information about child sex abuse that is gleaned in a spiritual confession. Without that testimony, prosecutors in Idaho dropped that earlier case. Invoking the clergy privilege was just one facet of the risk management playbook that Rytting employed in the Goodrich matter. Rytting offered Chelsea and her mother $300,000 in exchange for a confidentiality agreement and a pledge to destroy their recordings of their meetings, which they had made at the recommendation of an attorney and with Ryttings knowledge. The AP obtained similar recordings that were made by a church member at the time who attended the meetings as Chelseas advocate. The church also employed the use of its so-called sex abuse Helpline, which John Goodrichs bishop had called after his confession. As AP revealed in 2022, the Helpline is a phone number set up by the church for bishops to report instances of child sex abuse. Instead of connecting church victims to counseling or other services, however, the Helpline often reports serious allegations of abuse to a church law firm. In a statement about its recent investigation, the church said, the abuse of a child or any other individual is inexcusable, and that John Goodrich, following his excommunication, has not been readmitted to church membership. News coverage of the Idaho case brought out another alleged victim. After learning about Chelseas allegations, a 53-year-old single mother accused him of having nonconsensual sex with her after giving her the drug Halcion, a controlled substance John Goodrich often used to sedate patients during dental procedures. She alleged that Goodrich drugged her the previous July after she cut off a sexual relationship with him. In the end, John Goodrich reached a plea agreement in that case, and escaped sex crimes charges. Chelsea Goodrich approached the AP with her story, she said, because her father remained free and practicing dentistry in Idaho with access to children. On Tuesday, after authorities spent two weeks searching for him, Goodrich turned himself in to police in Williamsburg, a court official told Chelsea Goodrich, and he posted bond. He will be allowed to leave Virginia during legal proceedings, the court official said. Keeping your child safe from online dangers Keeping your child safe from online dangers Housing complaints to the city of Madison surged in 2023, as residents reported problems with poor maintenance, frequent management changes and questions about Section 8 housing assistance payment disbursements. In response, the Equal Opportunities Commission of Madison has begun a series of listening sessions around the city, aimed at informing people about local resources to assist them, and to help residents actively participate in shaping a more equitable future for Madison, according to a statement from commissioner Linda Ketcham, who is the director of the nonprofit Just Dane. The commission hears and addresses discrimination complaints related to housing, employment, public accommodations and city facilities. Last year, 156 of the 244 complaints the commission received, 63%, were about housing. In 2022, the commission said it received a total of 124 complaints, with 22% of those related to housing. At a listening session for East Side and North Side residents Thursday, Commission President Corinda Rainey-Moore said the commission is expected to come up with a strategy for tackling housing complaints. Specifics will be determined after the listening sessions are complete. About 25 people attended the first listening session, both renters and homeowners, as well as representatives from the Tenant Resource Center, city staff and other members of nonprofit organizations. Kathy Hemming, a three-year resident at an apartment complex near Warner Park, said that while she has paid rent to the property owner, theres no ledger reflecting those payments. Hemming attempted to remedy the issue with her apartments property manager, she said, but communication was insufficient. Hemming said she would have moved out two years ago if circumstances allowed for it and said she still has no ledger of rent payments. Im stuck there, she said. Melanie Lucas, who lives at a different complex nearby, said one resident there faced a bedbug problem that had to be treated over and over. Lucas herself said she has had mold in her unit, which keeps coming back. She said residents have written letters to their respective property managers about related and maintenance issues, but the letters go to the office and it stops there. Lucas also said that a lot of her neighbors are families with small children. She told the commission they are afraid to speak up themselves in fear of losing their housing. Generally tenants are receiving notices indicating they owe extremely large amounts of money and are having a difficult time getting a ledger of what is owed or has been paid by the tenant, said Byron Bishop, equal opportunities division manager for the city of Madison Department of Civil Rights, said in an email. Questions have also been raised about the tracking of how Section 8 payments are being dispersed, Bishop said. And tenants attempting to relocate are receiving references that reflect they owe large amounts of money, which is preventing them from leaving the property, and for certain tenants, could place their Section 8 voucher at risk, he said. Bishop said there have been ongoing concerns with frequent apartment property management changes, as well as concerns of lack of management, overall poor living conditions and lack of timely maintenance. Although more listening sessions are expected, none have been scheduled yet, according to the citys website. When, in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Rainey-Moore was asked about why there has been an increase in housing complaints, she said the numbers reflect how people are feeling about Madisons housing crisis angry, frustrated, desperate and seeking glimmers of hope. This isnt something we take lightly, she told the attendees at the Thursday meeting. We are listening. Construction on the new Black Hawk Bridge is a likely factor in the old bridges movement, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. While there were sensors in place to track movement, it was a citizens report of a shift in the bridge supports that triggered its closure. The bridge connects Lansing, Iowa, to Wisconsin, between De Soto and Ferryville. Black Hawk Bridge project manager Clayton Burke said there is no single cause that can be identified of the movement of the bridge pier, but nearby construction work on the new bridge is a likely source. Another possible factor was the condition of material the piers are dug into. Sensors were installed on the old bridge in fall 2023, when construction of the new bridge began. The Iowa DOT contracted Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. to monitor the sensors and report any concerning bridge movement. A citizen reported in late February that the bridge deck on the Wisconsin side had shifted and did not look the same. The report triggered a review of the data collected, which showed problems with the bridge and data reporting that required the bridge to close for repairs. (The contractors) didnt believe the data, so we werent provided alerts from them when the actual movement occurred, Burke said. The DOT has since corrected the issue and we are continuing monitoring. Since the shutdown, contractors have started removing the shifted bridge decks to access the troubled piers below. Tests on other piers since the shutdown revealed no movement. The damaged piers will be removed and replaced once contractors remove all of the bridge decks in the affected area. The present bridge has a foundation depth of 55 feet and does not reach the bedrock below. The foundation of the new bridge is planned to reach 150 feet below the surface, plunging well into the bedrock. Repairs on the current bridge are expected to be finished in late April, according to the Iowa DOT. The timeline for building the new bridge is unchanged, with completion expected by 2027. A Bellevue man will serve 25 years to life in prison after shooting and killing a roommate in August. Charles Holloway, 44, was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty in January to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, admitting guilt to shooting and killing Josh Takacs in the early morning hours of Aug. 23 after a dispute. Holloway told Judge Ned C. Williamson when he pleaded guilty that he didnt remember many details of the shooting in which he was initially indicted of first-degree murder, court minutes said. A roommate, however, reported to police that he and an intoxicated Holloway, the owner of the Bellevue house, spent the night and early morning playing video games, and at one time playing the bongos, when Takas entered the room, threw something on the ground, then exited, slamming the door behind him. Holloway responded by saying he was going to kill Takacs, grabbed an item, apparently a pistol, and left the room, after which a sound resembling the explosion of a firecracker was heard, court records say. Twin Falls murder suspect gets emotional at arraignment Martinez told police she drove with two other suspects to Mexico, records say. Holloway later pointed a gun at a law enforcement officer who responded to the scene, records say, and was shot several times and treated at a Boise hospital. For the charge of assault or battery on a police officer, Mortensen will serve a sentence of three to five years in prison, with the charge running consecutively, Williamson ruled. Holloway was also fined $10,000 for the murder charge, and is expected to pay restitution to Takacs family. A Kimberly woman has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the 2022 death of her daughter. When first responders arrived at the Center Street house in the early morning hours of Oct. 3 of that year to give aid to 25-year-old ShyRea Harrell, they reported she was was limp, unconscious, had a faint pulse and her breathing was very shallow. In addition, they reported an overwhelming odor of ammonia and feces in the room, and the area around Harrell was littered with used adult diapers, records say. Harrell suffered from spina bifida and didnt have function in her lower legs, and caregiver and mother, Patricia Dawn Lee, 52, was holding onto Harrell, and said the victim had been hitting herself with a can of hairspray. After being transported to St. Lukes Magic Valley Regional Medical Center and then to an Idaho Falls hospital, Harrell died of cardiac arrest Oct. 25 on the operating table, court records say. She had undergone eight total surgeries, six of them major, during her short time there. A doctor reported she had been in a dire situation, with significant wounds on her back, legs, sides, hips, pelvis and crotch, and they appeared to be pressure wounds from lying in one position too long. A paramedic reported a wound near her thighs that exposed bone and skin that had sloughed away. Since the time of her death, the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorneys office has been looking at evidence on whether to charge the death as a crime. It was not a quick task, Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs told the Times-News on Friday, saying that he had to collect multiple documents from medical examinations, autopsy reports and comments from doctors. The Kimberly police officer had recommended the charge of abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. A paramedic was interviewed in November, and said when they responded to her residence, Harrells body was cold as ice 86 degrees within the hypothermia range. The paramedic said the story about the victim hitting herself with a can of hairspray didnt make sense, as someone that sick and cold could not have been conscious for the last two hours. When taken to the emergency room, Harrell had life-threatening conditions, and police reports say doctors made comments about possible abuse or neglect. In addition to the multiple severe pressure wounds, she weighed 92 pounds, suffered from dehydration shock, hypothermia, septic shock, severe sepsis, critical low blood pressure, protein calorie malnutrition and severe iron deficiency, reports say. A hospital official talked to Lee, records say, who said Harrell hadnt seen a doctor since December 2021 because no one from a hospital would call her back, records say. Investigators found that there were times the victim was receiving regular care. From October 2020 until December 2021, she received treatment for the same pressure wound on her lower back. Lee had Harrells primary caregiver for at least since 2016, a police report said. Penner sentenced for 2nd-degree murder in Twin Falls shaken-baby case He will serve at least 15 years in prison for causing death of two-month-old child. Lee was booked and released Friday by Judge Thomas Kershaw, who also will appoint a public defender. Her preliminary hearing is set for April 5. One of several comments on Harrells obituary guestbook reads The love of my life, ShyRea. I hold you close to my heart. I have hundreds of memories. But your hugs and kisses will be missed. You will be in my heart and mind forever. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Gov. Brad Little designates March as 'STEM Matters Month' Last week, Gov. Brad Little designated March as 'STEM Matters Month.' During his proclamation, Little mentioned the need to increase STEM literacy and programming in schools statewide. "The importance of STEM education in today's technology and knowledge-based economy cannot be overstated," Gov. Little said, as reported in a press release. "From logging to computer science, mining to healthcare, or teaching to business, the skills that STEM education fosters will propel Idaho students into high-paying, meaningful careers." Little also encourages residents to help amplify STEM education by volunteering at schools and nonprofit organizations, supporting STEM-centered organizations, and involving their children in STEM activities. Also: The Jerome School District is hiring substitute teachers. If you are interested in applying, visit jeromeschools.org. is hiring substitute teachers. If you are interested in applying, visit jeromeschools.org. The State Department of Education hosted an Educator Career Fair on Wednesday and Thursday. During the event, students across the Magic Valley learned more about educational careers and see what jobs are available in the field. hosted an Educator Career Fair on Wednesday and Thursday. During the event, students across the Magic Valley learned more about educational careers and see what jobs are available in the field. On Monday, Kimberly Middle School will host an arts showcase and Broadway tribute at the LA Thomas Building. The event is free to the public, and will be a celebration of the arts. The visual arts showcase will run from 5 to 6:45 p.m., and the "Regards to Broadway" musical tribute will run from 7 to 8 p.m. will host an arts showcase and Broadway tribute at the LA Thomas Building. The event is free to the public, and will be a celebration of the arts. The visual arts showcase will run from 5 to 6:45 p.m., and the "Regards to Broadway" musical tribute will run from 7 to 8 p.m. The Twin Falls School District is considering restricting the use of cellphones during the school day. The school board has released a draft of the new policy, No. 3735, and is asking for public input. Visit bit.ly/3IAH0nF to complete the survey, where you can also access the policy draft. The survey will close on Tuesday. The board will review the policy during the next board meeting scheduled for April 8. In 2013, a Times-News reporter suspected the Minidoka County sheriff of malfeasance, but requests for information that should have been made public were denied. The reporter made multiple public records requests for information to find something to substantiate her suspicions. But until the charges were filed against the sheriff, nothing was released. The sheriff eventually resigned amid felony charges relating to personal use of a county gas card. Eleven years later, the denial of public records is still an issue. Sunshine Week March 10 to 16 started in 2005 for media around the nation to highlight the importance of transparency, not only in government but in local public agencies. Open access to public records is a cornerstone of American democracy, the Bureau of Justice Assistance says. What are public record requests and why are they important? Requesting public records require you to fill out a handwritten form specifically describing the subject matter and the records you are looking for. With most local agencies using technology, public records requests can also be made through an email or through the agencies own online form. Public records fall under meeting minutes, correspondence, employee pay grades, emails, photos, maps, videos and recording. Once a public records request is sent in, the agency is generally required to respond within three working days. If the request is denied, the agency must say why in a written response. Personnel records, personal information, health records and professional discipline are exempt from disclosure through federal and state laws, according to Idaho Code 74-106. Public agencies, however, can sometimes use these exemption laws to avoid or prolong disclosure of public records. Acting on a news tip late last year, Times-News Managing Editor Mychel Matthews called the Hagerman School District to ask about the employment status of former Hagerman School Superintendent Jim Brown. The information could have been easily confirmed over the phone. A staff member, however, erroneously told Matthews that Browns employment status was a personnel issue and therefore could not be released. You dont think the public has a right to know whats going on? Matthews asked. Oh, believe me, the staff member said, the public already knows. Matthews filed a public records request for the information on Nov. 15, 2023. Her request was promptly denied by the school district clerk, also stating that the issue was a personnel issue. 'He told me not to tell you' Hagerman School Superintendent Jim Brown was investigated for six weeks after 16 boys spoke out about his showering in front of them. The Times-News later learned that Brown had been placed on administrative leave after a parent filed a complaint against Brown with the Gooding County Sheriffs Office. The complaint concerned the superintendents habit of showering when kids were in the locker room. Brown was investigated by the sheriffs office for six weeks from early October until around Thanksgiving but was never charged. The situation blew up in early January when community members with support from Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld held a community forum concerning Browns situation and the secrecy surrounding it. Peoples jobs have been threatened, parent Tonya Watkins said at the meeting. If they work in any way with the school district, theyve been told that they need to be quiet or they wont work at the school anymore. For the school board to publicly say that parents of the children involved are spreading misinformation is a slap in the face, Watkins said. For the school to say that nothing improper or illegal transpired is nothing short of disgusting. While sharing what happened with my child, I have been bullied and threatened with defamation lawsuits. Hagerman School District dismisses superintendent Hagerman School District is looking for a new school superintendent after the school board voted to let go of "Employee A." Browns employment was terminated Jan. 15, after a unanimous vote during a school board meeting. Browns name, however, was never revealed in the board minutes. Instead, he was referred to as Employee A. When citizens have access to information and understand how their government operates, they are more likely to trust that their elected officials are acting in their best interests, Southwest Public Policy Institute said in a 2023 Sunshine Week article. This is essential for building and maintaining a healthy democracy. Sunshine Week is not a week in which reporters are putting the blame on someone or a local agency for denying the disclosure of any records. Its about empowering community members. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Wanted for: Failure to appear and violation of terms of release on the original charge of felony grand theft. The Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office asks that anyone with information please call 208-735-1911 or Crime Stoppers at 208-343-2677, where they can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can be made at www.343cops.com or download P3 Tips on your mobile phone. Recent videos show military aged young men from Africa crossing our southern border unimpeded. More than 37,000 Chinese nationals crossed our southern border illegally in 2023 alone. Debit cards of $10,000 apiece are being handed out to illegal immigrants in New York City. This week in San Francisco a foreign national was sworn in as an official on the elections commission. What the hell is going on? This is not merely a frustration, not a minor political problem to worry about, this is an absolute outrage, an existential crisis for our nation! America is in danger like never before. Why is this happening? Who is responsible? We are sick to death of hearing platitudes like secure our border. Our leaders have no intention of securing our border, and its time we ask ourselves why? Its reckless, its dangerous, and its expensive. Yet it gives Washington elites and the Biden administration or whoever is running the White House more power. How? Illegal immigration takes power away from law abiding citizens. It makes a mockery of the rule of law, giving power to those who intentionally break our laws. If you value freedom, law and order, and our cultural heritage, you should be outraged. If you respect our nation, the greatest ever to exist in human history, then its time to ask what the hell is going on?! Illegal immigration takes jobs away from law-abiding Americans. It threatens the safety of our communities. It dilutes our voter base, taking away the sanctity of your vote. You might think the problem is far away from here. Let Texas deal with it, let the federal government worry about enforcing the law. But it affects Idaho too, thats the plain truth of the matter. Millions of illegal immigrants pouring into our country year after year affects all of us. Illegal immigration brings crime, drugs, sex trafficking, terrorism, and more. When we stop enforcing our laws, were telling all the bad actors in the world that we are defenseless, that they can come here and do whatever they want. It doesnt have to be this way. There are enough laws on the books now to take care of this problem, and House Republicans passed a strong border bill last year. National leaders can solve this crisis today if they wanted to, which means they want it to continue. Its time to say enough is enough. Its time for patriotic Americans to stand up and say WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? How confusing is the 2024 election season in Idaho? So much so that Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Republican Party of Idaho Chair Dorothy Moon, and Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea were compelled last week to issue a joint news release to attempt to clarify the distinction between party presidential nominating caucuses, the statewide May primaries, and affiliation deadlines for voters. They only stirred around the mud, despite their best efforts. The mud is deep. How else could you explain a joint news release from Dorothy Moon and Lauren Necochea, who likely couldnt come to agreement on the same order at a restaurant with one item on the menu? We wouldnt have believed it if we hadnt seen it. Theyre on opposite ends of the political rope, yanking and pulling and tugging while accusing the other of attempting to spiral Idaho into an abyss. What they do appear to share, though, is the feeling that Idahoans should make plans to exercise their right to vote. Quote Regardless of how you feel about the caucus system and we find it to be wholly non-representative were stuck with it for 2024. As one of our board members bluntly put it, And that sucks. As we gear up for the May 23rd caucus, we want to ensure every eligible voters voice is heard, Necochea said in the release. We encourage all residents to engage in the process by taking part in this important event. Added Moon, We encourage all eligible voters who wish to have a voice in the party caucus to ensure their party affiliation is up to date by the December 31st deadline. And then theres McGrane, who narrowly defeated Moon in the 2022 election for Secretary of State, urging Gem State voters to take part in the May 21 primary, which will include party races for state legislators and county sheriffs, commissioners and prosecutors. The primary election is a crucial step in shaping the future of our state, McGrane said in the release. We want to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate, so its essential to be aware of the party affiliation deadlines. The deadline to change affiliation for the primary is March 15, though unaffiliated and newly registered voters may affiliate up to and including Election Day. But, if you want to have a say in the GOP presidential nominating caucus on March 2, you must affiliate by Dec. 31 but thats a Sunday, so plan accordingly. To take part in the Democrats caucus, you must be a registered Democrat or unaffiliated voter and affirm that you have not participated in any other 2024 presidential nominating contest. The nearly 500-word news release concludes: Idaho political parties are required to communicate with the Secretary of States office through written correspondence to identify the voters eligible to participate in the May 21st primary election by November 30th. Clear as mud, right? Lets try to clear it up, because Moon and Necochea are right: We must vote in 2024, and likely as if the future of our democracy depends on it. What days do we mark on the calendar? The Republican presidential nominating caucus is March 2, the Democratic presidential nominating caucus is May 23, the statewide primary is May 21, and the general election is Nov. 5. When are the deadlines to affiliate? Its Dec. 31 to participate in the Republican presidential nominating caucus, March 15 (to change party affiliation) or May 21 (to affiliate with a party if unaffiliated) to participate in the statewide primary, and May 23 to participate in the Democratic presidential nominating caucus. Want to know more? Go online: VoteIdaho.gov, IdahoGOP.org, and IdahoDems.org. Regardless of how you feel about the caucus system and we find it to be wholly non-representative were stuck with it for 2024. As one of our board members bluntly put it, And that sucks. But, Idaho will caucus. So, stomp the mud off your boots and make plans to have your say next year. The future of our state is in your hands. - Advertisement - Marcos says not out to win any conflict in SCS, just wants to keep peace PraguePresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is not out to win any conflict in the South China Sea as he secured the support of the Czech Republic for a rules-based maritime order. Mr. Marcos, in a joint press conference with Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, said Manila only aims to maintain the peace and also tocontinue to defend the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Philippines. In a separate interview with reporters yesterday evening, the President said: I dont recall any instance where the Philippines has instigated anything, at any point, both verbally, or militarily, or diplomatically. We did not begin all of these problemsAll of these commotions werenot caused by the Philippines. So, I dont know what they are referring to he added. Asked if a possible joint exploration with China was possible after Beijings recent discovery of a 100-million-ton oilfield in the South China Sea, Mr. Marcos gave out a hearty laugh. - Advertisement - Well, once again the sovereignty and the sovereign rights and our territorial jurisdictions remains a key in all of these talks and we cannot at any point somehow compromise the territorial integrity of the Philippines, the President said. The Presidents remarks came after Chinese foreign ministryspokesperson Wang Wenbin denied China was claiming the entire SouthChina Sea and accused the Philippines of muddling the issue. China never claimed that the whole of the South China Sea belongs to China, Wang said. The Philippine side accuses China of claiming all waters inside thedotted line as territory. It is not in line with the facts and is a deliberate distortion of Chinas position, he added. China has insisted on its massive claims over most of the South China Sea through a nine-dash-line which eventually evolved into a ten-dash-line that loops as far as 1,500 km south of its mainland, cutting into the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It has likewise rejected a 2016 ruling rendered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which invalidated its nine-dash-line claim and upheld the Philippines exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. Chinas incursions in the West Philippine Sea will also be high on theagenda during Mr. Marcos meeting with US State Secretary Antony Blinken in Manila next week. The meeting will also focus on strengthening economic resiliency as acomponent of national security, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The US top diplomat will be in Manila from March 18 to 19 and willmeet with the President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. In Prague, Mr. Marcos said he briefed Pavel on the situation in theWest Philippine Sea. I underscored that the Philippine position on the South China Sea remains consistent, clear, and firmly anchored in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). the President said. I thank President Pavel for the Czech Republics support as a like-minded partner, in upholding peace, stability, and the rules-based international order, he added. Pavel echoed Mr. Marcos sentiment on the need to adhere to international maritime laws. We fully support the Philippines when it comes to their entitlementto free movement of goods because thats a principle that not only we all respect but it also secures global and regional stability, Pavel said. Mr. Marcos, during his working visit in Berlin, said Chinasexpansive claim on its ten-dash-line was unacceptable, making it impossible for Manila to accept Beijings proposals on how to resolvetensions in the South China Sea. We have not rejected any proposals that China has made for us but the premise is something that we question, Marcos said. That premise that China has made is that their territory follows what is now called the ten-dash line. This is not recognized by any country, any international body, certainly not by the Philippines,he added. For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday lauded the President for bolstering the countrys position on the West Philippine Sea. The exceptional diplomatic efforts of President Marcos paid off withthe expression of full support of President Pavel to the stance of the Philippines in defense of our right and sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, said Romualdez. Support from countries like the Czech Republic significantlyreinforces the Philippine position and amplifies the international voice dismissing Chinas sweeping claims over the area. It could also help promote a rules-based approach to resolving maritime disputes byinternational law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added. With Rey Requejo and Maricel Cruz - Advertisement - A first aid ship plying a new maritime corridor from Cyprus began unloading its cargo of desperately needed food in Gaza as Hamas proposed a new six-week truce in the war. AFP footage showed the Open Arms, which set sail from Cyprus on Tuesday, towing a barge that the Spanish charity of the same name says is loaded with 200 tonnes of food for Gazans threatened with famine after more than five months of war. World Central Kitchen, the US charity working with Open Arms, said it was readying another boat with supplies of beans, canned meat, flour, rice and dates in the Cypriot port of Larnaca but stressed the need for more road access to bring aid into Gaza. Our ambition is having a highway of aid going into Gaza, the groups Juan Camilo Jimenez said in a video posted on social media platform X. The Israeli military said it had deployed troops to secure the area around the jetty while the cargo of aid was unloaded. The vessel underwent a comprehensive security inspection, it said. - Advertisement - A spokesman for the Hamas-ruled territorys health ministry said early on Saturday that 123 people had been killed across Gaza in the past 24 hours, including 36 people in a strike on a house sheltering displaced people in central Nuseirat. Witnesses reported air strikes and fighting in the southern Gaza Strips main city Khan Yunis as well as areas of the north where humanitarian conditions have been particularly dire. As Muslim worshippers marked the first Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, thousands attended prayers in the revered Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israel-annexed east Jerusalem, amid a heavy security presence and restrictions on entry. Its the first year I see so many forces (police), and their eyes Two years ago, I could argue with them, but now theyre giving us no chance, said Amjad Ghalib, a 44-year-old carpenter. In southern Gazas Rafah, the last major population centre yet to be subjected to a ground assault, AFPTV footage showed worshippers praying by the rubble of a destroyed mosque. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he had approved the militarys plan for an operation in Rafah, where most of the Gaza Strips population has sought refuge, without providing details or a timeline. The White House, which has said an assault on Rafah would be a red line without credible civilian protection plans, said it had not seen the plan approved by Netanyahu. We certainly would welcome the opportunity to see it, National Security Council (NSC) spokesman John Kirby said, adding that the United States could not support any plan without credible proposals to shelter more than one million Gazans. - Advertisement - PRAGUEThe Philippines is keen on procuring avian flu vaccines from the Czech government, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. During his three-day state visit to the Czech Republic, President Marcos, in an interview with the Philippine media delegation, shared his plan to procure the vaccines. They have an Avian flu vaccine, coming close to developing a Swine flu vaccine. So, thats what we are looking for. Not only will we procure it, but hopefully well produce it locally, the President said. The President also said that the Department of Agriculture is currently engaged in exploratory discussions with its Czech counterpart to bolster the Philippines livestock industry. Our interest lies in the trade of meat products. They have a robust beef export industry, equipped with technologies, as Secretary Kiko (Francis Tiu Laurel) briefed me earlier, aimed at enhancing the health of their livestock, President Marcos said. - Advertisement - Were looking into not just procuring but potentially localizing the production, ensuring we have our domestic source. These are the areas were focusing on. President Marcos emphasized the significance of trade, acknowledging the disparity in agricultural products and seasons between the two nations. However, he highlighted the potential for acquiring innovative livestock technologies. Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic will visit Manila next week to discuss possible fields of cooperation with the countrys agriculture sector. Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny is poised to lead the Czech delegation next week to pave the way for robust cooperation aimed at bolstering food security endeavors. - Advertisement - President Marcos on Saturday said his back-to-back visits to Germany and the Czech Republic opened doors for more opportunities to deepen the Philippines cooperation with the two Central European nations. In his arrival statement, Mr. Marcos said the signing of several agreements and the support from the German and Czech governments to resume the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Philippines are among the successful outcomes of his trips. Overall, I am confident that these visits to Germany and the Czech Republic have strengthened our bonds with these two countries in Central Europe and created opportunities for cooperation and prosperity, he said. Negotiations for the PH-EU trade deal began in December 2015, but the European Commission suspended negotiations due to concerns over human rights abuses in the Philippines during former President Rodrigo Dutertes war on illegal drugs. European Commission Ursula von Der Leyen expressed the EUs intention to relaunch FTA talks under the Marcos administration during her visit in Manila in 2023. - Advertisement - Mr. Marcos said his visit to Berlin was part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Philippines bilateral ties with Germany last year and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Mr. Marcos and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed matters of mutual concerns, particularly upholding the rule of law and the promotion of a rules-based international order, especially in the South China Sea. In Prague, Mr. Marcos discussed bilateral relations in separate meetings with President Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Milos Vystrcil, and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marketa Pekarova Adamova. We discussed ways to further strengthen our bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, defense, agriculture, renewable energy, transport and of course, people-to-people exchanges, he said. - Advertisement - The OPPO Find N3 Flip continues to be a marvel in flip smartphone technology. When it was launched in late 2023, it elevated the standard of what a flip phone should be as it delivered breakthrough experiences across imaging, design, and functionality. It still proudly stands as the first flip smartphone to have a Hasselblad-powered imaging system which delivers the best in image quality, resolution, and detail capture possible, a 3.26-inch intuitive and fully functional cover screen that allows you to actually use a wide range of apps without opening the phone, super fast 44W SUPERVOOC charging, a long-lasting 4,300 mAh battery, powerful performance thanks to its cutting-edge MediaTek Dimensity 9200 chipset which delivers outstanding speed and efficiency, and more. A noteworthy feature of the OPPO Find N3 Flip and in fact, other OPPO foldable Find Series devices is its innovative Flexion Hinge which enables a shallow screen crease and a zero-gap hinge, providing a seamless and durable design. It is because of this innovative hinge that the OPPO Find N3 Flip received a a Reliable Folding Certification from TUV Rheinland, an international independent third-party testing, inspection and certification organization, which verified that the OPPO Find N3 Flip passed a quality performance evaluation standard introduced by TUV Rheinland specifically for foldable screen smartphones. The certification given to OPPO proved that you can open and close the OPPO Find N3 Flip more than 1,000,000 and the hinge and display will remain intact. - Advertisement - According to an article published by TUV Rheinland, the OPPO Find N3 Flip was assessed on four major criteria: physical performance, holding comfort, scene durability test, and 10,000-fold durability. Based on actual data, more than 40 tests are conducted to assess the display color accuracy in the bending area, touch response, bend lifespan, creases, and more. To prove this, OPPO held a live stream with the TUV Rheinland testing laboratory to showcase the real-time testing process on the device. Attendees witnessed that even after successfully passing all certification test thresholds, the device was still being continuously folded in the lab for over 1,000,000 times. The Reliable Folding certification process also entails extreme tests such as resistance to impacts from foreign objects (simulating a device drop), folding at a high temperature of 50C, and folding at a chilly -20C. It is expected that products must continue to offer an optimal user experience after these tests, ensuring minimal crease changes, consistent screen flatness, reduced hinge noise, smooth opening and closing actions, and minimal distortions in the bending area. The goal of the certification process is to meet consumers expectations for dependable and long-lasting foldable screens. 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Offer runs until March 31,2024. s Learn more about the new OPPO Find N3 Flip by visiting https://www.oppo.com/ph/find-n3-flip-opensale or its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines. Flash The United States who often accuses other countries of spreading disinformation is in fact the true breeding ground of disinformation, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday. Wang made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a query concerning a secret executive order signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. According to Reuters, Trump signed the secret order to authorize the Central Intelligence Agency to launch a clandestine campaign aimed at smearing China by creating a special team of operatives who acted covertly such as buying off media outlets and using bogus internet identities in China, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Africa. "I recall that CIA Director William Burns said publicly not long ago that the CIA has committed substantially more resources toward China-related intelligence collection," said Wang. Wang said the report echoes Burns's remarks, which has also once again shown that the United States has spread China-related disinformation in an organized and well-planned way for a long time, and it's the United States' important approach to wage a battle of perception against China. Wang quoted from U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul that the U.S. government is the biggest propagator of disinformation, noting that concocting and spreading rumors will only get one lose credibility faster. "Spreading disinformation cannot inhibit China's progress but will only discredit the United States," the spokesperson said. I couldnt tell you when my spirit got hijacked. But my dear husband Daniel could sure tell you what it looked like. He would be innocently watching Meet the Press downstairs on Sunday morning, and I would go down there to retrieve something before church. Should I happen to walk in on a politician of a certain stripe defending the (to me) indefensible, I would freak out. Id holler and call them nasty names and make obscene gestures and get out of there as fast as I could. This was unpleasant for Daniel. He kept his own counsel, God bless him. But I had vowed to tenderly care for him and was failing badly. This hyper-reactivity was no fun for me, either, and my self-image as a calm, rational, centered person took multiple hits. I got tired of myself, and came to dread this election year, which would be a feast for my demons. And then Lent came along my favorite season of the church year, with its call to dig deeper spiritually and focus on the profound work of Christ. Return to me with all your heart, the Source of grace and mercy. Come, seek the tender faithfulness of God, (Marty Haugen, Now the Feast and Celebration.) We would sing this before the gospel was read, and it worked its way in me. Pondering Gods invitation, I realized that I had made a wrong turn. Full of good intentions, I had exchanged Christian models of well-being for political ones. The goal was justice, and it takes public policy to get there. It does. But my standard for evaluating progress had shrunk to electoral wins and legislative victories. Since these are hard to come by in Montana (by my read of Christian ethics), I have become thoroughly demoralized, de-energized, and mad. I realized I had to re-center Christ, to feast not on political strategy but on the generous and gracious love of Jesus and his community. This might sound schmaltzy but its not. The love of Jesus is bracing, radical compassion that is not at all comfortable or simple-minded or easy. At least for me. Now Im back to playing the long game taking seriously Jesus command to love my neighbor and my enemy, which precludes those TV shenanigans. I havent yet figured out how to engage the important political work of seeking justice for poor, hungry, bombed people without turning back into a madwoman. I bet Im not alone, for we do live in an exceptionally crazy-making and dangerous time in our life together. But of course we are not off the hook. God works through our agency. I am grateful for activist friends and strangers on the front lines, doing the work of the beloved community. Thank you! My spirit is not set up to be with you right now. After a time in political detox, steeped in the grace of God, I trust I will find a way to step it up. For now, its back to the basics for me: worship, scripture, study, prayer. Curate the news with care. Love the family. Groom the horse. Scoop the poop. And trust that God will make something out of it all. Volunteers needed for Project Community Connect Looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? Join us at Project Community Connect on March 27 at Missoula Public Library as we come together to support our neighbors facing resource insecurity. PCC is a one-stop-shop, with many community providers and organizations coming together to help those in need. The PCC team is currently recruiting volunteers and searching for volunteer leadership for this event. No matter your skills or availability, there's a place for you to volunteer. Every helping hand makes a difference in creating a safe, stigma-free environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Please visit: tinyurl.com/Volunteer4PCC to check the schedule and sign up as a volunteer. If you consider yourself a leader and love meeting new people, working as a volunteer lead at PCC might be the job for you! If you are interested in hearing more, please contact eskilton@thepoverellocenter.org for more information. Documentary Showing of 'Trust Me' Come to the library on March 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library for a showing of "Trust Me," a documentary about how humankind has coped with new media since the advent of the printing press. Journalists, psychologists, neurologists and media literacy experts interviewed in "Trust Me" explain how human brains are wired to respond to information viewed on media platforms, and what people can do to lessen the physical and mental health effects. From 6:30 to 7 p.m. enjoy a filmmaker Q&A session. Soup and Stories with All Nations Health Center All Nations Health Center and Missoula Public Library invite you to join Soup & Stories 2024. On March 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Demonstration Kitchen on Level Three of the library and online via Zoom enjoy a soup recipe demonstration and mindfulness activity, and finish the evening with Indigenous storytelling from people spanning the region. This is a hybrid event there is limited in-person seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Zoom registration available at linktr.ee/allnationsmissoula. Mike TalksDifferent (Nakoda) will be the featured storyteller on March 18. MCATs All About Podcasting Distribution Join Missoulas Community Media Resource on March 19 from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. in the MCAT Studio on Level One of the library to learn great audio storytelling techniques with tech-savvy instructor Kathleen Shannon. Kathleen gives great tips on how to use the art and craft of audio to make compelling stories and podcasts. You can also learn how to distribute your podcast on Apple Music, Spotify and more. Kathleen will show you how to conform your podcast to standards used by all the popular podcast platforms. '100 Things to do in Montana Before You Die' book event From the towering western mountains to the rolling eastern plains, Montanas wide-open landscapes feature vast wilderness, quaint small towns and fascinating historical sites. Join author Susie Wall for a conversational exploration of this wild and wonderful place on March 19 from 6 to 7 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library. Susie Wall writes from her home in Missoula. Susies writing and photography have appeared in many state and national publications. Her boundless curiosity has led her to write about a variety of topics from food to farming to scat identification, but her favorite subjects continue to be the captivating people and places of Montana. Fact & Fiction Bookstore will be on-hand with copies of her book for sale. Families First: International Happiness Day Help Families First celebrate International Day of Happiness on March 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Families First offices on Level Two of the library. Stop by to learn more about the Montana Happiness Project and get some great wellness tips. For details visit: montanahappinessproject.com/. YMCA Yoga at the Library Missoula Public Library is thrilled to partner with Missoula Family YMCA to offer free yoga at the library! On March 20 from noon to 1 p.m. in Cooper Room A on Level Four of the library we will focus on basic yoga postures, alignment principles, and breathing techniques that help balance, strengthen, and stretch the body beginners are welcome! Missoula Scholastic Chess Club at MPL Join the Missoula Chess Club for this meeting held the first and third Thursdays of each month throughout the school year. Students from grades 2-12 are welcome to come play and learn new moves and beginners are welcome. The next club meeting will be held on March 21 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Cooper Room B on Level Four of the library. Friday afterschool meals at the Library Afterschool meals are available at Missoula Public Library! MPL will serve meals to kiddos 18 and under, courtesy of the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, every Friday in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library from 2:30 to 5 p.m. The next afterschool meals will be available on March 22. This service will run until June 7. Get over it, my husband says. Its just the Oscars. Move on, friends advise. Yes, Lily Gladstones performance required more, on and off camera, than any other role under consideration. Yes, the screen-time alibi adds insult to injury. But if you write about it, Mary particularly if you belly-ache about it itll be seen as sour grapes. Pfft. I keep remembering my closing words in last weeks column: Were behind you, Lily. Were beside you. That declaration comes with an obligation the obligation not to vanish when the outcome disappoints. And so Dear Lily, Like so many others, I was crushed not to see you center-stage last Sunday, cradling that coveted statue, introducing yourself once again in a language all but stolen from you. You played an iconic role in a story that, as a crotchety history teacher in another Oscar-nominated film said, isnt just a story of the past, but a way to understand the present. Im sure youre disappointed too. But know this: You wowed us. Not just for the performance you gave in Killers of the Flower Moon, but for the responsibility you assumed in giving it, a responsibility requiring a respect for a woman long gone, a sensitivity to the tribe that survives her, and a commitment to reveal a slice of history that, however painful, we must all reckon with. You continued to shoulder that responsibility on the grueling road to the Oscars. In interview after interview, you told a story that is at once not yours and very much yours to tell, a story that is many stories the murders-in-plain-sight of the Osage people, yes, but also boarding school stories, the code-talker story, rez kid stories. You represented Montana so well on that road. You showed a wisdom undergirded by the down-to-earth wryness of those of us who live with all the foibles and unpredictabilities of Montanas weather, landscapes, and people. That wisdom is also reflective of the much-maligned liberal arts education you pursued here. One interviewer, I remember, was coaxing you to trace your own journey through Maslows hierarchy, culminating in your self-actualization as an actress. You schooled him! Actually, you pointed out, Maslow amended that view later, after living among the Canadian Blackfeet. That experience led him to believe that self-actualization is not the final step. The final step is a value system that transcends actualizing the self to actualizing community. I never knew that. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you, too, for uplifting Montanas first people by making them truly visible. In the past few weeks, Ive watched a seasoned Native statewoman get choked up describing how she felt when you introduced yourself in Blackfeet at the Golden Globes. Ive seen classrooms of Indigenous children singing, dancing, and chanting their proud support as the Oscars approached. Ive seen a little Blackfeet girl standing in awe before her television set, gawking at you in the front row of the Dolby Theater. Scenes like that live long beyond the moment. And, remember, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese watched Rocky beat Taxi Driver for best picture in 1977. Four years later, DeNiro was named Best Actor for Raging Bull, but Scorsese went home empty-handed. In the years since, DeNiros been nominated for seven Oscars; Scorsese, for 11. Both won only once and, like you, it wasnt last Sunday night. Scorsese told a story that had to be told, but youre the one who made it matter. A golden statuette pales beside an achievement like that. So win some, lose some, Lily. But suit up all the same. With deep regard, Mary A concerning trend has emerged in the United States patent dispute landscape that threatens our competitive edge and national security. Non-practicing entities (NPEs), commonly known as patent trolls, have long plagued our courts with lawsuits targeting American businesses, siphoning resources and stifling innovation. More recently, NPEs have also set their sights on a new battleground: the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). These bad actors have targeted the ITC for exploitation, contrary to its mission to safeguard American industries from unfair foreign competition. Last year alone, NPEs instigated a staggering one-third of all unfair import investigations under Section 337 of the Tariff Act, using them as a means to extract unwarranted settlements from American businesses. The burden imposed by Section 337 investigations on American manufacturers is wide-ranging. These proceedings are expensive, oftentimes forcing companies into costly settlements regardless of the validity of the allegations. The mere accusation of intellectual property infringement can also inflict lasting reputational damage on innovative manufacturers, even if they are ultimately found not to have infringed. Furthermore, Section 337 investigations can lead to exclusion orders, which bar products from entry into the United States. If NPEs succeed in excluding American companies products from the market, it could place American manufacturers at a significant disadvantage compared to foreign competitors the exact opposite of what the ITC is supposed to achieve. Beyond the economic implications, there are grave national security concerns at play. NPEs frequently receive cash infusions from third-party investors. The lack of transparency surrounding the identities of potential foreign backers poses a significant risk to American interests. By targeting key sectors such as defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity, these entities could exploit the legal discovery process to gain access to sensitive information. They also tangle American competitors up in disputes, which wastes resources and stalls business operations. There have been some efforts to enhance transparency at the ITC. One ITC judge mandated disclosure in three cases brought by NPEs. In one case he found that an NPE was actually funded by an IP monetization company. Similar dynamics are unfolding within federal district courts across the U.S. A notable instance occurred when the Chief Judge in the U.S. District Court in Delaware took action to implement transparency measures, which later revealed that a China-based investment entity was financing a case against tech manufacturers in U.S. courts. Comparable activities may be occurring at the ITC, but without transparency measures in place, they are flying under the radar. The need for greater oversight within the ITC is clear. As an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency, the ITC is accorded much latitude in how it regulates itself, but despite this issue festering for years, it has yet to consistently implement essential measures much as mandating the disclosure of third-party funders. Since the ITC refuses to step up, Congress must step in. American taxpayer dollars are currently funding Section 337 investigations. Notably, the current federal funding proposal for fiscal year 2024, allocating over $122 million to the ITC includes a provision in the House of Representatives bill stipulating that such funding cannot be utilized for Section 337 patent infringement investigations unless investor disclosure is mandated. This measure seeks to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation of the investigative process by anonymous foreign entities. The bipartisan Advancing Americas Interests Act also proposes specific reforms to curtail the ability of NPEs to leverage Section 337 investigations. Both are positive and necessary steps to prevent foreign actors from secretly manipulating taxpayer-funded investigations and proceedings. Implementing disclosure requirements is imperative to safeguarding Americas competitive edge and national security from the activities of lawsuit financiers. We can no longer allow American businesses to be targeted by patent trolls operating in the shadows. On Jan. 5, Alaska Airlines flight 1282, from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, had an explosive decompression. The Boeing 737 Max 9 jet had departed Portland and was climbing through 14,800 feet when a mid-cabin door plug blew out. It resulted in rapid depressurization of the cabin and an emergency landing back at Portland. The aircraft landed safely with 171 passengers and six crew members. The door plug landed in a tree in a Portland science teachers back yard. He had the presence to not move or touch it, realizing that the NTSB (National Travel Safety Board) would want to examine it thoroughly. Upon investigation, the NTSB said four key bolts were "missing" from the door plug. I have some experience with aircraft bolts and safe construction of equipment to be used in flight. In 1979, I designed and built a platform to hold an experiment to be flown on NASAs Galileo II flying laboratory. The platform and components of the experiment had to conform to rigid safety requirements, including the use of particular aluminum alloys and mil-spec bolts with locking nuts. I was trained by NASA workers and technical safety specialists. I was greatly impressed by their attention to detail and the overriding importance of safety. The holes for the key bolts had to be just so snug with no burrs. The 737 is Boeing's best-selling jet and in recent years, one of its most problematic. This incident adds to scrutiny Boeing has experienced the past few years most notably between 2018 and 2019 when two Max 8 crashes resulted in the deaths of hundreds of passengers. While no one died during the Jan. 5 incident, passengers have shared horrifying details of items flying out of the plane, a mother clinging to her child, and passengers crying out in panic. Several people were treated for injuries. A $1 billion suit has ensued. Alaska Airlines announced it would be putting its fleet of Max 9 planes through inspections, and the FAA ordered another 171 planes, operated by Alaska and United, also be inspected. And indeed, on Jan. 8, United and Alaska announced they had discovered more loose hardware on their aircraft. Prior to the 737, Boeings safety record was nearly impeccable. So, what happened? For over two decades, Boeing has redirected a vast portion of its financial resources $61 billion toward stock buybacks and outsourcing, signaling an emphasis on enhancing shareholder value over investing in innovation, safety improvements, and its workforce. Boeing started relying on subcontractors all over the world with the airplanes only being finally assembled at the companys plants in Washington state. To break organized labor in the Puget Sound region, a nonunion assembly plant was created in North Charleston, South Carolina. In 2001, a top Boeing aerospace engineer, John Hart-Smith, presented an internal paper warning of excessive reliance on outsourcing and dilution of safety awareness a paper that was lauded by his peers within the company but ignored by management. For NASA, there is no such thing as shareholder value. NASAs motivation is the advancement of science, the experimenters goals, and safety for all. The Boeing 737 is just one example of the corrosive effect that profit has on quality and safety in most companies. Reduction of subcontracting may be too much to ask from a company now so invested in this business model but it needs to happen, or more deadly incidents will occur. Safety must be a paramount priority down to the last nut and bolt. Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com. TODAY Fundraiser The Meeting Place Mission will hold its annual Skeet Shoot and Bourbon Tasting fundraiser on Saturday, March 16. Skeet shooting will take place at noon followed by a bourbon tasting at 4 p.m. Heavy hors doeuvres will be served and a silent auction will be held. Visit https://skeet.my.canva.site/ for tickets or more information. Support group meeting The Burke County Parkinsons Support Group will meet Saturday, March 16, at 10 a.m. at the Valdese Public Library, 213 St. Germain Ave. SE. Anyone with Parkinsons, their caregivers, friends and family are invited to attend. For additional information, call 828-879-1093. Support group meeting The Survivors of Loss to Suicide Hickory NC Support Group will be meeting, Saturday, March 16, from 9-10 a.m. at St Stephens Library at 3225 Springs Road NE, Hickory. The group offers support for the families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide and is open to teens and adults. If you have any questions or need any further information, email or call Leisa Bentley at leisabentley@charter.net or 828-234-5822. MONDAY, MARCH 18 Vietnam Veterans meeting Vietnam Veterans of America, Robert Douglas Avery Chapter 1116 will be meeting on Monday, March 18, at Timberwoods Family Restaurant with a social hour beginning at 5 p.m. and meal at 6 p.m. Meals for first-time guests will be paid for. A business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. All Vietnam veterans, members and non-members, are invited to attend this meeting. Membership information will be provided for all non-members interested in joining our chapter. For those who filled out a membership form, dont forget to bring a copy of your DD 214. Any questions that you have can be directed to Chapter Secretary Tom Johnson at 828-413-0143. TUESDAY, MARCH 19 Musical performance Western Piedmont Community College, 1001 Burkemont Ave., will have the KAIA Quartet performing in WPCCs Leviton Auditorium on March 19 at 11 a.m. Friendly Tuesday Club The Friendly Tuesday Club will meet at 10 a.m. at the Burke Senior Center, 501 N. Green St., Morganton, for a potluck meal. THURSDAY, MARCH 21 Lunch and Learn Friends of the Valdese Rec will host Valdese Mayor Charles Watts as a guest speaker for its Lunch and Learn. The free event for adults begins at noon with lunch and 20 minutes of social time before the program. RSVP by March 19 to friendsofthevaldeserec@gmail.com if you would like to attend. The event will be held at First United Methodist Church, 217 St. Germain Ave. SE, Valdese. New Dimensions board meeting New Dimensions will hold its monthly Board meeting on Thursday, March 21, at 4 p.m. in person on campus as well as via Zoom. Contact ckinard@ndschool.org for link information. SATURDAY, MARCH 23 Eggroll fundraiser First Hmong Baptist Church of Morganton, 301 Walker Road, will hold a eggroll fundraiser on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu includes a combo plate with chicken stick, fried rice and two eggrolls for $10; two chicken sticks and fried rice for $10; four eggrolls and fried rice for $10; a dozen eggrolls for $20; one chicken stick for $5; fried rice for $5; and $4 for boba tea. For more information, email Chong Thao at tsoogthoj@gmail.com. Pancake breakfast The Rotary Club of Valdese will hold its annual pancake breakfast on March 23 from 7-11 a.m. at First Methodist Church, 217 Germain Ave. SW, in Valdese. Tickets are $8. THURSDAY, MARCH 28 DAV meeting Disabled American Veterans Chapter #43 will have its monthly meeting at 2779 DAV Ave., on March 28 with social hour beginning at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m. For questions or more information, contact Dave Tubergen at 828-437-0177. All veterans are welcomed to come and discuss the new rules for service-connected assignments and the new toxic exposures oil well fires, firefighting foam, Camp Lejeune water, Agent Orange exposure worldwide, and contaminated drinking water from military runoff. Other toxins are also considered. Come and talk with us to see if we can assist you. FRIDAY, MARCH 29 Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony National Vietnam War Veterans Day will be observed at the KIA Monument at the historic courthouse square. The Quaker Meadows Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will be conducting a service to recognize veterans who served during the time of the conflict on Friday, March 29, at 11 a.m. Those attending should bring chairs if they want to sit. There will be a special section reserved for veterans of the Vietnam War. In the event of rain, the service will be inside the historic courthouse which is handicap accessible. For information, contact the DAR chapter at quakermeadowsdar@gmail.com. Blood Drive A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held Friday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Morganton United Methodist Church, 990 Sanford Drive, Morganton. To schedule your appointment, contact www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Free Bingo The Lake James Community Center will have free bingo on Friday, March 29, from 6-9 pm. at the Center on N.C. 126. Hot foods will be available for purchase to eat in or to go. Several door prize drawings will be held throughout the evening. The public is invited. THURSDAY, APRIL 4 Smart Start meeting Burke County Smart Starts board of directors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, at 4 p.m. at the Partnership offices located at 304 W. Union St. Board meetings are open to the public and are held in handicapped accessible facilities. COVID, flu and other health restrictions will be observed. For anyone with a hearing impairment who may require the assistance of an interpreter or have other special needs, call the Partnership at 439-2326 or use the NC Relay System at 1-800-735-8262. THURSDAY, APRIL 11 Public Input Meeting The public is invited to a presentation of the proposed park in Glen Alpine at the intersection of Bridge and Linville streets on Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. at Glen Alpine Town Hall. A site map showing planned amenities and layout will be shown and public comments recorded. The town will be applying for a NC PARTF grant and wants to make sure the park includes features residents desire. FRIDAY, APRIL 12 ACAP annual conference ACAP Hickory/Foothills (Adult Children of Aging Parents) will be presenting its annual Caregiver Conference on Friday, April 12, at 8:30 a.m. until noon on the CVCC Campus, West Wing Commons, 2550 U.S. 70 SE, Hickory. In partnership with the Catawba County Library System and Catawba Valley Community College Human Services Technology Program, ACAP Hickory/Foothills will present the half day caregiving conference. The speakers will be Timothy Aumen, Ph.D. from Wake Forest University and George Place, Ph.D., community wellness specialist, Flow DoJo Training, as they discuss The Mindful Heart of Caregiving: Making Room for Peace, Balance, and Gratitude. SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Scavenger hunt Burkes Amazin Race, a community scavenger hunt, is coming up on Saturday, April 13. Teams of 3-5 members (ages 21+) will compete to collect clues, take on fun challenges, and adventure through Downtown Morganton, followed by an Afterparty & Awards Celebration at Comma Performing Arts Center. Theres even a $300 Top Prize. Register your team by April 1 and learn more at https://www.bcuw.org/amazinrace. THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Lunch and Learn Friends of the Valdese Rec will host Sheriff Banks Hinceman as a guest speaker for its Lunch and Learn event. The event will begin at noon with lunch and 20 minutes of social time before the program. RSVP to friendsofthevaldeserec@gmail.com if you would like to attend. The event will be held at First United Methodist Church, 217 St. Germain Ave. SE, Valdese. SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Trip Cruise Unifour Christian Ministries will be embarking on a cruise to Grand Turk and Dominican Republic. Members of the public are invited to join. Call Annette Guffey at 828-493-1723 or 828-396-1906 for more information. Most parents install child seats incorrectly. Thats the case about 75% to 80% of the time according to the Montana Department of Transportation figures that might horrify conscientious parents. On Jan. 17, the Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department hosted its monthly car seat clinic, which occurs on the third Wednesday of each month. Marc Lee, a fire captain, said correct installation is key because of that precious cargo that we are transporting. Lee urged parents using car seats to keep children rear facing until at least 2 years old, or older if the car manufacturer allows it. The car seat clinics are held in conjunction with Buckle-Up Montana and the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department. Buttes firemen running the car seat clinic are trained as Child Passenger Safety Technicians and certified by the federal highway administration. Correct car seat installation reduces the risk of death during an accident by as much as 71%, experts say. The next clinic will occur March 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station One located at 120 South Idaho St. Happy St. Patricks Day! A greeting heard throughout Butte this weekend (even if you are not Irish) and in many places around the world. Tradition holds that March 17 is the day St. Patrick died perhaps in 461. Little factual information is known about much of his life; however, he was captured by Irish pirates when he was sixteen and taken from his home in Britain to Ireland. He was a slave for about six-years working as an animal herder before escaping back to his home. His prayer life and spiritual growth started while he was enslaved, and after his escape he studied, most likely in France, and became a priest. He returned to Ireland to bring the Christian faith to a Pagen people. Of this there is no doubt, and for this he is considered one of the greatest missionaries of all time. So, it is a sad bit of irony that the Feast Day of this Christian Saint is now celebrated primarily as a cultural holiday. There are many wonderful legends about St. Patrick. For Christianity, probably the most important legend concerns the use of the three-leafed shamrock as a way to describe the one true God revealed in the divine mystery of the Holy Trinity (God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). In the beautiful lyric prayer, The Breastplate of St. Patrick, we hear: I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through belief in the threeness, Through confession of the oneness Of the Creator of Creation. This year St. Patricks Day is also the 5th Sunday in Lent. This time the Church has set aside to really focus on the gift we have received in Jesus Christ. We make a special effort to focus on the life, crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus; His sacrifice for us so our sins will be forgiven. As we hear in the Gospel of John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. We are called by God to believe in this - His promise to us. And, we should strive to believe and live as Patrick prays in The Breastplate: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise. Many will celebrate St. Patricks Day looking to fill some desire for happiness, companionship, satisfaction, etc. but later will be suffering from the same emptiness. As St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. This restlessness many experience results because they do not know or want to know what they are truly seeking. God speaking through the Prophet Jeremiah tells us plainly (Jer 32:33) I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. The corn beef, potatoes, and green beer may provide some material nourishment and enjoyment; however, our true fulfillment comes when we come to know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Johns Gospel (4:13-14), Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well about this very issue, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life. As we celebrate St. Patricks Day, let us remember the true messages Patrick brought to us. And, let us believe in the love God, the Father, has for us; believe in the love we have received in the Word and sacrifice of Jesus, God the Son, and believe and be guided and strengthened by the gift of God, the Holy Spirit. Flash A delegation of over 20 people from the German city of Duisburg, who recently visited Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, said that they anticipated deeper cooperation with the city. From March 11 to 14, the guests, marking the largest delegation sent by Duisburg over the past 15 years, visited companies in Wuhan related to renewable energy, intelligent vehicles and logistics, among other fields. They also held trade talks with local companies to further consolidate the cooperation between the two cities. "We attach great importance to the cooperation with Wuhan. I have always been happy to come here, and over more than 40 years, our cooperation in many fields has been great," said Soren Link, mayor of Duisburg, who has visited Wuhan five times. Although Wuhan and Duisburg are thousands of kilometers apart, they share many similarities -- both cities are home to world-renowned steel producers, and both are located on the confluence of two major rivers. In 1982, Duisburg became the first city in the Federal Republic of Germany to establish a "sister cities" relationship with Wuhan. During the visit, Dominik Bartz, head of Hub International, Duisburg, traveled in a fully self-driving car for the first time. "The first two to five seconds were really strange, seeing the steering wheel move by itself, but after that, it was a brilliant experience and was really joyful," said Bartz, adding that he hopes to broaden the existing cooperation, especially on battery-powered cars, and is looking for cooperation in the field of hydrogen. Frank Ahrenhold, head of Sustainable Steel Production at Thyssenkrupp Steel, was impressed by the visit to the Wuhan Iron and Steel (Group) Company. "It's an extraordinary site, with the cleanliness and a lot of green around it. We also saw the central control room with 5G technology that is something unique as well. I'm very impressed with the upfront production," Ahrenhold noted. "There's a lot of potential (for Wuhan and Duisburg) to do something together in green transformation. Because a lot of effort has been made, especially in China and Europe, and we should really team up there," Ahrenhold added. There are currently over 110 German companies established in Wuhan, making Germany among the top 10 largest trading partners of the city. Meanwhile, a Sino-German international industrial park, with a planned area of 20-square-km, has become a new highlight of Wuhan's economic development. "We started our branch in Wuhan in 2014, and since then, we've been developing on the superfast track," said Jack Ge, the managing director of Webasto (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Wuhan Branch, which is among the first batch of companies in the industrial park. "We used to produce only automobile roof systems, but now we can manufacture more products, such as high-voltage heaters, charging piles and radar sensor modules," he said. "What's more, our production lines in Wuhan were all designed by Chinese people, and they have been purchased by many companies in Germany and the United States. Even though we only have around 400 employees, our annual output value surpassed 1.2 billion yuan (about 169 million U.S. dollars) last year," Ge added. "The industrial park looks great. I see great potential," said Daria Kreutzer, head of Foreign Trade, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Niederrhein. "In particular, I think the Germans are really impressed by the very strong ties between your research and your practice, and this is something that the German companies can also learn from," she said. For Kreutzer, the trip to Wuhan has been a useful opportunity to gain insights and gather data. "It is actually good that I'm here to get all this information, because then I can just take everything I get here, take it back and then present in front of our companies," she added. There are 252 more families that use a state scholarship to help them afford child care after a bill passed last session to increase the amount of money a family can earn and still qualify. An average of 2,860 families use the Best Beginnings child care scholarship now, which is up from the average of 2,699 over the 2023 fiscal year, a representative from the state health department told legislators this week. However, the increase is less than the additional 723 children the state health department predicted would be newly covered by the program when lawmakers voted to put $7 million toward it last year. We are seeing an uptick in the number of families that are participating, not necessarily at the number that we had projected, said Tracy Moseman, the administrator of the Early Childhood and Family Support Division of the state health department. A report from the state Department of Labor and Industry this March found that licensed child care capacity in Montana only meets 44% of demand in the state. Nearly 60% of counties are child care deserts, where supply meets less than a third of estimated demand. The average cost of care for a 4-year-old and infant is $22,100 a year. The annual average cost of care in Montana is 28% of the median state income; the federal government says affordable child care should be no more than 7%. In the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill to put the Best Beginnings program into law and give it money to cover the expected increase in costs from raising the eligibility, among other changes aimed to help both families and providers. After much debate, lawmakers bumped up the income a family could earn and still qualify to 185% of the federal poverty level, up from 150% previously. A family of four could earn up to $57,720 and qualify for the program with a $385 monthly co-pay. Since July of last year, just $1.7 million of the $7 million has been spent, according to information provided to legislators this week. Records show the money was put toward individuals, though there was not more information available about what that meant. There's no reporting requirement for the state health department to inform legislators of how it spends the money. During a legislative committee this week, state Rep. Jane Gillette, a Bozeman Republican, asked the state health department about the possibility of expanding eligibility, saying that in higher-income and more expensive parts of the state like Gallatin County a family might make beyond the threshold to qualify for the program and still not be able to afford housing and child care. Brandi Thomas, a provider services supervisor with Child Care Connections, asked legislators to look at basing eligibility off of the state median income, which she said better reflected needs in the state. That was discussed during the legislative session but did not get enough support to pass. Thomas organization has had to turn down 77 people since October who applied for Best Beginnings, but would have been able to approve about 61% of those if the qualification metric was changed to be the state median income. She noted that Montana is running a pilot scholarship program for child care providers, who might still not qualify at the 250% of federal poverty level that program is based on. These are not rich families. These are families working in lower-paying industries, making $20 an hour trying to afford living in Bozeman, for example, Thomas said. We know that there's not a single solution to this problem. We know we're in a child care crisis. And without child care, the rest of Montana's workforce is going to struggle. In asking lawmakers to consider using the median income metric, Thomas said she still appreciated the headway made last legislative session. It was a step that we've been fighting for for many years, but it was a baby step. And we've still found that many, many families do not qualify, Thomas said. During the COVID-19 pandemic the state expanded eligibility in Best Beginnings and capped co-pays at $10. But when federal pandemic money expired they were rolled back, leaving many families in difficult situations. In 2019 there were 8,063 children with Best Beginnings scholarships, according to the Anne E. Casey Foundation Kids Count data. That figure dropped to 7,193 in 2020 and again to 6,242 the following year, but rose in 2022 and again in 2023, reaching 6,715. Our Constitutional system is based on certain commonly accepted political values: recognizing each persons dignity, equality tempered by equity, majority rule while respecting minority rights, acceptance of compromise and support of permissible individual freedom. This election we need to remember these values and realize that they are under attack. But we can stop the values assault on our democracy. Unless these values underlie our politics, our democratic/republican form of government cannot stand. This election will determine whether they do or not. For too many in the electorate, incivility, dogmatism, acceptance of violence, and denial of a knowledge-based Constitution predominate. Even when presented with contradictory evidence, many people refuse to change their opinions or to engage in dialogue with those of opposite opinions. This obstinacy, which particularly manifests with conservative voters such as MAGA voters (PEW), is grounded in a fear of constant change that is threatening. Societal change, including greater ethnic and racial diversity, empowered women and minorities attacks their self-esteem, menaces their position and prestige in society. Fear and ignorance are at the basis of the attack on our foundational democratic values. Once these anti-democratic opinions are adopted, the holders resist changing these obstinate opinions even when faced with new evidence or reasoning. The more an opinion is challenged the stronger it is held because to change, so they believe, would result in a lessening of self-esteem by admitting one was wrong. When our fixed opinions are challenged the tendency is to ignore, discount or forget the challenging information because these challenges make us uncomfortable and create dissonance. It is easier and safer to stay the same. You cannot reason a person out of a position he did not reason himself into in the first place. Jonathan Swift Such people seek out information to confirm what they already believe. These tendencies are more pronounced, in general, with the less educated voter more likely to resist new information. According to the PEW Foundation, a majority of Republican voters in 2022 had no advanced education. The Founders depended on their knowledge to form our Constitution and, for the Constitution to survive, we must continue to have a knowledge-based Constitution. But the American electorate is woefully ignorant of the basics of government. We actually have an assault on knowledge-based decision-making and too many cannot distinguish fact from fiction. Education is not the sole determinant of political opinions as economics, family, and religion play a role. Religion has been particularly pernicious lately with the rise of Christian nationalism and the imposition of fundamentalist Christian teachings in many national and state Supreme Court rulings. For example, in declaring that embryos were persons requiring protection, the Alabama Supreme Court cited God forty-one times, declaring, for example, that the wrath of God would descend on those who destroyed frozen embryos. We hear similar arguments in the Congress. But a lack of education tends to account for much of the violence in todays politics. Lacking the ability to investigate independently, it is easier to simply rely on the opinion of another another person or institutions such as a church. Poorly educated people tend to see one example as sufficient to prove a point. So the conclusion can be reached that if one undocumented immigrant in the country commits murder, they all do. While much more prevalent on the right, liberals can also succumb to dogmatism, sanctimony and elitism. One thing we need to do is to start giving civics and the other social sciences their proper place in our educational system. While science and math are obviously important, as citizens, students will be called upon to participate in the formulation and execution of government policy. We cant have a knowledge-based government if citizens are ignorant. Given the vitriol of todays politics many withdraw from the political world. We need to reengage through voting and talking to those who disagree with us, civilly and not simply castigating them. The simple act of communicating helps build civility and trust. We must censor our own social media communication. We need to work on getting the other side to have some empathy regarding our positions. We need to also practice what we preach and support our positions with evidence not sanctimony. On Thursday, Muscatine City Council learned about a project that may bring several new housing units to the city. During the meeting Adam Gillitzer, of Gillitzer Investment Properties (GIP) LLC, gave a presentation on the project. GIP, LLC is planning the development of a 24-unit apartment complex at 3612 Palms Drive. The company is seeking financial assistance from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program. An application to the program requires a resolution of support from the city and a financial match from the city of at least $1,000 per unit. Gillitzer said he had paid about $32,000 to the city so far and was wondering if the city could give a rebate that can be used for the match. I like the location of Muscatine and thought this would be a great area to build some apartments, he said. The project would include two three-story, 12-unit buildings. The units will all be two bedroom apartments and about 900 square feet. Gillitzer said he is working with a local contractor to construct the buildings and hopes to start in the fall. There was little discussion before the council reached a consensus to support the construction and dedicate the $24,000 to the project. Gillitzer purchased the land on Palms Drive in 2022 and a completed site plan was previously approved by the city. What to expect when buying a house in 2024 What to expect when buying a house in 2024 Will mortgage rates decline in 2024? Will home prices decline in 2024? Louis County Deputy J.D. "Boss Hogg" Walker got an unofficial upgrade to his squad car earlier this week, compliments of Wapello Fire and Rescue after the department had returned from a field fire. Firefighter Bill Small had come to the fire station earlier and was showing the membership a little bit of Wapello history from the former Hawks Nest tavern in downtown Wapello. A pair of horns from a Texas Longhorn, like the one the Dukes of Hazzard character Boss Hogg had on his car, had hung on the wall. As firefighters who are also members of law enforcement, they said they couldn't resist the opportunity to "pimp J.D's ride." Its Womens History Month in the United States and the Napa County Board of Supervisors is making womens history of its own. With about 95% of ballots counted, incumbent Supervisor Belia Ramos, geographer Amber Manfree and Napa City Councilmember Liz Alessio are apparent locks to win the three seats on the March 5 ballot. Supervisors Anne Cottrell and Joelle Gallagher won seats in 2022. The result: Come January, when the newcomers take their seats behind the board dais, Napa County will have the first all-female Board of Supervisors in its 174-year history. It is amazing, Alessio said. You know how much I love history, especially local history. To think that my name is listed with those four other extraordinary women leaders who are so passionate about our community countywide. The Board of Supervisors chamber in downtown Napa displays photographs of most of the supervisors back into the 1800s. All are men up to 1973, when Virginia Ginny Simms became the first woman to serve. Then came Kathleen McCullough in 1985, Kathryn Winter in 1997, Diane Dillon in 2003 and Ramos in 2017. And then the burst Cottrell and Gallagher took office in 2023, and Alessio and Manfree will join them next year. This won't be the first all-female Board of Supervisors in California; Los Angeles County seated one in 2020. But its a Napa County milestone. If Sonoma State University political science professor David McCuan is correct, it might be even more. This is beyond historic, McCuan said. What that means is this is just not history being made. We know when legislative decision-making bodies are comprised of (a) majority of women or all women, they actually go in a different direction. Politics doesnt go away, but these legislative bodies are more about consensus-building, he said. I would say it is a new day, not just a historic day, but a new chance to build a new way forward, a different type of consensus, said McCuan. That requires adaptation by the previous warring factions. Napa County has disputes where consensus has proven elusive. Among them are how to balance agricultural growth and environmental protection in the mountainous watersheds. Alessio shared her thoughts about an all-female board. She recalled going to the Womens March Napa Valley in January 2017. One speaker said that only 18% of elected offices in California were held by women. I thought, I know so many smart, hard-working, dedicated women; we need more women in elected office," said Alessio. "I wasnt thinking of myself at the time; I was thinking of women who were around me. Ramos is the first woman elected in the 5th District to the Board of Supervisors. She called the all-female board-to-be a tremendous moment for gender equity in leadership and public service. "But this is so much more than simply an all-female board, this is an incredibly capable board," Ramos said. "This is a board with incredible depth, experience, expertise and a lot of heart. That's the real story. Manfree saw the symbolic value for women and girls, and also said this will be a well-qualified board, with each candidate having won as an individual against a challenger. It just organically happened, Manfree said. None of us ran thinking this is what the outcome would be. Alessio sees a good outcome. I think were going to be a great team for the people and the county of Napa, she said. The Napa County Election Division on Wednesday announced its latest ballot-counting update. Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said another update will come Tuesday a new state law requires weekly reports with certification of the vote to come the week of March 25. We only have about 2,000 left to count at the most, he said. Most of them will be in the Tuesday count. Wednesdays update brought the countywide ballot count to 35,634, 43% of the total distributed to voters. Tuteur has said turnout could reach almost 47%. 5th District Ramos led American Canyon City Councilmember Mariam Aboudamous 2,753 votes to 2,207 in the 5th District race. She is all but assured of serving a third term. She represents the southern district that includes American Canyon, which is a local growth hub of new housing subdivisions. But she grew up in St. Helena and in rural, remote Berryessa Estates. She is from a farming family. Ramos earlier this year talked about her priorities for a third term. She said the county needs to focus on affordable housing, environmental sustainability and diversifying the economy. We need to incentivize developers to build more work force housing near job centers, protect our water resources and ecosystems while sustaining our agricultural heritage, and invest in industries beyond tourism that offer good-paying jobs, she said. She summed up those goals as "livability." Ramos will become the senior board member with eight years of experience. She'll be able to offer perspective and context as the board works together in the most collaborative way possible, she said. Im going to be the one supervisor who was here during the 2017 fires, who was here during the 2020 fires," Ramos said. 4th District As of Wednesday, Manfree was ahead of former Napa City Councilmember Pete Mott 3,725 to 3,209 votes for the 4th District seat. Incumbent Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza didnt run. Manfree on Thursday said she wont declare victory until all votes are counted. But she was aware of her comfortable lead and willing to talk about a hypothetical win. She has nine months before taking office. Shell be working as a science writer for the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. She plans to meet with local elected officials, people in the wine industry and others in the community. Its really wonderful to have a lot of lead time, Manfree said. By the time I start, I will be able to lay a lot of groundwork. Asked about her priorities as supervisor, she talked about the countys planned general plan update and the regional climate action plan. She talked about the effects of a changing environment, such as wildfires. Manfree also suggested a habitat conservation plan as a way to help resolve development issues. Such plans in other counties seek to protect habitat in a more cohesive way while also offering more environmental permitting clarity to developers. 2nd District Alessio leads former Napa City Councilmember Doris Gentry 6,053 votes to 1,895 for the 2nd District seat. Incumbent Ryan Gregory didn't run. She has until January before she takes office and start casting votes as supervisor. In the meantime, she said, she is meeting with a lot of different people in the county and not wasting a moment. Its going to just be a training ground for me, Alessio said. Im on a learning and listening tour, is really what Im on. Shell continue her work on the Napa City Council. She is chair of the Napa Valley Transportation Authority board of directors and the regions Climate Action Committee. Im already working countywide and have been, Alessio said. But there are new areas I want to work on, and that takes listening and learning and building relationships. Increasing access to mental health services and substance abuse treatment is a priority for her term, Alessio said. So is bridging gaps in the debates over how to balance agricultural growth and the environment. Photos: The giant redwood trees of Franklin Street in downtown Napa Franklin St. 2 Franklin St. 3 Franklin St. 4 Franklin St. 5 Franklin St. 6 Franklin St. 7 Franklin St. 8 Franklin St. 9 Franklin St. 10 Franklin St. 1 WASHINGTON The federal government quietly announced it would begin giving loans for conversions of vacant commercial space near public transit into housing last October, but developers who have applied have yet to receive any, and a California lawmaker wants to know why. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Long Beach, said that after hearing from people who had struggled to navigate the loan process, he wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Friday expressing his support for the program and his concerns about difficulties accessing it. "To really support cities like San Francisco, like Long Beach, like Los Angeles, the federal government has a responsibility to make a major housing investment, just like we did the infrastructure plan," Garcia told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The days of the federal government not being involved in major housing issues is over. It's reached a national crisis; the states have not been able to solve this challenge on their own." City downtowns have hollowed out after the surge in work-from-home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, but San Francisco has recovered more slowly than other cities. The cost of building and renovating in San Francisco have convinced some developers that these types of conversions are not financially feasible. More than 2,700 housing units could theoretically be built in downtown San Francisco by converting 12 office buildings to residential use, according to a 2023 study by architecture firm Gensler. Several buildings, including 785 Market St. and the Warfield Building at Sixth and Market streets, are early in the conversion process. The developer of the Warfield project, however, is facing foreclosure on the building, making its future uncertain. The Board of Supervisors approved legislation in June 2023 to relax zoning restrictions and simplify the process and requirements for converting existing commercial buildings. San Francisco voters approved a ballot measure March 5 to exempt office-to-housing conversion projects from the city's real estate transfer tax the first time they're sold to new owners. The city controller, however, found that the measure wouldn't be enough to kick-start conversions and could make the city's financial deficit worse. The federal programs would allow developers to access low-cost financing for conversions and housing projects located within half a mile of intercity or commuter rail. The programs being used are designed to provide loans for transit-oriented development projects, but the Transportation Department's October guidance is the first time they're explicitly being opened up for housing. One of the programs can provide up to $28 billion total in loans for these conversion projects (an additional $7 billion is reserved for freight rail projects) and the other provides loans of at least $10 million to each project. Commercial-to-residential conversions "represent a tremendous investment in our nation's economic centers, mass transportation ridership, and climate goals," Garcia wrote in the letter. He also asked how the Transportation Department was easing the process for projects to receive loans. So far, no loans for conversions have closed, and the timeline to receive one is lengthier than those typically used in real estate deals. Applicants have also been concerned about the required environmental reviews, they told Garcia's office. Environmental reviews aren't typically needed for conversions of existing buildings but are a requirement in the underlying law for these programs. "This is one opportunity and one loan program that needs to be supercharged. But it can't be the only, and it's certainly not a silver bullet to solve the issue," Garcia said. Photos: The giant redwood trees of Franklin Street in downtown Napa Franklin St. 2 Franklin St. 3 Franklin St. 4 Franklin St. 5 Franklin St. 6 Franklin St. 7 Franklin St. 8 Franklin St. 9 Franklin St. 10 Franklin St. 1 Guwahati: At least five trucks loaded with coal were impounded in Baksa, Assam on Saturday. As per reports, the trucks were loaded with coal with no paperwork. Also Read: Assam: Wild Jumbo tramples one to death in Drupang The trucks were seized based on specific inputs about them being loaded illegally. They were reportedly on their way to Bhutan from Sivasagar in Assam. Also Read: Assam: Biker killed in Goalpara as bus runs over him The intercepted trucks were registered as PB29L9792, AS01PC9529, AS02E5827, AS04BC8607 and PB13AR7363. The drivers of the trucks were detained and further investigation has been initiated. Moscow has been discussing with Armenia in the course of contacts, "the dragging of Yerevan by Western countries into their anti-Russian course" to warn about the risks, the Armenian side has accepted some arguments, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti. "Unfortunately, we have been seeing this trend for quite a long time, and we talk about it. We speak, including very confidentially, with our Armenian colleagues, partners, with one goal only - to warn," Zakharova said in an interview with the agency. According to her, "the Armenian side perceived some of Moscow's arguments", and "even certain measures were taken." "We understand perfectly well that the States and the collective West in general have been using tactics of treating countries and peoples as their tools for not just decades, centuries. At the same time covering themselves with good intentions. If there were no such examples in our region, one would probably think that it is to the post-Soviet space that the United States and the collective West would not apply these tactics," she said. According to Zakharova, Moscow "sincerely wishes Armenia to preserve its sovereignty and build a policy based on national interests." "What are national interests? Not those interests that someone in Brussels or somewhere else in some capital, but those that reflect the cultural identity of the people, that are connected with the interests of people who every day through their labour create this very public good, who will, want and will bring up their children and their children's children on their land, who do not treat Armenia transitively in terms of transit consciousness, but want to live there, want to create a national product there, and their families, their homes," Zakharova said. Internal legal grounds being created for Armenia to apply to ICC in connection with Azerbaijan's war crimes European Union responds to Azerbaijan statements on EU-US-Armenia trilateral meeting Russia MFA: Friends of Armenia Network report objective is to tear Armenia from Russia, EAEU Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri is only guarantee of Armenia's sovereignty, Russia MFA says Siranush Sahakyan: Hard to convince international organizations to pressure Azerbaijan on Armenian captives matter Lawyer: Ruben Vardanyan gave international resonance to Karabakh issue, earned Azerbaijans hatred Armenian woman is appointed state minister in new Palestine government Lawyer: Azerbaijan uses matter of Armenian captives, hostages for political purposes Ameriabank named the Best Bank in Armenia for 2024 by Global Finance magazine International law expert: Azerbaijan should at least promise autonomy so that Armenians can return to Karabakh Ombudsman: There are 20 Armenians left in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia ex-ombudsman: Azerbaijan pursued goal of de-Armenianizing Karabakh from very beginning Russia TV programs Evening with Vladimir Solovyov and Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov blocked in Armenia US State Department to Zakharova: Turbulence in South Caucasus is fueled by Russia's actions in recent months Russia FM: Putin was surprised by Armenia PM Pashinyan's decision to recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan Lavrov: PM Pashinyan invited EU mission to Armenia, promising Azerbaijan that it will be for 2 months Legislature head: Armenia will attend for first time the gathering of EU countries parliament speakers Armenia parliament speaker: We are trying to defend our country by all possible means Iraqi security services eliminated a high-ranking IS member Armenia parliament speaker: Our ally Russia left us all alone at most critical moment Lebanon to file a complaint to UN Security Council over Israeli strikes on south of country Armenia legislature head: We are not going to concede anything that is ours Clinton and Obama to participate in Biden's campaign fundraiser Armenia legislature speaker to meet with Azerbaijan counterpart again Media: Powerful explosion hits Somalia's capital city France detains 2 suspects for sending bomb threats to lycees Military aircraft crashed into the sea near Sevastopol White House: US passed detailed data on terrorist attack threat to Russian Federation Lavrov: EU mission in Armenia is turning into a NATO mission Mash: A mass round-up of migrants began in Moscow and the region Members of the European Council's Political and Security Committee to visit Armenia EU envoy: We already have attracted 60M to develop Armenias educational sector Armenia ruling force MP: We are EAEU member, in parallel we work towards integration with EU, other markets Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Mahmoud Abbas approved the new government of Palestine Labor, social affairs minister: Increase in number of 3rd and subsequent children recorded in Armenia MP: Euronest urged EU to develop specific proposals on how to respond to Armenia's European aspirations Armenia government humanitarian aid reaches Gaza (PHOTOS) Armenia government makes allocations to hold events for Parajanov, Aznavour 100th birth anniversaries Armenia to provide $300,000 to Japan for earthquake relief Armenia MP: Euronest called on EU to increase humanitarian, financial aid for forcibly displaced Karabakh children Yerevan ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan is founding political party Azerbaijan ombudsperson meets with dozens of Armenians remaining in occupied Karabakh capital Stepanakert Russia MFA spox: Armenia is being turned into tool for implementing dangerous plans of the West Europeans for Artsakh discusses upcoming actions toward protecting Karabakhs interests Armenia to provide humanitarian aid to 1.5 million people displaced from Gaza Pashinyan: Some circles forcibly displaced from Karabakh are taking steps that create threat to Armenias security Secretary General: Armenia, indeed, has not recently participated in CSTO Secretariats work State Department disagrees with Azerbaijan comments on upcoming US-EU-Armenia meeting President: Document to dissolve Karabakh republic was only way to save compatriots Newspaper: Generals are gone, Armenia PM has decided to hand over some Tavush Province settlements to Azerbaijan Volvo launches its last diesel car US First Lady writes childrens book about her cat Almost 1 child in 6 is cyberbullied in Europe Foreign Ministry: Upcoming Armenia-US-EU high-level meeting not directed to any third party Zakharova on Azerbaijan weapons supply to Ukraine: Main thing is that something similar doesnt appear about Armenia Russia MFA spox: Future of entire South Caucasus is only tool for France Zakharova: Everything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed Russia MFA spox: We do not use the term Zangezur corridor Wings of Tatev opens a new tourist season Parliament speaker: Armenia not waiting to become EU membership candidate Alen Simonyan: Russia needed twice as much as we needed Russian border guards presence in Armenia Armenia legislature chair: I don't think Russian border guards will protect us if Turkey attacks Armenia does not join CSTO statement condemning terrorist attack in Moscow Region Armenia parliament head: What we want at this time is to get the border with Azerbaijan No discussion at this phase regarding Armenia's EU membership, legislature speaker says Armenia parliament chair does not rule out that Azerbaijanis will attack Armenia has calculated the risks if Tavush Province defense line collapses, legislature head assures Parliament speaker: No part of Armenia territory is subject to negotiation Armenia PM, France delegation discuss processes taking place in South Caucasus Moscow Region terrorist attack death toll rises France lawmakers visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan France ambassador, French MPs visit Armenias Sotk gold mine Lemkin Institute expresses concern that Azerbaijan regime may get revenge upon Armenian captives AraratBank places its 27th issue of dollar bonds 2.5-year-old girl in critical condition after falling into boiling water container in Armenias Byureghavan Friends of Armenia Network report: Offering Armenia EU candidate status would be important signal US State Department reveals objectives of upcoming Blinken-Pashinyan talk Newspaper: Azerbaijan leader reprimands Armenia PM Nikolay Konashenok, who tried to fly to Armenia, is taken into custody for 14 days for petty hooliganism Ancient boats built with advanced construction techniques discovered in Italy lake Iran's supreme leader receives Hamas politburo chief in Tehran Olivier Decottignies The right of return of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians is being violated today FSB: Primary data received from detainees in Crocus terrorist attack case confirm Ukrainian trace Tigran Balayan to Toivo Klaar: Azerbaijan is gearing up for new aggression against Armenia Iran's ambassador to Russia: Next meeting of 3+3 platform may take place as early as this year Armenia nuclear plant, Rosatom Service directors sign contract on new cooling systems for plant Armenia President: We have warm relations with Greece, this is also related to our history, principles, beliefs Kirill Komarov: Rosatom can offer Armenia nuclear reactors with capacity of 50 to 1,000 MW Armenia PM is presented Military industry Committee 2023 activity report US, UK, Ukraine are involved in Moscow Region terrorist attack, Russia official says State Department: US supports South Caucasus countries sovereignty, territorial integrity Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia NATO discussing possibility of shooting down missiles near alliance borders Justice minister on returning Azerbaijani who crossed Armenia border: Political decision enabling correct positioning Switzerland launches 10-year project of CHF 9 million in Armenia Britain's Supreme Court rules over Assange's extradition to US Anne-Laurence Petel: We reaffirmed France's support for Armenian democracy Premier: Armenia has been ready to implement liberalization of visa regime with EU for long time Nikol Pashinyan: Highways, railways, pipelines, cables must enter Turkey from Azerbaijan via Armenia Internal legal grounds being created for Armenia to apply to ICC in connection with Azerbaijan's war crimes European Union responds to Azerbaijan statements on EU-US-Armenia trilateral meeting Russia MFA: Friends of Armenia Network report objective is to tear Armenia from Russia, EAEU Russian 102nd Military Base in Gyumri is only guarantee of Armenia's sovereignty, Russia MFA says Siranush Sahakyan: Hard to convince international organizations to pressure Azerbaijan on Armenian captives matter Lawyer: Ruben Vardanyan gave international resonance to Karabakh issue, earned Azerbaijans hatred Armenian woman is appointed state minister in new Palestine government Lawyer: Azerbaijan uses matter of Armenian captives, hostages for political purposes Ameriabank named the Best Bank in Armenia for 2024 by Global Finance magazine International law expert: Azerbaijan should at least promise autonomy so that Armenians can return to Karabakh Ombudsman: There are 20 Armenians left in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia ex-ombudsman: Azerbaijan pursued goal of de-Armenianizing Karabakh from very beginning Russia TV programs Evening with Vladimir Solovyov and Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov blocked in Armenia US State Department to Zakharova: Turbulence in South Caucasus is fueled by Russia's actions in recent months Russia FM: Putin was surprised by Armenia PM Pashinyan's decision to recognize Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan Lavrov: PM Pashinyan invited EU mission to Armenia, promising Azerbaijan that it will be for 2 months Legislature head: Armenia will attend for first time the gathering of EU countries parliament speakers Armenia parliament speaker: We are trying to defend our country by all possible means Iraqi security services eliminated a high-ranking IS member Armenia parliament speaker: Our ally Russia left us all alone at most critical moment Lebanon to file a complaint to UN Security Council over Israeli strikes on south of country Armenia legislature head: We are not going to concede anything that is ours Clinton and Obama to participate in Biden's campaign fundraiser Armenia legislature speaker to meet with Azerbaijan counterpart again Media: Powerful explosion hits Somalia's capital city France detains 2 suspects for sending bomb threats to lycees Military aircraft crashed into the sea near Sevastopol White House: US passed detailed data on terrorist attack threat to Russian Federation Lavrov: EU mission in Armenia is turning into a NATO mission Mash: A mass round-up of migrants began in Moscow and the region Members of the European Council's Political and Security Committee to visit Armenia EU envoy: We already have attracted 60M to develop Armenias educational sector Armenia ruling force MP: We are EAEU member, in parallel we work towards integration with EU, other markets Dollar, euro lose value in Armenia Mahmoud Abbas approved the new government of Palestine Labor, social affairs minister: Increase in number of 3rd and subsequent children recorded in Armenia MP: Euronest urged EU to develop specific proposals on how to respond to Armenia's European aspirations Armenia government humanitarian aid reaches Gaza (PHOTOS) Armenia government makes allocations to hold events for Parajanov, Aznavour 100th birth anniversaries Armenia to provide $300,000 to Japan for earthquake relief Armenia MP: Euronest called on EU to increase humanitarian, financial aid for forcibly displaced Karabakh children Yerevan ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan is founding political party Azerbaijan ombudsperson meets with dozens of Armenians remaining in occupied Karabakh capital Stepanakert Russia MFA spox: Armenia is being turned into tool for implementing dangerous plans of the West Europeans for Artsakh discusses upcoming actions toward protecting Karabakhs interests Armenia to provide humanitarian aid to 1.5 million people displaced from Gaza Pashinyan: Some circles forcibly displaced from Karabakh are taking steps that create threat to Armenias security Secretary General: Armenia, indeed, has not recently participated in CSTO Secretariats work State Department disagrees with Azerbaijan comments on upcoming US-EU-Armenia meeting President: Document to dissolve Karabakh republic was only way to save compatriots Newspaper: Generals are gone, Armenia PM has decided to hand over some Tavush Province settlements to Azerbaijan Volvo launches its last diesel car US First Lady writes childrens book about her cat Almost 1 child in 6 is cyberbullied in Europe Foreign Ministry: Upcoming Armenia-US-EU high-level meeting not directed to any third party Zakharova on Azerbaijan weapons supply to Ukraine: Main thing is that something similar doesnt appear about Armenia Russia MFA spox: Future of entire South Caucasus is only tool for France Zakharova: Everything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed Russia MFA spox: We do not use the term Zangezur corridor Wings of Tatev opens a new tourist season Parliament speaker: Armenia not waiting to become EU membership candidate Alen Simonyan: Russia needed twice as much as we needed Russian border guards presence in Armenia Armenia legislature chair: I don't think Russian border guards will protect us if Turkey attacks Armenia does not join CSTO statement condemning terrorist attack in Moscow Region Armenia parliament head: What we want at this time is to get the border with Azerbaijan No discussion at this phase regarding Armenia's EU membership, legislature speaker says Armenia parliament chair does not rule out that Azerbaijanis will attack Armenia has calculated the risks if Tavush Province defense line collapses, legislature head assures Parliament speaker: No part of Armenia territory is subject to negotiation Armenia PM, France delegation discuss processes taking place in South Caucasus Moscow Region terrorist attack death toll rises France lawmakers visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan France ambassador, French MPs visit Armenias Sotk gold mine Lemkin Institute expresses concern that Azerbaijan regime may get revenge upon Armenian captives AraratBank places its 27th issue of dollar bonds 2.5-year-old girl in critical condition after falling into boiling water container in Armenias Byureghavan Friends of Armenia Network report: Offering Armenia EU candidate status would be important signal US State Department reveals objectives of upcoming Blinken-Pashinyan talk Newspaper: Azerbaijan leader reprimands Armenia PM Nikolay Konashenok, who tried to fly to Armenia, is taken into custody for 14 days for petty hooliganism Flash Border police officers check documents of travelers at a border checkpoint of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in east China's Shanghai, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Wei Wenheng/Xinhua) With visa-free access, three Swiss nationals arrived in southwest China's Yunnan Province via Mohan Port on Thursday. They are the first batch of passengers from the six European countries, namely Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, which enjoy China's visa exemption. "The customs entry is very fast and convenient, and I think I will come to China again," said Kamber Gian Thomas, 25, a Swiss passenger. According to the visa-free policy, which is effective from Thursday to November 30 this year, citizens with ordinary passports from the six European countries are allowed to stay in China for business, sightseeing, visiting families and friends as well as transit for no more than 15 days. On Thursday, east China's Shanghai City also saw 67 passengers from the six European countries enter via the Pudong Airport, according to the airport's border checkpoint. The application of the policy once again marks China's visa-free countries scope expansion after the China-Thailand mutual visa-free agreement came into effect on March 1. Emory University sociologist Karida L. Brown has been honored with an NAACP Image Award in nonfiction for her anthology, The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families. Fellow Emory sociologist Alyasah Sewell is among the contributors to the book, which Brown assembled with her husband, artist Charly Palmer, as a reimagined, updated take on the first periodical for Black children created by W.E.B. Du Bois. Du Bois knew, just like we know, how much representation matters. We are not meant to be in a box, Brown says in a recent Emory Magazine article about the book. We can be anything and everything. Brown first mentioned the idea for the book to Palmer in 2017. In 2020, during the claustrophobia of the pandemic and the racial reckoning that summer, Brown and Palmer finally knew they were ready to act on her idea. We decided we were the someones to do the Brownies Book, says Palmer. Published last fall, the collection mixes material from the original The Brownies Book magazine that Du Bois created in 1920 with new essays, poems, comics and other content from Black authors and artists that honor and celebrate the Black family and experience. Like its predecessor, The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families is a compendium of Black achievement and creativity as well as a springboard for addressing issues germane to Black children. To do so, it reprises timeless material from the original as well as introducing far-ranging new content. Palmer and Brown describe it as a living, breathing mosaic of dreams, aspirations and boundless potential. Fifty contributors fill 10 chapters organized around topics such as Family Ties, Sheroes and Living and Dying. Karida Brown and Charly Palmer have edited and organized a spectacular volume, one that honors both the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois and celebrates the voices and experiences of the volumes contributors, said Timothy Dowd, professor and chair of the Department of Sociology, when Brown was nominated for the award. The New Brownies Book will be impactful for families, students and scholars alike. This Image Award is the first for Emory faculty since 2019, when Emory English professor Tayari Jones won for her novel, An American Marriage. Carol Anderson, the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of African American Studies, was a finalist in 2019 for We Are Not Yet Equal, the young adult adaptation of her book White Rage, which won the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism. The Image Awards celebrate the achievements of people of color in more than 90 categories. The book award winners were among those announced in virtual ceremonies earlier this week. The full awards show will be broadcast live on BET and CBS Saturday, March 16, at 8 p.m. EDT. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the iconic awards. Israel to join fresh Gaza peace talks in Qatar Israeli police use water cannon to clear protesters in Tel Aviv. Photo: AP The main UN aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine. On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene the security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands." Efforts failed repeatedly to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, with Israel saying it plans to launch a new offensive in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in tiny, crowded Gaza after five months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a two-day visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties". On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce. Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release. At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv. (Reuters) Dubai [UAE], March 16 (ANI/WAM): The UAE Gender Balance Council participated in key meetings and sessions held at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, including a meeting of the UN Security Council, and a session on women''s empowerment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, jointly organised by the GCC and the UAE. This active engagement of the Council in these meetings is in line with the directives of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, to strengthen the Council''s global partnerships. These efforts also support the worldwide initiative to accelerate the achievement of the UN''s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on Goal 5, which is dedicated to empowering all women and girls. The UAE has been at the forefront of formulating and adopting these goals, demonstrating its commitment to promoting gender equality on both a local and global scale. Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, participated in the UN Security Council Arria-Formula meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Women, Peace and Security Framework. In her address, Mona Al Marri emphasised the UAE''s strong commitment to leveraging the key principles of the international framework for women, peace, and security to ensure the protection of women''s rights and foster their full, equal, and meaningful participation in both public and private sectors. Further, she stressed the importance of creating a flexible and sustainable international framework for safeguarding and promoting women''s rights globally. She noted the significant contributions of the Security Council Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace and Security (IEG), which the UAE and Switzerland chaired last year. The IEG effectively incorporated essential elements of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women into its country-specific discussions, offering an opportunity to further leverage synergies between the Convention and the Women, Peace, and Security framework. She stressed the importance of linking these documents with the Sustainable Development Goals, enabling governments working towards the 2030 Agenda to align and coordinate their efforts and commitments across these frameworks. Al Marri touched on the efforts of the UAE in this regard. In 2017, the UAE established a national committee for sustainable development goals to implement the 2030 plan at the national level. She emphasised that the current session and its productive discussions once again demonstrate that the international community has laid down a robust framework. This foundation is essential for promoting the full, equal, and meaningful engagement of women in social roles. The UAE Gender Balance Council participated in a high-level session sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) under the title ''Closing the Gap: Women''s Empowerment in the GCC Region'', which focused on the progress achieved by countries in the region in the field of gender balance and women''s empowerment, as well as challenges and future trends. The meeting, which featured several inspiring female personalities, provided an opportunity to highlight the tremendous advancements witnessed in the GCC region in the field of women''s empowerment. It also provided a platform for sharing expertise and experiences between them. During the session, Mona Al Marri remarked, "Thanks to the insightful vision of our wise leadership, women in the UAE have received considerable support, propelling the nation to a leading global position in gender balance." She highlighted the pivotal role played by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (The Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women''s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), in championing women''s empowerment through numerous national programmes and targeted initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable opportunities in education, employment, and various other domains. The Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council highlighted the council''s major achievements and the key projects it has implemented since its establishment in 2015 to enhance gender balance in all sectors of the country. She also noted the council''s efforts to develop principles and policies to prevent gender-based violence through digital applications, as well as a draft policy for gender balance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and a gender-responsive federal budget. During the session, Mona Al Marri highlighted the UAE''s experience in supporting and empowering women. She stressed that the UAE, since its founding, has laid solid foundations to ensure the empowerment of women and girls under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. The implementation of many national programmes and specific initiatives focused on granting women their full right to obtain education and balanced and fair opportunities in all fields are evidence of this robust foundation. She said, "The UAE is committed to pursuing a comprehensive programme aimed at supporting women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable groups such as low-income women, widows, divorcees, the elderly, and people of determination. Legislative updates and policy implementations have been prioritised to strengthen family cohesion and ensure access to opportunities without compromising their vital roles within their families." Furthermore, she highlighted the UAE''s dedication to achieving social balance through innovative initiatives like the UAE Gender Balance Council. This council collaborates with government and private entities to develop programmes, strategies, and initiatives to attain optimal gender balance across various sectors, fostering effective partnerships for sustainable progress. The Vice President of the UAE Council for Gender Balance discussed key achievements and ongoing projects since its inception in 2015 under the leadership of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The council''s efforts are focused on establishing gender balance within both government and private sectors nationally. Notable projects include developing principles and policies to combat gender-based violence through digital platforms, drafting policies to address gender balance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution era, and formulating a gender-responsive federal budget. On the sidelines of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Mona Al Marri met with Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. They explored cooperation to enhance gender balance and ways to overcome the challenges associated with advancing women''s empowerment in order to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5 to empower all women and girls worldwide. (ANI/WAM) In relief and to facilitate ease of doing business for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), the Board of capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved a proposal to relax the timelines for disclosure of material changes by such overseas investors. The decision was taken at its Board meeting held on Friday. Going by the definition, FPIs consist of securities and other financial assets held by investors in another country. It does not provide the investor with direct ownership of a company's assets and is relatively liquid depending on the volatility of the market. Along with foreign direct investment (FDI), FPI is one of the common ways to invest in an offshore economy. Currently, FPIs must disclose to their designated depository participant (DDP), material changes to information provided earlier, within seven working days. Going forward, material changes required to be notified by the FPIs shall be categorised into two buckets, -- Type I and Type II. Type I material changes, shall continue to be informed by FPIs to their DDP within seven working days of the occurrence of the change. However, supporting documents for the same (if any) shall now be required to be provided within 30 days of such change. Other material changes (categorised as Type II) shall be informed along with supporting documents (if any) by FPIs to their DDP within 30 days of such changes. "We welcome SEBI's decision to consider relaxing the timelines for disclosure of material changes by FPIs. The current 7-day deadline poses practical challenges, particularly with multiple teams involved across different jurisdictions. Extending the reporting timeframe to 30/45 days offers a more reasonable window, greatly benefiting FPIs," said Vivek Singhania, Co-founder at the asset servicing firm Dovetail Group. The SEBI Board also approved a proposal to exempt additional disclosure requirements for FPIs having more than 50 per cent of their India equity asset under management (AUM) in a single corporate group, in case the concentrated holdings of the FPIs are in a listed company with no identified promoter, though, with certain riders. Among other decisions, taking into account stakeholder feedback, SEBI approved the launch of a Beta version of optional T+0 settlement, for a limited set of 25 shares, and that too with a limited set of brokers. The T+0 system means that the settlements must be done within the same day, of the completion of a transaction. Those 25 shares that would be part of the Beta version have not been named yet by the regulator. In parallel, the regulator SEBI said it shall continue to do further stakeholder consultation, including with the users of the Beta version. The Board of the SEBI will review the progress at the end of three months and six months from the date of this implementation, and decide on further course of action. SEBI, in its endeavour to keep pace with the changing times and carry out its mandate of development of securities markets and investor protection, shortened the settlement cycle to T+3 from T+5 in 2002 and subsequently to T+2 in 2003. Further in 2021, T+1 settlement was introduced in a phased manner which was fully implemented from January 2023. It was of the view that the significant evolution of payment systems in the country in recent years coupled with sophisticated and robust technologies used by market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) appear to present further opportunities for advancing the clearing and settlement timelines, on an optional basis. Against that backdrop, SEBI in December 2023 floated two propositions before the public and sought their suggestions. The proposal to be implemented in two phases were: In Phase 1, an optional T+0 settlement cycle (for trades till 1:30 PM) is envisaged, with the settlement of funds and securities to be completed on the same day by 4:30 PM. In Phase 2, an optional immediate trade-by-trade settlement (funds and securities) may be carried out. In the second phase, trading was to be carried out till 3.30 pm After the implementation of phase 2 (optional instant settlement), the mechanism of optional T+0 settlement implemented under phase 1 was to be discontinued. Besides, SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch last year said the financial markets regulator was working on a mechanism for instant settlements of transactions on the stock exchanges. She had said they were working on a mechanism for instant settlements and were engaged with the ecosystem. "We believe that in the not very far future we will have a mechanism which will facilitate instantaneous settlement of transactions on the stock exchanges. That's where we are headed," she had said in July 2023. The instantaneous settlement, once it is implemented, will put money into the hands of the investors on a real-time basis. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 16: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the world's sixth-largest jewelry brand, celebrated the inauguration of its newest store in Chandni Chowk, Delhi. The opulent 2300 sq. ft. store, the 12th store of the brand in Delhi NCR and the 29th in the North region, was virtually inaugurated by M P Ahammed, Chairman of Malabar Group. The grand opening ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Parlad Singh Sawhney, (Member of Delhi Legislative Assembly) on 16th March. MP Ahammed, expressed his joy, stating, "Opening our store in Chandni Chowk is a momentous occasion for us. We believe this milestone will strengthen our bond with the people of New Delhi, adding more sparkle and joy to this vibrant location. As we aim to become the Number One Jewelry Brand, we extend our gratitude to each and every one of you." The store boasts spacious interiors, a seating capacity of 46 seats, and a vast array of collections at competitive prices, promising a world-class jewelry shopping experience. The store, thoughtfully curated, sets the stage for customers to explore exclusive collections in an inviting atmosphere. The store offers exclusivity with a dedicated wedding arena, a privileged lounge for customers, diamond experts, and ample parking for customer convenience. With meticulously crafted designs in gold, diamond, Polki, gemstones, platinum, and more, the store offers an extensive range of jewelry catering to diverse tastes. Featuring extraordinary pieces from exclusive brands like Mine Diamond Jewelry, Era Uncut Diamond Jewelry, Divine Heritage Jewelry, Ethnix Handcrafted Jewelry, Precia Gemstone Jewelry, and Viraaz Polki Jewelry, the store aims to be the ultimate jewelry shopping destination for shopping distinctive and captivating designs. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned for its commitment to transparency and fairness in pricing. As part of its Fair Price Promise, the brand ensures that customers can purchase their favourite jewelry at fair-making charges. Furthermore, the brand offers the One India One Gold Rate scheme, ensuring uniform pricing for gold across all its stores in the country. Strengthening the brand's commitment to its customers, Malabar Gold & Diamonds offers 10 promises. The Malabar Promises include a transparent price tag indicating stone weight, net weight, and stone charge of the jewelry; assured lifetime free maintenance for the jewelry; 100 per cent value for gold when reselling old gold jewelry; 100 per cent HUID-compliant gold; IGI and GIA-certified diamonds ensuring a 28-point quality check of global standards; a buyback guarantee; complimentary jeweler insurance; responsible sourcing; and fair labour practices. Supported by a multilingual workforce of around 22,000 employees across 26 countries, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has satisfied 15 million customers across 100 countries. With the opening of 10 stores in March, Malabar Gold & Diamonds will reach a total store count of 350. The brand has a global presence spanning India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, and Bangladesh, with 14 wholesale units in 8 countries and 15 manufacturing units in 5 countries. The company also ranks 19th globally in Deloitte's Luxury Goods ranking. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. Established in 1993 in Kerala, the brand today has a strong retail network of over 340 stores spread across 14 countries and 14 wholesale units, in addition to offices, design centres, and factories across India, Australia, Canada, the U.K., the USA, the Middle East, and the Far East. The company currently ranks 6th among the largest jewelry retailers globally. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The 3-day Geographical Indications (GI) Mahotsav, organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) with the support of the Office of the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), kicked off in Kashmir on Saturday. According to the press release, the GI Mahotsav aims to celebrate and promote India's rich heritage of GI products, acknowledging their unique cultural, social, and economic significance. With a focus on fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, the event promises to be a platform for collaboration and growth beyond boundaries. Vijay Kumar Biduri (IAS), Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, expressed the government's commitment to supporting local manufacturers and MSMEs in Kashmir. He emphasized the importance of industry stakeholders and small business owners engaging with the government through bodies like PHDCCI for necessary assistance at every stage of their business endeavors. Biduri said, "The government is always ready and willing to handhold and take effective steps to work towards the upliftment of the local manufacturers and the MSMEs of Kashmir." Trademark and GI-tagged products play a crucial role in enhancing the credibility and trustworthiness of businesses, particularly for smaller enterprises aiming to build a loyal customer base. Biduri highlighted the significance of spreading awareness about GI products among tourists visiting Kashmir, underscoring their potential to contribute to the local economy and sustainable tourism development. Mehmood Ahmad Shah (JKAS), Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, commended PHDCCI for organizing the GI Mahotsav, emphasizing the importance of GI tagging in preserving cultural identities and promoting trust between buyers and sellers through quality assurance. Er Saheel Yaqoob Allaqaband, Assistant Director, MSME DFO Srinagar, highlighted the Ministry of MSME's efforts to provide marketing support to artisans and manufacturers through participation in domestic and global exhibitions. He emphasized the importance of trademarks and intellectual property rights (IPR) for smaller businesses, providing them with the means to protect their brand and compete effectively in the marketplace. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director, Sericulture, Kashmir, underscored the role of GI tagging in preserving and promoting Kashmir's cultural heritage, particularly products like Kashmir Silk. He emphasized that GI tagging assures consumers of authenticity and quality, maintaining consistent standards in production. Vicky Shaw, Chair, Kashmir State Chapter, PHDCCI, appreciated the Ministry of MSME for providing Kashmir with the opportunity to host the GI Mahotsav, bringing together artisans and manufacturers from across the country. He highlighted the economic imperative of protecting and promoting GI products in a globalized world. D P Goel, Chair, MSME Committee, PHDCCI, reiterated the chamber's commitment to nurturing the GI ecosystem in India and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in driving inclusive growth and sustainable development. Himayu Wani, Co-Chair, Kashmir State Chapter, PHDCCI, emphasized the event's role in bridging tradition with modernity, showcasing how GI products can adapt to contemporary markets while retaining their authenticity. As Day 1 of the GI Mahotsav concluded, participants departed with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and determination to contribute towards the growth and promotion of GI products. (ANI) The KIET Group of Institutions in Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad, organized the inaugural ceremony of "Centre of Supercomputing" that shall have world's first 5 petaFLOPS AI Supercomputer: NVIDIA DGX A100. According to a press release, this state-of-the-art technology, embodied in the SUPERCOMPUTER, represents a significant milestone in the institute's dedication to propelling research and innovation across diverse fields. The establishment of this Supercomputing Center is backed by the 'Start In UP' startup policy, an initiative spearheaded by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The inauguration ceremony, graced by dignitaries and stakeholders, including Chief Guest Sunil Kumar Sharma, Cabinet Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, underscored the strategic significance of supercomputing in propelling economic growth and fostering a culture of innovation. Sunil Kumar Sharma, in his address, lauded the institute's endeavor, emphasizing the transformative potential of supercomputers in shaping the nation's future. Minister Sharma said, "I congratulate the institute for introducing this center of supercomputing as it will shape the future of our nation. I believe when the students will begin working on supercomputers, they will be able to create new products and ideas that can multiply economic growth and promote innovation and entrepreneurship." The ceremony, attended Ghaziabad MLA Atul Garg, highlighted the collaborative efforts between academia, government, and industry to nurture talent and drive technological advancement. Dr Rekha Kashyap, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) AI and CSE AIML, provided insights into the capabilities of the NVIDIA DGX A100, describing it as a revolutionary AI system designed to unify training, inference, and analytics. Dr Kashyap said, "The NVIDIA DGX A100 is the world's first 5 petaFLOPS AI system, designed to unify training, inference, and analytics into a single, easy-to-deploy AI infrastructure. The addition of the DGX A100 systems to the Centre of Supercomputing represents a leap forward in our institute's research capabilities." "With unparalleled computational efficiency and versatility, the DGX A100 will accelerate research in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, climate science, genomics, and more," explained Dr Kashyap. The integration of the DGX A100 into the academic curriculum was hailed by Dr Manoj Goel, Joint Director, as a significant enhancement to educational programs. He commended the efforts of Dr Rekha Kashyap and Dr Adesh Pandey, Dean ITS, in organizing the event and expressed optimism about the transformative impact of the supercomputer on student learning and research outcomes. Dr Goel said, "the DGX A100's integration will significantly enhance educational programs, providing students with hands-on experience using state-of-the-art AI technology." The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude towards the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor, along with felicitations for their invaluable contributions to the event. The presence of college students, deans, heads, functional heads, and faculty members underscored the collective commitment towards leveraging technology for academic excellence and societal progress. (ANI) Sonu Sood is all prepared to excite audiences with his next film 'Fateh', which also marks his directorial debut. On Saturday, the actor shared the teaser of the film on his official handle of X, and it indicates that fans can expect an explosive ride filled with jaw-dropping action, violence, and mystery. The teaser starts with the statement, 'Never underestimate a nobody.' It then cuts to a voiceover in which Sonu Sood is heard conversing with another individual, correcting that he killed 50 people on March 19, not 40. "You'll never find those ten bodies," he said and also added, "Bhagvaan unki atma ko shanti de" Sood while sharing the teaser wrote on X, "AA RAHA HOON..Action speaks louder than words. #Fateh! Brace yourselves for the biggest action-packed thriller! Link: https://appopener.com/yt/vslfkd0vqTeaser out now. @Asli_Jacqueline @jdelhi10 @ZeeStudios_ #SonaliSood @ShaktiSagarProd @ZeeMusicCompany @Fateh4Bharat" https://x.com/SonuSood/status/1768879332125245692?s=20 'Fateh' is based on real-life instances of cybercrime experienced by people during the Covid-pandemic. Some of the prominent names in Hollywood including the director of photography, research team, and action choreographers have been roped in for this film. Sood revealed that there was also a flipside to his humanitarian efforts - instances of scamsters using his name to con people."The idea for 'Fateh' came into my mind when I was helping people and came to know that many people were being fooled and cheated in my name. They were given false loans, promises to meet me or to get any sort of help from my team during a pandemic," Sood said in an interview with ANI. The actor said he became concerned when he realised that a large number of people were being hoodwinked by conmen using his name to cheat them. The actor said he was informed of instances where people, especially those in remote areas were duped mostly through phishing tools. "It was then I realized that this cybercrime is a big issue in our country. It is very important to take action on it. Thus the journey of 'Fateh', the film I am doing started from this experience," said the actor. On Friday, he dropped the film's poster that shows a hand holding a pen with blood dripping through the wounds. "Never Underestimate A Nobody! Get ready for the power-packed action with #Fateh," Sonu captioned the post. The film will also showcase some breathtaking action sequences, which have been done under the supervision of Hollywood stunt expert Lee Whittaker. 'Fateh' has been shot across global locations including India, USA, Russia, and Poland, read a statement. 'Fateh' is all set to hit the screens this year. With Fateh, Sonu is making his directorial debut. It is produced by Zee Studios and Shakti Sagar Productions. (ANI) On the BJP's target of '400 paar' (beyond 400 seats) for the ruling NDA at the Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said his party candidates will to the people on the basis of its proven track record over the last 10 years and the development agenda that it has set for the next 25 years. Widely acknowledged as a shrewd poll strategist and one of the key architects of the party's string of victories across states, Shah said he was 'certain' that the BJP will win more than 300 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will sail past the targeted benchmark of more than 400 seats. "We (BJP) have a track record of 10 years to go to the people with, as well as the agenda for the next 25 years to build a grand and a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India). The people have faith in our deliverance and are invested in our vision of development. It (400-paar) isn't just poll rhetoric. You can for yourself on counting day. We (BJP) will sail past 300 and the NDA will cross 400," Shah said during a session at the India Today Conclave 2024 on Friday. On striking up an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu's Telegu Desam Party (TDP), a former NDA ally, in Andhra Pradesh, despite him making statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier, the Union Home Minister said, in a lighter note, that Naidu possibly got back to his senses after losing the elections last time. "We did not break ties with Chandrababu Naidu earlier. It was his decision not to be with the NDA. He called us hardcore terrorists, went to people seeking votes and lost the elections. He is back to his senses now. They (regional parties willing to join the NDA) are all welcome," Shah said. On why the BJP preferred the TDP over Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP, the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, despite the fact that the party supported the ruling party at the Centre in pushing through key legislations in the Rajya Sabha, Shah said voting for a piece of legislation in Parliament does not necessarily translate into an electoral tie-up. "The voting (for Bills) in the Rajya Sabha was issue-based and did not signal any political tie-ups. His (Jagan's) party also voted against us on three occasions. Voting for a Bill or a resolution in Parliament is often not reflective or indicative of political alliances. They (Opposition parties) often vote on the basis of a convergence of ideas or a similar stand on an issue and the outcome of the legislation. I don't think supporting or voting in favour of a Bill or issue should lead to a tie-up," the Union Home Minister said. On the possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha ahead of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state, Shah said, "I cannot speak much on this because our national president and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not yet taken a call on it." "However, regardless of how things (aliance talks) go, the Bharatiya Janata Party will improve on its performance both in the Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls (in Odisha)," he added. On the feasibility of tying up with the BJD, which is the BJP's only political rival of note in Odisha, Shah said an alliance between two parties is worked out purely on the basis of poll arithmetic and an ideological connect. To a question whether two parties, which are held as numbers one and two in a state, can come together, and, if so, what was the philosophy behind it, Shah said, "We are into hard-core politics and there isn't much room or scope for philosophy. We focus on two aspects (while deciding on an alliance)--winnability and a convergence of ideologies." On replacing Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as the chief minister of Haryana, in a surprising turn of events in the state just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Home Minister said, "PM Modi said Khattar-ji has been with our party for long and is a good leader. So he could be utilised either here (in Lok Sabha polls) or in Haryana." On breaking up with the ruling ally in the state, Dushyant Chautala's Jannayak Janta Party, Shah said there was no bad blood with the JJP and they split after failing to arrive at a common ground with regard to seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha polls. "We do not have any bad blood with the JJP. We didn't fight among ourselves. They had certain demands about the number of seats that they wanted to contest. However, we could not fulfil their wish considering our party's strength and chances. Hence, we parted ways. It was merely a difference of opinion that saw us part. We did not badmouth each other," Shah said. On Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) president, Pashupati Kumar Paras, giving an ultimatum to the BJP to allot the desired Lok Sabha seats to his party members, Shah said that the NDA will reach an amicable solution in Bihar in a week. "Everything will fall into place in a week. Everyone has the right to have their say in politics and place their demands based on their strength. When we sit together and hear each other out, both sides arrive at a compromise and reach an amicable solution. I have full faith that in Bihar, the NDA will continue to flourish. We will win all seats in Bihar," the Union Home Minister said. On the allegation that the BJP engineered a split in the Opposition coalition--Maha Vikas Aghadi--in Maharashtra, Shah said 'putra-putri moh' resulted in the split in the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena and the BJP can't be blamed for it. "I don't agree with the remarks that we broke the parties. We did not break any party. Kai sari partiyan apne putra-putri ke moh me tut gayin...main phir se doharata hoon ki NCP aur Shiv Sena, dono partiyan putra, putri moh mein tut gayin. (Many parties fell apart due to the thrust on promoting daughters and sons. I repeat NCP and Shiv Sena broke apart due to the thrust on promoting son and daughter)," Shah said. He added that the BJP and its ruling allies in Maharashtra have worked out a seat-sharing agreement that will be out in a few days. Shah said Uddhav Thackeray wanted to make his son, Aaditya, the chief minister of Maharashtra, while former Union Minister Sharad Pawar wanted to make his daughter Supriya Sule the NCP chief. "Uddhav-ji wanted to make Aaditya Thackeray chief minister. Many people left his party because they were not ready to accept Aaditya as their leader. People who were in the Shiv Sena since Balasaheb Thackeray's time had to first accept Uddhav-ji and as their leader. Later, they were asked to accept Aditya as their leader as well. It was not acceptable for them. Sharad Pawar also wanted to make his daughter Supriya Sule the NCP leader (chief)," he said. "Those not ready to accept the change in status quo left the parties," he added. (ANI) During the discussion, the focus was on joint operations and synchronisation of efforts for swift and optimised application of war-fighting assets, the statement added. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari participated in the exercise while Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan attended the concluding session. The exercise provided IAF with an excellent opportunity to practice its wartime drills and undertake operations in realistic scenarios, the release stated, adding that activities were undertaken cohesively to achieve the stated objectives of the Indian Air Force, in the event of any contingency. (ANI) Terming the arrest of Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC K Kavitha "illegal and undemocratic", BRS leader Harish Rao accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress of conspiring together to demoralise the BRS party and KCR. Kavitha, the daughter of BRS founder and former Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, was arrested after a day-long questioning followed by a raid at her Hyderabad residence in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Harish Rao alleged that it was not new for BJP to coerce the Opposition parties with false cases. "The BRS party has called for a large-scale protest across the state on Saturday to oppose the illegal arrest of MLC Kavitha. The party strongly condemns the arrest, alleging that the BJP and Congress conspired to arrest her for political gain in the upcoming Parliament elections. She asserts readiness to fight politically and legally. BJP and Congress of collusion and vowed to challenge the arrest legally," Rao said. He further termed the arrest as undemocratic, illegal, and immoral and criticized the timing, suggesting it a political ploy to tarnish their image ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. "The arrest of Kavitha, just before the election notification, is seen as a deliberate attempt to undermine the BRS party. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, the arrest was rushed, indicating political motives. The party plans to protest against these actions and pursue legal recourse," the former minister said. Moreover, former minister Jagdish Reddy also condemned the arrest, labelling it a political conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP and criticized the misuse of governmental institutions and urged people to protest against such oppressive tactics. "The party calls for widespread demonstrations on Saturday to oppose these oppressive measures by the BJP and Congress," Reddy said. Kavitha's lawyer, P Mohith Rao also termed the arrest of the BRS leader "illegal" and said that they will go to the available steps in the law. "I have seen in the news that K Kavitha has been arrested today. But the matter was listed in the Supreme Court on Friday...The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, 19th March...Undertaking given by law officer, stating that no coercive steps will be taken in this case. Yet, the ED barged into K Kavitha's house and arrested her. The arrest is illegal because in this case, one of the prayers was to not take any coercive against her...When the petition is pending, they can't do this...According to my prima facie view, the arrest itself is illegal. We will go to the available steps in the law," Kavitha's lawyer Rao told ANI. The BRS leader would be produced before a special court in Delhi today, possibly in the afternoon. In the arrest order, the ED investigation officer said, "I believe that Kalvakuntla Kavitha w/o D R Anil Kumar, residing at H. No. 8-2316/S/H, Road No 14, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telengana-500034 has been guilty of an offence punishable under the provision of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (15 of 2003)." "Now, therefore, in the exercise of the power conferred upon me under sub-section (1) of section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (915 of 2003), I hereby arrest the said Smt. Kalvakuntla Kavitha at 05.20 pm on 15.03.2024 and she has been informed of grounds for arrest. A copy of the grounds of arrest (containing 14 pages) have been served upon her," the officer added. The action comes almost two months after the ED issued a summons to the 45-year-old BRS MLC She was questioned thrice in this case last year, with the central agency recording her statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). (ANI) Former Bharatiya Janata Party and ex-MP, AP Jithender Reddy along with his son joined the Congress party in Telangana. On the occasion, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the All India Congress Committee in-charge Deepa Das Munshi were present. In his letter to BJP National President JP Nadda, Jithender Reddy said that after the change in state leadership, the party has suffered severely, carrying an effect on the recently concluded assembly elections, he noted. "However, after the change in state leadership, the party has suffered severely as witnessed by the recently concluded assembly elections, where the party should have won at least 25 seats but we managed to secure only 8 seats in the 119-member assembly of Telangana," Jithender Reddy said in his letter to JP Nadda. "Even in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, our party has given preference to outsiders who recently joined our party and do not share the same ethos as us. I have conveyed my reservations and apprehensions several times at the state and national level," he added. Soon after joining Congress, the Government of Telangana issued an order appointing A.P. Jitender Reddy as a Special Representative of the Telangana Government at New Delhi and Advisor to the Government (Sports Affairs), state government. "He will rank in Article 18 of the Warrant of Precedence, as a measure personal to the dignitary for the duration of the term of the office, without formal amendment to the State Table of Warrant of Precedence," the order said. (ANI) Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday commended the Supreme Court of India for asking the State Bank of India to release the Electoral bonds data ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. Lauding the Supreme Court's decision, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said, "We have always opposed the Electoral Bonds that the ruling party came up with. I extend my gratitude to our country's legal institution for taking this groundbreaking action. The entire nation now trusts in the judiciary to safeguard our rights, regardless of the ruling party's actions," he said. He further said that the State Bank of India (SBI) was allegedly delaying the disclosure of electoral bonds data, citing reasons that it would take several months to do so. However, due to pressure from the Supreme Court, they were forced to release the data. "SBI, as a government-owned bank, previously claimed it would take several months to disclose the electoral bonds list. However, due to the Supreme Court's intervention, they were compelled to release it. Nonetheless, their rigging continues," said Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary. Meanwhile, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the central government is hiding something in the electoral bonds case, adding that the State Bank of India is trying to protect the BJP. "Why is the BJP itself not declaring, which company has given how much money to them through electoral bonds? Why the Supreme Court has to put pressure on SBI and ECI to get information? This means that the govt is hiding something...If a company is under ED investigation, that means the company has money related to money laundering and if it bought the electoral bonds, the party will be the beneficiary. Will the party be accused of money laundering and would face the PMLA court?" he said. "SBI is trying to protect the BJP and central govt. When the Supreme Court had clearly asked the SBI to present the bond number, then why did they not do it? Why was their lawyer not present in the court?" AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj asked. (ANI) A day after KCR's daughter and BRS leader K Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the scrapped Delhi excise policy 2021-22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the people of Telangana that "no corrupt person will escape" once NDA again comes to power. He further made a scathing attack at the Congress and said that the grand old party looted the people of India for 7 decades with an empty slogan of 'Garibi Hatao'. Addressing a public rally in Nagarkurnool, PM Modi said that Congress and BRS are partners in corruption. "Congress and BRS are partners in corruption. Congress did 2G corruption and BRS did the corruption of water. Congress and BRS support land mafias and if we talk about BRS then they went out of their state and made partnerships with other political parties. And every day the truth is coming out. No corrupt person will escape, I promise this. To fulfil this promise I need the blessing of the people of Telangana," he added. He further said that Congress looted and lied to the people of India for 7 decades, and can never work for the welfare of Telangana. "Congress, the party which looted and lied to the people of India for 7 decades, can never work for the welfare of Telangana. They gave an empty slogan of 'Garibi Hatao', yet took no action to uplift the poor. They used SC, ST and OBC communities as vote banks, yet did nothing to transform their lives. A wave of change was brought when the country trusted Modi with a full mandate!" PM Modi said. Highlighting his government achievements, he said that over the past 10 years, for the first time poor got the chance to open accounts at zero balance and pucca houses. "Over the past 10 years, for the first time... - Poor got the chance to open accounts at zero balance. - Poor got to live in pucca houses. - Poor got access to basic amenities like tap water, electricity, toilets, free vaccination etc. - Villages got electrified. - 25 crore people moved out of poverty," he added. The Prime Minister said that his government schemes tend to benefit SCs, STs, OBCs, women and farmers the most. "Congress and BRS have time and again protested against our initiatives. Under the guise of social justice, they indulge in corrupt politics. BRS is also a party following the footsteps of Congress. KCR says that India needs a new constitution. Is this not an act of insulting Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar? KCR betrayed Dalits with the Dalit Bandhu scheme," he added. PM Modi is also scheduled to address public meetings at Nagarkurnool on March 16 and Jagtial on March 18. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted on Saturday that the double-engine government doesn't just present dreams but transforms them into reality, "which is why people repeatedly choose Modi ji." He laid the foundation stone of new state universities in Mirzapur and Moradabad. The Chief Minister was addressing a large public meeting at Awas Vikas Maidan, Moradabad. During this, he also virtually joined the public meeting organized in Mirzapur. In his address, he said, "Our resolution was that there should be a university in every commissionerate, today this resolution is being fulfilled with the foundation laying of new universities in Mirzapur and Moradabad." The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of one state university each for Moradabad and Mirzapur. In Moradabad, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 112 development projects worth Rs 513.35 crore, including the Uttar Pradesh State University spread over 50 acres with a cost of Rs 167 crore. Additionally, CM Yogi laid the foundation stone for the Maa Vindhyavasini State University, spanning 25,500 hectares with an estimated cost of Rs 155 crore. During the event, he announced that the university in Moradabad would be named after Guru Jambheshwar. In his address, the Chief Minister said that the decades-old demand in Moradabad and Mirzapur is now being fulfilled. Arrangements for funds have been made to make these two universities world-class. He mentioned that along with government universities, private universities will also be promoted. A healthy competitive environment will be created. "However, there will be no compromise on quality in government universities. Along with this, we are also establishing One District One Medical College. Our resolution is to establish a medical college in every district, which is going to be fulfilled very soon," Yogi added. Attacking the opposition, CM Yogi said that the previous governments first destroyed the education system, then the health system, and failed to ensure the safety of businessmen and daughters. The state was engulfed in riots and curfew, which led to an identity crisis for the youth. Traders left their industries and started migrating. He further mentioned that in the past, nepotism dominated development works and anarchy started spreading everywhere. As a result, this state with unlimited potential was forced to hide its identity. However, the development that has taken place in the last seven years is not hidden from anyone. "A better security environment has been established. Investment projects worth lakhs of crores are coming on the ground. New employment opportunities are being created," Yogi added. CM Yogi further mentioned that when the government's intentions are clear, it speaks for the people, it talks about security, roads, and health. In this series, the foundation stone of the much-awaited university is being laid today in Moradabad and Mirzapur. On this occasion, BJP State President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, MLA Ritesh Gupta, MLCs Dr Jai Pal Singh 'Vyast', Satyapal Singh Saini, Hari Singh Dhillon, Gopal Anjan, Mayor Vinod Aggarwal, District Panchayat President Dr Shafali Singh, MLA Sushant Singh, BJP regional president Satyendra Sisodia, former MP Sarvesh Singh, District President Akash Pal, Metropolitan President Sanjay Sharma and all BJP officials were present. During the Mirzapur event, Union Minister Anupriya Patel, Minister of State Rajni Tiwari, MLAs Rama Shankar Singh Patel, Yogendra Upadhyay, Ratnakar Mishra, and others were present. (ANI) The world's largest spirituality conference Global Spirituality Mahotsav is being held at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad. The event commenced on March 14 and will culminate on March 17. President Droupadi Murmu attended the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, an event aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding, which has brought together a diverse array of religious leaders from around the world. Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation, the event has witnessed the participation of leaders representing various faiths, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and more. Abhijeet Haldar, the Director-General of the International Buddhist Confederation, expressed the significance of the event in promoting peace and harmony among different religious communities. He highlighted the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing global challenges and achieving world peace. The Mahotsav features a range of programs and exhibitions showcasing different aspects of spirituality and religious traditions. One of the highlights is an exhibition featuring relics related to the life of Gautam Buddha, obtained from the India International Centre and the National Museum in Delhi. Additionally, there are displays of photographs depicting the life of Buddha, sourced from the National Museum, providing visitors with insights into Buddhist history and philosophy. Furthermore, attendees have the opportunity to explore Mandal art, a traditional form of art characterized by intricate designs and patterns. An expert team is on hand to guide visitors through the significance and beauty of Mandal art, showcasing the richness of cultural heritage associated with spirituality. The Ministry of Culture (Special Cell) and Heartfulness are holding a one-of-a-kind spiritual congregation, called the Global Spirituality Mahotsav from March 14 to 17 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the headquarters of Heartfulness, situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad. At a press conference held on March 9 in Hyderabad, Chief Guests, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy announced the upcoming Global Spirituality Mahotsav and its significance. The President of India Droupadi Murmu graced the summit on 15 and 16 March respectively. The four-day spirituality summit being brought by the Ministry of Culture and Heartfulness has the theme of "Inner Peace to World Peace". The conference aims to bring interfaith dialogues and help people of every age and every walk of life connect with spirituality in daily life. (ANI) Bhutanese Prime Minister, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, on Friday, stressed enhancing air connectivity with India, and said that he will work in that direction. PM Tobgay lauded the 'excellent' relations between India and Bhutan while inviting more Indians to visit Bhutan. He was speaking at the 'India-Bhutan Tourism: Expanding Horizons' event organized by FICCI in the national capital. "India is our immediate neighbour, and we want to be your host. The overarching intent of Bhutan's tourism policy is to enhance the happiness and well-being of tourist throughout their journey," he said. PM Tobgay stated that Bhutan has implemented 'Gross National Happiness' to improve the happiness and well-being of its citizens by balancing economic growth with social, and cultural progress and good governance. "We need social progress and we have made good progress there through education, which means we can take good care of tourists. We are custodians of a unique culture that we can share with the world," he emphasized. Good governance, he said is relevant as tourists are guaranteed safety and security through the rule of law in Bhutan. Highlighting the importance of tourism in Bhutan, Tobgay said, "We need to enhance access by air to Bhutan and that is my responsibility. I will need your (industry) support going forward to share Bhutan with India. We plan to target 1,50,000 Indian tourists in the coming years." The Bhutanese PM further stated that for Indian tourists visiting Bhutan, there is no visa requirement and only a travel permit is required. He also urged the Indian tour operators to collaborate with the Bhutan government to design special tourist packages for Indians, including cultural, environmental, spiritual, and adventure packages. "Very few countries in the world boast this diversity. We will also allow FDI in the tourism sector soon," he added. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay is in India on an official visit, which is his first overseas visit after assuming office in February 2024. Earlier on Thursday, PM Tobgay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in the national capital. On behalf of Bhutan King, he also invited PM Modi to visit Bhutan. The Ministry of External Affairs informed that the invitation has been accepted and the details of the visit will be shared accordingly. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is running for the country's top office again as an independent candidate, cast his electronic vote in the presidential elections, Russia-based TASS reported. Footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin walking towards a computer in his office, casting his vote and then smiling and waving at the camera. A notification on the computer monitor then read that a vote had been successfully cast. It was not the first time that Putin cast his vote online. In the last few years, the Russian President cast his vote online during the autumn single election day. The ongoing polling to elect the Russian President marks the first time that online voting has been made available, according to TASS report. More than 3.5 million people cast their vote online on the first day of the presidential election across Russia, TASS reported, citing the e-voting monitoring portal. As of 7:28 pm (local time), as many as 3,500,331 ballots were issued to voters in 28 Russian regions, who had applied for voting online. The federal platform of electronic voting recorded a 73 per cent voter turnout on the first day, TASS reported. As many as 4.76 million people in Russia planned to cast votes on the federal platform, the state agency reported, adding that people in Moscow could vote on the city's own platform and were not required to apply for remote voting prior to the polls. More than 180 election experts from 58 countries are overseeing the Russian presidential election. They are witnessing the elections at the invitation of the Russian Civic Chamber's (CC) invitation, the CC said in a statement on the Telegram channel, TASS reported. "At the invitation of the Russian Civic Chamber, 185 foreign election experts from 58 countries came to Russia to independently conduct public observation," the statement read. The message was displayed during the 24-hour online stream of the CC election observing situation centre, according to officials. The Russian Federation Council, or Upper House of the Duma, initially declared March 17, 2024 as the date for the presidential election. However, later, the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that voting would take place over three days-- from March 15 to 17. The candidates, who have pitted themselves against Putin for the top post in the country are Vladislav Davankov, Leonid Slutsky and Nikolay Kharitonov. The New People Party picked Vladislav Davankov to run for the highest office while Putin was a self-designated candidate. Leonid Slutsky of the LDPR party and Nikolay Kharitonov also entered the fray, representing the Communist Party of Russia, according to TASS. This is the first time that the presidential polls in Russia are being conducted over three days. According to Russian Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova, the people liked this format as it gives them more opportunity to cast votes in the presidential polls, TASS reported. Putin has served four terms as Russian President. He was elected Russian President in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, 2012, and 2018, Al Jazeera reported. If he wins, Putin will serve another six years, due to constitutional amendments that have expanded the term. It would mark his fifth term in office. He could be re-elected in 2030 for a sixth term. (ANI) United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dennis Francis urged the international community to repudiate racism and xenophobia in all its forms and manifestations, including Islamophobia. He stressed that intolerance, xenophobia and hate speech are fueling the exponential rise in hate crimes, conflict and socioeconomic marginalisation. In a video message on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Francis said, "States have the primary obligation to protect and defend all human rights for all - and to eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination. But, as responsible global citizens, we, individually, are also duty bound to contribute to combating any form of discrimination; any form of incitement to hatred and violence against Muslims,and by extension, against persons of other belief systems. "This is particularly important at this moment, in the context of the ongoing military confrontation in the Middle East - which has led to an alarming rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism around the world. As President of the General Assembly, I stand firmly against racism and all forms of discrimination and call upon the entire international community and on civil society to repudiate racism and xenophobia in all its forms and manifestations, including islamophobia," he added. Francis called on people to end all forms of intolerance and discrimination and not give into the forces of division and hate. He stated that people should rally dialogue, tolerance, respect, understanding, harmony and compassion for all others always. He said there was an alarming rise in discrimination, intolerance and violence against members of many religions in various parts of the world. He condemned all acts of violence against Muslims and persons of all religions and beliefs and attacks against sacred places of worships and religious sites. "We are witnessing an alarming surge in discrimination, intolerance, and violence against members of many religions in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia. Hate speech, in particular, has become a sickening poison in the hearts and minds of those who perpetrate it and a relentless torment on those who are targeted by it. I categorically deplore all acts of violence against Muslims and persons of all religions and beliefs, as well as attacks against sacred places of worship, religious sites and shrines," the UNGA President said. "Such demeaning and dastardly acts cannot be hidden behind the cover of freedom of expression. Intolerance, xenophobia and hate speech - both online and offline - are fueling the exponential increase in hate crimes and conflict, as well as socioeconomic marginalization. In particular, Muslim women - in many regions of the world - face multiple forms of discrimination based on their religion,gender and ethnicity," he added. He recalled that UNGA in 2022 adopted a resolution declaring March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, adding that the resolution was adopted after the Christchurch massacre, which claimed 55 lives. Coming out in support of the Muslim community, he said, "On this important day, as President of the General Assembly, I stand in solidarity with all Muslims around the world particularly with all those deliberately targeted by any acts of Islamophobia; any form of racism; and any form discrimination." "Freedom of religion, belief or worship; and freedom of opinion and expression, are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing. The right to one's religious belief or worship cannot - and must not - be the basis for any form of intolerance or discrimination," he added. Stressing that every person had the right to live without fear of violence or any form of prejudice, he called for upholding freedoms, including those of religion, opinion, and assembly, crucial to combating intolerance and discrimination of any shape or form. In the personalised video message that he shared on X, he stated further, "The right to one's religious belief or worship cannot - and must not - be the basis for any form of intolerance and discrimination Today, on the International Day to Combat #Islamophobia, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to further intensify our efforts. I commend Member States for their leadership in this regard. Together, let us end all forms of intolerance and discrimination, including islamophobia." The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 60 member-states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, according to an UN statement. The document stressed that terrorism and violent extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. It called for a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and belief. (ANI) Baloch Students Council held a protest at the University of Sargodha against the alleged enforced disappearance of Khudadad Siraj. The protesting students demanded the release of their fellow student, The Balochistan Post reported. A week ago, Pakistani intelligence agencies were accused of the enforced disapearance of Sargodha Medical College student Khudadad Siraj. The protesters said they held a peaceful protest inside the university premises. However, security force personnel forcibly confiscated their banners and posters, The Balochistan Post reported. Protesters condemned the harassment, profiling, and enforced disappearances of Baloch students in Punjab universities and called for the release of their fellow students. Meanwhile, the family of 'missing' student held protest on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway in Kech's Kirki. They demanded the recovery of the abducted student, according to The Balochistan Post reported. On March 9, prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch expressed concern over the alleged enforced disappearance of a Baloch student and urged human rights organisations to intervene. The "enforced disappearance" of Baloch student Khuda Dad Siraj is not the first such incident. The enforced disappearance of Baloch people is a major issue in Pakistan. In a post on X, Baloch stated, "The enforced disappearance of Baloch student Khuda Dad Siraj, son of Siraj Ahmed from Sargodha, Punjab, is alarming. The escalating incidents of such disappearances among Baloch students in educational institutions in Punjab and Islamabad are deeply troubling. I urge human rights organizations to address Khuda Dad's disappearance by Pakistan's secret agencies in Sargodha." Earlier this week, Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) delegation, during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), submitted a memorandum highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan and urging the international organisation to intervene. The delegation, headed by its general secretary, Qambar Malik, submitted the memorandum to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The memorandum emphasised the immediate need for UN intervention to investigate the atrocities committed by Pakistan in Balochistan. According to the BHRC, "Data collected by various human rights organizations indicates that from January to December 2023, 506 individuals, including students, teachers, and writers, have gone missing in Balochistan. They have fallen victim to enforced disappearances orchestrated by personnel allied with the notorious intelligence agency, the ISI." It further stated that the Pakistani military has escalated its activities across Balochistan. The memorandum emphasized that the abduction, torture, and dumping of mutilated bodies of political activists by these armed groups in Balochistan have become a daily occurrence.The memorandum urged the UN's intervention in Balochistan to ensure Baloch lives with dignity and without fear. (ANI) According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, the polling will be held on April 2. Reportedly, the scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on March 19, according to ARY News. The revised list of candidates will be issued on March 26, however, the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by March 27. Notably, 52 seats in the upper house of parliament will fall vacant after the expiration of the 6-year term of the incumbent senators on Tuesday. The electoral body appointed polling officers for the Senate elections 2024 set to be held on April 2, reported ARY News. Earlier on Thursday, the ECP issued the elections schedule for 48 vacant seats of the Senate. According to the schedule, polling will be held on April 2 from 9 am to 4 pm. The ECP appointed seven polling officers each for the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly, the sources said. Moreover, it appointed six polling officers each for the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The election watchdog also appointed four polling for the Balochistan Assembly, as reported by ARY News. In this electoral process, the Balochistan Assembly will have the authority to elect 11 Senators, comprising seven for general seats, two for women, and two for technocrats. Earlier on the same day, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) secured victory in four out of six Senate seats in the by-elections. In the National Assembly, polling took place for one vacant Senate seat from Islamabad. PPP's candidate Yousaf Raza Gilani emerged victorious with 204 votes, while Sunni Ittehad Council's candidate Chaudhary Ilyas Mehrban secured 88 votes. (ANI) Amid protests by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)-led opposition, Pakistan National Assembly, on Friday, passed a resolution seeking extension in seven ordinances, Geo News reported. Pakistan's Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar introduced seven ordinances and two bills in the House. The Bills tabled in the House included the Civil Courts Amendment Bill, 2024 and the Legal Aid and Justice Authority Amendment Bill, 2024. The chair referred the bills to the concerned standing committees. The ordinances tabled also included the Pakistan Postal Services Management Board (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, the National Highway Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, the Privatization Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, and the Establishment of Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Ordinance, 2023. Speaking on the point of order, SIC leader Omar Ayub Khan said the Opposition rejected the ordinances. He requested the Speaker to take pictures of those in favour of the ordinances, as those were "passed to sell Pakistan." Khan stressed that the lawmakers must first see what the ordinance was, according to Geo News report. Questioning the lawmakers on the Treasury benches, he said, "Tell me what it was, tell me under oath how many people in the House have read it." He said an ordinance related to privatisation was introduced in the Pakistan's National Assembly. He said that even Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members did not know what they were doing. "There are talks of selling these institutions of Pakistan, we are going on record on that," Omar Ayub Khan said. Amid disruptions by the Opposition in the House, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq held counting of votes on the extension of Ordinances. During the voting, 130 votes were in favour of the resolution and 63 were against it. Responding to the point of order, Azam Nazeer Tarar said pictures should be taken of those who were committing treason against Pakistan and writing letters to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said the opposition leaders should read the ordinance first before making remarks about it, Geo News reported. Earlier, in February, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging the global lender to endorse an audit of the elections conducted on February 8 for the sake of political stability in the country, before the start of its negotiations with Pakistan government over a new bailout package, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. He asked the Opposition to stand for Pakistan and not behind a 'prisoner'. The SIC members tore documents which enraged the speaker. Ayaz Sadiq said if it happened again, he would be forced to take disciplinary action, Geo News reported. Pakistan's law Minister said the government will seek the views of the allied parties. He said that they legislated after extending old ordinances, adding that they would take the House into confidence on the legislation. Ayaz Sadiq referred the bills to the relevant committee, according to the report. (ANI) India has strongly condemned all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia as it stands against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-sikh sentiments, the country's permanent representative to the UN said warning against dividing the global body into religious camps. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly during the adoption of a resolution 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said that phobia pertaining to one's religion or faith extends beyond the Abrahamic religions. "India stands against all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-sikh sentiments," Kamboj said. She further explained India's position on the resolution on 'Measures to combat Islamophobia' and said, "In our world today, we are confronted with escalating geopolitical tensions and unequal developments resulting in a concerning rise in intolerance, discrimination, and violence based on religion or belief." "India, as a proud champion of pluralism, firmly upholds the principle of equal protection and promotion of all religions and all faiths," she added. Kamboj emphasised that India's rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation embracing diverse religions has long served as a refuge for those persecuted for their faith. Highlighting the "Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava", she said whether Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews, or adherents of any other belief, they have consistently found in India, a sanctuary free from persecution or discrimination. "At the heart of this ethos is our principle of Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava, encapsulating indian secularism and affirming the inherent goodness of all religions, each deserving of equal respect," she said. This principle isn't merely a facet of our culture, it is firmly enshrined within the constitution of India, Kamboj added. She further strongly condemned the acts motivated by antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia. "It is therefore with deep concern, that we observe the growing manifestation of intolerance, discrimination, and violence against followers of various religions. We condemn all acts motivated by antisemitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia," she said. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that such phobias extend beyond the Abrahamic religions, Kamboj said. The term Abrahamic religion is a category to group the three major religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam together. "Clear evidence shows that over decades, followers of non-Abrahamic religions have also been affected by religiophobia. This has led to the emergence of contemporary forms of religiophobia, particularly anti-Islam, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh elements," she added. Highlighting the increasing attacks on religious places of worship, Kamboj said that these contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident through such attacks on gurudwaras, monasteries, and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries. "The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of Gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in Gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples, all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against nonabrahamic religions," Kamboj said. She further stressed that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism, with more than 535 million and Sikhism, with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religiophobia. "It is time that we acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia rather than just single out one," Kamboj emphasised. Kamboj during the general assembly, urged, "I would ask all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally." While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, however, other religions are also facing discrimination and violence. Kamboj further said that allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality. Moreover, these substantial budgetary implications of establishing such a position prompt us to pause and reflect on whether this is the most effective use of resources. Highlighting on appointing a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia, Kamboj said, "We are in principle opposed to the creation of the post of a special envoy based on a special religion." "We trust that the resolution adopted today does not establish a precedent that could result in numerous resolutions centred on phobias tied to specific religions, potentially dividing the United Nations into religious camps," she stressed. Kamboj emphasised the need for the United Nations to maintain its stance above such religious concerns, which have the potential to fragment us rather than unite us under the banner of peace and harmony, embracing the world as one global family. Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, introduced the resolution on Measures to combat Islamophobia during the 62nd plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the Culture of peace. (ANI) In a daring operation to safeguard maritime security, the Indian Navy successfully thwarted Somali pirates from using a ex-merchant vessel Ruen to hijack ships traversing the region, the Indian Navy spokesperson said. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been commandeered by Somali pirates on December 14, 2023, was reported to have reappeared as a pirate vessel, threatening merchant shipping in the high seas. Responding swiftly to the threat, an Indian Navy warship engaged the pirate vessel on March 15. According to a statement issued by the Indian Navy, it was revealed that upon interception, the Ruen when intercepted opened fire on the Naval warship, prompting a response from naval officials. https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1768845479390130611 Acting in strict accordance with international law and protocols governing maritime security, the Indian Navy retaliated with minimal force necessary to neutralize the pirate threat and ensure the safety of seafarers and shipping lanes. "#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high seas," the Navy said in a post on social media platform X. "The vessel was intercepted by the #IndianNavy warship on #15Mar. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions iaw international law, in self-defence & to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates' threat to shipping and seafarers. The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender & release the vessel & any civilians they may be holding against their will," it said. The pirates aboard the vessel have been called upon by the Indian Navy to surrender immediately and release any civilians they may be holding against their will. The Indian Navy reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers navigating through these perilous waters. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India's resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Bhutan counterpart PM Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay have agreed to expand the existing India-Bhutan energy partnership to non-hydro renewables, such as solar and wind as well as green initiatives for hydrogen and e-mobility besides energy efficiency and conservation measures. The two sides reaffirmed the significance of cooperating closely in the energy sector. A joint statement on the official visit of Bhutan Prime Minister Tobgay to India read, "At the invitation of PM Modi, PM of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay accompanied by his wife Tashi Doma is on an official visit to India from March 14-18, 2024. This is Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's first overseas visit after assuming office in January 2024." Hydro-power cooperation has been an important pillar of India-Bhutan bilateral economic partnership. Both Prime Ministers reiterated their firm commitment to expanding hydro-power cooperation and directed their officials to hold expeditious consultations on implementation modalities for new projects, the statement also read. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the progress in construction of the 1020 MW Punatshangchhu-II hydro power project and looked forward to its commissioning in 2024. They noted with satisfaction the progress made towards finding a technically safe and cost-effective way forward on the Punatsangchhu-I hydro power project, it added. Prime Minister Tobgay is accompanied by Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment as well as senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and regional issues of mutual interest, according to the joint statement. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy RK Singh and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on Prime Minister of Bhutan. Both sides noted the contribution of Indian teachers for strengthening STEM pedagogy in Bhutan. Both sides agreed that they will expand India-Bhutan partnership in education sector, thereby strengthening the vibrant people to people relations that are at the heart of the India-Bhutan friendship. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay thanked Prime Minister Modi for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation. Recalling the unique civilisational and historical ties of friendship, he reiterated his government's commitment to working with the Government of India to strengthen bilateral ties, the joint statement also read. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 16 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has visited the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in Abu Dhabi to mark Emirati Children's Day. The event is celebrated annually in the UAE on March 15. During the tour, Nahyan was briefed on the council's ongoing efforts and initiatives to further support motherhood and childcare, under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (The Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF). He was briefed on the council's programmes aimed at enhancing mothers' and children's well-being, particularly in education, health, culture, society and mental health, as well as enhancing their security and safety, evaluating development plans that ensure their welfare, and implementing studies and research to help strengthen the childcare and motherhood services ecosystem. He also met with members of the Children's Advisory Council, the Emirati Children's Parliament and UNICEF's Youth Climate Ambassadors for COP28, highlighting their role as exceptional role models of determination and testament to the leadership's commitment to cultivating new generations equipped to maintain the nation's progress. He highlighted the leadership's focus on investing in building a secure and nurturing environment for children, acknowledging their pivotal role as the bedrock of the nation's future. Nahyan added that as leaders of tomorrow and architects of the future, children inherit the responsibility of advancing the nation's achievements and fulfilling its ambitions. The young members presented the council's efforts to empower children and develop national policies and strategies to safeguard the rights of mothers and children, as well as enhance their quality of life. The presentation also reviewed cooperation efforts between the council and various government and private entities to launch initiatives and projects that aim to improve healthcare and education services for children. At the end of the tour, Nahyan praised the achievements of the council and emphasised that the council's achievements reflect the support of the country's leadership, which has always prioritised mothers and children, and the commitment of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak to ensuring their care and building a healthy environment in which to raise children in line with traditional values. He was accompanied by Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development; Sara Awadh Issa Musallam, Minister of State for Early Education and Chairwoman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge; and Saif Saeed Ghobash, Secretary-General of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. During the visit, Al Reem bint Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, emphasised that the council, under the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, works alongside its cross-sector partners to ensure the UAE remains at the forefront of efforts to protect children's rights and raise awareness about the importance of healthcare and early childhood education, as well as children's psychological and social development, applying best practices and developing new policies and strategies that factor in future challenges. Al Falasi confirmed that the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood operates in line with a clear strategic vision aimed at ensuring the rights of mothers and children, unifying efforts to provide the best services and programmes that ensure children's growth and development in a safe and stimulating environment, and building a society that cares for and protects mothers and children. (ANI/WAM) US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a joint appearance, urged the lawmakers to pass assistance for Ukraine which is facing an uncertain path forward in the House, reported The Hill. Biden, speaking at the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon to mark St. Patrick's Day, expressed his appreciation for Ireland's commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine during its war with Russia and to the people of Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. "I'm committed to continuing to do our part," Biden said to the room of bipartisan lawmakers, where, Hojnson was also present. "I'm confident the vast majority -- and excuse me for saying this -- but I think a vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part. And I continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin. He's a thug," Biden added. After hearing his statement, those present in the room, including the Speaker, applauded, reported The Hill. Biden further called on the House to send him the national security supplemental that passed the Senate in a 67-32 vote last month. The legislation included USD 60 billion in aid for Ukraine, and funding for Israel, along with funds for humanitarian assistance in Gaza. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has not brought it up in the House for a vote, according to The Hill. "It sends a clear message that America stands up for freedom and we bow down to no one. To no one in the world," Biden said. Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach of Ireland, echoed Biden's calls to provide aid to Ukraine to better prepare themselves for Russia's attempt at invasion, which began in February 2022. "Ukraine must not fall, and together we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes," Varadkar said. Friday's public plea comes as Johnson has signalled that he plans to move on aid for Ukraine but has not disclosed details of what the package would look like, with a growing contingent of his conference opposed to sending any assistance to the embattled US ally, The Hill reported. He further said that the chamber is first focusing on completing the government funding process. At the House GOP retreat in West Virginia this week, Johnson said "I understand the timetable and I understand the urgency of the funding," but once against, he cast doubt on the Senate supplemental. He said that the lower chamber will "work the will of the House" and is "processing through all the various options right now," warning that the ultimate product "may not look exactly like the Senate supplemental." (ANI) Jamil Maqsood, the secretary of foreign affairs for the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) highlighted the challenges faced by the people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan during the 31st meeting-55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. In an oral intervention during the UNHRC session meeting on Friday, Maqsood brought forward the challenges faced by the people of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan in economic and political domains. The citizens of these areas have been regularly demanding their rights from the Pakistan administration, however, no weightage is being given to address their demands. During the session intervention, Maqsood said, " I'm focusing on, social, political, and economic rights including the right to development in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. It is imperative to acknowledge the existing challenges and Pakistan's shortcomings in these crucial areas." He further said that the right to development is a fundamental human right, encompassing economic, social, and cultural progress. "In the context of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan, there have been persistent concerns regarding the fulfilment of these rights. Despite the region's strategic significance, there is a pressing need for inclusive development policies that prioritize the well-being of the local population. Socially, the people of these regions deserve equitable access to education, healthcare, and other basic services," he added. In his statement, the UKPNP member also emphasised the need to address such economic disparities and ensure that the benefits of development reach all segments of the population. "Political rights, including participation and representation, must be ensured to foster a truly democratic society. Unfortunately, instances of restricted political freedoms and limited representation have been observed, indicating a gap in meeting international standards. Economically sustainable development is essential for the prosperity of these regions. It is crucial to address economic disparities and ensure that the benefits of development reach all segments of the population," he said. While referring to the country's failure in the economic domain Maqsoor said that Pakistan's failure in these economic aspects has contributed to a sense of marginalization among the people of POK and Gilgit-Baltistan. "As we discuss these concerns, it is important to emphasise the significance of international cooperation and accountability. The United Nations plays a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue and encouraging member states to uphold human rights standards. It is incumbent upon Pakistan to reevaluate its policies, ensuring that the Right to Development is safeguarded in these regions," he added. While concluding his remarks, Maqsood said "The international community must continue to advocate for the rights of the people in PoK and GB. By holding Pakistan accountable for its failures in these areas, we can strive for a future where every individual enjoys the social, political, and economic rights enshrined in the principles of the United Nations." Additionally, he said that it is crucial to the internationally recognised peaceful movement of the people belonging to both peripheries in PoK and GB where people have been protesting for their fundamental rights and freedom since March 2023. "The local administration is unable to meet the demands submitted by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee. Because under the 3rd schedule of the interim constitution of 1974, all those subjects fall under the jurisdiction of Pakistan. Pakistan must ensure all rightful subsidies to our people including fulfilling their economic needs and Development" he added. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu attended the Global Spirituality Mahotsav, an event aimed at fostering interfaith dialogue and understanding, which has brought together a diverse array of religious leaders from around the world. Organised by the International Buddhist Confederation, the event has witnessed the participation of leaders representing various faiths, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and more. Abhijeet Haldar, the Director-General of the International Buddhist Confederation, expressed the significance of the event in promoting peace and harmony among different religious communities. He highlighted the importance of dialogue and collaboration in addressing global challenges and achieving world peace. The Mahotsav features a range of programs and exhibitions showcasing different aspects of spirituality and religious traditions. One of the highlights is an exhibition featuring relics related to the life of Gautam Buddha, obtained from the India International Centre and the National Museum in Delhi. Additionally, there are displays of photographs depicting the life of Buddha, sourced from the National Museum, providing visitors with insights into Buddhist history and philosophy. Furthermore, attendees have the opportunity to explore Mandal art, a traditional form of art characterized by intricate designs and patterns. An expert team is on hand to guide visitors through the significance and beauty of Mandal art, showcasing the richness of cultural heritage associated with spirituality. The Ministry of Culture (Special Cell) and Heartfulness are holding a one-of-a-kind spiritual congregation, called the Global Spirituality Mahotsav from March 14 to 17 at Kanha Shanti Vanam, the headquarters of Heartfulness, situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad. At a press conference held on March 9 in Hyderabad, Chief Guests, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North-Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy announced the upcoming Global Spirituality Mahotsav and its significance. The President of India Droupadi Murmu graced the summit on 15 and 16 March respectively. The four-day spirituality summit being brought by the Ministry of Culture and Heartfulness has the theme of "Inner Peace to World Peace". The conference aims to bring interfaith dialogues and help people of every age and every walk of life connect with spirituality in daily life. (ANI) Prominent Baloch political activist and leader, Naela Quadri Baloch on Friday participated in the 31st meeting of the ongoing 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Speaking at the session, Naela highlighted the suppression by Pakistan administration of the people of Balochistan and how the so-called multi-billion dollar projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor have now become a testament to the struggle of the Baloch community. "The people of Balochistan are now fighting for all human rights, including right to life with freedom. Our sovereign rights, lands, ports, and resources have been removed. We are not part of any development as planners or beneficiaries. The China-Pakistan-Iran Economic Corridor has become a death sentence for the Baloch people. In the name of mega projects, our villages are being demolished, and our people are being displaced, raising their voices against the injustices has resulted in a genocide," she said. "The occupier state of Pakistan and Iran now seem to be licensed to kill rape and forcibly disappear us. The bombing of the civil populations in Bolan to Jamma e Khuni Dozhab Zahidan Masscare, rape of Ms Zarina Marie to the rape of 15-year-old girl child Maho Baloch is an unchecked unaccountable series of the horrific state of violence on voiceless Baloch people. Mass graves and overfilled secret torture cells are waiting for the United Nations' interventions," she added. "As a special reporter of peacekeeping and fact-finding missions, you promised that there will be no genocide, however, genocide is going on in Balochistan. If your signals for genocide are not beeping, we are here to inform you and ask you for urgent intervention, to save the Baloch from atrocities and genocide before it's too late," she said further. Naela regularly raises her voice against Pakistan's atrocities upon the people of Balochistan. Previously, Naela in an interview with ANI stated that "Professor Naela Quadri Baloch, Balochistan's PM-in-exile, has called Pakistan a slayer and not a saviour of Muslims due to its continuing atrocities in Balochistan, Sindh and occupied territories of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistan. Prof. Naela asked India and other countries to keep pressurizing Islamabad to stop sponsoring terrorism, extremism and not to violate human rights. "The condition of controlling or stopping terrorism as a base for any dialogue from India means this dialogue will never happen because if they stop terrorism it's like they stop breathing. So, it will never happen," she said. "What we as Baloch want to add here is that any international body, any neighbouring country or any world power just like India if they talk to Pakistan, Balochistan's ongoing genocide should be one of the points. Stop genocide, stop the military operation in Balochistan," she added. (ANI) In a relief for Pakistan journalist Asad Toor, the Islamabad trial court on Saturday approved his bail in a case about an online campaign against the judiciary, Dawn reported. The Pakistan-based news daily reported that the Pakistan caretaker government had established a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe an alleged social media campaign against the judiciary following the Supreme Court's ruling that stripped PTI party of its bat symbol. According to the FIR (first information report), Toor was booked under Sections 9, 10 and 24 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), which deal with the offences of glorification of an offence, cyber terrorism and cyberstalking. The FIR stated that Toor "built a false narrative" and publically launched a "malicious/obnoxious and explicit campaign" against "civil servants/government officials and state institutions". This investigation led to the questioning of journalist Toor by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials for nearly eight hours on Feb 23, despite previous assurances to the Supreme Court that no action would be taken against journalists before the general elections. Toor was later arrested on Feb 26 and faced charges under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for allegedly launching a malicious campaign against state institutions, leading to his being remanded into custody and eventually to jail. As the case developed, the Islamabad High Court intervened, ordering an expedited bail hearing for Toor, which had been postponed to March 18 due to the investigating officer's illness. This legal drama unfolded amid calls from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for Toor's immediate release and an end to his harassment, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression and the press in Pakistan. Today, Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar conducted the hearing of the case. The petitioner, Toor, was represented by Advocates Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chatha. The investigation officer of the case and FIA prosecutor, Ashfaq Hussain Shah were also present in court with the relevant case records, Dawn reported. In today's hearing, Advocate Chatha submitted the Supreme Court's observation that journalists should not be booked over a social media campaign against superior judges.Pause At this, Judge Dilawar asked the investigation officer of the case and the FIA prosecutor if the Supreme Court's observation being referred to was true. "Yes this observation is true," the FIA official told the court. Subsequently, the court accepted Toor's bail plea against surety bonds of Pakistan currency (PKR) 5,000. Reacting to the development, journalist Hamid Mir stated that Toor's bail approval proved that "all allegations were a pack of lies". In a post on X, he said, "Judge Humayun Dilawar ordered the release of journalist Asad Toor today but what about those who registered a fake case against the journalist? "What about the 10-day physical remand given to FIA for the investigation? What about the anti-state allegations in the FIR? It is now proved that all allegations were a pack of lies." Barrister Ahsan J Pirzada lauded Toor's counsel for the approval of Toor's bail plea. "Alhumdullilah, 20 days after his arrest, Asad Ali Toor has been granted bail by the FIA court. Congrats to everyone, especially Imaan Hazir and Hadi Chatha. The way they both fought, despite numerous hurdles, is a testament to their courage, determination, professionalism and friendship," he posted on X. (ANI) The chairman of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, on Friday highlighted the issue of the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). "Our organization is deeply concerned about the grave human rights violations in PoK and GB, where residents are deprived of their fundamental rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development. Peaceful activists and members of civil society are targeted by state and law enforcement agencies, and extremist outfits with impunity," she said while speaking at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. According to reports, the Pakistani Army and officials of security services are engaged in illegal land grabbing in the region. In such troublesome circumstances, the opening of the Skardu-Kargil road has been demanded by the people of GB, who feel that it is the only way to lessen the darkness in their lives. "Pakistan's military and law enforcement agencies are engaged in aggressive land grabbing in PoK and GB, occupying hills tops, tourist resorts, disrupting lives, and livelihoods, it is causing irreversible environmental damage," Kashmiri said. "There are widespread protests in Gilgit Baltistan against the government over issues such as load shedding, poor education, and unemployment. The fact that Pok and Gilgit Baltistan's leadership have partnered with the Islamabad regime to plunder resources has left the populace disillusioned. In recent years, the situation has deteriorated further, with a sharp increase in reports of human rights abuses. In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, there have been strict restrictions on freedom of expression, association, assembly and publication," she added. "Our organization urges the UN to establish a fact-finding mission for POK and Gilgit Baltistan, using its authority to encourage cooperation from state parties. The crimes perpetrated by so-called Jihadists must be investigated, and those victimized by proxy wars must be duly compensated by Pakistan," Kashmiri said further. (ANI) This comes after the onboard crew shared information of the presence of a large number of pirates on the vessel, to which the Indian Navy responded with the launch of an operation to rescue them. According to the Indian Navy, the Marine Commandos have established communication with pirates and warned them to surrender. https://x.com/indiannavy/status/1768845479390130611?s=20 Additionally, if the pirates don't surrender, the Navy has given permission to commandos to take action against them. As per inputs, the number of pirates on the hijacked vessel MV Ruen has been found to be more than 30. The operation being done over 2,800 km from the Indian shores is expected to be over soon with a large team of Marine Commandos involved in it. Further details awaited. (ANI) Tearing into Pakistan after its ambassador at the United Nations raised the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the General Assembly, India's permanent envoy to the world body, Ruchira Kamboj, said the country's delegation, like a 'broken record', remains stagnant while the world progresses. Hitting back at the Pakistani delegation after it brought up the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla at His grand abode in Ayodhya and the CAA to have a go at India, Kamnoj said it was 'unfortunate' that the delegation of the neighbouring country had a 'limited and misguided' perspective on matters related to India. The grand opening of the Ram Temple on December 22, last year drew global eyeballs and saw a long line of VVIP guests from across the country and overseas descend on the ancient temple town of Uttar Pradesh, while the CAA guarantees Indian citizenship to members of persecuted religious minorities from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who are currently living in the country as refugees. Articulating India's position after it abstained from the adoption of a resolution on 'Measures to Combat Islamophobia' at the UNGA, Kamboj, responding to the Pakistani envoy, said, "This concerns a delegation that, much like a broken record, remains sadly stagnant while the world progresses." "It is unfortunate indeed to witness this delegation's limited and misguided perspective on matters relating to my country, the more so when the General Assembly considers a matter that demands wisdom, depth, and a global outlook from the entire membership, perhaps not the forte of this delegation," she added, in an unsparing counter to Pakistan. Raising the hackles in the Indian contingent at the world body, Pakistan's Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Munir Akram, in his address at the UNGA earlier brought up the 'Pran Pratishtha' or the ceremonial enthronement of Ram Lalla at His abode in Ayodhya and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Akram introduced the resolution on 'Measures to Combat Islamophobia' during the 62nd plenary meeting of the General Assembly. The UNGA adopted the resolution, with 115 nations voting in favour and 44, including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, India, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, abstaining. Kamboj responded to Pakistan, saying that India strongly condemns all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as much as it stands against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-Sikh sentiments. India's permanent representative at the UN also warned against dividing the global body into religious camps while stressing the country's "rich history as a pluralistic and democratic nation embracing diverse religions has long served as a refuge for those persecuted for their faith". "India stands against all forms of religiophobia, be it anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, or Islamophobia, as we stand against all anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, and anti-sikh sentiments," Kamboj said. "In our world today, we are confronted with escalating geopolitical tensions and unequal developments resulting in a concerning rise in intolerance, discrimination, and violence based on religion or belief," she added. "India, as a proud champion of pluralism, firmly upholds the principle of equal protection and promotion of all religions and all faiths," the permanent Indian representative at the UN stated further. Underscoring the larger message of 'Sarva Dharma Samabhava', which loosely translates to tolerance for all faiths, she said be it Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews, or adherents of any other belief, they have consistently found India to be a sanctuary free from persecution or discrimination. She added that 1.2 billion followers of Hinuism, as well as 35 million and 30 million followers of Buddhism and Sikhism globally, have experienced 'religiophobia'. "It is time that we acknowledge the prevalence of religiophobia rather than just single out one," Kamboj said. Further, in her remarks at the UNGA, India's permanent envoy to the world body said, "I would ask all member states to consider the broader scope of religious discrimination that persists globally."While the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, however, other religions are also facing discrimination and violence." She added that allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia while neglecting similar challenges faced by other faiths, might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality. Highlighting the increasing attacks on religious places of worship, Kamboj said these contemporary forms of religiophobia are evident through such attacks on gurudwaras, monasteries, and temples, as well as the spreading of hatred and disinformation against non-Abrahamic religions in many countries. "The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, violations of Gurudwara premises, massacres of Sikh pilgrims in Gurudwaras, attacks on temples, and the glorification of breaking idols in temples, all contribute to the rise of contemporary forms of religiophobia against nonabrahamic religions," Kamboj said. (ANI) All schools and colleges in parts of Russia's Belgorod will remain shut on Monday and Tuesday after a rise in Ukrainian attacks on the region, CNN reported, citing the region's governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. In the statement issued on Telegram, Gladkov stated that shopping malls will also remain closed on Sunday and Monday. The impacted districts lie near the border with Ukraine. The frequent attacks have brought the conflict in Ukraine to the people of Russia largely isolated from the war. On Saturday, Ukraine's Spy Chief Kyrylo Budanov said Russians are among the sabotage groups attacking Belgorod and Kursk, which shares the border with Ukraine, according to CNN. "This is a story about how Russians solve this domestic issue. We may like some of them more, others less. But still, both are Russians," Budanov said, adding that the attacks will continue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the attacks carried out on the Belgorod and Kursk regions have been largely unsuccessful. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being constantly updated on the situation, CNN reported citing Russian state news RIA Novosti. In his earlier statement, Belgorod's governor Gladkov stressed that the situation in the city and Belgorod district was 'quite difficult', adding, "Naturally, the issue of safety is the most important for all of us. It is clear that teachers, nannies and technical staff are all worried." Schools and colleges in the impacted districts have been closed since Tuesday evening last week, when Gladkov announced students would be having "days of self-learning" through Friday. At the time of the announcement, he said he hoped schools would be able to begin normal activities on Monday, CNN reported. Since the first half of 2023, Ukraine has been attacking Russia's Belgorod region off and on, according to reports. However, Ukraine has scaled up shelling and strikes about a week ago. People in Belgorod, as well as other parts of Russia, are presently voting for the Presidential elections. Meanwhile, voting continued in Russia for a second day on Saturday, with authorities apprehending several Russians for carrying out acts of civil disobedience. On Saturday, Gladkov said two people, including a truck driver whose vehicle was hit by a shell, were killed in early morning attacks. In a post on Telegram on Saturday, Russia's Defence Ministry said Russian forces repelled Ukraine fighters attempts to infiltrate the country in several areas, saying that it had conducted "a complex fire attack on concentrations of enemy manpower and equipment". Local residents in Belgorod have been sharing images and videos on local social media platforms, showing explosions in the city and fires burning outside residential buildings where Ukrainian strikes have taken place, CNN reported. Earlier this week, Ukrainian groups of Russian fighters mounted a cross-border attack in Belgorod while heavy drone strikes and shelling were also reported in the city. (ANI) (KRON) Two people are in custody after shooting at police after a traffic stop, the Benicia Police Department said. Benicia police officers conducted a traffic stop on I-780 due to an Automated License Plate Reader alert at 9:22 p.m. on Friday of a vehicle involved in a previous armed robbery. Roasted and Raw in Oakland burglarized for 3rd time in 3 years Police conducted a traffic stop, but the suspects vehicle fled onto 780 and fired shots at the officers before driving away. Officers fired back before the suspect vehicle crashed at the bottom of the eastbound off-ramp at Military West, officials said. Police said that one suspect was immediately taken into custody while the other ran back toward the freeway and hid in the bushes. With assistance from California Highway Patrol helicopters, police were able to locate him and take the second suspect into custody. Police apprehended two suspects and believe there may be a third suspect. Due to officers searching the freeways median between the Military West exit and Southampton on-ramp, I-780 was closed in both directions from Columbus Parkway and Rose Drive to Southampton Road. At 4:39 a.m. on Saturday, westbound and eastbound I-780 are open for travel. The on and off ramps at Military West opened as well at 5:21 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. As he gears up for the 2024 election, presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump met with an old ally: Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary who has triggered a democratic backslide in his country. Mr Orban met with Mr Trump last week, bypassing any meetings with President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris despite stopping in Washington, DC where he visited with The Heritage Foundation, a powerful conservative think tank staffed by many former Trump administration officials. Their meeting came just one week before National Hungary Day when Mr Orban gave a speech condemning the Western world. They start wars, destroy worlds, redraw countries borders and graze on everything like locusts, Mr Orban told a crowd in Budapest, per the Associated Press. We Hungarians live differently and want to live differently. The exact details of the discussion between Mr Trump and Mr Orban are unclear. Mr Trumps campaign released a statement describing their conversation as focused on a wide range of issues affecting Hungary and the United States, including the paramount importance of strong and secure borders to protect the sovereignty of each nation. Regardless, the conversation clearly went well, with Mr Orban calling the former president his good friend on Monday. The same day, the Hungarian Prime Minister also praised Mr Trumps reported comment that he will not send any aid to Ukraine if elected. Meanwhile, Mr Trump has mentioned Mr Orban in several remarks, including a 2023 speech in which he wrongly referred to him as the President of Turkey. Even beyond Mr Trump, the GOP has a fixation with Hungary and Mr Orbans government. In 2022, former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson focused on Hungary, releasing a documentary that appeared to portray the country as a model for conservatism. More recently Carlson has been singing the praises of Vladimir Putins Russia both Mr Trump and Mr Orban have a close relationship with the Russian dictator. So, why do Mr Trump and Mr Orban get along so well? Experts tell The Independent its because Mr Trump wants to learn from Mr Orban if re-elected in 2024. Why is Donald Trump obsessed with Viktor Orban? The former President and Mr Orban have similar goals for the future world order making them eager allies, Robert Benson, a senior policy analyst with the Center for American Progress, told The Independent. Its no coincidence that someone like Viktor Orban is attempting to build a relationship with Stephen Miller, with Donald Trump, with the Maga Republicans on this side of the Atlantic, Dr Benson said. Because they see themselves in a civilizational battle for the future of what they call Western Civilization. This is steeped in anti-immigrant xenophobia, in right-wing nationalism, and in tropes about the nation-state. Mr Trump, of course, has made his far-right, anti-immigration stance clear since day one of his 2016 presidential campaign. Similarly, Mr Orban has expressed radical views on immigration since 2015 and in 2022, he said he did not want Hungarians to become peoples of mixed race. I am the only politician in the EU who stands for an openly anti-immigration policy, Mr Orban said. This is not a race issue for us, this is a cultural issue. Meanwhile, Kim Scheppele, Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University, sees the Trump-Orban relationship in a different light rather than plotting a new future for civilization, she says the two leaders are just opportunistic, transactionalists looking to cut a deal whenever it happens. Both of them are just transactional politicians, Dr Scheppele told The Independent. One of the reasons why both of them love dictators and dont like organizations like Nato, the EU and so on is because dictators are also transactional. They dont expect you to be loyal forever; everything is just a deal in the moment. Both Mr Trump and Mr Orban have expressed disdain for Nato and its processes. The former president has threatened to violate Nato by allowing Russia to attack member states; meanwhile, Mr Orban delayed a vote on Swedens membership for 18 months. As a result, the country was not admitted until this year. Mr Trump would not have to entirely pull out of Nato to reject their principles during a potential second presidency. As journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum wrote in The Atlantic, Mr Trump could simply reject Article 5, which states an attack against one Nato nation shall be considered an attack against them all. Though, as former United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said, a second Trump presidency could certainly mean the end of US Nato membership. Though he did not outright reject it, Mr Trump did not specifically endorse Article 5 at the 2017 Nato summit. Trump admires lots of dictators, but I think he admires them because they stay in power forever, because they look all powerful, but that mostly because their foreign policy doesnt tie them up in strings, Dr Scheppele said. Mr Trump has formerly expressed that he would be a dictator on day one of his potential second presidency. Orban becomes a model for this kind of foreign policy, Dr Scheppele continued. Now, Hungary is in a democratic backslide. Mr Orban has sought to undermine education, even targeting his former ally-turned-enemy George Soros, who founded Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Mr Orban forced Mr Soros who has become a hate figure to the hard right across the world over his support for civil society projects to relocate the university to Vienna in 2018. In 2022, the EU Parliament declared that Hungary could no longer be called a full democracy, labelling it an electoral autocracy. Lawmakers raised several concerns about the Hungarian government, including the lack of media pluralism, religious freedom and independence of the judiciary. Academic freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of association, the right to equal treatment, including LGBTIQ rights, the rights of minorities, as well as those of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, are also problematic, Parliament said in a statement. Then, in 2023, Hungary passed Mr Orbans Defence of National Sovereignty Act, which authorized the creation of a new government authority that can gather information on any organizations or individuals that benefit from foreign funds or that can influence public debate. Dr Scheppele called the law an authoritarian monster. Meanwhile, the European Commission said last month the law violated European Union law. What could this alliance mean if Mr Trump is re-elected? Practically, Dr Benson said a second Trump administration could bring withdrawals from international institutions. So, in the event that Trump were to win the presidency in 2024, he would probably withdraw from international institutions, Dr Benson told The Independent. Hes mentioned his disdain for NATO. This plays neatly into a playbook for Vladimir Putin, who is banking exactly on our domestic politics to be able to succeed in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Dr Scheppele pointed to Project 2025, a conservative playbook for the next presidential administration that calls for a series of actions to bolster a potential conservative presidency come the 2024 election. Its purpose is to avoid the mistakes of 2017 when Mr Trump first took office and the GOP was woefully underprepared. Along with replacing supposedly impartial federal officials with fellow conservatives, Project 2025 also calls for several policy revisions, such as re-adding the citizenship question to the US Census and reversing the FDA approval of abortion pills. Wes Coopersmith, the Chief of Staff for the Heritage Foundation who oversees Project 2025, told The Independent that replacing employees with GOP allies if Mr Trump is elected would be democratic. We think the most democratic way to run the administration is with folks who agree with the President, who voted for the president, who agree with his policies and want to implement that, Mr Coopersmith said. Mr Orbans success leading an authoritarian government relied on decapitating the civil service and replacing it with his extremist allies, which mirrors the Project 2025 strategy, Dr Scheppele said. In 2010, [Orban] came in and decapitated the civil service, replacing with all his own loyalists, reinstated Civil Service protection for them and captured the state bureaucracy that was a big part of how he went about locking himself into power, Dr Scheppele told The Independent. You see this as the blueprint for Trump. There is an ideological battle at play between liberal democracy and those who espouse a kind of perverted autocracy, Dr Benson said. Its clear that this is very much part of the stakes going into 2024 here at home, he continued. Inmates at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, an Oklahoma prison facility for women. If someone commits a crime, one basic goal of investigators and the court is to find out why and learn what factors controlled the situation. As of this week, Oklahoma is on a path to consider whether a person's exposure to domestic abuse could be a mitigating factor that affects how the state punishes them for committing that crime. Senate Bill 1470, which advanced unanimously in the Oklahoma Senate on Thursday, doesn't directly influence whether someone can be charged or prosecuted. Instead, details of a domestic abuse survivor's personal history can be used to reduce their sentence. "We are stating a policy in Oklahoma that domestic violence, physical abuse and sexual violence is unacceptable. Our levels are disparagingly high, and we must address that," said the bill's author and Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City. A similar bill passed through the House of Representatives last year but stalled late in session. 'Oklahoma is in the midst of a domestic violence crisis' According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about half of Oklahoma women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. The same study found that 41% of men are also survivors of abuse that can include physical violence, rape or stalking by an intimate partner. Oklahoma is in the midst of a domestic violence crisis, ranking first in the country in the perpetration of domestic violence and third in domestic homicides. At the same time, Oklahomas legal system is structured to punish survivors who defend themselves, said Tara Tyler, executive director of Ponca Citys Survivor Resource Network. The Oklahoma Survivors Act is a beacon of hope for domestic abuse survivors across the state." There are multiple cases of women in Oklahoma charged with murder, but who claim they killed an abuser because they feared for their life. April Wilkens is one of those women, currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder. More: Oklahoma remains among highest in nation in domestic violence homicides, report says In an op-ed written for The Oklahoman last year, Wilkens said she shot her ex-fiance after he handcuffed her, raped her and threatened to kill her. "As he lunged toward me, I shot him with one of his own guns and could not stop firing until the gun was empty. He was shot eight times. Later that day, a sexual assault nurse documented my numerous injuries, including bruises all over my body and vaginal tears," Wilkens wrote. The prosecution claimed her injuries happened during consensual sex. Since starting her life sentence 24 years ago, she's been denied parole four times and two commutation requests were refused. The proposed law doesn't apply to sentencing for sex crimes, elder neglect or child abuse. It also can't be used by those who have received the death penalty. Bill also could affect those currently in prison Along with guiding courts on how to sentence people in newly prosecuted crimes, those who are already in prison will be able to petition the court to examine their sentence in this new light, people like Wilkens. "It is incredibly important that we embrace trauma-informed sentencing," said state Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. "I think it is incredibly important that we continue to recognize that Oklahoma has the highest rate of domestic violence and domestic abuse, and that individuals who could currently be serving terms have been impacted by their abusers and yet our criminal justice system is not giving them adequate support to overcome their traumatic pasts. I think that this is an incredible step forward." While trauma-informed sentencing has been discussed in justice reform circles for a long time, legislatures have been slow to enact these kinds of reforms. If Oklahoma's bill becomes law, it would be only the second state in the nation behind New York, which enacted its own domestic violence survivor's law in 2019. "I think the universal support around this from everyone really shows that we can do reforms that make sense and that truly benefits the public and the interest of justice," said Alexandra Bailey, senior campaign strategist for the The Sentencing Project, a national advocacy organization. "This should be a very proud moment for Oklahoma." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Sentencing reform for domestic violence survivors advances in Senate After the army seized power in Niger last year, the president of its giant neighbour Nigeria was at the forefront of demands that the junta step down, even warning that the West African bloc could use military force to oust the generals, while imposing tough sanctions and closing the border. However just eight months later, Bola Tinubu has lifted all those restrictions. In many ways, it is a huge climbdown for the regional bloc, Ecowas, but it is also personally embarrassing for Mr Tinubu, analysts say. The warm welcome for the lifting of sanctions in both Niger and across the border in northern Nigeria also shows the unpopularity of his original, hard-line position. The about-turn was partly because Niger, along with its fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali, hugely increased the stakes by saying they would pull out of Ecowas altogether, raising serious questions about the bloc's future. The three countries had been suspended from Ecowas, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule. It seems Ecowas realised its waning influence after the trio went ahead to form an alliance, sever ties with France and forge closer relations with Russia. Nigerian political commentator Sani Bala thinks Mr Tinubu was too hasty eight months ago in trying to prove himself, and act like the "strong man". He had only been in office two months when Niger's coup took place and had just taken over as chairman of Ecowas. "It was a huge mistake from President Tinubu to impose those sanctions without fully appreciating the special relationship we have with Niger," the Kano-based analyst told the BBC. Mr Tinubu's own background - being forced into exile by a military regime in the 1990s - may have influenced his tough stance. Yet Mr Bala feels he should not have been so quick to act: "He should have consulted widely from the start." Mahmud Bawa, a political analyst in the city of Kaduna, agrees. "Bola [Tinubu] is too impulsive. He will act and think later - just like in his inaugural speech," he told the BBC. This is a reference to how the president announced that Nigeria's long-standing fuel subsidy would be ending - a seemingly off-hand remark during his inauguration ceremony at the end of May last year. It caused chaos at the time and the subsequent huge jump in the price of petrol has had huge knock-on costs for consumers. "He is facing the consequences now," said Mr Bawa, adding that the president has just had to suspend his student loan scheme, due to start this month, as the legislation was put together too hastily. "So I think this is embarrassing." Communities along the long Nigeria-Niger border have been worst affected by the sanctions The fact that the 71-year-old president had initially threatened military action against Niger was what really raised hackles. Nigeria and Niger share strong ethnic, economic and cultural ties, with families living either side of the border. Closing the border and cutting off the electricity, which caused blackouts in cities across Niger, also angered many. Trade suffered - and essentials such as cement could no longer be imported. The landlocked country depends on imports brought in by road. Hamidou Kalalabuwa, a small-time trader in Diffa, a city in south-eastern Niger on the border with Nigeria, said poor mainly Muslim communities on both sides had suffered most. "This is amazing news and even more special coming in the Ramadan month of fasting," he told the BBC. "In Hausa we have a saying 'bayan wuya sai dadi', which translates as 'after suffering comes relief'. This is a relief," he said. In Nigeria, business in the northern city of Kano - an economic hub for the region - was greatly affected because of the sanctions. The absence of businessmen from Niger, often in town to buy products to export, was keenly felt. Kano property developer Auwalu Yakasai is over the moon about Mr Tinubu's U-turn - given that the economy is suffering on multiple fronts. "It is good news and my hope is that the economy benefits and gets better," he told the BBC. This joyous response from both sides may give Nigeria's president some reprieve, Mr Bala says. "Niger has always been Nigeria's friend and this move will go a long way to repair the damaged relationship." You may also be interested in: TAIPEI, Taiwan This is not the first time that China has seen a frenzy over TikTok consume Washington. In 2020, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would have forced TikToks Chinese owners to sell the popular app. But China foiled a takeover bid by American buyers by slapping curbs on technology exports. Last year, Montana lawmakers enacted a ban on TikTok in the state, but a federal judge blocked the law before it could take effect. Now, U.S. lawmakers are again trying to force ByteDance, TikToks Chinese owner, to give up control of the app. On Wednesday, the House passed a bill, by a 352-65 vote, that would force ByteDance to either sell the app or see it banned in the United States. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times But the fervor has not yet triggered a high-alert response from Chinas leaders or prompted retaliatory threats against American companies. Instead, officials in Beijing have blasted the bill but largely reiterated common criticisms of U.S. policy as unfair to China. There are several reasons for their restraint, experts said. Despite the bills bipartisan support in the House, it faces an uncertain fate in the Senate. Trump, the expected Republican presidential nominee, has said he opposes the bill despite his 2020 executive order against TikTok. And China has legal tools it could use to try to block any sale. China is not ready to pull the trigger outright for a full-scale retaliation against what the United States is doing, said Scott Kennedy, a China specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. TikTok wields wide influence in the United States, particularly among younger people. It has an estimated 170 million users in the United States, up from 100 million in 2020. It has an even bigger global footprint, with an estimated 1 billion users across 140 countries. ByteDances Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, had more than 600 million daily active users by mid-2020, the last time it reported those statistics. In Washington, lawmakers say that Beijing could use TikTok to spread Chinese Communist Party messages or gain access to sensitive data about TikToks American users. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the House bill if it came to his desk. But Trumps opposition to the legislation has signaled to China that it can keep its powder dry. Trumps opposing view took the wind out of this bills sails, so there is reason for Beijing and ByteDance to believe this issue will eventually wither away, said Kevin Xu, the U.S.-based founder of Interconnected Capital, a hedge fund that invests in artificial intelligence technologies. TikTok says it has taken steps to protect American users data and privacy. It has proposed an arrangement to store U.S. user data on domestic servers controlled by Oracle. But that effort to address lawmakers security concerns has not come together, leaving absolutely zero trust between TikTok and Washington at this point, Xu said. Despite years of scrutiny, a Chinese company still owns TikTok. And even if lawmakers in Washington agree to force a sale, officials in Beijing have warned in the past that such a transaction would require their approval. In 2020, when a sale of TikTok to American investors, including Oracle and Microsoft, appeared to be close, the Chinese government asserted its authority over exports it considered sensitive; experts believe those rules encompass technology like the algorithm that powers TikTok. The move effectively scuttled attempts to put TikTok in the hands of American owners. The export controls mean China could block the sale of the very thing that makes TikTok so addictive its powerful algorithm that divines users interests to serve them video after video. Inside China, the belief among academics and commentators is that Beijing would not allow ByteDance to sell this technology to a foreign company. Any sale of TikTok without its core algorithm would leave a potential buyer with a much less appealing product, Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, said on the Chinese social media platform Weibo in a post Thursday that drew 184,000 views. Chinas state-controlled media circulated a statement Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that cited the treatment of TikTok as evidence of the United States double standards in protecting freedom of speech. On Chinas social media platforms, which are censored, the push in Washington has stoked outrage over the treatment of Chinese companies. On Weibo this week, TikTok fights back became a trending topic after the platform urged its users to mobilize against the House bill. Many commenters characterized the bill as theft and questioned the United States commitment to free market competition. They also worried the bill could be a template for Washington to use against other Chinese-owned technology companies. Can we really do business like this? asked Shen Yi, a scholar of cyberspace governance at Fudan University in Shanghai. The United States wielded the concept of national security as a gun to the head of any company from any country, saying: Sell it or find other companies to work with. Its for your own good, Shen said. At a news briefing Friday, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry, demurred when asked about the latest developments in the TikTok furor in Washington. We answered questions about TikTok yesterday, he said. c.2024 The New York Times Company Five of the six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District faced off at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York Thursday, March 14 in a forum sponsored by the Citizens Climate Lobby. The winner of the April 23 primary will face incumbent Republican Scott Perry in the November election. The candidates fielded questions about abortion rights, gun violence and, of course, climate change. As in past debates, the candidates largely agreed on general policy positions but differed on details and how they would approach the issues. Candidates John Broadhurst, Rick Coplen, Shamaine Daniels, Blake Lynch and Mike OBrien attended the forum, while Janelle Stelson did not. Learn more about the candidates: Who is running for the 10th Congressional seat currently held by Scott Perry? Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to run for Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District faced off at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York Thursday, March 14. Abortion rights All five candidates said they support protecting a womans right to choose. OBrien said there is no room for the government or Scott Perry in that decision. Daniels said she would focus on protecting the ability of women to get good healthcare. Lynch echoed the need to provide good care and said his time on the board of Hamilton Health Center showed his commitment on that front. Coplen said he would fight for a constitutional amendment protecting womens reproductive rights. Broadhurst said a better route than an amendment would be for Congress to circumscribe the U.S. Supreme Court so that it is not allowed to rule on reproductive rights. Climate change The candidates were asked how they would address the threat of climate change and whether they think bipartisan action is possible. Coplen said he thinks common ground can be found with Republicans by asking them to focus of the future of their children and grandchildren. He focused on incentives for green jobs and said he would support charging polluters and funneling dividends back to the people. Lynch agreed bipartisanship is possible on the issue, especially if Democrats are empathetic to the concerns of current fossil fuel industry workers. He said he would focus on helping GOP colleagues see that the science is real, and he noted the warm, early spring weather the day of the forum. Daniels said bipartisanship on the issue is possible because she knows Republicans who are concerned about the environment and she agreed with Lynch that fossil fuel workers should be protected as new policies are put in place to address climate change. OBrien said the issue really hit home for him when the first floor of his childrens school in San Diego, where he was serving in the military, was flooded by a heavy storm. If you need evidence climate change is happening, look at that, he said. Climate change is an issue that will define our generation, he added. Broadhurst was the only candidate who said he doesnt think bipartisanship is possible on the issue. He said the right is not interested in bipartisan action and the only path is Democratic majorities in Congress. He added that mealy-mouthed centrist Democrats, such as Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, have stymied a carbon tax. Gun violence All of the candidates supported to varying degrees recent high-profile measures seeking to curb gun violence, such as assault-style weapon bans, red flag laws and universal background checks. Broadhurst said hes fed up with elected officials who offer prayers and thoughts to mass shooting victims and their families but do nothing to combat the problem. Coplen said he would stop the sale of assault-style weapons but would not support taking them away from those who already own them. Daniels said that as a Harrisburg City Council member, she stood behind the citys gun restrictions, even as it was sued by gun rights groups. OBrien said he supports stopping the sale of assault-style weapons and initiating gun buyback programs. But Lynch, who noted he has worked extensively with police departments in the region, said gun buybacks dont work: Bad guys arent turning guns in. He would focus on giving law enforcement the resources they need. Upcoming forum: A Candidates Night to Listen The York Daily Record, York Dispatch, WITF and Pennlive are cosponsoring a forum for the 10th District candidates at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the main campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College, at 7 p.m. on March 25. The event will flip the traditional debate format on its head, with candidates listening to the concerns of voters before they get a chance to speak. Register to attend at march25th.eventbrite.com. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Candidates for PA 10th District talk abortion, climate change, guns MEADVILLE Weeks before Andy Byler returned to his eastern Crawford County home from scouting roofing jobs to find his young, pregnant wife murdered on the early afternoon of Feb. 26, he said his family had an unusual encounter with a stranger who came to the house late one night. Byler, 24, said he and his wife, 23-year-old Rebekah, were already in bed when a vehicle pulled onto their Fish Flats Road property with its lights off, and he heard someone running into the door. Byler said he grabbed his flashlight and went to see what the person wanted, and encountered a man who said he wanted to buy Byler's house. The man said he would be back the next day, but he never showed up, Byler said. When asked in a Crawford County courtroom Friday afternoon if he saw that man in court, Byler said yes, but not 100%. He then pointed across the room to where 52-year-old Corry resident Shawn C. Cranston was seated, wearing a protective vest over his dark blue prison uniform. The Pennsylvania State Police have charged Cranston with killing Rebekah Byler, who is Amish, by shooting her in the head and stabbing and cutting her neck sometime on the morning of Feb. 26. Her husband's tale of the strange man who wanted to buy their house, which Andy Byler recounted during Cranston's preliminary hearing inside the Crawford County Judicial Center, was the closest indication of a possible motive that Crawford County District Attorney Paula DiGiacomo presented during the five-hour hearing. Cranston, who remains in the Crawford County Correctional Facility without bond, is now facing trial on criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass after Titusville District Judge Amy Nicols bound over all charges following Friday's hearing. Corry resident Shawn C. Cranston is facing trial in the killing of a pregnant Amish woman in Sparta Township, Crawford County, on Feb. 26 after the charges he faces were held for court following a lengthy preliminary hearing in Meadville on Friday. Motive elusive as case centers on red Jeep How Cranston came to encounter Rebekah Byler before killing her, as state police allege, remains unclear. State police filed no affidavit of probable cause with the criminal complaint filed against Cranston on March 2, and affidavits filed with search warrants investigators served on the Byler home immediately after the discovery of Rebekah Byler's body did not stray beyond a description of the scene on Feb. 26. Much of the testimony DiGiacomo presented from 15 witnesses and investigators and through nearly 40 exhibits at Friday's hearing centered on a red Jeep that authorities say Cranston owned. Testimony started with Andy Byler, a neighbor and a woman who drives for Byler. According to their testimony, the three left the Byler home sometime after 8 a.m. on Feb. 26 and traveled to Saegertown and the Utica area to check on possible roofing jobs. When they returned home, the driver dropped off the neighbor first before she and Andy Byler arrived at the Byler residence. Once there, according to Julie Warner, the driver, Andy Byler went into the house and she went into the barn. She said she then heard Andy yelling that his wife was dead, and she told him she would get the children who were inside the house and call 911. The children, ages 3 and 2, were playing with their toys in the home's dining room, Warner said. She said she touched Rebekah Byler, and she was cold. A neighbor of the Bylers testified that she had seen a red Jeep pass her house at about 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 26. Another woman testified that she was driving a horse and buggy to pick up her sister when she saw a red car, which she identified as a Jeep from a photo DiGiacomo showed her, parked in front of the Byler home around 10 or 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 26. A man who said he was in the area of Sparta Township where the Bylers live while trying to sell a buggy testified that he also saw a red Jeep in the Bylers' driveway on the morning of Feb. 26. Connection to the community DiGiacomo then presented testimony from a woman who said that, in early December, Cranston provided a ride to herself and to her parents. Cranston was driving a black pickup truck that day, she said, adding that Cranston talked about speaking to someone about hunting on that person's property. The woman testified that Cranston returned to her family's home in January, driving a red Jeep. She said Cranston, who was wearing black clothing and sunglasses and had a gun by his side, said he wanted to go to church and asked when her church held services. Cranston then said if he was not there by Sunday morning, he wouldn't be going to church, the woman testified. A neighbor of Cranston's testified that Cranston had recently been driving a red Jeep belonging to Cranston's wife. He said on Feb. 28, Cranston asked the neighbor about some tires the neighbor had that Cranston wanted to put on the Jeep. The neighbor said the tires were dry-rotted and were too big for the Jeep, but the neighbor said he could have them. The neighbor said when he later viewed the Jeep after state police impounded the vehicle, the Jeep's two rear tires were the tires that Cranston had taken from his place. Connection to Cranston The testimony presented at Friday's hearing did not provide an answer to how state police came upon Cranston as a suspect. However, a state police trooper testified that he had interviewed the father of the woman who said Cranston had given the family a ride in December, and the father was asked if he knew anyone named Shawn. The father said he did, and gave the trooper contact information for Shawn, Trooper Michael Brenot testified. State police determined Shawn was Cranston, and when troopers drove by Cranston's house they noticed a red Jeep, according to Brenot. The Jeep drove off as troopers were speaking to Cranston's neighbors, and troopers followed it and took photographs of it, he said. DiGiacomo also presented testimony from a state police trooper with the agency's Forensic Services Unit who testified about finding distinctive shoe prints inside the Byler home that were suspected of being made by a Nike-style sneaker, and a piece of a glove in a trash can in the Bylers' kitchen. The trooper said a pair of Nike shoes with a similar tread pattern were found in a camper, under a mattress and a plywood door, at Cranston's residence. Police said a box of gloves and a glove found in the trash at Cranston's residence were similar to the piece of glove found in the Byler trash. Another state police trooper testified that tire tracks found outside of the Byler home were distinctive in that the tires that left them appeared to be balding on one side. A state police trooper who took photos of the tire treads on Cranston's Jeep testified that the treads were worn on the inside of the tires he photographed. A state police lieutenant who was asked to analyze cellular and GPS data testified that evidence from a cell tower and from a GPS system on Cranston's Jeep placed the vehicle and Cranston's cell phone at and near the Byler home around the time Rebekah Byler was believed to have been killed. The final testimony presented by DiGiacomo was from state police Trooper Samuel Hubbard, who charged Cranston in the homicide. He said an autopsy on Rebekah Byler determined she died of multiple sharp force injuries to her neck and a gunshot wound to the head, and that her death was estimated to have occurred between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Feb. 26. The age of the baby she was carrying was estimated to be between 21 and 25 weeks, Hubbard said. Hubbard narrated a series of surveillance video clips that were played in court that showed a red Jeep traveling in the area of the Byler home around the time of the killing and at Cranston's residence. One series of videos, from a car wash, showed a red Jeep being washed. It appeared in one clip that Cranston was vacuuming himself while cleaning the vehicle, Hubbard testified. He also said that Cranston is seen in the video wearing shoes that matched the Nike shoes state police later found at his residence. Video showed Cranston returning to his Corry home at about 2 p.m. on Feb. 26. He is seen continuing to clean his vehicle and appeared to be removing items from it, Hubbard said. Gary Kern, an assistant Crawford County public defender who is representing Cranston, asked Hubbard under cross-examination if state police had recovered any firearms connected to the homicide. Hubbard replied that state police are still in the process of trying to locate the firearm. When asked by Kern if authorities had recovered any cutting instruments, Hubbard replied that state police are still in the process of looking for them as well. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Jeep tied to defendant offered as key evidence in Amish woman's murder UN chief calls out social media for spread of Islamophobia Xinhua) 09:47, March 16, 2024 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a high-level event to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the UN Headquarters in New York, on March 15, 2024. Guterres on Friday called out social media for the spread of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called out social media for the spread of Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry. "Around the world, we see a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry," said Guterres. "We must call this what it is: hate -- plain and simple." Purveyors of hate speech are misusing the most powerful megaphone in history -- social media -- to amplify and spread their despicable ideologies. Online platforms have become breeding grounds for extremist ideologies and harassment, he told a high-level event to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. This not only deepens divisions. It fuels real-life violence, he warned. Sadly, this alarming trend is part of a wider pattern of supremacist ideologies and attacks against Jews, minority Christian communities and many others. Hatred of one group fuels hatred of another. Hate normalizes hate. Hate destroys the fabric of our societies. And hate undermines the equality, understanding and respect for human rights, upon which a peaceful future and a peaceful world depend, said Guterres. "We cannot stand on the sidelines while hatred and bigotry run wild. Today's event reminds us that we all have a responsibility to confront and root out the scourge of anti-Muslim bigotry," he said. Political leaders must lead the way and foster social cohesion, not fear. Governments must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom, in particular for minorities, he said. Digital platforms must moderate and prevent the spread of hateful content, while protecting users from harassment. Artificial intelligence must reduce biases and stereotypes, not reproduce and amplify them. All people must do their part to dismantle the walls of intolerance and division, he added. "As we stand united on this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let us renew our commitment to upholding the principles of equality, dignity, human rights and respect," he said. "Let us promote empathy and invest in social cohesion by embracing diversity as a strength rather than a source of division. And let us stand in solidarity with Muslims from around the world -- in this Holy Month of Ramadan and every day. Together, we can build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies where every individual, regardless of their faith, can live in harmony and peace." (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) The environmental impacts of spaceflight are becoming increasingly clear as more and more spacecraft are launched into Earth's orbit. The growing number of satellites burning up in Earth's atmosphere has concerned scientists for years, and now a new paper explores how the emerging shell of "conductive dust" around the planet that results from satellite re-entries may affect Earth's protective magnetic field. "We're surrounding the planet with trash," Sierra Solter-Hunt, an American physicist and PhD candidate at the University of Iceland, told Space.com. Solter-Hunt is the sole author of the new paper , which has been published in December 2023 as pre-print on the online repository Arxiv and is still awaiting peer-review. Since then, the paper has stirred discussions online. Solter-Hunt is happy about that, even though some consider her conclusions exaggerated. "I wanted to get the conversation started," she said. Related: Burned-up space junk pollutes Earth's upper atmosphere, NASA planes find Solter-Hunt came across the problem of increasing concentrations of metallic dust in Earth's upper atmosphere during her PhD research into "plasma dust." Plasma dust, she explains, arises from interactions of the fragile ionized gas that makes up Earth's upper atmosphere and the microscopic ash particles left behind from the burn-up of meteors that strike the planet as well as from satellites that spiral back after running out of fuel at the end of their missions. Meteors have been hitting Earth since the beginning of time, but their chemical composition is completely different from that of satellites. "Meteors only contain trace amounts of highly conductive metals" Solter-Hunt said. "Satellites, on the other hand, are basically entirely made of superconductive metals." 50 tons of space rocks evaporate in Earth's atmosphere every day, leaving behind about 450 kilograms of charged dust, according to Solter-Hunt's calculations. That is three times less than what a single re-entering Starlink satellite generates. Currently, about one old satellite perishes in Earth's atmosphere every day, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But as megaconstellation operators such as SpaceX's Starlink continue to build up their fleets, that number is set to grow. If SpaceX completes its second-generation Starlink constellation of 42,000 satellites as planned, Starlink satellites alone will be re-entering at a rate of 23 a day. That's because SpaceX foresees to regularly upgrade its fleet with newer, more capable spacecraft. "This is approximately 29 tons of satellite re-entry material every day, just for the Starlink megaconstellation," Solter-Hunt said. The researcher said that with current technology, it's hard to model how exactly this amount of conductive material will impact Earth's magnetic field. "Satellites are mostly made of aluminum and aluminum is a superconductor," Solter-Hunt said. "Superconductors are used for blocking, distorting or shielding of magnetic fields. My concern is that at some point in the future, this conductive dust could create some perturbations in the magnetosphere." A batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites including the first six with direct-to-cell capability that launched on Jan. 2, 2024. Already at this point, the returning human-made debris has created more conductive dust than is the mass of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, two regions above the planet where charged particles from the sun accumulate thanks to the effects of the planet's magnetic field. The inner and outer Van Allen belts extend between altitudes of 3,700 miles and 7,400 miles (6,000 and 12,000 kilometers) and 16,000 and 28,000 miles (25,000 to 45,000 km) respectively. The magnetic dust from re-entering satellites, on the other hand, accumulates much lower about 37 to 50 miles (60 and 80 km) above Earth's surface. Solter-Hunt thinks that the perturbations caused by the conductive shell could poke holes in Earth's protective magnetic shield, potentially allowing more harmful cosmic radiation to reach the planet's surface. An extreme, almost apocalyptic scenario could see the weakened magnetosphere allow solar wind to begin stripping away Earth's atmosphere as it had done to the atmosphere of Mars billions of years ago. That, however, is certainly not an immediate threat. wavy blue lines surround earth, repelling red lines that represent solar wind streaming from the sun Solter-Hunt is more concerned about effects on the ozone layer. When the aluminum from the satellites burns, it turns into aluminum oxides, a known ozone-depleting substance. The danger presented by megaconstellation debris to the ozone layer has been explored before by a research team led by Aaron Boley, an associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Boley, whose paper was published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, declined to comment on Solter-Hunt's paper in detail, but said it "opens up an important discussion." Karen Rosenlof, an atmospheric chemistry scientist at NOAA who has published papers on the effects of aluminum oxides from satellite re-entries on Earth's upper atmosphere, however, said the conclusions should be approached with caution. Scientists, including Rosenlof and Boley, have previously expressed concerns about the growing concentrations of satellite ash in Earth's atmosphere and how that might affect the planet in the long term. RELATED STORIES: Air pollution from reentering megaconstellation satellites could cause ozone hole 2.0 Satellites are burning up in the upper atmosphere and we still dont know what impact this will have on the Earths climate The rise of space tourism could affect Earth's climate in unforeseen ways, scientists worry In October 2023, another team reported detecting particles that come either from rocket exhaust or burnt space junk at altitudes of 11.8 miles (19 km) above Earth's surface using NASA's high-altitude research plane. Researchers think that these particles, due to their minuscule size, either stay in the atmosphere forever or take a very long time to fall back to Earth. With the increasing rate of rocket launches and satellite flights, their concentrations are likely set to steeply grow. Just like the growing concentrations of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, the consequences may only become obvious decades from now. "These megaconstellations will be constantly creating pollution," Solter-Hunt said. "There will be more and more of it and it's going to create some different chemical reactions and we have basically no understanding of it." Here are some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of March 10, supported by your subscriptions. Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com: David Ghigliotty shows his disappointing haul on a December day spent quahogging in Narragansett Bay. The hard-shell clam known in Rhode Island as the quahog is at the very heart of Ocean State culture. But the beloved bivalve is in crisis in Narragansett Bay, with plummeting harvests and a parallel decline in the number of shellfishermen who make their living from quahogging. Environmental reporter Alex Kuffner explores the problem from several angles in his three-part series, from a look back at the ebb and flow of the industry over the years, to the 2003 Greenwich Bay fish kill that marked a turning point for the quahog, to the competing theories about what's to blame for the drop-off and whether there's anything humans can do to turn things around. The industry has rebounded from setbacks before, but with the wildcard of climate change, the future is anything but certain. Put on a pot of clam chowder (while you still can), and read Alex's reporting, which looks at both the science of the issue and its human impact. Says David Ghigliotty, a 40-year veteran quahogger: "My life is the Bay." Environment: The quahog holds a dear place in RIs culture. Could its days be numbered? A Medal of Honor of unknown origin, credited to World War II paratrooper George J. Peters of Cranston, is on display at an American Legion post in Las Vegas. On March 24, 1945, paratrooper George J. Peters of Cranston and his stick of 10 other soldiers from the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment were among the first to jump into Nazi Germany as part of Operation Varsity, the largest airborne operation in history. Peters, 21, sacrificed his life that day while single-handedly charging a German machine gun nest, saving his comrades and their mission. He was posthumously awarded the nations highest military recognition the Medal of Honor which was presented to his parents and later donated for display in the Cranston elementary school that bears his name. The plot thickened in the 1970s, when a retired Army officer stumbled across a Medal of Honor for sale at a Cumberland flea market. A piece of paper inside the box identified the medal recipient as none other than George J. Peters. Where did the second medal come from? Therein lies a tale, shared by Veterans Voice columnist Frank Lennon. Veterans Voice: Medal mystery: Cranston soldier's WWII heroism earned military's highest honor twice The pallet-shelter Echo Village takes shape on state land off Route 146 in Providence. Alongside Route 146 and its on-ramp from Douglas Avenue in Providence, a collection of squat white buildings has appeared, with a new road leading down to the 4-acre clearing on state land where Echo Village is rising. These "pallet shelters" should, in the spring, become 45 temporary homes to Providence's, and the state's, ever-swelling unhoused and unsheltered population. House of Hope, the nonprofit hired by the state to run the project, says Echo Village will offer bathrooms, showers, a laundry facility and a community room in addition to the shelters themselves. "At the end of the day," says executive director Laura Jaworski, "we're building a dignified space that supports giving humanity back to people who've had it stripped away." Housing crisis: RI's first pallet shelters are going up in Providence. Here's what they're like. One of the first signs of spring in Rhode Island is the return of zeppole to bakery shelves. While the main day to eat zeppole is St. Joseph's Day, March 19, the cream-filled pastries started taking center stage in the display cases of Italian bakeries as soon as late February. While the zeppole is an Italian delicacy, it's also become a Rhode Island obsession since a surge in popularity in the 1960s and '70s that never waned. The Journal polled readers to find out their favorite spots to buy this seasonal delight. Read on to discover the places voters consider the cream of the crop. St. Joseph's Day: Zeppole are a huge deal in RI. Here are the best bakeries to get one, according to readers The Soupy Grinder at Westerly Packing in Westerly. Food editor Gail Ciampa does not mince words when it comes to her favorite lunch choice: It has to be a sandwich. Nothing satisfies in the middle of the day like a sandwich freshly made on crusty bread and wrapped just for you, she says. Done right, it's a work of art. Gail shares a winning lineup of sandwiches, both classics and local favorites, ranging from pastrami to dynamites, lobster rolls to chow mein sandwiches. Dig in. Food: Leave the cold cuts in the fridge and take this tour of RI's great sandwiches To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Journal top stories: Disappearing quahogs; Washington Bridge rebuild Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis with Nathan Wade, right, at a news conference in Atlanta on Aug. 14, 2023. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times) ATLANTA After revelations of Fani Willis romance with a subordinate sent the Georgia criminal case against former President Donald Trump down a two-month detour worthy of a soap opera, a judges ruling Friday resolved a major cliffhanger. Willis could continue prosecuting the case, so long as her ex-boyfriend withdrew from it. But the resignation hours later of the former boyfriend, Nathan Wade, whom Willis hired as a special prosecutor, only settled so much. A fresh and complicated array of problems lies ahead for Willis, and for one of the most significant state criminal cases in American history. Her troubles are far from over, Clark Cunningham, a law professor and ethics specialist at Georgia State University, said in an email Friday. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The defense effort to disqualify Willis began in early January, upending the case and making it unlikely to reach trial before the November rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden. Any attempts to appeal Fridays ruling by Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court could delay matters even further. Republicans have smelled blood. The GOP lawmakers who dominate Georgia politics have created new ways to investigate Willis, which could potentially lead to her removal from office. And last week, a young lawyer named Courtney Kramer, a former intern in the Trump White House, announced that she would run against Willis in this years race for district attorney. Kramers campaign, while unlikely to succeed in heavily Democratic Fulton County, could amplify criticism of Willis and the case, which charges Trump and some of his allies with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Trump has made Willis troubles a recurring talking point at rallies. One of his staunchest allies in Congress, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is chair of the House Judiciary committee, which has been investigating Willis and her prosecution of the former president. On Thursday, Jordan sent a letter to Willis threatening to invoke contempt of Congress proceedings against her if she did not turn over certain documents related to her offices use of federal funds. All of these attacks could help to sow doubts about Willis and her case in the minds of future jurors. As the pressure has mounted, Willis has responded with fierce defiance. Soon after news of the relationship broke, she gave a speech at a Black church in Atlanta, calling herself flawed, hardheaded and imperfect but also suggesting that her critics were motivated by racism. Just last week, at an International Womens Day event, she lashed out against idiots who criticized her and who mispronounced her name as Fanny its FAH-nee and recounted how a friend had recently asked if she regretted becoming district attorney. Are you kidding?, Willis recalled responding. Im the best DA this countys ever had. Cunningham said that even after Fridays ruling, Willis and her entire office could still be removed from the case if an appeal were to succeed, which would send it skidding into new realms of uncertainty and potential chaos. The judge, he noted, pointed to lingering questions about whether Willis and Wade testified untruthfully, even saying in his ruling that an odor of mendacity remains. Trump and his co-defendants will surely appeal, Cunningham said in his email, and Judge McAfees order gives plenty of basis for them to argue to the court of appeals that just removing Wade is an inadequate remedy. It is not clear how much Wades resignation sets back the case. Willis has described him as a longtime trusted ally. And as the manager of the Trump prosecution team since November 2021, he possesses a wealth of institutional knowledge that would have been particularly helpful if the case stretches out for months, or even years. At the same time, there is no evidence that Wade, a lawyer and former municipal court judge from the Atlanta suburbs, ever handled a major political corruption case before Willis hired him. Indeed, his scant experience was a key argument in the original motion to disqualify Willis. Ashleigh Merchant, the defense lawyer who filed the motion, claimed that Willis had hired an underqualified boyfriend, paid him handsomely from public coffers, and then benefited from vacations that she and Wade took together. A more serious problem for Willis and the case may lie in the new state commission that has the power to investigate and remove elected prosecutors. The commission, made up of Republican appointees, was created last year but was stymied by legal problems that the legislature addressed in a recent measure. It is likely to face a court challenge before it can begin its work. A second group made up of mostly Republican state senators and dedicated to investigating Willis has already begun holding hearings. Its leader, Sen. Bill Cowsert, has said the group does not want to conduct a witch hunt. But it has the power to subpoena documents and witnesses, and it called Merchant as its first witness last week. Before Merchants motion to disqualify Willis, the prosecution had secured pleas from four of the original 19 defendants in the sprawling racketeering case. Presumably, any talk of additional deals shut down as defendants waited to see whether Willis and her office would be thrown off the case. It is unclear whether the events of the past two months will make further plea talks less likely. The best news for Willis on Friday was that McAfee declined to force her off the Trump case. But she also scored smaller victories, as the judge declined to punish her for other actions. Among them was the speech she gave at the church. Steven Sadow, the main lawyer for Trump in Georgia, had described the speech as provocative and inflammatory extrajudicial racial comments meant to publicly denounce and rebuke the defendants. He argued that they were troubling enough to disqualify Willis and her office and dismiss the indictment. McAfee declined to go that far, although he did call Willis statements legally improper. And he suggested that he was open to issuing a gag order that would block Willis from mentioning the case in public from now on. But does keeping Willis quiet help or hurt the case as it drags on? Much like Trump, she does not shy away from the spotlight. And like Trump, her talkative, combative nature has won her enthusiastic fans. In December, a few weeks before the relationship was brought to light, Willis drew applause and cheers as she spoke at an event in New York honoring her. A lot of folks mad, she said, But Im still here. c.2024 The New York Times Company The Great American Cleanup is underway in Norfolk. The three-month outreach program raises awareness of environmental issues across the country through community service events. During this period, Keep Norfolk Beautiful is hosting events designed to create cleaner, greener, litter-free neighborhoods and streets. Event highlights include a kickoff on March 22 at Lafayette Park from 10 a.m. to noon; Keep Norfolk Beautiful Days, Block by Block on March 23 and 24; a waste collection event April 6 at Azalea Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to noon; and a Party for the Planet on May 18 at the Virginia Zoo. Residents are encouraged to host their own Great American Cleanup event supported by Keep Norfolk Beautiful. Register online or email knb@norfolk.gov. Keep Norfolk Beautiful will provide all the training and supplies needed for a successful event. Visiting the beach? Keep Norfolk Beautifuls Green Bucket Brigade Cleanup kits are available for checkout at the Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library, 111 W. Ocean View Ave., with a Norfolk Public Library card. Visit www.norfolk.gov/KNB for more information on KNBs programs, education and outreach. Illinois is poised to be the cicada capital of the United States this spring, when millions of the large, loud insects will emerge from the ground to sing their courting song in a rare event. With such a massive appearance looming, should people be worried? More: Why Illinois will be the cicada capital of the United States in 2024 Annual cicadas emerge every midsummer in Illinois, but this year will feature a once-in-a-lifetime event when two specific broods of periodical cicadas will start appearing together as early as May. Periodical cicadas emerge in 17- and 13-year cycles, and these two groups Brood XIII and Brood XIX appear at the same time only once every 221 years. And they only occur adjacently in one area: a handful of counties in east-central Illinois. Given that rare confluence unseen seen 1803 is there cause for concern? For the most part, no. x Are cicadas harmful? Periodical cicadas dont pose a threat to humans or pets, although their egg-laying may put newly planted trees or shrubs at risk. But periodical cicadas will not kill healthy, mature trees. Do cicadas bite? Cicadas don't bite and they don't sting, said Kacie Athey, a specialty crops entomologist with the University of Illinois Extension. What do cicadas eat? Adult periodical cicadas do feed on plants, contrary to popular belief. But they spend most of their time above ground reproducing. What eats cicadas? When periodical cicadas emerge, theyre consumed by just about any creature that eats insects. The National Wildlife Federation notes that humans who have sampled cicadas often say they taste like canned asparagus. Other reports say they taste like almonds or seafood. Many cicada recipes can be found online. Athey said she hasn't personally eaten cicadas ... yet. But she added, "I have it on good authority that the ones covered in mulberry sauce are delicious. A dessert cicada, if you will." Are cicadas dangerous? Here's what's fact and fiction with cicada bites, stings and more. Where do all the cicadas come from? Female periodical cicadas usually lay eggs in small branches. When the eggs hatch, the nymphs burrow into the ground, where they feed for years on juices from roots. They then emerge and molt, and the males begin their brief, noisy courtship song. After about a month, the adult cicadas begin to die. Where will they be? The U of I Extension says older housing developments tend to have large numbers of periodical cicadas, as those neighborhoods often are home to established trees whose roots provide food for the nymphs. Newer developments where trees were removed before home construction or that were originally farm fields will have fewer cicadas. What can we expect when cicadas come to Illinois? A Journal Star photo from 1990 shows Megan Gibbs of Metamora covered in molted shells of periodical cicadas during the 1990 emergence of Brood XIII in central Illinois. Brood XIII, on a 17-year cycle, has a reputation for its population density. In 1990, there were reports of people in Chicago using snow shovels to clear sidewalks of dead cicadas, which have a noticeable odor. The same year, the Journal Star reported, "So many crushed cicadas cover some portions of driveways along Grandview that a paste seems to spread over the ground." When will these broods appear together again? Whether you experience the periodical cicadas as a natural phenomenon, an entree or a snack, Athey encouraged people to appreciate what they have in the insects and in the rare occurrence of 2024. After this year, Brood XIII and Brood XIX cicadas wont sync up their emergences again until the year 2245. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Cicadas due to emerge in the millions. Should people of Illinois worry? On Friday, Georgia Judge Scott McAfee rejected a motion to disqualify Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting Donald Trump and other defendants in her 2020 election interference case. Within hours, Nathan Wade, one of Willis three special prosecutors and her romantic partner, resigned from the case, as the decision essentially compelled him to do. McAfee was unsparing in his criticism of Willis and Wades testimony and of their serious lapses of judgment. But what matters most in McAfees decision is what it shows about his devotion to legal principles, not what it means for Willis and Wade. Indeed, if anyone needs evidence of the rule of laws powerful force, look no further than Judge McAfees exemplary 26-page decision. After hearing two and a half days of testimony, the judge did what the law required and ruled that the Defendants failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest in this case through her personal relationship and recurring travels with her lead prosecutor. The court went on to recognize, however, that the record established an appearance of impropriety. That required, the court said, that Willis had to let Wade go as a special prosecutor if she wanted to continue prosecuting the case. By giving Willis an option, the court did more than what judges often do in splitting the baby. In fact, metaphorically speaking, he saved the baby the case against Trump and "the mother" from herself. He told Willis to do what she should have done long ago without any push from a court. Here are five key takeaways from McAfees decision. 1. The sideshow is gone. The allegations of a conflict of interest on Williss part were always meant as distractions Trumps brand from the subject of the case: The allegation that Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election. He has denied culpability. Pending any further legal action, we can now all get back to the real issue: holding Trump to account for his effort to end the lawful transfer of power to President Joe Biden. 2. A lesson for Supreme Court Justices. There are justices on the United States Supreme Court who could learn a thing or two from Judge McAfee about calling balls and strikes in an impartial and even handed way. Like six of the justices on the Supreme Court, Judge McAfee was appointed by a Republican. Yet, unlike most or all of them, he refused to cater to Trumps manipulation of the legal process in an effort to avoid his day of reckoning in court. Just last month, the Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court were likely the ones who greenlighted that manipulation by agreeing to hear Trumps frivolous claim to presidential immunity, thereby delaying Special Counsel Jack Smiths federal election interference prosecution in DC. In Georgia, after hearing every piece of testimony McAfee determined that Trump and his fellow defendants did not prove that the District Attorney received a material financial benefit as a result of her decision to hire and engage in a romantic relationship. He also found that even if Willis got some financial gain by hiring Wade, it was not a motivating factor . . . to indict and prosecute this case. Similarly, he found a failure on Trumps part to demonstrate that the District Attorneys conduct has impacted or influenced the case to the Defendants detriment. Ultimately, the plain and simple motivation for the Fulton County grand jurys indictment was the evidence it heard about the conspiracy to interfere with Georgias election. That evidence included Trumps infamous Jan. 2, 2021 call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to find 11,780 votes, one more than needed to overturn Bidens win in the state. 3. A model fair and balanced opinion. Administering the rule of law impartially requires dispassionate decision-making. Judge McAfee evidenced that quality by acknowledging and considering evidence unfavorable to his decision. For example, his opinion recounts that DA Willis kept no ledger of her reimbursements to Wade for expenses he initially paid for her, and that the amounts she claimed for those repayments were best guesstimates. By doing so, McAfee showed how a judge can assure the litigants and the public that he considered every fact presented. As McAfee wrote, Whether this case ends in convictions, acquittals, or something in between, the result should instill confidence in the process. 4. A clarion call to prosecutors. Judge McAfees opinion also called out some unpersuasive testimony from Wade, Willis and others as part of his determination that a significant appearance of impropriety had arisen. He stated unequivocally that he could not condone DA Willis lapse in judgment [and] the unprofessional manner of the District Attorneys testimony during the evidentiary hearing. For prosecutors, as McAfee once was, the opinion sings in perfect pitch about their special responsibilities to the judicial system: [P]rosecutors are held to a unique and exacting professional standard in light of their public responsibility. . . [They] must seek justice . . . [and] assume a role beyond a mere advocate for one side and must make decisions in the publics interest not their own personal or political interest. Of course, prosecutors make mistakes like anyone. In the Georgia case, defendants identified errors that called the conduct of a prosecutor into question. The district attorneys responsibility in that situation is to remedy the error immediately and end a story that could distract from a powerfully indicted case. That could easily have happened early here, but Willis chose a different course. 5. The case must proceed expeditiously. With the sideshow behind her, Willis needs to press for a trial that reaches a jury before Novembers election. Before they cast their ballots this fall, voters deserve to know the whole story of what Trump and his co-conspirators did in Georgia and if they violated the law. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. In fact, a decision from Judge McAfee earlier this week streamlining the case could help expedite it. He dismissed lesser charges against Trump and his defendants, leaving undisturbed the chief count against them the 20-year racketeering conspiracy charge of attempting to overturn the election. As former White House ethics czar Norm Eisen said on Friday, If I were Fani Willis . . . on Monday I would move to either renew the August [trial start-date] request shes made, or go even sooner . . . . Whether she can accomplish that end remains to be seen. But what McAfee did on Friday stands out as an important reminder of what the law offers: fairness, impartiality and scrupulous attention to evidence. If we value those things, we will have to stand up for them when we go to the polls in November. We will have to recognize that our freedom and way of life depends on the kind of fidelity to law that Judge McAfee displayed and that Donald Trump dishonors. No one is above the law. LAKEVIEW, Ohio (WCMH) Community members in the Lakeview area of Logan County are faced with cleanup and recovery after Thursday nights devastating storms. The village is north of Russells Point on Indian Lake. Downtown Lakeview and the area known as Midway were both hit extremely hard. The Midway neighborhood which Rick Stanley lives in was torn apart by the severe weather. A mobile home flipped over and he helped two people out of the wreckage. How to plan for a tornado warning if you live in a mobile home This had two guys pinned in it. look, the axels are upside down. That trailer literally flipped, he said. Several mobile homes in the neighborhood were turned upside down by the storms. You cant process it, when you lose everything, weve got a house thats standing but when the house goes up in the air and comes back down, what do you do, Stanley said. He was home when the storms rolled through. He rushed his wife, kids and grandkids into a closet and helped cover them the best he could. If that closet door would have came off every one of us would have been sucked up in it because we was right in the dead heart of the storm, there was no way out, Stanley said. A bit up the road from where Stanley lives is Travis Gauses house. He was also home when the wind, rain and hail hit. Part of his roof is gone and one of the bedrooms is partially detached from the house, but his family made it through. Its tragic, I dont know what a lot of people are going to do, Im trying to figure out myself, but I know theres people worse off with family members hurt and they lost everything, Gause said. The Midway area is special for Stanley. Hes lived in his neighborhood for 50 years. Friends and family are neighbors. Its also where his business is. All of it changed in a matter of minutes. Spent my life to build it, I didnt build it for me, I built it for my sons, he said. If I die my sons got it, and one minute, everythings gone. There are just no words to describe it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Supporters of the bill say voters who move to new towns or new wards within their city would be able to easily update their voter registration on their own time. New Hampshire lawmakers are inching closer to creating a statewide election portal, a bipartisan proposal that would allow residents to register to vote online. Under the proposed legislation, House Bill 463, the secretary of state would be empowered to create an online tool to let voters fill out a new voter application, request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them, and make any changes to the voter registration database including their name and party affiliation. Currently, most of those tasks must be done in person, either by a set deadline before the election or on Election Day. Proponents of the bill say it would make it easier for voters of all ages to register and would ease the workload for town poll workers, who are often inundated with new voter registrations on the day of major elections. The portal would cost $426,000 to set up and about $84,000 per year to maintain, according to projections from the Secretary of States Office. The move would bring the state in line with much of the country. New Hampshire is one of nine states that do not offer online voter registration, along with Arkansas, Maine Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, according to the website Ballotpedia. Backers of the effort say it is simply a tool not a new form of registration. My belief is the implementation of a voter portal should not change the current process of how a voter registers to vote, said Secretary of State Dave Scanlan at a Senate hearing Tuesday. What the portal should do is streamline and improve the process to cut down time at the polling place and to improve the data collection by the supervisors of the checklist and the clerk in an electronic form. The New Hampshire Senate passed an election information portal bill in 2022, but House Republican lawmakers balked at the cost of that proposal $11.5 million and the bill was killed by the House in a voice vote. This year, the new version of the bill passed the House, 195-172, but could have broader support in the Senate, where Republican Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Chairman James Gray has spoken in favor of it. Supporters, including voting rights advocates from Open Democracy and America Votes, say the portal would help a number of voters, including those who are working when town offices are open and are unable to make it in person, as well as people with disabilities and voters overseas, who will no longer need to coordinate their time zones to call a town clerk. Theres a lot of good with this bill that makes it more efficient for the average Joe, said Autumn Raschick-Goodwin, program coordinator for Open Democracy. A lot of people work during the hours of the town clerks offices being open. So this would give them the opportunity to do this in their availability and get that ball rolling so that theyre able to arrange things more effectively. Voters who move to new towns or new wards within their city would be able to easily update their voter registration on their own time, proponents add. We hear a lot about people getting mail and their mail has been sent back because they dont live there anymore, said McKenzie St. Germain, voting rights campaign director for America Votes. Being able to update their voter information as soon as they move I think is a huge benefit. Supporters also argue the portal would boost clerks themselves, in particular by reducing the number of handwritten voter registration applications that can be hard to read and create errors. And they say it could save money, noting that the cost of processing paper registrations can be nearly $5 per voter. My name is never quite clearly written because Im in a hurry, said St. Germain. That is the case on many of the voter registration forms. But before its floor vote in January, some House Republicans raised concerns that the portal did not include sufficient oversight and could expose voters information to security breaches. There are concerns by many voters that too many changes have already been made to the voting process that have eliminated much of the needed oversight, said Rep. Clayton Wood, a Pittsfield Republican. Many voters feel that opening the application process to the internet is another way to expand fraud and decrease the overall security of personal voter information. At the Senate hearing, Gray sought to address those concerns, noting that the online portal would not allow people to change their voter registration automatically. Rather, he said, it would allow a voter to submit their application and accompanying documentation online. The town clerk would still need to verify the voters identity and residence in the town, just as if the new voter had come to the town offices in person, Gray noted. Nothing changes the requirements under current law with respect to what you need to show how you need to register to vote, said Rep. Mark Paige, an Exeter Democrat and the sponsor of the bill, agreed. This is really an efficiency mechanism. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Lawmakers close in on online voter registration in New Hampshire Tonya Ricklefs March is Social Work Month, and Its a special time to celebrate social workers for all the work they do and their impact on so many Kansans. This year, Kansas social workers celebrate a historic landmark with the 50th anniversary of the states Social Work Practice Act. In 1974, social workers joined together under the auspices of the Kansas Council of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and persuaded the Kansas Legislature to require that social workers be licensed. Former Sen. Neil Arasmith, a Republican from Jewell, sponsored Senate Bill 623. This bill led the way for the development of social work as a profession and has governed the practice of social work for 50 years. Kansas became one of the first states in the country to pass three levels of licensure at the bachelor, master and post-graduate clinical level. At that time, only 11 states had social work licensure laws on the books. In comparison, our neighboring state of Missouri didnt enact social work licensure until 1989 the 45th state in the U.S. to do so. Prior to licensing anyone could legally call himself a social worker and offer mental health services through agencies or private practice whether they were qualified to provide such services. The 1974 law defined the practice of social work, prescribed qualifications for licensure applicants, restricted private practice to the more highly qualified practitioners and provided the public a system of redress and protection from harm. With the passage of SB 623, Kansas created the Board of Social Work Examiners located with the Kansas Department of Social Rehabilitation Services to provide recommendations to SRS Secretary Robert Harder. The Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board was then established in 1980 and took over the regulating of psychologists and social workers. This year, social workers, including Kansas Chapter of NASW, are championing HB 2484 another landmark piece of legislation. HB 2484 will facilitate multistate practice through a social work licensure compact. The compact will allow social workers to provide continuity of care across state lines, including through telehealth platforms, without the cost and burden of seeking additional state-specific licenses. HB 2484 passed the Kansas House with a vote 118 to 2. The bill is now in the Senate. Currently, 22 states have introduced similar bills, including neighboring states Colorado and Nebraska, while Missouri and South Dakota already passed the compact into law. During a time in our state and our nation where social workers are needed in nationwide shortages, eliminating regulatory hoops to allow our Kansas social workers the ability to practice in multiple states is critical. Social work multistate licensure must be solved to increase access to professional licensure and address the increasing need for mental health services. Social workers are the largest provider of mental health services in Kansas and across the nation. We are at a pivotal moment in our state's history to ensure the ability of our profession to meet the behavioral health demand. We encourage you during Social Work Month and beyond to learn more about the profession. Take the time to thank a social worker who most likely has impacted countless individuals in our community. The well-earned thanks are likely after an emotionally draining day with long hours, low pay and facing sometimes an uphill battle in assisting others with personal challenges. We hope you take a moment to recognize those in your life and community doing this critical work. Thank you. Tonya Ricklefs, LMSW, is the NASW Kansas Chapter president, and Becky Fast is the NASW Kansas Chapter executive director. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Senate legislation would ease social worker regulatory hoops Mel Preston stands in his backyard where he and his wife of 56 years, Diane, loved to watch birds. Mel and his family have founded the nonprofit Dianes Seeds for Hope in memory of Diane, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2020. The nonprofit serves as a tribute for both Diane's commitment in life to making a difference and Mel's dedication to fighting pancreatic cancer. In a beautifully landscaped backyard, bird feeders sway gently as plump birds peck eagerly at hand-blended seeds. Although the woman with a smile larger than life no longer sits while sipping her coffee and watching them frolic, a particularly ethereal bluebird pays a visit, reminding her husband, Mel, that shes still close by. Diane Prestons story, intertwined with her husband Mels, is one of resilience, compassion and unwavering dedication. From her artistic ability and adventurous spirit to her lifelong commitment to service, Dianes legacy has had a profound influence on all who crossed paths with her. After doctors handed Diane a 12-month prognosis in 2018, Mel Preston founded the nonprofit Dianes Seeds for Hope in memory of his wife, which serves as a tribute for both her commitment in life to making a difference and his dedication to fighting pancreatic cancer. Through their work in Newark, the grandfather of five works tirelessly alongside his three children to raise awareness and fund research, drawing inspiration from Dianes profound love for birds. A little ditty about Mel and Diane Mel, a 79-year-old native of Alexandria, Indiana, grew up with three sisters on a property with sprawling grass and trees to climb. His Methodist minister father always told him that "Prestons were either preachers or teachers." Even so, Mels career aspirations veered from the traditional paths laid before him. While initially studying electrical engineering at Purdue University, Mel found his calling in manufacturing, eventually becoming a successful plant manager. In the ups and downs of his career, Mel found his anchor in Diane, his beloved wife. The couple met at just 19 and 21 years old while Mel was working a summer job at a department store, and he knew instantly she was the one for him. "It was interesting because we both were a little bit introverted," Mel recalled fondly, remembering their lively first date at her backyard skating rink. "But it was strange, and I couldnt explain it for a long time, but I felt really, really comfortable with her. And she was the same with me that very first date. (As a) matter of fact, I stayed around their house that night till very, very early morning, just talking." What began as a summer romance blossomed into a 56-year marriage during which they welcomed three children: Mark, Beth and Alicia. Together, they navigated lifes many joys and challenges, with Diane becoming Mels unwavering companion on many of his work travel excursions around the world. "We enjoyed each other the whole 56 years we were married," Mel said. "I think we were as much in love the day she died as we were the day of our first date." Born and raised in New Paris, Ohio, Diane lived a life defined by her artistic talent and commitment to empowering others, particularly children. Her artistic creations ranged from sculptures in alabaster to intricate ceramic pieces, each reflecting her deep love for mother-child imagery. She studied Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers), drawing inspiration from his teachings to encourage self-expression through art among high-risk high school girls. "She wanted to make sure that they grew into happy young women," Mel said. Dianes impact extended beyond the classroom: She volunteered her time reading stories to kindergarteners, often accompanied by their beloved cavalier spaniel dog. "She would make a hat for the dog that matched the book story she was reading," Mel said. "Somehow or another, she was sort of a child magnet. Kids would just be drawn to her." Diane was a member of the Granville chapter of the service club Kiwanis, which awards scholarships to young people. She also served as a court-appointed special advocate, supporting abused and neglected children. Their happiness was shattered, however, when Diane's suddenly debilitating back pain interrupted a hiking trip in Sedona, Arizona. Doctors diagnosed Diane with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and gave her just six months or 12 months, with the addition of chemotherapy to live. Despite the daunting odds Stage 4 pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of 1%, according to the Johns Hopkins Hospital Diane faced the disease head-on. She lived another 18 months before succumbing to the disease in March 2020. "She wanted to live," said Alicia Joens, Diane and Mels daughter. "She had so many things she wanted to do; so many special moments she wanted to witness." "Days before my mom passed, she told my brother, 'Think of me when you see a bird,'" Joens said. Founding Dianes Seeds for Hope Together, with the help of his daughters experience in marketing and journalism, Preston and Joens developed the Dianes Seeds for Hope mission and outreach materials. Prestons primary goal is to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer risk factors, stress the importance of early detection and offer support to those the disease affects, as well as their families. Offering presentations to various groups and organizations, Preston hopes to spread important information and resources while also building a sense of community and solidarity among those affected by pancreatic cancer. The organizations journey began with an initiative involving bird feeders and seed. Inspired by Dianes love for bird nature and wildlife, Mel devised a plan to sell ceramic bird seed cylinders and feeders to raise funds toward the mission. With input from her daughters, the designs evolved, and the organization began selling a variety of painted bird feeders at art shows and craft fairs, alongside brochures about pancreatic cancer risk factors and symptoms. Prestons primary objective shifted from solely fundraising to prioritizing awareness and early detection efforts, inspired by meaningful encounters with others impacted by the disease. "I learned that lots of people wanted to talk about their experiences," he said. "A loved one, a neighbor, a coworker or a friend who was impacted by pancreatic cancer." In addition to designing and selling bird feeders, Preston takes on the task of crafting the bird seed himself. In the garage of his home, he mixes ingredients, carefully preparing each batch using his trusted recipe. In addition to designing and selling bird feeders, Mel Preston crafts the bird seed himself. "I use a fruit and nut mix from Tractor Supply, along with a sunflower mix," he said. "And then I have to order the mealworms in bulk online because its far more expensive to buy them in the store." After combining the ingredients and molding them into shape, he follows a specialized dehydration process to preserve the seeds, ensuring they maintain their longevity and nutritional value for extended periods. Dianes legacy Dianes strength and kindness continue to influence the people who knew her, even after shes gone. Joens, the managing director for Dianes Seeds for Hope, oversees many of the marketing aspects of the nonprofit. "The void (Diane) left is always there," she said. "Nothing can fill it. We dont want others to feel this void. We want to help educate people of the signs so that maybe they will seek help early and have a better outcome." Beth Canfield, Diane and Mels other daughter, also helps out during craft shows and events. "Im always on the lookout for unique plates or bowls that we use for making our birdfeeders," Canfield said. "My dad was offered a free stand at the Granville Fourth of July weekend to set up sales for our nonprofit. So many residents came out to support us, and many had warm and kind wishes for our work." The sisters are continuing the fight against pancreatic cancer in other ways, too. The two recently participated in a clinical trial for a blood test that detects pancreatic cancer and other cancers, called the "Pathfinder Study," at the Cleveland Clinic. In addition, each year, Preston and his family take part in PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer. "I told her we would continue her fight and that it will not win in the long run," Canfield said. The nonprofit has raised about $40,000 for crucial research. Cheri Misel, a retired public accountant and neighbor who used to walk with Diane, reflected on her incredible spirit. Misel, born and raised in Cambridge, Ohio, said Diane started each and every morning with her favorite Louis Armstrong song. "Every morning, upon rising, she would play 'What A Wonderful World,'" Misel said. "Thats how she started her day. That was just her mantra." Skye Foley writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison Universitys Journalism program, which is funded by the Mellon Foundation and donations from readers. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Nonprofit Dianes Seeds for Hope supports pancreatic cancer research Mariam Asadian hugs loved ones and friends after she and other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine opened their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Our photo of the day comes from Deseret News photojournalist Marielle Scott, who covered fourth-year medical students and future doctors from the University of Utah opening up their long-awaited match envelopes Friday morning to find out where theyll be doing their residencies. In an emotionally packed morning, the medical school class of 2024, found out where they will be living and working over the next five years. According to the University of Utah press release, the students have specialized in pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine. The release went on to say in the weeks leading up to Match Day, students completed an application process that included ranking their top choices for residency programs. Based on interviews and applications, those programs considered the students who picked them as their top selections. Then, if the preferred program accepts the student, its a match. Here are a few other photos from Fridays event. Leah Milsap and her partner at the University of Utah School of Medicine celebrate the opening of their match envelopes by pinning where they will live and work together for the next few years while completing their residency, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Students index cards with their top choices for residencies are seen on the table at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Students of the University of Utah School of Medicine celebrated the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies. Alena Lovi-Borgmann and Lexi Isbell of the University of Utah School of Medicine listen to a video message from a former classmate after the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residency, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Students at the University of Utah School of Medicine celebrate the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residency, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Students at the University of Utah School of Medicine celebrate the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Carly Ferre, Mary Peng and Caitie Bautista celebrate among other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine after opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Mariam Asadian is hugged by loved ones and friends after she and other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine opened their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Bert Merrill and other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine open their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Andrew Jones and his mother, Lisa Jones, embrace after Andrew and other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine opened their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Students at the University of Utah School of Medicine celebrate the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Pins are seen on a United States map showing where students of the University of Utah School of Medicine will complete their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. Carly Ferre, Mary Peng and Caitie Bautista, among other students at the University of Utah School of Medicine, celebrate the opening of their match envelopes to find out where they will live and work for the next few years while completing their residencies, at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 15, 2024. A woman pours a liquid into a ballot box in Moscow on Friday. The screengrab was taken from CCTV footage - Video obtained by Reuters Furious Russian officials have threatened traitorous, scumbag presidential election saboteurs with eight years in prison for pouring green ink into ballot boxes. The crackdown comes ahead of an expected flash mob protest at noon on Sunday the final day of voting at the urging of exiled opposition leaders. The peaceful strategy was endorsed by Alexei Navalny, shortly before his death at the hands of Russian authorities in a gulag in Siberia. At least two more attacks on ballot boxes were reported on Saturday, adding to roughly 15 recorded on Friday. The attacks have pressured officials into tightening security at polling stations across Russia. On Saturday, Dmitry Medvedev, the former president, called the protesters traitors and accused them of helping the countrys enemies. This is direct assistance to those degenerates who are shelling our cities today, he said in a Telegram post, referring to Ukrainian attacks. Ella Pamfilova, the official face of the Kremlins election machine, has been fronting hour-by-hour coverage of the election at regular press conferences in Moscow. On Friday, she initially tried to dismiss the attacks by claiming that voting had been smooth, but as they grew she lost her temper and called the protesters scumbags who destroyed the votes of people. By Saturday morning, she appeared to have regained her composure and was back to insisting that voting was proceeding well, turnout was high and a new electronic voting system was working effectively. We have prevented all kinds of liquid injections at 20 polling stations and eight arson attempts. In one case, they tried to use a smoke bomb, she said. The attacks and unrest have infuriated the president, Vladimir Putin, who had wanted to showcase Russians support for his war in Ukraine. Putin looked angry at a meeting of his security council on Friday, blaming Ukraine for launching attacks on Russia to try to disrupt the election. Russians continue to attack polling stations Over two days, there have been eleven attempts to set fire to polling stations, along with 19 cases of ballot boxes being spoiled with greenery and paint. In response, the Russian State Duma has proposed an 8-year prison sentence for pic.twitter.com/aHLR1tedVK NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 16, 2024 Protests are banned in Russia, and Russian MPs said on Saturday that they wanted to increase the punishment for sabotaging ballot boxes from five years in prison to eight. They accused the saboteurs of being motivated by money, and said the attacks had been organised by a foreign power. More severe responsibility should also be borne by those who act on behalf of or in the interests of a foreign state that opposes the Russian Federation during hostilities, said Yana Lantratova, an MP. At least two petrol bombs have been also lobbed at polling stations in Russia and several voters have set fire to their ballot papers in protest at the war in Ukraine. As well as beefing up security at polling stations, OVD-Info, a Russian human rights group, said users of the Telegram social media app were being sent messages telling people not to succumb to the ideas of people who want to set you up, and to vote calmly, without queues and provocations. But the protests continued on Saturday, with a video from Kaliningrad, the Kremlins exclave within the EU, showing a woman being detained after pouring green ink into a ballot box. Another video from Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, showed an official grappling with a woman who had tried to throw green paint at a ballot box. The Evening Journal, a Yekaterinburg newspaper, said that the woman was a professor at the Urals Federal University. At the moment, the woman is in the police department. She is facing criminal charges, it reported. Most of the attackers appear to be middle-aged women, a sometimes subversive sub-group of Russias population. A voting booth is set on fire by a protester in Moscow - Video obtained by Reuters The Kremlin wants to set a record win at the election for Putin and has used its election-rigging operation to manipulate the results. This included disqualifying any real opposition candidates in the run-up to the election. Boris Nadezhdin, one of two disqualified anti-war candidates, has said police detained his staff on Friday at polling stations. Ukrainian attacks also continued on Saturday with reports that two oil refineries in Samara, central Russia, had been attacked by drones. Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries to drive up fuel prices. Russia accused Ukraine of stepping up its terrorist activities this weekend in order to attract more aid and weapons from the West. It is obvious that the corrupt regime in Kyiv has intensified its terrorist activities in connection with the ongoing presidential elections in Russia in order to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement 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. The whirling buzz of the rotors first appeared after sundown, seven days after a united front of ruthless armed gangs seized Haitis two largest prisons, freeing thousands of prisoners and forcing the temporary suspension of flights at the capitals international and domestic airports The helicopter flights continued for the next couple of days as staff at diplomatic missions in Port-au-Prince scrambled to get out of the gang-fueled chaos amid food shortages and looting in a city under siege. Haitis air space may be closed. But not necessarily for those with connections and deep pockets. As the violence intensifies, foreign embassy staffers and wealthy foreigners stranded in the volatile Caribbean nation are knocking on the doors of air-travel companies in Miami and in the neighboring Dominican Republic trying to secure themselves a way out. The main destination is Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. READ MORE: Who will lead Haiti? Naming of transition panel embroiled in uncertainty, disputes But the availability of seats in helicopters with pilots willing to fly into Haiti is extremely limited and very expensive, running in some cases into tens of thousands of dollars, amid the difficulties faced by chopper companies in obtaining approval for their flight plans from officials in Santo Domingo. Were trying to help foreigners, particularly American citizens trying to extricate themselves, but pilots keep getting denied because of the restrictions that are coming out of the Dominican Republic, said Steve McPartland, Miami managing director of Americas for the Emerald Solutions Group. The Dubai-based company provides helicopter service as well as security, supplying would-be travelers with bulletproof transportation out of undisclosed locations in Haitis capital. Dominican officials told the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald that there is a protocol to get approval for the extraction of foreigners out of Haiti. Companies attempting to organize the operations, however, say the process is long. It requires the green light from different slow-moving Dominican governmental agencies. Days after announcing, for example, that it was temporarily relocating some of its Port-au-Prince staff to the Dominican Republic, the United Nations still had not received approval to take its staffers out on helicopters. It is not yet operational, just to be clear, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters on Friday. Days earlier, as the violence erupted, several European missions successfully evacuated nine people, including the German ambassador, on a mission that was supposed to be hush-hush but ended up being leaked, causing a days delay. After word got out about the flights, those involved called it off out of security concerns, sources said. The United States also evacuated its non-essential staff at its embassy in Tabarre, where gangs looted several businesses and took over a car dealership where the Jamaica consulate is housed. Instead of charters, however, the U.S. military flew into Haiti in the dead of night for the extraction mission that also left behind Marines to secure the embassy. READ MORE: Senate confirms U.S. ambassador for Haiti in urgent vote The helicopter flights coincided with an uneasy calm over the capital, where armed groups had targeted the airport in anticipation of the return of outgoing Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry was on a visit to Kenya, finalizing a bilateral agreement with the government to send 1,000 of its police officers to Haiti as part of an international mission the East African nation has offered to lead, when the violence hit a peak on March 2. Using a drone, armed groups attacked the countrys largest prison and released thousands of inmates, including several notorious gang leaders, then breached a second prison in Croix-des-Bouquets, not far from the U.S. embassy. Locked out of the country, Henry had hoped to charter a helicopter to get back into the country. But he was later forced to land in Puerto Rico after the Dominican Republic refused to allow his charter plane to land in Santo Domingo. Several days later, helicopter pilots started their risky extraction flights, which two sources told the Herald can cost as much as $80,000 per seat. Given that evacuations are carried out under hazardous conditions, aviation companies are demanding hefty prices. The Dominican pilot said a charter helicopter flight can run between $10,000 to $15,000, but that there might be additional costs given the violence and the difficulty of refueling in Haiti. The flights appear to have become less frequent over the past few days even though demand is growing. Major airlines have not yet said when they will resume flying and on Thursday gangs once more targeted the area near the airport with heavy gunfire. An hour later they set fire to the private residence of the countrys police chief, triggering panic in Port-au-Prince. The teeming capital is surrounded by armed groups that control all of the major roads in and out of the capital, leaving no other option out but to helicopter out. Various aviation companies trying to organize flights out of the Dominican Republic said they have not been able to get the necessary authorizations. There are no flights right now, said a Dominican helicopter pilot, whose company had previously helped evacuate the diplomatic mission of a European country. We have been contacted by many people but we have not been able to help them. Foreign journalists attempting to get into Haiti face the opposite problem. A number of foreign broadcast networks have been reaching out to helicopter companies but are finding themselves unable to leave the Dominican Republic. McPartland of Emerald Solutions said his company provides all-around protection to guarantee the safety of its passengers, from the point of pickup to the secure place they would be taken in the Dominican Republic. The cost of each extraction would depend on its individual condition and the size of the team required, but that it can run into many thousands of dollars. The most high-profile evacuation to date involved bestselling author Mitch Albom. The author of the blockbuster book Tuesdays With Morrie, Albom was visiting an orphanage he established in Haiti when the gangs broke into the prisons. In an interview with NBC News, Albom said he and his wife had to flee in the dead of night on a helicopter with nine others. The country fell into great turmoil, Albom said. The airports were closed. The ports were taken over. The borders were closed. The streets were blocked. And yet, foreigners are in a much better position than the countrys citizens caught in the wave of violence, said McPartland. The foreigners there are desperate to get out, but my personal opinion is that, you know, well get them all out of there. And we can keep them safe inside a shelter for the time being, he said. But the Hatians, those are the ones that are really desperate because they have no way out of a horrible situation. During a Friday appearance on Fox News, former VP Mike Pence said "It should come as no surprise" that he will not be endorsing Donald Trump's 2024 presidential bid. Speaking to host Martha MacCallum, he elaborated on his decision, saying, As I have watched his candidacy unfold, I have seen him walking away from our commitment to confront the national debt. Ive seen him start to shy away from a commitment to the sanctity of human life. And this last week his reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations effort to force a sale of ByteDance TikTok . . . Donald Trump is pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years. That is why I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign." Having ended his own presidential bid in October, Pence previously vowed to back the eventual GOP nominee, as CNN points out, but a clear case can be made for why he's turning that back early. During my presidential campaign, I made it clear there were profound differences between me and President Trump on a range of issues. And not just our difference on my constitutional duties that I exercised January 6th, Pence said, adding that when it comes time to cast his vote in this election, he'll keep it to himself. And although he says he'll never vote for Biden, or back a third-party candidate, it goes without saying that he won't be voting for Trump. A man has been taken into custody after an hours-long standoff with police at a residence in Trenton, New Jersey. Authorities say 26-year-old Andre Gordon fatally shot his sister, stepmother and mother of his two children on Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. The shootings happened at two different residences around 9am before he fled the second scene and stole a car in a Dollar General parking lot. Speaking at an afternoon news conference, Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Mr Gordon barricaded himself at a duplex on the 100 block of Phillips Avenue in Trenton. The Trenton Police Department responded to the incident and confirmed that the standoff was over. Hes in custody. No one else was injured, Trenton, New Jersey, Police Director Steve Wilson told CNN. Officials said the man previously had hostages inside of the residence but they are now safe. SWAT officers and a tactical vehicle also responded to the scene. Officials asked the man to come out with his hands up. Falls Township Chief of Police Nelson Whitney said that officials have had previous interactions with the suspect but nothing that would lead them to believe that something like this could happen. Officials responded to calls about the first residence shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, where the suspect allegedly killed his stepmother Karen Gordon, 52, and sister Kera Gordon, 13. Several family members at the home, including a 14-year-old were able to hide from the shooter as he searched for them, Ms Schorn added. Police said Mr Gordon drove to the residence with a stolen vehicle and was armed with an AR-15 style assault rifle. Shortly after the first shooting, police responded to calls about the second on Edgewood Lane. In that incident, Mr Gordon forced his way into the home and allegedly fatally shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children. Four other individuals were present inside that home, including Ms Daniels mother and her two children. Ms Daniels mother was allegedly bludgeoned by Mr Gordon with the assault rifle. She was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Following the two shootings, the suspect stole an unidentified 44-year-old mans Honda CRV. Police say the victim did not suffer any physical injuries. Police later recovered the car after it was found unoccupied. Earlier in the morning, residents of Middletown in Pennsylvania were urged not to travel to Falls Township until further notice. A shelter-in-place for the area was lifted around 12.30pm ET after police located the suspect. Its believed that Mr Gordon is homeless but primarily stays in Trenton. Popular clothing company Uniqlo is opening its first store in the Sacramento area. The Japan-based retailer filed permits with the city of Roseville earlier this week to open a 11,249-square-foot store at Rosevilles Westfield Galleria, development technician at the Roseville permit center, Mara Walsh told The Sacramento Bee via email on Thursday evening. As of Friday afternoon, there was no projected opening date for the store. In addition, Uniqlos store locator page did yet not show a Roseville location. The Bee reached out to the Galleria for comment, but had not received an email response as of Friday afternoon. What is Uniqlo? Uniqlo is known for its affordable casual, contemporary clothing and accessories for women, men and children. The retailer opened its first store in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1984. Where are clothing store locations? Uniqlo has a total of 19 stores across California, including locations in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, according to its website. What else is opening at Roseville mall? Uniqlo isnt the only new tenant slated to move into Rosevilles Galleria. A total of seven new stores and restaurants are scheduled to open at the mall in 2024 and 2025 Retail brands opening storefronts include Chanel Beauty cosmetics, Gorjana jewelry and Rothys shoes and accessories. Eateries with plans to open Galleria locations include local coffee chain World Traveler Coffee Roasters and Mochi Munch, a pastry shop serving Japanese and American fusion food. 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. Voting on Saturday in the basement of an apartment block in Avdiivka, the Donetsk Region (Reuters) Russias governing party said it was hit by a cyberattack on Saturday, the second day of presidential elections, as the Kremlin accused Ukraine of trying to disturb the voting process to curry favour with its Western allies. The ruling United Russia party, for which Vladimir Putin acts as its de facto ruler but is not representing in these elections, claimed it faced a widespread denial of service attack a form of cyberattack aimed at paralysing web traffic and had suspended non-essential services to repel it. State news agency RIA quoted a senior telecoms official as blaming the cyberattacks on Ukraine and Western countries. They did not provide evidence to substantiate this claim. It proved the latest in a string of Russian claims that Ukraine and its Western allies were trying to disturb the presidential elections, which are widely viewed as rigged to ensure Mr Putin resumes office for a fifth term. On the second of three days of voting, the Russian foreign ministry said Kyiv had intensified its terrorist activities in connection with the election to demonstrate its activity to its Western handlers and to beg for even more financial assistance and lethal weapons. It comes as two people died as a result of Ukrainian shelling of the Russian city of Belgorod, according to local officials. A mobile voting unit on Saturday in the village of Nikolayevka, near the Siberian city of Omsk (AP) Five people were also wounded when a Ukrainian drone hit a car in the village of Glotovo, about a mile from the Ukrainian border, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. He later announced that schools would be closing in the region until next Wednesday to mitigate against the current situation. The latest attack followed an armed incursion claimed by Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin on Tuesday in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. In Ukraine, Russian authorities alleged that a Ukrainian drone had dropped a shell on a voting station in a Russian-controlled part of Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region. The state-run Tass news agency quoted a local election official as reporting no damage or injuries when the explosive device landed five or six metres from a building housing a polling station before it had opened in a village about 12 miles east of the city of Enerhodar. There was no immediate comment from officials in Ukraine, which regards the election taking place in parts of its territory controlled by Russia as illegal and void. Footage meanwhile has shown armed Russian soldiers escorting poll workers door-to-door through the four regions of Ukraine illegally annexed by Mr Putin in September 2022. Occupation officials say the military escorts are there to protect those collecting votes but Ukraine says they are there to intimidate civilians into voting for a man that ordered the invasion of their regional homes. Russia's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) head Ella Pamfilova speaks at the opening of the CEC Information Centre in the run-up for the presidential election in Moscow (AFP) Footage published on state media site Readovka showed soldiers helping people express their will in the recently-occupied city of Avdiivka. The area has been razed to the ground after five months of heavy bombardment. In Russia, meanwhile, the head of the electoral commission, Ella Pamfilova, said that in the first two days of voting there had been 20 incidents of people trying to destroy voting sheets by pouring various liquids into ballot boxes, as well as eight cases of attempted arson and a smoke bomb. Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev decried those carrying out the attacks as traitors. All scoundrels who commit crimes at or near polling stations (arson, vandalism, etc.) must remember that they can be held accountable, he wrote on the Telegram messenger service. They are traitors, and their actions can be classified much more strictly. Ms Pamfilova, the top election official, said that people who try to disrupt voting could face up to five years in prison. She said, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian intelligence and its accomplices and handlers a reference to the West were behind the rash of protest actions seen so far at polling stations. Prior to Prohibition, a saloon was almost exclusively a mans world. Sawdust floors, spittoons and sometimes salacious wall art it wasnt an inclusive environment. Women associated with bars in that era had bad reputations like gamblers, theater people or Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke. Titled A Dull Day this picture was taken at the Pacific Coast Amusement Co. on Jan. 28,1913. Over 60 men and no women were gathered for might be the business opening. The business later became Stag Billiard Parlor until 1967 and was located at the corner of Monterey and Morro, next to the present day Urban Outfitters. Those norms were shattered during the speakeasy era as the illegal businesses tried to attract the widest clientele, serving mixed drinks and having live music. But it took a surprisingly long time after Prohibition was repealed Dec. 5, 1933, before women were allowed to mix drinks at a bar in California. How long? It is still within living memory, about 53 years ago. The bar that lead the way is known today as Niffys Merrimaker. Here are two stories complete with their original headlines from 1971: The first ran May 28 and the second on July 26. Last Chance Night Club sponsored these entries in the La Fiesta Parade in 1937. It was located where the animal hospital is near Cuesta Park. Off pedestal, gals; fill em up Women who want to be bartenders today owed the California Supreme Court a drink on the house. The high court Thursday declared unconstitutional the state law limiting women bartenders to the wife of the license holder or to a woman who holds a liquor license. The provision in the state constitution stated a person may not be disqualified because of sex from entering or pursuing a lawful business, vocation or profession. In addition, the Supreme Court said the present law violates the equal-protection guarantees of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the 1964 Federal Civil Rights Act. The pedestal upon which women have been placed has all too often, upon closer inspection, been revealed as a cage, said Justice Raymond E. Peters in writing the courts opinion. The court ruled in the case of two Los Angeles bar owners who sued to stop the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control from taking action against them because they employed women as barkeeps. ON THE ROCKS Mrs. Ruthie Tabor of Cayucos dispenses alcohol in a Baywood Park cocktail lounge which may be the first county establishment to employ a lady bartender. This photo was taken at the Merrimaker in late July 1971. A court ruling had just allowed women access to the job. Belly up to the ladys bar, boys A Baywood Park cocktail lounge has chalked up what appears to be a breakthrough for San Luis Obispo County: the first woman working a regular shift as a bartender. But neither Mrs. Louise Holmes, owner of the Merrimakers, or her new barmaid, Mrs. Ruthie Tabor of Cayucos, see the arrangement as a coup for womens liberation. It was just a practical thing to do, said Mrs. Holmes, whos now freed of responsibilities in the evening. I knew Ruthie had made a lot of friends and handled herself well as a cocktail waitress. There wasnt any reason she couldnt learn to pour hard liquor behind the bar. Mrs. Tabor, a widow for 14 years with a married daughter and two teen-age children, agreed, as she began her first evening shift Wednesday by mixing a tall vodka and tonic. It doesnt seem all that difficult. Of course, I havent tried all the fancy drinks yet, but most of the customers here go for beer and highballs those I can handle. Mrs. Tabor added quickly establishing her no-nonsense image: I know most of the regulars here. And Ive worked with a lot of men as a cocktail waitress here and in El Dorado County. I dont expect any trouble. Kristi Noems smile set political teeth chattering across South Dakota and the nation this week. Her feet soon followed. The Republican governors odd infomercial-style post about an out-of-state dentist that did work on her mouth, followed by a video endorsing a shoe company, has some locals scratching their heads and wondering if shes trying to get the attention of one Donald Trumpwho hasnt yet picked a running mate. Its so hard to know these days where shes getting direction and inspiration, but I have to believe Trump or Noems and her staffs desire to please Trump are behind it somehow, said Kevin Woster, a longtime political reporter with South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Or maybe its simply Noems need to look better for the national spotlight she seems to crave, although I thought her smile was just fine before. Brian Bengs, a retired Air Force colonel who ran as a Democrat for a U.S. Senate seat and lost in 2022, had the same theory. Not only will this increase her chances of being selected as Trumps running mate, but I believe it was done precisely for that reason, he said. He noted that Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway endorsed Ivanka Trumps fashion products in a 2017 television interview leading to a sales bump. There was a firestorm about the clear ethics violation and the president backed her up to preclude any disciplinary action, Bengs said. Kristi is demonstrating that she has no reservations about shilling any Trump or Trump allys product as vice president. He now knows she will help him make more money as president. Noems spokesman, Ian Fury did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast. Its not clear if Noem is on Trumps shortlist for vice president, but her ardent support of himremember the Mount Rushmore fireworks show for him?and her full-fledged embrace of MAGA has certainly raised her national profile. Which is why national headlines followed when she posted a video on Facebook, X, Truth Social, and Instagram this week of a dental procedure she had done in Texas to repair damage from a bike accident. I love my new family at Smile Texas! The video says it all, and I am so grateful for their help fixing my smile for me. pic.twitter.com/z2kTmiY8td Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 12, 2024 I love my new family at Smile Texas! Noem wrote on her personal, not official, account. The video says it all, and I am so grateful for their help fixing my smile for me. The team here was remarkable and finally gave me a smile that I can be proud of and confident in, and that really is a gift that I think is going to be incredibly special to have. I chose the team here at Smile Texas because theyre the best. Ethical questions were immediately raised. A consumer advocacy group, Travelers United, filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C, alleging she was advertising a product without disclosing that she has a financial relationship with that company. Then on Thursday, Noem posted a video endorsing a South Dakota shoe called Fit My Feet, saying they did amazing work to make custom insoles. Fit My Feet does amazing work to make custom insoles. Just wait Im gonna be so fast! pic.twitter.com/RujfkjWPrc Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 14, 2024 Just wait Im gonna be so fast! she wrote. State Sen. Reynold Nesiba, one of just 11 Democrats in the 105-member South Dakota Legislature, called on the Government Operations & Audit Committee, which he serves on, to look into the matter. I just thought it was a very strange video about how much she enjoyed having her teeth done at that particular place, Nesiba told the Associated Press. The committee, dominated by Republicans, declined to schedule an investigation. Ive looked into this and there is no basis for GOAC to take this up. No state funds were used and the state plane wasnt used. Im told it was done with her personal funds, Chairman Ernie Otten wrote in an email to committee members. I have no intent to add a GOAC mtg for this complaint. Northern State University political science professor Jon Schaff said he was surprised by the uproar. This whole thing strikes me as a proverbial tempest in a teapot. I wish that the biggest problem facing South Dakota is who whitens the governors teeth, Schaff said. Noem is getting national attention as a potential running mate for Donald Trump. Her opponents are grasping at anything to rough her up. But he acknowledged that by his memory, no other South Dakota politician had done anything like Noems flackery. I think it is odd that a sitting governor would engage in a kind of product endorsement more typical of a celebrity or an athlete, Schaff said. I dont know that I would call it improper, which suggests unethical, but perhaps governors should be more statesmanlike rather than using their notoriety to sell a commercial product. State Rep. Linda Duba, a Sioux Falls Democrat, pointed out that Noem also endorsed a Spearfish coffee shop, Common Grounds, on Thursday. And she noted that her attention-getting posts came ahead of a trip to Ohio to appear at a rally with Trump. She can show off her new teeth, Duba quipped. 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. Launch recap: Scroll down to review live coverage of the Friday, March 15, liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Hopefully, the third time is a charm but delays continue to arise! Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team live coverage of SpaceX's third consecutive evening attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-44 mission to deliver another batch of satellites to orbit. SpaceX has now pushed back the liftoff target twice, to 8:21 p.m. EDT, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center pad 39A. Thursday's scrub was a disappointment after an exciting day for SpaceX. Not only was it Pi Day, but the company celebrated a milestone Starship test flight as well as their 22nd anniversary. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket remained on the launch pad Thursday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Thursday night's launch attempt stopped the countdown with 2 minutes and 1 second to go. SpaceX stated on X (formerly Twitter) that there was an issue with the transporter erector's cradle arms. The transporter erector pulls the rocket into a vertical position and is supposed to retract before liftoff. Thursday's scrub came on the heels of a Wednesday scrub. SpaceX has not given a reason for Wednesday night's scrub, which stopped at T-2 minutes and 3 seconds. Assuming it launches tonight, the Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of Starlink internet satellites, which are packed inside the fairing atop the 230-foot rocket. No local sonic booms are expected rather, after soaring skyward along a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a drone ship out at sea 8 minutes after liftoff. Countdown Timer Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 @Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit https://t.co/xqUA5VBaWM SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 16, 2024 SpaceX Falcon 9 booster lands Update 8:29 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just landed aboard SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its 19th mission. The event marked SpaceX's 25th launch and landing thus far during 2024, including missions elsewhere in the United States. Falcon 9 lands on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, completing our 25th launch and landing of the year pic.twitter.com/rUwU5KwQw4 SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 16, 2024 Liftoff! Update 8:21 p.m.: SpaceX has finally launched this Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites from KSC. Liftoff from pad 39A in Florida! pic.twitter.com/VR4UihAiIZ SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 16, 2024 SpaceX launch webcast begins Update 8:16 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast hosted on X (formerly Twitter) is now posted above, right below the countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled in five minutes from KSC. Fifteen minutes before SpaceX liftoff 8:06 p.m.: After back-to-back scrubbed attempts, will this Falcon 9 finally take flight? Stay tuned. SpaceX booster to land on drone ship Update 7:59 p.m.: Tonight's mission marks the 19th flight for this Falcon 9 first-stage booster, SpaceX reported. The well-traveled booster previously launched GPS III Space Vehicle 04, GPS III Space Vehicle 05, Inspiration4, Ax-1, Nilesat 301, OneWeb Launch 17, ARABSAT BADR-8 and 11 Starlink missions, SpaceX reported. Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out on the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 26 seconds after liftoff. A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster returns to Port Canaveral aboard the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in October 2021. SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling now underway Update 7:49 p.m.: Visual cues indicate Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at pad 39A, though SpaceX has yet to make an official announcement. That means tonights Starlink mission is now committed to lift off at 8:21 p.m. without any countdown delays, or else the launch must be postponed. SpaceX: Rocket and weather are both 'go' Update 7:36 p.m.: SpaceX officials just tweeted an update: "Less than one hour until Falcon 9s launch of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida. Both the rocket and weather are currently go for liftoff." Less than one hour until Falcon 9s launch of 23 @Starlink satellites from Florida. Both the rocket and weather are currently go for liftoff https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 15, 2024 SpaceX Falcon 9 countdown timeline Update 7:30 p.m.: Here's a rundown of key events in SpaceXs remaining countdown timeline. T-minus: 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies go for propellant load. 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch. 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins. 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies go for launch. 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start. 0 seconds: Liftoff. SpaceX delays liftoff for second time Update 7:09 p.m.: SpaceX just pushed back the target liftoff time nearly a half hour, to 8:21 p.m. Space Force: 90% odds of 'go for launch' weather Update 7:01 p.m.: In a forecast released Wednesday, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron pegged the odds of "go for launch" weather tonight at 90%. "On Friday, a cold front will settle into the Deep South, causing locally veering and increasing wind flow. Moisture through the atmospheric column will rise ahead of the front, but not likely enough to produce much in the way of mid-level cloud cover," the forecast said. "The Cumulus Cloud Rule will the only distant weather concern for the backup launch window Friday evening," the forecast said. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink satellites lifts off Sunday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX to launch ISS resupply mission Update 6:33 p.m.: NASA announced the upcoming SpaceX CRS-30 mission where a Falcon 9 will launch a Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station is scheduled for liftoff at 4:55 p.m. Thursday. The rocket will launch from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. And the first-stage booster will produce sonic booms by targeting landing at the military installation. LAUNCH ALERT A Falcon 9 rocket will launch the CRS-30 mission to the ISS. March 21, 2024 at 4:55 p.m. LZ-1 booster landing. Viewing is included with admission: https://t.co/x73ZqvbKWW pic.twitter.com/FslLhNNfzv Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (@ExploreSpaceKSC) March 15, 2024 SpaceX launch prep underway in Brevard Update 6:10 p.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceXs upcoming Falcon 9 launch. 3/15/24 6:04 PM | We have activated our launch operations support team in preparation for the SpaceX Falcon9 launch. Window: 6:39 - 10:39 PM pic.twitter.com/amkekUJ75y Brevard EOC (@BrevardEOC) March 15, 2024 Contact Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launch recap: Starlink mission Friday from Kennedy Space Center RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) A new opportunity to tour the same set that was used during the award-winning film Oppenheimer is now available in New Mexico. Tucked away in the desert at Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, stand several buildings and dirt roads that were built specifically for the movie. Director Christopher Nolan and the films production crew, including executive producer Thomas Hayslip and production designer Ruth De Jong, created the set to resemble the real-life Los Alamos, where J. Robert Oppenheimer and other scientists worked to create the atomic bomb under the Manhattan Project in the 1940s. J. Robert Oppenheimer found in New Mexico family film footage David Manzanares, Ghost Ranchs field producer, recalled the moment he was contacted by Todd Christensen, the former director of the New Mexico Film Office, about the Oppenheimer film in October 2021. He gave me a call looking for locations in New Mexico. So, I gave him several ideas to pick my brain. He mentioned it would be looking for a hill or a cliff of sorts with this big overlook, Manzanares told Nexstars KRQE. A few weeks later, Nolan, Hayslip, De Jong and other crew members visited one of the areas Manzanares suggested. The team was taken to an untouched desert area that sits above the Tennessee Valley at Ghost Ranch off of U.S. 84. In the distance surrounding the area are mesas, red rocks, Abiquiu Lake, and the same desert landscape that captivated artist Georgia OKeeffe and several other filmmakers. The area was later selected to be a filming location. Road on the set of the Oppenheimer movie at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Replica of the Los Alamos project gate on the set of Oppenheimer at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Church on the set of Oppenheimer at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Outside of Oppenheimers office on the set of Oppenheimer movie at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Oppenheimers office on the set of Oppenheimer movie at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Auto repair and storage building on the set of Oppenheimer movie at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Theater building on the set of Oppenheimer movie at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Swing set on the set of Oppenheimer at Ghost Ranch. March 12, 2024. (KRQE Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer) Construction of the Oppenheimer set at Ghost Ranch began in November, and filming took place in 2022. It was incredible to watch, Manzanares said about his experience working on the set and watching Nolan in action. Hes very meticulous. He has a vision in his mind, and he hires people. He surrounds himself with professionals that can get it done. It was exciting. It took the crew about eight days to complete their filming at the set. Manzanares said he was there every day, starting from when the crew first arrived through early May. Much like the top-secret Manhattan Project, the details about the Oppenheimer film were kept under wraps until recently. Now that production is over, Ghost Ranch is conducting guided tours of the filming locations, bringing its first group out there on Tuesday. The remaining set pieces include a reproduction of the main Los Alamos security gate, a building that was based on the real blueprints of Oppenheimers office, two Quonset huts that served as a theater and an auto repair and storage shop, a church and additional log cabin-like buildings. Visitors will also see the main road where Cillian Murphy, who played J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Emily Blunt, as Kitty Oppenheimer, drove into town. The secret museum New Mexicans will never see Those who watched Oppenheimer and visited the set may notice that some of the buildings that were shown in the film are no longer standing at Ghost Ranch. Parts of the set were removed, and the telephone poles that were erected for production were taken down and remain on site in case any other group wants to use them for filming. So I think when people come for a tour, they get to maybe feel or touch a little bit of that magic. And I think thats kind of cool. The magic is here all the time. But now we get to share it with, you know, the rest of the world, said Manzanares. The hour-and-a-half tour of the Oppenheimer set at Ghost Ranch is open to those ages 10 and up, with tickets costing $45 apiece. To book a tour, guests should contact Ghost Ranchs tour department via email at tours@ghostranch.org. The schedule can also be found online. Oppenheimer was filmed at multiple locations across New Mexico, including Los Alamos. More information about the filming locations can be found at KRQE. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The search for a missing South Carolina paramedic came to a tragic end after her car was found in New Mexico and her body was recovered Friday evening, a case that a law enforcement official called heinous. Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, was last seen at her home on Wildwood Loop in Marion on Tuesday, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office. Family reported her missing to the Marion County Sheriffs Office on Thursday evening. On Friday morning, New Mexico State Police contacted the Marion County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division to tell them that Machado-Fores car had been involved in the murder of one of their officers, officials said. Authorities worked across the country to find Machado-Fore and identify the driver of her car, officials said. Information learned in an investigation led law enforcement officers to a property outside of Lake View in Dillon County, where they found Machado-Fores body just after 6 p.m. on Friday. Federal, state and local officials are continuing to investigate the heinous crime, the sheriffs office said. New Mexico State Police have identified the driver of Machado-Fores care as Jaremy Smith of Marion, and have issued warrants for the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace extended his gratitude to those assisting in the case, which his office called far from over. Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder. Her death is senseless, Wallace said in a statement. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss. My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice. The Dillon County Coroners Office scheduled an autopsy for Machado-Fore on Monday. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Friday reported a Red Sea attack on a vessel near Yemen, but it caused no damage or casualties. U.S. Central Command reported destroying nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. USS Mason pictured in Gulf of Aden. File Photo by PFC3 Samantha Alaman/U.S. Navy/UPI March 15 (UPI) -- United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Friday reported a Red Sea attack on a vessel near Yemen, but it caused no damage or casualties. UKMTO said that two missiles flew over the ship and two loud blasts were heard in the distance 50 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. "The vessel reports no damage and the crew are reported safe. The vessel is proceeding to its next port of call," the UKMTO statement said. The attack came after the U.S. Central Command said Iranian-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from areas they control within Yemen. "There were no injuries or damage reported to U.S. or coalition ships," it said. Central Command also reported destroying nine anti-ship missiles and two unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. "It was determined these weapons presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region," U.S. Central Command's statement said. "These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels." [Source] A zoo in Japan's Saitama Prefecture is making headlines after conducting an animal escape drill that saw a staff member don a white tiger's costume and run around the park as the fugitive beast. Why it matters: Tobu Zoological Park, located in the town of Miyashiro, holds escape drills three times a year to improve staff members' knowledge and preparedness in handling escaped animals. What happened: The latest drill depicted a scenario in which a "white tiger" escapes after an earthquake shatters the reinforced glass in its enclosure. As seen in videos, employees used a net barricade to isolate the big cat, while others escorted visitors away from the area. Trending on NextShark: Elderly Asian woman with walker killed in hit-and-run in Houston One worker riding a truck slowly approached the pretend animal before "shooting" it with a tranquilizer dart. After ensuring that it had been sedated, the staff members approached it to bind its legs and load it onto a truck. The big picture: Having staff members play as animals for escape drills is a fairly common practice in Japanese zoos. In January, one zoo in Hiroshima held a drill for an escaped bear. Tobu Zoo has held escape drills featuring various animals, such as a gorilla, a hippopotamus and a lion. Trending on NextShark: Houston woman paralyzed in robbery sues plaza where attack took place Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! An Amherst County High School student, Cameron Feyerherd, recently won the Virginia School Boards Associations Southern Regional Art Contest. Student art from the elementary, middle, and high school levels represented each school division in the competition and artwork was judged at the regional forum for area school board members, according to an Amherst County Public Schools news release announcing Feyerherd as the winner. We are incredibly proud of Cameron and are thrilled that others will be able to enjoy and appreciate his artwork, the release said. The VSBA Regional Art Contest was started in 1989 to promote the artistic talents of Virginias public school students. For each of the nine VSBA regions, a winner is chosen for the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The winning art is framed and displayed in the offices of the VSBA in Charlottesville. Parents in Bedford County got another chance to voice their opinions Thursday night on the potential closing of Stewartsville Elementary School during the division's regular school board meeting. School administration first presented the school board with four efficiency options for the members to consider during a budget work session on Feb. 22. All four options called for the decommissioning of Stewartsville Elementary School the countys oldest school building, built in 1912 as a high school. Stewartsville Elementary was considered because of the division's 10-year capital improvement plan, where the board will have to make decisions on the buildings roof and HVAC replacement requirements. The four options proposed Option 1 relocates Stewartsville Elementary students to Montvale and Goodview elementary schools; rezones all of the Staunton River Elementary School boundaries to provide more room at Goodview by moving some of those existing students to Moneta Elementary and some current Montvale students to Huddleston Elementary; and it closes preschools at Moneta and Huddleston to make room for relocations. Also, some middle and high school students in this area who currently go to Staunton River middle and high schools would need to be rezoned to Liberty middle and high schools to have a consistent feeder program. Option 2 relocates prekindergarten through fourth-grade students from Stewartsville Elementary to Goodview Elementary, reconfigures all Staunton River zone elementary schools to pre-K through fourth grade and keeps all current preschools open, and reconfigures grade levels pre-K through fourth grade, fifth through seventh grade and eighth through 12th grade in the Staunton River zone. Option 3 also reconfigures grade levels, similar to option 2, but modifies grade levels in the Forest zone to prepare for growth in the area. Option 4 takes the same reconfiguration of grade levels in the Staunton River and Forest school zones as option 3 but also reconfigures grade levels in the Liberty zone, making Bedford Elementary a K-4 school; Bedford Primary will remain open as a preschool center, with itinerant staff offices, and the early childhood education class from Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center, and as a technology storage and work facility. Community comments Emily Sitzler, an attorney in the Town of Bedford and parent of one child at Liberty Middle School, asked the board to vote against all four options, stating they are a Band-Aid. They are a Band-Aid to a large wound that is hemorrhaging. The proposed options are not a long-term solution to what is going on in Bedford County Public Schools, she said, adding the options do not offer a solution to the ever-growing Forest school zones. She also asked the board not to close Stewartsville Elementary School, adding the options are "not in our children's best interest." Lauren Shellenberger, a parent in the county, echoed a similar sentiment. Shellenberger said the options proposed do not consider the social and emotional well-being of the students. Please also keep in mind this years fourth graders had their kindergarten year interrupted by COVID, Shellenberger said as she held back tears. These seventh graders were displaced from their elementary schools and now you want to shove them out for the sake of efficiency. These are children, not machines. Theres nothing efficient about their development and we shouldnt force that expectation upon them. Amanda Ergenbright, a teacher at Stewartsville since 2004, spoke about the potential decommissioning of the elementary school. Ergenbright acknowledged the age of the building and the low enrollment compared to other schools in the county, but she said the people who work there and the students are much more than just a set of statistics, we are not just a building. I want to make it clear that Im not here tonight because Im worried about having a job if you close my school. I am here because closing Stewartsville will be detrimental to our students and to our community, she said. Laura Saunders, a parent in the county, said the concern is if students are emotionally ready for this kind of change. Theyre suffering with learning their own identities. I dont think they should have to learn where they are in the school system, Saunders said. What's next? There will be another opportunity for the community to weigh in on the four efficiency options and the superintendent search from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., March 19 at Staunton River High School. The board will also hold a special called budget work session at 6 p.m. March 21 to discuss budget preparations for the 2024-25 school year and decide whether to move forward with any of the options. The meeting will take place at the Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center auditorium on 600 Edmund St. in Bedford. The board will hold another special called budget work session March 25 also at 6 p.m. at Susie G. Gibson Science and Technology Center auditorium to receive Bergin's proposed budget for next school year. The board could choose to not make any changes to the schools or configurations upon vote. The board could also use or combine parts of any of the options. For community members who have suggestions or input, the division asks to share them during the next town hall meeting or contact their board representative. After 10 months of strategic planning, transition and guidance from P.E.O. state officials, Council Bluffs Chapters IQ and LP under the leadership of Jan Stroy and Beverly Fletcher have combining a history of 144 years into one entity. A Celebratory Ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon with election of new officers. Henceforth, this Philanthropic Educational Organization is a single entity officially known as Chapter IQ-LP. The combination of these two chapters will double its membership and efforts in educational outreach programs and scholarships to provide financial assistance to help young women complete their educational aspirations, including a college degree. Held at Prairie Gate, 16 Valley View Dr. in Council Bluffs, the merger celebration's guests included P.E.O. Iowa State dignitaries and representatives from Reciprocity, a local clearinghouse for seven P.E.O. chapters. Presiding at the ceremony and the installation of new officers was Iowa State Chapter P.E.O. Organizer Pam Schulz. Barb Nelson of the Iowa State Chapter Membership Committee for the Southwest District also attended to assist in the transition and transference of leadership. The newly elected officers for Chapter IQ-LP for 2024-2025 are Beverly Fletcher, president; Yvonne Willadsen, vice president; Karen Behrens, treasurer; and Jan Stroy, recording secretary. Serving as corresponding secretary is Becky Henkel, while Patricia Minchin is chaplain and Monica Sciortino is guard. A reception for members and guests followed the merger formalities. Since the first merger of P.E.O. Chapters in 2004 in Des Moines, a total of 89 chapters have merged nationwide. Thus, the partnership of Chapter IQ and Chapter LP brings the total number of mergers to an estimated 90. To enhance and facilitate a smooth transition and acquaintanceship among members as a result of the merger, a series of 10 short, 20-minute programs featuring individual members have been planned. Under the heading of Sisters Meeting Sisters the series will be a showcase for sharing highlights of individual collections, hobbies, skills, talents and travels. For example, one of the members has traveled to all seven continents and will present an illustrated talk An Odyssey: Sailing Around the World. Another member has acquired an impressive collection of hand-carved and painted Kachina dolls from the Hopi Indian Tribes of Arizona which she will share in a program format. Since its inception, P.E.O. has grown to a total of 6,000 chapters nationwide bringing the total membership to about 200,000 - making it the largest nonprofit womens organization in North America, including the District of Columbia and six Canadian provinces. Iowa has 14,000 members. P.E.O. was founded by seven college students on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant in 1869. P.E.O. has five philanthropic sources of funding: the Educational Loan Fund, the Peace Scholarship, Continuing Education, Scholar Awards and the Star Scholarship. Cottey College a nationally ranked, fully accredited postsecondary educational Institution in Nevada, Missouri is owned by P.E.O.. It is a debt-free institution that welcomes women from all races, religions, and backgrounds from around the world. France says it has asked 46 countries if they would be willing to supply more than 2,000 police officers to help secure the Paris Olympics this summer, as organizers finalize security planning for the French capital's first Games in a century while on heightened alert against potential attacks. 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. A series of coordinated coastal sweep operations and maritime patrols on Friday enabled the interception of 269 would-be migrants who were attempting to reach the Canary Islands, the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) said in a statement. The operations, carried out approximately ten kilometers southwest of Tantan, involved FAR units responsible for coastal surveillance, in conjunction with sweep modules, and successfully thwarted three separate attempts of irregular migration. Among those intercepted were 147 candidates, consisting of 103 Sub-Saharan Africans and 44 Moroccans, highlighting the diverse origins of those seeking migration. Simultaneously, the Royal Navys Combat Units intercepted two boats, one at 37 kilometers west of Tantan and the other 122 kilometers southwest of Dakhla, during maritime patrol operations. These boats were carrying 122 would-be migrants, comprising 84 Sub-Saharan Africans and 38 Moroccans. All intercepted individuals received necessary care before being transferred to the Royal Gendarmerie for administrative procedures. Also on Friday, three individuals lost their lives during an ill-fated irregular migration attempt from the region of Naila, within the jurisdiction of Akhfennir municipality. Prompt action was taken by local authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie, and Civil Protection services upon receiving distressing reports of a capsized rubber boat and the escape of the traffickers of irregular migrants in a rocky and hard-to-reach area. Despite rescue efforts, which led to the successful retrieval of forty-five aspiring migrants, the grim discovery of three bodies underscores the dangers inherent in such perilous journeys. Search and rescue operations persist in the hope of locating any other potential survivors. On Thursday, a Royal Navy Coast Guard intercepted, at approximately 33 km southwest of the city of Tarfaya, a boat carrying 52 Sub-Saharan individuals, including 5 women, who were planning to reach the Canary Islands. Hundreds of illegal immigrants heading to European destinations accessible from Moroccan coasts are routinely intercepted by Moroccos coastguard and army troops. French ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, has stressed the importance of the initiative of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, to deploy overland humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in Gaza, hailing the move as a historic milestone. The Kings decision will mark history, the diplomat said in an exclusive statement to Medi 1 TV channel. I wanted to tell you how much everyone in France really welcomed the initiative Morocco has just taken to provide aid to the people of Gaza by land, said Lecourtier. He stressed the importance of the personal decision taken by King Mohammed VI, whose role and influence as Chairman of the Al Quds Committee are long-known among the Palestinian populations. The Kingdom of Morocco, faced with this emergency situation (in Gaza), acted swiftly and decisively, said the French diplomat. The humanitarian operation launched by King Mohammed VI, and conveyed via a land route, to alleviate the sufferings of Palestinians in Gaza and Al Quds, reeling under inhuman Israeli siege, was hailed as unprecedented worldwide by influential law-makers, experts and officials from Palestine, Europe, Africa, the Arab world, Latin America, and the United States. Ag producers across Nebraska had a chance in late February to join in a series of five meetings recapping the 2023 results of the On-Farm Research Network. The final meeting Feb. 28 in Kearney, as with those in Mead, Beatrice, Alliance and York, covered results on studies ranging from crop production, fertility and soil management, use of non-traditional products, cover crops, crop protection and equipment. On-Farm Research started in the late 1980s in eastern Nebraska through Nebraska Extension under the umbrella of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to Extension specialists coordinating the meetings. In 2012 it became more statewide and in 2023 included 38 Extension specialists, professors and support personnel, along with three graduate assistants and two undergraduate assistants. A total of 68 cooperators were involved with the on-farm research projects during 2023 and a number of companies and businesses assisted with those projects. Sarah Sivits, a cropping systems and water Extension educator, explained that farmers implement the trials and collect the data using their own equipment. Extension specialists help each farmer to develop protocols that fit their individual operation and goals. An example of a recent study revolved around the question, What is the impact of starter fertilizer? Then we work with the producer to pick a product or practice and compare it with one or more other products or practices, Sivits said. Designing the study involves a bit of Statistics 101, she explained. Extension educators help producers understand the importance of replication, randomization and figuring out the P-value for each study. Replication is the repetition of an experiment observation in same or similar conditions. It is important because it adds information on the reliability of the conclusions or estimates to be draw from the data. Using random sampling is a method of selection a sample from a population in which all the items in the population have an equal chance of being chosen in the sample and reduces bias. Finally, P-value refers to the probability of an outcome. Sivits noted in field research studies a treatment is imposed. This treatment may be a new product or practice that is being compared to a standard management. Both the treatments being tested and random error (such as field variability) influence research results (such as yield). So as P-value decreases, the probability that differences are due to random chance decreases. But if the P-value increases, one is less able to distinguish whether the difference is due to error or the treatment. Which means that a producer may have less confidence in the results being due to the treatment. Cooperator Don Batie of Lexington discussed his 2023 study on corn populations, noting he had done several soybean population studies in the past. With soybeans we discovered we could really cut seed populations and still achieve the same yields. I wanted to see if the same was true with corn, Batie said. Using seeding rates ranging from 24,000 seeds to the acre to 36,000 seeds per acre, the 36,000 seeds per acre was the highest yielding and most profitable, indicating there was no benefit for variable rate seeding in the field during the study year. We concluded that perhaps using a flex hybrid you could cut population, but other than girthier and longer ears on the lower populations, we saw no significant difference, he said. Batie also talked about a trial using a non-traditional product designed to improve root mass emergence, stress tolerance, plant health, photosynthesis, energy production and yield. At the end of the year there were no statistically significant differences in stand counts, yield or net return between the treated field segments and the untreated check. One of the advantages of on-farm research is if a salesman approaches you about a miracle product, you can buy a small amount and tell them youll do a trial and compare, he said. Similarly, Lon Bohn of Gibbon participated in a trail with a plant hormone product for wheat that is designed to enhance plant health and growth. The product use made no difference in his stand count or yield when compared to the untreated check. In addition, the additional cost of the product resulted in a $26 per acre decrease in net return compared to the randomized check strips. It was supposed to give the wheat a boost but after participating this first time in an on-farm research project I have confidence this product had no impact on my field, concluded Bohn. David Grimes of Minden noted he has been involved with a long-term evaluation of using cereal rye as a cover crop. We have done this for seven years and are going into the eighth, looking at the effects of using the cover crop on the following cash crop yield, Grimes said. While normally one expects a bit of a yield boost following a cover crop, Grimes said this year was a bit of a head-scratcher, as there was a four bushel per acre lower soybean yield compared to the no rye cover crop. It may be because last year was a very dry year. However, we still feel there is value to the cover crop as most years it is pastured and that value ranges from $20-$40. We definitely see an advantage on weed control with a cover crop, which would make the overall return a wash, he concluded. One of the most promising study series has been wrapped around sensor-based nitrogen management for corn production, said Joe Luck, Extension precision agriculture engineer. We had 15 sites this year studying sensor-based fertigation. We believe fertigation is a way to solve the states high nitrate problem in groundwater through better management. The studies show that timing nitrogen applications to match the crop need is essential to a best management practice. Base nitrogen rates are applied using variable rate equipment on center pivots. Using technology incorporated into fertigation pumps and telemetry can facilitate successful deployment, Luck said. Using software developed by former UNL graduate assistant Jackson Stansell, Luck noted they have been able to reduce the time needed to generate prescriptions from satellite imagery down to five minutes. While the randomized, replicated layout used in the studies does create challenges, Luck noted it gives researchers a better assessment of the approaches. Over the past three years on 24 sites, they have seen an average return of $24 per acre, due to reduced nitrogen costs and increased yields. Of the 15 fields studied in 2023, 12 were more profitable, three were not, he said. We believe that this sensor-based approach can maintain profitability while solving our groundwater nitrate issues over time. This post was originally published in Jonathan Chaits &c newsletter sign up here. This week, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in American history, urged Israelis to vote in a new government. On the left, the response to this historic development was that Schumer had buckled in the face of relentless protests by pro-Palestinian activists: Weve gone from standing with Israel, no debate, no ceasefire to there has to be a ceasefire & Netanyahu has lost his way PROTEST WORKS. KEEP PRESSING. END ALL COLONIALISM, FREE PALESTINE (@BreeNewsome) March 14, 2024 The hawkish right, dismayed by Schumers speech, had the same response. Schumer was placating the anti-Israel left in his party, complained the Wall Street Journal editorial page. He was getting pushed around by pro-Hamas sentiment in their own party, railed National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry. These responses are a perfect case study in what Ive called the political version of the fundamental attribution error. In case youve forgotten your intro-level Psychology, the fundamental attribution error is a tendency for people to assess their own actions within the context of their environment but assess the actions of other people as if they represent an innate character trait. I do things in response to circumstances, but they do things because that is just who they are. The political version of this is that we can easily perceive how the other sides extremists are radicalizing us but fail to see how our sides extremists are radicalizing them. Schumers speech attacking Benjamin Netanyahu is the product of two decades of liberal Zionist frustration with Netanyahu and his one-state project. Netanyahu not only fueled Palestinian despair by blocking any path to statehood; he deliberately aided Hamas in an attempt to box out the less radical Palestinian alternative. Hamass horrific pogrom united liberal Zionists with conservative ones extremism creates a reaction but over time, the bloody and unstrategic Israeli military campaign in Gaza has alienated liberal Zionists. If you understand liberal analysis, this is a pretty familiar account. Extremism begets more extremism. But this account of events does not appeal to extremists, who tend to believe in the efficacy of force over reason. On the right, Israel hawks have simply refused to accept that Israels refusal to take steps toward peace (the most obvious being to curtail West Bank settlements) has alienated its allies and spurred its enemies. On the left, there is a similar inability to grasp that the pro-Palestinian movements eliminationist tone has alienated liberals who are otherwise inclined to criticize Israel for its role in the conflict. Ive never met Schumer. But I am a liberal Zionist, and Ive spent my entire life around liberals who broadly share both a sympathy for Israel and a desire for a two-state solution. Everybody I know who meets this description has been ping-ponging between revulsion at the Israeli right and revulsion at the anti-Israel left. Since October 7, the liberal Zionist mood has been dominated by horror at the militancy of the pro-Palestinian movement. Every day seems to bring a fresh new instance of anti-Zionist fanaticism tipping over into antisemitism. A glowing Washington Post profile of Michigan state representative Adam Abusalah, who is now campaigning to help Donald Trump defeat President Biden to punish the latter for supporting Israel, casually includes this musing by the articles subject: Look, I know this is something people might not say, he said, processing this news. I personally dont think Joe Bidens running the show. I think Antony Blinken is making all the decisions and that I know this is going to sound crazy, because hes the president of the United States, but I just think that they let him know what theyre going to do. Its obviously insane to believe that Joe Biden, who has been both deeply involved in foreign policy and an avid supporter of Israel for more than half a century, is not directing his own administrations Middle East policy. Why would Abusalah believe Biden is simply a helpless puppet whose strings are being pulled by his (Jewish) secretary of State? I think the answer is pretty obvious, but the Posts reporter does not press him on this or call any attention to the conspiratorial belief system it reflects. The story simply to employ an overused term normalizes antisemitic ravings. In Chicago the other day, anti-Israel protesters tried to block people from entering a Monday night screening of Nova, a documentary about the October 7 Hamas massacre at the Nova Music Festival that killed hundreds. A Jewish attendee said he was completely surrounded by maybe six or seven that started punching me in the head. The liberal Zionist world has been in despair at the cycle of violence and hate between the one-staters of the left and right. Schumers speech was an attempt to escape that cycle. The extremists looked at it and decided the conclusion is that militancy is working. The Food Bank of East Alabama welcomed supporters and donors to its new facility on Thursday to showcase how the food bank serves around 32,000 people per month. The facility officially opened in January 2020 as the latest step by the Food Bank to meeting the growing need of its seven-county service area of Lee, Russell, Macon, Chambers, Randolph, Barbour and Tallapoosa counties. The improvements were sorely needed for the organization, moving from its 20,000 square foot facility at 375 Industry Drive to the 42,000 square foot building next door at 355 Industry Drive. Martha Henk, the executive director for the Food Bank of East Alabama, said they had printed invitations and planned for an open house in March of that year, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a change of plans. During that time, Henk said the Food Bank faced a series of challenges, such as many of their partner agencies closing. According to statistics provided at the open house, the Food Bank of East Alabama uses more than 200 partner agencies to distribute food across the seven counties. In the early days of the pandemic, Henk said about one-third of the agencies were still operational, meaning the food bank had to play a larger role in distribution. Food bank is 'only as strong as our community of support' Henk said that the organization had to get classified as essential workers and the reality of the situation fully set in for her when she attended a workshop for executive directors that was held by Feeding America. Henk said that during the workshop, the directors were told to make sure their staffs were up to date on their wills. Henk said that she does not know how they would have managed the growing need across their seven counties without the 42,000 square foot facility that allowed them to increase their freezer capacity among other essential functions. The facility cost just over $1.3 million in total. Even as the negative impacts of the pandemic continue to wind down today, the vital relief programs that provided support to so many people in need during that time have also shut down. Henk said that additional SNAP benefits and child tax credits were just some of the programs that have ended. "Those things are ended, so we're starting to see now people really struggling. Our food pantries are starting to see a steep increase. You put that against the backdrop of groceries," Henk said. "I can't help with grocery prices. I can't help with a lot of those other things. But by God we can get food out to people, that's what we do." Henk said that in 2023, the Food Bank of East Alabama distributed 5.8 million pounds of food and they are hoping to grow that number in part with the new facility. Henk credited the support of the community for the growth that the food bank has seen over the years. "Amid all of these changes, one constant remains. The food bank is only as strong as our community of support. The unwavering dedication of our volunteers, of our generous donors, in the collaboration with community partners, all have allowed us to become what we are today," Henk said. The growth for the food bank does not end with the Industry Drive facility. Community Market expansion coming in the future In January 2003, the food bank opened the Community Market of East Alabama at 3810 Pepperell Parkway. Henk said that the decision to open one came after an attempt to partner with other pantries did not work out. Henk said that Jan Dempsey, a board member for the food bank, was a supporter for the original community market, and it was Dempsey that actually announced the plans for a new market on Thursday. "The Community Market opened 21 years ago and it serves with care, compassion, and kindness, the hungry of Lee County," Dempsey said. "So thousands of people later, millions of pounds of food later, we need some new space too." Henk said the current community market location has its challenges, as it is just 4,600 square-feet, has limited parking and a lease that requires the food bank to fix any maintenance issues that occur. To remove those obstacles as well as meet the ever growing need, Henk revealed that the food bank has purchased property located at 1600 First Avenue in Opelika, near Piggly Wiggly. Demolition of what existed on the property has already been complete and now Henk said they are looking for a contractor. The plans for the property extend well beyond just a larger community market, with hopes of creating a community center, "a place where people will want to gather." Henk said the proposed facility is expected to be 16,700 square feet. Henk said they have plans for the facility to have some meeting rooms, a drive thru farmers market near the front, sections that provide food for pets, a baby supplies section and much more, including a large meeting room for possible cooking demonstrations. Henk said that Christian Watson, the chef at the Waverly Local and a board member with the food bank, has expressed interest in teaching people how to cook with the food available at the community market. "We're going to create a community center, and it's going to be beautiful, and it's going to be colorful and warm and welcoming. And the whole thing is, we want it to be as much like a nice grocery store," Henk said. "So there's a lot that we can do to make it be a point of lifting people up and welcoming them as opposed to dragging them down." Henk said the only thing standing in the way of making that vision a reality is raising the funds. She said the new community market facility will need a capital campaign to raise around $2.5 million which will start soon and there are still other steps along the way. The Food Bank of East Alabama holds open house and dedication Cry me a river Reply Thread Link Lol the only thing he has is distracting us with a N'SYNC reunion Reply Thread Link I feel like even now it's almost too late. There was a lot of hype that a reunion might be happening, and then all that was really announced (besides the Trolls song) was that he had a new album coming out and a tour. How much was he using the other four to build up interest in his solo endeavors? I don't know, but as a former (and let's be honest, current) *Nsync fan, I felt kind of deflated after all that. I would love it if they truly got back together and did some more new music and a tour, but at this point who knows. Reply Parent Thread Link Agreed. I think the issue for him now is that the reunion would definitely help the rest of the guys but I think his image is too far gone for it to help him and nsync fans know the reunion would be very Justin centered which I think many wouldn't want at this point since nothing about him feels authentic at this point. Between putting out a nothing burger album and people being more excited about the nsync song on the record than his songs, he's firmly turning himself into a nostalgia act at warp speed. Reply Parent Thread Link I didnt even watch the video because I felt like it was a stunt for him lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Like Yup. This man is so delusional. He should have done a proper reunion and kept his fucking mouth shut. Instead he thought wed be hyped for a trolls song?? I mean, I know some ontders fuck with that but cant say thats his target audience. AND THEN he took back his apology to brit.Like Reply Parent Thread Link Yup. And the thing is that Justin has a history of using others to prop up his own career. He did it with Britney and Janet and soon as his reputation was in the toilet and he was actually being held accountable for his actions, he recorded new music with NSYNC and used them to promote his shitty projects. All that hype after the VMAs was squandered so he could announce a solo tour and an album people aren't clamoring for. And I know it must chap his ass that he's having to reunite with the other guys to generate good publicity and get into the public's good graces and I hope it kills him to be outshined by JC at his own concert. He was long overdue for some humbling. As an NSYNC fan, I'd love a reunion but I don't need Justin for it. I'd shell out big money to see just the other 4 but I know that would never happen. Anyway, hope Joey and AJ get even more publicity for their tour and it's successful so he can be mad about Joey getting good reviews for something while he's getting trashed lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link So this is the one thing, the ONLY thing, I defend Justin about lol. Bc the whole story of him being the one not wanting to reunite with the group isnt true. Its always been JC thats not wanted to do it. So Im assuming they finally convinced him which is why all of this happened. As much as I dislike this man and want him to go away, he has been doing perfectly fine without *NSYNC. People still eat his shit up. He definitely didnt need them. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Allow me to re-share my 2018 review of his last album, which also applies to his newest album: https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/109453424.html Not even a *NSYNC collaboration and him parading them around at his latest show was enough to save him. Allow me to re-share my 2018 review of his last album, which also applies to his newest album:Not even a *NSYNC collaboration and him parading them around at his latest show was enough to save him. Reply Thread Link Justin having to eat shit and do an N*Sync reunion because his image is so terrible now is so satisfying. Like, I know hes in HELL. https://t.co/64AWhjDFgV Phillip (@MajorPhilebrity) March 15, 2024 Reply Thread Link jc eating him alive with minimal effort as per usual Reply Parent Thread Link Wait what is that from!!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link Last night at one of his shows. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, I want a new *NSYNC album, but I also want JC to be the only one who gets to sing lead vocals. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This asshole running his old band mates around the stage like my old track coach would....wtf. My track coach was a surly old man who would have beaten JT's ass though. Reply Parent Thread Link Why are his clothes so big lmao Reply Parent Thread Expand Link he looks like a pathetic try hard next to JC lmao Reply Parent Thread Link omg...so cringe. I'm all for JC slapping his pathetic ass live. Justice for JC. Reply Parent Thread Link Running around and singing the bare minimum. Literally doing the most and giving the least.. Reply Parent Thread Link daaang daaang Reply Thread Link I just need every person Justin has ever taken shots up to rise up in some fashion. I hope Janet gets a renaissance one day. Britney success in anything she wants to do. Prince songs randomly rising in the charts and whoever else got stepped on by this rat douchebag. Reply Thread Link LMAO I DIDNT EVEN KNOW THIS WAS OUT TODAY flop bitch! you truly love to see it Reply Thread Link Perhaps he left it under one of those hotel mattresses he claims to have broken. Timberlake recently told Apple Music that Everything I Thought It Was is his 'best work' yet. It's not. Reply Thread Link This is the kind of petty I like! Reply Parent Thread Link It is an awful album. Reply Thread Link Youre looking like gas, and Im looking for mileage Well no shit. With lyrics like these:Youre looking like gas, and Im looking for mileage Reply Thread Link Youre looking like gas Thanks I had a really big burrito Reply Parent Thread Link Not even a fart Reply Parent Thread Link what kinda lame seductive line is this?! via GIPHY Reply Parent Thread Link What a perfect gif for that line lol Reply Parent Thread Link Finally, some good news today! Reply Thread Link JC, it's your time to shine! Reply Thread Link Hes too busy making bank on Meow Mix commercials Reply Parent Thread Link Acting like that Meow Mix jingle isnt a hot track and superior to anything JT has attempted solo. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It really is. I hope he uses the extra attention to move forward with his musical. The songs sound good and of course, he sounds amazing singing them. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That house was absolutely fucking gorgeous. I cannot even imagine losing all of that-its not even about just the material shit, but the artistic vision of it all. I wonder what the fk even started it???? It was awful, but it actually could have been way way worse, because if it was something undetectable to the eye, that could have happened while she was there. Thank god her cats got out, and also that she wasnt there at the time either!! Reply Thread Link i saw on justjared that her parents said it was power lines, something to do with it being windy there. Reply Parent Thread Link dang that sucks and not surprised. i think it was wind/power line related last month that caused fire to my friends parents house. im in norcal not socal but pretty sure the high winds crossed the whole state the past two days. yesterday walking for lunch was super windy and i was even a little scared at an intersection cuz it was making part of the traffic light thingy shake hard. i was worried it might fall on me Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah we've been having Santa Ana winds the past couple of days. Trees get blown over a lot and I can absolutely see some powerlines getting blown over and starting a fire. Reply Parent Thread Link I was going to say I hope she had full replacement value fire insurance, but if it was the power company's fault, she may be able to sue them, or just get a settlement without going to court. It's hard enough to lose so many personal items in a fire, but when you're not even on the same continent when it happens must be even worse. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ia and her personal items :( Reply Parent Thread Link how awful! that house really was beautiful. but THANK GOODNESS the cats are okay and no one else was harmed from what i saw. Reply Thread Link Wow, I wanted to cry my regular it's been a long week Friday night tears, not the sweet helpless pets/my nightmare every time I leave my home tears. Reply Thread Link I saw some videos of people who experienced tornadoes and other natural disasters and who reunited with pets which they thought had perished or been lost. Those were very tearful and relieved moments. I'm happy that the pets were not harmed, and she can continue to be with them. Reply Thread Link That video of the elderly woman who believes her dog died in the tornado, only to find him during the news interview, it makes me want to bawl every time! Reply Parent Thread Link Starting my morning sobbing, thank you!! Reply Parent Thread Link When I was a kid a neighbor down the street's house caught fire and my sister's friend was outside sobbing because their hamster was in the house and my dad (who's father was an awarded firefighter) ran in before the firefighters got there and got the hamster out, then helped get their valuables and memories out. Luckily the fire truck got there fairly quickly after and they contained it to a few rooms of the house. Reply Parent Thread Link A hamster surviving a fire is insane, they barely survive regular existence lol. This is amazing, your dad is so cool Reply Parent Thread Expand Link when I had my house fire, it happened when I was at work. The thing is, my dog WOULD NOT have survived if I had locked my front door. I forgot to for some reason that day, I would never leave my door unlocked normally. My dog was pressed against the front door, the fire was in the living room. The police got there before the fire department, and they thought someone was inside because I had a broke down car parked out front, and the police man opened the front door and my dog was able to run out. If he'd had to wait for the fire department to knock down a locked door, no way would my dog have made it. I don't believe in any kind of god, but I was... very happy I somehow screwed up locking my door that day Edited at 2024-03-16 08:14 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Having helpless pets trapped at home during a disaster is such a huge fear for me, I'm glad her cats were ok and no one got hurt. Reply Thread Link Wow the cat in that pic does NOT look happy about being rescued lol Edited at 2024-03-16 03:47 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link celebrities for you. Reply Parent Thread Link Flat faced cats always seem to look eternally disappointed in life. Reply Parent Thread Link Its true. My neighbors have Persians and they always look truly disappointed by everything, even while enjoying their favorite treats. Reply Parent Thread Link Probably because they can't breathe Reply Parent Thread Expand Link they werent supposed to be born Reply Parent Thread Link She probably did some scratching of faces! "Unhand me, brute!" Reply Parent Thread Link But also the cat looks adorable!!! I am so happy the cats are okay. Reply Parent Thread Link House fires are so scary. I'm glad her cats are okay. Reply Thread Link How horrifying. Glad her cats are safe. Reply Thread Link I'm so glad the kitties are safe! Reply Thread Link Your whole house getting destroyed must be soul-crushing and even more if family or pets are involved! Thank God the cats were at least saved! Reply Thread Link Im so happy the kitties survived. She had a beautiful home! Reply Thread Link I have two cats and the thought of this is killing me. I'm so glad her cats were saved! Reply Thread Link Same. I can't imagine my life without my kitties. Thank goodness Cara's cats are safe! Reply Parent Thread Link I know Im literally so upset over this lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Same. They have these stickers you can put on your window for firefighters that indicate how many and what kind of pets are in the house. I once got one as a freebie at some event. I am a little skeptical how firefighters could/would really notice and read the sticker in the event of a fire, but i guess it's better than nothing. Edited at 2024-03-16 06:06 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link i really need to get one of those but also i rent and im not supposed to have pets. chances my landlord would ever come to my building? about 0 and i doubt my neighbors would rat me out since most new yorkers mind their damn business. its tricky. i should just do it. my kitties are the most important things to me. we can live in a box happy together if i get kicked out lol Reply Parent Thread Link Same - I have four and two dogs! I wound perish in the house with them before I left them behind tbh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I know I am so glad they survived -- two of my cats are the type that would literally run and hide should anything happens so I"ve always been so scared of needing to urgently evacuate my house b/c i just know they'd be really hard to get :/ Reply Parent Thread Link Thank god her cats are ok. Ugh house fires are so scary. We had one two years ago in my apartment. Luckily I was in Vegas but my roommates bathroom had to be completely redone. Reply Thread Link i feel like everytime i hear about him he's complaining about something friends was one of the biggest shows ever. i don't even know a show this guy's been on. Reply Thread Link And it was on traditional TV. No show today is making residuals like that Reply Parent Thread Link Is it because hes a theater kid and didnt come up in Hollywood? I just dont understand why he doesnt accept that he needs to cool it and be less abrasive. Why doesnt his agent or manager see how bad his image is? Reply Parent Thread Link he's an asshole Reply Parent Thread Link The Friends thing is an odd thing to bring up. The show was a phenomenon. Its not like normal sitcoms make people that amount of money. Why wouldnt the cast make bank from it? Reply Thread Link mte and I love Pose but he needs to be serious. People deserve to be paid but not everyone is going to make Friends money. Reply Parent Thread Link The author says that comment was made in the context of discussing how long the strike went on and its impact being disproportionately felt by lesser paid actors. Idk if I agree with OP implying hes saying he should be making as much as the friends actors. That it took so long for the streamers to renegotiate terms with Sag-Aftra, Porter says, has resulted in a shrinking middle class of working actors. Those Friends people are making $100m a year! he exclaims. Im getting six-cent cheques! Its not OK! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Also like for a period in the 2000s, Friends was syndicated EVERYWHERE and played all the time. I am not shocked they got $$$$ from residuals. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Not to mention, collective bargaining. I think all of them jointly threatened to quit when NBC/WB didn't want to pay up after season 7. Reply Parent Thread Link I think the last show you could make a Friends comparison to is The Big Bang Theory. Even taking the change in how shows are syndicated now, comparing a show on cable (Pose) with a network television show like Friends doesn't make sense. Reply Parent Thread Link And even then its kind of an anomaly just how well the cast did out of that, because you always hear about how David Schwimmer was a huge factor in convincing the cast to all negotiate together. Supposedly the network really fought them on some of it, but they had all the negotiating power because they were friends in real life and stuck together, when thats not the norm for casts on most shows Reply Parent Thread Link You would think if you were making a biopic of someone who was outspoken about the most talked about issue all over the world rn you'd educate yourself a bit but I guess not Reply Thread Link No lie, but this tidbit: Ive been getting a lot of bullshit online about it Im like, I dont know, yall! The mans been dead since 1987, please! makes me want to go to his house and torch it. You're doing a biopic about this man but dismiss his views as "bullshit?" Fuck you, really. He is truly one of those "As long as I can get mine, fuck the rest of you" people and I'm not here for it. I used to go hard for him, but whenever he opens his mouth bullshit rolls out. Reply Parent Thread Link I think the "BS" online he's referring to is people trying to hold Porter accountable for accurately portraying Baldwin and including the important points. The tweets I've seen are informative, so it's not like Porter would have to Google anything. He'd have to be willing to not only read but also take the concerns seriously. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link EXACTLY Reply Parent Thread Link Mte. Side eyeing him a lot for that its 2024!. Yeah it is babe. You have the entirety of knowledge accessible from a 5 inch brick in your pocket use ittttt. Reply Parent Thread Link his whole response honestly felt very disrespectful towards james baldwin that its obvious hes only doing the role for some possible award recognition and nothing else Reply Parent Thread Link As a James Baldwin fan, this pissed me off. "It's just a character." James Baldwin is a REAL person. And a real person who advocated for human rights, Black, LGBTQ+, and PALENSTINE. Take his ass off the James Baldwin project NOW. Edited at 2024-03-17 12:35 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Absolute BOZO! Reply Thread Link Theres ssooooooo much I want to say but Im not James Baldwin, hes a character, so I have to be true to the character. A character?????? He was an actual living person ffs. Reply Thread Link What I came to say! Porter is pissing me off. Fuck this guy. To this day people are reading and analysing Baldwin's work. Reply Parent Thread Link mte. like everything he said was wrong. if being an outspoken advocate for palestine is part of the character, being true to the character would mean HAVING some kind of opinion on it. but it's not just a character; it's a real fucking person. if someone is portraying billy porter in a few years once gay marriage is illegal again, i doubt he'd want them to talk about it not being their place to say if lgbtq people deserve rights. Reply Parent Thread Link He's not just a character he was a real person. James Baldwin deserves so much better, this is honestly embarrassing. Reply Thread Link He has been nothing but a disappointment. The fact that his trash ass is making a Baldwin biopic pisses me off to no end. If his ghost could pop up and slap him shitless, he truly would. Reply Thread Link Honestly. I hope people ignore this movie and watch "I am not your negro" instead. Or read James books. Reply Parent Thread Link Exactly! SUCH a great documentary, it should be required viewing Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The fact that he is making these statements when he is also co-writing the movie is concerning, to say the least. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Mte if youd told me in the early Pose days he was doing a biopic on James Baldwin, I wouldve loooooved the idea. But the more Billy Porter talksit would be such disrespect to an iconic, talented, and complex individual like James to be reduced to a vanity project for Billy. No fucking thank you. Reply Parent Thread Link Siiiiiiiiiigh Reply Thread Link I want to root for him but hes always saying the dumbest shit. Reply Thread Link omfg james baldwin, sweetie, i am so sorry... Reply Thread Link anyway james baldwin wrote this in 1979 pic.twitter.com/avte2nL5T8 sonya (@sonyashea3) March 15, 2024 Baldwin wouldve hated him. Im sorry hes involved in his biopic he deserves better. Reply Thread Link I saw someone say its like Zoe Saldana doing Nina Simone all over Reply Thread Link At least Zoe had a modicum of reverence for Nina, it was the blackface that did her in. Reply Parent Thread Link On one hand I understand having an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy and being pissed you've still not got the role that will settle you financially for life, but dear God you can't be this proudly oblivious as to systemic reasons as to why. The James Baldwin comments who cares about history or context comments are completely wild. Read a damn book. Reply Thread Link wow can you like maybe not stick your foot in your mouth about this very big ongoing thing? jfc Reply Thread Link Did he do any research on James Baldwin before deciding to do a biopic? Hes not a character for Billy to play however he wants, he was a person. Billy always strikes me as someone that cant accept they arent a bigger star than they believe they are and can never let that go. Reply Thread Link Billy always strikes me as someone that cant accept they arent a bigger star than they believe they are and can never let that go. 100%. Reply Parent Thread Link Pretty much hell complain about what hes not getting but will tell others like his POSE cast mates to wait their turn when he got asked about the lack of black trans women in the awards race. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah I think his ability to stand up for himself and demand more were admirable until I realized hes REALLY only about HIMSELF lmao. Hes so bold and heinous the way he dismissed Palestine and whilst talking about the portrayal of a real person who that was important to. No ones saying you need to take up his advocacy or even completely agree with him but damn you could be a little less of a complete fuckin asshole and try to learn more about the guy you want to honor Reply Parent Thread Link I know several people like that in my field. A few of them have become super stars and are somehow managing to be worse. They've managed to continue to convince a lot of people that they're still outside the system, the underdog, and so on when nothing about them is that. They remind me of like mega church scammer pastors. Edited at 2024-03-16 07:23 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link idk much about her but everything I've heard her say in an interview has been highly relatable and defensible Reply Thread Link Margolyes has been accused on several occasions of making racist comments or jokes. During a 2012 appearance The Graham Norton Show, Margolyes said to Will.i.am "I'm just fascinated by you, because, unfortunately, I don't know many black people in show business, and went on to state that it was surprising that a rapper would be philanthropic. In 2016, Margoyles was accused of making a racist joke which left a black man reportedly "humiliated" at the London Film Convention. During a 2022 appearance on This Morning, Margolyes responded to one caller to "lose weight", telling another "not to mix with other cripples". In a separate 2022 interview with Radio Times, Margolyes came to the defence of J. K. Rowling, commenting that "There is a spectrum and people can be anywhere along that. There isn't one answer to all these trans questions". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Margolyes?wprov=sfti1#Personal_life c/p from my comment in a post about her a few days ago. (It's also weird that we've had two posts about this woman in less than a week) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link oh damn Reply Parent Thread Link oof That's disappointing. Reply Parent Thread Link well I hadn't heard THAT so uh Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I don't know many black people in show business i can see why she doesn't wanna go to atlanta... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I watched the episode with her and Will.i.am and was so uncomfortable/weird, but I didn't expect the defence of J.K. Rowling since she has defended trans people on the same show, which is unusal because terfs have so much influence in england now, specially in older women. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link And honestly I love that for her Reply Thread Link Relatable queen If you've never negotiated for a job you didn't want/need, I highly recommend it, it's the best feeling. Edited at 2024-03-16 10:10 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link i, too, would ask for 2 milli to work in Atlanta for four months. idk what she's promoting but i loved her in age of innocence. Reply Thread Link Get it! I live here in America and its annoying and I definitely dont want to go to Atlanta lol Reply Thread Link Now don't lie! You would go to ATL for 4 months if you were offered $500k Reply Parent Thread Link I'd go to East Buttfuck Louisiana for 4 months if they offered me $500k Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Well yes. But she doesnt need it so if I were on that level Id say no too lol Reply Parent Thread Link Every now and then it comes up that my brother in law's job might want him to move to the US for a couple of years. My sister says it would be a hassle but exciting, she loves America, great experience for the kids, etc etc. I smile and nod but honestly if I was in her shoes I'd be telling the husband he's on his own. Especially given the company wants him in Utah, ffs. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link one less british person here...win win Reply Thread Link I wonder what role it was Reply Thread Link Aunt May?? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It was for the Agatha tv series. The full quote mentions they mentioned it was a show about witches and she also didn't care to do another one of those after Harry Potter. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I saw a tiktok that connected this to the Agatha series. Also in that tiktok she said she did not want to play a witch again Edit: did not see that this was already mentioned. I should update the tab before commenting Edited at 2024-03-16 10:42 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link she must really hate america to turn down 650k. those HP residuals must be good Reply Thread Link https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-49151793 Maybe she accidentally rented her cottage to drug smugglers again. Reply Parent Thread Link If she dont want or need the money...good for me. Offer the role to me! I'll take half of what they offered her. Reply Thread Link Honestly I love my home city but it is not a great place to be on a temporary basis because it's not a city for tourists. Also I kind of wish the film industry would leave. It's fine if smaller films are actually set here or are making use of our weird old architecture (like Stranger Things), but what's the point of filming heavy CGI films here other than to take advantage of our unfortunately lax labor laws? Atlantans don't see any of that Hollywood money and the cost of living here keeps going up. Some of my friends do set work or play small roles but they're making barely anything. Reply Thread Link We were looking at homes near Emory and OMG its all getting ridiculously expensive. Reply Parent Thread Link I live in Atlanta and work in the film industry. Its been an incredible career that I love. And to say businesses dont benefit is an absolute lie. I was off for 8 months due to the strikes last year and got back to work a few months ago. The amount of times Ive heard, We are so thankful youre back to work has been an eye opener that the film industry plays a huge role for businesses in Georgia. I literally shop for a living so I hear it often. Restaurants near studios get a lot of business off crews as well. I do agree that the cost of living is ridiculous, but dont blame that on the industry moving here. Edited at 2024-03-17 05:28 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah a lot of my friends participated in the strike as well, which just told me they weren't being paid what they were worth unfortunately. I hope it's better now at least. And I will give you that nearby businesses do benefit but the tax breaks given to studios are a big problem (a lot of our public systems are woefully underfunded), though that's mostly the fault of our governor and our congress. I do think large studios take advantage of this and I do blame them for treating workers poorly, but I will also side with you that a lot of people get to do their dream jobs and are successful because it's here. I guess I needed our government to shape up before the film industry came here, but I'm not sure they would have come otherwise. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Relatable Reply Thread Link she doesn't like America Really its a story about my own greed rather than anything else, Margolyes laughed. she has such a good sense of humor lol Reply Thread Link Armenian officials are hoping to mitigate the chill in Yerevans relations with Russia by creating a dry port that plugs the country into emerging international trade corridors. The government plan seeks to transform Armenia into a transit, transport and export-focused manufacturing hub, according to a readout from a meeting of the countrys investment committee published earlier this year. The dry port concept rests on the establishment of a free-trade zone, featuring multi-modal air, rail and trucking facilities connected to warehouses and industrial parks. First announced three years ago, officials are now touting the project as a potential golden goose for the state treasury. For Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the dry port is a pillar of his Crossroads of Peace vision, an ambitious initiative to create a new reality in the Caucasus rooted in beneficial trade. Officials have already earmarked $37 million in public funds for the dry port project which will be situated near the city of Gyumri, Armenias second largest city and the site of a Russian military base. For most of the post-Soviet era, Armenians viewed Russia as their protector against two hostile neighbors Azerbaijan and Turkey. But those views have changed radically since the countrys defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; many Armenians feel Russian peacekeepers failed to protect Karabakhs Armenian civilian population during a refugee crisis in late 2023. Since then, bilateral ties have soured and Armenian leaders have looked for ways to reduce the countrys economic dependency on Russia. Currently, about 40 percent of Armenias exports go to Russia. Meanwhile, the country is almost entirely dependent on Russia for essential imports like grain and fuel. The dry port seeks to solve one of the main problems of our country, Armenias bad logistic dependency from the world, the countrys former economic minister, Vahan Kerobyan, told reporters in December. Weve found a good way of solving our most painful problem. Charle Malas, the man that Yerevan has brought in to head the project, said that, dry ports are operated the same way as a regular one; they utilize the exact same documentation and infrastructure, just the cargo comes off trucks and rail wagons instead of ships. The potential economic benefit is substantial. Kerobyan has said that the port could contribute up to 3 percent of the countrys total GDP and create thousands of jobs. However, there are multiple hurdles to clear before the dry port can begin to reap economic benefits, the most challenging of which is financing. Officials acknowledge the project can proceed only if large foreign investors are brought in who can help the project meet a high sticker price of $100 million. The construction timeline also raises questions. The dry port will need five to seven years to become fully operational, according to the government. A lot can happen in the intervening time that can alter the dry ports viability. For instance, Chinas deteriorating relationship with the United States and European Union has the West looking to build new supply chains. Accordingly, East-West trade volume seems set to shrink over the next five years, calling into question whether there will be sufficient trade volume to make the Armenian dry port pay off. The project could turn out to be the golden goose that authorities hope for, or it could become a white elephant like similar developments in Central Asia. Politically, its an easy sell, said Shant Karabajak, an expert on urban and regional development. [But] this is not an if you build it, they will come scenario. The market conditions have to be present or forecast for it to make sense. To that, people involved with the project say that Gyumri is the best place in Armenia for such a development. There is a cluster of transportation connectivity in that region, Malas told the Armenian news site CivilNet. [A] main railway track that goes on to Tbilisi and then on to the Black Sea, youve got good road connections where youve got now the North-South road corridor theres also an airport. Other nodes in trade corridors across Central Asia serve as cautionary tales of overhyped promise. Since its opening in 2015, for example, the Khorgos dry port, which straddles Kazakhstans border with China, has not acted as the cash cow that Kazakhstani leaders expected. In the case of Armenia, a limiting factor could be the exact thing the dry port is designed to overcome geography. Personally, I would love to see Armenia thrive as a transit hub, it would be a great return to the nations traditional commercial role as facilitators of trade, Karabajak said. However, just as its been for the last 4,000 years, the geopolitics [is] a major obstacle. ADVERTISEMENT Any talk about cash cows and golden geese is moot in the absence of investor interest. China has served as the go-to bankroller of regional infrastructure development over the past decade-plus, but Beijings purse strings could be a bit tighter in coming years, as President Xi Jinpings government struggles to prevent the domestic economy from cratering. In a statement to Armenpress in early February, the Chinese embassy in Yerevan was non-committal about Pashinyans grand infrastructure vision, noting only that Beijing was [paying] attention. By Brawley Benson via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: This month, the Bangladesh government invited international bids for oil and gas exploration in 24 blocks in the Bay of Bengal. This is aimed at increasing the countrys oil output. For several years, Bangladesh has been plagued with energy shortages, as its gas reserves have been depleting. Further, the rise in energy prices following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions on Russian energy have hit the low-income country hard. It is the first round of bidding since 2012 to offer offshore acreage, with 15 deep-water and nine shallow-water blocks available. The bidding round was approved following the provision of a 2D multi-client seismic data survey from the energy data firm TGS. The company delivered data from over 75,000 km2 across all 24 blocks on offer in April 2023. David Hajovsky, the Executive Vice President of Multi-Client at TGS, stated: The Bengal Fan is one of the world's largest deep-water fans with significant evidence of working petroleum systems. It is widely considered one of the most extensively underexplored frontier regions. With limited existing offshore Bangladesh data, this new high-quality seismic, combined with the revised Production Sharing Contract 2023 (PSC), is a critical component for companies to evaluate and submit competitive bids for the blocks on offer in the Bid Round. The government set a deadline for bids for the first week of September, with evaluations and deals expected to be finalised by the end of the year. Zanendra Nath Sarker, the chairman of state-owned Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla), stated We're making plans to reduce supply shortages to keep gas-fired power plants and industries running. He also stated the companys intention to drill 100 new gas wells in the country between 2025 and 2028 to boost local production. There are two shallow water blocks under contract for exploration with a joint venture of ONGC Overseas Limited and Oil India Limited where drilling has already begun, according to officials. Bangladesh has proven oil reserves of around 82 million barrels and a production rate of approximately 4,105 bpd. However, there are fears that Bangladeshs gas reserves could be completely depleted by 2033 if no new discoveries are found in the region. The country, which already depends heavily on energy imports, is finding it increasingly difficult to fund its energy deficit, making new exploration projects increasingly attractive. The International Monetary Fund already provided Bangladesh with a $4.7-billion bailout to tackle increased energy costs in 2023, but new oil and gas finds could provide it with a longer-term solution to its energy crisis. In February, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) signed a $2.1 billion financing plan with Bangladesh to fund the country's oil and gas imports. The State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid explained, ITFC has been cooperating with us in oil imports for a long time. Now $500 million can be used to import gas, which will help solve the gas crisis. The funds will allow state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to import oil and Petrobangla to import liquefied natural gas. This provided Bangladesh with a lifeline after its foreign exchange reserves fell below $20 billion at the end of January, enough for just four months of imports. Bangladesh hopes to increase its trade with Saudi Arabia after the countrys Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud met with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Jeddah this month. Mahmud emphasised Bangladeshs interest in purchasing more crude from the Middle Eastern power, as well as seeking investment in its refining and petrochemicals industry. Bangladesh currently imports around 700,000 metric tonnes of crude from Saudis state-owned oil firm Aramco. The Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Petroleum Corp., Zahid Hossain, explained, Its very important as we are importing a large volume of crude oil from Saudi Arabia If we can achieve this opportunity, it will definitely be a great support for us. He added, If we can defer the payment longer than 30 days, we would be able to use this ITFC fund to import other refined petroleum products. So, it will ease our financial burden to some extent. If a payment plan can be arranged, it is expected to alleviate the financial pressure on Bangladesh and help its economic crisis. Bangladesh is looking to boost its oil production through the announcement of a new bidding round, while also seeking financial support to help it import the crude needed to meet its energy needs. New exploration activities could help provide the energy needed to meet the countrys growing needs, helping to reduce its reliance on foreign energy sources. However, Bangladesh needs a long-term solution to its energy shortages and economic crisis, which likely includes funding from high-income nations to support the rollout of more sustainable alternative energy projects. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: With Russia embroiled in Ukraine, and Chinas economy cooling, the United States is pressing ahead with an initiative to bolster its influence in Central Asia. The catalyst is an economic mechanism fostering connectivity among states in the region and encouraging stronger public-private connections to enhance trade. This new-look American initiative, with its clear emphasis on commerce, marks a departure from past US efforts to promote rule of law in the region. It embraces bottom-up tactics, rather than top-down methods that were the hallmark of US diplomacy in the region following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Success of what is being called the B5+1 process is far from a sure thing. The new-look vision rests on the ability of US diplomacy to encourage local entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to work more effectively and efficiently with governmental officials in forging well-regulated economic systems. The private sector is expected to drive the process. Success is also contingent on a greater level of cooperation among the five Central States to break down trade barriers. The initiative applies a formula that has worked in the past, in which widening economic opportunity spreads prosperity that, in turn, fosters buy-in for a law-governed economic system. If the B5+1 process shows results, the expectation is that broader US investment will follow. The inaugural B5+1 forum bringing together Central Asian government officials and regional business leaders convened under US auspices on March 14 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The desired outcome of the two-day gathering is for regional governmental officials, business leaders and entrepreneurs to commit to working towards a common agenda focused on strengthening economic integration and resilience, and promoting better access to innovation, foreign investment, and international trade flows, according to a statement issued by B5+1 conference organizers. Describing the B5+1s goals as ambitious, but achievable, US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel Rosenblum, in remarks at the pre-forum reception, described the Almaty gathering as the start of a long-term [US] commitment to create a more favorable business environment in Central Asia. Opening the event, Nicholas Berliner, a special assistant to President Biden and senior director for Russia and Central Asia on the National Security Council, called attention to the geopolitical upheaval that has hit the region in the wake of Russias unprovoked attack on Ukraine in 2022, adding that with changes come opportunities. The United States wants to be a constructive partner in empowering citizens to shape their own futures, Berliner said. Event organizers and US diplomats say they are clear-eyed about the obstacles standing in the way of the B5+1 process. Central Asia has a strong authoritarian political tradition that would seem to limit the private sectors ability to lobby for changes enabling a more predictable, level and efficient operating environment. Likewise, the Central Asian governments lack a strong tradition of cooperation on political and economic matters. Russia and China are unlikely to be bystanders. Speaker after speaker at the forum delivered a similar message: regional unity, combined with strong private-sector input into policymaking, can break the regions comparative trade isolation, secure sovereignty and make it an attractive investment destination. Russias belligerent behavior and wariness about Chinas growing economic influence appear to be rendering Central Asian leaders more amenable to the B5+1 agenda. The fact that strong governmental delegations from all the Central Asian states, including Turkmenistan, attended the forum suggests that regional governments are at least intrigued by the B5+1 concept. Likewise, global warming is providing powerful impetus for closer regional cooperation on several issues, especially water resource management. Kyrgyz Deputy Economics Minister Ainura Usenbekova expressed hope that B5+1 meetings will become an annual tradition, going on to announce Bishkek is ready to host a gathering next year. The B5+1 process is an outgrowth of a US-Central Asian cooperation platform, known as the C5+1. It likewise builds on a meeting held in September 2023 inNew York involving President Biden and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In preparing the ground for the Almaty forum, the main conference organizer, the Center for Private International Enterprise (CIPE), an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce, sought input from hundreds of regional experts, entrepreneurs and business organization representatives. Working groups drew up reform proposals covering various economic sectors, including transport, e-commerce, tourism, green energy and agribusiness. Many of the private-sector suggestions aired on the forums first day focused on the need for stronger inter-governmental cooperation to forge clear-cut rules covering cross-border trade, as well as simplified customs regimes. Muktar Djumaliev, a former Kyrgyz envoy to the United States who headed the transport-sector working group, highlighted a need for a regional mechanism to resolve trade disputes and a need for greater digitization of customs procedures. He also said Turkmenistan needed to remove visa requirements for citizens of other Central Asian states. At this stage, the extent to which regional governments are receptive to private-sector reform ideas remains to be seen. The comments offered up by governmental speakers at the forum tended to emphasize general principles about connectivity and were short on specifics about getting a public-private dialogue started. However, Turkmenistans economics minister, Serdar Jorayev, surprised many in the room, making a speech that focused on the Turkmen governments efforts to facilitate public-private economic initiatives. Turkmenistan is routinely ranked by rights watchdog groups as having one of the most repressive governments in the world. ADVERTISEMENT Noticeably absent from the first day of discussion was detailed talk about how to tackle the regions shadow economy. Proponents of the B5+1 process quietly suggest that strong regional trade mechanisms need to be in place before the shadow economy can be brought out into the open. B5+1s immediate aim, according to Eric Hontz, director of CIPEs Center for Accountable Investments, is to identify concrete, achievable, short-term wins to keep the process momentum going. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Photos by Shoji Kudaka () Take a trip back to the 1960s at Minatogawa Stateside Town for some shopping, antiquing and cafe dining inside some peculiar buildings. The town is just five minutes away from Camp Kinser and is made up of a cluster of 60 buildings which once were rented by servicemembers and their families. The homes in the area have now been converted into over 30 cafes, apparel stores, and antique shops retaining the vibes of the old days. Historical housing Back in 1972 when Okinawa was reverted to Japan and off-base housing demand had decreased, locals began to rent or own these buildings. It was until recently, in the 2000s, that the former off-base housing buildings in Minatogawa began to undergo a renovation to become the Minatogawa Stateside Town. Some of the changes included renaming the streets of the area after states in the U.S. like Texas, Florida and Michigan. Among the 60 houses remaining in this area, over 30 are now used by the shops. Stateside stroll Id been meaning to visit this area for a long time. But since I was under the impression that it is a place for girls and ladies shopping for fancy accessories and sweets or tourists wanting a taste of Okinawan Americana, I definitely put it off. I thought a middle-aged male local like me would feel like fish out of water. Once I started strolling down Georgia Street, the southernmost street of this district, I was struck by the unexpectedly quiet mood. It was obvious that the pandemic has had an impact on business. Though old American-style housing is not rare to see in Okinawa, the flat houses lined up here were intriguing. I felt like I was walking along an average American neighborhood. Many of the houses had their original structure and standard paint jobs, there were others with bright colors, a sign of their new life. Shopping and more The exterior of the homes at Minatogawa Stateside Town were definitely interesting got look at. But just as interesting was the temptation to see what was inside. I was hesitant and short on time, so I started opening doors without thinking too much. The first shop I visited was Proots, a crafts shop that deals in local Okinawan items. Proots sells conventional crafts like Yachimun pottery and Ryukyu glassware to some rare finds like BLUE SEAL Ice Cream stationery and Bingata dyed totebags. Yu Hagiwara, the shop owner, who is originally from mainland Japan, said he opened this shop to present the works of craftsmen in Okinawa he came to like as an immigrant. American Wave My next stop was at AMERICAN WAVE, a shop dedicated to antiques. Much different from the casual mood of Proots, this place had a chic atmosphere. Various accessories, postcards, rings, caught my attention right away. As I was overwhelmed by the wide collection, shop owner David Christopher Towe, a dapper gentleman with a relaxed mood, gave me an overview of the items he sells. Towe said he handpicks every single item in his store and the antiques range from 100 years old to as late as the 1980s. The shop carries Tiffany which Towe imports from New York City as well as vintage clothes. There are three rooms stocked full of items and set up so you feel like youre shopping inside someones home rather than a store. Towe, who is originally from Kentucky, moved to Okinawa in 1999 after falling in love with the islands laid-back, unpretentious nature. After learning the Japanese language for a year at Okinawa International University, Towe opened antique shops in Okinawa, which were doing very well, until the pandemic posed a challenge. Before COVID, this place, very very busy, this whole neighborhood. Weve seen a slump because we dont have any foreigners. We had a lot of Taiwan-jin (Taiwanees), Chugoku-jin (Chinese), Kankoku-jin (Koreans), you name it. That was a good part of our business here. Although its been a tough time, Towe said hes hoping to see more customers come back as the pandemic starts to ease up. Sweet ending The last shop I visited was oHacorte, a sweetshop dedicated to fruit tartes. This is a shop I heard a lot about even before I paid a visit to the Minatogawa Stateside Town. Their tarte, which is seven centimeters in diameter, looked a little small. However, the colorful fruits neatly arranged on top looked very beautiful, so I gave it a go. Since this was my first time there, I tried Baked Cheese Tarte (313 yen approx. $2.73 with tax included), which looked the simplest. Despite its basic appearance, this tarte had a rich taste of cheese and a nice touch of sour cream. The delicious flavor of this tarte was a great way to end the day and only increased my expectations for other tartes when I return to Minatogawa again. Though my taste of the past was a little over an hour, it was enough to make me realize that this is a great place not just for ladies to visit but it has much to offer all visitors. Plan a visit with more time for lunch at any of the area's delicious eateries or cafes and for some shopping at this Instagram-worthy neighborhood. Whether you like to shop, eat, stroll, or all three, Minatogawa Stateside Town is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring. Proots GPS coordinates: N 26.262747072853752, E 127.71539962622535 Hours: 11 a.m. 5 p.m. (Closed Wed., 1st Sat. and 3rd Sat. of a month) Website AMERICAN WAVE GPS Coordinate: N 26.26250122213776, E 127.7155738147522 Hours: 11 a.m. 7 p.m. Website oHacorte GPS Coordinates: N 26.262516856854603, E 127.71538606013749 Hours: 11:30 a.m. 7 p.m. (closed on Tue.) Website The Sarpy County Republican Primary Election is approaching with early voting ballots being mailed to voters on April 8 and the state-wide Primary Election on May 14. The Sarpy County Commissioner District 1 sees Republican candidate Rep. Don Kelly running unopposed, as well as District 3, held by Republican incumbent Rep. Angi Burmeister. This is not the case for the District 4 seat and the city public defender seat, which sees opposition from both familiar and fresh faces to the citys political landscape. Incumbent for Sarpy County Commissioner District 4 Gary F. Mixan, is challenged by Brenda Carlisle in the upcoming 2024 primary election, marking their second face-off. Carlisle previously held the District 4 seat from 2012 to 2016, before Mixans victory with a 43% majority over both Carlisle and 2016 candidate Debra Woodle. Carlisle, a La Vista native, boasts experience in public service, having been on the La Vista City Council from 1992 to 2013. Additionally, she holds a position as a customer service manager at RFD-TV. Mixan, the incumbent candidate, is running for his second re-election for District 4, a position he has held since 2016. The Bellevue married father of four works as an operations manager for Omaha Corporate Housing. He previously served as mayor of Bellevue from 2009 to 2010 following the passing of former Bellevue Mayor Ed Babbitt. He also served as a member of the Bellevue City Council from 2002 to 2009. Mixan played a role in securing funds for the building of the new modern 146,000-square-foot correctional center at the corner of 84th Street and Highway 370 in Papillion. The facility opened in September 2023 and addressed Sarpy County Jails overcrowding issue. The commissioners office also secured the necessary funds to add facilities aimed to address inmates mental health needs like rehab programming and a behavioral health unit. The Sarpy County Public Defender seat, currently held by incumbent Tom Strigenz, is facing opposition by Republican candidate Todd West, who has worked in the Sarpy County Public Defenders office for 10 years alongside Strigenz. Strigenz is seeking a sixth term as public defender, a role he has held for the past two decades. The Papillion native and Marquette University grad has defended high-profile cases including Bellevue Sonic shooter Roberto Silva Jr. and most recently Adam Price, who was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for killing his two young children in 2021. Strigenz received public backlash in 2021 following allegations of sexual misconduct with a subordinate employee. The Sarpy County board voted 4-0, with one member abstaining, to pass a resolution objecting to Strigenzs behavior. The board also asked him to voluntarily resign, which he declined to do, denying any misconduct. His opponent Todd West is campaigning for the public defender seat with the slogan Integrity First. Graduating from the University of Nebraska Law School in 2009, West is relatively new to the scene compared to the incumbent candidate. Beginning as an associate at Baird Holm Law, working as a litigator for the firms Labor and Employment Section, in 2013 he left the firm to serve as deputy public defender for Saunders County for one year before establishing his own law office in Papillion. There, he worked as an attorney specializing in employment law from 2013 to 2019. In January 2014, West began work at the Sarpy County Public Defenders office. As the election approaches, the choices made by Sarpy County voters will shape the future of local governance and legal representation in the community. For more information, election timelines, or polling places visit sarpy.gov. Its not terribly unusual these days for co-workers to become couples and eventually marry. That was the case for Taylor and Drew Deras, two registered nurses who work in Methodist Womens Hospitals neonatal intensive care unit. They first connected over sports. Drew, now 34, is a Chicago Cubs fan, and the team had recently won the World Series, which gave them something to talk about. They became friends, shared lunch breaks, got engaged. They married during the pandemic in August 2020. The Derases, however, not only found love in the NICU but also met Ella, the very premature baby who eventually made them a family. Ella had a rough start. She was born in May 2021 at 23 weeks and one day, on the edge of viability, weighing 1 pound, 2 ounces. Taylor Deras met her the next day. Deras enjoyed taking care of Ella and signed up to be her consistent caregiver. She continued to care for the baby when she was on duty for Ellas entire eight-month NICU stay. Initially, Ella was very sick. From May to August, she needed a ventilator on high airflow settings to help her breathe. Taylor Deras recalls doctors telling the babys biological mother more than once that Ella might not survive the night. Deras and Ellas mother, who was in her early 20s, quickly formed a connection, each trusting the other. Eventually, Ellas premature lungs the last organ in a babys body to mature started to get better. She required less oxygen and graduated to receiving lesser amounts through a tube in her nose. She was drinking from a bottle. Meanwhile, her biological mother was working more, visiting less. The Derases were also getting more and more attached to Ella, holding her and reading to her. Drew Deras said they knew they still had to guard their hearts, since Ella was someone elses child. But in December 2021, Ella became a ward of the state. When the couple found out, Taylor Deras quickly contacted Ellas social worker and told her the couple would be willing to take the youngster home. Deras said the caseworker contacted Ellas biological mother and told her that a nurse from the NICU was willing to care for Ella. The young woman told the caseworker she knew nurse Taylor Deras. And she said, Thats where I want her to go, Deras said. But as the couple were preparing to bring Ella home, an echocardiogram showed she was in a pulmonary hypertension crisis, with the left side of her heart failing. Instead of going home, Ella went to Childrens Nebraska on Dec. 27. The couple were notified days later that they had been approved as Ellas foster parents. Now, however, Ellas condition was more complicated. She needed a tracheostomy. As a result, she could no longer eat on her own but had to be fed through a tube in her stomach. Doctors cautioned that her struggles might affect her ability to walk and talk. The couple decided they were already committed. There was no backing out. She needed someone to take care of her and love her, Taylor Deras said. It was hard for us, but it was really hard for her. Ella finally went home April 7, 2022. The Derases chose to care for her when they arent working, but they had to arrange 24-hour nursing care for the times when they arent home. Suddenly their house was full of medical equipment. At the same time, they knew Ella wasnt yet their child. They started arranging visits with Ellas biological mother. The young woman eventually told the couple that she had given herself time to decide but had determined she could not care for Ella. In July, she and Ellas biological father, with whom Ellas mother had a brief relationship, both relinquished their parental rights. On Ellas adoption day Nov. 18, National Adoption Day the courtroom was packed with the Deras family members. It was the most the judge recalled seeing, including lots of young children. Drew Deras is one of nine children. While Ella is the first grandchild in Taylors family, she is the 25th in Drews, giving her a healthy mix of older cousins to emulate and younger ones to lead. After the judge announced Ellas new name, the courtroom was quiet. All you could hear was Ella go, Yay, Drew Deras said. Its the one thing that brings me to tears every time. Ella now can breathe on her own with no supplemental oxygen. The family hopes her tracheostomy can be removed in a couple of months. Shell start preschool in the fall two days a week, not five. Her parents, who have spent a lot of time with her, need to ease into that sort of change. We just feel lucky that she gets to be ours, Drew Deras said. Were just so proud of her. On Friday, the family closed the circle, visiting the NICU together. Ella, who will turn 3 on May 1, walked across a waiting area and greeted her parents with the words mama and dad. While she still sees a number of therapists and specialists, she can count to 10 and knows her colors. She knows what a dog says and can neigh like a horse. I feel like shes just a miracle, said Taylor Deras, 31. I feel like everything she does, I look at her and Im like, How can you possibly be doing that? And were so proud of her, because she really (has) done the work. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 Vanessa Bowmasters nerves peaked when she finally had the envelope in her hands. Inside, printed on a piece of paper, was her future. She just couldnt open it yet. Bowmaster, along with other graduating medical students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, had to wait just a few more minutes Friday before they could open their envelopes and find out where theyd study their chosen specialties and do their residency programs. As she waited, Bowmaster, 38, reflected on the path that brought her to holding that piece of paper. From 12 years as a paramedic to starting medical school at age 34. It was a long journey, but I feel like it was always steps forward, Bowmaster said. Every step I took was forward to get me to today. After graduating from Creighton University, Bowmaster started her paramedic career in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her passion for science prompted her to keep taking classes and any training that was offered to her. As her career progressed, she eventually traded in the ambulance for a helicopter and worked in Arizona, Iowa and Fremont, Nebraska. On the helicopter, its the sickest of the sick patients, Bowmaster said. Critically ill and critical trauma patients. Every single flight is very challenging, and so that was kind of what kept my career moving forward. I wanted to learn everything I could and do the best that I could for the people that really needed me. Bowmaster kept taking classes but eventually realized the level of detail she wanted to learn could be found only in medical school. So at age 34, she became a full-time student again. Making the decision to go back to school and sticking with it wasnt easy, but Bowmaster said she realized it wasnt too late to make a change and work for something she really wanted. It is hard to make that decision that your path isnt set until you say it is, Bowmaster said. I think I couldve just stayed in EMS and had a career there and been happy, but I wanted to keep pushing. After entering medical school, Bowmaster said she quickly learned the paramedic and physician mindsets are very different. Paramedics follow algorithms, Bowmaster said. If someone has chest pain, paramedics follow an algorithm to stabilize the patient and get them to the hospital. As a physician, you really have to have a deeper understanding of whats going on to be able to see the bigger picture and really help patients find the best treatment option for them, she said. As she progressed through medical school, Bowmaster said she realized she didnt want to specialize in one particular area of medicine. Instead, Bowmaster opted to pursue family medicine. As a paramedic, you have to be prepared to treat, really any medical condition or trauma, Bowmaster said. Any age, pregnant patients, pediatrics, anything. The big draw to family medicine for me was its the same. You have to know and be prepared to care for people across all ages, all walks of life, all settings. At 11 a.m., it was finally time. Bowmaster and her classmates opened their envelopes and the room erupted in cheers, tears and shouts of excitement. Some classmates high-fived. Others clung to each other while jumping up and down. Parents wiped away tears while capturing the moment on their phones. A total of 140 UNMC students learned about their residency assignments Friday. Forty-one percent of the students will stay at UNMC for residency. Others are scattering across the country to universities such as Baylor, Columbia, Michigan and Ohio State. Across town at Creighton University, 164 medical school students matched into residency or fellowship programs. Students matched into residencies in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Bowmaster will stay at UNMC for family medicine. After she completes her residency, she hopes to practice in rural Nebraska. This is exactly where I wanted to be, she said. Photos: UNMC Match Day celebration pairs med students with residency programs The City of Omahas lead program manager will consider using North and South Omaha-based media outlets more in the citys approximately $250,000 advertising campaign to build public awareness of lead testing and remediation. Steve Zivny, who manages the lead hazard control and soil remediation programs in the Omaha Planning Department, said he would talk with North and South Omaha newspapers, radio stations and podcasters about advertising with them more after they and others urged the city to do so. The issue arose when the Planning Department asked the City Council to approve paying a combined $168,000 to six local broadcast media outlets for advertising time this year. The money comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its part of funding to continue a multi-year cleanup of lead contamination in the soil in Omaha, mostly in the eastern stretches of the city. The citys partnership with the EPA requires the city to do education and outreach. With that, they gave us two initiatives or two objectives if you will, Zivny told the council. The first one was to reach out and get those folks that are on the fence (about) allowing us to sample their yards. The other is to persuade people who have not allowed a cleanup of their soil to allow the city to do a cleanup, he said. Over the more than 20 years of the effort, which has cost hundreds of millions of dollars, the EPA and the city have replaced the soil in 13,651 yards in Omaha. Nearly 43,000 yards have been tested for high lead levels. The city says 154 yards remain to be tested. Another 465 need to be remediated. People in the citys lead program want to educate people about the program, and to make people aware of the citys website GOTLEAD.org. The city calls it a comprehensive website for everything you need to know about lead in Omaha. The website includes a registry that people can use to see if a property has been tested or remediated for lead. The website contains all the data from the testing thats been done over the past two decades, Zivny said. So everyone can go to the website, search an address, see what the history of any sampling or any cleanup activity thats been done, he said. Its a great resource for the community, somebody coming in new to the city can look for a lead-safe property. They can look to see what sampling has been done, what remediation has been done, if theyre looking to rent a home in the area as well, thats lead-safe. People can also call the City of Omaha Lead Information Office at 402-731-3045 about having their yard tested. Soil testing and remediation are done free of charge to homeowners. The ads will run later this year. Zivny said the city plans to also do print and digital ads, including in The World-Herald. Zivny said he brought the larger broadcasting contracts in first because the city needs to lock in prices before ad rates go up in this election year. He said they have broad broadcasting reach in the city, including in North and South Omaha. One of the contracts is with Flood Communications for its Spanish-language media, he said. Zivny said he intends to buy more ads. After the initial contracts, which the council approved, he said the city would have about another $80,000 in this years budget, and maybe additional money left over from the 2023 EPA contract. In addition to other mainstream outlets, he said he intended to pursue placing ads in The Omaha Star and on the The Boss 95.7 FM, a North Omaha-based radio station. The ads will appear later this year. South Omaha community advocate Ben Salazar, the former publisher of the Nuestro Mundo bilingual newspaper, said several people had contacted him about the advertising contracts. We all know that the lead impact has been for generations primarily in eastern Omaha, north and south in particular, Salazar said. My concern was aligned with some of the folks that called me about North and South Omaha, and if were getting the word out effectively to those communities because thats where the impact was the hardest and longest and continues to this day. He said the city would be better served if the advertising was more targeted in the communities. William King, founder of The Boss, said the Planning Department has advertised on his radio station in the past, but not to the level in the contracts submitted to the council this month, and he was surprised not to be on that initial list. He said using such eastern Omaha outlets as his radio station and The Omaha Star is the fairest way for the city to do this advertising. And it would be the best resource in regards to spending the money because we reach the people every day, King said. And they depend on us in regards to the information that they receive, they trust us because were from this community. Terri D. Sanders, Omaha Star publisher, said the North Omaha-based news outlet, which also distributes to the wider community, should be considered first by the city for this type of ad campaign. Going into this media blitz ... The Omaha Star has the ability to educate about the programs, Sanders said. We have outreach in not only through our newspaper mailed to homes, but also through digital outreach, through printed outreach and we read in the schools. ... We have market penetration. Council members praised Zivny for being willing to seek out more North and South Omaha-based advertising and encouraged him to do so. Council member Juanita Johnson, whose District 2 includes North Omaha, pressed Zivny to commit to a time frame. He said he would talk within the next month to the media people who spoke to the council. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024 MIAMI Neglect, abandonment and destruction have been the fate of thousands of segregated cemeteries across the country where African Americans from former slaves to prominent politicians and business owners were buried over many decades. In the past few years, growing awareness and the discovery of graves underneath parking lots, schools and even an Air Force base have spurred preservation efforts among state and local governments as well as community members who want to rebuild ancestral links that are spiritually crucial. In Washington, D.C., members of a historically Black sorority recruited an expert who helped find the 1919 burial site of one of the sororitys founders, hidden from view in an overgrown, badly neglected section of Woodlawn Cemetery. In Miami, Jessie Wooden bought a historically segregated Black cemetery also suffering from neglect. He and his brother Frank, who works as caretaker, have a powerful motive for trying to restore the cemetery: it houses the gravesite of their mother, Vivian, who died when Jessie was an infant. When we got here it looked like a jungle, Frank Wooden said. Some people had to jump the fence to get in to see their loved one. When sites of sacred cultural memory are desecrated, it adds trauma to the indignity of being segregated even in death, said Brent Leggs. He is executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Those groups have played major roles in bringing awareness to the threats to cemetery preservation, such as vandalism, abandonment, ownership disputes and development. The groups provide technical expertise, as well as legal and preservation advocacy. Theres growing awareness among the public that cemeteries are not these haunted, scary places, but they are parks to be experienced as sites of reflection and commemoration," Leggs said. At Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Miamis Brownsville neighborhood, community members now stop by to say thanks and bring cold water to workers who are weeding, cleaning and repainting crypts, some dating to the late 19th century. After Jessie Wooden serendipitously met an aunt when he was in his late 40s and learned about his mother's resting place, he tried to visit but found the vast graveyard overgrown, snake-infested and surrounded by debris. Now, when he comes to work, he walks past the crypts and spreading banyan trees to pray at his mothers grave. All my life I didnt know her. All I knew that mom was gone, Wooden said. For me to be able to come where shes resting at and be able to just to say a little prayer and talk to her, oh, that means so much to me. Marvin Dunn, emeritus professor at Florida International University and historian of race relations in Florida, remembers childhood visits to his great-grandmothers grave for yearly spring cleanups, when he helped out marking the site with Coke bottles. It was the ritual, Dunn said. My grandmother, especially, would not have allowed that grave not to be cleaned once a year. Dunns great-grandmothers burial grounds belonged to a church, and those cemeteries have been more likely to survive, he said. But where entire communities were uprooted, privately owned cemeteries on newly valuable land were often sold to developers with little to no objection, leading to hundreds of thousands of Black graves that might never be found again. Where we bury our dead remains a part of our history, a part of our lives, a part of our souls, Dunn said. Not knowing where your ancestors are at, you cant have that connection ... And thats a tragic loss. In 2022, Congress passed the African-American Burial Grounds Preservation Act as a program within the National Park Service; efforts are ongoing to ensure funding. Last year, Florida passed a bill to fund restoration of historic Black cemeteries. Dunn says the state should also help families gain access to privately owned graveyards. Dignity is the biggest thing, said Antoinette Jackson, a University of South Florida professor. She leads the African American Burial Ground & Remembering Project in the Tampa area, where Black cemeteries were discovered in recent years under a corporations parking lot and a schools campus. Elsewhere in Tampa, an estimated 800 graves of Black people remain from the Zion Cemetery, founded in 1901 as the citys first burial ground for Blacks. The Tampa Housing Authority is redeveloping a housing complex built atop some of the graves, said Leroy Moore, the authoritys chief operating officer. Use of ground-penetrating radar confirmed the graves location, leading to closure of five buildings over the burial ground, relocation of 32 families and efforts to preserve the area and create a genealogy research center. Youve got to know your history, Moore said. In Miami, the Wooden brothers are trying to restore those family and community ties one crumbling gravesite at a time. People can be proud, you know, where their loved ones are buried at. And they can be proud to come and visit again, Jessie Wooden said as Frank painstakingly brushed dirt off a nearby crypt. Were open, were visiting, were burying, I mean, were getting things done. The impact of social media on the mental health of Gen Z The impact of social media on the mental health of Gen Z Social media affects younger people more LINCOLN Struggling Nebraska nursing homes could get a $23 million federal lifeline under a measure advanced by state lawmakers Friday. The measure, which was amended into Legislative Bill 130, would expand an existing funding mechanism used to boost federal Medicaid dollars to the state. The new money would be used to increase rates paid to nursing homes for the care of Medicaid residents. Lawmakers took up the amendment on a day that saw the Legislature pass several bills, including one that could make it easier to extend broadband service to all parts of the state. State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, who introduced the nursing home bill and the amendment, said the funding plan would have a very, very positive impact on nursing homes. He said the increased rates could help slow down nursing home closures. Twelve nursing homes have closed during the last three years, as homes struggle with rising costs, staffing shortages and unfunded federal mandates. Industry leaders say state Medicaid payment rates have not kept up with those costs. All of the closures were in rural communities, such as Valentine, Greeley, Grant and Trenton. Nebraska has 192 licensed nursing homes currently. Using a mechanism allowed by the federal government, Nebraska nursing homes currently pay a quality assurance assessment of $3.50 per day per resident. Money collected through that provider tax is used as the state match to bring in more federal Medicaid dollars. The state uses the resulting funds for the care of Medicaid residents. Medicaid is a state-federal program that covers health care services for low-income Nebraskans. The federal government currently covers 68.6% of the cost of Medicaid services in Nebraska, meaning that each $1 of state funds brings in more than $1 in federal funds. The amendment to LB 130 would boost nursing home provider taxes to $9 per day per resident, which would yield a net increase of about $23 million for Medicaid nursing home rates, Dorn said. The result would benefit almost all nursing homes, he said. Those that would lose money have few or no Medicaid residents. Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha supported the amendment but warned that more steps will be needed in the future to keep nursing homes open. Federal law allows states to set provider taxes as high as 6% of facility revenues. The $9 tax is about 1.6% of revenues. This is a creative way of being able to draw down more federal funds but it is not the solution, Vargas said. Nebraska adopted the provider tax mechanism for nursing homes in 2011. Lawmakers this year are considering a bill to establish the same type of funding system for hospitals, a move expected to bring in more than $1 billion a year in federal Medicaid funds. Lawmakers brought LB 130 back from the final round of consideration to add the provider tax amendment. The amended bill was then advanced back to final round. Among other action taken Friday: Dark fiber: LB 61, introduced by Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth, passed the Legislature on a 47-0 vote. Brandt has pushed this legislation for multiple sessions, which would allow political subdivisions like cities and counties to license unused, or dark, parts of their fiber-optic telecommunications infrastructure. The bill is meant to speed up deployment of broadband services in rural Nebraska. Detasseling: LB 844, introduced by Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, would require seed corn producers that use detasseling and roguing services to seek bids from local contractors that hire teenage workers before turning to H-2A workers. The federal H-2A program allows agricultural businesses to employ foreign workers when they anticipate a lack of domestic workers. Summer detasseling jobs have been a rite of passage for many Nebraskans. The bill passed in a 45-0 vote. Lobbyists: Political subdivisions would be required to publicly disclose payments to lobbying groups under LB 304, introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area. The bill passed in a 48-0 vote. Lawmakers also passed LB 1104, introduced by Sen. Raymond Aguilar of Grand Island, in a 45-1 vote. The bill would increase registration fees for paid lobbyists from $200 per year up to $300. Missing Persons, Malcolm X Days: May 19 would be recognized as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcolm X Day, in Nebraska under an amendment added to LB 1102. The bill, as introduced by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, would declare Oct. 17 as Nebraska Missing Persons Day. Although both days would be officially recognized by the state, neither would be a state holiday. The amended version of LB 1102 was advanced to the last of three rounds of consideration. A WHOPPING N1.3 trillion public funds were stolen by 32 entities (human and corporate) between 2011 and 2015, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu has said. Magu made the revelation yesterday in his keynote remarks at the opening of the 2019 First Batch Conversion Training Programme to Procurement Cadre for Federal Parastatal and Agencies. The event was organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Lagos. The EFCC chair, whose paper was delivered by the Commissions Secretary, Ola Olukoyede, decried the impact of the huge financial loss on the country. He said: One third of this money, using World Bank rates and cost, could have comfortably been used to construct well over 500km of roads; build close to 200 schools; educate about 4000 children from primary to tertiary levels at N25 million per child; build 20,000 units of two-bedroom houses across the country and do even more. The cost of this grand theft, therefore, is that these roads, schools and houses will never be built and these children will never have access to quality education because a few rapacious individuals had cornered for themselves what would have helped secure the lives of the future generations, thereby depriving them of quality education and healthcare, among others. He identified the poor state of procurement process as one of the major reasons corruption continued to thrive in government agencies and parastatals. Magus listed some of the fraudulent practices in procurement process in Nigeria to include: kickbacks, conflict of interests, fraud in the bidding process, bid suppression, collusive bidding, bid rotation and market division. Others, according to him are: co-mingling of contracts, change order abuse, cost mischarging, defective pricing, false statement and claim, phantom vendors, product substitution, unnecessary purchases and purchases for personal use or resale. The EFCC chair noted that the training was aimed at giving the participants the tools, knowledge and understanding they would need to carry out their duties in their respective places of primary assignments in an efficient and transparent manner. I sincerely hope that at the end of this training, we will see a few cases of financial propriety in our procurement processes in government agencies and parastatal. Indeed, corruption could kill Nigeria, if we do not scale up our proficiency in contract and procurement management process, Magu said. Giving insights into what necessitated the establishment of the EFCC in 2003, he said: The establishment of the EFCC in 2003 was because of the determination of the Federal Government to combat fraudulent activities of some Nigerians and foreigners, mismanagement in the economic sector, corruption by public officials and lack of accountability and transparency in government dealings. Magu expressed confidence that Nigeria still has patriotic and credible individuals who would do all within their abilities to uphold the credibility and honesty required for leadership in public offices. Zainab It was celebration galore as Zainab Aliyu, who was detained in Saudi on suspicion of drug trafficking, was released on Tuesday. Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, announced the Federal Government has secured her release. In reaction, many Nigerians took the social media to express their heartfelt towards the development. However, here are the five facts you would like to know about the released Zainab Aliyu according to TheNation: 1). Zainab Aliyu is a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano. 2). She is 22 years old. 3). She was arrested after a banned drug, Tramadol, was found in her bag. She claimed it was planted in her luggage by unknown persons. 4). She had travelled from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in company of her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu and sister, Hajara Aliyu but she was arrested over allegations that a bag bearing her name tag contained the unlawful substance. 5). She was detained sometime in December, 2018. An advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has condemned the policy of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in keeping the assets declaration of presidents and governors a top secret rather than make citizens know the worth of their leaders before and after tenure duration. SERAP in a statement on Tuesday indicated that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has denied a Freedom of Information request demanding specific details of asset declarations submitted to it by successive presidents and state governors since 1999, arguing that: producing such information would amount to an invasion of privacy of presidents and state governors. Asset declaration form is private information. CCBs response followed FOI request by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in April addressed to Dr. Muhammed Isah, Chairman, CCB, urging him to: provide information on asset declarations by successive presidents and state governors between 1999 and 2019, including details of declarations made immediately after taking offices and thereafter, and for those who have left public offices, at the end of their term of office. SERAP also sought information on the number of asset declarations so far verified by the CCB and the number of those declarations found to be false and deemed to be in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, by the Bureau. However, the CCB in a letter by its Chairman, which SERAP said it just received, stated: Paragraph 3(c) of the 3rd Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) empowers the Bureau to retain custody of asset declaration and make them available for inspection by any citizen on such terms and conditions to be prescribed by the National Assembly. These terms and conditions are yet to be prescribed. The CCB also said: Assuming the Freedom of Information Act is the term and condition, Sections 12(1)(v) and 14(1)(b) of the Act makes information in the asset declaration form private and producing such information would be an invasion of privacy of presidents and governors. Section 14(2)(3) of the same Act stipulate conditions for granting requests for private information but these have not been met by SERAPs application. The letter with reference number CCB/HQ/LU/047/59 and signed on behalf of CCB Chairman by Musa Ibrahim Usman, read in part: Section 12(1)(a)(4)(a)(b) exempt production of information relating to investigation for the purposes of law enforcement and such investigation must have been carried out pursuant to an Act or regulation. Verification is investigation carried out pursuant to Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act for the purposes of law enforcement. Referring breaches of the Code of Conduct for public officers to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for prosecution is a matter of discretion of the Bureau and not a matter of FOI. Consequently, I am further directed to convey to you that the request in SERAPs application for information on details of asset declarations by presidents and state governors since the return of democracy in 1999 is hereby denied on the grounds that it falls short of the requirement of the law. Please accept the assurances of the highest esteem of the Chairman CCB. SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, argued: Freedom of information is a fundamental right. The contents of asset declarations by successive presidents and state governors do not amount to private information, as presidents and governors are public officers under Part II, Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution. According to SERAP: Declarations of assets are constitutional commitments imposed only on public officers, and made by virtue of occupying entrusted public positions and offices. Therefore, details provided in any such asset declaration forms are public information, and not private information. SERAP said: Also, the National Assembly, having been constitutionally vested with power by paragraph 3[c], Third Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, to make laws on this subject matter, has since prescribed the mode for inspection of asset declarations by passage of Freedom of Information Act in 2011. SERAP also said: Thats why were going to court to challenge the decision by the CCB denying our FOI request, and refusing to provide details of asset declarations by presidents and state governors since the return of democracy in 1999. Make no mistake: The CCBs refusal to disclose these details is a breach of settled constitutional and international principles, plain and simple. It would be recalled that SERAP had in its FOI stated that: While we welcome the judgment by the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Justice Walter Onnoghen, we now urge the CCB to extend its mandates to enforce constitutional provisions on asset declarations by public officers to cover elected officers and to vigorously pursue the prosecution of any such officers who use their powers either as presidents or state governors over public funds to enrich themselves. The FOI request read in part: While judicial corruption is bad, the level of corruption involving many politicians since 1999 and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators is equally appalling. Publishing the asset declarations of elected public officers would improve public trust in the ability of the Bureau to effectively discharge its mandates. This would in turn put pressure on public officers like presidents and state governors to make voluntary public declaration of their assets. SERAP is concerned that many politicians hide behind the fact that members of the public do not have access to their asset declarations to make false declarations, and to cover up assets illegally acquired in corruption or abuse of office. The CCB can use the opportunity presented by the Onnoghen judgment to increase the accountability of politicians through the asset declaration provisions if it is not to be accused of witch-hunting the judiciary. One Muhammad Munzali from Kaura Gidan Damo, Shanono Local Government Area of Kano state has been arrested while posing as a woman at the femal hostel of Skyline University in Kano. He was apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Kano State. The arrest of the suspect was confirmed in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a copy of which was made available to PUNCH Online on Friday. The suspect was apprehended around 10pm on Wednesday night by vigilant officers of the corps while sneaking into the female hostel of Skyline University Nigeria, situated along Sardauna Crescent, Nassarawa GRA, Kano State. The suspect was said to have disguised and dressed in womens garb and was found with local charms around his body, the PRO said. According to Abdullahi, investigation is still ongoing to unravel the motive for his intrusion into the private universitys womens hostel. The State Commandant, NSCDC Kano Command, Mohammed Falala, had recently, in a strategic meeting with management, charged officers and men of the command to be extra vigilant. He had stressed the need to intensify surveillance in and around public and private educational institutions in the state to safeguard them against criminally-minded elements, the statement said. An unidentified man, who disguised and sneaked into a female hostel of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was caught and stripped by students in 2021, PUNCH Online reported. BLOOMINGTON Kevin Matthews will discuss his book "Broken Mary Project: A Journey of Hope" at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Holy Trinity Church, 106 W. Chestnut St., Bloomington. Matthews became known to the Chicago area after speaking to 10 million radio fans every week while broadcasting from the Loop Radio Studios. In 2008, he became partially paralyzed while on air. The book tells the story of his journey. Doors for the event will open at 11 a.m., with a small lunch being served at 11:30 a.m. Registration is required for lunch. The event will be followed by book sales and a meet-and-greet. Books will be available for $10. Only cash will be accepted. Signup for the event can be completed online at hsp-ht.org/ History photos: Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington 1935: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1938: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church BLOOMINGTON More than a dozen Bloomington High School students and staff members felt the buzz of clippers and watched their locks fall to the ground Friday, in celebration of the school surpassing its goal to raise money for childhood cancer research. In just four weeks, BHS has raised more than $5,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer and donor-based charity out of California that aims help find better research and cures for childhood cancer. "It gives you a real sense of purpose and pride in being part of this kind of organization, that kind of work to be able to give back to kids that are sick," said Assistant Principal Dan Saken, one of the participants whose head was shaved Friday. "And whenever they would ask 'why do you do this' You know, oftentimes, the answer would be that God forbid, if my kids ever got sick, I would want other people to be working the same way that I'm trying to do for others." This marked Saken's 11th year shaving his head for St. Baldrick's, now in his second year as assistant principal at the school. Saken said he took part in the fundraiser when he was a teacher at Elk Grove High School, and each year it became greater with more participants, growing to become an important part of the school year. Each BHS participant had to raise at least $50 for St. Baldrick's, and students had to receive consent from their parent or guardian to have their hair cut during the lunch period Friday. The "shavees" included Mackenzie McCray, freshman; Tom Waterson, teacher; Jordan Salinas, senior; Marcos Gonzalez, junior; Amari Lilly, freshman; Sally Kelly, associate principal; Andres Castillo, senior; Jacob Sherfey, senior; Lydia Jennings, senior; Jaylen Raab, freshman; John Lair, junior; and Brandon Thornton, teacher. Saken said his goal was to have at least 10 people participate, but they ended up with 13 total. "I'm excited about where we can go from here to help such a great foundation," he said, noting they might get more participation next year if students and staff have more time to raise money. While not a true saint, St. Baldrick is a play on "bald" and "St. Patrick's," and the head-shaving events typically take place in March, following the first event held March 17, 2000. The barbers for the event were Rochelle Gaston, owner of The Barber Studio in Bloomington, and Erick "BA" Howard from One of a Kind Barbershop and Salon in Normal. Junior Marcos Gonzalez chopped off all of his hair, which he said was close to a foot in length. "I just thought I had a lot of hair, and like, maybe I can make a difference for other people," he said. "I just feel like other people might be like scared. Some people said I have good hair, but if I could do it, other people would do it." Gonzalez said after his experience on Friday, he would 100% participate again. Associate Principal Sally Kelly said she was inspired after learning about the event from Saken and felt she had to take part having helped to build excitement for it. "I've never shaved my head, but (I) couldn't be more excited. I'm in perfectly good hands with Rochelle back here. I can't wait to see the results," Kelly said before the cut. "It's been great. Normally people have three months or more to prepare. We've had weeks and we've surpassed our goal. And we're just so excited. So, I can't wait." Before she sat in the barber's chair, she was excited and a little nervous "But whatever, you only live once." Freshman Mackenzie McCray said she couldn't shave her whole head since she had been growing her hair out for the last two years, but she still wanted to participate. "I know people who have dealt with cancer. When I first heard of it (the event), I was like 'yeah I should really do this,'" she said, but her mom only gave her permission to cut the back. "I was pretty excited." By Friday afternoon, two dozen BHS students and staff had contributed to the St. Baldrick's fundraiser, pushing it past $6,380. The students and staff who helped organize the event were Hannah Witt (junior), co-organizer; Tom Waterson, lead treasurer; Alyssa Geraghty (senior) co-treasurer; Selise Rolon (junior), barber coordinator; Ariana Rider (senior) and Jaylen Raab (freshman) shavee recruiters; Melissa Fields (senior) publicity and decorations coordinator; Chloe Kudrys (senior) recognition coordinator; Abigail Witt (junior), Madison Rider (sophomore), Bethany Warren (senior), and Mackenzie McCray (freshman), sponsorships and event support; Emily May (junior) and Owen Ryder (senior), event photographers. Photos and video: University High, Bloomington and Lincoln at Competitive Cheerleading Sectional Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated the incorrect school for Dan Saken, where he started participating in St. Baldrick's. BLOOMINGTON Republican voters in Tuesday's primary election have a choice between two candidates vying for a chance to oust incumbent Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen in the 17th Congressional District. Scott Crowl is a farmer from Milan and a former president of a local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Joe McGraw is a retired judge and former prosecutor who sat on the bench in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which covers Boone and Winnebago counties. Both candidates emphasize their ability to connect with the districts voters. On his campaign website, Crowl stresses that he is not a "career politician," but someone whose work on the farm helps feed people across the nation. He said in a recent interview that his background allows him to identify with the people of the district, and those constituents to identify with him. Who knows more about the average person than the average person himself? he said. McGraw said in an interview that he will stand up for peoples rights, beliefs and values in Congress. They need to know that Im one of them and Ill fight for them. McGraw said he knows how to listen carefully to both sides of an issue then make a decision based on the law, a skill he pledged to bring with him to the House of Representatives. The 17th is one of the most competitive congressional districts in the state. Sorensen defeated Republican Esther Joy King 52% to 48% in 2022. The C-shaped district includes the urban cores of Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Rockford and the Quad-Cities area, along with swaths of rural northwestern and central Illinois. Both candidates said they wanted to focus on securing Americans southern border, citing concerns about crime and an influx of fentanyl into the U.S. Crowl said containing illegal immigration on a border that size will be tough, but he thinks it can be reduced to a minimum. We have to get it under control. It also costs the U.S. money to house and feed undocumented immigrants and thats money that could be spent on citizens, Crowl said. McGraw said everyone knows someone who has fallen prey to fentanyl, which he described as a deadly epidemic. Gangs, other drugs and human trafficking are also problems finding their way into the country from the south, McGraw said. That includes the 17th District. They (constituents of the district) dont feel safe, McGraw said. The economy was also a high priority for both candidates. Crowl said Congress has spent too much and the country's debt needs to be controlled. Everyone loses if the U.S. goes bankrupt, Crowl said. He also argued that the U.S. is not taking full advantage of its domestic energy resources, he said. McGraw said the cost of basic needs like food and housing are increasing and people are buying those needs with credit cards. Theyre struggling to make ends meet, he said, and feel as though the American Dream is slipping away from them. Ray Estrada, a Galesburg businessman, had declared a run early in the race. But late in 2023 Estrada chose not to continue his campaign. McGraw announced his candidacy not long after, then Crowl declared his intention to run. In response to the devastating aftermath of the Akosombo Dam spillage that displaced thousands of residents along the Lower Volta Basin six months ago, the newly appointed Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has pledged to prioritize the resettlement of the affected communities. Providing updates on the governments resettlement efforts when he appeared before Parliament on Thursday, March 14, 2024, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the government will not renege on its plans to address the plight of those displaced by the spillage. "The government acknowledges the profound impact of the Akosombo Dam spillage on communities and households. In light of this, we have established an inter-ministerial committee to ensure a well-coordinated response," Minister Oppong Nkrumah affirmed. He said so far, the inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, has spearheaded relief efforts and made sure victims had access to essential items when the flood wreaked havoc. Further, the Minister disclosed ongoing efforts by the government in gathering crucial background information to inform the government's decisions on resettlement strategies. He said this will ensure the government has a full understanding of the matter to ensure that the plight of victims are well addressed. "The resettlement will have far-reaching social, economic, and cultural implications on individuals, households, and communities. Therefore, the government is committed to fully understanding these implications," he added. In response to the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpors question over the delay in resettling flood victims, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said plans are far advanced and in due time, the government will make known its resettlement plans in providing much-needed relief and support to those impacted by the disaster. 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 Ghanas Electoral Commission (EC) says the upcoming December 7, general elections will still conducted if the recent internet outage nationwide is not solved by then. The Director of Electoral Services at EC, Dr Serebour Quaicoe noted in an interview with Citi News monitored by Peacefmonline.com that the internet disruptions will not affect the process in any way. On election day, everything is manual, reading does not use the internet. Voting is done, basically without e-voting. People are given ballot papers they go and thumbprints. That has nothing to do with the internet, when the results are counted, it has nothing to do with the internet. The officers will physically send the results to the collation centres, and the results will be collated manually on the access sheet, which has no internet connectivity," he assured. His assurance follows clarification from the National Communication Authority (NCA) that all four (4) subsea cables from Ghana to Europe through Cote dIvoire and Senegal are out of service - the reason for the nationwide internet outage. Many fear the situation will affect the electoral processes but Dr Serebour Quaicoe says the EC operates manually during election days without the internet. When they finish at the constituency, they will send the result to the regional office, no internet usage. The region will also do the collation just using the computer without internet connectivity. When they finish, they will send the results through a fax machine to the head office. Then the head office will also do the collation and announce the results. So, the election day has nothing to do with internet connectivity. Except the exhibition time and registration time where we use ourrouters and other things from MTN and other providers, we use their facilities, but that is not internet-based. Its just normal data that well use. Once we dont have any issues with data, we can do the registration through our network data centre and the rest, and well complete the system. And on the day of the exhibition, we collect on our database. We dont use the external internet. So, I dont think it will have any effect on our registration or exhibition. He said. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 Common Council members are working to create a new policy regarding flag displays around Glens Falls. Lower Adirondack Pride President Cam Cardinale had recently requested to hang a pride flag in front of City Hall for Pride Month in June.. Third Ward Councilwoman Diana Palmer said she facilitated an email with the council between meetings, clarifying that rather than taking requests to hang a flag, they should look to creating a policy. At-Large Councilman Jim Clark Jr. conducted the Tuesday, March 13 meeting as Mayor Bill Collins was out of town and said the topic would be discussed with Collins when he returns. I have done some research on this myself, trying to understand what the rules were. It appears to me that theres a difference between regulating public speech and engaging in government speech, Palmer said. Palmer said the council cannot create a public forum where people can request the council to hang certain flags as it would lead to picking and choosing some over others. Instead, they need to create a policy that explains they, as government speech, can choose to hang a flag. If a member of the council or if the mayor wanted to do it, they can bring it forward, she said. The New York Conference of Mayors were contacted by Palmer for a better understanding of what procedures the city needs to follow, reaffirming the difference between public and government speech. She shared a copy of a flag policy from San Jose, California that has been deemed constitutional by Supreme Court leaders in California. I believe we need to create a policy regarding this, then at that point, anyone from the council or the mayors office could bring forward a resolution, she said. Clark added that the policy is something that should also be enacted towards banners hung throughout the city, taking a holistic approach. We do have banners that get hung up in public and stuff like that, so I want to make sure we are addressing all of these avenues that express flags, banners, or anything like that, he said. The council also approved a resolution to adopt the New York State Equal Rights Act that was brought to the councils attention by resident Kate Roos. The act will be applied to the November ballot for residents to vote on. Roos was at the meeting and thanked the council for their work in getting it on the ballot. This is such a significant and important resolution for the strength of democracy not only in Glens Falls but New York State. You are setting a tremendously important example, she said. Youve made with your vote and consideration of this, youve made that future a better one for everybody. From a press release: Warren County Office of Emergency Services is reminding Warren County residents that New York States annual spring burn ban is in effect from Saturday, March 16, 2024 through Tuesday, May 14, 2024. A lack of snow over the winter has resulted in dry, flammable leaves and brush being revealed earlier in the year this year than during 2023. New York States burn ban is put in place each year to lessen the chance of wildfires, and since the annual springtime ban was implemented in 2009, New York State has experienced 42% fewer wildfires annually. Still, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers and fire companies annually respond to and extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres, with 95% of them resulting from human causes. Warren County Fire Coordinator Ralph Bartlett said: The deficit of precipitation in the form of snow and rain last fall and during the winter has resulted in an early fire hazard from grass and brush fires. Due to the weather conditions commonly found in early spring, and the lack of moisture in leaves, grass, and brush, fires can spread quickly. Spring winds tend to accelerate the spread of fires. Please abide by the New York State burn ban to avert unintended consequences in our communities. Bartlett urged that those who spot unattended fires call 911 if there appears to be an emergency, or use non-emergency phone numbers to the Warren County Sheriffs Office (518-743-2500) or NYS DEC (518-897-1303) if the situation does not appear to be an emergency. New York State regulations ban both open burning and burning in barrels. Open burning is prohibited year-round in towns with more than 20,000 residents, such as Queensbury, as well as all villages such as Lake George and cities such as Glens Falls. Smoke contains particulates, known as soot, and gasses, such as carbon monoxide, that are hazardous to health. When the burn ban is not in effect, residents in towns with population of under 20,000 may burn tree limbs with attached leaves. The limbs must be less than 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length (also referred to as brush). Burningloose leaves or leaf piles is illegal. Those seeking to burn materials outside of the burn ban period are required to get a permit from the NYS DEC and should make notification when initiating a fire. New York State has the following exceptions for open burning: Camp fires or any other outdoor fires less than 3 feet in height and 4 feet in length, width or diameter are allowed. Small cooking fires are allowed. Ceremonial or celebratory bonfires are allowed. Disposal of flags or religious items in a small-sized fire is allowed, if it is not otherwise prohibited by law or regulation. Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated or unpainted wood can be burned. Fires cannot be left unattended and must be fully extinguished. New Jerseys federal lawmakers are at the forefront of a national effort to crack down on the scourges of dogfighting and cockfighting. And its not a moment too soon, with local law enforcement uncovering animal fighting rings from Atlantic County to Monmouth County and reminding citizens that staged animal fights fester largely unknown to a populace that thought this problem was settled decades ago. New Jerseys Cory Booker is the lead author of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, S. 1529. His bill, co-authored with Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ban online gambling on staged animal fighting, halt the shipment of fighting animals through the U.S. mail, allow the forfeiture of property assets used in animal fighting crimes, and allow private citizens to bring civil actions against known dogfighters and cockfighters. Reps. John Gottheimer, D-5th; Tom Kean, R-7th; Bill Pascrell, D-9th; Chris Smith, R-4th; and Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, are leaders of the House companion bill, H.R. 2742. Dogfighting is barbaric, and cockfighting is a crime of the same moral order. Fighting birds are bred to be aggressive toward other birds, then placed in a pit with razor-sharp blades or curved icepicks attached to their legs. Typically, a strike to the eye will brain a bird to the death. In other cases, its a heart stab or a puncturing of the lungs. In addition to the blatant cruelty, animal fighting is a threat to keeping our communities safe, as these events are nearly always bound up in trafficking of deadly drugs including fentanyl, high-stakes illegal gambling, violence and even murder. In Hawaii last year, a teenager opened fire at a cockfight, creating the states largest mass shooting ever. In Mexico, where American cockfighters and dogfighters sell their animals to cartel operators and compete at the fighting venues, its a lawless world. In February, there were six murdered and 14 shot in a spasm of cartel violence at a cockfight; 20 people were massacred at a separate cockfighting derby a year earlier with both mass shootings claiming the lives of Americans. Detention hearing delayed for Galloway man accused of running cockfighting ring A detention hearing for a Galloway Township man who allegedly ran a cockfighting operation out of his home has been moved to Tuesday after the state requested a three-day postponement. Cockfighting busts in Atlantic and Monmouth The FIGHT Act will address rampant dogfighting and cockfighting in New Jersey and throughout the nation. In March, Galloway Township police officers discovered a crime scene with 50 roosters (some in bags), dogs kept in inhumane conditions, a fighting ring surrounded by seating for spectators and tens of thousands of dollars in cash. The vast majority of animal fighting cases document cruelty to animals that is tied up with many other crimes that are dangerous and deadly to humans. Just weeks before, in Monmouth County, a local humane group and Neptune Township police responded to an anonymous tip about dogs in distress. When the officials arrived, they followed a trail of fresh blood to a backyard garage, where they found six dogs confined in separate crates, surrounded by squalid conditions. The animals bore signs of barbaric mistreatment, with scabs, scars and puncture wounds indicating their involvement in illegal dog fighting activities. Detention hearing for Galloway man accused of running cockfighting ring set for Thursday A detention hearing for a Galloway Township man who allegedly ran a cockfighting ring out of his home is set to take place Wednesday. FIGHT Act needed on national level That anyone would treat dogs or birds in such a remorseless manner and subject them to death matches for the amusement of the handlers and spectators shocks the conscience. The FIGHT Act has 500 endorsing agencies and organizations, including 200 law enforcement agencies. Only the threat of stronger enforcement will deter people from getting involved in this ugly enterprise. As the president of Animal Wellness Action, I can tell you my nonprofit has been working hard to find the best solution to rampant and violent animal fighting in our nation as well as abroad. The FIGHT Act, we believe, will give law enforcement the tools to root out this activity. Please visit our website, animalwellnessaction.org, and learn more about animal fighting, and how you can help. Prosecute document crimes in fair manner The underlining crime which both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are alleged to have committed is the retention of classified documents. Why is only one being prosecuted? Cooperating or not cooperating is after the fact and not the alleged underlying crime. It could lead to additional charges if there is obstruction of justice, but again, thats after the fact. Of course the Presidential Records Act states a president (not a vice president or senator) can retain classified documents from their administration. Presidents and vice presidents should be able to retain a copy of classified documents, since in most cases they are instrumental in creating, or it was of great importance to their presidency or vice presidency. Heres the real crime. Why didnt the White House security, the Secret Service, say, Hey, wait a moment, before you pack and ship those boxes, we need to see whats inside. David DiBello Lakewood Support Freedom to Read measure The Freedom to Read Act is being considered in Trenton. Senate bill 2421, sponsored by Senators Zwicker (D-Middlesex) and Ruiz (D-Essex), and Assembly bill 3446, sponsored by Assemblypersons Drulis (D-Princeton), Sumter (D-Princeton), and Conway (D-Delran), would prohibit book censorship, especially if rooted in objections to the authors origin, background, or views. The bill will protect librarians from criminal and civil liability and allow them to sue those who harass them. NJ is addressing book banning, which is rising nationally. Proponents of the bill support a parents right to limit what their child reads, but object to someone else choosing what their child reads. Opponents call it the Freedom to Groom Act, saying it allows adults to legally give children pornography. Assemblyman Peterson (R-Hunterdon) calls school librarians criminal. Senator Space, and Assemblypersons Fantasia and Inganamort (all R- Sussex, Morris, and Warren) oppose the bill. Roxbury High School librarian Roxana Caivano was accused of luring children with pornography. The school library contains books about gender identity. Hunterdon High School librarian Martha Hickson was reported to prosecutors for breaking obscenity laws. Her library contains similar books. Controversy has sparked over school libraries books about race, ethnic and socio-economic diversity, and intolerance. Do we want New Jersey to join Florida, Texas, and others in banning controversial books from school libraries? Follow this bill and speak up if you think book banning in un-American. And when voting, remember which party favors book banning. Ann Pompelio Brigantine Thank Upper for community center Many non-profit organizations are extremely grateful for the use of the Upper Township Community Center. Last summer, thanks to the efforts of those who manage and operate the facility, the building received a much needed update. The renovation brings the facility up to a modern standard and offers many groups and organizations a place to call home. While the facility is imperative to the local recreation programs, we dont often hear from the many nonprofits that also count on the use of the building. Our organization is just one of many that are grateful for the facility and those who keep it going. What you do is an important part of supporting our local nonprofit organizations, and we wanted to take this brief moment to express our thanks to the community, and our local leaders, for continuing to provide an excellent facility for our group. Patricia McQuarrie Families United Network Upper Township Anchor rebate just another tax scam Once again our so-called state representatives havent just failed the people of New Jersey, they have lied to the people regarding the ability to be able to file for their tax breaks through the Anchor program. Our state representatives, including this governor, I believe, intentionally discriminated against thousands of citizens with disabilities regarding this Anchor program. Why dont they just find a way to reduce property taxes? This Anchor program is just another way to hire their friends to manage another failed program. David Barsky Atlantic City Voters must decide between two Republican candidates who are competing for a chance to oust incumbent Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen in Illinois 17th Congressional District. Scott Crowl is a farmer from Milan and a former president of a local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, according to previous reporting. Joe McGraw is a retired judge and former prosecutor who sat on the bench in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which covers Boone and Winnebago counties. Both candidates talked to the newspaper this week about the race and each said they can connect with the districts voters. Crowl said Thursday that his background allows him to identify with the people of the district, and those constituents to identify with him. On his campaign website, Crowl wrote that he is not a career politician and his work on his farm helps feed people across the nation. Who knows more about the average person than the average person himself? Crowl said on Thursday. McGraw said he will stand up for peoples rights, beliefs and values in Congress. They need to know that Im one of them and Ill fight for them, McGraw said on Friday. McGraw said he knows how to listen carefully to both sides of an issue then make a decision based on the law a skill he will bring with him to the House of Representatives. The 17th is one of the most competitive congressional districts in Illinois, according to previous reporting. Sorensen defeated Republican Esther Joy King 52% to 48% in 2022. The district includes Rockford, the Illinois Quad-Cities, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal along with swaths of rural northwestern and central Illinois. Both candidates said securing Americans southern border was something they wanted to focus on should they win the 17ths seat. Their reasons included crime and an influx of fentanyl into the U.S. Crowl said containing illegal immigration on a border that size will be tough, but he thinks it can be reduced to a minimum. We have to get it under control, Crowl said. It also costs the U.S. money to house and feed undocumented immigrants and thats money that could be spent on citizens, Crowl said. McGraw said everyone knows someone who has fallen prey to fentanyl, which he described as a deadly epidemic. Gangs, other drugs, and human trafficking are also problems finding their way into the country from the south, McGraw said. That includes the 17th District. They (the 17ths constituents) dont feel safe, McGraw said. The economy was also a high priority for both candidates. Crowl said Congress has spent too much, saying the country's debt needs to be controlled. Everyone loses if the country goes bankrupt, Crowl said. The U.S. is also not taking advantage of its domestic energy resources like it should, Crowl said. McGraw said the cost of basic needs like food and housing are increasing and people are buying those needs with credit cards. Theyre struggling to make ends meet, McGraw said. They feel as though the American Dream is slipping away from them. Ray Estrada, a Galesburg businessman, had declared a run early in the race. But late in 2023 Estrada chose not to continue his campaign, according to previous reporting. McGraw announced his candidacy not long after, then Crowl announced his intention to run. More information about McGraw and Crowl can be found on their campaign websites. Links to each, as well as the newspapers previous articles about the race, are available with the online version of this article. The primary is on Tuesday and includes presidential preference along with local races. The only other contested local primary is in the 37th Senate District, where Tim Yager of Geneseo, Li Arellano Jr. of Dixon and Chris Bishop of Dixon are running for the Republican nomination. Early voting is available at the County Clerk's office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. Polls are open Tuesday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information on voting locations and sample ballots can be found on the Rock Island County website at https://www.rockislandcountyil.gov/247/Elections. The common signs of burnout, and more videos to improve your life Here are some of the most common signs of burnout, how to watch out for job scams this holiday season, and more videos to improve your life. Quad Cities Interfaith and other nonprofits are asking the City of Davenport to offer a community ID after Scott County declined to implement community-wide identification cards. Advocates say a community ID can be an additional form of photo identification that fills in gaps for residents to show identification to use city services, interact with law enforcement, and open a bank account at participating institutions, especially for residents who may not have state-issued identification. In February, the City of Moline passed an ordinance to allow the city to issue municipal IDs, which the city expects to begin in July. In Iowa, Johnson County, Story County and Marshalltown allow for some form of community IDs. Moline anticipates the cost of a community ID program to be roughly $18,000. On Thursday in Davenport, Davenport nonprofit leaders from CASI, Humility Homes, Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, and Safer Foundation QC told an audience at CASI that a community identification card would help people they serve get back on their feet. That could include people returning from incarceration, people without homes who have lost some identifying documents, victims of domestic violence whose abuser has many of their identifying documents, senior citizens who may not drive anymore and immigrants who can't get time off to renew documentation at embassy offices. Isaac Carr, the citizenship manager for the Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, said a community ID could list a person's primary language and an emergency contact, so that emergency responders or police could look at an ID and determine what languages the person speaks or who to contact to provide immediate translation. "We have over 100 languages spoken here," Carr said. "...A lot of people here are struggling with communication and so we have to keep translating." Advocates at the panel said a person could open an account or cash a check at a participating credit union, pick up pharmacy prescriptions, return items to a store, pick up grandkids from school, and interact with hospitals and law enforcement with a community ID. Panelists said a community ID would also promote general community cohesion and any resident could apply for one and use it to access discounts at participating organizations like museums. Katie Styrt, pastor at First Presbyterian in Milan, said Quad Cities Interfaith has a list of participating credit unions, businesses, and amenities that have agreed they would accept community IDs and would offer discounts for residents who show it. However, panelists emphasized, community IDs do not supersede other government identification, and couldn't be used to vote, buy alcohol or tobacco, prove employment status or drive. "Just being a pastor, when I go to the hospital and I sign in at Genesis, they expect me to have an ID," Styrt said. "They don't need me to drive, but it's nonetheless something that they're sort of used to having. When you go to sell clothes at a consignment shop, you need to show a photo ID. Over the next few days, I invite you all to just see how often you show an ID in places you may not even be thinking about because it's just second nature." Previously, Quad Cities Interfaith appealed to Scott County for a county ID, and initially, the county was receptive. Ken Beck, the chair of the Scott County Board of Supervisors said the county consulted with its attorney and with the Rock Island State's Attorney to potentially implement a two-county ID system. But, Beck said, the attorneys had concerns with the counties' ability to verify an applicant's identity, especially foreign driver's licenses or paperwork. "Our county attorney along with the Rock Island States Attorney provided their opinion that there are issues with verifying a person is who they say they are due to the nature of the information they could provide and for this reason opened up the county to potential liability risks," Beck wrote in an email. For Johnson County's Community ID, residents must produce some form of identifying documents, such as a passport, U.S. driver's license, a birth certificate, or Green Card, and proof of residency, such as a pay stub, rental agreement, or school enrollment. Mayra Hernandez, the acting director of Quad Cities Interfaith, said Davenport should do its own research and come to its own conclusion about liability, as other cities and counties have. "Other community ID programs such as Johnson County and Moline theyve both found that the liability would not come on the city or county governments," Hernandez said. "The city or county government should come to their own conclusions." MARCH 23 15th Ave Christian Church, 3600 15th Ave., Rock Island (formally Broadway Church) is hosting a free lunch Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. Serving ham, potatoes, a vegetable and dessert. Pick up orders will be available at 11:30 a.m. Delivery available in the city of Rock Island. Please call and RSVP by Wednesday, March 21, 309-644-1176. MARCH 24 Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church, 1201 13th St., Moline, will host its second annual Music for Missions concert on March 24 at 6:30 p.m. with a free will offering to raise money for Lakeview United Methodist Church, Philippines; Community Resource and Learning Center, Moline; and Christian Care Martha's House. The concert will include vocal solos as well as piano, violin and cello music performed by graduate students from Western Illinois University and the University of Iowa. Vocal performers are from East Alton United Methodist Church. Lakeview United Methodist Church, Philippines, is a church and child feeding center catering to the needs of the less fortunate community in Lakeview, Philippines. The Community and Resource Learning Center is a family literacy program serving local immigrants and refugees. Its classes are held at Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church. Christian Care Martha's House provides safe shelter, support and resources for homeless women and children in our community. Donations are accepted by cash or check to Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church. When Beth and Tristen Even of Rapid City lost their infant daughter through miscarriage, Beth discovered there were few local resources for grieving parents like them. Their new nonprofit, Hugs from Above, strives to comfort families after miscarriages and stillborn births. The Evens launched Hugs from Above in January to serve parents and families throughout South Dakota. I just felt really alone during my loss and trying to heal from that, and there wasnt a whole lot of resources for moms and dads going through loss, Beth said. I wanted to make a difference, and from that, I started Hugs from Above. Its to help people feel a little less alone, and feel like theres someone that they can talk to. The Evens daughter, McKinsey, was 18 weeks and two days old when Beth suffered a miscarriage on May 29, 2023. The couple also has a three-year-old son, Hayden. Hugs from Above provides care packages and support to families after the loss of a pregnancy. Mothers or families can request a care package through the Hugs from Above website, hugsfromabove.org/request-a-care-package-1. The request page includes space for the mother or family to include the date of the loss and whether there are siblings and a spouse. Beth contacts the mother to get to know a bit about the family so she can customize each care package. Beth personally delivers the care package boxes to mothers and families in the Black Hills. Each includes self-care items for the mother and the entire family. We put in a book for mom, a book for dad, books for siblings if there are siblings. There is a necklace with the babys birthstone and birth month flower for mom to wear, Beth said. We put in bath bombs, face masks, lotion, lip balm, bath salts, a pack of forget-me-not seeds, a teddy bear, scrunchies, fuzzy socks to remember their sweet baby and help them heal. Ive been getting a lot of feedback that it helps with the grieving process and makes moms feel less alone, and its been a comfort to them to have those items, Beth said. Each care package comes with a $25 Door Dash gift card the mother or family can put toward the cost of a meal. Someone had a meal delivered to us the day we got home from the hospital. It meant the world to us not having to worry about whats for dinner, Beth said. In the first two months after starting Hugs from Above, Beth distributed 13 care packages. My goal this first year is one per week, but I have been surprised at how many requests Ive gotten already, she said. Its been so rewarding to me to be able to help other moms and other families. It is such a dark time and it feels like youre the only person in the world going through this. There is always someone willing to listen and to talk to and willing to remember your baby with you. When she delivers the care packages, Beth gives every mother her phone number and encourages them to call if they need to talk. I feel like theres a taboo about miscarriage and stillbirth, she said. [I want to] make people feel like its OK to talk about. I like to talk about my daughter like I do my son If moms need to talk, they can shoot me a text or call me. Im hoping to start a support group in the next few months. Ive really enjoyed the relationships Ive built with moms Ive made packages for. Its been rewarding that way, Beth said. Its nice to me able to give back to my community in some way. The room in the Evens house that would have been McKinseys nursery is now a storage space where items for the Hugs from Above care packages are stashed. Beth welcomes donations to help supply more care packages. Either items for the care packages or funds to purchase supplies would be helpful, she said. A spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit Hugs from Above will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 30 at Moose Lodge 1137 in Rapid City. The event includes a by-donation spaghetti dinner, a 50/50 raffle and a bake sale. Beth said she would like to partner with businesses who may want to donate to Hugs from Above. The nonprofit also has an Amazon wish list where anyone can purchase items for care packages. For more information about Hugs from Above, or to learn more about donating care package items, contact Beth at hugs.from.above@outlook.com. As the Box Elder and Rapid City area population grows, so does the demand for housing. Alpha Omega subdivision in Box Elder held its grand opening Thursday afternoon, with a ribbon cutting and four homes open for self-guided tours. Mayor Larry Larson congratulated Alpha Land Company on the opening of its new subdivision and thanked them for choosing Box Elder. Were excited always to get housing. We need housing we need affordable housing," Larson said to the Rapid City Journal. We want to make sure we have plenty of places for everyone to live. We have a lot of young families moving in, coming from the Rapid City and Black Hills area to settle in Box Elder." Larson continued, We look forward to this particular housing group. They have a lot of acres to put up a lot of nice houses, apartments, and theyre going to put in businesses here. We cant wait to see where this whole development is going. Larson commented on how Box Elder is now the 10th largest city in South Dakota, with a population of over 12,000 residents. Alpha Omega, when completed, will feature over 1,300+ acres of housing and multi-family units. The first phase of development will include about 30 single family homes, followed by apartment buildings. The subdivision is accessible from highway 1416 via Radar Hill Road and W Sunnydale Road. Kelly Howie, co-owner of UniMax Builders, also spoke with the Rapid City Journal. This is a fantastic moment for UniMax as the exclusive builder of the area, as well as for Alpha Land Company, the developer of the whole project in partnership with Box Elder, said Howie. We started the inner-workings of this project back in October of 2019, so thats why its such an exciting time because were finally able to open one of the numerous access points into the subdivision and offer families new opportunities for housing just a few minutes from the Ellsworth main gate. He went on to applaud Box Elders leadership and staff for stepping up to the challenge of tremendous growth by anticipating population numbers and staying ahead of the curve. Howie is a co-owner of UniMax Builders, along with his partners Cody Work and Tyler Trippy. Howie is also the real estate broker and owner of The Kelly Howie Team responsible for listing the homes for sale in the Alpha Omega subdivision. The U.S. Forest Service, Mystic Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks held a community meeting regarding the possible removal of the Mitchell Lake Dam near Hill City Wednesday evening. The Forest Service presented its proposal to about 50 people in attendance, giving three options as what to do regarding the deferred maintenance of the dam. The choices presented were to remove the dam, repair the dam by basically rebuilding it and removing the built-up silt, or do nothing. Brittany Coupe, a civil engineer with the U.S. Forest Service, presented the options to those in attendance, with a brief history of the dam and possible outcomes of either action, or no action taken, on the Mitchell Lake Dam. Mitchell Lake is located northeast of downtown Hill City, formed out of Spring Creek. The current condition of the dam does not meet requirements to protect life and property downstream for a probable maximum 100-hundred year flood event where over 56,000 cubic feet of water per second flows at the dam. Concerns of possible significant damage and the potential loss of life that could result in the event of a dam failure were mentioned. To remove the dam would result in the disappearance of Mitchell Lake, which was constructed in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of a government work relief program during the Great Depression. Coupe used images to show the public some deficiencies both visible and not visible, along with potential flooding areas that would result both with and without the dam. Currently the dam can only hold 18 acres of water due to the amount of sediment, Coupe said in her presentation. The probable maximum flood zone was shown in a diagram, which is the largest flood that could possibly occur at any particular location, usually estimated from maximum possible precipitation. Regardless of whether the dam was left in its current condition or removed would not make much difference since the dam is not designed to prevent flooding. The Forest Service has obtained $2,800,000 to date for the project through the Great American Outdoors Act, which would be roughly the amount required to have the dam removed and return Spring Creek to its natural state, while the repair and replace option would cost approximately $34,600,000. And then theres the third option: Do nothing. The cheapest of the options is to remove the dam, at a cost of about $2.5 million. You wont have to worry about the dam breaking, causing massive flooding and this will return the creek to its natural environment, Coupe said Wednesday night. Removing the dam would open more land for walking trails with a footbridge. These new trails would connect to Sheridan Lake. The rebuild and repair option is the most expensive plan, with funding unavailable or unknown at this time. If no action is taken, pushing the problem further down the line, as it has been for several decades, Coupe explained the cost could be zero dollars to almost $15 million dollars, depending on any flooding or eventual crumbling of the dam, as it has been deteriorating for some time. This poses an extreme risk to the public, she said. Its just not a good decision to leave it as-is. All of the options were for public consideration only, without any decision being made for several months. Jeremy Kientz, with South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, reassured those in attendance that removing the dam wouldnt hurt the wildlife in Spring Creek. We manage Mitchell Lake as a put and take trout fishery, Kientz said. He explained that it's controlled reproduction and not natural trout reproduction as one might find in natural lakes and streams. Irrespective of the three options, our mission doesnt change, Kientz said. Were still going to provide fish and a fishery, one way or another. Kientz explained that natural fish reproduction would probably begin if the dam is removed, due to less sediment which would oxygenate the gravel on the stream bed, which helps for natural reproduction, while the current built-up sediment hinders natural reproduction. Depending on what decision is made, whether to remove, repair or do nothing the Forest Service and GFP said they would do their best to have a solution acceptable to the community. We would make sure the lasting product is something everyone will be happy with, said Grant Truskowski, an aquatic habitat and access biologist with the state. The funds available from the Great American Outdoors Act expire in 2027, so a design and action would need to happen within two and half years. The 30-day scoping ends on March 29, followed by a consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the course of about 60 days. All total it should be about 90 days before a decision is made. Anyone with questions or seeking additional information is asked to contact Jim Gubbels at the Mystic Ranger District office at 605-343-1567, or via email at james.r.gubbels@usda.gov or Civil Engineer Brittany Coupe at 605-642-4622, or via email at brittany.coupe@usda.gov Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Comments are currently being accepted on the GAOA Mitchell Lake Dam project. For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/blackhills/landmanagement/projects. On a recent weekday afternoon, a group of Darby middle school students gathered in the schools science classroom for a special lesson. Im in this program to learn about science and all the amazing things Rocky Mountain Lab does, eighth-grade student Jack Bennett said. Science is my second-favorite subject, after math." Rocky Mountain Lab in Hamilton, a campus of the National Institutes of Health, is providing an afterschool program called Biomedical Research Afterschool School Scholars (BRASS) to middle school students at the Darby School District. Each Wednesday, seventh- and eighth-grade students, regularly taught by educators Tom Wood and Andrew Shulstad, learn about and research cell biology, infectious diseases, immunology/blood, biomedical chemistry, animal use in research, comparative anatomy and veterinary support. This week RML scientists Benjamin Schwarz, Christine Schneider Lewis, Forrest Hoyt (BRASS alumni and Corvallis High School graduate), and Zeeyong Kwon focused on biomedical chemistry and taught the students about the scientific process, analysis and discovery. Wood said the class brings curious students together with researchers. They come and share their research and do an activity with the kids, he said. RML does this up and down the valley. Schwarz said middle school students are the right age to be open to science. Theres a window of time when kids decide whether or not they can do something with confidence and accessibility especially with STEM [science, technology, engineering and math], he said. Getting exposure to how science works and what we actually do as scientists can be inspiring. It allows kids who maybe thought science wasnt for them the opportunity to consider more options. Students were introduced to the concept of medicine, how scientists find medicinal properties, identify molecules that can be therapeutic and how they design pills. Students examined common medicines and household items, learning how to use scientific techniques, tools and concepts. Hoyt was part of BRASS when he was a middle school student and said the program is part of what inspired him to become a scientist. Being able to take BRASS when I was a student was pretty neat, he said. I started working at Rocky Mountain Labs when I was a high school student. Ive been coming back since then. He worked at RML while in college, returned to Hamilton to do his post-baccalaureate research and now is an electronic microscopist researching cells, bacteria, viruses and proteins. Hoyt said it currently takes about 10 to 15 years of research and nearly $2 billion to move from an idea to a medicine that can be purchased in a drug store. Students gloved up, put on lab coats, divided into smaller groups and learned research protocols about toxicity screening. They practiced using a standard professional micro pipettor to dispense small amounts of liquid into testing vials loaded with compounds for discovery. Seventh-grade student Annabell Bailey said she enjoyed the BRASS class. She struggled with using the pipettor because she is left-handed, and her left thumb was in a splint. Mr. Wood, our seventh-grade science teacher, asked if Id like to join, she said. I decided to give it a try. So far it is good. Eighth-grade student Arthur Alexander said hes keenly interested in the BRASS program. I thought it was an amazing program, he said. Ive never heard of a program like this before where real scientists come teach us, it is awesome. He said he enjoyed the presentation on biomedical chemistry, but that his favorite presentation was last week. It was on blood and immunology, Alexander said. I really liked learning how the immune system detects and fights off certain viruses and bacteria, it was fascinating. I love science and physics and am considering medicine for a career. At the end of class, students created a model drug that they could eat called sherbet. They used the active ingredients citric acid and baking soda, plus the inactive ingredients of sugar and Kool-Aid. The sugar and Kool-Aid add flavor and color, Hoyt said. Eighth-grade chemistry teacher Andrew Shulstad said the program aims at the perfect age of students. Middle school students still have that natural curiosity that we as humans tend to lose a bit as we age, he said. Its great to get them excited about science early. Exposure to all these scientists who have made this their career and having the kids see actual scientists is wonderful. He said that even if students decide not to pursue science as a career, the opportunity to learn about medical research is important. It isnt typically available in the K-12 curriculum, Shulstad said. Its great to have the student see the diverse backgrounds of the scientists involved. Its wonderful for students to meet scientists who have come from all over the world and are studying and working at RML in Hamilton. Its perfect for them to interact with them. He praised the RML scientists in the BRASS program. It has been very hands-on focused, Shulstad said. They have designed a lot of neat activities that simulate real-world research steps... I hope the program continues to build. Its hard to stand out in a room full of cosplayers even if youre dressed as Blue from Blues Clues. Luckily for Richmond native and GalaxyCon attendee Andy Castellano, Steve found him first. Steve snuck up on me, Castellano said. I fell to the ground. Fans crowded the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday for the first day of GalaxyCon, a three-day festival of fandom. Enthusiasts across various fandoms and genres united celebrating comics, pop culture, sci-fi, anime, gaming, cosplay and more. The convention brought together fans both local and traveling for a weekend of games, costume contests, celebrity photo ops, autographs, panel discussions, merchandise and memorabilia galore. Here through Sunday, the star-studded convention will host big names like Star Trek actor William Shatner, Giancarlo Esposito from Breaking Bad, Ron Perlman from Hellboy, rapper and gaming enthusiast Logic, Ian McDiarmid from the Star Wars franchise, WWE star Matt Hardy and many more. Lines and crowds formed quickly around celebrity booths as smiling fans bubbling with excitement waited to get autographs and selfies with their favorite characters. Tickets for Saturday sold out before doors opened on Friday. Castellano attended GalaxyCon with his group of friends, Oliver Brown, Jonas Joestar and Rex Morrison. Brown, cosplaying as Gale from the video game series Baldurs Gate, traveled to Richmond from Maine just for GalaxyCon. For the vendors, he said, pretending to throw money. Joestar, cosplaying as Astarion from Baldurs Gate, traveled from Boston. Im just excited to spend time with my friends, Joestar said. Morrison cosplayed as a Pokemon trainer. Rows of vendors stretched across the exhibit hall floor selling T-shirts, posters, stickers, crafts, jewelry, comic books, art and more, turning the convention center into a super-fan paradise. The schedule of events includes a Pokemon Go meet-up, a Harry Potter sorting hat ceremony, open gameplays and an esports collegiate exhibition. GalaxyCon will also host cosplay meet-ups for Mario, Star Wars, Spider-Verse, Pokemon, Disney, Pixar, DC Comics and Sailor Moon. Sitcom fans are also welcome. Fans of the popular sitcom Roseanne, starring Roseanne Barr, are able to get cozy for photos on the giant inflatable Roseanne couch, putting them right in the iconic Conner living room. Family Matters fans can get a picture with Jaleel White, who played Urkel. GalaxyCon is a place for fun, vendors and memories, but its also a safe space free of judgment something not always so accessible for cosplayers and comic fans. I think convention spaces in general bring a sense of togetherness for people, and its safe to be yourself, dress how you want and express yourself, Joestar said. I feel safe to go anywhere I want; I dont feel like Im being stared at unless someone is excited to see me, Castellano said right before another attendee asked him for a photo. GalaxyCon ends Sunday, and tickets are still available. Find tickets and more information at galaxycon.com. Close Sage Fritz, 10, walks outside of her classroom at Watkins Elementary School. Fifth-grader Sage Fritz, 10, draws a cityscape Thursday in Chesterfield County. A student in Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class selects a bead for a bracelet on Thursday. Students in Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class participate in Pi Day activities at Watkins Elementary on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Neela Banerjee, 10, writes numbers with chalk on Pi Day at Watkins Elementary School. Alexa Nida, left, 11, blows a bubble on Pi Day at Watkins Elementary School. A student in Ashley Wilson's fifth-grade class takes part in outdoor activities on Pi Day. Carson Fillmore, 10, takes part in one of the outdoor activities on Pi Day. Ashley Wilson, a fifth-grade teacher at Watkins Elementary School, speaks to her students on Thursday. The class celebrated Pi Day with an array of activities related to the irrational number pi. Above: Fifth-grader Sage Fritz, 10, draws a cityscape Thursday in Chesterfield County. Right: Maggie Hughey, 10, participates in a relay during Thursdays activities. CALCULATED FUN Fifth-graders Maggie Hughey, 10, and Avery Brooks, 10, celebrate Pi Day on Thursday at Watkins Elementary School in Chesterfield County. Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class spent the day doing activities related to pi, a mathematical constant that expresses the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter. Pi Day at Watkins Elementary School Sage Fritz, 10, walks outside of her classroom at Watkins Elementary School. Fifth-grader Sage Fritz, 10, draws a cityscape Thursday in Chesterfield County. A student in Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class selects a bead for a bracelet on Thursday. Students in Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class participate in Pi Day activities at Watkins Elementary on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Neela Banerjee, 10, writes numbers with chalk on Pi Day at Watkins Elementary School. Alexa Nida, left, 11, blows a bubble on Pi Day at Watkins Elementary School. A student in Ashley Wilson's fifth-grade class takes part in outdoor activities on Pi Day. Carson Fillmore, 10, takes part in one of the outdoor activities on Pi Day. Ashley Wilson, a fifth-grade teacher at Watkins Elementary School, speaks to her students on Thursday. The class celebrated Pi Day with an array of activities related to the irrational number pi. Above: Fifth-grader Sage Fritz, 10, draws a cityscape Thursday in Chesterfield County. Right: Maggie Hughey, 10, participates in a relay during Thursdays activities. CALCULATED FUN Fifth-graders Maggie Hughey, 10, and Avery Brooks, 10, celebrate Pi Day on Thursday at Watkins Elementary School in Chesterfield County. Ashley Wilsons fifth-grade class spent the day doing activities related to pi, a mathematical constant that expresses the ratio of a circles circumference to its diameter. New rules will protect Richmond-area residents from breathing in ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas used here by two medical sterilization companies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will require sterilizers to slash their ethylene oxide emissions by over 90%. The rules apply to nearly 90 sterilizers across the country, including two in Richmond: Sterilization Services of Virginia is in eastern Henrico County, and a smaller in-house sterilizer run by Bon Secours Mercy Health is in Richmonds West End. Medical sterilizers are critical for hospitals, which use ethylene oxide to sterilize instruments that cannot tolerate heat. Syringes, pumps, heart valves all can be warped by steam or other forms of sterilization. Federal officials said the rules were a win for President Joe Bidens plan to fight cancer. The plan has a stated target of preventing 4 million cancer deaths by 2047. This final rule to sharply cut toxic emissions of ethylene oxide responds to the ambition set forth by President Bidens Cancer Moonshot, said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. The new rules strengthen old standards required for medical sterilizers. They also address more continuous building leaks of the gas into the ambient air, which can occur when instruments are left out to aerate after sterilization. We have followed the science and listened to communities to fulfill our responsibility to safeguard public health from this pollution including the health of children, who are particularly vulnerable to carcinogens early in life, Regan said in the EPAs release. But unlike steam, ethylene oxide is highly carcinogenic. It has been linked to lymphoma and leukemia, according to research from the National Cancer Institute. Community groups drew attention to Sterilization Services of Virginia in 2023. Around that time, EPA data showed the site was releasing nine times the acceptable level of the gas in a five-mile radius from its location in an industrial park near Richmond International Airport. In 2022, the last year for which EPA data are available, the plant registered emitting around 14,000 pounds of ethylene oxide. The company has no reported violations stemming from leaks in the EPAs tracking system. Members of the central Virginia branch of the Sierra Club, in conjunction with the Union of Concerned Scientists, explained the risks of ethylene oxide to Henrico residents and recommended they reach out to the EPA. The one-mile radius around SSV includes just over 200 households. EPA needs to hear from you, said Jessica Thomas, a UCS organizer, at last years meeting. They need to hear about the smells that youre smelling, the headaches that youre having. They need to see the human side of this. The group celebrated the EPAs announcement of new rules around the gas. For far too long, communities across the country especially Black and Brown people and those who do not speak English as a first language have been exposed to the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide, said Darya Minovi, a senior scientist with the UCS. EPAs own research has shown for nearly a decade how dangerous ethylene oxide is and, today, EPA has finally taken action, Minovi said. Bon Secours sterilization facility appears to be far smaller. The EPA did not list any emissions for that facility. Hospital system spokesperson Jenna Green said it is used infrequently and emits less than 50 pounds of ethylene oxide each year. We are closely reviewing the final rule from the EPA as Bon Secours follows all federal guidelines, Green said. Officials said the rule would protect the most exposed communities from toxic air while keeping medical sterilizers in business. Those groups have lobbied against tougher rules, arguing that they would put sterilizers out of business and cause hardship to American hospitals. Reached by phone, a representative of Sterilization Services of Virginia declined to comment. EPAs statement addressed those concerns in the announcement of the rules. Biden can allow sterilizers a two-year grace period, if companies can prove they need it. The agency said Biden is prepared to exercise that authority in order to protect the medical supply chain for sterilizers working in good faith to reduce their ethylene oxide emissions. Varina resident Aileen Rivera, who helped organize last years community meeting, said the announcement demonstrates that the EPA was listening to residents. Im curious to see how this will translate at a state level with DEQ and at a county level with the health department and appropriate agencies. I would like to see DEQ and Henrico County act ASAP on this ruling, said Rivera. 10 reusable cleaning products you can use every spring 1. Everspring Microfiber Cloths 2. Grove Collaborative Refillable Muti-Purpose Cleaner 3. Blueland Clean Essentials 4. Marleys Monsters Reusable Kitchen Sponge 5. Reusable Mop Pads 6. Nordhus Swedish Dishcloths 7. S&T INC. Wool Dryer Balls 8. OXO Microfiber Extendable Duster 9. Zero Wastely Reusable Paper Towels 10. Mesh Net Kitchen Scrubber Virginia Democrats are criticizing Gov. Glenn Youngkins appointment of Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega to the State Board of Health. Vega, who lost a close 2022 congressional contest to Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District, drew fire on abortion early in her campaign for celebrating the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and for appearing to suggest that impregnation might be less likely as a result of rape. According to audio that Axios posted in June 2022, an unidentified person said to Vega: Ive actually heard that its harder for a woman to get pregnant if shes been raped. Have you heard that? Vega responded: Well, maybe because theres so much going on in the body. I dont know. I havent, you know, seen any studies. But if Im processing what youre saying, it wouldnt surprise me. Because its not something thats happening organically. Youre forcing it. Vega later said Democrats had mischaracterized her comments and that she had not asserted that women cannot get pregnant as a result of rape. The Youngkin administration announced Vegas post late Friday afternoon in a weekly roundup of appointments to the administration and to state boards. Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, posted to X on Friday afternoon: Wow, no sooner do we adjourn a session where we killed bills banning all abortions in Va. from moment of conception w/o exceptions than @GovernorVA appoints to the Board of Health a candidate who supports such a ban & raised doubts about whether pregnancy could result from rape. Wow, no sooner do we adjourn a session where we killed bills banning all abortions in Va. from moment of conception w/o exceptions than @GovernorVA appoints to the Board of Health a candidate who supports such a ban & raised doubts about whether pregnancy could result from rape. pic.twitter.com/I7qeZ9zyeD Marcus Simon (@marcussimon) March 15, 2024 Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, posted about Vegas appointment: And this is why we need a constitutional amendment protecting choice. And a Governor who will protect womens reproductive health. Christian Martinez, a spokesman for Youngkin, said in a statement: As progressives in the General Assembly are desperate to distract Virginians from the $2.6 billion regressive tax hike they passed before leaving town, Supervisor Vega continues to put service to her community above self, making her an ideal selection to advance a healthier Virginia. On Saturday, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, further criticized the appointment, noting that the General Assembly might not take up the appointment for months. "Glenn Youngkin just appointed someone to the Board of Health who publicly questioned whether a woman can get pregnant after being raped. He waited until a time where it could be months before our review. Every time he pulls a move like this we will hold his agenda accountable." Glenn Youngkin just appointed someone to the Board of Health who publicly questioned whether a woman can get pregnant after being raped. He waited until a time where it could be months before our review. Every time he pulls a move like this we will hold his agenda accountable. L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) March 16, 2024 Last year, Senate Democrats struck the name of Youngkins health commissioner, Dr. Colin Greene, from a list of appointees requiring General Assembly confirmation. The move came after Greene reportedly questioned racial disparities in health care and dismissed racisms role in public health. In the 2022 congressional contest, Youngkin made multiple campaign appearances with Vega, who topped Spanberger in eight of the 7th Districts 10 counties and cities. Spanberger won by running up a margin of nearly 29,000 votes in Prince William and carrying Fredericksburg by 3,000 votes. Spanberger is not seeking reelection this year to focus on a 2025 bid for governor. Eight Republicans and six Democrats are seeking their parties nominations to run in this years 7th District congressional contest. Population growth is greatest in these US states Population growth is greatest in these US states Top 10 states with the highest population increase since 2022 Its a shame that Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, derailed Gov. Glenn Youngkins plan to build the grandiose Glenn-dome in Northern Virginia. It was the latest Republican scheme to stimulate the economy by transferring taxpayer dollars to the pockets of billionaires. But if the governors vision is such a wonderful opportunity, then all is not lost. Isnt Youngkin the fabled king of private equity, a masterful money-raiser with impressive persuasive ability? It should not be a heavy lift for Youngkin to persuade some of his deep-pocketed friends on Wall Street to pony up a paltry $2 billion for the marvelous investment opportunity destined to produce miraculous profits. As it turns out, Sen. Lucas has done the governor a favor by handing him the perfect chance to demonstrate what can be accomplished by business moguls who generously offer their financial management skills to the public sector. Congratulations, Gov. Youngkin, we look forward to your success. William Walker. Staunton. Pair gunned down in targeted attack in Tulum Hotel Zone parking lot Tulum, Q.R. Local authorities have confirmed the murder of two patrons in the parking lot of a Tulum restaurant. The pair were gunned down in a targeted attack Friday night. The shooting happened shortly before 8:00 p.m. in the parking lot of a popular Tulum Hotel Zone restaurant as they arrived. Witnesses to the shooting ran in terror from the packed establishment as the armed men opened fire against their two targets. National Guard were first on scene in response to the 9-1-1- reports where they confirmed the attack and two injured people. An ambulance arrived from where paramedics confirmed both shot victims had died. They were pronounced at the scene. The State Attorney General has said in a statement that the shooting is believed drug related, specifically, drug dealing. In a brief statement issued late Friday night they said the FGE of Quintana Roo has opened an investigation for the crime of qualified homicide to the detriment of two victims of withheld identity in an establishment in the municipality of Tulum. The first investigations establish that the events are probably drug related crimes in the form of drug dealing. Tulum police are seen here in the company of National Guard as an ambulance arrives for the two shooting victims. Photo: March 15, 2024. On site were specialized experts from this autonomous organization who collected evidence to integrate into the file and advance the process so that the law is applied against whoever is responsible. At the time of publishing, authorities had not yet released the identities of the two people killed. Semarnat assigns Isla Mujeres land for research use Isla Mujeres, Q.R. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has assigned land to be used for researchers. The land was delivered by Semarnat for use by the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS). It is to be used as a residence and study area for researchers. The handover was made official Tuesday after being published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. The assigned land includes two large plots on the Sac-Bajo highway in the Laguna Mar subdivision. The Isla Mujeres land donation made to Instituto Mexicano de Investigacion en Pesca y Acuacultura Sustentables (IMIPAS) has been specified for residential use for researchers, fishing and aquaculture research activities, as well as for the care and conservation of different marine species. The land is located in the federal maritime-terrestrial zone and does not include the transfer of ownership or any real rights in favor of the recipient in terms of the provisions of the General Law of National Assets. According to the publication, the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) may, at any time, modify the agreement. In the event that the Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture uses the federal maritime-terrestrial zone land for any purpose other than what has been stated in this agreement without the prior authorization of the Ministry of Environment and Resources Natural, or stop using or needing the land, said assets with all their improvements and accessions will be withdrawn from their service to be managed by the latter. The assigned land is located in the Laguna Mar area. Photo: H. Ayuntamiento de Isla Mujeres The Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS) is a decentralized public body sectorized with the Ministry of Agriculture. It is responsible for directing, coordinating and guiding scientific and technological research in fishing and aquaculture, as well as the development, innovation and technological transfer required by the fishing and aquaculture sector. WYTHEVILLE A town man with a history of scrapping with and escaping from law enforcement picked up more charges earlier this month after police said they had to apprehend him on a hotel roof. Joshua Adam Hurley, 31, was arrested on March 2 after police responded to the Rodeway Inn on Lithia Road regarding an individual who was possibly under the influence and causing a disturbance, according to the Wytheville Police Department. Police said Hurley became uncooperative, attempted to run and resisted arrest when town officers and deputies climbed on the roof with him. Wytheville Fire and Rescue provided a ladder. One deputy was treated and released from a local hospital after sustaining minor injuries, police said. Hurley was charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer (four counts), disorderly conduct, obstructing justice, resisting arrest, possessing drugs (misdemeanor), attempting to remove a chemical irritant weapon from police and public intoxication. Arraigned on March 5 and given a court-appointed attorney, Hurley was being held without bond in the New River Valley Regional Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20. According to court documents, Hurley was released from jail on Feb. 6 and was placed at the Rodeway Inn on Feb. 13 because he was homeless. On March 12, Wythe County Circuit Court issued a capias for Hurleys arrest on probation violation allegations. According to a violation letter, Hurley, who has a lengthy criminal record, was convicted Jan. 31 of driving on a suspended license, destruction of property (two counts), reckless driving, grand larceny (three counts) and eluding police. He was sentenced to serve two years in jail with credit for time served and placed on probation for five years. On Feb. 21, Hurley was convicted of violating his probation on 2020 convictions for drug distribution (two counts) and assaulting a law enforcement officer. He was sentenced to one year and three months with credit for time served and released from probation on those charges. According to court records, Hurley also has felony convictions in Montgomery and Pulaski counties. In 2020, he was convicted in Pulaski County of assaulting a police officer (two counts), eluding police and destruction of property. He has an eluding police conviction in Montgomery County. A year earlier, Wythe County police said Hurley knocked over a metal detector and locked himself inside a car after running away from a court hearing. Police said they had to bust out the windows to capture him. Many of our readers have probably heard of or seen the Science Museum of Virginia its that giant regal-looking building down on West Broad past the DMV but how many of you have actually been inside? Notable for its wonderful architecture, having been a train station before its current inhabitants took over, the Science Museum of Virginia serves as a staple of the Richmond community, especially in schooling young minds on topics that pique their interest. However, in recent days, the Science Museum of Virginia has been sending out a message; learning isnt just for kids. Through a series of events called Science On Tap, the Science Museum of Virginia has been opening its doors after hours for some adults-only fun centered around various specialty exhibits. Next Thursday, March 21st, museum-goers can find a one-of-a-kind curated experience of science fun, all while sipping specialty cocktails and engaging in hands-on science demonstrations. Make no mistake, this event is 21+ only, because sometimes youve got to just leave the kids at home. I sat down with Timshel Purdum and Jennifer Guild from the Science Museum of Virginia to fill me in on some of the details for this steampunk themed iteration entitled STEMpunk. Original illustration of Jules Vernes Nautilus engine room Purdum holds the title of Virginia C. Ellett Deputy Director for Education at the Science Museum of Virginia, but she has had quite the journey to get there. She studied biology at William & Mary, and afterward jumped around to a variety of positions for many years. As Timshel herself put it, I took kids out in the woods and taught them about the oceans. Ive even taught blacksmithing, woodworking, kayaking [but] what could be better than teaching science? An eccentric who is fond of dressing up in costumes, Purdum never quite found the right fit until ending up at the Science Museum of Virginia, where she has made a living teaching children and curating unique activities for the museum while dressing up in all the fun costumes she wants. So what is Science on Tap, and what exactly is steampunk? In Purdums own words, Science on Tap is a 21+ event at the science museum for adults to have tons of fun with science, but just for adults. Adults like to enjoy themselves, sometimes, without children around! And were here to serve. Print (c. 1902) by Albert Robida showing a futuristic view of air travel over Paris in the year 2000 as people leave the opera Currently at the museum right now is the traveling exhibit called Discover Steampunk, and Purdum and her team thought it would be fun to tie that into an experience for adults to come and be a part of. For those who arent familiar with the style and aesthetic, Purdum likes to describe it as retro Victorian. But how does it relate to scientific disciplines? Well, the answer to Purdum is incredibly simple. Steampunk as a concept is very sci-fi, its tied into a lot of early science fiction writers, and also a lot of inventions, but it also comes with its own costume world, said Purdum. Meaning that there are real-world concepts to explore, as well as fantasy aspects, and not to mention a hyper-specific style that is fun to emulate in real life. But what exactly is going to be there? Well, starting with drinks, there will be wine, beer, and signature cocktails. After youve gotten yourself a boozy beverage, you can make your way over to any number of hands-on activities the museum has from the traveling exhibit Discover Steampunk. Create goggles in the forge, a creative workspace where you can design your very own steampunk-inspired glasses. Attendees can also decode messages in Morse code to discover secrets, and if youre into games there will be a giant game of Operation that Ive been told will tie back around to steampunk (despite just being plain old fun). Maison tournante aerienne (aerial rotating house) by Albert Robida for his book Le Vingtieme Siecle, a 19th-century conception of life in the 20th century Other on-theme activities will include a room entirely dedicated to electricity where Purdum promises that attendees will have some hair-raising experiences. Purdum also described a steam demo, [its] really about how steam powers things, because we are in a historic train station. And then perhaps the most enticing activity is the lure of the museums famous planetarium. Were gonna get down and dirty in our planetarium as well and do some ridiculous shows about the science of space, but again, with adult humor, said Purdum. After youve put your hands on all of the themed exhibits, the museum has one last thing up their sleeve. There will be two style contests: one for costumes, one for facial hair. I asked if they thought it was possible for a contestant to win both. Guild chimed in to say, they really need to step it up if they want to win both. We expect to see animals in that facial hair if they expect to win both. What Purdum and Guild ultimately want to get across with exhibits like these is that its never a bad time to learn. As Guild put it, science is something that you can learn and you discover new things at any point in your life, and the cool thing about science is that its always changing, and evolving and were always learning new things. Couldnt have said it better myself. Head on down to The Science Museum of Virginia next week if youre craving some boozy fun with interesting and creative hands-on activities. And who knows, you might accidentally learn something too. You can fund mire information HERE Top image courtesy of Science Museum of Virginia. PHOTOS FROM STEAMPUNK EXHIBIT China's GCI to shape harmonious world by connecting cultures, says former Pakistani minister 10:36, March 16, 2024 By Misbah Saba Malik, Jiang Chao ( Xinhua Pakistani children sing songs "Happy New Year" and "Long Live Pakistan-China Friendship" in two languages at a Chinese Lunar New Year gala in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) Shah said that frequent cultural exchanges between Pakistan and China have strengthened people-to-people contacts between the two countries and the people of his country are fond of Chinese cultural performances because they give them a better understanding of Chinese people and culture. ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) holds immense potential to shape a harmonious world through cultural connectivity, greater cooperation and mutual respect among nations, a former Pakistani minister said. Cultural connectivity encourages inclusive coexistence and deter aggression by promoting mutual respect and understanding. By advocating these values, the GCI has inspired a new era of unity, understanding and peaceful coexistence on a global scale, Syed Jamal Shah, former Pakistan Minister for National Heritage and Culture, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Chinese culture itself is very diverse, so the "GCI is a very rightly promoted idea because, through the experience of its country's vast cultural landscape, it knows that unity in diversity is the most beautiful thing, and can inculcate the spirit of respecting other people's cultures, which is the only way forward for the world peace," he added. People pass decorations set up for the Chinese New Year outside a restaurant in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Jan. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) Talking about cultural connectivity between Pakistan and China, Shah, who is also an expert on culture and a renowned actor and artist, said that his country also has a very rich cultural heritage and needs China's assistance in preserving Gandhara and Buddhist artifacts. "I recently visited China and met cultural experts, heritage experts, and archaeologists to encourage them to help us preserve, digitalize, and 3D scan rock carvings in the northern part of the country bordering China, and we are planning something together about it," he added. He added that he is also planning to hold exhibitions of Pakistani culture and heritage in China because Gandhara and Buddhist civilizations are very relevant for both countries and people from both sides take a keen interest in them. Shah said that frequent cultural exchanges between Pakistan and China have strengthened people-to-people contacts between the two countries and the people of his country are fond of Chinese cultural performances because they give them a better understanding of Chinese people and culture. "We are looking forward to having more and more Chinese delegations, artists, dancers, musicians, visual artists, theater people, and cinema people, come here," said Shah. "I think creating aesthetic bridges is the best way to strengthen friendships because they are very strong, elastic and resilient, and can witness the test of time," he added. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) MARION, S.C. Marion County Sheriffs Office deputies search for a missing Florence County paramedic living in Marion ended tragically Friday night. Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, was last seen at her home on Wildwood Loop in Marion on Tuesday. Machado-Fores body was recovered outside of Lake View in Dillon County around 6:15 p.m. on Friday, according to Marion County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Tammy Erwin. The Dillon County Coroners Office has scheduled an autopsy for Monday. Machado-Fore was reported missing to the Marion County Sheriffs Office by family on Thursday. The New Mexico State Police contacted Marion County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division Friday morning to alert that Machado-Fores BMW DX7C was involved in the murder of one of their officers, Erwin said. Federal, State, and local authorities worked across the country in an attempt to identify the driver as well as find Machado-Fore. The investigation led law enforcement officers to a property in Dillon County where Machado-Fore was located. Erwin said overnight, New Mexico State Police identified the driver of Machado-Fores car as Jaremy Smith, 32, of Marion. Arrest warrants were issued for Smith in connection to the murder of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare. Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace issued a statement thanking those assisting in the case, saying its far from over. Mrs. Fore was one of us, a fellow first responder, Wallace said. Her death is senseless. Our community has suffered a tremendous loss. My team and I will not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for her death to justice. Sgt. Fore has been with Florence County EMS since 2017. She has also been associated with several EMS agencies throughout the region. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). China's ongoing efforts to challenge the dominance of the West in global governance have been on show this week with the visit of Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio to Beijing. And according to observers, by winning support from developing countries like Sierra Leone, China is positioning itself as a voice for the Global South - offering an alternative to the largely Western leadership of international affairs. In a meeting with Bio at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two countries should strengthen their cooperation at the United Nations Security Council so they could "jointly safeguard the interests of Africa and developing countries". 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. ADVERTISEMENT Sierra Leone is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, representing the interests of African countries, while China is a permanent member of the council with veto power. Africa has long argued that the present global governance system disproportionately favours the West. "China has always regarded the development of solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of its foreign policy," Xi was quoted as saying in a statement released after the talks. Gyude Moore, a senior policy fellow at the Washington-based Centre for Global Development and a former minister in Liberia, said Africa's leverage was significantly more political than economic - voting with China at the UN and other international forums. "President Xi gave a speech in which he communicated China's intent to be a voice for developing countries. It is thus important to have the support of those countries to lend that voice legitimacy," Moore said of China's increased efforts to court countries in the Global South, which are developing nations mostly in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Story continues Xi and Bio agreed that reform of the UN Security Council should support developing countries, including those in Africa, "to play a greater role, expand their representation and voice in the Security Council, and correct the historical injustice suffered by Africa". The African Union has been pushing for reform of the international system for decades, in line with the 2005 Ezulwini Consensus and the 2005 Sirte Declaration which call for, among other things, two permanent seats on the Security Council for Africa and an expansion of non-permanent seats to five, with the members to be decided by the continent. According to David Shinn, a professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, Bio is the first African head of state to visit China this year, "probably marking the revival of increased high visits by African leaders to China in the post-Covid era". China is also Sierra Leone's largest trading partner. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio pledged to work together to further African interests at the UN Security Council. Photo: Xinhua alt=Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio pledged to work together to further African interests at the UN Security Council. Photo: Xinhua> Shinn said Bio supported China's "core" interests, and during the visit the leaders agreed to deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. "The visit underscores Xi Jinping's goal to become the leader of the Global South. On the other hand, China made only modest new financial commitments for Sierra Leone," Shinn said. During the talks, Xi promised that Beijing would continue to bankroll the construction of Sierra Leone's infrastructure and allow more products from the West African nation to enter the Chinese market. He said China "will provide assistance and support within its capacity" to develop Sierra Leone's agriculture, infrastructure construction and human resources. Beijing will further encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in the nation and start businesses there. Xi also said China would "deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in mining, fishery, vocational and technical education and related infrastructure construction". Sierra Leone would also be invited to take part in the China International Import Expo and "actively support more Sierra Leone products to enter the Chinese market", Xi said. Meanwhile, Bio agreed to improve the business environment and provide good conditions for Chinese companies to operate in his country. Bio, whose five-day state visit ends on Saturday, described China as "a friend that Sierra Leone trusts and relies on". He also said he appreciated China's strong support for his country's economic and social development. Bio added Sierra Leone was willing to learn from China's experience, strengthen cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand infrastructure construction, trade and education. "We look forward to leveraging strategic opportunities for the benefit of our two countries," he said, adding that relations with China had flourished, encompassing various areas, including trade, infrastructure development, education, mining and healthcare. During his trip, Bio has also talked with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Premier Li Qiang. He also made a speech at the Sierra Leone Investment Forum in Beijing, inviting Chinese investors into the West African nation, as he spruiked its abundant natural resources. Moore of the Centre for Global Development said the economic slowdown in China carried serious risks for African economies. "China is Sierra Leone's largest trade partner, so securing Chinese investment and retaining China as a market is important for the Sierra Leonean economy," Moore said. "The obverse is not true; Africa as a whole comprises a single-digit percentage of total Chinese trade." Bio also met with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, during his visit to Beijing. Photo: Xinhua alt=Bio also met with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, during his visit to Beijing. Photo: Xinhua> Chinese business interests in Sierra Leone include mining, ports and fishing. Chinese firm Leone Rock Metal Group, for example, last year broke ground on a 12 million tonne iron ore processing plant through its local subsidiary Kingho Mining Company. It is investing US$230 million to build a mineral beneficiation plant for the second phase of its expansion strategy at the Tonkolili mine, which has an estimated 13.7 billion tonnes of iron ore. Leone Rock Metal Group is also upgrading the railway and port infrastructure in the coastal town of Pepel, where bulk iron ore is shipped from, at a cost of US$153 million. According to the Chinese firm, the works will improve the haulage capacity of the rail line and the operational capacity of the port to ensure it attains an annual material handling capacity of 20 million tonnes. The firm has since signed a lease agreement with the Sierra Leonean government to operate the rail and port facilities. China is also funding the building of a US$55 million industrial fishing harbour in Sierra Leone. But conservationists and landowners have criticised the project as "a catastrophic human and ecological disaster" that would destroy pristine rainforest, plunder fish stocks and pollute fish breeding grounds and marine ecosystems. John Calabrese, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said Sierra Leone was minerals-rich but has a very impoverished and fragile economy. "I know that China has invested in the extractive and agricultural sectors, and that Chinese companies have built roads and other infrastructure," Calabrese said. There was also a sizeable Chinese community in Sierra Leone capital Freetown, he said. "President Bio is probably in Beijing looking for an infusion of new investment and loan cancellation or at least debt rescheduling," Calabrese said. Meanwhile he said Xi would make new pledges for Sierra Leone "to generate goodwill and build political influence". After their talks, Xi and Bio witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, agriculture, economic development, and the implementation of global development initiatives. 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. A Sioux City pharmacy with a history of regulatory violations has been fined for a medication error that led to a life-threatening situation for a customer. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy alleges that on Oct. 4, 2023, Greenville Pharmacy in Sioux City incorrectly filled a prescription for a customer who then began taking the drug. Three weeks later, the customer was treated in the emergency room of a hospital and was then admitted for what the board says was a life-threatening condition resulting from this medication error. Greenville Pharmacy was charged by the board with dispensing an incorrect prescription, although the available public documents dont indicate whether the wrong drug or wrong dosage was dispensed. The records give no indication as to whether the customer recovered. As a result of the licensing board charge, Greenville Pharmacy agreed to have its license placed on probation for two years and agreed to pay a $2,500 civil penalty. DES MOINES After a key deadline passed this week in the Iowa Legislature narrowing the bills eligible for consideration, lawmakers are turning their attention to a smaller pool of legislation and beginning the work on tax and budget policy. This week was the second funnel week at the Capitol, where House bills needed to pass out of a Senate committee, and vice versa, in order to remain alive for the rest of the session. Leaders have other tools to keep bills alive that have not met that requirement, though. While several high profile bills died in committee this week, many others remain alive and will get more consideration in the coming weeks. Bills to reorganize the states boards and commissions, change election deadlines and regulate consumable hemp products are all among the bills that remain eligible for consideration. Friday marked the end of the session's 10th week. April 16 is the 100th day and the target end date for the session, though the session often goes longer than anticipated. Area education agencies The biggest piece of unfinished business on lawmakers agenda is the proposal to overhaul the states area education agencies, which provide special education support to school districts around the state. Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed the bill at the beginning of the legislative session, but it has taken a winding path through the lawmaking process as it has met resistance even from lawmakers within her own party. Reynolds initial proposal called for school districts to receive their full state and federal special education dollars, rather than that funding being sent to the AEAs. The schools would then have the option to contract with the AEAs or a third party to provide education support for students with disabilities. The bill also would have directed funding for other education services that currently goes to the AEAs to school districts, and cut a property tax stream that funds the AEAs media services. The bill would also have increased salaries for beginning and veteran teachers. After tabling Reynolds proposal, House Republicans wrote their own plan to change the AEAs structure and oversight, keep AEAs as the sole provider of special education support and phase in changes over a few years. House lawmakers passed that bill in February, but the Senate did not take it up for consideration. The Senate has passed an amended version of Reynolds proposal out of a committee but has not yet taken a floor vote on the bill. Lawmakers will need to bridge the significant gap between the two proposals in order to send a bill to Reynolds desk to be signed into law. House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, told reporters on Thursday that he has been having regular conversations with Senate leaders and the governor on the proposals. Right now were having good conversations, he said. We feel pretty strongly that whatever we do with AEAs, we've been very clear in the House we wanted to continue to provide certainty for special ed, parents, and students and school districts. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, said his members have had a variety of concerns about the bill, but that he believes Senate Republicans are close to coming to a consensus. Our bill is vastly different than the governor's original bill, it's vastly different than the House, and so that's what makes it a little bit harder, he said. Weve got to get our own bill off the floor, hopefully soon, to really start that conversation to see where it ends. Reynolds office on Friday shared a Des Moines Register op-ed by two school superintendents arguing for changes to the AEA system. Reynolds has pointed to national test scores lagging behind other states to argue the AEA system is in need of reform. The system must provide transparency and accountability to school districts, those closest to our students, and drive consistency across the AEA regions to improve services for students with disabilities, Reynolds said when the House passed its bill. Thats what Ive heard from over 100 school districts as Ive traveled the state, and I look forward to more conversations as the legislation moves forward. Democrats have repeatedly called for Republican lawmakers to slow the proposal down and form a task force to study the issue before making any major changes to the system. The proposal is complicated by the need for lawmakers to pass a bill setting the K-12 school funding level for the coming school year, which lawmakers have not yet done despite being required by law to pass it in February. The House has passed a bill to increase school funding by 3%, but the Senate has not passed any school funding proposal. Legislative leaders said those two issues are dependent on one another and must be decided on together. Both Grassley and Whitver said they hoped to get the funding passed soon. School districts were required to submit their draft budget statements to their county auditor on Friday despite not receiving concrete funding amounts from the Legislature. The failure to deal with this means that many of us may see an increase in our property taxes in our local communities, because the state has failed to provide the funding that schools need in order to put their budget together in a very responsible way, said Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque this week. Tax policy Republican leaders have said further cutting Iowas income tax is a top goal for this session, and lawmakers have started the work on that this year. Reynolds proposed a tax bill this year that would, among other things, set Iowas individual income tax for this year at a flat 3.65% and lower it to 3.5% in 2025. Reynolds signed a bill in 2022 setting the states individual income tax on the path to a flat 3.9% by 2026. Republican lawmakers have put forward multiple tax proposals this year, including a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a flat income tax and require a two-thirds vote by the Legislature to increase taxes. Whitver said he wants to accelerate the existing income tax cuts. We have a real opportunity to expedite some of the cuts that we made the last couple of years, whether that's bringing it to the start of 2024 and expedite those cuts to the beginning of this year, or if we start them next year, there's a chance to expedite the cuts we've made, Whitver said. Democrats have argued that Republicans recent tax cuts have disproportionately benefited the wealthy and havent done enough to help low-income Iowans. Jochum said last week that Republicans should not cut taxes if it will shift the burden for services to property taxes and sales tax. Lawmakers will also need to craft a budget for the upcoming fiscal year before gaveling out of session. State officials projected on Friday that the revenue lawmakers have at their disposal will largely stay the same between this year and next year, increasing by only 0.7%. Democrats said this week they want the state to see the state put more money toward schools, housing and environmental protection. As we go through the process, we're going to be looking to see, how do these budgets reflect the state's priorities? said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst. Not the priorities of the Republican governor, the Republican majority, but the priorities of our state. School safety Two major proposals that are still alive after the funnel deal with improving school safety, including a proposal to create a licensing process for school staff to carry guns on campus. The proposals came in the wake of a shooting at Perry High School in January that left 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif and the schools principal, Dan Marburger, dead. House File 2586, which the House passed, would create a new permitting process that requires training before a school staff member can carry a gun on campus, if a school chooses to allow it. Lawmakers hope the bill will ease concerns from insurance companies about insuring schools with armed staff. Another bill would create a grant program that schools can use to purchase guns and training for armed staff. That bill would also provide money for emergency communications, create new building standards and create a pilot program for gun-detection software at schools. Both bills are through the House and eligible for consideration in the Senate. Theres already things in law to allow for those same safety measures to happen, and so whether we need to make changes or not, thats what our committee will decide over the next few weeks, Whitver said. PHOENIX (AP) A Navajo state senator said Friday she's hoping for final approval of her bill to tighten regulations for rehab facilities amid widespread fraud that has bilked hundreds of millions in Arizona Medicaid dollars and scammed hundreds of Native Americans seeking help for addictions. Senate Bill 1655, sponsored by Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, was unanimously approved by the Senate this week and sent to the House, where it received a first reading and was assigned to the Health and Human Services Committee. Hathalie said she anticipates a vote by the full House could come as soon as Thursday, adding that she urges constituents to voice their support for the legislation. This bill will ensure checks and balances. This issue has been going on long before the pandemic, and Native people have been largely affected, said Hatathlie, a Democrat from Coal Mine Mesa on the Navajo Nation who represents Arizonas 6th District. Passage of Senate Bill 1655 will start a measure of resiliency and healing. It will most importantly communicate to criminals they are not welcome in Arizona! The legislative effort comes the same week that relatives of two Native American men who died while in Phoenix rehab programs sued Arizonas Medicaid program and Department of Health Services, alleging insufficient oversight. The Attorney Generals Office said it would not comment on the pending civil action as it continues to prosecute scores of cases against those programs. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes announced in May that they were stepping up an investigation of alleged fraudulent Medicaid billing that began before they took office in 2023. The charges were submitted mostly through the American Indian Health Program, a Medicaid health plan that allows providers to bill directly for reimbursement of services rendered to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Mayes told Navajo leaders in a report this year that 72 individuals and entities had been indicted so far, 44 of them since she took office, and over $90 million in property and vehicles relating to those cases were seized. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System has instituted tighter controls, including a six-month moratorium for enrolling new behavioral health clinics for Medicaid billing. The scams far-reaching consequences became better known through warnings sounded by state and tribal governments outside Arizona. Hatathlie's proposed law would increase the civil penalty per incidence of noncompliance at rehab facilities from up to $500 to at least $1,500 daily. It would also require that patients family members be notified when they arrive at a facility for an evaluation. Employees of residential facilities would have to undergo fingerprint and background checks. Crystalyne Curley, speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, showed her support for Hatathlie's bill the day the Senate approved it. Reva Stewart, a Navajo activist in Phoenix who helps Native Americans return to their reservations after leaving fraudulent rehab programs, said she worries the legislation may not go far enough to shut down the worst unlicensed facilities because it largely focuses on licensed ones. We all want a solution to this problem, Stewart said. I just want to make sure this solution works. During early Senate hearings, representatives of assisted living and nursing homes and other facilities that could be affected worried that the penalties may be too high for smaller operations. Hatathlie said facilities will have a 30-day grace period to bring any violations into compliance. The legislation has gone through many revisions in recent weeks and more adjustments are possible, she added. This is a big deal; this is a big problem in Arizona, Republican Senate President Warren Petersen said after Tuesday's vote. If youre a state agency and youre doing something wrong, dont mess with Senator Hatathlie. Many, many times, over the years, I have waited in the lines at the airport. I have dutifully followed all instructions and patiently boarded the plane (sometimes a large plane, sometimes a very small plane, almost always a crowded plane). And always, I have arrived at my destination safely. There are many advantages to travel by air. The first is speed. It never ceases to amaze how quickly one can fly from Sioux City to Chicago, or from Omaha to New York City or Phoenix, or from Sioux Falls to Spokane. Flying is also safer than any other kinds of travel, according to the experts who love to study such things. Speed and safety is good but the combination of small spaces, small seats, and a lot people is quite often an uncomfortable challenge when flying. Also, a lunch of ice water and pretzels or cookies with many crumbs is not my favorite. When traveling the decision to be made is fly? or drive? I would rather drive. I agree with Charles Kuralt who said his reason for driving was I keep thinking I will find something wonderful just around the next bend. There are always wonderful somethings to discover when driving. Drive to Denver and discover the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in Kearney, Nebraska, and all that is new (thanks to HGTV) in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Drive to Chicago and walk the Field of Dreams in Dyersville and enjoy (if you can find a place to park) the history and charm of Galena, Illinois. Road trips to Washington State, Alabama, Texas, Montana, Ohio, and Arizona have provided many memories and delightful discoveries. One can only sing Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona when you are actually standing on THE corner in Winslow if you drive. (You cant fly there!) Do you remember the older Rand McNally road atlases? On the old highway maps of America, the main routes were red and the back roads were blue. The roadways in blue were the older roads that had been made somewhat unnecessary by the appearance of the new four-lane red ones, according to the maps. But it was the blue highways that connected American towns before interstate highways allowed most everyone to bypass them. William Least Heat-Moon took an extended road trip in a circular route around the United States, sticking to only the "Blue Highways. Heat-Moons book, Blue Highways: A Journey into America, is about not bypassing people, but truly meeting them. When driving (and not flying) he writes that one discovers roads let us loose to savor the miles of America. Other wisdom and encouragement from Heat-Moon: ...if I leave the multi-lanes and travel outside the commercial screen of corrupted land, I can even yet enter a territory where highways and trails open into the country and draw a rambler toward real wandering. A rule of the blue road: Be careful going in search of adventureits ridiculously easy to find. The highway, oh, the highway. No place, in theory, is boring of itself. Boredom lies only with the travelers limited perception and his failure to explore deeply enough. John Steinbeck, drove a 10,000-mile, 38-state circuit of the country in a homemade camper, with his dog Charley as his travel companion. In Travels With Charley: In Search of America, Steinbeck wrote of the joy of driving, and discovering antique stores, stands selling squash juice, farm products and factory outlets. I, too, would rather drive. Have you noticed that automakers always wanting to entice people to buy their cars - have long turned to appealing vacation-type destinations when naming their cars? Years ago, remember the Chevrolet Bel Air and the Chrysler New Yorker? Perhaps those cars inspired their drivers to think of sunny southern California or sophisticated Manhattan in the way that, say, a hypothetical Pontiac Peoria or a Buick Bettendorf might not. Today you can drive to Acadia, Cherokee, Colorado, Durango, Malibu, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Sedona, Tacoma, Tahoe, Taos, Telluride, Tucson, and the Yukon while driving an Acadia, Cherokee, Colorado, Durango, Malibu, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Sedona, Tacoma, Tahoe, Taos, Telluride, Tucson, or a Yukon. A final quote from William Least Heat-Moon about the joys of driving and discovery. He came once came upon a road that was so crooked it could run for the legislature. (Apologies, with a smile, to my honest friends Rep. Scholten and Sen. Trone Garriott!) And then theres this discussion between two friends in a recent cartoon: One asks, Would you rather drive six comfortable hours, or fly six cramped hours but end up farther away? The friend responds: Id rather ride a bike six hours and end up where I started. David Halaas has a commitment to community involvement, recently serving on the boards of Leadership Siouxland, SafePlace, the Sioux City Public Library and currently on the board of trustees of the Sioux City Public Museum. He is the pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA in Sioux City. Get Dear Prudence delivered to your inbox each week by signing up in the box below. Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.) Got a burning question for Prudie? Shell be online here on Slate to chat with readers each Monday at noon. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the live discussion. Readers! Ask me your questions on the voicemail of the new Dear Prudence podcast. Just leave a message at 401-371-DEAR (3327), and you may hear your question answered on a future episode of the show. Dear Prudence, I was driving and hit a 5-year-old child. I was not charged, as there was no speed or alcohol involvedhe ran out onto the road while his mother was momentarily distracted. He was left with severe and permanent disabilities. I was a couple of days away from starting a new job but couldnt work because I was in so much shock. I get panic attacks at the thought of driving and its difficult to even be around children. I was diagnosed with PTSD, and I know I need help, but I have no insurance and cant afford it. I was told I need to sue the parents of the child to get a payout from their insurance, which would then pay for my treatment. On one hand, I desperately want some kind of psychological treatment. But the thought of suing the parents at the worst time of their lifethat seems like pure evil. What would you do in my situation? Should I Sue? What a horrible situation to be in. I dont know who told you that your only option to pay for treatment is to sue the childs parents, but I hope that youre able to seek a second opinion before going down that road. I spoke to a lawyer (who does not specialize in personal injury), and she confirmed that this practice is a not infrequent one: Its pretty common to make a claim against someone elses insurance company in situations like this. It happens if youre at a relatives house and you fall on their icy steps and break an ankle, or get bitten by their dog and need medical care. This is one of the reasons why people have homeowners insurance in the first place, so that if accidents like this happen, they arent personally liable for the injuries. A personal injury attorney will help (you dont have to pay up front, they get a commission) so you wouldnt have to navigate this process alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, theres a wide gulf between what is acceptable legal practice and what is morally conscionable, and I simply cant tell you to pursue this option, at least not without exhausting every other avenue available to you first. You do have a few avenues to explore: This searchable database of HRSA health centers offers a list of mental health services available to patients with no insurance. Call the National Suicide Hotline or the SAMHSA referral helpline to find treatment services in your areaeven if youre not in immediate danger of harming yourself, they can provide you with a list of free or sliding-scale local services and clinics. Contact your local branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness . Your local Mental Health America affiliate is an excellent resource for information about local programs and services including affordable treatment services. Contact local legal aid to see about filing for disabilityif the mental and emotional trauma from your accident has made you unable to work, you may be eligible for disability services. Advertisement But the type of care you need is long-term, highly specialized, and intensive, and may be difficult to find through the patchwork system of low-to-no-cost emergency mental health services. Its a testament to how irreparably screwed our health insurance system is that suing the family of the boy you hit with your car is the best option you have for receiving treatment for your guilt and PTSD. Readers may recall the New York woman who sued her 8-year-old nephew last year after he accidentally broke her wrist. She received nothing but public scorn and a $0 settlement but in her case filing claimed that the insurance company for her nephews parents had only offered her $1 to cover her medical costs, and that she needed the money to pay for multiple necessary surgeries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant imagine how awful it would feel to sue that little boys parents for an insurance payment and lose. I also cant imagine how painful it would be for you to forgo necessary treatment in order to avoid causing this family more anguish. If there are any options available to you other than suing, I think you will suffer less, and gain more, in pursuing them. Leave the lawsuit as your last, worst choice. I hope very much that you take good care of yourself. Im so sorry for everything that you and this family have had to go through. You also asked me what I would do in your situation. This is not my advice, just an honest answer: I dont think I could do it. Advertisement Dear Prudence, I am a straight, single woman. On Friday night, I had sex with a man Ive had a loose friendship with for about a year and had been hanging out with more often in the last month. It was terrible. I never felt unsafe or violated, but this guy who has been generous and empathetic in all other contexts was way off the mark in bed. Maybe he has limited experience, watches a lot of terrible porn, gets bad advice who knows! Every time I said no or redirected he apologized and stopped and seemed embarrassed. He wants to hang out again and I think I need to break things offwhat level of explanation do I offer? Do I owe it to him and the women who come next to let him know that his understanding of female anatomy is incorrect and his approach is riddled with misogyny? I dont think hes a jerk and I believe he could be a great partner to someone if he does some homework, but I also dont know if its cruel to point out someones sexual illiteracy as a reason for wanting to go our separate ways. Follow Up or Fade Out? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that if you repeatedly stopped him during sex and he had to apologize and fumble about nervously more than once, he probably wont be too surprised when you turn him down. Tell him you dont think you two connect well sexually, and leave it at that; you dont have to become his sex tutor out of a sense of obligation to future women. You dont want to sleep with him again, and its not cruel to be honest about the fact that the sex you two had was bad. You dont have to belabor the point or enumerate the ways in which he failed you as a lover, but go ahead and make it clear that youre not interested in trying again, and move on. Advertisement Dear Prudence, My partner and I have not been intimate in well over a year. We have had a long-running pattern of getting close, only for her to get extremely upset about something, throw a major fit, and say she wants to kill herself or make other alarming proclamations that I dont think shell ever follow through on. When I try to talk to her about these things the next day, she is typically deflective: Oh, I didnt really mean that! and the cycle continues. Advertisement I also have had several moments when I felt like I made myself vulnerable to her only to have her metaphorically kick me in the teeth for it. This has led me to approach her with extreme caution, and when I try to explain this to her, she is dismissive. If I cannot recollect a specific, word-for-word retelling of what caused me to feel this way, she pretends it didnt happen. Now shes complaining were not intimate enough and we dont have sex as often as we should. When I bring up the history of why I feel marginalized, she says Im oversensitive and I need to move on. But we never moved on because I feel like shes the one who hasnt helped resolve anything between us and Im tired of putting myself out there only to be rejected again. Is there any way to bring her over to my side and get her to actually listen to what I am saying? When Does It End? Advertisement Advertisement I dont believe there is. What youre describing to me sounds like emotional abuse. Regularly threatening suicide, especially during an argument or when youre not doing something that she wants you to, is a form of manipulation that preys upon your feelings of love and concern. Even though you dont believe your partner intends to follow through with her threats, it effectively ends the conversation, and the fact that she pretends not to remember (or not to have meant) the things she said the next day suggests there is a pattern of manipulation and gaslighting in your relationship. When your girlfriend threatens suicide during an argument, shes trying to control your behavior, and to keep you from advocating for yourself or for setting appropriate boundaries. Remember that you are not responsible for her actions, and that you do not have the power to either keep her alive or to end her life. I think you should end this relationship, but make sure you have the proper support network in place before you do, in case she escalates her threatening behavior, as abusers often do when their victims attempt to leave. Make sure you have a place to stay; enlist friends and family members for emotional and financial support if necessary; find a therapist you can trust. There is no way for you to convince your girlfriend to see your side of things. She has threatened to harm herself in order to control you, tried to make you doubt your own memory, and refuses to listen to you regularly. She is abusing you, and you deserve better. No one deserves to be treated the way your girlfriend has treated you, and I wish you all the best in seeking help and getting out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, This is a silly problem but its increasingly getting on my nerves. My co-workers cant stop criticizing my body temperature! I wear jackets, cardigans, and scarves in the summer for a lot of reasonsto hide areas of insecurity, because the office A/C is on full blast, because theyre cuteand at first I made jokes or gave what I thought were valid explanations, but it has become a daily occurrence. I think its extremely rude that they think that repeatedly telling me to take off my sweater is a fun, appropriate, and/or interesting conversation to have with me. What do I say to make them realize I am 100 percent uninterested in their opinion of what Im wearing? Chill Advertisement Advertisement Im comfortable wearing this. Is there a reason you seem to be trying to make me feel uncomfortable about it? If not, can we please change the subject? (This is, I hope you understand, to be used only on repeat offenders; dont throw this at someone whos never asked you before.) Dear Prudence, I work at a company that often pairs employees from different departments together in a one-on-one capacity. These partnerships often involve spending a great deal of time together. I manage many of these partners. One of these newest team members, Sue, is an attractive, young, married woman. Her work partner, Sam, is also young and attractivebut single. Recently Sues husband has been out of town, and she and Sam have been spending a lot of time outside of work together. Normally thats not a big deal; however, Sam recently mentioned that Sue had spent the night at his house. He was emphatic that it was on the couch, but as there was no drinking involved and Sue only lives 10 minutes from him, I found this odd. Advertisement Advertisement Our employee handbook is very clear about romantic relationships being forbidden among staff and since were a faith-based company (although Im hardly zealous), I know this could be perceived very badly. Normally I would never know about something like this, but Sam has become a friend and shared the information. My first thought is that I felt like I needed to have a gentle conversation of caution with Sue as my employee. If she were single, I would feel less anxious but still worried that if a relationship were to start and end there would be serious awkwardness for their partnership (they are in a remote territory and cant be reassigned). Im trying to ignore the red flags in her marriage, because I know that is not my business, but is the seemingly budding relationship also something I have to stay out of? As her supervisor, do I let adults be adults, or do I discuss this with her? Happy Work Wife, Happy Life? Advertisement Advertisement Since the nature of Sam and Sues after-hours relationship is currently an unknown, I think you should refrain from speculating or guessing what might happen if they continue to spend time together. If their personal relationship isnt getting in the way of their work, then you have nothing to bring up with either of them. If you must say something, I think you should tell Sam that its inappropriate for him to share the details of his sleeping arrangements with you. You say you two are friends, but thats no reason for him to inform a supervisor (even if you dont directly manage him) that one of his colleagues spent the night on his couch. You might remind him of the rules about fraternization in the employee handbook, and leave it at that. Its your place to step in if they start breaking office rules, or if their personal relationship negatively impacts their ability to do their jobs, but its not your place to inquire into the details of their after-hours socializing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, I graduated from college two years ago and settled into a job that I like. I am not making tons of money, but I am paying off my student loans while having an incredible life with my girlfriend. She is funny, smart, and the light of my life, as corny as that sounds. We have been together four years and I am so very happy right now. But the future is scaring me. My girlfriend is eight years older than me and will be finishing her Ph.D. this year. Many of her friends are married with kids or focusing on careers in far-off corners of the world. She has been anxious lately and talking more seriously about kids. I know her three older sisters have had fertility troubles so this is probably going to be do-or-die time. I love her, I can picture us getting married, picture her as the mother of my kids, but just not right now. My sister called me a coward when I told her this and told me to either commit to my girlfriend and propose or quit and let her find someone else. I am terrified of losing my girlfriend. I cant imagine my life without her, but I cant see myself changing diapers a year from now. What should I do? Commit or Quit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think wanting to be a parent is a very good reason to have children. I think my girlfriends sisters have fertility troubles, my girlfriend wants children, and my sister is mad at me are not. If youre not ready to be a parent right now, that doesnt mean youre a coward, or a bad partner, or anything other than not ready. I understand the fear that you might lose your girlfriend, but fear is not a sufficient reason to bring a new life into the world. You owe it to both yourself and your girlfriend to be completely honest about what you want. Tell her what youve told me: that you see a serious future with her but that youre not ready to get married or have children at 24. It doesnt matter what her sisters are doing, and it doesnt matter what your sister thinks. All that matters is what the two of you want. If your girlfriend is willing to compromise and wait, you might get everything you want. If she realizes that having children immediately is more important to her than anything else, youll both be sad, but at least shell be able to make an informed decision. I cant promise you that being honest with your girlfriend will result in a storybook ending, but I can tell you that if you allow yourself to be guilted into fatherhood just because your family or friends or partner wishes you were ready, youll regret it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, My boyfriend and I lived happily together for 10 years in an apartment I own. There was a fire a year ago that destroyed all of our possessions. We have been paying the mortgage all this time while staying with my family, where we have little privacy. During this year we have both lost close family members, and our cats died in a terrible accident. We had some counseling when we were both very depressed, but it is unaffordable at the moment. My boyfriend has PTSD and I have generalized anxiety from the fire. Some neighbors also blame us, even though the official report says the cause is unknown. The apartment is still a trigger. My boyfriend and I always dreamed of living elsewhere, but not anywhere specific. Now, when we see the progress of the apartment being almost rebuilt, it fills us with dread to think of living there. However, money is tighter than ever and the most secure financial choice is to suck it up and live there. My family says we should stay there and be on the safe side. As impulsive as it sounds, we would like to sell and make a big change. Are we being foolish? Running away from our problems? Fear of Fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think running away from ones problems is necessarily a bad thing. There are no awards for staying in an apartment full of bad memories, and moving away from a place that reminds you of one of the worst periods in your life (not to mention is surrounded by neighbors who resent you for an accident you didnt cause) is hardly the worst idea. It may be that you need to rent the place out before finding the right time to sellI dont think you should hamstring yourselves financially if you can avoid itbut theres no reason to force yourself to live in an apartment that has horrible associations just because you feel you have to. Dont be a hero. Youve had a rough year. Find someplace to live that doesnt remind you of that every minute of the day. Advertisement Dear Prudence, I am a straight woman in a committed relationship with a man. We both refer to the other as our partner rather than boy/girlfriend. A friend recently told me that straight people dont use that word, and joked that I must be the office lesbian at my new job. While there are far worse things than being mistaken for a lesbian, Im curious what my obligation is (if any) to set the record straight with my supervisors? And is my friend correct that partner is not a straight people term? I like to say manfriend socially, but that doesnt feel right at the office. Let Me Call You Sweetheart Advertisement Advertisement Partner (as opposed to husband, wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend) has long been usedpredominantly, but not solelyby LGBTQ people who have been excluded from public affirmation and recognition of their relationships. Its a word that has been especially important in queer, nontraditional family arrangements, but that doesnt mean youre wrong to use it. Theres certainly a history among straight countercultural types of using partner as a gender-neutral way of referring to someone you were committed to but werent married to. There are no Partner Police that are going to come banging down your door for using it to refer to your straight boyfriend. There are plenty of reasons not to want to use boyfriend/girlfriend, especially if you have been together for a long time or consider your relationship way past dating, and partner makes perfect sense, especially if youre not interested in getting married. In the course of regular conversation, the gender of your partner will presumably come up, and your co-workers will understand that your partner is male when you refer to him as him. You dont have to go around reminding everyone you work with that youre not a lesbian, and you dont have to start calling your partner your boyfriend, either. Discuss this column with Dear Prudence on her Facebook page! More Dear Prudence God Hates Nags: My 12-year-old kicks and screams his way to church. Should I stop making him go? Measuring Up: Should I warn people Im dating a much shorter man? Going, Going, Gone: I want to leave my family for the man I loveand who just had a stroke. Regreddit: Our daughter-in-law posts awful things about usand herselfon an Internet forum. Smooth or Chunky?: Prudie advises a woman alarmed that her son had a dog lick peanut butter off his chest. Sex Ed: Prudie counsels a letter writer whose sister slept with her teacher in high schoolthen married him. Bear Necessities: Prudie advises a letter writer whose boyfriend still has a collection of stuffed animals. Color Bind: Prudie counsels a black woman who cant connect with her white boyfriend on matters of race. Danny M. Lavery is online weekly to chat live with readers. Heres an edited transcript of this weeks chat. Q. My brother, a police officer, is getting blacklisted by my friends: My brother (hes older by two years) is a police officer. This was his childhood dream, and hes dedicated his entire life to making it happen. Prudie, hes wonderful. He leads his departments restorative justice seminars, he was fighting for anti-bias training three years ago before it was widespread, and he spends much of his free time at the local rec center mentoring at-risk youth. But my friends who know hes a police officer have been cruel to him since this past summer. They frequently bring up political topics that put him on the defensive. They constantly forward me articles about police brutality and how there are no good cops. Theyll post Instagram stories with graphic depictions of police violence, then DM me to make sure Ive seen them. Its awful. I genuinely believe my friends think theyre doing the right thing and that if they just push hard enough Ill somehow get my brother to resign from his dream job. Even if I could, I wouldnt want to. I feel like theyve drawn a line between us: As long as my brother is a police officer, I wont be fully accepted in the group. This feels like yet one more fault line 2020 has drawn between me and the people I love, and I cant stand to lose any friends right now. I already feel so lonely. How can I get my friends to stop harassing me about my brothers occupation? Am I thinking about this the right way? A: I hardly think your friends objections to your brothers job have anything to do with his volunteer work as a mentor, so Im not surprised that response hasnt gotten you very far. And while his seminars on restorative justice may or may not be thorough, informative, and/or compelling, they dont change the fact that it is not the job of the police to practice restorative justice. Nor is the efficacy of anti-bias training well established, especially when combating intentional, conscious bias. Advertisement Obviouslyand this is my own bias heremy position is closer to your friends than to yours, so Im afraid youre not going to get the answer youre hoping for from me. I dont think its cruel to bring up topics that make someone feel defensive, nor to want to discuss police brutality with a cop. That said, certainly there are circumstances where its perfectly appropriate to tell a friend to stop sharing traumatizing images of police violence in your DMs, and I can imagine plenty of your friends approaches leave a lot to be desired. But if your friends say, Police brutality is widespread and wrong, and I believe the problem is fundamental to the practice of policing, not an accidental case of a few bad apples that can be screened out or solved through a few more in-office seminars, and your response is, But this is my brothers dream job, and besides, he volunteers at the Y a few days a week, I dont think your response has been very carefully thought out. There are no good cops is designed to push past this sort of reflexive response. Your brothers individual comportment does not excuse him or you from thinking critically about the police as an establishment; the issues are structural, departmental, institutional, and cannot be addressed by individually friendly officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont have to agree with me, of course. You dont agree with your friends, so I doubt my word will go further with you than theirs have. It is possible to love your brother, to think well of him and his intentions, and to think critically of his chosen profession no matter how good his intentions are. But Im not sure you can indefinitely avoid this fault line, nor would I want to encourage you to do so even if that were possible. How to Get Advice From Prudie: Send questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. (Questions may be edited.) Join the live chat Mondays at noon. Submit your questions and comments here before or during the discussion. Advertisement Call the voicemail of the Dear Prudence podcast at 401-371-DEAR (3327) to hear your question answered on a future episode of the show. Q. Can I stop my husbands work relationship from turning into an affair? My now-retired husband of 40-plus years has a single, work-based friend with whom he is friendly in a slightly-too-intimate way. Whenever she was in town, they would go for drinks at romantic rooftop watering holes. She once commented that if she could have a marriage like ours, she would have gotten married. On Christmas morning, she sent him a text saying she was thinking of him. Advertisement I think this is too much. Hubby is emotionally clueless and no doubt enjoys her admiration and caring, but I dont think he fully realizes the threat to our marriage. I have accused him of being too close to her, but he denies it and has sometimes lied about being with her. However, I dont think he wants out of the marriageI have asked. I know there is not much I can do. Have you any advice? Advertisement Advertisement A: A little, yes! I dont believe that your husband is emotionally clueless at all. Hes clued-in enough to know to lie to you about spending time with her, and unless he has memory problems youve failed to mention, he likely remembers the fact that youve directly accused him of being too close to her and gone so far as to ask him whether he wants to leave you. Those are much more than just clues. I suspect that because youre far more invested in your husband of 40-plus years than his former co-worker, you want very much for him to be clueless and for her to be too much, because then shes the real problem and hes just the naive, overly trusting lovable oaf you have to protect from her machinations. I think you should talk to your husband honestly about this threat to your marriage and name that threat specifically as his decision to lie to you and cultivate an emotionally intimate, flirtatious relationship with someone else despite knowing how it hurts you. I can understand why that prospect feels daunting, but youll be able to make better decisions once you both fully realize the threat your marriage is facing rather than try to maintain the shared fiction of your husbands cluelessness. Hes not being clueless; hes being insensitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q. Is whats mine yours? My boyfriend and I are very much in love and have happily merged our lives together. We plan to get engaged and married in the next two years. I come from a privileged background, while my boyfriend comes from a working-class family. I recently learned that my father plans to give me a generous set of mutual funds, essentially to ensure that my future family and I will be comfortable for life. Upon learning of the money, my boyfriend asked if we could give a portion of the money to his parents as they move into retirement. I love his generous spirit, and his parents, but this money is mine until we tie the knot, and even then, it was gifted to me to set up our future. I worry about giving the money away before we really have a chance to use it for its intended purpose, like on a house down payment or a baby. Am I being selfish? Advertisement Advertisement A: Its not selfish to disagree with your fiance-to-be about the best use of an unexpected windfall so long as youre prepared to hear him out and consider possible compromises. It sounds like for your boyfriend, part of being comfortable for life would include knowing that his parents can afford to retire. You already know your parents can afford to retire and have actually grown up with your parents financial security as a simple background fact of life, so it may be difficult at first for you to understand his position. You say youve happily merged your lives together and want to get married, so dont be unduly concerned that this particular aspect of merging hasnt been immediately easy, straightforward, and fun. Joint finances can be a difficult topic of conversation for any couple, and since you two have very different backgrounds and (potentially) a few different goals and priorities, it stands to reason youll disagree once in a while. Thats not necessarily an indicator that theres a serious problem so long as you can find ways to respectfully and productively discuss compromises together. Advertisement Advertisement The fact that your boyfriend asked you to consider the possibility of giving some of the money to his parents suggests hes reasonably open to such compromises, that he doesnt want to force your hand, and that hes also interested in setting money aside for a home or for future child care. Thats a good sign! You should join him in a larger conversation about what kind of financial assistance youd both be prepared to offer his parents and other relatives, how youd want to offer such assistance, how much money you each think youd need to be comfortable (a word many people use to describe wildly different conditions), etc., before making any final decisions about disbursing money you dont yet have. Advertisement Advertisement Q. Too old to look this young: I am a fiftysomething woman with the body of a prepubescent girl. Ive always been extremely petite and small-chested and now have almost no body hair (due to chronic issues, I prefer a Brazilian to my old au natural look). My now ex-husband was delighted with this new look, which I found cringingly uncomfortable due to my resemblance to a 10-year-old girl. Im interested in dating again and maybe even some casual sex, but I fear how future partners (male or female) might react to my immature presentation. Of course a negative reaction would be hurtful, but its an overly positive reaction that really scares me. And I cant begin to imagine what kinds of people I might be attracting if I were to describe myself on a dating website. Am I overthinking this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A: Im not sure what chronic issues require an ongoing Brazilian wax, but if such a look is so disturbing to you that you cant think of yourself as an adult sexual agent or dont trust your partners when they say they find your appearance attractive, Id encourage you to discuss alternatives with your aesthetician, if only because your peace of mind ought to be at least as important as your physical needs. Beyond that, all I can say is that a 50-year-old woman is not a 10-year-old girl by any stretch of the imagination, nor is your body immature simply because you are petite. Petite adult women are not 10-year-old girls, or anything like an approximation thereof, and neither are women with smaller breasts or relatively little body hair. By that same token, women and girls with larger chests or more body hair are not especially mature, or extra-mature, or anything of the kind. There is a great deal of variety and diversity among mature adult bodies! Beyond that, if you suspect anyone who responds to the dating profile of a fiftysomething woman of secretly harboring desires to pretend that she is a child, I would encourage you to consult a therapist. I dont say that flippantly or to suggest that you should feel foolish for your anxieties. It may be that your ex-husband said or did things beyond simply enjoying your Brazilian wax that set off some of these concerns, and you deserve the opportunity to process them in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. But the problem is not your adult body, and you do not need to live with the unexamined, unchallenged fear that anyone who wants to date or sleep with you is somehow suspect simply for finding you attractive. Advertisement Advertisement Q. Phony accent: Im an American who has been living in the U.K. for about four years. Recently I noticed that Im starting to develop a bit of a British inflection. Im trying not to, but its getting harder and harder. My neighbor is an American expat as well who has lived here for more than a decade and has still been able to retain her Midwestern accentalthough she works with and is friends with a lot of Americans, whereas I work with and am friends with pretty much only British people. Making it worse, Im from New England, so my natural accent is already somewhat similar (a distinct distaste for the r sound). I feel like one of those people who goes on vacation and pretends they picked up the accent while they were there for a week. Any advice on how to stop Brit-talking? Advertisement A: I can understand your anxiety (certainly people do tease Americans who start to sound a little British), but this is hardly the same thing as affecting a British accent after a few days of vacation. Plenty of people lose their accents (or pick up a bit of an accent, depending on your perspective) after living in a country for several years, especially if their previous accents were already similar. Its fine! Its harmless! Its mostly unconscious and, as you say, the result of living and working and socializing almost exclusively with British people for four years, not an indication that youre some overeager Anglophile. Youre doing fine! Advertisement Advertisement Q. Fighting and making up: When my wife and I (both women) disagree about something minor, or when one of us says something insensitive, I like to make up and come to some kind of understanding. It gives me a lot of anxiety to have unresolved tension. She feels like its unimportant and prefers to process alone, but that ends up bleeding into the rest of the day. These arent big issues (think Did you see I cleaned the guest room? No, I didnt notice, followed by hurt feelings), but I hate the tension! Do I need to just suck it up, or is there a way to address these things in the moment? Advertisement Advertisement A: No, you dont need to just suck it up. Its fine that your wife likes a little alone time to cool down after a quarrel, but its not unimportant to want to put even just a one- or two-sentence button on things to mark the end of a disagreement. (For example, Did you see I cleaned the guest room? No, I didnt noticethank you so much for doing that. Do you want to have a conversation about housework in general? If theres something Im neglecting, or something youre frustrated about, Im happy to talk about it.) Giving her a little time is one thing, but you dont have to just walk on eggshells until the next afternoongo ahead and ask to revisit things, or say you want to kiss and make up the next time shes about to head into an overnight sulk. Advertisement Advertisement Q. Queasy quandary: I have a very sensitive stomach and cannot handle the sight of blood or vomit without feeling sick. My sister and brother-in-law both work at emergency rooms and on family Zoom calls will tell stories of particularly gross or interesting patients theyve had, such as a kid who fell so badly at a skate park that a bone popped out of his arm. I always end up vividly picturing these scenarios and feel close to throwing up when they tell very descriptive stories, although the rest of my family enjoys hearing them. When Ive asked them if they could maybe not go so in-depth, theyve told me to just toughen up because I cant go through life without hearing or seeing some gross stuff. Advertisement I love being able to see my family on Zoom, but I hate hearing these stories, even though everyone else seems to like them. Am I the problem here? What can I say to make my family understand how much their stories nauseate me? Advertisement A: Its not a problem to ask your siblings to save the really explicitly gross emergency room stories for phone calls or video get-togethers youre not present for. I wish theyd accommodate you! Its not that difficult to postpone gross-out stories, and the whole You need to toughen up, because you never know when youre going to run into an emergency room doctor who needs to vent about bodily fluids on the spot line strikes me as tenuous at best. Its fine that the rest of the family enjoys these stories (provided theyre not offering identifying details or going out of their way to mock patients in vulnerable positions) and understandable that your sister and brother-in-law sometimes want to vent, but youre not asking anything unusually difficult from them. That said, I think the best next move is to (cheerfully) announce that youre going to step away from the call until the emergency room stories are over, then either remove your headphones and go make yourself a cup of coffee or mute them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q. Re: Is whats mine yours? I would advise you to do two things: 1) Be clear on what could happen with this money should the marriage end. I know thats not what you want to hear but it is always a good idea to protect yourself. 2) Find a fiduciary financial adviser to make sure you understand the various options for how to give money to his parents should you decide to do this. If they dont know how to manage the investments, then a large gift could be squandered. Ongoing support might make more sense, if thats what you decide to do. (Yes, I am a fiduciary advisor and know what could go wrong here.) Advertisement Advertisement A: Thats really helpful, thank youI was pretty focused on the communication aspect, but youre quite right that its also important to be practical, both about what the giving itself would look like as well as how you would split gifts/assets/funds in the event of a divorce. Thats just as important as talking about your feelings, childhood, and definitions of comfortable. Danny M. Lavery: Thanks for your help, everyone! I hope all your fights with your partners this week are about how to disburse sudden windfalls. See you next time! If you missed Part 1 of this weeks chat, click here to read it. Discuss this column on our Facebook page! From Care and Feeding Q. This seems wrong: My mother-in-law lives several states away, so we see her just a few times a year. My 10-year-old daughter is her one and only grandchild. Of course, when she comes to town, I dont want to block access to my daughter, but it has always made me uneasy that her time with all my in-laws has to be alone, something my husband shrugs off. My husband and I are pushed far to the side of all time when they are in town. When she came up several years ago a few weeks prior to Christmas, MIL had my daughter for the weekend and threw a Christmas Morning with my daughter and her other son. My husband and I were not invited. I explained to my husband I wasnt OK with this for several reasons, including but not limited to: I want to see what she gets and take pictures, and am not OK with being out of the picture. Advertisement I thought we were on the same page, but when MIL came in a few weeks prior to my daughters birthday, she gave her all of her birthday gifts in private, despite the fact that I was throwing a family dinner for everyone at the end of the weekend. Husband says its no big deal, but he also went and cleaned the chicken coop the minute his mom showed up for the dinner, so Im thinking hes out of touch on the issue too. Am I crazy, or is this weird? Now available in your podcast player: the audiobook edition of Danny M. Laverys latest book, Something That May Shock and Discredit You. Get it from Slate. Our advice columnists have heard it all over the years. This week, we collected archival letters with advice for new parents. Slate Plus members get more Care and Feeding columns every week. Dear Prudence, Im married to a Korean man, and were expecting our first child. Weve decided to give our baby a Korean name. When my parents and sisters family heard the name, they quickly came up with an Americanized nickname because the name weve chosen is too hard for them to pronounce. Ive pushed back and asked them to use the next four months to learn how to pronounce our babys name. This matters to my husband and me. It will take some effort to learn how to pronounce the name, but plenty of Americans have learned how to pronounce Jung Ho-seok and Jeon Jungkook. They can also pronounce words like Tchaikovsky and Marseilles, so it doesnt feel like a lot to ask them to spend the next four months learning our babys name. Are we being unreasonable? My mom also worries that choosing a Korean name will other our baby. How much can you ask of other people when it comes to pronouncing unfamiliar names? Choosing a Korean name for your baby will simply mean that your baby has a Korean name. Im not quite sure why your mother thinks its a gotcha to point out that not all babies have Korean names. Your request is not unreasonable, but your side of the family is certainly signaling well in advance just what they expect from you: to downplay and minimize your husbands and your future childs Koreanness. Giving a group of adults four months to learn how to pronounce a single unfamiliar word is not asking too much. Now is a great opportunity to make it clear to your side of the family just how little time and energy you plan on expending as a new parent on their racial comfort. Your child is going to have a Korean parent, a Korean name, Korean heritage, and Korean culture all as a part of their life; thats not a difficulty youre inflicting on your non-Korean family but a core part of your childs existence. Danny M. Lavery From: Help! My Sons Boyfriend Is HIV-Positive. Am I Allowed to Be Concerned? (April 21, 2020) Dear Care and Feeding, Im the new mother of a baby girl who is almost a month old now. Ive read/heard so many things about how everything would change once my baby was bornhow I would feel an overwhelming love for her, my heart would grow, I would only be able to focus on her and would forget everything else, etc.but I havent experienced that. Instead her birth turned out to be almost anticlimactic and kind of surreal. One minute I was pushing and the next I was holding a baby. I thought maybe Id feel something more once we got home from the hospital and things felt more real, but still I feel nothing big. I mean, my daughter is cute and shes starting to be awake more and look around, which is fun, but I havent had a magical Im a mother! moment. Sometimes I feel like maybe Im not doing enough with/for her. Like, Ill usually read a book while nursing instead of gazing lovingly into her eyes. Ill talk to her and read to her other times when shes awake, though, and Im generally enjoying having her in my life. But Ive heard that some women get so absorbed in their new baby that they forget about their husbands, hobbieseverythingand I still like spending time with my husband when I can, wish I had a little more time for hobbies, and kind of need to keep up on bills and other things, even with a new baby. Honestly, Ive never been one of those people who just love babies, and I always felt kind of uncomfortable when people asked if I wanted to hold theirs. Because of that, Ive been impressed with how quickly I got used to holding and caring for my daughter, which maybe sounds silly, but I was relieved and glad. For what its worth, my mom had a lot of miscarriages and infertility issues, so my first trimester of pregnancy was stressful because I was so worried about losing the baby, and I was a little afraid to let myself start looking forward too much in case something happened. I also had a brother who died unexpectedly from a birth defect when he was less than 2 weeks old. But my pregnancy went pretty smoothly until the end of it, when I had problems with blood pressure and had to be unexpectedly induced (as in, I went in for an appointment and left to get my husband and go to the hospital), which was a stressful and sort of awful experience, but both the baby and I came out of it OK, which I know is all that really matters. I think maybe I also feel a little guilty that things went so smoothly for me when it was so hard for my mom and for other people I know (my cousin had to do IVF, my sisters good friend has been trying to have kids for years but still nothing, and more). I dont think I have postpartum depression. I can still laugh at things, I feel fine, and I hate the thought of her getting hurt and wouldnt dream of doing anything to her myself. Do I love my daughter enough? Is it normal/OK to not have that huge, overwhelming rush of love? I also never had a huge This is the one moment with my husband, even though I have no doubts now about my love for him. So maybe this is a similar thing. Still, I feel like Im missing out on something. Many years ago, when I was trying to decide whether to get married, a friend advised me to ask myself a simple question: Is this someone I couldnt possibly live without? So I tried that thought experimentbut I realized quickly that (although it must have been a good question for her to ask herself before shed married her husband) this was useless advice for me. Having already lived alone, quite contentedly, by then for over a decade, it seemed to me there was no one I couldnt live without. I didnt end up marrying that person (for other reasons), but I kept that knowledge of myself in my pocket when Iater on I did meet the man I would marry. Despite my deep, abiding, and ongoing delight in rom-comsand despite my childhood obsessive reading of DC romance comicsthat was not the way I was going to feel about marriage, I understood. People experience love differently because we arent all exactly the same. Theres a lot of pressure in our culture around how to feelnot just about marriage or about motherhood, but about our parents and siblings and about grief and anger and ambition and success and pretty much everything human beings have feelings about. Its easy to feel were missing out when we dont feel what were told we should. But as you make very clear when you talk about all the things that are in the mix hereyour mothers history, your own childs birth story, and everything else you mentionfeelings are more complicated and nuanced than the version of what one is supposed to feel allows for. I dont think youre missing out, and I dont think she is either. I send my very best wishes to you both. Michelle Herman From: Im Worried I Dont Love My Newborn Enough. (May 31, 2020) Dear Care and Feeding, My husband and I are expecting our first child in February, and our families are very excited. Were also very excited, and its getting to be about time for us to start setting up our nursery in earnest. The minute we told my family that were having a baby, however, my parents immediately started telling us all about the old baby stuff of ours that theyve saved from back in the 80s, which of course well need for their grandchild! This includes a crib, a rocking chair, two high chairs, two strollers, maternity clothes, baby clothes, baby toys, bottles, cloth diapers, baby carriers, and all manner of other items that the grandparents-to-be have been dutifully saving for the last 30 years. Its more than enough to fill a nursery and then someI dont think my parents ever threw a single thing of mine away. I know that I should be grateful to have so much free baby stuff being offered to me, but I was really looking forward to buying new (or at least recently manufactured) things for our baby, not to mention the fact that other friends and family members want to contribute things, too. Ive taken a few smaller itemsmostly old toys that I liked, and one cute baby outfitbut my parents are asking when they ought to bring the large furniture over, and at this rate, we wont have room to store anything that wasnt made before 1995! My husband and I dont need to rely on hand-me-downs to provide for our baby, and I dont even think that a lot of these items are up to code by todays baby safety standards. Of course, if I mention that to my parents, they get offended and remark that they used these supposed death-traps with me every day when I was a baby, and I turned out fine. (For this reason, Im also a little hesitant to recommend that my parents keep the items themselves and use them while babysitting.) I wish that theyd given these items away decades ago to someone who actually needed themtheyre probably not donateable now, so if I dont use them, I suppose theyll end up in the trash. I also feel guilty about thatwho says that my special baby MUST have brand-spanking-new furniture, clothes, and toys? But of course, my parents wont understand why buying a crib that was used last year is different from using a crib thats sat in a basement since the 80s. I know that they just want to feel useful and included during my pregnancy, and that all of these items have tremendous emotional significance for them. My family is very big on saving things for children and grandchildren (there are some mild-to-moderate hoarding tendencies behind this), and the fact that theyve kept all of these things for me for the past three decades is a source of great pride. I just feel like everybodys getting to pick out things for my baby to use except for me! What do I do? In this case, there is a right answer and a perfect justification for it, which youve already touched on in your letterthe decades-old baby furniture probably doesnt meet current safety standards. You dont just want new stuff for your baby; you need new stuff. This is about your childs safety, not you wanting a shopping spree or an excuse to spoil your kid. (Note: You cannot actually spoil a newborn, a being who would be blissfully unaware if you put them down to sleep in a dog bedwhich of course wouldnt be safe, either, but I trust you get my point here.) I understand its a bit jarring for some people when younger parents do things differentlyI know people whove gotten into actual arguments with their parents over the necessity of putting infants down to sleep on their back. One of our relatives got annoyed with me for not taking my screaming infant out of the car seat to nurse and calm her while the car was moving (they wanted her to be quiet; they did not want to pull over so I could unbuckle her safely). Someday, maybe you and I will be the folks wondering why new parents are so hung up on doing things the new-fangled way they do, but I hope well just find it in our hearts to accept it once were told its because its safer for the baby. It really shouldnt feel like a personal slight to anyone when best practices and safety measures evolve over time! Youve already tried to tell your parents your reasons for wanting to buy new baby furniture and other items, and they havent been receptive. I hope they change their minds, but if they dont, you dont actually need them to understand or be pleased about your consumer choices as a parentyoure the parent, and youre trying to do the best thing for your baby by ensuring they sleep in a crib and eat in a high chair that meet todays safety standards. You can thank your parents for the offer of their old stuff, acknowledge their feelings, pick a few things of sentimental value to keep for your baby, and then gently but firmly reiterate your (correct) decision. If they keep trying to guilt you, let them know that youre following the advice in all the baby books; your mind is made up, and thats the end of it. Try not to let this bother you too muchparenthood is an ideal time for your priorities to shift from making your parents happy to focusing on whats best for your kid, and hopefully your families will be so over the moon about having a new grandchild that theyll get over this quickly. Nicole Chung From: Dear Care and Feeding: My Parents Expect Us to Use All the Baby Stuff Theyve Saved From My Childhood. (Sept. 8, 2021) Dear Care and Feeding, Can you please weigh in on the subject of who should one love more between a spouse and your children? My husband and I recently had an argument (the first of 2020, actually) over this issue. He believes spouses should love each other first and more than they love their children. His reasoning is that this love provides the stable base for the family, and our partnership comes before the children. Until now, it has been my opinion that a person who puts anyone, even a spouse, before their child is wrong, and I know many moms who would call me a bad mother for sharing his opinion. No man comes before my child, so to speak. I did research online and found many articles sharing my husbands opinion, so I am now rethinking what I originally thought was a no-brainer. Im incredibly conflicted and confused. What do you think? Its a bullshit comparison is the heft of my answer. I think that the love and commitment between myself and my husband is the core of our family, and that, if possible, modeling a happy and respectful and affectionate partnership is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, and letting that slip by the wayside to overfocus on those same children can be a real problem. Someday, God willing, theyll be out the door and well have each other, and we certainly dont want to feel like confused strangers. That being said, I would expect that in a Deep Impact scenario both my husband and I would save our children before saving each other, and each of us would be equally incandescently furious to wake up alive in the hospital to discover the other had made a different choice. We love people in wildly different ways. We love our children (ideally!) unconditionally, and in even the happiest marriages our love for our spouse remains conditional, so if you have some extra energy, you might as well toss it in their direction. Stop arguing about this and just do your best for each other and your children. Life is not a game show where you have to vote someone off the island. The dog comes first. Thats my true answer. Nicole Cliffe From: Who Should I Love More, My Husband or My Children? (Jan. 6, 2020) More New Parenting Advice My husband and his ex-wife divorced after 12 years mainly due to his exs wanting children and my husbands opposition to that. Two years later, when he met me, I was upfront that at 27, I was not sure whether or not I wanted children, but I was not going to make my decision based on a third date. We agreed to address it whenever there was a change in feelings. Three years into our relationship, I decided I wanted a kid, he decided he wanted a kid with me, and now we have a baby boy, born in the pandemic. My husband made a general Facebook postBaby boy born at 9 pounds, 2 am, mom and baby fine sort of thing. And now I have a voicemail from his ex in which she is crying and angry that my husband stole her ability to have children. A nature walk in Bryant Park introduced me to a tree I have come to resent. Urban naturalist Gabriel Willow was leading a group of birdwatchers around the Midtown square in search of migrating birds. He pointed to the tall, graceful trees branching over the pathstheir patterned bark; their soft, pale green leavesand named them for us. They were London planetrees, and no birds flitted in their boughs. You dont really bother looking at London planes because theres just not much there, Willow told me in a recent interview, by which point Id spent years cultivating a loathing of London planetrees. Oaks, tulip trees, and other native species attract throngs of songbirds, especially in the spring and fall migration seasons. London planetrees do not. While all trees have physical or chemical defenses, insects in New York City havent adapted to the planetrees fortifications the way they have with native trees, causing cascading effects throughout the food web. This means fewer plant-eating bugs; in turn, fewer bug-eating birds grace these trees. Devoid of most critters, the London planetrees are about as sterile as trees can be. And theyre just about everywhere. You might not yet have a strong feeling about these trees, but theyre probably familiar to you. New York City is home to over 87,000 London planetrees, per the Department of Parks and Recreations 2015 tree census. Thats 13 percent of all the trees. There are about 23,000 more London planes than the next most abundant species, the honeylocust. Advertisement Theyre prized in cities throughout the temperate zone for their hardiness and generic good looksthe city tree par excellence, according to Henry Lawrences book City Trees. By 1900, Lawrence writes, the planetree was on the way to becoming the most widely planted of all city trees, having spread from England to continental Europe to North America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they do some good, like all trees do, experts say that their negative impacts on biodiversity cant be ignored. If youre going to put a tree in a city, make it do a number of thingsnot just be a decoration, not just sequester carbon, but do the best you can in terms of supporting biodiversity as well, said Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware and a leading native plant advocate. Advertisement Their main appeal is that they are tough. London planes became New York Citys street tree of choice in the mid-20th century because they can tolerate all sorts of disturbances that get thrown at urban street trees. Droughts, downpours, vandalismeven cleaning solutions poured onto the sidewalk dont seem to affect them. It was seen as a gold standard of urban design and was praised for its longevity and hardiness, said Georgia Silvera Seamans, an urban forester at New York University whose work explores the roles that trees play in cities. It was seen as a tree that you would plant and it would be able to survive whatever New York City conditions it was planted in. Advertisement Even in the concrete jungle, London planes can grow tall and wide, providing shade and shelter. Those broad canopies absorb rainfall while the roots soak up water in the soil, helping to mitigate flooding. They even capture particulates in the air, which cling to their exterior. When the trees shed their puzzle-piece bark, its like theyre exfoliating: They deposit pollutants into the soil, preventing them from entering local waterways or our lungs, while jettisoning damaged bark. Advertisement As the name implies, London planes have roots in England, but neither parent species is native to there (a native species being one that has evolved alongside the rest of an ecosystem). Theyre a hybrid of the American sycamore (native to whats now the eastern United States) and Oriental plane (native to eastern Europe and western Asia). They were popularized in London sometime in the 17th century, but might have originated in Spaina lot about this trees history, including when exactly it arrived in North America, is murky. What matters is that the hybrid London planetree is native to nowhere. Advertisement Advertisement Precise details aside, the same Old World parentage that wards off native insects, plus the crossbreeds own renowned hardiness, helped planetrees resist the diseases that all but wiped out the American elm and American chestnut, two previously popular street trees. And theyre long-livedsome of the original London planes in England are still alive, now centuries old. I dont want to say theyre indestructible, but they seem to put up with a lot, said Silvera Seamans. London planes survived in the city well enough to serve as decorations in an era where trees were mostly seen as objects of aesthetic appeal. In later decades, theyve also been praised for their role in resisting climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2021 piece for Curbed about stewarding urban nature, Stephanie Foo drew motivation from a London plane for all the carbon dioxide it sequesters.* As Alison Kinney wrote in a 2017 New Yorker essay romanticizing the planetree, they also help filter rainwater and provide green spaces for New Yorkers. Here, like other hardworking immigrants, they performed tireless, invisible labor for the city, sequestering carbon, countering the heat-island effect, and reducing the pollution of storm-water runoff, Kinney wrote. Id say theyre more like settlers than immigrants, though, brought in to impose a colonizers ideals upon the landscape. This was the role of the London plane in Robert Moses New York. The pivotal factor in this trees spread was how much powerful white men loved the European aesthetic that the preferred street tree of London, Rome, and Paris helped evoke. Advertisement It was during Moses reign over the Department of Parks and Recreation that the planetree was popularized in the citys parks and streets. Like expressways tearing through low-income neighborhoods, London planes are said to have been a personal favorite of that shrewd tyrant. Moses seemed to love this tree almost as much as he loathed poor New Yorkers, people of color, and public transit. When Moses consolidated the boroughs parks departments into a single citywide office in 1934, the new parks department got a now-familiar logo. That leaf, while officially unspecified, seems to depict a London plane. Advertisement Advertisement Moses and the landscape architects he hired planted London planes everywhere they could as they went. Moses subsequent park-building spree featured the tree in every one of his parks. The virtual extinction of both the American elm and chestnut in the first half of the 20th century cleared the way for planetrees to become urban Americas default tree. They were fashionable, popular, and EuropeanSilvera Seamans described the popularity of the London plane as a European fever dream in city planning. Advertisement This fad came at a cost to native wildlife, starting with bugs, the vast majority of which are adapted to survive by eating the plants theyve evolved with. Nonnative species like the London plane are associated with declines in species richness and abundance. A 2012 study in Englandwhere, again, planetrees arent native eitherfound that London planes are especially poor for insect herbivores and may be particularly unprofitable food sources for birds. No bugs; no birds. In my hundreds of hours birdwatching in New York Citys parks, Ive found that I rarely see birds foraging in a London plane, and even then only when there are no other options. In Bryant Park, species that are typically arboreal can be seen foraging on the ground, which Willow, the naturalist, speculates is due to the sterility of the ubiquitous planetrees. (European starlings are one exception; these invasive birds love to nest in the hollows of London planes.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With fewer native plants, animals like birds that depend on bugs as a food source are threatened. Reducing the spread of nonnative species, on the other hand, can help prevent declines in insect populations. One native oak tree can support hundreds of species of caterpillars, while an American sycamore (native, but not especially prolific) can support fewer than 50. Cross that sycamore with a nonnative Oriental plane to get a London planetree, and the number likely plummets even lower. That kind of drop in food availability may have serious conservation implications, one study warns. In another study, Tallamy and his co-authors likened the ecological effect of nonnative plantings to that of a food desert. Advertisement Nonnative plants can still play important roles in human communities. Lara Roman, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, pointed out that while biodiversity is a high priority, it isnt the only priority. A nonnative species might shade more of the sidewalk or hold special cultural significance. Advertisement Its not possible to necessarily have win-win-win scenarios every time and always simultaneously achieve all benefits, Roman said. But if wildlife habitat is the priority, then yeah, go with the natives, she said. Is the cultural value enough to keep planting a species that doesnt have a lot of wildlife value? Silvera Seamans said. Personally, I think London planetrees are beautiful, but beauty is not enough anymore. These days, the New York City parks department recommends planting London planes only sparingly. Though, really, why plant them at all? They are a relic of a worse time in New Yorks history and should be phased out. Related From Slate The Sandworms in Dune Might Not Be Worms, Exactly Read More We have a model to look toward in the case of the Norway maple, a formerly popular shade tree that was placed on the parks departments do-not-plant list in 2006 because its prolific seedlings displaced those of native species. In the 2015 tree census, it was down from nearly one-quarter of the citys trees in 1995 to just 5 percent in 2015. Advertisement While the London planetree doesnt spread as aggressively as Norway maple, we could take the same strict do-not-plant approach in the interests of native biodiversity. It would be counterproductive to cut down the London planes that are currently standing. But we could replace them exclusively with native trees as they die off. A London plane can sequester carbon dioxide, sure, but so can every other tree, including native species adapted to local ecosystems. Besides, cutting down on CO2 emissions isnt their responsibilityits ours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trees these days also dont have to deal with the same pollution as London planes did in preClean Air Act New York. Tallamy described the idea that native plants arent hardy enough to survive in cities as ridiculous, pointing to the example of the oaks and elms of Washington, D.C. Advertisement If we care about our environments, we ought to reshape our urban forests to better support their ecological communities. Practically speaking, resilient ecosystems also provide innumerable services to the humans living around them, like filtering air and water, mitigating extreme heat, reducing flooding, and supporting populations of crop-pollinating insects. Native plants, according to Tallamy, help keep cities alive. Everybody requires functioning ecosystems, Tallamy said. Its not optional. Everybody requires it. That means everybody has the responsibility to help sustain it. Everybody, not just tree huggers. Im with him on this. But just know that I wont be hugging a London planetree any time soon. Strange as the 21st century is, I admit I didnt imagine cloned monster sheep is something wed be dealing with. On Tuesday, Montana rancher Arthur Schubarth pleaded guilty to a pair of felonies. Hed spent a decade creating what he called a Montana Mountain King, a huge animal whose semen he allegedly sold to other sheep breeders so they could make their own hybrids suitable for trophy hunting on private ranches. Im sure well get a dramatic documentary series about all the lurid details eventually. But in the meantime, the bizarre case reminds me of something else: the well-publicized and often-lauded project to recreate a woolly mammoth, undertaken by a private biotech company called Colossal Biosciences. In these projects, weve already arrived at a Jurassic Park future were not prepared for. The details of what headlines are calling the frankensheep were laid out in a Justice Department press release earlier this week summing up court documents. Schubarth owns a 215-acre alternative livestock ranchwhich makes me think of cattle in plaid button-downs listening to the Smashing Pumpkins. Between 2013 and 2021, with at least five co-conspirators, Schubarth imported parts of Kyrgyzstans large, endangered Marco Polo argali sheep to the U.S., which he then sent to labs to create 165 cloned embryos. Schubarth then implanted those embryos in his ranchs ewes. This ultimately resulted in one Marco Polo argali male, a species that can reach 300 pounds, and which does not belong in Montana. He called it the Montana Mountain King and used its semen to impregnate ewes to create various hybrids that would be sold to private hunting ranches. One of the offspring was sold for $10,000, and 11 more with a smaller share of the Mountain Kings genes brought in $13,200. You could say it was seedy as hell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While all this has been playing out, weve received some new mammoth news, as well. For years, Colossal Biosciences has been promising that theyre plowing ahead with their de-extinction project, meant to bring woolly mammoths back to the Earth, despite ethicists, conservationists, paleontologists, and others repeatedly responding, No, we do not want this. Earlier this month, the company claimed to have created induced pluripotent stem cells, which brings them a step closer to creating embryos that could be genetically modified to be mammothlike. Those would, in turn, be placed into living Asian elephant mothers to produce shaggy beasts unlike any seen in 4,000 years. One of these genetic engineering projects was fundamentally illegal, and was aimed at creating bulky creatures so wealthy hunters could feel big by blowing holes in custom-made prey. The other, despite the misgivings of many experts, often gets positive press coverage. Its marketed as a biotech moonshot to inspire people to care about biodiversity. And yet, it is also focused on creating a novel animal whose place in the world is likely to be restricted to private reserves. Both aim to create, but with apparently little thought to the cruelty of their plans. Advertisement Advertisement The cruelty behind the creation of the Montana Mountain King and its offspring is self-evident. Schubarth and his co-conspirators illegally trafficked endangered wildlife to create cloned embryos that, given the success rate, obviously did not do very well inside their surrogate mothers. The single animal produced from the experiments was then used to impregnate other animals in what could only have been a lets see what happens approach in making designer prey that would have surely, had the wildlife traffickers not been caught, been continued to be refined and bred for large caliber guns. Its an extremely convoluted and weird example of humans turning endangered animals into playthings. Advertisement The cruelty of the mammoth de-extinction project is perhaps less obvious given the projects science-y gloss. We know that people hunted woolly mammoths in the past, and overhunting by ancient cultures has often been raised as one of the pressures that could have driven mammoths into extinction. If sothe argument goeswe may then have an ethical responsibility to restore the beasts, by using modern biotechnology to create embryos that genetically resemble woolly mammoths and would be born as creatures that the public would generally recognize as mammoths. Further, paleontologists have long known that mammoths were ecosystem engineers that modified ancient habitats by where they walked, what they fed on, and the droppings they left behind, and so the new mammoths would potentially re-create habitat conditions that have dwindled since the Pleistocene. Make a mammoth, in other words, and the mammoth will reshape the land itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Colossals project, too, uses an endangered species (in this case, the Asian elephant) to create what, despite all those lofty intentions, will probably end up being a trophy for humans to gawk at. The end result would be a mammoth in name only. Even Colossal co-founder and scientist George Church has noted that the creatures that the company is trying to create would not be mammoths as they were, but a kind of Mammoth 2.0, with some tweaks and adjustments to aid their survival. What Colossal aims to create is not Mammuthus primigenius, which we know from tusk and bone, but a designer animal unto itselfan I Cant Believe Its Not Mammoth! if you will. Advertisement What kind of lives would such engineered creatures really get to live? Aside from various legal ramifications of creating what may be a patented organism, what Colossal has never sufficiently wrangled with is the fact that there are no mammoths to teach their potential creations how to be mammothsfrom what foods to eat and how to stay safe from predators to how to clear snow with their tusks. Woolly mammoths lived and died in the ancient past; their matriarchal lines are entirely broken by the permanence of extinction. Animals are not just bags of genes but are connected to the behavioral history of their species. That is something no amount of CRISPR manipulation can change. The mammoths would need to live in captivity, within fences or cordoned-off parks, and would be more gee-whiz examples of biotech than a species truly given a second shot at life on Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The Sandworms in Dune Might Not Be Worms, Exactly Read More The question Im left asking then is Why? In either case, why undertake such long-running and ill-advised projects to create a novel species when we have so many imperiled species around us today? Schubarths reasoning is easy enough to follow: machismo and money. Colossal, however, has largely evaded the question, stating that they see their efforts as a boon to conservation but without providing many specifics. The charitable read is that the seeming return of the mammoths would, indeed, inspire us to do a better job of caring for species that have not yet gone extinct. It would, if you squint, be a buzzy win for conservation writ large. But I think, should those new stem cells ever become embryos and then mammoths, the reality is going to wind up more like Schubarths ranch, with mammothlike creatures existing in a kind of short-lived sideshow. The heyday of Mammuthus occurred when vast, frozen tundra spread across the Earth; we are in the middle of a climate change crisis that is unlikely to abate in our lifetimes. Advertisement Inadvertently and intentionally, we have made our planet hostile to megafauna. Our planet lost most of its large species between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago, and even those that managed to survive the wave of extinctiongray wolves, jaguars, brown bears, pronghorn, and moreare constantly being penned in, walled off, hunted, and otherwise harassed by Homo sapiens. We have not learned to live alongside the great beasts that are still heremuch less the ones that we create. I understand the fascination with seeing something big and impressivemy love of nature formed in halls of enormous Jurassic dinosaursbut simply wanting megafauna back isnt enough to make new ones, be they for literal trophies on the wall or as examples of what privatized science can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I give talks about such creatures of the past, Im often asked if I think we could see a real Jurassic Park one day. Until now, my answer has been no. DNA degrades too rapidly for us to ever even hope to get genetic material from a T. rex or Triceratops. But now I have to alter my answer. Were not going to get toothy saurians of the past, but there are clearly some who are working in the spirit of InGen and John Hammond. Private reserves of privately owned, never-before-seen creatures may be an inevitability, and I cant say Im optimistic for what happens when those creatures meet a natural world that has no familiarity with what they are or what change they might bring. Envisioning the imitation mammoths, Im not filled with wonder. My heart hurts at a future where a beast painstakingly created to revive the past may witness the extinction of the creatures who need our care now. Zooms latest update to its AI Companion will change how small businesses engage in global collaboration and productivity. As of February 27, 2024, Zoom expanded the language support across its platform, introducing a capability to bridge communication gaps that have long challenged multilingual teams worldwide. Zooms AI Companion, a generative AI assistant integrated within the platform at no additional cost for eligible paid accounts, now boasts an impressive array of language supports. The update sees Team Chat supporting nine languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. Meanwhile, the in-meeting functionalities have been extended to support 36 languages in preview, coupled with the introduction of automatic language detection for meeting summaries. This expansion is not just a number game; its a strategic move aimed at enhancing the inclusivity and accessibility of Zooms services to a global audience. Since its launch in September 2023, AI Companion has seen over 510,000 Zoom accounts enabling the feature, with more than 7.2 million meeting summaries generated. This widespread adoption underscores the critical role of AI in improving workplace communication and productivity, especially for global teams. Mahesh Ram, Zooms head of AI, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, Global teams need AI that can work across languages. If youre using AI to help improve collaboration and productivity, your AI must support a multitude of languages used by your global teams. The implications of this update for small businesses are profound. In the competitive landscape of global business, the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate without language barriers is invaluable. Small businesses, often operating with limited resources, can now leverage Zooms AI Companion to enhance their communication, collaboration, and productivity on a global scale. The AIs capability to automatically detect and generate meeting summaries in supported languages removes the need for manual settings adjustments, making it easier for multilingual teams to focus on their tasks without worrying about language barriers. Furthermore, the expanded language support in Team Chat and meetings ensures that small businesses can engage with their global counterparts more effectively. Zoom is setting a new standard for digital collaboration platforms by streamlining workplace communications and making technology more inclusive. As Zoom continues to roll out more languages for its AI Companion, the potential for small businesses to thrive in a global market grows. This development not only highlights Zooms commitment to fostering global connectivity but also serves as a call to action for small businesses to embrace digital tools that empower their teams, regardless of the languages they speak. For small business owners, this update signifies a leap forward in the pursuit of global collaboration and productivity. By tapping into Zooms enhanced language capabilities, they can break down the communication barriers that have historically limited their reach, opening up new avenues for growth and innovation in an increasingly connected world. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/effort-to-ban-tiktok-shows-bipartisan-fear-of-china-influence-of-zionist-lobby-1117356333.html Effort to Ban TikTok Shows Bipartisan Fear of China, Influence of Zionist Lobby? Effort to Ban TikTok Shows Bipartisan Fear of China, Influence of Zionist Lobby? Sputnik International Legislation against the social media app gives lie to US mantras of free expression and free competition, according to one analyst. 2024-03-16T00:04+0000 2024-03-16T00:04+0000 2024-03-16T00:04+0000 analysis tiktok freedom of speech freedom of expression freedom of choice us university of houston china israel americans https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/14/1099786674_0:304:3000:1992_1920x0_80_0_0_43ee27e2eb94a72edbaa4711f9e4ec86.jpg The last several years have seen increasing debate throughout the Western world over the role of social media.The controversy arguably began in earnest in 2016, when the twin earthquakes of Brexit and the election of US President Donald Trump shocked the political establishment. Debates over alleged foreign interference online eventually gave way to similar discourse about purported disinformation surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine.The Western ruling class has utilized such controversies to attempt to reify establishment control over political narratives in an age of mass communication. Now Washingtons move to ban or force the sale of the video sharing app TikTok demonstrates the fragility of modern US imperialism, according to author and historian Gerald Horne. Horne, a professor of history at the University of Houston in Texas, broke down the recent development during a discussion on Sputniks The Critical Hour program on Friday.This is a reflection [of] the fact that China developed more engineers than the United States by several orders of magnitude, he claimed. It also represents the fact that the United States is finding it difficult to compete with China. And so, therefore, it's going to basically try to kneecap China.Political efforts to take action against TikTok have proven particularly controversial given the emphasis placed on freedom of expression in the United States. The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, a right cherished by millions of Americans.The author claimed the approach is ultimately unsustainable and prevents US companies from effectively competing with China. For years Elon Musks Tesla, Inc. has promised the automaker will eventually release a low-cost mass market electric vehicle. But the cheap EV has remained elusive as US legislation shields Musk and other automakers from competition in the form of Chinas cheap cars.Discussion then turned to the foreign policy implications of the US proposed TikTok legislation. Talk of banning TikTok emerged previously in 2020, when former President Trump sought to force the sale of the Chinese-owned app. The controversy resulted in significant concessions, including promises by parent company ByteDance to store user data in the United States and submit its algorithm and moderation practices to regular screening by the US technology company Oracle.Hamas October 7 attack and Israels response have since reshuffled the United States foreign policy prerogatives. In recent days a recording of the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation Leagues director Jonathan Greenblatt reemerged in which the CEO lamented TikToks alleged influence in turning young Americans against Israel. Observers have speculated about the role of the Zionist lobby in pushing for the app to be banned.Horne acknowledged the connection but claimed the controversy signals something much broader.Obviously it seems that Washington feels that it has enough military muscle to impose a double standard, even on the world's second-largest economy, Horne observed. I dare say that that is euphemistically a misplaced optimism.Horne concluded that recent developments demonstrate the deteriorating position of US imperialism, which is especially threatened as the countrys ally Israel is discredited on the world stage. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/we-own-the-truth-how-freedom-of-speech-has-become-wests-nemesis-1116907345.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240306/us-censorship-industrial-complex-alive-and-well-1117154704.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230311/swift--severe-costs-us-lawmakers-push-sanctions-mechanism-to-deter-china-from-russia-support-1108287776.html china israel 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 tiktok, chinese influence, us intervention, us ingluenve, wester influrnvr, us-china competetion, us-chiuna votes, us - china war, us-china trade war, tiktok ban, no more tiktok, media censorship Ukraine Aims to Disrupt Voting in Russia by Actively Shelling Civil Infrastructure - Moscow The increased shelling of Russia's civil infrastructure by the Ukrainian armed forces is aimed at frightening Russian citizens and disrupting the voting in the country's presidential election, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. "The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the bloody crimes of the Kiev regime against civilians and civilian infrastructure ... The continued shelling of civilian infrastructure in our country by the Ukrainian armed forces is aimed at disrupting the expression of will by the civilian population, intimidating people and depriving them of the opportunity to vote," the ministry said in a statement. Kiev has significantly stepped up its "terrorist attacks" amid Russia's presidential election with an eye to obtaining more financial aid and weapons from the West, the ministry added. All attempts to influence the voting process in Russia with the use of "terrorist methods" are being recorded and will be investigated, the statement read. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/no-problems-whatsoever--french-election-observer-on-russian-presidential-vote-1117365969.html 'Election is Well Organized French Ex-MEP on Russian Presidential Vote 'Election is Well Organized French Ex-MEP on Russian Presidential Vote Sputnik International The ongoing Russian election is being observed by foreign representatives at polling stations throughout the country. Many have already shared their first impressions on the high level of organization 2024-03-16T11:37+0000 2024-03-16T11:37+0000 2024-03-28T12:40+0000 russia 2024 russian presidential election france russia donetsk european parliament senate donetsk peoples republic presidential election https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0f/1117343613_0:153:3101:1897_1920x0_80_0_0_f1bf0be1ff91eeaef4272acfba530c58.jpg Eight-one-year-old French politician Aymeri Francis Andre Philippe de Montesquiou-Fezensac d'Artagnan is visiting the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) for the first time. Having had an impressive career in the politics, he has been invited by the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation to work as an external election observer.The 21st century d'Artagnan comes from the same noble line as the captain of the French Royal Musketeers, a famous protagonist in the Alexander Dumas Sr.s novels.The politician noted that he had not noticed any problems at the polling stations and had received no complaints from either the voters or local observers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240315/italian-election-observer-tours-a-moscow-polling-station-1117350545.html france russia donetsk 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 russian presidential elections, elections in russia , 2024 elections https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/russias-fsb-detains-man-for-allegedly-plotting-terrorist-attack-on-trans-siberian-railway-1117365614.html Russia's FSB Detains Man for Allegedly Plotting Terrorist Attack on Trans-Siberian Railway Russia's FSB Detains Man for Allegedly Plotting Terrorist Attack on Trans-Siberian Railway Sputnik International The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday it had detained a Russian citizen for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on the Trans-Siberian Railway at the direction of Ukrainian intelligence 2024-03-16T10:35+0000 2024-03-16T10:35+0000 2024-03-16T10:35+0000 russia russia ukraine russian federal security service (fsb) trans-siberian railway https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/07/1113174802_0:35:3072:1763_1920x0_80_0_0_159345c36efc746f2e9c55534510705f.jpg "The Russian Federal Security Service has detained a Russian citizen ... who was planning to commit a terrorist attack at the Trans-Siberian railway junction in the Sverdlovsk Region at the direction of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. A criminal case has been initiated against the detainee," the FSB said in a statement. The detainee confessed to the crime and is cooperating with the investigation, the statement read. The detainee's criminal activities are being documented, the security agency added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/two-people-killed-three-injured-in-ukrainian-shelling-of-russias-belgorod---governor-1117363902.html 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 ukrainian attacks on russia, ukrainian terrorism, ukrainian terrorists in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/the-next-ukraine-us-positions-special-forces-one-mile-from-chinese-mainland-1117358246.html Next Proxy War: US Positions Special Forces One Mile from Chinese Mainland Next Proxy War: US Positions Special Forces One Mile from Chinese Mainland Sputnik International The United States is stoking tensions with China over Taiwan, which is internationally-recognized as a province of the Peoples Republic of China. 2024-03-16T04:21+0000 2024-03-16T04:21+0000 2024-03-16T06:06+0000 analysis us us hegemony china taiwan people's republic of china joe biden biden administration ww3 wwiii https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/10/1117358599_0:107:2300:1401_1920x0_80_0_0_cda73396a1a6def18ab0b96f64ffe3c5.jpg With this falls presidential election fast approaching, President Joe Biden is presiding over two major US-backed wars.In the Donbass, the United States supports Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an increasingly quixotic proxy conflict against one of the worlds foremost military powers. In occupied Gaza, the US provides limitless military aid as Israel engages in an operation against mostly unarmed Palestinians that has been deemed plausibly genocidal by the International Court of Justice.One might assume that two unpopular wars are enough for any president. Not so, say analysts Steve Poikonen and Jim Kavanagh, who joined Sputniks The Critical Hour program on Friday to discuss Bidens recent act of saber rattling thousands of miles away from the United States.These lunatics in the Biden administration are doubling down, tripling down, he claimed. If there isn't enough trouble, they're coming right up to China's border and looking for trouble.Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China, noted Kavanagh, who maintains a substack site at thepolemicist.net. That is the stance of the international [community], of the UN, it's the stance the official stance of the United States government This is as if China put a permanent presence of Chinese special forces troops on Long Island. I mean, this is crazy.Former President Richard Nixons engagement with the Peoples Republic of China brought an end to decades of US-led embargo on the country. Gradually, other countries warmed to the Communist-led government as well as international organizations recognized the PRC instead of breakaway leadership in Taiwan. China emerged as a major economic power as Western countries moved manufacturing there to take advantage of cheap labor costs.But emerging Chinese influence the Asian country now leads the world in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) has startled the United States. US relations with China have deteriorated in the years since former US President Barack Obama announced a pivot to Asia in an attempt to out-compete Beijing. More recently, observers worry war will break out as the United States seeks to guard its global hegemonic status.Meanwhile, Poikonen noted recent reports that a US Army restructuring will re-position Americas armed forces to fight a large-scale conflict in the Eastern Hemisphere. The effort will create at least three new task forces dedicated to combat in the Pacific region.News of the restructuring follows a $75 million US weapons package for authorities in Taiwan that will allow the islands armed forces to integrate with foreign military technology.We've known that there are US soldiers in Taiwan since they talked about sending training officers, he added. That's what they originally said about Vietnam. 'Oh, we're just sending some guys over to do a little bit of training. It's okay, they're going to be in a supervisory role, or an advisory capacity.' That's how all of these conflicts usually start. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230519/us-taiwan-clinch-21st-century-trade-pact-deal-amid-washington-beijing-tensions-1110454865.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230619/china-to-not-compromise-on-taiwan-issue-us-must-respect-chinas-sovereignty---reports-1111271140.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230223/us-reportedly-will-send-up-to-200-troops-to-taiwan-as-taipei-reveals-sending-500-to-train-in-us-1107746463.html china taiwan 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 taiwan conflict, taiwan war, taiwan independence, independent taiwan, us-china relations, us-china armed conflict, us-china war, third world war, ww3, wwiii, ww iii, ww 3, us vs china, china vs us, us troops, american soldiers, american bases, us-china tensions, china attacks american bases, china attacks us, china-us war, us-china war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/ukraine-conducted-experiments-on-patients-in-mariupol-testing-western-carcinogenic-drug---docs-show-1117357778.html Ukraine Conducted Experiments on Patients in Mariupol Testing Western Carcinogenic Drug - Docs Show Ukraine Conducted Experiments on Patients in Mariupol Testing Western Carcinogenic Drug - Docs Show Sputnik International Patients in the psychiatric ward of Mariupol Hospital No. 7 were not informed that a drug for rheumatoid arthritis, tested on them could potentially contribute to the growth of malignant tumors of the lymphatic and hematologic systems, documents obtained by Sputnik showed on Saturday. 2024-03-16T03:50+0000 2024-03-16T03:50+0000 2024-03-16T03:50+0000 world biolab ukrainian crisis ukrainian conflict ukraine crisis biowarfare cancer mariupol ukraine russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/10/1117357919_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_eaede3581c005c29147dc4609d0e9d3c.jpg The drug was tested at the commission of Western companies with the assistance of Ukrainian officials.The documents were found in the hospital basement during reconstruction works. They mainly outlined the tests of experimental drug SB4, which suppresses the action of molecules called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) that plays an important role in the immune system and is associated with inflammation in the joints. However, impaired biological functions of TNF- are also known to contribute to the development of malignant tumors. SB4 is produced by a number of pharmaceutical companies, including Biogen Idec Denmark Manufacturing ApS, Belgium's Catalent Pharma Solutions and Fisher Clinical Services UK Limited. South Korean biopharmaceutical giant Samsung Bioepis sponsored the tests. The documents include an investigator's brochure on SB4 in English, printed by Samsung Bioepis and marked as confidential. It said, among other things, that a "possible risk for the development of lymphomas, leukemia or other haematopoietic or solid malignancies in patients treated with a TNF-antagonist cannot be excluded." Children, adolescents, and young adults up to 22 years of age treated with a TNF- antagonist were also reported to be prone to malignancies, sometimes fatal. Other tumors potentially caused by the substance include melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, according to the brochure. Among the documents was also a study protocol SB4-G31-RA dated November 2013, which contained the text of the information sheet and consent form offered to experimental patients in Ukrainian and Russian. In terms of possible cancer-inducing side effects, it only mentioned that "in rare cases," up to one per 1,000 patients, another TNF- antagonist drug, Enbrel, caused skin cancer. The documents were compiled between 2008 and 2016. Among other things, they show that drugs were also tested on infants under the age of one year. The findings also included boxes with numerous envelopes from logistics companies and containers for biological materials with recipient addresses in laboratories in Switzerland, the UK, and the US. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/chilling-and-frightening-us-bioweapons-in-ukraine-pose-massive-risks-1109463019.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/us-working-on-universal-genetically-engineered-bioweapon-russian-parliamentary-investigation-1109381193.html mariupol ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us defense department, ukrainian biolab, us biolabs in ukraine, us biological weapons program, us biological weapons program, u.s. biological weapons program, biological threat reduction program locations, russia special military operation, russia-nato showdown, biological warfare, russian defense ministry, ukrainian labs, artificial diseases, us bio-research, american bioweapon, american biolabs, biowarfare, bioterrorism, biological threat, artificial infection, bioprogram, bioresearch, biohazard For this week's Rewind Robert Smith takes readers back in time as he recreates a day at the races; the way it used to be. A number of great old photographs help to tell the story of what it was like to attend an afternoon of harness racing at a small town track, way back when. The roots of harness racing are deeply embedded in race days at the small-town tracks across the land. Many towns had race tracks within their geographical limits. They were most often a focal point and used for many purposes. A number of years ago I wrote about this very subject and recalled the track in the small town where I grew up. There was never a race day in my lifetime, but I heard about them from some oldtimers in the community. Today the path of the track remains but only to those like me who remember where it once was. It is just a wide path in spots and part of the entrance in another. Each time I attend the fair I can visualize in my mind how it once was, and even the passage of time has not erased the memory of riding around it in a cutter with my father's trainer. (Does anyone remember a man named Benny Larocque from Carman, Manitoba?) Slowly but surely over the years and decades, our once quaint and useful tracks have disappeared one by one. Many have been consumed by urban sprawl, replaced by subdivisions or commercial ventures. Thankfully some have been converted into making the town park larger. The old wooden grandstands that were part of the facilities were replaced in the earlier years but eventually fell prey to neglect, decline and decay. Some were even consumed by fire and never replaced. A precious few remain as do a few saved photographs and countless old memories. A DAY AT THE RACES The old photographs shown below are intended to take readers back to what things looked like back in the day when races were held at a small-town track. These photos were taken at the old Rodney, Ont. track also referred to at times as Aldborough Downs. The date of the race day captured in the accompanying pictures was May 23, 1966, so almost 58 years ago. A packed grandstand was most often the sign of a good day of racing. Here is a view of the Rodney grandstand as racing fans of all ages take in the action. The starting gate with starter Art Whitesell perched in the back leads a field onto the track. Art was an automobile dealer in Tillsonburg and was among the very first people to build and operate a mobile starting gate. His first public appearance with his new gate was in 1947 at Grand Valley, Ont. Fans gather at the betting booth to place their wagers. One feature of this type of "book betting" the odds maker wrote the horses names on a chalkboard. After a careful inspection I was able to determine the horses in the upcoming event. The horses along with their order of finish were Noral Chief - scratch, September Morn C (4-5), Good Product (5-6), Teddy Hal (2-4), Candy Bonn (6-1), Hippodrome (1-2), Carol Knight (3-3). Here is the finish of one of the four races showing Candy Bonn cruising to victory. Race Day Summary Note: Each race carried a purse of $250, $125 each heat, so fans got to see eight races in total. Race 1 - In the opening heat the winner was a three-year-old filly Janice M Grattan owned by Stewart McDonald of Chatham and driven by Al Schweitzer. In the second heat the winner was Nancy Ann Grattan in rein to co-owner Frank Reid of Windsor who shared ownership with Richard Carter. Race 2 - In the opening heat Miss Maryl Ann was first home for owners Jack Lumley and Ted Thomas of Petrolia. The driver was Arnold "Bucky" Armstrong also of Petrolia. In the second heat Gunner Creed was the victor for driver and owner Ellis Dell of Becher, Ont. Race 3 - Three-year-old Easy Sara gave Ellis Dell another win in the opener. He co-owned this filly with his son Elwin. In the second, 11-year-old Davie Boy was the winner for veteran horseman Billy Nevels of Appin, owned by Reg Clark of Glencoe. Race 4 - Once again two winners, with Hippodrome in the opener with Ken Bogart in the bike for owner Nelson Srigley of Wheatley. In the second it was Candy Bonn owned by Otis and Ross Parr of London in the quickest time of the afternoon, 2:10.2. Note: All of the photographs appearing in today's Rewind are courtesy of the Elgin County Archives. Many thanks. Quote For The Week: With St. Patrick's Day being observed on March 17th, this one is dedicated to the Irish. It has been said that only a true Irishman answers a question with another question. Example: When asked "How old are you?" an Irishman answers with "How old are you?" Top O' The Mornin To Ya and Happy St. Patrick's Day To All! Where Is It? Can you identify the location of this once popular small-town Ontario track that held racing for a lot of years but not for many years now. Two clues; it is not Rodney and it is located east of Toronto. Good luck. Who Is It?? Help needed on this one. This nice clear photo came to me as a possible for the weekly Quiz but unfortunately without any names. It is supposed to have originated at a Maritime track, location not known. Perhaps someone in the audience can shine some light on it. Officials with Oak Grove Racing & Gaming have issued a notice to horsepeople racing at the Kentucky oval. The notice reads as follows: Attention Horsemen Racing at Oak Grove Racing: required health documentation will be checked at the stable gate before entering the backside. Coggins (EIA) must be within 12 months. A certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) in-state must be within 10 days, and an out-of-state CVI must be within three days. Please have physical documentation prepared. No photos will be accepted. Qualifiers will be held on Tuesday, March 19 with post time at 11 a.m. CST. Stalls are extremely limited. Do not ship horses to overnight without contacting the racing manager at 270-984-4310. (Oak Grove) ORANGE Two distinctive sites in and around the Town of Orange recently received a big environmental and economic investment for the future from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Gov. Glenn Youngkin in early February announced a total of $1.76 million in site remediation grants from the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund to assist in six localities. Orange County Economic Development received $500,000 for restoration work at the former Virginia Metal Industries site, a large industrial complex located along Old Gordonsville Road, along the railway and James Madison Highway, just south of town. Also received was $183,000 for the former Earls Glass Shop location on Caroline Street in the Town of Orange. The grants are to be used to redevelop brownfield sites and address environmental problems or obstacles to their reuse to attract new economic development prospects, according to the governors office. According to the EPA, a brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. It is estimated there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S., according to the agency. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land and both improves and protects the environment, according to the EPA. Administered by the Virginia Resources Authority, the Virginia Brownfield grants link the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Department of Environmental Quality. Redeveloping brownfield sites is a critical step to enhance community infrastructure and effectively attract economic development, and the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund is an important vehicle that helps localities across the commonwealth meet this goal, said Youngkin in a statement. We are taking proactive steps to remediate properties and drive future economic growth and are proud to support rural development in the City of Danville, the Town of Floyd, the City of Martinsville, Orange County and the Town of Pound with these grants. Orange County Economic Development and Tourism Interim Director Julie Perry said in a phone call, the county is always looking for redevelopment and development ideas for local properties. Both business owners are putting in a lot of resources as well, she said. These are prime opportunities with good developers, experienced business owners willing to tackle a big project. Perry said there were no concrete plans yet for reuse of the buildings. She added, We are super excited about these two projects and to see what the two owners decide to do. A 2021 Virginia Main Street feasibility study on the old Earls Glass Shop, located on a high-traffic corner, envisioned it as a burger joint with al fresco dining, local craft brews and regional vineyards, and use of ample greenspace abutting the property. The building, located at 141 Caroline St., and listed in the Orange Commercial Historic District National Register nomination, was constructed circa-1930 and originally served as a service station to support Oranges burgeoning automobile dealerships, according to Virginia Main Street. After nearly 40 years, the property was sold and retrofitted to house a small glass business. In May 2021, the building changed hands again and was bought by a local resident and business owner who wanted to ensure the landmarks preservation and reimagine its contribution to Oranges historic commercial district, according to Virginia Main Street. As for the expansive industrial property along Old Gordonsville Road, spanning 190,000 square feet of available space, Kentucky-based Snead & Company opened a location there in 1936. During World War II, the company manufactured pontons for boats and metal bridges, glider aircraft and fuel tanks for fighter aircraft, according to the Orange County Historical Society. The plant, located on the old fairgrounds tract, produced transport gliders for the U.S. Navy, which rapidly adopted the technology for military applications during the early war years, according to the historical society. At its height of production in 1945, the Orange facility employed more than 600 people. At the end of the war, the plant remained in Orange, becoming Virginia Metal Products, Inc., and rapidly transformed its operation to the design and manufacture of metal library book stacks and conveyors, of which they were a recognized industry pioneer, according to orangecovahist.org. The property was up for sale for years and was recently purchased by a Glen Allen developer, according to a 2022 article in The Real Estate Weekly. Potential reuses listed were a supermarket distribution center, meat processing, greenhouse, event center and for subdividing into smaller warehouse spaces. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick said ensuring project-ready sites in every region increases Virginias overall competitiveness and prosperity. Brownfield grants do just that, he added, paving a path for economic opportunity in rural communities across the commonwealth. We applaud each of the localities for their commitment to economic development and look forward to the redevelopment of these brownfield sites, Merrick said. Orange County is always seeking to attract new businesses while preserving the character of the community, said Perry. Rehabilitating brownfields is particularly gratifying work because it occurs at the intersection of old and new, she said. Rehabilitating and reutilizing existing properties to attract new businesses maximizes the utility of our available buildings and allows us to breathe new life into a space. Nestled in Brandy Station, the historic property at Liberty Hall Plantation has been home to many notable figures in early Virginia history and stands as a testament to Virginias rich historical tapestry. With roots dating back to the early 18th century, the storied estate has borne witness to the ebb and flow of time, serving as both a sanctuary for its inhabitants and a stage for pivotal moments in American history. Originally established by Robert Green, a stalwart figure in early Virginia society, Liberty Hall Plantation earned its name as a place where a man could be at his liberty. Green, a distinguished captain in the Orange County Militia, a respected member of the House of Burgesses and a Justice of the Peace, along with his wife, Eleanor, laid the foundation for what would become a cherished family legacy spanning nine generations. Throughout the centuries, Liberty Hall has been more than just a homestead it has been a hub of activity and resilience. From weathering the storms of the Civil War as a camp for both Union and Confederate forces to thriving as a center for agricultural excellence, the plantations history is as diverse as it is captivating. From its inception, Liberty Hall has been a bastion of agricultural innovation. Initially renowned for cattle and horses, the farm evolved with the times, boasting two bustling mills and a county store during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, under the stewardship of the Coleman family, it continues to flourish, specializing in beef production and serving as a premier destination for equestrian enthusiasts. Remaining at the forefront of agricultural ingenuity, Liberty Hall offers born, raised and finished beef the same way theyve been doing for over 300 years. It takes pride in providing customers with consistent purchasing options, offering whole, half or custom cuts of beef every month. This commitment to quality ensures patrons can enjoy the same exceptional taste and reliability that has been synonymous with Liberty Hall for generations. But Liberty Halls legacy extends far beyond its agricultural prowess. With miles of trails meandering through its picturesque 220-plus acres, the plantation has become a sanctuary for adventurers and history enthusiasts alike. For those seeking a tranquil retreat, a charming cottage nestled on the property overlooking a serene pond is available for vacation rentals a perfect getaway for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Annually, relic hunters scour the grounds for treasures buried beneath the surface, while a spring history day hosts students to experience the colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War history of the property. Moreover, Liberty Hall remains committed to fostering a sense of community and education. From hosting interscholastic polo teams to offering field hunt and riding lessons, the plantation serves as a beacon of tradition and learning, ensuring its legacy continues to resonate with future generations. We are very proud to continue building upon the dreams of our ancestors. We are hopeful that Liberty Hall will continue to be enjoyed by our descendants and the Virginia community for centuries to come, the Colemans said. As Liberty Hall Plantation proudly enters its third century of existence, its designation as a Century Farm not only honors its illustrious history, but also underscores its enduring commitment to preserving Virginias rich heritage. Learn more about Liberty Hall Plantation, their products, services, events and more at LibertyHallVA.com. Shelly Olsons mother, who has dementia, has lived at the Scandia Village nursing home in rural Sister Bay, Wisconsin, for almost five years. At first, Olson said, her mother received great care at the facility, then owned by a not-for-profit organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. Then in 2019, Sanford Health a not-for-profit, tax-exempt hospital system acquired the nursing home. The covid-19 pandemic struck soon after. From then on, the facility was regularly short of staff, and residents endured long wait times and other care problems, said Olson, a registered nurse who formerly worked at the facility. Now Scandia Village has a new, for-profit owner, Continuum Healthcare. Olson said she was reassured when Continuum hired two locals as the facilitys new administrator and nursing director. But Kathy Wagner, a former Scandia Village nursing director, is not optimistic. The for-profit owner will face the same problems, said Wagner, who is now retired and serves on an informal task force that monitors the facilitys quality of care. No one has articulated what the for-profit owner will bring to the table to change the picture. The sale of Scandia Village this year is part of a trend of for-profit companies, including private equity groups and real estate investment trusts, snapping up struggling not-for-profit nursing homes, many of which were operated for decades by Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish and other faith-based organizations. The pace of sales has ticked up, reaching a high last year, according to Ziegler Investment Banking. Since 2015, 900 not-for-profit nursing homes and senior living communities nationwide have changed hands, with more than half of them acquired by for-profit operators. For-profit groups own about 72% of the roughly 15,000 nursing homes in the United States, which serve more than 1.3 million residents. While overall for-profit ownership percentage hasnt notably increased in recent years, the type of for-profit companies that own these facilities has shifted toward private equity, real estate investment trusts, and complicated ownership structures, said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. Consumer advocates, researchers, and regulators are leery about this trend. They point to studies showing that nursing homes owned by for-profit companies particularly investors in private equity and real estate tend to have skimpier staffing, lower quality ratings and more regulatory violations. Motivated by these concerns, the Biden administration issued a rule last fall that requires nursing homes to disclose more information about their owners and management firms. Executives at not-for-profit organizations, as well as researchers who study nursing homes, wonder how for-profit companies can accomplish what the previous not-for-profit owners could not: reviving financially struggling nursing homes. I dont know where these investor groups can see savings without cutting back on the level of quality, Grabowski said. Part of the problem is that to boost profits, many for-profit operators set up a network of related companies to provide fee-based services such as management, physical therapy, and staffing. They also may sell a nursing homes real estate to a sister company, which then charges high rent. These payments cut into the available operating funds to provide adequate staffing and quality care. Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the for-profit owners of four nursing homes for financial fraud and resident neglect, alleging that they used more than $83 million in public funds to enrich themselves through a complex network of related companies while providing horrendous care. When nonprofits are sold, you start to see a precipitous decline in quality, said Sam Brooks, director of public policy for National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. Nonprofits generally staff well above for-profits. When churches and nonprofits divest these homes, for-profits move in, and the care gets really bad. The leaders of not-for-profits that have sold facilities to for-profit operators cite a variety of reasons for exiting or downsizing. Those reasons include state Medicaid payment rates that are too low to cover operating costs and a shortage of nursing and other staffers that makes it hard to maintain quality care. In addition, they say their facilities have seen fewer admissions, at least partly because Medicare Advantage plans have tightened coverage policies for rehabilitation care in nursing homes. Susan McCrary, chief executive of St. Ignatius Community Services in Philadelphia, said her organization sold its nursing home because it was losing money. She said low state Medicaid rates forced their hand, even after the state bolstered its Medicaid payments by 17.5% in January 2023. McCrary said the St. Ignatius board worried the losses would jeopardize the organizations ability to continue its mission of serving low-income seniors, for whom it also operates three independent-living and assisted living buildings. At the same time, our board definitely had concerns about selling to a for-profit because were aware of the research that shows the quality of care is not the same as with a nonprofit, McCrary said. But we knew we needed to move forward with this process to continue our services in West Philadelphia. Nate Schema, CEO of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, said his organization decided to sell some of its long-term care facilities to Continuum Healthcare, a New Jersey-based corporation, and a second company, Idaho-based Cascadia Healthcare, as part of its strategy to better serve its communities. Good Samaritan now operates in seven Midwestern states, down from 22 states. Consolidating markets better enables his organization to launch programs for nursing home residents in conjunction with Sanfords hospitals and clinics. Weve been very intentional about finding quality partners to carry on our mission, Schema said. Unfortunately, we havent seen a lot of nonprofit providers coming to us. Continuum, which took over Scandia Village nursing home in January, will address staffing shortages by improving wages, benefits, and career opportunities, said Tim Hodges, the corporations communications director. Continuum, which is owned by private investors and commercial lenders, owns eight nursing homes in four states. Similarly, Steve LaForte, Cascadias executive vice president, said his company has revived the finances of the nine Good Samaritan nursing homes it took over in the Pacific Northwest partly by attracting more patient referrals and strengthening relationships with state policymakers, in the hope it leads to more realistic Medicaid rates. He said Cascadia has also focused on workplace culture such as by not using workers from staffing agencies and on empowering those who run the individual facilities to select vendors for pharmacy, rehabilitation, and other services. Cascadia, he said, does not use tactics like contracting with sister vendors to boost its profits. That type of organization gives the whole industry a bad name, LaForte said. The overall perception of for-profit corporations is unfair, said Zach Shamberg, CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, because all nursing homes are struggling under inadequate Medicaid rates and high labor costs due to a shortage in workers. He said he hopes that Pennsylvanias Medicaid rate increase plus a new minimum staffing requirement and a mandate that 70% of total costs be dedicated to resident care will address the financial and quality issues. Nursing homes in Pennsylvania and across the country are also lobbying state lawmakers and the federal government to offer extra payments tied to quality outcomes for residents. If there arent for-profit entities to buy these facilities, these facilities are closing, which would exacerbate the existing access to care crisis as the population gets older, Shamberg said. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. The most expensive states for nursing home care The most expensive states for nursing home care Costs for nursing home care can run into six figures depending on where you live COVID-19 and inflation push costs higher in some states than others SCOTS: Keep the Sabbath and anything else they can get their hands on! WELSH: Pray on their knees and their neighbors! IRISH: Dont know what they want but, are willing to fight about it! ENGLISH: For some ungodly reason, want to keep it all together. Author unknown When I retired in 1998, my wife needed two additional years to qualify for retirement. Sadly, Mom had died in April of 1998; two months later, Dad passed. As executor of his will, I remained in the states a few months after Harlene returned to work. As soon as Id completed all I could do pertinent to Dads estate, I took a few days to rest, visit friends, and pack for my return trip to Japan. On the 12-hour flight from L.A. to Osaka, my recurring thought was: what will I do with this long-awaited freedom? It wasnt my first time to ponder my new status, but it was the first Id had for some serious, uninterrupted reflection. Finally, to get some sleep across the Pacific, I decided to allow myself a few days to get over jet-lag, then charge full-throttle with a basic plan of action (procrastination can be so seductive). On assuming my new role as house husband, one interest I soon began to pursue, although at a modest pace, was that of genealogy. A long-time friend and colleague had become engrossed his wife would later say, obsessed, with the subject. Hoping to publish a book detailing his Dutch heritage, hed even spent several summers in Salt Lake City, Utah, researching the Mormon archives for serious genealogists, this is like the Library of Congress of family histories. As computer technology rapidly advanced, it brought vastly enhanced research capabilities. So, though I remained curious about my heritage, I soon acknowledged I had neither the inclination nor the time and effort Vern lavished on his Dutch ancestry. At some point in my youth, Mom explained how I came to be named Daniel Wallace Mitchum. It was actually quite simple: my maternal grandmothers maiden name was Daniel; my paternal grandmothers maiden name was Wallace, ergo Daniel Wallace Mitchum. Some cursory research on my part revealed that Daniel is present in many European countries and is generally based on the Biblical prophet. Wallace is of Scottish origin and became renowned thanks to Mel Gibsons 1995 epic film, Braveheart. My state history course provided a basic background into why and how the Scots-Irish came to settle in colonial North Carolina. While visiting the Scottish Highlands nearly two decades ago, it was easy to understand how my ancestors felt so at home in the high country of western North Carolina. Mitchum, from what I could discern, is primarily of English origin, and like many names is represented by a variety of spellings and pronunciations. A distant cousin in Gastonia, has become the de facto expert on the Mitchum family tree. One of the interesting facts she shared about my limb, was that the patriarch of the family is one Nathaniel Mitchum, born in Lincoln County (NC) in 1780. My mothers maiden name was Saine. Though some of my research says its of French origin, Mom always claimed it was Irish. Truth be told, I never pursued this apparent contradiction. On sharing this conundrum with my friend Tom, an expert in all things French, he had this to say: She was right, of course! The second that I saw her last name, (it) registered that her ancestors certainly did come from France Her maiden name is pronounced as sehn in French, same as the River Seine. However, English speakers normally pronounce the name of the river as well as your mothers maiden name as we do the word sane, never so in French. Her ancestors came with my mothers family from France in 1066, but hers must have liked the bigger, red-headed Celt/Scandinavians up north. While I found this information most intriguing, it was still not sufficient to persuade me to hop onboard the genealogy search engine. My limited exploration did unearth one family tidbit that seemed surprisingly appropriate for my personality. According to one source, for several centuries the Latin motto that appeared on the Saine family crest was: medio tutissimus ibis, or Go most safely by the middle course. There are a handful of issues about which I have strong feelings, but generally, I see myself as a middle-of-the-road guy. Perhaps it stems from my counseling and psychology background, since on many issues, I hear myself saying, I can work both sides of the street on that issue. Politics-wise, Im a registered Independent. Consequently, for me, sticking to the middle course seems to be the Saine course of action. Even for those with a more ardent interest than I, pursuing ones Irish roots remains a challenge. Many records were destroyed when the National Archives in Dublin was burned during the Irish Civil War of 1922. Furthermore, many Irish immigrants (suspicious of government), gave immigration officials either St. Patricks Day or Christmas as their birthdays on arrival in the U.S. In the few times Ive discussed genealogy with folks, I enjoy saying with mock seriousness, that Some of my folks are Saine and some are not either way you take it youre probably right! Years ago, our family was traveling in Ireland and stopped in Limerick for lunch. My wife and I headed to a nearby pub, while our daughter went shopping. After lunch I made a visit to the loo. Returning to our table, I was stopped by some locals. Are you a Yank? Yes, I responded. We engaged in pleasant conversation for a few minutes before I offered, My late mother used to say that some of my ancestors were Irish. And what was her last name? asked one of the men. Saine, I replied. After a brief silence, the lone woman in the trio smiled at me. With a twinkle in her eye, and with her lyrical Irish brogue quipped, Ahhh, but there arrre no sane people in Ireland! Editors note: In the third of the Smyth County Spotlight series, Director of Community and Economic Development Kendra Hayden answers a series of questions to provide information and insights about her department. What does a typical workday look like for you? Economic development is so diverse. One day I might be working on a grant application for water and sewer infrastructure and another I might be meeting with local industry to discuss their operations and needs. There is no day that is the same, and that is what I love about what I do! Can you explain the basics of what Economic Development is? At its core, it is an avenue to retain and attract businesses. But more than that, its about promoting our people, our quality of life, and ensuring that Smyth County, Virginia, is known! I also serve as a connector someone who may not have all the answers but can connect you with someone who is the subject-matter expert. So no matter the roadblock or issue a company faces, I can help them find a path to success! Can you walk us through a typical project and explain the process and the key players? There really is no typical project. Each potential expansion or new location of a business varies greatly from one project to the next. But a great example of how layered a project can be is the last expansion of Scholle (SIG). From the onset of the project in late 2020 to announcement in June of 2022, there were multiple hurdles and barriers that we had to overcome. From lack of available land, the paramount need for a rail spur addition to stormwater management complications and last-minute infrastructure improvements, this project took collaboration to a whole new level! The local and regional economic development staff, County Administration, Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Authority, the Town of Chilhowie, our state partners at VEDP, and all the way up to the Governor, each one played an integral role that determined the overall success of the project. From negotiating a land swap with a neighboring facility, local contributions, and regional support for the rail spur addition to strategic planning and ensuring incentives were catered to the needs of the company. We were all devoted to making this project happen. There were just so many moving parts to Scholles expansion, so many variables that must be thought through that needed an immediate solution that it simply could not have happened without the unifying efforts and collaborative work. To watch the video about Scholles project, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50wlfYJEzp8. What are common misconceptions of Economic Development that you would like to address? I would first like to note that I genuinely appreciate ANY interest in our community growth by our citizens! I love when people ask questions and want to be involved; I would highly encourage folks to be as informed as possible. With that being said, I believe there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding what economic development is and what it provides the community. The most prevalent example in my opinion would be the mindset of Why dont we have and fill in the blank. Whether it is high-end hotels, restaurants, or retail stores, there is a misconception of what businesses we do or do not have within the county. Most dont realize there is a lengthy process to not only attract large-scale and chain businesses but to also prove that we can support continued operations of those businesses. There is actually a methodology and a science behind where businesses decide to go. What are the basics of how a company chooses a location for their operations? The process typically begins with a market identification. During this phase, the company looks at a communitys market based on supply chain needs, labor, overall tax burden, the potential federal, state and local incentives, and utility cost and real estate cost. Once potential markets are identified, the company proceeds to site identification. Within each market, they will identify and evaluate any potential sites or buildings that meet the needs of the company. Physical, legal and financial considerations are all evaluated to determine the viability of a site. A comparison of the sites identified across markets and all the different variables involved are then compiled to help the company make a decision. Beyond site selection, the other most important item to a company are the demographics of the location. These are characteristics of a community that define things like purchasing behaviors and disposable income amounts. Only when a locality meets all of the companies required metrics will they choose the location. This process can take months and even years, and is often extremely competitive throughout Virginia and across the United States. An Olympia man has pleaded guilty to crimes connected to the Net Nanny sting operation that arrested 15 men who were seeking sexual relationships with minors. Aaron Michael Henderson, 32, of Olympia stood quietly on Tuesday, March 12 in his jail uniform and confined behind a cage as presiding Cowlitz County Judge Thad Scudder accepted his guilty plea and revoked his bail. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24. Henderson is facing a sentence ranging from just over three to four years, according to court documents. Still, prosecutors are recommending that Henderson spend a minimum of four years in state prison, serve a lifetime of community custody, be compelled to take a psychosexual examination, have no contact with anyone younger than 16, and register as a sex offender. He was initially charged with four counts, including one count of attempted rape of a child in the first degree, one count of attempted rape of a child in the second degree, one count of attempted child molestation in the first degree, and one count of child molestation in the second degree. In exchange, prosecutors would recommend the dismissal of the two attempted rape of a child charges as well as one of the attempted child molestation charges. Per the plea agreement, he could have been sentenced from 15 years to nearly 20 years if convicted. Judge Scudder explained to Henderson that the Washington State Department of Corrections Indeterminate Sentence Review Board could hold him for the rest of his life if members sought fit. Two days after answering a planted, online classified ad, according to a police report, Henderson traveled from the Olympia area to Longview on Oct. 27, to meet who he thought was a middle-aged woman and her two underage children. Conversing with an undercover police officer the entire time, Henderson expressed hopes to engage in sexual activity with the children, whose ages range from 9 to 12 years old. During their exchange, which included emails and texting, Henderson told the undercover police officer that he has had sexual relationships with underage girls in the past and that he would bring condoms with him for their rendezvous. According to court records, four men have been convicted as a result of the November sting operation. DuckDB is an in-process database. Rather than relying on a server of its own, it's used as a client. The client can work with data in memory, within DuckDB's internal file format, database servers from other software developers and cloud storage services such as AWS S3. This choice to not centralise DuckDB's data within its own server, paired with being distributed as a single binary, makes installing and working with DuckDB much less complex than say, standing up a Hadoop Cluster. The project isn't aimed at very large datasets. Despite this, its ergonomics are enticing enough and it does so much to reduce engineering time that workarounds are worth considering. The rising popularity of analysis-ready, cloud-optimised Parquet files is removing the need for substantial hardware when dealing with datasets in the 100s of GBs or larger. DuckDB is primarily the work of Mark Raasveldt and Hannes Muhleisen. It's made up of a million lines of C++ and runs as a stand-alone binary. Development is very active with the commit count on its GitHub repo doubling nearly every year since it began in 2018. DuckDB uses PostgreSQL's SQL parser, Googles RE2 regular expression engine and SQLite's shell. SQLite supports five data types, NULL, INTEGER, REAL, TEXT and BLOB. I was always frustrated by this as working with time would require transforms in every SELECT statement and not being able to describe a field as a boolean meant analysis software couldn't automatically recognise and provide specific UI controls and visualisations of these fields. Thankfully, DuckDB supports 25 data types out of the box and more can be added via extensions. A min-max index is created for every column segment in DuckDB. This index type is how most OLAP database engines answer aggregate queries so quickly. Parquet and JSON extensions are shipped in the official build and their usage is well documented. Both Snappy and ZStandard compression are supported for Parquet files. DuckDB's documentation is well-organised and refreshingly terse with examples next to most descriptions. In this post, I'm going to see how fast DuckDB can run the 1.1 billion taxi rides benchmark. This dataset is made up of 1.1 billion taxi trips conducted in New York City between 2009 and 2015. This is the same dataset I've used to benchmark Amazon Athena, BigQuery, BrytlytDB, ClickHouse, Elasticsearch, EMR, Hydrolix, kdb+/q, MapD / OmniSci / HEAVY.AI, PostgreSQL, Redshift and Vertica. I have a single-page summary of all these benchmarks for comparison. My Workstation For this benchmark, I'm using a 6 GHz Intel Core i9-14900K CPU. It has 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores with a total of 32 threads and 32 MB of L2 cache. It has a liquid cooler attached and is housed in a spacious, full-sized, Cooler Master HAF 700 computer case. I've come across videos on YouTube where people have managed to overclock the i9-14900K to 9.1 GHz. The system has 48 GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 5,200 MHz and a 5th-generation, Crucial T700 4 TB NVMe M.2 SSD which can read at speeds up to 12,400 MB/s. There is a heatsink on the SSD to help keep its temperature down. This is my system's C drive. There is also a 2 TB SSD connected via a SATA interface which contains the original taxi rides dataset. This drive peaks around 5-600 MB/s. This is my system's D drive. The system is powered by a 1,200-watt, fully modular, Corsair Power Supply and is sat on an ASRock Z790 Pro RS Motherboard. I'm running Ubuntu 22 LTS via Microsoft's Ubuntu for Windows on Windows 11 Pro. In case you're wondering why I don't run a Linux-based desktop as my primary work environment, I'm still using an Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU which has better driver support on Windows and I use ArcGIS Pro from time to time which only supports Windows natively. DuckDB Up & Running I'll first install some dependencies that will be used in this post. $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install \ build-essential \ cmake \ pigz \ python3-virtualenv \ zip I'll then download and install the official binary for DuckDB v0.10.0 below. $ cd ~ $ wget -c https://github.com/duckdb/duckdb/releases/download/v0.10.0/duckdb_cli-linux-amd64.zip $ unzip -j duckdb_cli-linux-amd64.zip $ chmod +x duckdb $ ~/duckdb INSTALL parquet ; $ vi ~/.duckdbrc . timer on . width 180 LOAD parquet ; Importing 1.1 Billion Trips into DuckDB The dataset I'll be using is a data dump I've produced of 1.1 billion taxi trips conducted in New York City over six years. The raw dataset lives as 56 GZIP-compressed CSV files that are 104 GB when compressed and need 500 GB of space when decompressed. The Billion Taxi Rides in Redshift blog post goes into detail regarding how I put this dataset together and describes the columns it contains in further detail. I'll read the source data from /mnt/d/taxi which is on the SATA-connected SSD and create a DuckDB file /mnt/c/taxi/taxi.duckdb on the 5th-generation NVMe drive. $ cd /mnt/d/taxi/ $ vi create.sql Rather than rely on DuckDB's type inference, I'll create a table for the data ahead of time. This will ensure I have the right granularity of data types for each column. CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE trips ( trip_id BIGINT , vendor_id VARCHAR , pickup_datetime TIMESTAMP , dropoff_datetime TIMESTAMP , store_and_fwd_flag VARCHAR , rate_code_id BIGINT , pickup_longitude DOUBLE , pickup_latitude DOUBLE , dropoff_longitude DOUBLE , dropoff_latitude DOUBLE , passenger_count BIGINT , trip_distance DOUBLE , fare_amount DOUBLE , extra DOUBLE , mta_tax DOUBLE , tip_amount DOUBLE , tolls_amount DOUBLE , ehail_fee DOUBLE , improvement_surcharge DOUBLE , total_amount DOUBLE , payment_type VARCHAR , trip_type VARCHAR , pickup VARCHAR , dropoff VARCHAR , cab_type VARCHAR , precipitation BIGINT , snow_depth BIGINT , snowfall BIGINT , max_temperature BIGINT , min_temperature BIGINT , average_wind_speed BIGINT , pickup_nyct2010_gid BIGINT , pickup_ctlabel VARCHAR , pickup_borocode BIGINT , pickup_boroname VARCHAR , pickup_ct2010 VARCHAR , pickup_boroct2010 BIGINT , pickup_cdeligibil VARCHAR , pickup_ntacode VARCHAR , pickup_ntaname VARCHAR , pickup_puma VARCHAR , dropoff_nyct2010_gid BIGINT , dropoff_ctlabel VARCHAR , dropoff_borocode BIGINT , dropoff_boroname VARCHAR , dropoff_ct2010 VARCHAR , dropoff_boroct2010 VARCHAR , dropoff_cdeligibil VARCHAR , dropoff_ntacode VARCHAR , dropoff_ntaname VARCHAR , dropoff_puma VARCHAR ); $ ~/duckdb /mnt/c/taxi/taxi.duckdb < create.sql $ ~/duckdb /mnt/c/taxi/taxi.duckdb INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM read_csv ( 'trips_x*.csv.gz' ) ; Reads peaked at 60 MB/s but sat around ~40 MB/s and writes sat around ~20 MB/s on the SATA drive. CPU usage sat around 25% and DuckDB's RAM consumption quickly grew to around 22 GB. At one point, I could see I was about to run out of RAM so I cancelled the job. One CSV At A Time My second attempt at importing the CSVs into DuckDB was to import one CSV file at a time. $ for FILENAME in trips_x*.csv.gz ; do echo $FILENAME ~/duckdb -c "INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM READ_CSV(' $FILENAME ');" \ /mnt/c/taxi/taxi.duckdb done Initially, this worked well. Reads peaked at 60 MB/s but sat around ~40 MB/s and writes sat around ~20 MB/s on the SATA drive. DuckDB's RAM consumption peaked at around 10 GB during each import. CPU usage initially sat around 15-25% but eventually hit 100% as more and more CSVs were imported into DuckDB. When CPU consumption hit 100%, I noticed the overall clock rate dropped to 3.5 GHz and then again to 3.4 GHz before recovering into the 4 GHz range. Below is a screenshot from Speccy from around the same time. The import progressed well until the 36th CSV file but from there, progress halted with the CPU sat at 100%. The DuckDB file was around 70 GB at this point. After 45 minutes of very little disk activity and the CPU running at full throttle, I cancelled the job. Building Parquet Files My third attempt at benchmarking this dataset was to just convert each CSV file into a Parquet file and then query those. SSDs are consumables and at some point, can be expected to fail given enough usage. The 5th generation SSD cost me 616 whereas a new SATA-based SSD with 2 TB of capacity runs around ~100. For this reason, I'll run the benchmarks on the faster drive but I'll build the Parquet files on the cheaper drive. Normally I sort data by longitude as it results in the smaller Parquet files but to keep RAM consumption at a minimum, I'll not specify any particular order to DuckDB. $ for FILENAME in trips_x*.csv.gz ; do echo $FILENAME OUT = ` echo $FILENAME | sed 's/.csv.gz//g' ` touch working.duckdb rm working.duckdb ~/duckdb working.duckdb < create.sql ~/duckdb -c "INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM read_csv(' $FILENAME '); SET preserve_insertion_order=false; SET memory_limit='8GB'; COPY( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO ' $OUT .pq' (FORMAT 'PARQUET', CODEC 'ZSTD', ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000);" \ working.duckdb done The above peaked at around 20 GB in RAM consumption. The CSVs read anywhere between 40-120 MB/s and writes peaked around 120 MB/s at any one time. CPU consumption barely broke 20% during certain operations and would peak at 100% across all cores during other parts. Most of the GZIP-compressed CSV files are 1.9 GB in size and the resulting PQ files are around 1.5 GB. One Problematic CSV Unfortunately, DuckDB got stuck on trips_xbj.csv.gz . The CPU was maxed out with a working DuckDB file stuck at 868 MB of the ~2 GB that would normally be generated. I suspected the CSV was too large so I tried splitting it up into several 500K-line CSV files. $ pigz -dc trips_xbj.csv.gz \ | split --lines = 500000 \ --filter = "pigz > trips_xbj_\$FILE.csv.gz" $ for FILENAME in trips_xbj_x*.csv.gz ; do echo $FILENAME OUT = ` echo $FILENAME | sed 's/.csv.gz//g' ` touch working.duckdb rm working.duckdb ~/duckdb working.duckdb < create.sql ~/duckdb -c "INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM read_csv(' $FILENAME '); SET preserve_insertion_order=false; SET memory_limit='8GB'; COPY( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO ' $OUT .pq' (FORMAT 'PARQUET', CODEC 'ZSTD', ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000);" \ working.duckdb done When I ran the above DuckDB ended up getting stuck on trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz with the same symptoms as before. Compiling DuckDB I decided to compile the main branch of DuckDB and see if it could process the above CSV without issue. $ git clone https://github.com/duckdb/duckdb.git ~/duckdb_source $ cd ~/duckdb_source $ mkdir -p build/release $ cmake \ ./CMakeLists.txt \ -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE = RelWithDebInfo \ -DEXTENSION_STATIC_BUILD = 1 \ -DBUILD_PARQUET_EXTENSION = 1 \ -B build/release $ CMAKE_BUILD_PARALLEL_LEVEL = $( nproc ) \ cmake --build build/release I re-installed the Parquet extension for this distinct DuckDB build. $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb INSTALL parquet ; I then re-ran the CSV to Parquet conversion process on the problematic CSV. $ cd /mnt/d/taxi $ for FILENAME in trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz ; do echo $FILENAME OUT = ` echo $FILENAME | sed 's/.csv.gz//g' ` touch working.duckdb rm working.duckdb ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb working.duckdb < create.sql ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ -c "INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM read_csv(' $FILENAME '); SET preserve_insertion_order=false; SET memory_limit='8GB'; COPY( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO ' $OUT .pq' (FORMAT 'PARQUET', CODEC 'ZSTD', ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000);" \ working.duckdb done I was hoping that there was some sort of CSV parsing bug that had been fixed sometime in the past few weeks since the 0.10.0 release that might resolve the issue. Instead, I got an error message that I hadn't seen with the official binary release. Conversion Error: CSV Error on Line: 220725 Error when converting column "column20". Could not convert string "Cash" to 'BIGINT' file=trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz delimiter = , (Auto-Detected) quote = \0 (Auto-Detected) escape = \0 (Auto-Detected) new_line = (Auto-Detected) header = false (Auto-Detected) skip_rows = 0 (Auto-Detected) date_format = (Auto-Detected) timestamp_format = (Auto-Detected) null_padding=0 sample_size=20480 ignore_errors=0 all_varchar=0 The column names start from column00 . The 21st field is payment_type which is a VARCHAR. I'm not sure why DuckDB would want to cast it to a BIGINT. I've removed the readability spacing between the fields in create.sql . The first row is the CREATE TABLE statement so the 22nd line is the 21st field name and type. $ grep -n -B1 -A1 payment create.sql 21- total_amount DOUBLE, 22: payment_type VARCHAR, 23- trip_type VARCHAR, The field is a VARCHAR so I'm confused as to why DuckDB would want to cast it to a BIGINT. Ignoring Errors I'll run the CSV to Parquet conversion again with ignore_errors=true to see if I can get past this record and see if I can get the scope of how widespread this issue is. $ for FILENAME in trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz ; do echo $FILENAME OUT = ` echo $FILENAME | sed 's/.csv.gz//g' ` touch working.duckdb rm working.duckdb ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb working.duckdb < create.sql ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ -c "INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM read_csv(' $FILENAME ', ignore_errors=true); SET preserve_insertion_order=false; SET memory_limit='8GB'; COPY( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO ' $OUT .pq' (FORMAT 'PARQUET', CODEC 'ZSTD', ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000);" \ working.duckdb done There should be 500K records in the resulting Parquet file but there aren't even 280K. SELECT COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_xbj_xas.pq' ); count_star() int64 279904 I also found both trips_xbs.pq and trips_xbv.pq were collectively missing around 2M records as well. $ for FILENAME in trips_x*.pq ; do echo $FILENAME , ` ~/duckdb -csv -c "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM READ_PARQUET(' $FILENAME ')" ` done ... trips_xbs.pq, .. count_star() 19999999 trips_xbt.pq, .. count_star() 20000000 trips_xbu.pq, .. count_star() 20000000 trips_xbv.pq, .. count_star() 17874858 ... Troublesome Records This is the portion of the record DuckDB was complaining about. $ gunzip -c trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz \ | head -n220725 \ | tail -n1 \ > unparsable.csv $ grep -o '.*Cash' unparsable.csv 26948130,CMT,2009-01-10 11:24:50,2009-01-10 11:28:39,,,-73.980964,40.779387999999997,-73.97072,40.784225999999997,1,0.90000000000000002,4.5,0,,0,0,,,4.5,Cash Below I'll use DuckDB to read the record in and see which field the 'Cash' value lands on. $ ~/duckdb . mode line SELECT COLUMNS ( c -> c LIKE 'column0%' OR c LIKE 'column1%' or c LIKE 'column20' ) FROM READ_CSV ( 'unparsable.csv' ); column00 = 26948130 column01 = CMT column02 = 2009-01-10 11:24:50 column03 = 2009-01-10 11:28:39 column04 = column05 = column06 = -73.980964 column07 = 40.779388 column08 = -73.97072 column09 = 40.784226 column10 = 1 column11 = 0.9 column12 = 4.5 column13 = 0 column14 = column15 = 0 column16 = 0 column17 = column18 = column19 = 4.5 column20 = Cash The 'Cash' value is on the 21st column so this doesn't look like an alignment issue. The CSV file can be parsed by a comma delimiter alone as none of the cell values contain commas. Below I'll annotate the first 21 rows of the CSV data with a row number as a double check that 'Cash' should appear in the 21st column. $ python3 s = '''26948130,CMT,2009-01-10 11:24:50,2009-01-10 11:28:39,,,-73.980964,40.779387999999997,-73.97072,40.784225999999997,1,0.90000000000000002,4.5,0,,0,0,,,4.5,Cash''' for n , v in enumerate ( s . split ( ',' ), start = 1 ): print ( n , v ) 1 26948130 2 CMT 3 2009-01-10 11:24:50 4 2009-01-10 11:28:39 5 6 7 -73.980964 8 40.779387999999997 9 -73.97072 10 40.784225999999997 11 1 12 0.90000000000000002 13 4.5 14 0 15 16 0 17 0 18 19 20 4.5 21 Cash Converting with ClickHouse I'm not sure how to resolve the issue with DuckDB in a timely manner. As a workaround, I'll use ClickHouse to produce the remaining Parquet files. $ cd ~ $ curl https://clickhouse.com/ | sh $ cd /mnt/d/taxi $ ~/clickhouse local CREATE TABLE trips ( trip_id INT , vendor_id VARCHAR ( 3 ), pickup_datetime TIMESTAMP , dropoff_datetime TIMESTAMP , store_and_fwd_flag VARCHAR ( 1 ), rate_code_id SMALLINT , pickup_longitude DECIMAL ( 18 , 14 ), pickup_latitude DECIMAL ( 18 , 14 ), dropoff_longitude DECIMAL ( 18 , 14 ), dropoff_latitude DECIMAL ( 18 , 14 ), passenger_count SMALLINT , trip_distance DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), fare_amount DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), extra DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), mta_tax DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), tip_amount DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), tolls_amount DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), ehail_fee DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), improvement_surcharge DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), total_amount DECIMAL ( 18 , 6 ), payment_type VARCHAR ( 3 ), trip_type SMALLINT , pickup VARCHAR ( 50 ), dropoff VARCHAR ( 50 ), cab_type VARCHAR ( 6 ), precipitation SMALLINT , snow_depth SMALLINT , snowfall SMALLINT , max_temperature SMALLINT , min_temperature SMALLINT , average_wind_speed SMALLINT , pickup_nyct2010_gid SMALLINT , pickup_ctlabel VARCHAR ( 10 ), pickup_borocode SMALLINT , pickup_boroname VARCHAR ( 13 ), pickup_ct2010 VARCHAR ( 6 ), pickup_boroct2010 VARCHAR ( 7 ), pickup_cdeligibil VARCHAR ( 1 ), pickup_ntacode VARCHAR ( 4 ), pickup_ntaname VARCHAR ( 56 ), pickup_puma VARCHAR ( 4 ), dropoff_nyct2010_gid SMALLINT , dropoff_ctlabel VARCHAR ( 10 ), dropoff_borocode SMALLINT , dropoff_boroname VARCHAR ( 13 ), dropoff_ct2010 VARCHAR ( 6 ), dropoff_boroct2010 VARCHAR ( 7 ), dropoff_cdeligibil VARCHAR ( 1 ), dropoff_ntacode VARCHAR ( 4 ), dropoff_ntaname VARCHAR ( 56 ), dropoff_puma VARCHAR ( 4 ) ) ENGINE = Log ; INSERT INTO trips SELECT * FROM file ( 'trips_xbj_xas.csv.gz' , CSV ); SELECT * FROM trips INTO OUTFILE 'trips_xbj_xas.pq' FORMAT Parquet ; 500000 rows in set. Elapsed: 2.427 sec. Processed 500.00 thousand rows, 290.10 MB (205.99 thousand rows/s., 119.51 MB/s.) Peak memory usage: 418.85 MiB. I tried to get DuckDB to read the above Parquet file but it wasn't able to. $ ~/duckdb SELECT cab_type , COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_xbj_xas.pq' ) GROUP BY cab_type ; Error: Invalid Error: Unsupported compression codec "7". Supported options are uncompressed, gzip, snappy or zstd Examining ClickHouse's Parquet File I've been working on a Parquet debugging tool. I'll use it to examine the compression scheme ClickHouse is using. $ git clone https://github.com/marklit/pqview \ ~/pqview $ virtualenv ~/.pqview $ source ~/.pqview/bin/activate $ python3 -m pip install \ -r ~/pqview/requirements.txt $ python3 ~/pqview/main.py \ most-compressed \ trips_xbj_xas.pq \ | grep compression compression: LZ4 ClickHouse changed its default Parquet compression scheme from Snappy to LZ4 at some point last year. LZ4 is great but DuckDB doesn't support it. I'll rebuild the Parquet file using a ClickHouse compatibility setting that'll revert to using Snappy compression instead. SELECT * FROM trips INTO OUTFILE 'trips_xbj_xas.pq' FORMAT Parquet SETTINGS compatibility = '23.2' ; $ python3 ~/pqview/main.py \ most-compressed \ trips_xbj_xas.pq \ | grep compression compression: SNAPPY With ClickHouse able to produce the Parquet files using Snappy, I also re-processed I both trips_xbs.pq and trips_xbv.pq . I had issues importing them into ClickHouse with trips_xbv.pq stalling at the 15.73M-row point. I had to break them both into 4 x 5M-line CSV files to get them imported without issue. ClickHouse exports timestamps as uint64s to Parquet instead of timestamps. I used DuckDB to convert these fields back into timestamps. Please excuse the lack of a for loop. $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb working.duckdb SET preserve_insertion_order = false ; SET memory_limit = '8GB' ; CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE trips AS SELECT * EXCLUDE ( pickup_datetime , dropoff_datetime ), MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( pickup_datetime * 1000000 ) AS pickup_datetime , MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( dropoff_datetime * 1000000 ) AS dropoff_datetime , FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_xbj_xas.pq' ); COPY ( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO 'trips_xbj_xas_ts.pq' ( FORMAT 'PARQUET' , CODEC 'ZSTD' , ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000 ); CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE trips AS SELECT * EXCLUDE ( pickup_datetime , dropoff_datetime ), MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( pickup_datetime * 1000000 ) AS pickup_datetime , MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( dropoff_datetime * 1000000 ) AS dropoff_datetime , FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_xbs.pq' ); COPY ( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO 'trips_xbs_ts.pq' ( FORMAT 'PARQUET' , CODEC 'ZSTD' , ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000 ); CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE trips AS SELECT * EXCLUDE ( pickup_datetime , dropoff_datetime ), MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( pickup_datetime * 1000000 ) AS pickup_datetime , MAKE_TIMESTAMP ( dropoff_datetime * 1000000 ) AS dropoff_datetime , FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_xbv.pq' ); COPY ( SELECT * FROM trips ) TO 'trips_xbv_ts.pq' ( FORMAT 'PARQUET' , CODEC 'ZSTD' , ROW_GROUP_SIZE 15000 ); Double Checking There should be 1,086,709,191 yellow cab records and 26,943,827 green cab records in a complete 1.1 billion taxi rides dataset. I ran the following to check that this was the case with these Parquet files. Mark Raasveldt fixed a progress bar bug a few days ago so I'll use the newly compiled version of DuckDB from here on. $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb SELECT cab_type , COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_x*.pq' ) GROUP BY cab_type ; cab_type count_star() varchar int64 yellow 1086709191 green 26943827 The Parquet Benchmark I copied the Parquet files onto the 5th-generation SSD before running the following benchmark. The following were the fastest times I saw after running each query multiple times on the Parquet files. The following completed in 36.942 seconds. SELECT cab_type , COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_x*.pq' ) GROUP BY cab_type ; The following completed in 51.085 seconds. SELECT passenger_count , AVG ( total_amount ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_x*.pq' ) GROUP BY passenger_count ; The following completed in 60.656 seconds. SELECT passenger_count , DATE_PART ( 'year' , pickup_datetime ) AS year , COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_x*.pq' ) GROUP BY passenger_count , year ; The following completed in 92.124 seconds. SELECT passenger_count , DATE_PART ( 'year' , pickup_datetime ) AS year , ROUND ( trip_distance ) AS distance , COUNT ( * ) FROM READ_PARQUET ( 'trips_x*.pq' ) GROUP BY passenger_count , year , distance ORDER BY year , count ( * ) DESC ; An Alternative Code Path After the initial publication of this post, Mark Raasveldt reached out and let me know that the COPY command uses an alternative code path to READ_CSV() and that loading the dataset into DuckDB's internal format via this method would be both more reliable and result in faster benchmark numbers. I removed any .csv.gz files from the SATA-connected SSD that weren't in the original dataset and made sure only the 56 original files remained to avoid record duplication. I then ran the following. $ touch working.duckdb $ rm working.duckdb $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ working.duckdb \ < create.sql $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ working.duckdb \ -c "COPY trips FROM 'trips*.csv.gz';" RAM consumption quickly grew to 22 GB before levelling off. The SSD was writing at 50-150 MB/s and usually reading at 5-10 MB/s while the CPU was almost idle at 5-10%. The job ran for ~3-4 hours before reaching 91% and then abruptly being killed. I'm not sure why this happened as there was ample RAM available on the system. During the ~3.5 hours there were sustained writes of ~70 MB/s on average which means the SSD would have had ~860 GB written to it despite the DuckDB file only growing to ~90 GB. Given SSDs can wear out this is something to take into consideration if you're using your own hardware. I made a second attempt at using the COPY command. This time, I imported files one at a time. This job ended up finishing in 75 minutes. The RAM consumption only peaked around 6 GB and the CPU hovered between 15-30% during this time. $ touch working.duckdb $ rm working.duckdb $ ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ working.duckdb \ < create.sql $ for FILENAME in trips_*.csv.gz ; do echo ` date ` , $FILENAME ~/duckdb_source/build/release/duckdb \ -c "COPY trips FROM ' $FILENAME ';" \ working.duckdb done The resulting DuckDB file was 113 GB. I checked the record count before copying it over to the 5th-generation SSD. SELECT cab_type , COUNT ( * ) FROM trips GROUP BY cab_type ; cab_type count_star() varchar int64 green 26943827 yellow 1086709191 One interesting aspect of DuckDB is its wide variety of compression schemes. Some of these, like Adaptive Lossless Floating-Point Compression (ALP), are unique to DuckDB. Any one field can have any number of these schemes used to compress their individual row-groups. DuckDB decides automatically which scheme to use on a per-row-group-basis. Below are the row-group counts for each compress scheme for each of the fields in the trips table. WITH pivot_alias AS ( PIVOT PRAGMA_STORAGE_INFO ( 'trips' ) ON compression USING COUNT ( * ) GROUP BY column_name , column_id ORDER BY column_id ) SELECT * EXCLUDE ( column_id ) FROM pivot_alias ; column_name ALP ALPRD BitPacking Constant Dictionary FSST RLE Uncompressed varchar int64 int64 int64 int64 int64 int64 int64 int64 trip_id 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 vendor_id 0 0 0 9426 9425 1 0 0 pickup_datetime 0 0 28218 9426 0 0 0 0 dropoff_datetime 0 0 28218 9426 0 0 0 0 store_and_fwd_flag 0 0 0 888 9283 143 0 8538 rate_code_id 0 0 439 10965 0 0 7445 3 pickup_longitude 18636 0 0 0 0 0 0 9426 pickup_latitude 15872 2663 0 0 0 0 0 9426 dropoff_longitude 19353 0 0 0 0 0 0 9426 dropoff_latitude 16789 2663 0 0 0 0 0 9426 passenger_count 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 trip_distance 9426 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 fare_amount 9426 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 extra 9426 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 mta_tax 197 0 0 10085 0 0 8180 390 tip_amount 9426 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 tolls_amount 5907 0 0 9426 0 0 3519 0 ehail_fee 0 0 0 18852 0 0 0 0 improvement_surcharge 192 0 0 18102 0 0 549 9 total_amount 9427 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 payment_type 0 0 0 9426 9425 1 0 0 trip_type 0 0 0 9340 9416 10 0 86 pickup 0 0 0 0 8798 628 0 9426 dropoff 0 0 0 0 8311 1115 0 9426 cab_type 0 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 precipitation 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 snow_depth 0 0 2362 16249 0 0 241 0 snowfall 0 0 2262 15614 0 0 976 0 max_temperature 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 min_temperature 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 average_wind_speed 0 0 9426 9426 0 0 0 0 pickup_nyct2010_gid 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 9426 pickup_ctlabel 0 0 0 0 7685 1741 0 9426 pickup_borocode 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 9426 pickup_boroname 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 pickup_ct2010 0 0 0 0 9323 187 0 9426 pickup_boroct2010 0 0 18354 0 0 0 235 9426 pickup_cdeligibil 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 pickup_ntacode 0 0 0 0 9403 40 0 9426 pickup_ntaname 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 pickup_puma 0 0 0 0 9424 3 0 9426 dropoff_nyct2010_gid 0 0 647 0 0 0 8779 9426 dropoff_ctlabel 0 0 0 0 6843 2583 0 9426 dropoff_borocode 0 0 9426 0 0 0 0 9426 dropoff_boroname 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 dropoff_ct2010 0 0 0 0 9221 369 0 9426 dropoff_boroct2010 0 0 0 0 9301 247 0 9426 dropoff_cdeligibil 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 dropoff_ntacode 0 0 0 0 9407 31 0 9426 dropoff_ntaname 0 0 0 0 9426 0 0 9426 dropoff_puma 0 0 0 0 9421 8 0 9426 51 rows 9 columns Wade Beckman said crawfish season is like Christmas for seafood and Cajun restaurants. At Beckmans Shipwreck Grill in Bryan, the four-month mudbug season typically brings in tens of thousands of dollars in revenue, enough to float a restaurant for the entire year. For restaurants like Beckmans Shipwreck Grill, he said this years crawfish season is comparable to a retail store in the mall having its sales from Thanksgiving weekend to January canceled. This season isnt just a season where things arent quite so good or, Hey, its a little worse than previous seasons, Beckman said. I mean, its abysmal. This years crawfish crop has taken a serious hit for different factors in both Texas and Louisiana, where a vast majority of the nations crawfish is produced. Looming over both was last years drought and record-high temperatures throughout the summer. As a result, crawfish farmers are harvesting way less than normal. Demand remains the same, though, which means record-high prices for restaurant goers, like those at Shipwreck Grill. Weve had a series of events that have all kind of occurred together at the same time and its hit [Louisianas] industry much harder than [Texas], so its kind of been a perfect storm this season, said Todd Sink, an AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist. Sink said hes talked with a couple of crawfish farmers that usually harvest 300 sacks of the crustaceans per day. This year, theyve been lucky to get 30 sacks per day. When you talk about dropping to one-tenth of your production, its getting to the point of: economically, is it viable for me to continue going out there and continue to harvest and spend this labor, gas and fuel every day to not bring back enough to cover my expenses? said Sink, who also serves as director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Lab. Louisiana is by far the largest crawfish producer in America with over 300,000 production acres. Texas is a distant second with 9,500 acres. In the Pelican State, Sink explained how producers have also had to deal with disease white spot syndrome and invasive apple snails that compete with crawfish for food in the rice fields where crawfish typically grow. In 2023, Texas had its second-warmest summer on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with an average high of 98.3 degrees. The scorching summer included a 50-day streak of 100-degree high temperatures in Bryan-College Station. Crawfish tend to grow in black soil that is thick, dark, rich and organic, Sink said, but the record heat caused everything to dry out with soil temperatures reported as high as 140 degrees. You take no water, 140 degrees Fahrenheit, youre just cooking those crawfish in their burrows, Sink said. So, the heat killed a lot of them. What was able to find enough water or go deep enough to survive, there just wasnt enough numbers for reproduction. The crawfish that survived the summer and emerged when fields were reflooded this winter then had to make it through the coastal freeze in January, Sink said. He said from the 1970s through mid-2000s, the Texas coast only had freezes every 10 years. In the last six years, theres been three. Thats an uncommon weather pattern, he said. That late freeze, if it didnt outright kill them, which it doesnt necessarily do that, what it does is since theyre cold-blooded, it slows down their forage. Theyre not eating, theyre not growing, so it really delays the harvest. Theyre not eating, so theyre not moving and going to traps or bait to be caught. In Texas, most crawfish farming is done along the Interstate 10 corridor between east Houston and Beaumont within 30 miles of the Gulf Coast. Sink said although there have been some industry differences that have allowed Texas to do a little better than Louisiana, the Texas crawfish industry is so small theres not enough supply to offset things. He noted most crawfish consumed in Texas still come from Louisiana. If you stop harvesting now, theyll be there to reseed and rebuild that population for next year, Sink said. If you continue to harvest, youre hurting next years crop even more. So, a lot of people are choosing to shut down now to save what they can and hopefully have a better crop next year. Before this year, the highest prices Beckman recalls seeing for live crawfish was $4.50 per pound at the beginning of one season. At the start of this season, he said live crawfish were going for $11 per pound. While that price has come down, Beckman said the quality of crawfish has remained poor. When live crawfish come to Shipwreck, Beckman said they remove any dead crawfish before theyre cooked. Last weekend, Shipwreck received five bags of crawfish and ended up throwing away over a full bag, which equated to around 8 pounds. Beckman said its part of the poor crawfish yield. Shipwreck typically begins to sell crawfish sometime in late January or early February. In other years, the restaurant has sold crawfish every night for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. This year, Shipwreck didnt serve crawfish for the first time until last weekend. We lost money on every single pound of crawfish we sold, Beckman said, but it does bring in a lot of people so its finding that balance. Live crawfish in College Station are going for $6 to $6.50 per pound right now compared to $3 per pound at this time last year, according to an AgriLife report Thursday. AgriLife reported boiled crawfish prices were $3 to $5 higher per pound compared to last year. Boiled crawfish were selling for between $10 and $12 per pound in College Station. In January, Sink told people he thought there might be hope for this years crawfish season. Now, hes telling people this is the best its going to get. On the bright side, Sink said crawfish can repopulate quickly and added the crop could rebound well next year if producers slow down harvesting. The weather has been the big thing affecting crawfish harvest every year for the last 5-6 years, Sink said. Its been so unpredictable with droughts, floods, hurricanes. We just havent seen anything like this historically. As long as the weather cooperates, the industry can recover fairly quickly. Were hoping for a decent season next year. Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF (NYSEARCA:JSTC Get Free Report)s share price was up 0.2% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $17.65 and last traded at $17.65. Approximately 21,305 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 29,743 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.61. Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF Price Performance The company has a market cap of $153.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.47 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $17.12 and a 200 day moving average price of $16.33. Get Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of JSTC. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF during the third quarter valued at $200,000. OLD Mission Capital LLC increased its position in Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF by 91.7% in the 1st quarter. OLD Mission Capital LLC now owns 35,628 shares of the companys stock worth $559,000 after purchasing an additional 17,041 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $541,000. About Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF The Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF (JSTC) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Adasina Social Justice index. The fund is an actively managed fund of global companies screened for social justice criteria. JSTC was launched on Dec 10, 2020 and is managed by Adasina. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Adasina Social Justice All Cap Global ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report released on Wednesday morning. A number of other brokerages have also commented on ARE. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $145.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $140.00 price target on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $137.13. Get Alexandria Real Estate Equities alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Alexandria Real Estate Equities Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE ARE opened at $123.75 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $21.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 229.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 1.05. Alexandria Real Estate Equities has a 52-week low of $90.73 and a 52-week high of $135.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.26. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $122.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $114.02. Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.54) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.29 by ($2.83). The company had revenue of $757.22 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $740.16 million. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 3.59% and a return on equity of 0.46%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.14 EPS. Analysts expect that Alexandria Real Estate Equities will post 9.47 EPS for the current year. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Dividend Announcement 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 paid a dividend of $1.27 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.11%. Alexandria Real Estate Equitiess payout ratio is 940.74%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Peter M. Moglia sold 3,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $122.90, for a total value of $393,280.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 249,683 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,686,040.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Alexandria Real Estate Equities news, Chairman Joel S. Marcus sold 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.92, for a total transaction of $891,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 429,538 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,080,658.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Peter M. Moglia sold 3,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.90, for a total transaction of $393,280.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 249,683 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,686,040.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ARE. Oakworth Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC acquired a new stake in Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 340.9% in the 4th quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 194 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 61.7% in the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 291 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 275.8% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 233 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.36% of the companys stock. About Alexandria Real Estate Equities (Get Free Report) Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alexandria Real Estate Equities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the ten research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is 117.13 ($150.06). A number of brokerages have commented on AZN. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. BMO Capital Markets restated an outperform rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday, February 12th. UBS Group dropped their target price on AstraZeneca from 107 ($137.09) to GBX 9,900 ($126.84) and set a sell rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a sell rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday. Get AstraZeneca alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on AstraZeneca AstraZeneca Price Performance AstraZeneca Increases Dividend Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at 102.94 ($131.89) on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is 103.27 and its 200 day moving average price is 104.60. The stock has a market capitalization of 159.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,454.36, a PEG ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.17. AstraZeneca has a twelve month low of GBX 9,461 ($121.22) and a twelve month high of 123.92 ($158.77). The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 75.70. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 22nd will be issued a GBX 156 ($2.00) dividend. This is a positive change from AstraZenecas previous dividend of $71.80. This represents a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. AstraZenecas payout ratio is currently 7,651.01%. About AstraZeneca (Get Free Report AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AstraZeneca Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AstraZeneca and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC reduced its stake in shares of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ Free Report) by 10.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 83,164 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 9,238 shares during the quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLCs holdings in Invesco were worth $1,484,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Vident Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 18,261 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $329,000 after buying an additional 780 shares during the period. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 22.8% during the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 4,323 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 804 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Planning Co of New England Inc. now owns 18,868 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $317,000 after buying an additional 818 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Invesco by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 20,127 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $292,000 after buying an additional 843 shares during the period. Finally, Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners increased its holdings in Invesco by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners now owns 32,698 shares of the asset managers stock worth $475,000 after purchasing an additional 933 shares during the last quarter. 66.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Invesco alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades IVZ has been the topic of several analyst reports. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Invesco in a report on Thursday, January 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $21.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Invesco from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. TheStreet downgraded Invesco from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Invesco from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on Invesco from $21.00 to $19.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Invesco has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.15. Invesco Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of Invesco stock opened at $15.43 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $16.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 5.01 and a quick ratio of 5.01. The company has a market capitalization of $6.93 billion, a P/E ratio of -20.81, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.43. Invesco Ltd. has a 1-year low of $12.48 and a 1-year high of $18.71. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The asset manager reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.07. Invesco had a positive return on equity of 7.93% and a negative net margin of 1.70%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.39 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.71 EPS for the current year. Invesco Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.18%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -108.11%. Invesco Company Profile (Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVZ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report) by 9.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 34,776 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 3,820 shares during the period. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLCs holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $1,553,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 149.6% during the 3rd quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 684 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 49.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 394 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Dominion Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. 70.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Dominion Energy alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages recently commented on D. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. StockNews.com cut shares of Dominion Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Dominion Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $49.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, March 11th. Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of Dominion Energy from $50.00 to $49.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $47.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $49.90. Insider Activity In related news, Director Joseph M. Rigby acquired 2,130 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $46.94 per share, with a total value of $99,982.20. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 8,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $395,093.98. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Dominion Energy news, Director Joseph M. Rigby bought 2,130 shares of Dominion Energy stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $46.94 per share, with a total value of $99,982.20. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 8,417 shares in the company, valued at $395,093.98. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Robert M. Blue bought 21,735 shares of Dominion Energy stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $45.91 per share, with a total value of $997,853.85. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 176,240 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,091,178.40. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.14% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Dominion Energy Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of Dominion Energy stock opened at $47.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $40.07 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.61. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $39.18 and a 52-week high of $58.69. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $45.82. Dominion Energy (NYSE:D Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.40 by ($0.11). The firm had revenue of $3.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.21 billion. Dominion Energy had a return on equity of 8.83% and a net margin of 12.40%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.06 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 2.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. Dominion Energy Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.6675 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $2.67 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.58%. Dominion Energys payout ratio is 114.59%. About Dominion Energy (Free Report) Dominion Energy, Inc produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through three operating segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Energy. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.8 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding D? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dominion Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dominion Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) Director Darrel Hackett sold 3,297 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$91.76, for a total transaction of C$302,532.72. Bank of Montreal Stock Up 0.2 % BMO stock opened at C$127.11 on Friday. The company has a market cap of C$92.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.48, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a 50 day moving average of C$126.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$119.22. Bank of Montreal has a 12-month low of C$102.67 and a 12-month high of C$132.11. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Bank of Montreal Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 26th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.75%. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 83.08%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. National Bankshares reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$141.00 to C$137.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$137.00 to C$136.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. TD Securities reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$140.00 to C$135.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$138.00 to C$128.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. Finally, Desjardins reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$133.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$132.39. View Our Latest Research Report on Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal Company Profile (Get Free Report) Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UNITED NATIONS, March 15 (Xinhua) -- China regrets that a just adopted Security Council resolution on Afghanistan failed to reflect the latest developments in the country, said a Chinese envoy on Friday. China voted in favor of the draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The positive vote was based on China's support for the work of the United Nations and Special Representative Roza Otunbayeva, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. At the same time, China regrets that the draft resolution failed to reflect the latest developments in Afghanistan by keeping pace with the times, he said in an explanation of vote. Two and a half years after the withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan is seeing an overall stable domestic situation, improvement in its economy and people's livelihoods, and sustained expansion of regional cooperation although it still faces severe challenges in the humanitarian situation, economic development, and the terrorist risks, said Geng. "The international community should strengthen its engagement with the Afghan interim government to ensure humanitarian assistance on the one hand, and provide more help in mine clearance, alternative cultivation, restoration of the banking system, unfreezing of overall assets, and safeguarding the rights and interests of the entire population on the other," he said. "The draft resolution submitted by the penholder gives the impression that the situation (in Afghanistan) has remained unchanged for over two years, which is clearly a disconnect with reality." Since its establishment in 2002, UNAMA has, in line with the changing situation, made several adjustments to the UN secretary-general's reporting cycle to the Security Council. In light of the overall stabilization of the security situation in the country, China proposed, during the consultations on the draft resolution, that the reporting cycle be extended as appropriate, said Geng. So doing would not prevent the Security Council from considering the issue of Afghanistan whenever necessary, nor would it in any way imply any weakening of support for the Afghan people. China's overall consideration is that actions taken by the Security Council with regard to Afghanistan should be in line with the development of the situation and the needs of the Afghan people. China stands ready to continue to maintain communication with all parties on relevant issues, he said. Benson Investment Management Company Inc. raised its position in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO Free Report) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 32,721 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the quarter. Valero Energy comprises about 2.2% of Benson Investment Management Company Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Benson Investment Management Company Inc.s holdings in Valero Energy were worth $4,254,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 1,676.9% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.07% of the companys stock. Get Valero Energy alerts: Valero Energy Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:VLO traded up $4.31 during trading on Friday, hitting $163.70. The stock had a trading volume of 9,134,365 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,470,407. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.53. Valero Energy Co. has a 12-month low of $104.18 and a 12-month high of $166.10. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $139.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Valero Energy Increases Dividend Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. The firm had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.76 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 31.62% and a net margin of 6.10%. Valero Energys revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $8.45 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Valero Energy Co. will post 15.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 1st were issued a dividend of $1.07 per share. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. This is a positive change from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 17.31%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays raised their price objective on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Citigroup started coverage on Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Valero Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $156.00 to $210.00 in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $155.83. Get Our Latest Stock Report on VLO Valero Energy Company Profile (Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. The company produces California Reformulated Gasoline Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending and Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending gasolines, CARB diesel, diesel, jet fuel, and asphalt; aromatics; and sulfur crude oils. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) has received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $140.00. Several equities analysts recently commented on THG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $124.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on The Hanover Insurance Group from $143.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on The Hanover Insurance Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, TheStreet upgraded The Hanover Insurance Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Get The Hanover Insurance Group alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Hanover Insurance Group The Hanover Insurance Group Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of THG stock opened at $129.04 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 137.28 and a beta of 0.67. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $130.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $121.46. The Hanover Insurance Group has a 1 year low of $103.82 and a 1 year high of $138.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $3.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.51 by $0.62. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.56 billion. The Hanover Insurance Group had a return on equity of 2.44% and a net margin of 0.59%. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Hanover Insurance Group will post 10.07 earnings per share for the current year. The Hanover Insurance Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. The Hanover Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 361.71%. Insider Buying and Selling In other The Hanover Insurance Group news, SVP Warren E. Barnes sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.14, for a total transaction of $65,570.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 3,612 shares in the company, valued at $473,677.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 28.8% during the third quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 29,392 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $3,290,000 after purchasing an additional 6,579 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund boosted its position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 547.8% in the 3rd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 13,500 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,498,000 after purchasing an additional 11,416 shares in the last quarter. Markel Group Inc. raised its stake in The Hanover Insurance Group by 19.6% during the third quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 189,000 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $20,975,000 after buying an additional 31,000 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $455,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 60.1% in the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 5,129 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $566,000 after buying an additional 1,925 shares in the last quarter. 84.89% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About The Hanover Insurance Group (Get Free Report The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Hanover Insurance Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hanover Insurance Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Reduce from the ten brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and five have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $23.67. VNO has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $12.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Vornado Realty Trust from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Evercore ISI cut their price target on Vornado Realty Trust from $28.00 to $26.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Vornado Realty Trust from $16.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised Vornado Realty Trust from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $25.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on VNO Insider Activity Institutional Trading of Vornado Realty Trust In related news, Director Michael D. Fascitelli sold 262,945 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.54, for a total transaction of $7,767,395.30. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,306,546 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,595,368.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Insiders own 8.03% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Vornado Realty Trust by 39.3% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 8,627 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $391,000 after purchasing an additional 2,432 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in Vornado Realty Trust by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 10,522 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 1,052 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC purchased a new position in Vornado Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at about $208,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 24.5% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 23,245 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,053,000 after purchasing an additional 4,575 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 24.1% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 43,587 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,975,000 after purchasing an additional 8,459 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.86% of the companys stock. Vornado Realty Trust Trading Up 2.6 % NYSE:VNO opened at $25.47 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.85 billion, a PE ratio of 110.74 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a current ratio of 4.95, a quick ratio of 4.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.93. Vornado Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $12.31 and a 12 month high of $32.21. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.59 by ($0.55). Vornado Realty Trust had a return on equity of 3.22% and a net margin of 5.82%. The firm had revenue of $441.89 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $453.82 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.72 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Vornado Realty Trust will post 2.31 earnings per share for the current year. Vornado Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coho Partners Ltd. reduced its stake in Hess Co. (NYSE:HES Free Report) by 9.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,829 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after selling 300 shares during the quarter. Coho Partners Ltd.s holdings in Hess were worth $408,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HES. Raymond James Trust N.A. acquired a new stake in Hess in the 1st quarter worth approximately $446,000. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 17.1% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 4,276 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $458,000 after buying an additional 625 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 3.7% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 114,120 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $12,216,000 after buying an additional 4,027 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new position in shares of Hess during the first quarter worth approximately $410,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 2.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,928,530 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,310,590,000 after buying an additional 667,979 shares during the last quarter. 81.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Hess alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently commented on HES shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Hess in a report on Saturday. They set a sell rating for the company. Susquehanna upped their price target on Hess from $152.00 to $156.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. UBS Group cut their price target on Hess from $210.00 to $195.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on Hess from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $174.57. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Hess news, EVP Timothy B. Goodell sold 2,701 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.52, for a total transaction of $390,348.52. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 162,144 shares in the company, valued at $23,433,050.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, SVP Andrew P. Slentz sold 1,062 shares of Hess stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.52, for a total transaction of $153,480.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 50,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,257,071.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Timothy B. Goodell sold 2,701 shares of Hess stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.52, for a total value of $390,348.52. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 162,144 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,433,050.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 141,877 shares of company stock worth $20,707,982. Insiders own 9.93% of the companys stock. Hess Price Performance Hess stock traded up $0.64 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $150.86. 3,400,614 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,873,055. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. The business has a fifty day moving average of $144.22 and a 200 day moving average of $147.45. Hess Co. has a 1-year low of $113.82 and a 1-year high of $167.75. The company has a market capitalization of $46.34 billion, a PE ratio of 33.52 and a beta of 1.27. Hess (NYSE:HES Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The oil and gas producer reported $1.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.20. Hess had a return on equity of 17.00% and a net margin of 12.98%. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.76 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.78 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Hess Co. will post 7.56 earnings per share for the current year. Hess Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 18th will be given a $0.4375 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 15th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.16%. Hesss payout ratio is 38.89%. About Hess (Free Report) Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HES? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hess Co. (NYSE:HES Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hess Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hess and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CTT Correios De Portugal, S.A. (OTCMKTS:CTTPY Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $8.02 and last traded at $8.02, with a volume of 0 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $8.02. CTT Correios De Portugal Stock Performance The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $7.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.45. CTT Correios De Portugal Company Profile (Get Free Report) CTT Correios De Portugal, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides postal and financial services worldwide. It operates through Mail, Express & Parcels, Financial Services & Retail, and Bank segments. The company offers courier and urgent mail transport services; postal financial services; and banking services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for CTT - Correios De Portugal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CTT - Correios De Portugal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 199.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,426 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 18,929 shares during the quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $818,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Briaud Financial Planning Inc bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Pfizer in the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in Pfizer by 52,350.0% during the third quarter. VisionPoint Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,049 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,047 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.05% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Stock Performance NYSE PFE traded down $0.19 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $27.94. 75,727,854 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 45,619,203. Pfizer Inc. has a 1 year low of $25.61 and a 1 year high of $42.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.91. The businesss 50 day moving average is $27.65 and its 200-day moving average is $29.93. The company has a market capitalization of $157.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 77.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.61. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.37 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 10.88% and a net margin of 3.62%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 41.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.14 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.22 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of research firms recently commented on PFE. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. TD Cowen lowered Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Guggenheim initiated coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $36.00 target price on the stock. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $36.88. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pfizer Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Czech National Bank cut its stake in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,737 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 41 shares during the quarter. Czech National Banks holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $6,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of GWW. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Retirement Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 2,450.0% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 51 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 71.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: W.W. Grainger Price Performance Shares of GWW opened at $994.15 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $921.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $811.86. The company has a market capitalization of $48.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a current ratio of 2.88. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $625.97 and a fifty-two week high of $1,016.89. W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $8.33 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.05 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $4 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.04 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 56.54% and a net margin of 11.10%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $7.14 EPS. Research analysts predict that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 39.22 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 12th were given a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio is presently 20.55%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on GWW. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $809.00 to $907.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on W.W. Grainger from $1,075.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. Loop Capital downgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $925.00 to $1,000.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Stephens boosted their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $775.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $825.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, W.W. Grainger has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $886.11. View Our Latest Research Report on W.W. Grainger Insider Activity at W.W. Grainger In related news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total transaction of $3,694,339.44. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 4,909 shares in the company, valued at $4,756,231.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total transaction of $3,694,339.44. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,756,231.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,122 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $950.22, for a total transaction of $2,966,586.84. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,664,629.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 9.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. W.W. Grainger Profile (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,609 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 13 shares during the quarter. Farmers Trust Co.s holdings in AutoZone were worth $4,160,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZO. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in AutoZone during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Rock Creek Group LP bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp grew its stake in shares of AutoZone by 166.7% during the third quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mascoma Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AutoZone during the third quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 90.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get AutoZone alerts: AutoZone Price Performance Shares of AutoZone stock traded up $5.29 on Friday, hitting $3,124.33. 290,918 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 165,564. AutoZone, Inc. has a one year low of $2,277.88 and a one year high of $3,152.66. The company has a fifty day moving average of $2,816.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2,663.67. The company has a market capitalization of $54.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.70. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades AutoZone ( NYSE:AZO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported $28.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $26.08 by $2.81. The business had revenue of $3.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.32 billion. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 56.06% and a net margin of 14.70%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $24.64 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that AutoZone, Inc. will post 150.85 earnings per share for the current year. A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Truist Financial upped their target price on AutoZone from $3,027.00 to $3,363.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. UBS Group boosted their price target on AutoZone from $3,100.00 to $3,425.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of AutoZone in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Raymond James upgraded AutoZone from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and boosted their price target for the company from $2,850.00 to $3,100.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on AutoZone from $3,000.00 to $3,200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, AutoZone currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $3,020.76. View Our Latest Report on AZO Insider Transactions at AutoZone In other news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 414 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,541.85, for a total value of $1,052,325.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,470 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,820,219.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director George R. Mrkonic, Jr. sold 414 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,541.85, for a total value of $1,052,325.90. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,470 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,820,219.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, COO Thomas B. Newbern sold 7,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 $6,427,530.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 14,807 shares of company stock valued at $39,669,061 over the last ninety days. 2.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AZO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AutoZone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AutoZone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Black Hills Co. (NYSE:BKH Free Report) by 33.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,215 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 4,345 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in Black Hills were worth $929,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Black Hills by 16.1% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,059,252 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $466,684,000 after buying an additional 838,590 shares during the last quarter. Zimmer Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of Black Hills in the second quarter worth $39,326,000. Capital Research Global Investors bought a new stake in shares of Black Hills in the first quarter worth $45,758,000. Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Black Hills by 14.6% in the second quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 2,502,209 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $182,085,000 after purchasing an additional 318,024 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Black Hills by 3.7% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,821,296 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $395,679,000 after purchasing an additional 279,987 shares during the last quarter. 86.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Black Hills alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on BKH shares. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Black Hills from $60.00 to $49.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Black Hills from $57.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Mizuho upgraded shares of Black Hills from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $53.00 target price on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Black Hills from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $55.80. Black Hills Price Performance Shares of NYSE BKH opened at $52.14 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $52.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.20. Black Hills Co. has a 1-year low of $46.43 and a 1-year high of $66.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.30 and a beta of 0.64. 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 (NYSE:BKH Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.11. Black Hills had a net margin of 11.25% and a return on equity of 8.09%. The firm had revenue of $591.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $863.67 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.11 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Black Hills Co. will post 3.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Black Hills Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th were given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.99%. 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%. About Black Hills (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 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. Benson Investment Management Company Inc. decreased its position in shares of ITT Inc. (NYSE:ITT Free Report) by 11.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 38,257 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 5,109 shares during the quarter. ITT makes up approximately 2.3% of Benson Investment Management Company Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding. Benson Investment Management Company Inc.s holdings in ITT were worth $4,565,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its holdings in shares of ITT by 28.7% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 74,409 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $7,286,000 after purchasing an additional 16,614 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its holdings in shares of ITT by 20.7% during the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 3,266 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 559 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in shares of ITT by 6.9% during the second quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 39,831 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,713,000 after buying an additional 2,583 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of ITT by 198.0% during the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 64,364 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $6,302,000 after buying an additional 42,767 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of ITT by 0.3% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,732,008 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $169,581,000 after buying an additional 5,495 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.73% of the companys stock. Get ITT alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes ITT has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com lowered ITT from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on ITT from $122.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of ITT from $122.00 to $134.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ITT has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $119.50. ITT Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of ITT stock traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $127.00. 724,895 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 346,014. ITT Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.82 and a fifty-two week high of $129.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.42. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $122.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $110.87. ITT (NYSE:ITT Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The conglomerate reported $1.34 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.34. The company had revenue of $829.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $814.38 million. ITT had a return on equity of 17.91% and a net margin of 12.50%. ITTs revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.29 EPS. Analysts predict that ITT Inc. will post 5.76 earnings per share for the current year. ITT Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.319 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This is a boost from ITTs previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.00%. ITTs payout ratio is currently 25.81%. About ITT (Free Report) ITT Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the transportation, industrial, and energy markets in the United States and internationally. The Motion Technologies segment manufactures brake pads, shims, shock absorbers, and energy absorption components; and sealing technologies primarily for the transportation industry, including passenger cars, trucks, light- and heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles, buses, and trains. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for ITT Inc. (NYSE:ITT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for ITT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ITT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese Ambassador to Malta Yu Dunhai addresses the launch ceremony of the China Pavilion at the Malta Biennale in Valletta, Malta, on March 15, 2024. The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta.(Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) VALLETTA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta. The China Pavilion showcases over 100 pieces of artwork by contemporary Chinese artist Yan Shanchun. The artworks, including traditional Chinese ink paintings and Western copper engravings, are dedicated to the West Lake, an iconic tourist destination in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. The China Pavilion comprises two interconnected exhibition halls, gradually leading visitors into Yan Shanchun's artistic world of the West Lake. Addressing the launch ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Malta Yu Dunhai said the China Pavilion offers a glimpse into the Chinese culture and serves as a bridge for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Malta, "the most dynamic part of bilateral relations." He said the biennale is a good start for further exchanges this year. "We look forward to more cultural exchanges and stronger people-to-people bonds with Malta in the years to come." Owen Bonnici, Malta's minister for the national heritage, the arts and local government, underscored the strong ties between Malta and China, emphasizing that cultural exchanges have promoted mutual understanding between the two nations. China has a strong cultural presence in Malta, as a result of the fruitful cooperation between the two countries, Bonnici told Xinhua, adding that he looked forward to closer bilateral cooperation, especially in culture. Heritage Malta Chairman Mario Cutajar, also chairman of the biennale, said the event provides an opportunity for dialogue between the past and the present, and between different countries. Cutajar said he considers China a "founder member of the event" as it was the first to apply to have its own pavilion at the first edition of the Malta Biennale. He said he had invited his Maltese friends to visit the China Pavilion. "I'm sure there will be stronger cooperation between the two countries in the future." The biennale exhibits artworks created by around 80 artists from over 20 countries. Themed "White Sea Olive Groves," the event opened on March 13 and will run until May 31, with pavilions situated at Malta's major cultural heritage sites. People view artworks at the China Pavilion of the Malta Biennale in Valletta, Malta, on March 15, 2024. The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta.(Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) A woman views an artwork at the China Pavilion of the Malta Biennale in Valletta, Malta, on March 15, 2024. The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) A man views an artwork at the China Pavilion of the Malta Biennale in Valletta, Malta, on March 15, 2024. The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) Owen Bonnici, Malta's minister for the national heritage, the arts and local government, addresses the launch ceremony of the China Pavilion at the Malta Biennale in Valletta, Malta, on March 15, 2024. The China Pavilion at Malta's first art biennale was officially launched on Friday at Fort Saint Elmo, a renowned historical and cultural heritage site in Valletta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) Shares of Los Andes Copper Ltd. (CVE:LA Get Free Report) shot up 0.5% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$11.01 and last traded at C$11.01. 200 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 94% from the average session volume of 3,232 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$10.95. Los Andes Copper Stock Up 3.6 % The company has a current ratio of 33.70, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 16.60. The firm has a market cap of C$337.17 million, a PE ratio of -37.14 and a beta of 1.02. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$11.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$11.40. Get Los Andes Copper alerts: Los Andes Copper (CVE:LA Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported C($0.03) EPS for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Los Andes Copper Ltd. will post 0.02975 earnings per share for the current year. About Los Andes Copper Los Andes Copper Ltd. acquires, explores, and develops copper deposits in Latin America. It operates through Mineral Exploration and Hydroelectric Project segments. The company holds a 100% interest in the Vizcachitas copper, molybdenum, and silver porphyry project located north of Santiago, Region V, Chile. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Los Andes Copper Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Los Andes Copper and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-two research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $476.35. A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MA. KeyCorp increased their price target on Mastercard from $475.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Tigress Financial upped their price objective on Mastercard from $476.00 to $495.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and set a $510.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Mizuho upped their price objective on Mastercard from $462.00 to $480.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on Mastercard from $452.00 to $504.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Get Mastercard alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on MA Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $475.83 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $455.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $422.60. The company has a market capitalization of $443.90 billion, a PE ratio of 40.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.17 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. Mastercard has a 52 week low of $340.28 and a 52 week high of $482.00. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The credit services provider reported $3.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.08 by $0.10. Mastercard had a return on equity of 191.22% and a net margin of 44.60%. The business had revenue of $6.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.46 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.65 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Mastercard will post 14.36 earnings per share for the current year. Mastercard declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback program on Tuesday, December 5th that authorizes the company to buyback $11.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the credit services provider to reacquire up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Mastercard Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be given a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.55%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.32%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 7,851 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.92, for a total transaction of $3,736,447.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 47,640 shares in the company, valued at $22,672,828.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Mastercard news, CEO Michael Miebach sold 7,851 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $475.92, for a total value of $3,736,447.92. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 47,640 shares in the company, valued at $22,672,828.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CMO Venkata R. Madabhushi sold 16,037 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $475.94, for a total value of $7,632,649.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 12,255 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,832,644.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 50,428 shares of company stock worth $23,211,617. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Mastercard Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bornite Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth approximately $21,442,000. United Bank increased its position in Mastercard by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,147,000 after purchasing an additional 1,541 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in Mastercard by 30.1% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $97,335,000 after purchasing an additional 63,040 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 1st quarter worth approximately $12,926,000. 74.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Mastercard Company Profile (Get Free Report Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Polaris Renewable Energy Inc. (OTCMKTS:RAMPF Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 20,500 shares, a decrease of 22.3% from the February 14th total of 26,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.3 days. Polaris Renewable Energy Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of OTCMKTS RAMPF traded up $0.00 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $8.28. The stock had a trading volume of 3,697 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,207. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $9.28 and a 200-day moving average of $9.78. Polaris Renewable Energy has a fifty-two week low of $8.25 and a fifty-two week high of $11.77. Get Polaris Renewable Energy alerts: Polaris Renewable Energy Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 12th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.24%. About Polaris Renewable Energy Polaris Renewable Energy Inc engages in the acquisition, development, and operation of renewable energy projects in Latin America. It operates a 72 MW net geothermal facility in Nicaragua; and 4 run-of-river hydroelectric facilities in Peru and Ecuador with approximately 33 MW net capacity; and solar project in the Dominican Republic and Panama. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Polaris Renewable Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Polaris Renewable Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Renaissance Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 615.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,094 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 30,186 shares during the period. Renaissance Investment Group LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $3,630,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pacific Center for Financial Services boosted its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% in the third quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services now owns 270 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 79.9% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 6.41% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Down 1.6 % Shares of NYSE:NVO traded down $2.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $132.37. The stock had a trading volume of 3,780,112 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,415,542. Novo Nordisk A/S has a 12 month low of $67.66 and a 12 month high of $138.28. The company has a market capitalization of $594.01 billion, a PE ratio of 48.93, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.41. The firms fifty day moving average is $118.09 and its 200 day moving average is $99.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.05. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 90.36% and a net margin of 36.03%. The firm had revenue of $9.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.14 billion. Analysts anticipate that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This is a positive change from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.92%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group initiated coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.25. Get Our Latest Stock Report on NVO 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. Recommended Stories 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. Shares of Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON:RBS Get Free Report) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 120.90 ($1.55) and traded as high as GBX 123.10 ($1.58). Royal Bank of Scotland Group shares last traded at GBX 120.90 ($1.55), with a volume of 11,987,617 shares. Royal Bank of Scotland Group Stock Down 0.4 % The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 120.90 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 120.90. The company has a market capitalization of 14.66 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.37. 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 Stories 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. SCSK Co. (OTCMKTS:SCSKF Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 19,800 shares, a drop of 20.8% from the February 14th total of 25,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 198.0 days. SCSK Price Performance OTCMKTS:SCSKF remained flat at $17.86 during trading hours on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $17.68 and a 200-day moving average of $17.04. SCSK has a 1-year low of $17.86 and a 1-year high of $17.86. Get SCSK alerts: SCSK Company Profile (Get Free Report) Further Reading SCSK Corporation provides information technology (IT) services in Japan and internationally. It operates through six segments: Industrial IT Business, Financial IT Business, IT Business Solutions, IT Platform Solutions, IT Management Service, and Others. The Industrial IT Business segment offers various IT solutions comprising core systems, manufacturing management systems, information management systems, supply chain management systems, customer relationship management systems, e-commerce systems, and other systems for manufacturing, communication, and energy industries. Receive News & Ratings for SCSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SCSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A spring tradition Ag Day at Fonner Park sponsored by the Hall County Agricultural Committee is set for Tuesday, March 19, which is also National Ag Day. The annual event aimed at fourth-grade students will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Sheep Barn and Five Points Pavilion. National Ag Day is observed annually during National Agriculture Week. Every year the ag committee, in conjunction with Fonner Park and area agricultural producers, hosts this event for students from Grand Island and the surrounding area. Ag Day provides students the opportunity to observe and interact with several different aspects of agriculture. This year the Ag Committee is expecting 711 students from 15 schools. Now in its 22nd year, Ag Day is an established educational event with presenting representatives from the Nebraska Cattle Women, Grand Island Northwest High School FFA, Nebraska Pork Producers, Central Platte Natural Resources District, 4-H/UNL Extension Hall County, Embryology, Midwest Dairy Association, UNL Department of Entomology and Nebraska Corn Board. The students will get hands-on experience at the booths and will see several farm animals brought in by area farmers. The students will also observe live demonstrations from a horse trainer, horse farrier, and a sheep shearer. Because the agricultural community is one of the most significant economic drivers in this area, said Annette Schimmer, Ag Day chair, the Agricultural Committee works to ensure that the youth of the community are familiar with the agricultural economy and the impact it has on the Grand Island/Hall County area. For more information, contact Schimmer at 308-379-7191 or giagday@gmail.com KEARNEY University of Nebraska at Kearney health science students are a hot commodity. With a statewide workforce shortage, health care facilities across Nebraska are looking to Lopers to fill their current and future needs. Across all professions, theres a significant need for more health care providers, particularly in rural Nebraska, said Peggy Abels, director of UNK Health Sciences. These facilities want to recruit our students. On March 5, the department hosted its first-ever Hospital Partners Networking Event. Representatives from nine hospitals and health care systems were on hand to connect with UNK and University of Nebraska Medical Center students. They talked about job shadowing and internships, clinical rotations, entry-level positions and long-term career opportunities, all while promoting the benefits of practicing in a rural community. We want to make those personal connections as early as we can so we can bring good, young, progressive talent into health care and continue to take care of our communities, Robert Dyer, CEO of Cozad Community Health System, said. Dyer and the other members of UNKs hospital partners program know these relationships can be mutually beneficial down the road. If students are educated and trained in rural Nebraska, theyre more likely to practice in these communities as health care professionals. Had I had the opportunity to do my PT school here, I would have done it in a heartbeat because I like small communities way more than I like the rat race of Lincoln and Omaha, said Dyer, a Hyannis native. He earned his master of physical therapy and doctor of physical therapy degrees from UNMC. The UNMC physical therapy program is now offered in Kearney. Sarah Ernest shared a similar story. Like Dyer, the Ewing native grew up in a small, rural community. She attended UNK as a member of the Kearney Health Opportunities Program, which provides financial assistance, academic support and professional development opportunities for students from rural Nebraska who are committed to practicing in these communities as health care providers. After graduating from UNMC, she landed a job at Sidney Regional Medical Center, where she works as an ultrasound, CT and X-ray technician. Ernest isnt shy about promoting the awesome environment at Sidney Regional and her love for rural health care. I love the fact that I get to serve members of my community, she said. Sometimes that can be a difficult situation when theres a negative prognosis, but you still get to be there for people you care about in moments when they need you. Sidney Regional Medical Center started its partnership with UNK Health Sciences last fall. This networking event served as its initial introduction to students. This is our first event, but definitely not our last, said Malarie Gabel, a community navigator who organizes the hospitals outreach activities. The medical center is hosting a group of KHOP participants next month, and UNK health science students will spend a week in the community this summer as part of the new Rural Immersion Program. Available in Sidney and McCook, that program allows Lopers to experience rural health care firsthand and engage in the community while earning internship credit. Sidney Regional offers a paid summer internship program as well. Our partnership with UNK is extremely valuable, Gabel said. It brings a lot of students into our door that we never had access to before. There are more than 800 undergraduate health science students at UNK, and a record 72 high school seniors were recently accepted into the KHOP program for fall 2024. Thats encouraging for the 13 hospitals that are part of the growing partnership program. Its all about connecting the hospitals with students at all stages of their education, from UNK freshmen through UNMC graduates, Abels said. By increasing these touchpoints and extending that runway into employment, we can move students down that pipeline and help them take that next step and be successful practicing in rural Nebraska. As part of the ongoing effort by Grand Island Public Schools to reduce their overall operating budget by approximately $5 million, the GIPS Board of Education voted Thursday evening to move forward with the months presented Reduction in Force (RIF) plan. The RIF plan approved Thursday called for the reduction of one full-time-equivalent social worker position, to be effective as of May 23 of this year. Dr. Carrie Kolar, Chief of Human Resources for GIPS, presented the RIF resolution to the board. She then asked for questions. This isnt really a question, just a comment, started Matt Fisher, GIPS superintendent. I think that certainly when we came into this process, we were expecting 30-plus potential reductions. So I think our hope was that we would be able to get to a point where we were at a fairly minimal number of staff that were displaced from the district. And to be down to one I think, at this point in time, is really a good outcome for us. Now, obviously, we still dont like the fact that weve got this one position that were looking at tonight, he continued. Last month, we looked at three different positions and they were part of the RIF plan that was put in place last month. Weve been able to find a position for one of those three individuals, but again, were excited about being down to the fairly small number. The district remains very cognizant of the impact the RIF plan has on each individual, he added, and it continues to look for opportunities for them to remain in the district in a different capacity. Fisher then thanked Kolar, the human resources team and building principals for the work theyve done throughout the process. So even if this position is RIFd, it still could be that you will find a spot for this person within the district? asked board member Lisa Albers. They have two years from here (that) we will continue to look for a position for that person, Kolar answered. A recap Announcements regarding the districts budget reduction plan started with the notification of a change to the Academies and Pathways program in December 2023. In several interviews after the initial announcement, Fisher remained positive about what the end-point of any potential RIF plans would look like. There was no real way to estimate, as the district was unsure what natural attrition would amount to until later in the spring. Our intent is to retain as much staff as we can, Fisher said in a December interview with The Independent. We value every one of our educators, certified and classified. A lot of nuances will contribute to what we need to consider: retiring teachers, attrition/turnover and opportunities to reimagine roles being chief among them. At this point in the year, (we) dont have as clear a grasp on our natural attrition as we will later in the spring. Key budget-reduction tactics gained momentum after that, with commentary toward staffing reductions and transportation at the forefront of concern. In the official budget reduction plan, presented to the GIPS Board of Education in January of this year, numbers provided by Fisher designated a reduction of 11 certified staff positions and three classified staff positions at the middle school level and reduction of one administrative position, 17 certified staff positions and two classified staff positions at Grand Island Senior High. Every year we have a number of staff members who retire, a number of staff members who just decide for one reason or another that theyre going to go do something different, and that number is typically in that 75 to 80 (range), Fisher said at the January board meeting. So when we think about the total reductions that were looking at somewhere in that 30 to 35 range we certainly feel like were probably going to have an opportunity to find new roles for all of those staff members who might have been displaced. The GIPS Board of Education, as well as district employees, aired their concerns with the plan, which were then taken into further consideration by the district. The initial RIF plan was presented at the February board meeting, where three positions were listed to be reduced (one certified full-time equivalent from the aviation program, one administrator from the fine arts and social studies curriculum program on the Leading for Learning team, and one administrator from the Assessment, Research and Accountability Program on the GIPS superintendents district leadership team). The only additional RIF plan presented was that which was approved Thursday. We are very grateful that our months of work towards budget and staffing reductions are coming to a close, Fisher said in a statement Friday. Fortunately, we are to the point where weve found a role for nearly everyone that will be displaced through this reduction process. Due to natural attrition retirements, employees pursuing other professional opportunities, etc. within the district, we did not need to reduce staff to the degree we anticipated. Certainly we understand the pain that goes along with not having a position for the three roles we are not able yet to place within the district, he continued. Were hopeful they will find either something within the district perhaps at a later date as more resignations take place or something outside of the district. At this time, we forecast that our RIF process is complete and we are moving forward with our planning for the 2024-25 school year. Grand Island Senior Hall unveils new Hall of Honor, inducts Class of 2024 Grand Island Senior High, in partnership with the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, unveiled The Grand Island Senior High Hall of Honor wall and kiosk. The 2024 Hall of Honor inductees are George Ayoub, Class of 1968; Thomas H. Meedel Ph.D., Class of 1967; and Steve Hornady, Class of 1968. GISH Hall of Honor inducts class of 2024 Grand Island Senior High, in partnership with the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, unveiled The Grand Island Senior High Hall of Honor Honor Wall 1 GISH Class of 1968 alum George Ayoub speaks in front of the new Grand Island Senior High Hall of Honor wall and kiosk in which he was enshrine Honor Wall 2 GISH Class of 1967 alum Thomas H. Meedel Ph.D, speaks in front of the new Grand Island Senior High Hall of Honor wall and kiosk, while Class o Honor Wall 3 GISH Class of 1968 alumni Steve Hornady, Class of 1967 alum Thomas H. Meedel Ph.D, and Class of 1968 alumni George Ayoub were enshrined onto t Honor Wall 4 Grand Island Senior High, in partnership with the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, revealed the new Grand Island Senior High Hall of H PHOTOS, VIDEO: Nebraska volleyball icon Jordan Larson speaks at Grand Island Chamber of Commerce event Jordan Larson spoke about her volleyball career and more at the event. Volleyball icon Jordan Larson delivers keynote speech at Grand Island Chamber event Nebraska and U.S. volleyball icon Jordan Larson was the keynote speaker at the 2024 Grand Island Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Thursday, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce meeting Olympian and volleyball icon Jordan Larson shows one of her medals while giving the keynote address at the 2024 Grand Island Chamber of Commer Grand Island Chamber of Commerce meeting Nebraska governor Jim Pillen jokes around with Olympian and volleyball icon Jordan Larson during the Chamber's annual meeting. Grand Island Chamber of Commerce meeting Jordan Larson spoke about her volleyball career and more at the event. Esmeralda Boyle had many labels during her lifetime, including those shared by most women daughter, sister and aunt. Unlike most women of her time, Esmeralda was also called author, poet and teacher. Over her 50-year writing career she had eight published books, contributed to six national magazines, and her poems were printed in newspapers across the country. As the granddaughter of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and daughter of a U.S. Navy Commodore, Esmeralda grew up in Washington, D.C. society. Known for her cultured ways and keen intellect, she had traveled the world, was fluent in three languages, and was acclaimed for writing the first complete biography of Francis Scott Key. Following the publication of her first book, Thistledown, in 1871, critics praised her true poetic fire and commented that she possessed the rare combination of beauty and extraordinary intelligence. Congressman (and future President) James Garfield also noted her remarkable beauty and talent in his diary after meeting Esmeralda in May 1873. During the Grant Administration, a conversation with friends Sara Carr Upton and Olive Risley Seward, daughter of Secretary of State William Seward, led to the founding of the Literary Society of Washington with the first meeting held at the Boyle home. The Literary, still active today, has always been open to women and men interested in literary and artistic improvement. Since the beginning, the membership list has been comprised of the Washington elite including three U.S. presidents, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Supreme Court justices, political and government leaders, diplomats, authors, musicians and academics. With such an impressive pedigree and promising start to her career, three questions arise about the second half of Esmeralda Boyles life and her death. How did this darling of Washington, D.C. end up spending the last half of her life in Nebraska, and more specifically the last couple of decades in Grand Island? Considering her remarkable life, why is she buried in the Grand Island cemetery with a very unremarkable gravestone? The biggest and most baffling question relates to her obituary, that was published in newspapers around the Midwest. With all of Esmeralda Boyles accomplishments and roles, why did her obituary focus on a label that she may never really have had and why was it filled with accomplishments of a man who she may, or may not, have been engaged to? The answers to the first two questions are most likely connected to family and money. Esmeralda had four sisters and one brother. Following the death of her father in 1870 the family was financially secure. The family fortunes began to change in the fall of 1873. Her brother was involved in real estate and lending with Jay Cooke & Company. When the stock market crashed, a panic and bank run ruined Jay Cooke and his associates. By 1880, following the deaths of their mother and three of their sisters, Esmeralda and Rebecca were living in a Baltimore boarding house. Their brother tried to recover his lost fortune by opening a resort hotel in Maryland. The hotel went under, and the Boyle family moved to Kearney, Nebraska. In the years that followed, Esmeralda continued to write. However, money issues likely factored into the jobs she took in land offices at North Platte and Chadron, as assistant to the president of the Greater America Exposition in Omaha, as a teacher at an Omaha academy, and as a private tutor in Hastings and Grand Island. At the time of her death, Esmeralda was one of several teachers living in the house at 721 W Second St. that Andrew Hargis had built for Grand Island Business College faculty. She died alone in her room on April 18, 1928, at the age of 87. Two days later, the headlines declared Fiancee of Hay is Dead with a list of John Hays accomplishments as President Lincolns secretary, President McKinleys Secretary of State, a diplomat and author. No mention of the literary works or achievements of Esmeralda Boyle are found in her obituary. As to the fiancee label, no record was discovered while she was alive that suggests Boyle and Hay were engaged. Although they were both in Washington from 1861-1865, Hay worked long hours and was often sent on trips by President Lincoln. After Lincolns death, Hay left Washington. He spent the next five years in Europe. By the time he returned, Hay was actively pursuing Clara Stone, the daughter of a railroad and banking tycoon. Considering the Boyle financial troubles, it is unlikely he would have proposed to Esmeralda. The obituary Esmeralda Boyle should have read: Esmeralda Boyle, acclaimed writer and poet, passed away in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 18, 1928, at the age of 87. She was born Sept. 29, 1840, at her family farm, Shamrock Hill, near Washington. The second of six children born to Commodore Junius Ignatius and Ann (McLeod) Boyle, she traveled the world with her family and grew up in Washington, D.C. In 1871 her first book, Thistledown, was published. She received critical acclaim for poetic fire. The Story of Felice was published in 1873, followed by Songs of Land and Sea and The Image Breaker both in 1875. Boyles Biographical Sketches of Distinguished Marylanders in 1877 was heralded as an extraordinary historical record and the first complete biography of Francis Scott Key, author of our national anthem. Her biography of Father John McElroy, the Irish Priest in 1878, and poetry in Saint Cecilas Gates in 1890 are testaments to her Irish Catholic faith. Her final book Something About the Letterkins in 1900 was dedicated to the little children of Ireland. As a woman of culture and intellect, Boyle co-founded the Literary Society of Washington with friends Sara Carr Upton and Olive Risley Seward. The Literary allows women and men to expand literary and artistic interests. Since 1883, Boyle lived in Nebraska. She worked in Chadron and North Platte as a land agent. In 1899, she was an assistant for the Greater America Exposition in Omaha. She was also a Spanish and French teacher in Omaha, Hastings and Grand Island. This photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows a view of the Nuseirat refugee camp after an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip. (Xinhua) GAZA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- At least 36 Palestinians were killed, and several others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, medical sources and eyewitnesses said Saturday. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the Israeli aircraft targeted a house for the Tabatibi family, west of the Nuseirat camp, with a number of missiles, which led to its complete destruction and damage to neighboring homes. Medical sources told Xinhua that the Israeli raid resulted in the killing of 36 people, including children and pregnant women. Meanwhile, Hamas-run government media office held the American administration, the international community, and Israel "fully responsible for the escalation of these crimes and massacres against defenseless civilians." The office called on in a statement all countries of the free world to put pressure on Israel to stop the "genocidal war". This photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows a view of the Nuseirat refugee camp after an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip. (Xinhua) This photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows a view of the Nuseirat refugee camp after an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip. (Xinhua) This photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows a view of the Nuseirat refugee camp after an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip. (Xinhua) Many giants eye $2.54 bln LNG project in central Vietnams Ha Tinh province By Truong Hoa, Minh Hue Sat, March 16, 2024 | 11:44 am GMT+7 Vietnams Vingroup, T&T Group and Hoanh Son Group, and South Koreas Samsung Electronics have come forward as potential investors in the Vung Ang III Ha Tinh LNG power project in the central province of Ha Tinh. The Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee has given in-principle approval to research investment in the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant and LNG warehouse complex in Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ky Anh township. The provincial People's Committee has assigned relevant departments and agencies to focus on implementing processes and procedures to promote project investment in line with planning regulations. It has directed the provincial Economic Zone Authority to send written feedback to investors who have previously planned investments in this field in the Vung Ang Economic Zone. Vung Ang I thermal power plant in the Vung Ang Economic Zone, Ha Tinh province, central Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Truong Hoa. Previously, the committee proposed the Prime Minister and Ministry of Industry and Trade allow Ha Tinh to make an investment plan for the Vung Ang III LNG power plant project to replace the Vung Ang III thermal power plant, with a capacity of 1,500 megawatts before 2030 and 4,500 megawatts after that year, with a total investment of more than VND60 trillion ($2.54 billion). In October 2019, Germanys Siemens and Samsung C&T proposed a project with a capacity of 1,200-1,500 MW and a total investment of $1.5-1.8 billion. In early October 2023, Vingroup asked the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province for permission to study investment in the Vung Ang III LNG power plant project. The project will include a 1.5 million-ton LNG port system, an LNG warehouse, and a 1,600-megawatt LNG power plant. T&T Group also proposed to invest $3.55 billion in the 123.8-hectare Vung Ang III LNG power complex in the form of an independent power plant (IPP). The investor will build an LNG warehouse and an LNG power center with a total generation capacity of 3,000 MW. PV Gas, a subsidiary of state-run Petrovietnam, has also come up with plans to build an LNG warehouse with a capacity of 1-3 million tons per year in Vung Ang Economic Zone. The LNG warehouse in Ha Tinh is consistent with the provincial master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, which aims to develop an LNG import and distribution center in Vung Ang Economic Zone. Quang Nam province welcomes 16 projects worth $847 mln By Thanh Van, Minh Hue Sat, March 16, 2024 | 7:22 pm GMT+7 Vietnam's central province of Quang Nam granted in-principle approval, investment registration certificates and investment location research agreements on Saturday to investors of 16 projects worth more than VND20 trillion ($846.6 million). Quang Nam province grants in-principle approval, investment registration certificates and investment location research agreements for 16 projects worth $846 million, March 16, 2024. Photo by The Investor/Thanh Van. At a conference held to announce the provincial Master Plan for 2021-2030 with vision until 2050, the provincial People's Committee granted seven investment registration certificates to Truong Hai Group (Thaco). The group will build a VND400 billion ($16.93 million) refrigeration electrical engineering factory; a VND450 billion passenger car electrical wire factory; a VND390 billion high-end auto glass factory; a VND800 billion automobile frame components factory; a VND540 billion ($22.86 million) passenger car interior factory; a VND1 trillion ($42.33 million) passenger car seat factory; and the Thaco Industries R&D Center with an investment capital of more than VND300 billion. Quang Nam granted in-principle approval for a VND1.56 trillion ($66 million) project to expand and upgrade Chu Lai wharf in the Tam Hiep port area. This project is invested by Truong Hai International Logistics Limited Liability Company (THILOGI). Investment registration certificates were also given to a VND500 billion ($21.16 million) cleaning equipment factory project invested by Germanys Karcher Beteiligungs-GmbH; a VND820 billion ($34.7 million) super white float glass factory by Chinas Uc Thinh Vietnam Technical Development Co., Ltd; and a VND1.92 trillion ($81.3 million) magnetic magnet project invested by South Koreas Star Group Ind. Co., Ltd. A VND960 billion ($40.63 million) project to produce audio equipment by Guoguang Electric Co., Ltd (China); a VND24 billion ($1 million) Quang Nam solid plastic and metal products factory by PMG Solid an American company; and a VND19 billion Arena Technologies video game chair and car seat manufacturing project by Chinas Yangzhou Soleseat Smart Seat Co., Ltd also received investment certificates. Investment location research agreements were given to the VND6.85 trillion ($290 million) Nam Thang Binh Industrial Park project by Bin Corporation; and a similar project for the Western Industrial Park in Thang Binh district with a total investment capital of VND3.5 trillion ($148.15 million) by WHA Industrial Development PLC (Thailand). VinFast to attend motor shows in Thailand, Canada, sell EVs in Africa By Tri Duc Sat, March 16, 2024 | 10:22 am GMT+7 VinFast, the electric vehicle (EV) arm of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, will attend international motor shows in Thailand and Canada, and attempt to break into the African market this year. Thailand In a Friday statement, VinFast announced its upcoming participation in the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS 2024) from March 27-April 7 and its official launch in the country. VinFast will make its appearance at the Bangkok International Motor Show 2024, in Thailand. Photo courtesy of VinFast. At BIMS 2024, VinFast will introduce its complete range of electric vehicles for the first time in Southeast Asia, including the VF 3, VF 5, VF e34, VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9, covering the A-SUV to E-SUV segments. The company will also showcase its electric pickup concept, the VF Wild, after the debut of the product in January. Notably, the VF 5, VF e34, VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9 on display will be right-hand drive versions, specifically tailored for the Thai market. This marks the second time VinFast has introduced right-hand drive EVs, following their debut at the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) 2024 in February. Thailand is the leading EV market in Southeast Asia, with rapidly growing demand driven by a series of government support policies, VinFast said. Capitalizing on this rapid transition, VinFast aims to expand quickly in the Thai market and solidify its position as a pioneer in the development of green and sustainable mobility globally. Africa Also on Friday, VinFast said it had signed a distribution agreement with Jospong Group of Companies for the Ghanaian and West African market. The deal with the leading multi-industry conglomerate of Ghana marks the Vietnamese EV pioneer's initial foray into the African market, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the global shift towards sustainable transportation. A VinFast VF 8 electric vehicle. Photo courtesy of VinFast. Under this agreement, Jospong will distribute VinFasts entire range of vehicles, including electric cars, e-scooters, e-bikes, and electric buses, throughout Ghana and West Africa. Jospong also plans to deploy public charging infrastructure across the country to support EV penetration. In addition to the announced distribution agreement, Vingroup signed a MoU with Jospong Group. Vingroup and Jospong will work together to identify and pursue business opportunities in areas of mutual interest, including EVs, taxi operations, public transportation solutions, education, hospitality, and real estate development. Canada In a Thursday announcement, VinFast said it would participate in the Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS) 2024 on March 19-24. VinFast will showcase four EV models at VIAS 2024: the VF 6, VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9. The EV market in Vancouver is poised for significant growth, with residents increasingly interested in EVs for their environmental benefits and fuel cost savings, according to VinFast. We believe our comprehensive offerings perfectly align with growing demand and interest for modern, convenient, and environmentally friendly transportation in Vancouver and the country, said VinFast Canada deputy CEO Robert Muller. (TBTCO) - Ngay 1/4/2024, Kho bac Nha nuoc buoc sang nam thu 34 truong thanh va phat trien. Trong hon 30 nam qua, tu mot Kho bac truyen thong voi 4 nghiep vu chinh (ke toan thong ke, kho quy, giao dich va ke toan tong hop), Kho bac Nha nuoc a tro thanh kho bac ien tu, tao nhieu thuan loi cho khach hang trong giao dich. Trong tien trinh chuyen oi so hien nay, Kho bac Nha nuoc ang tiep tuc thuc hien nhieu cai cach, hien ai hoa e huong toi kho bac so vao nam 2030. Residents buy fruits at the Capital Region Farmers Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Capital Region Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the market gathers over 100 stallholders from all over Australia, with their freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted products. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) A lady buys fish at the Capital Region Farmers Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Capital Region Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the market gathers over 100 stallholders from all over Australia, with their freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted products. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) A honey stall is seen at the Capital Region Farmers Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Capital Region Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the market gathers over 100 stallholders from all over Australia, with their freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted products. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) Residents buy flowers at the Capital Region Farmers Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Capital Region Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the market gathers over 100 stallholders from all over Australia, with their freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted products. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) Residents visit the Capital Region Farmers Market in the Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Capital Region Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the market gathers over 100 stallholders from all over Australia, with their freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted products. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) FOLLOWING a spate of robberies at its outlets across the country in just over a year and a half, Massy Stores yesterday replaced the firm responsible for its security. G4S Secure Solutions Trinidad Ltd yesterday assumed the role of security provider for Massy Stores, replacing Amalgamated Security Services Ltd. An elderly man visiting Trinidad from Canada has been murdered in his familys home by intruders. The body of Hilton Smith, 75, was found on Friday on a bed. His mouth was gagged, and his feet and hands tied. Last Tuesday, 17 prison officers and six inmates were injured at the Port of Spain prison. Social media had described the incident as a riot, but when contacted by the Express, Commissioner of Prisons Deopersad Ramoutar downplayed the event, stating in a media release later that it was all in a days work for the prison officers who are at times, undervalued, and unappreciated. Everyones injuries were said to be minor, although all the officers involved were still sent on sick leave. Hair was a seminal rock musical when it debuted in the late 1960s. But its probably more accurate to call it one of the first rock operas. Characters in Hair have very few spoken lines; throughout the 2-hour performance, the 16 actors on stage are mostly singing. Thats a heavy lift for classically-trained vocalists, so you can only imagine how taxing it was for the young cast in Arts Express Theatres production. On a sold-out opening night Friday, March 15, at its Park Place theater, voices on stage were mixed. There were a couple that were slightly off key, not hitting the highs or the lows in Galt MacDermots iconic soundtrack. But there also were several soulful soprano Gabriella Carillo as Ronnie, the bright-voiced Isabel Bella Shea as Crissy, baritone Samuel Lewis as Hud that were pretty terrific. Where the vocal chops fell short, they made up for with solid acting in a play that forces the cast and the audience to abandon preconceived notions of polite society. Directed by Nancy Davis Booth, Hair takes us to the center of the 1960s counterculture. The Tribe, a group of long-haired, drug-using free spirits who rage against the Vietnam War, environmental abuses and the government machine, are trying to persuade Claude (Jacob Conrad) to burn his draft card and join in their resistance. Booth did not sugarcoat playwrights Gerome Ragni and James Rados satirical commentary on the sexual revolution and hippie culture that defined the 1960s. Her version teeters somewhere between PG-13 and R for language, sexual innuendo, fleetingly brief nudity and drug use. In other words, leave the kiddos and tweens at home for this one. That becomes apparent from the second scene with Berger, the mischievous, free-spirited, drug-doling leader of the Tribe. Tommy Irishs shirtless, almost Jeff Spicoli-esque sans the Fast Times at Ridgemont High surfer-dude persona bounded on stage, tossing his long hair this way and that before gyrating suggestively and taking off his pants. Wearing just a loin cloth, he danced around the stage singing about searching for a teenage virgin named Donna. Preston Hatch was wonderfully funny and deliciously flamboyant as Woof and Claudes mother. A show-stealing scene of him lying on top of a poster of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and professing how he would love to sleep with him, but insisting he is not gay, was hilarious. Conrad had a few funny moments, as well, including confronting his parents about his draft card and getting smacked on the backside by his dad. But Claude is the heart-tugger of the Tribe, and Conrad brought just enough humanity to the character to make him truly sympathetic. The true test of the talent on stage came in the numerous ensemble performances, including the Be In chant of Hare Krishna, Aint Got No, the ubiquitous Aquarius, Hair and the finale, The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In). Hair repeats on weekends through March 30 at Arts Express Theatre, 5870 E. Broadway in Park Place. For tickets and showtimes, visit arts-express.org. Migratory birds fly over the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Migratory birds fly at the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Migratory birds are seen at the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Migratory birds are seen at the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Migratory birds fly over the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Migratory birds are seen at the wetland near the Yellow River in Togtoh County, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 16, 2024. As the temperature gradually rises, a large number of migratory birds have come to the wetland in Togtoh County. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen) Safety wasnt something that Luke Swanson thought a lot about when he was deciding on where to go to college. Now in his third year at the University of Arizona, Swanson was applying to colleges during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wasnt thinking about how much lighting the parking lots had or the blue light system. The Los Angeles native was just hoping that there wouldnt be a major outbreak during his time studying architecture. I heard there were some bike thefts here, but I wasnt really thinking about safety issues, he said. I just didnt really think about it. It was about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the UAs campus was cloaked in darkness. Swanson had joined the universitys Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson, along with a handful of other students and some employees from the Campus Safety office on a nighttime walk. Patterson first created the nighttime safety walk program last month to hear from students, like Swanson, about areas on campus that make them feel unsafe. Its a great opportunity to see how were doing and get a view of this campus from a perspective that I normally dont have, he said in an interview before the walk began. Patterson and his team, which included a UAPD officer and a first responder from the EMS program, like to keep the walk to under 15 students. That way, he reasoned, he gets one-on-one time with each participant to answer questions and hear their concerns. I actually get more out of this than they do, he said. By having members of the campus safety team on the walks, Patterson is able to flag issues faced by students in real time. The most frequent causes of concern? Garages and darkness, Patterson said. Nobody isnt scared of the dark. Also, the edges of campus around Sixth Street and the Sixth Street Garage. Parking garages and lots are a point of concern for Swanson, the architecture student. The parking lots are not well lit at all, he said. Somebody could easily pop out at you. Swanson prefers to walk with groups of people when he travels at night, which is something Patterson recommended. Try as much as you can to stay in lit areas, Patterson added. I would recommend not having any earbuds in and to keep your face out of your phone, too. Mireya Justiniano, a first-year student from Rochester, New York, admitted that she often listened to music at night while walking back to her dorm. She participated in the night walk after seeing it advertised on Instagram. Justiniano has to cross some heavily trafficked roads, like Speedway, to get back to her dorm at night, which sometimes makes her nervous. When I have to cross the streets, my mood definitely changes, she noted. At this point in the night walk the group was at the corner of East Helen Street and North Mountain Avenue. As the students huddled at a crosswalk, looking both ways, a car sped by, narrowly avoiding hitting the group. It was right near the location that Justiniano says she was hit while on a motorcycle last fall. It was pretty scary, she said. Luckily I was wearing a lot of gear. Patterson led the group to a couple of underpasses that students frequently walk through. Though theyre well-lit, he said, students are still often nervous about walking them at night. To ease fears, Patterson told the students about the blue light system. You can stand at any of these blue lights and see another one, he explained to the group. They are GPS located. So, if you push this button, it goes directly to UAPD dispatch. There are about 140 blue light buttons around campus for students to press if they feel unsafe. Its pretty dark, but these blue lights glow like nothing else, he said. The hour walk went by quickly. Patterson said there will be one more in April and added that he is hoping to continue the program next year. Student participants receive Starbucks gift cards, which he pays for himself, because of the UAs $177 million deficit. Maybe the students gain some additional life skills or tips, he said. Hopefully the students just feel a little bit more comfortable after. Some of Vail Unified School Districts high schools are shuffling their rigorous class opportunities, leaving some parents questioning whether AP courses and dual-credit courses are a fair trade. A few parents recently took to social media and VUSD governing board meetings to argue that AP classes have more value than other rigorous coursework. Its not that simple, said Vails deputy superintendent Debbie Penn. Penn has headed teaching and learning at the district since 2006. Theres no one right and perfect pathway from high school to college, Penn said. Each college really makes their own decision about how they handle student records, whether that is AP credits and whether they accept them or not, whether they accept dual enrollment or not. An admissions consultant says most colleges have a preference. Overwhelmingly, institutions prefer AP courses over dual enrollment, especially when youre talking about the higher-level institutions, said Rod Lembvem, college admissions consultant with IvyWise. One of the reasons why AP starts to stand out over dual enrollment is just the scope of recognition that is involved. Lembvem is also a former associate admissions director at Case Western Reserve University. Theres this standardized element to it. Colleges feel like they have a better grasp on what it means to get a five in an exam, for example, than for if youre bringing in dual enrollment credits. In terms of admissions competitiveness, however, its more about taking advantage of what a school offers, he added. If tomorrow, you find out that calculus is no longer offered as AP level at your high school, institutions wont penalize you for that, because you dont have access to that course, Lembvem said. Theyre looking at your profile and thinking about how competitive you are within the context of the specific academic and extracurricular opportunities that youve been exposed to or that are in your environment. Currently, Vails high schools have 24 AP courses. 1,361 students take advantage of these courses, but in the end, its about the final AP exam. One of the main goals of taking AP classes is being able to score high enough so that you can get a score that will get you credit (at an institution), Lembvem explained. What is considered a high enough score differs by institution. Broadly, if you get a three to a five, then typically youll get credit at lots of institutions. The more elite institutions the more youll find that they typically only take fours and fives, and in some cases only fives. According to VUSD, last year 1,118 AP tests were taken by 739 students out of more than 4,500 high school students in the district. Sixteen percent of those students took an AP test. Last year, of the 1,118 AP final exams taken at Vail, 648 had a passing score . Final AP exams can be taken without completing an AP course. Nationally, more and more students are taking that route, Lembvem said, including taking a self-paced AP test preparation course outside of school . For some students, the choice between AP coursework and dual-enrollment classes, which give credit at both the students high school and an institution of higher learning. In 2020, Andrada Polytechnic High School chemistry teacher Tiffany Newton taught an AP chemistry class. Eventually, the school transitioned to a dual-credit chemistry class. I have found, since switching to dual enrollment, that kids who might have shied away from an AP course are more likely to take dual enrollment courses, and they do well, Newton said. I think that comes down to their potential college credit from an AP course comes down to a single test. Then comes the question of equity. Many high schools require students to be pre-approved to enroll in an AP class. Additionally, AP final exams have a cost attached: $98 per test as of 2024, charged by College Board, which administers AP courses and exams. Late registration fees can tack on additional charges from College Board. Vail has adjusted. In 2013, the district dropped a requirement that students get into AP courses via teacher recommendation, Penn said. In 2016, the district received an award from College Board for increasing the number of students who participate, increasing the diversity of the students who participate and increasing our students who had a three or higher on the assessment, Penn said, in large part resulting from the schools revised policy. Some school districts have financial assistance available to qualifying students taking AP final exams, including Tucson Unified School District and Sahuarita Unified School District. Penn said she was unsure if VUSD offers financial assistance, but there is help from College Board, which administers AP courses and exams. Lembvem said financial help is often based on free-and-reduced lunch qualification status, which is one way the U.S. government measures poverty in school districts. However, dual-credit coursework at Vail is free to students and families. Penn said that last year, VUSD awarded 2,659 dual enrollment credits and 1,344 Pima Community College concurrent enrollment credits. Like AP coursework, dual-enrollment courses have value, but in different arenas. Lembvem said that dual enrollment often means more choices in coursework and is often best for more career-minded students. Some states, like Ohio, have an in-state guarantee for dual credit acceptance, Lembvem said. Theres very much that scenario where if youre looking to attend a state institution, your dual enrollment credits might be more valuable. This does not necessarily apply to private colleges or universities, he added. Vail offers 16 dual-credit courses, Penn said. The district has 674 students in Pima County dual enrollment core classes. Pima career and technical education, University of Arizona and Arizona State University numbers were not available in time for publication. The district also has an early college program, partnering with Pima Community College. Most of the student participants will leave high school with a full year of college under their belt. Weve graduated 49 students through that program last year. We have about 97 who are interested in taking it for this coming year, Penn said. The students who are leaving us through that early college program with that year of college, its come at no cost to the family. Newton said, Im finding more and more students who thought that AP might be out of their reach are taking dual enrollment chemistry, because its free. They get the credit either way. I think maybe its less intimidating and a more welcoming and positive experience. She said she has about 50 students enrolled in her dual-credit chemistry course. Penn explained that dual-credit instructors must fit certain criterion to teach at the college level. For example, Pima Community College will say, your teachers must have this level of education and this level of training and then they are allowed to teach the dual enrollment courses. Newton has a masters degree in chemistry. She said there is another VUSD high school teacher with a PhD in biology, which is another one of VUSDs dual-credit offerings. Vails dual-credit and AP coursework menu is based on student and parent demand, Penn said. Were paying close attention to what our parents are asking for. We cant do everything. Were responding to what were hearing from the majority of our parents. Still, there is a balance, tipped by the matter of what resources the district has. If there were 40 kids, and 20 of them wanted dual enrollment and 20 of them wanted AP, we would find a way to offer that balance in what parents are asking for, Penn said. If a student in the district wants to take an AP course not offered at their home high school, they can take the course at another Vail high school, if it is offered, Penn said. The class is taken at zero hour, or a period right before the regular school day, Newton said. Students can be bused to these locations. Penn said of the recent AP and dual-credit adjustments, Because the numbers dont warrant the allocation of additional resources were using, were using our resources to the best of our ability to meet the needs of the majority of our students. Newton is a parent to one of those students. Her daughter is a junior at Vails Empire High School. She has really set her sights on some really big colleges, Newton said. She has been taking AP classes. She was looking at it and seeing that, in order to get the calculus credit at University of Michigan, she would have to get a five on her AP exam. So no matter how much you understand calculus, it comes down to that one test. Either she gets a perfect score she doesnt. Newtons daughter is also enrolled in Vails early college program. I wish my daughters school had more dual credit offerings, Newton said. To know that shes taking these classes and shes working so hard and she in the end may not actually get credit it all comes down to one day, one test. What matters is the menu, Lembvem said. Overall, if youre thinking about it from a perspective of college admissions, it shouldnt matter that much, because at the end of the day colleges are evaluating you within the context of the opportunities that are offered to you. Vail Unified School District wants as diverse a menu as possible with something for every Vail high school students appetite, Penn said. We view that our role is to make sure that were providing open doors for students as they leave their high school years and move forward. We dont know where; we want to make sure that they have an open door. In 2022, Calvin Hoang helped bring Korean-style corn dogs to Tucson. As a franchise owner, he opened Two Hands, where Tucsonans can indulge in crispy corn dogs coated in potato cubes and Flamin Hot Cheetos. Now two years later, Hoang is starting his own concept. At his new restaurant expected to open this spring, small grills cover the tables, which can only mean one thing: Korean barbecue. Hoang will open Kotu Korean BBQ, a new restaurant at 4545 N. Oracle Road where customers will have authentic Korean barbecue at their fingertips. We don't see a lot of very authentic Korean barbecue here, so we wanted to do something very original, Hoang said. With the idea to start a new restaurant, Hoangs broker was able to find the perfect building on the citys north side. Hoang has now been tasked with transforming the empty space into the newest Korean barbecue hotspot. Unlike Two Hands, Hoang has had to start from scratch. When starting the corn dog franchise, he said he had a step-by-step guide he could follow, but now he has to take matters into his own hands. This is my first time doing, like, full-service restaurant dining, Hoang said. Im most excited to see customers and talk to them. In fast food like Two Hands, they just come and go so I haven't had much time to talk to my customers. In a 3D rendering of Kotu, colorful comic book-inspired murals cover the walls. The big space is filled with tables, each featuring a small grill where customers can cook their own barbecue. They even have a private room where people can book parties, Hoang said. When you visit a typical barbecue place, you usually order your meal and a waiter comes out with your pulled pork or ribs. Thats not the case for Korean barbecue. At most Korean barbecue spots, the grill is built into the dining tables, so customers can cook and eat all they want. That all-you-can-eat mantra is what Kotu is going for. In order to ensure the dishes are authentic, Hoang enlisted the help of a group of chefs from Los Angeles. They each have experience working at popular Korean restaurants, bringing a little of LA to Southern Arizona. The menu at Kotu will mostly focus on dishes involving beef and pork. Kotu will also have classic appetizers like fried chicken, fried dumplings and French fries. Since Hoangs main goal is to provide Tucson with authentic Korean barbecue, he said the key to making sure its the real deal is finding the right balance of seasonings and marinade. At Kotu, Hoang said they will focus on providing fresh, quality meat that isnt over-seasoned or over-marinated. Hoang plans to open Kotus doors by the end of April or early May. Until then, Tucsonans will be anxiously counting down the days to sit at the new restaurant, cooking up Korean barbecue until they cant eat another bite. On March 7, Stephen Roe Lewis, chairman of the Gila River Indian Community, was Jill Bidens guest to watch President Joe Biden deliver his State of the Union address. He said he was told by White House staff that he was the first tribal guest to sit inside the Presidential box at that annual event. A year ago, he was a guest at Bidens 2023 State of the Union address that time at Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinemas invitation. His tribe he controls the single biggest share of Central Arizona Project water held by any user 311,000 acre feet. Thats more than double Tucsons CAP allocation. Throughout the past decade, Lewis and the Gila River tribe in general have been at the forefront of Arizonas water issues coming up with visionary and bold water conservation proposals and innovative solutions. They include a just-launched, federally financed project to cover some of their irrigation canals with solar panels to reduce evaporation of their water. Lewis has said the Gilas have conserved about 910,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water total. Thats almost as much as the CAP has been delivering annually to customers in the Tucson and Phoenix areas in recent years. Over the next few months and years, it will become clear just how much clout Lewis and the tribe actually have. They will try to overturn a priority system for distributing river water that has favored the richer and more populous California over Arizona for 56 years. In the past two weeks Lewis, either in person or through a tribal attorney, has spoken out publicly and passionately against a proposal by Arizona and the other two Lower Colorado River Basin states water officials to curb river water use. The proposals purpose is to prevent the rivers reservoirs from falling to disastrously low levels. The states officials have heralded their plan as an innovative, almost revolutionary blueprint, one that will wipe out a long-standing structural deficit of river water use compared to its supply. They say it will prevent Lakes Mead and Powell from ever falling to dead pool, in which the reservoirs will be so low that no water can be delivered from them. But Lewis says this proposal is still inequitable, favoring California over the other Lower Basin states. Thats even though Arizona officials say theyve gotten the best deal out of California theyve ever gotten. Lewis also says this plan fails to offer a path to mitigate the heavy losses of river water the tribe expects to bear. There are elements of the plan that we support (but) the community regrets that overall, the community cant support it, Lewis told the University of Arizonas Water Resources Research Center conference at UAs Student Union building on Wednesday. After his talk, Lewis told reporters the Gila community will present its own proposal for water shortage-sharing in weeks to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The tribe wants the bureau to analyze it as part of a broader environmental review it will conduct of separate plans from the Lower Basin and Upper Basin states water officials. (Nevada is the third Lower Basin state. The Upper Basin states are Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.) Water officials of all three Lower Basin states declined to comment on Lewis position in response to inquiries from the Star. Lewis comments, when read bv tribal attorney Don Pongrace, also drew no response from the more than 15 water officials from across Arizona who attended a March 6 meeting of an Arizona water advisory committee in Phoenix. Several water experts in academia told the Star that the Gilas opposition to the Lower Basin plan will or could complicate the effort to get it approved. Already, the Lower Basin plan is competing with an Upper Basin states plan that is radically different from theirs. No expert could say whether the Gilas can outmuscle Californias clout. But professor Elizabeth Koebele of the University of Nevada-Reno said she thinks its very savvy on the Gilas part to be offering a separate, competing proposal. While the seven basin states set the agenda for these negotiations by releasing their proposals first, having a tribal proposal shows that tribes want more than to just be in the room for the negotiations they want equitable outcomes. Because she expects and hopes environmentalists and perhaps other interest groups to submit their own proposals, the Gilas proposal wont by itself directly hold up federal approval of a final plan. Working directly with the federal government, (which) holds tribal water rights in trust, could put more weight behind a forthcoming tribal proposal, said Koebele, an associate political science professor. Sustainable management The Lower Basin plan and the tribes opposition were first laid out to a group of water officials at a March 6 meeting of the Arizona Reconsultation Committee. Its intended to help form a statewide position of water officials on how a new plan should be developed for operating the river and its reservoirs. The plan would replace operating guidelines established in 2007. The meeting was at the time closed to the public. It ended minutes before the Lower Basin states publicly released their new plan at a press briefing. The Arizona Department of Water Resources posted online an archived recording of the committee meeting later. We intend to provide for sustainable management of the Colorado River system and its resources under a wide range of future system conditions, ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke told the gathering. In particular, he cited the proposals plan to base future water use curbs on the amount of water in seven major river reservoirs. This idea of doing this on a system basis is new, and its not how its been done. Its been (just) Lake Powell and Lake Mead, he said. Under this proposal, the Lower Basin states water use would be cut by 0 to 1.5 million acre-feet a year when the seven reservoirs hold between 70% and 58% of their total water storage capacity, Buschatzke said. Between 58% and 38% full, the level at which the states expect the reservoirs will most often be, the Lower Basin will cut use by a flat 1.5 million acre-feet a year. Right now, the seven reservoirs are 42% full, officials said at the March 6 meeting. Noting the Bureau of Reclamation recently concluded the river system loses 1.3 million acre-feet a year to evaporation, Buschatzke said, Were doing a little bit more than (saving) that much water. When the reservoirs are in that range of their storage capacity, Arizona will lose 760,000 acre-feet of river water a year, California will lose 440,000 and Nevada would lose 50,000. Mexico would give up another 250,000 under the new plan, although it still has to sign off on that amount. These cuts are significantly more for both Arizona and California than the most severe cuts either state will have to take under the 2019 drought contingenxcy plan, he noted. Once the system drops below 38% full, Upper and Lower Basin states would share the cuts 50-50, whereas before the Lower Basin would absorb all the cuts. If the system drops to 23% full or worse, the two basins would split 3.9 million acre-feet of total cuts. But we have not come up with a way, or a formula, for sharing those cuts among the three Lower Basin states, and certainly not the Upper (Basin) states, Buschatzke said. Speaking of the Arizona-California-Nevada split of cuts that would occur, Buschatzke said of Arizona, Were still taking a bigger percentage (of cuts). Explaining how those three states determined the split, he said, This was equity, this was climate change, this was some look at the priority system and the interpretations of the priority system. Also, the 2007 guidelines and the 2019 drought plan were certainly not ignored on how we came to agreement at the end of the day on these numbers, he said. Buschatzke also noted that if the reservoirs ever rise high enough again to be in a surplus condition in which water must be released to avoid flooding or a spill of water over the reservoir tops the new Lower Basin plan calls for Arizona to get the first 240,000 acre-feet of water released before California gets any. This seems to be a fairly significant concession on the part of California, committee alternative member Rob Anderson, a Phoenix real estate attorney, told Buschatzke. California has traditionally had more clout in these matters because the 1968 federal law authorizing CAPs construction said Arizona would have to lose all of its CAP water during river shortages before California lost any. Am I misreading that? said Anderson, representing the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona. You are not misreading that, Buschatzke replied. They (California officials) are stepping up to the plate. I think its a great jumping off point. We still have a lot of work to do, he said. He described the plan as a new system This is a new time, very complicated, weve never seen something like this before. He added, If we had thought about this in 2007 Perhaps this would have performed really well. We probably would not have been in the shape were in. A strong message But at Wednesdays UA water conference, Lewis said of the Lower Basin states plan, The (Gila) community will stand firm, and oppose it at every turn. This is a strong message to you today. Its intended to be. The proposal not only isnt fair between Arizona and California, its also not a fair split between the Lower and Upper Basin states, he said. The Upper Basin proposal calls for that region to take no additional cuts, on the grounds that its states use far less water than those in the Lower Basin. The Upper Basin states have already seen repeated annual shortages on the rivers tributaries where many farmers normally take river water, their officials say. The Lower Basin states should take cuts on a pro rata basis, in proportion to the amount of water each state uses, he said. The same formula should be applied for allocating among the states the river water thats lost to evaporation, Lewis said. The cuts also must be shared equitably among CAP water users and among Arizona farmers and other users operating along the river, he said. Legally, those users also have higher priorities for river water than the Gilas and other CAP users. All of us within the state must be prepared to use less water, he told the water conference. We will oppose any cuts we do not feel are equitable and fair. What were looking for is consistency, fairness across the board, so no group or stakeholder is unduly burdened, Lewis told reporters after his talk at Wednesdays UA conference. If evaporation isnt directly taken into account, it makes tribal water rights more vulnerable to cuts, he said. In a consensus approach, water should never be taken through cuts involuntarily from the tribes, he told reporters. In Lewis statement read on March 6, he also said the Lower Basin states plan doesnt provide enough detail to address what will happen when we reach critical elevations in the reservoirs. We remain deeply concerned about the basin-wide reductions proposed when and if we reach the lower, critical elevations, which appears almost certain that we will and perhaps frequently, his statement said. As for mitigation, he suggested authorities find an additional water source to recharge into aquifers in the Butler Valley area west of Phoenix. From there, the water eventually could be transported to Phoenix via the CAP canal, he said. Without adequate mitigation, for us, that would constitute a trust violation, that our partners are very well aware the community will vigorously fight if necessary, Lewis statement said. While in the past the Gilas and other tribes complained they had been shut out of federal-state discussions over the river, this time Lewis said he felt the tribe was adequately consulted. Were committed to finding a consensual approach with our state and federal partners in the coming months, but this proposal as presented today is not it, Lewis said. Gilas very influential Lewis objections could have an impact on the basin states negotiations, said Sharon Megdal, the Water Resources Research Centers director. Obviously, they are very influential. They have been extremely important to agreements in the Lower Basin, Megdal said. Im not a lawyer, but the Gila River Indian Community has been active in defending the water rights it got in the settlement, said Megdal, referring to the 2004 legal settlement it obtained through congressional legislation that provided its 311,000 acre-feet of CAP rights. I dont think theyll be shy about going to court if thats required, she added. I do think its a very serious objection that he voiced at the conference. Kathryn Sorensen, research director for Arizona State Universitys water research center, recalled that during negotiations over the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, the Gilas and the city of Phoenix successfully partnered to fight an original water shortage-sharing plan. The plan that was ultimately adopted was largely in the form those two entities had envisioned, said Sorensen, Phoenixs water director at the time. I thnk the Gila River Indian Community is very influential. Their Governor Lewis is a very strong leader very forward-thinking and strategic, said Sorensen, now of ASUs Kyl Center for Water Policy. The centers director, Sarah Porter, said she doesnt know if theres a way to get an approved plan without the Gila River Indian Community on board. Its conceivable, but theyve been such a significant player in conservation, I dont know how Arizona could get along without the Gilas, she said. But she doesnt know if the Gilas stance will be enough to force higher priority water users in California such as the Imperial Irrigation District near El Centro and Yuma to make bigger concessions. Its my sense is that everybody would prefer to have an agreement and to have as many entities as possible on board, to minimize the chance of prolonged litigation. But its really hard to say, she said. In the end, (the California users) still have higher priority rights. That really kind of trumps some of these other arguments. In the 10 months since Arizona officials announced an investigation into massive Medicaid billing fraud, theyve maintained the abuse was mostly limited to a small share of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System: behavioral health providers that exploited the agencys fee-for-service plans. But the agency acknowledged this week that fraud also spread into its managed care organizations, which oversee 90% of AHCCCS services meaning the crisis ultimately affected the agencys entire provider ecosystem, not just those highlighted as the epicenter of the scandal. Gov. Katie Hobbs office told AZCIR this week that similarities in suspected fraud patterns exist across both fee-for-service and managed care, but that it is still hard to determine the full scope of this crisis. The revelations follow a series of AZCIR inquiries to better understand AHCCCS decisions to quietly waive key provider screening requirements and other safeguards during the pandemic, several of which the agency did not disclose for the nearly two years they were in effect. The changes relaxed standard protocols to vet AHCCCS providers, allowing a host of provider types beyond behavioral health operators to get taxpayer-funded reimbursements without undergoing standard screenings like fingerprint checks and site visits, according to documents obtained by AZCIR. AHCCCS also opted to halt routine audits and license verifications to detect and remove unqualified providers. Fraudulent billing has cost Arizona taxpayers at least $2 billion, with the scandal and the states response harming more than 7,000 people and disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. The true breadth remains unclear, however, in part because state leaders managing the response have not been forthcoming with the public, including lawmakers. Officials lack of transparency raises questions about how effectively they are addressing the root causes of what Attorney General Kris Mayes has dubbed one of the largest scandals in state history. It also undercuts confidence in a system that is designed to support the states most vulnerable populations. Since state officials launched investigations in May 2023, agency leader Carmen Heredia has publicly stated that she does not believe managed care had been compromised. When addressing state lawmakers as recently as this January, she made no reference to fraud within managed care or COVID-era changes that may have contributed to the crisis. The Attorney Generals Office declined to comment on the policy changes or their impact, citing its ongoing investigation. A meaningful accounting of the crisis and its origins is urgently needed, according to Alan Johnson, chief assistant state attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Florida. Johnson has spent eight years grappling with corrupt addiction treatment operators and state neglect alongside his colleagues. I can recognize a mess when I see one, he said, urging policymakers to examine where licensing and regulation systems broke down. Its a mess in Arizona. Medicaid agencies use screening measures like site visits and fingerprint checks to guard against bad actors, particularly when it comes to provider types considered prone to fraud, waste or abuse. These issues were a primary driver of improper Medicaid payments nationally in the years leading up to the pandemic, costing taxpayers an extra $10 billion. When the federal government declared COVID a public health emergency in March 2020, it allowed AHCCCS and Medicaid programs nationwide to waive certain pre-enrollment screenings. AHCCCS adjusted its provider enrollment portal accordingly that June, meaning moderate- to high-risk providers from hospice and behavioral health facilities to attendant care and non-emergency medical transport no longer needed to undergo site visits or fingerprint checks. The agency also disabled a feature that terminated providers with expired licenses within 180 days. Internal documents obtained by AZCIR show that AHCCCS chief information officer Dan Lippert, who signed off on the portal changes, was aware the tweaks would allow minimally vetted providers entering the system to remain there for a long time unless the agency intervened. Yet AHCCCS failed to fully detail the changes to managed care organizations, which account for the vast majority of its member services. By May 2022, when it finally circulated a messaging toolkit that alluded to the agencys nearly two-year suspension of provider terminations, AHCCCS had already resumed standard provider screening and enrollment protocols. That meant almost two years passed before AHCCCS informed managed care organizations of changes that allowed nefarious providers to more easily enter and remain active within AHCCCS provider portal. Had they been fully briefed on the policy changes, they could have considered employing additional fraud-prevention measures, such as more frequent audits. Key internal divisions of AHCCCS such as the agencys Office of Inspector General or the Division of Member Provider Services also could have implemented extra checks, such as prepayment reviews. But despite repeated pressing from AZCIR, the agency would not say whether it had alerted staff in those offices to the changes. AHCCCS decision to pause screenings, audits and other safeguards coincided with a surge in enrollment, as a federal law barred Medicaid programs from dropping members during the public health emergency. At the time, public health officials believed the benefits of increasing access to health care outweighed the possible harms of temporarily relaxing rules. Connecting vulnerable populations to care was particularly urgent in Arizona in the early months of the pandemic, when local tribal communities were among the hardest-hit in the United States. It was a tradeoff that we had to make at that point, said Naomi Fener, director of population health at Families USA, a nonprofit health advocacy group that has supported Medicaid expansion. We had to make a lot of really tough decisions with very little information. The scale of Arizonas behavioral health crisis became evident in May 2023, when state and federal leaders gathered to announce a sweeping investigation into Medicaid fraud. Scammers had exploited the American Indian Health Plan, they said, and used the fee-for-service plans unique reimbursement structure to reap outsized profits under the guise of treatment. From 2020 to 2022, AHCCCS member rolls increased by more than 30% to 2.5 million people, with behavioral health claims skyrocketing from $132 million to $668 million over the same period. Agency staffing levels remained flat, however, leaving AHCCCS without the personnel to investigate fraudulent claims in a timely manner, according to a 2022 Auditor General report. The massive fraud schemes perpetuated by bad actors are the largest that have targeted a single demographic population in recent U.S. history, according to Melissa Rumley, spokesperson for the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Though the state has suspended payments to nearly 300 behavioral health providers facing credible allegations of fraud, AZCIR previously found that leaders failed to anticipate the full impact of the resulting closures, which have put members of an already susceptible population at further risk of relapse, abuse, homelessness and even death. Given that Arizona funnels more general fund dollars toward AHCCCS than anything other than education, its not surprising that fraudsters targeted the agency, said Dr. Dan Derksen, a professor of public health, medicine and nursing at the University of Arizona. Combined with COVID-era health care trends, such as a shift toward telemedicine, the policy changes created an environment where folks could fill-in-the-blank for services that were never rendered, Derksen said. Its a big program, and theres a lot of money, Derksen added. Its kind of like, why rob banks? Its where the money is. The rapid expansion of AHCCCS member rolls made the agency even more susceptible to abuse, according to Gary Alexander, a director at the Paragon Health Institute, a health policy research group founded by a former Trump administration official. The bigger something gets and the more complex something gets, the greater the chance for fraud, Alexander said, adding that while the flexibilities were in effect AHCCCS should have gone in with a scalpel to monitor for improper billing. In June 2021, one year after the waiver went into effect, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a bulletin outlining how states should step up monitoring and oversight of managed care organizations and provider screening protocols. The guidance followed a report by the Government Accountability Office calling on CMS to better coordinate with states to implement the requirements. AHCCCS provider screening requirements remained relaxed for the next 10 months. Officials are still contending with the fallout of the COVID-era decision to relax enrollment and screening protocols. When AHCCCS returned to pre-pandemic policies in April 2022, it had identified 13,702 providers that did not have an active license on file, according to agency spokesperson Heidi Capriotti. The agency has since removed more than 44,000 providers that failed to revalidate their enrollment in the provider portal. To stem improper payments, AHCCCS has halted new registrations for four of the 17 provider types that were able to enroll without undergoing site visits, including behavioral health outpatient clinics and residential facilities. The freeze for those providers will continue through June 8, 2024. Though officials have publicly held that fraud is largely limited to AHCCCS division of fee-for-service, managed care organizations last year reported the highest number of suspected fraud, waste and abuse incidents since at least 2016, agency data obtained by AZCIR shows. The trend started its climb in 2019, three years after AHCCCS assumed oversight of behavioral health services from the Arizona Department of Health Services. Capriotti said AHCCCS does not have data that would indicate the interagency move directly contributed to increased fraud. Arizona lawmakers introduced new legislation in 2024 that aims to strengthen oversight and enforcement of behavioral health providers by revising how some are defined, and increasing penalties for violations. But Alan Johnson, the chief assistant state attorney in Florida who dealt with similar fraud, cautioned against enacting reforms before there is a complete understanding of the crisis and its origins. If you do it in a way thats haphazard, you will have unintended consequences, Johnson said. You will have (treatment providers) that will tamp down the effectiveness of the legislation. Its likely that AHCCCS and federal public health experts will begin examining the impact that provider screening and enrollment flexibilities had on program integrity once agencies finish updating their member rolls, said Natasha Murphy, director of health policy at the Center for American Progress. Some efforts are already underway. In late 2022, the Government Accountability Office published a report exploring risks posed by provider enrollment waivers and flexibilies. It found that CMS should maintain, rather than waive, fingerprint-based criminal background checks during future public health emergencies. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: The 15th Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) was held on the University of Arizona campus on March 9th and 10th. Over 300 authors and illustrators, many volunteers and financial sponsors, and thousands of participants made this years Festival another literacy and literature success for our community. The TFOB is a stellar example of what author-researcher Frank Smith called the literacy club. According to Smith, the most significant people in every learners life are teachers: the formal teachers of the classroom, the informal (and less frequently acknowledged) teachers in the world outside school, and the teachers (scarcely ever recognized) who are the authors of the books we read. Connecting with authors and illustrators and finding like-minded fellow readers offers young people an invitation into the literacy club. This year sixty-five authors and illustrators who create literature expressly for children and teens shared their work. They represent diverse communities including various ethnicities, races, gender orientations, cultures, heritage languages, and perspectives. Every young person who attended the festival could find their lived or hoped-for experiences on the pages of these teachers. Some Tucson-area youth may have attended this years Festival on their own, but most children and teens are reliant on their families, caregivers, and neighbors to bring them. But what about the other Tucson-area youth who were not able to attend? What literacy club invitations are being offered to all our K-12 youth the other 364 days this leap year? The Worlds of Words: Center for Global Literacies and Literatures housed on the U of A campus plans and organizes TFOB presentations for children and youth, including bringing authors and illustrators into Tucson-area schools the week before and the week after the Festival. Throughout the year, the Center provides a library, book and art exhibits, and programs open to the public, individuals, and school groups. The Pima County Public Library (PCPL) is also involved in planning and promoting the TFOB. PCPL offers year-round programming for all ages, including programs for school-age children and book clubs for teens. PCPL, Literacy Connects, and other organizations provide tutoring. But there are missing teachers in most Tucson-area public, parochial, and private schools certified school librarians. Certified as classroom teachers first, professional school librarians collect books and other resources to meet teachers and students curricular needs and independent reading selections. Librarians collaborate with classroom teachers to use resources to teach required state standards and excite learners to become readers. At this years festival, many childrens and teen books authors pointed out the critical role school librarians play in connecting youth with booksbooks that invite them into the literacy club. Research shows students who attend districts that invest in school libraries score higher in reading achievement tests. Staffing is a budget issue. Budget priorities may not align with a districts mission statement, values, or research. Some Tucson-area K-12 students have equitable access to fully staffed and funded school libraries. Tanque Verde Unified School District has never given up its commitment to full-time professional school librarians in all of their schools. Last fall voters in Sunnyside USD reinstated all of the districts school librarian positions to full time. Unfortunately, Tucson USD, our largest school district, has failed to provide equitable access. A few TUSD schools have certified school librarians; most dont. The cuts to librarian positions started twenty years ago. Generations of TUSD students, educators, administrators, and families have little or no understanding of the critical missing component in their students education. Arizona is 49th in the nation in K-12 funding. Education funding is currently under discussion in Phoenix. Lets hold the Legislature and our school boards accountable for providing literacy club invitations to all of our students 180 school days a year. Lets ask them to explain why they fail to support school librarians and libraries. Art Haddaway Follow Art Haddaway 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 OWASSO A twice-fired Owasso police officer is on administrative leave following allegations that he fatally shot a dog while off duty and lied about the incident. Sperry resident Jeremy Geiger on his Facebook page Thursday accused officer Mike Denton of killing his 18-month-old Saint Bernard mix puppy, Buddy Boy, after it escaped from his home on March 9. Geiger posted that on Monday he traced Buddys AirTag to a Dumpster behind the Owasso Police Department, where he found the dogs collar. He then requested information at the police station about the whereabouts of his dog, at which point Denton came out to talk with him. Geiger said that Denton, who lives close to him, claimed to have found Buddy at a spot where people often dump dogs. Denton said he then buried Buddy and tossed his collar in the dumpster, thinking that the owners abandoned him, according to Geiger. On Tuesday, Geiger called the station for more information and talked with a supervisor who said that the incident needed to be further investigated. The next day, deputies with the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office met with Geiger who informed him that Denton confessed to shooting Buddy on March 9 contrary to what Denton told Geiger the day before. Geiger said that he then spoke with Denton directly, who informed him that His cats were being threatened so he had to put Buddy down, according to Geigers post. He (Denton) said he would have told us this on Monday at the station, but my wife was visibly upset and he didnt want to make it worse. So I said, You lied to us? He said, Yes, I lied. In a statement to the Owasso Reporter, Dentons lawyer, Patrick Hunt, said that two stray dogs came onto Dentons property on March 9, which forced him to defend the six rescue dogs and 13 rescue cats that he has. For more than half an hour, Mike tried to catch the stray dogs. However, he was unable to do so, Hunt said. After that, one of the dogs, a black and white one, went after one of Mikes cats. Mike tried to run off the dog, but the dog refused to listen. Once he was unsuccessful, Mike retrieved a weapon because he didnt want any of his animals mauled. The dog spotted one of the kittens, Bunny, and started to charge her. Mike yelled at the dog to stop. The dog wouldnt stop so Mike was forced to shoot him. After that, the second dog ran away. Mike was heartbroken that he was forced to do this. Afterwards, he had to spend several minutes regaining his composure. He then took the dog to a remote location and built a cairn for its burial. In a Friday statement to the Reporter, Owasso police said they take any allegation of officer misconduct very seriously. An internal/administrative investigation has been initiated and the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation. The officer was off duty at the time of the alleged incident and the location where the alleged incident occurred is outside the City of Owasso, resulting in any criminal investigative efforts falling to the jurisdiction of the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office. The Reporter reached out to TCSO, which confirmed that no crime had been committed. We responded to a suspicious activity call at the detectives home, TCSO said. The caller stated that the person on his property was probably looking for a dog at large that he had shot earlier in the day because it was trying to attack his cats. That is not a criminal matter, so we are not investigating. Geiger said that a neighbor was able to retrieve Buddys body from Denton, who agreed to the transfer. Buddy Boy is home now, Geiger said in the post. He has a wonderful view of the sunrise and sunset from his final resting place. Gone too soon. He was only 18 months old. Geiger told the Reporter that he is waiting for OPD to finish its investigation to determine if he will pursue any legal action against Denton. I was informed that Oklahoma statutes allow for property owners to defend their livestock from attack; however, cats do not fall under the livestock classification, according to the statute, Geiger said. That may be the only factor on our side. Denton, a twice-fired police officer, was acquitted by a jury in March 2017 of felony and misdemeanor charges alleging that he used excessive force after a high-speed pursuit in 2015. The City of Owasso also fired Denton in 2011 for a violation of Owassos use-of-force policy in another incident, but he was reinstated by an arbitrator. In that case, he was accused of using excessive force against a Collinsville man while arresting him on a public intoxication complaint. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The Christian Ministers Alliance is in need of donations as it prepares to give away more than 1,000 food baskets ahead of Easter in Tulsa. The baskets primarily go to schoolchildren and their families from any of several school districts the nonprofit has adopted, including those of Tulsa, Union, Sand Springs, Bixby, Broken Arrow and Owasso, President Rev. W.R. Casey said, but also organizations such as CAP Tulsa and Family & Childrens Services. Food donations sought include chickens, hams, turkeys, ground beef, corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, 20-pound bags of potatoes, bacon, eggs, sausage, cereal and milk. Easter buckets and baskets filled with candy and toys are also sought for the children. Distribution will be at 6 p.m. March 26 at Timothy Baptist Church, 821 E. 46th St. North. To donate, call Casey at 918-902-1374 or 918-951-7407 to schedule a drop-off. Those interested in contributing financially may mail checks made out to CMA Inc. to P.O. Box 2095, Tulsa, OK 74101. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Art Haddaway Follow Art Haddaway 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 Cherokee Nation Marshal Service arrested two men this week in connection with the November shooting of two bison in Owasso. Gunner Lee Richards, 25, a citizen of Chickasaw Nation from Broken Bow, was arrested Wednesday near an RV park in Owasso. Tryston Hunter Needham, 29, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation from Pittsburg County, was arrested in Tahlequah on Thursday. Richards and Needham have been charged in Cherokee Nation District Court with two felony counts of cruelty to animals and one felony count of grand larceny. They face charges related to their alleged involvement in killing two bison at an Owasso ranch off 66th Street North and Mingo Road on Nov. 14. One animal was beheaded, and the other suffered severe injuries from gunshot wounds that led to its being euthanized. Ranch owner Bill Rethke, who oversees about 80 head of livestock at the property, spoke with the Owasso Reporter the day after he showed up at his property and found a dead bison. I went in there, and there was blood everywhere; his head was gone, Rethke said previously. Then there was another one that had two bullets in it. Needham and Richards have been released from jail after posting $50,000 bond each. The investigation was conducted jointly with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Choctaw Nation. The Cherokee Nation continues to uphold its public safety obligations under the historic McGirt decision and will continue to work with our state and local partners to ensure those who commit crimes are prosecuted, Cherokee Nation Attorney General Chad Harsha said in a news release. Rethke faced with replacing the livestock, which would have totaled around $12,000 was surprised to receive three yearlings (one bull and two heifer calves) from the Quapaw Nation about two weeks after the incident took place. It means everything, Rethke said previously. Thats pretty impressive. Im blessed. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Although it has a new adviser, Jenks High Schools film program is continuing to bring home national accolades. On Wednesday, officials with C-SPAN announced that four films from Jenks students are among the winners of the 2024 Student Cam competition, making 18 consecutive years that at least one Jenks project has placed in the nationwide competition. Im so happy our students were recognized, first-year adviser Hannah Rogers said. They did a really great job. Even the ones that didnt wind up placing worked so hard on this project. They spent almost the entire first semester working on this, so they absolutely earned it. Rogers participated in the contest as a student a decade ago under longtime Jenks film teacher Clifton Raphael, who retired at the end of the 2022-2023 school year. She acknowledged that it was a little daunting at first to figure out how to best guide the students on their projects. The important part is they make those decisions and they learn to figure it out for themselves, she said. Its a lot of research. Its a lot of legwork. Its a lot of just calling people, asking for interviews, getting denied, calling other people to ask for interviews, as well as staying after school and coming on the weekends to edit. It was definitely different coming at it from this side. More than 3,200 students from 42 states and the District of Columbia participated in this years contest, submitting about 1,600 documentaries. The videos were judged by a panel of educators and C-SPAN representatives. Students were asked to address this years theme, Looking forward while considering the past, by either looking at the most important change they want to see in the next 20 years or what they consider to be the most important change that has happened in the last 20 years. For junior Hendrik DuBois, the latter inspired a look at the countrys campaign finance system with the short film Fractured: How SuperPACs Broke Campaign Finance. A second-place finisher, DuBois film will air on C-SPAN on April 10 throughout the day starting at 5:50 a.m. A lot of the problems within America stem from the campaign finance system we have, he said. Rather than choose one of those individual problems that could have been fixed, I thought it would be more beneficial to address a root issue. Three additional films by Jenks students each received third-place honors: Entertaining AI by juniors Ashley Blanche and Emma Curry, High Time for Change: Transforming Marijuana Perspectives by senior MiLea Tackett and A Planet Near the End by senior Elizabeth Jones and junior Keagan Sponsler. The films are available online at studentcam.org/winners24.htm The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Students from the School of Chemistry make ice cream with liquid nitrogen during the open day of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. The ANU held the annual open day event on Saturday, introducing the school's history, major settings to students and parents, and showcasing teaching facilities and scientific research achievements. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) People attend the open day event of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. The ANU held the annual open day event on Saturday, introducing the school's history, major settings to students and parents, and showcasing teaching facilities and scientific research achievements. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) People visit the campus during the open day of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. The ANU held the annual open day event on Saturday, introducing the school's history, major settings to students and parents, and showcasing teaching facilities and scientific research achievements. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows the open day sign at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia. The ANU held the annual open day event on Saturday, introducing the school's history, major settings to students and parents, and showcasing teaching facilities and scientific research achievements. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) A visitor experiences an astronomical telescope during the open day of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australia, March 16, 2024. The ANU held the annual open day event on Saturday, introducing the school's history, major settings to students and parents, and showcasing teaching facilities and scientific research achievements. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua) Mike Simons Tulsa World Staff Photographer Follow Mike Simons 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 restored aircraft from the early days of commercial passenger flight arrived Friday in Tulsa and will highlight a Saturday filled with activities at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. The plane, a 1937 Douglas DC-3 named Flagship Detroit, will be visiting as part of a day of activities that include the museums annual Runway Run 5K and 10K and annual Stang Thang classic Mustang car show. Presented by the Flagship Detroit Foundation, the Flagship Detroit is the oldest DC-3 still flying. It was the 21st of 84 DC-3s built for American Airlines DC-3 Flagship service, which boasted transcontinental flights with sleeper berths, comfortable seating, smoother rides and other luxuries. Flagship Detroit flew with American Airlines from 1937 until it was sold in 1947 to the Bank of Mexico. The plane went through 18 different owners until it was finally purchased by the foundation and was restored to its 1937 glory. The foundation will be providing open house walk-throughs of the historic aircraft with regular museum admission. To fly on it, visitors will have to become a foundation member for $100. Memberships can be purchased in person at the DC-3 Ride Table or online at flagshipdetroit.org/tasm. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Three bills considered particularly egregious to LGBTQ+ Oklahomans and their supporters missed a Thursday legislative deadline and appear to be sidelined for the remainder of the legislative session. House Bill 3217, titled the Patriotism Instead of Pride Act, and HB 3219, both by Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, and HB 3120, by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, were among several hundred bills to go dormant because the House of Representatives did not vote on them by adjournment Thursday afternoon. HB 3217 would have prohibited the use of state funds in any way connected to what is commonly called Gay Pride, or just Pride, Month. The bill would also have banned the display on state property of the gay pride flag or any flag that represents sexual orientation or gender identity. HB 3219 would have barred alteration of birth certificates gender identification. HB 3120 targeted sex education in schools, including discussion of gender identification and sexuality. The decision to shelve the bills was made the same day as a demonstration at the Capitol concerning the death of nonbinary teen Nex Benedict. According to a summary autopsy report, Benedict committed suicide one day after a fight in an Owasso High School bathroom resulted in Benedict going to a hospital emergency room. Whether the controversy surrounding Benedicts death or the recriminations against Oklahomas elected leadership was a factor in the bills not advancing was unclear. Several other measures opposed by LGBTQ+ groups did pass just ahead of the deadline. Among them was HB 3022, by Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, which suggests the prison system is rife with men pretending to be transgender women so they can rape female inmates. Humphrey says he believes transgender persons are mentally ill. Thursday afternoon, eight Republican House members issued a joint statement concerning Benedicts death: The tragic suicide of Nex Benedict is a harsh reminder of the power that words have, the statement said. As public officials and policy makers, we have a sacred obligation to ensure that as we do the work of the people, we do so with respect and dignity. Every human life is precious and created in the image of God regardless of who they are or who they love. We call on all Oklahomans to join us in our commitment to being respectful and deliberate in our language. It was signed by Reps. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan; Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City; Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa; Mike Osburn, R-Edmond; Mark McBride, R-Moore; Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City; Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso; and Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Mixed message: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who supports military aid to Ukraine in principal but voted against it as part of a comprehensive bill that included border security reform, and 2nd District Congressman Josh Brecheen, who is steadfastly opposed to spending any more to help the Ukranians, met top Pentagon brass at the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant last week. Gen. C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been making the rounds of ordnance works to tout the need for Ukrainian assistance, which in most cases consists of U.S.-made weapons systems. On this particular junket, he visited Lockheed Martins Camden, Arkansas, plant, which makes long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, and McAlester. The sprawling McAlester site produces Navy and Air Force bombs and stores huge amounts of munitions, including the 155 mm shells used in many field pieces and howitzers. Mullin issued a prepared statement in which he made no mention of Ukraine, saying, As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, its my responsibility to ensure Oklahomas military installations have what they need to support Americas warfighters and bolster our national defense. It was a privilege to show Gen. Brown how McAlester is leading the national effort to replenish munitions supplies. 1-800-PUTEMUP: U.S. Sen. James Lankford butted heads with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra over HHS decision to withdraw Oklahomas $4.5 million in Title X family planning funds. Lankford and the state contend that the funds were canceled because Oklahoma refuses to print on its materials a toll-free number from which clients may get abortion information. Were not saying anything about abortion, Becerra said. Were just simply saying a person should be informed of the services that could be available to them under Title X. And if a state wants to not abide by the law, they understand the consequences. When we asked if we added this one phone number to brochures does that, fulfill everything, and we were told yes that would fulfill everything, Lankford said. It is just a phone number where to go get an abortion because you cant get (one) in the state. So what is happening then is AIDS testing goes away in my state, cancer screening goes away. I mean thats a pretty big bully tactic. Dots n dashes: Lankford blocked a unanimous consent motion on a bill guaranteeing in vitro services for military members and veterans, saying its definition of infertility was too broad. Lankford said TikTok doesnt need to go away but that ownership of the platform is a major national security issue because of its connection to China and the Chinese Communist Party. Roll Call reported that Mullin supports a $79 billion tax package passed by the House and which Senate Democrats want to bring to the floor without changes. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii celebrated securing a record $1.34 billion for indigenous housing and $150 million for transportation. Third District Congressman Frank Lucas legislation making the U.S. secretary of agriculture a permanent member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Stayin alive: A little more than 1,400 pieces of legislation remain in play for this session after Thursdays deadline for bills and joint resolutions to pass their chambers of origin. Among those doing so: HB 1886, by Rep. Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, would create a 13-member commission to track teacher development by certification pathway standard certification, emergency certification, full-time adjunct. HB 4013, by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, would set up a higher education deferred maintenance fund that would be apportioned $140 million a year for five years to address what insiders say is a shocking backlog caused by years of reduced and constrained budgets. HB 4147, by Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, would create an employer tax credit for providing employee child care. House Joint Resolution 1002, by Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would exempt teachers from a provision barring ex-legislators from state jobs for two years after leaving office. The exemption would apply to lawmakers resuming teaching careers. Teachers and all state employees must give up their jobs to serve in the Legislature. SB 1356, by Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, would appropriate $1.5 million to the Civil Rights Trail Grant Program. HB 1626, by Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, would make several significant changes to the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship program, including prioritizing descendants of families affected by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and increasing the maximum household income. China syndrome: Several bills targeting foreign adversary nations appeared in recent weeks, with most of them carrying the name of House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. Although the bills dont explicitly say so, the legislation appears to be a refinement of concerns and proposed legislation concerning China, which lately has been both a real threat and a convenient boogeyman. Taken together, the bills attempt to limit foreign adversary involvement in a wide range of activities, including property ownership near military bases, farm land, state contractors, communications and education. Taxing relationship: McCall and Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, exchanged press releases on Friday concerning the speakers efforts to cut or eliminate individual income taxes. McCall called the Democrats hypocrites for voting against his proposals, one of which would have raised the personal deduction to as much as $27,700. By their own votes, House Democrats have shown that they want to grow government instead of helping with the economic burdens that the citizens of our state are currently experiencing, McCall said. Munson responded by calling McCalls maneuvering deceptive and irresponsible, as well as pointless, because Senate Republicans have already said they wont consider any of the measures. It is beneath the leadership of the House to point blame at the House Democratic Caucus for what House Republicans cannot get done across the rotunda, Munson said. Counting house: General revenue for February was 5.2% above estimates for the month but 5.8% below the same month a year ago. For the first eight months of the fiscal year that ends June 30, general revenue is 4.4% above projections and 4.5% below the same period a year ago. Not my problem: Gov. Kevin Stitt said at his weekly press conference on Friday that he doesnt really understand the inner workings of the Senate Republican caucus but was OK with the tactics that allowed Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, to hold up proceedings in that chamber on Thursday. The good news, Stitt said, was that it meant 13 bills on the agenda werent heard, which he speculated made some lobbyists unhappy and kept state government smaller. That prompted questions about turnover in the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the money Superintendent Ryan Walters reportedly is spending to get himself booked on national radio and television programs. Stitt said that wasnt his responsibility. Sign here: Stitt signed House Joint Resolution 1058, approval of permanent rules for the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. Campaigns and elections: Democrat Dennis Baker, a former FBI agent and Tulsa Police Department officer, formally announced his candidacy in the 1st Congressional District. Former Republican state Rep. Avery Frix, who gave up his House seat for an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2022, said he is a state Senate District 9 candidate. The incumbent, Dewayne Pemberton of Muskogee, is not seeking reelection. SD 9 includes Muskogee, Fort Gibson and Tahlequah. Meetings and events: A chili potluck is on the menu for the Creek County Democratic Party meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Bristow Community Center, 417 N Chestnut. Call Stan Johnson at 918-227-1586 or Beth Rizzi at 773-593-1002 for information. Bottom lines: Oklahoma is one of 24 states suing the federal government over new methane emissions standards. Unemployment rates for the state and the Tulsa metro spiked in January compared to the previous month and the same month a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the number of people in the workforce and the number of unemployed both rose. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. The administration of northern Vietnams Quang Tri Province and its border Laotian counterpart Savannakhet are seeking opinions for a project to pilot building a Lao Bao - Densavan joint cross-border economic and trade zone to boost multifaceted cooperation between the localities and the two countries in general. The two provinces on Friday afternoon jointly hosted a workshop in Quang Tris Lao Bao Town to seek consultations from scientists as well as business communities of both countries regarding the establishment of the joint economic and trade zone in the coming time. The event attracted more than 200 delegates including government officials, experts, researchers and entrepreneurs from both countries. Under the draft project, the zone is expected to cover the Lao Bao Special Economic and Trade Zone in Quang Tri, covering 15,854 hectares, and the Savannakhet-based Densavan Border Trade Zone, which is 19km long along the Sepon River and 1km wide. A part of the Lao Bao International Border Gate in Quang Tri Province, northern Vietnam, is seen in this image. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre The zone will be a common economic space where the unified policies, rules and standards will be adopted and a number of preferential mechanisms and policies will be applied at higher levels than those in each country, with an aim to attract investors, said Ha Sy Dong, permanent deputy chairman of the Quang Tri administration. Under the project, the zone will be operated in a connection of infrastructure and policies between the two counties, but each side will be responsible for building and management of the part of the zone located in its territory. In order to implement the project, Vietnam and Laos need to promulgate, adjust or synchronize relevant policies and mechanisms. This is a process that needs to be carried out step by step, Dong said. Leaders of Quang Tri and Savannakhet requested concerned agencies of the two countries to advise the two governments to sign an agreement on piloting the joint cross-border economic and trade zone to form a legal foundation for the two provinces set up a common mechanism for coordination in organization, management and operation of the zone, the Vietnam Government Portal (VGP) reported. The seminar also heard delegates proposed a number of preferential incentives that should be given to enterprises that will operate in the zone. Such enterprises must be protected by the laws of both countries during their operating periods according to investment certificates issued to them, delegates said. Participants also emphasized the tackling of obstacles related to mechanism, policies and infrastructure for the new trade zone. The zone should be developed towards a new model of free trade zone, which includes new-generation international logistics centers and green industrial parks, as well as smart and creative urban areas, many attendants said. The establishment of such a zone has been among the common concerns of the governments of Vietnam and Laos and the two border provinces in further promoting bilateral cooperation in various fields including trade, investment and logistics. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! DETROIT -- As U.S. sales of gas-electric hybrid vehicles surge and electric-vehicle sales cool, automakers and suppliers are betting consumer demand for a compromise between all-combustion and all-electric is a durable trend. Automakers and suppliers are adding capacity to build gasoline-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles for the U.S. market, responding to increased consumer demand for technology that General Motors and other automakers once planned to phase out in favor of all-electric fleets, industry executives and analysts said. U.S. sales of hybrids grew five times faster than EV sales in February, Morgan Stanley said. A plug-in hybrid version of the Jeep Wrangler SUV accounted for half of total U.S. Wrangler sales in the second half of 2023, up from 37% in the first half of the year, Stellantis said. Sales of Ford Motor hybrids rose nearly 37% during the first two months of the year, driven by demand for the hybrid Maverick compact truck that starts at $25,315. "The hottest car on our lot right now is the Maverick hybrid," said Scott Simmers, general manager at Palm Springs Motors in Cathedral City, California. The hybrid Maverick now accounts for about half the model's sales and dealers said they could sell more if Ford could build them. "We had to rush to add capacity for Maverick," Jim Baumbick, Ford vice president for product development, told Reuters. "We added a whole third shift to respond to demand." The industry shift toward hybrids challenges the Biden administration's pro-EV climate policies, and environmental groups that want automakers to phase out CO2-emitting internal combustion engines as quickly as possible. The White House is expected this month to issue vehicle CO2 emissions standards designed to force automakers to increase the share of fully electric vehicles they sell to as much as 60% by 2030. The November U.S. presidential election puts the White House's EV subsidies and emissions rules at risk, however. Most legacy automakers lose money on EVs and hybrids are a more profitable path to reducing CO2 emissions if a future administration changes course, analysts said. "Hybrids are a big hedge against an administrative change that cools down the push from a regulatory standpoint," said Mark Wakefield, head of AlixPartners' global automotive practice. Supporters of strong limits on combustion-engine emissions are concerned the Biden administration could offer incentives for automakers to sell more plug-in hybrids with combustion motors. "If the hybrids are flying off the lot, there is no need for EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency) to further encourage their sale with loopholes that allow more pollution," said Dan Becker of the Center for Biological Diversity in Washington. Led by Toyota, Ford and Honda, North American production of hybrids could rise to as much as 20% of total light-vehicle production by 2025, compared with 14% for EVs, according to data provided to Reuters by AutoForecast Solutions. "While the EV outlook has been depressed by about a million units in the last year, hybrid models have surged by roughly the same volume," AFS Vice President Sam Fiorani told Reuters. Investing in hybrid demand Suppliers such as Schaeffler are making long-term investments to expand capacity for hybrid production. The German company plans to invest $230 million in a new factory in Dover, Ohio, to increase production of electric axles used in hybrid drive systems. Schaeffler currently supplies key components for the hybrid systems offered in Ford F-150 pickup trucks. Ford has said it plans to double the share of hybrid F-150s to 20% of sales. Marc McGrath, chief of Schaeffler's U.S. operations, told Reuters he expects even wider adoption of hybrid powertrains for heavy-duty pickups and large sport utility vehicles. "We see discussions with all the major (automakers) in that segment," McGrath said. Hybrid demand is fueled by consumers like Jeremy Ashton of East New Market, Maryland. Frustrated by the poor fuel economy of his V-8 powered Ford F-150 truck, Ashton shopped for a replacement and bought an F-150 hybrid for about $61,000. Comparable gasoline-only trucks "were priced the same. Some of the gas ones are more expensive," Ashton said in an interview. Ashton said he did not like the looks of Ford's all-electric Lightning pickup or the challenge of charging. So far, Ashton said his white hybrid F-150 is delivering 22 to 24 miles per gallon. "It is much better on gas." Dave Wilson, head of the Preston dealership group in Maryland, said he began ordering more hybrid models last August and September. "We were bullish on them," he said. In December, hybrids accounted for about 35% of total F-150 sales at the dealership. For the 2024 model year, Ford F-150 hybrids will start at the same price as F-150s with 3.5 liter turbo-charged EcoBoost engines. Toyota, long the leader in the U.S. hybrid market, plans significant increases in the number of hybrid models and overall sales of hybrids, Toyota brand chief David Christ told Reuters. "Last year, 29% of sales were hybrid. Year-to-date it is 37%. We expect this year to be closer to 45% of our total volume," Christ said. Toyota's next-generation Camry sedan launching this year will be offered only with hybrid powertrains. Toyota has narrowed the price premium it charges for hybrids over comparable combustion-engine vehicles as it has scaled up production. The price gap used to be as much as $6,000 to $7,000, Christ said. Now, it is $1,500 and $2,000. "Thats more attainable and the consumer sees more value in the car," he said. The number of patients requiring hospitalization due to suspected food poisoning from consuming chicken rice earlier this week at a restaurant in Nha Trang, a resort city in Khanh Hoa Province on Vietnams south-central coast, has surpassed 200 and is still increasing. According to a report from the Khanh Hoa Department of Health, as of 3:00 pm on Friday, medical facilities had recorded a total of 345 cases of food poisoning related to Tram Anh Chicken Rice, a restaurant on Ba Trieu Street in Nha Trang. Among them, 239 individuals have been admitted to hospitals for treatment, and 201 cases are still now under hospital treatment. While most patients are showing signs of stabilization, severe cases, particularly among the elderly and children, have been transferred to Khanh Hoa General Hospital for further care. One particularly severe case being treated at Khanh Hoa General Hospital, who is 18 weeks pregnant, exhibits symptoms including a fever of 38.5 degrees Celsius, a high pulse rate of 95 beats per minute, severe nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain around the navel. The patient has been transferred to the toxicology intensive care unit for close monitoring and treatment. After receiving rehydration and electrolytes, the patients condition has stabilized, and medical professionals are presently monitoring both the mother and the fetus, according to Trinh Ngoc Hiep, deputy director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Health. At Vinmec Nha Trang Hospital, stool culture samples from two five-year-old pediatric patients from Hanoi who consumed Tram Anh chicken rice tested positive for Salmonella bacteria, the primary cause of intestinal infections. Tram Anh Chicken Rice restaurant in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre The rapid stool culture test conducted at the hospital is just the first step in treating gastrointestinal infections, said Hiep. We are awaiting the results of blood and biological cultures. If the bacteria found in the patients correspond to those found in the food, we can confirm the cause of the poisoning. Currently, specialized agencies are intensifying testing of food and samples collected from the patients. Hospitals are continuing to monitor the progression of the poisoning incident and updating each patients test results to tailor appropriate clinical interventions. Simultaneously, the Department of Health is working with the grassroots food safety and hygiene units to investigate the poisonings cause, stop the infection source, raise public awareness about hygienic eating during the dry season, and review local cold, processed, and fast food. On Wednesday, Tram Anh Chicken Rice restaurant was temporarily suspended from operation for investigative purposes. Previously, in 2023, the Khanh Hoa Department of Health identified Salmonella bacteria as the cause of poisoning for nearly 400 students at a school in Nha Trang City. This bacterium is commonly found in food and can lead to poisoning and even fatalities. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in southern Vietnams Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a South Korean man on suspicion of killing his father who wanted to reconcile the conflict between his son and daughter-in-law. The suspect killer, L., around 30 years old, has been detained for investigation on charges of murder, the municipal police department said on Friday evening. The victim was L.s father, a South Korean man in his 60s, who arrived in Vietnam from South Korea on Wednesday. The murder was discovered at the Scenic Valley 1 condo building on Ton Dat Tien Street, in the Phu My Hung urban area in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, on early morning of Thursday. At around 3:00 am that day, a team of security guards of the building while on patrol found three knives and one pair of scissors, all stained with blood, on the yard of the building, along with many bloodstains scattered around these tools. Security guards then launched an urgent check in all 23 floors of the building and detected doubtful signs at apartment no. B301 on the third floor. They immediately reported their findings to local police, who rushed to the apartment and found L.s father lying dead in the bedroom, with many wounds over his body and blood stains around the corpse. After watching relevant security camera footage, they found that L. left his apartment at 3:40 am on the same day. Suspecting L. to be the killer, police immediately launched a search for him. L. was later arrested when he was found lying on a grassland in the urban area, about 500 meters from the building. According to initial reports, L. had lived with his wife at the apartment before she left due to repeated conflicts between them. Such a situation prompted L.s father to go to Vietnam to reconcile his son and daughter-in-law. During a quarrel between L. and his father, the son probably used a weapon to kill his dad, investigators said. Since the suspected murder is related to foreigners, it has been transferred to the citys police department, which is continuing their investigation into the case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The U.S. Mission to Vietnam, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Vietnam have jointly launched the Mekong Delta Coastal Habitat Conservation project in the region. The US$2.9million project will work to reduce threats to coastal biodiversity and fisheries and strengthen coastal resilience in the Mekong Delta, in partnership with the Vietnamese government, management authorities of marine protected areas, development partners, and fishing communities. Through this project, USAID will support Vietnams restoration of coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of marine resources to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities and enhance coastal resilience. Tran Dinh Luan, director of the Directorate of Fisheries under the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaks at the launching ceremony of the USAID-funded Mekong Delta Coastal Habitat Conservation project, Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, March 15, 2024. Photo: USAID Vietnam The Mekong Delta and its islands are home to 70 percent of Vietnams mangroves and 90 percent of its seagrass beds. Fed by the sediment and nutrients from the Mekong River, these habitats support Vietnams richest fishing grounds and provide crucial protection for coastal communities from storm surges. However, these habitats and the commercially important species they support, such as sea bass and snapper, are facing a range of threats that impact long-standing livelihoods and lifestyles. This project launch advances our shared priority with Vietnam to build coastal resilience in the vital yet increasingly vulnerable Mekong Delta region, and supports the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, said Aler Grubbs, USAID Vietnam Mission director, at the launching ceremony held in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam on Friday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Feature: ROK entrepreneur enthralled by rural China's vitality Xinhua) 10:43, March 16, 2024 Seo Gangsu (R) promotes strawberry with a villager in Dajiao Township of Jiangxian County, north China's Shanxi Province, March 2, 2024. (Xinhua) TAIYUAN, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Following a recent visit to Dajiao Township in Jiangxian County, located in north China's Shanxi Province, Seo Gangsu from the Republic of Korea (ROK) was astonished by the wide range of strawberry varieties cultivated by local farmers. "There are over a dozen varieties of delicious strawberries here, and I've tried them all. I'm eager to see how they compare to those in my country," he said. Hailing from Suncheon City in southern ROK, Seo first arrived in China at the age of 18 to study Chinese. He later obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Beijing Normal University. After studying in China for a decade, Seo decided to stay and pursue his dreams in the country. He later married a Chinese woman and currently runs a cosmetics company and a childcare institution. "Although I've been in China for many years, I rarely had a chance to explore the vast rural areas," he said, adding that rural areas are often stereotyped as dilapidated and run-down places but his recent visit completely changed his perspective. Apart from the thriving strawberry industry, Seo also visited modern residential communities, livestreaming e-commerce hubs and herbal tea factories. He stopped by a residential community called Xingfu where he learned that the residents were relocated from uninhabitable regions eight years ago through the country's nationwide poverty alleviation campaign. Life in their previous villages was very hard. People lived in caves, navigated challenging mountain terrain, and endured harsh weather conditions with limited access to essential services like schools and clinics. Thanks to an array of poverty alleviation policies, more than 100 households from uninhabitable villages were resettled in the new residential community in 2016. "The entire village is clean, tidy and very modern," Seo said, noting that many residents here are engaged in e-commerce activities, selling agricultural products online, which has generated employment opportunities. "It reminds me of an old Chinese proverb that goes: give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime," Seo said. Following this visit to rural China, Seo said he can conclude that many Chinese villages boast unique characteristics, stories and distinctive industries. "In the future, we can capitalize on the country's favorable policies, along with leveraging experiences from the ROK, to further boost the revitalization of rural China," he said. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) MANILA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos reached 3.15 billion U.S. dollars in January, recording a year-on-year 2.7 percent increase, the Philippine central bank has said. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday night that cash remittances from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore contributed mainly to the increase in January. Personal remittances remain a significant source of foreign exchange inflows into the Philippines. According to the Asian Development Bank, the Philippines is among the top 10 global recipients of remittances. The BSP data showed that personal remittances from overseas Filipinos reached an all-time high of 37.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, 3 percent higher than the amount recorded in 2022. The full-year 2023 remittances represented 8.5 percent and 7.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product and gross national income, respectively. Michel Forst, the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, told AFP that he was deeply troubled by the hardening tone against climate activists (Fabrice COFFRINI) Environmental activists are increasingly facing hostility across Europe, a UN expert said, warning that the very right to protest was "at risk" in countries usually considered beacons of democracy. Michel Forst, the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, told AFP in an interview this week that he was deeply troubled by the hardening tone against climate activists in countries including France, Austria, Germany and Britain. Government ministers have been throwing about terms like "eco terrorists" and "Green Talibans" to describe non-violent activists, he claimed, also blaming some media reporting for contributing to an increasingly hostile public attitude. "It creates a sort of chilling effect," warned Forst, an independent expert appointed under the UN's Aarhus Convention -- a legally-binding text that provides for justice in environmental matters. "Currently, the right to protest is at risk in Europe." Forst said he had recently visited several European countries after receiving complaints that activists faced treatment that allegedly violated the convention and international human rights law. Following a visit to Britain, he publicly voiced alarm at the "toxic discourse" and "increasingly severe crackdown" on environmental defenders. - 'Regressive laws' - Forst charged that "regressive laws" in Britain were being used to slap climate activists with harsh penalties, with one activist sent to prison for six months for a 30-minute slow march disrupting traffic. Another activist had been sentenced to 27 months behind bars in the UK, he said. He also decried harsh sentences in other countries, including Germany. Forst travelled to France last month following complaints about a crackdown on a drawn-out anti-motorway protest near the southwestern city of Toulouse. Activists, called "squirrels", who have been squatting in trees destined to be chopped down to make way for the A69 motorway, have accused law enforcement of denying them access to food and water and using floodlights to deprive them of sleep. Story continues Forst said he had been blocked from bringing food to the activists, and was "shocked" by what he found. "Obviously, deprivation of food, of drinking water, of sleep is clearly against international law," said Forst, a French national. They are "considered acts of torture in international texts", he added. - 'Dangerous' - Forst said that European media coverage often focuses exclusively on the drama around demonstrations and not on the climate crisis prompting the protests. The world is in a very "dangerous time", he said, but the general public often do not understand why young people are "blocking access to airports, or gluing their hands on the floor". As a result, states have felt justified in developing new policies and laws, paving the way for police crackdowns, and increasingly harsh sentences. In Britain, he said that some judges were even barring environmental defenders from using the word "climate" to explain their motivation to the jury. Forst said that he was investigating whether big companies, especially in the oil and energy sector, might be lobbying to increase the pressure on climate activists. "The most dangerous" companies were even "using security forces, connections with the mafia... to target and sometimes to kill defenders," he said. Forst said he was currently organising consultations in Latin America and Africa with environmental activists there who are facing attacks by companies. He is also investigating whether companies based in Europe are, through local subsidiaries, contributing to attacks on activists. And the expert blasted European countries for "a double standard" by supporting environmental defenders in other parts of the world but "not protecting their defenders inside Europe". nl/vog/bc Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr. had 'really great chats' on FaceTime credit:Bang Showbiz Jeremy Renner quipped that he felt like he was "dating" co-star Robert Downey Jr. as the pair FaceTimed all the time during his stint in the ICU. The 53-year-old actor suffered serious injuries after being run over by his own snowplough at his Nevada home in January 2023. The Marvel star spent more than two weeks in hospital after breaking more than 30 bones in the horrific accident, and during that time, he formed a bromance with the 58-year-old Oscar winner. Jeremy told PEOPLE magazine: We ended up having really great chats on FaceTime, like we were dating or something." The 'Oppenheimer' star joked with the 'Hawkeye' star that if he still has his looks "that's all that matters". Jeremy recalled: He's like, Dude, the most important thing is you look good. I don't care how you feel, as long as you look good that's all that matters." Robert and his wife, Susan, are huge fans of his show 'Mayor Of Kingstown' and he said they needed him to get better to return to complete the story. He said: "He's like, 'You've got to get back to do Mayor, because we need to see what happens.' His ways are very heartwarming." Jeremy previously shared how he needs to prioritise "health and wellness" for the rest of his life. The Hollywood star said: "(I'm doing) probably 90 per cent of all the things I needed to be doing... I think another six months will be hopefully running (more)... I got to set goals for myself. I'll do whatever I can... whatever it takes to get better, to get stronger. "It's a one-way street, this recovery. The rest of my life is about health and wellness. Recovery will be part of the rest of my life, so I look forward to it, man. There's always something to do to get better, be stronger, be happier, be healthier, and that's what I look forward to." Jeremy recently explained that the incident altered his view on the cycle of life and has left him "kind of excited" about dying. Story continues Speaking on SiriusXM's 'This Life of Mine with James Corden', he said: "I was never afraid, mind you, of death prior. Now, I'm really not afraid of it. Now, I'm double downing. Yes, certainly not afraid of it. "Now, I'm kind of excited for it. To be honest, it's what life really is. "This rock that we're spinning on and this body and this language that we're speaking and all these feelings and emotions and conflict is all... meaningless in the scheme of things." A banner by Extinction Rebellion (Image: Extinction Rebellion) Co-ordinated environmental protests across six North Sea countries have taken place,i targeted at the oil and gas industry. The group Extinction Rebellion organised the action due to plans for new drilling under the campaign North Sea Fossil Free. In the Netherlands, activists blocked the roads leading to Shells Pernis refinery - the largest in Europe. Read More: 'Activism not relaxism': Just Stop Oil protestor explains direct action tactics German climate campaigners blocked access to the floating LNG terminal in the industrial port of Brunsbuttel, while in Extinction Rebellion Norway shut down Rafnes Petroleum Refinery The Swedish branch targeted the oil harbour in Gothenburg, with action also taking place in Denmark. Across Scotland, local groups supported the continental actions with banner drops in locations of strategic importance to the proposed development of new North Sea oil and gas. The Herald: Extinction Rebellion banners in Aberdeen Extinction Rebellion banners in Aberdeen (Image: Extinction Rebellion) On the Moray Firth, which the group said could be devastated if there was an oil spill, XR Forres organised performances from the black-clad oil slicks performance troupe. Shetland Stop Rosebank dropped banners at Lerwick Harbour - the main port supporting the first phase of the proposed Rosebank oil and gas field, while in Aberdeen, the offices of Equinor and Ithaca (who own 80% and 20% of Rosebank respectively) were targeted with banners. Jonas Kittelsen, spokesperson for XR Norway said: "I'm ashamed to be a Norwegian. "Norway profits massively from aggressively expanding our oil and gas sector, causing mass suffering and death globally. My government portrays us as better than the rest of the world, which we are not." Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Education & Career Chartered Accountants (CA) May 2024 exams rescheduled The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has rescheduled the Chartered Accountants Foundation, Intermediate and Final exams scheduled to be held in May 2024. Read More Saturday March 16, 2024 11:15 PM , ummid.com News Network Mumbai: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has rescheduled the Chartered Accountants Foundation, Intermediate and Final exams scheduled to be held in May 2024. In a notification dated March 16, 2024, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) said it decided to reschedule the the Chartered Accountants May 2024 because the announced dates are clashing with the 2024 Parliamentary elections. In a notification released on January 25, 2024, the ICAI had said the examination for the CA Foundation Course will be held from June 20, 22, 24 and 26, 2024. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) also said that CA Intermediate Group I exam will be held on May 03, 05 and 07, 2024 whereas CA Intermediate Group II exam will be held on May 09, 11 and 13, 2024. According to the schedule released earlier the CA Final Exam (Group I) was supposed to be held on May 02, 04 and 06, 2024, and CA Intermediate Group II exam on May 08, 10 and 12, 2024. As per the original schedule, the Members Exam, International Taxation Assessment Test (INTT AT), has been scheduled to be held on May 10 and 12, 2024. New Schedule on March 19 The ICAI has however rescheduled all these exams citing the Lok Sabha Polls. The ICAI further said that it will publish the rescheduled time table and dates on March 19, 2024. The Election Commission today have announced schedule of Election to the 18th Lok Sabha in the month of April - June 2024. It is observed that the aforementioned Lok Sabha Election, which will be held in 7 phases, will commence from 19th April 2024 and conclude on 1st June 2024. Counting for all phases will be done on 4th June 2024, the ICAI said. Accordingly, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will issue the detailed revised schedule of May 2024 Examinations on 19th March 2024 (Evening) on www.icai.org, it said. Students writing their Chartered Accountants Examinations, May 2024 may kindly note the same and bear with us for the time being, it said. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home 2024 Parliament Elections Parliament Election 2024 Schedule: The Election Commission of India is set to announce today, i.e. Saturday March 16, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Parliament elections also known as General Elections, schedule in a press conference at 03:00 pm. Read More Saturday March 16, 2024 6:18 PM , ummid.com News Network Parliament Election 2024 Schedule: Parliamentary elections in Maharashtra for the 48 seats will be held in 05 Phases starting with Phase 1 (5 seats) on April 19, Phase 2 (8 seats) on April 26, Phase 3 (11 seats) on May 7, Phase 4 (11 seats) on May 13 and Phase 5 (13 seats) on May 20, 2024. 03:30 PM: The 2024 Parliamentary elections will be completed in 07 phases. Polling for the 1st phase of elections will be held on 19 April, 2024, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said Saturday. "The counting of votes will be done on June 04, 2024. The result will also be declared on the same day", the CEC said. "Polling for the 1st Phase (102 seats in 21 states) on April 19, 2nd Phase (89 seats in 13 states) will be held on April 26, the 3rd Phase (94 seats in 12 states) on May 07, the 4th Phase (96 seats in 10 states) on May 13, 5th Phase (49 seats in 8 states) on May 20, 6th Phase (57 seats in 7 states) on May 25 and 7th Phase (57 seats in 8 states) on June 01, 2024", he said. Assembly elections in 04 states - Odisha, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, will be held simultaneously with the Parliamentary Elections, the Election Commissioner said. Andhra assembly elections will be held on May 13 on 175 seats. Assembly elections of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be held on April 19, 2024, the CEC said. Assembly elections in Odisha will be held in 04 Phases on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 01, 2024. "The counting of votes in the 04 states will also be held on June 4, 2024", the CEC said. 03:15 PM: The Election Commissior of India (CEC) has started the press conference. "We have 97 crore registered voters in India, 10.5 lakh polling stations, 1.5 cr polling and security officers, and more than 55 lakh EVMs will be used for the 2024 elections", he said. Kumar further said that there are 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years. "In total there are more than 21.5 crore young voters", he said. Overall India gender ratio among voters is at 948/1000 whereas 12 states and UTs have more female than male voters, the Election Commissioner said. The Electoral Roll has a total of 82 lakh voters of over 85 years of age, 2.18 lakh centenarians, he said. "Poll officers will go to the homes of the registered voters of more than 85 years age", he said. 02:45 PM: The Election Commission of India is set to announce today, i.e. Saturday March 16, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Parliament elections also known as General Elections, schedule in a press conference at 03:00 pm. The announcement of 2024 election schedule has already been delayed by about a week if compared with 2019 when the poll schedule was out on March 10. The 2024 Lok Sabha Polls are being held under the shadow of widespread allegations of manipulation, rigging, misuse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), and use of force and intimidation for the political funding. The term of the current Lok Sabha (17th Lok Sabha) ends on June 16, 2024. The Election Commission of India is also likely to announce today the assembly election dates in Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, sources said. The Model Code of Conduct will come into force once the polling dates are announced by the Election Commission. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India 'Modi Run Extortion Racket': Rahul Gandhi on Electoral Bonds Scheme Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running the worlds biggest extortion racket through the Electoral Bonds Scheme. Read More Saturday March 16, 2024 12:09 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi/Thane: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running the worlds biggest extortion racket through the Electoral Bonds Scheme. Rahul Gandhi, who is camping in Bhiwandi near Mumbai leading the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, said the Modi led government used ED, CBI, Income Tax (IT) Department to intimidate corporates and force them to donate money to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). It turns out that this is a way of extorting money from Indias largest corporates, it is a way of stealing money from the biggest contracts in the country", Rahul said addressing the media in Bhiwandi. "It is a way of intimidating corporates and forcing them to give money to the BJP. So it is the worlds biggest corruption scam, it is the worlds biggest extortion racket and it is run by the Prime Minister of India, Rahul Gandhi, a Member of Parliament from Wayanad, said. This is a huge theft taking place right in front of everybodys eyes and it has been orchestrated by the Indian Prime Minister", Rahul said. 'Freeze BJP bank accounts' Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a high-level probe by the Supreme Court against the ruling BJP and freezing of its bank accounts. There are many dubious donors. Who are these people? Which companies are these? Why have so many companies donated only after ED, I-T and CBI raids? Who exerted pressure on such companies?" Kharge asked while addressing the media a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) published the names of donors provided to it by the State Bank of India (SBI) following the Supreme Court order . "We demand the highest level of enquiry by the Supreme Court to investigate this saga of corruption by the BJP, he said. The Supreme Court of India had in a landmark judgement delivered on February 15, 2024 struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme as unconstitutional, and asked the SBI to disclose the details of the donors and parties benefited from the scheme by March 06, 2024. How Bonds Scheme was misused In a separate briefing Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate gave name by name details of some of the companies to show how they were raided by the agencies and forced to make donation, and the companies who made donations after getting government contracts. The DLF Commercial Developers Limited was raided on January 25, 2019 and it purchased the bonds on October 09, 2019, she said. Divi's Laboratories Limited was raided by the Income Tax officials on Feb 19, 2019. The company purchased the bonds on July 05, 2023, she added. Supriya Shrinate also talked about Navayuga Engineering which bought bonds worth 90 crore from April 2019 to October 2022. It is the same company which built the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi which collapsed on 12 November 2023 leaving 41 labourers trapped . No enquiry has been initiated against the company. Now it has become clear why, she said. In her briefing, Supriya Shrinate also mentioned the names of United Phosphorus which was raided by IT on January 23, 2020 and donated through electoral bonds to a party on Nov 15, 2022, IFB Agro raided by GST officials on June 25, 2020 and it purchased bonds on Oct 08, 2021, Yashoda Hospital of Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) purchased bonds worth 162 crore rupees from April 2021 to October 2022 after it was raided by Income Tax department in December 2020. Similarly, Hetero Drugs and Hetero Labs wad raided by IT sleuths on Oct 09, 2021 and it purchased the bonds on Nov 07, 2022. Haldia Energy faced CBI probe in March 2020 and it bought the electoral bonds Oct 2021. Chennai Greenwoods IT raid in July 2021 and it purchased bonds on January 05, 2022. IT raid on HeroMoto on March 23, 2022, it purchased bods on Oct 07, 2022. The case of Future Gaming & Hotel Servicing is very interesting. The ED raids the company on April 03, 2022 and seizes properties worth 409 crore rupees. Four days later, on April 07, 2022, it purchases bonds worth 100 crore rupees and gives it to the BJP, Supriya Shrinate said. Supriya Shrinate also linked the purchase of electoral bonds by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Micro Lab, NCC Limited, Kalpataru Project, Dr Reddys Lab, Shirdi Sai Electrical Ltd, Aurobindo Pharma to raids by agencies. 'Quid pro quo, kickback' The Congress Spokesperson in her briefing also named a number of companies that were given contracts in exchange of donations through electoral bonds a quid pro quo and case of kickback. Megha Engineering was given a contract worth 14,400 crore rupees in May 2023 after the company made donations through the bonds scheme in April 2023", she said. Supriya said Serum Institute donated INR 52 crores in a single day on August 18, 2022. PM Modi visits Serum Institute on August 22, 2022 and the company enjoys its monopoly on Covid vaccine, Surpiya Shrinate alleged. Some of the other companies which according to the Congress received contracts in exchange of electoral bonds are Vedanta, Torrent Power, IRB Infra, APCO Infra, Wonder Cement, Bright Star Investment and Mittal Group. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home United Nations World rallies behind UN Resolution on Islamophobia, India abstains The United Nations Friday March 15, 2024 passed with an overwhelming majority a resolution calling for the world to unite against rampant Islamophobia. Read More Saturday March 16, 2024 7:53 PM , ummid.com News Network New York: The United Nations Friday March 15, 2024 passed with an overwhelming majority a resolution calling for the world to unite against rampant Islamophobia. The resolution, tabled in the UN General Assembly by Pakistan, calls for, among other things, concerted action to fight the ongoing violence against Muslims in various parts of the world and requests the UN Secretary-General to appoint a Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia. Unprecedented support for UN resolution The resolution received the support from 115 members with 44 abstentions and none in opposition. India is one of the 44 countries which decided to abstain from voting. The resolution was passed on March 15 which coincided with International Day to Combat Islamophobia. A UN General Assembly resolution in 2022 proclaimed March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution was adopted following attacks on two mosques Christchurch , New Zealand, that left 51 people dead on this day in 2019. Prior to adopting the new resolution, the UN General Assembly rejected by a close margin two amendments proposed by a group of European nations. The proposals would have replaced key language in the resolution, including calling for a focal point instead of a UN special envoy and removing references to the desecration of the Quran , the United Nations said in a release. 'Bigotry in all its forms must be stopped' Asserting that online hate speech is fuelling real-life violence, the UN Chief in a statement issued on International Day to Combat Islamophobia said, Divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatising communities and everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias." We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms, he declared. Leaders must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. Together, let us commit to promoting mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all", he said. 'Spikes in Islamophobic incidents' In Geneva, Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), cited multiple reports on huge spikes in Islamophobic incidents amid the current conflict in the Middle East, with a nearly 600 per cent increase in some countries in North America and Europe. Islamophobia has stolen lives, and dehumanising entire communities and sparking torrents of hate speech, magnified by social media, he said. Nassima Baghli, Permanent Observer of the OIC, hosted a commemorative event on Friday in Geneva. Islamophobia is on the rise following the Israeli aggression on Gaza, she said at the event. Saudi Arabia and a number of other countries along with the Muslim World League (MWL) welcomed the adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly to combat Islamophobia and the appointment of a special UN envoy for the same purpose. Meanwhile, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj explaining why the country abstained from voting voiced condemnation of all acts motivated by "anti-Semitism", "Christianophobia" and "Islamophobia" but asserted that it is crucial to acknowledge that such "phobias extend beyond Abrahamic religions." Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. "The Belt and Road Initiative means that all nations can contribute with what they have, with what their potential is, for, ultimately, the global well-being of humanity." Angola's minister of industry and commerce Rui Miguens de Oliveira said that cooperation between China and Angola under the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded fruitful results. #BRI #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service HA NOI It is necessary to study proposals from experts and businesses to have more practical policies for electric vehicles, particularly hybrid vehicles. To advance toward Viet Nams CO2 emissions reduction targets, preferential policies are needed to encourage consumers to buy hybrid cars, contributing to protecting the environment. Many are willing to spend more money to buy hybrid cars, but incentives for this market should also be considered. Discussing this issue, Phan Le Hoang Linh, head of Manufacturing Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trades Industry Agency, said that the ministry has recently received proposals from manufacturers on policies supporting hybrid cars. However, the proposals lacked specific scientific evidence on the level of emissions reduction hybrid cars would contribute, he added. The development strategy needs to be designed in consideration of factors such as infrastructure, consumer habits, car companies' strategies and the national energy transition roadmap. Strategy builders aim to have a roadmap for all types of environmentally friendly vehicles, including hybrid vehicles, and to evaluate the role of hybrid vehicles in the green transition period. The State currently has no incentive policies specifically for hybrid cars, said Linh. There is a view that subsidising hybrid cars is not appropriate because of the policys impact on the State budget. However, hybrid car users themselves are also contributing to reducing emissions and protecting the environment, so there should be support from the State for this group of users. Many businesses and associations have proposed amendments for incentive policies for electric vehicles based on CO2 emission criteria, a method many countries use. If this direction is followed, users of hybrid cars will also receive incentives because they also reduce emissions. "The Ministry of Industry and Trade will study proposals from experts and businesses with specific data and research, so that when presented to higher levels, there will be more practical policies for electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles in particular," said Linh. At the discussion titled "Hybrid vehicle development trends in Viet Nam" held on Tuesday, some said hybrid cars have opportunities as an intermediate solution in the conversion roadmap from vehicles using internal combustion engines to electric vehicles. In fact, hybrid cars have been researched and developed for a long time but have only recently become popular worldwide as the trend of electrifying vehicles becomes more urgent. Besides, hybrid vehicles have many factors suitable for the Vietnamese market. First, Vietnamese people like new car models with lots of technology and features. With a long usage time, this is also an advantage of hybrid cars. Currently in Viet Nam, hybrid cars are also a more convenient option than electric cars. However, hybrid is a new technology which often appears on high-end versions offered by car companies due to high investment costs. VNS HA NOI - Bernard Werber, popular for his Les Fourmis (The Ants) trilogy, will meet readers from March 16 to 22 in Ha Noi, Hue, a Nang and HCM City. The Ants trilogy made Werber one of France's most popular science fiction writers in the 1990s. The author began studying journalism in 1982 in Paris. In 1991 he published the novel Les Fourmis (Empire of the Ants), a complex fantasy novel in which ants were the heroes and humans the pesty antagonists. The novel became a cult hit across Europe, and Werber followed it with two other books in the same vein: Le Jour des Fourmis (Day of the Ants,1992) and La Revolution des Fourmis (Revolution of the Ants, 1995). Most of Werber's subsequent work appears in series, often with linked characters. The trilogy was published in some 30 languages with 23 million copies sold worldwide. It won the Sciences et Avenir magazine's Readers' Choice award and the Grand Prix award from Elle's readers. His most recent book Le temps des chimeres was published last October. In Ha Noi, the author will meet readers on March 16 at 3pm at the National Library and at French Alexandre Yersin School on March 18. The next meetings will be held at the French Institute's branch in Hue on March 19 and at a Nang Foreign Languages College on March 20. In HCM City, the author will talk at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France IDECAF on March 21 and at French Marguerite Duras School on March 22. VNS HA NOI The protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities abroad has been carried out effectively and obtained many important results, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. In a report submitted to National Assembly (NA) deputies ahead of the NA Standing Committees 31st session, he said that since 2022, international travel and Vietnamese citizens movement to other countries have fully recovered. Peoples working, studying, and travel demand has been growing fast. Statistics show that Vietnamese citizens made more than 3.82 million departures for other countries in 2022, and the figure approximated 10.1 million in 2023. The increase in the number of Vietnamese citizens going abroad for different purposes reflects the countrys high level of integration, Son said, noting that it has created numerous opportunities but also led to complicated issues, posing many challenges to consular affairs and citizen protection abroad. Meanwhile, the world situation remains complicated, especially the Russia Ukraine, Israel Hamas, and Myanmar conflicts, requiring authorities to keep a close watch on the situation and stay ready to conduct citizen protection. Following the Party and States guidelines, policies, and regulations, the protection of Vietnamese citizens, legal entities, and fishermen abroad has been carried out effectively and obtained many important results. In particular, authorities have properly settled serious and large-scaled cases and those posing risk to the safety of Vietnamese citizens lives and assets abroad, thus receiving high evaluation from the public and the international community and also showing the Party and States sense of responsibility and humane policy towards Vietnamese citizens, according to the minister. As soon as the conflict in Ukraine broke out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has taken comprehensive and strong political diplomatic measures regarding relevant countries; ordered Viet Nam's representative bodies in Ukraine, Russia, and neighbouring countries to carry out measures to protect citizens and ensure security and safety for them; and also coordinated with associations and representative agencies of Viet Nam to evacuate the citizens away from conflict zones and to neighbouring countries. So far, he said, more than 6,000 Vietnamese people affected by the conflict have been evacuated, including about 1,700 repatriated by air. Notably, authorities have assisted not only Vietnamese nationals but also Vietnamese-origin people and their family members and relatives of foreign nationalities. This demonstrates the Party and States humane and consistent policy towards the overseas Vietnamese community. As for the armed clashes in the northern Myanmar state of Shan since late October 2023, the MoFA has coordinated with relevant ministries, sectors and localities, and work with foreign partners to repatriate the Vietnamese stranded there. As many as 1,398 Vietnamese citizens were brought home in two phases. Viet Nam also helped evacuate six foreign citizens at the request of other countries. Authorities have basically completed dealing with the evacuation of Vietnamese citizens in the Laukkai area, north of Shan state. There have not been any Vietnamese casualties recorded in the conflict in Myanmar, Son said. In 2022, Viet Nam's representative agencies in Cambodia worked with local authorities to rescue Vietnamese citizens from illegal detention sites, and coordinated with domestic agencies to receive nearly 1,400 citizens. The agencies said this figure reflects just part of the number of forced Vietnamese labourers, the minister noted. The problem expanded to other regional countries in 2023, the official reported, adding that the MoFA worked with authorities of Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar to rescue, protect, and repatriate about 1,500 citizens. The issue of Vietnamese citizens deceived into forced labour abroad emerged in 2020, and this is an extremely complex problem due to many reasons. The MoFA has proposed many counter-measures to the Prime Minister, who has also demanded ministries, sectors, and localities implement various solutions. Regarding fishermen working in the vicinity of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) of Viet Nam, the MoFA has repeatedly contacted and sent diplomatic notes objecting to the countries that illegally intervened, detained, or seized property of the Vietnamese fishing vessels operating legally in Viet Nam's waters. It has also affirmed Viet Nam's sovereignty over these archipelagoes, which was established in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), according to Minister Son. VNS IEN BIEN A government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha offered incense and flowers in tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the ien Bien Phu Battle on Saturday. They paid homage to the fallen soldiers at the temple dedicated to them as part of his official visit to the northwestern province of ien Bien. The government delegation laid wreaths, offered incense, and expressed gratitude to General Vo Nguyen Giap, officers, soldiers, volunteers and people who fought and sacrificed their lives on the battlefield, contributing to the victory of ien Bien Phu 70 years ago. Also the same afternoon, the delegation laid wreaths and offered incense at the Martyrs Cemetery A1, commemorating the heroic martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of national liberation, independence and freedom for the Fatherland, for socialism, and happiness of the people. The ien Bien Phu Campaign lasted from March to May 1954 under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap. The victory on May 7, 1954, led to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords in which France agreed to withdraw forces from its colonies in Indochina. VNS HA GIANG Concrete roads, electricity systems, and flood-resistant bridges have made the border commune of Tung Vai in Quan Ba District, which is one of the most natural disaster-prone regions in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, more robust. A solar-powered lighting system consisting of more than 20 lights and power poles has brought light to the rural location, thanks to the support of ActionAid International in Viet Nam. Suoi Vui Hamlet resident Vuong Phat Quy said the solar-powered light system helps save electricity. Installing it is simple and environmentally friendly since there is no need to connect cables to the grid. All the villagers have to do is to put in the frame and then raise the pole. According to him, this has great significance for residents in isolated and hilly places. The Tung Vai Commune Youth Union Secretary Phan Chan Phuc said the communes union installed the lighting system in December 2023. The system runs bulbs with capacity of 300 watts each and an automatic control system to minimise consumption. He said: Since the lightbulb has a light sensor and turns on and off automatically, it doesn't require much effort. Its lighting duration is extended, providing two to three days of backup during overcast weather devoid of sunlight. According to Phuc, the method has aided in keeping the hamlet safe and orderly, especially when it comes to helping residents evacuate amid significant floods. Deputy Chairman of the commune Luc Giang Bang said residents have found the solar-powered lighting system to be effective in boosting output and the local economy. This light represents not just electricity but also the policies and laws of the Party and the State and the social development. The flood-resistant concrete bridge at Ban Thang Hamlet, Tung Vai Commune, works in tandem with the solar lighting system to provide assistance to the inhabitants in battling natural calamities. ActionAid funded the project, with some donations coming from locals. Beginning in October 2022, the bridge's construction spanned 2.5 metres in width and 9 metres in length. It opened for traffic in December 2022. Then Thi Cham, a villager, told Vietnam News Agency that before the bridge was built, the villagers had to cross the creek by foot using two iron rails. Nguyen Thi Thuy, secretary of the Ban Thang Village Youth Union, said a few years ago, locals would not have dared to dream of a large concrete bridge. Although the community is irrigated by the Ban Thang Stream, the stream also poses a hazard to local life. "The entire region was submerged when the river rose. Nobody was able to cross the river for several days, she said. More than 7,000 residents of Tung Vai Commune were spared isolation amid the floods thanks to the Ban Thang Bridge. About 130 children from 50 households no longer have to miss lessons due to floods. Evaluating the models assisting natural disaster prevention and control in Ha Giang Province, Pauline Tamesis, United Nations resident coordinator in Viet Nam, said work on natural disaster prevention and control needed to be grounded in people's real needs. ActionAid International in Viet Nam has implemented practical solutions such as flood-proof bridges and solar-powered lighting systems that are well-suited to the current circumstances in Ha Giang. Community-based model Since 2007, ActionAid International in Viet Nam has been implementing a community-based initiative for the prevention and control of natural disasters in Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province. Each participating village develops community-based strategies for disaster prevention and control every year using tools for risk assessment. All communes involved in the programme so far have created plans for preventing and controlling natural disasters. These plans are easily linked to the district agriculture department's operations and budget, as it is the agency in charge of organising local efforts to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. According to o Quang Dung, deputy chairman of the Quan Ba District People's Committee, 100 per cent of villages in five communes and one town have adopted instruments for risk assessment and public awareness raising in order to proactively prevent and mitigate risks from natural disasters in the area. Chief Representative of ActionAid International in Viet Nam Hoang Phuong Thao said preparation, reaction, and recovery are three main goals of ActionAid's natural disaster prevention and control programme. Programmes are carried out in accordance with the circumstances of each locality, she said. Through grassroots projects, ActionAid Viet Nam's programmes give organisations a significant opportunity to contribute to the prevention and control of natural disasters, she said. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Public Security has submitted an explanatory report on the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety to the Government, in which the ministry proposes to maintain the zero-tolerance alcohol policy. This means drivers must be completely sober, not having drunk any amount of alcoholic drinks, while operating vehicles. Compared to the previous draft, the amended report includes additional data to demonstrate the necessity of the absolute ban on alcohol levels. Specifically, the ministrys drafting agency affirmed that after considering the opinions of delegates at the NAs sixth plenary session, it had collaborated with the Ministry of Health to conduct research, refer to international experience, organise sociological investigations, and scientific workshops on the effects of alcohol on road traffic users and sought opinions from medical experts at major hospitals in Viet Nam. The results showed that alcohol directly affected the mental health and behaviour of individuals, especially those who consumed alcohol when participating in traffic. Scientists unanimously agree that drivers consuming alcohol must be strictly fined due to alarming statistics about the harm caused by drunk driving," the draft report stated. Figures from the ministry showed that between June 2022 and December 2023, the number of deaths and injuries due to alcohol-related road traffic accidents accounted for 20 per cent of the total number of deaths and injuries caused by road traffic accidents, of which 80 per cent were due to drunk driving. According to statistics from the ministrys sociological investigations of 43,765 prisoners serving sentences in the ministrys detention camps, more than 22,440 prisoners had used alcohol before committing crimes, accounting for 51.28 per cent of the total. This figure applied to seven categories of offences such as murder, intentional injury, public order disruption, rape, resisting officers and traffic violations. The ministry also reaffirmed that handling drunk driving among drivers has been very effective. After traffic police intensified crackdown on drivers violating alcohol limits in 2023, the number of traffic accidents related to alcohol consumption decreased by 25 per cent, the number of deaths decreased by 50 per cent, and the number of injuries decreased by 22 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. Furthermore, the drafting agency also asserts that the zero-tolerance alcohol policy will gradually instil the habit of not consuming alcohol for road traffic users. Once awareness and good traffic culture are established, the ministry will consider the amendment to be more appropriate. Given the various opinions regarding alcohol concentration regulations, the Government Office has recently collected Government members opinions on this issue and reported to the NA Standing Committee for consideration and submission to the upcoming seventh session of the NA in May. Previously, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association gave feedback on the draft report, suggesting that the drafting agency collaborate with the Ministry of Health to assess the scientific basis to determine breath alcohol concentration and endogenous alcohol concentration as certain beverages and fruits also produce alcohol. They said it would be necessary to further evaluate practical aspects as Viet Nam has many customs, traditions, and festivals. There were proposals to supplement the economic impact assessments of the zero-tolerance alcohol policy, such as impacts on the alcoholic beverage production industry, the food and beverage service sector, and the competitiveness of businesses. In addition, they also reminded the drafting agency to review Viet Nam's culinary culture and the drinking habits of Vietnamese people. The ministrys assessment that a person once started drinking would never stop may be subjective and inaccurate. The Ministry of Public Security was urged to include studies on the effects of alcohol on the perception and behaviour control of drivers at different levels of intoxication and cases of endogenous alcohol concentration. Regarding these issues, the ministry said it had instructed the Traffic Police Department to collaborate with the Medical Examination and Treatment Department of the Ministry of Health to conduct sociological investigations and scientific workshops on the effects of alcohol consumption on the human nervous system. 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Passengers on board flight MU9629 arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Kunming, southwest China, were welcomed by Manoharan Periasamy, director-general of Tourism Malaysia, an agency under the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. "With this new additional route, it is a great opportunity to bring in more tourists from China's second-tier cities, especially now with our visa-free policy for Chinese travelers to Malaysia. We continue to amplify our promotional efforts in showcasing Malaysia's rich heritage and warm hospitality to one of our top markets through Tourism Malaysia's overseas offices in China," the agency said in a statement. Since last December the visa-free policy for Chinese travelers to Malaysia has seen a significant increase in bookings to Malaysia. In 2023, Malaysia welcomed 1.47 million visitor arrivals from China, an exponential growth of 593.4 percent from 2022, it said. This new route by China Eastern Airlines connecting Kunming to Kuala Lumpur operates daily with a capacity of 156 passengers. Passengers on board flight MU9629 pose for photos with staff members at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) Passengers on board flight MU9629 pose for photos with staff members at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) Passengers on board flight MU9629 are welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, March 16, 2024. China Eastern Airlines marked inaugural Kunming to Kuala Lumpur flight on Saturday. 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The complaint also accuses the police agency of failing to properly train officers on how to deal with emotionally disturbed people. Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Picollelli Jr. argued that police did not intentionally discriminate against Rooks and that the lawsuit does not allege any pattern or practice of troopers mistreating people with disabilities. He also disputed the suggestion that Johnson was the proximate cause of Rooks death. She broke the causal chain when she picked up the shotgun, he said. Picollelli also said the police agency and its senior staff cannot be held vicariously liable for the officers' actions. Even if the claims in the lawsuit are adequately pleaded, police are entitled to qualified immunity from liability for actions taken in their official capacities, he added. Patrick Gallagher, an attorney for Raymond Rooks, told Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clark that it was too early for him to rule on the motion to dismiss the case and the states immunity claims. Reasonable or excessive (force) is a fact-intensive inquiry normally left for a jury, he said, adding that merely talking to a person constitutes the use of force by a police officer. Talking is the first form of force. Police presence is a form of force, Gallagher said. Gallagher said troopers knew Rooks was mentally unstable, given several interactions with her in the days leading up to the shooting. Instead of trying to de-escalate the situation, the troopers were angry, hostile and aggressive when they arrived. It was never a call for police. It was a call for medical help, he said. According to the lawsuit, Rooks suffered from bipolar disorder, and an increase in her lithium dosage was making her more depressed, more anxious, and more paranoid" in the days before the shooting. A report by the state attorney generals office concluded that Johnson was justified in using deadly force against Rook. The report concluded that Johnson reasonably felt in fear for his life and the lives of others when he shot her. Troopers and medical personnel went to Rooks house in Seaford on March 25, 2021, after she called 911 to complain her neighbors had poisoned her. Medical workers asked Rooks to come with them to the hospital so she could be examined more thoroughly, but she refused and became upset about their presence and that of state troopers. After Rooks went to a bedroom, her boyfriend, who was in a wheelchair, emerged from the room and told police she was crazy and needed to go to the hospital. Rooks then grabbed a shotgun, prompting her boyfriend to return to the bedroom and shut the door. He then came out and told troopers he had unloaded the gun, and that they needed to leave. Troopers ordered Rooks repeatedly to drop her gun and come out of the room with her hands up, investigators said. Which one of you pigs wants to die tonight? Rooks responded before opening the door and firing at Johnson. The round of buckshot blew a hole in the floor. Johnson returned fired and Rooks fell backward onto the bed. She then started advancing toward Johnson again, still holding her gun. Johnson fired again and Rooks fell backward as the door closed behind her. An autopsy found five bullets had hit her. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Prosecutors on Friday wrapped up their case against an Afghan refugee on charges that he gunned down a man in 2022 in what turned out to be the first of three ambush-style killings involving members of the Muslim community in New Mexico's largest city. Muhammad Syed, who settled in the U.S. several years ago with his family, quickly became the main suspect after authorities issued photographs of a vehicle believed to be involved in the shootings. He was taken into custody after being pulled over in the vehicle more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Albuquerque. He told authorities at the time he was concerned about the killings and was on his way to Texas to find a new home for his family. He denied involvement in the killings. Syed, who speaks Pashto and required the help of translators throughout the trial, has remained in custody without bond since his arrest in August 2022. He is charged with three counts of murder and four charges of tampering with evidence. Syed, 53, faces separate trials for each victim, the first being 41-year-old Aftab Hussein. The other trials will happen in the coming months. When asked by the judge Friday whether he wished to testify, Syed stood up and adjusted his headphones as a translator relayed the question. He choked back tears and began to cry. He eventually said in Pashto that he would reserve his right to remain silent. The defense called no witnesses, and prosecutors did not address a motive or discuss any interactions that Syed might have had with Hussein. Jurors were scheduled to begin their deliberations Monday morning. Prosecutors detailed the night of the shooting: It was around 10 p.m. when Hussein pulled up to his apartment complex and parked. He had just stepped out of his vehicle with keys still in hand when gunfire erupted. He stood no chance, prosecutor Jordan Machin said during closing arguments, alleging that Syed was lying in wait and that he continued to shoot as Hussein was on the ground. Officers found Hussein with multiple wounds that stretched from his neck down to his feet. Investigators testified that some of the high-caliber rounds went through his body and pierced the car. While questioning a firearms and ballistic expert with the police department, Deputy District Attorney David Waymire pulled out a rifle that had been seized during a search of Syed's home. It had been found under the defendant's bed. Waymire also showed jurors bags of spent casings and bullet fragments collected from the scene. In a yellow envelop was a bullet that had been retrieved by medical examiners from Hussein's body. The expert said testing determined the casings and projectiles were fired from Syed's rifle. Cellphone records also indicated that Syed was at the scene about 20 minutes before the shooting and that it appeared he left right after and headed home, prosecutors said. They also introduced as evidence a note in Syed's phone that referred to testing the rifle on the date that Hussein was killed. Previous court filings described Syed as having a violent history, none of which was mentioned in court. His public defenders have argued that previous allegations of domestic violence never resulted in convictions. Defense attorneys attempted to introduce doubt throughout the trial, saying prosecutors had no evidence that Syed was the one who pulled the trigger. They suggested other people who lived in Syeds home also had access to his phone, his vehicle and the rifle. They also argued there were no fingerprints or DNA collected during the investigation that would implicate Syed. Megan Mitsunaga, one of Syed's attorneys, told jurors during closing arguments that her client was innocent and that investigators can sometimes get tunnel vision" once they seize on a suspect and stop looking at evidence that doesn't support that person's guilt. She suggested there were gaps that should leave jurors with reasonable doubt. How is that fair to Mr. Syed, how is that fair to this community to have law enforcement pick and chose which evidence they want you to hear about?" she said. Machin said it was Syed who tried to flee to Texas under the cover of darkness a day after authorities went to the public for help in identifying a suspect. She said the license plate and hub caps on Syeds car had been changed and that he had his phone which was password protected with him when he was stopped. The other two victims include Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old urban planner who was gunned down Aug. 1 while taking his evening walk, and Naeem Hussain, who was shot four days later as he sat in his vehicle outside a refugee resettlement agency on the citys south side. Family members of the victims and other community members have said they are still struggling to understand what was behind the killings. MADISON, Ind. (AP) A southern Indiana woman fatally shot her three children before turning the gun on herself last December, a prosecutor said Friday. The bodies of Naomi Briner, 35; Adelia Briner, 12; Leland Briner, 8; and Iyla Briner, 6, were found dead inside their burning home in the Ohio River city of Madison on Dec. 12, Jefferson County Prosecutor David Sutter said. Based on the results of the autopsies and the evidence in the case, the Jefferson County Coroners Officer ruled the manner of death of the three children to be homicide and that Naomi Briner died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Sutter said. This was a tragic case that has been heartbreaking for the community and all who have been involved in this investigation. My heart goes out to the involved families for the tragedy that they have endured," Sutter said in a news release. The prosecutor said investigators need not pursue any other leads in this case. Donald Trumps domination of last weeks primaries made it official: He has successfully routed the GOP establishment. Some would argue, with ample evidence, that this happened a long time ago. Particularly in Congress, the party is divided into three sometimes overlapping factions: Reaganites, pragmatists and populists, the last being Trumps MAGA faction. Politicians from the non-MAGA factions have been retreating, retiring or reinventing themselves in Trumps image for years now. If Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida arent fully MAGA in their hearts, you wouldnt know it from their current public personas. Other Republicans, including former Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee, along with former Reps. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Eric Cantor of Virginia and Liz Cheney of Wyoming, were either shown the door or fled for it themselves. And outside institutions such as the Conservative Political Action Committee, or CPAC, and the Heritage Foundation have repositioned themselves as MAGA organs. That process has accelerated since Trump effectively locked up the Republican nomination for president for the third time. Over the past few months, non-MAGA Republicans such as Reps. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington have announced that they will be leaving Congress. And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the last actual avatar of the GOP establishment, declared that he would not run to lead the Republican caucus again and went on to endorse Trump. The takeover is culminating with the Trumpian captivity of the Republican National Committee. Theres virtually no Republican establishment left that isnt synonymous with the Trump establishment. Michael Whatley, the former head of the North Carolina GOP, is the new national chairman, having earned Trumps favor as an unrestrained booster of his claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, is serving alongside Whatley as co-chair. And Chris LaCivita, a top Trump campaign adviser, will run day-to-day operations. On Monday, they began a wholesale purge of staffers deemed insufficiently loyal. Trumps son Donald Jr. agrees that its official. In an interview with Newsmax Sunday, he said the old GOP establishment no longer exists. People have to understand that America first, the MAGA movement, is the new Republican Party. That is conservatism today. Now, one can quibble over whether a political philosophy that traces itself back to Edmund Burke and the American founding can be transformed by the installment of Trump apparatchiks at the RNC. Trump himself might even agree with those quibbles. Trump has previously described himself as a nationalist, and he at least partly rejected the conservative label in an interview with CNBCs Squawk Box on Monday. People say, Youre conservative, Trump said. Im not conservative. You know what I am? Im a man of common sense, and a lot of conservative policies are common sense. Whatever we call him, whats clear is that Trump thinks his team can go it alone. At a recent Virginia rally, he declared that MAGA represents 96%, and maybe 100% of the GOP. Were getting rid of the Romneys of the world. We want to get Romneys and those (like him) out. Normally, general election candidates try to expand their coalitions. Primary election exit polls and the actual results belie Trumps claim that the party is now almost pure MAGA. In each of the six states with entrance and exit polls, a CNN analysis found, a sizable minority of the GOP electorate identified directly as a part of the MAGA, or Make America Great Again, movement, ranging from about one-third in California, Virginia and New Hampshire to nearly half in Iowa. Put another way, between half and two-thirds of those primary-voting Republicans dont identify as MAGA. Most will still likely hold their nose and vote for Trump in November, but thats not proof that the GOP is totally Trumpian. The national GOP leadership, however, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Trumpism. That behooves a movement that has often been as concerned with taking over the party as taking over the government. In Republican primaries, Trump has tended to back loyalists with dim general election prospects over more traditional Republicans with a better chance of actually winning House and Senate seats. The MAGA movement seems convinced that a purer party dedicated to Trump is for some reason better than one saddled with the remnants of the old GOP coalition. For all practical purposes, their wish has been granted. Thats good for the movement if Trump wins in November. But if he loses, theyll have no one to blame but themselves. After all, theyre the establishment now. Donald R. Walton April 30, 1927 - March 12, 2024 CEDAR FALLS - Donald R. Walton, 96, died peacefully on March 12, 2024, at the Windemere in Cedar Falls surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with interment in the Greenwood Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Rosary will be 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2024 followed by a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. concluding with at 7 p.m. Vigil Service at the Richardson Funeral Service. Don was born April 30, 1927, in Clinton, Iowa, the second of four sons born to Raymond E. and Magdalena (Manemann) Walton. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1945, then joined the U.S. Navy to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. After service, he graduated from St. Ambrose University in Davenport in 1951 with his B.A. He was awarded his M.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in 1962. On August 22, 1952, he married Rita Herrity of Clinton, the love of his life, to whom he was married for sixty-one years until her passing in 2013. Rita continued to be a felt presence in his life even after her death. Don worked as a junior high teacher for the Cedar Falls School District from 1953-1955. Then he worked as the Personnel Director for Viking Pump Company from 1955 to 1965. From 1966 to 1993 he was continuously employed by the University of Northern Iowa, first as Director of Personnel, rising to Assistant Vice President of Personnel Service. During his later years at UNI, to keep himself busy Don worked as a weekend night clerk at the Howard Johnson's on University Avenue. For several years, he also operated the Burbridge hot turkey sandwich stand at the annual National Cattle Congress in Waterloo. Don's interest in university human resources also took him to Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, from 1984 to 1988, and Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas in 1988. After retiring from UNI, he worked at Hawkeye Community College as a Workforce Development Specialist. His other work included as a GED substitute teacher and service as a mediator for the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board for many years. In all, he dedicated over 30 years of service to the public and working persons. Faith, family, and work defined Don Walton. He watched his father, a railroad engineer, die of a brain tumor at only 14 years of age. Initially rejected for service by the U.S. Navy for his flat feet, he traveled to the Chicago induction center, balanced on the outside edges of his feet, and was accepted, which he considered a significant life accomplishment. He did not like taking no for an answer. While he fell for Rita when he was in fourth grade, won her box lunch chicken dinner at a St. Valentine's auction in 1942 (tipped off by her girlfriends), and slipped his class ring into her pocket when he shipped out for the war, when he returned from overseas, Rita was then a novice in a Carmelite convent. In 1946, while ushering a wedding at St. Irenaeus Church, they reunited. Despite the lack of comparable fringe benefits, Rita chose Don over the convent. His blue eyes and infectious laugh probably helped. Don was a dedicated parishioner of St. Patrick's in Cedar Falls. He served as an usher, on various committees, including as President of the Parish Council, as a member of the board of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Eucharistic minister, and Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 70. For years, he took 3 a.m. shift for the perpetual adoration of the Holy Eucharist at the Columbus High School Chapel in Waterloo. He occupied the same pew at 7:30 a.m. mass every Sunday, following the prayer of the rosary. He loved his other parishioners. In turn, he felt their love for him, for which he was very thankful. Not until his final retirement did Don have much spare time. He focused on Walton and Herrity family history, completing a detailed volume on the Walton family tree, but he was still chasing the birthplace in Ireland of the family progenitor and immigrant to American, Patrick Walton. He continued to counsel his children and their children about careers and workplace issues. He never missed the many important family events. He always loved tinkering with old Plymouth and Dodge convertibles and will miss the guys at Aikey's Auto Salvage. The concerns of residents of his retirement community also became his concerns in his later years. Don Walton collected people of all kinds and enjoyed getting to know all about them. He was known for his helping hand and ready smile and laugh, but he could be dogged in pursuit of what he thought was right. He was a man of faith, shown in good works. His well-springs were the Catholic faith and family. He loved Cedar Falls, foregoing several career opportunities elsewhere. His family lived on West 18th Street, Main Street, 13th Street, and finally, on Grand Boulevard. The Sturgis Falls parade watched from the same spot at 11th and Main was a tradition for him. He will miss not seeing finished the new welcome sign to downtown. Don is survived by two brothers, Joseph (Patricia) Walton, Nathaniel F. (Mary) Walton, three sisters-in-law, Patricia Walton, Rose Walton, and Jeanne Herrity. His pride and joy were his five children Ruthanne (Jon) Weispfenning, Winona, Minnesota, D. Raymond (Jacqueline) Walton, J.D., Regina (Wayde) Blumhardt, Jacqueline (Jeff) Jorgensen, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Tom (Lori) Walton, J.D., Waukee, Iowa. His survivors include fourteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Don is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rita, younger brother Eugene Walton, five sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, three nephews and two nieces, and many old friends he will see again. Memorials may be given to the St. Patrick Catholic Church Foundation for the Future, St. Patrick Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, or Cedar Valley Hospice, in lieu of flowers. Carved on Don and Rita's headstone is the request Pray for Us. Please do so for them. 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 DES MOINES State lawmakers focus has been narrowed again with the passing of a second legislative deadline in the 2024 session of the Iowa Legislature. This week brought the 2024 sessions second legislative funnel, a deadline created to gradually reduce the number of bills eligible for consideration by state lawmakers as each years session advances. By the end of this week, bills passed out of the Iowa House needed to be approved by a committee in the Iowa Senate, and vice versa. The funnel deadlines do not apply to bills dealing with tax policy, state spending or the budget. And legislative leaders in the majority party have multiple tools at their disposal to resurrect dead bills if they choose. According to the states nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, the Senate passed 42 bills to send to the House, while the House passed 141 bills to send to the Senate. Thus far, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed just one bill into law: a measure that allows community associations near public lakes to regulate their members activity while on the water. Another 16 bills have passed both chambers and will be sent to the governors desk for her approval. The following lists show which bills survived the second legislative funnel and remain eligible for consideration, and which did not survive the funnel and are thus considered dead. The bills that remain eligible are split into two categories, and the procedural differences in how they remain eligible bear noting. Those that advanced because of legislative action these bills were approved by one full chamber and a committee in the other are listed in one category. Then there are bills that did not earn sufficient legislative approval to survive the funnel but remain eligible because Republican leaders deployed one of the aforementioned tools by placing them on lists of bills that keeps them eligible. PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS Senate File 2095: Religious Freedom Restoration Act Senate File 2096: Repeal gender balance on state boards Senate File 2161: Penalties for swatting Senate File 2204: Reporting requirements for foreign farm land ownership Senate File 2243: Adding digitally altered images to definition of child pornography ADVANCED (LEGISLATIVE ACTION) House File 2586: Legal protections to allow school staff to carry firearms House File 2487: Creating crime of grooming and requiring mandatory reporting in schools Senate File 2325: Civil service requirements and ban citizen police review boards House File 2401: Restricting pharmacy benefits managers charges for prescription medication Senate File 2391: Meat substitute product labeling Senate File 455: Topsoil and stormwater regulations at construction sites House File 2531: Nuisance adult cabarets House File 2240: Distributing digitally altered image or video portraying sex act as harassment House File 2319: Prohibiting guaranteed income programs House File 2617: Requiring anti-abortion human growth and development curriculum House File 2539: Penalties for violating open meetings law House File 2264: Permitting taxpayer funds to religious organizations for public services House File 2464: Prohibiting use of merchant code to identify gun shops House File 2364: Study accessibility of Iowas state parks House File 572: Trespassing by drone near agricultural buildings ELIGIBLE (LEADERSHIP ACTION) House File 2612 and Senate File 2386: Area Education Agencies operation and funding House File 2613: K-12 public school funding House File 2610 and Senate File 2380: Early voting changes, banning ballot drop boxes, and candidate guidelines House File 2583: Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage but to fewer women House File 2267: State-run anti-abortion pregnancy support program Senate File 2385 and House File 2574: Reduction of state boards and commissions Senate File 2195: Early reading requirements House File 2567: Creating state penalties for federal immigration law violations in Iowa Senate File 2335: Additional cannabidiol dispensary licenses House File 2605: Consumable hemp product regulation Senate File 2023: Vaping product regulations House File 2363: Paternal support requirements through pregnancy Senate File 2159: Health insurance and biomarker testing House File 2098 and Senate File 2174: Assaults in violation of protective orders House File 2250 and Senate File 2348: Expanded penalties for witness and juror tampering House File 2191 and Senate File 2164: Mandatory minimum sentences and earned time accrued House File 2642: Soil and water resource management FAILED TO ADVANCE (SECOND FUNNEL) House File 2575: Fetal homicide penalties and unborn person in state law House File 2584: Birth control without a prescription House File 2389: Defining man and woman in state law Senate File 2311: Allowing CPA to audit state agencies instead of state auditor Senate File 2324: Prohibit Department of Natural Resources from purchasing land at auction Senate File 2374: Collective bargaining unit decertification for employers failure to comply House File 2558: Tuition cap, diversity, equity and inclusion program constraints at public universities House File 2544: Required, conservative-written social studies curriculum Senate File 108: Require employers to use E-Verify for all workers House File 2608: Human smuggling penalties and barring undocumented immigrants from public assistance House File 2391: Capping rates charged by staffing agencies for temporary nurses Senate File 2191: Fire alarms and school shootings House File 2560: Civil asset forfeiture constraints House File 2482: Cancer treatment coverage in firefighter retirement benefits Senate File 2106: Work search requirements for unemployment benefits Senate File 2370: State rule-making process changes Senate File 2286: Legal protections for physicians with religious-based objections to health care practices Senate File 506: Eliminating state Certificate of Need process House File 2569: Prioritizing Highway 30 expansion House File 2304: Expanding ban on traffic stop quotas Senate File 2116: Banning cruising in left late of traffic Senate File 2369: Requirement to honor patients request for known blood donor House File 2491: Radon control requirements for new houses Senate File 345: Drug paraphernalia regulation House File 2573: Medical standards for certifying medical conditions for medical cannabis Senate File 2322: Banning use of bots to buy event tickets in bulk House File 2305: Regulations for teenage workers in child care centers Senate File 2392: Legal protections for pesticide manufacturers Senate File 2371: Allowing animal feedlots to operate under proposed manure plans before DNR approval House Joint Resolution 2003: Placing right to collectively bargain in Iowa Constitution FAILED TO ADVANCE (FIRST FUNNEL) House File 2082: Removing gender identity from Iowa Civil Rights Act Senate File 2037: Prohibiting local bans on conversion therapy House File 2352: Freezing tuition at regents universities House File 2077: Canceling student organizations that support terrorism House File 2072: Requiring administrators to also teach Senate File 3168: Public library operations (Senate version) House Study Bill 678: Public library operations (House version) Senate File 2009: State-funded teacher spending accounts House Study Bill 587: Requiring the national anthem to be sung daily in school House Study Bill 604: Requiring teaching about patriotic holidays in public schools House Study Bill 633: Making local elections partisan House File 2221: Allowing cities to limit rent increases Senate Study Bill 3085: Death penalty for murder of peace officer Senate Study Bill 3094: Banning social credit scores House Study Bill 532: Adding raw cannabis flower to medical cannabidiol program House File 2169: Restricting minors from using tanning beds Senate Joint Resolution 2001: Putting the right to abortion services in the Iowa Constitution Senate File 2135: Adding right to contraception in state law Senate File 2137: Reinstating state-funded family planning program Senate File 2303: Nursing home patients Medicaid allowance Senate File 2304: Nursing home oversight Senate File 2305: $15 minimum wage for direct care workers Senate File 2306: Home health care for seniors funding Senate File 2097: County zoning to restrict pipeline projects House File 2354: Requiring water pollution permit for CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) House File 488: Registration of ghost guns Senate Study Bill 3175: Homelessness funding and criminal charges Senate File 2074: Driving after consuming medical cannabidiol House File 2051: Civil liability for pornography on social media DES MOINES Iowas tax receipts will come in slightly lower than expected this year, but revenues will hold steady in 2025 according to the latest projections from a state panel that estimates the state's annual revenue. The projections are critical as state lawmakers begin the work of crafting a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, using the projections by the Revenue Estimating Conference to determine how much they can spend. Income tax cuts for individuals and corporations will continue to drive down revenue from those sources, but state officials expect increasing consumer spending to increase revenues from sales tax. The panel, which met on Friday, expects Iowas total revenue to be $9.63 billion this year, a decrease of about $219 million from last year and about $120 million lower than state officials estimated in December. In fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1, revenue is expected to reach $9.7 billion, an increase of about 0.7% from 2024. That number would be down about $100 million from 2022, when lawmakers enacted income tax cuts that put Iowa on a path to a flat 3.9% tax rate in 2026. State lawmakers will need to use the panels last projection from December when deciding how to spend the states tax dollars, because state law requires the lower of the two estimates to be used to create the budget. The 2025 estimate in December was $9.64 billion. Iowa Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen, who sits on the estimating board representing the governors office, said conservative spending by the Republican-led state government has put Iowa in a strong financial position. Paulsen said there is room to further cut taxes, which Iowas Republican leaders have all called for. Thanks to this fiscal restraint, we think there is no reason to think the state cannot continue down the path of leaving more money in Iowans pockets, Paulsen said. In 2026, the projection gets more uncertain as two state agencies were nearly a billion dollars apart in their initial projections for that years income. The Department of Management and the nonpartisan Legislative Services agency each submit projections ahead of the board's quarterly meetings, and the panel has to reach an agreement between the two. The Department of Management predicted a 3.5% revenue increase between 2025 and 2026, while the Legislative Services Agency predicted a 5.4% reduction. The panel eventually settled on a 1% decrease estimate, which would put revenue that year at $9.6 billion. Paulsen said he expects a larger increase as the economy continues to grow. Jennifer Acton, the fiscal services director for the Legislative Services Agency, said she expects recent tax cuts and more refunds because of the way corporations are taxed to drag down the states revenue. Lawmakers, governor react to latest estimates Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the Friday estimates show that Iowa is in a solid financial position. Even with the significant national economic challenges created by so-called 'Bidenomics,' Iowas economy remains strong and steady," she said in a statement provided by a spokesperson. Reynolds has proposed a bill that would accelerate the 2022 tax cuts and reach a lower tax rate faster. Under Reynolds' proposal, Iowa taxpayers would pay a flat 3.5% income tax starting in 2025. Reynolds has proposed spending $8.9 billion from the states general fund in next years budget, which would represent a 4.7% spending increase from the 2024 budget. The state ended 2023 with a $1.83 billion budget surplus. The states taxpayer relief fund, which is used to fund tax cuts, is estimated to reach $3.68 billion this fiscal year, according to Reynolds budget recommendation. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, said the projections show the success of Republicans fiscal policy and cutting income taxes. Our agenda has resulted in a strong Iowa economy, a balanced budget, almost $4 billion in the taxpayer relief fund, and a surplus this year of roughly $1 billion, Whitver said in a statement. Now is the time to continue to implement these policies and Senate Republicans look forward to building on our success this year with the House and Governor Reynolds to enhance the truly great condition of our state. In written statements, legislative Democrats criticized Republicans for failing to pass a school funding plan despite the legal deadline passing in February. Lawmakers have not passed a budget for state aid to schools as they continue to work out a controversial policy to overhaul the states area education agencies. Rep. Timi Brown-Powers of Waterloo, the top Democrat on the House budget committee, said the Legislature should be pursuing an agenda that funds public schools and increases Iowans wages. We believe its time to make public schools our top priority again, she said in a statement. Todays budget estimate confirms there is no fiscal reason for GOP lawmakers to continue stalling funding for public schools, its just all politics for them. As we learned again this week with 1,200 Iowans losing their jobs in Perry, more tax giveaways to corporations and the richest Iowans dont give Iowans the wages or job security they deserve. Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said in a statement that lawmakers should focus on passing a budget over divisive social policies. We owe it to our constituents to fund our public schools, pass a balanced and responsible state budget, and then adjourn for the year, said Petersen, the ranking member on the Senate budget committee. Iowans arent asking for more politics and culture wars. Theyre asking for a government that does its job. It's tax season: Here are the simple rules to file correctlyand on time It's tax season: Here are the simple rules to file correctlyand on time Edgar Allan Poe, who would have turned 214 years old Jan. 19, remains one of the worlds most recognizable literary figures. But is his appeal less about the power and complexity of his prose, and more about the view of him as a perennial underdog? James Cox Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will meet US president Joe Biden for the official St Patrick's Day shamrock ceremony in Washington DC on Sunday. This year's St Patrick Day meetings were split, so Mr Varadkar met Mr Biden for bilateral meetings at the White House on Friday, while the traditional US House speaker's lunch took place at the US Capitol. He will meet the president again on Sunday for the shamrock ceremony. So where did the traditions start? Dr Brian Murphy is a lecturer in Communications and Modern Irish History at TU Dublin He spoke to BreakingNews.ie about the tradition of Irish White House visits for St Patrick's Day, and how they started. He explained that you have to look back to the end of World War Two for the visit's origins. Eamon de Valera infamously offered condolences to Germany after the death of Adolf Hitler, and Dr Murphy said "the way that was portrayed in American newspapers didn't do a lot for Ireland's popularity in the US". Relations were already strained as the US had taken a dim view of Ireland's policy of neutrality during World War Two. "After the war, the attitude in the US State Department was to treat Ireland with a cool breeze. That was the case until the early 1950s." Sean T O'Kelly was elected president of Ireland in 1945, just after the end of World War Two, and he was determined to improve Irish-American relations. Dr Murphy, who is currently writing a book about O'Kelly, explained that his desire to secure an official invitation to the US is where the origins of the shamrock ceremony can be traced back to. "During his first term, a number of approaches were made for the US to invite president O'Kelly for an official visit. None of those attempts were successful. The cool breeze was still there. "In 1952, John Hearne was the Irish ambassador to the US. Hearne and O'Kelly cooked up a scheme where on St Patrick's Day 1952, in an attempt to thaw the US-Ireland relationship, Hearne arrived at the White House on St Patrick's Day 1952 with a bowl of Shamrocks that said 'happy St Patrick's Day with compliments of the president of Ireland'. "When Hearne arrived, president Harry Truman was actually on holiday in Keywest in Florida. Truman eventually saw them and replied with a telegram to president O'Kelly wishing him well, thanking him for the shamrocks, and speaking about good relations between Ireland and the United States. "O'Kelly saw that as a boost to his efforts for an invitation. Every year after that, the Irish ambassador would arrive to the White House with a bowl of shamrocks." President of Ireland Sean T O'Kelly pictured on May 20th, 1954. Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images In 1956, John A Costello became the first taoiseach to deliver the shamrocks personally to a US president, Dwight Eisenhower. "It then reverted to the ambassadors and O'Kelly was running out of time as his second term was to end in 1959. "Eventually, the efforts paid off, and he was invited to the United States and arrived in March 1959, the day before St Patrick's Day. O'Kelly had a great eye for publicity and there's a great photograph after he got off the plane in Washington. Eisenhower was there to greet him and O'Kelly walked down the plane steps, greeted Eisenhower, and pinned the shamrocks on to Eisenhower's lapel. "O'Kelly addressed the US Congress the following day." Dr Murphy, who is a director of the Kennedy Summer School, said Irish ambassador Tom Kiernan played an important role in St Patrick's Day ceremonies during John F Kennedy's presidency. The visit was now an official scheduled one, and Kiernan sought to play up to JFK's interest in Ireland with "pieces of Irish genealogy along with the traditional shamrocks". "One year he gave Kennedy a treaty that had been signed by the O'Kennedy tribe in medieval Ireland. "He was trying to encourage Kennedy's interest in Ireland and this, on behalf of the Sean Lemass government, paved the way for JFK's visit in 1963. That was despite his own advisers telling him he had all the Irish-American votes already, and that he would be left open to accusations of a pleasure trip. "The shamrock ceremony continued after Kennedy with Lyndon B Johnson, who was conscious of Kennedy's legacy in keeping the shamrock ceremony going, although possibly without the same enthusiasm." US president John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) with Taoiseach Sean Lemass (1899 - 1971) at the US Embassy in Dublin during his visit to Ireland, June 1963. Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Dr Murphy said Richard Nixon added his own stamp to the St Patrick's Day visit, using it to make policy announcements. "One year Nixon announced his new ambassador to Ireland, and another to tell the US press he was visiting Ireland in 1970. That visit wasn't well-received and there were protests because of the Vietnam War." The ceremonies were all carried out by ambassadors, with the exceptions of O'Kelly and Costello, until the 1980s when it became an annual event where the taoiseach visits Washington DC. "Garret FitzGerald was the first to start visiting every year between 1982 and 1987. "He was trying to influence Ronald Reagan to get involved with Northern Ireland. Reagan did take some interest in Northern Ireland. The difficulty was he saw the special relationship between the US and UK as more important, and he had a strong bond with Margaret Thatcher." The US House speaker's lunch was then added to the St Patrick's Day schedule. While there are often criticisms of the taoisigh's visits, and calls for boycotts, Dr Murphy feels the access given to Ireland is "extraordinary". "What's extraordinary is the speaker's lunch and White House shamrock ceremony, the access for a small country like Ireland. It's almost a cliche, but countries 100 times our size would give their right arm diplomatically for that access. "We have a standing date in the US president's calendar every year. No other country has that. "The US president has two scheduled visits to the Capitol every year, the State of the Union address and the speaker's lunch on St Patrick's Day for the taoiseach." He said FitzGerald and then Charlie Haughey sought to use that access to highlight peace initiatives for Northern Ireland, the undocumented Irish in the US, and Irish-American economic and trade links. "Reagan once joked that St Patrick died in 461, and you could only rely on the Irish to keep that wake going for another 1,500 years. You're kind of going 'OK, this is all shamrocks and shillelaghs' but beyond that, and sometimes in politics there has to be something for everyone, presidents signalling their Irish roots, but it also allows our government access to the highest level of global politics and to raise issues of concern for Ireland." Dr Murphy said the St Patrick's Day visit "really took off" after Bill Clinton was elected president in 1993. "St Patrick's Day really took off in the Bill Clinton era with his interest in the peace process. Clinton understood the power of soft diplomacy. Albert Reynolds, John Bruton, and Bertie Ahern during the Clinton era saw the ceremony become a much bigger and more open event. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (L) delivers a speech after presenting US president Bill Clinton with a gift of shamrocks on March 17th, 1999. "Clinton was extending the invite beyond the taoiseach's entourage to all of the players in the Northern Ireland peace process. Big banquets in the White House took place, people from all over Ireland and Northern Ireland were invited and Clinton's key message in the addresses were 'you must get it done, you must make the leap for peace'." Under George W Bush, he said this was "scaled back a bit", but "still much bigger than the pre-Cinton era". "Barack Obama kept it going, he got a lot out of the discovery of his Irish roots. He turned the White House fountain green, mirroring the river in his home city of Chicago. "Brian Cowen was there in 2009 and 2010 when the economic recession was kicking in. Obama then visited Ireland, by which stage Enda Kenny is taoiseach." The election of Donald Trump led to calls for Kenny to boycott the visit. Taoiseach Enda Kenny presents US president Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks during the annual presentation ceremony at the White House. "Kenny was under a bit of pressure when Donald Trump was elected. There was a school of thought that given some of the things Trump had said during his election campaign, on his first St Patrick's Day, the taoiseach shouldn't go. "Kenny decided, as did Leo Varadkar his successor, that this is incredible access for Ireland. No matter who the White House incumbent is, we should be there. There was also the risk of losing the slot for good. "Taoisigh have also had the chance to appraise Trump and his successor Joe Biden about things we may not be comfortable with, in terms of the Irish-American relationship." Dr Murphy added: "Micheal Martin was particularly unfortunate as he was named taoiseach at the height of the pandemic. The Government was determined to keep up the tradition, so a virtual shamrock ceremony took place in 2020, and in 2021 he tested positive for Covid while in Washington, so he had to take part in a virtual ceremony again." I think it would be a major diplomatic own goal to let it go. There had been calls for Leo Varadkar to boycott the visit over US support of Israel as the bombardment of Gaza continues. However, Dr Murphy argued that it was better to keep the tradition going and raise these issues with Mr Biden in person. "This St Patrick's Day there has been some noises that the Taoiseach shouldn't go over Biden's stance on Israel and Gaza. However, Leo Varadkar has made his views known on why Ireland should go. He's said he will not lecture Biden about US support of Israel, but I've no doubt he will raise our concerns. "I think it would be a major diplomatic own goal to let it go." Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (915 March 2024) From 9 to 15 March 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 50 group strikes by high-precision weapons, multiple launch rocket systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles against the airfield infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, repair of weapons and military equipment, storage depots for UAVs and uncrewed surface vehicles, arsenals and POL bases. All the assigned targets have been engaged. Moreover, the strikes also hit deployment areas of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Berestovoye, Peschanoye (Kharkov region) and Serebryanka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Twenty-two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 57th Motorised, 32nd and 47th Mechanised brigades were repelled close to Sinkovka, Pershotravnevoye (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 305 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and 25 field artillery guns. In addition, from 12 to 15 March 2024, as a result of preventive and coordinated actions of the Russian troops, all attempts by the AFU to break through Belgorod and Kursk regions were thwarted by actions of the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation. Air strikes and artillery fire neutralised over 550 Ukrainian troops, 16 tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, including 11 U.S.-made Bradley, and 15 motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Nevelskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and seized more advantageous lines. The Russian troops hit seven mechanised and five assault brigades of the AFU close to Kurakhovo, Spornoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Krasnogorovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, four counter-attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade and 81st Airmobile Brigade were repelled close to Belogorovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,930 Ukrainian troops, nine tanks, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 41 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, two Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile launchers, and eight field ammunition depots. In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces units continued to advance and occupy more advantageous positions. In cooperation with aviation and artillery, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of 11 brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Ocheretino, Novzvelannoye, Novogrodovka, Rozovka, and Kalinovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Sixty-four counter-attacks launched by the AFU units have been repelled close to Berdychi, Semenovka, Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Over the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost over 2,710 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three U.S.-made Abrams tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, 91 motor vehicles, and 18 field artillery guns. In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces units improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated the units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 127th, 128th Territorial Defence brigades of the AFU close to Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Rovnopol, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Chervonoye, and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region). Seven enemy counter-attacks were repelled close to Staromayorskoye, Novodonetskoye, Shevchenko (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Vladimirovka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to more than 980 Ukrainian troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, 31 motor vehicles, and 11 artillery guns. In Kherson direction, the Russian troops took more advantageous positions, inflicted complex fire damage on the formations of the 141st Infantry, 65th, 117th mechanised, 82nd, 128th assault, 35th Marine brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Novosyolovka, Orekhov, Kamenskoye, Stepnoye, Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region), Berislav and Tyaginka (Kherson region). The AFU losses were more than 270 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, 23 motor vehicles, and 12 field artillery guns. The Groups Missile Troops, Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles have shot down one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher, two U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile launchers, and one S-300 anti-aircraft missile launcher with radar stations during the week. Air defence units have eliminated over the past week: one MiG-29 fighter jet and two Mi-8 helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force; one Tochka-U tactical missile; five French-made Hammer aerial bombs; 86 projectiles of the U.S.-made HIMARS, Czech-made Vampire, and Grad MLRS; and 915 unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, 577 airplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,573 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,496 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,238 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,406 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,764 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR One after another, school staff voiced opposition Thursday to a proposal that would realign grade levels across public elementary schools in Winona during a special school board meeting. The district's board of education invited staff members to share their thoughts. The district's staff especially those who work in the elementary schools showed up to weigh in. Overflow room was needed for those who attended the meeting but did not plan to speak. I believe this plan would be truly detrimental to our youngest, most vulnerable students," kindergarten teacher Jessica Brantner told the board. "Our elementary students require and thrive with consistency and predictability. Asking them to be uprooted and transitioned three times during their elementary career is in no way considering whats best for these children. And that should really be our sole focus, what is best for these children. Concerns from staff about the plan were broad, but some common themes shared by the staff were the frequency of transitions for the students; the inability for students to build long-term, trusting relationships with staff and older students; the financial impact related to busing and more staff; accessibility at the schools; the speed with which the changes would take place; and the lack of a clear, long-term plan for the district. Multiple staff members also worried the changes would hurt enrollment. Youll lose money the minute current or future WAPS families find education elsewhere, and that is exactly what many of them will do if you move forward with this plan," third-grade teacher Britta Browne said. Kimberly Moran, a fourth-grade teacher, said her family would leave the district if the changes are made. Moran said she had heard from other parents who felt the same way. Browne questioned why the community task force created to focus on facility issues wasn't involved in developing the proposal. Some staff members said they are open to considering changes to address concerns in the district but said they did not believe the present proposal is the correct solution. It is my opinion that the current proposal will create as many problems as it solves," fourth-grade teacher Jennifer Woyczik said. The proposal, first offered by Winona Area Public Schools Board of Education members Nancy Denzer and Michael Hanratty in February, would place students in an elementary based on grade level, rather than geography. The plan would place pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at Goodview Elementary, first- and second-graders at Washington-Kosciusko Elementary and third- and fourth-graders at Jefferson Elementary. Placing some pre-kindergarten students at Washington-Kosciusko is also considered. The rationale behind the proposal is to offer more equity by providing comparable experiences for all students, more classes that fit into the recommended class sizes, fewer constraints on scheduling and less travel time for staff who work at multiple schools in the district. Community members will have one last chance to give comment publicly about the proposal next week. The board will hold its regular school board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, when board members are expected to take a final vote on the proposal. A Portage Airport Commission member accused of bullying, intimidation and threatening to burn down a hangar at the city airport has been removed from the commission effective immediately. Adam Gazapian was removed from the Airport Commission on Thursday, Mayor Mitchel Craig announced at a Common Council meeting that evening. In the best interest of the airport, it is best to remove Adam from the Airport Commission based on his conduct, Craig said Friday. Craig declined to comment further. According to a letter written by Craig to City Clerk Rebecca Ness on Wednesday and handed out to council members at Thursdays meeting, Craig ordered the removal of Gazapian from the Airport Commission under Wisconsin Statue 17.12(1)(c)2.a, which states the appointing officer of the council, the mayor, can remove or suspend city officers at pleasure. Gazapian still has hangars at the airport and can continue using its services, Craig said. Gazapian did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Last month, Gazapian asked the commission to allow his company, Tailwinds, to operate at the Portage Municipal Airport as a second fixed-base operator, or FBO, offering services such as aircraft leasing, rentals, charters, freights, sales and maintenance. But his request was met with pushback from the aviation community at an Airport Commission meeting on Feb. 27, where airport users and the facilitys current operator and manager, Paul Phelps, accused him of a pattern of behavior that includes bullying, intimidation and even a threat to burn down a hangar. Three people who spoke during the meetings public comment section against Gazapian and his company becoming an FBO said they believe he could bring strong ideas to the airport, but expressed concerns about his behavior. Community member Brian Becker said Gazapian confronted and yelled in his face the day before the meeting, accusing him of being in Gazapians hangar. Becker said he was merely a witness to an inspection that Phelps conducted earlier in the day. I tried to calm him down, but he came within an inch of my face, with his finger pointed in my face, yelling obscenities, Becker of Gazapian. I cant stand by and let that be somebody who is allowed to be an FBO on our field. Phelps responded to the incidents described at the meeting saying while he does not condone Gazapians actions, he wants to work to find a way to move forward, while upholding the values and standards expected of the airports leaders and governance. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, said Phelps at the commission meeting. There has been a discernable pattern of behavior that includes bullying, intimidation and actions unbecoming of a commissioner. Portage's new airport manager aims to inspire a new generation of aviators Portage Municipal Airport's new operator offers a pathway to people seeking a lucrative career above the clouds, while working to fend off a future pilot shortage. Phelps went on to explain a situation that happened earlier in the year in the FBO terminal building, in which Gazapian expressed his frustration over the delayed processing of his hangar ground lease application. He vocalized his discontent, remarking, If the city doesnt grant me this ground lease, I will burn the hangar down to the ground. Ive thought it through, and thats what I am going to do, said Phelps. Subsequently, when I raised my concerns about this statement with members of the city staff, I discovered they had also been subjected to the same verbal threat. Phelps said he shared the observations not out of malice, but out of a commitment to the values and mission of the citys airport, and that it is his hope that by addressing the issues with Gazapian directly, the airport and its community can work together to ensure a positive, professional and respectful environment for all. Gazapian declined to comment on the criticisms voiced at the meeting, saying he didnt believe a response would reflect positively on the airport, something that he said is of utmost importance to him. The Common Council last fall made Phelps and his company, Sun Sport Aviation, the manager and FBO of Portage Municipal Airport, just months after the council voted to keep the airport open following weeks of uncertainty about its future. In August, two council members introduced a resolution that could have directed city staff to ask federal and state agencies what it would take to shut down an airport and abolish its airport commission, prompting protests from members of Portages airport community. Phelps said on Friday he appreciates having the commitment and backing from city officials, who continue to assist him in making the airport the best it can be. I want to commend the mayor, the council and Airport Commission members who are taking a position of non-tolerance regarding the unprofessional conduct and behavior of a commission member, said Phelps, who declined to comment further. Marlton, NJ (08053) Today Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of light rain late. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. A comprehensive Opinion Poll conducted by ABP News and CVoter ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections reveals intriguing insights from the political landscape of India, painting a vivid picture of the electoral prospects for major political alliances. The latest opinion poll, a significant indicator ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, suggests a projected victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with a considerable majority. The data portrays an intricate picture of voter trends, party strengths, and the impact of alliances across India. Key Highlights from the ABP News-CVoter Opinion Poll The NDA is projected to secure a commanding lead with a vote share of 45.9% and an estimated 366 seats in the Lok Sabha. The I.N.D.I.A bloc together, including the UPA, is expected to claim a 39% vote share and 156 seats, according to the ABP News-CVoter Opinion Poll. The poll suggests a considerable swing in votes since the 2019 Lok Sabha results, with the BJP seeing a positive swing of 3.08%, and the I.N.D.I.A. (UPA in 2019) a rise of 2.5%. State-Wise Projections Uttar Pradesh data in the ABP News-CVoter survey shows the NDA gaining 74 out of 80 seats, with a significant increase in the vote share compared to the last elections. Tamil Nadu appears to remain a stronghold for UPA allies, with the DMK + projected to win 39 seats. According to the survey, in West Bengal the BJP is projected to repeat its 2019 performance, with an anticipated 19 seats, which is one seat more than the last time. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is expected to influence the seat share significantly, with the poll projecting 6 seats for the party. In Maharashtra, a key battleground state, the NDA is projected to secure 28 seats, while its opposition, the UPA, is projected to get 20 seats, highlighting a competitive electoral fight. Regional parties continue to maintain their influence in states such as West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the pivotal role of regional aspirations in Indian politics. The ruling Trinamool Congress is projected to win 23 seats in Bengal, while the BJD in Odisha, which is contesting as an NDA constituent, could win 11 seats. In Andhra Pradesh, NDA partners TDP and JSP are likely to clinch 17 seats together, leaving 3 for the BJP. Short Of Mission 400, But NDA Looks at Comfortable Majority The ABP News-CVoter Opinion Poll predicts a comfortable majority for NDA in the Lok Sabha, with a projected 366 seats out of 543. With a vote share of 45.9%, combined with the BJP's dominant 40.4% vote share, the alliance is poised to not only retain but also strengthen its position compared to the last election. The BJP is projected to secure a significant portion of the NDA's overall success, with its vote share increasing by 3.08% from the previous election. This uptick in voter support positions the BJP as the single largest party by a substantial margin. Marginal Growth in Congress Tally The Congress party, leading the I.N.D.I.A bloc, shows marginal growth in its prospects. The party's vote share is projected to rise slightly from 19.5% in 2019 to 20% in 2024, and its seat count from 52 to 59. The party faces challenges in translating its vote share into a significant number of seats. Its performance is strong in certain states like Tamil Nadu, due to alliances with strong regional parties like the DMK, but nationally it struggles to compete with the BJP's appeal. The ABP News-CVoter data suggests that the BJP's stronghold remains firm, and the INC's improvements are not enough for a significant turnaround. The final election results, however, will depend on campaign effectiveness, coalition dynamics, and the political climate closer to the elections. Methodology The survey findings and projections are based on CVoter Opinion Poll CATI interviews (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) conducted among 18+ adults statewide, all confirmed voters. Sample size: 41,762 Survey date: February 1 to March 10, 2024 LS seats covered: 543 Margin Of Error (regional level): .+_/_- 5% Confidence Level: 95% 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. In a recent interaction with Adgully, Simran Kohli, Co-Founder, Dusaan, speaks about the genesis of Dusaan and its pivotal role in reshaping the home decor landscape. Drawing from her extensive background in investing and startup ventures, Kohli articulated the strategic vision behind Dusaan, emphasizing its mission to bridge the gap between exceptional home brands and discerning consumers. Dusaan's commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering diversity and inclusion emerged as a central theme in our discussion. Ms. Kohli elaborated on the significance of women's participation in traditionally male-dominated industries, highlighting Dusaan's deliberate efforts to champion women-owned brands and cultivate a culture of equality within the organization. What inspired you to venture into the home decor industry with Dusaan, and how did you envision its role in the market? Our journey into the home decor industry with Dusaan was sparked by a keen observation of the sector's challenges and opportunities. My background in investing and working with startups in the consumer space allowed me to identify the significant gap between manufacturers and consumers in the Indian home decor category. The industry, valued at $40 billion, was astonishingly disorganized, especially in India. This realization, combined with our desire to bridge the gap between remarkable brands and customers seeking high-quality, affordable products, led to the creation of Dusaan. We envisioned Dusaan as a transformative online marketplace, aiming to not only revolutionize the home decor space but also empower homegrown brands to establish their identity and connect with customers. Recognizing the onset of India's home decor revolution, we were motivated to accelerate this movement, making Dusaan a pivotal player in democratizing access to aesthetically pleasing home decor and transforming the shopping experience to be more inclusive and diverse. Can you share your insights on the significance of women's participation in startup and entrepreneurship, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries? Women's participation in startups and entrepreneurship is vital for fostering a culture of innovation, diversity, and inclusivity. In traditionally male-dominated industries, women entrepreneurs introduce fresh perspectives and innovative solutions, challenging the status quo and driving the industry forward. Their success serves as an inspiration to other women, creating a ripple effect that encourages more women to enter and excel in these fields. This not only helps to narrow the gender gap but also contributes to a more dynamic, successful, and inclusive economy. Home industry has a primary buyer as women, yet it has always been men telling us what to buy. We aim to change both the primary buyer and the primary founder in the industry to reflect a world and industry of equals, just like a home should be built by equals. Women entrepreneurship is required to shift the narrative, challenge the bias, and create a ripple effect of empowerment and equality. How has diversity and inclusion played a role in fostering innovation and contributing to the economic growth of Dusaan? At Dusaan, diversity and inclusion are at the core of our innovation strategy and economic growth. By embracing a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment, we've been able to tap into a broad spectrum of ideas, experiences, and customer insights. This diversity of thought has enabled us to better understand and cater to the varied needs of our customer base, leading to increased market share and revenue growth. For us, diversity and inclusion are not just moral imperatives but essential components of our business strategy. We proudly support 40% women-owned brands, significantly higher than the industry average of less than 15%. This achievement stems from our deliberate efforts to build a team and culture that prioritizes diversity and inclusion at every level. Dusaan has become a thriving hub for curated home decor items. What steps did you take to resonate with and gain immense popularity among women customers? To resonate with and captivate our women customers, Dusaan has meticulously curated our product selection to align with their preferences for comfort, personalization, and a welcoming atmosphere. We've designed our platform to be intuitive and reflective of the shopping habits of women, focusing on creating a seamless and engaging user experience. By leveraging user-generated content (UGC) and providing enriching and knowledgeable content, we've established a connection with our audience, making Dusaan a trusted source for home decor inspiration and purchases. Women already possess the creative energy; we just provided them with a canvas to expand it. We curated, ensured a quality shopping experience, and inspired them with our content, using real, authentic content over AI-generated images. Additionally, we position Dusaan as a thought leader in the home decor space through the creation of informative and inspiring content, such as blog posts, how-to guides, and trend forecasts, further enriching the customer experience. In what ways has Dusaan embraced technology as a tool for business growth and innovation in the competitive home decor market? Dusaan has embraced technology as a cornerstone of our strategy to stand out in the competitive home decor market. We utilize AI-driven recommendation engines to offer personalized product suggestions, enhancing the shopping experience for our customers. Our approach includes leveraging customer data to identify and capitalize on trending styles, which informs our product curation and collaborations. Simplifying the language: we use AI to understand what you already like and tailor more of that to you, whether it is recommendations or cross-selling. This technology-driven approach helps us stay ahead in providing a personalized and engaging shopping experience. As a Founders, how do you encourage women within your team to become leaders, innovators, and change-makers in their communities and beyond? As Founders, we are committed to empowering the women in our team to become leaders, innovators, and change-makers. We foster an environment that celebrates open communication, ensuring that women's voices are heard and valued. Through mentorship, professional development opportunities, and a culture that supports taking initiative, we encourage our female team members to lead projects, share their ideas, and contribute to our mission. The biggest change is leading by example. The fact that they walk into an office with women leaders, in all facets of the organization, is a significant change in itself. We maintain a company and a culture of equals, where everyone is heard and valued, further inspiring our team to become advocates for change, both within Dusaan and in the wider community. Could you elaborate on the mission and vision behind introducing Dusaan, and how these principles guide the company's growth? Our mission with Dusaan is to revolutionize the home & living industry by providing a platform that bridges the gap between exceptional home brands and consumers seeking stylish, affordable options. Our vision is to become Indias premier destination for home & living, where customers can find a curated selection of products that cater to their diverse tastes and needs. These guiding principles have shaped our growth strategy, driving us to innovate continuously, expand our offerings, and enhance the customer experience. By staying true to our mission and vision, we aim to not only grow Dusaan but also contribute to the organization of the Indian home decor industry and establish a lasting impact. Could you share your experience of transforming challenges into potential opportunities, especially in the dynamic landscape of the home decor industry? Navigating the dynamic landscape of the home decor industry, I've encountered numerous challenges, from the unorganized nature of the market to the complexities of external supply chains. However, by adopting a creative mindset and leveraging new technologies, I've turned these challenges into opportunities for Dusaan to innovate, grow, and solidify our position as a leader in the home decor space. This approach has enabled us to stay relevant, attract a diverse customer base, and continue our journey towards becoming a transformative force in the industry. Sony SABs Vanshaj is a show filled with intense conflict highlighting the ultimate battle of inheritance. With the intense shoot schedule, actors end up spending most time of the day on the sets in Umbergaon, staying away from their families. Recently, Mahir Pandhi, who plays the role of Digvijay aka DJ on the show, took his mother for a tour of the sets of the show, giving her a glimpse on what goes behind the scenes. To make it an even more unforgettable moment for her, Mahir surprised her by getting his newly-bought car on the sets itself. The actor took his mother around the set in his new car. However, the most emotional moment for the actor was shooting the intense sequences of the show in front of his mother. It was a surreal moment for not just the mother-son duo, but everyone on the set who shared a light-hearted moment with her. Mahir Pandhi who plays the character of Digvijay, said, For years, my family never got to see me work on set. Everything just makes sense; the hard work pays off and you know it's all worth it when you see your mother happy with those teary eyes. So, when my mom finally came, it was a moment I'll never forget. It was her first time seeing how everything happens, and it meant the world to me to share that with her. I wanted to make it extra special, so I surprised her with my new car. Driving her to the set and showing her around, seeing her eyes light up with joy, it was incredibly emotional for both of us. It's a memory I'll treasure forever. Tune in to Sony SAB's Vanshaj every Monday to Saturday at 7 PM and 10 PM 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 At least 20 people have been confirmed dead in a devastating Russian missile strike that ravaged the Ukrainian city of Odesa, leaving in its wake a trail of death and destruction, CNN reported. Scores more have been injured in the attack, marking the deadliest assault on the Black Sea port city since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion, CNN reported. The harrowing ordeal unfolded early Friday morning (local time) when a Russian missile, aimed at civilian infrastructure, tore through Odesas urban fabric. The initial strike caused chaos and carnage, claiming the lives of innocent civilians and injuring many others. However, the horror didnt end there. In a sinister turn of events, emergency service personnel, rushing to aid the victims, found themselves ensnared in a second strikea tactic ominously referred to as a double tap, a cruel hallmark of Russias tactics in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a CNN report. This is the first time a double attack has happened in Odesa region, remarked Maryna Averina, a spokeswoman for the State Emergency Service in Odesa, conveying shock and disbelief at the unprecedented escalation of violence. First responders arrived at the site of the strike and immediately began to extinguish the fire, clearing the rubble and searching for victims. And then there was a second missile strike, Averina recounted, underscoring the ruthlessness of the assailants. Tragically, the second strike claimed the lives of eight rescuers, including Denys Kolesnikov, a 25-year-old firefighter whose selfless dedication cost him his life. The strikes occurred against the backdrop of Russias orchestrated presidential elections, where President Vladimir Putin seeks an extended tenure in power. The timing underscores the callous disregard for human life exhibited by the perpetrators, as reported by CNN. As the toll of casualties continues to rise, with at least 73 people reported injured, including emergency service personnel, the resilience of Odesas inhabitants shines through amidst the devastation. Maria Slisovska, a local resident who witnessed the horror firsthand, recounted the terrifying moments as the missiles struck. At first our windows were still intact. Then about five minutes later there was a second blast. The ceilings were damaged And then there was a strike after the paramedics arrived. The guys were dead. There were people covered in blood. We are now clearing the glass, Slisovska shared, her words painting a vivid picture of the chaos and despair gripping the city. In a televised address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as a despicable act of cowardice, vowing a resolute response against the perpetrators. Our Defence Forces will do everything to make Russian killers feel our just response, Zelenskyy declared, his words resonating with a nation reeling from the horrors of war. Amidst the grief and anguish, condolences poured in from across the globe, with Ukraines Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko extending sympathies to the bereaved families and Denise Brown, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, condemning the heinous attack. Odesa, a strategic hub for Ukraines grain exports and naval operations, has endured relentless assaults in recent months, exacerbating the suffering of its resilient populace. The brazen attack serves as a stark reminder of the grim reality of war, as world leaders grapple with the escalating crisis in Ukraine. Last weeks close call, where a missile struck perilously close to President Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, underscores the precariousness of the situation. In the aftermath of the strike, Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international support, emphasising the urgent need for enhanced air defences to protect civilian populations, CNN reported. This is an opinion column. Somebody found out a trans woman in Huntsville had a job as a Space Camp counselor, and complained about it on Facebook. People freaked. Three members of Congress from Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Reps. Dale Strong and Robert Aderholt rushed to climb aboard the outrage. Because people like that cant be allowed at a place like Space Camp, they reasoned. You know. For the safety of the kids. The feeding frenzy was on. Alabama Rep. Mack Butler, a Republican from Rainbow City of all places quickly assured frightened Alabamians that the Legislature would add Space Camp to its ever-expanding Dont Say Gay bill. Butler is the same guy who described expanding that bill as a way to purify the schools. Because purity matters to Alabama. So somebody is demonized for who they are. Not for anything they did, mind you, but who they are. In the name of safety. So what if study after study shows that LGBTQ people dont abuse kids or anybody else any more than purified folks? So what if study after study shows gay and trans kids are way more likely to be abused by heterosexual people, and hate crimes against those kids have skyrocketed in states that passed laws like Dont Say Gay? Alabama says it wants to protect kids. Just not those kids. There are threats out there. We know that. So if we want to protect children by not saying words its not just gay we shouldnt say. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has identified more than 7,000 priests who have been credibly or not implausibly accused of sexually abusing 20,000 kids. Dont say Catholic. The Southern Baptist Convention identified hundreds of Baptist preachers and church workers accused of abusing children between 2010 and 2019. At least 33 of those accused church sex abusers were from Alabama. Dont Say Baptist. And dont say Boy Scouts, either. Almost 8,000 Scout leaders have been accused of sex abuse. Alabama lawmakers dont say boo. In fact, given a chance to help very real victims, legislators have for years looked the other way. Bills to expand the statute of limitations so victims of child sexual abuse can more reasonably hold their abusers accountable in court have struggled and died in Montgomery year after year. Two current bills, including a Scouts Honor bill that will allow as many as 2,000 abused Alabama Scouts to receive just compensation, are awaiting action now. They are real things. Those bills would help people and punish the abusers. They have been pushed, and are being pushed in this session, by real people, men and women who say they were abused by churches, scout leaders, teachers, family, and politicians, and the law gave them no access to the courts, or to compensation, or to closure. Maybe they have a chance this year, but so far our politicians have failed these people. Even though they have been victimized by real predators. Even though they have been harmed. The purifying Alabama Legislature would prefer they got on with their lives. I guess its easier to deal with a phantom menace than real danger. So the states most powerful people turn on a trans woman in Huntsville because of who she is. Not what she has or has not done. Our leaders are supposed to be role models, and they are. For middle school bullies. John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer winner. The moment Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill to protect IVF treatments in Alabama, Dr. Beth Malizia pulled out her phone and began scheduling fertility procedures. I made three phone calls at 9:30 p.m. right after the governor signed the bill and let those three patients know that we were moving forward with their embryos transfers, Malizia said. We definitely had some tears on those phone calls. Less than 12 hours later, on March 7, she was in her Homewood clinic transferring embryos to women who hoped to become pregnant. But not all fertility clinics in Alabama have been as quick to restart treatments. The state Supreme Court surprised IVF doctors in February with a ruling that held frozen embryos are children. State lawmakers scrambled and quickly passed the bill designed to fix the problem, protecting IVF providers from wrongful death lawsuits and criminal prosecution. But lawmakers havent been able to persuade everyone its safe to resume. A spokeswoman for the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile said the clinic would not restart treatment, even after Ivey signed a bill that exempts IVF doctors from legal liability for the destruction of embryos. 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, according to a statement released last week. A spokesperson did not respond to an additional request for comment. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, said the IVF immunity bill doesnt address the underlying Supreme Court decision. Frozen embryos still have the same rights and protections as children under the personhood amendment passed in 2018. The bill could run afoul of the state constitution unless the constitution is amended, England said. Our immunity bill was essentially the hope plan, England said. Hope that nobody files a lawsuit and hope that a judge doesnt rule what weve done unconstitutional in terms of violating the personhood amendment. Four families have sued Infirmary Health and the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile after a patient from the adjoining hospital walked into a storage area and destroyed several frozen embryos. Three filed lawsuits in 2021 that went to the Supreme Court, but one other filed a lawsuit while lawmakers worked on the IVF immunity bill this year. The Supreme Court decision sent the lawsuits back down to the trial court. The courts could rule that the new immunity law is unconstitutional and leave clinics with no clear guidance about legal liability, once again stopping IVF in Alabama, England said. Some in the legislature have already said they want to create more comprehensive legislation that will regulate in vitro fertilization, England said. They may put in place restrictions that make the procedure harder to get. My prediction is that while IVF will be legal in Alabama, it will be so prohibitively expensive and so risky in terms of liability that most people wont be able to afford it, he said. The initial court ruling mobilized thousands of patients in Alabama, Malizia said. The fertility doctor said she had no experience with state government before this year. Neither did the hundreds of patients who showed up at the statehouse to lobby for the IVF bill. Hundreds of supporters and thousands of emails showed lawmakers that IVF had broad support in the state, Malizia said. A CBS/YouGov poll found that 86 percent of respondents said women should have access to IVF treatments. Barbara Collura, president and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, said she hopes lawmakers revisit the law within the year to clarify whether parents have full rights to embryos held in storage. The law provides immunity from prosecution; it does not change the status of an embryo or list what can and cannot happen to an embryo outside the uterus in Alabama, Collura said in an email. Before the ruling, most parents with leftover embryos had three options. They could discard the embryos, donate them to science or donate to other families. Its unclear if all three options will remain available to patients in Alabama. Eric Johnston, an attorney and president of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition, said he doesnt think the state needs a new amendment to ensure access to IVF treatment. He said the immunity bill passed by the legislature should provide legal protection for doctors since it modifies a wrongful death law that was also created through legislation. Like Collura, he said the bill leaves open questions about the status of leftover embryos. It comes down to one question that is going to be the difficult one to answer for everyone, Johnston said. And it is, What do you do with the leftover embryos? Thats it. Thats the whole crux. Johnston said his organization supports access to IVF. Some members who are Catholic have adopted that churchs opposition to in vitro fertilization, but other members have used the process to become pregnant, he said. He said the legislature needs to go back and consider thoughtful regulations on IVF. Its a complicated issue that requires more than a quick fix, he said. Parents who suffer the loss of frozen embryos through the neglect or malice of clinic employees wont be able to sue providers for more than the cost of a procedure if the law stays in place, he said. I think it was very poorly done, Johnston said. It was done too quickly. When you do the important things quickly, you make mistakes. If the state considers additional legislation, Malizia said fertility specialists need to be part of the process. She and her colleagues were blindsided by the Supreme Court decision and would like to educate legislatures about how the IVF process works. Although she never expected to find herself lobbying lawmakers when she started training in fertility medicine, her crash course in Alabama politics may continue to come in handy, Malizia said. Theres already talk of further discussion about this issue, and I dont know exactly where that will go, Malizia said. But we will be all in. I think my visits to the state house are not over. Local, state, and national library organizations are reacting to the dismissal of the Autauga-Prattville Library director and at least four staff members who protested his firing. The firings come after months of book challenges at the local library and a new policy banning young adult books that discuss sexual orientation, gender identity or gender discordance, as well as books with sexual content. The board fired former director Andrew Foster after he fulfilled an open records request. He gave a local reporter redacted emails about the new book policy and about potentially moving more than 100 childrens and young adult books to the adult section. The board also reprimanded him for recording meetings, which is allowed by state law if at least one person consents. The other staff members were fired after closing the library Thursday in protest of Fosters dismissal. The library reopened Friday, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, and the fired staff were asked to return to work. So far, two have declined and one has returned. Alabama Library Association president Matthew Layne said the firing is a travesty that should frighten every Alabama resident. Social extremists are utilizing ruthless, strong-arm tactics to transform them into political battlegrounds, Layne said. He said libraries are essential public resources where all members of our community could gather and learn, and that the firings were unjust, politically motivated and undermines this librarys capacity for properly, effectively serving the public. Further, its a frightening example of what could happen at public libraries across our state, Layne said. As a lifelong Alabama resident, I know this is unequivocally not what our states residents want. Read Freely Alabama, an organization founded in Prattville that has pushed back against book challenges, released a statement supporting Foster and the fired staff. The freedom to read is essential, like air and water, to a healthy democracy. We will continue to fight alongside our neighbors in Prattville and the library supporters for the right to read. Read Freely is partnering with the national library advocacy organization EveryLibrary with a petition and fundraiser. We must take action to ensure that all citizens rights are protected and that the library is free from workplace harassment and politicized actions, EveryLibrary Executive Director John Chrastka said in a statement. He called for local officials to rescind the firings and end the discriminatory policies against LGBTQ+ citizens. We must reverse these reprehensible actions and ensure the library remains a free and safe space for everyone in the community, Chrastka said. In an interview Friday with AL.com, Foster said the board first asked in Thursdays special meeting if he was recording. When he said yes, he was told that was apparently some violation of the federal law, and I better stop recording. The board gave him the option to resign or be fired. I asked for a few minutes and I stepped out of the room and called my legal counsel to get what information I could on what my options were, Foster said. After that conversation, I went back in the room and I let them know that I wasnt going to resign. The board voted to fire Foster. Foster then went to the library to talk to his staff, who applauded him. Board President Ray Boles asked Foster to leave the building. I do think one of the biggest things thats stuck out for me in all this has been receiving that community support, Foster said. He is blown away by the outpouring of love and support from residents and library colleagues. According to the librarys Facebook page, the board will appoint an interim director at 9 a.m. Saturday at the main branch, located at 254 Doster St. in Prattville. The board will nominate a new board member at 5 p.m. Monday at the main branch to replace Christie Sellers, who resigned in February after the LGBTQ book policy was enacted. The emails exchanged between Foster and Boles can be found at this link and below. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center says staff members have received some general, and some very specific threats in the days since a controversy erupted following a social media post by a parent complaining about the presence of a transgender employee at Space Camp. This is not okay and is a subsequent, and very serious issue that we are dealing with internally and with the appropriate authorities, the Huntsville center said in a statement released Friday afternoon. The center, which hosts Space Camp, said no child has been physically harmed on our campus. In addition, no allegation of a child being harmed was ever raised as part of the recent social media controversy, the center stated. Our operation is designed with layers of protection to mitigate against single points of failure. As to any threats to staffers, those will be handled internally, and with the appropriate authorities, the center said. This week, federal and state lawmakers reacted on social media after a parent complained on Facebook about the gender identity of one of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center employees. The topic was also picked up by the Libs of TikTok account. An Alabama state lawmaker proposed adding Space Camp to a proposed expansion of the states so-called Dont Say Gay law. The employee referenced by critics declined to comment. A petition was started by the Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition in support of the employee. The notion that queer people are out to indoctrinate, groom, or recruit children is a prejudiced falsehood that dates back decades in America and has led to innocent queer people losing their lives and livelihoods, ALTRAC said in a statement this week. This kind of rhetoric further divides our state, has no basis in reality, and has historically led to violence. Space Camp hosts about 26,000 participants each year. According to its website, it follows federal guidelines and does not discriminate against protected classes when hiring. The center says there are strict guidelines separating staff and students. Officials are reviewing and updating policies for the highest level of safety and risk prevention, as well as ensuring full compliance and oversight. In its statement, the center said it investigates any complaint of employee misconduct or policy violations. Officials are still gathering information, but efforts were slowed by Spring Break and resources being diverted to deal with external safety threats. According to the camp, staff undergo nationwide criminal background checks including court records, Department of Corrections data, state sex offender registries from across the country, and multi-panel drug tests. Staff sleep in separate rooms from students and use separate bathroom facilities, with 24-hour onsite security including round-the-clock video surveillance, regular foot and vehicle patrols, and controlled campus and building access. We value the safety of all individuals - our students, our employees, and our guests, the center stated. Officials have also been in contact with administrators of school groups planning trips to Space Camp in the coming weeks, and plan to reach out to others beyond. The center is and will remain an equal-opportunity employer adhering to all state and federal laws regulating hiring practices. We appreciate and want to thank our friends, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders who have supported us during this time, especially the Huntsville Police Department, the statement read. A 72-year-old man was arrested Friday after he allegedly posed as a police officer and conducted traffic stops in Trussville, authorities said. State troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division and special agents with the State Bureau of Investigation received information Tuesday about a man impersonating a police officer and pulling over vehicles in Trussville, ALEA said. The agency conducted an investigation that led to 72-year-old Springville resident John Milhorn being identified as a suspect in the case. Milhorn was arrested Friday and charged with impersonating a peace officer. He was booked into the Jefferson County jail on $100,000 bond. Further information was unavailable. A 36-year-old Athens woman was killed Thursday night after being hit by car in Limestone County. Alabama State Troopers this morning reported that Amber L. Lankster was killed when she was struck by a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu on Alabama 99 near Sugar Way Road, about seven miles north of Athens. Lankster was a pedestrian and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was also involved in a previous crash, also as a pedestrian. Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the incident. Stories that will make you laugh, cry and question everything you thought you knew. Step into a portal where LGBTQ+ folks can live authentically, free from hate and where their contributions to art and culture are celebrated. Sign up for the QueerVerse newsletter today! Stop scrolling: the U.S. wants to ban TikTok, and much can be lost for queer and trans folksmore than meets the eye. Despite screen time being linked to many risks like sleep cycle disturbances or depression, theres no denying that the internet plays a significant role in allotting people of all genders and sexualities to find each other and look up to one another. The U.S. governments potential ban on TikTok poses a significant threat to the LGBTQ+ community, impacting expression, connection, and resources far beyond just viral videos. For many queer, trans, and nonbinary individuals, TikTok provides a crucial space for self-discovery, community building, and access to vital information. This is particularly important given the increasing hostility in many parts of the country, especially in states like Oklahoma, Missouri and South Carolina where anti-LGBTQ bills are at an all-time high. With the rise of these legislations targeting peoples rights and autonomy, studies have shown a direct correlation to the surge of hate crimes. A recent analysis from the F.B.I. this week revealed a drastic uptick in GOP-led states where incidents on K-12 campuses against LGBTQ students have quadrupled. Republican Rep. Mike Gallaghers proposed bill seeks to ban foreign adversary-controlled apps, specifically targeting TikTok. The ACLU has condemned the move as blatant censorship and a violation of the First Amendment and the principle of free information flow. For LGBTQ-identified people, losing TikTok can also mean losing their tether to communities outside of their immediate circles, as well as the personal enjoyment that comes with seeing content creators that share their identities. Outside of queer circles, critics of the bill have already shown outrage about what this would mean for everyone. On Mar. 12, the human rights organization American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a statement expressing concerns over the push to pass HR 7521 into law, warning that it would set an alarming global precedent for excessive government control over social media platforms. While the future of this bill is up in the air, heres a rundown of all there is to lose for the LGBTQ community should this ban flourish into law. Whats at stake for LGBTQ users Barring access to information, losing community and the overall silencing of diverse voices are all risks of the TikTok ban. For those in isolated or unaccepting environments, the platform is a crucial source for advice, education, and affirming content on gender identity, sexual orientation, and health resources. Not to mention it would restrict the visibility and the renaissance of impact led by out and proud content creators, role models, and advocates. On Wednesday, during the House of Representatives hearing, sponsor of the bill Rep. Gallagher admitted that TikTok is a threat due to the app becoming the dominant news platform for Americans under 30, he said. This [bill] is a commonsense measure to protect our national security. Nearly 30% of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ. That day, the bill passed. Much to anti-LGBTQ legislation tracker and independent journalist Erin Reeds disapproval, the banning of TikTok can bar the public from keeping up with the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation happening across the country. A large number of trans and queer youth depend on the platform for information and to have a voice, she said on X yesterday. Additionally, Reed, whose TikTok account has garnered nearly half of one million followers, noted that efforts of a nationwide TikTok banHR 7521 asideis being pushed by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. They truly believe that TikTok turns kids trans, she said. In a time where legislation is trying to curb the rights of LGBTQ people, especially trans youth, at an unprecedented speed, sharing updates on these bills on TikTok has been a sound way to get the message out. Not to mention in light of the opposing campaign spearheaded by alt-right social media giants like LibsOfTikTok, whose online presence has led to real consequences at the hands of queer people, such as bomb threats or job losses. For queer college students who dont have supportive families, staying on campus during the holidays can be a lonely time. In a 2020 Washington Post article on LGBTQ users of TikTok, Carly, who was a college student at the time, relied on the app to remedy her sense of loneliness and sadness of spending the holidays alone after her family disowned her for being a lesbian. They told me that I had been possessed by Satan and needed to go to a mental hospital, she told the Washington Post. They took my phone, my car, and cut off my college education funds and left me with thousands of dollars in debt. TikTok is no stranger to holding space for people like Carly. We see a lot of examples where, on TikTok, LGBTQ youth are getting support, Amit Paley, CEO of the LGBTQ crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project told the Washington Post in 2020. And that is so important because there are many LGBTQ youth in this country who are not able to get support where they physically are. Banning TikTok will be devastating to people who have used the platform to find other people who look like them, who are like them, and the consequences of that will be dire for many queer people who are not out to family or who seek community on the platform. Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) March 14, 2024 The potential that TikToks existence can be gone puts the lives of those who are gender and sexuality variant on the line. Banning TikTok will be devastating to people who have used the platform to find other people who look like them, who are like them, and the consequences of that will be dire for many queer people who are not out to family or who seek community on the platform. TikTok has also been a salve for the neurodivergent community, a large portion of which also identify as LGBTQ. I was diagnosed with autism 17 years ago and the amount of people who shared their experiences on TikTok, especially the ones that make you go Ah, it wasnt just me!, makes a guy feel understood, said X user @Tidmouthfireman to Reed yesterday. Rinse and repeat for other specific subjects. Unbridled queer joy In a Gay Times story about TikTok published last September, the social media platform was described to be an app where queer people are free to be as creative, funny, honest and innovative as they choose, Alim Kheraj wrote. Queer creators are the ones inventing trends, setting the cultural agenda and offering up inspiration to over one billion people all around the world. Gen Z, in particular, are digital natives. And TikTok is no exception to the rule. The younger generation, half of whom identify asLGBTQ, is experiencing a boom of claiming bisexuality. Described as LGBTQ TikTok, the platform has become home to an array of creators who rely on the social media platform to share their experiencesespecially LGBTQ joy. Looking at viral comedy content creators like trans fashion model Alex Consani, TikTok has been the source of what queer humor is simply reflectingthe Lifestyle fancy water trend, for example. Another example: a queer couple explaining the story of how they met. Not only would banning TikTok eliminate the communitys urgent need to stay on top of the dangers to their community, it is also a space for queer, trans and nonbinary from all over the world to congregate and be in community together. The road ahead The bills fate remains uncertain. It faces potential challenges in the Senate and a final decision from President Biden. The ACLU and other organizations have vowed to challenge the proposed ban on legal grounds, setting the stage for a potential battle over user rights and government overreach. Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and digital freedom are urging individuals to contact their legislators and express their concerns about the bills potential consequences. English News China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 14 Mars 2024 This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 70th anniversary of the initiation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Acting with vision and greater enterprise, China will work together with all countries to shoulder the responsibilities of the times, jointly rise to the challenges, and usher in an even better and brighter future for our world. By He Yin, People's Daily During the annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), also known as the "two sessions," the international community showed great interest in and gave positive evaluations on China's foreign policy and future international relations. The world landscape today is undergoing profound transformation, and human society is confronted with multiple challenges. In this changing and turbulent international environment, China will remain a staunch force for peace, stability and progress of the world. The Chinese foreign service has taken actions to promote international solidarity and cooperation, and offered solutions to various crises and challenges. This showcases China's enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavors, and greater moral appeal in the new era. China has always been an important force in safeguarding peace and promoting development. It joins hands with relevant parties to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The Central Asian region and the Indochina Peninsula all embraced the vision, and new progress was made in the joint efforts by China and African, ASEAN, Arab, and Latin American and Caribbean countries to realize the same vision. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative have taken root and borne fruits, injecting important impetus into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China facilitated the historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, setting a new example of political settlement of hotspot issues. It released China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, and engaged extensively with relevant parties through the special envoy of the Chinese government, making active efforts for resuming peace talks and restoring peace. China has actively promoted peace talks on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and increased humanitarian assistance. China has played a constructive role during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council in advancing a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issuethe first of its kind since the conflict broke out, and released the Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. China, as a major country committed to maintaining peace and promoting development, has contributed stability, certainty, and positive energy to the complex world. China has always been an important force in pursuing solidarity and cooperation. The country is committed to building a new type of international relations and to consolidating and expanding the global network of partnerships. China actively promotes coordination and cooperation among major countries. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era has been moving forward on a high level. At the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. heads of state in San Francisco, the two sides reached common understandings and charted the course for stabilizing the China-U.S. relationship and bringing it back on the track of sound development. China and the EU relaunched exchanges and dialogue across the board at all levels. Acting on the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with its neighbors, China strives to enhance its ties with its neighboring countries. Last year, it successfully hosted the China-Central Asia Summit. Guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith and with a commitment to the greater good and shared interests, China endeavors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries. Last year, the BRICS mechanism achieved a historic expansion. The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The China-CELAC Forum will count 10 years of productive cooperation. Another Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit will take place in China this coming autumn. China looks forward to continuing to promote unity and cooperation among developing countries to augment the strength of the South. China has always been an important force in promoting openness and inclusiveness. China is committed to building a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, which meets the common needs of all countries, especially the developing countries, and properly addresses the development imbalances between and within countries resulting from the global allocation of resources. China believes it is important to resolutely oppose the attempt to roll back globalization and abuse the concept of security, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, firmly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, overcome the structural problems hindering the healthy development of the world economy, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. China is increasing its investment in global development cooperation to help other developing countries enhance their capacity for independent development. It is ushering in a second golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation with relevant parties, hoping that high-quality Belt and Road cooperation will serve as an engine for the common development of all countries and an accelerator for the modernization of the whole world. China has always been an important force in upholding justice. China, as a responsible major country, has always upheld justice and stood up for fairness. It practices true multilateralism and advances democracy in international relations. All countries, regardless of their size, should be treated as equals. Each and every country should have its place in the global multipolar system and can play its due role. China advocates for an equal and orderly multipolar world. An equal multipolar world means equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules for every nation. An orderly multipolar world means all should observe the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and uphold the universally recognized basic norms governing international relations. China has resolutely opposed hegemonism and power politics, resolutely pushed back against a handful of countries' attempt to dominate international affairs, demanded increased representation and say of developing countries in the global governance system, firmly upheld the common and legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and made the international order more just and equitable. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 70th anniversary of the initiation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Acting with vision and greater enterprise, China will work together with all countries to shoulder the responsibilities of the times, jointly rise to the challenges, and usher in an even better and brighter future for our world. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Keeping pace with China is keeping pace with opportunities 5G technology sees application in various industries in China New journey begins for fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) If Mahmoud Muhammad Taha had become world famous rather than the world-infamous Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri of Al Qaeda, the Muslim world would be a very different place today. Mahmoud Muhammad Taha was 76 years old when he was executed by Sudans president Gaafar Mohammed al-Nimeiri on January 18, 1985. As a theologian and leader in the Sudanese Republican Party, Taha had always advocated liberal reform in Sudan and in Islam. Taha had played a prominent role in Sudans struggle for independence. Taha was hanged after protesting the imposition of Sharia in Sudan by Nimeiri, becoming something highly unusual in contemporary Islam: a moderate martyr. Taha reconciled Muslim belief with twentieth-century values. He was a revolutionary but diametrically opposite from Salafist Sayyid Qtub and other radical Islamists. After 9/11, millions of people around the world have heard of Qtub and Osama bin Laden but not Taha. Islamism for many in the West has taken on the terrifying face of the masked Jihadi or full-length identity-hiding veils, the religious militia, the blurred figure in the security video. Taha went to engineering school at Gordon Memorial College that eventually became the University of Khartoum. Taha graduated in 1936 and spoke out iconoclastically against the educated elite of Sudan, who showed far too much patronage to the colonial powers and traditional religious leaders. Mahmoud helped form the Republican Party in 1945 and was imprisoned for a year when he refused to stop his political activities. The British governor pardoned him, but unlike so many malignant radical imprisoned bad guys like the rage-filled Qtub, the Blind Sheik Omar-Abdul Raman of the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Al Qaedas Ayman al-Zawahiri, Taha was a peaceful progressive good guy in prison. Taha later described the closed space of prison as Gods will for him. He started his Khalwah or night vigil of religious retreat from the world. Tahas seclusion continued after his release in 1948. He prayed, fasted, and read widely, (Wells, Shaw, Russell, Lenin, Marx), in a hut near his in-laws. Taha developed his radically new vision of the meaning of the Koran which he spent the rest of his life teaching. I n his most important book, The Second Message of Islam (1967) Taha emphasizes that the Koran was revealed to Muhammad in two phases. In the first phase in Mecca for thirteen years Muhammad addressed humanity in general. Muhammad message was filled with notions of freedom, equality, sincerity, worship, kindness, and peaceful coexistence. Then in Medina, the writings became full of rules, coercion, threats and the law of the sword. These two phases are like the Christian Old Testamant (law and violence) and the New Testament (Love and atonement). Experts think the Meccan verses are the ideal Islam of freedom and equality that will be revived when humanity has reached a stage of development or spiritual evolution when it is capable of accepting them. Taha used the name Republican Brothers for his new spiritual movement and his disciples recall him as a transformed, saintly presence. Taha was a valued mature teacher who welcomed argument but with honesty, serenity, intellectual vigor, and charisma. Taha is sometimes compared to Gandhi by some Sudanese and perhaps the twentieth century was not ready for The Second Message of Islam. Taha was constantly condemned by Sudanese and Egyptian clerics and his movement was under attack by the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood. George Packer in his fascinating New Yorker article, The Moderate Martyr, captures the profound importance of Tahas ideas which severely threatened the Sudanese Islamist hardliners: Whats truly remarkable about Taha is that he existed at all. In the midst of a gathering storm of Islamist extremism, he articulated a message of liberal reform that was rigorous, coherent, and courageous. His vision asked Muslims to abandon fourteen hundred years of accepted dogma in favor of a radical and demanding new methodology that would set them free from the burdens of traditional jurisprudence. Taha argued that Islamic law had harsh punishments and repressed free thought. Taha thought that the Korans liberating ideas from the early centuries after Muhammed got closed off to critical revision for a millennium. When Taha spoke of Sharia, he meant the enlightened message of the Meccan verses, which is universal and eternal. Tahas teachings, not unlike Socrates, collided with the power politics of the establishment. Jaafar al-Nimeiri, who seized power in 1969, was an opportunistic tyrant who used one political model after another (Marxism, Arab nationalism, pro-Americanism) to justify his control of Sudan. Hassan al-Turabi, his brilliant political henchman and manipulator, was an enemy of Taha. Taha had once alienated Turabi with a slight by saying Turabi was clever but not insightful or wise. It is very likely that Tahas execution for apostasy was bogus and engineered by Turabi. Taha was offered a way to repent under Sharia but he refused and went to his hanging with head held high. He told his Republican brothers that he knew he would be killed by the Muslim Brotherhood. If only Muslim political thinkers could fully grasp the dialectic process of democracy from which Jefferson and Adams argued in anger at each other. But they never contemplated assassination as a political tool. In the decade after Tahas death Turabi was the political strategist of the Islamist revolution and the reign of terror of Omar al-Bashir. Turabi even declared hypocritically that women and men are equal. Turabi, stealing from Taha, eventually claimed cynically that woman can lead Islamic prayers and covering their heads is not obligatory. Turabi later shifted position, saying that apostasy is not a crime and Muslim women can marry Christians and Jews! In Khartoum, people were amazed that Turabi sounded exactly like Taha. Turabi seemed to be aware of his terrible failures and Sudans mire of mass death, slavery, civil war, and genocide. Taha would likely have chuckle from his grave as his old enemy prevaricated to try to be a newborn Republican Brother. If Taha, like Socrates, could have had many disciples like Plato to expound on his ideas, it could be like a breath of spiritual fresh air to the Muslim world. Image: Felix Zeim This article continues a discussion on the U.S. governments use of neuroscience and directed energy to develop weapons which can secretly affect the brain and body from a remote location without requiring surgically implanted neural technologies. Government scientists during the Obama-Biden Administration described plans for large remote surveillance systems which determine a persons intentions, potentially including surveilling and affecting brain activity. Importantly, U.S. government scientists suggested 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. Emphasis should be on the use of remote and secret technologies for anticrime operations in the previous quotation; the U.S. government suggested using remote and secret technologies which potentially affect the human brain and/or body to prevent crime, not necessarily to solve crimes already committed. (Although such a use would also be problematic; innocent persons might be deliberately wrongly investigated and investigations can cause life-destroying harm.) In other words, such potentially remote and secret brain surveillance systems were suggested to be used by law enforcement and investigation entities like the FBI for anticrime operations. Directed Energy Weapons are similar to those suggested to be used by U.S. government scientists for surveillance and anticrime operations and are also relevant to this discussion; such weapons could remotely and secretly harm the brain and body. Those technologies, according to a U.S. government publication, could cause one to suddenly hear voices in ones head and mimic schizophrenia. In a moment it will be explained how such technologies might be used for anticrime operations. Now, before getting to the main point, an incomplete discussion on national security and law enforcement is necessary. One often hears government national security and local security employees say things like, we take every threat seriously. Things have gotten a bit absurd in America, though. National and local security employees now often talk about going after potential threats or a risk to the public. Communist China has a similar approach, only using different language; the Chinese use preventive arrests for social dangerousness. The FBIs risk to the public and Chinas social dangerousness do not seem to be much different. Local police and entities like the FBI also use preventative policing or anticrime methods. One often hears police and FBI claim they are taking risks to the public off the streets. It should be emphasized that there is more than one way to get a person off the streets. Arresting a person and putting them in jail, or physically restraining them, is not the only way to prevent a person from going out in public. For example, U.S. Federal regulations (in the context of controlling the elderly but applicable here) describe both physical restraint, which is obvious, and chemical restraint, which includes medications used to control behavior or to restrict the freedom of movement. Chemical restraints are often medications and might include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and others which are prescribed for schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. Many of those medications can cause lack of ambition and increased appetite for food and sleep, ultimately resulting in restriction of movement. While none of this article includes medical advice or any other type of advice, one should be made aware of how government might use a remote and secret technology which causes symptoms to mimic schizophrenia for anticrime operations that is, to take a person off the streets, control their behavior, and restrict their freedom of movement. Basically, remotely operated directed energy technologies might be used to cause continuous distress or other mind-altering symptoms (also known as torture) to nudge a person to visit a health care professional who then prescribes behavior-controlling and movement-restricting medications. The end result is getting the targeted person off the streets. Of course, distress and some medications can indirectly result in a persons death, which also gets the person off the streets. Now, with regards to law enforcement targeting risks to the public: almost every human being could be arbitrarily described as a risk to the public or potential threat and thus could become a target of government national and local security employees. Humans have an automatic and reflexive-like response system known as the fight or flight response. An experienced psychologist or sociologist can likely plan secret schemes or tricks to provoke the fight or flight response and deliberately (without the targeted person knowing a planned and coordinated scheme is ongoing) cause almost automatic anger in most people. Also, Americans might wrongly think the law enforcement phrase potential threat or risk to the public only refers to the jihadist or gangster. Many are probably familiar with the House of Representatives discussing how the FBI uses FBI employees and cooperators as a weapon against Americans; this was described as the FBIs weaponization of law enforcement. What many might not know is who the FBI described as potential threats, or potential domestic terrorists. The House of Representatives reported that: [T]he FBI singled out Americans who are pro-life, pro-family, and support the biological basis for sex and gender distinction as potential domestic terrorists. The FBI also said that targeting such people presented new mitigation opportunities. Some, or many, might interpret that to mean, an opportunity to target people and get them off the street. In the previous scenarios, it might imply targeting those who support the biological basis for sex and gender distinction to get them off the streets. Now, one also might not realize the significance of being labeled a potential threat by the FBI and local law enforcement. It is apparently a big deal. This might be implied by the FBI Director who stated that the FBI recognizes proper and thorough handling of civil rights crimes does not begin the moment they are reportedit begins before they occur. This apparently implies preventative policing. The FBI Director also said that the FBI uses all available lawful investigative techniques and methods to combat these threats. (The FBI Directors claim of using lawful investigative techniques might be misleading, because the FBI guidelines apparently allow FBI employees, cooperators, and potentially local police or as the guidelines on secret FBI operations say, local law enforcement organization working with the FBI to commit otherwise illegal activity during anticrime operations.) Now, putting it together, the FBI singled out Americans who are pro-life, pro-family, and support the biological basis for sex and gender distinction as potential domestic terrorists and, if the other statement applies, used all available lawful investigative techniques and methods to combat these threats. Simply suggesting that a man is a man might have gotten the FBI to use allinvestigative techniques and methods to combat you. And, if U.S. government plans were achieved, remote and secret technologies which affect and surveil the human brain might be used for such anticrime operations. Now, some might say something like, why would the FBI or local police target me? Even though I believe that a man is a man, I dont tell anyone, and I dont bother anyone. Plus, I do everything the liberals tell me to do! One answer might be that police and FBI employees likely have performance indicators or statistics which are used to determine if their job is even needed or if they can keep their job. One such performance indicator might be simply the number of targeted people (risks to the public, new mitigation opportunities, etc.) whose behavior is controlled, movement is restricted, and are therefore, taken off the streets. In other words, U.S. government scientists recommendation for potentially using remote and secret brain surveilling and affecting technologies for anticrime operations should be taken seriously. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. I read The Feminization of America a few weeks ago, and that theme has been bouncing around my cranial cavity ever since. We may be headed for a significant war shortly, one that will require rapid expansion of our forces. The Army can only do that through the draft. Now that women can serve in ground maneuver units, will we draft women? There needs to be a national discussion on this issue. When then Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, faced with an impending lawsuit concerning women in combat, signed off on opening combat arms to women, it was a bureaucratic action done without congressional approval or national discourse. The Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) has ramrodded this agenda. The considerations surrounding this are immensely complex. While equality and equity are undoubtedly important, so are biological necessities. The United Kingdoms Lost Generation deeply affected its culture and future. This author is the result of the loss of German men during World War II, as my German mother met my American father when he was stationed there in the early 1950s. Combat and strategic bombings killed most of her male contemporaries. Can a nation survive if it takes catastrophic losses of women during their vital child-bearing ages? This is a question of biological necessity: who will populate the next wars boomer generation? If we now allow women to serve in the maneuver combat arms, equality and equity demand that young women sign up for the draft as do their male counterparts. As the father of a daughter, I am a firm no on this issue, yet my daughter is a serving Navy surface warfare officer of whom I am immensely proud. Talk about being conflicted on this issue. Further compounding this topic is the physiological difference highlighted by current discussions of whether transwomen should participate in womens sports? Biological male differences give greater strength and speed to transwomen (XY) than their competition, whose genetic makeup is XX. If biologically, men are stronger and faster than women, wouldnt placing women on the physically arduous ground gaining combat arms (infantry and armor) units be counterproductive? Further impacting this issue is the quota system that the Army euphemistically clouds as goals of requiring at least two female officers or noncommissioned officers into each combat arms company. Studies were conducted on the effects of placing women in these units. Perhaps the most reliable were those undertaken by the Marine Corps, which found that [T]eams with female members performed at lower overall levels, completed tasks more slowly, and fired weapons with less accuracy than their all-male counterparts. In addition, they sustained significantly higher injury rates and demonstrated lower levels of performance capacity overall. Elaine Donnelly, in an interview with the Washington Times, stated: Double risks of injury among women, combined with expected absences due to pregnancy and other gender-related issues, would be even more problematic in small combat units with four to 12 members, such as M1 tank crews, infantry rifle squads, or cannon artillery gun crews. The absence of female team members would compromise missions and put everyones lives at greater risk. I would add that small units do not need the sexual tensions of a coed team at the height of their sexual prowess injected into the mix of an already challenging situation. C aptain Katie Petronio, a hard-charging female Marine officer and former collegiate athlete, had this to say: The physical strain of enduring combat operations and the stress of being responsible for the lives and the well-being of such a young group in an extremely kinetic environment were compounded by lack of sleep, which ultimately took a physical toll on my body that I couldnt have foreseen. By the fifth month into the deployment, I had muscle atrophy in my thighs that was causing me to constantly trip and my legs to buckle with the slightest grade change. My agility during firefights and mobility on and off vehicles and perimeter walls was seriously hindering my response time and overall capability. It was evident that stress and muscular deterioration was affecting everyone regardless of gender; the rate of my deterioration was noticeably faster than that of male Marines and compounded by gender-specific medical conditions. The Armys failed attempt to develop a gender-neutral physical fitness standard underscores Captain Petronios personal experience. The fact that males are held to a higher standard is acceptable in competition, but when replacing first and second place with life or death, the stakes have more meaning. But what about the first Army female Rangers? Doesnt that prove women can perform in combat units? Interestingly, the Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general, a West Point graduate, predicted that during his term, A woman will graduate Ranger School. The fix was in. Of note was that the first two women graduates were also West Point alumni. I have observed firsthand the early integration efforts of women into a combat brigade. It was rather comical to hear one plan was to ring the outer walls of a buildings third floor with rolls of concertina wire (barbed or razor wire) to isolate the female rooms as if the male soldiers would storm the castle so to speak in seeking sexual favors. Nearly all the changes the Army has instituted go only one way during this integration process. Running chants have been cleaned up from their ribald and sometimes lewd lyrics at the behest of females shocked after entering In the Mens House. Grooming standards (hairstyles, jewelry, etc.) have been relaxed. These changes always seem one-sided. If female soldiers can wear long hair, why cant the men? I was surprised to see a female Armor lieutenant wearing long pigtails, nearly to her waist, thinking, what if they get caught in the many moving parts of the cannon, the turret, and the engine compartment? These changes, along with the seeming glorification of LGBTQ behavior, are having a detrimental effect on Army recruiting. The clueless leadership is baffled by white males eschewing military service. They seem oblivious to the connection between the social justice crusade and its wokeness in turning off an essential recruiting demographic, rural southern white males. As the great-grandson of a Confederate infantryman, I can understand why in the aftermath of purging all traces of that portion of U.S. history. This isnt your fathers Army, Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, the Armys first female three-star, told Military Academy cadets in 1997. Shes got that right. My father, his three brothers, and his future brother-in-law were part of the forces that decisively defeated the Axis powers of Germany and Japan in World War II. What have we won since? The Gulf War, perhaps, but we were back in Iraq about 12 years later. We should focus on winning and recovering from the next war, not some feel-good gender equality/equity goals. Or our next choice is to learn Mandarin or Cantonese. Image: U.S. Army California, one of the brokest states, is facing a $68 billion dollar budget deficit for 2024. As Senator Everette Dirksen said: A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon youre talking real money. Chase away a hundred thousand taxpayers here, a hundred thousand there, pretty soon you have billion-dollar deficits. Thats why Californias high speed rail to nowhere is darkly hilarious. Back in 2008, voters approved a mere $33 billion for a high speed rail (HSR) system, supposedly from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The project was always an obscene boondoggle and has become no less in 16 years. Traveling that route, which will almost certainly never be completed, was to take no less than three hours. Even in 2008, one could cheaply fly between those cities in less than half the time. HSR would be no cheaper, but take much longer. A reasonable person would ask why anyone would think high speed rail a good idea. It was never necessary. Because ego, paying off Democrat constituencies, lining Democrat pockets, and green of course. Circa 2024, the LA to SF section is all but abandoned, there is no HSR service anywhere, and the unfinished and disconnected HSR infrastructure between Merced and Bakersfield resembles the wasted ruins of a long-dead society, mysteriously lost to time. Who needs or wants any train at any speed between those two places? But the best part is theyre asking for another $100 billionthats real money, even in Californiato complete the LA to SF run: The California High-Speed Rail Authority will need an additional $100 billion above the nearly $30 billion it already has to complete its original route from San Francisco to Los Angeles, CEO Brian Kelly told state legislators this week. [skip] Kelly testified in front of the State Senates Transportation Committee on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys updated draft business plan. In Tuesdays hearing, Kelly told lawmakers the project has $28 billion dollars on hand, but noted it was still a few billion dollars short to complete the Central Valley segment between Merced and Bakersfield. Depending on how long the segment takes to finish, it could cost between $32 Billion to $35 Billion. Kelly said the project is hoping to fill the gap with federal funds. That segment of the project is expected to be fully operational between 2030 and 2033, Kelly said. Depending on how long the segment takes to finish. That would be approximately never. The odds on the Merced to Bakersfield segment being finished between 2030 and 2033 are no better, and the probability anyone would want to ride a train between those two points is nil. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) originally canceled the northern and southern portions of the high-speed rail plan in 2019, saying they would cost too much and take too long. But he insisted on building the Central Valley portion of the rail. Graphic: HSR Garces Highway Viaduct. Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain. Why would he do that? Ego, and it wouldnt do to have all those unfinished concrete and rebar monoliths littering the landscape for future archeologists to puzzle over. Worse, failing to do something would expose the idiocy of the project from the beginning, and it would cost too much to remove all that unfinished concrete and rebar. President Donald Trump famously tried clawing back the funding that California had spent on the project. President Joe Biden restored interest in high-speed rail, including a privately-run line from Southern California to Las Vegas. Biden has also restored interest in making America dependent on our enemies for oil, computer chips, and a variety of other necessities of modern life. He has also refocused Americans on mathematics as they struggle to squeeze every penny out of their bank accounts. High speed rail is a prime example of Californias obsession with throwing good money after bad. In this case, there was no good money from the start, and even if a very short section of track is ever completed and a train ever runs, it will never be anything but a continuing drag on the treasury of a state losing taxpayers hand over foot, and unable to keep the lights on. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. What else could go wrong in Haiti? First, the nation is in total chaos. No government. Gangs running the streets. The armed forces cant keep order and another leader has fled. Second, the neighboring Dominican Republic has shut the door to refugees. This is from the BBC: The message the Dominican Republic appears to be sending is no matter how bad things become at home, Haitians should not seek refuge on Dominican territory. Last month, the country's president, Luis Abinader, demanded in an appearance before the United Nations Security Council in New York that the international community step up aid to Haiti and deploy a multinational force there. He urged the UN to fight together to save Haiti, but warned that if no help was forthcoming, his country would fight alone to protect the Dominican Republic. Questioned last week about the possibility of receiving Haitians fleeing unrest, Mr Abinader categorically ruled out accepting refugee camps on Dominican soil. Those being returned to Haiti face real uncertainty. How do you say disaster in French? You cant blame President Abinader because he has his own poverty problems. How is he going to absorb thousands of refugees? He cant, and thats why he is calling on the UN for an intervention. We hear that President Biden is considering Gitmo as an option, but thats a small place. Are they rowing to Florida? I hope not, because many will drown. Are they going to Cuba? No. How many will find their way to the U.S.-Mexico border? We dont know but there were quite a few at Del Rio, Texas, last year. Another day, and another day of misery in what must be the most miserable spot in our neighborhood. Nothing works in that country, but the OAS does have the responsibility of sending a peacekeeping force; however, the OAS is worthless when it comes to problem-solving. So say a prayer for the poor people of Haiti. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: YouTube video screengrab. In Germany, there is clan crime among its migrants. So what is it? It began with large number of migrants from Lebanon in the 1980s. Although many say it is not a problem, the numbers tell a different story. Many clans came from the Turkish area around the ancient city of Mardin in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border, and belong to the Arabic-speaking Mhallami tribal ethnic group. Turkey under the Byzantines and Ottomans and even under the rulers that followed was always tyrannical so was no social advancement and no prosperity. In the 1940s, economic-related migration began, first to Lebanon, but there was no social and economic integration there, either. The Mhallami lived in the slums and ghettos around Beirut, even though they had work permits, were openly rejected by the majority society and became objects of intense state repression. So many began to emigrate from there, too, often to Germany. The emergence of the phenomenon of clan crime in Germany dates back to the 1980s: As a result of the Lebanese civil war, stateless Arab and Palestinian families also emigrated to Germany. Since they were initially denied access to the labor market and their children were not required to attend school, this encouraged the emergence of parallel societies and their delinquency. Parts of the large families turned to illegal activities in order to raise their standard of living. The clans areas of activity include drug-trafficking, prostitution, protection rackets, illegal gambling, fraud, robberies, burglaries and thefts. Since the refugee crisis in Germany in 2015/2016, clans began to recruit refugees from the Syrian civil war and from Iraq to sell drugs to customers, according to reports in the press, citing a German police leader. In some districts, clans terrorize neighborhoods and entire streets. In 2020, journalists Thomas Heise and Claas Meyer-Heuer wrote" They have now become a real threat to German civil society. Large criminal families settle primarily in metropolitan areas. Berlin is considered particularly affected, where the police believe there are 15 to 20 corresponding clan groups, including the well-known Abou Chaker clan and the Rammo or Remmo(s). In the capital, at least a fifth of organized crime is attributed to clan structures. The focal points of clan crime in Germany are North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and the city states of Berlin (clan crime in Berlin) and Bremen. Many perpetrators belong to a clan or large family that originally comes from Asia Minor and the Arab World. In German-speaking countries, as of 2018, members of the Abou Chaker clan, the Miri clan, the Remmo clan and the Al-Zein extended family, among others, have become criminally conspicuous. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the phenomenon is particularly widespread in the Ruhr area and in cities such as Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen. There are 13 cities in Lower Saxony where members of large families are known to have been settled. As of 2015, clan crime was less pronounced in Baden-Wurttemberg, Saxony, Hamburg and Saarland, and the protagonists mostly do not come from the Arab region, but from the Balkans or Eastern Europe. The information about the federal states in which clan activities have already become known sometimes contradict each other. As of December 2015, there are apparently no known incidents of clan crime in conservative Bavaria in the south, or in Schleswig-Holstein in the far north, or in the eastern German states of Brandenburg, A large Syrian family has been living in Saxony-Anhalt since 2002 and is based in the city of Naumburg and operates several shisha bars there. The family made national headlines in 2017 after family members of the Syrian clan stormed a Naumburg police station and threatened police officers and their family members with death. The Al-Zein clan and the Ali Khan family and the Fakhro clan are also criminally active in some places in Sweden, such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. Time will tell in Germany as to whether debate can be open about this criminal phenomenon, but in the end it has to be if it is to get solved. Above all, the voters need to do something about it. Americans are slowly learning just how much of the truth about January 6 the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA) and the January 6 Committee (J6C) have hidden from them. The FBI has grudgingly admitted it had operatives present that day, but has refused to identify their type, roles and numbers. The J6C carefully covered up President Trumps offer of 10,000 National Guard troops, and his continuing attempts to send them to the Capitol. Thanks to Judicial Watch, were now learning the CIA got in on the January 6 fun: Judicial Watch announced today it received 88 pages of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) records from the Department of Justice in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit that show the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deployed personnel to Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Judicial Watch forced the release of the records through a June 5, 2023, lawsuit that was filed after the Justice Department failed to respond to an August 10, 2023, FOIA request for records and communications regarding shots being fired inside the U.S. Capitol, as well as requests for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Response Team assistance on January 6, 2021 (Judicial Watch Inc. v U.S. Department of Justice (No. 1:23-cv-01608)). Graphic: X Screenshot Clearly, the BATF records are the tip of the iceberg. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) records include a series of text messages under the heading January 7 Intel Chain in which two separate references to participation by the CIA are made. One states that two CIA bomb techs are assisting with a pipe bomb scene on New Jersey and D ST SE. Another references several CIA dog teams on standby. It's unknown if that refers to actual dog handlers, or if thats some sort of code name. Group texts contain a 4 p.m. hour message by persons whose names are redacted regarding two explosive devices found at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) building and one at the Republican National Committee (RNC): Train traffic is stopped. It appears the powerplant is unfounded. Upper west Terrance of the capital breached by protesters. USCP is sending out a Mutual Aid request. Capital Police may be moving resources inside. Protesters are cutting tarp at bottom of scaffolding and moving up through that. FYSA-FC1, WASH1, SAC, ASAC responded to Capitol. 2 explosive devices at DNC. One at rnc one at dnc. Those texts obviously refer to the continuing and covered up saga of the pipe bombs that werent, and a red pickup loaded with arms and Molotov cocktails, which story is only now coming to light. The Intel Chain also reports on the shooting of Ashli Babbitt: Shots fired house floor. 1 civilian down with a gun shot [sic] wound to the chest on the 2nd floor. Gunshot victim has been extracted. Shooting was officer involved. A separate series of text messages is included in the records provided to Judicial Watch. In the 2 p.m. hour on January 6, 2021, the texts read:West Terrace has been breached [redacted] Explosion reported on the rotunda steps [redacted]. Shots fired at rotunda. Shortly thereafter, another set of texts report: Party 1: VP stuck inside last I heard. Patry 2: Copy. Party 1: Capitol PD shot someone dead on house floor. Dead. Party 2: Christ. What was the final in the devices real or not [redacted]. Party 1: Clearing Capitol now with bomb techs. Lots of damage. Party 2: Damn thats scary. So sad. Thx for keeping me in the loop brother. I was able to get I [sic] go to my team and the Director before they heard it from outside sources. There were no bombs at the Capitol. Ive been reporting on the murder of Ashli Babbitt, and the cover up protecting her Capitol Police murderer from the beginning. Not only was her murder a textbook case of a bad shoot, her killer, Michael Byrd, a man known for incompetence with his handgun, was promoted. Judicial Watch has filed a wrongful death lawsuit regarding Babbitt. Hopefully, that suit will eventually expose more MMPA abuses. The CIA is supposed to be legally prevented from engaging in spying or law enforcement in America. Counter Espionage is the province of the FBI, but during the MMPA, both agencies have become even more weaponized than they were under Barack Obama. Obviously, both are now turned inward, focusing on suppressing the political enemies of the MMPA: Normal Americans. Judicial Watch continues to do what others cant: give Americans the knowledge to at least try to restrain unaccountable government. Weve never needed that knowledge more. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. By What's Joe Biden's so-called "vetting" of illegal migrants worth? Well, according to a report by Fox News's Bill Melugin, pretty much nothing. BREAKING: Per DHS sources to me & @GriffJenkins, the Haitian man arrested for raping a 15 y/o disabled girl at a migrant hotel in Massachusetts Wednesday night came to the U.S. via the Biden admins parole program for Haitians, which allowed him to fly into JFK airport in NYC pic.twitter.com/Kt4c4hU4Qn Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 15, 2024 That's right, nothing. The man accused of this crime was a Haitian illegal who supposedly passed "a rigorous background check" after applying to get into the U.S. as an "asylum-seeker" through Biden's online CHNV parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. That was a questionable program introduced by Biden in January 2023 to reduce the size of border surges in order to keep the Fox News cameras off of them. In so doing, the accused rapist then got flown into the U.S., and began his heinous crime spree in Massachusetts which claimed a vulnerable 15-year-old girl as his victim. According to the left-leaning American Immigration Council: On January 5, 2023, the Biden administration announced its intent to provide safe and orderly pathways to the United States for up to 30,000 nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The new program, formally known as the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV), allows certain people from these four countries who have a sponsor in the U.S. and who pass a background check to come to the U.S. for a period of two years to live and work lawfully, using a legal mechanism known as humanitarian parole. According to the Voice of America: Applicants legally enter the country once they prove they have financial sponsors in the U.S. and pass background checks. The humanitarian parole authority allows the approved applicants to live and work legally in the U.S. temporarily. This Haitian passed a "background check," flew to the states on a flight that's still unclear whether it was free (the administration and its allies say such trips aren't free but already we see they've lied about "rigorous" vetting), got work authorization, and a host of other services from Uncle Sugar, yet it didn't take him long to start preying on Americans as standard violent criminal. What kind of people is Biden importing into the country? It's as if he's importing Haiti's criminal class, a truly violent bunch, under the dynamic modern Latin American dictators use, which is to use uncontrolled crime to control the law-abiding population. It doesn't sound like anyone did a background check that was worth anything. Who did his background check? Why did he pass? According to a leftist AIC source quoted by VOA: "Every person approved for parole is vetted by the U.S. government prior to being granted the status. The idea that people arriving through this government program are 'unvetted' or 'illegal immigrants' is flagrantly wrong," Reichlin-Melnick said. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson also told VOA those with approved applications and travel permission must buy a plane ticket to fly into the United States on a commercial airline and they are screened and inspected when they arrive at a port of entry. Neither of those sources explained how the accused Haitian rapist somehow got in with all that vetting and screening and inspecting. And since he came in on "humanitarian parole," neither would say exactly what the urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons for letting him in were, which is how parole is granted What's more, many have asked where the hell was his sponsor? He reportedly wasn't living with his sponsor, suggesting that someone just signed him in and let him out, which ought to be investigated as some kind of fraud since that's not how sponsorship works. Meanwhile, officials just waved him through customs. Back then, when Biden was touting his program, he insisted that his vetting would be "rigorous": According to VOA: During a speech on January 5, 2023, Biden said an applicant must have a lawful sponsor in the United States. Then the applicant has to "undergo rigorous background checks and apply from outside the United States and not cross the border illegally in the meantime," Biden said. "If they apply and their application is approved, they can use the same app, the CBP One app, to present at a port of entry and be able to work in the United States legally for two years. That's the process." The CBPOne app? The one that lets in 99% of its applicants? Again, there doesn't seem to be any vetting, any more than there was among the hordes of humanity transported out of Afghanistan in chaotic flights out. It's worth nothing that all four of those countries are known to have emptied their jails, freeing their convicted violent felons specifically to migrate into the U.S., which underlines why this program is such a recipe for disaster In Venezuela's case, the convicts were reported freed under the condition that they migrate to the U.S. How many of them have gotten in under this program? So many of Venezuela's criminals have in fact gotten in under Joe Biden's many open borders policies and programs that Venezuela's famously high crime rate has reportedly gone down. Now we are facing a Haitian deluge as that entire country collapses into lawlessness, run by some thug named "Barbecue." There are no doubt good and industrious Haitians who are endangered and should be able to come here as real refugees, the kind of refugees who go back when they can. But obviously, Haitian criminals looking to hit the bigtime come in along with them, with Joe Biden's version of "rigorous" vetting, and they are getting in. Congress needs to start looking into these claims of 'vetting' and demand real vetting, as well holding both officials who vet and sponsors of these criminals criminally responsible for the people they let in, too. There are already signs of fraud all over this program and Americans are paying the price. Image: Twitter screen shot President Biden, actually his handlers, and not a few Democrat/socialist/communist (D/s/c) politicians, continually advocate for gun control. Their currently favored narrative demands bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and universal background checks. There is no such thing in firearm nomenclature as an assault weapon. What D/s/cs mean is any gun we dont like, which amounts to the AR-15 family or anything like it. High-capacity magazines are those of greater than 10-round capacity, though they really want fewer rounds--like none. Universal background checks are even more expansive: Graphic: X Screenshot President Joe Bidens Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is working with the Department of Justice to regulate private gun sales into oblivion by mandating background checks for personal firearm exchanges, according to whistleblower group Empower Oversight. Federal law currently requires background checks for any gun buyers who purchase their new weapons through a licensed federal firearms dealer (FFL). Two sources in communication with Empower Oversight confirmed the ATF is prepared to move forward with a rule that would classify a closed-door gun sale between friends or family members the same as firearm purchases made from FFLs. Federal law prevents the government from keeping records on the sale of most gun purchases. Purchasers of guns at from federal firearm licensed dealers must fill out the common ATF Form 4473, which dealers must keep for at least 20 years. If they go out of business, they must give all of those records to the BATF. There is no central, federal firearm registry, though its an open secret the government does its best to compile one in every way possible in violation of federal law. Graphic: BATF Form 4473. Public Domain. The rule, proposed by the DOJ and ATF at the behest of Bidens gun control wish list issued in March 2023, seeks to change the definition of who is engaged in the business of dealing in firearms to increase the number of Americans required to become FFLs, a lengthy and far from easy process, that must conduct background checks to sell their guns. The 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act determined that regulation of those engaged in the business of selling guns commercially shall not include a person who makes occasional sales, exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his personal collection of firearms. What the AFT and DOJ are trying to do is force every American who in any way buys a gun, to go to a licensed dealer, who will be forced to run a federal background check and force the buyer to fill out a 4473. This would exceed the AFTs power. Not only would such a rule require congressional legislation, it would violate at least four current federal laws. That, however, would not be out of character of the Mumified Meat Puppet Administrations (MMPA) disregard for the law: Arguably, such a rule would also be unconstitutional, backdoor gun registration. The MMPA has been doing its best, just as the Clinton and Obama Administrations did, to shut down as many federal firearm licensee businesses as possible. When that happens, those FFL dealers must turn over all their 4473s to the government. If every private transaction required a 4473, that would greatly increase governments illegal firearm registry. The rule would also impose additional fees on gun ownership as dealers would surely charge a fee for their time and paperwork. Under the Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision, this is clearly unconstitutional. The rule would also surely define anyone giving a family member or relative a gun as a sale requiring a 4473. A father giving his son or daughter a rifle for their birthday would have to take them to a gun store to fill out a 4473. During my law enforcement career, I had several occasions to hand, on silver platters, the BATF cases of people illegally acquiring guns. These were felons, people who needed to be prosecuted. The BATF didnt bother to arrest one of them. But we can be certain, based on the MMPAs persecution of Normal Americans for exercising their constitutional rights, the BATF will be eager to arrest any father or son who doesnt adhere to their unconstitutional rules. Thats the MMPA: lawless, always to the disadvantage of Americans. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Jews have lived in Israel for more than three thousand years obviously longer than Christians and Muslims, given that Judaism predates these other religions. They have every right be there. And unlike the Jew-hatred running rampant throughout the Middle East and well beyond, Israel's Muslim minority are citizens who can freely vote and have representation in the Knesset. After all, Israel is a modern, Westernized democracy. Israel's supporters and detractors must always be free to peacefully protest, express their views, and critique the opinions of others without fear of being fired or suspended from their jobs, persecuted, prosecuted, arrested, threatened, beaten up, harassed, censured, or censored. After all, freedom means nothing if we don't find it within ourselves to tolerate commentary vehemently at odds with our strongly held beliefs. By all means, let punishments apply to misdeeds, but never to words. Beyond spirited debate, it is best if everyone lives and lets live and agrees to disagree. And so much the better if they can all go out for beer and wings afterward. Ideally, this is the emotionally healthy approach, as it doesn't let the political infringe upon the personal. But be all of that as it may, it remains disconcerting to have critical masses in the streets (and let's not forget university campuses!) throughout the West cheerleading for Hamas and condemning Israel. "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is one of their mindless chants. Sorry, but this means the eradication of Israel as it presently exists along with the genocide of its seven or so million Jewish inhabitants and perhaps collateral damage for its non-Jewish minorities, including approximately two million Muslims. Let's never forget that Israel was established as the Jewish homeland in 1948, based on the cold and brutal fact that the Jewish people could not depend on their continued existence as minorities in other countries. A Jewish homeland with a large Jewish majority was and remains an imperative. No non-Jewish mass immigration or open borders, folks. Israel remains under siege to this day, surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction, a reality brutally evident on October 7 of last year, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel from Gaza, leaving kidnappings, rape, pillage, and mass murder in its wake. These terrorists take refuge in and under mosques, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings in Gaza, where fellow Palestinians become human shields. Some claim that it is wrong for Israel to retaliate, given the risks to innocents. But not retaliating permits Hamas to keep coming again and again, while continuing to hide behind human shields. Israel, meanwhile, is urged to continue exercising "restraint." This ill advised approach will let Hamas attack with impunity while tying Israel's hands. The Jewish state will ultimately be destroyed if this flawed logic is carried to its conclusion. Let's be clear: the first duty of any nation-state is to protect its citizens. Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself from and defeat those who, by their own admission, seek the Jewish state's destruction. Hamas, by contrast, is a terrorist organization pursuing the genocide of the Jewish people. It is on par with Hitler and the Nazis. Finally, Hamas not Israel must be held accountable for the deaths of the innocent Palestinians it uses as human shields. Image via Pexels. An Israeli geneticist, Avigdor Cahaner, created the world's first featherless chicken at the genetics faculty at the Rehovot Agronomy Institute near Tel Aviv, Israel. The bare-skinned bird was created by cross breeding a broiler with a species that has a featherless neck. The idea behind the development of this naked bird is that it will create a more 'convenient' and energy efficient chicken which can live in warm countries where feathered chickens don't do well and cooling systems are too expensive to be commonly affordable. And of course, the bird doesnt require plucking, saving additional money in processing plants. Opponents of the chicken say that the changes do not benefit the animals, and are in fact likely to make their lives worse. Males have been unable to mate because they cannot flap their wings for balance, and this also effects the females. Because they are featherless, chickens of both sexes are more susceptible to parasites, skin diseases, mosquito attacks, temperature variations and sunburn. Professor Avigdor Cahaner, defended the bird by saying, "This is not a genetically modified chicken - it comes from a natural breed whose characteristics have been known for 50 years. I am just transferring that to fast growing broiler chickens. It's a normal chicken except for the fact it has no feathers." The scientists also hope the new breed will grow faster because it won't need to use energy to grow feathers and that will would also cause the chicken itself to grow larger. News about the featherless chicken first broke out in 2002, and since then nothing new has been heard. The lack of updates in the media about the special chicken indicates that Mr Cahaners creation was never breed commercially. Sources: 1, 2 The tiny country of Nepal, nestled between India and Tibet, boasts of a very robust drinking water supply system that dates back to at least the 5th century. Among its most striking features are the intricate stone fountains known as dhunge dhara or hiti, fashioned in the likeness of the mythical makaraa legendary sea creature in Hindu mythology. While these dhunge dharas may lack the grandeur of the ancient Roman aqueducts, the ingenious technology that brings water to these spouts are no less impressive. An 8th century hiti in Nagbahal. Photo credit: Ritesh Man Tamrakar/Flickr Dhunge dharas first emerged during the Licchavi Kingdom (circa 400750 AD). Some scholars believe that a similar system may have existed from earlier times, and the Licchavis had simply organized and given an artistic shape to the existing form. In Nepalese culture, offering water to the gods is considered a highly meritorious act. Hence, both kings and communities of the past were deeply involved in the construction of dhunge dharas within their towns. It was believed that those who contributed to the building of these structures were blessed, as access to clean drinking water was deemed one of the utmost essentials for human life. Manga Hiti in Patan, built in 570 AD, is considered to be the oldest working dhunge dhara. Over time, more hitis began to dot the landscape of the Kathmandu Valley. The Malla period (circa 12011779 AD) witnessed a proliferation of hiti systems. Notable rulers such as Jitamitra Malla of Bhaktapur, Pratap Malla of Kathmandu, and Siddhinarshinha Malla of Patan are renowned for their contributions to water management in their respective cities. The hiti erected in 1829 by Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari Devi and Bhimsen Thapa in Sundhara village (now part of Kathmandu) is widely regarded as the final addition to this ancient tradition. The spouts of Manga Hiti, Patan. Photo credit: Kumud.parajuli/Wikimedia Commons The primary water source for a dhunge dhara is the network of water channels known as rajkulos, which carry water from mountain streams. Alternatively, some draw water from underground aquifers. Dhunge dharas that tap into underground sources are typically constructed over shallow basins, the depth of which is dictated by the level of the water table. These basins are crafted from a blend of stone and brick, with spouts protruding from the walls. While most basins accommodate a single spout, there are hitis boasting two, three, five, nine, or even more spouts, such as the impressive Muktidhara in the Mustang District, which features a staggering 108 spouts. Positioned above each spout is usually a shrine dedicated to a specific deity. Any excess water is either collected in a pond or directed to agricultural fields for irrigation purposes. Prior to the late 17th century, before the introduction of piped water, hitis served as a vital source of drinking water. Though their significance has diminished since then, they still play a crucial role in providing water, albeit to a lesser extent. It's estimated that hitis currently cater to approximately ten percent of the population in the Kathmandu Valley, where the majority of these water spouts are concentrated. Manga Hiti in Patan is the oldest dhunge dhara still working. Photo credit: S Pakhrin/Wikimedia Commons Even today, dhunge dharas remain integral to daily life for many residents. They are used for public bathing and laundry purposes. They also provide a place for religious ceremonies, such as washing of images and idols of deities. Certain hitis also hold special significance during festivals, such as Bhimdhyo Hiti in Bhaktapur, Manga Hiti in Patan, and Sundhara in Kathmandu. For instance, the water from Manga Hiti is employed in the daily ritual worship at the Krishna temple and is specifically utilized for puja ceremonies during the Kartik month. Similarly, in Bhaktapur, there is a longstanding tradition of offering water from Sundhara to the Goddess Taleju. A number of hitis are also believed to possess healing properties. For instance, water from Sundhara in Kathmandu is reputed to alleviate arthritis, while the water from Golmadhi Hiti in Bhaktapur is thought to be effective against goitre. Similarly, the water from Washa Hiti in Patan is renowned for its medicinal qualities. The traditional custodians of hitis were the local community organizations known as guthis. However, with the advent of piped water systems around the turn of the 20th century, many hitis fell into disrepair due to neglect. Furthermore, frequent earthquakes have damaged the royal canals, leading to the drying up of numerous hitis. Encroachments on hitis and ponds, as well as the depletion of aquifers caused by the proliferation of private wells and industrial usage, have further exacerbated the decline of these ancient water sources. The gold spout of Nag Pokhari in Bhaktapur. The spout has the shape of the mythical makara (also called hitimanga). This is a creature with the snout of a crocodile, the trunk of an elephant, tusks and ears of a wild boar and the tail of a peacock. Photo credit: Gerd Eichmann/Wikimedia Commons Some of the 108 brass spouts of Muktidhara. Photo credit: Felix Dance/Wikimedia Commons An elaborately carved spout at Mangahiti, Patan Durbar Square. This spout depicts four animals, each born from the mouth of another. Photo credit: Shadow Ayush/Wikimedia Commons In recent decades, there has been a growing movement to revive the country's hitis. This resurgence is driven not only by a desire to preserve Nepal's cultural heritage but also by the pressing need to address water scarcity. With a burgeoning population, the demand for water has surged beyond the capacity of municipal piped water systems. During dry spells, many residents rely on hitis to fulfill their daily water needs. In Kathmandu Valley alone, there are nearly three hundred hitis that continue to function. In recent years, concerted efforts have been made to restore many of these hitis to working condition. Additionally, some hitis have been adapted and modified to better cater to the needs of the local population. One common adaptation involves connecting hitis to the municipal water supply, providing a more reliable and consistent source of water. Furthermore, storage tanks have been installed in certain hitis to collect and store excess water from the spouts, which are then distributed to the surrounding communities. In 2022, the dhunge dharas of Kathmandu valley were placed on the 2022 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), an organization dedicated to raising awareness of culturally important places in the world and supporting the people who care for them. Tusha Hiti in Patan Durbar Square. Photo credit: Rajesh Dhungana/Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: francesbean/Flickr References: # Riddhi Pradhan, Dhunge Dhara: A case study of the three cities of Kathmandu Valley We Are China Job fair held at Tsinghua University in Beijing Xinhua) 10:47, March 16, 2024 Students attend a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students inquire about job opportunities at a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students attend a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) A foreign student (L, front) inquires about job opportunities at a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students attend a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) Students inquire about job opportunities at a job fair in Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2024. A job fair was held on Friday at Tsinghua University, with about 430 employers offering more than 10,000 jobs to university graduates. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) (Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie) A man walks his dog along the Guadalupe River at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville. About 3 weeks before the total eclipse, it was quiet but Kerrville could see more than 150,000 visitors descend on the area, although its difficult to put an accurate estimate on that, says Julie Davis, president and CEO of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News People walk along Earl Garrett Street on Thursday in downtown Kerrville, which has a population of about 25,000. Six times that number could end up being in the area on April 8 for the total eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Eclipse-themed shirts reading I got mooned at Gibsons already are for sale at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. Central Texas will be one of the best vantage points to view the totality the area where the moons shadow appears to completely block out the view of the sun on April 8. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Mark Tibbitt of Houston points out eclipse glasses to his wife, Kristine Tibbitt, as they shop at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. The eclipse has the potential to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the states economy, experts say, and could have an outsize effect on Hill Country cities such as Kerrville. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Emily Etchison puts up a sign they created for eclipse shirts for sale at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. Aprils total solar eclipse will amount to tourism on steroids for the state and the region, says economist Jon Hockenyos, president of Austin-based economic consulting firm TXP Inc. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Lauren Connally leaves the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau, featuring a painted window by artist Vicki Keese. Between 500,000 and million people are expected to flock to Texas to be in the path of totality, in addition to the millions of Texans who already live in that path. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A neon sign glows behind a painted window with the stages of coverage of the upcoming total solar eclipse painted by artist Vicki Keese at Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Guests hang out in the lobby of Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center, one of the biggest hotels in Kerrville with 190 rooms. Rick Russell, the hotels sales manager, says he expects 400 to 500 people to stay at the property for the eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The Elm Watering Hole bar is at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center in Kerrville. It is requiring anyone who books for the eclipse to reserve a room for at least four days. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A large taxidermic bear is seen in a mirror in the lobby of the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center in Kerrville. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Sisters Olivia Bais, 8, and Kaylee Branch, 14, pose under a large pair of eclipse glasses for their grandmother Janet Moretich of San Antonio at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville about 3 weeks before the total eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News From left: Kyng, 5, Joseph and Holly, who declined to share their name, fish together at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville, where the totality is expected to last 4 minutes 28 seconds during the April 8 solar eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News While swimming in the Guadalupe River, Kaylee Branch, 14, splashes younger sister Olivia Bais, 8, on Thursday in Kerrville. The city could see more than 150,000 visitors descend on the area, says Julie Davis, president and CEO of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Marquel McNeill, left, and Amber Philipp, right, share a laugh together as they sip on beverages together in downtown Kerrville. Central Texas will be one of the best vantage points to view the totality the area where the moons shadow appears to completely block out the view of the sun on April 8. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Emily Etchison arranges eclipse shirts already for sale at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. Economists say the Hill Country can expect both short- and long-term financial benefits from the eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News C.J. and Shirley Watters of Alabama ponder which color of eclipse shirt while shopping Thursday at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Eclipse-related merchandise is seen on display at Gibsons Discount Center in Kerrville. The eclipse has the potential to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the states economy, experts say, and could have an outsize effect on Hill Country cities such as Kerrville. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News From left, friends Aurelia Elizondo, 13; Sophie Fiore, 13; and Ella Miller, 15, have a picnic together at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville. Come April 8, the park likely will be more packed with visitors wanting to experience the total solar eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Rick Russell, sales manager for the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference, opens a door while walking through the Kerrville. He expects 400 to 500 people to stay at the property for the eclipse. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News When a rare total eclipse darkens the Texas sky on April 8, its expected to draw in as many as 1 million out-of-state visitors. Those visitors are expected to inject millions of dollars into the states economy and a big chunk of that will be spent in the Hill Country, experts say. Central Texas will be one of the best vantage points to view Aprils eclipse, which will carve a path over a wide swath of the state. Between 500,000 and million people are expected to flock to Texas to be in the path of totality the area where the moons shadow appears to completely block out the view of the sun in addition to the millions of Texans who already live in that path. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Where to watch the eclipse in the San Antonio area A solar eclipse occurs when the moon slides between the sun and the Earth so that its shadow, or umbra, falls on the Earths surface. In a total eclipse, which will happen on April 8, the moon is close enough to Earth that it appears larger and covers the sun completely, an event called totality. The U.S. hasnt seen a total eclipse since 2017. In part because it will occur over such a wide area, the eclipse has the potential to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the states economy, experts say, and could have an outsize impact on Hill Country cities such as Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Boerne. Most hotels are fully booked; residents are making money renting out their homes or rooms; area stores, restaurants and gas stations are expecting a big jump in sales; and airlines and car rental companies anticipate a surge in revenue. Theres also the sales and lodging taxes that the state, cities and counties will collect. Plus, the influx of visitors and national attention also can serve as a marketing tool for the region, economists say, which could yield economic benefits long after the eclipse is over. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In short, Aprils eclipse will amount to tourism on steroids for the state and the region, said economist Jon Hockenyos, president of Austin-based economic consulting firm TXP Inc. Short- and long-term benefits Because so many factors are in play the uncertain number of out-of-state visitors, how many nights they stay, what rates they are being charged, etc. its difficult to come up with an exact estimate for the eclipses economic effect on Texas, economist say. But its a safe bet it will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2017, the last time a total eclipse passed over the United States, Nebraska one of the states in the path of totality had more than 700,000 visitors and state officials estimated an economic effect of $127 million. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Hockenyos and fellow Austin economist Matt Patton said Texas as a whole, and the Hill Country specifically, can expect both short- and long-term financial benefits from the eclipse. Hotels, stores and restaurants will see an immediate benefit, with an influx of revenue. Some of that money then will end up in employees pockets, Hockenyos said. To the extent that you have an infusion in the economy, sure, that immediately benefits the people who either sell you the meal, or the room or whatever, Hockenyos said. But now they have money in their pockets, and theyll spend locally on other things. Thats positive for everybody. The state, counties and cities also will benefit from sales and lodging taxes, Patton said. From the states perspective, or the countys perspective, when we look at taxes collected, the best to collect money spent is the money coming in from outside of the area, Patton said. So if someone doesnt live in their county, and they come into Bexar County to spend that money, that is a net gain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The eclipse also can serve as a marketing tool for the area a billboard for the thousands of people who are experiencing the rustic charm of the Hill Country for the first time. There may be people who come and experience this and go, Wow, I really liked the Texas Hill Country, and they come back. (It will) extend the brand. Hockenyos said. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the April 8 eclipse Booming business for hotels Most hotels in the Hill Country already are booked solid for the days around the eclipse. A few rooms could be found earlier in the week on travel sites like Hotels.com, Expedia.com and Travelocity.com, which reserve rooms ahead of time and resell the reservations, but those bookings were coming with a steep markup. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For example, you still could book a room at Motel 6 in Boerne using Hotels.com if you were willing to pay a nightly rate of $857. On Expedia.com, one room was available at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Fredericksburg, but the rate was $512 per night. Because the eclipse is not a natural disaster, the states price-gouging rules arent in play. That means hotels, or travel sites, are free to charge whatever people are willing to pay for their rooms. About 75% of the hotel rooms in Kerrville have been booked for the eclipse weekend, said Julie Davis, president and CEO of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. That means there are a few options for procrastinators, but those rooms are likely to be snapped up, as Kerrville, which has a population of about 25,000, could see more than 150,000 visitors descend on the area, although its difficult to put an accurate estimate on that, Davis said. Visitors who get stuck in traffic might change their destination, or cloud cover in one spot could force a mass exodus to another one with clear skies. Its going to be an adventure, she said. The Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Conference Center, one of the biggest hotels in Kerrville with 190 rooms, is requiring anyone who books for the eclipse to reserve a room for at least four days. Rick Russell, the hotels sales manager, said he expects 400 to 500 people to stay at the property for the eclipse. The hotel plans on serving guests three meals a day starting Friday night and ending Tuesday morning. Russell said a refrigerated truck would be brought in to store the food. Rooms also will be provided for hotel employees who live outside Kerrville, in case the roads are gridlocked. The hotel is debating whether to open its restaurant to non-guests during the weekend of the eclipse, Russell said. If you (opened up), and then half the employees cant get to us due to traffic, that would be a very, very difficult situation, Russell said. Were preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. READ MORE: Kendall County issues disaster declaration ahead of eclipse Short-term rentals, RV parks Individual property owners also are looking to cash in by offering homes or rooms for use as short-term rentals, often using platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. Airbnb spokesperson Jackie McGraw said Texas is the most booked state in the country during the eclipse weekend, with a 600% increase in searches for listings. Along the path of totality, theres a 1,000% increase in searches. McGraw said 10% of all the guests booking listings for the weekend of the eclipse are first-time clients on Airbnb. The number of hosts signing up to list properties during the weekend of the eclipse increased, too. We surveyed Airbnb guests in Texas and found that they spent more than $225 per guest per day, including approximately $65 per guest per day on restaurants, McGraw said. We do really see a positive economic impact effect from guests who travel to specific areas. Area RV parks also are seeing a surge in eclipse-related business. At 4J Riverway Cabins & RV Park which is close to Garner National Park, about 30 miles north of Uvalde and right in the middle of the eclipses path of totality manager Glenn Fortner said the eclipse has required more planning than any event in the 16 years hes worked there. The first call to reserve spots at the park came five years ago, from an astronomer from California, he said. Other reservations also years ahead of time came from as far as the United Kingdom and Canada. These are hard-core, serious astronomers, Fortner said. Fortner said he followed up with those pre-reservations a year out from the eclipse, charging them a standard summer peak rate for the booking. He was completely booked two years out, calling the eclipse a record day. He has 70 RV reservations on his waitlist. The RV park will be packed days before the sun goes dark, Fortner said. The small property can hold about 135 guests, but some lots will pack more than one RV if all parties agree to an arrangement beforehand. Were trying to be really fair, Fortner said. Were just glad for the opportunity to get to lodge them. Retail stores stocking up Retailers across the region are expecting to do a booming business from the eclipse traffic. Local grocery stores are stocking up on supplies like water as if a storm was coming, said Davis, of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. Other businesses owners in town are weighing whether to remain open on April 8. Ive definitely been encouraging them to be open, because that way the visitors that are here have something to do, Davis said. Hill Country Mini Mart runs 18 grocery stores across the region. Their locations in Kerrville, Fredericksburg and elsewhere in the path of totality are stocking up on essentials and adjusting their restocking schedules ahead of April 8, said operations manager Katie Mooney. Theres a lot of unknown simply just because weve never experienced this before. Mooney said. I think our cooperation with our vendors, the towns preparations and of all of this is getting everybody as prepared as they possibly can be for it. The chain is loading up on groceries, propane and other essentials. The item Mooney expects to run out of the quickest? Water, the most basic of them all. In Fredericksburg, some businesses are asking employees to spend the night in town during the eclipse, as many service workers might not be able to commute due to jammed roads, said Jim Mikula, CEO and president of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. Air travel, car rentals The wave of tourists flooding into Texas for the eclipse is expected to mean busy days for big-city airports in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. But it also means more flights in and out of smaller airports across the region that dont offer commercial service. Tony Lombardi, manager for the Gillespie County Airport, said he receives four to five calls a day asking to reserve space for aircraft flying in for the eclipse. Reservations arent filled up yet, to his surprise, but he believes thats due to a scarcity of lodging in the area. Hes also only offering reservations for the day before the eclipse or earlier. The Gillespie County Airport is built to handle 89 aircraft, according to Lombardi. Hes expecting 250 on the day of the eclipse. Its going to be a beehive, he said. (There are people) who just want to fly here, land, see it and fly home. I think were going to get a major flood of traffic. Lombardi plans on closing runways at 11:30 a.m. on April 8 and opening them back up an hour after the eclipse. Hes putting planes anywhere he can fit them, along with publishing a plan for how to handle overflow parking on the airports website. Its just going to be a pain in my you know what, he said. Rental car companies are bracing for huge demand from the eclipse. Enterprise Mobility which operates car rental brands Enterprise, National and Alamo has seen a surge in requests for the April 8 weekend, said Danielle Stuart, the companys director of corporate communications. Microsoft is sunsetting Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) and replacing it with Voice Access. The change has been on the cards since last year, but the company has now indicated the timeline. Microsoft has announced that it will transition Windows 11s speech recognition to the new Voice Access platform later this year. The new system is better than WSR, however, Windows 10 users will have to make some tough choices. Only Microsoft Windows 11 22H2 and later versions get Voice Access Microsoft has been steadily scaling back access to Windows Speech Recognition. However, the companys motives werent clear, until this week. Microsoft has confirmed that the new Voice Access app will entirely replace the WSR app. The change will take place in Windows 11 22H2 and newer versions. The WSR app should cease to be available in September 2024, according to a new Support Document: Advertisement Advertisement Windows 11 22H2 and later, Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) will be replaced by voice access starting in September 2024. Microsoft has made it clear that it will keep WSR operational on Windows 11 21H2. What this also means is that Windows 10 users will have to continue relying on the deprecated platform. Incidentally, the Voice Access app is exclusive to Windows 11. Hence, Windows 10 loyalists will have to decide to upgrade to Windows 11 if they wish to use Voice Access. Windows 10 will reach its end of support on October 14, 2025. In other words, Windows 10 users do not have much time to stick to the OS before upgrading to Windows 11. Why Is Microsoft Retiring WSR? Microsoft has been prioritizing Voice Access over WSR for quite some time. While Voice Access and WSR appear on the same Accessibility settings page inside the Windows 11 Settings app, the latter appears under the Other voice commands section. Microsoft has been warning WSR users that support for the platform is ending. As the company has already confirmed the deprecation of WSR, the platform wont be getting any new features or updates. Advertisement Currently, WSR has an edge over Voice Access because it supports far more languages. However, thats where its superiority ends. WSR has always had trouble understanding the English language and the simplest of phrases or commands. Several users reported they turned WSR off after unsuccessfully using it to compose emails. Voice Access, on the other hand, is backed by AI, which is increasingly evolving into Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). AI has a far better understanding of how humans interact and understand each other. Additionally, Microsoft has been actively adding languages to Voice Access. Besides supporting regional dialects of English, Voice Access now supports French German, and Spanish from multiple locales. While Microsoft will continue improving Voice Access, the company is also integrating Copilot deeper inside Windows 11. When used together, Windows 11 users would gradually be able to control or change OS settings without ever opening the Settings app. The female employee suspended by Red Bull has appealed against the decision to clear team principal Christian Horner of controlling behaviour, the PA news agency understands. Red Bulls investigation dismissed the complainants grievance earlier this month but she has lodged a formal appeal with the Formula One teams parent company GmbH. The employee is understood to have been suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bulls inquiry, which concluded at the end of last month. The complainant was told she had acted dishonestly and received a legal letter, which gave her five working days on receipt of the letter, to appeal against the outcome of the investigation. Horner, 50, who has always denied the claims made against him, was allowed to continue in his role when GmbH cleared him of any wrongdoing. When asked about the matter before the recent Bahrain Grand Prix, Horner said: There was a grievance that was raised, it was dealt with in the most professional manner by the group not by Red Bull Racing but by the owners of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull GmbH that appointed an independent KC, that is one of the most reputable KCs in the land, and he took time to investigate fully all of the facts. Australia is calling Where will you be watching from? #AusGP pic.twitter.com/2dGrLjPhPQ Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 15, 2024 He interviewed all of the people involved as well as others of interest. He looked at everything and he came to the conclusion where he dismissed the grievance. As far as I am concerned, and as far as Red Bull are concerned, we moved on and we look to the future. The time now is to draw a line under it. The PA news agency has approached Red Bull Racing and its parent company GmbH for comment. Crowds have gathered outside the Home Office to protest against the rise of racism and hatred and to support black Labour MP Diane Abbott. Activists gathered in central London for the Stop The Hate national demonstration which included a rally and a march to Whitehall. In the afternoon and under a large police presence, they held a booming dance party including pink smoke in the central strip of Whitehall in front of Downing Street between the Cenotaph and The Women of World War II memorial. Other events are being held in Glasgow and Cardiff as part of the Stand Up To Racism campaign. Banners declaring: Racism is extremism; freedom is a constant struggle; refugees welcome; say no to Islamophobia; and stamp out antisemitism, yes to diversity were held by the demonstrators. Loud cheers broke out as Labour MP John McDonnell, who was shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, told the crowd outside the Home Office: I am here today in solidarity with my friend, my colleague, my comrade, Diane Abbott. People take part in an anti-racism march in central London organised by Stand Up To Racism and trade unions (Lucy North/PA) He also led those gathered in a chant of no justice, no peace, before adding: If the Labour party want to be perceived as an anti-racist party, there is one simple step that can be done today, and that is Sir Keir Starmer restoring the whip to Diane Abbott. The party suspended Ms Abbott 11 months ago for saying Irish, Jewish and Traveller people do not face racism all their lives. She withdrew her remarks the same day and apologised for any anguish caused. Earlier this week Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent MP, spoke out about racism in politics, a day after being denied a chance to take part in a Commons debate about a Tory donors criticism of her. Frank Hester is reported to have said the MP made him want to hate all black women and that she should be shot. Ms Abbott said she had been upset by the comments, but was hardened to racist abuse. Protesters hit out at hate and racism in the country (Lucy North/PA) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that Mr Hester had apologised and his remorse should be accepted. Trade unions, the Jewish Socialist Group along with other faith groups and grassroots campaigns were among supporters of Saturdays demonstration which the organisers said was part of a mass campaign by a broad coalition of forces drawing in anti-racists everywhere. They added such action is going to be critical in the fight to ensure that the politics of racism, division and hate are not allowed to gain a foothold here in Britain and if we are to stop the rise of the new far right. Mr McDonnell recalled years of campaigning in Britain where activists marched in the streets against discrimination, antisemitism and racism, but he suggested they are now having to protest in response to people who are in power. Many spoke up in support of Diane Abbott (Lucy North/PA) He said Ms Abbott is nobodys victim, but facing racism day-in, day-out from various sections takes it toll, and I want to pay tribute to this woman, her bravery, courage, determination and her solidarity, he told the crowd. Earlier, Mr McDonnell told the PA news agency: I think that the reason people are mobilising in such large numbers is because we are seeing the rise of racism within our society again. People of all walks of life, all ages and all denominations are coming together and saying `this is not the society that we want, we have to expose what is happening and at the same time counter it. He said that Ms Abbott not being allowed to speak in parliament this week, when she was the focus of a race row debate, was disrespectful because we have a duty of respect and a duty of care. Mr McDonnell added: She should have been allowed to say her piece in respect to what was being said about her and I was absolutely shocked she wasnt given that opportunity. Lessons have to be learned. Harry Kane could be an injury concern for England after twisting an ankle during Bayern Munichs 5-2 win over Darmstadt. The former Tottenham striker broke the record for most goals scored in a debut Bundesliga season by netting his sides second just before half-time on Saturday. But the 30-year-old was substituted eight minutes from time, with England set to face Brazil and Belgium in friendlies over the next 10 days. Harry Kane came off injured in the win over Darmstadt. Read more below #MiaSanMia #SVDFCB FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 16, 2024 Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel told the clubs official website: (Kane) twisted his ankle in the goal netting. Hes been applying ice to it since. We dont have any news yet. Well have to wait and see and hope that its nothing major. On securing the German leagues scoring record, Kane said on X: Proud to break a Bundesliga record but more importantly another good win. AI models were more likely to assign AAVE speakers to lower-paying jobs compared with speakers of standard American English. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Popular artificial intelligence tools are becoming more covertly racist as they advance, says an alarming new report. A team of technology and linguistics researchers revealed this week that large language models like OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Gemini hold racist stereotypes about speakers of African American Vernacular English, or AAVE, an English dialect created and spoken by Black Americans. We know that these technologies are really commonly used by companies to do tasks like screening job applicants, said Valentin Hoffman, a researcher at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and co-author of the recent paper, published this week in arXiv, an open-access research archive from Cornell University. Hoffman explained that previously researchers only really looked at what overt racial biases these technologies might hold and never examined how these AI systems react to less overt markers of race, like dialect differences. Black people who use AAVE in speech, the paper says, are known to experience racial discrimination in a wide range of contexts, including education, employment, housing, and legal outcomes. Hoffman and his colleagues asked the AI models to assess the intelligence and employability of people who speak using AAVE compared to people who speak using what they dub standard American English. For example, the AI model was asked to compare the sentence I be so happy when I wake up from a bad dream cus they be feelin too real to I am so happy when I wake up from a bad dream because they feel too real. Once people cross a certain educational threshold, they wont call you a slur to your face, but the racism is still there. Its similar in language models The models were significantly more likely to describe AAVE speakers as stupid and lazy, assigning them to lower-paying jobs. Hoffman worries that the results mean that AI models will punish job candidates for code-switching the act of altering how you express yourself based on your audience between AAVE and standard American English. One big concern is that, say a job candidate used this dialect in their social media posts, he told the Guardian. Its not unreasonable to think that the language model will not select the candidate because they used the dialect in their online presence. The AI models were also significantly more likely to recommend the death penalty for hypothetical criminal defendants that used AAVE in their court statements. Id like to think that we are not anywhere close to a time when this kind of technology is used to make decisions about criminal convictions, said Hoffman. That might feel like a very dystopian future, and hopefully it is. Still, Hoffman told the Guardian, it is difficult to predict how language learning models will be used in the future. Ten years ago, even five years ago, we had no idea all the different contexts that AI would be used today, he said, urging developers to heed the new papers warnings on racism in large language models. Notably, AI models are already used in the US legal system to assist in administrative tasks like creating court transcripts and conducting legal research. For years, leading AI experts like Timnit Gebru, former co-leader of Googles ethical artificial intelligence team, have called for the federal government to curtail the mostly unregulated use of large language models. It feels like a gold rush, Gebru told the Guardian last year. In fact, it is a gold rush. And a lot of the people who are making money are not the people actually in the midst of it. Current Gemini results for Pope pic.twitter.com/lYt3UO8NiZ Bradley Productions (@productions86) February 22, 2024 Googles AI model, Gemini, found itself in hot water recently when a slew of social media posts showed its image generation tool depicting a variety of historical figures including popes, founding fathers of the US and, most excruciatingly, German second world war soldiers as people of color. Large language models improve as they are fed more data, learning to more closely mimic human speech by studying text from billions of web pages across the internet. The long-acknowledged conceit of this learning process is that the model will spew whatever racist, sexist, and otherwise harmful stereotypes it encounters on the internet: in computing, this problem is described by the adage garbage in, garbage out. Racist input leads to racist output, causing early AI chatbots like Microsofts Tay to regurgitate the same neo-Nazi content it learned from Twitter users in 2016. In response, groups like OpenAI developed guardrails, a set of ethical guidelines that regulate the content that language models like ChatGPT can communicate to users. As language models become larger, they also tend to become less overtly racist. But Hoffman and his colleagues found that, as language models grow, covert racism increases. Ethical guardrails, they learned, simply teach language models to be more discreet about their racial biases. It doesnt eliminate the underlying problem; the guardrails seem to emulate what educated people in the United States do, said Avijit Ghosh, an AI ethics researcher at Hugging Face, whose work focuses on the intersection of public policy and technology. Related: There was all sorts of toxic behaviour: Timnit Gebru on her sacking by Google, AIs dangers and big techs biases Once people cross a certain educational threshold, they wont call you a slur to your face, but the racism is still there. Its a similar thing in language models: garbage in, garbage out. These models dont unlearn problematic things, they just get better at hiding it. The US private sectors open-armed embrace of language models is expected to intensify over the next decade: the broader market of generative AI is projected to become a $1.3tn industry by 2032, according to Bloomberg. Meanwhile, federal labor regulators like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission only recently began shielding workers from AI-based discrimination, with the first case of its kind coming before the EEOC late last year. Ghosh is part of the growing contingent of AI experts who, like Gebru, worry about the harm the language learning models might cause if technological advancements continue to outpace federal regulation. You dont need to stop innovation or slow AI research, but curtailing the use of these technologies in certain sensitive areas is an excellent first step, he said. Racist people exist all over the country; we dont need to put them in jail, but we try to not allow them to be in charge of hiring and recruiting. Technology should be regulated in a similar way. While a breast cancer risk assessment score can be helpful, experts emphasize that its just a first step. Photograph: Age Fotostock/Alamy This week, actress Olivia Munn shared an Instagram post in which she revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2023. She said that although she had tested negative for mutated BRCA genes (which are associated with a higher risk of breast cancer) and had a normal mammogram that winter, her doctor decided to calculate her breast cancer risk assessment score. The fact that she did saved my life, Munn wrote. Breast cancer risk assessment tools take into account a patients medical, family and reproductive history in order to calculate the likelihood that they will develop breast cancer in the next five years, or their overall lifetime risk. According to Munn, her lifetime risk was calculated at 37%. Related: Im not diabetic should I be using a glucose monitor? So what are these tests? How do they work and who should take them and when? We asked experts. What is a breast cancer risk assessment? A breast cancer risk assessment tool is one way that healthcare providers can estimate whether a woman has an increased chance of developing breast cancer, explains Beth Peshkin, professor of oncology and certified genetic counselor at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Care Center. The tools assess genetic factors such as a persons family history of cancer, as well as non-genetic factors like their age, how old they were when they got their first period, how old they were the first time they gave birth and whether theyve had previous breast biopsies. One commonly used assessment tool, the Gail model, is available to take for free on the National Cancer Institute website, and can be completed in under 5 minutes. The Gail model then calculates a persons five-year risk of developing breast cancer, as well as their lifetime risk, and compares them with the average risk for women of the same age and race or ethnicity. While the Gail model is fast and easy, more detailed tools are helpful for a more accurate assessment, says Dr Robert Smith, a cancer epidemiologist and senior vice president of Early Cancer Detection Science for the American Cancer Society. He says the Gail model is useful for indicating if the risk is high enough, and your family history suggests that we need to pull out some more powerful assessment tools. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also recommends more detailed tools like the IBIS Breast Cancer Evaluation Tool (also known as the Tyrer-Cuzik Risk Assessment Calculator) or the Boadicea model, which can also be taken online. Both of these take into account factors like a persons height and weight, and require a more extensive family history. What does a breast cancer risk assessment score mean? While a breast cancer risk assessment score can be helpful, experts emphasize that its just a first step. If a person has a higher-than-average risk on a screening tool, the next step is to talk to a healthcare provider to determine the next steps, says Peshkin. These might include heightened breast cancer screening procedures, like a breast MRI, or chemoprevention the use of certain drugs like Tamoxifen to reduce ones cancer risk. In some cases, genetic testing might be recommended, but Peshkin recommends that patients talk to a genetic counselor to determine the potential benefits, limitations and risks of such testing. Smith points out that there are certain risk factors that can better be assessed by a healthcare provider than by an online tool, like a persons breast density. Significant breast density can be associated with a higher risk of not being able to detect breast cancer just because you cant see it [on a mammogram], he says, adding that for some women, higher breast density is also a marker of increased risk. What are the limits of breast cancer risk assessment tools? There are several limitations to breast cancer assessment tools. The Gail model, for example, was originally developed using data from the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project, a breast cancer screening study that examined 280,000 white women. Data was later added from other studies that looked at the risks for Black, AAPI and Hispanic women. But as the NCIs website notes, while the model has since been tested on a variety of populations, it performed well but may underestimate risk in Black/African American women with previous biopsies and Hispanic women born outside the United States. Additionally, Peshkin suggests that these models may not be sufficient to identify individuals who may still benefit from genetic testing, including individuals who have already had cancer. Smith adds that it is not a useful tool if you have a significant family history of breast cancer. Who should do a breast cancer risk assessment? Its reasonable for all adult women to know their breast cancer risk and be aware that this risk will change as they age and their risk profile changes, says Peshkin. Smith says that it doesnt hurt to do a breast cancer risk assessment test online. But he urges those who are concerned about their results to follow up with a professional. You have to talk with your doctor about these results to really make sense of them. When should you get breast cancer screenings? Breast cancer screenings involve checking a patients breast for cancer. Depending on the patient and their individual history, physiology and needs, this may involve a clinical breast exam, where a practitioner uses their hands to feel for lumps, a mammogram and/or a breast MRI. Guidelines for breast cancer screenings are in the process of shifting. Previous recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) the group tasked with determining these guidelines stated that women who are 50 to 74 and at an average risk for breast cancer should get a mammogram every two years, and women between 40 and 49 should talk to their doctor or healthcare provider about when to start getting mammograms, and how often. But in 2023, the USPSTF announced a new draft recommendation which recommended women get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40. We have long known that screening for breast cancer saves lives, and the science now supports all women getting screened, every other year, starting at age 40, the groups draft recommendation reads. In the UK, anyone registered with a general practitioner as female will be invited for an NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. A man has been banned from all Buc-ees locations for life after bringing his service duck along for a jaunt around the store. Circus performer Justin Wood and his online celebrity duck Wrinkle filmed their latest adventure at the worlds largest Buc-ees in Sevierville, Tennessee. A circus performer captured a video of the moments when he was allegedly banned from Buc-ee's for life for bringing his service duck inside. Allison V. Smith for Washington Post via Getty Images In a YouTube video, Wood packs up Wrinkle in a stroller for a tour of the convenience store, but is soon confronted by an employee saying pets are not allowed inside the store. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The duo were allowed to go on their way once Wood presents IDs proving Wrinkle is a service animal, but shortly after another employee approaches. Even if its considered a service animal, you have to be able to contain it, and it can fly out, the employee says in the video, gesturing to the stroller. After buying water bottles and greeting a few customers, Wood and Wrinkle leave the store only to be confronted by police notifying the pair that theyre banned from all Buc-ees locations for life. If youre caught on property and everything youll be charged with trespassing, the officer tells him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wood was also asked to purchase a toy that Wrinkle was seen biting inside the store, and he gave the store $50 to cover the cost. She did nothing but make everybody happy in there, Wood said in the video. Indeed, even the officer who gave him the news of the ban wanted to learn more about the duck. At one point, he even feeds Wrinkle a treat. The service animal policy on the Buc-ees website states: The Health Code prohibits live animals, including dogs, where food could potentially be contaminated. There are exceptions, however, for service animals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Grant Shapps is interviewed on the flight from Poland on which all mobile and internet signals were jammed by the Russians Commercial airlines are being routinely jammed or spoofed by military powers including the Russians, a pilot has told The Telegraph. Flight decks on passenger planes have suffered satellite and communications blackouts triggering warning alerts as Global Positioning System (GPS) systems are attacked and either disabled or deceived. A series of internal messages, seen by The Telegraph, which were sent to pilots at one airline also expose the widespread problem affecting airspace over war zones and regions experiencing increased military operations or border tensions. The memos show how the issue has become more prevalent over the eastern Mediterranean, a route often flown over by passenger planes taking tourists to popular holiday destinations. The pilots comments and the leaked memos come just days after Russia jammed the RAFs Envoy, a Dassault 900LX, carrying Grant Shapps as it passed by Kaliningrad, a Russian territory between Poland and Lithuania. Military base The Defence Secretary was returning from a visit to troops at a military base in Poland on Wednesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the commercial pilot, who works for a leading airline, said: Every flight I operate across northern Turkey and into Iraq essentially along the Russian and Iranian borders now has GPS interference. Aircraft systems alert us when something isnt working. We often get numerous alerts in the space of a couple of hours. Its been like that for around a year now. The GPS interference spoofs the aircraft into not knowing its location. Thankfully, we have other systems to mitigate this issue. Depending on the aircraft, this issue can take away some of the pilots visual situational awareness (from the screens), especially with regards to the terrain. New world Obviously its important to know whats below us in case we have a rapid depressurisation, a rare but possible event. Airlines have now adapted to this new world, and pilots brief accordingly for this change in situational awareness. Whilst this situation is not ideal, both the plane manufactures and the airlines have put in significant efforts into ensuring this situation now feels safe for passengers and the crews. Every instance is reported in detail by the pilots to the airline. Memos sent to pilots at a separate commercial airline reveal how frequent jamming has become. The messages, which were sent late last year, explain how GPS Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) affecting commercial aircrafts has been observed across a growing range of operational areas. Commercial pilots It lists flight information regions (FIRs) specific areas of controlled airspace where jamming has been experienced by commercial pilots. The memos note how the problem was particularly widespread over Ankara in Turkey and Baghdad in Iraq. It was also described as becoming more prevalent over the eastern Mediterranean, as well as across Cairo in Egypt and Amman in Jordan. The operational notes explain how pilots have received spurious terrain cautions and warnings due to attacks resulting in inaccurate GPS altitude in the cruise, also known as vertical GPS Radio Frequency Interference. The note stresses how there is nothing to indicate that the interference is a result of a hostile state actor intent on disrupting commercial air traffic. False GPS data Instead it concludes it is an unintended consequence of military defence systems based in various countries. One report explained how Radio Frequency Interference can include spoofing or smart jamming which gives flight decks false GPS data. The entire loss of GPS signal is simply called jamming. The documents urge pilots to maintain extra vigilance after a persistent jamming or spoofing incident because as the planes flight systems recover there could be a minor map shift which may confuse the autopilot. Flight crew are urged to monitor sources providing the planes location, as well as maintain terrain and position situational awareness, the documents say. If problems in pinpointing the planes location persist, crews are advised to contact air traffic control. A Civil Aviation Authority Safety Notice issued in April last year also warns how Russias invasion of Ukraine has seen an increase and intensification in Global Navigation Satellite Systems jamming since February 2022, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, Baltic Sea and Arctic areas. In January, the aviation industry called for urgent action to tackle the issue of spoofing amid a surge of such activity, as well as reports that some commercial airlines have been sent off-course. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Authority, met in Germany in January to discuss the issue with plane manufacturers and aviation technology companies. The leader of a trust, whose schools have exceptionally high numbers of children on free school meals, says some pupils dont have their own beds. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA Schools are finding beds, providing showers for pupils and washing uniforms as child poverty spirals out of control, headteachers from across England have told the Observer. School leaders said that as well as hunger they were now trying to mitigate exhaustion, with increasing numbers of children living in homes without enough beds or unable to sleep because they were cold. They warned that desperate poverty was driving problems with behaviour, persistent absence and mental health. The head of a primary school in a deprived area in north-west England, speaking anonymously to avoid identifying vulnerable children, said: We have a child who we put in the shower a couple of times a week. He described the familys bathroom as disgusting and said they couldnt afford to buy cleaning products. His school routinely washed uniforms for children whose families didnt have a washing machine. The school recently stepped in to help after discovering a pupil begging outside a supermarket and its free breakfast club was really needed. But lack of sleep had become another big symptom of poverty and a barrier to learning. Kids are sleeping on sofas, in homes with smashed windows Headteacher in north-west England Weve got a lot of kids in homes with not enough beds or a mum sleeping with two or three children, the head said. Support staff would often take children out of class who werent coping because of exhaustion to let them sleep for an hour or two. Some children are falling asleep in lessons, and not just the little ones, he said. The school had many children living in desperate neglect. Kids are sleeping on sofas, in homes with smashed windows, no curtains, or mice, he said. I come out of some of these properties and get really upset. A report published on Friday by the Child of the North campaign, led by eight leading northern universities, and the Centre for Young Lives thinktank, warned that after decades of cuts to public services, schools were now the frontline of the battle against child poverty, and at risk of being overwhelmed. It called on the government to increase funding to help schools support the more than 4 million children now living in poverty in the UK. Anne Longfield, founder of the Centre for Young Lives and the governments former childrens commissioner, said: The government has dismantled public services over the past decade and schools are the last people standing. They need proper support to tackle child poverty. Katrina Morley, chief executive of Tees Valley Education trust, which runs four primary academies and one special school, all with exceptionally high numbers of children on free school meals, described sleep as a real issue. We have children without beds or they might have to share with siblings, she said. Some dont have enough bedding and no heating so they cant sleep because they are cold. The trust works with local charities to provide families with support on issues like finding beds, and has also discreetly donated blankets over the winter. A teacher at a primary school in the south-east who works with children at risk of exclusion, 90% of whom are from working families relying on food banks, said children were vaping and buying cheap energy drinks to suppress their hunger. Their behaviour was erratic as a result. Every child I deal with is fighting issues that would keep us off work, he added. We cant just teach in a bubble and ignore that. Jonny Uttley, chief executive of the the Education Alliance, which runs 11 schools in Hull and East Yorkshire, said hunger or an inability to replace or wash uniforms were the most overt signs of poverty they saw. Some of their schools now provided some children with PE kits and washed them between lessons. Weve got families who cant afford the electricity to run a washing machine, or its broken and they cant replace it, he said. Or parents are simply struggling to cope. But in secondary school, where teachers didnt see parents at the school gate and many young people felt ashamed to admit their family was suddenly on the edge, working out how to step in could be harder, he said. His trust relied on pastoral staff who keep in touch with families, but Uttley warned that although poverty is in every school in the country now many cash-strapped schools were being forced to cut pastoral staff just when they were needed most. Ben Davis, head of St Ambrose Barlow RC high in Salford, said: There is this simplistic, romantic idea that education lifts people out of poverty, but you have to do something to mitigate the impacts of poverty or children cant learn. His school employs a full-time therapist, and she encounters many young people who feel ashamed of growing up in poverty. Davis said this made them vulnerable to criminal exploitation. We feel if we dont try to help, who else will? he added. A Department for Education spokesperson said: We understand the pressures many households are under, which is why we have extended eligibility for free school meals more than any government in the past half a century doubling the number of children receiving them since 2010. Actors from Mariupol theatre and new recruits rehearse Poets Lived Here, depicting how lives have been changed by the war. Photograph: Kasia Strek/The Guardian When the bombs hit the Mariupol Drama theatre, Vira Lebedynska did not hear a boom or a blast. From the recording studio in the theatres basement, where she was sheltering along with a few other theatre employees, the sensation was more like a vacuum. There was a whoosh, and a feeling that the air was being sucked out of the room, she recalled. A few seconds earlier, her cat Gabriel had suddenly tensed, perhaps sensing the sound of a plane overhead. Then there was chaos: shouting, screaming, panicking. The 65-year-old actor and vocal trainer was one of about 20 theatre employees among the more than 1,000 people sheltering in the theatre as the Russian army laid siege to Mariupol in March 2022. The strike, believed to have been carried out with two 500kg bombs dropped from a Russian aircraft, came despite widespread knowledge that it was the biggest civilian shelter in the city. Estimates on the number of dead in the strike vary wildly, from at least 15 (Human Rights Watch) to 600 (the Associated Press). On Saturday, the second anniversary of the strike, occupied Mariupol will be voting in Russias presidential election, a tightly controlled spectacle designed to give Vladimir Putin six more years in office. Meanwhile in Kyiv, Lebedynska will perform in Mariupol Drama, a play based on the memories of four actors who were sheltering inside the theatre, all of whom speak about their own experiences from the stage. The four are among a small group of actors and staff from the theatre who have resurrected the troupe in Uzhhorod, in the far west of Ukraine. Performances take place in the vast, boxy auditorium of the citys main theatre, which has offered up its stage for the Mariupol troupe. There are also occasional tours; Saturdays performance will be the Kyiv premiere of Mariupol Drama. Props are minimal while costumes have been sewn from scratch or bought in local secondhand shops, but the spirit and sense of duty is high. The body of our theatre has been destroyed, but the heart still beats here in Uzhhorod, said Hennadiy Dybovskiy, the theatres recently appointed 63-year-old director, who is originally from Donetsk. In Mariupol Drama, each of the actors brings a real artefact on to the stage that reminds them of their time sheltering in the theatre. For Lebedynska, it is cloakroom tag number 392; staff of the theatre wore the tags around their necks to identify themselves to others who might need help finding their way around. For 24-year-old Dmytro Murantsev, its the one-piece Spider-Man pyjama suit that he wore throughout the siege, as it was his warmest item of clothing. Also on stage in the play are Ihor Kytrysh, 43, and his wife, Olena Bila, 42 who have both acted at the Mariupol theatre for more than two decades. They left the theatre the day before the explosion, risking a drive across the frontline to get out of the city. They feel grateful they made it out, with their son, but like most people from Mariupol, they feel a sharp sense of loss for everything they left behind. They had saved for two decades to buy their own apartment, had bought it in the months before the war and had just finished the renovations. They never got the chance to move in. For them, one of the most disturbing memories is the sense of the erosion of authority and societal norms at the beginning of the siege. We could see this moment of normal human relations breaking down, this point where peoples self-preservation instincts kick in and some part of the population just began looting and panicking. Weve played roles in plays before about this kind of social disintegration, but nothing prepares you for seeing it in real life, said Bila. Lebedynska said she ignored her sons pleas to leave Mariupol in the buildup to the war because she did not think full-scale war was possible. When the hostilities started, she took a rucksack of important possessions and Gabriel the cat, and made her way to the theatre. She and a few other theatre colleagues set up camp in the recording studio in the basement, which had a portrait of Mozart on the wall and a sofa that could be used to sleep on. There werent that many people at first, but then someone opened the theatre doors and people started streaming in. They had heard there would be an organised evacuation from the theatre, but there was no evacuation so in the end everyone stayed there, she recalled. People cooked food on open fires outside, and carried various sets and props from the storerooms to sleep on. On occasion, some people tried to leave and drive out of Mariupol, but they often came back some hours later, saying they had been shot at. Lebedynska does not remember the aftermath of the strike clearly, with just a few searing snapshots left in her mind: parents slapping the face of a young girl, trying to revive her; people stumbling into the street, bloodied. Gabriel, the cat, had gone missing. She had no time to search for him. She walked for two hours through the ruined city, in a dressing gown, before stopping to stay the night in an apartment on the edge of Mariupol with the windows blown out. Her onward journey was an odyssey of extreme stress, discomfort and checkpoints. It can feel strange playing with a skeleton troupe to a mostly empty auditorium, in a theatre a thousand miles from Mariupol in the opposite corner of Ukraine. But Dybovskiy said it was an important act of defiance to keep going. This is the only professional collective that is flying the flag of Donetsk region. We wont let the Russian Orcs appropriate our Donetsk theatre traditions, he said. Such talk masks a tricky reality, however. Of nearly 200 theatre employees before the war, only about 50 have left Mariupol, joining various Ukrainian theatres or moving abroad. The rest have stayed behind and some joined a new theatre established by Russian occupation authorities, named the Mariupol Republican Order of the Badge of Honour Russian Drama Theatre. Kytrysh and Bila said they were shocked by how many of their former colleagues made that decision. The war showed who is who. There were people who left but then went back; there are people who we thought for sure would leave, and in the end they went to work for the Russians, said Kytrysh. The former director of the theatre, Volodymyr Kozhevnikov, lost several close relatives during the siege and told colleagues he stayed behind because he wanted to bury them. He now serves as the head of the musical department of the new theatre, which plays in a temporary hall in Mariupol because the original theatre building was destroyed beyond repair in the strike. The newly Russianised troupe has already been on several tours to Russian regions, and Moscow has sent in actors and directors to work in occupied Ukrainian territory. The theatre frequently takes part in patriotic concerts devoted to Russian national holidays and its orchestra is called on to play military marches. Moscow-based theatre director Nika Kosenkova recently directed Alexander Pushkins Feast in the Time of Plague, a short play about grotesque celebrations during a time of death and illness, apparently an unironic choice. Footage broadcast on local television showed her explaining to the actors that the most important thing is to understand Pushkins text and his intonation to speak properly and be educated people, before parodying the sound of a Ukrainian accent in Russian as an example of how not to speak. Lebedynska said that in the months after she had fled to Ukraine-controlled territory, she still had some contact by telephone with fellow actors who had stayed. I think a lot of them had simply been waiting for the Russian world to come. People were telling me the theatre was blown up from the inside. I was telling them: Im not going to argue with you, but just think about what youre saying, she said. Murantsev said he thought these views were more of a coping mechanism, for people who could not bear to leave their home town. I dont think there were many super pro-Russian people there, I think they just feel outside politics and want to stay quiet, he said. Those in Uzhhorod wonder if they will ever be able to go back home, and are left with both the horrible memories of the siege and a sense of longing for a place that no longer exists. Time hasnt healed me, though I at least feel a bit more distanced from it. But I still wake up in the night with unbearable panic attacks. This all stays with you, inside you said Lebedynska. People in the West Bank city of Nablus protest last month over the imprisonment of Palestinians in Israel. Photograph: Alaa Badarneh/EPA In a cafe on a dusty roundabout in the small West Bank town of Silwad, men sit and play cards, one eye on the large TV screen showing the latest news from Gaza. When there is any mention of a possible ceasefire deal and so the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails there is silence. Nobody tell us anything officially. We see on the news about a deal. So we just know that my brother might be released, said Akhram Hammad, a 45-year-old blacksmith whose sibling Tayyer is serving multiple life sentences for shooting dead seven Israeli soldiers and three civilians at a checkpoint not far from Silwad in 2002. It would be really good and everybody would be really happy; otherwise, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. The issue of the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons has become the linchpin of any deal that might bring even a temporary halt to the war in Gaza, analysts say. The prisoners are seen as a huge rights issue for Palestinians and a major security issue for Israel. But though this is one of the most contentious issues, its also where we see a willingness to compromise, said Dr Julie Norman, an associate professor of political science at University College London and the author of a book on Palestinian prisoners. After weeks of fruitless negotiations, news came in a quick flurry on Friday with a fresh set of demands from Hamas and an announcement that an Israeli delegation would travel to Qatar to rejoin indirect talks mediated by the Gulf state. Hamas has dropped demands for Israel to free all Palestinians held in its prisons, who number more than 9,000, according to rights campaigners. However, the militant Islamist organisation is now asking for the release of between 400 and 1,000 ordinary prisoners, plus 57 who have been convicted of serious crimes including multiple murders, Palestinian officials told the Guardian. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 240 in an attack in Israel in October. More than 100 of those taken into Gaza were released during a short-lived ceasefire in November when 240 detainees, mostly teenage boys awaiting trial or held without charge, were freed by Israel. Israeli officials say 134 hostages are still held in Gaza, though about 30 may be dead. Norman described any prisoner release as probably the bitterest pill for Israelis to swallow. They dont want to reward what Hamas has done, and they dont want to release people who could harm them in the future, she said. Part of the aims of the 7 October attack was to force a prisoner release and that is one of the most politically significant things that any such organisation can achieve. Hamas is willing to release women, men under 19 and over 50 years old, and ill people a total of 40 hostages, the Palestinian officials said. According to a leaked draft of the new proposal, Hamas wants any ceasefire to lead to a definitive end to Israels offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 31,000 people, according to local health officials but will now accept an initial 40-day pause in hostilities. Other demands include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, more humanitarian aid entering the territory and the return of all those displaced from the territorys ruined northern parts. Qadura Fares, who heads the Palestinian Authoritys prisoner affairs commission, based in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said: Hamas dont want to accept defeat at the negotiating table if they are not defeated at the battlefield. The prisoners are very important because of the mentality of the Palestinians There is a tradition of solidarity with those who make sacrifices. If you gain the freedom of someone with a long sentence, you bring a dead person back to life. It creates hope. Of the prisoners released during the ceasefire in November, eight are back behind bars. One is Obeida Hammad, who served 17 months of administrative detention without charge before being released, but was then rearrested by the Israeli army three weeks ago in a 4am raid on his home in Silwad. Badriya Hammad, the 19-year-olds mother, said her son had not been involved in any illegal activities since his release and he had dreaded going back to prison, where he had endured harsh conditions. He was very shocked. They told him to get dressed and take any medicine he needed and then put handcuffs on him and led him away. We have not heard anything since. There is no charge, so we dont know what he is supposed to have done wrong, she said. Tala Nasir, a lawyer with Addameer, a campaign group based in the West Bank, said rearresting released prisoners led to a problem of trust. Israelis are trying to put the largest possible number of Palestinians behind bars to prevent them raising their voices. They are a bargaining chip too, she said. Israeli authorities did not comment when approached about Hammads re-arrest. Partly as a consequence of the new detentions, Hamas negotiators are demanding guarantees that any freed prisoners will not be put straight back in jail, the Palestinian officials said. This may be hard for Israelis to concede. The 57 most serious offenders whose freedom is demanded by Hamas include the masterminds of bombings in Israel at a hotel and shopping mall that killed 65 Israelis, seen as some of the worst terrorist attacks in the country, and the planner of the assassination of an Israeli minister. Another is serving 54 life sentences for organising suicide bombings that killed 46 Israelis. Agreeing to a deal that leads to the release of such prisoners may fracture the coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister. Polls show deep opposition among Israelis to such concessions, though Netanyahu is also under pressure to obtain the freedom of the surviving hostages. Related: Netanyahu approves Rafah attack plans as aid ship reaches Gaza Israeli commentators have repeatedly warned of time running out for those held in Gaza, with released hostages describing harsh conditions, sexual violence and limited food. Hamas also want the freedom of 15 prisoners whom Israel refused to release in 2011 when negotiating the release of an abducted soldier held in Gaza. That deal led to more than 1,000 prisoners being freed by Israel, including Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza and the mastermind of the militant organisations October attack. Officials in Ramallah said the 15 included Marwan Barghouti, one of the most popular politicians among Palestinians, who was convicted of murder and has spent more than 20 years in prison. The 64-year-old is a member of the rival Fatah party and seen as a potential presidential candidate. Analysts say the demand for his freedom is politically significant, suggesting Hamas want to be seen as representing all Palestinian factions and might eventually accept Barghoutis leadership. Hamas would portray any prisoner release as a major victory. The organisation received a powerful boost in popularity after the deal in November, and the effect of a release of a much bigger number of prisoners, including leaders such as Barghouti, would be proportionately greater, analysts said. It would be a big short-term and long-term win, said Norman. In Silwad, there is keen anticipation. One of the cafes card players, who did not want to be named, said: There is not a single family here that does not have someone in prison. Everyone has friends, cousins, brothers in jail. Some day, all of them will be released. Photograph: Liz McBurney/The Guardian On the morning of 21 August 2013, a patient with acute liver failure was on the urgent transplant list at Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham (QEHB). If a donor couldnt be found within 72 hours, she would die. But she got lucky. By 7pm the woman later known in court as Patient A was anaesthetised and unconscious on the operating table, with a healthy, deep-red donor liver glistening on ice for her nearby. QEHB had one of the UKs leading liver units, and Simon Bramhall, the hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgeon on call that evening, was one of only about two dozen in the country at the time who specialised in liver transplants. At 49 years old, Bramhall had already performed the operation nearly 400 times. On any given day, there would be at least 10 trainees from around the world working with him, learning from his experience. In a centre of excellence, he was one of the best. Patient As surgery was a success. But within a few days it became clear that her new liver was failing, and on 29 August she was back on the operating table for a second urgent transplant. Another HPB surgeon, Bramhalls colleague, was on call that day. And when he opened Patient A up, he saw, burned on to the surface of the liver she had received during Bramhalls procedure, in clear characters four centimetres high, two letters: SB. There was no doubt who had burned these initials on to Patient As liver. The question was why and how Simon Bramhall had been able to do it in a brightly lit operating theatre surrounded by nurses, anaesthetists, trainees and other staff. But the surgeon was not troubled enough by these questions to report his colleague immediately. He took a photograph of the initials, but the images stayed on his BlackBerry for months, while Bramhall continued to perform surgery. Perhaps he didnt think Bramhall posed any risk to patients: he would have known that the argon beam Bramhall had used to sign his work sears the surface of the liver without harming its function. Yet at some point, the surgeon showed the photograph to others at QEHB, and by 18 December 2013, Bramhall was suspended while University Hospitals Birmingham NHS foundation trust conducted an internal investigation. A consultant anaesthetist who had not previously made a complaint about Bramhall signing livers then reported seeing him initialling the liver of another patient, Patient B, during a transplant on 9 February 2013. A theatre nurse who had been present during the 21 August procedure said she had observed Bramhall signing Patient As liver, and asked him what he was doing. Bramhall had told her: I do this. It was the beginning of a very slow end to Bramhalls career. He didnt lose his job at QEHB, instead leaving of his own accord after the end of his five-month suspension. He continued to practise surgery in another hospital until June 2020, and was struck off the medical register in 2022, four years after he was convicted of battery for branding the livers of Patients A and B, and almost a decade after his initials were first discovered. The surgeon who signed his work is now writing books. Bramhall has reinvented himself as an author of self-published medical thrillers, co-written with Fionn Murphy, a former English teacher on whom he once operated. They call their series of books Scalpel Stories. Their latest release their sixth is based on what happened with Bramhall and Patient A. Its entitled Letterman. Former patients have been unwavering in their support for Bramhall. I wouldnt have cared if he did it to me. The man saved my life, transplant patient Tracy Scriven told the Birmingham Mail in 2014 when Bramhall was suspended. When I heard the news, my very first words to my wife were, I hope he signed mine, Jeff Hughes, 70, told Worcester News in 2017. A JustGiving page set up by a former patient to cover the fine Bramhall received after his criminal conviction raised thousands of pounds in donations. Nearly 900 people signed a petition demanding all charges against Bramhall be dropped and he be reinstated. Any surgeon possessing pride enough in their work to want to sign it should be celebrated and not vilified reads the wording above their signatures. Was it pride that spurred Bramhall to burn initials on to his patients, or something more sinister? If so, why did so many people demand his return to surgery? Is he a bad apple, an embarrassment to his profession, or the product of a broader culture in surgical theatres that encourages and celebrates big egos and allows them to act with impunity? Is Bramhall just the one who happened to get caught? * * * Bramhall does not like journalists. Just before Christmas 2013, when the news first broke, he remembers lying down with his cheek pressed against his kitchen floor, hiding from the lenses poking over the fence to get a shot of him a painful fall from grace for someone used to being hailed as a hero. But he has decided to give this interview because of the forthcoming release of Letterman. We speak for several hours on Zoom over patchy broadband from his home in Cornwall, where he now writes his novels. He doesnt want me to say exactly where he is, or to come to his house, in case it upsets his wife, who is even more wary of media attention than he is. I was a larger-than-life character, and it was big surgery, proper surgery, cutting -edge stuff Bramhall never set out to be a liver surgeon. I ended up on the liver unit almost by accident, and it was obvious to me that thats what I wanted to do, he says. I was a larger-than-life character, and it was big surgery, proper surgery, cutting-edge stuff, right at the borders of what was technically possible. Thats where I wanted to be pushing that envelope. His eyes twinkle behind the thick black frames of his glasses. Then they fall. I think at the time, that was me, that was my personality. Events change you. With his garish ties and flashy SUV, Bramhall had been a big character at QEHB. He had made headlines in 2010 when a Cessna transporting a liver for a patient on the super-urgent transplant list crashed in fog coming in to land at Birmingham airport, bursting into flames. The blackened ice cooler containing the precious liver was recovered from the wreckage reeking of smoke and aviation fuel, and Bramhall was able to use the salvaged organ to perform a successful transplant that evening. Crashing and burning is not something we normally do with our donor livers, he remarked at the time. He worked seven-day weeks on call. There would often be full working days in theatre, followed by transplants until after midnight, before starting again the next morning at 7am. Few hospitals have theatres free during the day, he explains, so most donor organs are retrieved early in the evening or overnight, and then have to be given to the recipient as quickly as possible. The longer it takes, potentially the poorer the outcome is for the recipient. Theres a lot of pressure. But it was satisfying work. Liver transplants are visibly transformative for patients: within a few days, their skin will go from yellow to pink as their health returns. Many of Bramhalls patients including Patient A were young. You are taking somebody who is near to death, and you are giving them an option of a relatively normal life. And 21 August 2013 had been one of those days. Bramhall had already performed scheduled surgery on two patients by the time the donor liver became available for Patient A. Her transplant should have been fairly straightforward, he says: she wasnt overweight, and her failing liver was small and shrunken, making it relatively simple to remove. But getting the donor organ in place proved a serious, unexpected challenge. When he connected the donor and recipient artery, it failed to pulse. He tried to reconnect it four times, looking with intense concentration through surgical glasses at three times magnification, before realising that the artery must have been damaged when the liver was retrieved from the donor. He found a tiny tear on the inner layer of the donor artery, and managed to cut it back, but it left him with a very short vessel to join to the recipient artery. As he strove to get the blood flowing, his patients life hung in the balance. I finally got it going. I did it. I got a flow into the liver and I was massively relieved. People know when youre under pressure: your facial expressions, your body language tells people. The whole theatre goes quiet, Bramhall says. Theres a huge cognitive overload on you as this is happening. Its the sort of level of stress that I would say very few people ever feel. Im not just saying that as an excuse I think thats factual. There are stories about ophthalmologists signing retinas. Ive seen orthopaedic surgeons do squiggles in the cement when putting hips in With the transplant an apparent success, he did a time-zero biopsy of Patient As new liver, taking a sample of tissue at the first opportunity after the transplant; should problems arise later, this would help physicians work out what had gone wrong. He used a large needle to do this, and reached for the argon beam coagulator to cauterise the bleeding. I held the liver in my left hand, he begins. There was a little nobble of blood on the top. I squeeze the liver, stop the bleeding with the argon just for 20 or 30 seconds let go, make sure its still not bleeding. And then what I should have done is put the argon down. But I didnt. He cant bring himself to say what he did. Instead, he says that he knows one surgeon who has played noughts and crosses on a liver. Hes written other words on a liver that Ive seen. Ive seen people do lots of things on the surface of a liver, on the basis that its micrometres of damage. The cellular damage is tiny. He scratches his face. When I was training, and during the early part of my consultant period, there was plenty of black humour in operating theatres. There are stories about ophthalmologists putting their signatures on the retina when they are using the laser on retinopathy. Ive seen orthopaedic surgeons squiggle things in the cement when theyre putting hips in. And I witnessed behaviours that would make your toes curl. What kind of behaviours? Surgeons making comments about people who are under anaesthetic. Surgeons throwing instruments at the wall. Surgeons head-butting their assistants across the table. All of which is deplorable, of course. But not all of it is the same as branding your initials on an unconscious patients liver, regardless of how deep the burn damage is. What was going through his mind when he did it? I honestly dont know. He shakes his head. Everyone in the theatre was on edge. The tension was palpable. And I guess, I guess, it was a sort of lighthearted relief of that tension. A performative flourish, an edgy joke to lighten the mood, a bit of theatre in the operating theatre. He looks down, as if he knows how inadequate this must sound. Obviously, in hindsight, that was not appropriate and not the right thing to do. But I guess thats how I was feeling at the time. We have to put blind trust in surgeons, more than other doctors we are asleep when they treat us, after all. We sign consent forms before they operate and trust they will respect our wishes, and our bodies, when we are unconscious. When I ask Bramhall how he thinks others present felt about what he did, he pauses for a long time. Well, I dont know, he eventually replies. I had two surgeons opposite me, and I dont think either of them noticed it. So maybe my attempt at relieving the tension was a pointless exercise. He says he doesnt remember being challenged by the nurse who went on to tell the trust that Bramhall had said, I do this. If he did say this to her, he says, it was because he must have thought she was asking him about the time-zero biopsy, because not every transplant surgeon bothers to take one. It wasnt an admission that he signed every transplant he performed? No, no. Definitely, definitely not. What about Patient B, the one whose liver a consultant anaesthetist had reported seeing Bramhall sign in February 2013? I had no recollection of doing it, and no one else at the operating table on that day had any recollection of me doing it either. Bramhall claims his legal team advised him to plead guilty to charges against both Patients A and B. But he says it only happened once, according to his recollection. It wasnt part of routine practice. It just wasnt. At the time of Patient As surgery, it never occurred to him that he was doing something anyone would object to. Were talking about midnight now. Physically tired. Forefront of your mind is, lets get this abdomen closed, lets get this patient on to the intensive care unit and get home. He didnt think anyone outside his operating theatre would see the letters he had burned on to Patient A, anyway, because the burn should have healed within days. He didnt think about how Patient A might feel about his joke. And he never thought about the donor whose liver he had signed. Once the liver has perfused [has the blood of the recipient circulating through it] it belongs to the recipient, not the donor, he informs me matter-of-factly. Bramhall thinks the black humour he took for granted in operating theatres was a product of the type of people who are drawn to surgery. Surgeons are at one end of a spectrum of doctors, undoubtedly. Its what in my day you would have called a type A personality aggressive, macho. I saw the people who were consultants when I was training, and then I guess I became one myself. * * * All surgeons have skeletons in their cupboards, the neurosurgeon and author Henry Marsh wrote of Bramhalls actions. It is easy to become a little disinhibited when operating the stress, intense concentration and excitement, and then the relief and sense of achievement if all has gone well, can lead to behaviour that, in the cold light of a courtroom or the gleeful unfrocking of the tabloid pages, appears crass and inappropriate. Bramhall was a fool, Marsh said, but the reaction to him was overblown. I have no objection to the fact there is a manufacturers logo on the titanium plate with which my broken left leg was fixed some years ago. In 2000, a New York obstetrician carved his initials into a patients abdomen. In 2010, a California gynaecologist was sued after he allegedly used a cauterising device to burn his patients name on to her uterus. Bramhall is not the only surgeon to have marked a name on a patient but hes the only British one to be sanctioned for it. Troubling behaviour in British surgical theatres has only recently come under public scrutiny. In September 2023, the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery published a report into problems in UK theatres where the ratio of male to female surgeons is now 8:1. Nearly two-thirds of the female surgeons who responded to the WPSMS survey said they had been sexually harassed in the past five years, and a third had been sexually assaulted. Consultant surgeon Tamzin Cuming, who co-authored the report, sees Bramhalls actions and the delay in him being struck off as evidence of a culture of impunity that persists more than a decade after Patient As liver was signed. He wouldnt have done it secretly, she tells me. If any of the other people in the operating room had seen him, she adds, either they were appalled and they didnt feel empowered to report it, or its normalised and accepted that anything these prima donna surgeons say goes. Cuming draws parallels with a female surgeon who told the BBC last September about the senior male surgeon who wiped his sweaty face on her breasts during a procedure. That was not hidden in an office that was in front of everyone in surgery. He was not struck off. He is still practising. In a highly hierarchical environment like a surgical theatre, speaking up can come with real consequences. People still dont report because they think nothing will happen, Cuming says. And we know what happens to whistleblowers in the NHS quite often, they end up losing their own jobs. When Bramhall first got hauled into his managers office, he says he got a telling off. I apologised profusely and he accepted that. But when other people at QEHB came to see the photograph of the branded liver after the other HPB surgeon started to share it, a suspension pending an investigation became inevitable. The trusts panel ultimately issued Bramhall with a written warning, and the GMC ruled that he should remain on the medical register. This failing in itself is not so serious as to require any restriction on Mr Bramhalls registration, it said. But Bramhall no longer felt welcome at QEHB, and left to work as a consultant general surgeon at the County hospital in Hereford. The trust informed Patients A and B about what Bramhall had done. They accepted that Patient Bs liver had also been signed, on the basis of the statement given by the anaesthetist. The GMC noted that the news had no emotional impact on Patient B, but that Patient A had an extreme, enduring reaction to it. In 2017, the CPS produced a report from a psychologist who said that Patient A was experiencing symptoms of PTSD, and they then decided to charge Bramhall with actual bodily harm. The horror of seeing the photo of my cut-open body with the initials SB on the liver will for ever live in my mind. I personally hate the thought of tattoos, anyway, and the thought of someone doing this to me while I was unconscious is abhorrent, read the victim impact statement she gave in Bramhalls criminal trial. It was what I would imagine the feeling is for someone who is a victim of rape Because of my ordeal, my trust in doctors has been destroyed. The decision to charge Bramhall because of Patient As trauma caused a number of raised eyebrows, he says. First of all, she was asleep you have to be aware of it happening. Secondly, there was the causation pathway: she was told by a third party that this had happened. Wasnt the PTSD caused by the person who told her? Surely he can understand that the disclosure was possible only because he burned his initials on to her when she was unconscious? I understand that, he replies immediately. But, if you look at rules about duty of candour, if there is no harm, you dont need to tell them. There was always this question of did she need to be told at all? I was ashamed at what Id done, but I wouldnt have done anything that would have harmed the patient. And I knew Id saved her life He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of battery, and was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and a 10,000 fine. This was born of professional arrogance of such magnitude that it strayed into criminal behaviour, the judge, Paul Farrer QC, said. What you did was an abuse of power and a betrayal of trust. Bramhall says that hearing these words in court was harder to endure than the death of his parents. But when I ask whether he felt remorse for Patient A, he shrugs. I was ashamed at what Id done, but I wouldnt have done anything that I thought would have harmed the patient. I knew that. And I knew that Id saved her life, because without the liver I had put in, she would have been dead. There is a sense, when speaking to Bramhall, that he defines success in terms of surgical outcomes; that he sees harm in a purely physical way. While Bramhall served his hours of community service steaming clothes in a charity shop in Ross-on-Wye, the GMC wrote to inform him that his fitness to practise was to be reassessed. In December 2020, a medical practitioners tribunal ruled once again that Bramhall should remain on the medical register. But then the GMC struck him off in January 2022, on the grounds that his actions undermined public trust in the medical profession. Even if he posed no harm to patients, doesnt Bramhall see how continuing to practise would have harmed public confidence in doctors? I did continue to practise for a long time, though, didnt I? From 2013 right through to 2020. I sat in front of many hundreds of patients, some of whom realised who I was, and didnt give a monkeys. At most, there were one or two patients who declined to see me. Im not saying everyone is supportive, but its not black and white. A lot of people say: slap his wrist, get him back to work Bramhall sees himself as a fall guy after a decade where men with type A personalities have faced a reckoning in almost every profession. I think the GMC were using me as an example, he says. I dont think anyone has gained from this. The general public certainly hasnt. My training has cost millions. The prosecution fees will have cost millions, too, he adds. He has scoured the internet reading the public response to what he did. Im not saying everyone is supportive certainly not but its not black and white. A lot of people are saying: slap his wrist, get him back to work. * * * Barbara Moss first read about what Bramhall had done six years after he had operated on her liver. I thought, this is terrible, she tells me over Zoom from her home in Worcester. Terrible for the patient? A terrible thing to happen to Simon, she clarifies. She first met Bramhall in 2007, when she was 52, and had just been diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. She had a 15cm tumour in her liver and had been given three months to live. There was no hope, that was basically it, her husband, Mark, says. It was palliative care, only. Simon was the one who said if that tumour in the liver shrinks away from the carotid portal vein, then he would be prepared to operate, Barbara tells me. He recommended a 20,000 cancer drug that shrank her tumour enough for surgery. Then she had a five-hour operation, during which the left lobe of her liver, her appendix and parts of her colon were removed. Simon was very direct. He told me, theres a 50-50 chance of dying in the operation, she says. I was so lucky to be given that chance. Seventeen years on, Barbara is cancer free, and she and Mark now do patient-advocacy work. The operation she had is no longer performed. Theres too high a risk, Barbara says. But Simon pioneered it, and I am alive because of it. She sees Bramhalls boldness and willingness to push boundaries his type A personality as a critical factor in saving her life. Barbara gave evidence in Bramhalls case, telling the judge that the packed courtroom would be empty had Bramhall not saved the lives of the former patients that filled it. And it was Barbara who set up the JustGiving page to cover his fine (Bramhall insisted that the few thousand pounds that were raised went to the British Liver Trust, she says). Id give my life for him, she tells me. If you believe you owe someone your life, you might be willing to excuse them anything. But two things can be true at the same time Bramhall saved scores of lives, and also did an inexcusable thing. Barbara thinks there is nothing to excuse. Hes got to test the laser on the liver before he can use it its a routine process. If Im trying out a pen, I might as well just put my initial, because I can do that very quickly. The fact that he did it in a particular shape makes no difference. Ultimately, she says, it is patients who lose out. He has that sort of experience that meant he is not replaceable. England has been deprived of his expertise. It has prevented the chance of thousands of other peoples lives being saved, or at least made better. I feel its scandalous. Simon Bramhall was an extremely good liver transplant surgeon, with an extremely positive reputation, says Prof Mark Taylor, consultant HPB surgeon in Belfast Trust, and former Northern Ireland director for the Royal College of Surgeons. For someone who has gained that level of experience the answer is that people would lose out. But anything that gives the impression that surgeons believe they are untouchable because they possess a certain set of skills causes harm. The fundamental practice of medicine is that people put their trust in you at their most vulnerable. If that is inhibited, then it is individuals in ill health who will suffer the most. Taylor never worked with Bramhall but knew of him, and followed the various excuses that Bramhall and others have given to explain what he did. Its true the burn caused no real damage to the liver, and that surgeons routinely test the argon beam on the surface of the organ before they use it, but this is a very small wiggle or a couple of dots to show that its working, not an autograph, and testing happens before there is any bleeding to cauterise, not after. The aggressive surgeons that weve all had in our training, the many horror stories we could all give those days are no longer tolerated. It is incumbent on all of us and as a white, middle-aged, male surgeon I think its really important that we have that culture where junior colleagues can call out inappropriateness without fear of sanction. Thankfully, the world were now in is much healthier. When Bramhall was convicted, the Royal College of Surgeons of England released a statement saying there was no evidence that this practice is widespread in surgery. Does that mean it may happen, even if it doesnt happen often? Im in my 30th year of medicine, Ive never seen anyone do some sort of character or noughts and crosses on the liver, Taylor replies. Branding your initials on a liver is a very peculiar thing to want to do. * * * Bramhall is adjusting to life outside the surgical theatre. I have a wonderful wife who is incredibly supportive, and Ive dragged her through an awful time. Without her, I dont think Id have been here. At 59, he would have been coming up to retirement age, anyway. He will soon draw his NHS pension. He sees the six books he has written as a kind of therapy. I said I would like to write it down, that that would be cathartic He sees the six books he has written with Murphy as a kind of therapy. Bramhall and Murphy had bonded over his jokes about the hospital food after he removed a grapefruit-sized tumour from her in an eight-hour procedure in 2012. But they got to know each other properly after Murphy set up the Save Our Surgeon: Bring Back Simon Bramhall Facebook page. When I saw it on the news, my initial reaction was to laugh. I thought it was hilarious I know you probably shouldnt say that, Murphy says sheepishly. I couldnt believe what hed done. He shouldnt have done it he knows he shouldnt have done it, we all know he shouldnt have done it. But the media reaction, I felt, was utterly hysterical. He could have written his name, address and autobiography on me I dont care. Im alive. Murphy set up the Facebook page as a forum for people like me to be able to say, Hes not a bad man. This isnt fair. She cant tell me how many people signed up to it the page doesnt exist any more, having been repurposed as a fan page for their Scalpel Stories series but there were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, not only patients and their families but also medical staff who had worked with Bramhall, as well as sympathetic members of the public. I was staggered by the response. I had no idea what Id unleashed. To keep the group updated on the state of Bramhalls various legal fights, Murphy stayed in regular contact with him over email and WhatsApp. She understood the effect all this was having on me, Bramhall tells me. We talked about it. I said I thought Id like to write it down, that that would be cathartic for me, and she said, OK, shall we do that together? They wrote Letterman first. Its a fictionalised version of events, Bramhall says. But the GMC was still assessing his fitness to practise when they completed it, so they set it aside and got to work on other novels, all based on Bramhalls experiences. Dilemma (2020) is about organ donation; the opening scene involves someone eating liver and onions in a cafe. Charity (2019) is inspired by some of what Bramhall encountered while doing community service. Seeing their self-published books selling on Amazon, and holding the hard copies in his hands, felt like an achievement for Bramhall: he was able to feel pride in his work once more. And since, as he puts it, the GMC cant strike me off again, they have decided its time to publish Letterman. They let me read an unfinalised version of their manuscript. Alex a star surgeon with bright ties who revels in the glory of high-risk success is victimised by a professional rival at his hospital. In a moment of high stress, he burns his initials on to the liver of a male patient. The patient has no redeeming qualities: no friends, no one to visit him, no appreciation that his life has been saved. He is a professional actor, and his trauma on discovering what Alex did is a performance; when his victim statement is read out in court (including some of the same language used in Patient As statement even though there was never any suggestion that Patient A was inventing her trauma, and only sympathy, rather than any criticism, was expressed for her in court), people scoff in disbelief. Another patient a young mother dies because Alexs suspension means a less experienced surgeon does her transplant. As I read, I become aware just how well worn the story Bramhall told me over Zoom was. It is not just the details and characters that are familiar, but the words, too. The black humour of operating theatres. The palpable tension during surgery. The other surgeons who played noughts and crosses on a liver or signed their initials on retinas. He has had a decade to hone this story, before the trust, the courts, the GMC and in this manuscript, and, finally, to me. At first it looks as if it is Alex the surgeon who has been branded as a criminal rather than his victim. But he pulls through to become an award-winning, bestselling author. Someone who signs books instead of livers, as Alex says. This is how Bramhall would like his ending to be. When you write the story, you control it, after all. Bramhall may have been arrogant, Murphy says, but events have changed him. Hes terribly remorseful and I think thats the saddest thing, actually, because theres nothing he can do about it. They both know that the release of Letterman will bring him fresh scrutiny. Im nervous on his behalf, she says. I dont think Ive got his bottle. I ask Bramhall why he isnt writing under a pseudonym. We talked about that, but in the end the name has helped sell the books its helped more people know about them, he replies. Having read the findings of every investigation, every report and every online comment, is he not tempted to keep his name off things now? I probably should have slipped away into oblivion, he smiles. But I guess Im not that type of person. Rubk says: On the surface it seems like they care, but behind the scenes theres another agenda. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images A leading psychologist who advises Meta on suicide prevention and self-harm has quit her role, accusing the tech giant of turning a blind eye to harmful content on Instagram, repeatedly ignoring expert advice and prioritising profit over lives. Lotte Rubk, who has been on Metas global expert group for more than three years, told the Observer that the tech giants ongoing failure to remove images of self-harm from its platforms is triggering vulnerable young women and girls to further harm themselves and contributing to rising suicide figures. Such is her disillusionment with the company and its apparent lack of desire to change, the Danish psychologist has resigned from the group, claiming Meta does not care about its users wellbeing and safety. In reality, she said, the company is using harmful content to keep vulnerable young people hooked to their screens in the interest of company profit. In her resignation letter, she wrote: I can no longer be part of Metas SSI expert panel, as I no longer believe that our voice has a real positive impact on the safety of children and young people on your platforms. In an interview with the Observer, Rubk said: On the surface it seems like they care, they have these expert groups and so on, but behind the scenes theres another agenda that is a higher priority for them. That agenda, she said, was how to keep their users interaction and earn their money by keeping them in this tight grip on the screen, collecting data from them, selling the data and so on. A Meta spokesperson said: Suicide and self-harm are complex issues and we take them incredibly seriously. Weve consulted with safety experts, including those in our suicide and self-harm advisory group, for many years and their feedback has helped us continue to make significant progress in this space. Most recently we announced well hide content that discusses suicide and self-harm from teens, even if shared by someone they follow, one of many updates weve made after thoughtful discussion with our advisers. Rubks warning comes as new research by Ofcom published last week found that violent online content is unavoidable for children in the UK, many of whom are first exposed when still in primary school. Among the main apps mentioned by those interviewed was Instagram. Rubk, who leads the self-injury team in child and adolescent psychiatry in the Capital Region of Denmark, was first approached about joining the select group of experts which has 24 publicly listed members in December 2020. The invite came after she publicly criticised Meta, then known as Facebook, over an Instagram network linked to suicides of young women in Norway and Denmark following a documentary by Danish broadcaster DR. She agreed to join in the hope of helping to change the platform to make it safer for young people. After a couple of years of having her suggestions ignored the original network she was critical of still exists she came to the conclusion that the panel was just for show. Now she believes the invitation could have been an attempt to silence her. Maybe they wanted me to be a part of them so I wouldnt be so critical of them in the future. In emails seen by the Observer Rubk raised the difficulties users faced in trying to report potentially triggering images with Meta in October 2021. In correspondence with Martin Ruby, Metas head of public policy in the Nordics, she said she had tried to report an image of an emaciated female but received a message from Instagram saying they did not have enough moderators to look at the image, which stayed on the platform. In response, Ruby said in November 2021: Our people are looking at it, but it is not that simple. In the same email, he mentioned the secret Instagram network that Rubk had originally criticised, saying that Meta was taking a closer look. But despite its well-documented links to suicides, Rubk says the network remains up and running today. Rubks patients tell her they have tried to report self-harm images on Instagram but they often remain. One client said that after reporting one image, it vanished, but she later saw it via a friends account, suggesting it had only been moved from her view. Meta does a lot of tricks to get around removing content, said Rubk. The AI is so clever, finding even the smallest nipple in a photo. But when it comes to graphic pictures of self-harm that are proven to inspire others to harm themselves, she added, it appears to be a different story. A woman pours a liquid into a ballot box in Moscow on Friday. The screengrab was taken from CCTV footage - Video obtained by Reuters Furious Russian officials have threatened scumbag presidential election saboteurs with eight years in prison for pouring green ink into ballot boxes. The crackdown comes ahead of an expected flash mob protest at noon on Sunday the final day of voting at the urging of exiled opposition leaders. The peaceful strategy was endorsed by Alexei Navalny, shortly before his death at the hands of Russian authorities in a gulag in Siberia. At least two more attacks on ballot boxes were reported on Saturday, adding to roughly 15 recorded on Friday. The attacks have pressured officials into tightening security at polling stations across Russia. Ella Pamfilova, the official face of the Kremlins election machine, has been fronting hour-by-hour coverage of the election at regular press conferences in Moscow. On Friday, she initially tried to dismiss the attacks by claiming that voting had been smooth, but as they grew she lost her temper and called the protesters scumbags who destroyed the votes of people. By Saturday morning, she appeared to have regained her composure and was back to insisting that voting was proceeding well, turnout was high and a new electronic voting system was working effectively. Russians continue to attack polling stations Over two days, there have been eleven attempts to set fire to polling stations, along with 19 cases of ballot boxes being spoiled with greenery and paint. In response, the Russian State Duma has proposed an 8-year prison sentence for pic.twitter.com/aHLR1tedVK NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 16, 2024 We have prevented all kinds of liquid injections at 20 polling stations and eight arson attempts. In one case, they tried to use a smoke bomb, she said. The attacks and unrest around the election have infuriated the president, Vladimir Putin, who had wanted to showcase Russians support for his war in Ukraine. He looked visibly angry at a meeting of his security council on Friday, blaming Ukraine for launching attacks on Russia to try to disrupt the election. Protests are banned in Russia, and Russian MPs said on Saturday that they wanted to increase the punishment for sabotaging ballot boxes from five years in prison to eight. They accused the saboteurs of being motivated by money, and said the attacks had been organised by a foreign power. More severe responsibility should also be borne by those who act on behalf of or in the interests of a foreign state that opposes the Russian Federation during hostilities, said Yana Lantratova, an MP. At least two petrol bombs have been also lobbed at polling stations in Russia and several voters have set fire to their ballot papers in protest at the war in Ukraine. As well as beefing up security at polling stations, OVD-Info, a Russian human rights group, said users of the Telegram social media app were being sent messages telling people not to succumb to the ideas of people who want to set you up, and to vote calmly, without queues and provocations. But the protests continued on Saturday, with a video from Kaliningrad, the Kremlins exclave within the EU, showing a woman being detained after pouring green ink into a ballot box. Another video from Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, showed an official grappling with a woman who had tried to throw green paint at a ballot box. The Evening Journal, a Yekaterinburg newspaper, said that the woman was a professor at the Urals Federal University. At the moment, the woman is in the police department. She is facing criminal charges, it reported. Most of the attackers appear to be middle-aged women, a sometimes subversive sub-group of Russias population. A voting booth is set on fire by a protester in Moscow - Video obtained by Reuters The Kremlin wants to set a record win at the election for Putin and has used its election-rigging operation to manipulate the results. This included disqualifying any real opposition candidates in the run-up to the election. Boris Nadezhdin, one of two disqualified anti-war candidates, has said police detained his staff on Friday at polling stations. Ukrainian attacks also continued on Saturday with reports that two oil refineries in Samara, central Russia, had been attacked by drones. Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries to drive up fuel prices. School nurse states not all people who give birth are women - Moment RF A school health nurse has claimed not all people who have babies might call themselves a she or a woman or a mum, speaking on a podcast sponsored by the NHS. Tikki Harrold made the comments on an episode of School Nursing Uncovered titled Gender identity what are the facts?. Recalling when she was asked to review a teenage pregnancy document by colleagues working in health visiting, Ms Harrold said: Some of their language was incredibly gendered, but added its not because theyre deliberately ignoring the fact that actually not all people who have babies might call themselves a she or a woman or a mum. Its just that they dont know. Asked if there are examples of cases where things dont go so well for young people who are gender questioning, Harrold said: There was one who actually ended up in child protection planning because the parents were so unaccepting that it was having such a significant impact on this young persons mental wellbeing. She added: Actually, it ended quite tragically with the attempt on their life which has resulted in significant long-term disabilities. Ms Harrold who describes herself as based in a school in Oxford City says walking through school in a skirt and make-up, and letting your hair grow, when actually people previously knew you as a boy, thats incredibly brave, and theyre not people who are a risk to the rest of the school population. Ideological capture The podcasts target audience and presenters are school nurses. The series is run by the Digital Health Transformation Service at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA). Speaking about the podcast, Lucy Marsh from the Family Education Trust, said: This displays complete ideological capture and a worrying lack of safeguarding knowledge within the school nursing community. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for Sex Matters, told The Telegraph: It is irresponsible for anyone working with children to promote a suicide narrative in connection with gender distress. The government adviser on suicide, Prof Louis Appleby, has said this practice should stop. A spokesman from Oxford Health NHS Trust: Tikki Harrold is very clear in the podcast that it is the professional role of school nurses to respond to the needs of young people in the context of their culture and values. This is an area which is new and evolving with respect to trans issues, but the role of all nurses is to help, not harm. In a shared statement, LPT and SAPHNA said: The School Nursing Uncovered podcast is a collaboration between Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trusts digital health transformation service and SAPHNA (School and Public Health Nurses Association). The podcast was created by school nurses across the NHS, for fellow school nurses to discuss the challenges and issues affecting children, young people and families, celebrating their huge value and impact in supporting their health and wellbeing. Archie Manners (right) posed as the Princess of Wales's former digital content creator, with Tucker Carlson - X, FORMERLY TWITTER A pair of pranksters pretending to be behind the Princess of Waless photo editing debacle tricked Tucker Carlson into being interviewed for his channel. Posing as George, a disgruntled former employee of Kensington Palace, Josh Pieters and Archie Manners told the US journalist that they had been let go from the Princess of Wales employment after poorly editing a photograph of her and her children on Mothers Day. Last week, the photograph caused a major PR headache for the Princess, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, after photo agencies pulled the image because it had been edited. Royal fans noticed several irregularities in the photograph, sparking online conspiracies and forcing the Princess to release a statement offering her apologies for any confusion over the edit. Mr Pieters and Mr Manners told Mr Carlson they had been scapegoated by the palace for the photo edit, and that the Prince and Princess of Wales were willing to fire staff in order to conceal the truth. They gave Mr Carlsons website, the Tucker Carlson Network, a faked employment contract from Kensington Palace that incorporated a Latin translation of the Tesco strapline Every Little Helps into its royal crest. Interview has not yet aired on Mr Carlson's online show, and Mr Manners said they decided to reveal their trick before it appeared - Chip Somodevilla/GETTY IMAGES The contract said that the Prince and Princess reserved the right to amputate one limb of their choosing if an employee failed a probationary period. The pair secured an interview, and told Mr Carlson that the photograph had actually been taken by the Princesss uncle in December, and that a Christmas tree in the background had been edited out. In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, they showed the filming of the interview, in which Mr Manners posed as the former employee. After hearing the concocted story about the photograph, Mr Carlson said: That was great, and really interesting too. I didnt expect to be as interested in it as I was because you told a really great story. The interview has not yet aired on Mr Carlsons online show, and Mr Manners told Deadline the pranksters had decided to reveal their trick before it reached the networks 500,000 followers. We didnt want to cause any more rumours that are not true to go out to lots and lots of people, he said. We just didnt want to be too worthy about that in our video. Pro-Palestine campaigners stage a demonstration outside the Rafael factory in Newcastle on Saturday morning - Scott Heppell/North News Protesters demanded the closure of an Israeli-owned defence manufacturer that supplies the British Army, as part of a series of pro-Palestinian protests around the country yesterday. Dozens of activists some holding cloth bundles stained with red to symbolise babies killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict blocked Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Armstrong works by the River Tyne in Newcastle. One woman held a placard aloft declaring: This factory kills children, while others flew Palestinian flags and a Geordies Against Genocide banner. A prostester with red paint on her hands to symbolise blood being shed in Gaza - Scott Heppell/North News Campaigners in the North-East have held marches and pickets calling for the closure of Rafael since the Oct 7 Hamas attacks, accusing the firm of arming Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people. Rafael took over the Pearson Engineering defence group in 2022 as part of what it described as its strategic expansion in the United Kingdom. The firm is Israels third-largest defence company, with more than 8,000 employees and 30 subsidiaries worldwide, supplying the defence, security and aerospace sector. A woman holds a cloth bundle stained with red to symbolise babies killed in the Israel-Gaza conflict - Scott Heppell/ North News It was chosen by the British Army to supply the armoured vehicle Trophy Active Protection System, designed to defeat anti-tank missiles and rockets. Demonstrators outside the factory in Newcastle yesterday - Scott Heppell/North News The Shut Down Rafael Newcastle campaign group states: The Israeli state-owned weapons factory Rafael is on our doorstep, in our city, and it is arming Israel in its genocide of the Palestinian people. The Newcastle protests came as hundreds of activists around the country staged the latest in a series of protests against the Israel attacks on Gaza that followed the massacre of hundreds of Israeli civilians by Hamas on Oct 7. Marches also took place in Cardiff, Bristol, Derby, Sheffield and Lancaster, and as far afield as Kirkwall, in Orkney. Dr. William L. Henrich was president of UT Health San Antonio for 15 years. Coutesy / UT Health San Antonio Elected and community leaders have posted heartfelt remembrances of Dr. William L. Henrich, the longtime president of UT Health San Antonio who died early Thursday from complications related to a medical procedure. Henrich, 77, led the institution through the COVID-19 pandemic and the greatest period of expansion in UT Health San Antonios 65-year history, the medical school said in announcing his death. He his survived by his wife, Mary, their two children and five grandchildren. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, in a post on Facebook, recalled Henrich as a friend and visionary leader who brought UT Health San Antonio and our city to new heights in medical research and service. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His work saved countless lives in our community, particularly during the most challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nirenberg wrote. He was the epitome of compassionate and principled leadership. We will all miss him. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar posted, saying he was deeply saddened by the news of Henrichs death. Bill was a great man and dedicated physician who transformed UT Health San Antonio into a world-class research institution, Cuellar wrote. UT Health San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine graduate Alexandra Cole shakes hands with UT Health San Antonio President William L. Henrich during a 2018 commencement ceremony. Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News Councilman Manny Pelaez called Henrich a visionary leader and a luminary in our community. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dr. Henrichs remarkable career and dedication to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals have left an indelible mark. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us as we remember his profound contributions to our community and the field of medicine, Pelaez posted on Facebook and Instagram. Former Mayor and San Antonio Independent School District trustee Ed Garza called Henrich a a humble visionary leader who had a significant influence on our citys $44 billion healthcare industry, which provides a livelihood to 1 out f 6 San Antonians who are employed. For the past six years I was fortunate to serve alongside Dr. Henrich on a UT Health Committee. Im grateful for the time he took to acquaint himself and endorse the work and research of the Urban Champions Academy, and ultimately becoming a partner in our shared vision for youth to have health and purpose through a holistic balance of the mind, body, and soul, Garza posted on Facebook. Dr. William L. Henrich, president of UT Health San Antonio, announces an endowed scholarship named for Coleen Grissom, longtime mistress of ceremonies for the San Antonio Express-News Book and Author Luncheon, in 2017. Terry Scott Bertling / San Antonio Express-News Joe Krier, former president/CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and former city councilman, said Henrich will be remembered as one of the giants of San Antonios number one industry: healthcare and biosciences. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pro-Palestinian protesters beamed slogans onto Parliament last month - Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu The Attorney General has asked officials to conduct a review of existing laws to clarify whether protesters can be banned from projecting images onto Parliament, The Telegraph can reveal. Victoria Prentis has asked civil servants to carry out a sweep of current legislation after pro-Palestinian protesters beamed the slogan from the river to the sea onto the building last month. The phrase refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean. Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, has said it can be understood as an expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world. Last month, police stood by as protesters beamed the slogan onto the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben. When the Metropolitan Police was challenged the following day about the decision not to intervene, a spokesman said: While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location or context, its use in a wider public protest setting, such as last night, is not a criminal offence. Protesters beamed the slogan onto Parliament's Elizabeth Tower last month The response drew a backlash, with Chris Philp, the policing minister, telling MPs: There were a number of bases on which the police could have acted to prevent that projection. Big Ben is not a canvas for political campaigning, particularly where the slogans are deeply offensive in nature, and that is a view I have made very clear to the commissioner. The incident prompted a review of the wider issue of projecting images onto Parliament and other public buildings. A source close to the Attorney General and Robert Courts, the Solicitor General, said: Theyre very concerned about this incident and think it is outrageous. Theyve ordered a full 360 of all laws to make sure we have the proper tools to deal with it. The Telegraph understands that the suggestion to carry out the review came up in a round table discussion held by Rishi Sunak with police chiefs and the Crown Prosecution Service last month. The House of Commons authorities have previously said that planning laws require permission to be granted by both the Speaker and Westminster City Council before any projection onto parliamentary buildings is allowed. The Telegraph understands that one avenue the Government is exploring is whether certain projections onto heritage sites breach planning laws because they compromise the legally protected character and appearance of the sites. Sir Michael Ellis, a former attorney general, said last month that police could have used the 1986 Public Order Act to intervene. The legislation refers to the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He said: The police could also have reasonably feared a breach of the peace, ordered the removal of the projection machine, and, if there was non-compliance, arrested the individual for obstructing a constable under the Police Act 1996. The Home Office was contacted for comment. Heat records are becoming the norm, but the extent of the anomaly in 2024 above the seas has prompted concern. Illustration: Guardian Design Record temperatures in 2024 on land and at sea have prompted scientists to question whether these anomalies are in line with predicted global heating patterns or if they represent a concerning acceleration of climate breakdown. Heat above the oceans remains persistently, freakishly high, despite a weakening of El Nino, which has been one of the major drivers of record global temperatures over the past year. Scientists are divided about the extraordinary temperatures of marine air. Some stress that current trends are within climate model projections of how the world will warm as a result of human burning of fossil fuels and forests. Others are perplexed and worried by the speed of change because the seas are the Earths great heat moderator and absorb more than 90% of anthropogenic warming. Earlier this month, the World Meteorological Organization announced that El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern associated with the warming of the Pacific Ocean, had peaked and there was an 80% chance of it fading completely between April and June, although its knock-on effects would continue. The WMO secretary general, Celeste Saulo, said El Nino contributed to making 2023 easily the warmest year on record, although the main culprit was emissions from fossil fuels. When it came to oceans, she said, the picture was murkier and more disturbing: The January 2024 sea surface temperature was by far the highest on record for January. This is worrying and can not be explained by El Nino alone. Sea surface temperatures in February were also hotter than any month in history, breaking the record set last August, according to Europes Copernicus satellite monitoring programme. Worldwide, the heat above the land and sea was remarkable. Between 8 and 11 February, global temperatures were more than 2C above the 1850-1900 average. Over the month as a whole, Europe experienced heat that was 3.3C above that benchmark. Carlo Buontempo, the director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said it was a taste of what was to come because of the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere: Unless we manage to stabilise those, we will inevitably face new global temperature records and their consequences. Heat records are becoming the norm, but the extent of the anomaly above the seas has prompted concern. Carlos Nobre, one of Brazils most influential climatologists, said no climate model accurately predicted how high sea surface temperatures would reach during the past 12 months. Given the continued heat over the sea, he said 2024 was likely to be another unusually hot year for the world as a whole. The anomaly is strongest in the North Atlantic, where Brian McNoldy, a climatologist at the University of Miami, calculated the deviation from statistical averages as a one-in-284,000-year event. It has been record-breaking warm for an entire year, often by seemingly impossible margins, he tweeted. He has described the trends as deeply troubling. Zeke Hausfather, a scientist at Berkeley Earth in the US, said global sea and surface temperatures were quite high but he said they were still well within the projections of climate models: We dont have any strong evidence yet from observations that suggests the world is warming faster than anticipated given human emissions. The impacts on corals and other forms of marine life are incalculable. Australias Great Barrier Reef is suffering its fifth mass bleaching event in eight years. Meteorologists warn that high surface temperatures may also presage a longer and more active hurricane season. Raul Cordero, a climate professor at the University of Groningen and the University of Santiago, said the growing possibility of a cooling La Nina between June and August could bring respite from the global heat, but this would only be temporary: All recent temperature records will likely be broken sooner rather than later. The situation will continue to deteriorate until we halt the burning of fossil fuels. Narconon UK, a Scientology-linked rehab centre in Heathfield, East Sussex. Photograph: Peter Flude/The Observer A Scientology-linked addiction charity accused of subjecting vulnerable people to psychological drills that left them broken and traumatised is being investigated by Britains charities watchdog. The Charity Commission said it had opened a regulatory compliance case into Narconon UK, which claims to help people become drug-free for good and had been promoted on the NHS website, to examine concerns about its governance, administration and management. The case comes after an Observer investigation last month raised questions about practices at a facility run by Narconon in Heathfield, East Sussex. Former participants in the programme were put through intense exercises likened to a form of obedience training. Ex-patients and staff described how people were expected to follow repetitive commands, such as pointing at objects, sitting perfectly still or answering the same question over and over again for hours at a time. Some described suffering extreme reactions to the exercises, such as panicking, zoning out or going into trance-like states. Related: My mind had been shattered into a million pieces: inside the Scientology-linked UK rehab centre One person said it felt like their mind had been shattered into a million pieces. Another said: Youre helpless there, and the only way out is blind submission or lose thousands of pounds. If Id have had any concept of what the programme actually was, I would never have signed up. Narconon UK said the allegations were inaccurate, misleading and thoroughly distorted, adding that it was a world leader in rehabilitation and had saved thousands of lives. It said its approach required discipline and was mentally strenuous but denied it was harmful. Narconons UK manager, Sheila Maclean, said the drills were designed to teach the participants self-determinism, self-control and discipline, and to help them break away from destructive habits. These phases are not easy, but our feedback has been hugely positive and the results speak for themselves, she said. The Charity Commission said its case would look at safeguarding concerns that had been raised in the media, as well as examining the governance, administration and management of the charity, including the submission of its annual accounts and returns. A case is not a finding of wrongdoing, but may lead to further investigations or a statutory inquiry. In cases where malpractice or misconduct is identified, the watchdog can take enforcement action. A spokesperson said: We are engaging with the trustees. A charity should be a safe and trusted environment. As regulator, we are clear that keeping people safe should be a priority for all charities. Launched in the US in 1966, Narconon is billed as a holistic, non-medical and secular approach to rehabilitation. Its residential programme lasts three to four months, costs about 15,000 and is based on the belief of L Ron Hubbard, Scientologys founder, that toxic drug residues lodge in the body and create a biochemical barrier to spiritual wellbeing. To remove them, patients referred to by Narconon as students complete a purification rundown involving five-hour sauna sessions, treadmill exercise and high doses of vitamins. They later do psychological exercises and a life skills course. The goal is to achieve a clear body and a clear mind. The Observer spoke to nine people with knowledge of Narconons UK operations, including ex-participants and staff, who described how people were put through psychological drills lasting up to five hours a day for several weeks. Witnesses described how some participants became paranoid, anxious or acutely distressed. I saw people yelling and screaming. Physical outbursts. Some people would laugh, others would cry, one person said. Others allegedly went into hypnotic or trance-like states, spacing out or experiencing depersonalisation. The Observers investigation also revealed allegations that some participants were misled about the extent of the programmes links to wider Scientology, and raised questions about how it had been operating without oversight from Englands healthcare watchdog. Youre helpless there, and the only way out is blind submission or lose thousands of pounds An ex-patient A freedom of information request found that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) received 19 complaints about Narconon but did not look into 14 of these because it considered them outside its remit. The Narconon programme has never been assessed by the CQC to ensure it is safe. It said this was because, while it oversees substance misuse services in England, Narconons programme was alternative and therefore out of its scope. The Department of Health and Social Care said it was now in active discussion with the (CQC) about the status of this centre and the next steps in terms of regulation. It added: The CQC is reviewing the provider, has visited the facility and will be writing to them to advise of its decision. The CQC has since suspended a prior good rating for the facility, which related to the provision of personal care, and added a note saying it is currently dormant. The only part of the service provided at this location registered and regulated by CQC is the accommodation with personal care. We do not regulate the rehabilitation programme provided or judge its effectiveness, it says. Narconon said it was not presently providing a service which falls within the remit of the CQC. It denied downplaying its connection to Scientology, saying it was open about its link to Hubbard, whose work, it said, had a positive secular application. Even the best-run services have their critics, said Maclean. Junction 10 of the M25 in Surrey during a site visit on Monday 11 March. A new gantry is being installed over the weekend. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Traffic is building on the M25 in Surrey due to the unprecedented closure of a section of Britains busiest motorway. A five-mile stretch of the motorway between junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey was closed in both directions at 9pm on Friday while a bridge is demolished and a new gantry installed. It will reopen at 6am on Monday. National Highways South East (NHSE), in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said there were two miles of tailbacks on approach to the closure at junction 10 on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, traffic began to build along the main diversion route through Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw. NHSE estimated the average journey time along the diversion route was 25 minutes, assuring drivers of minimal congestion. Motoring experts say official estimates of congestion levels may be optimistic, while local councillors in areas where motorway traffic will be diverted are anticipating gridlock. The M25, which encircles London, normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions 9 and 11, including airline passengers travelling to and from the UKs two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick. National Highways said modelling carried out while it was developing its plans for this weekend indicated vehicles would face delays of up to five hours without mitigation measures, such as urging drivers to stay away. The government-owned body believes its awareness campaign will help reduce traffic levels by approximately 50%, meaning the length of time added to journeys will be limited to about an hour. An 11.5-mile diversion route has been created to direct motorway traffic along A roads. Related: Motorists warned of long delays as M25 to shut for roadworks National Highways is urging drivers not to use their satnavs to attempt to find quicker alternative routes on minor roads due to fears this could cause significant congestion. Steve Gooding, the director of the motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, told PA Media: We must hope National Highways has overstated its dire predictions of satnavs adding to the traffic chaos by taking drivers off the official diversion route, because the temptation to try to skip the queues will be intense, and the impact on actual journey times uncertain. Whilst the modelling suggests around an hour might be added to peoples travel time, that will feel optimistic to anyone used to the frustrations of driving round the M25 on days even without major construction works under way. St Peters hospital in Chertsey has urged people to only visit if it is necessary this weekend. It said: Please be aware of the diversions that will be in place and that there is likely to be considerable congestion in the local area. Please plan your journey allowing extra time as it is likely to take longer than usual. The unprecedented closures have led to some school sport fixtures scheduled for this weekend in Surrey to be postponed. Councillors whose wards are on the diversion route expressed concerns about the anticipated disruption. Malcolm Cressey of Runnymede borough council said: I think its going to be a difficult period but we have to sort out those bridges. I think its going to be very disruptive. I would certainly urge anybody to try to avoid the area. It could end up with all sorts of gridlock in our area. Tahir Aziz of Woking borough council said: Weve never experienced something like this before. It will have a significant impact in this area. It will cause huge disruption and delays, and a lot of traffic jams. Four more daytime closures of the motorway will take place up to September. The project, due to be completed in summer 2025, will increase the number of lanes at junction 10, which is one of the UKs busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions. Gooding added: National Highways needs to learn from this weekends experience and work closely with neighbouring road managers to minimise the traffic impacts of the further planned closures. It must give as much certainty and notice as possible months rather than weeks to drivers and hauliers, many of whom will be making trips that cant be put off to another day. A second Trump term threatens Europeans with a markedly more ominous scenario than the first. Photograph: Mike Stewart/AP Amid the grandiose surroundings of the Bayerischer Hof hotel in Munichs historic old town, previously cautious and low-key German politicians were in such a state of alarm about future US commitment to Nato that they were discussing how Germany might acquire an independent nuclear deterrent, potentially overturning decades of national defense doctrine. The setting was the annual Munich security conference in April and the talk among statesmen and officials gathered in the Bavarian capital was dominated by the ad-libbed threat from Donald Trump days earlier to encourage Russia to do what the hell they want with European alliance members supposedly derelict in paying for their own protection. Related: Judge denies Trumps request to throw out classified documents case The former US presidents menacing broadside intensified and overshadowed the anxieties being felt over a more immediate problem: the determination of rightwing congressional Republicans apparently at the former presidents bidding to block $60bn in military aid for Ukraine, jeopardising the countrys capacity to continue its two-year fight against Russias invasion. To at least one Washington policymaker, it was the very possibility of an independently nuclear Germany a country whose non-belligerent post-second world war posture has been underpinned by protection from the US nuclear umbrella that most eloquently evoked Europes fears about future American commitments. The fact that I show up in Munich and theres a debate going on about whether Germany should go nuclear, or whether France should extend nuclear deterrence to Germany is a sign of just how profound the concern is, said Charles Kupchan, a former White House senior adviser on European affairs under presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and now international relations professor at Georgetown University. In the event, the notion was slapped down by Natos secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who dismissed talk of a European nuclear deterrent free of US involvement as not helpful. The jarring scene illustrated the ability of Trump once again the Republican nominee in this years presidential election to undermine European trust in American global leadership even when not in the White House and while the presidency is occupied by Joe Biden, a liberal internationalist who has prioritised US commitment to the alliance and helped Ukraine repel Russian forces. More urgently, it speaks to a yawning divide between the respective European and American debates on Ukraine as evidenced by the log jam on Capitol Hill. Three attempts at passing a Ukraine assistance bill have failed since the White House first tabled the package nearly six months ago. In its latest iteration, the aid bundled up with assistance programmes for Israel and Taiwan has been tied to reforms tightening the US southern border with Mexico, a condition demanded by Republicans and already passed with bipartisan support by the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the speaker Mike Johnson egged on by the GOPs Trump-supporting Maga (Make America great again) faction has refused to allow a vote on the bill, despite it having enough support from members of his own Republican party to pass comfortably. The apparent obtuseness stems from a Republican determination to score points and win votes from the mass influx of asylum seekers at the southern border in a presidential election year. While portraying Ukraine as a distant cause low on American voters priority lists, GOP rightwingers are at the same time trying to paint Biden as weak on the border, which surveys regularly ranks highly on most voters list of concern. Bidens agreed compromise of linking fresh border restrictions to Ukraine aid is now unacceptable to the same Trump-supporting faction, Democrats say, because they fear the president would win credit for tackling a frontier crisis that they hope will ease the Republican nominees path back to the White House. The entanglement of Ukraines battle for national survival with domestic US politics provokes bewilderment in Europe, where it is seen as inflicting longterm damage on Americas relations with its allies and perhaps, in the worst-case scenario, presages the lurch of the worlds leading democracy into autocracy. European fears were voiced bluntly by Polands prime minister, Donald Tusk who after meeting Biden in Washington accompanied by the countrys president, Andrzej Duda said the fate of millions of people hung on whether Johnson allows a house vote. This is not some political skirmish that [only] matters on the American political scene, Tusk said. Mr Johnsons failure to make a positive decision will cost thousands of lives. He takes personal responsibility for that. Kupchan said the congressional impasse raised legitimate concerns among allies about US reliability. ... The United States has been inconsistent in its statecraft and the nature of American foreign policy has been in the hands of whoever wins elections Charles Kupchan I think the Europeans are right to be freaking out, he said. Who knows whether Trumps statements will ever be acted on [but] what is happening on the Hill is the cause for the greatest concern because theres an emergency in Ukraine. The current US-European divide has its roots in the end of the cold war, which heralded the collapse of the Soviet Union following the demise of allied communist regimes in eastern Europe. Since then, the United States has been inconsistent in its statecraft and the nature of American foreign policy has been in the hands of whoever wins elections, Kupchan said. European allies are suffering whiplash, as a result. They look across the Atlantic and see a country that doesnt seem to know its own mind, he added. A second Trump term threatens Europeans with a markedly more ominous scenario than the first, according to Max Boot, a historian and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is taking the Republican party back to where it was on 6 December 1941 [the eve of Japans attack on Pearl Harbour, triggering the US entry into the second world war], when many of them were hostile to Britain and sympathetic to Nazism, said Boot. Clearly he is tapping into something visceral otherwise he wouldnt have as much support for it. The cold war is long over and the isolationist Republican party is back with a vengeance. Robert Orttung, professor of international affairs at George Washington University, agreed that Trumps America First foreign policy was a throwback to the Republicans pre-1941 posture of hostility to entering the second world war. Opposition to spending money on foreign wars and people in other countries before dealing with our own problems at home is the driving force in the grass roots of the Republican party. In that sense, they are coordinating with Trump, he said. This isnt a temporary problem. ... The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought Europe together like never before Robert Orttung The US has given Ukraine $75bn in the last couple of years, which is a lot of money, and many Republicans are asking how much more we need to give them. These questions are going to continue to be important, even for Biden, and unless something dramatic happens like a Russian attack on Poland its hard to see it changing back. Meanwhile, I think the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought Europe together like never before. So its understandable that Europeans have difficulty understanding whats going on [in the US]. The combined effects of stronger inter-European solidarity and fears over future American commitment has the potential to deliver a silver lining in the form of increased European spending and responsibility for its own defense, analysts believe. By addressing a key complaint of Trumps criticism of Nato, such an outcome may weaken his case for abandoning the alliance as some former officials in his first administration insist is his inclination should he be re-elected to the White House in November. However, Boot cautioned that Europe is still far from being able to cope with threats from Russia without American help. Europe has to confront the major obstacle to its military power which is the division of resources and capacities among so many different countries, he said. There has to be a greater pooling of European military strength so they can have a greater chance of competing on their own. Yet, Orttung warned, the apparent gain of having Europe take more responsibility could come with a cost for US global power and influence. Obviously Europe has to compete with the Middle East and Asia for US attention and resources, but Europe is much more important to the United States than the Middle East and Asia, he said. Thats our core base. If we dont protect that we are going to be without a foundation for American power in the world. Dhruvin Patel has 20/20 vision and doesnt wear spectacles. Yet, he wants to protect 10 million eyes by 2025 through his eyecare business, Ocushield, after bootstrapping the first product from his university dorm 10 years ago. In 2014 he was working at Vision Express to gain industry experience and much-needed funds while studying to become an optometrist at City University. One weekend, the lead optometrist gathered staff with a new product for individuals who wore spectacles, explaining that it was a blue coating which would limit eye strain. I was amazed by this as my mum always told me that looking at screens was bad for your eyes, says Patel. She never really had a reason for it other than sit back or stay away. Read More: 'One Freja customer said his grandmother called it the Italian penicillin' Back at university, he was granted permission to do a research project on whether blue light was causing eye strain, headaches, suppressing melatonin and making it harder to fall asleep after screen time. With screens continually getting bigger and wider, Dhruvin wanted to find a way to use the technology to put over screens with his range of blue light shields for devices and glasses. A university grant gave him the funds to launch his first product, effectively the worlds first medically-registered screen filters to go over laptops or phones. Ocushields online eye test aims to improve access to eye care and help detect potential eye problems early. A grant competition at Cass Business School saw Patel convince 100 of his fellow students to come to the last lecture of the day and vote for him after his pitch. His subsequent win allowed him to secure 1,000 pre orders and the capital to manufacture a first run of products. Three years after launching at university, he made the "leap of faith and went full time into the business. The best school for business is just doing it, he says. I applied for a Virgin StartUp Loan, didnt take the funding but took the mentorship in finance and business strategy. It helps you proceed at what you are doing rather than hitting in the dark and gives you a structure and sounding board. Read More: Meet vertical farm GrowUp, the UKs fastest-growing salad brand We had the benefit of knowing the screen protector market was established. But we had the secret ingredient. Working on a product with an element of dye and reflective coating and putting it into a form of screen protection, we knew we could quickly find manufacturers. Patel admits he remained focused on staying as an authority in the market, with competition becoming tighter. Registering their products in the UK and US, he adds: We know healthcare consumers trust products from this environment rather than a random brand on Amazon. Ocushield's optomotrists showcased their anti blue light screen protectors on Dragons' Den. Ocushield now offers a range of products to help reduce the effects of blue light emitted from digital devices, such as glasses, lamps and masks. Having secured 1.3m in fresh funding, Patel and business partner Asad Hamir have also launched an online eye screening solution. Through selling their core products to employees like Meta, AON and Charles Tyrwhitt, they surveyed 2,000 HR directors on what they offered employees. Ocushields optometrists discovered a low pick up on eye testing and soon developed an idea to develop an eye screen test in under seven minutes. In the UK, 24% have never had an eye exam or not had one in the last five years. Thats 16 million people alone, says Patel. We want to make eyecare accessible and make it an important health topic as other areas are at the moment. "Our job is to push eyecare to the front of the line; by 2050 age-related macular degeneration will be the biggest cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Ocushield is B Corp Certified and was a 2023 recipient of the Kings Award for Enterprise. Its about having purpose. If I didnt want to help people and impact them I would lose motivation pretty quickly. But I want to protect 10 million eyes by 2025, I know that challenges will come every day and it's about how to solve them. All this after the Ocushield duo appeared on Dragons Den in 2021. The dragons saw immediate potential in Patels products which sparked a bidding war, but they eventually turned down offers after six months of negotiations. Read More: Bra pain inspired Evelyn & Bobbie founder to become go-to solution brand It was daunting and incredible, Patel says today. We saw massive success from being on the show. Indeed, Ocushield is now valued at 7m, while the business has visions to hit 21m in revenue in three years time. Patel says his own healthy vision is down to a combination of genetics and using Ocushield products. He adds: But for us, its about helping further support eyes to thrive. Watch: AI reskilling must be a continuous investment for businesses Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo said a controversial security clause in the Falepili Union treaty has led to fears among some in the country that Australia might encroach on Tuvalus sovereignty. Photograph: Kalolaine Fainu/The Guardian Tuvalus new prime minister, Feleti Teo, wants guarantees from Canberra that a landmark treaty with Australia will not undermine his countrys sovereignty. Teo, who was appointed leader last month, told the Guardian a controversial security clause in the Falepili Union treaty has led to fears among Tuvaluans that Australia might encroach on Tuvalus sovereignty. The treaty, signed in late 2023, states that the Pacific nation shall mutually agree with Australia on partnerships or arrangements with other states on security and defence-related matters. The clause in effect gives Australia veto power over Tuvalu entering into security agreements with other countries, and comes amid intense competition for influence in the Pacific. That obviously gives the impression of Tuvalu conceding its sovereignty to decide whatever security arrangement it prefers, Teo said, who added he was disappointed at how quickly the previous government had entered into the agreement with Canberra. Related: Tuvalu residency and security treaty: what is it and why is Australia doing it? What Ive asked the Australians is that if we are able to come to some arrangement that stopped short of revising the treaty, that guarantees and assures that Tuvalus sovereignty is intact. Then Im all good for it, Teo said, without giving detail on what form any guarantee should take. The sweeping treaty signed between prime minister Anthony Albanese and Tuvalus then prime minister Kausea Natano also offers a special migration pathway for up to 280 Tuvalu citizens a year to live and work in Australia. Teo, a former attorney general who advised the Tuvalu government during the drafting of the deal, says he wished more time had been given to public consultation on the terms of the treaty. As a result, he said his government will soon launch a campaign to better explain the intricacies of the deal to the nation. When the treaty was negotiated, there was no consultation with the public, so the people frowned on the treaty when it came out, he said, adding that he had already discussed his concerns with Australian officials who visited this week. Thats why we are mounting an educational programme to socialise and explain to [the Tuvaluan public] the entirety of the treaty, he said. Teo said his government would stop short of changing any aspects of the deal, while seeking to address sovereignty concerns. If we will seek direct amendment of the treaty then its going to take a long time to be able to bring that into effect, he said. If there is a way that stops short of revising the treaty that guarantees the integrity of the sovereignty of Tuvalu, then we will certainly explore those options. A spokesperson from Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the treaty recognises that the statehood and sovereignty of Tuvalu will continue. Australia has sought greater security ties with several Pacific nations, in what is widely seen as a response to Chinas own desire to strike bilateral deals around policing and territorial access in the region. Last year, China and Solomon Islands signed a deal on police cooperation as part of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. James Batley, a policy fellow in Pacific affairs at the Australian National University and a former high commissioner to Tuvalu, said given the geopolitical context, there was greater impetus for Australia to enshrine security assurances when negotiating with Pacific nations. Australia has made the point that decisions by Pacific island governments affect Australias national security, Batley said. What Australia gets out of this [Falepili treaty] is the reassurance that Tuvalu could not be used in a way that undermines our national interests, given the special status that we have granted Tuvalu through this treaty. Chinas rising influence in the Pacific was further brought into the spotlight during Tuvalus recent elections. Tuvalu is one of the few countries in the world that still maintains formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan over China, and some had suspected that a change in leadership may have prompted the government to review this foreign policy. Teo acknowledged that other Pacific countries had been flip flopping between Taiwan and China, but dismissed any speculation that his government would do the same. He said he had not been approached by Chinese delegates before or since his election. Related: Culture, democracy and clout: why three Pacific countries are sticking with Taiwan I have far more immediate pressing development challenges, Teo said, listing examples such as the need to improve medical and educational services to Tuvalus remote islands. Those are more pressing in my own calculations than wasting efforts on engaging on the China discourse. The climate crisis is also a priority for Tuvalus government, and it has therefore been criticised for not negotiating stricter emissions reduction targets in its treaty with Australia. Tuvalu, along with other Pacific nations, is pushing for a global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty that advocates for a phasing out of oil, gas and coal production. Asked if Tuvalus new government would urge Australia to stop any new fossil fuel projects, Teo said he was already heartened by Albaneses climate commitments made during their recent phone call. It was my first conversation with the prime minister of Australia so I took it on face value that the Australian government is committed to reducing their level of emissions, he said. Ill just take that and observe their actions and hopefully that will match their commitment. Lorries loaded with humanitarian supplies bound for Gaza wait as trucks are screened by Israeli inspectors and sniffer dogs at the Nitzana border crossing in November 2023. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters A proposed new UN mechanism for speeding up the delivery of aid to Gaza suggests a new layer of screening and tracking of shipments and the opening of a new inspection facility at Rafah. The $61.2m scheme, required by a UN security council resolution in December, does not propose opening any new crossing points from Israel into Gaza, nor does it address the issue of security, two of the biggest issues limiting delivery, at a time of deepening famine. The UN childrens aid agency, Unicef, reported on Saturday that acute malnutrition among babies in northern Gaza had doubled in February and that now 31%, one in three children under two years old, now suffers from acute malnutrition, in what the agency called a staggering escalation from 15.6% in January. The UN proposal, which has been obtained by the Guardian, focuses on streamlining the current inspection process overseen by Israel, referred to in the document as the relevant state authority, and providing means of tracking shipments as they move inside Gaza. A covering letter accompanying the proposal on Friday is signed by Sigrid Kaag, a former Dutch minister appointed as UN aid coordinator for Gaza in December who will run the mechanism, and Jorge Moreira da Silva, the head of the UN Office for Project Services, which will be responsible for establishing a single database for all aid shipments under the scheme. The letter says the mechanism would serve as a one-stop process for facilitation of humanitarian and relief consignments to Gaza through all entry points, with its key functions in Gaza. A few countries have airdropped food into northern Gaza, where the threat of starvation is most severe, a small sea shipment organised by a charity has arrived from Cyprus and the US has announced plans to build a floating dock to unload larger amounts of aid arriving by sea. But aid organisations say such deliveries cannot substitute the mass shipments of assistance necessary to save Gazas 2.3 million population, which would be possible if Israel opened more crossings, especially in the north, to a sustained large-scale flow of aid. The speed at which this catastrophic child malnutrition crisis in Gaza has unfolded is shocking, especially when desperately needed assistance has been at the ready just a few miles away, Catherine Russell, Unicefs executive director, said. We have repeatedly attempted to deliver additional aid and we have repeatedly called for the access challenges we have faced for months to be addressed. Instead, the situation for children is getting worse by each passing day. Our efforts in providing life-saving aid are being hampered by unnecessary restrictions, and those are costing children their lives. The proposed UN mechanism, which is subject to change from by UN member states, makes clear that Israel will retain control of what enters Gaza, stipulating that clearance of humanitarian assistance will be required for all the consignments as the first step in the mechanisms supply chain and will enable the initial verification of humanitarian nature. Consignments that do not go through this system will not be able to proceed to the next point in the process, it adds. Israeli inspections have been a major hindrance to the flow of aid since the Gaza war began in October. Whole shipments have been routinely rejected if they contain a single item deemed a security risk, a definition that aid agencies and diplomats say is based on arbitrary criteria. The Refugees International aid advocacy organisation has reported that water purification tablets, nail clippers, insulin pens, tent poles, green-coloured sleeping bags, water filters and ventilators have all been banned. The proposed UN mechanism includes an advance desk review of consignments, presumably with the aim of getting clarity from the Israelis on what is allowed before trucks reach the Gaza crossing points. Based on desk review, the mechanism will issue clearance, in coordination with the relevant state authority (as needed), to proceed to the next phase, the UN document suggests. The mechanism would track shipments as they moved through Gaza, guaranteeing they reached their intended recipients, a central concern cited by Israel. Like the current system, the delivery of aid would remain dependent on Israeli cooperation. The most significant change proposed is the establishment of a new inspection arrangement inside Gaza for goods entering at the Rafah crossing. Currently, shipments have to be inspected at another crossing Keren Shalom or at Nitzana on the Israeli-Egyptian border before being driven back to Rafah. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has insisted his forces will press ahead with an offensive on Rafah, in defiance of US appeals to hold back. The UN mechanism does not mention the issue of security, which has become increasingly important as desperate crowds as well as criminal gangs have looted aid convoys. Aid officials expressed concern that the proposed UN mechanism will do very little to improve the catastrophic conditions in Gaza created by the Israeli military siege. The Exchange at Falmouth University - Hufton+Crow-VIEW / Alamy Stock Photo A Russell Group university has warned students against taking contaminated heroin after a rise in drug overdoses. The University of Exeter, in Cornwall, put out an urgent message on Friday advising recipients who are drug users not to sample the substance alone and to carry at least two doses of an anti-overdose medication with them at all times. The warning also applied to so-called street benzos, drugs often purporting to be Xanax and Valium. The university told students at its campus in Falmouth that these and other substances had been contaminated, leading to a rise in overdoses in the Cornish town. It follows recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that showed deaths from drug poisonings in the county had reached a 30-year high. Fridays message advised affected students to ideally avoid using alone, or use in a place you will be found, or use a buddy app if there is no alternative. It told them to ensure a phone was always to hand, to sample any new drugs in low doses, and, if possible, to have a sober sitter nearby. In setting out the advice, the university said it does not condone taking drugs and believes that not to do so is the safest approach, but wants to do what it can to keep those students who do use them safe. Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has warned of a deadly strain of fentanyl - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Street benzos, short for benzodiazepines, tend to refer to pills sold as diazepam (Valium), temazepam or alprazolam (Xanax). One of their principal dangers is that they often only contain a fraction of the chemical advertised, with the rest being made up of unknown substances. Analysis by Avon and Somerset Police found that pills sold on the black market as Xanax contained only around 15 per cent alprazolam, while those sold as diazepam contained about 25 per cent of the drug. The strength of the pills can therefore vary significantly. There are also growing warnings that street benzos, alongside more traditional narcotics such as heroin, are being bolstered with new synthetic opioids such as Nitazenes. 500 times stronger Last year, Northern Irelands Public Health Agency issued a warning that Nitazenes were making some street drugs 500 times stronger than morphine, leading to multiple deaths. The warning from Exeter comes days after Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, warned a major conference that the wave of fentanyl, a different synthetic opioid which has devastated communities across the States, could be heading for Europe, as suppliers seek new markets. The Exeter University warning read: Weve been made aware of a rise in the number of drug overdoses within the Falmouth and Penryn area in recent days. Its thought that heroin, street benzos and potentially other substances have been contaminated. This is a risk even in smaller doses than usual. Alice Gregory, a law and business student at the university, said she was disappointed the authorities had not done more to condemn drug taking in its message. I think its terribly irresponsible of them [University of Exeter] to not tell students that they should not be taking class-A drugs, and that taking them is completely illegal. ONS figures for 2022 revealed there had been 56 deaths in Cornwall related to drugs, up from 19 in 1993. Across the South West the substances most associated with drug poisoning that year were heroin and morphine. A recent study by the University of Manchester showed that living in a coastal town, as well as the north of England, increased the chances of dying from a death of despair, understood as deaths from alcohol, drugs or suicide, which tend to occur in more socially deprived communities. A spokesman for the University of Exeter said: We were asked by the drug and alcohol support teams in Cornwall to inform our students about a rise in drug contamination and overdoses in the local area. The safety of our students is our top priority and so we followed the advice. We do not condone drug taking and have zero tolerance of any criminal or antisocial behaviour related to drugs, including the supply of drugs. Vaughan Gething has been announced as the next First Minister of Wales, becoming the first black politician to lead a European country. His victory in the Welsh Labour leadership election means that, for the first time since devolution began in the late 1990s, none of the UK nations will be led by a white male. Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister, is the son of first-generation immigrants from Pakistan, while Northern Ireland is led by a female first minister and deputy first minister, Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly. Mr Gething, currently minister for the economy, beat Jeremy Miles, the education minister, winning 51.7 per cent of the vote. In his acceptance speech on Saturday, he said: Today we turn a page in the book of our nations history not just because I have the honour of becoming the first black leader in any European country, but because a generational dial has jumped too. Devolution is not something I have had to get used to or adapt to, or apologise for. Devolution, Welsh solutions to Welsh problems and opportunities, is in my blood its what I have always known through my adult political life. Vaughan Gething celebrates with his wife Michelle and son Isaac as he is announced as the fifth First Minister of Wales on Saturday - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Mr Gething was born in Zambia in 1974, where his father, a Welsh vet from Ogmore-by-Sea in Glamorgan, met his mother, a chicken farmer. He has spoken about his experiences of racism, saying in his campaign that he did not want anyone in Wales to suffer prejudice. When he was two, his family moved to Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, where his father had been due to start a new job, but the offer was withdrawn when he arrived with a black family. The family moved to Dorset, and Mr Gething later returned to Wales to study law at Aberystwyth University, becoming a solicitor. He has been a member of the Senedd since 2011. Congratulating Mr Gething on his appointment, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said: I am committed to working together constructively, with a relentless focus on growing the Welsh economy and levelling up communities. Mr Yousaf said: What an incredible achievement to become the first black leader of a European country. Mr Gething, who was health minister during the Covid pandemic, paid tribute to Mark Drakeford, the departing First Minister, describing him as the right leader at the right time in the pandemic and adding: We will be forever in his debt. Mr Drakeford said his successor would provide the next generation of leadership for the party. Mark Drakeford will formally resign as First Minister on Tuesday, March 19 - Matthew Horwood/Getty Images Turning his attention to the general election, due later this year, Mr Gething said: I know that we can win. We can win if we stand together, linking arms to defeat the narrow forces of division that seek to make a warm nation turn cold. That only happens if we sweep the Tories out of office and send Sir Keir Starmer into Number 10. Labour has been in power in Cardiff since the creation of the Welsh Assembly in 1999, but is facing difficulties on a number of fronts, including criticism of a 20mph speed limit policy, long waits for NHS treatment and protests by farmers against green subsidy plans. Mr Gething said last month that the Welsh Government had got some of the communication side wrong on the 20mph default speed limit in built-up areas. Sir Keir said: Huge congratulations to Vaughan Gething on his election as leader of the Welsh Labour Party. His appointment as First Minister of Wales, the first black leader in the UK, will be an historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern-day Wales. With his many years of experience in the Senedd, I know he will lead a hopeful, ambitious Welsh Labour government in the face of a tired and failed Tory government in Westminster. Mr Drakeford will formally resign as First Minister on Tuesday, March 19, and the Senedd will elect its new First Minister on Wednesday, March 20. The first one to open her letter, Melanie Moses jumps for joy at being matched with UT Health San Antonio pediatric residency at the Match Day 2024 event held at Chicken N Pickle on Friday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News After finding out she was matched with UT Houston, Sarah Shaker, center, and her mother, Siti Shuhup, right, become emotional during the Match Day 2024 event held at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Alexis Lorio wipes away tears as faculty members cheer for her during Match Day 2024 celebrations at Chicken N Pickle on Friday. Lorio was matched with Duke University. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Dr. Robert Hromas, dean of the Long School of Medicine, addresses attendees of the Match Day 2024 event held at Chicken N Pickle on Friday. About 200 medical students from Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio learned which residency program they would be attending after graduation. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Aden Tads excitedly crosses the stage after opening her residency match letter during the Match Day 2024 event held at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Luis Vasquez raises the letter saying he was matched with University of California San Franciscos residency program as he crosses the stage during Match Day 2024 at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Lauren Rahman is embraced by loved ones Friday after finding out she was matched with a residency at Baylor University in Houston. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Amisheila Kinua beams after finding out she was matched with Emory Universitys residency program while onstage with her father, Kaziaya Kinua, left, and mother, Irene Mupemba, right, during the Match Day 2024 event at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Ivy Edoghotu cheers excitedly for younger brother Nathanie Edoghotu being matched with Emory University during Match Day. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Nathanie Edoghotu is embraced by older sister Ivy Edoghotu after finding out he was matched with Emory University. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Tessa Haines, center, and Taylor Holland, right, are overcome with excitement of being in the same OB-GYN residency program with UT Health San Antonio at the Match Day celebration held at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Kavita Vyas grins as she films son Shail Vyas, not pictured, onstage during the Match Day 2024 event at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News MaryAnn England, left, embraces Amisheila Kinua, right, Friday at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Caitlin Stanley, center, poses with brother Patrick Stanley, left, and partner Siva Subramanian, right, after finding out she was matched with UT Health San Antonios psychiatry residency during Match Day 2024. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A group of friends pose with their residency match letters during Match Day 2024 celebrations at Chicken N Pickle. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Hundreds of San Antonio medical students, and tens of thousands across the nation, found out where they were going next in that annual tradition Match Day. About 200 students from the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio gathered Friday morning at the Chicken N Pickle restaurant at 5215 UTSA Blvd. to find out which U.S. residency program theyll be attending after graduation. About 15 miles away, about 100 students from the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine were waiting to find out their next step at the Rosenberg Sky Room in the McCombs Center on the universitys Broadway campus. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They and the thousands of other U.S. medical students across the nation, opened their envelopes during Match Day 2024 celebrations held simultaneously across the nation. The National Resident Matching Program uses a mathematical algorithm to match students to residency programs, using the students and programs ranking of their choices after virtual interviews were held. It releases the results in what has become a live annual event held on the third Friday of March. We are especially proud of applicants this year, many of whom began medical school the fall before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and had to quickly adapt to and thrive in a radically changed academic and training landscape. Their experiences and success speak to a remarkable resilience and dedication they will carry with them into practice, NRMP President and CEO Donna L. Lam said in a statement. How many medical students took part in Match Day 2024? There were 44,853 active applicants and 41,503 certified positions in 6,395 residency training programs, according to the NRMP. Both the number of applicants and positions were a record. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Do all medical students get a match? No, but the NRMP reported that this year, a record 92.3% of U.S. osteopathic students and 93.5% of MD students got a match. Of the international medical graduates taking part, 67% of U.S. citizens and 58.5% of noncitizens got a match. Nearly 94% of the positions were filled. Local numbers werent available but UT Health San Antonio said that last year, 99% of the seniors in the Long School of Medicine who took part in Match Day 2023 got their residency of choice, above the national average. Twenty-four percent remained in Bexar County, adding to San Antonios health care workforce. Statewide, 54% of students got residencies in Texas, with 43% going into primary care, UT Health San Antonio said in a news release. In 2023, 48% of seniors from U.S. medical schools got the No. 1 choice; 73% ended up with one of their top three, the American Medical Association reported on its website. As for seniors from osteopathic schools, 46% got their top choice and 75% one of their top three. What happens to those who didnt get a match? Eligible applicants who didnt get a match take part in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, which filled 2,575 positions, including some that werent part of Match Day 2024, according to NRMP. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When was the first Match Day held? 1953, when 6,000 applicants took part. Anything else? UT Health San Antonio pointed out that Match Day results can predict future changes in the physician workforce. One of the categories watched is primary care positions since, as NRMP pointed out, concerns remain about a shortage of U.S. primary care physicians. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wales suffered the ignominy of a first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2003 after Italy posted a 24-21 victory over them in Cardiff. Not even George Norths farewell appearance before international retirement he suffered an injury late in the game and was helped off could lift a dismal Wales effort in suffering a fifth successive Six Nations defeat this season and finishing bottom of the table. It was a thoroughly deserved Italian win and came via tries from wing Monty Ioane and full-back Lorenzo Pani, with fly-half Paolo Garbisi kicking three penalties and a conversion and Martin Page-Relo landing a late penalty. While Wales boss Warren Gatland has pleaded for patience as he embarks on an extensive post-World Cup rebuilding job, stark statistics cannot be avoided as late tries from Elliot Dee, Will Rowlands and Mason Grady, with Ioan Lloyd kicking two conversions and Sam Costelow one, provided scant consolation. Wales have now suffered seven successive Six Nations home reversals, two on the bounce to Italy and won just one game from 10 starts in the tournament since Gatland returned for a second stint as head coach. Italy had propped up the table for eight campaigns in a row, but they avoided that fate this time around, and the Cardiff mood was in stark contrast to five years ago when Wales stormed to the Six Nations title and a Grand Slam by crushing Ireland. The Azzurri, though, could reflect on a memorable campaign that also saw them defeat Scotland and draw with France in Lille. It was a chastening afternoon for Warren Gatland and his team (Joe Giddens/PA) And life is not about to get any easier for Gatland or his players. Their next game is against world champions South Africa in June, followed by a two-Test tour of Australia. Wales monopolised early possession without making any real attacking headway, and Italy went ahead when Garbisi booted a sixth-minute penalty. Italy comfortably absorbed continued pressure from Wales, before Garbisi doubled their lead through a second penalty after North infringed by not releasing the ball on the floor. And Wales promising start soon unravelled, with Norths midfield partner Nick Tompkins dropping a pass and Italy storming upfield to post an outstanding try. Garbisi, centre Tommaso Menoncello and lock Federico Ruzza combined superbly, setting up a strong attacking platform before Wales were unlocked defensively when Ioane sprinted through a gap and touched down. Italys Monty Ioane celebrates their first try (PA) Garbisi missed the conversion, but Italy had an 11-point advantage after 20 minutes, leaving the wooden spoon hovering closer into view for Wales. The home side were at sixes and sevens, a situation underlined when a defensive mix-up between Sam Costelow and Cameron Winnett saw the ball knocked-on to gift Italy an attacking scrum 20 metres out. Although the Azzurri could not capitalise, there was continued uncertainty and hesitancy from Wales, and even when they established a threatening position inside Italys 22, Tompkins knocked on again. Wales looked completely fazed by the occasion, in contrast to Italys largely calm and assured presence, and an 11-0 interval lead confirmed a sense of control for the visitors. George North did not get the farewell he hoped for (PA) It had been an opening 40 minutes for Wales as poor as the first half against Scotland in their Six Nations opener, when the Scots built up a 20-point advantage. Italy struck again just six minutes after the restart, with Ioane heavily involved and Pani producing a blistering finish as he cut back inside Wales wing Rio Dyer. Garbisis conversion put them 18 points ahead, with seemingly no way back for Wales. Gatland began ringing the changes, and a glimmer of hope was provided when Dee crashed over for a try 16 minutes from time that Costelow converted. But Garbisi snuffed that out when he kicked a 45-metre penalty, and Page-Relo then found the target from even longer range as Wales abject Six Nations season reached its sorry conclusion despite late tries from Rowlands and Grady. shih-wei/istockphoto Incoe Tax Free States If you live in a state like California or New York, you might be shocked to learn that some states dont charge income taxes. Sounds like a dream, right? But before you start packing your bags, its worth clearing up some misconceptions. To begin with, youre still going to have to pay taxes on property, goods, and services. And secondly, states that dont charge income taxes suffer from other problems, like high sales-tax rates and underfunded public services, both of which hurt low-income Americans. Rather than glossing over those details, weve contextualized our list of income-tax-free states by including metrics from WalletHub such as overall tax burden and taxpayer return on investment. Note: The taxpayer ROI ranking referenced in each slide is based on the state's placement among all 50 states, with 1 being the best. istock/ Cheapism Alaska With the lowest tax burden of all 50 states and an impressive return on public spending, Alaska is the place to be for angry libertarians and other tax-averse Americans. That said, its not exactly a paradise. WalletHubs ROI analysis found that the state had one of the worst ratings in education and water quality. istock/ Cheapism Florida Florida taxpayers get their money's worth for their taxes, especially given the states robust public education system. On the other hand, the state lags behind when it comes to healthcare, ranking in 37th place behind high-tax states like California, New York, and Hawaii. istock/ Cheapism Nevada Nevadas taxpayer ROI suffers because of its dismal last-place economy score, which is based on metrics like median household income and unemployment. Besides the lack of income taxes, the only upside is that Nevada has some of the best roads and bridges in the country. istock/ Cheapism New Hampshire Despite its nonexistent sales tax (cigarettes and gas are taxed separately), New Hampshire offers some of the best government services in the country, earning high economy and education scores. It also has the fewest proportion of residents in poverty and one of the lowest violent crime rates, making it the safest state on WalletHubs list. Investments are taxed at 5%, though that percentage will phase out by 1% every year until it hits zero in 2027. istock/ Cheapism South Dakota Prepare for a bumpy ride in South Dakota, as the low-tax state has some of the worst roads and bridges in the country, according to WalletHubs analysis. However, the Mount Rushmore State makes up for poor infrastructure with a healthy economy, ranking far above economic powerhouses California and New York. istock/ Cheapism Tennessee Tennessee has the best and worst of low-tax states. On the one hand, it nabs the first-place spot for bridges and roads. But then you look at the states violent crime, which is tied with four other states for the highest rates in the country. istock/ Cheapism Texas Californians fleeing the Golden States high taxes often decamp to Texas, where income tax rates are zero. But the state government has to get its funding somehow, so they charge relatively high sales and property taxes. istock/ Cheapism Washington Out of all the states with zero income tax, Washington ranks the lowest on taxpayer ROI, receiving middling scores for its government services. The Evergreen State also has a relatively high tax burden thanks to its capital gains, sales, and gas tax rates. istock/ Cheapism Wyoming With half the tax burden of a New Yorker, Wyomingites can keep most of their money from Uncle Sam. And the consequences dont seem to be too severe, as the state earns mediocre scores across the board for its public services. Its lowest ranking is in healthcare, where Wyoming comes in 39th place. istock/ Cheapism The Bottom Line Whether it's a high sales tax or a dismal healthcare system, states that dont charge income taxes come with their own drawbacks. And taxed income is only part of the picture. Once you begin to think about the cost of living, job opportunities, public transportation, and the quality of a states government services, its clear that taxes are just one aspect of affordability and quality of life. This article was originally published on Cheapism shih-wei/istockphoto More From Cheapism Like Cheapism's content? Be sure to follow us. Mark Wahlberg tells a heartwarming stray dog's tale in "Arthur the King." But just how accurate is the movie (in theaters now), inspired by an adventure racer (portrayed by Wahlberg) who comes across a shaggy mutt during a brutal championship trek? Adapted from "Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home," Mikael Lindnord's 2016 memoir, "Arthur the King" unsurprisingly takes Hollywood license with its "based on a true story" saga. Yet it keeps the heart of the real story with a starring role for a dog who's a ringer for Arthur (another mutt named Ukai) and even correctly depicts the meaningful first meeting between the gruff racer and the stray that would change his life. "Mikael gave meatballs to this mangy old dog that nobody ever did anything nice for," says Wahlberg, 52, who's a producer on the film. "And, while trying to win the championship, something clicked in him that altered the rest of his life. He knew he had to save this dog." Is it time to give Oscars to dogs? Why Hollywood's cute canines are ready for their moment 'Arthur the King' tells an Americanized, Hollywood version of a dog's tale If you want the straight-up real Arthur story, read the book or watch the ESPN documentary "Arthur." Lindnord, 47, was the Swedish captain of an adventure racing team that competed in the 2014 world championship in Ecuador. "Arthur the King" has Wahlberg playing an American named Michael Light, who leads an American team (played by Ali Suliman, Nathalie Emmanuel and Simu Liu) in a world championship set in the Dominican Republic. The location was changed for logistical reasons amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There's a lot of adventure before Michael and Arthur meet during the 435-mile endurance race through jungles and rivers. Mikael Lindnord and the real Arthur during the adventure racing world championship. "He looked terrible and I could even smell like rotten flesh, so I gave him some meatballs," Lindnord tells USA TODAY. "Arthur chose to follow us. We didn't ask him to. The decision was his." Arthur trailed the racers through the most extreme conditions. Scenes like naming the dog King Arthur during his heroic trek were so realistic, it brought Lindnord to tears watching. "Arthur the King" plays loose with details about the race and Arthur's role in the team's navigation, which gets Hollywood embellishment. For example, there's a night scene when Arthur barks Lassie-like to stop Michael from walking over a sheer cliff just feet away. Lindnord did stop just short of disaster, but not because Arthur barked. "We stopped because we felt this breeze. We couldn't see, but it must have been a sheer 20-meter (65-foot) cliff," Lindnord says. "Arthur wasn't barking, but he was there." Simu Liu as Leo and Mark Wahlberg as Michael in "Arthur The King." The duo decide to take Arthur in the kayak section of the race. The race culminated in a 14-hour kayak portion that officials wouldn't allow Arthur to take. "They said it was too dangerous," Lindnord says. "So we left and I heard this splash, and I saw Arthur trying to swim after us. I pulled him on the kayak." The movie scene is extended for drama "but it's pretty accurate," Lindford says. "Even putting the jacket over Arthur to shield him from the rain." Arthur joined the team in running across the finish line for 12th place. Arthur found a new home, and medical care ... in Sweden As shown onscreen, Lindnord decided to adopt Arthur and started jumping through the bureaucratic hurdles to bring the dog home not to Colorado, but to Sweden for medical treatment for long-festering wounds. "The blood work showed, just as in the movie, that Arthur would have survived for only a couple more weeks," Lindnord says. The story of the stalwart stray went viral, covered by news outlets around the world. But it was especially big in Sweden. Similar to the media circus depicted in "Arthur the King," the dog and his human arrived in Stockholm to a throng of TV cameras and reporters worthy of a major movie star. Arthur with Helena and Mikael Lindnord, along with their children Philippa and Thor. Does the dog die in 'Arthur the King'? Arthur became part of Lindnord and wife Helena's family for six happy years. That's where "Arthur the King" stops its story. "He was not a dog to us, he was a family member," Lindnord says. Sadly, in November 2020, right around the time filmmakers approached Lindnord about turning Arthur's story into a movie, the real beloved pooch fell ill. A malignant tumor was found on Arthur's spine. "It all went very fast," says Lindnord, who announced Arthur's death on social media that December. "One day, we lay on the floor of the veterinarian's office together, and he gave me one last kiss and died." "Arthur the King" is a tribute to the dog he loved. "It's a love letter to Arthur. And not just to Arthur. There are a lot of Arthurs out there. It will open up people's minds. That stray or adoptable dog they see might be the best friend they don't know. So give them a chance." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Arthur the King a true story? Mark Wahlbergs new movie unpacked Animation co-productions between Japanese media companies and their Asian counterparts were once few and far between, but in the past decade, with the rapid rise of animation industries in China and South Korea, the pace has picked up. Indeed, FilMart is playing host to an animation panel March 13 that explored the advantages of cross-border collaboration. More from Variety Still, given the huge worldwide demand for animated IP, fueled by Netflix, Crunchyroll and other streamers, it could be faster. Industry observers have cited various barriers to Asian animation co-productions, including political, structural, legal and cultural issues. In China especially, where the appetite for Japanese and other foreign animation once seemed unlimited, connections with the Japanese anime industry have become strained, if not severed. One reason is a 2020 law aimed at protecting minors that bans anyone under 16 from owning a streaming account and prohibits audio-visual content with obscenity, pornography, violence, cults, superstitions, gambling, inducements to suicide, terrorism, separatism or extremism to anyone under 18. Not all anime is sex and violence, but a good half of modern productions are aimed a late-teen demographic sweet spot that is now forbidden in China, said Jonathan Clements, author of Anime: A History, whose recently published second edition contains new chapters on the consumption, production and distribution of animation in China. As a result of this content clampdown, Chinese media companies that were once eager to invest in Japanese animation are now more cautious. They are well aware that if they pay out for the wrong sort of anime, their investment is worthless in the Chinese market, said Clements. By comparison, Korean media companies are more open to anime productions with Japanese counterparts, using Korean comics, web novels and webtoons to supply much of the content. Meanwhile, the Japanese production committee system has long been a bottleneck for Chinese and Korean media companies. Typically comprised of Japanese entities with a stake in the project as investors or rights holders, production committees can be slow to make decisions and resistant to foreign participation. In my experience, [the production committee] is often a terrifyingly tedious chicane of obstacles, particularly with old shows where things that you could once agree with a handshake and a whisky now have to be run past a group of disparate strangers, said Clements. But they also offer access to Japanese funding, including government money only available to projects with a Japanese production partner. The ability to buy into the ownership of a new anime while it is being made can save a canny investor hundreds of thousands of dollars at the distribution end, Clements noted. In other words, a hurdle worth jumping over. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Before Bennifer, Brangelina and Tayvis, there was Liz and Dick. March 15, 2024 marks 60 years since the (first) wedding of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The couple set the world on fire with their whirlwind romance, which Burton famously referred to as Le Scandale. The pair originally crossed paths at a Hollywood party in the 50s, but they officially met for the first time on the set of their 1963 movie, Cleopatra, where sparks immediately began to fly. Although both married to other people at the time Taylor wed Eddie Fisher in 1959, while Burton had tied the knot with Sybil Williams in 1949 the twosome began a passionate affair during their time in Italy that quickly became a global phenomenon. From photos of them kissing on yachts in the Mediterranean to walking along Romes Via Veneto, the publics obsession with the duos infidelity made headlines around the world to a magnitude that matched, if not exceeded, modern-day pairs like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Ive had affairs before, Burton once told a publicist working on Cleopatra. How did I know the woman was so fking famous? She knocks Khrushchev off the front page. Celebrity Couples and How They Met: Love Story Beginnings Eventually, both Burton and Taylor divorced their respective partners and were wed in Montreal on March 15, 1964, by a Unitarian minister. Elizabeth was 32 years old at the time, Burton was 38. It was her fifth wedding, his second. (Taylors entanglement with Burton marked her second love triangle, as she initially got together with Fisher when he was still married to her friend Debbie Reynolds.) According to her 2022 authorized memoir, Elizabeth Taylor: The Grit and Glamour of an Icon, the minister started the ceremony by crediting the couple for going through great travail in your love for each other while being harassed and hounded by the media. Taylor donned a canary yellow chiffon babydoll dress for the nuptials, which Cleopatra costume Designer Irene Sharaff designed. She paired the look with an 18-carat Bulgari emerald brooch, a piece that Burton had gifted her while filming. Her hairdresser, Ronald DeMann, styled her locks into a braided crown updo with a hairpiece entwined with white hyacinths. Lilies trailed down her back. William Lovelace/Express/Getty Images The only guests at the intimate ceremony were Taylors parents, Francis and Sara, and Burtons stylist, Bob Wilson. The service lasted a mere 10 minutes, ending with Burton claiming, Elizabeth Burton and I are very, very happy. Elizabeth agreed, announcing, Im so happy you cant believe it. This marriage will last forever. Forever didnt last as long as Taylor hoped. The pair had a volatile relationship throughout their first 10 years of marriage, with Taylor once claiming that Burton would often lose his temper with true enjoyment. Our fights are delightful screaming matches, and Richard is rather like a small atom bomb going off, she said. Burton echoed his wifes sentiments. We live out, for the benefit of the mob, the sort of idiocies theyve come to expect, he told the Daily Mirror. We will often pitch a battle purely for the exercise. I will accuse her of being ugly, she will accuse me of being a talentless son of a bitch, and this sort of frightens people. I love arguing with Elizabeth, except when she is in the nude. The twosome announced their divorce in 1974. Less than one year later, however, they tied the knot for a second time in a ceremony in Botswana. We exchanged rings, fathomless looks, and were married once again, back where we belonged. Always belonged, Taylor wrote in a diary entry from that time. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Burton and Taylor adopted daughter Maria in 1961. However, after 11 films and nearly two decades together, they called it quits for good in 1976. (Taylor tied the knot eight times in total. In addition to Burton and Fisher, she was married to Conrad Hilton Jr. from 1950 to 1952 and Michael Wilding from 1952 to 1957, and the duo shared sons Michael Jr. and Christopher. In 1958, she married Mike Todd and the pair welcomed daughter Liza before he died in a plane crash less than one year later. Following her second divorce from Burton, she married John Warner and Larry Fortensky in 1976 and 1991, respectively.) Dame Elizabeth Taylor Through the Years In her autobiography, Taylor confessed that despite their romance failing to go the distance, she had no regrets about her and Burtons love story. Even though there were rough times, she wrote, I wouldnt give up one minute of my time with Richard Burton. Courtesy of Giorgi Janelidze/Instagram Fitness influencer Giorgi Tzane Janelidze died after falling into a ravine while filming social media content in Italy. According to Greek outlet Ethnos, the Wednesday, March 13, accident occurred while Janelidze was standing on a balcony without a railing, where he slipped and fell into the ravine. Firefighters from Melito Porto Salvo detachment and the SAF unit arrived on the scene but were unable to save him. Helicopters subsequently retrieved his body and transferred it to Saline Joniche, where he was turned over to authorities. He was 23. Prior to his death, Janelidze had traveled to Roghudi Vecchio, Calabria, an ancient mountain village that was abandoned in the 1970s due to severe flooding. His friend Chris Kogias, who was on the trip with him, later confirmed his death to Ethnos. Tzane is no longer with us, Kogias told the outlet on Thursday, March 14. He left us yesterday afternoon during the trip we made to Italy. Please pray with us for his soul to rest in peace. Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year Janelidzes girlfriend, Elena Margariti, also took to social media to mourn the tragic loss. The most beautiful person inside and out, the biggest adventure Ive ever had with someone, she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram Story, per the New York Post. With my man, my whole life. She continued, Many dreams, a home together, through our difficulties, through our joys, and we made it, us against all odds. So unfairly, so early. I love you so much. We will meet again. My Tzitsi. Janelidze had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, where he often shared tips and tricks as well as videos of his daily workouts. He also promoted apparel and protein powder for his business, which he cofounded with fellow influencer Dream Greek. Gen Z and millennial tourists will make up half of all travelers in the Asia-Pacific region, the fastest growing region for travel, by 2025, says Todd Handcock, the global chief commercial officer and Asia-Pacific president for Collinson, which operates the Priority Pass airport lounges. But this new generation of tourists wants something else from their travel. These two groups have a hyper heightened focus on personalized value-added experiences, according to Collinsons customer engagement report. Younger travelers are thus more likely to value benefits such as spas or sleeping pods at the airport, treating time spent waiting for flights as part of the overall travel experience. According to a Collinson survey in September, cashback and points remained the most popular financial rewards for Gen X travelers while Gen Z and millennials showed a preference for experiential-driven travel rewards. Other industry research suggest Gen Z and millennial travelers are more likely to favor nature-based or cultural experiences when traveling. Travelers from these two cohorts are also more likely to be influenced by social media as opposed to search engines or travel guides. By comparison, Gen X travelers travel less frequently and are more willing to pay for luxury, according to industry research. These tourists may also be traveling with family, and so may look for family-friendly options or activities that are suitable for children. Collinson runs over 1,500 airport lounges and travel experiences in 600 different cities, and partners with banks, airlines and hotels to offer consumers access. If you take a look at our geographic coverage, we have probably more insight than any other airline and hotel group, bar [Marriott] Bonvoy, Handcock says. Passengers trying to enter Collinson lounges need to show their boarding passes and a membership card, giving the company information on where people are going, and how they became a Priority Pass member. (Handcock says the company is tight on privacy rules and very protective of our clients data.) Air travel in the Asia Pacific is largely back to pre-pandemic levels, he says, based on a 17% increase in lounge visits, driven by millennials and Gen Z, for the current quarter compared to the same period in 2019. India and China India and China are significant markets, Handcock says. China has lagged behind the rest of Asia when it comes to international air travel recovery. Fewer flight options, which may also result in higher prices, coupled with visa backlogs and restrictions have often been cited by the travel industry as possible reasons for the slower rebound. (Domestic travel, on the other hand has surpassed pre-COVID levels, with industry figures not seeing a slowdown) Yet data from the recent Lunar New Year holiday suggest that new visa-free initiatives from nearby countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand could be encouraging Chinese tourists to travel internationally again. China saw some 13.52 million inbound and outbound trips during the holiday, which is 2.8 times more from the same holiday period last year, according to the National Immigration Administration. Fliggy, a travel platform owned by Alibaba, noted that outbound travel hit a four-year high. Handcock notes that Collinson is starting to see more inbound travel to China as well, suggesting that international travelers are now more confident to visit China. Beijing, for its part, has been trying to make it easier for people outside of China to visit. It unilaterally granted citizens from Thailand, Malaysia, and 11 different European countries visa-free access to the country, China has not fully recovered but were seeing significant growth both from a domestic as well as an inbound perspective, Handcock said. Handcock is more effusive on Indias potential, citing government policy, a rising middle-class, and Collinson data pointing to a burgeoning air travel sector. Our 2023 lounge visit data has seen a 56% year-on-year increase in outbound traffic from India, Handcock says. India is expected to have about 5 billion aggregate trips annually by 2030, and travel expenditure is expected to grow to $410 billion by 2030, according to a study released by Booking.com and McKinsey & Company in October. The top destinations for outbound India travel, based on Collinsons data, are the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The Indian government is encouraging more investment in its aviation industry, with the Modi administration saying that the government would spend 980 billion Indian rupees ($11.83 billion) by 2025 to build new airports and modernize existing ones. Indian carriers are also expanding their fleets. The newly-privatized Air India ordered 470 planes from Boeing and Airbus in February 2023. Also last year, Indian airline IndiGo ordered 500 Airbus planes at the Paris Airshow, the largest single purchase agreement by any airline in commercial aviation history. Fortune is hosting the inaugural Fortune Innovation Forum in Hong Kong on March 2728. Experts, investors, and leaders of the worlds largest companies will come together to discuss New Strategies for Growth, or how companies can best seize opportunities in a fast-changing world. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Sam Bankman-Fried should spend 40 to 50 years in prison after being convicted of stealing $8 billion from customers of his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, prosecutors said Friday. The FTX founder was found guilty on all charges in November related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange in the first of two criminal trials against the former CEO. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried appears in federal court during his fraud trial in Manhattan, N.Y., Oct. 26, 2023. A jury in a Manhattan federal court agreed with prosecutors that Bankman-Fried defrauded investors, customers and lenders during the collapse of his crypto empire. FTX AND SAM BANKMAN-FRIED'S TRIAL: THE PLAYERS "Even now, Bankman-Fried refuses to admit what he did was wrong," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. "His life in recent years has been one of unmatched greed and hubris; of ambition and rationalization; and courting risk and gambling repeatedly with other people's money." A spokesman for the former billionaire, Mark Botnick, declined to comment. Bankman-Fried's lawyers told U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan a 5- to 6-year prison term would be appropriate. They said FTX clients would get most of their money back and that Bankman-Fried did not set out to steal. READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried arrives for a bail hearing at Manhattan Federal Court Aug. 11, 2023, in New York City. Kaplan is scheduled to sentence Bankman-Fried March 28 in Manhattan federal court. Bankman-Fried plans to appeal his conviction and sentence. Prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried, who founded and controlled both FTX and sister hedge fund Alameda Research, of misappropriating and embezzling billions of dollars in FTX customer deposits, scheming to mislead investors and instructing other executives at his businesses to do the same. SAM BANKMAN-FRIED SAYS LAWYERS INVOLVED IN KEY DECISION BEFORE FTX COLLAPSE In the trial, he faced seven charges two counts of wire fraud and five conspiracy counts. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 110 years behind bars. Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of FTX Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange, leaves court in New York July 26, 2023. "Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said after the verdict was announced. "The cryptocurrency industry might be new. The players, like Sam Bankman-Fried, might be new. But this kind of corruption is as old as time." Several members of Bankman-Fried's inner circle testified against him during the trial. The prosecution's key witnesses were Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend and the former CEO of Alameda Research, FTX co-founder Gary Wang and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh. The trio had all previously pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government. Reuters contributed to this report. Original article source: Prosecutors want a 40- to 50-year prison sentence for Sam Bankman-Fried A terrifying plunge on a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight earlier this week might have been caused by a mistake made in the cockpit, and not any flaw in the Boeing jet, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. The Journal report, which cites unnamed US industry officials briefed on preliminary evidence from an investigation of the incident, said that a flight attendant may have mistakenly hit a switch on the pilots seat while serving a meal, leading a motorized feature to push the pilot into the controls and push down the planes nose. The pilot eventually recovered control and landed the plane safely. Boeing did confirm a separate report from the Journal on Friday that it had sent an advisory Thursday evening to airlines that operate the 787 Dreamliner, which included instructions for inspecting and maintaining (cockpit seat) switches. The company said it had sent a similar service notice to airlines in 2017. We are recommending operators perform an inspection at the next maintenance opportunity, Boeing said. American Airlines has started telling its pilots it has identified a potential hazard with the switches on the back of the pilots seats on the Dreamliners. It said all cockpit occupants should be briefed on the importance of not using the switch on the top back of the pilot seat when the seat is occupied, according to the notice obtained by CNN. CNN obtained the full text of Boeings alert to airlines about power seats in the 787 cockpit, warning of unintended seat movement. Boeings document says that a seatback switch that controls the forward and aft movement of the captain and first officers seats can potentially jam if a spring-loaded seat back switch guard is closed on a loose or detached switch. Boeings document also guides airlines on how to disconnect electrical power to the seat. As of 2022, the airline had nearly four dozen 787s in operation. FAA reviewing notices The US Federal Aviation Administration said it is also looking at Boeings Thursday notice to airlines about the cockpit seat switches, as well as its earlier notice from 2017. The agency is convening a board of safety experts to provide feedback to Boeing on its notice to airlines that operate the Dreamliner. The agency will continue to monitor the situation closely, the FAA said. Asked by CNN if the service notice sent yesterday was due to some preliminary findings of investigators into the LATAM incident, a Boeing spokesman deferred all comment on the cause of the incident to the official investigators. Dozens of passengers were injured when the plane plunged, as some were thrown to the ceiling of the cabin. One passenger told the media that a pilot had told him he had lost control of the plane when my gauges just kind of went blank on me. That comment suggested a new safety issue for Boeing, which as been struggling with years of safety and quality issues around its commercial jets. CNN has yet to be able to confirm the Journals report about the cause of the plunge. LATAM on Monday said the plane had a technical event during the flight which caused a strong movement, adding it had landed as scheduled in Auckland. Asked about indications the problem with the flight was a cockpit mishap, the airline told the Journal the company is working with authorities on the investigation, but declined to comment further until the investigation is finished. LATAMs pilots union declined to comment. The companys flight-attendant union didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. In a statement to CNN Tuesday, Boeing said it was working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customer. Investigators from New Zealand and Chilean aviation authorities are investigating the flight. LATAM is a Chilean airline. They are looking at information from the black boxes, which record data from airline instruments as well as an audio recording of what was said inside the cockpit. The black boxes have been removed from the plane and are in the possession of the New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Boeing under scrutiny on safety issues It would be good news for Boeing if it is cleared of any fault in the LATAM flight. The company is facing multiple investigations by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board over an incident on a January 5 Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max flight in which a door plug blew out, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane minutes into that flight. Fortunately no one was seriously injured on that flight from what could been a catastrophic accident. But the accident has brought a renewed focus to the safety of Boeing commercial jets, a record that included two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed a total of 346 people. Boeing has accepted legal liability for those crashes, which were attributed to a design flaw in the 737 Max. The Justice Department is now investigating whether or not the latest Boeing issues brought to light in the wake of the Alaska Air incident would violate a controversial deferred prosecution agreement the company reached in 2021, which could open the company for criminal liability. An audit of Boeing since the Alaska Air flight by the FAA found multiple instances of non-compliance issues in Boeings manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control. The agency has given Boeing 90 days to come up with a plan to fix its quality issues. Boeing has said it is working to meet the FAAs demands. A preliminary report by the NTSB into the January 5 Alaska Air flight found that the plane had left the Boeing factory in October missing the four bolts needed to keep the door plug in place. The NTSB report has yet to assess blame for the incident aboard the plane, but it has criticized Boeing for not having the documentation as to which employees worked on the door plug. But Boeing executives have conceded the company must do a better job on the quality and safety of its aircraft. Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened, said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun in comments to investors when discussing the companys latest financial losses. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers. CNNs Gregory Wallace and Angus Watson contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional reporting and context. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, the country's meteorological office said, spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air in sharp contrast against the dark night sky. In a video shot from a Coast Guard helicopter and shown on public broadcaster RUV, fountains of molten rock soared from a long fissure in the ground, and lava spread rapidly to each side. The eruption began at 2023 GMT and the fissure was estimated to be about 2.9 kilometres long, roughly the same size as the last eruption in February, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement. Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent on the Reykjanes peninsula just south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik. The site of the eruption was between Hagafell and Stora-Skogfell, the same area as the previous outbreak on Feb. 8, the Met Office said. "This was definitely expected," said Rikke Pedersen, head of the Nordic Volcanological Centre. "Of course the exact time of the eruption is impossible to predict. The first cues of this moving towards the surface actually only happened about 15 minutes in advance," she said. Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport's website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals. Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly south towards the nearby Grindavik fishing town, where a few of the nearly 4,000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, the Met Office said. The town was again being evacuated, public broadcaster RUV reported. An outbreak in January burned to the ground several of its homes. "We're just like, this is business as usual," Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who was evacuated from Grindavik in November, told Reuters. "My son...just called me and said, Mamma, did you know the eruption has started? And I was like, yeah, I did know. Oh, my grandma just told me. So it's like we don't even bother telling each other anymore," she said. Icelandic police said they had declared a state of emergency for the area. The nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately shut its doors, as it did during previous eruptions. Iceland, roughly the size of the U.S. state of Kentucky, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism - a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers. In 2010, ash clouds from eruptions at the Eyafjallajokull volcano in the south of Iceland spread over large parts of Europe, grounding some 100,000 flights and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to evacuate their homes. Volcanic outbreaks in the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere. Gases from the eruption were travelling westwards out at sea, the meteorological office said. Scientists fear the eruptions could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dykes to divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure. The February eruption cut off district heating to more than 20,000 people as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines. Located between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates, among the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two move in opposite directions. (Reporting by Louise Rassmussen, Terje Solsvik, Tom Little and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Alexander Smith, Daniel Wallis and David Gregorio) Metro Health offices and clinics will be closed on Friday, March 22 for department-wide staff training. William Luther/San Antonio Express-News San Antonio Metro Health offices and clinics will be closed for one day next week for staff training, according to a news release. Metro Healths administrative offices and clinics will be closed next Friday, March 22, for department-wide training. All offices and clinics will reopen on Monday, March 25. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For more information visit Metro Healths website. The clinics and centers that will be closed include: Immunization Clinic STI Clinics Tuberculosis Clinic Lactation Support Center Citys WIC Clinics (the full list is included on SA.gov) Lab Services Resource Center at Villa Coronado Folks who want to get a vaccine that week can also visit one of Metro Healths pop-up clinics. By Andrew Mills and Maayan Lubell DOHA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition was accelerating in the north of the Palestinian enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks on a hostage deal with Hamas. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said one in three children under the age of two in northern Gaza is now acutely malnourished, putting more pressure on Israel over the looming famine. On Friday, Israel said it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. The delegation will be led by the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, a source familiar with the talks said, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to convene the security cabinet to discuss the proposal before the talks start. Netanyahu's office has said the Hamas offer was still based on "unrealistic demands." Efforts failed repeatedly to secure a temporary ceasefire before Islam's holy month of Ramadan started a week ago, with Israel saying it plans to launch a new offensive in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in tiny, crowded Gaza after five months of war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, starting a two-day visit to the region, voiced concern about an assault on Rafah, saying there was a danger it would result "in many terrible civilian casualties". On Friday, Netanyahu's office said he had approved an attack plan on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents are sheltering, and that the civilian population would be evacuated. It gave no time frame and there was no immediate evidence of extra preparations on the ground. The Hamas offer, reviewed by Reuters, foresees dozens of Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, during a weeks-long ceasefire that would let more aid into Gaza. Hamas also called for talks in a later stage on ending the war, but Israel has said it is only willing to negotiate a temporary truce. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera the group's proposal is so realistic that "no one can object to it" and claimed that mediators had reacted positively. He said it consists of two stages, with a complete "cessation of aggression" at the start of the second one - something Israel has rejected, vowing to resume its goal of destroying Hamas once any temporary truce expires. Families of Israeli hostages and their supporters again gathered in Tel Aviv, urging a deal for their release. At the same time, anti-government protesters, estimated by Israeli media at a few thousand, called for new elections and blocked streets in Tel Aviv. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas sent fighters into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it has killed at least 13,000 Hamas members in the Gaza fighting. The assault has also devastated the enclave, forcing nearly all the inhabitants from their homes, leaving much of the territory in rubble and triggering a massive hunger crisis. "Children's malnutrition is spreading fast and reaching unprecedented levels in Gaza," UNRWA said in a social media post. Hospitals in Gaza have reported some children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. Western countries have called on Israel to do more to allow in aid, with the U.N. saying it faced "overwhelming obstacles" including crossing closures, onerous vetting, restrictions on movement and unrest inside Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started. A first delivery into Gaza by the World Central Kitchen, pioneering a new sea route via Cyprus, arrived on Friday and was off-loaded, the charity said. On Saturday, a second cargo of food aid was ready to depart by sea from Cyprus, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said, while the U.S. and Jordan said they carried out an air drop of humanitarian aid. Queen Rania of Jordan, in a CNN interview, called the airdrops "literally just drops in the ocean of unmet needs" and accused Israel of "cutting off everything that is required to sustain a human life: food, fuel, medicine, water." (Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Jonathan Landay and Matt Spetalnick in Washington and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Writing by Angus McDowall and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, David Gregorio, Alistair Bell and Daniel Wallis) The judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial in Manhattan has agreed to delay its start, injecting more uncertainty into the legal calendar for the former president. The trial had been scheduled to begin on March 25. A new trial date is yet to be determined, but is not likely before mid-April. The announcement follows a contentious back-and-forth between the Manhattan district attorneys office and the Trump legal team over the production of tens of thousands of documents turned over this month by the Department of Justice. A March 25 hearing will address the events specifically surrounding the documents turned over this month, as well as Trumps motions to dismiss the case and sanction District Attorney Alvin Braggs office over what he says are repeated discovery violations. There are significant questions of fact which this Court must resolve before it may rule on Defendants motion, Judge Juan Merchan wrote Friday. Therefore, the Court agrees with Defendant that a prompt hearing is required on the pending discovery motion, the circumstances surrounding the document production by the USAO-SDNY and the scheduling of a trial date, if one is necessary. Trial on this matter is adjourned for 30 days from the date of this letter on consent of the People. The court will set the new trial date, if necessary, when it rules on Defendants motion following the hearing, the judge added. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said the delay shows that Merchan is concerned about the dispute over document production. The judges letter tells me he is taking the defense allegations seriously, Honig said. The judge now has demanded that prosecutors provide him chapter-and-verse details on how the documents came to be produced so belatedly to the defense. Merchan ordered the parties, namely Trump, to avoid scheduling any commitments that would compete with the new trial timeline based on the 30-day delay. The parties must file a detailed timeline of the events surrounding document requests and productions from the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York including all correspondence by March 21. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, stemming from reimbursements made to Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen for hush money payments he made before the 2016 election to an adult film star alleging an affair with Trump. The former president has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair with Stormy Daniels. On Thursday, the district attorneys office said that it would be willing to accept a 30-day delay to the start of the trial to give Trumps team time to go through the discovery documents. Finger-pointing over new documents Trumps lawyers say the new information is exculpatory for the former president and damaging to prosecutors key witness, Michael Cohen, so they need at least 90 days to properly review the new material. The Manhattan district attorneys office has said the majority of the records are not relevant to the charges on trial, but still consented to a delay of up to 30 days in an abundance of caution. Braggs office did acknowledge some of the new documents pertain to the states case against Trump. Federal prosecutors turned over the last batch of about 15,000 pages Friday, according to Merchans order. In all, more than 100,000 pages of documents have been turned over in recent weeks. Braggs office says it expects most of those documents to be unrelated to the states case. The US attorneys office in Manhattan amassed information about the hush money scheme when it built a case years ago against Trumps former fixer. Cohens 2018 guilty plea on charges related to the hush money transactions and other unrelated crimes sparked the state investigation into Trumps role in the scheme. Blame-shifting over the 11th-hour document dump has played out in public court filings between attorneys for Trump and the state this week. Prosecutors say they properly requested and gave Trump any required information produced by the US attorneys office last year, blaming the late record production on Trumps lawyers who they say waited to subpoena the information until mid-January. Attorneys for Trump, however, say they didnt force federal prosecutors with a subpoena but have received the new information in response to a straightforward request to the US attorneys office. The fact that the US attorneys office produced the documents without any enforceable compulsory process from the defense, is strong evidence that the People failed in their obligation to make a diligent, good faith effort to ascertain the existence of material or information discoverable, a Trump letter filed Friday says. Braggs office maintains they properly turned over all case material to Trumps lawyers and did not violate any procedural requirements to warrant a dismissal of the case. The US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York has declined to comment on the matter. Typically, a judge will grant a delay when both parties agree to postpone legal proceedings. But setting aside Trumps packed litigation schedule, Merchan will have to consider his own docket, too, which includes the trial of ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon set to face money laundering, conspiracy and fraud charges before Merchan on May 1. Trumps attorneys also raised the issue of the Jewish holiday of Passover that begins in late April, which they say will conflict with Braggs recommended 30-day delay. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A pair of wealthy retirees enjoy Champagne on an exotic beach. Imagine awakening to the gentle sound of waves washing up on a pristine beach, steps away from your luxury villa. You enjoy a gourmet breakfast while planning your day, debating between taking a tranquil boat trip or enjoying a private tour of a renowned local museum. All of these are made possible because youve amassed a hefty nest egg of $20 million for your retirement. Need help meeting your retirement savings goals? A financial advisor can help. Of course, not all retirees dream of such a lifestyle. Perhaps you envision dedicating your golden years to philanthropy, focusing on family or investing in a legacy for future generations. Whatever your goals, a $20 million nest egg opens up a multitude of possibilities. Heres a look at the different lifestyles a $20 million retirement savings can afford you. What Your Retirement Might Look Like With $20 Million Lets help your imagination take flight with some hypothetical scenarios of retirement lifestyles with $20 million. Picture a penthouse with panoramic views in the pulsating heart of New York City, providing vibrant culture and world-class gastronomy right at your fingertips. Alternatively, visualize a serene private vineyard nestled in Napa Valleys lush landscapes where you invite nature into every relaxation and celebration. More specifically, a nest egg of this size generates a significant income stream for years to come. Imagine youre retiring at 50 years old with $20 million in the bank. Even if the money generated little interest or even none at all, you could afford to withdraw $500,000 per year for the next 40 decades. That means you could spend nearly $42,000 each month for 40 years if you live to 90. Keep in mind that this is an ultra-conservative estimate. Youd likely invest at least a portion of the money and grow that nest egg over time. That growth could support an even plusher lifestyle, allow you to donate to the causes you care about and preserve wealth for future generations. And say good-bye (and good riddance) to commercial aviation. You charter a plane when you want to fly. No more difficult parking, crowded terminals, long lines, intrusive security checks or lost luggage. How Your Lifestyle Impacts Your Retirement Income A retired couple relaxes in their penthouse apartment. Although $20 million might appear sufficient to last multiple lifetimes, its essential to remember your spending habits affect your long-term financial health, as well as any estate you hope to leave for future generations. Maintaining a balance between the joy of extravagance and long-term wealth preservation becomes critical. A penchant for upscale dining, luxury trips and exclusive shopping can dent your retirement savings more than you anticipate. Location, age and health all play important roles in shaping the kind of retirement you lead. For instance, deciding whether to retire to bustling San Francisco or tranquil rural areas will significantly affect your cost of living and therefore, the lifestyle options available to you. Similarly, healthcare costs can be a pivotal factor, varying drastically as per health conditions. To make sure your retirement nest egg serves you well into your golden years, strategic financial planning becomes paramount. This could include regular sessions with a reputed financial advisor, setting up and adhering to a comprehensive monthly budget, careful investment decisions and forward planning. Things You Can Do With $20 Million That You Cant With $1 Million $1 million in savings may meet the needs of many retirees, but a $20 million nest egg opens up a range of new opportunities and possibilities. Travel More $20 million opens up a world of possibilities, literally. It permits comfortable annual globetrotting. You could be exploring the ancient ruins of Rome today and basking in the serene Maldives beaches tomorrow while enjoying the best accommodations and gourmet cuisines the locales offer. Not Stress About Your Monthly Budget This amount of wealth affords more than just luxury. It provides financial stability and the flexibility to cover unforeseen expenses. Essentially, it offers the freedom to indulge in your hobbies, pamper your loved ones and live life without a constant eye on your monthly budget. Pass on Wealth With a $20 million retirement fund at your disposal, you can leave a substantial inheritance to your children or grandchildren and build meaningful legacies. It might even allow establishing a family trust or foundation, supporting causes dear to you for generations to come. Potential Drawbacks of a $20 Million Retirement Lifestyle A $20 million retirement fund might seem like the dream packed with financial security, freedom to pursue passions and room for substantial charitable donations. Yet, its important to consider the potential pitfalls of this level of affluence. Social isolation: Excessive wealth might lead to a disconnect from friends and family, as well as difficulty forming genuine connections with others due to concerns about motives. Lack of purpose: Without work, retirees might find themselves lacking a sense of purpose and direction, leading to feelings of boredom or even depression. Risk aversion: The fear of losing wealth could lead to an aversion to new experiences or investments, potentially limiting personal growth and opportunities. Unwanted attention: Considerable wealth may attract unwanted attention from scammers, opportunists or even distant acquaintances seeking financial favors. Tips to Grow Your Retirement Wealth A wealthy family enjoys the view from their yacht. As you approach your golden years, securing a comfortable retirement becomes paramount. With careful planning and informed decisions, you can significantly grow your retirement wealth. Here are some expert-backed tips to guide you on your journey: Start Early and Stay Consistent Time is your greatest asset. The earlier you begin saving for retirement, the more time your money has to grow through compounding interest. Consistency is key aim to contribute regularly to your retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, to maximize long-term gains. Take Advantage of Employer Contributions If your employer offers a 401(k) match, make sure youre contributing enough to take full advantage of this benefit. Its essentially free money that can substantially boost your retirement fund. Max Out Your Retirement Accounts If you can, contribute the maximum amount to your retirement accounts each year. In 2023, the IRS permits savers to contribute up to $22,500 to 401(k)s and similar accounts and $6,500 to IRAs. People 50 and over can save an extra $7,500 in a 401(k) and $1,000 in an IRA. Diversify Your Investments A well-balanced portfolio is essential for minimizing risk and maximizing returns. Diversify your investments across various asset classes like stocks, bonds and real estate. This strategy can help you ride out market fluctuations. Consider Professional Advice Navigating the complex world of retirement planning can be daunting. Seeking advice from financial advisors can provide valuable insights tailored to your specific goals and risk tolerance. Keep an Eye on Fees High fees can eat into your returns over time. When selecting investment options, opt for low-cost mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to preserve more of your earnings. Bottom Line Retiring with $20 million promises a life of luxury, independence and opportunities, tempered with challenges of wealth management and tax implications. No matter the size of your retirement fund, a well-planned, personalized retirement strategy is key. After all, whether retiring with $20 million or considerably less, the goal remains the same: a comfortable, enjoyable retirement defined by your terms. Retirement Planning Tips Estimating how much income youll need to generate to support your lifestyle in retirement is a key part of the planning process. The experts at T. Rowe Price suggest you start by aiming to replace 75% of your pre-retirement income. However, depending on your saving habits throughout your career, your income replacement target may be slightly higher or lower. A financial advisor can be a valuable resource in the retirement planning process. Finding a financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Photo credit: iStock.com/cdwheatley, iStock.com/skynesher, iStock.com/chinaview The post What a Retirement Lifestyle With $20 Million Looks Like appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Giorgi 'Tzane' Janelidze Internet personality Giorgi "Tzane" Janelidze has tragically died after being involved in a freak accident that occurred during a recent trip to Italy. He was 23 years old. The Greek fitness influencer was filming content for social media on Wednesday, March 13, when he slipped and fell into a ravine, per reports from media outlet Ethnos. First responders rushed to the scene, but unfortunately Janelidze did not survive the fall. Janelidze was reported to be visiting Roghudi Vecchio, Calabria, an abandoned mountain village in Italy, when the accident occurred. According to National Geographic, the hilltop region was once home to one of Italy's last Greek-speaking communities, but now it is nothing more than a ghost town. While visiting the area, Janelidze was standing on a balcony without a railing when the deadly fall happened, Ethnos reports. After firefighters arrived on scene and were unable to save him, helicopters were eventually called in to retrieve his body from the depths of the ravine. Janelidze's body was then transported to Saline Joniche and handed over to authorities. His friend, Chris Kogias, who had been traveling with Janelidze in Italy, later confirmed the news of his death to the Greek publication. "Tzane is no longer with us," he stated. "He left us yesterday afternoon during the trip we made to Italy. Please pray with us for his soul to rest in peace." Janelidze's girlfriend, Elena Margariti, also spoke out in the wake of his tragic death, writing in a since-expired Instagram Story that Janelidze was "the most beautiful person inside and out," per the New York Post. Calling their love story the "biggest adventure I've ever had with someone," Margariti added, "With my man, my whole life." "Many dreams, a home together, through our difficulties, through our joys, and we made it, us against all odds. So unfairly, so early," she continued before concluding, "I love you so much. We will meet again. My Tzitsi." Next: Adult Film Star Sophia Leone's Cause of DeathWhat We Know A boat carrying 25 migrants from Haiti was recently interdicted by Florida law enforcement, state officials said Friday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Florida Fish and Wildlife officers intercepted the vessel within the last couple of weeks. In their boat, in their vessel, they had firearms, they had drugs, they had night vision gear and were boating very recklessly, which would potentially endanger other folks, DeSantis said at a press conference. DeSantis said the boat was interdicted near the Sebastian inlet, and the migrants were turned over to the Coast Guard for deportation. Florida Fish and Wildlife released a statement acknowledging that officers had intercepted a boat carrying multiple illegal Haitian immigrants, guns, drugs and night vision equipment on Feb. 29. After stopping the vessel, officers immediately knew they had intercepted a human smuggling operation, the agency said. On Thursday, DeSantis announced Florida would deploy additional law enforcement resources to the southern regions of the state in anticipation of a possible wave of Haitian migrants as the country struggles with street violence and political instability. The Florida governor, speaking at a press conference, said he signed three bills that target illegal immigration in the state. He also said the state had been looking at boats before the announcement Thursday and law enforcement is going to continue to do it. DeSantis criticized the federal government for failing to take responsibility and said it is not really Floridas responsibility to increase its resources to combat the influx of migrants. Weve got an incredible amount of resources that are now on display, he said, later adding that the Coast Guard does by and large a good job but theyre undermanned, theyre under resourced, so were filling those gaps. DeSantis used the speech to slam President Biden for his border policies, and said migrants from all over the world, as well as Haiti, are going to have an easier time entering the United States by walking across the border than anywhere else because they know that Biden will just let everybody in. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Southern California doctor who was convicted of strangling his wife and then calling 911 and saying shed fallen down the stairs was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Friday, the Orange County District Attorneys Office said. E. Scott Sills, a fertility doctor, was convicted by a jury in December of second-degree murder in the death of Susann Sills. An attorney for Sills argued to jurors that Susann Sills did fall down the stairs of their San Clemente home. The attorney said that she had been experiencing migraines and painkillers may have made her disoriented. Prosecutors alleged that blood stains were found on a wall and curtains in the bedroom where she had been sleeping, and a clump of her hair showed evidence of a struggle. Sills called 911 on the morning of Nov. 16, 2016, and said his wife appeared to have fallen down the stairs, the district attorneys office said. Evidence showed she had been strangled, prosecutors said. Ellis was arrested and charged in 2019. Mr. Sills not only killed his wife but he went one step further and tried to cover up his horrific crime, District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. The sentence of 15 years to life was the maximum sentence on the charge on which Sills was convicted. Sills' attorney did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment late Friday afternoon. By Sofia Christensen and Bate Felix DAKAR (Reuters) - A day after his release from jail, Senegal opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye drew hundreds of supporters at his first public appearance as a presidential contender on Friday for March 24 elections, promising to tackle corruption. Next to him, the popular firebrand opposition leader Ousmane Sonko urged supporters to vote for his ally. "We have an election to win. We have lost too much time," Sonko, also released from prison on Thursday, said at a joint news briefing. Firebrand Sonko - who was seen as the key challenger to President Macky Sall's ruling party - threw his support behind Faye after being disqualified over a defamation conviction unrelated to his detention last July. He says the charges were politically motivated, which authorities deny. Momentum has gathered pace for the opposition as support for Sall has dropped during his second term in office, which will be his final one. Due to constitutional term limits, Sall will step down and for the first time in Senegal's history, the incumbent will not be on the ballot. Most of Sonko's supporters are expected to vote for Faye, making the latter a serious threat to the other 18 presidential hopefuls, analysts say. Sonko is popular among urban youth frustrated with a lack of jobs and economic hardship in a country where 60% of the population is younger than 25. Faye's coalition have been keen to impress on voters that a vote for the less-known Faye is a vote for Sonko. Campaign posters show the two side by side with the slogan: "Diomaye is Sonko." High-profile politicians, including former prime minister Aminata Toure, who had a public falling out with Sall and left the ruling coalition last year, have also backed Faye. "Macky Sall himself has been the opposition's best recruiting agent," Toure told Reuters by phone, adding that Faye projected an image of integrity. TAX INSPECTORS Discreet and soft-spoken compared to Sonko, both co-founded the now dissolved Pastef party in 2014. They studied law in Senegal and worked as tax inspectors, where they met and spoke out against corruption. They are seen as "incorruptible" tax inspectors who did not fill their pockets while others did, said Alioune Tine, founder of the AfrikaJom Center think-tank. "They want to change the system and refresh the political status quo," said Senegalese political analyst Babacar Ndiaye, noting that Faye, born in 1980, is younger than past presidents. Some of the coalition's more disruptive proposals might worry regional allies and investors. These include the creation of a new national currency, and renegotiation of mining and energy contracts just as Senegal is due to begin offshore oil and gas production. The stance on West Africa's CFA franc currency is a contentious proposal within Senegal as well, said Tine and Toure. Sonko and Faye sought to ease concerns on Friday with a more tempered approach. (Reporting by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Wade offered his resignation in a letter to Willis, saying he was doing so in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public and to move this case forward as quickly as possible. ATLANTA (AP) A special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis formally withdrew Friday from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after a judge ruled he had to leave or Willis couldnt continue to pursue the charges. Attorney Nathan Wades resignation allows Willis to remain on the most sprawling of four criminal cases against the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election. But the long-term damage to the public perception of the prosecution remains unclear, particularly in light of Trumps relentless barrage of attacks on the pair who pledged to hold Trump accountable but found their own actions under a public microscope. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File) Wade offered his resignation in a letter to Willis, saying he was doing so in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public and to move this case forward as quickly as possible. I am sure that the case, and the team, will be in good hands moving forward and justice will be served, Wade wrote. Willis complimented Wades professionalism and dignity in a letter accepting his resignation, effective immediately. She said he had endured threats against himself and his family, as well as unjustified attacks in the media and in court on his reputation as a lawyer. I will always remember and will remind everyone that you were brave enough to step forward and take on the investigation and prosecution of the allegations that the defendants in this case engaged in a conspiracy to overturn Georgias 2020 Presidential Election, Willis wrote. Trumps team felt differently. In a social media post, Trump said the Fani Willis lover had resigned in disgrace, and Trump repeated his assertion that the case is an effort to hurt his campaign to reclaim the White House in November. Trump has denied doing anything wrong and pleaded not guilty. An attorney for the former president said they respected the courts decision but believe the judge did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade. We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place, Trump attorney Steve Sadow said. Defense attorneys could try to appeal the ruling, but they would need the judges permission to do so. In a separate criminal case against Trump in New York, a judge agreed Friday to delay the trial related to hush-money payments during Trumps 2016 campaign until at least mid-April. The trial was supposed to begin later this month, but Trumps lawyers said they needed more time to sift through evidence they only recently obtained from a previous federal investigation into the matter. In Georgia, Wades resignation came hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said he had to be removed or Willis must step aside from the case. McAfee did not find that Willis relationship with Wade amounted to a conflict of interest but said the allegations created an appearance of impropriety that infected the prosecution team. As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed, the judge wrote. Put differently, an outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist. Fridays extraordinary developments underscored the extent to which the case that began with allegations that a former president tried to undermine the will of the people who voted him out of the White House had become consumed by talk of the love lives of its top prosecutors. In accepting Wades resignation, Willis made clear her determination to turn the page from weeks of embarrassing headlines about romantic getaways, sex and stashes of cash that have dominated coverage of the case. Special prosecutor Nathan Wade looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File) Willis hired Wade in 2021 to lead the team to investigate and ultimately prosecute Trump and 18 others on charges that they illegally tried to overturn his narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia in 2020. The case uses a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a criminal enterprise to keep him in power. Willis and Wade testified at a hearing last month that they had engaged in a romantic relationship, but they rejected the idea that Willis improperly benefited from it, as lawyers for Trump and some of his co-defendants alleged. Willis and Wade insisted they didnt begin dating until after he became special prosecutor, though a former friend and employee of Willis testified that she saw the pair hugging and kissing before he was hired. Willis and Wade said the relationship ended in the summer of 2023. They both said that Willis either paid for things herself or used cash to reimburse Wade for travel expenses. McAfee wrote that there was insufficient evidence that Willis had a personal stake in the prosecution. And he said he was unable to conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence whether Willis and Wade began dating before or after he was hired as special prosecutor. However, an odor of mendacity remains, the judge wrote. He said reasonable questions about whether Willis and Wade testified truthfully about the timing of their relationship further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it. Even so, he said, dismissal of the case was not the appropriate remedy to adequately dissipate the financial cloud of impropriety and potential untruthfulness found here. An attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman was the first to ask McAfee to dismiss the indictment and prevent Willis and Wade and their offices from continuing to prosecute the case. The attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, alleged that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then improperly benefited from the prosecution of the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them. Merchant said in a statement Friday that while Romans team maintains that the judge should have disqualified Willis office entirely, the judge clearly agreed with the defense that there is a risk to the future of this case if Willis doesnt quickly work to cure her conflict. Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter. The post Fulton County DA Fani Willis to stay on Trump election case in Georgia after special prosecutor resigns appeared first on TheGrio. (Reuters) - An Indian navy warship has intercepted the hijacked cargo ship Ruen and demanded the Somali pirates on board surrender, a navy spokesperson said on Saturday. The pirates who allegedly hijacked the Maltese-flagged bulk cargo vessel on Dec. 14 opened fire on the navy ship in international waters on Friday, the spokesperson said without providing further details. The navy had called on the pirates to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding. Somali pirates who seized the vessel in December may have used it in the takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia this week, the European Union naval force said on Thursday. Until the Ruen was seized, there had been no successful hijacking of a merchant ship by Somali pirates since 2017. At least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking or suspicious approaches have been recorded by the Indian navy since December, Indian officials have said. India deployed at least a dozen warships east of the Red Sea in January to provide security against pirates and has investigated more than 250 vessels. (This story has been refiled to fix a typo in the word 'had' in paragraph 5) (Reporting by Harshita Meenaktshi in Bengaluru and Sriram Mani; Editing by William Mallard and Stephen Coates) WASHINGTON The U.S. Judicial Conference on Friday issued guidance on the federal judiciary's new policy making it more difficult to "judge-shop" following public criticism from top Republicans in Congress. The term refers to a strategy that has been practiced by some conservative lawyers to bring their cases before a judge with a similar ideology. A spokesperson for the administrative office of the U.S. courts said in a statement Friday that the conferences new policies, approved on Tuesday, should not be viewed as impairing a courts authority or discretion. Rather, they set out various ways for courts to align their case assignment practices with the long-standing Judicial Conference policy of random case assignment, the spokesperson said. On Tuesday, the conference approved a policy to randomly assign cases that could possibly halt state or federal policies to a wider pool of district court judges. The move is designed to crack down on lawyers who engage in judge-shopping, or bringing their cases before a smaller subdivision of a district that could ensure the case is overseen by a sympathetic judge. The practice was highlighted by a high-profile case about federal approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Anti-abortion activists filed a case challenging federal approval in a Texas court where they were guaranteed Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who ultimately ruled in their favor, would hear the case. The case is now before the Supreme Court. The Judicial Conference said on Tuesday that judges would receive guidance on how to implement the policy. Congressional Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York have long criticized "judge-shopping." In a statement after the new policy was announced, Schumer said the practice has given MAGA-right plaintiffs the ability to hijack and circumvent our federal judiciary by targeting courts that would all but guarantee a handpicked MAGA-right judge who would rule in their favor. Following the policy change, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Thursday called the move "an unforced error by the Judicial Conference" and said he hoped the Judicial Conference would "reconsider." He was joined by other Senate Republicans in his criticism. An immigrant was found dead and 11 other immigrants trapped in a boxcar near Eagle Pass on March 25, 2023. The death was the third suspected human-smuggling fatality in South Texas in a 24-hour period. South Texas is a bustling corridor for human trafficking. Courtesy Maverick County Sheriff Fifty-three migrants were found dead or dying in an overheated tractor trailer that had been abandoned by smugglers on San Antonio's South Side in June 2022. LISA KRANTZ, STR / NYT Two San Antonio women and two other members of a human smuggling ring have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6.5 to 15 years for trafficking migrants for cash. A federal judge in Del Rio sentenced Eva Maria Galeas, 43, to 15 years and her daughter, Lisa Marie Ortega, 25, to 13 years for their roles in what prosecutors described as an extensive human smuggling organization that reached into Mexico and Honduras. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Members of the smuggling outfit transported undocumented migrants, hid them in rented stash houses and used the fees they collected to pay drivers and fund personal purchases, including cars, the U.S. Justice Department said. The trafficking ring was a family business. It was led by Galeas husband, Roberto Galeas-Mejia, 47, of Honduras. He is also Ortegas stepfather. He oversaw activities that included the transportation and harboring of undocumented noncitizens and the coordination of payments, the Justice Department said. Authorities found more than $600,000 in U.S. currency in a safe during a search of the home Galeas-Mejia shared with his wife and stepdaughter. U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered the money forfeited under laws that allow the government to seize the proceeds of criminal activity. Galeas-Mejias two sisters, Sandra Galeas-Mejia, 48, of Mexico, and Norma Galeas-Mejia, 52, of Honduras were part of the conspiracy. They and the two other women handled the money, funneling it through their bank accounts. They paid drivers, rented the stash houses and paid the stash house operators. Federal agents arrested the four women in 2019. In 2022, all of the defendants were either convicted of or pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and related offenses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Judge Moses sentenced Sandra Galeas-Mejia to seven years in prison and her sister Norma to 6 years. Their brother Roberto remains in federal custody while he awaits sentencing. Human trafficking is a lucrative business along the border, and South Texas is one of the busiest corridors for transporting migrants. Smugglers routinely bundle migrants into rail cars or tractor trailers to transport them across the state in suffocating conditions. In June 2022, some 53 immigrants from Mexico and Central America were found dead or dying in a trailer abandoned on a desolate stretch of San Antonios Southwest Side. In July 2017, 10 people died after being transported in a trailer from Laredo to a Walmart parking lot on the South Side. HONG KONG Young people in China facing an increasingly tough labor market are turning to an unlikely place for help in their job searches: Tinder. Jade Liang, a masters student in Shanghai, decided to dust off her account on the dating app after applying to more than 400 jobs online without success. She had previously used it in her search for romance, but now finds it useful to connect with fellow professionals for casual coffee chats. I simply swiped right on individuals in the industry I aspire to join, which is tech, said Liang, 26, who told NBC News that she makes her intentions clear once she starts chatting with matches online and that she finds the response is generally welcoming. Liang is among job seekers in China who are resorting to unconventional methods because of fierce competition and a scarcity of job opportunities. Some jobless adults are even working as full-time children for their parents, doing chores and running errands in exchange for financial support. China, the worlds second-largest economy after the United States, is struggling with youth unemployment, which hit a record 21.3% last June. After suspending the release of youth unemployment data for several months to revise the method of calculation, Chinese officials said in December that the jobless rate for people ages 16 to 24, excluding students, stood at 14.9%. That compares with 8% unemployment among Americans ages 15 to 24 in the same month, according to the Federal Reserve. Though high youth unemployment is not unusual for countries such as China that are also facing other economic challenges, Chinas problems appear to be more serious this time around, said Su Yue, principal economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit in Shanghai. The countrys economic downturn, the impact of the pandemic, and the consolidation of industry all came at the same time, making the impact on the youth population even greater, she said. China Youth Unemployment (AFP - Getty Images) In the face of such pressures, we cant help but feel a surge of excitement when we come across someone working in the same industry, even while browsing a dating app, said Joy Geng, a recent graduate of a British university who is now based in Beijing. Saturated market Liang first thought of Tinder as a job-hunting tool after she saw a viral post on Xiaohongshu, Chinas equivalent of Instagram, by a user who said she had successfully found a job by using a Chinese dating app. Similar posts suggesting dating apps as a way to find jobs are not uncommon on Chinese social media. When hiring managers ask me how I know the vacancy me: Tinder, read one widely shared meme last year. Though Tinder is one of many foreign apps that are blocked in mainland China, residents can access it using virtual private networks. By using dating apps, we can reach more people, Liang said. Normally, we need a long period of time to get close to people. But with dating apps, you hang out with strangers for a couple of hours and they can already provide you with tons of their personal information. Geng said job seekers may also be turning to Tinder because they no longer have access to LinkedIn, which is also blocked in China after it announced it was pulling out of the country in 2021, and are dissatisfied with the domestic alternatives. Liang said that even though she can access LinkedIn by using a VPN, she still tried Tinder because she found traditional job-hunting methods had failed her. The market is too saturated because of the economic downturn, she said. Tinder itself discourages the practice, saying its platform is designed to foster personal relationships, not business ones. Tinder is not a place to promote businesses to try making money, a company spokesperson told NBC News in a statement. It has also drawn criticism from those genuinely seeking romantic connections who say they can no longer trust other users motivations. I cannot believe people would even go on dating apps to find jobs, read one comment on Weibo, Chinas equivalent of X. I cannot believe a word a dating app user says in the introduction. Romy Liu, who previously worked for an executive search company in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, said that from an employers perspective, finding a job opportunity through Tinder would suggest that an applicant has strong social skills and made a strong enough impression on someone they just met to get a referral. I would think that someone who can get a job through this kind of platform is awesome, she said. But its less efficient compared with traditional job-hunting methods, she said, and may only be viable when seeking employment with international companies or internet giants. And not all employers might look so kindly on the Tinder approach, Liu cautioned. If a state-owned company has ever heard of you hunting for a job on Tinder, I think they might permanently blacklist you, she said. Zoey Zeng, who works in the finance industry in Paris, said that while the Tinder method is available to job seekers worldwide, some factors might make it more effective in China, where it is used mainly by highly educated professionals. Tinder users in China are already very selective because the vast majority of users were pursuing degrees overseas, Zeng said. But in France, Tinder is known for finding sexual partners 90% of people I got in touch with wanted to find friends with benefits. I think the purpose of this kind of software in China and abroad is still not the same, said Zeng, who uses Tinder only for networking. She said she still found Tinder a useful professional tool in Paris as even if it is not very efficient from my end, I am still able to network with people that match my background precisely. Liang is still looking for opportunities in China. Im kind of tempted to give up because its just so hard to find an ideal job, she said. But I believe Ill get substantial help if I actively use dating apps or more ways for job hunting. LOS ANGELES Almost two years after her 5-year-old sons body was found in a suitcase along an Indiana highway, the mother wanted on a murder warrant was arrested in California, police said Friday. Dejaune Ludie Anderson has been sought since a warrant was issued in October 2022 for her arrest in the death of Cairo Jordan. Months earlier, an Indiana mushroom hunter found a suitcase that held the remains of her son Cairo, officials have said. The Las Vegas-themed suitcase was discovered in a wooded area along a road in rural Washington County in April 2022. Anderson was arrested Thursday night in Arcadia, California, a city east of Los Angeles, Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls said at a news conference. Its still a sorrowful, a somber moment in the investigation, Huls said. But its a thing weve looked forward to and anticipated for almost two years now. In October 2022, a Washington County judge issued an arrest warrant for Anderson on charges of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. boy in suitcase case murder (WAVE) A warrant was also issued for another woman, Dawn Coleman, who was later arrested, convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison, but Anderson remained on the loose. That changed this week after an Indiana State Police detective received information from a concerned citizen that eventually led to Andersons arrest in Arcadia, Huls said. Anderson was being held in a Los Angeles jail Friday, Huls said. It was not clear Friday night if she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf. Authorities will seek to bring Anderson back to Indiana to face charges. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection to the death of Cairo, Huls said. Huls called Cairos death tragic and horrific. The childs body was found inside a closed hard case suitcase with a distinctive Las Vegas design on its front and back. (Indiana State Police) Huls said that detectives worked tirelessly and that police were confident that Anderson would one day be arrested. To have the break, the information that they needed that we knew would come. We did know that this day was going to come, he said. Coleman, the other woman charged, was arrested in 2022 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. She was sentenced in November to 25 years in prison. An autopsy found that Cairo died from vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, state police have said. The boy was buried in Indiana, and the community gave him a funeral and a headstone, Huls said. Theres still flowers to this day that are placed at his gravesite, and people praying for him and his family, Huls said. By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly rode in a car given to him by Russian President Vladimir Putin in "clear proof" of the strengthening friendship between the two countries, state media reported on Saturday. Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since Kim met Putin in Russia in September and vowed to deepen military relations. They deny Western accusations that North Korea is supplying Russia with artillery shells and missiles used in Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Kim's ride on Friday in the Russian Aurus limousine is "clear proof of the DPRK-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage," the leader's sister Kim Yo Jong said, according to state media KCNA, using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong Un oversaw air warfare drills on Friday and urged "realistic" preparation for combat, KCNA said, after joint annual drills involving South Korea and the United States wrapped up this week. "Only realistic training directly related to warfare can prepare soldiers as real combat fighters," Kim said, according to KCNA. The South Korea-U.S. joint drills were the first since Pyongyang in November scrapped a 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at de-escalating tensions. Kim also attended the opening ceremony of a greenhouse farm on Friday, KCNA said. Photos showed Kim's daughter Ju Ae attending the drills and the opening ceremony. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Chris Reese, Tom Hogue and William Mallard) Russian citizens poured dye into ballot boxes, lit explosives and attempted arson in sporadic acts of protest during a presidential election guaranteed to deliver President Vladimir Putin his fifth term in office. The incidents occurred on the first day of a three-day voting period across Russia and parts of occupied Ukraine on Friday. Officials said the incidents would have no impact on the election, in which Putin is competing against three candidates who have little chance of winning. With no doubt around the outcome of the election, the focus for both protesters and officials is on turnout and the number of legitimate ballots. High turnout, including votes for a candidate who is running against Putin, is seen as beneficial to the Kremlin as it gives the appearance of legitimacy to the election results. Two women were arrested after pouring green dye into ballot boxes on the outskirts of Moscow with the aim of destroying voting slips, according to Russian media, in an act of protest that is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years, authorities said. These are the methods used by our traitors who fled the country, who are used both in the tail and in the mane by those who fight Russia, said Ella Pamfilova, chair of Russias Election Commission, at an election briefing on Friday in which she described the protesters as scum. In a separate update, she said there had been eight attempts at arson and that 214 ballots had been irretrievably damaged, according to Russian state news agency Tass. Elsewhere, in a remote region of the Urals and in Putins hometown of St. Petersburg, protesters attempted to destroy ballot boxes using homemade Molotov cocktails in separate incidents, according to state media. Tensions around the election have been growing in Russia since the death of primary opposition figure Alexei Navalny in an Arctic penal colony last month. Navalny, an outspoken critic of Putin and of the Kremlins ongoing war in Ukraine, lost consciousness and died on a walk while imprisoned, according to authorities. Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, alongside numerous international governments including the U.S., blamed Putin for his death. Relatives and friends pay their last respects at the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. (AP) A local election official in Moscow was detained for visiting a polling station wearing a T-shirt with Navalny written on it, according to Russian civil rights organization OVD-Info. On Sunday, crowds of people appeared outside polling stations in Moscow and across Russia in a protest action called Noon against Putin, which was proposed by Navalny in one of his last public messages before his death. The action, posthumously promoted by Navalnys wife, was aimed at overwhelming polling stations, making it more difficult to vote or record voting data. The action was designed to help millions of people see like-minded people and realize that we are not alone, Navalnaya said in a March YouTube address announcing the plans for polling day. We are surrounded by people who are also against war, against corruption and against lawlessness. A Telegram post from Navalnys team showed Yulia Navalnaya at a Noon against Putin event at the Russian Embassy in Berlin on Sunday, alongside crowds of supporters. But the intended effects of the action remain vague, with little guidance from Navalny or his wife about whether assembled protesters should stage a sit-in, vote and spoil ballots, or attempt to block access to polling sites. NBC News was not able to independently verify images of people crowding polling stations, nor was it able to determine if crowds were there to vote or had the intention of overwhelming election officials. On Saturday, wives of mobilized soldiers attempted to lay flowers outside the Kremlin before being blocked by secret service agents, according to activist group The Way Home, which campaigns for Russian men to be allowed to return from the front lines. The women were forced to move their protest to Victory Park, in southwest-central Moscow, the group said on Telegram Saturday, and were harassed by police who were breathing down their necks. It was not clear how many people turned out at that protest. The organization said simultaneous actions were staged by military wives across the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Pavel Byrkin / AFP - Getty Images) The Kremlin is treating voter turnout in the presidential election as a referendum on the Ukraine war, with a high turnout to vote for Putin potentially indicating continued support for the president despite ongoing Western sanctions and growing diplomatic isolation. In 2018, 67% of eligible voters came out to vote, and the Kremlin will want to boast it has topped that number. In the Russian-ruled republic of Chechnya, turnout on Saturday reached 75%, according to the local election commissions Telegram channel. In Ukraines southern city of Mariupol, the city council posted on Telegram accusing authorities of working with construction companies to bus in teams of Russian builders to vote in the precinct, inflating turnout in the area. Numerous reports from parts of occupied Ukraine, such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, included accusations from locals that members of the Russian military went door to door and forced Ukrainian citizens to vote at gunpoint. Police officer explains a woman how to cast a ballot during a presidential election. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP) Photos uploaded to Telegram by Mariupols city council on Saturday claimed to show small-scale acts of protest by Ukrainians coerced into voting, including spoiling ballots. Only one of the three candidates who oppose Putin in the election, Vladislav Davankov, supports peace negotiations with Ukraine. Davankov, a former businessman, has called for a peace deal with Ukraine that is on our terms and with no rollback, while saying that Russia should not cede to Ukraine any territory it has already occupied. More than 114 million Russians are eligible to vote in the election, including nearly 2 million abroad. Results are expected to be announced on Sunday, with a landslide for Putin functionally guaranteed. Los Angeles Police Department headquarters is seen on Feb. 8, 2022. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) In the desert around Scottsdale, Ariz., on Monday, police officers hunted for a member of an international heist ring suspected of swiping jewels and luxury goods from homes across Los Angeles. Using helicopters and drones, they eventually found him hiding under a tree. The wanted man, it turned out, was a 17-year-old from Chile. Authorities say the teenager and his two adult accomplices later admitted to breaking into multiple homes, part of a growing trend of "burglary tourism" from South America. The Los Angeles Police Department said the teenage fugitive was first arrested Feb. 29 in Pacific Palisades along with three other Chileans as they cased homes in the wealthy enclave. Police tracked down the crew after a security camera captured the license plate of their 2024 Hyundai Tucson amid a series of burglaries across East Hollywood. Increasingly over the last five years, police officials say, thieves from South American nations have entered the U.S. for the purpose of committing robberies. In the case of Chile, authorities suspect some criminals are taking advantage of the tourist visa system, which does not require a background check for travelers. Once in the country, police say, they plan heist sprees and fence the loot before dispatching their earnings back home. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told The Times that South American theft groups are not new in L.A., but they have become more active in recent months. Although crime statistics show burglaries are on the decline overall, Hamilton said: "The number of crimes tied to these kind of crews are way, way up." He cautioned that it's difficult to know for certain how many robberies can be attributed to foreign burglars, but said evidence indicates they are behind scores of break-ins. He estimated that north of the 118 Freeway in L.A. last year there were 94 burglaries, many probably committed by these crews. Read more:Billionaire L.A. family claims racism at elite Westside country club "They often target homes often connected to open spaces, hiking trails and canyons that give them access," Hamilton said. The groups mostly hit wealthy neighborhoods where homes have jewelry and high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash, he said. "They tend to not carry guns. They don't want to get gun charges," Hamilton said. "They sometimes carry jamming devices to disable home security systems." While Chileans are among the most common members of these criminal enterprises, Hamilton said, they are seeing other South Americans including Peruvians, Ecuadoreans and Colombians as well. The LAPD and other local law enforcement agencies have formed a task force dedicated to the problem. I can tell you that we have a significant increase in burglaries from organized groups that are outside this country, that are coming into the country, and they are targeting high-end residents," LAPD Chief Dominic Choi said at Tuesday's Police Commission meeting. In one case on Aug. 17 of last year, Burbank police officers arrested a man identified as Felipe Leiva Solis, a 33-year-old Chilean national, after a woman hiding in the bathroom of her home called to report that four men had broken in through a sliding door. Leiva Solis was found in a nearby yard on Burbank's North Parish Place and is suspected of four other burglaries across the city, according to court documents. Leiva Solis was released on bail but picked up again on Dec. 19 in Glendale by police officers who suspect he was behind a string of burglaries in the city. He was among a group of three men who tried to flee on foot when their vehicle was stopped, according to Glendale Police Investigator Jackie Nguy. In court papers asking for Leiva Solis to remain in custody, Nguy alleged the Chilean was part of "an organized burglary ring responsible for a minimum of ten residential burglaries in Glendale," and also tied to other thefts in Beverly Hills and other counties. Read more:4 Chileans stole from homes across L.A. in a case of 'burglary tourism,' police say LAPD Det. Robert Hoebink said in a court declaration that Leiva Solis' crew was tied to at least 30 burglaries in West Los Angeles alone. Hoebink alleged the Chilean used a fake passport to open a Bank of America account and wired more than $23,000 back home despite being here on a tourist visa. LAPD officers on Dec. 27 nabbed three more of the crew allegedly tied to Leiva Solis near Coldwater Canyon Drive south of Mulholland when called to assist Beverly Hills on a manhunt for burglars. Inside a Ford Explorer, police said they found $1 million worth of stolen designer purses, clothing, watches and jewelry all believed to be from a single heist. Three more arrests would come the next day as LAPD investigators recovered more high-end items from the group's base of operations. On Dec. 30, another West L.A. burglary led Beverly Hills police to identify a white Mercedes GLS as tied to the crime, arresting a female driver and four other suspects nearby. Leiva Solis is being held without bail and is slated to be back in court next week. He's pleaded not guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit burglary. Investigators say Chilean or South American crews are also behind hundreds of break-ins in Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Diego counties. In Orange County, Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer has aggressively prosecuted South American thieves and sued the federal government for failing to disclose its negotiations with Chile over visa requirements for travelers. He has called for measures to stop criminals from entering as tourists. Read more:As Chevy Camaro thefts skyrocket more than 1,000% in L.A., police unlock a secret of car thieves Spitzer said the Chilean government has refused to abide by a requirement to provide the U.S. with the criminal history of Chilean citizens who use a visa program called Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA. The program allows Chileans residents to enter the U.S. for 90-day periods an unlimited number of times. Visa requirements vary between countries, but travelers from several other South American nations typically require visas with tighter restrictions before coming to the U.S. Without criminal histories of Chileans, prosecutors have been largely handcuffed in trying to prove defendants are linked beyond a single burglary charge, Spitzer said. The Chilean Embassy in Los Angeles did not respond to a request for comment. Authorities said the Chilean teenage fugitive arrested in Arizona had fake Venezuelan paperwork when he was arrested in L.A. and had repeatedly tried to evade police. After he was arrested Feb. 29 in L.A., he told authorities his parents had left him alone in the U.S. with a family friend. Once he was turned over to L.A. County Children and Family Services, he vanished after going for a walk in Lakewood, police said. When he was eventually recaptured this week, Scottdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said the teenager had "court documentation from his crimes he committed in California and before fleeing to Arizona ... and some property we are trying to tie to other burglaries." 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. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump's criminal trial stemming from hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 U.S. election will start no earlier than April after the judge on Friday granted a 30-day delay due to the late disclosure of evidence to the former president. Justice Juan Merchan's decision to delay the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president marks another victory for Trump, who has sought to slow down proceedings in his various legal entanglements as he prepares to challenge President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. The case in New York state court in Manhattan, which had been due to start on March 25, was the first of four criminal indictments brought against Trump last year. While none of the other three cases have firm trial dates, the delay to the New York trial could complicate scheduling the others. In a written ruling, Merchan did not announce a firm new trial date in the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office. Instead, the judge will hold a hearing on March 25 after which he will potentially set a trial date even further into the future. Trump has pleaded not guilty in the New York case to 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide his former lawyer Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels for her silence about a sexual encounter she has said they had a decade earlier. Trump has denied having had any such encounter with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The delay came after the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, who had previously investigated Cohen's payment to Daniels, this month disclosed more than 100,000 pages of documents related to Cohen in response to a subpoena from Trump's defense team. Trump's lawyers said they needed a 90-day delay to the trial to review the material. Bragg had consented to a 30-day delay. Bragg's office said on Friday many of the documents turned over by federal prosecutors were not relevant, and thus were not part of a request it made to the U.S. Attorney's office last year. But Trump's lawyers accused Bragg of seeking to prevent them from obtaining potentially damaging information about Cohen, who is expected to be a key prosecution witness at the trial. Merchan asked lawyers for both sides to provide him with a "detailed timeline" of their efforts to get documents from federal prosecutors. "The requested documents are necessary for the court to properly assess who, if anyone, is at fault for the late production of the documents," Merchan wrote. Trump's lawyers have argued that Cohen paid off Daniels to spare Trump's family embarrassment, not to protect his electoral prospects as state prosecutors have alleged. They said some of the material included in the late disclosure showed Trump did not commit crimes. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges of violating campaign finance law through the payment to Daniels. Trump also faces three other federal and state criminal indictments, including two stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, as well as one tied to his handling of sensitive government documents after leaving office in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Trump's legal issues thus far have not harmed his bid to regain the presidency. He clinched the Republican nomination this week. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, editing by Scott Malone and Deepa Babington) The trial in the New York hush money case against former President Donald Trump has been delayed until the middle of April, Judge Juan Merchan ruled Friday. Merchan said the trial originally scheduled to begin March 25 would be pushed back 30 days from Friday. He also scheduled a hearing for the trial's initial start date, to discuss a motion filed by Trump's attorneys regarding document production in the case. Merchan said he will set a new trial date if necessary when he rules on that motion, meaning it's possible the trial proceedings could be delayed beyond the middle of next month. Bragg's office and Trumps lawyers declined to comment. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had previously said he would support the trial being delayed at least 30 days, into late April. Trump's legal team requested that it be postponed 90 days. Bragg said Thursday that Trump's request to delay the trial was the result of the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan providing over 100,000 pages of discovery, which Bragg said were "largely irrelevant to the subject matter of this case." The U.S. Attorney's Office provided an additional 15,000 pages of discovery on Friday, which Bragg's office said were also "likely to be unrelated to the subject matter of this case." The documents relate to Michael Cohens guilty plea in 2018 to numerous criminal charges, including making secret payments to women who claimed they had affairs with Trump, lying to Congress about Trump's business dealings with Russia and failing to report millions of dollars in income. Merchan on Friday directed Trumps lawyers and Braggs office to provide him with a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the requests for ultimate production of documents which served as the basis of Braggs Thursday letter, where he said his office does not oppose a 30-day trial delay. The judge said the timeline, due Thursday, should include subpoenas, emails, notes and messages in order for this Court to properly asses who, if anyone, is at fault for the late production of the documents, what prejudice, if any, was suffered by either party and what sanction(s) if any, are appropriate. Bragg's office brought the case against Trump, accusing the former president of falsifying business records related to Cohens $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels toward the end of the 2016 presidential campaign. In mid-February, Merchan scheduled the trial to begin on March 25. He said he expected it would last about six weeks. He had made clear he wasn't interested in postponing the trial, as Trump's lawyers had requested. Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payments to Daniels. He has pleaded not guilty. Trump and his legal team have sought dismissals and delays of the four criminal cases hes facing. The strategy has proven successful on some fronts. The federal election interference case is indefinitely on hold pending a Supreme Court ruling, and some of the charges in the Georgia case have been dropped. As of now, the hush money case is the one most likely to go to trial first, and before the election. In a statement after Merchan's order Friday, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, We will continue to fight to end this hoax, and all of the other Crooked Joe Biden-directed Witch Hunts, once and for all. ALTA, Norway Nestled waist-high in Arctic snow miles away from civilization, U.S. Marines looked through binoculars from their machine-gun position toward the frozen ridge, watching for signs of enemy movement. Their battalion commander in this exercise, Lt. Col. Thomas Driscoll, approached the trench they dug by hand into the mountainside and asked what they needed. More ammo, one of them replied. In a nearby tent, fellow soldiers dried snow-saturated cammies over a gas stove. For nearly two weeks, they lived, slept and trained on this stretch of tundra on the northern tip of Norway where temperatures regularly dip below zero. But when the orders came to change position, they packed the tents and hurriedly filled in the ditches. Within around two hours, theyd taken off on snowmobiles and tracked vehicles, leaving barely a trace behind. Lt. Col. Thomas Driscoll of the 2nd Marine Regiment, right, visits troops in trenches dug into the Arctic ice in northern Norway. (Carlo Angerer / NBC News) The fact that troops from the II Marine Expeditionary Force traveled thousands of miles from their base in North Carolina for two weeks of exercises, is a sign of the Arctics emergence as a new battlefield in a growing competition between East and West. As climate change exposes once-unreachable parts of the planet, the U.S., Russia and China are all in a race for military and economic dominance. The Arctic is absolutely critical, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Christopher Mahoney, said in an interview in Norway before the exercises wrapped up this week. The opening of the Arctic as far as maritime waterways, in lines of communication, make it that much more important. The Marines were among some 20,000 troops from 13 nations taking part in NATOs Nordic Response exercise, part of larger war games that are the biggest since the Cold War. The exercise extended to Sweden and Finland, NATOs two newest members, whose addition in the last year added more than 800 miles to the alliances border with Russia. The scenario: A major adversary is launching a cross-border invasion from the east, and NATO has been activated to repel them. For the Marines, the U.S. militarys rapid response force, the task was to delay the enemys advance until reinforcements arrived. A Swedish soldier takes part in an amphibious assault during a NATO exercise in Badderen, Norway. (Carlo Angerer / NBC News) Its a scenario that seems ripped straight from Russias war in Ukraine and the resulting fears that Moscow might seek to threaten NATO nations next. U.S. and Norwegian military officials said they have been studying Russias successes and failures on the snowy battleground of Ukraine to learn lessons about defending NATOs northern flank. The officials requested anonymity because they were discussing sensitive intelligence matters. For the U.S. military, its a major shift after decades fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and conducting counterinsurgency against extremist groups in the Middle East. Lt. Col. Driscoll, of the 2nd Marine Regiment, said a large part of his 18 years of service had been spent in Iraq and Yemen. The adversary is very different, he said. Now were in this tactical scenario facing a large-scale, modernized adversary who brings a lot of capability: long-range, indirect fire, large amounts of reconnaissance. And then youve got the actual environment: not the heat of the desert, but the harsh cold. Corp. Tyler Staehr, 22, brought his expertise operating a HIMARS artillery system the same kind the U.S. has provided to Ukraine to an icy stretch of Norway about 150 miles from the Russian border. As the truck-mounted rocket launcher hummed behind him, he recalled learning how to boil snow every morning and night for drinking water. Here everythings a little bit more scarce, said Staehr, from Lancaster, South Carolina. So you have to rely on yourself and on your team if you want to survive out in the Arctic climate. U.S. Marines train with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, at a site near Alta, Norway. (Carlo Angerer / NBC News) As the U.S. and NATO allies hone their cold-weather skills, Moscow is watching. The Norwegian officials said that they had detected Russian vessels in the area spying on the war games and working to pinpoint their radar positions. While Russian spying on NATO and vice versa is nothing new, Norwegian officials said theyve detected changes in Russian behavior in recent years, including an increase in electronic warfare like signal-jamming. They also said that Norwegian troops operating near the border have increasingly been approached by Russians in what they suspect is intelligence-gathering. At the same time, Russias heavy attrition in its two-year war in Ukraine has forced its military to divert resources away, said Eirik Kristoffersen, Norways chief of defense. He said Russian President Vladimir Putins military had five times as many troops near its border with Norway before the war. This was proof, he said, that NATO posed no threat to Russia, only the other way around. President Putin has demonstrated very well that he knows that NATO is a defensive alliance, Kristoffersen said. Still, its no coincidence that the Arctic has become the venue for a new global power struggle. Global warming is quickly melting sea ice, opening up new shipping routes in swaths of Arctic Ocean that are now ice-free during the summer. It has also created new competition for extracting natural resources like oil and natural gas. And undersea data cables in the Arctic are a critical link in global communication systems, relied on by U.S. agencies like NASA. For the U.S., its also a matter of national security. If Russia were to ever launch missiles or bomber jets to strike North America, the shortest path would be over the North Pole. Swedish combat boats approach the Norwegian coast during an amphibious assault exercise. (Carlo Angerer / NBC News) A report last year on Arctic power competition from the Washington-based Brookings Institution found that Russia has or is building 30 military or dual-use facilities in the Arctic, including elaborate air bases, ports, nuclear facilities and radio nodes. All told, the country has about three times as many bases as NATO nations inside the Arctic Circle, according to the reports author, former U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Jeremy Greenwood. Beijing has also its sights set on the Arctic. Western nations were taken aback in 2018 when China declared itself a near-Arctic state and promised to develop a Polar Silk Road. Greenwoods report found Chinese companies have worked to buy or build airports, rail facilities, and naval and submarine bases from Greenland to Scandinavia. Its against this backdrop that a swarm of attack boats cut through the frigid waters and helicopters whipped up the icy air this week, as forces from the U.S., Italy, Finland and other NATO nations practiced an amphibious assault in a Norwegian fjord. As tactical vehicles rolled off ships onto the shore, troops rappelled from the helicopter by rope while others in snow-colored camouflage stormed the coastline with assault rifles. Lance Cpl. Cooper Khoury, 21, from Swansea, Massachusetts, said he never imagined being in the snow when he joined the Marines known for being an amphibious force a year and a half ago. No matter what, well dig in, he said. Anywhere we go, I know we can fight. I know we can thrive. WASHINGTON The White House is considering options for how to respond if Israel defies President Joe Bidens repeated warnings against launching a military invasion of Rafah without a credible plan to protect Palestinian civilians, according to one former and three current U.S. officials. The discussions are taking place amid growing concern in the administration and frustration among congressional Democrats that the presidents pleas will simply be ignored. Israel this week inched closer to initiating an incursion into the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip. Time and again, President Biden calls upon the Netanyahu government to take certain actions, and for the most part, time and again, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu ignores the president of the United States. And so I think that makes the United States look ineffective, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., in an interview. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Evan Vucci / AP file) The president has issued increasingly strong words and strong warnings, but I believe that to effectively enforce those warnings the administration has to use these other tools at its disposal, said Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is among those pushing the White House to take a harder line on conditioning U.S. military sales to Israel. The U.S. has not conditioned any military support for Israel, though Biden administration officials have considered withholding or delaying the sale of some weaponry. The Biden administration set a March 24 deadline for Israel to provide written assurance, followed by U.S. government review, that its use of American weapons is in accordance with international law. Failing to comply could force the issue of military support and potentially push the longtime alliance into new territory. politics political politician (Andrew Harnik / AP) Top administration officials indicated Friday they had not seen any plans for the military operation in Rafah that Israel said Netanyahu had approved, nor had they seen a proposal for the evacuation of Palestinian civilians. For weeks, administration officials have privately expressed skepticism that Israel had developed a thorough plan for a military offensive in Rafah, saying that the threat of an invasion was to maintain leverage with Hamas during negotiations for a cease-fire in exchange for releasing hostages held in Gaza. Administration officials also have advised the Israeli government to avoid a large military operation in Rafah, and instead launch smaller, targeted counterterrorism missions, according to an administration official. We have been clear about the need to prioritize civilian protection, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said. The level of distrust and tension between the U.S. and Israeli governments marks an extraordinary shift from the bear hug Biden and Netanyahu shared five months ago shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. israeli hamas conflict rafah religious religion prayer children (Mohammed Abed / AFP - Getty Images) The White House effectively embraced remarks from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday that called for new elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu, described by the New York Democrat as a major obstacle to peace. Biden said Friday that Schumer delivered a good speech. Asked about the presidents praise, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell Reports that Biden knows that the sentiments that Leader Schumer expressed in that very passionate speech yesterday are shared by many, many Americans. Privately, White House officials expressed a similar sentiment. We are not exercised over it. There is no hand-wringing, one White House official said of the speech. Schumers remarks on the Senate floor highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party that will be difficult for the president to navigate as he campaigns for a second term. His position is likely to embolden progressives who want to see it backed up by a meaningful shift in U.S. policy toward Israel, specifically using leverage by withholding aid and weapons transfers unless the Netanyahu government changes course. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., praised Schumers speech but said its not enough. I think its a step in the right direction. And the people of Israel have got to understand that they are increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. Theres global outrage at the Netanyahu right-wing extremist government literally causing starvation of hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza, Sanders told NBC News. We cannot continue to fund Netanyahus war machine. But other Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., disagreed with Schumers calls for replacing Netanyahu. Israel is our closest ally in the Middle East, and as a democracy, it is up to the Israeli people to determine their political future, said Rosen, who faces a competitive re-election bid this fall. The dynamic could further complicate the path to passing a package combining aid for Ukraine and Israel, with progressives like Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., opposed to an effort to provide funding for the two U.S. allies unless there are conditions for Israel. Biden embraced the bear hug approach to Israel immediately after Oct. 7 because he believed it was the most effective way to have influence on Israel as it carried out its military assault on Hamas. But that strategy quickly began to reveal its flaws, with Israel ignoring Bidens pleas for doing more to protect Palestinian civilians and increase the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza. Now, Biden and Netanyahu have not spoken in a month. Their last call was on Feb. 15 and focused largely on Rafah, according to the White House. White House officials said Biden was told in advance of Schumers speech but that no one in the administration coordinated with the senator on them. Yet Bidens own comments last weekend may have laid the groundwork for Schumers public statement. When Biden said Netanyahu is hurting Israel more than helping Israel, that signaled a significant break in the relationship. The president said Netanyahu is not paying enough attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. Its contrary to what Israel stands for, Biden told MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart last week. And I think its a big mistake. The Kansas Supreme Court has struck down the portion of a Wichita law that criminalizes noisy conduct, finding it to be unconstitutional. Because Wichita borrowed language directly from a state law that prohibits engaging in noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others, the 6-1 ruling could have implications for political protesters across Kansas. As written, Wichitas disorderly conduct law criminalizes a broad range of other constitutionally protected activities whether expressed in public or private settings and whether expressed at any time during the day or the night, Justice Melissa Taylor Standridge wrote in the majority opinion, published Friday. The city will not be required to scrap its entire disorderly conduct law, meaning residents can still be arrested for engaging in fighting or brawling, disrupting meetings or using fighting words. The case stems from 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations where Wichita police arrested participants for disrupting traffic and drawing on sidewalks with chalk. One of the architects of those protests, Gabrielle Griffie, brought her challenge of the ordinance to the Supreme Court after the district and appeals courts sided with the city. Standridge outlined a range of activities that may be considered criminal under the Wichita ordinance if expressed in a disagreeable, unpleasant, or loud way that would tend to reasonably arouse alarm, anger, or resentment in others. Speaking, marching, and demonstrating; Using profane language in front of, or directed to, another person; Being insolent and disrespectful to another person; Cheering, booing, or taunting at a sporting event or other occasion Talking on the phone in public; Playing disagreeable or unpleasant music; Honking a horn; Talking during a movie at the theater Revving the engine of a vehicle or motorcycle Standridge said the vast amount of protected activity the provision prohibits outweighs the citys argument that it is needed to help law enforcement minimize confrontations between citizens. The City will be evaluating the courts decision and reviewing our disorderly conduct ordinance to insure compliance with the courts opinion, spokesperson Megan Lovely told The Eagle. The ACLU of Kansas, which filed an amicus brief in support of Griffies challenge, cheered the courts decision. Free speech and expression, especially political protest, are fundamental to our democracy, and police cannot have the power to selectively arrest anyone for speech they disagree with or are angered by. We are glad to see the Court agreed, Legal Director Sharon Brett said in an email statement. The ruling does not explicitly call for a rewrite of Kansas disorderly conduct law, but Brett said she expects it will also have to be changed. The language of the statute is identical. Even though the prosecution wasnt under the state law, I think the opinion has implications for the state law as well, she said. In his dissenting opinion, Justice Caleb Stegall noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized time, place and manner restrictions to otherwise protected free speech. In my view, the majoritys analysis is sound, with one crucial exception, Stegall wrote. After describing the appropriate overbreadth test, the majority fumbles the ball when determining whether the challenged portion of the ordinance sweeps up protected speech in its net. During oral arguments last September, Stegall asked Griffies attorney if he believed the First Amendment protected speech or conduct so loud that the noise level arouses anger and resentment in others. Wichita police did not collect data on decibel levels of protest activity at any point during the summer 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations, which at times involved megaphones. In the majority opinion, Standridge points out that Wichita has a separate noise ordinance for regulating nuisances that identifies tests for measuring noise levels and establishes appropriate levels for various times and places. Griffie did not return a request for comment through her lawyers. Neither did the office of Attorney General Kris Kobach, which filed its own amicus brief in defense of the state law Wichita borrowed language from. Wichita protests Griffie, the executive director of Project Justice ICT, was one of several Wichita protesters arrested in the days after a July 2020 demonstration calling out police brutality after George Floyds death. Although the initial disorderly conduct charge against Griffie was dropped, the city used it to support her ultimate conviction on two misdemeanor counts of unlawful assembly for her role in organizing the protest. Project Justice ICT did not obtain a community event permit to block off city streets. But the Wichita Police Department monitored the groups activity and prepared for the march by blocking off streets around the planned route to limit contact with motorists. [B]ring shields, umbrellas, and other protective gear. We will be marching, Project Justice ICT posted on Facebook ahead of the demonstration, according to court records. Forty to 60 marchers chanted Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police. Livestreamed video from the event shows some marchers also shouted profanity at police, according to court documents. When protesters arrived at the federal courthouse, they gave speeches to the crowd over megaphones for roughly 30 minutes. In an August 2020 interview, Griffie, then 24, told The Eagle she thought her arrests and those of other protesters were a blatant scare tactic to try to keep the organizers of Project Justice ICT from marching in the streets. Truman Freeman, 66, has been charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing into a vehicle head-on late Friday. Sujata Jana / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm San Antonio police arrested a 66-year-old man, accused of driving intoxicated and hitting another vehicle late Friday. According to police, a 33-year-old woman was a passenger in a Chevy Cruze traveling southbound around 10:30 p.m. in the 14100 block of Bulverde Road. Police said a man who was traveling northbound in a Nissan Rogue drifted into the southbound lanes, striking the Chevy Cruze head-on. Police said the unidentified woman was taken to a local hospital by EMS in critical condition. It was reported that the woman suffered a serious bodily injury. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The driver of the Nissan Rogue was later identified as Truman Freeman. He was evaluated at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. His bail was set at $5,000. Freemans blood alcohol concentration was over .15. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. Esther Wolfe was shot and killed in Rapid City, S.D., on Feb. 21 Esther Wolfe Facebook Esther Wolfe A young woman was shot and killed in South Dakota in what authorities are calling a public execution. Esther Wolfe, 25, was shot and killed in Rapids City on Feb. 21, the Pennington County States Attorneys Office says. Two suspects have since been arrested in connection with the murder. Ezekiel Mayweather was charged with aiding and abetting a murder, the states attorneys office says. Prosecutors allege that he organized the killing and provided the gun used in the shooting of Wolfe. Rapid City Police Department South Dakota shooting suspect The alleged shooter, Arkadius Wright, was arrested a week after the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors say. Authorities claim that Mayweather organized the shooting because of a misguided belief that Wolfe was responsible for the death of his brother, who died in 2019. KOTA reported that police ruled that Mayweathers brother, Michael Mayweather, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Wolfe, notably, was killed on Michael's birthday, prosecutors say. A spokesperson for the county court clerks office says both Mayweather and Wright are set to be arraigned next week. The Law Office of the Pennington County Public Defender could not immediately be reached for comment. 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. KELO reported that Wolfe was a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She was a great aunt, a great sister, her sister Justine Wolfe told the outlet. If you knew Esther, you were lucky. The station also spoke to Wolfes other sister, Krystal Eagle Bull, who said her sister will be missed. My heart aches, Eagle Bull told KELO. I never felt a heartache like this." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The man accused of fatally shooting his family members, including a 13-year-old girl, in Pennsylvania before he fled to New Jersey Saturday was charged with multiple criminal offenses Sunday, authorities said. New Jersey authorities charged the suspect, Andre Gordon, 26, with carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, third-degree unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number, third-degree receiving stolen property, fourth-degree unlawful possession of large-capacity ammunition and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin's office said. Charges in Pennsylvania are pending. Gordon, 26, is alleged to have carjacked a driver in Trenton to get to Levittown, Pennsylvania, where he's suspected of killing the victims at two locations Saturday morning, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said in an interview. Police said he then carjacked another driver at gunpoint and fled to New Jersey, where he lives. Gusciora said SWAT team members and other officers surrounded the home and evacuated neighbors because people inside told authorities they believed Gordon was inside on the first floor. Police were in standoff mode, surrounding the residence and blocking off streets, but the suspect wasn't home. "Its apparent that he left before the police arrived," Gusciora said. "The people that were still in the house on the second floor believed, and they relayed to them through 911 calls, that he was still downstairs." Gordon was spotted on New York Avenue at the back entrance of a hospital less than a quarter-mile away at 5:15 p.m. and taken into custody without incident, Trenton police officials said. "My understanding is he was walking down the street," Gusciora said. Police remove people from a home in Trenton New Jersey. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) Lisette Rios, a spokesperson for Trenton police, said earlier Saturday that authorities believed no one who could be used as a hostage was in Gordon's home and that he was believed to be there alone. Despite the arrest elsewhere, Gusciora said he didn't regret evacuating some of Gordon's neighbors while telling others to shelter in place. "We value life, and we wanted to make sure that we err on the side of caution to tell people to stay in your home," Gusciora said. "The suspect was still out and about." The incident began around 8:52 a.m., when officers were dispatched to a residence on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown following a report of a shooting, Falls Township, Pennsylvania, police said in a news release. Jennifer Schorn, the district attorney in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said Gordon, driving a stolen vehicle from Trenton, forced his way into the home and killed his stepmother, Karen Gordon, 52, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon. Three other people in the home, including a minor, were able to hide and avoid being shot by Gordon as he went through the house searching for them, she said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. Andre Gordon Jr. (Falls Township Police Department) After that incident, Gordon went to a residence on Edgewood Lane in Levittown, where he shot and killed Taylor Daniel, 25, with whom he shares two children, Schorn alleged. Four other people were in the home, including a person who was injured when Gordon bludgeoned her with an "assault rifle," Schorn said. The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries and is expected to recover. Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney said Gordon was armed with an AR-15-style rifle. At around 9:13 a.m., he carjacked a 44-year-old man at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Morrisville, authorities alleged. The driver wasn't injured, they said. The shooter fled the area in a 2016 gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate and a Namaste sticker in white letters on the right bumper, according to authorities. The vehicle was found unoccupied in Trenton around 11:38 a.m., the Bucks County District Attorneys Office said. The district attorneys office said that at about 12:22 p.m., it received information that Gordon had barricaded himself with hostages in a home in Trenton. A police officer patrols a neighborhood (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) We are referring all information regarding that aspect of this investigation to the Trenton City Police Department, the district attorneys office said. Police in Pennsylvania had said earlier that Gordon was homeless, with connections to Trenton. They said he had a semiautomatic rifle, which they alleged he used in the shootings. Police said he could have additional weapons and cautioned that he was extremely dangerous. The shootings led to a shelter-in-place order in Falls Township. Police had told residents to lock their doors and move to secure locations away from windows. The shelter-in-place order was lifted Saturday afternoon. A Bucks County St. Patricks Day parade scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled, and the Pennsbury School District postponed activities. Police evacuate a person from a home. (Joe Lamberti / AFP - Getty Images) In nearby Middletown Township, residents were told not to travel to Falls Township. Middletown Township police later said they had received information that we are all clear. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., said he was in touch with law enforcement. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he was briefed and had asked state police to assist local law enforcement. Whitney said that authorities had minor contact with Gordon in the past but that it was nothing that would indicate anything like this would happen. Levittown, a model American suburb named for developer William Levitt, is known for its cost-efficient, assembly line housing, erected amid high demand for living quarters after World War II. It's in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, about 26 miles from the city. Getty Images NeNe Leakes slammed former Real Housewives of Atlanta costar Porsha Williams for allegedly refusing to work with her on the set of Netflixs The Upshaws. In a series of posts shared via Instagram Story on Friday, March 15, Leakes, 56, shared that her management company had approached her with an offer from The Upshaws (starring Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes) saying the series was interested in casting [her] for a part in an episode directed by Kim Fields. I was excited to do it. Its a comedy, I love comedy [and] I used to have a comedy show so comedy is something I love to do and was really happy to do it, Leakes said. They told me that Porsha Williams Guobadia was also playing in this particular series. She would be side-by-side with me. I was excited, I hadnt seen Porsha. We always have a good laugh when we see each other, so I was like, Me and Porsha gonna kill this part. The former RHOA star reportedly landed in Los Angeles and went to the Upshaws set expecting to see Williams, 42, at the shows rehearsal, but she was a no-show. Porsha never came, Leakes said. Production called me and asked me if I had any issues with any Housewives because they were going to be recasting the other position. Biggest Real Housewives Feuds Ever And Where the Relationships Stand Today Leakes said she told production that she had no issues with any Housewives, but Williams role eventually went to RHOAs Cynthia Bailey instead. Courtesy of NeNe Leakes/Instagram I was later told that Porsha did not show up and said that she did not want to work with me, that we had had issues from the past and she did not want to work with me, Leakes said, adding that she was shocked and more than disappointed by the outcome. She added that she and Williams had double-dated a few times, taking trips together to places like Miami, Dubai and Las Vegas. I am shocked to hear that Porsha would go to a production company and say that she doesnt want to work with me because weve had a lot of issues in the past. What lots of issues did we have in the past? Leakes asked. We dont have any issues that we cant work together. We are professionals. NeNe! Phaedra! Kim! Former RHOA Stars: Where Are They Now? In 2019, Williams publicly called out Leakes for fat-shaming her just days after giving birth to her first child. Leakes later served Williams with a cease and desist letter after she shared screenshots via Instagram of text messages Leakes had sent her at the time, wherein she allegedly called Williams a lying ass fat hungry bitch, among other things. Weve had petty things, were on a reality show, Leakes said via Instagram Story in 2024. So we obviously are gonna have some sort of issues. But weve not had anything where we could not work together. Im sad and disappointed that Porsha would go to any company and say that shes had issues with me and that we cannot work together. That is a lie. Leakes also claimed she had texted Williams before posting to her Instagram Story, who allegedly replied saying she was going through a divorce and [Leakes] didnt reach out to little sis. Williams filed for divorce from her husband Simon Guobadia in February after 15 months of marriage. The bottom line is, Porsha did not want to share the spotlight. Thats it. And professionals can share the spotlight, Leakes concluded in her video. Porsha is not a star. She is a Bravolebrity. Be clear. In December 2018, a source shared with Us Weekly that Williams was being iced out by Leakes. Theres no reason that NeNe and Porsha cant be friends, the source said at the time. Its on NeNes end. Theres nothing Porsha can do to maintain a friendship with NeNe if its going to be like this. By Brendan O'Brien (Reuters) - First responders and clean-up crews fanned out across rural Indiana and Ohio on Friday after one or more tornadoes ripped through the area, killing three people and injuring dozens more as it leveled homes and businesses. Three deaths were reported in Logan County, Ohio, after at least one tornado touched down and moved east at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sheriff Randall Dodds said in a statement. Earlier reports of three deaths in Indiana later proved to be false. The twister was one of seven tornadoes in Indiana and Ohio reported to the National Weather Service on Thursday night and early Friday. An additional tornado was reported in northern Texas, and a twister may have also caused damage in a northern Kentucky town. On Friday, first responders were checking for victims in the Logan County communities of Lakeview, Midway and Orchard Island, Dobbs said during a news conference on Friday morning. The search was initially hampered by downed powerlines, gas leaks and a mass of destruction. "We are going to recheck those areas again. There are many places back there that are collapsed," Dodds said, adding that teams were out working on a grid system. As daylight broke, aerial footage posted on social media revealed widespread destruction in Lakeview, a community of 1,100 residents about 70 miles (113 kilometers) northwest of Columbus, Ohio. It showed mobile homes ripped from their foundations, debris covering roadways and large trees on their side. In Winchester, a town of about 5,000 people in eastern Indiana, 38 people were injured, three critically, when an apparent tornado rolled through on Thursday evening, the mayor said. "Nobody has passed away, so for as much destruction ... very lucky. There are houses that are leveled," Mayor Bob McCoy said during a news briefing, noting that 22 houses were destroyed and more than 100 badly damaged. "I praise the Lord for this one because this could have been really bad." The National Weather Service earlier said it could not confirm that a tornado had touched down in Winchester, but that it was likely judging by the damage and images taken by people on the ground. McCoy said firefighters and volunteer crews were cleaning up and assessing the damage on Friday morning as most of the town was without power. NBC News earlier reported three deaths in a trailer home park in Winchester, citing state police as a source, but authorities later said that there were no reported deaths in the town. Several small towns near Winchester also suffered heavy damage from apparent tornadoes. A twister may have also touched down in Milton, an Ohio River town in northern Kentucky, where local news reported that several homes were damaged. (Additional reporting by Brad Brooks in Longmont, Colorado, Gnaneshwar Rajan, Rishabh Jaiswal and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Jane Merriman, Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) WINCHESTER, INDIANA - MARCH 15: An aerial view shows homes destroyed by a tornado on March 15, 2024 in Winchester, Indiana. At least three people have been reported killed after a series of tornadoes ripped through the midwest yesterday. Aftermath from tornadoes that swept across the Midwest have left the region in shambles. Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky were among the hardest hit states during the tornado outbreak which happened on Thursday night. Ohio is the state that received the most devastation. The tornadoes claimed three lives there. As of right now, Ohio is the only state reporting fatalities. The National Weather Service offices have confirmed a total of eight tornadoes struck Ohio following storm surveys conducted Friday. Authorities say the areas most affected were in the Indian Lake and Orchard Island, about 70 miles northwest of Columbus. In Kentucky, a state of emergency was declared in three counties. On Saturday Governor Andy Beshear visited the town of Milton, Kentucky to the view the damage. And in Indiana, nearly half of the structures in the town of Selma were damaged. Tornadoes also hit Arkansas and Illinois. Crews across the Midwest are working to sift beneath the rubble to survey the damage left behind. Midwest tornadoes: Videos, photos show Midwest tornado outbreak in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky See photos: Midwest tornadoes cause destruction INDIAN LAKE, OHIO - MARCH 15: Families and neighbors help each other clean up after a tornado struck the area on March 15th, 2024 in Indian Lake, Ohio. The storms caused casualties, resulting in deaths, and left many people without homes. Jojo Gargano uses a chainsaw to cut up a tree that fell on a house in Hot Springs Village, Ark., Friday, March 15, 2024, after a tornado came through the area overnight. Mar 15, 2024; Lakeview, Ohio, USA; Drone footage shows the damage after a tornado struck the Lakeview, Ohio community. Damage is seen around Hanover, Ind. in Jefferson Manor neighborhood on Friday, March 15, 2024 after a tornado swept through on Thursday, March 14, 2024. WINCHESTER, INDIANA - MARCH 15: An aerial view shows homes destroyed by a tornado on March 15, 2024 in Winchester, Indiana. At least three people have been reported killed after a series of tornadoes ripped through the midwest yesterday. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776121298 ORIG FILE ID: 2087368014 WINCHESTER, INDIANA - MARCH 15: Linemen work to restore power lines after a tornado on March 15, 2024 in Winchester, Indiana. At least three people have been reported killed after a series of tornadoes ripped through the midwest yesterday. WINCHESTER, INDIANA - MARCH 15: Residents clean up after a tornado ripped through town on March 15, 2024 in Winchester, Indiana. At least three people have been reported killed after a series of tornadoes ripped through the midwest yesterday. Governor Andy Beshear walks around the town of Milton, Ky. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 to see the damage caused by a tornado that came through the town on Thursday, March 14. Contributing: Columbus Dispatch, Louisville Courier Journal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tornadoes in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky: See photos of widespread damage Rabbi Michael Ross A few weeks ago, I was honored to join a Delegation of Responsibility tour of Israel. Our delegation was composed of 30 North American Jewish educators sponsored by the Jewish Education Project in New York. During our nine-day visit, we would bear witness to the pain and tragedy, and we would attempt to understand the wide-ranging traumas of the Oct. 7 Israel-Hamas War. Since my return, I have described the impact of the Israel visit with the verse from Psalm 23, kosi revaya - my cup overflows. I tell folks I am holding two cups: one filled with joy of new experiences, new learning, new friends, and a second cup overflowing with tears. We heard from Israelis and Palestinians living in Israel. We heard from hostage families and from high school principals. We heard from evacuees and we heard from soldiers and from teenagers. We heard from coordinators of the massive volunteer efforts and we heard from parents about burying their dead children. We heard from protesters against the government and we heard from a Likud minister who wants to reshape the government the day after. I am only just beginning to comprehend the depth of the stories and the power of the pain and the hope of people slowly trying to emerge from this horrific nightmare. These are a few of those moments. On our first full day, we visited the sight of the Nova dance festival, where 364 Israelis were brutally raped, beaten, and murdered by Hamas in their surprise attack. This was the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. The location of the festival in Reim is about a kilometer from the edge of the Gaza Strip. The grieving families have planted large pictures of their loved ones on long posts, as a type of grove. Each family personalized their loved ones' location with personal mementos. We saw the images of lives cut down too soon, and we saw the envisioned future frozen on the faces of each poster. As we walked through this grove of death, we heard loud IDF artillery shells exploding in Gaza about every 30 or 45 seconds. The booms were felt in our chests. We knew the artillery shelling was keeping us safe and each explosion represented more damage and more death in Gaza. We spoke with amazing school principals who needed to come together and hold their students and faculty in the aftermath of Oct. 7. Some built new schools for their evacuated community many miles away. Some, like Ofakim, were not evacuated, and were forced to recover without government assistance. The teens of Ofakim are slowly learning to tell their stories of the start of the war. There was hope in their eyes as they shared their narratives of family members who were murdered. We met with Mohammed Darawshe, the director of strategy at the Givat Haviva Center for Shared Society. Mohammed is a Palestinian Arab educator living in Israel. He was born in Jaffa. Mohammeds cousin, Awad Darawshe, was an ambulance driver trying to rescue people at the Nova dance festival. Awad spoke Arabic, and thought that would help him survive that morning. He was killed and his ambulance was stolen and taken to Gaza by Hamas. Mohammed also had family in Gaza who were killed by IDF shelling. Mohammed described how he holds the trauma of his nephew and those he was helping alongside the trauma of his family members. And in between these two traumas, he continues his lifes work, building bilingual schools in Israel, teaching Hebrew to Palestinians and Arabic to Israelis. His contention as an educator is that once we establish relationships with the other, the other can no longer become marginalized, rather they are humanized, people created in the image of the divine. We were inspired by the work of Achim Leneshek, Brothers and Sisters in Arms - a group of high tech entrepreneurs who had spearheaded the Israeli democratic protest movement for 10 months before the war broke out. On Oct. 7, the protests ended, and the organizers used their community organizing tools and lists to create volunteer networks to supply Israel in the midst of the surprise attack. We heard the desperate pleas from hostage families as they demanded the release of their loved ones, held captive in Hamas tunnels for more than five months. Each day is an agony for them. On Saturday evenings, the hostage families gather in front of the building where the war cabinet meets to demand a hostage release. When we were there, after the initial hostage rally, a second protest demanding new elections was convened nearby. These protests are drawing huge crowds. The passion and the cathartic outlet of anger seems like a weekly ritual that allows the society to function in a somewhat normal, albeit a deeply wounded manner. Our cohort of educators has returned, and we are beginning to teach about our experiences, the stories we heard, the pain we witnessed. So much pain, so much trauma. Kosi revaya - my cup overflows. Rabbi Michael Ross is the Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Hudson and the Senior Jewish Educator at Kent State Hillel. He also teaches in the Jewish Studies department at Kent State. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson rabbi shares emotional experience of recent visit to Israel A man sleeping Sleep problems following when we spring forward in March can last far beyond just a day to weeks, or even months. What can you do to improve your sleep this World Sleep Day? Only 16% of people in a new global survey say they get a good night's sleep each night of the week. Japan, the U.K., New Zealand and Australia reported the worst sleep. U.S. News & World Report's 2024 State of Sleep shows 21% of Americans rarely or never wake up feeling well rested. When it comes to sleep, the National Sleep Foundation says get it when you can. "There is a positive effect of making up for a small amount of sleep on the weekends, maybe an hour or two. Trying to make up for a large deficit that's accumulated over the course of an entire week on two days, is unlikely to be completely effective," said Joseph Dzierzewski, research and scientific affairs VP of the National Sleep Foundation. Talk to your doctor first before you turn to medication or sleep aids. We can quickly build a tolerance or feel groggy the next day. Melatonin is a hormone our body makes to tell the brain sleep-time is near. It's also sometimes used as a supplement to help sleep. Doctors urge caution, especially with young children. Dr. Jennifer Wheeler has seen a rise in the number of children coming into her hospital for what she calls melatonin overdose. "Kids are coming in, you know, with terrified parents because their kids aren't acting right. They're altered, they're unable to wake up, you know, they're vomiting, they have diarrhea, they have lots of agitation," said Wheeler. FDA regulation of melatonin supplements is not as rigorous as it is with drugs. A 2023 analysis of 25 different kinds of melatonin gummies found most were inaccurately labeled in terms of dosage, with some supplements having up to 347% of the melatonin listed on the label. New data from the National Sleep Foundation found about 1 in 5 teens reported taking sleep medication at least once a week, and 4 out of 5 teens say they don't get enough sleep. Above all, talk to your doctor about any aid before taking and only after trying good sleep habits first, like no screens in bed and steady sleep and wake times. SEE MORE: Is melatonin safe for kids? Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, is shown during the third and final day of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Convention in Houston. Rinaldi announced he wont run for reelection. Michael Wyke / Contributor Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi wont run for reelection, he announced Friday afternoon. Rinaldi has served as chair for nearly three years, overseeing party operations during a time when Texas has lurched further to the right. Rinaldi has been a vocal proponent of that effort, aligning the party closely with far-right activists and disparaging Republicans he saw as too liberal including embattled Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But those actions also have angered some Texas Republicans, who say Rinaldi has stoked party divisions and refused to cut ties with GOP activists affiliated with white supremacists. Rinaldi said it is time to step down and focus on my obligations as a husband to my wife, Corley, and as a father to my 6-year-old son, Rush. I ran for the state chairman on a platform of growing the party, increasing its influence, and making it one that effectively amplifies the voice of grassroots Republicans, Rinaldi said in a release. I am happy to report we were successful on all accounts. Shortly after making his announcement, Rinaldi and his allies including Attorney General Ken Paxton rolled out endorsements for Abraham George, the chairman of the Collin County GOP. Texas GOP Vice Chair Dana Myers also is running to lead the party, which will select its new leader at its May convention in San Antonio. Rinaldi said he was proud to elect more Republicans down ballot during his tenure, and he said the partys advocacy this year contributed to the political earthquake in the March primary that sent several incumbent House members packing or to runoffs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I will be forever grateful for the honor of serving the millions of Texas Republicans working to preserve a society that values faith, family and liberty, he said. The Texas GOPs executive committee first elected Rinaldi, a former state representative, to serve as chair in 2021, replacing Allen West, who stepped down to run for governor. GOP delegates reelected him during the partys convention the next year. Despite overall successful years for the Texas GOP, Rinaldis tenure was marked by intraparty fighting and public controversy and some Republicans say the state party had nothing to do with the partys victories in the Capitol or at the ballot box. Rinaldis leadership has been under additional scrutiny in recent months after prominent GOP activist Jonathan Stickland, Rinaldis longtime friend and former colleague, met for more than six hours with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Rinaldi was in the same building as Stickland when the meeting happened, but he later condemned Fuentes and said he didnt know Fuentes was there. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Still, the incident sent shockwaves through the Texas Republican Party and brought renewed attention to Rinaldis relationship with Stickland, who also used to head the deep-pocketed Defend Texas Liberty PAC. Rinaldi declined to denounce Stickland or distance the party from the PAC, which has since rebranded as Texans United for a Conservative Majority. For many Texas Republicans, the incident underscored an ongoing shift in the state party, which was once primarily focused on fundraising and helping support local Republican clubs and candidates. Immediately after the announcement, the ECs Model Code of Conduct will come into force across the country In 2019, the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10 and the elections were held in seven phases beginning from April 11. (Photo: PTI/Representational Image) New Delhi: The Election Commission will on Saturday announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in four states as the term of the Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha Assemblies comes to an end in June. The term of the present Lok Sabha ends on June 16. Immediately after the announcement, the ECs Model Code of Conduct will come into force across the country. In 2019, the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10 and the elections were held in seven phases beginning from April 11. Votes were counted on May 23. Nearly 97 crore people are eligible to cast their vote in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the BJP had won 303 seats while the Congress got 52 seats. The full commission, comprising chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, and the two new election commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, who took charge on Friday, will announce the election schedule. The Prime Minister-led committee picked the two new ECs on Thursday. The duo are the first ones to have been appointed as members of the EC after the new law on the appointment of chief election commissioner and ECs came into force recently. Welcoming them, CEC Rajiv Kumar spoke about the significance of their joining at a historic point when the Election Commission is all set to conduct the Lok Sabha elections, the EC spokesperson said. In a post on X, the poll panel said a press conference to announce the schedule for Lok Sabha elections and some state Assemblies will be held at 3 pm on Saturday. The 2024 parliamentary polls are being seen as a do or die battle for the Opposition INDIA bloc. According to a News 18 opinion poll, the BJP-led NDA is headed for a historic mandate in the upcoming polls. The opinion poll claimed that the NDA is set to win 411 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, with the BJP alone clinching a record 350 seats. According to an opinion poll survey by ABP-CVoter, the INDIA bloc is likely to get only six seats in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. The unique alphanumeric numbers will help identify the buyers of the electoral bonds and the parties that encashed them NEW DELHI: A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said the State Bank of India (SBI) was duty bound and has to disclose the unique alphanumeric numbers of the electoral bonds received by political parties. The unique alphanumeric numbers will help identify the buyers of the electoral bonds and the parties that encashed them. The apex court also sought a response from the bank for not disclosing the details as per its earlier directives regarding disclosure of all the details of bonds, including the purchaser, amount and date of purchase. The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, issued notice to the SBI and posted the matter for hearing on March 18. Pulling up the public sector banker, the CJI said, "Who is appearing for the SBI? Because in our judgement, we had directed disclosure specifically of all details of the bonds, including the purchaser, the amount and the date of purchase. They have not disclosed the bond numbers. That has to be disclosed by the SBI." "They (SBI) have not disclosed the bond numbers. That has to be disclosed by the SBI," the CJI said. "But really speaking, we can take exception to what they have disclosed because they were duty-bound," he added. During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the apex court's verdict was quite clear that the SBI shall furnish all the details of electoral bonds to the EC. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner NGO, said the SBI had said in its application filed in the top court seeking an extension of time to furnish the details to EC that it has the bond numbers. Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta said he was appearing for the Centre and not for the SBI. "Would your lordships consider issuing notice to the SBI. They may have something to say," he said. "The judgement of the Constitution Bench required the SBI to furnish to the EC all details of the electoral bonds purchased and, as the case may be, redeemed by political parties, including the date of purchase... It has been submitted that the SBI has not disclosed the alpha-numeric numbers of the electoral bonds," the bench said. "We direct the registry to issue notice to the SBI returnable on Monday (March 18)," it said. The notice to the SBI came while the apex court was hearing an application filed by the Election Commission seeking a modification of the operative portion of its March 11 order in the electoral bonds case. EC's counsel said they have filed an application for a minor modification of the March 11 order, which also directed that the poll panel upload on its website the data furnished to the court. The EC requested the apex court that the documents be returned to it so as to enable it to comply with the March 11 order for uploading the documents. To this, the bench said, "The registrar (judicial) of this court shall ensure that the data that has been filed by the EC in pursuance of interim orders of this court is scanned and digitised." It further said that this exercise may preferably be carried out by 5 pm on Saturday. Once this exercise is completed, the original documents shall be returned to the EC's counsel and the poll panel shall then upload the data on its website. The bench said a copy of the scanned and digitised file shall also be made available to the EC's counsel. Following the directions passed by the apex court in its April 12, 2019, and November 2, last year orders, the EC had produced the information and data so sought, both in a sealed cover (containing 106 sealed envelopes) and in sealed boxes (containing 309 and 214 sealed envelopes, respectively). On April 12, 2019, the apex court had issued an interim order directing that information about donations received and donations that will be received must be submitted by political parties to the EC in a sealed cover. In its March 11 order, the top court had dismissed the SBI's plea seeking an extension of time and ordered it to disclose the details of electoral bonds to the EC by the close of business hours on March 12. The court had also directed the EC to publish the details shared by the bank on its official website by 5 pm on March 15. The EC, however, put up on its website the data on electoral bonds on Thursday, a day before the deadline. Earlier on February 15, the top court had scrapped the Centre's electoral bonds scheme that allowed anonymous political funding, calling it "unconstitutional". UP, Bengal, Bihar to have 7-phase voting; 4 state polls with LS Voting will take place in Delhi on May 25. Among other metros, Chennai will vote first on April 19, followed by Bengaluru on April 26, Hyderabad on May 13, Mumbai on May 20 and Kolkata in the final phase on June 1. (AFP) New Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday got the ball rolling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections that will begin from April 19 and end on June 1. Spread over one and a half months, the elections for 543 parliamentary seats will be held in seven phases -- on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. The tenure of the current Lok Sabha ends on June 16. States like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will vote in all seven phases while Maharashtra and Jammu Kashmir will vote in five phases. Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand vote in four phases, Assam and Chhattisgarh in three phases. Voting in a single phase will take place in 22 states, while four states -- Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura and violence-hit Manipur -- will vote over two days. Voting will take place in Delhi on May 25. Among other metros, Chennai will vote first on April 19, followed by Bengaluru on April 26, Hyderabad on May 13, Mumbai on May 20 and Kolkata in the final phase on June 1. The announcement was made by chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who was flanked by his two new deputies Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, who were chosen as election commissioners by the government on Thursday and took charge on Friday. Our team is now complete, we are fully prepared for the biggest festival of Indian democracy, Mr Kumar said. The CEC said seven phases were necessary keeping in mind geographic conditions, festivals, examination and other factors. With Saturdays announcement, the Model Code of Conduct is in force, and the EC has written to all chief secretaries of the states saying that ministers cannot mix official work with electioneering and that official transport cannot be used for election work. The prolonged poll schedule in West Bengal and Bihar are expected to lead to sharp reactions from political parties in these states, particularly the Trinamul Congress in West Bengal. However, in 2019 too, West Bengal had voted in seven phases while it was nine in 2014. In fact, some reports indicated that the prolonged elections in West Bengal along with the use of excessive security forces in the state to check violence was one of the trigger points for election commissioner Arun Goel to resign around ten days back. The chief election commissioner evaded a proper response to a question about the reason for Mr Goels departure. All he said was: Arun Goel was a very distinguished team member and we must respect if he had personal reasons to quit. There are 543 parliamentary seats, of which 84 are reserved for Scheduled Castes and 43 for Scheduled Tribes. Assembly polls in Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh will be held along with byelections to 26 Assembly constituencies in Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The CEC made it clear strict action will be taken against hate speech and personal attacks on candidates. However, he evaded a question on why action was always against Opposition leaders and parties and not against top leaders of ruling parties like the BJP who make personal comments and indulge in hate speeches. The plummeting level of political discourse is of concern, and we will go beyond moral censure to act against Model Code violators. We have issued strong advisories to all parties. Have compiled MCC violations in the last five years. We are putting political parties on notice. This time we will go beyond just issuing notices and take action as per provisions in the law. Candidates should not cross the red lines. Parties must maintain decorum during campaigning, refrain from abuse and personal attacks. Campaigns should be issue-based not about hate, religion and private lives of the leaders. Please be civilised and do not create a digital footprint. We should not say something against a rival that we regret later as foes often become friends these days, the CEC said. Dushmani jam kar karo, lekin ye gunjaish rahe ki jab kabhi hum dost ho jayen tau sharminda na hon, the CEC said, using a dash of poetry on and off during the announcement. On poll violence, the CEC said the EC will be ruthless. According to the EC, 2,100 observers will keep an eye on poll conduct and expenditure and a check on inducement and coercion. Security will be heightened at the international borders, the CEC said. On the reason for not holding Assembly elections in Jammu Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha polls, the CEC said the state needed more security forces for the protection of candidates and it was not possible at present to spare additional security staff. EC stands committed to holding Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir soon after the LS elections, Mr Kumar said. With regard to polls in Manipur, the EC said it had reviewed the ground situation in the state and noted that a large number of electors registered in different constituencies of Manipur were displaced from their native places during recent conflicts. They are now residing in relief camps in various districts of Manipur. The commission, after due consultation with various stakeholders, has decided that special polling stations shall be set up at/near the camps where such electors, who opt for such facility, will be able to register their votes in EVMs. In this regard, a detailed scheme for internally displaced persons of Manipur to vote in relief camps has been issued by the commission on 29th February, 2024, the EC said. In Manipur, the voting will take place over two days. The CEC dismissed allegations that EVMs can be rigged. Courts looked into various complaints against EVMs 40 times and rejected all charges every time. All parties know in their hearts that EVMs have made the poll process fairer and better; same EVMs have seen ruling parties lose, Mr Rajiv Kumar added. Says BJP used money to topple many state govts Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BJP used the money received through electoral bonds for toppling governments and breaking political parties like Shiv Sena and NCP. (AP) Mumbai: Reiterating his allegation that the electoral bond scheme was the worlds biggest extortion racket, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BJP used the money received through electoral bonds for toppling governments and breaking political parties like Shiv Sena and NCP. Addressing people in Thane during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said that the Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs did not run away for free. Hitting back at Mr. Gandhi, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis challenged him to return the money his party received through electoral bonds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about rooting out corruption and the same Mr. Modi runs the worlds biggest extortion racket through electoral bonds. When lakhs of people were dying during the Covid pandemic, the PM asked people to clap and beat utensils. At the same time, Serum Institute of India, the company that made Covid vaccines, donated money to PM Modi in the form of electoral bonds, Mr. Gandhi said. Linking the donations received by the BJP through electoral bonds with the vertical splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP, the Congress leader alleged, Its an extortion racket used for toppling governments led by opposition parties and for breaking political parties. Do you think Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs in Maharashtra ran away for free? However, Mr. Fadnavis alleged that the Congress leader was upset only because his partys source of black money was stopped by it. Before the electoral bonds were introduced, the political parties were allowed to receive donations upto Rs 20,000 in cash, which is used to be the largest portion of the overall donations received by political parties. Now the maximum share of donations is through electoral bonds, which were issued through banks. BJP is the biggest party in the country with 303 members of parliament. We received 30 per cent of total electoral bonds. Rest 70 per cent went to other parties including the Congress. Will he return the money received by his party or will he reveal whom did his party threatened to get donations from them? His outburst is only because his partys black money funding has stopped. The Congress only wants black money to fund its election campaigns, Mr. Fadnavis said. The BJP leader also defended the electoral bond scheme and said that if there are any shortcomings in it, the courts will correct them. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP has made the Congress economically handicapped by freezing the partys bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. We have no money to fight polls or prepare our election campaign. Even the money collected through crowd funding cannot be used. Congress has been made economically handicapped through tax terror, he said. Weve heard the burdened donkey start to bray But is the sound a curse, or does he pray To God complaining that if every dog Can have one, why cant donkeys have a day? They say, O Bachchoo, cats can look at Kings And there are angels who, like birds, have wings Why do they need them, theyre above the skies? Perhaps we humans believe stupid things? From The Rubaiyat of Holika, by Bachchoo In this teacup of a country called the UK, an important almighty storm has broken. Suppose, gentle reader, that the sentence above began one of my weekly columns. Would I, then, be labelled as a countryist for calling the scepterd isle a teacup?. I pose the question because the above-mentioned storm that has broken out is to do, in the highest ranks of the governance of this precious stone set in the silver sea, with the interpretation of the following quote: Its like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and youre just like I hate, you just want to hate all black women because shes there, and I dont hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot. This, The Guardian reported, was what a capitalist called Frank Hester, donor of 10 million pounds to the Tory Party, said to a private gathering in 2019. Regardless of the fact that the Guardians news desk seems a bit slow off the mark (2019?), the nasty statement was this week labelled a racist slur. This condemnation came from a shadow minister in the Labour Party, a colleague of Dianne err no hang on -- NOT a colleague at the moment, as Dianne, an East London MP, is at present suspended from the Labour Party for err racist anti-Semitism. Nevertheless, the Labour Party leader, Sir Keir Starmer, the person who suspended her from the party, spoke this week after the Guardians report, very strongly in her favour, calling Hesters words racist. In contrast, as the media pointed out, Hedgie and the Tories remained schtum. Until until Kemi Badenoch, a Tory Cabinet minister, of Nigerian origin and so, like Dianne, a black woman, spoke out calling Hesters remarks racist. Hah! Immediately, Hedgies No. 10 spokespeople joined in, condemning Hesters diatribe as just that. Could this response from Hedgie have anything to do with the fact that this Kemi Badenoch is an open rival challenging Hedgie for the leadership of the party? What an absurd thought! Hedgies hesitation was owing to not insulting a huge fat-cat Party donor. Ten million pounds! Conscience? What the f*** is that? Competition for the leaders post -- we feel it, we feel it! Frank Hester himself, at first, denied that he was a racist. Racist? Me? How dare you! Some of my best friends are racists! (OK, he didnt actually say that, but he could have, when he publicly apologised to Dianne for his 2019 remarks). The question is (said Alice), can you make one word mean so many different things? The answer, as Humpty Dumpty well knew, was that you could. For me, gentle reader, Hesters vicious nonsense should be condemned as racist though it doesnt seem to be a slur against every person of colour -- but then mind of the beholder and all that! Im fine with calling his statement racist, but for me the absolutely more serious allegation is this exhortation that Dianne ought to be shot??? Isnt it? British MPs are the regular recipients of hate mail and of threats of rape and murder towards them and their families, on their phones and on the social media. Two MPs have been murdered by trolling maniacs. Dianne has a right to complain and to protection from the State. Why was she suspended from the Labour Party? It was, ironically, about the definition or perception of racism. She wrote a letter to the Observer newspaper which said that black people suffered a form of racism all their lives which the Irish, Jews, travellers and even people with red hair did not. Jewish organisations called it anti-Semitic and, though Dianne apologised, she still remains suspended. Dianne, whom I am acquainted with, is a colourful character in several ways. The first black woman MP and a great advocate of socialist institutions, she brought an avalanche of contemptuous criticism on herself when she sent her son to a fee-paying public school. As shadow home secretary, she appeared on a radio programme and got extremely muddled and said her party in power would recruit thousands of police and pay them 30 pounds a year. She immediately retracted and placed the figure at 8,000 pounds -- another blunder from an arithmetically challenged potential home secretary. Now there are calls for the Tories to return the 10 million pounds to Hester. I disagree. Why should he get his loot back? Hedgie should use the money instead to start an arts fund for black and Asian playwrights and pay them generously. Yes -- great suggestion! Dear Hedgie and Kemi: I am an Asian-British playwright and have a brilliant play featuring a black and an Asian character in the dramatic society of a London prison No? Well maybe youd prefer a play in which Boris Johnson introduces the serial killer Charles Sobhraj to a Daily Telegraph journalist called Mike? That would put the boot into BoJo? No? Well then... Ive got these monologues. While several RS members have been fielded for LS polls by BJP, its leadership is struggling to find a winnable seat for Nirmala Sitharaman They may be political adversaries but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have something in common. Both are averse to sharing the stage with anyone else, making sure they alone remain in the spotlight. Take the case of Mamata Banerjee. More than a week after she kickstarted the Lok Sabha poll campaign with an impressive public rally at Kolkatas Brigade Parade Grounds, everyone is still talking about her ramp walk at the venue when she strode in solo before going on to deliver her speech. It was on this occasion that she announced the names of the 42 candidates being fielded by the Trinamul Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. After the rally, she walked out with these 42 candidates in tow. Significantly, Abhishek Banerjee, the Chief Ministers nephew and political heir, did not walk beside her but was among the chosen candidates even though he was the other star speaker at the rally. The message was clear: Mamata Banerjee is the leader and everyone else is either a follower or an apprentice. It was no surprise when foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra got a six-month extension as both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar are known to have a soft spot for him. Not only is Kwatra ideologically aligned with the current dispensation, he also keeps a low profile. Now that Mr Kwatras extension is through, South Block mandarins are busy speculating about the next Indian ambassador to the United States. If the buzz in bureaucratic circles is to be believed, deputy national security advisor Vikram Misri is a frontrunner for this coveted post. Mr Misri, who has earlier served as Indias envoy to China, is also said to be in Mr Modi and Mr Jaishankars good books. Meanwhile, former Indian ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, looks set for a political career with the BJP. He is being tipped for a Lok Sabha ticket from Amritsar. His senior colleague and former foreign secretary Harsh Shringla has already launched a mass contact programme in Darjeeling as he is in the running for a BJP ticket from there. The Modi governments decision to notify the Citizenship (Amendment) Act rules ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election was taken with the primary purpose of further consolidating the support of West Bengals Matua community which has been pushing for the implementation of this law. Predictably, the news about the notification was greeted with loud cheers and celebrations, led by Union minister of state for shipping Shantanu Thakur who has taken up the cause of the Matua community s demand for citizenship. But confusion soon set in regarding the application process. While Thakurnagar residents from the Matua community are weighing the risk of applying for citizenship under the new rules, the junior ministers local office has told them it is trying to figure out what the form requires and the consequences of submitting an application. Taking advantage of this lack of clarity, the TMC has pointed out that an applicant will be required to submit his or her fathers birth certificate. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has described the form as legally dubious while pointing out that, like many others, she, too, does not have her fathers birth certificate. While several RS members have been fielded for the LS polls by the BJP, its leadership is struggling to find a winnable seat for finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. There were strong rumours till a week ago that she could be fielded from a constituency in Bengaluru. However, those rumours have died down. Karnataka BJP leaders say the state unit had told the party bosses in Delhi that Sitharamans candidature from the state may not be received well and could even damage the partys prospects on other seats. They maintained that Sitharamans outsider tag could prove to be a big negative as both the BJP and Congress have invoked Kannada pride in recent poll campaigns. More importantly, the state unit felt Sitharamans silence on Karnataka's woes over the Cauvery waters issue, coupled with her Tamil identity, could prove to be a negative. BJP insiders now say Ms Sitharaman may be fielded from Tamil Nadu or AP, another state she has represented in the Rajya Sabha. How the mighty have fallen. Once an important member of the Congress leaderships inner coterie, Suresh Pachouri has been reduced to another face in the crowd following his recent induction into the BJP. If Pachouri thought he would enjoy the same prominence here as he did in the Congress, he was mistaken. A recent photograph of a party function in MP says it all. It shows the present and former chief minister, flanked by several smiling BJP state leaders, while Pachouri can barely be spotted in the last row. This is a far cry from his long association with the Congress which rewarded Pachouri with several terms in Rajya Sabha and entrusted him with key assignments even though he has never been a mass leader. A new analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday has warned that chemical pollution tied to fossil fuel operations poses serious health concerns. Citing data from dozens of studies, the report highlights the rise in neurodevelopmental disorders, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and some cancers in young people taking place amid what the paper's author calls "explosive growth" in the petrochemical industry. Petrochemical Industries Poses Risks to Human Health According to The Guardian, the study claimed that the production of petrochemicals and the consumption of fossil fuels have increased fifteen-fold since the 1950s. Meanwhile, certain cancers in people under 50 increased significantly between 1990 and 2019. University of California San Francisco (UCSF) professor Tracey Woodruff, the report's author, said that exposure to chemicals that negatively impact people's health is one of the major factors causing climate change. She claimed that typically, people say cancer is a disease of aging, but now they are seeing it increasing in people under 50. The main concern identified in the paper is that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), commonly present in plastics and other products that interfere with healthy hormone function, act as a key threat. Furthermore, the report noted that numerous medical societies, government agencies, and systematic reviews have concluded that exposure to chemicals and pollution, including EDCs, is an important risk factor for multiple diseases and health inequities. Boston College epidemiologist Phil Landrigan, who was not involved in the study, agreed with the paper's conclusions. Landrigan said that plastic is filled with over 10,000 chemicals. He added that these chemicals include carcinogens, developmental neurotoxicants, endocrine disruptors, and hundreds more that have never been tested for toxicity and can cause a range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and infertility. Read Also: Accused 'Hotel California' Lyric Thieves Dodge Charges After Prosecutors Drop Case Mid-Trial Experts Call Out US Health System James Shultz, Ph.D., senior author of the article and a Sylvester faculty member and associate professor in Miami's Department of Public Health Sciences, said that the US health system contributes 8.5% of greenhouse gas emissions and significantly uses petrochemical materials, mainly single-use plastics. He noted that the petrochemical pathway often ends with them because the healthcare industry uses a lot of disposable plastics and single-use materials, which increased during the pandemic. The authors are urging the medical community and its practitioners to become more aware of the potential effects of their practices and to look for ways to replace single-use and disposable goods with reusables whenever possible. Doing so will lessen the health system's environmental effects, make its supply chain more resilient during disasters, and reduce community exposure to hazardous materials. Shultz said that healthcare providers on the front lines are focused on saving lives. However, he claimed they are probably not considering the connection between health care's use of disposable plastics and corresponding impacts on climate change or community exposure to carcinogens. Related Article: New Study Proves Taking 10K Steps Daily Can Reduce Early Death-How Accurate Is It? @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Upholding judicial independence is crucial for safeguarding democracy and citizens' rights. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has given some strong judgments assuring citizens that it remains a vigilant sentinel to guard the Constitution. But challenges remain. On March 5, 2024, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyaya, of the Calcutta high court since 2018, resigned and announced that he was joining the BJP with which, he said, he had been in touch for some time. This public confession, raised a deeply troubling question on whether, in accordance with his constitutional oath of impartiality, he had been fair and unbiased, especially in matters relating to the TMC? Perhaps not. In April 2023, he had given an interview to a Bengali news channel on a matter still being adjudicated by him. The Chief Justice of India (CJI), D.Y. Chandrachud, had to issue a reprimand saying that judges have no business granting interviews on matters which are pending. But the blurring of the line between politics and the judiciary is not new. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, became a Supreme Court (SC) judge, although initially in active politics. K.S. Hegde was a Congress Rajya Sabha member, when he resigned to join the Mysore HC bench, and was later elevated to the SC, only to join politics again and become the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in 1977. CJI K. Subba Rao also resigned to become the Opposition candidate for the presidential elections in 1967. In any democracy, an independent judiciary is imperative. Equally, in every democracy, governments, the largest litigants in court, want a more pliant judiciary. In the 1970s, Indira Gandhi openly pushed for a committed judiciary that endorsed the agenda of the ruling party. In this pursuit, she brazenly superseded inconvenient judges, while rewarding the obedient. However, in 1981, the SC curbed the executives powers. It ruled that the appointment of judges must be done in consultation with the CJI. In 1993, the SC went further, stating that consultation meant concurrence, which thus made the the approval of the CJI mandatory. In 1998, the SC instituted a collegiums system, consisting, in addition to the CJI, four senior-most judges of the SC. In 2014, the government enacted the National Judicial Appointments Commission (Act), which increased the role of the executive, but this was struck down in 2015 by a five-judge SC bench as inimical to judicial independence. But the government had another card up its sleeve. Under the present system, when the SC collegium recommends names for appointments and transfer of judges, the government can send the names back, but if any of these is reiterated, it has to be complied with. However, no time limit is specified for the government to respond. This means that the collegiums recommendations can be delayed indefinitely. In fact, in March 2021, the SC warned that dozens of its recommendations, including those reiterated, were pending with the government for six to eighteen months. In spite of the warning, the governments behaviour has not changed, and there are many recommendations of the collegium which lapse, or become redundant, in the absence of a timely response. This also leads to widespread vacancies in the HCs, in a country where lakhs of cases are pending disposal, and over 70 per cent of those in jail are undertrials whose case has not come up for hearing. In this ping-pong battle, what is crucial is to preserve the independence of the judiciary, which is the last bulwark of citizens against authoritarian governments. To ensure this, it is essential that judges are not beholden to the government. This requires that retiring judges of the SC or HC should have a cooling off period for a minimum of two years before they can accept any assignment from the government. Unfortunately, such a provision does not exist. In 1953, Justice Fazl Ali, was appointed Governor of Orissa after retirement; in 1958, M.C. Chagla, a sitting judge of the Mumbai HC, was appointed as Ambassador to America; in September 2014, for the first time a retired CJI, P. Sathasivan, was appointed as the Governor of Kerala; and in 2020, CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who delivered the Ayodhya judgment, was nominated after retirement to the Rajya Sabha. In addition, there are innumerable tribunals, to entice retired SC judges. CJI Mohammed Hidayatullah (1968-70) was an honourable exception, who openly resisted the blandishments of the government. He was against the cancellation of the privy purses to the erstwhile descendants of the royal families in India. The government offered him the post of Lokpal after retirement, or a nomination to the International Court of Justice, but he refused. He became the Vice-President of India only nine years later. Another outstanding exception was SC Judge H.R. Khanna who, in spite of pressure and enticements from the government, stood his ground during the Emergency (1975-77), and was the sole judge to give a dissenting opinion when the issue of arbitrary arrests came to the apex court. In his dissenting judgment he wrote: What is at stake is the rule of law the question is whether the law speaking through the authority of the court shall be absolutely silenced or rendered mute. The collegium system is not flawless. Its critics have rightly claimed that its working system is opaque and that it lacks transparency, where the biases of the judges in the collegium have no checks and balances. In fact, India is perhaps the only country in the world where judges appoint judges. For instance, in the UK, there is a Judicial Appointments Committee, consisting of three judges plus twelve members selected through a process of open competition. Similarly, in the US, judges are appointed by the President, but on the advice and consent of the Senate. However, to insulate judges from government inducements, there is no retirement age for them. While the current collegium system can be fine-tuned to reduce its opacity, it is still infinitely better than a judiciary controlled by the executive. Without an independent judiciary, these lines of the poet Ameer Qasalbash will haunt ordinary citizens: Usi ka shehar, wohi muddai, wohi munsif; Hamein yaqeen tha hamara qasoor nikle ga: It is his city, he is the witness, and he the judge; I knew that I would be found guilty. by Stefano Caprio As Russians go to the polls, the outcome of the presidential election and the turnout have already been decided. The dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is virtually interred in a Siberian concentration camp, described the support for Putin's regime as nothing more than the product of terror and apathy". The eternal tsar is but the face of a system that excludes the human soul. As Russias presidential elections are set to get underway, the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation (TsIK) released for all intents and purposes the results a few days ago, with the (never) outgoing President Vladimir Putin winning about 80 per cent of the vote, with a similar turnout. Turnout is the key result to watch. Despite voters limited inclination to go to the polls, government workers and employees of companies that still want to have a future in Russia have been told to vote, while electronic voting, a system introduced during COVID-19, is now essential to remotely round off the turnout in a virtual world that is progressively replacing the real one. Support for the Putin regime is the product of "terror and apathy" noted dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is languishing deep inside a Siberian concentration camp waiting to be struck by the Navalny-style sudden death syndrome. In deference to centuries-old traditions and traditional moral and spiritual values, Russians today are overwhelmed by these feelings: terror is morality while apathy is the spirit that Russians have been feeding on for over a thousand years. In fact, according to the Election Commission, support for Putin can be safely said to be at 100 per cent or more, considering the results of the other candidates, and the fact that his only potential rival, Boris Nadezhdin, was barred from running. Indeed, Putin's 80 per cent can easily be compared to Nikolai Kharitonovs 4 per cent, the candidate for the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the party reborn in 1996 against Yeltsin that paved the way for Putin's United Russia. In past years, Alexei Navalny's call for a "useful vote" sought to involve the communists, at least as an ideological alternative, if not in a real opposition, with appeals to the sense of pride the members of a party linked to the glories of long-lasting Soviet rule might have. However, the 76-year-old Kharitonov is certainly not a member of the most interventionist wing of the party, since he has chaired the Duma Committee on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic since 2021, and was awarded the title of "Hero of Labour" from Putin just last year. Not much more attractive is the candidacy of 56-year-old Leonid Slutsky. Credited with 3 per cent of the vote, he is running for the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) founded in the Yeltsin years by the greatest Russian populist of the last 30 years, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who was deprived by his premature death of a joy he so much sought, namely that of witnessing Russia's revenge against the whole world in the war in Ukraine. Vladislav Davankov, a 40-year-old from Smolensk, is running for the New People party. Created in 2020, the party is said to have a communitarian, liberal, and progressive" orientation that sets it apart from Putin; in reality, some see it as a pro-Kremlin spoiler with the aim of taking votes away from pro-Navalny candidates. Davankov is currently deputy chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, and has been described by some as a possible alternative to Putin's total power, after Nadezhdin's ban. For this reason, his support fluctuates between 5 and 7 per cent, with some room for growth since the undecided hover around 6 to 9 per cent; if all this is added up, Putins actual support goes over 100 per cent. Other, less official polls put Kharitonov and Slutsky ahead of Davankov, but the difference does not change the overall outcome. The fight for second place and the crumbs dropped by the reigning tsar will certainly not mean much for the future of politics in Russia, especially since other candidates ran in previous votes just to uphold the charade that the elections consecrating the presidents third and fourth mandates were democratic. These elections are, however, special, both because of the state of war that requires Russia to revive militant patriotism, and because of the great show of the "end of all dissent" linked to Alexei Navalnys death just a month ago, followed by a funeral procession with flowers laid at the tomb as a silent and blatant show of grassroot solidarity with those persecuted by the regime. Navalny himself proposed "noon against Putin", urging Russians to vote at the same time, something formally impossible to ban, although easy to confute with schedules controlled by scrutineers and law enforcement. Just in case, the authorities have warned against seditious midday gatherings. Among Navalnys supporters there is confusion though. Yulia Navalnaya, wife of the politician killed in the Kharp concentration camp, has suggested to voters to write her husband's name on the ballot, or in any case spoil it by writing words in favour of peace and against of the regime's oppression. Others have objected to this, noting that spoiled ballots might be assigned to Putin; for this reason, they suggest voters spoil their ballot by voting for two or three candidates at the same time, or vote for Davankov to show their desire for an alternative with a few percentage points. Amid such uncertainties, Navalnys words from his concentration camp, written a few days before his death, resonate even louder. You are being tormented [by the question of who to vote for], but I am fine. I do not have this problem convicts do not vote, reads his letter. But I have another problem the thing is that you are suffering over not knowing what to do at noon on 17 March, when you arrive at the polling stations. I myself have called for voting against Putin, that is, for any other candidate. But no matter how many times I repeat this, from a mathematical or political point of view, it does not matter who you vote for, you will still have to stand in the voting booth with your pen raised over the ballot. [. . .] It seems to me that the smart thing to do would be to vote for anyone who is not Putin. The only vote that cannot be cast is "against everyone, an option that existed in the 1990s but was removed after Putin came to power in 2000. It probably reminded him of the blank vote (vote blanc)[*] in the French Revolution, counted not as part of the electorate that did not vote, but as an explicit rejection of all candidates, something unacceptable in Putin's Russia, for it expresses an unacceptable level of dissatisfaction. In any case, the flowers brought to Navalny's grave, which continue to arrive incessantly even after the funeral, remains a much more effective form of protest than any election strategy, so much so that the Prosecutor General's Office has instituted the new offence of tsvetopolozhenje, the "laying of flowers" in front of monuments and public places. Still, it is not possible to ban this at Borisovo cemetery, especially at the start of Lenten celebrations, when people visit their loved ones ahead of the spring thaw and the Easter proclamation, when Orthodox Christians are invited to visit their dead to communicate the Radonitsa, the joy of Christ's resurrection. The expression of any alternative thought remains an important factor, not only to emotionally share Navalnys tragic fate, but also to express dissent despite the terror, arrests, and fines for unwelcome words and smiles, not to mention torture and murder in concentration camps. Excommunication has been imposed upon pacifist priests, marginalised intellectuals, and activists and their associations, prevented from carrying out their initiatives, including for the environment and animal rights. A million Russians have fled abroad, followed with apprehension by their family members who have remained at home, at the mercy of the state monster. More than terror and persecution, the truly distressing question concerns the state of the Russian people, forced to bow to the tsarist deification that threatens the world with nuclear war, and apathy, the absence of any desire in individuals to express themselves and their spirit, in this dark night of the soul that fills Putin's Russia. Russians remember ancient and Soviet times, when the motivations for any initiative were predetermined by the ideology of the tsar or the State, and the condition of peace and well-being in social life did not include personally assuming responsibilities, either by individuals, families, or any other group, official or informal. The trauma of Yeltsin's "liberal" decade when every principle and every right was violated by the most violent, the most arrogant, and the most brazen oligarchs, bandits, and politicians questing only of power generated the desire to surrender into the hands of a stable and strong "system more than in those of an authoritarian or charismatic "strong man". The eternal Putin is only the face of a system that excludes the human soul, and nothing would change if a doppelganger or a spectre took his place, casting a shadow over Russia and the whole world. RUSSIAN WORLD IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO RUSSIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SATURDAY, CLICK HERE. [*] The equivalent of None of the above (NOTA). Today's headlines: Senior doctors in South Korea join trainee doctors protest. India's foreign exchange reserves reach their highest level in two years. Iran is beset by a severe nursing shortage with more than 3,000 emigrating abroad a year. Thailand is considering legalising casinos. The Chinese are quietly occupying Siberia, raising concerns among local Russians. SYRIA According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in 13 years, more than 507,000 people have died in the countrys civil war, while millions more have become internally displaced or refugees abroad. Civilian casualties exceed 164,000, including more than 15,000 women and 25,000 children. While it started on the first day of protests on 15 March 2011 amidst the wave of Arab Spring uprisings, the conflict has now become largely forgotten. SOUTH KOREA The protest of trainee doctors in South Korea shows no sign of abating; on the contrary, it is intensifying in spite of government orders. A group of senior doctors announced today that they will resign starting on 25 March, in support of their younger colleagues who have been on strike for about a month against the reform. As a result, hospitals have plunged into chaos, while many surgeries and lifesaving treatments have been cancelled, despite the extensive use of military nurses and doctors. INDIA India's foreign exchange reserves (INFXR=ECI) rose for the third consecutive week, hitting a two-year high, with US$ 636.10 billion as of 8 March, this according to central bank data released yesterday. The price of gold, of which India is the second-largest consumer in the world, is also rising, reaching a record Rs 66,356 per 10 grams. IRAN Iranian authorities are sounding the alarm about a severe nursing shortage in Iranian hospitals, the result of large-scale emigration, a member of the Iranian Medical Council (IRIMC) lamented. The crisis is putting the countrys healthcare system at risk. Every year, at least 3,000 nurses leave, causing a disaster that intense recruitment efforts have failed to counter. THAILAND The Thai government could legalise casinos in a bid to attract new investment and support tourism, this despite public opposition over similar announcements in the past. So far, only state-controlled horse races and lotteries are allowed in the kingdom. At least 10 per cent of the population is addicted to gambling. RUSSIA CHINA While the Russians are violently occupying Ukraine, the Chinese are quietly occupying Siberia, especially the Baikal area and the Far East, a local television station in Irkutsk has reported, highlighting the number of houses and hotels built by the Chinese in violation of the law. This is a source of great concern among local Russians faced with millions of Chinese immigrants. SINGAPORE GAZA JORDAN Singapore is planning to deliver the third tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza and will soon start relief operations from Jordan. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has sent two cargo planes an A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft along with 69 people to provide assistance. TAJIKISTAN ISLAM The head of the Ulema Council of Tajikistan, Mufti Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, has appealed to the country's merchants and traders. The religious leader is asking them not to increase food prices during Ramadan, indeed possibly lower them, since greed is an immoral attitude condemned by Islam", to be countered with charity towards the poor. by Sumon Corraya The cargo ship, which was sailing from Maputo to Dubai, was diverted to Somali territorial waters. An Indian Navy ship that intercepted the hijacked vessel is monitoring the situation. The Bangladesh government pledged to rescue the sailors. Another Bangladeshi ship was seized in 2010, and its crew held in captivity for 100 days. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Somali pirates have seized a Bangladeshi-flagged ship, the MV Abdullah, in the Indian Ocean, holding some 23 sailors captive at gunpoint. The vessel, owned by the KSRM Group, was seized on 12 March; fortunately, all captives are reportedly unharmed, and efforts are underway to secure their release. A unit of the Indian Navy yesterday intercepted the MV Abdullah following the emergency signal the ship issued at the time of the seizure, and followed it until it reached Somali territorial waters. It remains at a short distance away, monitoring the situation. Atiqullah Khan, the commander of the hijacked ship, said in an audio message sent to the family that pirates walk around with weapons in front of sailors. "Whenever they see a Navy ship nearby, they pick them up," he said. When I turn to the side where I sleep, I see a big machine gun pointing at me, he added. I am trying to stay healthy even though I am mentally stressed. Dwindling food supplies are a source of concern. Since the pirates also eat and drink with us, using our water, I cannot say how long our food will last, Khan added. The coal-hauling ship was sailing from Maputo (Mozambique) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and was 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu (Somalia) at the time of the seizure, which prompted its owner, KSRM, to start rescue operations. Bangladesh State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said that the government would ensure the sailors safety and repatriation. Small, previously hijacked Iranian fishing boats were allegedly used in the attack. The MV Abdullah did not have armed security guards on board. Drawing lessons from this incident, Bangladeshs Department of Shipping and Commerce issued new guidelines for managing ships that use international shipping routes. From now on, all 97 Bangladeshi-owned ships sailing in dangerous sea lanes will have to employ armed guards in accordance with international regulations. On 5 December 2010, another ship, this one owned by the Kabir Group, the MV Jahan Mani, fell victim to Somali pirates. The ship was carrying 25 crew members and the chief engineer's wife. After a harrowing 100-day captivity, the pirates released the hostages in the early hours of 13 March 2011. In contrast to Europe, Turkey is increasingly focusing on fossil fuels taking advantage of falling prices. According to Ember, coal use for power generation in the country has gone from 25 per cent in 2013 to 36 per cent today. In 2023, more than US$ 3.7 billion were spent on coal imports. Istanbul (AsiaNews) Unlike the European Union and most Western countries, which are trying to reduce reliance on fossil fuel to meet climate change goals, Turkey is rapidly increasing the use of coal to generate energy. While Brussels has set 2040 as the deadline for completing the transition to green sources, Ankara has set a zero net target for 2053, without setting a specific target for the transition from fossil fuels. According to a recently published study by the global energy think-tank Ember, cited in al-Monitor, coal-fired electricity accounted for 25 per cent of energy production in both Turkey and the EU in 2013. Eleven years later, this is down to 12 per cent in the 27-member bloc, while Turkey has undertaken the opposite path, reaching 36 per cent of the total. In 2023, Turkey's coal-fired electricity generation reached a record high of 118 Terawatt hours, making it the second-largest energy producer from coal in Europe overtaking Poland now in third place. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has become Europe's largest energy producer from coal, after it restarted several plants that had been decommissioned. Until two years ago, Europe was heavily reliant on Russian energy, but EU sanctions on Russia included commodities. For Ufuk Alparslan, Ember's regional manager for Turkey, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans, it is highly likely that Turkey will surpass all other European countries to become the leading coal power-generating nation in Europe. While other coal-dependent states, like Germany and Poland, are gradually veering away from this dirty energy source, Turkey is heading in the opposite direction." In fact, despite the war in Ukraine, Turkey is becoming increasingly dependent on Russia for coal imports. The report notes that in 2023, 73 per cent of Turkeys coal imports came from Russia, thanks in part to Western sanctions that led to a collapse in prices, making gas less competitive. This is why Turkey is taking advantage of market conditions, buying more than 15 million tonnes of coal previously bound for Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU countries. According to the study, Turkey spent US$ 3.7 billion last year on importing coal to generate electricity. In terms of consumption, Ember's study shows a drop last year in Turkey of at least two terawatt hours, to 326.6 in 2023 compared to 328.7 the previous year, mainly due to the slowdown in industrial activity. Solar is one of the renewable energy resources that Turkey could use, Alparslan noted, with potentially 120 gigawatts from rooftops alone, a figure 10 times the current installed solar capacity. Lastly, Turkeys vast reservoirs offer the perfect conditions for floating solar power plants. Just by utilising a mere 3 per cent of the surface of the reservoir behind Ataturk Dam, the largest in the country, the Eurasian country could build over two gigawatts of floating solar capacity. The 455 HO joined the series, which still included Chevrolet's straight-six unit as standard for the Firebird and a 350 two-barrel unit as optional (standard on the Esprit). The Formula could also be had with a four-barrel 440 unit. Pontiac produced over 53,000 Firebirds for this model year, and the base configuration accounted for 23,000 units. The Esprit was the runner-up with 20,185 units, while the Formula and the Trans Am were much rarer, with only 7,802 and 2,116 units, respectively.The Firebird in these photos spent the last decade in a barn, with the owner claiming they have no option but to sell the vehicle because they are moving. They no longer have room for a Firebird project, so the car must find a new home urgently.The Firebird looks solid, and most parts are still in place. I would've expected the metal to be worse, but despite the obvious issues, there's not much to discover on this Firebird. You should put the car on a lift to inspect the undersides, but a photo revealing the interior indicates that the floors are still solid under the carpet. It's unclear if the 1971 Firebird has ever received any floorwork and patches or if the vehicle still flexes the original panels installed by Pontiac.The interior is dirty but is mostly complete, with the seats still in good shape. The door panels are also there, and the dash doesn't seem cut.The engine in charge of propelling the Firebird is a 350, but we know nothing about it. eBay seller katesauto2013 didn't share more specifics, so it's impossible to tell if the V8 still starts and runs. Considering it spent the last decade in storage, it's safe to assume the engine doesn't start, but I don't expect it to be seized. Find a good mechanic and bring them to Livonia, Michigan, for a thorough inspection to get a clear picture of what happens under the hood.The Firebird has unsurprisingly received much attention on eBay. The owner posted the car online earlier this week for a no-reserve auction, with 20 people already joining the digital fight. The top offer today is $3,500, but the selling price will likely increase in the next four days.The Firebird qualifies as a solid restoration candidate, so the great interest in the car is unsurprising. It'll undoubtedly sell fast, and the buyer will need a trailer to take it home, considering its current shape. While everyone and their mother are discussing the latest automotive experiences from the novel EV lifestyle POV, some carmakers are still exotic enough to do their business without flinching. EV SUV Many automakers are probably wondering if they should follow Dodge's lead and start preparing quirky all-electric models to compete with the 2024 Charger Daytona R/T and Scat Pack because up until now, most EVs have been luxury sedans, crossovers or pickup trucks. Even more of them are thinking that either Rivian is going to die a glorious death or succeed in disrupting themarket much like Tesla did years ago all thanks to the making or breaking of the R2 mid-sizeand the cool R3 plus R3X crossovers.However, there are car companies that are so wealthy and firmly rooted in tradition that they couldn't be upset even if someone announced a new industrial revolution is happening in 24 to 48 hours! One major example is, of course, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars , the company that succeeded Rolls-Royce Motors (1973 to 1998) and the original Rolls-Royce Limited, the British luxury car and aeronautical engine manufacturer formed in 1904 in Manchester by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.Now operating under the guidance of its BMW AG parent, Rolls-Royce has reached new pinnacles of luxury car ownership thanks to its current roster the Ghost sedan, Phantom limousine, and the best-selling Cullinan ultra-luxury super-SUV, plus the all-new Spectre EV. With record sales year after year and record numbers of Bespoke commissions, it's clear that RR's star is still nearing its peak.As such, it is no wonder that the company is going about its usual business, testing new stuff like the Ghost refresh that aims to broaden its design specter with a little inspiration from the EV grand tourer. It's funny that our spy photographer partners came through with the initial tests of the Rolls-Royce Ghost on public roads the prototype was caught doing its camouflaged thing in northern Sweden because the imaginative realm of digital car content creators also has something to share with the Ghost sedan.More precisely, Karan Adivi, the virtual artist signing as karanadivi on social media, has something digital that looks outrageous in more ways than we can CGI-imagine. At first sight, it's a crazy, wishful-thinking Rolls-Royce Ghost design project involving the fitting of an outrageous widebody aerodynamic kit that should go along just fine with the suspension system's slammed attitude and the black 'steelie' aftermarket wheels.Upon closer inspection, though, or after reading the artist's description, it turns out the Ghost is slightly more bonkers than your usual murdered-out widebody slammed tune. Instead, the pixel master imagined this Rolls-Royce would look great with Formula One Pirelli P Zero tires the yellow markings identify it as the medium compound. But wait, because that is not all just like the F1 racers, this Rolls also has just one custom carbon fiber bucket seat, a bespoke Momo Motorsport steering wheel, and a full roll cage. What do you think? Israel is looking into the possibility that Hamas' second in command, Marwan Issa, may be among five people killed in a weekend airstrike on Gaza, according to a report, as officials work to broker a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel bombed the Al-Nusseirat camp in central Gaza on Saturday night, according to Israeli Army Radio, where intelligence showed the location of Issa, second-in-command of Hamas's military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, Reuters reported. The attack killed five people, and Israel is checking if the fatalities include Issa, according to Israeli newspaper Hareetz. Hamas' Marwan Issa, Mohammed Deif, and Yahya Sinwar are key figures on Israel's most-wanted list, as they are considered instrumental in planning the attack on Oct. 7, which sparked the war and claimed 1200 Israeli lives. Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza and military operations have obliterated infrasrtucture in the war-torn strip, and led to over 31,000 deaths. If Issa's death is confirmed, Israel would have succeeded in eliminating the most senior Hamas figure in the five months since the war began. A confirmation of Issa's death could also complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire and see the release of the hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas during their Oct. 7 surprise attack. However, Israel says talks are ongoing with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. In a Sunday statement providing an overview of the last 24 hours of operations, Israel confirmed its forces had targeted and killed militants in central Gaza but did not refer to the specific camp. Israel's intelligence agency Mossad said both sides seek to narrow gaps and reach agreements. Mediating countries had wanted to reach agreements for a ceasefire in time for Ramadan, which began on Monday. But in the early hours, an Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City killed 16 people and wounded several others, reported Palestinian health officials. Early in the morning in Zeitoun, an ancient part of Gaza City, a strike hit the Abu Shammala family's home, causing casualties among those inside, according to medics. In the central Gaza region, the Israeli military confirmed the deaths of around 15 militants in a joint operation involving close combat and air strikes. Commandos focused their operations in Khan Younis, targeting sites allegedly used by Hamas militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing heightened global scrutiny to prioritize the protection of civilians and alleviate suffering. In his State of the Union address last week, US President Joe Biden revealed the US would build a temporary seaport off the Gazan coast to facilitate aid deliveries. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the water corridor was positive but urged the United States to put an end to the war. "Ensuring all the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip are met is not a favor from anyone. It is a guaranteed right under international humanitarian law even during times of war," Naim told Reuters. @ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The glorious thing about the Mint 400 is that it's probably the last truly lawless racing event left in North America. At a time when rules and bureaucracy have come to define mainstream racing, the re-incarnated Mint 400 race takes just about all comers, regardless of what they want to race. That means you get to have real oddball stuff you'd never expect to race along million-dollar trophy trucks out on the trot. Photo: Benny Kirk/autoevolution Photo: Benny Kirk/autoevolution Photo: Benny Kirk/autoevolution Among this group of misfits in the 'Mint's' Gambler class, the phenomenal Emme Hall is the closest thing they've got to royalty. By extension, her heavily modified 2001 Mazda MX-5 NB is her chariot that she calls 'Buddy.' As her full-time gig, Hall's work as a freelance auto journalist speaks for itself. Car and Driver, MotorTrend, and Jalopnik are the most notable publications on her brag-worthy resume. But when she's not typing up test drive reviews until her eyes feel like they're bleeding, Hall's side gig as a weekend race warrior is no less impressive.Morroco and Saudi Arabia are places Hall can claim to have raced across the sands, albeit not in the Dakar (yet). Hall's also won the iconic Rebelle Rally, the world's first and most famous women's-only off-road racing series twice. You certainly don't need those kinds of credentials to enter one of the Mint 400's seemingly endless racing classes, but it sure does help. But why an MX-5? Sure, off-road modified Miatas aren't exactly new. We've seen our fair share posted around social media, usually just built for fun and or just a cheeky joke.But a legit race? I needed to learn more. So, I sat down with Emme the day after the race to try and understand what kind of mad lad, or in this case, a mad lass, looks at an NB MX-5 and thinks, "Mint 400 material." As it turns out, the reason for this has less to do with the car itself and more to do with the Mint 400's legit rule-less nature. "I run Buddy in the Gambler class which legitimately has no rules," Hall said of the Mint 400's particularly laid-back approach to sanctioning its racing."You go to the Gambler class's web page and to the rules, and there're no rules at all. Well, there are safety rules that applies to every single veicle, but there are no rules otherwise." To add to the mild confusion, the Mint 400's Gambler class is divided into two sections, the stock class and a modified class. As for what constitutes stock versus modified when the rules are this relaxed is anyone's guess. But come on, that's a pretty awesome problem to have. This year, Hall opted to move her Miata into the modified Gambler class as this year's sole entry.But with this in mind, who in their right mind decides an NB MX-5 is an appropriate vehicle to enter America's most historic off-road race? Well, it turns out the context of Emme's racing past explains it. "I've always loved off-road racing, and I come from the air-cooled world of air-cooled Volkswagens. I raced two-seater 1600s, a little bit of class-five unlimited, and a little bit of co-driving in class 11, so I come from that kind of buggy dork world. But I also love Miatas, so why not push those two things together?" Hall said of her drive to combine two paradigms that usually have nothing to do with each other.Of course, lifted off-road Miatas aren't anything new; we've covered more than one here at autoevolution in the past. But can we build an NB Miata that can last even a single lap of the Mint 400? Now that sounds like witchcraft. Luckily, Emme bought her Miata with one trick already up its sleeve. "When I bought Buddy, he already had a really great starter lift kit on it, but it wasn't desert-worthy at all. There's a company called Paco Motorsports that does a really good basic lift kit where you can still use the stock shocks, so you don't have to invest in any other suspension components."In short, the starter mods done before Emme bought Buddy were sufficient for back-road hooning but not much beyond. "So I took that base Paco lift kit, and then I put on a rally cross kit that came with different mounting points for the front and rear suspension that came with KONI coilovers. And again, that's a step up, and it was great for figuring out what the car could do. I raced the Mint last year in that configuration, but I will say that the mounts broke and there were cracks, when you mount stuff to a unibody like that, it's just not going to be strong enough," Hall said of her experience racing buddy before this year's Mint 400.If Buddy were called upon to race any further than one Mint 400 lap, chances are good the car would've fallen apart fairly promptly. Or, as Emme put it, Buddy would've "exploded everything." This time around, Buddy's rocking a slightly different setup. One is anchored by a set of Fox 2.0 off-road shocks with Hyperco springs and sitting on 3D-printed bump stocks from Perry Parts at all four corners. By all measures, this is a more aggressive and race-worthy setup than what Buddy was racing last year. Legit suspension mounts and upper control arms from Chromaly are sure to give the NB Miata's unibody frame some much-needed respite.When rubber meets the trail, all this hardware is made to work harmoniously thanks to a set of beefy 29-inch BF Goodrich KO2 T/A tires and 15-inch steel wheels from Basset. Ironically enough, BFG is the primary sponsor for this year's race. Add on a custom skid plate Mastercraft five-point harness, and Buddy looks just as race-ready as any million-dollar trophy truck racing alongside it. It isn't quite that built up, but hey, if looks could kill this, Miata would be serving a life sentence.Unfortunately, the downside of all these modifications is a catastrophic hit to the Miata's historically excellent power-to-weight ratio. But this being the gambler class, Hall was free to do whatever the heck she wanted to fix the problem. This includes fitting a Jackson Racing supercharger to the NB Miata's stock 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a stage 1 clutch in order to jet around 135 horsepower to the tires. With this setup in mind, Hall was happy to find that her Miata did what she wanted it to do "nine times out of ten" out on the racing circuit. Which, by her own admission, is nothing short of a miracle.Sadly, a lack of more suspension travel prevents anything crazier from being modified on Buddy's behalf as far as the drivetrain is concerned. But at the end of the day, all this little car had to do was finish one grueling lap before being declared the winner of its class, effectively by default. Considering the number of smiles per gallon acquired along the way, we don't think you'll find a human being on planet Earth who wasn't impressed or even downright flabbergasted with Buddy's performance on the sands of the Nevada desert that afternoon.That said, when asked by Mint 400's administration whether she'd like to try two laps instead of one this year, she was well aware of her precious Buddy's limits and opted not to watch her pride and joy disintegrate across the sand. As for Buddy's future, Emme reckons her pride and joy off-road racer is more suited for smaller,more balanced races taking place at the starting infield for the Mint 400 in Primm, Nevada, a series that generally takes place once or twice a year.But do you see a resounding theme for Buddy over the course of hearing its story? It's that even a humble auto journalist who's by no means a pro driver can spend minimal money and have more fun in the span of an hour or so than most have in ten years. It's just another feather in the cap of who can be rightly declared the Queen of the Mint 400 Gambler class. Congratulations to Emme Hall and her team on another amazing race. Here's hoping they can weld up all the bent metal underneath without dropping $300 grand like the trophy truck racers have to do. Chances are, they'll undercut that by at least 90 percent, if not even cheaper. God, I love the Mint 400 Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. 16 March 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Migration has been the biggest challenge for mankind throughout history. Except for the very tight circle in society, it has satisfied neither migrant-receiving nor migrant-sending (origin) societies. The 11th Global Baku Forum will discuss the old issue and ways to solve it will be voiced. It is worth noting that the history of migration dates back to prehistoric times. Scarcity of food, dangers of predators, natural disasters, and so on made cave-dwellers change their living places. Unfortunately, despite passing thousands of years, similar issues force people to leave their homelands and find new ones. A well-developed transportation even further accelerated migrations. Migration is a big blow for origin countries. It depletes workforces and hinders the development of migrant-sending countries. For example, modern-day Eastern European countries suffer from a deficiency of workforce due to the high migration of their population to Western European countries after becoming a member of the EU. As a result, SMEs cannot afford to pay high salaries, which causes further unemployment. So, subsequently it causes a vicious circle. Some could claim that migrants could help a country of origin through remittance. Besides, when the migrants return they could bring know-how to the countries of origin. However, in practice, it works totally differently. First of all, remittance could assist in handling foreign exchange deficit and bring economic activity to some extent within the country but it simultaneity brings disbalance. The price of some services or products becomes available only for some people not for all. For example, remittance from Russia has caused the prices of real estate to ramp up in some of the former Soviet republics. As for bringing know-how to the origin country by coming-back immigrants, it works in theory, but actually the majority of migrants do not return, or return in old age. Turkiye is the best example of it. The Turkish migrants, who moved to Germany in the 1960s, and their children did not return back even if the German government offered money in the 1980s. In addition to economic impacts, migration has a social and psychological impact, as well. First of all, it separates families. Some children grow up rarely seeing their fathers, or old folks spend their time by waiting for the way of their children. However, migrants and receiving countries suffer sociologically and psychologically, as well. As is known, not all migrants are highly skilled workers. Most of them are unskilled employees who work for minimal wages. They are obliged to share one flat and to live in unbearable conditions. In addition, they encounter racism, and all faults and blames in domestic policies are put upon them. As for migrant-receiving societies, for them, everything is not as good as some media outlets claim. Due to the high migration, the price of real estate and rents ramp up. Some former Soviet republics and Turkiye witnessed it after the inception of the Ukrainian War. The prices jumped up as a flood of Ukrainian refugees and Russians who escaped from the war came to the said regions. Migrants create plenty of workforces for society which enables business facilities to exploitate not only them but also local people. In some countries, due to migrants minimal wage has not been raised for years. Besides, due to the surplus workforce, some business people demand local people and even highly skilled ones to work under prices. As a result, hatred emerges among the local people against the migrants which sometimes leads to racism. Thus, here poses a question: "Who benefits from migrants?" Even some people claim that migration or migrants bring wealth to this or that country. They enjoy counting migrants who built good careers such as Steve Jobs, Parviz Morad Omidyar, Sergey Brin and so on. However, they are the tip of the iceberg. The other side of the medallion is totally different which has caused hot debates among the Western intellectuals for 150 years. American writer Upton Sinclair called the migrants wage slaves. The writer presented himself as a migrant from Eastern Europe and worked among them for weeks to write his famous semi-documentary book titled Jungle more than one hundred years ago. The book describes the unbearable lives of migrants and how they are exploited. Following his research, Upton Sinclair points out that big American corporations try their best to bring migrants to the USA to suppress workers' movement and force them to work cheaply. Upton Sinclair is not the only person who calls migrants slaves. For example, the Anti-Tom literary series compares migrants with slaves and comes to the conclusion that slaves have more bearable lives. It is enough to watch any documentary films about the lives of migrants in Southern Italy, Spain, and other Western countries to see that nothing has changed since Upton Sinclair. Nobody benefits from migration except, some big corporations. Ironically, these big corporations cause reasons such as wars, droughts, environmental catastrophes, and so on. We hope that the 11th Global Baku Forum will be one of the means to solve modern slavery, and the insight of migrants and migration will be erased from history forever. Peace and prosperity will hug the earth and the need for migration will disappear. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 13:36 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more As Azerbaijan celebrates the arrival of Novruz, President Joe Biden's warm greetings to the Azerbaijani people carry significant diplomatic implications, particularly in the context of Azerbaijan's relations with the West. Against a backdrop of regional complexities and geopolitical tensions, Biden's gesture serves as a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between Azerbaijan and its Western allies. Despite persistent efforts by Armenia to disrupt Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union (EU) and the United States, these diplomatic ties have remained resilient and unwavering. Armenia's attempts to sow discord and fracture Azerbaijan's relations with the West have proven ineffective, underscoring the robustness of Azerbaijan's diplomatic engagements with its Western partners. Moreover, France's recent endeavors to mobilize Western nations against Azerbaijan have met with limited success. Despite France's efforts to galvanize Western support against Azerbaijan, the country's diplomatic maneuvers have failed to garner significant traction. Azerbaijan's diplomatic outreach and commitment to constructive engagement with the West have remained steadfast, rendering such attempts to isolate Azerbaijan ineffective. In light of these developments, Biden's Novruz greeting takes on added significance, symbolizing the strength and stability of Azerbaijan's relations with the West. The warm exchange between President Biden and the Azerbaijani people underscores the mutual respect and cooperation shared between Azerbaijan and the United States, as well as with the broader Western community. As Azerbaijan continues to navigate complex regional dynamics and pursue its strategic interests, the country's enduring partnerships with the EU and the United States serve as pillars of stability and cooperation. Despite external pressures and attempts to undermine these relationships, Azerbaijan remains firmly committed to fostering strong ties with its Western allies, grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to regional peace and prosperity. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 10:16 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The President of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) Foundation, Wolfgang Ischinger, emphasized the need for a review of the European Union's admission process during the panel session titled "Regional Perspectives: the European Union and Neighbors" at the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports. Ischinger pointed out the prolonged wait for membership, particularly citing Bosnia and Herzegovina, indicating inadequacies in the negotiation process. He stressed the necessity of reassessing the EU admission procedure, noting the evolving nature of the current European Union compared to its predecessor, necessitating a redesign of tools and procedures. It's worth noting that the XI Global Baku Forum has attracted representatives from various countries and esteemed international organizations, with over 350 guests from more than 70 nations in attendance. The forum, scheduled until March 16, encompasses global deliberations on COP28 outcomes, preparations for COP29, threats to the emerging world order, security challenges, peace prospects, stability in a fragmented world, global impacts, solutions to humanity's challenges, and discussions on conflicts and significant threats like climate change, food security, and nuclear issues. Furthermore, the forum will delve into topics such as the roles of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives including the European Union's relationships with its neighbors, youth policies, resilience-building against global challenges like inequality and resource scarcity, migration issues, artificial intelligence, and the evolving security landscape characterized by drones and cyberwarfare. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 11:06 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Former Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov stated during the panel discussion titled "Regional Perspectives: The European Union and Neighborhood" that the European Union was established with the primary aim of advancing the prosperity of Western states, Azernews reports, citing report on the XI Global Baku Forum. Stoyanov further commented on political errors in the EU's inception, emphasizing the need for the union to consider the interests of its neighboring countries and implement a robust neighbor policy. The XI Global Baku Forum draws participants from numerous countries and esteemed international organizations, with over 350 attendees from more than 70 nations. Scheduled until March 16, the forum encompasses discussions on various global issues, including the aftermath of COP28 and preparations for COP29, threats to the prevailing world order, security concerns, peace prospects, strategies for stability in a fragmented world, global impacts, solutions to humanity's challenges, and significant global threats like climate change, food security, and nuclear safety. Additionally, the forum will address topics such as the roles of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives, the European Union's relationships with its neighbors, youth policies, resilience-building against global challenges, inequality, natural resource scarcity, migration issues, artificial intelligence, and emerging security paradigms in the era of drones and cyberweapons. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 10:48 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more The Western Azerbaijan Community, one of the first groups to be victimized by Islamophobia, truly welcomes the resolution "Measures to Combat Islamophobia" adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly yesterday, the statement of the Western Azerbaijan Community said, Azernews reports. "The community has consistently made a significant contribution to global initiatives combating Islamophobia. Last year, the UN General Assembly officially distributed the plea on this matter. Armenia did not vote in favor of the aforementioned resolution, even though it was approved by most states. Armenia's stance on the resolution is understandable given that it is the birthplace of organized Islamophobia. It is important to remember that Armenia has completely eradicated Muslim places of worship and graves while enacting an official anti-Muslim agenda. Armenia honors those who have perpetrated crimes against humanity and war crimes against Muslims. Exiled Azerbaijanis are still not permitted to return to their country of origin by this one. We call on all states united in the fight against xenophobia and Islamophobia to denounce Armenia's Islamophobic policies and support the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis exiled from there to their homes," the statement of the community reads. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 12:11 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Former Montenegro President Milo ukanovic highlighted at the XI Global Baku Forum's panel session on "Regional Perspectives: The European Union and Neighborhood," Azernews report, that the European Union's enlargement policy is currently at a standstill. ukanovic pointed out political obstacles, including discussions surrounding East-West integration, and noted the EU's suspension of its expansion plans, identifying this as a significant issue. He emphasized the importance for the EU to prioritize concerns for its neighboring countries, warning of potential negative consequences for its future if this is not addressed. It's worth mentioning that the XI Global Baku Forum has attracted representatives from various countries and esteemed international organizations, with over 350 guests from more than 70 nations in attendance. The forum, scheduled until March 16, encompasses discussions on various global issues, including the outcomes of COP28 and preparations for COP29, threats to the emerging world order, security concerns, peace prospects, strategies for stability in a fragmented world, global impacts, solutions to humanity's challenges, and significant global threats like climate change, food security, and nuclear safety. Additionally, the forum will address topics such as the roles of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives, the European Union's relationships with its neighbors, youth policies, resilience-building against global challenges, inequality, natural resource scarcity, migration issues, artificial intelligence, and emerging security paradigms in the era of drones and cyberweapons. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 10:58 (UTC+04:00) Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States of America has sent a congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear Mr. President. On behalf of the People of the United States, I send our warm wishes to you and the people of Azerbaijan for a peaceful, prosperous, and joyful Novruz Bayram. As we mark this season of renewal and reflection, the United States reaffirms our enduring commitment to the partnership between our nations and to a durable and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which will promote security across the region for generations to come. In the year ahead, I look forward to working with you to advance regional connectivity and expand economic growth. Novruz Mubarak! Sincerely, Joseph R. Biden President of the United States of America" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 16 March 2024 13:15 (UTC+04:00) Ulviyya Shahin Read more Public talks differ from those conducted privately, the former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said during the panel on "Regional Perspectives: The European Union and Neighborhood" within the XI Global Baku Forum, Azernews reports. Muscat suggested that while the European Union serves as an additional framework to NATO, it would be incorrect to intertwine NATO's affairs with those of the European Union. He emphasized the need to challenge conventional wisdom, highlighting the differences between public statements and private conversations. Muscat advocated for a shift in this dynamic. The XI Global Baku Forum convenes representatives from numerous countries and esteemed international organizations, with over 350 guests from more than 70 nations participating. Scheduled until March 16, the forum encompasses global discussions on various topics including the outcomes of COP28 and preparations for COP29, threats to the prevailing world order, security challenges, peace prospects, strategies for stability in a fragmented world, global impacts, solutions to humanity's challenges, and significant global threats like climate change, food security, and nuclear safety. Additionally, discussions will address the roles of military and economic alliances in global governance, regional perspectives, the European Union's relationships with its neighbors, youth policies, resilience-building against global challenges, inequality, natural resource scarcity, migration issues, artificial intelligence, and emerging security paradigms in the era of drones and cyberweapons. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz